#andre x his scarf

[sin-sidejob]

Hi! If you don't mind taking requests, could you write headcanons for Brett Hand with a shy s/o that has crochet as their love language? Lol himbo lives in my head rent free and I'm always like "Hey I heard you offhandedly mention this is your favorite color, have a scarf I made"

No worries if you don't want to, thanks!

Brett Hand x GN!Reader:

Tethered

Warnings: SFW, GENDER NEUTRAL, canon aligned depictions and material, BRETTS SIX PACK MAKES AN APPEARANCE, brett cries but it’s happy, food mention once, about coffee that Brett’s pouring no actual consuming of food or drink

Contents: SO PAINFULLY SWEET YOURE GONNA NEED TO BOOK A DENTIST APPOINTMENT, istg it’s so cute and y’all two are fools, brett needs love and cries when he gets it

Author note: this is so precious as a concept and thank you for submitting this request I literally fell in love with the idea when I first read this ask. Muah — all the kisses for you

Brett had always been accustomed to giving more love than recieving it. From his siblings, his parents, childhood friends and fraternity brothers. Even coworkers. But working with Cognito Incorporated opened his heart a bit with how he got to receive love, true affection back.

The one who cracked that well-guarded heart was you.

He was not immediately enamored by you. Not so say he didn’t find you incredibly awesome and cool, someone he immediately befriended and got along with. Brett just hadn’t fallen in love with you immediately.

That’s not to say it didn’t take long for him to actually develop feelings, strong ones, that had him pining after you wistfully in a manner that irritated the fuck out of each and every member of the gang. Andre was this close to just throwing a bunch of illicit drug recipes together in attempts to create a love potion or something adjacent.

He was this close to being nothing but a literally lovesick puppy, trailing and tripping over your feet and eager to get any meagre amount of attention and affection from you. Brett would literally lie his head on your knee or lap while you worked at your desk if he could, and just beam up at you.

He’s sick in the head. The good kind. Lovesick.

Throughout all of this, he thinks you’re just oblivious to him or don’t really know him. Think of him as a stranger. The truth is quite the opposite, with you being incredibly interested and intrigued by the man. Finding him charming and sweet, complete package looks and personality wise. No one’s got a bad word to say about him.

That and he’s the type to lend you an umbrella when it’s pouring when he’s only got the one between the two of you. That’s because he did.

You had stayed late working on a report for your department that got lost in the shuffle and needed to be expedited, forgetting the time and hurrying out only to find the parking lot in a down pour. While mentally bracing to make a run for it, you catch Brett Hand extending his umbrella and offering it.

“You can have it! My car’s closer than yours is, makes sense that way.”

And you’re about to offer just sharing it and walking together but the man carries on, rambling about how you can even keep it if you want and he flushes before dashing out, drenching himself in a mad dash for his car truly not parked to far away. Sadly, rain still dealt harshly on his button down.

Luckily for you, you got a glimpse of his shirt when drenched, understanding the appeal of wet t-shirt contests immensely now that you fell into a stupor just looking at his chest.

He tucks into his car, seating himself in the drivers seat and buckling before taking a second to check his mirrors — he’s that great of a driver? Where did he come from, an L.L. Bean catalogue?— and starts the radio before turning back to glance at you, sitting underneath the lip of the building entrance and shrouded from the rain. He waves.

You wave back.

Brett doesn’t pull out of the parking lot and he gets confused looking at you standing there before you realize with one of those “oh shit I’m being stupid” moments that you need to go to your own car, go on home, and he’s waiting to make sure you get out okay. As you unfold the umbrella and lift it overhead and step out into the rain, you make a note of visiting the cloning department to ask about Brett and whether he’s real or not.

You lose yourself in thought but make it to your car, stepping into the drivers seat in a mirrored motion similar to Brett and do your routine, turning the car on and checking the mirrors and backseat, turning the radio on then pulling up navigation. And as you tuck the closed umbrella against the shotgun seat, you glance back and see Brett scrolling through his phone and glance up to catch your eye and he smiles, waves again cheerily.

Good lord he’s not real. Did Hallmark start back up their cloning company again? It’s not Christmas yet.

You put the car in drive, passing his in the parking lot as you pull out to the main road leading to the highway for your route home. You try not to think of him when you sing along to the radio when the lyrics of love songs catch your throat.

—

Brett sees you alone the next week, not catching an eyeful of you between the rainy day and now. He can’t take his eyes off you and he nearly overflows the coffee cup in his hand in the communal kitchen.

You look so lovely and he’s trying to figure out what you have done with your hair and then the next he knows you are already on your way and walking up to him.

“Hi Brett.”

“Hi!”

He’d shoot himself in the foot if he could.

You look amused at how his tone lifted in pitch when he saw you, bright smile unwavering and shift on your feet. “I wanted to thank you for the other day and wanted to make you something — and it’s completely fine if you don’t like it! I won’t be offended.” You’re lying through your teeth.

Brett flushes crimson, pretty pink on his tanned cheeks and tugs his lip between his teeth, smiling like a child and his eyes get wide with joy, thinking you at least have to like him somewhat to make him something.

“You didn’t have to do that! Going out of your way and everything, but I’m sure I’ll love it. I don’t know how there could be anything you could make that I wouldn’t love.”

While he’s berating himself for almost just confessing all his feelings, you’re trying to not let your heart unravel and pool at your feel like an upturned spool of twine.

You shift and remove your hands from behind your back, revealing a bundle of fabric in this lovely apricot shade. His favorite color — orange. It’s tied with a big bow, one of those wired ones from the craft store, something personal about it that has his tummy seizing and twirling at the same time. God he could cry.

He tunes back in, eyes glancing between the bundle of fabric in your palms and up to your lips that move, and he’s just entranced. Bewitched. Ensnared.

“- like to crochet sometimes, it’s fun and it keeps my hands busy and my mind empty. But I hope you like it, Gigi told me it was your favorite color and I wanted to repay you.”

“Can I hug you?”

“What?”

You quite nearly drop the scarf you made for him when you hear Brett speak and hold yourself back from screaming yes but just manage a nod and a somewhat timid smile, muttering a sure that makes both of your grins wider.

He smells like old spice and old fashioned cologne, like hand cream and coffee, feels like a dream and his arms wrap around you and you want to cling to them and beg him to never let go.

Instead you don’t, you hug him back, and say nothing about the tears that flick at the collar of your shirt’s neckline and how he tugs you so close. You just run a hand through his hair and hum, unworried about the scarf pressed between you and your worries for if you’d ever get to be close to him.

You already were, and with the strong arms wrapped around you, you felt tied and strung to him, utterly hooked. With his head on your shoulder and feeling his watery smile there against your pulse, you had no worries. No loose threads.

You just felt him.

#inside job #my inside job #personal inside job #brett hand headcanon #Brett Hand #Brett hand x reader #brett x reader #Brett Hand x gn!reader #x gn reader #x gn!reader #brett hand imagine

[hitchell-mope]

Halloween costumes 2023. Supergirl edition.

This years theme for the CatCo Halloween party is the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Karamel. Nomad Steve x Scarlet Witch. It turned out to be very difficult for Kara NOT to fly everywhere that night. Mon El’s hair was the perfect length for Nomad Steve. They’re keeping both costumes for a rather more intimate use.

Dansen. Doctor Banner x Civil War Black Widow. Admittedly it was lazy on Alex’s part. But she just didn’t feel like spray painting her entire body green. On the bright side. Kelly won twenty bucks off Morgan Edge for beating him at one armed pushups. They’re also keeping the Bruce Banner costume.

Brania. Dane Whitman x Sersi. Ironically. Brainy’s costume took more time to put together than Nia’s. He was oddly particular about what scarf looked ordinarily human enough. Nia had to promise not to make her costume her regular superhero outfit because it was so comfortable that she never wanted to take it off.

James x Lucy. Langdyne. Lucy even had a suit that allowed her to fly. Albeit temporarily. Kara was INCREDIBLY jealous. They won the impressions contest.

Winn x Samantha. Starmora. They won the dance competition. And Samantha realised she’s got a thing for men with facial hair. You learn something new everyday.

Cat. Melina Vostokoff. She lost a bet to Morgan Edge. She was uncomfortable the entire night and she’s never wearing boots again.

J’onn. Nick Fury. All he had to do was generate an eyepatch with his shapeshifting abilities. He won second place in the costume contest.

Eliza. Frigga Odinson. Yes, she wore it last year. But why mess with success?

William. Kingo. He won the costume contest. Mostly because Kingo is the favourite character of the costume contests judge.

Andre. Agatha Harkness. It was very accurate to the tv show. But the judge was very biased towards Eternals. So Andrea lost

Carter. Spider-Man. He even built a device that enabled him to walk on the walls and the ceiling. He was the judge for the costume contest. Eternals is his favourite MCU film. And Kingo’s his favourite character. So William won

Ruby. Kate Bishop. She had Samantha worried out of her mind for a week what with all the archery practice she insisted on doing to make the costume as accurate as possible. She ended up shooting Lena in the foot.

Morgan Edge. Doctor Selvig. Thankfully it was the 2011 version not the post tesseact version. Because nobody would’ve like that. Except perhaps Cat.

Lord’n’Luthor. Just like always. They just wore their regular clothes. And also just always. They got laughed and locked out of the building

#arrowverse #supergirl #kara danvers #mon el #mon el defence squad #karamel #alex danvers #kelly olsen #dansen #brainiac 5 #nia nal #brainia #james olsen #lucy lane #winn schott #samantha arias #we need a name for this ship #cat grant #j’onn j’onzz #eliza danvers #william dey #andrea rojas #carter grant #ruby arias #morgan edge #anti lena luthor #anti maxwell lord

[plasticdodecagon]

this is something that friends do

Happy 2020! Ringing in the new year with some Taldeea and Ravenclaw house clownery, which I meant to finish last year (decade). 

A couple of inspirations for this one: 

@promptsforthestrugglingauthor Prompt #945. 

@no53472 headcanons about Laith, particularly that he hates Talbott.

Synopsis: Badeea and Talbott look for her cat when he goes missing. TW: mention of death of a pet. (Badeea x Talbott)

~

When Andre looked up from the latest edition of Wizards' Witness Magazine---which he did only to fully absorb the genius of the fashion designers before flipping the page---he was surprised to see his famously unstylish dormmate, Talbott Winger, inspecting himself in the mirror. Fussing with his hair, straightening his blue tie, standing up straighter---and seeing Andre's amused grin reflected back at him.

“Another date with Badeea?” Andre guessed.

“It’s not a date," said Talbott as he turned away from the glass. Probably hiding a blush. “I told you. We’re just looking for her cat. As friends. This is something that friends do."

Andre snickered. "The demon cat? Who hates you?"

Talbott shrugged, not denying it. "Laith and I haven't always...gotten along, but I don't want anything to happen to him. It would kill Badeea. Which," he added, "would be a problem because we're friends."

Friends. Sure. Andre was friends with Badeea, but you didn't see him staring at her from across every class, mumbling her name in his sleep, or offering to help her find her evil cat who hissed and scratched at Talbott at every opportunity. (And, most damningly, had once stolen one of Andre's Pride of Portree scarves and buried it in his litter box.)

But Andre had said all of that to Talbott before. "In any case," he said instead, "you look like less of an eyesore than usual. I'm sure Laith will be impressed."

~

They snuck out every night for four weeks, shouting and searching for that dumb fat cat---in the corridors of the castle, in the classrooms, on the Quidditch pitch, even in the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade---until the sun rose or Filch caught them. (”Please, Mr. Filch, we’re looking for Laith, my cat---he’s gone missing---” “Not an excuse! Get back into your common room before I shackle you both to the ceiling!” Talbott noted later that it was the first time he’d seen Filch fail to dole out a punishment.)

Talbott, unbeknownst to Badeea, resumed the search from the sky when he had a few free minutes in the day, eyes peeled for his ginger fur, ears peeled for the jingle of his collar or his tell-tale hiss (which Laith had reserved for Talbott, in and out of bird form). He helped her hang posters all around the castle. He went with her to the animal shelter in Hogsmeade to check if he had been found.

He even recruited other students to help with the night searches, breaking his cardinal rule of not speaking to others unless necessary. Penny and Tulip had readily agreed; Charlie had offered to comb through the Forbidden Forest; and even the Cursed Vault Kid and Andre joined the search, reluctantly. ("And third-wheel your date with Badeea?" they said simultaneously, before high-fiving and teasing him for another twenty minutes.)

He did everything he could think to do. But when Charlie Weasley brought Badeea a starry blue collar which had been ripped to shreds in the Forbidden Forest, all he could do was let her tears soak his shirt.

~

"You're going to Hogsmeade?" asked Andre, as if Talbott had just announced he was going to the moon.

"I'm going to the animal shelter," explained Talbott, pulling on his coat. "To get Badeea another cat. Tulip says she's not even eating, and---"

He didn't know why he told Andre at all, but he regretted it immediately, especially when Andre offered to come too.

"Just give me a few minutes to look presentable," he said, already walking into his Undetectably Extended closet.

One hour later, they were walking into the animal shelter. Taped to the door was a flyer with a photograph of Laith, basking in the sun, with the words, "Have you seen this cat?" The old man behind the front desk, to whom Talbott had introduced himself twice in the past two months, gave no hint of ever having seen him before.

"Looking to adopt?" he croaked. "We have toads, dogs, crups, lizards---"

"We'd like to see your cats," interrupted Talbott, who knew this could go on for quite a while.

"---puffskeins, cats, spiders, bats, a venomous tentacula, and an owl." He stared at the boys for a moment. "You look like you're here for a cat. Right this way."

He led them down a narrow hallway, which was lined with bedded cages. As soon as Talbott entered, each and every one of the cats began hissing.

"Are you sure you want to do this, mate?" said Andre. "They really hate you."

Talbott nodded. It was for Badeea. "I'd like to see them all," he said to the man.

Talbott didn't at all know how to judge what would make a good cat for Badeea. There was a skinny ginger kitten who bit Talbott with hate in his little black eyes and tried to steal Andre's scarf; a cuddly black cat, who curled up in Andre's lap before launching himself at Talbott's face; a calm calico who had to be coaxed out of her corner with treats, before she scratched Talbott's arm; and an old gray cat with puffy fur, who only managed a hiss before lying down on her blanket and scowling at the pair of them.

"Aww, she's like you," said Andre, reaching out to pet the gray cat, who promptly threw him a scowl and sauntered into a different corner of the room. "Badeea would love her. Like a friend," he added with a wink.

"Stormy has been here for six months," added the old man, who had watched each of the interactions without once intervening. "Her owner passed away. She doesn't open up easily, but with patience and gentleness, she's just as cuddly as a dog. Probably."

Talbott looked at the cat, who stared back at him with indifference. He suddenly felt a great kinship for this surly creature. She needed Badeea.

But what did Badeea need? Did she need a new cat? Did she need someone else to take care of, when she was struggling to take care of herself?

"We can't," he said, sighing, running a finger along one of the many, many scratches he'd received that day. "When my parents died, I didn't need replacement parents. I needed time to grieve. This was a stupid idea." He sighed. "No matter how much it hurts, we can't just...ask her to be happy again. That's not fair to her. We just have to watch her work through it, and let her know that we're here for her."

~

That was what Talbott did. He asked for updates from Tulip, who periodically left the dorm room with various canvases, each an indecipherable combination of color and shapes.

"She almost went to breakfast today," said Tulip two weeks later. "But then she remembered that Laith loved breakfast, so she started a new painting. Laith'n and Eggs." She paused thoughtfully. "They are getting progressively more realistic, which I'd say means she's getting better. Once I can recognize a cat in these, she might be ready to leave the---"

"Talbott!" yelled Andre from the boys' dorm.

Talbott sighed.

"And how is Andre?" asked Tulip, almost the picture of sincerity except for a twinkle in her eye.

"He lost a scarf, Tulip. He's fine."

And yet, Talbott still found himself standing to go tend to his friend, who had been inconsolable since he realized he'd left his favorite Pride of Portree scarf at the animal shelter. ("What does it matter? You have ten more like it." "Ten more like it? That scarf was one of a kind---hand-sewn by Iliana Incanto herself---made from the finest puffskein fur---" "Why would you wear it to an animal shelter, if it was so special?" "To ask me to not wear something special is to ask me to go nude, and we aren't quite there yet, mate.")

"What?" said Talbott, poking his head into the dorm room.

Andre, who was dressed for the day in black, sighed and said, "I'm ready to go back to the shelter...and retrieve the remains of my scarf."

"Okay then," said Talbott. "Have fun."

"You're coming with, of course."

"No. Why? No."

Andre frowned. "Because you're my friend. And this is something that friends do."

Oh no. He had to stop making friends.

~

"A carp?"

"No, a scarf," sighed Talbott. "We were here two weeks ago, and my friend lost his scarf. We were looking at the cats."

"Ah, you want to see the cats," said the old man. "Right this way."

Talbott and Andre followed. As before, the hallway came alive with hisses. But there was something oddly familiar about one of the hisses, which was particularly venomous. When Talbott looked into the corresponding cage, he grinned---there, with a purple scarf ripped to shreds in his mouth, and only the barest hint of a scratch on his own face, was Laith.

~

Talbott could have sworn that Laith was smirking at him from his spot in Badeea’s lap, where he purred and happily received kisses and pets. And as much as he wanted to hate that cat, he couldn’t help but feel a great surge of affection towards him, seeing Badeea’s face light up for the first time in weeks.

Talbott sat beside her on the couch in the common room, and Laith whipped his head around to give him his very best hiss. 

“Be nice, you,” scolded Badeea as the cat leapt off her lap to go lie in the sunlight streaming in from the window. She beamed. "I can't believe you found him. I was so sure that he was...that something had...” But she didn’t finish. “What happened to you?” she asked, running a gentle finger across his cheek, which made his breath catch. “You look like you were mauled by a--- Laith didn’t do that, did he?”

Talbott shook his head. “No. But every other cat in Hogsmeade did. Except Stormy.”

“Stormy?”

Right on cue, a fluffy gray cloud of cat hopped onto the couch and proceeded to curl up with her head on Talbott’s lap. She hissed slightly at him but didn’t move from her spot.

“Stormy,” he said, resting a hand on her head, which earned his fingers a bite.

Badeea grinned at him and extended a hand to Stormy, which was instantly nuzzled. “Oh, she’s a sweetheart. I really thought you hated cats.”

“I don’t hate cats. They hate me.”

“They don’t know what they’re missing, then,” said Badeea. She hesitated a moment and then kissed him quickly on the cheek, after which time stood still. 

“For your scratch,” he thought she might have said, before jumping up to run after Laith. “No, you drop that scarf right now---I know the Magpies are better, it’s no excuse---drop it.”

#talbott winger #badeea ali #andre egwu #tulip karasu #taldeea #badeea x talbott #andre x his scarf #laith #i don't know if it's clear but all cats hate talbott because he is a bird #laith hates talbott because he is a bird and a competitor for badeea's attention #one of these days i'll write something for andre where he isn't like the comic relief #but i love writing his character as incredibly extra #hogwarts mystery #hphm

[neon-vocalist]

day 24: christmas eve: macaronnie

Originally written October 9, 2021

"And another one down!" cheers Veronica. "You're on a roll!" She's either talking about the completed box or the crabby old lady who just finished going off on Heather for saying the words my girlfriend, who was quickly taken care of and burnt to a crisp.

"Thanks, Ronnie," says Heather, smiling shyly as she slides a box across the counter to another volunteer to be taped up and given out. "I couldn't have done it without my assistant."

"Well, I'm glad to help. And speaking of being your assistant, you have another order."

"Already?"

"Yeah. It's Christmas Eve, baby, a place like the food pantry is gonna be busy."

"I know. And I'm glad we're helping people," says Mac, a firm determination in her face. "But, jeez, it's never been so non-stop before here." She pauses before picking up another box. "Alright, lay it on me."

"This family's a small one, two kids, one dad. Twin girls. This is their first Christmas without their mom, and he's struggling a bit to get everything done."

Mac nods. The orders are usually like this- not 'I want X amount of X type of food,' but 'this is my family and our situation.' She's gotten pretty good at appealing to everyone, and she's a fan favorite to grateful customers and workers alike. They usually only come to the food bank once or twice a month to help out, but already Mac's gone three times, twice without Veronica. It always worries Veronica just a bit- you never know who could be lurking around a place like that, and she's already gotten sick once- but she also admires Mac's fierce determination to help and brighten people's days.

"Ronnie, can you toss me the cookie mix? And also the canned veggies? Not the carrots, you idiot, no one likes those," she teases lovingly. "The peas, s'il vous plait."

"Coming right up," Veronica replies, picking up two cans of peas and a Funfetti sugar cookie mix. "Hey, Paul?" she calls to a volunteer in the other pantry.

"Yeah?" he replies, poking his head out from the cold food section.

"Firstly, you've got ice in your beard. Second, are there any Christmas candies, or any candies really, in the freezer?" Paul's face disappears, only to emerge a second later along with a hand holding four lollipops.

"This good?"

"That's great. Mac, are the daughters with him? Oh wait, I'm the one who took the order slip. Might as well go check on my own." Heather flashes Veronica a thumbs up as she passes by, lollipops in hand to give to the kids.

The waiting room is incredibly full. People cram into the waiting area for their boxes, and even more are in line to get their tickets. Maybe Mac will let her take a break and help out the receptionists for a while. Eventually she spots a kind-looking man in a scarf with two young daughters clinging to his legs. "Andre?" she calls in his general direction. He lifts his hand in a half-wave. She nods and heads over there.

"Hey there," she says. "Me and-" she pauses and takes a deep breath before restarting, making a quick calculation in her head: Andre looks nice. Not like the type to throw a fit about lesbians touching his food. But then I thought that about Jackson and look where it got me. "Me and my girlfriend are making your box, it should be out shortly. What are your daughters' names?"

"This one's Teagan," he replies, tapping a finger on the slightly littler one's head, and Veronica sighs in relief. "And this one's Grace. Thank you so much. You don't know how much this means to us."

Veronica smiles and kneels down to the girls' eye level. "I do. I lost my mom when I was 19. I can't imagine having to deal with that at such a young age. Can I give them some candy?" The girls turn towards her with big eyes. One of them reaches for the lollipops.

"Go ahead," Andre says, chuckling. "Thanks again."

"No problem," she replies, helping Grace unwrap her cherry Dum-Dum. "I wanted to ask you, though, a bit about what you need for your box. Heather's an expert packer, so you're probably gonna be getting one of the fullest boxes you've ever or will ever receive, but we were wondering if you needed more of the Christmas stuff like cranberry sauce and potatoes, or just general stuff like mac'n'cheese and rice. We can't give you any perishables, but we can do cans and boxes and packets. And if you need things like fruit and veggies, there's another food bank down the road that focuses on produce."

