#and yes Stephanie was great but her time was short lived

[sinnbaddie]

I love that we all agree that Jason is Bruce’s favorite Robin. Like why wouldn’t he be? Have y’all seen Bruce?😭

#jason todd #red hood #batman #Batman favorite Robin #favorite Robin #like yes Dick was the first so naturally there’s a certain favoritism there #and yes Tim can be argued to be the ‘best robin’ tho it’s mostly opinionated #and yes Stephanie was great but her time was short lived #and of course Damian is still in the process of being robin and he’s learning as an individual #and he is Bruce’s biological child (tho truly it does not matter to me cuz adopted gang💯 is still his kids) #but that favoritism for them is different than Jason #he was a kid off the streets and felt like he had a purpose now #why wouldn’t he be Bruce’s favorite ?

[sluttywoozi]

Buy A Boyfriend || chs x reader

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Summary: Being a professional boyfriend on SVTHub is great - all Vernon has to do is respond to a few texts, send out a couple selfies, do a stream every now and then, and he makes enough to cover tuition. Things get a little tricky when he finds himself wishing he actually was your boyfriend.

Rating: M (18+) | Word Count: 4kish

Content Notes: voice kink, male masturbation, swearing, he is a virtual boyfriend for money, the texts will probs look like ass on mobile, gender neutral reader, reader has cats and I borrowed @sluttywonwoo 's cats bc im their aunt and I love them (sorry if u have your own, please imagine them 😭), they dont have sex (in this part) my bad, reader is a stem major bc I live to project, I think that’s it pls let me know if I missed anything!!

Vernon’s username: bandsboyvern

Reader’s username: allthoughtsheadfull

Vernon sighs as he opens up SVTHub, knowing he has at least three messages that ask, “Would you still love me if I was a worm?”

His answer will, of course, be “Yes and I would make you a cute little worm house in a jar and take you with me everywhere,” when he really wants to say, ”No I wouldn’t, because I don't know you at all and worms have a very short life expectancy.”

But this is the life he’s created for himself; getting paid to act like a boyfriend comes with answering cliche boyfriend questions. He’s scrolling through messages, answering good morning and goodnight texts with an appropriate selfie, when one message catches his eye, or actually, wow, 5 messages, all from one person.

Vernon tilts his head, considering how to answer. It’s a bit weird that you sought out a pretend boyfriend to tell these things to but he can’t say the messages aren’t more entertaining than the usual ones. And, honestly, snails are effervescent.

Vernon answers some messages from other users; badbitchesrus is having friend group drama again and he’s dying to tell her, “you’re the problem,” but a boyfriend wouldn’t say that so he just agrees, saying, “you’re so right, Jen did copy ur fit last night but u did it better baby.” He replies to a few selfies with paragraphs of fire and heart eye emojis, and sends out a couple ‘hope ur day gets better babygirl’s.

Clicking out of the app, Vernon tries to force himself to focus on studying. He’s got a music theory quiz this week and a sound design exam next week and he’s not prepared for either. His fingers tap out a rhythm on his knee as he runs over scales in his head, swearing to himself after missing the last sharp in B major for the fourth time. He’s about to pull out his keyboard for manual practice when his phone dings with a message, the tone telling him it's SVTHub. His head hits the back of his chair, hoping beyond hope it’s not another worm message, and he smiles in surprise when he sees it’s from you.

thought 5: legally blonde is peak cinema and has something for everyone so whyyyy is it universally disliked

Vernon tilts his head, realizing that even though he’d never seen Legally Blonde, he did dislike it for some reason. Huh.

His phone goes off again, another thought from you.

thought 6: why did stephanie name it twilight and then have bella meet edward in the daytime

He hasn’t seen Twilight either but, honestly, you bring up a good point. Why name it a certain time of day and then not have them meet at that time?

Happy to be distracted, Vernon settles in to ask you some questions and hopefully get some movie recommendations.

Before Vernon can respond, he gets another message, from bbygrill99 this time. She’s requesting an ab pic, her third this week, and he wonders why she’s so obsessed with his abs when his ass is great too, but complies nonetheless. Lifting his shirt, he tenses his abdominals and tilts his phone to get the perfect angle, his bottom lip just barely in frame and his gray sweats sitting low on his hips. He’s been trying to drink more water because apparently you need it to survive, so his abs aren’t as defined as usual and he hopes she doesn’t say anything. He sends the picture out with a kiss emoji and saves it to his folder of lewds, hoping he’ll be able to reuse it.

He’s very intrigued by the idea of threats to increase productivity, and asks you more questions. This turns out to be counterproductive as it leads to a whole conversation that makes him laugh all the way through, and consequently, he doesn’t get any more work done.

It’s almost time for his weekly goodnight stream, and Vernon’s still thinking about your last conversation. You’d lured him into a debate about living as a pigeon or living with pigeons, and he still wasn’t sure who’d won. You hadn’t sent him any new thoughts today, and even though you’d just become a subscriber last week, he’s missing you for some reason. He really enjoyed the randomness of your brain, and hearing what was going on in there throughout the day. It was a nice break from pretending to be the perfect boyfriend, and he got to respond like he wanted, not like he thought he should.

Starting the stream, he settles into bed and begins telling his patrons about his day, pausing at certain moments to let them respond to him. On their screens, it just looks like a personal facetime, and they get to pretend he’s talking to them and them alone. He tries not to frown when he realizes you haven’t joined, and hopes you will soon; you were the one person he actually wanted to say goodnight to.

You don’t join, and Vernon goes to bed sad and confused. Why were you paying for this if you weren’t going to use your membership to the fullest? His subscribers loved the introduction of goodnight streams, some are even asking for good morning streams too. You also hadn’t asked him for any pictures yet, even though everyone was allowed three per day. Maybe you just hadn’t read the membership benefits when you joined and didn’t know? He should probably ask, right? Just to be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Vernon gasps, staring down at his phone in awe.

A cat picture. You've sent him a cat picture. A picture of a cat. Your cat, presumably.

Vernon’s heart stutters, his eyebrows raising.

damn.

He sighs in disbelief before setting his jaw in determination and deciding the perfect combination and sequence of emojis to convey his true feelings.

Vernon puts the phone down for a moment as he remembers what you’d first said about your cats. One likes you too much and one doesn’t like you at all. He wonders which is which, they're both looking at you with such love.

He’s spinning in his desk chair, zoning out a little, when his eyes hit the open sound design program on his desktop.

Fuck, he has an exam tomorrow.

Vernon’s mouth stretches in a smile, his kicking feet sending him on a giddy spin in his chair. Putting his phone on Do Not Disturb, he forces himself to focus.

Vernon is sitting in his Audio Mastering Techniques class when you text him. He was already struggling to focus, fingers drumming on the table and leg bouncing under it, his neighbor sending a glare over every few minutes. He tries his best not to check, but you'd promised him your first thought and he wants to see what it is!

Glancing around surreptitiously, Vernon opens SVTHub with his phone under the table. You'd never sent him an explicit message before but there's a first time for everything (Vernon hopes).

Vernon looks up organic chemistry practice problems but sees ‘Stereospecificity in Addition Reactions’ and ‘Electrophilic Addition Reactions to Conjugated Dienes’ and immediately begins shaking his head, exiting out of the browser and texting you again.

Vernon’s heart starts racing as he reads your text. You want to call him. You want to speak words and you want him to listen and respond and then you’ll respond to his words.

Cool.

Vernon’s sitting at his desk, spinning around as the phone rings and rain pangs against the window.

“Hey! Sorry,” you sound out of breath, “it’s monsooning and i couldn’t text and hold the umbrella and keep my laptop out of the rain at the same time.”

“It’s okay, no worries. How’d the exam go? Did you cry?” He asks, only slightly worried.

“It went well, I think! I did cry but just a little and I didn’t get it on the exam paper this time, thank goodness.”

You tell him more about the exam and he just listens, absorbing your voice and tone and cadence. He wants to record you, wishes he could listen to you all the time, your voice is so entrancing.

“Did you have your midterm yet?” You ask sweetly, sounding concerned.

This startles Vernon out of his trance and he has to ask himself if he has taken his midterm yet today, and sighs in relief when he realizes he has a few hours left to go.

“Nah, it’s not till later so i’m just studying and vibing.”

Vernon chats more with you, trying to imagine what you look like and wishing patrons had a profile picture like he does, before he realizes it’s been an hour and he should get focused. Promising to call you after his exam and wishing he could just take you with him in his pocket, he hangs up.

Vernon does call you after his exam, and he calls you the next day too, and the next. It’s easier than ever for him to respond to messages, romantic words flowing and streams getting more and more popular. He just pretends he’s talking to you and it always works. You haven’t joined one of his streams yet but he’s holding out hope, and secretly wishing that you’d request a private videocall. You still haven’t asked for any selfies but he finds himself sending them anyway, hoping someday you’ll send one back. 

He’s getting ready for his bedtime stream when he starts thinking about your last phone call, just a few hours ago. You’d just woken up from a nap, sounding all raspy and sleepy and cute, and he tried to picture your face, cheek lined with pillow creases. He doesn’t remember what you’d talked about because he couldn’t focus on anything but your voice, soft and sweet in his ear. He pictures you, laying in bed next to him, your head on his chest or his on yours, your legs tangled up with his own. He can’t help but imagine your fingers trailing over the ridges of his abdomen, running up and down his chest, and his own fingers start to follow. 

Vernon thinks about your fingers moving lower, running along his waistband and dipping beneath. But you’re a tease, and they slip out and over the fabric of his sweats, pressing down where he’s starting to grow hard. He rubs his palm over his dick, squeezing harder the closer he gets to the head, imagining your giggle when his hips buck up. His phone goes off, startling him out of his fantasy and reminding him he has a stream to start. 

He hasn’t done one like this in a while but the tips are always insane and he really wants to buy the lego set you told him you did the other day, so he shrugs and presses the red record button on his phone. 

“Hey baby, it's so good to see you. How are you?” Vernon pauses to let his viewers answer, thinking about how you’d respond. 

“I had a busy day, midterms finished last week but I have a project due soon and I haven’t made a lot of progress on it,” he hears you scold him in his head, telling him to get a move on. 

“But I’m really tired, and i just wanna relax. Think you could help me?” Vernon asks, setting his phone down to pull off his shirt, missing the little notification popping up to say you’d joined. He smiles softly into the camera as he picks it back up, sliding on the bed to rest his head on the pillows. He pans the camera down to show his abs, running his fingers down his chest to settle at his waistband, pretending they’re yours. The tips start rolling in and he mutes his phone, the dinging sound beginning to annoy him. 

Vernon tries to find that fantasy again, the one where you’re in bed with him and touching him and talking to him, and slips his hand into his sweats, fingers wrapping around his hard cock. He sighs, pulling his dick out and rubbing his palm over the head, his hips jerking at the friction. Leaning over to dig around his bedside table for some lube, Vernon wonders what you’re doing right now. He opens the cap and dribbles some onto his length, smearing it around with his hand. It’s chilly but he just tells himself your hand is cold, and starts squeezing his cock, pulling a little when he gets to the head. A punched out moan leaves his chest, lube warming up and dick getting harder. 

It feels better than usual for some reason, but Vernon isn’t willing to think about why at the moment, and keeps jerking his cock. He’s panting a bit now, staring into the camera with half-lidded eyes and lip bitten between his teeth, feeling his abs tense with every pull. Closing his eyes so he can picture your hand moving on him, he tilts his head back into the pillow, wishing he could moan your name. 

The heat is starting to rise in his stomach, his hips bucking into the movements of his hand, and he knows he’s getting close. He really is tired so he doesn’t try to draw it out, just squeezes at the head harder and tries not to whine at the pressure. He thinks about your hands on him, god, your mouth on him, and imagines your voice telling him to cum. 

Vernon almost drops the phone on his chest with the force of his orgasm, trying to decide if he should turn the camera to show the cum shooting out of his cock and pooling in the ridges of his abs. He leaves it facing him instead, knowing his face is screwed up in pleasure and his moans are echoing throughout the room. Staring at the ceiling, Vernon tries to catch his breath and wonders why he just came so hard. He can feel his eyelids drooping, mind going hazy with sleep and oxytocin, and blows a kiss into the camera, saying goodnight. 

You haven’t texted him in a week.

Vernon’s messaged you, selfies and thoughts and questions, but you haven't responded. He even checked your profile, just to make sure you hadn’t canceled your membership. He doesn’t know what to do; you’ve only been a subscriber for a couple months and you’ve only been gone a week, but he misses you. He misses waking up to a random philosophical question from you, or a picture of your latest A, or a video of your cats play(?) fighting. 

But Vernon also doesn’t want to bother you, or overwhelm you, so he’s cooled it down a bit. He only texted you once yesterday, and he hasn’t texted you at all today. He just wishes he knew you’re okay, that nothing bad has happened to you, that you’ll come back. He knows now that being a pretend boyfriend is no fun if you don’t have someone whose boyfriend you want to be. 

For now, he’ll just keep checking his phone and hoping to see a message from you. 

Vernon's knee bounces, jaw clenching as he listens to the phone ring, waiting for you to pick up. He can't wait to hear your voice, it hasn't even been two weeks but that's more than long enough for him. You just soothe him, quiet his brain and still his hands. He's not sure if it's how gently you speak, or how your voice feels like a soft, warm blanket right out of the dryer, or how your words slide over him like silk, but he's missed you and as soon as you pick up and say hello, it's like his entire body relaxes.

He chats with you a bit, catching up on your classes and telling you about the work he's done for his project (little to none), letting you scold him for having done no work on his project and enjoying it.

The conversation draws to a natural conclusion, both of you having exhausted every possible topic in an effort to avoid the reason for the call. Vernon takes a deep breath and tries to steel himself; he's never been good with uncomfortable situations or feelings talk but he's willing to try, for you.

"So, you thought this was like a... pen pal situation? Didn't you have to put in your ID to prove you're over 18?"

"Well, yes, but I thought it was just so we could talk about adult topics, not because it's porn!"

Vernon blanches, he hadn't really thought about the fact that he was basically a porn star and he's not sure how he feels about it. He's not ashamed, sex is normal and human and he needs to make money somehow, but he does wonder how much longer he'll want to keep doing this. It's not easy to act like a boyfriend to so many people at once when he knows there's only one person he wants. And he does know it now, he wants you.

"Does it make you uncomfortable? That I do this?" Vernon worries, knowing he doesn't want to stop but also knowing he doesn't want to lose you.

"No, I mean, a job is a job and you get to make your own schedule and devote all your focus to school. It seems like a great gig, and you're good at it obviously..." You trail off, sounding sad for some reason. He hasn't heard you like this before, your voice a bit thready and foggy, like you're suppressing tears.

"What's wrong?" Vernon asks urgently, becoming more and more concerned with every sniffle that escapes you.

You stay silent for a while, Vernon tries to be patient but he can hear your breath catching, and he's about to start crying too just so you don't cry alone. He breathes out your name, hoping you'll respond.

"Ugh, I just-" you stop yourself, sounding... embarrassed?

"I..." you take what sounds like a very deep breath, and Vernon feels like he's at the edge of a cliff, just waiting to jump.

"I like you! I like when you call me babe and flirt with me and call me and I liked the face you made when you came and I liked how you sounded and then I wanted to make you sound like that! But this is your literal job, acting like a boyfriend, and I didn't know that so I let myself have a crush on you not knowing that it was all fake!"

It takes Vernon a second to process what you said, you'd said it all in one breath and spoken so fast, your voice shaking with the cutest mix of nerves and annoyance.

"Nononononononono!!! It wasn't fake! It was fake with everyone else but never with you," Vernon spits out in a rush, desperate to make you understand. He's pacing in his room now, phone pressed to his ear, arms crossed and fingers taptaptapping at his elbow. He wonders what he can say to make you believe him, to make sure you know that you've always been different, been special, to him.

"I look forward to your thoughts every day. Whenever you text me, I literally kick my feet like a little kid. Every time I streamed - they're not all like that, by the way - I couldn't stop checking to see if you'd joined. Patrons can only ask for three selfies a day, I send you like five, unprompted-" he could go on, but you interrupt him with a call of his name. He's not sure he's heard it on your lips before, but it does something to him. Something that's very inconvenient for him to deal with now, during this very emotional conversation. He's tempted to send you a picture, maybe that will convince you.

"Vernon," you call again, bringing his focus back to your voice and away from what your voice was doing to him.

"So, what are you saying?" you continue, starting to sound a bit less sad and a bit more like yourself.

"I'm saying I want to be your actual boyfriend, and not for money, so you'll have to cancel your membership, sorry."

There's silence for a few beats; Vernon feels himself teetering on the cliff again as he waits for your response.

"I mean- is that... allowed?" You seem unsure, sounding slightly hopeful but a bit apprehensive still. He wishes he could see your face, wishes he knew what you look like at all (knowing would definitely help at nighttime or in the shower or when he wakes up for ... reasons). He shakes his head to bring himself back to the conversation before you notice that his mind had wandered.

"Yea, I mean, my friend does cam shows with his partner and another friend of mine found out his roommate was watching his shows and now they fuck everyday! That could be us!" Vernon tries to reassure you, hoping you're willing to at least try.

"Ummmmm I don't know about that just yet but we could try... dating, I guess? It may be difficult just online but I like you and you say you like me so, why not?"

