#aero laughs at herself

[aeroknot]

i’ve developed this bad habit of impulse buying enamel pins when i’m sad. at least they usually have positive or funny things on them and i’m supporting small business owners

#snrk #aero laughs at herself

[magnoliabutters]

• PARA LOS VAQUEROS •

pairing: simon "ghost" riley x "aero" (they/them) reader

summary: feelings and emotions don't come naturally to ghost, and yet...

warnings: 18+, mdni, adult language, violence; cod:mw2 potential spoilers, enemies to lovers trope, ptsd, death, & anxiety mentioned, comforting fluff, potential graphic canon violence & gore on mission, pet names, anger outburst, etc.

word count: ~7.6k

reblogs to support me & ghost + aero ♥️

• part 3 • ghost stories series • collection of pride pairings •

note: welcome back to part three! sorry for the delay! my contribution to pride, please join me for more gay pairings during pride month! would def encourage reading the other parts before this one!

we have a couple time jump below. for the dates, i put them in military format but added punctuation (cause without it just looks like numbers and i was getting confused) ♥️ translations/definitions of bolder words are found at the end of their section

2023.10.14, 0735

A large, hankering sound roars in your ears. Your eyes open. You feel relief in hearing the obnoxious alarm. You rise from the bed, rubbing your eyes. An ache rocks your body, leading you to roll out your shoulder. Sluggishly, you pull the sheet over your bed. A smile across your face as you remember the events of last night.

Quickly and painfully, you dress yourself for the day. Your mind screaming “0800 briefing” as you make your way down the hall and into the meeting room. As you walk in, you already note that familiar ghostly mask sitting straight as a nail in front of you. Of course arrive early to a debriefing.

“Lieutenant,” you greet with a nod. A soft grumble of a laugh begins in his chest as he nods towards you. You sit beside him. Your hands are placed together, fingers interlocked, you rest them on the cool table. You struggle to keep your mind off of yesterday’s adventure in the shower room. The TV is black, but on and ready for the briefing to start.

Soap walks in with Alejandro and Rudy shortly behind. Gaz enters the room with Price. He shoots you smile and nod as he does. You smirk, unaware of Ghost’s hand balling into a fist.

“Price,” Laswell calls out. “What have you learned so far?” Your back immediately straightens at the voice of the Station Chief. Your eyes on her as a deadpanned, focused face emerges. “AQ has a stealth bomb. Targeting Los Vaqueros and Las Almas Cartel,” he answers. “They’re going to Mexico,” she says to herself, processing the information. “Do we know when?”

With finality, Price answers, “Negative.” Ghost adds on to his sentence, leaning back against his chair. “We managed to gather intel that AQ holds the bomber in an abandon warehouse in Vorkuta, Russia. General Ibrahim Osman is the man in charge.”

Laswell huffs as she types the information into her laptop. “How did you manage to retrieve the intel? Casualties? Any civilians?” she asks. Her brows pressing together, forming a familiar line between them that emerges any time she’s thinking.

You turn to Ghost, curious for the answer. Laswell immediately notices your shift in position. “Two on location, two overwatch. Infiltrated French AQ base. 4 hostiles down, 0 civilian casualties,” Ghost responds as though it was a script.

“And where was Aero?” she asks. Your head and widening eyes pops her way. How were you going to explain this? To tell her that you didn’t make it because Ghost sabotaged you? Would she ask for details? Would you have to share that he sabotaged you when he carefully slid out your bed while you were still sleeping? Hesitation holds you. An unfamiliar feeling. You hated it.

“The Lieutenant was interviewing Sidorov,” Ghost answers for you. The lie did not impact his intonation. His voice remains cool and calm. You follow his lead without missing a beat. Although, the boys snicker behind you. Price remains confused but uninterested. “Yes, I learned that AQ has a target on Sergeant MacTavish,” you instinctually add. “He will be placed on overwatch until AQ is resolved.”

Laswell leads with another humph as she looks down at the classified documents before her. After a few minutes of silence, she speaks. “Sergeant, you alright with that?” A bustling laugh emerges behind you. God, he truly does not know when to be serious. “Let’s get these fuckers,” Soap answers with his thick Scottish accent.

Luckily, that grants him a smile from the Station Chief. “Alright,” she says with a low chuckle. “You are a-go to clear out the AQ base. HVT, General Osman. Stealth bomber must be retrieved, undamaged. Cut Sidorov loose. Leave the AQ contact, another squad will come for him. Plane at 1500.” She closes her folders and reaches to end the call. “Good luck team.” The TV returns to black.

“Do we have blueprints for this abandoned warehouse?” you ask, immediately getting to work. “Yes, teniente,” Rudy answers. He grabs the TV remote, pressing a few buttons to bring up the blueprints on the screen. A grid of the entire Russian street appears. He quickly zooms in on the targeted and surrounding buildings.

Gaz studies them with a hand to his chin. “North west entrance looks unsecured,” he shares. “South bay has windows. We can create a distraction there,” Alejandro adds. “Overwatch can rest on the south east corner,” Soap suggests as he points to the screen. The boys peer down to refer to the approval of their lieutenants.

“Two at South windows, two at north,” Ghost starts, but you interrupt him without difficulty. His balled fist makes a second appearance. “East side, sewers. We can use that to venture our way inside with less risk,” you share. “We take it by stealth. Cut the lights. Knives and suppression only. No damage to the bomber.”

Ghost rolls his eyes and adds more distance between you. You can’t help to scoff at his boyish response. “Of course,” he mumbles sarcastically. “And Soap will run overwatch. Thermal scope and silencer,” you add. Ghost turns to Price, completely ignoring your words. “What’s it gonna be Captain?” he asks with disdain in his voice.

Price presses his fingers to his brow bone. The constant childish arguing causing his headache. With eyes closed, he grumbles, “HQ needs the bomber untouched. Go with Aero’s plan.“ He stands, waving at Ghost to quit his bitching, as he makes his way out the door. “See you at 1500.” You note, he must have another solo mission from Laswell.

With a look of satisfaction, you pat your hands to the table and stand from your seat. “We’re doing this quick and quiet once those grenades go off,” you address the boys behind you. “Night vision goggles, knives, flash grenades.” You turn to Alejandro with a nod. “Vargas, we are good for the diversion at the south windows. Parra, cut the lights on the west side. Regroup at north west entrance.”

Los Vanqueros nod before making their way to the armory in preparation for the mission. You turn to Soap, who shoots you his classic smile. Ghost still rests reluctantly in his chair, arms crossed resting upon his chest. “Thermal scope and a silencer, L.T.,” Soap says without hesitation. “Yes, you find and take out Osman’s security, and ground team will take the General,” you instruct. “Gaz run as a spotter. Note wind and distance.” Gaz laughs as he pats your shoulder before leaving the room. “Of course, Aero.” While making their way to the door, Soap runs his hands together in excitement.

You lean back against the table, devilishly close to Ghost. “Didn’t think you would be so sour about losing,” you comment without looking his way. Ghost abruptly stands. The movement pushing his chair back and into a crash against the wall. He stares into you with those brown eyes. Today’s mask looks more rugged, more worn out.

You could see the tensing of his muscles. How his jaw clenched beneath the fabric. You find it mighty interesting that he is always a pillar of stone around others. With you? He shows all his cards. “You’re going to get us all killed,” he says without mercy. Your chin drops as you feel shock to his words. “Fuck you,” you mutter. Your mind reeling with red hot rage. Rarely do you lose grip on your temper. “I would never put my team in harms way. Being a hot-headed dumb ass, guns blazing, would most definitely result in a KIA, you thick skulled idiot.”

You lean closer into him, watching as his fists clench harder than you’ve seen before. “I lead this mission,” you say sharply. “Fall in line, soldier.” He grunts in response. A growl falling from his lips as he steps towards you. You look up to the 6’4” man without worry. His face leans closer and closer to yours. As though a staring contest would somehow scare you out of being squad leader.

As a minute passes, Ghost pulls away with another grunt. He storms out of the room. His boots hitting the ground harshly. “Maybe you’ll get the next one, L.T.,” you call out with a snicker. His fist blasts through the wall.

The sound makes you immediately stand up and on guard. He pulls his hand out slowly. Dry wall crumbles down around his arm. You watch in silence as he continues out the door and to the armory. Blood dripping onto the tiled floor as he walks away.

You fall back into your chair, unfazed by his foolish response. Your finger falls to your chin as you study the blueprints. You search for any potential blind spots. Pulling out a notebook as you scribble your ideas down in silence. But you struggle to maintain your attention. The memory of last night floods your brain as you struggle with the idea of conflict. It’s never a good idea to go into a mission angry. However, sometimes it might just be necessary.

• aq: al-qatala “the killers”

• hvt: high value target

• teniente: lieutenant

2023.10.13, 2300

Are you supposed to look? I mean, he has been hiding his face behind a mask since you met him. Is it disrespectful to look? But, fuck, are you so curious. You catch glimpses of fiery red hair at the base of his neck. His bare chest turns a reddish pink underneath the hot water.

But he doesn’t look back. He doesn’t look to see if you are, indeed, joining him for a shower. You should take a shower. You’re naked and your legs are covered with his cum. And yet, you’re stuck in place.

Are you overthinking the mask? Maybe you’re just looking for an out. I mean, you fucked - that’s all you wanted. You don’t have to do any of the cute cuddley shit after. But maybe a small part of you does?

“You coming?” Ghost asks in his low toned voice. He still looks towards the shower head. He may not peer back at you, but he surely craves your presence. With a deep breath, you walk up to him. Your hand placed gently against the small of his back. His skin is soft under the warm water.

You catch a glimpse of his smile, but you divert your eyes. You keep your head down, looking at both your naked bodies in close proximity of each other. It excites you. For some reason that evokes a laugh within him. He brings a bar of soap within your eye line. “May I?”

Abruptly, your heart races tenfold. You look at the bar of soap, at his gentle hands as they reach toward you. All you could muster was a small nod. He gently places the bar against your shoulder. He is oh so careful not to hurt you after the beating you took from your contract. He gently brushes all your bruises and abrasions. His touch feels so good, something you find yourself needing any time he pulls away.

Feeling this new level of warmth within your chest, you gently place your hand upon his cheek. Your eyes closed as you lean up and place your lips on his. Those plump, supple lips you have grown to appreciate. He kisses you back, a simple peck. A complete contradiction to the rough and tough you both indulge in earlier. Gentle is not in your vocabulary, at least not until now.

Ghost pulls away with a lick to his lips. He hums as though your taste is delicious. Your eyes remain closed, somehow protecting his privacy. He bends down and you feel the soap on the top of you thigh. “So dirty,” he whispers with a chuckle as he views his art work. You wiggle your hips, pretending to go for a knee strike. All he does is laugh. A sweet, melodic sound that you now find yourself enjoying.

“Do you prefer Ghost of Simon?” you ask, breaking the romance in the air. You find it’s best to stop it in its tracks, before - before something happens. He draws the soap up to the crook your neck, giving you a massage that makes your mouth water. “Ghost,” he answers matter-of-factly. You fear you might’ve killed the mood. “Simon for serious conversations.” Your smile perks up as you let out a breath of relief.

“What about you?” Ghost inquires. He lightly guides you to spin around so he may get your back. “Aero,” you answer. “My ‘real’ name never felt right. Aero, on the other hand, suits me perfectly.” You can feel his breath against your shoulder. The soap now rubbing against your hip bones.

“How’d you get the call sign?” he asks. His other hand twisting a lock of your hair and placing it forward. “Aero, air. People would say I’m a natural at flying anything in the air,” you answer as you become more and more comfortable within the interaction. “F-14’s, helicopters, commercial airlines. It’s a weird flex of mine.”

Ghost stifles a laugh as he floats the bar of soap over you butt’s cheeks and down the back of your legs. “I’d like to see that,” he says in a sarcastic tone. You spin around, fast enough where his hands raise. Your eyes fall upon his. The same very eyes that you see peering at you through the mask. You try your best not to attend to any other features.

“Okay, how’d you get yours, ghostie boy?” you ask with a bit of offense taken. Immediately, his face shifts. The smile nonexistent. His dark eyes darting away from your body. Your hand reaches for his arm before you could stop it. Concern pushes your brows together. “Forget I asked,” you offer with sincerity. A hand rests upon his chest. “I don’t need to know.”

The atmosphere feels off between you. He tightly grips against the soap. It’s a miracle that it hasn’t slid from his hands. Finally, you look to his face. You note the freckles on his cheeks. How they travel all the way to his ears. How his firey hair stubbles rest sexily against his chin. Not a single scar to his perfect face. No physical reason to hide.

But, most importantly, you note his expression. You recognize it. You’ve seen the same expression in the faces of your comrades, squad mates, in yourself. You come to understand that your question accidentally triggered him, triggered what you would guess to be PTSD. “Ghost,” you repeat. Your hand now caressing his cheek again. “Come back to me.”

Ghost doesn’t move. He is stuck in some perpetual shit show of trauma and sorrow. You recall what has worked for you in the past. Without delay, you crash your arms around his, pulling him into a deep pressured hug. At first, he attempts to shrug you off but he slowly accepts his fate in your arms. His arms crashing around you, giving you the same squeeze. You lay your head upon his chest as the hot water crashes upon you both.

