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#and by this I mean. yes I do have a fully planned out pirate themed song and music video if I were to ever personally get into the industry
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I've been meaning to finally watch all ghibli movies. And o want to get trough them all by end of August. I've seen bits and pieces of some of them, have watched many a video essayist talk about them.
I'm going to talk about each of them as i watch them, mostly all in chronological order.
But first i'll quickly say something about the ones i *have* seen. In more or less the order i've seen them.
First one i ever saw was 'laputa: castle in the sky'. I saw this one years ago so i don't have many specific things to say. But it's absolutely wondeful. And the action is fenominal
Then i saw either 'Kiki's delivery service' and 'Howl's moving castle' i don't remember the precise order. But i saw both either this or last year. Both once again beatiful stories. I empathised with Kiki so much and it's such a nuanced yet heartfelt coming of age story. Howl's moving castle however might so far be my favourite. It's such a unique take on a beauty and the beast type story and the magic and the world keep me endlessy interested. Also the main theme (Merry go round of life) slaps and every few weeks it starts playing on loop in my brain.
Then i also watched 'Lupin the third: castle of cagliostro' which, yes, i do count.
I'll once again be frank and admit that i don't remember if i watched it before or inbetween or even after the last 2 but whatever, time-blindness is a bitch.
Anyway it's amazing probably the Best Lupin III content out there and it's so influential on animation as a whole. Even if you know nothing about Lupin the third it's fully enjoyable. I'm very angry Netflix doesn't have it anymore because i really wanted to rewatch it (don't worry i did pirate it but i kinda didn't want to because i want to puch Netflix's algorythm towards animation as much as possible. But that's neither here nor there.)
A couple of months ago i saw 'nausicaa of the valley of the wind' which is underappreciated in my opinion. It's based on Miyazaki's own manga. It's a truly epic story with an important message about environmentalism that's as relevas It's ever been. The main character, Naussica is so cool (and I'm fully planning a dnd character greatly based on her). The alien environments and inhabitants of the fungal forests are breathtaking. Nuff´ said.
Then finally, this friday i watched 'My neighbor Totoro' and what can i say that hasn't already been said? A beatiful view in the life of young girls going trough a rough time in their lives juxtaposed with the innocence and beaty of childhood mixed with Japanse mythology. Let's just say Totoro is ghibli's flagship mascot for a reason.
This movie hit particularly close to home because of my job of working with kids their age. And the fear, confusion and even despair the youngest feels about their situation that they're just too young to properly grasp just kept rending my heart in two. Not to mention the older sister who has to be the responsible one and has to keep herself together despite that it's clear how hard it is on her as well. The characters in this film are real in a way that only Miyazaki has mastered portraying.
(Fun fact: the person who voiced the father is 'Shigesato Itoi' who is also the creator of the 'Mother' video game series.)
Finally, finally, to switch things up; today I watched 'a silent voice' i'll probably elaborate more in the future on a different post. But needless to say it's exactly as good as people say it is, maybe even better.
It was a touch longer than i thought it would be but it wasn't really a problem. It's a super interesting story with a nuanced take on redemption, attonement and friendship. Rended in a way that only animation can truly accomplish.
Up next: I'll go in proper release order from now on so next thing is 'only yesterday'. A more slice of life film and one i might even be to young to fully appreciate seeing i'm only just in my mid 20s and the main character is in her early thirties i think. But i've heard nothing but good things about it so i'm sure i'll be fine.
And concidering that i'm sick and won't go into work tomorrow I'll most likely watch it then
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batfamfucker · 3 years
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So. He's done cowboys, he's done prisons, and he's done actual Satan. When is he doing pirates?
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misssophiachase · 3 years
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For @klarolinefallbingo “Bonfire”
Eyes on Fire
The back to school bonfire will bring together two very unlikely seniors. But maybe these mates have more in common than first thought.  
 Monday
“But our mascot is the timber wolf, it makes perfect sense to design the bonfire that way,” Caroline insisted, hands on hips. He didn’t respond immediately, just curved those annoyingly crimson lips into a knowing smile. 
Ass.
Klaus Mikaelson, a fellow senior and semi-gifted artist (in her opinion), had been seconded by the planning committee to create the bonfire design. If Caroline had her way he’d have no role at all but she was outvoted nine to one. 
Traitors.
Caroline lived to plan school events. Given she’d been doing it since freshman year, they were second nature to her.  The school bonfire was a significant part of the back to school festivities and, given it was their senior year, Caroline knew it had to be her most perfect yet.
But now Klaus Mikaelson, of all people, was invading her territory and, worse than that, challenging her ideas in front of the entire committee.
It also didn’t help that her life-altering summer was still very much playing on her mind either. One minute she was Caroline Forbes, class president and almost senior, and the next she was a seventeen year-old vampire.     
A Mystic Falls resident all her life, Caroline had heard the stories of strange happenings, not to mention the abnormal amount of animal attacks reported. But she found it was best left alone which was why she was so heavily focused on school, well until she transitioned. 
It had taken the entire summer just to control her bloodlust with the help of her friends. But if there was anything Caroline hated, it was losing control and this bonfire was supposed to be her triumphant return to normal life. 
Although, she was starting to wonder what normal actually meant and if it even applied to her life anymore. Meanwhile, this bonfire stealer was not helping matters.   
“Might I suggest a Trojan horse instead?” He flashed a stray dimple and she swore the female committee members all swooned in unison. 
“But what does that symbolise in this context?”
“The ancient Greeks...”
“I don’t need a history lesson,” she growled, thinking her impressive GPA spoke for itself. 
“It signifies rivalry.”
“Oh, you mean the panthers?” One of the committee members offered. 
“Uh, yes,” he said unconvincingly. Caroline fought the urge to roll her eyes. The fact someone so disinterested in football was in charge of design was ridiculous. “The Trojan horse represents something intended to undermine or secretly overthrow an enemy. By burning it we are sending a message to our opponents, the, uh, pirates was it?”
“That’s brilliant!” Another member interrupted and the rest followed suit. Obviously they didn’t care about his lack of experience.
“Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that,” Caroline muttered. 
Before she knew it a vote was held and they’d all dispersed leaving only her and the artist extraordinaire alone. Standing on the far side of the room, hands in jean pockets, he raised his eyebrows in her direction tellingly almost as if to say “well?”
Caroline was trying to process a myriad of emotions. No doubt due to her recent supernatural status, which was hardly unusual, but he seemed to bring something more out of her although she couldn’t quite pinpoint what. 
She was also trying to ignore just how blue his eyes looked in that navy henley and the way his blonde hair curled teasingly over his ears. She shook her head determined to regain some, if not all, semblance of composure. 
“You are insufferable, has anyone ever told you that?”
“Why thank you, love, although not the first time I’ve heard it,” he smirked. “You’re incredibly uptight, has anyone ever told you that?”  
“Why are you doing this?” She asked folded her arms across her chest while purposely avoiding his comment. 
“Doing what exactly?” He asked, making his way toward her slowly. Caroline was trying to ignore just how good he smelled but it was becoming increasingly difficult. 
“You don’t even like football and, last time I checked, school activities in general.” 
The Mikaelson family had appeared in Mystic Falls a year earlier. Given the mystery surrounding their arrival and their good looks they’d caused quite the stir in small town Virginia. Caroline had no intention of fawning over Klaus the tortured artist and had kept her distance for the most part.
Until now. 
Before she knew it, his mouth was now only mere inches from hers and she was fast losing all sense and willpower. 
“Who says I don’t have school spirit?” His husky tone was not lost on Caroline. “In fact, I can be very spirited if necessary, love.”
She acted quickly, placing her hands on his chest and pushing him away albeit with shaky hands. Obviously the hardened vampire inside had decided to take an inopportune break. 
“You might have won this round but…”
“Not the war,” he finished, respecting the space between them. Although, she wasn’t sure for how long given the way his eyes were perusing her so intimately. “How fitting given our Trojan theme.”
“Game on, Mikaelson.” Caroline warned, turning on her heel, desperate to increase the space between them. 
It wasn’t fear.
No. It was something so much more.    
Saturday
High school culture was always so damn predictable.  
Klaus watched on as his bonfire roared to life and the loud cheers from jocks and cheerleaders alike sounded out. Most were wasted and probably didn’t even fully appreciate the effort. 
It was some of his best work and seemed a shame to destroy but he was playing a part. His eyes flickered over to the girl in question. Her denim jacket hugged her chest, the light from the fire only illuminating her blonde waves and creamy skin. 
She’d felt so good the other day and Klaus was surprised he managed to stop himself. He’d been watching her for the past year at school and had only ventured to London on Mikael’s instance over the summer to then find out, too late, she’d transitioned.  
It took all his willpower not to kill those who’d let it happen. He wasn’t against vampirism given he was a hybrid but was against anyone who hurt her. Klaus was also still suspicious that his father had done it on purpose but couldn’t prove it just yet.
So, when he returned, Klaus made it his aim to be with her at all times. Designing the bonfire was the perfect excuse to be close. Even if she didn’t appreciate his ideas. 
“They seem to like it.” He’d found his way toward her in the woods, the stray twigs and autumn leaves crunching underfoot. 
“They’re drunk, they’d cheer for anything, Mikaelson.” Klaus fought the urge to laugh given he’d been thinking the very same thing. 
“You have a point,” he conceded. “But nevertheless I think we make a pretty good team.”
“Team bonding? Wow, next thing I know you’ll be signing up to all extra curricular activities and doing spirit fingers.”
“I’ve seen Bring it On,” he replied and she finally turned to look at him, her dubious expression not lost on him. “It’s Rebekah’s favourite film and she plays it on repeat.”
“Excuses, excuses,” she chanted and he couldn’t miss the small smile that tugged on her lips. “So, are you going to leave now?”
“As organiser of this event I’m committed to staying the course.”
“Liar,” she teased, this time her smile was obvious as much as it was radiant. “You’re only staying for the s'mores.”
“Whatever you say,” he lied, happy to have an excuse to be near her as long as possible. 
Seated on logs side-by-side as the moonlight engulfed them, she taught him silly campfire songs while he told ghost stories that would rival most. The night slowly slipped away and, in the early hours of the morning, the two slipped into a nearby tent too tired to concentrate further. 
It was innocent of course, but Klaus couldn’t deny how good she felt, her back moulded against his chest. He inhaled her scent, trying not to get lost in her but it was proving increasingly difficult. 
He moved away quietly as the light streamed into the tent, determined to get some much needed space. He walked towards the nearby stream, the only sound emanating from the birds. He placed both hands in the cold water and ran them over his face and through his unruly curls.
How had he gotten himself into this mess? He loved her so much and now he didn’t know what to do or how to explain his actions or feelings. 
“You’re my mate, aren’t you?” He heard her voice behind him, the raw emotion and vulnerability he couldn’t miss. 
He turned to face her, thinking how beautiful she looked first thing in the morning, but then he’d think that anyway. He noticed a stray tear in her left eye and immediately felt bad for not coming clean sooner. 
But how do you admit to someone they were your everything, without it seeming entirely awkward? 
“You’ve deceived me.”
“I didn’t,” he finally found his voice. “I was only giving you time before...”
“Says the guy who gatecrashed my planning committee,” she growled. “I don’t appreciate being treated like a fool. But I guess that explains your hesitance to burn a wolf designed bonfire.”
“Maybe” he offered, taking a chance and the small window that had been offered. “But everything I did and said was for your benefit. I love you, Caroline.”
In high school terms that line would be the epitome of desperation. But she was his soulmate and all emotions were now laid bare whether they liked it or not. 
She seemed unmoved but at the same time was clearly considering her options. He had never felt so helpless in his life and the silence was killing him.  
“I’m planning the Halloween dance and fully expect you to help,” she demanded. “And there’s going to be meetings, lots and lots of them. So you better be present and available for anything needed out of hours.”
He stifled a smirk. Who was he to argue with that?
“Yes, ma’am.”
Things seemed to right themselves even if he was her slave. Not that Klaus minded that dynamic at all. She clearly loved him just as much as he did but didn’t mind waiting for it to unfold. 
They were mates after all and had all the time in the world.  
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carewyncromwell · 3 years
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Whew! Three drawings for the price of one for the POTC AU! The first two feature our new Pirate King Jules Farrier-Weasley @cursebreakerfarrier (flanked by Jacob “Black Jack” Cromwell Roberts and Orion Amari), and Cutler Beckett (flanked by Carewyn Cromwell “Carey Weasley” and Patricia Rakepick). The last one features the human form of our Davy Jones, Finn McGarry @theguythatdraws, with his One True Love Chiara Dalma, A.K.A. Calypso! These took a while, but they were fun to do, so I hope you like them.
Jules’s “tunic” is actually the same chemise she cut up while she was still on board the Artemis, as seen in a doodle on a previous post. Carewyn’s new uniform (which we’ll address in this part) is based on yet another of James Norrington’s costumes, this time the one he wears in the third Pirates film. Unlike the character whose role she roughly fills, though, Carey isn’t going to die unceremoniously in the middle of the damn story after getting this costume change. (Why no, I’m not bitter about the fact that Jack Davenport didn’t get more screentime and that Norrington didn’t get to be the Javert to Captain Jack Sparrow’s Valjean in the sequels the way he so could’ve been after the first movie, why would you think that? *snort*)
Now that we’re getting more into the Davy Jones/Calypso stuff, I can acknowledge how much I’ve changed from the original films’ depictions of the characters, as well as why. Personally I find the characters’ relationship to be a bit toxic and not as romantic as it should be. Calypso, being a goddess, could very easily not understand things like the passage of time through a man’s eyes, but the excuse she gives for why she wasn’t there to support her lover after all of the hard and lonely work he’d put in for her after ten years is just “it’s who I am.” I get that she’s a manifestation of the sea and not something you can pin down and all that jazz, but at the same time, it was cruel to follow her own selfish whims over considering her lover’s feelings. She presumably then also didn’t even try following up with Jones after he returned to the sea, as they aren’t able to sort out that misunderstanding before the events of At World’s End. (I mean, she’s a shape-shifting goddess of the sea, and she made him that way in the first place, so it’s not like she couldn’t have met him somewhere that wasn’t dry land.) I understand Jones couldn’t expect her to change her nature, and that’s fair, but it doesn’t make me like Calypso very much or feel much of anything for her relationship with Jones. And on the flip side, Jones decides to take out his pain at this misunderstanding (which he really should’ve tried clearing up AGES before the events of At World’s End) on his lover in the most spiteful, vindictive way -- teaching a bunch of pirates how to trap an immortal goddess into a mortal body that definitely has none of the power innate to her, presumably feels pain, and could even age or die. Rather than trying to quit the job Calypso gave him or even trying to figure out what happened, he decides to clip the wings of the woman he supposedly loves, all due to his own pain at being betrayed. So I don’t feel much for Jones as a character and for his relationship with Calypso either. In the end, when they quasi-make up, I didn’t think it was earned or that it was a good outcome for either of them. I do think there’s some tragedy in the situation, for they clearly feel deeply for each other, but their romance is really dysfunctional in my opinion, and I think it could’ve been handled a lot better if you wanted to make the pairing as romantic as the theme Hans Zimmer wrote for it. (As a side, take a listen to this lovely lyric cover someone wrote for the Davy Jones theme, it’s so good!) This is part of why I like being able to write Chia and Finn (the Calypso and Jones analogues in this AU) with a more sympathetic backstory, as well as some organic development for both them and their relationship while they’re apart from each other, which I kind of think was lacking in Tia Dalma/Calypso in particular.
Previous part is here, whole tag is here, and I hope you all enjoy!
x~x~x~x
Carewyn was perturbed by how fast an armada of ships from Port Royal caught up with the Flying Dutchman, once Rakepick had Jones send one of his cursed crew members with a message for Beckett. It was as though the head of the East India Trading Company had been waiting in eager anticipation of the Dutchman locating Shipwreck Cove ever since he gave her and Rakepick the mission in the first place.
Among the armada was the Clearwater, and Carewyn was shocked and a little happy to see Percy crossing over to the Dutchman from his ship and leaping off the gangplank to greet her. The youngest of the three Weasley brothers who’d joined the Navy gave her a salute for formalities’ sake, but he couldn’t keep the relieved smile off his face.
“Commodore Weasley,” he said formally.
“Captain Weasley,” said Carewyn in return.
As soon as they’d greeted each other, both of them loosened considerably. Carewyn opened her arms and brought Percy into a rather mannish hug, clapping his back the way Bill often did whenever he hugged his brothers.
“Jones’s men treated you well, I hope?” Percy murmured under his breath, his voice betraying some cold suspicion despite himself.
“Well enough,” Carewyn said softly.
When they broke apart, Percy was smiling a bit more fully. 
“It is good to see you, Carey,” he said, his faintly pompous voice nonetheless incredibly sincere, “though I’m afraid I’ll have my own ship to run now...”
Carewyn smiled proudly. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. A Commodore needs a talented Captain in his fleet.”
‘I know how long you’ve dreamed of moving up the ranks. Even if the Navy isn’t what it should be...I’m glad that you’re living your dream, Percy.’
Percy’s brown eyes softened, clearly touched. Before he could say anything, however, a familiar, aloof voice interrupted him.
"A Commodore does indeed need a talented Captain...”
Both Weasleys turned to Cutler Beckett as he stepped down onto the deck of the Dutchman beside them. His small eyes were locked firmly on Carewyn.
“...as does the Admiral of the fleet.”
He materialized a folded letter and held it out to Carewyn. Her eyebrows furrowed as she opened it, before her eyes widened upon its contents and the royal wax seal at the bottom.
“I’d already had this prepared ahead of time, prior to your departure from Port Royal,” said Beckett with a cool smile. “I wrote to the King of how impressed I was with your dedication, ingenuity, and talents, and he was most pleased. When I requested you to be at the head of my fleet for this upcoming venture, he agreed immediately. Upon receiving Madam Rakepick’s letter about you initiating the search for the Tower Raven’s old fleet and using one of their own ships to guide us to our target...I knew that my faith had been more than warranted.”
His eyes narrowed slightly over his cold, satisfied smile.
“Congratulations...Admiral Carey Weasley.”
The “honor” the King had bestowed upon her, if one could call it that, made Carewyn feel ill for multiple reasons. Not only did she truly not, NOT want to fight the Pirate Lords and whatever ships they gathered together, but she knew that she had largely gotten the position thanks to the effort of Rakepick -- who had for whatever reason credited Carewyn for following the Phoenix rather than taking credit herself -- and Beckett -- who Carewyn didn’t trust as far as she could throw him, but couldn’t figure out why exactly he had so much “faith” in her. Was she truly that good of an actress to completely fool him? She wanted to think so -- and yet the way he looked at her, not unlike how Rakepick looked at her, spoke of him knowing something she didn’t. Sadly Percy, even if he had seemed legitimately troubled by the hangings in Port Royal, was not distrustful enough of Beckett to express anything but pride in Carewyn’s accomplishment, so Carewyn couldn’t talk to him or anyone else about her suspicions.
When she confronted Rakepick about what she wrote to Beckett, the older woman’s response was oddly coy.
“I already told you you don’t belong on this ship,” she said, her dark blue eyes locked firmly onto Carewyn’s with a murky emotion she couldn’t quite identify. “Now that you’re Admiral, you’ll have more power to command your own ship, overlooking the Dutchman as well as the rest of the fleet.”
Carewyn’s eyes narrowed. “So you wrote that so I’d get off the Dutchman?”
Rakepick’s eyes narrowed slightly too, becoming more solemn. “You heard Lord Beckett -- he’d already planned this for you in advance. Although my reasons are different from his, I’m more than willing to play along with his whims, if it means I get what I want.”
“And what is it you want, Rakepick?”
Rakepick’s red lips curled up into a cool smirk. “Now, Admiral...one can hardly expect a lady to answer such a personal question.”
Not long after confronting Rakepick, Beckett summoned Carewyn to his cabin on his flagship, a Man O’ War called the HMS Lion. Unlike any of their previous meetings in his office, Carewyn found the cabin completely empty except for Beckett when she arrived -- in the past, Percy or Rakepick had been there too, as well as one or two employees of the East India Trading Company. It gave her the feeling that Beckett wanted this meeting to be more private than the others, which gave her a terrible sense of foreboding.
“You wished to see me, Lord Beckett?” she asked, once she’d finished saluting him.
“Yes,” said Beckett.
He was sitting behind his desk, which once again had a map laid out with different model soldiers and ships littered all over it. There were also seven Piece of Eight coins lined up in a neat little row -- he was once again playing with the eighth, rolling it along his fingers lackadaisically.
“Word has come from Shipwreck Cove, from the so-called ‘Pirate King,’“ he said, his eyes on the coin in his hand. “She wishes to rendez-vous on a tiny island on the far side of Shipwreck Island at sunset tonight, a ways away from the Cove. No weapons -- just talking.”
Beckett’s eyes flickered up to Carewyn’s face almost critically.
“...The Pirate King...signed her name as ‘Captain Jules Weasley’ -- so she’d be an old flame of yours, would she not?”
Carewyn stiffened slightly. ‘Jules is the Pirate King?’
She covered up her surprise quickly, her blue eyes narrowing.
“Miss Farrier -- pardon, Mrs. William Weasley -- never commanded any affection from me. Although her father bid she court me, her feelings were always for my brother -- so much so that she followed him into piracy.”
Beckett’s lips spread into a cold smile. “Then it’s as I surmised. Governor Farrier expressed frustration that his daughter had not managed to ensnare your heart, as opposed to your older brother’s -- especially considering how much she seemed to enjoy your company...”
Carewyn could not figure out what Beckett was trying to suss out from this conversation and it troubled her greatly -- so she put on her best, coldest expression and lied through her teeth.
“Whatever woman I respected in the past is dead, now that she’s an enemy of the Crown,” she said harshly. “I know no ‘Captain Jules Weasley’...nor do I wish to.”
Beckett’s smile did not shift in the slightest. If anything, his small, dark eyes flickered in something almost like triumph.
“I understand your sensitivity to the matter. You truly do love with all of your heart, don’t you, Admiral Weasley?”
Carewyn’s eyebrows knit tightly over her eyes in confusion, but she did not reply. Beckett put the Piece of Eight coin down in the row on his deck and rose from his chair, moving over to the decanter of red wine on the side table so he could pour a glass.
“I saw you with Captain Weasley, before you left Port Royal -- and of course, your reunion on-board the Dutchman, earlier today. I also heard quite a few interesting rumors circulated among our prisoners from Tortuga, speaking of your honor and the respect you showed them despite their criminal status...even moving a woman into a cell with her husband without being asked, if I’m not mistaken...”
His voice was very aloof and was tinged with a bizarre fascination, like an entomologist might have for a rare butterfly he’d pinned to his wall. Carewyn felt like her heart was being squeezed, but she dare not say anything.
Beckett finished pouring out two glasses of wine and put down the decanter so he could pick up both glasses.
“It’s not something I’m familiar with, that kind of concern for others.”
He offered the glass of red wine to Carewyn, his eyes boring into her face. Carewyn kept her face as blank as she could even though she could feel the blood leaving it as she took the glass of wine from him, but did not drink it.
“...I did not mean to displease you, Lord Beckett,” she said lowly.
Beckett’s eyes flickered again with that strange satisfaction as he took a sip from his glass of wine.
“On the contrary -- it’s only appropriate, for a woman to have a gentle heart.”
Carewyn stiffened sharply.
‘No. No, no, no -- !’
It was one thing for Rakepick to find out, but Beckett to know -- did Rakepick tell him? No, she said she wasn’t really doing any of this for Beckett -- should she deny it, Carewyn wondered? But if she did, and he caught her in a lie, could that make it worse -- ? 
Her hesitation made Beckett’s eyes gleam with greater satisfaction than ever.
“Then I was right,” he murmured. “I admit, I wasn’t sure. True, your voice is higher than one normally hears and you’re smaller than most, but I know first hand that means nothing. And your military record...had it not been for me having met and employed Patricia Rakepick previously, I would never have believed a woman could be so skilled in battle and strategy, nor so aggressive. But when Captain Weasley expressed such interest in me having hired a woman, and even went out of his way to bring it up to you...my interest was peaked. All the more so when I found out how truly useful you are, as an officer.”
Carewyn felt like she was drowning in horrifying, icy cold water. Beckett knew she was a woman -- he knew she was a woman, and could tell anyone about it, if he so chose. She’d not only lose her position -- the one thing that she had left that she could use to protect Jacob, Orion, Bill, Charlie, and Jules...but she’d be cast out in disgrace, leaving her with nothing -- possibly taking Percy along with her for having kept her true gender a secret --
Her blue eyes had drifted down to the floor absently, but were not focusing on anything.
Yet...Beckett had said nothing of his suspicions to anyone. True, he hadn’t known for sure...but why would he recommend her to the King as an Admiral, if he’d suspected?
And then it hit her.
She bowed her head, casting her eyes into shadow as she put down her untouched wine glass on the side table.
“...What do you want from me, Lord Beckett?”
Beckett raised his eyebrows but did not respond.
“You very easily could’ve gotten both Percy and me cast out of the Navy in disgrace,” she said, keeping her voice low in an attempt to try to keep it steady, “yet you’ve kept me and even helped get me promoted, presumably because I’m so ‘useful.’ What use do I have, for you?”
Beckett gave her something of a patronizing smile as he stepped forward, coming up right in front of Carewyn so that his chin rested just shy of her shoulder and he could look at her face out the side of his eye.
“Isn’t it obvious? You are an excellent Naval officer -- a leader and inspiration to those who serve under you. You’re world-renown for your honor, your courage -- your passion. You prompt people to fight with you -- for you -- with a loyalty that even the King of England himself cannot boast. Were you a man, you would be someone I’d be very threatened by, indeed. But since you are a woman...I can appeal to your heart.”
Carewyn could feel his breath sliding past her ear and she couldn’t help but cringe. She stubbornly refused to look him in the eye, keeping her gaze firmly on the floor.
“I’m afraid my disinterest in the once-Miss Farrier was not a one-off thing, Lord Beckett,” she said very dryly. “Romance is not something I think about very regularly.”
Orion’s face rippled over her mind, making her heart ache. Oh, if he were there, in that room -- the thought of him seeing her letting herself get pushed around by the man who’d branded him and sent the Navy after him for piracy...it made her feel ill.
Beckett’s lips curled up in a slightly tighter, almost miffed smile as he pulled away just enough that he was facing the wall behind her rather than looking at her face.
“...Oh...no, Admiral...you misunderstand me. I know I own no part of your heart...but Captain Weasley, he most assuredly does.”
