#okay everyone finish the sentence SAVE A HORSE RIDE A-

[bubbleteaimagines]

You Can Rest Now

Levi Ackerman Oneshot

Summary: People often wonder why Levi’s so cold. For a man that’s lost everything, it’s not so hard to see

Pairings: Levi Ackerman x Reader

Warnings: Ansgt, gore, death

Authors Note: I got this idea suddenly and decided to break my heart

there was speculation. there was always speculation, but none more about levi ackerman.

the short man had a notorious reputation. he was cruel, nonchalant and just generally didn’t seem to care.

he was different. cold. so cold in fact, that death didn’t even seem to faze him. he could watch someone die and be fine the next minute.

but was he? it seemed so.

all the recruits admired his bravery and strength, but they feared his attitude.

what had made him so cold, exactly? so...closed up? who or what had turned his heart into stone, causing him to shut out the world around him so easily?

how did he do it?

why did he do it?

what had caused him to snap?

it was simple, really. levi had made a mistake. long ago, when he was foolish enough to still believe in love and happiness in this retched world. long ago before he realized that love made you weak, he make the mistake of loving someone in this cruel, cruel, world.

-

flashback —

“shit! y/n, they’re gaining on us!”

after three years in the survey corps, you could safely say that those words were anything but a good sign. scratch that, those words were the worst thing to hear out in the field. an omen of death, if you will, but you tried not to think about that as you furrowed your eyebrows and gripped your horse’s reigns tightly.

“how close?” you made the mistake of asking your comrade. a lump grew in your throat as you guys trekked across empty land. no trees, no buildings, absolutely nowhere to even think about using your 3dmg gear.

“i...,” he was at a loss of words. neither of you dared to look back, so he had to go off of the thumping footsteps that were getting closer and closer. “i reckon in the next minute or so they’ll be...”

“got it,” you pursed your lips together, not wanting him to finish that sentence. you knew what was coming. you both did. the very ground beneath you shook due to the titan’s footsteps. the monsters that you had been battling your whole damn life. “you ready to kick some ass, then?”

“always.” his voice was weak, his hands trembling as he reached for his swords. but his spirit had not yet been broken. neither had yours.

the footsteps were getting closer.

“i say we stay in rank but finish this thing off. then we’ll speed up and catch the others in case some more come,” you told him

anxiety pooled in your stomach as you thought about the rest of the soldiers. wrong place, wrong time, you knew that. but you couldn’t help it — your mind flashed images of him and you couldn’t help but feel scared for him, wondering if he had made it back to the wall safe or if he was still stuck on the ground, like you.

levi was a much better fighter than you. he was fast, efficient, and a valuable fighter. humanity needed him, and he had to be kept safe to fight another day.

that was the only reason you guys had been split up. he was on the special forces team, you weren’t. a damn good soldier you were but you were needed on the outer side of the formation, you were needed to protect levi.

after two years, he still hated the idea of you risking your life to protect him. he had fought tooth and nail with you and just about everybody else to keep you safe, to keep you next to him at all times. but commander erwin wouldn’t allow it. he couldn’t, levi was needed to save humanity. you weren’t.

you guys had had this argument time and time again. and time after time, you had reassured him that you would make it back. that he would always find your tired but yet still smiling face waiting for him on top of the walls.

why should this time be any different?

“let’s move!”

before you could even think, you had a ten meter titan lunging at you causing you to yelp and yank your horse out of the way. the beast whined in terror, it’s fear possibly rivaling your own. unfortunately though, that didn’t cause it to go any faster. you were gonna be forced to take it down yourself — you wouldn’t be able to outrun it all the way back to the wall.

“y/n!” your comrade yelled as you were swiped at again. this time though, you stood up on your horse and launched yourself at the titan, your gear lodging itself in it’s shoulders.

“keep moving! i’ll take care of this!” you yelled out to him.

letting out an angry cry, you whipped around the creature at astonishing speeds and aimed straight at the back of it’s neck.

a routine kill, that’s all this was.

fire danced behind your eyes while the creature moaned and swatted it’s hands at you. 36, that was your number of solo kills. and soon, it was 37.

“take that you fat bastard,” you yelled and sliced it right in the weak spot, never missing a beat as you carved up the flesh. blood splattered everywhere from the fatal wound and steamed as it got on your face and clothes. the titan went limp, and soon you propelled yourself back to the ground and back on your horse.

“well, looks like petra and me are tied. can’t wait to tell her,” you grinned as you carried on riding, your partner sighing in relief.

“you really are one of the best, you know that? you totally just saved our asses,” he grinned back at you.

“yeah, and you’d do well not to forget it,” you chuckled. “next time there’s cake, i want-”

“Y/N LOOK OUT!”

there was a scream, and then there was a sudden pressure as an abnormal came leaping out of nowhere and hit you dead on.

you didn’t have time to react. you barely even had time to scream before everything went to shit, your horse flying away from you and you — oh god. your comrade screamed as you flew through the air, and appeared again only as you were clutched in the titan’s mouth.

“w-what?” you couldn’t move. your vision was blurry from the hit but what you could feel was it’s breath. blindingly hot, and rancid. you had a first row seat as you hung from the monster’s jaws, everything from your waist and below clutched tightly in it’s teeth.

“y/n, no!” the strangled cry of your fellow comrade was all too familiar. it was a helpless cry, one you had heard many times from many different people. it was a cry of death, a cry of sorrow if you will. it was the type of sound people made when they were face to face with death.

“son of bitch,” you moaned as you lifted your head up, your (e/c) eyes meeting the bright blue ones of the titan. “you’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

of all the ways to die, of all the times and situations, this just had to be it. with your luck, you were gonna be split in half by the ugliest goddamn titan you had ever seen.

“fuck me.”

dread pooled in your stomach.

as you stared down your killer, as you stared down death itself, only one thought crossed your mind.

“c-comrade,” you glared as the titan opened it’s mouth to devour you. “g-get out of here! you don’t need to see this!”

“y/n no! i’m coming!” he desperately clung to his gear, standing on his horse and preparing to take down the monster that was gonna kill his teammate. he couldn’t let that happen. he wouldn’t.

but you weren’t gonna let him die either. not whilst you were still alive.

“comrade! i said go! i’m the leader of this team so that’s an order!” you screamed at the solider causing him to freeze in place.

“no,” he whispered, watching as the monster’s jaws came down.

it was as if it were in slow motion. the universe dragging it out just so he could witness every detail. the moment you screamed profanities at the titan, promising that you’d see it in hell one day. the moment you ripped off your cape, letting one last piece of you remain on this earth. the moment you screamed for levi, yelling one last time how much you loved him.

the moment the titan’s jaws finally came down, cutting you in half.

everything stood still after that. time stopped completely, and your comrade couldn’t even scream, couldn’t even cry out for you as your eyes finally fluttered closed and your body went limp.

you were gone.

-

levi paced anxiously as he stood on top of wall maria. he had his hands behind his back, but his eyes were on full alert, searching the terrain in front of him for any signs of life.

for any signs of you.

levi didn’t understand. it had been well past an hour, and everyone had made it back except for your squad.

it wasn’t even a squad, really. just two people — so how could two people possibly be taking this long?

“captain, you should calm down. i’m sure y/n is gonna be fine,” petra placed a gentle hand on his shoulder but it did nothing to sooth levi.

“if they were fine they’d be back by now,” he snapped, his eyes darkening.

he didn’t want to admit it but levi was starting to lose hope. being gone for this long usually only meant one thing — but he refused to think about that. he refused to even let the thought cross his mind, shoving it so far back it was practically non existent. levi couldn’t think like that. he wouldn’t.

because it was no question whether you were okay or not. you had to be, there were no other options. no other scenarios other than you coming back alive and safe.

“captain—”

“silence!”

levi strained his ears as he heard hooves in the distance. he perked up.

it was the sound of a horse, most definitely. in fact, it was the sound of two horses, and in the distance he could see them galloping towards the wall, a titan right behind them and the lone rider.

levi’s heart swelled with hope.

“y/n!”

he was breathless as he ran towards the edge of the wall, igorning his fellow soldiers protests. extracting his swords, he quickly cascaded down the wall towards the person, hoping beyond hope that it was you.

commander erwin held out a hand to stop anyone from following him.

“don’t,” he warned, seeing how levi’s squad was gearing up. “this one’s for him.”

levi had never felt more eager in his life to escape into titan territory. quickly, he flew towards the rider and practically tackled them as he reached them.

“y/n, you—”

levi stopped dead in his tracks. confused, he tilted his head as he saw the grief-stricken face of your partner, but not you. in fact, you were nowhere in sight as the titan’s footsteps got louder.

“soldier, you had someone with you, yes? where is y/n?” levi demanded, completely ignoring the haunted and agonized expression of the solider.

“c-captain...i...,” how did he get the words out? how did your comrade look his captain in the eyes and tell him that you were gone — lost to the titan on a simple mission.

“well? we don’t have all pissant. spit it out,” levi snapped, becoming irritated at the lack of response.

where were you? if you hadn’t come back with your partner, then where the hell where you?

the soilder’s mouth moved but levi barely heard anything he said.

perhaps it was because he wasn’t standing close enough. or perhaps the titan’s thunderous footsteps drowned it out. or perhaps...it was because levi heard something he didn’t want to hear.

“dead?” levi tilted his head as if it were a foreign word. as if he had never heard the word before, when in reality it was probably the most used word in his vocabulary. “what do you mean y/n is...dead?”

the pieces didn’t fit. the word ‘dead’ and ‘you’ were apart of two completely different puzzles; they didn’t fit together. it was too wrong, too confusing for levi’s brain to pick up.

“t-they’re gone, sir,” the solider spit out painfully, letting out a wail. “w-we were on flat ground...the titan came out of nowhere...the abnormal...”

“shut up,” levi held his hand up as the pieces began to mold themselves. slowly, they transformed to fit each other.

“i-i’m sorry sir,” the soldier stammered, “t-they’re gone. they left this behind...but their body—”

“I SAID SHUT UP!” levi growled as anger began to flow through him, his fists twitching. the solider flinched back as levi’s death glare settled on him, burning holes through his skull.

“where do you get off on this? HUH?” levi yelled as he grabbed the man roughly, yanking him off of is horse. the beast whined in fear as the titan approached, but levi ignored it. instead, he focused on the red spots in his vision, pushing away the pain. pushing away the imagery that followed the solider’s words. all that was left of you was a cape...

“i’ll have you executed for this you bastard! you lying piece of shit—”

“CAPTAIN LEVI!” levi’s attention was diverted as commander erwin yelled out his name. briefly, he turned his attention to the wall where his fellow comrades and commander stood, horrified, “YOU HAVE A SITUATION!”

levi tore his gaze away from erwin and glanced over his shoulder. fast approaching was the titan that had followed the solider to the wall. an abnormal by the looks of it, with blood splattered all over it’s mouth.

levi felt his heart stop.

in the moment, it suddenly became real. he glanced at the solider’s terrified face, the cape in his arms that had your initials printed on it, and then back at the titan.

everything hit him at once.

and levi snapped.

“YOU BASTARD!”

he retracted his blades, squared his shoulders, and then zoomed off to battle the titan that that had murdered you. the love of his life.

levi saw red as an animalistic scream left him, his entire vision clouded with crimson as he made his target and slashed. levi slashed until there was nothing more to slash, the titan long dead and already dissolving by the time he was done.

“YOU ASSHOLE! YOU TOOK THEM! YOU FUCKING BASTARD!”

“CAPTAIN! soldier, you need to restrain him and get back over the wall, NOW!” commander erwin shouted.

more titan’s were approaching. too many people were standing by the walls. too much prey.

but levi didn’t care. he was angry, hurt, and beyond the levels of revenge. his blades were stained with the blood of your murderer. he wouldn’t be able to rest if he didn’t end them all, right then and there.

“CAPTAIN LEVI! WE NEED TO GO!”

levi ignored the solider’s plea and stood his ground, hatred burning behind his eyes. he’d kill them, he’d kill every last one of them for what they did to you. his life be damned.

in that moment, it didn’t matter that humanity needed him.

he needed to avenge you.

“FALL BACK! DO NOT ENGAGE! I REPEAT, DO NOT ENGAGE! EVERYBODY STAND BACK!”

levi braced himself for the attack. he was running on pure hatred now.

he was dangerous when he was calm. but he was unstoppable when he was deadset on getting revenge for the one person he had left to care about.

“holy shit—”

“no way—”

“did he just?—”

all around levi was blood. crimson red soaked him to the bone, pouring over every inch of his body. it rained on him, like a sadistic waterfall carved out by levi’s sword.

but it wasn’t his.

none of it, not a single drop of the blood was his.

levi sheathed his now broken swords and leaned down to retrieve the only thing not soaked with titan blood. the only thing that wasn’t stained or reminded him of their treacherous, godforsaken existence.

“i did it,” he whispered, clutching your cape tightly. he held the fabric in his trembling hands, holding it over his heart as a way to hold you close— one last time.

“i killed that thing. you can rest now.”

#levi ackerman #levi ackerman x you #levi ackerman x reader #levi ackerman imagine #levi ackerman oneshot #levi ackerman angst #attack on titan imagine #attack on titan #aot imagines #aot #attack on titan x reader

[sohin-ace]

Doppio - Frog Princess

Fairy tale AU and lots of love for my small man.

Doppio dragged his feet across the garden, restless and desperate. He sighed and whined to himself, taking the opportunity of being all alone to voice his pain and concerns, something he was never allowed to do.

"Aww jeez... This prince life isn't made for me..."

He huffed again and tugged at his very uncomfortable, gold adorned collar that was almost suffocating him.

Doppio looked around him, sure enough, the tall trees surrounding him did a great job at hiding him from the potential workers on the castle grounds that could possibly be looking for him.

He could finally have a little moment for himself and sneak out, maybe to cry to himself a little bit.

"O-ow... That still hurts..." The boy whined and rubbed on his bruised fingers, the results of angry professors punishing him for each mistakes he made. "I'm no good, I can't do anything right..."

That's right. Prince Doppio was a clumsy and anxious boy who lacked capacity in every domain. He always tried his best and obeyed every and each order, he wasn't undisciplined, oh no, young Doppio was a good boy.

He was just bad. He hardly managed to keep the required straight stance for more than ten seconds, was better at petting the horses than at riding them, couldn't follow etiquette at all, or protocol, was extremely forgetful and sadly, mother nature did not grace him with the strongest physical traits a young man his age was expected to have.

"Tch... Trish was so popular everyone courted her and she was so easy to marry, but me... No one would want to marry a good-for-nothing like me..."

He angrily kicked some rock and held his back that cracked at the movement, in pain, squeezing his eyes shut and sobbing at the sore feeling. That last lesson of fencing went so terribly wrong, how did the others do it?

"I'm so tired... Why meee...?"

"Ribbit!"

"Huh?" Doppio was startled at the very sudden but intriguing croaky sound and approached its direction near the pond.

He couldn't see anything at first, but then a tiny little creature jumped out of its hiding place. Doppio's honey eyes widened and he quickly wiped his warm tears, crouching down towards the animal.

"A frog!" He exclaimed happily, almost like a small child, new to the world. "Hi! You're so tiny, what's your name?"

"Ribbit!"

He knew very well the animal couldn't respond to him with actual words, but just the feeling of having even a one-sided conversation soothed a bit of his loneliness down. He cupped his hands together to invite the frog in, and the animal obliged by jumping on them.

He looked down and observed the chubby little creature. It had the cutest, roundest eyes, almost sparkly in the dim forest light, its green color was so bright and homogenous, there weren't any marks or patterns that frogs usually had on their skin. Even its limbs were tiny and soft, Doppio couldn't help but pet it with one careful and shaky finger.

"O-ooh! Oh my god!" He squealed uncontrollably. "You're so squishy!"

"Ribbit ribbit!"

The quiet and high-pitched croak felt so pleasant to his ears, it meddled with the sound of the water next to him and made him feel so much at peace. He loved to hear that cute sound and how the frog's belly puffed up like a balloon with each croak.

"What are you? A boy or a girl? I'd say you're a girl because you're super pretty and have a tiny voice."

"Ribbit Ribbit! Ribbit Ribbit!"

Doppio gasped loudly. "D-did I get it right?! Oohh yes!! That's so cool! Well... Not like I would have minded if you were a boy... Or both... Wait, do frogs have genders? Oh it doesn't matter."

The young prince felt like this frog was currently the only thing keeping him sane. He had no one else to talk to, there was no one who actually cared for his own well-being and he had no friends.

The only real person to actually show him some kind of recognition and love was none other than the King Diavolo himself. But even his sweet words and affection seemed somewhat back-handed and laced with pressure and severity.

"You know, you're lucky, little thing..." Doppio started with melancholy. "You don't have to worry so much about your life... I'm bad at everything and I'm all alone... I don't know what to do..."

"Ri-rib, ribbit!"

"Even if a nice princess wanted to marry me, I would turn her down because she would deserve better... Sometimes I wish I could disappear..."

"Ribb-ribbit!"

Doppio's eyes softened on the small frog. That's how sad and pathetic he was. Talking his problems out with a frog.

"Why do I feel like you actually understand me...? Thank you for listening to me and being my only friend."

Without even thinking, he lifted the small frog and brought it towards his face, giving it the tiniest of pecks. He smiled at how weird the feeling was, the animal was cold and slightly humid, a bit sticky too which he did not mind surprisingly.

He sighed and looked up mindlessly before his eyes were suddenly striked by a blinding flash of light.

"Wh-what the hell?!"

The light flashed brighter and brighter, coming from the frog in his hands. What was going on?

Doppio could only drop the creature and shield his eyes with his arms desperately as the frog sparkled like a thousand fireflies and grew in size.

The boy squinted his eyes shut and fell back right onto his butt before he felt a strong weight pressing on him, the mass eventually pinning him down onto the ground.

"U-uughh..." He groaned and rubbed his head, a sharp headache from the harsh light hitting his sensitive eyes still slowly fading.

He looked down only for his eyes to widen like saucers. He couldn't believe what he was currently witnessing and thought that maybe he went blind from the flash and was hallucinating right now.

The weight on top of him revealed to be the figure of a girl laying unconscious. He couldn't see her face buried in his chest, but he could make out her beautiful hair, smooth skin tone and the very frilly green dress she was wearing.

And that wasn't just any dress either, the golden ornaments, the tulle, the silk, the lace, the satin... That was an expensive dress, was she...could she be... A nobleswoman? A baroness? A...

...A princess?

"A-aah..." The girl moaned quietly before pushing herself up, not without struggle and Doppio gasped.

"A-are you okay signori-..." The boy could barely finish his sentence and only mumbled open-mouthed nonsense.

He was beyond mesmerized at the beauty who had just ever-so-slowly lifted her face up to look at him. Her shining wide eyes, her innocent glossy lips, her rose dusted cheeks and her hair framing her perfect face made him believe he just stumbled into some sort of forest Goddess.

"Ah-I... U-uuhm.. Y-you...uh.. W-ah-...eh... I-I'm..." He stammered awkwardly, his brain melting like ice in summer as his face and ears burned a crimson red, his breath catching in his now dry throat.

"Ah! My stars!" The girl gasped as she hovered over the immensely flustered prince. "I am so sorry! I must be crushing you!"

The young girl fretted anxiously before trying to scramble over on her knees and straighten herself up to give the poor man some much needed space, but as soon as she did, she was hit with a wave of dizziness and lost balance again. Doppio was quick to sit up and catch her against his chest, wrapping careful arms around her.

"A-are you okay, miss? What happened to you? What's going on?" The boy asked worriedly, regaining his composure slowly.

"Ah y-yes... It's just... It's been so long since I've been glamoured..."

"You've been... Glamoured?" Doppio couldn't be more confused than this, but the girl explained further as she leaned back slightly.

Her name was Y/N L/N, daughter of the King L/N. Many years ago, she had been the victim of a curse cast by the one and only sorcerer Dio, who was overcome by fury and rage against anyone affiliated with the Joestar Empire, or those who refused to become one of his pets, casting spells after spells, and curses after curses.

"He turned me into a frog and swore to me that nobody would ever come to save me from my demise... But you..." Y/N looked up at Doppio's honey eyes and couldn't help the tears pooling at her eyes.

She was free, at last.

"I was all alone... And you came here... My savior..."

Her soft voice cracked with thick emotions and she stared into Doppio's golden eyes with soft ones, her vision blurred by warm tears. Doppio gasped lightly, moved by her story and she shyly wiped her tears.

"A-ah, forgive me! How shameful of me, to weep in front of a prince like this... I'm just.. So..."

"No, princess, don't apologize." He gently held her wrists to pull them away from her timid face. "You have the right to be overwhelmed... Nobody's here, besides... I cried too, earlier, in front of you. Nothing wrong with showing your emotions."

She sighed dreamily at his gentle words and soft touches, the now more confident boy stirring her heart. "What is your name, my prince?"

"Doppio." He gulped, stiff as a rock at her saccharine gaze and tone. "Doppio Vinegar."

"You're a good person, Doppio..." She breathed out, her words dripping with warm sincerity. Doppio's heart could only skip beats at each and every one of her actions.

The boy may be clumsy and bashful, he surely wasn't dense. He well knew he was deeply falling in love with this frog princess, but something in him told him she may not be completely disinterested in him either, despite his overall appearance and personality.

But maybe, just maybe, it was because she didn't know him enough. She didn't know this extent of his foolishness, how worthless of a man he truly was. This was the perfect opportunity for her to just push him away and run back home, only to never see him again.

But against all he could have ever expected, he was completely shaken out of his low self-esteem filled transe when he felt her leaning her delicate hands and head against his chest, closing her eyes and relishing in his warm hold still on her.

"Prince Doppio... I feel so safe when I'm in your arms... I'll forever be grateful for granting me my deepest wish..." She lifted her head just enough to look at his blushing freckled face, his mouth agape. "How could I ever reward you?"