Andre smiles thankfully and pulls Teagan up onto his lap. "Just the general stuff is fine. Whatever you have, we'll take. But if you do have anything particularly Christmassy, I think the girls would like it." Veronica smiles and stands up.

"Thanks for reaching out," she begins, trying to summon memory of the speech she was taught for interacting with the people in need. "You're really brave for doing so. And I hope you and your girls have a wonderful Christmas." She hands him the two uneaten lollipops and goes to report back to Heather.

"What's the verdict, chief?" asks Mac, pausing with a can of pineapple in her hand.

"He said just the general stuff, but Christmas would be appreciated. The girls are really little. Their names are Teagan and Grace and they're super cute. And he was super nice. I feel sorry for him."

Mac nods and changes out the pineapple for pumpkin pie filling. "You think he knows how to bake a pie?"

"The instructions are on the label of the can and the crust," points out Veronica. "I think he'll be fine. Almost done?"

"Yep! Just gotta-" Mac tosses in a box of rice-a-roni and a can of chicken noodle soup. "Good! Send this one off to Scarlett and Kate!" Veronica nods and lugs the box out to the distribution room- where boxes are topped off and taped up.

"Hey guys! We've got another box!"

"That's the twentieth one today!" marvels Scarlett.

"Perfect timing, Vee," says Kate, thrusting a clipboard at her. "We've got three more checking in. You and Heather are off the hook." Veronica sighs in relief and signs her name. As much as she loves volunteering here and meeting all the people, it can get really tiring. And there are still preparations to be made for Christmas. Presents to be wrapped and all that jazz.

"Thank God. Thanks, Scarlett and Kate. Thanks Paul!" she calls. "And Linsey, Nora, Peter, Derek... the rest of you who I'm forgetting... whoo! I'm outta here. Mackie?"

Heather's leaning against a shelf and typing on her phone. "Yeah, baby?" she asks, clicking it off and sliding it into her back pocket.

"We're out. A group of three new ones just came in. We can go home."

"Oh, thank God."

"My reaction exactly. Come on, babe. Let's go."

Once at home and changed into pajamas- an oversize T-shirt for Veronica and a nightgown for Heather- they start setting up for the next day. Cookies and milk go on a plate. Pretzels and Chex cereal are coated in white chocolate and red sprinkles for 'reindeer food.' Neither of them are sure why they're still engaging in Santa. Veronica always ends up eating the cookies while she puts the presents out, and the milk usually gets poured out, and Heather doesn't even try to hide her eating of the reindeer food throughout the day. It's still kinda fun though. And then there's only one thing left to do.

"You ready for our letters?" asks Mac, sliding Veronica a piece of paper. She sits down across from Heather and smiles sleepily at her.

"Definitely." A couple years ago they started a tradition of writing letters to each other on Christmas Eve and then reading them on Christmas the next year. Veronica has theirs from last year in each of their stockings, ready to be opened tomorrow. They're not necessarily that long, but they're always sweet and heartfelt. Heather's already started writing, but Veronica sits and chews on the cap of her pen, wondering where to start.

The greeting is always the weirdest part. Dear Heather sounds too formal. Hello! sounds plain stupid. And no greeting feels like it's rushing into the letter. What has she done in the past? She can't remember. Eventually she settles on Sunshine and starts thinking of what to actually write about.

There are so many things she could bring up. She could talk about Heather's surgery or her diagnosis. She could talk about everything that's changed between and in them, for better or for worse. She could talk about moving from Ohio to Oregon and starting brand new, or maybe their trip to Japan, or even the time she almost burned the house down. But none of them seem like a good place to start. None of them feel like something to talk about or bring up again. None of them seem like something they'd want to look back on next year. Not the hellish move and losing all their furniture, not the doctor's appointment that turned their lives upside down, and certainly not getting stuck in Asia for nearly two months. But then... what should she write about?

"I'm done!" says Mac with a smile, signing her name with a flourish and tucking her letter into an envelope. "How about you?"

"Almost," Veronica stutters with a shaky smile. She can't let Mac down. But all she wants to do is go to bed. There's no energy left for writing. Between running around all day at the food pantry and all the homophobes pitching a fit when she said 'my girlfriend' and now screwing up something that Mac holds so dear, the entire day has been draining. But she has to get it done. She'll do it for Heather.

"Need help?"

"No. I got it. Go get ready for bed." Veronica turns the blank piece of paper over and stands up to kiss Heather and wave her off to brush her hair and teeth. Heather lingers in the doorway for just a few seconds before turning around and running back upstairs, just in time to miss Veronica setting her head in her hands and starting to cry.

Twenty minutes later, her letter is finally done. Messy? Yes. Probably terrible? Definitely. Tear-stained? We don't talk about that.

"Are you okay, baby?" asks Heather when a frantic-looking Veronica appears in the doorway and practically slams the dresser drawer after tucking both the letters inside.

"I'm fine," she sighs. "Just a really long day. I'm sorry."

"It's alright." Heather opens her arms for Veronica to cuddle into, and Veronica hops onto the bed and squirms into her grasp. "Three good things?"

"Um... talking with Paul and Scarlett and all the others, that little old lady's smile when I gave her her box, and making so many boxes. Helping so many people. You?"

"That's really sweet, Veri. For me, probably seeing you talk with all those people, you looked super in your element, getting to scream at some homophobes, and covering you in red sprinkles." Veronica giggles and clicks her lamp off, both of them tired beyond belief.

"Good night, baby. I love you."

"I love you more."

"I love you most."

Veronica turns over and goes to sleep. Once Heather knows she's completely out of it- her breathing evens out and her tics stop- she props herself up on an elbow and whispers into the darkness.

"I heard you crying," she starts. "And I heard you crumpling up your paper. I know you're not happy with your letter. My little perfectionist darling. But I know I'm gonna love it, because I love you. And nothing could ever change that." Veronica shifts a little, and Heather holds her breath until she's positive Veronica's definitely, 100% completely asleep. "No matter what the people at the food pantry say. I'm yours forever. And I've got you forever. You never need to worry about what I'll think of you, my love. I don't need a letter. I don't need a bunch of presents. I don't need a huge production, okay? I don't need... Jesus come to Earth. I just need you. And I need you to be happy."

The silence screams in Heather's ears, and she lays back down and pulls the blanket up around her head.

"Sleep well, Veronica. Merry Christmas."

#anxiety tw #yay #mentions of homophobia #macaronnie #heather mcnamara #veronica sawyer #heathers #heathers the musical #christmas #fanfic #fanfiction #xmas #day 24 #ahhhh #im blanking #seven.content #system scribbles

[katherinewilliams221b]

A Date Before Christmas

This work belongs to the Secret Santa event by @hphmsecretsanta2020​​ and its my gift to @cursebreaker-lilith​​ ! Happy Holidays and thank you so much for making this possible!

I hope you like it despite being out of character lol. I felt very insecure writing about her so I kept it simple and with just a few details so I didnt  mess up the character.

Summary: Lili and Penny spend and afternoon before Christmas having fun in Hogsmeade. Pairing: MC x Penny

A/N: Consider this piece an AU of your timeline lmao

--

The door to the Slytherin common room was closed behind her. The place was deserted, everyone was either in the great hall or on their way to Hogsmeade for the beginning of Christmas.

Perfect.

Lili sat in one of the armchairs in front of the fire and watched through the window the different water creatures that passed in front of her.

She looked down at her fingernails, thinking about the note she had received that morning and how she had reacted without thinking about the consequences.

She reached into her jacket pocket and pulled out the scroll in question to read it again for the umpteenth time that day, as if every time she laid eyes on it she would find a way to calm the nerves that were eating her alive.

"What do you have there?"

Rowan's voice startled her, and she hurriedly crumpled up the letter and put it back in her pocket. However, Rowan had already seen it.

"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be in the Great Hall..."

"I've been reading for a while and I wanted to write a letter to my parents before Christmas... what's that?"

"What?" Lilith put her legs up on the couch and shrank to fit in it. She kept looking at the lake water through the window.

"Come on, I'm not stupid. You can tell me anything..."

With a slight roll of the eyes, she took out the crumpled ball of paper from her pocket and handed it to Rowan without making eye contact.

Her friend moved her eyes quickly across the paper and raised her eyebrows before smiling.

"Penny asked you out?"

"She says it doesn't have to be a date..."

"And what did you say?"

Lili looked at Rowan and then at the flames in the fireplace.

"I said yes."

Rowan stared at her. "You don't seem very happy...you've been wanting something like this to happen for months.”

"Rowan, I don't know... what are we going to do?"

"With what?"

"With Penny! If it's a date, then... what am I going to do with her?

"It says here that she's inviting you to some Butterbeers at Hogsmeade. Sounds like a good plan to me."

"Yeah, but it's not the same as having butterbeers as a friend as it is a date. It's different, there are expectations... I don't know, Rowan, I shouldn't have said yes."

"Lili, we're talking about Penny. You've been to Hogsmeade many times and you always have a good time. It's no different now..."

"Yes! Yes it is!"

She got up from her chair and marched towards the stairs leading to the bedrooms. Rowan ran after her and found her lying face down on her bed.

"You're exaggerating, which is counterproductive since you have to meet someone in an hour."

Lili grunted against the pillow and turned around to face the ceiling.

"What should I wear?" She murmured.

"Maybe you should ask Andre, I'm not the best person to..."

"No. Because if I ask Andre, I'll have to tell him I have a a date and he'll ask me with whom and I don't want him to know.”

Rowan sat down on her own bed in front of Lili and sighed. "This is not like you. You have to think more clearly..."

She tapped her fingers to her thigh and despite she knew that Rowan was still talking, she couldn't concentrate on her friend's words. Her gaze shifted to her trunk. She got up with a jump and started throwing Alfred's toys to the floor to be able to open the trunk.

"...so maybe should...what are you doing?"

"I know what to wear." she simply stated.

Rowan caught some pieces of clothing that Lili was throwing, and watched with resignation as she tidied up her room.

"The green scarf and... the black boots should do. Don't look at me like that, I'll tidy up later.

"Yeah...right... Rowan muttered as she watched her friend leave the room armed with a pile of clothes.

Twenty minutes later, Lili emerged from the bathroom enfolded in a black jacket, a green hat that matched her scarf and black boots to complete the look.

"Hoop or stars?” She extended her arms to show two pairs of earrings to Rowan, who lowered her book to look at them.

"Those." Rowan pointed at the hoop earrings and Lili walked to a mirror to put them on.

"Alright, I'm ready."

 The feelings of confidence were gradually dissipated as they passed through the corridors of the castle. The lights that decorated the walls and ceiling created an aura of tranquillity and familiarity that she tried to hold on to.

Right at the doors of the lGreat Hall, there was Penny, clad in a pale pink coat and a matching hat. She smiled at the sight of Lili and rose to greet her with a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm too late?”

"Just in time. Let's go! Madam Pudifoots is waiting for us."

"Have you booked a table?"

"Yes, I thought some hot tea would do us good. Then we can walk around Hogsmeade, it's all beautifully decorated.”

 The trip to the village was quiet: Penny and Lili walked side by side, casually brushing up against each other from time to time. By the time they arrived, a few snowflakes had begun to fall.

"So you're going home this Christmas?

"Yes, Beatrice decided that she wanted to spend Christmas with the family, so I'm not going to miss that opportunity. What are you going to do?"

"I still don't know." They passed a man selling chestnuts but politely declined his offer.

"I don't recommend them," said Lili, "unless you want sparks to fly off your tongue!" They laughed together to the door of the tearoom and entered, immediately feeling the warmth of the place.

"Hello, my dears! What can I do for you? Table for two?"

"Good afternoon, I've reserved a table."

"Oh! Sure, right this way! I've put you somewhere a bit more private, you know, people don't usually book here so I figured it would be something important.”

The woman took them to the end of the shop, leading them to a table behind the curtain that separated the main hall. They made themselves comfortable and asked each other for their tea, trying to avoid each other's gaze. As a courtesy, Madam Pudifoots brought them a small plate of biscuits.

"Since I'm leaving tomorrow morning, I thought I'd give you this," said Penny, rummaging through her coat.

"You bought me a present?"

"Yes! I hope you like it..." She took a small package from her coat and slid it across the table. She waited impatiently for Lili to unwrap it, but she just stared at it. After a few seconds she looked up and smiled.

"I brought you something too." Penny grinned and accepted the small wooden box.

Lili opened her package to find three different coloured scrunchies and some pairs of matching socks. Excited, she chose the green one and tied part of her hair back. "I love them!"

Penny's reaction was much more exaggerated. It seemed that she had got it right with the hair clips... She put several butterflies in her braids.

"They are beautiful, Lili, they match my jumper."

"And there's more..." Penny raised her eyebrows but before I could ask what she meant; several butterflies started flying around her head. Lili looked on with a smile as Penny tried to catch them, laughing all the time.

"They are bewitched, they take a while to become clips again."

"They are brilliant! Thank you, Lili."

 The tea was well received, and they spent an hour chatting about the classes, potions, and the new collection of Gladrags Wizardwear.

 For once, Lili felt comfortable and not guilty about not thinking about the vaults.

They paid on their way out and willingly accepted the Christmas treat that Madam Pudifoot gave them.

"Do you want to go to Gladrags?"

"Yes! Last week I saw a skirt that I liked."

They walked for a while but nature had other plans; the temperature dropped abruptly and a strong blizzard rose, making it difficult for visitors to walk through the village.

"We can make a strategic stop at Zonko's..." proposed Lili.

"Maybe we will meet Tonks."

The sound of the door bells warning of the arrival of a new buyer was not heard amidst the laughter and commotion of the children visiting the shop. Several lights exploded on the roof and Penny and Lili had to dodge several flying objects. They approached a special Christmas section.

"This is fun, there is a present inside and two people have to pull on both sides," said Penny holding a green package.

"Look! Zonko has put up a Christmas tree! Lili approached it, it was decorated with floating candles, lights and colourful ornaments.

"It will be one of the few things here that are harmless." Penny laughed.

She ate her words as one of the Christmas ornaments doubled in size when Lili touched it and a green liquid exploded in her face.

Both girls broke into laughter as Lili tried to get what appeared to be drool of some creature.

"Ah, I see you have discovered my surprise decorations..." said the owner offering Lili a napkin. She looked at him suspiciously and Zonko laughed. "It's only paper.”

 After several scares and jokes later, Lili grabbed Penny's hand and dragged her into the street.

"The blizzard has stopped, let's go before it closes! They walked together hand in hand, none of them wanted to let go. When they arrived at the clothing shop, they examined the shop window for anything that caught their attention.

"Is that the skirt you wanted?"

Penny nodded enthusiastically and pointed to a mannequin. "And that shirt would look great!" They laughed as several eyes fell on them. They noticed it and tried to turn off their laughter, but when they looked at each other, they couldn't resist and the giggles started again.

 Lili was sitting in front of the dressing room where Penny was changing her clothes. When she came out, the blonde turned around and waited for the verdict.

"It looks great on you but... better with the yellow top."

"Isn't it too flashy?"

"That's the idea..." Penny went back into the fitting room with a little smile.

"Well, I won't buy it today anyway. I'll wait for the sales. What do you want to do now?"

Lili got up from her seat and started walking around the shop. A red jacket caught her attention and she went straight to touch it.

"I don't know... some sweets? We can stop by Honeydukes to see how it is decorated."

"Sounds good!"

 The place was packed but they still managed to make their way through the crowd. They looked around in amazement. As many times as they had gone to that shop, each year they outdid themselves in creating the most fun and colourful atmosphere in all of Hogsmeade. Penny went straight to the cotton candy, while Lili kept her eye on some little heart-shaped candies.

She turned to see Penny paying and rushed to grab a handful of the candy. She waited impatiently for the change after paying, and hid the bag in her jacket.

"Here you are" announced Penny from behind a giant pink cotton candy. "If you behave yourself, maybe I'll give you some.” Lili rolled her eyes before giggling and stole some cotton candy from the cone.

They spent the next few hours wandering around the place, trying out some chocolate samples and listening to the Christmas music playing over the speakers.

As they left, the memory of the noisy shop made the street seem quieter than usual.

It was dark, but the lights on the facades were bright enough to walk around in peace.

"Do you want to go get a Butterbeer?" Penny asked.

 "Let's sit down for a while." Lili pointed to a stone bench in front of them and they cleared the snow so they could sit down. She took the bag out of her pocket and gave her date the candies she had saved. "I bought you this..."

Penny accepted the bag in surprise but finally a smile appeared in her mouth.

"I bought you something too..." Penny reached into her pockets and pulled out a small green package. "Shall we open it?"

They pulled the ends to break the package, which exploded in the air with lights of various colours. They laughed as several things fell on their heads.

"A beaded bracelet..."

"And some lemon drops!"

"Penny..."

The atmosphere suddenly became serious, the blonde waited with concern for Lili to say what she was thinking.

"It was a great date."

Penny smiled before nodding, agreeing with her friend's opinion. Leaning forward, she put her hand on Lili's.

"I agree.”

Lili approached as well and placed her lips on Penny's in a sweet, short peck. They both smiled before getting up.

"To the three broomsticks?”

"To the three broomsticks."

--

#penny haywood #mc x penny #hphm #secretsanta2020 #hphmsecretsanta2020 #lilith #jacob's sibling #jacob's sibling x penny

[toplinetommy]

Refrigerator Door - Tyson Jost

Word Count: 1.7k Synopsis: You, Tyson, and your family reminisce some of the best parts of yours and Tyson’s relationship A/N: Inspired by Refrigerator Door by Luke Combs, italics are flashbacks!

“Mom! Hi!” you exclaim, embracing your mom in a hug. “Welcome to our new home!” You gesture your arms showing off the newly and finally completed living room. You and Tyson had just bought your first, official, “married couple” house together a few months ago in the Denver area, and this was the first time your family was able to come out and see it for themselves.

Tyson stands up from the couch, making his way over to hug and greet everyone. He hugs your mom last and proceeds to ask if anyone wants something to drink. The small group that was your family follows the two of you into your kitchen, a few “ooo’s” coming from their mouths at the sight of the fully updated kitchen.

As he shuts the refrigerator door, your family all find seats around the kitchen island. “These are really nice cabinets. Nice countertop, too, whoever designed this did a really good job.” Your dad analyzes, admiring the soft white cabinets and the butcher block countertops that are littered with greenery.

A soft scoff comes out of your mouth at the comments your dad makes, “Always gotta comment on the construction.” Your mom and brother laugh at your comment, knowing the way your dad always got about that kind of stuff.

“You guys already have so many pictures hanging on your fridge!” Your mom exclaims, getting up and moving towards the silver refrigerator to get a closer look. You share a wide smile with Tyson, knowing that pictures were something the two you never had enough of.

“It’s covered with the best days of our lives.” You admire, leaning into Tyson's side as he places a kiss to the crown of your forehead.

A polaroid of the two of you at Red Rocks Amphitheater

“That one’s when we saw Kygo at Red Rocks. It’s one of Tyson’s favorite artists.” You say, leaning into Tyson’s side a little, thinking back to that night.

“y/n! Walk faster!” Your boyfriend exclaims, grabbing your hand and pulling your smaller body closer to his. You giggle at your excited boyfriend, a wide smile covering both of your faces as you walk hand in hand to your seats.

As the two of you make it to your seats Tyson wraps his arms around your frame, kissing the top of your head. “Thank you for coming with me, means a lot.” You smile into his broad chest, pulling away slightly to give him a quick kiss. The two of you hadn’t been together that long, only for about four months, and this was the first time you really let Tyson spend any type of money on you.

As the concert goes on and the two of you sway to the bass of the music playing, there has been a definite shift in your guys’ relationship. “Hey,” He whispers into your ear, “I love you, you know that?” You turn your head to look further at him, wide-eyed at the statement that had never been said to the other yet. The music around you fades as you yell an “I love you” right back at him.

“That was the night Tys told me he loved me for the first time.” You grinned, a similar grin forming on your mother’s face at the sentiment, while a gagging sound comes from the island where your brother sat.

A picture of you, Tyson and your brother at a bar

“Oh, that one’s old!” Your brother says loudly, pointing at the beat-up photo in the top left corner being held up by your college magnet. You laugh loudly, your brother joining you as you look at the picture. The three of you are sitting at a table, you’re practically in Tyson’s lap and your brother is standing behind the two of you.

“That’s when Tyson made a point to come visit me my last semester at school so he could get to experience the ‘party-girl lifestyle’ that he so begged to witness.” You mimic Tyson’t tone as you do finer quotes around ‘party-girl lifestyle’.

“And I was there because y/n had just gotten back from spring break and I hadn’t seen her in weeks.” Your brother explains to your parents.

“Tyson, you seriously want to go out to some dingy college bar that’s going to be full of frat guys?” You ask, raising your eyebrows at your pouting boyfriend.

“Yes! I didn’t really get to experience the college party scene that much and I know you enjoy the bar scene here so you should show me your ways.” Tyson elaborated, puppy-dog eyes in full effect.

You let him tag along, him and your brother chatting while you did your hair and makeup. Once you guys had gotten around to the bar after a pretty laid-back pregame, that’s when all hell broke loose.

Tyson couldn’t believe how cheap the drinks were and tried to convince your group that you guys weren’t actually drinking alcohol because it couldn’t possibly be $3 for a double.

“Just drink your shitty rum and coke and get drunk and let loose,” You say into his ear. “It’s the way of college!” You finish with a laugh. Tyson laughs along with you, throwing his head back, then downing the rest of his drink before getting up to get another round.

The night progresses and the two of you, alongside your small group, continue to take turns between dancing and playing card games at the table and getting way too drunk off of bottom-shelf liquor.

A picture of you, Tyson, Andre Burakovsky, Mikko Rantanen, and Mark Barberio at the X-Games

“That one’s from this past year during the bye week. Y/n and I went to Aspen with a few of the guys for the X-Games.” Tyson explained, pointing at the picture briefly.

“Oh yeah! She kept sending me pictures from it to make me jealous!” Your brother complained, followed by a scolding look from both of your parents.

“Next time we’ll invite you. I already told you that.” You defend, freeing yourself from Tyson’s grip to go sit down next to him.

“I don’t think I could ever try or even want to attempt flipping that many times in the air over har, frozen, snow.” You admit, watching the snowboarding half-pipe event. Tyson is standing behind you, his arms slouched around your neck, the other guys standing around the both of you. “Like, I thought what you guys did seemed hard and ridiculously dangerous, but I take that all back.” A loud laugh emits from Tyson behind you and you feel the rumbles in his chest against your back. The rest of the guys were laughing alongside him.

