#((and that must mean so much to her; even if it; again; it cuts randall deep to think all this time; she's been missing him!)) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lady-o-ren · 3 years

Text

Moonstruck

Chapter One (Here) // Chapter Two (Here)

Chapter Two

The wolf wasn't beneath the trees.

But his big feet make him easy to track, leading Claire and Caspian out of the wretched wood to a sea of wild hills that look like waves under the heavenly glow of the night sky. As they near two rolling mounds where the tracks drag against the earth, she sees a lonely crofter house nestled between them like a little boat, abandoned and shabby looking, but it's roof is still thatched and the stone walls still stand. Good enough really for a place to rest one's tired head.

Yet Claire wonders why a wolf would seek a place so out in the open.

Better yet why anyone would seek out a wolf.

"Because you're an absolute nutter, Beauchamp," says Claire to herself. " Or very possibly you're suffering a concussion."

Swinging a leg off Caspian, she tugs on his reins with a warning to stay put and gathers a deep fortifying breath before stepping into the shadow of the house where the door hangs open.

Inside, shafts of bright silvery light illuminate the room, seeping in through the only window. There are cobwebs and dead leaves strewn about the place, emptied of almost everything except for a wobbly looking table by the soot stained hearth and a stool that must've been made for a child tucked into the corner. . .

Opposite of the big red wolf, eyes bright as stars in the pale blue dark.

Claire's breath quickens and her pulse jumps at her throat but she manages to keep her voice steady. Somewhat.

"We still have that deal don't we? You restrain yourself from biting my head off and I don't shoot you between the eyes."

A miserable sound echoes from the wolf's maw and that's answer enough for Claire. The floorboards creak beneath her as she shuffles about the room, finding a bit of flint left behind from vagrants come and gone and makes a pleased and grateful sound when the sparse bits of wood in the hearth catch fire. She then kneels down in front of him, fist outstretched and shaking as she chants -

"Please don't bite me. Please don't bite me. . ."

It's only when Claire feels something hot and wet swipe against her knuckles does she realize her eyes have been shut and she recoils in surprise,flat on her arse with a shriek.

The wolf however snorts heartily.

“You're laughing at me aren't you?”

The corner of his long mouth quirks wryly as his bushy tail swings back and forth and Claire finds herself cracking a smile. The first of this very long and preposterous night.

"Well, a sense of humor must mean you have a heart after all. More so than Caspian anyways.”

And she hopes it means he isn't too badly injured.

Claire comes closer again and tentatively runs the back of her fingers against the wolf's broad crown, his dark copper fur soft against her skin, slanted eyes gone to slits. Encouraged now, she scratches behind his ears and the wolf makes a sound of pleasure from deep within his throat and drops his head onto her lap, sighing with heart filled contentment. She laughs softly with growing affection, her fingers finding their way underneath his great maw that makes his head upturn and tail to swish, swish.

"I don't care what you say you're a puppy and a sweet one too, aren't you?"

She then impulsively imparts a kiss atop his head and the wolf bumps his nose against her chin wanting another.

“Cheeky lad,” she murmurs warmly, but gives him another anyway.

However, she came here for a reason and that wasn't to cuddle a wolf.

Stroking her hand along his neck, that has him kicking out a long powerful hind leg, she says -

"I know I don't look it, but I know more than a thing or two about broken bones and gashes. Will you trust me to help you, even if it hurts?"

A beat passes before he licks at her wrist and she takes that as a show of trust and extricates herself from beneath the red wolf. Gently, she probes his back and ribs first and is amazed there's only a few marks from the bear, hardly deep at all. But then her hands pass over a crisscross of scars beneath his thick coat and her eyes meet his, searching.

“Someone's hunted you, haven't they?”

A frightful tremor crawls over him that grips at her heart and without thought she presses herself against him wishing she could ease whatever horror he was remembering.

“I hope you tore the bastard apart. Slowly. Bit by bit.”

His sides lightly shake and she knows it must be laughter.

Pushing her wayward curls behind her ear, Claire then touches him gingerly over his injured shoulder. The muscle is swollen and a part of her wonders if it's just a bad sprain. But she remembers that odd angle of his leg as he walked and how he nurses it close to himself now.

“If you were a man I'd set your shoulder and wrap it in a sling. I've done so before though it's no small feat. But I haven't so for an animal much less a bear-sized wolf . . .” She sighs. Upset with herself. Hand at her brow, the cut throbbing more so now. “There isn't much I can do without another pair of hands."

She looks helplessly at the wolf.

But there's no way for him to express to her that it's alright, he's suffered worse. And would gladly do so again and again if it meant keeping her from harm. This brown haired lass like no other woman he's ever seen before. Sae bonny and brave.

So he nuzzles her palm and mouths the soft skin like the puppy she says he is and feels his heart swell and the pain in his arm to cease when a smile softly graces her face lovelier than a moonbeam.

Aye, she was worth it.

Claire leaves him for a moment to settle Caspian for the night in the old byre behind the crofter house and comes back with blankets from the horse's saddleroll, a flask and a fold of her cloak full of bittie yarrow leaves she'd found growing between the stones.

The flask is filled with brandy (courtesy of her former betrothed) that she douses torn strips of her gown with to clean the wolf's wounds (murmuring sweet things as she does so knowing how sharply it stings) while the yarrow leaves are mashed between her teeth and applied carefully like a salve.

For his poor shoulder however, she says -

“I promise I'll figure out what to do in the morning. I owe it to you for saving me. Thank you by the way,” she softly adds, and scratches behind the wolf's ears as he likes until his eyes begin to droop and a long winded yawn escapes her mouth.

She's exhausted. Body bruised and aching from being tossed around like a ragdoll but she doesn't think she can sleep in a gown that's been slobbered and bloodied. So while the wolf is fast asleep, Claire undresses down to her chemise and stays and quickly wraps herself in one blanket while laying out the other for a makeshift bed, leaving her cloak to dry by the hearthfire.

Her ruined gown however she grasps in her hands.

No longer did it shine with promise.

No longer was she to be a bride.

At least not for him.

“The bloody two-faced fucking bastard,” Claire mutters angrily, tossing the damn garment across the floor to gather dust as a tear rolls down her chin. She then curls herself into a ball by the fire, shivering beneath the scratchy grey wool, and wrings her heart out of any lingering affection she's ever had for Frank Wolverton Randall by remembering the last moment she saw him.

That morning of their wedding behind the church. Swaying on his feet as he groped a woman she could've sworn was his cousin. And then keeled over, grasping his manhood right after she kneed him.

If only they hadn't been on sacred ground she would've kicked him too.

But just maybe he pissed himself.

Lost in that ever pleasing hopeful thought, Claire is startled to feel a deep huff of breath cloud down her neck like steam and looks up to see the red wolf looming above her.

"You absolute fool," she scolds, though it's spoken without bite as she sits up to cradle his face with both her hands. " You're only making things worse for that shoulder of yours."

The wolf doesn't care. He nuzzles her cheek where the brokenhearted tear had fallen, making a sad whimpering sound as he does so that endears him evermore to Claire's heart.

"No use arguing with a stubborn wolf is there?"

There isn't. He licks the side of her face making her softly giggle before plopping down beside her with a heavy thunk and Claire can do nothing more but sink down against him, his fur radiating a tender warmth that seeps into her tired bones.

Claire wakes with the morning light that floods the room and stings her eyes that immediately shutter close behind the back of her arm.

While embers have kept the room bearable, she knows the only reason she hasn't woken with a sniffle is because of the heavy, heated weight that engulfs her like a brushfire. Drowsily, she lets her hand wander to the furry head atop her chest that rises steadily with a deep inhale of smokey air and then strokes softly down until her palm oddly meets naked flesh. . .

Her eyes bolt open and through the sleepy blur she sees a stranger, big and naked draped across her, mumbling something hot-breathed and incoherent as he smothers his face between her breasts right before she screams.

#Outlander #outlander fic #outlander fanfiction #jamie x claire #moonstruck

63 notes · View notes

medusinestories · 3 years

Text

Onwards to the episode in which we get to see Flint and Silver each having a very bad day (as well as two literal dicks that nobody had asked to see).

Black Sails VII (s1 ep07)

- We open on Pastor Lambrick's sweaty face as he intensely rehearses the Easter sermon and he’s obviously eaten up by what he did with Miranda. His sermon, unsurprisingly, focuses on sin, keeping sin hidden, and the hell that awaits the sinner. Which leads us nicely onto Flint, who’s distracted (by his own sin? by thoughts of Miranda? both?) during a meeting with Eleanor. Eleanor is pissed that Miranda let Richard Guthrie send a message to the Andromache and then waltz into town to close up his business; Flint tries to take the heat off Miranda, once again protecting her (at this point, he may not know the contents of the letter).

- During this meeting, Flint is startled when Silver first speaks up to say that the mob in the street was bad - clearly Silver is a sort of intruder in this meeting. But Eleanor, after Silver reminds her by unsubtly clearing his throat, tells Flint that he’s not to harm Silver because he was instrumental in setting up the Consortium. Silver looks so pleased with himself in these scenes, and Flint quite defeated when he tells Silver to follow him back to their camp. I love it.

- To parallel Flint/Miranda’s Sulky Sex scene from ep4, we have Anne/Rackham’s frustrating/disconnected sex scene. It shows us a few things about them mainly that Anne wants to keep a lot of control over what happens, hence Rackham being tied up (though of course this might also be his kink), her wearing a shirt that covers up most of her body, and the reverse cowgirl position that means that she’s both in control of what happens and completely avoids eye contact. The position reminds us of the Flint/Miranda scene, where Miranda was also on top, but their scene involved more eye contact (yes glaring counts, he’s still intensely focused on Miranda), gentle touching (on Miranda’s side) and her being naked and open to him. Another parallel is that both Flint and Rackham aren’t in the right frame of mind for sex, Flint being angry and Rackham lost in a sea of worries (and probably also somewhat angry/disappointed at Anne for forcing him into the plot to kill their crewmates). The difference between Flint and Rackham is that while Flint doesn’t seem to have any trouble performing, Rackham is miles away and doesn’t even notice that he’s lost his erection - again. Anne is frustrated by this, and apparently knows him well enough that she offers to put something up his arse, but he’s clearly not in the mood, and she leaves in a huff, abandoning him all tied up as a sort of revenge for his performance problems. Whatever the problem is between them isn’t put into words (because Anne can’t yet, for starters), unlike the one between Flint and Miranda. The intimacy between Rackham and Anne, so often described as close partners, seems much more distant to me than the one shown between Flint and Miranda. I’m not sure whether it’s because of anyone’s sexual orientation, or just the fact that they’re fucking but they’ve never discussed the big important things, such as Anne’s identity/feelings/etc.

- In this episode, Dufresne gains a lot of power: with a freshly (and badly) shaved head and a new tattoo, he’s been promoted to Quartermaster on the Walrus in Billy’s place. And very quickly he has a problem to deal with: Randall revealing that Silver stole the page. Gates had actually already told this to Dufresne, as is revealed at the end of the episode, which might explain why Dufresne is relatively calm during the whole conversation, while DeGroot wants Silver and Flint hanged and Howell is surprisingly ruthless: he brings up the idea that it may be better to kill off Randall in order to get to the treasure, if they can’t make sure he’ll keep quiet about Silver being the thief. Dufresne is actually quite kind towards Silver in the scene where he puts Silver’s memory to the test - a test that could result in his death if he fails it and that Silver constantly grumbles against (I love his grumbling!). Basically, at this point Dufresne remains quite a sympathetic character, which will change a lot as the show goes on, especially after Jannes Eiselen had to leave the show (such a sad story, RIP Jannes).

- In the meantime, the Flint and Gates relationship is crumbling. It's sad to see, especially since they're shown sharing chuckles as they talk about Dufresne's appointment in the beginning of the episode. But then Gates brings up the subject of Miranda and demands explanations about the letter Billy found. We're not shown exactly what Flint answers, but it's clear that he's actually trying his best to give him an explanation without incriminating Miranda too badly. The sad thing is that Flint is actually telling the truth: he actually wasn't involved in any betrayal of his crew and and can only guess at Miranda's motivations. But the fact that he's lied time and again in previous situations, including on the Maria Aleyne where he claimed Lord Alfred drew a weapon on him (and Gates secretly verified that this was a lie), and used men as pawns to advance his and Miranda's plans, is now catching up to him. Flint seems truly hurt when Gates accuses him of using the men for his own purposes, and turns spiteful, telling Gates that he should have been "a better father" to Billy and helped him "understand the world he was living in" (suggesting that such a forthright character as Billy can't really survive in a world of pirates who are all ready to stab each other in the back). After that slap in the face, Gates says he's exhausted from Flint and threatens to take it to the crew. Somehow, this pushes Flint to bare all: he tells Gates about his plan to keep a part of the treasure and use it to build up Nassau, depicting himself as a sort of saviour, doing it for the men's good: they'd rather be rich men in a safe place than dead thieves hanging from a noose. Gates sees this as delusions of grandeur, and tells him that while he'll see the Urca plot through, after that they're done. I actually think he sees Flint’s point, since he doesn’t just throw him to the crew, but won’t admit that out loud. The whole of this scene hurts bad, because you can tell that Flint is desperate and sad to be losing his closest ally and friend, and that Gates is hurting from the loss of Billy and exhausted from the toxic relationship he has with Flint, where he's played enabler to his manipulations for years.

- While Flint and Gates’ alliance is breaking, Silver has to forge one with Randall or die. Randall finds out in the beginning of the episode that he’s been voted out of the crew. This is apparently due to DeGroot’s fears that Randall could be a fire hazard, which the crew took disproportionately to heart. Randall is furious with Silver, who smugly tells him that in these situations, a setback often comes with a new or unexpected opportunity. He’s right, but at this point he doesn’t know that he is the opportunity Randall’s going to latch on. Randall reveals that Silver is a thief, and Silver denies it, saying that Randall is both a halfwit and was in a haze of opium when he heard what he thought he heard; he even tries to convince Randall that he was mistaken (this, my friends, is gaslighting). However, by revealing that Silver was the thief, Randall sets a chain of events into motion which could either end with his death (if Howell has his way, since Randall is an inconvenient witness) or Silver’s (if DeGroot tips the balance, not trusting Silver to remember the coordinates and not wanting to sacrifice Randall for nothing). Silver figures out that these are the outcomes, and tries to talk sense into Randall by making a deal with him: he’ll care for Randall and make sure he can stay on the ship. But it’s only when Silver finally admits that he is the thief and that Randall was right, that Randall accepts the deal. Later, Silver realises that Randall might have orchestrated the whole thing: he’s now got Silver to serve him, doesn’t have to take any risks on the ship, and gets to remain with the crew. Silver wonders if Randall is a genius rather than a halfwit (a word thrown about a lot to describe him). And it seems quite obvious, considering what happened, that Randall still has strong survival skills (an amputee with impaired cognitive skills doesn’t stand a chance of survival outside a crew and he must be aware of it), that he still has a good memory and an ability to pick out useful information and that he’s aware enough of what’s going on to be upset by the crew’s rejection and Silver’s attempt to gaslight him. I think it’s important to recognise that Randall is more than a comic relief or a grotesque character: he’s a disabled man who's lost parts of his cognitive ability and is struggling to survive.

- This episode focuses on Vane facing his past. He seeks out the island where he grew up and its master, Albinus. I’d forgotten or never really registered that Albinus was a pirate and that the men who work for him were mostly his crew - and likely slaves (or children, hence Vane?) that he managed to capture/press into service. He’s retired from pirating and set up a system where his men cut down trees for timber all day, without wages. It’s not clear exactly how he holds so much power over these men, although it seems that everyone is terrified of him. He’s extremely strong physically, seems shrewd, speaks rather well, and his tattoos suggest that maybe he’s involved in some kind of ritual (truly religious or just for show?) which would make him all the more scary to superstitious people. Vane is clearly still frightened: he barely makes eye contact and practically stutters when he first tries to make the deal with Albinus, which is that he’ll take some of Albinus’ men as crew and send Albinus part of their earnings as tribute. It says a lot about Albinus that Vane, after years of having run away, is still so scares that he’s willing to pay him a tribute. But he changes his mind as he stares at a boy bearing the same brand as he does: he tries to persuade the men that Nassau is a pace of pleasures rather than hard labour, and confronts Albinus. The fight is brutal and ends with Vane buried naked, just after Albinus tells him that he’s proud of him. But of course Vane wouldn’t be Vane if he didn’t rise from the dead at the last minute and kill Albinus, goaded on by his inner Eleanor voice.

- In the meantime, Mr Scott returns to Eleanor, apologising for what he did, telling her he betrayed her out of love. However he also reminds her of his slave status: technically, he belongs to her. The argument upsets her, and he quite cleverly uses this moment to ask her to free the slaves who were on the Andromache. And it works: by the end of the episode, she’s made arrangements for the men to work on ships and has bought the women’s freedom and found them jobs in her tavern. But Mr Scott has still decided to leave Eleanor to join Hornigold’s crew, to refrain from meddling with Eleanor’s affairs, since he disagrees with her so strongly re: the Urca. Hornigold approached him earlier in the episode, and the introduction to that scene is quite interesting: Hornigold says to Mr Scott “I’ll need to know your secret” and Mr Scott looks startled and frightened. It seems that he’s startled because he’d been giving food to the slaves, but in light of S3, it could be a much greater secret that’s being referred to. Mr Scott is relieved when he realises that Hornigold is simply talking about tolerating Eleanor, who he clearly can’t stand.

- Flint’s bad day continues, of course, with the big confrontation he has with Miranda. He’s furious about the letter (of which he now knows the contents thanks to Gates), telling her that it could have got him killed, or destroyed the plans they’d made and asking her whether she was trying to embarrass him. This sounds so weirdly petty, and yet it also sounds exactly like the kind of argument that would come up in a bickering couple. Miranda answers that she was trying to help him out of that life, because she wants to move on. This is where Miranda utters the famous “there is no life here, there is no joy here, there is no love here”. I noticed that, covered by Flint yelling at her, and distorted because her voice has gone very shrill, Miranda says another line, which sounds like “you used to love, then”. If that really is what she says, it’s extra-extra-extra heartbreaking to hear (if someone wants to check it for me, it’s around 35:40). It’s obvious that Flint and Miranda’s views on life are very different, and I can’t help but think back to the fact that, as a carpenter’s son from the country, Flint has had to struggle all his life to become who he is. So when he says that you can’t get a life without having a war, and Miranda tells him he’s wrong, she’s speaking entirely from the point of view of her privilege. She’s never needed to fight as hard as he has to be happy, because she got extremely lucky in marrying Thomas. And when she says that Thomas would agree with her, I’m certain she’s right. But life has never been like that for Flint, and there’s no way he’ll ever entirely agree with their point of view. Rewatching this scene is tough, btw, because they both have great points, they’re both hurting so much, and there’s so much to take in between the body language, the facial expressions, the tones of voice and the actual words that it’s a whole whirlwind. And it feels very, very real.