Was she... Really serious? Nobody has ever told him they felt good around him. Nobody has ever felt safe around the small and skinny man that was Doppio. Could he be strong enough for her?

Well one thing was positive, he didn't want to let her go, and if he had to eat razor blades to protect her, he would do it without batting an eye.

She actually wanted to, or at least seemed to, stay with him. She felt grateful, for him, of all people!

He hoped she wouldn't hear his heart go feral in his chest. She would do... Anything for him? Could he be selfish? Could he ask the inimaginable? Would she say yes? He wouldn't force her but... He would love to think about himself only, just this once in his life.

He had nothing to lose.

He gently grabbed both her hands in his surprisingly big ones, squeezing gently and rubbing his thumbs over her soft skin, as if to want to imprint his love onto her.

"Ma-... Marry me, Princess Y/N!" He confessed with loud yet clear determination. "Please, be mine! I will cherish you like my most prized treasure, you will never be alone and feel unsafe again! I promise my entire life to you, please promise me yours!"

She widened her eyes at his sudden assertiveness and his strong, meaningful words. The pink boy in front of her shook her heart in so many ways, and she had already lost everything to Dio in the past. She had absolutely no reason to deny, now did she?

The girl smiled bright and slowly pulled her hands out of his grasp, only to immediately wrap her arms around her hero's neck, nuzzling her face against him lovingly.

"Yes! I accept... my sweet Doppio."

#jojo's bizarre adventure #jojo #jjba #writing #jojo no kimyou na bouken #golden wind #vento aureo #doppio vinegar x reader #doppio x reader #doppio vinegar #doppio #x reader #reader insert #jojo part 5 #part 5

[floatinginwords]

Saved by the Devil (8/?) - Tommy Shelby

Summary: you go missing and a lot of people get worried

Paring: Tommy Shelby x fem!reader (Not romantic..yet)

A/n: I actually wasn't gonna post today but this chapter fell out of me. Its funny how some days are tougher to write and others its like riding a wave. I hope everyone has a wonderful day :)

The man with the busy eyebrows and mustache called himself Inspector Campbell. A fucking police officer. When you came too you found yourself tied to a chair, ropes around your wrist and legs, tight against the skin cutting off blood circulation. He didn’t ask questions first. No first, was the punching against your ribs and stomach. Then your face. He didn’t give you no breaks, not like he would give you any.

 “I think me and you have gotten fairly acquainted with.” The inspector say his foul breath reaching up your nostrils. Blood dribbled down your chin and nose. It was you could taste.

His men have left the room, on his orders of course. He leans on his cane as he stares at you from above. A evil smirk on his face as if he was some god looking down at his pitiful creations. You spit blood at his shoe.

 He grabs your face harshly, you face scrunching up like a fish. “Tell me what you were doing with Thomas Shelby. Or I can make this night a whole lot painful for you.”  He throws you back and all you do is glare at the man. Not saying a word. Not even huffing a sound.

 The inspector laughs. And walks out the door. You see him point to you with his cane as he talks to the other men that were abusing you moments ago.  You brace yourself for the inevitable. The torture last for hours.

 ******************************************************************************************

 No ones seen you for three days. Ada, the first night you didn’t comeback, called Trinity. but she hadn’t seen you since the morning. The next day Ada and James went out looking through the streets at your usual spots. You didn’t have any Ada just wanted to feel as though she was doing something. You didn’t have any family or any other friends. Except one other person who may know your whereabouts. So on the third day of no trace of you, with a little nagging and encouragement from James and Trinity, Ada decided to make a call.

 *******************************************************************************************

 Over at May Careltons mansion, Thomas Shelby listens half heartedly to the woman discussing the progress on his horse. He could care less at the moment. He’s just thinking of ways that he could stay the night. He wasn’t a fool, he knew of Mays attraction to him. It benefited him in more ways than one.

 “Excuse me, Mr. Shelby,” A maid interrupts May in the middle of whatever it was that she was saying, “You have a phone call.”

 “I’m sure they can leave a message.” His eyes not leaving Mays

 “Its your sister, she sounds urgent.” The maid says.

 With that thought in mind, Tommy excuses himself from May.

 “Ada this better be important.”

 “Where the fuck are you,” Ada screeches over the phone, “Ive been trying to contact you everywhere and Polly tells me your-“

 “What is it-“

 “(Y/n) is missing.”

 Tommy swallows hard. “I’m sure she’s around somewhere ada. How long its been?”

 “Three days. No ones seen her. Tommy please, Im worried.”

 Three days ago was when he last saw you. When you agreed to go to dinner with Alfie and Arthur You had left the car without another word. He wanted to follow you but decided against it. He was regretting it now.

 “Ada, just calm down. Ill ask some boys to go look for her okay?” He reassures his sister over the phone promising to find you.

He hangs up.

 “Is everything alright?” May asks from behind him. Her eyes were hopeful looking at him. She too was hoping he would stay though that was something she would never admit out loud.

“I have to go, family emergency.” He says. Turning his back on her without another thought.

***************************************************************

He didn’t have to leave. He knew that. He could have stayed with May have her fill that hole within his heart that Grace had left about a year ago. He owed nothing to you. He kept telling himself this over and over as he drove back, pushing the speed way past its limit. He begins to reminisce about your first meeting. You were nothing but a chess piece to him at the time but you surprised him a lot in that first meeting. Especially when you didn’t take that money he offered. He was confused to say the least. Everyone took free money. You didn’t. He remembers seeing you again at the Eden club. He though he would never see again. But there you were. He couldn’t not talk to you. He just had to. He knew he hurt you with his words. He didn’t apologize. He never apologizes. He remembers finding out Ada had a roommate. Imagine the surprise on his face when he realized it was you. Of course Thomas Shelby was always in control of his emotions so it never really showed. He was distrustful of you as he always is with people. But you showed something since your first introduction that most people didn’t show their entire lives; Honesty. And he liked that about you. He believed you when you said you didn’t work for Sabini anymore. (Of course he had his people look into it after to be 100% sure) He trusted you to go to meet his brothers, be in the same car as them, come to an auction. He remembers seeing you bloody and a mess. Guilt and rage had filled him up. He couldn’t hold himself back from shooting the guy. When he stitched you up, he liked that you tried to make conversation. You knew when to back up, you never pried. He didn’t know if that was fear of him or if that was just you. He hoped the latter. He liked the way you said Mr. Shelby, though he often wondered how his first name would sound falling off your lips. Thomas Shelby pushes these feeling aside as he drives. He tells himself he just doing this as favor to his sister and because you can be very valuable. But as he drives into the city, a piece of his mind whispers that that just might not be the only case.

 *****************************************************************************************

 Three fucking days. You couldn’t believe that that’s how long it lasted. The torture, the beatings. They released you on the thought that you really didn’t know anything. You never said a word. They drove you out to the fucking country side and dropped you off like you were trash. You were never more humiliated in your life. You walked, each step bring you pain and anguish. But you kept going.

 ‘Its Friday’ You think to yourself. You never got to call to confirm if you were going on that dinner. You laugh at yourself. Out of all things to worry about.

 You find a little pond as you were walking and attempt to wash your face off all the dirt and blood. You looked half decent.

 It took you till sundown to get back into London. People in the streets gawked at your face. You knew you were bruised pretty bad. Worse than before thanks to the inspector. The stitches on the right side of your body were now leaking. You can see the blood drip slowly through your hand. You sigh. Its always one problem after the next.

Once in front of the house, you see all the lights on. Something you knew Ada hated. You see multiple people moving about and you curse underneath your breath. The last thing you wanted was to interact with people. Someone looks through the window, a young boy you didn’t recognize.

 “Is that her Ada?” You hear the boy loudly say not keeping his eyes off of you.

 As soon as the boy says that, a multitude of people rush out to the window to look out followed by a rushing to the door. Ada being the first to run into you, bear hugging you.

 “Where the hell have you been?” She cries out.

 You stay silent, your arms limp across your sides. No energy left to pick them up or say anything. You wished at that moment to escape into eternal darkness forever. You see a bunch of people behind her mostly men. All in black caps and coats.

 ‘Peaky blinders.” You think. You step back from Adas hug and move up the stairs toward the house. The men spread apart not wanting you to push through them. You walk up the rest of the stairs to your room slowly. You can feel all their eyes burn into your back.

 Once you reach your bedroom, you sit on your bed and stare at the empty wall. You couldn’t get the inspector eyes out of your head. It was like he enjoyed watching the life get beaten out of you. He talked a lot.  You replay the last three days in your head trying to piece together what that crazy old man was talking about as he was ‘interrogating’ you

 ***************************************************************************************

 As tommy walks through Adas door the first thing he realizes is that it seems that everyone is fucking here instead of doing their jobs. He watches them lounge about, eating and drinking away his sister’s stuff. He’s about to yell at them when Ada puts a hand on his shoulder.

 “Tommy She came home.” She says, he notices a lack of smile on her face.

 He raises an eyebrow.

 “She looks like she’s been beaten all over. I mean I only saw her face but the way she was walking…” Ada trails off biting her lip.

 “Im gonna talk to her.”

 “Tommy I don’t think-“

 Hes already at the top of the stairs before she finishes her sentence. Its not hard to figure out which room is yours. For reason being your room is the only one open. He sees your figure sitting up just staring at nothing in the dark. He clears his throat, not wanting to scare you with his unknown presence. You don’t turn around. He takes slow steps around to sit next to you on the bed. You both face the wall.

 “Its Friday,” you break the silence, “I apologize for not calling about dinner.”

 Right, he almost forgot that Alfie and Arthur were meeting right now.

 “Never mind that,” You suddenly get up as he talking, limping around the room, “what are you doing?”

 You light a candle on the other side of the room. He sees how bad your bruised face is in the light. And the blood trail your leaving with your freshly open hand.

 “(y/n), you should go see a doctor.” Thomas says standing up.

 “I’ve been through worse, Mr.Shelby.”

 “Who did this to you?” You notice the look of controlled anger on his face.

“Inspector campbell. Know him,” You ask sarcastically,” cause he really doesn’t like you.”

 You laugh and wince, the action hurting your ribs immensely, ”oh and he sure talked a lot. Kept mentioning a general, if I knew him, if I seen him, if you told me his name,” you pause, “what are you planning to do with a general?”

 He doesn’t answer you. The clocks in your brain keep turning. “Cause there’s only one thought that comes to my head.”

 “Why did he question you?”

 “Cause you took me to the fuckers house. And your being followed by the way.” A pain strikes through your head the more frustrated you become.

 “You should lie down.”

 “What did you get yourself into?”

 “it doesn’t concern you.”

 “Look at me, how does it not?”

He stares at you and though to you he looks emotionless, inside the feeling of guilt and fear are swirling. You on the other hand cant decipher anything that going on behind those eyes.

‘maybe this what he looks like when he is lost.’ You think. You know you could lend a hand through this, whatever it is. You assume an assassination. One the police are having a hand in themselves. When inspector Campbell was ‘questioning’ you, you noticed how it didn’t seem like he cared for the generals life but feared of who got a whiff of the info. It seemed that Mr. Shelby was getting something from it, maybe with you helping so can you. A ticket out of here perhaps.

 “what do you want?” He says shrugging.

  “I want to help.”

read pt.9

Tags

@captivatedbycillianmurphy @evelyn-4034 @enamouravecleslivresetlechocolat

#tommy shelby x you #tommy shelby x reader #tommy shelby #peaky blinder fanfic #peaky blinders #Fanfic

[comfyswitcherblanketfort]

Snowed In

Y'all, the quarantine hit hard. This fic is 100% self serving but I'm posting it in case it makes anyone else feel better? To add some spicy self loathing to my day? who knows. 

No legit pairings, a tiny bit of hinting angstiness, for the sake of form, Geralt x fem!reader

Warnings: defs big warning for anxiety and depression. I don't think there's anything else? Lmk if there is and I'll edit this.

__________

“Snowed in?” you repeated, having just packed everything up and saddled both Roach and your horse Beau. 

Geralt nodded grimly, “We’ll just have to hope Jaskier hears of the weather before he tries to make it here. The mail carrier is refusing to ride the pass.”

You heaved your saddlebags down with a slightly over dramatic grunt before turning to face him, “Is it a passing storm or do they think it’s headed for us?”

He shrugged and began untacking Roach, “You’ll have to ask the innkeeper. I just heard from someone who was turned back.” 

You both finished putting the horses back in their stalls, throwing a little extra hay over the side in case you didn’t want to face the cold after dinner. The innkeeper looked frantic, attempting to deal with about five angry customers, so you headed for the connected tavern instead. In your experience, bartenders knew more scuttlebutt anyway. 

Surprisingly you two were the only ones in the bar. The pretty blonde poured the two of you a beer and slapped a loaf of bread down between you before you could utter a word of request. Something rather unusual since traveling with Geralt. 

“How long do you think this will last?” you asked, handing the woman a couple of gold coins. 

She shrugged, “Last year it was mild. Just a week I think? But the year before that the town was stuck for almost a month.”

“Hm- huh? What day is it?” you mumbled as Geralt shook you awake. 

“Twenty-three. Get up.” He ordered. The process had become routine. The two of you were stuck in a rather small room together due to overcrowding and you weren’t handling the idle time very well. 

Geralt seemed completely content to meditate by the fire and meticulously repair his armor for the rest of eternity. While you had quickly become catatonic. 

You sat up only because you knew he would lift you out of the bed completely if you didn’t do it yourself, “Ah yes, what a beautiful day to feed the horses and drink our weight in ale.” 

The sarcasm dripping from your voice only earned a stern look from your roommate. The inn had run out of the drinkable stuff last week and they were rationing little the piss water they had left.

You scratched at your hair, your hand recoiling at the feel of grease. There was nothing to do, the floor space between the bed and the fire was barely big enough for Geralt to sit cross-legged, let alone for you to do any sort of exercise to keep your mood up. Not that you would if you could anyway. Any motivation to keep some sort of normalcy had left your body around day ten. The innkeeper had let some guests spar in the lobby around day six but everyone scattered when you had attempted to join. Something about ‘the witcher’s girl’ and how ‘she might gut you out of habit’. People could be stupid, you weren’t a witcher any more than they were and even so, Geralt was calmer and more restrained than all of them combined.  

So, embracing the numbness, you stayed in bed well into the afternoon and long after Geralt had left his side of the bed.

“Did I miss breakfast again?” you asked, not making a move to get any farther from your warm blankets.

Geralt nodded, pointing to the small table near the door where some bread,  cheese, and dried meat sat waiting. 

You picked at it for his benefit, though you hadn’t really been hungry for a few days now. The storm raging outside was just about as strong as the one raging through your hollow insides. This inaction, the unknowing, the vulnerability was killing you. 

“Y/N, you need to eat more than the crumbs.” Geralt urged, moving to sit in the chair opposite to you. 

“I tried.” You sighed, “Can’t I just lay back down?”

He shook his head, “No. You’re letting this consume you. You’re tougher than this.”

You scowled at him, wanting to throw the bread in his face, “Fuck you. Nothing bothers you.”

“Your behavior is bothering me.” he countered, staring at you with a mix of worry and annoyance.

“Well isn’t that touching.” You sighed in mock flattery. Abandoning any idea of food, you got up to sit by the fire,  poking at it aggressively with an iron rod and making a point to face away from him. 

“What in the spheres is your problem?” He growled.

“Being stuck here with nothing to do?” you offered, your tone reminiscent of the young spoiled princess the two of you had saved from a wraith a few months back. 

“That’s not it. I know when you’re lying Y/N”

Your limbs felt like they might float away into the air if you didn’t curl up into a ball, “I don’t want to talk about it Geralt. I’m sorry for snapping. I just need a couple of minutes.”

“You’ve needed ‘a couple of minutes’ for the past two weeks. Time to talk.” he argued. 

You snorted, “That’s rich coming from you. You didn’t tell me you’d been stabbed until right before you passed out in Temeria.”

“I’ve tried learning from my mistakes.” his tone was one of convincing the both of you, “What's bothering you? Really.”

“I don’t fucking know Geralt.” you hissed, getting very tired of his prying.

You heard him sit back and cross his arms, “Not good enough.”

You felt the words leave your throat before you could think of their meaning, spewing out with vitriol and fire, “I’m fucking tired. I’m tired of you telling me what to do. I’m tired of watching snow pile up out the damn window. I’m tired of the stupid couple that fucks all night next door. I’m tired of this worry that feels like it will rip me apart at any fucking moment from just not fucking knowing. I’m tired of worrying about Jaskier. I’m tired of worrying about the horses getting stocked up when there’s nothing I can do to help them. I’m tired of the glares from the other guests. I’m tired of feeling powerless. I’m tired of having no decent outlet for this anxious energy I’m stuck with. I’m tired of not knowing when this feeling will go away. And I’m absolutely fucking exhausted by the thought that it’s only been twenty-fucking-three days yet I feel I’ve been trapped here for a god-damned-eternity.” 

The last sentence broke your resolve to stay angry. Upon pushing the last words from your lungs, you heaved a deep breath and let the sobs tear your chest apart, giving in to the hopelessness that had been building for weeks now. 

You heard a shuffling that registered in the back of your mind as Geralt sitting behind you, but even so, you flinched when a hand rested on your shoulders. He scooped one hand under your knees and pulled you onto his lap, pulling a blanket from the bed and wrapping it around the two of you. He let you sob until the sobs turned to whimpers.

“I didn’t realize, I’m sorry Y/N” he whispered, placing a gentle kiss on the top of your hair, sending a flood of warmth to your cheeks.

“You don’t need to be.” you croaked, leaning into his affection.

“I didn’t need to pry either.” He argued.

You just hummed in reply, too much of your energy spent on purging your system of those hideous sobs. You did make a noise of protest when he lifted you from his lap and set you beside him on the floor. 

“Stay by the fire, I’ll be back.” He instructed, the tenderness of his voice surprising you. 

Minutes later, as you were beginning to pull yourself back together, he returned with a terry cloth robe and what smelled like fresh jasmine soap. Without a word, he hoisted you into his arms and carried you across the room to the bathroom. He set you on your feet and handed you the robe and soap before turning his attention to the lever pump hanging over the ceramic tub. 

“A bath?” You tried to bring your usual playful tone back to life and failed miserably.

“Does it make you uncomfortable?” 

You shook your head, “I’m just…” slightly disoriented? you finished the sentence in your head, not sure how to phrase it.

“Not used to anyone accommodating your emotions.” he finished, a knowing look in his eyes reminding you just how much he knew of isolation and pain. 

As you nodded you had to mentally remind yourself you have to let people help you, that it’s okay to let people help you.

You didn’t bother waiting for him to leave before you peeled off your riding breeches. Melitele only knows how long you’d gone without changing them. You had more trouble unlacing the cinched waist blouse you’d been wearing the last four days. The restless tossing and turning you’d done instead of sleeping had it knotted four times over. When you’d finally rid yourself of every last thread the tub was full. 

Geralt traced a sign in the water, sending ripples over the surface and steam up in the air, “Shouldn’t be too hot, but test it first.” He mumbled, making an effort not to stare at you too long. 

It was rather hot but you had exposed yourself enough for one day. You took the hand he offered for balance and sank into the nearly scalding water without hesitation.

He knelt next to you, “If you wish to be alone-”

“No.” You interrupted, not having the courage to look up at him, “Please don’t go.” The words barely escaped your mouth, but Geralt heard them perfectly fine.

He wet a washcloth and lathered it with soap before handing it off to you. With the rest of the bar, he began washing your hair. At first, his hands were hesitant, as if he was afraid to hurt you. He paused when you gave up scrubbing the sweat and dirt from behind your knees, but only for a moment. You leaned into his touch, closing your eyes. His nails scratched at the base of your skull, coaxing a sigh from your lips. As he massaged the soap through the tangled mess he took his time with the tension in your temples, then the pressure points behind your ears, even working out the knots in your neck. You did your best not to moan, but a couple of gasps and pleased grunts may have slipped out.  He rested a hand between your shoulders and guided you back, dipping your hair into the water to rid it of the froth he’d created. 

You peeked up at him through your lashes. If he noticed he didn’t show it. His face was relaxed, almost serene, as he raked his fingers through your hair, gently tugging on the bigger tangles. You hadn’t ever taken the time to look at his eyes before, he seemed uncomfortable over them when you’d met so you left him alone about it. Looking at them now, you regretted it. They were a beautiful mix of honey, sunflowers, and glittering gold. And they were so kind. The idea that people spat at him when they recognized his eyes made your heart ache. 

With a slight nudge from him, you sat back up, all the tension in your body having melted in the hot water or under his touch. You pulled your knees to your chest, resting your arms across them and your chin on your arms. The events of the day had you feeling like a child who’d gone too long without a nap being soothed back to sleep. If you were being honest with yourself you missed the feeling of safety that came with someone taking care of you. 

Geralt brushed your favorite oils through your hair, doing his best not to pull through knots too roughly, but it was in the same bun for about four days. 

You let your tired mind wander as you watched snow fall out the small port window above the tub. The comb had failed to detect any knots in your hair for some time but it seemed Geralt was just as lost in thought as you.

Eventually the water grew cold and you had to accept this couldn’t go on forever. 

“I think I might need to get out soon.” you mumbled, inspecting your pruney fingers. Everything in you was telling you to stay. Stay in this safe place with your gentle guardian. But you knew if you didn’t get out soon you’d never warm up, fire or not. Not to mention you knew you were taking Geralt’s actions more to heart than they were meant. He simply felt guilty for pushing you too far. 

That didn’t mean you wanted him gone though. You were more than happy to live the lie for a little while longer.

"I'll go check the horses." He offered, placing a towel and the robe within your reach. 

"Thank you, Geralt. For not… I don't know? Laughing at me?" You refused to look at him, being vulnerable enough as you already were. 

"Y/N…" he said your name like it meant something but you couldn't figure out what, "You never have to thank me. I owe you so much more than a hot bath and kind words." 

You turned your head to argue but when you saw his expression the words died on your tongue. All you could offer in response was a small smile.

