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bangtanreadingcorner · 3 years

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tall, blonde and gorgeous • jeon jeongguk

plot — when jeongguk dyes his hair blonde, it might just be the push you both need to finally talk about the feelings you have for each other.

words — 5.7K

You woke up in the middle of the night, craving some apple juice. You knew there was in the kitchen fridge, because Taehyung always made sure to stock up whenever you come for a weekend visit.

Speaking of your brother, he was passed out next to you, the two of you sharing his King sized bed while you visited. Like you always did. It was mostly just you two, but sometimes Jimin would join you. You don't mind, you known both of them since forever and Jimin is your brother as much as Taehyung is.

Quietly, you got out of bed. You didn't want to wake your brother, he works so hard and needs his rest.

The dorm was silent, which was a little weird because there was usually always someone up. It was only when on tour that all seven of the boys would sometimes be asleep at once, but even that was rare.

Shrugging it off, you padded the rest of the way to the kitchen, only to come to a halt in the doorway, freezing.

Someone with a mop of blond hair stood with his back to you, digging through the fridge.

The digging through the fridge wasn't what surprised you, no, it was the hair because as far as you knew, no one in Bangtan had blonde hair right now.

You knew because your brother was always spamming your phone, whenever he had time, with pictures, videos, voice notes and messages. You and Taehyung have always been close and he always made the effort to keep you up-to-date with his life but also made a point to keep you out of the spotlight, which you appreciate more than you tell him. Come to think of it, more than half your gallery is made up of pictures of Bangtan. The other half is made up of your rare selfies, pictures with your friends, of your dog or your brother's dog.

The point is, if someone colored their hair, you would know within five minutes - with pictures and everything. And Taehyung hasn't spammed your phone since yesterday morning when he and Jimin accidentally got Hobi instead of Jeongguk with a water balloon.

So, the question is, who is the blonde currently rummaging through the fridge?

You looked him up and down, noticing the very nice, very broad and clearly strong shoulders covered with a black t-shirt that hid the rest of the guy's figure. Your gaze went down a nice ass and long legs that was wearing grey sweatpants and finally stopping at bare feet.

Something flashed in your mind.

Wait a minute.

You know that ass. You've looked at it enough over the last seven years to recognize it anywhere in a crowd.

"Jeongguk?" You called, a little satisfied when he jumped upright, turning to you with wide eyes. Your heart decided to double its pace.

"Ah, tiny, you're awake. I thought you were sleeping, trying to grow some more." He teased, his heartbeat slowly calming down from the freight you gave him. His eyes quickly scanned you over, and he had to suppress a smile when he saw the bright orange pajamas. It was ugly as hell - he made sure to tell you many times but you always just roll your eyes at him or if you were feeling particularly moody, you'd flip him a finger.

Now, ordinarily, you'd snap at him for calling you tiny because you aren't (it doesn't matter that Jimin is 12 centimeters taller than you, it doesn't make you tiny, short maybe, but not tiny) but right now, you could only focus on one thing.

"Y-your hair." You stuttered, which was new because you never stutter in Jeongguk's presence. Your heart may race, your legs may turn into jelly, your hands may tremble and your stomach may fill with butterflies but you never stutter. And you never let him know what you're feeling.

He ran a hand through his freshly dyed blonde hair, only a little self-conscious with the intense stare you were giving him. He couldn't tell if it was positive or negative. "Yeah, I just wanted a change, something different."

"Well, it's definitely different. Mission accomplished." You informed him, walking into the kitchen fully, your voice miraculously even as you were internally panicking. This was like that time he dyed his hair pink all over again. Oh god. You hoped you could form coherent sentences this time around instead of just giving him the silent treatment for two weeks.

Like you said, you don't stutter around Jeongguk. Ever.

Jeongguk tilted his head at you curiously. "Bad different?"

"No!" You exclaimed, not wanting him to think that. You shook your head vigorously. "Not all. It looks good actually. Really good." So good, in fact, that your fingers itched to touch, to run your hands through it, play with the dyed locks of hair.

Jeongguk looked at you in pleasant surprise, lips stretching into that familiar bunny smile that made you swoon. He bit his bottom lip before saying. "I think that's the first time you ever paid me a compliment."

You frowned, "That can't be true."

"It is." Jeongguk's tone was matter-of-fact. "In seven years, you've never once given me a compliment. I would have remembered."

You pursed your lips, a sudden surge of guilt rushing through your chest at the look on his face - hurt.

"Well, you get lots of compliments from other people, right?" You said, trying to deflect because you never once thought that by staying quiet around Jeongguk, just to hide your feelings, that you'd hurt him.

"But never from you." Jeongguk said, words low and heavy with something you didn't understand. He stared at you, eyes open and strangely vulnerable. You didn't understand what he was trying to tell you.

You frowned at him again, "What does it matter?"

Something in Jeongguk's eyes shuttered at that, like he let you see something but now he pulled his walls back up. You still didn't understand it and he wasn't volunteering an answer.

Finally, he shrugged, "It doesn't, I guess." and he turned back to the refrigerator.

You had a feeling he was lying but you weren't going to call him out because that wasn't your place and it wasn't the kind of thing you and Jeongguk did. Whenever things seemed to go in a direction where feelings were involved - and not about other people but about each other, like what you think of Jeongguk and what he thinks of you - one of you stops the conversation before it can go deeper.

You tease each other good-naturedly, comfortable with each other because you are the same age, and you've listened to him rant when he was frustrated and even held his hand at times when he cried because the pressure of it all got a little to much.

It struck you, suddenly, how Jeongguk always comes to you first. Whether he's stupidly happy about something, or whether he's sad and wants a shoulder to cry on. You two could talk about anything under the sun or moon but whenever it comes to your feelings for each other, you shut down. You've never even admitted that you are, at the very least, friends and that you do care about each other.

You wondered if maybe it was time to change that.

You looked at Jeongguk's back and wanted to ask if thinks of you as a friend, if nothing else but what came out was, "Can you hand me a juice box please?"

He did so, without a word, and you decided to go back to bed. You stopped in the doorway again, turning back to him. "Jeongguk?"

"Yeah?" His tone, his eyes, was strangely hopeful and it made your heart twist. You looked at him, and somehow fell a little bit more in love with him.

"You know that I care about you, right? I mean, I know we've never talked about it, but I do." Your hands was shaking and you gripped the juice box. Luckily you didn't press the straw in yet or your hands would be full of apple juice right now.

The smile Jeongguk gave you was brilliant and it made your heart feel lighter than ever. He nodded his head, "I know."

"Good."

"I-" He started, breath catching a bit but forced himself to go on because if you could be brave, then so could he. "I care about you, too."

You grinned at him before turning away and going back to Taehyung's room, a definite skip in your step.

* * *

"So, what do you think?" Taehyung asked eagerly the next morning after breakfast, when everyone cooed and screeched over Jeongguk's hair.

You were back in your brother's room, scrolling through your Twitter feed. You looked at him, not sure what he was talking about. When it comes to Taehyung it can anything from the lines for a song he's working on to his next prank on one of the members.

"Of what?" You asked.

"About Jeonggukie." He said, waving with a hand at his head, so that the meaning was clear.

"Ah, you mean his transformation from tall, dark and handsome to tall, blonde and gorgeous?"

"Yes! What do you think?" Your brother looked at you expectantly.

"I think my previous question is an answer to that question." You smirked at him, snickering when he just scoffed before pouting at you.

"I hate it when you go all smartass on me." He said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I love you, too." You sing-songed with a lighthearted giggled.

* * *

Later that afternoon, you decided to watch a movie and was joined by Jeongguk, Taehyung, Hoseok and Jimin.

"Jeongguk-ah." You called from where you were sitting on the two seater couch next to Hoseok. Jimin and Taehyung was laying cuddled on the three seater and Jeongguk was sitting on the floor, against the front of the coffee table. You weren't sure where the rest are right now.

He turned to you, eyes narrowed suspiciously, "What do you want?"

You gaped at him, "What makes you think I want something?"

"Because you only call me 'Jeongguk-ah' when you want something." He was matter-of-fact.

The other three was watching the two of you instead of the movie.

"Like what? I rarely ask you anything." You frowned at him.

"Like getting your phone from Taehyung-hyung's room, making you tea, bringing you a blanket, getting your food." Jeongguk said and you huffed. Okay, so maybe you do that but this time what you want would benefit him too.

"Okay, first of all, you didn't have to do any of what I asked, you know. And second, you'll like this too." You assured him, then added after a moment. "I think."

Jeongguk looked at you warily as Jimin and Taehyung exchanged smirks. "What do you want?"

"I want to play with your hair." You shrugged nonchalantly, not showing a hint of how nervous you are, no showing how it took you the whole morning to pluck enough courage together to ask.

Jeongguk's mouth fell open in surprise, "Seriously?"

"Yeah, I mean I've always liked your hair but this blonde hair is really doing for you." You smiled at him, a little more confident when you saw more confusion than anything else on his face. Satisfaction rolled through you when you noticed his red ears.

"Whatever, fine." He muttered in agreement, looking away from you as he stood up right and came to sit down infront of you.

"Thank you." You grinned, clapping your hands in glee as you crossed your legs on the couch, knees touching Jeongguk's shoulders.

"Just don't tangle it." Jeongguk said, eyes fixed on the TV screen.

"I won't." You promised before reaching out and running your hands through his hair. It was just as soft as you hoped, instead of being dry and rough from the dye - it made you feel giddy.

Jeongguk tensed under the touch for a second but relaxed when you continued your gentle ministrations, nails scraping softly against his scalp. You tuned out the rest of the room, having watched the movie before - you've watched all the Marvel movies with Jeongguk at least three times - and continued playing with the blonde tresses.

Still, something caught your attention and you said, "Jimin-oppa, put away that phone."

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said innocently, hiding his phone behind his back.

"Sure you don't."

It was silent for fifteen seconds before he whined, "But no one will believe me if I don't have proof."

"They'll believe Hobi-oppa." You retorted, nodding to the ray of sunshine sitting besides you.

Jimin huffed indignantly but dutifully put his phone away.

You continued playing with Jeongguk's hair, twirled and braided and separated and bunched it together like a pineapple stem atop his hair. The movie finished and Taehyung picked another one and you still played with Jeongguk's hair.

Twenty minutes into the new movie, Jeongguk's head fell back, onto your legs, eyes closed. You gaped at the blonde.

"Jeongguk." You whispered, not wanting to wake him if he is sleeping but not sure if he's playing either.

"Did he fall asleep?" Your brother asked, laughter in his voice, making his eyes sparkle.

"I think so." You nodded, in a state of bewilderment and disbelief.

"You must have magic hands." Hoseok said before pressing a hand over his mouth to muffle the sounds of his laughter.

Your glared at them. "Not one more word out of the three of you, or I'll change the sugar in your coffee for salt for the indefinite future."

"I didn't say anything." Jimin protested and you just gave him a pointed look.

They thankfully kept quiet after that, but you could see them glancing at you and Jeongguk every now and again. You ignored their gazes as you continued playing with his hair.

Your heart was thumping happily in your chest, glad that Jeongguk enjoy you playing with his hair so much that it lulled him to sleep. It made you feel so content that you didn't want to move again.

You even turned a blind eye when you saw Jimin turning his phone in your direction ten minutes later.

At the end of the movie, you decided to wake Jeongguk up. As much as you like him sleeping on your legs, they were starting to fall asleep and he would get a stiff neck if he keeps sleeping like that.

So, you shooed everyone out of the room before gently shaking his shoulder. "Jeongguk-ah, wake up."

He groaned and you repeated your actions, watching as his eyes fluttered open. You looked into his sleepy eyes, wanting to coo as you watched him blink his way out of sleep. He quickly recognised you, even upside down, and immediately sat upright, looking at you with wide eyes.

"Y/N?" His voice was husky with sleep and it made your cheeks heat up. "What happened?"

"You feel asleep." You explained. You watched as he nodded slowly, processing this and felt the urge to tease him a little, so you added, "On my lap."

Jeongguk's cheeks flushed pink and you couldn't help the fond smile on your lips. He ducked his head shyly and spoke a soft, "Sorry."

"It's okay." You waved him off. You wanted to even the field between you because it felt unbalanced somehow, like you had something over Jeongguk. You didn't like it, you wanted to be right besides him. Not above or below him. (Although many people would say he's way above you, you know that he doesn't care about that and neither do you.) Finally you admitted, "I liked it, it was nice that you felt relaxed enough because of me to fall asleep."

"I liked it, too."

You smiled, a little shy but also feeling bold by his admission. "I'll do it again sometime then."

"Okay." He grinned.

* * *

After that weekend, it took three weeks before you had another free weekend to go and visit your brother. With your bag slung over your shoulder and a bouquet of red tulips in your hand, you opened the door and called a loud hello to anyone inside. You made you way to the kitchen first, wanting to put the flowers in some water.

You found Jeongguk - who was still blonde, and your heart instantly picked up its pace - and Namjoon in the kitchen, the leader busy by the microwave and Jeongguk waiting as far as humanly possible from it. You quickly realised what was happening and supressed a smile. Namjoon must be heating food up for Jeongguk, who is afraid of microwaves.

You exchanged greetings and you quickly started looking through the cupboards for a vase.

"Those are pretty flowers." Namjoon remarked, leaning against the counter.

"I know right."

"Where did you get them?" Jeongguk asked, eyes on the admittedly pretty flowers.

"Oh, some guy gave them to me before asking me out." You answered absentmindedly as you continued your search for a vase.

Behind you, Jeongguk tensed, his hands curling into fists.

"Really?" Namjoon asked, more to see Jeongguk's reaction than anything else.

"Yeah, I almost said yes, too, just for the fact that he gave me flowers." You nodded over your shoulder. "Do you guys have a vase? I swear Jin-oppa had one in the old dorm."

"Under the sink." Namjoon answered, arms crossed over his chest as he looked back and forth between an oblivious-you and a jealous-Jeongguk, a smile on the corners of his lips.

"Thanks." You grinned before walking over to the sink and crouching down. You opened the cupboard and had to dig past the sponges, cloths, windowlene, bleach and dishwashing liquid before spotting the crystal vase. "I love flowers, you know? Not many people know because it's not something I advertise but Taehyung-oppa always gives me flowers for my birthday, every year since I was thirteen." You babbled as you gently pulled out the vase, not wanting to knock it against one of the pipes and crack or shatter it by accident. It was a little dusty, so you rinsed it before filling it halfway with water.

"Do you have a favorite flower?" Namjoon asked, partly to fill the silence because Jeongguk was glaring at the ceiling, tongue in cheek, and partly because he genuinely wants to know.

"Nope," You shook your head, removing the protective plastic around the flowers and putting them in the water. "I like all kinds of flowers. Roses, lillies, forget-me-nots, proteas, tulips, sunflowers - you name it, I love it. And in all colours too. There's just too many to pick a favorite. Although I really like pink lotus flowers. I'd love to grow them when I have my own garden someday. I'll have to install a shallow pond, of course, because they grow in mud but yeah, that's something I'd really like to try." You rambled on. Namjoon watched you fondly and glanced at the maknae, seeing that Jeongguk was still tense.