“Hey! What we do is hard!” Tyson whines, pulling you tighter into his chest. You giggle lightly into your scarf before turning to look at your boyfriend. Your eyes meet, his eyes giving you his signature puppy-dog look, to which you sigh at.

“I love you,” You sing-song, going to poke his pink nose. “And what you do impresses me every day, don’t you ever forget that.”

A candid picture of the two of you with his family, Tyson’s holding the Stanley Cup above his head and instead of looking at the camera he’s looking at you

“I haven’t seen this one before!” Your mom says with glee, reaching out and touching the photo being held up by the Colorado Avalanche Stanley Cup Champions magnet. “The magnet is a nice touch, too.”

“One of the best days of my life.” Tyson admits sheepishly. His smile widens and his cheeks turn a little pink from the memory of that night.

“You’re a fucking Stanley Cup champion, Tyson!” You yell, running a little too fast over the ice to your boyfriend.

“I’m a fucking Stanley Cup champion, baby!” He yells right back as you reach him. His arms wrap around your body tightly, and he lifts you up into the air with a squeal. He sets you down, grasping your cheeks with his calloused and clammy hands, giving you a kiss.

“I love you so much. Thank you for being here and for always being there for me.” He thanks, his lips only a few millimeters away from your own. You can see his eyes starting to turn glossy, causing the same reaction in yours.

“I love you, I’m so proud of you.” You say, a hiccup coming out at the end from your overwhelming emotions. You wrap your arms around his neck once more, hugging him impossibly tighter.

Tyson pulls away “C’mon, we gotta go take some pictures with that beauty and the rest of my family.” He grabs your hand, skating slowly towards where his mom, sister, and grandparents stood waiting for the two of you to have your moment.

Even more hugs and congratulations are exchanged as you wait for the cup to be passed to Tyson for his turn to take pictures. Once JT skates it over and passes it to Tyson with a cheer, you wait for him to take some pictures with just his family before he waves you over to join him. You stand between him and his grandpa, a look of pure adoration in your eyes as you look at the love of your life having his dream come true.

An ultrasound picture

“We actually have one that we still haven’t put up there yet.” You say, eyeing Tyson. He understands where you’re going with the statement and moves to the next room to grab the photo you’re talking about.

The tone in your voice and Tyson’s sudden exit from the kitchen causes your family to all exchange weird looks as they wonder where he went.

“What picture are you guys talking about?” Your dad asks for everyone in the room. He’s leaning on the kitchen island with knitted eyebrows. A tightness pulls in your stomach at the anxiety of the conversation that’s about to happen once Tyson comes back.

As if on cue, Tyson walks back into the kitchen, small photo in hand. Instead of putting it up on the fridge right away, he opts to bring it over to your family. As he reaches the kitchen island where you all are located, he pulls you into his side and sets the small, mainly black photo onto the table.

You look around the island, watching everyone’s reactions once they comprehend the photo laying in front of them.

Your mom’s eyes flick from the photo to you and back to the photo with her jaw dropped and eyes wide until she speaks up. “You’re pregnant?” She sheepishly asks, hope filling her facial features.

You nod your head, smile widening on your face as you answer her, “I’m pregnant.” You say it so softly, it’s almost a whisper, as Tyson rubs your arm softly.

“Oh my God! You’re pregnant! My baby is having a baby!” She shrieks jumping from her stool and running around to pull both you and Tyson into an airtight hug. Your dad and brother join in on the group hug before pulling away to give you individual hugs. Once your dad finishes shaking Tyson’s hand, Tyson moves to stick the new addition to the front of the fridge where it joins the other pictures.

The pictures covering your fridge create somewhat of a contrast to the rest of the kitchen aesthetic, but the both of you don’t mind and you enjoy the daily reminders of the best days of your lives.

#i wrote this a while ago and i dont even know how much i like it #oh well here it is anyways! #tyson jost imagine #alex writes

[nomanwalksalone]

THE SIX-FINGERED SWORD

by Réginald-Jérôme de Mans

Like all members of what used to be called Generation X, I grew up with a fascination for The Princess Bride. Most of us still to this day can repeat much of its dialogue line by line, even Andre the Giant’s stuff that took dozens of viewings to figure out. Today, many dark intervening years have passed since those arrested adolescent days, years whose perspective brings the film closer to the original flawed fairy tale by William Goldman. After all, viewers of the American version of House of Cards can conclude that in the end Buttercup did end up with Prince Humperdinck, sadly. Still, watching The Princess Bride can conjure up some escapist childish joy…along with one abiding minor mystery. Early in the film, Mandy Patinkin’s Spanish swordsman Iñigo Montoya tells the story of his father’s murder for a custom sword made for a six-fingered man, a sword that Montoya has used since childhood to become perhaps the greatest swordsman who ever lived. How did the best swordsman in the world learn on and use a weapon whose balance and grip were made for someone of very different anatomy?

I was reminded of this minor, trifling conundrum in looking at pictures of many of the men who pass for past paragons of style - real men, not the pinned and posed fit models who appear in brand PR. Clothing advertising - the glossy photographs of models posing in a brand’s clothing - is a sort of theatre to showcase clothing, while clothes that fit – one of the reasons to have custom clothing – are an advantage in the theatre of life. However, fit itself is based on another set of snapshots: virtual snapshots, perhaps, but snapshots nonetheless of the wearer’s proportions and posture at the times of measurement and fittings.  

The custom tailors who dressed past icons of style had the vocation of dressing men who moved, who ate, who filled their pockets, who changed their shape.  Today, social media’s simply-captioned photos, worth a thousand adulating, misguided words, are  the vehicle of clothing discourse. You can suggest quality with a single pretty picture, or  communicate that such and such a person was well-dressed by the sheer fact of his wearing a famous tailor’s clothes, such as shoe designer Manolo Blahnik and Vanity Fair editor Graydon Carter with their Anderson and Sheppard bespoke suits, or the late French president François Mitterrand, practically synonymous (among French style bloggers) with his French tailors Cifonelli.  It’s a sort of appeal to authority, even if on dispassionate inspection the pictured subjects appear cinched, baggy, or otherwise far from sleekly impeccable in their clothes.  Heck, some currently active tailors have even critiqued the fits of that clothing maven the Duke of Windsor, whose style was his only undisputably positive attribute. Is reputation – of clothier or of wearer – blinding some of us when we pick style icons? As malcontents on Internet forums (remember those?) liked to snipe, were the tailors who clothed these men mediocre?  

As the generously proportioned G.K. Chesterton would no doubt have agreed, the truth is more prosaic, more homely, and somewhat more benign. Men live: we change, bits and parts of our anatomy get thicker or thinner [Editor’s note: insert obligatory gibe for Isle], we may burden our pockets, or we may simply be caught in step or movement that is not flattering in front of the camera. Looking into this, I found that the French blogger lechouandesvilles had been similarly puzzled by Mitterrand’s elevation to style icon – when he died in 1996, magazines had cover stories on le style Mitterrand, down to his red scarf, Gelot hats and Waterman Le Man fountain pen. Apparently not initially a stylish man, he ended his life quite the clotheshorse - the auction catalog for Mitterrand’s personal effects from some years ago features dozens of custom shirts and Cifonelli suits, along with a lot of other sybaritic clothing. However, he seemed to order his clothes, wear them, and forget about the niceties of careful pose.  Not for him the self-conscious splendor of the executive who now features in Cifonelli’s current advertising.   


Clothes are meant to be worn, moved in, used. And today, when (due to distance) many customers only see tailors for fittings every several months, our sizes can vary even while a garment is in progress. Even if we don’t change much physically during the period of ordering and fitting, we obviously change afterwards, for better or for worse. Fit can be more or less forgiving, depending on how willing our old body and new suit are to compromise, or to seek counseling from an alterations tailor. (And that alterations tailor’s talents may be sorely challenged if we’re trying to adapt clothing made for other people, like Inigo using the six-fingered man’s sword.)

Even if I haven’t grown another finger, changes in health and weight over the years brought this home for me. My close-cut shirts no longer fit quite so closely as before. Worth taking back to the maker for adjustment? After years of worrying very much about minute measurements and details, I have made peace with never being able to compare with the lovely composed fitpics of the literally inimitable voxsartoria, the only one of us who actually lives the dream (I’m keeping a sidecar cold for him down my manor). Even though the best-dressed man I know has been known to clip his keys to his briefcase rather than ruin the line of his suits, I will judiciously use my suit pockets (Mitterrand supposedly loaded his up, another reason for his sometimes odd suit fits). I will let the rumples accrue and will wait for the other sword to drop before trying to have my shirts adjusted. The saying that clothes make the man doesn’t give the complete picture; it’s the confidence and comfort of the man in his clothes, and whatever natural charisma he has, that rounds things out. Inigo, trained on a weapon whose construction must have tested his natural talent (and could not have been made for fencing with both the left and right hands), surely would have agreed. Then again, he lost to a man in a black suit.

Quality content, like quality clothing, ages well. This article first appeared on the No Man blog in 2015.

[6v6taeminisloveshineeworld]

Champagne Life Is All You Want

Word Count: 15.7k+ 

Genre: Romance, Idol/Hoop Aerialist AU, Smut, Cirque Du Soleil vibes, Gatsby Flair

Summary: It’s simple, love for luxury. You've lived this way for a long time. True love only existed in fables but after hitting a complete stranger with a car that isn’t even yours you find out that your new victim’s name is Lee Taemin and he has fallen hard into your web of deception that allows you to live the life of expensive pleasures that you always seem to swindle from your clients. The truth will break his heart, are you only in it for the money or have you begun to fall as well?

Pairing: Taemin X Reader

Warning: Contains mentions of Abuse, Blood, Sexual, and Suggestive content, as well as some foul language. This material is only a work of fiction and does not mean to defame living persons.

Taglist: @slavefortaemin

The hood of your newly stolen yellow convertible was down and you felt the breeze of autumn as you drove through the back roads of Aureus and into the less reputable parts of town. 

You had lived in New Celes for the majority of your life and while most of your childhood years were spent in the Underground as the daughter of the most infamous crime groupe known as the Scarlet Wolf who were known to possess the heightened senses of sound, speed, and strength, you’d left them only to climb yourself from the gutter and into posh society with your charm. 

There was a reason New Celes was coined the City Of Heavenly Desire, it’s nightlife was vibrant and it’s nobility spared no expense, leaving the less fortunate to look on with jealousy as they wasted their wealth frivolously. You’d survive the only way you could. With a father who’d sooner leave you in the streets because you proved to be a weak runt according to the standards of the pack you left the gang and found yourself at your wits end. You would have died on your own had it not been for the Matron of Muldale Estate.

 The streets had been dark and unforgiving with lights only at the most populated corners and filled with people of ill repute. The Matron had found you frozen and half dead but still filled with a spirit that would not be extinguished. She took you to her estate, clothed you and fed you and in time you came to know the girls who lived there. 

The women of Muldale Estate were prostitutes, or as they liked to be called “courtesans.” Their Matron, Madame Felicity Dupont loved the sound of her own voice. 

When the Matron asked you to stay long ago you had thought you’d known just what you were getting yourself into and you promised yourself that it was only a temporary home. Now fifteen years later you knew you weren’t the same naive girl you had been before. Love was a mirage of deception and endless hoops. Love was only given if you gave in return even if it cost you your body and not your heart. 

Dupont showered her girls In pretty gowns and diamonds and sold them off to the highest bidder but at the end of the day when you couldn’t wash off the scent of your clients’ perfume, you felt more like a shadow than a human. 

Andre de Valois, the man who owned the car you drove now had been sadistic and cruel but he was very influential to Dupont. His wealth alone financed a quarter of the Matron’s income and that would have been fine if not for the fact that he only ever choose you. 

His possessive nature had grown so strong it frightened you and when he made it clear that he wanted Dupont to sign you away to an exclusive contract with him he was not pleased when you rejected him. Far from it. 

He was always used to having his way and the evening had ended badly to say the least with you landing a punch to his jaw and fleeing out the door taking his keys with you. Now driving carelessly fast downtown with tears ruining your mascara it was no wonder to find you had hit something. Or was it someone? You frantically unfastened your seat belt and stepped out of the car shakily to find a man passed out in front of the car. 

“Oh my god!” You said, rushing over to the man and turning him to the side to face you as you leaned down to check his pulse. 

You let out a sigh of relief when you felt his breath against your cheek. His lithe body rising and falling as you rested your palm on his firm chest. 

His features looked familiar somehow but you dismissed it from your mind as you agonized over the fact that his forehead was bleeding slightly and you were in the middle of an unwelcoming neighborhood with no license and a stolen vehicle. If this man pressed charges you were done for and it wasn’t for fear that you’d get locked up, but rather that you would be found and taken back that terrified you.

You took the end of your scarf in hand and started to clean the blood away, the man’s features becoming more noticeable as you moved his dark brown hair out of his eyes and all too soon you recognized the man before you as Lee Taemin, the idol of the Ten Rings Circus, more commonly known as the “Night Circus” and one of the wealthiest most well-known artists in New Celes. 

Fate loved to play games with your soul it seemed and she had a twisted sense of humor. 

If anyone could save you from Dupont’s dismissal and Andre’s rage it would be the unconscious man before you. 

Just then Taemin started to stir and you gave him your most concerned expression. Wide eyes and red lips pursed in a frown. Your smudged mascara only adding to your look of distress.

“Are you alright?” You said gently, careful to keep your distance from him in case he lashed out but close enough to look him in the eyes. 

You were surprised when warm brown eyes meet yours. You’d only seen those eyes in posters and magazines, he had always looked too stoic, too unapproachable to imagine ever meeting. 

“I’m fine,” he said sitting up slowly and looking at your car inches from him. 

You let out an audible sigh of relief that he hadn’t hit his head as badly as you’d initially thought. 

“But what about you? Are you alright? You were in such a hurry. Are you running away from something?” He said with a knowing look in his eyes as he took in your disheveled appearance. 

“No, it’s nothing.” You said brushing his words aside and getting to your feet. You felt a stab of guilt for wanting to use him as an easy escape moments before. Even though he was a complete stranger he was showing you compassion instead of anger, concern instead of annoyance. 

Somehow you knew taking his hand would be alright, but when you reached for it a strong wind blew away the scarf you had carelessly replaced over your neck before he’d woken, revealing Andre’s fingerprints on your skin. 

“How did you get that! Who did that to you?” He said in surprise, coming closer only to have you quickly move away out of habit as if he would strike you. 

 “It’s none of your business,” you said placing your hands around your shoulders protectively. He stepped back when he noticed you were uncomfortable and it genuinely touched you that he seemed to care. You’d grown used to seeing marks on your body, at this point, it was a part of life that faded just like a hundred nights worth of memories too painful to recollect.

Maybe it was the way he looked at you that made you confess these next words, maybe it was just your selfish greed that clung to you like a vise but you found yourself unable to continue your charade anymore. You were tired of pretending, and maybe just maybe, you could tell he had already fallen for the woman who had run him over. 

“No, no I’m not fine.” You said sitting against the hood of the car and holding back tears. “I’m a courtesan of Muldale,” when he nodded in understanding you continued. “My client… well he won’t be seeing me anymore I left him and if the Madam found out I was leaving her service before my time she’ll have the officials come and find me. My client is very wealthy you see and she couldn’t stand to lose-”

“How far along are you on your Emblem till your debt is paid?” He said determination in his voice. 

You looked up at him, eyes wide. Once again he’d surprised you. He seemed to be knowledgeable enough in the trade to know that the women of Muldale all had debts to pay to their Madame and that she kept count of their progress by marking them with a tattoo called an emblem. The emblem was of their own design choice from a limited selection but it was always along the back in a circle and once that circle was completed you were free to leave. 

“I owe a life debt to her, my Emblem is less than halfway through.” 

“I’ll pay it for you.” He said it so quickly that you were certain this had to be a dream.

“What do I owe you in return?” You answered just as quickly. You didn’t hide the distrust in your tone. “Nothing is free in this world.”

“You’re right,” he looked regretful of his next words but continued anyway. “If I pay for your Emblem will agree to pretend to be my fiancee?” You scoff, shaking your head but internally you are delighted. It would seem that your plan was going better than expected. You turned around and acted as if you were making your way back to the car before he stopped you with a light touch at the elbow.

“Hear me out-”

“You don’t even know me.” 

“I know it’s a crazy idea but I’m in a situation that I don't want to be in right now-

“Aren’t we all,” you said with a laugh.

“Yes, but I am constantly confronted with marriage proposals and one of these days I’m afraid the family I am indebted to will force me into an agreement.” He could have said anything else but this was the last thing you’d expected.

“You’re Lee Taemin, Shining Star of the Night Circus! If anyone had the power to say no it would be you.” 

He ducked his head when you mentioned his title, red blooming on the tips of his ears. “The Night Circus is not what posters would have you believe,” He said. “You and I are more alike than you know. The things I’ve had to do to make my way to the top. I owe that family everything for bringing me from the gutter to the spotlight.” 

His words cut like a fresh wound. Nothing in the glittering world of New Celes was ever what it appeared on the surface and if even it’s young gods walked their lives on burning coals well, nowhere was safe. 

“I’ll do it.” You said.

“Really?” He gave you the widest smile and suddenly you wondered if being indebted to this beautiful man was more dangerous than belonging to Andre.

“What’s your name,” he said the instant you were both in the car. You started the engine and made the turn back to Muldale Estate. You were silent for a few minutes till you finally said in a whisper,  “Call me Lady Basileia, everyone else does.” Like your old life, your true name had also been lost to you, and if you knew anything for certain it was the fact that there was no reclaiming it. 

Dupont was furious. Andre’s wrath was nothing in comparison to the lady’s words. “I’ve clothed you, I took you in from the streets when you were nothing and this is how you repay me! Go back to the Comte de Valois and beg on your knees for him to take you back.” Dupont was about to grab you by the hair before Taemin grasped her wrist, holding her back. You’d told him to stay outside but it seemed you wouldn’t have an easy time getting him to listen. 

“Mademoiselle Basileia will beg no one, Madame Dupont,” Taemin said from behind her. “She is a free woman from this day forward I will pay her Emblem price.”

A small collective gasp could be heard from the ladies who were listening in against the door-frame. Their palpable excitement grew hushed when Dupont swore at them.

Dupont laughed coldly before she said, “Young man, take your fanciful ideas elsewhere. You wouldn’t be able to buy a single night with her much less ten years wor-

Taemin faced her and she paled, her eyes widening as she too recognized him. 

“I beg your pardon, my lord. I did not know-”

“Mademoiselle Basileia and I are in a hurry,” he said.

Dupont gaped at you before suddenly tripping over herself to call in for some tea. When Taemin declined her offer and suggested they get right to business and that he would pay her in full she directed him to her office and left you to collect your things. 

Emilie was the first of the ladies to approach you. As soon as you sank into a tub of hot water she came to sit on the ledge and scrub your back with a sponge, her touch was gentle at the nape of your neck as she seemed to want to wash away William’s scars. “Is he kind to you? Lord Taemin, I mean. Or is he cold, like the pictures I’ve seen of him?” Just as you were about to answer the door flung open.

“Who cares Emilie!” Agatha said coming into the room with a stack of fresh towels. “He’s rich, richer than Andre. Only the best for Lady Basileia,” Agatha said, jealousy laced in her voice. “We could never compete with that.”

“Wealth is not everything Agatha!” Lily said coming into the room to join them, her cheeks were flushed and her buoyant voice ever-cheerful no matter her situation. If it hadn’t been for Lily and her optimism you thought you wouldn’t have survived your days here. Of everyone at Muldale, she was perhaps the only one who still believed in love and she was quite the romantic. Her imagination often kept the ladies entertained, and her short works of fiction were often shared at sleepless hours. 

“I can’t believe you met the Ice Fairy by chance!” Lily said taking Emilie’s place beside you. “I saw him go into Madam’s office and he is even more handsome in person than his portraits. It was fate Basileia, fate! Did he see you with the Comte at his estate and decide that he had to have you for his own? Was he a friend of Andre? Or did he see you on the streets and you melted his heart of stone? They say he doesn’t have one you know, he’s turned down so many pretty women and of noble families too!”

“Well, I suppose you can say I ran him over…”

Later when you were dried off and in your bedroom, you searched through your things to find the plainest dress you could. Nothing here was your own and other than the handful of letters from the ladies and Emilie’s handmade bracelet as a gift on your twentieth birthday you left everything else and closed the door behind you. 

Half an hour later you found yourself laying on your stomach in the tattoo parlor close to Muldale estate. You winced as the inked needle met your back again. The tattoo artist knew of the girls from their countless visits. When you had walked into the shop and declared that your entire Emblem be finished he’d been shocked but you could see the excitement in his eyes. Most girls picked the design for their emblem but you had let Eddie do whatever he wanted and as it turned out your back was his own personal masterpiece or that’s how he felt at least and you had to agree he didn’t waste his imagination when it came to his attention to detail.

 Eddie turned the open sign around and started right away, completing his design in a total of five hours. Every second had been worth it though you thought as he held a mirror up to your back and you saw yourself in the mirror in front. A flower time dial was beautifully etched into your back, primroses, cherry blossoms, roses, and lilacs. They weren't in color but they seemed alive and each stroke of ink depicted an emotion, from how the petals tilted toward the imaginary sun to how they wilted. 

“Thank you, Eddie, I love it.” He beamed at you and you felt the pride in him swell and his heart soar. Sometimes pain and pleasure really did walk hand in hand. 

It was late the next day when you reached the heart of Aureus, at some point you had let Taemin drive the car he rented after he insisted that you leave Andre’s car at Muldale where Dupont could return it to him. The nightlife here was even more vibrant than you remembered. In fact, if you were being honest you knew nothing of the high-end brothels and drinking taverns of New Celes, only the pompous champagne-soaked floors of dancing halls that Andre and other clients had brought you too, hoping to seduce you with charm and sophistication. No, the Night Circus it seemed was something different, something in between. Your heart raced a bit more excitedly as you read the giant billboard up ahead Our Aim Is To Please You, it read in painted crimson letters, like blood upon the lily-white backdrop. 

Taemin parked and took your hand to guide you through the crowd and into the enormous red tent. You could hear the music from within even from a distance, something akin to carnival music but more gentle. You could hear french horns and soft drums both haunting and sensuous. 

Before opening the tent flap Taemin leaned down and whispered, “The show is about to start soon. Ten will have my hide if I’m not backstage soon so make yourself comfortable in the audience.” You nodded at him before he disappeared into the crowd.  