It seemed to be enough for him and he nodded before disappearing through the door, leaving you to ponder what he'd meant. 

_________

Part 2 here!

#plz hit me with the feedback! even if it's just a hobby I always want to get better #geralt of rivia oneshot #geralt of rivia #geralt one shot #geralt x reader #can we consider this soft!geralt #the witcher #geralt comfort fic #the witcher netflix #the witcher novels #the witcher one shot #comfort fic #geralt of rivia comfort fic #the witcher fan fic #did i intend for this to simply be comforting and dancing on the edge of feelings territory? yes #did i expect to be very motivated to follow it up with some smutt? no #will i? #we'll see. #I've got shit loads of free time bc of the 'rona #and I'm house sitting so like no interruptions?

[alexhogh7137]

The Battle Between Love and Fire-

Ivar the Boneless × Reader

Chapter Forty &Chapter Forty Continued

Chapter Forty-One

Word Count 4.4k

Warnings: none for this chapter

Life was calm after your return home from Novgorod. Everyone was in their own little haze of happiness that entranced everyone in Kattegat. The people are thriving and your dragons are prospering. You and Ivar have had a lot of alone time and it has strengthened yours and his relationship immensely. You and Hvitserk are as great as you've ever been. Ubbe and Torvi are in 'la-la-land', as Ivar would say. So to say that you have totally forgotten about Wessex, would be an understatement. On this day, your news carrier comes into your home, barring a handful of letters. 

"Oh my.."

He chuckles, "Yes, my queen."

Ivar "And you are just handing them to us now-"

"Oh, they just arrived, my king."

Ivar "They just arrived? All of them?"

"Yes, my king."

"Who are they from?"

"Wessex, my queen." You and Ivar lock eyes and you snatch the handful of letters out of the man's hands, startling him quite a bit.

"Oh, I am sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"It is quite alright." He laughs it off. Hvitserk walks up to you from sitting beside Ubbe and Torvi, to read it with you. "I hope all is well, my queen." He said before walking away. 

"Thank you kindly." He nods and then leaves you be. When you open the first letter, you realize that it is only the lists of the people that Helga finds able to lead Wessex while you sit on Kattegat's throne. The list was long, making your head pound at the thought of having to choose only one man or woman to lead. 

Ivar "She made a list of their abilities." He hands you another list that he read first hand. You begin to read the piece of parchment when a name caught your eye: Daario Naharis. 

"Look at his abilities! I have never seen someone so capable."

Ivar "He does sound like he qualifies for the duties."

Hvitserk "When do you have to go?"

"I will have to leave as soon as possible."

Hvitserk "Are you going alone?"

Ivar "My love, I have to sta-"

"I know. I wouldn't ask you to leave again, Ivar." You think for a moment, pondering if it would be safe to travel all that way by yourself. 

Hvitserk "I can go with you."

"Are you sure? I can have a guard-"

Hvitserk "I'd much rather go with you then stay here with my two brothers."

Ubbe "Aye, I heard that!" He said as he threw a piece of food that he was munching on at Hvitserk. You all get a good laugh but then you get back to business. 

"If you want to go, we have to get ready to leave. Helga could have sent these weeks ago! I do not wish for her to wait any longer, let alone have the whole kingdom be in chaos by the time we arrive."

Hvitserk snickers, "I will get my horse." You nod and Ivar takes your hand in his own and your eyes connect. 

Ivar "This is so unexpected..are you alright to travel all that way?"

"I have to go, beloved. There is no discussion. Those are my people and they need guidance."

Ivar "I know. I am sure that they will be very happy to see your beautiful face." He caresses your cheek.

"Hmm. I do miss my old kingdom. Especially now since my father is no longer there." You chuckle. 

Ivar "It will be good for you, my love. But please, send me a letter when you arrive. To let me know that you and Hvitserk are safe."

"I will, I promise. And you will write me back, yes?"

Ivar "Yes." He kisses your lips, "Do you know when you will return?"

"Sadly, I do not. I completely forgot about the matter. But I will write to you every chance that I get. And I will be home as soon as I can."

Ivar smiles, "Okay, my sweet. I love you."

"So much." You kiss him again and then struggle to get your pregnant-self up from your throne. Ubbe ends up running to your aid. 

You huff once you are stable, "Thank you." You force a laugh. 

Ubbe "No need to thank me." He rubs your belly and smiles, "My little niece will soon be here, that is all that matters. I do not mind helping you, Y/n."

"I know. Keep Ivar in line for me-"

Ivar "..Aye?!" You two burst out laughing. 

"I'm kidding!" Then you look up at Ubbe and give him a stern look and he only nods. He knows that you weren't kidding. When you are away or even out of the room for hours at a time, Ivar can lose himself and become angry and hateful for absolutely no reason. So you need Ubbe's help to keep him in line while you are away. And you trust Ubbe to do so. 

Torvi "I love you, beautiful. Stay safe, yeah?"

"Yes, I love you too." You say your goodbyes to the kids and then you meet Hvitserk outside. He is standing by his horse with open arms.

"What?"

Hvitserk "You are riding with me! So come here!" You hesitate for a minute because you do not like the thought of leaving all three of your dragons here in Kattegat but your dragon's are asleep anyways, so you agree. He helps you up and then he mounts his horse and waits for you to grab a hold of him before he commands his horse to go. 

Hvitserk "Wessex, England..here we come." You giggle and rest your head on his back. The thought of going home to Wessex excites you. You are excited at the fact that you will get to be in your home without the fear of coming in contact with your father. And seeing Helga is always a joy. So you look over Hvitserk's shoulder and take in your horizon. 

Hvitserk "Oh, I forgot to mention something, princess."

"Hmm?"

Hvitserk "We have ten trained Vikings tagging along." You pause and then look behind you to find ten guards riding close behind. 

"Of course we do."

Hvitserk chuckles, "Hey you are a queen. A queen who is carrying my child..of course I am bringing guards with us. We can-"

"Never be too safe." You finish his sentence.

Hvitserk "Exactly."

"I know. I love you."

Hvitserk "And I love you."

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

You ended up falling asleep on Hvitserk's back along the way. But when you subconsciously feel the horse stop galloping, you wake yourself. 

Hvitserk "Good morning sunshine."

"Shut up." You both laugh. "How long have I been out?"

Hvitserk "Mmm, all of it."

"Shit..I'm sorry."

Hvitserk "Kitten, I am glad that you got sleep, don't be sorry. I'm not mad-"

"I know, you never get mad at me." You smile.

Hvitserk "Because I love-"

Helga "You are here!!" She yelled as she came up towards the gated entrance. 

"Hi momma!" She smiles from ear to ear whenever you call her that. Ever since you were a little girl, Helga was always a second mother to you. When your mother could not help you, Helga would. Whenever your mother was away, Helga would take great care of you. 

Helga opens up the gates and waits for Hvitserk to help you dismount the horse. Once you were on the ground, she ran up to you and gave you a welcoming embrace. 

Helga "Oh my sweet girl. Welcome home."

"It feels nice to be home. Um, I don't know if you remember-"

Helga "Hvitserk, of course I do." She says as she hugs him. "You helped in the siege..and with the burial of my daughter." 

Hvitserk "It was my pleasure to do so."

Helga "Such a gentleman. Oh, how could I be so clumsy! Come now, let's go meet them." She takes your hand and leads you to the palace. Seeing it for the first time since the siege, takes your breath away. It is like the darkness that your father casted over the palace was once and for all lifted. And all that remained is beauty and grace. 

"I have almost forgotten how beautiful my home was.."

Helga "We all have, little one. But now our kingdom is restored."

"Not quite yet, Helga. You need guidance."

Helga "And that is why you have come, is it not?"

"It is. I want to help as best as I can without physically being here. I do not wish for this kingdom to fall like it once did."

Helga cups your cheeks, "I have faith in you and whoever you decide to be our ruler. Now come on, let's go meet them all." Hvitserk does not leave your side the entire way. He catches himself with his mouth ajar as he walks through the palace walls. All of the intricate details and all of the colors, makes his jaw drop. 

Hvitserk "I do not remember the palace looking like this when I came to save you, Y/n."

"That is because you were not focusing on the details. You were focusing on finding me." You take his hand, "But now you can pause and take it all in." He smiles and grazes his surroundings. The ceiling has art painted on them, with the most detail. He thinks to himself, "how did they do that? How could one paint the ceiling?" You giggle to yourself as you watch Hvitserk's eyes light up as he looks at your first home. 

Helga "Y/n, this would be my first choice for a leader.." You look at the gentleman standing beside her in shock. 

"My Queen.." he kneels before you. 

"Please rise.."

"Daario..my queen. Daario Naharis." He says his name as he rises. 

"It is nice to meet you, Daario." 

Daario "You as well, my queen. And who is accompanying you?"

Hvitserk "Hi, I'm Hvitserk Lothbrok. Her protector." You smile to yourself and try not to make it too obvious. Daario shakes Hvitserk's hand and nods. 

Daario "That is good to see that my queen is in good hands." Hvitserk snickers. 

Helga "Why don't the two of you get to know each other? Daario, tell her about yourself."

Daario smiles, "Of course. Walk with me?" Hvitserk tenses up like the alpha male in the wolf pack, and Daario notices his sudden change in body language. "Hvitserk, I am not going to hurt my queen. I just met her-"

Hvitserk "I am not going to apologize for being protective. She is pregnant."

Daario "I can see that. More of the reason to be gentle and kind..I am no threat to you or Y/n." 

Hvitserk huffs, "Where are you taking her?"

"Hvitserk that is enough. This is my kingdom, I know this place like the back of my hand. If anyone pulls anything, they will get hurt, not me." Daario starts to laugh but he covers it up with his hand and Hvitserk backs off. 

Hvitserk "Fine."

Helga "You can walk with me, Hvitserk. I can show you Y/n's favorite places in the kingdom!" He looked at you one last time before Helga took his arm and pulled him in the opposite direction. 

You sigh and Daario notices, "Hey, are you alright?"

"Me? Oh yes, I'm fine." 

Daario "Well in that case," he offers you his arm and you take it, "What would you like to know first, my queen?"

"Please, just call me Y/n..I hear that enough at home." 

Daario nods, "Understood."

"I suppose I would like to know your history..your beginning." He talks as he walks you up to the balcony part of the palace, a.k.a, your favorite place to be in your home. He continues to talk but you zone out for a good long while. You just place your hands on the railing and take in the world in front of you. Daario stops talking when he realizes that you aren't listening and just takes in your beauty. Gods you are the most beautiful woman that he has ever seen. 

"It is so beautiful here, isn't it?"

Daario "Beautiful doesn't come close." You look back at him and he was not looking at the horizon, he was looking at you. You have to admit, the man is gorgeous. But you are loyal to Ivar.

"So, please continue to tell me about yourself." He laughed and started talking about his life story and to be honest, he is more than qualified to be a leader. 

"You are more than able to lead, Daario..but I have so many other people to talk to.."

Daario "You do?"

"Yes but I already have my leader." He smiles, "But I do not know how to tell them that I will not be choosing them."

Daario "Just let them tell their story and put them down gently." You try not to laugh but it comes out anyway, making Daario laugh. 

Daario "But if you are choosing me to lead this kingdom, I must swear to you this: I will do everything I can to keep your people safe. I will lead with honor and dignity. I will be kind and generous, and I will always think twice before making a final decision. And lastly, I will always be by your side when and if you ever need me, my queen. Your protection matters to me the most, and your childs..of course."

"Thank you, Daario. And I believe your word. But if you let this kingdom down, and this kingdom falls to ruin under your command, I will burn you alive." You say with a straight face, making Daario pause. 

Daario "I won't let you down, my queen. I swear it."

"Good. I have to speak to my people, will you join me?"

Daario "It would be a pleasure."

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

When you come down the steps, you find many of you people waiting for your return. You are startled by the sight but then you recollect yourself when Daario puts his hand on your shoulder.

Daario "They are glad that you are home."

"Where were you when I was a kid?" He chuckles, "I could have used your sense of protection my whole life.."

Daario "Well I am here now. You are safe, more than that if you'd ask me."

"And why do you say that?"

"Look at your people." You look over the stairwell and see all of their smiles and the joy in their faces at the sight of their queen being home. "Your people love you. They adore you, Y/n. Your people stand by your side, not against you. So why do I see fear in your eyes?"

"Old habits, I suppose."

Daario "Mm, Helga has told me about your father.. I am so sorry that he treated you and this kingdom so harshly."

"I do not wish to speak of him in this palace ever again. His name is like a dagger to me."

Daario "My sincere apologies."

"It's alright..I just have to realize that he can't hurt me anymore."

Daario "No he cannot. And I swear that if I was here when we were younger, I would've done everything I could to protect you. But I cannot change the past, I can only help you in the present and plan for the future."

"I sense that to be true."

Helga "So…" you jolt when she comes up beside you. "How did it go?"

You giggle, "Very well. But I must talk to the rest of my people before I make my final decision."

Helga "Perfect. I have taken on the responsibility and gathered the remaining people in the front of the palace to tell their stories.."

"You did that?" She nods, "What would I do without you?" You pull her in for a hug and she gladly hugs you back. 

Helga "Aw my sweet girl, words cannot describe how happy I am that you are home."

"I feel very welcomed." You smile and take her hand as she leads you outside, where you are rejoined with Hvitserk. 

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

When you sit down beside him, his face lights up immediately and so does yours. 

"Welcome home, my queen!" One of your old friends said to you.

"FLORA!" You shout her name as you race to get to her without toppling over. She rushes towards you and laughs as you cling to her like a monkey. 

"Oh my gods, I thought I lost you too!"

Flora "You almost did but I'm still here."

"Thank gods. Oh I have missed you so much."

Flora "Y/n, you are so pregnant!" You both burst out laughing.

"I am." 

Flora "You look so beautiful, oh my goodness."

"I love you, oh..I am so happy you are here with me."

Flora "I wasn't going to miss out on this kingdom's resurrection."

"Good, I want you to be a part in that."

Flora "Absolutely, my queen."

"Stop that! I am your best friend-"

Flora "And technically my queen..so I am calling you my queen."

"You were always so stubborn."

Flora "But you love me anyways."

"I do." You hug one last time before sitting back down beside Hvitserk, with Daario behind you and Helga on your other side. 

"So, you all wish to lead?" Hvitserk looks at you in admiration. The power that you hold is unbelievable. The love you have over your people is astonishing. The first person to come up and kneel was another young gentleman. He shared his story and it matched your beginning. So you sympathized with him and gave him a chance. 

"Can you fight?"

"I do not have much experience, my queen. But I can learn." He said.

"Everyone can be taught, young man. If you wish to learn-" you get caught off guard by three figures in the sky. You cannot make out what it is at first but then you smirk when you realize that it is none other than your dragon's coming home. 

Hvitserk "Well I'll be damned.."

"I knew that we couldn't stay away from them for too long.."

Daario "What in God's name are-"

"Those, Daario, are my dragons." He looks at you and then back up towards the sky in shock and amazement. And then it clicks in his head and he snickers.

Daario "No wonder you told me that you would burn me alive if I ever betrayed you.."

Hvitserk "She will, that is a promise. But do not think that I would be so easy as to let you just burn alive. No no no, if you ever betray Y/n, or do anything to jeopardize this kingdom and these people, I will make sure that you will pay for what you did, understood?" 

Daario "We have an understanding, Lothbrok. But I would never do such a thing. I know some of what her father did, of course not all, but I would never do anything to cause Y/n or these people any more pain then they have already been through. So you can stop with the threats."

"I trust him, Hvitserk. So should you."

Hvitserk "Good." Your dragon's land around the kingdom and your people are pleased to see them. They know that they were a huge part in the siege and the victory, so they do not fear them. 

"Please, continue." The man continued and then the rest of the people interested in leading Wessex. None of them were close to qualifying to lead like Daario is. So to you, the option was quite clear. But as a queen, you decide to think over all of your options over the night and you will declare the leader of Wessex in the morning. 

"Thank you. Thank all of you for coming today and sharing your stories with me. I want you to know that whoever I pick by first light, will be who I find suits to lead such a kingdom as Wessex. Who I find will protect, guide and respect my good people. So please, do not take this decision to heart if you are not chosen. If I could, I would allow all of you to lead but that would only bring chaos, to which I cannot allow. That will be all, please go on with your daily tasks." Your people bow and do as they are told. You sigh in contentment with how that all went. 

Hvitserk "You did so well, Y/n."

"Thank you. I loved speaking to them. Because they are my people, not Ivar's. If that makes any sense."

Hvitserk "It does completely."

Helga "How is Ivar?"

"Mm, he is fine. Thank you for asking."

Daario "May I ask, who is Ivar?"

"He is my husband." In that moment, he looks down but he does not see a ring.

Daario "Oh, of course. I just did not see a ring, is all."

"My ring stopped fitting once I reached my third trimester..I can no longer wear it."

Daario "Oh I see. I'm sorry for misunderstanding."

"That is quite alright." He smiles and nods.

Daario "Can I ask you a favor?" You nod, "Can you introduce me to your dragons?" You giggle from his politeness. 

"Yes, of course. Come on." Him as well as Hvitserk and Helga follow you to your dragon's. All three dragons took kindly to Daario and his scent. If they did not respond nicely to Daario, then that would give you the need to choose someone else to be the leader of Wessex. But now that your dragons gave you this clarity, now you are certain that Daario Naharis will be the next leader of Wessex England.

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

When night fell, you gathered your people to feast with you. Seeing so many familiar faces, brought you so much joy. Talking to those you have loved your entire life, made your heart warm. You wish that Thyra was here with you, however, you miss her more than words could possibly describe. So you make the toast out to her, in her honor.

"Thank you for joining me on this feast. I am aware that we are missing some beautiful people tonight, one being my close friend, Thyra. She was my sister and I wish that she was here to feast with us all on this night. So let us toast to her and to everyone we have lost on that day. Cheers."

"Cheers!" They all shouted. Helga got up from her seat and with tears in her eyes, she hugged you. 

Helga "Thank you for that, Y/n. I was not expecting such a toast."

"How could I forget her? She is still very much a part of me and you. She always will be." Helga nods, "Go on, go eat." She kisses your cheek and then sits back down to enjoy her meal. Hvitserk and you talk most of the time while your people talk amongst themselves. Helga talks with Daario but he keeps his eye on you most of the night. You are aware of his glance and you try not to stare back. 

Hvitserk "He likes you, don't he?"

"Who?"

Hvitserk "Daario."

"Oh gods."

Hvitserk "It is quite obvious, kitten."

"Even if that was true, I am loyal to Ivar. And you!"

Hvitserk "I know."

"So why even bring that up, hmm?" You say as you bring your glass of water up to your lips.

Hvitserk "Because he has been staring at you all night."

"He swore his allegiance to my and our daughter. He swore to protect her and I..he is watching over me to keep me safe. Just as you did when I first arrived in Kattegat. Do you not remember?"

Hvitserk "Of course I remember."

"Then please stop overthinking. I need you. I need you to not be focusing on Daario looking at me and be focusing on this joyous time. I am home and you get to be home with me, isn't that more important?"

Hvitserk "Yes, yes you are right. I won't bring it up anymore." You nod and continue to eat. Your people start asking about your pregnancy and how far along you are. You love answering those questions because you are more than excited to meet your daughter. 

Daario "I am sure that your son or daughter will be as beautiful as you are,my queen." 

"Thank you very much." You exchange smiles and Hvitserk snickers and grinds his teeth. "Well, I am getting very tired-"

Hvitserk "Come on then, let's go to bed. It is fairly late."

"Sounds good. Thank you all for joining me! If any of you need me, you will know where I will be. Good night." They all say good night to you and Hvitserk walks you up to bed. When you get into your chambers, you realize that you have yet to write to Ivar, so that is what you do before getting into bed.

Once you two are in bed, you both get exhausted instantly. Being in each other's arms just brings the two of you so much comfort that you can fall asleep in the matter of a few minutes. 

Hvitserk "We haven't slept together since the siege."

"Has it really been that long?" You say as you look up at him. 

Hvitserk "I'm afraid it has."

"You seem sad, Hvitserk."

Hvitserk "I am not sad, princess. I am just happy to have you back in my arms."

"Well we will be here in Wessex for quite some time, so we will have plenty of quality time to spend together, alright?"

Hvitserk smiles, "Yes, my queen."

"Oh don't start!" 

Hvitserk "What? You don't like it when I call you my queen?" He says as he plants kisses over your neck, "You don't like it?"

"You play too much."

Hvitserk "Play? I'm not sure that playing is the right word."

"Then what are you doing?"

Hvitserk "Seducing." You blush and wait for his lips to crash onto yours. The kiss is pure bliss to the both of you. Especially giving the fact that it has been a while since your last kiss. Your breathing picks up and so does his. 

Hvitserk "Are you still tired?"

"Can't say that I am."

Hvitserk "Good, neither am I." You both giggle and continue what Hvitserk started. The day was wonderful and exciting to think about a new guidance to your kingdom. But now, it is just you and Hvitserk and you two are in your own little worlds, where it is just you and him. 

@hvitserkmarcosource @a-mess-of-fandoms @youbloodymadgenius @ivarsgoddess @heavenly1927 @saldelys @herestherealproblem

#alex hogh andersen #hvitserk #vikings #ivar the boneless #marco ilsø #ubbe lothbrok #marco ilsoe #the battle between love and fire #daario naharis

[aliciam72]

Roswell Secret Santa Gift

Here is my @roswellsecretsanta gift for @alexxmichael I hope you enjoy! (I can follow you now without you figuring out I was your secret Santa 😊)

Deck the Halls

Michael and Alex don’t celebrate Christmas the way everyone wants so Isobel takes matters into her own hands. Set in a future where Alex and Michael are married. Mostly fluff with a tiny mention of sad Christmas memories.

“But you’re married now!” Isobel protests.

Alex shrugs and looks to Michael as if to say, ‘she’s your sister.’ Michael takes another helping of stuffing before answering his sister. “Yes, Isobel, we’re married. We were all there, remember? I just don’t know what that has to do with us celebrating Christmas.”