"Did you say yes?" Jeongguk burst out asking the moment you stopped talking.

"Huh?" You frowned at him, a little lost because you were completely caught up in thoughts of flowers.

"The date." He said, voice taking a sharp edge. "Did you say yes?"

"Oh." Realisation dawned on you and you shook your head. "No, I didn't."

"Then why did you take his flowers? You'll give him the wrong idea." Jeongguk grumbled.

Namjoon thought that right now was the best time to become a missing person and quickly exited the kitchen. He is not playing referee, should this turn into an arguement. No, thank you, he's done it enough between these two.

You rolled your eyes at Jeongguk, "I made myself perfectly clear, Jeongguk. I told him that while I adore the flowers, I don't like him."

"Still, you shouldn't have taken them." Jeongguk insisted, stepping closer to you.

Your temper flared, "Excuse me? Why not?"

"What if someone had seen? What if they start thinking that you two are dating?" Jeongguk's tone was something crossed between horror and panic.

"And so what if they think that?" You frowned at Jeongguk because what does it matter what other people think when you know the truth?

"So you do want people to think you're dating." Jeongguk said, voice cutting and accusing.

"What?" You stepped closer to Jeongguk, getting angrier by the second.

"Do you actually like this guy?" Jeongguk asked, sounding distressed with the thought but you were to angry to pay any attention to that.

You scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous."

"I'm ridiculous?" He pointed to himself, shocked.

"Yes! They're just fucking flowers!" Your voice was raised as you snapped at him, louder and harsher than it's been in a long time towards Jeongguk, of all people.

You didn't have time to feel guilty because his next words matched yours in volume, "That some other guy bought for you!"

"And your point is what exactly?!" Your voice didn't lower.

"My point is that I can buy you flowers!" Jeongguk shouted back.

The words take a second to sink in, and when it does, it catches you completely off guard and you deflate like a popped balloon, you anger evaporating like mist under the sun. You squint up at the blonde, who you finally noticed was a lot closer than when you started this arguement. "What?"

His voice was soft this time around, all the fight having left him, too. "If you want flowers, just ask me. I'll buy you any flowers you want. Just-" He cut himself off with a sigh, closing his eyes. "Don't take someone else's flowers again. Please."

You looked at him, opening your mouth to snap at him but saw the sincere, the utterly vulnerable look in his eyes, and the breath was knocked from your lungs. You looked away, taking a few steps back as your heart twisted and you inhaled deeply to fill your lungs again. You noticed that Namjoon had left the kitchen. You didn't blame him.

A lengthy silence later, you finally looked at Jeongguk again, your hands trembling. "Is it really that important to you?"

"Yes." Jeongguk answered softly but firmly, no question in his voice, even as he looked down at the tiled floor.

"Okay." You nodded.

His eyes snapped to yours, and he echoed, "Okay?"

"Yeah, okay." You gave him a slow smile, then, just to break the heavy tension around you two, you said, "Just know that there is no backing out now and flowers are expensive. You aren't allowed to complain that I'm denting your bank account later."

"Deal." Jeongguk laughed, warmth spreading through his chest as the last of his jealousy faded.

* * *

"You know that one day you are going to have to talk about the feelings between you and Jeongguk, right?" Taehyung asked his sister later that night when they were laying in bed. He heard the story from Jimin, who heard it from Seokjin and Yoongi, who heard it from Hoseok, who heard it from Namjoon.

"What feelings?" You asked innocently.

Taehyung sighed in frustration but wasn't very surprised. The one thing that Taehyung has never been able to get out of his sister is the truth about her feelings for Jeongguk. But even without her saying anything, he knew. The eyes don't lie. "Denying it won't make it go away, Y/N."

You sighed, too, "Yeah, I know."

Taehyung didn't say anything for a few moments. This was the closest his sister ever gotten to admitting her feelings out loud, in seven years. "I'm here for you. Always."

"Thanks." You smiled, as if you didn't know that already.

* * *

Before you went home that Sunday, your brother told you that they were going on vacation as a group and you're invited because according to Taehyung, right after Jimin, you are the one person he can't live without. You rolled your eyes at the dramatics but agree to go with them none the less.

So, you put in a week's leave for two weeks from now and asked your brother where you would be going for this vacation. The answer was a secluded beach house where no one would be able to reach you.

And no phones was allowed.

You laughed a bit at that rule when you arrived at the house and saw that there is WiFi. Your brother was quick to remind everyone of the rule, telling them that the WiFi was only allowed to be used for YouTube and Netflix. Games was added to the list after an objection from Jeongguk and Seokjin.

"This is gonna go great." You laughed as walked up the stairs to pick a room. You get first choice after winning the rock, paper, scissors game in the car.

"Pick us a nice room, sis!" Taehyung shouted up after you.

There was only four rooms because the whole point of this vacation is to spend time together, which means that everyone was doubling up. They decided to pair up by age and it turned out - Seokjin and Yoongi, Hoseok and Namjoon, Jimin and Jeonguk, and naturally, you and Taehyung were paired up. (You tried not to think about the fact that if you kept to the age pairing that you and Jeongguk would've been sharing a room.) That lead to a lot of pouting from Jimin because he wanted to pair up with his soulmate.

"If your so eager to share a bed with him, why don't you marry him?" You remember teasing Jimin.

"Maybe I will." He shot back without thinking and you weren't sure who was redder once his words set in - Jimin or Taehyung.

You picked a room with a small balcony and a nice view of the ocean. The day passed peacefully, everyone full of energy but after dinner on the beach, everyone quickly retired to bed, the sea air getting to them.

You decided to watch the ocean a little while longer and Jeongguk joined you. Neither of you spoke as you sat on the sand, watching as the waves crashed on the shore, water retreating back into the vast expanse of ocean. It was captivating, in a kind of terrifying way but if there is one thing in your life you've never been scared of, it's water.

"Life is a lot like the ocean." You eventually said, breaking the silence between you.

"How so?"

"You can read about it in so many books, but you still won't know everything about it."

"That's deep." Jeongguk said, voice soft.

You shrugged, feeling a little self-conscious. "Yeah, well, I've never been a shallow person."

"I know." You saw him nodding out of the corner of your eyes. "You're a beautiful person. Inside and out." He said it so matter-of-factly, so sincerely, that your stomach flipped and your cheeks flushed.

"Thanks." You smiled over at him.

It was silent again, but just like the first silence, you didn't mind it. You like the comfortable quiet between you two. Finally, you sighed and pushed to your feet, "Come on, let's go inside."

"Okay." Jeongguk got to his feet and you walked the path home.

You walked on the side of the pool where you all swam earlier that day, and didn't notice the small puddle of water that hasn't dried yet and you slipped. You reached for Jeongguk but his hands missed yours by millimeters, so you just took a breath and resigned yourself to falling into the water. You didn't mind it all that much, nothing some towels couldn't fix.

When you surfaced, you saw a laughing Jeongguk on the side. An idea formed in your mind but you made sure to keep your expression neutral as you reached a hand out to him. "Give a girl a hand, please."

Jeongguk - nice, kind, unsuspecting Jeongguk - reached a helping hand out to you immediately, only realising your true intentions when you gave a forceful yank and pulled him into the pool.

When he surfaced, glaring at you - but there was no heat behind it, so it didn't count - you couldn't help but laugh heartily. "I forget how similar you and Taehyung-hyung really are sometimes."

"Sucks for you." You smirked. The smirk turned into spluttering when Jeongguk splashed water into your face. You looked at him with narrowed eyes. "Oh, you're on."

You splashed at each other like proper five year olds, giggling and everything. Finally you called a ceasefire before you woke up everyone inside.

You looked at Jeongguk, blonde hair dripping wet, droplets of water rolling down his tan skin, that little mole under his bottom lip that you've wanted to kiss so many times you've lost count and suddenly, all of your resolve broke down like a house of cards and your common sense shortcircuited. You surged forward and kissed him firmly, clutching at his shoulders to pull him close.

His lips were a little cold from the water but was still petal soft and you wondered what it would be like to kiss him everyday.

Your common sense returned a second later and you pulled away, almost loosing your footing and slipping. Your whole body was on fire and you couldn't look Jeongguk in the eyes. "Fuck. Shit, Jeongguk, I'm so, so sorry."

You turned away from him, every intention of getting out of this pool and hiding away until you die.

Only you didn't get anywhere before a strong hand circled your wrist in the one second and in the next second you found yourself pushed up against the wall of the swimming pool, barricaded in by a hand on each side of you. You looked up at Jeongguk and your mouth went dry at the sight of those dark eyes that made you shiver. His voice was low when he spoke, "I didn't get to kiss back."

Your eyes widened and that was all you had time to do before he leaned down to capture your lips. Your head told you to pull away. That this is a very bad idea. Your heart told you to kiss him back and make the most of it. You've been listening to your head for seven years, so you decided to listen to your heart for once and kissed Jeongguk back with years of pent up longing and yearning.

The kiss turn turned really hot, really fast.

Jeongguk hoisted you up and you quickly got with the program and wrapped your legs around his waist. Everywhere his hands touched, it left a blazing trail behind, causing you to shiver and erupt into goosebumps. Distantly you wondered how it was possible to feel so heated in cold water.

You kissed and kissed until your lungs burned, your toes curling as you squeezed as close to Jeongguk as possible. Finally, you couldn't take it anymore and you pulled away, both of you heaving lungfuls of air.

"So now what?" You asked him, when you regained some common sense and breathing didn't leave you breathless anymore.

"Well, right now I'd like to kiss you some more, but later on, I'd really like to take you out." Jeongguk told you bluntly and if you were standing, your legs would have given out.

"What?"

And just like that, gone was confident Jeongguk and back was shy Jeongguk. He ducked his head, adverting his eyes from yours. "If you want."

"Yeah, I want too." You told him, watching as his eyes glittered with happiness. You could relate.

Jeongguk was onto something with the kissing some more right now, though, so you pushed that away and you dived back in. Right now you were more interested in mapping the inside of Jeongguk's mouth and finding out what his skin tastes like than anything else in this world.

* * *

The next morning your brother squinted at you suspiciously from across the breakfast table. You were seated in between Jeongguk and Hoseok, across from Taehyung and Jimin. Namjoon sat next to Hoseok. Yoongi and Jin was busy making breakfast in the kitchen. The six of you were waiting patiently.

Finally you couldn't take the staring anymore. "Is there something on my face, Taehyung-oppa?"

"Something happened." Taehyung said, pointing the pair of chopsticks he was fiddling with at you.

You rose a brow, not surprised at all that your brother picked up on it. That doesn't mean you are going to make it easy for him. You put on an innocent face, "Really?"

"Yeah, Taehyung-ah is right, you're like-" Jimin agreed, waving his hands around as he searched for the right word. "...glowing."

"I am not glowing." You said indignantly. Out of the corner of your eyes, you caught a smirk lifting on Jeongguk's lips. You turned and narrowed your eyes at him, "You, stop looking so smug."

"What does Jeonggukie have to do with-" Taehyung cut himself off and you could see how he put the dots together. The look on his face was hilarious as he turned to Jeongguk with a fierce gaze, "Jeon Jeongguk, what have you done to my baby sister?"

Jeongguk, despite being bigger and stronger, still looked a bit terrified of Taehyung as he squeaked, "Nothing, hyung."

"Nothing, hyung. Hah! Do you take me for an idiot? Something happened. I know it did. What is it?"

You giggled and leaned over to Jeongguk and whispered in his ear, "Don't tell him anything. Watching him squirm and drawing his own conclusions, slowly going insane with curiousity will be much funnier than telling him the truth."

Jeongguk brightened at your suggestion and immediately nodded in agreement.

"What are you two whispering about?" Taehyung demanded, voice higher than normal, despite having the deepest voice of the lot. "Hobi-hyung, tell me what they're saying."

"Sorry, Taehyung-ah, I can't hear." Hoseok said with laughter in his tone.

Yoongi and Jin came in with the food before Taehyung could interrogate you further. Taehyung looked before you and Jeongguk, "This isn't over."

You laughed, looking forward to teasing your brother a bit, when suddenly a hand slipped into yours. You looked at Jeongguk, who was steadfastly avoiding your eyes. You noticed his red ears and smiled softly, twisting your hand so you could lace your fingers through his. As the two of you held hands under the table while eating breakfast, you felt giddy and more excited about the future than you have in a long time.

There was still a lot you and Jeongguk had to talk about, but that was for later. You had enough time to figure it all out. Together.

the end.

#bangtan #bangtan fanfic #bts fic #bts jungkook #jeon jungkook x you #jeon jungkook x reader #jeon jungkook #jungkook x you #jungkook imagine #jungkook x reader #jungkook #jeongguk

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lovelywingsart · 3 years

Text

Turning Cogs

-- Karl Heisenberg X OC (AFAB, She/Her) --

Remember 'Apologies'? Well, this is more or less a type of 'follow-up'! Over 20 years later. I may also make a small timeline, or an explanation post about it, but anyway-

This was also a cute fun one, and my favorite right next to 'Chase'. I just... I love cute things for them... I need more cute things for them. It makes me feel a little better.

Please, please don't hate me for what's coming next. (That is, IF I choose to post it immediately after this... I may wait a bit until another story or two is up...)

**Remember, check out the Masterlist for more! <3 **

-----

*Warning?: Cute sappy shit, read at your own risk eue

Summary: A 'task' given years ago leads to a small solution near the end of the line. Emmy has a gift! But what is it? What significance will it hold? Alot more than she thinks, that's for sure!

The factory ran smoothly, production went on as usual, and the hope of freedom permeated the air as the date of the 'revolution' drew near. A few days... It was only a few days. Supposedly, at least. Emelia found herself simply wandering the factory at times, much like Heisenberg himself. Sure, she worked, but it often helped ease her mind of the now constant nervous jitters she found herself experiencing. But she now currently walked with a purpose, making her way to the notorious metal man with an eager hop in her step.

As she wandered the halls, she mused to herself how great all of this had become. The factory, the creations, even the small 'bond' she shared with the man who ran it all. It wasn't much of one, she thought, but recently it had become almost... like a dream. Like an odd, welcoming dream after their talk some weeks ago. He tried... He actually did try, she noticed. After so many years, she had come know the man very well, and the small changes he had made in just a few weeks time were highly evident. She enjoyed them... Thoroughly, at that. He didn't even change himself, and it wasn't a forced change. It was... Natural.

As if the changes were being held back for years.

She found herself smiling more with him. Smiling and genuinely enjoying herself, even laughing at times when they were alone. Even the mechanical menaces didn't prove to be much of an issue lately... Even as she wandered past, the creatures simply ignored her. Sure, she was still somewhat worried about the upcoming events, but she found it easier to keep her mind off of them and relax when he was around. It was wonderful, really.

She made her way to the upper levels after a while with just the smallest bit of excitement. A small jingling in her pocket could be heard as she jogged to the elevator that boosted that feeling, and she couldn't help but smile again. She knew what the sound was... She had been thinking about the small items for years. Literal years. She kept them with her at times ever since he had given her the task well over 20 years ago, and they hadn't left her mind since. Only recently had she finally had an idea for them, and while she had initially considered it a little dumb, it was the only thing she could think of. She just hoped he would agree.