- It’s absolutely hilarious to see Rackham get robbed by the whores taking advantage of his lack of knowledge (and research). He should absolutely have done a better job and has no clue how to run a brothel. He’s lucky Max takes things in hand after having heard from Idelle that the girls were taking advantage.

- Then we have the beautiful Drunk Flint scene. Eleanor notices him feeling very sorry for himself after Gates has pretty much broken up with him and he’s still reeling from fighting with by Miranda. I think Flint feels very misunderstood here. He thought that he was doing something good, to save Nassau and avenge Thomas, and doesn’t understand why they can’t see it, why they only see the terrible methods he uses to reach his goals. So he’s full of doubt, clearly wondering if he’s the villain of the story, and puts the question to Eleanor: is their plan worth it? Eleanor is the only person who still believes in him, which leads us to the only scene that I would ever call straight-baiting. Flint hovers near Eleanor, breathing heavily, and a variety of emotions play over her face during this moment of tension, as she seems to think this is leading to a kiss. It does, he gives her a chaste little forehead kiss and leaves. All the elements are in place to make your average viewer start shipping these two. I actually find it hilarious that the ship barely exists in the fandom (though I wasn’t there in the beginning of the fandom and I guess the viewership changed a lot between S1 and S4).

- The scene with Flint and Gates glaring at each other from their respective ships and Parson’s Farewell playing in the background... epic! We know this is the beginning of a big struggle between them, especially since we find out that Gates has pretty much decided that he’ll hand Flint over to the crew once they get the money. But nnnnggh that scene! The ships leaving on their hunt! Awesome and heartbreaking!

49 notes · View notes

justthehiddleswrites · 3 years

Text

Destiny Has Other Plans | Loki x OFC | Epilogue

A/N: So this is the last chapter for them. I do have an idea for a second series with these two. If you would like more of Loki and Alexis, let me know! I have been overwhelmed by the positive response for this story. Thank you.

Pairing: Loki x OFC

MASTERLIST IS HERE

Summary: When Loki goes to ask his father for permission to marry, he is shocked to discover his destiny has already been made for him. He is already betrothed to Sjofn, the daughter of the King of Vanaheim. An arranged marriage to bring the two kingdoms closer together and strengthen the bond. Never mind that Sjofn and Loki can’t stand each other.

After The Battle of New York, Loki is sent to live at Avengers Tower as punishment for his misdeeds. But it doesn’t mean he has to like it. A year later, he has adjusted to life on Midgard but has avoided any romantic or emotional entanglements, still bitter over his lost love. Dr. Alexis Randall is skilled at helping others fix their relationships as a couple therapist, but can’t help her own love life. A chance encounter with Loki in a dive bar has life altering consequences for both of them. Now, Alexis and Loki must figure out a way to co-habit without killing each other in the process, plus navigating impending parenthood and other roadblocks along the way.

This Chapter: Loki and Alexis settle into their new life as parents to twins.

Warnings: Arranged Marriage, Forced Marriage, Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, Smut, Angst, Semi-Public Sex, Mentions of law enforcement, Oral Sex, Cursing, Vaginal Sex

Taglists are Open, please let me know if you wish to be added.

–

“You know you can stay here for as long as you want.” Tony stared wistfully from the kitchen as the movers walked by with boxes. “It’s not like I don’t have the space.”

Alexis handed off one baby to Nat and rubbed Tony’s shoulder in comfort. “Vanir babies start displaying their magic at six months and given those two…” She gestured over where Nat was cooing and Loki held his son. “… propensity for mischief, we are expecting it even sooner. We need our own space.”

Tony’s eyes lit up. “An entire floor just for the four of you. You can have a run of…”

“Weren’t you the one who couldn’t wait to get rid of me? That didn’t even want me here in the first place?” Loki countered, not looking up from the funny faces he was making at the baby.

“That was before Alexis and….” He turned his head to Alexis. “How do you say their names again?”

Both Alexis and Loki chuckled. “Áleifr and Ástríðr but we just call them Oliver and Astrid.”

“I just call them adorable.” Nat piped up, tossing Astrid into the air, earning a giggle from the baby. “You will bring them over, right?”

“Barton has already browbeaten Alexis in promising to bring them over at least once a week.” Loki added.

Nat narrowed her eyes at Clint. “You didn’t push her hard enough. I would have gotten twice a week.”

“I am just cutting back on my practice, not closing shop entirely. And Loki still has his duties here.”

Loki’s head popped up. “Which reminds me, what about my paternity leave?”

“Take it up with HR.” Tony waved him off.

“I don’t report to HR.”

“Take it up with…” Tony’s eyes scanned the room, catching Steve walking in. “… Cap. He handles all the leave requests.”

“I, what?” Steve stood confused. He spied Loki and Alexis’s luggage along with the two pack and plays and diaper bags. “Is it moving day already? I’m going to miss you guys.”

“I will not miss you.” Loki muttered.

“LOKI!” Alexis scolded. “Ignore him, Steve.” Alexis took Oliver from Loki, since he was fussing and was ready for a feeding. “He is going to miss you.”

Alexis settled into the chair that Nat vacated and undid her blouse to feed Oliver.

“Now explain to me again why you are living in an apartment rather than on Vanir or Asgard? Wouldn’t that make more sense?”

Alexis and Loki gave each a knowing glance. “And please our fathers to no end? No, thank you. We both agreed that living in New York would keep them from meddling too much.” Alexis added.

“And how are they taking all of this?” Nat asked.

Loki sighed. “It thrills them to have grandchildren, but are less overjoyed at the fact that we have no intentions to get married?”

“Ever?” asked Bruce, pushing his glasses up his face.

“For as long as they push us to do so.” Loki added.

Thor walked in carrying a large box. “Which if you know our fathers could be an eternity.” He dropped the box onto the ground. “That is the last of it, Brother.”

“Thank you, Thor.”

Alexis finished up feeding Oliver, who was now dozing off in her arms. “And this one has had his fill, we should go before he wakes.”

There was a collection of sniffles in the room. Everyone gathered for last hugs and baby forehead kisses.

“Call me whenever you get a babysitter.” Nat offered.

“You’ll have to fight Frigga for it.” Loki offered. No one said a word about the tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

“Deal.” Nat wiped away the tears with the back of her hand.

“State of the art baby proofing?” Tony offered. “The best Stark Technology can offer.”

“We’ve already closed on the apartment.” Loki countered. “And Frigga and Gerth have taken great lengths to ‘magically’ baby proof it.”

“Rude.” Tony laughed to stop from crying. He pulled Alexis into a tight hug. “I’m going to miss you kid, keep this guy in line.”

“Technically, I’m older than you, Tony. I’m older than Loki.” Alexis choked. “But I will.”

Loki grabbed the bags. “One would think we were dying. Your sentiment is touching but ill placed. Now Alexis, we really must get going darling or else traffic…”

“Right.” Alexis turned to everyone. “Thank you.” Her voice cracking.

Thor came in for one more hug. “We should be thanking you. He is lucky to have you.”

Loki cleared his throat and Alexis broke away and grabbed a diaper bag and one of the car seats while Loki grabbed the second one. Steve and Thor gathered up the rest of it and within ten minutes they were on the way in one of Tony’s town cars.

Alexis glanced at the car seats and grabbed Loki’s hand, squeezing it tight. “Is this what you envisioned your life when you were sent here? Are you disappointed, my love?” She asked.

“Is it what I envisioned? Hardly. I intended to wile away my days alone. Love was something I believe was no longer available to me. My fate was set before I could walk. And then…” He kissed her cheek. “… you came into my life. An unexpected, unwelcomed surprise.” Alexis ducked her head. Loki reached out and raised her chin with his fingers. “But one I desperately needed. It is not what I envisioned. It is even better.”

He leaned over and kissed her tender, pulling her near to him. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She wrapped her arms around Loki’s neck and kissed him again. The sound of both babies crying interrupted them. Alexis sighed. “You take the troublemaker.”

“Which one is that?” Loki’s lips twitched into the smile. “They both seem to be troublemakers to me.”

“Like father…” Alexis giggled as she reached for Oliver, who was closer to her.

“Like mother…” Loki countered, reaching for Astrid.

“Like their parents.” Alexis smiled.

#loki #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki imagine #loki x ofc #loki fluff #loki smut #loki angst #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #destiny has other plans

78 notes · View notes

t-o-m-hollands · 4 years

Text

Summery: Tom is part of the Firm, a fearless London gang. You are at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Pairing: Tom and y/n.

Word count: 3k

Themes: Mob!Tom, Peaky Blinders inspired, period piece – this is set in 1961, London.

Warnings: This story will contain themes such as kidnapping, murder, violence and smut. Also a lot of swearing. Also descriptions of injuries. Also alcohol, smoking and mentions of drugs. this is a +18 story

A/N: This is a relationship that I wouldn’t recommend in real life. Also, the Firm was the name of the Kray twins gang. I was just too lazy to come up with a name of my own.

READ PART I HERE

READ PART II HERE

1961, London.

Years later, when you look back on that night, it doesn’t seem real to you. Your memories like snap shots in a photo album. Just still pictures in your mind of the night that would change the course of your life forever.

Sherry holding court, arms waving animatedly as she tells her guests a funny story. Flash. Mark’s sullen face, uninterested and dull. Flash. Sherry’s wide and panic-stricken eyes as you heard the gunshots. Flash. Tom’s back, aiming his weapon at Mark. Flash. Sherry bloody body on the floor, forever wide eyed. Flash. Your bloodstained hands as you try to save her. Flash.

Tom’s hand reaching out for yours.

His hand had felt surprisingly real in yours. Warm and firm and calloused. When he pulled you up to your feet it felt a lot like being dragged back into reality.

(Once as a child your father had taken you ice skating. Further out on the lake the ice had broken, and a girl had fallen through. Down beneath the surface she went; into the icy cold water. She would have died, had not one of her friends successfully managed to pull her up to the surface again.

A part of you wonders if this is what she had felt like then. Icy cold to the bone and struggling for air; feeling as though the ground itself has broken underneath you.)

But Tom wasn’t your friend. In fact, you had just seen him murder a man in cold blood. You could read no signs of remorse or guilt in his face. You knew then, that this was not the first time he had taken a life. It likely wouldn’t be his last either.

He’d dragged you back to his car and you’d followed him obediently. It never occurred to you to fight him, there was no point. Not only had you seen him fight boys much bigger than himself on the school yard, but he also had a gun. So, you moved after him, feeling numb all over. Thoughts moving slowly in your head, like your head was full of cotton, and your body seemed to move almost of its own accord. He guided you into the passenger seat of a beat up car, before he got into the driver's seat and then you left East Ham behind you.

Now here you are, captive in a dingy apartment in Mile End; with fading wallpaper and windows so dirty you can hardly see the view outside it.

It’s filthy.

With gentle hands he’d lead you to the bathroom where he sits you down. With a wet cloth he washes you clean of blood. Squatting in front of you his hands swipe and scrub until you’re free of red stains, though there is nothing to be done about your pink silk dress.

There is something so tender in the way he touch you, his face so close to yours, a look of deep concentration on his face. You feel like a wounded and frightened deer as he cleans with great care; as if he’s scared you’ll fall apart at the seams. Any moment now

A funny unwanted thought strikes you then; if you’re the dear, is he the huntsman?

After you’re clean he leads you out to the living room and he ties you up in a chair and asks you if you are comfortable. There’s shame in his voice and all you can do is stare back at him.

“Are you in pain?” he asks instead.

That paused you to think. There is nothing physically wrong with you; no cuts or bruises or broken bones. But numbness was evaporating, and panic started to rise like bile in your throat.

“No” you answer at last.

He searches your face for a sign of lying. Content that you’re telling the truth he takes a few steps away from you, turns his back to you, drags a hand through his hair.

“Look, I don’t want to do this but until I have figured out what to do next you’ll have to stay here, alright?”

No, you want to say. No of course that’s not alright, let me go!

But you’re cleverer than that. Antagonising him is not the way to get out of this alive. You must stay calm, keep your feelings under control. Even more difficult than that; you must make sure that Tom stays calm too.

He’s sat down on the threadbare sofa, head in his hands, lost in thought.

And here is where it can all go wrong. If his thoughts move in the direction that he must get rid of you the easy way, you’re done for. However, if you can steer his mind to a trail where you make it out alive then maybe then you have a chance of survival.

***

“Why did you kill Mark Randall?”

Outside he can hear people laughing, drunks singing and people fighting. From the apartment next door, he can hear a couple’s argument loud and clear.

Yet your voice, quiet and gentle as it may be, shakes him like the sound of a gun. There’s something so matter of fact in the way you ask the question and Tom almost wants to laugh. Because here you are, tied up to a chair in his apartment, wearing a blood-splattered pink silk dress; having just witnessed the killings of two people, one of whom was your friend. Yet, you’re as calm as can be. Voice even and soft and your head held high.

And here he is, and his hands are shaking, and he can feel the panic rising like bile in his throat.

He looks away from you. To look straight at you feels too much like staring straight into the sun and it burns his eyes to see you like this. It feels surreal. Part from the blood you look like a fucking lady, and the contrast to his dirty apartment; a place he avoids most of the time, is bizarre.

“Mark hadn’t needed to die if he’d just listened and come with me,” he says eventually.

“You didn’t want to kill him?” You ask, and Tom sighs. He needs to remain in charge of himself, in charge of the situation. He needs to remember his training.

Remember who he is, and what he’s capable of.

So, he stands up and walks over to you, with his hands in his pockets and with a put-on air of nonchalance.

“I’ve never wanted to kill anyone, princess. Especially not shoot them like that. Hasn’t stopped me though” he says and looks you in the eye. “Sometimes we have to do things we don’t like, because they’re necessary.”

There’s a warning in his words, you both know it.

“You’re awfully calm about all this” he says and kneels in front of you, looking up at your face, close enough he can see every detail in your face. A strange and unwelcomed image flashes before his eyes; of a knight kneeling in front of the queen, awaiting her judgement. But it is not fitting, the dynamic all wrong. You have no power here, and he sure is no knight. He doesn’t know which role he’s set to play in your story but he doubts it’s the hero.

“You’d prefer it if I screamed?” you ask, and he’s impressed, because your voice doesn’t waver. It’s sounds gentle and steady still. But he sees it in your face. There’s fear in your eyes, buried deep. There’s a gleam of sweat over your forehead, and he’d bet more than this apartment that your heartbeat is beating like a drum right now.

“God no” he huffs, “just wondering what you're thinking”. He can’t seem to look away from your face and warning words from half a lifetime ago about not looking straight into the sun comes back to him. Warnings that it will blind you.

“Well, I’ll have to admit, I’m a bit curious about a few things”

“Such as?”

“What did you want with someone like Mark Randall?”

Tom is taken aback at that, it was not a question he had expected. “He hurt one of my friends,” he says, after some hesitation.

“So you wanted to hurt him back?”

“No,” he says. “I just needed some information from him.” He doesn’t know why he’s telling you this. Letting you be a witness to a murder is bad enough. Now he’s sharing strictly confidential information with someone outside the Firm. But talking with you delays the moment where he must leave you and tell Fabien about what happened tonight.

“I knew Mark, he was not clever nor resourceful. I doubt it very much if he’d have any information to give you.”

He doesn’t know why you’re doing this, but your calmly delivered questions clears his head. He follows your path, like a light in the fog, guiding the way. “You’re right, but he wasn’t working on his own initiative. He might have had information on his people”

“You think he’d part with that information?”

“I’d make him”.

You go silent for a moment, and he wonders just how scared you are of him right then. He’s still kneeled in front of you, looking up at you, at the eyes he’s admired since he first saw you in school, a million years ago. You blink, and he’s reminded of the fluttering wings of a butterfly.

“How was your friend attacked?” you ask, and your choice of question surprises him again.

“Mark shot him in the arm, though the fucker aimed to kill”

“Were you with him?” You blink again, another fluttering pair of wings, and Tom wonders if this is what it’s like to be hypnotized.

“No,” he answers, “no he was on his way to meet me, but Mark was waiting for him and attacked”.

“And how did Mark know your friend was supposed to be there, at that moment?”

Your question is asked in such a low and gentle voice, and the full meaning of it doesn’t strike him at first,

But then,

“I, I don’t know” he confesses, and the realization startles him.

The telephone rings. Loudly it screeches from it’s table and Tom feels like he wakes from a trance. He pulls himself away from you slowly to answer it.

“Yeah?” he says, keeping his eye on you as he speaks into the receiver.

“Fabien wants a report” Harry tells him.

“On my way” Tom answers, “but Harry?”

“What?”

“You and Sam need to get to Mark Randall’s apartment. There’s two bodies to take care of.”

Silence on the other end of the line.

“Why didn’t you take care of it immediately?” his brother asks at last.

“Was called away, alright?” and before Harry can protest he snaps “Just fucking do it, yeah?” and he hangs up.

Silence fills the apartment, though the street outside continues to roar in drunken songs and fighting cries.

“I have to go now,” he says, staring down on the telephone, suddenly unable to look at you.

“What will they do to me once they realize there’s a witness?” you ask, and the question Tom thought would come before all others is asked at last. Truth is he should have gotten rid of you right then and there in East Ham. He shouldn’t have let a witness live. It was sloppy and just the kind of sentimental bullshit that would end him in a prison cell one day.

Truth is Fabien will make him kill you himself, probably in the most brutal fashion he can think of, just to make Tom prove that he hasn’t gone soft. That there’s no sentimentality left in him.

He couldn’t let you go either. Didn’t trust you wouldn’t run straight home to your daddy and tell him everything. It didn't help that you knew Tom in school, knew his full name and would have no problem pointing him out in a line-up. Then he’d end up in prison, or dead, and Fabien would go after you in ways Tom didn’t even dare imagine. Just the thought of what the man is capable of makes him shiver.

“I have to go now” he repeats, ignoring your question. “There’s no use in screaming while I’m away. This is not a friendly neighborhood. They won’t come to your rescue.”

But before he steps out the door he stops in his tracks.

“You know, you helped me once,” he says, remembering that time you’d protected him from Jamie.

“And this is how you repay me?” You’re still so fucking calm, even though you both know you’re done for and Tom’s heart beat uncomfortably hard in his chest.

“You’re alive, aren’t you?” he says, eventually.

You smile, and it is gentle though it is without humour. “For how long though, Tommy?”

***

Tom sits in Fabien’s office, a glass of amber-coloured whiskey in his hand and your voice ringing in his ears. ‘And how did Mark know your friend was supposed to be there?’

He had thought about it the entire drive to Fabien's house. The only solution was this. Someone had told them. Someone had told Jack and his men that Harrison would be walking that street at that time on that night. And the only people who knew about it were the men in the Firm.

He airs his suspicions to his leader.

