#don't ask me how long it took me to make this border... nor all the flashy lil elements

[letshavedeernnertogether]

We'll meet again

the plot is: (Y/n) summoms a demon, Alastor, to save herself from awful men and they make a deal. We'll see what comes next in subsequent chapters :>

I used she/her because it seems to me that the heroine has her own character and I thought it won't be right if I write you/your and than the heroine will make something out of your, reader, character, but I still used Y/n because I wanted to make you feel closer to this story and Alastor

english is not my mother-tounge, so I'm very-very sorry about the mistakes I must have made :'<

Part one, the summoning

Away! Farther from this place, as far as possible! It was just incredible to stay here for any longer. Although she couldn't leave this place she still could disappear for some time.

(Y/n) was running through the forest. Cold october wind rustled in her ears and scratched her cheeks, stained with tears. She breathed hard, suffocating with sob and run, but didn't want to stop to recover her wind.

She turned from the path and ran deep into the woods. She could barely see, where she was running, blinded by tears. The mist embraced her shoulders and waist, as if it asked her for a dance. Trees were bare and grey, the grass scratched her ankles. She often stumbled over the roots and stones, almost fell several times, but didn't stopped.

(Y/n) thought how marvelously would it be, if the Death would find her there right now. If she fell and bled until William, riding on the horseback, would find her, to took her to the cold and dirty marriage bed.

She was running until she ran out into a forest border, circled by high pines. There she fell exhausted.

She hated her existence that moment. She wanted to disappear. How awfully, how disgustingly, how abominably she felt! That dirty pig who dared to call himself their family's friend and who almost...

She wanted to kill him, she almost did it, when he grabbed her roughly and tried to press her lips against his. Only a memory made her shudder in disgust. But fortunately, a maid entered the room that moment, and (Y/n) ran away taking an occasion.

Now she cried her heart out.

If only she had the power... The power to take revenge. To do anything. To be anything.

She read about such power. In the books that (Y/n) called classics just because they were old, and that her mother called worthless, as they "don't teach how to live". (Y/n) always replied that these books taught her how to feel.

These books brought her up, even if their authors lived centuries ago. They told her about love, only one immortal love, and what a person could lose to get it.

The influence of these books was stronger due to the fact, that the house, where she lived, was located in the middle of nowhere, and throughout her life she communicated only with her parents, their few friends and servants.

Shaking with sobbing, she was lying on the ground. She knew that everything she read was just a fiction. There never existed any fausts, nor mephistos, nor witches nor evil forces. But she wished it weren't so.

So maybe she could try..?

She remembered a book, she found in the attick. Black leather binding, old yellow pages, blackletter.

"Circle, animals' bones and special words," she muttered.

After a while everything was done. All she had to do is to cast a spell.

Alasor was in his radio studio and he was going to start a brodcast. He made himself a cup of coffee, tuned the radio in and only just sat in his chair when something started to happen.

Everything around him flicked and rattled; the air was filled with red and black shadows.

"What is it?" he said.

Invisible force seized him and he felt the smell of rotten leaves.

Not even three seconds had passed, when the radio studio was empty.

Alastor found himself sitting on the ground in the middle of circle somewhere in a forest border. He saw a beautiful and frightened young woman in front of him. The hem of her long light dress was stained with mud. Hair was messy and her eyes were red of tears. She looked at him with her eyes wide opened, stilly moving her lips.

A human.

Alastor understood that he was still sitting on the ground and quickly stood up.

He noticed how small was this woman. He was tall enough even among the demons; and now standing opposite her he realized how small people were.

"Oh, god," she said and covered her mouth with her palm, "I can't believe. Am I insane?"

The man dusted his suit.

"If you summon a demon and then calling the god for help, then..." he almost closed his index finger and thumb, "maybe slightly mad?"

His voice sounded like coming out of a radio. His wide smile full of sharp yellow teeth gave (Y/n) the shivers. She was amazed at how classically devilish he looked. Could it be because of the colour of his clothes? He had a red pinstriped suit, a red shirt with two intersecting stripes forming something like a cross on his chest, a bowtie, black trousers and shoes with red toes. In his hand he held a strange cane that looked more like a microphone. His eyes were red, and she felt how hypnotical was his gaze. His hair was also red but with black tips. On the top of his head she saw ears and small antlers. "A deer demon?" she thought.

"Well," he said, "are you still going to remain silent and stare at me?"

He throwned but was still smiling.

"Sorry, it's just not every day you summon a demon haha" she began to stroke her hair.

"So is it your first time, hmm?"

She looked at him with her cheeks red, "Summoning? Yeah, exactly..."

(Y/n) thought that his voice was anodyne despite who he was. She couldn't deny that she found him all attractive.

"Well, dear," said the man, "tell the truth it's my first time either! Alastor, pleasure to be meeting you, quite a pleasure!" His speech became faster and he held out his hand (Y/n).

He was still in the circle and (Y/n) was out. She tipped her head and asked, "You can't cross this circle, can you?"

He was still holding his hand out her.

"I'm quite sure that you can," he said, gazing at her with a sharp smile.

"But I'm not actually sure if it's safe for me," (Y/n) replied.

He tilted his head sharply, and she heard something like a radio was crackling.

"What a bold girl," he thought.

He smiled wider and put his hands behind his back.

"Ha! Very well, dear! Now if you don't mind, explain me, why have you summoned me?"

Her face became severe; in her eyes he saw something very similar to the thirst for a revenge.

"I want the power."

He looked up at her.

"A demon like you can give me the power, right?" She looked at him with hope.

"What kind of power do you mean, darling?"

She hardly breathed, gazing at him.

"I want to be the one who can't be harmed or even touched by men. I want them to regret they meeting me."

He was surprised indeed, "Why such a unique request?"

She hugged herself by her shoulders, "Just make it," she said.

Alastor noticed how subdued and frightened she was.

Some people say if a person seeks for a devil's help this person is weak, desperate and lost their heart. But in actual fact, not every person dares to do it. Only a fearless, confident in their strength and knowledge and slightly mad, will make a deal. Of course, a lot is contingent. Nobody will ever say that Ambrosio was a strong and brave man. But the inner strength and spirit of Faust, his desire for knowledge and willingness to do anything to achieve his dream, can be envied by many. And Alastor was pretty sure about the strength of this girl. He was actually interested in her soul.

"Let's make a deal," he said holding his hand out again.

(Y/n) looked up at him. She was thinking. What would happen if she did it? Would she end up in hell? But wasn't her own existence hell already? But it was worth it, right? To sell her soul to save her body. Madness, some would say. Maybe she wasn't actually sane that moment, but she did want to revenge.

She came closer and erased a line between her and Alastor. She took his hand and a green light filled the forest. (Y/n) saw how his antlers grew much bigger, the smile stretched from ear to ear, his eyes glowed. She felt like something had changed inside of her.

And then silence.

"Well, dear, here is the contract. You must sign it." He gave her a parchment covered with dark red ink.

She took the paper and read it.

No matter how hard she tried to find something ambiguous in the document, she couldn't. "I guess a demon gets your soul not with a trap in papers but with the formulation of your wish," (Y/n) thought.

And as the formulation of her own wish in papers seemed strange, she asked the demon, "I don't remember that I said something about the demons," she wanted to show Alastor the strange line in the contact, but he was already behind her shoulder.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She responded with all-knowing tone, "I said, that I don't wanna be able to be harmed by any man, but you wrote here, that I don't wanna be harmed by any demons too."

"Why not, dear?" Alastor looked in her face. (Y/n) could see her reflection in his crimson eyes.

"My dear, I don't fill in the contact, you do." He drew himself up to his full height, "My job is to fulfil your wish in any way, that I think fit. You're the only one who formulates your desire, which is written here in the form you thought about it. So I believe it was you, and you only, who thought that you should be protected by demons too."

All of this he said smiling, accompanying his speech with graceful gestures.

"Evidently, you faced the demon," he put his hand on his chest, "me, and decided to save yourself from such a dangerous fellow." Alastor laughed and she couldn't hide her smile. His laugh was very infectious.

"Honestly, I find you better that most men I know," and before Alastor could realized what she said, (Y/n) asked, "But what about this part?"

(Y/n) pointed at red letters, where was said that neither men nor demons couldn't even touch her, unless she allow them to do it herself, with all her heart, completely trusting them.

"I'm sure, I couldn't think it. This point makes me defenceless. Also, I don't allow those I even trust to touch me. I don't like touch." She was serious as a heart attack.

Alastor leaned over her again to read red cursive. She mentioned that he smelled like fur and wood, and she also noticed a slight smell of coffee. "Can't believe a demon smells so nice," she thought.

"My dear, I must confess that I maybe thought this when we shook hands. Incredibly, how different the contracts between demons are from the contracts between a human and a demon!"

She frowned in cofusioun.

"I mean, my dear," he continued, "it would be quite difficult for you to never be interacted with anyone, there should be at least several men that you trust, aren't there?"

"No."

"Then don't worry!" He placed his hand on her shoulder and their cheeks touched, "this point doesn't mean anything for a reserved woman like you!"

He stood straight again.

"But how could be your thoughts written here?" she exclaimed. "Didn't you tell me several minutes ago, that I'm the only one who fills in the contract?"

"It's written in description of my protection of you," his voice became lower, "And as I mentioned before only I decide how to do it," and than backed to normal.

"All right," she sighed. She suspected that it was a trap, something that she would regret later; but she didn't want to worry about it too much. She was sure in her distrust of people.

(Y/n) continued on reading. It was a part of what Alastor would do to protect her.

"As you see, darling," Alastor looked at his nails, "I will always be by your side." He smiled wider at her.

"I give you my shadow," He hastened to add, "well, only a part of it, otherwise you would have my shape of shadow hahaha!"

She glanced at his shadow. Yeah, it would be difficult to explain why did a girl had a shadow of a tall, slim, deer like man.

She looked at the contact again. She sighed and signed it without hesitation. Before she had time to finish the last letter, the contact disappeared in green light.

Alastor stood in the bright green light holding out his hand. His antlers grew larger, reminding the branches of a dead wood. His smile was stitched, and on his forehead (Y/n) saw "X".

They shook hands and all of this had disappeared.

"Well, dear," Alastor adjusted his jacket, "now I'd like to warn you that this shadow has quite a cruel character!" He grined.

(Y/n) looked at her shadow under her feet. It had the same shape as usual, but it was much darker now. And then she saw how the shadow changed its shape in the place of the head. A long sharp arc appeared there. It looked like a smile. (Y/n) felt a shiver run down her spine. The smile disappeared.

"It'll get rid of your evildoers." The demon came closer. "But you need to remember, my dear, that it won't help you, if you let them harm you." He made her look at him, raising her chin. "You're invulnerable now, but you still can be harmed by any woman or anyone who you trust. So choose wisely."

She didn't move. She felt hypnotized, and his touching gave her a little tremble. "What did you say about touching just a moment ago?" said an annoying voice in her head.

"Funny, I told you to chose wisely who to trust, but still I can touch you." Alastor was smiling at her and ran his thumb down her chin. She still didn't move. He drew himself up straight and let her go. She blinked as if coming out of a trance. He put his palm on his chest saying, "I'm very flattered."

It seemed to (Y/n) that she saw some kind of softness and his eyes. But a sardonic grin appeared at his face again.

"Well, my dearest, with this I say goodbye to you." Alastor stepped in the drew circle. He looked around him and sayid to (Y/n), "Interesting, dear, but it seems to me, that I can't leave you until you command."

She looked at him. She understood that she didn't want him to leave. His face, his voice, his manner of speaking... She already missed it.

Did he saw a regret in her eyes?

"It was a real pleasure to get acquainted with you," Alastor said.

"Shall we meet again?" She asked and made a tiny step forward.

"I'm sure we'll do."

She gazed at him, pressing her hands to the chest. They would meet. He gave her power. She was saved. They would meet.

She took a stick and completed the erased circle.

"Goodbye, Alastor."

(Y/n) was left alone.

#hazbin hotel #hazbin hotel fanfiction #alastor #alastor x reader #hazbin hotel x y/n

[sky-is-the-limit]

𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒂 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆:

Phillip Graves who would be in denial of his feelings about you. He'd convince himself that you were just another warm body for him to use, another pawn on his chessboard that he'd decide when or where to move. Someone easily replaced, someone only worth an hour of his day.

Every night, confusion invaded his mind. He could not stop thinking about you, where you were, who you were with.. The tremendous question bothered him whether this feeling was love or not. Whether it was some sick obssesion or if what he felt was pure possessiveness for a body he got to taste and hold. Perhaps it was both.

Falling in love with you was the easy part, it just happened. It was admitting it to himself, that was the hardest task he ever had to handle. He could try to run away from it, hell, he tried countless times with accepting missions that lasted months, wishing that time would cure his aching heart.

Until he realised that he could run forever, search forever, but in the end, every path would lead right back to you. Every time the feeling would get deeper, more complete, more bewitching. It was pointless to try. His heart had been alone for so long it was almost unsettling to suddenly have company. To have you.

You never heard him say any words of affirmation nor sweet talk. Never “I miss you” or “I love you”. Phillip Graves never trusted those words. But when he said,

“Let me do that, you're gonna hurt yourself.” It was the little things, really. Going out of his way to appear useful, to delude himself into believing that you needed him even for tasks you could handle yourself.

The Commander inside of him felt ashamed for his eagerness to run to you, to carry your groceries, to change a lightbulb, to wait almost two hours outside of the hair salon so you wouldn't have to take the train back home.. Not Phillip, though. He needed you to need him.

⚜

“Come on, I'll walk you to your car.” Let me spend the last minutes of our time together in comforting silence, his heart admitted quietly. It was the way you instinctively walked closer to him, his warmth radiating safety and protection.

Your love was a quiet emotion that in time became part of the oxygen he needed to breathe, and so though he might've fought against it's existence, any form of removal or the lack of your presence in his life and the emotions would begin to choke him.

⚜

“Don't say something you're gonna regret, sweetheart.” He closed his eyes, took a deliberate deep inhale through his nose, held it for a few seconds before forcing the trapped air out through pursed lips, attempting to calm down his accelerating heartrate and the blood that had starting racing through his veins.

You argued, yes. There were days when you couldn’t stand each other. But every disagreement was followed by a reconciliation that brought you closer than before. It was like watching two magnets, pushing and pulling until they finally clicked into place.

⚜

“It's past midnight, where were you?” His cheeks coloured, and his lips formed a wobbly scowl, bordering on a pout, as he crossed his arms over his chest. It was embarrassing how he spent hours glancing at his watch, then at the door, his fingers drumming an impatient rhythm on the tabletop. He couldn’t sit still. Couldn’t breathe normally. Everything a jumble. Thoughts. Emotions. A cacophony. He was unraveling.

What if you got into an accident? What if you were trapped unable to scream for help? What if you left with another? He had no right to ask such question and yet he did, every time because if something was to happened to you, he'd burn the world into ashes and await the company of your ghost.

⚜

“Who was that asshole talking to you?” The room was filled with people, but all he could see was you. Stormy eyes met your gaze across the room, a silent conversation passing between you. His eyes were fire in water, if such thing could be imaginable. But as he began to make his way towards you, a man stepped in, engaging you in meaningless conversation.

It was fear that brought rage, that hot burning anger that seeked to harm. Fear of losing you, fear of not being enough, fear that you would finally wake up to realise that almost any man out there was more deserving of your affections than a broken soldier who would burn in the pits of hell for his crimes.

His heart sank, but he couldn’t look away. Rage consumed him, it burned in his stomach and he swore he could feel the temperature rising. It felt like a living, breathing organism trying to claw it's way out of him.

His gaze was icy, freezing everyone it touched, making even a crowded room feel lonely until you decided to spare him a look, flashing him a smile that would put even the sun to shame and in an instant his eyes burned with a fire that could ignite even the most dampened surface.

⚜

“Do you, uh, wanna come over?” It felt like he was on fire, that he might spontaneously combust at any moment, like someone had set a slow and steady match beneath his center, deep in the pit of his stomach as you picked up the phone.

Not even an hour had passed since they landed and he was running back to you, like a fiend desperate to get his dose. It was frightening, he felt fragile as though a negative response from you would've crushed him into pieces.

⚜

“ Stay the night.” He still couldn't understand what the fuck you were doing there, being with him, choosing him, tolerating his bullshit on the daily.

He certainly didn’t deserve you, redemption for everything he had done as a Shadow and later in desperation to free himself, forever out of his grasp, never his to claim and yet your eyes seemed to pull him in, a gravitational force he couldn’t resist.

“God, I missed your lips.” And with that, he surged forward to kiss you desperately. It was odd. You were no stranger to him kissing you with desperation, but that felt different. It was soft and longing, like he was chasing something he couldn't have nor deserved to.

Deep within your chest, your heart shattered for him a little. You’ve had your fair share of romantic lovers and flings, you lived a normal life, that was until he appeared with the force of a storm, but you realised that with his line of work, he never had the chance to.

He broke the kiss abruptly and started sloppily kissing down your neck in quick succession, letting his tongue dart out intermittently to lick your skin and occasionally letting his teeth nip at you.

As he continued down over your exposed upper chest over the sweetheart neckline of your shirt, he started falling to his knees in front of you, his hands sliding down over the outside of your thighs to show his devotion, to worship you like you deserved.

⚜

“I'll fucking kill him.” The anger was first seen in his eyes, then a tension in his muscles, an inability to think clearly soon followed. How dare someone upset you? How dare someone speak to you that way? He wanted to lash out in the streets to find them, to hurt them if not vanish them from the surface of the earth.

Seeing your beautiful eyes glisten with tears was the worst type of torture. He wanted to shield you from this cruel world, protect what was his even if he had to destroy everything else as a means to do so. He would do anything for you.

If it meant unleashing his violent temper on those who dared bring you to that state, so be it. He was willing to keep you safe from it, be good to you and unforgiving to everyone else.

⚜

That was when you heard the unspoken words of love in every sentence. Phillip Graves's love was like a blazing fire, burning brightly and fiercely. It was like a lightning strike, a sudden realization that shook you to your core, it really was love. Pure and unconditional in his own messed up way.

At times, it felt like you were drowning in treacherous sea and he just stood there, watching, unwilling to help just to see how far you'd go for him. If you were just as mad for him as he was.

How could you hang on to something so incomprehensible? How could you keep pouring love into an abyss? But then there you were. Always there. There was something in those blue eyes that was so inviting, so safe and intoxicating that you couldn't help yourself nor you'd choose another. 

⚜

The cold night wrapped the world in a frosty embrace, the air crisp and biting. Stars twinkled like diamonds in the clear, dark sky, while the moon cast a silvery glow over the silent, snow-covered landscape.

You sat in silence, but it wasn’t awkward. It was comfortable, intimate. Words weren't necessary to understand each other. A look, a touch, a shared smile was enough. His presence was enough.

“What are you doing out here? You're gonna catch a cold.” Finally, he spoke with concern, battling with the inner Commander desperately asking him to conceal his worry. His eyes were alarmingly smooth, devoid of the wrinkles that often accompany age, as if time itself hesitated to mark him.

“I like the night sky, it brings me peace.” The words came out barely as an audible whisper, like if sharing a precious secret or an embarrassing habit.

He was now standing in your shadow, closing what already felt like the non-existent distance between you. Suddenly, you ceased moving entirely when his hands reached out to place his jacket around your shoulders.

“You have to see the night sky back at home. The stars shine brighter in Texas.” His voice softened as he recalled his hometown that he missed dearly, the gentle lilt carrying a tender affection that warmed your heart.

“Really? Maybe one day I'll visit.” There was a flash of lightning outside, a prelude to the storm ahead to match the electrocuting jolt shooting down your spine as you felt his hand gently find place on your lower waist.

“Or maybe I'll take you back with me.” His face was close enough that you could feel his warm breath tickling your skin as he spoke what felt like a promise.

He didn’t say anything after that nor did you. But he held your hand, his thumb tracing your knuckles in a silent confession. He was yours the first moment he laid eyes on you. Your love was a tumultuous symphony, full of passionate crescendos, heartbreaking solos, and soft, tender interludes. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real, and it was yours. Phillip Graves was yours. Unconditionally.

#i love him your honour #cod #call of duty #phillip graves #phillip graves x reader #phillip graves x you #cod x reader #cod x you #phillip graves smut #task force 141 #141 x reader #captain price #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #kyle gaz garrick #könig

[thegnomelord]

Beastly Urges

Pantalone x reader

MINORS DNI

Word count: 4.3k

CW: nsfw, afab Pantalone, cock and cunt used for the genitals, Dom!Bottom!Pantalone, Sub!Top!Reader, pronouns are gn(referred to as You and Beast sometimes) but reader has two cocks and has monstrous features, size difference, dom/sub, oral, cum eating, size kink, butt plugs, double penetration, anal, vaginal, belly bulging, cream pie, gags, cock slapping, marking, biting, bit of a slow burn?

Go easy on me peeps, this is my first time writing smut. Feel free to give back criticism, tell me if I'm missing any tags, or make requests!

There were plenty of reasons why a fool would think twice before crossing the Tsaritsa, chief amongst them — You; a Beast amongst men, terrifying in both appearance and merciless ferocity, hunting down all who oppose Her with reckless abandon. It doesn't matter how long or how far they run, you are always near, tracking them down to the very borders of Teyvat... or until their legs give out.

And with such renown comes gossip.

From the high society nobility all the way to the brothel whores, they wonder how you must be behind closed doors. Surely, you must be a greedy lover, no less savage in bed as you are on the battlefield. Surely, you must take all your partners can offer and then demand more, fucking your partners into the bed until you are satisfied regardless of their opinion on the matter...

Pantalone would have found such gossip annoying if it wasn't so amusing. He would sometimes even laugh when he heard the newest round of, dare he say, fantasies, the common folk came up with about you and your supposed unlucky partners.

It was a source of pride for him, knowing the true version of you the rest of the world would never see. You were... gentle, soft, nothing but feather light caresses and loving confessions muttered into his skin as you did all he asked.