What felt like hours passed by. You feel as though you might fall asleep in this shower room, in his arms. “Aero,” he speaks softly. Your body perks up as you attempt to wake. “You can let go of me now.” Quickly, you pulls your hands to your side. Your eyes peer back into his as you await for further instruction.

“You need to get some rest,” Ghost says genuinely. You nod, struggling to keep you heavy eyelids open. “Can you get yourself back to your room?” he asks. You nod again, grumbling as you rub your eyes. He beams as he walks over the linen closet. He grabs two towels, chucking one over to you.

“I want to be the only one to see that incredible body,” he demands. You scoff before realizing his serious intent. “Oh,” you let out. “I can promise you that no one else will see my body tonight. Just you, baby.” That builds his grin as he watches you make your way to the front of the restroom. “See you tomorrow at the briefing,” he says with a devilish smile. You wave your hand and make a mental note to triple check your alarms before falling asleep that night.

2023.10.14, 1930

You awake at the sounds of a rattling plane. Usually it’s hum puts you right to sleep. The crown of your head was pressed against the metaled hum during your slumber. Taking in a deep breath through your nostrils, you open your eyes to see the familiar red lights. You’ve found comfort in these lights. How you have come to affiliate them with rest and safety, even if you weren’t necessarily traveling in a secure airspace.

“Trouble sleeping?” Gaz asks in a whisper as he bumps your right shoulder. You turn with a smile. His eyes twinkling in the red. He was always so handsome, such eye candy. It is never a bad time to wake up to Gaz beside you. “I’m good,” you mumble. “The turbulence must’ve woken me up.”

With a squinting of your eyes, you recognize his freshly alert face. He looks as though he got great sleep and some how managed to be awake for at least the past two hours. “God Garrick, how are you awake right now?” He laughs, shaking his head slightly. “Not everyone can sleep as soundly as you on a plane, Aero,” he taunts, heavily emphasizing your call sign. “Yeah, well, not everyone is as cool as me.” You close your eyes and lean back against the cool hull, hoping to get another hour.

“Would you quit yapping, some of us are trying to sleep?” That undeniable, deep British voice appears again. You find your pulse increasing any time you hear it. Immediately, your eyes open as you look for him in the cargo bay. You find him, hiding in a corner yet again. He uses the lack of light as a blanket of darkness. “Piss off,” Gaz calls out. He rolls his eyes as he adds in a whisper, “I’m tired of that fucking prick.”

By the time you turned back to Ghost, he was already half way towards you. His walk rough, stomping with each step. His arms tense with fists at their ends. “Want to try that again, Sergeant?” he asks with a deeply barreled voice. You have only seen this level of anger when it’s directed at you. Now, your eyes ping pong between your previous and current lover. A certain level of adrenaline and excitement resides in your chest.

Gaz immediately stands, entering Ghost’s space without fear. Your eyes widen, a surprising act for the Sergeant. “Do you need to get your ears checked, L.T.?” he spits out. He holds a steady proximity but does not inch forward until his opponent breaks first. “I said, ‘Piss off.’ I’m tired of your shit.”

You stand, placing a soft hand upon both their shoulders. “Hey, we’re all just pumped for the mission. Walk away,” you suggest to the two. But you might as well have not even spoke. No one is listening.

Ghost retorts with an enthused laugh, shrugging your hand off. “One too many concussion grenades scramble your brain?” he asks with a cool collected tone. “Do you know how easy it would be to have you benched?” Gaz smiles, tucking his chin in. “I’d like to see how you’d explain away that one to Price,” he answers. Ghost nods slowly. You catch small movements at his mouth. It makes you imagine a smile forming.

“Insubordination? That’s not like you, Gaz,” Ghost says with a bit of inquiry. From what you have read of his classified files, only having access due to your rank and for personnel reasons, Gaz has zero marks on his record. He explained this once to you after teasing him in those white hotel sheets. He does not care about reputation, not in the slightest. What he cares about is honor and respecting that honor.

Ghost is an honorary soldier. He is one of the most decorated and is highly preferred in covert missions under Laswell’s reign. He is also Gaz’s superior officer and, therefore, has earned his respect. Even though he was acting like an absolute dickhead and deserved a rough talking to, he respects the man. In that instant, he was no longer Gaz - he was Kyle.

You watch him as he pieces the puzzle together and comes to the same conclusion. Gaz straightens his chest, diverting his eyes from his superior. “My apologies, Lieutenant. Won’t happen again.” Ghost nods, dismissing the Sergeant. Gaz sits down beside you with guilted eyes that are glued to the floor.

This entire interaction, although having an exciting start, has grown stale quickly. You look up to Ghost with annoyed eyes. You know he has all the information you have on each member of this team. He knew exactly how to disarm the man and put him in his place without violence. Some might find that impressive, you find it irritating.

Unexpectedly, Ghost leans down and into your space. His face resides beside yours as he whispers into your ear. Your eyes widen, knowing that no one has seen you two in such proximity before. Again, you see those gears turning in Gaz’s mind as he figures it out. A soft “oh” falls from his lips as he turns to look the other way. He finally understands Ghost’s hostility during this particular mission.

“No one will stand up for you against me,” Ghost whispers softly. “You deserve a real man.” As he pulls away, your lip raises on one side. Red hot anger filling your chest. “You don’t get to decide what I deserve, Riley,” you say with gritted teeth. He scoffs out a laugh before walking back to his corner.

You suck your tongue against your teeth as you let out a harsh breath from your nostrils. You would not be surprised if smoke fumes from your ears. Grinding your teeth, you cross your arms upon your chest. You close your eyes and land your head harshly against the hull. A shuffling of movement begins beside you. Before he’s able to say anything, you calmly state, “Shut up, Kyle.” The next thing you hear is a quiet chuckle.

2023.10.14, 2204

The remainder of the flight was met with endless silence. With all that anger within you, there was no way you could get yourself back to sleep. Another sleepless night. It’s slowly becoming more and more your version of normal. Luckily, the remainder of the squad slept as far as you knew.

You rock side to side as your squad sits in the back of a white covered van. Your transport taking you through snowy and rocky terrain to achieve the best vantage to the AQ base. You sit beside Soap and Gaz. Ghost, Alejandro, and Rudy sit across from you.

Ghost strategically places himself right in front of you. You keep your eyes away to avoid any long held stares. Instead, you peer out the back window and watch the tire tracks rest harshly against the snowed in path. Your suppressed PDSW rests against your inner thigh.

You pull out your butterfly knife, using it to stim as you await the screech of the brakes. The way it moves. Its quickness creating a blurry effect around your hand. The sounds of it clicking through its gears. How it moves from one side to the other. How the blades wrap around your wrist like gentle kisses before they are plunged into the gut of an attacker. The sound, the sensation, the stim reminds you of home.

“No te preocupa, que te puedes cortar?” Alejandro asks, as he leans his head sideways towards you. You laugh, the first time you show any expression since the flight. Ghost’s head immediately pops up as he stares at the Colonel. Your eyes completely focused on Alejandro. “No, no, no,” you start with a giggle. “Estado haciendo esto toda mi vida.”

Another flick of your wrist, and your butterfly knife folds back into its handle. Alejandro’s eyes are as big as saucers. “Ay, chingada,” he mutters while pushing back his hair from his face. “Viste eso?” he says as he bumps his elbow into Rudy’s and points towards Soap.

The smile on Rudy’s face brings so much joy. He looks slightly embarrassed by how excited his partner was getting. When meeting Soap’s gaze, they both fell into a laugh. Gaz chuckles along to their reactions.

“You have to teach me, teniente,” Alejandro pleads. He pretends to do the wrist movement, failing beautifully. It also leads the entire van, except for Ghost, to burst into a fit of laughter. “After the mission,” you answer with amusement. “Let’s finish this first, boys.”

The four troublemakers slowly fall into a silent hum as they struggle to stifle their laughter. You nod towards Gaz, who quickly puts on his game face. “Soap,” he says as he turns to his brother in arms. “Overwatch, south east corner. The hotel, 34th floor. Vantage and scope with Gaz,” he answers with that thick accent. You feel comforted that Soap will be overwatch. If anything goes to shit, he will most definitely have the squad’s back.

“Ghost and I will meet at the north west corner. Radio when in position. Objective, retrieving stealth bomber and taking out HVT,” you share. Your tone calm, as though the words were a script. “Rudy,” Gaz says. “Check on coms that everyone’s in position,” Rudy follows. “Cut power with a three count, meet with Alejandro at north west entrance, move in, take out surrounding hostiles.” Alejandro adds, “I’ll be at South Bay Windows. On five count, I throw flash grenades and C4. Connect with Rudy.”

Soap clears his throat, leaning his elbow upon his leg. “And that’s when I take out the General’s security for you two to,” he starts. He slides this thumb straight across his throat with over exaggeration. You roll your eyes. Again, always making jokes at the most serious of times. But also that might have been a good one.

You look Ghost’s way and he is still dissociating outside the window. A part of your job is to ensure your mates are battle ready, that their head is in the game. It appears Ghost’s is somewhere intangible. “Lieutenant,” you call out. He responds with a grunt as he rests his chin against the palm of his hand. “Anything you’d like to add?”

Suddenly, the van comes to a screeching halt. The sound of the breaks is exactly what you were looking for. Your eyes close as you lean your head back once again. You take in a deep breath through your nostrils and out through your mouth. Some may call it a pre-mission ritual. Whatever it is, it always helps you get in the mindset.

With a shift of weight in the car, you open your eyes to watch as Ghost flings the back two doors open. He turns back, as he looks at his boys. You note that he is still avoiding eye contact with you. "Para Los Vaqueros," he says with determination. The sentimental statement puts you in a state of shock. That definitely was not on your bingo card of shit Ghost says.

Alejandro nods, before saying, "Gracias, hombre." His hand falling into a sturdy shake against Ghost's, who returns the enthusiasm. Overlapping voices appear as the entire squad fills with words. "Para Los Vaqueros," they repeat. You nod as you peer at your mates. You are confused by their connection. Why do Ghost, Gaz, and Soap feel so passionately about the "cowboy" elite group of the Mexican Special Forces. They call out to these vaqueros as though they were vaqueros themselves.

What the hell happened on that last mission with AQ?

You look around at the group, pushing away any questions, any confusion, any hesitations. You look at every single one. Studying their faces. All of them must come home. You will not lose a single soldier on this mission. "Para Los Vaqueros," you whisper to yourself. You stand, leading the boys to follow along as you walk outside and look through your thermal scope at the AQ base down the hill.

• no te preocupa, que te puedes cortar: aren't you worried you might cut yourself?

• estado haciendo esto toda mi vida: i’ve been doing this all my life

• ay, chingada: fuck

• viste eso: did you see that?

• gracias hombre: thank you man

2023.10.14, 2245

Ghost and you have steadily made your way down the hill. The snow is glistening and unfortunately crunches under your feet. With the amount of adrenaline pumping through your veins, the cold is not an issue. The two of you continue to be silent, despite talking to absolutely every other member of Task Force 141.

You spot the north west sewer entrance. With a quick huff, you dig your hands into the slits of the manhole and pull up. Ghost's hands rushes to support the metal. "I got it," you whisper as you gently place the metal on the concrete beside the manhole. "Of course, you do," he mumbles behind his mask. You take in a sharp breath, completely done with his silent treatment. "Get your ass down there. We're gonna have a word," you say in a quiet, yet strict drill sergeant voice.

Ghost sarcastically gestures for you to go down the manhole first. With a roll of your eyes, you kick your leg over and begin to climb down the chilly ladder. He follows closely behind, placing the manhole cover back where it belongs. It appears untouched. Your boots land into a thin layer of water. The smell was atrocious, but nothing you aren't used to at this point. The tunnel is of older construction and is not well kept.

"Why do you always have them tell you the plan before a mission?" he asks with a grumble of a tone. You sigh, at least he's talking. "Repeating the plan is how you avoid mistakes. I want to make sure that every person on this team knows exactly what they should be doing," you say as you point further down the sewer. He scoffs, a smile forming beneath the balaclava. "If they don't know the plan by now, they shouldn’t be a part of the 141," he gripes.

You turn back to him, blocking the way. With a clear and concise tone, you say, "You had every opportunity to share your input regarding this mission, Lieutenant. You chose not to do so. Now, I am not going to have you and your bullshit attitude interfere with this mission or my men." He scoffs again, making a vein protrude from one of your temples. "Pull your shit together, Simon."

"Yes, Lieutenant," Ghost says in a monotone. He may not have paused or shown hesitation, but he most definitely was bothered by the use of his first name. His eyes peer right over your head, looking past you and into the darkness of the sewer. Whether you like it out not, you are known to intermingle with your coworkers. Particularly, the one's that impress you or have given you a helpful skill that you haven't learned yet. But never one has that impacted your work, your mission. Not until now. You might need to rethink the dating coworkers.

You check in with yourself. You can immediately note the raise in blood pressure. How anger is building beneath your sternum with every glance of him. You cannot, will not risk your team. You needed to calm down. "One second," you say as you walk back and past him. You land your hand against the cold metal railing again, hoping the shocking sensation would ground you. You take a deep breath through your nose, closing your eyes, and breathing out through your mouth.

