#he’s had it since the Commodor days I think

[mydearlybeloathed]

𝐈 𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐈 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔 ⁴

𝐢 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞 𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐫𝐲…

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: on the night of your promotion, you ruminate on just how far you've come, and make the harrowing realization that you've gone too far down this road. with only whispers as a guide, the deserter sets out to find the strawhat, finally done running from your problems.

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: opla!luffy x gn!reader

𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 9.7k (wow)

𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭: use of Y/N, gn reader, mentioned death of a mother, the crisis climaxes, alcohol like once i think, the happy ending :)

𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬: the night we met, your hands are cold

series masterlist

The party—gala, more like—was in full swing. Violins swelled and a piano forted, and somewhere out of your sight was a woman singing opera. The music would have been lovely had you been anywhere else, but here you are.

At a Marine Gala of all places. You heaved a heavy sigh, sipping at your champagne as you forced a smile, pushing back your shoulders. 

The heavy gaze of your father rested on you from across the ballroom, worry lining his face at the thought that you might do something to disgrace your family name. That thought had never been more tempting, but you were nothing if not calm and collected. 

So you busied yourself with being a wallflower, dwelling in the itchy fabric of your outfit. It was nice, you gave it that, a rich blue color you might have picked for yourself if you had the option, which you hadn’t. Your father chose this outfit, like he made most of your decisions these days. 

He didn’t think Koby was a good influence? He had you transferred to another ship. He didn’t think you were ready for that promotion? He told your superiors just that. You hated him. You wanted to end him. You smiled at him from across the room as he raised a glass in your direction, speaking to Vice Admiral Garp in a low tone.

You downed your glass and wiped your chin, resting your eyes for a moment. Your father had risen to the rank of commodore recently, which had been a major boost to his ego. You’d been feeling the brunt of it for weeks. But maybe, things were about to change. This party was for you, after all.

The partygoers grew sparse for a moment, and as if light were shining down in a heavenly glow, there was Koby, his eyes scanning the room as he rose on his tiptoes. A wide smile split onto your face, and not even Helmeppo bobbing up behind Koby could sway it.

Uncaring of your father or proper etiquette anymore, you waved wildly and called, “Koby!”

A few strangers cast you dark looks as Koby’s bright eyes found yours. He all but raced in your direction, speed walking across the floor to maintain some level of poise. He nearly hugged you, nearly spun you around he was so happy, but settled on taking your hand and shaking it firmly.

You returned the gesture with a roll of your eyes. “Pleasure to see you, Captain Koby.”

“The pleasures all mine, for certain,” he answered, barely able to keep the mirth out of his tone and eyes. 

Helmeppo caught up to his friend, looking from you to Koby before doing a double take. A little grin slid onto his lips. “Oh, Commander.”

You nearly replied when Koby swatted his arm and gestured to the medal pinned over your heart. “Captain, remember? We’re at their promotion gala.”

“It’s not just my gala,” you said, shuffling your feet. “There’s others promoted too… And don’t call me Captain.”

Koby’s eyes darkened slightly, his gaze flickering all over your face. He was disappointed to find that even more light had left your eyes since last he saw you. This world was draining you of everything beautiful about you, and he feared the day the proud yet haunted cadet he’d met swabbing the decks all those years ago would be gone for good.

“Helmeppo,” Koby said distantly. “Can you get me a glass of wine?”

Instantly the boy perked up and clapped a hand on his friend's shoulder, muttering something as he went off in search of a drink. You watched him go, tired eyes fluttering, and as soon as Helmeppo was out of sight Koby set a hand on your shoulder and began to usher you deeper into the crowds of people, well out of your father’s line of sight. “Koby—?”

“You look miserable,” he drawled, squeezing your shoulder. “C’mon. Let’s get outta here.”

“I…” You thought of several reasons why, like the consequences if your father found out, or maybe being mugged on the streets, before you grew sick and tired of this awful anxiety you’d been dealing with for years. 

Letting out a determined huff, you nodded, allowing a smile to show. “Okay.”

જ⁀➴

A laugh ripped out of you at some awful joke Koby made as you walked through the night chill, heart light and shoulders relieved of that weary weight usually stacked on them. Koby bumped your shoulder. “You feelin’ better?”

You nodded despite yourself. “Yeah. A bit.”

The truth was, you never were better. You’d perfected the art of going numb, ignoring the ache of regret always looming in the back of your mind. But then, just some months ago, you’d seen stupid Red Hair Shanks, and he planted all these thoughts in your head. Just like he planted them in Luffy’s.

Your steps faltered, face falling, and you came to a halt to turn out to the sea on your left. The boardwalk of the city dropped off into deep blue waters splashing up against it. You shivered, wrapping your arms around yourself as Koby noticed you’d stopped.

He slowly inched up beside you, following you gaze. “What is it?”

You fiddled with the medal pinned to your clothes, a symbol of your new position among the Marines. “Do you think I’m a good person?”

The question caught him off guard. “Uhm, yes? I mean, of course I do.” He ducked to catch your gaze, growing increasingly worried when you simply closed your eyes. “What’s wrong?”

You hung your head and chewed at your bottom lip. “I… I’m tired, Koby.”

The bags under your eyes were evident, and so Koby nodded. “We can head back to base. I’ll tell your dad you’re sick—”

“Not just physically,” you choked out. Eyes pressed shut, you hissed out a sigh. “Mentally. I’m so tired of—of this.” You gripped your medal and ripped it off your chest, tearing a hole in your outfit. “I didn’t think I’d get this far. Now, I’m a captain. As a captain, I’m in charge of so many more people. So many more people will see me as this—awful thing that I’ve become.”

“Woah, hey.” Koby reached to take the medal from your vice grip, but you weren’t done, jerking away from him and looking right at him, eyes ablaze with years and years of thoughts better left unsaid.

“You know I never wanted this,” you nearly whispered. Your hands shook around the cold metal. “Koby… what if I can’t get out?”

For the longest time, all he did was stare at you, eyes slightly wide, and you feared you’d crossed a line. Regret pooled in your eyes as tears swelled at the corners. You half wished to return to the party, allow your father to berate you for disappearing, and continue a horrid night with your only friend angry with you.

Koby turned suddenly, expression unchanging, and trudged down the boardwalk, toward a row of buildings overlooking the sea. Hesitant, you followed, running your thumb over the back of your medal.

His pace slowed to allow you to catch up and walk beside him, your eyes stuck to the ground as you let him lead you blindly into the light of a hanging street lamp. You glanced up, gut going cold as you met eyes with Monkey D. Luffy.

You’d seen his wanted poster so many times you’d found every little detail you could, yet you still jumped out of your skin every time. 

Instantly, a burn welled up in your chest, fists tight at your sides. “Why…”

“You love him, right?” Koby asked.

Dazedly, you scoffed, lost in the poster. “What kind of question is that?”

“He feels the same,” said Koby, watching you gaze at Luffy’s picture like one might gaze upon a magnificent fresco. 

“You think so?” you wondered.

“I know so,” he replied with certainty.

Swallowing your tears, your eyes wandered around the wall in front of you, scanning over the several other wanted posters pinned up. Luffy’s crewmates took up much of the space, each looking so brave and fierce. Even Shanks’ poster was there, though slightly faded. 

Luffy. Shanks. Even Koby. They all had something in common: that brave fire you’d always been too fearful to ignite. 

Your fists started to shake. If courage was a fire, then you were a pile of wet logs, desperate for some kindling. Eyes flickering back to Luffy’s wide smile, plastered up on this wall, illuminated by lamplight, you forced down the taut coil in your gut, and exhaled. 

As your eyes fell closed, every crashing wave and calling bird fell silent. You barely even heard yourself breathe. Love. You loved him. You craved to see him. A thought hit you so sharply, you didn’t believe it was your own: did you love him enough to do something reckless?

The tether tight on your soul quivered, sending shockwaves across the sea and right to the heart of a boy made of laughter. His laugh grew brighter till you swore he was right beside you, but as you opened your eyes, there was only Koby, staring at you with some concern.

“Y/N?” he spoke tentatively, causing you to force down a thick swallow.

Breathing uneven, you blinked widely at him. Yes, you answered the question. Go, it replied. “I can’t stay,” you said so quietly Koby almost didn't catch it.

But he knew. He understood. Koby reached for your hand, taking the shiny Captain’s medal from your enclosed fist, and glanced out at the ocean. When he placed the medal back in your hand, you moved instantly, rushing at the water and hurling the medal far into its arms. The splash was too far away to hear, but you felt the medal sink into the depths as another of the binds tying you down snapped.

Your blood rushed in your ears, that same exhilaration from when you’d chased down Shanks some months ago. This time though—you heaved a hefty breath, shock written all over your face—this time you were taking the first chance you got.

A laugh was dragged out of you as you raked your hands through your hair, finding Koby behind you when you whirled around. “Shit… my dad’s gonna kill me.”

Yet, the thought didn’t hold much power when you considered that Luffy used to promise he would take you far, far away from that man. Maybe… maybe you could take yourself away. To Luffy. Hopefully, he would recognize you after all this time.

And when you raisec your gaze to Koby, he was smiling, eyes squinted as he reached to grab your shoulders and tug you into him. Your arms wrapped tight around his middle, and he hugged you all the more tighter, his hand finding the back of your head. “I’ll miss you.”

“I’ll miss you more,” you murmured, dragging a watery chuckle from him.

“It’s not a competition.”

Jerking back, you scrutinized his face, swearing you would never forget him as long as you lived. Perhaps you’d see him again some day, long down the road, when he’s some big shot marine and you’re—well, you’re a pirate.

It had always been Luffy’s dream, his calling. For the longest time you had no clue if you had a dream of your own; you had one now. I’ll be brave, and Luffy will be proud. I’ll be proud. You wanted so dearly to be proud of yourself for once.

“Here.” Koby shoved a pouch of money into your hand. “Take this. Ask around for a way off the island. Y’should ditch the fancy clothes too.”

Nodding, you glanced down at your attire, deciding you’d snatch something off a clothes line and leave some beri on a windowsill. “What about you? You know my dad will suspect something.”

Koby simply shrugged it off, sporting a grin. “I’ve been with Helmeppo all night. No idea where you ran off to all of a sudden.”

Suddenly out of breath, you flattened your shaky hands against your sides, beaming up at him. This is it. My second chance. So many years of wishing and hiding had led you here. No more running, you decided. 

“Tell him I said hi,” Koby murmured. He turned to look back down the street, where far off out of sight the marine gala went on through the night, unaware a deserter was gathering their nerve. “Go now. Get off the island before sunrise.”

You nodded, and despite the cold chill running all over your skin, you shoved out your hand to shake Koby’s, chin quivering. “Goodbye, Captain.”

His smile faltered, his eyes glassy as he shook your hand firmly. “See you, Y/N.”

The moment he retracted his hand you set one foot in front of the other, holding your breath as your fists closed around your pant legs. You didn’t dare to look back even once all the way through the city. Finding clothes wasn’t too much of an issue; you found a clothesline running between two buildings fairly easy, swiping what looked like a mens shirt and a pair of work pants. You snabbed a hat for good measure, and left a handful of beri in your wake.

Down to the docks you rushed, setting eyes on a quartet loading crates onto a small ship nearly the twin of the one Luffy had left Dawn Village on. You were gone before the sun ever rose above the horizon, and Koby was none the wiser as to where you had gone, and he told your livid father just that, all while Helmeppo swore up and down they lost track of you at some point during the night.

Free of your uniform, free of your title, free of your father—free of it all, you stood on the deck of that little ship, doing what you could to help, your smile unrelenting against the wind whipping against your face. 

“What’re you smiling about?” asked the young son of the merchant who owned the ship.

You gave him some stupid answer about the sunrise being pretty, which it was, but you didn’t feel like explaining the euphoria you never thought you’d ever get to feel firsthand. 

Luffy once tried to explain the feeling the sea gave, how he got so thrilled by the adventure being a pirate would bring. You never understood, simply nodding along to whatever he said, because he looked pretty when he smiled like that. 

But you could feel it now. Deep in your chest danced a mix of nausea and excitement and dread all at once, but none of that mattered when the salt spray made your hair damp. You understood him now, and you couldn’t wait to tell him so. 

You only had to find him now.

જ⁀➴

Luffy had been thinking for a while now, and it had his friends a bit worried.

Thinking about food, and the one piece, and the usual things he thought about—but mostly you. He’d been wondering a lot about when he’d find you again, and if he’d ever have the chance to get you back. So much time had passed, his grand adventure getting in the way of tracking you down, if he even could.

And sometimes, on odd days, he also wondered—what if you didn’t want to come home? That question was daunting, leaving him in a daze for a whole evening. It couldn’t be true. How could you ever want to stay there, wherever you were?

Surely, surely, you wanted to find him as much as he wanted to find you. Luffy longed to stand beside you as the sun longed to stand aside the moon. He ached to hold you close and never let you go, like he should have all that time ago. 

Luffy knew you—probably better than you knew yourself. You’d done something heroic that day on the beach, dragging his grandpa down with you. But maybe… maybe if he’d done a better job at chasing away your fears, then you’d be with him now.

He hardly noticed when Robin sat beside him at the kitchen table, only blinking awake from his reverie when her shoulder pressed against his. “Luffy?”

He grinned. “What’s up?”

She shrugged. “Nothing. Just bored.” Her eyes found the sheet of paper lying before her captain, specifically the crudely drawn picture scrawled across it. “Uhm… what’s that supposed to be?”

Luffy’s eyes brightened and a smile split onto his face. “Oh!” He shoved the drawing in Robin’s direction. “Ya like it?”

Nodding, Robin wagered he’d drawn something between a stork and a windmill. “Mhmm. I like the… dynamics. What is it exactly?”

Nami walked by, mumbling reminders for the day under her breath, and she turned to smile at the pair, catching sight of the drawing. “That’s a nice drawing of Y/N, Luffy.”

“Thanks!” he beamed at her. 

Robin watched a giggling Nami leave, slowly returning his gaze to Luffy. “Who’s Y/N?”

As if he needed a reminder of why he’d been upset. Luffy’s face threatened to fall before he pulled himself together and smirked. “A marine. A special marine.” His eyes settled on the drawing. “My marine.”

No further explanation provided itself, but Robin almost didn’t need one; the way Luffy’s entire being softened at the name revealed just enough. All afternoon she inquired about this marine, hearing stories from Luffy’s past that all included the missing person.

“Where are they now?” she asked when he was done, and he tilted his head. “The marine. Where are they?”

“Oh, I dunno,” Luffy shrugged as he added a few more details to his drawing. “That’s the problem, I guess.”

Robin poked his shoulder. “You don’t have a lead?”

Luffy shrugged. “Nope. Just that they’re with the marines. I always figured they’d give me a sign when they’re ready to be found.”

Though she hardly understood that logic, Robin nodded as she set a hand on his shoulder and took her leave. Luffy examined his drawing, letting out a near-depressing sigh, and wished beyond wishing that you’d send him a sign soon.

The truth of the matter was, Luffy had tried to track you down. He’d interrogated each marine he came across, getting tidbits of information about the notoriously cold Commander Y/N. But whenever he thought he’d come this close, you slipped through his fingers, always a few steps out of reach. Like you didn’t want him to catch you.

Let me find you, he begged, and the very last of the tether tying you to land broke in two, throwing you head first into the life the sea had raged for you. Haha! 

Luffy jerked around, swearing he’d heard… something. But he was all alone, everyone off to their own devices. He shook out his shoulders, but nothing could rid him of the goosebumps.

જ⁀➴

You’d been somewhat well-known within the marines, but as a deserter? You were something of a celebrity. 

Sure, hiding your face everywhere you went was tasking, but at least you looked nice in your wanted poster. You liked to think Koby had chosen the picture used, doing you yet another favor even as you ran for your life.

And your poster didn’t go unnoticed by any means. Nobles who’d crossed your path, fellow marines you hadn’t seen in years, they all gasped at the sight of your poster being added to their roster. A few in particular were rather noteworthy…

Nia, far too sweet for such a world (one wonders why she’s a marine), stood frozen for five whole minutes when she saw it, not sure whether to be horrified or giddy you’d finally done something about the forlorn look in your eyes. She balled up her fists, and wondered what freedom tasted like.

Vice Admiral Garp himself laughed so hard he nearly fell off his desk chair, startling the poor cadet instructed to take the poster to him. He swiped up the paper and wiped at a tear, positively thrilled. “Finally! The coward’s grown up!”

Red Hair Shanks, so tipsy he nearly missed it, before Beckman gripped his shoulder and smiled so big his cigarette nearly fell from his teeth. Shanks ripped the poster off the wall, admiring the number on your head. “Well I’ll be… They did it.”

And Monkey D. Luffy, wandering a port town with Nami’s hand on his shoulder to keep him from running off. Unsuspecting Luffy, griping that he didn’t need an escort. 

Nami tightened her hold, steering him through the crowd of shoppers. “Listen, this is supposed to be a quick supply run. I can’t take any chances.”

“Nami,” he drawled, rolling his eyes. “You’re hurtin’ me! Let go. I promise I won’t get distracted.”

She shot him a skeptical glare, assessed his innocent smile, and scoffed. “Fine. But I swear—”

She released him, leading the way to a bread stall. His eyes roamed over the busy market place, the scent of fresh flowers mixing with grilled foods. Some little kids played a game with a ball in an alley they passed, and two seagulls fought over scraps on the corner. A normal little town, full of life by the look of it.

“Oof!” Luffy ran right into Nami’s back, stumbling as he righted himself. He cast her a glower, huffing, “Now who’s sidetracked. This is a quick supply run, Nami—”

“Shut up,” she snapped, lips parted and she sightlessly reached for his shirt and started to drag him along once again. He huffed and puffed until Nami stopped again, this time in front of a long wall lined with poster upon poster of wanted criminals. 

She snapped in his face, silencing his complaints. Nami wasn’t sure what to say, unsure if she’s right, yet somehow confident she’s not wrong. So she simply grabbed his face and turned it toward one poster in particular; the picture was of a person around their age, standing rigid and proud in a marine get-up. Their lips were pulled into a tight grin, but their eyes were dead and blank.

“Is that…?” Nami trailed off, watching with bated breath as Luffy reached to take it down, the corners tearing from the tacks used to pin it up.

Luffy held the poster like it was glass, eyes flickering all over, checking for inconsistencies. He found none, bringing the poster closer to his face, a soft chuckle slipping past his lips.

Former Captain Y/N L/N. Wanted dead or alive for ten million beri.

He hardly believed his eyes. His sign. You’re ready.

The whole town heard his victory shout, rattling windchimes and alerting everyone around that, “THEY DID IT! They’re free!” He whirled on Nami and shook your poster in her direction. “Nami, we have to find them! How do we find them?”

“Not sure,” she said, unable to help the grin on her face. “But we will.”

Now it was Luffy doing the dragging and Nami doing the whining, all the way back to the ship, and the whole crew was witness to the blinding smile spread on their captain’s face as he brandished your wanted poster to them. 

What would he do? What would he say? Luffy figured he would apologize first—for what, he didn’t really know, he just felt like he should—and then he’d yell at you for feeling like you had to stay, before attacking you in a hug sure to drag you to the ground.

And then he’d kiss you, probably, definitely. You were long overdue for one of those.