If anything, you were too gentle. You handled Pantalone like he was made of glass, afraid that the moment you put more than the barest amount of pressure — he would shatter.

Last time, you had accidentally nicked his skin with a razor sharp tooth. Despite his arguments that you hadn't even drawn blood, you hadn't dared to touch him since then.

It's been two months.

And your sweet, little lover was prepared to show you the error of your ways.

You didn't suspect a thing when he greeted you with a sweet kiss the moment you took a step into your home, stealing your ability to think with every peck on the lips. Nor did you think of anything when he lured you to the bedroom with the promise of receiving more of his affection.

How that turned into you literally chained to the bed and naked as the day you were born, you still couldn't tell.

Before you could even argue, he had presented you with a second surprise — a device, something between an open mouth gag and a bit meant for horses (No doubt of Dottore's making). It kept your mouth wide open, displaying all your monstrously sharp teeth in all their grotesque glory.

He gave you a way out if you wanted to, he always did, yet despite the worry bubbling in your chest about the possible harm you could bring him... you were curious.

Slim, manicured fingers curled in your hair and pulled your head even closer. "Right there," Pantalone breathed out, grinding his body down so your tongue could worm deeper into his cunt. His thighs hugged your head like a vice, leaving no place for your teeth to go but dig into his soft flesh. Each tooth left behind dark blue imprints in the skin, but thankfully didn't draw blood, though Pantalone seemed almost disheartened, rocking his body down with a "Don't you dare stop."

Despite the time spent apart, he was as tight as you remembered, if not more, his cunt constricting around your tongue as if intending to snap it off. He didn't care, groaning as his cum pooled in your open maw, nearly choking you when you forgot to swallow. But you couldn't swallow all of it, and more often than not the mixture of his cum and your drool would escape your mouth and roll down your skin to join the wet mess on the sheets.

But Archons, he tasted Divine.

A low moan left your chest as you gulped down his fluids, your head heavy and clouded by pure bliss. You pressed your nose flush with his lightly haired groin, breathing in his scent and curling your tongue in a way you knew he liked.

He let out a high pitched moan and sharply rocked his hips into your tongue, your teeth digging into his skin, a single drop of iron tainting your taste buds—

You jerked your head back on instinct, fearful you had hurt him.

You didn't get far.

Pantalone fisted your hair, forcing your head still. Through bleary eyes, you saw him lean back— "Behave."

A harsh slap landed on the head of your cock.

Your entire body buckled as you nearly threw him off, the low shrieking of metal and the groaning of wood masking the embarrassing sounds that left your throat.

A second later two more slaps came, one on each head of your dual cocks. Pantalone sat up on his knees as he delivered a third slap, your tongue sliding out of him, which you surely would have bitten off had the gag let you. This time, there was no way for you to muffle your sounds, your body straining against the bonds, pleasure and pain burning at the base of your spine.

He wretched your head up, forcing you to meet his disappointed gaze. "You didn't touch me for two months, and now this is how you act?" He asked, a coldness in his eyes many debtors knew too well. "If you break anything, I will throw you out and won't touch you until Rex Lapis comes back to life." Even breathless, his singular threat was enough to make your heart stop. "Am I understood?"

You forced yourself to stay still, nodding your head as much as you could. A warbled "Soh-hrh." was all you could say.

His grip remained harsh, but Pantalone's eyes softened. He leaned down, obsidian black hair falling over his shoulders and around your head like a curtain, isolating you two from the world. "That's my good beast," He cooed, like you were a mongrel mutt, and you would never admit how those words made your chest burn.

He scooped up a streak of fluids from your chin. You could do nothing but watch him bring his wet fingers to your open maw, easily slipping past the hellish device.

Pantalone took great pleasure in feeling up your teeth, poking his thumb on every tooth and gently wiggling a few as if to deny their dangerous potential. Then his fingers found your waiting tongue, he hummed and let you curl your tongue around his fingers, pulling and tugging on it like it was just another toy.

Like you were just another toy.

He pressed his fingers to the back of your tongue. Your maw tried to close, but the gag in your mouth only allowed an inch of movement as you jerked back.

"Ah ah. Stay." He leaned back to sit on his knees and pulled his fingers from your mouth, punishing your body's reaction with another harsh slap to your cock head.

Clenching your eyes shut, you miraculously managed not to move. "Good." His grip relaxed, fingers gently carding through your hair as a reward. "See, that wasn't hard." His fingers returned to your mouth and you let him in.

You whined as Pantalone moved his fingers across the entire length of your tongue, your cheeks burning when you registered the taste of your cum on his skin. He let out a small laugh, letting you lick his and your cum off his fingers.

You watched as he trailed his drool covered fingers down the contours of his stomach, your spit gleaming in the firelight. Those clever fingers traced over his thighs, a groan leaving him as he pressed on the dark bruises left by you teeth before coming to rub his cock.

He let out an unabashed moan, his head lolling back. "You made me feel so good." His fingers slid further down, two of them spreading his lips so you could see a hint of his pulsing tunnel. "But it looks like you don't want to service me any longer." He huffed.

A loud whine tore through your chest, your body moving on its own to get closer to him. Only his sharp gaze kept you from tearing through the flimsy chains.

Pantalone just laughed at you, his voice both melodic and condescending. “What’s this? Has my beast changed their mind?" His fingers didn't stop moving, two of them lazily fingering his twitching hole. "It is such a shame you didn't touch me for so long. I got lonely." Your eyes were glued on his fluttering cunt, drops of his cum dripping on you and burning your skin like hot magma. "Eyes on me when I'm talking to you, Mutt."

Your eyes snapped up to meet his gaze.

“Beg,” He ordered, voice rich like wine.

Oh, what a cruel lover you have. The gag silenced any words you could form, yet you still tried. It resulted in garbled pleas and soft whimpers, you even stuck your tongue out when nothing seemed to work — offering your services like some cheap whore.

He drank in the sounds as they left you, an arrogant smile gracing his features. "You could do better." He smirked, and your heart froze, a pathetic whine leaving you. "But this will do." He said. You laid still as a statue while he moved back over your open maw, his hand finding itself back in your hair. "Make me cum, Darling, and I'll give you a reward."

How could you refuse?

You pressed yourself flush to his groin before he even had a chance to pull you close. Your teeth lightly dug into his skin, his breathy groan sending a shiver down your spine. You licked at his cock, small kitten licks at first to re-familiarize yourself with it, growing bolder as his breathing picked up. You pressed your tongue flat to his cock when he began rocking his hips, the momentum ensuring you could lick his cock from root to tip with the right amount of pressure.

The reaction was instant — Pantalone doubled over you with a groan, his things tensing around your head as fresh drops of cum dripped on your tongue. "Y-yes, just like that." Pantalone groaned, fingers curling into your hair as he rutted against your tongue. "Harder."

You did as he commanded and pressed your tongue harder to his cock, letting him rock against your maw as you tried to gulp down his cum. Then, on one rough thrust, your tongue slipped into his cunt. "Fuck!" Pantalone moaned, not even stopping, riding your tongue like it was a cock.

You could tell he was close when he began babbling, a litany of "Yes- good, Darling - just like that! Harder- Yes!" Spurring your body on to dig and twist your tongue deeper into him, to let him use you however he saw fit, the vibrations of your whimpers only adding to his pleasure.

His fingers clenched in your hair — His orgasm crashed over him, cunt constricting like a vice around your tongue as his thighs hugged your head. You milked him for all he had, doing your best to gulp down his cum, but it was futile as more would just stream down your chin.

Pantalone shivered as he slowly released you, both of you groaning when your tongue slipped out for the last time. Both of you were left breathless as he leaned back to partly sit on your chest, his bruising grip turning soft as he carded his fingers through your hair.

You looked up at him, breathes and bleary eyed. He laughed, soft and gentle. "You look wonderful like this." He cooed, scooping up the cum on your chin to watch you wordlessly clean his fingers. "Such a darling beast, all for me, yes?"

You tried to answer, but the combination of the gag and your tongue curled around his fingers made it impossible.

He giggled, and it was the most angelic thing you had ever heard. "Right you are." His hands shook when he reached for the gag, and you lifted your head to help him remove it. "How is that?" Your cheeks and the corners of your lips ached as you moved your jaw, but thankfully you couldn't taste any blood, only his cum.

Your voice was gone and your tongue didn't want to listen to you, so instead of voicing anything you simply nuzzled your head into the hand gently carding through your hair.

You thought this would be the end of this session.

You found satisfaction in his release, even if you hadn't cum yourself, but it was the norm for you; you were big in more ways than one, and both of you being busy people left little time to properly prepare, and you were fine rubbing one out after Pantalone was satisfied.

Then he spoke. "I would be remiss not to reward such good behavior."

Your eyes snapped open (when had you even closed them?) just in time to see him scoot back. He left a wet trail of cum across your entire torse, but you couldn't mind that when he ended up straddling your lap. He smirked, playfully rubbing his ass against your cocks.

You jumped, a hiss tearing through your chest. The overwhelming sensation of your abused cocks finally getting Pantalone's attention banged on your head like a hammer, yet your hips snapped up in an attempt to get more of that feeling.

"Such a simple, single-minded creature." Pantalone tsked, gently slapping your hip as a command to stay still. "I have a surprise for you."

You perked up, keeping yourself still, your eyes glued on him as he turned around on wobbly legs, putting his perfectly shaped ass on display for you.

And the surprise in it.

Not even his ass cheeks could hide the silvery base of the toy. His ring stretched obscenely around it, red, puffy and fluttering around the base with every breath he took. "Since you ignored me for so long, I had to get creative." He hissed, breathless, looking at you over his shoulder, his onyx black hair cascading over his back. "Do you like it?"

You couldn't say anything as he used one hand to grip the plug, beginning to shallowly thrust the toy into himself. "It was a-hah," He groaned, bucking his hips, his cum leaking down his thighs. "-a pain to get it." It was mesmerizing how his ring fluttered around it, clinging to every artificial vein. "But so worth it."

He braced a hand on your thigh and slowly pulled the plug out, his ass clenching even harder around the toy. It finally plopped out with an obscene sound, his ass clenching around nothing and rapidly destroying what self control you had.

And now you could see that it looked like a replica of your own cock, if a bit smaller.

You didn't know how your brain was functioning.

He laughed when he saw your expression, tossing the toy to next to your head as he turned around to face you. He reached behind himself and palmed your cock. Your hips bucked, and he flicked the head as punishment, a low whine coming out of your throat. "Behave," He reminded, "Only good beasts get their rewards."

Holding still while Pantalone rose to his shaky knees to line you up with his holes was worse than any torture you had ever inflicted or experienced, the sinfully wonderful feeling of his walls clenching around one of your cocks driving you to madness. You clenched your hands shaking as he slid down in one fluid move, skin slapping against skin as you bottomed out in him.

Both of you groaned, a high pitched keen leaving your mouth as his hands found themselves around the second cock, pressed flush between his thighs. "I had a lot of time to practice since you ignored me for so long." He explained with a scoff, rocking his hips down as he played with the head of your second cock. "It's a real shame I couldn't practice with the real thing." He hissed, clenching around you and flicking your head.

"Please!" You gasped, unaware of what you were begging for. Distantly, you could hear the chains groan as they struggled to hold you, but you couldn't force yourself to care when his clever fingers played with your slit and his sinfully tight ass fluttered around your length.

"Begging for mercy now are we?" Pantalone mocked, slowly rising and falling back down. "I shouldn't give you any after the stunt you pulled." His hiss turned into a moan as your hips snapped up just as he was descending. Yet that didn't earn his pity, and he continued to leisurely ride you, as if you were no better than the toy, his cruel hands palming your sensitive head, running his fingers over the shaft just to tightly grip the base when you'd bottom out.

Seconds passed like centuries, you didn't even know when you had started begging, only that you moaned when his fingers left your cock. "You are lucky you're so well behaved." He sighed, "Now stay still."

He rose up, his walls like a vice around your poor cock, until only the head was still inside. He pressed the head of your other cock to his cunt, stretched so wide by your monstrous tongue that the head popped in without any trouble.

But this time he couldn't take you in on the first time, his little body not used to taking in so much. He stopped a little before half way, holes fluttering and clenching around you as if his body didn't know whether it wanted to push you out or draw you in deeper. "Oh, Darling." He moaned, breathless, one hand on your stomach for support, the other hand on his stomach where your cocks bulged his stomach. "So good for me."

He rose up slowly, thighs trembling as he slid back down, drawing in half an inch more with every rise and fall. His hand clawed at your skin, whole body trembling when he finally, finally, sheathed you fully in him.

You had never done this before, mostly out of fear of hurting him, but now...He looked beautiful.

Sweat damp locks clung to his forehead, his eyes half glazed over, lips parted to let out breathy moans. You could feel his hand through the muscle of his stomach, rubbing at your heads as he clenched down on you. Even the bitten and bruised thighs were beautiful, glistening from his cum and your spit, dark blue bruises forming a brand of ownership from when your teeth had dug too deep into his skin. He spread his trembling thighs wide over hips, giving you a perfect view of his throbbing cock standing proud while his cunt clenched like a vice around you.

"Se-haah." Pantalone shivered, a blush spreading from his ears down to his chest as he rubbed you through his stomach. "See how well I fit you?"

You didn't know how he was able to speak when you were leaking your brain through your cocks as precum, pleasure so powerful it was on the cusp of pain burning at the base of your spine and in the pit of your stomach.

He braced both hands on your stomach and rocked his hips down. "Fuck!" You both moaned so loud you were certain half of Teyvat heard you. He began rising and falling back on your shafts achingly slowly, thighs trembling, core muscles tense. "Oh, yes!" He groaned as your hips gently snapped up to meet his downward thrust.

You continued this slow pace until you were at the cusp of madness, fire burning in your veins as you attempted to buck up, only fail when he would rise up so you couldn't get deeper in him. You whined, a tightness in your belly, you needed more of his heat, you needed more of him!

"Wh-hah, what's wrong?" Pantalone mockingly asked, clawing at your stomach as he rode you even slower. "Not sati-fuck- satisfied?"

You nodded, clenching your teeth, the chains groaning louder in your ears.

He peered at you from beneath his lashes, "This -archons why are you big-" He groaned, rising up and stopping there, keeping just the heads of your cocks inside him. "This is how I felt all those two months." He growled as you whined, not budging no matter how much you begged and whined.

"If you don't lik- hah- like it, do something about it." He hugged, gently slapping your stomach as you once again tried to buck up into his tight heat. "Or-" He looked you straight in the eyes, a devious smirk on his lips. "-shall I go back to the toys?"

Snap!

Next thing you knew, you were sat up. Both hands gripping his thighs and forcing him down as you snapped your hips up.

"Yes!" He shouted so all Snezhnaya could hear, clenching around you like a vice.

His thighs shook as you helped him rise and fall while fucking up into him, using him like a toy to your heart's content while he moaned and groaned.

Pantalone let out the sweetest moans, trying to silence them by hiding his head in the crook of your neck as he bounced on top of you, yet it was futile. Moaned order of "Like that, go on, harder, please!" rung in your ears like a mantra as he pressed searing kisses on your skin, winding his arms around your neck to get you even closer to him.

You felt his lips over your pulse point, pressing a kiss there before he bit you — your hips snapped up sharply, all caution flying with the wind.

You snarled, tugging him closer to you with a bruising grip as you fucked up into him, bullying your way into his clenching holes until he was screaming your name between his moans.

His holes clenched around you tightly, destroying any lingering worry when his hips would fight against your grip every time you'd pull out, his body so desperate to have you in him that he couldn't wait the second it would take you to snap your hips into him.

You could tell he was close, silky soft tunnels fluttering around your shafts before gripping them like a vice. You pressed the pad of your finger to his cock, and he let out a broken moan as you fucked him, rubbing his cock every time you lifted him up just so you could hear the fucked out sounds he moaned into your skin.

Itching need gnawed on your brain, the familiar pressure in your belly telling you that you wouldn't last long. "Close," You hissed out, hugging his body close to yours, caging his smaller body in your bulk, safe and sound from the rest of the world in your embrace. "Please."

"Yes yes yes go-" he gasped out, his hands gripping your shoulders, as you rubbed his cock. "Go on, inside! Cum inside!" His walls clenched around you, threatening to snap your cocks off, as with a thunderous shout he came, biting your pulse point again.

Your own release shot through you like lightning, frazzling your brain as you shot your loads, Pantalone letting out a broken moan as you filled him.

Archons, he had missed this. He forgot how much he loved it when you filled him up, your hot release bulging his stomach even more, proclaiming that you were his and no one else's. "Good, so good darling," He moaned, babbling, completely unaware of his words as you both try to catch your breaths.

You tried to pull out, but he stopped you, grumbling something under his breath as his holes clenched around you. "Don't." He mumbled into your neck, hugging you closer to himself.

Resigned, you lied back on the bed, laying Pantalone on your chest. Your fingers ghosted over the black and blue bruises forming all over his pelvis, long scratch marks left by your claws only now starting to clot.

"Quit that, I can see what you're thinking, dear." Pantalone lightly swatting at your chest.

"But-" He cut you off by gently kissing a trail up your throat, not minding the sweat, drool, and his own cum staining your skin.

"Let me remind you that I wanted this." He clenched around you, pleasured pain burning up your spine. You clenched your teeth and hissed, but he just chuckled. "I wanted you to be rough with me."

"You could have asked." You mumbled,

"And you wouldn't have agreed to it." He just rolled his eyes, resting his head on your chest as his fingers traced mindless patterns on your skin.

A heavy sigh left your chest as you apologized for the two months you didn't touch him, it was never in your intentions to ignore him.

"Oh, my darling beast." Pantalone sighed, a sweet smile gracing his features. He reached out to cradle your cheeks, pulling you down into a kiss, not bothered by your sharp teeth. "Such a gentle beast," he sighed against your lips, kissing you once more. "Only for me?"

"Only for you," You agreed, chest light like a feather.

"Good," he leaned back, lifting himself up by bracing his hands on your stomach. Then his eyes narrowed and he swatted your chest. "You're paying to fix the headboard, you brute."

You turned your head - sure enough, you had shattered the ornate headboard the chains had been attached to, the broken cuffs still attached to your wrists... You couldn't find it in yourself to feel too bad about it.

"Later," You said and quickly picked him up as you stood up. He yelped, clinging to you, drops of your cum getting past the plug created by your shafts, leaving a trail as you walked. "Bath?"

He nodded his head, "Sounds lovely." He kissed your neck, mumbling into your skin, "I just imported new conditioner from Sumeru, the merchant said it should do wonders for your hair."

You just smiled; He had taken care of you, now it was your turn to take care of him.

#Centerpieces of the Hoard #pantalone #top reader #genshin impact smut #genshin impact #x reader #sub reader #bottom pantalone #dom genshin x sub reader #dom pantalone #gender neutral pronouns #genshin pantalone #I spent too much time on this #bottom genshin #pantalone x reader #switch pantalone #switch reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin

[helldevilwrites]

𝐓𝐰𝐨

ᵉᵈⁱᵗᵉᵈ

Today was the day. The day of your godchilds birth. You, Ethari, and another male Moonshadow elf, were all waiting for the child to be born. Lain of course was with his wife, trying to comfort and calm her screams of pain.

Multiple nurses came in and out so many times, you've lost count. It also scared you, was Tia going to be okay, was her baby okay. Those thoughts ran through your head as looked on with worried and sad eyes, as your friend went through the pain of childbirth.

Ethari seemed nervous as well, pacing back and forth, mumbling something. The other male elf didn't seem bothered at all, or he was, he was just good at hiding his emotions. Sometimes, he would look at you, and then just stare. You weren't bothered by it, nor did you even pay attention.

"Mr. Ethari, Runaan, and Ms. Y/n. Shes ready to see you." The doctor nodded for you three, signaling that you could go in.

Without hesitation, you dash into the room. Tia was holding her baby, it was a girl. You couldn't help but let tears flow down your face, but they were happy tears. Ethari was next to Lain, along with Runaan. The three of them soon left to talk, that meant only you and Tia in the room.

"How you holding up.." You sat at the edge of the bed.

She looked at you with her tired eyes, and gave you a tiny smile, "I'm okay, not counting the pain I was in earlier, but I'm mostly just tired."

You let out a chuckle, then looked at the sleeping baby girl. "What's her name?"

"Rayla..."

---------------------

"Rayla be careful!!" You yell from the ground, as your 8 year old niece climbs up one of the trees.

The young girl giggles, continuing to climb. "That child.., I swear she'll one day get herself killed.." You mumbled. You get startled by a sudden chuckle, "She gets that from her mother." It was Runaan. You've been quite good friends, yes he can be...complicated, but Runaan is really nice guy. "You know how she is..always gettin into some trouble." He chuckled once again, then stopped to tell Rayla to get down, which she finally did, took her awhile, but she finally came down.

The three of you walked together back to the village. You held Rayla's hand as you finally made it back. Ethari greeted you and Rayla, and said he wanted to talk to you and Runaan alone. A few of Rayla's friends came to invite her to play with them, which she gladly excepted. That left you, Ethari, and Runaan to talk alone.

"What's the problem Ethari?" You asked.

He sighs, "The queen, your mother, had a child a few months ago. She had to leave, so the King is now protecting the egg."

"And this is why you needed us to talk alone. To tell us something she already knows?" Runaan rolls his eyes. This made you elbow him the stomach, making him groan at impact.

"No! I already know that she's heard about that already!" Ethari growls, but then turns to you, "Y/n, two humans have entered the land..and are heading to the mountain. They'll be there in at least 3-7 days, but we still don't why they would cross the border like this.."

This was quite shocking news! Every human knew better than to cross the border. There was that one time they did, but why only two?

"I have to get back home. Help the King protect his egg." You sighed, "You two can take care of Rayla on your own, right..?" They looked at each other and glared at each for a second. Ethari sighs, "If Runaan won't fight with me, then yes."

You give both a small smile. "Thank you, both of you.." You gave them a hug before you started to pack your bag.