Fabien hums, and inhales from his cigarette. “I see we’ve been thinking along the same lines” he says, blowing out smoke in the air between them. His voice is low and even, his quiet and held back rage evident but controlled. “There’s a traitor in our midst, Tommy.”

He studies Tom’s face, his cat-like eyes shrewd.

“I’m going to find out who’s been ratting on us, and why” he continues, voice smooth like velvet. “And God help the poor bastard once I’ve figured out who it is. However, our only lead was Mark Randall and you tell me you failed to bring him in for questioning and he’s now sinking in the Thames?”

Tom forces himself to keep eye-contact with his superior, resisting the urge to look away from those penetratingly shrewd eyes. “Yes, guv”.

“You failed.” He confirms, taking a sip of his drink. “That’s very unlike you, Tom. I’m disappointed.”

To anyone who didn’t know Fabien they might say the man sounded bored, but Tom knew better. The man was boiling underneath the surface. He didn’t need to shout and threaten to make his anger known, it was like a physical presence in the room. “Very disappointed indeed”.

“It won’t happen again,” Tom promises.

“Oh, it better not. I have big plans for you.” he says, and takes another sip from his drink. “Were there any witnesses?”

“No one left alive” Tom lies, and takes a sip from his own drink.

***

A/N: OH MY GOD this one was difficult to write. I had to rewrite it four times and I’m still not too sure about it. Their dynamic is really difficult but hopefully it’ll be easier in parts to come.

***

taglist: @londonmademedoit @isthataladybag @ceexreverse @daygiowvibe @averyfosterthoughts @applenter @viwihere @youcompletemess @marvelpeters @youngsenpaibaby @duskholland @vanillanestor @panicattheeverywherekid @primadonnasdream @adorestarkey @johnismyreason @fancybrittrash

#tom holland x reader #tom holland fanfiction #tom holland imagine #tom holland headcanon #tom holland #mob!tom holland #mob!tom #tom holland x you #tom holland x fem #tom holland x oc #tom holland x y/n

215 notes · View notes

appalachianwiine · 3 years

Text

Swim Chapter 9 - A Friend

Chapter 9

And if it feels like it's already over

Lean in closer, rest your bones

You've got a friend when times get mean

Yeah, in the meantime I'm on your team

“In the Meantime” - Randall Kent

The day passed in an odd sense of time for Carol, while the kids and her classes kept her busy enough the moments between periods and over lunch seemed to stretch on forever. The opening and closing of the heavy classroom doors shoved and yanked by teenagers all too ready to leave class brought back clear memories of heavy hospital doors being swung open and the room filling with people. Every time a phone would chime or the office would call she’d be dragged back to memories of the nurses calling in codes and shouting for doctors.

3 o’clock came and went and instead of staying after to grade papers or work on paperwork she started cleaning up the classroom to leave. To get to the hospital by 430 she needed to be out of here by 4. She moved robotically through the motions of wiping down the desks and straightening the textbooks. Her mind was with Lydia and Daryl now.

She knew all too well the feeling of being in one of those rooms, time lost to the hospital. Morning, noon, and night change to first shift, second shift, third shift. Hours turning to IV drip times and vitals checks. It could crush a person alone like that and Daryl seemed to think he was very alone. She got the sense he had been for a long time and it worried her. It reminded her of Leah and Matthew really, they’d come from a small farm in northern Georgia and despite all of Carol’s pushing and offering and turning up Leah had never been friendly. Even Ezekiel hadn’t managed to get more then a few words at a time from the woman and he could get just about anybody to talk. She didn’t want to see Daryl and Lydia facing the same sort of isolation.

Carol stopped to pick up coffee for her and Daryl on the way to the hospital. It wasn’t a lot but sometimes a warm drink that wasn’t crappy hospital coffee could make a difference. Pulling into the hospital parking lot she spots a familiar face. The dark haired woman and little boy who’d come to see Lydia and Daryl a few days ago.

“Excuse me!” Carol calls, hurrying to catch up. The woman turns around. “Sorry sorry are you going to see Daryl and Lydia?”

“Yes.” The woman nods. “You must be Carol, from the group. I’m Dr. Grimes.”

“Yeah, Carol.” Carol nods. “Dr. Grimes, it’s nice to met you. Have you known Daryl for long?”

“Seven years almost. Carl was just a baby when my husband and Daryl started working together.” Dr. Grimes says. “I’ve been Lydia’s pediatrician since Daryl adopted her four years ago.”

“Oh.” Carol frowns, “Then you -”

“Caught the cancer?” Dr. Grimes nods. “Yeah, something was wrong, I pushed the lab to expedite the sample, and I’m glad I did it but I have to say that wasn’t ever a call I expected to make in my career. Especially not to someone I know so personally like Daryl. It’s the worst phone call I’ve ever made.”

“I can imagine.” Carol nods. “But I’m glad he has friends behind him, he needs them.”

“Well maybe you could tell him to call every now and then.” Dr. Grimes mutters, pressing the elevator door button. “He nearly gave us a heart attack the first time he called. It was nearly a full 24 hours after he came to the hospital.”

“It’s overwhelming.” Carol frowns. “Learning your kid is that sick, I’m sure he didn’t mean to worry you. He’s a nice guy.”

“He’s too nice.” Dr. Grimes sighs. “Carl step away from the doors or they won’t close.” She pulls the little boy back a step or two by his shirt. “Every time i call it’s vague answers and I know he doesn’t want to worry us but still…”

“He doesn’t want to be a burden.” Carol nods. “It’s - it’s pretty common in this world. Most people pull away when they learn you or your child has cancer. And the ones that don’t - we don’t want to burden the people who stay.”

“He’s always been like that.” Dr. Grimes sighs. “I just wish I knew how to help so he didn’t have to ask.”

“I can help with that.” Carol offers. “If you want.”

“Really?” Dr. Grimes says, ushering Carl out of the elevator. “What can we do.”

“Well - right now… everything is kind of managed for them, the doctors and nurses tell him how to clean, when to eat and sleep, what medications to take when.” Carol explains as they begin the walk down the hall. “When they get home, it’s - it’s going to be a lot scarier. Because then everything is on Daryl. If you’d like my help I’d like to help prepare the house for when he and Lydia get back. Pill organizers, cleaning supplies, wound care, that sort of thing.”

“Okay.” Dr. Grimes says. “Yeah, of course we’ll help.”

“Moooommmmm” Carl whines. “You’re being slow.”

“Alright, alright.” Dr. Grimes rolls her eyes good naturedly. “Sorry about him, this is the most he and Lydia have been apart in a long time. They were in the same class at school, and they were supposed to go to camp together this summer.”

“It’s fine.” Carol chuckles, picking up the pace slightly.

Lydia’s room has a white board attached to the door reading;

LYDIA DIXON - 8 YRS

IV VINCRISTINE

“Mom what’s vin - vin -” Carl frowns. “That?”

“It’s medicine baby.” Dr. Grimes says. “To help Lydia get better, but it might make her feel sick so we need to be quiet and calm when we go in okay?”

“Okay.” Carl nodded solemnly, reaching for his moms hand.

Carol leans forward and knocks on the door.

“Come in.” A tired, gruff voice says.

Carol pushes the door open and holds it for Dr. Grimes and Carl to go in first. Lydia is curled up in a ball on Daryl’s lap, pale as a ghost and wrapped in a blanket.

“Carl!” Lydia mutters, moving off Daryls lap and holding her arms out. Carl looks up at his mom and she nudges him forward. That’s all it takes for him to rush over and embrace Lydia.

“Hey Daryl.” Carol smiles. “I brought you decent coffee.”

“Thank.” He mutters, rubbing his eyes and sitting up. “T’ be hones I think I’m too tired t’ tell the decent stuff from the shit stuff.”

“Long night?” Carol asks.

“Yeah.” Daryl mutters. “Thanks fer comin’.”

“Of course.” She offers a supportive smile.

“How’s Carl an’ Judith?” Daryl asks turning to Dr. Grimes.

“Judith started walking, much to Shane’s horror. I sometimes forget this is the first baby he’s responsible for.” Dr. Grimes chuckles.

“Hey that’s a hell of a shock.” Daryl says. “Imagine getting a four year old and having no parenting experience.”

“You’re doing great.” Dr. Grimes says.

“Thanks Lori.” Daryl mutters. “So uh, you met Carol?”

“Yeah we ran into each other in the parking lot.” Carol nods. “So, how you holding up?”

“Um.” He glances at Lydia and Carl, who are now both wrapped in Lydia’s blanket on the end of the bed and whispering to each other. “It’s uh - it’s been a rough day. Henry and Ezekiel came by earlier, tha’ was nice. But It’s just kinda...”

“Numb?” Carol asks quietly.

“Yeah.” Daryl nods. “Numb. I was uh lookin’ at this binder and it’s - it’s like… it’s insane. I mean, three months in the hospital getting intensive chemotherapy. How do - how I even prepare for that?”

“You ask for help.” Lori whispers. “And you take it when it’s offered.”

“She’s right Daryl.” Carol says. “Those stays are impossibly hard when you’re on your own, so you let us help.”

Daryl didn’t look so sure about that, and next to her, Lori folded her arms. “Daryl Dixon. You’re not on your own anymore and trying to do it all on your own isn’t going to let you focus on Lydia. So you’re going to let us help. Got it?”

“Alright, alright.” Daryl runs a hand over his face.

“And right now you’re going to let us help by going down to the cafeteria with Carol and getting some real food.” Lori continues, looking over at Carol and raising an eyebrow. “Because if theres one thing you look like you could use right now it’s a good meal and an adult conversation.”

“I shouldn’t leave Lydia.” Daryl argues.

“She’s fine.” Lori insists. “She knows me, and she and Carl can watch a movie.”

“Lyd?” Daryl asks quietly. The little brunette turns back to look at her dad. “You okay if I go get some food with Ms. Carol?”

Lydia cocks her head and looks between the two of them. “I… I guess. You’ll come back?”

“Soon as I’m done.” Daryl nods, leaning over and kissing her hair.

“Okay.” Lydia nods.

“You two want to watch a movie?” Lori asks, motioning them out of the room.

Daryl lingers and Carol reaches out and touches his arm lightly. “Come on, they’ll be fine.”

Daryl doesn’t say a word until they’re out of the room. “Sorry about Lori she’s just -”

“She’s looking out for you.” Carol cuts him off. “I know it feels awful leaving her right now, but you have to take a minute to recharge too. Come on, I’ll buy you lunch.”

“You don’t have -”

“I’m doing it.” Carol insists. “We can go over that if you want.” She nods at the binder still in his hands. “I uh, I know pretty well whats in there. I’m sure you have questions.”

“Oh.” He frowns at the folder. “Do uh - do we have to?”

“No.” Carol says, stepping into the elevator. “We can just chat if you want. Try to get your mind off of everything in there.”

Fifteen minutes later she and Daryl are sat with a soda and sandwich each at the back of the cafeteria. Daryl seems to realize he’s hungry and inhales half the sandwich without a word, he pauses abruptly, mayonnaise on his face and turns red.

“Sorry.” He mutters, reaching for a napkin. “I uh -”

“No need.” Carol smiles. “I’ve been there, any food you have eaten has been eaten in between what little sleep you’re getting.”

“Not gettin’ much ‘f either at the momen’.” Daryl mutters. “Lydia was up most of the nigh’ sick again. Probably will be again t’night. The only time she settles is when I hold her.”

“Yeah Sophia was like that.” Carol nods, taking a bite of her own sandwich.”

“I’m usually pretty strict ‘bout everyone sleepin’ in their own bed but I can’t bring myself t’ say no right now.”

“Sophia only slept with me when she was sick too.” Carol nods. “I was always bad at saying ‘no’ while she was sick, but they do need some semblance of structure and routine.”

“Yeah.” Daryl nods taking a swig of his coke. “Tha’s gonna be hard, I know when we get home an’ she’s safe an’ secure again she’s gonna lash out an’ stuff, but I’m gonna have a damn hard time keeping boundaries.”

“I did too.” Carol nods. “Sophia was processing a lot at her diagnosis - our living situation had changed, I left her dad, it was a nightmare.” Silence hangs between them. “Have they said when you’re going home?”

“Hopefully sometime next week.” Daryl mutters.

“Okay.” Carol nods. “Lori and I are going to get the house ready for you okay?”

“What do you mean?”

“Well,” Carol sighs. “You’ll need some things, medical supplies, pill organizers, hand sanitizer, bedding. Something I like to do for the families here is help get their house ready to be home again.”

“You don’-” He stops, seeming to take what they’d said earlier in. “Thanks Carol.”

“It’s why I’m here.” She says, taking a bite of her own sandwich. “No one was for Sophia and I and I’m not gonna let that happen to anyone.”

“Her dad a dick?” The blunt way he says it makes her raise her eyebrows. “Sorry.” He mutters sheepishly. “I uh - I shouldn’ ha-“

“It’s fine.” She says quickly. “He uh - he was yeah. I left because I thought he hurt our little girl.” The words tumble out before she can stop them and she blinks, stunned at herself. She never spoke of Ed. She never spoke of why she was single. She left it at messy divorce and that was that.

“Shit.” Daryl mutters.

“Yeah.” Carol nods.

“Sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“Nah.” He shakes his head. “It ain’. Ain’ nothing I can say gonna make it okay neither.”

There’s that blunt honesty again. Harsh, but welcome. No ‘I’m so sorry that happened’ or ‘you’re so strong’ just ‘ain’ nothing I can say gonna make it okay neither.’

“You’re special victims yeah?” Carol asks.

“Yeah.” Daryl nods.

“So I guess you’ve seen some of that.” She nods.

“Yeah.”

Silence hangs between them again.

“Thanks.” He says. “Fer all yer doin’ fer Lydia an’ I.”

“You don’t need to thank me, I’ve walked this path before. A little closer then I’d like, so if you need anything or just want some adult conversation just call.” Carol says.

“I- yeah, I will.” Daryl nods. “I uh, didn’ mean t’ scare ya this mornin’ if I did. I jus’ - you’re the only person I could think of to call.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” She smiles, reaching across the table and squeezing his hand. “You’re a good dad Daryl, and you’re gonna get through this.” Her attempt at a reassuring smile falls a little flat, because this time she’s not telling the entire truth. He will get through it, but Lydia? She was a different story all together, one with possibilities no parent wants to face.

#caryl fanfic #twd fanfic #caryl fanfiction #twd fanfiction #daryl dixon #carol peletier #lori grimes #carl grimes #lydia twd #lydia dixon #caryl #the walking dead fan fic #the walking dead fanfiction #fic; swim #cancer tw

7 notes · View notes

sometimes-i-write-4-you · 4 years

Text

Lupa-Tundra thing - Hamish Duke X reader

request by @pamelalur15: Hi can i get an imaginr with Hamish of The Order where the reader is part of The Knights and he has a huge crush on her but doesnt want to tell her.

a\n: for the sake of the fanfic I made up a hide called Lupa and she's like.. the mom friend of the hides.

"Hey" I smiled at my tall, blond, blue-eyed.. friend. Just a friend. "Hey" he smiled back. I entered the "reliquary" As Jack insisted on calling it. Hamish stood there, reading a diary he believed belonged to the former champion who was Tundra. "Journal" his voice corrected me. Even in my thoughts, he's still an arrogant prick.

He looked up from the book to catch me staring at his perfect character - With his sharp bone structure, and perfectly combed hair, and those blue eyes that looked at you like they can see right through your bullshit.

"I was just, uh, admiring the outfit. I like the pants chain, very, uh, up-to-date fashion with---" I started mumbling, embarrassed to be caught yet again. "Belt chains became popular back in the 50's, so I wouldn't necessarily call it up-to-date fashion" Hamish corrected me. I sigh and nod, "yeah, obviously, I knew that" I said, but it's the least convincing acting I've done ever since my shining moment as "tree #3" in my school's production of Peter pan.

He laughed and took one last look at the book before putting it aside.

"So, why did you call me?" I asked, biting my lips as I looked around. The place was a mess, and it looked like Hamish just did some heavy researching. "I need your help going through these books" he said. "what?" I said, confused. "see, there are a lot of books, a lot of information. I'm one person, I can't look through it all" Hamish explained. I guess it makes sense. I grabbed the closest book and started reading it.

"do you want a drink?" Hamish offered. I was in the finale pages of "The History Of Hides", a journal of a knight from god-knows-how-many years ago. it listed known hides through-out the years and certain patterns, like Midnight sacrificing himself. I wonder if Lilith has a crush on Randall or Hamish then.

"sure" I replied, and as I started to say my favorite drink, he said the same. "-yeah, I know" he laughed, and went to make it. As I finished the book, he came back and handed me my glass. "thank you" I smiled, and he grinned back. i swear, whenever this small smile spread across his face, my heart starts to go so fast I'm scared Hamish's enhanced senses can pick that up.

"so, learned anything interesting?" he asked. "turns out Midnight usually sacrifices himself" I say, "dodged a bullet then, ha?" I laugh. "yeah, definitely" Hamish says as he took a sip of his drink. When I was accepted into the knights it was Silverback, Midnight and Lupa. Both Midnight and Lupa came out of their trunk that night, but Lupa got to me first. Silverback is sexist apparently, because according to the journal I read his hide always chooses guys.

"how about you?" I asked. "well, nothing much, it was all mentioned in the other books as well" he replied. "oh" I said, and we kept talking until my favorite song cut him mid-sentence.

"shit, Hamish, I really need to go" I said, "it's my 'go to bed already' alarm". I started searching for my bag between the piles of books. "you have an alarm for that?" he asked, and I nodded. "yes, I get really sucked into rom-coms" I confess, lowering my voice as I finally find the bag. "okay" he says, "bye then". He wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me into a hug.

"he did what?!" Lilith screams. "oh my god, Lilith lower your voice" I sigh. "sorry" she says, giving a side-eye to a girl who looked at us weird. "anyways, yeah, it's so weird" I say. "Hamish? Hugging someone? That's not weird, that's supernatural. And coming from, you know, me, that's something" she corrects me, and I laugh. "yeah" I say, "that's some supernatural shit right there. Sam? Dean? Got your new case".

"hi" Hamish smiles at me from across the hall, and I smile back. "oh, let me help you with that" he says, rushing to me to grab my books. He sneaked in a subtle hug as he grabbed the pile in my hands, which featured Philosophy 101 or whatever it was called, a notebook for notes, a notebook for scribbles and the essay I wrote yesterday. "thanks" I say. Lilith looks at him, and then at me. "freaking supernatural" she mutters. "ha?" Hamish asks. "nothing, we just talked about the TV show, supernatural" I quickly say before Lilith will say the real topic we discussed. We arrive to class, and Hamish puts down the books at my seat, waving at me before going to the board.