Vernon thinks that if he jumped out of his window right now, he just might fly. He won't because he's not trying to die now that you're letting him be your boyfriend, but the feeling is there.

"Yes! I do like you, I like you a lot. I like you so much. Please date me." He knows he's practically begging at this point, but he doesn't care. Vernon's willing to beg, on his knees if he needs to, if it means he can be your boyfriend for real.

"Okay! Okay," you giggle, a bit muffled as if you're covering your mouth. "I'll date you if you date me?"

Vernon can't contain his grin, spinning in circles around his room even though he's already dizzy.

"Deal."

Vernon squints, sitting in his 9 am and staring down at the purple pen in his hand, the one he’d found sitting on the desk when he came in.

There’s no way though, right?

Right?

Vernon tries not to freak out as he looks under the desk to find a water bottle. One with your name on it.

Vernon has a choice to make. He could sit here, try to focus on class, while he thinks about you somewhere on campus, struggling through an exam and dehydrated and sad. Or …

Not on my watch, Vernon thinks, shooting up from the desk and grabbing his stuff and yours. He’s jogging across campus before he knows it, dodging frisbees and dogs on the green, weaving through hammocks and hopping over sleeping students. He’s not sure what lecture hall you’re in but he knows the chemistry building, and if he books it, he’s sure he can make it.

He’s speedwalking down the hall, peeking in windows and listening at doors, trying to find your class. His eyes catch a paper taped to a door, warning, “EXAM AT 915. DO NOT DISTURB.”

He could jump in glee but, glancing at his phone and seeing that it’s 9:10, he knows he doesn’t have time.

Vernon’s hoping, praying you’ll listen to him when the door opens a smidge, and the most beautiful face he’s ever seen peeks through. It's like heaven’s light is shining down on him, he thinks he can hear angels, and is that wind? Blowing through his hair?

Staring back at him, your eyes shoot open in disbelief, before landing on your pen and water bottle in his hands. You squeal, bouncing in your shoes and throwing your arms around his neck. He breathes you in, reeling at the weight of your body against his, and you pull back before he can return your embrace. Vernon misses you instantly but he knows you have to go be a genius so, handing you the water and pen, he accepts a kiss on the cheek and watches you leave.

Hiiii!! Would love to know your thoughts, whether they come in a like, reblog, comment, or ask! Please feel free to come talk to me i will cry and smile all day!! Planning a pt 2 for this but i'm hoping to get pt 2 of like a cowboy out first!

Part 2

And check out the rest of SVTHub! A good few fics are out and you’ll still have something to look forward to as more will be posted over the next few weeks ☺️

I am so grateful to @sapphichui for trusting me with this and I’ve had such a great time collaborating with and getting to know other awesome authors on here!

My Masterlist

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Collab Masterlist

#seventeen #svthub.collab #svthub #✨emily writes✨ #vernon x reader #chwe hansol #chwe hansol x reader #seventeen fluff #seventeen smut #svt fluff #svt smut #any greendalians here 👀 #kpop smut #kpop fluff #camboy!svt #camboy au #hansol x reader

[catierambles]

Feral Instincts Ch.25

Pairing: The Rogue’s Gallery (Geralt, Syverson, Mike, August Walker, Walter Marshall) x Stephanie Daniels (OFC)

WC 1468

Warnings: Alluded to sexy times?

Days and weeks passed, August giving her her space, but his distance was starting to physically hurt. Jordan went quiet again, but she didn't get complacent as the last time he went quiet, he re-emerged in a spectacularly painful fashion. She dug her keys out of her pocket, getting back from dropping Albert and Mike off at the cabin. She would have stayed, but she was up for the on-call rotation for work so she needed to be by her work laptop and a stable Internet connection. The cabin was great, but internet and cell service were anything but stable up there.

Stephanie paused when she saw the man standing outside of her apartment. He was handsome, with neatly combed black hair and chiseled jaw, the three piece suit he was wearing fitting him expertly so it probably cost more than she made in a month.

"Stephanie Daniels?" He asked and she nodded. "I'm Napoleon Solo, a Representative of the Pack Council." He felt like a Beta, but his bosses gave her pause.

"How can I help you?" She asked.

"May we talk inside?" He asked pleasantly.

"Sure." She said and he moved aside so she could unlock the door, following her into the apartment. He walked past her as she closed the front door and she watched as he looked around the unit.

"I was told Michael and Albert Syverson lived here with you?" He asked.

"They're up north, with their brother."

"Yes, Markus Syverson. Along with a former Homicide Lieutenant, and a Council Tracker."

"Yeah." If he was trying to unsettle her by basically saying he knew everything about her, he was failing. "What brings a Council Rep out to see me?"

"Ms. Daniels," He said, turning to face her, "I've heard that you're not…pleased with how the Council handles its internal issues with packs under their purview."

"Why should they care what I think about them?"

"When it affects their handling of said issues, they care." He said, "August Walker."

"What about him?"

"He was given an assignment recently and he turned it down, saying that he would not be taking assignments for the foreseeable future."

"Okay? And?"

"His reasoning was that his Mate didn't agree with the nature of the assignments and his role in resolving them." Napoleon said, "That would be you, correct?" She just crossed her arms over her stomach, arching a brow at him. "How can I change your mind?"

"Don't think you can, if we're being honest. What the Council is doing is underhanded and shady, and I told August that. These packs that are breaking human laws should be held to those laws and the punishments for breaking them, not wiped off the map."

"And these punishments are?"

"Incarceration, for whatever duration is deemed suitable by a court of law. You do the crime, you do the time, that sort of thing." She said and he huffed a short laugh, the corner of his lips perking into a small smile, flashing pearly white fangs.

"You're incredibly naive, Ms. Daniels." He said and she shrugged.

"Maybe I'm just an idealist." She said, "But my point is, the Pack Council is not a sovereign government within the United States with its own laws and rules and regulations and punishments for those who break them, and wolves are not sovereign citizens who do not have to follow the laws of the United States, nor are beholden to the penalties for breaking those laws. So, by sending out these "Cleaners" to "take care of" wolves who are breaking the laws of the states they reside in, or just simply don't want to play by the Pack Council's rules, they are thereby committing murder on a massive scale. Cleaners are hitmen, basically, is what I'm saying, silencing the naysayers and keeping their image clean."

"Ms. Daniels..."

"Am I wrong about any of that?"

"It's not that--" He suddenly felt like an Alpha and it made her shoulders tighten.

"Am. I. Wrong." She asked again and he was silent before giving her another small smile, looking away from her.

"Have a nice day, Ms. Daniels."

"You as well, Mr. Solo." She opened the front door and held it open as he walked out, seeing him pass by August as he was coming into the building.

"Female Alphas." Napoleon said to him as he went past and August watched him go before turning his attention to her.

"What did Leon want?"

"The Council sent him to try to "reason with me", I guess. It didn't work." She said and he huffed.

"Yeah, he's one of their more popular mouthpieces. Looks good in front of a camera."

"I thought he looked familiar." She said with a slight scowl. He didn't say anything, just stared at her for a moment before sighing, turning to head up the stairs. "August." He stopped, but didn't look at her so she went to him. "Hey." He still didn't look at her, but a sigh shook his chest as she laid her hand on his arm.

"I miss you." He said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Look at me." She said and he hesitated a moment before turning his head to look at her, the pain in his eyes almost palpable.

"I miss you, Stephanie." He said, "You're starting to fade and it's like someone is slowly chopping off a limb. One cut at a time. I'm losing you, and I don't want to lose you. You're my Mate."

"August, I--" She stopped with a sigh, "Fuck it." Reaching up, she wove her fingers into his hair, pulling him down into a hard kiss. He responded instantly to her, turning to her fully, his hands wrapping around her waist. He pulled her against him sharply, capturing the noise she made with his lips moving against hers. His hands slid down over her ass, making a shiver race down her spine and she broke the kiss as he palmed the backs of her thighs through her jeans. She hopped up as he lifted, wrapping her legs around his waist and moving her fingers through his hair as he crossed the hall, walking into her apartment and kicking the door closed behind him with such a force that it rattled in the hinges. She kissed him again as he carried her into her bedroom, staying wrapped around him as he knelt on the bed, pressing her against the pillows.

They lay in bed afterwards, his arm over her stomach as he tucked his face into her neck.

“Sure hope I didn’t miss any calls from the answering service.” She said, “Little awkward to explain why to Heather.” August snorted, the tip of his nose moving behind her ear and he turned her face to him with fingertips at her jaw, taking her lips in a kiss that made her breathe in deep, her hand going to his side. “That Council Rep guy said you stopped taking assignments.” He nodded.

“I thought about what you said, about how these people are dying just to keep the Council looking good to the public. What I did with the Agency protected people, the US and sometimes the entire world, but these packs didn’t do anything to warrant a death sentence. Some of the things they were doing would make you want to kill them as a gut reaction, but they weren’t punishable by death in the eyes of the law. The others…” He stopped with a sigh, “Benign anti-authoritarianism isn’t a crime. Not wanting to be told what to do, but not hurting anyone, isn’t a crime. How did Peter put it? I was the “Council’s attack dog”? Yeah, that was accurate. They were using me to do their dirty work, just like Langley used me after they found out I was a wolf. I’m done being used.”

“I think Sy wants me to go for a Council seat.” She said and he arched a brow at her. “He told me there were no female Alphas on the Council and I made a remark about how maybe there should be. He’s been dropping hints since then, but you know him, he’s about as subtle as a brick through a window.”

“You’d be good.” He said and she snorted.

“You’re biased.” She said and her cell phone went off, making her jump out of bed. Digging it out of her pants on the floor, she answered the call, heading over to her dresser and the notepad and pen she kept on it. “Stephanie. Okay. Did they give an NPI? Phone Number? Okay, I’ll log in and give them a call. Have a nice day.” She hung up the call and looked at August laying on his back in bed, his hand behind his head. “Time for work.”

#henry cavill #captain syverson #walter marshall #august walker #hellraiser mike #geralt of rivia #feral instincts

[misshoneyimhome]

Lover

Tags: ex-boyfriend!Freddie; Frederik AndersenxReader; Fullf; Wedding; 

”Lover” – Taylor Swift

-

We could leave the Christmas lights up 'til January And this is our place, we make the rules And there's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear Have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?

The day had been nothing short of amazing. Stephanie was the most beautiful bride, you’d ever seen in real life, and the ceremony had left no eye dry. Mitch had looked so proud, standing there, seeing the love of his life walking towards him; about to say yes to be his forever. 

It was simply wonderful.

And you’d had a great time as well. Seeing one of your best girlfriends marrying the love of her life; her best friend, made you feel warm and deeply happy for her. And of course, you’d make it your life’s mission to hunt down Mitch if he’d ever break her heart; but in this very moment of ‘I do’s’ and vows, you had no doubt they were made for each other. 

The only little tinge you felt in your chest, was caused by the gazing honey brown eyes, belonging to none other than your gorgeous of a ginger ex-boyfriend/former lover: Frederik Andersen. 

You and Freddie had history – not a long one, but history, nonetheless.

Freddie had very casually walked straight into your heart back in 2019, when he was the starting goaltender for the Toronto Maple Leafs, the moment Stephanie had introduced you to the team and their significant others. You’d come to know Stephanie through another girlfriend of yours, and your quickly growing friendship had made her take you in and made you a part of the inner circle of the hockey team. 

Something you’d never even dreamt of in your life but was so grateful for had happened. 

And you enjoyed every second of it. Every game, every team event, and not to mention, every time Freddie had looked at you. If someone asked you, if you believed in love at first sight, this was probably the closest you’d come to experience it. Because it must have been love - And Freddie had not held back in expressing his feelings for you, and bluntly asked you out.

So that was your history: one year of pure joy and happiness; amazing sex, laughter, comfort post losses, and genuine heart-warming feelings. 

Unfortunately, your fairy-tale had been cut short, when Freddie was to move to the Hurricanes in North Carolina, and you were unable to move with him. Not only because you’d only been going out for a year, but also because you’d just started your new job after an important promotion, you’d worked so hard for. 

And it’s not that you didn’t want to move with Freddie, but he simply couldn’t live with himself if he knew that it’d been his fault that you’d have to give up on your career and start all over – just so he could have his. No, it wasn’t fair, and eventually you’d agreed. 

The first couple of months went well though; you tried to talk every day and keep each other updated of your whereabouts, but then it grew too hard for the both of you. The distance alone just made you fall apart – and it had been Freddie who’d eventually been the one to rip off the bandage. 

Although it’d hurt, you knew it was for the best. 

So here you both were, at the party of a wedding between your very close friends. Both standing in a room, filled with nothing but joy, laughter, and romance. And Freddie simply couldn’t keep his eyes off of you. You were gorgeous. 

He could tell that you’d spent hours getting ready; your hair and make-up were flawless, but what was truly captivating was your smile. The dimples by your lips, that you’ve always hated so such, but he loved so wholeheartedly, because it meant that you were happy. 

Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever? And ah, take me out, and take me home You're my, my, my, my Lover

As you were standing there, talking to some of the other guests with a drink in your hand, it was like Freddie’s feet moved all by themselves. The magnetic attraction between the two of you, made him slowly yet determined walk in your direction; and as you felt his presence near you, you turned around and as your eyes met the soft expression on his alluring, handsome face, your heart melted all over again.   

“Please, dance with we?” he simply asked, husky words softly escaping his lips, and as an automatic response, your head nodded, and your mouth spoke the word ‘yes.’

We could let our friends crash in the living room This is our place, we make the call And I'm highly suspicious that everyone who sees you wants you I've loved you three summers now, honey, but I want 'em all

One of his hands, softly took one of yours, and his other hand was placed on your hip, as your available hand gently took its place on his shoulder. You knew people were looking, but there was a not a drop of care within either of you – both just simply enjoyed and embraced he gentle touches and the air you shared between you. 

It was like everything was coming back to you, a monsoon of emotions washing over your body, mind, and soul. And oh, how it felt so good. 

As the two of you swayed softly to the music playing from the speakers, you were in a world of your own. His arms stretched to push out apart, swing you around, and then pull you back into his body. His large, warm, and solid body. The body you knew oh so well; you’d seen naked on multiple occasions; you’d been intimate with, touched, and kissed – the body of the man you’d love for three years. 

And it looked good in a suit. Freddie’s always had a great taste in suits, and you’d never held back on your compliments of the matter. But tonight, he looked exceptionally good. The summer had done him well, given him a light tan, almost brightening his already fierce ginger hair. He shone nothing but confident and self-awareness, as he once again starched his arms, pushing you apart, and then pulling you back in again.  

And then he held you tightly.

Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever? And ah, take me out, and take me home (forever and ever) You're my, my, my, my Lover

“You look beautiful,” he whispered delicately into your ear, and you felt a shiver run down your spine. His voice, the words, his breath; he had you wrapped around his finger all over again. 

You offered him a sweet smile. 

“Thank you,” you simply replied, as your eyes locked and you again swayed from side to side, holding each other closely. 

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand? With every guitar string scar on my hand I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue All's well that ends well to end up with you Swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover And you'll save all your dirtiest jokes for me And at every table, I'll save you a seat, lover

Gently, he once again repeated the dance moves, but this time as he’d pulled you back into him, he held your hands between your chests, one still resisting on your waist, and leaned his forehead against yours. Both of you almost closed your eyes, as you leaned into each other, and mentally left the room, only letting yourself be aware of the music. You were mesmerised. Lost in another life – in a life with only you and Freddie. 

“I’ve missed you,” his words were smooth and soft, his breath warm, and his heartbeat steady. His words worked like magic, making your knees weak and leaving our mind in a haze. 

But then you felt it. The way he’d left your heart hollow when he’d broken up with you. The pain he’d caused when he spoke the words you never thought would be said between you. The dryness in your eyes, after you’d shed every single tear, you had left in you, after he’d given up on your relationship. 

So, you forced yourself to look up at him. And into the deep of his eyes, where you could almost see your own reflection. 

“Don’t play with me.” Your words were shaky, and voice close to trembling.

He kept his eyes locked on yours, and your bodies swayed towards the end of the song; and he knew, it was now or never. Either he spoke the words he so deeply, desperately needed to speak, or he’d lose you for good. 

Can I go where you go? Can we always be this close forever and ever? And ah, take me out, and take me home (forever and ever) You're my, my, my, my Oh, you're my, my, my, my Darling, you're my, my, my, my Lover

“I love you,” he almost whispered. Your pupils were shifting from side to side, as if searching for evidence of truth or lie in his soul. Your breathing increased, your palms got sweaty, and you could feel that oh so familiar and very pleasant tinge of sensation in your fingertips – it was love.

Waves of delicate softness flowed through your veins, as your heart pumped red blood spreading oxygen to your cells, filling the void within your heart with warmth, joy, comfort, and pure happiness. 

Words escaped your mouth, and air left your lungs as you spoke. “I love you too.” 

And as the last melody of the song played its tunes, Freddie’s lips found their way back it their rightful place: to your lips, in a tender kiss. 

#freddie andersen imagine #frederik andersen imagine #nhl fanfiction #nhl hockey imagine #frederik andersen #freddie andersen #carolina hurricanes

[moonlitinks]

Writer Q&A Tag Game

Thank you to bestie @writingbyricochet for tagging me! CAN WE JUST START OFF WITH THAT LITTLE WRITING SNIPPET (AND THE KISS SCENE) THAT HAD ME SQUEALING??? I AM SO, SO EXCITED FOR PARADISE LIVED AND DIED. for anyone interested in this amazing writer, her answers are linked here!

