#but the people across the road clearly just left her outside to her own devices her whole life

[jessiesjaded]

I really, really wish people who don't have the capacity to properly take care of animals would simply accept and acknowledge that about themselves. This isn't even a post of me trying to be mean or judge anyone, I'm sure most people go into getting an animal with good intentions, but intentions and actions are different. If you don't have the time and the space and the care an animal needs, the animal will suffer. The fleeting joy of having a kitten or puppy or anything else doesn't last forever and they aren't toys to be put down and forgotten once you've moved past the inital excitement. If you don't have the ability to properly care for an animal, just accept that and simply admire them from a distance.

#the amount of people i know who flippantly just. buy a random pet with no prior planning or thought #and like its not always outright neglect #you can technically feed and groom a pet get them flee treatments etc but if you lock it outside 24/7 and spend no actual time #like why do you have that animal? #you should not have that aninal #if you have too much in your life to adequately care for one its vetter for YOU and for the animal to not have one #like this little cat is so sweet #actually the sweetest cat ive ever known and my cat tigs has always been a massive sweety already #so its saying something that shes been even sweeter #i mean i brushed her teeth and got matted fur off her and cleaned her eyes and she NEVER bit or scratched me once #shes so quiet and sweet #but the people across the road clearly just left her outside to her own devices her whole life #seemingly no vet checks. didnt feed her properly and i sometimes wonder if at all bc their next door neighbour was feeding her apparently #and he has no pets!! even he knew that shit was wrong #and now shes so sickly and small and malnourished and her teeth are rotting out of her head #and its just like ???? #why have her #you could have realized you werent really the type for pets and given her to a shelter #and she would have been adopted 100% #but they kept her all this time but also not really bc its not like she was kept properly at all #its sad she didnt come over here sooner #i wish id had since she was a baby or even a year ago #bc then maybe i could have helped her more #its just so unnecessary. Animals are a privilege not a right. #and again like. go visit your cousin or uncle or sister or friends pet in that case #you might not have the time or ability but you could still enjoy animals wothout directly having one

[nobodyfamousposts]

Mominette AU: The Superhero Ban

TRIGGER WARNING!

TRIGGER WARNING!

TRIGGER WARNING!

___________________________________________

It was an indisputable fact that Paris had been the first city to institute the infamous “Supers Ban”. The Justice League knew it. Heroes knew it. Villains knew it. The whole world knew it.

What nobody knew was “why”.

Sure, there had been comments in political circles. Some minor news outlets had mentioned Paris as the latest place where the idea was being considered. But nobody had thought they were serious.

Not until it had been made into law and the Mayor of Paris held a press conference to announce it.

Those who didn’t take it seriously certainly did when Superman himself attempted to go to the Mayor to discuss the matter. And was promptly arrested the instant he set foot in the city.

Outrage was immediate. Cries of discrimination rang out across the world and even at the UN. Various politicians decried the act. Many celebrities admonished it. A good number of people threatened to boycott Paris (which turned out to be for the best as far as Andre and most of Paris was concerned, given that a decrease in tourism meant less people for Hawk Moth to target or the heroes to have to pull out of the fray due to gawking).

Yet a year passed and the ban remained. Even the League would not cross it. Eventually, it just became an accepted fact of the world. Everyone knew to stay out of Paris.

And yet it was still unknown as to why.

Well, people suspected, of course. There were other things happening around the time that seemed to be involved.

It possibly started with the 12 hour timeframe where all of Paris had been closed off. Its citizens had been forced to evacuate. All communication lines were down, and no one from outside of the city had been able to contact anyone from within it. It was news stations in nearby cities that picked up on the fighting and tried to report it, but only several hours after it had started and they seemed to play it off as some sort of freak lighting storm.

Afterwards, things had been strange, but also easily overlooked. The Ladyblogger had gone dark for a several day period. Similarly, the regular correspondent for Paris News, Nadja Chamack had taken a leave of absence. Resident hero Chat Noir had suddenly gotten involved in matters with City Hall, resulting in talk of the hero going into a career in politics. “Chat Noir for President” became a short-lived meme.

It all appeared to come down to a specific “incident”. An akuma fight worse than any other before it. But no one would speak of it. And no information about it was available.

Except for one thing.

There were reports of the existence of video footage of the fight. The Ladyblog had supposedly crashed during a livestream of the mess due to the number of people watching it. Plenty of news reports during that time referenced it. It was rumored to have been played before the city council, resulting in unanimous support of the ban. But what was on the video remained a mystery and any remnant of the video itself couldn’t be found.

Which shouldn’t be possible with the internet. Conspiracy theories abound on the matter—some saying there was no footage in the first place and others saying it was so horrible as to have been erased by time traveling aliens.

In truth, it was the work of a hacker. One of considerable skill to wipe out any trace of this video and not be discovered. There were people willing to pay millions just for a segment of the footage. Plenty of hackers across the world had tested their skills to find even a trace of the original video to no avail.

These other hackers were not Robin.

“I got the footage.” He announced as he held up the USB drive.

Superbly started in surprise, staring at the item in the Boy Wonder’s hand. “This is it?”

“Supposedly.” Robin replied with a shrug.

The Holy Grail of hidden data. A hacker’s ultimate prize. Every journalist and tabloid reporter’s wet dream.

“I haven’t watched it myself,” as he felt it wasn’t his right to intrude on this when it was an issue of his friend’s family, “so I don’t know what’s on there. But whatever’s in this, it’s safe to say it isn’t going to be pretty.”

That was putting it lightly. The video had been so deeply hidden that it was its own urban legend at this point. The incident it showed was bad enough to not only warrant it being hidden from the world, but to set off the “Paris Supers Ban” and arrest of Superman.

The death of a hero was always big news. Even if it’s only barely avoided.

The fact that anyone could HIDE it spoke volumes. Both in regards to the original censor’s ability as well as the importance of the data itself.

Conner nodded, resolute.

“I need to know.”

Robin handed over the device. He probably should have taken it to Batman…probably. But this was Conner’s case. His family. It was his right to decide what to do with the information.

Ladybug and Chat Noir were…accepting of Conner to say the least. They allowed him to enter Paris despite the ban. They let him help. They were kind and accommodating and quite frankly everything that Conner needed.

But…they weren’t exactly open. Not about certain things.

This was one of those things, and Conner had been wanting answers about the “Incident” that cut Paris off from the Superhero world. What made them finally say “enough”? He would ask, but nobody knew. The few who did know refused to speak of it.

Conner wanted to know why. What had they experienced that was so horrible?

Maybe it was a way of feeling closer to them?

Maybe it was a way to understand them better?

Maybe it was just wanting to see the harder things they had faced?

“We’ll be right here with you, Conner.” Wally reassured him when his hands started to shake.

“Remember, you’ll have full access of the gym and training grounds, but you won’t be allowed to leave the Mountain for 24 hours after this.” Kaldur gently stated. Partly to remind Conner of the agreement, lest he attempt to run off to Paris in anger or fear and risk an akuma. Partly to subtly prompt everyone else to ensure that Conner does not accomplish the former.

Still…the choice was already clear.

Conner put the drive into the computer and pressed play.

The video only lasted a few minutes.

A few minutes was more than enough.

_______________________

“Oh…oh my god.” Came the words of the person recording, her voice as shaky as her hands that held the camera.

The damage was…extensive. Rubble, broken glass, and downed buildings littered the background. There was a sad mix of gray and brown as far as the eye could see. Of the destroyed roads and pavement. Of steel beams littering the ground. Of rock and dirt and what may very well have been ash.

Amidst the ruined landscape, there was one spot of color. A bright red standing out amidst the muted neutral around her. Normally a source of bravery and inspiration, it took a few seconds for the camera to get her properly in focus, and a few more for it to register that there was significantly more red in the scene than there should have been.

Ladybug wasn’t standing so much as she was leaning backwards in a half-upright position. Forced to stay on her legs despite her clear lack of strength. The only thing holding her up were the very things responsible for her current state…three steel spikes that extended from the ground beneath her.

They were exiting her torso. One piercing the upper left part of her body, right close to her shoulder. One through her naval. And the third on the right side, for all purposes appearing to have hit a lung.

She was breathing, though it was clearly labored. She was constantly torn between some variation of taking a gasping breath in and crying it out. Her suit could protect her—it was supposed to protect her from anything, but even this was too much.

It was clear she couldn’t move. She had to remain there, impaled on steel. Both to limit her injuries as much as possible and just due to inability from the sheer pain she was in.

The camera was focused on her, though it was shaky at best. The person recording it could be heard muttering unintelligibly with some mention of a hospital and frequent repetition of “oh god” thrown in. Some noise could be heard in the background of someone sounding quite ill, which was understandable given the sight of their hero impaled and choking on her own blood.

Within a minute of the video starting, the crunching sound of boots running on glass and stones could be heard coming closer. The sound of panting grew louder as Chat Noir cleared a hill and entered into view, rushing and stumbling towards Ladybug while holding something in front of him.

The camera zoomed on him, bringing him into focus as he cleared the last hurdle.

“I’ve got it!” Chat exclaimed, racing back to her side with her yoyo in hand. “I’ve got it! It’s okay. It’s over. It’s over now. It’s finished. He’s done.”

“Sh…Ch…” Her head hung limply and her eyes were barely able to focus on him as he tried to get her to look at him without moving her too much.

“It—It’s okay! It’s going to be okay!” He whispered to her, so softly that the camera barely caught it. He was clearly panicked and trying desperately not to let it show. “We just need the Cure. If you cast the Cure, everything will be better, okay?”

She didn’t appear to be listening, though. And barely seemed aware of anything. “Ch-ck…Chaaa…”

The video zoomed in on them both. Ladybug dazed and bleeding out. Chat crying and trying not to break down completely.

“Please! I just need you to say the words! Say the words and you’ll be okay! Can you do that?”

“Huurrr…s…” She slurred, begging him without words for help.

“I know! I know! But you can fix it. C’mon, M’lady, please!”

“I…I cn…”

“Say the words. Just two words, okay?” He begged desperately, patting her cheek in an attempt to both soothe her and keep her attention on him. “Two words and then you can go to sleep, I promise.”

“Ch…a…”

“Just…just two words, that’s it! I’ll…I’ll even say them with you, okay?”

She winced. “Nn…”

She clearly wasn’t listening, but he was desperate and so started to try. “Miraculous—”

She sobbed.

“No, no. Listen to me, okay? Say it with me!” He ordered, forcing her to look at him. “Mi. Say it with me! Mi!”

“M…mi…”

“Racu!”

“ra…” Her gaze started to waver.

He shook her. “Cu!”

“…cu…lous…”

He gave a weak laugh. Even now she was ahead of him. “Ladybug.”

“La…laa-deee…”

He shook her again. “LADYBUG!”

“……b…u—gahck-ugh—" She was cut off by harsh coughing.

But it was enough.

Thank every god out there it was enough.

The Cure spilled out from the object she was holding, transforming into magical ladybugs that covered everything in their wake. Unfortunately, the casting of the Cure and incoming loveliness caused the person holding the camera to drop it, losing sight of the video and cutting the feed.

_______________________

The ringing of her phone got Marinette’s attention, drawing her away from the movie she was watching with Adrien and the Dolls.

“Hello?”

“Miss Ladybug.” Came the voice on the end. “This is Aqualad.”

She blinked in surprise. “Aqualad? Is everything okay?”

“Yes…just…” The sound of angry whispers could be heard on the other end. “Would you be able to come speak with Conner today?”

Marinette frowned at that. While she certainly enjoyed seeing Conner, that…didn’t sound like a good thing. If anything, it sounded like a plea. And the voices that sounded like an argument in the background only made it sound worse.

“Is everything okay?”

Adrien seemed to notice the concern in her voice as he had stopped paying attention to the movie to focus on her. In turn, Chaton was peeking over the couch at her, curious as to what was going on.

“No. We found a recording of something…personal to you. Conner saw it and now he’s rather upset. We think it might help if you were here.”

“WHAT?!” She exclaimed. This definitely got the attention of the other dolls, all of whom had abandoned the movie in favor of checking on their Mama.

Her eyes narrowed. Suddenly full Mom mode was on.

“Aqualad. Tell me right now what happened.”

And Kaldur caved immediately with only a small sigh.

“Robin found the video of the akumatized hero who attacked you and instigated the events leading to the Paris Ban.” He explained. “I apologize. We should have checked with you first, but at Conner’s request, we all watched it.”

Marinette sighed. “I thought that was buried.”

“We’re rather good at digging.” Robin’s voice could be heard on the other side of the line.

“Hang on. I’ll be right over.” She told them before hanging up.

“Marinette? What happened?” She turned to see Adrien standing before her, looking rather concerned. Picking up on her tension, he had stopped the movie. And sure enough, four little dolls stared up at her in worry.

She sighed. There was nothing else for it.

“Who wants to go on a trip?”

The Dolls perked up at that.

Adrien, however, noticed how tense she was.

“Mari?”

“They saw the tape.”

His eyes widened. “Oh.” He reached out to her, and without even thinking, she moved into his arms. He clutched her tightly, soothing her and himself. It was…not a pleasant thing to have to relive. That so-called “hero” had caused more damage than just that one day. And more than any of them had truly recovered from.

The dolls seemed to catch on to the atmosphere, because their excitement died down.

“It’ll be okay, Mari. Let’s just be there for him. And I’ll be here for you.”

She held him back just as tight.

“Together then?”

“Always.”

#ml fic #mominette #superhero ban #ml crossover #dc crossover #conner kent #robin #Young Justice #marinette dupain cheng #ladybug #adrien agreste #chat noir #dolls au #trigger warning

[hailbop1701]

25 Days of FicMas

December 23rd prompt: Person A goes Missing on Christmas and Person B goes looking

Word Count: 2,013

The Mystery Of The Missing McCoy

Okay, so this is just pure tooth-rotting fluff. Please enjoy and brush your teeth after. I love you all just so you know. I'm sorry for all the cheese...😅🧀🧀

-H❤🖖

Shore leave was supposed to be relaxing but no Leonard McCoy just had to go missing. You scowled at your comm before pocketing the device, you had just hung up with Jim. You had just told him that his best friend was still missing, “This is not how I wanted to spend my Christmas,” you grumbled as you climbed higher on a kiosk, only getting a few odd looks. ‘He is in so much trouble,’ you thought tiredly as you scanned the giant crowd. Yorktown was certainly celebrating the holidays with splendor because there were people everywhere from just about every species you could think of. Yorktown had pulled out all the stops when it came to decorating, every winter celebration from multiple cultures was represented, “This is going to be nearly impossible,” you moaned a headache forming behind your eyes. Hopping down from your elevated perch you gave the guy running the kiosk a cheeky smile. You thought hard about where you could possibly locate the Enterprises CMO, the obvious places where out. You checked. The hospital, the bars that didn’t attract too many people, the bars that attracted way too many people, and the bars in between. You checked the map on your PADD again, “Been there, and there, he would never go there but checked it anyway,” you muttered only occasionally glancing up to make sure that he wasn’t right in front of you. It would be just your luck that he would be in the crowd and you’d walk right past him. 

A frustrated anxious whine escaped your lips as you were bumped, jostled, sang to, and hit on. You kept your eyes carefully away from any salesperson on the street; who were desperate to get anybody’s attention at this point. “Come on (Y/N) where would you go if you were Leonard McCoy?” you asked yourself quietly, biting your lip you moved so you were hidden in an alcove. You leaned against the cool stone wall and closed your eyes blocking out the noise of the Winter Festival. Taking a deep breath you thought back on Leonard, his sullen attitude when it came to Christmas time, his tired eyes, him lying hurt on a biobed, and a holo image of his daughter danced in your head. “Home. He would go home,” you whispered eyes flying open, shaking your head a little you wanted to get rid of the more horrible memories. Pulling up Yorktown’s map again you scrolled through the various attractions and amenities. There. “The new Holo-decks,” you breathed a smile spreading across your face. They installed the new Holo-deck technology pretty recently and people often used it for recreational, educational, and pure homesickness. A large number of folks from the fleet use it to see home again, ‘I guess Leonard finally decided to use his free pass,’ you mused rushing over to a local transporter pad. 

The transporter dropped you off at another pad a block away from your destination, praying to whatever god that may be listening you hoped that Leonard McCoy was there. Setting a brisk pace you thought about the best way to talk to the depressed CMO slash long-term boyfriend and bring him back to the ship without too much fanfare. Pausing outside the doors of the felicity your hand hovered over the door controls. ‘Maybe I should leave him be…’ shaking the thought from your head you palmed the door. It swished open revealing a stark lobby with a reception desk. Walking up to it you saw a young Andorian man tapping away at a terminal, “I’ll be with you in just a moment,” he muttered without looking up from the screen. You suppressed an impatient sigh and scanned your surroundings. The room was pretty spartan, with a few couches and coffee tables with some holo-mags sitting on them. A coffee bar sat in the corner and the room was lazily decorated for the holidays. 

The Andorian man finally looked up from his terminal with a fake smile on his face, he clearly didn’t want to be there. “Hi I’m looking for my boyfriend and I think he might be here, Doctor Leonard McCoy?” you asked with what you hoped was a pretty and kind smile. The man pressed his lips together, “I can’t offer information like that,” he said in hesitation his mood changing at the sight of your smile. You mentally groaned, ‘I figured,’ you ran a hand through your hair and leaned against the counter of the reception desk. “Please he’s been missing for hours and if I don’t bring him back to the ship we’re assigned to soon my Captain is going to have my ass,” you hoped the partial truth would be enough to convince him. The man grumbled and tapped at his terminal and paused again looking up at you, “I’m going to go for a coffee break,” he hinted before standing up and leaving the room into an employee’s lounge. Smirking you rounded the counter and sat down at the open terminal, tapping at the screen expertly you quickly found Leonard in one of the rooms. “Holo-deck room number seven, experience: Earth, United States, Georgia” you read off the screen. Pursing your lips you accessed the door that leads to various decks and punched in the code for Leonards into the lift. 

Getting off the turbo lift was an interesting experience, you moved from the lift right onto a road lined with magnolia trees. You smiled a little at the sight and took a deep breath, the air even smelt like them. Shucking your coat you moved quickly down the little road towards what looked to be an old farmhouse. Turning your fast walk into a jog you finally caught sight of him; Leonard stood on the wrap-around porch leaning against one of the support beams. He was watching what looked to be horses milling around in the distance, “Len?” you called stopping at the bottom of the old wooden steps. The man in question turned surprised to see you, “(Y/N) darlin’ What are you doing here?” he asked brows furrowed. You huffed and heavily sat down on the stairs of the farmhouse, “Well you missed check-in, and Jim became worried after two hours of radio silence from you,” you said and Leonard moved so he was sitting next to you. His look of surprise didn’t disappear, “I din’ realize I’ve been gone so long,” he muttered rubbing his face with his hands tiredly. You hummed pulling out a tricorder, “You missed your appointment at Yorktown General, and Jim sent me to drag your ass back to the ship so you can have it there,” you mumbled reading the scanner. “And by the way, you are in so much trouble,” you muttered grouchily.  

Leonard harumphed, “What’s the prognosis?” he asked dryly, you ignored him and gently placed your hands on his face to get a good look at his eyes. “I’m a psychologist sweetie, I’m not that kind of doctor but what I saw isn’t making me happy,” you sighed and held fast when he tried to yank his face from your grip. “You’re tired, you’re blood pressure is pretty damn high, and your side is bothering you considerably. Cause you know being stabbed tends to do that,” Leonard sighed at your tirade. “I’m fine (Y/N), I just needed some time to process some things” he admitted making you deflate a little. You took your hands from his face and gently took one of his hands. “You know I love you right?” you asked feeling suddenly helpless. Leonard was distancing himself and it worried you to no end, it felt like he was going to break things off. Leonard finally looked up at you and groaned guiltily, he saw the worry, fear, and sadness in your eyes. “Ah sugar I’m sorry, I haven’t been the best boyfriend lately and-” he ran a hand through his hair while the other gripped yours. “I’m just a nervous wreck and that mission didn’t help things…” he trailed off leaving you confused. “Why would you be nervous I don-” you opened and closed your mouth like a fish, shock washed over you as Leonard pulled something from his pocket and knelt in front of you. 

“(Y/N) I’ve been sitting on this damn ring for a couple of months now. I had no clue on how to ask you and then the away mission happened,” Leonard took a deep breath and you couldn’t help but hold yours. “I think you findin’ me today meant that I need to get off my ass and swallow my fears. I love you so much it hurts and I want you with me in that glorified tin can we call home with the craziest family I’ve ever had. Will you marry me darlin’?” and the world stopped. You let out your breath and got on your knees with him, “If I could say yes a million times I would. I’ll love you until every star, sun, and planet dies,” you whispered resting your hands on his cheeks. Leonard steadily took the ring from the ornate box and slipped it onto your left hand; the ring fit perfectly and the sudden heaviness just felt right. You looked at the simpleness of it and beamed happily, the band itself was a rose-gold and in the center sat a moonstone with a dozen or so little diamonds surrounded it like stars. You looked up at Leonard to say how beautiful it was but he surged forward capturing your lips with his own. After a few moments of not being able to breathe in the best kind of way the holo-deck beeped and ended the session. Leonard helped you to your feet holding you closely with a grin still firmly in place, he pulled out his communicator, “McCoy to Enterprise,” 

Uhura answered with a smile in her voice, “Enterprise to McCoy. Hey Len are you ready?” she asked. You couldn’t help but shake your head, ‘This had to be a setup’ Leonard looked down at you wrapping an arm around your waist muttering “Damn kid,” under his breath. “Two to beam up Scotty,” he said louder to the CE knowing he was listening. The familiar lights of the Enterprise’s transporter covered you and Leonard in a beautiful gold. But you didn’t arrive in the transporter room, you and your now fiance landed on the bridge. As soon as you landed there were cheers and the pop of a champagne bottle; Kirk rushed over and pulled you both into a bear hug, an excited grin on his face. “I am so happy for you guys right now you have no freaking idea!” he said bouncing a little, you chuckled and then full out laughed when more people joined the hug. Chekov, Sulu, and Scotty squeezed you and Leonard tight. Your fiance griped and complained but you knew that was all for show, and by the smile, he couldn’t keep off his face he was loving every moment of it. 

