#also no one cares what month it is shhhhh

[cassiopeiasdaughter]

august

Theodore Nott x fem!reader

summary: Theo asks you to be his fake-girlfriend but you understand the assignment a little too well. No Voldemort/war AU

warnings: !not proofread! underage alcohol consumption

word count: 4k

ao3 - Theo masterlist

You weren’t mine to lose

Theodore Nott knew that one day he would be asked to marry a pureblooded witch and have a family with her; not because he wanted it, but because that’s what is expected of him.

What he didn't know is that in his 7th year, his father would begin throwing women at him, witches he didn't know and didn't care to get to know.

He did his best to avoid his fathers constant complains and lectures, but time was not his friend and he needed to come up with a solution to his problem or he would soon be marrying a stranger.

You and Theo became somewhat friends during quidditch practice. Neither of you played quidditch but attended your friends practice meetings, since you had nowhere else to go.

You bonded over not being into sports and falling asleep during first period every Monday. You always knew you would find him near corners at parties, watching the crowd but never intending to join them.

You were a pureblooded witch, not part of the Sacred 28, definitely not a blood purist. He liked those things about you, it felt refreshing being friends with someone who did not care about such insignificant things.

You were also kind and thoughtful and always helped him when life felt heavy, that is why he was brave enough to ask you a very important favor.

"Absolutely not!", you shouted

"Shhhhh", students whispered.

Madam Pince walked to you, with a scowl on her face and her hands crossed tightly in front of her,

"Mr Nott, are you and your friend aware this is a library?", she said displeased.

"I am sorry, Madam Pince, it won’t happen again", you whispered fast

"Well that is what I expect of you, next time I hear you, you'll be jinxed off of here.", she replied and walked away.

Theo was looking at you innocently, begging you with his eyes to accept his proposal.

"Theo I will not pretend to date you", you whispered this time.

"Please, it won't be for more than three months, I just need my father to back off!", he explained

"Please, please, please!", he continued, "He will marry me off to a snob French witch, I am sure of it, and then I’ll be forced to have a bunch of kids with her, for the sake of the family line"

"I will end up 30 and more miserable than Snape!", he finished dramatically

You rolled your eyes at that and said, "Firstly, that is a bit dramatic and secondly, if we 'date' there is no way it will be only for three months."

He smirked at that "Well, love, if you wanted to be with me for more than that you could have said so from the start."

You hit him with your notebooks after that and he burst out laughing.

You saw Madam Pince behind him -not so entertained- mouthing "OUT" with her eyebrows raised.

He shouted your name while following you down the hallway,

"Please, think about it.", he begged

"Theo I told you-", you started but were cut off by a figure walking past you.

"Hello there.", says Finn with a smile that could persuade you to do anything he wanted.

Truth is you have had a crush on the boy ever since you met him. He is in a different House than you and you never get the chance to talk to him. You always try to master up the courage during parties but you can never find the right time. He hangs out with your friends but you feel too foolish to admit your crush to them, so you are stuck with greetings in hallways and daydreaming during class.

"Hi", you respond with a blush on your face and an awkward smile.

Finn continues walking; but your mind is stuck on the way he looked at you and his smile and;

"So that is why you won't be my fake-girlfriend."

"I- what?", you turn to find him smirking like an idiot and reply "Shut up", as you walk by him, taking long strides.

"Wait wait.", he says while trying to catch up to you.

"Maybe this can help us both.", he says after running in front of you to stop you.

"How could this help me?", you say back, "Not that I want any help!", you add quickly

"Well in the case that you did want my help, I can - as a teenage boy- testify that jealousy goes a long way."

"Please, jealous? He doesn't even know my name, why would he care if we dated?"

"Along with jealousy, being seen with someone else makes you more attractive", he adds quickly

"That is stupid and disgusting."

"It is the way the world works, love." he smiles deviously "So what do you say will you be my fake girlfriend?" he says as he extends his hand into a handshake

"No" you reply, smacking his hand away.

"I will see you tomorrow for breakfast, I'd tell you to ask Pince, she's a proper catch and your dad would approve, but I’m not sure she'll say yes after what happened today.", you say sarcastically

"Oh you wound me so.", he sighs dramatically "Maybe I'll ask McGonagall with a flock of birds to impress her."

You laugh at that before wishing eachother goodnight.

You lie on your bed thinking about Theo and his proposal; about Finn and how stupid your crush feels. About how stupid boys make you feel, how you wish you had more experience with them, more confidence.

You wished you were one of those people who went out to get what they wanted, the ones who fought for themselves, didn’t sit around in the corners with a comfort blanket draped around their shoulders.

“Maybe this can help us both” he said

Would it honestly be that bad to pretend to be Theos girlfriends for a few months? 

You trusted him and knew he would never do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. Maybe you would have to set a couple of rules to be sure there would be no misunderstandings, but things could work out.

You quickly got dressed the next day and found him eating breakfast alone; like he did every morning, being the first of his friends to wake up this early.

You sat across from him and begun putting fruit and pastries on your plate while he filled your coffee cup; another habit of his.

“I will do it”, you said calmly

His eyes shot up at yours and before he could say anything you let out a hiss of pain and stared at the coffee spilling from the overflowing cup to your hands and plate.

“But-“ you continued more serious now “we need to set up a few rules.”

“I love rules” he replied while drying your hands with a napkin and then switching your plates so he got the drenched-in-coffee one.

"Okay well, firstly I would appreciate it if this arrangement stayed between the two of us- I am not exactly thrilled to be mocked by the whole Slytherin house for the rest of the school year.", you said looking him in the eye

“Easy- done”, he exclaimed “You have to come with me to a Ball and meet my father.”

“I- you should know it will be very awkward”, you said apologetically

“No need to worry, it will take no more than ten minutes, he isn’t a people person, I just need him to believe that I am dating you.”, he explained quickly.

"Fine, I guess, but after we end this won’t he keep on pressuring you? We can’t keep this on forever you know.", you said

"Well, of course not; I just need him to get off my back until we graduate, then I can be free of him."

"Okay then, do we need to pretend at school? Your father won’t be here to see us.", you asked

"Yes, but the children of his friends will be and then he’ll find out Slytherins are terrible gossipers, you know.", he joked

"Fine okay, but we won’t do anything extreme", you said with a serious tone

"Not unless you ask me", he said grinning like the devil (wink wink)

You throw him a blueberry and he laughs before he picks it up and eats it

"What about you and loverboy? How do you want us to approach it?", he asked

Us rolls off his tongue way too easily, you think and feel a flutter in your stomach as you play it back

"Well , I haven’t thought about that, I am not sure I want to do anything really, I just want to forget it even happened.", you awkwardly say

"What 'happened', your feelings? It isn’t exactly something you can control .", he joked

"Don’t be ridiculous. Of course it is; if you are reasonable and smart." you say looking him in the eyes "Anyways, I got too distracted from the constant what if but now I have something else to focus on." you continue

"I can assure you I'll be the best fake girlfriend there is" , you say and smile

"It is a deal then.", he says extending his hand

"Yes.", you say shaking his hand this time.

The pretending started slowly, small touches in front of other students in the library, the Great Hall and on quidditch matches.

Spending weekends at Hogsmeade together, sharing butterbeer and going for walks with his arm behind your back or hands clasped together.

He would lend you his sweater and you would lend him your scarf, the one with your house colors.

He pretended he smelled you in his Amortentia and made a spectacle out of it in class; leaving you a blushing mess.

Eventually the Ministry planned a Ball; and you dreaded every second leading to it.

Theo helped you pick out a gown for it and walked you through the experience of a "Ministry party for the Miserable", as he called them

"Most of them will be boring themselves with talks about work; others will be drinking their boredom away and then there will be dancing. It will be over before you realize it, truly", he calmed you down

You agreed to meet him at the venue and you found him by the door playing with his wand while waiting for you.

"Some boyfriend you are-", you joked and his head immediately shot up to look at you "Making me come here alone, not walking me from the car, what will everyone say?", you said smiling and looped your arms around his, while he stared at you.

"My fair lady you have to forgive me, I will make it up to you." he shook his head and lead you both inside.

He spotted his father quickly and walked towards him. You felt terrified, couldn't exactly understand how a man sweet and kind; alive like Theo could have come from a man like his father.

He looked cold and mean and from what Theo had told you about him he was.

"Father" Theo said in a voice reserved just for his father and introduced you to him.

"I am sure you are familiar with her parents; they have an active role in the Wizarding community.", he said

You smiled at that; at his Slytheirn traits showing up when he needed them most.

"Ah yes, I remember your father in our Charity event a few months back.", he said with his strict voice, "I just wish Theodore would have bothered to tell me back then you two knew eachother."

You smile awkwardly and look at Theo who gives you a tired look.

"As I understand you are seeing eachother; how long has that been going on?", he asks

"A few months; but we have been friends for a few years now", you reply as calm as you can

"And what are your plans for after you graduate? Theo is going to work in the Ministry, I have friends in departments that can show him the ropes", he questions and you try to picture Theo in a Ministry 9-5 job and think it is just wrong.

"Well I am not sure yet; I was hoping to continue my studies and maybe get a master in Potions or Transfiguration. Passing NEWTs is the only thing on my mind right now.", you explain nervously

"Right. Well excuse me, I have to greet a few friends.", he says and leaves the two of you alone, once again.

You both leave out a breath you have been holding for a while.

"Didn't go that bad, right?", you ask

"No, uh it went fine.", he says with a troubled look, "Do you mind if we go outside?"

"Not at all, come on.", you say with a comforting voice and let him lead you outside.

You find a quiet place in the garden away from everyone. Finding company in the stars and each other.

"I hate him", Theo breathes and you don't know what to say back, how to comfort him.

So you take his hand in yours and hold it tightly.

"I am not taking the job at the Ministry, I won't.", he said

"What do you want to do?", you encourage him

He shakes his head before he answers.

"Slughorn offered to write me a recommendation letter, so I can study where he did. If I do well on the exams",

"But my father doesn't care about what I want, has not even bothered to find out.", he scoffs

"Well he can sod right off, respectfully, because he scares me." you say and he laughs

"You'll do great, you are so smart Theo, everything will work out, I am sure of it.", you say holding his hand

"Thank you.", he says smiling, "for everything."

You spend the rest of the night talking about life and the future, with your head on his shoulder and his thumb drawing circles in your hand.

As the school year progressed stress and anxiety were starting to get the best of everyone. Students were either practicing for a quidditch match or studying in the library.

That is why a few Gryffindors decided to host a party, to take a break from studying and celebrate the success that would surely be coming; "very Gryffindor of them" commented Theo.

While getting ready for the party you realized this would be the last time everyone would be having fun together and you felt nostalgia crash on you like the waves that destroy rocks.

What happens after school? You think.

Will you lose your friends? Will you lose Theo? Where will you go? What will you do?

There are questions you don’t know how to answer and that scares you.

Then your mind drifts to Finn and how you never did anything to get close to him no matter how much you liked him; liked because now he is a thing of the past, thanks to Theo you think, who took your mind off of him, kept you company.

Maybe, you think, faking a relationship with Theo made something deep inside you think that it wasn’t pretend. That Theo liked you more than a friend and that maybe you did too.

Did or do?, you think

Did, definitely did. Theo will get a masters in Potions somewhere and you will have to find your place in this world. Liking Theo isn’t something that should be happening right now- or ever with his terrifying dictator of a dad.

You laugh as you picture family holidays with the Notts.

“Knock knock”

You snap out of your thoughts and turn to find Theo leaning on your door, with his hands in his pockets .

“Ready?” He asks

You nod and he extends his hand “After you my lady”

“Shut up” you laugh as you let him hold you

Ronald Weasley waits for you by the portrait of the Fat Lady and lets you inside.

Everyone is dancing, snogging, drinking or doing all of those things together.

"I am going to get us drinks." shouts Theo and you give him a thumbs up as you walk into the crowd, trying to find some familiar face.

Suddenly you feel a hand on your shoulder and see Finn smiling at you.

"Hi!" you beam at him

"Finally decided to let yourself have fun?", he asks playfully

"What do you mean?", you ask

"Well I haven't seen you in a party since you and Nott became a thing, come to think of it, before that you two would always find a quiet corner and stay there together.", he says

Before you get the chance to reply you feel an arm snake around your waist and Theos scent fills your lungs.

"Here you go, love" he says and hands you your drink "Finn, how are you mate?"

"I am fine Nott, preparing for Quidditch finals, nervous about the NEWTs?"

"Obviously, but what can I do besides studying?", he responds.

Awkward silence lays between the three of you. You cant wait to laugh with Theo about it, once Finn leaves.

"You are lucky your girlfriend is such a good listener. I remember once she let me explain the Star Wars films to her without falling asleep or complaining.", he said laughing

"How do you even remember that, it was ages ago", you say surprised

"You would be surprised. Now if you will excuse me, I need a refill."

You watched Finn leave and turned to see Theo looking at you with a calculating look.

"Looks like loverboy is back", he said

"Stop" you say and drag him with you to greet your friends and dance.

After a few hours you both decided you had enough social interactions for one night, so you decided to go back to your dorms.

As you were leaving you spotted Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley, laughing and kissing eachother before disappearing into a broom closet together.