It wasn’t long before the lights were dimmed and you squirmed in your seat as the young noblewoman beside you asked her manservant to attend her. She wore a diamond choker necklace at her throat and you caught the glint of silver on her left hand. The raven-haired manservant knelt at his mistress’s feet and lifted her skirts enough to engulf his head under. It wasn’t unusual for aristocracy to show their lewdness in public settings such as these. But you had to admit, you really hadn’t known anything about The Night Circus. 

The noblewoman's soft moans were covered by the sound of the now more vivacious orchestra and as the curtains of the stage began to rise, you forgot all about her. 

“Mesdames et messieurs,” the ringmaster bellowed. It was astonishing to see Chittaphon Leechaiyapornkul, more commonly known by the stage name of ‘Ten’ the ringmaster before you. He acquired the nickname when his family came into possession of the largest fortune in New Celes, taking over ten towns along the coast and placing circuses, hotels, and nightclubs in each of them. His family name was known as the “Gatsby of New Celes” and honestly half the continent. It was no wonder that Taemin had money practically spilling from his veins. With Ten as a benefactor he was set for life and you couldn't help but wonder why Taemin would want to risk the family’s anger by denying any marriage they set forth for him.

 “Allow us to entertain you tonight under the canopy of the moon.” Ten continued, “let us seduce your mind and captivate your soul. May I present le cirque nocturne!” The crowd roared with applause and with a flick of the ringmaster’s whip, the opening act began. 

A woman in a lilac leotard appeared on stage and moved her body in ways you hadn’t even known possible. Her contorted body seemed to tell a story, the music flowed without words but like a ballet, the woman moved with the melody. As more dancers appeared you began to make more sense of the plot. The story the woman danced to was of a siren who had lost her tail and moved upon land in odd yet graceful ways. She reminded you of a sparrow in a world of swans, awkward yet full of life. When the curtains closed on the act you stood in applause with the rest of the crowd. 

Next was a pair of tightrope walkers, it was a woman and a man painted in makeup that made them look like cats with whiskers and all. The woman balanced a parasol in one hand and the man a cane with a larger than normal curved end. You realized why that was so when the man circled the cane around the woman’s waist and the audience gasped in wonder at the girl’s perfect balance as she made her way across the rope and into her lover’s arms.

 The next set of dancers stood on swings as they twirled long ribbon batons in their hands and swept them over the crowds. Their short satin red dresses left  little to the imagination as they entwined with each other and leaped through the air, catching one another by the wrists.

There were more acts that seemed to pass in a blur, jugglers and fire breathers. Your body grew heated with the number of people in the tent as you waited for Taemin’s performance and you became impatient till finally, Ten spoke again, “Ladies and gentlemen, may I present the act you have all been waiting for, our ravishing, shining, hoop aerialist, Lee Taemin!”

If the crowd had made any noise till that moment it was nothing compared to the deafening cries now. But as the curtains began to rise once more, everyone fell silent as if they were all holding their breath underwater, ready to be swept away.

Taemin was a sight to behold it was true and you could feel your pulse quicken ever so slightly as you took in the transformation before you. The man you arrived with seemed to be buried within this immorally captivating creation. He wore a black top hat with a half net across one side of his face and a shimmering silver and midnight blue leotard with sheer sleeves and a low neckline. His angelic figure and fair collarbone a teasing sight amidst all the tiny glittering diamonds sewn onto the fabric. The diamonds seemed to dance with the lights in the tent as Taemin moved his hands upwards towards the hoop hanging above him.

 He seemed to move with the music as you had never seen anyone move before. He was one with the melody like nature herself his gestures reminding you of water and wind. Once he reached the hoop his feet seemed to climb invisible stairs into the air till he was seated in the hoop and once more began to swivel and bend like falling water, tossing his hat aside as he went. His ankles caught the sides of the hoop as his head and body soared downwards. The transitions were seamless and watching the lithe muscles of his arms move as he grabbed the hoop and pulled himself up was hypnotic. You found yourself searching for his eyes and once they meet your own you felt yourself flush but were unable to look away. 

You knew now why they called him the fey king of ice and lust, his coal lined sultry stare seemed to undress you with a glance alone. He spun around the hoop like a snake till he stood upon the inner circle and then, oh gods above, he began to sing. You didn’t understand the words but by his tone, you could feel it was a song of deep longing and yet fragility as if the thing he yearned for lay far out of his reach or lay dead beneath the earth. His voice was both angel and devil, sweet as nectar and fatal as flame. He swung over the heads of the audience as he sang, the rope seeming to lengthen and glide along with him. He showered the spectators with diamonds from his costume as they loosened and fell like rain upon them. The audience’s applause spread through the crowd like wildfire and Taemin took a final bow before the curtains closed for the night and adoring fans threw roses and even entire bouquets to the empty stage as the lights in the tent brightened once again. 

Without a second thought, you hurried from your seat and slipped backstage determined to find Taemin and congratulate him on such a wonderful performance expecting to find him surrounded by fellow performers but instead, you found him backed against the wall, Ten’s arms caging him in with one hand beside his head and his whip in the other. You hid quickly behind a stage prop of what looked like an ancient Greek pillar, eyes widening as Ten tilted Taemin’s chin up with the tip of his whip, his eyes never leaving Taemin’s defiant gaze. 

“You needn't go through all this trouble over a harlot, mon tresor.” Ten said tracing his fingers against Taemin’s back. Taemin pulled away from his touch and Ten drew his hand away. 

“Others may mistake her for a fine noblewoman but you forget I have eyes everywhere, even in the lowest gutter of town. Why won’t you accept my offer? You could have so much more than this life, you would be a demigod among men with what I could give you.” Ten said taking Taemin’s hand to his lips and kissing his knuckles. 

“I’ve already visited the press with news of my new fiancee, Ten.” You won’t be able to quiet our engagement easily without causing a scene and disrupting your father’s trust. I am your family’s humble servant and nothing more.” Taemin said in a cold tone as he slipped from Ten’s grasp and into the changing room. 

Your mind was muddled with questions as you made your way back to the crowd unseen and waited for Taemin to find you.

It wasn’t long before you found yourself on the 20th floor of one of New Celes’s finest hotels run by Ten’s family of course. Taemin had a total of twelve rooms that all connected to one another. He led you to what you assumed was the guest room. The sheets were silk and there was a mahogany dresser with a beautiful matching vanity in the corner of the room, the edges of its mirror rimmed with gold. You moved to the window, moving the heavy curtains aside to take in the bustling night view of New Celes. You had to admit this offer was the best you’d ever had, although you felt a small stab of guilt for using Taemin in this way you found solace in the fact that he was also using you to run away from his own problems. “Wait,” you said, as Taemin walked toward the door to leave. He halted outside your door, his hand hovering over the doorknob. 

“Why did you lie to me?” You said turning from the window to face him. He looked puzzled at the statement so you continued. “I saw you with Ten, he seemed sincere, like he would give you anything if you agreed to be with him. Why would you refuse that?”

Taemin’s eyes darkened and he said briskly, “Don’t speak of what you do not understand.”

“It wasn’t a horde of girls I came here to shield you from but his advances wasn’t it.” You said coming closer, your voice matching his tone. “You think his obsession with you is a passing fancy? That he’ll soon tire of you with me around I gather or are you trying to make him jealous? What, is he not good enough for you? I know men and women would kill to have the place you have in his eyes. I won’t stay here and be put in danger! I won’t stand between the Chittaphon family and their desires, it would be like tying a noose around my own neck. Stop being stubborn and go to him-”

“Enough!” Taemin said shutting the door and coming to stand closer to you. “I’ll never crawl to that sick bastard even if he held a gun to my head.”

A look of pity crossed your features as you said, “Well if his being a man is what disgusts you so its nothing to be ashamed of. I once had a patron that was a woman-”

“That’s not the reason at all,” Taemin said interrupting you. His voice was composed once again and he seemed hesitant but continued. “You must tell no one you know of this but it’s Ten’s bloodstained hands and dirty money that disgusts me.”

Your eyes widened as you sat on the edge of the bed and waited for him to continue.

“All this wealth you see around you has come at a heavy price, the Chittaphon family have sold their souls for this luxury, the deaths of so many lay in their hands. The family makes most of their money in human trafficking and other despicable things. Ten is just as corrupt if not more so than his family. A flicker of sorrow crossed his eyes and then it was gone, replaced by ice once more. “We grew up together, it was no secret that we grew close to one another, I grew to love him and through the years I have seen him grow more and more twisted.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” You said a bit shaken at the realization that he knew some of your pain as well, knew how it felt to be shattered by the people you trusted the most. If your father had been a real father, if Andre had been an honorable man, you wouldn’t be here now seeking to console the dancer before you with an earnest hug. It would be hard to sleep in these sheets without thinking of the malicious lengths the owners had gone through to accumulate their wealth and it made your stomach turn. 

Perhaps it was the wine you drank before falling asleep but your dreams were persistently vivid. A russet wolf stalked you, it wasn’t hostile but it pursued you with relentless abandon. It never left your side, whenever you looked over your shoulder there it was yet you were not frightened. You were not frightened that was, until its scarlet eyes met yours, sending you a rush of memories you wished would stay buried. You woke with a scream on your lips, your throat felt dry and your hair damp with sweat. 

You slid from the bed and opened the mini-fridge in the small kitchenette of your room. Drinking an entire bottle of water and wiping your forehead with a cloth before slipping out of the room and into the master suite. Taemin’s room was right beside yours and you didn’t believe that was a mere coincidence. A candle was lit on the bedside table and you were greeted by his soft even breathing as you made your way to the enormous bed and climbed in beside him careful not to touch him. If it was a fiancee he had bargained for then it was one he would get. You turned your face away from his back and settled in to sleep but your eyes opened wide once more when you felt Taemin’s hand wrap around your shoulder in a gentle embrace as he turned to face your back and fell asleep once more. So maybe he had heard you awaken from your nightmare earlier you thought as your eyes grew heavy again and you fell asleep to the warmth of his touch and the thud of your heart.

You blinked as sunlight greeted you and you stretched, opening your eyes wider as you felt the absence of heat beside you and an empty pillow, your hands grazing over the indent in the fabric. Taemin was gone already, must have been since early this morning but his distinct scent still lingered, a combination of sweet oranges and heady cinnamon spice. You met the cold wooden floorboards against your bare feet with a groan as you made your way to the bathroom but a small young woman stopped you as you made your way to the tub.

“My name is Marguerite,” she said with a small curtsy. “Lord Taemin asked me to see to your needs m’lady. What minerals would you like in your bath?” 

“Oh, anything you like Marguerite I don’t mind truly.” You said moving out of her way so she could toss a few veils of lovely smelling soaps into the tub as she turned the hot water on. 

“How long have you been in Lord Taemin’s services?” You asked curiously. 

“Today is my first day m’lady, his lordship doesn’t keep many servants. Just the occasional cleaning maid. I expect he figured you’d be needing a handmaid.”

You nodded at this, touched that he’d thought so far ahead as to hire the girl already. You made a mental note to thank him later as you dipped into the warm water and watched the colorful bubbles that clung to your chest.   

The hotel breakfast was divine of course. Everything about the hotel was exquisite and filled with every out of season delicacy you could imagine. Grabbing an extra candied pear before you left the breakfast hall you decided to explore the grand hotel further. You made your way in and out of passageways and lobbies with sitting rooms and expensive carpets. But you wondered where the reception room for weddings and banquets must be. 

A hotel like this would have quite a few of them and sure enough, you came to a door that seemed close to the gardens. On the archway was a plaque that read Hall of Mirrors, you smiled at that. Of course, anyone who ran a circus would decide it a fitting name. You opened the heavy doors carefully and shut it behind you. Your eyes widened at the sight before you, you had never seen such wealth in one room alone. The hall was bathed in light, the sun shown through the many-windowed arches and reflected on the arches of mirrors just across. There were so many mirrors, more than three hundred if you could guess. the arches and walls all gleamed with their polished golden frames and elaborate craftsmanship. There were even mirrors that looked as if they belonged in a funhouse with odd shapes to them that disfigured your reflection. But most of them were tall and elegant. 

There was so much glass in the room you felt afraid to touch anything at all. Glass chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling and you wondered at the poor servant who lit the small white candles. This room in all its opulence reminded you of the photographs you’d seen of Versailles. This entire room was a show of power. You moved closer to the marble statue of what looked like Apollo riding his sun chariot. You ran the tip of your finger along the small stallions manes, fascinated by their detail.     

“My father thinks himself a god, Mademoiselle.” The voice startled you so that when you moved to turn around you’d cut yourself on one of the stallions sharply pointed ears. You stuck the pricked finger in your mouth to wipe away the blood as you stared at Ten before you. He looked straight through you at the statue before continuing, “Did you know there are eighteen figures alone in this hotel of Apollo? On fountains and vases.” He shook his head. “My father, the sun-god of business and opportunity.”

“I’m sorry, I shouldn't have pried into your rooms.” You said, eager to getaway. I enjoyed the performance last night, it's a pleasure to meet you in person. My name is-”

“I know who you are Lady Basileia, the papers cannot help but jump at the chance to announce your presence.” 

“This banquet hall is very exquisite, do you hold weddings here?” Your heartbeat raced nervously but you kept a smile plastered on your face. Maybe if he bored of your small talk he’d excuse himself or throw you out even. 

“Why do you wish to know?” He said, looking at you as if for the first time. “Would you like to hold your wedding here?” Ten smiled in a mocking sort of way and he looked at you as if you were nothing but filth dragged in. “I’m afraid this sort of lavishness makes Taemin uncomfortable, there is no way your groom to be would agree to such a location. A pity really that such a humble man must deal with a fortune-hunting wench like you.” 

You didn’t dare break his gaze as you said, “If you’ll excuse me my fiance is waiting for me. I hope that our next meeting will be more pleasant. You gave him a small dignified curtsy and exited the room careful to walk entirely around him. You found your breath again only after you were a safe distance away from the hall and out of the hotel. 

You made your way to the red tent hoping to find Taemin and ask him to take you out to the city. You just needed to go anywhere else to get your mind off of your encounter and shopping was the perfect distraction. If all you were good for was spending money then you would do just that you thought bitterly. Ten had frightened you with his smile, the way his face seemed bright and youthful but his spirit dark in ways you didn’t want to imagine. He reminded you of Andre, the way he brought you down and made you feel as if you were truly nothing. 

 You still wore the only dress you owned and just because of Ten’s family dealings you weren’t going to stop yourself from using his money. The more you could spend before Taemin all of a sudden decided he’d had enough of his life here and was ready to flee his position in the circus the better. You didn’t plan on leaving with him if he did. You’d already left everything behind once in your life and being penniless again was not an idea you fancied. If you played your part well there wasn’t a soul besides Ten who would doubt your sincerity and that was payment enough in your mind. Taemin had given you a perfect opportunity to mingle with the highest of aristocracy here each night at the red tent and you weren’t going to pass up the chance to make some money of your own for your own sense of security. 

Trusting anyone and being indebted for life to anyone scared the hell out of you and even though Taemin seemed like some star-crossed spirit no matter how hard you tried to push the thought aside you weren’t about to trust in his motives anytime soon. The more his soul tugged at yours and the more your heart softened as you experienced his pain. When you spoke last night together it had frightened you and it did not change the fact that he was just human. A beautiful godlike figure but mortal nonetheless and people were prone to deception. 

You weren’t beyond using him as Ten had blatantly said, a deal was a deal after all and with every lingering touch and glance it was growing harder to ignore. As long as he didn’t muddle your interest in carnal pleasures for love you weren’t against it. In fact, it would probably be bliss to meet a passion so intense that it would make you forget Andre and his months of torment. A welcome distraction before parting ways in the future. 

Ducking under the tent flap you spotted Taemin immediately. He was impossible to miss, sitting center-stage in a gilded birdcage that took up almost the entire stage. He sat on the swing hanging down from the top of his golden prison like some exotic bird in a royal menagerie. You could imagine how extravagant the costuming would be that night for the show, A spectral of colorful feathers and brightly painted eyelids but you found a pleasurable peace in watching him with practice gear, the white full-bodied leotard hugging every curve of his body.

His voice was sweeter than any birdsong and you found yourself inexorably drawn to him as you went to sit in the front row to watch. This time his song told the story of fame and loss. Of a being so popular his lifeblood existed on stage. It was like listening to Taemin’s deepest worries while learning all at once that he wouldn’t give all of this up for anything. It seemed that you had misjudged him, he wasn’t a prisoner to this circus but a slave to himself and his never-ceasing desire to give his all in every performance, even in one like this that was just for practice. He may have started down this path because of his need and Ten’s family but his heart was also here and with his fans as if this was what he was born to do. When he finished singing you cheered louder than you had before, making up for the empty seats. He smiled at you and ducked as the other performers lifted the cage enough for him to slip under.

“You're just in time my love,” He said extending a hand to you and pulling you onstage. “I’d like to introduce you to my family.” It was clear that by family he meant the other performers. They gathered around you with curiosity as he said, “Everyone, this is my fiancee Mademoiselle Basileia that I have spoken to you of.” You nodded at them all in turn with a smile before they began to ask questions that you knew were coming. 

“Taem says you saved him! Is that true My Lady?” Said Valerie whom you remembered as the contortionist siren who had the opening act of the circus. Before you could answer a small middle-aged woman that you remembered faintly from the sidelines yesterday came bustling from backstage shouting, “Goddess be praised ye finally brought the lass over! I thought you would hide her away till the masquerade. The woman placed a glass of ice water in Taemin’s hands and kissed you on the cheeks. 

“This is Madame Orla,” Taemin said. 

“But you may call me Mother Orla,” she said taking your hand in her own. “Taemin, Yule is in less than two weeks, aren't ye going to take your future bride and buy her a gown for the ball. You know how ruffled the merchants get when you don’t give them dew notice! She’ll end up wearing some premade ill-fitting thing. She said in a chastising voice filled with love and amusement. 

It suddenly struck you that this Yule ball was not just any Winter Solstice gathering but rather the ball. The Chittaphons threw elaborate parties all year that was to be sure but their annual Yule Masquerade ball held in their own manor was unlike any other. It was almost magical in its limited guest list and famed extravagance and after your visit to the Hall of Mirrors, your mind could scarcely wrap around the idea of what their manor would look like. It was one of Lily’s favorite pastimes to write about one or all of the girls at Muldale attending, like Cinderella appearing at the palace. It hadn’t even occurred to you that you were now invited as Taemin’s fiancee to the event.  

 “Mother Orla, why don’t you give her a proper Sibylline greeting while I change. Taemin said kissing your forehead and further solidifying the ‘couple’ myth as the dancers tittered at his small show of affection. “Mother Orla is a seer,” He whispered into your ear before walking backstage. 

You didn’t believe in fortune-telling, it was all a play of lucky guesses and pretty lies that the client wanted to hear but you pushed these thoughts aside and decided to indulge Orla as she lead you with her to sit in a small round table backstage. 

“I read palms,” Orla said. “In palmistry, the lines of your passive hand signifies what you were born with and the attributes the gods have given you while your dominant hand signifies what you have done with that potential and the choices you choose to make. May I?” She said gesturing to your dominant hand. You gave it to her gingerly, your palm faced up and resting in her gentle hands as she skidded her fingers along yours and studied the line that rested at the top of your palm and ended under your pinky finger. 

“Well, your heart line starts below your middle finger. This suggests that you are a leader who is independent and you have a keen sense of intellect. However, this intelligence indicates that you combine romance with rationality and careful calculation.” She frowned before continuing, “ You are selfish with your love and quite materialistic, you are not happy unless you control your surroundings and this leads you to act coldly towards others.” Your eyes widened slightly in surprise, a bit taken aback by the honesty of her words. “See the way your love line is forked with indecision form your brain and heart at war with each other?” You nodded, actually agreeing with her on this point. Love was illogical to you and suffocating, it made you feel trapped. “Yet your heart longs for freedom as well, perhaps from your past, you are much like a lone she-wolf lass, stubborn as a mule but hungry for passion. If you aren’t careful your stubbornness will devour you and lead to the capture of your free spirit, found by the hunter that you fear.” You shuttered then at the comparison as you remembered the wolf in your nightmare. Perhaps the wolf was you and the hunter in this fable your father, the connection was clear and unavoidable. 

Orla moved on, paying attention to the line that ran down the center of your palm. “You may find this news more promising. Your Fate Line shows your talent in creating relationships even if they are imbalanced by personal gain. You will have someone faithful to you, a helpmate to strengthen your personal ties and belief in trust. But be warned, if you remain distrustful your life will be a lonely path indeed.” Orla said, utter seriousness in her tone. You pulled your hand away not looking her in the eye. 

“Well, what do the stars say of our love Orla?” Taemin said as he came towards them dressed in plaid red pants, black boots, and a black and white jacket that somehow fit together marvelously. 

“It was by fate that your soul encountered hers, I believe you will be her salvation if trust blooms and she your downfall should it crumble,” Orla told him solemnly. 

Taemin took your arm and entwined it with his. “Thank you for the reading Orla,” Taemin said brushing aside her grim account with a sideways smile. “But I believe Basileia and I have a way of steering fate in our favor.” You bowed your head as a thank you for the reading and left the tent with him. You didn’t turn around even as you felt Orla’s eyes pierced your back.

It was a short drive into the bustling city. The heart of New Celes was alight with Yuletide celebration. Trees were decorated in colored lights and wreaths were hung in every shop. Taemin brought you to a woman’s clothing store filled with elaborate day gowns and business slacks, helping you pick out a few and waiting by the fitting room as you tried on the ones you liked. You modeled a few for him, spinning around in slow circles as he watched the way the fabric cascaded down your legs and hugged your hips. 

He found a pair of gold-rimmed heels and knelt to the floor, you lifted your skirt and he slipped them onto your feet, avoiding contact as he did so. Watching his gentle hands against the heel brought a pang of annoyance to your chest. He was so careful with you, so distant, so cold.

“I believe these will be perfect for the masked ball,” Taemin said rising from the floor. You nodded and turned away to head back to the fitting room, your cheeks felt hot and you were ready to take the damn long dress off. You didn’t like the way it dragged across the floor no sooner had you thought it then you tripped over the fabric and tumbled off the mirrored platform. He was there in an instant, catching you by the shoulders and breaking your fall. You looked up at him, his face closer than it ever had been, even in sleep he’d kept at a distance. But now you felt his chest against yours, the beat of his heart one with the rise and fall of your breasts and his warm hands against your skin. His eyes met yours and yet you were the first to break the stare. “Thank you.” You straightened and he released you. 

“I’ll be next door fitting for my Yule costume,” he said. “It's best if we surprise each other though most couples like to match but I believe I’ll let fate decide this one.” His eyes were back to that blank lazy submission, any sparkle of openness lost as he turned and made his way towards the front of the store. 