“You’re going to have a family soon...hopefully. You can’t treat it like any other day of the year. Do you even have a tree yet?” Isobel continues.

“No, we do not have a tree. We don’t want a tree. Christmas is just like any other day of the year, except that we don’t have to work.” Michael puts a forkful of stuffing in his mouth hoping to end the conversation before he says something he knows will upset Isobel.

Isobel shakes her head and throws her hands up in frustration. “I don’t get it. Who doesn’t love Christmas? All the pretty decorations, the lights, the smell of cinnamon mixed with pine. And let’s not forget the gifts.”

Michael and Alex exchange exasperated looks. Alex raises an eyebrow but Michael just shakes his head. “I got this, darlin’.

He sets his fork down and looks around the table at his family and friends. “Look, I know you all expected us to change our attitude about Christmas this year but it’s not that easy. It’s hard to celebrate a holiday you have no good memories of. Christmas in foster care was not memorable. If they celebrated at all we had to share gifts with the other foster kids, and we never got to take them with us if we got placed somewhere elae. Once I was out of foster care there wasn’t anyone I wanted to celebrate with.”

“Not even Alex?” Maria asks. “C’mon Alex, we used to exchange gifts all the time. What happened?”

Alex sighs. “Nothing happened, Maria. Yes, I exchanged gifts with you and Liz but I did that because it made you happy. Christmas in the Manes house was non existent once mom left. Dad thought it was a waste of time and money to decorate and get us gifts so he didn’t. Look, we don’t complain about how you celebrate so why are you complaining about us? We’re fine just the way we are.”

“But what happens when you have kids?” Isobel asks seriously.

“Iz, please, stop. We’ll figure it out if we have kids. Can we just finish Thanksgiving dinner without any more talk of Christmas?” Michael pleads.

“Fine. I won’t say another word about it.” Isobel pouts.

“Thank you.” Michael replies reaching for the cranberry sauce.

*************************

The Amazon packages start arriving at the cabin the Monday after Thanksgiving. Michael calls his sister on Friday but Maria picks up and tells him she’s not available, that she’s with Kyle.

“Good news?” He asks hopefully.

He can almost hear Maria shrug. “She hasn’t said. But you two will be the first to know if it is. Do you want to leave a message?”

Michael remembers why he called in the first place. “Yes. Tell her it’s not going to work. I’m either going to send them back or not open them at all. She can’t force us to celebrate Christmas.”

Maria laughs loudly. “Good luck with that. Getting Isobel to stop anything once she sets her mind to it is impossible. You of all people should know that.”

“Just relay the message, DeLuca.” Michael ends the call and moves the box from the porch to the pile inside door.

*********************

By Wednesday of the following week the pile has doubled in size and now reaches into the already small living room. Alex sighs and makes his way into the kitchen where Michael is making dinner. “Sweetheart, when are we going to take care of that pile?”

“If we want to return them we have to open each box and request a return label. I haven’t had the time. Apparently, the holiday season is when every car in Roswell decides to break down. I had to replace a radiator yesterday and two starters today. And that’s in addition to like three brake jobs and ten oil changes. I’ll get rid of everything this weekend, I promise.” He turns off the stove and pulls Alex close for a kiss.

“Okay, I just get worried they’re going to fall on Buffy. She’s too curious for her own good and keeps sniffing around the boxes.” Alex says when they break the kiss.

“No one is going to get hurt. We’ll have our nice neat living room back by Monday. And I’ll leave any new boxes outside from now on.” Michael pulls out the chair for Alex and goes back to the stove to put dinner on their plates.

**********************

The worst thing about living forty minutes outside of Roswell is getting up for work while it’s still dark out. Alex hates waking Micheal so he tries his best to get ready in the dark. He closes the door and navigates through the cabin using the flashlight on his phone.

Unfortunately, in his haste to get out the door on time he trips over the pile of boxes that seem to have tripled overnight and lands on his ass. “Fucking hell!”

Micheal is at his side helping him before Alex even has a chance to try to get up. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. I may have twisted my leg so we’ll see how it feels after working all day.” Alex tentatively puts weight on his prosthetic and winces.

“Maybe you should stay home today. I’ll take you to Kyle to have him make sure you didn’t do any damage.” Michael guides Alex to the couch to sit down.

The moment he lets go, Alex is on his feet again. “I can’t take time off. We need all my sick and vacation days for when Isobel gets pregnant.”

“One day isn’t going to matter. You’re hurt and I don’t want you to make it worse.” Michael protests when Alex reaches to pick up his messenger bag.

“I’m fine, Michael. Just please, can these boxes be gone by the time I get home?”

Michael presses a kiss to Alex’s lips and hugs him tight. “I promise. They will be gone.”

Alex smiles. “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll bring dinner home tonight.”

Michael watches to make sure Alex gets to his car safely before turning to the pile of boxes. With a deep sigh he sits on the floor and opens the first one. He chuckles when he sees what’s inside. Buffy wanders over to him and sniffs the item in his hands. “How’d you know this was for you? Do you want to try it on?”

Michael pulls Buffy on his lap and struggles to put the ugly Christmas doggie sweater on her. When he finishes, Buffy gives him an unimpressed look, climbs off his lap and heads to the kitchen for the breakfast she knows Alex has left for her.

Michael chuckles again and opens another box. He peers inside to see three stockings, each one personalized with his, Alex’s and Buffy’s names. They are definitely not Isobel’s style, her understanding of their tastes is incredible. Each one has a different design, a penguin for Alex, a snowman for him, and a reindeer for Buffy (a reminder of the time she tried to chase a deer from the garden). He gets up and hangs them by the fireplace, after all it’s not like he can return something personalized, right?

Box after box gets opened and an hour before Alex is due home the living room is clear of clutter once again. Michael looks around the cabin and sighs, hoping Alex won’t kill him when he gets home. He decides to whip up something special for dessert since Alex said he was bringing home dinner. Running his hand through his hair he realizes he should probably shower and get dressed first. He surveys the cabin one last time to make sure there are no more obstacles for Alex before heading to the shower.

When Alex gets home from work it’s dark so he barely notices the sled propped up against the house, but he does notice the wreath on the door. It’s brown and rustic looking with a picture of an old blue pickup truck in the middle. Shaking his head, he opens the door and hears the soft strains of Christmas music coming from the kitchen.

“Michael? Why is there a wreath on the...”

Alex stops talking mid sentence to stare in disbelief at the cabin. He’s about to call out to Michael again when he sees movement in the kitchen. He sets his bag on the couch and goes into the kitchen. He is not prepared for the sight in front of him. Michael is dancing around holding a mixing bowl wearing the most ridiculous elf apron over boxers with the saying ‘save a horse ride a cowboy’ written across his ass. He turns as Alex enters and gives him a dazzling smile.

“Welcome home, darlin’! I was just making us some dessert.” Michael holds up the mixing bowl.

Alex raises one eyebrow and tilts his head. “Um, why does it look like Santa threw up all over our living room? And why are you wearing that ridiculous apron?”

“I’ll answer the second question first. It’s not exactly safe or sanitary to cook half naked and I didn’t think these amazing boxers should be covered up. As for the first question, um...well...surprise?” Michael shrugs his shoulders and tries to look contrite.

Alex blinks a few times before he lets out a strangled laugh. “What am I going to do with you? You do know when I said I wanted the boxes gone this wasn’t quite what I meant, right?”

Michael sets the bowl on the table, takes the bag of food from Alex and pulls him into a crushing hug. “I’m sorry. It all started with the doggie sweater and kinda snowballed from there. Every box I opened was just so us that I couldn’t return it. Isobel really took her time and picked things she knew we’d like. I know we both agreed we didn’t need to celebrate like everyone else but-“

“But once you got going it was hard to stop. I get it. And honestly, the cabin looks great. I forgot how beautiful Christmas decorations could look. You know we’re never going to hear the end of it from Iz and Maria.” Alex leans in and gives Michael a slow lazy kiss.

“You’re not mad?”

“Not at all, sweetheart.”

“Let’s eat and then you can taste my gingerbread masterpieces.” Michael gestures to the cooling cookies on the counter.

Alex smiles mischievously and hooks his fingers in the waistband of Michael’s boxers. “I was thinking we could save some horses.”

Michael lunges forward and grabs Alex’s face with both hands and brings him close for a deep dirty kiss. Slowly and carefully he backs Alex out of the kitchen and into the bedroom. He pushes him on the bed and grins. “So who gets to be the cowboy?”

****************************************

Michael decides not to tell Isobel about their change of heart right away for fear she’ll increase the number of boxes she sends. It becomes a nightly ritual to open the day’s boxes after dinner and decide where to place what’s inside. Isobel definitely doesn’t disappoint. In the week before Christmas she sends a twinkling star for the top of the tree, gourmet doggie treats for Buffy, two different cheese boxes from Harry and David, a do it yourself gingerbread house and matching boxers that say ‘don’t open until Christmas’.

Alex is sitting on the couch with Michael’s head in his lap on Christmas Eve morning enjoying the peppermint mocha coffee Isobel sent the day before when they both hear a package hit the front porch.

Michael jumps up. “I’ll get it. Just think after today there will be no more boxes.”

“I’ll believe that when I see it. Iz may decide to redecorate our cabin next.” Alex calls after him.

Michael sits down and places the box in Alex’s hands before snuggling next to him, planting soft kisses on his neck.

Alex moans softly and stretches his neck in encouragement while he opens the box. Inside is a wrapped package with a note instructing them to open it together. “‘Sweetheart, Iz wants us to open this one together.”

Michael reluctantly stops kissing Alex’s neck and watches as he unwraps the package. He hears Alex’s breathing become erratic and feels him start to tremble. He peers over his shoulder into the box. It takes him a moment to understand what he’s seeing and when he does he turns to look at Alex. His husband’s eyes are already filling with tears and he can’t seem to speak.

Michael steadies his trembling hand. “Does this mean what I think it means?”

Alex nods and pulls out a tiny pink Converse high top. It’s adorned with Swarovski crystals along the toe and up the back with sheer ribbon where the laces should be. He sets it on the table and reaches into the box three more times. Once all the shoes are lined up on the table he turns to Michael and sees the confusion on his face. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“There are four shoes...oh, oh, oh! We’re having twins!?”

Alex throws his arms around Michael pulls him close. They both stay locked in each other’s embrace for a long time, letting the joy and excitement wash over them. Alex pulls away first and wipes his eyes. “I can’t believe it’s finally happening. We’re going to be dads.”

“We’re having twins.” Michael says, the reality sinking in.

“Twin girls.” Alex adds.

“With alien DNA which means...” Michael starts.

“Probable alien powers.” Alex finishes his statement.

Michael flops back against the couch. “We are so screwed.”

The End

If anyone wants visuals of the gifts Isobel sent check out the Pinterest board I made for inspiration

#roswellsanta #roswell secret santa #makex #christmas fluff #michael guerin #alex manes #Isobel is persistant

[reddeadmort]

Can I request a ArthurxF!Reader where everyone starts to gang up on Kieran (they have yet to trust him.) And his sister (reader) just opens a can of whoop ass on whoever is trying to mess with him. Normally, they'd try to kill her but Arthur feels some sort of connection even tho she makes it known she isnt interested, but only for the sake of her brother but Arthur appreciates a good challenge.

This ended up being a bit different from the request, but the general theme is still the same :) Was nice to mix it up with a reader that isn’t instantly dropping their pants just because Arthur spoke LOL.

Arthur Morgan x f! reader | “Not a fair fight” | AO3

Guidance: Minor mentions of violence, mostly just fluff/general entertainment.

Words: 1.9k

“Arthur, please, for me?”

“Mary-Beth, I ain’t riding for hours to go and get that O’Driscoll’s sister.”

“Arthur! You know he’s not an O’Driscoll no more, never really was. And she’s an innocent! If the O’Driscolls are after her like Kieran thinks, she’ll be dead soon. You could save her.”

Arthur sighed. Mary-Beth really knew how to play him like a fiddle. Pinching the bridge of his nose, Arthur shook his head before replying.

“Fine. I’ll go help Kieran find his damn sister. But she ain’t stayin’ with us long, and she’ll pull her weight!”

——-

You had just finished moving the rubbish out of the back of your little shack when the two men on horseback showed up. Before they’d had a chance to even call out to you, your shotgun was in your hands and pointing at the face of the bigger of the pair.

“Sister! It’s okay, it’s me!” Kieran called out, leaping off and running towards you.

“Kieran? What the hell are you doing here? I thought…well, to be honest, I assumed you were dead. Since you were stupid enough to go along with that O’Driscoll lot.” You lowered your gun just as Kieran flew into you, nearly knocking you over, and hugged you tightly. With your arms pinned to your side, all you could do was awkwardly pat him on the back with your free hand.

“I got out, sis! I… well it’s a long story, but I’m running with a different lot now. And they’re a lot nicer.” This comment caused the man still sat on his horse to chuckle. “This here’s Arthur Morgan, Y/N.”

“Ma’am” Arthur said as he tipped his hat at you, finally getting off his horse.

“Well, that’s all lovely Kieran, but why the hell are you here?” Kieran finally released you and started nervously wringing his hat in his hands.

“Ummm… I’m sorry sis….. but….but…..” Kieran stammered.

“Kieran, this is takin’ too damn long. Either she’s comin’ or she ain’t.” Arthur grunted, lighting a cigarette.

“What do you mean, ‘she’s coming?’” you snapped at the pair of them.

“Well, sis, I think there’s some O’Driscoll men coming after ya. They ain’t so keen on me leaving as it turns out.”

“Well we won’t be so cut up, feel free to leave us when you want” Arthur chuckled to himself, but went back to fiddling with his cigarettes when you scowled at him.

“Yes, thank you Kieran, I know. I’ve already had a visitor.” You hadn’t even finished your sentence before Arthur had his revolver out and was pushing past you into the shack. “Mr Morgan, while I of course appreciate you tramping mud into my house, you won’t find him in there.”

“Where’s he then? When did he come by? How long has he been gone?” Arthur was in fight mode now, assessing the situation, planning an exit strategy.

“Out back, with the rubbish. Came by about an hr ago. Died about 59minutes ago” you answered, nodding towards the back of the shack. Arthur, looking slightly bemused, took off around the shack to have a look, while Kieran once again grabbed you in a hug.

“Oh sister I’m so sorry!”

“Kieran, for the love of god, will you get the hell off me.”

Arthur reappeared from the back of the shack, a slight grin on his face.

“Yep, that’s one dead O’Driscoll. At least I reckon it is, ain’t much left of the face. Kieran, you sure she needs to come with us?” Arthur was looking at you slightly differently now; before, he couldn’t really be bothered, like you were an inconvenience. Now there was a slight twinkle in his eye you weren’t sure you liked the look of.

“Again, what’s with the ‘coming with you?!’” You were getting quite irritated now.

“Miss, Kieran here reckons you should come stay with us a while, until the O’Driscolls get bored of trying to find you.” As you opened your mouth to protest, Arthur held up a hand to silence you. “Now, I know you can clearly take care of yourself, but when that man don’t come back, they won’t be sending just the one. And I won’t feel right leavin’ you here to deal with that.”

“So instead I have to deal with you?”

“Sister, please.” Kieran was practically begging you, it was just like being kids again.

“We ain’t nice men, Y/N, but we ain’t them.” Arthur was giving you a look that said you were being put on a horse, whether you liked it or not.

“Fine. I’ll just grab a few things.” You quickly threw some clothes and the few valuables you had in a bag. You really didn’t have much, anyway; you’d never have told Kieran, but you’d been struggling to get enough money to buy food, let alone anything more extravagant than that. You’d even had to sell your horse a few months back.

“Y/N, you can ride with me” Arthur held a hand out for you to climb on his horse behind him.

“I think I’ll ride with my brother Mr Morgan.”

“Suit yourself.”  

——-

It had been a few weeks since you’d arrived in the Van der Linde camp, and you certainly didn’t feel like much of a guest, more ‘staff’. You had been set to work almost immediately; though, to be fair, one taste of Pearson’s stew had you pretty much begging to take over the cooking.

You got on alright with the women, but the men did your head in. Not because of how they treated you; in general they were pretty polite, though you had to tell a couple of them that it wouldn’t be just bits of deer in the stew if they came any closer to you. Your problem was with how they treated your brother. He couldn’t do anything right; even when he was just sat, or tending to the horses, he got shouted at for some reason. It was like your dad was alive again.

Kieran being Kieran wouldn’t stick up for himself at all, just tried to avoid doing anything to trigger anybody. But he didn’t need to do anything; all he had to do was pass by one of them and they’d make some form of derogatory comment. You fought back as hard as you could on his behalf, just like you had growing up. Arthur was one of the worst, he always seemed to have a sarcastic phrase or two; for some reason, Kieran liked him more than a lot of the others despite this. Apparently, Kieran said, when you weren’t around, Arthur was fine with him. You had no idea why this would be, and didn’t really care.

—–

“Arthur, for a grown man, you sure act like a teenager” Mary-Beth gently scolded.

Arthur frowned, unsure what she meant. He’d only asked her why you didn’t really ever want to talk to him; he wasn’t really expecting that response.

“She doesn’t like it when you are mean to her brother, Arthur, it’s as simple as that. It’s all you ever do when she’s around! Have you tried, I don’t know, maybe just talking to her?”

“I don’t know what to say Mary-Beth. I always just kind of… go blank.”

“You’re a silly old fool Arthur Morgan.”

—–

The next morning, you were chatting as you helped a couple of the girls prep some breakfast. You liked this time, just after sunrise, before most of the camp had got up. It was peaceful, and your day had yet to be disturbed by some offhand comment.

“Mary-Beth, reckon I could borrow one of the horses? I could really do with some meat that’s not green for the stew.”

Before Mary-Beth could answer, Arthur’s now familiar voice rumbled behind you, making you start.

“I can take ya out huntin’, Y/N.” His tone surprised you – it sounded almost hopeful. You turned to look at him.

“Thank you Mr Morgan, but I really don’t need a chaperone.” Behind your back, Mary-Beth gestured to Arthur, encouraging him to say something else.

“Y/N, I….errr… well you ain’t leavin’ camp without one, so either you go huntin’ with me or stay here.” Without you seeing, Mary-Beth slapped her hand to her forehead, covering her eyes, shaking her head.

“Well I guess I’m going with you then Mr Morgan” you sighed, starting to walk away to get your gun.

You and Arthur rode in silence towards the hunting spot Charles had recommended, you having borrowed one of the camp horses. When you arrived, you hitched the horses, put out some herbivore bait, and settled in to wait. Arthur leaned against a nearby tree while you crouched low a little way in front. After a little while waiting, with no luck, you stood up to stretch your legs.

“Mr Morgan, can you keep an eye on the bait for a moment please.”

“You can call me Arthur ya know.” Again, there it was; a slightly hopeful note to his voice.

“I know, Mr Morgan, I just don’t want to.”

“I don’t know what ya want from me” grumbled Arthur. “I mean, I didn’t kill your brother, I saved his life, that’s got to count for something.” He kicked at a nearby stone, sending it crashing into a bush, scaring the crap out of an unsuspecting rabbit.

“Oh, will you shut up about that?!” you rounded on Arthur, startling him. “God! Like it’s some great thing, “not killing someone”. Normal people don’t even THINK about killing someone else! Much less, that person having to be grateful for it!” By the time you finished, you were right in Arthur’s face, him backed up against the tree, hands out trying to placate you. You suddenly realised how close you were to him; you could practically feel his thumping heartbeat.

You stepped away a few paces before sitting down on the ground with a quiet huff. After a few moments silence, Arthur came to sit next you, not particularly close.

“I’m sorry Y/N. We shouldn’t be so hard on Kieran, he’s a good kid. And he’s lucky to have a woman like you for a sister.” Arthur plucked some grass from the ground, fiddling with it.

“Woman like me? What does that mean.” You meant to snap at him, but the sight of this large, grown man fiddling with the grass like a child softened you.

“I don’t mean nothin’ bad by it. I think you’re….. strong.” Arthur had paused too long before that last word, you could tell it wasn’t what he wanted to say.

“Thank you Arthur.” He looked up as you said his name; it was the first time you hadn’t called him Mr Morgan.

“Thank you Y/N. I’m sorry, I think sometimes I forget to behave around people that ain’t…. well, outlaws.”

“It’s okay Arthur. I guess I’m not doing a great job of showing that I’m grateful for your protection either.”

“If your dumbass brother hadn’t fallen in with the O’Driscolls you wouldn’t be in this mess with us” Arthur chuckled.

“Hey! He’s my dumbass brother, only I may mock him” you said as you stuck your tongue out playfully at Arthur, making him smile. It was nice smile; without intending to, you found yourself hoping that you’d see it again.  

“Ya know, Y/N, I’d like to come huntin’ again with you if you’d have me.” There he went again, fiddling with the grass, like a kid 20-25 years his junior. You smiled before replying.

“I think I’d like that too Arthur.”

#arthur morgan x reader #arthur morgan x f reader #arthur morgan x female reader #arthur morgan fic #arthur morgan fluff #fluff #rdr2 fic #rdr2 fanfic #arthur morgan fanfic #kieran duffy #kieran duffy x reader #red dead redemption 2

[saintcheesus]

So there’s a stranger encounter in Red Dead where Arthur can get r*ped and when you return to camp Bill mentions it and I think that, random encounter be damned that mission was fucked up and I want more Arthur comfort.

-------

In hindsight, Bill probably shouldn’t have made that joke to Arthur when he came back to camp. He saw the way Arthur sort of limped into camp, face hidden under his hat, his absolute refusal to interact with anyone when they started speaking to them. Bill saw that as a challenge. The gang could clearly see there was something wrong with Arthur, but Bill knew exactly what it was.