“Ah broom closets; the perfect shagging spot”, joked Theo

“What, you..” you stammer “in a…”

“Shagged in a closet? Yes”, he said smirking at your awkwardness

“Right” you replied

“What, you haven’t?" he asks and you shake your head

“Not even for a dare?”, he continued

“No, Theo I haven’t.” you say annoyed

He laughs and says “Don’t worry you aren’t missing much. Besides, the best shagging spot is the restricted section.”

“You are impossible.” , you say to him as you walk together side by side

“I am joking, nothing tops the comforts of a bed.”, he says jokingly

You remain quiet, I wouldn’t know, you think to yourself.

“Wait” he says “-have you ever?”

“Have I what?” You say annoyed

“Been with someone” he asks

“I, well, have you seen me date anyone, all these years we have been friends?”

“No, but you also never told me you like Finn, so how would I know what else you keep to yourself. "

“Liked, Theo, and can we please forget about that?”, you plead

“Alright I am sorry” he answers raising his hands

“Do you think it is weird I haven’t been with anyone? Yet?” You ask nervously

“Weird? No of course not, why?”

“Well you sounded very surprised, that is all”, you say

“No it isn’t weird, but if you want me to show you what it is like I-”, he said slowly

You hit his arm and cut him off “Shut up, honestly, you can sometimes be so annoying!”

He laughed and said “Sorry”

You continue walking without saying anything before he breaks the silence.

“I think he likes you”

“Nonsense, he talks to everyone”, you say while rolling your eyes

“Well then, he is an idiot”, he responds with a serious tone

You shake your head and laugh

“He really is”, he says again

And as you look up at him you see his eyes deeply focused on yours. The look on his face: something entirely new to you. Up until now you always thought Theodore Nott had shown you his real self, almost every part of him; but the way he looks at you now proves how wrong you have been.

His cheeks are flushed and you are sure if you were to touch him he’d burn you. His usual smirk is nowhere to be found; his lips are relaxed and asking for something; as if they have a mind of their own. His eyes are wandering over your features, not calculating but admiring.

His hand flies up to fix a strand of hair that has fallen in front of your face and gently places it behind your ear.

You look at his lips and at him, lost and surprised.

See you tomorrow, he whispers and before you get the chance to respond he walks away to his dorm.

What happened? you think for the rest of the night

Had you grown closer to Theo these past few months, without meaning to?

Had your feelings shifted and if yes when did that happen?

You felt empty as you woke up the next day. Did you feel for Theo what you had felt for Finn once? A made up scenario showing you what could have been?

No, you knew Theo, the version of him inside your head was the one that already existed.

He is kind and smart; he cares about you, always have; even before this agreement.

He always makes sure you feel safe, never pushes things too far. 

What he said last night, the way he looked at you sends butterflies to your stomach. Would it be that ridiculous of you to think he has feelings for you? 

And if he does have feelings for you, how do you feel about him? 

Is he a friend or something more?

Have you just grown used to the attention he gives you? The pretending and faking.

Or do you want-need it to be real.

You will ruin everything and that scares you.

This is too much thinking before coffee, you think and head to the Great Hall.

You find him then with a mug in one hand and a book in the other, once he sees you he smiles, innocently, not a smirk; a greeting.

And that is enough for you to break down your walls, leave your fears behind.

You want him to smile at you; only you every time he sees you. You want to be with him, not only in front of others, always.

You want to tell him I love you and you also want to hear it from him. You want him to tell you his dreams and encourage yours. You want to spend every night with him and wake up in his arms. You want him to show you what it is like to be cared for, truly.

And that desire is enough for you to shed your fears away, because even if things go bad, at least you've tried; fighted.

"Goodmorning", he says as you take the seat next to him.

You smile at him "Goodmorning"

He fills your mug with coffee like he always does

"I don't want to keep pretending to be your girlfriend.", you say

His face darkens and his smile disappears, "Is it about last night? Did I make you feel uncomfortable, I-"

"I can't keep pretending.", you continue "If you want to be with me we have to stop pretending, I want to be with you for real."

"I-" he is speechless now, playing what you said over and over in his head.

"I am in love with you. And it is okay if you aren't, but I had to tell you. I can't fake it anymore.", you confess

He smiles now and grabs your face to kiss you before whispering in your lips, "Who said I was pretending?"

fin

dividers by the wonderful @saradika

not proofread, sorry for mistakes

#theodore nott #fake dating #Theodore Nott x reader #Theodore nott imagine #theodore nott x y/n #theo nott #harry potter fanfiction

[readershewrites]

you make my head spin

prompt: a kiss against shoulder blades as arms wrap around from behind (from the ‘another kiss prompt’ list)

content: soft, slow mornings, Ghost is in luuuurve

You’re a deep sleeper, and there are hardly ever days where Simon’s waking disturbs you. He endeavors to roll out of bed gently, but he would also put quite a lot of money and bet that he could body slam onto the ground and topple his bedside table and you still wouldn’t stir.

A very small part of him is envious of your deep slumber, however Simon’s so used to his light and irregular sleep pattern that he can’t even remember what it feels like to be knocked out from the world. In fact, he loves watching you get your sleep. When you’re rested and happy and well taken care of, Simon feels the most content. You’ve teased him several times about codependency, but he feels certain that his life is contingent on yours, no matter what you say. You don’t know the depth of his feelings towards you, and Simon will swear on every life he has taken that you are at the centre of his existence. 

He washes up slowly, savoring the small but immense luxury of clean, rushing water and the heated lights of your shared bathroom. Years of re-adjusting to civilian life has taught him the importance of the mundane, so he grabs the fluffy face towel with a kind of reverence that only a soldier understands.

Simon lathers up some face wash and bends to scrub his calloused hands over his face.

The sudden contact of warmth on his back causes him to flinch, and Simon almost smashes his nose into the tap.

“Shhhhh,” he hears your voice over the running tap, “it’s just me.”

Your soft, un-calloused hands run over his back and Simon sighs to himself. Months ago you had mentioned the word “touch-starved” to him, a kind of hesitance to your voice as you broached the sensitive subject. At the time he had shut you down with a sharp glance, but the months have softened the word. He knows what you mean, and while he hates putting a name to his feelings, more and more he has to admit that yes, he is starving for your touch.

Your brush up and down his back. You graze his shoulders and he feels the puff of your warm breath against his scarred skin. The sensation of your palms feels like a cool balm against his heated skin.

Familiar lips touch his right side. Simon exhales shakily. You’re kissing a new scar - a bullet wound that had only just closed up. It’s still pink and puckered and wrinkly and his knees shake a little from the contact.

Then, you hover up and trace over a criss cross of scars over his left shoulder. He’s never seen those, but you describe them as a fleshy-silver, and you kiss those ones often.

As you make your way up, down… kissing your way around the expanse of his back, your hands gradually wind their way to his front and he looks down at your clasped hands resting easily against his navel.

Simon pats dry his face and grabs your fist. He lifts it to his lips and presses a soft kiss of his own to your hands. A thank you, an I love you.

On his back, against a particularly mottled scar he feels your lips curve into a smile.

#Simon Ghost Riley #Simon Ghost Riley x reader #Simon Ghost Riley x you #cod modern warfare #Simon Ghost Riley fluff

[wildemaven]

Sweet Creature: Chapter One

Pairing: Dieter Bravo x F!Reader (In future chapters)

WC: 4070

Summary: A washed up movie star with a failing career, fresh out of rehab and looking to turn his life around. He moves back to his small hometown to take a break from stardom and help his sister out with his niece— He’s traded the high-life for school runs and crafting. What he doesn’t except is to meet you, his niece’s school teacher who couldn’t care less about his extensive filmography or his dwindling fame.

Warning: 18+ Blog; brief description of drug use, rehabilitation/mentions of rehab stay, getting treatment for drug addiction, absent parents, anxiety, sister giving ultimatum, apologetic Dieter, determined to turn life around, cursing, if I’ve missed anything feel free to let me know.

A/N: Firstly, big thank you to @gnpwdrnwhiskey for listening to me drone on about this! And for also being a champ and beta’ing for me too!!

This chapter has some heavy elements to it, and I hope it comes across as a serious tone considering the topic of drug usage. I wanted Dieter to be deliberate in his attempt to better himself. There might be some reference to this characters contents in the future, but this will be the only one containing any actual drugs. There’s a lot of information packed into this chapter to help get the story going. I’ve been so blown away by the responses to this series and I really hope I do it justice! Any questions/comments/or you just want to chat more about this chapter, my ask box is always open!! xx

Series Masterlist / Playlist / Main Masterlist

Next

A few sharp knocks on the bathroom door. 

“Hello?? Is someone in there?”

No response. 

The slightest twist of the knob. Unlocked. Unoccupied. 

Only the opening of the door reveals quite the opposite. Occupied. 

“Oh! I’m so so sor— Oh my god! Are you fucking serious right now?! You’re getting high at a 6 year old’s birthday party!” 

No response. Just a deadpan look of nothingness from the body propped up next to the toilet. 

“I fucking knew it. I knew you would fucking let her down!! God!!! You’re such a fucking deadbeat, washed up douchebag— so fucking ridiculous.”

“W-whyy a-rrre y-youuu yellllling? Shhhhh!” His speech laden with a hint of sarcasm. 

“You’re a fucking joke! I can’t believe you would do this to your sister!”

“What are you yelling about in here?? Wren is getting ready to open her presents and wants everyone to watch her. Dieter why are you on the flo— are you fucking high?” 

“Ag-ainnn shhhhhhh!” His pointer finger emphatically raised to his lips, the noise too much for his dazed mind. 

“You promised me Dieter! You fucking promised me no drugs! I should have known better, I should have fucking known you’d do this— you don’t care about how much this hurts me to see you like this, constantly letting me down. I’m done Dieter, I’m so fucking done trying to help you if you’re not going to help yourself. Fuck! Get the fuck out! Go! Now!! I don’t want you near us, I won’t put Wren through this. Get help or stay away!”

The door slams, Dieter left alone to ruminate  over what was said in the small tiled space. 

Even in his stupefied state, the words thrown at him were enough to make an immediate impact. The cognitive part of his brain working over time to push through and make a levelheaded thought. 

“Deadbeat”

“Washed up”

“Get help or Stay away”

Reaching for his phone, he dials his lifeline who drops everything for him, probably due to her reoccurring paycheck, his assistant whom he’s thankful doesn’t hate him enough to ignore his call out of the blue. 

“Heeeey! I n-neeeed y-you to c-ommme g-get meee…”

He knew this was it, he had to get his shit together or suffer the consequences. 

*

He feels different if he’s being honest with himself. 

Lighter. 

Healthier. 

Alive. 

365 days clean. He made a commitment to a year long stay at a drug rehabilitation center, followed by a 3 month residency in a sober living facility conveniently tucked away in the Hollywood hills. 

Yet, he feels more lost than he was before he started treatment. 

He can’t remember what living a normal, healthy life is like— a life not high out of his mind 24/7.

This wasn’t his first time trying to get clean, he’d become a regular of sorts at a few different rehab centers scattered through out the greater Los Angeles area. 

Each stay with the same goal and each one a failed attempt at getting control over his life without the drugs. 

It was never “hope this is the time it really clicks for him”, it was always a question of “how long will he go this time before he’s kicked out and checking into the next one”— might have even been a headline a time or two. 

Many centers refusing to even consider treating him based on his past reputation alone. 

His agent’s patience was wearing thin trying to book roles for Dieter, doing his best to convince directors he wasn’t a liability and he could get the job done with zero risk in hiring him— it was far from the truth. 

Each day on set became a game of Russian Roulette, no one really knowing which side of Dieter they would be dealing with while shooting. That in itself was a metaphorical high he chased with each role he booked, seeing how long before some one caught on to his slurred words, blood shot eyes and sluggish demeanor. 

On numerous occasions Dieter thought he was skillful in his ability to mask his inebriated ego. He was combative with the crew and fellow actors— his temperament calm and mellow one moment, then seething and dripping with rage the next. 

He was getting sloppy. The teetering domino of his life had slowly began to tip and once it did finally fall, his entire life crumbling around him. 

*

The traffic is heavier than expected. Dieter wonders if it’s due to others similarly seeking to leave the city in hopes for a break from the dim aura that Los Angeles is. He can feel the weight of the city’s reputation lift from his shoulders with each passing mile as he maneuvers through the stretch of freeway congestion. 

A few honking horns bring his attention back to the conversation he’s currently semi engaged in. 

“This is a big step Dieter. I’m really proud of how far you’ve come.” 

He instantly cringes at the thought of getting back out to sell himself for roles. Facing those who were- and are- tired of his shit. 

The downfall of his career began when he was late for dress rehearsal for a role he some how managed to get— this role having potential to get him in the running for award nominations, propelling his career to new heights. But when he was no where to be found at call time, his assistant went on the search for him and it’s where she found him passed out in his trailer. He was too far gone to even pull himself together, prompting the director to fire him on the spot. 

The rate of speed at which news travels in Hollywood is the equivalent to a fast moving wildfire— once that first bit of gossip hits the ground, it’s spreading through the industry with a sudden surge of ferocity and growing far beyond what is predictable. 

His agent's attempt at damage control was a wasted effort. Directors dumping Dieter’s preproduction roles, actors refusing to work with him and threatening to quit if Dieter stayed on— his list of films beginning to dwindle in a matter of days and by the end of the week, Dieter Bravo was jobless. 

“The next few months will go by quickly, and before you know it you’ll be back out here booking jobs and proving everyone wrong.” 