She stepped off the elevator as it creaked to a stop, making her way through more doors and halls until she finally made it to a gold and copper encased door with the 'family' crest in the middle. She paused before opening the door, running her hand along the impression of the stallion that adorned the crest. She had to admit, she had grown fond of it over the years... Knowing that it was coming to a glorious 'end' only filled her with more eagerness as she pressed her palm to the horses nose and opened the door. She was met with an echoing, deep hum of a quiet song. It was one that she recognized, and she couldn't help but join the hum as she rounded the corner. The other hum paused for only a moment, followed by a light chuckle before it continued, now with quiet words.

As she finally reached the personal workshop, she was met with Heisenberg slightly hunched over his work table, a pencil in his hands and small metal objects 'dancing' around him lazily as he sung their tune. Despite the small scraps, he was relatively calm, tilting his head as she approached. His singing only stopped with a chuckle as she casually wrapped her arms around his chest, pressing her face to the back of his neck. It was a common gesture going both ways, and she felt a scarred hand reached to hold her arm.

"Hello there." He mused, turning his head slightly.

"Why did you stop singing?" Emelia asked, being met with a chuckle.

"Because you're in the room now."

"Would you like me to leave then?"

"No, I think prefer you right here." Heisenberg chuckled, finally turning in her arms to face her. He simply leaned back against the table, wrapping one arm around her waist while using the other to direct the scraps to float around them. "Is there something you needed?"

She watched the scraps flutter as if they were moths, tilting her head slightly.

"I came to tell you something. Or... 'give', rather." She said simply, her eye moving to meet his as she leaned against him. He raised a brow in interest.

"Oh?" He said, pausing his hand movements for a moment. "And what could you possibly have to give me?"

She couldn't help but give a small smile, carefully taking a step back, careful not to hit one of the scraps.

"Do you remember that... 'task' years ago? With the defect cogs?"

He watched her for a moment, light confusion entering his features. The cogs... Cogs?? Wait, those cogs??? She couldn't have POSSIBLY meant THOSE cogs. He vaguely remembered the situation, and his nose scrunched.

"Emmy, that was... That was how long ago??" He said, crossing his arms slightly.

"A few years..."

"A few??"

"Ok, more than a few. But that's besides the point." She shook her head reaching into her pocket almost hesitantly. "I believe I found something for them..."

Heisenbergs brows raised in legitimate surprise.

"You what???" He asked, slowly lowering the scraps to the floor as Emelia took hold of something In her pocket. He shook his head. "There... You couldn't have. That task was a joke. A test to see what you would do under stress."

"Well, I didn't take it as one." She shrugged. "You're a sneaky twit, Heisenberg. I wasn't going to let an obvious trick sway me."

"It seemed to 'sway' you back then." He smirked lightly, nearly laughing at the sudden redness that entered her cheeks as vivid memories played in her mind. She rolled her eye and pulled her hand out, her fist curled around something.

"'Tricks' aside, I never stopped thinking about it, and I've finally thought of something." She said, ignoring the knowing chuckle he gave. She cleared her throat slightly, looking at her hand. "Just... promise you won't laugh."

"Why would I ever laugh at you, Emelia?" He mused, only to chuckle again and hold up his arms as she glared at him. "Alright, alright, I'm done. What did you think of?"

"Well..." she started, taking a breath. "I was looking at them, and the holes went all the way through to the other sides, and had some other small ones. They were pretty useless for most things I could come up with, but..."

She opened her hand, letting something fall and clink together- hanging from her fingers were the cogs, each carefully welded to three smaller cogs and wrapped with thin, copper wire, with a thick, black string through the main defective holes. Each main cog held a small bit of red stone in the middle, adding a small bit of color to the otherwise metallic items. She brought them slightly closer to her chest, a deeper blush forming on her face as she watched Heisenbergs eyes widen with simultaneous surprise and interest. Emelia cleared her throat slightly.

"I, um... I'm not the best or most creative, I suppose... and I had the string Donna gifted me, with some of the glass pieces from the Reservoir... I found the wire pieces around here..." she managed, looking at the small necklaces. "It's... It's not much..."

She fell silent for a moment, looking up at the man in front of her. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. His face held a strange mixture of emotion as he held out a hand, beckoning her forward. She held out the hand with the necklaces as she moved, swallowing hard as his fingers gingerly went behind one of the pieces and brought it forward to inspect it.

"... You actually made these?" He asked. She nodded.

"Just some minor welding and scrap melts for the smaller ones..." she replied quietly, watching as his eyes seemed to inspect every small detail. She then frowned slightly. "I... I-I'm sorry, it's... They're stupid-"

"No, no... Not stupid..." he said quietly, now holding both. Each of the smaller cogs were made of different mixed materials, providing an interesting effect once they hit the light. "They're... Impressive."

She perked up slightly.

"Really...?"

He nodded.

"Why are there two?" He asked, glancing up at her with interest. She worked her jaw slightly.

"I... I thought maybe... um..." she tried, avoiding his gaze. "I thought... perhaps... we could each have one... maybe?" She managed, her voice quiet.

There was silence for a few moments, and she could feel his gaze as he fully looked at her. It wasn't until he chuckled that she looked at him, surprised to see a grin on his face.

"Brilliant idea, Emmy." He said, trailing one of the strings up to where her hand held them to carefully remove one from her grip. She stared at him.

"... Really?"

"Sure!" He chuckled, bringing the one he held close to his face to look over it once more. "May I ask what the inspiration was?"

"I... didn't really have one..." she replied, only to go rigid as he reached forward and took hold of her arm to pull her closer.

"Hm." He gave a hum, looking at her once more. "I'd say your pretty creative, Emmy, not even I could think of this."

"It only took me 20 years..." she managed to joke, tilting her head as he held the string open on the necklace he held. "What are you doing-"

She stopped as he reached forward, her face heating up as he simply rested the necklace around her own neck. She looked down as his hands traced the string, caressing the small gears before resting it against her chest.

"I think it suits you." Heisenberg chuckled, holding his hands to the side as if he had achieved something grand with slipping it on. Emelia couldn't help but give a light snort, keeping her eye on it.

"I suppose so..." she replied simply, her eye moving to the one she still held. She was quiet for a moment before taking a breath, doing the same with the second necklace.

She turned it and held it up to his head, opening the string. He was still as she managed to slip it around his own neck, nearly chuckling with amusement as she watched it rest against the necklaces he already wore. She took her hands away, tilting her head as she looked at it. It didn't look TOO odd against the other items...

"Suits you, too..." she said quietly, her hands resting along his chest. He nearly laughed.

"Well congratulations, your task is complete. I'll be damned." He snorted, finally setting his hands on her hips. "Good work."

"You're just saying that..." she chuckled, looking up at him. He shrugged.

"I mean it." He suddenly gave a genuine smile. One she could see in his eyes, and it made her breath catch in her throat. "Thank you, Emelia."

She couldn't help but return the smile, slowly wrapping her arms around his shoulders in a tight hug. He returned the action, his arms surrounding her waist as he pressed his face to her shoulder.

"You're an odd one, Emmy." He nearly whispered.

She could feel his smile against her skin as she chuckled, resting her chin on his own shoulder.

"So are you, Heisenberg." She replied. "You're the oddest one of them all."

"Ah, I beg to differ." He chuckled, using his hand to raise the small scraps from before into the air again, twirling his finger slightly to make them circle the two slowly. Emelia kept her smile, turning her head to bury her face into his neck.

"Beg then, Metalhead."

"Hm." He hummed, pressing a light kiss to the side of her neck. "I think I will."

She lifted her head to question, only to let out a surprised yelp as he suddenly hoisted her over his shoulder.

"Karl!!!"

"Aht aht, no fighting!" He chimed, amused as she started to squirm before he began walking to the side door of the workshop. She only stopped squirming momentarily with a surprised laugh as he pinched her side.

"The bloody hell are you doing?!" She tried, unable to hide her own amusement as he kicked open the door and went down the small hall leading to the 'living quarters'.

"Guess this really does make you the 'lady' of the factory then, yeah?" He joked. She squirmed again, earning another pinch.

"Call- HEY- C-Call me a 'lady' again and see what happens...!!" She laughed, only to nearly stumble back as he suddenly heaved her down, holding into him to keep her balance. She was met with a quick kiss, keeping the smile on her face.

"Fine then, the 'wench' of the factory." He joked, letting out his own laugh as she smacked his shoulder.

"That's even worse you twit!"

"Ah, no need for that, Emmy!"

He nudged her forward, giving another quick kiss before she nearly fell over as the edge of the bed hit the back of her legs.

"Are you mad?!" She laughed, nearly falling back as he nudged her again. Instead she just flopped back, holding out her arms for him as he crawled over her with a chuckle.

"I was planning on taking a break anyway." He replied simply before falling to his side next to her. She chuckled as his arms suddenly went around her, bringing her tightly to his chest.

"I still have work to do!" She argued, though didn't actively try to get away. Instead, she cuddled to his chest as he snorted.

"Doesn't seem like you're all too concerned about it, Doll."

"Maybe because you're warmer than the Foundry."

"I'll take that at a compliment."

"As you should."

She couldn't help but relax in his arms, her gaze drifting to the gear necklace around his neck. It made her feel... proud. Proud and another feeling she couldn't quite pin down. She reached up and caressed it lightly, feeling as he looked down.

"You really like them...?" She asked quietly, only to jump as he cupped her chin and had her look at him.

"I love them." He replied, pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Stay here for a while, we'll get back to work soon."

She was silent with a smile, nodding and nuzzling under his chin carefully before wrapping her own arm around him.

"Fine... I get to decide the next break time, then." She said. He chuckled.

"It's a deal."

#resident evil #resident evil village #re8 #resident evil oc #resident evil village oc #re8oc #resident evil village fanfiction #karl heisenberg #lord heisenberg #re8 heisenberg #heisenberg #heisenberg x oc #karl heisenberg x oc #lovelywingsart #lovelywingsocs #Metalworks fanfiction #heisenberg fanfiction

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roswelldetails · 4 years

Text

RNM 2x05 - I'll Stand By You

So just a little note from me, the person behind the season 2 detailing. I am trying really really hard to keep emotion out of these posts...which is really really hard for me because I'm an inherently emotional person. I'm a glass case of emotion, ready to shatter at any given moment. (#dramatic) But I want to be true to the intent of this blog and keep my feelings, biases, and, you know, shipping out of this blog.

It was really really hard to do with this episode. Because I straight up ugly cried for like, 45 of the 60 minutes. 😂

So I guess, the point is, I'm proud of myself and sticking to the details here. My regular blog is where I'm doing the emotional flip out thing! 😂

EPISODE SUMMARY:

ACCEPTING REALITY — The discovery of some complications with Max’s (Nathan Dean) pod forces Liz (Jeanine Mason), Michael (Michael Vlamis) and Isobel (Lily Cowles) to confront the possibility that they may not be able to save him. Elsewhere, Maria (Heather Hemmens) and Alex (Tyler Blackburn) make amends. Kimberly McCullough directed the episode written by Alanna Bennett & Jason Gavin (#205). Original airdate 4/13/2020.

DETAILS:

Max/Isobel/Michael reunite at age 11 according to what Michael tells Alex in 1x10. So that would make the opening of this episode set in 2002ish.

Michael tells Max and Isobel, "I remember you. I don't know you."

"After nobody adopted me for a year they just stuck me with the name of that trucker who found us."

"I didn't ask you for anything."

This is like the thesis statement of Michael's whole history with Max in the flashbacks.

"Don't pay more than you collect, kid. Passing credit back and forth is a good way to get stuck with somebody forever."

Rosa's art.

What I can see says: "...what they all told me, but I didn't listen" and "Stand the shelter".

Rosa on her dreams

"I have not had any freaky dreams in weeks. Okay, Max is probably off haunting Isobel now that they're strong enough for their psychic twincest weirdness."

"How long has that been happening?"

"Um, I don't know. It's an old boom box."

"Rosa, have electrical appliances been malfunctioning around you?"

"I really thought it was just a side effect of the handprint."

"If being in the pod introduced a new protein into your system it could have altered your DNA too. You could be developing abilities."

"Liz, look. The handprint is changing. It's smaller."

"It's fading."

"Tell me this is a good thing."

"I don't think so."

Michael and Liz theorizing on why the pod shorted out:

"The pod's got a charge. It's like a battery powering the preservation process. This one's gone dead."

"Did the generator blow the electromagnetic threshold?"

"I think a surge came from the pod itself. But that pod has lasted almost a century. It shouldn't glitch out."

"Okay, well, then, this one did."

"All right, stop. It doesn't matter why the pod is broken. It just is. So how long does Max have?"

"My theory is that being tethered to Rosa through the mark is what kept Max from going brain-dead, and in turn the stasis process is what kept the mark from fading. So he could be gone by tonight."

"Okay, well, we have three more pods. So let's just put him into another pod."

"No. He's just gonna do it again. I haven't told you everything. I didn't want to scare you. I didn't want to be the one that took the hope away."

"Talk now, Rosa. Right now."

"I was seeing Max in my nightmares months before I told you about it, and he was begging me to stop you. He said that he was in a lot of pain in there."

"That's Noah's pod. Noah told us it was broken. It wasn't keeping him in stasis. He could feel time passing. None of us thought of that."

"We've been doing everything we can to make Max stronger. He pulled his own plug."

Note...as far as we know Isobel was the only one who knew about Noah's pod being broken. In 1x12 it was before Liz arrived at the house that he told them about the broken pod, so only Max and Isobel heard that part of the story.

Alex on his training. "NSA intelligence cryptology training".

Monitor screen in the secret lab:

Noah's heart is still too weak to transplant. Kyle says it needs at least eight more weeks

"I wrote a paper for a bioethics class on patients in vegetative states who feel pain. Sometimes it's all they feel."

As a non sciencey person, I was wondering if bioethics class was a real thing. Tonight I saw an interview on the news with a UC Berkeley bioethics professor on COVID. So yes, it's a thing.

Alex on Michael that summer post-Rosa's death:

Starting fights with jocks

Broke into the drugstore

Not going to UNM

Hasn't hung out with Max all summer

Got busted for stealing hubcaps (Kyle's hubcaps, we learn later)

Became a walking bar fight

Was in jail when Alex left to enlist

Michael on Max in 2008:

"It's more than that. And it's less than that. We were friends when we were kids, but now Max reminds me of a bunch of stuff that I'd rather forget. The only thing that we have in common anymore is Isobel."

Max's yearbook had a pencil stuck in the page with Liz and Max's photo in it. (The one we first saw in 1x03).

"Biology Club. Max hated science. He was in that club for four years just to watch your sister chew on the end of her pencil."

Max's mindscape:

First just desert, clouds, and then lightning strikes (destructive energy?)

Liz's antennae -- they disappear from Isobel's hands

Rosa describes it as broken

Crashdown special is Max's favorite "Little Green Man milkshake".