1) What motivates you to write?

Whenever I sit there and read a good book in one sitting for hours. The magic. The characters. The romance. The ACTION. It just makes me realize that I want to ignite this same feeling to others, and I want to make my book feel like a second home for them to escape to <3

2) A line/short snippet of your writing that you are most proud/happy of. If not maybe share a line of someone else's work you love (just please credit them)

This is my most recent writing snippet that I'm just SO HAPPY TO WRITE I DON'T KNOW WHY

“Well, I think you’re a selfish—” Rip. The sound of her skirt tearing caused her to pause, and the magpie picked and picked at the edges of her dress. What was it doing? Bari grabbed at the remaining pieces before she exposed herself and got kicked out due to indecency. He stared at her with indifference, scowling like he could not take her at all. “There,” he said. “Now you have no reason to cling to me.” He snatched the magpie from the air and Bari cried out in alarm. Even the bird seemed to sense the dangerous aura that the he emitted, pecking at the space in between them. Altair paused at where the magpie pecked, and his gaze slipped for a second, enough to Bari to snatch her bird back, and the lantern in the other.  She really did need to get rid of the lantern, but it wouldn’t move because, apparently, even an enchanted object believed that she didn’t know what she wanted. “Tell me to take a voice.”

3) Which OC makes you smile every time you think/talk about them and what are they like?

Altair, because he's so complex. I always love a character that is more mysterious and has a lot of history to unpack behind them because of all the awful things they've done, but a lot of guilt and regret following them, too. Seeing their transformation arc is BEAUTIFUL.

4) What process of writing do you enjoy the most?

Drafting and creating plot twists! And brainstorming / daydreaming about ideas. If you can't tell, I'm not much of a plotter haha.

5) What part of writing do you think you are the best at? (Yes stroke your own ego it's okay)

Inner dialogue! And I think I really like getting in depth with characters, so you really know them.

6) What is something in the writeblr community is most enjoyable?

I think I love it because we're all honest about the writing process. Writing is really lonely and it actually can really drain you mentally without the right mindset. Personally, I have a lot of anxiety, so seeing people that understand me really makes me feel like I can write and simply enjoy it. It also makes me feel less alone.

7) A writing tool/device you use that helps you with writing? (It could be speech to text, a writing program etc)

Scrivener, my love. I also love watching author interviews like Chloe Gong and Stephanie Garber and just seeing what their drafting and publishing journey has been like, and it inspires me to write! Pinterest is also great for aesthetics, and Spotify is the best for playlists <3

8) A piece of worldbuilding that you like in your own story? (It could be the magic system, a particular place in the story, a law etc)

I love the Enchanted Kingdom (soon to be named...) I've built so far. It's filled with curses that have been unresolved in the first lives that these gods have lived, and now have reappeared to kinda ruin the Kingdom. My world is very fairytale slash studio ghibli esque, so I'm having so fun with the tidbits now!

9) What piece of advice would you say to encourage others to write if they are having a rough patch?

Oh, God. DO I KNOW THIS PERSONALLY. I swear my rough patch hasn't ended... writing after nearly not writing for a good two years really does something to you.

Writing is all about mindset. It doesn't matter how much of an oddball idea you have. If you don't believe in it, it'll never get finished. Every time I doubted myself, my anxiety got so bad I shut down immediately. And I was so worried about what other people would think when reading my books, that I stopped myself from writing the books I want to write in the first place. Whether you have people around you discouraging to write, or can't believe in yourself, at the end of the day, it's just you and your book. And what's the point of writing if you're just following a trend? Or slugging yourself to finish a book you can't even connect with? Each book is a piece of yourself, and I think the greatest realization I had is to write the story you want to read. And it doesn't matter if it's about some girl who makes a deal with a god to save her sister, or about some alien on a spaceship, or about carnivals! Writing is so amazing because you can connect with readers who enjoy the same things you do, but it all starts with believing in yourself first.

When you get stuck, don't panic. If you haven't read an article about how Boredom Leads to Creativity, maybe take a quick break about writing that first! Writing isn't about who finishes the book first, but it's about quality and a game of luck. Maybe you need a break away from writing. Maybe you need to reconnect with your characters. Maybe you're just tired of toiling over and over again on this plot line.

There is no set method to returning to your project. But what has helped me is learning why I want to write. It doesn't matter how much I return to my world, or try to force my characters into more trauma if there's no reason why I'm writing this. Like, is it to enjoy it? Is it to have people experience these feelings I've felt months ago, and hold importance to me? Even the simplest reasons are the deepest ones. <3

And finally (sorry this advice is literally a hundred pages long, can you tell I'm procrastinating right now?), writing is meant to be serious, but it's also meant to be fun. The draft is simply just that: a draft. You can get ideas from random lines you wrote, or even take out characters to write a different book about! Don't ruin the one thing you've learned to love. Personally, writing in fun / ugly fonts: Arial, Comic Sans, etc., has really helped me focus on what I want to say instead of whether this book will ever get queried or not. Set a routine. Write everyday, or don't if you're more of a mood writer. The instant you feel the itch to write, JUST FUCKING DO IT, OKAY. THIS IS A SIGN. It doesn't matter if it's a scene in the third act and you're only on chapter 1. It's a sign that the story wants you, and only you to write it.

FINALLY FINALLY, I swear this is my last piece of advice, and the shortest: Believe in yourself, even when no one else does. Writing is hard, but rewarding. I believe in you. <3

wowooww that was long, tagging @orphicpoieses @macabremoons @halfbit @leisoree @sleepysuiteheart @the-chaotic-writer @heymacareyna @hallwriteblr @sculpture-in-a-period-drama @pixelw0rds @thetruearchmagos + other mutuals and anyone who wants to participate! i would love to hear your responses, PLEASE.

#tag games #writing #writeblr #writers #writblr #writing community #writing inspiration #creative writing #wip #writersontumblr #writing memes #writerly memes #writerly woes #writer struggles #writing tips #writing advice

[stephanie-love]

Fucked by 3 guys this weekend

My boss wasn't coming into the office on Friday, so she gave me the day off, kind of a forced day off .

It really didn't matter because I was planning on having lunch with an old friend of mine from high school. She just had her second kid, and she wanted to meet up.

The night before, I did a quick load of laundry so I could have my favorite tight dress.

I figured since she wanted to show off her new offspring, well I might as well show off my childless hotwife body.

Long story short, I promised hubby I'd bring him back a plate from the restaurant, and I should be gone long.

But........ during our little luncheon I was getting alot of looks from people, some good, and some not too kind, but there was one particular group of guys that couldn't take their eyes off me.

It was three of them in their late 20's, and we exchanged looks back and forth throughout our visit.

Later, my friend was ready to go, because her kid started getting fussy.

I told her I was going to stay for a few and order hubby a plate to go, but she knew by the looks being exchanged from me to the 3 guys, there was something going on.

She made the comment, "Don't let your husband find out".

I laughed a little inside, because she has no idea.

Anyways, she leaves, I ordered a dish for my husband, and that's when one of the guys made his way over.

After some small talk that finally lead up to, yes I'm married, yes he is waiting at home for me, and finally, my husband is okay with me fooling around, and he actually really likes it.

I even offered myself to them, if they wanted , and to my surprise they were in on the idea and we went back to one guys apartment who lived close. When we got there I quickly stripped off my dress (I wasn’t wearing anything underneath).

They then took turns fucking me for like 3 hours. I came so many times and got fucked in so many positions. They all came more than once before I was worn out and fell asleep completely naked on the couch.

When I woke up, I had like 10 missed calls, and like 5 missed text messages from hubby.

He wasn't upset in any way, more concerned about my safety. I forgot to let him know on what was happening.

He quickly became excited when I told him I had a fresh plate for him and some really great leftovers 😉 I know he'll love 😜 .

Stephanie Sinnz 💋

[rickie-the-storyteller]

Steph's Crew - Part 13: Get Into the Groove

cw - strong language

Intro:

This is the crew sort of getting used to all these changes in their lives. Dylan is all moved into Alice's place. Bret and Elise are getting closer together. And Stephanie is in a long-distance relationship with Ben and is living on her own (and is having nightmares about her dead foster sister that are getting increasingly worse every night).

Their lives are rather different from what they were a couple of months ago.

This is kind of a pointless extra part lol. But I wanted to include it because even though it may not seem like it, so much can change in a short span of time.

Next Monday

(Stephanie hops off the bus and heads straight to the study room where her friends gather and hang out at school. She is surprised to find out that everyone else is already here - she's usually one of the early ones. Even Bret is here)

Stephanie: Oh. Hi, guys.

Dylan: What's up, Steph? (pats her on the back in a friendly manner)

Alice: (smiles) Hey, girl.

Elise: (trying to fit all her books and notes in her bag) Morning Steph!

Bret: Good weekend?

Stephanie: Sure. Same old.

Elise: (looks up at her, and notices that she doesn't look too happy) Are you alright? What's wrong?

Stephanie: Oh, nothing El. Nothing. Everything's fine! (pauses, sighs) I don't know.

Elise: Ok. Come with me. (takes Stephanie's hand and pulls her out of the room)

Dylan: Oooookay. Moving right along. Ally?

Alice: 'Sup?

Dylan: We didn't find any good dresses this weekend.

Alice: Nope.

Dylan: But it's totally ok, we can go shopping for our outfits again next weekend. And I've got some good news for you, too!

Alice: Oh yeah?

Dylan: Yes! I've found you a corsage.

Alice: Oh my gosh! Are you being serious?!

Dylan: Absolutely serious. It's gorgeous. I ordered it online, it should be arriving by the end of the week.

Alice: OH MY GOD! DYLAN! (jumps up in excitement and punches him suddenly)

Dylan: OW! (rubs his arm where Alice hit it)

Alice: Sorry! (gives him a hug to make it up to him) I just can't wait to see it. What colour is it?

Dylan: It has these light blue flowers on it… here, I'll show you a picture.

(He gets his phone out and shows Alice this beautiful corsage… which gets her all pumped up, causing her to punch him yet again, on the exact same spot on his arm as before)

Dylan: OW! God damn it, Alice!

Alice: I'm sorry. I'm just so grateful, man.

Dylan: Well, can you show your appreciation with a little less violence? Please?! That would be nice.

Alice: Alright, alright. I'll settle down now. But this is great! We're already half way there! Basically.

Dylan: Yep. We have a starting point.

Alice: All we need to do now is find the perfect dress that matches the corsage!

Bret: That's great, guys.

Dylan: Thanks, man.

Alice: How are your prom plans going, Bret?

Bret: Uuuuhhhhhh… (he has no clue what to say)

Dylan: Don't know?

Bret: Weeeeeelllllll….

Dylan: Ok. (to Alice) Yeah. He doesn't know.

Alice: Or maybe he wants to keep it a surprise?

Bret: No, no. It's ok. I can tell you.

Dylan: No you can't. 'Cause you don't know!

Bret: Yes I do! My plan is… umm… (Elise and Stephanie enter the room again) El!

Dylan: You're going to prom with Elise?

Bret: No! No, I'm not.

Alice: You're planning to ask El to be your prom date?

Bret: NO!

Elise: Uh, what's going on here?

Stephanie: Do we really want to know?

Bret: (to Alice and Dylan) I said "El" because El came into the room just now.

Dylan: So did Steph.

Bret: Uuuugh! That's it. I'm leaving. (quickly exits the room, the door slamming closed in a dramatic way)

Dylan: Huh.

Elise: My gosh… what's going on with him?

Alice: You.

Elise: (pauses, bewildered) That literally makes no sense.

Rewind (El's talk with Steph outside the study room)

Elise: What's going on, Stephanie? How are you doing?

Stephanie: You… you literally dragged me out of the room just to ask me that?

Elise: Yes! This is important.

Stephanie: El…

Elise: Talk to me, girl. Are you ok? How do you feel?

Stephanie: (sighs) I don't know… like I'm going through the motions? I can't properly explain it.

Elise: Ok…

Stephanie: I just… miss him so much. It hasn't even been all that long, but still-

Elise: It's ok. I get it. Well… I don't GET it, necessarily. I've never been in a long-distance relationship before. Or any relationship… but I digress. What I meant was, you don't need to overly explain yourself. Or go out of your way to justify any feelings you have. I'm not here to judge you - I'm your friend.

Stephanie: Thanks El.

(The two girls share a long, comforting hug. Stephanie wells up with tears)

Stephanie: Every time I've tried to call him this past week, its gone straight to voicemail. I expected things to be hard, what with the time zone difference and shit, but things have never been like this!

Elise: I know.

Stephanie: Ben's always had time for me before… (starts crying)

Elise: Hey, hey. Maybe he's been busy lately. Settling into a new environment does take time. He loves you so much, Steph. I bet he'll call as soon as he has time.

Stephanie: (sighs, wiping her tears) I hope so.

Elise: Breathe. Everything is going to be alright.

Stephanie: Yeah.

Elise: Feeling better?

Stephanie: (thinks for a moment) I think so, yeah.

Elise: Ready to tackle another day?

Stephanie: (smiles) Always.

Elise: That's the spirit!

Stephanie: (takes Elise's hand and pulls her back into the study room) Let's do this thing!

Bret's DVDs

(The bell rings for registration. Bret bursts back into the study room)

Bret: Hello again. I just realised that I left all my stuff in here.

Dylan: Because of course you did.

Bret: Oh, fuck off Dylan!

Alice: (laughs) See you in form, Bret.

Dylan: Bye, guys.

Stephanie: Bye! Coming, El?

Elise: Sure, sure. I'll be right there, I just need to make sure I have everything in here… (goes back to organising her bag)

Stephanie: Cool. See you there, then.

(Dylan, Alice and Stephanie all leave the study room and head to their respective form classrooms, leaving Bret and Elise alone)

Bret: Hey, El.

Elise: (smiles) Hey you.

Bret: (nervously) …Hi.

Elise: (chuckles awkwardly) 'Kay. (zips up her bag) I guess I'll see you at break?

Bret: OH! Before I forget… (pulls up a full plastic carrier bag from under the table and gives it to her) Here. I brought this for you.

Elise: Ah! You shouldn't have! (pauses) What is it?

Bret: Well, you know how we were meant to see the new Dragon Hunter movie last Saturday, but we got the date wrong?

Elise: No, YOU got the date wrong.

Bret: Oh my God, shut up! Anyway… I managed to successfully get us tickets for this Saturday instead! It's going to show at 16:30.

Elise: Ok. That's great!

Bret: Yes it is. I put your ticket in that bag.

Elise: …It's kind of heavy for a simple movie ticket.

Bret: I know. That's because that's not the only thing that's in there.

Elise: (gasps sarcastically) NO!

Bret: Yeah… I remembered that you have never seen a single movie in the series. So I thought I'd bring you my collection. Consider this my way of making it up to you for messing up the date.

Elise: Aw… really?

Bret: Yep! That's every single movie in the Dragon Hunter series in order. Now you can get yourself all caught up in time for Saturday!

Elise: Wow, Bret. I don't even know what to say… Thank you so much for this, this is really sweet of you.

Bret: (smiles) I hope you enjoy this series as much as I do. Hopefully, you'll stop picking on me for having quote-unquote, "terrible taste in movies."

Elise: Keep dreaming, mister. This is honestly a really good idea, though. The best idea you've had in a long while.

Bret: Bro!

Elise: (bursts out laughing) Ok, I'll stop now.

(The two leave the study room together)

Elise: How many movies are in this series, anyway?

Bret: 6. The 7th one is the latest one - that'll be the one we're going to watch on Saturday.

Elise: That's a lot of movies…

Bret: Yep.

Elise: I think it'll be a lot more of a fun experience for me if I don't watch the whole thing on my own. I don't suppose… (pauses, looking for the right words to say) if you'd… maybe like to come over my place and watch some with me?

Bret: (stops walking) What?

Elise: Do you want to come round and watch it with me? (blushes) I think it'll be fun! And you're like the expert of this series, you're honestly the perfect partner. I mean, for this. Like, movie-watcher-partner-person… partner. You know?

Bret: I- (blushes) Ok. Yeah. Sure. (chuckles) Why not?

Elise: Great! When should we start?

Bret: No time like the present?

Elise: Well, we obviously can't start now…

Bret: Aw, why not?

Elise: Wha- are you kidding me? School!

Bret: Oh.

Elise: We can start after school, though.

Bret: YES.

Elise: Sounds like a plan!

Bret: Indeed it does! I shall see you later, El.

Elise: (giggles) Ok. Bye!

Bret: Bye!

(The two go their separate ways, heading off to their respective classrooms)

Ben Calls Back

(Stephanie comes back home from school and sets down her keys. She heads up to her room and starts getting changed out of her school uniform. She is in the middle of putting on some pyjama bottoms when her phone suddenly rings. She stops what she's doing and looks at the caller ID. It's her boyfriend, Ben. She screams in surprise, then takes a deep breath and tries to calm herself down. Then, she answers)

Stephanie: Hello?

Ben: (on the phone) Steph!

Stephanie: Ben. Hey.

Ben: Babe! How are you doing? God, it's so good to hear your voice…

Stephanie: (wells up with tears) What the actual fuck is wrong with you?!

Ben: Uhh… what?