Vanessa, Dieter’s assistant and full time babysitter, always seemed to have a way to make him feel at ease. And at this point, the only person he knew who believed he could actually turn his life around. 

“I really fucking hope so.” He sighs, this was his attempt at thinking positive. 

“Have you talked to her yet?” Her voice cracking through the car speakers as he continues his drive north on the 101. 

“Briefly. Told her I’d probably be getting in around 6 or so— BEEP!— Watch out asshole!” Throwing a middle finger at said asshole driver who nearly missed clipping his car. 

“She’s proud of you too, ya know. Might not seem like it right now, but she is.”

“Hmm. I’ll just agree to disagree with you on that point. Having a drug addict—“

“Former drug addicted, Dieter.” 

“Right— well, having a deadbeat for an older brother doesn’t really leave a lot to be proud of.”

“You’d be surprised. Hey, I got another call coming in. I’ll be in touch with you soon! Call me if you need anything! Again, Dieter, I'm really proud of you!” 

“Thanks Nessa! I’ll talk to you soon.”

The call ending abruptly, leaving him to sit alone in his thoughts for the next hour and a half—something he hasn’t really taken the chance to experience since, well, a long while. 

The Santa Monica Mountains provide a scenic view as he leaves behind the place he saw as his home for the last 20 years. 

His current destination plugged into his stupidly expensive sports car. 

Home. Where he grew up. 

*

He can’t even remember the last time he visited. Not due to the years as an actor taking him to all areas of the world. The last time he had been home was just over a year ago and he was high out of his mind, barely remembering the trip as a whole. 

His sister had asked if he’d be able to make it to his niece’s birthday. She was turning 6 and had been begging for her uncle to be there to celebrate with— he was easily her most favorite person. The specifics of the getting to his sister’s home and the actual party are pretty blurry for Dieter. 

Dieter spent most of the last year trying to produce a coherent flashback of the day that would ultimately be his last time using, the reason for his commitment to getting his life together. 

He never expected the lowest point in his life would be being caught in the bathroom of his sister’s home doing a few quick lines on the toilet seat, as his niece was blowing out 6 candles a few feet outside the tiny bathroom surrounded by friends and family. 

The moments following are a mixture of hazy clips, fragmented bits of information,

he’s tried to piece together to the best of his ability. 

The rush of someone bursting through the bathroom door, the echoes of laughter and music piercing his ears as he’s hunched on the floor against the wall, little specks of a white powdery residue dusting his mustache. 

There’s screaming as he does his best to focus his blurry attention on the distorted enraged figure in front of him, yelling something about being washed up— his eye lids heavy and fighting against them to keep them opened. 

If he had to recall the exact moment he knew he fucked up, it was seeing the hurt and disappointment on his sister's face— her face wet with tears as she poured out her disappointment and pain over the fact that he was strung-out at her daughter’s birthday party. The weight of his consequences bleeding through him as he vividly recalls his sister telling him to leave and not come back unless he was sober. 

The next day he checked himself in, determined to get his life together for good. 

*

He shakes away the subtle tinge of guilt that starts to bubble up in his chest. 

Remembering the ‘54321 Method’ he was taught in treatment to help ground himself when his thoughts start to become overwhelming…

5 things you see: the sun slowly making its way to the horizon, cars moving swiftly by his own, Live Oak trees rooted among the mountains, the slightest twinkling of the first few stars, his reflection in the rear view mirror— lighter, healthier, alive.

4 things things to touch: the leather of the steering wheel, his jeans fabric soft and comfortable, the cool metal of his rings adorning his fingers, the weight of his sobriety chip in his pocket a constant reminder of how far he’s come.

3 things you hear: the familiar beat of a popular song streaming through the car speakers, rhythmic tapping of his thumbs in tune with the song, his off-key voice as he sings along to the words he knows.

2 things you smell: his olfactory nerve triggered at the distinct scent of his woody amber cologne, that new car smell that still lingers throughout the car’s interior. 

1 thing you taste: a minty tingle on his tongue as he chews his last piece of gum. 

His nerves settle, his eyes focused on the road ahead, deciding he’ll right his wrongs when he gets to his stop— his sister’s house. 

*

The trip took longer than he’d originally planned. Weekend traffic to blame for the 2 hour delay in his arrival. 

‘Welcome to Ojai’— the stone sign greets him, dim uplighting barely making it readable as he turns on to the familiar street. 

The town is all but empty at this time of the night, street lights plus the few restaurants and bars that are open give off enough ambient light to drape the streets in a subtle glow. 

He’s instantly taken back to his childhood, so many memories tucked away throughout the picturesque landscape. 

Growing up with famous parents wasn’t all that glamorous in Dieter’s eyes. 

Dieter’s parents, Dean and Mary Bravo, were both well known in the tv and movie world. 

Dean had been known for his roles in James Bond-esque action films through his career, notably his best work among other smaller productions he worked on. Mary was the queen of daytime television with her numerous roles in soap opera’s biggest shows, a socialite getting invited to glamorous events and elite celebrity parties. 

Together they were Hollywood’s “It” couple, jet-setting to all parts of the world when schedules allowed for it. 

Dieter and his younger sister, while born into this movie star family, were raised far from it. Dean and Mary deciding to buy a home in the mountains outside of the headlines and prying eyes, a place where their kids could live a some what normal life. 

Normal was anything but normal. Dean and Mary didn’t let children hold back their lives and desires of more fame. Leaving them with nannies so they could keep up with the demands of working and living their best lives. 

Ojai, a small village-like town nestled in the valley of the Topanga Mountains, became a literal playground for Dieter growing up. 

Little reminders of his childhood still remain as he ventures further into town. He finds himself slowing the car a bit as he takes it all in, rolling the window down to let the evening air hit his face— it’s crisp as it trickles across his skin. 

The private school he attended all through his schooling years sits on top of a hill that over looks the valley. The school’s reputation was highly regarded and offered a plethora of academic courses and electives. Dieter found the  art and theater programs to be where he excelled most, painting and acting fueled his passion for the arts, propelling him into pursuing one as a full time career. 

He spots Bart’s Books as he drives on, an outdoor bookstore, that had become a daily hangout as a kid. The red wooden shelves still filled with adventures and history to get lost in. He discovered his love for storytelling sitting on the covered patio, nose deep in fictional worlds he dreamed of visiting. 

Across the way, a ‘no vacancy’ neon sign flickers on. Capri Hotel, a newly renovated hotel that still looks like it could have come straight from the 1960s with its mid-century design and modern style. He recalls the summer when him and his buddies regularly jumped the fence to swim in the pool, the cool water under the stars was refreshing during the California heat waves. They managed to only get caught once but worked out a barter with the then owners, they clean the pool and in turn can use the pool at their leisure. The hotel seems to be under new ownership now, but it seems to be doing well. 

On every corner there’s an art gallery. Some still looking as if no time had passed, others adorn new names and a fresh coat of paint. Several galleries offered summer painting classes, where Dieter found he had more creative freedom than in school to explore all mediums and really honing in on his style. He’s always imagined he’d have his own showing of his paintings, friends and family gathering to see his work— a dream he never lived out. 

His car parked and engine killed, he still hasn’t found the courage to get out. He can see a few lights on from the front windows of his sister’s quaint Spanish style home. Trying to not let the vague memories of his last visit deter him from going inside. He sends Vanessa a text, letting her know he’d made it safely and that he’d text her if he needed anything. 

Bags in tow, he makes his way to the front door. Nerves and emotions swirling around, reminding himself to breathe, letting go of the fear and expectations he’d had for this reunion. 

He opts for knocking, assuming Wren would be sleeping at this hour. 

The clicking of locks being turned, twisting of the door knob, the black wooden door swings open to the space that’s haunted him for the last year. 

“Hey, Diem. Sorry I’m so—“ He starts to explain his lateness before he’s cut off. 

“Dieter! Oh my god! I thought something happened to you! What the fuck?!” Her body launches at him, arms wrapping around him securely. He accepts the impromptu hug, dropping his bags to return the gesture. 

“No, no I’m good. Traffic was a nightmare and by the time I thought to call, service was fucked. Sorry for making you worry.” 

“You’re here and you’re safe— that’s all that matters.” 

This greeting is going far better than he had expected, but he hasn’t made over the threshold, still plenty of time for Diem to drop the hammer on him. 

“Come in! Let’s get you all settled in.” She ushers him in, closing the door and adjusting the locks again. 

He takes the space in, noting not much has changed from what he can tell in the diffused lighting, but he feels warm and welcoming even for him. 

“I got the spare room all cleaned and ready for you. New sheets on the bed and a few extra pillows just in case.” She seems skittish moving about the living room, picking up the few toys laying around the room and placing them back in their designated baskets. “If you want to sit, make yourself comfortable. You want anything to drink? Eat?” 

She seems just as nervous as he is and that makes him feel less anxious for some reason. 

“I grabbed some food on the way, I’m good.” Setting his bags down, he makes his way to the couch and sits down, deciding to rip the bandage off so to speak. 

Diem taking his lead, sits on the opposite end of the couch, legs tucked under her and hands resting on her lap. A lull hangs over them for a few moments, neither really know what to say or do. He notices her fingers fidgeting and decides to break the silence. 

“I know we haven’t talked much since the last time I was here,” He sees the brief wince on her face at the mention of it, as if she’d been actively trying to avoid talking about it. “But I want to tell you how sorry I am for—“

“Dieter, you don’t have to.” 

“No, actually I do. And I’m going to. Not only because it’s part of my steps in recovery, but because you deserve it— Wren deserves it.”

“She doesn’t know— about the drugs or you going to rehab.” She doesn’t look at him as she says it. 

“I won’t mention it to her then.”

“I just told her you were busy and that you’d be coming to spend time with us 'cause you missed her.”

“Why did you agree? After all the shit I’ve done and put you through, why are you letting me stay here?”

That gets her attention, her eyes glossy with unshed tears as she looks at him with nothing but love and forgiveness. “Because you’re my brother and I want you here, despite all the shit you put me through.” 

He shifts closer to where she’s sitting, wiping the few tears that had decided to fall. He doesn’t think he deserves her kindness, but is grateful he has this opportunity to do what he’s been wanting to do. 

“I’m sorry for the pain and hurt that I caused you. Not only at Wren’s party, but all the other times I’d said I was clean and wasn’t. For putting you both second to my addiction. I’m sorry for not being here when you needed me most. I promise I’m going to do my best to earn your trust and prove to you that I am committed to my sobriety.”

Leaning back, his hand digs into his pocket pulling out his proof, grabbing Diem’s hand and turns it over placing the chip in her palm. She looks at it then back at him, the most genuine smile graces her face before she wraps her arms around his shoulders and pulls him in for a hug. 

“I love you Dieter! Thank you for not only doing this for us, but for yourself as well. I’m really proud of you.” 

“I love you too Diem.”

Releasing Dieter from the hug, she adjusts herself back to her previous position, now more relaxed with her elbow resting on the back of the couch propping her head up as she looks at Dieter, really taking in how healthy he looks since she’d last seen him. 

“Thank you for also letting me stay here. I needed to get out of the city for a bit, clear my head and shit. Should only be a few months or less, until I can get a few things lined up— have a few potential projects I requested scripts for.”

The thought of returning to his old ways terrified him, he had all the tools and support to continue working on himself outside of treatment, but he didn’t want to chance it. He instantly knew exactly where he wanted to spend the next few months re-acclimating back into this new way of living, away from temptation. Knowing their last conversation was anything but great, he'd decided an e-mail felt less grievous and hoped she’d find it in her heart to accept him back in her home again. 

“Of course. Stay as long as you need to.”

“And I can help how ever you need me to, figured it would keep me busy doing stuff, help out with Wren.”

“Oh my gosh, please! It’s peak tourist season the next few weeks at the Hotel and I’ve got a handful of events we’re hosting too. School runs would be a big help for me.”

“Hotel?” He’s sure he heard her right but doesn’t remember any mention of a hotel that he can recall. 

“Funny story actually-- I bought the Capri last year. Did some renovations and it’s been great really. Keeps me busy most of the time, but I love it.”

Diem was never one for the spotlight, especially with movie star family members, actively avoiding anything to do with Hollywood and its ostentatious air. She always had a knack for making drab things look enticing, so Dieter isn’t surprised one bit by the mention of her being the new owner of the Capri Hotel. 

“And now that I’m the owner, you can swim for free— pool cleaning is encouraged too.” He laughs at that. 

“Congrats on owning a hotel I guess. I’ll definitely be taking advantage of swimming privileges then.”

“Alright. I’m going to head to bed, got an early morning dropping Wren off before I meet with the planner for our next event.”

“I can take her tomorrow.”

“You sure? You don’t want to settle in a bit first?”

“Nah, it’ll be nice spending some time with her.”

“Okay. Prepare yourself for a wild time then.”

She kisses the top of his head before heading in the direction of her room. Stopping before turning down the hall, she looks back at Dieter who hasn’t moved from the couch, one of his hands rubbing at the opposite shoulder and leaning his head to the side to stretch it out a bit— the longer car rides really doing a number on him. 

“Dieter—“ 

His head turns towards the direction of his name being called. 

"Hmm?"

“I’m really glad you’re here.” 

“Yeah, me too.”

Next

#dieter bravo x f!reader #dieter bravo x you #dieter bravo x female reader #dieter bravo x reader #dieter bravo #sweet creature series #Pedro pascal #wildemaven writes

[xjulixred45x]

Can i ask how will be choso with geto child reader? How he would react to the punishment of kenjaku towards reader or how is he with the reader in general?

