#it isn’t that she doesn’t understand Sebastian or can’t sympathize with him | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

ikevampeventarchive · 4 years

Text

[ERS] Urgent Bloodsucking ～ Isaac

Duration: 11/8 (Fri) 04:00 PM ～ 11/15 (Fri) 09:00 PM JST

Having been inflicted with a terrible thirst, Arthur and Vincent seek your blood. Though he wants to protect you, Isaac’s sense of reason is slowly reaching it’s limit….?

Once unleashed, drown in the endless depths of sweet desire ——

Event Prologue | Route Preview

[This is an unofficial work based on fan-translation. Copyright belongs to Cybird.]

Common Route

After drinking the Rosé, nothing odd seems to happen, leaving Arthur disappointed and Isaac relieved. MC is similarly relieved and Isaac apologizes for worrying her. With the matter settled, Sebastian starts clearing up the table when Arthur suddenly grabs his arm. Isaac is surprised, realizing that he looked just about ready to bite Sebastian. Arthur comes back to his senses though, after Sebastian asked what he was trying to do, and he laughs the whole thing off, saying he only bites women.

While MC reprimands him for joking over something like that, Isaac begins to worry that something might really be wrong. On the other hand, Vincent speaks up and informs them he wasn’t feeling well, and it confirms Isaac’s suspicions that the Rosé was affecting them, while he himself begins to feel the thirst. MC notices how much the drink was affecting the three of them, and Isaac tells her that the effects have kicked in.

Their thirst gradually intensifies, and Sebastian comes in with some Rouge for them to drink. He pours them all a glass, but after downing the Rouge, Isaac realizes it wasn’t enough. Arthur and Vincent are similarly unsatisfied, but they’re denied a second glass as Sebastian explains that drinking more would be toxic for them. He advises them to wait out the hour it would take for the side effects to wear off, but Arthur isn’t pleased to hear that.

It becomes clear to Isaac that he was better in handling the extreme thirst compared to Arthur and Vincent, given his condition, but at the same time, it meant that the other two would be suffering a lot more than they are used to. Arthur then speaks up, saying that he couldn’t take it anymore, and hugs MC from behind with his fangs bared.

Isaac pulls her away from Arthur and keeps her close to himself. Arthur tells him not to be stingy and asks to let him drink MC’s blood, but Isaac refuses. He starts thinking of how to best handle the situation, but Vincent takes hold of MC’s hand and brings it to his lips, apologizing and saying he couldn’t control his thirst either. Isaac gets MC away from him too, and tells them that if they bite her now, they wouldn’t be able to stop drinking her blood.

In his mind, Isaac knows that once they bite, they’ll completely lose themselves and he refuses to have either of them to go through that. He then decides that the best option was for MC to hide. Since he wasn’t blinded by thirst yet, he asks Sebastian to handle Vincent and Arthur while he gets MC to somewhere safe. Sebastian hesitantly agrees, worried about Isaac’s condition, but he assures him that he can handle himself.

In reality though, Isaac is just as thirsty as the other two and wants to bite MC, but he swears to protect her. They leave the dining room and he suggests that she stay in her room until everyone calms down. MC voices out her concern for him, but he insists that he’ll be fine. She isn’t convinced, but before Isaac can say more, Arthur and Vince manage to get past Sebastian. Realizing the situation they were in, MC begins to speak up, but Isaac cuts her off, saying that he wouldn’t allow it.

MC: But I haven’t said anything yet.

Isaac: In any case, you were thinking that if you could take away their pain by giving them blood, then you’re willing to give them a little, weren’t you?

MC’s surprised that he was spot on, and Isaac explains just how dangerous her idea was, given their condition. He also refuses to have another man bite MC, but he keeps that thought to himself.

They break into a run, heading for MC’s room, but they find Arthur already waiting for them in front of her door. Arthur tells them that he didn’t really want to do this, but he was already at his limit and therefore had no choice. Isaac sympathizes, but he won’t allow them to be caught and tries to backtrack, only to find Vincent blocking their way, who apologizes and begs them to get away.

Isaac realizes that with their thirst, they would still be able to smell MC’s scent, and decides there was only one place for her to hide. He grabs MC’s hand, and they push past Vincent and run up several flights of stairs. All the while, Isaac could feel his own thirst worsen, and simply hopes he could keep himself together until he could get MC to a safe place.

Finally, they make it to the attic, which could be locked from the inside, but at this point, Isaac’s already at his limit and looks about to collapse. MC tries to steady him, but in a moment of weakness, he tells her that he wants her. He immediately takes it back and pulls himself together, mentally berating himself for letting that slip.

He advises her to stay in the attic until everyone had calmed down before turning around and heading for the door. MC tries to stop him, but he apologizes and tells her that he won’t be able to be gentle to her if he stays. He then leaves, locking the door after him, and heads back to his room.