"oh my god, nice move" the girl by my side whispers. "Beth, for the 100th time I am not – quote unquote – banging the professor" I sigh. "oh, I know, but he definitely wants a piece of that" she says, discussing the fact she's pointing at me by using her pencil to do that. "yeah, whatever" I reply, not interested in arguing, and she smiled with satisfaction. "just go for it, it's an easy A if you ask me" she says, and I roll my eyes. If only he meant nothing more to me.

The day was finally over, and after hanging out with the knights it was finally my time to get 'home' meaning my dorm. Hamish offered to walk me, which made Lilith look at me with wide-open eyes. When I told her what Beth said, she agreed, although she phrased it differently. "Hamish is into you, that's the only explanation" she said, and the more I heard it the more i believed it. It might just be the fact I wanted it to be true.

We walked quietly, and it was nice. The campus is so beautiful, and the moonlight makes it so… calming. Maybe it's the fact you can actually see the view and the view is not couples making out, students smoking and fighting…

"I love how the moonlight makes this place look" Hamish said. "dude, I know you're senses are sharp but you just straight up read my mind" I laughed, and so did he. "anything new you found today?" I asked, "you spent a lot of time in the reliquary-" "don't call it that, we are not giving Jack that win-" "why not?" I laugh, and he just sighs and answer my question.

"I did, yeah. Turns out the original Lupa and Tundra had an affair" he said, looking at me, "and ever since, their champions are just… drawn to each other, they always end up falling in love" he cuts the eye content I finally dared to make. "say what now?" I reply. "i- yeah no, I just made that up" he says, "I thought it would make something easier to say, but now that I am actually hearing it out loud, it's ridicules. Sounds straight out of a really bad teen drama" he says, and for once in my life I hear him nervous.

"what's the thing you wanted to say?" I ask and stop walking for two reasons: this is a serous conversation, and my dorm-building door is right next to us.

"well, (y\n), I like you. A lot, actually, and not in the same way I like the other knights" Hamish says. "oh, so like what? you like me as a-" "as a girlfriend, I hope" he cuts me off. "oh" I say, and with the lack of words I go for actions. My hand reaches for his cheek, and his hands reach for my waist.

He leans down, and I pull him closer and he pulls me into the kiss. our lips move against the other's in perfect synch, it's like the Lupa-Tundra thing wasn't made up and we are simply meant to be together.

"so you ARE banging the professor" Beth says the moment I walk into the dorm room. "I- we literally just kissed for the first time. Also, why do you know that, you fucking stocker, did you watch us from the window-" I say, and she nods with a "uh-ha". "-And he is not a professor, he's a TA" I correct her, but her satisfied smile doesn't come off. "whatever" she says and gets under her blanket. I sigh and wave at Hamish through the window. He smiles at me, and I just want to feel his lips against mine again, so I do what anyone would do and leave my room. I open the door to find Hamish with his hand in the air, ready to knock. I grab his cheeks and kiss him. "exactly what I wanted to do" he smiles into the kiss, adjusting his hands around my waist.

"go bang the TA somewhere else, I need some sleep to work on the essay, unlike you I don't bang the TA" Beth calls from under the covers, and I bite my lips trying to holdback the laughter. He smiles, "well, I should get back, Lilith and Randell must be wondering why It takes me so long" Hamish said, and gave me a short sweet kiss for goodbye. "Bye, Hamish" I say, waving, "bye Mr. Duke!" adds Beth.

#hamish #hamish x reader #hamish duke #hamish duke X reader #the order #the order X reader #the order netflix

307 notes · View notes

atpsynth4se · 3 years

Text

Doing Eula’s Story Quest So You Don’t Have To:

disclaimer this is just a presentation of the quest with relevant quotes(and some lesser analysis) and not a judgement call on whether eula is worth sympathizing with. please defer to actual poc on that matter.

under cut for length

Opening scene, excerpt of conversation with Jean:

Jean: I have recently received multiple reports from the Knights of someone within the Lawrence Clan having close dealings with the Fatui.

Paimon: The Fatui! Again?

Paimon: But who are the Lawrence Clan?

Jean: There was a dark period in Mondstadt’s history when the aristocracy ruled over the city. The hard-won freedom that followed with the fall of Decarabian was lost once again, as slavery spread throughout the land.

Jean: The first Dandelion Knight, Vennessa, spearheaded the revolution that overthrew the old aristocratic system and established the Knights of Favonius, leading Mondstadt to become the city that you see today.

Jean: The aristocrats, that had oppressed the people of Mondstadt, were none other than the Lawrence Clan.

...

Jean: Unfortunately, the Knights of Favonius and the aristocracy have been at odds with one another for as long as I can remember.

Jean: We have considered every possible way of resolving our differences, but it seems the descendants of the aristocracy remain antagonistic toward the Knights...

Jean: ...No matter what stance we take when dealing with them, the outcome is always the same... Our efforts only result in adding more fuel to the flames.

The Lawrence Clan is not painted in a sympathetic light, and this attitude toward them(bar Eula, for obvious reasons) persists throughout the quest.

Jean then sends the protagonist to talk to Schubert, the Lawrence Clan member in question. He very much holds onto the past structure of oppression, demonstrating extreme classism and going so far as to say that in the past, the protagonist would have been whipped for their insolence(which, in this case, is just the act of trying to have a casual conversation with Schubert).

This sets up Schubert as the antagonist of the quest, though not the entire Lawrence Clan, as Eula and Schubert are the only clan members present or mentioned.

The protagonist then runs into Amber at the Knights of Favonius Headquarters.

Excerpt from conversation with Amber:

Amber: Hehehe, I've been on the receiving end of [Schubert’s] lectures many a time. The Lawrence clan can be very particular about such things.

Paimon: Uh... You mean everyone in the Lawrence Clan is just a big headache?

Amber: As aristocrats, they believe there should be a certain distance between themselves and common folk. *sigh* I understand their thinking, but that's just not how things are anymore. Amber: However, there is one exception among the Lawrence Clan. My good buddy - Eula!

Paimon: B-Buddy?

Amber: That's right! Not only is she from the Lawrence Clan, but she's also Captain of the Knights of Favonius 4th Company.

Wayfarer: Jean told us that the Lawrence Clan sees the Knights as enemies.

Amber: Eula is special! She's not quite like the other members of her clan. She has her own beliefs and it shows.

Amber: In other words, she doesn't really adhere to the strict rules and conventions of her family.

Amber: However, she's still quite knowledgeable about dealing with the Lawrences. I'm sure you'll see what I mean if you meet her.

Paimon: Hmm, that's strange. If Eula is a member of the Lawrence Clan, then why would Master Jean choose us for the task? Couldn't she just ask Eula?

Amber: Ah, well... It's a little complicated. Basically, the Lawrence clan has frowned upon the fact that Eula joined the Knights, her family members don't particularly care for her…

Amber: In their eyes, Eula is nothing but a traitor to the family.

Wayfarer: She sounds like quite the character.

Amber: She's very easy to get along with. Just explain the situation and I'm sure she'll help you come up with a way to get along with Schubert.

Amber: In fact, I think she's out in the wilderness on patrol this morning. You should be able to find her around Stormbearer Mountains.

Paimon: Thanks, Amber! Alright, you heard her, let's go find Eula!

The protagonist meets Eula after battling some Fatui, when she saves them from being killed by an enemy they were unaware of.

Excerpt from conversation with Eula:

Wayfarer: So you must be Eula?

Eula: Yes, that's me.

Paimon: Paimon thinks she's pretty strange... Although, at least we can communicate with her.

Eula: You dare to call someone you've just met "strange"? Forget the aristocracy, that's rude even by normal standards!

Eula: Speaking of which... how do you know my name?

Paimon: This is the Honorary Knight of the Knights of Favonius. And speaking of rude, we're trying to investigate an aristocrat named Schubert Lawrence.

Paimon: He's so obsessed with etiquette that he's not even willing to speak with us!

Eula: Hahaha! I understand now. That's my uncle alright.

Eula: But why do you mean to investigate him?

Wayfarer: He may be secretly involved with the Fatui.

Eula: I see... Haha, you have some nerve defaming a family member right in front of me. I will have vengeance for this, too!

Paimon: No, no, no! This is an assignment from Master Jean! It's just an investigation, that's all!

Wayfarer: Aren't you curious about your uncle?

Eula: To the everyday citizens of Mondstadt, everyone in the Lawrence clan is scum. It's natural for rumors and unwarranted gossip to lead to such suspicion.

Paimon: Hard to avoid such a reputation when you're known as the ruthless rulers of Old Mondstadt.

Eula: So that's what you think of me? Yet another transgression to avenge...

Paimon: But didn't you say it first!? Argh...

Eula: Hahaha, curious... We've only just met, and you've already given me three causes for vengeance. It's been a while since I've encountered anyone as interesting as you.

Wayfarer: Your definition of curious is... curious.

Eula: I assume you need me to teach you the conduct of the Lawrence clan. Only then will you finally be able to communicate with my uncle, correct?

Eula initially presents herself in a similar manner to the aristocracy, seemingly obsessed with vengeance over minor transgressions. She seems to care greatly about the image of the Lawrence clan, and appears to resent the negative image it (quite rightfully) has.

Eula then attempts to train the protagonist in the ways of aristocratic speech via demonstrations. It goes very badly. As one would expect, the working class citizens of Mondstadt don’t like being demeaned by a member of the aristocracy that used to oppress the city, even one that is slightly more sympathetic for her role in the Knights of Favonius.

Conversation with Randall, the last one of these demonstrations:

Eula: You there, lowly worker, I-

Randall: Yeah, I've already heard it all before. Look, just spare me the time, our answer is always the same. We've got nothing to say to the likes of you.

Randall: I mean, seriously, can't you just take a hint?

Paimon: Please calm down, we don't want to cause any trouble.

Randall: *sigh* I know she's a Knight of Favonius, and that the Knights wouldn't misplace their trust, but the name Lawrence carries too much weight with it.

Randall: Even to this very day, the descendants of the Lawrence Clan are still scheming to reclaim Mondstadt and reinstate their aristocratic rule.

Randall: And if that wasn't enough, here you are purposefully using their awkward way of speaking just to put on an act? Don't you care for the feelings of us ordinary folk?

Eula: You have a point.

Eula: But mark my words, this transgression will not go unnoticed!

Randall: H-Huh? You wanna fight? Listen here, I might be no match for you, but I'll be sure to lodge a complaint with the Knights of Favonius!

Wayfarer: Maybe we should just call it a day now.

Randall: I'm sorry but... I want her to understand that I'm serious!

Randall: Listen here, if you don't want things to get more unpleasant, then you'd better just stop.

Eula: Forget it, there's no point in quarreling any further. Let's go.

Randall: *sigh*...

Eula: It's alright, this happens quite often. Let's find someone else to talk to.

Paimon: Uh, Paimon thinks we've seen enough now. Let's just stop.

Excerpt from the conversation with Eula after this segment of the quest:

Paimon: Actually, Paimon thinks we should apologize for asking you to demonstrate for us. We had no idea the feelings between the Lawrence Clan and the people of Mondstadt were so bitter.

Eula: Haha, what can we do? The Lawrence name is already a dirty word among every household in Mondstadt. Even three-year-olds know the story. I see this kind of attitude all the time.

Wayfarer: And somehow you still manage to brush it off with a laugh?

Eula: Don't worry, what with me being a Knight of Favonius, they're usually willing to speak a few words with me.

Eula: Perhaps my aristocratic manner of speech provoked them today. Believe me, it's not a big issue.

Paimon: So this is the way things are normally for you? There's no need for them to direct their anger at you personally.

Eula: That's the way things are. Perhaps it's just fate for those who've made mistakes. Accepting punishment is only fair, right? But when your family has committed atrocities, I'm afraid there's no easy path to reconciliation.

Eula: As memories are carried in the city breeze, the faults of such grievances are passed on from one generation to the next. It is now my turn to bear this burden.

Eula: At least I have a means of living a relatively normal life compared to the elders of my family. I have nothing to be discontented about.

Wayfarer: So you knew all along that we'd encounter these kinds of problems?

Paimon: Yeah, why were you so willing to try and demonstrate for us?

The narrative paints Eula in a sympathetic light for “dealing with the alienation of being a member of the Lawrence Clan”. However, she acknowledges the fact that Lawrence Clan deserves this foul reputation given its history, contrasting with the first conversation the protagonist has with her.

More training of the monster fighting variety ensues, finishing with a trip to Good Hunter to buy a diplomatic gift for Schubert. There, you run into Amber. Sara ends up giving Amber a salad on the house, prompting Eula to swear vengeance.

Excerpt from conversation with Eula, Amber, and Sara:

Eula: So... we clearly didn't order this, yet you prepared it without authorization... Hmph! Mark my words, this transgression will not go unnoticed!

Paimon: Uh... you're going to take revenge on her for giving us a free salad!?

Sara: You should know me by now, that's the kind of villainous character I am! Hehe...

Sara: Well then... please wait a moment while I get the dish for your uncle started.

Eula: Hmph, delicious unauthorized delicacies... Sara will pay for this.

Paimon: Why would you choose Gebratenes Fleisch mit Sauerkraut as a gift for your uncle? Paimon's never even heard of that dish before... Eula: This dish isn't actually on Good Hunter's menu. Only long standing patrons such as my uncle would know about the dish. The old aristocrats seem to take a liking to it.

Amber: Because of the sour flavor of the sauerkraut, not too many people are fond of it these days. I guess it's become less popular over time.

Amber: Eula treated me to the dish once, and I couldn't even finish a bite. I've nicknamed it "Gebratenes Fleisch mit Vengeance" ever since. Yuck!

Eula: I never expected us to have such completely different tastes in food... If I weren't in such a good mood, I'd say that constitutes grounds for transgression...

Wayfarer: Huh, so even Amber doesn't escape your vengeance?

The “transgression” that Sara commits? Eula gets her vengeance by paying for the food, but putting the Mora under the plate. This is the first sign that though Eula cares about “transgressions” and “vengeance”, she does not seek to hurt people she doesn’t feel deserve it.

Amber and Eula leave, and the protagonist takes the gift from Sara, leading to this conversation:

Paimon: Paimon's been meaning to ask... No one could stand the sight of Eula when she was trying to speak with the others in Mondstadt earlier.

Paimon: But she seemed to get along fine with you and Amber just now… what's up with that?

Sara: The people of Mondstadt don't take kindly to anyone bearing the Lawrence name.

Sara: They are unable to see past her family, therefore they don't actually see Eula for herself.

Sara: So no matter what Eula tries to do, it's seen as a wrongdoing. It essentially strips the meaning of anything she tries to accomplish.

Wayfarer: I think I understand now.

Paimon: How come you're able to see Eula differently then?

Sara: Well, when she joined the Knights of Favonius, it caused quite an uproar.

Sara: Many people signed a petition, demanding that the Knights reverse their decision.

Sara: At the same time, numerous members of the Lawrence Clan crowded the entrance of the Knights of Favonius Headquarters, clamoring for Eula to give an explanation.

Paimon: Whoa... so both sides were unhappy.

Sara: That's right. So, you can imagine how determined Eula must have been under such circumstances.

Sara: But thanks to Grand Master Varka and the unwavering attitudes of others in the Knights of Favonius, they were able to quell the unrest. Tensions still remain beneath the surface, I'm afraid.

Sara: In the eyes of the people, she's a stain on the Knights of Favonius... and in the eyes of the Lawrence Clan, she's a disgrace to her family.

Sara: But she simply fulfills her duty as a Knight, silently helping one person after another, myself included.

Sara: People like Eula should be approached with care and understanding. She could stand to be treated a little more fairly.

Wayfarer: It's good that you're able to understand her.

Sara: I believe a day will come when things will get better.

Eula is clearly defying her family’s oppressive mindset, but the narrative still disparages Mondstadt for not welcoming a former oppressor with open arms.

You meet Schubert, and, surprise surprise, he is scheming with the Fatui to take over Mondstadt. You follow him into the Fatui’s lair, when Eula catches up to you.

Excerpt from conversation with Eula and Schubert:

Schubert: Don't touch me, get out of my way! I'll leave on my own!

Eula: It seems we've finally caught up with you. This place is crawling with Fatui.

Eula: Oh, it's you. It seems your investigation went well.

Wayfarer: It was all worth it.

Schubert: Aha! I see now. So you're the one that taught them our etiquette? And I thought you despised such pleasantries!

Schubert: Furthermore, there is a rule in our family. Such traditions are never to be taught to outsiders!

Eula: Ah yes, rings a bell. So what? I had no reason not to teach them.

Schubert: Y-You have brought shame to our family and ruined my plans! It's all for naught now!

Eula: I know that you poured great efforts into these plans, uncle. But you were well aware that it was not the right thing to do. As a Knight of Favonius, I could not overlook your actions.

Schubert: Knight of Favonius!? Let's get one thing straight. I am your uncle, and you are a member of the Lawrence Clan! You should strive to restore your family's glory!

Schubert: You still have a chance. Defeat every Knight of Favonius here, and leave with me!

Schubert: Then I shall plea with the family to spare you and give you a new beginning!

Eula: So just to be clear, you want a Knight of Favonius to attack the Knights of Favonius?

Schubert: I shall say this one last time. You are not a Knight of Favonius. You are a descendant of the Lawrence Clan!

Schubert: The blood of the Lawrence Clan flows in your veins! You must comply with the will of the family!

Eula: Since when have I ever complied with the will of the family?

Schubert: Wh-Why you... you unruly maid!

Eula: If anyone should be angry, it should be me. As a member of the Lawrence Clan, you knowingly plotted against the city of Mondstadt and threatened its safety.

Eula: Had you ever stopped to consider the trouble it would bring to so many people? Had you considered how many enemies you would make trying to keep the plans under wraps?

Schubert: Y-You dare lecture me!

Eula: That's right, in the name of the family that you so dearly revere, Uncle Schubert.

Eula: I've never experienced the age of "glory" you always speak of, and I've never understood our family's incessant pursuit of it.

Eula: But I am capable of discerning right from wrong, and I deeply understand what "freedom" means to the people of Mondstadt.

Eula: The Lawrence Clan should never and will never become what you've dreamed it to be!

Schubert: Grr...

Schubert: Oh, the disgrace of it all! How could such a rebellious monster emerge from our own family!?

Eula openly defies the oppressive goals of the Lawrence Clan, solidifying her stance against them. However, she still claims to act in the name of the family, but her idea of restoring their name appears to be to make amends with the people of Mondstadt, not to rule over them again.

The protagonist escapes the Fatui lair, and has a boss fight, after which this conversation ensues, and the quest ends:

Eula: *sigh* And there was me thinking that he was just another elder of the family and a lazy one at that. I never suspected he could stoop this low. So stubborn... Mark my words, vengeance will be mine!

Paimon: Oh yeah, you suddenly appeared at just the right moment.

Eula: Yeah, about that...

Eula: Because you stole my targets by attacking the Fatui I'd been tracking earlier...