He just had to find you first. 

Sanji and Zoro stood leaning on the banister around the ship’s helm, watching as Luffy rattled on about how you’d love Robin’s library, when the cook turned to the swordsman, taking out his cigarette to speak. 

“So we’re bounty hunting Luffy’s lost marine?” Sanji mused with a half grin, drawing a smirk from Zoro.

He cast Sanji a look and shrugged. The cook laughed wryly and stubbed his smoke on the banister. “This should be fun.”

જ⁀➴

Within a week the rumors had spread like wildfire across the sea: ex-marine Y/N L/N was searching for Monkey D. Luffy. 

“Did you hear?” said a baker to his neighbor. “That marine deserter stole Yuri’s boat!”

“I thought they looked familiar!”

And some miles off, a widow whispered among her friends. “And as they were sailing off they shouted, ‘Tell Strawhat Luffy I’m after him!’ And off they were!”

Three islands later, the people of a lonely village began to whisper as Y/N the Deserter stepped off a little sloop. Your void expression, calloused hands, and narrowed gaze were intimidating enough, but what was more nerve-wracking was your silence.

As you did on every island before, you headed right for the closest bar, and without much pretense, you asked if Strawhat Luffy had been seen in the area. Usually, the answer was a nervous twitch followed by a thoughtful silence, and then, usually, a no. 

Receiving the expected answer once again, you gave a frustrated sigh and said no more, sitting solitary at the end of the bar, shooting glares at anyone who dared to look at you too long. Deep in your thoughts, you wondered if this was payback for hiding from Luffy for so long, always slipping through his fingers as he was yours now. 

All this happened five more times, three of which nearly gave you hope, but Luffy was always leaving as you were arriving, always just out of reach. Each time you left a village, you left with the same message: “If you see Monkey D. Luffy! Tell him I’m looking for him!” 

No one was quite sure if the Deserter Marine meant to kill the Strawhat, or meant some other kind of pirate business. Either way, your intentions were clear to those you crossed, so you can imagine one small island’s sudden excitement when shortly after your departure, in sailed Monkey D. Luffy and his crew.

The restlessly bored daughter of the mayor wasted no time in rushing up to the pirate captain and explaining in long-winded detail your declaration. Luffy started to laugh almost maniacally, grinning from ear to ear as he turned to shake Zoro by his stiff shoulders.

The rumors stretched even to the marines, tirelessly searching for their escaped soldier, primarily the group led by Captain Koby, who forced down a laugh when the information reached him.

“I’m sorry,” he told his superiors. “We’ve searched for months, and honestly, we’re exhausting our resources over a deserter. I think it’s time we give it a rest.”

Slowly, your wanted poster was overshadowed by those around it, and people stopped whispering about Y/N the Deserter, who traveled from island to island, village to village, entering a spectral and leaving a spectacle. 

You fought off bounty hunters and swindled food vendors, using all your money on information alone. A stolen sword on your hip and a suspicious maroon stain on the cuff of your sleeve, you looked more and more like a pirate by the hour. 

Months. And nothing. No sign of him. 

Nothing.

Till just now.

You weren't exactly sure if you were seeing right, squinting through the blazing sun as you slowly walked down the dock of the latest island. A ways away, pocketed away between two large vessels, was a caravel with a creative masthead; a lion, to be precise. That isn’t what stopped you in your tracks, though—emblazoned on the sail was a skull and crossbones, the typical jolly roger… accompanied by a Straw Hat.

So many days… you’d very nearly given up, the idea always at the back of your mind, wondering if all of this was foolish, if you’d made tragic mistake after tragic mistake and now you would never see your best friend and the love of your life ever again—yet here you stood, breathless, eyes locked on the ship you’d only ever dreamed of seeing. 

On tentative feet, you walked down the docks, weaving in and out of busy sailors to reach that ship. The sky was cloudy and dark, and it would probably rain later that day, and still you swore a beam of sunlight was shining down upon the vessel. The Thousand Sunny. 

“I’m gonna be sick,” you whispered, clutching at your gut as your skin got all clammy and cold and suffocating. “Oh, god.”

Hah! Was your mind playing tricks, or was he really so close you could hear his laughter just up on the deck of the ship. You barely realized when you stopped moving, only aware once your heart started thumping in your ears. 

Your fists tightened with resolve at your sides and you surged forward, forcing step after step till you reached the gangway of the ship. Blood rushing, hands shaking, heart racing, you set one foot on the beginning of the wooden ramp, eyes raising to where the gangway opened up to the deck. 

“Sanji! You changed the combination on the fridge again!”

Frozen in your tracks, you realized you’d forgotten what his voice sounded like. He sounded different now—older. Either way, you couldn’t move, listening closely as a man replied, “Yeah, I did. No clue how you cracked the first code.”

The scoff to follow was so clear you could picture the boy rolling his eyes perfectly. Your pulse thundered, drowning out every other noise, a chill passing through your blood once again. You could do this. You would do this. Luffy was right there.

“Hey.” You jerked back, wild eyes finding a man leering down at you, suspicion all over his face. One hand rested on the hilt of a sword, one of three. “What d’you want?”

Zoro’s brows met as he assessed the stranger staring blankly up at him, their jaw dropped as they searched for an answer. The stranger backed away like a frightened animal, cursed softly, and bolted deeper into the town. 

“Okay…” Zoro tilted his head, wondering why he had the feeling he’d seen them before… Oh. Oh. Zoro’s eyes widened and he misstepped, nearly falling overboard as he raked a hand through his hair. “Shit—Hey! Hey, wait!”

Nami rushed to the edge of the ship in an instant, book abandoned on her chair. In seconds she zeroed in on the figure ducking into the crowds, her breath catching. It couldn’t be. It was too perfect. “That’s…”

Zoro barked a laugh. “Yeah!”

Her jaw set and she whirled on him in a flash, brows met. “You let them go?!”

“What—” He sputtered a response as she punched his bicep. “I didn’t—”

“What’s going on?”

Nami and Zoro froze, heads whipping back to face their captain as he hopped down from the helm, a pair of deer in headlights. Luffy’s head was tilted, his hat snug on his head, looking as chipper as ever. Nami tried to speak, yet her throat had run dry, only a squeak escaping.

Zoro expelled a sigh as gravity of the situation fully set in. Years and years he’d been listening to Luffy rabble on about first first-mate, his best friend, the one he’d lost to the marines. The true story of how you were separated was muddled and confusing, for sometimes it was you who’d left and sometimes it was him. You’d been as strange and elusive as the One Piece itself until the day you’re wanted poster was found, and Zoro realized you were a real person and not just some fictitious story.

You meant as much to Luffy as his dreams, and to Zoro, that was something sacred. 

The words found him instantly, eyes locking with Luffy’s and voice laden with solemnity. “They’re here.”

Luffy’s face drained of color and Zoro nearly went to make sure he wouldn’t fall. “What?” he croaked.

“They’re here,” Nami gasped at last, a smile working its way up her face. Luffy turned his eyes to her, all wide and disbelieving. “We found them.”

The edges of Luffy’s lips quivered upward, gaze flickering between his friends. “I—I told you that innkeeper wasn’t lying!”

Nami rolled her eyes. “That’s what you’re focused on?”

Not even a beat went by when, “He did tell you so.”

“Yeah,” Luffy laughed. “You said we shouldn’t trust ‘em.”

She wasn’t in a fighting mood, not at a time like this, so she gritted her teeth and relented, “Fine, you told me so. Can we go? They ran off and who knows where they’ve gone.”

And just like that, Luffy snapped to attention, brows vaulted as his eyes darted to the crowded streets beyond the docks. “They ran away? Why?”

“Zoro probably scared them,” Nami grunted, swatting the broad shouldered man who huffed in reply. 

“Whatever!”

The crew was rallied in ten minutes, their ranks spreading through the city in a matter of moments. Really, it was only a matter of time before they found you, at least Luffy told himself that.

But he couldn’t get it out of his mind. Why did you run away?

જ⁀➴

The only reason you stopped sprinting was the driver who shoved you aside to help his lady into her awaiting carriage. Otherwise, you might have run from one end of the island to the other, just to be safe.

Teetering on one foot then the other, you spat a curse and hunched over, clutching at the collar of your shirt as you hurried into the awning of an alley. You muttered over and over, hitting the heel of your palm to your head. Slumping against the wall, you mocked yourself, “Oh, Tell Monkey D. Luffy I’m looking for him! Did you really think you’d be able to face him? You’re so stupid!”

And now, his friend had seen you. You’d have to escape the city somehow, sail far away, and start anew. A new name would have to be decided. Hopefully Absolute Fucking Idiot the First wasn’t too common. 

Right after the foolishness was the shame—how could you come this far just to sprint as fast as you could from your him? The one you would travel every sea twice to find, if only you could find the nerve. 

Clawing at your arms, inhaling deep, you allowed yourself a moment of peace (it didn’t work). Dark spots crept up your vision, wide eyes blinking fast, a cold sweat forming. You needed to sit down, preferably not in a damp alleyway.

You found your way to a bar, a scene you’d grown familiar with over the years. Though your ears and eyes were peeled, you couldn’t help the sneaking feeling that man was going to find you. You assured yourself it was a stupid, that you were good at hiding, that you’d made an art of it—but what if?

What if something inside wanted Luffy’s friend to find you? To drag you back? To give you no choice but to see Luffy and know him again? On that thought, you lifted your gaze and ordered a glass of juice, because you’d rather have a clear head when that crewmate of his didn’t stop searching.

Sipping at your drink, you sat a while in thought, chin rested on your palm as you swirled the juice around with a straw, creating little whirlpools. You nearly fell asleep like that when the bell over the bar’s door jingled. You peeked out the corner of your eye, seeing a pretty woman gazing around, looking for someone.

Her long dark hair draped around her shoulders as she crossed her arms and sighed, defeated. You turned back around and drank the rest of your juice, ignoring how familiar that woman looked. It was probably nothing; probably just another pirate off one of the many wanted posters you’d been presented with. 

“You’re Y/N, right?”

Every muscle in your body stiffened, all breathe lost at the mention of your name. You whipped around to find the woman a few inches away from you, her eyes now intently locked on yours. 

You licked your lips as your panic swelled. A bounty hunter perhaps? “Who?”

“Y/N,” she repeated, undeterred. “The Deserter. Is that you?”

Leveling her with a glare, you stood and set a hand on your sword. “You’ve got the wrong person.”

Taking in her blank stare, you sidestepped and made to weave around her, heart racing once again, when she grabbed your tricep in a grip stronger than she looked capable of. You jerked away, but she only tightened her hand.

“Luffy’s looked for you a long time,” she whispered, shooting icicles donw your spine. “You mean a lot to him just to run off when he finally finds you.”

Slowly, you met her gaze, jaw slack as you heaved in deep breaths. “He… what?” You tried to get away, weaker this time. “Who are you?”

A grin slid easily onto her face, giving her an air of danger. “So it is you.” She extended a hand to you even as she kept you in place with her other. “Nico Robin. I’ve heard a lot about you, Captain.”

Instantly, every fiber of your being crawled, a sneer taking your face. “I’m not a captain.”

“Not anymore. Luffy was so excited when he found out.” Robin released you, grinning when you stood frozen in place. “Could we talk?”

You’re not sure how Robin got you sitting at a shadowed booth near the back of the bar, but there you were, sitting across form her as she stirred her drink. You felt stiff all over, hands folded in your lap. “Listen, I’ve been looking for him too.”

“We know,” Robin said after a sip. “We got your messages.”

Your skim warmed. “Right, uhm. I was headed for your boat—ship—Sunny…” You gaped, grasping at words that practically sprinted away from you. Were the walls closing in? Was the air getting thinner? You snatched at the first feasable sentence. “But I couldn’t...”

When you lifted your gaze, you’re not sure what you expected. Maybe for her to be angry, disappointed, amused even. But instead, she looked curious, her head tilted slightly, her eyes scanning your face. 

“Why?” she asked ever so simply.

You felt very small, looking anywhere but at Robin, fiddling with your thumbs. Deflect. Deflecting is good. “Is Luffy okay? Good, I mean. Is he good? I heard him. He sounded happy.” 

She didn’t answer. She only sat in silence, a brow raised. You cracked your neck from side to side, too awkward for comfort, desperate worries boiling up your throat and— 

“I think… I think, sometimes, he’s still better off without me.” Your leg bounced up and down. “Like, what if I see him, and I haven’t changed at all? I’ve always been a coward. What if that’s all I’ll ever be?”

Robin watched you very closely, her heart aching as a part of her regretted being so harsh with you before. She’d only been thinking of Luffy, but still. She leaned closer and set her arms on the table, trying to catch your flickering gaze. “Hey.” She held your stare firmly. “You deserted the marines. A coward wouldn’t do that.”

“But I ran away.”

“No,” she said with a shake of her head, offering a slight smile. “You’re here with me.”

Robin never swayed in her direct attention to you, and though her gaze burned into you, something about its blaze was warm. Your mother had always been a blur on the forefront of your mind, killed in action some years after your birth. The one memory you had of her was of a scolding, when her eyes burned into you just like this.

“He looked for me?” you asked, tapering off. 

Robin smiled. “Since he saw your poster a few months back. I suspect he’s been looking for clues even longer.”

“But… he’s gotten so… great. Everyone knows his name.”

“And yet…” Robin ensured she had your attention. “He never forgot yours.” She pushed aside her half-full glass and inched toward the end of the booth. “Why would he? To me, it seems like you’re the love of his life—maybe even above the sea.”

She left you dazed, not breathing nearly enough air, and you stammered as she stood to her feet. “Where are you going?”

“Back to the Sunny,” she shrugged, stretching. “Feel free to follow.”

You slipped to your feet as well. “You won’t make me?”

Now was when she looked amused. Robin’s lips quirked as she shook her head. “I can’t make you do anything. But, if you wanna prove you’re not a coward—”

She pivoted, hands in her pockets as she called over her shoulder, “—you know where to find him.”

And she was gone and quick as she appeared, out of the bar and down the street in a matter of seconds. Rattled, you leaned on the table and collected your wits from where they’d been scattered all over the ground. 

You could have been standing there for three minutes or three hours—you couldn’t tell—but when you finally shook yourself back to reality you swiftly paid and set out into the street. You shielded your eyes and looked toward the sun, catching it hiding just behind the tops of the buildings on either side of the street. 

A lot happened in those few moments of looking at the sun.

You were nine years old again, holding a training sword and having no idea what to do with it. Your father had shouted at you for not catching on quicker. Your mother’s grave was newly dug. You were only nine, yet expected to be so much more. You wanted—needed to be so much more.

A little boy watched on, wondering when you’d stop staring at the ground and notice him only a few feet away. After ten minutes, he grew bored and jumped off the log pile he’d been perched on. 

“What’re you doing?” he asked, startling you.

You blinked widely at him. “Practicing.”

He grinned crookedly. “For a staring contest?”

“To be a marine,” you said forcefully as you thrust the little sword out pathetically. “Father says I have to be the best.”

The boy plopped down on the grass in front of you, pulling at pieces of it and sprinkling them back down. “Yeah, my grandpa says the same. Too bad for him though.”

You examined him carefully, letting your sword drop to your side as you slowly knelt beside him. “Why too bad?”

A wicked grin crossed his face. “I’m not gonna be a marine.”

“What will you be?” you asked when he didn’t go on.

“I dunno. Happy, I guess.”

“Can marines not be happy?”

“Not the ones I’ve met.”

He had you there. You puffed up your cheeks, took a quick look around, and leaned in very close to whisper, “I don’t wanna be a marine either. But that’s a secret!”

The boy nodded quickly, his smile so bright you felt warm under its shine.

You wandered down the street, head in the clouds, as a ghost of that little boy dragged you along with him, your hand trapped in his. A smaller you was stumbling to keep up, your strides too short.

“C’mon! Shanks is back!”

“Wait! Luffy, you’re too fast!”

He always let you catch up. Always. You blinked and the little boy wore a straw hat now and had a scar on his cheek. He was terrifying you, slingshotting himself across a forest. He was holding your hand and scowling up at your father, slapped across the face a moment later. He was telling you about his dreams, and how in every one, there was you. 

“I’ll be captain of a mighty ship! And you’ll be my first mate, won’t you?”

And he was watching as you remained on shore, standing beside his livid grandfather, left to face the consequences on your own. Left behind of your own accord, feeling as if there was never any other choice.

“But there’s always a choice,” you whispered, and it hit you like a train; you’d been making all the wrong ones. 

The street fell to the background as you lifted your gaze from the ground, finding the docks right there in front of you. Somewhere, the Thousand Sunny rested on the water, her masthead peering out as if watching for you. All you had to do was step beyond the sidewalk and onto those wooden platforms.

Feet itching to step both forward and back, you held your breath as your muscles locked up. Your world dug in its heels yet the sun continued to set, ignoring your hesitance, growing tired of waiting on you. As your fingers dug into your pants, you willed time itself to stop, just to let you think this through a bit longer. 

You were denied.

“If you wanna prove you’re not a coward, you know where to find him.”

You expelled all your breath in an utterance: “I’m not a coward.”

Shaky legs carried you down the docks, past little sloops and grand vessels, around lumbering sailors and lanky merchants. The air chilled your bones as night grew closer, winds casting in from the sea. Salt air filled your lungs and pushed at your back, wrapping around you and shoving you forward still. 

You walked and walked till you hit the edge of a gangway, falling forward and landing on your palms with a yelp. Heaving a sigh, you glanced up, finding the top of the ramp you’d seen earlier. No burly swordsman stood at the top. No one stood in your way.

But could you get out of your own?

Jaw set, you shoved to your feet and stomped up to the deck, steps faltering when you finally made it. How… lackluster. You released your stiff shoulders as you cast a look around, finding no reason for alarm or vigilance. No armageddon or catastrophe. Only a peaceful ship deck, drifting upon calm waves.

Not a soul stood on deck. A bucket hinted that someone had mopped recently, and a book lay closed atop a beach chair. Somewhere below deck was a shouting, but you couldn’t make it out. Whatever horrible fate you’d expected to face was nowhere to be found.

You were here, and all was well.

A small sound came from behind you, and it sounded like your name. 

For once in your life you didn’t think before you whipped around, gut lurching. The boy was so close. He looked older, like you thought he would, but still very much the same. A new scar ran across his chest, revealed by the open shirt across his shoulders, but it was without a doubt Monkey D. Luffy.

His eyes pierced you, reality sinking in and crumbling you. After all the years and worries and waiting, he stood only a few feet away. The world didn’t break. The sky didn’t fall. You weren’t struck down by some mighty force of fate. Luffy didn’t look angry at all—in fact, he looked almost happy.

A small smile trembled on his lips, eyes so bright. “You came back.”

His name left your lips like a gasp as you stumbled for him on unsteady legs. You hadn’t even blinked and he was there, hands grabbing at your shoulders and running down your arms so delicately, as if you might turn to mist right then and there.

You reached for his hand and clutched it tightly, lacing together your fingers and marveling at how easily they fit—a pair unhindered by time. Your eyes flickered up from your interlocked hands to find his eyes. The softness of his features knocked the breath out of you.

You broke the bated moment, throwing your arms around him and pulling him close, your chin finding his shoulder. Luffy held you tightly with his eyes wide and his breathing heavy. 