With thirty minutes left before the effects of the Rosé wears off, Isaac worries over how Arthur and Vincent were faring, since they weren’t used to bouts of extreme thirst like he was and were likely in a lot of pain. At the same time, he worries the whole ordeal might have scared MC, and he can’t stomach the idea of her being afraid of them.

Isaac: Haa… I wonder why is it that I’m always being influenced by other people, and then have things backfire on me.

His brooding is then interrupted when MC barges into his room and hugs him. Isaac’s confused and asks what she’s doing when she should be hiding, but all she tells him is that she’s comfortable with him. He doesn’t quite understand, but he feels warm and relaxed now that she was here. He tells her, however, that she should leave since he might not be able to keep himself from biting her, and if that happens, she wouldn’t be able to get away from him.

Isaac begins to think back to a time when her blood stained his sheets, and he swears he wasn’t going to let that happen again, reminding himself of how he promised to cherish her for the rest of his life.

MC, however, tells him that she’s fine whatever may happen since it’s him, and Isaac is frustrated with her stubbornness. He thinks of how he just wants to push her down and how he wants her body and blood, but as he desperately tries to suppress those overwhelming desires of his, MC asks him to rely on her.

—

Sweet (Love’s Devotion) End

The thing he truly wants, even more than blood….

“It’s because, I truly want to treasure you.”

What awaits after he regains his senses is a gentle, sweet time for the two of you.

—

Isaac thinks to himself that he couldn’t take anymore of this, but instead of biting MC, he just pulls her close and kisses her forehead. He tells her he didn’t want to bite her in the state he was in, but he’s still happy that she went to see him. He then hugs her, his mind calming down now that he feels her warmth, and he lets her know that he’ll be okay like this until the effects of the Rosé wore off. MC yields, but then the door opens, and Arthur and Vincent come in.

The two men are relieved to find Isaac and MC, and while the former is surprised, MC asks what they were doing there. They explain that Sebastian had somehow found an antidote and were asked to give it to Isaac. Isaac then asks if they already took the antidote, and Arthur tells him that they have and that they were feeling better.

Isaac sighs in relief now that both Vincent and Arthur are back to their usual selves, and Arthur apologizes for how he acted. Isaac insists that they should let it go and move on, but Arthur lets him know that something like that is difficult to forget and it served as a chance to understand what Isaac goes through. Vincent chimes in, reminding Isaac that he still had an antidote to drink, and holds out a bottle of black liquid.

The color has Isaac skeptical but Vincent assures him it’s safe. He eventually gets around drinking it though, and he’s surprised it actually worked. MC asks if he really is alright, and he reassures her he’s fine. Arthur and Vincent wonders how he was able to endure the thirst, even though MC was with him, and Isaac glances at MC.

Isaac: That is… MC’s well-being is more important to me than my desire to drink blood.

In his mind, Isaac admits to himself that he almost did bite MC and is glad that he didn’t, knowing that if it was the old him, he probably would have bitten her. Now though, he values the time he spends with her and swears to cherish her.

Arthur is impressed, and Isaac initially assumes he was just teasing him, but he notices the serious look Arthur was giving him as he insists that he wasn’t joking. Vincent agrees, saying that he wouldn’t have been able to endure the pain from that kind of thirst, and Arthur admits that if it were him, he would have caved from the very beginning.

Seeing Arthur and Vincent back to their usual selves, Isaac feels very relieved and warm, and starts to choke up as he apologizes for the whole incident. Arthur tells him that he was the instigator and Vincent drank the Rosé of his own free will, and therefore Isaac had no reason to apologize. MC then giggles, pointing out how everyone is all good friends, and Isaac realizes that it was a word he didn’t often hear in his old life.

Isaac wonders out loud if they really were good friends, and Vincent assures him that they are. Both he and Arthur point out that if he hadn’t met MC, Isaac would have remained distant and unapproachable. Isaac realizes that they might be right that MC brought about his change, and as his affection for MC grows, his thirst for her comes back.

Arthur catches on and comments that he and Vincent should take their leave now that they had already given him the antidote. He also teasingly points out that Isaac looked like he really wanted them to leave already, but Isaac denies it. Vince agrees they should get going though, and the two of them leave Isaac and MC alone.

MC decides that she should probably leave too so Isaac could get some rest, but before she could go, he grabs her hand and asks her to stay. He pulls her into a deep kiss, and when they part, MC asks if the antidote had already worn off.

Isaac tells her that it was something like that, but at this point, the only thing that could satisfy him would be MC. He kisses her again, surprising MC, but she’s happy that he was now actually willing to ask her for something. Isaac wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction from her, and while he’s embarrassed, it makes his desire even stronger.

Isaac comments that if she kept saying stuff like that, he really wouldn’t be able to control himself, before pulling her for another kiss. As the heat between them increases, the time for sweet pleasure begins.

—

Premium (Instinctual Bloodsucking) End

Ensnared by desire, he yearns for blood….