The Crashdown counter is kind of merged with biology lab equipment.

The juke box is there

The Crashdown booths

Jeep

Neon Crashdown sign

One of those claw drop game machines (from the Crashdown) but it's filled with baked good displays.

The yearbook

Later, everything else is gone except the one Crashdown booth, the Jeep, and the neon sign.

The distorted music they follow to find Max is the Cactus Groove song in the music list...just, messed around with. See @angsty-nerd's post here:

"I'm the hothead. You are the hero. It's always been that way."

"You stole the hubcaps off Kyle Valenti's graduation present. Both his parents are cops. Do you want to end up in jail tonight?".

👀 Tonight, specifically.

Michael seemed excited about the job at Foster's Ranch until he found out that Max set it up for him. Max found out about it from his dad (only like the 2nd or 3rd mention of his dad in the series so far).

"When I got back in town I asked Max why you and your brilliant mind hadn't changed the world yet. He said you didn't care about the world enough to bother changing it. He believed you could."

Max and Isobel in the mindscape:

"You're okay. I could feel something was wrong with you. Everything felt…"

"Cold. I know."

"You can't be here. It's finally ending. I can feel it. But I don't know what happens if you're in my head when I die."

"So it's true? You want this?"

"I could feel my connection to the outside world getting stronger, so I snapped. I couldn't take it anymore. I released a surge. You have to let me go, Iz."

"I can't take it anymore."

"Okay."

"I am so sorry."

"I just want to memorize this."

"Okay. Okay. I need you to tell Liz something."

"You can tell her yourself. She and Kyle are prepping for surgery. They're going to use the faulty heart. She just wants to talk to you before you die."

"No. No."

"You won't be suffering. They're just gonna bring you back and then let you go."

"No you have to stop this. You cannot bring me back under any circumstances."

"Max? What is really going on?"

"I am dangerous. Whatever Liz is bringing back is not me. It's just some broken shell."

Maria on her mom's computer

"Her nurse said that for the two weeks before she went missing, when she wasn't trying to escape, she was talking to someone online."

The 21st birthday flashback

Isobel gets Michael to help move Max after getting drunk on tequila. He passed out in front of the tattoo parlor. It's the same tattoo parlor Michael goes to at the end of the episode.

Max's weird drunken statement.

"The thing is, there has to be there. Okay? There's always three. Until the very end. I'll show you...What it means is you should be here…'cause it's all broken without three. So we'll figure it out. You'll find your way back."

👀 Until the very end. Interesting.

On Max becoming a deputy:

"You know he did the whole police academy thing because of you, right? He thinks you're gonna get into the kind of trouble you can't get out of if you don't know someone."

Back in the mindscape:

"I figured it all out. She, there's an energy to suffering, there's an energy to death, and when I heal people, I absorb that energy. So when I resurrected Rosa, I took in ten years of emptiness. So if you resurrect me, you will be bringing back an infection. Don't want… I don't want to come back as a monster. I don't want to hurt anyone that I care about."

"That's what this is about? We've been hurting, Max. We don't work without you."

"You will! You will. You are stronger now than when I died. All of you are. You, Michael, Liz, you will survive this. The three of you. No, you need to stop them, Iz. Now."

"Okay. I love you."

"You too." Isobel disappears.

Max is using pretty similar wording to his drunken rambles in the 21st birthday flashback

We don't see that Max is chained down until this next exchange with Rosa. Isobel didn't see that detail as far as we know. Didn't hear the chains clanking when they stood and hugged. Only after Isobel left.

"I'm sorry this is happening."

"Isobel is lying. She is buying time. You know she'll never let me go. But you can feel the darkness too, right? That's why you don't like being in my head. Because you know it's real."

"I didn't want that to be true, but yes."

"I know my sister and I know your sister and they'll never give up. So you have to be the one to stop this surgery, okay? Or I will destroy everything that we love. You have to stop them to save them. Now go. Please, Rosa. Go."

Isobel explaining to Liz

"When he saved Rosa he absorbed all of that dark energy. He's gonna have to expel it."

"And he's afraid he's gonna kill someone when he does."

"Yeah. So we just need someone stronger than Max to take that hit...if he thinks he needs to protect us he obviously doesn't know how capable we are. Bring him back, Liz. I'll handle the rest."

"I get it now. It's gotta be the three of us."

"He would never pull his plug to end his own suffering. Unless he thought he was saving us from something. And I'm a little sick of his heroic martyr crap."

In case you missed it, Michael did not know that. At the beginning of the hospital sequence Isobel is telling Liz what she learned in Max's mindscape and says that she hasn't been able to get ahold of Michael. Michael figured it out on his own. He finally "got it".

The pacemaker:

Isobel with Max at the end… everything is gone except the Jeep. And Bright Eyes playing (the song he and Liz danced to on their first date back in 2008). And then his eyes close and Bright Eyes fades away.

“First thing I remember is the three of us. We woke up terrified and lost. But together. And then all of the sudden I was alone. I got real good at being alone. I had given up on people entirely. And then you found me again. Hell of hero move. You showed up just in time. When you are a kid who nobody loves, kindness is a currency. Friendship doesn’t means jack. Family just lies, and hurts, and leaves. I’ve only ever known love to be temporary. So yeah, I push people away. Every time someone threatens to care about me I test their love until they have to leave. Connection is conditional. Everybody eventually gives up on the guy who refuses to be rescued. But you were the only one who I couldn’t run off. You never believed me when I tried to be something I wasn’t. So this thing in your chest, it might give your heart a pretty solid kick every once in a while. Consider it payback. It’s my hero move, Max. If you wake up, you consider us even, okay? If you wake up, we can be a family.”

Good visual parallels during Michael's speech. Alex and Kyle drinking together during the "and then you found me again". Maria walking up on "the guy who refuses to be rescued"

Max is in the coma for three weeks. Wakes up at the secret lab (instead of his house, which is where he was previously. I'm guessing it was a planned wake up because he's no longer plugged into all of the IVs and whatnot.

"I begged you to understand."

"Max, it's gonna be fine."

"No… I told you to let me go. I can feel it inside me."

"It's...it's symmetry, okay? It's just energy for energy. We can deal with that. Fight it, Max. This isn't you."

"I don't want to hurt you. I need to get out. I need to get away from you, from everyone."

"I can't let you do that."

Max shoves Isobel and runs. When he shoves her there's a slight ringing like the sound they use when the aliens use their powers. Isobel follows and stops him with her powers.

"I made a promise that if you came back and you weren't Max, and you were actually going to hurt people that I would kill you. I figure, hey, you got to play God. Make life and death decisions all on your own. Well it's my turn now."

MUSIC:

1. Letters To Cleo "Here and Now"

2. Lady Antebellum "Love Don't Live Here"

3. Cactus Groove "Fallin"

4. James Talley "Big Thunder"

8. Ross Copperman "Stars Are On Your Side"

5. Lindsey Ray "Keep You Safe"

6. Tommee Profitt feat. Sam Tinnesz "With you Til The End"

7. Bright Eyes "First Day Of My Life"

The Cactus Groove song is the first song this season that I haven’t been able to find on Spotify… let me know if any of y’all had any luck with it!

#roswell new mexico #rnm season 2 #episode details #long post #rnm 205 #i'll stand by you

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javelon · 5 years

Text

Chase x Reader - Valentine's Day

Whew was worried I wouldn't get this done since I had a super bowl party today but I did it! Hope you like it!

___________________________________________

There was a special kind of joy to be found in simple things. The first warm spring breeze after a long winter. The sound of a child's laughter. The smell of good food in the air. The joy of your best friend's face as he lands the especially challenging trick shot for his video, his cheers as he swings you around in his excitement.

Yea you loved the simple things you thought, laughing and joining Chase in his celebrations.

"That was amazing, Chase! I knew you'd get that shot eventually!"

He beamed at you, "It's all thanks to your encouragement, Y/N. I'm pretty sure I would have given up on this shot after those first few fails."

You scoffed, "I don't believe that for one second. You totally would have gotten that shot even without my cheerleading imitation on the sidelines."

Chase laughed, "Let's just agree to disagree then. Anyway give me a bit to finish up this video and we can go. I'm starving."

It was no wonder you thought. You guys had been in the studio since mid morning working on this video. Now that Jack had recovered from his coma and Chase didn't need to fill in for him, Chase had wanted to do trickshot videos again. And for his first video back in awhile he wanted to do an extra challenging shot so it had taken a better part of the day to get this right. You guys hadn't even stopped for lunch and with it being early evening now you could definitely go for some food.

You helped Chase pack up his stuff and load it up into the car.

"I wonder if there's anything thawed in the fridge that we could whip up real quick." You wonder aloud as you shut the trunk of the car.

"Actually I was thinking we could stop somewhere and grab a bite. And I was kinda hoping you could help me with something after dinner." Chase super casually mentioned.

You raised a brow at him, "Oh? Whatcha need?"

Chase picked at invisible lint on his shirt, a nervous habit you noticed he'd picked up after his divorce a couple years ago.

"Uh well you see...I sorta wanna ask someone to be my valentine but it's...been awhile since I've dated ya know? I want to do this right so I was hoping you could help me pick out some awesome stuff."

You were glad Chase hadn't been looking at you when he asked, you were pretty sure you hadn't been quick enough to mask your heartbroken look had he been making eye contact. You had known Chase for a long time, since before his divorce but it wasn't until after he split up with Stacy that you had developed feelings for him. You knew it hadn't been the right time to confess though with the recent divorce, Jack's coma, and Chase's battle with depression. So you had just stayed by his side as the best friend you could be for him. But this year things were going so much better. Chase was on the road to recovery, Jack was doing well, and enough time had passed since the divorce that you felt it was ok to finally speak up. You had been planning on telling him on Valentine's day.

Looks like it might not be meant to be though.

Swallowing down your heartache, you reminded yourself that Chase is your friend first and foremost. If this person who had caught his attention was who made him happy then you'd try be happy for him. Even if it hurt you would do your best to continue being his friend.

"Awww I didn't know someone had captured your heart, Chase. Who is the lucky person? Someone I know?" You asked as you smiled at him, praying it didn't look forced.

He finally looked up at you, "I can't tell you yet. You have met them before though. So will you help me? I trust your opinion better than anyone else's."

You give a small nod, "Alright keep your secrets. I hope you'll introduce me one day though. I'll help you."

Chase's relieved smile was worth the pain, you told yourself, "Don't worry you'll meet them I promise."

After grabbing some food at a local diner, you found yourself at the store in an aisle overflowing with all kinds of valentines gifts. Candy, faux flowers, plushies, baskets; you name it, this aisle had it. Chase looked a bit overwhelmed so you guided him to the beginning of the aisle where the chocolate candy was.

"We'll start here and make our way down the aisle. This mystery person likes chocolate, yes? They're not like allergic or anything?" You reassured him.

He gave you a greatful smile, "No no not allergic. They love chocolate in fact."

"Ok good. Chocolate is always a safe bet for Valentine's. You're gonna want to get the good stuff probably. So not that." You say as Chase reaches for a heart shaped box full of hershey's kisses.

He froze and looked at you confused, "Why not these? What's wrong with hershey's kisses?"

"Nothing really. Just if you're going to go kisses it'd be better to get a bag instead of a box." You pointed at the large bag of kisses, "See? These are the same price as that box and there's more in here. If you really want them in a heart shaped box you can get an empty one and put the bag in there."

"Ohhh that's a good idea. Oh what could we do with this?" Chase asked holding up a bag of gummy hearts.

Time passed quickly as you two discussed different gift ideas, going up and down the aisle several times to grab something else or put something back cause you found something better. You spent a fair amount of time eyeing a stuffed bear that was as big as you were. Chase had asked if that would be a good gift to which you told him it'd be a safer bet to get a small plushie, especially with how expensive the large one was. He pondered it a bit before decided he'd sleep on it, it was only February 3rd after all. Plenty of time to decide on what type of plush to get. By the time you got home with all his purchases you were beat, both physically and emotionally from making yourself be happy for him. It broke your heart to know he had fallen in love with someone else and you let a few tears escape as you laid in bed that night. You only hoped that his mystery person would realize how lucky they were to have such a sweet guy like Chase and that they'd treat him the way he deserved.

The next few days passed in a blur with you throwing yourself into your work to try and distract yourself. You hardly saw any of the Septics let alone Chase during that to which you were glad. Especially Henrik. The good doctor could smell sadness like a bloodhound you were convinced. When Valentine's Day arrived though you had the day off and you planned to spend it in your bed watching cute animal videos and your favorite youtubers.

It was almost noon when there was a soft knock on your door. You paused the video you were watching with a sigh and looked at the door. It was tempting to just say you didn't want company but judging by the knock it was either JJ or Robbie coming by and you could just picture their sad eyes if you told them to go away.

Another deep sigh and you stood, making your way to the door to crack it open and peer out.

"Wha-?"

There in your field of vision was the giant bear you had been eyeing, holding the candies, flowers, and balloons you had helped Chase pick out along with a sign that said "Will you be my Valentine?"

You pulled the door opened more, not fully believing what you were seeing, and you saw Chase standing behind the bear with a shy smile.

"Hey Y/N. I...uh haven't seen you all day, so I was worried and thought you might be sick or something. I was going to surprise you when you came out for food since this was setup in the kitchen and all but Henrik suggested I come to you and bring your Valentine's surprise to you. But if you're not feeling well that's ok! Maybe the plushie can help you feel better at least? Sorry I'm rambling but... uh yea. Happy Valentine's Day." Chase explained with a growing blush.

You stood there in shock for a moment, "Wait this...was all for me?"

Chase grinned, "Surprise! Told ya you were the best one to help me pick out stuff."

You did your best impression of a goldfish as you floundered on what to say until you settled with tears and throwing yourself at Chase. He laughed as he dropped the bear with all the gifts to wrap his arms around you, "I guess this means your answer is yes?"

"Of course its yes! I would never in a million years turn you down!" You cried, heart swelling with joy that this was really happening.

He gave you a brilliant smile, "I'm so glad." before leaning down to give you a sweet, loving kiss.

#fanfic #chase brody #jacksepticeye #valentines #fluffy fluff #chase brody x reader #x reader

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jam-bomb · 5 years

Text

Proposal Au: Conditions for the future.

The school auditorium was stunned, silent at their Principal and Vice. On the stage Steven Universe looked up at her, a hopeful smile on his face. Connie Maheswaran, the Vice-Principal, his best friend, and right hand stood shock as her face reddened. She closed her eyes as a memory from three years ago resurfaced.

*three years ago*

“You...You really inherited a school.”

Connie gave her lifelong friend an pointing leer before signing. The burly man smiled up at her releasing a chuckle. Connie turned back to look at the entirety of the campus from her spot on the school roof. 4 Dorms buildings, a pool, an auditorium, a gymnasium, a 30 acre field for sporting events, gardening and other outdoor activities; and a seven story school housing an impressive 49 rooms ...and it was all Stevens. Connie gave him a teasing smirk as she folded her arms.

“Who would trust you to mold the minds of the future?”