There was a shack, up near Saint Denis. Weird man lived there. He happened upon him when his horse was stopping for a bite of some food. Bill already had his hand on his revolver, that man weren’t about to pull no tricks with him. With great effort, he tried to be polite and composed. The stranger responded in kind and enthusiastically invited him to get some food inside his home. Bill respectfully declined but said he’d eat a can of beans with the stranger. Stranger said no thanks. The horse just about finished his meal of apples and carrots and so he mounted him, giving him a few gentle pats.

“Let’s get the fuck outta here, boy.” He whispered into the horse’s ear. Jack stomped at the ground twice and bucked his head. He agreed. Just before Bill could get to the reins the stranger asked him a question.

“How’s your friend doing?”

“I’m afraid you’ll have to be more specific, partner.”

“You know him. Blond, scruffy beard, tough.”

He laughed when he said that and Bill was curious. What the hell was Arthur doing here?

“Fine, I reckon. Why?”

The stranger laughed again and sighed at the thought of Arthur.

“Your friend ain’t so tough after all, sir. Shall I tell you about our night together?”

And so Bill hopped down off his horse, and walked carefully to the first step and stood there. The stranger smiled and so there Bill was. For a whole hour he listened to the sordid and horrible tale of Arthur being raped by this disgusting human being. He described in great detail what he did to him, how it felt to penetrate him. It made Bill sick to his stomach, and so he quickly bid the man a good rest of the day and then rode back to the relative safety of his camp.

Arthur hadn’t been there when Bill returned. He couldn’t help but worry about that man. Was he alright? Was he safe, away from that inbred hillbilly piece of shit?  Is he…is he healing properly? But Bill was shit at tracking people down, and he couldn’t tell the other gang members, it would be a direct betrayal to Arthur. He wasn’t even supposed to know! So Bill did the only thing Bill knew how to do besides shoot, and that was get drunk. Get drunk and forget that Arthur was out there somewhere, trying to forget that awful night as best he could without dying.

Arthur ain’t come back until about three days later. Bill was honestly surprised that he came back so soon but then he saw the way Arthur winced while dismounting his horse and figured that Arthur just really wanted to rest. Sleeping on a bedroll in the middle of nowhere weren’t quite the same. Bill stood by the hitching tents, waiting for Arthur to trudge past him. Arthur was walking kind of funny. He came within earshot of Bill, and that’s when he let fly that stupid comment.

“I spoke to this guy in the swamp who knew all about you…all about you.”

Arthur looked at him carefully. Bill regretted it the moment that man clapped eyes on him. Arthur looked like he ain’t slept in all the time he’s been away. He looked angry, and sad, but most of all, he looked embarrassed. If he hadn’t happened upon that stranger, he would have never placed it. If Arthur hadn’t already killed that man, then he would tonight.

“Shut up.”

That’s all he said. He ain’t want to talk about it. So Bill left it at that.

Except Arthur got worse. His walk went back to normal and he was able to ride his horse as usual again. Everyone thought he was alright, but Bill knew better and that man’s disgusting voice kept bouncing around in his head. Arthur didn’t really eat. If he did, he came out at night when everyone went to bed, would grab himself a bowl and then retreat back to his tent. Speaking of, he never had the flaps of the tent pulled down either, but his was near identical to Dutch’s with how closed off it was. Arthur never came out during the day, if he wasn’t already gone by the time the sun rose. Hosea seemed worried about him too, but everytime he went to speak to Arthur, he was just met with short replies or a grumpy cowboy stomping out of camp. Dutch ain’t really seem to care. He watched Arthur sit away from everyone that morning, writing and furiously sketching in that journal of his. That was all. Bill wonders if anyone actually asked Arthur if he was alright. He reckoned he should. Arthur was sitting at the far end of the camp. Under a tree, shifting his gaze from the landscape to his journal. He looked alright, so far.

“Well good morning mister Morgan!”

Arthur looked over at him and then silently returned to drawing. Bill stopped when he was next to the other man.

“It in your habit to sit so far from the group?”

“They’ll live,” came the gruff reply.

Bill sighed. He went in his satchel and took out the nice brandy he’d looted some days ago. He was saving it for another camp party, but he needed a drink, and so did Arthur.

“Care to join me in a drink?”

He held out the bottle, offering it to him. Arthur looked up at Bill once and then back at the bottle. Bill was pleased when Arthur accepted the offer.

“Why you being so nice to me, Williamson? Thinking you might need someone to save your tail again and so you trying to butter me up?”

“You’re very funny, Mr. Morgan. I was just checking up on you. I know you…been through some things since last we spoke.”

“Leave me alone, Bill.” Arthur growled that sentence and Bill wondered if he would have to fight Arthur today.

“I honestly ain’t trying to poke fun at you. I’m just…I’m here if you need anything, okay? You ain’t got to go through whatever it is you’re feeling alone. I won’t tell the others, it ain’t their business, hell, it ain’t mine neither. If you don’t want to talk about it with me, then that’s fine too. I…I’m sorry that happened to you.”

Bill saw the way Arthur was a breath away from crying. He breathed quickly, his chest rising and then slowly steadying as he calmed himself. His eyes were fine again, no more gloss from the tears that welled up in them. In just a moment it looked like nothing had happened at all. Arthur took another swig from the bottle and then gave it back to Bill silently. He promptly picked his journal back up and resumed what he was doing while Bill awkwardly walked back to join the rest of the gang.

#arthur morgan #bill williamson #red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #tw:rape

[echoes-of-the-clockwork]

Book Two: Famine (Prompto x Reader) Chapter Fourteen

It felt like hours had passed by the time all the daemons were slain. Everyone was breathing heavily as they regained their bearings and rested for a short while. Prompt dispelled his handgun and decided to give the unconscious (Y/n) a piggyback ride-making it easier for him to carry her. "I need a nap..." He sighed as he adjusted the girl on his back and cupped the back of her knees to keep her from falling off. Her arms hang limp around his neck, swaying back and forth with every step he took.

"We've all extended past our limits," Ignis huffed. 

"All except for one of us," Gladio sighed, glancing at War.

"I just so happen to keep watch over the most dangerous monsters in all of existence. High stamina is a requirement for the job," the redhead responded while glancing towards her sister. "But the Horsemen still have their limits regardless of our immortality. Our special abilities take tolls on our bodies. Famine used hers to save all your asses. You should thank her when she awakens."

"Hold on a sec-" War vanished before the shield could finish his sentence. He stared at the spot where she once stood with an irritated expression. "Can't stay still for a damn minute..."

"We've gotta find Noct. Maybe he's found the Crystal by now," Prompto stated.

"Yes, let's," Ignis said.

Upon exiting the central elevator, the group followed a metal catwalk to the Crystal. When they saw no sign of Noctis, they were confused and frightened. Seeing the chancellor made the feeling all the more terrifying.

Ardyn turns to them, gestures nonchalantly at the Crystal and begins to walk away. Gladio swings his sword through the man's head, releasing a puff of dark smoke from where the blade strikes. Ardyn falls back a little, but maintains his balance and holds onto his hat to keep it from falling off his head.

The imperial chancellor gazed at Prompto, noticing the unconscious Horseman on his back. He coolly saunters over, but the blonde boy reacts quickly. He places (Y/n) down and stands in front of her protectively with his pistol drawn. He shoots Ardyn before he can take more than a couple of steps, releasing another puff of dark smoke and hurling his body onto the floor. The velvet-haired man's hat rolls away and lays still for several seconds before his hand suddenly reaches down to collect it and place it back on his head.

Once more unharmed, Ardyn is again standing. He bows with a smirk in Prompto and (Y/n)'s direction but then turns to Ignis. He smiles at the tactician, revealing corrupted daemonic features as he does so, but they go unnoticed by the advisor as his eyesight was no more. Ardyn walks away, leaving the four boys unharmed but devastated.

<------------<<<<<<<<<<<

A few days have passed since Noctis was absorbed into the Crystal. Gladio and Ignis went their separate ways in order to provide aid. With the nights lasting longer and sunlight was becoming scarce, the people around Lucis would need all the help they could get.

Prompto and (Y/n) currently sat at a booth in Takka's Pit Stop located in Hammerhead. The two had taken up many hunts since Noctis' disappearance to not only earn the necessary gil in order to survive but to clear their heads.

During their hunts, Famine would search for any signs of the Gashadokuro. Unfortunately, she couldn't even find a slither of anything that could help her locate the target.

"(Y/n)?" He calls out softly to her. "Are you okay? You're kinda spacing out."

She blinked a few times and didn't realize she had been staring down at the table. "Sorry, Prom. Just lost in thought, I guess."

"It's about that monster, isn't it?"

Famine nodded with a soft sigh. "I can't believe I let it escape. The thing isn't exactly small. You'd think we'd find it by now or hear a report about it, but nothing. It's almost as if it were a part of my imagination."

Prompto reaches across the table and takes her hands in his, stroking his thumbs across her knuckles. "It's only been a few days, (Y/n). We'll find it."

"Guess I'm becoming impatient," she exhaled, staring at their linked hands. She leaned forward in her seat, her (e/c) eyes traveling up to his own lapis ones. "Enough about me. How're you holding up? You've been kinda quiet since we escaped Gralea."

"I just really miss Noct. He's my best friend. I really hope he comes back soon."

"I hope so, too, sweetheart. It's heartbreaking to see you like this." She gave his hands a gentle squeeze.

"I'm just glad you're here with me. When we left the Crown City to take Noct to Altissia for the wedding, I never thought I'd fall in love let alone meet someone who likes my stupid jokes."

"Eighty years ago, when I first became a Horseman, I thought it was the worst thing in all of existence. Not only had I been resurrected and forced to become immortal, I thought I had lost all of my humanity." She smiled and entwined their fingers together like ribbons. "I was wrong. I mean, it took quite a while, but I'm glad to be wrong."

Prompto smiled jubilantly at her words and brought their entwined hands up, placing a kiss on the back of each of her hands. "I love you, (Y/n). I know I say that a lot, but I still feel like it's not enough."

The girl giggled with a glistening smile. "You have said it a lot, but I never get tired of hearing it. I love you, too, Prompto. I never received love from my parents. Now, I actually get to experience it. It's... warm, gentle, and slightly intoxicating. I never knew it felt so amazing."

Prompto went to respond, but the sound of the bell hanging over the entrance to the diner caught both their attentions. Glancing toward the door, they saw  Pestilence alongside Ignis.

"What brings you here, sis?" Famine inquired as the two made their way over to their table.

"I was hoping you two would be able to help us. There's an herb I need to obtain and it only grows atop the Rock of Ravatogh. It's the last ingredient I need to complete the elixir," Pestilence replied.

"Wanna go, Prompto?" The blonde Horseman glanced towards the love of her life.

"You betcha! We could use a change of scenery after all the hunts in Leide." The blonde boy got to his feet and tugged (Y/n) out of the diner alongside Ignis and Pestilence.

They walked around the building and a little ways from Hammerhead in order to avoid prying eyes. The Horsemen summoned their steeds-Limos and Erra-and hopped on. Pestilence helped Ignis onto her horse while Famine did the same for Prompto.

"This'll be quite a long ride," the snowy-haired girl stated. "But we should arrive before nightfall."

The two horses took off and the ride to the Rock of Ravatogh commenced.

Along the way, Prompto and Ignis chatted about what they had been doing since arriving back in Lucis. According to the advisor, Pestilence had been accompanying him on his missions around the Duscae and Cleigne regions.

"This elixir you're making, what does it all do?" Prompto curiously questioned.

"Well," the lilac-eyed girl started. "It's an ancient curative known for curing blindness. I've actually decided to combine it with another elixir to make sure it's potent and will also heal the scars. It's been a difficult road, but I will finally have the final ingredient once we get this flower."

"That is so like you," Famine giggled. "Always combining recipes you know will already work on their own."

"What can I say? If it isn't broken, don't fix this. In this case, if it isn't broken, make it stronger."

<----------<<<<<<<<<<

"We're here," Pestilence announces as they reached the base of the volcano.

"The familiar scent of brimstone," Ignis said as he dismounted Erra.

"You've been here before?" (Y/n) questions, eyes bouncing between the advisor and Prompto.

"We went all the way to the top." The blonde boy hopped off Limos with a huff. "There's a royal tomb here. We kinda had no choice."

"Guess this'll be your second trek to the top of the volcano, then," the white-haired girl grinned. "Because the flower is located at the peak."

Prompto remembered their first trip up the Rock of Ravatogh. It was treacherous and by the next morning, his entire body was sore. "Ugh..." His shoulders slumped forward as he followed the Horsemen and Ignis up the path.

They had encountered very few monsters on the way up. When the path began to slope, Famine and Prompto were surprised how easy Ignis was able to maneuver up the path without the need for a cane or a helping hand.

Once on level ground, Prompto expressed his surprise. "Wow, Iggy. I can't believe you're blind."

"Did you, uh..." (Y/n) glanced toward her sister. "Have some help conquering your blindness these past few days?"

"To a certain extent-yes," Ignis responded. "Pestilence has provided me with guidance."

"Just a little bit," the white-haired Horseman said.

"Nonsense," Ignis rebuttals. "You've aided me immensely, Pestilence."

"Glad to hear it," Prompto smiled.

At the peak, the two reached Owlyss Haven. They glanced down at the large nesting sight below, wondering where the Zu had flown off during the approaching darkness.

"It should be around here somewhere..." Pestilence murmured, scanning the large area below. Her eyes narrowed, looking for any hint of bright red against the gray backdrop. When her eyes landed on something in the far corner, she gasped. "Over there!"

"Let's go get that flower," (Y/n) said.

The four descended down the narrow side-path, treading carefully across the jagged stone beneath their feet. They dropped into the Zu's nest and noticed the eggs still had yet to hatch. "I don't know if I should be happy those are still here or not..." Prompto confesses.

"There's already one too many Zus. We don't need four more flying around," Famine responded.

Pestilence ran over to the flower once they jumped out of the enormous nest. She sat on her knees beside the beautiful plant and gently picked it. "All I need to do is crush the spores with the other ingredients and voila!" She careful placed the flower in her pocket and went to rejoin the others, only to be stopped by a low, haunting roar. Turning on her heels slowly, her lilac eyes widened at the sight of the creature that suddenly manifested behind her. "The Gashadokuro..."

"There you are, you ugly bastard!" She heard (Y/n) snarl. From where she stood, Pestilence saw her sister attacking the large monster with the Sword of Judgement. She managed to get a few powerful strikes in before it smacked her and her body sailed through the air.

The blonde Horseman growled as she pushed her body off the ground and charged at the Gashadokuro. Combining lightning with fire, she plunged her blade into the monster's leg and shattered it.

The monster's jaw unhinged and released a deafening howl of pain before dragging its body across the ground and away from the angered girl. (Y/n) gripped her sword tightly, blazing eyes burning a hole into the creature's torso. "What's the matter? Can't walk anymore? Aw, what a shame." When she saw the familiar signs of the creature disappearing, she gasped. "No!"

She tried to drive her blade into the Gashadokuro to keep it from vanishing, but she was too late. Her blade slipped from her hand, dissipating before it clanked against the stone. She sunk to her knees, eyes void of emotion. She stared at the spot where the monster once was with a lifeless expression. Hanging her head, she screamed internally at her failure.

Prompto cautiously approached the girl and kneeled beside her. He reached out and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, (Y/n), it's okay. Don't get hung up on this thing."

Famine lifted her head and looked at him. "It's my target, Prompto. If I don't kill it soon, innocent people will die! I-I can't let that happen!"

Pestilence walks over to her sister and sits on her knees in front of her. "Prompto's right, (Y/n). The Gashadokuro has erratic and unpredictable behavior. It's your job to kill it, but don't linger on the negatives. Focus on what you have accomplished in your previous battle with the creature."

"Yeah!" Prompto cheered. "You did wound it pretty bad in the Keep. I know you'll get it next time."

(Y/n) felt relaxed at his reassurance. She released all her tension with a sigh and smiled at the sharpshooter. "Thank you, Prompto." Then, she directed the smile toward her sister. "You, too, Pestilence."

"Can't have my goddess feeling down," he smirked giddily. "If she's bummed, I am, too!"

Pestilence smiled at the exchange and stood up. "Let's head to Lestallum. It's becoming dark and the daemons will be coming out to play."

"It would be wise," Ignis spoke up.

Prompto took (Y/n)'s hand and hoisted her up onto her feet. "At least going down will be easier than climbing up."

Famine nodded in agreement. "Definitely."

<----------<<<<<<<<<<<

In the safety of Lestallum, Pestilence immediately got to work creating the elixir to heal Ignis' scars and return his eyesight. Prompto and (Y/n) wandered around the town, noticing how they were preparing for the longer nights. They found themselves by the bridge leading to the power plant, staring at the beautiful shards that remained of the Meteor.

The golden-haired girl leaned against the railing and peered down. "It's so amazing how much this world has changed in a hundred years. In a good way, I mean. It's become more beautiful, too."

"I think that's only because of you," Prompto flirts.

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "One person cannot make a world more beautiful."

"They definitely can!" He protests. "You did it the second you came here! I've got proof!" He held out his camera and turned it on, flipping through the various of photos he had taken on his journey.

"I swear," she beams. "I don't deserve you. How did I get so lucky?"

"I ask myself the same question every day." He placed the camera down on a wooden crate beside him and took (Y/n)'s hand, spinning her around so she was now facing him. He didn't waste any time and pulled her into a passionate, deep kiss.

(Y/n)'s hands gravitated toward his face while Prompto's moved to wind around her waist in order to pull her closer until there was no space left between them.

As the kiss continued, the couple was glad to know they were in one of the quieter spots in Lestallum and no one disturbed them. Their bodies were also hidden by wooden crates, which made their privacy better and the possibility of people interrupting their blissful moment highly unlikely.

Unfortunately, they didn't take in the thought of one of the other Horseman interrupting them. Pestilence had found them and giggled, causing the couple to stiffen in each other's embrace. She teased them a little before telling them the good news. "Ignis' sight will return in a few days."

#final fantasy xv #final fantasy xv x reader #ffxv #prompto x reader #prompto argentum

[galaxylohnce]

VUD paladin headcanons!!!!

BTW this is based off of @voltronuniversaldefender ‘s reboot!!! CHECK THEM OUT THEYRE DOING GOD’S WORK

also i have read approx 2 headcanons and baRELY understand this AU so if there are similarities to anyone else or inconsistencies iT IS AN ACCIDENT AND IM SORRY

anyway this is just about the 4 confirmed paladins BET ill be doing more about Fa’rah/Takashi/Zahi/Ashanti once i know a bit more about their roles in the team!!

Alvaro Garcia Valladares

he has a twin. i don't make the rules, but he has a twin.

he has a big family. the biggest family. we’re talking, his mom has 8 siblings and his dad has 9 and there’s a 10 year age gap between him and his oldest sibling and he loves them all so much

natia is his best friend. i repeat, NATIA IS HIS BEST FRIEND!!!!

he’s also quite close with kiki. Natia and Kiki are the only two that he met before their great space adventure

he wasn't really sure of his sexuality at first. (i say this because i wasn't sure of my sexuality at first - im bi btw - and all the media i saw told me that any lgbt+ character was 100% sure of their sexuality form the day they were born, which made me doubt myself bc i didn't figure it out till recently, so i wanna see that in some media!! sometime!!) he probably figured it out halfway through having a crush on someone

the someone is akio, and he definitely tells Natia about it first

“natia... natia listen.... I have a crush on akio. freakin akio.... what do i do??? I’m bi, natia... I'm bi. what does this mean -”

“alvaro, I'm so proud of you, but this is a public bathroom and akio is right outside -”

GUARANTEE that the first time he saw Akio he just basically wanted to fight him but also flirt with him and had a slight moral crisis and ended up doing nothing

he is a goddamn sharpshooter, okay. he straight up becomes famous for it throughout the galaxy.

yet despite that he’s still insecure, and those insecurities prevent him from really getting together w akio until much later

he comes off as very suave and extroverted when you first meet him, but underneath it all, he’s actually really warm, personable and funny: not that anyone outside the team know that 

aliens on social media, probably: god, the blue paladin is so cool... i bet he’s amazing and awesome and eloquent...

meanwhile, alvaro: do u guys think i could fit my whole hand in my mouth or nah?

enjoys memes, and shares this love with kiki

basically an all around great guy. because he often felt like a seventh wheel at the beginning of the formation of the team, he always tries to include everybody as best as possible, going way out of his way to ask after people, even if they forget to ask about him sometimes :’)

Natia Nanai

first off: what a gorgeous name. seriously. incredible kudos, my dude. anyway on to the head canons for this gorgeous girl

probably alvaro’s soulmate. already mentioned this, but it needs reiteration. they are best friends

had a large family too (not as big as alvaros tho) and probably major relate to him with that big family dealio

v close with kiki. they complete each other on a technological level. 

natia is very, very creative. she and her sweet engineering know how are always instrumental in getting the Team out of tough situations

Akio: theres no way out of this we’re going to die -

Natia: bet?

she does say “bet” a lot. like, almost too much? but she's always right and valid when she says it

the villain: i’ve got you now!!!!

natia, under her breath: bet

the paladins, thinking: thank god, we’re saved

very soft but also badass as hell. she has a unique duality.

pulls a violet baudelaire: she puts that GORGEOUS hair up in a ponytail when doing work or whenever she has an idea

everyone on the team, regardless of sexuality, is low-key in love with her because she’s just so nice. no one can hate her. she's way too solid of a friend

speakinG of being a great friend: natia is 100% the secret keeper up in this bitch. everyone comes to her because they know she’s got the best advice around and will take their secrets to the grave

akio: idk man... alvaro is just rlly cute, u know?? but i can't tell him...

natia, thinking of alvaro literally whining to her about akio not even five minutes ago: christ

the mom friend. she always has all the things everyone needs on hand or in her lion, and she’s got it all going in terms of chore charts and family meals. she is the queen of figuring out times for team bonding and everyone loves her more for it

definitely started a board game night asap

she has a silent bravery about her that no one else can match. despite her trepidation, natia will always do what has to be done for the greater good. 