“Sorry. I don’t think I can stand any more than this…. I want to take you for myself right now.”

The awakened vampire instincts, can no longer be stopped ——

—

Isaac gives in and pulls MC close to him, apologizing as he did so since he won’t be able to be gentle. He then starts to unbutton her blouse and peels it away, exposing her skin. He can practically hear her heart beating, and he’s disgusted by his own reaction, as if he was a beast about to devour his prey.

His hands come to a stop as his thoughts begin to wander, thinking of all the ways he could mess things up, but MC calls out his name and snaps him out of it. She smiles at him and reaches out a hand, telling him that everything will be fine, insisting that he bite her. Isaac is at the same time happy and worried, and yields. He pushes away her hair and thanks her, before sinking his fangs into her neck.

MC tenses up in pain, but after a few moments pass, it becomes apparent that she’s begun to enjoy it. Isaac continues to drink her blood, up until the point he thinks he’s about to lose control, and then pulls away and wraps his arms around him. MC asks if that was enough to satisfy him, and he admits that although it wasn’t, drinking any more would be dangerous for her.

Isaac takes a few deep breaths and is relieved that he had somehow regained control of himself. He then asks if MC was in any pain, to which she answers she wasn’t and was actually feeling pretty good.

Not expecting that kind of answer, Isaac ends up laughing. MC, on the other hand, is relieved he was able to laugh since he looked terrible when she had first come in. Isaac explains that he had assumed Arthur and Vincent had done something, and admits that none of this would have happened if only he hadn’t challenged the other two to experience what he goes through. This time, MC laughs, and Isaac asks what she finds funny.

MC: Yeah, Isaac really has changed.

Isaac: …Changed?

MC: Because when we first met, you told me you didn’t need any friends.

MC: But now, you’re worrying about others, and that’s evidence that you think everyone is an important friend.

(Important, friend…)

Isaac realizes that it wasn’t a term he was used to, and it makes him feel warm. MC points out that everyone views him the same way, and Isaac hopes that the others really do view him as a friend. MC reassures him that they do, and Isaac laughs, the uneasiness and loneliness he felt being replaced by a strong feeling of affection. He then asks MC if he could kiss her, and MC immediately blushes, asking why he would have to ask at a time like this.

Isaac kisses her, but as he does, his thirst comes up again, and he realizes that he might not be able to stop this time. He pulls back and tries to regain his composure, but it becomes apparent that drinking MC’s blood hadn’t completely taken care of the Rosé’s side effects.

Confused, MC calls out to Isaac, and he asks her how much longer until the side effects were supposed to wear off. She says ten more minutes, and Isaac thinks to himself that drinking her blood had only temporarily given him so reprieve, but the side effects were still going to kick in until the Rosé completely wears off.

Isaac apologizes to MC and tells her he can’t take any more of this as he embraces her. MC asks what he’s going on about, and he informs her that he intends her to take her to bed. MC finally understands, and asks if he’s still experiencing the side effects. He admits that it’s partly that, but there’s something else to it.

Apparently, a vampire’s thirst for blood is tied to their affection, and Isaac points out that because he loves her, he couldn’t help but feel this way for her. He then smiles at her and licks the bit of skin left exposed by her unbuttoned blouse.

“Let me have you right now.”

Note: This is where the paid epilogue starts.

—

Epilogue Preview

Reaching its limits, his desire yearns for you to the point of madness….

MC: Haa…

Isaac: No, don’t stop…. More.

Hands twisted into the sheets to prevent you from moving away, he gives you a kiss that robs you of your breath.

(Even more, I want to carve my mark on your body….)

Thirsting for blood, he lifts your bare thigh up—

Isaac: Sorry…. bear with this for a bit.

MC: … Ah

Signaled by molten eyes, the curtain on an enticing moment lifts.

Isaac: Today… is it okay to be rough?

Event Info | Vincent Route | Arthur Route

#ikemen vampire #ikevamp #isaac #ers #general election 2018 #revival #urgent bloodsucking #rose event #jp ikevamp #november 2019

77 notes · View notes

mediaeval-muse · 4 years

Text

Book Review

Rating: 3/5 stars

Genre: historical romance

Part of a Series? Yes (Brothers Sinister #2)

Summary: Miss Jane Fairfield can't do anything right. When she's in company, she always says the wrong thing--and rather too much of it. No matter how costly they are, her gowns fall on the unfortunate side of fashion. Even her immense dowry can't save her from being an object of derision. And that's precisely what she wants. She'll do anything, even risk humiliation, if it means she can stay unmarried and keep her sister safe.

Mr. Oliver Marshall has to do everything right. He's the bastard son of a duke, raised in humble circumstances--and he intends to give voice and power to the common people. If he makes one false step, he'll never get the chance to accomplish anything. He doesn't need to come to the rescue of the wrong woman. He certainly doesn't need to fall in love with her. But there's something about the lovely, courageous Jane that he can't resist...even though it could mean the ruin of them both.