It didn’t take you long to choose a Yuletide costume. You simply thought of what Lily would have chosen and the decision was done. You had to admit the symbolism of such a costume would be lost on no one and it gave you a thrill to think of it.

“And whom should I put the dress under for pickup My Lady? The seamstress said as she marked down the measurements of your waist, neckline, and shoulders into a massive book of orders. 

“You may put it under my name Madame Escoffier,” Taemin said as he came into the shop again with several bags. “I haven't seen you in months ma fée,” The woman said sweetly coming to kiss his cheeks.” Her fairy indeed you thought, marveling at his jovial demeanor and quick smiles. It was a gift he seemed to possess, he influenced the aura around him either radiating cold magnetic charm or sunshine that no one could escape.

“You tell Orla I’m waiting for a visit soon.” Madame Escoffier said as you walked out of her shop. Taemin grabbed the bags and assured the lady he would.

Next, Taemin took you to a small antique shop on the end on the street. The store was filled with old-fashioned bonnets expensive fishing rods and pendants. In the jewelry case, you found many pieces of faux earrings and necklaces and you wondered why they warranted the extra protection till your eyes fell upon a pearl necklace. Even if it was a fake you had to admit that the clasp and the sheen of glossy pearls were beautiful. “That one, I’ll take it,” Taemin said to the clerk when he saw you looking at the necklace. “You’ll need something old for the wedding won’t you?” He said with a conspiratorial laugh as he fastened the pearls around your neck. 

“Thank you,” you said somehow touched at this least extravagant gift than all the rest today.  

“Anything for my enchanting bride to be.” He said loudly enough for the clerk to hear. Taemin offered you a hand as you exited into the frosty streets and you took it gladly. It had gotten considerably colder and just when you were about to ask Taemin to hand you the new blue coat you had bought, a man with a tattooed shoulder of a vibrant rose-red she-wolf moved past. You clutched your own shoulder and shivered but not from the cold as you remembered the design of the tattoo all too well. The absence of the Scarlet Wolf Groupe resurfaced in your mind like a brand. You remembered the day long ago when you had burned it off your skin with the candle wax on your bedside table. The horror on Madame Dupont’s face when she’d found your scar was soon mended with makeup and lacy shoulder bands till the scars grew less apparent than a birthmark. 

Taemin hadn't missed the look of fear that crossed your face as the man walked past. Of course, he never missed anything, you thought as you made your face blank and continued to make your way to the car. Once inside Taemin didn’t spare a minute before he said, “It’s growing more and more perilous each night in New Celes. You would think the Chittaphons would be a little more subtle about where their alliances lie. He said revving the engine. 

Your head whipped toward his. “What do you mean his ally?”

 “Just what I said, the Scarlet Wolf is a long-time friend of the family. They do the Chittaphon’s dirty work like the dogs they are.” Taemin said, a look of disgust marring his perfect features and sending ice toward your veins. 

“It's an insane idea even for Ten to invite such mongrels to the masquerade under the guise of a truce. The Chittaphon’s seek “peace” with the beasts for the people of New Celes and wish to end their reign but it’s all a ploy to lure in the Alpha and assert their command. The leader of that rabid pack gets their money from someone we know.”

Your face paled and you couldn’t hide the panic in your voice as you said: “The Alpha is coming to the Yule Ball?” 

“Yes, but don’t worry he’s not the chatty sort, he said with worry as he took his eyes off the road to assess you. “You look as if you’ve seen a ghost, Lady Basileia.” He didn’t know how right he was. You remained silent for the rest of the ride back to the hotel. 

You wanted to tell Taemin you couldn’t attend the ball but every time you did your words faltered. Going to the ball wasn’t just about you, it was for Taemin, it was for the entire scheme you had agreed to. Without your presence, it would be a nightmare for him and you would be entirely responsible. Your own voice nagged at you that it wasn’t Taemin’s safety you worried for but your own. 

Telling anyone you were the daughter to the Alpha of the Scarlet Wolf would make you a bargaining chip and a dangerous one. You didn’t want to think about what Ten could do, what leverage he would gain if you were discovered. The brand on your shoulder burned again, as if alive, tying you to your past like a collar. There was no love lost between you and your father that was certain, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t want you back now. As a child you posed less of a threat, he probably thought you dead. But now if he ever knew you were still alive he would be afraid of the pack secrets you could reveal, the names you could sell and he would hunt you down without remorse.

 It was a masquerade after all, a festival of hidden faces and fluttering fans with a father you haven't seen in over fifteen years. He would not recognize you. And yet even with all of these excuses in your mind, your guilt ate away at you and the string of pearls Taemin had given you seemed to constrict around your neck in reminder.

Your loud thoughts were easier to dispel in the daytime but when night fell and you found yourself seeking the quiet comfort of Taemin’s company beside yours it grew harder and harder to remain silent and even more willpower to stay still. When you heard his breathing even out into a blissful sleep some nights you would turn over and look at his peaceful face- or what you could see of it from the dim bedside candlelight. Every fiber of your being craved contact. It was as if an insatiable fire had grown alight inside you, 

 Your fingers ached to trace the bridge of his nose from forehead to the unique dip of his lip. But you didn’t. You lay your head upon the pillow and fell away to darkness even as your body felt aflame in its own perpetual inferno. 

As the days grew closer and closer to the festival you’d had enough. You spent your nights in your own room, or else wear. You gathered money from new clients and disguised yourself with makeup and washable hair dyes. It was after the fifth night of going on in this fashion that you found Taemin in your room. It was four in the morning and you’d decided to leave your client asleep in his bed, helping yourself to a bottle of Champagne as you left. You hadn’t drunk much at all but when you saw Taemin leaning against the mantle of the fireplace as you entered your chambers you wished you had. 

You set the bottle on your bedside table carefully, not meeting his eyes.

“You’re back,” he said the obvious with a thinly laced veil of anger he was trying so desperately to conceal. “You shouldn’t be out at this hour, the Scarlet Wolf patrols are always about at night-”

“Who are you to say when I should or shouldn’t be out, are you my keeper? Do you think I will owe you forever.” You said placing cash on the table beside him and pushing it toward him. “Here is a week’s worth, I’ll pay off my emblem slowly but it will be done.”

“I never asked you to pay me back! I only asked you to keep up our agreement. His voice grew louder now as he took in your wrinkled gown and the stockings you’d draped across your arm. 

“Why don’t you just say what we both know is really on your mind.” You said, your voice growing heated as well. Your head felt as if it would burst and your feet were near freezing. “It hurts your pride that as your fiancee I was out hell knows where and with whom in the dead of night am I right?”

“Yes, It does bother me! I didn’t only make this arrangement for me Basileia.” He said coming closer. The light of the fire only added to the fervor in his eyes as he reached for you. One warm hand against your frigid collarbone. He pulled at the string of pearls around your neck till he found the clasp and set it loose, they fell to the floor with a clatter. His eyes meet yours as he said, “Is this Champagne life of luxuries all you desire? It bothers me to have you sleeping in another man’s bed with the present I gave you around your neck.” 

You stood so still you could hardly breathe. The passion in his eyes was frightening but not in the perilous way you were used to. Taemin’s hand across your skin wasn’t suffocating as Andre’s would be if anything you wanted him to pull you closer. His eyes were filled with a word you dared not say, it was sweeter than lust, more consuming than meer obsession. And so you dangled it before you like a token in your mind. It was love; bold, bright, and hopeful, dancing in his irises like tongues of fire. “I thought..” His voice was a broken whisper now. “I thought you would be happier here.” 

You were happier here with him. Happier than any time in your life. But to stay? To make the lie between you real? 

“I sometimes forget this is a lie.” You said softly, motioning between yourself and him. “When you touch me I forget myself.” 

He smiled then as if you had given him the world. He leaned in and whispered against your ear, “Then why not make this our reality, why pretend when we both want this? He took your hands in his “Or am I not enough?”

“You are more than enough, Taemin.” You said bringing his hands to your lips. “You’ve made me care like I never thought I could. You saw worth in me even when I looked upon myself in shame. And I will always be grateful to you but because of who I am I cannot stay in one place for long or dare to love someone.”

He extricated himself from your hands, a mask of ice was forming once more across his features, shielding his emotions away and in that moment you knew that if you didn’t tell him the truth you would lose him forever and that frightened you more than his love. 

“My father is the leader of the Scarlet Wolf, Taemin. I can’t allow him to notice me if I stay too long.”  His eyes widened, the shock melting his indifference. “I could never be a part of them and because I severed the ties between us he will certainly want me back if he finds I’m alive. 

“Is that why you stayed at Muldale? Did you feel you had to atone for your father’s mistakes by selling yourself?” His voice wasn’t laced with pity or animosity, he looked as if he truly wanted to know. It was honestly a question you had asked yourself many times.

 “No,” you said finally and he seemed a bit relieved by the answer. “My father’s sins, the Alpha’s sins, are his own. I only wanted to make a life apart from his and I made it in the best way I believed I could given my situation.”

He nodded at this, seeming satisfied that you weren't running yourself to the ground out of some twisted obligation to erase the Alpha’s blood from your veins. 

“I do care for you,” You said with much more conviction this time. The words tumbled out awkwardly but that didn’t make them any less true. You felt it needed to be said aloud, if not for you then for him. For the man before you who wore his heart on his sleeve in your presence. “I want you, more than I have ever wanted anything in my life.” You said, and a look of hopeful bliss crossed his features once more. He wrapped you into his embrace, his chin resting on your head as he played with the ends of your hair. 

“And I suppose you were going to wait till after the masquerade when you finished dancing with death to tell me all this?” He sounded worried and so you reassured him with the same phrases you'd kept telling yourself over and over. 

“He won’t recognize me, it’s been so many years.”

“It’s a bad idea, I can make up some excuse for not attending. If we go every eye will be on you. Our story is quite the talk in city gossip as it is.”

“All the more reason we must go. I won't sabotage your plans to show ourselves as a couple. Besides, the best way to hide is right under the Alpha’s nose.”

The inside of your gown scratched a bit against your skin but you had to admit it was worth it. The dress clung to your body perfectly and yet the bodice was breathable. The midnight-blue fabric swayed as you walked and the little golden stars, suns, and crescent moons sewn onto the shimmering canopy layer glowed just as brightly as the mask you wore. It was a simple mask, shaped like a butterfly. 

A delicate pair of gossamer wings attached to the back of your gown and seemed to merge with your back. The wings were stunning enough that they had taken your breath away when the costume had arrived wrapped carefully in parchment in the hands of Marguerite. The girl pinned tiny flower clips into your hair and as you gazed into the long mirror in your room now you found an ethereal Faerie Queen stared back. At a light knocking on the door you turned from your reflection to open it and it was then that your heart truly caught in your throat. 

Taemin had dyed his hair to a light white-blonde shade. Clips of hair the same hue cascaded down his shoulders. His eyes twinkled mischievously through the golden mask that covered half of his upper face. Golden antlers grew from the top of his mask with flowers growing from their tips and on his forehead was a crown made of leaves. His ears were pointed and a pair of wings also graced his back. A green velvet cape matched the single opera glove on his left hand as well as his pants. The ruffled white shirt with golden buttons closed to the collar granted him an air of nobility. You let out a wide smile at his choice of costume. 

“Pleased to make your acquaintance Lord Oberon, King of the Forest.” You curtsied slightly and he followed your example with a smile and bow of his own. 

“Likewise fair Queen Mab, Lady of Air and Darkness.” He said. Taking your hand into his gloved one and kissing the back of it.

“How in blazes did you know I would dress up as the Faerie queen of the Winter Court.” You asked him, only a little annoyed that he’d peeked at your costume.

“I didn’t I swear. Fate is really in our favor.” 

“Or the Fates are against us!” you said with a laugh. “Your queen Titania is not one to be double-crossed. You’re the King of the Summer Court and a Seelie at that! However would our love survive?”

“Opposites attract My Lady, you are as lovely and cold as snow. I cannot bear to part with you. Where others may say the Unseelie bring nothing but misfortune, I see beauty in those icy veins and a heart that beats as rapidly as mine own.” 

You lose it then, doubling over in laughter. “You are quite good at this.”

“I was born to appear on stage, are you really all that surprised.”

“Before we go would you help me with something.” You said, moving towards the vanity and taking the string of pearls you placed in his palm before moving your hair away from the nape of your neck. He fastened it, his hands lingering on your skin a moment longer and then he extended his elbow. You took it, entwining your arm in his. When you looked toward him you felt the rampant wave of emotions that radiated from him as he took in the pearls across your throat and your painted plum-colored lips so near yet not near enough. 

When you arrived at the Chittaphon Manor you were greeted by several footmen waiting at the door. Once inside you craned your neck up to look at the high ceilings covered in paintings as you walked upon the red-carpeted marble floors. The ballroom was filled with diamond chandeliers and scented red candles that smelled of cinnamon. There were so many people dancing to the vivacious orchestra and they were all hidden under masks, even the musicians themselves were in costume. Servants bustled about in black suits and dresses with the masks of ravens carrying trays of champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries.

 Your descent from the grand staircase had not gone unnoticed and Taemin squeezed your hand to reassure you as many eyes turned to watch you both. In spite of (or rather because of) his costume there was no mistaking Taemin or his companion. The crowd murmured as you passed and you supposed the sight of Taemin attending any party with a woman would stir up this much gossip and jealous eyes. Taemin didn’t ignore their gazes, he smiled politely as always and pulled you toward the center of the room and towards the company of your host. 

You noticed Ten before he did. He was dressed in a fox mask and a red suit, looking ever the part of a depraved demon you thought. His eyes then fell upon Taemin and flicked to you. He said nothing, assessing your costume head to toe before saying, “Ah it would seem you have switched places. Forgive me but as everyone here can attest, myself included, if there were ever a faerie tyrant too bold and in possession of a stone heart it would be your prized husband-to-be mademoiselle.”  Ten bowed and extended his hand, you gave him yours reluctantly but with so many eyes upon you, it was impossible to refuse him. You smiled, determined to keep your cheerful demeanor. 

“I am glad we should meet again at last, Lady Basileia, though I find it a shame you did not come dressed as Hestia, or some other hearth maiden as you bring so many men warmth on these frigid winter nights.” Ten’s eyes twinkled in amusement and the meaning of his words was not lost upon you as you heard Taemin clear his throat beside you. 

“And where are the rest of our hosts this evening, It would be a shame for Lady Basileia to miss them,” Taemin said. 

“Mother and Father tire of these festivities easily.” Ten said, grabbing a glass of champagne from a passing tray and taking a sip. “They retreated to the gambling tables as soon as the music began.” 

“Young Master, I believe your guest has arrived.” Said a servant in a crow mask to Ten who then excused himself. 

“I’m afraid Ten knows far too much about your whereabouts,” Taemin whispered with one hand at the small of your back, guiding you through the dance floor and closer to the orchestra and swaying figures that brushed you by. 

“But he couldn’t know about anything before Madame Dupont’s, Taemin. Even the Madame herself knew nothing of where I came from.” 

Just then Ten appeared in the corner of your eye again. He watched the two of you and the weight of resentment you felt from his gaze was enough to make you act rashly. If he did know anything of your past it was better to lure the truth out. Better the devil you know than die of ignorance too late. 

When Taemin grabbed a chocolate-covered strawberry passing on a tray you took his hand before he could eat it and moved his fingers to your mouth. The plum-colored lips that had so hypnotized Taemin before now took the fruit along with two of his fingers. Your tongue left not a trace of chocolate behind as the warmth of your mouth enveloped him and he thought he would lose his sanity as you moved closer, taking him in farther.

“What are you doing,” Taemin hissed. His voice was shaken and you gleamed triumphantly as you released him. 

“Merely speeding up our reluctant enemy.” You said as you searched for Ten again amid the crowd.

He was still watching, but his gaze had turned even darker and beside him stood a man that hadn’t been there before. It was Ten’s Guest who towered beside him and he was wearing a wolf mask. Leon Sauvage, the Alpha, stood ever too close to Ten like a familiar and comfortable lapdog. You turned your gaze away immediately.

“Let’s dance,” you said. Wrapping your arms around Taemin’s shoulder and pulling him closer as if it would shield you from the Alpha’s eyes.

After a few dances, you began to feel more at ease and relaxed into Taemin’s arms allowing the music to envelop you both into a bubble of happiness that you hadn’t known had been busting inside of you. Under different circumstances, at a different party, you would have been wholly engulfed in his company.

The twist in your stomach returned all too soon however when Ten appeared behind Taemin and tapped him on the shoulder. “May I have a dance with the ravishing Queen Mab.” Ten said. When Taemin didn’t pull away from you he leaned in and said to Taemin, “It was so kind of you mon amour to decide to sing for us, truly more than I expected.” 

Taemin paled at this and Ten only smirked as one of the servants announced loudly to the assembly, “And now I present Lord Lee Taemin, who will grace us with ‘Bird in a Gilded Cage’.”

“Go on, I  do believe they are calling you. You wouldn't want to make a scene,” Ten said.

You nodded at Taemin to go and squeezed his hand in reassurance that you would be alright without him as he threw daggers with his eyes at Ten and walked toward the front of the crowd. When Taemin started to sing the ironically dark and sorrowful melody of a woman who wasted her youth on a man of fortune. Ten began to whirl you around the room looking ever the part of a gentleman to his many guests. But his grip on your waist and hand was like a vise. 

“You’re like a dime,” you said when you couldn’t bear the silence any longer. “Two-faced, and not worth my time.” He laughed at that, it was a strange laugh like none you’d ever heard. It was boyish in its charm almost innocent even though his eyes were anything but. Still, the wide smile and flashing of teeth had caught you off guard once again. He held an air of pure calculation. Everything about him was deliberate, meticulous, dangerous and beautiful in its ferality.

 “Quite the handful aren't you, it's no wonder he can’t keep you for himself.” Ten said as he caught a ringlet of your hair and twirled it between his fingers. When you slapped his hand away he only grinned again then leaned in to whisper in your ear, “It matters not how many gowns and diamonds you wear, a wolf is a wolf, even in a gilded cage, even dressed in silk. And his daughter,” he said holding you tighter, “Is no exception.”

He knew then. Your heart pounded frantically as you began to race through plans of escape in your mind but Ten’s hands held too firmly to you. 

“Perhaps instead of thinking about escaping me, you should start thinking about what the Alpha can do to Taemin if you don’t leave him.” His words stopped your writhing as you stared at him. “Telling the world who you are would indeed sour Taemin’s reputation but only for a time. It's simply not enough, eventually they would just say you cast a spell on him, that with your succubus charms and angelic words you stole him away from the public and his many admirers. Martyr that he is he wouldn’t oppose to gossip for your honor. What is an idol without fame but a beaten dreamer out on the streets and you know how rough that can be my dear. The fool thinks he loves you, well he can love you from his grave.” Your eyes widened as the full force of his words came to rest upon you. 

“Your father is a wealthy man because of me, one word and I'll have those mutts of the Scarlet Groupe tear Taemin to pieces right before your eyes. 

“Ten,” you said gripping his arms now. “If you still bear one shred of love for him, please don’t do this.” 

“Oh my dear sweet vixen, he said tilting your chin up. “I won’t be the one breaking his heart, you will or else our songbird with never sing again.” And with that Ten spins you straight into your father’s arms. 

“My how you've grown,” The Alpha said, as he lead you along the dance floor. You were too stunned for words to slip away. You’d forgotten the gentle rumble of your father's voice, at odds with his intimidating demeanor and brash fits of violence. You saw his eyes soften as he looked upon you and it silenced you into submission. You had always been the omega of the Scarlet Wolf, distanced from the blood-lust and ostracized from their plotting. You remembered then the last time you’d seen your father’s disappointed eyes as he’d turned away and left you in the snow. It was a show of strength, if you had come back alive from the cold it would prove your worthiness and loyalty. But you had run away, abandoning your kin just as your father had abandoned you in his heart. You firmly believed he’d never once believed you would survive that winter alone. 

 “When the young master told me you were still alive I could scarcely believe it. I thought it was a trick to lord over me but it wasn’t. Come back to us, there is nothing for you here.” Your father said. “There is a wildness in your eyes just as there is in mine, you do not belong in the freak show that man calls art.” 

“You left me for dead! Why would I ever return? Especially now when you are nothing but a lapdog to the ringmaster and his family.” 

“I prefer bloodhound,” he said his voice turning colder now. “I had the feeling you would refuse but this isn’t personal anymore it’s simple diplomacy. The young master would like you to leave New Celes and Taemin. I spoke with him and we have come to an agreement. If you leave before dawn he will meet you in the Hall of Mirrors and grant you a small fortune to live on as well as safe passage. You will not be followed out of the city.”

“And if I refuse this generous offer?”

“Well, I will have to kill Taemin upon my young master’s orders.”

“Why not just kill me then, It would save you both the trouble. You know you want to. Leaving the pack is a criminal offense in your eyes is it not?”

“As I said before personal matters are behind us but that does not mean I will enjoy seeing you die, daughter. Your mind is of no use to me anymore, the names you remember, the knowledge of the pack even. Many things have changed since then and I would rather see you off safely than have you come to harm because of the young master’s whims.”

His earnestness surprised you. You’d thought for certain he would want you dead but instead, he was bargaining for your future and safety? 

“I am obliged to follow the young master’s words. It’s best you heed him or others will suffer. I’ve seen him shed more blood over less. I am merely the blade in his hands and his orders will be obeyed.” The song ended and he bowed before slipping away into the crowd. 

Just then a scream cut through the ballroom and the crowd went to circle a body that had collapsed. You pushed your way through only to find a young woman on the floor. One of the candelabras had collapsed and she’d fell with it, hitting her head in the process. You would have believed it an accident if the woman had been anyone else. But there lay Valerie her delicate frame motionless in Taemin’s arms as he picked her up calling frantically all the while for a doctor. It was a message meant for you and as you met Ten’s vicious gaze you knew what would happen if you didn’t do as he wished.

“She’ll be fine, Valerie is awake now.” You said to Taemin again as you both made your way back to the hotel.

“I know’ it’s just…” Taemin let out the shaky breath he’d seemed to be holding the past two hours as they’d brought Valerie to the Chittaphon’s personal physician at Ten’s request of course. You’d watched helplessly as she began to regain her senses slowly after the physician treated her head and held smelling salts to her nose. Valerie had been groggy and complained of a gastly headache but she was otherwise unharmed and it had taken a bit of insistence on your part and Orla’s for Taemin to leave her side and get some rest. 