Steven scoffed before playfully knocking her arm, inciting a laugh ad she hit him back.

“It's pretty cool though right. Great Gramps Demayo Is some big time educator and investor; he founded this school from scratch. He always believed that education is the key to peace, understanding and evolution. That experience not academics is the best education and the best teachers are life and those you meet during it. It's why he made this place so big and filled to the brim with so much. He wanted more than a school he created a community. He didn't want his students to just learn but to truly live here.”

Connie had to agree, sighing dreamily at the sight bathe in the evening sun. “This place is really beautiful. He really did create something amazing.”

“Yeah, and now It's my responsibility, this is crazy. Me, a headmaster. Who would have thought, right?”

Connie didn’t laugh with Steven as he scratched his skull. The tone of his voice wasn't the confident, optimistic person she knew in her heart.

“I think you can do it.” She looked at him, eyes full of conviction. Her hands holding his. “If anyone can it's you Steven.”

“What If I mess up? I mean my gramps put everything into this place. His life work...What if I don't measure up to his legacy?” Steven solemn voice nearly broke her and to feel him shivering rattled her.

“You might make mistakes, actually I know you will.”

“Thanks for the prep talk.”

“look..No one gonna expecting you to be Gramps Demayo.” Connie held his face in her hands to force him to focus on her and her words. “Your staff gonna need is a someone they can depend on. Your students; educators they can learn from and want to teach them. This community, a leader that understands them and can guide them...It'll will be rough, but there's no one better suited than you. I know this more than anyone, you got this.” With that she released her hold giving him a smile. “And if you ever need help, you can always ring me up. I might not be able to physically help but I'll alway be willing to advice or just listen.”

Steven smiled at the thought before getting a bashful look upon his face.“Yeah...About that..There's another reason why I wanted to show you the campus, Nini.”

Alarms blared in Connie mind at the nickname. In all fourteen years she knew him. she learned that when he started using ‘Nini’, it meant he wanted something

“You see..I have almost everybody I need in terms of staff...Just need a Vice-principal, which I have someone in mind for; and a Liberian. I was wondering, if you knew someone for that position."

Connie thought for a moment before shaking her head with a shrug .”Sorry.”

Steven sighed “That all right..That'll be split between staff. Now on to an important matter.” Steven looked at her with sly smile before dropping to his left knee in front of her.

"Wha?Eha? What?!” Connie eyes widen and unknowingly teared up as her best friend produced a small velvet box from his back pocket. She felt her heart pound as she saw the determined look in his eyes.

“Kahaani Angi Maheswaran, you're my best friend, I wouldn't be where I'm at in life without you by my side. You've always been my confidant, I’ve come to you, humbled… to ask you to shape a future besides me-”

“Oh my stars, Steven!” Connie held her hands to her shivering lips. Her best friend just asked for her hand in marriage. Nodding her head as she gave him her hand to place…

A silver badge with adorned with four diamonds into it….

”What's this, Steven?” The confusion and bits of rage evident in her voice as she stared at her palm.

“It's your ID badge, Vice principal Maheswaran. You accepted the position, right?”

Connie never considered murder-suicide into this moment. ‘Of all the ways to bring this up..he choose that….THAT! Come on!?’ She closed her hand into a fist, enveloping the badge, before looking at him again.. And any anger, or rage were extinguished. She looked at the badge again..it really was beautifully made and it glistened like a star. With that, she realized all thoughts of rejecting his proposal was gone.

“ Connie, I know you might be contemplating my offer but my knee hurt..Can you help me up.”

Connie let out a small giggle before doing just that, by grabbing his hand and pulling her towards her. As he was about to thank her she stopped him by pressing her index to his lips.

“Before I agree to anything, I got a few conditions and questions.”

Steven said nothing but nodded allowing her to continue.

“Who else did you propose this to?”

“I wouldn't call it a proposal, more of an offer really.”

Connie gave him a dead stare at his claim, “I raised you since we were in fifth grade boy, you know better than that. You got one one knee and a had a velvet box... Not only was it a proposal. That was a marriage proposal. Now who else did you do it to?”

Steven blushed a little as he raised his hands in surrender. “Ok ok, I get it, bad joke...in terms of offering the job to...There has only been a few, but after a day of showing them around the campus..It didn’t feel right. I need more than a person having ‘ worked at a elite school of’ blasey blasey blah. I need to have kind of connection with my vice and those who I interviewed were so full of themselves. Just no thanks.”

Connie nodded in understanding. She knew that Steven as patient and loving as he is can only take the self absorbed in very small doses at a time. “ So ‘that’ was only for me?”

“Yeah I mean..I really want you to be with me here. You’re my best friend, Nini. One of the most hard working and intelligent people I know. Someone I can trust to help me run this place as a true partner not just as vice principal. You said it yourself, the staff gonna need is a someone they can depend on. The students; educators they can learn from and want to teach them. The community, a leader that understands them and can guide them. You say that’s me..but I can only be all that with you.”

Connie blushed deeply at flattery of the future headmaster. “Come on Steven, we know you more than capable to handle this.. With or without me. Besides that I’ve never been a vice principal..at most i was an assistant director at a learning center. ”

“Then you’ll be learning with me. It’s something new for both of us. We can support each other, like you said we’ll make mistakes but we’ll be able to handle them better as a duo. Look this is not going to be an easy thing I’m gonna need the right support.” Steven looked at squarely as her as he gently placed her forehead upon his “and I don’t want anyone to take this on..I want You..Only you.”

Connie let out breathy laugh as she gently grabbed his hand. Their heartbeat in synchronized rhythm as they closed their eyes.“Shit, fine. I’m yours...I would be honoured to help you run this community.”

Steven laughed as he moved his head away from her, before picking her up and twirling her around. “ YEAH!! Thank you Connie. I love you so much.Swear you won’t regret this. You’ll get free room and board, unlimited cafeteria, and annual salary of $56,000...to start!”

“You know, if you started with that, I would have said yes, almost instantaneously. You’d wouldn’t have needed to get on one knee.” Connie laughed holding him tight. Steven looked at her quizicall before placing her down. “You ok, Steven?”

Steven sighed before looking a bit ashamed “Did I cross the line..Doing that?”

“Ah.. " Connie gave him a small familial peck on the forehead and a reassuring smile. “I admit, it struck my heart..but no, I still love ya, ya goof...That do bring me to my conditions though. One, that proposal..That’s mines...It sound silly but it was the first time and it was beautiful and I want to keep it for myself."

Steven chuckled as he nodded. “Fine. I promise I will only use that proposal towards you. It was made for you, anyway so it’s only right. what else?”

Connie playfully tapped her left index finger giving a mock thoughtful look, before pointing at her cohort. “Hmmm...I was kind of bummed to see a badge instead of a ring. Just saying, next time..I would like a ring to go with my proposal.”

“Wait what?.” Steven tried to calm the smile that enveloped his face. The sultry tone of her voice threw him off and made him skip a few heartbeats.

“I said, what I said.”

Her ‘Best Friend’ laughed mischievously,as he folded his hands on the small of her back “You gonna say Yes?”

“I did agree to shape a future here beside you and that was after getting a badge. So, I’ll let you draw your own conclusion.”

The two starred at each other before breaking into chortles of laughter. Connie smiled and cleared her throat before giving her partner a look. “I do have another condition.. less playful and more professional..Well more of a request..”

“Wait, you wasn't serious about the other two?” Connie shook her head at Steven silly, faux distraught. "Sorry go ahead."

“Well there's this student of mine… They're brilliant and would really benefit coming here .”

Steven had to smile at her excitement in Connie's voice as she spoke about this possible student candidate:Stevonnie. It further proved that he made the right decision.

*Present Day*

He looked up at her on one knee, a velvet box in hand displaying a golden ring with the same diamonds on badge

Kahaani Angi Maheswaran, you're my best friend-”

Unlike before they wasn't one the roof of an empty school but in an auditorium surrounded by a community of people they taught, learned, work and live with.

“I wouldn't be where I'm at in life without you by my side. We wouldn't be here without you.”

she could see the depth of his adoration, graciousness, and love in those eyes, reflecting back at hers.

“You've always been my confidant, I’ve come to you, humbled-”

the emotions from that day three years ago...maybe even longer..

"… to ask you to shape a future besides me…"

Never stopped growing.

“Not just as my partner in profession…”

Day by day.

“But as my wife and partner through life.”

Through every trial and tribulation.

“With our friends-”

Every tear and laugh shared.

“ students, staff…”

It was all worth it for this moment..

“With our community present. I ask you-”

This question.

“Will you marry me?”

Her answer now, was the same as it was then and will be forever.

“Yes...I'm yours.” With tear streak eyes, She nodded as she gave him her hand and watch him place slip on the beautiful jewelry. Causing the audience to applaud loudly. Connie looked at the ring realizing that this was it. She was getting married to her best friend. She helped the older man of the floor, love and diamonds in her eyes.

“I love you, Steven”.

"I love you, Connie."

With that she kissed him deeply causing the auditorium to explode with cheers and congratulations..their first kiss as a couple instead of flirtatious friends and colleagues...When they broke it off they knew that their future together would be bright.

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Aww💗💗💗 That was perfect!!! 😭😭😭 You got me there for a moment thought 😂

Thank you very much for this Dsduke4321!!! And Sorry for not reblogging this on time. Tumblr didn't notify us that you sent this to us. 😒

Please never stop writing! Your stories are incredible. I can't wait to see more of you in the future!

We wish you the best⭐

#dsduke4321 #jam-bomb #steven quartz universe #connie maheswaran #connverse #jam-bomb 2 #proposal #submission

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impracticaldemon · 6 years

Text

That Scottish Play, or Beware the Bard : Halloween Fic Exchange

by Impracticaldemon for @siriusly-random ~ HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! @fic-writer-appreciation

Words: ~ 3400 | FFnet | AO3 (link coming shortly)

A/Note: This story is written as a gift for @siriusly-random for the Fairy Tail Halloween Fic Exchange. [Graylu]

With apologies to Shakespeare (Macbeth, Hamlet, As You Like It, Othello), my readers and well... you'll see. I honestly have no idea where this story came from. It may have been inspired in part by Terry Pratchett's brilliant stories. The opening certainly is. I hope you will enjoy the madness within! .

That Scottish Play, or Beware the Bard [Part I] - Death by Shakespeare

"When shall we three meet again?" asked the red-haired witch, swirling her black cloak dramatically about her with obvious enjoyment.

"How about next Tuesday?" replied the smallest witch, whose blue hair matched the inner lining of her own cloak, which hung very nearly to the floor. Heedless of pretty satin, she turned to pick up her white feline familiar. The fact that her familiar was also wearing a black hat and cloak didn't seem to disturb the other two unduly.

"I can't do Tuesday," said the third witch, pushing her pointy hat back at a rakish angle and scrubbing at her forehead with the back of her wrist. "It's Halloween, and I promised to stop in at the Strauss' party. In fact—aren't the two of you supposed to be there as well?"

Erza frowned, the thespian fervour dying from her eyes. She dearly loved rehearsing and putting on plays, but friendship came first. At least Halloween was a chance to dress up; naturally, she'd already chosen her costumes. As an extraordinarily talented Requip Mage, Halloween was a chance to show off some new designs.

"Oh, that's right," murmured Wendy, neatly replacing her hat into its allotted box. "It's come up faster than usual this year, it seems."

The three young women finally got their costumes stowed away—not without reluctance on Erza's part—and left the backstage area in which they'd been practising. Sounds from the main hall area filtered through the heavy curtains, bringing them even more solidly back from ancient Scotland and the Castle of poor murdered King Duncan. In the end, Erza agreed to Wednesday, and she and Wendy parted from Lucy not far from the guildhall.

Once all her farewells had been said, Lucy began the familiar walk back to her apartment, her coat tucked snugly around her against an unusually chilly October wind. The wind seemed to bite even deeper as she drew closer to the canal, and a sheen of icy moisture along the low wall discouraged the mage from her customary balancing act by the water's edge.

The glitter of ice reminded her of Gray, and for at least the tenth time that day—probably more—she wondered where he'd gone. He'd taken to walking her home from the guildhall, and then coming in for tea or hot chocolate, and she'd thought that they'd reached a fairly satisfactory understanding. The last time she'd seen him—over two days ago now—they'd curled up together on her couch with their drink, and he'd kissed her at the door on his way out. It had been very sweet… and she hadn't seen him since.

The wind picked up, and Lucy was surprised to see mist rising from the canal. That made no sense—the wind should be tearing the rapidly-accumulating fog to shreds.

Unable to help herself—in the sense that it was far too good a chance to miss, and they'd just been practising—Lucy murmured one of her lines as the Second Witch in Shakespeare's Macbeth:

"The weird sisters, hand in hand, Posters of the sea and land, Thus do go about, about…"

She was very startled, but somehow not wholly surprised, when a cowled figure stepped out from the mist—which is to say, out of the canal—just ahead of her. She took a few steps closer and then stopped, one hand hovering over her keys.

The cowled figure laughed harshly and then recited:

"All hail, Heartfilia! Hail to Thee, Celestial Lady! All hail, Heartfilia, hail to thee, Golden Lady! All hail, Heartfilia, thou shalt be queen hereafter!"

Lucy took a cautious step backward at that, but responded: " Speak, if you can: what are you?" Then she laughed, because the whole thing was so obviously staged. "Although that's backward and besides, you spoke my lines! I'm Second Witch, not Mac—I mean, not the Thane of Glamis." Erza had given Lucy a hard time just the other day for saying the name of 'the Scottish Play' too freely. Lucy and Gray had laughed about it later—Erza always took things so seriously, including theater superstitions.

"Good lady, why do you start, and seem to fear, things that sound so fair?"

"Um… now you're Banquo? Although I suppose that's better than being the Ghost of Banquo." The person—Lucy still couldn't place the rough, gravelly voice, although she assumed it was one of her friends playing Halloween tricks on her—seemed to ignore this entirely. There was a short pause, during which Lucy shifted uneasily and the mist grew even thicker.

"All the world's a stage," the figure told her earnestly. "And all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts. At first the infant… And then the lover, sighing like a furnace, with a woeful ballad made to his mistress' eyebrow."

Lucy was thoroughly bewildered. "That's… As You Like It, isn't it? I mean, it's a completely different play."

"At first the infant, … and then the schoolboy, …and then the lover…" There was frustration now in the raspy voice. Another pause and then, somewhat triumphantly: "The Lord of Ice greets you, Lady. And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance. Even on the instant."

"Nope, no idea. You've lost me." The mist had become so thick that Lucy could no longer make out the canal. She had almost been home, but only the barest outline of her building could now be seen. Whereas before there had been the gentle sound of the water and the overpowering bluster of the wind, now it was deathly quiet, with the exception of her Shakespeare-addicted visitor. It was eerie, and she was beginning to feel as though the whole thing was more than a convoluted prank. Probably.

"Wait a minute—did you say Lord of Ice?"