Honestly? the only ACTUAL friend that (Child Reader) (i will call them that from now on) has in this freak show.

Choso is someone who deeply loves his family and holds them in very high esteem (i mean, only see how he is with his brothers), so at first he does not understand the way of (Child's name), why would they act like that if their "father" loves them so much (this observation BEFORE finding out that "Geto" is Kenjaku/Noritoshi Kamo)But when he find out THE WHOLE CONTEXT of WHY (Child Reader) he is like this with "Geto", it's a 180 ° twist in understanding(and start connecting points in someway).

Choso becomes their number 1 ally in every way, whether with the other curses or with Kenjaku himself. his big brother senses are activated and he constantly tries to "cheer up" (Child Reader) and spoil them a little so they don't become bitter(they're still a sweet child, just with trauma, thanks Kenjaku). He even plays with them in a corner while "Geto" and the others continue with their things (as if they were the "children" of the group, he says it is appropriate, since he really only has months of live and (child Reader) is no older than 9 years old).

Kenjaku is not happy about this, but at the same time (Child Reader) tend to be much more obedient when they are in a good mood, and when they are in a good mood? when they are with Choso! Of course, Kenjaku would like to be the cause of the child's good mood (since according to him, he is their father) but he sees it as appropriate for them to interact with the other members of the group.

They won't leave after all, they have to get used to the curses/curse ussers one way or another, right?

As for when the punnishment happens(in the first post), it's most likely that Choso wasn't even there in the first place, because he usually make sure to avoids these types of outbursts on the part of (child reader) and avoids punishments for them. but when he finds out what happen....damn, he would be FURIOUS.

I don't think he would fight Kenjaku (yet) but he would definitely call him by every name in the book and go to immediately comfort (childs reader) and heal their wounds with his ritual technique (if he can), silencing them while they cry and hugging them.

"(sobs).... he's not....he's not-my--my Father-"

"i know, shhhhh, i know, don't let him hear you, shhh, i know...

He is a loving older brother who chases away the fears of his new little sibling. It also applies to Mahito (who has a morbid curiosity about the child) who will at least stay away while (child Reader) is with Choso or with Kenjaku himself (not highly recommended, they would not be able to move throughout the afternoon due to Kenjaku hugs).

He probably even tried to convince Kenjaku to let (child Reader) out when Gojo was sealed, saying that he himself would keep an eye on them after he killed Itadori, Kejanku said he would "think about it" even though he wasn't really going to, probably would have only left the two of them in Dagon's domain(He feared that either 1- Choso would go against him because of (child Reader) or 2- that both would join forces to escape).

When he goes through all the trouble with Itadori and learns Kenjaku's true identity, he becomes even more worried about (child Reader), but relaxes when he learns that they has apparently been able to escape from Shibuya, for now at least.

BRO, imagine when Choso confronts Kenjaku, and is reproaching him for Itadori, he will probably also reproach him about (child Reader) too, because despite being someone who says he "loves" them and wants to "protect" them, he really doesn't know ANYTHING about what love is, what family is, much less he really cares about (child Reader) as a person, he doesn't care about the family, he just wants to satisfy his morbid curiosity about the child.

Although Choso was not directly involved in (child Reader's) escape, I believe he may have prevented Mahito or other curses/mutated humans from going after them when Kenjaku releases a large amount at the end of the arc.

I can see him allying himself with the twins to protect the three of them together (child Reader), since they would have told them about Choso and how he was helping them, so although the twins are skeptical, they are going to allow him to stay as long as he helps to protect their Sibiling.

They form a fun trio where ironically the twins end up being more intimidating than him and end up officially adopting him 😅 They even end up bonding especially well due to their bad history with humans.

The twins and (Child Reader) are determined to teach him human things that Choso has been missing, Choso's heart contracts when he sees the Sibilinghood between them, this is the happiest he has seen (Child Reader) and he doesn't will get tired of seeing them like this. honestly it just makes him want to protect the three of them even more but now Kenjaku will surely go after them.

Choso will want the Twins to take care of (child Reader) while he takes care of Tengen alongside Yuki (who, by the way, thinks Reader is absolutely ADORABLE) and makes sure that when they runs into Kenjaku, it's the last one.

Maybe it doesn't matter now, he already let Kenjaku get away with his brothers once, if he wants to go after (child Reader) he'll have to rip them out of his COLD AND DEAD hands.

Any ask or suggestion for this Series is welcome!

KINDA NEXT PART

KINDA NEXT PART BUT FLUFFIER

#drabble #choso kamo #jjk choso #platonic yandere kenjaku #platonic choso #jjk x reader #neutral reader #jjk #jujustu kaisen #jujutsu kaisen #jujutsu no kaisen #platonic yandere #jujutsu kaisen kenjaku #kenjaku

[meraki-yao]

I have a question since you're from surrounding regions, is taylor actually well known in china? Why do you think GQ went with him there are a lot more famous celebs, taylor doesn't even have a lot screen exposure

So for some reason, I'm taking this question super seriously.

Please note that 1, I can only speak from my observation and my position 2, I'm from Hong Kong, so there are certain things about mainland China that I might not be aware of

Regarding Taylor's notability in China:

Is he well-known? Well, and I say this with all the love I have for Taylor, not really. In fact, during his time in China, there have been several cases in the videos that I reposted that you can hear people ask in Mandarin "Who is he?" A few more recounts I read said that quite several people who ended up near the fan crowd asked "Who is that handsome foreigner?" and followed and took photos/videos of him not because they recognized him, but because they were intrigued. (but side note, even the people who didn't know who he was said that 1, he's really handsome 2, he's really friendly, so that's sweet)

The thing about Taylor's notability in China comes in two regards:

1, RWRB became one of the most popular western queer media to be distributed on streaming platforms in China (especially since most if not all of the local queer media is banned, yes I'm angry about it), so this part kind of goes without explanation

2, Taylor uses Chinese social media platforms, which is really rare for Hollywood actors. This gives him a platform to interact with Chinese fans, since because of firewall/censorship, it's a hassle (and technically illegal but shhhhh) for Chinese fans to check his Instagram/ Tiktok/ Twitter(not that he uses it)/ Threads

Regarding the reason GQ went with him:

1, it was a personal invitation from the Editor-in-chief of GQ China (so more or less the head PIC of the event). They met during the Ferrari show, the Editor, Rocco Liu invited Taylor, Taylor said he'll come if it works out with his schedule and the rest is history.

2, And this is my speculation (because I care about international relationships and thought about this a lot), but I think GQ wanted to try something new by inviting Taylor, a Hollywood actor (and thus promoting the overall image of China but that's getting too political for my taste on my own public platform), and since Taylor is (a) currently popular since RWRB is still relatively new and the Chinese fandom is still really active (b) evidently willing to try out the local ways of things as seen from him using and operating his own Little Red Book and Bilibili account.

I mentioned this before, but I think that since Taylor was so willing to try new things (which is a quality of his that I personally admire greatly), all the people/organizations/companies in China who got in contact with him saw the opportunity to experiment and see what a Hollywood actor could do in a Chinese setting/market and how much traction he can bring. That's my guess for why he was so busy and going from event to event non-stop, and evidently looking tired by the time he was going back to the States (especially for someone who appears to never be tired)

So yeah. I think they took Taylor's enthusiasm for trying new things and his currently persistent popularity in China and ran with it. Not that it's a bad thing though.

But I will say this, for the GQ event, all sorts of people were invited. The most famous ones with a considerable career already (think the equivalent of RDJ, Brad Pitt, Leonardo Dicaprio etc), the currently popular young stars (think the equivalent of K-pop stars or the "white boy of the month" trend) but there were a considerable amount of people that I completely never seen or heard, and neither did a lot of Chines audience. In fact, I don't know who the two ladies who were in the same boat with Taylor during the water carpet are. So there's also that.

#rwrb #red white and royal blue #rwrb movie #taylor zakhar perez #alex claremont diaz #anon ask #answered #it's really interesting for me to talk about Chinese culture here #for the record I definitely consider myself more on this side of the web/world #but yeah it's nice #meraki essay

[iguana-eyanna]

Between The Sheets

Pairing: Hellboy x pregnant! reader

Summary: all he wanted was to get back home and fall into your arms, but things aren't that simple, especially when he knows he's leaving again

a/n: song inspiration from James Bay Move Together

Warnings: foreplay, sexual tension, implications of smut, angst

Hellboy sighs in relief after the airplane landed onto the base.

"Finally" he huffs out.

He's been itching to get out of this mission since he was assigned to it. Once he was done with debrief, he went to his motor and rode out home.

He always wanted to live in the countryside, it's something he dreamed of when he was a kid from his dad's stories.

He kills off his engine as he nears the house and walks his motor in the driveway. He unlocks the door and takes off his boots, silently walking to the bedroom.

He almost succeeds until the door was creaking loudly.

"Red?" a voice groggily said out loud.

"Shhh doll, go back to sleep. I'll shower real quick and join you."

"M'kay. Don't sleep on the couch, you know I hate it when you sleep on the couch." you slurred.

He snickered to himself as he headed to the bathroom. Every time he came from a mission, he slept on the couch so he wouldn't disturb your sleep. One time, he woke up as someone threw a pillow in his face and saw a grumpy you.

He reminded himself not to do it again.

Once he washes the grime off him and smelt like fresh lavender, he dries himself off and headed to the bedroom.

Your eyes were closed as you slept on your side, your hand carefully hugging the swell of your abdomen.

Hellboy smiles to himself, feeling his heart burst with love. You two found out you were pregnant four months ago. It was a surprise to both of you, but the idea of having a piece of each other really made you guys smile.

He throws on some dark gray joggers and slowly crawls behind you and places his arm over you, also cradling your bump.

"We missed you." you murmured, snuggling closer to him.

"I missed you more." he whispers in your ear.

"How's the little guy?" he asks, his fingers roaming on your bare skin.

You snicker. "The little person that has been living inside of me for four months stopped giving nausea but I've been getting some aches all over my body, especially my legs."

HB couldn't help but laugh lightly. He gets up and shifts down to unwrap you in your blankets.

"This better?" He asks, massaging your legs up and down.

You exhale, releasing a moan.

"I'd take that as a yes." HB said, earning a snort from you.

"But seriously, you don't want a boy?" he asks.

You open one eye and look at him massaging your legs on his lap.

"It's not that, I kinda picture you as a daddy's girl."

"Really?" he asks.

"But nonetheless, I just want our baby in our arms." You said, one hand resting on top of your bump.

"Ditto" HB says, leaning down to kiss your bump.

You look at him adoringly. When he's around you, he's like this whole other person. Yeah, people think he's a rude, ruthless man who didn't give care in the world. But when he was at home, he was this huge toasty teddy bear that kissed the ground you walked on.

You were his everything.

His warm hands trail your sides and lingers near your waistband, using his index finger to lift the soft fabric away from your skin.

"Red..." you warned.

"Shhhhh baby, I'll do all the work. You just stay there and enjoy yourself."

You blush under his words. He was always a sweet talker.

"Is this how you're going to be for the next few months?" You ask.

HB stops what he was doing, biting his lip inward. "Yeah..." he said with uncertainty.

Your eyes fly open as you stare at him. "What are you not telling me Red?" you ask.

He exhales a bit, trying to avoid your worried gaze.

"I'm flying out next week." he said.

"What?" You ask out loud, sitting up.

"We can talk about this in the morning over breakfast, I can make your favorite pancakes-" you cut him off as you get out of the bed, crossing your arms as you stood in front of him.

"How long are you staying out there?" You ask with more hostility in your voice.

"One to... two months."

"Two Months?!" you yelled.

"Baby" Red said.

"No, don't 'baby' me." You said, turning around to find your silk robe to leave the room.

He calls your name to go back into the room but you don't listen to him.

He places his hand in his face, groaning. He gets up from the bed to look for you.

He was about to go to the living room until he stopped at a closed door that had a glow inside. He slowly opened the door and saw you from behind. You were looking down at an unopened box.

"You know, I wanted to wait for you to build the crib. I thought it'll a nice project for us to do when you came back. I'd sit in a rocking chair while I boss you around."

Hellboy couldn't help but release a chuckle.

"I wouldn't have minded." He whispered, slowly walking up to you and taking you in his arms. You couldn't resist sinking into his chest, smelling the bath scent that still lingered on his skin.

Your eyes begin to water as your lip quivered.

"It's hard not having you around. I feel like you're going to miss everything and I'm more scared that... that you won't come home one day." You said, already choking up.

"Hey... look at me doll." He said, making you turn around.

"Nothing is going to stop me from being with you and our kid, okay? Any witches, vampires, or ghosts wouldn't dare to challenge this handsome devil."

You laughed at his last words as HB wipes your tears away.

"In fact... I'm going to do something that I should have done a long time ago." he said, walking away. It was your turn to follow him as he opened his phone to dial a phone number.

"Hey, it's me. I'm not going to the mission next week or any in fact. I'm staying here with my family from now on. If you got a problem with that, you can take it up with my wife... she gives a great uppercut." HB said, hanging up.

You couldn't move from where you stood, too shocked to speak.

"Did you just... do that?" you ask in disbelief.

"I just did." he said, giving you a soft smile.

You cried again as you walked to him, hugging him as tight as you can.