***Full review under the cut.***

Trigger Warnings: classism, ableism, racism, discussions of colonialism and violence, sexual content

Overview: Another Courtney Milan book! I must say, she is quickly becoming my favorite romance writer, and I have great respect for the way she crafts her stories. Every book begins with a crucial scene that gives readers insight into the characters, after which Milan wastes no time in getting to the main conflict. Like those in her other stories, Milan’s characters are unique and memorable, particularly the heroines, who are the right balance of independent and trapped by their societal context. This book, in particular, delighted me precisely because of that complexity. Even though there were some pacing problems that really detracted from the flow and feel of the story, I still enjoyed myself, and I’ll continue reading through the series.

Writing: Like much of the romance genre, Milan’s prose is simple yet descriptive - you get enough to understand what’s going on, without much heightened or flowery language. Of course, I do think Milan crafts it well and with much care. It’s simplicity isn’t a knock against it - I actually quite enjoy the effortlessness it seems to convey without seeming juvenile or unlearned. I also very much appreciate Milan’s structure. Every book I’ve read by her begins with a crucial scene that gives readers insight into the characters, after which Milan wastes no time in getting to the main conflict. As a result, readers aren’t left to wade through a lot of exposition before the action starts, nor are they asked to take in a lot of background and historical context. Milan, through her structure, shows a lot more than she tells, and in my opinion, it’s an absolutely masterful way to begin a novel. However, Milan does have a tendency to reveal a lot of backstory through dialogue. There are moments when Jane or Oliver is telling the other about something in their past, and it’s a lot of words and speaking. I personally prefer backstory be revealed through flashbacks and interwoven into actions or mannerisms, but that’s just my preference. One thing that I found jarring in terms of structure was the sudden jump between things I would consider milestones in the characters’ relationships. For example, Oliver is initially taken aback by Jane’s performance as the unstylish heiress but in the next chapter, he is suddenly able to see through it. We aren’t privy to his thought process as he works it out, which came across to me as abrupt. The same goes for their intentions to marry. Marriage is brought up somewhat suddenly, in my opinion. I would have preferred more of a slow burn.

Plot: I love, love, love the central conflict in this book, which essentially consists of the dilemma between advancing one’s own fortunes or devoting oneself to another person. The moral conflict in Oliver’s mind between advancing his own fortunes (which is already a high-stakes game, due to his birth) and sympathizing with Jane (who is in the same position he is, as someone who is looked down upon by high class people) was great for developing his character, as was Jane’s conflict between relying entirely on herself versus reaching out to others for help. It was at once a wonderful exploration of individual action within a broken social system, and a commentary on the power associated with social class. I also very much appreciated the subplot in which Jane’s sister, Emily, who suffers from repeated seizures and an over-zealous guardian, meets and falls in love with an Indian man studying law at Cambridge. Emily is confined to her home and finds escape reading books, which have some Orientalist fantasies. When she finally manages to go outside, she meets Anjan, who tells her about the realities of his life as an Indian man living in England during the 19th century. It’s a rare instance (at least, in my experience) in which a romance novel actually addresses British colonialism and talks about why just being defiant doesn’t always work for people, and it does so without Anjan having to explicitly perform emotional labor and teach her about race, class, etc. I’m sure readers of color will have a better take on this, so I’d listen to them. Emily’s story also carries the added layer of how disabled or chronically ill people are treated, and I think Milan does a good job of making clear that Jane is not there to make decisions for Emily, but support her in what she wants. The plot as a whole, though, seemed to jump around a bit too much for my taste. As I expressed above, characters would reach milestones in their relationships somewhat quickly, and I think some events unfolded a bit too rapidly to really feel weighty (the way Jane and Oliver overcome Brandenton, their common antagonist, for example). Much of the stuff with Oliver’s family felt relevant, but dropped in rather than interwoven with the plot more fully. There’s a bit with Sebastian, Oliver’s cousin, who is a joy to read, but his involvement seems to be hinting at the next book in the series rather than being integral to this story. Towards the end, things happened way too fast for any event to have much significance, so it felt like Milan was just trying to wrap things up. A little slower pace would have been satisfactory, or maybe a more streamlined plot.

Characters: Like those in her other stories, Milan’s characters are unique and memorable, particularly the heroines, who are the right balance of independent and trapped by their societal context. Jane, our heroine, is a rich heiress, but caught in a bind because she simultaneously gains access to upper class circles (via her money) yet is kept outside of them (due to her birth and manners). Oliver, the hero, is an interesting counterpart, since he gains access to the upper class through his education, yet is also kept at arm’s length because of his birth. Seeing the two of them try to navigate the arbitrary rules of “polite” society in order to get what they want was fascinating, as was the way their goals put them at odds with each other. Emily and Anjan, too, were charming characters, and I loved the familial bond between Emily and Jane. I also very much liked the relationship between Oliver and his father, as well as Oliver and his sister, Free (who is the heroine of The Suffragette Scandal). I also found Jane’s companions, the Johnson sisters, to be a pleasant surprise, as I was expecting them to be there as antagonists throughout the whole book, but I ended up liking them when their friendship with Jane was put to the test.