--------------------

It didn't take you long to make it back to the mountain. You see the Dragon Guard getting ready to fight. Soon you can see Tia and Lain. You didn't bother saying hi, to focused on your 'brother'.

Once you entered inside, you saw the beautiful dragon egg.

That's when the thunder roared louder..

The humans were here...

You couldn't quite hear what the king said, but he didn't attack them. The dragon then attacked, but then..he quickly turned. Your father was turning into stone right before your eyes! He tries to fly back up, but his wings soon turn into stone to. Then, he let's out cry, and then dies.

"Nooo!!" You screamed in agony as you had just watched your father die!

Thunder and Lightning came crashing down on the two humans as they barely doge. But then..., it all turns black..

#ethari x reader #aaravos x reader #runaan x reader #the dragon prince #netflix #runaan #callum x rayla #rayla #aaravos #lord viren #king harrow #angst

[s-talking]

❝ Envy... ❞ Homura finds her voice as they sit in the garden under a starry sky. Silver flowers surround them. The sound of running water from the fountain makes up for the silence between them. She's always fine with their silence, but something is weighing down on her tonight. Ascending to something new and so powerful feels... strange. It should feel wrong, maybe scary, but it feels so thrilling instead. This path is hers, is it not? Envy likes to remind her of this truth. This new path is twisted, lacking little light, but she still walks down it. There is still lingering guilt for dragging Envy into her labyrinth, though he has quietly reassured her that he's more than fine. He took the news rather well when she sat him down, though she did notice his extra hostility towards the Incubators after she mentioned the Isolation Field. The experiment is ruined, but the memory of its existence still keeps her up at night. There's a lot keeping her up at night, though. How long was her soul experimented on while trapped in the Isolation Field? She isn't sure if she wants to know the details. ❝ You already know that you don't have to answer this if you don't want to... But how did you handle being trapped? ❞ The uneasiness in the pit of her stomach is cleared away once she spoke up. She respected his boundaries, so she didn't dwell on his past. She still longed to have his strength. ❝ My troubles are not as bad as yours— ❞ Her Soul Gem has taken a new form, the Dark Orb, to match her drastic metamorphosis. But she still remembers the sight of the nails piercing her darkened gem. ❝ But I thought you would understand. I still can't remove the sight of how my soul looked like under their total control yet I couldn't even do anything to stop them. ❞ All she knows for certain is that the the flame for a violent revenge has only grown stronger. They do not understand pain nor human emotions... But she longs to be the first one to make them feel the same pain she experienced. That isn't enough, but it sounds like a good start.

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐘'𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐅𝐅 𝐀𝐓 𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐃𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐒𝐊𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘, winding down shadowy paths until they've found themselves strolling amidst a meadow of flowers where the whole sky, shining with silence, stretched out above their heads like the greatest mirage in the world, emerging from beyond a veil of clouds. they sat at the edge of the fountain to marvel at the sight. envy would catch her glancing sometimes, but he feigned ignorance, letting the troubled god to go ahead & spill out her bleeding heart in shape of words, a single question that begged an answer; how did you handle being trapped? the mere suggestion cutting in sharp, knife-like, & dripping with acrimony. none of which was ever his own.

envy looked at her with cold indifference, regarding the subject of homura's torment as if a journalist reviewing a foreign film. he didn't particularly care to answer from personal perspective, seeing how a heartfelt response would require a genuine heart but, just looking into her resentful eyes, the little killer does crack a small smile. it's abhorrently fake, as always, though not entirely misplaced either. something now most definitely lingering inside his wretched gaze, something which borders on contemplation & judgment, like a memory, or perhaps a fictitious tale made just for her sea of woes.

❝ instead of asking me such things, you should be asking yourself; are you.... trapped? ❞ smiling a little wider, the little killer slowly turns to face her & leans in, resting a lone black-nailed hand 'pon her shoulder, now whispering warmly against the ear, ❝ do you have any chains on your legs? a metal bit in your mouth? are you... incapable of walking? ❞ slowly pulling back, envy's dark eyes peer at her face from mere inches away, only for him to suddenly get up & turn towards the blanket of stars & flowers with both arms now fully outstretched as though preforming on a stage, ❝ are you locked inside a golden cage? ❞ he walks few steps ahead, & then, ❝ or are you trapped inside your own mind, homura akemi? ❞

turning back to face her, the young serial killer lets his arms drop all the while looking at her with that very same, charming, & downright delirious smile. ❝ can you truly not see... ? you already are free. just look at yourself, just look at this field, the sky & the stars.... ❞ leaning forward, envy's rests both black-nailed hands 'pon the knees, peering down from above as if a smiling spider; ❝ just look.... at me. ❞ he chuckles, ❝ i've never felt more alive. ❞

reaching out with a hand, he caresses the pale contours of her face. ❝ i think it's time to cast away all the restricting thoughts now, don't you... ? ❞

#// homura.... #i don't think a serial killer that happens to be an ex-patient of a psychiatric institution is a good person to confide in-- #* wheezes * #🔪 ❝ ᵀʰᵉ ᶫᶦᵗᵗᶫᵉ ᵏᶦᶫᶫᵉʳ⋅⋅ ❞ {{ ;; ‘𝓔𝓷𝓿𝔂’ }}

[demonsandmischief]

My Warrior Wolf - Ch. 2

Marvel - A Bucky Barnes Werewolf AU

Warrior! Bucky x Human! Female Reader

Here's Chapter 1

1K Words

-Chapter 2-

You and the mysterious Bucky spend some time together.

---

"Bucky met his mate," Sam announced to Steve in an obnoxiously happy voice.

"Do you ever shut up?" Bucky asked. Sam clapped him on the shoulder with a grin.

Sam wasn't fazed. He never was, and Bucky was grateful for that. Sam and him were completely different and they bantered, but they were brothers, and he was glad that he put up with his attitude.

Steve frowned, standing up to lean against his desk, folding his arms against his chest. "You don't seem very excited, Bucky. This is what wolves dream about - what I dream about. It's a blessing."

Bucky nodded with a frown, "I know, I know. She's just too perfect for me."

"Don't pull that shit, man. You don't even know her yet. Get this, what if you're too perfect for her?" asked Sam.

Bucky rolled his eyes.

"I bet he didn't even talk to her," Steve realized with a grin, speaking directly to Sam.

Sam chuckled, "How much do you want to bet?"

"I've had enough of you two," Bucky stated. "I've got to run the borders anyway."

"Particularly the east side, near a certain house," Sam teased.

"Alright," Steve soothed calmly. "Enough. Both of you. We still have a few hours left of work to do. We'll catch up with you for dinner, okay, Buck?" His words were soft, concerning, as he gave him a look that told him he was worried.

He nodded stiffly, happy to be alone to gather his overwhelming thoughts.

---

The following day, you were left with a disaster. The appliance company came, but they didn't bother to tell you that they didn't do any of the hookup and left the stove and refrigerator sitting in the middle of your house.

And just as you were contemplating how to move the things yourself, there was a knock on your door.

"Hi," you greeted Bucky. He was all alone, and he seemed unsure, with his hands stuffed in his pocket.

"Hi," he gave you the slightest quirk of the lips before continuing, "I remember you mentioning you were getting some appliances today. I wanted to make sure you were okay and didn't need any help."

"That was very kind of you." There was a gentle, excited flutter in your chest, and you gave him a genuine smile. You pushed open the front door so he could see the disaster.

"Ouch," he gave a low chuckle that only increased the butterflies. "Can I help?"

"Please tell me you know how to hook up an oven or refrigerator."

"Today's your lucky day."

You welcomed him inside, watching him take in your tiny little place. He looked like a giant. You didn't realize how tall he was until he was standing right next to you. He wore gloves, which was odd but you didn't question it. You had insecurities of your own.

"We should probably get these in their spots first," he said, walking closer to the bulky, giant things.

"How do you want to do that?" you asked, but you watched, amazed, as he lifted the oven up by himself, like it weighed nothing more than a bag of feathers. "Wait, let me help you. You're going to hurt yourself."

Bucky smiled to himself. He liked that you worried. It was sweet. "I've got this one. You can help me with the fridge, alright?"

It was quiet after that. It wasn't awkward, but you found yourself wanting to watch him more than anything. You hoped he knew what he was doing. The last thing you needed was the wires to short circuit.

It took Bucky a few hours, but he got everything wired up and connected. Honestly, he was pleased to do it himself. He could ensure it was done properly and you would be safe. It was a peace of mind.

"Thank you so much for this, Bucky."

You said his name for the first time and it felt like a dream. He was certain he had died and gone to heaven.

"I was happy to do it. Anytime you need me," he gave you a gentle smile, a real one that made you blush all pretty. For the first time in a very long time, he felt peace. He wished he didn't have to leave.

You were thinking the same thing. You were enjoying Bucky's company way too much, and you were trying to think of ways for him to stay.

"Should we give it a try?" you offered. "I don't have many groceries yet, but I do have pancake mix and blueberries."

Luckily, the mix was a just-add-water type of deal, but it was still really exciting to finally be able to cook something that wasn't in the microwave.

"So, what do you do as work?" you asked curiously as you stirred the batter.

"I have an office job, but I do some personal training on the side," he lied smoothly, watching you intently. There was something comforting about watching you move around the kitchen. He could stare at you all day.

Bucky wanted to reach out to touch you - just a brush against you arm or your hand, but he knew it would strengthen the mate bond.

He was still unsure about everything, but he had a strong desire to be around you, to tell you everything and anything. And the fact that he wanted to be vulnerable with you scared him a little.

He couldn't deny your beauty, nor your loving personality. He had decided to come visit you after thinking about what Steve said. You were a blessing, especially after all the shit he had been through. He deserved this - letting himself experience something good, even if it was just for a little while.

Here's Chapter 3.

---

A/N: thanks for all of the love 🥰

-> Click Here If You Want Tagged

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Tags: @marvel-3407 @rebekahdawkins @lakamaa12 @zealous-whispers-of-us-redux @ive-been-worse @miindfucked @drayshadow @austynparksandpizza @girlfriday007 @hollarious @imaginecrushes

#marvel #bucky barnes #bucky imagine #captain america #marvel imagine #bucky barnes x reader #james buchanan barnes #bucky #bucky barnes fanfiction #Steve Rogers #sam wilson #tfatws imagine #the falcon and the winter soldier #sebastian stan #werewolf au #werewolf! bucky

[daisiesandshakes]

Fanfic (William Shakespeare & reader)

Warning: light smut

Also warning: english is not my native language, but I hope you enjoy!

Words: about 2000 (wow... I am surprised by myself)

One step closer

It was a bad day.  In your opinion it couldn't have been worse. Since nearly three weeks now you're helping Shakespeare with his new play. Your task was to take care of the costumes, stopping by for cleaning or darning them. But after a few days an actress catched a bad flue and William asked you to take her place.

You happily agreed to his wish. First everything went smooth, it was challenging but also fun. You liked to work with the other actors right away, enjoying their open and caring personalities, but the most important thing: You are able to spend time with Shakespeare.

At first you were only curious about him, you wanted to know more about the great mysterious William Shakespeare, who has left the mansion, and for sure you wanted to find out more about his work. The more time passed by, the more you could see your feelings change.

By this time it is impossible for you to face his glare without trembling legs or hundreds of butterflies in your stomach. William Shakespeare- the perfect gentleman, always treating you with respect and a gentleness that borders on adoration. Plus he is an extremly hard worker, fully dedicated to his plays, he is considerate and charming, he's got a fine sense of humor always making you smile, and his voice... oh you could spend hours only listening to him. In one or two rare moments you were even able to notice a softer, almost shy side at him and at that rare moments you knew you were lost. Helpless to his force of attraction like a planet to the force of gravity from a black hole.

You're really trying hard to hide that you're in love with him.

Who are you at all? Only a normal young woman who fell in love with one of history's greatest men. He deserves better than you. William deserves a woman who is as much talented and captivate as him. So you decided to admire and love him in secrecy.

But unfortunately those secret feelings for him happened to be the reason for your desaster today.

First William adjusted your new costume over and over again. You could feel his hands moving over your body and as he corrected the ribbons of your corset you were at your limit. You sensed his breath in your neck and there was no way to hide the tremble that rushed through your form. "Are you okay? Do you need something?" His enticing voice next to your ear... You almost blurted out 'You!"

With shaky words you explained you only forgot to eat proper this morning. He hummed at your words, then promised to offer after rehearse everything to you what you desire. Ah... Your mind spun.

Later he took place for one of his actors to show how the scene should look like. That ment he held you in his arms and whispered lovingly lines while looking straight into your eyes. You weren't able to remember your part anymore, you barely managed to stutter an excuse and asked embarressed for a small break. Not waiting for the answer you broke from the embrace and hurried off the stage - when the next drama happened.

You lost balance as your long dress stuck to the rail und you fell down the last stair. One of the actors helped you up and you assured quickly to be okay while realising the beautiful costume is ruined. Tearing up you fled the scene without looking back.

And now you're sitting on the chaise in the changing area, desperate, full of shame and tired of yourself.

Hot tears of frustration are spurting out as Shakespeare opens the door slightly. " May I come in?" He asks with a soft voice. A sobb leaves your lips and you try to wipe your tears away as soon as possible."Sure, William". He sits down next to you, trying to meet your gaze. But you are feeling ashamed, looking down, avoiding his eyes. "I.. I am so sorry for ruining the rehearse and the beautiful dress..." another tear rolls down your cheek. With two fingers under your chin Will lifts your head.

"There is no need to apologize, my brave maiden", he whispers and let you drown in his enchanting, mismatched eyes. You can't help it - more tears are spilling out and his other hand reaches up to wipe them away affectionaly. Will's face is so close to yours, you can feel his breath on your skin. He cups your face. "Tis is all my fault and my heart is bleeding with sorrow, knowing I did this to you". You frown. "I don't understand William... Why should my clumpsiness be your fault?"

Staring in your eyes, he sighs. "I know what your heart desires, my fair maiden. Now I know it for sure." His thumbs caress softly  your cheeks. "The past days I could see a change in your glare when you looked at me.. and when you thought I wouldn't notice that your eyes are following me". In shock you're holding your breath and you could feel the heat rising in your face.

The playwright shows a small, almost shy smile "But.. I wasn't sure at first, you left me wondering what brought up tis change in your behavior. Mayhap I divined it and I only was afraid to let your very soul whisper to the solidified heart of mine, which didn't know how to respond anymore after so many lonely centuries."  Will swollows hard "Sometimes I felt a bit confused about you..." he confesses.

"When I made a move upon you, you made a move backwards. Sometimes you took two steps. Then again I thought to glimpse the truth demand of your heart in your eyes. And the thought that it could be me what your heart desires made me weak."

At this point you're questioning reality and your eyes grow wide in disbelieve. Are you fantasizing? Could it be...?

"Yes, I am weak for you my fair maiden..." He continues in a whisper as if he can read your mind. He leans a bit closer, his forehead touching yours. "Tis weakness frightened me" his lips graces your eyebrows, then your cheekbones, a shiver runs down your spine. His lips feel so warm and soft... A whimper leaves your lips and you close your eyes.

"But at sudden my soul obtained greater fears to me." William's lips travel down, brushing your jaw. You inhale the scent of his silken hair and his shaving water. Your mind goes blank and your heart is beating so fast and hard now, you're afraid he can hear it.

"Not to see tis very expression in your eyes because of me anymore. Not having you around me anymore. Never being able to touch you..." Now he whispers in your ear, his lips touching your earlobe ever so slightly and you can't supress a moan. "As I knew my true fears and my deepest longing, I decided to force you to a reaction... And though I feel ashamed for doing tis to you... " William murmurs between tender butterfly kisses he places along your jawline. Shouldn't you be angry now with Shakespeare?  But your mind wasn't able to create a reasonable thought and his alluring sing-song voice hypnotizes you. Forgetting everything else, you only want his touch and get lost in your love for him.

"Your oh so sweet, passionate reactions brought tis insecure heart of mine more joy I could ever  imagine. For now there is no turning back... Nor for me, nor for you fair maiden."

He stops moving his mouth over your face and with a seductive voice he pleads "Look at me."

With intermittently breath you open your eyes to meet his stare and your heart flutters over the desperate, wanting  glance.

"Would you forgive tis poor, troublesome sinner?" Barely able to speak you manage somehow to whisper:"How can I not forgive you, Will? I love you so much."

Moving his fingers through your hair he grabs the back of your head, his eyes now dark and full of pleasure. " To grace me with those words.. they make me dizzy with desire..."

Again Shakespeare leans in closer, his burning eyes glued to your mouth. "And would you allow tis poor sinner who loves you insanely, wildly and infinitely to taste your lips...?"

Your heart misses a beat. Maybe two. This time you skip the answer, pulling him at his collar into a kiss.

William lets out a moan of surprise, throwing his arms around you, pressing your body against his. The kiss grows fast deeper as you feel his tongue flickering against your lips, begging for entrance. Obeying his wish, you let his tongue slip inside and the world around you stops existing.There was nothing you could do but moan into his kiss helplessly. Feeling his demanding tongue pushing in deep, then teasingly intertwinning with yours, while his hands endlessly caress the curves of your body, ruins  every yet existing rest of reason. The uprising heat in your veins burns to a point of hurt and starts a raging fire from your belly down to your inner thighs.

Suddenly William breaks the kiss, pulling your head to his chest, where you can hear his speeding heartbeat. "We should stop here my fair temptress, or else I won't be able to hold myself back anymore."

What? No no no... now that you've got a hint of the taste of everything you were craving for the last days, you have no intention to stop so soon. Your body still humming with pleasure you cling to his shoulders and leave a trail of small kisses from his collarbone up to his neck. Rubbing his cheek against yours he whines "Ah my godess, my temptress... " burrying his face at your neck he inhales your scent "You can't imagine how much I crave for your blood... it's calling me, singing alluring to me like a Sirene..."

As his tongue laves over your neck your form trembles and a lewd moan escapes your lips. He found one of your most sensitive spots.  His grip at your body tightens. He brushes his soft lips over the spot again with a flickering of his tongue. You can feel your hips bucking at this sensation and you gasp.

"I can't... stand it, I can't resist.." Shakespeare's voice - so needy and trembling with passion.

"Bite me Will!" You blurt out.  "I beg you, please bite me!" Does this desperate voice really  belong to you?

William hesitates only a brief second, then he pushes your body down, then let his fangs sink into your delicate skin with a groan.

After a sharp but short prick waves of burning, unearthly passion roll through you over and over again.

This passion cannot be human, it sets your entire body immediatly on fire and your core clenches. You can hear Shakespeare crying out as loud as you, pressing his hips against yours. Crying and moaning you start to pass out, repeating his name like a mantra.

As you open your eyes again, William fondles with your hair, observing you with a glance so concerning and lovingly, it almost makes you cry.

"I am so, so sorry... I was too greedy.."

You smile at him. "Don't feel sorry Will, I am doing fine and... " You inhale sharp "and by all the gods,  it was.. intense..."

You can feel your desire rising up again only by the thought of what happened before.

Shakespeare watches you with an intense stare, swallowing every reaction your body shows. His fingertips brush lightly over your lips before kissing you fiercly and senseless.

Then he pulls himself away.

He pants, placing a tender kiss on top of your head "I wish to seduce my godess in an adequate ambiance. So I'll take you now home with me, making sure I fulfill every wish and dream you can imagine... " he whispers seductively as he nuzzles his face in your hair. You both hold still for a few minutes, trying to calm down again, just enjoying to embrace each other. Unable to stop smiling, tears sting in your eyes. You can't remember that you felt happier anytime in your life.

Thank you for reading! 💝

Part 2

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #ikevamp shakespeare #ikevam shakespeare #ikemen vampire fanfic #ikemen vampire shakespeare #ikevamp shakespeare x reader #reader insert

[everyhowlmarksthedead]

❛ YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE ❜

✨ REQUEST: hermanikiiiiiii i wanted to request you the prompt number 1 with coco cruz!!thank you, love you muchisisimoooooo💕💕

✨ PROMPTS: “Wait, you love me? Like Garfield loves Lasagna?”

✨ MADE BY: Juls.

Gif credit: to my lovely @supervalcsi.

WORDS: about 2k.

❚❙ A/N: this writing hasn’t been edited, you may find some grammar mistakes, I’m sorry about that. If you find a description about body or a word out of place or something that makes you feel uncomfortable / unrepresented, let me know by a private message and I will change it delighted ❤

❚❙ JOHNNY ‘COCO’ CRUZ MASTERLIST.

❚❙ MASTERLIST.

❚❙ JOIN MY TAG LIST.

When you heard that Coco had been shot, your heart suddenly stopped. It was four days ago in some kind of dog's fight, as Chuckie told you at the scrapyard. Bishop needed someone to take care of him while they were investigating what happened, so you offered yourself without doubting it.

Much to your regret, you are only two good friends, even if you feel more things that you can't explain, about which you haven't talked with anyone. And thanks to your work in the hospital, you managed a room only for him, so he could rest as much as he wanted, as much as he needed. But your back hurts like hell after being sleeping on the sofa, close to the bed, just to make sure that you were able to attend to all his necessities for minimal they were.

These days there, you have learned a lot about him, about his curiosities, about his fears; spending his time awake talking with you to keep his mind entertained, to not think about the pain in his lower abdomen. Your mates took the bullet in a jiffy, but, normally, the sorrow remains for a couple of weeks. Luckily, he only complained when the hour of the next turn of medicines was close.

You have tried to not think about your feelings the time you were in the hospital, but it was impossible. All you wanted to do was to lie by his side on the bed, embrace him between your arms and kiss him, having to conform yourself with holding his hand and resting your cheek on the mattress. Your eyes have never left his eyes, not even when he was sleeping, on alert in case of an unforeseen because of pain, or an infection, or God who knows. You were really paranoid.

“You ready?”