It reminded you of the way you used to sit by Lily’s bedside while she had a fever. You’d watch over her and read to her for days until she was well. It comforted you that while you were leaving him behind Taemin wouldn’t be alone. He had a family here no matter how strange his position seemed to be he seemed to thrive amid the madness. 

As you looked toward Taemin now pacing like a lion and deep in thought you wondered at the ache in your chest. Maybe you’d always worshipped things you couldn’t have and now that you had him before you, you couldn't bear to let him go.

“I saw you dancing with your father,” Taemin said breaking you from your thoughts. “I wanted to intervene but by the time I got close enough the dance had already ended and Valerie- Well I’m just sorry I wasn’t there for you.” 

“No it’s alright,” you said. “I wasn’t in any danger, it seems my father rather I rejoin him than kill me.”  And so you proceeded to tell him of your refusal and decided it was best to say nothing of Ten’s plans.

 You didn’t want him to worry, you didn’t want to spend your last hours together explaining yourself or talking him into the idea of you leaving him. Perhaps it was greedy of you to want him to yourself just a while longer, but self-denial had never been your virtue and neither had patience.  

“Your song helped me push through my unease tonight,” you said coming towards him and turning. “Would you mind detaching my wings?” You said with an impish smile. “Marguerite has already gone to bed and I’d hate to wake her.”

With nimble hands he began to untie the knot at the small of your back and peeled the wings away slowly. Your back brushed against his chest and you held his gaze over your shoulder. In that moment you were reminded of the carvings in the Hall Of Mirrors that had gleamed in the sun. He was a golden angel, a graven image you dared not touch and yet you burned for him.

 Taemin stood so still, frozen in place as if even a whisper would scare you away. You felt as if you were standing at the edge of a cliff with hell down below. And so you welcomed the chaos of your desire as well as its many demons. You kissed him with all the rapture of an ending world. Your tongue caught the honey of his lips your breath heavy and untamed.With every button you loosened he grew unraveled. With every tug of his hair he was conquered. 

He ran his fingers through your hair sending flower pins flying as he pulled you closer. His lips sent feather-light kisses down your bare shoulder that set your heart racing. Your neck tilted back with the echo of his name on your lips and he claimed them with ravenous abandon. You’d forgotten to feel the depths of your loneliness till now. Before you survived living like a hollowed shell but now that emptiness was filled with something so sweet and new and it made you tremble. Your hands wandered across his chest as he probed your mouth with his tongue, it danced with your own in a blaze of heat and need. 

You slid from your gown, loosening the fabric that caught at your ankles and guided him towards the bed. Every move you made was languorous like a slow prowl your eyes and fingers traced every new patch of skin till you reached the uneven valley of his back and halted. Taemin seemed to come out of his torrid haze in that moment as well. His body seemed to lock in on itself in dread as you moved behind him and beheld his back. 

You were unable to hold in the gasp that escaped your lips and quickly you brought one hand to your mouth as if you could take it back. There along the curve of his spine and the center of his back were scars etched deep into his skin that looked as if an animal had clawed him. No not an animal but a monster you realized as you took in the unnatural pattern they left behind. The lines were shaped like a cross as they overlapped each other and in them the indisputable initial ‘T’ stood.They were whip lashings as brazen as the demon who had given them. You coiled your fists in the sheets, rage swelled within you as well as grief. It was as if Taemin’s body was an extension of your own and every slash of pain bit into your heart. 

“I’m fine.” Taemin said as he wiped your tears with his thumb. 

“How can you say that! How can you stay here with him watching your every move. What he has done to you is unforgivable and yet you stay. You felt sick and so very tired. Your fingers moved along the scars and Taemin allowed it. Watching you over his shoulder as if he was trying to find the words to help you understand. 

“Ten was always a devil in hiding, he took what he wanted and I never questioned his behavior. I was young and so blinded by admiration and blissful ignorance. In those days he could have set the world ablaze and called it snow, heaven knows I would have believed him.” Taemin said brokenly in a whisper of shame.

 “It was so easy to love his smile that even when I found out about the family business I confronted him in the hope that he wasn’t a part of it.” Taemin continued. “I could not believe that the boy who would awaken at dawn just to paint the sky and sketch portraits of me while he thought I wasn't looking was really a monster.” Taemin shook his head and took your hand in his.

“Once he found out I knew about the family business his careful mask seemed to fall around me day by day till one night Ten’s father had me sleep with the Countess Marie de Froissy. It wasn’t unusual for him to ask this of me. He often tried to further his own investments with the information the wives of stockholders and other aristocrats told me.” His eyes flicked toward you when he said this and the words Taemin had said when you first met came to your mind, ‘You and I are more alike than you know.’ 

It took until now to fully realize the extent of those words. You’d both grown up in two separate prisons unable to alter the lives you were given and you both had been so alone. It was then that you showed him where the mark of your kin had been on your shoulder before you’d rid yourself of the hold they had on you. What a fine pair we make.

“Ten was angry at his father and wanted to make it so that he never sent anyone to me again.” Taemin said. “I believe in his own twisted mind he probably thinks it was a gift. But I have learned to not let it define me.” 

“I see that by the way you hold yourself.” You said, moving towards him and letting his arms encircle you in warmth. “With every dance and soul-filled song you've shed these scars and now wear them as wings.” You said as you moved to kiss the scars on his back stroking the lines with the tip of your tongue like a baptism as you painted it across him. He let out an unholy groan that set your skin on fire.

 You pushed him down unto the silken sheets and held him captive with your lips on his again as you straddled his hips, poised upon him as if he were your throne. You trailed your hair down his chest, the strands gliding across him in slow excruciating designs; the thrust of your hips inducing a moan that mirrored your own. 

You reached for the clasp at your neck, unfastening the pearls and embracing the coolness of their touch as they slid pleasurable against your palm. You took the strand in your hands and encircled the beads around his length moving them back and forth against him in a way that made him whimper and quiver, sending a rush of excitement through your veins.

 And then he was there settling above you. His elbows were propped up on either side of your head and the smell of his skin, cinnamon and vanilla enthralled you again. He nestled between your legs, moving inside you with such slow, torturous, movements at first that set your body burning with insatiable hunger until suddenly you couldn’t hum to the rhythm of his hips anymore and the inside of your heavy eyelids were covered in stars. 

The Hall of Mirrors was an entirely different place at night. The mirrors and statues cast queer shadows in the darkness with only the moonlight coming through the archways for light. The chandeliers chimed against each other lightly as the brisk wind of an open window brushed across them. 

You wondered if the letter you’d left Taemin behind would be the first thing he would see when he woke up alone and your heart constricted at the thought. You hadn’t said much, it wouldn’t really have been a goodbye if you had but a promise of something more and you weren’t cruel enough the leave him hope that you would return. Your words were brutal and dipped in half-lies that made you want to throw the paper into the fire before he could ever read it but you hadn’t. Instead you’d dressed, grabbed your few belongings and shut the door.  

“I’m glad you could make it,” Ten’s amused voice came from behind you breaking you from your trance and in the next instant you heard the door click shut. You turned to see his wolfish grin as he crossed the room towards you and placed a single candle with its stand onto a table. You gave him a glare fixed with murderous intent. 

“I didn’t have much choice did I?” You responded bitterly. “Give me the money and tickets before I kill you for what you’ve done to him! I’ve seen the markings on his back, the way you branded yourself onto his skin.” Tears came to your eyes now and you let them fall you didn’t care anymore if this inhuman creature saw you wither at last for he had won and he knew it. “How can you live as if you have authority over all creation? Is everything a game to you?”

“Ahh yes, those tokens of my love. Tell me, when you kissed his scars and traced my name across his back are you sure it was your face he saw as you slept with him or mine.” His eyes gleamed in the candlelight with such perverse pleasure that you could hold back no longer.

You flew at him with hands and teeth. Clawing at his perfect features with your nails as if he had released some rabid thing inside of you. A maniacal storm unleashing itself as you let your repulsion, your hatred, overtake you. You had sworn never to use the abilities of your kin again but your anger took over and with it the bloodlust.

You felt a surge of strength flow through you and with one swift motion, your nails raked across Ten’s face. He screamed, pushing you away with such force that you crashed into one of the mirrors. You covered your face with your arms as you fell to the floor, glass shattering around you. Then Ten was there pinning you down as he sat against your thighs, his hands grabbing at your throat. You felt the blood from his wound dripping across your face as he leaned over you. You’d missed his eye but just barely, the slashes around it had gone deep. 

You could feel your strength waning as it always had before, one moment there then gone. You cursed yourself for your lack of power in a body so wasted away since birth that it only ever held a spark of ability unlike the rest of your kin who quaked with it. 

“What’s the matter, runt? Was that all you could do? Ten taunted. He pulled at the pearls on your throat till it snapped sending a shower of beads across the floor amid broken glass. 

“I meant it when I said this room wouldn’t hold your wedding. It was meant for something far greater: your funeral.’’ Ten said as he grabbed a shard of glass from the floor and drew it towards your chest. Just as suddenly a shadow swept into the room through the open window at an inhuman speed coming between you and the glass. 

You screamed as the Alpha’s vest started to soak in blood. The shard had gone right to his heart and you held his hand in shock as his face grew paler.

“I couldn’t fail you a second time.” Your father said, his eyes meet yours and you knew then that no matter what had happened in the past, he had missed you. The Alpha let out a clear whistle with his last breath before falling limp in your arms. You shook him in disbelief. The strongest person you knew was dead.

 It wasn’t long before Ten was surrounded by men and women in scarlet cloaks and furs. In response to the call of their leader and in a rage over their Alpha’s lifeless body they descended upon Ten like a pack of wolves in earnest till he lay across the marble floor, eyes dull and wide. 

The members of the scarlet wolf gathered their leader’s body with careful hands and pulled you to the open window. It was only then that you heard the shout of Ten’s guard as you were whisked away from the scene by a family you thought you had left behind forever. 

#Taemin #taemin fanfic #taemin imagines #taemin smut #SHINee fanfic #taemin au #ten fanfic #Taemin circus au #My writing #taemin fanfiction

[no53472]

do you have any headcanons of any rarepairs you ship?

Oh god, I think I've shared a lot of Taldeea headcanons through my drawings already, so let's try a few from one of my other ships:

Andre x Diego

- The most good looking couple in school; "don't dress for a boy; dress for the boy."

- Diego made the first move because he's confident like that; sneaking a wink from across the classroom from time to time but

- Andre is near-sighted (probably from working on all those clothes late into the night under shitty candlelight) and just thinks Diego has a weird twitch

- Both of them bonded over how people perceived them to just look good, so they had to work extra hard and be really good at Quidditch and duelling respectively

- Andre thinks dancers are hot and gets uncharacteristically flustered when asked to dance

- Diego has a really big family and loves having Andre around for every family gathering--much to Diego's reluctance because

- (dun dun dun) Diego's abuela is homophobic :(

- Andre gave Diego his yellow scarf ♡; it was from his personal collection; "Yellow's not really my color and you're a Hufflepuff anyway so..." (tsundere vibe holy shit)

- If Instagram-boyfriends were a thing in the 80s, that was them 100%

- Competitive boyfriends!!!!!!; but also really supportive of each other's events

Okay, I think this is long enough lmao

#thanks for asking! #hphm #andre egwu #diego caplan #andre egwu x diego caplan

[wallwri]

Crystalline || Male! Elsa x Reader || Chapter 2

(Taken from my Wattpad account. My user is NostalgiaWriter, if you want to take a look!)

*Chapter 2*

The ship jolted to a halt as it reached the docks' wooden platform. From my seat, I watched a group of sailors drop the weighty anchor into the ocean. Once they confirmed that it was safe to leave the boat, everyone stood up carefully grabbing their luggage.

"Arendelle is so beautiful! I've forgotten how wonderful the weather felt!" My gaze landed on the castle's roof peeking out of the gates and houses.

'It's been a while, hasn't it?' I smiled looking at the Arendelle castle in the distance.

Over time, I lost my shyness over the years while I spent my time at my parents' bakery. Interacting with customers at the desk and delivering pastries at the door. Talking to others has not been much of a problem, but I still do become exhausted when I get too overstimulated.

A cool draft of air blew through my hair as I spun around freely feeling the warm sun on my skin. I heard hushed giggle from the passengers I came to a stop to grab the handle of my suitcase, following behind the line of people to the exit.

The captain of the ship escorted people out and gave me a friendly, toothy grin. He had a suit decorated with certain patterns to reflect Arendelle's symbols and colors of purple and green.

Excited chatter among the passengers were getting louder once they entered into the streets, scattering into different groups.

"Of course, miss! This week is the crowning of Prince Elias for king. Thankfully, the weather has been wonderful as of late."

I paused, my eyes widening. Oh my goodness. 'Elias?'

My memories started to flood back into my mind. I haven't seen him in years. I faintly remember the shy, blonde-headed boy and our childish escapades in the castle.

'Hey, do you want this flower? I picked it in my grandma's garden outside and I want to give it you'

'A-Are you sure? You know my powers are going to freeze it...'

My small hand politely shoved the honeysuckle closer to his face.

'It doesn't matter! That means you can keep it with you forever and ever! You won't be sad when I have to go back to my grandmother.'

The boy's cheeks flushed a light shade of pick as he accepted the flower. His powers activated encasing the delicate petals into ice. I was in awe of the flower's new appearance that resembled a snowflake.

I sighed, pushing back the memory.

"The future king of Arendelle, you say?"

"Yes, everyone has made preparations for the celebration. Many nobles from neighboring nations have been invited to the ball. Although us commoners aren't invited to the ball, we'll still participate in events organized throughout the city."

Elias. It's all happening today, isn't it? Guilt started to grow as I realized how much time we were apart from each other. I left him alone again. I left him so suddenly.

"Thank you so much for escorting me." I say, curtsying.

"It was no problem at all, miss. Just doing my job." The man tips his hat with a gentlemanly smile before he walked away to converse with his crew.

I steadily walked off of the boat and onto the dock my shoes tapping against it until my feet reached the cobblestone of the shopping district. My sight was soon filled with colorful ribbons and banners of the Arendelle family crest from lamp posts.

The smell of comforting and spice baked goods danced across the air. Children were playing in the streets as adults talk about their day and the upcoming coronation.

My eyes laid upon vendors with flower wreaths dangling on their arms as they walked to passersby strolling in the market. I thought back to another of me and him together. A memory of which I placed a flower wreath upon his head. His smile was so sweet and I held that memory dear to my heart.

All of this was happening so suddenly for him and I wasn't there to see him grow up and become a king. Although years have gone by, I could only imagine how he must be feeling since I remember his quiet and reclusive nature.

Following landmarks around the town, I was able to find the place I was looking for. I arrived at an old, but clean cottage that was covered in vines with a garden surrounding the front of the home.

"Grandma! It's me (Y/N)! I'm back!" I called out before dropping my luggage on the pathway to fix myself up.

An old woman with a scarf around her head came out, greeting me with a kind smile and arms wide open.

"My sweet snowflake! I've missed you so much!" I was soon engulfed in a warm hug, but was surprised when she hugged me even tighter. She stopped to face me just to pepper my face with kisses as I laughed out loud.

"Why haven't you visited your poor grandma, hmm? You didn't want to see a withered old witch?" She said jokingly chuckled as she pushed herself away to get a look at me. Her hands clutching onto my arms as she smiled at me waiting for an answer.

"No, that wasn't the reason at all! I had to stay back in Lowenthal to finish school. I actually came back here to live with you and manage your florist business."

Mother and father wanted me to stay and finish school as a botanist, but they were willing to let me go to live a quiet life with my grandmother. In return, they wanted me to write a letter to them once a month to make sure I was doing well.

"Ah. I see then." she replied as she excitedly ushers me inside the house almost pushing me over by accident.

"Well, come in! I've prepared your favorite food!"

❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

It was already late lunch when I brought my things inside my bedroom. I sighed dropping my bags as my curious eyes wandered around the room. Memories of staying inside the room started to arise. I could still remember it being exactly the same when I visited years ago.

The bed had soft blue sheets with intricate designs of a serene moon being surrounded with stars. The covers remained the same, but appeared to look brighter from the sunlight from the window.

Near the window, I reminisced a younger me sitting crosslegged on the floor with a porcelain tea set detailed with pink flowers. Across from me was a stuffed animal. Now, the stuffed plush of a maroon dog with button eyes sat on top of my wooden dresser instead.

Once I got everything unpacked and settled in, it was time for me to enjoy some lunch after a week of traveling overseas. Eating food on the ship wasn't a fun experience at all since the waters rocked the ship back and forth a lot. The seasickness after a meal was unbearable and I shivered at the thought.

As I walked through the house to go outside to the garden, fond memories of playing with my grandma's trinkets (which she was surprisingly okay with) and helping her make cakes. My small body being covered with pink frosting. I remember being so much free during those times.

My grandma decided to eat lunch outside since the weather has been so pleasant lately. I looked around at the garden surrounding us with familiar soft shades yellow and purples.

Plates of my favorite childhood food were nicely arranged on the table. I sat down in my seat which held a nice view of other cottages near ours.

A smile crept on my face as my eyes landed on my grandma carrying a plate of tarts, the fruity smell coming from them was so nostalgic.

"How has Arendelle been since I've been away?" She asked, setting the plate on the table before taking her seat opposite of me.

"Oh, a lot of things happened since you were gone,"

"Was it something bad?"

"Well, a few years prior, we received awful news," she paused, sighing. "King Agnarr and Queen Iduna perished in a shipwreck. They were traveling to visit an ally of Arendelle. The kingdom was heavily heartbroken by the news."

My heart ached hearing those words as I nervously bit my lip. Although I wasn't present in Arendelle during the time, news of their death spread to neighboring kingdoms. Elias must have been so devastated. And his brother, Andre, too must be suffering. I remember Elias telling me about his younger brother who was a

"But in light of this, Prince Elias will become the next ruler of Arendelle," she paused. "Unfortunately, we've never seen what he looks like. He's been hidden from the public eye.

I know why he was hidden too. He had told ME years ago that his parents, the King and Queen, found his powers to be harmful towards others. So instead, they hid him away and told him not to feel.

You knew that it was an awful idea, but what could you do? They tried their best to protect him, but in the end, it made him worse. Elias had confided in me when he felt lonely. Although his parents locked him away, he was so happy that I was there for him and that he didn't feel alone anymore. But since years have passed, I doubt he could hold up without me.

Grandma patted my shoulder to get my attention.

"Sweetheart, I have a job for you to do. Can you deliver these flowers to my gardener friend at the castle? You could after we eat together and I know how much you missed your friend." Her hands gently passed a beautiful bouquet to me as my eyes went wide with excitement.

'I could see him again!'

I nodded my head. "Of course I will. His special day is coming."

'But...does he still like me after leaving him?'

#frozen #disney #disney genderbend #rule63 #Wattpad #anna #elsa #frozen fanfiction #fanfiction #disney fanfiction #reader #xreader #self insert

[edge-lorde]

hp update: its been a long time, boys. ud think that with this plague outbreak id have more time for shitty phone games, and ud be right! however, the time i normally might use to make tumblr posts has been taken up by reading lotr orc fanfiction non-stop for at least 1 full month. id still be in the thick of that obsession even now if only the fics would update. that is how i find you today folks, for the first time in many weeks i am staring at a screen with nothing to do. so come with me friends, theres no better way to fill the soulless void we are all in than reading a nice long tumbler post. 

disclaimer, first of all, a lot has happened, i prefer to keep these updates as plot spoiler free as possible but do to extenuating circumstances i feel like it is necessary to say, [SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER BELOW]

that rowan fucking died,

i wont say exactly how, but i will say that her death was animated as were animations of myself and a few others reacting to our friend fresh corpse. obviously meant to be serious moments but the animations made it seem almost comical. 

i saw at least one post going around right after this update that was like ‘how could the game devs do this to us..... how could they hate rowan so.... this is punishment from on high’ and its like.... u guys do know what a story is right? the events of  a story are not typically done to punish less faithful fans, im pretty sure they were planning to kill rowan off from the beginning. this isnt disney im pretty sure the writers are not writing each chapter the night before its released by popular vote. 

that little “are we drifting away..?” scene with rowan makes more sense now. there was a bit in one of the scenes where the kids all reminisce on rowans life and the mc talks about it being the last real one on one time they had with rowan. a nice bitter sweet moment. i dont hate this turn of events. its a good reminder that actions have consequences and we are way past they days of “should i wear a hat or scarf?” its YA time now. 

i did manage to take 1 screenshot from this time, i had commented that before that when rowan said she didnt have many friedns that barnaby seemed to be hanging out with her without be there as a friend buffer and here was his reaction to her death:

;_;

the funniest part in all of this however, was of course cedericks reaction to rowans death “but she was so young....” LOL fuckin RIP.

lets see... what else.... i forget a lot of what happened but i think there was a time sensitive quidditch event in there somewhere? if so i  dont remember it. what i do remember of the quidditch pals is that im gonna play beater now, skye is being weird and cagey about it, andre is involved.... the others are there.....

sidenote, i love the shitty b characters they throw in to be like yes you know this person but no they are not cool enough for u to even think about befriending. the first one of those is face paint kid, and now we have another, who is a former beater girl with horrible bangs named bean who didnt go to any classes for a whole season so she could just play ball 24/7 and got kicked off the team.  this is a character who only exists to provide an explanation as to why there would be a beater position open but i love them on principle. 

right now im in the midst of another time sensitive event, this one is a bother-your-brother-at-work-day event where recent hogwarts graduate bill weasley is bullied by myself and his younger brother charlie into letting us go with him on one of his curse breaking jobs. 

so for those unfamiliar, bill works for the magical bank of england.... and his job seems to be “retrieving treasure” for said bank. in the books, there is a bit where he takes his family on one of his trips to egypt, where his job seemed to have been tomb plundering indiana jones style for the posterity of the english bank :X. i wont explain here why thats bad but its bad. 

the game devs however in this instance, at least SEEM to be doing what jkr couldnt do by attempting to salvage what is left of gringotts bank and form it into not a super shitty implications factory run by horrible jewish caricatures. bills mission is to retrieve a goblin made artifact that was taken by dragons, so no going to foreign countries to steal things from other people! only going to a dragon reserve to rifle through animal nests. they even appear to be providing us with a likable goblin character, egad!  

my hope for this event is that we get a plotline about how maybe, goblins arent shifty human haters for no reason, and in fact they hate magic humans for very understandable reasons, like being forced to go into hiding with the rest of the magical world even though only the humans wanted to do that, and maybe despite running the bank in england they still dont have a lot of political sway in the world of wizards and witches, and have to rely on the faith that said wizards and witches wont fuck them over at every turn, even as they see how they treat other non-humans, such as house elves, which they desperately dont want to end up like. and maybe they DONT only care about gold... maybe thats a human stereotype based on the fact that theres a long history of humans not respecting goblin ownership customs.... which i could get into..... but i wont.... i just....... very badly dont want them to suck ;__________;

i know i said its ok to still like a piece of media as long as you recognize the problems with it, and i do, but once this game is done im gonna stop hp posting all together. ive been feeling more and more uncomfortable making these posts lately.  