Stephanie: You haven't called me in ages!

Ben: Oh. Right.

Stephanie: (starts crying) And now here you are, just randomly checking in like it's nothing! Like it's no big deal!

Ben: Calm down, hun. Listen-

Stephanie: (tries composing herself, but struggles) Ben, being in a long-distance relationship means prioritising communication. I mean, any relationship requires communication, but now it's like, extra important. We have to make time for each other! Now more than ever! That's the only way we keep our connection alive. God, Ben! You not calling the past few weeks has had me seriously worried. I even tried calling you! You never picked up! And I've needed you a lot lately.

Ben: Stephanie...

Stephanie: (voice breaking) You promised me that you'd always be here for me, no matter the distance.

Ben: … You done yet, Steph?

Stephanie: (sighs) Yes.

Ben: Ok. So I'm sorry I didn't call you back sooner, but I've had a busy week… I've got some awesome news for you, though - after hours and hours of vigorous training and focus and dedication, I can finally officially say that I'm a professional old lady whisperer!

Stephanie: (laughs, then quickly tries to stop herself) What the hell?! That's not an explanation, man!

Ben: No, you're right. It isn't. But it is a part of the explanation. It's a whole story! Don't you want to hear my epic tale of how I finally managed to get my mean old receptionist lady to finally let me use her phone? It's a real doozy.

Stephanie: What?

Ben: My phone got broken. I tried to order a new one… it'll be coming in by the end of the week. But I missed talking to you, and I realised that I haven't been able to talk to you in nearly three weeks now. So I got Madeline Sharp to let me use her phone instead. And after hours of asking, badgering and begging, she finally said yes.

Stephanie: (slowly smiles) I see.

Ben: Yeah. She's still here, by the way. Watching me like a hawk. You wanna say hi, Maddy? No? 'Kay.

Stephanie: (laughs) Thanks, Maddy!

Ben: (laughs) That's just the brief summary of the story, though. I'll be happy to indulge you with the full, extended version, complete with voice imitations and dramatic hand gestures.

Stephanie: But I won't be able to see the hand gestures.

Ben: No, but you'll hear them.

Stephanie: That literally makes no sense!

Ben: But it will once I get started.

Stephanie: (laughs even more) Alright then. I guess I'll take your word for it. (pauses) Ben?

Ben: Yes?

Stephanie: I love you.

Ben: I love you too, babe. Now, let's start the show.

Stephanie: (giggles) Let's do it!

That's all for today!

Man, a lot of these scenes are really really old. Makes me realise how different the timeline was back when I first started writing this story. At this point, it's supposed to be about May-ish... but in my final chapters, the story is meant to end around June/July time... which isn't far off from that lol. And it was supposed to start in early March (that's around the time we finished our second set of mock exams in my old school. And that's what happens at the start of the story).

So yeah! This is just laying out the group dynamics, as well as setting up the major plot points/character arcs at this stage in the story (while also showing how far the characters have come already, and how different their lives are now) Dylan's thing with Alice, Bret and Elise's bond strengthening as their feelings for each other grow, and Stephanie's long-distance issues with Ben. All while prom and their final exams are on the way. I wanted to include some more scenes showing the places they are at regarding their individual family drama, but I didn't want this post to get too long lol. Next time, perhaps?

Bret and Elise will be spending a lot of time together this week, as they get through the Dragon Hunter movies... it takes a while to watch 6 films. I don't think I shall put ALL of their scenes of them watching the movies at each other's houses (because there is a lot of them, and they go on for a while), but don't worry - they're all in the final chapters. And they're pretty good! If I do say so myself.

Honestly, I'll probably just skip to the following Saturday in the next post lol. Mostly because that day is really important in the story (lot's of big stuff happens), but also because I want to be done with posting the dialogues and just start showing you guys some of my REAL chapters lol.

#rickie-the-storyteller #creative writing #writerblr #writing #original story #original content #steph's crew #original characters #stephanie smith and her friends #dialogue planning #dialogue practice #story planning #Stephanie #Dylan #Alice #Bret #Elise #Ben

[dailyaudiobiblechronological]

12/4/2022 DAB Chronological Transcription

2 Corinthians 1-4

Welcome to Daily Audio Bible Chronological. I'm Jill. Today is the fourth day of December and it's good to be back here with you. This is my week with you all, and it's my truly, my joy, my honor, and my distinct pleasure to be reading the Bible for us together, individually, collectively and in community. We're reading today in 2 Corinthians chapters one through four. And as always, with a brand new week, we are starting a brand new translation. I have got my hot coffee on this cold winter December day here in the rolling hills of Tennessee, and there's no other place I'd rather be except for on the beach somewhere. Tropical, hot beach, sun, water, yes. But for now, here we are. Second Corinthians chapters one, two, three, and four.

Prayer:

Thank you for your word. Today and every day. We thank you for the beauty of the winter that we so often forget that it's a necessary part of life. Even the cold, the long, the short days, the longer darkness. There is a reason for it. Our faith is refined in these seasons that are hard and difficult, and we fully submit them to you, allowing you to do what it is that you long to do in our hearts and in our lives and the waiting and the difficult. And so we give you permission, we give you access, and we allow you to come and do what it is. Make our hearts pliable, moldable hearts of flesh. We pray this all now in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Announcements:

Looking forward to an incredible week together with all of you. I'm Jill. We'll turn the page together tomorrow. Until then, love one another.

Community Prayer Line:

Hi. DABC family, it's been weighing on me. A friend of mine lost a child years ago and today is the day that commemorates that child's passing. And as someone who has also lost a child, it is such a very difficult thing to go through and thank God for Jesus and God and my relationship with Him that allows me to get through the hard things and to persevere and endure throughout some difficult times. I'm so very thankful during the season of my life for everything that God has blessed me with, even when some of it I don't understand at that time. Thank you all. Have a great holiday.

Hello, DABC family. This is Diana from Florida and I want to pray for Stephanie from Florida. Stephanie, I don't know where in Florida you're from, but I want to see if we can click up on Facebook. Maybe we can meet up sometime. I want to pray for you, Stephanie, for your son. I myself have a brother that for nearly almost all my life has been strange from my family. He just comes in and out of our lives in very short snippets through a phone call from him, something. And then he'll say he's going to stay in touch and then he just disappears. And the last that we know of him at this point, he was deported back to the Dominican Republic, which is where my family is from, because he had gotten arrested. There's a bunch of problems. So he was supportive enough there. Last time I had spoken to him, he was working and apparently he had a new wife and apparently the wife was pregnant, but it was unclear. And he has a bunch of children all over the place too, so I have to consider the message. He said, I don't even know anyhow let me pray for you to heavenly Father, I pray for Samantha. I pray for her son. I pray, Father God that you would bring this young man back to you, Lord, that you would bring even my own brother back to you, O Lord God, in Jesus name that they both, O Lord, would be sanctified and saved, O Father God, from their sins. That they would come to repentance and receive salvation through grace by faith, God. And I pray, Lord God, that you would give both Samantha and I the solace to know that you are in control of all things.

This is Susan from South Carolina. I'm requesting prayer for my friend Lynn. After a year of testing, they have determined that she has bladder cancer. And when I asked her what I could do for her, she said, pray. So I ask you to join me in that prayer. She has surgery upcoming and they will determine her course of action following that surgery. So please join me in praying for my friend Lynn.

Hi DABC. This is God's Gal, Minnesota, first time calling the Chronological. And I normally I'm over on the DAB line and just started this year in January. And I thought at Thanksgiving I just tried the Chronological to see what it was like and I was pleasantly surprised. On Thanksgiving, the message was so good. And then I also listened to the day of the program of gratitude of everybody calling in and that was just lovely. So I just want to thank you for this Chronological. I don't know if I'll be a double Dabber. I'm hoping I can do that, but I'm just so pleasantly surprised. And I really like Jill, the mother, and China, the daughter. Their voices are identical and they speak so clearly and they're just women. I don't know, it's just kind of neat their perspective. So I thank you. I also like that after the program's, over the prayers and then some soft music and just for nature is very, very nice. I just really want to thank you. And again, this is God's Gal, Minnesota, first time calling in, and I bless you all and I'm thankful for this whole community and app. Thank you. Bye bye.

[katherinesaysso]

It’a been an interesting night.

I got a lot of stuff off of my chest with Rob. We went to a christmass party with the music trivia people and had an absolute blast. Steph and Dj came. I was happy about them coming at first, but we ended up in our own conversations a lot of the time, so I didn’t get to spend much time with the rest of the group—the people that I really wanted to spend time with tonight. As we were getting ready to go, Stephanie and I were standing near each other and Rob grabbed Stephanie’s coat to help her put it on. Then he started picking up trash from the floor. I was standing right there—arm in sling. Ignored. I got my coat, took off my sling, and did it myself without even a look.

When we got in the car, I brought it up. I told him it was a moment that made me feel lesser than. He said he understood and would try to do better, but he never apologized. I said, “I guess I just want to hear I’m sorry that made you feel less than. That must have been terrible.” And he said those words. And I told him that I don’t want to have to ask for apologies.

After a few moments, I said that I think I want to open up the quad. In truth, I’m not sure if this is what I want to do. I’m lost. I told him that over the last 6 1/2 years, the three of them have by and large been happy. I’m the one that has spells of deep unhappiness where I don’t know if it’s sustainable. The three of them have much more in common. And that’s isolating. And lonely. And there’s not always a lot of empathy. It’s just the way they are wired. I’m exhausted from having to tell people that I’m unhappy and what to do to fix it—how to love me—when they’ve been with me for years. After years, they should be able to see that I’m unhappy and ask why and not assume I’m “in a mood”.

I want companionship. I want conversation on a deep level. I’m lonely. Rob is so animated and lively when he is with Stephanie and here, he’s on his tablet the entire time. We go literally the entire night without saying a word except talking about what we want to watch on tv, I brought up the fact that he leaves for Stephanies and it’s easily 30 minutes before Dj gets here, so it seems like they are all having this great chat and here I sit alone. It’s not his fault that Dj hangs around, and short of saying “hey, when are you leaving”, there’s not much he can do about it, but again, there’s not much consideration.

Except if Dj isn’t coming until 6, does he really need to leave at 5:30? I’m just saying.

I can’t see a way to unravel from Stephanie and Dj. Do I love them? yes. Do they fulfill me? Not right now. Does Rob? Not right now. That’s a bigger issue. Unraveling from Stephanie and Dj means things for Rob and Stephanie’s relationship. But it also means things for our kids. For the wedding. That’s why I think opening it up is a better way to go. I can’t have another conversation with everyone. I can’t do it. I can’t do another I’n unhappy here’s what you should do. Oddly enough, the one thing I took from therapy was that I talked too much and I needed to sit the hell down. So that’s what I’m doing.

But I have to tell ypu, losing Alison as a confidante in this has not been easy. I haven’t had anyone to talk to. And losing my therapist as well. It’s a lot to bring in to an interim therapist.

As for Rob, I think I’m going to look for a couples therapist.

[abbatoirablaze]

True North, Chapter 3

Word Count: 1.6k

Warning: none

“Oh honey, I’m so happy that you made it,” Mrs. Jensen cooed as soon as you entered the Jensen house later that night. She was quick to wrap you up in her arms and kiss your cheek, but you were quicker to respond, wrapping her up in your own arms, “oh sweetie. I haven’t seen you since last Christmas.”

“I know,” you sighed sadly, as you let her go, “I’m sorry Mrs. Jensen.”

“You call me mom. I’ve been telling you that since you were a child, sweetheart,” she demanded softly, holding your hands in hers, “oh, sweetie. Hannah and I decorated the cookies last night. You have to have some.”

“Before dinner? Mom what has gotten into you?” you joked with the older woman. She smiled at you and rushed out of the dining room to where the kitchen was to grab the cookie tray.

“Mom these cookies are really good.”

You froze when you heard his voice, a pang in your chest when you saw him trailing behind his mom as she came back just a few short seconds later. Suddenly you knew why the sour look was on the rest of the family’s faces when you’d entered the house.

“Stop eating them all,” she chided, slapping away his hand as she placed the tray on the coffee table, “we haven’t even had dinner yet, and here you are, pigging out like it’s the first thing you’ve ever eaten.”

“Jake…”

His gaze moved away from his mom’s and his eyes fell to you. He looked surprised to see you in his mom’s living room.

“Chlo…”

“You’re home?”

“Y-yeah,” he nodded, as though it were obvious, “why wouldn’t I be? Why are you here?”

“Because your girlfriend called this morning saying that you guys wouldn’t be here for another week,” Stephanie said, with a roll of her eyes, “made mom cry. Chloe always comes home for Christmas, you doorknob.”

“You’re just being over dramatic,” Jake chuckled dryly, “she was joking. I’m sure she didn’t make mom, cry Steph.”

“I don’t think she was, sweetie,” Mrs. Jensen said, patting her son’s shoulder, “she said you weren’t coming home, Jacob.”

“It was a joke guys,” Jake repeated, laughing awkwardly, “come on. Be nice. You guys don’t even know her. That’s her personality though. She jokes with me all the time like that.”

“I don’t want to know her, Uncle J,” Hannah whined, wrapping her arms around his leg, “make her go away.”

“Han,” Jake sighed, lifting her up, “she’s my girlfriend…I can’t just make her-“

“Hey Jakey,” the same shrill voice you remembered from this morning, called from up the stairs and down the hall. Your heart stopped. He was quick to pass a frowning Hannah to you, “can you come here and help me with my dress?”

Jake blushed and excused himself. Hannah wrapped her arms around your neck, “she’s a garden gnome.”

“Yes, she is.”

“I don’t like garden gnomes, Aunt Chloe.”

“It’s okay Hannah banana,” you smiled, smoothing down her hair, “no one does.”

You frowned at the stairs as she tucked her face into the crook of your neck.

“Who does a wardrobe change for dinner?” Stephanie growled angrily, seemingly hating the fact that the women breathed the same air that she did, “it’s a family dinner in New Hampshire.”

“Stuck up little tart,” Mrs. Jensen growled, glaring at the stairs. Your eyes widened at the bluntness of your best friend’s mom, “do you know that she said my cookies are dry? Mine? I’d understand if she said that about Lauren’s cookies but-“

“Your cookies aren’t dry, sweetheart,” Mr. Jensen said softly, trying to calm his wife, “they’re the best cookies in town.”

“I know they are,” she replied, looking to her husband, “I just hate that she had the audacity to say that they weren’t.”

Your family arrived a little later, and both your mom and Mrs. Jensen took great pride in agreeing that Jake’s new girlfriend was a bit of a stuck-up bitch. And the look that some of the other neighboring women gave her when Mrs. Jensen told them all about how she claimed that her cookies were dry—you would have thought that she personally went through and stabbed each woman in the heart with a sharpened candy cane.

The buffet style dinner went quick enough, and as more of the families showed up, it was easier to ignore Jake and his stuck-up girlfriend. All of your attention instead was focused on Hannah as you tried to cheer her up.

“Hey Hannah banana,” Jake smiled as he joined the two of you, “I feel like I haven’t seen you all night.”

“I’m mad at Uncle J,” Hannah told you, ignoring her uncle, “tell Uncle J, I’m mad at him, Aunt Chloe…”

“Hannah, I wanted to spend some time with you,” he frowned, looking at the girl who was rolling her eyes at him. She continued to put popcorn on a string to make garland to hang on the tree, “you don’t want to spend time with me? I’m your favorite uncle. Uncle J!”

“Uncle Mason is better now. Tell Uncle J that I like Uncle Mason better,” she lied. She refused to answer him, instead looking to you. She crawled on your lap and handed you the finished garland, “can you tie this Auntie Chlo?”

“You always ask me to tie the popcorn garland, bug,” Jake sighs as he looks to his niece sadly. You frown and hand it to him, “do you need help tying it, Chlo?”

“I need the help of a big strong man,” you smile sweetly at your best friend, trying to be the olive branch between him and his niece. Hannah pouted at you, and crossed her arms, “Han…I’m not strong enough. But your Uncle J is…just like he’s strong enough to lift you to the top of the tree to put the star on it.”

Jake smiled as her eyes lit up. He hadn’t thought of that.

He mouthed a quick ‘thank you,’ while handing the garland back. Hannah looked to the star that sat beside you, “Uncle J…can you lift me up to put the star on the tree?”

“Only if you and Aunt Chloe help me decorate it now that everyone went home?”

She grinned, and half-turned back towards you, “Aunt Chlo…grandma and grandpa went to sleep already…can we still decorate the tree?”

“I don’t think they’d mind,” you reply softly, brushing down her sandy hair. She hopped off your lap and ran to Jake, who picked her up, “so where do we start first?”

By the time the tree had finally become decorated, Hannah was happily yawning from Jake’s arms. Her little arms were wrapped around him, and she’d had her face tucked into his neck. Jake was quick to hand her off to you though, so he could continue your Christmas traditions of hot chocolate and It’s A Wonderful Life.

You settled into the couch and got the movie queued up, while Hannah snuggled into you, her arms now wrapped around your middle. When Jake came back into the living room, his breath hitched in his throat, as he saw his two favorite girls. He handed off one of the hot chocolates and you smiled at him, “you ready?”

“Yeah,” he agreed softly, sitting down beside you. He tucked himself against your free side, and you melded against him. Jake kissed your temple and wrapped his arm around you, instantly thinking about everything he’d pushed away the past few months, “Hey Chlo…”

“Yeah Jake?”