Coco glared at you, slightly tilting his head. You had asked the same question five times in the last two minutes. Offering him a hand to secure himself, the mexican put down from the hospital bed, ready to leave and go home. Angel and Gilly had cleaned his house, even if you insisted to Bishop that you could do it. But he asked you back to stay with him till the next morning, so he wouldn't stay the night alone until they came back from the other side of the border.

Two knocks in the opened door brought you back to reality from your own thoughts, in the meantime that you helped Coco to wear his leather kutte. Directing your tired eyes to the entrance of the room, you found three Vicki's girls, happily waving their hands. Raising an eyebrow confused and your lips pressed, they came in without asking.

“Papi, we've missed you”. The latin and playful tone of voice from Mariela, as she swung her hips to your friend, gave you shivers.

In just one sight, your presence was pushed to the background. These girls hadn't even called to ask about his state of health and, now, they were there as if they did all the work you did —delighted, of course. Trying to keep calm, you put Coco's clothes into his bag, zipping it when everything is ready.

“No te preocupes, we take care of him now”. Carolina sentenced with contempt and superiority, grabbing his stuff ready to abandon the hospital.

“Yeah, mami. Go home and rest”. His words hurt. More than a bullet.

Preferring their company besides yours let you know that he hadn't taken in count what you did. And yes, you did it because you wanted, but you also thought that maybe could mean a step ahead. But it wasn't. Not saying a word, doing anything but a simple nod with your chin, you grabbed your bag to step out from there. Ashamed. Feeling stupid.

Two weeks have passed and Coco has come back to the clubhouse. This time you have been doing extra shifts to compensate for your lost days taking care of him, almost walking like a zombie from home to work, and from work to home. So, when Bishop invites you to a party in his honor, you decline it. You are too tired physically to assist and tired mentally for foolishness. What is the point of going to a party to see Coco having fun with those bitches? You have had enough after two weeks without receiving a single text to thank you or to know how you are. He hasn't even cared about the fact that you haven't shown up in the club for two weeks. That's the little he thinks in your friendship.

Zapping from one channel to another, you try to find something to watch. A movie, a tv show, whatever that helps to distract your mind, while you enjoy thai noodles with beef. Finally finding an action movie, you cover yourself with a cozy blanket, grabbing the cardboard box to start your dinner. The ringtone of your phone interrupts your calm, with Coco's name on the screen. At first, you don't want to answer, but he continues insisting for more than three long minutes. Hanging up and calling again. With a furious growl installed in your throat, you leave over the table your dinner to grab your phone.

“The fuck means you aren' comen'?”

He doesn't even let you say hi or how are you.

“It means that I'm tired and I have to work at five”.

“I don' think one damn beer reverses your sleeping schedule, Yo' Grace”.

“Fuck you, Jonathan. I've been working double shifts to cover the hours I was taking care of you in th—”.

“Nobody asked you to do it”.

Eyes widened and your heart racing. You can't believe he just said that.

“Yeah, nobody did. But your hermanos preferred to be on the other side of the border. Your putas preferred to be partying and sucking dicks in Vicki's. And your mamá sent me pal' carajo when I called to tell her what happened. I did it because I was your friend. Because I cared about you. Because seeing you there with… all those tubes was killing me. That shit continues giving me nightmares every fucking night. But you shit on that. You kicked me as soon as your putas came to the hospital”. You don't know when you have started to cry, more than because of the rage than because of the sadness. “I'm sorry if I'm too tired to drink a fucking beer, but my job is more important than a person who doesn't give a shit about me, who hasn't called or text me in two weeks, who only wants my company when no one else is around. Have fun in your damn party and fuck all those whores to thank them for picking you up from the hospital, but didn't care about how you were after being shot”.

Hanging up, you toss the phone somewhere on the table, wrapping your body with the blanket and lying down on the sofa. Trying to contain the tears, the only thing you earn is to cry bitterness. You can't understand why he only has noticed your absence at the party. What has changed? Probably it was his egocentrism working, wanting to be surrounded by a lot of people, not caring if they're his friends or not. But you're done being his lapdog.

About to fall asleep, the angry hits in the main door make you suddenly wake up agitated.

“Open up!”

The rage is consuming you again after hearing the strong mexican accent, taking three long strides towards it to receive him with your reddened crystal eyes.

“What the fuck 'you want now? Haven't you had enough beating myself up?”

“You're fuckin' dramatic”. He spits in your face, stopping with a foot the slam to his about to close the door again. “I didn't talk to you because you were working, bu' you didn't talk to me either”.

“Yeah, because you were served with your bitches. Go fuck yourself, Jonathan”.

“Don' call me like that again”. Coco grunts taking a step into your house. “You had to work, they came to cover your back”.

“Oh, please, don't make me laugh. They just wanted to have the credits of taking care of you, so you will expend more money with them. That's the only thing they care about you. Wake up from your world of fantasy, Coco. If you weren't part of the MC, you wouldn't be a shit for them; just another fucking soldier with a broken home”. You can't help but push his chest with both hands, driven by anger.

At first, he doesn't say anything. He looks thoughtful, being aware of the truth in your words. And it hurts that you have to be the one to open his eyes. The problem is that you weren't thinking while talking, pulling your gaze away from him and pressing your trembling lips, one against the other.

“I'm sorry”. You babble, cleaning your tears with the back of your left hand. “I didn't mea—”.

“But you said so”. Coco interrupts you with a husky tone of voice, bristling every inch of skin of your anatomy. “That's wha' I am without my kutte. An ex-soldier, a criminal, an outlaw. I spend my money on them because they take care of me, one way or another”.

“I did it too”.

“So, what? What you want? Money? Tell me an amount”.

Squinting at him, you can't help but chuckle with a painful and bitter laugh.

“I did it because I love you, not because I want your money”. You confess, knowing there's no going back. “I don't care about your money, nor your job, nor about your kutte. I love you because you make me happy. After all, for me, there's nothing better than a hug of yours, because you… you are simply amazing. You're intelligent, funny, loyal. And I wish that you could see yourself through my eyes, Coco”.

He, not saying anything, is killing you slowly. Barely breathing, you cross your arms over your chest to hide the fact that your lungs aren't receiving any air.

“I thought that after being shot, you realized you only live once. And that… after being those… boring days with me, you realized that you preferred the company of these other girls. The funny part of being alive. So I just pulled myself away”. Taking a small pause, you bow down your head, cleaning your tears again. “These weeks have been torture. I've written you a lot of texts that I haven't sent… and I've been a lot of times about to call you. But 'you know that… feeling when you think... the other person is not gonna answer you, because maybe is too busy for you? That shit has been destroying me”.

Hoping that Coco finally is going to speak, he remains silent. Looking at you openmouthed, processing all the information you have just give him.

“Can you, ple—please, say something?” You beg almost shaking.

“Wait, you… love me? Like… Garfield loves lasagna?”

Raising your eyes, pouting at him, you know that he's trying to make you laugh after understanding all the pain you have been through. Lonely. Without talking about it with anyone.

“I'm sorry, mami… I just… fuck”.

Cupping your cheeks onto his hands, Coco slams his lips on yours, tasting the salty tears you have shed because of him. The sloppy kisses bring some more air to your lungs, calming your racing pulse and making you feel less unhappy. As your fingers get intertwined in his shirt, crinkling under your grip, he urges you to walk backward so he can close the main door with a kick.

“God knows I'm so fuckin' sorry… Please, forgive me”. Coco's whispers brush your lips, keeping his eyes closed just like yours. “I'm gonna take care of you now, okay?”.

Nodding in silence, you place your arms around his middle back, hiding your face into his chest. His strong scent brings you back to life, while his arms wrap you tightly to comfort all the pain he has provoked you without knowing it.

“I just want you, ma'. No one else. Just you”.

#lemme know what you think in a comment! ✨ #mayans mc x reader #mayans mc imagine #mayans x reader #mayans mc #johnny coco cruz x reader #johnny coco cruz imagine #coco cruz imagine #coco cruz x reader #coco cruz

[capri-ramblings]

Soft, angsty yanderes exist and Cater senpai is proof of it 😌💖

Requests are in the works,both old and new. Your patience is greatly appreciated 💖🙌🏻.

[ sweet comfort ]

Something had made Cater upset, and though that small shift alone sent a wave of dread through you, it was the fact he would never tell you why he was upset that sent you on a tidal wave of fear.

The male was never the sort to say what he had on his mind nor what he truly felt, and most of the time he was good at concealing it. Playing the part of the unworried senior, the one who always wore a smile. The truth about Cater however, was far from that.

He felt things such as irritation, anger and even sorrow, just as any other human would, but the thing about him was that he could never voice those thoughts out. Everyone seemed to always look to him during the worst situations, their expressions screaming the words "As long as Cater senpai is fine, it'll all be okay", and he hated that.

When did he sign up to be people's band aid? Why did he have to be a pillar of comfort all the damn time?

Cater was always seething with dissatisfaction if not exhaustion. It was the masses who thought otherwise.

You couldn't tell if you were lucky to be the minority in that, because you've had the inkling that Cater hid many things from his peers ever since you two were introduced, and maybe that was why he was so inclined to cling to you. Though you wished it hadn't turned out so dark in the end.

Cater seemed to glue himself onto your very existence. He liked the fact that you knew when he was angry or upset, he liked the fact that you always picked up on his tempers before he even thinks to hide it with a smile and the way you reacted to him was what he adores the most about you. How you scramble to find a way to please him at all costs. It gave Cater a sense of relief, that there was actually someone who would hunch themselves over in order to make him feel elated from his standings, as if you worshipped him.

He knew it was wrong to keep someone in their place using fear but Cater didn't know how to tell you that he wasn't going to hurt you, that as long as you played your part as his pretty little solvent he'd never dreamed of hurting a single hair on you, but you always seemed so honest with your anxiousness, and he'd be lying if he said your shy, hopeful expression didn't flutter his heart.

You were so precious to Cater. He had to keep you beside him at all costs. Even if it meant he'd have to be the scary monster under your bed.

Today was no different. He came home from work all quiet, too quiet actually, and as you watched him hang his coat on the wooden rack, a sudden instinct to come up and kiss him on the cheek came over your consciousness, and you moved without actually thinking it through.

It earned a small smile from Cater, but his silence still remained, and tentative still, you moved to follow his steps.

"...Do you want anything specific tonight?" You asked, softly as Cater went into the bedroom and began taking his working clothes off. He paused briefly before letting out a sigh and moving towards the bathroom door.

"Maybe anything quick? I don't really feel like eating a lot tonight," He turned around,hand placed on the bathroom's doorframe. "Mind passing me a towel, Cupcake? I wanna take a quick shower and then I'll be out for dinner"

You smiled up at him, handing him a towel before heading out to the kitchen. It felt odd to be so accustomed to his moods, given how this whole relationship didn't seem the most healthiest. You were aware of his tendency to be possessive if not manipulative, but Cater had never really hurt you. Yes,he did in a way isolated you from a normal social life but it wasn't as if he kept you locked inside his house either. You were able to go out and occasionally see your friends and family, even be able to spend a few nights with them, so you never really felt too suffocated by Cater's attachment to you. Or maybe you've come to terms with the fact he'd never be the same person if you decided to leave him, and that you genuinely cared about anything bad happening to him.

Or maybe you were just too scared. You didn't like the thought of being terrified of Cater though, because your feelings for him had always been true. You do love and care deeply for him, that was something you've accepted about yourself a long time ago, but what if you were afraid? What if your affections for him stemmed from that fear of him hurting and locking you up one day?

You shook the thoughts away, furrowing your brows as you turned the stove on and began cooking. You had planned on something heavy but seeing how lethargic Cater seemed, you opted to go for a simple meal instead, something light yet still enough to fill his stomach.

When you heard footsteps coming from the hallway, you began setting the plates and serving the meal.

Cater came into the dining room with a pair of dark shorts and a plain red shirt, his hair slightly wet from his shower session and the faint smell of his favourite shampoo still lingering on him.

He wasn't smiling though, and his gaze seemed distant.

"I decided on soup, I hope you don't mind"

You went around the table to get to your seat when Cater suddenly lifted his gaze.

"Sit on my lap tonight, Cupcake."

It may have came out like a question, but the way Cater seemed to stare right at you then told you it was a command, and for a split second your body shivered warily before you did as you were told.

Cater wasn't at all verbal when it came to his command, you'd know he'd wanted something from you just by how the green in his gaze darkens or when the small lilt in his musing voice dampens.

But whenever he did asked for you aloud, it often meant he needed a sort of assurance, though you're always left wondering on what.

Cater didn't say anything once you placed yourself on his lap, he simply smiled a little before leaning his head into the crook of your neck. His slender arms snaking its way around your waist to pull you closer against him. He felt so gentle then, almost vulnerable in the way he took in your scent and breathed out a sigh.

"I love you lots, Cupcake" Cater cooed, not a hint of ill intent bordering on his words at all. You smiled, placing a hand over the one he used to hold you to him, a small gesture that made him feel all the more loved in your arms.

Maybe, if he had more people tending to his needs the way you did, Cater didn't need to be so afraid of losing such a precious comfort in his life and the spiral of possessiveness he held too close in his heart wouldn't have grown so big.

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst wonderland #twisted wonderland scenarios #twisted wonderland fanfic #twst Wonderland Yandere #male yandere #soft yandere #twst wonderland angst #cater diamond #twst cater diamond #yandere cater diamond #yandere cater #twst cater

[intakeofbreath]

I don't know if you really want to get send in prompts for the kisses, but if, can I have 15 with Ailnoth/Ornstein?

Uoh, actually I wasn’t expecting to get requests so I didn’t tagged it as a meme, but I’d love to write this one -or any other prompt!

50 Types of Kisses - Writing Prompts

15.  A fierce kiss that ends with a bite on the lip, soothing it with a lick.

Here you go, it turned out slightly long (1.1k~ words)

--- 

 Throughout the night, Ailnoth’s eyes followed him. Given the circumstances of victory, his place, as the Firstborne's first knight and General, was at the side of the Royal Family, with the other Knights of Gwyn. They were as far as a couple of tables away, yet until late-evening when the nobles were lighthearted and dunker to care about appearances, the protocol must be followed; everybody had to remain on their seats, feasting on the food and drinking until the time to dance came.

  When the speech from the Lord ended, everybody drank to him, and before bringing the glass of wine to his lips, Ailnoth peaked at Ornstein, between the nobles, drinking and some, even, clapping at Gwyn. He met his green eyes, filled with a playful undertone, perhaps, product of the joyful atmosphere. He winked at his partner, and, for a mere second, they also drank to them, because (and it wasn't with the intention to blow their own horn) without them, a large number of dragons would have survived the battle and burned more of their fellow knights in the process.

  The food started rolling shortly after, along with more wine; the guests’ tongues was, then, unleashed. From time to time, out of good habits, Ailnoth’s eyes gazed at the end of the hall; at Ornstein chatting with Sir Artorias and laughing at one of his well-know great jokes, or listening to one of Sir Gough’s fantastic stories while his finger traced the border of his glass idly and a smile parted his lips. With the armour specially forged to wear on special occasions such as social gatherings like the one they were attending, Ornstien looked amazing, handsome, breath-taking… Ailnoth’s mind thought for a brief moment, before returning his gaze to his fellow Dragonslayers, and rectified, for when there had been a single time where Ornstein hadn’t looked breath-taking? Again, their eyes met, and Ailnoth winked at him, taking delight in the way Ornstein’s smile softened yet his eyes tried to speak to him of a need which was inappropriate to say aloud.

  The night went on, the food was all consumed and the nobles got up to socialize with acquaintances who didn’t share tables with and dance with future suitable partners to preserve their surname and legacy. The Dragonslayers nor the most renowned Knights, however, weren’t in the mood to partake in such activities. On the table of the first group, one of the knights, was engrossed in reminisce old times; story after story was told until Ailnoth, with an apparently lack of kindness result of years of friendship, briefly stopped the man speaking.

  “Bladred, I know how much you love to take us to the brink of death, and I’d really love to die out of boredom from your stories, truly, but nature is calling me, and I feel the need to run to more gentle and less hairy arms.”

  “You, pretentious idiot!” His friend exclaimed, throwing him a small piece of bread that had survived the dinner. “Just say you need to take a shit!”

  There was a quiet gasp, from the noble ladies sitting on the other table, and thereby a laugh came from the group of Dragonslayers. Before leaving, Ailnoth gave him a look of fake reprimand and threw him back the piece of bread, when the ladies weren’t peeking at them anymore. Then, on his way to the bathroom, he avoided taking the exit path close to Ornstein’s table (who knows if it was on purpose). Pleasant was his surprise, when he noticed that his partner was following him with his eyes.

  The toilet was at the end of three corridors, far away enough to prevent the casual bad smells to bother the fine guests. After relieving himself, Ailnoth closed the door behind him. However, before having the chance to take his way back to the hall, a pair of hands pressed him against the wall. Not long after, a well-known pair of lips took ownership of his own. The force with which they clashed together was something that took him aback, and so did the hungry implicit on the gesture, as if Ornstein had been starving for a whole day, or a month. Yet again, since they left the city, having the privilege of private time, between fireplaces and tents, was impossible. The kiss took everything from him, everything Ailnoth had kept under a lock to give it to Ornstein once they returned to the comfort of one of their rooms. It left him breathless, and, as if that wasn’t enough, before breaking the kiss, Ornstein bit on his lips, pulling it slowly before releasing it and daring Ailnoth to go after him.

  “So a whole feast isn’t enough to satisfy a lion… Interesting…” He murmured, slowly licking his bottom lip with the tip of his tongue.

  “Mmh… I believe it could, but food is not what I’ve been craving…” Ornstein purred, head slightly tilted to look at Ailnoth’s lips while his hands cupped his face, thumbs caressing cheekbones. “I’m bored of this dance. Why don’t we go somewhere else? How long has it been? Three months? Four?”

  “I’m afraid you’ll have to wait until the night is over, Gingey…”

  “Since when have you cared for protocols?” Ornstein sighed almost with dramatical longing.

  “Since you became a Knight of Gwyn,” Ailnoth smirked, arms around the waist of the shorter man. “Let’s say I’m trying to be a better influence for you…”

  Ornstein snorted, rolling his eyes. “As if I ever needed you in the first place...”

  The redhead moved closer, and caught Ailnoth’s lips in another fierce kiss. This one, however, didn’t last as long as the first.

  “To be good or bad?” The taller knight asked, a playful smile dancing on his lips while his partner brushed away a black lock out of his face.

  Instead of answering right away, Ornstien looked at him dead in the eyes, with the utmost childish innocence, before dropping his gaze to his lips. He closed the short distance just enough to brush their lips faintly and send a shiver down Ailnoth’s back, their breath mixing for a moment. Then, Ornstein pushed himself away, slowly, his hands travelling the armored arms of his partner before holding his bare hand, slightly pulling him towards the corridor leading to the chambers, to, finally, release him; the last brush of fingers making Ailnoth need for their bodies pressed again.

  “I’ll show you the answer… only if you come to my bedroom.”

  With that, Ornstein turned around and took the path opposite to the hall, his ponytail gently swinging from side to size as if it was the tail of a mischievous cat. Only when his footsteps got lost behind a corner, Ailnoth stopped observing his body, released a breath he didn’t know he was holding and stormed behind him.

#dragonslayer armour/dragon slayer ornstein #dastein #mrslittletall #ask #thanks for the ask!

[possiamo-andare]

No More Divisions - Chapter Three: The Jacuzzi

JJ x Original Character

I'd like to give a small shoutout to @fangirling-allday for giving me such a sweet comment. You have inspired me to write another chapter so this one is dedicated to you! <3

MASTERLIST

~

If I could only describe Sarah's younger sister, Wheezie, in one word it'd be difficult. I've met her a total of two times and both times she's been difficult. She always has to put her two cents into every conversation and she asks so many questions.

Trust me, I love curious people but Wheezie isn't just curious, she's nosy. She's basically the stereotypical annoying younger sister.

With that being said, she no longer was difficult to me anymore. She was our hero. The cup with the string attached to it ended up being a makeshift phone where Wheezie could hear us from her room.

At first, Sarah was going to try and explain to Wheezie the truth but it was clear that within the first few minutes of talking to her, Rafe had gotten to her first and poisoned her mind.

So, since telling the truth didn't work, we decided to lure her into Sarah's room. Our plan was to get Sarah to fake cry hard enough to get Wheezie to unlock the door to come comfort her sister. When she opened the door, we'd then explain to her that we needed her to pretend to be us in the room as we slipped out the front door.

This plan was foolproof.

That is, until Wheezie asked a question we hadn't even thought she'd ask.

"If John B. didn't do it, who did?"

Sarah and I looked at each other as this child stood in front of us, begging to know the truth. We didn't know what to say. How do you tell a child that their brother was a murderer? Sarah shook her head at me. It wasn't the time nor place. Wheezie would find out eventually but not right now.

"We have to do something first," I say, crouching down to meet her gaze. "But you need to promise us that you'll be here for as long as you can."

Wheezie nodded, furrowing her brows together. I could tell she still didn't understand what was going on but she wanted to help out as best she could.

"Can you do that for us?" Sarah asked, her pinkie out towards her sister.

Wheezie nodded again, this time holding onto Sarah's pinkie finger with her own.

We tucked Wheezie into Sarah's bed and created another "person" under the sheets with a pillow and blacket so it would seem as if Sarah and I took a nap. After we said our goodbyes, we turned off the lights and quietly made our way downstairs.

I was barely breathing as we crept down the stairs, hoping not to cause a commotion even by breathing heavily. Once we successfully made it down the stairs, Sarah led me to the sliding windows in the back on the house. As Sarah quietly opened them, I was the lookout. I could hear the faint distance of talking with the tv drowning out what the actual words between the two people were. I could tell Ward and Rafe were bickering but I couldn't make out what they were saying, only that Ward was mad.

Sarah nudged me softly, getting my attention as she pointed to the open sliding doors. We quickly made our way out of the house before quietly closing the doors again.

After the doors were fully closed, we took off running. Sarah's bike was at the front of her house and now that it was darker, we were sure that Ward or Rafe couldn't see us from outside.