“I’m sorry,” you gasped, ducking your chin to press your forehead to his collarbone. “I’m so—I won’t ever leave. Never. Please don’t—don’t—”

“I won’t,” Luffy murmured in your ear. His rubber arms extended to wrap around the two of you twice, for only once would never be enough. “I’m sorry.”

Just as tears began to break past your lash line Luffy took you by your arms and jerked you away from him, keeping you a breath away. “You never had to stay,” he practically hissed. “Why did you think you had to stay?”

He made it hard to think when he wiped the tears off your cheeks. All you could do was lean into his hands, stammering. “I just thought you’d be better—”

“No.” He shook his head. “No. No, why would you ever think that?”

You blinked, at a loss for an answer. “I dunno. I—I’m just fucked up like that. Self-destructive and… what-not…” 

Luffy didn’t let you lower your head even as your cheeks warmed his hands. His fingertips traced the apples of your cheeks, memorizing the feel of your skin. He leaned closer, catching your gaze with a reassuring smile and stroke of your face. “I won’t leave you if you won’t leave me. Ever.”

Slowly, you nodded, a burn rising in your neck. “Deal.”

He pulled you into an impossibly tighter embrace, one hand cradling the back of your head, the other around your back. You hooked your hands around his shoulders and breathed ever so gently as his hand settled on your back, soothing the tension wrought throughout your body.

You shivered, nails slightly clawing at him. Close was not close enough. “I missed you.”

“Me too… Worm.” And the moment was broken as the most unflattering laugh left you. You pushed him off with a scoff, grinning wide as his brows vaulted innocently.

“Shut up! I don’t even read anymore!”

The smile quickly slid off his face, replaced by a face so cutely quizical. “Why not?”

“I just…” You thought of how to phrase it. “I don’t have anything to read, and if I did, I still don’t have the time.”

Just a beat later he had you by the hand, determined as he started to tug you along with him. “I’ve got something to show you.”

You were dragged below deck before you could say a word, led swiftly through the dimply lit hallways. His snickers and beaming smile flooded your head and left you helpless to ask anything at all, following after him as best you could. You passed by an open door that presumably led to a kitchen, briefly spying a crew of people gathered around a table as you zipped on by.

Luffy stumbled to a stop right outside a closed door. Chest heaving, you rose a brow. Luffy grinned, squeezed your hand, and pushed inside. It was dark, voidish shapes scattered around. Luffy left your side, rushing to a lantern and igniting it, casting the room in a warm glow. Jaw falling slack, you spun around, gaze flickering this way and that.

“A library,” Luffy said needlessly, at your shoulder once again. “Like I promised.”

On every wall a floor to ceiling shelf was littered with books tall and wide and thin. Your hand brushed the many spines, the deep warm colors and soft leather and canvas covers running under your fingertips. You pinched yourself next, heart hammering in your chest as you swiveled around, blinking quickly. ���Luffy…”

It was one thing to hear that he’d never forgotten… but it was a very different thing to be standing in the tangible proof that Luffy never stopped believing. 

It felt as if you were seeing him for the first time all over again, all doubts cast away and dashed out. He was the same Luffy, but he was stronger, mightier than the Luffy you’d known. More determined, if it was possible. As he stood there before you with a hope laden gaze, his dream felt real.

A shiver ran down your spine; Luffy would be the Pirate King, and by God, you’d be there to witness it. 

Your fear had gone somewhere you couldn’t find nor feel it, and though it left a gap in your chest, that gap was quickly being filled by a ten-fold love for this boy.

You took his hand and held it in both of yours, peering into his eyes all glassy-like. “Thank you. For not giving up.”

He grinned, asking, “Was there ever any doubt?”

You’d get into that later, perhaps with a therapist should you pass one on the seas. For now, you scoffed a laugh and pulled him closer, a hand reaching for the scruff on his neck and carding through it. He leaned into you, nose brushing yours, as he pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead. 

You pursed your lips despite sighing at the soft touch. “You missed.”

“I did?” Luffy snickered as you rolled your eyes. He caught you off guard, darting in to kiss you slowly, drawing you in close. 

“Join my crew,” he asked—stated, more like—holding so much hope in his eyes that you had to stop just to admire him. You relished in the fact that he was right inf ront of you, reaching to trace his face from his temple to his jaw, vowing to never take him for granted ever again.

The tethers and cords of your souls melded back together, as they should have remained from the very beginning. “Yes, Captain,” you replied, laughing at how his smile grew brighter. 

He gripped your hands in both of his, tugging you along as he retreated for the door. “Wanna meet the others?”

You dug your heels into the floor, chuckling dryly. “You know, maybe we should hold off till tomorrow, yeah?”

Luffy paused, brows meeting, blinking slowly. “Okay, if that’s what you want…”

Purring your lips, you looked from each of his eyes to his nose to his forehead, sighing when defeat found you. “You really want me to meet them now?”

The squeeze he gave your hands, along with how the smile grew back on his face, was answer enough. Another sigh pulled at your chest as nodded. “Lead the way.”

By the end of the hour, the entire crew had come to a decision: you fit in perfectly, even if they had to (gently) jam your piece into the puzzle just to get you to converse with them. “They’re nervous,” Luffy not so silently whispered to the others, causing heat to crawl up your neck as you pinched your nose. 

Gathered around on various modes of seating, you found yourself wrapped in an uncanny warmth despite the chill of the sea air. You shared a crate with Luffy, thigh to thigh, his hand playing with your fingers as he recounted story after story of his adventures with his friends.

A bittersweet smile sat on your lips, happy he was happy, wondering what could have been if you’d gone with him. Stop it. It’s in the past.

“What about you,” Robin interrupted Usopp’s next inevitable tangent, eyes zeroed in on you. “Surely you’ve got stories.”

All eyes shifted to you, and the warmth fled the moment instantly. You shook you head quickly. “Nah, nothing as interesting as yours.”

Luffy bumped your shoulder, suddenly excited. “Then tell us a boring one! I wanna know what you’ve been doing.”

Grinning softly, you stared at your feet, twindling the toes of your boots.”I don’t want to think about it.”

That surely sucked the happiness out of air, replacing it with an ominous vagueness. Luffy’s side pressed against yours, and with a sigh you quickly broke the awkward silence. “Not all of it was bad, though. I had Koby—Oh! He says hello, by the way. I did some good things too, or I hope I did. Like, this one time, my captain at the time got a call from a nearby village.”

“The call was from this girl, I think,” you recalled. “She pleaded for help. These pirates had come in and plundered everything… The call ended in a gunshot.”

You had the whole crew’s attention then, the silence almost eerie. You cleared your throat. “So we took maybe twenty marines and headed to the island. By then the pirates had hostages at the center of the town.” You pushed back your shoulders, imitating your superiors. “Surrender now, said the captain, and the leader of the pirates obviously laughed in his face. Captain Gozi—that’s his name—kept pressing in, acting so docile, even as the pirate captain pressed a gun to the head of this young boy. Gozi is a good man, but we had differing opinions on how to go about the situation.”

Nami interjected, “How did you want to solve it?”

You hesitated before admitting, “Well, I did wind up solving it, and Gozi wasn’t too happy about it.”

“What did you do?” asked Chopper, his ears flitting back against his head. 

“The pirate captain kept on laughing, and when Gozi continued to try to negotiate, the pirate threw the boy down and was about to shoot—so I shot first. Right here.” You tapped your forehead. “That’s actually the reason I was promoted to captain. They made me out to be a hero.”

“Woah,” Usopp sighed. 

Zoro tilted his head. “So you shoot and you use a sword?”

“I’m sort of a jack of all trades, master of none.”

Sanji shrugged. “Still better than master of one.”

Before you could say something quippy in return, a swift peck was left on your cheek, leaving a blooming warmth on your skin. You whipped around to blink wide eyed at Luffy and his lopsided smile.

“What?” you laughed.

He gently kicked your foot. “I just really love you.”

A series of coos erupted from Nami and Chopper, along with some snickers from the boys, and you sat growing increasingly flustered under the attention. You rammed your forehead into Luffy’s shoulder to hide your face, dragging a bright laugh out of him. 

Minutes later, when the focus shifted away from you and toward the next elaborate tale to be strung by the Great Usopp, as he called himself, you leaned into Luffy and murmured softly. “I really love you too.”

High above, the stars shined and wove themselves through the night sky, no longer tiring themselves with transferring the love of a pair between the edges of the seas—they were together again, at long last, and the stars rested easy now that Fate had had its fun.

𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @its-not-too-late-for-coffee @khaleesihavilliard @gingernut1314 @lifesurfer2475 @shuujin @maybe-a-bi-witch @bi-narystars @luciledreamz @awenthealchemist @baku-boneless

#luffy #luffy x yn #luffy x y/n #luffy x you #luffy x reader #monkey d. luffy #monkey d luffy x reader #monkey d luffy x you #monkey d luffy x y/n #one piece #one piece live action #one piece x reader #one piece live action x reader #opla #opla luffy #opla x reader #opla luffy x reader #angst #x reader #reader insert #gender neutral reader

[danger-xylophones]

ADHD (Thrawn x reader)

warnings: brief reference to sex, implied short reader, petnames (beloved, lover, my dear), it's disgustingly fluffy

I got diagnosed with ADHD a little over two months ago and wanted to write something with Thrawn

masterlist | chiss

There are times Thrawn doesn't understand you. And it's as baffling to him as it is amusing.

When he'd first met you, you were a freshly minted lieutenant assigned to the Chimeara through a stroke of good luck. A position as a data analyst opened up and Commodore Faro happened to know enough about you to vouch for your reassignment.

A quick good word with the young officer and here you were, nearly four years later, in the Grand Admiral's quarters pacing a track in the floor.

You did this fairly often, mostly when you thought you were alone, and Thrawn couldn't count how many times he'd walked into your shared room to find you talking to yourself as you wandered in circles around his furniture and various artworks.

He'd accepted it as a feature of being with you - a funny one, if he was honest. And it never really bothered him. Whenever he came home to find you pacing around, he'd carefully obstruct your path and pull you into a kiss. Normally you'd stop pacing after that and join him on his lounger where you'd talk about each other's day.

And without a doubt you'd talk about something odd that happened to you earlier which would inevitably lead you to think of some question to which you did not know the answer. And you'd probably ask him if he knew and if he didn't you'd go run and find your datapad to find the answer. Which would end with you throwing a lot of new information at him until he distracted you with the thought of food, sleep, or sex.

It was a routine you two had and one Thrawn greatly enjoyed. He thought you were a charming little thing with your flights of fancy and infinite capacity for new knowledge.

Your want to keep learning was a double-edged sword. You liked to learn but Thrawn had noticed a pattern with the information you gathered. You had an initial interest that quickly bled into an all-consuming infatuation with an idea. That singular focus could last months or a day before fading altogether wherein you'd find something else to focus on. A couple times, that new focus had been him. His culture, his language, his mind - you'd practically interrogate him for answers. He might've thought you obsessed had Thrawn not been witness to the pattern of your interests previously.

But he'd gotten used to the pattern and knew that when your focus turned to him, he had only to satisfy your curiosity by answering or to tell you he was tired of your questions and that he wanted to do something else.

And today was no different.

Thrawn had entered his quarters to find you pacing in his training room instead of his stateroom. You were talking to yourself as you held aloft one of Thrawn's electro-staffs at full extension.

A small voice warned Thrawn that you'd found a new 'hyperfixation' but he couldn't be certain if it was the staff, martial arts, his training droids, or him again.

Unfortunately, a case could be made for any of them since your last fixation was on a musical instrument from your home planet. He'd narrowly talked you out of buying one for yourself to learn how to play. While he wanted to encourage you in any pursuit, Thrawn knew that this fixation was fleeting and that once you had the instrument in your hands it would probably fade.

Thrawn watched as you carefully twirled the staff in your hands the way you'd seen him do a thousand times. That ruled out one of them - you weren't interested in the droids...this time.

Your pacing slowed as you tapped the staff on the ground close to your feet and made a small hum in the back of your throat.

With a shake of his head and an affectionate smile on his face, Thrawn stepped into his training room. "Beloved?" His voice echoed a little strangely in the training room and for a moment Thrawn wondered if it always sounded like that.

"Thrawn!" You cheered, retracting the staff to it's storage size. Without waiting a minute, you ran for him and jumped up to wrap your arms around his neck. The sudden addition of your weight knocked Thrawn off balance momentarily and he had to stagger back to keep both of you upright. But he was quick to find his balance again and wrapped his arms tight around your midsection. "I missed you." You mumbled in his ear.

"I missed you as well, lover." Pressing his lips to the side of your head, Thrawn indulged himself in the embrace. You held tighter to him in response. "I'll admit I'm surprised to find you in here. What were you doing?"

You retracted from his hold enough to look at him. "I wanted to look at the weapons you have in here. You didn't tell me you had electro-staffs."

Thrawn huffed a small laugh - melee weapons. Such an odd creature you are. "It never occurred to me that you would want to know that." He released his grip on you and let you slide down his body back to the floor. "Would you like me to demonstrate how to use them?"

"Are you just going to show off?" You raised an eyebrow at him and tucked the sheathed weapon close to your chest.

"Perhaps," Thrawn pursed his lips, "but you are aware that I only 'show off' for you, yes?"

Thrawn could see the heat bloom in the apples of your cheeks which brought a satisfied smirk to lips.

"I-I'm aware." You pouted a bit before brightening up. "Can we cuddle?"

"Cuddle?" Thrawn asked, raising an amused eyebrow at you. You nodded, clutching tight to the staff in your hands. Maybe he'd come to his conclusion too soon? Your fixation could be back on him. "Of course, lover, but you have to leave the staff here."

Your brow furrowed and as if suddenly becoming aware of the staff in your hands, you jumped and scampered off to put it back where you'd gotten it from. When you returned to the door, Thrawn held out a hand for you to take.

Your hand was light in his grasp but you held tight to him, fingers lacing with his own. Carefully Thrawn tugged you out of his training room and towards the stateroom only for you to suddenly screech to a halt. "Wait a minute!" You exclaimed. Thrawn, worried something was wrong, turned to you in an instant. "You didn't kiss me." You pouted at him and Thrawn felt his heart melt.

"No, I didn't." Thrawn agreed and before you could say anything else, he stooped down to press his lips to yours. It took you a second to respond but you eventually fell into him with a happy little hum Thrawn tucked away in his heart. Eventually, he pulled away. "Better?"

Humming again, you rolled your lips in to kiss your teeth before replying. "Much better, thank you."

"Of course." Thrawn mumbled, tugging on your hand to get you to follow him. He led you through his stateroom to your shared living quarters where a long chaise awaited both of you.

Without warning, you dropped his hand and bounded toward the bedroom. But, Thrawn didn't pay your sudden absence much mind and instead he settled into a comfortable position on the lounger, his datapad at the ready so he could catch up on the latest news in the greater artworld.

You came back shortly, your own datapad in hand and without waiting for an invitation, practically jumped on Thrawn's lap. A small puff of air slipped from him as he wrapped his arms around you to stabilize you and himself. But you just laughed quietly and looped an arm around his shoulder as you twisted to sit sideways on him. Your head tucked under his chin.

"Are you comfortable?" He asked, half-joking.

"Very." You replied, sinking more of your weight on him. "Is this ok?"

"Perfectly, lover." Thrawn hummed, running his hand down your side. You shivered at the slightly ticklish sensation which made Thrawn grin. But he didn't feel like teasing you right now.

You both fell into a comfortable silence only broken after a few minutes by you sighing and pressing a kiss to his neck. "I missed you."

"As you already said, my dear." Thrawn relied, pressing a kiss to your crown without looking away from the Nubian painting he'd just started examining.

"Oh."

He could just picture the slightly stunned expression on your face. "I missed you too, though." He amended, squeezing your hip.

"Hey, Thrawn?" You broke the silence again after a few minutes. He hummed to show he was listening. "What model are your training droids?"

"They are part of the DT-sentry droid series."

"Ah."

He could hear you typing something on your datapad. Him or martial arts? Or his droids?

"Thrawn?"

"Hmm?"

"Did you know that the BCA developed droids for the Separatists during the clone wars?" Droids it was.

"I did, actually." He replied in a pleasant tone. "Did you know that they were responsible for making the B2 Super battle droids?"

"They were?" Frantic typing followed your question and Thrawn waited for a follow-up from you. "Thrawn?"

"Yes, lover?"

"Why don't you use the KX-series?"

He had to think for a moment, of course he'd considered the KX-series before. "The DT's were a gift from the emperor. Otherwise, I would use the KX-series."

"That's what I thought. They seem more effective anyways." More typing and Thrawn kept his ears open for another question but it never came. Instead, you settled into a quiet contentment punctuated by bouts of typing and silence.

Eventually-

"Thrawn?"

"Yes?"

You pressed a kiss just under his jaw. "Thank you."

His brow furrowed. "For what?"

"For putting up with me." You said it so flippantly and Thrawn felt his heart pang.

"My beloved," Thrawn began, raising a hand to push your head back and chin up to look him in the eye, "I do not 'put up' with you. I enjoy your company. I enjoy your questions too." You blinked at him, shock evident on your face. "You bring me profound joy - never forget that." He leaned in, bringing you into a sound kiss that made Thrawn's heart flutter. When you broke apart, you were looking at him with a spellbound expression that made the chiss laugh inwardly. "I love you and all of your oddities."

#thrawn x reader #thrawn #mitth'raw'nuruodo #grand admiral thrawn x reader #thrawn novels #thrawn trilogy #star wars x reader #star wars #x reader

[t0ast-ghost]

okay get ready, strap in, we got a two parter. Time for my notes on episodes 12&13 (The Menagerie):

- I wonder if they’re really gonna put the men into menagerie

- I got whammied. They all appeared at once. Together.

- OMG PIKE

- the kuleshov effect doesn’t work to well in this situation

- Spock’s gonna betray them? Kirk believes that Spock can literally do no wrong

- Spock sneaking around is hilarious but again hiding in plain sight should not be an effective strategy

- UHURA! Yes!

- SPOCK! No!

- He’s so stressed, look MORE EMOTION

- where has Bones puttered off to- oh there he is

- Kirk devastated that his boyfriend could lie to him so he confides in his other boyfriend about it

- Bones sitting on surfaces compilation (12:35)

- “there’s a false entry that doesn’t jibe with the facts” jibe…

- Bones defending Spock my heart ughhhggg

- Why is Spock trying to get Doctor McCoy back on the enterprise??

- he yoinked the ship- he fuckin yoinked it

- uh oh McCoy is suspicious. “Follow Spock’s instructions to the letter” like hell he will

- Spock listening to “shuttlecraft is past point of safe return” and you can see him look like ‘god fucking dammit Jim’

- “I keep thinking who would be coming at us in a shuttle craft, and I keep coming up with the same answers” yeah it’s your idiot boyfriend, McCoy

- “for mutiny, doctor. I never received orders to take command” and that’s your second idiot boyfriend

- Bones is so worried, he doesn’t want Spock confined, he also doesn’t want to believe he’s been deceived by his friend

- Spock looks so ashamed and sad. He’s sad.