Nyota grabbed your hand examining the ring that sat there intently, “It’s gorgeous!” she breathed turning your hand so she could see it from different angles. Spock looked at it over her shoulder almost fascinated by it, “I also find it pleasing to look at,” he complimented and bowed his head holding up his hand in the traditional Vulcan salute. “I must congratulate you (Y/N) and I wish you and Leonard peace and happiness,” he said his eyes betraying what his tone didn’t. You copied the salute easily, “Thank you, Spock,” the Vulcan nodded his head once and his eyes changed from happy to amused. “It will be most beneficial to the ship that there will be two Doctor McCoy’s serving aboard her,” the statement made kirk bark out a laugh. You looked at Leonard over Chekov’s head, he gave you a crooked smile, and you knew at that moment that things were changing for the better and that you will never be alone again. 

Tags:

@thottiewithashotgun

@lauraaan182

@writerdee1701

@dw-writes

@marvelouslytrekking

@spenceneedsahug

#star trek aos #leonard mccoy x reader #leonard mccoy #jim kirk #reader insert #25 days of ficmas #hailey the queen of typos

[vitalityofficial]

Vitality LORE ACT 1 - The Girl: Prologue

VITALITY LORE // A1 - The Girl

Summary: We are introduced to a young girl whose life is about to change forever. After suffering a devastating loss, a mysterious man will eventually come into her life and begin his dark path of vengeance. The girl is only the beginning.

Warnings: Death, Cursing, Mentions of Blood, Bullying, Depression, PTSD, Anxiety

Wordcount: 1,778

School had been out for an hour now and all her friends had gone home. Why hadn't her parents come yet? They never took this long! And why haven't they called? She took her phone out, dialing her father's number and it rang and rang before going to voicemail.

"Dad! I'm still waiting. Are you okay? I'll wait for fifteen more minutes and if you aren't here, I'll walk home! I'll take the special kimchi route, okay? I love you!"

The 'special kimchi route' is a series of alleyways littered with various family-owned shops - one of those shops owned by an older woman who had the best kimchi dishes around and one her family ate at often.

The girl frowns after the fifteen minutes are up and finally hops off the swing, grabbing her book bag and sighing. "Traffic must be bad today," she reasoned, leaving the gated school property and making the long trek home. She still found it odd that neither had contacted her, but her mother's cellphone was being repaired and her father was old and sometimes didn't pick up service well. They lived far up in the hills - the rather "poor" part of Seoul, tucked far away with the main city in the distance - and any nearby payphones were broken and left to rot.

As she walks and walks, she can't help but to hum a happy tune, feeling perky despite everything. Her birthday was in 5 days and her parents had promised to take her to Busan for a whole week! Her best friend had moved there last year and the two didn't get to keep in contact so it was the perfect way to celebrate a special day.

"You! Child!" A gruff voice spoke from a darkened corner and she yelps when a frail hand grabs her arm, spinning her around. "Grandma! You scared me!" She laughs, hugging the older unrelated woman. She was a well-known resident to all in the small neighborhood and the girl's family was very familiar with her.

“It’s so awful, child! Truly terrible!” The elderly woman murmurs, her eyes wide and pupils as big as saucers. The girl frowns and a look of concern comes over her face - word around was that Grandma was not well and often spouted eccentric things but the other residents often did their best to take care of her as there were no known relatives around. “Are you okay, Grandma? Shall I help you home? It’s getting chilly out.” The girl softly grabs her hand, guiding her in the direction of the woman's house.

“I am so sorry, my sweet girl. You are to endure so much pain and it is not fair for you were destined for so much good.” The old lady rambles as they walk but the girl brushes it off, use to it. When they reach the final hill - which happens to split off into a fork - the girls home on the right and a cliff just across the weather-beaten road and the woman’s on the left - they are overwhelmed by the flashing lights of multiple police cars and an ambulance.

“What’s going on?” The girl panics as she takes everything in, immediately dropping the old lady’s hand as she rushes towards the commotion. She had never seen so many people gathered around this area and to her horror - right in front of her house!

"Was there an accident? What happened?" She pleads with an officer, who immediately stops her from crossing the tape barrier. "It's not safe, young lady. Please stay back!" The female cop grasps the girls shoulders, pushing her back. It wasn't soon enough though as the girl peaks around her, seeing a trail of blood that went over the cliff edge - something truly abnormal and mortifying.

“That’s my home! Where's are my Mother and Father?” She was panicking now - something clearly wasn’t right. Her parents were never late picking her up from school or activities and to come home to this...mess...The girl knew now that something terrible had happened and there was no hiding it from her. “Mama? Papa?” She screams desperately, tears instantly flooding down her cheeks.

The officer gave her a solemn look before turning to her superior, the two whispering among themselves for a couple of minutes. When they returned, the woman put a reassuring hand on her shoulder and guided her away from the commotion, sitting on a bench with her - a bench the girl often sat on with her Father when they ate breakfast and waited for the school van to pick her up each morning.

The officer didn’t waste much time breaking the news. “My dear, I am afraid your Mom and Dad had an accident and are no longer with us in this world.” Though her voice was gentle, it was clear that breaking such awful news to a child wasn’t something she did often, or even wanted to do.

The girl sputtered, unable to form any words. She looked around for the Grandmother but the woman was nowhere in sight now. “Mama...Papa?” She cries out weakly - the thought of never seeing them or speaking to them ever again filling her with an overwhelming sense of despair, leaving her gasping for air.

Everything went black then.

7 Years Later - (2016)

“Yah! Chaewon! Are you even listening? Hey! Watch out!” A firm hand grabs the girl's arm and yanks her backward just as a delivery scooter races past, beeping madly. “Are you spacing out again? What is with you?” Areum looked at her friend worriedly, the rapper of the triangle kimbap she was holding in her opposite hand crinkling loudly.

“Huh? What did I miss?” Chaewon snaps out of her funk, a tentative smile on her face. Areum groans in response, rolling her eyes as she takes a bite of her snack. “I said,” she begins with her mouth full of food, “I was thinking of asking Kangdae out. Isn’t he handsome, yeah? He’s not like the other boys in our class.”

“He’s a bit dumb, isn’t he?” Chaewon mutters. Sure, he was cute and had muscles but he wasn’t exactly known to be bright and was at the bottom of their class in terms of grades unlike Areum, who was in the top five.

Areum groans and smacks her friend on the arm. “Don’t be so rude, Unnie! He’s not stupid, okay? He just doesn’t really like studying but he’s a good person! He wants to get into music and he’s really good at it too! You should listen to one of his tracks he’s produced!” She goes to pull out her phone, biting her lip as she scrolls through some files.

“Maybe another time, yeah?” Chaewon waves dismissively at the cellular device her friend holds out to her. “I have to get home.”

“Let me walk you!” Areum offers, linking her arm through Chaewons. She was understandably concerned about her friend - who had been experiencing sporadic blackouts for a couple months now - and wanted to make sure she got home safely. “I mean, you did just nearly get shit on by a scooter while having one of your...moments.”

Chaewon shook her head, “No! I’m fine! Plus you know how my parents are.” Areum pouts, grumbling. “They have to be the lamest parents on earth if they won’t let their daughter bring a friend home. We’ve been besties since forever and I’ve never even met them! Ugh...”

"Yeah. They’re...strict and really embarrassing, to be honest. You’re not missing out on much.” Chaewon huffs, checking her phone for the time. “I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah?” She forces a smile at her friend, pulling her school blazer around her tighter as suddenly a chilly breeze whipped through the air. The two said their goodbyes and went their separate ways.

As Chaewon walked, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for being so distant lately. Areum had been a true friend to her ever since her move to Gwangmyeong. She was the first student to welcome her. The first to defend her against the snotty students who picked on Chaewon for being sullen, quiet and “weird”. Prior to the...incident, she had no real issues with bullies and was rather well-liked by her peers.  She had since become the opposite version of former herself - the girl her parents adored was gone and she had no proper concept on how to defend herself or react to the other student's harsh words and actions.

So why was she so rude at times? Why did she lie to someone she considered her best friend? Chaewon had come to the conclusion that it was a defense mechanism of sorts. The only way she could deal with everything was by lying about her life outside of school. It made it easier to pretend - the façade she had created was an escape, albeit still very bleak, much like the truth.

The sounds of the city center grew more distant as she reached the iron gates of her “home”. Her slender hand gripped the cool iron and pushed it open slowly, the squealing of the metal sending a shiver down her spine. Laughter could be heard flittering from the playground behind the old stone building that housed 13 other kids just like her:

Orphans.

The Seojun house for orphans wasn’t too terrible - the food was edible on most days and the rats and roaches were few and far between as of late. The couple who ran it weren’t the kindest and had clearly become burnt out after running the institution for the past 20 years. If they hadn’t been getting a good sum of government money to run it, they most definitely would have abandoned the ominous place long ago. What made the place tolerable were some of the staff, like Mr. Kim.

“Welcome home, Miss Lee!” Mr. Kim - the designated maintenance and security man --  greets Chaewon with a cheery smile as she approached the front door. He even stops raking to open it for her, bowing and motioning with a hand for her to enter as if she were royalty.

“Ah! yes! Home sweet home! Thank you, Mr. Lee.” She manages to muster a smile, bowing as she walks through the familiar doors and sighing loudly. Her smile falters as she is out of the caretakers sight and the familiar sense of dread slowly overcomes her once again.

#📁 VITALITY LORE - A1: The Girl - Prologue #bobakocnet #mochikocnet #aeskocnet #📄 - Subject X #👧 - Lee Chaewon #→Persona Of: Hyun Nara #koc #idol oc #fake kpop group #kpop au #kpop addition #kpop imagines #fake kpop idol #kpop!oc #kpop!au #kpop ff #kpop roleplay #oc kpop #kocsociety #idol!au #idol!oc #Act 1 - The Girl

[bubbleyumss]

The Scorch - LOKI - BUCKY - PT2.

It's a few weeks after the readers and Loki's first mission together, and during a press event they are reminded of what the public still think of them. Loki's not too impressed, and has some words of advice.

TW: Not much, mentions of harm/death/some magic n flame use?

It was time for the tri-monthly press event, Fury wished to hold one every so often so that we could share with the modern media what we have done and who we are. It was severely degrading in my opinion, they were pretty much just grand parties where a few journalists who had paid enough to be there managed to mingle their way through the crowds of other suck-ups to get a two-minute exclusive from Steve Rogers, seeing as he was always the one they wished to speak to. It was held at the old Avengers tower, as it was still owned by Stark it was now just leased out for events of this calibre.

I sat at the bar, looking out at the crowd of random faces, those that had paid a high price or had friends in high places, and the odd spattering of familiar faces. I was never approached by journalists in these situations, as they believed me too dangerous. It was the same story with Bucky and the newest recruit, Loki, as they saw us all as the help cases, only wishing to talk to us when we were next to someone redeemable.

Speaking of Loki, his face had disappeared from the crowd some time ago, I knew this because I had been watching him. Since our first mission was a success, the team had allowed him to join on a probation basis; this meant that the raft of new start-up bases we had found when in Argentina we were tasked with finding and shutting them down. It had been about four months since our first one, and we had found and destroyed five of them. It seemed that they were beginning to trust Loki and I as a team, though I wondered if it was done on purpose, for the very same reason that reporters were avoiding us both like the plague. We were the outcasts, Bucky too, but when you had the friendship and advocacy of America's most loved hero you were hardly seen as such, but Loki and I, two people who had killed and maimed on our own free will, were seen as irredeemable. This irritated me more than others knew, as with the past that Bucky and I shared I would have hoped that I would share in just an ounce of his redemption, but it seemed I reminded him far too much of the Winter Soldier, so I was cast aside.

"You don't look like you're enjoying yourself." Nat's voice brought me out of my thoughts, I turned to her and gave a small, defeated smile.

"Am I supposed to be?" I tried to laugh, "Is it really a press night when no press will talk to me." I rolled my eyes, leaning back against the bar. I wore something suggested by Nat, as to try and make me look like any normal woman at these events, meaning a skintight sparkly dress. I felt extremely uncomfortable, used to trousers and long sleeves, but it made me fit in really well.

"It was the same with me when S.H.E.I.L.D first started up. You'll become more approachable in time, look, already..." She began, nodding her head toward a smaller man holding a recording device nervously making his way to us both. I sat up straight, watching his smile falter.

"Um, hello ladies, I'm from the Evening Empire, do you mind if I get a couple of answers from you?" He smiled, directing most of his eye contact towards Natasha. I held the urge to roll my eyes, smiling through my uncomfortable uneasiness growing in my body.

"Of course, shoot." Nat smiled, gesturing for him to begin.

"Okay well, I suppose I must ask do you mind if I use your agent names for this article?" He then asked, glancing my way rather quickly. I held in my sigh, keeping my back straight. I looked to Nat, her eye giving me her usual look, we both looked back, nodding. "Great, okay, so Black Widow and The Scorch-" I took a sharp intake of breath as he spoke the name. I hated it. "How are things now that Stark is no longer at the helm, does Fury retain the same influence?"

"Stark still has his input, of course, but it was always Fury's project, and he was always the one giving orders and putting us to missions in the first place. So, nothing has really changed." Nat shrugged. I told him how it was unfair for me to answer, seeing as I hadn't really been under command of Stark, he was away in the Blip, and when he returned he played his part as we all did.

"Black Widow, are you visiting Hawkeye? How is he and are we likely to see his return to the team any time soon?" He asked, his recorder being pushed past my face so that he could reach Nat. I looked away, trying to compose myself, suddenly catching the amused eyes of Loki. He was across the room, in a very similar position with his brother, Thor. The reporters, all women, were practically pushing him aside to get to Thor, but his brother held an iron tight grip on him, forcing him to stay put. I rolled my eyes, smirking as I did, knowing that he would understand my pain. His own smirk graced his face, giving a small nod of appreciation. "A question for you, Black Widow, and of course you may jump in if you wish, but how has it been adjusting to anti-hero's joining the team? Of course, we know of the Winter Soldier and his road to redemption, I wondered if it is the same for The Scorch, or even the newest member, Loki?" He then asked, gaining my attention. I looked to him, making him flinch slightly; I then glanced to Nat, who held an apologetic look on her face.

"No one in this team in perfect, and it's unfair to say that someone can't decide to help others now because of past mistakes." She shrugged, answering much more eloquently than I would have been able to.

"Killing hundreds of people hardly counts as mistakes, The Scorch burnt down, what is it, five cities to date?" He asked, passing the recorder to me, as if I was supposed to fact check him. I scoffed, giving up on my niceties.

"Just as Nat said, no one here is perfect. I'm sure if you counted the bodies in Sokovia you could add up to how many I have-" I stopped myself, taking in a deep breath, "My 'road to redemption' as you called it is long, I know. No longer than Bucky's, but you all seem to love him now, so I'm sure one day I'll get there." I gave a tight-lipped smile, getting to my feet in a way that made the reporter take a few steps back, I could feel myself heating up so I looked back to Nat, "I'll see you later." I sighed, quickly removing myself from the bar and through the crowd.

I found myself outside, just needing to gasp as much fresh air as I could. It was suffocating, all of it. As much as I loved living with my team, working with them, finally finding a place that I could be myself and use the powers I was burdened with for good, a lot of the time I just wish I could be done with it all. I leant against the metal of the balcony, sighing as I did. It was crystal clear, so the stars and the moon provided the perfect light to take myself away from the sounds of chatting and music playing in the room behind me. I closed my eyes, wishing to take my mind away, when footsteps were then heard behind me. I sighed, spinning on my heels quickly, wishing to scare away who ever had followed me, only to release the tension in my shoulders and face when I locked onto Loki's amused eyes.

"It's just me." He said, holding his hands up, smirking. "I suppose you're out here to get away from those insufferable journalists." He snarled, glancing behind him to where he had clearly just left his brother for the same reason. I nodded, leaning back against the railing again, crossing my arms as he continued to stalk towards me. His gaze was so very intimidating, and I couldn't help but feel nervous every time I was under it.

"I suppose you're not as much as an outcast when you have the worlds most loved Avenger by your side." I rolled my eyes, Loki's arm came to lean on the railing beside me, his eyes following mine to where Steve stood, smiling with his arm around Bucky, talking to a large group of laughing journalists, "Thor and Nat can only do so much. We're the ones they don't trust and it's not changing anytime soon."

"We are outcasts together." He then said, taking my focus away from the party. I looked up to him, watching as his blue eyes sparkled under the moonlight. We had been in mission after mission for the past few months, so I had never had time to look at him in such a way. Of course, there was the few times we would catch each other in the hallways of the compound, as his room was not far from mine, a moment would be shared, but never one so close. I gave a small smile.

"I suppose we are." His own smile reached his face, only for our attention to be taken when the music had turned up a notch, creating a livelier dance scene within the room. "I've been asked about you tonight.. though, they used a different name.." He said in a questioning tone, forcing my smile to fade.

"The Scorch. I know." I sighed, waving my arms in the air in annoyance. "I hate it."

"Why?" I looked back to him, seeing his face as genuine. In our missions he had stayed true to his word and only answered any of my questions after a time in which he saved my life. Unfortunately, or fortunately, this had happened nearly eight times. Though, somewhere in the middle, he answered more than one, and following from there we had become more comfortable talking to each other. He was right when he said we were outcasts together, as in this moment he truly felt like the only person I could talk to freely. "It's powerful, is it not?" He suggested.

"I suppose.. but it's also made to terrify people." I shrugged, "I was named it before I joined the team. They used it as my alias when I was being hunted." His face turned concerned as his body moved towards me slightly, perhaps in an effort to comfort me. "It just reminds me of the places I've turned to dust, the people who died while I worked for Hydra... and I'm sure that's all people can think of when they hear it too." I muttered, becoming nervous under his eyes. I hadn't been so open with him before, of course I knew that we were becoming closer, but to talk about my fears with the God of Mischief? It was almost destined for disaster.

"Well.. change it." He shrugged, "Change the meaning. It's the past, and while it can't be changed, the future can."

"Very philosophical." I chuckled, rolling my eyes. "It will always have that meaning."

"Okay then, here's another idea." He stood straight, showcasing his enthusiasm. He opened his arms as his mouth turned upward into a smirk. "Embrace it." He then said, suddenly multiplying himself into three. He had done this in a previous mission, forcing me to marvel at his powers. He had described them as a seidr, and that he had learnt the use of the Asgardian form of witchcraft from his mother, of course I never wanted to give him the satisfaction of being impressed, but I couldn't manage a straight face. The two beside him then disappeared just as they had appeared, "I was given the title of God of Mischief, I had to grow to fit that title rather than fight it. And look where I am now."

"You tried to take your crown, twice, failed.. you tried to invade New York, failed, and I forget, has it been three or four times now you've faked your own death?" I asked, keeping my amused smile painted to my face. He turned, rolling his eyes in an attempt to leave me; I laughed, grabbing on to his arm to pull him back, "I'm kidding. I appreciate the sentiment, Loki. I do." I smiled, suddenly pulling him far closer than I meant to. I still held onto his arm as his chest was only mere centimetres away from mine, his face looking down to me much closer than it ever had been, and I had been right. The moonlight made his eyes look like the ocean, something I could easily lose myself in. I realised the proximity, coughing awkwardly as I let go of his arm and took a step back, "So... embrace it how?" I asked, hoping to push the conversation forward.

"Have fun with it." He smiled, leaning back on the railings once more, "My brother says you can throw your ability.. you set alight his beard just by staring hard enough." He chuckled, raising his eyebrows.

"I can only do it if I concentrate, I have to be still and so do they." I sighed, "I haven't fully mastered it. It was actually how I burnt down my third foster home... if I don't concentrate I can't control it. It's dangerous." I warned, knowing what he was going to ask of me next. He shrugged.

"Okay, so concentrate." He said, scanning the crowd of people through the glass, zeroing in on a woman at the bar I had previously left Nat at. "Her feather boa seems a little obnoxious." He smirked. I turned, watching as she placed her large red boa on the top of the bar, taking up a large amount of room. I glanced back to Loki, rolling my eyes again, but unable to keep the smirk from my face.

"That's not going to help my reputation, Loki." He stood up, taking a step to me, and placing his hands on my shoulders from behind, turning my attention back to the woman. We hadn't touched this way before, it was so small, and not significant in any which way, but the feeling of his hands on my bare skin felt so... normal. I had expected the cold of his own skin to react with the heat of mine, but it was as if they cancelled each other out, making the connection feel melded.

"I embraced the unpredictability of chaos and mischief, and you must do the same with fire. You will be able to concentrate and control it more if you can practice. So, what do you say?" He questioned. My breath hitched as his mouth then came close to my ear, cheek pressed slightly to it, "Shall we have a little fun?"

I smiled, feeling the exhilaration coming from his hands on my skin; I didn't know if he were doing something to me in order to spur me on, but either way I could feel the power of expectation feeding my urge to do as he said. It felt oh so similar to when I worked for Hydra and executed their missions, but this time I knew that I wasn't about to hurt anyone, making my conscience clear for the first time in my life. I planted my feet to the floor, focusing my eyes and my energy onto this boa that was truly obnoxious, feeling myself heat myself a degree or two before the boa rather explosively set alight. Loki's hands squeezed my shoulder as we both shouted in excitement; I looked back to him just to see the smile he held on his face, seemingly proud of my accomplishment. The party goers panicked, the woman shouting about her favourite boa as other tried to run around and put it out.