Other Romance: Seeing Oliver and Jane fall for each other through their mutual need to get back at the upper class was a delight, to say the least. And I very much enjoyed that Oliver grew to love Jane’s garish gowns, in his way, when everyone else despises them. Their dynamic was cute, especially the way they joked with each other and when Jane babbles around him, and I think the central message of their story - that nobody is truly alone - was a good one. While I also liked the idea of Oliver having to learn to accept Jane as she was and realize that ambition isn’t everything, I think the plot happened so fast that the pace of him learning that message was a bit off. I think a more gradual development or seeing more inner conflict would have gone a long way.

Continuing With the Series? Yes!

Recommendations: I would recommend this book if you’re interested in historical romance (especially set in 19th century England), stories about social class, ambitious protagonists, heiresses, and strong sibling relationships.

#book reviews

2 notes · View notes

sigmastolen · 5 years

Text

GOD “the vigil” is FUCKING frustrating

like. i always want to like the tosh episodes! i love tosh! tosh is great! and if tosh gets to save the day, it should be great! “the vigil” is so full of tosh being brilliant and being right and saving the day and that’s great, right? so why did i spend forty-eight minutes seething with rage?

OH, LET ME TELL YOU

first, sebastian: i know that writer lou morgan and director lisa bowerman and actor hugh skinner and producer james goss and everyone knows that sebastian is garbage (everyone except sebastian and his mother, that is) -- i’m just profoundly sick of tosh getting stuck with these super toxic garbage dudes. tosh deserves so much better and big finish just... doesn’t know what to do with her? they have a hard time building a story around her quiet competence so instead they make her endure shitty toxic dudes. it feels similar to the way ncis didn’t know how to build a story around ducky’s medical expertise so they gave him stupid flashbacks and made him play detective, or even more so to the way tng didn’t know how to build stories around troi’s empathic powers and role as counselor so instead they shoved her into a bunch of problematic hookups and assaulted her over and over. “instant karma” uses simon’s toxicity to create a great and satisfying story, but believe gives us layton and owen both disrespecting and hurting her, and “the vigil” is constant put-downs and microaggressions and gaslighting and it made me sick. you can’t script such thoroughly odious interactions without knowing exactly what you’re doing, but then morgan never empowers tosh to counteract it, and as much as i understand and trust that everyone involved knows sebastian is the literal worst, the lack of explicit textual acknowledgement (preferably in the form of tosh’s righteous anger) is unsatisfying and feels, frankly, dangerous and a little like a betrayal.

she doesn’t stand up for herself! tosh being a meek doormat is supposed to be “in character” -- especially pre-series, she isn’t confident and doesn’t feel powerful, especially if this is soonish after Jack springs her from UNIT’s custody as big finish’s description implies. but she’s always been secure in her technical expertise, even if she didn’t always understand exactly how extraordinary she is, and she knows she’s right here. she’s frustrated, but she wilts under the force of sebastian’s personality, and even when she finally blows up at him, he still gets the last word. she even saves the day and still never acknowledges or even seems to see that sebastian’s death is more due to his hubristic carelessness than her mistake. and maybe that’s in character for tosh at this point, but it made me want to scream.

also, to be honest, i was expecting for the entire episode for her to lose her shit about all these white folk saying her damn name wrong, even if it took almost the entire episode because that’s just how polite and/or meek tosh is, and she just... never did, which makes me think instead that it’s carelessness on the part of the production crew and honestly that just pisses me off. like, one is her name, and the other is not. it’s that simple. the timelines are also careless -- i know it’s better and more efficient to name-drop characters we know rather than torchwood agents we’ve never heard of before and suzie i’m happy to accept, but we actually know from screen canon when tosh, owen, and ianto all joined up, and tosh wouldn’t have been a “new recruit” if owen and ianto were already there, like, it’s not even a deep cut continuity error, “fragments” straight up gives us timestamps. (looking @ u, script editor david llewellyn.) and mispronouncing the main character’s name? that should never happen.

then, as much as madeline vaughan is a snob and judgy and pretty racist, there were points when i could sympathize with her -- until she goes off the deep end. her extreme devotion to family plants the seeds of “mother driven mad by grief,” but it’s also kind of a lazy choice. as soon as she hears sebastian, her duty-bound stoicism dissolves and she becomes crazed by the idea of having him back, desperate to find him and willing to justify anything. it’s a complete break with the stiff upper lip she’s characterized by up to that point. in the interview, morgan and bowerman call her “brittle” and, okay, i guess, but It’s not a particularly interesting choice, and it’s not the first time big finish has made gratuitous use of the idiot ball to achieve a dramatic climax. I’m also very annoyed by the way morgan, bowerman, and goss all frame sebastian’s repugnance as entirely madeline’s fault, as though sebastian weren’t a grown-ass adult who could make his own choices about how to be. yes, parents who are shitty privilege monsters absolutely have an influence on their children’s lives and personalities. that does not mean those children subsequently have no control and bear no blame for being shitty privilege monsters themselves; they can choose to check themselves and be better, and that’s not what sebastian chose.