Once we found Sarah's bike, Sarah told me to sit on the handlebars as she rode out of the neighbourhood. She said she had a suspicion where John B. was and wanted to see if she was right. Once we made it out of the neighbourhood, we were swarmed with flashlights and dozens of people looking for John B. Apparently there was a $25,000 reward for whoever caught him and everyone in OBX was making it their mission to find him. People young and old, even children, perused the streets calling out for John B. as if there was any way in hell he'd answer back.

As we rode, we stopped to ask people where they were going. Some were going to the ferry, others were going to the docks where they knew many Pogues hung out but what we found was that no one was going to the Bell Tower, where Sarah believed John B. was. Although I wanted to go with her and make sure she was safe, I knew I couldn't go.

"I can't go with you." I say to Sarah as she peddles forward.

"What?" Sarah asks, holding onto her breaks as her bike comes to a stop.

"I have to go to JJ's house and help them. I'm sure they are doing something for John B. there. They need my help more than you do." I say, getting off the handle bars and crossing my arms over my stomach this time.

Since my clothes were stained with blood, Sarah lent me her clothes. Everything she had was cropped which wasn't usually my style but it was the only option. I had changed into a purple tube top with black ripped jean shorts and although Sarah said I looked awesome, this cropped top made me super self conscious.

"Okay. I'll give you JJ's address and you help him and Kiara and Pope. I'll find John B. We'll meet at the JJ's father's dock at 3pm tomorrow. Okay?" Sarah smiles at me, grabbing my arm for a moment to reassure me. She tells me JJ's address and I repeat it back to her to remember it.

I nod to her as a way of saying bye. "Okay. See you tomorrow. Stay safe until then."

We both smile at eachother and then briefly hug. It's weird that even in a time like this, where our lives are literally in shambles, we still have the time to smile and hug eachother.

"Love you Callie." Sarah whispers to me as we hug.

I pull away from her. "Love you Sarah."

And with that, Sarah is off again. She peddles away from me, not looking back once. I stay completely still until I can't see her anymore. Until she's into the woods so much so that she becomes a dark little speck.

Once Sarah's completely gone, I take off running like a madman. I run on the pavement, my sneakers slamming down on the sidewalk the faster I run. I run down one street and turn and then turn again. I continue to run until I don't recognize the houses as Kook houses but Pogue houses. I run until I get to JJ's street and I count the number of houses I pass until I come upon JJ's.

JJ's house is more like a shack than a home. A home is where you feel safe and cozy. I don't think I'd ever feel safe here. The screen on one of the sides of the house is ripped. It looks like somebody ran through it and I wouldn't be surprised if someone did. JJ had a reputation after all. He got into fights, stole, and hated Kooks. He hated them so much that he'd start fights with them for no reason. This made me question why he was so nice to me. I understood why he was nice to Sarah, but why me? If I was a Kook and he hated Kooks, why was he nice to me?

I decide that since it's so late, not to ring on the doorbell but instead make my way to the backyard and see if anyone's there. Once I get closer to the backyard, I hear people talking and I hear a distinct voice. I recognize it as Kiara's.

"Pope make sure you get two gallons of gas. Not one. He'll need two if he's ever gonna cross the border."

I try to make my way quietly over to them but a stick breaks under the pressure of my foot and it makes a loud noise.

"Who's there?!" JJ yells from his place on the jacuzzi.

Wait. A jacuzzi? Why does his house look like a shack, but he has a jacuzzi.

It was dark when I first arrived but someone turned on the lights and I soon see all three of John B.'s friends much more clearly. Pope is sitting on the floor beside Kiara who is sitting on a chair in front of JJ, who is sitting on the ledge of the jacuzzi. They all look very happy to be with one another, even though something bad is happening to their friend. I guess that's what happens when your only family is your friends; you're always glad to see them.

"It's me, Callie." I say, loud enough for them to hear. I'm only 10 feet away from them now and I can see all of them turn around in shock this time. JJ is literally so shocked to see me he stands up to greet me.

"C-callie." JJ stutters.

"Where's Sarah?" Kiara asks, walking up to me and giving me a hug. I return it with open arms.

Kiara was always so nice to me even if Sarah and her didn't get along.

Sarah always told me not to talk to Sarah but Kiara and I shared the same biology class and our interest in the environment allowed for us to bond. We were never close and rarely spoke outside of school but she was a sweet girl and I'm so glad Sarah and Kiara are friends again. Maybe after all of this is over, we can finally hang out. If all of this ever is over.

"She's looking for John B. She says she knows where he is." I reply as Kiara pulls away from me and I get a chance to greet everyone.

I hug Pope briefly. He was always nice to me whenever he saw me with his father and I think we've talked about four times. Each time he was sweet and very pleasant so I'm glad he's here to help. I can tell he's very on edge about the whole situation and I'm not surprised if I look as nervous as him.

Then there's JJ. I make my way to him and give him an awkward hug. He pats my back and then we quickly move away from each other. I've never talked to him before and I've never heard good things. Yet, all of those bad things were from Rafe and he's not exactly a model citizen. I decide to see how he is now and make my own decisions about his personality.

There's a small amount of silence that passes through us and Pope breaks it by talking. "Did you actually see Rafe kill the Sheriff?"

I nod. Kiara, JJ, and Pope all look at eachother in disbelief. They knew Rafe was crazy but never like this. I don't think anyone could think Rafe could do this, no matter how cruel he was.

I want to change the subject so badly that I end up asking, "What were you guys just doing?" I glance at the notebook on Kiara's chair.

It has all their names on it with different things to do. Pope is supposed to get two gallons of gas, Kiara is suppose to get food from her parents restaurant and JJ is supposed to get his dad's keys. This is definitely a list of things for them to do but I don't know what for.

"We're getting a boat for John B. with food and gas so he can get away." Pope answers me.

I look to Kiara who is not meeting my gaze. "I thought we were gonna clear his name."

I hear JJ scoff from behind me. "Yeah, we tried that. These officers have tunnel vision. John B. has to leave, at least until we can clear his name."

I turn and look to JJ. I could tell he's been observing me since I came. I know he doesn't trust me like Kiara and Pope do. I dont know why but my gut tells me it's because I'm a Kook and he hasn't had the best experiences with Kooks.

"How can I help?" I ask, turning to face everyone. They've all gathered around me now and I'm ready to hear what they have to say.

"JJ is gonna give me a hand with getting all of John B.'s food. You can help. We need some extra hands." Kiara says, grabbing her notebook and writing it down.

I nod. "Okay."

"Well," JJ sighs, looking to Kiara. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Kiara rolls her eyes at JJ and then looks to me. "I do."

~

After each plan is made down to the last detail, I finally feel a little at peace. The final plan is that Pope is gonna take two gallons of gas from his dad's shop and try not to get caught (I hope that Mr. Heyward is not too pissed off). JJ, Kiara and I will get food from her dad's restaurant for John B. for at least two weeks. And JJ will steal the keys to his father's old racing boat. We will all meet at the garage where the boat is at the bring it back to JJ father's dock for 3pm tomorrow.

After everything is written and memorized, we all lay blankets down on the floor and decide to sleep. I take the edge and Kiara takes the other. Pope takes a spot beside Kiara while I get stuck with JJ. I'm not facing him when he lays down so I can't tell if he's disappointed or not but I can imagine he's not exactly thrilled to sleep beside me.

"Night." Kiara yawns before turning over. Pope does the same and before I can reply, I hear their soft snores.

JJ says nothing to me and I actually like it that way. I'm beyond exhausted and I don't want to have to deal with him if he's just gonna be cruel. He hasn't be outright mean to me but he hasnt exactly been hospitable while I've been here so I'm a little scared to talk to him alone.

Five minutes later, I'm asleep and dreaming. Except dreaming is supposed to be fun but this is a complete nightmare.

I see the sheriff on the floor like how I did this morning and I try to rush towards her. I'm calling out to her and running as fast as my feet will take me but she's just getting father and farther away. I am forced to watch her bleed out but I'm not getting any closer. I look down at my feet and see that my feet are stuck in cement and I can't move them. I'm yelling to the Sheriff but she can't hear me. I'm drenched in blood and I see Rafe. He's looking right at me. I call to him and he laughs and lifts his right hand to point a gun at me.

Before I can scream, I wake up. It's almost dawn now and the space where JJ was sleeping is empty. I sit up and look around.

Kiara and Pope are still sleeping. They look so cute cuddled up together. I look around more, trying to find JJ. I finally find him in the jacuzzi.

The water is up to his chest but the jacuzzi is not on. He's just sitting in a jacuzzi that's not on which has to be one of the most depressing things I've ever seen. My heart aches for him. There is something up and I want to make him feel better.

I stand up and walk towards the jacuzzi and where JJ is sitting. He's playing with the water and moving it with his hands. I don't think he realizes he's even doing it. Once I get to the jacuzzi, I rest my elbow on the ledge and JJ finally sees me.

"What are you doing up?" He asks, a little surprised to see me.

"I should ask you the same thing." I smirk, letting one of my hands touch the water. It's hot. He must've just got in.

"I can't sleep." He says. He seems detached and cold, as if he doesn't want to talk about something.

"Bad dream?" I ask. I don't mean to pry but sometimes I can't help it. Especially when someone is feeling sad. I want to help.

JJ nods. He quickly looks up to me but then quickly looks back to the water.

"Same actually." I sigh, my hand now also absentmindedly playing with the water.

"About the Sheriff?" JJ asks, actually holding eye contact with me this time.

I nod. "How did you know?"

"You were yelling her name." JJ answered, closing his eyes for a second to take a deep breath. "This jacuzzi actually helps me with my anxiety alot. Especially with nightmares."

"Really?" I ask, a little skeptical on why he's brought this up.

"Yep." JJ nods, finally moving closer to me. "Would you like to come in?"

I don't know whether I should or not. On one hand, I barely know this guy and he's already indirectly asked to to strip and get into a jacuzzi with him. On the other hand, I bet that hot water would feel amazing on my skin and very relaxing. Even though my better judgement tells me no, I go against in. I might get arrested for aiding and abetting tomorrow so what the hell.

"Okay, but close your eyes until I get in." I narrow my eyes at him, being a little sarcastic but at the same time I'm completely serious.

JJ rolls his eyes. "Please, don't flatter yourself Kook."

I frown. "Just do it."

JJ nods and closes his eyes and then covers his closed eyes with his hands. Once I know he's not peeking, I take off my sneakers and unbuckle my jeans. I lift my tube top over my head and lay it neatly beside all if my other clothes. Now I'm in my black underwear and pink strapless bra. I curse Sarah in my brain. If I knew a boy was gonna see my bra and underwear today, I would've told her to make them match.

I slowly get into the water as JJ sits across from me, hands still over his eyes. It's really warm and my skin starts having goosebumps the more I emerge myself in the water. Once the water gets to my shoulder, I shudder a little. This water feels amazing on my muscles. I've been running around and fighting all day yesterday that I completely forgot what it did to my body. Now, I realize how achy I really am.

"Okay." I say, my hands absentmindedly playing with the water between my fingers.

JJ finally uncovers his eyes and opens them. When he does, there's a smirk on his face. And it's directed towards me which is super surprising.

"Feels nice, right?"

I nod and continue to play with the water. "What's this beauty's name?"

JJ smirks. "Finally someone who appreciates the finer things in life."

I laugh. "I'm thinking Cherry." Cherry was a Kook JJ had slept with last year and I had only heard about it because she had slept outside his house overnight to prove her devotion to him. It was just about the funniest thing ever. Sad to say it didn't work out between them.

JJ rolls his eyes. "Although that is a very good guess, it's actually called cat's ass."

I snorted. "You weirdo."

JJ rolls his eyes. "I think it's weirder you remember Cherry. You obsessed with me or something Callie?"

This time I roll my eyes. "Cherry was the funniest story ever. The day I start to like you JJ is the day of my demise."

"Well, I think this is the start of your demise then."

I don't say anything but I kinda know JJ's correct. Before long there's a silence between us. It's not like last time. This time, it's a comfortable silence. Like we're both just relaxing together and not worrying about John B. or Sarah or the Royal Merchant.

"What was your dream about?" I ask, my eyes closed now. I could fall asleep like this if JJ wasn't here.

When JJ doesn't answer me, I try not to take it personally. Only when I hear the water moving a little too loudly, I open my eyes. JJ is moving towards me and now I'm super aware that I'm basically naked. In an attempt for him not to see my bra, I cross my arms over my chest.

When he finally sits beside me, he speaks, "You don't wanna know."

I scoff. "Oh yeah, sorry my little privileged ass could never handle your mind." My tone is dripping with sarcasm and JJ is smiling as I speak.

"Yeah basically." JJ confirms, only making me more pissed off.

"I know that my demons could never compare to yours, but I have them too." I roll my eyes at him and look to the water, away from his gaze.

"What demons? You're a Kook." I could feel his smirk as he said this.

I look back to him. "Being a Kook doesn't protect you from the bad shit in life. Hasn't what's happened yesterday proved that?"

JJ doesn't answer me. For a moment, he's just taking in what I've said. I don't think anyone's ever done that. I don't think anyone's ever just thought about what I said so deeply as JJ is now.

Finally, he speaks. "Are you still with Rafe?"

I scan JJ's face for a moment before answering. Does he wanna know because he thinks I'm gonna betray them or because he wants to know if I'm taken. I can't tell but either way I'm gonna answer him.

"No, we broke up weeks ago." When I answer, I make sure to see JJ's reaction but he gives me no reaction. This guy is really good at hiding his emotions.

"Cool." I want to ask him what he's thinking but I can't.

I want to look away from him but I can't. JJ is acting so differently from when I first met him that I can't help but start to like him. He's already changed his views on me by talking to me. I know he'll never like or trust me 100%, but to know he respects me enough helps.

There's been a long silence between us and I want it to end.

"So," I say, wanting this awkwardness to stop. "What was your dream about?"

JJ takes a deep breath and looks away from me. We must've been staring in each other's eyes for 10 minutes. It feels like that anyways.

He doesn't answer me again, just stands up from the jacuzzi and hops out. He grabs a towel that was hanging from a wire and dries off his swimming trunks before hanging it back up on the wire. Then I see it. There's purple spots all over his torso. He looks like he just got into a fight and he wasn't the winner. I look for defensive wounds but there's none I can see. Taking a beating and not defending yourself does not seem like something JJ would do. I realize that maybe he didn't fight back because he cared for the person beating him.

As he puts on his shirt, I speak up. "Did your dad do that?" I'm still in the water and I feel a little colder now that JJ is no longer inside.

He looks up at me once he has his shirt on. "We all have different demons Callie. Some are just worse than others."

And with that, he's walking back to where Kiara and Pope are sleeping. And I'm stuck here, in a jacuzzi I don't even want to be in anymore. It's not the same without JJ.

#jj obx #jj outer banks #jj x oc #jj x callie #jj maybank #kiara carrera #kiara outer banks #pope outer banks #pope heyward #john b routledge #john b #john b outer banks #john b obx #sarah cameron #sarah outer banks #obx netflix #obx #obx fanfiction #outer banks

[atypicalsenerio]

How do you repay someone who's given everything you've ever asked for, with or without your knowing?

Ike's not even half as smart as Soren. He knows this. All this while, he's relied on him for many things; his objectiveness, his tactical analysis, and has always, always counted on him to have a clear mind when he could not.

But Soren-- Soren is also a living, breathing person, and that makes him much more than that. The icy mage can get distracted, shows irritation, huffs (but he knows he's satisfied, perhaps even happy) and veils himself behind a wall of words that say everything about him and also nothing to those who don't quite know him. Soren tries-- very, very much.

The grains of time had piled up like a mountain, each a glimmering gold. Soren had given all of that to him, since day one. He'd not noticed, because he was silly. He'd noticed, but knew that any he could pay back was but a dim silver.

And then, he'd not paid back at all, and the grains had continued to trickle still.

Fingers run across the portrait that he'd been gifted. A memory of the past, a rallying cry.

But to him, wouldn't need something like this. Unlike Ike, who forgets, who blunders.

Because-- all this while, Soren has forged his own path, looking onward. Whatever that drives him had always been ahead of him, so a token of the past wouldn't be as meaningful.

The night passes. The day breaks.

A knock comes to the mage's door. Ike invites himself in, greets Soren with a warm smile and a nod.

"Happy birthday."

"I thought that this one out of the rest would be the most meaningful for you. I wish I could think of more, but-- here."

“My memory’s not as good as yours, but this is as close as I can remember.”

The crinkling of oil paper reveals a simple meal. It's nothing special-- slices of bread and lettuce and bacon. The taste wouldn't be the same; he's not his mother, and neither does he know well enough the taste of homecooked lunch. The best mimicry he can make of it is in its shoddy craftsmanship.

But it's as much as he can make.

"... And, I also thought about what I should do for next time."

A faint rustling, and fingers unfurl to reveal a band impressed with a seal, strung up with a line of rope.

“The signet rings gave me an idea. These are meant to be heated and pressed into rock, and they’ll leave stamp marks. So if you see this on a tree or a rock, you’ll know that I’ve been along the way. And—”

A faint tinkle, and Soren should feel cool metal land in his own palm.

“Here. There’s one for you, too. So it won’t be just you who’s looking the next time.”

He spends the rest of the time there he has with Soren, as long as the lamps allow. Eventually, they have to say goodbye to each other, and Ike waves goodbye, knowing that they'll see each other the next day.

The door creaks shut.

...

There’s also another reason for them. Ike presses his fist shut around the ring, feeling as if it would deform under his grip. It’s but an illusion of flesh, but held so tight, the ring feels like it gains warmth of its own.

Perhaps it truly does, for when Ike releases, letting the string catch on his finger, it turns, twirling like a pendulum, swinging one way and the other.

He holds it out. The swinging doesn’t stop, not for a long time. Ike catches it, and its head faces south—towards the door he’d come from.

It could just be his imagination.

But also; whilst in Castle Nados, there was some evidence left. There wasn’t enough to make good for a teleport, as much as Ike would have loved to, but with what he had, he’d put it in the rings.

It was mostly sentimental value. There shouldn’t be any effect with this little, but even if he couldn’t feel the reputed pull that the powder brings towards linking two points in space, perhaps the metal could.

Perhaps. It’s a little edge more, one more tiny patch for a gaping hole. A trinket at best.

But it's transcended it's purpose in the past, and taken on a new one for the future.

The ring lands in his palm, twinkling like an eye.

Ike still can't find an true answer to the question-- not now, and not still. He's not smart enough for something that slices down to the bone.

That was always more Soren's thing. He just barged in like a brute, and did what he thought worked best.

Perhaps that's his answer, this time. Because it's in the present, which ticks by like a leaky sieve.

If you can’t cut the truth in two; warming it up little by little--

Ike supposes-- Maybe, that’s fine, too.

All day long, there had been one person Soren wanted to see most on his birthday. They were close enough that Soren wouldn’t have minded if Ike was busy, they spent so many of their days together. It was with a softened smile that he welcomed Ike to his room, other gifts on his bed.

“Ike. Thank you. It has been. I wonder who let the date slip to everyone else. I have to admit I’m surprised by it.” This amount of casual attention, perhaps bordering on affection from others, people who mostly barely knew him, was too much to pass off as just flattery from someone trying to get their way or a favor returned to him. Being a part of a community and seeing it manifest in the smallest of ways in notes and trinkets had touched him in a way he hadn’t expected, nor voice directly to anyone else.

Ike, however, was the highlight of his day. Even empty handed, he would be. When all else faded, when it was no longer his birthday, he would still have Ike.

Perhaps the events of the day had him feeling especially sentimental. Soren took the offered sandwich, looking up at Ike. “This is how your mother used to make your lunch, isn’t it? It’s simple, but it really is my favorite meal. Perhaps your love of bacon is contagious,” he teased, voice gentle. “I might have a plain palette, but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Funny, how the mind works,” he said fondly, taking a bite. There was nothing inherently special about the bread, lettuce, or bacon, but the memory attached made it all crisper, sweeter.

He set the sandwich down and turned his attention to the ring in Ike’s hand, watching it lower into his own palm. His heart skipped a beat at the association, foolishly, of rings and someone he cared for. (Who was the dense one here, anyway? Was it in fact, Soren? He was giving Ike’s history of being oblivious a real run for its money if he was…) Soren swallowed, a slight blush on his face as Ike explained. Hopefully, there would be no next time they were separated, but if there was—

“That’s brilliant. You’re brilliant. Thank you, Ike. I’ll guard mine well.” He slipped the ring on his finger to admire it, and felt the cord it was attached to. He raised his head, and he took a step forward.

A rush of affection carried him the rest of the short distance to Ike. Soren couldn’t remember initiating a hug before, but he did it before he could think, taking advantage of the chance to hide his warm face against Ike’s chest and cling to him in a display he didn’t want to hold back from anymore.

Every admittance and display of his flaws over the years, every conversation that had been a burst of what had always eaten away at him, the grounds for which anyone else would reject him, every part of himself or his background that had made him feel alone and unlovable— every syllable had been like asking Ike, ‘Are you sure you want me? Are you sure I’m worthy of being your friend? Are you sure, are you sure, are you sure?’ And every gesture, every answer from Ike had always been a confident, steady, ‘Yes’, as though Soren had never needed to ask at all, had never needed to fear his own vulnerable spots.

Soren squeezed Ike’s body in his smaller arms for a moment, hoping he was doing this whole hug thing right, overwhelmed and happier than he knew what to do with, for once overflowing with something other than painful memories and a silhouette that used to feel more shaped by old wounds and recurring rejection than his own lived life. “Thank you, Ike. For being here.” For being you, the only way you know how, so natural to you you don’t see how exceptional you are.

“I think I’d like to keep celebrating birthdays from now on.”