"My turn." Loki then whispered, letting go of me and coming to my side. I watched his face grow determined. His eyes were trained on the people that had backed away from the bar watching the fire; suddenly the drinks within their hands began to pop, splashing into each of their faces and sending ice and small umbrellas go flying everywhere. I began to chuckle, watching on as they worried about what was happening. "Brilliant." He laughed. I looked back to him endearingly, realising that this was the first time I had heard him laugh.

"Thank you, Loki." I smiled, "Shall we get a drink?"

-

The bar had just been cleared, the people who now wore their drinks had disappeared and the ash of the feather boa had been wiped away, so it was free for Loki and me to take our place there and order ourselves some drinks.

"Oh dear, what happened here?" Loki asked the bartender, face convincingly sincere. The man shrugged.

"Weird things, man. Spontaneous combustion all over the place." He sighed, sliding our glasses to us. A smirk befell both of our faces as we held our glasses to each other, clinking together in a twisted celebration of our mischief. I wondered if this night would mean anything new for us as a team, whether it would create a new, closer dynamic or if it would make it so that Fury didn't want us to work with each other anymore. It wasn't hard for the team to figure out who did what around here, so it was only a matter of time before we were told that it was 'too dangerous' for us to work together.

"Um, hello, excuse me?" A voice then said, taking me away from my previous thoughts. It was the same man from before who questioned Nat and I, he was holding his recorder tightly in his grip, looking like he was nearly shaking. "May I question you two?" His voice held fake confidence as he looked between Loki and I, and while I commended him for facing a fear and growing the guts to talk to us both, I knew what the questions would be. I glanced to Loki, then back to the man.

"Go ahead."

"J-just the one question really... um... what do you say to those who are afraid of the partnership between The Scorch and the God of Mischief?" The moment the words left his mouth I sighed, looking to Loki who simply held his glass to his lips, allowing for me to answer the question. I looked down to the journalist, taking the recorder from his hands and holding it to my mouth.

"I have a three-point answer for you." I raised my eyebrows, noticing that I had caught the attention of others around us, "The Scorch is a name you gave me, it's connotations around destruction and death don't represent me anymore." I glanced back to Loki, "But I'm working to embrace my powers so that they don't lead to that very same destruction, so for now, I'll allow you to continue to use that name."

"Point two?" Loki's voice questioned, making me smile.

"Point two, Loki and I seem to be the outcasts, sure, but that doesn't mean that we can't do good. In fact, it's all we've been doing for the past couple of months, but you just don't know it." I rolled my eyes, watching as more and more people joined the small crowd, now including Steve and Bucky. Bucky's eyes were trained on me, arms crossed in an almost disapproving way, I had to fight away the roll of my eyes, "We have been dismantling new Hydra start-ups together, and doing a damn good job of it I would say. We are outcasts together, and so we will continue to work together." I sighed, glancing back at Loki in order to get his final input.

"Point three?" He suggested, eyes twinkling with mischief once again. I looked back to the reporter, not before catching the eye of others around us as to join them in on the conversation.

"To truly answer your question, you shouldn't be afraid of us. Fearing us is pointless when all we are trying to do it help the state of the world as it is." I shrugged, "This world is in far more disarray than Loki or I could possibly cause, so as we both do our jobs, and have fun while we do so, just get on with your lives." I gave a wry smile as I handed it back to the journalist, watching as his lips twitched as if to say something. Though it seemed that all he could manage was an insincere smile, nodding his head before he scurried away. I turned back to Loki, pulling my drink to my lips as he smiled down at me.

"That was marvellous." He commented, amusement seeping through his words. "I may grow to actually like you."

"You can admit that you already do, Loki, it won't make me see you as any less of a God." I winked, perhaps coming across far more flirtatious than I set out to be. I froze for a moment, not knowing how he was going to take it, but as his smile turned to its side into a smirk, I felt an unfamiliar heat rise in my stomach. I was used to all types of heat, I knew how my body reacted to things, but this was new.

"You may be right."

#loki x reader #loki #loki odinson #loki laufeyson #loki x you #loki x reader insert #mcu #marvel #fluff #marvel fluff #loki fanfic #loki imagine #loki odinson imagine #loki (marvel) #god of mischief #magic!reader #mutant au #marvel au #avengers #avengers au #quick fic #tom hiddleston #pls let me know if u like #its more bucky soon i promis #just need to set up loki first #:( i love him

[growingupautie]

StoryTime: The White Card Incident

(2,770 words but worth the read.)

In January of 2013, I was promoted from a part-time weekend job as a technology sales representative for Lenovo to the Marketing Development Manager for Lenovo in charge of half of my entire city of Houston. For a while, I felt like I was on top of the world. I loved my job and traveling through my city. I loved meeting all the people in the 50 plus stores I had to visit and started to memorize a lot of them and what we talked about.

I even made my route have me end up near Chinatown on some days so I could stop by and eat lunch there (and get some things from my favorite bakery.) But just as Kandace and I were planning on using this newfound position to get an apartment together, something terrible happened. In October of that year, we got on our weekly conference call as we always did, but the mood seemed somber and no one was talking or laughing like they used to.

When our boss came on, she also seemed upset and had trouble getting her words out. I could tell that everyone on the call, all 20 plus of us from across the United States just wanted her to say what was happening so we could rip the bandaid off. After a minute of praise that felt hollow given the tone of the call, someone finally asked if she could get to the news we were told to expect.

She said "sorry" and continued to tell us that the parent company we work for had lost the contract with Lenovo after failed negotiations and our positions were being terminated immediately. The call somehow fell more silent. Everyone had questions. Myself included. But in the end, we found out most of what we wanted to know. The Lenovo branded cars we drove were to be returned, (I had let my vehicle stay broken down as I didn't need it and it would be expensive to fix.)

The laptop we were provided was to be returned as well along with the phone, and hotspot device. But the most important bit of info came when someone asked if we would be allowed to apply for unemployment. "Of course we would be able to. We paid into it, we worked, we should be able to get that back." but to our surprise, the boss said something along the lines of "no don't do that! We could get in trouble! We haven't paid into that!" All of us were stunned. Someone asked how that was even possible.

It turns out the loophole in the law they had found was that because the company was in Akron Ohio, and we all worked and paid taxes in our various other cities somehow they managed to not pay into it. We didn't get bogged down into the why or how, but all that meant to us was suddenly we were without cars and a paycheck and would be denied unemployment. I was devastated. I really thought I had found a place to grow and could see myself making a career out of it.

We were about to sign papers on an apartment and suddenly I'm without a job, without a working car, and without any kind of financial assistance. Some issues happened around my family and after a short time, I got my car somewhat fixed and I moved out of the house into Dadaw's (grandmother's) house. I tried frantically to get another job. After all, I had just been in charge if half of Houston for a big company. Surely I would be offered another position somewhere soon.

But as time went by, nobody had called. I had very little money left, and very little outside help if any. Hope was dwindling, relationships were strained. I had spoken to at least 20 job placement agencies. After my mom informed me that I had been diagnosed as Autistic as a child, I had reconnected with D.A.R.S. (Department of Rehabilitative Services) who help people with disabilities get help with work and other things.

But they refuse to help me based on my other medical issues because they closed my case before, and they refused to help me as an Autistic until I got rediagnosed. They paid for me to be rediagnosed, I did so with no sleep, having skipped dinner and breakfast, and with a ridiculous amount of stress on my shoulders.

I aced their IQ test minus the memory portion, and after a while of convincing the doctor I was Autistic through old stories and experiences and the fact that I had been diagnosed, he agreed. That day, I went home with my heart sunk in my chest. I felt like a failure for needing this kind of help. I felt like a broken or incomplete person because I couldn't do it on my own.

And after months of their "help," working with a bunch of disability-based job agencies, the "help" of 20 plus other job placement agencies I had saught out, and filling out applications online myself, no matter what I tried, I couldn't get a job anywhere. I couldn't afford to eat, and I didn't want Dadaw to pay for me as she often couldn't afford much. A few people in my life suggested I get food stamps. Several people in my life told me I should apply food stamps. But the idea of that in itself was terrifying.

But after a while, between eating very little, my friends taking me out from time to time, and constant pestering from my family I felt I was left with no choice. I went to the food stamp office with my head down, the people around me had the same downtrodden demeanor. When they called me back, I felt a rush of emotions. Guilt, remorse, sorrow, anger that it came to this.

But most of all, I felt embarrassed. Growing up, food stamps had been used as an insult toward the people around me, I knew at one point my family had needed them and used them and I felt like as someone who had been constantly bullied growing up, I was opening myself up for more. I played through a million scenarios in my head as I walked back. Someone I know seeing me at the checkout counter, the cashier silently judging me, the people around me, me dropping the white card with the unmistakable logo in front of someone.

I snapped out of it and sat down in the interview room to answer questions to determine my eligibility. But it felt like a police interrogation to me. I felt like I was cheating the system. Like it wasn't for me, but someone else who deserved it. Someone else who needed it. I felt the eyes of the interviewer boring into me as if to say "why are you even here?" I spoke up about to break. "I...I don't even want to do this." Her face changed from accusatory and annoyed, to shock.

I let her know that I felt like I had no other choice, that I felt embarrassed. I explained my situation, and she looked at me almost begrudgingly endearing. "Son, if you need help, you need help." she said. "That's what it's here for." I felt somewhat relieved or at least a little better about not actually cheating the system. They accepted my application, and I was approved.

When I got the card, I was once again filled with dread. Replaying the simulations over and over in my head a million times. Finding a way to cheat the system in a way to avoid being bullied, I realized I could use the self-check-out. Then quickly realized if I get one of those "please remove items from cart" messages or something else regarding my card, someone would have to come up and help me anyway.

Still, I figured it was my best hope for avoiding confrontations, and I parked outside the grocery store. I checked my balance on the card and made sure everything was working, went in and got a basket, and started shopping while feeling like a spy. Like somehow I would get caught and it would be the end of the road for me. I'm honestly surprised nobody thought I was shoplifting as nervous as I was.

When I was done, I walked over to the self-check-out area doubling down on my earlier decision when a woman stopped me and said they were all closed for repairs. Panic set in. I didn't say anything. I just sort of smiled and walked away with my basket.

The 15 items or less line was almost empty but I had too many items. The next line had too many people. The next few lines had the same amount of people and items, and I started doing the math on which cashier was scanning and bagging faster vs how judgmental they look trying to get myself into the best possible situation.

Eventually, I found a line sandwiched between two closed lines with only one woman and her 2 kids in the basket with a few items. The cashier didn't seem to care much about anything and didn't seem like a gatekeeper or any other kind of threat. And the woman in front of me seemed sad and aloof as well so I felt like things were going to be ok. The woman smiled at me and apologized for having so many items. "It's not that much. It's fine." I responded with a smile.

But suddenly from behind me, I felt a high strung angry presence. Like a monster who's in a hurry and I'm in his path. As each item was scanned, he started saying "Oh God...." "Of course..." and "Just great..." in a demeaning and monstrous tone. The woman continued to hide her face with her back to him and sulked further into herself as he continued. "Cash or credit?" The cashier asked in a monotone voice. "I...uh...Here..." The woman said quietly and she tried to hand her..."A food stamp card..." I thought to myself.

I realized that I and the woman felt the same at that moment. In need of help, but afraid to seek it out, and even afraid to use it once that help had been provided. I started to piece the scene together realizing the kids had beat up shoes and clothes, and the woman did as well. They were clearly hungry and frightened by this angry rhino of a person and just wanted to get some food. I started to think of all the scenarios that could have put them in that situation. But then I realized it didn't matter.

Only a moment had passed while I thought through all of these things, the children were terrified of this man already and then he saw it..."OH GREAT! MY TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!" he screamed scaring the kids even more. He began to verbally narrate what he thought her situation was. accusing her of getting "knocked up" to "leech off the system." He said people like them were a "drain on the economy" all while using language inappropriate to use around her children.

At that moment after the initial shock wore off, I grasped my card in my pocket as anger built up inside of me. I knew what I was afraid of, I had built it up in my head, and this ignorant jerk was making it a reality for a down on their luck mom and her two scared children. I immediately pivoted. "What did you just say?" I told him with a face that said: "I dare you to repeat that." apparently too blustered to care, he said, "I SAID PEOPLE LIKE HER ARE A DRAIN ON THE ECONOMY!"

I whipped my card out and held it in-between two fingers right in his face. "And what about me?" I spoke out with an angry but in control tone. "I...Uh..." he said as it became clear to me, like most bullies, this one was only doing this because he thought his targets (this mom and her kids) would not be able to defend themselves. I yelled at him more, trying to control my voice so I didn't frighten the kids anymore "Well, you had all kinds of ignorant crap to say a minute ago!"

He snapped out of his shock bullies go into when someone stands up to them. "Wh...Why don't you mind your own business?! I WASN'T EVEN TALKING TO YOU! WHY DON'T YOU FIND ANOTHER LINE!" He started to build up steam again making the children huddle in the cart.

Having had enough of his nonsense I moved my card, leaned in with a scowl, got uncomfortably close to his face and angrily whispered: "Why don't YOU find another line before I find one for you..." a terrified look came across his face as he realized doubling down on his ignorance would not get the job done and after a pained audible gulp in the "big man's" throat he was frantically on his way spouting off "That's what I thought" and other face-saving phrases.

I timidly turned back to the family making sure I had dropped my "don't mess with me" persona (My Autistic folks know this one) so I didn't scare them. I asked them if they were ok. Her eyes were filled with tears, and so were the kids. She smiled at me and thanked me for stepping in. I told her kids that it was ok because he was gone now and offered to walk them to their car. She said she appreciated it but they would be fine.

The checkout woman handed her a receipt and obviously wanted to stay out of the situation. I saw the woman leave and she smiled at me on the way out. I had enough items that it took a good 5 minutes to check me out. I realized in that time I was no longer afraid of being seen with my card. Maybe it was the adrenaline of standing up to that bully, maybe it was outing myself to protect that family, after all, it would be silly to be afraid now that everyone had clearly seen it.

I paid, went outside, and on my windshield was a note on small lined paper that had been torn out of a planner of some sort that said: "You will be blessed all the days of your life." I don't know who left it, or if it was in response to what happened, or even how they found out which car was mine, but it was there.

The message here is two-fold. First, it is easy to get caught up in thinking you don't need help, or that even if you did it isn't for you. "It's for someone more deserving." sometimes it's just the fear of being bullied or ridiculed for accepting it. And because of this, a lot of people wait until they hit "the bottom" before they ever consider asking and even then they might not.

In a better world, we would destigmatize the need for help. Therapy, government assistance, shelters, these things are in place to help people, and if people need help, they should be able to get it without being berated to tears over it. The last thing someone who's questioning if they need help or not needs is some blowhard with their ignorant opinions of why they don't. Which brings me to the second message.

If you see something like this happening, and you have the power to step in whether you are personally affected or not, do it. This includes all forms of bullying. Bullies are cowards. They may double down, but once these types of people realize that we won't allow this anymore and there are actually people who will stand against them, they buckle under the pressure. If you see it, shut it down.

This has been another [Growing Up Aspie] Storytime. If you'd like to help me make more content more often, please consider supporting me at Paypal.me/growingupaspie or with a monthly pledge of $1 or more at patreon.com/irishwolfproductions. Thank you for your support.

-Nathan Alan McConnell

#autism #selfworth #story #growingupaspie #autistic #aspie #storytime #foodstamps #help #bully #bullies #gatekeeper

[oneirataxxiaa]

WITCHES AND DRUIDS

a little gift for @silverdecepticon93 for their amazing writing. some klarion content!

written by Persephone. Anastasia did some editing and helped me write Klarion correctly. It's a bit of a slow burn, and I probably got some story facts wrong, but I hope you enjoy!

requests are OPEN , remember to specify who you would like to write your oneshot. Anastasia, or Persephone.

• • • •

It's not that the weather wasn't pleasurable, it was, really. the sun was out, reflecting off the oceans subtle waves and warming the grey pavement just enough for beach-goers with no shoes to begin to hop from foot to foot. The wind was perfect, swaying the tall palm trees that lined the coastal road, every now and again, causing a hat to fly off in its cool breeze, making it's owner run after it with calls of protest. A girl in her late teens leaned back on a uncomfortably tacky faux beach chair just outside the open air cafe. Her hair moved slowly, partially from the outside breeze and partially from the squeaking old metal fan making slow rotations just inside the door. It blew no dust, so it was clearly well used considering the heat.

Happy Harbour seemed just that, happy. Everything had been calm the past few months, villain attacks were incredibly low, no major plots had been uncovered, and the group known as The Light was seemingly inactive after the league and teams triumph over them. The lack of attacks had Robin and Kaldur on edge anticipating something being planned in the shadows, but Y/n, Artemis, Megan and Wally had taken the opportunity to enjoy Rhode Island for what it was. In the ginger speedsters words, a paradise just waiting to be explored.

Zatanna Zatura was across the round table from Y/n, in casual clothes with a black baseball cap and a vanilla milkshake in hand, sipping on the straw slowly. Y/n herself had her favourite flavor smoothie resting on the table, her phone in hand as the camera on the device recorded what was happening in the small grass patch to their left. Wallace West swore on his life that he had landed a back flip the day before, which the rest of his friends refused to believe. In trying to prove his ability, he was attracting some strange stares from passers by, and rather ice filled glare from a mother who corralled her three kids, most likely in their early preteens, away, hurriedly muttering about 'unethical teenager'. Quite an interesting thing to be thrown their way, but the teen heroes had had worse hurled at them in their exploits as protectors of justice.

"Wally" Megan laughed, a short snort escaping her lips as she watched the boy try to land another flip. " You're going to break something". The Martian was resting on the grass, watching what was happening unfurl.

"cheers to that! please do!" Artemis' words were filled with sarcasm. The blonde teen making her way towards the table and picking up her drink to take a sip. Wally dropped to the ground again and sprawled out on the grass, crushing the green blades under his body. Y/n cringed slightly.

"you girls are no fun, even Connor is more fun to hang out with, at least he encourages me to improve my wicked moves" Wally pulled himself to his feet with a bounce and brushing off his pants with little success, the mucky dew soaked dirt already staining them brown at the knees. Y/n was glad he did his own laundry, she didn't want to be the one to wash those stains out. The girl stopped the video on her phone with the press of a button, dropping her hand to her side and turning the object off.

"I'd like to argue with that" Connor complained, he seemed to have appeared out of no where, walking towards them, ebony shirt still sporting the superman signal. He seemed a little happier today, perhaps it was the immaculate weather. Y/n reckoned it could put anyone in a good mood, even Connor, who hadn't been as happy has he could have been lately. His relationship with Megan had be strained.

"The man, the myth, the legend, how could you betray me my main man? You're really going to let the girls pick on your best friend?" Wallys drama queen was showing as he rested a hand on his head in a damsel in distress motion.

"Wolf is my best friend, you are" Connor faked a thoughtful expression, "an unfortunate acquaintance". Y/n could see the joking sparkle in Connors eyes. It was strange. Strange, but good. He deserved some joy in these darker days. "anyways, the reason I'm here for two reasons, reason one being because Robin decided to have an identity crisis, he's changing his name"

"Please tell me it's not another bird, I don't want it to be a bird" Artemis groaned, dropping heavily into one of the chairs. It groaned in protest from the sudden and violent weight.

"I don't know what he's gone with, but second reason I'm here is because we've got a new team member, Batman just made a visit and brought someone with him-"

"Batman was at the cave! and you didn't tell me! is he still there?" Wally began to vibrate from excitement, sparks ran down his arms and legs.

"When I left he was, bu-". Wally was gone in a literal flash, leaving the remaining team looking around frantically, glade the citizens of Happy Harbour seemed content in being too interested in their own lives to notice a super-powered boy and his friends.

"we should probably make sure he doesn't break anything, and welcome the new team member huh?" Zatanna said with a sigh, getting to her feet and stretching her arms up, elbows cracking slightly. As the group collected their drinks, waving goodbye to the cafes owner, who they knew well due to their frequent return to the place, Y/n saw something that peaked her interest, making the girl pause and turn towards it.

"Y/n, you coming or what girl?" Zatanna called out. The group somehow was a good ways away from her now, standing, ready to cross the pedestrian crossing at the coastal road. The curious frown on her face must have given something away.

"um, I'll catch up, yeah? say hi to the newbie for me?" the uncertainty in her voice made Zatanna pause, but nod, turning back just in time to walk with the others across the road.

Turning back towards the curiosity, it stared at her with dark eyes, watching her movement. Y/n walked over and bent down, petting the feline behind it's ears, coaxing a purr from the familiar cat-daemon.

"Hello Teekl" the teen greeted, "what are you doing here?" her hand continued to pet the creature, before it shook it's head, pushing your hand away with the action and going to work on licking its paw. Cats were always strange, but she supposed their sudden mood changed were due to their nature.

"I feel like you're just in this for the cute cat" the voice was monotonous and Y/n recognised it immediately. Turning her head slightly, she spied the source of the voice. He looked different, slightly older, taller, and dressed in more civilian esque clothing. Perhaps to attempt to blend in with the surrounding crowds of people.

"The cats a bonus" Y/n gave one final pet to Teekl before walking to the table she was sitting at previously, Klarion Bleak now occupying Zatannas previous location. "How are you? I haven't seen you since the whole light thing". I'd been about five months and the league was still recovering. Klarion got a sour look on his face, pausing, he fiddled with the hem of his shirt, a neat black button up dress shirt. He looked, perplexed.

"I've been keeping my head down I guess, Savage lose his mind after we lost, been hounding anyone who talks to about it" the strange look remained on his face. "I've been banned from annoying the justice brats, no offence, until he comes up with something new"

Y/n dismissed the nickname for her team and frowned herself. "Robins noticed, it's got him freaked out, running crazy circles trying to figure out what Vandal Savage is planning" a small grin rose on her face. Klarion noticed movement, seeing small clovers begin to crawl their way out of the cracks in the pavement. That caused the small smile that few saw to appear.