Suddenly, you feel gentle hands upon your upper biceps. They rub up and down, creating warmth. You continue your breathing, letting these hands carry your weight. "We can't lose any of them, Simon," you whisper with your head still forward. Your hand rests upon his right. "I have worked with these men for years," Ghost answers cooly. "You don't need to worry about them."

You take a deep, yet shaky breath. Your shoulders practically raising to your ears as you do. "I can't lose another soldier," you whisper. And in that moment, you reveal your biggest secret. The most classified piece of intel found on your record. Your little mistake cost the life of your friend, your comrade - Sarah.

You haven't led a mission since, despite your success record. But she will never leave your mind. She lives there now, constantly reminding you not to lose another soldier on your watch again. Not to put them in a tricky spot where they get captured and become KIA.

Arms collapse around you. A chin rests at the top of your shoulder. Your head leans against a temple. "I've lost people too," his voice whispers. "But we learn from those situations. I know I will never let what happened to my men happen to any others." He slowly releases the embrace. Your breathing steadies. "And I know you won't either, Aero," he says softly as he steps away from you.

Another deep breath and you raise your gun. You spin around and gesture to move forward. He follows you without delay. You raise your left wrist as you speak into the coms channel. “Moving in,” you say as you quickly bring that hand to steady your gun. Ghost’s steps slightly behind you.

You find yourself at a T. You can move straight or go right. You decide to go right as it is closer to the base’s direction. You lightly land yourself against the wall as you peer around the corner, gun first. “Clear,” you call out.

In steady formation, you and Ghost side step in tandem as you make your way down the hall. A soft ripple of water with each step of your boot. Your clothes black, seemingly disappearing amongst the darkness. Your shirt light weight, but with heavy cargo pants. Your kevlar vest thick against your chest.

Ghost pulls your attention. His head nods towards a door hidden within columns of the sewer. Light glows in a straight line underneath. No movement. He places himself at the left of the door. You move to cover the right.

On Ghost’s count, he kicks the door in and you move forward with your gun leading the way. Two hostiles playing cards in the corner. Without hesitation, you take them out with two silent bullets. Ghost comes behind you, his gun also raised to his sight line. “Clear,” he mutters.

You quickly look around to observe the room now that it’s clear. Yellow and black propaganda posters fill the room. The Farsi indicates ties with AQ, confirming your location. Ghost nods, agreeing with your unspoken thoughts.

You move forward into the next room slowly. It’s a kitchen, complete with fridge and sink. You note the gas stove as an option if needed. As you reach the front of the room, you spot the base of stone stairs leading to the main floor.

A creek of the door and you are both pressed firmly against the left wall. Crunch, crunch, crunch of the boots clashing against the rock as someone walks down the stairs. The man walks in, careless and completely unaware. Once hitting the basement floor, he takes his left and enters the small kitchen.

You are both in his line of sight now, yet his focus is solely on the fruit within the small fridge. He bends down to grab a pomegranate from the lower shelf. With that, you swiftly move to a position where you are directly behind him. He remains unbothered as he stands and takes a bite into the juicy, red fruit.

Carefully, you pull your bowie knife from your thigh holster. You put your right hand to his mouth as your left simultaneously digs your knife in between his ribs and directly into his heart. The man immediately dies, falling against your arms. You slowly guide him to the floor. Quickly, you wipe your blade against your thigh and return it to its sheath. You draw your weapon.

“Check in,” Ghost instructs in the coms. “Ready for count,” Soap answers. “Same here,” Alejandro adds. “Listos,” Rudy says. Ghost turns to you, awaiting your cue. You nod, raising your gun once more and you start deeply into the door at the top of the stairs. “Count it, Parra,” he says as he steps beside you, raising his own gun.

“3, 2, 1,” Rudy counts down. The lights turn off immediately. The still opened fridge door’s hums die down. You and Ghost move up the stairs. Two seconds later, Alejandro’s diversion could be heard. Glass shatters and a metallic item bounces on the floor. A pop and the flash brightens the area. You could see the light in the cracks of the door. Screaming and yelling ensues.

Ghost holds his fingers up, counting down. 3, 2, 1. You barge through the door. The warehouse seems to be retrofitted to be a pool dive. Pool tables rest between you and AQ. You spot the General on a lifted platform.

Two men yell and head your way. Ghost turns to his right, takes them out flawlessly, and returns to pushing forward. You spot two hiding behind the tables. They raise their guns to spray without looking. You rush behind a stone column close to you. You pull your coms band to your face. “Ghost, locate the drone.” Quickly, you drop into a prone and shoot the legs out from under them. Once they lay on their backs, you take the kill shot.

To your right, you hear the familiar sound of suppressed shots ringing through the air. The familiar panic caused when they realize they’re in a sniper’s sights. Any remaining AQ members were taken by Los Vaqueros. “Located,” Ghost shares over the coms. You make your way to the platform.

Bullets rain down from above as the General’s closest security take cover. You kick a table over, ducking behind it as it takes the majority of the shots. You mount your gun against its surface. You take out three of six of his men with ease.

Suddenly, you catch Ghost grabbing and knifing the men as they stay distracted on you. As the number becomes four out of six, you rush towards the platform. You grab your two throwing knives and flick it into the chests of the remaining two soldiers. Finally, you land your eyes on General Osman.

With a swift movement, you rush behind him. Your knife to his throat as you hook your other arm to pin his. "Put it down, General," you demand in Farsi. Osman's breath halts as he remains silent against your body.

"Did you enjoy your massacre?" he returns in English with his thick accent. "All these men, dead for what?" With careful consideration, you decide to delay the kill just in the case that he reveals intel in his last words. However, you certainly remain unbothered by his antagonizing speech.

Ghost studies your face, attempting to understand what thoughts travel your mind. Yet, he says nothing. Is that trust you detect? His finger rests lightly against the trigger. His sights directly onto the General's face with no intent of mercy if needed.

Your eyes scan the room for any hostiles left. Los Vaqueros continue to take out the final men with Soap and Gaz as backup. "Diversions, the electricity," Osman lists off, pulling you from your thoughts. "A successful mission I assume." Rolling your eyes, you tighten your grip and press the knife into the side of his throat. His talking is becoming less and less helpful.

Clearing his throat, Osman adjusts his stance, attempting to pull from your knife. You don’t let him. "But I guess it always comes down to the snipers," he says softly. "Are yours better? Or mine?"

Two muffled shots. Civilians may not immediately recognize it, but you know that sound anywhere. Your eyes shoot towards Ghost's, who matches your widening eyes. "Soap!" he yells into his coms. No response. Your eyes fall as you attempt to accept the idea that Gaz and Soap may have been lost. Your breath is shaky and rough as you still hold the General's restraint.

Suddenly, a blast rings through the room. “RPG,” Alejandro yells as you catch a glimpse of the missle. It explodes against several columns, causing the roofing above to collapse into the room. The debris causes a wall, and you can no longer see your two men. Although stunned, your restraint is unfazed against him.

Another blast and your coms scream a high pitched ringing tone that has you digging into your ear to get your ear piece. "DDOS," Ghost yells. You drop the General's arm, whether you want to or not, with your involuntary attempt to save your hearing. Your knife still pressed tightly against his skin.

Osman took advantage of the opportunity, digging his elbow into your gut. You slice his adam’s apple. However brutal and permanent, it is not fatal. You quickly recover and rush towards him, but you are stopped. A shot rings through the air.

Your entire body goes cold, despite feeling a burning pain in your gut and lower back. Your knees start to shake, something you could not comprehend. A loud ringing is present in your ears. Maybe you didn't save your hearing in time.

Before you knew it, you are down on your knees and down again onto your side. Muffled yells appear behind you as bullets shoot over your head. You feel a rough tug against your vest. You are pulled backwards, skidding upon your bottom back down to the main floor, then the stairs and into the basement. Each step of the cold stone destroys you. You try your best to hold onto the pain, but your body demands for you to scream in response.

"Aero, Aero, keep your eyes open," you hear a familiar woman’s voice yells at you, but you could not place who it is. Another turn and you realize you’re on your way back to the sewer’s tunnels. Slowly, your cognitive abilities are returning. You look down to begin assessing yourself. Your look at your stomach, pulling the waistband of your pants down and your shirt up. The movement causes you to take harsh, hissing breaths.

You are bleeding heavily. A trail being left behind your legs. With quick breaths, you apply pressure to your wound. You bite your lip, almost to the point of ripping into it, just to keep your screams in. The placement of the shot was clearly intended to incapacitate, but not kill. Yes, they would’ve have to give you immediate medical care but their intent was surely to hold you as a POW. To interrogate you, no doubt.

Finally, you find yourself in the sewers. The water slides up your back, but you don’t have the pleasure of feeling uncomfortable. Ghost ensures that your wounds are not touched by the dirtied liquid. As you turn a corner, the hand holding your vest props you up against the wall. You groan as your chest raises and your weight distributes.

Ghost’s skulled mask appears in your view. If you didn’t know him, you would’ve thought the grim reaper was coming to bring you home. Without talking to you, he carefully inspects your wound just as you did. He then tugs against your vest’s strap to pull you off the wall. The pain is insurmountable. You yelp with eyes tightly closed.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” Ghost says hastily. “I see an exit wound. We just need to get a hold of the bleeding.” He looks down at his shirt and quickly rips at the lower hem. He lifts your hand from your stomach and places the cloth upon the wound. You wince but slowly put your hand back to pressing firmly onto the rolled ball.

This is not your first time being shot, nor will it be your last. You know there’s always a chance that you’re not going on with each and every mission. Any time you’ve been shot, you accept the idea that you will die - because that’s more likely than you getting out. God, did you wanna get out. You miss the sunlight. The trees. The grass. You hope you’ll see it again.

“Okay, I’m going to move you again,” Ghost says as he reaches for your vest. You swat him away, grumbling “no”s, doing anything to avoid the pain. “I know, darling, I know,” he coos as he pulls you off the wall. You let out a squeeze, trying desperately hard to stay silent.

He drags you behind him. His intent to bring you somewhere safer to be patched up, but your rational mind reminds you of the unlikely probability of that happening. “Ghost, please,” you whine as he pulls against your strap. “Simon!” you yell. You feel a slight hesitation but he continues on. “We’re not stopping,” he says as he continues moving forward. “Just go,” you demand weakly. “Make sure they’re okay.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Ghost spits out. The words, they take so much energy. The sensations of the water, the blood, the gun shot slowly fade away. You mutter to yourself, “Save them. Save them. Save them.” By the third “save them,” your voice disappeared. The hand pressure against your wound becomes weaker and weaker. Your chin slumps against the strap he pulls at.

Upon feeling your cheek on his hand, Ghost pulls you to a wall again. The palms of his hands immediately, lightly slapping your cheeks. “No, no, no,” he pleads. “Stay with me, Aero.” You could hear the worry in his voice. Emotions do not come natural for him, and yet you’ve seen so much of it in less than 24 hours. “Save them,” you whisper before your eyes close and you accept your fate.

• listos: ready

• ddos: small emp attack, distributed denial-of-service

note: insert maniacal laughter here! thank you for reading. i hope you enjoyed! we have a few more parts, feel free to follow along on the series' masterlist! have a happy & safe pride!

comment and reblog if you'd like to join the taglist! ♥️💀

taglist: @hoosier-daddy01 @hypernovaxx @edenstarkk, @confuseddipshit

• nav • no-no plagiarism • one shot • collection of pride pairings •

#simon ghost riley #simon riley #simon riley fanfic #simon riley x reader #simon riley x oc #ghost mw2 #ghost cod #ghost x gn reader #ghost x reader #ghost x oc #ghost x y/n #ghost call of duty #ghost fanfic series #ghost fanfic #ghost fanfiction #gender neutral pride #gender neutral y/n #gender neutral reader #gender netural #kyle gaz garrick #alejandro x rodolfo #ghost smut #Simon Riley x you #simon riley smut #pride 2023 #pride

[miqomonkly]

5. "I can't move."

"Look out!"

The shout was almost too late; so focused had I'lyanna been on pummeling the coeurl's side that she had failed to notice the levin charge building across its gargantuan whiskers. At the last second, she made a dash to get away, sprinting like it was--

Schzzk!

The pain was something else. Every inch of her skin tingled, like millions of tiny daggers were stabbing her over and over again; this was almost drowned by the sudden sensation of every muscle in her body contracting all at once. Legs, arms, lungs, heart - nothing was untouched.

All of this lasted for a second before it was replaced by a total and complete numbness throughout her form; caught in her sprint, I'lyanna tumbled over herself, scuffing and scraping along the ground until she she at last came to a stop.

Careless, she chided herself. The coeurl was far from defenseless; she'd known that and still charged in like an ox, hoping to end the fight before it had begun. Now, she shuddered and rasped as she fought to regain control of her body. She had to get up. Had to -

Even before she could see it, the Miqo'te knew she was in danger. The thuding was paws on the ground, a low growl crescendoing to a roar. Claws out stretched, jaws wide...

Yalms.

Fulms...

"RAARGH!!"

The second roar of a far less beastial combatant pierced her ears, followed by the anguished yelp of the monster before her. It tumbled out of her view, replaced by the poised form of the Midlander who'd intercepted it. Her axe swung round once more before she squared off against the beast.

"Derniergeant!" Minnow hollered, bracing to charge again, "Keep it off balance! Don't give it a chance to rest!"