- “whatever he’s up to, he’s planned it well” no he hasn’t. I see his fear and panic. (Edit: this turned out to be somewhat untrue)

- wow that’s a good angle on those tapes. That’s so cool that they’re bringing back the pilot tho

- forgot this was how he chose to lay down to wait for his doctor

- wait wait wait so you expect me to believe aliens filmed this episode?

- so is Spock trying to send Pike to this planet so that he can live with Vina?

- *close up on Spock from episode one. Cut to the meeting room present day* Kirk: I’m so glad Bones bought you that eyeshadow, Mr. Spock

SECOND PART STARTS HERE - checkpoint

- considering how blue Pike’s eyes are it’s so funny how Chris Pine ended up playing Kirk and not a guy called Chris Pike…

- that’s kind of amazing how it almost seems like this is just apart of the episode (especially considering the fact that all the stuff in the original episode had so much world building. Like it really seemed like all the adventures were already normal.) like they made this past storyline as just another part of the episode.

- forgot how awesome number one was, kinda excited to watch strange new worlds now

- get sent to hell, dipshit

- I FORGOT ABOUT THE ‘bouinngg’ NOISE

- since they get to replay a whole damn episode I get to put in my favourite notes I made from watching this the first time

- WHAT THE COMMODORE WAS FAKE?!?

- the nod from the beings at the end is so like “yeah that sounded so good.”

- and they lived happily ever after

The end

Master post

(note to self: Pls draw Bones doing Spock’s makeup but like that one pic)

#Star Trek #star trek the original series #star trek tos #star trek kirk #tos kirk #captain james kirk #christopher pike #captain pike #star trek spock #tos spock #spock #star trek mccoy #tos mccoy #leonard bones mccoy #star trek uhura #tos uhura #nyota uhura

[sonicjustbecause]

Sonic characters - who I like, who I'm fine with, who I dislike

This is what I wrote yesterday. I want to underline that this is just my opinion and that I have nothing against you. I'm adult for a while right now. Sonic is just a passion that makes me happy, that I enjoy for fun, but is not my life. I say that because knowing what the Sonic fandom may be like, is easy to feel intimidated by different point of view.

Let's start!

Favourites/I love:

SONIC (of course)

I discovered Sonic games in 1991. I was friend with two fraternal twins since kindergarden and we were among the first kids who were able to play videogames (I owned a commodore 64 my uncle gifted me, the twins owned a Sega Master System and a Game Boy). There were not much informations about Sonic's personality, but talking with my friends, we all perceived him being very similar to Shadow. Just openly more gentle.

In 1995 there were Sonic cartoons (Sonic SatAM, AoStH, in collaboration with Italy). Sonic was not like Shadow, but he was 'meh'... I liked him but he wasn't really my favourite. Also the design left me confused (my brother was more into the western design, i was more into the Japanese design).

To be honest I think the western design is cute. I would fix the quills, more classic sonic style instead of the mohawk and the hands, making them with five fingers instead of four. And some little adjustments on the ankles but for the rest is fine.

I loved Sonic in Sonic Adventure 2 and I liked Ryan's voice. I easily tend to imagine his voice if i read some story about him. I like Ryan's, Jason's, Deven's and the italian VA Renato). What I like most about Sonic is his kindness.

TAILS

There was a period were Tails received a lot of hate, maybe just because he is a child. But in early '90s' Tails was loved by player. His ability to fly made the level easier to beat, so everybody played with him. Since he is a fox, I excepted him to be cunning. Of course not toward Sonic (he is his friend after all) but toward Eggman, outsmarting him. I also considered Sonic and Tails being brothers. All of this before knowing him.

When I noticed he had two tails instead of one, I though it was because of an experiment by Eggman. The two tails genetic mutation does exist in nature, although is rare.

KNUCKLES

I saw knucles in early '90s for the first time but he didn't catch my interest. He was Sonic's opponent. I never had occasions to play Sonic's games until we finally got Sonic Adventure 2. Then I noticed Knuckles was about the stereotype of the cool boy... except he was not so bright and he was quite naive.

SHADOW

I loved his balanced design. The first thing I though is that he could be a great character for graffitis. Early Shadow seemed based on emo kids, it was fashion in early '00s'.

He was also quite depressed, almost suicidal at times. After 2006 Shadow became famous as 'the edgelord', almost an unintentional caricature of himself. Before 2006 Shadow seemed slightly friendlier and laid back at times. That bit that was enough to made him seem more alive. As if he sometimes did things just to have fun like Sonic. And it happened his idea of fun match Sonic's. In later years he seems recovering from his edgelord days.

AMY

Amy didn't caugh my attention earlier but right now is one of the characters I like. Though i miss her fangirling about Sonic. Also because they decided to remove that part of her, it was considered a flaw. Yet Amy could see Sonic's flaws and was honest with him about what she though. All the rest of Amy is there. And she had and has a lot of good qualities.

EGGMAN

Eggman is funny, hilarious. But he is wicked, manipulative, sadistic, cruel and I mean actual cruel towards beasts. And toward kids.

All Eggman's doing.

Also Eggman's doing.

Most Sonic's friends (including Sonic) are teenagers. Eggman has shown to be capable to kill fellow humans too. Without problems.

I like, but they can be better:

ROUGE

Rouge is a female Lupin III. I compare her to Lupin and not to Fujiko because, although she is a thief and a spy, although she may be cunning, she is a loyal friend.

The thing I don't like about her is her original design:

I'm not against her design for political correct bullshit reasons. Simply this design seems somewhat unfinished, heavy and awkward and the pink is overhelming. Rouge herself doesn't look much athletic. Also she looks like a character coming from the middle of the '900 and not a modern character.

I like more the prime design, where her figure is more atletic, muscular and balanced like her job (spy, thief) would suggest.

CHAO

The chao design actually is perfect the way it is. I love all the variants seen in SA and SA2. And the chao's minigame (I raise them only with Sonic and Shadow. They're the only who don't hurt them accidentally). However in a story their role should be about the same role of the flickies. Cheese is a prominent character, but it feels forced.

(Ignore Mario)

CREAM and VANILLA

I think they should be supporting characters when needed. They're nice and all, but I can't see them taking on adventures. They worked well when they took care of Sonic but they're better characters for slice of life or lighter adventures.

BIG

This one is quieter and more a loner than Shadow, yet he is very happy, kind and gentle. He has the natural nice personality most real cats have, especially male cats. Like Cream and Vanilla, i think his role would be more the one of a supporter character. The one who listen and who make all characters feel better after a chat. He doesn't work as protagonist and i think his start was rough. Big is a Siberian cat. Those cats have a cobby bodytype and are long haired

An actual Siberian cat

METAL SONIC

Although a robot, he can work. But he is like radioactive material. He should be used carefully.

Meh... forgettable

BLACK DOOM

I think his ugliness alone was more than enough to made him a laughing stook. He is evil manipulative, sadistic, abusive and all, sharing his flaws with Dr.Eggman. But he lacks Eggman's positive traits. Is not even funny. So fans and even comic writers treat him like one of those mignon who are all words and no substance. It might be unconscious.

Woooh, how treatening... villain's empty words.

Just an example of how people see Black Doom... (Drawn by Ama)

STICKS

Sticks may seem cute, funny, but in the end she's not that memorable. She's nothing more than the caricature of a conspiracy theorists, thin foil hat and such. That can work in another media but not in Sonic.

SILVER

I fail to understand this guy. Is he a blend between Sonic and Shadow? His design keeps leaving me unimpressed and it doesn't suggest me a personality in particular. Redundant.

CHAOTIX

Hate at first sight. Redundant.

MOST I WON'T MENTION, TOO MANY TO REMEMBER.

They're redundant, not much interesting.They seem a blander blend of main characters. Is like wanting to fix the main characters or wanting to create an upgraded version of the main character, instead is only taking away the fun.

#sonic the hedgehog #shadow the hedgehog #sonic #shadow #sonic prime #tails nine #nine #eggman #silver #blaze #rouge #vector #team chaotix #chaotix detective agency #vector the crocodile #sonic series #charmy bee #espio the chameleon #knuckles the echidna #amy rose #tails the fox #amy the hedgehog

[justafairytailofinnocence]

James Norrington x male pirate reader? Maybe the pirate got caught by James, heading to the gallows, but James free them instead?

Hello dear, thanks for your request.

James Norrington x male pirate reader 🏴‍☠️⚔ A matter of time⚓

Synopsis: James frees someone from his past from the gallows

Warning: mention's of hanging

The prison of Port Royal was rustic and unkempt; all the cells were lined in an orderly set of rows. Many men within the cells screamed and cursed names that shan’t have been brought to light. The officers at the entrance door wore red regimental coats and white shirts. Over the shirts were cross belts and grey breeches held by braces. They both wore black naval tricorne hats whilst their long hair was tied back with black ribbons. They held their Brown Bess muskets upright, gazing at a man formerly walking down the hall. The man wore a blue, full-skirted royal naval uniform made of wool fitted with very deep boot cuffs. He wore a white powdered wig with a black tricorn adorned with white feathers around the top. He held his hands behind his back, looking stern yet pristine, ignoring the prisoner's squabbles. The two lower-ranked officers saluted him, allowing him passage. He kept walking past all the cells while the prisoners shouted, “Oi, get’s me outta ere’!”, “Aye, I’m beggin ya”, “Lad, Lad, I’ll give ye three shillings fer tha keys”. He scowled at the sight of them, ‘good-for-nothing filthy pirates’ he thought. Scoundrels that held no honour or morals did all they did was steal, pillage, plunder, and commit the most treasonous crimes. His hatred for pirates stemmed from his childhood, ever since his father taught him. He despises any mentions of their names; to think anyone foolish enough to become one deserves a short drop and sudden stop.

The commodore halted in front of a particular cell, his eyes gazing coldly at the pirate seated in the corner. “I trust you’ve saved your prayers, for you shall hang at the gallows on this day”, he spoke with a deep, strict voice. The pirate in question was relatively quiet, unlike the others, he held no regard to acknowledge the commodore's presence. He was quite an untidy fellow, his hair in a mess, wearing a brown tricorn clothed with a brown frock coat and poet blouse. He wore black pantaloons and brown boots for shoes. The commodore had no care if the buccaneer wished to speak or act like a rapscallion. He was set to hang. “Do keep you’re your spirits high Mr L/n, I do believe your worthless life might just end quicker after all”.

The pirate, in turn, glanced up at the austere man with cold eyes. It seemed unfounded how a man had a deep detestation over one's life because they deemed themselves pirates. Had he known what true freedom was, one might say he would turn too. “Aye, keep yer knickers on, I know tis be me day of death, least I get ta visit fiddlers green in the afterlife”. James sternly spoke, “I believe where you’ll wind up, they’ll be no ‘fiddlers green’ but only your sinful damnation”.

The commodore ordered the naval officers to drag this scoundrel to the gallows. “Before ye send me ter me grave in Davy Jones’s locker, I ask why ye betrayed em’ commodore”. The statement in general, made James curious and halted the officers from opening the cell. “And what business do you wish to pry of mine, Mr L/n”.

“Cutler be at large, and ye stand thar a prideful man tha betrayed sparrah’s crew, hell, ye betrayed er—”.

“Whatever nosy rumours you’ve heard of is none of your concern.” The commodore furrowed his brows as his voice grew harsher.

“Aye but tis is, fer I recall a lass and lad back on that island searching fer a coffer” The pirate’s voice grew louder. “Why, don’t-che remember James, I was thar when ye ran wit tha chest, I saw ye leave Jack, Will and Miss Swann”.

“Don’t!” James growled.

“Yer guilty, tis written in yer deadlights”. It was impossible to reason; the pirate was a part of Jack’s crew and had pledged his loyalty to the captain. However, it all changed when the commodore came along, looking like a lost sod. He was a mess in a heap; his rank had become soiled. How could y/n not care for him? He was lost at sea in his state of well-being, drunk. Over time the two had formed a kindred relationship; they both bonded over the loss of their adventures and their devotion to their loved ones—James with Elizabeth and Y/n with Jack. Everything was going well when James betrayed the crew and turned y/n in. Left and set to hang for dead.

Albeit twas y/n’s fault for falling into such a bittersweet lie. Indeed, y/n cared for the commodore more than he should have. Oh alas, and ruin, a man’s yearning heart set on the beating beauty for a lass he is not.

James inhaled and quickly exhaled, displaying a sign of annoyance. He ordered the guards to open the cell and drag y/n out. With both on each side with one arm latched roughly around y/n’s, they began to head toward the gallows—or what should’ve been that way.

Upon exiting the building, the gentle pitter-patter of raindrops could be heard around Y/N. The individual took a moment to inhale the refreshing scent of the precipitation, relishing in its natural aroma. The droplets cascaded down from the sky, creating a stunning display as they contacted the pavement and pooled into small puddles. Y/N couldn't help but feel immensely grateful for the opportunity to stand in place and bask in the mesmerising allure of the rain. As they moved, he savoured every moment of his freedom, relishing every breath of air inhaled and exhaled. Closing his eyes, he felt the raindrops caress his cheeks, cascading gently down his face. As the naval officers led him to the gallows, Y/n took in his surroundings with a sense of calm. His last breath left him, and he opened his eyes to the sight of the rolling sea, gently lapping against the docks of the bustling port. The sound of waves crashing against the shore was soothing to his ears, and he imagined himself on a grand galleon, sailing towards the mythical Fiddler's Green with the wind in his hair. The view of the vast horizon was breathtaking, and he took it all in as he walked towards his destination. Every adventure he had flashed before his eyes, Jack Sparrow, Joshamee Gibbs, Elizabeth Swann, Will Turner and—

James.

Suddenly, the naval officers stopped and pushed the rogue before them. Y/n opened his eyes, feeling disoriented by the new surroundings. He expected to see the gallows and an angry crowd chanting his name in hatred, but instead, he found himself somewhere else, without the Hempen Holter.

They stood by the wooden dock where a schooner was anchored. All the sailors were carrying cargo onboard. As Y/n swivelled around, they were met with a rather grave countenance on James' face. His hands were firmly clasped at his back, and his brows were knitted together in a manner that suggested deep concern. Y/n, perplexed by his demeanour, approached the admiral's chains that were still attached to their wrists and legs. "Care ta enlighten me, James? Are ye tryna hornswoggle me mind?” y/n asked. The admiral swiftly ordered the naval officers to be dismissed, leaving the two of them alone. James drew closer to Y/n and removed the chains from their arms and legs, freeing them from their constraints. Y/n exaggeratedly stretched his arms while moving his arms from side to side. “I must admit, yer surely an odd one James”.

James grasped y/n by his shoulders and revealed his true expression of genuine worry. “Quickly, you don’t have much time, get on while you can—I don’t expect you or Elizabeth to forgive me but I can at least atone for my sins by saving you”.

As Y/n fixed his gaze upon the magnificent schooner, his eyes were brimming with a sense of purpose and longing. "Come with me, together we can break free from our current constraints an’ embark upon a new path," he suggested with a hopeful tone, inviting his companion to take the leap of faith with him. “Our paths may intertwine in the future y/n, but I mustn’t let Beckett know of Elizabeth’s whereabouts—neither your own.

"Go, now” "Please understand," he stated firmly, his expression stern and unwavering. In a sudden surge of emotion, James took hold of the pirate's shoulders and pressed his lips against his with an intense force, leaving them both gasping for breath. Y/n found themselves wrapped up in James's embrace, feeling the softness of his admiral's coat against their skin. "Tif fate allows us to reunite in Fiddler's Green, each and every treasure chest will bear your name, and I shall cherish em’ with all me heart."

As Y/n stepped onto the ship, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness in his heart as he left James behind. They hurriedly made their way through onto the ship as they prepared to set sail. Meanwhile, James watched from a distance, his eyes locked on Y/n's retreating form, his hands clasping behind him, wishing desperately that Y/n could stay with him just a little bit longer. The helmsman shouted, “Prepare to set sail”. With one last look, y/n locked eyes with James and nodded as a departing gesture. “Aye, cap’n!” y/n shouted to the helmsman.

With a heavy heart, James gazed upon the ship as it slowly drifted away from the harbour, carrying away the one person who had captured his heart completely - y/n. As he watched the vessel shrink in the distance, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of worry and fear creeping up on him. He prayed fervently, hoping that his beloved would reach his destination safely and unharmed and that he would be able to find a new life filled with hope and happiness. Despite his own pain and despair, James knew that he had to remain strong and focused, no matter what challenges he might face.

Anyways that's all I have for now:

Ta Ta ✨

#potc #james norrington x reader #james norrington x male reader #james norrington oneshot #potc x reader #pirates of the caribbean #pirates of the caribbean x reader

[peachesandmilktea]

𝕭𝖊𝖙𝖜𝖊𝖊𝖓 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖛𝖎𝖑 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖊 𝕯𝖊𝖊𝖕 𝕭𝖑𝖚𝖊 𝕾𝖊𝖆 [𝒫𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝐼𝒱]

Click here to see the full art!! I had to crop it and my heart BLEEDS. Shout out to @obsidianne-art / @beware-thecrow for being the best wro/co-writer/artist this earth has ever seen.

Part I. Part II. Part III.

Captain Shigaraki is a merciless pirate, a terror over the seven seas, a monster of a man who fears neither god nor man. You’ve sworn to take him down and bring him to his knees under the crown’s justice, and you would have, if only he hadn’t discovered your most well-kept secret.

TW: Lots and lots of fluffy/horny thoughts, an erection somewhere, enemies to lovers, Shigaraki Tomura and Reader are both bad at feelings, smut to come in the next chapter.

Dabi was a menace.

He loved to rile Shigaraki up, as he did you, you had come to learn. Each word out of his mouth was nothing but sweet poison, playful teasing that sank its claws into your thoughts until they were filled with nothing but unavoidable annoyance. He’d watch with a smile pulling at his pierced lips then, a glint of malicious amusement in his cerulean eyes, always relishing in the little bits of chaos he managed to spread with only a few sentences carefully chosen.

If Shigaraki seemed to be his preferred opponent, the more he got to know you, the more often he made you the target of his malevolent attacks. Thankfully, you were nothing if not a dedicated adversary, and you always replied with just the same level of guile.

“So,” he started one day while the two of you were coincidentally watching violent waves crashing on the ship’s hull, the sign of a nearby sea storm. “Think you’ll be going back to your sweet, sweet navy soon, doll?”

Since you perfectly recalled the filthy things he’d called you when he still thought you a man, you took the pet name with a grain of salt.

The tattooed man wasn’t even looking at you now — instead, his gaze trailed along the lines of foam swaying up to the line of the horizon. Leaning over the railing as he was, he just needed a little push if you wanted to help him join the fishes, and the perspective did have some appeal to it. But, as if he’d heard your thoughts, he suddenly perked up, settling his lower back against the railing instead, his arms crossed against his chest.

“Why are you asking?” you simply shrugged. “Thinking of joining the navy as well? You’ve grown fond of me and would rather have me as captain, is that it? I wouldn’t go easy on you just because you’re making eyes at me.”

He laughed, and the sound was full of unconcealed mockery.

“Isn’t that the opposite of what’s currently happening? You’ve got a disgusting little crush on our dear ol’ captain, and pretending you’re above such a lowly feeling isn’t going to help your case.”