Eula: ...I came to exact my vengeance. You tried to do my job for me, and I'm here to return the favor.

Wayfarer: So getting the diagram of Mondstadt's defenses was your way of exacting vengeance?

Paimon: Finally, after all this time, Paimon understands what you're saying!

Paimon: In reality, you sensed that something might happen to us during our investigation...

Paimon: You were worried about us and your uncle, so you brought a team to take a look!

Eula: My purpose was vengeance, don't twist the story.

Eula: Hmph, you don't look too bright, but it turns out you have a knack for scheming...

Eula: And mark my words, I'll remember that...

Paimon: Hey, what do you mean Paimon doesn't look too bright!?

Eula: You have seeded a deep enmity between us... just you wait.

Eula: Even if you were to be completely destroyed, I would never forget you!

Wayfarer: So, does that make us your "arch-enemies"?

Eula’s definition of “vengeance” is shown once again to be naught more than a front.

In summary:

The narrative sympathizes with Eula, and disparges the people of Mondstadt for alienating her, though they have every right to do so.

The Lawrence Clan are not sympathetic, and Eula is directly at odds with them.

Eula does not seek to restore the glory of the Lawrence Clan in the oppressive sense, and wants to not be judged for her family, but her actions.

#fathericraveviolencecore #genshin impact #please dont treat me as the one to make a judgement call on this. poc please feel free to give your thoughts #since this issue doesn't affect me personally i dont want to speak over people who it does affect

4 notes · View notes

sablelab · 4 years

Text

Covert Operations - Chapter 138

SUMMARY: Fergus goes into bat for Bóinne Rivière trying to alter her abeyance profile and after discussion with Operations, Madeline puts forward a plausible reason to support Fergus’ request. The two leaders ponder what they are going to do about the mole, Colum Mackenzie and indeed Jamie and Claire.

Chapter 137 and all other chapters can be found at … https://sablelab.tumblr.com/covertoperations Sorry to say I am not on Ao3, but perhaps when I finish this story I will try and navigate how it works and how to post there.

THANK YOU to everyone following this story. I appreciate knowing that there are people who are enjoying what I have written each post, whether it be a like, comment or a reblog. Thank you so much for supporting Covert Operations.

CHAPTER 138

“Thank you, Fergus, … I think I have a lot to discuss with Operations. You have been most thorough.”

Although Madeline’s reply had been a tacit order of dismissal, Fergus Claudel stood his ground. He only had one chance to put forward his case and swallowing the bullet he cleared his throat then uttered, “Ah … there is one other thing I would like to discuss with you both.”

“Really Mr Claudel … and what is that?” “I inadvertently came across Bóinne Rivière’s reclassification status in my search.” This time Operations replied, remembering that Fergus had casually asked after the fate of the abeyance operatives when he’d went to discuss the Somalia mission. He recalled that Fergus had been talking to Murtagh and the person he’d mentioned earlier in Comm. and this was quite plausible as he had to access the nurse’s file in his search.

“I see. And?” “I would seriously like for you to reconsider her new mission profile given how she was crucial in providing the concrete Intel that linked Frank Wolverton-Randall to Colum. It provided the proof we needed that he was indeed the mole.” Fergus watched his leaders trying to gauge their reaction to what he had just said. However, the raised brow of Operations gave him an uneasy feeling that Section’s leader was aware that he knew exactly what he was trying to do and why. “You can't protect her forever ... or him.” Fergus was thrown off kilter with this observation. “What do you mean?” “You know what I mean. ... We know you tampered with her abeyance records. ... Don't start thinking with your heart. Section is not the place to do that.” Fergus immediately crumbled realising that what he had proposed was obviously in vain. It appeared that Operations and Madeline had already made up their minds about Bóinne and her usefulness to Section. He sighed. “Sorry.” “You're too valuable to us ... but we’ll think about what you have said. You may go.” Madeline’s reply was encouraging … they hadn’t completely closed the door on Bóinne’s re-classification. Fergus only hoped that he had done enough to help her and that his superiors wouldn’t hold it against him.

Perhaps he had also given them cause to rethink their decision to place her in abeyance. The medical nurse had been instrumental in connecting the dots to Frank Wolverton-Randall and just maybe this would be enough for them to reconsider their decision. Alternatively, perhaps he could find something else that would significantly help her cause if he only delved a little deeper into her file. Bóinne Rivière’s cancellation could cause more problems for Operations and Madeline than it would solve. Murtagh Fitzgibbons had been crucial in the retrieval mission; there was every chance that he may be needed again in some way in the future to trap Sun Yee Lok and his cohorts. If his beloved was cancelled, he didn’t know what Murtagh would do in his grief and the two leaders knew this only too well. Like Madeline and Operations, the IT specialist had much to mull over in his mind. Their conversation was now obviously at an end so without even a slight backward glance; Fergus quietly left Madeline’s office. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Section’s leader paced the floor of her office pondering the skulduggery of Colum’s monitoring in the Rising Dragons’ mission and more so for his insinuations that he was in any way responsible for the disappearance of Section One’s founder Letitia Chisholm. His face echoed his sour demeanour and if looks could kill, his nemesis would have been six feet under before his body was cold. “What are we going to do about Bóinne Rivière?” Madeline asked watching Dougal pace back and forth once Fergus had left her office. Operations however, had little regard for the issue Fergus had raised about Murtagh’s girlfriend. He dismissed Madeline’s inquiry as if he would brush away a fly. To him, it was of little consequence for his mind was on more pressing issues. “Cancel her,” he barked without the slightest thought for what their IT specialist had told them. “I think you should reconsider that,” Madeline cajoled trying to soothe over this small problem before tackling the major one she knew Operations was thinking about. “Reconsider? You must be joking.” Madeline continued her placating of the savage beast. “Fergus raised some valid points Dougal. Nurse Rivière had the opportunity to withhold the device but she didn't and it did give us the proof we were looking for.” Her words appeared to have hit the spot. Operations calmed down a little. He pondered what she’d said for a short while before responding with reluctance, “True.” So his second in command continued with her reasons while giving him time to reassess her status. “Details will eventually leak out into the ranks. Bóinne Rivière’s death would not be received well by Fitzgibbons or her colleagues in Med Lab. I'd rather deal with one underperforming Operative than rebellion by several. You know Murtagh … he can be cantankerous at the best of times. He would take her death hard. Fergus was right … Who knows how he would respond?” Her logical explanation had the desired effect. “Perhaps I might reconsider then … for the time being,” he added reluctantly in addendum. Turning towards Operations Madeline gave another opinion. “Good … I feel that killing Bóinne Rivière will not serve us well. We cancel her and Murtagh wouldn’t care if he died too. You remember his three-year review, don’t you?” “Of course, … So, in your opinion he really would be willing to die?” “Yes, I do.” “Then what? There must be some way to reassess her suitability to Section, but I’m sure you’ll think of something Madeline.” “I'm working on it. She will make a mistake eventually and then any problem with her status will take care of the nurse itself, but in the meantime, we have Murtagh Fitzgibbons where we need him.” Operations rubbed his chin in reflection of her statement, “Hmmm … and Fergus.” He looked at Madeline as if to say it was a win-win for the time being given that the state of the Rising Dragons’ mission was in limbo at the moment. “Murtagh did perform well on the retrieval mission; we might indeed have to use him again.” “Yes, you just never know and if he is antagonistic towards us because of this woman’s death, it could be a huge problem. We can’t have Fitzgibbons being distracted or becoming recalcitrant if anything happened to his fiancée. It could set off a chain reaction mutiny with other operatives.” Operations thought for a moment, looked off into space, then reluctantly accepted Madeline's logic by nodding his head. “Very well … we’ll postpone our decision on her until the Rising Dragon’s mission is finalised.” “Yes … I agree. That is a sensible compromise … and then we can review her status if things change or improve.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Although what they had discussed went a small way in solving one of the problems they faced, nonetheless what Operations really wanted to discuss was the anathema to him … his older brother … Colum. Fergus’ Intel had been explosive.

To think that his brother was keeping tabs on their top operatives and the disappearance of Section One’s founder was inexcusable, but what were the reasons why. Fergus had alluded to the disappearance of Letitia Chisholm as one reason, and it did worry him that he may find incriminating Intel on her vanishing without any trace, but were there others? Did he have a parallel profile on the triad members and had he done this for pure one-upmanship by using a mole to further his advantage at Centre and Mr Lambert? It galled him to think that Colum would try and do something so obvious to win favour at Centre. Why the interest in Jamie and Claire’s success on the mission? So many questions and as yet no concrete answers.

Operations’ hackles were heightened and his shell-shocked disposition was evident. Without doubt, you could have cut the atmosphere with a knife in Madeline’s office it seemed so tangible. His voice was laced with contempt for Oversight’s leader and he couldn’t hide an escalating irate temper.

“This is treason! Colum has taken this too far this time Madeline. Any of our quarrels pale into insignificance with the implications of this treachery.” Dougal’s demeanour at the thought of his brother’s unannounced visits to Section One to hear proceedings about the Rising Dragons’ mission rapidly changed until his face was a glaring red hue of rage. His mind backtracked over the times Oversight’s leader had visited.

Obviously, those times were just a ruse, to see where Section was in bringing the mission to its end game. Although Colum’s last visit was laced with concern for Jamie and Claire’s wellbeing his motives, no doubt, were to gauge if he could at last get the jump on Section in capturing the triad members with his own operatives. This seemed the most plausible reason given their rivalry. He and Madeline needed to get to the bottom of his brother’s skulduggery in order to answer these pressing questions and cover their backs if needs be.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Aware of what Operations’ thoughts might be, Madeline answered his statements with a dose of reality about what they had just heard from Fergus. “Colum wouldn’t have been able to do that without help. Fergus was right Dougal … it does all point to Frank Wolverton-Randall.” Her words brought him back to the present moment as Madeline continued. “I suspect that Colum has been piggy backing off Section One in order to capture Sun Yee Lok before we do. So, any Intel on how the mission was going was in his interests if he was to keep in front of the eight ball. Colum obviously wanted to know what Section One had on the triad leader in order to run a parallel sting on him before Jamie and Claire could bring him in.” “Precisely … I’m sure that’s why he visited so many times unannounced.” “He needed to know what progress we had made and if what Frank Wolverton-Randall had passed on to him was accurate before he was transferred.” “If he could get a jump on our Intel, and if he was to capture Sun Yee Lok, he would certainly claim all the glory for himself and Oversight and in so doing demonstrate incompetence in my leadership at Section One to ultimately undermine me.” “So it would seem.” “I repeat … He has gone too far this time Madeline. The depths to which he would sink to best us are reprehensible.” “Perhaps he is trying to discredit you in front of Mr. Lambert. He knows you have aspirations to be the leader of Oversight one day.” “He wants to hang on to power at all cost and doesn’t care who gets in his way. Colum has always been a self-serving bastard looking for any opportunity to further his interests and profile for the Head of Centre.” Madeline emphasised with her leader’s summation about Colum. “Obviously, but … if he is bragging to Mr Lambert about his monitoring of Jamie and Claire, then why? Does he think we are incapable of trusting our operatives to complete the capture of the triad leader successfully? Does he have plans to usurp us on the Rising Dragon’s mission? And why his data collecting on Letitia?”

“That … is another matter altogether Madeline. It would seem he would stop at nothing to discredit us and implicate us in her disappearance.” “Jamie and Claire’s downtime was the perfect opportunity for Colum to get a head start on Sun Yee Lok’s whereabouts if he wants to bring in the triad leader by his own operatives.” Madeline had hit a major nerve. “No wonder Colum was so adamant that they have two weeks … against my better judgement I might add,” he reiterated with scorn. “Point taken Dougal,” conceded Madeline, “Although I hate to say this, downtime was still necessary for Jamie and Claire’s recovery for them to be at their optimum.” “We don’t know that yet. Two weeks away from the mission could be vital in Colum trumping Section. That would be intolerable,” he replied pacing the floor of her office racking his brain as to how they could proceed with averting all of this. “Let’s hope that he hasn’t jumped the gun on us. I very much doubt he would have, given were the triad stood after the retrieval mission’s success.” Madeline’s logic made sense and Operations cooled his heels somewhat knowing that his second in command would have some plans of her own to beat his brother at his own game. “What are we going to do then?” “First of all, we need damage control with Mr Lambert. Who knows what Colum has been telling him about the Rising Dragon’s mission?” “Yes … I agree.” “I’ll contact Centre with our status. I’m sure Mr Lambert would like a point of view from my perspective,” Madeline proposed with assurance. Section’s leader liked what he was hearing. “Go on.” “We’ll also be able to gauge if Colum has any leads on the Rising Dragons that we don’t have. We’ve come too far on the mission profiles to let him defeat us.” She looked at Operations intently. “We can fix this Dougal.” “How? What else do you have in mind?” “We’ll get Fergus to call in any informants in Hong Kong and see what they can come up with.” “Who?” “John Grey for one. He works freelance and is inconspicuous in his movements. He has an overabundance of contacts he can utilise for us. He’s always come through before.” “Anyone else?” “Phil Jurgen is located in that area.” Operations shook his head. “No, I’m not totally convinced he is reliable … Grey is closer to the situation. Doesn’t he have interests in Hong Kong?” “Yes. You have a point. He moves in a wide range of circles. He’s bound to have heard something.” “That’s settled then.” “And besides … It may be better to rely on just one informant than risking Colum finding out that we are making enquiries about him.” “He’ll think he has had a two week window on us, but I’m sure John Grey may be able to shed more light on the situation in Hong Kong than what Colum knows.” “Tell Fergus to get on to it straight away then.” “Certainly.” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “Do you think this will work Madeline?” “I do,” was her confident reply. Section’s head strategist knew that the depth of his brother’s betrayal had cut deep for Dougal but if they acted expediently … they could best him before he turned the tables on them. Operations was still somewhat apprehensive. “It won't take long before Colum finds a way to get through to Mr. Lambert. And god knows what Intel he’ll have on the Rising Dragons. We have to reel him in before he does.” “We’ll trump him first. We'll use every available resource.” Happy with Madeline’s proposition Operations waited for what she had in mind. “I’m all ears.”

“We’re going to make Colum think that he has a heads up on Intel pertaining to the triad because of his mole. However, because he also has suspicions about you Dougal, we’ll have to change that.”

“Brilliant …” His eyes suddenly became intense and he gave Madeline a piercing glare. “… but there is another option.” Knowing where he was heading, she was not at all happy with his proposal. “That's an option I'm not completely comfortable with.” Nevertheless Operations was adamant that his idea would get rid of Colum once and for all. “You know as well as I do. We push the button, make a hit on Colum and blame it elsewhere.” “This is not the time to get personal Dougal.” “It is to me. Colum has overstepped the line this time. He has to pay.” Madeline was uneasy with his plan realising the consequences were not entirely for the right reasons. “Of all the people on the planet to target for assassination, your brother is by far the most dangerous. This would be a last resort. It could backfire on us.” “Then we'll have to go about it very carefully, won't we … if … I repeat … if he persists in undermining Section on the Rising Dragons’ mission. I won’t tolerate it Madeline. I will not!” Operations’ tirade put an end to any more discussion on the matter. To him it was over. However, Madeline had the last word on the subject of Colum Mackenzie after all. “If it ever comes to that, we’ll have to bide our time for the right opportunity … but this is not the right time. It would be far too suspicious if it were to happen because of his interference in the Rising Dragons’ mission. The finger of blame would immediately be pointed at Section One and us. I would not contemplate assassination as the method of paying Colum back Dougal. There are other ways!” Although he heard what Madeline had to say in reply, he chose to ignore her and changed the subject. “And what about Frank Wolverton-Randall?” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “I think we can arrange for him to return from the substation back to Section.” “Elaborate.”

“We’ll say that we need his help in profiling, as our new Intel on the Rising Dragons will overload Fergus. Colum will certainly like that, as he’ll have his inside contact back in the thick of things especially if the order comes from Mr. Lambert for his return to Section One. Colum will be under the impression that having your enemies closer will work in his favour, but of course we’ll turn the tables on him and have Wolverton-Randall cancelled in due course.”

A wry smile crossed Operations’ face as Madeline outlined her strategy. “Excellent.”

“But, we can't do anything about Frank … just yet. Colum will be watching. His status can't be tampered with at the moment. The best we can do is to keep them both from knowing we're on to his subterfuge.” “Agreed.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ “And what are we going to do about Colum’s suspicion that I am responsible for Letitia’s disappearance? If he finds out that is true all hell will break out.”

“There could be a way around it Dougal but we will need to play our cards close to our chest.”

“What do you propose?”

“I think we need to show Colum that we have had a major personal falling out.”

“Such as?”

“Sexual intimidation and coercion Dougal. It needs to be something that he will believe and if you are pressuring me for sex against my will then it would not be too farfetched that I would jump at the chance to get my own back at you.”

Dougal took a moment to ponder her suggestion. “Yes, that would work.”

“I’ll indicate that I am fed up with you using me for sex, so I’ll make a deal with Colum to make him think that I will betray you because of this. As payback, I’ll give him information about you and Letitia and he will give me something I want in exchange, say … the company Key File module for encrypting software. That will give me complete data access, control and protection in undermining you.”

“Go on …”

“We’ll initiate a set up to blackmail Colum when he meets with a courier that he thinks he can trust but in fact the result will be that he just exchanged the Key File for money.”

“Do you think that is believable and that he will not be suspicious?”

“Not if we use someone such as a known corrupt associate who thinks he will be exonerated for the exchange.”

“Who do you have in mind?”

“Lionel Brown.”

“Excellent. He has always been a rogue intelligence officer who peddles Intel to terrorists and he is on the Pentagon’s Red List.”

“Indeed, he is. It will look like Colum was paying and cooperating with a known shady extremist and because of this we can blackmail him for anything we want.”

Operations gave his second in command a wry smile. “Madeline … I love the way you think.”

“Thank you, Dougal. However, Colum must not suspect we are pretending to fight and have sex. We will need to be convincing so that he will think that I would betray you because of a toxic and controlling relationship.”

“Oh, I can be very convincing Madeline as too can you,” he said with a wry smirk at the very thought of besting his brother and finally having him out of his hair.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

“So … that just leaves Jamie and Claire.” “Hmmm?” Operations pondered before smiling at Madeline and removing his glasses. “They’ll have to return to Section of course in the next couple of days once we have put these measures in place.” The glee in his eyes was palatable. She returned his candour. “Yes ... I couldn’t agree with you more. However due to expediency I think we can forgo their Psyche Assessment in the interim. I will just make keen observations as to their mental acuity and physical attributes to continue the mission. They’ll want to return to the mission profile if they know they have the best chance of capturing Jonathon Randall and Sun Yee Lok’s daughter. Jamie won’t want Colum or any of his operatives to bring in any person who was responsible for Claire’s atrocities … including the triad’s leader himself.” “Madeline you never cease to amaze me.” Satisfied that they had covered all bases, Operations’ dry wit raised its head. “Another day at the office?” His second in command smiled in appreciation of his witticism. Operations turned to go, but then he thought of something else. “You said Jamie and Claire were off the radar and their trackers were down. How do you plan on contacting them?” “I have my ways.” “Good. Do it!” ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~to be continued Friday 14th August

#jamieandclairecrossover #Jamieandclairefanfic #the lallybroch library #outlander fiction #LFNoutlander #covert operations

45 notes · View notes

knightofthecourt · 4 years

Text

Love Bites - Chapter 8

Belatrice Gray was a TA at Belgrave University, working hard to stay on top of her marking and trying not to flunk her own studies, when a night out with her bff Randall and his roommates, changed everything.