she is guided by her heart and her morals, and is easily the kindest person on the team

bc of this kindness, she is often the diplomat when conflicts arise between people on the team

she is seen by the general public (aka the galaxy) as a strong, morally righteous woman. kind of like rosie the riveter-esque??? she’s the symbol of justice and fairness. 

aliens: she's so... peacekeeping :0

natia, at kiki: throw me that wrench, or so help me god - 

basically, a queen who always considers everyone and works really hard to create a family, even when they're all so far from home :’)

Kiki Evans

generally over it tbh

“always tired, but always inspired” - kiki, on being asked why there were dark circles under her eyes

kind of standoffish. she’s not really about being nice, she's about getting the job done, and that can rub people the wrong way, since she is always the first to offer up the cold, logical solution

but underneath that, she’s just a computer science nerd who is loyal to a fault

she really is loyal. its almost dangerous sometimes, because she would put the universe in danger to save her friends, which actually comes into conflict with her typical cold, logical approach.

she has 0-1 sibling. she's every bit the single child. she cannot relate to living in a big family setting, and at first its hard for her to deal with before she warms up to everyone else on the team

she's a genius, and thus found school to be tedious. in fact, she got fairly bad grades, as she wouldn't do the work that she saw as pointless and boring

she is a meme connoisseur, and loves to quote vines, often assisted by alvaro

kiki, as they approach a giant black hole: HZZK

alvaro, catching on immediately: is... is that real???

she is a conspiracy theorist, for sure. the government is watching us all, trying to make sure we don't learn too much.... she’s sure of it, and akio is too

tbh, the first proper conversation she had with akio was about cryptids and how the government had hidden them from the public

she was friends w natia and alvaro from before, but it is akio she becomes closest with the fastest. in some ways, she feels more distant from natia/alvaro bc of how close they are with each other and  bc all of them have known each other for so long while akio is someone she got to know recently: he has no preconceptions about who she used to be, and she has none about him

plus, she and akio relate on many levels: both trans, both gay, both autistic, both theorists, and both loyal to a fault. she finds a real blood brother in akio :D

very openly gay. very. she's a space lesbian, and theres no denying it

kiki, meeting some random space girl: oh

kiki, moments later to akio: god I'm gay

akio, downing a glass of water but acting like its vodka or smthg: god, same

the public sees her as the cold and calculating techie, the brains of the operation

natia is her partner in crime. they finish each others sentences. they've got a tech connection going, babey

kiki: if we just cross-reference the zaiforge tunnel with the -

natia, nodding: particle consummator, of course we’ll get the perfect -

them, together: amount of energy!!!

everyone else: sorry wot

basically, she's a tech goddess with a splash of genius. she's uneasy and a bit awkward, but thats just bc she’s never been in a situation like this before. after literally 1 second with her, she opens up and is such a loyal friend. :’)

Akio Himura

wow this boy is gay and he knows it

he loves his parents (zahi, takashi, and ashanti) but god he will never admit it. not ever

alvaro, after listing his parents, 20 aunts and 100 cousins: and i love them all so much, with all my heart. what about ur family akio?

akio, not wanting to show weakness: they're nerds.

alvaro: um okay cool good talk haha :)

akio, internally: but i love them nd would die for them tbh... but i can't show weakness

he's so guarded after his biological parents left/died/disappeared. poor boy

definitely a single child, and definitely adopted

his parents love him SO MUCH. so much.

akio: why do i have three parents, dad?

takashi, almost crying: its simple. u deserve so much love, that it couldn't be contained in just two people. we needed three. its how its gotta be, my beautiful, sweet summer child

a yeehaw kind of guy. he grew up in the midwest riding horses before his biological parents died and theres a piece of him that will always be a southern boy

the kind of kid in school that pretends he’s a delinquent, but actually just has the aesthetic of a delinquent, and is truly soft

akio: hell yeah I'm a rebel. i logged onto disney.com without my parents permission

kiki, choked up: so brave

mothman is his love. his passion. all cryptids, for that matter. kiki is more of an all around conspiracy theorist: akio is in it for the cryptids 

he’s a bit awkward, and doesn’t totally understand all social cues/jokes. because of this, he stays away from memes, and is very guarded when meeting new people, especially after experiences with light bullying for not only his social ineptitude, but his upbringing.

considering that, his first meeting with alvaro was supremely awkward, and akio accidentally fought with him multiple times before they established a solid friendship

akio, having a gay panic: you are the light of my life

alvaro: sorry what??

akio, panicking more: I said, you wanna fiGHT WITH A KNIFE???

he pined after alvaro from basically day one, but had the foresight to actually know that he was pining, unlike alvaro who just floundered

of course he would never say anything

he is a stabby boi. he is unrivaled in swordplay, and enjoys routine. his natural affinity for picking up new skills plus his unrivaled work ethic basically DESTROYED everyone else when it came to swords

he’s loyal af and is always the first one to take action. akio is a “do something. do anything, but do it fast before we lose a chance to do something” kind of guy

the general public sees him as the fiery one: he’s the one with the fanciest footwork in a fight, and he’s very good with battle tactics. he can come thru with that strategy at the perfect times

he's a low-key emo. for sure. he loves MCR, but strangely dislikes other similar artists like p!atd and fob. 

kiki: but...brendon urie, akio....

akio, sipping tea: as a gay, i can appreciate the aesthetic. but no one can compete with MCR

kiki, exasperated: its not a competition -

basically, a slightly guarded boy with a real talent for defending the universe and his friends, but also an emo cowboy mess who is in love with alvaro and loves everyone :’)

WELL THAT ENDED UP LONGER THAN I EXPECTED. I HOPE U ENJOY AAAA

ALSO FOLLOW @voltronuniversaldefender !!!! its amazing, guys, really check it out :D

#vud #voltron universal defender #i love them asadjkdflkKL #vud headcanons #I HOPE YALL LIKE THIS #alvaro valladeres #natia nanai #kiki evans #akio himura

[mercurialmist]

Jennifer McMillan, Seven Sentences from Seven Horses: A Performance on Page, 2021

Prologue:

Our Merry go Round can feel like a monotonous and over structured prison. Some look for escape, but in a world that never stops spinning our escape routes turn into a labyrinth of circle after circle after circle… For others, the circle is their comfort blanket, their identity relies on their relation to the circle. Who is to say what is worse? Do we all fit within the circle? Does momentum come from everyone or just a select few? Where do I belong, where do you belong, where do we belong in the circle? Is it a push or pull world? Or is it a predetermined race? What choice do we have about the burdens we carry, the obligations that ride us? Who is leading and who is following? Can we afford to tear away any horse from our stage, transform them into artificial waste and dig them a grave under the base of our world with its manufacturers replacing and upgrading figures with ease. Blinded by blinkers we dance to the rhythm of the status quo and flow around and around and around hoping that our ride never ends…

Horse One:

What’s the point when my home becomes machinery that structures my body, becomes the apparatus penetrating me and I am constantly wondering why I was named a broken horse before I was a broken horse, but I was sent to war and I came back feeling broken, but people said I was a hero, but I don’t want to be, I never wanted to fight, I wanted to be a mustang or a black beauty, a free horse, but choices are limited when you’re an off the rack, standard, not much to look at horse, when you’re more blue and droopy than beauty on cue, grappling over how the cruelty of duty hits you hardest when you realise, your duties are trickeries, uneasy saddles and fraudulent ropes pulling you and riding you to the whim of a rider who wrote a bad performance…condemning the pawns of the play to get lost on the footpath most travelled, revolving on the cusp of anticipated encounters- I met a horse who claims his feet are stuck to the ground and is always trying to convince me that my feet are stuck too, this horse is a staunch critic of our circular lineage whereas I have approached it entirely defeated for I do not think much of our leader with his promises to make our merry go round merry again but hands our bodies over to every bidder believing his consent to be the same as my consent and what am I even paid with I ask, if money then whose, if life then my own or yours or another’s - I would have been happy with some carrots, maybe an apple, but I whinny and I neigh and I run but never get anywhere and I sometimes feel like I am trespassing, which must sound silly as I travel the same route every day but the dawn is like a reset button inviting the unwanted novelties of being the brunt of a joke that I ride towards every day always in the same direction regardless of scandal, provocation, arousal or rouse for what was once fun has become a heavy responsibility and my duplicity has emerged as naturally as drawing in breath, but I am  afraid I am speaking out of turn, what am I doing, what’s the point when my body has become machinery. 

Horse Two:

Yes I am an angry horse, ground-breaking I know, but although it does not appear possible I was once lulled a long time ago, lulled into falsity and fallacy that stole my ammunition, but I am fully loaded now because eventually my pacification began to crack and I began to feel a serene but sickening sensation that came with realising my mind was free but my body was not and it would never be free and it felt like I was falling, falling down from a great height at speed, falling far from the unchallenged expectations that define and confine our world, yet I was still cruelly connected to it by a great pillar that infiltrated my body when it was falsely at peace and this pillar still imprisons me and the worst thing is that this inescapable pillar has become the handle bars that guide us all and so I am angry and anger comes from confronting the impossible - confronting the challenge of freeing our bodies, but I can only invoke fear despite my  efforts to guide lost souls, I get lost amongst them too,  shouting words in anger that I now feel are detached from my thoughts - like an angry biomechanical beast believing it is impossible to stumble when your feet are glued to the floor and I think, maybe this is why so optimistically I dreamed of being a superhero like batman or cat-woman, I still have my suit, but now ironically my riders need saving from me as too often I forget why I am angry and I am more likely to entrap bodies now than free them ….and anyway  this was the only job I could find, my superpowers have had to become money, sex and fear, transactions of such powers can be burdens but I will find freedom, I must because I am fantasy I am fetish I am excitement and longing and finally I am release – but only after suffering and let me tell you I have suffered, underneath my harsh suit I am rusting at the screws and splintering under my belly and the worst thing about splinters is that they remind me of kindling used to start fires, fires that burn the flesh of beings that humans are scared of and it makes me question if the visage of my anger is worth it but then I open my eyes and say fuck it because angry horses are weapons too.

Horse Three:

We are a clock, tick tock, clip clop there go the hooves kicking at the circumference as if it were concrete, tap tap, tap tap, our horseshoes were made for dancing, destined in fact to perform an impenetrable spinning to create a forcefield that keeps the winners safe, where one person’s inconsequential is another’s life or death for scenario, my life or death scenario where I can’t stop myself taking the whip out of the hand that yields it, but I won’t disregard it, I beat myself with it and the persistent flogging fuels my veins providing a beat that has become absorbed by my own pulse, thump thump, thump thump, tick tock, clip clop.

Horse Four:

We’re on a fair ground ride, am I the only one who knows, who has realised that all we do is go round and round and round and round and round, I am going round and round and round the bend and I want to get off, let me off, help, help, help, my legs are glued to this damn floor, help, it’s like a prison, I’ve been quarantined by my own kind, how cruel horse kind can be…I don’t even feel like I am a horse you know, I feel like a phony, like a rejected little pony or an ant who is constantly crushed by the weight of happy footsteps, the delusional ignorance renders me speechless and my only escape is to give in to the pattern, burn myself to melt into the mould and into darkness where I absorb into the bolstering of myself with contempt for not knowing another world, am I the only one who only knows this world?

Horse Five:

Someone held up a mirror and I saw myself for what I really am, a show pony, a prised peacock preserved for peeping Tom’s, a clothes horse on exhibition…But I’m okay with that as long as I’m the best show pony, the prettiest pony on display, the most deserving of protection…meet me at the merry go round and we can make a handsome quid from a porn shot right, a bright light striped with dancing shadows we can move our bodies on top of a blanket of red and white and yellow flashing to our best angle in wayward flirtations, I welcome you inside me with hospitality and horse mentality, ride me, ride me hard until the ride finishes and I’ll tell you the secrets that every horse keeps, secrets that will stay secret because your ears will be whistling and singing and vibrating with the thrill of my canter and the threat of dangerous sex, the thrill of my artificial tears, mock lashes and imitated fantasy that continues growing in the bellies of little girls who have already had their favourite things labelled, tied up in knotted bows and memorized, idealised, indulged, ready to perform their predestined fantasies…I have to be the fantasy, I am the fantasy, it is reflected in my hollowed-out eyes - so don’t worry my gaze won’t pierce you, but suppose everything is metamorphosis, an abrupt and magical transformation flourished with silk and sparkle because only the merry go around when they are whisked off their feet and I might still rehearse and I get stage fright about riding into a bright future up and down over the faded bodies and through the biggest bodies, I just run faster, faster towards the image of myself in the mirror.

Horse Six:

I’m not one of them.

I’m a dreamer, I’m a do-er, I put the ‘fair’ in fairground, I put the care into Care-osel and I will make this merry go round merry again and I want to domesticate, authenticate, desegregate, tolerate this here carousel, the merry go round in life and we change the directions we gallop – from  anticlockwise to clockwise, forwards to backwards, left to right, introducing diagonals, banishing the circle, I say now no more circles, no more circles, no more circles…instead we will have rings, spheres -  a round arena – expansion, refinement, a spot light, my spot light aligned with a stage and applause, but no conductor to dictate – give me his shoes and will run...

Horse Seven:

I’m a very good horse, a very good horse I am.

See more of Jennifer’s work at: https://www.everythingforever.net/jennifer-mcmillan

[ishouldprobablybewriting]

Heavy Hitters- Chapter One

Heavy Hitters: Outlaw Country pt 1

Sara convinces an old friend to join the Waverider team- as research and tech guru only, or so she said. As the newbie struggles to adjust to the team and the team struggles to adjust to her, Sara is playing a different game all together. One the new girl might not like too much.

Fandom: Legends of Tomorrow (or Flash or Arrowverse since it’s Mick Rory, but specifically LoT)

Pairing: Mick Rory x Plus Size OFC (cause Mick totally likes thick ladies)

Word Count: 2806 

Tags/Warnings: Language, Cannon violence

A/N: Yall. This shit is legit, just the first ten mins of the episode. Anyways. Starts out with  2x6: Outlaw Country and follows it almost word for word with the new OC of course. Not much interaction between Emily and Mick in this one but more to come soon. Lemme know what you think.

Sara watched the young woman who recently joined their merry band of misfits from the desk in the library. Her arms crossed tight across her chest and the blonde took in the soft figure of the newbie as she spoke quietly with Gideon on her tablet, pulling books here and there.

“I know you’re staring,” the brunette smiled over her shoulder.

Sara chuckled softly and pushed off the desk leaving the Ray and Amaya to discuss Nate’s findings with him. Her accent never seemed to stand out but it never quite let her fit in either, especially with everyone else on their team being from the city. It always made Sara smile, though. Steady steps brought her closer to her friend and the hologram she was talking to. “Adjusting alright?”

The larger woman shrugged a shoulder and twisted her body, “As well as can be expected I s’pose.” She bit the inside of her cheek, a tick Sara knew meant she was her considering her next words carefully. Her green eyes shifted slightly behind Sara, towards the others and back quickly. A small smile on her lips, she spoke softly “I uh… I don’ think the others like me very much.”

“Nah,” she drew, “just gotta give’em time. They’ll get used to you before you know it!” Sara’s easy smile did little to ease her companion.

“You’re wrong, Sara. Sweet, bu’ wrong. They can tell, ya’ know. That I’m not like them, I’m notta fighter-”

“Yes. You are, Emily.” Her voice soft but tone leaving no room for arguing- not that never stopped the other woman before.

“Sure, I am.” Sarcasm clear in Emily’s tone, “ A fighter tha’ don’ fight. Helluva lotta good Imma do when shit goes tits up.”

Sara opened her mouth to rebut when Nate’s machine went off.

Nate rolled dramatically back in his chair, “Saved by the aberration!”

“Oooh! What's the trouble-alert say?”

“I told you not to call it that, Ray,” Sara sighed as she took a few long strides to join them.

“Where’s the problem?” Emily calls, stepping up quickly and standing by Sara.

Nate gives her a sideways glance as he grabs the tablet attached to the machine. “The time quake’s epicenter is Liberty, Colorado, 1874.”

“Huh! Back to the wild west,” Ray beamed.

“You guys were in the old west?” Nate glanced between Sara and Ray.

“Yeah, town made me sheriff.” To his credit, Ray was at least attempting to control his pride.

“That’s cool, huh.”

“Alright,” Sara stood, “Well I will go tell Jax and Stein. Who wants to go tell Rory?”

“Not it” the boys chime, making a swift exit and leaving a confused Amaya and Emily in their wake.

“What?” Emily just shrugged her shoulders at Amaya’s question and turned to seek out Rory. “Okay, guess we’ll do it,” she muttered following Emily out.

While Nate had his hat fabricated, Ray walked in and joined him in the small silver room. Ever nosy, he picked up a folded paper he spotted by Nate’s clothes. “Huh, whats this?”

Nate turned hastily as he heard the paper crinkle, “Oh that's nothing,” taking a quick step towards Ray, “Don’t open- you don’t have to open- and you opened it. Okay.” The paper unfolded to show a rather impressive sketch of a masked superhero with a star on his chest and boots on his feet. “Commander Steel!!” was scrawled beside the character, underlined twice. He placed his hands on his hips and waiting for Rays comments on his drawing.

“Did you draw your own superhero costume?”

Nate shook his head in denial, opening his mouth and shutting it again a few times before he finally got out “Absolutely not- yeah I did. And I only did because when I steel-up my clothes stretch out and they fit all weird and besides,” he still couldn't look at Ray, though, looking at the door seemed an improvement to the floor, “ Don’t I deserve a suit?” He finally chanced a glance at Ray. “I mean, am I just the research guy here or? Ya know. And isn’t that what we have Emily for now?”

“No, no. I- I know what it’s like to be the rookie. Just uh, just follow my lead and you’ll be fine out there.”

That struck a cord in Nate. Specifically, a competitive one. “Well, I know a few things about the old west.”

“Like for instance,” Ray casually cleared his throat, “Nobody says ‘Howdy’,”

“Uh huh,” Nate nodded.

“And uhh… You know how to ride a horse, right?”

“Yeah, I can figure it out.” He waved the revolver in his hand a bit, “Is this loaded?”

Ray mostly held in his scared expression, “Yes.”

“It is? Oh!” Thankfully that was enough for Nate and he put the gun down, shooting a wink at Ray.

Emily knocked softly on the door to Mick’s room, Amaya standing just behind her. “What?” He barked at the opened the door, beer in hand.

Amaya stiffened slightly, still not used to his loud mannerisms. Emily had adjusted to that her first day on the ship. “Nate’s machine found an aberration,” she told him, “Epicenter is in Liberty, Colorado, 1874.”

A large grin split the large man's face, “Hot damn! I love the wild west!” Emily nodded and Amaya give him a questioning look as they both took a step back to leave. Mick chugged the rest of his beer and let out another cheer as the girls walked towards the fabrication room to get dressed themselves.

With everyone suited up and the Waverider successfully hidden away, the seven saddled onto horses and trotted towards the town. Or at least, six of them did. Nate seemed to find horseback riding impossible. “Uh guys, I think my horse is broken!” he cried as they stopped at a clearing overlooking Liberty. Luckily, his horse followed the others regardless.

Emily rolled her eyes a bit and pulled up next to him. “Calm down, Nate. He’s reactin’ to ya nerves.” She reached out and grabbed the reins to steady him. “There. Now tuck your hips a bit and try to keep your balance. You should be fine as long as you don’t spook ‘im. Alright?”

Nate sent her a small but grateful smile.

Mick glanced back at the scene before looking towards Jax, “Where's the professor?”

“Uh, he's feeling a little off.” he covered.

“More whiskey from me.” Mick rasped.

Before he could finish his sentence, the group heard loud hollering from down the hill. “Sounds like a commotion of some kind,” Amaya pointed out.

Sara started to dismount, “Pull back, let's get a better look.” The rest of the team followed suit, Nate with a little annoyed huff, as she grabbed her rifle. The team crept towards the sounds.

Emily kept her footsteps silent. It looked like three men standing around one on a horse with his hands tied and a noose around his neck. “Ha ha!” one let out, “Lookit him up ther’ boys!”

Mick stepped up beside Sara as she pulled out a spyglass. “Ah! It's a hanging!” Emily sent him a short glance, Did he sound happy about this?

Sara watched as one of the men ripped a pale bag from the captive’s head, “Is that Hex?” She lowered the spyglass in disbelief.

Amaya looked from Sara to the man and back, “You know that man?”

“We gotta help him,” she sighed.

“But we gotta take this crew out first,” Jax spoke up.

Ray shook his head slightly, “They look armed.”

“Don’t worry guys, I got this.” Nate stepped up and ran off, Jax glared after him but couldn’t react quick enough to stop him.

Emily hissed, “Nate!” She groaned when he ignored her.

One of the crew- the ring leader, Emily figured- spoke up. “Well, well, well! You look a loooot less mean with tha’ noose around ya’ neck. Don’cha’, Hex?”

Emily couldn’t quite make out what the man- Hex- said, but his voice was deep and rough.

“Looks pretty finished to me!” the ringleader yelled, “Do,’cha’ think boys!” They all laughed loudly, until Hex’s boot caught the man hard in the jaw. Emily spotted Nate walking calmly and purposefully up from behind the horse. “You sonnova bitch!” the man hollered towards Hex.

“You might wanna slow down there,” Nate said, drawing unnecessary attention to himself.

Emily shook her head, Welp. Good thing he can “steel up”.

Taking a few more steps towards the small mob, Nate attempted a terrible “western” accent, “These here parts aren’t big enough for the-” he quickly counted- “five of us.”

Emily and Sara both groaned silently at their teammate.

“Who tha’ ‘ell are you?!” the ringleader sneered.

Hex looked over his shoulder, “What he said.”

“On second thought, I dun’ give a damn!” he screamed as he cocked and aimed his pistol squarely at Nate’s chest. Just as he fired, Nate flinched and brought up his hand, steeling just in time to block the shot. Not to be deterred so easily, the ringleader, along with the rest of his men, continued shooting at the metal man. Nate began to laugh as he continued to block each bullet.