Carewyn’s head shot up so she could look at him, her expression stricken despite herself.
“Your younger brother is not nearly as useful as you, but he has shown great dedication to me, since I threw him a bone and ensured his promotion. It’s a loyalty I hope that you will likewise show me...especially considering that both you and he have been given access to information that few others have been...and that I would do just about anything to ensure doesn’t become common knowledge...”
Carewyn stared at Beckett, her shock giving way to cold hatred. 
“So that’s it,” she murmured. “You’ll hold Percy’s and my lives and livelihoods over our heads, to make sure that I don’t surpass you, somehow. How I don’t know, considering that the Navy is not part of the East India Trading Company, nor shall it ever be, but clearly you feel loyalty is something to threaten out of people, rather than earn -- ”
“The only thing one can really earn in this world, Admiral, is money, and therefore power,” Beckett cut her off sharply, “and I have no intention of losing either, now that I’ve earned both of which I’m owed!”
He turned to look Carewyn straight-on in the eye, their faces mere inches apart. Gone was any hint of attempt at gentlemanly poise -- there was a hard edge to his gaze, not unlike the way he’d looked at Jones, but because he was actually an inch or so taller than Carewyn, he seemed to relish the power he had looking down at her both literally and figuratively.
“You will use your talents to serve my interests,” he said under his breath, “and I, in return, will continue to reward you and your brother, by ensuring that your careers and lives flourish under me. It’s just good business.”
At sundown, Beckett and Jules met at the tiny island agreed upon. Jules strolled down the long, narrow beach toward the shoreline where they were to meet, Jacob on one side of her and Orion on the other. She’d originally wanted Bill with her, but McNully was able to persuade her that she’d look that bit more intimidating to Beckett if she arrived in the company of two of the most wanted pirate captains in the world, and even Bill had to agree. Jules was determined to stand between Jacob and Orion, though, considering that there was still a lot of tension between them.
Jules had been furious with Jacob, when she’d learned about the deal he’d struck with Davy Jones. Even if he’d originally planned to give Jones “a Cromwell” as in Charles or Blaise Cromwell -- two objectively bad people who had been largely responsible for Carewyn and Jacob’s abusive, unloving childhoods -- Jules was also confident in thinking that Carewyn would be horrified, knowing that Jacob was willing to enslave another person to Davy Jones, just to find her. Jacob refused to feel guilty for that, but he clearly was destroyed by the knowledge that his choice had put Carewyn in so much danger. It was apparent from the way he talked about it and the way his hands and shoulders shook with silent sobs that Jacob would’ve sacrificed himself a hundred times over, if it would guarantee Carewyn wouldn’t be harmed.
Orion, by contrast, hadn’t said a word since Jacob told them what was going on. Throughout the entire conversation, he’d had his hands clasped tightly in front of him and kept his gaze downcast, even taking time to close his eyes for long periods of time as if he were meditating. Despite his silence and his detached affect, his usually stoic expression and unsteady breathing betrayed genuine anxiety. At one point, Bill brought a hand onto Orion’s shoulder to try to comfort him, and Orion actually subconsciously smacked his hand away.
“I’m sorry,” said the Captain quickly, his voice very hushed and tense as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath through his nose. “Just...please, don’t touch me.”
Bill, Charlie, and Jules all thought they could guess how Orion was feeling. Although the others had forcefully shot down the idea that Orion was the least bit responsible since he couldn’t have known the consequences of calling Carewyn by her real name, their words had done little to soften the Pirate Lord’s brow. If Orion’s past behavior hadn’t been indicative of how deeply he felt for Carewyn, then the way he clasped anxiously at his own hands and shut himself off from everyone else at the thought of her being doomed to spend the rest of her life trapped on board the Flying Dutchman made it crystal clear.
“Orion’s always valued his own freedom more than any kind of loot,” McNully murmured to the three Weasleys under her breath, “more than anything, really. And if he cares about the Commodore so much...”
“...He probably couldn’t bear it, if she lost hers,” finished Charlie, bowing his head and closing his eyes as they welled up with pain and righteous anger.
As Jules, Jacob, and Orion approached the shore, they caught sight of three people standing in the distance. The man in the middle dressed in black Orion identified as Cutler Beckett. On his left was an older woman as tall as Orion with hair as ginger red as Bill and Charlie’s that Jacob immediately recognized as Rakepick...and on his right was Carewyn, dressed in a new yellow-trimmed navy blue uniform and a black tricorn hat.
The three pirates stopped five feet away from the Head of the East India Trading Company and his two female companions, a notable sting of tension prickling at the air. Jules tried hard to keep her focus on Beckett, but her eyes were drawn to Carewyn despite herself. Although her friend faced Orion -- the person directly in front of her -- with a hard, stoic expression, she looked so pale. When Jules glanced over, she noticed out the side of her eye that Orion’s unreadable gaze was also locked on Carewyn, even as he took deep breaths through his nose and his hands clenched absently at his sides.
“Well, well,” said Beckett, his eyes narrowing darkly upon Orion’s face, “if it isn’t my old friend, Orion Amari.”
Orion glanced at Beckett out the side of his eye without turning his face away from Carewyn’s. Although his face remained rather calm, there was a faint edge to his soft-spoken response.
“...I did not think you were ever much in the market for friendship, Cutler Beckett...considering it’s something you cannot buy.”
His gaze returned to Carewyn. Beckett glanced from Carewyn to Orion, his lips curling up in a very cold smile.
“Ah, yes -- you and Amari are old friends also, aren’t you, Admiral Weasley?”
“Admiral?” repeated Orion, taken aback despite himself.
“Yes,” said Carewyn, and although her response was very cold, her eyes pulsed with emotion that she attempted to obscure by glancing to the side in Jacob’s direction rather than straight at Orion. “By order of the King, as a reward for my work alongside Lord Beckett.”
Jules could see Jacob’s jaw clench out the corner of her eye. She too felt like her heart was being squeezed. Carewyn no doubt hated her promotion with everything in her, if it was something she’d earned chasing after them on Beckett’s orders. Still...Jules couldn’t express that flat-out, so she put on the strongest expression she could.
“...I suppose congratulations are in order, then.” 
Carewyn flashed Jules a look. “I don’t want congratulations from you, Mrs. Weasley. Or should I call you ‘Your Majesty,’ now that you’ve started playacting as a royal?”
Jules’s lips came together tightly when she saw how broadly Beckett smirked. The small man’s reaction seemed to piss off Jacob too.
“You will show proper respect to the Pirate King,” he said with a fierce look at the Head of the East India Trading Company.
“Respect,” scorned Rakepick. “Is that a word you can even define, Black Jack?”
“As well as I could wring your neck, if I were allowed,” spat Jacob.
“I’m surprised your ‘Pirate King’ would want a man in her company who’s so comfortable threatening a lady’s life,” said Carewyn sharply.
‘Don’t start a fight with her,’ she thought desperately, praying that Jacob would be able to sense her intent even with the act she had to play. 
Unfortunately Jacob, as smart as he was, was never the best at reading people’s emotions -- and so when his narrowed eyes shot to Carewyn, she could see a flicker of pain. She surmised that even if he clearly didn’t think she believed what she was saying, it hurt him beyond reason, to see her having to defend the woman who’d tried to kill him.
Orion, however, very quickly adapted to the new method of “conversation,” fixing Carewyn with a calm, but piercing gaze.
“And I’m surprised that a honorable officer such as yourself would be so comfortable in the company of those with no honor whatsoever,” he said.
‘You’re in danger,’ Carewyn surmised he was trying to say. Her eyes narrowed upon Orion’s face.
“I beg your pardon?” she retorted. “I fail to see how a pirate has any leg to stand on, speaking of honor.” ‘What are you trying to tell me?’
“Even I have more honor than a captain who would burn an entire settlement to the ground,” murmured Orion. ‘Davy Jones.’
“Jones follows orders, as do we all...something else a pirate wouldn’t understand.” ‘What about Jones?’
"Orders...from Cutler Beckett, or from you? From what I’ve heard, you were on the Flying Dutchman yourself -- hardly a place one would expect to find Port Royal’s greatest hero.” ‘You must get away from Davy Jones. Get off of the Flying Dutchman.’
Carewyn’s blue eyes narrowed a bit more. First Rakepick wanted her off the Dutchman, and now Orion? Yes, Davy Jones was dangerous, but at present she found him much less of a threat than Beckett...
“A true hero knows that his reputation comes second to the good of the others,” she said very softly. “As does a loyal officer.” ‘I can’t leave.’
Something in Orion’s dark eyes flinched.
“Your older brother will be very disappointed, to know you’ve sold your loyalty so cheaply,” he said just as softly.
Carewyn felt her heart clench. She knew he didn’t mean Bill -- and yet the thought of both her surrogate brothers and Jacob was a silent knife to her back. She didn’t dare look at Jacob for fear her strong facade would crack, so she kept her focus solidly on Orion.
“I would think given your own history with Lord Beckett, you’d know full well how valuable of an ally he is, ” she shot back quickly, feigning temper as best she could, “and how dangerous of an enemy, as well. Both I and the brother who chose to follow the law rather than spit in its face are certainly glad for his aid, in ending your reign of terror.”
‘I can’t leave, not with what Beckett has over me and Percy. And if I do leave, then you’ll be in more danger than ever...’
Her eyes bore into Orion’s fiercely as she begged beyond reason he’d understand.
“...You may tell William...that I am no Bedlam maid in need of saving.”
‘You can’t help me. I love you.’
Deep in the depths of his sparkling black eyes, Carewyn could see a flicker of desperation, almost like anxiety. Afraid that Beckett might notice the crack in Orion’s expression, or in her own at the sight of it, she quickly whirled on Jules.
“He is the one who should stand down,” she said, her voice hardening further in an attempt to obscure her emotions. “All of you should, unless you wish to face down an entire armada.”
‘There are 34 Man O’ Wars waiting out there for you,’ she hoped Jules would be able to discern. Even if she didn’t know an armada had that many ships, Jacob and Orion would.
Jules, to her credit, matched Carewyn’s act with her own cold gaze. “Don’t underestimate us, Admiral Weasley. Both the British Navy and the East India Trading Company have done that consistently from the beginning.”
“And now we have come to the end,” said Beckett smoothly. “Of you and the rest of your Brethren.”
The others all turned to look at him. He flashed Orion a look better suited to a cockroach before redirecting his gaze onto Jules.
“Tell your Court this,” he said in an aloof, condescending voice. “You can fight, and all of you will die...or you can stand down, in which case only most of you will die. I daresay the Governor could be persuaded to spare you from the gallows, if you threw yourself on his mercy...and if I were to be merciful enough to leave out your new position, in my correspondence with the King...”
Jules’s dark eyes flashed with hatred as she strode forward, coming to a stop two feet from Beckett so she could glare right into his face.
“There are few things I can tolerate less than cowards who resort to blackmail just to make themselves feel powerful.”
She didn’t look at Carewyn, but Carewyn could sense Jules was thinking of her, as she said this.
“We will fight. And you’d best hope that we will show more mercy than you would, in our place.”
The Pirate King turned on her heel and walked away. With some reluctance, Orion and then Jacob turned away and strode quickly after her, leaving the other three alone on the shore.
“So be it,” said Beckett with a cold smile.
Carewyn couldn’t look at Rakepick or Beckett at her side. Her gaze was solidly locked on the departing backs of her brother, friend, and love as they began to shrink into the distance.
She’d never been very good at relying on or having faith in others...but in that moment, more than anything, she knew all she could do now was put her trust in Orion -- in Jules -- in Jacob -- in Bill and Charlie and all of the other pirates on Shipwreck Cove.
‘Please...please, be careful. Please be safe.’
In that moment of helplessness, she felt her heart ache all the more, watching Orion walk away. She closed her eyes, trying to bring back the memory of him standing shoulder to shoulder with her on the Artemis -- of him lying in bed as she tended to him, when they were young -- but it was no use. The graveness of the situation was too dire even for escapism...
Carewyn clutched her own arms behind her back. They suddenly felt so much heavier...as if there really were manacles there she couldn’t hope to break.
‘...Please...please live.’
On the opposite side of the island, both Jules and Jacob noticed the silent tears that had streaked down Orion’s face...but none had the heart to address it as they boarded the jollyboat that would take them back to the Artemis and to Shipwreck Cove.
At the same time that the pirates and the leaders of the British Navy were meeting, Davy Jones had been left behind on the Flying Dutchman with Percy supervising the troops. Beckett thought that Jones was threatened into line by how many soldiers were still guarding his heart, but thanks to Carewyn, Jones knew that Rakepick had stolen and relocated it. Now that he didn’t know where his heart was at all, he knew he couldn’t afford to move until he’d found it again -- and with Carewyn likely leaving the Dutchman with her new position as Admiral, it was likely it’d take a while before she could smuggle him any more information she might acquire about that. For the moment, though, Jones had put that concern on the back burner, for the Dutchman’s arrival near Shipwreck Cove gave him the opportunity to catch up with the Phoenix.
As luck would have it, when Jones phased through the Dutchman and onto the Phoenix, the ship was largely abandoned, since the crew had all gone ashore to Shipwreck Cove. The only person remaining was a small woman with long white hair, looking out to sea over the deck. In her hand was a pretty silver locket in the shape of a moon, the lid of which was cracked open so that a sweet, tinkling music box melody played.
Chia Dalma closed the locket half-way through the song, her eyes closing sadly as she clasped the locket close to her chest. She straightened up in shock, however, when she suddenly heard the rest of the tune echoing from behind her. She whirled around, to be faced with a giant, hulking shadow with writhing tentacles sprouting out from his jaw, holding an identical locket in his claw. Anyone would’ve been terrified at the sight -- but Chia looked upon the figure with tears in her eyes.
“Finn,” she breathed. Her lips were curled up in a weak smile, just as they had been before, but the joy was stained with so many other emotions -- grief, shame, and regret.
Davy Jones regarded Chia critically as he took several plodding steps toward her. “You know I haven’t been called that name in years.”
Chia bowed her head. “Nor have I been called my true name in years.”
Jones tilted his head, trying to read her expression better now she was looking away from him.
“I had not expected to find you like this,” he said very lowly. “You’ve never taken on such a small shape before.”
Chia’s eyes flashed with righteous anger as she raised her head. “That’s because this form is one I did not choose to take. It was thrust upon me by the Brethren Court.”
Jones straightened up slightly. His eyes narrowed to slits.
“...Then they did not kill or trap you. They transformed you.”
His voice was as low and growling as thunder. Chia clutched at the sides of her arms with her hands, her gaze smouldering with resentment as she glared down at the deck.
“Oh, but they did trap me,” she said bitterly, “trapped me in this single form, which can’t do even half of what I should be able to. I’ve been able to use what power I have to slow down the aging process, but this body still feels pain. This body still feels strain, and weakness, and hunger, and exhaustion, and longing...”
Something rippled over her eyes -- something more ashamed and pained.
“...I never knew...how much time truly weighs on a human,” she murmured.
Jones’s expression grew much more grim. “An immortal such as yourself should never have had to learn that.”
“Should never have had to, yes...but...”
She looked up at Jones, her gray eyes pulsing with strength despite the pain rippling within.
“...why did you not tell me, how long ten years felt for you? I have felt those ten years several times over, trapped in this tiny, fragile, helpless body every single moment -- and it’s...it’s been torture. To know you took the job I gave you -- only coming ashore once every ten years, so you could help me with the burden of tending to the dead at sea -- when ten years feels like that, to you -- ”
Chia’s eyes flooded with tears.
“I gave you the position of ferryman because I wanted to spare you from death,” she whispered. “Because if I didn’t give you that role and give you some of my power, you would’ve died. I’d never thought that those ten years would feel so long -- drain you so much...”
Jones was quiet for a long moment. Then he brought up his claw to brush her bangs from her eye.
“It’s only natural that you saw things the way an immortal would. Time is no object to you -- ten years no doubt felt like a small price to pay, in the face of your life span. And...”
His eyes became a bit smaller.
“...it’s not exactly like I wanted to die and be separated from you either. Even though part of me always doubted you’d be there waiting for me, when I returned...even though I resented you for years because you weren’t there...”
A ghost of a smile flickered over his features.
“...I know I shouldn’t have expected you to see things as I have -- to change yourself to suit me. If you did...you wouldn’t be the goddess I fell in love with, would you?”
Chia smiled up at Jones, her eyes shining with tenderness.
“I tried to make it back to you,” she murmured. “When the Court transformed me, I tried so hard to get there, to reach you...”
She extended her hands, tentatively trailing them along his tentacled face. Jones seemed to tremble at her touch.
“I know of the danger you’re in, Finn,” said Chia seriously. “As long as Cutler Beckett has your heart, I know you’re beholden to him. But I have allies among this newest Brethren Court. If they convince the others to break my chains, as I’ve foreseen they will...then as soon as I am free, I will come for you. I will make sure you and I are never separated again...and I will make sure your captors suffer the consequences, for hurting the man I love.”
As her small white hands held his face, Jones’s face and frame suddenly began to morph. In an instant, the slimy texture, the tentacles clinging to his face, and his claw all vanished -- and there stood the tall, handsome pirate she’d fallen in love with so long ago.
Finn McGarry’s face broke out into a broken, soft smile. He stretched out his hand, caressing his love’s human cheek with more gentleness than his claw ever could have.
“Calypso...” he murmured.
Chia’s face broke out into a full smile as well. She knew she couldn’t permanently remove the fishy transformation, as it was something that had mutated Jones over the many years they’d been apart, due to his heartbreak and grief...but seeing him looking so much like his old self after so long...it made her currently human heart swell with love.
“Just as you gave me your heart, when you became captain of the Flying Dutchman,” she murmured, “so too will you always have mine.”
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kdtheghostwriter · 4 years
Text
SNK #129 - Advance
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Just a tender moment between contemporaries before they get blown up.
Part of writing a good finale means laying down groundwork – setting the stage. The set piece has to go somewhere, after all. The final set piece for this series will be, appropriately so, Eren Jaeger in a sea of Titans. But we have to get there first, so let’s take a moment to set the board and see who is where.
The first thing we see is the body of Daz, floating softly to the bottom of the bay. Then we see Samuel who somehow still has a face left. (It was here I remembered I was reading Shingeki no Kyojin and not Berserk.) Because of the month hiatus, for me anyway, there was a little extra impact seeing the results of Connie’s “betrayal.” Armin is still wounded; Annie and Reiner are not far behind.
They’ve been tasked with protecting Kiyomi and her clan from the Jaegerists. It’s a task that proves more difficult as time wears on because there are so damn many of them. The 3DM is tailor-made to fight Titans and the Paradisians have a full century of practice. Even greenhorn chumps like Floch and his crew, with the right tools, can do serious damage. In addition to that, who knows what other insider info The Usurper himself has given them?
The Female and Armored Titans are getting bombarded. They aren’t going to make it and Falco is the only one with the nerve to say it out loud. This is one of those moments where two things can be true at the same time. Is Falco ready for the stressors of transforming and using the Jaws Titan, let alone for battle? Clearly not. Does the alliance really have a choice if they don’t want their narrow window of opportunity to be closed? The answer is also no. None of these plans will be perfect.
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It took me a minute to pick up what she was putting down here. The idea is to sail ahead of Eren’s Rolling Apocalypse and cut him off with Hizuru’s flying machine. As far as prevent defense goes, there are worse things you can do. There’s still the matter of what to do when they get there, but right now it’s a race to make sure only 40% of the continent is flattened.
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Let’s not get it twisted, alright. I do not like this dude. But! I love how Commander Handsome still casts his shadow over this entire series. He’s been dead for years now both in story and IRL yet his influence rings true even in the absolute bastards. Hange is Erwin’ successor. They do what they can every day to live up to his legacy. Floch does the same, but clearly as someone who has only read Erwin’s Problematic Fave entry. He survived Erwin’s suicide charge fully in tact and decided the reason he was still alive was to become the Devil that Erwin didn’t get the chance to be. Not by becoming a Titan, mind you, but by becoming an autocratic piece of shit.
In this way, Erwin Smith is a lot like The Boss from MGS3. His legacy as a hero of man stands tall over even his own life. After his death, people have interpreted (or misinterpreted or reinterpreted) his will. The countless arguments I’ve seen about how he would deal with Eren; if he would support Eren; what his plan would be for a Marley counterattack. All of this is why Levi basically chose to kill him on that rooftop. Sometimes death can be mercy.
 The last thing I want to talk about is the theme of succession. It was very prevalent in this chapter. It’s a major theme of this story in general.
Even if we die. Even after we die.
Every advance we make as human beings is in part thanks to the toil and failures and, yes, bloodshed of our predecessors. We stand on the shoulders of the giants that came before us. In my favorite Assassin’s Creed title, Black Flag, there is a nice moment near the end of the main story between fictional pirate Edward Kenway and real pirate Mary Read. Mary has been rescued from captivity but is near death. She knows she can go no further and asks Edward, “I’ve done my part. Will you?”
That is the thesis of the franchise which features treasure hunts and time travel. Well, genetic time travel anyway. Shingeki no Kyojin asks the same question. Commander Erwin stood upon a mountain of corpses that grew taller with each mission. When it was time for him to lay down his life so that his people could advance further than they were yesterday, he did so with little trepidation. The main idea is the same here. You take the baton for the sake of passing it forward.
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I appreciated this moment of reflection from Magath much more than the crocodile tears from the last chapter. I expected it from Shadis, who has always been an exceptional teacher, but seeing Magath come to the same conclusion via his own troupe of Eldians was cathartic in a way. It was a good end to his character arc; he at least deserves that much.
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And what more can I say about Keith Shadis. I knew he was a real one from the very start. He didn’t see himself as special, but he was special to the people that knew him, undoubtedly. Years ago, as I was climbing out of a dark place in my life, my best friend told me something that I’m sure he thought was a throwaway line that stuck with me ever since. I’ve repeated it constantly as a mantra.
“We’re all geniuses. In our own way.”
I never forgot that. Shadis fell into a deep depression of his own after leading the Survey Corps to staggering losses on numerous campaigns. A young, brilliant commander succeeded him, which left Shadis to become an instructor: his true talent. Both men were talented, as was Eren, just not in the ways any of them thought.
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 Stray Thoughts
- To continue the theme of passing torches, Falco was emboldened by the latent will of Porco Galliard: one of his mentors and the previous holder of the Jaws Titan.
- There’s a lot of words I want to say about the design of Falco’s Titan form, how it relates to birds and how those animals were basically indistinguishable from dinosaurs as we know them today. But that isn’t my area of expertise and I have a long queue to deal with so just know that I like it a lot.
- Mikasa and Annie working together. Will Nature’s wonders ever cease?
- Let’s not mince words here. This may be the last time these folks ever see Paradis Island. Until proven otherwise, this is very much a one-way trip.
- It’s the beginning of the end, at last. We’re entrenched in the middle of the Final Act. It wouldn’t surprise me if we didn’t see Eren (or Historia) until the very last update. It’s been a pleasure reading along with everyone and I thank you for spending even a little bit of your time each month reading my thoughts. I’ve taken leaps and bounds as a writer and on top of that, it’s just been hella fun.
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noonachronicles · 4 years
Text
You, Me, and Satan Himself
Lee Jooheon X Reader
Word count: 6.5k
Warnings: mild language. there are a couple of mentions of suicide/attempted suicide, not member or reader related. also mentions of child death, also not member or reader related. ummm I think that’s it. 
Genre: bffs to lovers. idiots to lovers. alludes fwb but not LJH/Reader. It’s got some spooky themes, but ultimately it’s fluff.
A/N: It’s a Halloweeeeeen story! Ghosts and ghouls, firemen and pirates and of course Satan himself. ;D Happy Birthday @nemesyis! This one is for you. It’s not really an attack story, but I hope you enjoy it anyway! 
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Wind was howling through the naked branches of the trees that lined the path you were on. The brisk chill of the fall air made you shiver. Much to your chagrin the dress and tights combo of your costume was doing almost nothing to keep the cold from consuming you. Clicking of your black lolita heels against the pavement beneath you echoed down the avenue you were walking down. Luckily it was a full moon, which meant that the path was fully visible despite the lack of lights. It might have been romantic if you weren’t mentally preparing yourself to be spooked. Focusing in on the sound of every branch that cracked, every hoot of an owl, every flicker of movement in your peripherals was being noted and you were thrilled by the way it all made the blood tingle in your veins. The only thing putting you off was the chattering of your teeth. It was hard to focus on getting in the mood when you couldn’t stop thinking about how cold you were.
“I told you to bring a jacket.” Jooheon muttered beside you.
“A jacket doesn’t go with this costume.” you advised him for the hundredth time that night. “And the dress has sleeves...I thought it would be warmer.”
“Yeah well my costume doesn’t require a jacket either, so thanks for that.” he complained.
Stopping, you looked over at your very grumpy best friend. It was cute, his outfit. Plaid button down shirt tucked into brown cargo shorts. Round glasses sat on his nose. Pocket protector, complete with pens, sat against his chest. Tube socks pulled all the way up his calves and dirty sneakers on his feet. Every little detail made you smile, you’d done wonderfully putting it together for him, you knew there was even an inhaler in his pocket. He was the perfect Joel Glicker to your Wednesday Addams.
“Honey…” you said lifting your hand to his cheek as he pouted at you, “you look so cute. Thank you for being the best best friend a girl could ask for. I promise that next year I will have a boyfriend of my own and I’ll make him do couples costumes with me, and then you’ll never have to deal with it again.”
He sighed deeply and then gave a tight smile, you still caught a glimpse of his dimple, “It’s fine.”
Once the two of you got moving again you fell back into a comfortable silence, like the pair of you usually did. Instead of going back to your mood setting thoughts you considered Jooheon. He really was the greatest guy you knew. Growing up neighbors left him destined to be either your best friend or worst enemy and at different points in your life he’d been both.
From toddler to teen you were inseparable. Then at some point you couldn’t remember hormones tore you apart. That was when he met the boys. You could still remember how jealous you’d been that first summer watching them hanging out all the time, wishing it was still you he wanted to spend his time with. You’d tried making new friends but mostly became a recluse, playing video games all the time and reading libraries worth of books. In high school you got your first boyfriend, an athlete in the year ahead of you, and you dated for three years. On the first day of summer before your senior year he ditched you because he wanted to be single for university.