He calmed your whimpers as he kissed the side of your head.

"Nothing would ever get in the way of me being with you. I want to be here every step of the way. Whether it'd be feeling their first kicks, building an overcomplicated crib, or you death gripping my hand while you're in labor... I suggest using the stone one."

You laugh louder as you looked up smiling at him.

"I love you, red." you said, cradling the side of his face.

He kisses the inside of your palm as he looked down at your gorgeous eyes, hoping your kid would have the same as yours.

"I love you most."

You two shared a kiss under the dim lights. As you pull away, you yawn a bit as you bury half of your face in his chest.

"Let's go to bed, big daddy." you lightly tease.

He softly snorts as he bends down to hook your legs in his arms, carrying you bridal style.

"Anything for you, mama." You two laugh harder as you head back to bed, cuddling with each other as you slowly drifted off to sleep.

You guys learned how to move together, keeping the peace between the sheets.

#hellboy dc #hellboy imagine #hellboy fanfic #hellboy #hellboy x reader #hellboy fanfiction #hellboy x pregnant reader

[ru5t]

knowing your partner can potentially make writing together a lot easier !

– BASICS.

♡ NAME: Hannah

♡ PRONOUNS: she/her

♡  AGE: 25+

♡  TIME ZONE: CST (GMT -5)

–THREE FACTS.

♡ I moderate a(n overw.atch) twitch channel/community! It's good fun and very dear to me but also sooooo so frustrating, sometimes.

♡ When I was little I was convinced I was going to grow up to become a veterinarian. I do not think the level of schooling or the uhhhhh amount of strong stomach it takes is actually for me.

♡ I strongly suspect I have an anxiety disorder and ADHD(? or a similar symptom set) but have no official diagnoses. At any rate, executive dysfunction you bitch.

–EXPERIENCE.

♡   HOW LONG (MONTHS / YEARS?): I have been on tumblr since 2011 but I've been storytelling/rping basically since like. ... You know how most kids act out their imaginative play? I did a looooooooottttt of "explaining" (/narrating, whatever you want to call it) and very little physical playing-things-out. Yes, I know what that is a common early indicator of. I'm unpacking that one shhhhh.

♡   PLATFORMS YOU’VE USED: uhhhh paper (as in i'd pass a notebook back and forth with school friends), IMVU, dA, various dms, twitter, forums, tumblr, a chatroom i forgot the name of we'd use for tumblr 'events', discord, wire

♡   BEST EXPERIENCE: Actually just the experience of rp in general. I have learned a lot through writing and the people who gave me grace in the process of it.

–MUSE PREFERENCES.

♡   MASCULINE OR FEMININE: I don't think I have a preference, per se? But I do seem to gravitate toward guy canons, whereas my OC roster tends to be waaaay more fluid and diverse, but I don't think there's any particular reason for this? Just the pattern of characters who appeal to me tend to be dudes in popular media, I guess? I did almost write Liz from Hellb.oy and Nomi from Sens.e8, in addition to the other canon ladies I have on the multi+Kiri's blog.

♡  FLUFF, ANGST OR SMUT: I actually kind of like. what I will call exploring? You put two characters in a box. Sometimes you shake it, or put a blanket in there, but mostly you just.... see what happens. Also tho I'm the fluff queen ♥ Good angst/whump has to come from somewhere and go somewhere else, I don't like to force it or just throw it around without reason or consequence, if that makes sense? And I like smut in theory but I don't have a lot of practice and my comfort level is a verrry narrow ledge I'm working on building up better, because genuinely it seems fun and interesting.

♡   PLOTS OR MEMES: I enjoy a little bit of bg plotting but also sometimes just really want to completely wing it and feel out the chemistry before committing to anything. Once we have a ground floor I like to build (and spiral)!!! I struggle with doing a bunch of memes when there's no floor to stand on, it starts to get really challenging in an un-fun way, and I feel like it's repetitive and uninteresting to write and to read. If a dynamic never has footing it can never evolve, y'know? Gotta give me something, something has to stick at some point.

♡   LONG OR SHORT REPLIES: No preference! Even when I start out 'short' I find I often end up unspooling into longer stuff but it doesn't have to I'm just wordy. I don't care if I consistently get shorter stuff back, as long as it suits the like. Yes, and. of it all. As long as there's something to work forward from I'm chillin!

♡   BEST TIME TO WRITE: I don't have a conscious preference but I do seem to have more success in early morning hours. No idea what that's about.

♡ ARE YOU LIKE YOUR MUSE(S): Sometimes. A lot of them get teeny tiny bits and pieces of my views or opinions. I have never felt more Seen by a show than when Luke Pat.terson ghost-apparitioned into my life, even if his One Thing is not my One Thing, but we don't have to unpack that. Me 'n Henry have some childhood traumas in common (except he lives in a fairytale where he gets a thing I don't get) but I don't know that he's particularly like me. Maddy did super duper on a technicality start out as a form of self insert, but it's complicated because also super duper on a technicality so did her mom (who actually existed first! which is rare. Normally I build center-out but this time it was a generation back and Tech just sort of happened, which was crazy and fun), and they both really migrated away from that sooo quickly that it's weird to me to think that was ever even technically true. In the long run Maddy got more of 'me' than Mayhem ever did but it has always been in a hyperbolic and/or metaphorical way. She's definitely grown with me, which has been an Experience and a half. All of them, by virtue of being written by me, are subject to my sense of humor in the narrative parts of the writing, whether they would think it's funny or not.

#c:\\work>dir h:\ ooc* //.hnh .lve:bite/

[if-pluto-could-dream]

RULERSHIPS 👑(tropical astrology)

Every planet eventually passes through every sign. Think of the planets as travellers going on a journey, and the signs are different destinations. Some planets absolutely love some destinations (signs) and absolutely despise others. These are called rulerships.

When a planet is in the sign that it naturally rules over, we say the planet is at home. (Remember the traveller metaphor). 

When a planet is in a sign that it loves, we say the planet is being exalted. 

When a planet is in a sign that it doesn’t like very much, we say the planet is in detriment. A detrimental sign is usually the opposite, or the sister sign, of the Home sign.

When a planet is in a sign that it hates, we say the planet is in fall. This is the sister sign of the exaltation.

*If a planet is in a sign that it is Neutral to, we say the planet is in Peregrine.

THE SUN ☉

The sun is the most observable heavenly body like… ever. It is a luminary.

It changes signs once every 30 or so days, so that's why we have Aries Season, Taurus Season etc following each other in the span of a month. 

The sign of the Sun is representative of the person’s ego and how they establish themselves in this world.

It is at home in Leo, in detriment in Aquarius, in fall in Libra, and exalted by Aries

THE MOON ☾

The Moon represents the emotional body and the unconscious mind. It is also a luminary. It changes signs as it changes phases, every 2 days or so, and finishes a cycle in a month or so.

The sign of the Moon is how people act when they are alone and how they process emotional energy and information

It is at home in Cancer, in detriment in Capricorn, in fall in Scorpio, and exalted by Taurus

MERCURY ☿

Mercury is the planet that rules over communication and how we intake and project the information in our minds. Mercury is a very fast-moving planet, like its greek counterpart Hermes. 

The sign of Mercury is how people communicate and the aspects of information that they focus on when they are learning new things.

(e.g, a Virgo mercury might focus on details and express them better, while a Sagittarius mercury might focus on the bigger picture)

 It is at home in Gemini, in detriment in Sagittarius, in fall in Pisces and exalted by Virgo

VENUS ♀

Venus is the planet that rules over beauty, love and interpersonal relationships. This planet controls how we get along with our loved ones and what we need to give and receive in relationships to feel cared for and nurtured. It changes signs every month or so. It really depends.

The sign of Venus shows how the individual loves and the kind of love they need to get to FEEL loved. Also depends on other planets though

It is at home in Libra and Taurus, exalted by Pisces, in detriment in Aries and Scorpio, and in fall in Virgo

MARS ♂

Mars is the planet of action and drive (and sex shhhhh). Mars rules over our anger and our passion and also the pp ik ik strange but ITS TRUE! And venus is the coochie oop. Anyway yeah yeah, Mars is how we respond to very emotionally charged situations, when also combined with the energy of the moon sign

The sign of Mars represents the temperament of the individual and how they process their anger and direct their energy and passion.

It is at home in Aries and Scorpio, in detriment in Libra and Taurus, in fall in Cancer, and exalted by Capricorn

JUPITER ♃

Jupiter is the Planet of Optimism, wisdom and joy. This planet changes every year, so it affects a larger number of people and is not very specific to an individual. Its placement in something called a “house” is how we can determine the effect of the planet on a person.

Wherever Jupiter falls is where you get blessings, and the sign its in shows you at your most altruistic self! When you embody the qualities of this sign, you get more good karma.

It is at home in Sagittarius and Pisces, in detriment in Gemini and Virgo, in fall in Capricorn, and exalted by Cancer

SATURN ♄

Where Jupiter is a Karmically positive planet, Saturn is the opposite. It changes signs every two to three years or so and affects a large generation of people as well. Wherever Saturn falls in your chart is where you receive and are punished for Bad Karma, and the sign it's in is how it will affect you on a personal level.

It is at home in Capricorn, in detriment in Cancer, in fall in Aries, and exalted by Libra

URANUS ♅

Uranus is the planet that rules over initiative, oddity, standing out of the norm and being unique. Wherever this planet falls in your chart is where you change the name of the game, and where people might think you’re a little bit strange. Your habits here might be erratic and strange and the sign affects its expression as well. Now Uranus literally changes every 6 years so it's kind of hard to say how the sign expresses (for me. I’m not well versed enough to say)

It is at home in Aquarius, in detriment in Leo, in fall in Taurus, and exalted by Scorpio

NEPTUNE ♆

Neptune is the planet of Dreams and Delusion. Everything that Neptune touches immediately becomes wishy-washy and has rose coloured glasses placed over it. Wherever this planet falls, you cannot access this area of life to its maximum capacity. Like a forcefield of sorts.

It is at home in Pisces, in detriment in Virgo, in fall in Capricorn/Aquarius, and exalted by Cancer/Leo 

PLUTO ♇ 

Pluto is the planet of Transformation, Sex and Death. This planet makes everything it touches suuuper intense. It can cause fear in other people or inspiration, depending on how the planets are aspected. Aspects are kinda complex and are gonna be for another day, I fear. Anyway, wherever this planet falls, you cannot ever find true comfort in this place. You will have exalted power here, but none will ever revere you for it. Personal power is a huge theme of Pluto, and finding your own is what the planet tries to teach us all.

It is at home in Scorpio, in detriment in Taurus, in fall in Libra/Virgo, and exalted by Aries/Pisces.

Polite note: the detriments and falls of the last 3 outer planets are often up for debate. if anyone knows the final answer, please inform me!!

bye <3

©️ This work is entirely original and should not be reposted without the owner's consent

#astrology #astroblr #capricorn moon #tropical astrology #cancer sun #scorpio moon #cancer moon #gemini rising #scorpio rising #libra sun #libra rising #libra moon #virgo moon

[mrs-barnes-rogers-writes]

A Second Chance Is A Better Chance - Christmas As A Roamer - The First Christmas

Pairing: Alpha Steve Rogers x Omega Witch Reader, eventual ? x Omega Witch Reader and Alpha Steve Rogers X Omega Witch Reader

Summary: Rejected by your true mate at 21, you’ve given up on the Fates and the Moon Goddesses giving you a second chance. Being a Roamer for the last 9 years, you’re an Omega hardened by the world. You’re safe on your own because of your witchcraft, but it doesn’t stop Alphas and plenty of others sniffing around, especially when you’re an unmated Omega witch, who’s wolf also happens to be white, the rarest kind. You don’t need anyone, but why do you keep coming back to Brookville and why do you keep walking into trouble and helping people that you don’t know but for some strange reason feel like family. And where is that smell of apple pie coming from?

Series Warnings: A/B/O, eventual smut, violence in parts, witchcraft, shapeshifters

Chapter Warnings: Mention of violence against children. 

Note: You won’t see much of Steve in these festive drabbles but they are important to the backstory as we see snippets of what led her to leave her pack. 

You were stubborn. You’d made up your mind and that was it. You weren’t going home for Christmas.

Your mother had invited you but only because she didn’t want people to think she didn’t care. The moment you knew your stepfather was going to be there you’d declined the invite. She still sided with him after years of his appalling behaviour and treatment of you and you weren’t about to suffer for her to save face.

Your half brother was abroad with his family. A tropical destination somewhere you couldn’t afford but there was no extended invitation. The same went for your other siblings. You’d expected an invite from your sister at least, even if in meant a night or two on her sofa in her little cottage but that never came either.

Then the call came from your former Pack Alpha, and the Beta too, when you’d ignored his calls and texts. The alpha wanted you to come home and join the pack and his parents for Christmas. You fought the urge to turn your car around and head back. Your need for home comforts growing after nearly 9 months on the road. You loved Alpha Jacob’s parents. David and Diana had been the Alpha and Luna before they’d stepped down due to David’s ill health. The pack was newly formed when you were a child and David had been the natural leader. Diana was the firm but fair omega luna and she was a natural with children, which had lead her to meet you one day as you’d tried to escape your stepfather’s wrath in your small enclosed garden. You’d squeezed through a gap in the fence and was nearly out of reach as he pulled you back by your foot, no care in hurting you. The luna had heard your whimpers and squeals as the wood splintered and dug into your clothes and skin. She’s grabbed you and let out a growl. Your stepfather released you instantly.