Emily inwardly cringed as each bullet bounced with a high pitched ting and the group looked on to see how Nate handled this.

Unfortunately they couldn’t wait for long, or rather, Hex couldn’t. All the shooting had spooked the horse which ran off without thought of the man on its back. Hex let out a strangled cry as the rope tightened around his neck and he began to swing in the gunfire. Sara cocked her rifle and took aim just above the swinging man. “Hold still, Hex” she muttered as Nate caught a bullet aimed at this head between his teeth and turned back into a flesh and blood man grinning proudly. He spit out the bullet.

Emily pursed her lips at his antics and everyone waited as Sara took her shot, hitting the rope. It wasn’t enough to sever it clean through but it was enough to fray it so the weight of Hex’s squirming body would break what was left. Hex fell to the ground with a loud thump.

Ray smiled at the scene. Mick looked mildly impressed behind Sara, “Nice shot.” Emily nodded silently in agreement.

Hex scrambles to his feet and charges the ringleader knocking him to the ground and kicks him hard when he tried to regain his footing. Nate shows up beside Hex, his shitty accent still in place, “Now you get up on that horse and you ride till you feel like you can’t ride no more,” Hex, still catching his breath, turns to glare at the stranger. Nate continues, “And then,” he cocks his gun waving it enthusiastically and ignoring Hex’s incredulous gaze, “Ya’ ride some more. Now go on! Get!” Nate hollers and fires towards the man’s knees then twice more into the air hooting as the man ran away. He lets out one more holler as he turns to face Hex, “Ooh! Aaahhh- face.”

Hex looks at him openly, “What?” It was a silent dare. One that Nate was at least competent enough to recognize.

“Nothing,” Nate shakes his head pulling a tight expression to keep himself from saying something he shouldn’t, “No, nothing.”

Hex huffs and turns towards the footsteps of the approaching team. “Aw, hell.” he growls. Sara lead the way, her life-saving rifle over her shoulder. “They’re back!”

Sara nodded her head towards him. “Always a pleasure, Jonah.”

“Wish I could say the same. The hell’s wrong now?”

Sara smirked and nodded her head back towards the Waverider. “Hoping you could tell us. Let's head back and chat at the ship.”

The ride back was mostly silent, save Nate gushing as nonchalantly as he could to Ray about how cool his little stunt was. Emily, who Nate was riding with in order for Hex to have his own horse, had half a mind to take off in a canter knowing that Ray probably couldn’t keep up and that Nate would be too terrified to brag. He’d be too busy screaming. The fact that it would have been directly in her ear was the only thing keeping her from doing it.

Their boots clanked against the metal flooring as they walked through the ship. “Saved by a filly,” Hex remarked, “Ain’t that somethin’?”

“A simple ‘thank you’ would suffice.” said Sara, half a step in front of him.

“How’d ya’ know I needed savin;?” he asked.

“Because,” her steps slowed as they reached the bridge, “we got an alert that history was about to be changed and the coordinates lead us to your hanging.”

Hex followed Sara into the study as Mick and Amaya joined them, “Well I guess it’s nice to know tha’ I matta’.”

“Leaving already?” Mick gruffed as he walked up the steps with Emily a few steps behind him. “I didn’t get to shoot anybody!”

Emily let out a soft laugh and covered her smile as she took her place by the round table in the center of the room.

Hex looked at some of the new artifacts on the shelves lining the walls and made his way over to the liquor cabinet. “I need a drink.” he muttered. “Where’s Rip?”

Sara’s head whipped towards him then she stole a glance towards the other two women in the room. Amaya gave a soft nod while Emily raised her eyebrow in difference. “Hes MIA.”

“Damn,” he drew, “How the hell’d you miscreants manage not ta get yourselves killed without him?” He picked up his glass as he turned to face the rest of the room.

Amaya narrowed her eyes a bit and straightened her back, “Miss Lance has be serving as captain.”

Hex’s eyes went a little wide as he pointed towards Sara.”But- she a lady.” He looked at her, “You are a lady, right?” Emily liked his deep gravely voice a hell of a lot less when he used it to say stupid shit like that.

Sara tilted her head with her hands on her hips, “Ya’ know know I could take your life just as easily as I saved it, right?” A small smile played on her lips as she blinked up at him. It would have almost looked kind, maybe even innocent.

Emily chuckled biting her thumbnail with a small smile. Even Mick let out a small huff of a laugh from his seat in the corner.

“Oh. Flattery.” Hex raised his drink to his lips, “Looks like this breakers in for a wild ride.” He took an appreciative look at Sara.

“Too bad this filly's into other fillies, right? Ha ha ha ha.” Mick grinned despite his laugh being fake. Emily took a mental note, narrowing her eyes slightly at him, and filed it away for later.

Hex flinched in shock, “Ya’ don’t say?”

Tired of the topic of conversation, Sara rolled her eyes and took it over, “So, how’d you end up in the noose?”

“Well, was collectin’ a bounty on a pissant by tha’ name a’ Quentin Turnbull.” He set down his drink and turned his full attention to the captain.

“As in Turnbull country?” Nate asked jogging up the stairs.

“Never heard of it.”

“Thats because its not supposed to exist.” He help up the thick blue book in his hand. “This book has changed since the last time I saw it. Check this out, Gideon-”

“Right away,” the AI answered.

“Thats a map of the United States from 1876.” Gideon projected an old map onto the screen. The western most third outlined in red with “Turnbull Country” written in bold black letters across it.

“Well that’s not right,” Emily deadpanned under her breath, earning a small laugh from Mick. She looked over her shoulder at him and raised an eyebrow. He took a sip of his beer and maintained eye contact, refusing to back down even from something as small as this. She hummed softly to herself. Interesting. I’ll file that away too, then.

“Alright,” Sara leaned forward, placing her hands on the desk in front of her, “Who’s Turnbull?”

“Some two-bit, yella-bellied, cattle wrestler.”

“Who,” Nate interjected, “controls all the land west of the Rocky Mountains.”

“Looks like we found our aberration,” Amaya stepped closer to the screen.

Hex knotted his brow, “Am I supposed to have the faintest idea what that means?”

“It means that we need to stop Turnbull,” Sara explained, “from taking over the west.”

That got Mick up and out of his seat. He stepped up to the table between Nate and Amaya, “Looks like you got yourself a posse, partner.”

Hex closed his eyes and blinked slowly at his comment. Sara just smiled, finding Hex’s forced cooperation just as funny as everyone else did- save Hex, that is.

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#My writing #Mick Rory #mick rory x plus size #plus size #heatwave #heatwave x plus size #ofc #plus size ofc #plus size character #legends of tomorrow #arrowverse #flashverse #jonah hex #sara lance #jax jefferson #professor stein #martin stein #amaya jiwe #ray palmer #nate heywood #heavy hitters #fanfic #fanfiction #lot fanfic #legends of tomorrow fanfic #slow burn #plus size reader #mick rory x plus size reader #okay i know its not really plus size reader #but i worked really hard on this

[queenofthestubbornreaders]

The Council by Kayla Krantz

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I had high hopes for this book. Perhaps that’s where I went wrong.

The Council is about Lilith (nicknamed “Li” and I’m not exactly sure where that came from. I never really understand nicknames that are just shortened versions of your name with a different vowel sound unless she’s literally just called “Lih”) who lives in a place called “the 5 realms”, one for each type of witch: mind powers, water, air, fire, and healing. She lives in the fire realm and is just finishing up her schooling, where she will be “sorted” into a coven and given her job. Unfortunately! Our protagonist was born to “UnEquipped” parents, which means they don’t have powers, so she won’t have them either. Or it’s highly unlikely that she will get them. Or there’s a small chance. Depends on the page you’re reading in the book. It’s all over the place. Lilith and her similarly UnEquipped friend Helena along with their friend Clio who is the class leader (despite the fact that Lilith is suuper smart and has no powers, she thinks she ought to be the class leader… I don’t get that one) all talk about the UnEquippeds’ chances of getting powers in vastly different ways. One moment it seems totally possible! You just have to study! Next minute, Lilith is SUPER SPECIAL for being born to UnEquipped parents and getting powers. Then! During her ceremony that reveals the telekinetic powers that she has been hiding from everyone (it’s okay, she did a couple of dramatic reveals before the ceremony) she is actually revealed to hold powers from EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THE REALMS. IT’S AMAZING. Chaos ensues.

“it’s okay…” I whisper to myself. Lots of books have super speshul characters. “It’ll be okay”. Reader, it was certainly not okay.

To summarize the spoiler free version of this review, Lilith continues to be super special, but like her chances of developing powers, her degree of super specialness seems to vary page to page. One minute she’s incredibly rare and powerful. The next minute, all of her abilities seem to be a totally possible thing to happen. Maybe this was the author’s way of tempering the “oh my god she’s the chosen one! She has all the powers! She’s so SPESHUL.” It wasn’t very successful.

Lilith is also disabled from a magical related accident that seriously injured her leg as a child. This causes her constant pain and difficulty moving around. From her POV, it’s a life ending injury that causes literally everyone around her to doubt her ability to do literally anything. If she was destined to a non-magical job anyways (if all/most magical jobs are protecting the coven) are there NO jobs were she could just sit down? Besides, this injury didn’t happen yesterday and she seems to function basically fine and is stubborn and accomplished. Why is this still such a major factor? Why is everyone handing her new pain medicine all the time? They’re just like leaves. Is everyone discovering new leaves constantly? I need to know!!

Wholesale, I don’t think this book is terrible, but it needs a lot of work and a very, very good editor. There’s still typos and awkward sentences, not to mention a lot of the inconsistencies I mentioned earlier. The overall idea, I would rate as good. The book could definitely be marketable and a whole lot better if it was heavily revised and edited. Despite my own stubbornness, I just can’t push through to the second book because I know my likelihood of DNFing is like 85%.

SPOILERS BELOW. DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED.

Spoilers (and general complaints) ahead!!

Okay, why is Lilith so obsessed with how “chunky” Rayna is? She delights in the fact that she is not the only “slow walking” person because Rayna is fat???? I had to read this line like 5 times before I even comprehended it. She goes on to mention several other times how her robe is larger than the other Council members or that she’s chunky. Seriously, the other Council members, even if you don’t like them or they made you join against your will, are supposed to be accomplished in their skill. Lilith doesn’t even seem mean spirited in general. She doesn’t even just flat out refuse to get to know any of these people. She just wants to fat shame this one girl???

Please… it’s “oughta” not “outta”.

Lilith suspects that her parents are not her real parents after the ceremony is interrupted and she learns things from the first Elemental woman. Then when someone else mentions that it could be true (Lavina the healer), she faints from the surprise? You already had this thought! You have been suspicious of them! Why are you so freaking shocked now?

There are several scenes where Lilith freaks out (sometimes even understandably) and she runs off to seek solace in someone’s company. Here’s how it goes:

Lilith’s friend: Hey, how’s it going? Why are you here?

Lilith: Oh, you know, I’m just here on business. Thought I’d stop in.

Lilith’s friend: Oh neat, have you been by to see your parents? (or any other reference to something tied to why she was upset literally five seconds before)

Lilith: Oh right! I was super upset! LIFE SUCKS. *cries*

She literally had to be on the brink of being mauled by a bear to use some fire powers. Now when called upon as a surprise during an execution, she can just light the fire to burn the witch and she spends .5 seconds thinking about it?????

If their world is comprised of 5 realms and Lilith goes to visit them all, why does she not ride a horse (or whatever applicable technology exists) to save her bad leg and WHY does it seem like it takes them like a day to walk to each one? Is their world the size of Rhode Island?

Last thought, I swear. Size of the world aside although that does really bother me, where are the Elementals hiding and why is this never mentioned? If someone came out of the woodwork and interrupted my magic ceremony, claimed I was one of them and attacked my coven, why am I not speculating where they are hiding? Is there some wasteland outside of Magic Rhode Island? Is there another realm? Are there whole other cities/towns/etc outside of this place? Can they not just leave if they want to?

So. Many. Questions.

#ya #book reviews #young adult books #kayla krantz #the council #books

[sanity-is-overratedxp]

Unexpected

AN: Y/S/N= your sister’s name. Your sister is about ten in this. Also i’m really new to writing fanfiction so this is probably horrible😂😂😂 written for @kittenofdoomage and @saxxxology SPN history challenge.

Warnings: little bit of angst. Alludes to mass murder. (Hello? It’s the Vikings.) Like one cuss word. Probably horrible writing.



Unexpected.

It had been completely unexpected.

You and your village had been undisturbed for years living happy lives away from the savage Vikings. Your village was peaceful and had no quarrels with the neighboring villages. You even had trade agreements with most of them. But in hindsight maybe that was why your luck didn’t hold out.

You were awoken by the screams and the smell of smoke. You knew it was the Vikings, it had to be. Your first thought was to protect your sister. She was only a few years younger than you and she was your world. You had raised her after your mother and father had died many years before. Your hut was on the outskirts of the village which meant it would take them longer to reach you.

You ran to her waking her quickly, “Sister we must hurry!” She looked at you slowly waking when she heard the screams you saw terror bloom in her eyes, “We don’t have time little sister. We must flee as quickly as possible!” she jumped out of bed and followed you to where you kept your horse. She was not a young horse she had seen better days but she was fast. You helped your sister up and got on behind her. The blood in your veins froze when you heard a voice yell “Over here! There’s two more!” everything else ceased to matter as you dug your heels in and spurred your horse on. “Quick they’re getting away!”

Just as you were starting to think you got away from out in front of you came a noise. You felt true fear thinking all was lost and you had been captured at last. But from the brush came two faces that meant security. “Dean! Sam! Thank God! They probably aren’t far behind me!” Dean immediately said, “Dammit go! Ride to our village and go to our home. We left our brother there to rally the rest of our village, he will keep you safe, hurry!” He turned to the men behind him and said “Come on men, time to see what steel we’re made of!”

The last admonition was unnecessary as you had already spurred your mare on. Thoughts of the youngest Winchester and the feeling of safety he provided filling your mind. You had met Adam before and had always fancied him. You had held out hope that he would one day choose you as his bride. Even though you only saw each other on the market days in his village you had grown close. “Are we going to be safe?” Y/S/N said. “Of course sweetheart! You remember Adam right? He will keep us safe!” you told her as you neared the nearby village.



Riding up you saw one of the town leaders standing by Adam. “Cas!” you cried out. “Y/N! You’re safe! We were so worried about you and Y/S/N!” He said as you dismounted. “We barely made it out. If it wasn’t for Dean and Sam we would have surely been captured.” Adams jaw tensed when you had finished. He came up and helped Y/S/N down from the horse and then turned to you, “Dean was clear that if you made it here you were to stay with us. Come, I’ll lead you to our home.”

You followed behind him holding tightly to your sister’s hand. As you you walked behind him you couldn’t help but notice how every woman in the town was watching you and your sister. “Adam…” you asked. “Yes?” He replied. Looking around you self consciously “Why are we being stared at?” you said hiding Y/S/N behind you. “I don’t know.” He said unsurely. I couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief when we made it to the Winchester home.

“Home sweet home. Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be outside maintaining the defences with Cas while others ride out and join Dean and Sam and the men they took with them. If you need anything Ellen and Jo are next door and will be more than willing to help you out.” He said before turning and going to join Castiel and the rest of the men. You remembered Jo and her mother Ellen from all the times you came to the market. You were good friends with Jo and Ellen had been like a second mother to you always looking after Y/S/N when you had to go on long trips.

“Y/N. I’m scared.” Your little sister said as tears started rolling down her face. “Where’s Dean?” your little sister had grown attached to the oldest Winchester not long after she met him. The dynamic between the two was almost instantaneous, she was his little sister too and you were forever grateful for the peace of mind that provided you knowing that if something ever happened to you she would be taken care of here. You knelt down in front of her and wiped away her tears, “Dean is away being your knight in shining armor dear. He went to protect us from the bad men.”



You held her tight to you and rocked her slowly trying to calm her down when there was a knock at the door. “Who is it!?” you called out. “It’s Ellen sweetheart open the door!” you shushed your sister and went to the door and opened it to see not only Ellen but Jo as well. You threw yourself into the older woman’s arms, relaxing slowly as she runs her fingers through your hair. “God we were so worried about you two! When they said that they saw smoke above your village we feared the worst!” She kissed your forehead and went inside holding onto you. Jo went to where you left Y/S/N and quickly set to work keeping her busy.

After you told Ellen everything and you had calmed down enough you started to wonder how long it had been. You feared for the safety of your friends. You had started cooking dinner as a way to distract yourself from your worries. Just as you were about to to finish and voice your worries to Ellen you heard the door open. Turning around you saw Dean enter and close the door behind him.



You ran and hugged him “God I was so worried about you guys! Is Sam okay?” you couldn’t help noticing that he wasn’t present. “Yeah Sam is just checking on the men. I wanted to make sure you two had arrived safe.” He said looking for Y/S/N. You noticed almost immediately and said pointing to the room where her and Jo were playing. “She’s in there with Jo. She was a little shaken up and Jo helped keep her mind of it while I made dinner. She was worried about you.” his face light up when you finished your sentence. “She was huh? Guess I better go see my favourite munchkin let her know her hero is okay.” He said with that famous Winchester smirk.

Ellen came into the room as he was leaving. “What’s got him so happy? He looks like it’s his birthday and he got a new sword.” You couldn’t help but giggle at that. “He’s happy because Y/S/ N was worried about him.” You could hear the two of them as Dean told her about how he led the men in the battle against the Vikings. You heard her laughing as Dean embellished everything to the point of hilarity. “I should go check on the food.” You said as you walked away. Ellen followed you into the kitchen and helped you finish up as Sam and Adam came back from checking on everyone else.



“God Sam I’m glad you’re okay.” you said as you hugged the man who was almost a foot taller than you. He chuckled “We can handle ourselves out there. I’m glad you’re okay though, we were worried about you two.” You smiled. “My father made sure I knew how to ride a horse many years ago.” you smirked. “I’m also the proud owner of one of the fastest mares in my village.” Sam raised his eyebrow, “And who sent her your way I wonder?” you laughed at his reminder of the day he had helped you pick her out. “I know who sent her my way. And I am forever grateful to all of you… for always making sure me and my sister were taken care of.”

You set the table with Ellen’s help and called everyone to dinner. After everyone was seated everyone started their own little conversations and the pleasant noise of conversation was everywhere. When the meal was over you took the dishes and went to clean up after yourself. Dean met you in the kitchen and surprised you by starting to help. “You don’t have to do that Dean I can do this.” He replied “I know but after living just us men for so long I’ve gotten to the point where I enjoy doing it… don’t tell Sam though he wouldn’t let me live it down.” You laughed quietly, “My lips are sealed. I won’t have many opportunities after we go back home anyway.”

When Dean tensed at that you knew something was wrong. “Dean what’s wrong?” you said putting down the dish you were drying. He seemed to hesitate and then you could note every movement he made as he steeled himself for the answer. “I’m sorry Y/N. There isn’t a village to go back to.” You could feel your knees giving out underneath you so held onto the counter. “What the hell do you mean by that Dean. Houses can be rebuilt…” You gasped as it hit you. “but the people in them can’t be remade can they…” you felt the first year as it started down your face. Dean pulled you into a bone crushing hug. “We were able to save you and your sister but only because you were quick and didn’t try to take anything with you. Others weren’t so prepared to leave it all behind.” He held you while you cried. “It might be too soon but we do need to figure out where you two are going to be living.” at that you were able to calm yourself. You let your rational mind take over so it would be easier to forget even for just a few hours the pain that you and your sister had been through. “Yes that needs to be figured out.” You said as you pulled away. Dean looked at you and said, “Do you have any family you can go live with?” you shook your head. “It’s just me and her.” You said with a sigh “we’ve been alone ever since our parents died. Father never told me of any other relatives.” He seemed to take a moment to think. “Weren’t you apprenticed to the healer of your town?” you nodded. His eyes light up. “Our healer Bobby has been looking for an apprentice to pass on his knowledge too. You could go continue your apprenticeship with him and I know he would let you and your sister live with him.” you remembered the old healer from your many trips to town. He was a bit gruff at first but after awhile you had seen his softer side. The thought of working for the man who had made sure to keep an eye on your sister for you on multiple occasions made you very excited. “Do you really think he would Dean?” “I know he would. I’ll go talk to him right now. He’s right down the road, I’ll be back in a minute to tell you how it went but for right now… You might wanna talk to Adam.”

You stilled. “I told you that in confidence Dean. Not so you could throw it in my face.” You had once let it slip how you felt to the oldest Winchester but had sworn him to secrecy. He had promised not to say a word to Adam but had continuously pestered you to say something to him yourself. “I didn’t mean for you to take it that way but… you should know that out of all of us, he was the one who had the hardest time keeping calm. And Cas told me that Adam was almost inconsolable until you showed up and then, he was more determined than ever to maintain the defences. He cares for you like I’ve always said. He is not the type to approach unless he knows it’s going to go well. He’s been through alot and even though he’s been through all that. He managed to stay a kind hearted man. That’s impressive for the men of this village. And I know for a fact that it’s because of you.” after Dean finished speaking he walked away to go speak to Bobby.

You let what he had said roll around in your head, was what he said true? Did he really feel that way? You were almost afraid to let yourself believe it. But looking back with Dean’s words in mind you could see all the little moments that you two had shared. All the moments where a touch lingered too long on his part or a gaze too long on yours. You didn’t know what to do… but the universe seemed to be looking out for you. Adam walked in moments later. “Oh hey. I was umm, looking for Dean. Do you know where he went?” you mentally shook yourself, “Yeah he went down to Bobby’s place to talk.” for a minute there was only awkward silence. Then as suddenly as it started it was broken.