"your magic is getting better". That was how they met. Before the team. Both of them were young magic users, each pulled down a different road. One good, One evil. But between them there was balance, peace. Order and Chaos meeting in the middle for a calm chat and shared news on a sunny day.

"I've been getting better at it, but there's always room for more practice as Aqualad says" Y/n laughed. Silence entered their conversation. It wasn't awkward however, as it sometimes was among friends or co workers. It was a comfortable silence of enjoying a summers day without the chaos of the world. It be nice if things stayed like that, balanced, forever. But soon, Unfortunately, their friendship would burn and break. Being torn to their sides, ripped from the comforting friendship, forced to fight each other to prove loyalty to each side. No. Order and Chaos were balanced, but wars tended to tip that scale and break it. In the process, something much more important was shattered.

fin

#young justice x reader #young justice oneshot #klarion x reader

[tiramisiyu]

Tears of Themis: Main Story 5-18 Translation

Translated parts: Chapter 5 – Sounds of Falling Snow (Part 1, 2, 3): 5-1 / 5-3 / 5-5 / 5-7 / 5-9 / 5-11 / 5-13 ♦️ ♦️  5-14 / 5-16 / 5-18 / 5-20 / 5-22 / 5-24 / 5-26 / 5-28 ♦️ ♦️ 5-29 / 5-31 / 5-33 / 5-35 / 5-37 / 5-39 / 5-40 / 5-42 / 5-43 Translation Masterlist: here

Video: (16:34)   【未定事件簿】最新主线雪落有声中篇完整剧情_哔哩哔哩 (゜-゜)つロ 干杯~-bilibili

MC: Looking at the police’s case file, Kong Moli’s car accident does indeed look like an accident.

On the road, I opened the iPad to check the case file materials that Xia Yan got.

MC: Kong Moli’s car rammed into the highway guardrails because the car brake pedals were too worn, resulting in loss of control of the car brakes…

MC: It sounds like it makes sense.

Xia Yan: On Kong Moli’s SUV, there was only one brake pedal that was too worn. The others were far from a degree that required replacements.

Xia Yan: Although the left and right brake pedals having different wear levels is a typical situation, if the difference is that large, it’s fairly rare.

Xia Yan: This can clearly be counted as a point of suspicion. For the remaining things, at least from what we can see from the case verdict report, there aren’t any flaws.

MC: Are we almost there yet? How long have we been driving?

I cleared away the iPad and suddenly felt a little dizzy and nauseated.

Xia Yan: I told you to not look earlier - do you feel uncomfortable now?

Xia Yan: There’s lemon water in the thermos. Drink a little, it’ll be a little better.

I had just picked up the thermos when Xia Yan slammed on the emergency brakes.

Good thing that the thermos was only half-full with water, or else my clothes would be completely covered in water. 

MC: Xia Yan, you… huh?

Right in front of the car, there was an old man who appeared from who-knows-where, slowly and leisurely walking on his walking stick and crossing the street.

He glanced at our car once, not having the slightest awareness that he was holding up normal traffic.

MC: This person is… Sun Heping?

Yesterday, when I was going through Kong Moli’s case file, I specifically paid attention to Sun Heping, which was why I could recognize him in a single look. 

Xia Yan: That’s him. Let’s get off and ask.

Rainbow River Village

MC: Hello, sir. May I ask if you are Mr. Sun Heping?

MC: I am a lawyer from Themis Law firm. This is my certificate.

Taking advantage of the bit of time when Xia Yan was stopping his car on the roadside, I helped Sun Heping across the road.

Sun Heping: Lawyer? This old man isn’t getting involved in a lawsuit.

MC: You’ve misunderstood. We haven’t come to find you for a litigation.

MC: I am the friend of reporter Kong Moli. Do you still remember her? I came because of her.

Sun Heping: …

Sun Heping: I don’t recognize any reporter. Don’t think you can dig up any news from me. 

Sun Heping: Since I haven’t received my pollution compensation for even a single day, don’t think that you will hear a single good word from me about them!

MC: Mr. Sun, please calm down…

MC: Who do you mean when you say “them”?

Sun Heping: What did you just say you were? A lawyer, right?

Sun Heping: Then “them” are the people who paid up to have you do the lawsuit!

Sun Heping: I’m all too familiar with your group of pettifoggers. Aren’t you all the type to speak for whoever hands over more money!

MC: (I didn’t even say anything, so why am I suffering through this barrage of scolding…)

Sun Heping shook off my hand, grabbed on his walking stick and walked forward two steps, as if dealing with me would be the same as dealing with something dirty.

MC: Mr. Sun, please listen to me. I’m investigating Kong Moli’s car accident, I’m not what you think…

Sun Heping: Hurry and leave. Leave Rainbow River Village - the village does not welcome you.

Having left these words, Sun Heping walked away angrily.

I wanted to go and block him, but I was pulled on by Xia Yan.

Xia Yan: This isn’t the place to talk. Sun Heping is also a tough person. Best not to force him.

Xia Yan: Let’s go look first for…

???: Are you both looking for Sun Heping?

MC: !!!

A middle-aged man appeared behind us. He suddenly stuck in his words into our discussion, startling me terribly.

MC: (Is this the Rainbow River Village head, Wang Han?)

Though Xia Yan and I have seen Wang Han’s picture in the case file, directly showing that we recognize him would likely arouse his wariness.

Xia Yan: Sir, you are…?

It was clear that Xia Yan had the same thought as me. With the Sun Heping lesson just now, pretending to be clueless for now was the best policy.

Wang Han: I’m the village head of Rainbow River Village, Wang Han.

Xia Yan: Hello, Village Head Wang, we are from Themis Law Firm.

Xia Yan: This is Lawyer [MC]. I am her assistant, Xia Yan.

Wang Han: So you were the leader of a law firm! It’s an honour to welcome you; what business brings you here to our little mountain?

MC: (Leader? Village Head Wang, your way of talking is kind of too…)

Wang Han: It couldn’t be that Old Man Sun has caused an issue?

Wang Han: Ah, he’s just got a terrible temper. He really isn’t a bad person - please be magnanimous and let him go.

Wang Han’s expression had “grief and lament” written all over it.

If not for their surnames being different, I’d even suspect that he was worrying for his own father.

MC: (It’s not that I haven’t seen people who would usher us into the location, but why does Wang Han make people feel so awkward…)

INVESTIGATION START

Watch

What is the electronic device that seems like a watch on his wrist?

> Health wristband

> Electronic watch

MC: (Is the black thing on Wang Han’s wrist… a health wristband?)

MC: (These few years, health wristbands have been very popular. Though it really can track health situations…)

MC: (But to an office worker, it can only give a clearer understanding of how bad one’s health is…)

Suddenly, the logo on Wang Han’s wristband caught my attention. 

MC: (This is… Heirson’s logo?)

MC: (Wang Han uses Heirson products?)

MC: (Heirson’s been continuously suspected for the Rainbow River pollution. As the village head, why would Wang Han use their products?)

MC: (Could it be that after Kong Moli’s lawsuit, Wang Han believed that the only source of the pollution was the paper mill?)

Belt buckle

MC: (The logo on his leather belt is… Pax Fashion?! And it’s from the high-end product line?!)

MC: (I remember this product line’s male accessories mostly have prices of around 5 digits.)

MC: (If this leather belt is real leather, then it’ll be even more expensive…)

MC: (Wasn’t it said that Rainbow River Village isn’t particularly wealthy? Why do the people in the village pay so much attention to dressing up?)

MC: (Village Head Wang, I’m suddenly forming doubts about your income levels…)

Tropical shirt

Wang Han’s body fat and fair complexion-

> Took proper care > Rarely participates in farming work

MC: (I remember that the materials said that Wang Han is 57 years old this year, but looking at his external appearance, he really doesn’t seem like an aged person.)

MC: (Even if he usually takes proper care, a typical farmer who does work in the fields wouldn’t have his kind of fair complexion…)

MC: (Plus, he’s a fat guy. The fat seems too much…)

MC: (Village Head Wang, I’m guessing that you haven’t worked in the fields for years…)

MC: (It couldn’t be that on typical days, you only busy yourself with attracting investments and banqueting?)

MC: (Wang Han doesn’t look too much like someone whose main job is farming. Plus, his attitude towards Heirson   is somewhat ambiguous.)

MC: (If we’re not confident, it would be good to converse with him to maintain everything.)

INSPECTION END

MC: Village Head, you’ve misunderstood. We came to find Sun Heping to understand the situation. 

MC: Do you know about the reporter Kong Moli who got into the car accident on the highway outside the village last year?

MC: We’re helping her clear up her inheritance, and we wanted to understand the exact situation of the accident that day.

Wang Han: So it was like this. Then, if the two of you aren’t opposed to it, you can come to my house to sit for a bit.

Wang Han: Old Man Sun’s house is far, and he wasn’t in the village that day. If you have any questions, you two can ask me.

MC: That would be great.

Looks like Wang Han had no doubts against my excuses.

Wang Han: My house is just in front. You two don’t need to drive - we can just walk over. 

Saying this, Wang Han walked in front on the road. 

When he passed my side, Xia Yan suddenly tugged my hand and pointed to the loop of keys hanging on Wang Han’s leather belt.

MC: ???

Seeing that I hadn’t reacted, Xia Yan just sent me a message.

“His car keys don’t have Pax Mechanical’s logo.”

“If he only has one car, then he changed cars.”

#tears of themis #tot translation #weiding shijian bu #未定事件簿 #xia yan

[fvaleraye]

Echoes

Well well well, would you look at that, we got another chapter :> This one is the long awaited return to the gals- Leona, Velda, and Artemis This one is definitely longer than my other chapters, coming to around five pages worth of words. But I’m very happy with how it turned out... and I hope y’all like reading it ;w;

The hour was early, the sun was peeking shyly over the horizon. Pale orange and yellow hues bathed the earth, the colors highlighting the light brown paths among greenery of the wide open plains. It was all very vibrant, like something out of a painting. Beautiful. Not very many people were up early enough to see it, of course, but travelers got to see it all quite often. Though, the sight usually lost its luster after the first few dozen times. Especially when many of said travelers would prefer to not be awake- let alone travelling- at such an early hour. But such were the sacrifices of those who wanted to explore the expansive lands of Magna Terra.

The trip to Crystalbarrow was much the same as the one to Springford. Leona riding on the back of Artemis- not just because there were very few carriage drivers willing to transport a greatwolf from Springford- but because they were all taken. The carriages were all so busy, as they usually are during spring, and they were just too anxious to get going to wait any longer. So, the old fashioned way it was. Just a roadtrip with a girl and her giant wolf. The one difference from the last trip was the extra passenger. While Leona was- quite begrudgingly- awake, Velda was sound asleep behind her, resting her head on her back, arms around her waist. Her presence definitely made the long trip much more bearable than the last. Artemis was beginning to get a bit tired- a rare sight- but she pressed on, because she knew as well as her charges that Crystalbarrow was not far. Not too close, but certainly not far. She had been trotting along for ages… she could manage a bit further. It was just on the edge of the Outlands, bordering the sea.

Just a bit further.

After about an hour or so more of walking, the sleepy archer managed to rouse herself from her slumber, making her consciousness known with a big yawn, startling the tired warrior. She glanced at her from over her shoulder, and the two quietly exchanged a look. A moment later, she was back to resting her head, arms around her a little more tightly now.

“I’m shocked you’re so comfortable resting your head on my metal armor.” Leona mumbled tiredly, idly glancing at the road ahead.

“I’m never not comfortable around you…” Velda replied, her voice just dripping with lovey-dovey tones.

If it was a mystery whether or not a wolf could roll their eyes, Artemis would have solved it just then.

Eventually, as swaying grass and fertile land turned to grey, still earth, the sounds of waves started to echo out from the horizon. The coast was nearing. Their destination was nearing. Finally. The two had started to sit a bit straighter, look a bit more presentable. They weren’t trying to impress anyone, but Leona was going to visit a family friend. She needed to wake up a bit. Hopefully he still lives here...

The town climbed into view soon after, a fair portion the old wooden buildings nestled snugly in a sizable crater in the ground, the rest extending into the horizon. The ocean was in full view, a small dock off in the distance, sails being raised and lowered as sailors were either bringing in hauls or setting out for more. The town was a rather simple one, but not a small one. Still, its humble appearances hid its less humble origins.

After all, the town got its name from producing loads and loads of gems and crystals, whether found in the bountiful sea or mined from its expansive crystalline cave networks. It was the single largest producer of gemstones across the entire continent. But you wouldn’t tell just by looking at it. Well, unless you caught a glimpse of people pushing around wheelbarrows full of the stuff, of which there were a few right now. Just loading them onto carriages or into buildings. For now, though, the only thing on the girls minds was getting to the local inn- The Diamond in the Rough. A rather… on the nose name, but it fit, what with the town itself being in the middle of one of the more hostile environments on Magna Terra. 

Not the most hostile, but still. 

As usual, Artemis sat down outside while Leona went in to talk with the innkeeper for a room. Though this time she had the company of her lovely girlfriend Velda, who, unlike her, had actually got a decent amount of sleep the prior night. The two stepped up to the counter, and the kindly old lady there gave them a warm smile.

“Hello there.” She said, sounding a bit tired, but still welcoming. “Welcome to the Diamond in the Rough. Would you like a room?” The practiced ease in her voice was pretty comforting, especially compared to the last inn.

Leona just nodded, pulling up a barstool for a second. “Yeah, we’d like a room…” She replied, rooting around in her pockets for her money. “Us two, and a greatwolf, Artemis, if that’s okay.”

The woman leaned to her side to peek past her guest and out the window. Sure enough, there was a greatwolf out there. Big. But not the biggest she had ever seen. She let out a tired sigh. “Can you wait another half hour or so before letting your pooch in?” She asked, fidgeting a bit. “We’re sort of at capacity for the big fellas at the moment, but a few are about to leave…”

“Oh-! Of course!” After a moment, she produced a small pouch of silver and gold coins from her pocket. “How much? For the room, I mean.”

“Thirty-five silver a night.”

She breathed a sigh of relief at the quite frankly reasonable price. She was expecting to have to pick up odd jobs to make ends meet at this point. But no… her current savings should be just fine for now, thank the gods. She set a handful of silver coins onto the counter, and very quickly stepped back outside.

“Hey Arte…” She mumbled, giving the wolf a few pats on the head. “You’re gonna have to chill out here for an hour or so, but you can come right in afterwards, okay?” The wolf gave a tired little nod, clearly just thankful she’s getting any rest at all. “Okay, good… love ya, big gal. I’ll tell Velda to grab you when you can come in, I just… need a bed…”

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It wasn’t long before Artemis could come into the building, and it wasn’t much longer after that before the duo fell soundly asleep, leaving Velda to her own devices. As much as she wanted to stay in the room and go to bed with her lovely girlfriend, she just… wasn’t tired. Not that that usually stopped her, but… she had a few things she wanted to do. Look around, mostly. This wasn’t a small town. While it wasn’t near the size of the cities, it was still one of the biggest towns she’d ever been in. There was a fair amount of ground to cover. And a lot of people to talk to. She had to start sometime, and there was no time like the present. Carefully tip-toeing out of the room, she stepped into the inn’s lobby. It was a bit empty, which was fair. It was still early. Most sane people were asleep. She gave the little old lady at the counter a wave as she wandered out into the streets of the Crystalbarrow.

It was a nice enough town, it generally had that rough, stocky look that most coastal towns had. All the buildings were of wooden make, with stone foundations lifting them a good seven or so feet off the ground for when the tides came in. A few of the older buildings here and there had barnacles growing from the sides, while others had plenty of scrape marks on the wood from barnacle removal. Everything had a vibe to it that could only be described as vaguely damp, salted, and well-worn, but still lovingly upkept; like a ship that had seen its fair share of the tides- and had its fair share of repairs as a result. It was surprisingly homey, even among the dreary and slightly depressing gray earth of the Outlands. Velda took a breath, the salty sea air making her pull a face, and started to wander the streets.

Most of the people out at this hour were workers. The workers in question were miners about to go to the mines, though there were a few idle early birds on the streets as well. Everyone was dressed in what you would expect, cotton shirts, pants, knee-high mud-covered boots… nothing really out of the ordinary.

At least, until a… figure, approached her.

They stepped up to her from the side, just barely catching a glimpse of them from her peripheral vision before turning to face them. They were tall, just under seven feet. An old, slightly rusted iron breastplate covered their chest, brown robes flowing from underneath it. It parted in the middle, showing the leather armor that covered their lower half. Their face was concealed beneath a hood, the top of which held a strange crown, and an ornate, but featureless, gold encrusted mask. Gaunt hands, covered in bronze gauntlets ending in sharpened claws, emerged from long brown sleeves, and in them a simple plate, which they held out to the woman.

After the shock of their appearance abated, she let out a sigh. They were a church missionary, and they were asking for a tithe. Of course. She shoved a hand into a pocket, and dropped a few pieces of silver into the plate. The missionary gave a slight bow, and left wordlessly. Her gaze followed them for a time, and she shivered. Gods damned were some of the people the church employed unnerving sometimes. There were always at least a few of the silent missionaries in towns this far out, to help keep the townspeople on the “right path” and away from religions that the church would consider unsavory. Which was most any religion that wasn’t theirs.

Kind of dick-ish, when you thought about it, but considering that most other religions nowadays were apocalypse cults, it was hard to blame them. Hard. Not impossible. They do overstep their bounds occasionally.

She continued to wander for a bit, looking for someone who wasn’t busy or currently under an oath of silence. Her search eventually led her to the docks. Of course the docks were busy, but there were a few workers who were just resting, evidently not having much to do. She nervously stepped up to the least intimidating one, a tired looking young man, probably barely over eighteen. His face seemed to lighten up at her approach, and he started standing a bit straighter. He gave a grin, showing off a few missing teeth.

“H-hello there.” She greeted, fidgeting with her stowed bow.

“Hey there, ma’am!” He greeted right back, running a calloused hand through his messy, damp hair. “What can ah do for ya?”

She was a bit caught off guard by the youth’s enthusiasm, but it wasn’t unwelcome. “Uh… d-do you know anything about the- uh- caves. A-around here?”

His smile dropped for a second, his expression shifting to a more confused one. “Uh… well, ah mean, ah got an idea…” He mumbled, scratching the back of his head. “Unc’s a miner, so’re my cousins. Ah know the names at least, if tha’s helpful.”

She gave a small sigh. Okay, that’s better than nothing. “Do you know where a cave called… uh, called Echo Cavern is?”

He flinched a bit at the name. “E-Echo Cavern, ma’am?” He parroted, tilting his head. “Y-yer probably not from around here, otherwise ya’d know that nobody- ain’t nobody- allowed in there.”

“Please. I really need to find it. It’s the whole reason I c-came out here.”

The boy cringed, and took a sharp inhale, glancing around at the other workers. He grimaced as he turned back to her, eyes still darting around. “Ya sure ‘bout this…?” He asked, his tone making it empathetically clear that he was already sure he was going to regret this.

“... y-yes.”

“Ya don’t sound very sure, ma’am.”

“Th-that’s just how I sound.”

“... I’ll take yer word for it.” He leaned a bit closer. “It’s on the north-east side, further inland. You’ll know it when ya see it, ‘s got lotsa crystals around it. And bugs.”

She blinked at the last bit. “B-bugs?”

“Ye, bugs. Bigguns, too.”

“Well… th-thanks.”

She stepped away from the dock, not wanting to sour the poor lads mood any more than she already had. Hopefully he wouldn’t get in any trouble. He seemed like a nice kid. From there, she just idly paced through the town for a bit. She should probably wait for Leona and Artemis to wake up, so they can all go together.

… but also, she really wanted to get to the cave. She really, really wanted to get to the cave. It was the only lead she had right now. And she really wanted to follow it. But it was probably dangerous- what wasn’t nowadays- and a bow wasn’t exactly the go-to weapon for spelunking in… bug-caves. Eugh. The thought of it made her skin crawl. She really didn’t like bugs. Bugs just made her… viscerally uncomfortable. Especially big ones. But she’s faced scarier… probably…

… I’ll just take a peek, and then go back and wait for Leona and Arte.

The Outlands were dreadfully oppressing, especially when walking on foot. She didn’t quite imagine the cave being this far out from the kid’s description. But who knows, maybe she had already passed it. The town was already getting kind of far away… and she really didn’t want to lose where it was. The Outlands were very same-y- gray rock and dirt as far as the eye can see. At least Crystalbarrow was a coast town, so she can just follow the coast and get there eventually. That is, if she hadn’t lost where the coast was already. Her sense of direction definitely could have been better... but it also could have been worse. She could figure out a way back, she could… she just had to push the anxiety down for the time being. If she didn’t find the cave within the next ten or so minutes, she was heading back.

Of course, it only took about two more minutes of looking to find it.

When the lad said that she would know it when she saw it, he wasn’t joking. It was… a big cave. Even from a distance, it was intimidating. An enormous, yawning maw of an opening, lined with crystals, giving the impression of the giant, toothy mouth of a hungry monster. It wasn’t exactly welcoming. But there were no bugs… at least, not visible ones. Not yet. Slowly, carefully, she stepped closer. The closer she stepped… the louder… something became. It wasn’t clear what it was. It was… deep. Bassy. Cacophonous. Like a choir of some sort. But it definitely wasn’t a choir. Not out here. That became more obvious the closer she came.

She peeked into the vast opening, the glittering crystals providing light a far distance down… but that just made it even more obvious how it just kept going. There was no end in sight to the tunnel, and she could swear it branched off at several points. The sight made her stomach drop. No. No way, no way was she going in there without Leona and Artemis. The noise was near unbearable this close… and it still wasn’t any more distinct. Just. Gibbering and jabbering, echoing out of the cave. She decided now was probably a good time to just turn around and head back. No way. Nuh-uh. She could not get back to town fast enough.