The words made you frown — if you hadn’t exactly hidden your gratitude or the respect you held towards the pirate king, having Dabi bring it up made things a little more realistic. Your devoted admiration was now something more than a distant, comforting feeling and instead turned into something you felt like you needed to hide, if only to protect your heart from the thieving hands of a pirate.

“It’s not a crush,” you corrected, sour, but it sounded like a stupid lie even to your own ears.

“It sure is a crush, sweetheart,” Dabi replied, a wolfish grin spreading over his lips. “Don’t tell Toga, though, she would have you married in less than a heartbeat. Spinner could officiate the ceremony as the first mate, and he probably wouldn’t need much convincing on her part.”

The mere thought made heat spread over your cheeks, prickling your flesh from underneath until it felt hot enough to sear your fingers should you raise a hand to your face. You averted your gaze, avoiding Dabi’s in the hopes that he wouldn’t notice the dreadful embarrassment that had filled you whole, but you knew you’d already lost that game of his.

“No need to get so riled up,” he mocked, and you elbowed him in the ribs.

“I’m commodore in the Royal Navy!” you snapped, doing everything in your power to make him drop the subject. “He’s a pirate, and I’m an officer of the law!”

Dabi marked a pause, arching an eyebrow.

“Are you really, though?”

The question stole a breath from your lungs, for it wasn’t mocking for once. It was sincere instead, one of those rare moments when all malevolence disappeared from Dabi’s cerulean gaze, when he seemed ready to tear you apart with the mere strength of his words. Dabi was clever, almost as much as Shigaraki, though he hid it well beneath a cold, distant facade.

Seeing a glimpse of the more genuine side of his personality felt like breaking down a wall — it was both exhausting and terrifying, for you didn’t know if it would crumble over you and bury your weakened form beneath the rumble.

“What do you mean?” you asked, though you knew all too well.

“You’re playing stupid,” he noted with a glare. “Would you really return to the navy, all so that you can go back to hunting and killing pirates?”

He wasn’t scared, not even worried. His words had another intent — he meant to make you doubt, to push you back into a corner and watch as you did your best to justify the blood on your hands. It was a useless attempt on his part, though. In those few weeks spent as a pretend hostage on Captain Shigaraki’s pirate ship, all of you had changed, from your core values to the gentle feeling that had settled in your heart in replacement of the shackles that you’d kept tightened over it like a cage before.

“Never,” you hissed between gritted teeth. “If I choose to return, it would be to change things. To make the sea a better place for anyone who decides to sail it.”

Dabi’s gaze dawdled over your face, studying your expression as if seeking to uncover the lies you would conceal beneath the frown that pulled at your brow, the snarl on your lips, or the light of determination that burned in your gaze. He didn’t seem to find anything of interest, though, and simply shrugged, his eyes trailing back onto the sight of the ocean then.

“Let’s hope you’re telling the truth, doll. You might meet your end sooner than later otherwise.”

That was fair, you supposed. Shigaraki was an opponent that was equal to you in many fields, from his wits to his swordplay and, if he went back to being your enemy, one of you would soon enough make a mistake, letting the other send their soul to the realms of the dead in a heartbeat. It would be a fitting end, to let him tear your life from your hands when he’d been the one to save it, but that wouldn’t happen, for you would never betray.

And it was hard to see him as a murderer now when you’d seen him with his crew, the family he’d crafted by himself with hands not coated in blood but gentle and warm instead. Shigaraki had seen untold nightmares, battled against monsters bigger than you ever could imagine, and still seemed to bask in every little kindness you’d showed him, as if he were only just a boy craving for some kind of tenderness, and not the king of pirates, leading a fleet of merciless killers with an iron fist.

But you’d come to like that boy. You’d come to wish you could tuck wild strands of his hair behind his ears just so that it would make it easier for your eyes to dive into his at will. Maybe even kiss his lips rather than his wrist, and watch as a slight blush spread over his cheeks. And yes, you now yearned for his touch to linger just a bit whenever his fingers brushed against yours, if only that meant you could bask in his warmth a little more.

You’d thought him merciless, but he was anything but. He’d offered you shelter when you’d needed it and, the more you asked for, the more he gave. Saving, protection, crumbs of his attention — he’d even granted you his trust, although not fully yet. He gave it bit by bit, slow and steady like the tide, and you’d come to long for it enough that you’d grasp every single opportunity to get closer to him, to prove yourself at last.

Maybe, someday, he would accept you whole. And maybe, someday, you would accept him as well, pirate king or not.

“Stop making heart-eyes, stupid,” Dabi spat at you as he kicked your calf, almost making you stumble over your own feet. “The object of your foolish affections is coming over here.”

He was right — Shigaraki exited his cabin where he’d been all day, working on more and more devious plans, and was now making his way towards you.

The days had gotten warmer, and he wasn’t wearing his coat anymore, merely a cream-colored shirt that stuck to his skin as the sea breeze pulled at the thin fabric. It kissed the shape of his arms and chest like the ocean embraced the sky, pretty in the way such a sight made you want to gaze at it for hours. Strands of hair as white as foam framed his face despite the fact that he’d tied most of them in a low ponytail that hung between his shoulder blades. It almost made you want to reach for the black ribbon he’d used for it, and—

“You’re so fucking obvious,” Dabi mocked again when he caught you staring, and you averted your gaze while a blush crept over your cheeks. “You’re not going to be able to convince anyone that you’re ogling him non-stop just to look for weaknesses or some other commodore bullshit.”

You let out a cough in a vain attempt to get a hold of yourself again.

“Maybe that’s what I’ve been doing,” you tried. “Maybe I’m just studying him because I’m wondering if I could still take him in a fight. Nothing more.”

He laughed at that, a deep, low sound that made you feel even more stupid.

“Hey, Captain!” he called, because of course he would. Dabi wouldn’t let you have any kind of respite, not when he held the keys to pure, unbridled chaos in his tattooed fingers. “Commodore here says she’d like to take you.”

Tomura froze at the words for a second, raw confusion swarming his gaze.

He’d walked on Dabi and you seemingly enthralled in a talk that had you all flustered — you were biting your lower lip almost to the point to draw blood, and you kept averting your eyes, no matter how many times Tomura attempted to look into them. Whatever you’d been conversing about, it had left you with some type of uncharacteristic shyness that lingered in your expression still, one he wondered at for a bit too long. He would have found it cute, if it didn’t seem like Dabi of all people was the cause for it.

“Take me?” he asked, almost certain he must have misheard.

“What?” you frowned, finally meeting his gaze. “You don’t think I could? You shouldn’t underestimate me, Captain. I could take you any day, any time you want, as many times as you want.”

Tomura fully stopped in his tracks.

There was no way in hell, on earth or even in the skies, that you could possibly mean what he thought you meant. Yet, his mind didn’t wait a second more to play tricks on him and, soon enough, he pictured it clear as day, as if he could truly feel you beneath his fingers as he took you, truly took you in the way he meant, over and over in the filthiest fantasies he’d ever cradled.

“Really?” he asked, holding the tiniest sliver of hope that you’d meant the same thing, no matter that he knew the sun would rise in the west and set in the east sooner than you started being so blunt about such things. “Then care to prove  it?”

Dabi’s laugh echoed in the sea breeze at the same time that your fingers closed around Tomura’s throat, stealing every single breath from his lungs. The strength of your attack and the way you purposely tripped him was enough to make him tumble backwards, until his spine hit the wooden wall of his cabin with a slightly painful little crack.

In a fight. You’d meant to take him in a fight.

Tomura took a deep breath, and threw himself into the brawl.

It had been a while since he’d met you in battle, and you moved just like you always had — efficient and quick, fast enough that he barely saw it before the pain rippled through the targets of each one of your strikes. He let you play for a while just like he always had, simply enjoying the way you moved, the warmth of your breath tickling his skin whenever he let you get a little too close, or the goosebumps that spread over your flesh when he caught you in one of his deadly embraces.

If your strength was your fastness, his was just that. Pure, raw power.

Tomura was taller, he was thicker, he was stronger. A single hit of his fist would send you sprawling, and you knew that all too well, which was why you did your best to simply build up your defense and exhaust him instead, avoiding each one of his attempts at striking you in your weakest points.

But if you knew him well, he knew you as well, and could read you just as good, if not better — he’d studied you long enough, both as a commodore and as a pretend pirate, and Tomura now prided himself in being able to see through you like he would through the translucent water of the coast.

The game was amusing, though, and he let it last for a while, relishing in the thought that each and every bruise you left on his pale skin was a cute little mark branded by your hands. They were all received on purpose, if only to rile you up just a bit, to give you a sliver of hope before he snatched it away with too-skillful hands. Soon enough, you felt like you were winning, absolutely certain that you’d pushed him to his limits, that he would tire soon, that he wouldn’t be able to stand his ground any longer.

And soon enough, he smiled, a wolfish grin full of youthful mischief, and turned the battle to his advantage.

He pushed you against the wall, in the very same place you’d attacked him first, and towered over you, all threatening and oh so powerful. His taller form shadowed yours in each and every corner, concealing the mere light of the sun from your eyes, his crimson gaze seemingly swallowing the whole word but the two of you as it dove into yours. He was close, maybe a bit too much — close enough that you didn’t have a single means of escape, should you decide not to give in.

He’d cornered you like a prey, and somehow, you wondered if you had ever stood a chance against him.

“Give in,” he said, triumph pulling at his voice, deep, raw satisfaction making each syllable rumble like thunder. “You lost.”

He’d been going easy on you all this time, you realized. Even when you’d been enemies, he’d been underestimating you, perhaps — after all, you were smaller, significantly weaker and less used to spilling blood, no matter that you were his equal in wits or determination. You’d taught him that the hard way by slashing a cut through his chest, the scar now still visible beneath the clear fabric of his shirt that clung to his skin with the dampness of his sweat. But now, he showed his true colors, the real extent of his strength.

It would be absolutely infuriating, if only he didn’t look so damn good doing it.

Each breath you took was filled with the smell of him, the deep, heavy scent of seawater, blood and dust. Close as he was, leaning towards you like a shark waiting on its prey to make the wrong move, you could feel the warmth emanating from his skin, tickling yours in a way that was too intoxicating for your treacherous heart to ignore.

He tilted his head with a smile that was full of victory and wild strands of his hair tickled your cheeks, making a blush course through them that you hoped wouldn’t be too noticeable, though it deepened still when you felt the blow of his breath against your lips, warm and kind like a summer breeze.

You wouldn’t let him get away with victory, though. And so, in a desperate attempt to defeat him with a surprise attack, you pushed him with all the strength you could muster and held out a fist to strike him.

He caught it before it could reach his face.

A pained, ridiculous little yelp escaped your lips when he turned your attack against you, grasping your arm in an embrace that was all too threatening, and twisting it until you had no choice but to take a step back until you were flushed against his chest unless you wanted him to shatter the bone. You were caught, stuck, prisoner of his hold like a mere insect in a spider web, and, as he leaned towards you, close enough again that you could feel the softness of his breath brushing against your collarbone, you knew he was smiling.

“Nice try,” he said. “That’s not going to be enough to defeat me, though.”

Tomura was elated.

Not only did you give him the opportunity to make a show of strength right in front of your astonished eyes, but the closeness forced by the brawl made his blood run faster in his veins, hot and burning like a campfire. He could feel your skin all over — against his chest, under his digits when he raised a hand to curl his fingers around your throat in the same gesture you’d done before, and on his wrist, when you struggled your best to push him away, your movements however led by more defeated annoyance than true fear or worry.

Your heartbeat pulsed under the palm of his hand.

Thump, thump, thump.

You were at his mercy, and the thought was appealing enough that he had to take a long, deep breath, and part from you just slightly, all so that you wouldn’t discover the sickening effect you had on him. It wasn’t enough to deter him, though — he was drunk on victory, drunk on the scent of you and the feel of your flesh kissing his in each and every place he could get away with. He could have drowned into the feeling and now, like an opium addict, he craved for more, and more, and more.

Be damned the stupid navy and your mysterious loyalties, he wanted you now.

“Hey, Captain, don’t be too hard on her,” Dabi called, interrupting Tomura’s thoughts with a smirk on his lips. The fucker knew exactly what he was doing — filth spilled from his lips in a low laugh that sounded way too mocking to be but playful teasing.

It annoyed Tomura to no end, but now that the moment had been stolen from his hands, he didn’t have a choice but to let you go, a quiet groan filled with annoyance rolling on his tongue. You let out a sigh of relief and turned to him, cheeks flushed and your gaze fleeting, as if you’d been feeling the same way he had all along these instants of closeness he’d forced you into.

He wished he could make you go out of breath in other ways.

He wished you would let him.

And, when Tomura went back to his cabin, the smell of you lingered on his clothes. The sweet scent filled each one of his senses, leaving a gentle taste on his tongue, one he was eager to try from the source. Yes, maybe he liked you just a bit too much, and maybe that was a weakness, but was it truly one if such defeat was as blissful as victory? He would hold triumph in the palms of his hands just like he would cradle your body once you gave in.

Loyalties didn’t matter anymore, and the thought felt like delightful heresy.

----

what's an enemies to lovers story without a playful fight filled with sexual tension, AM I RIGHT!!

smut is in the next chapter hehe

thank you so much for all of your comments on the last chapter, it really made me super happy! once again i'll post the next one (already written) once i get enough opinions on this chapter, i can't wait to read your thoughts <3

#shigaraki x reader #shigaraki x you #shigaraki smut #shigaraki x y/n #mha x reader #bnha x reader #bnha smut #mha smut #bnha x you #bnha x y/n #mha x you #mha x y/n #mha fic #bnha fic #pirates au #shigaraki fic #fluff #shigaraki fluff #pirate shigaraki #Peaches writes #between the devil and the deep blue sea

[gendervapor14]

Blanket and Warmth, please and thank you!

ooh thank you for the ask!! LET'S DIVE ON IN

🧡 Blanket: share a snippet where a character feels safe and loved.

how about an excerpt of cora and law from corazón de oro?

“Do you think anyone will ever love me? Now that I don’t have Lami anymore?”

His heart burned like it was lit with firecrackers. How long had this kid been wandering around, thinking he existed without being loved? Thinking he never would be loved? Although, it was a change in pace. He was asking about his future. Law knew he had a future. Law trusted Cora with his life.

“Of course, Law.” Cora replied, playfully knocking the brim of Law’s hat over his face, “Man, you were right, that was a stupid question.”

The boy snickered, fixed his hat and hair, but the laugh died out quickly. “How can you be so sure?”

“Because this world exists for love.” Cora enthused, tugging on the heart-shaped tails of his hat. “There are people all over the planet Law, friends to be made everywhere you go. Even in the most unlikely conditions. It’s not always instantaneous, sure. Might even take decades before you find your people, but…you’ll be loved. Just have to stay strong and love them in return. Catch them when they fall.”

“…right.” Law muted a yawn as he sniffed and leaned against his guardian again. “You say I’m smart but, you’re pretty smart too, Cora. Pretty stupid, most of the time, but sometimes you say stuff that makes a lot of sense.”

“Thanks, kid.” Cora shook his head as he furled himself into his coat with a dry sigh, “I do my best.”

The silence that came thereafter was comfortable. It was warm too, and as Rosinante adjusted himself to get more cozy, he realized Law was deadweight there beside him. Fast asleep. Arms wrapped around his waist. He kept a hand on the kid’s shoulder and let his head tip back against the tree trunk. Let the evening breeze carry him into a gentle slumber himself.

In his dream, he was falling. A nasty, reoccurring dream. Sometimes he fell forever and woke feeling dizzy. Sometimes he crashed somewhere harsh, unforgiving, and woke with a start.

This time, when he landed, there was someone there to catch him. Someone with gloomy eyes and a spotted hat. He didn’t wake in a cold sweat. He stayed in that warm embrace, and held on as dearly as he could, treasuring every last heartbeat.

🧡 Warmth: share a snippet that gives you the warm fuzzies.

this one is so hard i feel like none of my oneshots give me the warm fuzzies hhhh they just aren't long enough to impact me. i wanted to avoid using 01746 since it has an oc and such a sad ending but. there's this conversation between rosinante and sora in chapter 42 that still hits me in the gut every time i reread it.

He ran his thumb along the rounded edge of the receiver. “You think you’d deny a promotion if it was offered?”

“I…it depends. I think the highest I would accept is vice admiral. Like Tsuru. Admirals…they have to respond to the nobles directly. I wouldn’t feel comfortable in that position.”

Rosinante knew that. Yet, somehow, hearing it spoken out loud brought a sharper sense of realization through him. “…yeah. I don’t really want to be an admiral, either.”

“I’d be happy as a commodore for the rest of my life.”

“I’d be happy as a commander for the rest of my life.” He mirrored, “I’d…I’d be happy as anything, really. As long as I could still reach out to Sengoku sometimes. Live with you.”

Sora laughed at the little addendum, “Live with me, huh? Audacious, Rosinante.”

“Pardon me for thinking of peaceful things when resisting the urge to blow up this pirate hellhole.”

“You’re pardoned. You were a chore boy, after all, you’d be great at folding laundry.”

“Can’t believe I almost forgot about your chore boy obsession.” He snickered, rising up to his feet, “But…seriously, I…well, I guess this is a conversation for another day. We can figure out what to do with our lives after I lock Doffy up.”

A hopeful sigh. “Yeah. I’d love to have that conversation. I think you’ve been working for…a long, long time. And I think you at the least deserve a vacation, if not…something more permanent, when this is sorted. You’ve done so much for us, Rosinante. I’m not Sengoku, but I have a feeling he would agree with me when I say, if you did retire after this…you’ve already put in a whole life’s worth of duty. There would be no hard feelings whatsoever.”

The weight that lifted from him felt near euphoric. Although, there was a pull there, a lingering thread tugging at his heart. “But…didn’t you want to squash pirates? Bring me around with you, as the clumsiest hero of all time?”

A little laugh. “Well, if you want. But…we don’t have to be marines to be heroes, right? We can figure it out later, okay, Rosi? Don’t stress about this. Focus on Corazón, on Doflamingo. I’ll be here when you get back. For whatever life hands us next.”

this ask was from this ask list here! thanks again!! ♥

#genwrites #i almost did that snippet of cora and law at the apothecary's from 01746 instead of the sorazon #but then that'd be 2 cora and laws #don't want to beat you over the head with them #don't be fooled tho 01746 is 20% fluff and 80% plot and misery #i'm also shocked that i didn't link a modern au for either of these #but i think when the fluff hits in a sad canon story #it REALLY hits #donquixote rosinante #corazon one piece #trafalgar law #one piece original character #one piece oc #01746

[savage-rhi]

Mending Shadows // Chapter 10

Summary:

Y/N was a simple Scavenger of Lucis, until meeting a deadly blow at the hands of an infected creature. At the crossroads of death, they are found by Niflheim’s cryptic Chancellor with his own agenda. Now bonded to Ardyn Izunia, and tossed into the world of Niflheim, Y/N struggles to cope with their new life as an Imperial Icon all the while battling their feelings toward their fate and that of Ardyn’s.

Click here to read on AO3

An anguished rasp fell from Y/N's lips. The monotonous sound echoed throughout the large room, bouncing off tapestry and miscellaneous objects. Somehow they managed to force the upper half of their body to rise from the bed. They could feel the soft tug of the thin black blanket against their flesh, adding a further bite to the musculoskeletal pain that coursed through them in fractured waves. 