GENERAL GAME NOTES; theres been some new layout changes and such. 

most notably the stairs screen has been changed from a bulleted list of all locations to a screen with tiles picturing an image of each location along with the name + icons of all classes at each place. there is one additional location that is new and yet to be unlocked, and the dragon reservation is appearing temporarily as its own tile as well. i prefer this method of getting in and out of a temporary location to how they did it with car during the last christmas special. the stairs icon also now stays in the corner when you scroll through locations, allowing you to open the stairs menu without scrolling all the way back to the left. 

they also moved a few of the buttons down into the lower left corner rather than the left side & combined the story button and sidequest button. they added a little camera button as well, just like in the dormitory, that makes all the icons in a location disappear and look better for screenshots. 

the daily special add offer thing now has its own button in the top right corner of the screen, and idk if i mentioned it before but now there are daily challenges that appear in the sidequest screen that offer small rewards for completing 3 tasks per day + a better one if u get all 3. the prizes are things like 4 energy, 75 coins, 3 monster food. the better rewards are usually either more coins, 8 energy, 3 gems, or 1 notebook. i think that it does all the different color notebooks but i cant remember for sure if i ever saw the gold one up as a reward. i like this addition in any case. if you dont pick up ur reward by the end of the day, the next time u log on it will force u to stop and accept them, and if one of the rewards is energy and ur energy bar is full, it does not seem to stack beyond the bar so watch out.

 the character stats page is now more zoomed out so you can see your full character instead of just from the waist up. no change to the leaderboard. rowans face in the friendship roster is now a still black and white image that says ur friend may be gone but friendship is forever u-u. 

rowan has been removed from all classes. in the classes where the minigames involved her, those minigames have passed the mantle onto other friends in the class. in potions that person is now liz helping u find stuff off the shelves and in tranfiguration that person is badeea. bless these girls for helping mc get through it. touched my heart. 

theres been a few fun little “i know u have more free time now so uhhhh have some energy” prizes like they do sometimes when they dont update on schedule so thats been nice. just a few days ago they gifted us 3 gold notebooks the same way. :O. 

theres also been a few instances of a energy happy hour where for a limited time energy takes less time to refresh. normally it takes 4 mins for 1 energy to do this but during happy hour its like 2:30 mins. :U its all very interesting.

and that will have to do it for tonight my friends, ill do a post for the dragon event when its done because i do like it so far and i do like getting to bully bill with charlie. 

until next time, remember.......

#hp #harry potter #hphm #harry potter hogwarts mystery #bill weasley #goblins #charlie weasley #sirius business #rowan khanna #rambling #Thoughts #so sorry im still making these posts #i just want to see them through to the end now

[hazbintrashftw]

Purple Blood  ~Chapter 1~

A/N : This is my first time writing fanfiction for Detroit Become Human ever…and my first Character x Reader. So please be gentle with me!! This story will probably have multiple chapters btw 😊 Soooo I hope you enjoy it!!!

Words: 1204

Chapter list: Chapter 1 Chapter 2

Connor x Reader

W/ Hank Anderson

  Blue. Stable and Calm.

Red. Fierce and Passion

Very different colors. But when combined something is born…

Purple. Peace, Mystery, and Power.

 Cold air nipped at your skin. Shivering in regret you wished you dressed warmer. If only my stubborn butt put on a dang scarf. Detroit was becoming harsh and cold day by day. You could say that literally and physically. The Android Revolution is still fresh and the words of the Android who took over Stratford Tower, named Markus, still runs through your mind. These Androids wanted be free. They were alive and wanted to be treated as such. You were for their cause. Walking in the city you looked at the screens featuring the peaceful march yesterday of the Androids. Diverting your eyes off the screen you know what happened next. Shots were fired by the police as helpless androids were running for their lives. This wasn’t right you screamed in your head. Something had to be done.

 Finally, you reached your destination. The Police department. Coffee and pure stress reached your nose as you walked into the building. Viewing your files for the millionth time you noted that you were assigned in the Deviant cases with Lieutenant Hank Anderson. Gulping down your nerves you scanned the area for this rough looking individual. There you are. You could only see the back of him but his gray, straggly hair was easy to spot. Striding over to his desk you were about to tap his shoulder. “Hi L-“ 

“Hello!” A voice startled you from behind causing you to jump and slightly squeak. Whipping around your (Y/E/C) eyes met warm brown ones. “My name is Connor, I am the andr-..“ Heat rose to your face as the person who surprised you was a dark haired, tall, and oh so handsome looking android. Whatever he was saying you couldn’t quite focus on for his looks distracted you. “Are you ok? My scanners show that your temperature is rising and your heart rate is quickening.” Patting your face and nervously laughing you tried to calm down. Connor tilted his head to the side in confusion of your demeanor and reflected your smile. Sheepishly words finally escaped you lips. “I-Im fine. Sorry you kinda scared me…err..Connor?” Putting your hand out you properly introduced yourself. “My name is Inspector (Y/N & Y/L/N), nice to meet you.” He looked down at your extended hand and awkwardly shook it. “Nice to meet you, Inspector (Y/N). Were you trying to talk to Lieutenant Anderson?” Nodding you turned back around to be reminded why you were here. Before you could say anything Lieutenant Anderson, who was busy tapping his screen, side glanced at you. “You must be the kid.” Kid?? The hell is he talking about. A tight smile came to your lips. “I’m Inspector (Y/N). I was transferred from (Y/C) to work on Deviant cases with you Lieutenant.” Hank still didn’t acknowledge you and wave his arm to the desk in front of him. “You’re going to have to share that desk with Connor.” Confusion spread across your face. Connor noticed and stood next to you, which caused you to slightly jump once again. “I am assigned to Deviant cases too. I know that it is odd from your perspective since I am an android. I was strictly made by Cyberlife to carry out my mission. I will accomplish all of our cases to the highest degree.” It was still strange to you but you smiled reassuringly. “I don’t doubt you one bit, Connor!” Strolling away you went to place your things on the desk. A small smile creeped up on his face and unbeknownst to you his LED flickered yellow for a split second.

 After a few weeks you were becoming accustomed to your new assignment and associates. In the break room you were making Hank coffee and even brought some Thirium 310 as a bonus for Connor. Hank was looking over at some cases and peered up at Connor, who was skimming though cases at lightning speed. Damn androids… “Hey Connor what do you think of the new rookie?” Connor paused and reverted his eyes to Hank. “Do you mean Inspector (Y/N), Lieutenant?” Hank grumbled and rolled his eyes. “Who else would I mean? Yes! What do you think of (Y/N)?” Connor was slightly confused and closed his screen off. “I do not understand what you are asking Lieutenant.” Hank got slightly irritated and sighed. “Jeez can you not even compute something like that? Connor do you think (Y/N) is a good “asset” on our team? Can that get through your plastic head of yours?” Hank crossed his arms and observed Connor’s reaction. Connor blankly stared at Hank but then his eyes wandered over to something. Hank noticed and turned to see you smiling and chatting with another detective, which was Gavin. Connor looked down and saw you were holding a coffee and a cannister shining a blue hue. Tilting his head to the side he zoomed in closer and let his system scan what it was. Thirium 310? Why does (Y/N) have such substance if it is not needed for them. (Y/N) is human. Connor got lost in his thoughts and was broken out of them when he saw the cannister in front of him. “Here you go Connor! I know you can’t drink coffee so I thought maybe you could have this?” Connor placed the cannister in his hands then put it back down and then looked up at you in what looked like bewilderment. His LED started to flash from blue to yellow rapidly trying to understand why you would do this. “Oh…” (Y/N)’s bright smiled melted away into a frown. “I’m sorry do you not like it? I can take it back if you-“ (Y/N) reached for the cannister but was abruptly stopped when Connor’s hand shot up and grabbed the cannister at the same time, enveloping his hand over yours. “No.” Was all Connor could say. His LED was now pure yellow. “I will keep it (Y/N). Thank you.” His brown eyes were set on yours and a slight blush danced around your cheeks as a smile grew back on your face. Connor felt his thiruim pump (or heart) spike up suddenly by your actions. He did a full body scan on his software but everything was fully functioning. His LED went back to the cool blue. (Software Instability Increase) “Enjoy Connor!” You padded away back to the break room to make your own brown energy in a cup. Hank sipped the coffee you brought him and for once he grinned. “I like the new Rookie.” Connor gazed at the cannister in wonder yet he was puzzled. “(Y/N) is strange” Connor finally removed his eyes from the cannister and then towards the break room. “But it is acceptable.” Connor’s lips turned up slightly into a smirk. His LED blinked yellow once again.

 A/N: Heyyyy!! Thank you for reading!! Please tell me what you thought of this ;-; Bless you guys <3 

#detroit: bh #detroit become human #detroit connor #detroit hank #detroit gavin #detroit become human fanfic #detroit become human fanfiction #connor rk800 #connor x reader #connor rk800 x reader #fanfic #fanfiction #detroit markus #reader #reader fanfiction #x reader #deviant #dbh deviant #dbh fanfic #dbh fandom #dbh fanfiction

[rosapeachhogwartsmystery]

Lost in the crowd with him (Hogwarts Mystery Imagine - HPHM Fictober 2018 day 3- fem!reader x Bill Weasley)

Masterlist  (To view my Masterlist, visit my Tumblr page)

Prompt: Concert (HPHM Fictober day 3 @hphm-fictober)

Summary: Now you all have graduated from Hogwarts, you decided it would be nice to go to a Muggle concert before you would all follow your dreams. However, some of your friends couldn’t make it, and someone you could not get out of your head since he graduated decided got the time to spend some time with all of you before going back to Egypt. This was harder than you thought, especially since you and Jacob decided to go to Egypt after the summer as well!

Pairings: fem!reader x Bill Weasley, Merula Snyde x Tulip Karasu (side-pairing)

Words: 2.8k

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“I’m so excited to see a Muggle concert!” Tonks said with a bright smile.

“We don’t even know what it is like.” Merula muttered.

“Come on, Merula. Try to be positive about it.” Tonks said amused.

“You can’t dislike it when you haven’t experienced it.” Tulip said with a grin.

Merula rolled her eyes, feeling slightly amused. “I can’t like it either when I haven’t experienced it.”

“Don’t be so negative, Merula.” Tonks said with a wink.

“Yeah, we are going to have some fun.” Tulip said, grabbing Merula’s hand, squeezing her hand lightly. “Otherwise I will try to make it fun.”

“I bet those two are going to be pretty lovey-dovey together, Penny.” Tonks whispered into the other Hufflepuff’s ear.

“You could have expected that, Tonks.” Penny rolled her eyes and elbowed slightly with a grin.

“Perhaps I should have.” Tonks admitted. “Although I wasn’t sure Merula would come here.”

“Someone has to keep an eye on Tulip.” Merula said amused. “And no offense to you two, but I’m pretty sure I would be the only one who could keep Tulip out of trouble.”

“And if Tulip is in trouble, that probably means I’m the one in trouble with her.” Tonks laughed, high fiving Tulip.

Penny shook her head. “I get what you mean, Merula.”

 “Where are the others? I can’t believe we are the first ones to arrive here.” Tonks admitted.

“They probably needed more time, because Bill just came back from Egypt.” Penny said honestly.

“Then I still would have expected some of them to be here, you know? Like Ben, Y/N, Andre and Barnaby.” Tonks admitted.

Suddenly they heard some people saying their name. They turned around and saw Ben, Andre, Barnaby and you walking towards them.

“Sorry if we are late. The traffic here was terrible.” You told them with a grin.

“And I needed to give some people some fashion advice, because you don’t want to believe what they were about to wear.” Andre said, shivering when he thought about the outfits some were about to wear.

“I didn’t think there was much wrong with my outfit?” Barnaby said, rubbing the back of his head.

“I just wanted to wear something regular.” Ben mumbled.

“No, you all had something on that was totally off.” Andre shook his head.

“Really? You almost wore your Pride of Portree scarf…” You muttered, rolling your eyes.

“Okay, that was an honest mistake.” Andre admitted.

  “So, we are only missing Bill and Charlie, right?” Penny decided to move on to the next topic.

“I think so.” Tonks said. “Nobody else was able to come.”

“Rowan couldn’t come because she had other responsibilities to attend to.” You said. “The others also didn’t have time.”

“Too bad they couldn’t come. I mean, we all have graduated and soon we will be busy with our professions.” Tonks said. “Ah well, even if they aren’t here we still can have fun, right?”

“Of course, we can have some fun.” Andre said. “They are just missing out on it.”

“I can’t believe this might be one of the last times we get to hang out like this for quite a while.” Ben said honestly.

“Don’t worry, Ben. We will all keep in touch which each other.” You reassured him.

“I’m sure Y/N will write about her Curse-Breaker adventures with Jacob in Egypt.” Penny said with a grin.

Tonks smirked. “I wonder if she will only have adventures with Jacob though.”

Penny sighed. “Tonks, please behave yourself.”

You blushed slightly. “You are talking nonsense.” You mumbled.

“Of course, if that is making you feel better about it.” Tonks said amused.

  “There they are.” Barnaby pointed to Bill and Charlie, who were approaching the group.

“Hey guys.” Charlie greeted everyone. “Sorry for being late, it took William a while to arrive.”

Bill shook his head. “We also could have been earlier if you weren’t reading the letter of the Dragon Sanctuary you just received, Charles.”

“Okay, so you both had your own reasons to be late.” Merula decided to step in before the two brothers would accuse each other for being late even longer. “Besides, you guys weren’t the only ones who were late.”

“I’ve told you, fashion disasters were about to walk out.” Andre pointed out.

“Pride of Portree scarf.” You said seriously, giving Andre a look.

“I said I was sorry.” Andre said.

You shook your head a little and then you gave the two Weasleys a bright smile. “It’s good to see you two.”

“It’s good to see you as well, Y/N.” Bill said honestly.

  “Okay, we should probably move closer to the stage if we want to see something.” Penny pointed out. “Let’s try to stick together, okay?”

“And if we lose someone we will just have to scream out their names really loudly.” Tonks said with a grin.

“That will probably not work…” Ben said softly.

“We should just meet up somewhere near the entrance.” Andre suggested.

“That’s a good idea.” Tulip said. “At least that way we will know everyone is still there in the end.”

“Are you afraid someone will get lost in the end?” Penny asked

“Well, I wouldn’t be surprised, that’s for sure.” Tulip admitted.

“if you are afraid, just ask Merula to hold your hand.” Tonks said with a wink.

“Like you assumed I wouldn’t hold her hand.” Merula said with a smirk.

Tulip chuckled. “Of course, I wouldn’t lose Merula out of my sight.”

“Okay, we are definitely going to lose Merula and Tulip in the crowd.” Tonks said amused.

“Why?” Penny asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Because they would be too busy snogging each other.”

Merula and Tulip snorted. “Since when have we displayed public affection?” Tulip asked.

  “Let’s just move all right?” Penny suggested.

“Yeah, let’s go!” Tonks said, grabbing Penny’s hand and rushed towards the stage.

You looked at the others and you all shrugged before you followed Tonks and Penny towards the stage.

Some Muggle Rock band was about to perform and you all wanted to have a good spot to see the stage a bit and also have enough space to dance.

“This is going to be so much fun!” Penny said, looking very excited.

“Definitely.” Charlie agreed with a smile.

Everyone became even more hyped when the band began playing.

You couldn’t help it but to notice someone was keeping their eyes on you the whole time. It just made you look back multiple times. It wasn’t until Tonks pulled you closer to her for a moment.

“It seems like you have caught his attention, Y/N.” She whispered into your ear amused.

“What are you talking about?” You whispered back.

“Oh, come on. I’m not blind. I might not be Penny, but even I can see it.” She definitely was amused. “Why else would he keep looking at you the whole time?”

“I don’t know, maybe something is off?” You whispered, wondering if there was something unusual about you today.

“What would be off? Your Muggle clothing? You look just fine, Y/N.” She shook her head a bit, wondering if you were really as oblivious as you acted like.

  Tonks decided to help you a little bit and pushed you lightly over to his direction.

You frowned slightly at Tonks, but she only gave you an encouraging look. You sighed softly, thinking this probably looked a little silly. Why did he have to become even more attractive over the years?

“Hey, are you enjoying the music, Y/N?” Bill asked you.

You looked at him again and your eyes met his blue ones. “Oh, definitely.” You said with a smile, even though you couldn’t help it but to feel slightly nervous. How many times did your eyes meet each other again?

It was like things were slightly awkward between you two. Perhaps it had to do with the fact you developed a crush on him during your fifth year. You thought it would fade away if you didn’t see him at school anymore, but that definitely wasn’t the case. No, every time you had seen him after his Hogwarts years you still couldn’t shake these feelings off.

The spot you were standing with your friends became more crowded and you actually stood closer to Bill than you wanted at this point. You could tell your cheeks were slowly heating up at this point. You tried not to meet his gaze. You felt like you needed to get away before you would do something you regret.

  You definitely were distracted when someone’s arm hit you in the face by accident. You grunted softly, but you knew these things could happen at these kinds of events.

The girl who hit you in the face turned to face you and gave an apologetic look, mouthing something like ‘sorry’. You just gave her a look back like you were saying it was fine.

“It’s getting pretty crowded.” Bill said before he took a closer look at you. “Are you all right by the way?”

“I’m fine, really.” You said, blushing slightly when his face was so close to yours.

He nodded and then he slowly looked around him. “It seems like we lost the others.” He said.

You blinked a bit and noticed you were indeed separated from the group. You were mentally cursing yourself when you realised you were alone with Bill. You wouldn’t be surprised if the others were also separated in smaller groups at this point. It definitely was more crowded than in the beginning.

  “Wait… When were we supposed to meet up at the entrance?” You asked. It was a good suggestion to meet up there if you got separated, but nobody said anything about when they were supposed to wait there.

“Yeah, nobody said anything about a time to meet there.” Bill said, confirming it.

You sighed and shook your head. Great… Not only did you get separated and didn’t know when to meet up with your friends again, but you were also alone with Bill your old crush. You thought you got over your crush, but seeing him here again made you realise you didn’t get over him. This was going to be disaster, you were sure of it. You would go to Egypt with Jacob and you are sure you will see him even more often that way. Was it still possible to take a position in Greece instead of Egypt?

It seemed to become even more crowded and you were accidently pushed against Bill. You looked up at him and looked into his eyes again. He looked back into your eyes, blushing slightly.

  Bill cleared his throat and then he looked slightly away. “Perhaps it would be better if we go to the entrance.” He said.

“Yeah, we should.” You agreed, still blushing a little yourself.

Bill gently took your hand and began walking through the crowd with you. He kept making sure you were still there, holding your hand tightly. You thought it was probably easier for him to get through the crowd, because he was still a lot taller than you were. Maybe he was even afraid to lose you in the crowd because you weren’t the tallest here. You didn’t know, but it seemed like he wasn’t going to lose you in the crowd.

  Once you two were nearby the entrance you two both sighed.

“Well, we made it through the crowd.” Bill said.

“Just barely.” You said amused, somewhat feeling more at ease around Bill.

“I also didn’t notice how loud the music was until I got here. I can still hear it really clearly from here.”

“Yeah, you can even enjoy the music from the entrance if you don’t want to get lost in the crowd.” You said with a chuckle.

He gave you an amused smile before you both noticed he was still holding your hand. He quickly let go of your hand and blushed. You also blushed a little, but tried not to make it awkward. Emphasis on try. The grin on your face was definitely awkward, you were sure of it.

“So, I heard you were also coming to Egypt?” He asked, deciding to change the topic.

“Oh, yeah. Jacob and I will both come to Egypt after the summer.” You said honestly.

“It definitely would be nice to work with you again.” He said.

“I think it will be nice if we have the chance to work together.” You said, blushing slightly more again.

“I’m pretty sure I can volunteer to help you out during your first day.” He said with a grin.

  “We will see.” You said, looking slightly away from him.

He chuckled softly. “It seems like you are about to run away from me when you have the chance.” He said.

You looked at him surprised. “What do you mean?”

“You keep looking away and you are trying to make it seem like you don’t want to work with me in Egypt.” He said with a grin.

“I’m not looking away...!” You mumbled, unable to meet his eyes at this point, blushing more than you already were. “And that last thing you said is ridiculous.” You mumbled.

Bill gently lifted your chin to make you look him in the eyes. “That didn’t sound really convincing, Y/N.” He whispered.

You frowned and took a step back from him. “Stop it.” You said seriously, looking away from him.

He looked slightly surprised when you said that. “Stop what?”

“You know exactly what you are doing, Bill.” You muttered. “Just stop it…”

He sighed softly. “What do you honestly think I’m doing?”

“I don’t know, that you are playing around with me?” You muttered, frowning slightly more.

“I think you are misunderstanding this completely.” Bill said seriously.

  “Misunderstand this?” You said. “Why else would you suddenly be interested in me?”

“I wouldn’t say it was suddenly.” Bill said honestly.

“Just tell me Tonks, Penny or Tulip set you up to do this.” You said, crossing your arms.

“No, and could you please listen to me?” He said when he took your hands in his.

How could you say no when he looked at you with his almost pleading eyes? “Fine…” You grumbled.

“I have liked you for quite a while to be honest.” He told you seriously. “But I was about to graduate and you were very busy with looking for your brother. It didn’t really seem like a good moment back then. I thought it might be better that way as well, I mean I would be really far away from you.”

You didn’t know what to say at this point. You were trying to process what he just told you. He liked you for a while now?

“I thought my feelings for you would fade away once I was working in Egypt, but they didn’t. Every time I saw you, I felt the same way as I did when I was about to graduate.” He explained.

  “You actually like me?” You asked, still surprised he confessed his feelings.

“Don’t let me explain it again.” Bill said, blushing a little.

“Funny how you basically thought the same things when I was still at Hogwarts…” You mumbled, blushing quite a lot now.

“Does that mean you have been thinking the same things whenever we saw each other again?”

“Well, what do you think?” You mumbled, looking into his eyes again.

He gave you a smile and then he slowly leant down. You closed your eyes once his lips got closer to yours. Once his lips were pressed against yours, you began kissing him back. You couldn’t help it but to smile when your lips parted. You opened your eyes and looked into each other’s eyes again.

“Are you sure you should be the one who volunteers to show me around in Egypt?” You asked amused.