In fact, Velda was in such a hurry, she tripped right over something and fell flat on her face, a cry and ‘oof’ pushed from her.

She picked herself up off the ground, a hand reaching up to her eye. Yeah, that was definitely going to be a black eye for her troubles. And her arrows spilled all over the ground. Fuck off. She brushed the dirt and dust off her clothes, and started to pick up the arrows. At least she didn’t accidentally stab herself on any of them. That was nice.

The only thing that broke her bit of misery was the little chirping noise she heard behind her.

It was a little hard to hear over the cave, but it was… different. Enough to notice. She turned around, arrows clutched in shaky hands, and didn’t see anything at first… left, right… nothing. Then she turned down, and she saw it.

It was a bug. A big one, about the size of a small dog. But it was… different. She jumped back at first glance, but as she looked closer, she was almost immediately disarmed. It was… very round. Almost spherical. Its back was covered in a shining, sparkling, deep purple carapace. A small horn protruded from its forehead, sharp, but short. It had rounded legs, and what seemed to be a pair of small arms, ending in three little fingers. Its stomach, strangely, was not covered in a similar carapace, rather it was a bright, near-pristine white coat of fur, coating its belly, neck, and the lower half of its face. It was knocked on its back, chirping and squealing, struggling to right itself. The sight was a little sad. Her heart getting the better of her, she inched closer to the little creature, and gingerly picked it up. It seemed to panic very briefly, but seemed to take to it after a moment. She set it back down on its legs, and it looked up to her, making a little chirping sound.

“Uh… y-you’re welcome…?” She said, hesitantly giving it a little pat on the head. It trilled in response. “... you uh. Y-you have a good day, I guess.” She added, before turning on her heels and hoofing it back to town.

While she didn’t notice it immediately, the little creature started to follow her after a moment. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was attachment. Gratefulness. Who knew. But she had a little tagalong, whether she knew it or not.

#Valerie Writes #Scintillam #Leona #Velda #Artemis #Queue #i had a fun time writing this ;w; #i think this is the longest thing i've written? #maybe??? #am unsure #it's definitely up there tho #i think that all the chapters from here will probably be longer #but! #i hope y'all enjoy reading... #and reblogs are appreciated if u did :> #also ty again to my lovely friend and proofreader belle; they do such a good job every time asdflkjn ;w;

[clockworkgraystairs]

Everything I didn’t ask for #2

JURDAN FIGHT CLUB AU

Rated M

Warnings: Sexual content and violence.

After his friend Locke got them a doubtfu job, Cardan finds out things won’t be as easy as he thought. 

Maybe one mysterious girl will help him sort things out. 

Or not. 

Chapters: 1   2   3   4   5 [coming soon]

EIDAF Masterlist            General Masterlist             AO3

HAVE FUN

“I’m just saying, if I end up in some ditch tied up and face down it’s going to be on your dork conscience.”

Cardan rolled his eyes. 

For the last twenty minutes, the Roach had been complaining about the same thing. It was getting a little annoying. By the look on Locke’s face, he was already regretting inviting him.

The guy who had talked to Locke asked him for three people for the night, and since they were the closest ones from the whole bar the decision had been easy.

When the deal was closed, the man who presented himself as Madoc, had muttered some very specific rules:

-Be at the assigned place (outside the Elfhame) the next monday at 8:00 pm.

-No speaking about the job to anyone. He claimed he’ll know if they did.

-No cellphones.

After that, he’d left without another word.

On mondays and tuesdays the bar was closed, so that was not going to be an issue. What worried him though, was thinking the kind of trouble that kind of job could bring them. The promised payment, the weird man, the ridiculous rules, the fancy limousine that picked them up at 8 o’clock from the bar… 

Once the door closed behind him, he knew there was no coming back. 

Now, the three of them were sitting side by side in that limo that despite its comfortable leather seats, stinked awfully like cigars and alcohol. 

While Cardan was looking outside trying to see where the hell they were, Locke had successfully distracted Roach by trying to put some eyeliner on his face claiming it would make him look less like a cringy old man. At some point Roach’s attempts to escape left them both struggling on the car’s floor. Cardan could only laugh at the horror in Roach’s eyes. None of them realizing the vehicle had stopped moving. “GET THAT DEVILISH THING OFF MY…” he yelled, pausing mid-sentence when the door opened. 

Standing outside, Madoc stared at them with a quirked eyebrow. With a head movement, he commanded them to sit back down before entering the car. He carried two suitcases.

Locke opened his mouth to start apologizing when he realized the man was not alone. Behind him two other women got inside and sit next to him. The first one with straight half-blonde half-blue hair falling to her waist and a long black dress, didn’t even bothered looking at them and just stare through the window, her expression empty or maybe bored Cardan could not tell. The second one though, was a little taller and her navy blue dress made her brunette wavy hair stand out, he found her to be absolutely gorgeous, and unlike her companion she did survey them with curiosity in her eyes. 

Once she sat down she crossed her legs, the dress revealing a dangerous opening that ran up to her mid-thigh. It was until he raised his gaze and found her chestnut eyes looking right back at him with a playful grin in the corner of her lips, that Cardan realized he was staring, mouth half opened.

He blinked and lowered his head, feeling a rush of blood reaching his face. Madoc tapped the driver’s window twice and the limousine started moving again. 

“I trust that you won’t be climbing each other like that once we arrive to our destination, am I correct?” he asked Locke. The poor guy looking pale as a ghost just nodded. 

“Certainly not sir, we were just-” he babbled, playing with his hands. “We are deeply sorry.” The Roach didn’t say anything but his face was something between ashamed and angry, probably both.

“Good.”

Madoc opened the zipper from one of the suitcases and pulled out two pairs of walkie talkies. “All of you will have one of this for the entire night, you’ll have an specific work area but if you are needed somewhere else for any motive this is how I’ll let you know.” he gave a device to each one of them and kept the last one for himself. 

“You must not take it off, not even for going to the gods damned bathroom, understood? If this or any other of the instructions I gave you is ignored there will be consequences. Not pleasant to say the least.” his voice calm as he leaned back on his seat opening his coat. He had a gun. The three boys immediately tensed up. Cardan inhaled a sharp breath.

The girl in the navy dress snorted. Even while gazing to the road outside, she was clearly paying close attention to everything they were saying.

The man continued as if he didn’t hear her. “Now, I’m going to need your names. I don’t care for any last name. Just first name, or nickname if it suits you better.”

When none of the others answered Cardan turned to them. Locke had gone from white to green and Roach wasn’t doing any better. His heart was hammering in his chest. Clearing his throat he pointed to each one. 

“Well that’s Locke, you know him already. This one’s Roach, or that’s how we all call him.” A pause to see if he was going to correct him and tell his true name. He didn’t. “And my name is Cardan. We will attend all of your instructions so don’t need to worry about it.”

“You sure about that?” he answered, looking at the others in disbelief. “Because-”

“Gods Madoc, just give them a break.” The brunette interrupted, her voice low and silky. “We haven’t even arrived yet and those two look as if they’re waiting for the door to open so they can run for their lives.”

The man glared at her, and Cardan took those seconds to elbow his friend, hard. Get yourselves together! he seemed to shout at him. The red-haired shook his head and blinked as if he was coming back from a trance, quickly recovering and smirking to the girl.

“We won’t go anywhere miss, you don’t need to worry. We were just… processing all the instructions.”

The Roach only nodded once, still not daring to say anything but wearing a better face than before. 

The car stopped. Somehow in that little time they’d managed to get out from the city. Now the driver was parking in front of some kind of warehouse, a well maintained building even if it was in the middle of nowhere. Around them were parked at least other fifty cars. Expensive cars.

Someone opened the door and the girls exit the limo. Just before it closed again the navy dress girl turned to them, her gaze on Cardan.

“Have fun.”

~

After dropping the girls at the entrance, his group and Madoc entered the place through a backdoor that leaded to some kind of cellar and a kitchen. A couple of guys came and went from double doors carrying trays full of glasses.

Madoc pointed at a cabinet on a corner. “You’ll find a uniform there, put it on and meet me at the bar outside.”

Outside, turned out to be a huge saloon lighted up with a beckoning and low blue light, half filled with poker tables as well as other gambling stations. All of them nearly filled with people. The other area was some kind of dance floor where men and women were pretty much drinking and talking. 

The whole place surrounded by smoke, excited howls, and loud jazz and blues music. Roach whistled at the view. Cardan just wondered how high the bets actually went in those tables. 

They hurried to the bar zone, located on the opposite corner of the main entrance where Madoc waited with a not so patient face. He quickly explained the half-area they were supposed to attend, as well as the behavior expected from all of their workers. It was large, practically doubled the Elfhame’s bar size. Across it, another three boys in the same black and white uniform were in charge of the other half.  

After repeating the initial instructions, emphasizing on not dropping the walkie at any moment, Madoc was gone. People arrived almost instantly.

Rich people liked spending money, that was common knowledge. Still, it surprised Cardan how many of this (really expensive) martinis and mojitos they would dare to buy in a record time of three hours, either for themselves or to invite an entire round to some table partners. A glance from Locke told him he was thinking the exact same thing, needless to say his friend was having the time of his life flirting with some of those loaded women.  Even the Roach had relaxed by now.

“Hello Cardan.” The whiskey bottle almost slipped from his hands.

He turned around to find the brunette girl from the limousine sitting in one of the bar stools right in front of him, her gaze soft. An amused smile curved her lips. “Having enough fun?”

Don’t you dare staring at her as a total idiot again, he scolded himself.

“Good evening miss, indeed we are. It has been an… interesting experience.” He gave her the charmiest grin he could manage. Her smile widened. “The mojitos are flying away, in case you wanted any I suggest you hurry.” MOJITOS? Are you fucking serious?

She wrinkled her nose in the most adorable way he’d ever seen, “Thanks but I don’t really drink.”

Cardan nodded once. 

“Ok, uh- in that case maybe something with no alcohol in it?” It was getting harder to concentrate under her intense eyes. He took a glass and started cleaning it with a cloth.

“Maybe. Only if I get to invite you something too.”

A couple of seconds passed. He chuckled quietly. “There’s…no need miss. I am here to serve you. But I appreciate your kindness.”

“Do stop calling me ‘miss’. And I’m not talking out of kindness Cardan, I’m doing it because since I saw you in that hideous limousine I’ve thought you are incredibly hot.” The girl bit her lip and widened her eyes as if she could not entirely believe what she’d just said.

Actually his own mind had fully stopped working at the moment, but not exactly out of shyness. 

“Well I’m sorry, miss, but I’m afraid I don’t know your name.” Keeping their gazes locked, Cardan left the glass and the cloth aside and leaned to her, resting his hands on the table. She didn’t move backwards and looked up at him through thick eyelashes. “Care to tell me?” His voice came out guttural.

She opened her mouth.

“Heeeey there!” Locke’s arm materialized out of nowhere around his neck. “Are you offering this beautiful girl a drink? Because if you’re just boring her, allow me to take it from here."  He winked at her ignoring Cardan’s frown.

A flash of annoyance crossed her face before giving Locke a less wider grin. “The beautiful girl has a name, it’s Susan.” By the glint in her eyes, Cardan was almost sure she was lying. “And it’s nice of you but I’m everything but bored. I wasn’t exactly planning on asking your friend for a drink.”

He quirked an eyebrow, and she took her gaze back to Cardan, biting her lip again in a totally different way. His pulse rose again. She was not just flirting anymore.  That was a look of pure desire.

Cardan could almost listen the switch clicking on Locke’s brain. 

“Oh!” His friend turned to him, both amused and stunned. Then to her. “So I guess I just fucked up, my apologies milady.” 

After that he crossed the bar in long-legged strides, only half turning back to Cardan to give him a thumbs up while mouthing DAMN. 

She chuckled. “Was I too rude?”

Cardan kept his gaze on her. Her bright eyes, her lips, the exquisite cleavage of her dress. Gods she was gorgeous, and that damned look she’d gave him had tored him down completely. Would it be too much to rip off her dress right there? He leaned down to her again, this time at a distance that allowed him to smell her scent of violets.

A flash of Madoc’s gun passed through his mind and he froze. 

Whoever this girl was, it would probably get him nothing but trouble. Even if he wasn’t the embodiment of measurement himself, he had enough to deal with. 

She immediately noticed him and tilted her head, a silent question in her eyes. 

“I’m sorry… I-“ Cardan gulped, backing up an inch. “Maybe it wouldn’t be the best idea to… you know.”

She leaned back onto the stool, leaving one of her hands next to his. “I guess you’re right.” His breath hitched as he felt her soft fingers tracing his, slowly. “A terrible idea, Madoc would be furious.”    

Been foolish enough to ruin one of his brother Balekin’s dirty businesses had cost Cardan a life-long debt and several beatings already. He should know better than getting involved in something just as dangerous. 

He really should. 

~

The shelf rattled as her back slammed against it. Without letting go of her, Cardan kept devouring her lips as her hands tangled in his hair. 

Somehow, they’d managed to sneak into a spot behind several boxes and shelves way behind the kitchen, out of sight of pretty much everyone. If any person, besides Locke or Roach, had seeing them leave Cardan didn’t know. Or care. Mostly because his mind was went completely blank as she took his hand and led him out the saloon. 

As soon as they got out he’d encircled her waist fimly and grazed her ear with his lips. “Where are you taking me?”

“Careful,” She’d purred, reaching his neck with the hand that wasn’t holding his. “We may get in trouble if we’re seen.”

“I get the feeling you wouldn’t really care if we were, miss.” He’d teased, nibbling her earlobe. She tensed and pulled him faster, finally getting to a little corner where the light was low. She turned to face him, her breath ragged and her eyes dangerous. 

“I told you,” Her hand grasped the collar of his shirt, tugging him down to her eye-level. “To. Not. Call. Me. Mi-”

He yanked her to him before she could finish, their lips colliding fiercely. She let out a sharp gasp, her arms lashing around his neck. 

Gods, she tasted so good. She arched deliciously as one of Cardan’s hands slide down her back, then lower. Her teeth grazed his bottom lip. In a heartbeat, he lifted her onto a small shelf pushing himself between her knees, caressing her thigh at the split of her dress that had taunted him from the first moment. She pulled him closer, if such thing was possible. 

Cardan growled against her lips “Will you tell me your true name?”

He felt her grin as she slipped her kisses to his jaw. “And if I do?” she sighed. “Will you drop with formalities?”

“There isn’t anything formal about what I want to do with you right now.” 

Her next words were suppressed by a moan as his hand moved inwards to stroke her over her panties. The heat that came from her was enough to make Cardan want to kneel in the spot and eat her up. 

But not yet. 

In a swift move his fingers set aside the fabric so he could feel her exposed skin, teasing her entrance just enough to make her head roll back. 

Without stopping his ministrations, he seized her neck again prompting her to look at him. He could feel her heartbeat against his fingers. “Your name.”

She breathed twice, short and ragged, her eyes still defiant. He slipped one finger inside her, deep. She cried out and tried to shift her hips.

Cardan leaned to brush her lips with his. “I said-”

“Jude.” She sighed in defeat. “My name is Jude-ah”

She whined at the intrusion of a second finger. “Are you telling me the truth, Jude?”

Breathless curses slipped out of her. “Yes yes I am, please…”

That last word was his undoing. He groaned and moved his fingers faster. Pumping in and out until she squirmed against him. Feeling her moans in the hand he kept around her neck he kissed her again. She was gripping his hair tight enough to hurt, and shivered when he changed the angle of his thrusts to a different spot. 

Her breathing changed as she got closer, panting against his mouth. She pulled back an inch muttering his name.

“That’s it Jude, come for me.” He let go of her neck so he could clasp her hips still, rubbing with her clit with his thumb.

Jude jolted and cried out, falling over the edge with her hand covering her mouth in an attempt to muffle the sounds that were coming out of her. 

As she came down, she leaned back to the shelf. If Cardan hadn’t already decided she was the most exquisite creature he’d ever met, the sight of her breathing hard against her tight dress, mouth parted and a scarlet trace of blush that ran from her cheeks down to her breasts, shit, that would have done it. 

Pulling out of her, he took his fingers to his mouth giving her a wicked grin that made her blush even harder. 

“If you did that just to know my name,” She hooked a finger in his waistband preventing him from moving. “Let me show you what I’d do for your number.”

Jude’s hands roamed soft as feathers under his shirt, Cardan cursed under his breath as one of them headed down until she was stroking him over his clothes. 

His self control was not as good as it showed, he’d been rock hard since she’d whispered his name against his mouth when she was falling apart. And right now he could only think of Jude on her knees, taking his-

A loud ring came out of the walkie he was carrying, making them both stiffen.

“Cardan.”

Locke. He was going to kill the bastard. 

“Pst, Cardan.”

Taking the damned thing he hissed. “What?”

“I’m sorry to interrupt… again. But Madoc is looking for you. I told him you were on the bathroom but I don’t think he is going to believe that a third time, man.”

He sighed and cursed again. 

“He won’t. You need to go.” Jude muttered, getting back on her feet. Her face was serious but still got a hint of mischief in her eyes. “Besides, you’re not the only one who’s needed elsewhere.”

 Cardan stared at her. “We are not done yet, you and I.”

Her lips curved. She leaned to kissed him, her lips barely grazing his.

“Oh I haven’t even started.”

For a moment he wondered if it would be worth risking Madoc’s temper.

~

“You are so dead”

Locke raised his hands in surrender. 

“Hey don’t blame me, I’m the one who’s been covering up your ass remember?”

Cardan clenched his jaw, he knew that, he just needed to get out his frustration with someone. 

“Yeah, whatever. Thanks, man.” By the look in his friend he could say there were a lot of questions waiting for him. As soon as they get to a safer place. Cardan eyed the room searching for Madoc.

That’s when he noticed something had changed. 

Something in the air was different. Even the music was. The fluent jazz and blues replaced for faster and harder beats. 

People weren’t gathered at the poker tables anymore. Barely a handful of them. He spotted the rest at what he thought was a dance floor. None were dancing though.

Everyone there shouting and some of them clapping. Apparently surrounding something. A stage maybe?

“There you are!”

They turned to find Madoc, rushing towards them. He eyed Cardan. If he noticed his rumpled hair or wrinkled shirt he didn’t mention it. “Leave whatever you are doing and come with me. No questions.”

As they walked near the crowd Cardan could surveyed better what was going on.

He felt his face pale and heard Locke catch his breath.

The multitude formed a circle, in the middle, two men wearing nothing but trousers were circling each other. 

Both of them had bruises and blood all over.

With a roar, the broader man hurled himself against the other. They struggled for a moment before falling down to the floor. The smaller man could do little when the first one started dropping vicious blows against him. The attacker’s eyes were wide with rage, the people around screaming louder. Like animals.

A ringing noise filled Cardan’s head. Staying still as he could do nothing but stare at the blood splashing to the floor. 

“Why don’t you ever defend yourself, little brother?” Balekin laughed. Both of his men standing next to him, cleaning their knuckles.

Lying on his side, Cardan tried to lift his head, blood in his mouth blocking his words. He spit, staining the floor red. 

One of his eyes was so swollen it couldn’t open.

His brother huffed. “Pathetic.” A blow to his stomach came out of nowhere, throwing him on his back. He couldn’t breathe.

“Cardan. Cardan come back.” 

He blinked and turned, Locke staring at him with concern. They’ve met each other since they were kids. His friend knew everything. It’s ok he nodded. Cardan’s pulse hammered in his head. Taking a deep breath he looked back to the ring. 

The smaller man lay still, no longer trying to defend himself. Why is nobody stopping this?

As if on cue, a voice came out the speakers. “ALRIGHT ALRIGHT give it up for our winner, VALERIAN!” 

Most of the crowd cheered, some other cursed. The champion raised and grinned with nothing but bloodlust in his eyes. His golden hair falling over his face, wet with sweat and red.

“Lift him and bring him to the back.” Madoc pointed to the unconscious man on the floor. His tone left no space to refuse. “Now.”

~

After the fourth fight, Cardan had already got used to carrying the losers, males or females, without looking at their faces. He and Locke took them out to a room with several beds on it. 

Leave them there and return. Repeat. Were there any doctors in this place?

Matches kept going. Bets rising. 

Fighters won, fighters lost. Pick them up, take them to the back. Leave them there, return. 

He didn’t know how much time passed. Another fight was taking place outside.

He leaned against the wall and rubbed his face, waiting for the encounter to end. For Madoc to call for him. His mind kept going back to Jude, coming undone in his arms. Fuck. The door opened and Locke’s head popped in, wide eyed, motioning him to come out. The cheers were stronger this time.

“Is it over?” Cardan asked.

“Almost, but you need to come.”

He quirked an eyebrow and followed his friend. 

Locke stopped near one of the speakers and pointed to the ring.

One of the girls fighting was trying really hard to keep standing. Her unfocused gaze travelled from the floor to the crowd. Cardan clenched his jaw. It would be over soon.

That girl was taller than the other though, and tried to take advantage of that on her next blow. Failing. Her opponent swirled under her arm and connected her elbow to the girl’s nose. She didn’t even see it coming. Taking a step back she fell to the ground. 

If he thought the audience was loud before, it was nothing compared with this. They were out of control.

Sighing, Cardan entered the ring to continue his task, and froze right in his track when the winner turned. 

She stared at him, breathing heavily. Her brown hair was tied up on a pony tail. She was wearing black pants and a crop top. A bruise forming on her cheekbone. 

He gawked at her lips, now cracked and bloodied, and lower, where several scratches and purple stains covered her arms and torso. Blood covered the bandages around her knuckles.

Jude? He mouthed. 

Around them the crowd whistled, howled and clapped. It took Cardan a few seconds to decipher their chanting.

“QUEEN, QUEEN, QUEEN, QUEEN!”