but the treatment of tosh is honestly my biggest grievance -- it made my stomach churn to have to listen to sebastian and his mother alternately denigrating her for the entire episode, and her never truly get her own back. it was also extra hard to endure this in an audio medium, so we can’t even see tosh’s body language indicate her anger or resolve or the strain on her patience. we can clearly hear her frustration (thanks to naoko mori) but, especially since she never gets the last word, it somehow seems more impotent than when owen was heaping shit on her on the television. and then somehow, somehow, even though she was right about everything the entire time and even though sebastian was the one that rushed her into the field without all the equipment they needed because his complaining finally wore her down, and even though he treated her like utter garbage in every single scene we heard, tosh still feels it’s entirely her fault and i’m just so angry for her.

fuck this episode

#yeah i'll backtrack and discuss serenity and the hope sometime when i'm less angry #also btwn the way madeleine talks about historical events like she was literally there and the strict death-related traditions i DEFINITELY #thought this was a vampire story for like 30 entire minutes; make of that what you will #thinky thoughts #outside the government beyond the police #big finish loves stories #i hope i did good #the vigil

1 note · View note

irelise · 5 years

Text

the yew tree 2.3/?

Erik has worked with Sebastian Shaw, mutant revolutionary, ever since Shaw rescued him from human experimentation when he was a boy. He is reluctantly enlisted to assist in Shaw’s newest scheme: seducing the wealthy and enigmatic Lord Xavier and claiming his vast fortune. With Shaw posing as Xavier’s doctor, Erik goes undercover as Xavier’s personal manservant to convince him to fall in love with Shaw.

But Xavier has secrets of his own, and it isn’t long before Erik starts having second thoughts about the whole thing…

(the handmaiden inspired au - no canon knowledge required

part one now on ao3!

and click here for the beginning of part 2!)

Warnings for this part: Referenced human experimentation Rating: M Word count: 2634

Charles jerks awake in the middle of the night, drenched in cold sweat. Uncle is so angry.

He pulls the blankets over his head and tries to not exist.

***

The next day passes in a series of blurry fragments.

“Young master, have you seen your coat?” Lord Marko is so angry this morning why did the kid have to choose today to act up–

His tutor is frowning, half-frustrated, half-concerned. “You’re miles away today, Charles, are you all right–”

He’s sitting at the dining table. His head hurts. He can’t remember sitting down. He hopes Raven and Hank are far, far away.

Everyone is so loud.

Shut up, he wants to scream. shut up shut up shut up

But he’s a good boy. Good boys don’t make a fuss.

And then–

Reading time comes as it always does, day after day. Slow, leaden footsteps carry him to the recital hall. As usual, his aunt is already sitting on the circular stage.

But the lectern is packed away and Uncle isn’t there. “Charles,” Aunt says. It’s the first time she’s ever spoken directly at him.

“Yes, Aunt?”

She is silent for so long that Charles thinks she’s decided to go back to pretending he doesn’t exist. But finally, she says: “Your uncle is busy today.”

Charles resists the urge to glance over at the trapdoor that leads to the bunker. “Should I go?”

“Yes.” Then: “Charles, wait.”

More confused than ever, Charles stops obediently. “Do you need me for something, Aunt?”

“…The grounds are dangerous at night.”

Oh no.

Aunt was watching last night. He remembers now. She had been sitting by the window, watching the grounds as she thinks of escape. She must have seen him.

And he had led Raven and Hank straight into her sight.

“Be good, Charles,” Aunt says, distant again, dismissing him.

Charles bolts.

***

Life goes on.

He’s progressing quickly in his studies, so Uncle hires him another tutor, this one focusing exclusively on the sciences.

His reading is growing smoother, and he’s growing up quickly, so Uncle hires him a voice coach. It will be time for his debut soon, Uncle promises.

Uncle watches him. Morning, afternoon, night. Uncle watches.

***

Then the crying begins again.

***

This time, Charles doesn’t hesitate. After practice – the private one, with only Uncle and Aunt present – he goes straight to his room and packs some clothes and essentials. Then it’s down to the kitchen to beg some food from the cooks, who are happy to indulge him. Such a sweet boy, one of them says without moving her lips. Nothing like his uncle.

“Thank you,” he tells her politely, and flees before anyone can ask him questions.

Later that night, he knows without having to see that Aunt is watching the grounds again. Sleep, he prays fiercely. Please sleep.

He breaths a sigh of relief as she moves to the bed.