The cowled figure had already gone on: "It is the cause, it is the cause, my lady. Let me not name it to you!" The speech had become impassioned—although the person now sounded as though they were fighting for breath—and Lucy frowned in concentration. She was starting to get a very strange idea about all this. As she racked her brain for more Shakespeare, she heard: "Put out the light, and then put out the light. If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, I can again thy former light restore." The words were spoken in a whisper; the voice sounded sad.

"Of course—Othello! One of my favourites—Iago was just so much more intelligent than most villains! Sorry, sorry, okay, just wait a minute. Did you refer to the 'Lord of Ice'?"

There was no answer, only a horrible choking, gasping sound, and Lucy suddenly shivered from more than cold. Steady, she told herself, you can do this.

"Who's there? The Lord of Ice?" She hoped she was remembering the line correctly—although of course poor, innocent Desdemona had been asking about her husband Othello, not a missing ice mage.

The reaction from the—whatever it was—came immediately.

"Ay, Golden Lady. If it were done when 'tis done, then 'twere well it were done quickly!"

Aaaand we're back to Macbeth again. Lucy felt sweat prickling her forehead in an unpleasant contrast to the damp, chilling mist. Think!

"The Lord of Ice requires me haste-post-haste?" Hopefully a slightly summarized version of a line would be acceptable.

"Even on the instant." It was pleading with her now, she thought. The next words frightened her, although she wasn't surprised—after all, why miss out on the Bard's most famous monologue? Besides, the setting suited Hamlet just as well as… The Scottish Play. Heavily robed arms reached out toward her, the dark folds of velvet slipping back from pale, pale hands. "To be, or not to be? That is the question… To die, to sleep. To sleep, perchance to dream—ay there's the rub. For in that sleep of death what dreams may come when we have shuffled off this mortal coil, must give us pause."

Lucy stared at the hands, transfixed. They were Gray's hands, but white as snow and strangely clammy-looking. He can't be— She wouldn't even admit the word into her mind. When she couldn't find fresh words, the person spoke again:

"I must weep, but they are cruel tears. This sorrow's heavenly, it strikes where it doth love."

Gray's voice, thought Lucy numbly. Now that she was listening for it, it was Gray's voice as if he'd gone back to his old smoking habit, but distorted with horror and despair. And he seemed to be telling her that he didn't want to, but he was going to… kill her? But, but—come on, Lucy, think it through!—he'd also been trying to give her a message, maybe some way to stop things? Except that she was more and more convinced that he could only hear her when she quoted Shakespeare. This was like the worst English exam of all time.

There was no sound at all now, except for her own laboured breathing—and his. Lucy could see nothing but thick white fog all about her. She felt panic bubbling up inside her but forced it down. They'd been in worse spots. Right? She took a deep breath and abruptly closed the distance between herself and the weird, cowled figure, thrusting out her hands and forcing the deep hood down off the being's—the person's—head. She had intended to do more, but recoiled in shock at what she saw.

It was Gray, but a slimy rope festooned with rotting strands vegetable matter was slowly tightening about his neck; it was already so tight that it seemed as though he should already be dead. His face was a strange mottled combination of livid bruising and ghostly white; his tongue protruded slightly, and his dark, dark eyes appeared to be starting from their sockets. Horrified, Lucy found herself unable to move, although tears started in her own eyes.

"Was the hope drunk wherein you dress'd yourself?" Gray whispered, fighting to breathe. "Hath it slept since? And wakes it now, to look so green and pale at what it did so freely?"

He was speaking Lady Macbeth's lines, Lucy realized—the woman's harsh words to her husband intended to shame him back into resolution and courage. If you ignored the fact that she was inciting him to murder, Lady Macbeth was actually a very supportive wife—in a manipulative, scary kind of way. And what came next? Lucy cleared her throat, and gritted her teeth.

"Prithee, peace!" she ordered, holding Gray's anguished gaze. "I dare do all that may become a… woman; who dares do more is none." Gently, she raised her hands to the contorted face. He was very cold, much colder than usual. She chose her words quickly, ignoring the rope, putting together key lines from both of the doomed Macbeths: "Screw your courage to the sticking point, and we'll not fail. I am settled, and bend up each corporal agent to this terrible feat."

"Lu-cy…"

Blinking back tears, Lucy switched back to Hamlet: "What art thou that usurp'st this time of night, together with that fair and warlike form, in which the majesty of… noble Fairy Tail did sometimes march? By heaven, I charge thee, speak."

Gray responded quickly, and Lucy thought she saw the rope loosen a fraction: "It is offended. See, it stalks away."

"Stay! Speak, speak! I charge thee, speak!" No Horatio, shocked by the sight of his dead king's ghost, had ever spoken his lines with more determination. Gray drew a shuddering breath as the coils retreated further.

Just as before, he cried out: "It is the cause, it is the cause, my lady. Let me not name it to you!"

"As you like it." Okay, so that was actually a title, not a line—hopefully it would do.

Lucy thought quickly. It was now clear to her that against all reason, she and Gray had indeed brought a curse down on themselves by casually using the name of The Scottish Play in advance of its performance in late November. Not to mention the way they'd mocked all the superstition around it. It's ironic, really: neither of us would normally have been like that, but we were anxious and embarrassed and it was a handy way to keep things light. Well, if it somehow turned out later that their guildmates were behind this, then she and Gray could plan a suitable revenge at that time. Right now Lucy was going to take it all perfectly seriously. With great care, she spoke the lines that completed the quote that had begun this strange encounter:

"Thrice to thine and thrice to mine

And thrice again, to make up nine. Peace! the charm's wound up."

There was a moment of absolute stillness, and then Gray's arms wrapped around her and the world went wild. She could hear him shouting into the tempest, but she couldn't make out the words. She felt safe, however; Gray appeared to know his Shakespeare rather thoroughly now.

With a final crackle of lightning and a sudden, drenching downpour like a bucket of ice water had been flung over their heads, the storm faded and then dissipated, taking the strange mist along with it. They were huddled together in the middle of the road, Lucy held protectively against Gray's bare chest. His skin felt much warmer than it had earlier, she thought muzzily. Despite the urgent need to get somewhere warm and dry, Lucy tilted her head back and immediately received an almost brutal kiss on the lips from Gray. He was trembling, she realized; then again, she hadn't noticed that she was crying, or that Gray's throat was savagely bruised and much of his face remained mottled.

They somehow made it up the stairs and into Lucy's apartment with their arms still wound about each other. As soon as the door was closed and the warmth hit them, they stopped moving and just stood together, their bodies pressed as tightly against each other as they could manage. Lucy could hear Gray's heart hammering in his chest.

"It was the damn play," Gray said at last. His voice still sounded very rough. "Although… it would've gone worse if you hadn't come along like you did…"

"Are you sure—"

Gray didn't let her finish. They were both still dripping wet, and even Gray felt cold, but he wanted to get it over with.

"Let me tell you what I can now… and then I don't want to talk about it all for a while. Okay? Sorry to keep you standing like this, but I"—he buried his face against her hair for a moment—"I just need to not move for a few more minutes."

"Sure." Lucy was glad that at least he wasn't speaking in early seventeenth century idioms anymore. Besides, her skin was still clammy and her clothes were wet, but as the shock receded a little she found that standing like this, with her face against Gray's chest, was warming in other ways.

"When I left that night—you know—after I finally got up the nerve to kiss you goodnight, I was in a pretty good mood." His tone was wry, but he sounded a little more like himself. "That lasted until I stepped out onto the street. Hadn't gone more than a few feet when this weird fog rolled in and then, I don't know exactly…" He swallowed painfully. "I did try to fight it—or them—but there wasn't exactly anything to fight. Just jabbering voices and a deep feeling of anger and just… I don't know, something really old. Anyway, I struggled to stay conscious, but must've lost at some point. Next thing I knew, there was this slimy thing around my neck and the jabbering all made sense to me—well, I knew what most of the individual words were. After that, it all got kind of hazy."

Privately, Lucy doubted it had gotten hazy enough for him. She could hear the edge of fear and panic—and pain—in his voice. But he didn't want to talk about it right now, and she could respect his need to pull himself together.

"Anyway, not sure how long I was—well, wherever I was. Then I heard your voice, reciting Shakespeare right around the spot I'd gotten kidnapped—or whatever—and I got really afraid and really hopeful at the same time. See… they actually wanted you more than me. But apparently I was more trouble to hold onto than they expected—which helped my self-esteem, in case you were wondering—so they didn't go after you. And they needed to, um, finish whatever they were doing before All Souls' Eve—Halloween, I guess. But you came along, and you said the right words in the right place so that I could reach out to you and… here we are." Lucy heard a long sigh and a hitching cough. "You're so smart. And brave. They were going to make me kill you, and… ugh. My throat really hurts you know."

"How about I get us both something hot to drink?"

"Um.. yeah… but I don't have anything dry to wear and—your furniture and all."

"Can you live with a towel for now?" Lucy blushed faintly, but smiled. "It won't take long to dry at least your boxers and you practically live in them anyway. Unless… you don't want to go home yet, do you?"

Gray blinked at her and then shook his head. There was a touch of red in his own cheeks, but he didn't say anything.

Eventually, Lucy changed out of her wet things and into flannel pyjamas; it was an indescribable comfort to be dry. As promised, she fetched Gray a towel and even found a t-shirt he'd left at her place at some point in the past—she tried not to be disappointed by that. More or less wordlessly, they chose to forgo the hot drinks and curled up on the wide couch together, deciding that touches and kisses were what they both wanted most of all.

[Part II] - Recovery

It was very late, or more likely very early, when Lucy woke up to discover that Gray had tucked her into bed at whatever point she'd finally fallen asleep. She felt a brief moment of panic, and then realized that the extra weight around her waist was Gray's arm; she was curled up against him, and could only be glad—mostly—that he'd taken the time to at least put on his boxers. The t-shirt, on the other hand, appeared to be missing.

Lucy's eyes turned to her window, through which she could see the night sky, including the nearly-round white-yellow disc of the setting moon. It would be a full moon for Halloween tomorrow. She instinctively started to tell herself that full moons were no different from any other moon, but then shivered: it would be a long time before she messed with long-standing superstitions again.

"I'm sorry I didn't ask." Gray's voice was blurred by sleep and still marred by the bruising.

"I'm glad you're here."

The hand at her waist came up to stroke her hair, strong fingers first caressing and then gently running through her tumbled locks, taking care not to pull. His touch was cool, but no longer cold or clammy as it had been before. Lips roughened by his recent ordeal still felt soft as he kissed the back of her neck.

"I'm going back to sleep," Lucy said, trying to sound severe and failing utterly.

"That's fine." Gray carefully turned her so that he could kiss her. As her eyes closed, he kissed her more deeply, and then with increasing passion. When the kiss broke, his body was partly over hers, the weight surprisingly comfortable, as well as arousing. "Just one more kiss?"

"I think just one might not be enough, but we can find out."

"I love you, Lucy. I don't want to lose you."

"Hey—you're the one who disappeared for two days and almost didn't make it back from… wherever that was."

Gray stared down at her. "I'll try not to do that again. I hope you don't mind if I don't quote Shakespeare to you for a while though."

"Deal." Lucy cleared her throat. "Um. I love you, too."

She could make out a faint smile in the dim light. "I'm really happy to hear that," Gray told her. "I'd hate to strangle to death on incomprehensible old poetry for nothing."

[END]

A/Note: All comments and reviews are much appreciated! Thank you for reading.

@nalufever @shell-senji @eliz1369 @gsut @hakusaitosan @sassyhazelowl

@kazama-hime @sabinasanfanfic @hidetheremote @moon-faced-pear-shaped @gheleonsdemise @hakuouki-or-hakuoki @very-x-vice

#fairy tail #ficsforvera #graylu #halloween fic exchange 2017 #impracticaldemon #siriusly-random #fanfiction #imp writes

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ellyzsx · 5 years

Text

Story time

Suicidal thoughts run keen through my head. Driving through Krakow country side I saw a housing estate next to lovely tall trees - forest like - and thought what a lovely area to be able to play as children. Then I wondered which is the tallest tree could I hang myself from? No former context, no sadness, just my empty emotions triggering my brain to tell myself I should be dead. This is how my life is now.

I dream most days and nights of my life ending in disasters. Lachesism. I say I'm scared of when lorrys drive to close or fast past me. But I'm scared for the moments when they don't kill me. People point out that I drive recklessly because they are afraid of the end; I'm not afraid. Driving that way feels like freedom, my chance to escape, even with intent to cause self harm.

I don't want a grave stone, I don't want my ashes to be spread. I want my organs donated and the rest burnt. The ashes can be used in cooking because I am one spicy mother fucker! Joking!! Don't worry, I really just want them turned in to jewelry so I can still shine while I'm gone.

The ironic thing about my situation is that I want to die to end my suffocating thoughts but at the same time I still have little bits of me that knows some of my self worth. Contradictory as it may be, I probably laugh and smile everyday without a doubt but my thoughts of disaster never leave. I work and study hard but I'm still occasionally believe I am a failure in my mind; like I'm always worse than everyone in the room. I love people and helping out everyone, but I think everyone hates me and would be better off not having me around. It's complicated in my mind.

I feel on the road to recovery, I can admit that I'm not okay when I don't feel okay, I know the past history that has gotten me to how I am and I'm seeking help; 3rd increase dose of Anti-depressants, Cognative Behavioural Therapy and many other forms of help I can get. I have supportive friends and family, I'm very lucky that I have my dream career job and I get to go on amazing holidays like just travelling in Poland for the past weekend. I just don't know what it is that drives myself hatrid other than... well myself.

It's a viscious cycle that I can't get escape. I'm motivated and feeling fine one day, something goes wrong very easily that affects me for weeks and then I find a little bit of motivation to build myself back up and it happens again... and again... and again. I try and count my blessings but in order to do that I draw Venn diagrams to see the wrong, okay and right things in my life. It's an occasional thing and the amount of varience I get each time seems like a uncoordinating joke. But It gives me a sense of assurance when things are okay or right for a few weeks in a row.

I've been taught many coping mechanisms in my past 4 years of anxiety and depression. Even writing them down in this form feels weirdly like a strategy. I'm explaining my dark and ugly, following my long journey ahead, and explaining what works for me. Even if one person gains usefulness then this is all worth it.

As we are on the topic of helpfulness: I like being helpful - it gives me a purpose other than selfish motives. If I've been helpful to one person and not to the rest of the crowd I feel like a failure. I desire to be the famous hero who didn't do it for fame but for the sheer enjoyment of people liking them and for a purpose in other people's lives. So I try to help - I volunteer at my local explorer scout group, I help raise and organise charity events, I help and support friends and family. I even try to go the extra mile at work to raise awareness of women in engineering to help inspire and shape them little girls to be the change our industry needs. I also help educate teams on mental well-being and illnesses with in the work place to bring the awareness to here and now.

All positive were written there, but the underlying negative abuse I hurl at myself for everything I've not been enough help on or not doing at all hurts:

"I'm not helpful I'm just in the way, I'm pathetic, I'm a waste of space, they don't need me, they'd be better off without me, it's not working you're a failure, you are making it more worse, stop trying you aren't a good person for doing it."