“D-did you ever think about this?”

“What?”

You blushed, and tried to play dumb, acting as though you’d never had this exact thought. Never had wondered what settling down with him would be like. Pretending that you never wondered what starting a family with him would look like? Never thought about creating your own family Christmas traditions.

“You know,” he uttered, egging on the conversation, “like…have you ever thought about settling down?”

“Jake…”

His heart started racing a mile a minute as he looked into your eyes, his nervousness taking over. You two were having a conversation for the first time since he’d left you at your apartment, and here he was fucking it up.

“I only ask because of me and my girlfriend.”

“Oh…” you mutter softly, your heart falling at the mention of her. There was some little part of you that had hoped Jake was referring to you. You internally smacked yourself, for even entertaining the stupid idea in your mind, “I-are you sure you want to settle down with her? This is the first time you brought her home…an-and well your family doesn’t seem to like her.”

“Chloe…”

“I-I’m just saying Jake,” you sigh heavily. You put the hot chocolate down on the end table beside you and look to your best friend, “w-we always talked about our future significant others having, well, certain qualities…and getting along with our family was always at the top of it.”

“They just don’t know her, Chloe.”

“And you know her enough to want to settle down with her?”

“Well…” he stuttered, his hand moving nervously to the back of his neck, “well I mean, maybe not right now…but I’m thirty. And time hasn’t slowed down for me…I-I want to be able to have a family one day…do stuff like this where I’m having a movie night with my wife and children an-“

“And you think you can do that with her?”

“Chloe…”

You frown softly at him, “I-it’s okay, Jake…I just…I don’t see the two of you together in the future when I think about you settling down.”

“You don’t?”

“No,” you reply with a shake of your head, “I guess I always just pictured that it be with someone like me…”

“Like you?”

“Yeah…me.”

Chapter 4

#jake jensen #soft jake jensen #the losers fanfiction #the losers (2010)

[headinthestaticsky]

The Dusk Calls for me: Jasper Hale x Fleur Swan, Chapter 12

AUTHORS NOTES: None of the characters in Twilight belong to me. All rights go to Stephanie Meyer.

We’re heading into the Finale of book 1 folks... I have so many ideas for book 2... it’s going to be great. Hopefully!

“You get ready, you get all dressed up

To go nowhere in particular Back to work or the coffee shop Doesn't matter 'cause it's enough To be young and in love.”

Love by, Lana Del Rey

Bella was finally going to meet the Cullens officially. All day before I had left to go down there she paced, looking like she was going to be sick. All of the Cullens were cooking Italian for Bella. The only person who I was worried about was Rosalie. She was furious at Edward for even dating her, and when he went public with her... it set her over the edge. Emmett was chopping up lettuce and other vegetables for her while Rosalie begrudgingly held a bowl for him to put it in. I was sitting in the living room with Jasper, he was concentrated on reading some books. It was always entertaining to watch vampires read so quickly.

“Is she even Italian?” Rosalie asked.

“Her name is Bella, Rose... she has to be.” Emmett replied.

“Emmett... you thought I was french just because my name is Fleur. That food was really good though... not like I am complaining. I said.

“Okay I admit I messed up there but, I have to be right about this one.”

“Whatever you say Em.”

“Shut it short-stack.”

“At least I don’t hit my head through small doorways.”

He glared at me jokingly and then rolled his eyes.

“Rose, tell her to stop bullying me.”

“I’m sorry I can’t do that... it’s too funny to listen to.” Rosalie said.

“Ugh, I feel betrayed.” Emmett said, his hands going toward his un-beating heart.”

Rosalie smiled, it was soon dropped though. She must’ve kept thinking about Bella.

“She better eat this.”

“Don’t want to sound gluttonous here but... I was totally eat if she doesn’t.... it’s her lose.”

“Stop trying to make me laugh.”

“I will never stop my attempts to make you laugh.”

“Woo, get a whiff of that, here comes the human!” Rosalie said in a sing-songy voice.

Esme smiled widely, she quickly wiped her hands before making her way over to Bella.

“Bella, we’re making Italiano for you.”

“Bella, this is my Esme my mother for all intents and purposes.”

Emmett raised his hand and waved at Bella with a knife in it. Bella and Esme exchanged a bit of Italian.

“Hello again Bella, hope you’re well.” Jasper said.

“Hey, Jasper... hope you’re well too.”

“You’ve given us an excuse to use the kitchen again. We usual make meals for your sister when she stays over.” Carlisle said.

“I hope you’re hungry.” Esme added.

I could see a nervous look on Bella’s face, I probably should’ve told her they would cook for her. 

“Y-yeah absolutely.”

“She already ate.” Edward said, a tinge of attitude in his voice.

Rosalie stood there, anger was all of her face. She smashed the bowl she was holding in her hand.

“Pull back Edward, you’re throwing her to the wolves!” I thought.

“Damn Rose... remind me not to piss you off again.” I said.

She had to bite down a smile.

“Perfect...” She said.

“It’s just because... I know you guys don’t eat. I didn’t want to put you into any trouble.”

“Of course, that is very considerate of you.” Esme comforted.

“Just ignore Rosalie, I do.” Edward said.

“Yeah, let’s just keep pretending that this isn’t dangerous for all of us.”

“Look, I would never tell anybody about you guys... Besides, Fleur knows and you trust her.”

“It’s because I pick up a good energy from her... I know I can trust her with anything I tell her. She’s not a backstabber, she’s told me some of the stuff you’ve done. I’m sorry but, it made me sick the way you use to treat her. I hated seeing how upset she got telling the things you and your mother said to her”

My eyes widened before looking down at my legs... maybe me being here just reminded them of some of the things I told them. I wasn’t being much help to Bella right now. Jasper sensing my nerves rising, calmed them down. My uncomfortable mood slowly simmering down.

“Rosalie, stop... don’t worry Bella, she knows you wouldn’t say anything about us to anyone.” Carlisle said.

“Well, the problem not is, you two have gone public now so...”

“Emmett.” Esme interrupted.” 

“No, she should know. The entire family could get implicated if this ends badly.”

“Badly, as in... I would become the meal.”

All of the Cullens in the house except for Rosalie and Esme started to laugh. I heard a few thumps before I saw Alice and Dean enter the room.

“Hi, Bella... I’m Alice.” Alice jogged toward Bella, giving her a hug.

“Hi.”

“Gosh, you do smell good.”

“Alice what’re you.”

“Don’t worry... Bella and I are going to be great friends.”

Dean looked like he was struggling to say something. I could tell he was uncomfortable to be around Bella right now.

“It-it’s a p-pleasure to meet you.” He said.

“Don’t mind Dean, he and Jasper are our newest vegetarians.” 

“It’s okay Dean, you won’t hurt her.”

The expression on Edward’s face made me want to laugh.

“Okay well, I’m going to show her around the house.”

“Okay.” Bella mumbled.

“I’ll see you soon.” Alice said.

“Okay.” Bella said again.

“So cute!” Esme gushed.

“I know!” Alice said in agreement.

“I think that went well.” Carlisle added.

“Rose, clean this up... now.” Esme said.

I leaned back into the couch, sinking into it. Jasper put his arm around my shoulder. “What an interesting visit.” I thought to myself.

Another day came and went by, Bella and I were on our way to the diner. It had been so long since I had been down there. I was in the passengers seat of her truck. I thought since we were going to the same place, we should probably drive in the same vehicle... During out drive she started talking about how Edward had been watching her sleep for months.

“Are you serious Bella? That’s kinda creepy.”

“I’m sure you have Jasper in your room with you at night.”

“Yeah but, he always asks me before he goes in there. We plan stuff like that out... He should be coming later tonight actually.”

“Okay... you have a point there.”

When we arrived at the diner and got out of the truck Mike approached us...

“Hey, you and Cullen huh? I don’t like it... I mean he looked at you like you’re something to eat.”

Bella and I looked at each other and smirked... he had no idea how correct he was in that statement. We walked past him and entered the dinner, dad was already waiting for us.

“Hey I hope you two don’t mind I ordered food for you guys already. I got you Bells a Spinach Salad and I got you a burger Fleur.”

“Yeah that sounds good.” I said.

“Good picks dad. Even though, you should get a salad like me next time... cut back the steak.” Bella said.

“Hey, I’m as healthy as a horse.”

"Hey , Chief, the boys want to know... did you find anything by Queets river today?"  The waitress asked.

"Yeah, we found a bare human footprint... but it looks like whoever it is is headed east... the Kisap County Sheriff is gonna take over from here."

 "Okay, I hope whoever it is... they get them fast." The waitress then walked away, a group of men started talking within there group.

I turned around hearing something outside, Mike was doing something to a poor bush outside. I nudged Bella, trying to get her attention.

“Hey, someone’s flagging you outside.”

“It seems that Newton boys got a big smile for you.” Dad added.

Bella looked, and then turned back around, her face looked horrified.

“You can join them if you want.” I said smirking.

“Shut up you jerk... Mike is a good buddy though.” She said back.

Dad face flushed slightly... as if what he was going to say next was embarrassing.

“W-what about any other of the yahoo’s in town?”

“Dad... we aren’t going to talk about boys are we?” Bella said, her face starting to turn red too.”

“I guess not... with you at least.... How is everything going with you and Jasper, Fleur?”

I looked up confused, how did conversation about Bella’s relationships get turn into one about mine.

“It’s going well.”

“Good, I noticed you’ve been spending a lot more time with him lately. That car ride you took was a long one.”

“Oh yeah we drove out for a while... we looked at the stars... it was really nice. He told me I seemed stress and just decided to take me somewhere.” I said, I looked down at my hands while smiling.

Dad seeing this smiled too.

“I always liked that boy, you got yourself I good one.”

“I know I do.” I said finally looking up at him.

“I was only bringing up boys with you Bella because... I feel like I leave you alone too much.”

“I don’t mind being alone dad, I’m like you in that way.”

“Yeah, I guess so.”

Timeskip: Later that night.

I was in my room, thinking about what dad had said earlier... He found a bare human footprint in the woods. Could it of been the same footprint of the woman who’s body I seemed to be suck in during my dreams? Or could it of been someone else entirely? The wind from my open window got harsher for a second, I then heard a familiar soft thud on my floor. I turned my head, locking my eyes with his.

“What’s going on in that head of yours love?” Jasper asked

“Just thinking of something my dad said earlier...”

“What is it?”

“My dad said he found a bare human footprint down at Queets river today... He said it was heading east. Have you guys found anything yet?”

“No, we haven’t found anything, it’s starting to get frustrating. Have you had anymore dreams about those vampires?” 

“Nope... if it is them though, I have a feeling that print was just a trap to throw them off course.”

“I do too... hey, my family and I plan on playing baseball tomorrow, since Edward is inviting Bella... I thought you could come too.”

“Yes, I would love too, watching Emmett climb and crash into things is my favorite part of the game. That and all those tricks you do with the bat.”

“It’s a plan then, I’ll pick you up tomorrow.”

“Sounds good.” I pecked his lips before getting comfortable in my bed, I was still a human... I needed some sleep. I laid there, Jasper behind me holding close.

“Tomorrow is going to be a fun day.” I thought to myself, before drifting off to sleep.

#jasper hale x oc #jasper hale #rosalie hale #jasper hale x reader #edward cullen #alice cullen #esme cullen #emmett cullen #carlisle cullen #bella swan #twilight #twilight saga

[macbetha]

below the cut, you'll find an interest check chapter for quatervois, a nancy drew pc fic. it's francy and also my idea of my absolute dream game. please let me know what you think and enjoy!

+++

After Ned breaks up with her and she loses her father, Nancy struggles to find her old vigor for detective work. While on vacation in London with Bess and George, Nancy accepts the urgent invitation to return Blackmoor Manor. Her English getaway quickly turns into an investigation once Nancy realizes the true reason Nigel Mookergee asked her back to the moors. Finding Deirdre Shannon at the manor under the same pretense only sets Nancy’s nerves further on edge. It isn’t until the Hardy Boys show up in Blackmoor that Nancy gets a glimpse of who she once was. With a manor full of suspects and a glass heart cracked open, Nancy is determined to find the truth.

Dear Ned,

How are you? It’s been a while. I’ve always started off my letters telling you about my latest case, but I’m not on one right now. I’m sure that’s hard to believe. Bess and George have whisked me away to London. I’m sure you would love it here. This is the first time I’ve seen Bess and George since I sold the house in River Heights. I stayed with Kyler and Matt in Ireland for a while. I needed a change of scenery. Their daughter just turned two. I’m somewhat jealous I’m happy for them. Anyways, I miss you I hope you’re doing well. I’m sure New York is lovely at Christmas time. I hope Stephanie is I wish Stephanie well How is Stephanie? I hope Stephanie is doing all right. I appreciated the card Stephanie sent when dad passed away. Warm regards, Merry Christmas, Love Nancy

She stares down at the letter as if the red ink were her own blood. It feels just as wounding, seeing her emotions made physical in the words on the paper. Only when a tear splatters on the page does she break free from her trance to the past. Nancy is the only person in her hotel suite, yet she works to rid the evidence like one of her own suspects. She pulls her feet up in the desk chair and crosses her ankles, holding the arch of her right foot – it recently became the victim of her latest culprit. Nancy’s foot got caught under the getaway car’s tire, and she is lucky to even be able to walk after the event. Months later, it’s stiff as hell with the most intense cramps she’s ever endured. Heart racing to forget the night it happened, she focuses on the snowfall out the window – counting little sparkles of snowflakes, though the world blurs when she squints. The doctor thought her failing sight as well as the daily headaches were on account of being hit in the head so many times.

She busies herself with choosing a postcard to send Hannah and Nancy selects one with a cat dressed up as a royal guard. The cuteness puts a smile on her face, however small – she hopes it’ll do the same for Hannah, but there is no telling. Nancy had the gut-feeling Hannah was lying about recognizing her the last time Nancy visited the nursing home. Torment swirls like wind to fallen leaves. She doesn’t have Hannah or Togo to come home to. Togo passed just before Nancy’s thirty-second birthday, and Carson fell ill soon after that. Nancy looks to her hotel bed where Mr. Woogle Woggle sits tucked between two pillows. It seems he is the only one that hasn’t left her. A knock on her hotel door reminds her that is simply not true. Nancy rights herself, fixing her posture to the stance of someone passionate, and she opens the door. Bess and George greet her with blazing smiles; Nancy gives silent thanks for their presence in her life. She would still be in Scotland with Kyler and Matt, had Bess and George not insisted to take her on a vacation. Nancy imagines that their insistence was due to them wanting to keep Nancy from spending Christmas alone on the road again like last year. “Nancy,” Bess stresses. “You’re never going to guess who we ran into in the lobby!” Horror strikes dull and loud in her ears. Surely, it’s not Ned. Please, don’t let it be Ned. George says, “Give you a hint: they were involved in one of your cases.” Nancy’s despair leaves her throat tight. She glances down the hallway, preparing to yank Bess and George into her room and dial her Cathedral contact to get them set up in witness protection.