…But where is Uncle?

He tries for a full hour to find him, knowing it’s too dangerous to keep going when Uncle could jump out at him at any moment, but Charles can’t feel anything no matter how hard he tries.

Sorry, he thinks at the direction of the bunker. He can’t do it tonight.

But what if Uncle is planning to hurt whoever is down there like he had hurt Raven, because Charles was too much of a coward to help earlier? He bites his lip as he paces around his room. He has to do something.

In the end, shivering but determined, Charles creeps mouse-like out of his room and down into the bunker.

It’s a girl this time. She has the beautiful wings of a dragonfly and grudgingly tells him her name is Angel. She’s sullen to him, angry and wary and mistrustful, but Charles doesn’t hold it against her. He can feel her fear. He has the bag full of supplies with him, so the only thing left to do is to guide her to the edge of the property and see her off.

Moonlight slants in through the windows as he leads the two of them along the hallways, drowning everything in a wash of grey. The mansion is so huge and quiet. Every small creak sends the two of them jumping, Angel’s wings trembling in a constant nervous buzz.

Aunt is still asleep.

Uncle is…

Charles shivers. “I think we need to change our plan.”

“What?”

“Uncle is right outside.”

Angel stares at him, eyes narrowed. “How do you know that?”

“I just do.” He’s a perceptive boy, that’s what everyone says.

Angel is backing away, her wings flaring out aggressively. “You’re working with him!” She accuses, clutching at the bag of supplies. “You’re trying to trick me!”

“I’m not, I promise!” How does he make her understand? “Please, you have to believe me!”

Shaking her head, Angel keeps backing away, and even though Charles wants to dart forward and grab her into a reassuring hug, he makes himself smile and raise his hands, harmless. It’s okay. I’m your friend.

Angel’s eyes grow wide and round. “I can hea– your voice…” She stammers.

Charles keeps smiling, soothing. “Follow me, okay?” Please don’t argue please don’t we’re running out of time

Silently, Angel trails after him, and Charles is too relieved to think too much about her abrupt change of heart. He leads the way to the opposite side of the mansion and up a few floors for good measure, taking the stairs two at a time. His palms are cold and clammy. “You can fly, right?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m taking you to a room with a big window. Can you fly out of it?”

“I think so.”

“Okay.”

Into the room. It’s dark, and Charles fumbles with the window latches for ages, but he doesn’t dare light a lamp. Finally, it clicks open, and Charles throws the windows open.

“Go on,” he urges Angel.

Angel hesitates, then clambers onto the window ledge. “We’re really high up,” she says dubiously. “What if I fall?”

“You won’t. I believe in you. You can do it!”

It’s the right thing to say. He sees Angel smile for the first time. Charles beams at her in return. She’ll be safe now. She’ll be free.

“Bye,” Angel says. “And thanks.”

“Bye.” There’s a weird choked up feeling in his throat as he watches Angel balance herself on the ledge, her wings fanning out. Charles rubs his eyes. He should be happy for her.

But…

Don’t be silly, he scolds himself. He can’t go with her. He can’t fly, and even if he could – if he leaves, then who would stop Uncle?

He watches her instead, drinking in the iridescence of her wings, remembering Raven’s blue, Hank’s feet. They’re all so amazing. He doesn’t understand how Uncle could…

Charles shivers, wrapping his arms around himself.

Angel’s wings beat, once, twice. Then she jumps. And even though Charles knows she can fly, he can’t help shouting out in surprise, heart leaping into his throat as he runs to the window. The night chill slices sharply against his cheeks as he sticks his head out – where’s Angel? What if she falls after all? The bag is awfully heavy…

His breath whooshes out of him in relief when he sees Angel soar up.

There’s a flash of silver.

“No!”

Angel cries out. There’s a dart sticking out of her shoulder. The beat of her wings slow, falter. She drops a few feet, and–

Hatred. Fear. Liar! She’s screaming at him, her anger battering against him in a red tide. I knew it, you were working with them!

“No! I’m not, I didn’t know–”

Angel’s hatred flickers and goes out as the drugs in the dart drag her into unconsciousness. She crashes into the ground with a thump, one of her beautiful wings twisted horribly.

A shadow detaches itself from the nearby trees, a gun in its hands. It’s his science tutor.

Now that Charles can see him, he can feel him too. Dr. Essex is satisfied by a job well done. Dr. Essex is curious about something.

Dr. Essex is looking right at him. He smiles. Come down, little Charles, he says, even though it should be impossible to hear him from this distance. Your uncle is waiting for you.

Charles shrinks away. Could he just – go back to his room and pretend nothing had happened?

But Angel…

Charles goes. The grounds are dark and freezing. Uncle is waiting for him at the door.

“Where’s Angel?” Charles demands immediately.

“Safe.”

“Safe?”

“Dr. Essex is with her. You trust him, don’t you?”

Charles shakes his head. “Why is Dr. Essex here?”

