#♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow.

[flownintothesun]

𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐍, 𝐖𝐇𝐎𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐕𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐃 '𝐊𝐈𝐋𝐋' on Westley and Marin in particular...should probably know that their husband ( @batteredoptimist 's Muriel) is 6'8, loves them to bits and has several verses where he's a trained killer. Good luck. 😂😘♡

#killing luci is probably a valid life choice though tbh #➤ 𝚇𝚅𝙸. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚃𝙾𝚆𝙴𝚁 ┊ marin gunderson. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #⋆ ⚓︎ ⋆ ── 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 // 𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐲 ┊ 𝑟𝑢𝑛 𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑦 𝑡𝑜 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑤𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑔𝑛. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ it’s not fair ; it’s not fair how much i love you. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝙸. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙼𝙰𝙶𝙸𝙲𝙸𝙰𝙽 ┊ lucienne agosti.

[flownintothesun]

A sappy little something from my pack to their loves over @batteredoptimist . They had an incredibly hard time picking only five each, for how can you contain your entire heart to a set of five songs? ♡

#♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ like a night in the forest ; like the mountains in springtime ; like a walk in the rain. #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ but i’ve no need for mighty deeds when i feel your arms around me. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ and in the bad times i hear your voice. #♡ 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙸𝙴 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ and both shall row… my love and i. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ it’s not fair ; it’s not fair how much i love you.

[flownintothesun]

an official request for @batteredoptimist 's James, Muriel and Rosie's hearts this Sappy Day.

                                                                    𝑊𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒,                                                                     𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑖𝑠, 𝑊𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑒𝑦 & 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑛 ♡

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ like a night in the forest ; like the mountains in springtime ; like a walk in the rain. #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ but i’ve no need for mighty deeds when i feel your arms around me. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ and in the bad times i hear your voice. #♡ 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙸𝙴 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ and both shall row… my love and i. #♡ 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙸𝙴 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ like the moon you pull me closer ; bathe my body in your lavender skies. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ it’s not fair ; it’s not fair how much i love you.

[flownintothesun]

 ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❛  𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭  𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞  𝐲𝐨𝐮  𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭  𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰  𝐡𝐨𝐰  𝐭𝐨  𝐝𝐢𝐞  𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐥𝐲  .  ❜ 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲

                          ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── 𝟒𝟎𝟒 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐞 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. ( @batteredoptimist )

       𝐍𝐎 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐇𝐎𝐖 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇 is that he’s known who Muriel is from the beginning — and beneath the dorky and lovable scoundrel that is his good and kind mate...is someone who has had to kill to survive. For the most part, Italy looks like something straight out of a magazine with its turquoise waters and multicolored buildings. People here have been friendly and loud — and the markets on the streets and old women kneading pasta dough have seemed like they belong in a fairytale. Muriel’s world is muggy and hot and lively, and Westley’s still not sure what to make of it. It feels more like a vacation than anything right now — but maybe that’s because he hasn’t met Muriel’s mama yet. They’d all agreed that a couple days of acclimation before meeting the parents would probably be a good idea. They’ve generally got no idea in hell what to expect with Westley’s particular brand of pregnancy — but mam says that it’s probably best to avoid lots of stress.

      Which is — well, it’s pretty much out the window right now because there are a handful of guys that pretty much are looking at his mate like they want to destroy him and despite his protestations to the idea, he can only imagine that he looks the part of a hostage or damsel in distress right now — gawking at the situation as a whole, not sure what to do. And yeah, sure, he’s shot a gun. No one in the highlands hasn’t, because they protect their animals. But that’s hardly the high stakes of beefy Mafia-looking guys staring Muriel down. Luckily, mam’s back at the hotel enjoying her umbrella drinks and spa services while Westley and Muriel were meant to be walking back from the beach — but Westley can’t say he feels any better about the possibility of his mate getting stabbed or shot or otherwise injured, and it’s not like Westley has a gun on his person. He’s got no idea what to do — but before he knows it, shots are fired.

      Bird instinct is a weird fucking thing when it comes down to it. For the most part, they’re more prey than predator — but will defend nest and mate with everything in them. Westley refuses to make a nest. Refuses. Aside the point. Next thing he knows, he’s transitioned from normal looking guy into a very grumpy Stellar’s jay — and with one stroke of his powerful wing, he knocks a guy flat on his ass and scrambles for the gun before getting tackled to the ground like it’s bloody American football. He never wanted to see this. Aware of it or not. His mate should have the opportunity to be the gentle and kind soul he is — not the killer he’s had to be. Even if he doesn’t make it, he knows his mate will. He’s never seen him fight — but trusts in Muriel enough to know that these fuckers don’t stand a chance in hell.