Just as them thoughts constantly pass through my mind another extreme example from this evening I write on - I was on the train back from Birmingham walking through derby station, I had the thought that I could run away on any train go ahead and not look back and when I'm on the train I can take every single tablet I own and swallow it to die. Or i could come back another night with a home made bomb and make sure I'm in a carraige with no people in it. Why not die? Make it a dramatic escape. Even in the last few typed words I had the thought of jumping in front of a train which would take no effort and only affect 1 person's life than my own. Why do I have these thoughts? Am I a physco path planning my death at every opportunity?

Reading back the first few paragraphs I see how contradicting my thought patterns are. Living with Anxiety and Depression for me is being followed by a voice, it knowing all my insicurities and how to use them against me. It gets to a point where it's the loudest voice in a room, that I can't hear anything else. I don't remember a time when it wasn't like this, when the voices didn't make me feel empty and alone inside. What's even worse is a lot of the people I have opened my heart to have let me down, causing me to shut down further.

My past history is not brilliant, I never felt secure with my friends, I was harassed in college and I've always struggled to maintain my apperance. I've been through some tough break ups of friends and partners and my relationships with family has not always been stable. One thing I find hard is to love myself and know myself worth when the people around you don't like you and tell you that you aren't good enough. But through all this at the same time I've had some amazing times.

I do want to be happy. I just feel useless most days. I try not to complain but the grass isn't always greener and I feel in constant mud. It sounds pathetic but I feel like I'm in a rut. At the moment everything is fine with friends and work. It I don't feel important. I don't feel as if there is any worth to my day's. I get up, go to work, and then do nothing until I get home and sleep. I mean sure I go to netball, dance, yoga and I volunteer at a scout group but it doesn't feel like I'm doing any of it for myself and I'm slowly giving up on trying to please those around me.

But I guess I do it for the hope of my future, for the one, for the wedding, for the kids, for the house, for the lazy Sunday morning lie ins with the loved ones. It's all a fantasy.

Tonight at explorers we were doing first aid training and one scenario was that one of the boys had a cut on his wrist and he was bleeding out. Through those discussions I was thinking how I could slit my wrists and drown in the bath and no one would be able to put me in the recovery position. Another perfect idea but inconveniencing whomever finds me. It doesn't sicken me thinking of myself this way. Maybe it's how I'm meant to be.

My mum tells me I should think positive thoughts but it's like an urge to plan how I should die. Another disaster I saw was a crash this morning. I wish I was in the place of the other person.

Not paying attention to lectures is becoming a really bad habit. I still haven't started writing for my digital assignment which is due in 5 days! But I have decided I would like to end up working for the Naval group in Adelaide Australia! I finally have an aim!! It feels good and when I travel there next year I will get to see if it's what I desire!

Another person has just unfriended me on Snapchat? What the hell have I done wrong now? I'm getting sick of being made out to be the bad guy all of the time :/ And now Facebook!! All for shutting him down over complaining that people can't be themselves or get offended. I've had enough of this work force, it literally is a battle every week just to keep peace. I don't want to listen to your political opinion every 2 minutes I'm sorry but I'm here to work. The ignorance of some people.

Do you know what I'm going to work my arse off and start this assignment today and prepare the manufacturing question to prove to the haters that they only make me more powerful :) oh the contrast in these paragraphs is funny.

This afternoon I spoke to my mum on how all my emotional trauma started. She understands now and it feels like a relief to be honest. I've just been to netball and I feel like I've played really well!

I have decided on a main goal within my career! Naval group Adalaide Australia! (Not long term but a few years in Australia won't do me harm in my life time! Now I've explored the majority of Europe it's time to step in to the big leagues!) Naval group design submarines for the Australian Navy and with my career path I hope that I will have the opportunity to be able to try and apply for a job there some day in the next 15 years! Now I just need to maintain motivation.

What to do when motivation is running low in the future:

• Find the worth of what you are doing

• research and re-inspire!

• be powerful enough to overcome the ruts!

• believe in yourself - you are capable!

• remove any distractions

I just read a quote that said 'don't worry darling this is just a chapter, not your whole story' and I thought well it's a fucking long one! I'm sat drinking mocha staring outside of a uni window in a corridor I look so depressed it's funny! I just needed to get away from the noise and the stress. I only want to talk to one person but he doesn't know that and it's starting to stress me out but it's my own fault for falling for him when he told me not to. On the plus side I definitely want a nice view in my house when i move to Aussie! I mean looking outside to wet britain it's really nice but sunny aus will be tonnes better!

I'm stressed, my brain hurts and I'm tired. I really want this assignment gone. I'm physically in pain from yoga and I'm exhausted :( moan moan moan moan I'm even pissing myself off. I could do with a power nap or somewhere comfortable to sit. I also miss my earphones :(

Just met a lovely man and had a chinwag it was distracting but it's nice to get to know people without it being depressing all the time!

I was in a one night stand with a 28 year old in a 7 year relationship. Put myself on tinder.

I'm tired of people they never fail to disappoint me

Netball is good though! Proper enjoyed chatting with everyone! Good stress relief and even though I haven't done much it took my mind off the crap earlier.

It's been a while

It's working

I feel ok

I'm no longer a mess

I can stop these thoughts

I counter act them

Not everyone hates me

0 notes

kimwexlers-brownhair · 7 years

Text

Yellow Rose, Chapter 59

A/N: Holy crap, next chapter's the epilogue, then I'm done! I can't believe it! Love to you all.

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/10695372/59/Yellow-Rose

Erik walked solemnly down the beach for what was left of the night. He moved with the slow gravity of a lone mourner leading a funeral procession of one. From a distance, all that could be observed of him was a dark, lean silhouette against the black sky and sea; that, and the porcelain sheen off his mask. As the night darkened, his figure became so obscure it was as if the mask were disembodied, floating in the sky above the waves like an errant crescent moon.

He heard Christine singing, her voice floating in from the waves and wind. Her voice lingered in his mind, in his heart. As it always would.

Yet louder, clearer, were images of Meg: humming to herself while sewing, tapping her foot impatiently backstage, yawning like a kitten in the morning.

"Meg is in love with you."

He shuddered.

Some twisted part of his heart recoiled: who could love him? What horrible flaw must such a person possess to see anything worth loving in him?

He'd yearned for love, killed for it, yet now that there was a slight but still very real chance it was within his grasp –

He winced away as if from a flame.

He tried to calm himself. Reasoned with himself.

Christine might have misled him, hoping to channel his adoration elsewhere. Or she'd guessed wrongly.

Yet the steady look in her eyes was confident, sure…once there was all doubt and wonder there, but no more. Now she knows what she says is true.

Meg.

All at once the dark figure walking the beach hunched over, his hand on his chest. He felt bile rise in his throat – not bile of disgust, but of something too enormous to take in, too fragile in its immensity, too unbelievable –

He panted.

Meg.

The breeze picked up. It battered against him, and he felt the cold lick of the tide lash at his foot.

What did he want?

Did he want her love?

He desired Meg, obsessively. This he now faced squarely. There was no use denying it, when he had – here he winced again – kissed her five years past. He'd hoped the feelings would fade over the years, particularly amidst the busy chaos of their new uprooted lives.

They had not, but slowly they had changed: the leap of passion was sweetened by a companionable fondness, an all-encompassing warmth reserved for those who know us truly.

Meg knew him truly. And Christine thought she loved him, all the same.

He….

He wanted her to love him.

To be loved by her…to love Meg….

Another great shudder and he turned his face sharply away, as if the sun and not the moon blazed down into his eyes.

There was still, coiled wickedly around his heart, the snake of who he once was. The mad ghost, the Phantom, who like a spoiled child wanted his original fantasy to still satisfy him: Christine Daae as his eternal underground siren. All these years later, it still stung that his muse had turned away from his labyrinth into the sunlight outside, into the life of a happy viscountess.

He's secretly taken pride in his steadfast devotion in the face of Christine's rejection. He wanted to maintain a purity that separated himself from the rest of humanity, so that it would not just be his face that did so. If he could not become a dashing Don Juan who enthralled his lady, he would instead become a sorrowing Werther, or a grief-mad Heathcliff: forever faithful to his love, even as that love turned him away.

How could the Phantom settle for anything less than a grand ending, whether happy or sad? He was no mere man. He could not live a normal life, so he must live a sweeping fantasy instead: his operas brought to life.

But Meg Giry skipped in and trampled all over those high-flung dreams with her delicate toe shoes.

Meg Giry, with the hated sunlight in her hair. Meg Giry, with the hard, inescapable truth in her dazzling, straightforward eyes. Meg Giry, with the high, thin voice of a sparrow, prattling away quickly about this, that, and everything under that hated, hated sun.

Meg Giry and her kindness. Hers was a devotion truer indeed than Erik's, because it sprang from a genuine font of love for those around her, not a desire to isolate herself in her goodness.

Meg Giry who looked at him as no one ever had. Unblinking, unafraid.

Could she truly love him?

The more time that passed from his interview with Christine, the more ridiculous the notion became. Bitterness was quickly displacing hope.

After all, what did Meg Giry know about love?

Love was unending, it conquered. Could Meg be conquered? By him?

No.

No, Meg could not be conquered.

Because behind the prattling, the dancing, the insatiable curiosity, the deep well of compassion, was a heart of steel. This steel shot out of her pale emerald eyes with inescapable brightness. A murderous opera ghost, arrest, espionage, exile – none of it tarnished that steel in her. She'd grown from these experiences, learned from them, but that brilliant steel would always keep her upright. Keep her true.

He knew now that regardless of his presence, Meg would have starred in the own play of her life. She did not need him for that. She had herself to guide her.

Her life was hers, and hers alone.

Could there be any place for him in the story of her life?

He remembered the envelope hidden in his desk in his room.

With an even stormier frame of mind than when he first started his long journey down the beach, he finally headed toward home.

He did not sleep. He sat staring at the envelope, where printed was a name he hadn't seen or truly thought of in years.

His fingers absently traced this name.

His head buzzed, his eyes stung, his heart burned.

He felt resigned, but to what, he did not know.

Eventually he felt the sun sneak in through the curtain. He was still officially a butler of sorts to the Giry women, at least as far the public was concerned – which viewed him more as a jack-of-all-trades secretary than anything else. And so he lived in a room smaller than the ladies, as befit a servant. When Meg and her mother protested, he waved them off indifferently. He who once slept in a coffin was not prone to care much about his sleeping place.

At last he heard the city outside start to rustle to life. Streetcar bells rang out, and he heard the clink of the milk man's bottles.

It was still early when he heard a knock on the front door. Erik frowned. He stood, but stopped as he heard the quick patter of feet outside. Meg.

He put his ear to the door and heard a muffled male voice say "Important letter from Comptesse de Chagny". A murmured thanks from Meg, then the door shut again.

A few moments passed. Then she squealed.

All at once a rapid knock on his own door. He answered and Meg flew in.

She was still in her mint green dressing gown, and her hair was half up in rags. "Erik…Erik!" Tears rimmed her eyes, but she wore an ecstatic smile. She held up a slip of paper. "Read it!" She was as beautiful as the sunrise.

Without a word, without anything in his face, Erik took it and read the hasty missive.

"I was going to wait until after the show to tell you, but I can't keep it in! Raoul just received word from his superiors: you all are allowed back in Paris! You see, Meg, Raoul learned from his chief that it was you who told the commissioner to give Raoul a chance in Sweden - and he learned that was because you were working for the police. Well, Raoul knew the least he could do is try to bring you home. He and a few of his detectives looked into the case, and found a loophole: since that man Hermes Verron has fled with all evidence against him and his associates, there's nothing left to accuse you with. All Raoul needed was permission from your fellow officers in the secret police, and they gave it! We're waiting for official word now, but you're coming home, Meg!

Yours so very happily,

Christine"

Meg shook Erik by the arms, laughing. "Can you believe it? Raoul is such a good man. I knew I made a right move telling Darius about him soon after we joined the force! Well, aren't you going to say anything? We're going home! We're going home!"

She peered hard at him. His half face – he was wearing the old mask again! – was empty of all emotion. "What's wrong? I…I know Paris doesn't hold all the good memories for you that it does for me, but it was your home all those years, just as it was mine! Aren't you the least bit excited?"

The way he treasured the pressure her warm, small hand gave his revealed to him, once and for all, the depths of his feeling for her.

He took a great, long sigh, and Meg followed it with every beat of her heart. "Erik?"

He laughed gently, gazing dreamily at the note. "It is a fine thing, Meg. I wish you much happiness. But when I return, it shall not be with you."

She froze. "…What?"

He presented her with a letter of his own. It was addressed to Baron Eric de Castelot-Barbezac. "I'll save you the trouble and tell you what's inside." He sat on his bed and stared ahead of him, his wrinkled suit that he hadn't changed out of incongruous to his serene, elegant posture.

"Stephen Marcus tracked down my origins, apparently. I grew up in Reims. My father was a wealthy baron, who died hurrying home during a thunder storm after a hunting trip. He was hurrying home because my mother was in labor with me. When she saw my face, then heard of my father's fate, she declared I was the devil's child, not hers. This attitude was shared in a more ferocious, violent vein by my older brother, Tristan. He…he was the reason I left at age eight. I never saw him or my mother again; I never thought to hear of them again, either. But then…."

He gestured to the letter in Meg's hand.

Meg read. In a quiet voice she said, "Tristan is dead, Marcus says. Drank himself to death. You're…you're the heir to your family title, now. And the estate."

Erik laughed again. "If you read further, you'll see that apparently my late mother spread the rumor I'd been abroad all this time, sequestered in a monastery to pay for my sins. However, as there's no proof anywhere that this is so, the property is still mine, per the will Father made when he was sure he'd have another strapping son." He raised his eyebrows. "At first, I thought I'd ignore all this, just as I ignored my family in life. After all, I didn't think I could ever go back to France." He looked at her pointedly.

Meg licked her lips. Her world was spinning a bit. "But now…now you can go back."

"Now I can." He stood slowly and turned his back to her, staring through his gauzy curtains to the early sun outside. "I can have a domain all my own again. Isolated. Protected. I can retire in peace."

Meg let the letter fall to the floor. "Retire?" Her nose wrinkled at the idea. Why…why would anyone want to retire? When there was still so much to experience, to achieve? Erik had a reputation in the theater now, he could take that to Paris and…and….

But what else was it hammering away in her chest, until the tears filling her eyes now were quite different from the happy ones she'd entered with?

"You can't retire, Erik! You can't isolate yourself again! You just can't!"

He whipped around, and there was a violent panther staring out of his eyes. "Can't I? Tell me, what else do you see me doing with the rest of my days, eh?"

"You can do anything! You can compose, teach" –

"Why? Why not simply retire and compose in private?" He shrugged with brutal callousness. "What difference does it make?"

She said nothing, just stared at him as if she'd been struck by lightning.

Life without Erik...

This was unfathomable to her now. She had her own life, her own goals and dreams, but...there would be an emptiness there, without him.

An emptiness that caused her pain just contemplating.

His eyes narrowed and he was somehow almost nose to nose with her. "Meg? Does it make a difference?" His voice was low, penetrating.