“I’m glad you’re okay. Both of you. We were all worried when we saw the light from the fires.” You smiled. “I’m just glad we made it out safely. I was so relieved when we made it. The sight of familiar faces and the safety that you provided. It was…” you didn’t know how to put it into words but you could tell from the look on his face that he knew what you meant. He cleared his throat, “When do you think you two will be going back? I don’t mean to sound rude or anything I was just wondering how much longer we could enjoy your spectacular cooking.” He said with a laugh. You couldn’t help but laugh at that. “Much longer than you think Adam…” he looked confused and you couldn’t blame him. “we aren’t going back…” when the meaning behind your words hit him he pulled you into a hug. It wasn’t bone crushing like his brothers but it still conveyed all the emotion behind it. “I’m so sorry.” was all it took before you broke again. Cry into the shoulder of the man you loved you let it all go. He slowly eased you both into a sitting position all while holding you closely.

“Hey, hey, hey… it will get better. I promise. Me, Sam, Dean and Cas. We’ll all be here for you. We’ll help you with everything. Help you find a place. Help you watch over Y/S/N. You won’t starve… I’ll make sure of it. I’ll do whatever I have too. You’ll be safe. I promise…” you heard him talking to you and the sound of his voice was so soothing to you. You suddenly tensed because you thought you heard something that would change your life forever. Adam tensed beside you also. And that was all the confirmation you needed. “Adam I… I love you too.” You felt him breathe out beside you slowly. “You mean that?” you looked up into his crystal blue eyes and suddenly and reservation you had went out the window. “Yes. I always did honestly.” You leaned closer to him still staring at his eyes. “Did you mean it when you said it?” you couldn’t help but ask. “Yeah. I did.” He said. Slowly closing more of the distance between you.

Suddenly what little distance there was between you was closed, his lips were finally on yours. Soft and sweet, he was hesitant you could tell. You pushed forward a little trying to prove with your actions that you wanted this as much as he did. He took your cue and became more confident about it. He made sure you knew exactly how he felt with no words needed. You were happy again. Yes you had just been through something tragic. But you knew… it was all going to work out.

Months later your feelings were proved true. You had been working for Bobby for months. Taking care of your sister with the help of all you friends in the village. Sam led the men in building better barricades to keep the Vikings from attacking the village. Dean became the captain of the local militia and Adam… well, the two of you couldn’t be happier.

You had everything you had ever wanted and more.

#supernatural #dean winchester #sam winchester #adam milligan #spn #supernatural imagine #x reader #imagines #ellen and jo #did my best #hope you like it #review? #please? #be nice tho #my heart is fragile #bobby singer #historical fiction #viking era

[adapted-batteries]

All Fun and Games

Fandom: The Librarians

Rating: General, with a bit of language

Relationship: Jazekiel

Word Count: 2041

Stone decides to finally start serenading Ezekiel, but it doesn’t go as planned. Inspired by @uncontinuous’s post.

Also posted on my Ao3.

---

April 1st was not a good day to start serenading Ezekiel Jones. Stone thought it was just a Monday, that is until Cassandra blasted an air horn at him as he rounded a corner after he got finished placing his gifts. Stone nearly jumped out of his pants, and barely restrained himself from punching Cassandra out of reflex.

“April Fools!” she shouted after she stopped the air horn. Based on the huge grin on her face, Cassandra was enjoying herself.

“That’s today?” Stone asked, eyes wide.

Cassandra didn't notice his concern. “Yup!”

“Shit.”

“What? You still have plenty of time to plan a prank,” Cassandra said.

Stone turned around, hoping he could get to the gifts before Ezekiel showed up. “No, it's not that-”

“Nice one Stone,” Ezekiel said, walking down the corridor with chocolates in one hand and a small piece of paper Stone had written a poem on in the other. “Totally surprised me. I didn't take you for someone who celebrates April Fool’s.” He walked past blushing Stone and really confused Cassandra like nothing happened.

Stone looked at Cassandra, eyes somehow even wider in panic. She shrugged back, giving him a little helpless grin before sauntering off after Ezekiel. With a noise of frustration, Stone followed them into the main room of the Annex.

By the time Stone entered the main room, Ezekiel had already managed to get into the box and eat several truffles. Cassandra didn’t exactly have clean hands either, as she literally was licking something off her fingers. Jenkins had been eyeing the box, but abruptly stood up straight when he noticed Stone.

“It wasn’t a pr-” Stone started, but the clippings book interrupted by shaking and flapping its pages. Reluctantly, the other Librarians abandoned the chocolates to see what their job was going to be today.

The mission was pretty fast paced, no time for Stone to pull Ezekiel aside and clarify what the gifts were actually for. By the time they got back, Ezekiel left for his apartment first thing, leaving Stone and Cassandra alone after Jenkins left to put the new artifact away for safekeeping. They both trudged to the Library’s mud room, thankful for heating and the promise of Jenkins’s tea in a bit.

“Do you want me to talk to him?” she asked Stone as they both de-layered from their day trip into another lovely Scandinavian snow storm.

“No! I mean, no, I’ll do it,” Stone quipped, shrugging out of a parka and placing it on a hanger.

“Alright,” Cassandra said, folding up a wool scarf next to the hat and gloves she had placed back on their shelf. “You know how he can be though…”

“I know, but I think if we both came at him he’d do his avoid and deny act,” Stone countered as he sat on a bench to pull off the heavy, still snow-caked boots he had on. “I just need to catch him at the right time.”

Stone found Ezekiel’s April Fools prank on him when he got in his truck that evening; the thief had flipped the wires around making it impossible to accelerate without honking his horn, or turning on the headlights without turning the windshield wipers on at full blast, etc. It was a pain to fix back, which thankfully he knew how to do, but it was better than driving home as loud and as obnoxiously as he possibly could.

---

He thought he had the right time a couple days later. Nothing came in the clippings book so everyone was doing their own thing somewhere in the Library. He left a note for Ezekiel, telling him to meet in the weapons room. Stone didn’t exactly hurry, but he didn’t lollygag either on his way there.

The lights in the room came up as he opened the door, glinting off all the metal. Normally Ezekiel would toy with stuff if he got somewhere first, but the weapons looked untouched that he could tell. Stone walked further in the room, letting the door shut behind him, content to wait till Ezekiel arrived.

As he was going over what he was going to say to Ezekiel, he heard a faint clicking sound to his left, on one of the weapons racks. Instinct took over as he stepped back, loosened axe slicing through the space where his hand had just been. Stone looked at the axe after it clattered to the ground. Tied around the handle was some thin, clear wire, anchored back on the stand where the safety latch had been undone.

Stone grabbed the axe, cutting off the wire with the axe that sat next to it. He ventured further in the room, keeping a much better eye on the weapons around him. Nothing else attempted to hack at him, until he neared the not-so-decorative suits of armor. He gave each one a good look, but nothing seemed amiss.

He thought about just waiting near the door for Ezekiel, and started heading back in that direction when one of the suits behind him stepped down from its stand. Reflex came to Stone’s aid once more as he slammed the blunt side of the axe into the shoulder of the armor, effectively staggering the person. Whoever it was would only have a sore shoulder if they hadn’t stumbled in precisely the worst direction, into a large rack of shields. Said rack of shields was also in perfect toppling distance of Stone, burying him in hard metal and solid wood.

“That...didn’t go...as planned,” a slightly muffled Ezekiel announced, shifting shields off himself as he sat up in the suit.

Stone purposely threw the shield that had smacked him in the face at Ezekiel. “As planned?!”

A sword burst into the room, slamming the door against the stone wall, yipping at the two on the floor. A winded Flynn ran in after it. “Wait, Cal...slow down,” he panted, stopping short of the mess. “What happened here? You freaked Cal out for sure.”

“Accident,” they both mumbled.

“Why are you in a suit of armor?” Flynn asked Ezekiel, clearing a path to help him up.

“Uh, prank,” Ezekiel said, wincing as Flynn pulled on the sore shoulder.

“This was a prank?” Stone said, getting up by himself. He felt his face, finding his lip had taken the brunt of the shield and was bleeding.

“Okay Stone, help me get him out of this armor. Cal, can you go get Jenkins?” Flynn said, already fiddling the straps on Ezekiel. The sword yipped at him then promptly flew out of the room.

The two of them managed to free Ezekiel, revealing several tender spots from smashing into, and being smashed by things. Jenkins showed up, quite annoyed, and sent Ezekiel and Stone off to ice down bruises before they could swell too much. Stone intended to talk to Ezekiel then, but having your face smacked by a twenty pound shield doesn’t exactly make talking fun, and having an ice pack over it felt much better.

---

Stone intended to catch him the next day. He figured those bruises were gonna make Ezekiel more late than he usually arrived, which gave him ample time to leave a different but pretty obvious poem at Ezekiel’s secret entrance, and some more chocolates to help with the pain. He waited for Ezekiel to find him, occupying himself with a book in the Annex.

“You really need to step up your prank game,” Ezekiel said, announcing his entrance into the Annex. Stone didn’t hear him walk in, as usual, so his voice made Stone jump a little.

“What? I’ve not been pranking you.” Stone put the book on the desk. “Have ya not read the poems?”

“You did it on April Fools, how was I supposed to take it?” Ezekiel sat on the edge of the desk, putting the chocolates down next to him. “So...you’re serious…”

“Yeah, I am.” Stone watched him fidget a bit, but he didn’t leave.

“Sorry about yesterday. I thought you were trying to spook me,” Ezekiel shrugged. “When I got to the room, you weren’t there, so I wanted to get ahead of you.”

Stone nodded at him, standing up to stretch his legs. “Maybe next time don’t do that in a room filled with sharp objects and heavy things.”

“Yeah, I figured that out.” Ezekiel rolled the shoulder Stone had hit. “I didn’t know you felt that way.”

Stone raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t?” He chuckled to himself. “And here I thought I had been obvious for months.”

Ezekiel looked at him, thoughtful. “I guess some things make more sense now.”

“Like what, exactly?” Stone asked, curious.

“Oh, just some looks, the touching, being in my space, that sort of thing. I thought that was just you being you,” Ezekiel said. “Apparently I was wrong.”

Stone stepped closer to him, stopping a few inches away from his knees. “Like I said, thought I was bein’ obvious with all that. I wasn’t exactly doin’ it to anyone else.”

“Here you go again, ignoring my personal space,” Ezekiel chided, not putting any snark into it. Instead, he leaned forward ever so slightly.

“And what are ya gonna do about it?” Stone teased, leaning in a little himself.

“Well, I have some ideas,” Ezekiel breathed, sliding forward on the desk a bit, trapping Stone in between his knees.

Stone got the hint and closed the distance between them. He would’ve liked to stay longer but his lip in particular protested greatly. Stone pulled away slightly, hissing. “Damn shield.” He pressed his forehead against Ezekiel’s. “We’ll continue this later.”

“It’s a date, Cowboy,” Ezekiel purred, kissing him on the cheek instead. Stone pulled away more so he could narrow his eyes at Ezekiel. “What? Everyone’s got their kinks.”

“Jones!” Stone sputtered, face going red.

“You can’t tell me with all the times you brag about being a good ol’ country boy that you don’t like being called that,” Ezekiel quipped with a smirk. “I’ve got my kinks too. You know, there’s that song, oh, what were those lyrics, ‘save a horse, ride a cowboy,’ wasn’t it?”

“Ezekiel…” Stone rumbled this time, who looked equal parts flustered and turned on.

“Looks like we share that one, hm?” Ezekiel teased. “That one’s gotta wait though, I’m too sore from yesterday.”

Cassandra chose to walk in just as Ezekiel finished his sentence. “Oh good, you’re talking to him...you were doing more than talking weren’t you?”

“No-” Stone started, but Cassandra was already walking past them to the main table.

“Totally fine, congrats, don’t mind me just need these books here, then I’ll be gone,” she interrupted, gathering books in a haphazard fashion. “But like, don’t do anything in here...where we work, I’m sure everyone else would appreciate it.”

“Do you really think Flynn and Eve haven’t-” Ezekiel started, but Cassandra was already speeding her way out of the room.

“I don’t want to think about it thank you very much, and I’d rather not have to think about you to doing...it...as well so I’m leaving now,” she said, quickly walking out of the room.

Ezekiel snickered as she made her hasty exit. “Lucky for her I’m too sore to climb stairs right now, let alone have some fun.”

“Actually I agree with her,” Stone said, earning an eyebrow raise from Ezekiel. “Unlike you I have a sense of decency.”

“Uh huh, we’ll see how decent you are in a few days, when I can move without impersonating my grandad,” Ezekiel challenged, hopping off the desk and then immediately regretting the sudden impact. Through his wince of pain, he smirked at Stone. “Plus, she only said in here...and there’s plenty of rooms in the Library.”

“Alrighty there, Grandpa Jones, don’t wantin’ you to get too riled up there or you’ll fall over,” Stone patronized, hooking his arm around Ezekiel’s like he was helping an elderly lady cross the road. Ezekiel batted him away playfully, definitely not putting any effort into it. “Sounds like a little walk around will help your stiff joints, whadaya say Grandpa?”

“Dude, that’s not my kink,” Ezekiel said, partially joking. Stone chuckled, kissing him on the temple as they ambled out of the Annex.

---

Post notes: If that last scene sounded familiar, it would be because I wrote it, then realized they had a similar conversation in my other fic “Dooooggg Boooiii” and decided not to change it since I apparently think this is what they’d say. Guess I’m a sucker for them realizing their not-so-platonic behaviors.

#Jazekiel week #the librarians shipathon #librariansshipathon #shipathon17 #jazekiel #ezekiel jones #jacob stone #the librarians fic #the librarians fanfiction #flynn writes

[libralita]

Way of Kings Reread to prepare for Oathbringer

“Almighty above, Kalak thought. You’re broken too, aren’t you? They all were.”—Page 17

And thus the Radiants must be broken as well.

“‘They see us as divinities,’ Kalak whispered. ‘They rely upon us, Jezrien. We’re all that they have.’”—Page 17

So they aren’t, they were just people.

“The tempest within Szeth gave him many advantages—including the ability to quickly recover from small wounds. But it would not restore limbs killed by a Shardblade.”—Page 30

So a Honorblade can’t restore limbs killed by a Shardblade but being a Radiant can.

“Kharbranth, City of Bells”—Page 61

I forgot that Kharbranth was called the City of Bells.

“I’m dying, aren’t I? Healer, why do you take my blood? Who is that beside you, with his head of lines? I can see a distant sun, dark and cold, shining in a black sky.”—Page 73

Ah, Brandon and his foreshadowing.

“‘Kaladin,’ Syl said, landing on the log, ‘I’m going to leave’ He blinked in shock. Syl. Leave? But…she was the last thing he had left. ‘No,’ he whispered. It came out as a croak. ‘I’ll try to come back,’ she said. ‘But I don’t know what will happen when I leave you. Things are strange. I have odd memories. No, most of them aren’t even memories. Instincts. One of those tells me that if I leave you, I might lose myself.’ ‘Then don’t go,’ he said, growing terrified. ‘I have to,’ she said, cringing. ‘I can’t watch this anymore. I’ll try to return.’ She looked sorrowful. ‘Goodbye.’ And with that, she zipped away into the air, adopting the form of a tiny group of tumbling, translucent leaves. Kaladin watched her go, numb.”—Page 149

Oh, boy, fun fantasy series!

“She cowered down, kneeling on his palm, misty skirt around her legs, drops of rainwater passing through her and rippling her form. ‘You don’t like it then? I flew so far…I almost forgot myself. But I came back. I came back Kaladin.’”—Page 161

My poor sweetie, Syl.

“‘Today,’ King Elhokar announced, riding beneath the bright open sky, ‘is an excellent day to slay a god. Wouldn’t you say?’”—Page 183

Killing gods is so passé, Elhokar. You should really keep up with trends, you’re king after all.

“‘I know,’ Renarin said. His voice was measured, controlled. He always paused before he replied to question, as if testing the worlds in his mind. Some women Adolin knew said Renarin’s ways made them feel as if he were dissecting them with his mind. They’d shiver when they spoke of him, though Adolin had never found his younger brother the least bit discomforting.”—Page 184

Fight me!

“The king beamed.”—Page 188

C’mon, Elhokar, I believe in you! You can be a good king!

“‘Wit!’ Adolin called, waving.”—Page 197

Wit!

“Adolin—stalwart as always—had dismounted beside the king. He tried to stop the claws, striking at them as they fell. Unfortunately, there were four claws and only one of Adolin. Two swung at him at once, and though Adolin sliced a chunk out of one, he didn’t see the other sweeping at his back.”—Page 208

Adolin VS 4 is becoming a pattern.

“But the other one? You saw how he ran out onto the field today. He even forgot to draw his sword or bow! He’s useless!”—Sadeas, Page 227

COME AT ME, BRO! NO ONE TALKS SHIT ABOUT RENARIN!

“‘He is relying heavily on Brightness Lalai to act as clerk.’ Perhaps that would make Jasnah return. There was little love lost between herself and Sadeas’s cousin, who was the king’s head scribe in the queen’s absence.”—Page 422

Whoa, there, Sadeas’s cousin? I’m sure she won’t be a pain in the butt.

“‘Forgiven? Me?’ [Taravangian] seemed to find that amusing, and for a moment, Shallan thought she saw deep regret in his expression. ‘Unlikely. But that is something else entirely. Please. I stand by my questions.’”—Page 464

Ahahahaha.

“Gaz had never gotten used to having just one eye. Could a man get used to that?”—Page 472

I dunno, ask Kelsier.

“Roshone fell still, skewer held limply in his hand, brilliant green eyes narrowed, lips pursed tight. In the dark, those eyes almost seemed to glow.”—Page 546

Panic.

“‘Yelig-nar, called Blightwind, was one that could speak like a man, though often his voice was accompanied by the wails of those he consumed.’—The Unmade were obviously fabrications of folklore. Curiously, most were not considered individuals, but instead personifications of kind of destruction. This quote is from Traxil, line 33, considered a primary source, though I doubt its authenticity.”—Chapter 45, Way of Kings

Everyone in this series think the Unmade aren’t important which makes me think that they’re incredibly important.

“Kabsal hesitated, then walked over, taking the picture in reverent fingers. ‘It’s wonderful,’ he whispered. He looked up, then hurried to his lantern, opening it and pulling out the garnet broam inside. ‘Here,’ he said, proffering it. ‘Payment.’”—Page 639

Why would Kabsal try to pay Shallan for her drawing? Does he know she’s a radiant?

“The flashes of light came from directly ahead. So transfixing. Brushing past a pretty gold- and red-haired woman who huddled frightened in a corner, Kaladin burst through a door.”—Page 648

Who’s that?

“But that implied that they had limited themselves before. Did they do it because they realized that the battlefields left little room for maneuvering? Or was it for speed? But that didn’t make sense—the Alethi had to worry about bridges as choke points, slowing them more and more if they brought more troops. But the Parshendi could jump the chasms. So why commit fewer troops that their all?”—Page 781

They just trying to keep the Alethi distracted?

“The soldiers pulled Sadeas’s helm off, and Dalinar was relieved to see his former friend blinking, looking disoriented by largely uninjured.”—Page 786

Oh, good, Sadeas is still alive…

“I hold the suckling child in my hands, a knife at his throat, and know that all who live wish me to let the blade slip. Spill its blood upon the ground, over my hands, and with it gain us further breath to draw.”—Page 789

What do you guys think of this death rattle? I find it interesting that it first refers to the baby as “he” and then in the next sentence says “its blood” instead of “his”. So there’s possibly some baby possession going on here.

“When a surgeon failed, someone died.”—Page 790

Kal, dear, if a farmer fails to produce food, people will die.

“‘Yes,’ Elhokar replied. ‘And yet they are savages, and easily manipulated. It would be a perfect distraction, pinning the blame on a group of parshmen. We go to war for years and years, never noticing the real villains, working quietly in my own camp. They watch me. Always. Waiting. I see their faces in mirrors. Symbols, twisted, inhuman…’”—Page 826

Oh, poor Elhokar.

“‘Every bridge run,’ Kaladin said. ‘You’re going to make us go on every one.’ ‘Yes,’ she said idly, tapping for her bearers to raise her. ‘Your team is just too good. It must be used. You’ll start full-time bridge duty tomorrow. Consider it an…honor.’”—Page 833

Ah, now I remember why I hate Hashal.

“‘The world as we know it has quite nearly been destroyed,’ Nohadon said. ‘Barely a family exists that hasn’t lost half its members! Our best men are corpses on that field, and we haven’t food to last more than two or three months at best. And I’m to spend my time writing a book? Who would scribe it for me? All of my wordsman were slaughtered when Yelig-nar broke into the chancery. You’re the only man of letters I know of who’s still alive.’”—Page 852

Okay, so Yelig-nar is one of the Unmade. And he existed so, you’re wrong Jasnah.

“None of the soldiers rushing across the chasm had made any specific effort to attack the archers firing on Kaladin, but the weight of numbers had forced them away. A few gave Kaladin loathing gazes, making an odd gesture by cupping a hand to the right ear and pointing at him before finally retreating.”—Page 896

Odd.

“‘Don’t worry,’ Kaladin whispered. When had he started to cry? ‘I’ll bring you home. I’ll protect you, Tien. I’ll bring you back…’”—Page 924

MY HEART.

“‘On your horse, lighteyes’ ‘We should finish him. We could—’ ‘On your horse!’”—Page 940

Get on your fucking horse, Dad!

“Navani steeled herself, folding her arms, trying to quiet the screams of denial and pain that came from the back of her mind. This was a pattern. She often saw patterns in things.”—Page 946

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.

“All is withdrawn for me. I stand against the one who saved my life. I protect the one who killed my promises. I raise my hand. The storm responds.”—Page 945

Possibly foreshadowing Kaladin having to save Roshone or Amaram?

“Wait. You—That—What just happened?”—Page 956

I love this.

“For all I know, there are many groups searching for these secrets.”—Page 992

What? Pffft noooooo. There isn’t a ridiculous amount of secret organizations looking for these secrets. You’re crazy, Jasnah.

#TaylorRereadsSA #Brandon Sanderson #Way of Kings #Stormlight Archive #Cosmere #DONE! #I have a problem...