"As you say!" came the soft, measured reply as several cracks of black powder resounded through the chamber. The Marauder rushed forward, another war cry upon her lips, as the smaller figure of a Lalafell dashed into Lyanna's view.

"Hold on, my dear!" Tijin urged as he slid next to his fallen comrade. "I'll have you up in a jiffy."

Would that warmth could fill her breast at the bravery and work of her friends; but at that moment, all she could feel was the numbness of unchecked levin surging through her body.

"I... can't... move..." she managed to stammer.

"Fear not!" The Conjurer proclaimed with the wave of his wand. "I've moved a far greater crowd than you! This shouldn't be but a trifle."

Tijin's jocular assertions were met with a loud groan as his esuna took effect upon the Miqo'te. Along with the warmth of relieved tension from paralysis, the registration of several bruises and at least one minor laceration flooded her renewed senses. Thankfully, these would pass as a minor bit of healing came quite quickly afterward, which gave I'lyanna plenty of time to retort, "Is that really the best you can come up with on the spot?"

"In fairness, I'm not normally fighting for my life as I jest," assured the Lalafell. "Much less so four lives at once." As he spoke, he twirled away and thrust his wand toward the threat in question, unlesshing a blast of Aero in the process.

It would not be for a long while that I'lyanna would look back on these memories and laugh. These memories of a simpler time, where all they thought to do was make the world a better place. Where they stood by each other's side as strangers, and yet as close as any friend or family they had ever known.

But today, as she regained her footing and faced down their adversary; as Minnow leapt upon the coeurl's back and hacked at it's spine; as Derniergeant hammered round after round into its hide; as Tijin mocked and heckled it from afar, all while protecting and aiding his comrades...

Today, all she could think about was picking up her knuckles and giving this monster a piece of her mind!

This was SO much fun to write! I'm so sorry it took me so long to answer this, but thank you for giving me a chance to just write. I look forward to doing more of these in the future!

#ffxiv #final fantasy xiv #ff14 #miqo'te #elezen #lalafell #hyur #midlander hyur #final fantasy 14 #ffxiv oc #my ocs #Minnow Merigyem #Tijin Denijin #I'lyanna Zahn #Derniergeant Nolbecoeur

[dogmomwrites]

Find the Words!

I'm getting caught up again! Thank you for the tag, @k--havok! I'm gonna pass this one along with soft tags to @winglesswriter, @zmwrites, @writting-in-blood, and @inkspellangel, as well as keeping it an open tag for anyone else!

Your words will be declare, remember, warn, exhaustion, and effort. If you can't find one, leave a fun fact about your WIP, OCs, or writing process!

My words were head, heart, mind, rib, and hand. I took these excerpts from books 3 and 4 of my fantasy series

Head “Raavi,” Fangsong said, his voice taking on a warning edge, more father than councilman.

“We broke in and took what we needed.”

“By all the gods.” The words came out as a heartfelt groan as his head went to his hands.

There was another silence, this time broken by Pipkin. “I’ve always admired his honesty.”

There was a snort from Lightscar. “Well, Russ, you didn’t raise a liar.”

His only response was another groan, this time without any coherent words.

Heart “Prince Zurkhov’s daughter was eighteen, and took offense to me being so young. She insisted on meeting before allowing the plans to continue to—as I’m told—see if she could suffer me. Turns out she couldn’t. After she forced the plans to be called off—”

“How did she do that?”

“She said she would stab herself through the heart if she was married to me.”

There was a very undignified snort from Jethro, who looked up when they both turned to him. He lifted his furry shoulders in a shrug. “Sorry, it was funny.”

Mind They were awakened late in the afternoon by Saben. Aero grumbled and pulled the thin blanket up over his head.

“The girls wanted to throw a bucket of water on you,” Saben said, amused. “You are welcome I overheard their plan. But come, there is something you two might want to see.”

“What is it?” Aero asked. He lowered the blanket just enough to peek over the edge of it, but made no move to get up.

“An island.”

Sharing a curious look with Nuka, Aero considered staying in bed. He could tell from Nuka’s sleepy thoughtfulness that he was of a similar mind.

Rib Bruises colored his entire left side. His ribs had been broken for sure. The center of the bruise was livid, making it clear he’d been slammed against jutting stone. Bright blue and purple spread out from the center of the bruise, disappearing around his back and under the bandage on his chest. Several red spots lined his hip where one of the creatures had tried to bite him.

Smaller cuts showed where the killing claws on their hind legs had grazed him while the creatures strove to bring him down. Every laceration had been stitched closed with care and precision, but the tiny lines of white thread did nothing to hide the severity of the wounds.

Neal grimaced at the sight. “How are you not dead?” he asked, making Caleb grin.

Hand “You can, of course,” Alaric said, “have a moment to eat before she makes you draw up any of these designs of yours.”

Blue hesitated. “Maybe I should finish designing them,” he said in an undertone to Seen, who laughed.

“Think first, speak later,” he said, clapping a hand on his shoulder and walking with him. “We all keep telling you—when will you learn?”

“Probably never,” Blue grumbled with a sigh.

#find the words #find the word tag #tag game #writer games #open tag #open to everyone #my writing #yavs writing #castle in the ice #castle in the ice series

[hibiscus-tome]

FFXIV Write 2022, day 13: confluence

The simple wind spell holds for a moment, before it splutters into sparks of light.

Rhea wiggles her fingers, as if that alone will bring the wind back. The whispers at the back of her mind are as loud as ever — deafeningly so, and threatening to tip her over into a migraine when they refuse to shut up — but at least they’re present, and that’s far more that she can say for her time on the First.

Everything is as it should be. Between the confluence of her soul with Ardbert’s and the primordial light safely purged from her being, everything should have reverted back to what it once was. She’s fine.

“Let me try that again,” she says, resolutely ignoring the way her voice wavers with the pressure that’s started to build in her sinuses and behind her eyes.

Across from her, Raya-O sits cross-legged, with her elbow digging into her thigh and her head resting in the palm of her hand. “I don’t get it,” she says. “This is basic stuff! There’s no way Brother E-Sumi would’ve sent you over to me if you were so shaky on the fundamentals, so unless your aether’s changed somehow—”

“She quite literally just told us that her aether changed in a very significant way,” Kan-E interjects.

“But she also said that it changed back,” Raya-O counters.

“Pure speculation.”

“Sure, if that’s what we’re calling a renowned aetherologist’s assessment.”

”Y’shtola did say that I’m not in danger of transforming into a sin eater anymore,” Rhea interjects.

Next to her, Brother E-Sumi gently pats her on the knee. “Be that as it may,” he says, very calmly, “the fact of the matter is that the scope of your abilities has been significantly altered by your journey on the First.” Then, he shoots a stern frown to Kan-E. “So I would kindly ask for your patience,” then he turns his frown to Raya-O, “as well as the poise and decorum expected of a white mage, as we sort this out.”

Kan-E recoils at that, her expression abashed; Rhea has to stifle a laugh, lest she be on the receiving end of Brother E-Sumi’s reprimand as well. Next to Kan-E, Raya-O averts her gaze downward, her face nearly as red as her hair. “Yes, Brother E-Sumi,” the two of them say in unison.

He turns back to Rhea, then, once again patting her on the knee. “Try again. Don’t hold back; we will be ready to step in if need be.”

With a deep breath, Rhea closes her eyes once more. Focuses on the voices at the back of her head, drags them into the forefront. They’re the same voices she’s heard all her life — a bit louder, perhaps, when she’s long gotten used to the First’s silence.

She conjures Aero once more and everything is normal, expected. The wind feels as it should; the voices fall into a quiet, contented hum.

(The sin eater runs its blade through Tesleen. Halric stares on, impassive as ever, as she transforms into the very same before him.)

“Focus, Rhea,” says Raya-O, gently. “You’ve got it.”

The wind threatens to spiral out of control, but it’s not so bad that Rhea can’t rein it back in — so she does. What matters today is endurance, not strength. It doesn’t have to be a big spell — just one that lasts long enough that it can be contained.

(Darkness cleaves the sky in half. All is as it should be, as Vauthry’s aether dissipates and flows into her. Then something splinters apart — pain, sparking in her chest as light floods back into the sky — the Crystal Exarch — no, G’raha Tia, she knew it was him the entire time, even when he refused to confirm it — claiming the light and promising that he will carry it to his grave.)

That same pain sparks in her chest, then. Where it becomes nonsensical is when none of the Lightwardens’ aether is left. There is nothing tearing her apart but herself.

Raya-O grips her arm. “Rhea, you need to calm down.”

(She doesn’t want to die. She was ready to give her life for this cause, ever since it became clear that that’s precisely what the others have been doing all this time they’ve been stranded there — but she doesn’t want to die. Not when they’re all together again. Not when everything is going right, for once.)

“Kan-E,” says Brother E-Sumi in a low voice. “Watch for Voidsent.”

(A shower of meteors falls from the sky. The Ancients flee, tripping over their robes as they shove their way past the warped, twisted beasts that materialize against all the logic that rules their beloved creation magic.)

—the spell splinters apart in her hands — dissipating into a shower of sparks of light.

Her breath catches in her throat; the pressure behind her eyes builds into tears that she’s going to be powerless against, in a short while.

On the ground, just outside the door, there’s the smoldering remains of an imp. Kan-E stands a little ways away, her fingers coiled tightly around her staff. Raya-O merely stares, her eyes wide with the same kind of fear that had flooded Ryne’s, before they marched up those stairs in Amaurot. Brother E-Sumi sighs deeply, bowing his head.

“I’m sorry,” she says in a shaking whisper. “I don’t know why I…”

Raya-O shakes your head. “Don’t apologize,” she says, firmly. “This is not your fault.”

Very gently, Brother E-Sumi pats Rhea on the knee. “We’ll stop here for today,” he says. “Get some rest. We can always try again tomorrow.”

Kan-E’s eyes narrow with the closest thing to anger that Rhea‘s seen from her in a long, long time — but it’s obvious all the same that none of it is directed at her.

#ffxiv #ffxivwrite2022 #ffxivwrite #warrior of light #kan-e-senna #raya-o-senna #e-sumi-yan #patch 5.1 #fic

[ainarosewood]

The Cause

FFxivWrite2022 Day 13 Prompt Confluence

Aunei had to agree with the young Hyur this spot was definitely where the corruption had taken hold.  The question was where exactly?  Closing her eyes the Miqo’te cast her aetheric senses out trying to find where all the energies came together.  Where it all coalesced, within moments she pinpointed it as Sylphie pointed out the wrongness in the sky.

Realizing it had been made the Voidsent burst forth from its aetheric hiding place and the Keeper anticipating it stood directly between it and the young conjurer her cane drawn ready for battle. 

 Staring it down with a level gaze she stated, “You have this one chance to return from whence you came voidsent.  This forest is no place for your kind.”

The beast simply snarled and lobbed a conjured piece of stone at her in response.  Without hesitation she countered it with an aero spell and was surprised as a second one joined hers from behind.  Turning slightly she saw Sylphie her own can drawn staring in surprise.  Nodding to the girl she readied herself and directly engaged the beast.

The fight was drawn out which was technically expected given that Conjury was not known for destructive force.  It was longer still for the beast seemed to call forth corruption that it had sewn into the soil and they had to cleanse that before continuing to prevent it from recouping from its wounds.

Finally the day was theirs and the voidsent dissipated and returned to the void banished from the forest.  Aunei did one last sense around casting a quick cleanse around them to ensure the thing couldn't take root again and then started in fear as Sylphie fell to the ground.

Fearing the girl injured she rushed to her aid only for the young Hyur to burst out laughing before laying on her back asking questions.  Aunei sighed in relief and simply shrugged in response to the girl’s queries.

The earth had always felt warm to her, the breeze gentle and sweet.  Even the thunderstorms that would rack Thavnair seemed to feel to Aunei something of beauty not danger.  So it was difficult for her to imagine nature feeling any different.  After Sylphie healed her together they made their way back to Gridania knowing full well Brother E’Sumi’Yan would probably have a few choice words for the pair.

But all in all Aunei knew they had done the right thing, had they left the Voidsent be it would have continued to corrupt the soil and gain strength.  It could have reached a point that even the guild as a whole would have found it difficult to purge from the forest.

#FFxivWrite2022 #oc Aunei Metha #miqo'te #keeper of the moon #aether data center #midgardsormr

[snnbnny]

Bunnyyyyyy congrats on 150 followers!! 🥰🥳

also shut UP your double date follower event is so stinkin' cute, im melting 😭

If it's not too much trouble, I'd love to see what a double date would be like with Ushi and one of your men! Obvs you know my name and pronouns lol. I think the only other thing to add is that I'm scared of heights and I'm allergic to coconut.

My relationship with Ushi is basically Big Man has to take care of Smol Girl who wants to do everything by herself and be a bad-ass but she gets scared when she has to smash a bug or order food 😂 Yeh that sounds about right lol.

I don't know why but I also see us wearing plaid. Well, he's in plaid and I stole one of his plaids because its comfy 😅

Can't wait to see what you come up with! 🥰

a/n: Hi rae! tysm for your constant uplifting support you have no idea how much you mean to me! you never fail to make me smile- so glad to have you as a moot.