You never knew how he’d heard about the break up, you never asked, but the very next day when you had convinced yourself you were never leaving your blanket burrito ever again Jooheon showed up. The moment he walked into your room, after your mom had let him in the house, it was like there had never even been a second that you were apart. He spent every single day with you that summer. Even if he’d had plans with the boys, he always dragged you along. You barely spent a second alone and by the time senior year started you had practically forgotten you’d ever had a boyfriend in the first place. From then on you were back to inseparable even now as adults.
“I hate this.” he grumbled beside you.
The shrubbery along the path was thickening and it was getting darker the further you moved along. You reached over and grabbed his hand, squeezing your fingers around his.
“Don’t worry so much. I’ll protect you, I swear.” you smiled over at him. “We’re almost there.”
There was the sound of another snapping branch from the trees and you could feel his body vibrate in fear, “We’re going to die, I hope you know. This is the worst night of my whole life because I’m going to die...dressed like a nerd.”
“Thank you.” you said again.
“For what? Dying with you on this cold, dark, abandoned path to some haunted house in the middle of nowhere?”
“Kind of,” you laughed quietly, “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I know you would have much preferred to stay at the party picking up chicks. Instead you came with me and that means a lot.”
“Oh,” he seemed to ease at your words and even puffed out his chest slightly, “It’s cool. Honestly, no big deal at all. I didn’t want to be at that party if you weren’t going to be there anyway. And yes, this may be a weird, creepy idea that I hate more than anything, but you know I’d do anything for you.”
You squeezed his hand again and smiled, “I love you, Honey.”
He rolled his eyes but smiled all the same, “I love you too.”
“We’re so close, the house is right up here, just around that curve.” you couldn’t help your excitement and you moved faster down the path.
As you had nearly reached the end of the path, the abandoned house in your sight, you could see a large dark mass speeding towards you, but you didn’t process it fast enough. Not until the cloaked figure was already rawring loudly into your face. Jumping back you clutched your chest, heart racing. Seconds passed and you finally registered Changkyun’s laughter, and your eyes adjusted enough to see his devilish face clearly. Jooheon was long gone, having sprinted back down the path quite a ways, he was still shrieking.
“That’s so fucked, Kyun.” you let out a large breath.
Devil horns atop his head, he held up his finger, an evil grin on his lips, “Just wait, it gets better.”
By then Jooheon’s screams had petered down. When you looked down the path to the silhouette of his figure you could see he was making his way, slowly, back to you. He was still several yards away when you saw the two new dark figures creeping out of the brush behind him. It was very clear he hadn’t noticed their presence yet.
“No, my poor Honey.” you mumbled, “Minhyuk?”
“And Hyungwon.” Changkyun snickered beside you.
After just a moment more of silence you could hear their collective “Boo!” as they lunged towards Jooheon. The sound of his screaming and cursing echoed through the night as he sprinted full speed back to you.
“Assholes!” he shouted, “All my friends are assholes!”
He clung to you as he panted, catching his breath and you gently patted his back, “You’re not wrong about that.”  
“I knew it was going to be good,” Minhyuk said still laughing as he and Hyungwon made it to the group, “but that was so much better than I ever expected.”
After finishing rolling your eyes you saw a flicker of light bouncing its way out of the front of the building.
“Shownu!” you called out cheerfully as you recognized the man behind the flashlight in his fireman costume. He gave a small wave as he made his way over. “Where’s everyone else?”
“Kihyun and Hoseok met some people at the party.” He shrugged as he moved out of the hug he’d given you. “Hoseok said to say sorry. Kihyun said to tell you he was not sorry and that if you couldn’t understand you weren’t really friends.”
You laughed, knowing that it was likely that’s exactly what he said. “Wait so you just went in all by yourself?”
“Yeah, no one was here when I got here so I went in and took a look around. Not very exciting as far as haunted houses go. I didn’t find any workers. There’s no smoke machines or creepy music.” he said sounding very unimpressed.
“Nunu…” you shook your head, “Oh sweet man, it’s not a haunted house, it’s just creepy and abandoned.”
“Ohh.” he nodded in understanding, “That makes more sense.”
Jooheon quickly went from clinging to you to clinging to the pillar of muscle and fearlessness that was Shownu. “Full offense to everyone else here, who sucks, but dibs on Nu as my partner.”
“Dibs on y/n.” Minhyuk said throwing his arm over your shoulder, “Unintentionally wearing couples costumes and everything.”
You looked him up and down in confusion, “Min, you’re a pirate. How are we at all a couples costume?”
“You see, after tonight, when you’re wowed by my courage, strength, and overall ability to protect you, you won’t be able to resist me.” you did your best to hold back a snort, “After that, we will be a couple and then no matter what our outfits are they will always be couples outfits. ...because, you know, we’ll be a couple.”
“I think I got it.” you laughed.
As he’d been talking everyone, with the exception of Minhyuk himself, watched as Hyungwon slipped silently behind the brazen pirate. In a swift motion he reached out, grabbing his hips, with a quick boo! Minhyuk jumped about a foot in the air, his pirate hat was thrown off his head and his shrill shriek pierced the cold air.
“Yeah...good luck in there, y/n.” Hyungwon said shooting you a wink.
“She’s a goner for sure.” Changkyun smirked.
“Alright, alright.” you said anxiously, “Let’s do this. I don’t want to be standing out here until the sun comes up.”
Pushing through the group you made your way to the dark house. The pirate and the devil followed closely behind, the others with slightly less enthusiasm. Once you hit the porch steps of the old colonial house you pulled your flashlight from the pocket of your dress. One of the double doors had been broken or removed and was leaning against the door frame. It wasn’t really breaking and entering, you thought to yourself, just entering really.
You ducked through the open door to avoid the giant cobweb in the corner. Inside the house was covered in a thick layer of dirt and dust. Dead leaves scattered across the floor as far as your eyes could see and you wondered just how long the front door had been down. Rebellious teenagers had left graffiti a top the peeling wallpaper. There were giant holes all along the walls and you were sure there wasn’t a foot of copper wiring left in the old bones of the home.
The foyer was huge and as the beam of your flashlight moved over it you could just imagine how beautiful it had been in its youth. There was a staircase to the second floor to the left of the room. Beyond it were two hallways leading off in opposite directions. You looked over at the giant landing at the base of the staircase and nodded to yourself.
“Changkyun,” you said and flashed your light over at the area, “how about here?”
He nodded in agreement, “Perfect.”
He handed you candle after candle from a brown satchel at his side to light and place around the area. When the fireman, Glicker, and Hyungwon as the ghoul all made it inside the whole group of you got comfortable, or as comfortable as you could, on the landing of the staircase. The devil stayed standing, his red cloak swooped around his legs and the light from the candles lit up his face dramatically as he prepared to tell the group about the history of the home. The shadow of his horns illuminated against the wall behind him.
“The year,” Changkyun began, “was eighteen oh six. Doctor Leonardo Fitz had just wed the love of his life, Maria Vanderson. As a grand gesture of his love for her he had this house built just for her and what was meant to be their large, happy family. However, after many years had passed the halls of the home remained without the laughter of children. It seemed that the couple was not fated for the family they had dreamed of. Maria was devastated and heartbroken, believing herself to be at fault for their misfortune. Unable to take the guilt of it all she attempted to drown herself in the couple's claw footed bathtub, that remains upstairs to this very day.”
Jooheon let out a hiss of a breath and burrowed closer to you.
“Maria Vanderson was unsuccessful at her death, found too quickly by the house maid and dragged from the water. Though when she woke her husband feared the damage had already been done. His wife had become delusional. Nightmares haunted her sleep and visions attacked her in the light of day. To anyone who would give her a minute of their time she babbled on about what had happened in her time in the great beyond. She spoke of a man that had come to her just before the light took her for good.
The man with eyes as black as the darkest night sky pressed the palm of his clawed hand against her flat stomach. Locking his dark stare with her fearful one he whispered, ‘my son’. A little over a month after the incident occurred they found out that Maria was pregnant. The doctor, desperate for an excuse for his wives apparent insanity, blamed her delusions on the pregnancy hormones. Nine months to the very day of her attempted suicide, Maria gave birth.”
“Nooooo.” Minhyuk gasped. You bit your lip to keep from laughing at the look of absolute horrified realization on his face.
“What?” Jooheon asked with morbid curiosity, even as he wrapped himself even tighter around you.
Minhyuk looked over at him with raised eyebrows and mouthed, “It’s the devils baby!”
Changkyun sighed in annoyance. “Well if Minhyuk is just going to spoil everything what’s the point of even going on with the story.”
“Oh, Kyunnie, please!” You pouted cutely, “It’s so good and you worked so hard on all that research.”
“I did.” He nodded smugly, “I researched the entire history of this home…  So I will continue, but everyone better keep their theories to themselves.”
“Sorry,” Minhyuk said as he coward at the pointed look from his junior.
“What had been more shocking than the timing of Maria’s labor,” he started once more, “was that she gave birth to twin boys. One with flaxen hair like his father, the others black as a raven’s feather.”
Minhyuk let out another dramatic gasp but quickly slammed his hand over his mouth.
Changkyun continued, “Both boys grew up portraits of health and seemingly as normal as any other child might. The only difference between them besides the color of their hair was that Damian, the raven haired child, had been fussier than his brother Gabriel. He required much more attention but only that from his mother was able to comfort him. As they aged the changes and differences between them became more and more clear. Gabriel was a playful, independant boy that enjoyed spending his time outside in the sun. He liked to run around the giant yard, swinging on the swing set, and climbing trees. He liked to be dirty and to laugh.
Damien did not enjoy those things. He was quiet, an observer of the things around him. Even though he was just a boy he still knew things about the people in the home, their secrets.  He preferred to do whatever his mother was doing, always at her side. She called him her little shadow and adored him with every ounce of her being. The doctor did not feel the same way about the boy. He felt he could see a darkness in the child and was watching it grow every day. It terrified the doctor to see how he manipulated Maria and the others in the house into loving him.
One afternoon Maria had been getting ready for a gala she was to attend with the doctor. She’d been in front of her vanity doing her makeup. The boys had been running up and down the hallway and in the playroom quite loudly. After some time had passed she realized the house had grown silent.”
“I don’t like it,” Jooheon whispered just to you, and pressed his face into your shoulder. You squeezed his hand comfortingly and listened to Changkyun go on.
“When she stepped from the bedroom into the hallway the only thing she could see was Damien at the top of the stairs holding a wooden toy airplane at his side. As she moved closer to her son she could see the mortifying view at the bottom of the stairs. Her fair haired boy laid mangled across the bottom step, blood oozing around him. She wrapped Damien in her arms, pressing his face to her chest to protect him from the sight. The help claimed they could her screams for hours after, just echoing up and down the halls. Maybe we’ll even hear them tonight.”
“Wait...these stairs?!” Hyungwon asked in a panic, shooting up from the bottom step he’d been sitting on. He cleared his throat and said a little more casually, “I mean ...these stairs?”
“One and the same.” Changkyun confirmed.
“What...that’s it?” Shownu asked high key unimpressed. You watched as Hyungwon slowly made his way from the staircase to the opposite side of the circle, otherwise unnoticed.
“Worry not, the story doesn’t end there.”
“Oh god damn it.” Jooheon groaned beside you.
“Alright, everyone, settle down and focus.” Changkyun waited for everyone’s attention before going on with the story. “Doctor Leo knew right away what had happened to his son and was furious. He wanted to get rid of the evil boy. However, Maria loved her son and she refused to believe the ravings of a madman. One day while she’d been out the doctor had even brought a priest into the home to try and exorcise the boy. Maria was enraged when she arrived home. Unable to handle the pained cries of the only child she had left, she tore the restraints from his body and banned the clergy from her home.
A decade had passed and the doctor’s fear and anger had torn him and Maria apart. They stayed on opposite sides of the home. She refused to speak to him because every time she did he would just say some hurtful things to her about Damien. The doctor began to drink heavily, he was falling apart having lost his son and then his wife.
On his fifteenth birthday, what would have been Gabriels as well, Maria took her son into the city for lunch and then to the zoo. When they arrived back home they found the doctor had ended his own life. Unable to handle the evil consuming the home any longer. His limp, lifeless body was found hanging from the railing, just there,” Changkyun pointed up to the railing of the second floor that was broken, leaving dangerous open gaps, “He’d made a noose out of bed sheets.”
“Two down, one to go.” Hyungwon joked, though he eyed the railing warily
“He won’t kill the mom.” Shownu argued. Both Minhyuk and Jooheon shuddered at the thought.
You sighed, “Come on, guys. He’s almost to the best part.”
“Which is?” Shownu asked.
“The end.” Jooheon grumbled.
“The best part is when he finally gets to the reason we’re really here.” you corrected.
“Just get it over with then.” Minhyuk whined, pulling his knees to his chest.
“For three years following the death of the doctor, mother and son lived here quite harmoniously. The only complaints to be had were from the help. Maids and gardeners often complaining about the property being overrun by creatures that always ended up dead. In the home and around it they found rats, cats, birds, foxes, rabbits, and snakes. As if they’d come to the house for the sole purpose of dying.
One afternoon, not long after Damien’s eighteenth birthday, Maria was just coming home from a short trip to the city. Out on the lawn, she found the old gardener facedown on the ground, dead.  When she ran inside the maid and the cook where both here in the foyer. Deep gashes like those from the claws of an animal covered their bodies. Blood was seeping from their wounds. She could see, dug into the wood flooring, were marks left by the cooks nails as she’d been dragged down the hall. Terrified for her son’s life, Maria searched the whole house for Damien. She found the door of the study, the last place she’d checked, slightly ajar. She peered inside and what she saw made her sick with fear.
Her son was standing in the center of the room with his eyes closed and naked as the day he was born. Behind him the fireplace was burning and she watched with wide eyes as a horned beast stepped out from the flames half man, half animal. Ten feet tall it had hoven feet and eyes as black as the darkest night. In his clawed hands he held a gold chalice. He spoke in a language she could not understand and from the chalice poured what seemed like an endless stream of dark red blood on top of her son’s head.
In a voice she’d heard before the beast whispered, my son.
Damien’s eyes opened under the shower of blood, and she gasped when she saw they were as black as his fathers. The door swung open, exposing her. The last thing she saw was the sick twisted smile of her demon son as his father came for her.  
Some people say you can hear the sound of hoven feet against the hardwood floor, the pained screams of Maria, the giggles of young Gabriel, and warnings from the doctor himself, whispered against your ear, begging you to leave this damned home.”
“I’ve seen the fireplace in the study. It’s huge. The devil coming out of it,” Shownu shrugged, “that’s actually pretty believable.”
“The devil!” Jooheon whined, “That’s so much worse than just a regular ghost story! I hate this, I’m gonna be sick.”
“Who is going to explain why we’re here?” Shownu asked, “I thought that would be made clear.”
“We’re here to find the chalice.” Changkyun answered. “Somewhere in this haunted old house is the devil's cup. We will go in our pairs and search until it’s found or the sun has risen.”
“What do we get if we find it?” Hyungwon asked intrigued.
“Pride, honor, a golden chalice to drink all of your future drinks out of.” you said as if the answer were obvious. “Also, the winning team gets breakfast paid for by the losers.”  
“Yeah, we’re winning. Let’s go.” With that Shownu grabbed Jooheon by the wrist and dragged him down the hall to the left.
“Game on.” Changkyun said with a wicked laugh before running upstairs with Hyungwon hot on his devils tail.
~~
The house was much scarier than you expected it to be. It might not have been that bad if it weren’t for the fact that Minhyuk was trembling with fear everywhere the two of you went. You’d searched the kitchen and the dining room together. The pair of you clung desperately to each other with every step you took down in the basement. You were sure if the chalice had been down there you’d missed it. The only thing you were focused on while you were down there was getting back upstairs and Minhyuk had been much worse off than you. He made you search the study by yourself while he stood by the door holding a shaking flashlight in your general direction. The pair of you passed by Shownu and Jooheon on the way to the sitting room and the sun room on the opposite side of the house.
Once you were sure you’d been to every room downstairs you went upstairs. In the children’s room, instead of the chalice you found a dust covered, wooden toy airplane. When you showed it to Minhyuk he screamed and for several minutes you were certain he was going to cry. Then, walking across the hall from one bedroom to another, a toy ball rolled passed your feet and Minhyuk swore he heard a child’s laughter. Though the whole situation made your chest tight with fright, part of you was also sure that Changkyun had something to do with it. Especially since you hadn’t seen him or Hyungwon the entire time you’d been upstairs.  
The two of you were headed to the master bedroom next. Minhyuk was a few feet in front of you. He passed by an open bedroom door without a second thought but a quiet whistling from the room caught your attention. You’d looked everywhere in the small room, and were standing nervously in front of the closet when Minhyuk called your name from down the hall. You turned to call back to him but when you opened your mouth a hand slammed down against your lips. Screaming into the hand, you were dragged backwards into the closet and the door closed in front of you.
“God, Y/n, stop screaming.” Changkyun whispered against your ear and spun you around.
“What the hell, you scared the fuck out of me.” you hissed as your eyes started to adjust to the darkness.
“All of the fuck?” he grinned, “Not even a little fuck left for me?”
“Apologize,” you whispered, sliding your hand from his chest to his hip, “maybe then I can find a fuck for you.”
He leaned in and dragged the tip of his nose from your throat to the base of your ear and whispered back, “I’m sorry I scared you.”
You hummed in pleasure, “Oh, look, I think I found one.”
“Mm, that’s good.” he said before leaving kisses along your neck, pulling the soft skin between his teeth until you were groaning. You squirmed beneath his hands as they pinned your hips against the wall.
“Kiss me for real.” you whined. He lifted his face to yours and let you pull his lips between yours. You kissed him for a full minute before you realized he wasn’t kissing back. “What? What’s wrong? Why aren’t you kissing me?”
He cupped your face in his hands with a smile, “Nothing’s wrong.”
“Okay, then kiss me.”
He leaned in again, this time pressing his lips against yours in a true kiss. His tongue slipped between your teeth and you pulled his hips closer, practically slamming them into yours. He kept you pressed against the old, dirty wall of the bedroom closet until your lips were sore and swollen and you weren’t sure which tongue was his and which was yours. When he finally pulled away, he kept his eyes on you for a moment as you caught your breath.  
Then he pressed a sweet kiss against your forehead and smiled, “We had fun right?”
“What? Why did you say it like that? Had?” you asked confused.
“That was our last kiss, kiddo.” he said as if it was just any ordinary conversation.
“What?”
“Jooheon is going to ask you out later.”
“What?”
He chuckled, “You should say yes. He likes you, is in love with you, likes you.”
“What?”
He grabbed your face in his palms, “Please stop saying what.”
“Um,” you looked at him trying to process but not being able to, “What?”
“Jooheon, you remember him?” he asked. You nodded, “He’s in love with you. He’s going to ask you out on a date. A real date, not just you two being besties like you’ve always been. I really think you need to say yes. I think you want to say yes. He really wants to be with you and you deserve that.”
“So...what does that mean, you don’t” you asked feeling a little hurt.
“Oh baby girl, I don’t want to be with anyone. I’m just having fun and we did that, right? You had fun?”
“Yeah, I guess so.”
He frowned seeing how upset you were, “You want more than secret rendezvous every once in awhile. I’m not totally clueless. I know you’ve been wanting more from me for awhile now.”
“I guess I was the clueless one.” you sighed.
“No” he said, “what I do just isn’t for everyone. You deserve more. You deserve real dates where you go out to dinner and then get ice cream after. You deserve sleepovers that end in you falling asleep together on the couch while the movie is still running. You deserve someone that’s going to drag you around everywhere and tell anyone who’ll listen that you’re his girl, because nothing makes him more proud than being with you.”
A small smile found its way to your lips, “Honey.”
“Exactly.” Changkyun smiled.
“You really think he loves me? I mean, I know he loves me like a best friend but…”
“He would not be trembling his way through this dark abandoned home on Halloween night, if it wasn’t for you. He would do anything for you and he’d do it because he loves you. Loves you loves you.” He shook his head as if amused, “You love him back, you know. There’s nothing you wouldn’t do for that delicate little man.”
“What if it’s not supposed to be like that. What if it ruins our friendship?” you bit your lip.
“You would never let that happen, either of you.” Changkyun said with certainty, “You’ll never let him out of your life, and he’ll never let you out of his. Even if things go horribly wrong, which I guarantee they won't, you two are going to have each other forever.”
~~~
It wasn’t totally clear how long you’d been in that closet with Changkyun but you knew it had probably been too long. Minhyuk was nowhere to be found upstairs and you immediately felt horrible having left him alone for so long. You had run into Hyungwon who asked if you’d seen Changkyun and you gave a vague response about him maybe being in the master bedroom before heading downstairs again.
Your flashlight had gone dead just before you’d run into Hyungwon, so you were pretty desperate to find your partner. The way down the stairs was slow going as you cautiously felt for each step before moving forward. Midway down the light from a flashlight hit you in the face. You squinted, unable to see who was coming up the stairs.
“Hey!” Jooheon grabbed your arms looking panicked, “Where were you?”
“I was just searching upstairs. What’s wrong? Are you okay?” You asked concerned.
He dropped his hands to his sides with relief, “We ran into Minhyuk, he said he lost you. I’ve been looking everywhere for you. I was so worried. Where’s your flashlight?”
“Oh...it died. You were worried about me? You searched a dark abandoned house for me all by yourself?” You grinned.
“Well...yeah. I just, I didn’t want you to be alone or get hurt or something.”
I wasn’t,” you paused, he didn’t need to know you weren’t exactly alone, “I was okay. Thank you for coming to find me though.”
You looked over your shoulder at the sound of footsteps on the stairs and nodded at Changkyun as he passed the two of you, Hyungwon following close behind. You watched him all the way down the stairs and into the dinning room before looking back at Jooheon. He looked from you to where Changkyun has disappeared and then back again.
“You were alone, right?” He asked quietly.
“Mostly…”
He bit his lip nervously as he looked up at you, “Do you want to be with him?”
“Be with who?” You gulped.
“Kyun. Are you into him?”
A small smile spread across your lips, “No, actually I think I might be into someone else.”
“Oh.” His shoulder fell with disappointment. “You never told me about anyone new. Usually you tell me that kind of stuff.”
“He’s not really new. I’ve known him for awhile.”
Jooheon’s face creased in confusion, “Who do you know that I don’t know?��
“I never said you didn’t.” You laughed.
“Someone we both know and it’s not Changkyun?” He asked. You could see the gears turning in his mind. “Oh god. Please tell me it’s not Minhyuk.”
“I found it!” Hyungwon screamed, running into the foyer holding the golden chalice high above his head. “We win!”
“Noooooo!” You could hear Minhyuk whining before you saw him tear into the foyer from the opposite hall. “Where?!”
“Kitchen.” Changkyun was leaning against a post, you hadn’t even seen him stroll in after Hyungwon.
“We looked there!” Minhyuk spun around the room with his flashlight until he spotted you under the beam of light, “Didn’t we look there, y/n?”
You blocked the light from your eyes with your hand, “Yes, Min.”
“Well not good enough. Haaaaah!” Hyungwon laughed as Minhyuk chased after him through the foyer, grabbing for the chalice.
“Hey!” Shownu shouted from the balcony, the light from his phone illuminating his face, “Kihyun and Hoseok are already at the diner for breakfast. They want us to meet them there.”
Finally gathered together once more the whole group took off together, back down the avenue of trees. Dawn was coming and what once was pitch black was now a muted gray. Everything looked a little different in the soft light. You turned around and looked back at the old house, it didn’t look very threatening at all.
Changkyun had thrown his arm over your shoulder, in what you knew was now simply the action of a good friend. Though Jooheon didn’t and he pouted as he walked with Shownu behind the two of you. With a yawn you wondered how Minhyuk had the energy to chase Hyungwon down the sidewalk, still desperate for the golden chalice.
Hoseok and Kihyun met the group outside of the twenty-four hour diner looking a little worse for the wear. Hoseok was half asleep and stumbling drunk as you made your way inside. The group packed into two red vinyl booths.
Jooheon looked up from his plastic covered menu at you in surprise as you slipped into the booth next to him. “Wouldn’t you rather sit with your boyfriend?”
“Who? Changkyun?” You asked, pulling the menu between the two of you so you could read it too. “I thought we cleared that up. I like someone else.”
“Yeah but you never said who. Are you going to tell me?”
You opened your mouth to say something and he watched you wide eyed with anticipation. However the waitress had arrived for drink orders, giving you a second chance to avoid the question. It wasn’t that you weren’t going to tell him, just that you enjoyed the frustrated look on his face, it was too cute to resist.
When the waitress left to get the drinks, instead of telling him what he wanted to know, you engaged with Kihyun who was sitting across from you in a very serious discussion about what to order. You couldn’t decide between dinner and breakfast. In the end you did what you always did. Jooheon would get breakfast and you would get dinner and then you’d split your meals.
“Did you have fun at least?” You asked Jooheon as the waitress came around with your food. “It wasn’t that bad was it?”
“No, not as bad as I expected.” He sighed as he separated his meal into two. “It was fun. I scared Hyungwon once, did I tell you?”
“No! You didn’t!” Laughing at the thought, you put half of your cheeseburger on his plate. “I’m so happy you had fun, Honey.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t win.” He said quietly
You grinned, “Oh it’s okay. Maybe next year.”
“Next year?!” He asked in an instant panic.
“Yeah. It’ll be better. We’ll just make sure we get to be partners next time.”
“You’d want to be partners with me?” He asked genuinely surprised, “I thought you were going to have a boyfriend by next year. Whoever this secret guy is that you like probably likes you back. If you’re dating then he’ll want to be your partner and I’ll get stuck with someone else.”
“Well, do you?” You asked grabbing a piece of bacon from his plate.
“Do I what?”
You looked across the table where Hoseok and Kihyun had passed out on one another, their food left almost completely untouched except for a french fry hanging from Kyihuns mouth.
“Do you like me back?” You asked.
“Yeah of course I like you back I-“ his eyes went wide when he realized that you meant. “Me? I’m the guy you’re into?”
“The one and only.” You were sure you’d never seen his dimple get so deep he was smiling so big.
“I want to kiss you.” He said, eyes sparkling.
“Wait, there’s something I want to tell you first.” You felt nervous, but telling him about Changkyun seemed like the right thing to do. If you were really starting this you wanted to start it the right way. “Kyun and I were…”
“I know.” His smile dropped slightly but he shrugged, “I’ve known for awhile, you guys were pretty obvious.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” You asked grabbing his hand beneath the table subconsciously.
“I wanted you to want to tell me. I wanted you to be happy. It was hard being around you two, poorly hiding flirtatious looks.”