TAG LIST

@demydreamer-otaku-and-book-lover​

@sensitivehighlord​

A BIG MASSIVE THANK YOU TO @highqueenofelfhame​ for helping me so much with corrections and advice since the first chapter, you give me so much courage. THANKS!!

I’m really sorry the chapter took that long! I moved to another town and I’m starting a new job and well… time is not always on my side, bUT HEY, A LONG CHAPTER AS A ‘FORGIVE ME’ GIFT FOR YOU!

EXTRA: If you want a visual of Jude’s dress, it would be something like dissss:

#everything i didn't ask for #jurdan au #jurdan #tfota #cardan greenbriar #jude duarte #jude x cardan #holly black #tcp #twk #qon #fanfic #the cruel prince #the wicked king #the queen of nothing #the folk of the air #judecardan #jurdan fanfic

[bcimbatmandude]

More Human Than Meets the Eye-part 2

Here’s part 2 of the first episode guys! Thanks for reading!

Previously: "I'll be back very soon," he promised quietly. Adaline said nothing, only gazing at her father very seriously for several seconds. She bit her lip and creased her eyebrows and John had to fight back a smile at the adorableness. He didn't dare move for fear of interrupting the father-daughter moment.

She nodded then, and Sherlock moved towards her, grabbing her small body in a tight hug before kissing the side of her head. He stood to his full height once again, and bounded outside.

"The game is on!"

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

Sherlock called for a taxi and soon the two of them were headed for Brixton. They sat in silence for a while. Sherlock fidgeted on his Blackberry phone while John stole nervous glances between him and the outside scenery. Finally, Sherlock lowered his phone."You have questions," he stated.

John noticed that he didn't pose it as a question. "Yeah, where are we going?" he started."Crime scene. Next?"

"You have a daughter."

Sherlock paused; he wasn't expecting that to be the next question. "…yes," he drew the word out a bit. "I apologize for not telling you about her when we first met. I realize that living with a child isn't exactly ideal for some people but…"

"No, no it's alright," John interrupted, shaking his head. "I don't really mind. She's adorable," he chuckled. "Isn't she?" Sherlock agreed, smirking. "I'm quite attached to her myself."

"If you don't mind me asking, where's her mother?"

"Dead," Sherlock answered concisely.

"Oh my…I'm so sorry. That was so uncouth of me. I didn't think…" the army doctor began sputtering. "Oh it's fine," Sherlock reassured the man. "She died about seven years ago. Very close to the time Adaline was born."

"You raised her all on your own then?" John inquired. "Somewhat," Sherlock said simply. He didn't make a notion to elaborate. John felt as though he'd already pried far too much at this point, so he quickly moved on."So, uh, who are you then? What do you do exactly?"

"What do you think?" Sherlock countered, looking outside."Well," John began, hesitant, "I'd say private detective…" "But…" Sherlock prompted."…but the police don't go to private detectives."

"I'm a consulting detective. Only one in the world. I invented the job." "What does that mean?" John asked, completely overcome by his curiosity now. "It means," Sherlock started, "that when the police are out of their depth, which is always, they consult me."

"The police don't consult amateurs."Sherlock looked away from the window at that moment, and John almost felt bashful with the look he was giving him. He stopped himself from retracting his statement. "When I met you for the first time yesterday, I said, 'Afghanistan or Iraq?' You looked surprised."

"Yes I was. How did you know?" John asked him, leaning forward in his seat.

"I didn't know. I saw. Your haircut, the way you hold yourself, says military. But your conversation as you entered the room…It was quite obvious that you were an army doctor. Your face is tanned but no tan above the wrists. You've been abroad, but not sunbathing. Your limp gets really bad when you walk but you don't ask for a chair when you stand, like you've forgotten about it, so it's at least partly psychosomatic. That says the original circumstances of the injury were traumatic. Wounded in action, then. Wounded in action, suntan….Afghanistan or Iraq," he loudly clicks the 'K' sound at the end of the final word, and John just stared. He was in utter disbelief of this man.

"You," John started, and found he had to clear his throat. "You said I had a therapist."

"You've got a psychosomatic limp – of course you've got a therapist. My daughter could figure that out. Then there's your brother."

"Hmm?" John prompted him to continue.

Sherlock held his hand out and John looked at him questioningly. Sherlock rolled his eyes. "Your phone please." John looked at him wearily but reached in his side pocket, handing the detective his device dutifully. Sherlock took it and examined it as he spoke. "Your phone is expensive, e-mail enabled, MP3 player, but you're looking for a flat share. You wouldn't waste money on this. It's a gift, then."He turned the phone over, studying the back. "Scratches. Not one, many over time. It's been in the same pocket as keys and coins. The man sitting next to me at this moment wouldn't treat his one luxury item like this, so it's had a previous owner. The next bit of course, is child's play. You know it already.""The engraving," John said quietly.

Harry Watson

From Clara Xxx"

“Harry Watson. Clearly a family member who's given you his old phone. Not your father, this is a young man's gadget. Could be a cousin, but you're a war hero who can't find a place to live. Unlikely you've got an extended family, certainly not one you're close to, so brother it is. Now, Clara. Who's Clara? Three kisses says it's a romantic attachment. The expense of the phone says wife, not girlfriend. She must have given it to him recently – this model's only six months old. Marriage in trouble then – six months on he's just given it away. If she'd left him, he would have kept it. People do – sentiment. But no, he wanted rid of it. He left her. He gave the phone to you: that says he wants you to stay in touch. You're looking for cheap accommodation, but you're not going to your brother for help: that says you've got problems with him. Maybe you liked his wife; maybe you don't like his drinking."

John was absolutely beside himself at this point, and couldn't contain the wonder in his voice. "How can you possibly know about the drinking?" Sherlock merely smiled at the man. "Complete shot in the dark. Good one, though. Power connection: tiny little scuff marks around the edge of it. Every night he goes to plug it in to charge but his hands are shaking. You never see those marks on a sober man's phone; never see a drunk's without them." Sherlock got a somewhat dark look on his face at that point, but it came and went so quickly John wasn't sure if he'd imagined it or not.

The detective handed the army doctor his phone back, and said, "There you go, you see – you were right."  John looked at the man, both eyebrows raised now. "I was right? Right about what?"

"The police don't consult amateurs." Sherlock looked out the window again after he said this, and he bit his lip nervously, awaiting John's reaction. John saw this action and realized where Adaline had picked it up from.

Sherlock was sure he had just blown the whole getting a new flat mate thing. He had let his mouth run away again, and he and Adaline were probably going to have to move, yet again. He felt shame wash over him, and a bit of disgust. How was he going to explain this to his daughter?

"That…was amazing."

When Sherlock heard John's words, he whipped his head around to stare at him, shocked. He didn't say anything for several seconds. "Do you think so?" he said coolly, trying not to convey the surprise he was feeling.

"Of course it was," John nodded emphatically. "It was extraordinary. It was quite extraordinary."

"That's not what people ordinarily say," Sherlock admitted. "What do people normally say then?" John asked.

"Piss off." Sherlock smiled briefly at John who laughed quietly and looked out the window.

SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH

The cab arrived at Lauriston Gardens, and the two men got out and walked towards the police tape that was strung across the road. "Did I get anything wrong?" Sherlock asked while they walked. He just wasn't able to contain his curiosity.

"Harry and me don't get on, never have. Clara and Harry split up three months ago and they're getting a divorce; and Harry is a drinker," John explained. Sherlock's chest puffed up a bit, and John laughed at how impressed he looked with himself.

"Spot on, then," the detective bragged. "I didn't expect to be right about everything."

"Harry's short for Harriet."

Sherlock stopped dead in his tracks, and noticing this, John stopped as well, looking back towards the man. "Harry's your sister."

"Look," John said, continuing onwards again. "What exactly am I supposed to be doing here?" Sherlock muttered to himself furiously, gritting his teeth together. "Sister! There's always something! Another lesson to impart to Adaline then…"

The two men approached the police tape where they were met by Sergeant Donovan. "Hello freak," Donovan sneered, and John was taken aback by the malice in her tone. "I'm here to see Detective Inspector Lestrade," Sherlock cut to the chase, annoyed already. "Why?" she asked stupidly."

I was invited," he explained shortly.

"Why?" she repeated. John realized at that moment that he didn't very much like this woman.

Sherlock sighed to himself, as though trying to gather up the bit of patience he had left. "I think he wants me to take a look."

"Well you know what I think, don't you?"

"Always, Sally," he muttered, and began lifting up the tape.

"Where's baby freak?"

John watched as Sherlock stopped all of his movements. His back became tense and he didn't move for a very long four seconds. Suddenly he took a deep breath and turned to look at the woman. "You didn't make it home last night," he said simply."I don't…" Donovan started. "Who's this?" she countered, looking at John.

John opened his mouth to answer but Sherlock beat him to it. "Colleague of mine, Doctor Watson." Sherlock turned to John with a bored look on his face. "Doctor Watson, Sergeant Sally Donovan." He paused then, and his nose twitched a bit. "Old friend."

"A colleague?" the woman screeched. "How do you get a colleague?! What, did he follow you home?" she questioned John, and he pursed his lips together in annoyance towards the woman's attitude. "Look," he said, choosing to look at Sherlock. "Would it be better if I just waited and…"

"No," Sherlock said, lifting the tape for him. The two of them walked towards the crime scene. Donovan lifted up her radio to her mouth. "Freak's here. Bringing him in." John heard her comment and shot a glance towards Sherlock out of the corner of his eye. Sherlock appeared as though he hadn't heard her.

When they got to the pavement, a man dressed in a coverall walked out of the house, approaching the two men. "Ah, Anderson," Sherlock said to him. "Here we are again."Anderson looked at him with distaste. "It's a crime scene. I don't want it contaminated. Are we clear on that? It's bad enough you bring your baby freak up here sometimes. Training them young are we?"

Sherlock took another deep breath in through his nose, and when he spoke, he voice was steady. "Quite clear. Is your wife away for long?"

"Oh don't pretend you worked that out," Anderson sneered. "Somebody told you that."

"Your deodorant told me that."

"My deodorant?" Anderson repeated. Sherlock smirked then. "It's for men." Anderson scoffed. "Well of course it's for men! Í'm wearing it!"

"So's Sergeant Donovan."

Anderson stopped and looked around in shock at Donovan. Sherlock sniffed very pointedly. "I think it just vaporized. May I go in?"

Anderson turned back around and pointed at the detective angrily. "Now look: whatever you're trying to imply…"

"No, you look," Sherlock suddenly thundered, and John had to stop himself from stepping back at the man's sudden change of tone. "I can excuse you calling me names. The two of you are blubbering idiots and together have the IQ of a flea." John watched as Sherlock bowed himself up even more towards the man. "However, if the word freak leaves your mouth one more time in concerns to my daughter..if I even feel as though your tongue is trying to form the word, or any other type of derogatory, vile name, I will make both of your lives an absolute living hell."

Sherlock leaned in close to Anderson's face, who at this point looked as though he was trying to get a hold on himself."Do. Not. Test Me." He finished darkly. He shoved himself past both Anderson and Donovan, and John snickered at their pale faces.

"Also," Sherlock started again, and the two of them looked at the man cautiously. "I'm sure Sally came round last night for a nice little chat, and just happened to stay over. And I assume she scrubbed your floors, going by the state of her knees."

Anderson and Donovan looked at the detective in horror. He looked at them pointedly, then turned and walked into the house.

John walked past Donovan, briefly looking down to her knees, and back up to her face. He raised an eyebrow at her, making sure the woman knew he was judging her, and followed Sherlock inside.

that’s part 2 over and done with! thank you all so much for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!

#Sherlock #Sherlock Holmes #holmes #mycroft #Mycroft Holmes #john #john watson #Moriarty #detective #OC #daddy #sherlock has a daughter #daughter #sherlock prompt #sherlock fanfiction #sherlock x oc #sherlock episode one #sherlock fandom #sherlock father #mrs hudson #jim moriarty #protective #protectivesherlock

[carl-grimxz]

Confused Feelings

Carl Grimes x Reader

PART 1

Summary: You and Carl are friends but he suddenly starts to act strangely and withdrawn like he is avoiding you. The trouble is you can’t work out why. 

Word Count: 2,940

Warnings: None :)

A/N: I’ve never written one of these before... but I love Carl and miss him soooo much so felt like giving it a go. I’ll likely write a few parts to this so please enjoy!

The leaves had fallen and the air was cold. Freezing actually, much worse than it was yesterday by far. Strange that, how quickly winter seems to come. No matter how much Rick drills into us that we need to be prepared for the new conditions this season would bring us, I never do feel ready for it. Then again are we ever really prepared for anything these days? Doesn’t feel like it. 

Even though we spend hours huddled round discussing plans. Strategising. We always end up here. On the road with nothing but the desire to live carrying us forward from place to place. At least we are here though. Still breathing. Surviving together. The majority of us at least. That’s the main thing. That’s what I keep thinking to myself anyway. While I’m standing here, attempting to keep my hands somewhat warm in my coat pockets, I look down at my worn boots as they scuff the frosty fallen leaves across the gravelly road. The time has come again. We’re stood around, waiting for Rick to give us our next move. We’ve been heading North for the most part. I can’t exactly remember why. I’m sure the situation is just as bad up there, but I do trust Ricks judgement, so I don’t necessarily need to understand why. I tend to zone out during these conversations. Not on purpose. I just do. Probably because I’m never involved in the decision making part of it. 

A harsh gust of wind rushes past us. So bitterly cold that it actually makes me lose my breath for a second. At this point I glance up at Carl to see if he’s finding it as intense as I am. We make eye contact and his lips curl up into the faintest smile. So subtle I feel that if it were anyone else looking at him right now, I’m sure they wouldn’t even notice the smile that admittedly, is pretty microscopic, but is definitely there. His hands move to the outer edges of his oversized jacket and grips it tighter to his body, telling me he’s just as cold as I am. I feel almost relieved. Not that he’s cold but that it isn’t just me overreacting. Everyone in this group is so unfalteringly strong, except maybe Eugene, that sometimes it’s exhausting just trying to tough it out and keep pace with them. It’s moments like this that I’m thankful I have Carl. He seems to get it, I dunno. 

I look away and tune into the others conversation. Almost like she’s reading my mind, Maggie speaks up. “Rick we gotta get outta the open and find some shelter. It’s already pretty nippy and it’s gon get even colder the later it gets”. Everyone glances at Rick and he pauses for a moment. He brings the free hand that isn’t holding his daughter up and drags it across his face, scratching at his beard. He has his eyebrows furrowed, deep in thought and glances around at each of us clearly coming to a decision. He sighs, “Yah you’re right. We could all do with finding somewhere to rest up and get warm”.

“There was a place I saw. Bout a couple miles back, a barn I think. Found it when I was hunting earlier. Didn’t think it would be much use to us then, but it’d do for the night. Light a fire, warm up”. Daryl half grunted. Thank god. I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to be warm.

“Did it look clear?”, Michonne asked.

“More or less. May be a couple walkers, nothin we can’t handle”.

With that we were off walking back the way we came. Along the path, a dense layer of trees either side and what seemed like never ending road straight on, as far as we could see. Rick said it wouldn’t take too long to get there. Less than an hour apparently, even in our weakened state. While we were walking I found myself in one of my daydreams. Just zoning out. Truthfully I was pretty down today, the past few days actually. I can’t put my finger on the exact cause. A mixture of things I suppose. Low on supplies, low on energy. I mean also it may be that Carl and I haven’t spoken much since a couple days ago. Everything was fine, or so I thought but then he went off to speak with Michonne and after that it’s honestly felt like he’s been avoiding me. I don’t know what they spoke about and it could just be me going crazy, but it’s definitely been strange ever since. I dunno, he’s a boy. The other day Rosita told me that boys think girls are crazy but that it’s really the other way round. That was right after she’d had an argument with Abraham cause he’d said something that upset her, can’t remember what. She was not happy though.

I was pulled away from my thoughts when I felt someone nudge my shoulder with there’s. It was Carl. Last I looked he was walking up front with his dad but I guess he dropped back for whatever reason. “Hey” I said, trying to sound like I was in a better mood than I actually was. 

“What’re you thinkin about?”

“Oh uh, nothing. Just tired you know?” A look of understanding washed over his face. “Yeah me to”, he sighed “But I guess we can rest soon. Eat those rabbits Daryl hunted earlier. Sit round the fire. Then all our problems will seem smaller”. He half smiled, eyes meeting mine, waiting for a response. I’m just now realising how blue they actually are. Like the ocean. Funny, I’ve never noticed that before. “That’s true”. I felt the corners of my mouth raising upwards slightly as I looked up at him. 

He was right. That’s why I liked Carl. He was usually right, but not in an annoying way. You can trust his thought process and judgement is all. I rely on him to make me think more rationally than perhaps I would if left to my own devices. I’m a pessimist to be truthful, but not so much with him around. Carl is my best friend actually. We’re all a family, but there’s something with Carl and I. I don’t know what it is. We just click. Maybe it’s got something to do with the fact that we’re the same age, so it’s like we’re really going through this together. You know, we’ve missed out on the exact same things that kids our age are supposed to experience. So there’s an unspoken link bringing us closer together, and we are close. All we have to do is look at each other and it’s like we’re speaking a thousand words. With one look. He gets it. To be honest, our main form of communication is a simple knowing glance these days. Ever since Terminus and everything that we’ve been through since, spirits have been extremely low within the whole group. In fact, peoples moods have been almost as big a problem as the lack of food. Our energy levels and the general lack of hope amongst us means we don’t really feel like doing much talking at the moment. That’s why I appreciate Carl. He’s just as low as the rest of us but somehow he manages to do a pretty decent job of getting past that and thinking forward. Even if he is acting weird recently.

A while of strangely uncomfortable silent walking later, and just like Daryl said, five minutes through the woods and we approached a barn. Lucky for us no walkers in sight. Although we’ve all come to understand that that doesn’t mean there aren’t any there at all. As we came up close to it I realised that the area surrounding the barn was actually quite pretty. It sat in the middle of a large opening in the woods, enclosed in a field of flowers. I don’t know what kind they were but the colours were mostly indigos and violets and were so beautiful that it was verging on emotional. Probably from lack of sleep more than anything else, but there are so few things of beauty left in this world now. I really needed to see something like this. I’m sure we were all thinking the same thing because every one of us was smiling. Grinning even, and that hasn’t happened in a long time. “So beautiful” Sasha beamed,

“Right?!” Rosita added “I hope it’s clear inside”.

“Let’s find out” Rick responded with his hands firmly on his gun. “Daryl, Abraham, Sasha, Rosita with me”.

The rest of us stayed put outside, on watch for walkers, letting the others do their thing. 

As I was scanning the tree line I caught Carl staring at me. That’s happened a lot lately. I’ll just so happen to glance at him and he’ll already be looking my way. He usually just pretends that he’s looking elsewhere and I let him believe that I don’t really notice, but I do. I was about to ask him what his deal was but decided not to bother when Rick and the others wandered back out of the barn. 

“All clear. Looks in good shape actually, we’ll be good here for the night”. Relief washed over me. I am actually exhausted. I really don’t think I could cope if we had to spend another night on the side of the road again. A few sighs of relief could be heard from us and in through the heavy wooden doors we all went. The size of this place is actually pretty impressive. Something I had missed initially due to being distracted by the flowers. Somehow I was reminded of the poppy scene in The Wizard of Oz.

As soon as we were inside, everyone got to settling in. Organising the little supplies we had, starting a small fire. That kind of thing. Daryl went straight on watch, looking through the small window on the left of the door. This place isn’t too bad. It’s large enough to fit us all in comfortably and there’s some hay in the far corner that it looks like we’ll be sleeping on. Glenn and Maggie were already setting down blankets and the odd sleeping bag over there. It didn’t take long for me to warm up slightly. Just being under shelter and not out in the wind made a lot better. Such a relief, I really do hate being cold. Rick and Carl attempting to get a fire going in the centre of the barn. I thought for a second. Should I go help? Maybe get to talk to Carl and work out why he’s acting funny. I think I will. I’ll play it cool though. 

I started walking over to them and Rick saw me coming almost immediately. We both exchanged smiles but then he nudged Carl to make him see me I guess, then left to go talk to Sasha. That’s weird. Carl looked up ever so quickly and then just carried on organising the fuel for the fire as if he didn’t even see me. “Need some help?” I asked as soon as I reached him to brake the tension that was between us all of a sudden.

“Nah, I’m good”, he mumbled, “But thanks though” he added, smiling as he looked up at me stood above him noticing that I had my eyebrows furrowed in a frown. “Ok…” I said slowly as I took a seat on the ground next to him, legs crossed. Carl said nothing, just stared at the tiny fire that his dad had just managed to start before he left. This is definitely odd now. He’s never been this quiet before. Not around me anyway. What is with him? “That was quick.” I uttered, referring to the fire “What?”, he asked, clearly confused. “The fire”, I explained, pointing to it, “You got it lit really fast. Impressive”. 

“Oh, thanks. Well it was dad actually. I didn’t really do anything”. I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. It didn’t seem to work. He still just sat there staring at the slowly expanding fire. I’d had enough now. I had to know what was going on inside that head of his. “What’s up with you?”. It wasn’t nearly as assertive as I had meant it to come out. My voice was soft. I just wanted him to talk to me. His head flicked up. I had his attention. “What? Nothing” he grumbled at me. A lie. I could tell he was hiding something. “Don’t lie Carl. I know something’s wrong. You’ve been acting weird the past couple days”. He watched me as I spoke. He had a guilty look on his face like he knew what I was talking about. He stayed silent as I carried on, “Except for when we spoke for like two minutes on the walk over here, you’ve been avoiding me”. I looked to him for an explanation but still silence. Whatever. “Ok fine”, I’m getting annoyed now. I got up to leave, “I’ll just leave you alone alright? That’s clearly what you wa-“, “Wait” He murmered. I turned back towards him. He had his hand around my wrist but no sooner than I had noticed it was there, he’d taken it away again, almost shocked he grabbed it in the first place. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I just feel weird. I dunno why. I just feel like stuff has changed”. He looked down again, almost ashamed. What is he talking about? “I don’t understand. What stuff?”. I really wanted to know. I stood there looking down at him.