In the corner of Y/N's vision, they could see faint black spots poking about. The room began to mold and shift. Multicolor vertigo was the best way Y/N could describe the experience to themself. Only after blinking a few times did they regain control, and the room returned to its natural state. Through shallow breath, Y/N examined their chest and arms. Scourge veins tugged underneath their skin before coming to a standstill.

“Gods,” Y/N muttered under faint breath. Their hands rummaged through their hair, massaging at the tender points of their scalp while they contemplated. 

It had been three days since landing in Niflheim, and three days since they had last seen Ardyn. As soon as the Commodore dropped them off at the palace, Y/N recalled being spirited away to Ardyn’s residence by the Imperial Help. They were more or less maids and butlers from what Y/N could gather. Y/N recalled there being no time for introduction, for the helpers worked like drones to a beehive and ushered them off with great urgency. When Y/N had pressed about Ardyn, they were only told that he ordered for them to be confined and monitored until his return. Whatever he was up to was anybody's guess. 

On the second day, Y/N had been given a little more information. No one was to go in or out of the residence beside Ardyn himself, or the Imperial Help whom were personally handpicked by the Palace Warden--a man who basically kept the palace tidy and in one piece. Secondly, the assigned Imperial Help were made aware that Y/N was sick, and to keep reasonable distance, yet answer to their needs. 

Y/N's mind traveled to the Palace Warden. They didn't like him. For the brief moment the two met while being escorted, Y/N could feel his unease and his repulsion toward them. The hardened stare he gave had Y/N think about Ardyn’s words on the airship, how it would be easy for them to acclimate to Niflheim. 

Easier said than done, Ardyn… Y/N thought before taking in a deep breath. What sort of shit have you dragged me into...? 

Y/N remembered the dam breaking on the first night. Between the cold welcome and altercation they had with Ardyn aboard the airship prior to landing, the scourge attempted to seduce Y/N into making them give into the darkness. Be it spite or not wanting to let their own fears be their undoing, Y/N fought it off long enough to find the strength to sleep. Their bravado didn't stop the plush pillows from being stained with tears, and even residue from the scourge. Y/N was shocked the Imperial Help hadn't noticed the peculiar fluids, or perhaps they were persuaded to turn the other cheek. Given the kind of power Ardyn held as Chancellor, there was no telling what the truth was there. 

Feeling done reminiscing, Y/N gathered up their courage to get out of bed. Cold tremors radiated up and down their legs while they planted their feet on the marble floor. Y/N's toes flexed and then they rose up, nearly stumbling over themself. 

“I feel like a newborn anak,” Y/N murmured bitterly to themself. They swallowed back a wince and proceeded to throw on a dark robe that was placed at the foot of the bed. 

Yawning, Y/N weakly shuffled out of the guest room and into the main hall. They hadn’t fully explored Ardyn’s palace residence. Three days wasn’t long enough to be thorough. If Y/N had to wager, his space was the equivalent of a five story house given the rooms alone. It was hard to believe that something this big dwelled within the palace itself. Even when Y/N had worked with well-off clients as a Scavenger, the homes paled in comparison to what they currently beheld. 

“Good morning,” A voice emerged from the hall that had Y/N freeze. The two Imperial Helpers offered apologetic gestures. "Forgive us for the scare! We were just coming to check on you." 

Y/N shook their head, not having the strength to tell them not to fret. “What time is it?” 

“It’s almost nine in the morning,” The eldest between the two stated. “We haven’t heard anything from Chancellor Izunia, besides to ensure you remain comfortable.” 

“Of course,” Y/N whispered to themself. Their gaze went to the large windows nearby. In the distance were mountains covered in snow as far as the eye could see. While not unending like Insomnia, Y/N could feel the city's persona leeching through it’s architecture. They felt so small compared to it, and their heart deeply pounded. 

“A pardon,” The younger helper beckoned, providing a distraction unknowingly for Y/N. “The Chancellor ordered an array of fruits and other foods for you to try out for breakfast today. We notified him you hadn’t eaten much.” 

Y/N furrowed their brows. “I don’t think I have it in me, but thank you.” 

The younger helper nodded. “Would you like us to make your bed?” 

“No!” Y/N interjected quickly. They sighed through their nose, seeing the astonishment from the two helpers. "No, I can do it myself later. If it's all the same, I need some space. I'm...not exactly a morning person."

“Should you need us, we’ll be tidying up around here. One of our associates, Tuti, is in the kitchen preparing plates for you.” 

“Thanks,” As the helpers bowed and walked past them, Y/N felt self conscious. The people who had been assigned to care for them had been cautious but kind, and Y/N couldn’t help but contemplate if they had been treating them all like crap given their disdain toward Ardyn's lack of communication, and how terrible their body felt. Y/N made a mental note to themself to apologize later when and if they could recover from this flare up. 

“They don’t deserve this,” Y/N thought aloud. “Hell, I don’t deserve any of this…” 

Y/N walked a while through the corridors of Ardyn’s residence. After feeling a flood of emotions looking out the windows upon Gralea, they didn’t bother to take in the rest of his decorum, aside from briefly peering into a room that was filled with nothing but books. Y/N’s eyes lingered on a large table at the center, where several books lay open with pages that had been marked and tagged. Whatever Ardyn was pursuing, he seemed rigorous. Y/N knew he was intelligent, but being a rabid reader wasn’t something they could see Ardyn do for pleasure. A part of Y/N wanted to have a look at his bookmarks and notes for curiosity sake, but they decided against it. 

Rounding a corner, after exiting a hall, Y/N pushed open the doors to the kitchen. It was a rather small dwelling compared to the other rooms in Ardyn’s home. Deep blue tiles lined the counter where the sink, cabinets and other cooking utensils were. The rich color contrasted with the whites and blacks throughout the room. The kitchen looked almost modern middle class, had it not been for the beautiful chandelier that hung above the kitchen island that was at the center. Y/N’s eyes immediately settled on the marble texture of it, and what was on top. 

An array of exotic colors had Y/N’s eyes widen with awe. The whole table was stacked with fruits, pastries, rich meats, and other snacks. They tried to find something familiar among the mountain of treats, but to no avail. All the food was unknown to them, and Y/N had a feeling the majority had to be imported from places such as Tenebrae or Accordo. 

Once the initial shock wore off, did Y/N’s mind wander. Why did Ardyn order enough food to feed a small army for one person? Was the question that danced around in their head before being flooded by homesickness. While Y/N wasn’t too picky with food, they had their preferred comfort meals: dishes that got them through times of bounty and times of strife.  Y/N swallowed, once more reminding themself that there was nothing familiar here. It further turned them off from wanting to try and eat, yet they forced themself to look for something tasty since their stomach began to rumble. 

As soon as Y/N grasped at a spiky yellow fruit that emitted a citrus smell, their hand seized up. Y/N dropped the fruit as a constrictive wave ran down the length of their arm and to their neck. The pain felt like a million hornets bit down on their skin, and they yelled aloud. Y/N stumbled forward, falling against the kitchen island, and tumbled over some of the food trays. 

The commotion must’ve been quite extensive, for the Imperial Helpers from earlier came bolting through the kitchen doors. While Y/N had shut their eyes to give themself relief from the sudden onslaught, their ears pinpointed where the helpers feet bounded across the flooring. Y/N’s pulse rose, fearing with the proximity, the two might see the scourge on them. 

“Heavens, are you alright?” The eldest of the two gasped, and gestured for her younger associate to assess Y/N for damage. The younger woman didn’t hesitate to put their palm upon Y/N’s forehead, trying to take their temperature. She let out a yelp when Y/N’s body flinched and moved away. 

“N-no, no thanks,” Y/N raised their left arm in protest, not realizing they almost slapped the poor girl. “I slipped and fell. It’s--it’s nothing.” 

“They’re burning up,” The younger woman said as she looked to her older peer for advice. “Should I go draw a bath?” 

“Yes, and quickly.” 

“I don’t want your help, please just give me space. I’ve dealt with this for a while, I got it.” Y/N protested. 

“The Chancellor would be infuriated with us if we didn’t care for you. Please, let’s get you on your feet.” 

“Where on Eos is Tuti when you need her?” 

As if on cue, Y/N heard another pair of shoes running to the scene. The kitchen doors swung open with a creak, and the sound of panting echoed throughout the room. 

“I-I heard something! Is everyone okay?!" 

The near squeaky voice was strong enough to force Y/N’s head to tilt upward. They watched in confusion as the woman known as Tuti, immediately had her hands cover her mouth in shock at seeing the sight before her. Tuti’s wide eyes bounced between her colleagues. 

The elder woman glared. “Where in the six hells have you been?!" 

“I-I was making sure that the last of the Chancellor’s clothes were taken to the laundry facility. I swear I was coming right back to prepare the last of the food!” 

“How you got this job is beyond me…” The older helper scoffed. She turned her attention to her younger associate. “You take the Chancellor’s guest on the right, while I get their left.” 

“N-no. I don’t want to be touched!” Y/N protested. They could see the MedZin soldiers reaching out for them, and could feel mud caked on their teeth from the night the imperial soldiers kicked them down. Y/N knew it was irrational--these women wouldn't harm them--but their body was triggered into a fright. 

“You need to cool off. A bath will do you some good.” The woman argued, pleadingly. 

“You’re supposed to help me right? Well do that, leave me alone!” 

“H-hold up!” Tuti briskly walked over, putting herself between Y/N and her colleagues. She gestured her arms out to emphasize no one was coming further than the boundary she set, and turned her back to Y/N while addressing her peers. 

“Gals, let me take it from here. I know we have so much work to do, and you both are by far better at the Chancellor’s menial tasks than I am. If it’s all the same, I can tackle this situation while you two catch up on the rest of the chores the Palace Warden assigned us.” 

The two helpers looked over Tuti as if she was dumber than a bag of rocks, but after casting their frustrated stares toward Y/N, they both came to a silent agreement with Tuti’s request. 

“If there’s any trouble, call on us.” The older helper said firmly. She gave Y/N a final look, shook her head, then gestured for her younger associate to follow. 

Y/N closed their eyes and flinched when they heard the kitchen doors shut with a thud. The judgmental look from the older woman imprinted itself in Y/N’s mind. So much for acclimating…Y/N couldn’t help but think to themself.

The pitter patter of Tuti’s shoes pulled Y/N out of their head, as they came face to face with the puffy haired blonde who had crouched by their side. She reminded Y/N of a an actress in an old black and white film; someone who dressed older, but had a naïve innocence to them, especially their features. 

“Gretchen and Kaya mean well, they just have...off days, y’know?” Tuti laughed nervously, trying to lighten up the situation. 

“I understand,” Y/N quietly replied then grimaced. “It can’t be easy taking orders from Ardyn.” 

Tuti’s eyes widened. “You’re on a first name basis with the Chancellor?” 

“Yeah?” Y/N quirked a brow. 

“F-forgive me,” Tuti gave a half bow with head while her right hand went over her heart to convey her sincerity. “That’s not my business!"  

“The gods aren’t going to strike where you stand because you got curious,” Y/N huffed, smiling for a moment before their features saddened. “They wouldn’t do that, especially not for a Scavenger.” 

“In that case,” Tuti perked up, going back to her perky demeanor from just moments before. “Can I please take you to the Chancellor’s bathroom? L-Look, you don’t have to bathe like Gretchen and Kaya were implying, but you truly look unwell hon, and I’d at least like to brush your hair and get some of those knots out.” 

Y/N wanted to protest, but they had a few things going against them: one, not having the energy to expend, and secondly Tuti’s overall peppy demeanor didn’t leave room for dwelling in negativity. Her coy behavior had Y/N being mindful of their own frustrations, not wanting to take things out on someone that seemed to get anxious real fast. Y/N sighed in defeat, and nodded. 

“Let’s just take things a step at a time,” Y/N said and slowly got to their feet. 

“Y-you won’t regret it! I promise! I’m very gentle with hair brushing!” Tuti exclaimed, offering a hand to Y/N. Her smile grew when Y/N took her off after hesitating. She led Y/N through the kitchen, and living room space until they were on the other side of Ardyn’s residence. 

Submerged in a tub of hot water an hour later, Y/N was stumped at how Tuti managed to persuade them into this. They couldn’t believe how the act of brushing someone’s hair led to a plethora of conversations, and ultimately, to being drawn a bath. Y/N swore Tuti was either good at reverse psychology, or was genuinely gifted at making people feel at ease. Her kind disposition had calmed Y/N down a great deal from earlier. 

“I never knew Niflheim had an entertainment industry,” Y/N genuinely remarked while Tuti grabbed a lotion bottle, squirting the contents into her palms. Y/N could feel her small fingertips rake against their shoulders. For a petite gal, Y/N had to admit Tuti had a tight grasp. They grit their teeth, not having the heart to tell Tuti she was being rough. 

“Oh believe me, we do! Theaters, movie productions, you name it!” Tuti chuckled enthusiastically before she sadly sighed. “Unfortunately, the war has sucked away much of those little joys. N-not that I am complaining! I know our country has to do it’s thing, but I rather miss going to the movies every week. There was always something exciting coming out! Thank the gods we are getting drive in locations to make up for the main theaters closing down!” 

“Do you have any films you’d recommend seeing?"

“Oh yes!” Tuti excitedly stated. “Gods in The Sylleblossoms is a great one. The plot is a little sappy, but it’s my guilty pleasure!” 

“Can you give me a summary without spoilers?” Y/N grinned. 

“Well,” Tuti sighed contently while applying some warm water to Y/N’s scalp. “It’s based on an old tale about a God that was exiled from his pantheon. He’s locked away in a cave, breaks out, and meets a human. I’ll spare you anything further, you should see it for yourself!” 

Y/N couldn’t help but freeze momentarily while seeing the coincidences between the film and their situation with Ardyn. The irony was enough to make them chuckle, shaking their head in disbelief. 

“What’s so funny?” Tuti smiled. 

“Nothing, it just hit a little close to home.” 

“Speaking of home,” Tuti giggled. “Are you going to be staying here long term with the Chancellor?” 

“I don’t know,” Y/N murmured. They debated with themself before continuing. “I’m...actually not from Niflheim."

“Y-you’re not?” 

“Nope,” Y/N shook their head. 

“May I ask where you hail from?” 

“It’s complicated,” Y/N said after letting out a sigh they had been holding inside their chest for a while.

“I see,” Tuti quietly replied.  

The bathroom fell silent, and Y/N pondered if they should’ve said anything at all regarding where they were from. Although Tuti seemed genuine and compassionate, Y/N reminded themself that they were a mouse in a den of snakes; a Lucian mingling with Imperials on their turf. Y/N decided it was perhaps best to redirect the conversation until they could come up with a grounded answer. 

“Tuti?” 

“Y-yes?” 

“Are you afraid of me?” Y/N asked. The thought couldn’t be helped after the long pause, and seeing how Tuti was glancing everywhere as if trying to preoccupy her mind with something else. 

“Not at all!” Tuti quickly responded and focused her attention back on Y/N. “I apologize I’m a bit scattered, and I’d be lying if I didn’t want to pry further about you and the Chancellor. You see, he normally doesn’t ask for our services. Actually, this is the first time I myself have set foot here, in his residency. I normally service the councilmen’s chambers and the Eastern Hall of the palace. Word of mouth among colleagues is that Chancellor Izunia prefers to take care of domestic tasks himself.” 

“Is that so?” Y/N made a face. Given Ardyn’s haughty nature, Y/N expected he would’ve been well-pampered when it came to his status. They closed their eyes, trying to focus on the heat of the water and not so much the heat of their disappointment in Ardyn breaking his promise to them. They made a fist underwater, happy the herbs in the tub made the water murky to where Tuti couldn't see their scourge patches. 

“If you don’t mind me asking,” Tuti cleared her throat, pulling Y/N out of their thoughts. “What’s your business with the Chancellor? You don’t have to answer, but he never has company er...not in this fashion.”

“I’m--” Before Y/N could respond, the large doors to the bathroom opened. Tuti stood up immediately from the stool by the tub and performed a half bow and awaited direction. To Y/N, her stance was perfect if one were a soldier and not a palace maid, minus the fearful trembling. Y/N couldn’t see Ardyn, but they imagined the fierce gaze he must’ve held.

“Leave us,” Ardyn commanded.

Tuti gave another bow and sent a half smile toward Y/N before briskly walking out of the bathroom and shutting the doors behind her.

Y/N gulped while facing forward in the tub. The last thing they wanted to do was look upon him. The heavy footsteps of Ardyn's boots echoed throughout the bathroom, and each movement made Y/N’s body tense up. The scourge flare on their abdomen inflamed and caused them to grimace. The reaction had Ardyn briefly stop in his tracks before he pressed on. 

“Well,” Y/N breathed. “You must feel like a conquering hero for scaring away a chambermaid.” 

Ardyn chuckled. “My, my, I didn’t realize the undead had much spunk these days.”

“If you didn’t leave this corpse high and dry, perhaps you would’ve noticed.” 

“Ah, do forgive me,” Ardyn sighed as he feigned sincerity. “It’s not like I didn’t have an empire to keep afloat. You seem to have taken the liberty of making yourself feel at home without my assistance nonetheless.”

“Oh, I certainly have,” Y/N bitterly quipped. “And you wasted a ton of gil ordering me enough food to feed a village.” 

“Can you blame a man for attempting to be hospitable?” Ardyn stated as a matter of fact then chortled. “I don’t know the first thing you like, so why not sample the best of the best? It’s not everyday I get to indulge in somebody else besides myself.” 

“There’s a thing called friends, and you could do that for them instead of me.” Y/N coldly murmured. 

“I heard that,” Ardyn huffed. He lowered his voice. “And like it or not, I may be the only friend you have left in the world.” 

It wasn’t long before Ardyn was standing next to the tub and sat down on the stool where Tuti once was. He rolled up his sleeves and picked up one of the bottles of shampoo. As soon as he uncapped it, Y/N firmly addressed him. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” 

“What does it look like?” Ardyn countered sarcastically. “You’re in no condition to be doing this by yourself. Not with the scourge flare you’re dealing with currently.” 

“I was doing just fine with that Imperial Help you dismissed,” Y/N muttered. “I need someone else to talk to around here besides you.” 

“I can easily arrange that, but not if you keep coping an attitude,” Ardyn warned. “And a word to the wise, Imperial Help are prone to spreading unsightly rumors. I’d prefer you didn’t get too close to their company.” 

“She was kind to me,” Y/N said in Tuti’s defense. 

“She was prying for information, nothing more,” Ardyn firmly said as a matter of fact. “I know how these people work. I’ve spent a lifetime among them. Now lean your head back.” 

Y/N shook their head, keeping their gaze averted from his. It was in a vain attempt to not acknowledge his presence, but that was becoming increasingly hard by the minute. Ardyn’s scent permeated the space. Even the scourge inside of Y/N’s body made it well known that it could tell its master was near. 

“What’s the catch to this?” Y/N probed in between waves of pain. 

“I merely wish to help,” Ardyn said in a mendacious tone. He furrowed his brows. “And you and I remain needing to have a conversation about our next steps.” 

“And there it is…the catch.”