“I’m so dumb. I’m so sorry.” You whispered as you thought back at the last few months realizing Jooheon had almost never spent time with you and Changkyun together.
“Kyun figured it out. He asked me the other night and I told him the truth. That I’m in love with you.”
Your eyebrows shot up but you weren’t sure you were entirely surprised. “Honey…”
“Kyun told me to ask you out, he said you were… that you might… maybe...possibly.”
“I’m in love with you too.” You laughed, ending his small suffering of trying to avoid asking you if you loved him back. “I think I was in some denial but Kyun showed me the light.”
“He did?” Jooheon seemed genuinely shocked when you nodded, “well what do you know, Satan himself thinks we should be together.”
“Who are we to deny him?” With a small smile you leaned over and pressed a kiss against his dimpled cheek.
He covered his face with his hand shyly. “Aish, not in front of everyone!”
You laughed at the cute way he blushed, “You’re the one who wanted to kiss me!”
“Still do...” he grinned and lifted his hand to the back of your neck pulling you in for a sweet first kiss.
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ziamhaze · 5 years
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Why Zayn Malik is the walking embodiment of a Ravenclaw: a doctoral thesis
now if any of you know me you know that I would sell my soul for a quality written hp au, but one thing that’s been a constant for me when starting a fic is the question of whether or not the writer will categorize zayn as a ravenclaw or a slytherin (there’s no other option besides these two).  Well I’m here to hopefully end that century long debate and give it to you straight (not quick): zain javadd malik is UNQUESTIONABLY a ravenclaw.
brace yourselves. - also you should right click open links in new tabs for evidence/best experience-
ok, so like niall, I think a lot of people associate zayn with surface qualities and truth be told I don't blame them because unless you take the time to get to know who he is beyond the small talk in interviews and making sure liam didn't fall off the stage half the time, I can totally see why people put him in slytherin - stereo typically moody, mysterious, and loves to cause ruckus with louis.
HOWEVER, people need to look into the quietness and notice that he's not sitting there like a hufflepuff and taking what's being said as is, even though he does get talked over a lot, he's making sure that if he has something to say, it's because he's got everyone's opinions and a full picture of all arguments/facts before he's giving his witty two sense and that's even if he feels overly moved to express that ‘no, you're all wrong it's actually this’ or ‘well you've forgot about this pov’.  but make sure you know your place bc even if you directly talk to him about something he may not talk to you about it bc he's a reserved ravenclaw, not willing to openly talk like most social gryffindors or not so humble slytherins would.  It's rare that he's actually saying something to brag about himself or talk about himself because that's neither here nor there and most of the time he won't even speak up about the previously mentioned things bc as a true ravenclaw, he knows what’s right and he doesn't need to boast about it like a slytherin; he's confident enough in his own intelligence - sometimes misconstrued as ravenclaw arrogance!  but is it really? bc if you're right you're right. 
 let's also talk about his antics with louis (and the occasional harry - also see: VERY rare liam occurrences).  yes, using one's wit to their advantage is textbook slytherin, which is why zayn can share this trait, but also notice who's instigating the pranks (correct answer: louis) and how zayn would carry them out.  always calculated, always waiting to hear instructions fully instead of running full force ahead with it all bc 'you guys are fucking idiots if you think I'm going to do this and run the risk of getting caught - take the time to plan this shit out and make it worth while.  I'm not gonna half ass a prank, if they're gonna cry, they're gonna bawl.' 
how about his love for english?  a typical ravenclaw characteristic?  perhaps, but it's so important to see how he views the world through the wording and thoughts/philosophies of othersin order to influence his own being.  I’m dizzy on how much he speaks in interviews about how much he wants to go back to school and do a proper english degree, wanting to learn beyond the books he can buy on his own.  be careful though!  zayn will say what he thinks and believes no matter what!!!  so while he loves english and the words (such a shame he wasn’t allowed to speak more about urdu and his culture while in the band), and the books he reads, it's how he compartmentalizes that alongside his own beliefs and thoughts that makes his favouritism notable.  also slight note at how he values intelligence in others and seeks that out from there.  Need I use his quote on education: “one of the most important things you can have”.  I mean, that in itself should be enough for this post.
moving on to his confusing loyalty!  I've yet to see zayn categorized as a gryffindor or hufflepuff, but many overlook his soft nature and caring side - ziall anyone??  it's innate for him to be caring towards those he loves.  let's not forget that "zayn wears his heart on his sleeve" bc HE DOES!  as caring as a hufflepuff and as loyal as a gryffindor, but what sets him apart is his raging ability to cut off people or stop contact with them after a while because they've done him wrong (if they listened to him the first time or actually paid attention to what he said then they wouldn't be in this situation) and no, I'm not just referring to post 1D zayn mess.  and no, I do not agree with the statement that zayn can do no wrong - though as a ravenclaw he might disagree with you on that bc when he’s in his element he’s always right.  it's important to also note that sometimes he just needs a nudge, he hasn't forgotten about you, he's just bad at texting back - cue the on and off liam friendship post band break up.  It's clear when it comes to some old interviews that he cares about these people but let's not forget that he has a temper and can let that sometimes cloud his judgement.  now would be a good time to ask if anyone knows if he has a new manager yet after that fiasco.
can we back track a second on his need for personal space to think and caring nature because of it?  self proclaimed introvert, I think a lot of people misconstrue what they saw of him in the band as temperamental and stuck up, when in reality he was simply someone who enjoyed the banter with others until he needed to go away and rejuvenate by himself for a little bit (tbt toddler zayn who needed to play with his toys by himself for a while after being around too many people).  are there introverts in every house?  without a doubt, however they’re most commonly found in ravenclaw, specifically the core trait of needing to gather their barrings and recharge before going back to join in on the fun.  you see, unlike best mate slytherin louis, zayn mostly holds back his bitterness from the others, making sure that he doesn’t say anything that might hurt them too badly - something that I greatly attribute to him knowing when he needs to go away for a bit before getting annoyed.  those of you who know, know.  soft zayn hours are intense!  honing in on his own needs of space to establish a calm demeanor in order to give others the attention and care he thinks they AND THEIR THOUGHTS deserve (namely crinkly eyed leeyum).  you’ll know it when you see it: the chin hook hugs, back rubs, and closed mouth smiles scream ‘I appreciate you and am here in the moment’.  it’s here where he shares a lot of caring (even if he mistakes what’s going on as something he actually needs to be concerned about but better safe than sorry!), nurturing traits with hufflepuffs.  having this social awareness also allows for him to clock important info that others might think he’s overlooking by not speaking - a ravenclaw?  as if.
speaking of personal space, we got a glimpse into his house from TIU documentary, but his solo interviews have given us a chance to read (and if we’re lucky, see) how he transforms his houses into his own sanctuary.  now, each house can debate on their own about the purpose of their common room to instill an element of comfort and while no, zayn doesn’t publicly have a library or reading nook like a typical ravenclaw might have, I think a PERSONAL ART/GRAFFITI ROOM SUFFICES.  we’ll get to his art later, trust me.  there are other spaces documented too though: his pirate theme shed in the backyard, tepee, room made up of entirely collaged walls in his old LA house, and let’s not forget about how strongly he felt towards the old tour bus that he felt compelled to get a tattoo reminder (#zouis).  his need to make a sanctuary out of any space he inhabits for longer than a week confirms how important individual comfort is to him and again, how in touch with this he is (I see a good debate here on whether or not this could be a hufflepuff trait as well).  little boy from bradford who’s smashing it buying his Mum and family a house??  wants them to have that comfort too!!!  the “gift” was also probably one of his most humble moments ever documented, so let’s not forget he’s a lil humble ravenclaw
and what would a zayn ravenclaw analysis be without picasso!zayn?  ravenclaw's are not only intelligent - please note that I didn't use the word smart bc there IS a difference to them - but they're also creative, both in the conventional and unconventional sense.  Of course we know of zayn's killer high notes (ask if me if I'm over the high note in If I Got You. hint: I'm not) and drawing abilities (zayn, will you draw a picture of me?  no, I don't liek you) but it's the passion and WHAT IT IS that he's singing and drawing that matters.  yes, comics, album sticker packs, very bland 'A' for a certain band member - but note the enthusiasm and NEED to talk about ‘who Harry?  tell them WHO drew that A tattoo for you!’  ‘you, it was you zayn.’  SMUG AF SMILE and tell me what other topic zayn talks about with that much enthusiasm and outspokenness other than liam payne.  there are many instances however where someone (usually brother niall) needs to coax him out to actually display this individualistic personality and I’m not gonna hide the link in the underlines this time because it’s SO IMPORTANT to watch this video of him wanting to sing drake (note the complete opposite genre of their published music) but nervous on getting lost in himself bc ‘don’t start something if you don’t want me to finish it’ and Niall knows this.  liam knows this the most, but niall’s outward with it and literally has to softly start siNGING IN ORDER FOR ZAYN TO KNOW ‘YOU’RE NOT IN THIS ALONE AND OTHERS WILL APPRECIATE WHAT YOU CARE ABOUT TOO, LOOK LIAM WILL EVEN BEATBOX FOR YOU’. EXTREMELY CONFIDENT IN HIS ELEMENT.  don’t mistake that for 24/7 slytherin confidence. in fact, pause.  ravenclaw’s when in their element will have surging confidence and might boast to the level of slytherin’s but they’ll wait for the right moment to show you up and pay attention because when they do they can get very competitive. was him getting a tattoo first out of the band at age 16 something worth overlooking?  absolutely not!  by now I’ll personally hand deliver you an award if you can give me an accurate count of his ink, but hello???  is this artistry?  duh.  is this him saying what’s important to him in art form?  warmer.  are these passionate things he cares about but sometimes won’t find necessary to speak about out loud?  on fire!  another shameless you-must-look-at-this-post link HERE of me talking to him about his art in the midst of 5,000 screaming girls who all wanted to talk about his looks.  LOOK.  AT.  HIS.  APPRECIATION!  WHO HE IS AND OTHERS RECOGNIZING THAT BASED ON HOW HE PROJECTS HIMSELF IS SO IMPORTANT TO ZAYNIE.  Look, if zayn’s not authentic to himself or exuding individuality then even he would tell you that he’s failing himself.  we can see this also in his fashion choices (there have been a few questionable moments, but over all, ace outfits).  nowadays harry tends to get a lot more in your face fashion press, but do I need to pull out receipts on how many best dressed lists zayn has been on SOLELY because he thinks outside the box and doesn’t give a fuck?  listen to me when I say that ravenclaw’s will die without originality/individuality and the ability to take control of theirs
perfect segue to his exit of the band.  was it bc of mental health issues, I mean yeah, he’s written such, but were those spurred on bc he didn’t have his space to be an individual and do his own thing?  obviously.  and before anyone says anything about him taking control of his future being an ‘I don’t take bs and will stand up for it’ decision as a slytherin trait, let me remind you how long it took him to actually do it.  imo a slytherin would have stood up from the start if they were that unhappy about it.  again, he looked at things from all angles for a long enough time to be able to understand what was going on before doing something he’d regret. sadly if it did affect his mental health that much maybe he took a little too long in making the decision but ‘we do it all for the fans’ and while I appreciated that, I also appreciated him writing an entire song about wanting to take off clothes and the love of being pushed up against the wall soooooooooooo.  his songwriting skills: they're definitely getting there, but the amount of songs (TWENTY SEVEN) he felt he NEEDED to put on Icarus Falls because he didn't want to just let those stories NOT be told, it was IMPERATIVE that people hear those thoughts stuck in his head.  unfortunately his tongue got the best of him - as it does for most ravenclaws! - and his passion did not catch up with his patience, so now many won't even get my previous IIGY high note reference bc of the sales flop that was Z2 - something spurred on by him calling out the record label for not letting him release it.  can they be blamed though, because zayn, again, the ravenclaw poster boy, allegedly doesn't want to do promo for his music because to him it's not about the sales, instead, the music. should. speak. for. itself!  ‘if 10 people listen, cool. if 10 million people listen, also cool, but I'd rather 10 people ACTUALLY LISTEN and appreciate the art versus 10 million people listening bc I look good in an interview’ and if that doesn't say artistic ravenclaw passion, idk what does
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breesays · 4 years
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OBVS
I don’t like to blog obvious things (if I’m not getting paid for it) New beginning on New Years, 12 Things I Love on Valentine’s Day, What I’m Thankful for on Thanksgiving. That’s some editorial planning biz, my day job. I like my unassigned time to be more organic, more freeform. But all of my FEEDS were flooded with THANKFUL posts the last few days.
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Do you have to post it, to be it? Like “pics or it didn’t happen” but for feelings? On Wednesday there were only like 4 other people in the office on our entire floor. It was a work from home half-day, but I took Des into daycare or else I would get no work done, I would just play and make faces at him etc etc. And work is right by daycare, and therein lies free coffee and BREAKFAST BURRITOS. So, I just went to work. 
A floor-mate of mine came ‘round asking how my baby was. A dude. Found out through a great conversation that he has an almost one year old. But, I mean, how would anyone know? Me, I was poppin’ February 'til less than a week before my delivery, but there’s no way of identifying and connecting with new dads. I know new moms have plenty of unmet needs, but I feel like there’s an opportunity for new dads as well. I guess it’s hard enough getting anyone to listen to a mom’s birth story. We have to take steps, and like our precious babes, we have to crawl before we strut. SUCH IS LIFE as we know it. 
I wrote and erased “I am thankful” about 6 times since I started this blog, and it still doesn’t feel right. Is it, perhaps, a show ~ not tell ~ situation? Re: above -- being a mom (parent?) will make you feel grateful for those connections, for those moments of sharing information and stories. I am so thankful I got 6 months of maternity leave because I got to take advantage of the Los Feliz Moms Club. Please note I did not leave the house for the first 3 months. It was just TOO MUCH.   
On some level, I feel like I’m still recovering. SO. 
I am a big BIRTHDAY person. I love a theme party, and I’ve been having them since… 2008? Yes, 2008. That was my pirate birthday. Then came my bug birthday. Followed by CANDYLAND (probably my most epic and STAR STUDDED), which was a 2-parter because little Emily wasn’t 21 yet. Then there was Prop Party, Rave Party, YAY SPORTS Party… Unicorns and Glitter, Black & White, SPACE PARTY (a truly great one), Garden of BreEden and lastly, my Pajama Jam Birthday Brunch. I was pregnant and tired for that one. 
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So it’s a little more than a week until my birthday and I have nothing planned, no ideas this time. I’VE BEEN BUSY. Also sometimes I build the birthday theme around an outfit, a costume or a makeup look—and I’ve been neck deep in baby business for 6-some months. I don’t feel my fittest. It takes so much effort just to be fully functioning the same hours as my baby. I was ready to live this morning at 5:30am after a diaper leak, but only because I went to sleep at 8PM and was out cold by 8:14PM (Fitbit has the RECEIPTS) 
I do want to celebrate. I want to get sloppy and take ridic photos and eat french fries. But I also want to be there for my precious Bean at 6am when he wants to play and watch puppy dog pals and grab my lower lip and shout BABABA. It’s a completely incomprehensible thing until you’re IN IT. You don’t know where you’ll get the energy until you have it.   
My birthday is not going to be very awesome this year. If YOU want to plan something, have at it. But I think a lot of my creative energy (including but not limited to OOTD) is going towards Des. 
Gird your loins for my BIRTHDAY BEST OF blog.
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archivepolarisornah · 4 years
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the sweet taste of revenge | Tina
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James had been waiting for Tina to arrive at work all day. After what had occurred yesterday, he had done the beds that night so he could give her a whole different task. He’d been thinking that night on how he could get a little bit of a payback. Step one was reducing her pay with 50% since she didn’t work most of that day. He practically had been nice.
Secondly, he had gotten her four different fairy outfits he wanted her to fit for Halloween because yes it was time they would change Neverland to a pirate ship and he would have Tina to be his personal Tinkerbell. He had gotten Peter a Pan outfit for the shit and giggles of it.
Thirdly she would now be set in the kitchen, with him preparing and tasting the food that would be Halloween themed. Seeing she liked the cake he wanted to try some pumpkin inspired cupcakes. This would seem like normal, but what made all of this so horrifying is, that he wouldn’t allow her to do a job he didn’t ask for, meaning today she would be stuck with him.
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Tina was running exactly 5 minutes late for work (which was a new record because usually she was 30 minutes late or didn’t show up at all). By her logic, she thought if she arrived as close to on time as possible then she could absolutely avoid Hook, and getting in to trouble, and then she would only have to answer the phones that day. Never in a million years could she predict the direction her day was about to take.
To counter the absolutely foul mood she had been in the day previously, which she blamed on being tired and hungry, Tina had decided to down a mug of coffee before she left the house (not her usual morning drink), and stopped by the cafe to buy another coffee, with a double shot of espresso for good measure. The sprite was soon to be absolutely buzzed on caffeine. It hadn’t quite kicked in yet, but oh boy was she in for a ride when it did. Coupled with the fact she had lost a significant amount of sleep because she had been crying meant that she would be bouncing off the walls in no time.
As discretely as possible, Tina slithered in to reception and hung her coat and bag in the staff cupboard. She debated for a minute just staying in there all day but that seemed like a bad place to be once caffeine turned her in to a fidgety mess. Tina cradled her coffee in her hand and closed the cupboard door. When she turned, there stood Hook with a suspiciously calm look on his face. It was unnerving. She forced a smile in the hopes that he would see she was in an absolutely, totally, perfectly fine mood and leave her alone.
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James found himself surprised. Shouldn’t Tina be at work like what half an hour later? Well, originally she was expected to be here. Which confused him, after yesterday he wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t show up at all. But early of all things. Was she plotting something as well? Well it made it easier for him to tell her that her schedule has been changed, wait till her tantrum was over (without the sentimental feelings yesterday had to offer.) For some odd reason, he didn’t really like to see her sad. He must be gotten ill or something.
It also seemed like she wasn’t fully aware he was in the room at first, which gave him a moment to slip on a grin, before taking a more neutral one when they stood face to face. “I have already done the beds for today so you will be given a different chore than usual.” He explained, trying to not smile as he did his explanation.
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“As you might have heard this year we will be doing a pirate theme for Halloween.” He had to thank Meg and Tobias for that one, and he did. After all, those two were the ones that gave him the idea in the first place. He moved for a moment, handing her the box with the fairy outfits. “This will be chore number one, go to the ladies room, or an unused room to fit these. It’s your outfit, pick the one you like most or if you like all of them you can switch them during Halloween.” He pondered for a moment, “after that I expect you in the kitchen. I will give further instructions.”
He wondered if she could give some input on what to put on the cupcakes.
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Tina couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when it was noted that the beds had already been made. Yesterday was not fun and if she could avoid a repeat then she would do so at all costs. “Oh, thank fuck, I’ll take anything over making the beds…” she muttered in to the plastic lid of her coffee cup. This wasn’t true, of course. There was a whole host of things that she would rather not do at all and had she known the day ahead of her she would have volunteered to make the beds all over again.
The girl downed the rest of her coffee as Hook explained the pirate theme, which she wasn’t particularly excited about. “Wow, pirates, that’s just… brilliant idea!” Her voice was laced with mockery despite how cheery she was trying to sound. There was nothing scary about pirates! How was she supposed to scare guests with an eye-patch and a parrot? She wished there had been some vodka in her coffee when James handed her the box - what the hell was he going to get her to wear?! Her eyes narrowed suspiciously but the task seemed like an easy way to kill time and wait for the coffee to work its magic so she obliged.
“I’m just letting you know right now, if I look awful in any of these I’m not going to wear them.”
Tina sauntered to James’ office with her nose stuck stubbornly in the air. She was absolutely not getting dressed in the ladies room, or walking down the corridor to find an empty room. With a light kick of her foot, she pushed the door open, and threw a grin over her shoulder. At the very least she could pretend to be a very slow dresser, and use the time to level up on Mario Kart, and maybe by then James would have gotten bored and did the chores in the kitchen without her.
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A breath of relief? Hmm…that wasn’t exactly the reaction he was going for…Perhaps he should have thought this through, or perhaps she failed to notice she will be spending her time with him later when the day progressed. “Language Tina, especially in rooms where clients can hear.” It wasn’t a real scolding, more like..a gentle reminder. She wasn’t off the hook just yet.
“You can thank Tobias and Meg for that idea, they are the two individuals that gave me the idea in the first place. I also got a costume for Peter, though I find it highly unlikely he’d do anything during Halloween.” It would be Smee and Tina and him. It was going to drain the life out of him.
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“If you don’t wear them you are free to spend your own money on a costume, you will need to be dressed regardless.” James shrugged, not really in the mood to bicker with her. If she wasn’t pleased with these…pretty expensive…what was wrong with him? His smile faltered, and a deepening frown came over him as he leaned back against the counter.
What was the plan again?
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Tina rolled her eyes but bit her tongue. She could skip down the hall singing a slew of profanities till her heart’s content, just to annoy him. But she could also just choose to ignore the reminder and continue on her merry way.
“Oh, yeah, sure, I’ll make sure I thank them for it,” Tina nodded though she would absolutely not be thanking them. Especially not Tobias of all people! What was he doing suggesting Halloween decorations to Hook anyway? That didn’t seem like him at all. James did hold Tina’s attention briefly when he spoke of Peter though, and she knew there was not a chance in hell that Peter would be wearing anything that he bought for him. With great skepticism she asked, “What costume did you buy Peter? ‘Cause, like, he’s not gonna wear it.”
Tina laughed at the thought and felt the familiar tingle of the caffeine starting to take effect. A feint smirk began to play on the side her lips - at the very least if James was going to try and rile her up with these costumes she was in the perfect mischievous sort of mood to throw it back in his face.
“I couldn’t buy my own if I wanted to,” the girl called through the opened door. She planned on keeping it open until she had decided if she was going to try any of the costumes on. The box was dumped on the floor with a dull thud. “You docked my pay, remember?! Although…” Tina continued, peeking her head around the door frame. There was a sparkle in her eyes that hinted she was ready to cause to trouble. “I could always dress as Lady Godiva!”
Without leaving room for a response Tina slammed the door closed and set about pulling the costumes from the box.
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That little eyeroll normally would do wonders for his mood, yet James found himself too much struggling with his thoughts to actually find himself light-hearted. What the hell had Tina done to him?”
Well, James wasn’t born yesterday, he knew Tina wouldn’t thank those people. Heck, he already knew she wouldn’t thank him for the expensive professional wigs, makeup and dresses he had given her. He found himself at loss for words as he , finally, worked out what was wrong with him.
oh no.
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Oh hell no.
Of all things James had to deal with it just happened to be that he found himself charmed by this ridiculously rude blond. A lot of when how and even why comes into his mind.
But he already knew when he already knew how and he already knew why. This had been going on for a long while. Hadn’t it already been before he picked her up and jumped with her into the pool? Hadn’t it been before he even met Wendy Darling?
Yes, this had been happening before all of this, James simply denied it, and kept denying it. But for some reason after the pool, he found it harder to hide it. After all wasn’t he always constantly worrying about her, like when she became sick (or pretended she was as he later found out). This was an absolute mess, because he knew she fancied Peter, and a part of him actually rooted for her.
Another part just wasn’t pleased with how Peter handled her and she deserved better. A lot better than Peter.
He snapped out of it. He would never willingly tell her this, he refused to treat her differently even realizing this. Though he also knew it wouldn’t be easy to face her having come to terms that…of all people he ended up finding his first crush to be Tina Bell.
It had been so easy to ban love or crushes out of his life. So why now? Why her? Because she makes things easier, and she makes things less boring, and he too realized she was so much more than she showed. She was more sensitive and yet she was strong, she had a sharp tongue but wasn’t that what had drawn him in. He wanted to sweep her off her feet while knowing he would never be able to do so. He wanted her, but he couldn’t have her. Because she would never like James Hook, wasn’t that how it always had been since he hired her? And yet- she had lowered her guard yesterday, and therefore lowered his.
God damn it, Tina!
He mentally shouted to himself. He cursed himself. Angry he moved towards his office. He needed a drink.
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In the time that it had taken Hook to give himself an existential crisis, Tina had started to carefully unpack the box of costumes. The box itself had been haphazardly thrown behind the desk in a rush of excitement, but open realising just how pretty the costumes were Tina thought she better take just a little more care with them. The girl sat cross legged on the floor, surrounded by a sea of tulle and glitter, none-the-wiser to what was occurring outside.
It was weird, of course, that Hook had chosen such expensive looking things for her to wear. She couldn’t fathom why. But hey, Tina would never turn down something expensive, sparkly or green if she could help it. And playing dress-up was so much fun! Maybe he thought it would be funny to see her swamped by the fabric, or have her feel embarrassed at being likened to a fairy. Tina thought Hook was a complete idiot. Especially after their riot yesterday.
Tina stood, holding one of the dresses at arms length to get a better look at it before she would try it on. She gave it a swish, to see how the fabric moved, before turning to face the window where she could see her reflection. (Luckily the office windows looked out onto trees that obstructed the view because she hadn’t thought to close the blinds.)
Apparently she had been quite enamored with the sparkle of the dress because she hadn’t heard anyone approaching the door. When it flew opened she gave out a horrified shriek and clutched the dress close to her chest, whirling around to shoot Hook an embarrassed glare. She had just been about to get changed!! What was he thinking?! (Thank God she didn’t know what he was thinking…)
“Hey!” Tina cried, rushing forward with an outstretched hand to shoo James back out of the room. “What are you doing you perv? I could have been naked in here! Get out!” She used her free hand to try to turn him around and push him back out the way he came. Tina’s entire face burned bright red. Now she was going to clash with the green!!
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The time he had used to walk to the office, Tina had managed to look at the content of the boxes. Of course, James didn’t think that she would look at these costumes and dress in his office, because why would she go to his office. Yet that was exactly what happened when he walked in. It felt like the air got sucked out of his lungs (and he still wanted his drink.)
…Did she call him a pervert?
“What are you doing in my office.” He has already pushed around yet that didn’t mean he wouldn’t speak his disapproval. “Unless my office became a guestroom or ladies room without my knowledge.” It was her fault to dress in his office. Why Tina, why of all places my office. James thought to himself. “Well, at least the green looks nice on you.
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He rolled his eyes. “I wasn’t aware you would take off your underwear to fit a costume, technically you wouldn’t be naked anyway.” He coughed as if to hide his embarrassment as he leaned against the wall, outside his office.
All of the sudden this day felt like it would become a rather long one, part of him didn’t want to spend any time with her, yet he did need a second opinion and Peter well…it was Peter. At least Tina was somewhat helpful at times. Rarely but at least that was still more than peter was.