“It’s OK little one. Shhhhh, you’re safe now.”

You whimpered into her neck as she held you on her hip.

“Who was that? The alpha grabbing at you?”

“Dad.”

Diana had frowned. She could tell from his scent he wasn’t your father. Her train of thought was quickly broken as she heard the gate to your garden open. Your stepfather stormed towards her, letting out a low growl.

“Give her back.”

“Not a chance.” she replied keeping her head raised and looking him straight in the eye.

Your stepfather frowned. This omega had some balls or no sense, he wasn’t sure. He growled and surged forward, making a grab for you. He was stopped suddenly by a returning growl and it was coming from her. It was at that moment that both you and your father discovered Luna Diana wasn’t your average omega.

She was a True Omega. A True Luna.

She stared down your father without fear and you lifted your head from her neck and watched her with wide eyes.

“Luna Diana, is there a problem here?”

Jonathan, one of the pack alphas stood to her side, having rushed to her when he picked up on her scent and warning growl.

“We’re taking the little one home with us. Make sure he stays here until further notice.”

She strode away with you in her arms as others pack members started arrive at the scene.

The luna then spent the day and night taking care of you. A warm meal for your hungry belly, a soothing bath for your cuts and grazes, a soft brush through your matted hair and a new set of pajamas to make you cosey.

The comfort had gained your trust and you had started to talk. Diana already knew you were new to the neighbourhood and that among the newly built houses that were mix of affordable and government housing, you were in one of the government owned ones for single or widowed mothers, but your stepfather was there. A background check by the pack Beta found he shouldn’t have been and the bruises that littered your skin told the story of the type of the man he was. Then you told her how you were forced to call him Dad, how he would shout and hit if you did the slightest thing wrong, how he hated you. You had then crawled into her lap and whispered in her ear that you had magical powers but you weren’t allowed to tell anyone.

Diana had smiled softly at you and pushed your hair back behind your ear.

“You’re a witch little one, you are full of magic.”

That was the first time anyone had admitted or acknowledge what you were.

The following day your mum had rushed into the pack house as you baked cookies with the pack children, a tale of a double shift and your clumsiness on her lips. Diana gave her a knowing look, with your mum quick to look down at the ground.

“He’s not meant to be living with you is he?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Oh I think you do.” Diana had snarled, the other omegas guiding the children from the room. The luna stepped towards your mother, ready to challenge her but a deep voice and a rush of her alpha’s scent in the room made her pause.

“Diana, it’s time for Y/N to go home.” She turned to glare at Alpha David as he mind linked to her.

“We’ve spoken about this, they aren’t part of the pack, we have to tread very carefully.”

Diana watched as Jonathan fetched you from the other room and lead you to your mother. She was quick to grab your hand and hurry you out.

“Y/M/N, I want to be really clear on this, we don’t tolerate violence towards children here or liars.”

Your mother paused briefly, nodded and continued out of the pack house, pulling you alongside her. You’d looked back at Diana, a worried look on your little face but before Diana could get to you David stopped her.

“She’s not part of the pack, we have no right to get involved. They could leave if we push things and then we can’t protect her at all.”

Diana had turned and walked away. She didn’t talk to her alpha for a week.

You were eighteen when you finally and officially became part of the pack. The years had taken a strain on you and the pack as they’d tried time and time to protect you, but with no pack ties and your mother happy to lie to the authorities it was a difficult battle. Until the night that everything changed.

You felt sick as it slipped into your thoughts and the effect it had on what came over the years that followed. The scars, the rejection, the sickness, Alpha Jacob and you leaving the pack. You hadn’t been gone a year, how would it look if you went back now? Having to sit in the same room of the mate that rejected you and your replacement?

You were fine, right?

Your decision was made. You weren’t going home for Christmas.

#steve rogers x reader #alpha steve rogers x reader #alpha steve rogers x omega reader #avengers au

[gas-station-chai]

VS the World AU: Some notes on a few of Jack's exes that I had laying around

Benji:

Jack met Benji when he was in college and dating Jerry. Jerry had dragged him into this camping club/cult thing (he didn’t know it was an extension of the cult at the time) and brought him along for a “quick hike through the forest,” where Jack quickly got lost/separated from the group (it was a good thing, too. Jack thinks if he stayed with them, he might’ve been sacrificed or something).

Benji, who had been camping out in that forest for the past week, found him at the bottom of a cliff with a broken leg and quickly (begrudgingly) took him back to his spot to fix him up (meet cute idea: “Haha thanks for saving my life and shoving my broken bone back into my body. I’m sorry I thought you were a bear when you first showed up and threw a rock at your face”) 

They kept in touch after that. B kept visiting him in the hospital to check up on him, and Jack eventually broke things off with Jerry and used Benji as a rebound (which he’s a little salty about, but doesn’t take it to heart too badly. 

They probably broke up when Jack realized what an ass he was being to Benj for using him like that. Their relationship didn’t really change much throughout the entire thing tbh. Neither of them were very touchy/romantic/communicative with each other in the first place. True neutral relationship (in Jack's eyes, that is)

"I do really like the idea tho that Benji took it a lot more seriously than Jack was aware of. like Benji wasn't a super touchy feely or romantic person but he did really like jack, and he loved that jack was similar. he liked having someone he could protect and care for, and also someone who seemed to rely on him without being too needy.

and then things ended, and Jack made the right choice but Benji is still bitter." -Xavier

Rosa:

They’re way too cute together (both romantically and platonically). Probably met in high school, she helped him with Spanish classes and he helped her with literature classes, and they started dating from there <888 in the present whenever they talk/meet she still quizzes him on Spanish to see if he still remembers her lessons. He doesn’t, but he tries <8

There’s probably still romantic feelings there for each other but, Rosa’s the one who broke things off because of the whole “Dark God” thing (guardian angel type thing? Family religion? She’s still a conduit somehow for supernatural shit) to keep Jack safe. Jack was reluctant at first but for some reason Shhhhh really hates him so it didn’t take that much convincing for him to stay away from her

Rosa’s technically not even in the Evil Exes club, it’s just Shhhhh. She’s just there along for the ride lol

Tony’s a jealous loser abt their relationship (can he tell they still like each other or does he not like them being friends still?) and Rosa can see it. She’s really polite to him in front of Jack but she’s very clearly trying to hint to him, “Seriously? This guy?” with her eyes. Ofc Jack is immune to nonverbal communication and she knows that, but Tony doesn’t, so it only pisses him off more. (Xavier note: "the world needs more subtly petty/bitchy rosa and i am THRIVING HAHA")

Jack doesn’t help with the way he’s asking him not to hurt her too badly. “SHE’S ATTACKING ME WITH PLANTS, JACK. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO HERE”

JACK JUST LIKE "HEY I'M ACTUALLY STILL FRIENDS WITH HER PLEASE BE NICE" "JACK I AM FIGHTING FOR MY FUCKING LIFE OUT HERE." (-X)

Jerry:

Jerry counts as Jack's 6th ex despite having met him before Benji due to the fact that they kept dating off and on again for a while (with Jerry being a rebound between a few exes)

Pre-cult Jerry had long hair and got it lopped off about a month after he joined the Mathmetists, so Jack associates his short hair with this fucked up, brainwashed version of his (ex)boyfriend. 

After the first few on-and-off breakups/getting back together's, Jerry realized this and started growing it out again. He stopped wearing the uniform around him, too; started dressing in his old clothes (the terrible fashion sense ones) whenever he hung out with jack. 

Ofc, Jack saw it as a sort of "recovery" and they started dating... again. Jerry keeps acting like the old him (funny, spontaneous, flirty), but sneaking in tidbits and quotes of their beliefs into normal conversations. Jack tries to ignore it.

Jerry's smarter than he looks, he knows what he’s doing here: He’s lowering Jack’s guard. But he can't help but get excited at the idea of Jack joining him in this important mission, so he ends up pouring too much cult-stuff onto Jack all at once. Jack realizes that Jerry’s still into the whole “destroying the world” thing and breaks it off with him again. The cycle repeats multiple times 😔 

Jerry might be hellbent on convincing Jack to end the world’s suffering with him, but he’s still a sweetheart. He’d never force him into this, that’s why he keeps trying to talk jack into it. (Jack has his number and every social media he has blocked, but Jerry somehow keeps reaching him through alts and new numbers)

#i moved Rosa's over to have it be a lil more organized #VS the World AU #tftgs jack #tftgs benji #tftgs rosa #tftgs jerry #jack townsend #rosa vasquez #jerry pascal #tales from the gas station #tftgs au #chai writes stuff #jantonio #jackerry #rojack #benjijack #xavier my beloved friend

[misterewrites]

What Next Oh Fair Yorrick? (Mirror’s Edge)

Holy shhhhh 3 months? I was gone three months from this story? I am bad at this (actually we were fixing up the house in that time and boi has it been an inconvenience.) But I'm here and so is the next chapter yay! I promise all my writing in general will be more tightly packed and consistent. Unless it's not then you know life got me.

Okay. It's....alot just *gestures to the world* one thing after another and. Just lose yourself here. Disconnect from the world, have fun, read this and other stories. Don't feel guilty if you need to get away from it all. It's okay to just exist and enjoy things. Be safe, keep each other safe, wear masks. I know they're annoying but we're not done yet, the pandemic is still a thing and there's plenty of people who cannot get the vaccine. We need to protect them and each other. Get the vaccine, push for it worldwide cuz we're all in this together. And have fun. Have fun and relax and just let the world be without you for a hot minute.

Also if you are binge reading this, i doubt it but who knows im very modest, here's your break. go stretch, get some water, eat, rest your eyes before you keep going.

Okay that's it for me! have an amazing week, thank you for everyone who reads this story, who gives me likes, and reblogs and views. I know original work is very specific and hit or miss but seriously thank you for reading this. I deeply appreciate it. :) Share with your friends maybe they'll like it! and if you wanna leave me a comment with your favorite bits or how much you like this story I'm always grateful for them. take care and it'll be okay.

If you want to read this story in a more reader friendly place, you can follow the link over here --->

https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/106456251

If you’re curious what the heck all this is about, you can read the story from the beginning over here! ---> https://archiveofourown.org/works/30599756/chapters/75486005

And if you want the list of my complete works which include, but are not limited to, Arcane, Legend of Zelda, Soul Eater, A Percy Jackson you can find that right here ----> https://archiveofourown.org/users/MrE42/pseuds/MrE42

That’s it for me! and the end of the public tour. For those of you leaving us, thank you for your time. Everyone else? Past the do not enter sign below

Summary: Tomorrow has become today and Casey is ready to help the Gravekeeper of Souls stop whatever is threatening the peace of existence but first he needs to know what exactly is the next step in their plan. Surely Yorrick is on it. 

----

Grandma Cassie bought the Remington household when she moved to Newton Haven roughly 30 some years ago and while neither her or her beloved spouse were around anymore, they left a loving home with precious memories Casey wouldn’t trade for the world.

That being said, however, Casey hadn’t stepped foot in his house for a while. He was embarrassed to finda fine layer of dust that blanketed everything and that hung in the air like snowfall. Yorrick mentioned she didn’t mind it so much because she slept in less accommodating places but the young cleric still felt the pang of guilt at the sight of his neglected home.

His parents decided to vacation after his mother retired from Willow’s Rook Neighborhood Watch and they spent the last two years abroad. His sister Kay had left a few years before that when she got married and though she still lived in the neighborhood, her visits were far and few in between. Truth was Casey ended up at her place more often than she did his. Simply put Casey was never home which was a bit ironic for a cleric of the hearth.

Two years.

Casey rubbed at his engagement ring absentmindedly as he entered the home under the glow of the rising sun.

The state of the house was actually worse than last night since he could actually see the dust this time.

“Am I working too much?” Casey rubbed his chin quizzically “No it’s the house that needs to clean itself. Yorrick? Good morning! Are you up?”

Only the creaking of the home settling answered him.

Casey frowned, sliding his bat into his hand while he quietly made his way towards the second floor landing. He left her in his old room upstairs but in reality she had run of the place since he slept in his office as usual.

The stairs groaned under his weight but the silence remained, thick and unbroken.

Casey gripped his weapon tightly when he reached the top. He paused, listening in case something was laying in wait.

Out of everything he was expecting to hear, the trill of a flute wasn’t one of them.

It chirped and squeaked but less like it was playing a song and more as if it was speaking.

Now that he was this close to his room he heard the muffled voice of Yorrick speaking to someone though only the flute responded.

“Are you still mad about that? I couldn’t take you yesterday.”

The flute trilled unhappily.

“I don’t care if you could take them on.” Yorrick snickered gently “You are a thousand years old!You need to act your age.”

A sharp note answered her.

Casey could hear Yorrick rising to her feet “Okay but after we’re done saving the world. Again. Did you notice it?”

A curious note played.

“Yeah. I don’t like it.”

The flute did not respond this time.Instead Yorrick’s footsteps grew louder until she opened the door and saw him standing there.

Casey caught sight of an odd shape ducking out of view as Yorrick hurriedly closed the door behind her.

“Hi!” she beamed brightly, giving a cheery wave with her free hand. The other held tight onto the walking staff, rusty lantern swinging lazily back and forth.

Casey gave a polite smile “Good morning. I yelled from the front door but I don’t think you heard me.”