“Ever since we had that run in with those walkers. You almost got bit. It scared me… and now it’s different” Carl sighed. 

“It scared me too”, I admitted. I was trying not to think about that to be honest. It was pretty frightening, I’m not gonna lie. I was millimetres away from having my neck torn open. “Hey Y/N!” Carol called across to me. Perfect timing… not. She likely wanted help preparing the food. I usually help her. I glanced over to her and then back at Carl who was studying me closely, probably hoping for me to say something more than what I had. “Speak later, ok?” I asked him hopefully.  

“Yeah sure”. It was almost a whisper.

I did a lot of thinking while Carol and I prepared the food. It was mostly quiet between us. Carol isn’t a massive talker, but I liked it that way sometimes. While I watched the squirrel get yacked apart ready to cook I over-analysed everything Carl had said to me. Replayed my near death experience with the walker over and over in my head. It was actually Carl that saved me. I had dropped my knife stupidly and was trying to hold the terrifying monster at arms length with both hands. Trying and failing. As it was seconds from ripping my neck open with it jaw when Carl sent a bullet straight through it’s skull. The walker dropped to the ground and I stepped away in shock, my eyes wide as I came to terms with what had nearly happened. Carl ran over from where he was, which wasn’t that far away to be fair and before I knew it his arms were around me. Engulfing me so tightly it was as if his life depended on it. I wondered if that was what Carl was talking about, now that I think of it. That’s the only time we’ve ever done that. Hugged. I didn’t think anything of it at the time but when we finally pulled apart after what felt like a lifetime, I looked into his eyes and I had seen something in them that I had never seen before. I can’t describe it. He just looked different. Scared. Really terrified. Not long after that was when we had managed to find somewhere to settle down and set up camp in amongst the trees, and Carl went off for that chat with Michonne. Carol brought my attention back to her with a smile. “Come on Y/N, let’s go serve up some squirrel!”.

We were all sat around the fire. There were a few conversations going on but it was pretty quiet. I was just observing everyone. I found myself watching Sasha who was chatting with Michonne over their bowls of squirrel and canned tomatoes. She must have felt me watching because she looked across at me and smiled, giving me a nod. I’ve always been super close to Sasha. She looks out for me and we get along well cause we have a lot of the same views on everything I think. She’s very straight to the point and thinks with her head. I admire her for that. Sasha has often told me if I ever need to talk to her about anything I can. She might just be able to help me work Carl out. Although I think I may need help working myself out as well. Ever since he brought up that walker encounter I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. About him. The fear and adrenaline must have caused me to block it out at first but the more I remember it, the more I understand Carl for acting oddly. Something about that hug and the look on his face has changed something. He was right. God damnit he’s always right. As soon as this food is done with, I’m heading straight to Sasha.

#carl grimes #carl grimes imagine #carl grimes fanfiction #carl grimes one shot #chandler riggs #chandler riggs imagine #the walking dead #twd #twd imagine #the walking dead imagine #carl #carl grimes x reader

[skvaderarts]

Hiraeth Chapter 17: Regulation

Masterlist can be found Here!

Chapter Seventeen: Regulation

Note: Sorry the upload was a little late today. I was out of town at Microcenter trying to get a GODDAMN GRAPHICS CARD!! Ahem… sorry about that. I think you might all like where this story is going to go from here. Oh boy, do I have some ideas… 

(-~-)

In truth, no one present was entirely sure what to make of the scene that they had just happened upon. While they had indeed just witnessed it, there was no easy way to actually explain it. The gigantic demonic minotaur had collapsed and was already beginning the process of becoming ash, something that they welcomed, especially considering the fact that none of them had been available to actually attempt to assist with stopping the creature’s rampage. But that was the very root of the issue.

How on earth had this intrepid stranger managed to actually do battle against such a large for on his own?

While the concept of another hunter being able to take on something beyond the classification of a lesser demon was not at all unfamiliar to them, this was something else entirely. At first glance, the quiet stranger that they had allowed to tag along on their trip with them didn't seem at all capable of doing what he had just done. If nothing else, they had assumed that he possessed some basic combat abilities. Perhaps enough to protect himself. But this… to be able to harness and wield that kind of strength… 

"This is curious. To my knowledge, the Ludwig Family doesn’t have any devil hunters among their ranks. And they never have." Vergil said as he stepped forward, an intrigued look on his face. While it was true that the Ludwig family were practitioners of a variety of combat types and had been for the entirety of their existence, he had never seen one use the type of power that the redhead had just utilized, and never to the degree that he could use it. Clearly, he was proficient at a level that exceeded that of the average user, and that was something that Vergil found both fascinating given his initial impressions of the young stranger, and alarming. Normally he was better at gauging the power level of his opponents. Sirrus had flown way below his radar.

“You’re not mistaken. They do not.” Sirrus said calmly, sheathing his gleaming blade once again. While it was unclear precisely where he’d actually drawn it from, what was clear was that it had come from within his coat, and he had just returned it to its rightful resting place. But how he had managed to walk around with a blade that easily equaled the length of Yamato on him without alerting anyone to its presence was beyond any of them. Did he have access to a pocket dimension of some sort? Was their lack of interest in his capabilities what had kept them from simply not noticing it? Because if so, they needed to keep their guard up a bit better than that in the future.

An almost questioning look passed across Dante’s face as he seemed to take in the response of their new companion. Suddenly he realized that he truly didn’t know very much about him, and he found it more than a little bit disconcerting that he hadn’t really put much thought into the possibility of him posing a threat to him. The last intrepid stranger who had happened upon him in such a manner had been V, and before a few other names came to mind. Trish, Lady, Lucia… hell, even Beryl fell into that category easily enough! How many times was he going to have to learn this lesson?

“If that’s the case, then how do you know how to do… whatever that just was? And where’d ya learn to do it in the first place?” Dante interjected, noting Vergil’s silence. One could only assume that he was considering something, but despite the fact that silence was a trademark of his stoic older twin’s personality, that didn’t mean that he had ever been particularly comfortable with it. Left alone to his own devices, Vergil’s mind was just as deadly a weapon as his blade or any other ability or armament that he possessed. And if he wasn’t plotting the demise of someone or something, he was probably lingering in a sort of stasis, fixating on some lingering regret or other toxic thought. It was best to not let him idle for very long, lest he come to regret it

The man in black adjusted his coat, sliding his arm back into the long sleeve that it had once occupied. It was best that he do so, lest he accidentally allow his favorite garment to drag along the ash-covered ground. It was so incredibly difficult to get demonic ash out of this kind of material. “A reasonable enough question. And one I shall answer. But can we do it while we head back to your friend’s house? The air here had become rather unpleasant, and I’d like to stop having to breathe it. Methane and sulfur and all that. It’s bad for our lungs.”

Nero considered scoffing at the statement for a brief moment before thinking better of himself. It was best not to antagonize him, at least not until he knew how to do it without ending up cut in half or impaled like that demon. A quick glance over at V was all that it took to see that he was not alone in this assessment. The taller summoner seemed to be deep in thought, not that he wasn’t in most instances. But something about the look on his face had changed in some subtle way, and he was sure now that he was not the only one with doubts and concerns. In truth, Sirrus was still smack dab in the middle of his “suspect as hell” list, but now he was starting to wonder if he was asking the wrong questions. That didn’t mean, however, that he couldn’t ask a simple question. After all, what harm could that do?

“Okay, that makes sense. But then who the hell are you?” Nero said calmly but with an obvious tinge of unamused irritation on his face. He wasn’t sure he knew what to think of him at this point, and while he didn’t exactly perceive him as a threat, the fact that he hadn’t informed them that he possessed that kind of power made him slightly uneasy. Or maybe in some small ways he had. After all, Sirrus’s calm demeanor in most threatening situations should have tipped him off as a possible indicator of this kind of power, but Nero had no way of knowing for sure. But he wouldn’t put it past him to play those sorts of games with them. He just seemed odd in that kind of way.

Sirrus shrugged nebulously at the comment as it if didn’t affect him much or he had been asked the question before enough times to have expected it. “Again, I have next to nothing against telling you, but not here. I simply don’t desire to linger here any longer than I must. It isn’t ideal.”

Life rarely was, as far as Vergil was concerned, but he was willing to accommodate his request if for no other reason than the fact that after such a long time in the underworld, the scent of sulfurous gas and the presence of ash in the air around them hit far to close to home. He had enjoyed a reprieve from such foul substances for a few weeks now, and he was not at all eager to reintroduce himself to them. Leaving would, in fact, be best for more than one reason.

Very well, then. That is agreeable.” The eldest Son of Sparda said as he turned in the direction that they had come from, somewhat unsurprised to find that he could still see the road from here. The fountain was going to make a wonderful mess of that plaza soon enough, but at least the piece of metal from the demon bull’s fallen weapon had dissipated. The less evidence of their presence here, the better. “But let’s make haste. Something is entirely off about this situation, and I do not desire to be at the mercy of its wrath any longer than I must be.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Sirrus said simply before following the white-haired half-devil in the blue coat. Thankfully they didn’t seem eager to put up much of a fuss about it, and there was a simple explanation for what he had done. Well, at least it was simple for him. Nothing was simple when it came to his life, and this was no exception, but at least it was one of the few questions that he could easily answer that wouldn’t have catastrophic consequences outside of his control.

(-~-)

The walk back had been uneventful and quick, so nothing of any particular note had even a scrap of hope of occurring. Before any of them could even begin to think of where to start or fire up the part of their brain that existed to do critical thinking, they had arrived back at Lucia and Matier’s shared home, and more importantly, at the shared realization that it would be easier to just have this conversation at the house instead of on the way to it.

“Alright then, we’re here. So what’s the deal, then? How are you able to do all that?” Dante asked as he reclined on the couch. Lucia’s place had some very comfortable furniture, and he was more than happy to capitalize on the opportunity to enjoy it. It was nice to sit back and relax a little bit sometimes. “I’m not that good with magic or whatever you’d call that, but I’ve never seen a human use that kind of power.”

Lucia stepped forward as she closed the front door to the living room, allowing the door to close before she spoke. The fewer interruptions, the better. At least as far as she was concerned. And while she knew next to nothing about this stranger, what was going on, it what was even going on in the first place, she did know what he was curious as to what he could do. And if he was willing to explain himself to them, then it was probably best to take him up on his offer and allow him to actually tell them what was going on.

“Perhaps we’re just asking the wrong questions.” She said politely as she entered the living room and found a place to sit. There were a lot more people here than she was used to, but she didn’t particularly mind given the circumstances. In fact, she was almost glad that everyone seemed to be so comfortable in her small home. It was a welcome change of pace. “Maybe it isn’t about how he did that, but more about what he did and what he’d have to be in order to do it.

A soft sigh escaped Sirrus’s lips as he glanced over at her. Yes, she was as smart as she was pretty, wasn’t she? That was good to know. For all he knew, her intellect and perceptive nature might come in handy in the near future. “Your quite right. I’m a member of the Ludwig family through marriage. Or more accurately, through a divorce. Two of them each, actually.” His facial expression changed slightly for a moment as though he were recalling an unpleasant memory. After a moment, he continued despite the fact that something about his demeanor had changed. He was so reserved in the first place that it was hard to pinpoint what had changed, but something had indeed done so. “But regardless, I do not possess the limitations that many of them do in regards to their power as a result. I do apologize for not volunteering to tell you what was going on sooner, but I think you can understand the desire to not expose yourself to those that you do not know, especially you’ve not yet had a reason. I think that everyone like us desires anonymity, privacy, and normality to some degree. I hope you can respect that.”

Dante exhaled and leaned back slightly. Yes. Yes, he did understand that feeling. It was all too familiar to him. While a part of him did in fact still yearn for the possibility of that being true, there was a part of him that knew it wasn’t something he could easily obtain, if at all. More than likely it was a false hope, but he still hoped nonetheless. “Yea, I get that. Makes sense. Keep going?”

Sirrus nodded. “My biological parents are much like yours in that they are two completely different beings that hale from wildly different backgrounds, but I do not feel at all comfortable explaining who either of them is, or saying anything beyond that.” He said, gesturing towards Dante and Vergil respectively, his casual demeanor hiding his underlying anxiety much better than either of them realized. “What I can say is that my power is a direct result of their union. It isn’t a learned skill like it is for the Ludwigs. They are born with an aptitude for learning magic. I was born with inborn gifts. Mine simply differs from yours due to parentage and the fact that I am not what you are, but the principle is still the same. I hope that makes some measure of sense.”

“I understand that in a way,” Lucia interjected, shrugging softly in discomfort as she remembered her origins. It was a difficult subject, and one that she didn’t touch on lightly. After all, she’d spent a while fulling coming to grips with the truth herself. “I can understand why you didn’t say anything. But I don’t think anyone here would have had a problem with that knowledge. I mean, at least I think not.”

Dante shrugged and Vergil made some sort of motion akin to a shrug, but didn’t say anything. Nero and Nico both shared a glance over at V before doing much the same, both of them slightly unnerved by his persistent silence. Was he being affected by the knife again? “Yea, none of us can really say anything. Nico is basically the only totally normal person here. That is, if you can call whatever the hell she has going on “normal.” But she’d human either way.”

Nico punched Nero playfully in the shoulder. “Yea, what this stupid jerk is sayin is pretty much spot on, aside from me being that weird. He’s done some pretty weird crap, so I guess he can say that about himself. But me, I’m just a regular old human who’s along for the ride. If you need any extra weirdness, you’d have to talk to basically anyone else in this room. Well, except Lucia. She seems pretty cool.”

Lucia held her hand up to her face to stifle the slight giggle that she felt coming on. Nico was quite the character from what she could tell. And that was just fine by her. But she still needed to find out what everyone was doing on the island in the first place. It wasn’t that she wasn’t glad to see Dante. What was most certainly not the case now, and she highly doubted that it ever would be. But if she had to guess, she’d be willing to say that he was here for a reason. 

Sirrus seemed amused by the young gunsmith’s response. “Your all quite right. I’m simply unaccustomed to being forthcoming about these sorts of things, especially towards people I’ve only recently met. But your kindness is most apreciated. Thank you.”

The lovely redhead nodded and turned towards the rest of the group, making herself comfortable. “Okay. Well, that’s a relief. Now that we’ve had that conversation and everything is sorted out a little better than it was before, I have to ask… what brings you to the island again so soon, Dante?! Last time you were gone quite a while longer than you were this time! I know that the circumstances are vastly different, but my point still stands. Did you just so happen to be in the area and thought you’d stop by to see me again?”

Dante laughed lightly, craning his head to one side. He had indeed missed Lucia in the time that they’d been away, there was no denying it. But unfortunately, there were not there as a lovely leisure retreat. They had work to do. He shook his head to indicate that he was saying no to her question, earning him a bashful but unabashed look from his longtime friend. Truly he washed that he was wrong, but he wasn’t.”

“Not as such. We’ve come to return something to you. At least from what I understand. Venturing all the way out here was Dante’s idea.” Vergil said flatly, not at all in the mood for this kind of friendly banter. When he’d returned after his prolonged absence, he’d nearly been shot down a flight of stairs by Magnolia. And that was to say nothing of his arrival back from the underworld. Dante had received quite the welcome wagon in comparison.

She gave him a curious look as he pointed to the box behind her. As the realization of what it contained kicked in, she gasped quietly, covering her face with her mouth. “That box… what’s supposed to be inside of it is… that’s not supposed to… please tell me it’s empty? Please.” A shake of the head from Nero was all that it took for an almost mournful look to cross her face. “Oh, please forgive me for the trouble! I hate to say it, but I had no idea that it was gone. Some Guardian I am… Either way, thank you for returning it safely back to where it belongs. Do you recall where you found it by any chance? I’d like to investigate. Something this sacred just vanishing without a trace and without my mother or myself noticing is worrisome, to say the least.”

V finally decided to speak up, snapping out of the state of quiet contemplation that he’d previously found himself in. “Oh, I remember precisely where they found that knife. If you look hard enough, I’m almost sure you’d still be able to find my blood on it. But at least it’s been returned to where it belongs now.”

Lucia gave him a sympathetic look as if she understood what he was alluding to. “I’m so sorry to hear that you were hurt. I am glad to see that you are alright. I would be remiss to hear that my inaction lead to your untimely death, much as I am to hear that you were harmed in the first place.” She looked back at the blade again for a moment just in time to miss V turning away to look out of the window, mildly embarrassed by her kind words. He wasn’t accustomed to such kindness. Lucia was truly wonderful. “I will return it to its rightful resting place as soon as I have a chance. And this time, I’ll make sure that all of the traps are turned back on. Not just some of them. But I get the feeling that that isn’t all you need help with?”

Dante shook his head. “No, sorry to say that it isn’t. You up to going on another little trip with me to help out again?

She gave the youngest of Sparda’s two sons a polite smile. “Yes, absolutely.”

(-~-)

I’m suddenly very sleepy, and it’s only 10:58 pm. Maybe it’s just the stormy weather. The entire plate of alfredo I’m about to eat isn’t going to do me any favors, either. Oh well, see you next week! And thanks for checking this chapter out! Now off to the comment section!

#V #Vergil #Dante #Nero #Hiraeth #Post Devil May Cry 5 #Post DMCV #AU #Vitale #DMC AU #Post Devil May Cry 5 AU #Fanfiction #DMC Fanfiction

[atamascolily]

An Appointment in Sawarra, 9/?

In which Luke is sorely vexed.

(previously: one two three four five, six seven eight)

The official reason they wouldn't let him fly the X-wing through the Ring--their name for the neutron star cluster--was safety, though Luke suspected security and paranoia were equal concerns. His brain turned to mush from the interminable paperwork, Luke met this turn of unexpected turn of events with as much grace as he could muster.

It wasn't as if he had much in the way of luggage--just the simple rucksack he'd packed with a few changes of clothes, back when he'd thought this would be a simple trip out and back again. He should have known it wasn't going to work out that way.

<i>"I have a feeling you may be gone longer than you think,</i> Mara had said back on Coruscant. Her hunch had been spot-on. Luke was starting to get the same feeling--though like her, he wasn't sure whether it was good or bad yet.

If Karrde's contact could help him with the uneti seeds, all of this would be worth it. If not--well, he'd been on wild bantha chases on much less cause. And perhaps he could use the time in transit to learn more about his mysterious hosts.

The journey through the Ring was uneventful to the point of boring. In theory, Luke was allowed the run of the transport. In practice, they treated him as a bizarre cross between an honored guest and a poltical prisoner, and he didn't understand why.

Luke's attempts to coax out information out of the rank and file proved fruitless. The crew pretended that he wasn't there, with no eye contact or acknowledgement of his presence unless he spoke to them directly. Even then, they were curt almost to the point of rudeness, reverting to cursory nods or gestures whenever possible. Despite the translator box looped prominently around Luke's wrist, they refused to speak anything but simple Basic in his presence, making conversation about anything more complex than the direction to the 'fresher impossible.  

Eventually, he gave up and retreated to his assigned quarters for the remainder of the journey. The room was simple and spartan, the only spots of color a holographic image of a flower arrangement and calligraphy scroll on the shelf over the bed. Luke didn't recognize any of the flowers, and the translator was voice-only, leaving him effectively illiterate--an oversight, he realized now. He sat cross-legged on the bed and tried to meditate, but he couldn't let go of the thoughts swirling around his head.  

Why had the authorities let him enter Sawarran space if they clearly didn't want him? Either they weren't as xenohobic as Leia and Winter had claimed, or they had mellowed considerably since throwing off the Empire and declaring their independence. Neither of those explanations fit the evidence. Why, then, had they made an exception for him? Because he was a Jedi?

Luke had grown used to people treating him differently once they learned he was a Jedi--sometimes with awe and reverence, sometimes with gestures to ward off the evil eye. The customs agents been intrigued, but not impressed, by Luke's lightsaber and his claimed occupation. It was his connection to Yoda, of all people--a direct, tangible connection, as teacher and student--that had captured their attention.

What was Yoda to these people? And, more importantly, <i>why</i>?  

Their arrival in Ri'tarn City a few hours after local dawn was routine to the point of anticlimax. Luke didn't know what he'd expected--a parade? a riot? another horde of bureaucrats?--but there was nothing and no one waiting for him at the docking bay. He was escorted politely but firmly off the ship by the crew and abandoned outside in the bustling street.

"Hey!" Luke shouted at their rapidly retreating figures. "What am I supposed to do now?"

The leader turned back long enough to shrug and gestured off to the side. "Temple that way," he said in Basic, and hastened off after the rest of his squad.

Luke stared, blinking in the morning sunlight, as the crowd bustled around him on the cobbled street past elegant wooden townhouses with open-air shops on the lower levels. They'd let him come here, to a place where foreigners were never supposed to come... and now they were letting him wander around unsupervised?

Then again, he thought, taking in the dark skin and voluminous, colorful robes in the press of people around him, maybe the authorities didn't need to hold his hand to track his movements. Between his pallor and his tightly cut clothing, he stood out like a Wookiee at a Jawa family reunion.

He was relieved and confused to be left to his own devices so abruptly---and, he had to admit, more than a little insulted. He'd been prepared for anything--except, apparently, total indifference. No one in the bustling street was paying the slightest bit of attention to him, the crowd parting around him like a crowd of Coruscanti swoop-bike racers around a cloudcutter.

That, too, was unnerving.

He was alone on a strange planet outside the New Republic's jurisdiction--and, thanks to the pulsars of the Ring, no means to contact anyone on the outside should things go sideways, except through the Force.