“That didn’t narrow it down at all, George,” Bess says with a roll of her eyes. “Nancy’s been on hundreds of cases.” Nancy’s strain creeps into her one word: “Who?” Bess and George beam. “Maya Nguyn!” ++

Nancy follows Bess and George to the elevator in a hurried stupor. No thoughts can she conjure as she steps free from the elevator walls which seem to close in on her; Nancy marches into the lobby and notices a woman in the crowd of tourists. She stands with her back to Nancy, her hair drawn up in a bun, and her chin is lifted high with no time for games. Maya turns around and her bright red mouth stretches into a smile. “Nancy!” “Maya,” Nancy huffs in disbelief. She tenses in Maya’s sudden embrace before all but falling into it. This is something good I did; Nancy cherishes with shut eyes. This is someone I helped. When Maya pulls back, Nancy says, “What are you doing all the way out here? You said in your last letter, you were still in Washington.” “My house is technically there,” Maya nods. “But I get to work on the road more these days.” Her brows crease over a sympathetic smile. “Bess and George tell me you’re kind of in the same boat.” Nancy shrugs, struggling to hold Maya’s concerned gaze. “It’s just easier,” Nancy lies. Maya seems to see right through it, but she doesn’t speak on it. Nancy will have to thank her later. George says, “Maya offered us free tickets to a play she’s reviewing tonight and get this – it’s at the Globe Theater!” “Remind me what’s so special about a globe theater,” Bess sighs, checking her nails. “Not ‘a’, Bess, the.” George shakes her head. “The Globe Theater – well, technically it’s a reconstruction of the first one, but it’s where Shakespeare wrote his plays.” “It’s the opening night of a new play,” Maya explains. “And Nancy, you’ll never guess who the star is.” Nancy cannot take anymore guessing games. “Brady Armstrong.” Maya blinks. “Well – yes, actually.” Nancy frowns. “Wait, really?” “Yes,” Maya laughs. “I’ll be conducting an interview with him after the show if you want to go backstage and chew him out for all the stunts he pulled back in the day.” A spark of vigor heightens Nancy’s senses. That doesn’t sound bad at all. Still – “Are you sure we won’t be a distraction or –” “Nancy.” Maya’s hand falls on her shoulder. “You saved my life. You’re the furthest thing from a distraction.” Gratitude floods her before Nancy nods. “All right, then.” +++ The walk to the Globe would be depressive what with the sky being the color of a soaked napkin, but the Christmas decorations lift everyone’s spirits. Nancy limps by a shop playing Christmas oldies through the open door and she is borne back to her father listening to records over cocoa on Christmas morning. She tries to push the memory from her mind, then she thinks of building snowmen with Ned and having snowball fights that turned into the sweetest kisses she’s ever received. The music won’t stop. There are three Christmas trees in the display window and their flashing lights strike pain behind Nancy’s eyes. She pants through a sensory overload before someone squeezes her hand. Maya smiles in understanding as Bess and George walk obliviously in front of them. “It’s hard,” Maya says. “This life on the road. You pick up a few habits.” Nancy squeezes her hand in thanks before tucking her own in her peacoat’s pocket. “I want to enjoy this,” she admits quietly. “But I think the holidays are always hard.” Maya nods. “It won’t be this way forever, Nancy,” she promises. “I’ve got my fingers crossed for you.” Cross your fingers, there’s a story behind this door! Nancy swallows around the lump of panic in her throat. She plasters on a smile. +++ The theater is packed with noise and touching and all-around boisterous patrons. They find their seats in the crowd and Nancy doesn’t watch where she’s going – she must keep her eyes on the open ceiling to remember how to breathe. She sits down at the end of the group and Maya passes out programs. Quatervois, the title reads. Bess says, “What does that mean?” “It means you’re at a crossroads,” Maya says. “A turning point.” “Sounds a little dramatic,” George grumbles. Nancy traces the swooping lines of the title with

her thumb, repeating the process until the lights go down. The masked chorus emerges from the shadows and gives a synopsis: Down from Olympus a great hero emerges, Mighty in his strength and courage! A choice he must make Shall he ignore fate? Will he choose love, Or follow his destiny there-of? When Brady saunters on stage in an impossibly short silk chiton, it’s an out-of-body experience for Nancy. He still hasn’t grown his ponytail back, so Simone could very well be in the audience right now. Nancy rubs her aching temple at the thought. Brady begins his journey as the character Diogenes, a demigod that was supposedly – according to the play’s plot – written out of ancient Greek mythos. Diogenes must defeat those who want to leave him forgotten in history, lest he admit that he can’t win this fight and live his life like everyone else. Nancy assumes the play’s ending too soon. She imagines this will be a droll experience written only to paint Brady as a glorious hero that can conquer anything – but she is quickly surprised. Brady is stabbed in the final act and addresses the audience in a wail: And so my story ends a breath too early, No time to even be weary! The moon shall pass over my corpse, And the sun will beat down on my ashes with no remorse. Today, I have failed my quartervois Alone, forgotten, and lost. When the curtain falls, Nancy’s mouth is parted in disbelief as a tear burns down her cheek. They don’t receive a proper goodbye with Maya since the rest of the crowd is bustling toward the exit. She does have time to say that Brady is producing a new television series and will be scouting some locations further into Essex; Maya will be following the film crew there for test shoots. She embraces each girl individually and holds Nancy for a beat longer, whispering, “You’ll call if you need to talk?” “Of course,” Nancy says by impulse. “Same to you.” +++ Nancy is proud of herself for going out, but when she closes the door to her hotel suite, her back thunks against the wall and she must take deep breaths for several minutes. She decides to treat herself to a bubble bath even though it’s nearly midnight. She rolls her hair up into a bun and looks at it in the mirror, how haphazard and messy hers is in comparison to Maya. Nancy isn’t jealous – but she can’t help but notice when people are thriving. She wants to figure out how to do it herself and hasn’t found the cure yet. The bath is claw-footed and deep. Nancy sinks into the steaming water before goosebumps rise on her arms, and her freckled skin blushes in the heat. The water does wonders for her foot. She eases her head back on the lip of the tub and nears a light doze when her cell phone rings. It rests atop a stack of towels by the tub. Nancy wipes her damp hand off before looking to the screen. Frank Hardy. Nancy answers and taps the speaker button to relax back in the tub. “Hey.” “Hi, Nance,” Frank says, his voice a familiar balm after such a stressful time. “What’s going on?” “Things aren’t too different from last week’s call,” Nancy smiles. “But I’m on vacation with Bess and George.” “Oh wow! That’s awesome. I hope it’s been fun.” Nancy’s glazed eyes blink. “Yeah,” she rasps. “It’s nice.” She clears her throat, searching for her old enthusiasm. “But what about you? How’s Joe?” “Same as usual, a pain in my ass.” Nancy chuckles before a distinctive lift raises Frank’s voice. “We’re actually getting ready to get on a plane for a case – but I wanted to make sure everything’s good with you.” Nancy’s hand closes in a fist on her raised knee. “Gosh, it’s been so long since I’ve been on a case.” “Not really. You just took a few months off to stay with Kyler, right?” “Yeah, but that’s the longest I’ve ever gone without a case since I started.” “I’d give you ours if I could,” Frank says. “Really not looking forward to such a long plane ride. Oh, they’re calling for our gate – but do you want me call you when I land?” Gratefulness is a warm glow in her heart. “No, that’s okay – but

thank you. Be safe on your trip and tell Joe I said hi.” “Can do.” Frank pauses. “I – tell Bess and George I said hi.” “Can do,” Nancy repeats. She chews her lip. “See you soon?” She feels foolish for saying something when Frank is headed to a case. While the weekly phone calls have kept Nancy sane, it would be even better to see the Hardy Boys. “I’ll make it happen,” Frank promises. “See you, Nance.” After they hang up, Nancy struggles to get out of the tub with her swollen foot. She gets into a pair of sweats and wraps up some ice in a washcloth, then holds it against her foot. Nancy mulls over her conversation with Frank, wondering how much of her poor mood could be due to not solving a mystery. With a deep yawn, she tosses the soaked washcloth in the wastebasket, not able to walk to the bathroom to put it in the sink. She cuddles up to her teddy bear and flicks the lamp off when her phone rocks to life on the nightstand. Bewildered, Nancy turns the lamp back on to look at the screen. The number is unknown; she sees her hand tremble around the phone. She lets the call go to voicemail before the phone vibrates to life once again. Bracing herself, Nancy answers. “Hello?” “Yes, hello – I’m trying to reach a one Nancy Drew?” The voice is British and eerily familiar, like Nancy heard it in a dream. “This is she.” “Splendid! Oh, you wouldn’t believe the trouble I’ve gone to in order to find your number.” “Sorry? Who is this?” “Why, Nigel Mookergee. We met at –” “Blackmoor,” Nancy whispers. “Nigel, hi. What’s going on?” “I’m afraid the manner of my call is not a jovial one,” he says. “How should I explain this? Well, I suppose from the start. You see –” He sighs. “Don’t tell anyone I’m speaking of this, but the Penvellyns have fallen into a bit of… financial trouble.” Nancy says, “’Financial trouble’?” “It’s certainly not my business to spread, but yes. It’s not that they are a poor family by any means, but one diplomat’s salary is not enough to keep up a castle.” Nancy sits up, grabbing a pen and notepad from her bedside table. She jots as Nigel continues. “The Penvellyns began to host historical tours at the manor – much to Mrs. Drake’s dismay, I might add. Jane wishes to expand the business to the paranormal side of things, and I don’t quite agree with the idea myself, but she insists it’s just what the manor needs.” Nancy finishes scrawling and says, “So, you’re working for the Penvellyns now?” “Yes. I’m afraid there’s been some situations – inconsequential events, if you will – that need a glance over.” Nancy arches a brow. “You mean an investigation.” “Ah, such a serious word. I simply want to make sure we are fully prepared to expand the business.” Nancy’s eyes narrow. “Right. When would you need me there?” “As soon as possible -” Nigel catches himself. “I mean, at your earliest convenience.” Nancy glances over her notes, running her hand over the page filled by red ink. She closes her eyes against the sight and says, “I’ll be there tomorrow.”

thank you so much for reading! please let me know what you think and stay safe. and please consider following me here and on twitter! xoxo

#nancy drew #nd #nancy drew pc #nd pc #CUR #clue crew #blackmoor manor #curse of blackmoor manor #francy #frank hardy #nancy drew fanfiction

[kerie-prince]

We're Worlds Apart (2)

Draco Malfoy x American No-Maj!reader

series m.list | general m.list | previous chp

warnings: light cursing, mentions of death, angsty Draco

summary: Draco Malfoy is a pureblood wizard. Magic runs through his veins and has been since his birth. You're a Wiccan No-Maj; a non-magical being with ordinary blood through your veins, but practices what you call magick. And this very practice upsets your neighbor.

(gif not mine)

The surrounding neighbors have been very nice; one elderly couple walked up to Draco’s door with an apple pie, quite the American staple, and he seemed to appreciate it. They seemed normal and sweet. Much unlike the feeling he had for his neighbor. Y/N. He hasn't made any attempts in the month that he's lived in the small suburban neighborhood to see her. He avoided her like she was a deadly plague.

Albeit, it was probably harsh and extremely childish. The whole point of him becoming a new person was changing his views he had been taught in adolescence. Or else why did he help Harry Potter all those years ago when he swore he hated him?

It was currently around 3 in the morning, he was standing in his backyard and made sure no one would be awake as he sent his owl to send a letter to his best friend, Blaise. He was the only person who still contacted Draco on a regular basis besides the occasional letter from Theodore. Gregory cut all contact with Draco after the Battle, especially since Vincent had died that night in the fire in the Room of Requirement. Pansy was living her life somewhere, and although the Golden Trio had forgiven Draco for his actions, it didn't start any friendships. But Draco was fine; Blaise and Theo had been there for him in more ways he cares to admit.

He never mentioned a word about Y/N to Blaise until now when he asked what Draco’s American neighbors were like. Majority of the letter contained contents of how work has been, the differences in not only culture but also how things are called, and just his own well being. He did say something short for the elderly couple, but when it came to Y/N he had a lot to say.

These muggles are far different from the ones in England, Blaise. They know things about the magic world but input a fantasy in their heads. They believe they can actually practice witchcraft and wizardry, calling themselves “Wiccan” or whatever rubbish it is. Bloody hell, they even have films and tv programs of them. My neighbor is one of these and she does the most ludacris things in her house. Quite laughable, really. If Salazar was alive today to see this happening, I’d bet he’d curse the whole lot.

She had been lingering in his mind since that day of his discovery. It was annoying him. Every night, he would catch her in her room doing whatever the hell she was doing and he felt as if the universe was mocking him. This is what people think what you really are was the message he got from it all. Draco never thought something like this would make him feel like a freak. But he did. This act of hers was an indirect insult of what he was capable of. And she had no idea.

—

It was a fine autumn morning. The shop was closed today, so you had lots of time at home to catch up with cleaning. You stood over your bathroom sink brushing your teeth and saw from the reflection of your mirror your cat stretching herself before walking into the bathroom to rub herself on your legs. “Good morning, Aurora,” you cooed at her. She purred in response and ran off to her tower in the living room.

After getting changed into some comfortable clothes, you walked up to a closet in the hallway that had collections of crystals, oils, sage bundles and more. “Let’s see, where did I put the angelica root?” you asked out loud to yourself. Going through the shelves, you pulled some sea salt, ground lemon balm, ground angelica root, and a feather. You carried the items outside in a bowl to your backyard and set them at a small garden table. Walking over to your garden, you pulled some elderberry flowers and started your cleansing spell.

You sprinkled the salt onto a censor dish and placed a charcoal dish on it and lit it up. In the bowl you had used to carry the items out, you started mixing the herbs together as you waited for the charcoal to burn red. Once it did, you sprinkled the herbs on top, creating a cleansing incense. You picked it up from the bottom of the censor dish, picked up the feather and made your way steadily to your front door, lightly wafting smoke towards it. Reaching your front door, you drew a pentagram over it with the feather and smoke,

“Be gone negativity,

Here now blessed be.”

You repeat your incantations throughout the house until you have finished and walked back to your living room, drawing one last pentagram. You placed your feather and censor dish on the bare floor, stood up and tapped your foot three times,

“By my will, so shall it be.

Sealed now shall this cleansing be.”

You sat on your couch and turned on the television, waiting for the incense to burn out so you could scatter it around your backyard. After a couple of hours of watching a guilty pleasure of yours, you decided to get some actual cleaning done. First thing was to do some trimming and gardening outside, so you grabbed some gloves and headed out back to your yard.

Before grabbing your garden scissors, you looked up and saw something rather strange. There was an owl in your neighbors yard. In broad daylight. From the backyard, you heard a car pull in and peeked over the fence to see that it was your neighbor coming home. You ran to the front leaving a dirt trail in your house and ran out the front door.

He hadn’t walked in yet, so you started waving your arm, “Hello! I’m Y/N!”

He had just nodded his head and walked a straight line to his door. Not wanting to lose this chance of having a conversation with him, you yelled for him one more time, “There’s an owl in your yard!” His eyes widened and without a word, he ran into his house in a panic. From a distance, you heard him say 'shit' before closing the door.

Building up confidence, you walked up to his door and knocked a few times and patiently waited. You fixed your hair and stood surprised as he hastily opened the door. “H-hi! It’s so nice to meet you, I'm Y/N,” you stretched your hand out to shake his hand. He looked at it and had a displeased look, causing unease within you. Looking at your hand, you noticed you still had your gardening gloves on with dirt on it.

“Oops, sorry!” you chuckled as you took it off and reached out again.

Again, he just looked at you with a straight face for a couple of seconds before finally speaking, “Look, I’m really busy, so if you don't mind.” He shut the door without giving you any chance to say anything back. You stood there in shock, replaying his British voice in your head. And as you stood there, you wondered why it is that he doesn't want to talk to you. The Charles couple across from your house were able to introduce themselves, and even got a smile from him. But for some reason, you could never get the same treatment.

—

Ian had proposed to Draco a housewarming party during lunch. Of course Draco had never been to one, much less hosted one.

“It’s alright, boss. I can fix all the arrangements up. All you gotta do is relax,” Ashley proposed. To say that Draco is extremely happy is an understatement. He had friends that actually enjoyed his company and not his influence. Not that he had much of that anyway.

America was really working out for him; work was great, people were nice, and the area he lived in was peaceful. Yes, he didn't like his neighbor, but she wasn't ruining his life in this new country. He just didn't like what she did.

“Thank you, Ashley. And you know you can just call me ‘Draco’.”

“I know,” she replied. Ashley grabbed her Blackberry phone and started drafting up an email, asking for his address so she could let people know where it would be. “Is this Friday a good time?”

“Yes, that should be fine. I don't have any plans that day.”

“Great, it's sent out to everyone in our department. Now if you'll excuse me, I have an attending to watch over for a surgery. See you guys later!” Draco, Blaine and Ian waved at Ashley as she left.

Blaine left soon after, leaving Ian with Draco. “Alright man, how’s it going on your street? Are you finally settled in?”

“I finally got the last of my things delivered from London yesterday. I was a bit nervous though. That mugg— I mean No-Maj neighbor of mine saw my mum’s owl in my yard. Thankfully, she didn't ask any questions,” Draco said as he cleared his lunch tray.

“Wait, you still use an owl? Ha, I didn’t think people still did,” Ian chuckled. “Well, of course I do. Do you not?”

“No, most wizards here in the States just use the usual ground post that No-Maj’s use. Things are a bit more modern around here. Speaking of your neighbor actually, have you ever spoken to her?”

Draco shrugged nonchalantly and said a simple ‘No’ when he really wanted to scrunch his nose and eyebrows in disgust and say ‘Fuck no.’ Ian, however, is gifted in Legilimens. He heard what Draco really meant but kept to himself. I guess things are different in the UK he thought.

—

“Hello my dear baby, I just wanted to call and give you a heads up; your brother and I are coming for Thanksgiving. He’s bringing Stephanie so do me a favor, please no witchy stuff.”

The voicemail played out loud in the kitchen. Please no witchy stuff. Your mother had repeatedly explained to you that she was okay with ‘it’ all, but growing up you never really got on the same page with her. And you knew it was because of your practice. Your younger brother would say comments every now and then when you grew up, but he always stood up for you when other people called you a ‘satanic freak’. But never once did you regret starting the Craft. You enjoyed it and it made you feel whole.

It had been a week since your encounter with your, now known British, neighbor. It bothered you a lot that he didn’t seem to want to get to know you. You were lost in your thoughts that you almost didn’t notice the doorbell going off. You answered the door and saw your neighbor.

“Hi dear, do you think you could help me and my husband with something?” Mrs. Charles smiled sweetly at you. “Of course, what can I do for you?”

“My grandson is coming in from Vermont, would it be alright if you could give us a ride to the airport? I’d ask Draco but he’s always busy at work and I don’t want to be a bother.”

Draco? “I’m sorry, who’s that?” you had a confused look.

“Our new neighbor, dear. I thought you had met him already. You two are the same age after all,” she informed you. Draco. How unique. You instantly recognized the name from the star constellation. It was nice to finally put a name to a face. Distracted again, Mrs. Charles waited for your answer, “Y/N? Can you do it?”

“O-oh, sorry. Of course I’ll help. Frankie was his name, correct?”

“Yes, it’s Frankie. Thank you so much. His flight comes in on Friday. I’ll see you then,” you wished her a good night and looked out your window to make sure she crossed the street safely. The rest of the night consisted of you and and your cat laying on your couch watching TV, but what was on the screen didn’t have your attention. Draco did. And you had no idea why.