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #therianthropy cw #mpreg cw #pregnancy cw #shapeshifting cw #violence cw #murder cw #gun cw #injury cw #omegaverse cw #it's not omegaverse but touches on similar dynamics #so just to be safe! :) #⋆ ⚓︎ ⋆ ── 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 ┊ 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑢𝑝 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔?

[flownintothesun]

 ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❝  𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧,  𝐢’𝐯𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.  𝐢 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐮𝐭…𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭.  𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮.  ❞ 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲

                            ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── ...𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. ( @batteredoptimist )

       𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐓 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐅𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐒, Westley thinks that his mate is the most beautiful creature in all of the world with treasure troves in his gorgeous golden eyes, and mischief in that crooked smile. Muriel’s long body wraps so nicely around Westley’s that he knows with all of his heart that they’re going to keep each other safe — and keep each other loved. He thinks that a small part of him knew that even before Muriel had started bringing him twigs and little snacks — and before he’d shown him how good he was at preening Westley’s bright blue feathers, and the black ones too. Anyone — human or bird — would be lucky to be chosen by his high-flying love — and Muriel had chosen him. Although....

     ....maybe it’s less simple than that. You don’t just forget having your heart broken. Memories of could-have-beens and what ifs may always haunt the one he loves. Westley’s all right with Muriel taking his time, or being cautious where he needs to be. It’s a shame Westley’s not the first love — but he’s happy to know that he’s the forever one. Besides, Mariano doesn’t have a stunning black feather encased in resin around a chain on his neck — Westley does, and likewise, Muriel wears a tiny blue-tipped feather around his. They’re not apart often and haven’t been since they met — it’s all moved quite fast  — but during the rare times that they are, it’s nice to keep your loved one close. A piece of home that’s always with you. Usually, they fly wingtip to wingtip, and wrap up in the safety of one another at night. Westley would happily spend his days listening to Muriel’s warbles as he drifts off to sleep — just as he would happily live out his life stroking down the wings of a man who is neither human nor bird, but something in-between.

     There are a million and one qualities that Muriel possesses that make him the best possible mate for Westley — but he doesn’t want to forget the most important one. Warm fingers slide over his loved one’s chest — bare but for a fine sprinkling of hair that Westley thinks is sexy as hell. Taking care not to be distracted by anything shiny — he lets his hand come to rest against his Muriel’s heart, heaving out a gentle sigh of relief before shifting them again — pulling his mate into his arms this time — watching as wings black as night spread out over the expanse of the bed they share. He tucks hair away, out of Muriel’s eyes — he’s almost always touching him. He supposes old habits die hard. Somewhere, human and bird characteristics tend to mingle. But that’s all right. “Where would I go if I wasn’t coming home to you, hm?” he asks, as he pets along silken feathers and hair alike.

      Westley hasn’t learned how to like Mariano yet — he and Romana seem perfectly nice, if you’re into that whole conventional thing that they’ve got going. Westley loves Muriel’s Mama because he loves her. They still haven’t quite figured out what’s long term for them — Italy in winter and Scotland in the summer? Like migration? Or whether Mam will finally give up the farm to Old Man Kerr up the way and take a permanent vacation in the sun. His Mam’s not *old* by any meaning of the word. She’s only forty — but it’s hard for her to run the farm all by herself. Westley would worry if he wasn’t around to help. Nevertheless, he already knows that he’ll end up wherever Muriel most wants to be. Trying to separate them now would be to separate him from his own soul.

      Nuzzling against Muriel’s nose, he bends into a kiss — delighting in the feel of his lip ring pressed against his mate’s soft lips. Muriel gets like this from time to time — insecure, Westley thinks. One moment, they’ll be utterly free and nothing can hold them back, and then abruptly, it’s almost like his mate feels the need to apologize for his own existence. Like he’s being too much — when Westley can never get enough of him. That’s okay though. Well, okay, Westley’s not exactly happy that Muriel’s been made to feel as though he needs to dilute himself. Small towns in Scotland talk a lot — but the thing is, Westley’s always had the unshakeable support of his Mam, who he can already tell loves Muriel like he’s her own. Support and unconditional love mean a lot — and that’s what he wants to give to Muriel, now. He’ll never mind reminding him just how worthy he is of love and everything the world has to offer.