Meg tried speaking twice before actual sound came out. "It…it makes a difference, Erik."

"How?" His voice was sharp.

She closed her eyes and bowed her head. "It makes a difference to me."

The tears rolled freely down her cheeks.

A gentle hand lifted her chin. She braved opening her eyes.

The violence was gone, and in its place deep, overwhelming warmth. "Meg…."

His dear half face, the dear mismatched eyes, and that voice! – Soothing and rich and unlike any other mortal's on earth….

"I love you, Erik," she said.

The steel shone proudly out of her tear-filled eyes.

She hadn't intended on saying that. It rushed out in a burbling brook of panic. However, a great weight seemed to lift from her heart. She was glad she'd said it. She had known this was so, all this time, without knowing.

She loved him. She loved him, she loved him. And now he knew.

"There." She wiped away her tears with a childish gesture that tore at his heart. "That's why it makes a difference."

He was still, like a statue touched by fire. His eyes never left hers, and she couldn't read the storm there.

All at once she was pulled into his arms and his mouth was on hers again, after all these years. She yielded gladly. The warmth of his lips against hers, his arms squeezing her to him as though she were his only raft on a lonely sea, turned her tears glad again. She playfully pushed away his mask, so she could kiss him unobstructed. She ran her fingers into his scant hair. She loved that scant hair, and she loved the crevices she felt, then the smoothness of the unblemished side of his face.

At last they broke apart for air.

A solemnity as old as time itself poured out of his revering eyes. "And I love you, my little Meg."

She closed her eyes and smiled, and in a sleepy gesture rest her head against his chest. "You love me. You love me." She repeated this like a healing spell.

She, little Meg, was loved. By him.

His hand stroke her back as if she were a precious child entrusted in his care. "Can such a thing be true, my Meg? That we both love each other so much? I…I thought such a thing was available to me only in my dreams."

"Well, that's always been your problem, if you ask me," answered her sweet piquant voice. "You've always lived too much in your dreams, and missed what was right there in front of you."

He chuckled and kissed her wild hair. "I've never missed seeing you, Meg. It's impossible to miss a lone firefly at night."

He hugged her fiercely to his chest, and they stood there that way for the rest of the morning, rocking silently as the sun rose in the sky.

#Yellow Rose #poto #erik/meg #merik #meg giry #giryleague

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wordsablaze · 7 years

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#15: Bullies and Battles

Match of Magic What if destiny chose soulmates through literal aesthetic matches? What if education fused with impossibility and reality faded away? Dan and Phil must unite, work together and help each other live the best of all the worlds they can…

(Phil POV)

“Bye, Dad.” I smile faintly as I offer him a wave, earning nothing but a small grunt in response.

I sigh, slinging my bag over my shoulder and catching the flash of hurt in Dylan’s angry expression as he looks to Dad, radiating disappointment.

I nudge him as he puts an arm around my shoulder, shaking my head at him, “S'okay.”

“Philly, it’s really not. You know he loves us, really.”

I frown but concede, having heard him and the others repeatedly tell me that for the past sixteen years. He smiles, this time not ruffling my hair but awkwardly half patting it in a true brotherly manner as he saunters back to the kitchen. I smile and go to fix my glasses but my hands meet only air as it dawns on me that I have contacts in today.

Silently shaking my head, I chide myself, grab my coat and walk through the shadows until I get to the bus stop, taking a slight detour to avoid the usual morning gang that never seems to sleep. Perhaps they’re all vampires so they sleep when I don’t see so they can fool the world into thinking they’re invincible.

Oh, who’s a vampire?

Not confirmed yet.

The game is on.

I smile at Dan’s instant replies, knowing that he was probably in the middle of something. Even though I can always sense Dan, we can’t always thought talk to each other, which is probably best. I rub my eyes again as I wait for the bus, having stayed up a little too late to finish editing one of my new I lean against the dilapidated bus stop.

I see Evan and David coming up; I groan, trying to slink backwards but almost fall in my attempt, having to flail for equilibrium and accidentally catching their attention.

Evan scoffs as he and David approach me, “Still in the posh school?”

I stay silent as David laughs, “You don’t belong here.”

I only shrug slightly so Evan frowns, “You’re not expecting a match to appear, are you?”

“Oh, come on, who’d want to be matched to you?” David sneers.

Deciding not to mention Dan or the multitudes of subscribers who probably wouldn’t find it extreme torture to be stuck with me, not that they can anymore, I just bite my lip and shrug again, staying motionless as the two of them saunter ahead. Only a few other people gather before the bus comes, none of them doing anything beyond a brief smile as they pass me.

I grab a seat in the middle of the bus, hoping to go unnoticed in the centre as if hiding in eye of a hurricane. I don’t pay attention to the other students as I listen to ‘We The Kings’, leaning my head against the window.

That is, until the bus stops, I feel the unmistakable pull of my other half and I know Dan’s getting on. It’s as if a sensor in front of me has warmed up, as if a small candle inside me has been lit ablaze to illuminate him, as if soft neon lights have suddenly been triggered within me. He gets on with three other people but doesn’t hesitate to doubtlessly flop down beside me, grinning. I laugh as I notice he has the most adorable half-smile dimples.

He nudges me and I beam back at him, “Hi!”

Dimples!

Shut up.

He blushes slightly, “Hello.”

“You seem flustered, what’s wrong?” I inquire.

“Nothing, it’s just…” he trails off, glancing at the other people on the bus. I smile knowingly.

Dan?

I’m actually sat next to you! Literally right next to you! To you!

I’d hope so, or else this would be REALLY awkward.

He laughs, his dimples re-appearing in place of his previous frown. Suddenly, the girl on the seat behind us jumps up, both of us whirling around in shock and inquiry. Dan groans as he sees who it is, obviously recognising her.

“Ellie, stop.” he practically whines, glaring at her in the typical sibling style; she must be his sister.

“Uh, nice to meet you?” I pause, “Also known as Ellie-phant by any chance?”

Her eyes light up and Dan looks at me with something akin to awe, relief and shock.

Ellie nods, “Yeah, that’s amazing of you.” she grins as her eyes flash brightly for a moment.

Dan whacks her arm and ducks his head before sheepishly grinning at me, “Ellie’s my sister.”

“And a Youtuber?” I ask, knowing the answer.

Ellie nods, “Don’t worry, I was just checking up on my little bro. Honestly, I think he might have some kind of mild agoraphobia.”

“Ell!” Dan glares at her a little more seriously this time so she shrugs and properly sits back into her seat.

Dan coughs and turns to me, “I don’t exactly have agoraphobia, I simply respect personal space and don’t really enjoy too much forced socialising.”

“I know, right? I always end up in some kind of weird situation or something.” I laugh, half wondering if he’s ever seen my videos or if only his sister has.

He smiles widely and gestures to my phone, “What’re you listening to?”

“We The Kings, have you ever heard of them?”

He nods enthusiastically, “A little, I found out 'bout them a couple years ago. Can I listen?” he asks so I hand him the right earbud, playing the music again.

Both of us jump as it resumes halfway into a sudden note but enjoy the rest of it, our shoulders connected without us trying. His head falls against my shoulder so I smile and lean more towards him, hoping that he’s comfortable. We have to end the song halfway through a sentence, both of us laughing as it ends awkwardly.

Someone crashes into Dan as we get off, making him yelp and crash into me. I stumble but grab his shoulders to make sure he doesn’t fall and break his nose or something.

Dan? Are you okay?

Fine, thanks Phil.

“Oi, watch It.” the other boy leers, glaring at Dan.

I can’t help but frown, “You crashed into him, in case you missed that.”

Dan looks at me gratefully but shakes his head.

That’s Ian. Ignore him.

I would have, but Ian gasps like a fish, glancing between the two of us, “You’re not serious?”

And so Captain Obvious finally saw what was in front of him.

Well, he seems fishy.

Dan stifles his laugh; I chuckle quietly and pull Dan away with me, leaving fishy Ian to piece the world’s easiest deduction together.

He and I wait together for the doors to unlock and he coughs, “So, lunch?” “The swings?” I ask immediately, knowing that there won’t be anyone there. I wonder they kept that swing set; it’s not like secondary school has playtime.

Dan nods, “Yeah, that’d be perfect.”

It won’t be perfect until you get there.

Dan elbows me, badly disguising his blush and rolling his eyes as the doors open and hundreds of students swarm inside like an academic hive mind. We split off as he heads to his registration room and I head to mine, both of us still grinning at each other.

Thanks.

I smile, and his presence inside me lessens a little like something stepping behind a transparent curtain so you can’t directly touch it but nothing can stop you seeing it anyway. It’s honestly a relieving feeling to simply know he’s alive so I just fiddle with my hands as I make my way to the registration room.

I’ve only taken about twenty steps before a cold voice sounds, “What’s all the nonsense about you being matched?”

I start, stifling my yelp as Ken appears in front of me. His name is perhaps the most irksomely apt as he looks like a freaking Ken doll with blonde hair gelled back and painfully bright blue eyes. He raises an eyebrow as I shrug, then steps forwards so that I have to step back instinctively.

“You’re not serious?” he low key growls.

I nod, “I…I have. Matched, that is. I have a match.”

As I try and stumble over the words falling from my mouth, Ken fumes with himself for a moment before his face becomes stony and he shoves my shoulders once, “You’re not making it up?”

I shake my head, avoiding his gaze as he steps back in frustration. When I look back up, there’s something despondently sharp in his eyes, something I haven’t seen before, and I frown in confusion but he doesn’t give me enough time to recognise it.

I wonder if he has a reason to badger everyone about their matches. As far as I can remember, he’s been asking about them, as if he fears for his own but finds consolation in the idea that many other people haven’t been matched yet. Maybe looking like a Ken Doll is pressuring?

Any sympathy I’ve built for him is washed away when he shoves me backwards and I slam into the locker, the lock digging into my back.

I frown and rub it awkwardly as danger flashes red in his eyes before he calms down enough for blue to flood back into his eyes.

I blink, not believing I saw that.

Since when do his eye colours change? Or any eye colours? And since when have I been able to identify emotions from colours? I make myself a note to watch for anybody else’s eyes as well, so I can see if it was just a lack of sleep causing me to imagine things or if it’s something I seem to have missed all my life.

Ken steps on my foot, harshly bringing me back into the corridor and out of my thoughts. I give him a neutral look but he rolls his eyes.

Ken scowls, “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why did you meet yours before I met mine? I’m literally perfect and you're…a catastrophe.”

“I’m not a catastrophe.” I argue, trying to think of reasons to fire back.

Phil? Who said you’re a catastrophe?

I hadn’t realised I’d shared those thoughts with Dan; my eyes widen.

Just Ken.

Who the hell is Ken?

Another guy like Mr Fishy.

Mr Fishy? Oh my god, you mean Ian? That’s the best code name ever, we should totally use it. But are you okay? I promise you’re not a catastrophe, you’re literally the most brilliant person…

Thanks Dan.

Screw Ken! See you soon Phil.

Dan’s sudden, unhesitating defence makes me smile so I dismiss the catastrophic thoughts whirling in my head and thank the heavens for whatever the whole thought-talking deal actually is. Thought talk…

I like that. I think I’m going to call it that from now on.

Huh?

Thought-talking. Thought talk sounds more believable than something as cringe as telepathy.

“Earth to Glitch!” Ken snaps and I blink, having forgotten that he was in front of me for a moment.

I didn’t know you heard that. Okay, good call. Thought talk it is. To be continued…

See you soon, Phil.

I hope so.

I hope so more.

“Glitch?!” I hear Harry exclaim behind me, “How dare you call him that!”

Once again, I’m pulled out of my thoughts by someone else talking. Dan and I both seem to mutually agree we can talk - or thought talk - later so I minutely shake my head, tuning my attention back to Harry and Laia, both of them currently glowering at Ken.

“Phil might not do anything but, I swear to you, if you call him a glitch once more…” Laia hisses.

“You’ll what? You’re just puny girls.” Ken laughs.

“What have you got against girls?” Rosie demands as she arrives, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed.

Ken turns to and glares at me but I simply shrug, “Your match might be a girl; you should be more open minded.”

“You’re a girl.” He mutters darkly, then turns and storms towards our classroom.

We all laugh, Michael and George appearing as we recover from hysteria, “What is happening?”

“K-Ken.” Laia explains between giggles.

“Can you believe he attempted to insult Phil by calling him a girl?” Rosie asks, then sobers, “Wait, do you guys find that offensive? Is that how you think?”

“No.” Michael shakes his head, “Not us, at least.”

“Is anyone up for a detention?” Harry asks.

“Harry, no.” I interrupt before she can expand on that potentially awful idea.

“Why? What did Ken say?” George asks.

“He called them puny.” I answer, giving Laia a look.

She sighs and shakes her head, “No, Phil, we all know what he said. There’s no way we can have you thinking you’re a glitch.”

Michael’s so shocked that he seems to have a coughing fit bad enough for his eyes to start watering. Rosie smacks him between the shoulder blades, sighing in relief as he takes a deep breath and grins, “Sorry, I swallowed the hallway wrong.”

“A glitch? Alright, seems like I have a free hour after school.” Sandra announces, silently having joined us as Harry offered a detention.

I groan but Laia smiles, “If Harry goes down, I’m falling with her.”

“For her, more like.” I murmur.

Sandra nods and impressively manages to roll her eyes at the same time, “Too right.”

“Seriously?” Harry rolls her eyes at us but George whacks her with his P.E kit.

“It’s true.” he confirms.

Harry and Laia exchange a glance, then admit defeat, sighing.

Sandra grins, “So, just the three of us?”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa.” Rosie holds her hand up, “No way I’m not coming.”

“Rosie, we’re making the video tonight.” I remind her.

“Damn.” she scowls, “Alright, fine. Michael will go for me.”

“Hell, yeah.” Michael smirks, probably already planning to use his martial arts skill set.

George groans as we decide we should probably actually go inside and get registered, “I can’t come!”

“Why not?” Sandra asks, then it dawns on her, “Oh, the basketball thing.”

“Guys, it’s okay.” I say, shaking my head at my ridiculous group of friends. I hold my hands up in apologetic surrender as I receive six identical glares of obvious exasperation.

“Wait, George, you can’t come?” Harry interrupts, something dawning on her as she constructs her plan. He shakes his head and causes the girls to share an undecipherable look before Rosie shakes her head at them and turns to me apologetically.

I already know what she’s going to say, and I think she knows that, but she says it anyway, “Sorry Phil, I have to avenge this. Just make a different video for tonight and I promise you - I solemnly swear to you - that I’ll make it for the next one.”

If she did for some reason expect me to be annoyed, she remains disappointed.

I just smile, “Okay. That’s fine, it’s not a big deal. You don’t have to do this, you know that, right?”

“I know. If it makes you feel better, I’ll do it to ease my own selfish consciousness.” Rosie suggests.

“And to spend time with me.” Michael laughs, winking.

I smile at them and shrug, knowing that once the two of them are joined, they won’t separate for as long as they can.

Like Dan and me.

like/reblog but don’t repost, thanks!

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