Hamish Duke x OC fiction with fluff, romance and angst. OC description has been left out to allow for reader personalisation!

“Stupid, stupid, STUPID.” The vending machine shook as Bela whacked the side of it, earning her a dirty look from a young, blonde woman sitting at the table across from her in the student lounge.

She gave the machine another thump and her packet of Cheetos fell forward a fraction of an inch, and then stopped. Bela didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or give the irritating box a good solid kick.

“Wow, nothing gets a woman going like a faulty vending machine.” Randall joked as he joined his friend in front of the infernal device. “Don’t worry Bels, I’ve got you covered.”

He reached into his satchel and pulled out a Twix. As Bela took it with a small ‘thanks’, her eyes were suspiciously glassy. Randall grimaced, “Bad day?”

“Bad month.” Bela replied.

“Still on for our epic film night?”

Bela nodded. “When have I ever said no to The Princess Bride? We can grab snacks on the way to mine.”

As they walked Bela felt herself relax slightly, letting Randall’s easy chatter drown out the sounds of the students around them.

“We thought we’d celebrate the end of finals but Jack was busy with Alyssa again, like always - must be a Tuesday, right? I wanted to go to B&C but Lil insisted on going to that new bar down the road, the one with all the bikers-”

Bela nodded in sympathy, unwrapping her Twix.

“And then we got SO drunk, Hamis-” Randall broke off suddenly.

Bela looked at him. “You can say his name, Randall.”

“I didn’t want to upset you.”

“Who’s upset?” Her eyes flashed. “It’s totally normal to sleep with someone who ditches you in their apartment and then ignores you for three weeks straight. The kids call it being ‘ghosted’ Randall, and it’s a normal part of the college experience.”

Catching the look on her friend’s face she forced her expression into something she hoped resembled a smile. “Really,” she insisted, “I’m over it.”

“Yes, of course you are - I’m totally convinced.”

Bela had been trying her hardest to avoid drawing her friend into her little pity party over Hamish. She’d had her feelings hurt before by a guy - by a dozen guys, but this time it stung more than she wanted to admit. When Bela had woken alone in Hamish’s apartment with sore legs, a sore neck and, well, sore all over, she had been surprised. A few days and three unreturned texts later she’d been worried. After Randall had awkwardly confirmed over coffee, that Hamish was in fact, alive, she had been furious.

Despite hitting all of the usual heartbreak remedies - romcom binges, a rather satisfying round of axe throwing at the hipster place round the corner, and just plain, wallowing - Bela’s feelings were as raw as they had been weeks ago. As much as she wanted to, she just wasn’t moving on.

She’d quickly realised that talking to Randall was off the cards. He was her friend, but he was also Hamish’s friend. When she attempted to casually bring up the situation, his insistence that it was just a difficult and complicated situation (which he couldn’t explain to her), just made her feel worse. Besides, it wasn’t fair for her to put him in the middle of what was quickly turning into a bizarre and deeply depressing, failed romantic conquest.

The final straw had been last Monday. She’d been walking home from class, distracted by the thought of another late night grading papers, when she rounded a corner and almost ran head-first into him. The countless nights spent imagining what she'd do if she saw Hamish did little to prepare her. There was no apology, no awkward exchange or attempt to excuse his abrupt absence from her life, Hamish had just turned on his heels and walked off in the opposite direction, leaving Bela, and a very confused Randall and Lilith in his wake.

Once they’d all recovered from the moment, Lilith and Randall had offered to help carry the papers back to her apartment, but Bela politely and firmly refused.

Instead she walked the 15 minute journey home, closed her front door on the outside world and then, after setting the papers neatly on her coffee table, burst into tears.

“Bels,” said Randall, pulling her out of her thoughts.

“Mmhm?”

“I don’t think you’re fine.” He reached over and prised the mangled chocolate bar from her fist. “Blade and Chalice?” He suggested.

“Yes, please,” Bela said with a weak smile.

- - - - -

“You’re gone and I gotta stay high, all the time, to keep you off my mind, ooOo-hoo, ooOoo-hoo.” Gabrielle warbled from a stage in the corner of the packed bar.

“You didn’t tell me it was karaoke night.” Bela rolled her eyes as the brunette milked the spotlight for all she could.

“She sounds like an angel.” Randall slurred, pouring himself another beer.

Bela squinted at him. “Do you have a crush on Gabrielle?”

“Pffft,” Randall blinked a few times, trying to focus on the stage, “She does sing it well though…”

“Right, I’m cutting you off.”

“Nooooo, hells bells-ha! Bels. Get it?”

“Yes,” Bela sighed, “I get it.”

Randall frowned. “But you’re not laughing.”

“That’s because it wasn’t funny.”

Randall grabbed his chest. “You wound me Bela. And to think I thought of you as my friend.”

“A real friend would get us a refill from the bar.” Bela shook the empty pitcher.

As Randall stumbled across the room she looked around. The Blade and Chalice was packed with students, regulars and - was that? Yep - even a few professors. They’d managed to snag a table by the door when they got there but as the hours ticked on the place had quickly filled up and was now almost uncomfortably busy. The promise of cheap beer and bad karaoke clearly drew a big crowd and though it wasn’t Bela’s usual idea of a good night, she couldn’t deny that sitting here with her friend, downing drinks and mocking the performances was actually proving to be a pretty decent distraction.

“I have a surprise for you.”

“Is it more beer?”

Randall placed the pitcher on the table between them. “No, well yes. But also I signed us up for a song.”

“Oh great, so we can be the drunk idiots everyone’s making fun of?”

“C’mon Bels, it’s just a bit of fun. Let’s do something funnnnnnn, for once in our lives! No one cares, they’re all at least five beers deep anyway.”

Bela huffed. He had a point.

“Fine, but I’m not singing a ballad.”

Randall did a happy dance and dragged Bella up to the stage. As the first chords of Now or Never by Halsey began, Bela grimaced.

“You’ve got to be kidding me, Randall.”

“Big smile doll, it’s showtime!” He launched into the first verse. “I don’t wanna fight right now. Know you always right. Know I need you round with me, but nobody waitin’ round with me.”

Bela groaned as he smiled in encouragement. “Been through the ups, yeah the ups and the downs with me. Got a whole lot of love, but you don’t wanna spread it round with me.”

“Let’s take it to the chorus!” Randall shouted into the mic. Bela smiled at her friend, he was clearly having the time of his life.

Randall’s voice joined hers as they sang together, “Baby gon’ love me now, now, now, now, now or never. I want you to hold me down, down, down, down, down forever.” Randall shook his hips, eliciting a chorus of cheers and whistles from the crowd.

Bela giggled, for the first time in ages she was actually kind of enjoying herself. The beer gave her a fuzzy, comfortably numb feeling and as she watched Randall crooning into his mic, dancing provocatively in front of the crowd she couldn’t help but grin. When he noticed her smiling he grabbed her hand and twirled her round. They finished their song with a flourish and made their way off the stage.

As they stepped down Gabrielle approached Randall. “Nice dance moves,” She said, leaning close to him and batting her long lashes. “Want to buy me a drink?”.

He looked at her like a deer caught in headlights for a second and then remembered why he was in the bar in the first place. “Uh, I’m hanging with my bestie tonight.”

Bela rolled her eyes and leaned over to him. “Are you crazy? Go have fun - I’m fine!”

“No, I’m not leaving you alone”.

“Don’t be an idiot. Tonight was awesome, consider me cheered up! Now go.” She gave him a gentle shove in Gabrielle’s direction. He flashed her a hasty thumbs up and mouthed wish me luck, before following her to the bar.

Bela smiled to herself, Gabrielle was going to eat that boy alive.

She was making her way back to the table to grab her bag when she bumped into someone coming from the direction of the bar.

Lilith swore loudly as the glasses she was holding splashed over, catching the front of her jeans. “Seriously? I just got these, watch where you’re going, you drunk- oh. Shit. Hi”. Lilith looked up, her anger fizzling when she recognised Bela.

Oh God, Bela thought, if Lilith was here did that mean…?

As if she could read her mind, Lilith raised the glasses. “Uh…I’m just here for a nightcap.”

Bela eyed the drinks - a beer and a scotch. “Both of those for you?”

“Yep. What? Now only men can be alcoholics?”

Bela felt the effects of the beer evaporating quickly, along with her good mood. She didn’t really want to spoil her first good night in ages and the last thing she wanted right now was to start an argument with Hamish’s aggressively possessive bff. “Ok, sure. Have fun.”

Bela grabbed her bag and coat and headed towards the door, just as the bell above it chimed.

She noticed Hamish before he saw her. He was wrapped in a thick coat, buttoned up against the cold, distracted by the phone in his hand. Lilith shoved past her, approaching him quickly.

“Haim, sorry I didn’t realise - Randall said they were going to be at-”

He looked up to the sound of her voice, in confusion, before his eyes slid over past her shoulder and locked with Bela’s.

Bela watched in shock as he snarled - actually snarled - at Lilith and then turned and walked straight out of the bar.

Lilith huffed and slammed her drinks down on the closest table. “Really! Again?”

#the order #hamish duke #hamish duke x reader #hamish duke x oc #randall carpio #lillith bathory #werewolf #the knights of st christopher #the knights of saint christopher #love bites

39 notes · View notes

sylvain-writes · 3 years

Text

Blood Like Wine (Vera x Hamish)

Fandom: The Order (Netflix TV) Pairing: Vera Stone/Hamish Duke Rated: T Dominant Vera, submissive Hamish, gentle dom, light Dom/sub, hurt/comfort, hand feeding, kneeling, memory magic/memory loss, angst and feels, sexual tension (~1.7k words)

To save herself and Hamish from his sudden transformation, Vera over-casts her sleeping spells. He wakes at her home disoriented and overwhelmed.

⁂ Magic coils the chain around his neck and Vera pulls. It’s pure luck that she'd been at her desk, that she'd had the enchanted chain at arms length, when Hamish cried out.

Covering his ears, he falls to his knees. Vera holds her breath as his eyes turn to ice.

They had been strategizing in her office. Arguing about some silly thing. Hamish at the disadvantage, always. He never has enough information to put up a real fight.

It all seems trivial now.

The alarm of dark magic calls to him, urges his body to transform, and he writhes against the restraints. Vera adjusts her grip and the links tighten. It doesn’t escape her how much he looks like a man on a leash.

But he’s so much more than a man. And a leash won't tame one such as him.

Hamish's wild blue eyes look up at her as he claws the floor. His nails drag uselessly over the stone. He gnashes his teeth. But he hasn't reached for the chain.

Vera doesn't have more than a second to wonder why. He’s moving toward her.

“Dormitum Dimittatur,” Vera casts, and sleep takes him in an instant.

The chain pulls as Hamish collapses in a heap. Vera releases it quickly, letting the shackles clatter to her feet. And then she's at his side. Her hands pass delicately over his throat. The caress, an apology.

Moving him isn’t difficult, having finely honed her telekinesis over the years, but finding a place to hide a grown man is a challenge. The others will return soon to give report on their werewolf charges. She has to move fast.

Vera increases the potency of her sleep spell- “Sopite” -and tucks Hamish out of sight.

He folds neatly under the oak desk, curled in on himself. His face has gone slack, but Vera remembers the way his lip curled in its snarl.

Hamish’s hidden strength enticed her from their first meeting. But seeing him like this - in the illusion he’s some small, fragile thing, after coming so close to his raw power made flesh - has her ensnared.

Her eyes catalogue the angles of his face. Even knowing the beast under the surface, affection expands warm in her chest.

Vera moves the chains to his wrists and pillows his head upon them. Adjusts the angle of his neck just so. She scoffs at what little comfort she can provide.

The sound of her Magistratus's impatient knock comes sooner than she expects. Vera pauses over Hamish, moves a stray hair off his face, and caresses his cheek before she stands.

With a gesture Vera opens the doors and Selena rushes in with Gabrielle and Austin on her heels.

“It happened again." Gabrielle announces, crossing her arms over her chest. She looks more annoyed than contrite. "But Randall and Jack ran off before anyone saw them."

Vera turns to Selena for her excuse, knowing full well she's clueless as to Hamish's whereabouts.

“Professor Kean needed coverage for her night class.” Selena holds herself upright even under Vera’s scrutiny. “I can’t watch him every moment…” She goes on, but her attempt to justify her ignorance wavers. “I don’t… I don’t know where he is. Probably with the others."

Vera plants her hands on her desk, shielding Hamish’s body with her own. “Must I do everything myself?”

“Yes, Magus,” Selena repents in a rush. “I mean, no, Magus.”

Vera’s glare would burn the Magistratus in her spot if it could. “Grand Magus,” Vera snaps.

Selena takes a step back and the three young practitioners bow their heads. “I’m sorry, Grand Magus.”

“Get out,” Vera says, her tone grave. “Leave Hamish Duke to me.”

Selena looks up in shock.

“Be grateful that’s the only responsibility I’m stripping from you, Selena. You’re not so hard to replace.”

Selena nods and Vera raises her voice again. “Get out!”

The doors close behind the young practitioners and Vera breathes deeply, both relief and frustration. Beneath the desk, Hamish stirs.

His hand brushes Vera's heeled shoe and she crouches to check on him. “What am I going to do with you?”

The red marks on his neck turn white at the barest touch of her hand.

Hamish moans as if in response, and his fingers curl possessively around her ankle.

Unwilling to risk him waking up like this, Vera cups her palm over his fluttering eyelids and casts sleep on him again.

⁂

Hamish wakes slowly. First, a crick in his back begging him to stretch. Next, a burst of pain behind his eyes stirring him fully to consciousness. He doesn't remember drinking. Then again, he doesn't really feel hungover.

Hamish rolls onto his side and bites back a hiss. His shirt scratches like burlap against his skin.

He wrinkles his nose against the sharp smells of the home. Fabric softener. Charred meat and herbs. The scents fill the room and his stomach roils. He gingerly brings his feet to the floor to sit up.

The change in position doesn't agree with him either. Pressure builds behind his eyes. There's a pounding in his skull. And as the thin blanket falls from his shoulders, he notices the chill that’s settled in him, bone deep.

Hamish squints as his eyes adjust and he finds he's grateful for the dimly lit room, even though finding himself in a strange place ignites his anxiety.

Sound rushes toward him, and while he knows it’s coming from far away, the scrape of metal on metal echoes like it's directly at his ear.

He breathes through it. Struggles to focus on something else.

Anything else.

There’s a light crackle from the fireplace. A gentle roar as the flames lick dry logs.

Hamish lets the natural sounds fill his awareness and the rest begins to fall away.

He's drawn across the room, and before he realizes, he’s on his knees, pressing his hands against hot stone.

He lowers his head to the hearth, as if bowing in thanks for the soothing heat, for the earthy sounds and smells.

Hamish doesn’t stray far. He finds an armchair, but doesn’t trust himself to climb into it. The floor feels safer. The carpet is lush. He curls his toes into the fibers and draws his knees to his chest.

His fingers rub circles over his temples as his heart thunders against his ribs.

There's magic in the air. Incantations dimming the glow of the fire, spells radiating a heat that brings to mind much larger flames.

Hamish lets the fire warm his back as he turns more fully toward the chair.

He's woken in strange places before. Even felt the remnants of magic on him while his memories were in hazy disarray. For a reason he can’t place, his mind reaches for evidence of Selena.

But with his face against the cushion, he recognizes Vera's perfume. The scent of safety and strength. He inhales deeply and relief floods his veins, pacifies his racing heart.

He's wrung out, exhausted. But knowing Vera is nearby is a balm to his distress.

⁂

Vera finds Hamish curled up beside her chair. The blanket long since abandoned on the couch; he's shivering.

A little influence on the fire increases the temperature in the room and she takes a seat. She’s not imagining it when Hamish shifts toward her and not away.

Vera places a plate and a glass on the end table, and Hamish lifts his nose in interest. A growl rolls in his chest in tandem with one his stomach gives in hunger.

He watches the approach of her hand as she tentatively, cautiously, lowers it to his head. His hair falls like silk through her fingers.

Hamish melts under her attention. He releases a shaky breath and what could be a whimper. His stomach growls again.

Her hands leave him for a moment but when they return, there's a fork and food. Vera brings a piece of steak to his lips.

It’s seared and spiced and Hamish turns his face at the offer.

“You should eat,” she says, and he presses his forehead against the armrest in protest. He waves her hand away and the fork falls to the floor.

Hamish tenses, brings his clumsy hands behind his back, and stares guiltily at the stain on the carpet. But Vera merely sighs.

She cuts a fresh cube of meat, picks it up between her fingers and holds it out for inspection. The rare, unseasoned cut glistens, pulling Hamish's gaze.

His mouth waters and she brings the meat closer. She gives his bottom lip a gentle nudge.

With his eyes locked on hers, Hamish takes the offering from Vera's hand. His teeth graze her fingertips and a shiver dances up her arm.

Hamish chews and swallows, closing his eyes in relief. He hasn’t eaten properly in days. He parts his lips for more.

Vera watches his throat work as he swallows another bite, and her heart twists at the sight of dark bruises blooming under his skin. To think she caused him this pain.

She lays a hand upon his neck and runs the other over his jaw. Feels his muscles tense and release. He draws in a sharp breath.

“Sanetur,” she whispers, heals.

He exhales.

Vera feeds him carefully. Holding each piece of meat to his mouth. When Hamish's lips part, she holds steady, letting him rise up and take at his own pace.

He quietly accepts each morsel with the slide of his tongue. He sucks the juices from her fingers when they linger on his mouth.

When his stomach is heavy, he leans into her legs, lays his head on her thigh, and sinks into her care.

Vera offers silent comfort by the fire, never leaving him long without her touch, until his eyes find hers again.

"Did you do this to me?" Hamish asks, his voice hoarse from disuse. Confusion is written in his expression. A question about tonight and so much more. Even still, there's devotion. There's trust.

Vera pets his head, stalling. She drags her thumb over the corner of his mouth, wipes drying blood from his lip.

The truth will hurt.

But Hamish's eyes go soft as he turns into her touch, nuzzling her palm, and she can no longer abide the lies.

"Oh, pet," she purrs as he takes her thumb between his teeth.