     “I love you,” he promises, “I’m not going anywhere unless you’re going with me. Not now and not ever. You’re my mate, yeah? I chose you. For life. Happily,” he emphasizes, stroking Muriel’s cheek, “I’m happily yours, mo ghraidh, and I’m going to keep choosing you every day. Every new piece of you I see is one more reason I love you. Look at me,” he coaxes, drawing his mate’s chin upward, “There is nowhere else in the world that I’d rather be.”

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #therianthropy cw #shapeshifting cw #⋆ ⚓︎ ⋆ ── 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 ┊ 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑢𝑝 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔?

[flownintothesun]

 ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❝  𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢 𝐝𝐢𝐝𝐧’𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞.  ❞ 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲

                          ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── ...𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦. ( @batteredoptimist )

       '𝐒 𝐅𝐀𝐑 𝐀𝐒 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐘'𝐒 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐄𝐃, there isn’t a time before Muriel Greene — all of that shit had just been a really bad dream — and then after that, there was a whole hell of a lot of good. Good that he didn’t even know was possible. His lip begins to turn upward into a faint grin as he stares up at the water-stained popcorn ceiling of their piece of shit apartment. The air conditioner is about to give up the ghost — haunting them with its rattles and trickle of air that if you position yourself just the right way you might maybe feel. He doesn’t mind it though. He’s had a hell of a lot worse — and if he’s bein’ real honest with himself — he actually kind of likes it — this....figuring life out together thing.

     The bed gives a shrill groan as Westley rolls onto his side, elbow down on the bed and sweaty face resting against the palm of an even sweatier hand. They’re both naked, and it’s basically too goddamned hot to do anything — even fuck — so that leaves them with those rare kind of vulnerable moments that they’re both still working on learning, all these years later. “Of course I do,” he says, his eyes fluttering as he looks down at the love of his life. Muriel’s got his hands behind his head, showing off the muscle he’s built, and broad shoulders that give way to a slender stomach. If his eyes go lower still, who gives a fuck? “You’re my partner in literal crime,” he mumbles playfully — “You’re my best friend an' the love of my life. Course I see all the good things you don’t notice.”

      Like how his grin is a little lopsided — especially when he’s being a scoundrel. Like how his eyes get a little bit duller when he’s overworked and too tired. Westley knows all the tricks to unravel his husband in bed, or after a hard day’s work. He knows the deeper things, too. The things that still hurt. The way that everyone looks at Muriel like he’s some tough and unbreakable piece of armor — a human fucking shield. Westley knows that sometimes, Muriel has nightmares about his brother in Italy — that sometimes he gets confused enough that he’ll wake up speaking Italian. Westley also knows that those are the times that Muriel misses his Mama — knows that most of the time, he won’t want to talk about it, either.

     But, if Muriel’s talking about potential — there’s a world of that too, and it extends far past the shield thing, or the tall thing. In a different world, Muriel could be up on stage — his long hair and black fingernails on the cover of Rolling Stone, insisting that he’s gonna play that hummingbird guitar because it sounds better — when really, it’s probably just because Westley’d stolen it for him — and gifts mean something, even if they’re not come by in an honest fashion. His husband’s great at math, and complex thought — hell, Westley just lets Muriel handle the budgeting and the finance because he’s good at it and because he likes it.

        Most people find Muriel intimidating, and it’s true that you don’t want to be on his bad side — Westley’s seen one too many times how that story goes. But he also knows that killing people doesn’t make his loved one happy. The thing is — really, Muriel’s a guy that likes to make people laugh — and the way he loves people is through action: whether it’s overdoing it for Coco, nosing into the business of a rival gang because he’s taken personal interest in a certain boy, caring for a bird with a broken wing, or scrounging the money together for Sunday dinner. Westley notices. And it matters. It all matters. “But you’ve gotta tell me babe, which one are we talking about? And if you say it’s your glorious cock, ‘m gonna disown you,” he teases, bending down and kissing Muriel’s lips — his lip ring pressing pleasantly at him to ground him.

      Fingers trace over a broad chest, play with the bar in one of his husband’s nipples. “There are lots of good things about you, liefje. I'm lucky to get to see them all. Best thing that’s ever happened to me, really. Didn't you know that?” he murmurs, flopping back onto his back, sticking instantly to their sheets as he drags his sticky husband into slick arms, letting his head come to rest at Westley’s chest, just where his heart is. He smiles, watching as Muriel’s legs shift in an effort to keep him on the bed. One day, they’ll have one that’s big enough. Fingers card lovingly through silken hair and Westley’s filled with so much love for this man that he doesn’t know where to put it all. It just leaks out of him, and floods everything he touches. Not a thing he wouldn’t do for him. Not a goddamned one.