“It might be a little troublesome, but I’m sure I can manage it.”

  “It seems like two couples have kissed today.”

Bill and you turned around and saw Tonks and Penny smirking at you two. You both blushed slightly, wondering how much they had seen. Tulip also looked amused, although Merula looked annoyed.

“Of course, the moment you decide to kiss someone these two find you.” Merula pointed at Penny and Tonks.

“But it was adorable to see you and Tulip kiss like there was no you knew around you.” Penny said with a chuckle.

“Yeah, very adorable.” Tonks said before she looked at you and Bill. “So, you two finally got the guts to talk to each other?”

You rolled your eyes, grinning slightly.

“Don’t worry, Y/N. You can save the details for later.” Penny said with a wink.

“Let’s hope the rest of the boys will soon realise they have lost the rest of the group and come over here.” Tonks said amused.

“Or they won’t until the concert ends. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are just enjoying the music a lot.” Tulip laughed.

While Penny, Tonks, Tulip and Merula were chatting with each other, you glanced at Bill with a small smile. He glanced back at you with a smile of his own before he took your hand in his. This was definitely a good Muggle concert.

#hphm fictober #hogwarts mystery fictober #day 3 #concert #hogwarts mystery #Harry Potter Hogwarts mystery #hogwarts mobile game #jacob's sibling #mc #fem!reader #bill weasley #reader x bill weasley #merula snyde #tulip karasu #merula snyde x tulip karasu #penny haywood #nymphadora tonks #tonks #andre egwu #ben copper #barnaby lee #charlie weasley

[plasticdodecagon]

words left unsaid (part 2/2)

Prompt: 27. “Can you wait for me?” from the Fictober 2019 prompts.

Fandom: Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery (for @hphm-fictober )

Rating: G

Warnings/Tags: Talbott x Badeea (but uh kind of sad. sorry)

Part 1

Synopsis: Baeea says goodbye to Talbott before leaving for Paris. (Talbott x Badeea)

~

Badeea doesn't say goodbye at King's Cross, nor in her summer letters, and when it is actually time to catch the Portkey to Paris, she hugs him, holding on to Talbott as if he is made of time itself. And isn't he?

What is fall if it isn't the leaves that get stuck in his hair, the reds and oranges and yellows which complement his golden brown mane? Or winter, if not the snowman they build in Hogsmeade because Talbott has never built one before, if not the snowmen they build after, each wrapped in royal purple Pride of Portree scarves that they steal from Andre? Or spring, if not the poems he writes in the corners of his battered potions textbook, the poems he reads to her while they sit beneath a tree and watch the flowers bloom? Or summer, if not the oddly familiar golden eagle that taps on her window and drops Talbott’s letters in her paint-splattered hands, pages of tiny writing culminating in "Love, Talbott," and once, and forever, "I love you"?

But what is summer if not this moment, slipping out of her fingers no matter how tightly she holds him?

"I have to go," she says.

"I know," he answers.

But she does not move.

The green leaves above them will die and fall to the ground. They will be trampled by snowmen, who will melt. And when summer returns, so will green leaves---but not the same green leaves, and not the same summer, and not the same Badeea, and not the same Talbott.

When she makes herself pull away, he is a blur, a swirl of colors from every season. She steps away, releases time from her fingers, takes hold of a dirty boot instead, and steals one last look at him to ask: Can you wait for me?

But it isn't fair of her to ask him to stand still while she marches toward the person she wants to be, so she doesn’t. And in that moment of silence before she can find the words to say goodbye, she is pulled into Paris.

#fictober19 #hphm fictober #badeea ali #talbott winger #badeea x talbott #i tried to write a little more descriptively but it just translated into more colors and adjectives than i usually write #hogwarts mystery #hphm #could maybe do with another revision but i had to post it so i could focus on elliptic curves #also i think you should know that an earlier draft featured an almost-kiss interrupted by andre retrieving his scarf from that snowman

[broken-heartedgirlff]

Chapter 26 ~ Focus

Lizzie

Today was literally fucking awful. Like I can not express to you, how horrible today was. Hell, I even passed out once getting to the hospital, thank God my baby was okay, but all I can see is Dominic getting shot, Angel’s, Giselle’s and Mason’s screams. Everything was horrible. 

“After Much deliberation, I have decided that Ms. Rossi is to get at most $150,000 for her pain and suffering on losing her child in such a traumatic way. Also, Mr. Cartier is not giving Ms. Rossi any alimony or half of everything he owns. It was the decision of Ms. Rossi to not find employment, as well as Ms. Rossi and Mr. Cartier was not married and were not together for 7 years, after 7 years, the common law marriage practices would’ve taken place, but even in this circumstance it would have not, being that Mr. Cartier is married.

I have found that the child Angelique Marie Boudreaux Cartier will be under the care and full custody of her father Dominic Cartier. With the death certificate of Giselle Boudreaux being null and void, the legal adoption of Angelique to Ms. Rossi is also Null and Void. Both parents have to sign off on giving up their parental rights for adoption, and Ms. Boudreaux-Cartier stated that she didn’t give her right up.  

I fine the defendant $150,000 to the plaintiff. Court is now dismissed”  

When I tell you our entire family rejoiced. I was ready to leave this chapter behind us, just like everyone with us. I couldn’t help tear up at the sight of Giselle crying and holding Angel, this is now what will let them have a better relationship, and it was a beautiful sight.

We were all about to leave when I saw Dominic talking to Katie. I knew that he had no animosity towards her, and that he still had love for her. But with my sister being back, and Katie being insecure about Giselle, He was all about Giselle again.

I guess Gi caught on to them talking, and called out to him.

“Baby” She said softly.

He smiled and finally started walking to his family, when Katie mumbled something and then pulled a gun out of her purse.

“DOMINIC!!” I yelled, but I was too late, he immediately fell to the ground as the bullets went into his backside.

“DADDY,” Angel and Mason screamed,

Giselle ran to him immediately, trying to put pressure on the wounds, ““DOMINIC!!!! SOMEONE CALL 911” She cried out.

“DOMINIC! STAY WITH ME PLEASE!! DOMINIC! DOM! PLEASE SOMEONE FUCKING CALL 911!!!!!” She cried again

I was looking around and Kam was protecting all the kids, X and Jeremiah apparently got ahold of Katie, Both bailiffs were dead on the floor, The judge was also shot too, but she had gotten to safety. I couldn’t find Olivia,

“LIV!!! LIVIE!!!” I screamed

“Lizzie!” She gasped

I ran and she was on the other side of the table, holding her stomach from bleeding. I took off my scarf,  

 “You’re gonna be okay Liv. I promised.” I said crying

“Stop crying then stupid.” She smiled

I nodded, and laughed, but the tears kept flowing. “I promise, you’ll be okay”

She grabbed my hand. “Lizzie, don’t let me die, Please, I want to see my Children grow up. Please.”

“I promise!”

The Police came in and then followed by the EMT’s, They came and got Liv from me, and she wouldn’t let go of my hand. So I went with her.

Giselle was still crying over Dominic’s body when the EMT’s came in. She wouldn’t let him go, Xavier had to tell her to let him go so that they can help him.

Now we are here, at Mount Zion Hospital, Dominic is in surgery, Olivia is in surgery. Mason is in a cast on his arm, apparently as soon as she shot Dominic, He ran towards Dominic and the bitch shot my nephew in the arm.  

We got word that both bailiffs were killed, and so was the judge. I wouldn’t be surprised if Katie got the death penalty. and if she didn’t, we would make sure she was dead her first moment in jail.

“Family of Olivia Lavigne?” The doctor spoke  

We all rose up, he laughed, “Next of Kin?”

Jeremiah spoke up with Sage in his arms asleep, “I am her husband.”

“Your wife is out of surgery, she had a heart attack on the table, but we fixed everything, she’s going to be bed ridden for a while. She was shot in her lower stomach, so we had to fix little of her internal organs but I am going to keep her here for awhile.”

“She’s okay though? She’s going to live?” He chocked out

“Yes, Sir. She will.”

He let out a breath and kind of a laugh “Oh thank God” He rubbed the tears out of his eyes, and shook the doctor’s hand.

“Thank you so much.”

“What’s taking Dominic so long.” Giselle mumbled. 

Rakim

I was sitting in the hospital with Rose when I got the call about Dominic and Liv. Thank God they were in the same hospital, because I don’t think that I could leave Rosie that long.

She’s finally getting better. We still don’t know why the baby was making her so sick, to the point that she was dying. She has this rare disease, and it causes the baby to take all of the good stuff from Rose, I really don’t know, but I don’t care. They told us that Rose could never carry a baby full to term, but I don’t care, as long as I have my Rosie.

“Baby, go see Olivia. X said that she’s fine and that they’re just waiting on hearing about Dominic.” Rose spoke from the bed.

I shook my head, “I can’t see my sister like that.”

“Well, what about Lei’Lani or your mom, you know that they are here, and you know they are freaking out.”

“I understand you are trying to help, but I can’t see her in a place like that. Last time wasn’t the best for me.”

“What do you mean?”  

“I was 14, Lei was 13 and Liv was 17” 

~ 11 years ago~

“LEI’LANI!!! Stop! I have to go to football practice!” I screamed

She stuck her tongue out at me, “Mommy said she would take me to dance practice!”

“She promised me football practice!!!” I yelled back

“OLIVIA!!!” We both screamed.

“Will y’all stop screaming! Liv isn’t here to take neither of y’all to either place…your mother and I have to.” My dad spoke to us.

“Daddy…” Lei pouted

“Bro, Pops please don’t fall for this! She is just trying to mess with me so that she can get on my nerves.”  

Lei being the baby, she always got everything she wanted. I was tired of that shit. She was ONLY 11 months younger than me! I was tired of this before the shit even started.

“WILL Y’ALL BE QUIET!!! I’M TRYING TO HEAR ON THE PHONE!” My mom yelled

We knew not to mess with her because as soon as she was mad, that would be our asses, before we could leave, we heard my mom again,

“What the fuck you mean, she’s in the hospital Xavier! I Sent her there to get away from him! He followed her there?!”

My pops ran into the kitchen, I knew it couldn’t be good.  It had to be Olivia’s ex-boyfriend, Cassiius. That nigga was mental, and I knew for a fact that he used to beat on my sister, but I could never prove it until i would catch her covering it up, so momma sent her to live with her Dad’s side of the family in Cali to get away from the nigga. But i guess it didn’t work.

“Rah, we gotta go to Cali, Liv is in the hospital” Lei came back crying, then she just ran into my arms crying.

Seeing my sister, in the hospital bed, literally bandaged in every way. I wanted that niggas blood. I wanted to see him worse than he put my sister.  

He gave her internal trauma, external trauma, broken bones, a brain bleed and she was all bruised and battered. This nigga left my sister for dead.

“Rah, you’re going to break the bed” I heard my mom say. I guess I was gripping the edge so hard, my knuckles had turned white.

My family was always worried about my anger issues, and stuff like this didn’t help it either.

I wasn’t really paying attention, when Liv’s family came in the room. It was her cousins Giselle, and Elizabethe and their dad Xavier. He had two light skin niggas behind him.

“Who the fuck are they?” I spoke pointing to them

“Andre! Language!” My mother scolded.

“They not family, they don’t need to be here. So who are they and why are they here.”  

One of them, the thicker one, was about to say something but Xavier put his hand on his chest.

“It’s okay Jeremiah, Rakim is right, can you and Dominic step outside.”

They both nodded and stood outside, but the one that was Jeremiah, kept his eye on Liv and kept the door slightly ajar to hear what was going on. 

Of course my mom and dad kicked out myself and Lei so they could talk to Xavier. It was simple, I want this nigga dead. I’m tired of doing all of this talking shit. He needs to die, he hurt my sister.

Lei was talking to the girls in the waiting area, and I just kept staring at the wall, I didn’t even notice the two other niggas come and sit by me. But they just stared at me.

“The fuck y’all looking at.” I spat

“Look Nig-“ Jeremiah spoke

“Jeremiah. Don’t.” The other spoke.

“I know y’all not stupid, what do you want?” I asked again

“You Liv’s little brother huh? She said you were a lot” the other laughed

I just blankly stared at him.

He shook his head, “Just like Olivia… I’m Dominic, this is Jeremiah. We work for your uncle Xavier.”

“He’s not my uncle, He’s Olivia’s uncle. Her pops older brother.”

“Understood.” He said

“So Y’all going to kill the nigga or what?”

They both looked at each other before they looked back at me.

“Look, I maybe 14, but I’m far from fucking stupid. This nigga Cassiius did this to my sister. My parents sent her here so it wouldn’t happen. and look what happened. Do y’all even know what happened?”

The Jeremiah guy cleared his throat and answered,

“We think he’s been watching her for awhile, but he can’t really get too close to the mansion because of other things. But what set him off was she went on a date, when she went home she was grabbed.”

I nodded my head trying to grasp the information, but then he spoke again.

“ I should’ve stayed. But she said it was fine.”

“Wait, you’re dating my sister?”  

He couldn’t even answer the question, because I simply didn’t care.

“Just kill this nigga and we straight my dude. Long as you treat her right and don’t hurt her, I don’t give a fuck what y’all be doing.”

“No one will ever hurt her again, if it’s up to me” He said

“I see why you don’t like Jeremiah very much anymore, he didn’t beat on you sister like the other dude did, but he hurt her just as emotionally as the last one did.” Rose said rubbing my hands. She always knew how to soothe me.

I nodded, “He basically left her for dead when he cheated and had another baby outside of his marriage. My sister had to beg me not to kill him. Motherfucker lucky I love my nieces and nephews, because he would’ve been gone hella ago.”

“Rah, you can’t hold that anger in, you got to let go, and forgive Jeremiah.”

“No thank you. He fucked over my sister, I don’t play about family.”

“What if Jeremiah and Olivia get back together?” She asked.

I turned my face up, “Doubtful.”

She just laughed, “You spend so much time hating him, you don’t realize that they still love each other.”

“Again. Doubtful.”

She just shrugged and went about her business because she knew the conversation was dead with me.

One month Later

Writer’s perspetive

Both Dominic and Olivia were laid out in comas. Dominic’s condition was worse than Olivia’s and the doctors  were  afraid that he would never be able to walk again.

This absolutely scared Giselle, seeing that he would never be able to play with the kids again. Or walk Angel down the isle at her wedding. Play Football with Mason when he’s in High school. Or even jus simply stand to hug her, she was petrified, but she never left his side.

Jeremiah also never left Olivia’s side, he was conflicted as well. The doctor informed him that Olivia was 4 weeks pregnant. It hurt his heart that she was having another man’s child. But it hurt even worse when the doctor told him that she miscarried, and because of her injury, she would never be able to have children.  He knew that, the news of a miscarriage and fertility problems would kill her. He didn’t want to be the one to tell her, but he knew he had too.

Callie immediately went to see her sister, but Katie weren’t allowed Guests. I mean would you be allowed Guests if you killed two police officers and a judge with Dominic and Olivia in critical condition from her actions.  

Did Katie regret what she did?  

No. She wasn’t remorseful. She had planned to do that if she had lost anyway. She just didn’t expect Giselle to be there. Katie honestly wanted to kill Giselle, but their son got in the way and she ended up shooting him, which didn’t matter in Katie’s mind because Giselle took her son away. So it was an eye for an eye. 

 If Katie couldn’t have Dominic and Angel…. No one could and she stuck by that.  

But Callie had to worry about her own problems.

After everything went down, she asked to meet with Kamryn. She still wanted to go through with the abortion, but she needs Kam’s approval. Kam was conflicted. She knew that Callie would have the baby and leave it… it could be the baby that she’s been trying to have, but let’s be real. As strong as Kamryn is, she isn’t strong enough to raise her Husband’s mistress’ child, and after talking with X. They let Callie out of her contract and she got an abortion.

Kamryn was extremely relieved. She didn’t have to deal with this mess of Callie or X having an outside baby, so she tried harder to save her marriage. X tried harder too. He loved his wife and wanted to make their family whole again. They both decided to go to counseling and to put having another baby off until they were back on good terms with each other.

Rosalie has been getting better, and the entire family was happy. She was sad about her condition about carrying kids, and she was worried that it would affect her relationship with Rakim but he reassured her that nothing could tear them apart. The love they had for one another was greater than the thought of having children. They even talked about adopting or surrogacy. 

 Everything was going great, expect for Dominic and Olivia.

Giselle

Everyday, I would wake up hoping that last month was a dream. I prayed everyday for Dominic to wake up, I needed him to wake up.

Angel and Mason really haven’t talked since the day that he got shot and I cant blame them. They saw that bitch, shoot him down. I’ve taken them to therapy, but they both just sit in silence the entire time. Mason usually tells me what is wrong, but I cant get it out of him.

The doctors were worried that D would never wake up. They’ve asked me to take him off life support 2 times already, but I could never do that to him. He’s the love of my life…. I cant let this be the end. I even got into an argument with Mama Celeste about it.

“My son wouldn’t want this Giselle.” She cried

I shook my head for the millionth time “Mama, I said No. Dominic is okay, he just needs his rest. His body is under a lot of stress. BUT HE IS FINE!” I rubbed his curls that he’s grown since being in the hospital.

“Giselle.-”  

“I was without him for more than 4 years, Taken away by my father, by Vincent. I will not be away from him for the rest of my life. If I go bankrupt because I am keeping him alive I will do it.”

“His will states-“

I rolled my eyes. “I don’t give a fuck what his will states. LEAVE! If you don’t support my decision to keep him alive. GET THE HELL OUT!”

I haven’t seen her since and that was 2 weeks ago. I’m not keeping her away, but she’s staying away right now. Jeremiah was pissed at me, but i don’t care. I refuse to lose him again. I mentally couldn’t handle it. But she’s taking care of the kids for me while I am here.

Wiping my tears, I just rubbed his hands and arms. I just want him to wake up. I miss his brown eyes, and his smile. The way he would always be laughing and being goofy with the kids. I just want to see him again. I would give anything for him to hold me one more time.  

Then suddenly, he flatlined. 

Olivia

All I heard was talking and I couldn’t move my body, but I knew for a fact that I was with Jeremiah. Because I heard his voice.

I also hear a heart machine and I feel groggy. I couldn’t help but to think, where was Sage, I couldn’t hear her. She’s usually with Jeremiah. What the hell is going on!

I tried to open my eyes, but the lights were too bright, so I groaned.

“Olivia?” Jeremiah asked

I turned my head and opened my eyes, I could barely move, and I couldn’t talk.

“Water?” He asked again

I nodded my head. He got me a cup of water off the table and helped me drink it. I probably drunk all of it, but it helped my throat.

“You good?”

“Yes, thank you.” I said raspy  

“Jeremiah, what happened. Did Cassius do this to me? Why am I here?”

“Cassius?”

“Where’s Sage? Where is everyone?”

“Olivia, what is the last thing you remember?” Jeremiah asked me

I shrugged, but I couldn’t really remember anything. I tried to think long and hard, i even closed my eyes. It took me awhile, and a few minutes later,

“I remember getting into a fight with you, and you stormed out of the house, I took Sage with me to Dinner with Lizzie and Giselle at Riviolli’s. Coming back home, I ran into Cassius. That’s all I remember.”  

He sat down and stared at me in shock, “Riviolli’s closed after Sage turned 4.”

Before I could ask what he meant by “Sage turning 4.” A man and 4 little kids walked in. One went strictly to Jeremiah, and the other 3 ran to me.

“MOMMY YOU’RE AWAKE!!!”

“MOMMY I MISSED YOU!!”

They all hugged me and the man said “Baby, I’m glad you’re awake.” I recognized him as the new partner from the firm.

Baby?

I looked at Jeremiah, “Jeremiah, what is going on? Who are they?”

The oldest child said “Mommy, it’s me Sage.”

Before I could even say anything, Jeremiah saw my face. “Dont freak out Olivia.”

“Jeremiah, what the fuck is going on! Who are these kids and this man!!” I screamed out

The man said “I’m Jordan, your boyfriend?”

“I dont have a boyfriend, I’m married to Jeremiah! Have been since I was 20 years old! We have a 3 year old!”

“Olivia what year is this?” Jeremiah asked

“What the hell do you mean! It’s 2014!” I screamed

“Mommy, it’s 2018.” ‘Sage’ said

I looked around at all the confused faces, “Jeremiah, I want to go home, please what is going on. This isn’t funny. Where is Sage. I DON’T KNOW THESE PEOPLE” I cried out.  

I was scared that Cassius found me and beat me, leaving me for dead again. I just wanted to go home with my husband and my daughter.  

I dont know what is happening right now.

[islamoradasteve]

Tamara, downtown N.Y.C.

I met Tamara on the same day I took the image of the Smoking Man.  I had a meeting downtown and decided to take my Minolta x-570, loaded with Ilford HP5+ pushed to 800 ASA, to see if I could get some street shots.

I saw Tamara standing with a group of others, all dressed in jackets for the cold weather.  Her friends were all circled up with their backs to me, but Tamara was not.  I took a quick grab shot and then kept walking to the corner of the street.

While I was waiting for the light she walked up to me and nicely asked me why I had taken her picture.  I told her I was a street photographer and that I saw here with here friends, that I thought she was beautiful, and that I was taken by the way her hair and scarf framed her face.

I had taken the picture of the Smoking Man earlier in the day and while I didn’t interact with the subject, I didn’t hide what i was doing either.  If he saw me he didn’t seem to notice or object.  After that, i took a photo two women, one of whom had her face framed by her fur jacket.  As soon as i took the pic she confronted me, asking why I had taken her photo, demanded that I delete it (I told her I couldn’t as i was shooting on film) and what I thought I would do with the picture (I told her probably nothing).

So when Tamara walked up to me I was ready for another confrontation.  But there was nothing of the sort.  We talked for a minute or two and she told me her name, that she was visiting from Germany but was originally from Spain.  I thanked her and told her it was very nice to meet her and that I hoped she enjoyed her visit.  As I turned to cross the light she said, “You can take another picture,” and she posed herself and gave me a great smile.  That’s the pic above.

I’m still learning this street photography thing.  When to take a quick shot and move on, when to ask for permission, when to engage people for a portrait.  I watched local street photographer Andre Wagner (https://www.tumblr.com/search/andre+wagner) work a street corner intersection for twenty minutes the other day, just dodging in and out with his black Leica, quickly bringing the camera to his eye, taking the shot, and quickly turning away almost unnoticed.  And he’s very successful with that approach, though looking through his Tumblr feed, he’s also great at the composed street portrait.

I don’t know.  But I was given a gift from Tamara and I’m glad she stopped me.

#street portrait #Minolta x-570 #Ilford HP5 #N.Y.C.