—

“Dude, why do you not have a TV?” Blaine looked around Draco’s house and studied the arrangements he had. It was quite plain, almost minimalistic. Looking around, Draco couldn’t help but think how different it was from the Manor back in London. Instead of grand chandeliers, moving portraits of the Malfoy’s before him, and intricate designs on the walls, he had simple white walls with just one moving picture of him, Blaise and Theo a couple minutes before a Quidditch game against Ravenclaw. He had a bookshelf full of old school books from Hogwarts and some small relics he liked from the Manor.

“I’ve never had one growing up, and once I moved here I just never gave any second thought of it. Besides, what would I even watch?” Draco replied. Despite having one letter off from being the same name as his best friend, Blaine reminded Draco of Theo. They were both funny and outspoken. He would’ve loved for them to have met. They’d probably get on.

A few moments later, Ashley and Ian knocked on Draco’s door. The door was unlocked for them to be able to open the door. They looked around the living room before settling onto the couches. “Okay so I was thinking that we can just have some trays of snacks and desserts with some champagne. Does that sound good to you guys?” Ashley suggested. They just nodded along to whatever she said. She had gone to the store with Blaine to get everything prepared before the party tonight.

Ian looked at the pictures of Draco with his friends and one of his mother that laid on top of a chimney. “Do you still have lots of friends from Hogwarts?”

Draco thought about it, “You know, I actually didn’t have a lot of friends back in school. Back then, I only hung out with probably six people. But now it’s just two.” He sounded a bit sad, but figured that two were better than none.

“Do you think of what happened a lot?” Ian implied about that day at Hogwarts. He had been the only one that Draco trusted enough to tell. “Sometimes,” Draco gave a short reply. The action of opening up was still new to him, but he knew he shouldn’t wallow in it. Plus he’d rather have a friend instead of a doctor to talk about it.

Ian really felt bad for Draco. It must have been really traumatizing for someone to go through something like that at just the age of 17. Sure, Draco wasn’t the best person at the time. Who is he kidding, he was probably the biggest git in the whole school. It didn’t necessarily mean that he had to go through what he did. He lost one of his friends in a fire, and one left him after said friend died. Another left for no apparent reason. And another wanted something different in her life. Those things affected Draco, and probably will for the rest of his life.

He didn’t pity Draco, but was feeling sympathetic. “Well if it makes you feel any better, I don’t have much friends from Ilvermorny. It sucks now, but hey, down the line you get new ones.” Ian held a fisted hand out, waiting for Draco to bump it. It made him laugh as he bumped Ian’s fist.

Outside, Ian looked out to see a certain neighbor walk to her car. “Hey, is that that chick you were talking about?” Draco looked out the window and saw you grab some things out of your trunk and into your house. “Yeah, that’s her.” Ian never really pressed on Draco to explain why he didn’t like his No-Maj neighbor like he did the elderly couple across the street.

“Well, I gotta say. She’s a sight for sore eyes for a weirdo.” She’s a what? Beyond the nightly activities he had caught you doing on occasion in your bedroom, he never really looked at your face. Or really just at you. But now that Ian mentioned something, he started studying you. She’s not so bad looking— wait, what are you thinking?

By accident, Ian snorted at the words Draco thought. “Did… did I say that out loud?” Draco asked with suspicion in his voice. “No, I’m sorry. I don’t really mean to be invading your mind or anything. It runs in my family,” Ian laughed nervously.

“It’s okay. My godfather was also good at Legilimens and Occlumency. I’m pretty sure he’s heard worse during his classes. Come on, I’ll give you a full tour of the place.”

“If the other rooms are anything like the living room, I’m sure I’ve seen the whole place then,” Ian joked.

“Piss off.” As Ian walked towards the bathroom, Draco looked back outside to see you again. He watched as you helped the Charles couple in your car and drove off to Merlin knows where.

—

The party was rather fun. It lasted until almost 1 in the morning. He thanked Ashley for handling everything and spent the night talking and laughing with his colleagues. Once everyone left, he changed into comfortable sweats and a plain black t-shirt. Out on his bedroom window was Blaise’s owl with a sealed letter. He quickly opened the window, grabbed the letter and looked out to make sure no one was watching. Your room was dark and it seemed as the drapes were down. He guided his friends’ owl with his hands to a small, make-shift owl post against the fence that separated your yards. It had food and was enchanted to be at a comfortable temperature. His owl laid on one side of the post, resting as Blaise’s owl joined it.

Draco opened the letter and read its contents to himself.

Well mate, I’m glad you’re having a good time in America. There’s not much going on here in London. I’m just working at Gringotts until something opens up at the Ministry. Not really sure what I want to do, but I’ll figure it out. Anyways, I think you’ll be pleased to hear that Theo and I are going to be joining you for the holidays. Theo got a hold of a couple American muggle films and he figured that if the women there were as fit as the actresses, then you must be living the best life and he wants to join. As for that muggle neighbor of yours, I can’t wait to see her in person. We’ll see you, Malfoy.

From the corner of his eyes, he saw lights turn on in your room and your shadow walk around before turning off once more. Sorry Blaise, but there’s no way in hell you’ll meet her.

—

Frankie’s flight was delayed, causing you to get home so late. You were extremely tired and your feet and back were sore. Usually, you’d take a bath with some salts and oils to relax yourself, but tonight you were really lazy. So lazy that you just shook your shoes off and plopped yourself on the bed.

The second you hit the mattress, you dozed off. Your mind was wandering and found yourself dreaming.

You sat in your backyard in a pretty sundress. There was a slight breeze in the air and you held a cup of coffee in your hands. Someone sat at the chair opposite you and blocked the sun’s light in your face. You looked next to you and saw your friend smiling at you.

Draco.

—

next chp

(っ◔◡◔)っ taglist: @beiahadid @malfoy-styles-wife @fivenightslaughter @juneballoon999 @leydileyla

#draco malfoy #draco malfoy imagine #draco malfoy au #draco malfoy angst #draco malfoy fluff #draco malfoy smut #draco malfoy x muggle!reader #draco malfoy x reader #draco malfoy x y/n #draco malfoy x you #draco malfoy x female reader #draco x muggle!reader #draco x you #draco x y/n #draco x reader

[shhhhsh]

About Tim’s New Story….

I just really hope they address Tim’s mental health. Like, DC just been ditching really good plot lines in favor of being “woke” or pandering. Just look at all the live action shows.

Now I’m not saying they can’t make Tim queer/bi/gay, but (as someone pointed out to me) Tim’s previous story writer was bi and he still chose to write Tim as straight & in a healthy romantic relationship with Stephanie Brown. I’ve seen several people who identify as queer/bi say that to have Tim go “ ooooh I’ve fooled myself into thinking I was straight, but now I’m freeeee” sends the message that Tim’s previous relationship failed b/c he was with a woman and not because of Tim’s poor mental and emotional health.

To go back to my previous statement; by him not writing Tim as bi tells me that he didn’t want or care for Tim to be bi, but instead saw Tim as, or preferred him to be, straight. The writer had free control to write Tim how ever he wanted and yet he chose to keep Tim straight. And he actually liked & wanted Tim/Steph. Again, I’m not saying Tim can’t be queer/bi, I’m just saying I find the motivations for this possible change very fishy. Almost as if the new writer is trying to get brownie points for pandering to a portion of the fans.

I think this way b/c in every other media where a character is revealed to be LGBTQ they just did it. They didn’t beat around the bush or do any queer coding/baiting. They either announced it, just made the character that way right out the gate, or just dropped the bomb w/out warning (as seen in Netflix’s Voltron, Amazon Prime’s Invincible, and Nickelodeon’s Legend of Korra respectfully).

DC currently has a bad habit changing things to be “woke” and bragging about it or shoving it in our faces. DC is becoming the “pick me girl” of superhero media. If you want to do it, just do it. Again I just get the “look at me, look at me” & “carrot on the stick” vibes from them now. If you truly feel in your heart to do something you would just do it without the need for recognition or to be so dramatic about it.

Now what I much rather see & think it’s a natural progression for Tim:

I personally believe that if Jason, Dick, & Damian can get a story that attempts to give them character development beyond romantic relationships (romance was more of a B-plot to the character driven A-plot anyway) I think they can give it to Tim as well.

I know that the Bat-Family all struggle with some form of mental health problems (most commonly paranoia and PTSD). However, I would like to point out that trauma is was what brought the others into the vigilante lifestyle, while Tim & Barbara became traumatized because of the vigilante lifestyle. Yet, Barbara was shown overcoming her trauma and using it as motivation to get better. Tim is yet to have this moment.

We all know that Tim struggles with depression, self-esteem, and suicidal tendencies. I mean heck, him becoming Red Robin only happens because of Tim’s degrading mental health. I hate to say it, but Tim is very psychologically broken and has been show to get so depressed that he can’t even get out of bed some times. To my knowledge, Tim is the only one in the Bat-Fam that struggles in his head with the idea of not being needed, useful, or forgotten when in reality that is furthest from the truth (Steph, Jason, & Damian also feel like the black sheep periodically, but that is because they have been presented with real evidence that would lead them to logically believe this. I.e being actually forgotten or dismissed for past mistakes despite great efforts to better themselves).

While yes, Dick did Tim dirty by replacing him without having a proper conversation first, the motivation was because he saw Tim as his equal and not Damian. He thought highly of Tim, but Tim couldn’t see that over his offense. Tim is so beat down by life that he see’s everything with negative lenses. Everyone came to check on Tim’s mental health but Tim took it as an insult instead.

And even though now Tim has reached some form of “peace” in his life, that only happens because the people he lost came back (Bruce, Conner, Bart, Cassie, etc). Tim never fully learned to handle grief, to handle his emotions, instead he represses them. Again in the Red Robin run, the main reason he doesn’t believe in any form of God is because he can’t logically justify the pain he has gone through. He is hurting and doesn’t know how to deal with that. In his original Robin run, when he tried talking someone out of committing suicide……the words and comfort he gave….that wasn’t something that was just inside Tim, this is something that was told to Tim. This is followed by him calling Dick to get the same pep-talk he just regurgitated to someone else.

In short: Tim is hurting. Deeply. And having been someone who’s emotional & mental sanity was pushed to the brink and attempted to jump off several times, I think it’s really sad that DC just ignores it. Now as someone who’s gotten the help they needed & now helps other people who struggle with the same issues as myself & Tim, I think that they’re going to say a lot of Tim’s problems come from him not being “aware” of his own sexuality, which is just sad.

In the story in question, Barbara talks about Tim not having a solid identity. People are more than their sexuality. People are capable of making future decisions for themselves without it hindering on their sexuality. If Tim was real, I would brake down his struggle as so:

Tim refuses to go to college and do something more with his life because he cannot see anything beyond his current circumstance. And the only reason why Tim cannot see anything beyond his circumstance is because he has no internal sense of purpose, identity, and acceptance beyond the cape & cowl. And when Tim finally found that in being Robin, Tim held onto it as a lifeline. There’s a reason why everyone says Tim is basically Bruce 2.0: it’s because he is Robin/Red Robin/Drake & Tim is the mask. At a young age, he did not grow up having these things instilled into him due to his parents neglecting him at a very important age in his development. Tim raised himself, and for a lack of better terms; an idiot cannot teach themselves to be smarter, an idiot becomes smarter by learning from the intelligent. A child can’t teach themselves to be an adult, they have to learn from others to grow & better themselves.

Now a parent doesn’t necessarily have to sit down and give a lesson about how to be an individual, but children learn how to live life by watching their parents. A good example of this is the rest of the Bat-Fam; they all grew up with some form of parental figures that taught them how to behave (for better or worse). Of course children have their own personalities, which is why two kids can go through the same type of trauma but come out differently, but it is a battle of nature vs nurture. Steph, Jason, Cass, & Damian grew up in abusive/unstable homes, while Dick, Barbara, & Bruce grew up in loving homes, but their personalities & character dictated how they responded to trauma. They took what life gave them and decided what to leave or take.

Tim had nothing to work with & is basically playing catch-up with the rest of his peers.

In a weird sense, Tim is like Zuko from The Last Airbender: only living to serve their father’s purpose. Anything outside of that they don’t know what to do. They’ve been trained to be something externally without been given a chance to figure out who they are internally.

Again you are not your sexuality, your sexuality does not determine who you are as a person. When a person struggles through life, it is due to the conditions of thier soul. Everything starts internally and shows it’s self externally.

I want to make that very clear because I am truly scared that in DC’s attempt to claim “clout” they are missing the bigger picture. Tim doesn’t have identity problems simply because he “doesn’t know” he likes boys, but because DC never gave him is own identity to begin with. Robin was never his own identity, Red Robin was never his, & Drake was his first attempt to make his own but he quickly gave it up so that he can be Robin once again. What is Tim going to do once Damian gets back? Is Damian going to get his own identity before Tim? Or is Tim just going to go back to one of his old identities?

I would like for Tim to personally move on from being a vigilante and rejoin civilian society for a while. Go to college, do something for himself and only for himself. Give Tim the self-discovery story, let him heal, and grown to be his own person. Besides you can never have a functional romantic relationship if you are not a functional individual. Self love > romantic love.

#red robin #batman #dc comics #tim drake #batman and robin #bruce wayne #dick grayson #jason todd #damian al ghul #damian wayne #stephanie brown #batgirl #cassandra cain #batfam #robin #I just want a good and meaningful story that doesn’t have some secret agenda #just do right by Tim #beware the pandering #not everything has to be about romance

[danny-chase]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Batman (Comics), Batgirl (Comics), Batman and the Outsiders (Comics) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Cassandra Cain & Stephanie Brown, Cassandra Cain & the Batfam Characters: Cassandra Cain, Stephanie Brown, Duke Thomas, Dick Grayson (briefly), Barbara Gordon (briefly), Tim Drake (briefly), Bruce Wayne (Mentioned), Jefferson Pierce (mentioned) Additional Tags: Batfamily (DCU) Feels, The timeline is a mess, feelings of discomfort, Feelings of Not Belonging, Crocs, POV Cassandra Cain, late night bathroom girl talks, no beta we die like Cass, dreams of alternate timeline, timeline converging, Confusion, Eventual Fluff, Nightmares Summary:

The one where Cass know something is wrong with her Crocs, and it spirals into more being wrong with her world.

Cassandra never thought much about what she wore, it’s not like it mattered much in the grand scheme of things. What was ‘right’ to wear, ‘wrong’ to wear, she didn’t really know, she just picked what she liked, and that was that. Barbara helped keep her closet in three neat sections: clothes for fancy things – charities or dances, clothes for blending in outside, and clothes for training. It was simple, easy, efficient. She didn’t have to think about it.

But here she was, pacing back and forth in front of her closet. It wasn’t the clothes she was confused about, but a pair of shoes. Light blue, with holes. Duke called them crocs. Crocs. She turned the word over, again and again in her mind. She remembered picking them out, but the memory was blurry, she had this eerie feeling they were wrong somehow.

She’d had this feeling before – that something was wrong with the world, with her. Her costume sometimes felt wrong, like it didn’t quite belong. She shifted, irritated, from side to side. Sometimes, she talked wrong too, thought wrong. Everything, some days, just felt wrong.

And here she was, standing on her hands, glaring at her crocs. Her crocs that were wrong, but they couldn’t be wrong because she’d gotten them with Duke. She remembered – she was sure she remembered.

It had been a cloudy day, her arm stuck in a sling. Bruce had said she was training too hard, she should take it easy, and she had disagreed. But then he brought up Duke. Duke, who had been injured by Karma. Who was so angry and hurt, but she never knew what to say to fix things. And Bruce hadn’t known either. But all the same, they had to try something.

He gave her money and instructions. Take Duke to get food at the mall. It had been easy, fun. He was upset, but took the time to make her laugh, thanked her for spending time with him. They’d spun through racks of clothes, posing with sunglasses, and trying on random things, then swapping. They bought him a short shirt that showed off his belly button. A… crop top, he’d said. And she, skipping through the aisles had stopped in front of the blue crocs.

She’d felt strange then, like the world was wrong, and somehow, she felt drawn to them. Duke had looked at her as though she was crazy when she tried them on but shrugged and told her she had great tastes in fashion (lie). He’d been getting tired, the more they walked, but he smiled all the same, told her she looked great in them (not a lie). And she bought them, now here she was, feeling the same feeling of wrongness.

Sometimes, she felt like a different person.

Sometimes, she felt like Duke shouldn’t be there.

Sometimes, she missed people she met once.

And sometimes, she stared at the blue crocs, with an inkling she’d seen them before she’d ever stepped foot in that store.

 She’d been feeling well this week. Things were going well with her team, things were going well for her. She had almost finished her latest book, when she was struck by the feeling of wrongness once again. She gripped her hair, squeezing her eyes shut, burying her head in the side of her chair.

She was Cassandra Cain. She was herself. She wasn’t wrong. This was her, wasn’t it? This was her life.

But even her name sounded wrong in her head. Cassandra felt right, Cain felt wrong. But if not a Cain, who was she?

She was powerful. Strong. That was right. She’d taken down ten men last week in hardly any time, and it felt so right!

But sitting in a chair reading felt wrong.

It was so confusing. She didn’t understand, why this but not that?

Throwing the offending book across the room, she stamped to her closet. Flinging open the door, she glared at the shoes. The crocs glared back, there little holes mocking her.