“You did?” Yorrick frowned quizzically, trying to recall “Oh I didn’t hear you! Well, obviously.”

She chuckled joyfully and Casey nodded in agreement “I understand. You were probably still asleep huh?”

“No I was talking to a spirit.”

Yorrick’s tone was casual but her gaze was intense and focused. It was a bit unnerving but luckily this wasn’t the first time she’d done something like that.

He decided to be honest “I know, I heard.”

“Not worried I’m possessed or something like that?”

“Nope.” Casey replied “You’re the Gravekeeper of Souls. The name kinda tells me what to expect.”

Yorrick’s lips broke into a wide grin “Thank the lantern! You have no idea how much spirits spook people. I get people don’t like dealing with death and denial is a powerful tool but come on! If a spirit wanted to hurt you it would’ve done it by now. Oh! That reminds me! Kal! You can come on out now!”

Kal the spirit looked more like a floating pillowcase than the ghost of a person long past: Kal’s upper half was oval shaped with a wavy bottom. He couldn’t have been taller than two feet and he floated through the air effortlessly. Kal passed through the door like it wasn’t there and began circling Casey, clearly curious at his presence.

Kal made a questioning noise.

“Yep!” Yorrick answered eagerly “He’s the one Cassie was telling us about. You remember the nice lady? Casey here is going to help us take down whatever is disrupting the spiritual balance!”

She clapped excitedly though Kal’s only response was to bob up and down.

“Well I am more than happy to….” Casey paused, unsure he heard what he thought he did “Wait. Did you say Cassie?”

Yorrick nodded.

“Cassie? As in Cassiopeia?”

Another nod.

Casey gulped anxiously “As in Cassiopeia Remington?”

Yorrick pointed his way in confirmation “That’s her! She was telling me all about you last night! Like the time you tried to ride the dog like a horse and ended up getting that scar on your knee.”

The Gravekeeper’s face turned deathly serious for a moment “Why haven’t you cleaned the house Casey?”

“E-excuse me?” he could feel chills run down his spine.

“The house.” Yorrick repeated, her voice empty and distant “She wanted to know why her house is so dusty. She did not raise your mother to raise you to keep a dirty house.”

“I…”

Yorrick waved her hand in a panic “Those were her words, not mine! I was just repeating what she said!”

Casey paled as realization dawned on him. He’d always assumed his grandma passed on peacefully but if she was still here, still held here by some regret or sorrow or something he should’ve tried to get her to move on years ago….

“She’s not here.”

Casey snapped out of his stupor to find Yorrick staring intently at him.

“What?”

“She’s not here.” Yorrick repeated firmly with a soft, sympathetic tone “She did pass on.”

“How do you…?”

She grimly motioned to the lantern “Spirits are more complicated than that. Most people always assume souls are trapped in this reality because X, Y or Z but the truth is it’s a choice. It’s always a choice and just because people move on doesn’t mean they can’t come back for awhile. No different than traveling to another city for them.”

Casey’s face must’ve been dumbfounded because Yorrick gave a hearty laugh “Yeah there’s a lot to spirits but you’ll get the hang of it. Or you won’t! That’s okay too.”

“Yorrick….” guilt tugged at his heartstrings

“Okay.” Yorrick bit her lip thoughtfully “What is the best way to….Oh! Here touch this!”

Before he could react, she gripped his wrist and roughly placed his hand upon a nearby wall.

“Sorry.” Yorrick flinched and gave an apologetic smile “But here! Do you feel this?”

“Yes.” Casey nodded, unsure what he was supposed to feeling.

“And the air? How it fills your lungs? The dust tickling your nose?”

Casey winced guiltily “Oh lord, don’t remind me but yeah I do.”

Yorrick pulled away hurriedly, clearly caught up in her explanation “We use our senses to perceive the world around us. Sight, touch, sound, smell, taste if you’re weird. This is how we navigate life right?”

Casey gave a quick nod.

“Now how could you go through life if you didn’t have any of that?”

Casey’s face narrowed, scrunching as he tried to wrap his head around the question. He thought about it. He thought about for a good minute or so but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t figure a way to explain how could he live his life without relying on his senses.

“I...don’t know….” Casey truthfully spoke after a long pause.

“Exactly!” Yorrick cheerfully gestured to Kal “Spirits don’t have senses. They don’t even have bodily functions anymore! They exist in a reality we mortal beings just can’t understand.”

“Okay but what does this have to do with my grandma Cassie?”

“EVERYTHING!” Yorrick cheered.

Silence fell over the two.

Casey looked at Kal then to Yorrick then back to Kal again.

Yorrick blinked “Oh right. The actual point I’m trying to make.”

“Yes please.”

“Okay.” Yorrick scratched her chin absentmindedly “This feels good. Right. So spirits see the world differently than us. While we deal buildings and air and sky and cars and all that real stuff, they….don’t.”

“Right.” Casey agreed.

“For spirits it’s like being trapped in a fog. A fog that has loads of different shapes and colors but fog nevertheless. Since they don’t have bodies to react to the physical world they can get easily lost which is why they usually tethered themselves to something. Places, items, people.”

“A home perhaps?” Casey whispered as guilt ate at his stomach.

“No!” Casey jumped as Yorrick stomped her foot suddenly “None of that! Spirits are either tethered or, the other thing I was about to mentioned, untehtered. Oooo terminology!”

Casey made an uneasy face “So...grandma Casie is….”

“Unethered!” Yorrick bounced happily “When she died she moved from her mortal coil to the afterlife, which of course is the chosen state of existence a spirit has earned based their actions on Earth. She went peacefully so no beating yourself up.”

“Wait hang on. Then how did you talk to her? The lantern?” Casey was admittedly lost at all this.

Yorrick pursed her lips “Well. A little of A and a little of B. Yes the lantern allows me to speak to spirits, even those who have long since passed, but any powerful spirit medium, spiritualist or relic could do that. I still need to know her if I wanted to bring her back for a visit.”

“Things aren’t powerful because they are. Things are powerful because we make them so.” Yorrick touched the wall and ran her finger down it gingerly “This home, her home, her family’s home. It is so filled with love it’s a beacon to her. A lighthouse in the sea of fog that is the living world. Memory is too powerful a force to be bound by a single person. It takes people to make memories. Even when the people who made them aren’t around to share them anymore. Especially when they’re gone.”

She carefully wiped the dust off a nearby picture frame. Casey could fell his heart ache at the sight of him and Jaime, smiles frozen in time.

“Love.” Yorrick murmured quietly before she spoke louder with clarification “Well also hate. Intense emotions really. Unetethered find their way back through the fog via places or people that meant something to them. Good or bad. Us spirit folks are just connecting them from their world to ours for a little while. A telephone line basically. Because no one is really gone.”

Yorrick stared at the large, aged photo that hung in the center of the hall: A young couple, hands clasped tightly with one another as they shared a smile together. They stared, not at the camera, but deeply into each other’s eyes, love evident in every fiber of their being.

His grandparents on the day of their wedding.

She let out an adoring sigh “Not if we remember them.”

There was a peaceful moment that was quickly broken by a sudden clap from the Gravekeeper.

“And of course.” Yorrick went on without warning “Tethered spirits tie themselves down. Most of the time it’s something or someone important but it’s not unheard of for them to latch on whatever happens to be nearby. Hence the tethered part of the term. They use these tethers as ways to hold themselves in place so they don’t get swept up by the massive confusion of the physical world. Think anchors: Nice, consistent, unmovable against the tide but always have the chance to relocate.”

Casey scratched his chin curiously “oh that does feel good. So those tethered spirits, are they trapped here?”

Yorrick shook her head happily “Nope! They can choose to leave any time they wish. There’s loads of reasons spirits would stay beyond love and revenge. Some just aren’t ready to move on yet, others kind of forget to. Some, of course, are avoiding their punishment for the life they led cause they don’t get an option to come back. Heck I meet one who was just curious about how much a place could change in a hundred years.”

“So what do you do exactly as Gravekeeper?”

“Keep graves.” She answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Casey stared at her.

“Right broad blanket term and not at all helpful. Well my job is to check on the spirits.” “Time is irrelevant for the dead. What is one day, a decade, hundreds of years to them? All feels the same when you lack a body to worry about. Some souls are stuck in place because they have no idea how long it’s been. They usually start haunting people or places because of sudden changes most of the time.”

Casey nodded in understanding “That makes sense. If I had no sense of time and my surroundings suddenly changed completely, I’d be pretty disoriented and upset too.”

“Exactly.” Yorrick smiled for a second before it faded into a grim expression “Of course I also protect the souls. Souls are valuable to a lot of creatures and in all kinds of dark magic. Corruption, consumption, even using spirits as fuel for dark purposes is a very real thing in my line of work.”

Casey remembered Finn’s encounter in Litwick forest along the countless other dangerous situations the trio often found themselves in. His best friend’s general advice was to grant funeral rites to the departed and burn their corpses. He always said it was to protect both body and spirit and while Casey was more than happy to do it but it just occurred to him how important it really was.

Her blew a strand of her hair out of her face as she continued “So I check up on cemeteries and other meaningful locations. Help spirits pass on, force them to move on if they’re causing trouble.” she began to count off the rest of her duties on her hand “Cleansing tainted or corrupted places, pass messages along to the living, fight the odd demon or fae on occasion. Find a way to achieve harmony between the dead and living in the cases where there’s conflict between the two. Holy shit do I do a lot, I just realized that.”

“You’re clearly very capable at it.” Casey said with a hint of admiration.

Yorrick rose to full height, towering over the cleric while she shone with pride “I don’t want to brag and I won’t cuz I don’t have to.”

“Of course.” Casey took a deep breath in “Okay, what are we doing?”

She stared at him for a moment before realizing what he was asking “Oh! us. Umm. What are we doing?”

“The reason you’re here.” Casey offered helpfully.

“Oh right! The spirit-pocalypse I’m here to stop.” Yorrick chuckled “Sorry I’m not used to the living. Most people just stare at me with glazed over eyes. It’s a lot I know but thanks for following along!”

A peaceful silence overtook the two but Casey decided to wait patiently this time.

Yorrick smacked her head “Right right. I recommend we eat first, preferably on the way to the nearest cemetery.”

Casey nodded “Straight from the source right?”

Yorrick smiled wide.

“Well.” he scratched his chin thoughtfully “The nearest one is Hope’s Meadow in the middle of town. There’s a really good sandwich shop nearby we can get breakfast at.”

“There isn’t a cute girl there, right?”

Casey shot her a curious look. Her face was flushed with embarrassment.

“I went to a cafe for a drink yesterday.” Yorrick muttered shyly as she twiddled her fingers together “There was a really pretty girl named My-something. I didn’t pay attention, I got really nervous. I don’t think I can handle another cute girl today.”

Casey softened. He patted her arm gently “How about you let me do the ordering, okay?”

Yorrick nodded happily “Deal! Let me get my tombstone and we’ll be on our way!”

And as she disappeared beyond the door frame with an energetic hop, Casey couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

“Okay so she did say it her tombstone. I wasn’t just super tired and hearing things last night.”

#My work #Original Work #original story #mirror's edge

[wordwitch00]

It's not 'goodbye'

"Is he still out there?"

"I would imagine so."

Twilight stood at the door, looking towards where the hill rolls down towards Firley Pond. He couldn't see Wild, but he knew he's there.

He let out a deep sigh. "I didn't think he'd take it this bad."

"It's not your fault," Flora said as she came up behind him, resting a hand on his back between he shoulder blades. "He's very attached to those he loves. The idea of losing you--"

"He's not though."

"--I know, but that's not how he sees it. He wants you to be safe, and he won't know that you're safe on this journey because he won't be with you."

Twilight took a deep breath. He should have known the news wouldn't go over well with Wild. Flora was thrilled for him--accompanying a ship bound for Labrynna with a half dozen horses and other Hyrulean goods was the first step to starting trade relations with other countries; it could only benefit Hyrule in the long run.

Twilight being asked to join the trip had been a surprise, but perhaps it shouldn't have been. He was developing a name for himself throughout the Stable network as something of an animal whisperer, helping to shoe, trim, shear, and birth the horses, cows, sheep and goats.

They'd need at least two people on the ship to take care of the horses, and Twilight was the obvious choice for one of them.

While Flora had jumped around in excitement when Twilight told her the news, Wild had looked like he'd been stabbed.

"Y-you're leaving?" he'd asked in a trembling voice.

"Well, yeah, but not for--Wild!" Twilight has started saying before Wild dropped the plate he was holding and bolted out the front door.

That had been hours ago. Flora had gone down the hill to make sure Wild didn't go to far, but had been unable to convince him to come back to the house. That was going to have to be Twilight's job.

He turned to go back into the house, grabbing a blanket and kicking off his sandals. He was almost out the door when he felt Flora reach for his hand.

"Just let him know he's not alone," she said with a sad smile.

Twilight nodded. He placed a kiss on top of her head and left the house, making his way down the hill to the pond.

Wild was sitting at the edge, knees up to his chest and chin resting on knees. Trying to make himself as small as possible, common behaviour when he was feeling vulnerable.

Twilight approached from behind and draped the blanket over Wild's shoulders. He tensed, but welcomed it by grasping the sides and wrapping it around himself better.

Twilight took that as a good sign as he sat next to Wild and pulled the smaller man to his side. He also took it as a good sign when Wild rested his head against his shoulder and allowed himself to be cuddled.

"I'm sorry I ran," Wild whispered.