↳˗ˏˋRAE AND W. USHIJIMA + AERO AND K. SAKUSAˊˎ˗ ↴

->OUTFITS:

You

Ushijima

Me

Sakusa

->OVERVIEW: The calm and rather large boyfriends with their small unhinged partners is the total theme here. Now I feel as though it's me and you that are friends and set these kind of things up more so then our men because to be honest they aren't the closest. But the totally bond over our tiny chaotic yet can't do most things by ourself.

->THE DATE WILL CONSIST OF....: I dunno why but I've decided this is more of a late fall date by our outfits- But maybe a more simple double date of going to a small coffee shop and chatting for like an hour before walking threw some cities main street and window shopping (I say window shopping but they so would just buy us anything, perks of dating a pro volleyball player LOL) and maybe after we stop at a food truck and eat whatever food on benches. Is this not as systematic and formal as our men would like?? Yeah totally- but it's perfect for us so it's perfect for them.

↳-PEER INTO THIS WINDOW TO SEE A MOMENT FROM THE DAY-༉‧₊˚✧

----wooooooooooosh---- (my pov)

"WATCH OUT YOU ARE GOING TO-" Before Sakusa could finish his warning, like he predicted I fell off of the curb I was walking a top like a balance beam and fell into you who was watching me while trying to hold back a laugh. "Fall again... I can't take you anywhere, can I. Rae are you alright?"

Me and you had both nearly fallen to the ground if Wakatoshi hadn't caught us both with a gruff huff, the men were behind us a couple steps previously but with his quick reactions we were lucky your fiancé had saved us. He was giving me the stink eye a little, I didn't have to look at him to know that one. I swear he thinks I'm nothing but a bad influence and safety hazard around you.

"Yeah! Yeah I'm ok- Are you ok Jules?" You spent only a second looking at Ushi then Omi before you frantically turned to me as I wobbled to a standing position.

"All good in this neighborhood-" I gave you a thumbs up and a smile, despite my reassurance I teetered back like I was going to go backwards before Kiyoomi steadied me. "Sorry I nearly crushed you!! Thought you would have gotten the hint that standing near me while I do shit like that is self endangerment!"

No one found my joke funny, three sets of eyes poked at my form who's smile wavered a little. You looked nothing but concerned with wide eyes and mouth open in a little o shape, Ushijima looked at me with his deadpan expression per usual but I could see the twinge of confused regarding my mental state, and Kiyoomi simply shook his head slightly with a look of love and concern and kissed the top of my head as he wrapped his strong arms around me.

༉‧₊˚✧and the window fades to darkness

link to the event

#snnybnny's 150 follower event #rae's burough #im a lil chaotic problem we all know

[weatheredpileoftomes]

elements of style

Post-Shadowbringers, ~950 words. Implicit spoilers through the end of 5.0 as well as less-vague ones for whm quests through 80 and blm quests through 52ish.

The problem with Zhai’a isn’t that he thinks he’s right about everything, it’s that he thinks there’s only one way to be right.

Stillglade Fane is the same as ever. Majha isn’t sure how she feels about that.

It’s nice to go back, all the same. It’s nice to sit in a room that hums with the passing flow of water, quiet, in the dark. The earth surrounds her, cradles her. It’s familiar in a way she hadn’t known she would miss.

“Have you come to check on us?” Sylphie asks. “We’ve been practicing, haven’t we, Gatty?”

Gatty nods enthusiastically. “Alaqa, show her your regenerative spell!”

Alaqa, looking sheepish, pulls out her wand and casts. It is warm, as Gatty had said—faint and gentle, but still nice.

“That’s good,” Majha says. It’s…fine, she thinks? Regenerative magicks are at the very fringes of conjury, easier to teach a chocobo than a person who’s been trained away from white magic. Still, Alaqa and Sylphie were self-taught, and she’d trained Gatty herself. The three of them can probably manage it.

She’s glad it’s E-Sumi-Yan’s problem and not hers, though.

He’s actually the one she’s here to see, not the girls, but she doesn’t want to brush them off. They talk about simple things, real things—earth and wind and water, parts of the world itself. Gold and green and deep blue. Soil under Majha’s hands, anchoring a tree; rocks and cliffs and canyons. A summer breeze, a spring gale, a gust of wind at the top of a hill strong enough to lean into. Rivers and waterfalls, ponds warmed by the sun and the cool shock of the ocean.

She turns the shapes of the spells over in her mind as they talk, each spell distinct: Stone, Aero, Fluid Aura. They have colors, they have textures and scents. They’re real.

When she can, she bids them farewell and slips over to where E-Sumi-Yan is lecturing a group of novices. While she’s hovering at the edge of the group, not wanting to interrupt, she spots a familiar flowered cane above a pair of dark ears.

Thinks he’s too good to associate with her, does he.

“Zhai’a?” she asks, pretending to be surprised. “Zhai’a Nelhah?”

He turns, and she can see the moment he recognizes her by the way his tail bristles like a porcupine. He looks around so wildly that he’s probably drawing the very attention he wants to avoid. “Uh, I—what—who? Why?”

It would be funny if it weren’t so insulting. It’s funny anyway, really, though Majha doesn’t really feel like laughing about it. “Fancy meeting you again here,” she says instead.

She can see the moment Zhai’a abandons his Pretend I’ve never met this woman plan. “What are you doing here?” He manages to make the whisper sound like a shriek. “I told you I can’t be seen associating with…”

Majha folds her arms and waits.

“With, with—people like you!”

“Seekers of the Sun?” she asks innocently. His eyes should be even better than hers in the dark, and he’s wearing his glasses, but it’s true that the staff she plans to name Kelesis, slung carefully across her back, didn’t look much like a conjurer’s cane even now. If she can ever get it to work right…well, that’s for the future.

Zhai’a’s mouth works, but no sound comes out.

“Redheads?”

He looks around again, even more wildly, and hisses “Black mages. What are you doing here? Did you just come to torment me? Did that witch Lalai send you?”

Majha lets herself grin. Her fangs aren’t as impressive as his, only a little pointier than a Hyur’s, but from the look on his face they might as well be six ilms long and dripping fresh blood. “Actually, I had an appointment to meet with E-Sumi-Yan.”

“For…what?” Zhai’a darts a glance at E-Sumi-Yan, then around at the other conjurers in the room. “I—I did not… I thought…”

She unslings Kelesis and he recoils, shrinking back against the wall with a look of utter panic that only strengthens as the head of the cane begins to glow. She’s regaining her sense of the elements, but she hasn’t lost the new strength in healing she’s learned, or the stranger ways that manifests.

If she can just concentrate…

The wings burst from her shoulders with a hot-cold tingling like mint oil. Now people are looking, drawn to the pale gold glow and the rainbows shimmering off her wings like they’re caught in spray from a waterfall.

The air around her feels cleaner, lighter, more vibrant with aether ready to answer her call. It’s pure white magic, old and powerful, and rare besides. She’s seen Kan-E-Senna’s wings—they’re blue-white like the Light magick Majha is unlearning, or like the shimmering shell of Asylum or the dying burst of a conjured lily’s aether. The Elder Seedseer is also less tired by the aetheric manifestation than Majha is. Still, even this brief moment should be long enough.

Zhai’a is gaping.

“X’majha, please,” E-Sumi-Yan calls from across the room. “I’ll be with you in a moment. You’re distracting the novices.”

Already the perfect moment is fading, slipping away.

Majha leans a little more heavily on Kelesis as her wings dissolve, and gives Zhai’a another, sharper grin. “Heard any interesting workplace gossip lately?”

“I,” Zhai’a sputters. “You.”

“Me,” Majha agrees, not actually sure what she’s agreeing with but knowing the sunny tone she’s put on will make him twitch. “I’ll be sure to say hello again next time I come by to see my own guildmaster, though!”

Zhai’a, leaning slumped against the wall, just whimpers faintly.

Good enough for now.

#my fic #my fic: x'majha #my fic: x'majha: gen #my fic: 5.x #x'majha linh #zhai'a nelhah #whm squad ensemble

[kessielrg]

[MMX] Future Me Hates Me: Part 5

Summary: After stumbling upon a Light Capsule, and having it erroneously refer to her as Kalinka, Aero seeks to figure out just what her family connection is to Doctor Light. Meanwhile, after the death of Iris, Zero vows to absolve himself of his past. However, as Aero becomes the target of a Maverick, Zero is forced into finding that not all bridges can easily be burned…

Rating: K+

word Count: 1,720 words

Part: 1, 2, 3, 4, [5]

. . . .

Aero felt weird having to step around the corpses of the Reploids Zero had taken out. She gave each and every one an apology- then right after reminding herself that they had intentions of forcing her to comply. So she opted to mentally spit on them. May they rest in peace, but that’s what they get for going after someone who knows a pretty strong Maverick Hunter.

“I  can’t believe the only thing stopping them was the password.” Zero thoughtfully said out loud. “Never minding the fact they could have just hacked it, what on earth could it have been that they couldn’t guess it before we got here?”

“Do you even know what kalinka is?” Aero mused as she entered her great-grandmother’s birthday.

“It’s the name of your grandmother’s mother. You told me that.”

“Yes, but it’s also a dance set to traditional music bearing the same name. I also think there’s a movie called it too.”

“That’s just stupid. Who would guess those dates before ever thinking about your descendant?”

Aero turned to Zero as the vault unlocked. She was grinning as she asked, “Are you really going to tell them that now?”

Zero took a glance at the dead Reploids and soon shook his head. Aero laughed as she opened the vault door- Zero helping a bit when it seemed to get stuck on its own old hinges.

The vault was all but empty. A few shelves lining the walls had some old paper documents that looked quite worn and yellowed. But near the dead center of the vault was a familiar capsule. It came to life the moment both Aero and Zero entered the vault. From its center, the green wall familiar in all the capsules started to project an image of an equally familiar man. Zero tensed slightly at its form.

“Hello, descendant of Mikhail Cossack.” the capsule’s hologram said to them in slightly archaic Russian.

“Oh…” Aero sheepishly mumbled. “I… I’m not that good with Russian. The language I use now is fine, if you’re able to copy that.”

The hologram nodded, then repeated in a language they better understood, “Hello, descendant of Mikhail Cossack. I am sure that you have many questions after finding me here. How would you like to proceed?”

Zero and Aero gave each other a glance.

“I have a few, actually.” Aero admitted. “If you’re able to answer them, or don’t have a timer, or something.”

“We have all the time in the world, young one.”

“Right…” Aero mumbled under her breath. She then gave a shake of her head before addressing the hologram proper again. “A few days ago, another one of these weird capsules called me Kalinka- my great-grandmother’s name. One of the things I wanted to know was why. Why would one of these capsules anticipate a member of the Cossack family? The goon we just fought outside made it seem like no one could activate one of these capsules, so why could I?”

“An understandable request.” the hologram nodded. “Relaying video data from February 20XX.”

“Well, this ought to be interesting.” Zero mused, folding his arms.

The hologram lost its form before taking on the shape of a large rectangle. Becoming a short of screen, there was some static before giving way to the image of a very tired old man. Plump, sporting a white beard, and almost resembling Santa Claus in his own right, there before Zero and Aero was one of the last video diaries of Doctor Thomas Light.

“This is a message for Kalinka Cossack, or any of her descendants that were able to gain access to their family storage.” Doctor Light said in the recording. “I’m sure you will have many questions, and I’m afraid I can only explain one of them; why you are able to access these capsules.

“You see, for the past decade or so, I have been trying to tap into the ‘X Factor’ of what could bridge the gap between robots and humans. As of this week, I believe my final product, Mega Man X, is ready to undergo his testing. My health has declined quite a bit in this time. I know I will never be able to see him when the tests are finished. But that’s alright. There are many in this world who never knew their own parents, or even a family at all.

“But you, Kalinka, should be there to help him awaken. If not you, then I pray for a family member who embodies your unique spirit. X will need that kind of encouragement. It will help him grow to be the symbol of hope I know him to be. This will be an incredible responsibility, Kalinka- but I believe in you. I believe that the two of you could be friends, just like you were with Rock and Roll.

“I’ve created capsules like this one to help X should the time call for it. Only three are able to open them; X, yourself, and a potentially third that may land me in trouble should he choose a path of darkness. Knowing his creator, however, I do wish he is able to change for the better given the proper opportunity. This was done so that no one is able to abuse the power within X- the power to adapt, to endlessly grow, to feel and think just like a human. There is a reason for the testing I wish for X to go through. To that extent, only ones deemed worthy can fully access all the information I have left to offer this world. Consider it a modern Prometheus conundrum. If the fire of knowledge is in the wrong hands, it could burn more than just wood.

“As much as I need to explain further, that is all the time I have for now, Kalinka. Please know that it is still your choice to care for X. You never have to accept the armors within the capsules if you wish. They will always be locked to others passing by for that reason. All I desire is that you remember that, even in loss, we are all still together. Best wishes, Doctor Thomas Light.”

With that, the screen went back to static and the hologram once more took the form of Doctor Light.

“Why build X, then?” Zero questioned. He didn’t even have the time to stop himself. “Doctor Light already had a legacy. He’s the reason why we have half the technology we do- even before X.”

“Nothing can replace the heart of a loved one.” the hologram calmly told him. “Legacies are more than the patents with your name on them, or stories told far after your passing. They are the people you love and dedicated time to. The ones who remember you long after you took your last breath. This was why X was to be made- to be loved and loved in return by the people who matter to him most.”