He sighed as he patiently waited for her to finish, after all the way he scheduled his day he was rather depended on her. Maybe he’d even give her a little bit of a charge today.
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“I’m getting changed like you told me to,” Tina insisted, as if the answer was totally obvious. (When did she ever do as she was told?) In reality she was just lazy and hadn’t felt like walking, or searching, or trying to change in a small space. “And besides,” she continued, a playful smirk dancing on the edge of her lips. “I am a guest in your office right now, therefore, this is now a guestroom. And I’m a lady, inside a room, so it’s also a ladies room.” Sure, her logic wasn’t solid, but she wasn’t fussed for accuracy right now and was feeling a little pedantic. James’ comment about the green was duly noted, not that she cared what he thought looked good on her. She already knew green was her colour. Peter had even said so at the party.
The flush on her cheeks never left but that wasn’t about to stop her arguing her case, and when it seemed James was embarrassed by the notion of her taking off her underwear Tina saw it as a prime opportunity to really rile him up. If he was going to try to embarrass her then she would do her damnedest to turn it back around on him. “You don’t know how I live my life, Sir,” Tina remarked rather suggestively, placing her free hand on her hip and shrugging her shoulders.
With that she closed the door again and did her best to hide a giggle. A plan was forming in her head. If it went as planned, Hook would become either so flustered, or frustrated, or irritated, that he would decide that he didn’t need her to follow him around after all, and then, just like she had hoped twenty minutes prior, he would let her answer e-mails and sit at the front desk for the rest of the day instead.
Tina went back to her previous task or sorting through the costumes and finally decided which one she was going to try on first. There was a lot of layers to put on, and she almost wished she had someone to help her, but she couldn’t very well ask Hook to help her. Not after all that suggestive language.
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He couldn’t contain the rolling of his eyes, though his cheeks were still a bit flustered. He scraped his throat for a moment to recompose himself. “You are an employee and not a guest, you are on your work hours now.” James pointed out to shut down her remark. “And since this is my office technically you are a woman dressing in the men’s room.” Logic or not he wouldn’t accept it.
Yet he wouldn’t walk in there again either.
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You don’t know how I live my life, Sir. The way her voice sounded as she teased him, made his lips curl into a smirk. Two can play that game. “Oh, I’m very aware of how you live your life, Tina.” His voice grew deeper as he said her name. He’d been watching her far long enough to know that she would never dare to go commando, especially not near peter nor him.
He was happy that she slammed the door because he was well aware his face would have said much more than those words did. With that, he leaned back against the wall watching the door intentively. “I’d hurry if I were you, this promises to become a very long day if you don’t.” She’d be working after hours if she didn’t get everything done.
She wasn’t the only one who could be suggestive as to mess with him. He could play that game all too well, being flirtatious wasn’t anything new to him, though he never imagined him to be like that towards Tina. Yet she had pressed a button with him that made him want to tease her.
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“Uh, equal rights!” Tina called in reply, knowing full well that her argument was falling flat and she was countering for the sake of keeping the argument going. She wasn’t being serious, of course. In fact, it was all quite funny to her. And it was wasting more time.
She was finishing adjusting the way the straps of the dress lay across her shoulders when she felt her ears burning, and her hands flew up to cover them. The change in James’ tone of voice was quite startling, definitely not the response she had been aiming for, and she had to think quickly on her feet to reply in a way that didn’t make her sound like she was flustered by it. What did he even mean by that?
“See!” Tina started as confidently as she had been moments prior. “Didn’t I just say you were a perv?”
A laugh almost escaped her, but she bit the edge of her lower lip to stop it and finished fixing the dress. Now she really had to take her time because if she want out there blushing like a maniac then her teasing would stop working. So Tina fixed her hair and made sure that every layer of tulle was sitting just right.
And then she opened the door. With a sickly-sweet smile on her face, Tina spun slowly on her toes, making sure to show off the entirety of the dress. She wasn’t in complete costumes, heaven forbid she would take too long getting ready, but she certainly felt pretty as a picture. Tina finished with a curtsy and a flutter of her eyelashes. “Before you say it, yes, I know I look great!”
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“What’s with equal rights, there is a reason for safety why women are not allowed in the men’s room isn’t there. Even more, if a man were to go to a ladies room, the guy would be in much more trouble than a girl would in a man’s room.” He found himself feeling slightly annoyed with the whole equal rights bull, it only counts to privilege the person saying it, and rarely it’s considered from the other side of things. He sighed deeply.
For one his ears were just about glued to her voice, even though he knew she was joking, or teasing or whatnot, he tried to continue the conversation simply out of the desire of wanting to talk to her. This caused him to sigh again because now he realised the reason, this would become pretty much draining to him in the long run. Part of him prayed she wouldn’t get under his skin too often so it would still be manageable. Perhaps he should just mention Peter more often in an attempt to distract her. Anything that works he’d try at this point. Much rather than giving in to the messy feelings he was having. He didn’t want to deal with those, he didn’t deserve them in the first place. Yet, they still existed didn’t they.
fuck his life, hard.
He, however, had to laugh as she called him a perv once again. “Not sure what you are imagining Tina.” His voice came out playful, perhaps a tiny bit cocky even. He gave up right then and there, he’d roll with whatever she threw at him.  “I haven’t really done anything to be the pervert here, so if it’s your imagination wouldn’t it make you the perv instead?” He asked her tauntingly, though his voice betrayed how he too was simply joking with her.
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Which is why when she opened the door and twirled before him he actually gave her an appreciating nod and agreed with her. “You couldn’t be more right, you really picked out a dress that very much suits you very well.” He softly smiled. “It’ll look even better given the wig and makeup.” He found himself content with his purchases.
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Tina snickered. She thought of herself as a bit of a feminist but by Wendy’s definition she probably wasn’t. Her attitude toward other women wasn’t exactly desirable - she found herself incredibly jealous and unbelievably judgemental, and if she could throw another girl under the bus to save herself then she would do so without even flinching. There was a lot of unhealthy competition going on when Tina was growing up, and unlike Wendy, she never grew out of it. Regardless, that wasn’t going to stop her telling James off for his opinion on the matter. “Sir, that is exactly why we need equal rights, you idiot. Then no one gets in trouble for using a bathroom.” Her voice was rather condescending and she frowned imagining that Wendy might have said something similar. “Besides,” Tina continued. “I could beat the shit out of any man causing trouble in the men or the ladies room…"
It was lucky that Tina had a quick mind and a quicker tongue because she was sure that any other person having this conversation would have crumbled or given up to the teasing by now. Lord knows what it might sound like to a bystander! Actually it probably was better that no one was eavesdropping because they might get a very wrong idea of what was happening, at least on Tina’s end.
“Oh, but you’re such a clever man, I’m sure you could figure it out,” she taunted, a hint if a wink in her voice. She was trying very, very hard not to burst in to a fit of giggles. Oh, what a performance this was! She should win an Oscar! “And anyway, what of it? What if I was a perv? What’d you do then?"
Tina’s nose betrayed her once more. The flush that usually crept across her face slowly returned when James agreed with her choice. Damnit! She wished she could get through at least one conversation with someone without blushing. "I still have to try on the others, remember!? We don’t know if this is the one yet!”
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James failed to see the attraction when it came to what feminism had turned out to be. Throughout history, they represented the things that caused disturbances in rights when it came to women. Now at times, it felt like some sort of power trip. "That is exactly the point I am making, in order to speak about equality all genders should be able to go to the bathroom without getting an assault charge.” He did not even see why any of this mattered considering equality had so much more issues than just the use of a toilet. He couldn’t help but roll his eyes as she insulted him, it was so like her to slip one in. Her words after were so much like Tina James couldn’t help but feel the need to hide a smile from his face, he had to bite his lip in order to not start laughing. “I do not doubt that Tina, but at times better safe than sorry.”
James had already forgotten about the potential guests that could overhear the situation. Mainly because it was rare they would come near his office, which fairly was pretty far away from the other rooms. It was a place of his own, perhaps why Tina had decided to dress herself in that room for that reason, no one to overhear or easily disturb you. Things were turning a bit amusing to him now. Especially since Tina cane cross as a bit playful. It was pretty funny to him.
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“Maybe I am feeling a bit stupid today, you did call me an idiot after all, why don’t you elaborate on it?” James’ voice turned a bit deeper, more because he was teasing her in a way that he normally didn’t. Well, he didn’t do so with anyone, yet he couldn’t stop himself. “Hmm if you were a pervert?” He had to think carefully about what to say next. “Guess there would be an increase in the teasing, Tina.”
James halted as she pointed out the other costumes. “Well, I didn’t buy you 3 outfits for you to pick one of them. They all are yours, so whichever is to your liking you can keep.” They were all custom made anyway. So even if he wanted to sell them it wouldn’t be easy.
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“Better safe than sorry,” Tina repeated mockingly, with a signature roll of her eyes. How many times had she heard that in her life? ‘Better safe than sorry’. If she had taken such advice then she wouldn’t be friends with Peter, or the Lost Boys, and she wouldn’t have nearly as many exciting stories to tell. It seemed much better to live life to the fullest and not apologies for anything, than to live a safe, unfulfilling existence. She snorted and waved her hand dismissively. “God, you sound like my Aunt Mary!”
Though Tina was fully aware that James was admitting stupidity for something of a comedic or teasing effect, she wholeheartedly agreed that, yes, James was being stupid today. She thought he was stupid most of the time, but today particularly so. It seemed he was playing right in to her hands. (That could just have been the caffeine shooting her confidence through the roof though.) Now was her chance to go for the full wind up! If she didn’t think fast the moment would be gone. For effect, Tina folded her arms, then tapped a dainty finger on the side of her temple, as if deep in thought. How could she ‘elaborate’ in such a way that would make James want to walk away from the whole conversation and never look back? Or even better, how could she totally embarrass him?
“I think…” Tina started, more smug than ever. She took a small step forward to up the drama. “Mm, no, I know you must be a perv because how else would you know exactly what my size is for this dress if you hadn’t, I don’t know, been staring at me intently?”
Admittedly Tina was grasping at straws, and was making much of this explanation up on the spot. She didn’t believe a word that was coming out of her own mouth, but she wasn’t going to act like it, was she?
“I mean, this bodice is pretty tight, right?” A hand drifted across her midriff and landed on her hip. “And you were watching me as I hung up my coat, weren’t you? I can only really think of one other explanation, if you aren’t the perv I think you are.”
Tina had to resist the urge to give James a good hard poke on the chest. That had ended badly for her previously. “And, there! You’ve just proven the theory if you’ll tease me more for being a perv, because you like it.”
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 James scoffed as she repeated his words, god she could be so childish at times. Yet, it still amused him in the end. It was hard to keep a straight face while having any conversation with her lately. But he managed with the best of his capability. In a way he only said these things because he lacked the individual to tell him, there was no one that warned him what the risks of picking fights were, but if he knew one thing: Love was a dangerous flame that could either ignite a spark inside of you or burn you alive. And as much as James fancied Tina, he wasn’t willing to let her know this. Either he wasn’t ready for her to know, or perhaps he simply couldn’t trust her. His history was too complicated and it all turned with the polar figure in his life that torn him into pieces. His mother.
You see, as a son from a rich family, it was uncommon for him to be placed in an orphanage. That is if you didn’t fake your child being death. And that was exactly the stunt his mother had pulled as her petty little revenge towards James his father. He was six years old when his father found a new mistress he wanted to spend his life with, to sooth his former wife he had given full custody over James to his wife, making time for him in the weekend. However, when James had his birthday at his mother’s place, she dropped him off to an orphanage claiming she couldn’t care for such a worthless human being, and if they didn’t take him from her she would end his life herself. The system didn’t really do a good job in contacting his father and James was placed with a broken self-image and a lot of scars which led to a violent streak into his youth. He didn’t know what home was. He didn’t know what love was. He barely allowed people near him, and he didn’t trust anyone.
“I don’t know who your aunt Mary is.” He stated. God, he didn’t even know anything about his own family. He didn’t have the strength to go looking for them, not after James learned that his mother remarried and had another son. His father had two daughters and led a happy life with his new wife. Who was he to disturb their lives with questions that he wouldn’t even want an answer on? “Though I can only hope she is someone that cares for you?” If not then he certainly didn’t want to be part of the comparison, because James did care for Tina. He cared for her much more than he’d done for anyone throughout his life. Perhaps she already had surpassed how much he cared for Peter. And that was what terrified him, how had this tiny little blond managed to root herself into his heart. Sure she was annoyingly cute and there was so much about her that it almost frustrated him how peter lacked this insight. She was amazing and special. What did she lack for Peter to wholeheartedly dedicate himself to her? And to make the matter worse, this knowledge at times was what made James feel a bit relieved and conflicted at the same time. Because a part of him would always support whatever could give Tina the happiness she deserved. But a part of him felt like she deserved better than to be someone’s second choice. He remembered his conversation with Wendy before, he wasn’t stupid he knew the girl was hurting. And the way she spoke about Peter betrayed how much she cared for him.
But were they a better match? Wendy and Peter, or Tina and Peter. Tina would match Peter’s mischievous side, they both knew how to create trouble. But as for who was better, wasn’t it Wendy who could keep Peter grounded. And what would he think if Peter and Tina did end up together? Part of him feared, that despite Tina being over the moon. Peter wouldn’t keep up that façade very long before that leading to Tina being hurt. James already knew that he was getting more well observant and with a growing sense of protection over Tina. While being aware that this was something that could never be, even if it was something he so desperately wanted.
He must have gone stupid, having these feelings was never a bother to him. If he liked someone he could always tell himself that his work was more important, peter was more…well, he had some importance in his life. But Tina surpassed those excuses by working for him. And even though he knew that giving in was the last thing he should do when it came to Tina, he did want to give her her fun. Allow her to tease him, and be playful around him. What he wanted more than anything was for her to be comfortable enough to be herself around him. The way she accidentally had been during one of their fights not too long ago. Because even if it tore him apart and he had to practically drag the conversation in a way that they both could run from it. James hadn’t forgotten anything about it. The way her hair fell to hide her vulnerable side. Or how tiny she looked with her legs pulled together.
“Do you know what you sound like?” it was one of the things she had said to him that day. And even now he wondered. What did he sound like? What was it she needed, and could he ever offer that to her. These things were what kept him lying awake at night. He was a mix off ‘what could he do to make things easier’ while also thinking ‘how could he keep his feelings hidden for her.’ And it wasn’t easy, lord this was the most difficult thing he had ever faced, and he had faced guys with metal bats and knuckles. Then how could Tina manage to be more terrifying then they could ever be. Ah because physical bruises heal. But another scar on his heart could change him back to the man he so desperately didn’t want to be anymore. No, he couldn’t allow Tina to ever make such an influence on him.
He watched her fold her arms and he knew that now his inner fight would start, it was something he knew Tina did when she planned to play with Smee. Which either meant she wanted to avoid something, wanted something, or planned an escape. Three things James wouldn’t allow right now. He wouldn’t lose to her. He would never lose to her. Because losing would mean confessing and confessing would mean disaster.
“Yes?” The smug look on her face did things to him he couldn’t describe, he wanted to wipe it off her face, so he pressed his lips firmly, though a smile escaped. Her next words almost made him swallow, but he somehow managed to stand tall. So she had noticed. But she seemed to forgotten something. “And what if I did?” He smiled taking a step closer to her, a cheeky smile.
“As to why I know your sizes, I’m not sure how much of a genius you think I am but I could stare at you for ages and I still wouldn’t know your size. Basically, I checked your file when you came to work here if you recall Neverland was meant to have uniforms in the beginning, and it was written in your resume.” He pointed out casually.
“But then there is your question, why would I look at you intensively.” James hummed. “Well since you are the one with the greater imagination of the both of us, tell me what makes you think I would look at you so closely. Aside from the tag sticking out of your coat?”
He shook his head. He wouldn’t allow himself to be defeated. “And I’ll have to apologize princess, but the only thing you have been right about is that you are correct about one single thing. I do tease you because I like it, the rest pure coincidence.”
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Tina considered for a moment, not something she wanted to be doing right now. Was Mary someone that cared for Tina? She supposed to so. The woman wasn’t terrible by any means -she raised Tina, clothed and fed her, put a roof over her head- but she always seemed distant. There was always something else that needed doing elsewhere. Some would call Mary a busy body, others might call her scatter brained. She just didn’t have the time to really look at Tina, or listen to her, or play with her. Tina knew that Mary must have cared a little if she continued to provide for her, to put up with her. It just wasn’t enough. Maybe had something to do with the rest of her family. Something in the back of her mind had her suspicious that Mary wasn’t even her real Auntie but she couldn’t put her finger on why. Regardless, the lack of attention led to Tina’s increasingly desperate attempts to be noticed. Not just by Mary, but by anyone. Peter filled that void when they were children, and then the Lost Boys too. And they would wildly search for attention together. But then Wendy appeared and the void threatened to grow and grow, and Tina grew increasingly desperate. All attention felt like good attention at this point. Even when the attention was objectively very, very bad. (Like right now.) But, you know, Mary still fed her and stuff. She didn’t kick her out when school started to call, or when the police gave her one or two warnings. She totally cared.
“Hmm… I guess she did,” Tina hummed. “I mean, I’m still alive. That has to count.” She really didn’t feel like diving much deeper in to it. Not when she was trying to flirt her way out of doing real work!
James shortened the gap between them and Tina found she had to stand a little taller just to look at him now. There was no way she was going to look as small and vulnerable as when he shouted at her. His response to the staring accusation caught her off guard for a moment. Had she not been so committed to the act she would have taken a step away from him. What if he had been staring? Well then she would be thoroughly freaked out. But he was just playing, right? So she kept up the game. “Well, I wouldn’t blame you,” Tina shrugged, leaning in to her hip a little.
Admittedly Tina had totally forgotten about her uniform size. Honestly, it had been a miracle she even read enough of the contract to sign it in the first place, and there was absolutely nothing worth remembering on it, was there? It felt like admitting James was smarter than he looked though, so she did her best to swerve the explanation back to where she wanted it. “That’s a dreadfully boring answer. I take back my previous statement, I don’t think you’re very clever at all.” Tina took another tiny step forward and let out a little huff, followed closely by a pout of her lower lip.
Oh, but then he just had to go and throw her off her rhythm again! Why would he have any reason to look at her intently? Of course the simple reason could just be that she demanded attention. Not just from James, but from everyone. And staring was totally attention. Again though, that seemed like a boring answer that wouldn’t lead anywhere. Her eyes fluttered away for a moment. Maybe she could play coy. It was better than laughing, which she wanted to do right now. “Hmm… Well, you know, sir… When someone, like… likes someone they might look at them very closely.” Tina buried the urge to reach out her hand by holding them behind her back. “And… I think you like me. What with how much you love teasing me and all.”
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Hmm, I guess she did. It made James wonder if he should be happy with the comparison or not, then again. He wasn’t her aunt Mary, so it didn’t matter in the end. The next line didn’t sit well with him, yet it was something he had said too often when he found himself in trouble. When he got hit a bit too much or when he woke up after beaten unconscious. I’m still alive after all. “Such a good thing you are alive Tina-” He almost felt tempted to add the line: ‘Who else would make up our beds’ but refrained, he wanted to play her game and he couldn’t play the game well if she were to get angry with him. Her feelings shifted like a sudden storm at sea, so he had to be careful with what he would say. Especially because she could use her anger as yet another excuse to run away from the situation. He didn’t want that.
It seemed like Tina had found her confidence again, so this would end up to be a game of cat and mouse. His flirtation had to be as vague as possible, enough to keep this tiny act going, but not over the top to make her realize what it was that he had been feeling for her. Unlike Tina, James didn’t crave attention, and it wasn’t like he didn’t attract people before. The only difference was that James wouldn’t settle for them, they were too kind, too naive too sweet too…normal? boring even. Tina was fresh, she was playful and a tease. She was insecure, yet exciting, dangerous yet alluring. She wasn’t like everyone else, James just happened to realize this before Peter did.
Sadly, truly, considering Peter had known her far longer than James did. If he was Peter he would have settled for Tina a long time ago.
I wouldn’t blame you. “That’s because you cannot blame me, Tina, you like the flattery. I know you do. It’s why you tease Smee so often.” He smirked. “But it isn’t that usual you try this with me. Why the sudden change?”
“Is it boring? Or does my answer not satisfy your needs.” He laughed. “Well if I recall you did call me stupid. My stupidity seems to be rather boundless.” He placed a hand next to her, keeping a distance between her and the wall.
And then he laughed, a wholehearted laugh. He removed her hand and placed it against his lips as if it could prevent him from the laugh escaping his lips. “I like every one of my staff, one more than the other.” He smiled before placing a piece of hair back behind her ear.
“But if I like you- that I’ll leave up to your imagination.” He grinned
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Peter had crashed extremely hard thanks to the sugar rush he received after eating more than his fair share of candy at the Halloween party. He woke up in someone’s backyard, completely disoriented, but had laughed it off, emptied his pockets full of candy wrappers on the grass, and made his way back toward the Neverland Hotel.
It was suspiciously quiet, and when Peter saw Tina wasn’t at the front desk as usual, he went looking for her. He peered into one room after the next, finally locating her. Unfortunately, Hook was there too, looming over her in what could only be a menacing way. Without thinking, Peter gave out a sharp yelp of, “HEY!” and dashed forward, planting himself between them. He placed his hands on Hook’s chest, pushing him back, before holding his arms out to the side, shielding Tina with his body.
“What do you think you’re doing, you bastard?! Don’t touch her!”
He was probably thinking of doing something nefarious to Tina … what, exactly, Peter had no idea, but it was sure to be something bad! Being so convinced that Hook was the enemy, Peter couldn’t think of any other thing the man might’ve been doing. Besides, it was nice to think he was acting as Tina’s knight in shining armor, saving her from the evil dragon or something.
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Tina wasn’t really sure what she was about to do next. She hadn’t expected James to place his hand on the wall beside her head, nor had she expected him to move her hair behind her ear. Nothing like that ever happened when she flirted with Smee.
Peter’s voice shattered the tension like a brick through a window. The timing was lucky to say the least, because Tina was about one second away from putting her foot in her mouth and regretting all of her life choices. Actually, for a short moment she was regretting her choices, because she didn’t think Peter catch her flirting with the enemy. She looked not unlike a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, and took a deliberate step backwards out of James’ reach. One hundred excuses flew through her head in that instance.
But then it seemed Peter was none the wiser to Tina’s part in the situation. He had come to the rescue, and pushed Hook out of her way. Thank the Lord! He stood squarely in front of her, arms outstretched, to protect her. It took everything in her power not to burst in to a fit of giggles. (If she laughed, surely Peter would guess that she had been up to mischief.) She stared at Peter in awe but kept her mouth tightly shut.
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It could only be called a blessing to Tina for Peter to show up in that very moment because you see if he hadn’t and it had been a few moments later he might have done something he would have regretted. The loud hey echoed through the hall, and if he wasn’t too focussed on this little play, he would have given a sigh of relief.
What are you doing bastard?
He could play the villain if he had to. “Of course I am discussing something with Tina. But I’m sure she will be happy that her knight showed up.” He couldn’t contain the tiny wink he gave Tina. Because James wasn’t an idiot he knew Tina liked Peter. But since they both wanted him to be a villain he’d make that matter clear to Peter, and give the hero a little villainous warning.
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“You know your royal knight, the damsel in distress can get awfully mistaken with that courageous act of yours.” He looked at Tina with a glare. “Then again she likes to play with fire at times, maybe it’s only a matter of time before she burns herself with it.” He gave both of them a bow.
“And that includes our little Halloween play, though I have to admit Peter would make a nice addition to it, right Tina?” He knew that if she would deny it he wouldn’t be as nice as he was being now.
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Peter had no idea what was going on, but Hook’s voice grated his nerves no matter what the guy had to say. It was his natural inclination to simply tune the man out whenever he spoke, but he tried to concentrate now, if only so he could be indignant and insulting about whatever Hook said.
“Fire? Play? What are you talking about?” Peter frowned in confusion, lowering his arms now that Hook didn’t seem to be threatening Tina anymore. Then again, those words did still seem like a threat.
“Tina’s not going to burn herself! I won’t let her! So you can put out whatever fire you’re talking about and go away!” Peter set his hands on his hips, tilting his chin up defiantly, like a little kid would. He did like being called a knight; it reminded him of the times he played the courageous hero in the woods, though back in those days he spent most of his effort pretending to rescue Wendy from danger. Not that she seemed to appreciate it. Always talking about how a woman doesn’t need to be saved by a man to be valuable or whatever. Peter didn’t get it; he’d just wanted to play a game.
It was frustrating, because it felt like Hook was playing a game he didn’t know the rules to, or know what it was at all. Peter didn’t like not knowing.
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Tina caught Hook’s wink and very quickly averted her gaze and tried to avoid his glare as long as she could. She couldn’t have been happier that Peter had showed up when he did, because she hadn’t been sure how much further she could have taken the game before she caved to the pressure and threw a punch, or if James would have done something before her. Of course Tina planned to keep all incriminating evidence to herself - as far as Peter was concerned, this was all Hook’s fault and Tina intended to make him think exactly that.
She bit the nail of her thumb to hide the smile when Peter insisted that she wasn’t going to burn herself, and that he wouldn’t allow it. She totally was, but God she was so happy that Peter thought better of her and seemed to actually care for her safety.
“I don’t even know what he’s talking about Peter,” Tina whispered, stepping closer as if she might be frightened. There was no chance she was pulling a Wendy in this situation. “He’s been talking like that all morning and he won’t leave me alone.”
Tina made sure to shoot Hook a very pointed glare, just out of Peter’s line of sight, at his final suggestion. Tina didn’t want to seem like she had been playing along. It wasn’t her fault things had got out of hand! “Just… shut up already!”
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Since she wanted to push the blame on him James decided he would give both of them a warning. “Tina, lying doesn’t suit you but I will say this - if you flirt with Smee once more he will file a complaint against you, you have been warned.” He then moved his head to Peter. “Peter you can make as many assumptions as you want, do know whose place you live in and who can kick you out, you have been slacking work for some time I expect improvements or you will be gone.”
He looked past Tina as if she had poofed away in a cloud of smoke and shook his head. “Play time is over, time for the adults to be adults and the kids to behave.” Oh he was fed up, and if he hadn’t managed to calm himself he had fired Tina on the spot. “Tina, kitchen- unless you feel like you have something better to do than you know where to gather your things and leave this hotel, you will get your last paycheck-” He was no longer playing all right.