With resentment, they complied with Ardyn’s earlier request. Y/N cautiously tilted their head back. Their body shuddered when they felt the cold dollop of the shampoo on their head, only to have the sensation soothed out by his fingertips gently rubbing circles into their hair and scalp. 

“Where were you these past few days?” 

“I told you, taking care of an empire.” Ardyn smirked. “My world doesn’t revolve around you, for the record.” 

“I’ll alert the media.” 

Y/N was surprised at how gentle Ardyn was. Compared to Tuti, his touch was more delicate. This didn’t mean that Y/N wasn’t on edge though. The silence in between them felt intimidating.

“You promised Ardyn,” Y/N murmured bitterly, breaking the quiet while trying not to sob. “I did everything you asked without complaint. I don’t see the point in prolonging my pain. It hurts really bad. I can’t move without there being a struggle.” 

“I am well aware of the oath I made to you,” Ardyn said, as he gathered up water from the tub with a small cup. “Unfortunately, we’ve hit many setbacks. I don’t need to be reminded.” 

“Then when will you do it?” Y/N asked. 

“When we are both in a position where it’s safe,” Ardyn slowly began to pour the cup over Y/N’s hair with one hand while the other carefully rinsed through their hair. 

“I don’t know to what extent the damage that serum has done to my body. It would be a shame to kill you off only to find out I needed you further for that. Then there’s the political piece. Emperor Aldercapt has yet to be made aware of your presence, however it’s only a matter of time before someone tattles. He despises Lucians, and I daresay more than myself. Protocol during wartime is if the enemy comes upon Niflheim territory, and if they are not a representative, execution is fair game.” 

“You could have him make the arrangement to kill me. Your hands wouldn’t be tied,” Y/N suggested. They felt Ardyn’s hand briefly grasp hard onto a lock of their hair, only to let it go soon after. 

“I will not have him drag you away to be butchered like cattle,” Ardyn glared. Catching himself becoming sentimental, he continued before Y/N had the opportunity to question his behavior. “I promised a clean death. Aldercapt will give you no such courtesy. I have conjured up a proposition that I think will benefit us both in these circumstances.” 

“Like I have much of a choice,” Y/N sighed. “What are you proposing?” 

“Thought you’d never ask,” Ardyn mused darkly. Once the water and suds were out of Y/N’s hair, Ardyn grabbed a bottle of conditioner he liked and squirted some onto his hand. He carefully massaged it into Y/N’s hair while explaining himself. 

“I want you to visualize this with me: a beautiful Lucian, tired of the ills of the war, and mistreated by their own, flees their homeland in search of asylum in Tenebrae. The seas are unkind to our hero, and so they find themself stranded along the shores of Niflheim. As fate would have it, they are found by the empires Chancellor himself. After sharing their tale of woe, the Chancellor takes the Lucian under his wing, and integrates them into Niflheim culture. The Lucian is so grateful, that they in return help promote Niflheim as an icon of sorts, demonstrating the empires generosity. The founding day of the empire is at the end of the month. I believe that would be the most opportune time to make your debut." 

Ardyn’s words felt like a wave. One moment Y/N was high above the surf with their head in the clouds, only to crash into the coral reefs under the deep blue. All things considered, the story was seamless; a little too perfect. 

“You used the lie I told the commodore and built around that.” Y/N murmured, shaking their head as awe and disbelief embraced Y/N while they let out a laugh. “I can’t believe you.” 

“Does that upset you?” 

“Does it matter?” Y/N asked, peering around to look Ardyn. Y/N could’ve sworn there was concern in his eyes for them, even as he averted his gaze and smirked. Y/N faced forward again, and Ardyn returned to his ministrations. 

“I don’t think this is going to work, Ardyn.” Y/N sighed. 

“And why is that?” 

“Call it a gut feeling,”

“Enlighten me.” He mused. 

“I’m a Scavenger. The only people I’ve ever been around, have been middle class, poor, and poverty poor. I don’t know the first thing about the people you hang with, how the chain of command works, none of it. These past few days just staying here where you live, I feel like a fish out of water and I’m suffocating. It’s too much. All of it.” Y/N’s muscles tensed the longer they thought about it, especially when their feelings surrounding Ardyn’s absence came forth, how they needed him to stay tethered to the world. They didn’t have the courage to tell Ardyn though, much less thought he’d care. 

“There’s a simple solution: I’ll educate you,” Ardyn ignored Y/N’s other comments for the moment. “I’ve already carved out time in my schedule to ensure you’re prepared. You’re my champion in this mess. Did you really think I would throw you to the wolves so easily?” 

“Well, despite us being scourge buddies, I don’t know a lot about you. So it’s hard to say if you would do something like that.” 

“Pardon?” 

“You’re always hot and cold. It’s exhausting trying to figure you out.” 

“You know enough, so don’t hurt your head.” Ardyn murmured. He stopped cleaning Y/N, and reached for a small towel nearby to dry his hands. “I take it we are in agreement with this arrangement?” 

“I have the illusion of choice, so it’s not like it matters if I say yes or no.” 

“What if I told you it did matter?” 

“Then I would say, who are you, and what have you done with Ardyn?” 

He couldn’t help but laugh at the sarcasm behind the seriousness of Y/N’s reply. His rumble of his laugh echoed in bathroom, bouncing off tiled walls and plants that were hung up around the ceiling. 

“I’m being serious,” Ardyn’s tone lowered. There was a gentle touch to his cadence as he continued. “As much as I don’t want to venture back to the drawing board, I will do so if I don’t have your compliance.” 

Y/N swallowed. “Why are you being nice to me all of a sudden?” 

Ardyn ruminated over the question for a bit of time, humming here and there before he settled with himself. “Maybe some part of me missed you. At least the half of you that isn’t gunning for my throat. I’ve heard of long distance relationships being a thing these days, but never long distance rage. You’ve certainly opened my eyes to the possibility.” 

Y/N tried hard not to smile, but they were beaming from ear to ear and even grinned. They looked away before they could see how Ardyn mirrored them. He rubbed the side of his neck, taken back by his own jest and sighed while rising to his feet. 

Ardyn rummaged through the pocket of his pants, and pulled a bottle of pills out. He gave the contents a few playful shakes, making eye contact with Y/N when they tore their gaze off the bottle. 

“What is that?” 

“A little welcome gift from Chief Besithia, an esteemed colleague of mine you’ll meet soon enough.” Ardyn chuckled. He walked to the counter nearby a large sink, and sat the bottle down before tilting his head toward Y/N. 

“Take two every six hours. It’ll make the pain bearable when I’m not around to ease the scourge inside you. I can get refills on your behalf should you run out.” 

That’s when Y/N had the epiphany that they were not in any pain. During the majority of the conversation with Ardyn, the scourge had tampered down and dare say went dormant. It dawned on Y/N why Ardyn was adamant about helping them wash: it gave him access to touching them. 

Y/N’s mind traveled back to the inn, how Ardyn held them close and touched their waist, concentrating the scourge to a single point and then easing it away. There was a reason why it felt so soothing having him wash their hair, and while their discussion was important, he used it to achieve another end. 

“Thank you.”

Ardyn blinked when he caught onto the gears turning in Y/N’s head, and before another word was spoken, he gave a nod, tipped his hat toward them and headed for the exit. 

#mending shadows #chapter 10 #ardyn izunia #ardyn lucis caelum #ffxv ardyn #ardyn x reader #ardyn x you #gender neutral reader #gender neutral y/n #ffxv fanfic #fanfic

[mvrtogg]

@ashortdropandasuddenstop gets a plotted starter!

It had been another less than eventful day for the crew of the Dauntless. The crew were still trying to find the Black Pearl but at the moment, they had a short few days of rest. They managed to make port somewhere, Murtogg only assumed it was for morale reasons. Which he was happy to have, the job was fairly stressful but nothing he couldn't handle. The crew had a few skirmishes with pirates and both times, the marine found himself being bested in sword fighting. He wasn't bad by no means, he was actually quite good, he was just ... being bested by pirates of all people.

He had found himself wanting to get better. He tried to find someone to spare with him, but most of the Dauntless crew rejected his offers. Mullroy wasn't the best person to be asking either, and he was uninterested in even attempting to help him. He had thought to asked Commodore Norrington, but for some reason he was afraid that he was caught going to him for various things -- someone would catch wind of their ... meetings. This was something that could ruin both of them. Yet, Murtogg once again found himself going to the one person who'd be willing to help him.

The marine found his partner fairly quickly, still aboard the Dauntless. He was curious to why he was aboard the ship when the crew was making their brief stay on land. He didn't think much of it and figured maybe it was for the best. After all, he was the commanding officer, he had a lot to do on the ship. Murtogg already had his standard issued cutlass in hand ( or rather by his side ) when he made his way aboard the ship. It was a bit eerie how silent it was with nobody aboard.

He had looked around the ship, finding Norrington fairly quickly. "Sir, maybe I have a word?" he stated, out of habit he kept referring to him as sir, even if they were on a first name basis. Murtogg cleared his throat, looking the man over sheepishly. Trying to relax a bit, they were friends and he shouldn't be so formal all the time. "I've been wanting to work on my swordsmanship, but none of the crew are interesting in helping me. I figure to come ask you, since I know you're good with a sword and all. Best person I know that can handle a sword, if I'm honest." he complimented him with a grin.

#[ verse: main. ] #ashortdropandasuddenstop

[random-of-random]

The Pirate Queen

Chapter 3 - The Ball

If anyone ever said pirates weren’t efficient, they should be told the tale of Alice and her crew getting ready to host a ball for a new Commodore.

Hiding anything suspicious was the easy part. The locked extra pantry was plenty enough to stow away any of the papers they needed to keep from prying eyes. Their gear was locked into trunks in their personal rooms.

What wasn’t easy was shelling out the money for caterers and extra servants to make the night perfect. While they had the money, Alice had made a fortune sailing with Sam Bellamy and then even more in her exploits, they all hated spending it on posh pricks who would more likely give them a bullet than the time of day under normal circumstances.

Most pirates on ships had duel roles. Everyone chipped in, and just like on a ship, the men dove head first into getting ready.

By the time the night arrived everything was absolutely perfect.

Three of the men would be carefully and quietly sneaking into the Fort while the rest of the town partied at the mansion, courtesy of Vicountess Somers. Their goal was it make it seem like no one have ever been there. They didn’t want to get captured, and they didn’t want to have to kill. Alice and her crew took a page from Sam Bellamy - they didn’t kill if they didn’t have to.

The men left before the extra servants arrived for the night, and Alice went upstairs to get ready. Edward stayed at the mansion, her even present bodyguard.

When he knocked at the door to her room to let her know guests arrived, he couldn’t help but smile.

“You may not be a noble, but you wear the outfits quite well.” She turned to look at him with a smile on her face.

“Let’s be honest, I look better in trousers and my jacket.”

He motioned to her dress. “I see you’ve picked your signature color.” The red dress was her most fashionable. Bright red, matching the bow weaved intricately through her hair. Instead of an updo, she wore her hair down. The black hair fanned across the red dress she had commissioned to match that bow. The dress itself was more old fashioned than she had been wearing and the corset fit just perfectly. There were no color accents except around the sleeves and chest, and was intricately woven with gold and red fabric.

“Well, I wanted to stay partly me.”

“I wish Sam could see this.” Edward said and Alice took a calming breath.

“Me too.”

“Where should I wait during dinner?”

“You’ll be next to me.” Alice said simply and Edward raised his eyebrows.

“I don’t think it’s proper to have your bodyguard sitting at dinner. Robert would faint.”

Alice laughed. “Tonight is our last night with these people. I don’t particularly care what they think and they’re not going to question a noble.”

“Sounds good, Captain.” Edward was dressed in mostly black, fine quality that most would expect of a bodyguard. “People are going to be arriving soon.”

“Alright, let’s get ready to play our parts.” She effortlessly switched into her posh accent.

There were murmurs throughout the party. The red was certainly making some heads turn. When Governor Swann and Elizabeth arrived Alice was there to greet them.

“Lady Frances, you look marvelous!” Elizabeth said with a smile. They two women held hands for a moment.

“As do you, Elizabeth.” Her dress was a light blue which paired with her quite well. Her hair had been curled delicately and put in an updo worthy of a coronation, she was sure of it.

“That is such a stunning color.” Governor Swann started. “You stand out, in the best way.”

“Thank you, Governor.” Alice replied, trying her best not to smirk. “I felt it was appropriate since the ball is on behalf of a member of the Navy. Navy blues seemed a bit too pompous, don’t you agree?”

Governor Swann searched for something to say as Elizabeth politely held her laugh behind her fan. “You look absolutely wonderful, Lady Frances.” He finally said. Safe, complimentary.

“Thank you, Governor.” From behind him she caught the eyes of James. “Please excuse me, sir. I want to wish the man of the night my congratulations.” As she made her way over, James couldn’t seem to even think. She was beautiful. James was in his Navy dress. An outfit that should send Alice’s anxiety shooting upward. Yet, she was sure she had never seen a man so handsome.

“Captain Norrington.” She curtsied and he bowed back. Alice knew that there couldn’t be a repeat of the night of the dinner. The best thing would be to treat James Norrington with civility and step away as quickly as she could.

“Thank you for your generosity with this night.” He started. “And, if I may say, you look absolutely beautiful, Lady Frances.”

“Thank you, Captain. It is a pleasure to celebrate you.” James could tell she was being more formal, putting more of a guard up. He had no right to wish for something different. To wish anything different was downright improper. “Please, enjoy yourself.” She curtsied again and turned to greet her other guests. The bow going through her raven hair caught his eye and something stirred in his memory. Just for one second a moment of fear crept into his mind, but he couldn’t, for the life of him, understand why.

As everyone made their way into the dining room, there were whispers at the fact that while Lady Frances sat at the head of the table, her own bodyguard was to her right. To her left was Governor Swann, beside him Elizabeth, and James was surprised to find himself placed next to her.

Once everyone was seated Lady Frances stood.

“Good evening. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves.” There was some murmurs of approval. “Tonight we are here to celebrate Captain James Norrington, who will not be called Captain in twenty-four hours. Now, I have only known Captain Norrington for a few short days. I could regale you all with the kindness and character he has shown me. However, I wanted someone who knows him more, who served with him, to speak here tonight. Lieutenant Groves, if you would please?”

A few seats down from Edward, Groves stood, and Alice took her seat. She knew her brain would betray her if she was forced to give a speech about James. She could hardly talk about how handsome he looks in the moonlight. She was supposed to be married. More than that, it was about to be James’ job to be in charge of hunting her and the people she cared about. The thought soured her mood considerably. More so when she realized she shouldn’t even be thinking about James Norrington. She should be wondering how we men were doing at the fort. By the time she came back into focus, Groves had finished his speech and she held up her glass in a toast before the first course.

Once the food was cleared and the band had begun to play, Alice whispered to Edward to go and be on the lookout for the returning men. The hope was they would be back quickly and efficiently. One of her men named Simon had offered to help in the kitchen. He had been a chef back in Ireland and then became the chef for her crew, and he would be waiting to move any papers to the locked pantry.

“My dear Lady Frances.” Governor Swann said as he walked up to her. “Would you honor me with a dance?” He held out his hand and she took it immediately.

“It would be a pleasure.” They danced to a lively tune. The laughter around the floor told her everyone seemed to be having a great time. She made sure they had enough stock of wine to last them, and making sure everyone was good and drunk could only help her in the long run.

As the Governor turned her she caught a glimpse of James who was dancing with Elizabeth. He was smiling, she was laughing. Alice felt a pang of jealousy go through her, but she quickly pushed that away. Any thoughts about her and James Norrington needed to stop at that moment. And, more than that, she knew he would make a great husband to Elizabeth. He was kind and gentle. When he showed emotion it was sincere. In the first night she had watched his eyes flicker to Elizabeth which such adoration. Alice knew she would be taken care of and loved. She couldn’t ask for more than that from two wonderful people.

The dance came to a close and there was a small round of applause. “Thank you for the wonderful dance, Governor.” He bowed. “If you would excuse me?”

“Of course.” He beamed. His cheeks were red from several glasses of wine and Alice found herself thinking that wasn’t a bad idea. Find a servant with the wine she took a glass for herself. When she turned back to the party she was surprised to see James walking toward her.

“Lady Frances.”

“Captain Norrington.” She acknowledged. “Are you having a good time?”

“I am, thank you.” He promised. “I came to ask if you would honor me with a dance.” She couldn’t say no. Maybe it was knowing that after tomorrow she would, hopefully, never see him again.

“I would be delighted-“ She was interrupted by Edward.

“I am terribly sorry, my Lady.” He bowed.

“What is it, Edward?” She asked.

“May I speak with you, privately?”

Her eyes turned to James. “My apologies, Captain.” She and Edward turned, heading for another room. James couldn’t pretend he wasn’t disappointed.

The study was a place she had wanted to spend more time in, if they had the time. It was dark wood with books lining the walls. Giles stood outside on guard to make sure no one came within earshot as Edward closed the door behind them.

“Is everyone alright?” Was her first question.

“Yes, everyone made it back safely.” Alice let out a sigh of relief. “They were in and out quickly, no one saw them. It’s what they found that’s concerning.”

“What did they find?” Alice asked.

“A list of spies for the Royal Navy and where they are located. Some are on Tortuga.” Her jaw clenched. “There’s also a few pirate havens that they know about. I think your Captain Norrington intends to go raid them after his promotion is made official.”

“Go, get Robert, will you?” She asked and Edward gave a quick nod before leaving. They would have a head start on anything Norrington had planned, which was key. She sat in silence for a few moments. If her mind wandered too far, she could almost feel tears threatening to spill. So, she pushed them down. Edward and Robert came back in a few minutes.

“Captain.” Robert acknowledged.

“I need you to get to the docs and get first passage that you can. You have to get to Tortuga as quickly as possible.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “Hopefully those pirate havens can be cleared out before the Royal Navy gets their hands on anyone. And make sure the right people in Tortuga know the names of the spies.”

“You can count on me Captain.”

“When you get to Tortuga send someone for us. We’ll want to leave late tomorrow night.”

“I will.”

“The winds be with you, Robert.” She shook his hand and he headed back out the door.

“What’s the plan?” Edward asked.

“Tomorrow, after the ceremony,” Alice started. “We will spend the day carefully packing, not drawing any attention. Once night falls we will gather everything up. We can’t leave a trace of us behind. Not a single piece of clothing.”

“Understood, Captain.”

“We will leave an urgent note with the Swann’s. My husband has taken ill and we were quickly recalled to England.”

“Will they believe it?” Edward asked.

Alice shrugged. “Once we’re back on the seas, it won’t matter.”

“I’ll start telling the men.” He said and she let out a soft sigh. “You should get back out there. The hostess will be missed.”

Alice seemed to clench her jaw. “I can do this for one more day.” He nodded before opening the door for her.

#james norrington #James Norrington x ofc #james norrington imagines #pirates of the caribbean

[ghostoftheyear]

The BFF and I are reminiscing about the early days of computers and the internet, and I have to share a few observations.