Zero immediately scrunched his face in disgust.

“Serves me right for asking a stupid question…” he mumbled to himself.

“And Kalinka?” Aero quietly spoke up. “She didn’t find X. This whole bunker had been abandoned for decades. I didn’t even know about this place until a day ago. What was her, my family’s, connection to Doctor Light, and why did it just… stop?”

“I can not answer this fully,” the hologram told her. “However, do know that there was a great time of loss before Mega Man X underwent his safety protocols. It is possible that she chose not to take on the responsibility, to better preserve the memories of those she loved.”

“So she ignored it.” Aero decided. She gave a dark side glance to Zero before adding, “That sounds familiar.”

“Perhaps,” the hologram agreed, “At the same time, grief is not linear. Kalinka may have intended to take X in, on her own time, but that time became overshadowed by other responsibilities. Becoming a mother, perhaps. Medical emergencies or other unexpected costs that barred one to suddenly care for a new housemate. She may have even chosen not to in the end. As per Doctor’s Light wish, it was her choice in the end. Is this all you wish to know?”

“Yeah.” Aero agreed. She looked a bit smaller now, as if a small, terrifying thought came to her.

“I don’t have any other questions either.” Zero agreed. His body had become more stiff. He would be considering the hologram’s words for awhile.

“Very well then,” the hologram nodded. The capsule slowly went through the motions of being placed on standby again- almost as if it were waiting for the duo to change their mind. Once it was collapsed again, the vault filled with an eerie silence.

“We should start heading back.” Zero eventually said. Aero’s only reply was a small nod.

. . .

To her surprise, Zero joined Aero on the flight home. He even paid extra out of pocket to sit next to her! Aero went out of her way to annoy him for the first two or so hours. It was a comfort to have him at his familiar level of grump again.

“So we’re never telling X about the capsule in the vault, right?” Aero asked as she tried to find the most irritating method to open a bag of peanuts.

“Nope.” Zero affirmed. “It’s not like X has any interest in them to begin with. They find him.”

“Fair enough.” Aero nodded. She hummed a little as she popped each peanut into her mouth, one at a time. With each chew, her mind was brought back to something in particular.

“Hey, Zero?”

“Yes?”

“You know how you feel for Iris right now? One day, it’s going to happen to X too.”

Zero held onto the airplane seat’s armrest a bit tighter. 

“I’ve been aware.” he admitted in a dark voice.

“When that time comes, I want you to do something for me. Because X… X is different. He won’t have someone to tell him to just cry and keep moving. He’ll only have you.”

Zero turned around enough to give her a hard glare.

“What are you getting at?” he questioned.

Aero then looked Zero in the eye, and through a pained smile, she told him what to do.

#megaman #Mega Man #rockman #mega man x #megaman x #rockman x #fanfiction #fanfic #fan fiction #fan fic #zero #mmx zero #mega man oc #megaman oc #megaman fanfiction #mega man fanfiction

[aeroknot]

maybe i fall for the most obscure ships to hear less bad opinions

#if no one is talking about your ship period then no one is saying something unhinged <smart guy meme> #aero laughs with herself #bullshipping #fandom bullshark #shipping culture

[razorblade180]

Interdimensional Moms: Bonus

Part 4 here<-

After many tears and tissue boxes, all members of team RWBY had finally stopped crying. Blake was the best off with her eyes a little red while Ruby was the complete opposite. The girl’s face was still rather red and her eyes were puffy. She hadn’t even completely stopped sniffling yet; much like tear marked partner. Yang on the other hand rested her head on the table. She had cried hard enough to giver herself a minor headache. She was completely drained.

Yang:Ugh, this blows! I thought this was gonna be a fun learning experience.

Blake:We definitely learned. It just so happens we had to poke at some.... extremely sensitive topics.

Weiss:I’m all for looking inward and self reflection but I’ve had my fill.

Ruby:Same. Should’ve kept the summary light.

Yang:No, I’m glad you got that off your chest. We just need a way to lighten the mood.

Blake:.....I kicked Weiss’s butt in a tournament.

RWY:......What?

Blake:During the time spent training for Salem, another tournament was held between the schools. It had team matches and singles. I kicked Weiss’s butt in my fourth round. It was a good day.

Weiss:How is that lightening mood!?

Blake:Listen, it was a big deal! I never thought I was gonna win the whole tournament but I really wanted to beat you. I love you but your head gets a little big when you’re on a roll for too long; plus I just really didn’t want to lose. I always felt a bit of rivalry between us.

Yang:Hehe, is that you’re way of saying “It would look bad to lose to a Schnee?”

Blake:Well it would!

Ruby:Hehehe.

Yang:Wait, does that mean we went back to school?

Blake:Yeah. It was pretty comforting. There was definitely a lot left to learn.

Yang:Weird. School kinda faded into the background.

Ruby:I went back to school. We all did actually. It was fast tracked by roughly a year but it was fun. We all got to pose in caps and gowns.

Weiss:Damn! I should’ve went back just for that. Unfortunately I was busy making rent and learning how to properly preheat a oven.

Yang:It’s like two buttons.

Weiss:Gas stove, and six years out of date.

Yang:Awww, you had to learn the hard way. I’m surprised and thankful you never left the gas on.

Weiss:There’s an alarm for that. Also I’m not irresponsible! Anyways, I mentioned similar tournaments earlier. I didn’t participate much but enough old videos of me in them were enough for to really light a fire under my kids. For awhile I was a bit concerned that they were just following a trend but they really love it. They used to always go around playing like knights when they were tiny.

Ruby:Carmine was a little different. She definitely always tried doing things I could but nothing got the girl jumping like seeing Yang’s horses or new ballet shoes. There wasn’t a morning when I didn’t hear a vase fall over or seeing her spin like a top. Carmine still hums some old routines when she isn’t paying attention.

Yang:Not too many memories of Yujin when she was pint size. But I do remember that wild child always loved using my bandannas for everything! Napkins, capes, ropes; anything but an actual bandanna. I used to get a bit upset with the napkin one but she’d always look at me with her big eyes and crazy hair. I never stayed mad.

Weiss:Softie.

Yang:She was like a pudgy puff ball! Fat cheeks and wholesome smiles. Ah! So adorable!

Weiss:I used to always have at least one of my kids on my hip when I was out and about. I think the media has a magazine amount of pictures of me at the park kissing my babies. Summer liked tummy rubs. She’d never go to sleep without one. Some nights I’d sing too but start to doze off so Jaune would have to take over.

Yang:*smiles* Speaking of Jaune.....

Ruby:No.

Yang:You don’t even know what I was-

Ruby:Were you about to suggest we compare our Jaune’s in the bedroom?

Yang:*red*......Well not just the bedroom! What’s the harm!? I just wanna know if he’s consistent across the board. No need to get detailed.

Weiss:You really never change no matter the world.

Yang:Can’t change greatness. It shows in any form!

Blake:He’s pretty compliant and accommodating. The benefits of being his first when I had prior knowledge I suppose.

Ruby:Don’t answer!

Blake:Why not? I’m comfortable with it.

Yang:Don’t listen to those two Blake. They’re just a bit more embarrassed since Jaune has literally been their one and only.

Blake:Huh, I never thought about it like that. Jaune would’ve been the first person you two opened up to on such a level; especially Weiss.

Yang:That’s still hilarious. All the protesting and somehow you found yourself stripping for the guy.

Weiss:Shut up! I already know! It was....I.... *blushing* emotions ran really high.

Ruby:An entire mental rollercoaster of thoughts and firsts happening all at once. Anxiety was high.

Yang:Heh, so you could say that Jaune Arc-

RW:Got through our walls. Hardy har har.

Yang:Shit, I am the same in every universe. Well I don’t have any reservations about it! *grinning* He makes me feel special every time!

Blake:Bottom.

Yang:I’m ignoring you.🎶

Ruby:Hehe, sounds about right. He...might make me feel a bit special as well.

Blake:Switch.

Ruby:How can you just guess off of that!?

Blake:It’s a gift.

Weiss:......

Blake:*smiling*

Weiss:Leave me alone.

Blake:I don’t know what has you embarrassed. You told us you’ve slept with everyone here except Ruby! I knew you were repressed but geez.

Weiss:For your information it wasn’t my idea! It was yours!

Blake:Not surprising. Let’s switch the topic. How is this other child of mine? Can’t picture me having a daughter.

Weiss:Veronica is very sensitive. Even if she tries to act like she isn’t. One time when she was tiny, a soccer ball hit her straight in the face and she sprung up saying “I’m fine!” Then you took her behind the bleachers to patch her up; tears all on her face. It both breaks my heart and very adorable to see her act fine while her ears are folded back.

Ruby:Your other son Kovu was a bit of cry baby. Partly my fault. Carmine kept beating him up and making fun of him.

Blake:What!?

Yang:Ha! Wait, that’s my kid too. How the heck!? Are you telling me you raised the rowdy child and I got the baby?

Ruby:Yang you’re a baby. I’m like twice as rowdy compared to you. A nevermore got worked day one at school.

Weiss:She has a point. You cry the most out of any of us.

Yang:Wha- that not- how....shut up! *pouts* I’m not that touchy.

Ruby:Kovu is a sweetie and not a cry baby. Carmine is just a little mean when she tries to care about others. She beat him up in an attempt to make Kovu give up dreaming about being a huntsman. That way he wouldn’t be in such a dangerous job. Reasonable logic but you know, a little over the top. Almost broke his arm. Boy did I chew her out. All it did was make him want to try harder.

Yang:Fantastic. I shouldn’t expect less from my own blood. I bet Yujin would like him. Which reminds me, anybody have kids in relationships?

RWB:We’re working on it.

The three women paused briefly before laughing at their meddling. Yang could only admire and fear her friends.

Yang:Should I be scared for your children?

Blake:Lucas needs someone to break up the routine in his life. I’m not saying he has to date her, but it would put a smile on my face.

Ruby:Carmine takes after me, not really thinking about stuff like relationships much. However, that doesn’t mean she doesn’t at all. Carmine tries her best to not act like she’s a teenaged girl with teenage wishes. But everyone sees right through it. I’m fine with her not being in one but I would like if she acknowledged that it’s okay to just....ugh, be normal! Why can nobody have normal knees in my life!?

Weiss:Nick likes Valerie who tries to deny she likes him by liking Summer, who doesn’t like her; while Veronica crushes on Nick who obviously has conflicting feelings.

RBY.....

Yang:Why is it always complicated with you?

Weiss:How is this my fau- okay it is a little bit.

Blake:Where do you stand?

Weiss:I think Valerie would be lovely for him.

Yang:What’s wrong with my baby girl!?

Blake:Yeah!?

Weiss:One, not yours. Two, have you met who I’m married to? Can’t really say he’s wasting his efforts. Though I wouldn’t be upset with Veronica. I think those two might be good for each other.

Blake:Any other bombshells people got?

Ruby:......

Ruby:Ilia is happily married.*sips coffee*

Blake:Oh that’s wonderful! I’m glad she found a loving wi-

Ruby:*smirks* To Sun.

Blake:....*stands up* I need, champagne!

A bottle of champagne poofs into existence with several glasses. Blake immediately pours everyone a glass before raising hers into the sky.

Blake:Ruby Rose, today you’ve erased guilt upon my conscious. I’m happy there’s one world where it seems all of my good exes get over me.

Ruby:Are the Ilia and Sun where you’re from miserable like Yang!?

Blake:No, but they kinda fumble in actually going for relationships. It just always makes me feel a little bad.

Yang:You can technically count two worlds. I’m fine, Ilia is dating a pretty secretary, and your one evil ex is now raising a morally good family.

Blake:You’re right! This calls for a double toast! To alternate universes! *puts glass down*

Weiss:Haha, aren’t you gonna drink it!?

Blake:No I’m still recovering; but how could I pass up the opportunity!? Man I wish I could attend that wedding! I don’t know if I’d be a bridesmaid or the best man!

Yang:You’re just gonna steal Neptune’s thunder like that?

Blake:Hey, Sun and I have taken bullets for each other and stab wounds. I think I deserve to be a little greedy and say I ride or die for that man just a little harder than Neptune.

Ruby:Geeeeeez Blake! Haha, I didn’t even tell you about the baby.

Blake:*visble excitement* Excuse me!?

RWY:*raises glass* Cheers.

Blake:CHEERS! What’s he like!?

xxxxx

Aero:AAAACHOOOO!

Carmine:Eugh! Cover your mouth! I don’t need to get sick.

Aero:Damn! What happened to uh I don’t know, “bless you!?”

Carmine:*pulls out tissues* Happy?

Aero:Where...why are those in you book bag?

Carmine:It’s flu season.

Aero:....I can’t tell if you’re the coolest person around or just a second mother.

Carmine:I can be both. My mom is arguably both but don’t tell her that. It’ll make her month and she’ll hug me too tight.

Aero:Bitch, you love hugs. Stop being difficult.

Carmine:Mmmm nah.

Aero:I feel bad for your mom.

Carmine:I feel bad for yours.

Aero:Hop off. You’re so childish.

Carmine:And yet you love me.

Aero:*red* In your dreams!

Carmine:It would make your day if I dreamed about you,wouldn’t it?

Aero:I hope you dream of spiders.

Carmine:We do not joke about that! *grabs him* Aero I will beat you up if I dream of them tonight! That’s just mean!