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“Since I’m your boss I don’t take your words too lightly Miss Bell, I expect you to have at least some sort of respect, or you look for a job elsewhere. I believed next up were tasting our new batter for the cupcakes. I’m sure you can manage that alone?” It came out as a question though it was more a demand.
“I am your boss, so yes, from now on either of you is going to work, or is fired and kicked out. Period.” With that he spun his heal and walked towards his office, slamming the door shut with a loud bang and locked it so no one could see the smile on his face.
So his revenge would come after all.
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620-622: "A Critical Situation! Punk Hazard Explodes!", "Capture Caesar! General Cannon Blasts!" and "A Touching Reunion! Momonosuke and Kinemon!"
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Watched three in a row because Doflamingo was teased. He is currently air-leaping over the sea from Dressrosa, so, to be fair, that might take some time. Meanwhile, a whole lot of stuff happened during the wind-up phase of Punk Hazard.
The biggest twist was Caesar accidentally stabbing Monet in the heart. That was brutal and a genuine shock. Doubt he’ll care unless Doflamingo chews him out for it. The second biggest twist was the whole Kaidou thing. The third biggest was Kinemon returning from the “dead” (more on that later).
There is a fair bit to unpack, so I’ll get down to it.
The Ol’ Switcheroo
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They really have to start labeling these things. Nametags, people! One of the first things you learn at school. A permanent marker. That’s all you need. Scrawl some initials on that box. Boom! There’s your protection from switcheroos. Job done.
The scene was great, though. I liked the disorientating switch between Caesar outside and Monet inside. It meant you didn’t really know what was truly happening until the action switched back to the escaping Strawhats.
At the start of 620, Caesar lay flat out, clutching that blade, fully intent on taking Smoker down with him.
Inside, Monet was still on the DDM to Doflamingo, fully prepared to sacrifice herself to clean up Punk Hazard. Her feathery appendage hovered over the Big Red Button. “The Strawhats. Trafalgar Law. G5. Those pitiable children. Everyone will disappear along with me.” Back in Dressrosa, Doflamingo perched on that window seat.
Then there was a big, confusing KABOOM and a slicing sound. Monet’s eyes widened. I had no idea what was going on. Neither did Doflamingo. He must have heard the explosion and wondered aloud why the DDM connection hadn’t cut out.
The explanation came from Law. The boom that rocked Punk Hazard came from the SAD room. 
So what had happened to Monet? She slumped to the floor, bleeding. Then the action switched back to Caesar. A vicious grin stretched his face and that shard of blade was buried deep in that heart.
Yup. Caesar stabbed Monet in the heart BY ACCIDENT. Caesar killed Monet.
How had he managed to screw up so badly?
Law played the ol’ switcheroo. In a flashback, it was revealed that Law had already returned Smoker’s heart. Smoker was puzzled because his heart had been handed to Caesar by Law as a “thoughtful gift.” How had Law clawed it back? 
To obtain Caesar’s trust in the first place, Law exchanged hearts. Law’s for Monet’s. That had been the deal. But when Law took Smoker’s heart later on, he now had two identical-looking hearts. Just before he handed over the “thoughtful gift” Law pocketed Caesar’s and handed over Monet’s instead. As Law said, “When you do something good, something good will happen to you”, right?
A genius move but a risky gamble, Law, you absolute madman. :D
Naturally, Doflamingo realised something was up. Monet did not answer. A horrific explosion had not cut the line. He grabbed his jacket. I cannot lie, he looked grim. Some little kid ran about looking for him. The Elders said Doflamingo would be in his room but the kid said she’d looked there. Oh well, the Elders said. Doflamingo had just left without taking any subordinates again. (I like that. Doflamingo is obviously confident he can take care of this mess himself.)
And sure enough, Doflamingo boosted across the sea, on the line with Baby 5 and Buffalo. Was Punk Hazard still intact? Yes. But an “Iron Security Guard” stood in their way.
“Make sure you kill him,” Doflamingo said. “I’m on my way now.”
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YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Things are hotting up again. I mean, RIP, Monet, but I won’t miss you too much. Sure, you said the children were pitiable but you went along with the blood-curdling experimentation because Doflamingo asked you to so...
Come to think of it, it was probably a good thing that Caesar screwed up.
Doflamingo just assumed Baby 5 and Buffalo would easily take care of retrieving Caesar. He didn’t contact them for an update until he was leaping across the sea. If Monet had pushed that button, everyone would have been killed in the explosion - including Caesar. (Probably. I’m assuming the gas fruit wouldn’t protect Caesar from that. If that’s wrong, then Doflamingo made a good call.)
Artists Taking the Michael Here, I Think
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While Doflamingo was in transit, Baby 5 and Buffalo were having a hard time against Franky. Got to say that Franky is lovably eccentric. He sings these theme songs for himself while he’s fighting, “I am the Iron Pirate and I don’t take care of the seeeeeeeea... I am an invincible Iron Pirate!” He’s hilarious. 
The weapons/air battle was cool. That’s why Franky is such a useful character. He can inject a bit of variety into any fight. For a while, it switched from a pirate series into an air battle mecha fest! Baby 5 transformed into revolvers, gatling guns, flame throwers, sickles and spinning tops (super lame!) But Franky held out against them all. 
It was interesting that she said, “Even a Pacifista would have taken damage from that!” Does that imply that Franky has improved upon Vegapunk’s designs?? :D
At any rate, Franky had it all under control. “I praise you for penetrating my armour but this is like a mantis going up against a warship.” That was a good line! Franky revealed the Sunny’s secret weapon: the Gaon Cannon.
It was only when the smoke cleared that Franky finally noticed Caesar lying flat out. Then Baby 5 yelled, “In the name of Joker, we will recover Caesar no matter what!”
The penny finally dropped. They weren’t after his cola.
Oh, Franky.
Punk Hazard Survivors’ Team Photo
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In the tunnel, the big explosm from the SAD Room made life difficult for the escapees. Large chunks of ceiling and boulders fell on the tracks. Luffy and Zoro took care of those. No problem. Standard procedure.
The only thing that really threatened their plan? The explosion caused the gas to leak into the tunnel. Yikes.
Law asked if there was anyone who could control wind. Loved that little moment when the G5 guys were like, “Oh yeah. And you’ll find someone with that highly specialised power here by random chance? We’re doomed!” 
And Nami stepped forward. xD
Her job was to redirect the gas cloud, blowing away the gas outside to clear a path to the ships. The G5 didn’t entirely trust Nami. I like how Sanji defended her here. “Those who don’t trust Nami, get off!” That trust was based on Strawhat solidarity and faith in Nami’s competence, not on comedic infatuation.
That unshakeable Strawhat solidarity was shown again after Nami played a blinder and the truck burst out of the tunnel to a huge victory fanfare! :D
Instead of finding more clouds of noxious gas, they found the area clear and Franky battling with Baby 5 and Buffalo. (Usopp was the only one who wondered where the outside gas was. That man always has his head screwed on.)
Before they nabbed Caesar and dashed, Baby 5 called out Law for being a traitor. She said something verrrrrry interesting too. “Are you really going against Joker? You traitor. Joker was saving the Seat of Hearts for you.”
Leaving aside the obvious card suit theme here (was Law to be promoted to a General like rank in Doflamingo’s crew?) Law told Luffy that Baby 5 and Buffalo were the enemy. When they realised they were outnumbered and outmatched, Baby 5 and Buffalo snatched Caesar and scarpered.
That triggered the Nami and Usopp dream team capture sequence.
Usopp was like, “Leave this to me.” Law attempted to step in, but Luffy had an “I’m just gonna stop you there moment”. If Usopp said he’d handle it, he’d handle it. It was said with a smile but you know Luffy meant business. Law had to learn to trust the other Strawhats just as much as Luffy already does.
Oda always plays with Nami and Usopp’s cowardice but honestly, it’s becoming more and more of a running joke rather than truth. Nami’s weather control powers are actually super destructive and she took out Baby 5, Buffalo and Caesar with no problems. Usopp finished the job by grabbing Buffalo and Baby 5. Caesar almost thought he’d get away because Usopp’s attacks phased through his logia form.
But no!
For Usopp had already thought about it. THOSE CUFFS!
That aside, let us give credit where it’s due: Luffy, your plan came good in the end. Great execution by Usopp. Now that’s what I call teamwork. :D
Nami and Usopp Come Through
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The immediate danger past, it was time to literally draw a line (lmao G5) and get back to reality. Smoker agreed to wait with the pirates until a ship came to pick up his unit.
Oda set about tying up the loose ends. Brownbeard and the minions would hand themselves over to the Marines in exchange for treatment. It’s telling that he considers prison a better alternative than being Caesar’s guinea pig. Plus, he got to see Caesar go flying thanks to Luffy, so it was worth it.
Tashigi asked Nami if she could take the kids to Vegapunk for treatment. Nami was initially distrustful. It was the Marines’ fault the kids ended up with Caesar in the first place. Vergo had handed them over! The Marines weren’t doing their job. But Tashigi apologised, said she’d take personal responsibility for the kids and that she would get them back to their parents. Most of them should be okay now Law has operated on them and removed most of the bad stuff.
(Little bit cliched that the female characters are the ones always taking ultimate responsibility for the kids but it’s entirely expected considering the genre, Japan, etc.)
At least the kids recognised Nami and Chopper as the main people who stuck up for them and helped them pull through. When Chopper told them the Marines wanted to take care of them, they protested. Where’s the orange-haired lady? They wanted to thank her. What about Robo Man? Rubber Man? Curly Brow Guy?
But it was for the best. Nami and Usopp had a little chat on deck. I love moments like that when you catch the friendly, natural moments between the crew you don’t often get to see because they’re busy fighting. Usopp asked Nami if she’d sorted things with the Marines. Nami said yeah, that it was for the best that Tashigi took the kids. They were all pirates. Keeping the kids on deck even until they got them home would put them in danger (good call, as Doflamingo is on his way).
There was a nice callback to Bellmere too. Nami admitted the other reason was she has, “a weakness for the eyes of a female Marine. They’re just reassuring to me. It’s always best to be saved by a strong, kind-hearted female Marine.”
I like it when Oda does that. He never forgets his characters’ roots and motivations.
In Two Minds About This
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While Sanji was cooking up some Newkama Kempo 99th Vital Recipe: Hormone Soup with Sea Pig (sounds horrendous but everyone was lining up for it) Brook backed into Kinemon.
I suspected Kinemon would be revived. Why else would Brook have dragged him all the way out of Punk Hazard? Plus, I felt sorry for poor Momonosuke knowing his dad was dead and having to bottle all that up because “samurai”.
The reunion was actually great. Not complaining about it in the slightest. True to the OPverse’s samurai culture, it wasn’t overly sappy. It was a worried sick dad hugging his little boy. Momonosuke did not touch a drop of food until his dad said it was okay, that they could trust these pirates, that they had saved his life. Watching little Momonosuke finally able to eat gave me a major case of HappySad. (If anyone’s curious about the ratio, it was 80% happy and 20% sad.)
This turned into straight up Happy when Luffy cheered up Momonosuke with his old chopsticks in nostrils trick. No one should be crying at a party, after all!
The only thing I was a bit meh about was that Kinemon - and all the other G5 guys - survived Caesar’s weapon. Would have preferred it if the G5 guys’ sacrifice remained that way. Not because I like edgy character death but because it was such a grave moment and a change in tone. It also obliterated most of the peril. I also don’t get how they survived if they were encased in that white substance. They would have suffocated!
Maybe if Kinemon was half frozen, it would have been more convincing to break the white casing and he was still alive underneath. But that would have ruined the reunion drama of him “rising from the dead”.
Also, what’s Caesar doing inventing weapons that don’t actually kill people?
Come on, Caesar. Step up your game! You should have stuck with Smiley, mate.
And Now For Someone Completely Different...
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Now that everyone was free to party, Law attempted to kill the buzz by reminding Luffy that new enemies would be arriving shortly and it was best to make themselves scarce. Luffy responded to this by declaring everyone should “Hurry up and party!” Lmao.
The party montage showed that Mocha would be okay, the kids enjoyed Franky’s hair transformations, that Brownbeard and the Minions are friends again, the kids trooped onto the Marine ship, Chopper brought Law a bowl of soup (he freaked out watching Law operate on the kids, haha), the Minions forced Caesar to spill the secrets of how the gas worked and that Caesar was sitting there, absolutely battered, wondering how the hell Smoker was still alive.
Smoker was also wondering something. He asked his new Pirate Pal Law why the alliance with Luffy. “What are you planning on using Strawhat to do?”
Law’s reply? “Who’s the one who’s being used?”
Then, finally, we were treated to the real conversation. The one Luffy and Law had on that clifftop in the blizzard that cut away when the real good stuff happened.
And here is the news.
The target is Kaidou the Beast.
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Kaidou? Already?
That is awesome.
It’ll be a long-term plan, though, because the Strawhats have business with Big Mom after Dressrosa (dat spoilery CR arc list).
I was right in thinking Luffy had reservations in fighting Shanks but I was totally wrong about him never wanting to go up against him. Luffy just doesn’t want to fight him first.
Luffy, you absolute madman.
(I now think someone else will take out Shanks, thus averting the friends into enemies situation. Maybe Blackbeard because he is persona non grata and he already has beef with Shanks.)
The only thing I’m worried about immediately (as in the next couple of episodes) is the imminent arrival of Doflamingo and the dude with the feather boa/fur trimmed collar who woke up on a tiny ship, said he’d slept in and... where was Punk Hazard again?
Hopefully, Luffy will take Law’s advice and scarper with Caesar on board before Doflamingo finds them.
That’ll make Doflamingo mad.
See that vein on his head? Something tells me you don’t wanna see that vein. That means he’s angry.
You wouldn’t like him when he’s angry...
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Look, up in the sky! 
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a birdplane!
Faster than a streak of lightning. More powerful than the pounding surf. Mightier than a roaring hurricane... oh, wait. It’s Doflamingo.
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Writer’s Month 2019
Day 6: Word Prompt: kids 
Mark loved his son. Tim was his world. Especially after all the hassle he had gone through during the adoption process; there was the question of stability around Mark’s main source of income coming from his YouTube channel and as well as how he would deal with travelling when con-time came around due to him being a single parent. But in the end, the case went through and Mark found himself with the adorable little Timothy. Tim was only four years old when he came to live with Mark and, in the two years that they had been a family, both Tim and Mark had settled into a comfortable routine.
           Each morning, Mark would wake up early and go for a run or walk with Chica before he prepped for breakfast. Mark would then wake Tim who would pad through to the kitchen, clamber up onto his seat to eat and watch cartoons on the kitchen TV as he ate his breakfast. Mark would then drop his son off at school with money for his lunch in his pocket and his little rucksack on his back before he drove home to record some videos for the day.
           On the days when recording would take longer than planned, Mark relied on one of his friends to pick Tim up. Most of Mark’s friends didn’t mind picking up the now six-year-old as Tim had a way of charming everyone he met, especially his pseudo-aunts and uncles, who all adored the little boy.
           Then when all videos had been edited and uploaded to the channel, the little family would get together and eat dinner before spending quality time together; watching a movie or playing games until it was time for bed.
           Mark would then tuck Tim in and whisper a “Sleep tight, Little Biscuit.” followed by a kiss to Tim’s hairline before Mark left the room switching off the lights as he went.
           Life was good for the Fischbach’s.
 ~💕~
 “So, did you have a good time today?” Mark asked as he entered the dining room carrying two plates of chicken with mash potatoes and mixed vegetables. He placed one plate, with a slightly smaller portion pre-cut into mouthful-size pieces, in front of his son before he settled down in his seat opposite.
           “Yeah, Daddy! It was really cool! We went to the park! But it wasn’t Kyle’s mom or dad who took us, it was his big brother, Jason! He pushed us on the swings and he spun us on the roundabout! And we went super super super fast! It was awesome! Then we played hide and seek in the trees and bushes around the park! And I won because Jason helped me climb a tree and Kyle couldn’t find me for ages!” Mark smiled as he listened to his son’s tale. He expected there might be a small bit of exaggeration concerning how long it took Kyle to find the other boy but so long as he was happy.
           “Remember to eat your dinner before it gets cold.” The adult in the room pointed out when Tim took a pause for breath.
           “Yes, Daddy!” Tim exclaimed, suddenly gathering a large amount of chicken and potato onto his fork and trying to shove it all into his mouth.
           “Not so much, Tim. Just what you can chew. You can talk after.” Tim nodded his head and began to take smaller, more appropriate bites of food. After managing to eat a few mouthfuls, Tim made a show of swallowing before taking a deep breath to start talking again.
           “Then, Jason took us to McDonald’s and I got a chicken nugget Happy Meal! And then! And then! Then we went for ice cream at Scooby Doo’s!” Mark smiled at his son, knowing that ‘Scooby Doo’s’ was Tim’s way of saying ‘Scoopy Doo’, a little cafe and ice cream shop in town that sold homemade ice cream in a wide variety of flavours from the normal and expected to those unique to the cafe.
           “That sounds like fun,” The adult remarked as Tim shovelled another forkful of food into his mouth. “Did you get your favourite?”
           “Yup! I gots a large cone and a flake!” Mark knew all about the flake, when he had picked Tim up, the boy had flecks of chocolate smeared into his t-shirt along with the large ice cream drip stains. “Then we went back to Kyle’s house and we played in his garden all afternoon! We played pirates and guarded our treasures from the evil shark that wanted to steal it! It was so much fun! We pretended that the treehouse in Kyle’s garden was our ship and Rodger was the shark!” Rodger being the other family’s pet dog; a small, excitable beagle. “And then Jason came outside and played with us in the treehouse! He was Davey Jones! And he tried sink our ship by controlling the shark! But then! We fed the shark Davey Jones’ hand like Captain Hook in Peter Pan! And we won!”
           “Well, it sounds like you had a very exciting day.” Mark smiled fondly at his son as the boy scraped the last bites of food into his mouth. Tim then carefully put his fork and knife together in the centre of his plate, copying his father’s actions. “So, I guess that means that it’s an early night for a certain little boy?”
           The look on Tim’s face evolved from a big smile to a look of horror and he suddenly yelled in protest, “But it’s movie night! We always stay up and watch movies on deh weekends!”  
           “But surely you’re too tired from your long day of being a pirate?”
           “No!”
           “Alright, well how about we go and run you a bath, then once you’re in your PJs, we can put a movie in?” Tim quickly nodded and scurried from his chair as Mark stood up and carried both his plate and Tim’s plate over to the sink, to wash up as Tim took his bath.
           The running footsteps alerted Mark to Tim’s presence and when he turned around, he found his son donned in his bathrobe, hugging a clear plastic box to his chest. Mark led the way through to the bathroom, where he filled up the tub with warm water and helped Tim to get settled. He then gave Tim his bath crayons and dropped a couple of toys into the water before he said, “I’ll just be in the kitchen, so just shout if you need anything.” Tim nodded his head though he seemed to be already engrossed in creating his first piece of artwork on the tiled wall.
           For the next fifteen minutes, Mark washed up the dishes and wiped the countertops before he retreated to Tim’s bedroom to set out the boy’s pyjamas. Once Mark had completed the few tasks he needed to, he rejoined his son in the bathroom.
           Tim had been busy during the time Mark had been away. The white tiles on the walls now held a collage of colourful pictures. One was, Mark assumed, supposed to be Tim and Kyle on a pirate ship, with a strange beagle-shark hybrid cresting the spiky waves, jagged teeth gnashing. Another image, Mark guessed, was supposed to be Tim’s family; Tim in the centre with Mark next to him, and then gradually scattered all around was Mark’s close friends who had all begun to fulfill large roles in the young boy’s life. Then the other images seemed to be a collection of rainbow animals, though if you asked Mark to identify them, he certainly would have struggled to give any definite names or labels.
           “Hey, Squishy, ready to wash your hair?” Tim turned his attention away from his latest drawing, something that used a lot of green, and nodded to his dad, dropping the crayon into the plastic box. Mark reached out for the children’s shampoo and set about washing his son’s hair for him. “Ready to get out now, or do you want to play some more?” Mark asked once Tim had finished rinsing the product from his hair.
           “Play more!” Tim exclaimed, enthusiastically, suddenly thrusting a shark toy into his dad’s hands, “You’re the shark, Daddy!”
           Mark laughed, glad he was already wearing short sleeves as he plunged his hands into the water to make the shark swim. “Okay, ten more minutes then we’ll get you ready for bed before we watch a movie.” Tim nodded and grabbed the boat toy, talking as though he were the pirates aboard the boat.
 By the time the Fischbach’s were ready to settle down and put on a movie, it was almost eight thirty. Tim had been changed into his Spiderman-themed pyjamas, had brushed his teeth and was hugging his favourite teddy bear; handmade with black button eyes and a little pink moustache, dressed in a little red-and-white striped jacket. Mark had similarly changed into his pyjama pants and a comfy t-shirt and was happily curled up under a blanket with his son under one arm and Chica under the other. The movie played in the quiet of the living room, the only other sound being the rhythmic thudding of Chica’s tail as it wagged happily against the fabric of the sofa.
           It wasn’t even half an hour into the film when Tim was out cold, snoring lightly. Mark sat in place for a while, ensuring that the boy was fully asleep before he carefully untangled himself from the blanket and lifted Tim into his arms. Chica padded behind the man, happy to follow along behind as Mark made his way to Tim’s bedroom. Carefully, he balanced the small boy against his chest with one arm as he pulled back the duvet to tuck Tim in.
           Tim stirred for a moment but showed no sign of waking. Mark smiled and bent down to kiss Tim’s forehead, whispering a good night into the boy’s hair. He turned back towards the door to see Chica staring at him, head tilted to one side. She sat at the end of the bed and lightly pet at the floor with her front paws.
           “Come on, Chica, out. Maybe when he’s older.” Mark whispered, gently urging the dog out the door. “Okay, bed, Chica.” Chica seemed reluctant but eventually she padded out the door, followed by Mark after he had switched on the night light on the chest of drawers.
           Mark then walked with Chica to the sliding door leading out to the patio and back garden and let the dog outside. He flicked on the outside lights and left Chica to her business as he set to work cleaning the bathroom.
           Half an hour later found Mark locking all the doors and checking the windows. Chica was back inside and likely to be upstairs in Mark’s bedroom, curled up on the dog pillow. On his way to his bedroom, he peeked his head into Tim’s room to check on his son and smiled as he saw the small lump shuffle. Mark smiled softly, pulling the door mostly shut but leaving it slightly ajar.
           Mark brushed his teeth and did his night time routine in the en suite of the Master bedroom. Chica raised her head to look at him as he made his way over to the bed. The dog bed was positioned at the end of the double bed, pressed up right against the side. Mark pet the dog’s head lovingly as he passed, leaning down to press a quick kiss to the dog’s nose. “’Night pupper.”
           Climbing under the covers, Mark got himself comfortable before running through tomorrow’s plan. Tim was back at school. He’d gotten his homework done on the Saturday – Tim had sat with Mark as he edited some videos in the home office, working through the sheet of symmetrical shapes and looking for real-world examples - and his backpack was all ready to go by the front door. Mark had already planned out which videos he would be recording and which games he would play, he usually aimed to try and get two or three filmed, even if they weren’t all edited straight away.
           It didn’t take Mark long to fall asleep, listening to the slow huffs from Chica.
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mocharoll · 5 years
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Hey! Wrote another thing! (F!Hawke x Isabela, almost act 3)
I’ve been checking out Isabela’s romance route for the first time and by the time I was done with act 2 this popped up?! Again a very quick one and fairly smol™️  but I hope it brings a smile to your face! 
“Look what the cat dragged in.”
Hawke sashayed her way through the hazy, awed gazes of the Hanged Man’s patrons and towards the pirate queen, flashing her own wicked grin to match Isabela’s.
“You could say that again.”
She wore the willowy, ivory robe from last night’s festivities that stopped just short of her knees, made of creamy silk that flowed and caught the sun with each step. It contrasted beautifully with her warm shoulder length black hair and, Isabela sighed to herself, not so charmingly with her weary brown leather jacket and ankle boots, the colour of which almost makes the flakes of dried mud look like they’re meant to be there. She can always count on Hawke to be the worst at fashion and still look smashing, not that she’s the most qualified person to judge, she noted to herself, idly scratching at her behind and combing through her hair with her fingers. Hawke laughed at her expression.
“I know that look, Isabela, and no; you’re looking wonderful and yes, you can always come to my place for a bath should you wish to.”
She snorted in response, almost spilling her bottle of whiskey everywhere and ruining everyone’s morning, including hers. “Only if you join me. But surely you can’t have stumbled here by chance- it’s too early for your daily visit and too late to still be hungover,” she leaned against the counter and smirked, gesturing at Hawke with her bottle. “Though I’m not exactly complaining, what with you wearing that dress that I could go on for hours about how flattering it looks on you, if half of Kirkwall leering at you when you walk by wasn’t any indication. But maybe, just maybe without the boots and jacket sprinkled with six years’ worth of mud and blood.”
Her grin widened as Hawke turned redder and redder, and they both gave a hearty laugh by the end, Hawke tugging at her jacket and burying her face into her palm half-heartedly.
“You were gone by the time I woke up and I was worried something was wrong, so I went looking for you.”
“Hm? And I’m guessing there I was, in the first place you checked?”
“Exactly. Well,” Hawke frowned. “Not quite, I asked around if anyone had seen you around the docks first.”
Isabela’s smirk softened. “Afraid I might run away on you again?”
Hawke looked up with genuine shock in her eyes, and clasped her hand in hers.
“What? No! Why would I?”
“I wouldn’t blame you.”
“Wh- You made a promise, and I know you wouldn’t break it without good reason. I was worried you were sick and hiding around the docks again!”
Isabela chuckled, more so at the way she said it than the memory itself. “What was it you said? ‘I found you by following the smell of your whiskey and splotches of vomit’? Or shrieked, rather?”
“You forgot the ‘daggers and baby knives’ part, honey.”
She barked out a laugh, in no small part thanks to the pet name. “The what?”
Hawke gaped at her, deadpan. “Andraste’s sword Isabela, you don’t even remember yourself telling me you threw them around because you got mad at them poking at your arse?”
“Ohhh,” Isabela nodded slowly in realization. “So that’s why there was blood down there. I thought it was you.”
“Isabela!”
“Alright,” she held her hands up, “Sorry, I didn’t know you were still upset. You mentioned it first, though.”