Twilight ran his fingers through Wild's honey blond hair. "Can you tell me why you did?"

"I don't want you to leave me," Wild choked out as tears started to fall again.

"I'm not leaving you," Twilight emphasized, "I'm just going away for a while. Just like when I go help out at the stables. I'll be back."

"No, it's not the same," Wild argued. "This isn't like a week-long trip to Tabantha where I can just warp to a shrine and pick you up, you'll be gone for months! To a place none of us have ever been! And you're crossing the sea and who knows if you'll even make it to Labrynna your ship could sink and then you'd be dead and I'd never know what happened--"

"Shhhhh," Twilight soothed. "You're catastrophizing again."

"Am not," Wild sulked.

"Are too," Twilight said with a warm smile. "Labrynna isn't that far, it's closer to Hateno than Gerudo Town is, just separated by water instead of land."

"How do you know that?"

"Cuz I pay attention when Flora tells me things, unlike some people," he said, giving Wild a little nudge. Wild huffed and leaned further into Twilight, prompting him to wrap Wild up in both arms. "It'll help out and benefit everyone. That can only be a good thing, right?"

Wild grumbled what suspiciously sounded like "Labrynna should get their own horses" and buried his face in Twilight's neck.

They sat quietly together for some time, listening to the frogs croak and the birds sing around the pond. Eventually, Twilight felt Wild's lips against the pulse point in his neck.

"I love you," Wild whispered against Twilight's neck.

"I love you too, which is why I'll be back as soon as possible," Twilight tilted Wild's face up to his before pressing his mouth against Wild's. "Maybe if everything goes well, the three of us could go on a little adventure across the sea? That'd be fun, yeah?"

Wild hummed, not agreeing or disagreeing, and let the blanket fall off his shoulders. With his arms free, he wrapped them around Twilight's torso.

They remained that way until Flora finally came to find them, sitting at Twilight's other side and wrapping her arms around the Ordonian as well. Twilight put an arm around each of them, pulling them close, trying to get as much contact as possible.

He hoped he was making the right decision.

#Wildflowers at Dusk #zelink #wildlight #loz #legend of zelda #botw link #tp link #botw zelda #loz au #link/link #linkshipping #poly relationship #polycule

[smallboyonherbike]

for the end of year asks: 2, 9, 14, 20

ty ty!! 💖

2 - album of the year

if we go purely by my top apple music album it's måneskin - rush! which is a good album but not solid enough for me to say absolute top - it had the advantage of being released in january.

i do stand by my other top 5 as more reflective: diamonds & dance floors by ava max (another jan release but SUCH a solid pop album, if you also skip ballads this is for you), the rise and fall of a midwest princess by chappell roan (i didn't check her full album out until like november and it still got top 3 bc of how obsessed i got, she needs to blow up bc she's a musical and aesthetic genius), this is why by paramore (paramore being my 2nd fave artist of all time ofc their new album would be up there but i truly do love it, it's an evolution but also just so Them still!)

5 is renaissance beyoncé which was a 2022 album sure but i hope it's in my top 5 forever bc it's album of all time for me!!! could i have just picked one album maybe but shhhhh!!

9 - best month for you this year

hmmm i'm so bad at remembering shit in terms of months. i'll say november bc it's always a good month - my birthday, plus fall, plus it's after october which is my busy travel month at work so i get to be chill again. this year i went to the renaissance fair w three friends and it was a blast!!

14 - favorite book you read this year

oh god lemme try not to write an essay lol. i read way more this year than usual as an adult bc my current job is often slow (having actual free time still feels weird)

i'll instead talk about the three authors i read the most - mary balogh - i read 16 of her books this year. i really went on a tear and would have read more if i wasn't trying to save at least a few for the future. she writes regency romance which is yknow a big genre w lots of authors but smthg about her style really works for me! she somehow manages to have series with like 8 characters and their love interests and you care about all of them and they're all distinct enough to be side characters that Matter

jasmine guillory - read 7 this year. contemporary black romance. her characters are all loosely connected but you could easily read any of them solo! tropey meet cutes but not overly so, and crucially the characters can be flawed and have issues without being total assholes who shouldn't be together

seanan mcguire - read 7 october daye series this year. i've long been a huge fan of her wayward children fairy tale fantasy series but hadn't read any of her october daye urban fantasy until last year and now i'm obsessed! i literally got some of them as physical books from the library instead of ebooks which i hadn't done in years, bc i couldn't possibly skip any. october is a stubborn jerk and i love her so much. also cat boyfriend and found family incl her ex-death omen <33

20 - what's something you learned this year?

uhhhhhh i've thought about this previously and idk tbh. it's felt like a p solid year for me without a ton new going on. but maybe sliiiightly more being willing to push past my social anxiety to do new things! i can get p complacent in how i've set up my life to not have to do anything new, which makes me feel like i'm less anxious than when i was in school until suddenly something New is happening.

but like having to travel alone for work, def in 2022 i mostly got take out bc eating alone in a restaurant feels So Scary. but this year i was like i wanna eat hot food and relax and enjoy and it was p nice! something i still wanna work on in general, doing a bit more new/social things while still being a homebody lol

#megamazing #oops i really went off but hey it's my blog #ask //

[makeroftherunes]

WIP Wednesday: The Elysium

For @adhdavinci and @eriquin , here are some excellent underworld softies for you. BIG WARNING for allusions to physical abuse - I always intended Mel to be escaping a bad situation at home, but writing it was hard. It is allusions, no graphic descriptions, but I still want you all to take care.

I am really liking this story so far! Hades and Persephone are my favorite characters in just about any media. Victorian mythologists did them so dirty - I love the idea of Persephone just strolling into the underworld one day and saying, huh, yeah I live here. Anyway, enjoy!

He disappeared as quickly as he had arrived. The flash faded, the noise of the club outside came rushing back against the walls. Mel was still holding their hand, eyes still wide.

I knelt down in front of their chair. “Here.” I handed them their water cup. “You need to drink. You’ve just been through a large shock and you’re hurt. Water, and then we’ll see about a change of clothes and some food, okay?”

They held my gaze for a moment, and then they nodded slowly. They took the cup from me and sipped a little.

“Good. We’ll see about getting the first aid kit and maybe a hea…doctor for you. No hospital, okay? But a doctor I trust.”

They nodded again.

Persie drew up a chair next to them. “Mel, sweetheart, we need to ask you if there’s anyone to call, anyone who can come get you. A family member, a friend…”

Mel looked between us for a moment. They seemed to be caught in a loop, a world away from the kid Greg brought in. I saw their lip tremble just in time to guide their water to the table before they began to cry.

At once, their face went bright red, and they roughly wiped at their face as though angry at their tears. They cried in short, quiet sniffs, as though they couldn’t be loud. Persie patted their head, murmuring shhh, shhhhh, and I summoned the box of tissues off the counter. They took one and scrubbed at their eyes.

“Sorry. I’m really sorry, um, Lady Persephone, Mr Hades, I’m sorry,” They stammered. “No I…I don’t have anyone. No…family. My friends are all far…away. I can’t go…home. He…I can’t..go home.”

“Oh sweetheart,” Persephone whispered, pulling Mel’s head into her shoulder. It was a gesture of comfort, but I knew it was also to hide the fires of hellish rage in her eyes from them. She glanced at me as Mel kept crying, and I knew she saw the same in mine. “Okay. We hear you. We won’t call home, and I’m going to go get you a blanket, okay?”

They started to take some deep breaths, and nodded. As Persie got up, I took her seat. Mel seemed suprised when I held an arm out for them to rest on me, but when Persie smiled at them, they leaned on my shoulder. “I got you, kid,” I said, “I got you.” Staying still, allowing them space to process what very well could be the most harrowing night of their life, was the most difficult thing I had done in months.

I am not a God inclined to violence, vengeance, or impulse. I don’t need to be - my kingdom is inevitable, and all meet their judgment in my court anyway. But there are some actions by mortals, and by gods, that fire my anger so hot it burns me to be released. I wanted drag this child’s tormentor to the gates of the lowest pit of Tartarus and show them the future they earned.

But I am not a god of violence. And the only thing I wanted to do more in this moment, was make sure this kid was safe enough to cry as much as they needed. I would ask them to them stay in our home, let them know that we can earn their trust if they will allow us to try, and damn me, guide them on this fucking quest, even if it meant great danger. They needed to know that someone would do that, for them. And when Persephone returned with one of her hoard of blankets to wrap around them, I knew as we sat there in our break room that she felt the same.

#writing #badger scribbles #wip wednesday game #wip wednesday #writeblr #writing games #the elysium #cw: abuse #cw: family trauma

[hann-uh]

look at these Harley costumes!!!!!!!!!!!

#i 💞💖💜💕💜💜💕 #also no one cares what month it is shhhhh #harley quinn

[disease-danger-darkness-silence]

Content warning: homelessness, disability, poverty, the usual from your friendly neighborhood screw-up: PART THE THIRD

So I'm starting over from scratch because things have changed drastically. This is an update to this post.

Total raised between all of us: Just about $900! I fixed the car, although there's a few things I still need to take care of in that regard. I got some totes to pack in. I paid bills. I got gasoline.

Links ahead of time:

Ko-Fi | PayPal.Me | Needs Wishlist | Car Wishlist | New Place Wishlist

As always, PayPal and cashapp are both tashabot. If it says Nova, Cat-Thulu, or has a delivery address where my name starts with an N and the zip code is 89701, that's all me.

Explanations below the cut.

Total raised as of today, starting over from the beginning because new month, new fuckup! -

$0/$2,044

Dammit, I thought I'd managed to trim a bunch off.

Anyway the things I need most right now are $48 to pay an EFT that's gonna come out of my bank on Monday for filling up my gas tank yesterday, and $70 I owe my brother. That's this weekend's needs. Next week is a whole new hell cycle.

So we were supposed to be out of here on the 1st. That was yesterday. We are not out of here. Why? Because there are no "pet friendly" units. Luckily the roommate is being somewhat flexible but I have GOT to get out of here. I have three case managers, one property manager, and both myself and Raven working on this. We're also Dashing like crazy, but gas is so fucking expensive here right now! $5+ per gallon! And my gas efficiency has gone up since I fixed the engine but not THAT much.

It's gotten so bad around here, rent-wise, that Raven and I are legitimately considering just fucking fleeing the country. So we are going to be downsizing more than I originally thought, but I do need a scale (for weighing packages we're selling on eBay) and I still need to get a footlocker for my tools (they sell them at Wal-Mart, not that expensive). These together run ~ $50. I can't find a good foot locker to add to my wish list on Amazon, but I do have scales up there.

So rehoming Kono didn't work. She went with my brother and hid for three days and then fought with his cat. She lost a lot of weight. She's back with me for the moment. Need to do something about that. I don't know what to do.

We still have SNAP for the meantime. I need to go renew it soon. We are also on the waitlist for HUD-VASH and are gonna be in transitional housing until that comes through (hopefully within six months, but who knows).

SOMEONE GRACIOUSLY SENT ME THEIR OLD LAPTOP! And it's such a nice laptop, too! It needs a new charger eventually (there's one listed on the Needs wishlist), but it's what' I'm typing on now. I can write again! I can do freelance work and not have to struggle with making room for a huge-ass desktop! I'm so happy!

Some of this is copy-pasted from the old post. Some of it is not. As usual, if you have any unused or half-used gift cards to like auto parts places or whatever, I'm super willing to take them off your hands as I need to do a LOT of car work.

Money I owe my brother: $70, needed ASAP! He has a pre-order for a game that needs to be paid or he'll lose the deluxe edition (yes, it's Lego Star Wars. Shhhhh).

Car stuff: $80ish. I need an oil pan gasket, oil to replace the oil currently in there, a serpentine belt, an oil filter, engine coils, and a trim/door tool set to fix the door handles on the front doors. I imagine that at some point I'll need new tires and a new fuel pump/filter/strainer assembly, but that's a problem for future Nova. All that stuff is listed on the Car Stuff wishlist.

Car insurance: $73. I still haven't removed the Toyota and I can't until Monday, but this is the past-due balance.

Phone Bill: I have a payment arrangement set up with T-Mobile in the amount of $196 on both the 12th and the 26th. Obviously I'm hoping I'll just be able to doordash most of that! Total: $392.

Title Loan: I now only have the one title loan to worry about. It's a much more reasonable amount. The next payment is $129 and it's due on April 4th. It's $395 to pay off in full. THIS HAS NOT CHANGED I HAVE NOT PAID THE APRIL PAYMENT.

Storage: TLDR: Need a foot locker for tools ($26 at Walmart), some weatherproof totes ($71 on amazon for a four-pack), and some basic plastic totes (8-pack on Amazon for $71). Total: roughly $250 with tax.

U-haul: (And dump runs on the days leading up to move -we’re getting rid of a lot of stuff too. Also gas. I’m probably underestimating, fuck.) $300, including deposit.

Cat food: $25.

Allergy meds: $9. Still need these. They are also on the needs wishlist.

Gas: Recently shot up in price to $5 a gallon so probably $200ish. Hasn't changed.

Sundries: ~$100. Raven and I both desperately need underwear and we are running out of toiletries. Our shoes are falling apart too. We got some TP but will need more.

Cigarettes: $100. Please, we know we should quit. It's on the list of shit to do after this move is accomplished.

#signal boost #fundraising #poverty #financial insecurity #homelessness