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #suggestive cw #nudity cw #⋆ ⚓︎ ⋆ ── 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐃 ┊ 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑖 𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑘 𝑢𝑝 𝑚𝑦 𝑝𝑒𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔?

[flownintothesun]

 ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❛   𝐈𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐧, 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐟𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐛𝐞?   ❜  (𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝!𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞)  

                        ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤 & 𝐭𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬.  ( @batteredoptimist )

       𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐘'𝐒 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 as he lays in the dark, listening to the ceiling fan click and whir above them as he runs his hands up and down Muriel’s cold arms. When that’s not enough, he tucks the blanket in around her tighter. Westley doesn’t have much. He lives in the ‘recruit’ section of the compound. Muriel’s joked that it’s little more than a utility closet — and she’s not wrong. It just manages to fit a bed that they’ve just about outgrown — a small desk, and a tiny closet. The bathroom is open and shared with a handful of other guys on this corridor — so whenever Muriel has to go, he escorts her to the medical wing because he doesn’t trust a single one of these pieces of shit with what is precious to him.

       Muriel’s room had been a little bit bigger than this one, back in London, he thinks. Not much, but enough that there was space for a few personal touches. Not that he’d been paying much attention when he’d been sneaking into her room after Mama and Papa had fallen asleep. At least, not to the posters and things. God, they’d been so young when they were taken. He’d only been fourteen, and she, fifteen. Hardly the age where he was thinking about the future. That is — he’d known that he wanted to be with her. Just, the rest of it — the logistics — had been a bit hazy. After all, he’d only just been warming up to the idea that he might have a future at all. Claudio had been quick to do away with that notion. If Westley’s learned anything since being here, it’s that good things only happen to him for a steep price — and, to his horror, he’s not the only one who has to pay.

       He’s honestly surprised that children are among the things that they have to worry about. Fourteen year old Westley would be absolutely shocked to know that Claudio hadn’t castrated him by now, all of nine years later. Thank the powers that be for small miracles, he guesses. And — well, for the not so small ones. Claudio has him going out on a mission soon — he’s probably going to get his ass kicked. It’s kind of his job as court fucking jester. So, yeah, it’s a bit more than surprising that he’s currently tucked into bed, tangled up in his girlfriend’s naked limbs. Usually, Claudio holds Muriel above his head to see how high he’ll jump.

      Maybe it’s gotten boring for him. The answer’s predictable as hell. There’s nothing he wouldn’t do for her. Not when he’d been a scrappy little fourteen year old who was short for his age, to now at twenty-four and...yeah, all right, still a little short at all of 5′8. Muriel thinks it’s cute, so he’ll let it slide. Point is, he’s laden with scars all over his body to prove his love and devotion. And one day, he’ll get her and Rosie out of here, just to drive the goddamned point home. Jesus, he hates that Rosie’s probably somewhere high out of her mind and doing god knows what for  fuck knows who. And yet he can’t squander the fact that at least one of them is here with him.

      His hand slips under the blanket, smoothing up her side and over the soft flesh of her belly. She’s so thin. It’s hard to imagine her pregnant. He doesn’t want to imagine it like this. Not here. He’s been hiding an engagement ring for weeks now, because the time is never right or really romantic or wholly even theirs. Next door, he can hear some eighteen year old recruit getting it on. Paper thin walls. Could be worse. For Muriel, it has been. “When we have children,” he says, nuzzling against the heat of her neck and kissing it, letting his voice become muffled and his curls tickle her cheek, “We’ll be far away from here, liefje. You and me and Rosie, someplace nice and warm. And this place will just be a bad dream.”

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #abuse cw #kidnapping cw #pregnancy cw #suggestive cw

[flownintothesun]

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐄 𝐇𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍 :

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── with all of the love to nonny's ( @batteredoptimist ) muses, as always and as ever. of course i couldn't do a meme without mentioning my muses' darling loves.

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ like a night in the forest ; like the mountains in springtime ; like a walk in the rain. #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ but i’ve no need for mighty deeds when i feel your arms around me. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ and in the bad times i hear your voice. #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ however big ; however small… let me be part of it all. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ it’s not fair ; it’s not fair how much i love you. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #♡ 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙸𝙴 & 𝙵𝚁𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙸𝚂 ⤷ like the moon you pull me closer ; bathe my body in your lavender skies. #♡ 𝚁𝙾𝚂𝙸𝙴 & 𝙼𝙰𝚁𝙸𝙽 ⤷ and both shall row… my love and i. #calling myself out for needing to make more tags >_>

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❝ 𝐢 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢 𝐰𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐦𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥. ❞

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 27 January 2023.

         𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐋𝐎𝐓𝐇 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐃 𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐒𝐄 is beginning to turn a particularly rose-like shade of deep red as Westley stands over the sink, knuckles mauled and bloody, lip cracked. They’re bordering on the edge of an argument — and isn’t it funny that with all of the things Muriel has to resent about him, he doesn’t? He’s upset because Westley’s too independent, too headstrong. He’d poked his fingers into the wrong pocket — guy had maybe half a foot on him. Hadn’t really been in his favor this time, if he’s bein’ honest with himself.

     He looks into the mirror at their reflections — his, and  the man he loves more than the entirety of the world. And how does he tell him the truth here? That he doesn’t mind bleeding a little if Muriel has to bleed for it less? That he’s tired of restless nights up, worrying. Muriel’s been taking on extra jobs lately — exhausted as hell, muscles tight, not enough sleep. His mood’s gone to shit. Even the good days end in naps on the dilapidated old sofa in their piece of shit hole in the wall.  “I know y’think you have to be the hero,” Westley begins, and shit, that didn’t come out the way he wanted to. He can already see Muriel bristling for it. “I mean...”

      “I swear to god, if you’re going to tell me you can look after yourself...”

      “It’s just a bloody nose.”

       “It could have been worse. When are you gonna learn that we’re a team, hm?” Muriel rumbles, and Westley’s impressed because for his part he’d expected more of a fight.

       “Probably the same day y’learn that you don’t have to carry all of the world,” he says with a bloody smirk, “T’be honest babe, I think we’re both a little fucked.”

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #blood cw

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 (𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐎𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲) 

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 10 January 2023.

        𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄'𝐒 𝐀 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄 𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 deep under Westley’s skin, and it’s driving him mad. He can hear the movement of the doctor’s shoes on the concrete of the floor, and he swears the sound accompanying it is the ticking of a clock — though he’s got no fucking idea where it’s coming from. He’s headed down the rabbit hole again, and this time, he’s looking for an escape before it buries him in his Wonderland for good. It was never supposed to be like this — Dominik wasn’t supposed to dig his claws in so goddamn deep. Westley’s still barely more than a kid, and he’s afraid, and he wants to claw his skin off.

       The doctor says something and the world makes a vrrrmp sound, like a slow motion chair sliding haphazardly across the floor. He feels as though he’s going to be sick. All of it would go away with just one little fix, one little hit. But the arms around him secure him in tight, give him something worth fighting for — something worth coming out of this for. He drinks Muriel in like he’s the contents of the little vial, and he feels bigger for it — more something of substance and less nothing than he’s ever felt in the whole of his goddamned life. Muriel could have left him here, buried in his own hell, and instead, he chose to stay.

       “Tell me another secret and I’ll tell you one of mine,” he slurs out, pupils large and unfocused. The world lurches again and his stomach tries to heave for it. “I’ve got a really good one, I promise.” He nuzzles against Muriel, his clothing soaked through even as he presses a kiss to his lover’s neck. He must be disgusting right now, but he’s still not to the point of acknowledging it — of acknowledging anything more than the most pressing of issues, which is why his own secret is pounding against his lips, waiting to spill out into the hospital room.

      They’ve been at this game for hours — Westley slurs out something about himself, and Muriel tells him something much more substantial that he’ll likely have to repeat later for Westley’s addled mind to hold onto. But, for now he delights in Muriel’s memories of a warm home, a before to all of this. Westley was always gonna end up here; but Muriel, he coulda really been something if tragedy hadn’t forced it’s heartless claws into him.

        The words are going to come out, and so he puts a dirty finger against Muriel’s lips to shush him, “I gotta tell you that I think I love you. I think that if I knew what love was...what it really was, that it’d be what I feel for you. You make me better. Y’make me whole. ‘m yours if you want me. Fucking wreck that I am, always been yours.”

         It’s a clumsy kiss — he doesn’t so much as collide gracefully against Muriel as he does crash land against his lips, their noses bumping roughly against one another. “I’ll do better,” he swears, eyelids fluttering, the world spinning. Talk about a fairytale kiss or some shit. “I’ll kiss you like I mean it, I’ll...” he crashes, hanging limp in the arms of what could possibly be love.

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #vomit cw #emetophobia cw #drugs cw #detox cw

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    [  𝐍𝐄𝐄𝐃𝐄𝐃  ]  𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐤𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞.  𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 16 December 2022.

            𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐒 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐍'𝐒 𝐄𝐘𝐄𝐒  when his Muriel’s coming for him, stumbling about on legs that are more Fey than human. The kraken has fished him out of the sea again and he’s utterly frozen, chips of ice in his hair, teeth chattering away as the ship before them begins to de-materialize, leaving only his Arcady. His Arcady and the greatest love of his life.

     Muriel’s not fine. He’s shifting to keep himself whole, keep himself together as that distance is finally — finally — bridged and the two meet as though Westley’s only coming up for air. Westley’s arm rises, half-limp to tug Muriel closer by the backs of moss-covered hair and Muriel drags his sailor in like he’s coming home for the first time in a very long time.

      Tongues crash together, collide like waves and Westley can tell that they’re both spent by the way magic is exchanged between the two — their reserves willing to deplete all they have to place it in the heart of the other. Westley gasps as Muriel tears through his drenched shirt, leaving it in ribbons just to rest a hand against Captain’s still-beating heart. And Westley wants to say that he’s fine, that it’s over now — but all he’s got in him is to push Muriel back,straddle him in an effort to get him to lay the fuck down. Fuck, is that blood?

       Westley strokes at his love’s beautiful face, parting with his lips bruised and aching, his chest heaving for air, “You idiot, what were you thinking? You could have died,” he blurts out before he can stop himself, as Muriel’s hands go next for the pants. He’s trying to keep Westley warm, even as his own light fades out. Muriel laughs.

      “Never said no to a little adventure, Captain.”

       “Muriel.”

       “Wes, I’m fine.”

        Nearby, the ghost ship begins to fully succumb to the sea in low creaks, magic swirling through the air left and right by any and every creature brought together to save his life, to bring that mass of a wreck down. “You’re not fine...you’re not...Muriel? Muriel!”

#batteredoptimist #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #WELP! I made it sad. #did not expect to play in this verse tbh #what a flashback #♡♡♡ #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy.

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❛ 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞…? 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐚 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧, 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐫𝐲? ❜  𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞 

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 22 November 2022.

            𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐖𝐀𝐑 𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐅𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐃.  It’s early still, and light hasn’t fully broken across the horizon as Westley gently combs through Muriel’s hair. It’s getting longer again, and he twirls it in his fingers. He still feels guilty for being relieved that there’s song in the house again, that Muriel’s come home. He’s different now, as though Romeo hasn’t really gone either — as though they’ve converged and somehow become whole. His husband knows how to cry now. He finds comfort in the position he’s in, nestled against Westley’s chest and the beating of his heart. He knows how to ask when he wants something or needs something, instead of just powering through. And really, it might have been all they’d hoped for, except that the guilt still runs deep.

      The life that they’d led will live in them forever — full of tribulations that they can’t undo, things that they can’t unsee...things that they’ve done that they can’t take back, no matter how badly they wish they could. It’s a long road, and it’s one that Muriel’d been walking alone. Now, he has two hands in his...metaphorically, anyway. Their James is still asleep, tucked into Muriel’s side in a way that almost looks impossible to breathe. But their lad seems to manage, just needs to be close, and Westley knows the feeling. If he could burrow himself into his husbands’ souls, he would — just to know that it’s really true this time. That they’re out. That they’ve escaped. That they’re here, and life is good.

      “You were never the worst person,” Westley whispers lowly as James makes a small sound, nestles into Muriel’s side a little more which prompts a lopsided grin that could never be anything other than good, good, good. “You’ve always been the best person I know. Except maybe the Pollards,” he teases, “And you might say I’m biased. But y’never would have had me if you hadn’t tried so hard, been so good.”

      Fingers move to shoulders, tracing absently along the strong lines that his husband had built to keep him safe. “You wouldn’t have done anything you did if you didn’t believe it was the lesser evil. I would have done the same, for you. I still would. You try harder than anyone I know, and you never had to, yeah? Your heart’s always been in the right place.” Hand shifts lower still, coming to rest upon that hummingbird-fast metronome. “We love you so much...missed you so much...you don’t need to change...but if you find that you want to for yourself, I’ll grow with you, I’ll walk that path beside you. I can’t wait to see who you become, I can’t wait to love you then just as much as I love you now. You’re a good person, Muriel. My person, ours. Mijn leven, mijn lief.”

#batteredoptimist #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #♡ 𝙹𝙰𝙼𝙴𝚂 & 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ however big ; however small… let me be part of it all. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow.