Hawke shook her head and brought her other hand to hers. “It’s alright just-… You can’t imagine how terrifying it was to find you like that. You were nearly…” she looked down. “I needed to be sure.”
Isabela sighed, bringing her free hand up to Marian’s cheek, thumb caressing her beautifully freckled cheek.
“I know. And… Thank you. If it makes you feel any better I don’t intend to drink or screw everything up like that anytime soon, hopefully never.” She chuckled softly, hand moving down to Marian’s chin and tilting her head up slightly. “Not with you insisting to clean up my mess for me every time.”
“It’s not a mess,” Hawke whispered, her eyes soft. “And you won’t.”
She can’t be real, Isabela thought to herself. “Don’t say such things. It almost makes me want to believe you.”  
Hawke just gave her that lopsided smile that made Isabela want to throw her drink away and jump into her arms. You’re in it big time, Isabela.
“Right,” Isabela cleared her throat and laid her hand back onto hers. “That still doesn’t tell me why you’re wearing that with those. If you were planning on seducing me back to your house this is not the way to go.”
“Ugh, it’s not like I could have got out fully half-naked.”
“Well you’re already wearing that dress, so why not go all the way?”
“I was in a hurry! And it’s fairly clean. And-…” she gestured to the air. “You know what, I think we should make this a recurring theme. You know, you and I dazzling our opponents’ minds out of their arses with our dashing good looks before they can make a move and then beating them to death senselessly.”
Isabela took a sip of whiskey and smiled into the bottle. “Wouldn’t that also increase the chance of us getting beaten to death senselessly, Marian?”
“Well you know I can’t be trusted with fashion choices. If you decide to go through with any of them then it’s you who should be worried, not me. In all seriousness though,” she pursed her lips. ”I would gladly go along with it to avoid those Maker awful pre-combat one liners. Why do they even do that?! It’s like we’re in a fiction novel!”
Isabela threw her head back and laughed, and gave a small smooch on Hawke’s cheek when she recovered.
“Never change, Hawke. I beg you.”
“Right, but! Does this mean you’ll come home with me? There is still a few hours left until the afternoon we can sleep away.”
Isabela hummed thoughtfully. “That depends. Did you know you were out of cheese and drinks? That’s the reason why I came all the way here to get them, after all.”
Hawke raised her eyebrows at her, abashed. “You keep raiding the fridge every three minutes and you expect me to keep up with you?!”
“Well, you know what you signed up for. And I believe I made my conditions perfectly clear.”
Hawke huffed out an exasperated sigh, trying to force down her smile to keep the masquerade going. “Fine. Not now, but later today?”
Isabela winked at her as they clinked their drinks. “Deal.” The sound of ceramic against glass echoed in the Hanged Man, and some of the patrons grinned and clinked their own drinks in response, some raising their cups and drunkenly cheering at the Champion.
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artistic-writer · 5 years
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Alii Dimidium Lunam (The Other Half of the Moon) - CS Werewolf AU - Ch 16
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Title: Alii Dimidium Lunam (The Other Half of the Moon) by @artistic-writer   artwork by @cocohook38 & @artistic-writer
Rating: E (overall rating) for explicit sexual content, language and themes throughout. Trigger warnings will follow and be added as they are needed to avoid spoilers.
Art by @cocohook38 - Poster - Emma - David - Killian - James - Walsh - Graham - Liam
Chapter Art by @cocohook38 - Ch1 - Ch2 - Ch3 - Ch4 (NSFW)
Art by @artistic-writer - 1 - 2 - 3 -
Also on: AO3 - FF
A/N: Here you go guys, chapter 16!  
Massive thanks to my wonderful betas, @hookedonapirate who is one of the best beta’s this fandom has to offer - I seriously love her guys, and she deserves all the good things <3 <3 and @kmomof4 to whom this fic is also gifted for her upcoming birthday, and creating the @cssns  Thank you to my crew, @hollyethecurious  @resident-of-storybrooke @courtorderedcake @doodlelolly0910 and special thanks to @killian-whump @killianmesmalls and @sherlockianwhovian for how they helped with the last few chapters. And to @flipperbrain  who drew THIS piece of art for this fic in December, before it was even written!
Taglist: @cssns @resident-of-storybrooke @hollyethecurious @kmomof4 @hookedonapirate @winterbaby89 @courtorderedcake @initiala @cocohook38 @branlovesouat @teamhook @snidgetsafan @sherlockianwhovian @shireness-says @wingedlioness @lenfaz @therooksshiningknight@ilovemesomekillianjones @bmbbcs4evr@blowmiakisscolin @deathbycaptainswan @onceuponaprincessworld @chinawoodfan  @seriouslyhooked @snowbellewells @wordsmith-storyweaver  @jennjenn615 @delightfully-difficult-pirate @doodlelolly0910 @tiganasummertree @hookedmom @thejollyroger-writer @rachie1940 @unworried-corsair
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Every wolf knew that they healed much quicker in wolf form, but Killian had shifted back to human to comfort Emma as soon as he was able. He could tell she was going crazy, worrying over his battered body, tending to his wounds as if he were an injured dog she had taken in, but not really sure of what she was doing. As soon as he could, he had shifted back into human form, his muscles still tight and aching from his forced change, but nonetheless on the mend, the need to be with her stronger than the pain.
His joints had reformed, previously splintered and broken from the backward angle of his change, and his senses had returned to normal function. And if he thought Emma was incredible smelling in wolf form, it was nothing compared to when he had changed back to human form and been more attracted to her than he ever had. When she had told him she had her wolf heat it had all made sense, and even his extensive injuries didn’t stop him from trying to woo her into bed with him.
After Liam had left and he had told her of his plan to talk to their father as soon as he was back to form, Emma had insisted that they try and get some sleep. Neither of them had really had much lately and Emma was grateful for his human form to snuggle up to, but as Killian felt her hand fist against the contours of his chest and a soft whimper escape her lips on a sleepy sigh, he was instantly transported back to earlier that day when he had craved her.
He needed her. It wasn’t just want, it was an insatiable obsession to feel her skin against his and to taste her on his tongue. He was like a wolf possessed with a one-track mind for only her, so, ignoring the objection of his almost healed muscles, he craned his neck to inhale the smell of vanilla and lavender from her hair. His cock twitched beneath the covers and he shifted into a more comfortable position, even the mere scent of her conjuring up visions so explicit he growled low in his chest.
“Killian?” Emma asked groggily, her voice laced with worry. He couldn’t blame her. She had slept so lightly lately in case he needed her in the night, and even if it weren’t of a medical inclination, he did need her.
“I’m sorry,” Killian offered into the darkness of Liam’s bedroom. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“Is everything okay?” Emma said through a yawn, pushing herself into a sitting position beside him and the oversized tee she had worn to bed slipping off her shoulder and exposing her delicate skin. Killian gulped, his wolf vision pinpoint accurate in the dark as her creamy skin came into view and he found himself imagining her rosy pink lips wrapped around his erection, making himself harden even more.
Killian closed his eyes tight, shaking his head and trying to drown out the sounds of Emma’s pulse and her half sleepy yawn and what they were doing to him. It was incredible. He had never been around a purebred wolf before when she was in heat and it was so much more than he could explain. He had been with women before, humans on their period or approaching their monthly cycle, and those turned him on beyond comprehension, but the pull of a she-wolf in heat was like a drug. It made males do some crazy things and as it turned out, he wasn’t immune.
“Emma, you need to…” he grumbled darkly, his words forced out of his mouth by his reason whilst his lust desperately tried to escape. He wasn’t able to fuck her the way he wanted to, his body was nowhere near healed enough for that sort of strenuous activity, but it wouldn’t stop him from trying if he let the need win.
“Are you okay?” Emma pressed with concern, moving closer to him and resting her hand to his bicep. “What’s going on?”
Killian’s eyes flew open and fell on the searing hot fingertips burning into his muscles. He let out a long breath he had been holding and felt every hair on his entire body stand to attention, the goosebumps rippling over his skin and the tingle in his groin turning into an uncomfortable ache. “Your heat,” he managed weakly, lifting his darkened stare until their eyes were fixed on each other. He grabbed her hand from his arm and moved it to the tented cover over his crotch, sighing with relief when the weight of her hand pressed down on his length. “It’s doing things to me,” he groaned.
Emma felt her face redden, a creeping heat covering the apple of her cheeks, her lips suddenly turning dry. “In the middle of the night?” she choked out, the lilt of her voice nothing more than a squeak. Her hand remained on Killian’s erection, his gently laying over the top of hers and she didn’t try to remove it.
“Every second of every minute I am near you,” Killian growled. He felt like a foolish teenager in love, unable to contain his arousal with a pretty girl, but the thrall of Emma’s wolf heat was so much more than he could ever hope to contain.
“I’m sorry,” Emma said sheepishly, tracing the ridge of his member with her fingertip. He moaned a breathy sigh and let his hand slip from hers, his arm falling like a dead weight next to his thigh. He relaxed back into the pillows, letting his body slip further down the bed and ignoring the protest of his almost fully healed scrotum as Emma’s hand slipped up to his waist.
“Don’t be, love,” Killian soothed. “I’ve never been around a she-wolf in heat before,” he admitted with a frustrated tone. “It’s not your fault. You’ve done nothing wrong, but Gods if you don’t smell amazing...”
Emma’s skin prickled at his words. She could tell he was trying to act the gentlemen and fight his urges, the tension evident in his words, but he was clearly losing the battle. “Maybe I could go and sleep in the lounge?” Emma suggested, still lazily stroking his length. It was like her own body was betraying her words, the pull of her wolf heat making her want him just as much as he clearly wanted her.
Killian growled, the sound rumbling through his chest and his hips bucking up off the mattress in an attempt to feel more of her, the action mimicking the image he was seeing behind his eyelids of watching himself slowly inching inside of her. When Emma pulled her hand away he was lost, but his eyes flew open to see her crossing her arms and pulling her shirt over her head in one swift motion that left her gloriously naked beside him.
“You’re not wearing knickers,” he gasped, clenching his jaw. “No wonder I am drunk on your scent.”
“I was having a naughty dream,” Emma said softly, biting her bottom lip.
“About me?” Killian grinned, his erection growing impossibly harder.
“Yes,” Emma breathed, tentatively leaning forward up on her knees and bracing her weight against the headboard behind him. The hardness of her nipple brushed his shoulder and he felt his heartbeat pick up in his chest, the blood rushing to his ears and the warmth of her breath against his ear making him begin to pant. “You were being a bad boy.”
“Oh,” Killian breathed, his words cut short when he felt Emma trace her thumb over the pulse in his neck. He shifted his weight again to try and relieve some of the pressure in his groin, letting the softness of the sheet slide over his tip with an audible moan. He slid his arm through Emma’s legs and she parted them to accommodate, her arousal filling his nostrils and overpowering his senses. It was like being blinded by a light and he clutched at the globe of her behind to ground him.
“You were eating me out,” Emma purred into his ear, rocking her hips forward over his forearm for friction and grinning when she felt him dig his fingernails into her flesh. “Your tongue is…” She paused, hissing through her teeth. “I’m still so wet.” Killian felt the tip of his rock hard erection begin to ooze. “I’ve changed my mind,” she smirked seductively. “You were being a good boy.”
“Can I be a good boy now?” Killian asked, almost a plea. If there was really such a thing as ‘puppy dog eyes’ Killian had them and he looked up at Emma with an open mouthed smirk.
Rationalisation hit Emma suddenly and she almost growled to herself. “What about…” She gasped, her hand gripping the headboard even harder as Killian slipped a thumb between her folds.
“What about what, love?” He teased, watching her squirm as he swiped his thumb over her nub again.
“Fuck,” Emma breathed, unable to form any other words. She pinched her eyes closed and her hand flattened out over his chest, her fingernails clawing over the fresh scar tissue that was there, making him smirk even harder.
Emma rocked her hips forward, sliding herself over Killian’s hand, teasing the entrance to her core with the heel of his palm. She worried her lip again, biting down on it so hard that she felt the skin go numb, the painful throb of blood behind her teeth matching the pulsing of her clit. Killian watched her, beguiled by her more than usual, addicted to the way she was so readily wanton. When he stopped, pulling his hand away, she whimpered.
“What about what, Emma?” he asked again, skimming his hand over her bare thigh and loving the feel of her skin tightening under his fingertips.
“My heat,” Emma bit out angrily, her rage directed at herself and current life situation more than anything. She shouldn’t be risking pregnancy, and she doubted Killian knew where his brother kept his condoms. “Your injuries,” she added feebly, the smell of her own arousal turning her on even more.
“I think I’m okay,” Killian smirked. “We don’t have to have sex, but if I don’t taste you soon, I might lose my sanity.” He slid down the bed even more, a soft grunt escaping his throat when a particularly niggling muscle decided to twitch, but once he was laying flat he wrapped a hand around Emma’s thigh and began kneading the flesh. She gave him a quizzical look followed by a coy smile as she read his mind, swinging her leg over him and wiggling around until his head was nestled between her legs. She looked down at him, his excited expression making her core clench.
“You want this?” She cooed, shaking her ass, his hot breath millimetres from her sex.
“Gods, yes,” he growled, the words ground out through clenched teeth. Her scent was intoxicating, dizzying, a sweetness that only she could offer him. His hands found her ass again, fingers splayed out over the flesh as he pulled her towards him. “Sit on my face, Emma. Let me have it.”
“Beg,” Emma said firmly, forcing her hips rigid so he couldn’t reach her. He cast a glance up her body once more and met her gaze, tongue darting out to retrieve a droplet of her nectar that had found its ways onto his lips. He felt himself bob against his stomach, the threat of his own orgasm bubbling just under the surface.
“Please,” Killian purred darkly, fingers digging into the globes of her ass. “Please, Emma, sit on my face.”
Her name on his lips was enough for her to relent and Emma lowered herself until she was nestled over his mouth. Killian wasted no time lapping at her folds, teasing his tongue through them and nuzzling his nose against her hard clit, moaning his pleasure against her skin. She was wet, so much wetter than he imagined and the bouquet of her arousal grew stronger with every swipe of his tongue.
He wrapped his arms around her thighs, holding her against his face as he teased her entrance with his tongue, dipping it into the pulsating muscles whilst his own arousal strained towards her, jutting up as it leaked pre-cum onto the line of hair over his abdomen. Emma grabbed the headboard, fingernails digging into the dark grey fabric before she arched her back into his ministrations, rocking her hips in time with his tongue. She let go of the headboard to lean back and when she took him in hand, Killian almost came.
“So fucking hard,” Emma growled huskily, stroking him slower than he was licking her, teasing him with her touch. She loved the way his legs shook when she reached his sensitive tip, twisting her hand and rubbing her palm over the reddened end to use his leaked arousal as lubrication. “This for me?” She purred, giving his erection a little squeeze.
Killian gave a small nod, mumbling his reply against her folds as he increased the flick of his tongue over her clit until he felt her shudder, at which point he stopped and ran a flat tongue over her entire sex. Emma whimpered, relaxing as her nearly there orgasm ebbed away, and looked down between her legs to catch his cocky smirk.
“Teasing fucker,” she accused coyly, biting her bottom lip again. “I think I liked you better as a wolf.”
Killian all but chuckled against her nub, pulling it between his lips and sucking on the rock hard flesh hungrily. Emma’s cries echoed in his ears and she raised herself up on her shaking knees, quickly pulling her clit out of his torturous lips and leaving him dumbfounded.
“Do you want me to stop?” he asked, a lick of concern in his voice.
“Hell no!” Emma shimmied herself down his torso, careful not to drag her skin over his newly formed scars too much, and settled herself over his hips. When he didn’t protest in pain, Emma sat back on her heels and tossed her hair over her shoulder, leaning forward again and scraping her nails over his chest. “I just want…” She sang sweetly, rubbing her sodden folds over his straining erection and whimpering when his length rubbed her clit just right.
“We can’t,” Killian ground out, hands finding her hips and halting her humping. She groaned is dissatisfaction.
“I know, but I want to feel you,” She whined with a grin, rocking her hips against him again and revelling in the way it made him stiffen beneath her. “We can do this, right?” she teased, grinding down onto him with less care than she had first intended, her mouth so close to his he could feel her breathy pants against his smirk.
“Fuck, yes,” Killian nodded quickly, eyes rolling back in his head and fingernails digging into her hips. “We can do this,” he panted, meeting her grinding with short upward thrusts of his hips that pushed his length through her folds and made her gasp. “You can use me however you like, love.”
Emma fell forward, grabbing his face in her hands and crushed her lips to his. It wasn’t sex, not by their standards, but it was hot and it was raw and it made her skin itch as her orgasm teased the nerves at the base of her spine. Emma’s tongue teased the seam of Killian’s lips, begging for entry and when he dropped his jaw to allow her access, her tongue dived in, tasting his own and swiping over his teeth with breathy moans.
Emma flattened herself to his chest, his ordeal long forgotten as she increased the pace of her hips, teasing his rock hard cock between her slippery folds with long, determined strokes. Killian met her thrusts, the skin over his erection shifting up and down and when his tip teased her entrance she mumbled more profanity into his mouth. Killian wrapped his arms around her, holding her steady as he took over the pace, rubbing his length against her nub faster and faster until he felt her stiffen in his arms.
Emma broke their kiss suddenly, one of her hands grabbing at his hair because it was the only thing she could as she bounced up and down with his rhythmic assault. She threw her head back and Killian took advantage, kissing the underside of her jaw and loving the way her cries vibrated through her throat and against his lips.
“Right there,” she whispered in a high pitched tone. “Don’t stop, Killian. Right fucking there!”
Killian couldn’t hold his orgasm if he wanted to, the throbbing of his member intensifying against Emma’s clit as he came over his stomach and sent her crashing into the walls of oblivion with him. Her entire body went rigid, the heat in her core suddenly turning into a throbbing sensation and the arousal coating her thighs and Killian’s lap cooling in the chill of the room. When her whimpers subsided and turned into almost pained cries, Killian slowed his pace, the sensation in his tip almost unbearably painful but he wanted to make sure she had ridden out her climax, and as Emma relaxed against his wiry chest hair with a smile, he knew she had.
“I’m sorry, love,” Killian blushed a little, loosening his grip on her and smoothing his hands over the base of her spine. Her nerves still buzzed under the skin there and Emma shuddered. “You got me a tad too excited there.”
“Don’t ever apologise for that,” Emma chuckled. “That was…” she let out a breathy laugh, her cheeks flushing red.
“Really, really bad form in my brother’s bed,” Killian laughed and when Emma chuckled with him and rested her forehead to his sternum, he tenderly kissed the top of her hair.
“I’m sure he won’t kill us,” Emma teased, lifting her head to press her lips to his lower lip. “He’ll want you to get better any way possible and intimacy heals.” Killian raised an eyebrow at her and his lips twitched into a sideways smirk. “It does!” Emma giggled, pushing herself up until she was sat astride his hips once more, surveying the mess they had made. Killian’s stomach was covered in his thick, white release and some had found its way onto Emma’s flat belly. She gave him an incredulous look through a sideways smile.
“Look at the mess we’ve made,” Killian teased, running his tongue over his teeth. “How long does your wolf heat last again?”
Emma grinned, feeling her sex pulse with need once more. “We should get some condoms.”
--
Walsh nervously watched his alpha as James darted around the room. The inside of Neverland was much the same as it was outside; crumbling, decrepit and uninviting. James had let the place go to ruin over the years, convinced that his time would come and he would rule Misthaven. There was no point, in his eyes, in getting comfortable.
But that meant Walsh had, in a weird sense, grown to love the rundown old manor house and the overgrown gardens as if they were his own. Neverland was home, whether he had another apartment in the city or not, and every wolf in the pack had their own room on the property. Most never used them, but they were always there in case they were needed. Like they had been recently.
James had insisted that every pack member stay at Neverland the last few weeks as they fabricated their plan of attack on Misthaven. Every wolf had a place in the attack, with every member a vital cog in the wheel, each needed to make sure it was executed to the absolute pinnacle of success. James did not tolerate failure, many had learned this the hard way, so as he buzzed around the room with a frustrated scowl on his face, Walsh was thankful for the increased canine presence around the halls of the old property.
“Stop sweating,” James grumbled into thin air, his words directed at his beta. Walsh stood silent, his clammy hands clasped behind his back and his head bowed in respect. James had not said a single word to him since his return and Walsh knew he was either stewing on his anger or plotting a way to dispose of his body.
“I’m sorry, boss,” Walsh offered feebly.
“Don’t apologize. Never apologize,” James spat, tutting at his subordinate.
Walsh was just about to apologise again when he bit his tongue, lest he anger James anymore. He had already failed in his task and had returned to Neverland without word of Emma’s assault, and James’ reaction was unnerving.
“I gave you one job, Walsh. And I thought I was clear.” James finally turned to face him now and Walsh averted his eyes, moving his chin even closer to his chest. “Was I not clear?”
“Yes, s-sir,” Walsh stuttered. “Crystal.”
“Then why is Emma still walking around without your seed inside of her?” James’ voice was eerily calm, and Walsh chanced a glance up at his alpha, immediately regretting the decision when James’ hand gripped his throat like a vice. Walsh was pinned against the wall before he had time to react, his hands flying up to stop James pushing even harder against his windpipe by grabbing his wrists.
“I tried!” Walsh strained, his voice squeaky and visibly changed by James’ grip.
“Not hard enough,” James growled, his face almost touching Walsh’s cheek as he spat the words like venom against his skin. Walsh flinched, James’ fingertips digging into the scar on his neck and causing him to cry out a little. “Do I not treat you well? Are you not happy being my beta?”
“Yes sir,” Walsh squeaked again, trying to nod against James’ hold.
“Then why do you fail me?” James boomed, his voice echoing off the walls as he released Walsh who slumped to the floor in a heap. He coughed, long, painful rasps as he fought for breath, his fingernails clawing at the collar of his shirt as he tried to suck in more oxygen. “Time and time again!” James exclaimed, waving an accusing hand at Walsh.
“I was blinded by my revenge,” Walsh admitted, his words broken by the rasp of a cough. “It won’t happen again.”
James regarded his beta, hunched over on the floor at his feet, panting hard. He hadn’t cared to hear Walsh’s story until now, his interest in the why suddenly piqued. Normally he didn’t care what his wolves did in their own time, but disobeying orders instead of following them was something he never tolerated. If Walsh was any other lowly pack member he would have been dead already, his body burned and ashes raked into the ground of Neverland. But Walsh was loyal, and always had been, so there had to be a good reason for is disloyalty. And James wanted to hear it.
“Get up,” James demanded, poking him with the toe of his boot. “Face your alpha.”
Walsh scrambled to his feet, rearranging his shirt and jacket, pulling the sleeves the length of his arms to recover his wrists. There were very few things he feared in the world but James was one of them. He straightened his back until it was ramrod straight, his head held high so that he could look directly ahead but never into James’ eyes. The last thing he wanted was a misconstrued challenge for dominance.
James paced around in front of Walsh and leaned onto the desk behind him. He crossed his feet over at the ankles, his worn and battered boots creaking against each other as he did so, and he crossed his huge, muscular arms over his chest. He let out a breath, looking his beta up and down. “Tell me what happened,” he said in a calm tone, one that struck fear into Walsh’s blood immediately.
“I tracked her, almost as far as Misthaven, before I was drawn back to the city by her scent,” Walsh began, eyes fixed on the opposite wall, a huge bull moose head hanging from a dark wooden plaque. It hadn’t escaped his notice that the animal looked in pain, even in death, or that there was an empty plaque right next to it that looked suspiciously like it could accommodate a wolf head.
“I know this already,” James sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Get to the point.”
“She was with another wolf,” Walsh continued and James’ grunt of displeasure made him stop.
“Again, I know this. I am losing my patience here, Walsh.”
“It was the mongrel,” Walsh cast a quick glance at his alpha to gauge his reaction. “The one who gave me the scar. She was with him.”
“Really?” James sounded genuinely interested now, shifting his weight against the huge oak desk. “And you thought you could kill two birds with one stone,” James concluded for him. “You thought you could get the wolf and lure Emma to him.”
Walsh nodded. “Yes, exactly.”
“Maybe show him a little bit of Walsh hospitality we both know you love to indulge in,” James smirked and Walsh attempted a crooked smile.
“I did indeed,” Walsh declared proudly.
“So what went wrong?” James demanded darkly and Walsh felt the panic setting in under his skin again. “How did the mongrel get away again?” The accusation in his tone did not go unnoticed by Walsh, who swallowed a dry lump down his throat awkwardly.
“Emma came and she brought help,” Walsh said tentatively. “I was outnumbered.”
“She brought help,” James repeated with a sarcastic tone. He uncrossed his arms and gripped the edge of the desk in frustration.
“The Misthaven beta was with her,” Walsh added quickly, hoping to save his hide.
James narrowed his eyes. “Graham Humbert? Helping a mongrel?”
“And there was a human,” Walsh continued. “Pregnant by the looks of it.”
James’ eyes lit up in excitement. “Really?” He grinned. “It seems like Misthaven is falling apart without David even knowing it,” he laughed to himself, rubbing his hands together. “I doubt any of this is on his radar.”
“This could work to our advantage,” Walsh offered, having fabricated his new plan in the event of this very interrogation. James squinted at his beta, his trust waning.
“Go on,” he prompted.
“We attack Misthaven as planned, creating chaos. Emma is absent, so is the beta, and once defeated, David will have no choice but to hand over the estate to you.” Walsh relaxed his posture, gesturing with his hands.
“Hmm,” James hummed, showing his agreement and rubbing the stubble on his jaw.
“Then we exile David, force him to live as an outcast and I take Emma as my mate. Of course, we will have to promise the death of her father or mother, as I’m not sure she will be that willing of a wife,” Walsh told him matter of factly.
James’ lips twitched into a knowing smile at the tenacity of his niece. She most certainly would need some sort of incentive if she was to marry Walsh. “Of course,” he agreed again. “And what of the mongrel?”
Walsh’s jaw clenched at the mere mention of Killian. He had spent far too long plotting his revenge to let it slip from his fingers now. He knew that where Emma was the mongrel would follow, and even though his plan had not worked the first time, he was not about to waste another opportunity to make Killian pay for humiliating him. “He will pay.”
“Maybe make Emma watch?” James suggested. “Really break her, and then you can finally finish what I instructed you to do originally. She will fight, but breed her, give her no choice.”
“The aftermath will be glorious,” Walsh declared with a sadistic grin.