Thankfully, <i>that</i> still worked. He could probably reach Leia in a pinch if he violated some taboo by mistake, though she wouldn't thank him if he ended up triggering an intergalactic incident.

<i>Why am I here? What do THEY think I'm supposed to do?</i>

<i>Pay your respects</i>, the head customs agent had said.

"My respects to what?" Luke said aloud. "Yoda is <i>dead</i>. How does this even make <i>sense</i>?"

The crew's mention of a temple intrigued him. Perhaps there were answers waiting for him there. But that wasn't why he was here. He needed to find Dr. Mendoza at the university and ask her about the seeds. Maybe she could help with the other mysteries, too.

But he had to find her first.

***

Luke had assumed it would be easy enough to locate the university with the address Karrde had given him, but it quickly became clear that Ri'tarn City, like everything else in this system, was determined to make even simple tasks an ordeal. Whatever rhyme, reason or logic underlay the streets was nothing like standard grid/level system for ships, stations, and Coruscanti high-rises. Signs were few and far between, not that he could read them anyway.

Meanwhile, the inhabitants seemed intent on thwarting his efforts through sheer indifference. As with the transport crew, none of them would acknowledge his presence unless Luke forced them to. Even then, they refused to meet his eyes or say much beyond the simplest gestures when he asked for directions. Even the wooden seal representing his visa didn't impress them.

The only exception to the general impassivity were the children, who stared openly as he passed, pointing in his direction and giggling among themselves, only to flee if Luke approached them. The contrast between the stoic adults and their offspring made the former's stoic unconcern even eerier.

The sun inched its way across the sky overhead, bright and hot as he wended his way through the streets, increasingly lost and confused. He was thirsty, but there was no sign of water anywhere, and none of the shops he passed would serve him.

A high, piercing alien cry came from overhead. Luke looked up to see feathery lizards gliding overhead, a welcome breeze breaking the heat with a distinctive salt tang. Was it his imagination, or were those ocean waves in the distance?

Out of ideas, he wended his way in the direction of the flying lizards, hoping it would somehow get him to the university. The docks didn't seem like the typical site for an institution of higher learning, but maybe the Sawarrans did things differently here. Either that, or the entire population was in on some big joke they weren't going to share with Luke.

He came around the corner to find himself on the edge of a stark, man-made seawall a dozen meters above the bay--or would be a bay if there were any water in it. A bare tidal flat stretched to the horizon in an endless expanse of sand, a mockery to his hopes. There was no sign of anything even remotely approaching a university, only crabs skulking in and out of their burrows as they dodged the attentions of flocks of hungry lizards wheeling and diving from above.

"Maybe I should have gone to the temple after all," Luke said, to no one in particular, slumping against the wall.

He was tired and thirsty, light-years from home on a strange planet where no one would meet his eyes, let alone talk to him. He'd been here for hours there was no sign of Karrde's contact, and now he was faced with yet another dead end. <i>How did I get into this mess?</i> he wondered, not for the first time.  

He hadn't been this off-balance since--since his first trip to Dagobah, actually. <i>Maybe that's why they like Yoda so much</i>, Luke thought sourly. <i>Or maybe they're testing me, the way Yoda tested me at first?</i>

<i>I failed that test back then. I won't fail this one, too.</i>

He had to be missing something, something obvious.

He leaned against the sea wall, and stared out into the distance, struggling to calm his racing thoughts. <i>Think. Think. Think. There's got to be some sort of key. What am I missing here?</i>

Something shimmered on the edge of the horizon.

<i>Wait.</i>

It wasn't his imagination. There was a tower rising out of the tidal flat, with what looked to be a small city at its base, far enough away that he hadn't noticed it on first glance.

There were no signs at this distance, of course, but Luke <i>knew</i> what he was looking at. It was the university. Had to be. What <i>else?</i> could it be?

He squinted. There was no bridge or road leading to the tower from the mainland. The buildings rose out of the sand, shimmering like a desert mirage in the afternoon heat, completely disconnected from the mainland.

"You have got to be kidding me," Luke said in dismay.

It made a weird kind of sense, though. Who needed roads when you had speeders? Or, when the tide was in, boats.

Luke scanned his surroundings. He was alone on the sea wall, the wind whipping through his hair, lacking both a speeder and a boat. The only way he was going to get out to that hazy tower on the horizon was under his own power.

This was stupid and crazy and pointless, and he ought to just give up and go home, but it was too late for that. He'd come this far.

But he'd done plenty of stupid things over the course of his life, both before and after joining the Rebellion. And at least this time, nobody was shooting at him.

"All right, then," Luke sighed. "I guess I'm doing this."

He stripped off his boots and socks, and stuffed them into his rucksack, wishing he'd brought a hat to protect himself from the broiling sun. Then he jumped down onto the tidal flat, landed with a roll, and set off barefoot across the sandy expanse towards the tower.

#an appointment in sawarra #fanfic excerpt

[imagining-supernatural]

Avenging Angel: Part 42

Summary: You’ve spent the last five years on a dangerous mission to solve the crime that wrongly imprisoned your father. When the Winchesters find you half-frozen on the side of a mountain, they make it their own mission to save your life and make sure you stay alive. But after five years of uncovering horribly dark secrets, you’ve learned not to trust anyone. Especially people who seem like they have good intentions.

Word Count: 1714

Warnings: None

Avenging Angel Series Masterlist

*****

StonyGurl499: How’s the rich life treating you? ~t9

It had been a while since you’d been able to talk to t9. Ever since moving in with Braxton, finding time alone was hard. Any time you had to yourself, you used to snoop through his family’s life.

You had to find answers about your family somewhere.

You just had to.

LivingForFlyFishing: They use salad forks ~Up6Dn

LivingForFlyFishing: Like, for every meal

LivingForFlyFishing: Then they hire someone to wash the salad forks so they don’t have to do it themselves

LivingForFlyFishing: Because they can afford that shit

StonyGurl499: Wanted: Salad Fork Washer. Duties Include: Washing salad forks only. Not the soup spoons or dessert plates. Just the salad forks.

God, you’d missed joking with t9. It was a relief to have this moment, untouched by the gross manipulation you’d been weaving. Sure, you knew very little about t9, but they were your friend. You weren’t lying to them. They weren’t lying to you. There was no reason for them to lie to you.

LivingForFlyFishing: Shut up

LivingForFlyFishing: Have you found anything on the Cs?

StonyGurl499: I’m sure you’ve found more than I have

StonyGurl499: Dad C just seems like a sleazy businessman. Par for his course though

StonyGurl499: Your beau is pretty normal, as far as rich dudes go

Beau? That was a dated term if you’d ever heard one.

LivingForFlyFishing: Yeah, B seems normal. He’s nice. I hate doing this to him.

StonyGurl499: But you have to. For your dad. Right?

You barely spoke of your dad to t9. Sure, t9 was your friend, but your dad was the topic that you held closest to your heart. Beyond the hacktivist group you and t9 ran for a few months, you barely knew anything about them.

Except that they were rich enough to just wire you ten thousand dollars on a whim, whenever you needed it.

LivingForFlyFishing: Yeah. For my dad. I still feel slimy when I use the credit card B gave me. Feels like I’m committing fraud.

LivingForFlyFishing: When you gave me money, it wasn’t slimy

LivingForFlyFishing: How’d you get so much so fast anyway?

You trusted t9, sure. But that didn’t mean you were wary of them. Why they had decided to help you out was a mystery and you weren’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth… but I suppose you could try to take a peek.

StonyGurl499: Wired it from the Cs bank acct. Trust me. They’ll never notice my hack

LivingForFlyFishing: Haha. V funny. Keep your secrets if you want.

LivingForFlyFishing: but if you find something on the Cs and don’t share, Imma disown you

*****

*****

“You know, Y/N,” Dean started, purposefully not looking at you.

He had to keep going, right? Like, he couldn’t just stop once he started something. Not now. Not while you were stopped in the middle of nowhere getting gas on your way to kill your mother with your ex-boyfriend.

Besides, you only had a few minutes until Sam came out from the bathroom.

“Yes, Dean?” You prompted. You’d been on the road for hours, and this was the first time the two of you were alone. Obviously, Dean had waited until Sam left.

Dean huffed a deep sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “You and I… We… well, we haven’t really had it easy. We haven’t always gotten along.”

“This is not news to me, dude.”

“Would you shut up and let me finish?” He whirled around and finally faced you. Exasperation, you’d found, was the easiest way to get Dean to stop procrastinating.

“I would if you would actually get to the point.”

“The point is that I actually think I like you. You’re good for Sam.”

How could words make you feel so warm? And so quickly? Your brain hadn’t even processed the words, but your heart felt warm. “Thanks, Dean. That… that’s really sweet.”

“Yeah, yeah. I just felt like I should say that. Just—just in case. You know, just in case…”

“Shit happens. I get it. I just… I don’t know. You’re the feel emotions in silence kind of person. Didn’t expect you to get all gushy.”

“Shut up,” he rolled his eyes and finished gassing up the car. And things were back to normal.

“No, seriously, while we’re doing this, you wanna, like confess anything else? Like… I don’t really know. But you’re already being all—”

“Fuck, Y/N, I try to be serious one time…”

“I like you too, asshole,” you said, laying a hand on his arm for a second before walking around the car. As soon as you had the barrier of the car between you, you leaned against the frame and looked him straight in the eyes. “I feel like this is it, Dean. By this time next week, everything is going to be done. It’ll be over with. So, I want you to know that even though we never really got along, I like you. And in a weird way, I even respect you.”

“You’re gonna make me say it too, aren’t you?”

“No,” you answered his question quickly. “And I’m not selfish enough to think that the few weeks I’ve spent with Sam will mean anything in the long run, but if something happens to me…”

“I’ll keep an eye on him,” Dean promised, eyes locked on yours. “I’m his big brother. It’s what I’ve always done.”

You managed a stiff smile. “He’s lucky to have you.”

“I could say the same about you.”

You were so done with this conversation. “You ready for this? Whatever comes next?”

“Sweetheart,” Dean replied, leaning against the other side of the car. “One thing I’ve learned is that we’re never ready for what comes next. But we’re gonna give it our all anyway.”

“Give it our all,” you repeated softly. “I guess the last five years of my life have built to this, hasn’t it?”

“One way or another, it’s all gonna end.” Dean let you turn those words over in your head while he finished up gassing up the car before he turned to you again. “You think you can handle it?”

The bell over the door to the gas station rang and you looked up to see Sam walking towards the two of you.

“I don’t know. Dean, I have no idea what I’ll do next. I mean, I started this insane mission to prove that my dad was innocent and… well… he’s d-dead. And I can barely believe everything I’ve learned since. And… I just don’t know.”

He nodded just as Sam reached your side.

“We good to go?” Sam asked, snaking his arm around your waist.

“At this point,” you said softly, keeping your eyes locked on Dean’s, “we don’t have an option, do we?”

“Let’s go.” Dean finished filling up the gas tank while Sam held open the back door of the Impala for you to get into.

The immediate second after Sam closed the door behind you, your phone rang. And you nearly ignored the call, but Braxton’s name lit up the screen and you answered after a deep breath. “Hey Brax. We’re, like, six hours away.”

“Change of plans, Y/N,” he replied. Dean and Sam both got into the car and looked back at you at the same time, immediately keying into the change in tone. As soon as the door were closed, neither spoke, waiting for your cue. And you waited for Braxton to explain. “We have an eye-witness placing your mom back in Virginia. She’s mobilizing her forces now. I’ve started moving my armies that way.”

“Armies,” you muttered under your breath. You hadn’t thought of the upcoming conflict as a battle, but I guess it was time to overcome your denial. “Right. Okay. So Virginia. I, uh, We’re not even close.”

“Tell me where you are and I can send a jet to you.”

You asked Dean where you were, since you’d been paying more attention to poring over your Dad’s research than the road. “Just outside of Grand Junction, Colorado.”

He repeated your location to someone beside him before returning to your conversation. “Drive to the Grand Junction airport. I have a jet in Denver that I’ll send to pick you up there.” There was a loud crash and he hurried to finish up the conversation. “Listen, I gotta go. I’ll talk to you when you’re on the jet, okay? It’ll be at the airport in just over an hour.”

“Okay.” What else do you say in these scenarios? “Be safe, Brax.”

“You too,” he said shortly, obviously distracted by whatever was happening where he was. “Talk to you soon. Love you. Bye.”

“I—yeah. Bye.” Love you? You literally just stabbed him. Like, not figuratively. You had a knife and you plunged it into his arm. “Uh,” you said, catching sight of the boys watching you expectantly. “He’s sending a jet. It’ll be at the Grand Junction airport in about an hour.”

“Airport?” Sam looked between you and Dean and sighed. “You gonna be good with that?”

The reminder at your HELLicopter ride made you want to reflexively punch him for subjecting you to the memory, but you managed to refrain. “Yeah. I’m good on planes. You can, you know, close the window and pretend you’re not in the air. Helicopters are just torture devices.”

Sam nodded slowly, clearly not fully convinced.

Then you caught sight of Dean shifting in the front seat and avoiding all eye contact.

“Dean?” You asked. His eyes flashed to yours briefly before he started fumbling with the keys, turning the car on. “Holy shit. You’re scared of flying.”

“Shut up.”

You couldn’t exactly tease him for his fear, since yours was so similar, so you just sat back.

Sam, however, had no such qualms. “Just my luck. I’ve gotta fly across the country with two people scared of flying. Got my brother scared of planes, my girlfriend scared of helicopters, and here I am. Scared of nothing.”

He smirked at the both of you, clearly teasing, yet enjoying himself all the same.

Dean, however, was not about to let his little brother get away with it. He turned, looked Sam right in the eyes, and simply stated: “Clowns.”

Which shut Sam up right up.

*****

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[what-the--curtains]

Braving the Elements

Chapter 17: Gone Girl

Part 1/2

Tw: Swearing, fighting

(Driving to the farm/following him into the woods)

(Fight scene)

“It was him, Apocalypse. Vision heard him I’m assuming on purpose. He wanted something, but I don’t know what.” Wanda explains frantically to Tony after detailing what she had just told you a few minutes ago.

“Shit.” Sam says from the kitchen, where he had gone to get coffee after being woken up by Wanda.

“What?” Wanda asks as she and Tony enter the kitchen. “She’s gone,” he says holding up the note stuck to the fridge.

Bucky, who had just gotten back from securing Roman with Steve, feels his heart drop.

“Idiot.” Wanda whispers

“At least she left a note.” Sam says

“Where’d she go?” Bucky asks, trying not to sound panicked.

“She must have gone to find him.” Wanda says

“How does she even know where he is?,” Nat asks. Wanda shakes her head, at a loss for words.

“Whose car did she take?” Steve questions.

“God damn that woman. MINE!” Sam yells closing the cupboard where the keys were kept. Tony manages to locate your coordinates with the help of the tracking device implanted in the car, “There she is.”

Wanda eyes are wide “He’s going to kill her I should never have told her. That must be what he wanted, he wants her powers.”

“Well that’s just not going to happen.” says Nat, loading up a gun “Not if we have anything to say about it.”

“We have to go. Now.” Bucky stresses grabbing his own set of keys and proceeding down to the garage with the rest of the team in tow.

You speed along the road to the abandoned farm house where you first went to find Apocalypse. You’re about half way there when you find yourself thinking about the possibility that this was some kind of trap, but his voice continues to taunt you and so, against your better judgment, you continue. You pull up just outside a rundown barn parking in an empty field filled with old farming equipment. You exit the car, not bothering to lock the door you make your way towards the barn.

The air is crisp, the night still. Crickets chirp and the summer breeze rattles a wind chime made of old shards of stained glass as the wheat growing in the nearby fields rustle against each other.

“Apocalypse!” you scream, “Come out and face me you fucking coward.” Your voice piercing through the silence of the night.

“We’re close.” Vision says, giving Wanda’s hand a reassuring squeeze, as Bucky speeds along the winding road.

“Hello, (y/n).” Apocalypse says from the tree line. “You’re much stronger than I remember I can feel it.” He turns walking into the forest.

“How do you know who I am, what do you want with me?” you ask, stopping at the edge of the forest, but with no reply you follow him into the woods.

“I don’t want something, I need something. You.” He maintains his pace despite the density of the forest.

“For what?” you’ve lost sight of him amidst the branches and vines which you move out your way with your powers.

“To help me restart the world. Get rid of all these people who want to hurt us, to kill us, to wipe us out entirely.” His voice echoing around you, disabling you from identifying his exact location. He was getting louder with each step you take, he must be close.

“Haven’t you already tried that once? Besides why would I want to do that?” you ask, as you happen upon a small clearing.

“Because it’s your destiny. I have foreseen it, planned it from the day you were born.” You can see him clearly now, he’s larger than you expected, more threatening up close. The x-gene has evidently affected his physical appearance, he’s unlike anything or anyone you’ve ever seen.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Think, you're smarter than this, or have I misjudged your intelligence.”

You tried to piece it together “You stole me from my family?”

“Try again.”

You feel ill, It seems impossible, but you say it anyway, hoping, praying you’re wrong. “You sold me. You’re my father. I don’t have elemental control. I have multiple powers, ones that you stole from the mutants you murdered. ”

“Partially, pyrokinesis and aerokinesis, they were a gift from me, but your mother was a powerful mutant as well, she controlled water, and all things made up of it.” He explains.

“Why would you sell me?” you spit out tears forming in your eyes.

“In order to unlock the full potential of your powers, we needed you to feel abandoned, we needed to foster your anger. Xavier put a hole in my plan by giving you a home, but we knew you would still come when you turned 18. Despite his teachings you're anger only festered and your powers continued to grow. Magneto got in the way by showing you how I achieved my powers. That night was supposed to be the beginning of the end. Then Roman failed, he managed to free you from the prison, but you slipped through his fingers. So now I’ve sent the only person who can get the job done.”

“And that’s you? You know what screw this, Charles stopped you once he’ll do it again.” You remark, any sadness you had felt a moment ago had manifested into rage. You turn to leave.

“Do you even realize how powerful you are? Stop trying to control it, let it take over. Join me and together we will rule over a new world. A free world, where you will be loved by all. That's all you ever wanted isn't it? To be loved.” You turn back to face him.

‘You’re not the first man who promised me that." you say through gritted teeth. Your nails dig deep into the skin of your palms causing blood to drip down onto your wrists as you try to suppress the rage and resentment coursing through your veins.

‘No but I am the first one who's meant it. Face it you cannot defeat me, if you will not join willingly then I will take what I need.”

“You would kill your own daughter?”

“Only if you refuse me and I’m not the one who killed a member of this family. After all, how do you think your mother died?” Then something that hasn’t happened in years occurs, you lose control

As they pull into the field they see Sam’s car, but they don’t see you. They park the cars and split into two groups, one searching the field while the others head into the barn. Bucky searches the wheat fields with Nat and Tony, before entering into the barn where the rest of the crew was. His mind can’t focus, where were you , why had you left, where you okay.

“Anything?” Sam asks. Bucky shakes his head holding back tears.

“Y/N” Wanda yells pausing for a response before shouting again.

As Steve looks up through the rotted roof he sees you rise above the treetops, a pale blue aura glowing around you as bright as the stars in the sky. “What the?” He starts, before seeing a second figure appear across from you. You move towards the figure hitting your fist against his, a flash of light erupting upon contact and a battle ensues above. The team runs back out into the open field.

“We have to help her.” Bucky says trying to make his way into the woods but he’s stopped by Wanda who grabs his arm.

“We can't, it's too dangerous. She’s lost control, she could kill any one of us.” She yells above the noise.

“So we just have to sit back and watch her die!” he shouts back, she quickly releases him taken aback by his harsh tone.

When she doesn’t answer he storms off.

“I’ll go see what that was all about, shout if anything changes” Steve says exiting in pursuit of his best friend.

In the sky blow after blow, and hit after hit echo throughout the forest, each connection lighting up the sky creating the illusion of a thunderstorm.

‘Hey!” Steve yells after Bucky, jogging to catch up to him.

“What?” he snaps, not slowing his pace.

“You can’t do that, you can’t just yell at people! Wanda was just looking out for you!” Steve huffs, grabbing his friend's shoulder.

“Well who's looking out for (y/n) huh Steve?” He hadn’t seen this much anger in Bucky since he was the Winter Soldier.

“Seriously Buck you need to calm down no one forced her to come out here.”

“So she deserves to die?” His voice wavers, turning to face Steve, eyes wide.

“Bucky that is not what I’m saying. What is wrong with you?” Bucky doesn’t respond, avoiding his gaze.

“Bucky,” he says, moving to stand next to him “tell me what’s going on, I’m worried is all, have you been going somewhere dark recently?” No answer. “Please Buck, talk to me.” Bucky’s shoulders relax slightly, his rage subsiding, suddenly feeling very small.

“I know. You’re right. I’m sorry it���s just,” he falters, “I just can’t lose her.” Suddenly Steve gets it.

“You won’t, she’s one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

“What if he’s stronger?” Steve hugs his friend not really knowing what to say next.

“So those articles were true then, you’re welcome by the way me and Nat set that up. Man, who would have thought I’d be the one helping you with the ladies?” Bucky manages a small chuckle patting Steve’s back as they break their hug.

Upon returning to the group Bucky apologizes to Wanda realizing her best friend was currently up there. She takes his hand in hers and squeezes it.

The air goes still, the temperature drops and they see you float towards Apocalypse, trees surging upwards behind you. A wind tunnel forms beneath you dredging water up from the ground and into the sky. You scream, the trees around you turn to ash, collapsing down onto the forest floor. The water turns into shards of ice which hurl towards Apocalypse, impaling him all over. He falls slightly, but catches himself in time for you to deliver the final blow. Lighting flies from your hands hitting him square in the chest causing him to plummet to the forest floor. The light around you begins to dim and you regain consciousness for a split second before passing out.

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