Aero:Stop crying ya baby. I could’ve said they were- ow!

Sun:*hitting him* Shut up and just kiss something! We’re trying to watch a game.

Aero and Carmine:We don’t like each other!

Jaune:With all do respect, that’s a lie. But please by all means Aero, continue not touching my daughter if you know what’s best for you. I don’t wanna have to fight you and your parents right afterwards.

Sun:Ilia would kill you.

Jaune:Yeah! That’s why I don’t want the fight! Much like Ruby, she’s short and terrifying. Her size holds the rage.

Ilia:*peeks in* Who’s talking shit?

JASC:Nobody, we love you!

Ilia:.....Got my eyes on you four. *holds Garnet up* and this one; the most well behaved in this bunch even with no nap.

Garnet:*fussy grumbling* I’m a ball of rage!

Ilia:You wanna nap?

Garnet:Yes!!!

Ilia:See, behaved. *walks away* don’t make me come back out here.

Carmine:....So do you like me because your mother is also imposing?

Aero:This is it, my evil origin story. It begins today.

xxxxx

Ruby:I admire his patience.

#rwby #the void #jaune arc #ruby rose #weiss schnee #yang xiao long #blake belladonna #carmine arc rose #aero amitola #ilia amitola #sun wukong #rwby ships #rwby lancaster #rwby whiteknight #rwby dragonslayer #rwby knightshade

[theshotsheardacrossworlds]

Pinch

Agnes/Estinien. Five times Estinien pinched Agi’s ass, and one time she pinched his.

In his infirmary bed, Estinien watched Agnes pack her bag. Don’t be sad, Varlineau. She’ll be back tomorrow! And the day after. And the day after. She promised. She won’t let you rot…erm, recover here by yourself. She then bent over with her behind facing Estinien.

By the Fury, that ass! It’s so big and juicy and looks so soft I bet if I reached and gave it a little pinch…fuck it all, but I can’t even leave my bed!

As sneakily as he could, he reached his scarred hand towards her behind and gave her a small pinch. Fuck yes.

“Oh!” Agnes squeaked and turned around. “Estinien, you naughty man!” She was giggling uncontrollably, which pleased Estinien to no end. She’s too damn adorable and too irresistible. “You just had to pinch my bum, didn’t you?”

Estinien smirked, crossing his arms over his chest. “My lady, when presented with such an opportunity, one must take advantage, no?”

***

He took advantage of another opportunity during their time in Costa del Sol. He had asked Agnes if he could take her into Limsa for a romantic evening. Wearing her pink dress with pink tulle trim, she was bloody gorgeous. He kept a hand on her thick waist as they went through Hawkers Alley. She can buy whatever she wants. Something nice for herself. She deserves it.

“Look at these!” Agnes stopped at a stall with various nail polishes. “Some of them have glitter! Aren’t they lovely?” She chose a bottle of glittery purple to examine.

Her ass is right there. Just move the hand a bit lower and…

Agnes turned to Estinien with a raised eyebrow. “I know what you did, love.”

“Who? Me? Pray tell, my lady, what did I do?” Estinien asked with a wink.

Agnes giggled. “Don’t play dumb, ser. I know what you did. You did it earlier today…several times, in fact. I might even say that you enjoy it.”

He laughed heartily and moved his hand to her hip, squeezing it lightly. “Aye, aye, I do! I hope you don’t mind, sweetheart.” Please, if you truly don’t like this, then tell me. I’ll stop. I never want to upset you ever. You’re too precious to me.

Agnes paid for the nail polish, placed it in her bag, and kissed his cheek. “Love, if I didn’t like it, then I’d have used Aero on you to blow you away!”

“If that’s the case,” he murmured, hand traveling down again. “I do believe your ass requires more attention.” He smirked as he grabbed a handful this time.

When Agnes’s face turned as red as a tomato, he laughed some more (never at her expense) and pulled her into a hug.

***

Agnes spent the first few days after The Final Days at the Leveilleur estate with Estinien and her mother. She mainly slept for the first day, waking to see her husband watching over her. Now though, on the second day, Agnes was determined to get up and have some food. I am so hungry!

She walked down the stairs and saw a sight that warmed her heart---Luci, the Leveilleurs, and Estinien chatting and having tea.

“Hello! How is everyone?” Agnes asked pleasantly.

“How are you feeling, Ag—” Alphinaud began as Estinien ran for his wife.

“Woman, you are supposed to be resting! Not up! Go back upstairs and rest! I’ll get you food!”

Agnes’s eyes bulged. “Love, really…I can sit here with everyone and at the very least thank the Leveilleurs for hospitality—”

“Really Estinien, Agi isn’t sick!” Alisaie groaned with a dramatic eyeroll. “And she can sit with us if she wants!”

Estinien crossed his arms and stared daggers at the teenager.

“Love, how about you get me some food and I’ll sit here for a while and see how I feel? If I get tired, I can always go back upstairs, okay?” Agnes touched his arm and gave him a small smile. Please, for the love of the gods, do not make a scene right now.

“As my wife commands.” He whispered, kissing her lightly on the lips.

And then pinched her ass.

“Love!”

“Estinien!” The twins shrieked.

Ameliance giggled.

Luci winked.

And Master Fourchenault wished he had stayed in bed that day.

***

Oh dear, I think I’m a bit…stuck. Agnes stopped and considered her current predicament. Pregnant with her eighth child, she was sitting in her favorite comfy chair in their new home at Radz-at-Han (so much bigger than the apartment!) when she tried to get up.

And couldn’t quite get up.

She pat her still growing belly and giggled. “My little love, you are already so big and still there’s a moon and a half left! A little too big for Mummy to get up at the moment.”

“I’m guessing you require mine assistance, Madame Varlineau?” A deep, rumbling voice sounded from the entry. Estinien stood, arms crossed, staring at his wife.

Agnes felt her cheeks blush crimson. “Erm, yes please, ser dragoon. Your son is quite literally weighing me down.” It’s a good thing the children are with Aymeric for a visit. How embarrassing to see their Mummy in such a state!

Estinien knelt in front of Agnes and kissed her belly. “Good boy, keep on growing.” He whispered, kissing her belly one more time. Standing once again, he summoned Nidhogg’s strength and picked Agnes up to her surprise.

“Love! I said ‘help me up’ not ‘pick me up!’” Agnes laughed and gave him a kiss on the cheek. Estinien laughed heartily as he set her down.

And then pinched her ass.

“Love!”

“I’m suddenly feeling a bit frisky, my pretty wife. Would you join me in bed?” He growled, pinching her ass again.

Agnes squeaked as she nodded and was carried to their bedroom for what was to become several bells’ worth of passionate lovemaking.

***

“Did you see Agi? I caught a big one!” Estinien, now aged sixty-seven, cackled, reeling in a fish while sitting in a chair on the dock.

Agnes giggled. “Yes, you did, love. Good job.”

In the years following Estinien’s injury, he had decided to take up fishing as it meant he could sit (and as he put it, “still bloody do something”) and rest his bad leg. Agnes thought he was positively adorable when he was so excited about a big catch. He’s so happy. I’m glad he found something to enjoy…those days after the injury…I never want that to happen again.

“Agi? You alright?” Estinien asked, worried. He worries so much about me. That will never change.

She wrinkled her nose and giggled again. “I’m fine. Just thinking about how handsome you are today.” She leaned and gave him a quick peck on his unshaven cheek.

He raised an eyebrow. “Just today?”

Agnes stuck out her tongue. “No! Not just today! Today and every day, my grumpy dragon.” She rose from her own chair to stretch a little and then…

“LOVE!”

He began laughing uncontrollably. “Forgive me, my love! Twas too good an opportunity to pass up! After all, your ass is still the biggest softest prettiest ass ‘round.” When Agnes turned to him and tried to put on her best “I’m very annoyed face” he only laughed harder.

“You know, love, all this laughing is going to drive the fish away.” She sat back down and pulled his face to hers, lips colliding in a what soon turned into a heated kiss. When the kiss ended, Agnes was breathless.

“Best ass on the star, no contest.” Estinien smirked, earning himself a light smack on the arm. “You hear that fishies! Best ass on the star!” He shouted. Thank fuck no one is nearby!!!!

“Estinien Varlineau, you madman!” Oh dear, my face is bright red…I can feel it. Oh dear.

“If I am mad, madam, it’s because you drive me to it! Have since the day we met.” He threw out his line once more and smirked. “Best. Ass. On. The. Star.”

***

“Hold on, sweetheart, I think it’s in my bag.” Estinien called, bending over to find…oh dear his ass!

Agnes stared at his tight, muscled ass on full display in front of her.

How in the world is it so wonderful?! I could bounce a thousand coins off it. A million coins? A billion coins?!

Unconsciously, Agnes began moving towards her lover as quietly as she could.

He’s still focused on finding...finding…what was it he’s supposed to find again?

Before Agnes realized it, her hand slowly reached for that ass.

“Oi! What the fuck?!” Estinien shouted, turning around to face a deeply embarrassed Agnes. “Did you just…wait a second, did you just pinch my ass?”

OH DEAR! Agnes fidgeted and pushed her glasses up. “I, erm, well, love, I just couldn’t resist, you see. Your ass is so lovely, and I just—”

Agnes never finished the rambling sentence.

No sooner had she began explaining when the familiar red aether swirled, and he lifted her in his arms. “I’m going to fuck the living hells out of you, my pretty.” He growled and kissed her passionately.

She squealed as he kicked open the door to the Luci Currai’s cottage.

Neither were seen again until the next day.

#agnes currai #agnes varlineau #estinien varlineau #estinien wyrmblood #estinien x wol #wolstinien #five times one time #this prompt was a gift #luci littlefoot currai

[dogmomwrites]

Find the Word!

I was tagged by @houndsofcorduff to find the words deal, sugar, sneak, jaw, and image in my WIPs. This game is endlessly entertaining to me; I love to see the excerpts everyone posts! I can only hope mine bring the same entertainment!

Tagging @the-finch-address, @midnight-and-his-melodiverse, @gothamxwattpad, and @smzeszikorova, and keeping an open tag for anyone who wants to join! Your words are flame, stelliferous, chain, steed, and demand. If you can't find one, you have to include a fun fact about your WIP, your writing process, or one of your characters! (shamelessly stolen from @marinesocks, so blame her!)

Deal, taken from Castle in the Ice

“You two okay? How’s it looking in there?” Cadara asked, taking in their sudden tiredness with a small frown. She had seated herself in a chair to talk with the nurses, who’d told her everything that had happened.

“We’re fine, thanks.” Jay waved a hand at her. “But I don’t know how it’s going. You know how he is.”

“He’s a jerk,” Caleb clarified, just in case anyone didn’t know. He turned to the doctors. “Is there a spare bed you’re not using around here that I could borrow? I just slept a few years, but after dealing with Toby for five seconds, I could use about ten more years.”

Sugar, taken from my unnamed WIP (this scene in particular is one that needs some rewriting but it's one of only two uses of sugar RIP)

“I’m starting to regret this,” Cooper said.

“I’d walk if I could,” Jimmy said, only somewhat apologetic. “But we’re only about a mile away.”

He heaved a sigh, packing it as full of regret and weariness as any sigh Jimmy had ever heard. “How do you know about this place? Have you actually been to Hawaii before?”

“I saw it when dog and I were on the cliff looking for Riley. I remember because they had something in particular I knew my mom would like a lot. Something she would accept as a surprise gift from across the country without question.”

He wouldn’t tell Cooper what it was, instead sidestepping the question with other questions that derailed the topic. He learned that Cooper was not born on the island as all the rest of his team, but on the mainland, and not all that far from where Jimmy’s own family lived. He also learned Cooper had a young daughter, and that Cooper was unwilling to introduce her to Jimmy, stating, “You’re good with kids, yeah, but you’re a terrible influence.”

His bluntness was amusing, and Jimmy had to agree. His favorite thing to do with young kids was to teach them bad habits and then give them sugar before leaving all responsibility with their parents.

Sneak, taken from Castle in the Ice

“There you are,” a voice right behind him said.

He jumped, his heart pitching into his throat. Spinning around, he stepped back, prepared to run. Then he saw who it was. Aero laughed at him and didn’t seem to care that he was now glaring. Nuka let out a huff as he stalked down the hall, away from him.

“Wait, wait. Hold up,” Aero said, trying to smother his laughter. He wasn’t succeeding all that well.

“Don’t sneak up on people,” Nuka grumbled.

“I was not aware I had snuck up,” he said when he had caught up and walked beside him. “I was in the hall long before you were, so if anything, it would be you that snuck up on me.”

Was he right? The logic seemed sound. Nuka became even more irritated when he realized that. “Sneaked,” he said in a sullen tone.

“What?”

“It’s sneaked. Snuck isn’t a real word. My mom says it’s poor man’s slang.”

Aero huffed. “Your mother sure knows how to make a person feel good about themselves.”

Jaw, taken from unnamed WIP

“This wouldn’t happen to be Don Callione the mob boss, now would it?” Riley said, his tone pointed. And ignored. “Same bastard who got you hooked on cocaine when you were fucking thirteen?”

“Dude. That was like, six years ago. Get over it.”

“Jimmy, you’re twenty-one.” He watched Jimmy count up the extra years and sighed. “You skipped too many school days.”