“David will lose his home, his power and for good measure, we will find and kill his mate too,” James said definitely. He pushed himself off the desk and began walking around to the balcony, peering out of the dirty rain stained windows to where wolves were busy sparring on the huge lawn below. Walsh grinned gleefully at the mere thought. “Emma will become your mate and I will finally be the alpha of Misthaven.”
“I like this plan,” Walsh grinned with glee.
“Just make sure you get the job done this time,” James glared at him. “I have no patience for failure.”
James grabbed each door handle to the balcony and pulled them hard, the windows rattling in the frames as the balcony doors opened. The sound of sparring disappeared and as James stepped out onto the crumbling platform, Walsh scrambled after him obediently, at his side when James reached the moss covered marble ledge.
“Brothers!” he called out, his voice echoing through the wind. Every wolf on the ground below him turned to look in his direction, eagerly awaiting their alpha’s instruction. “Our time has come!” James roared, scanning the crowd of expectant faces. “In less than two weeks, Misthaven will be ours!”
A huge cheer rang out through the wolves below, balled fists thrown into the air. Whistles accompanied the chanting, James’ name on their lips in quick succession that made him swell with pride and gave him a power hungry grin. He tapped his ankles together, the rubber soles of his boots not making a sound and when he spread his arms wide, the cries of submission washed over him like a divine calling.
“James! James! James!”
“You hear that?” James said to Walsh, head back, eyes closed and a serenely evil smile on his face. “That is the sound of glory, my friend.”
“For Neverland!” Walsh shouted out over the stone balcony, punching the air with his fist.
“For Neverland!”
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donaldduckau · 5 years
Text
Lost and became cub Au
When he first saw this job in the newspaper he thought I can do this and Called them straight away while later he's screaming " I can't Do this " But I can ".
When he got hold of the manager Mr Fazbear he informed the man about why he wanted the job telling him every reason on why pick him for the job without listening to the manager having already had said yes to him for the job. When he was finished off the reasons why he should have the job the manager replies quickly thinking that he start again says "yes come by 9 pm today" with a tone of annoyance.
later at 9 pm outside the Freddy pizzeria. The manager meets the new employee that was about 20 years old with Brown eyes and hair like many people will thinking " poor lad you shouldn't come here " but not able to afford to as he informs the lad that the animatronics are machines that are aware and basically alive and eat so just be in the office for 12 pm to 6 am okay the lad replied with "yes boss "
Starting in his new job uniform he puts headphones on his head listening to songs that would pass the time and reading a book of fantasy world Whilst the song was playing, a tape that was the instruction guide and advice playing telling him about what the manager left out but the lad couldn't hear or aware of it.
In the main stage Freddy, Bonnie, Chica and foxy were talking about how they were going to stuff the night guard into a suit. Freddy starts with black filled eyes " were doing the classic way and having Bonnie start first at his right side then chica at left for tonight" Chica and Bonnie happily shouting " yes " with grins that reflected the murderous intention in their eyes but foxy replying " ye know i had th' crew plan wit' me bein' able t' move on night 3 why nah wit' me goin' tonight as he wouldn't see it comin' Freddy " Freddy replying in a flirty way says "I Got something else in mind my Handsome fox " leaving a red faced foxy being taken to Freddy room leaving both Chica and Bonnie alone. Bonnie says "let's start as the two are going to be busy and it unlikely that the guard is caught tonight" chica say " okay ". while Bonnie was moving toward the doors he slowly crept towards the door and awaits the door closing But nothing only the guard is wearing headphone and reading a book intensly ignoring him , Thinking "This is too perfect " and grips the guards waist and drags the guard into the suits room while hearing the screams of a man that confused and scared screaming " Let me Go Please " thinking this is just a malfunction but manages to get loose screaming " I can't do this " but fails as the rabbit easily catches him as he replies " I can " .
Chica Getting ready for going to the door sees Bonnie with the guard that just screaming "let me go" and attempting to kick or punch himself free from Bonnie .thinking that "He has the guard meaning that we now have the place all for themselves which make Freddy happy as he to spend more time with his Foxy.
so she starts following Bonnie towards the backstage where the suits are left. When in the backstage Bonnie orders Chica to grab a Freddy suit while holding onto the guard that moving in his arms. when chica got the suit ready for the guard he knows this was going to hurt. having his feet pushed at first he felt the pain that was nothing to his legs then the waist each time being more painful than the last until the placed the head of Freddy over him then that's it.
He woke up feeling Sleepy, scared and confused about what happened at Freddy pizzeria. Raising his paw towards his face WAIT "PAW" his thinks looking at his once human hand to be a Bear paw while also to be a young child no Cub that can't really walk yet. Feeling moody at this knowing that this is the rabbit's fault decides to punish the rabbit walking/crawling towards the backstage door that leads to the stage. Barely Pushing the door open he crawls onto the back of the stage and sees the Rabbit whom he doesn't know the name of playing the guitar. listening to the music, the cub starts feeling like listening to the music but remembers about punishing the rabbit for making him hurt. deciding to bite the rabbit in the leg as he can't do anything else.
When Bonnie was waking up this morning after stuffing the guard he thought he was going have good day with no child calling him a girl so when people start entering the restaurant they start singing with him as he plays his guitar then he saw some adults look towards him silently with most of the children too unknown to him they noticed the baby Cub bear that looked like Freddy just as the cub was about yo bite and then he feels it, the bite of the cub on his leg that somehow attached it self after. Screaming in pain Bonnie Screams " OW OW OW Stop biting me OW OW OW "wanting to shake his leg with the Bear cub animatronic on that leg but doesn't a he hurt the cub. Freddy, Chica hearing and staring at Bonnie as they were going to ask Why he's Screaming See the reason why as they see the bear cub biting bonnie leg a at it was attached all thinking " where did that Bear cub come from" so when they were staring Bonnie Screams " stop gazing OW g and help get him or her off me " acting in response pull on the cub until the Cub lets go.
Bonnie now free of the Biting Cub goes to get a Bandage for the bite mark left by the cub with chica along him to help clean the mark. Freddy holding the Cub who looks like him as a cub Asks " why did you bite Bonnie " with the Cub sleepy and grumpy saying " He was mean to me so I bite " before napping thinking of What the cub meant noticing that cub fell sleep in his arms. Noticing people staring Freddy Says " sorry but we are back soon so, please wait until then" Knowing that Foxy will be free at this time as his act has passed, Walks towards foxy's room that filled with pirate theme items and other things.
Knocking on the Foxy door. Freddy waits for it to open when it does foxy asks" Wha' do ye need " Freddy kindly orders Foxy " take care of Cub until end of opening hours okay"leaving the confused fox with a cub in his hand and hook.
Later at the end of the opening hour with all the children and Adults have gone. Freddy notices foxy enter the main area with the once sleep cub with a playful cub that was dressed as a pirate bear and playing pirate with foxy. As Freddy was about to Ask the Cub of Who he was ,
Bonnie interrupts with " Why did you bite me for I never saw you before" the Cub Turning to see the Rabbit Goes and replies " You made me hurt so you get hurt " with his stomach rumbling as a sign that hes hungry, Chica takes the cub saying " I feed you something good " the cub thinking of food Says " pizza " with chica replies " no instead something healthier " leaving the room with the hungry cub.
Freddy thinking of what the Cub meant hurting him thinks that impossible but still asks " bonnie Did you stuff the guard in a suit last night" with Bonnie replying with a " yes so what that got to do with the Cub" then realising what Freddy was thinking runs into the backstage quickly followed with a Scream of " It Impossible " this confirming what Freddy was thinking.
Foxy does not understand what Bonnie and Freddy were thinking Ask " what happening " Freddy not fully understanding how it possible gives simple Explanation " last night guard caught by chica and Bonnie, Guard stuffed in the animatronic suit of me which later transforms into a Cub animatronic but I believe only remembers about Bonnie Stuffing him and minor stuff " . Foxy understand asks " doesn't that make 'im yer son 'n wha' will ye call 'im we can nah call 'im cub forever" Freddy Excitedly says " Freddie " as Freddy has wanted a Son bear of his own.
Bonnie reenters the room thinking " how " but gives up thinking how its possible instead asks "what we going to do with the Cub " Freddy replies in an Excited tone says " simple we're going to raise him as a Fazbear" leaving no chance for both of them to oppose leaves to see his new Son.
Entering the kitchen, Freedy sees the Cub being feed food by Chica. Freddy tapping chica shoulder tells her about what they know having her going " I excepted this was what happen, so what he called " Freddy having a surprised look replies " how did you know I gave him a name " chica give a look "seriously " Freddy replying with "Freddie " Chica approving of the name feeds the Cub now known as Freddie "Your names Freddie okay " getting the response of " Okay "
While Freddy and chica were talking Bonnie and Foxy Were having their own conversation "what do you think about this " "Freddy happy wit' chica gettin' t' be a mother t' th' cub 'n th' lad loves me tales so I reckon it be okay" Bonnie thinking it be Funny says " doesn't that make you the cub's Dad too as your Freddy's Fox and the cub Freddy logical son" Foxy getting red in the face starts to make some food as foxy love's the idea the cub seeing him a father with freddy. leaving a purple Rabbit laughing from his own question. "WAIT DOES this mean that a baby animatronic could happen again if night guard stuffed on first night " Bonnie shouting with look of fear". Freddy already thinking about this says " Freddy Jr does need friends his age " smirking while feeding Freddy Jr" leaving the others uncertain of what to think.
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yourladyocs · 6 years
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Hard mode: emoji asks for Vesta !
Oooo! Challenge Accepted! 
(I am going to do older Vesta (around 15). But if this time line changes, the answers might change)
🐰 what is one secret that you’ve never told anyone?
That I actually miss my family. Sure they weren’t the greatest, but I love them. I almost regret running away as many times as I did. 
💗 if you could hug anyone, who would it be? 
My dad, Mort. 
🐹 what are some of your favourite Pokémon and why?
Mismagius! I love the aesthetic, but also feel like they are one of the Pokemon that would love me the greatest! 
🌠 if you were in charge of the world, what would the world look like?
I don’t want that responsibility. I guess it would be free and have a good value system. I am not very good at this type of thing and I don’t want to be. 
👀 what was the most recent vivid dream that you had?
That I was standing on a boat with the sea mist splashing on my face as I went sailing forth. I had no ties to hold me back, but yet I felt guilty. 
☀️ what do you like the most about your best friend?
My closest friends would be Ternelle and Ariadne. Personally, I love their drive and their freedom. They are the most care-free people I know, yet the most hardworking. And more importantly, they stop and take care of each other. They stop and love each other. I don’t know if this is true, but I think the reason I like them so much is because they stop and share that love with me. It’s silly I know! :p
😘 talk about your crush or partner
I have several. Its a whirlwind to keep them all under control, but I do it. 
💁 if someone was rude to you, would you be rude back?
I probably just accept it and move on. I will sing a jam about them later to get back tho. Everyone will know about the rude thing you did to me! 
🌟 what do you like about yourself? (must choose at least 3 things!)
I love me, but I don’t know specifics. I love my ability to play an instrument. I love the way I can fight. I love the way I move. 
🐾 what are you scared of most? how will you overcome it?
Being stuck in this town forever. I left obviously. 
🎁 what never fails to make you happy?
Hearing Uncle Ternelle play his music! Or Ariadne showing me the ships! Or listening to Cade talk about Mae! Or Mae talk about Cade! I love how Arthur hangs out with me sometimes! 
💙 what annoys you about some people?
That sometimes they can’t see the problem right in front of them. That some people are just blind to everything around them. 
😤 do you get angry easily?
I don’t like to think so. 
🐇 what do you always daydream about?
Escaping! Running Away! ...Trading parents...Living a new life... a happier one. 
🌻 if you could change 3 things about the world what would you change?
I would change the way the city is run. I would change the fact that are pirates attacking Ariadne. I would change the fact that I am a demigod. 
🍓 send me 4 names: kiss, befriend, kill or marry?
(I don’t really know how to answer this one.).
✈️ what is your dream city and why?
Any place far away from here. 
☕️ talk about your ideal day
When my parents are home and don’t fight. But thats a dream! A day I don’t get yelled at! Impossible! 
🌸 are you an introvert, ambivert or extrovert?
I don’t know dude. I am not social. I like sticking within my bubble. I guess I wave high to the kids at the university, but I haven’t hung out with them. I usually bug Arthur or Cade or Ternelle, etc. 
💧 when was the last time you cried?
Yesterday. 
🎵 name 5 songs you love at the moment
Friends- MarshmeloI’m Born to Run - American AuthorsThe Wolf- PhildelHeads Will Roll- Yeah Yeah YeahsRun or Hide- Run River North
⚡️ if you had any superpower, what would it be and why?
Teleportation or Invisibility because then I could run away with ease. 
💛 if you could talk to your younger self, what would you say?
Arthur is your best companion, but learn how to hide earlier. 
💚 who are you jealous of and why?
Any kid with a functional family. 
💎 which one would you rather have more of: intelligence, beauty, kindness, wealth or bravery? why?
Bravery because then you can stand up to the things you are afraid of instead of running away. Or you will have the courage to run away fully out of a bad situation. 
🙊 what are you ashamed of?
I mean I feel bad for running away, but I had to do it. 
🌺 which languages do you know? which do you want to learn?
Elvish, Common, and I am working on others! 
🍀 if you could be any fictional character’s best friend/lover, which fictional character would you be?
I would love to be Sophie’s, from Howl’s Moving Castle, best friend. 
☁️ talk about your dream universe.
Where the city didn’t fall into the ocean, so that way my mother wouldn’t be mayor of the city. 
💜 which acts of kindness are you going to do today?
Plan for the kids at the university or help in the tenements. 
🐬 if you could transform into any animal/magical creature, what would you be and why?
I would love to be a fairy! I would love the ability to flutter and explore small spaces. 
🍄 talk about someone/something you really dislike
Ohhhh.... I mean it would be mean to say. But I really truly dislike Ophelia. She may be my mother, but I wish she would pay some good attention to me. I don’t want her scolding me all the time. I don’t want her yelling at me, forcing me to wear this or that, or performing my tasks properly in a certain way. Just stop and tell me you love me for once!!
😣 talk about some things that have been making you depressed/angry/anxious lately
My home life has. 
🍪 what did you want to be as a kid, and what do you want to be now?
I as a kid wanted to be someone who impressed my parents. I wanted to be a cleric and then maybe they would love me. But now I realized that I want to be a bard and play music. 
🍰 what are some of your favourite sugary foods?
Vanilla Cake! 
🍑 what are you obsessed with?
Running-away seems to be a theme. I kid! I don’t have a current obsession. 
💘 what happens to you when you’re stressed?
I panic and flee. I have to get out of the situation now and run away. 
😪 what are you sick of?
These questions. I don’t want to keep stating this, but I am sick of my home life and running away. 
🙀 are you an adrenaline seeker?
I guess?
💥 what are some unpopular opinions that you have?
That you can be Lawful, but doesn’t always make you good. 
☔️ would you consider yourself a good person?
I am pretty neutral. 
😊 what do you like to do as hobbies?
I love playing my instrument! I got a violin. My mother wanted me to pick a ‘noble’ instrument. 
🎤 what’s the last song you hummed or sang by yourself?
Friends by Mashmelo and Anne-Marie
🐝 what’s your worst trait? how are you planning to improve it?
My lack of ability to stick in a stressful situation and solve the problem. I want to, but I don’t know if I can at this point. 
🎨 what do you always doodle when you’re bored?
Flowers and hearts! 
🐻 what’s stopping you from chasing your dreams?
Money? Attachment? A need for a family connection? My want to stay with my support system? Good answers. But really it’s my cowardice. 
🌷 what’s your mbti personality and why do you think it suits you?
ENFJ. I don’t know. I tend to put out my emotions, but also everyone is usually happy to see me. 
🐶 send me 3 fictional people and I’ll choose my favourite!
(can’t do this one)
👑 who are your favourite celebrities and why?
(she doesn’t know)
🐴 opinion on __?
On horses? I mean they are a mode of travel. 
🍋 do you consider yourself an emotional person?
Yes! Unfortunately. 
📚 share 3 books that you love and your favourite quote from them.
I only read education books. I don’t have very many good books outside of that.(I think she would like Madame Bovary, The Family Fang, Maupassant. “She cut him off. ‘You know what I said. If you’re not happy, you know where the door is. Nobody’s stopping you. But I’ve promised, and I’m going.’” from Femme Fatale by Maupassant).
😔 what do you always do when you feel sad? does it help?
I always play my instrument or practice fencing. Or I run-away and go hang out with Arthur or Ternelle. Of course it does! 
😌 what thoughts keep you going when you’re sad?
That there will be tomorrow. That tomorrow could be better. 
🌍 which country do you live in?
(Fictional world)
🐧 describe yourself in 3 words
Romantic, Wishful, Musician. 
🐵 which quotes changed you?
“Feel what is great, cherish the beautiful” or “Her will, the veil of her bonnet, held by a string, flutters in every wind” 
💭 do you keep a diary?
Nope! 
💫 who inspires you?
Ternelle and Cade. They got to live their lives and making the most of it. 
👻 do you believe in ghosts and why?
I mean... I haven’t met one. 
🎀 what’s your fashion sense like?
I wish I could wear pants! I hate dresses. I want to wear a suit. Like I want beige pants with a white shirt and some sort of vest. 
🎬 what are some of your favourite films?
I don’t know!(Madame Bovary probably. Or some sort of run-away story).
🍦 what is one treasured childhood memory?
I remember the one time Ternelle taught me to play an instrument. It was a pan-flute I believe. When I expressed interest with it to my mother, she gave me a violin. I honestly think it was one of the best things to happen. Sure, my mother got her way with the instrument choice, but at least she gave me one! 
🐼 if you could meet anyone, who would it be and why?
Maybe I could meet Arthur’s family? I mean they are my family technically. 
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It’s not the greatest feeling knowing your birthday will fall while you are still locked down, I of all people should know as I saw my big 40th birthday plans crumble before my eyes. But as an adult we deal with the disappointment knowing that it’s a small sacrifice to make to keep our loved ones safe. However, I wasn’t so sure Stanley would be quite as understanding as he’d been looking forward to his 6th birthday since, well since the day after his 5th!
We’ve always had a ‘birthday tea’ at home to celebrate any birthday and the boys have always chosen their cake theme for me to try and create…so luckily no major changes there. But, we usually book a special day out, a mini break or a visit to an attraction too. No such luck this year! Add in the fact that extended family and friends can’t visit and I was tasked with still making Stanley’s birthday special from home. It had been James’s 3rd birthday in February and a visit to Cadbury World and partying with Nana at a family rave was very fresh in everyone’s minds, especially Stanley’s. So no pressure at all then!
I asked Stanley what he would like to do if Coronavirus didn’t exist, and he said:
I would like to go to the seaside, one with the games and the bit that goes out over the sea that you can walk on, and has the crocodile with the sausages!
Bless him! I assumed he didn’t mean the coast of Northern Australia, but rather a humble UK resort where Punch & Judy usually reside. I was determined to make that happen for him one way or another!
Oh, We Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside!
We don’t have a garden as such, but we recently did a yard makeover (read about that here) so I had a little more room to play with. All I needed was some good weather – ha ha yes, I know! As it happened we dropped lucky and it was beautiful on the day, but fully prepared for a UK summer I had an emergency canopy backup plan too.
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Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!
In order to bring the seaside to Stanley I first wrote down all the things that we love about it. Then I found a carnival type font online, printed a few copies of the alphabet and crafted my own ‘signposts’
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Handmade signs
The Beach
Yes, it’s an obvious one but essential really. I ordered 3 bags of play sand to be delivered and found some blue tarpaulin in the shed that would serve two purposes, to stop the sand from spreading too far and to give the illusion of the sea.
A few deckchairs, bucket and spade sets and we were all set.
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The beach
The Arcade
There’s nothing Stanley likes more than taking a tub full of 10p and 2p coins into the arcade! One of his favourites is ‘the grabber’ or claw games where you have to try and win a prize, usually an impossible to grab plush toy.
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The arcade crazy claw
I did a bit of searching online and found a ‘crazy claw’ game on Amazon. This is actually a family board game of sorts but I knew I could adapt it to our needs. I built the game up, used the tokens and balls from the set but then added a party bag of haribo sweets. I tested it out, it was nearly impossible to grab the sweets, and I was left highly frustrated yet determined to give it one more try – brilliant, just like the real thing!
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Not as easy as it looks!
My second game was a tin can alley set up. I started off trying to make my own, but I was worried about sharp edges with so many little fingers around so I purchased one in the end. It is a lovely set though and we have it to keep, it will be good fun on camping holidays.
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The arcade tin can alley in full swing
A gift of a pair of paddleballs from our neighbour (who was in on the plan) completed our arcade. For a bit of healthy competition the winners from each game received a token (re-purposed from the Crazy Claw game) to use in exchange for…
Donkey Rides
This required some imagination, OK a lot of imagination and a sense of humour too! By this point I had decided that anything to make us all laugh during these strange times was a good thing. A donkey mask was fashioned onto Eli’s baby tricycle and voila, we had the fastest donkey this side of Blackpool! I knew it would make Stanley laugh but I expected him to think it was a bit silly and more of a token gesture. But nope, this birthday boy went hurtling down the back alley on the worlds smallest donkey a number of times throughout the day.
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Our trusty steed!
Fish & Chips
Our local chip shop had re-opened the week before offering a time slot collection service, and guess what? – they even served the children’s meals in a bucket and spade!
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Yummy!
Well, that just had our names written all over it and the boys sat at the beach eating their lunch. Admittedly I had to take Stanley and James’s food out of the buckets and plate it up as they complained that they couldn’t eat it properly. I’ve learned not to get between boys and their food, Eli persevered though!
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Fish & Chips on the beach
Ice-Cream
What else? We have a stable style backdoor so Daddy became an ice-cream man and took orders from his ‘kiosk’.
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Ice-cream, get your ice-cream!
We had three flavours to go at and a choice of toppings, the end result was three very excited (and messy) boys.
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Chocolate with a flake, excellent choice sir!
The Pier
This is where my cardboard hoarding came in handy! I wanted to recreate the face hole photo opportunities that are usually found on the pier at seaside resorts. I drew a cartoon character, complete with victorian style bathing suit onto a piece of thick cardboard. After painting it in I drew the outline in thick marker and then cut out the face hole. Ben made a base from scraps of wood he found in the shed so that it was free standing. We had great fun with this, we all had our photos taken.
Memories
We’ve had some amazing times at the seaside and Stanley always remembers his grandad knotting a hanky and putting it on him as a hat, and I can remember my Grandad doing it too to stop his bald head from burning. So, that was our party hats sorted, I already had some brightly coloured stripey napkins so I knotted them into hats, generational Grandad style chic.
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Grandad chic
Two days before Stanley’s birthday we had the good news that Nana could become part of our social bubble. She was able to celebrate and spend the day at the seaside with us (although I think she came purely for the ice-cream ha ha). It made Stanley’s day and there were lots of long awaited cuddles to be had for all three boys.
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Having Nana back was the best present!
We also had some socially distanced visits to the gate from Stanley’s friends, and they were able to have ice-cream with us too which was lovely and a nice surprise for Stanley.
After we had sung Happy Birthday and he had blown out his candles on his cake I asked Stan if he’d had a good day, and his verdict was…’BEST BIRTHDAY EVER!’
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Fun in the sun for this birthday boy
I think lockdown birthdays can be just as much [if not more] fun than the all singing and dancing parties we were all used to pre Covid-19. If you put a little bit of effort in to make them memorable, you’ll have big smiles all round. But don’t just take my word for it, I asked my fellow bloggers how they made a lockdown celebration one to remember:
Sarah from Digital Motherhood:
We’re in Spain so it’s a bit different, though we were still in lockdown! I ordered cupcakes and we decorated the house with streamers, banners and balloons. We were allowed a small group of people around by the end of May so we had my parents and my daughter’s friend here for a bit. It was actually the day after they started to ease the rules so she was very lucky!
Michelle from Time and Pence:
We created a treasure hunt in the garden and gave my son clues to find lots of treats. We also arranged for his friends and family to have video chats and send him video messages then we ended the day with a BBQ and movie night! He had an extra surprise present in place of a party and he had a wonderful day!
Josie from Me, Them and the Others
We asked friends and family to record birthday messages for our son and then I edited them together to create a birthday video for him.
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Erica from Things To Do In Kent
It was our son’s 4th birthday at the very beginning of lockdown so we were quite unprepared. We hastily put together a picnic in the garden and he got Gazillions bubble machines which he and his big brother loved playing with in the garden. For his older brother’s 9th birthday more recently we had a surprise movie day. I made a poster, we had far too many sweets and popcorn and he chose his favourite takeaway (Thai!), I would quite enjoy that for my own birthday!
Katrina from Trini Mama Bebe
We had a drive by birthday from friends and family, and even my sons favourite emergency service came to say hello. They gave him some sweets and some lights and sounds. It’s amazing what a tweet can do!
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Nadia from Scandi Mummy
We celebrated our son’s 1st birthday in June with a little rainbow garden party as he’s a rainbow baby and it was (unsurprisingly) easy to find rainbow decorations and a cake to match!
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Katie from Mums Family Fun
I organised a scavenger hunt and quiz with my son’s football buddies via Zoom for his 7th birthday. They all sang Happy Birthday to him with his cake. It was really lovely and he had a great day!
Kasia from Oh Mummy Mia
I made a cake for my son because we couldn’t buy any because of lockdown. I tried my best. He loves dinosaurs so the cake was with a dino theme. We did a picnic in our garden for his friendly dinosaurs and later we made homemade play doh and footprint fossils.
Paige from Paiges Preferences
We did a circus/fair for my sons 5th birthday. I have a highlight on my Instagram dedicated to it!
Kerry from Blissful Domestication
We did my sons 7th birthday as a pirate party. Activities included a treasure hunt, fancy dress, a video of happy birthday messages from friends, family and teachers. We decorated a tent for a tea party, and had a treasure chest piñata. Read all about our pirate party here.
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Layla from Motherhood Diaries
I got the entire class to send my middle one a birthday message, along with other friends and family and compiled then together along with a Timeline of his birth to present day. He was chuffed! Read more of my party ideas here.
If you are feeling inspired by Stanley’s seaside birthday then check out my Pinterest board for more ideas.
All images are my own unless otherwise credited and must not be reproduced without permission.
Our Lockdown Birthday: How We Made It The Best One Yet! It's not the greatest feeling knowing your birthday will fall while you are still locked down, I of all people should know as I saw my big 40th birthday plans crumble before my eyes.
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