#//IKE #//BIG PLEAD FACE #//I finally had time to sit and Write but I was thinking about this for days #//Soren likely notices anything more about the ring later #//that concludes his birthday! #//I’m soft ok #ceaselessblade #ask

[sirro85-blog]

Dark Horses 4

Becca jerked awake as Kovac tossed in his sleep, he was drenched in sweat and as she reached out for him Kovac sat upright with a gasp, he looked around wildly and then a shudder seemed to pass through him. Becca reached a hand out to touch his shoulder, he flinched violently and stumbled out of the bed, there was a crash as he overturned a bedside table.

"It's ok, it's ok, baby it was only a dream," Becca hurried round the bed to his side, Kovac turned to her, nude and gleaming with sweat, his eyes were wide and he was still shaking.

The door burst open and Knickers was in the doorway, a pistol in her right hand supported on her left wrist, in her left hand was a long bladed knife. She scanned the room and on seeing Kovac, his back to the room his muscles taut and his breathing heavy she lowered the weapons and hurriedly crossed the room.

"Same dream big man?" She asked softly.

Kovac blinked and looked down at her, He nodded mutely and let her reach up and hook her fingers round the back of his neck, she pulled his head down so their foreheads touched. They paused like this for barely a moment and then pulled apart, Knickers nodded to Becca and turned for the door.

Becca stared after the soldier for a moment and then turned to Kovac who looked calmer again. "You alright?" She handed him a glass of water.

Kovac took a drink and nodded, "I'm sorry, did I scare you?"

"One of these days you're going to explain to me why I have no problem with you and Knickers sharing a naked cuddle in our bedroom...does she know what your dreams are about?"

"Yes."

"Then why don't I? Look I love the woman but I've known you longer, we go back to the academy."

Kovac closed his eyes for a moment and then turned to face Becca directly, "When you and Wolf and all our old friends were settling into your first commands I was burying a wife and child and when she..." he pointed after Knickers and then paused, "we've been through a lot together and we've helped each other out."

"Ok, are you alright now? Do you want to talk? Look if the dream keeps happening maybe we should retire, you've been through enough surely."

"I sleep fine after battles Bex, that has never been my problem, I'm alright," he kissed her, "Thank you, I might go down to the gym, not going to sleep much more tonight."

Dawn found Becca sitting with Wolf watching Kovac in the ring, "didn't fancy facing him yourself today?"

Wolf shook his head, "No fear, not in this mood, I'll stay out of his way."

In the ring stood Ty a soldier from Captain Dorman's 3 Troop and probably the largest man in the squadron, nearly equal in height to Kovac's 6 and a half feet, he was bigger in build, the Major and Trooper had enjoyed a competative sparring rivalry since their days in the 88th.

The two men circled one another, and locked up, Ty's dark black skin contrasting against the white of Kovac's hair as the Major was forced to one knee. The watching crowd stood and roared it's approval as the Major had to break free.

Becca could barely see as she heard the shouts of the soldiers.

"That's it Ty batter him, don't let him out of the corner, keep the pressure on,"

"He's gone southpaw Ty, look out!"

"No, move quicker, don't let him circle you like that!"

"No stop him moving, lock it up, use your strength."

Wolf who was standing on his chair looked like he was close to joining in he was so animated, "god Kovac is quick, COME ON TY!, GO ON SON PIN HIM IN THE CORN....OOooooh."

Becca clambered onto her chair to look over the heads in front, Ty was staggering backwards but unloaded a thunderous right hook that Kovac ducked under before straightening and with a jump bringing his own left cross into the side of Ty's jaw. Ty dropped to his knees clearly dazed and Kovac applied a sleeper hold, it was over moments later.

When the two officers reached the front Kovac was shaking hands with Ty who was in full flow explaining the origin of the term "southpaw".

That afternoon in Kovac's office after Staff King had been by to reprimand the Major for injuring himself and a trooper Kovac delivered the news everyone had been expecting.

"We've been back for long enough, time to go out to Fo-ro-shall and deal with the Bartuq. Gilly is content with the set up out there although he would like some bigger guns...wouldn't we all."

"The sergeant-major has been briefing the sergeants so stay out of their way, let them do their jobs and look closely at the new info Gilly sent back."

"Bartuq pirates are a nuisance out there but isn't it more of a concern that any troop movement out there is going to stir up the Xhost? Do we need permission to carry out our operation?" Becca asked, it was a question she had asked before.

"That's being handled." Kovac replied.

The exact solution to the issue was revealed the day after the Dark Horses had deployed en masse to Fo-ro-shall the Towoli planet. Kovac was sitting with Wolf when Capt ain Gillespie arrived with two others in tow.

Wolf saw them coming and stood, Kovac turned and copied his Captain.

Gillespie stopped and turned to introduce the man on his right, "Major I'm sure you're pleased to make the reacquaintance of Staff Sergeant Sam White, call sign 'Ugly', Gunner extraordinaire of Griffin Battery and," said Gillespie turning to his left, "needs no introduction but I like saying it; Brigadier-General Michaela Jones."

The four officers shook hands, "Major, how are my soldiers?" The general asked.

"Well ma'am, it's good to see you," Kovac said to the small heavy set woman opposite.

"Your soldiers ma'am?" Ugly asked.

"Oh not anymore, not since Kovac stole them," Michaela replied with a grin.

"Still your soldiers ma'am, like their OC they'd follow you anywhere, I'd have invaded Hell if you'd led the way"

"I think with two more of you I could conquer it, but I think the day this lot were anything but yours is long gone, gone up in Aprasi smoke," the general said taking a seat.

"That's right I heard about this, you were on Doltoi-4 when the Korlax attacked and you received orders to retreat," Ugly said leaning out of his seat to point at Kovac.

"The Aprasi had declined membership to the Galactic Council and so were not entitled to our defence was the decision, so when the Korlax Dominion struck and were systematically wiping out whole villages we were told to retreat to Council space." Kovac said.

"The Major here, fresh from whatever heroics he'd pulled in the Reinax system decided he wasn't going anywhere." Michaela said with a faint smile.

"We'd been there as an envoy, a good faith mission, 1st batallion the 88th Combat Engineers had been constructing some new planetary docks as a hearts&minds effort," Gillespie said, staring into the night, "we saw first hand what the Korlax were doing."

"I saw the parents of the Aprasi young form a living wall between the Korlax and the creche...mothers and fathers facing down war machines, so I decided I was going to have their backs." Kovac said a little harshly.

"And you pinched a batallion of combat engineers to do it," the general teased.

"I ordered my men off the planet and then I went about my business," Kovac said calmly.

"To a man, the 88th followed Kovac," said Gillespie proudly.

"I heard that because a whole batallion defected they couldn't hold all those courts marshal so they just let you all go as a band of mercenaries?" Ugly queried.

"With the help of a sympathetic Brigadier," Kovac said nodding to the general, "it was bad press, hero humans save the day and get charged."

"Human pack-bonding is how it was sold to the media," said the General.

"It wasn't, was just the right thing to do," said Kovac, "We were engineers, ubique, quo fas et gloria ducunt and all that, seemed the right thing to do. So I reformed the survivors into a squadron and we became the Dark Horses, the Brigadier as she was then made sure we were looked after."

Michaela waved the comment away and gave a gesture to the darkness, "what is the situation here Major? What are you dealing with?"

"Short version? The Towoli are getting raided by the Bartuq and the presence of the Xhost border is stopping any involvement of the GCDF, nobody wants to rile up the zealots. We've been approached to deal with the raiders."

"It's unlikely the Xhost will take offence at the presence of a mercenary unit but I'll do what I can to ensure them we have no intent to increase our presence here."

"And the presence of the EDC near Thresh?" Kovac asked.

"Is not the purview of a mercenary leader nor of a Combat Engineers Squadron leader," the general replied a little abruptly.

Kovac and Gilly shared a glance and Gilly turned to Ugly, "you know Kovac is with Becca? Uhh Captain Hayward?"

Talk moved away from the past to the present and the future, and thoughts moved away from the violence that was to come.

Dawn broke on a cold grey morning, the Dark Horses shivered through stand to, and then broke camp and the three troops were moved into position.

Captain Gillespie looked through his omni-goggles and called positions through his comms, 1 troop advanced quietly as 3 troop pushed forward hard, racing to get in position.

For a minute there was peace and then the silence of the morning splintered as Griffin Battery opened their first volley, directed to their targets by Captain Gillespie one more time, in the years since they had worked together Ugly and his men had lost none of their skill and in the 10s flight time of the first shell the guns sounded twice more, in less than a minute the 18 targets were reduced to rubble and Griffin Battery fell silent.

On the sound of the first gun Captain Dorman led his men out, the guns sounded their last retort as Gray led his men through the new breech. The outer defences reduced to rubble Wolf led his men forward into the killing ground and as the Bartuq defenders opened fire 2 Troop started to hammer their position. Gillespie directed howitzer fire to the centre of the Bartuq defences, many of the shells were deflected off but they were enough to limit the Bartuq defence.

Inside the Bartuq fortifications Captain Dorman and his men were hard pressed, Dorman knelt over the wounded trooper Ito shielding him from further harm. He shouted orders and directed fire as the defender's numbers started to count against his men. Aware he was being flanked Dorman pulled some of his men back and raced round the edge of a building.

Attacking a group of armed aggressors with hand to hand combat was not wise or logical but it was unexpected and would hopefully buy his men the time they needed to receive the back up from Wolf. Besides Dorman was a human and that counted for something, the Bartuq would be more afraid that humans were attacking than they would by superior numbers, or so he hoped.

Hearing the approach of the Bartuq unit Dorman closed his eyes and repeated the only prayer he thought might work, "God I hope I live through this."

As they rounded the corner the Bartuq were met by a single human, armed with a knife and a side arm he dropped the first three amphibians before the creatures could react. Dorman did not have the skill of Wolf nor the speed and power of Kovac but he was a human, powered by human adrenaline and fear and he was frantic. By keeping in their midst he neutralized their weapons but he couldn't do much about their numerical advantage, his attack lasted nearly 30 seconds and he injured over a dozen before they knocked him off his feet and the shots rang out.

Dorman had his hands over his head when Fluke reached him, "sorry sir, couldn't open fire till you were down or we may have hit you. We're in sir, Captain Wolf asks if you can regroup your men and move to the west post for the next advance to contact."

Dorman thanked the sergeant, took a moment to ensure he was bullet free and turned to find his men, Sergeant Webb had them in position when he joined them, the career soldier gave his commanding officer a nod and dropped back.

The Dark Horses pushed through the defences of the Bartuq meeting stiff resistance but only suffering minor casualties. Wolf and Dorman used their troops to good effect, capturing choke points and stopping the enemy from organising.

The humans didn't have it all their own way, the Bartuq rallied and counter attacked cutting off a small group of soldiers, the attack itself was stopped by Captain Becca's 2 Troop who were moving behind the two advance troops for precisely that reason. Communications relayed the situation, Kovac had been cut off with three soldiers, Ty, Costa and Butlanska.

"We can't cut our way out, but we can hole up till you push through, over" Kovac assured his concerned Captains.

"Wolf is going to hold position, Dorman and I will push through together and get to you, over" Becca said, she lowered her communications device and gestured at her Sergeant "why was Kovac that far advanced!?" Knickers gave a shrug.

"Negative, maintain the advance, this is what they want, they want to break us up and big us down, maintain the advance, Wolf must keep pushing forward. We can hold until Dorman gets to us, 2 Troop must maintain the screen, acknowledge, over" Kovac's voice came over the communicator.

Becca swore, "confirmed, continue advance, over,"

"We're secure here, we're able to..." Kovac cut off.

"Kovac!?" Becca sent the call repeatedly.

"Wait. out," came the terse reply.

Kovac and Costa flattened against the wall as the Bartuq hurried past, Kovac growled in irritation, "these counters are going to keep happening unless they keep the pressure in and we'll end up just rescuing people all day."

"Can we not fight through sir?" Costa asked.

"Not bloody likely, we can still be a thorn in their arse though, god knows you and Ty have enough practice..." Kovac broke off as two Bartuq rounded the corner.

Costa raised his rifle but lowered it as Kovac sprang into the gap, he drove his body into the Bartuq on his right and stabbed out with his long bladed knife at the amphibian on the left. He rounded on the winded Bartuq and stabbed it through the skull.

The two humans fell back to the room Ty and Butlanska were concealed in, both were nursing injuries, neither life threatening but enough to put them at risk if attacked. Kovac checked them both and returned to the doorway.

"Listen Costa, the only way we stop them from clearing us out is by making them think we are more than two non-injured soldiers. That means no extended firefights, get in close and personal. Side arm and that damn kukri I'm not supposed to know you carry," Kovac clapped a hand on his shoulder, "you're quicker and faster than the Bartuq but remember they outweigh us, a frog your size will have significant weight on you so avoid a wrestling match."

"Sir I'm not sure I'm up to this, I'm not you or Captain Wolf or Sergeant Knickers." Costa said weakly.

"You're afraid? Good, fear makes you quick, human adrenaline is a black market drug in the outer rim," Kovac turned to face Costa, "stick a collar on that beast in your chest and ride it till we're done. If you want to keep waking up with Ty and sneaking back to your own room then you'd best fight to keep them away from that room, and trooper while we're on the subject, it's been 3 years, you're a couple just accept it." With that Kovac leapt out on three Bartuq.

For the rest of his life Costa remembered that afternoon as a blur, the Bartuq seemed to move at quarter speed and all the while he battled a fear that threatened to overwhelm him.

When Sergeant Knickers led a sortie into the tunnels they found dozens of Bartuq dead, Kovac was covered head to toe in the purplish blood of the Bartuq, Costa imagined he must look similar. The Major gave him a nod before heading off to meet with his captains.

The Bartuq had suffered heavy casualties and lost much of their equipment, their heavily defended compound was captured but two more bolt holes had been found and would need clearing before they could go home.

It's a subject of much debate wether humans are the galaxy's best warriors. Many would say the Flet are superior and it's accepted that the Rhul are both stronger and faster, certain other races like the Frell possess weapons of mass destruction to rival the human's.

In my experience humans don't all possess an affinity for war, but those trained to do it can tap into a level of ingenuity and physical capability that no other race possess.

#humans are space australians #humans are weird #humans are space oddities #humans are insane #humans are space orcs #space faerie #space australia #space orcs #earth is a deathworld #dark horses #this is why i call kovac daddy #kovac

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

🏰⚔️👑🐲- DMODT 67? Was it? Update... I don't know. Trying to make Eren have the worst possible birthday ever. I probably won't keep the fight scene... but it does show he's not a happy camper