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    ❝  𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝.  𝐢 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞.  𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐢 𝐜𝐚𝐧’𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫.  ❞ 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐅𝐚𝐭𝐞

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 28 September 2022.

       𝐈𝐅 𝐎𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐄𝐆𝐎 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐎𝐍𝐄'𝐒 𝐀𝐋𝐌𝐎𝐒𝐓-𝐇𝐔𝐒𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐃, 𝐃𝐎𝐄𝐒 𝐈𝐓 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃?  Westley stands frozen in front of the man before him, mouth open and poised to argue his case — but he can tell that golden eyes are stubborn and set. There’s little that Muriel withholds from Westley — and most of it is to do with exactly what it is that brings him home bloody. Home. There’s a concept. They’d had it once, when mama and papa were alive — laughter and joking and shared space. And sure, they’d had to keep the door open until papa had deemed to let them have privacy; but even that seems almost a fond memory to recall now.

      “I don’t like it,” he says, at long last. He doesn’t. Even if he gets it.

      Whatever Claudio’s secret weapon is will almost definitely inform him of their whereabouts if they don’t get rid of it first. The sewers are the easiest and safest way out, and the guards down there are dumb as a sack of bricks without the Slime Lord about. So, it stands to reason that one of them fights their way out, and the other captures Claudio’s prize and sneaks through the dank, stinking sewers, and meet up topside where Muriel will have secured them a place to stay until they can get out of Positano for good.

      It’s not a bad place to live, if you aren’t caught up in the crime. The air smells sweet when he’s allowed his brief outdoor reprieves, sweet and salty. Flowers bloom abundantly, and there is color everywhere. Everywhere except for their little corner of the world.

      He and Muriel barely see each other these days — Claudio’s moods are foul, and Westley and Muriel don’t push his so-called generosity. They both know that’s the way to end up in the gallery, head-to-head against one another, or watching as bigger, stronger men rip them to shreds. It’s better to play a good soldier sometimes, wait until you’re holding all the right cards.

        “Keep your focus,” he says with a sigh, “But get us a place with a bath, I don’t want to turn into a frog or some shit, ok?” Sweetly, gently, he looks around and raises up on his toes, a kiss in parting — and a ‘see you soon’. Their plan is set for the following week. They’ve just got to get it right. There’s too much at stake to lose.

#batteredoptimist #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #blood cw #kidnapping cw #death mention cw #violence cw

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ───    [ 𝐓𝐎𝐆𝐄𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 ] : 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞, 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐥𝐲. (𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 @ 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐎𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐲)

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 20 September 2022.

       𝐓𝐎 𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 —  and yet Westley finds that nestled deep within the chest under the chasms of fear and rage is a heart that wants to believe that good things can happen. That maybe they can even happen to him. That same heart hammers, cool sweat trickling down his neck from the summer heat, from the withdrawal, from the nightmare. He’s pale, and has dark rings around his eyes and he’s still reeling that he’s been plucked out of the bed assigned to him and whisked away to Muriel’s space.

       Nestled in Muriel’s arms, Westley feels the word ‘love’ tickle his parched tongue as Muriel’s heart buzzes away just under his ear, hummingbird quick and strong as the man himself. And now, he’s got Westley’s hand and he moves with a small start, looks up at the man who saves him every day.

     All he can see in a world that’s been so full of shadows, is Muriel’s light. All he can see is Muriel. And he doesn’t understand why of everyone that this human could choose to take under his wing — that it’s a battered and broken Westley McCarthy. Because, well, no one’s ever wanted him — not once in his life. There’s a file where his father had said as much. He’s been reminded by the foster families, called ‘lucky’ by Dominik. Why him? He’s nothing. Expendable.

     It’s stupid to take chances like this. It’s foolish to hope. Because Muriel loves the idea of him. No. He skids his brain to a halt. Because Muriel had plucked him up during the worst of it, and carried him home. Muriel’d sat with him through the worst of it. Muriel took him out of bed crying. And instead of yelling, he’s taken Westley’s hand as though he’s worth the inconveniences...all of them. And so, while Westley doesn’t understand it, Muriel sees Westley as worthy.

     And Westley? Westley sees Muriel as beloved. He looks up, takes his free, trembling hand to brush against one warm, tanned cheek, thumbing over his jaw. He knows he looks gaunt, like absolute hell, but he just can’t wait any longer. “I love you,” he murmurs, leaning up, and pressing a soft kiss against Muriel’s lips. It shouldn’t feel like forever so soon.

#batteredoptimist #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow.

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── ❝ 𝐖𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭. ❞ 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 23 August 2022.

        𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄, 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐍𝐃𝐋𝐄𝐒𝐒 𝐁𝐀𝐂𝐊-𝐀𝐍𝐃-𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐄  allows them a breathless moment after the heist. And what’s that word mean, if not evident in the fact that when their bodies pull together like magnets, fingers lacing...that Westley lets Muriel pin him down, drag his hands over his head, kiss his neck and leave bruises that Dominik might find? Is that not the act of a lover? What are lovers if not things that leave scars on your heart, and an ache there that runs unquenchably deep?

        Muriel’s tried to save him once — hadn’t realized he can’t be saved, that time is good to them for allowing what she does. They wear different colors, come from the other side of the tracks to come together. But they steal and cheat and rob together, and somewhere along the lines, Muriel’d gotten Westley’s heart in the bargain. He hadn’t had to asked, hadn’t needed to call it anything at all for it to be what it is.

       So Muriel’d scared the life out of someone for Coco, and Westley’d raided the medicine cabinet for the others. It’s what they do, and it works. Gives them an excuse to be together — even if it is one that neither of their respective bosses would understand. And if Dominik found out that Westley was giving the girls medicine to help with the hangovers, the highs, the come-down... well, it’d be the end of him. “Is that a fact?” he teases. He’s eighteen, the world should be at his fingertips. He should be on some goddamned boat somewhere with the salty breeze billowing back unruly curls, with arms spread wide like he could fly. Instead, the flying is the running, always the running. And now, the want to run away with someone that he loves. That...yeah. That he loves.

       “Y’telling me you’ve been seeing other people? Cause...” he steps into Muriel’s space, and they’re both still heaving, out of breath and half out of their minds with adrenaline. “For me,” he murmurs, pulling his lover-apparent down by the sides of that gorgeous leather jacket, “It’s been you for a long time, liefje. So take me, I’m yours to keep.”

#batteredoptimist #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #drug use cw #sex work cw #addiction cw #theft cw #crime cw #drugs cw

[flownintothesun]

⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── [ 𝐆𝐎 ]  𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥/𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. (𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐋𝐎𝐋)

              ⋆ ✰ ⋆ ─── a legacy post for @batteredoptimist dated 14 August 2022.

       𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄𝐘 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐌𝐔𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐋 𝐃𝐎 𝐈𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐘 𝐔𝐍𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 𝐀 𝐍𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐋 𝟗 𝐓𝐎 𝟓 — and that’s to say that even Coco has their rules. One of the biggest of those rules is ‘no infighting’. Infighting leads to traitors, leads to more trouble than it’s worth. But Westley’s still new to Coco’s way of doing things — he’s still young and inexperienced and full of the fight that he’s been building up for the better part of his life.

       He’s maybe half of Rob’s size, and he knows that the bulkier man carries a pistol, like most of Coco’s guys do. And it’s not that he’s any sort of idiot. It’s just that no one talks shit about Muriel in front of him. And yeah, Muriel’s tall and strong. He doesn’t need anyone defending his honor. Westley knows that. But Muriel’s not gonna do anything — only times he’s ever actually scary are when it’s dealing with Dominik or Darius, or if it’s on Coco’s orders.

      But Westley doesn’t mind being the bad guy. He’s already got a shiner and his arm’s bleeding from being knocked back into a rusty old nail which will require some care later. But Rob looks worse. He doesn’t even think about half the shit he’s saying as he lays into the bastard. Doesn’t matter anyway, his fists are smaller, but they speak pretty damn loud. And then...

     He feels himself hoisted under an arm and pulled away, squirming. He knows it’s Muriel without looking — can smell the cigarettes and the mint from where he’s trying to quit. Together, it’s a comfortable smell. But he hates this, hates this. “Godverdomme Muriel, zet me neer. Ik was hier nog niet klaar! Hij had het over jou en hij moet een lesje leren!”

      “It’s not your lesson to teach, mijn leven.” He feels Muriel shifting toward Rob, “I don’t care that you’re talking about me. Already knew and so does Coco. But if you ever lay your hands on my fiance again, Coco’s gonna be the least of your worries. C’mon Wes, let’s go home.”

#batteredoptimist #➤ 𝟶. 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙵𝙾𝙾𝙻 ┊ westley mccarthy. #♡ 𝙼𝚄𝚁𝙸𝙴𝙻 & 𝚆𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙻𝙴𝚈 ⤷ calm my storms and make me brave ; do not go where i can’t follow. #blood cw #gun cw #gang cw #violence cw