Vera cradles his face and watches the flames flicker and spark in his eyes. She holds Hamish firm as she promises - to him, to herself - "I'll make it right."

#netflix the order #vermish #hamish x vera #vera stone #hamish duke #my writing #a case of you series

10 notes · View notes

medusinestories · 3 years

Text

Black Sails, IV (S1, ep 04)

- Silver's horrified face when he finds out he's going to have to roast pigs is a Journey, starting with shock, then fake smiling, and then this horrified shuddery expression. It's just as interesting when they drop the dead pig at his feet and he clearly doesn't know what to do with it and also finds it disgusting. I can absolutely see where all the Jewish John Silver headcanons come from, especially since it's unlikely that a London urchin has never seen a dead pig and raw meat in general before.

- Here we have the first performance of Cassandra DeGroot: he knows that the bay they'd chosen to do the careening was too dangerous, and warns the crew. He's immediately countered by Flint, who has much more persuasive arguments to get the careening done fast but in a risky manner. (this whole thing reminds me of our current COVID/climate situation, where scientists get talked over by politicians, and people prefer listening to the latter because they seem to offer much better prospects than the “catastrophist” former)

- In this episode Billy is now quartermaster and he shows himself to actually be really good at disciplining the crew, something Gates, DeGroot and even Flint recognise. However, he also agreed to do the careening only because he's afraid to say no to Flint and allowed the men to have a fuck tent, which he feared would distract them - and it did, the two men who placed the rope on the wrong tree decided not to follow his orders and go fuck instead. This all weighs on him enormously after the disaster with Randall and Morley, who accuses him minutes before his death of already being in Flint's pocket. It's pretty clear that more responsibility doesn't do Billy's mental state any good.

- Morley's story about the Maria Aleyne gives some idea of a timeline, albeit a faint one. The incident took place "a number of years back", before Billy joined. This means that Billy is a somewhat new addition to the crew. We know that Randall was bosun when Billy joined. This also establishes that Lord Hamilton has been dead for several years, which now begs the question: who is the Lord Proprietor that Richard Guthrie is now in touch with? Did Thomas have a younger brother who inherited the Bahamas? Was someone new appointed? Was there a gap between Proprietors that allowed the pirates to establish themselves even more after Lord Alfred's death?

- I just adore the fact that Miranda actually went to stinking, violent Nassau because she was just too impatient to wait at home and wanted to be there when the Walrus came in and immediately hear the news of Lord Alfred's death. She is that vengeful and angry and I love her <3

- Speaking of which, this episode gives us the Passive-Agressive Sex Scene which makes so many people doubt of Flint's attraction to Miranda. Just look at Flint’s face: this man isn't uncomfortable or sad he is PISSED. He plays starfish and glares at Miranda all through it (while maintaining an erection all the same!). Miranda must be hella frustrated (or determined) because she manages to get off in spite of all of this (also, how uncommon is it for a sex scene to end when the woman climaxes rather than the man?) It's only when it ends that both Flint and Miranda are both shown as vulnerable and sad and reflective, with Flint reaching up to touch her but not quite getting there - imo because he's still angry but knows that she (and he) needs comfort.

- This leads into the argument over Meditations, and Miranda explicitly talking about Thomas and not wanting to forget him. The book hasn't been touched in a long time, confirming the idea that Miranda shared it with Richard Guthrie because Flint refuses to touch it. Her grief, her loneliness, are incredibly poignant in this scene, and we see Flint shift from bristling and stonily glaring at her, to absolutely melting (Toby's facial expression shifts here are just *chef's kiss*) and finally being gentle and tender with her. However, even though he promises to make things better, Miranda clearly doesn't believe him anymore.

- This brings in a big theme in the episode: betrayal from people you care for/trust. Mr Scott asks Eleanor not to do anything rash in order to get the Andromache’s guns, only to discover her Plan B: to kill Bryson if he didn't comply. In the meantime, Richard Guthrie tells (a very sceptical) Miranda that he can only support Eleanor and Flint, because he pretty much has no choice in the matter. He then proceeds to betray his daughter by making a deal with Bryson and with Mr Scott, who’s still smarting from Eleanor’s betrayal and who Guthrie tries to convince by saying that Eleanor's endeavour will lead to her death and Nassau’s destruction (considering what we later find out about Mr Scott, Eleanor’s safety is probably not be the argument that actually compels Mr Scott - but he certainly doesn't want the Navy searching the area and finding Maroon Island, and needs a stable Nassau to continue supplying his island).

- The Undercooked Pig scene and Silver's attempts at communicating with Flint will never not be funny. Silver looks so small when Flint glares him down, but that doesn't last all that long: once Flint has taught him how to cook the pork, Silver seems much more bold, asking Flint how he learned to glaze the pig, insisting that Flint should trust him and not Billy. This is also a moment where Silver shows that, unlike Flint, he is incredibly perceptive: he noticed that Billy is "straining at the seams" because of the lie he told. And while Flint spits a "there is no we" and calls Silver a rodent, it's obvious that Silver's words still have an impact on him. Their collaboration is sealed when Silver hands him the cleaver so that he can save Randall (and himself). When Flint returns the cleaver to Silver, he's ready to accept that Silver is actually on his side (albeit for selfish reasons) and listens to him for the first time.

- Max believed that she could charm Vane's remaining crew into being kind to her - and overall it seems to have worked. While again I hate this plot, it does give an interesting insight into how even the worst pirate crew is portrayed: most of the men are happy to comply with Max and get sexual rewards "for gentle obedience". Most of them, basically, aren't violent monsters deep down. However there's always one, in this case That Big Bastard (I'm sure he has a name, I just can't be bothered to google it), who clearly gets a kick out of torturing/raping people and hates the idea of a woman taking the lead.

- Fuck You Jack is another theme of this episode. Vane is high on opium and booze and has basically lost the will to do anything. Anne has been courted by several other crews, but Jack hasn't received any offers (note there's no loyalty to Vane here, Jack’s ready to leave, but nobody will have him) and nobody is willing to help him after the pearl cock-up. Then Noonan wants Max back, which Jack refuses because she's the only thing keeping the few members of his crew loyal - and Anne isn't on board with that, leading to her telling him to fuck himself. This, btw, might have crossed Jack’s mind considering the position she was in when he found her. I think it’s easy to forget that Jack is portrayed as pretty callous and happily willing to treat people like pawns too.

- When Richard Guthrie talks about Nassau, he describes it as a place "a place where she [Eleanor] matters, a place where you [Mr Scott] matter", and adds that a place like this isn't meant to last. Nassau, then, is currently an utopia where women and black people can have some semblance of power - and he doesn't believe that this will ever be allowed to exist because this kind of story never has a happy ending in their current society. But when Flint talks to Eleanor about their project, he's of the opposite view: people don't believe that it's possible, but when they succeed, they'll say it was inevitable. It seems Flint is firmly in the camp of "winners get to tell the story", and that the story will influence how the rest of the world sees them.

- When the Walrus tilts and squashes Randall, Flint stops Billy from intervening and rushes to rescue Randall himself - even though he knows the ship will be cut loose at any moment. He puts himself into incredible danger in this moment. Why? Theoretically, it could be for a manipulative purpose: to look good to the crew, or to get rid of Morley. But Flint seems genuinely involved in the struggle to save Randall, and he barely had time to think before he ran off. I feel that this is a rare spontaneous moment for Flint, where instead of thinking about his plans or his position as Captain, he just thinks like a person in an emergency who wants to rescue someone else. He absolutely could have died out there. And while Billy seems to suspect him of having killed Morley, I don't find that reading compatible with what we're shown of Flint trying to save Randall. True, he may have kicked/pushed Morley at the very last second, but we’ll never know that for sure.

- Back to the theme of people betraying their loved ones, we have Richard Guthrie getting back to Miranda, telling her he knows who she is and revealing the "Thomas went mad because Miranda and Flint cheated" story which he heard from Lord Alfred himself. So now Miranda knows that her identity has been revealed and that Richard could spread the story to, say, Pastor Lambrick (let's not pretend this didn't cross her mind, she keeps her identity secret for a reason). And then Guthrie offers her a way back to civilisation. This, right after a kid threw a stone at her, calling her a witch. This, after Flint has promised to make things better, even as he goes deeper into reckless/utopian plans of fortifying Nassau. Backed into a corner, was Miranda ever going to refuse, if she could be safe and have him be safe? And obviously, Richard Guthrie isn't doing this out of the kindness of his heart. He apparently figured out that Miranda was a way to get in touch with Pastor Lambrick and that ridding New Providence of Flint and winning over the “good”, normal inhabitants would be a perfect beginning to buying back his influence on the Island - the end goal being named Governor, of course.

- If there was any doubt that Vane’s tough guy thing is part of an act, his opium hallucination of Eleanor makes it crystal clear: "you're alone, you don't have to pretend with me". That is, pretend that he's not afraid and that he's not vulnerable. The hallucination also offers Vane an explanation for why Eleanor is how she is: like him she's afraid of appearing weak. He's actually spot on, a big problem in their relationship is that they're too alike and are struggling for dominance. Which is probably why Vane wants to overcome his fear and weakness, and regain power by confronting his old slave master (btw, nice parallel with Flint haunted by Miranda in S3). The scene where Vane kills Noonan also shows him in a very animalistic light - at first he's cornered and somewhat pathetic, beaten, throwing up, only saved by the fact that a gun misfires. Then he turns violent: quick, instinctive and relentless, deaf to Noonan's plea to leave him alive, even if theoretically it could have been profitable for him.

- I have to say, I snickered quite a bit when Pastor Lambrick sees Richard Guthrie and tells him "God teaches us not to cheer when someone stumbles, in your case I may ask his forgiveness". I mean, I really see his point. He leads a group of Puritans who are trying to make a life for themselves on this island. Historically, people who lived and farmed in New Providence were constant targets for errant pirates, who robbed, raped and killed a lot of them. This is what the Pastor is trying to protect his congregation from (and Miranda, since he doesn't understand why she's with Flint and is likely terrified that a pirate lives so close to his congregation, hence the spies he sends out). There's a bit of a parallel with Billy, where both Lambrick and Billy are presented as being very preoccupied with the well-being of the group they're responsible for, and both are presented as, well, Goody-Two-Shoes - (self-)righteous, loyal, honest, caring. Except they're both human, and sooner or later they falter.

46 notes · View notes

justthehiddleswrites · 3 years

Text

Destiny Has Other Plans | Loki x OFC (Alexis Randall) | Chapter 4

Pairing: Loki x OFC

MASTERLIST IS HERE

This Chapter: Tony’s attempt at matchmaking goes awry. Alexis meets the man that goes bump in the vents and makes some poor decisions.

Warnings: Arranged Marriage, Forced Marriage, Pregnancy, Unplanned Pregnancy, Smut, Angst, Semi-Public Sex, Mentions of law enforcement, Oral Sex, Cursing, Vaginal Sex

Taglists are Open, please let me know if you wish to be added.

Alexis tugged at her dress. Even though she was still early in the pregnancy, her clothes were already fitting differently. She could see the beginnings of a bump in the mirror. Loki’s clothes fit him like a glove. Like a perfectly tailored, bespoke “look at me I am so fucking handsome” glove, Alexis groused to herself, tugging again at the neckline.

“Do you always fidget so much?” Loki questioned as they walked towards the entrance of the restaurant Tony made reservations at for them.

“No. None of my clothes aren’t fitting right. My bump is starting to show.”

“Have JARVIS order you some new ones.” Loki commented back. He held the door open for her. He didn’t think the dress was fitting Alexis poorly. Quite the contrary, as the low neckline highlighted her breasts in a manner Loki found rather stimulating. He particularly enjoyed the tiny stomach bump developing on her.

“Two, under the name Stark.” Loki wrapped his arm around Alexis’s waist as the bartender smiled at them from across the entrance. His grip tightened as a spark of jealousy hit him.

The maitre’d nodded and led them to a cozy table off to the side, and thankfully for Loki, out of the eyeline of the bar.

The server came by and asked for drink orders.

“Scotch neat.”

Alexis’s face dropped. “Just water, please.” A glass of wine sounded tempting right now.

The server nodded and moved away, but Loki grabbed his arm. “On second thought, water and Diet Coke for me.”

The server changed the order and stepped away. Alexis squirmed in her seat. “You didn’t need to do that on my account. I’m an adult and so are you. You can drink if you want.”

The server returned with the drinks and left to give them more time with the menus. Loki pushed the Diet Coke in front of Alexis. “A peace offering. If you can try, so can I.”

Alexis took a long draw of the soda and hummed. “Thank you, Loki.”

“My pleasure.” The server returned, ready to take their order.

“What would you recommend?” she asked.

“The tuna tartare is popular.” The server gestured to the menu. Loki coughed and raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t like anything raw.” Alexis lied. Sushi was one of her favorites. “Anything else?”

She settled on a seasonal risotto while Loki ordered a steak, medium rare. Once the server left, the two of them carried on a polite conversation until their bread service and entrees arrived. Alexis noticed as she ate, a blonde woman sneaking glances at their table.

“Loki, do you know her?”

He turned around to glance and shrugged his shoulders. “She looks vaguely familiar, but I can’t recall. I’ve met many people in my last year here.”

“LOKI!” The woman was now at their table. Alexis wasn’t entirely sure what was preventing the woman’s boobs from slipping out of her dress.

Loki narrowed his eyes. “Hello, um…”

“Ashlyn! You silly.” She slapped Loki’s shoulder. “You would think a god would have a better memory?”

“You would, wouldn’t you?” Alexis leaned forward on her hands, mocking Ashlyn.

Ashlyn turned to Loki, oblivious to Alexis, although Loki glared at her across the table. “I am so sorry, Ashlyn. I shall endeavor to do better.” He flashed her a smile.

“I can’t believe you never called me after our last date, and now I find you here out with another woman!”

“Oh, we aren’t dating!” Loki and Alexis responded simultaneously.

“She’s a friend.” Loki added.

“From work.” Alexis chimed in.

“Well then,” Ashlyn reached across and grabbed a spare cocktail napkin, she scribbled on it, leaning over the table to ensure Loki receive an eyeful of her ample cleavage. “Call me sometime.” Ashlyn tucked the napkin into Loki’s shirt pocket before walking off.

Alexis’s gaze followed Ashlyn until the blonde sat back down at her table.

“I’m surprised you didn’t drag her into the bathroom right in front of me.” Alexis sniped.

Loki scowled at her. “I am not that crass. And if I recall, you pulled me into that bathroom.”

Alexis sneered as she pushed her half eaten risotto away, no longer hungry. Loki frowned. “You need to eat.”

“My stomach doesn’t feel so good. I’m not feeling well.” Sure as shit, she wasn’t feeling well. She realized they weren’t beholden’d to each other and hell she even gave him permission to date. But Alexis never imagined it would sting this much.

“Then we should return home at once.” Loki signaled for the check, oblivious to the true reasons for Alexis’s upset stomach.

Tony was waiting for them in the common room, clearly wanting all the juicy gossip. Loki wrapped his arm around Alexis as they walked through.

“Look at the two of you!” Tony called out, scaring the shit out of Alexis.

“Does everyone around here just lurk in corners?” She clasped her hand on her chest.

“Not now, Stark. Alexis isn’t feeling well.” Loki snapped, not stopping.

Tony shuffled to follow them, cutting them off at the hallway entrance. “Just answer one question, was there a love connection?”

“Oh, there definitely was.” Alexis grumbled. Tony did a little fist pump. “Loki snagged a date with Ashlyn, the real life blow-up doll.”

“I beg your pardon?” Loki’s head at her and he removed his arm.

“Come on! She practically shoved her tits in your face, Loki. With me sitting there.”

“I’m going to bed.” Tony muttered and hightailed it out of the line of fire.

“You said you didn’t care.” Loki countered.

“And I don’t!” Alexis moaned, lying to herself and to Loki. She was getting a headache. “I don’t.” She took a deep breath. “I just don’t need it happening right in front of me, okay?”

Loki shoved his hands in his pants pockets. “Apologies. I hadn’t considered…”

“Spare the apologies, Loki.” She moved away from him. “I’m going to bed.” She walked away at a brisk pace.

When Loki got there, he peeked into her room, but she was already under the covers, eyes closed.

Loki avoided Alexis for the next week. They exchanged little more than pleasantries in the morning and evening. Alexis spent more of her evenings in her office on the 5th floor rather in the apartment with Loki. She didn’t go anywhere. Loki insisted it wasn’t safe, now that she was showing. The walls were closing in and Alexis was going stir crazy.

One evening, Alexis was lying on the couch watching TV when Loki came out of his room dressed in a black suit.

“Going on your date?” Her tone sharp and words pointed. “Give Blow Up Barbie my best.”

“You said you didn’t want to know. But yes, I am meeting Ashlynn tonight.” He tightened his tie. He didn’t really want to go, but Ashlynn didn’t stop calling until he gave a firm date.

“I don’t. Just curious whether to make an entire pot of coffee in the morning or not? Should I expect you home tonight?”

“I wouldn’t bother.” Loki adjusted his cufflinks. “Enjoy your show.”

“Use protection!” She yelled after him.

Loki smiled as he shut the door behind him. Alexis tried to focus on her show, but couldn’t. She couldn’t pinpoint why this date bothered her so much. Alexis harbored no romantic feelings for Loki. She barely got through a conversation without insulting him.

“Fuck it.” She grabbed her phone. “And fuck him.”

“Hannah? Yeah. Can you come pick me up at Avengers Tower?”

“Warden letting you out on good behavior?” Hannah giggled. She enjoyed joking about Alexis being held captive.

“More like a prison break.”

“Did you want to grab dinner or something?”

“How about dancing? Somewhere loud and slightly crazy.” Alexis stood and went to her closet, selecting a skintight electric blue dress. It would highlight her newfound curves.

“Are you sure? What about Loki?” Hannah questioned.

“When the cat’s away… He is out. On a date. Get me back here before morning and he will never know.”

“Devious. I’m in.”

“Twenty minutes, Hannah. I’ll meet you downstairs.”

She dressed and fixed her hair before slipping on a pair of high heels. A quick glance down the hallway and Alexis slinked towards the elevator.

“Loki takes the service elevator when he skulks out at night.” Clint stepped out of the shadows. “I see he didn’t share his trade secrets with you.”

Alexis jumped a bit but regained her composure. “Jesus Christ. Between you and Tony… I’m not skulking. Just meeting a friend.”

“Fancy dress for a friend.”

“Nosy question for a man who crawls through the vents.” Alexis narrowed her eyes at Clint.

“Just an observation. Have a good evening.” Clint nodded and disappeared into the shadows of the night.

Hannah was waiting outside when she made her way outside.

“I worried you got caught.”

“Just a bird in the vents distracting me. Have faith in me. Now… let’s party.”

Hannah hooked her arm with Alexis and they took off down the sidewalk.