Leaving the dining room, Eren returned to Levi's chambers. Despite his low mood he'd been proud to show off his son, even if it was to a bunch of rich idiots. He was proud to say Viren was his, proud of Luca's good behaviour during dinner, and he was proud of Armin as he'd settled into greeting everyone without forgetting to send them into the dining room. What he wasn't proud of was his own actions. He'd been blindsided by Willy's arrival in Eldia, knowing immediately that Levi hadn't know anything. Neither had Hanji or Armin. The alpha's sudden arrival had set him on edge, his smile not reaching his eyes despite his charismatic ways. Then... then he'd lost it when Willy spoke of Zeke and that Zeke had wanted to ensure his safety... and how fond he'd been of both he and what he thought to be their child. Viren needed a nappy change, the mess he'd made was disgustingly impressive, as it caused Eren to gag. He didn't even know where to begin, the mess up his sons back and down his legs, while he knew he only had limited time before Levi would come barging in and demanding to know if he was alright. He really wasn't. Willy had thrown him off completely, but for Levi's sake he wouldn't cry. Not on the day that was supposed to be his birthday. It didn't even feel like his birthday... Levi hadn't said anything about it, not that his mood had been overly receptive towards conversation. A restless night, and mind full of worry had seen to that. "Eren, can I come in?" Mikasa... he'd expected Levi... "Yes!" Stepping into the bathroom, Mikasa wrinkled her nose up. Her eyes widening at the mess Viren had made "All that came from him?" "Yeah. Can you grab a towel and wet it down? I was just standing here trying to think how to start cleaning this up. Another set of hands is something I'm not going to say no to" "Levi..." "Levi sent you because he's probably giving Willy death glares?" "You were rather upset. I didn't hear your conversation, only that you looked upset" "I'm still legally a Prince. According to Willy, that is" Mikasa found up a towel, moving to the bath to wet it "I thought you were leaving that behind, now that Zeke has passed" Bringing the towel over, Mikasa started helping him get Viren clean "So did I. Then Willy shows up from nowhere and starts telling me Zeke made all these plans for my safety and for Viren's... I really don't want to talk about it. Not right now" "Eren, if you don't want to return to Marley, you don't have to. Willy's here. You can say no. You don't have to let alphas keep dictating your life for you" "Marley is in chaos. I've seen the border towns Mikasa... you've seen what it's like for omegas... and now... I want to talk to Levi before doing anything else. I need... to know what he thinks I should do. I'm sorry" "He is your mate, and Viren's father... but Eren..." "I won't shackle him to a life as a puppet prince again. I don't want that for him, or for Viren and Luca. I don't want to be the prince of Marley. I don't want to be in the manor without Zeke there... Please, Mikasa, stop asking" "I understand. I'm just worried about you" "I know you are" Having cleaned Viren up enough for a bath, Mikasa gathered up the dirty towel, cloth nappy, and christening dress to wash in the shower as Eren carried Viren over to the bath "So, what are we going to talk about? What did Levi give your for birthday" "Nothing" "What?!" Mikasa's angry cry upset Viren, setting him to a fresh set of tears "Sorry, Viren. Aunty Mikasa is sorry. Your dad is just..." "Mikasa, really. I tell you I don't want to talk about Zeke and Marley, so the first thing you do is ask why Levi hadn't gifted me anything for my birthday. If you haven't noticed, I'm not in the best head space. He was probably trying to respect my wishes, or knew tonight would be hard enough as it is. I don't want to fight. I really... can we talk about something else?" "Your son does some pretty..." "Nope. Not the mess either. Tell me about Armin's combat training?" Mikasa laughed to herself "Combat training... I have more to fear from a snail with a fork. It's not like we've never swung a training sword at each other, but the one time he actually managed to strike me, he dropped it and apologised" That was so very Armin "I can imagine" "I had thought you might be there..." He had no real excuse to offer at that. All he wanted to do was to sleep, and cuddle with his two sons... "... in any case, I expect you there the next time. Levi was intending on teaching you combat, wasn't he?" "He tried once before. Years ago now, when our relationship was new. You should remember, you tried to teach me how to ride a horse" "I'm surprised you remember that" "What's that supposed to mean?" It was hard not to be offended. He knew he was... "flaky", shaky even when it came to recalling some things, but not so far gone he couldn't recall the days since he'd spent on the castle grounds when everything was so much simpler "I mean, with everything that happened. I don't seem to be making you feel better" "It's not your job to, Mikasa" "I know, but as your sister, it hurts me to see you upset" "If you're that upset, where's my birthday present from you?" Forcing his tone lighter, Mikasa took the out "I actually have a present for you. I had wanted to present it to you earlier, but Armin told me I wasn't allowed to help you get ready" "You didn't need to buy me a present" Not when he hadn't bought anything for Mikasa, nor Armin for that matter... he'd given them small gifts he'd crafted, yet that didn't feel enough. Mikasa and Armin had both done so much for him, leaving him with a debt he could never hope to repay in entirety "Nonsense, besides, it's a practical gift" "I don't know if that makes me feel better or not. You can leave those cloths in there. I need some help here with Viren. Normally we bath him in the sink, so it's easier to handle everything. I can't hold Viren and reach the soap" "I can help bath him?" "Of course you can?... you're his Aunty... who else will take care of him and Luca when my next heat comes again?" "You... mean it?" Eren was confused as to why Mikasa acting so out of character. He couldn't keep both children in the room. It felt awkward enough to have sex with Luca in the room, even thought he'd been a lusty slut in the last weeks of his pregnancy. With Viren in their room.. thinking about it made him uncomfortable. All he wanted was to be a good mother, yet unless he took suppressants, his heat would come and force their time apart "You're my sister. Who else would I possibly trust my children to? I trust you and Levi trusts you. You're the best choice" "I feel like the only choice" "Right, because I couldn't leave my children with Armin. Can you imagine him trying to juggle both of them, as well as his duties as prince?" Mikasa snorted, before pulling a funny face at Viren who wasn't at all impressed over the bathtub compared to the sink where he could lay and relax in the warm water "I think he'd crown both of them as prince's the moment he could" "I don't want them raised that way... Mikasa, Levi and I want to leave here" He kept saying he didn't want to be a damn prince, why would he force that upon his sons? "What do you mean you want to leave? Leave and go where? Back to Draecia? Or back to wherever to went with him before? And for long?" "Mikasa, not like that. Levi and I are thinking of getting our place. Out of Mitras" "Eren, it's not safe. We're at war, and now Willy is here... You're safer staying here where we can keep an eye on you" Eren hissed, literally hissed like an alley cat thrown into a bathtub of water "Keep an eye on me?! Mikasa, we're still simply talking about it. I don't want them raised here, neither does Levi. Until this prince thing came up again, I was hoping we'd be able to leave sooner rather than later" "Just like that?" "Like what? You had to know it would be on the cards after everything Levi and I went through. It's not like we're going to disappear forever" "Until Erwin heard from you last year, that's exactly what we thought" "That was different" "How?" "Levi went insane from carrying a dragon around in his mind... He wasn't himself, and it wasn't safe for him to be here" "You could have come to us for help!" "How?! This is dragon magic! Even I was out of my league here, as was Historia and Freya. Erwin knew what was going on with Levi. He knew things weren't right, and he trusted me to make the call when the time came. They both did" "You..." "I left because it was for the best" "And when you came back you were... How do you know the same thing won't happen? That Obsydin won't cause Levi to go crazy again?" "I don't. But Obsydin helped me with Levi for as long as he could" "Then you should stay..." "I never said we were leaving right away. Armin still needs to adjust to being prince, and Levi still has plenty he needs to teach him... Do you remember what it was like living with mum and dad? Because I don't Mikasa. I want that though. Levi finding some small job with Isabel and Farlan, the boys having space to play without having to worry someone's going to come after him for his scales. A life where we don't have to fear people coming after us thinking we're princes or anything other than parents. I want it. I want to be normal Mikasa" "You can have a good life here" "I don't want to have a good life here! I'm sick of everyone knowing my life! I'm sick of random people turning up and fucking things up further! I didn't tell you so lecture me! Leave" Mikasa stared at him, a fierce look on her face "Leave! Get out!" "Eren" "No! It was my fault for thinking maybe I could talk to you about something! I don't want to be a prince. I don't even want to work in the royal court. I don't want to be responsible for Marley. I just want a small house for Levi, my sons, and myself!" "Eren..." "Go!" It wasn't the first time he'd been reduced to tears on his birthday. The whole day hadn't been great and now Mikasa probably hated him. No... she was stupidly nice to him. At the very least, she'd be hurt by his anger and by him pushing her away. All he wanted was a little happiness for himself. A safe place, and place with no more lies. Hadn't he mentioned it to Mikasa before? Or at least in front of her? His mind was so filled with thoughts of everything that it was all a blur. His tears didn't exactly help him arrange his thoughts, nor did his distressed state over fighting with Mikasa. There were just so many things going on. The royal advisors hadn't told them anything at all. They'd known. They'd known Willy was in the country, and kept their mouths closed over it all. Carrying Viren to his cot, he settled his son down to sleep until he woke for his next feed. Everything felt far too much effort. Especially when it came to his robes. Having struggled with the tie to his robes, he'd lost his temper with them. Throwing a tantrum that rivalled Viren's cries, Eren found himself on the floor, sobbing against the stone where he'd fallen. He was still laying there when Levi finally returned to their room. His alpha rushing to his side, to lift him off the cold stone floor and carry him over to their bed "Fucking Mikasa... I knew something was wrong when she came in, in a shit mood. And your robes... I'm not even going to ask. Let's get you out of them" Even if Eren wasn't able to do much, Levi made things better. His alpha continually pausing to make sure he was still managing to breathe, kissing his forehead from moment to moment as he carefully removed his white robes and boots. Despite the fact it must have been killing his knees, Levi stayed squatted in front of him until he finally nodded to his alpha that he could find his words again "Do you want to take a bath or a shower? Or do you just want to go to sleep?" The bathroom was a mess. He hadn't had the energy to finish washing the things in the shower. Frustrated by his tears, he shook his head "Bathroom's a mess..." "Ok. I'll deal with it. It's not the birthday I planned for you, sweet boy" Sniffling, Eren frowned at his mate. Now Levi wanted to say something? "You planned something?" "Of course I did. It's your 21st. Your first birthday as a mother. This dinner ruined most of my plans, but there's still time for me to give your gifts" "I... don't want gifts" "Too bad. I want to give them to you. I'd give you every star in the sky if I could" Levi was too nice to him. He didn't want to drag him back into the lies and politics that being prince invited "I can see you thinking again. How bad is the bathroom?" "Viren... pooped... a lot" "And the mess is in the shower?" "I'm sorry" "Eren, it's just a bit of mess. Why don't I run us a bath? I had Isabel go shopping for us" What? When? Had he left him? "You were sleeping so I sent a message through the guards. I had her pick up some herbal powders to add. I think she said sage, and lemongrass... I have no idea. I don't know herbs like you do. I had her pick up some other herbs for you. The old man that ran the apothecary remembers you, so he packed them" "You did that for me?" "I want to be a good alpha for you" "Levi, you're the only alpha for me" "Which means I can't rest. I'd hoped to take you stargazing, but given we have the kids to think of, I think a bath and cuddles would make you feel better" Eren hadn't even seen Luca come in. Craning his neck, to look past Levi, he found Luca happily sprawled out in front of the fire "He was well behaved. He didn't like it when you left, nor does he like Willy that much. Willy offered him food, only for him to turn his nose up at it" "That's not like him" "No. We were all surprised by it. Nicollo's having something special delivered too. There was cake, and we can't have cake without you. At least, I couldn't. I had him keep two slices aside for us" "Why?" Levi's knees cracked as he stood up, kissing Eren's forehead again "Because it's your birthday. Let me get these swords off. I feel as if I'm about to take your eye out with one of them" "Please don't..." "Don't take out your eyes? I never intended to. I'll be right back" Eren phased out while waiting. He didn't even realise he was sitting there completely naked as he waited. Being embarrassed was far too much effort, and Levi was taking too long. He didn't feel like being alone. Slipping off the bed, the omega padded softly over to the bathroom to find Levi wiping down the bathroom counter top while the bath filled. Viren had made such a mess, and so had he. As the feeling of guilt started to well in the bottom of his stomach, Eren fled to Levi, wrapping his arms around his smaller mate as he hid his face against Levi's neck "Let's run away" Placing his hands on Eren's, Levi turned to nuzzle into his cheek "Run away?" "From all of it. You, me and the boys... I'm done, Levi" "You know I'd never deny you anything, but I know you won't be happy if we do" "We could be happy. I don't need anything but you and our boys... I don't want to be a prince and Mikasa doesn't want me leaving the castle to be with you" "We're not leaving the castle right away. Is that what upset you?" "I made her mad. I make everyone mad. I'm tired of it, Levi" "I know you're tired. I was just about finished here" "I don't want to be a prince" "I know, and we'll find a way to get you out of this" "Can we run away?" "No. We can take a bath, then I'll give you your gifts. But you need to let me go first" "I don't want to" Turning completely in his hold Levi left the cleaning rag on the counter in order to wrapped his arms around him "Eren" "I don't want to. I don't want to let you go" "I can see that. How can I say no?" "Don't?" "I've been defeated. Though it does mean I'm getting into the bath dressed" Nuzzling into Levi's neck, Eren was sure if he let Levi go, the man would run. Why wouldn't he? He'd come back from dinner to find Eren on the floor still crying from his tantrum... "Don't leave..." "I'm not going to. Clothes off, and into the bath. That's all" "I don't want you to leave" "I'm not going anywhere. I promise you. I might punch Mikasa though. It's your fucking birthday. No one should be making you so anxious and upset" "You really won't leave?" "I won't. Look, here, put your hand on my hip, right here. You can hold me as I undress" Now he was being a pain. Levi being infuriatingly patient with him, as he stripped for him. Guiding him over to the bath, Levi tested the water before stepping in with him. Settling down in the sage smelling water, Eren curled into Levi. Levi was more than happy to let him, kissing his hair and nuzzling him softly. After his craptastic birthday, this was exactly what he needed. Without even realising, his breathing evened into gentle purrs "Feeling better?" "Mmm, much. I feel like a fuckhead for all my shit moods" "A "fuckhead". You're definitely a good fuck, and great at giving head, but not a "fuckhead"" "You're not funny" "I'm hilarious. Seriously though, I know you're going through a lot" "I couldn't get my robes off and had a tantrum" "I don't even know how you get them on. There's so many layers and ties and that ribbony thing. You looked gorgeous in them, so you know" "I think Viren got shit on them... Mikasa was helping me until we got into a fight" "You don't need to explain, if you're not ready to. None of us expected Willy to appear. Armin's going to have a few choice words with the advisors for hiding his presence" "No... I do want to let you in. Sometimes my head and my mouth don't line up. And I can't stop my thoughts" "That's because you think too much" "I miss my magic. I miss being able to do simple things with it. I feel weird not having it" "It hasn't come back?" "No. I probably would have set the table on fire if I'd had my magic" "It would have been better than the conversation at dinner" "When we sat down, I started thinking about my last birthday. You laid me out on the dining table, not letting me go to the party until we'd had sex" "I remember that..." "Armin was sitting in the space you were in. It was hard to pay attention to him" "I don't know if I like the thought of you thinking about Armin while remembering having sex with me" "Trust me, I don't want sex with anyone but you. I told Mikasa all I wanted was to be with you. About moving together and having a family home... now I feel like that's going to be just a dream. I don't want to drag you into this prince thing... I don't..." Levi kissed his hair, sliding further down in the tub as he moved to lift him be his hips so he sat on his mate's lap "You're thinking too much. If you want to run, we can run. I'll take you anywhere in the world you want to go. I don't want you to continue to suffer with all these lies... Even though I know you won't be happy if we run" Sighing deeply, Eren repositioned himself in Levi's lap. His alpha hadn't made a move, but his dick was poking rather insistently into Eren's hip. Given what he'd become, it was still strange to him that his mate could want him. He didn't know why, but a mind melting orgasm actually sounded better than anything else the world had offered him today. Other than his bath, and his alpha. They weren't supposed to have sex for a month after birth, or at least not until his magic returned, but now he was thinking of Levi's dick, his own was lengthening and hardening "Want to share what you're thinking about? Your scent's shifted..." "I was thinking about not thinking..." "Oh? That would be a first for you" Eren didn't know why it stung, but Levi's words did. His alpha hadn't even said anything wrong. Was he embarrassed for thinking about sex with Levi? They'd always been open in the bedroom. He loved riding his mate and watching him fall apart beneath him. Or stealing 5 minutes in a castle broom closet where they'd end up trapped for the next half hour. He'd never felt so... weird about sex. Even after the birth of the clutch... He hadn't been this nervous since taking his vows... Zeke wasn't included as their nights together were to cement their marriage in stone "Eren, talk to me. Your scent's changed again" "I-was-thinking-about-you-fucking-me-and-how-good-your-knot-would-feel" The words tumbled out his mouth in a rushed reply. Levi letting out a small "oh" before slipping his hand down to Eren's crotch "I didn't think you were ready for proper sex. You're still healing. And you've had such a long day" Eren saw red... his omega taking it as a personal insult and a chance to remind him he still had a belly instead of his toned chest that came from being part dragon "I know I have. I was there. I was thinking how I'm so fucking tired of thinking and it would be nice to just to not for even an hour. Your dick is poking me in the hip, and now I'm all horny and you don't want me. I knew my body was fucking disgusting!" Neither of them expected him to snap, well, to snap that hard. With a miserably whine, Eren detached himself "Eren. Hey, no. I wouldn't be hard if I didn't want you. I simply meant I don't want you to regret having sex with me. I don't want to hurt you. Of course I want to touch you. I would love nothing more to fuck you completely senseless, until your swollen with my seed and pup, but I don't want to hurt you. You're my mate, and my equal, though at this juncture I'm sure we both know you're far too good for the likes of me. I lost you once and I brought unbearable pain to you. I never want to lose your heart again" "You're such a fucking sap. No other alpha would ever talk to their omega like that" "Then no other alpha is worthy of having an omega" "You used to be an arse, but sweet in your own way. Now you shower me with praise and compliments. You call me "sweet boy", or "sweet omega". It... I don't want to be praised. I want to be with Levi who's kind of an arsehole around the edges, not the one who feels he has to keep proving himself to me. I'm not over you leaving me. I'm not over what happened in the time we were apart. I'm not over a lot of things that happened when you started getting violent, even though they weren't you fault. I'm not even sure why you're choosing me over your own happiness, not when it looks like I have no say in my own life, or that of the children's. At this stage, I'm about ready to fake my own death and run away, but I can't do that to Armin. So excuse me when I snap because it feels like you're telling me what you think I have to hear on repeat to be with you. I'm sick of it. I'm sick of getting upset over a simple fucking conversation. I'm sick of people not listening to me when I say I don't want my kids raised here. I'm... cranky" Running out of steam midrant, his waving hand splashed water over the side, Levi jerking back and smacking his head in the process. Upset enough with himself, Eren tried to climb up from his mate's lap, only Levi prevented his escape, his hand still dipped down between Eren's thighs almost teasing him "You're allowed to be cranky. I didn't realise I was treating you differently, again. I can't seem to stop my mouth. You mean the world to me, and I don't want to risk fucking everything up again" "No... I'm cranky. Let's just go to bed" Levi kissed his temple, gently rubbing at his inner thigh. Why hadn't they just gone to bed instead of devolving back into conversation "I thought you were horny" "I don't know what I am. I'm horny. I'm tired. I'm frustrated and cranky. God. Can we just go to bed? Or fuck, or something?" Laughing softy, his mate released his hold "Sex would probably hurt, you're not healed" "I don't care. I want to feel something other than whatever all of this is" "You want me to take you to bed?" "You're frustrating me. I said I wanted to and you told me I was broken" "Not broken. Healing" "Then just... I don't know" Levi left him waiting a few moments before patting his side to tell him it was time to get out "Bed. We're going to take things slowly, and if your scent changes or you seem pained, we stop. I was going to give you a birthday blow job, but I guess it's not a surprise anymore" Birthday blow job sounded excellent... and definitely something he could get behind... or in front of. Preferably in front of then wrecked from behind... "I'm sick of surprises, just take me to bed" * Levi wasn't sure about having sex with his beautiful mate. Most of the wounds had settled, no longer covered in deep scabbing, yet Eren wanted him. Enjoying teasing him with his mouth and fingers, Levi drank him dry as Eren came hard. The alpha had barely pulled off, before Eren was rolling over to present his drenched opening to him. His omega's fingers awkwardly sliding up between his legs to tease himself, despite Levi having already lavished attention on his opening. Smacking his fingers aside, Eren let out a whine "You've got no patience. Let me enjoy the sight of this perfect arse of yours" Levi didn't have much either. His dick was throbbing painfully, demanding he mount his mate immediately. His balls heavy, ready to flood Eren completely... and maybe even repeatedly, if that was what Eren wanted. He'd taken his fingers with minimal pain, but fingers were hardly the same as when he'd swell to twelve inches and pop a thick knot "Levi... please. I'm not going to break" "I already said I'm enjoying the view" "Stop enjoying the view... and mount me" "Your body is truly marvellous. I drank you dry, now you're leaking all over again, hungry for more" "It's because you played with me too much... makes me want more of you" Rubbing Eren's opening with the pad of his thumb, the ring of muscle was already loose to touch, his thumb sinking in with ease. He'd opened Eren, played with sweet spot until he'd begged to come, yet Levi still wanted to make sure he wouldn't cause his love pain "Stop fucking teasing me" "Where's the fun in that? I watched you give birth through this soft pink hole of yours, and now you're tight enough that my dick is going to make you cry. It blows my mind" "Levi, I swear... if you keep testing me, I will deny you sex for the rest of my life. No heats. No ruts. No pup's or clutches. I will leave you here alone" So much for an orgasm making Eren less cranky "Alright. I understand. Let me know if it hurts" "How am I supposed to let you know, if you won't hurry up?" Resisting the urge to spank his omega for his insolent attitude, Levi slowly sank into Eren's hot heat. Moaning his name the omega's hands clutched at the furs of their nest. Pushing back against him, Eren was apparently not in the mood to wait, starting to try and fuck himself on Levi's dick while the alpha tried not to come as he watched his dick sliding in and out his lover with ease. Watching Eren take his dick was hot as hell. He didn't want the sensations to end, not to soon. He needed to take a breath, and not embarrass himself. The wanton moans and the squelch of slick. It was like Eren didn't even need him there... caught up in watching, he frowned as his omega slowed, his hands going to Eren's hips, only for Eren to slap his right hand away before raising himself on his knees to pull himself off Levi completely. With shaky legs, Eren climbed off the bed, stumbling away from him with his hand on his mouth. His arousal still evident by his bowed erection, yet his scent has changed "Eren?" "Don't..." "What?" "Stop laughing at me!" "Wha... I'm not" "I throw myself at you, and you... don't really don't actually want to touch me do you?" He'd literally just been balls deep in his mate, after sucking him off... what was Eren getting so pissy about now? "I don't know what you mean" He'd thought Eren was tearing up, instead he balled his fists up, looking ready to punch him in the face "I mean, I had to throw myself at you, for you to want to take me to bed. I ask you touch me, but don't even fucking move. You watch me stupidly try to ride you, thinking maybe you wanted me to!" "I..." "You were enjoying the view! What the fuck does that even mean?! You can't fuck me facing me? You need to fuck me from behind and watch me like they did? Watch me make a fool of myself, simply for you enjoyment?! Like the whore I am?! That's it, isn't it? You're thinking of how Zeke mounted me, how he held my hips down and fucked me in front of everyone. He might have treated me like a whore at the time, but that's because to him I was. I thought you fucking loved me..."

[shanlorel]

Through a unfortunate series of events Shalo and Rook have swapped bodies...

Thefirst thing Shanlorel Dawnsong noticed upon waking up was thatsomething was wrong.

Whenthe elf had fallen asleep, it had been in the Legerdemain Lounge,sprawled in a four-post bed with her husband snoring softly besideher.  The chandelier above cast a soft lilac light over the inn room,and portraits of Northrend hung on the stone walls.  Not the coziestplace she’d ever stayed in, but with the Den'auril warm ashearth-fire against her, it hardly mattered.

Whenthe elf woke up, it was in somewhere she had never seen in her life. The roof vaulted high above in the arched style draenei so favored,made of multiple hammered sheets of bronze-and-silver-colored metal,each etched with geometric lettering and inset with dozens of tinycrystals, like stars.  Swaths of dark purple cloth hung like banners,and the furniture was made of rich, dark wood.  Neither Den'auril noranyone else shared the room with her.

Shemuttered a curse under her breath, wondering how much she’d had todrink last night.

Thatwas when Shanlorel Dawnsong noticed that something was very, verywrong.

Hervoice was smooth, deep, and impossibly, unmistakably male.

Shesat bolt upright, looking frantically around.  A quick glance at herhands confirmed her suspicions—blue-skinned and far too large,befitting a draenei man.  A look over her shoulder showed a muscular,ridged tail, poking out through the back of her—his?—robes,curled slightly on the bed behind her.  Shanlorel brought her handsto her face, feeling it over, trying not to have her heart speed toomuch at the feeling of bony cranial plates and thick facial tendrils.

“Allright, Dawnsong.  Consider your options,” she said aloud.  Hervoice sounded oddly familiar to her ears, but she couldn’t quiteplace it, especially not with her own Thalassian accent comingthrough.  “Step one: figure out where you are.  If possible, figureout who you are.  Step two: figure out how to get back towhere you should be.”

Itdidn’t make a terribly good pep talk, but it made a fairly sensiblecourse of action.  She drew to her feet, and promptly fell back tothe bed.  She didn’t have feet.  She had hooves. Backwards-bent, awkwardly-proportioned legs with massive clovenhooves, shod in delicate gold horseshoes.  Shanlorel almost groaned,but even she wasn’t quite that melodramatic.  No wonder draenei hadtails; they probably couldn’t balance worth a damn without them.

Sheleveraged herself upright with one hand, then took a few clumsysteps, trying to get a feel for the body she’d found herself stuckin.  It was too heavy, too large, and painfully uncoordinated, atleast in contrast to her lithe quel'dorei self.  The colors  in theroom even seemed slightly muted, muddled.  Worse eyesight, then, aswell.  Something of a trade-off for the immortality, she supposed,but not one she would take.

Sheshook her head paced the room, growing steadier by the moment, like anewborn foal.  It would take some getting used to even so.  Shanlorelcould only hope she didn’t need to fight like this; she could onlyjust manage walking with some semblance of coordination, which feltso very lacking compared to the athleticism she usually possessed. On a normal day, Shanlorel could scramble up a tree, balance alongthe top of a stone wall, or execute a handspring mid-run.  She tookgreat pride in pushing her body, and the easy grace she’d achievedwas well worth it.  Like this, she had all the maneuverability of asleepy brick.  Even beyond that, she didn’t even need to check toknow she was missing her tattoos, and that meant her magic wasmissing along with them.  

Shanlorelbegan going through the drawers and chests around her, looking foranything that could be of use.  She turned up sets of neatly-foldedrobes in netherweave, silk, finely-dyed and trimmed and intricatedesigns.  Once again, that feeling of familiarity plucked at the backof her mind, but it fled whenever she tried to focus more on it.  Itdidn’t matter, not for the moment.  As long as she could findclothing beyond pajamas, she could wander farther and look for betterclues as to where she was.

Sheeventually found a set of sensible pants, an undershirt, and a vest,all of which she changed into—she had enough trouble with the bodyas it was, and she wasn’t about to complicate that by tangling itsbackwards-bent legs up in a set of robes.  The woman didn’t botherchanging her underclothes, deciding after a split second’s hesitationthat she’d rather forgo hygiene in favor of not looking too closelyat whatever draenei had in their pants, if she could help it.  To hergreat relief, she also found a pair of daggers, which she hung offher belt, just in case.  After a moment’s pause, she tucked acoinpurse next to them, knowing she wouldn’t get far without money. Satisfied with this, Shanlorel moved on, seeing what else there wasto find.

Amirror hung over the washbasin in the next room.  She crept up,shoulders low and the corners of her mouth tight.  For some reason,it filled her with trepidation, and her hands clenched and unclenchedat her sides as she came to see her own reflection.

“…Oh,you have got to be kidding me,” she groaned, burying her face inone hand.

Shewas going to kill him.  She was absolutely, positively going to killhim.  No wonder the voice sounded familiar, the clothes lookedfamiliar.  From the thin moustache to the shrewd, appraising eyes,Shanlorel would have to be blind to not recognize Rook’s face staringback.

Thegears in her head turned overtime as she smoothed back a strand ofsilver-white hair, brushed wrinkles out of her vest, and stoodstraighter.  He was playing a joke on her, then, another one of thoseneedless little tests he so terribly liked to spring on her.  Hisintent would be something about thinking outside of the box, maybe,or getting closer to his shadow-magic, or learning to adapt to a newsituation.

Shefrowned back at her reflection, though, watching the unfamiliar wayshis face moved in response to her usual expressions.  Rook didn’tlike giving up that much control, though, and she couldn’t imaginehe’d willingly hand her the reins to his body.  And if she was stuckas him, did that mean he was stuck as her?  The thought sent shiversup her spine, but she cooled her nerves.  One thing at a time.  She’dget herself through the first portal to Dalaran, if there was oneavailable, and march over to go find him.  Until then, perhaps itwould be better to play the part, avoid drawing suspicion.  If anyonethought she wasn’t who she appeared, there might be questions, ordanger.  Best to be careful.