My first "computer" was a TI-99/4a, made by Texas Instruments (the calculator people). This was in 1983. It was similar to an Atari or Commodore-64 in that it could play games, but it could also be added on to with various hardware. My parents got hardcore into this. Aside from learning about programming, we also had a 300 baud acoustic modem - the kind you literally put the phone receiver on - and I was able to access local bulletin boards and talk to strangers from far away! V e r y s l o w l y. We later got more peripherals like a graphics card and a big old dot-matrix printer. I remember writing school papers on it.

The first computer that belonged to me was an Apple Mac LC that I got for college. It was super expensive and I still have the base somewhere, but the monitor is long gone. I went online with that thing with an external modem... I think the first one I got was a 14.4k. Yes, I did the whole AOL thing.

Internet services were preceded by these sort of walled-garden services like AOL (America Online), Compuserve, and Prodigy. I remember getting into RP forums on Prodigy (specifically for Pern and the Dragon Prince series), running up a huge bill, and getting it canceled. You could chat on these and participate in other activities like games (I remember winning a copy of one of Terry Brooks' novels on Prodigy, but there were no websites or anything like that.

For some time, when the first Internet service providers (ISPs) came into being, I worked at one, answering phones and doing some very basic tech support (literally "have you tried turning it off and on again"). I did billing as well, which was when I first learned that people just... didn't think they had to pay their bills. Three months of non-payment and their service would get cut off and they'd call in, livid. It was an experience. We also played lots of interoffice matches of DOOM and Quake, so it balanced out. I used to use my office computer to download sound clips from movies and parts of songs.

I only used Usenet a little, but it was a thriving community full of various posters and groups. My favorite group was probably alt.barney.die.die.die.

While working at the above ISP, I had to make a website so that I knew some HTML, since they actually wanted people to help customers with that. (I should add there were only like five employees there; the guy who started it up basically was using investment money from his dad. I also remember he tried to make me learn how to mess with circuit boards. I still don't know why he wanted to teach me, but no, I did not retain one single thing from that.) Anyway, I learned basic HTML, and I still have a website today that still uses exceedingly basic HTML.

Can you imagine calling Comcast today and going "yes, I'm struggling with this bit of javascript here, I expect you to help me."

No, because even if you pay them four times what you paid my ISP back then (I think it was around $30 a month for a dedicated DNS), they would tell you to look up a tutorial on youtube.

I don't remember when we switched to 24/7 connections and cable internet and broadband and everything, but I can tell you that I remember getting online, checking my email, going on IRC for a little bit, looking at websites, maybe doing some RP on a MUSH, and then logging off and shutting it down at the end of the night. We didn't expect everyone to be THERE all the time.

Although while I was still with the ISP, I used to get on PernMUSH NC first thing in the morning and sit there all day so my name would be at the bottom of the user list. Because that was a powerful status to have.

My ex and I would trade off computer time. We didn't even play games that needed to be connected to the Internet. We did other things. Can you imagine?

I downloaded So Much Shit from Napster. So. Much. (A lot of it was mislabeled garbage, too. You wouldn't believe how many crappy "parody" songs got attributed to Weird Al.) Didn't use Limewire nearly as much because it was so riddled with viruses. Damn you, Lars Ulrich.

Those days were wild. You could find the worst shit online, but also some of the best. People used Tripod and Geocities and mailing lists and Usenet, just every kind of thing to connect to each other. I had a site just for my fanfic, and I hosted friends on it and even designed their sites. Before AO3, before Livejournal, we were making it work any way we could. I still remember the Outside the Lines mailing list for comic fandom and how people would post full fics on there. And others would complain that not enough Dark Horse comics were getting fics. Some things never do change.

We also regularly got secondary phone lines so that we could use the modem and not be interrupted by phone calls, or have people scream that they'd been trying to call us for hours. Everything had to be connected by wires. If you wanted to game with your friends, you took your PC (and monitor and anything else you needed) over to their house, plugged in and had a LAN party.

Or if you just wanted to browse the Internet without your own PC, you'd go to an Internet cafe and rent one for a couple hours. Sit there, have your coffee and go online.

Everything is different these days. Everyone is connected, online, all the time, and you're practically not allowed to be disconnected. You must be available at all times. As nice as it is to get all our information quickly, I do kind of miss when the Internet wasn't so omnipresent. I could do without what social media has done to us, too. And I really miss MUDs and MUSHes. Text based games where you could RP or just wander around killing mobs.

Anyway, it's been an interesting experience growing up through all of this. I never would have imagined having a phone with all my music and the Internet on it, but they're just ubiquitous now. Strange to think of not having it everywhere I go, and WiFi for everything.

#computers #the internet #the old times #i'm sure there's a lot i haven't included

[jacksparrowfanpage]

"It looks better on you."

Requested by @Anonymous (If this isn’t what you imagined, I am happy to rewrite it!) 

Prompt #: 8

#: "Are you wearing my shirt?"

(This will take place when Norrington is aboard the Black Pearl, hence that Norrington is on Jack’s side.) 

Norrington sat on the steps that led to the helm of the ship, looking out at the waves. He had joined under Jack Sparrow’s command about three months ago, and hasn’t regretted it yet. The freedom he had now was something he wouldn’t ever give away. He didn’t feel the pressure from commanding officers, and knew if he even messed up in the slightest he wouldn’t be sent to the gallows. 

He even found love on the Pearl. Someone that he had least expected in his life.

Captain Jack Sparrow. 

Taking a deep breath, he stood up. James finally lost the tacky white wig and hat, and was just him. That was a while ago though. The sun finally started to peak out from the horizon. The sunset was something that James did enjoy watching, it was something peaceful in his drama filled life. But he wouldn’t change it for anything. 

He felt another presence creep up behind him, and he already knew who it was. A rough hand settled on the commodore's shoulder, “It’s rather early, luv.” Sleepiness overwhelmed the Captain’s tone of voice, which startled James a tad bit. 

“I know.” James said, looking slightly down at the other. Jack sighed, sitting down on the hard floor of the ship, leaning against the rail. Since it was so early in the morning, all of the rest of the crew was either asleep or doing something else. 

Gazing at the Captain for a moment, James finally noticed that Jack was wearing James’ old leather coat. For Jack being a person that radiated heat, he was always cold for some reason or another. Even on the hottest days of the year. James chuckled lightly, sitting down next to his lover. “I believe you should wear my clothing more often, Captain Jack Sparrow.” 

“Wait.. this isn’t my own?” Jack looked down, a confused look on the pirates’ face. “No, It is not.” James said, a content smile on his face. “I think, I’m not going to be changing out of this coat of yours. I rather like it.” Jack said, leaning his head against the commodore’s shoulder. 

“I rather like it on you than me, didn’t know something could ever look so good.” Jack and James usually spent the morning times together, but it usually wasn’t up on deck. There were a few crew members watching them from a far corner, a wide smile on all of their faces. It was different seeing their thrilling and daring Captain, with his guard down. Jack always had his guard up, as the lifestyle he led was dangerous and you never knew what was going to happen next. 

James and Jack watched the sunset come up, bathing in each other's affection. Jack was definitely going to start making it a regular thing, stealing his lovers coats and shirts. James liked to see it also.

#pirates of the caribbean #james norrington #jack sparrow #captain jack sparrow #commodore norrington #fluff #tooth rotting fluff #oneshot #potc #sparrington #james norrington x jack sparrow

[tortoisesshells]

9, 14, and 29 please!

9. Do you write every day? If you wrote today, share a sentence of what you’ve written!

I try! The last thing I wrote today is: And abruptly, after a long silence: “What sort of a place is Newport?”

14. If you could see one of your fics adapted into a visual medium, such as comic or film, which fan fic would you pick?

Most of my fics are probably too interior to make a compelling comic or film, but given that Suffer a Sea Change really was intended to be a deleted scene/riff on existing deleted scenes from CotBP, it has some decent dialogue - it could work! If you just. Delete most of the internal thought-wrangling from James Norrington and Elizabeth Swann and focus on Jack's Sparrow's ever-helpful digressions on the nature of power in the Caribbean.

29. Share a bit from a fic you’ll never post OR from a scene that was cut from an already posted fic.

Beneath the cut, an alternate opening for Chapter 30 of Customs and Duties, which - even for a fic where it's astonishing how much nothing happens! - I ended up cutting because it was (1) too introspective and too "as you know" to be borne & (2) as much as I like, in a general sense, the idea of Nellie talking to the family portrait, it's too out of character for her:

Nellie picked at her frustration – a true tangle of confused sentiments, all seething and knotted together: that she had been thinking it about James Norrington, who she had not started out much liking and yet somehow had ended up here, feeling pangs for having insulted him and argued with him – that she was right, and being right at the cost of her own happiness was a cold bargain.

Then, too: she had been so careless as to speak without thinking. Elinor Treat had always been such a careful, measured woman – while Samuel was alive, she was not going off half-cocked and haring after her own destruction. It was not that Samuel had been an overwhelmingly careful man himself – their debts were proof enough of that – but between the two of them, she had the greater capacity for restraint, and in their partnership that had counted for a great deal. She had been careful for so long after his – for so long. She was still careful in most ways, but – oh. It didn’t make sense. It made sense, and she did not want to see it.

She had, since James Norrington’s arrival, been obliged to take great steps, sometimes without pausing to think, to save herself and her family and friends, and she resented Commodore Norrington immensely for the strain he’d put her under; and yet, she could not pretend that the challenge had been completely joyless – she could have gone on, as Widow Treat, for some time – neither content nor discontent, but beyond considering her own contentment. Paid her debts. Provided for her children. Thought distantly of Samuel, and thought that it was well that she had been so happy for so long, but that the season had gone from her. If nothing else, the need to outwit him – the anger and resentment and fear that he had inspired – had been something that was not the grey daze of mourning. And James Norrington himself?

In the parlor, Nellie crossed her arms, and went to the window to better observe the moon, now faint and low. Wherever he was, he was almost certainly as cross with her as she was with him – she thought again that being right when she could be happy was a poor bargain, and that her anger and resentment at him was, at present, all that was keeping her from feeling cold and lonely and deeply stupid, pacing about in her best dress and bare feet.

 There was something like joy or relief in doing as she pleased, rather than counselling herself to be cool and restrained and careful and always, always thinking of the future.

Taken together, she all she could think of was this: that she had changed greatly and could do it again.

“This is a mess, Samuel,” Nellie said to the family portrait, looking at her late husband, thinking – that the things she missed most about him were unable to be captured in a single instant’s image: how he liked to smile, and how it completely rewrote the lines of his face when he did, how he sang a little off-tune, how he had picked her bodily up whenever he returned home from sea, that he would read to her in the evenings when she had to dedicate long hours to her work-basket. He had written the whole course of her life, and she had been made happier than patchwork little Nora Coggeshall had ever dreamed of; that happiness and that loss, she knew now, had reached within her and changed her, fundamentally.

It was happening, again – the pressure in her chest like a hand around her heart, the feeling as though she was, in no small ways, much like some brave topman, balancing high aloft, but that she would overbalance and fall before too much longer. None of this would have happened if Samuel was alive – she would be happily married, and with her best-loved partner and conspirator – she might have befriended grim, sharp-edged James Norrington as a favor to Aunt B, but this would have been unthinkable.

Unthinkable –

For a moment, unable to conjure Samuel’s ghost in any real way to defend her from her own impulses, Nellie imagined her future, if she continued on in the same way that she had been: setting aside one name for another, one church she disagreed with for another, one country she suspected for another.

Giving it up as bad business, Nellie took herself up the stairs and put herself to bed.

#chapter 31: when in doubt; have Nellie try to explain colonial Rhode Island politics and culture. ESPECIALLY when someone else; #is trying to have a serious conversation with her. #thank you for the ask kind friend!! #ask meme #polkaknox talks #customs and duties

[zacksfairest]

4, 13, 27, 30, 37, 44, and 45 for the OC questions~

4. A character you rarely talk about?

Hmm. That would probably have to be my three Mando squad members: Vys’kydir Civhuull, Caedyc Akid, and Suriya Ger'Mana. I love them all SO much and I need to introduce the world to them.

13. Do you have any troublemaker OCs?

Eh. I feel like "troublemaker" is a bit too innocent of a term for the shit my OCs get up to. The closest I have to this would be the Storyteller (aka the DM), but his "troublemaking" is a lot more malevolent and sadistic.

27. Any OCs that were inspired by a certain song?

I mentioned this in the previous ask, but "Resist and Bite" by Sabaton was entirely the inspiration for Ayala. The song is about a 40 soldier company that held off a Nazi invasion force for 18 days before they were finally forced to surrender. When they finally did surrender, and the Nazis asked where the rest of the men were (because they couldn't believe that such a small force managed to hold them off), the defending force just laughed them off like "this is it buddy."

Ayala's story is pretty much exactly that. When the Empire, who were running an extermination mission against the Mandalorians, invaded the planet they were hiding out on, she was able to lead her clan/the other Mandalorians in a counter offensive that held off the empire for about two weeks. She had sent a select few Mandos off world to get reinforcements, but the reinforcements never showed.

In the end, she was forced to surrender to the Commodore leading the attack, because she couldn't stand to lose anyone else. Especially with her clan and family among those fighting. Ayala is so ashamed of this, as the Empire had not once managed to capture a live Mandalorian. They either escaped or fought to the death.

And so Commodore Raandall keeps Ayala as a trophy of his victory to show off to the other members of command, using her clan's imprisonment to keep her cooperative.

Man. I love them lmao.

30. Which one of your OCs would most likely have a secret stuffed animal collection?

Hm. I think possibly Vaela. She needs things to cuddle at night.

37. Introduce an OC who is not quite human

Well, obviously Lehala, but that's cheating since you know her. I think next up would be the Storyteller/Dungeon Master. He's an all-powerful trickster god whose origins are nebulous at best.

44. Something you like about your OCs in general

I think that I like how human they are? I don't mean human in the literal human species sense, but I think they are all pretty well-rounded and real, y'know? I work hard to make them seem as believable as possible, and I like to think I accomplish that.

Also, I'm good at making hot and fucked up men. I love doing that specifically. Make the fiction you want to see in the world, yeah?

45. A character you no longer use?

I don't think I have this, actually? Because any OCs I have are not no longer being used, they're just on the back burner until I get some inspiration for them.

#sycamorre #answered

[apple-talk]

Day Eight, Privateer

Pittyober Day 8- Privateer/Sneak

The Commodore had been kind to them. Juniper had arrived from far off Grizzleheim at the time they had expected their future Captain would be arriving at Skull Island. Still, it appeared that they had underestimated how long their period of arrest would be. Visions of the future were a fickle thing after all. One moment something is set in stone, the next it was not. They were still certain their future Captain would arrive here, they had seen it. The fate of the Spiral itself depended on it. 

But in the meantime, the Commodore had taken them in. They learned that he used to be the very model of a Marlybonean Admiral, they had heard countless anecdotes and stories from his time on the front lines. Though the old sheepdog seemed to have forgotten some of the details since that time all so long ago. 

When they had met the old Commodore he had greeted them kindly. Taking their small hand into his large paw and giving it a shake, “Miss Frydenlund, I presume?”

Juniper had flinched, shaking his hand before retracting their own. “Juniper Frydenlund, sir. Please, don’t call me ‘Miss,’ I’ve found that it doesn't suit me.”

The sheepdog’s bushy grey brow had furrowed, making it even harder to see his already hidden eyes that peaked out from beneath his fur, “Mister, then?”

They shook their head, unsure if he could even see them, “Neither,” they calmly explained. “Just…call me Juniper. Or if you really have need of it, just Frydenlund.”

It took a moment but the Commodore had a smile on his snout, “Well, I think it's time you learned a thing or two about being a Privateer, Juniper. Hup two!”

#pirate101 #kingsisle #pitty101 #pitty fandom #writing #pittyober 2022 #pittyober #OC: Juniper Frydenlund

[chickentenderx]

too late (William Turner x reader)

570 word count

reader was Will’s best friend since childhood, they grew up with him and watched him fall in love with Elizabeth. They of course also loved him. They went on pirate crusades together, eventually reader left bc they couldn’t deal with it anymore and distance helped the pain. eventually they moved on, got married, had kids. Will comes back after a couple years to find them after he realized his feelings once Elizabeth married the commodore. He tries to convince reader to come away with him but realizes it’s too late for them.

prompt:

unrequited love from a childhood friend, distance, the other realizing their feelings too late

-“I just came to see how you were doing” “and now it’s time for you to leave”

-“I’ll always need you, I love you” “it’s too late”

warnings: ANGST, no uses of y/n, reader is called mama and wears a skirt, la la land esk ending. This feels very rushed and I wrote it with a migraine so leave me alone if it absolutely sucks

“Will?” the man I once knew all those years ago, the man I once loved, is walking towards me through the mist. For a moment I think it’s just my eyes playing tricks.

“surprised to see me?” he stands at his full height, he’s tanned over the years. His face has matured but still has his boyish charm. Donning pirate attire, he holds an aura of confidence he much lacked in his younger years.

“what are you doing here?” disdain evident in my voice although not intentional.

Although taken aback by my curtness, he continues, “I just came to see how you were doing” I can’t help but notice the hopeful glint in his eyes, the strain in his voice as if he’s trying to find the right words.

“and now it’s time for you to leave” I’m not sure where my sudden irritation came from, perhaps it was the years of waiting, the years of wanting and nothing being returned.

Laughing dryly he quirks his brow as a silent question. “what do you mean? I just got here”

“why are you here Will?” his hopeful expression falls, replaced with something I can’t quite place.

“come away with me, like you did once before,” grabbing my hands he pulls me closer to him. “I need you” Pulling away I take a step away from him and let out a strained laugh. His dislike of my reaction clear on his face.

“no you don’t, you’ve never needed me.” Searching his face I try to find any indication of where he’s going with this.

“I’ll always need you, I love you” oh how long my heart had ached for those words. He tries to step closer but for every step closer he takes, I take a step back. I put my hand up between us to stop him.

The ache in my chest starts to burn with feelings I buried many years ago. “you don’t mean that, and anyways it’s too late now”

“no it’s not, just run away with me. Travel with me, live on the sea” the eagerness in his eyes almost makes me want to but…

“Will…” I’m cut off when his eyes flicker over to my home behind me. The sound of small feet pattering on stone comes close till my son comes up hiding behind my skirt looking at Will skeptically,

“who’s that mama?” the small voice of my young son cuts through the silence between us. Turning to his slightly I whisper with a bittersweet smile,

“no one sweetie, go on back inside.” Gently I pull my son from my leg while gesturing towards our house. “I’ll be there in a minute”

“I- I didn’t know, I’m sorry. I’ll go” before he can turn away I take his hands in mine, still rough from those years of blacksmithing and life at sea,

“a part of my heart will always belong to you, and it always has. But I’ve made a life for myself here, one day I hope the same for you” I can’t bring myself to look into his teary eyes so slowly I bring his knuckles to my mouth, kissing them gently before letting him go. He turns his back and only then do I lift my head up. That was the last time I’d see William Turner, walking away into the morning fog. Only a single tear fell upon the sand that day.

#pirates of the caribbean #pirates of the caribbean will turner imagine #pirates of the caribbean will turner x reader #pirates #potc #potc fanfiction #potc x reader #potc will turner #will turner x reader #will turner imagine #will turner #william turner #pirate of the caribbean imagine #canon deviant #potc1 #potc 2 #potc 3