Loki’s mind wandered as Ashlynn droned on about her number of Instagram followers. Social media did not interest Loki. Not even a bit. He remembered why he “forgot” to call Ashlyn back the first time. While she may be nice to look at, it was all style and no substance. Blow Up Barbie was an apt name, Loki mused. He chuckled at Alexis’s joke as he replayed it in his mind.

“What so funny, Loki?” Ashlyn questioned as they walked out of the restaurant.

“What?” He turned to her in shock. “Oh, just something someone told me earlier.” He brushed it off.

“A joke?” Ashlyn perked up. She hopped and her boobs bounced in a way boobs shouldn’t. Loki had said little that night. “Tell me.”

“You won’t enjoy it.” Loki deflected. “It is rather offensive.” He smiled again, thinking about many of Alexis’s off-color jokes. He often found it hard to not laugh.

“Fine.” Ashlyn pouted. “Let’s go back to my place.” She tugged him in the opposite direction of the Tower.

Loki sighed. “I think I should head home.” He feigned a yawn. “I am tired and I have an early meeting tomorrow.”

Ashlyn frowned at him. “On a Sunday?”

Loki coughed. “An Avenger never has a day off.” He was failing at ending this date. Loki wondered if Alexis would still be up.

“Really, because you always said—” Ashlyn’s comment interrupted by Loki’s cell phone.

He frowned when he saw Alexis’s number on the screen. He answered the call.

“I told you not to wait—” He snapped into the phone, even though moments ago he was ready to call it a night.

“It’s Alexis’s friend, Hannah. You don’t know me, but—”

“What happened? Where are you? Where’s Alexis?” Loki snapped. Ashlyn leaned in to listen to the conversation. Loki turned his back to her.

“We’re at the police station. Can you come bail her out?”

Loki paled. “Give me the address.”

#loki #loki fanfiction #loki fanfic #loki imagine #loki fluff #loki smut #loki angst #loki x ofc #loki series #destiny has other plans

12 notes · View notes

smartzelda · 4 years

Text

Okay, first off, I know I said we would start where I left off in Corona, but I need to take a second to recognize something I forgot in Toy Box when rewriting the last post. Yozora.

Sora's "I never looked this good"

And Donald and Goofy like, "He looks kinda like Riku. Must be him."

And the Kingstagram post: "Yozora looks so much like Riku! I have GOT to play this game someday!"

Soriku bro😔👌

Okay, now back to Corona😂

So, where we left off, Gothel took Rapunzel back to the tower, and I'm skipping to Gothel's Rapunzel trap working on Flynn, and Flynn slowly dying

So, starting with Rapunzel, she starts off pretty confident, talking about how she'll run and run and run from Gothel forever, but in one moment, she becomes more submissive

If only she could just use her hair to save him.

Though obviously these are two different feelings going on, we're gonna start with this loose parallel of Rapunzel to Sora, who also in a single moment or from a single event, goes from confident to crying on his knees

If only Sora had his friends to give him the power to drive back the demon hurricane.

And of course, neither Flynn nor Riku will let it be this way. Flynn can't let her give up her dreams and her freedom to save him, and Riku just can't let Sora give up and believe he can't do anything.

["Sora, I believe in you. You won't give up."]

So, what do they do?

Flynn cuts off Rapunzel's hair, condemning himself to death, but saving Rapunzel's life (or at least, right to truly live)

Riku takes a shot at the demon tide, sacrificing himself in hopes of saving Sora's life.

In other words, they do a true love's sacrifice/act of true love

Quick intermission since here is where Gothel becomes the heartless and final boss. I still suck at this boss. It took me an hour or two to beat her. However, this is also when I started abusing shotlocks for the first time, so there's that. Abuse ultima shotlocks, cast magic, time your dodges, and hope whenever you attack you don't get attacked 😂

So, by the time Sora, Donald, and Goofy get up to the tower, I think we're supposed to presume Eugene is nearly dead, but Rapunzel is holding on, not wanting him to die

And of course, Sora desperately reaches for the light, calling for Riku. I guess you could say he's holding onto Riku.

["Riku! Riku, answer me!"]

Rapunzel sings her healing song that talks about reversing time, bringing back "what once was mine", changing "the fates' design, ect, and then her tear drops onto Eugene's face. And so, after both of them risked their own lives in acts of true love, both of them cheat the different deaths which would have been thrust upon them, changing fate's design

In similar fashion, due to what I believe to have been Kairi holding Sora's form together and Riku's act of true love saving Sora's heart, Sora too has cheated death (at least for now), and after reaching for the light, calling for Riku, and flying into it, he goes for Riku's heart first, saves all of his friends (minus Kairi till the light tunnel, though Sora doesn't save her) and not only reverses, but rewrites the destined events to happen in the timeline. I'd say it parallels Rapunzel's healing song, and even though he does save everyone and not just one person, there definitely is something to the fact that he specifically goes for Riku, specifically calls his name, and ends up wresting him from his fate first.

(Don't worry, bro, his heart'll be okay now)

Also, side note: During Rapunzel singing her healing song, she and Eugene confess that the other was their new dream and that just my heart

Bro, Eugene like, "Did I ever tell you... I've got a thing for brunettes?"

He really be the Riku parallel in this scene, don't he😏

Now of course, being me, I can't pass up the next parallel in this world

Sora: Well, if he comes back and tries to bother Rapunzel again, then Flynn will keep her safe.

Donald: Come on. Rapunzel's the tough one, if you ask me.

Flynn: True. But nevertheless, I won't let her out of my sight.

I mean, maybe it's just me, but it seems this parallels Riku wanting to have the strength to protect Sora, attaining that strength, but also being aware that Sora can take care of himself and has his own strength

And of course, this world is ended with a funny sex joke and Flynn getting stared down by Maximus and wet willied by pascal

Since here we're done with the worlds in the first area of gummi space and launched into the next, I'm gonna add that after every world I spend forever in gummi space farming meteorites and occasionally fighting the heartless and some boss battles, and every time I get launched into the next area of gummi space, I get all the treasure planets and the warp zone things too (apparently actual words evade me for both those things today). Legit though, farming meteorites is so helpful in getting synthesis materials you can use for upgrading your keyblades

So next was on to Monstropolis. I don't have much to talk about here.

Sora, Donald, and Goody freaking out over each other's monster forms? Hilarious.

Monster Sora? He will never not be adorable. Same with Boo

The big blue turtletoad unversed are annoying, and ngl, I had to dodge around a lot and play safe so I wouldn't die in like 2 hits.

Both the keyblade forms for Oathkeeper amd the form for Ultima on monster Sora are just so epic!!!

I still hate light rails with a passion.

Poor Sora so tired of dealing with computers thst when Goofy suggests smashing it, he's completely ready

Monstropolis: Randal nearly becomes leather wear before Vanitas saves him

The fact that Sora, Donald, and Goofy talked about Sora's weird kh1 smile and afterwards actually came up with a name for it. "Do the silly face special!" Also, when Monster Sora does it, it's definitely cute compared to the kh1 scene

The final boss unversed still sucked and took me plenty of tries, but I think I did better than my proud run.

YEETUS VANITAS

Ngl, I chanted YEETUS VANITAS cause I knew when it was coming

Poor Vanitas. He just need some love. From what I can tell in kh3, he's probably not hurting like he was in bbs and is less angry, and because there was a hole in his heart, he believed he had to join with Ventus to fill it even though their hearts have grown apart. Vanitas probably needs love to fill that hole

Poor Sora hurting and falling to the ground while Vanitas tells him that Ventus is in his heart

And last but definitely not least! Sora's Kingstagram post on the Vanitas scene where he learns that Ven is in his heart. And at the end of it, after talking about how apparently Ven is in his heart and stuff (I think) he's just like, "Would Riku know?" And the fact that Sora's included Riku in the Kingstagram posts means he was probably thinking about him and the fact he thinks Riku might know these things just... aaaaaaaa brooooo

And now onto Arendelle, home of many a Soriku parallel and where I did a lot of backtracking to save points

#soriku #sora x riku #critical mode #kingdom hearts 3 #kingdom of corona #monstropolis #parallels

78 notes · View notes

spaceshipkat · 4 years

Text

part 5 of my CCity recap will cover chapters 81 - epilogue

part 1 with chapters 1 - 20 can be found here.

part 2 with chapters 21- 40 can be found here.

part 3 with chapters 41 - 60 can be found here.

part 4 with chapters 61 - 80 can be found here.

chapter 81: time slows, as the death of an archangel can affect time and space. Bruce grabs Danika’s sword and uses it to cut Micah in half. Hunt expects the synth to destroy Bruce but it doesn’t. Hypaxia says the antidote is working, as Bruce drank it before she assembled the Godslayer Rifle (sorry, i forgot to mention that, but yes we saw it happen via Hunt). Bruce burns Micah’s corpse. heh. Bruce vacuums up Micah’s ashes. halfway decent comedic timing, that.

chapter 82: Bruce holds Syrinx until he falls asleep, then goes into the library to look for Lehabah, whose corpse isn’t anywhere. Bruce vomits to get rid of the antidote in her since the synth is gone. chaos is in the Summit, as the Asterian Guard left to get commands that will probably be to kill Bruce for killing a governor. Hypaxia frees Hunt from his shackles but it turns out Micah’s plan with the Horn didn’t fail after all.

chapter 83: Micah had opened a portal in the Heart Gate with the Horn, which opened straight to Hel and demons are now streaming out. Bruce leaves Syrinx at home and takes Danika’s jacket, her sword, Hunt’s handgun, his rifle, and ammo. it turns out Micah opened a portal in every Gate in the city. neither Sabine nor the Autumn King will break protocol to send their forces to protect people not inside shelters. Tharion and Isaiah get their forces to where there are unprotected people, but the CBD is being attacked and the 33rd are being slaughtered. Hypaxia tells someone on the phone to suit up and move into the city, and Bruce is seen running through the streets to help people. she’s going to the Meadows to help the humans.

chapter 84: Micah destroyed every means of escape that Hypaxia and the witches had in the Summit, so they can’t use them to fly. the old wolf alpha just referred to Bruce as a wolf, for some reason. Hunt calls the Viper Queen. Bruce calls Jesiba and says she needs help at the Meadows, and Ithan tells Bruce he’s coming, as does every wolf under his command and every other kind of canine shifter.

chapter 85: Bruce makes it to the Mortal Gate and starts killing demons as humans run for shelter. the Viper Queen’s bodyguards have joined Bruce, as have the canine shifters. back in the Summit, Fury’s helicopter is still on its way. the Asteri are sending help and the others are ordered to stay in the Summit. Bruce shoves Ithan into the shelter, since there isn’t enough room for both of them, and the door shuts, leaving her outside. she starts running toward the Old Square, fighting demons as she goes bc she got an idea we’re not privy to.

chapter 86: Hunt watches Bruce run for the Heart Gate, which no longer has demons coming out. Bruce calls Hunt and Sandriel lets him answer. she asks Hunt to tell her mom she loves her, Randall he’s the best, that she’s sorry to Fury, thankful Juniper saved her, that she forgives Ruhn, that she was waiting for Hunt in her heart, and then she runs to the gate.

chapter 87: Bruce says she’s Bryce Quinlan, Heir to the Starborn Fae. so. that happened. we get a flashback of when Bruce saved Danika’s life and killed for the first time with her Starlight power. Bruce hid being Starborn bc Ruhn loved being Starborn. she’s more powerful than Ruhn, of course, but kept it to herself bc Ruhn was so proud of being Starborn. she uses the Horn and the Starlight to try to close the portals.

chapter 88: she seals the portal in the Heart Gate. Hunt wonders if there’ll be a battle between Bruce and Ruhn to be the Starborn Heir. the Autumn King calls Bruce’s mom bc her mom knew she was the Starborn Fae all these years and didn’t tell him. Hunt reminds Ruhn she kept the secret bc she loves him. Bruce’s mom explains that it was Bruce who saved her and Randall when Bruce’s mom was escaping from the Autumn King. Bruce’s mom, Ember, says:

“But then she met your son. And she told me that when she saw his pride in his Chosen One status, she realized she couldn’t take it away from him. Not when she also saw that was the only value you placed in him. Even if it meant she would be denied everything she was due, even if revealing herself would have meant she could lord it over you, she wouldn’t do that to Ruhn. Because she loved him that much more than she hated you.”

Ruhn’s face crumpled.

Ember spat at the Autumn King, “And then you left her on the curb like garbage.” She let out another broken laugh. “I hope she finally returns the favor, you fucking asshole.” She hung up.

Aidas the demon prince of the Pit knew all along what Bruce was and watched her from afar. Sandriel told the Asteri about Bruce, who must be eliminated bc she’s a half-human who can wield Starlight, who apparently breaks the status quo. Hypaxia takes away the crown of thorns on Hunt’s brow.

chapter 89: Hunt approaches Sandriel and uses his lightning. Ruhn, Hypaxia, Flynn, and Declan (with his laptop) hide beneath the table. when the lightning stops, Fury is still alive and Hunt has Sandriel’s severed head. every other angel kneels, as does Isaiah. they leave for Fury’s helicopter, which landed on the roof of the Summit building. Declan stays behind to be Hunt’s eyes via the screens. Hunt takes command of the angels and orders them to the city. Fury tells Hunt that Bruce was a ghost for a long time and Hunt brought her back to life.

chapter 90: Asterian Guards are coming with tanks that carry brimstone missile launchers. they shoot missiles into the city. Fury flies the helicopter higher and, as the Asterian Guard shoot another volley of missiles, Hunt leaps out of the helicopter. he throws himself over Bruce for protection as the next missile lands.

chapter 91: Bruce finds Hunt missing his legs and an arm and his wings are gone again. the missiles threw the helicopter from the sky and into Moonwood, where the wolf shifters live. Declan, watching via the screens, doesn’t think Hunt will make it. Bruce goes to one of those dial pads (where she and Danika first made their wish in like chapter 2 or 3) and asks for someone to be listening to be her anchor so she can make the Drop. Danika apparently appears and tells Bruce to “light it up” by communicating through the dial pads.

chapter 92: Bruce slams her hand onto the dial pad and makes the Drop with Danika as her anchor. (Danika was in the Bone Quarter, remember, so she was still around.) Bruce is Dropping further than anyone expected bc she’s doing so via a Gate, which allows her to Drop with the power of everyone who’s made a Drop. Bruce activates the ley lines and still Drops. Bruce begins to slow at the Autumn King’s level of power. the city is lit up with her light, making demons flee, and she starts repairing stuff and healing people with her firstlight via the ley lines. she also closes the portals and demons race back to try to get back to Hel. the Autumn King says Bruce won’t be able to make the ascent, and apparently is sad over it. Bruce’s mortal body dies.

chapter 93: Bruce sees Danika, and Danika says that she’s not alive, this is only a spark of what was left over in the Bone Quarter. Bruce says she won’t make the Ascent bc life is too hard without Danika. Danika’s Pack is with her, holding back the Reapers so she can talk to Bruce. Bruce healed Hunt with her firstlight. Bruce starts to make the Ascent with Danika cheering her on. Hunt starts chest compressions on Bruce while she continues to make the Ascent.

chapter 94: Bruce completes the Ascent by seeing Hunt trying to get her heart going again. Danika is gone. Hunt wraps his wings around her when she’s back to life. people walk out of their houses and Bruce realizes she has power from all of them. so. yippee. OP.

chapter 95: Syrinx is waiting for Bruce and Hunt when they get back to their apartment. Bruce can’t bring the dead back to life, even with the Horn. Hunt tells Bruce he killed Sandriel and she tells him she killed Micah, and he says he knows. she has an eight-pointed white start on her chest. they make out and start to have sex but a phone rings to interrupt them. Bruce answers bc it’s her mom calling. the news shares who Bruce is and that she has more power than the Autumn King. Hunt calls Isaiah and Isaiah is relieved to hear from Hunt. with Micah dead, Isaiah is now in charge, Naomi is alive, and the Asterian Guards are gone. Isaiah needs Hunt’s help to calm everything down and Hunt doesn’t know what will happen since he killed Sandriel and therefore no longer has a master.

chapter 96: Rigelius, the Bright Hand of the Asteri, calls Bruce. he thanks her for what she did. as thanks, the Asteri mark Hunt with a C, as freed. Rigelius says Bruce should never use the Horn again. she and Hunt have the Asteris’ blessings, apparently. Bruce walks with Hunt to the Comitium. on the way, they see Fury and she and Bruce hug, and then Fury leaves to go to Juniper, who is safe. Ruhn and Flynn were with Fury but stopped with Bruce. Ruhn heard Bruce through one of the dial pads and Gates and was going to be her Anchor when Danika beat him to it. Bruce hugs Ruhn and Ruhn hugs her back, almost shocked. she says she meant everything she said over the phone and Ruhn warns her the Autumn King will probably want to meet with her. Ruhn gets a call from Declan and says goodbye to Bruce before leaving with Flynn.

chapter 97: they work all day and Bruce goes home while Hunt stays at his barracks in the Comitium. they don’t know which Archangel will rule over Valbara. Bruce takes Syrinx to the river bc Tharion said she has the full support of the River Queen. the mer had saved a lot of people, as had the otters (which is adorable so kill me), who helped children escape. Bruce texts Juniper to say that she’ll be at the next dance class. Bruce looks at Connor’s last message that says to text when she’s home safe, and she finally texts back that she’s home. she then deletes all the messages from Danika and the other wolves and...well, i hate this, but whatever. (i still have my brother’s texts. when i got a new phone i had a panic attack bc they didn’t transfer over right away.) the mists open over the Bone Quarter to reveal it’s green and bright and the Pack of Devils (sans Danika, who yielded her eternity to help Bruce Ascend) wave at her, and she waves back, and the mist closes. Hunt texts that he’s home and Bruce says she’s walking Syrinx but is on her way, and he says good bc he’s making breakfast. she and Syrinx run home.

epilogue: Aidas is in his cat form again and is now speaking with Jesiba in the Oracle’s Park. she asks why he didn’t tell her about Bruce, and he says he didn’t trust Jesiba, or anyone, for that matter. Jesiba says she thought that Theia’s light had been extinguished, and Aidas says it had been under Prince Pelias’ sword, but Bruce now somehow wields Theia’s light. the demons that escaped when the portals opened are now being punished by the demon princes, and Aidas will soon join them. Jesiba asks about Hunt, and Aidas says that he thinks Hunt’s father would have been proud. Jesiba says that’s sentimental of Aidas, and he says that Jesiba would know bc she knew Hunt’s father best. Aidas asks where the library is and Jesiba says it has been moved. Aidas goes to leave and Jesiba says “don’t fuck us over this time” and he says he doesn’t plan to, “not when things are about to get interesting.”

THE END. I MADE IT. GIF DANCE PARTY.

#anti sjm #anti ccity #ccity spoilers #myth & kat read ccity #ccity recap #chapters 81 - epilogue are posted

61 notes · View notes