Howdid Rook walk, again?  Good posture, usually, she remembered,shoulders straight, hands behind his back, confident and assured. She put on her best look of smug condescension, pacing in front ofthe mirror.  A little slower, a different set to his mouth, eyes cooland appraising…It wasn’t perfect, but it would have to do, shesupposed.   With that, Shanlorel headed for the door, wondering idlywhat on Azeroth Rook did during his free time.

Asshe stepped into the light, she got her answer.

Thecity of Shattrath lay before her, in all of its mismatched charm. Home of refugees and exiles, cast-offs and killers, priests andscholars, Shattrath was a symbol of the unbreakable spirit of theOutlands, and all the disparate peoples that live within it.  Fromthe vantage point of Rook’s quarters, she looked down over the wholecity, taking note of the crystal-topped Terrace of Lights in thecenter, from which all of the city radiated out, and the tattered,nestlike arakkoa dwellings down in the Lower City.  From this highup, she could hardly make out more than antlike figures down below,going about their day-to-day business.

Thegreen-grey sky, cloudless in that peculiar way Terokkar always seemedto be, rose overhead like a great dome.  The Barrier Hills borderedthe city, hazy and distant in the early morning mist, and thejagged-leaved Terrocone trees broke the skyline on all other sides,hiding the rest of the territory from view.  Her lip curled as shelooked down to the right, at the red-and-gold banners of the Scryers,faintly obscured by the ribbons of smoke rising from the ceremonialbraziers lit by the Aldor priesthood.

Ah,yes.  That was what Rook did when he wasn’t skulking around theShanai’s camp, she thought, frowning slightly.  He was amember of the Aldor.  Did Rook have meaningful appointments to maketoday?  Duties to the church?  She didn’t know, and a part of herfelt a twinge of concern for it.  Shanlorel brushed it aside, though,reminding herself there was no use worrying, not when she couldn’t doa thing about it.

Instead,she headed for the lift down to ground level, eyes distant as sheworked through her thoughts.

“Oh,Rook!  I’d hoped I’d run into you—do you have a minute?” atired-eyed paladin asked, raising a hand to catch Shanlorel’sattention.  Her Draenic wasn’t wonderful, but she understood hiswords well enough, despite the language barrier.

Sheinwardly cursed, but turned, arching an eyebrow.

“I’ma little busy right now.  Can it wait?” she asked, crossing herarms over her broad chest and looking down her nose in her bestimitation of Rook’s offhanded haughtiness.  She found it profoundlydisconcerting to look down on any draenei, far too used to having totip her head back to make eye contact with anyone of their race.

Thepaladin looked at her oddly.

“Comeon, we don't—actually, are you feeling all right?  You sound kindof stuffy.”

“Certainly. My, I didn’t know you were so concerned with my business,”Shanlorel replied, struggling to remember quite how Rook talked.  Heusually spoke Common with her, as it was her better language by far,and the grammar structure and word choice in Draenic was horrificallydifferent.  Her Thalassian accent came through a hair even despiteher best efforts to hide it, which likely accounted for the other’sconcern.

“…Right. Sure,” he said doubtfully, as if unwilling to keep questioningsomeone like Rook.  For once, Shanlorel was grateful for what astrange sort the priest was, for it did a reasonable enough job ofhiding their present issue.  “Anyway, I need another copy of yourreport from the crystalforge operation.”

“You’regoing to waste both of our time asking me to write something I’vealready given?  Ask one of the scribes—I have already told you Ihave business to take care of.”

Withthat, she continued past the man, trusting him to follow if it wereimportant.  It was incredibly difficult, after all, to rewrite areport she’d never written in a language she only halfway spoke, tosay nothing of how atrocious her handwriting would come out withRook’s massive hand holding the pen.

“I—Rook!”he called, but Shanlorel continued as if she hadn’t heard.  Easyenough not to, with how dull draenei hearing was next to hersensitive quel'dorei ears.

Shestepped onto the lift, not even sparing a glance backwards. Shanlorel had been left scrambling after Rook often enough to knowthat he didn’t bother checking if anyone followed.  The paladin,mercifully, didn’t keep on, letting her continue on her way.

Ifher memories of Shattrath were correct, the portal-makers tended tooperate in Lower City.  Ethereals, more than likely, with how readilythe quick-talking race jumped at the opportunity to make money off ofunsuspecting passersby.  If the coinpurse Shanlorel had found inRook’s quarters was any indication, though, the man could affordwhatever portal he damn well wanted, and he owed her after thisordeal.

Herhand lingered on one of her knives as she descended the stairs toLower City, hooves ringing out on the stone steps.  Loud, loud, loud,she was never going to get used to this.  In her own body, shecould walk across a forest floor without a rustle of leaves or a snapof twigs.  In Rook’s, she couldn’t manage to walk through townwithout causing a racket.  No wonder the rangari were so few and farbetween—it must take a very special kind of draenei to even walk tothe pub for a drink without waking the whole town.

Shewandered through the winding streets of the Lower City, slipping backinto her own, familiar gait.  Shanlorel likely looked incredibly oddattempting the slinking sort of heel-to-toe ranger’s walk she wasused to in a body like Rook’s, but it came more naturally than not.

LowerCity was a hodgepodge of crude wooden stalls and makeshift tenttowns, housing the poor or undesirables of Shattrath.  Whatever one’svice, they could find a way to indulge it, and Shanlorel brieflyconsidered picking up some tobacco while she had the chance.  Shebrushed aside the thought as she wandered past a tent with awild-eyed arakkoa hawking timepieces in a shrill voice.  She’d haveher own smokes and her own body back before it grew too late.  Thesame could be said of a good stiff drink, which she was going topolitely but firmly insist upon Rook buying for her later.  Like thearakkoa, she ignored the other pushy shopkeepers, even if she had tobare her (awkwardly small) fangs at a sporeling to convince him toback off.

Itwas only after Shanlorel turned down another winding road that sherealized she was being tailed.  An ethereal with a bag over hisshoulder and a sword at his hip kept a dozen paces back, but she’dseen him too long for it to be coincidence.  The woman hung a sharpleft, then took a right on the next street, trying to double back towhere she’d come from.  She lost sight of him as she slunk throughthe shadows of a tarot reader’s shop.

Toher dismay, as she continued down a small side road, she caught sightof the ethereal again.  He had fallen back a bit, perhaps hoping shewouldn’t notice, but she knew all the same that he was the same man. In her casual glance back, she couldn’t read anything off hisbandaged face, but she recognized the sword and the cut of theclothing worn over his wrappings.  Her mind raced—did Rook haveenemies she didn’t know about?  She quickened her pace a hair, butdid her best to pretend she hadn’t noticed him.

Thegame was up, though; the ethereal sped up, as well, leaving ghostlyafterimages behind him, as his kind was wont to.  Shanlorel shiftedher body to attempt to hide her movement as she drew her knives,listening for the rustle of his wrappings, gauging when he grew tooclose.  Whether in Rook’s body or her own, she knew adrenaline,burning through her veins and bringing a sickly exciting tightness toher chest.  She licked her lips and tensed for a fight.

“Mygood sir, I would step off over here, if I were you,” the etherealsaid.  As best she could tell with Rook’s comparatively poor hearing,he was a pace or so away, but getting closer.  “Let me lighten thatcoinpurse of yours.”

Shespun, slashing back with her dagger as she did.  Her hoof caught onthe curbside, though, and she stumbled.  If she’d been herself, shewould have recovered.  If she’d been herself, she would havecontinued her attack.  If she’d been herself, she would have killedthe robber before he could blink.

Butshe wasn’t herself, and so she overbalanced and fell on her ass in aditch.

“Youshouldn’t have done that,” the ethereal chided with a dangerouschuckle.  He drew the sword at his hip in one smooth  movement.Rune-carved and wickedly-curved, the sword had certainly seen itsshare of combat, likely disposing of more than a handful of itsowner’s prior victims.

Shanlorelweighed her options in a fraction of a second.  Getting to her hooveswould take too long, and she still wasn’t coordinated on them.  Nochance of rolling to the side, not with Rook’s bulky frame.  Fightingfrom the ground was wholly useless without a weapon with reach.  No,she needed something quick and efficient, or both she and Rook woulddie in a muddy puddle in a Lower City back alley.

Sheshifted her grip on her knife and hurled it at the ethereal’s throat. She missed the kill, but the ethereal gasped and staggered backregardless, giving her a chance to push back to her hooves.  Herecovered quicker than she expected, slashing blindly at her chest,and she raised her dagger, barely catching it in time.  Rook’s knifelacked the crossguard hers had, though, and the edge bit into herknuckles.  She roared in pain, and punched out at her attacker.

Somethingunder the wrappings gave way with an awful squish, but she didn’thesitate, following through with her knife.  The differences in speedand reflexes did nothing to change her cold sense of purpose, afterall.  Her blade connected with something solid, then it wrenched outof her hand as the ethereal went up in a flash of pink-white light. She blinked to clear the afterimage from her eyes, but it didn’tmatter much, for the damage had already been done; no sign was leftof her would-be robber except his rune-inked wrappings and hisbelongings.  Only then did she remember that dead ethereals leftnothing for their loved ones to mourn.

Shanlorelcollected the daggers as if on autopilot, then brought her hand toher mouth, sucking on the gash across her knuckles.  Rook’s bloodtasted different than her own, sharper, in a way, but she licked thewound clean regardless.  It wasn’t deep, and would heal in time, evenwithout magic—she had no idea how to use his healing abilities, andwouldn’t even if she could.  Still, she couldn’t drip blue blood oneverything from there to Dalaran, and so she cut a stretch of clothoff the ethereal’s discarded wrappings and tied it over her hand,stemming some of the bleeding.  It would have to do.

Aftera moment’s pause, she went through his bag, as well, collecting thecoins left behind.  The mugger wouldn’t need them, and it ought tocover the portal without digging too deeply into Rook’s personalfunds.  The less she had to concern herself with ending up on his badside, the better.

Sheshook herself out and headed back down the street, narrowing her eyesat the few passersby who dared stare too long.  Lower City had enoughcrime that no one had stepped in to help her, and so no one wasliable to ask questions over the ethereal’s death.  Even so, she wasnot in the mood to deal with anyone or anything else, not until shegot to Dalaran and could give Rook a piece of her mind.  Shanlorellicked the blood off her lips and pressed on, hand on her knife, justdaring someone to mess with her.

Toher relief, no one did.  Either she’d moved on from the sleazierparts of town, or no one wanted to tangle with her after the murderin the streets.  Flickering violet-white lights from mana-catcherslit the shadows to the side of the only magic-shop she’d been able tofind advertising same-day portals.  As she suspected, it was run byethereals.  Her heartbeat quickened, her earlier encounter with theirkind still playing through her head, but the pair of merchants behindthe counter seemed to have no more relation to the dead robber thanShanlorel had with the blood elves up on the Scryers’ Tier, and soshe approached.

“Ineed a portal to Dalaran,” she began, tone curt and businesslike.

“Aneasy enough request, if you have coin,” one of the pair replied. Shanlorel couldn’t quite tell which, with the disembodied way allethereals spoke.  It didn’t really make a difference—they both worealmost identical clothing, and Shanlorel had no intentions of everseeing either of them again.

“Iwouldn’t be here if I didn’t,” she assured, pleased to be able tospeak Common again.

Oneof the pair glanced down at the wrappings around her hand, butneither said anything on the subject.  Instead, they began with theirsales pitch, alternating which spoke.  Only the slightest hint oftimbre in one’s voice set either apart in that regard, either.

Thethree bantered back and forth for several minutes, debating timingand rates—one never took the first deal from an ethereal, afterall, for even their reputable merchants would talk someone out of theclothes on their back, if they thought they could get away with it. After feigning outrage, referencing the going rate of portal-mages inthe Kirin Tor, and threatening to walk out, they reached an agreementand Shanlorel handed over a fistful of coins.

Oneof them counted out the gold while they other began intoning thewords to a spell.  He sprinkled a pinch of glittery dust over a runeon the ground, raising his voice as he continued through theincantation.  Shanlorel knew better than to interrupt, and so sheleaned against the wall, trying not to show her agitation as shewaited for the mage to finish.

Witha sound like water sluicing through gravel, the shimmeringsoap-bubble image of Dalaran sprang to being before her.  Whitemarble spires with blue-and-purple shingles stood out against thedeep blue sea far below.  Shanlorel’s heart quickened in her chest.  

“Thankyou, gentlemen.  A pleasure doing business with you,” she said,flashing a toothy grin.

“Enjoyyour trip.  If you need to return, fees can be discussed with ourassociate on the other side,” one of the ethereals assured.

Shesnorted, not bothering to reply, and crossed the distance between herand the portal.  For a moment, Shanlorel hesitated, preparing herselffor the atrocious vertigo she always felt passing through.  Sheclosed her eyes and took one step, two, and then the world fell awayunder her hooves.  She knew better than to look at the passagebetween portals, but the feeling was profoundly unsettlingregardless; she felt suspended in water, sound garbled in her earsand her stomach flipping, weightless and plummeting and—

Shestumbled coming out the other end, solid ground beneath her oncemore.  For once, though, the nausea and dizziness she usually feltpassing through a portal escaped her.  Perhaps it was a draeneitrait, or Rook simply had a stronger stomach than she, for she shookoff the journey far easier than usual.   Shanlorel wasn’t about tolook a gift horse in the mouth, though, not when she had places tobe.

Theportal-chamber in Dalaran’s heart was already filled with a crowd ofother races, each jostling for a turn to head through, or pushingpast on their way back into the city.  Shanlorel barely paid them anyheed, though, using Rook’s natural size to simply walk through thehumans and elves that made up most of the city’s population.  Fewheld their ground when faced with over seven and a half feet of leanmuscle.  Her tail knocked into several people behind her, but shedidn’t quite know what to do with it, and she didn’t care enough toapologize.  If anyone had concerns, they kept them to themselves.

Shewas going to the Legerdemain Lounge, and she was going to find herown body.  Light help Rook if he thought to shrug this off with asmirk and a laugh.  She had enough of a headache over this wholesituation as it already were.  After all, she’d woken up in someoneelse’s body, lost out on enjoying a lazy morning with her husband,handled Rook’s job, thwarted a mugging, and murdered a man, and itwasn’t even noon.  

Shanlorelhad had worse days before, but that wasn’t exactly saying much, givenher life.

#prompt #story #shanlorel #rook #what if? #bodyswap

[dailyshare]

DOCUMENTATION ON SOCIAL POLICIES AND SERVICES TO THE PERSON AND THE COMMUNITY

https://the-basic-dream.blogspot.com/2020/12/documentation-on-social-policies-and.html

LIFE CYCLE

Seneca: shortness of life

I. Most mortals, Pauline, complain about the wickedness of nature, because we are brought into the world for a small period of time, because these periods of time granted to us go by so fast, so fast that, except for a very few, life abandons others in the very beginning of life. Nor of this calamity, common to all, as they believe, only the crowd and the insane populace complained; this state of mind aroused complaints also of celebrities. Hence the famous exclamation of the most illustrious of doctors, that life is short, art long; hence the dispute, not very decent for a sage, of the demanding Aristotle with the nature of things, because it is been so kind to animals, that they can live five or ten generations, and instead has granted a much shorter time to man, born to so many and so great things. We do not have a short time, but we have lost a lot of it. Life is long enough and has been given to us with breadth for making the most large companies, if all were used with diligence; but when it passes in waste and indifference, when it is not spent for anything good, driven in the end by extreme necessity, we realize that it is passed and we did not notice its passing. That's it: we don't get a short life, but we give it back, and we are not poor in it, but prodigal. As sumptuous and regal riches, when they have reached a villain master, are dissipated in a moment, but, although modest, if they are entrusted to a good keeper, they increase with the investment, so our life extends a lot for those who know how to manage it well. 

II. Why we complain of the nature of things? It has behaved in a benevolent way: life is long, if you know how to use it. There are those who are caught from insatiable greed, who from the empty occupations of a frenetic activity; one is drenched in wine, another languishes in inertia; one is stressed by an ambition always dependent on the judgments of others, another is tossed about by all lands from a reckless greed for trade, for all seas from the mirage of profit; some torture the craving of war, eager to create dangers for others or worried about their own; there are others who wear down ungrateful servility of the powerful in voluntary slavery; many are prisoners of the lust for beauty or the care of their own; most, who have no stable references, are pushed to change their opinion by a fickle and unstable lightness and discontented with himself; some do not like anything to steer their course, but they are surprised by fate numb and neglectful, so that I have no doubt that what is said, in the form of an oracle, in the greatest of poets: 

“Small is the portion of life we ​​live”. In fact, all the remaining space is not life, but time. The vices are pressing and besiege on all sides and do not allow to rise or raise one's eyes to discern the truth, but crush them immersed and nailed to pleasure. They are never allowed to take refuge in themselves; if sometimes a moment of respite, as on the high seas, where even after the wind there is disturbance, they sway and never find peace at their passions. Do you think that I speak of these, whose evils are evident? Look at those, whose good fortune is run:

they are suffocated by their possessions. How many riches are a burden! To those who spit blood eloquence and the daily display of one's wits! How many are pale from constant pleasures! How many does not leave a breathe the haunting crowd of customers! So, review all of them, from the humblest to the most powerful:

this one is looking for a lawyer, this one is present, that one tries to produce evidence, that one defends, that is judge, no one claims his freedom for himself, one is consumed for one another. Infòrmarsi of these, whose names yes they learn, you will see that they recognize themselves by these signs: this is a lover of that one, that of that other; nobody it belongs to itself. In short, the indignation of some is extremely unreasonable: they complain about the haughtiness of the Gods powerful, because they do not have time to meet their wishes. Dare to complain about the pride of others who does not do you have time for yourself? That at least, whoever you are, albeit with an arrogant face but sometimes he looked at you, has lowered his ears to your words, he welcomed you by his side: you never deigned to look inside yourself, to listen to you. There is therefore no reason to blame anyone for these services, since you did them not because you desired being with others, but because you couldn't be with yourself.III. Although they agree on this point only, more illustrious wits than ever shone, never enough wonder at this tarnishing of human minds:

they do not tolerate that their fields are occupied by anyone and, if even the slightest dispute arises about the modality of the boundaries, they rush to stones and weapons: they allow others to invade their own life, indeed they themselves do so enter his future masters; there is no one who is willing to divide his money: to how many each distributes his life! They are stingy in keeping possessions; as soon as it comes to waste of time, it becomes a lot prodigal in that one thing in which avarice is a virtue. And so like to quote one from the crowd of elders: “Let's see that you have reached the end of human life, you have a hundred or more years on you: come on, take stock of your life. Calculate how much creditors have been stolen since this time, how much women, how much patrons, how much customers, how much quarrels with your wife, as the punishments of the servants, as the duty visits through the city; add the diseases, that there we are procured with our hands, add the time that lay unused: you will see that you are less than you are accounts. Go back to when you were still in a purpose, how many days have happened as well as there you planned, when you had the availability of yourself, when your face has not changed expression, when your soul has been courageous, what positive things have you achieved in such a long period, how many have plundered your life while you did not realize what you were losing, how much it took away a vain sorrow, a stupid joy, a greedy greed, a pleasant discussion, how little you have left of yours: you will understand that you die ahead of time ". So what's the reason? Live as if you were to live forever, it never occurs to you of yours transience, do not mind how much time has already passed; you lose it as from a rich and abundant income when perhaps that very day, which is given to a certain person or activity, is the last. Are you afraid of everything like mortals, you desire everything as immortal. You will hear most say: “From the age of fifty I will rest, a sixty years I will retire to private life ". And what guarantee do you have for such a long life? Who will allow these things go as you planned? You are not ashamed to reserve for yourself the leftovers of life and to set aside for the healthy reflection only time that cannot be used in anything else? How late is it then to begin live, when it must end! What a foolish lack of human nature to defer good intentions to fifty-sixty years and therefore wanting to start life where few have gone! IV. You'll see more men slip out of their mouths powerful and higher-ranking words with which they aspire to free time, praise it and place it before all their possessions.

Sometimes they wish to get off that pedestal of theirs, if it could be done safely; indeed, even if nothing presses and disturbs from the outside, luck collapses on itself. Divus Augustus, to whom the Gods they conceded more than anyone else, he never ceased to wish himself rest and to ask to be relieved of commitments public; his every speech always fell on this, the hope of free time: he relieved his fatigue with this comfort, however illusory yet pleasant, that one day he would experience for himself. In a letter sent to the senate, after having promised that his rest would be not without decorum or in contrast with the his past glory, I found these words: “But these things would be more beautiful to be able to put them into practice than promise her. However, the desire for that much desired time has led me, since so far the joy of reality is made wait, to taste some pleasure from the sweetness of the words. " Time seemed so great to him free, who, since he could not enjoy it, was looking forward to it with his imagination. He who saw everything depend on he alone, who established the destiny for men and peoples, was thinking of that very happy day when he would abandon your own greatness. He knew from experience how much sweat those glowing goods cost all over the earth, how many hidden labors they hide. Forced to fight with weapons first with fellow citizens, then with colleagues, finally with his relatives, he shed blood on land and sea: after having gone to war through Macedonia, the Sicily, Egypt, Syria and Asia and almost all the coasts, turned armies weary of the Roman massacre against foreigners.

While pacifying the Alps and taming the enemies mixed in the midst of peace and empire, while moving the borders beyond the Reno, the Euphrates and the Danube, in Rome the daggers of Murena, Cepione, Lepidus, Egnazio and others. He had not yet escaped the snares of these and his daughter and many young nobles bound by the bond adultery as from an oath terrified the weary age and even more and more a woman was to be feared with an Antonio. He had cut off these wounds with the same limbs: others were being reborn; like a full body too much blood, it always cracked somewhere. And so he yearned for free time, in whose hope and in which thought his worries subsided: this was the vow of him who could make the others satisfied with their vows.

#lifelessons #still life #literature #novel