“Fuck you, my grades were fine. Better than fine—I was offered a scholarship.”

“Not for math.”

“My grades were fine all around!” Jimmy snapped, and shot him a glare for good measure.

“Including your cocaine grades?” Riley asked. He received a hard shove for it and let out a groan, gingerly touching the bruises from landing on the wood and stones.

“Just shut up, Riley.”

“Same Don or not?”

Jimmy stopped and faced him. His green eyes flashed with annoyance and his jaw was set. “Do you wanna deal with your car? Chat up the cops and tell them everything that happened? All the paperwork from firing your gun?”

“I was aiming at the tires,” Riley cut in.

“Do you want to?” Jimmy demanded, growing forceful with irritation.

“No,” Riley snapped. “No, I don’t want to fucking deal with that, but I also didn’t wanna get shot or have my car driven off a goddamn overpass today! Everything hurts! But you always manage to turn something as basic as a trip to visit Thomas into this kinda shit anyway, and we haven’t even gotten to his apartment yet! So just do whatever the fuck you want, you always have. No matter who gets shot along the way.”

Image, taken from unnamed WIP

Aaron looked into his eyes. The man didn’t turn away. His mind was different than any other Aaron had ever encountered. He couldn’t discern any distinct thoughts. Instead, there were blinding flashes of light, like lightning, and the rest of the mind was dark and seemed foggy. The man’s mind gave him the vague impression of steel plates in place of any walls.

Slowly, Aaron started to make out images in the flashes of lightning. It was too bright to look at, and went dark too quickly for him to be certain, but he thought the lightning held the man’s memories.

The room was completely silent for a minute before the man spoke. “Hello, Aaron,” he said, and Aaron frowned. “Yes, I know your name. I have your file. Acquired it recently. I’ve read some very interesting things about you. Yes, I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.”

There was a moment of silence as he waited for Aaron to respond.

When he didn’t, the man said, “You’re probably curious. That’s alright, I can explain. I don’t mind monologuing. Evil scientist trait, I suppose.” He chuckled to himself as he turned to pull the chair a bit closer.

#writer #writers #writing #writeblr #writerblr #writblr #writer things #writers of tumblr #writers on tumblr #tumblr writers #writer community #creative writing #find the words #find the word tag #find the word game #wip #current wip #wip stuff

[ballerinaroy]

Can you make a Romione fic Hermione asks Ron if he's like to have a 'Kiss'. She is talking about the chocolate kisses, he doesn't know that and he is blushing

“Kiss?” Hermione asked.

The word echoed around in his brain as he looked up, very slowly. She hadn’t, said, surely- “What?”

“Would you like a kiss?” she repeated, her face unassuming.

This had to be some sort of prank, a test. Sure, there’d been that moment the other night when they’d been eavesdropping on the Order meeting in the kitchen when their hands had brushed together and their eyes met, but they’d just been cleaning the chicken coop, surely now wasn’t the time-

Hermione turned away, rummaging in her bag and he realized that he’d been staring at her stupidly and if he had been a genuine offer-“Wait I-“

She pulled out three silver-wrapped triangles, presenting them to him. He stared at them funny.

“Chocolate,” Hermione explained, pulling on the little piece of paper on the top of one, and the foil unraveled to reveal a little piece. “Muggle candy, have you not heard them?”

“No,” Ron said, trying to act casual and interested. He took one of the unopened ones from her and examined it. “Never heard of them.”

He felt let down, his neck hot as he focused all his attention on the little piece of chocolate and not on her. “I didn’t think you liked chocolate.”

“Not really,” Hermione said as he opened it and popped it into his mouth, making a sour face which she giggled at.

“They’re not very good.”

“No,” Hermione agreed, unwrapping a second one for herself. “I got nostalgic when I saw them in the store. My mum and dad would only let me eat two pieces of Halloween candy a day and by the time I got to these they were always horribly stale.”

“Mmh,” Ron said, taking a second one for himself. “Is all muggle candy this bad?”

“No,” she laughed and his discomfort eased. “I should have brought you an aero bar, when it melts in your mouth it feels like it’s fizzling.”

“What else?” he asked as Hermione tossed him a second one.

“Finally a muggle subject you’re interested in,” Hermione teased. “Hmm, let me think-“

Send me a prompt!

#roywrites #ROMIONE #romione fanfic #Ron Weasley #Hermione Granger

[viinas-writes]

Fire and Silver: After the War - Ilum and Charity

Something old-ish that I recently found. I miss these guys. I love writing soft scenes like this more than big action sequences. I’m just a big fan of character dynamics. And these two are particularly fun for me to write.

__

I’d never been to the big lake on the outskirts of town. It was a still, quiet area where old guys would take their boats or outdoorsy people liked to go canoeing. Aero once told me that when he was young, he and Vanessa would come to swim. According to him, being surrounded by nothing but water, trees and sunlight made it feel as if time didn’t exist. 

He’d soon come to regret the sentiment. He couldn’t come back to this lake without remembering all the time he’d taken for granted, pretending that the company of the one he loved most gave him immunity from the time he’d one day be desperate to get back.

Despite it all, I couldn’t help but understand what a younger Aero saw in a place like this. The setting sun skimmed the horizon and glittered over the water. It was glass-smooth, expanding beyond my field of vision and disappearing into a blur of white. Strokes of pink and gold painted the sky and shone over the foliage in a way that looked surreal. It would be easy to get lost in a place like this. Silent. Vast. Peaceful.

Charity sat at the very end of the dock, her black hair streaked with gold sunlight. She was dressed in the same casual getup I’d grown used to -- loose white tank top, faded shorts, and a red flannel shirt tied around her waist. It made me think of a version of her from a different, ostensibly simpler time, eyes filled with fire as she pinned my wrists to a wall and demanded I help her. We’d been so ill equipped then, but somehow, it was only the beginning of what would become a lifetime of chaos.

The dock let out a low croak under my footsteps as I made my way down. Charity startled and cast a glance over her shoulder. I saw her lips pull into a grin.

“Stalking me?” she asked.

I approached her, stepping into the same light that made her shine gold. I took a seat next to her on the edge of the dock, letting my legs dangle above the water.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I teased. She wasn’t entirely off, though; I did come hoping to find her. 

Aero wasn’t the only one who had memories of this lake, after all. 

“Sure,” she mused, swinging her long legs back and forth. She glanced up and down my body, then asked, “How are you feeling, by the way?”

“Fine.” I stretched my arms over my head until my shoulder gave a satisfying pop. She wrinkled her nose. “You can barely tell I was fighting for my life just last week. It’s sweet to know you’re concerned, though. You must have missed me terribly.”

Charity snorted. “Is it too late for you to slip back into a coma?”

“Alas. Here I am. Forever and always, baby.”

“Call me baby again and I’ll kick your ass into the lake.”

I laughed and whatever tension may have fallen over us since the end of the war shattered, just like that. I felt my chest fill with warmth. For the first time in days, things felt normal. 

“You didn’t just happen to stumble upon me, though,” she said, more quietly. To her credit, whether it was a light moment or not, she always knew my intentions. 

I followed her eyes to the surface of the lake where I could just make out our silhouettes reflected in the dark water. 

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I admitted.

She leaned back, pressing the heels of her palms into the dock. Her eyes remained fixed on our reflections. “Of course I’m okay. It’s over, right?”

“You don’t have to do that.”

I touched her arm and her gaze met mine. God, those eyes of hers. They were ocean-blue and compelling, like sirens dragging me under. It was part of what made it so easy to trust her, and what made it impossible to lie to her. 

“I get trying not to fall apart in front of Caleb, your uncle, or even our friends,” I said. “But it’s just us right now.” 

She sighed, letting her eyes flutter closed. She nodded once. 

“I think I’m going to spend the rest of my life trying to find meaning in everything we did out there,” she said. “And even if I do, a part of me will always be in that asylum, or on the forest floor, or on the other side of Aiden’s knife.” 

She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing the goosebumps pebbling her arms. 

“It’s over, but it’ll never be over. Not really,” she said. “I knew that when I signed up for this and I’m trying not to have any regrets, but if you want to hear the truth...this is it.” 

“Do you resent me for it?” 

It was an unspoken question between us since the day I roped her into this mess. But now, past the battlefield and the settled dust, when there was nothing left to anticipate, only reflect upon, I had to know. 

“No,” she said immediately. “If there’s anything I’m sure of, it’s that I don’t regret any part of this that had to do with you.”

“Why?” I asked. 

She gave me a sad smile. “You know why, Ilum.”

My heart leapt in my chest. I was brought back to the morning of the infiltration, when she kissed me in the car, and then the night after, when we fell asleep entangled in each other’s limbs, the other’s desperate kisses still stinging our lips.

Yes, I knew why. I should have hated myself for it. 

But I didn’t. 

I couldn’t when the road to Hell also brought me to her. 

“I know what you mean, when you talk about it all lingering,” I said.

Trying to find the right words with Charity was worthless. The only way we knew how to communicate was by emptying our hearts into each other’s hands. So I didn’t rifle through my brain or think. I gave her what she deserved and what I knew how to give only to her. 

Honesty.

“It’s like when a lost spirit clings to you and you don’t know how to help them cross over,” I went on. “It’s a burden you’re not sure you deserve, but one only you can carry. It’s a personal Hell too unique to explain and you feel like even if they find their way to the other side, a part of their soul will always be with you. I still feel that way about Aiden. Sometimes I wake up and I’m not sure whether it’s me or him inside my head.

“But I’m trying to come back. Every day, I look at Aero, Avril, Hel, Ellard, you, and I remember that this war has taken so fucking much from me and I’ll be damned if it takes anything else.”

Despite herself, she gave me a crooked grin. “You know, a past version of you would have considered that selfish.”

“Maybe I am selfish.” I turned to face her. An inky strand of hair fell in between her eyes and I carefully moved it aside, letting my fingertips graze her jaw. Her breath hitched and her cheeks went a beautiful shade of pink. “I don’t want to waste anymore time. Life is too short.”

She swallowed and studied my face. “What are you saying?”

“I want to kiss you.”

I could feel my face prickling with heat. I’d never felt so vulnerable and confident all at once. I still wasn’t sure what I wanted from a lot of things. I didn’t know where the next phase of my life would take me or whether I’d ever fully recover from the things we experienced.

But Charity? She was the only thing I never had to question. Right here, trapped in her gaze, and grounded by her honesty, I was safe. 

She smiled and suddenly the sunset looked pale. “Well, don’t be a coward.”

So I took her face in my hands and kissed her. She smiled under my lips and leaned into it, wrapping her arms around me, gripping the back of my shirt. 

I thought of our first kiss and how it was one-sided and hasty, and then the night after the infiltration when we kissed to lose ourselves. This time, we took it slow, knowing that for once, we didn’t have to worry about it being the last time. I ran my fingers through her silky hair, savored the rose-petal softness of her lips, and admired the way the curves of her body fit against mine. 

Kissing her like this was like breathing for the very first time. I fell open under her touch and at that moment, I was willing to tell her every secret, give her everything I ever had and show her everything I ever was. 

Maybe I already had.

Maybe that was why this felt so good. 

“You’re beautiful,” I murmured against her mouth. I kissed her again, and again, and again.

When we pulled apart, she was flushed all over and her hair was disheveled. I wanted to kiss her again but instead, I watched the rise and fall of her chest and the way the sunlight shimmered over her skin. Beautiful wasn’t the right word. Right now, she was downright ethereal. 

“I…” She shook her head and giggled. “Sorry...I just...are you sure about this?”

“About…”

“Us,” she clarified, then blushed deeper. “Because I know how I feel.” 

Charity took my hand and wove her fingers through mine. 

“I’m sure about you,” I said. If there was a shred of certainty in the aftermath of all this, it was Charity. 

She leaned back in and left a kiss so soft on my lips it made me shiver. 

“So am I,” she said. 

#original #fire and silver

[ofwonderment]

Aqua; HC Notes

Aqua’s favourite flavour is raspberry/lemon mix.

She can play the harp.

She’s a very crafty person. She can sew, work with metal, glass, and resin.

She enjoys humming while she works.

Totally is a Scorpio.

Her last name is Santiais: a Celtic last name that means Saint (sacred or holy)

She uses magic for every day situations, she’ll use water spells for cleaning, aero spells to help when she can’t reach things.

Having grown up mostly around men, she finds her girlish side embarrassing.

Aqua’s nose crinkles when she laughs and is genuinely smiling.

Don’t let her fool you about healthy diets. Hers consists mostly of sugar and sweets.

Aqua is afraid of the dark.

She’s afraid of being left alone for long periods of time.

She needs to feel in control of situations.

She suffers panic attacks often.

It’s difficult for her to sleep, when she does she usually is woken by nightmares every half hour, or wakes up feeling like she’s going to be attacked.

.Psychological horror makes her queasy.

She talks to herself often, a habit picked up from being alone so long.

Despite being in a safer place, she still suffers hallucinations (mostly audio hallucinations. And mostly the voice of her phantom self).

Time has become an important concept to her, to the point she will write down important events and their corresponding times down to the very minute.

When she isn’t gorging on sweets, she often tends to forget to eat all together.

While she doesn’t show it often, she’s scared of heartless, especially when they appear in great numbers.

#Weakness In My Heart || Aqua; Head Canon