The holes.

The holes were wrong.

The color was right.

She was getting somewhere. The holes were wrong, the color was right. But again, why this and not that? Clenching her fists in frustration, she threw her head back, wanting to scream but holding it in. Instead, she grabbed her costume and headed out.

 Cass had dreams, dreams of being in a city she didn’t recognize. Spending time with people she didn’t know. And the people she did know were different. Tim was smaller in her dreams, and Dick was older. Bruce was… he felt more familiar. And Barbara – she didn’t know why, but Barbara was always in a wheelchair. But she hadn’t been there for that, had she?

Every time she saw the bats, they felt wrong. Different. Maybe different was the right word. Was she the only one feeling like this? She couldn’t tell. She told Duke once, and he shrugged saying something about déjà vu. But the word didn’t feel right.

Barbara was worried. “You can talk to me, Cass, what’s wrong?” But how could she explain what was going on? Bruce whispered to Jeff about how she was quieter… withdrawn. He’d said withdrawn. But she wasn’t trying to change, wasn’t trying to… withdraw. The world was just confusing, she couldn’t keep focused with this immense feeling of dread shrouding her.

In the dreams, sometimes a girl gave her tea. In a little shop. In the city she’d never been to. And she woke up screaming because it always faded away into a wasteland.

And for some reason, she kept calling Stephanie Brown when it happened.

Tonight, she’d called again.

“Cass, bad dream? Are you okay?” She felt like she’d known Steph for years.

“Everything’s wrong.” She confessed. Steph hummed. The line was quiet. She should hang up, she usually did. Usually just said yes and hung up. But, Stephanie’s voice was comforting, it was good to know she was safe.

“Wrong like, things are going wrong right now? Or like, things feel… off.” Cass sucked in a deep breath. Maybe, just maybe, someone else understood.

“Off.” She replied.

“Like… things aren’t quite, right?” Exactly.

“Like… people are… different?” She explained.

“Like they didn’t use to be there.” Steph agreed.

“Or were there longer.” Cass breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn’t wrong. Something was wrong, or well… off. But, whatever it was, it wasn’t in her head. The world was wrong. Not her.

“Do you ever dream about things that never happened, but it feels so real you’re certain it did?” Cass nodded, then realized she was using a phone.

“Yes.” She sat in silence for a moment. “Can I… come over?” Steph felt right, an beacon in the midst of the chaos of the wrong world.

“Please.” Steph sounded just as eager to stick together.

“Coming.” She hung up the phone, and snatched up a bag, flinging open the door of her closet, and grabbing some clothes for tomorrow. The blue crocs leered at her, so she shoved her feet into them. Maybe Steph would know why they were wrong.

 Steph sat on the edge of the toilet, and she sat on the rim of the tub.

“This feels right.” Cass decided. Steph nodded.

“I don’t know why but you’re right.” She plopped her head in her hands, tired and agitated, but excited. “I feel like I know you, but like we only met a few months ago.” She made a thinking face.

Cass thought too. She took in Stephanie’s face, and closed her eyes. The burning town came to mind.

“Were you in…” She trailed off; it was a dumb question. Steph would have died with the girl who gave her tea if she were there.

“Go on.” It was stupid. “I’m not going to judge, throw anything out there, no wrong answers.”

“In my dreams, there’s a city.” She opened her eyes, staring into Steph’s face. “It burns, and I’m there, with you.” Steph tilted her head.

“In my dreams, sometimes I die.” Cass winced.

“Me too.”

“Could it have happened in the city? I don’t know, maybe we had like past lives there or something?” She suggested.

“I’m me when I die.” Cass asserted. She always died fighting, nowhere near the city.

“Me too.” Steph sighed. “It’s so frustrating. I don’t get it.” Cass nodded.

“I feel wrong.” She added.

“Literally, same.” Steph shook her head in frustration and made to leave the bathroom. “Okay, good night’s sleep, we’ll work on it again tomorrow.”

Cass wanted to scream. She wanted to know, to know right now. Wanted to get this figured out.

“Whatever.” Was all she got out, Steph shrugged indifferently.

“Sleep will help your brain work better. It’s a scientific fact.” Cass followed her out into her bedroom.

There were purple crocs inside her closet.

She stepped closer.

“Cass, what are you-” Steph kept talking, but Cass couldn’t hear her anymore.

The holes on the crocs were filled.

Suddenly, she felt herself being pulled out of Steph’s room, her mind whisking her away into a memory she’d somehow forgotten, a memory that didn’t feel wrong - a memory that felt right a memory that-

The purple crocs were in her hands, she was in a small store, a crocodile painted on the wall behind her. Stephanie was laughing at Tim. He was wearing green crocs. Barbara was in the corner, chatting with Dick from her wheelchair. They were smiling fondly at each other. Love painted across everyone’s faces.

And she, was so happy. She was standing still, basking in the afternoon glow of the sun, and the warmth of those around her.

“Thanks for holding those for me, you want a pair too?” Steph bounced in front of her and plucked the crocs out of her hands, giving her a friendly wink.  

“I think you should get bright blue ones.” Dick suggested. Barbara snorted. They both were looking at her fondly.

“If she gets blue ones, you have to get yellow.” She pointed out.

“Yeah, that’s only fair.” Tim agreed. “As long as no one gets the same color we should be good.”

A pair of blue crocs were dropped in her hands. Her heart was expanding in her chest.

“Okay, everyone, she needs charms too, move it people!” Steph cried happily. Everyone dug in the bins surrounding them. Little icons, little… charms. The word sounded right. The blue crocs were right.

The memory faded out, and she found herself quickly falling asleep.

 She woke up before Steph. Silently, she tiptoed downstairs. Her crocs were full of charms.

#Cassandra Cain #Cassandra Wayne #Stephanie Brown #batfam #my writing #Dick Grayson #Barbara Gordon #Tim Drake #Duke Thomas #Cass and Steph are best bros even though they don't know it yet #Late night bathroom talks are the shit #Like you haven't lived until it's 1am and you're talking about shit with your homies sitting on the edge of a tub #I miss Cass being a bigger part of the family

[pl-panda]

To Marry a Vigilante: Part 3

MASTERLIST || First || Previous || Next

Disclaimer: Masterlist

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The dinner was an interesting affair. Everyone was gathered around a large table that could easily fit several more people. Marinette was sitting between Damian and her mother; on the opposite, Tim, Stephanie, and Cass took the seats. She was glad that they were all people she knew well enough. It was overwhelming. Before, Christmas was always just her and her parents. Occasionally, Nona came too. And there was this one time when she was five when her great-uncle visited. This was much too crowded. 

Damian gently squeezed her hand, reassuring her that it was alright. She ate some, but the nerves made her lose appetite quickly. She was in Gotham. Celebrating Christmas with her husband’s family. Husband… She was going to have a panic attack. She wasn’t ready. 

“Habibti. It’s okay. Everyone here’s a friend.” Damian whispered into her ear, seeing she was spiraling. “Nobody is going to judge us on anything.”

“But I didn’t make any gifts for the Kents. And I didn’t know your eldest brother had a daughter! And I’m a total klutz. I will probably knock over the tree and it will fall and set the house on fire and you will end up homeless or someone will get hurt and then your family will hate me and the Kents will hate me and I…” she kept whispering faster and faster until she was finally starting to feel the need to breathe or pass out. The jury was still out. 

Seeing her daughter’s panic, Sabine also grabbed her hand and squeezed it lightly. “Honey, let’s go get some fresh air.” She said loud enough for people close to them to hear before leading Marinette outside. Nobody batted an eye when the pair passed them. 

Once the two were in the back garden, Mari felt her legs give up under her and if not for her mother, she would have probably collapsed. The woman held her tight and led the girl toward the bench, which was luckily not covered in snow. 

“I’m so sorry, Maman. I don’t know… I just felt so overwhelmed. There were all these people and I was really meeting my husband’s family and friends for the first time and I guess I was not prepared for all this…” She was speaking fast. 

“Don’t worry sweetie. I understand. Did I tell you how, when I met your Nona for the first time, I accidentally flipped her over my shoulder and pinned her to the ground?” Sabine asked, smiling understandingly at her daughter. 

“No! Really?”

“Yes. Well, in my defense, she surprised me with a gun that shot candies.” 

Marinette couldn’t help but giggle at that. It did seem like something her Mémé would do. 

“She was shocked at first and I was afraid I hurt her. Instead, after that, she decided that I was apparently worthy of dating her boy and gave us her approval.” 

“So… the moral of this story is that I should flip Talia over for them to accept me?” Mari asked with a cheeky grin. 

“That too, sweetie. I can even lend you something from my bag if you want a more… permanent effect.” 

“Maman!” 

“Fine…” Sabine grumbled goodheartedly. “You don’t need to worry about fitting in or how they will perceive you. I’ve seen how that boy looks at you and I approve.” She smiled. “That’s all that should matter.”

“Thank you maman. I’m glad you’re here.” She hugged her mother as the two sat together on the bench, enjoying the evening chill until the cold became irritating instead of refreshing.

-------

When the two returned, the dinner was nearing the end. Marinette noted seven burning holes on the ceiling but didn’t comment. There was also a plate on fire next to Jason that he seemed adamant not to acknowledge. Also, Mar’i and Jon were levitating above the table and playing rock paper scissors, except they used the props. Silently, Marinette walked to take a seat next to Damian. Her mother went over to talk a bit with Bruce about something.

“Um… Why is Jason’s plate on fire?” She asked, very much confused. 

“Tt. He wanted a souffle on fire.” 

“We’re already at desserts?” The girl asked, surprised. In the corner of her eye, she saw Cass staring at Tim and Stephanie with a strange gaze. It wasn’t hostile, but rather, she couldn’t really name the emotions present. 

“Yes. I saved you some maracons. You love the strawberry ones, right?”

“You made me prefer lemon ones.” She smiled. “The subtle sourness really brings out the sweetness.” 

“Of course it does Angel.” He smiled. “Sadly, we sit next to Brown, who will devour anything with sugar in it.”

A devious grin appeared on Mari’s face. “Really now?” She reached over into her purse to pull a small box where she kept the power-up cookies for her Kwami. “Tikki… will you mind if I give her a burnt-red one? You know which…”

For a moment, it looked like the Kwami wanted to protest, but then the small goddess noticed the plate of cookies was empty. “Go for it, Marinette. It won’t hurt her.”

“Stephanie! I’ve got a spare macaron I can share,” she smiled at the blonde girl. 

“Gimme!” She almost leaped like a gremlin, her eyes in a slight daze.

“Uh-oh. She is experiencing a sugar rush. I think she ate the whole plate herself,” Tim spoke from his seat, eyes slightly worried. 

Mari handed over the macaron and watched as Steph ate it. It took only a moment for her face to flush red and tears to appear in her eyes. “Water!” She said with a hoarse throat. Tim handed her a glass, but when she downed it, the burning only increased.

“Oh no! I forgot to warn you! It was made with ground hot pepper instead of flour… silly me!” Mari said, keeping the cute smile on. “I would advise milk.”

When Stephanie ran to the kitchen, followed by Tim laughing and Cass and Damian smiling, the older boy turned to Marinette. “You are devious.” 

“She shouldn’t have eaten so many cookies,” the girl shrugged. After that, she actually started to enjoy the evening. It might have started a prank war later on, but for now, she was safe. 

---------

After dinner, the crowd moved to a large living room where adults took seats on the couches or chairs while most kids and teens sat on the fluffy carpet. Alfred was walking around and handing the wine glasses to adults and hot chocolate to the youngsters. Clark opted for hot chocolate as well, which earned him a round of teasing. 

Since everyone was staying the night, there was no need for designated drivers. When Tim and Stephanie tried to get their hands on alcohol, Alfred slapped their hands. More laughter followed. 

Marinette sat there, cuddled into one armchair with Damian, observing everything and looking cute. 

“...I’m just saying, Bruce. You could smile a bit more in costume too. It wouldn’t kill you.” Clark finished a short speech.

“Work and homelife should stay separate,” Tim spoke up from his spot on the floor.

“Which doesn’t stop you from smiling. You’re not a Buckingham Palace guard.” Lois pointed out.

“To be frank, you could smile a bit more often, B.” Dick supported the enemy.

“It would be bad for the image,” Bruce mumbled. “If anyone saw Batman smile, it would ruin my years of hard work.”

“Diana disagrees.” Kor’i smiled. “She actually said once that ‘a smiling bat looks pretty handsome’.”

“I’ve seen a smiling bat!” Mar’i shouted from her spot on Jon’s knees, the two of them acting like nice siblings. It secretly irked Damian, but he wouldn’t ever voice that thought. “There was a cartoon!” 

“That’s nice, sweetie.” Sabine couldn’t help but rub it into Bruce some more. “Did he also have a cape, like Bruce?”

“Yes! And he walked on two legs!” 

“See? I think your image doesn’t need to suffer.” Tom joined his wife. His English wasn’t that good, but he could get by. “Maybe you could get a cartoon about Batman? Ladybug had her own movie and a song dedicated to her.” 

“Ladybug?” Jonathan asked. Marinette immediately tensed at the mention of her superhero name. She definitely did not want to reveal herself to everyone here. It’s not that she didn’t trust any of them, since all of them knew about Batman and co., but she felt uneasy. The fewer people knew, the better. 

“Parisian superheroine.” Sabine clarified.

“We sure didn’t hear about her back in Smallville.” Martha insisted, smiling. “Then again, we don’t really keep with the news from the old world.”

“There was this terrorist in Paris that used magic to turn people into temporary villains. He was finally defeated recently. I think you’ve seen all the ladybug decorations.” Tim explained in broad terms. 

“Ah! Right. I was wondering about the ladybugs…” 

Damian noted that his beloved was tense and decided that it was a moment good as any other to spring up the surprise. He shifted slightly, signaling that he wanted to get up. Marinette, who was still holding her cup, immediately sprung onto her feet. She thought he maybe wanted to leave somewhere or speak with his father alone. 

Instead, Damian hit the side of his hot chocolate cup with a spoon three times, gathering everyone’s attention. 

“Tt. I wanted to say a few words. This will be important so shut up you lot.” He cleared his throat before continuing in a mostly emotionless voice that most people associated with his ‘Ice Prince’ persona. “Marinette. When I first met you, it was not from our own free will. The bitch that is my mother forced our hand and tied us together. But we got to know each other out of our own free will. Nobody forced me…” His head snapped toward Dick. “Tt. Don’t you dare, Grayson.” Seeing his brother raise his hands in a surrender gesture, he carried on. “Nobody forced me to come to Paris. Definitely, nobody forced you to actually accept my courting. To this day, I am left wondering why an Angel as you would actually agree to go out with me, but here we are.”

The people watched with rapt attention. Marinette just stood there, unable to voice a coherent thought. She had no idea what was happening, but a deep red blush had made its way onto her face when he praised her. 

“You were so full of passion and joy and it reminded me a bit of Jon, but without the irritating factors.” 

“Hey!” The boy protested. A murderous glare from Damian shut him up quickly. 

“As I was saying, you were perfect in my eyes. I was taken away by your kindness. There are no words to describe my feelings.” His tone was still emotionless and monotonous, but Marinette could see that he was doing his best to actually see this through. “I can say without a doubt that I love you, Marinette Dupain-Cheng.” 

All air was suddenly sucked from Mari’s lungs when he fell on one knee and pulled out a small black box. Inside was probably the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. There were three flowers on a golden band. In the center of each, there was a shining diamond, surrounded by smaller stones. The petals were made from pink stones that she suspected were also diamonds. Were there even pink diamonds? All in all, it looked beyond words. 

“Will you do me that honor and become my wife?” When he finally asked, she could feel the world spinning. This was… this was better than in any of her daydreams. And not only because instead of Adrien there was Damian. 

The words died in her throat. She had to sit down to not faint. “Yes…” She whispered weakly, so only Damian could hear. The boy smiled brightly (a rare sight to be sure) and put the ring on her finger. 

Her gaze fell on the band he had on his own hand. It was silver with a large black stone in the center of the band, surrounded by eight diamonds. The Black Cat Miraculous she realized. 

An applaud arose from several places in the room, but some of the guests were confused. 

“Aren’t you two too young to get married?” Johnathan asked, scratching his head. 

“Tt. Technically, we are already married where I come from. This is for my wife’s content and nothing else.”

“Married?!” The old farmer asked, scandalized. 

“Tt. That’s what I said. Now can someone please get my Angel some water? I think she is about to faint.” 

“Um… I would also be very interested in the story…” Clark joined his father. He wasn’t exactly that much scandalized, but confusion was clear on his face. 

“I promise I will explain everything. I think we should give the two some breathing space…” Bruce proposed hesitantly. 

“I will help get Mari to her room. I think she has had enough excitement for today,” Tom offered.

“I am also turning in for the night, Father. I trust that between you and Miss Cheng they will get a full story. Sans the private parts of course.” He glared at him. 

“I will make sure of that.” Sabine quickly cut any protests.

“Good. Good night everyone. And Merry Christmas or whatever.” With that, he left, wanting to catch up with Tom and Marinette.

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#fanfiction #miraculous #miraculous ladybug #miraculous lb #tiger miraculous #maribat #marinette dupain cheng #maridami #fluff #arranged marriage AU #batman #BatFam #damienette #Damian Wayne #Damian al Ghul #marinette x damian #class salt