“He’s my colleague. It means we work together.”

“I know what colleague means,” Charles snaps.

Uncle smiles thinly. “Yes, you’re a smart boy. I’ve always appreciated that, you know. I can treat you like an adult.”

Charles can’t help enjoying the praise, but he demands again: “Where’s Angel?”

“I’ve told you already.”

It’s not working. Charles changes his approach. “Dr. Essex mentioned you wanted to see me.”

“I did. Let’s go inside.”

“No.” Charles isn’t good with fighting and arguments, so he puts on his best smile, wobbly as it is. “Please, Uncle, can’t we just talk here? I have so many questions.”

“So do I, Charles. What were you doing with Angel tonight?”

Usually Charles knows how to say the right thing. Usually he’s good at knowing what people are feeling, what they’re thinking. But Uncle feels like a wall to him. Charles fidgets. “I heard her crying. I had to help.” He meets Uncle’s eyes. He can’t let Uncle keep doing this. “Why were you doing all those things? Angel was so scared, and I saw what you did to Raven…”

“Oh yes, Raven and Hank. Horrible looking devils, aren’t they?”

“I think they’re brilliant,” Charles says coolly.

Uncle laughs. “You would, wouldn’t you. I guess it’s natural for you to sympathize with your own kind.”

“…My own kind?” Charles blinks.

“Mutants.” Uncle’s eyes gleam. He seems disgusted and excited all at once, almost triumphant. Greedy. Charles can’t read him properly; his head throbs. “You’re a freak just like them, boy. Have you heard of the word telepath before?”

“Someone who reads minds,” Charles replies automatically. “But that’s just in the stories, Uncle, they don’t exist. You can’t really think I’m one?”

“I know you are. How else would you have heard Angel? How else would you know how to get down to the bunker?”

“You’re crazy.” Charles takes a step back. “It’s impossible.”

Uncle stares at him. Then, loud and deep as the toll of a bell: Raven and Hank are dead because of you.

Charles flinches. “Stop it!”

“You see?” Uncle smiles. His teeth gleam in the moonlight like a butcher’s blade. “I didn’t speak aloud, but you still heard me. You heard my thoughts, Charles.”

“I didn’t–” His voice is rising to a pitch, childish and frantic. “What did you say about Raven and Hank? They can’t be… You’re lying!” But Uncle is like a steel wall, he can’t read anything from him, he can’t tell, he can’t tell–

“Oh, Charles.” Nobody likes a freak – and Charles can feel the last word, a sickly mess of revulsion and fascination. “Why do you think we kept them here, out of sight?” You know how people are. Superstitious. They thought your Raven was a devil.

An image of a noose. A hanging body, small and broken. Charles squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head. The image doesn’t go away. “Raven would have been careful, she wouldn’t have… Stop it! Stop lying!”

“Believe what you want. But you’re lucky we caught Angel in time, or she would have gone the same way.”

“You weren’t protecting them! You were experimenting on them! I heard them, they were so scared all the time!” If Uncle could just feel it, all their pain and fear… Charles pictures it, a great tide of fear crashing over Uncle’s head. He just wants Uncle to understand.

Uncle suddenly flinches. Then his face grows hard. “Very interesting. But you can stop now.”

He grabs Charles by the arm, and when Charles tries to yank his arm away, Uncle grips him tight enough to bruise. “You’re not wrong. We were running tests on them, and those tests hurt. But better that than dead, eh?”

“If you’re serious about protecting them…”

“We had to cure them.”

“There’s nothing wrong with them!”

“Idiot boy.” Kurt shakes him, hard enough to make his teeth rattle. His head hurts. Charles pictures his brain bouncing around in his skull, bruising and bleeding. “Open your eyes. The rest of the world doesn’t think so.”

“That’s still not a reason. Why can’t you just give them a home here? We have plenty of space.”

“We still have to find out more about them. I had a son, you know. Big, violent brute. Can you imagine if someone like him was born with your power? We need to protect ourselves.”

Charles shakes his head again. Nothing Uncle is saying sounds right. “You’re hurting them.”

“I am. Shame, too, we’d get so much cleaner results if they cooperated.”

How can Uncle not care at all? “It’s wrong!” Charles bursts out. “You have to stop.”

Uncle smiles his butcher-knife smile again. “Going to stop me?” You can’t do anything.

“I’ll tell.” He’ll find another adult. They’ll take care of it.

“Tell who?” Uncle ruffles his hair like he’s his own son. “Who would believe you? Boy like you, living in a big house like this, everyone expects you to have a wild imagination. Come along, Charles.”

Uncle’s big hands land on his shoulder, steering him back into the mansion. Fear rises in the back of Charles’ throat. “What do you mean? Where are we going?”

But he knows already.

“The bunker, of course. Got to run some preliminary tests on you.”

Nonono no. His heart thumps wildly. Charles staggers, trying to wriggle out of Uncle’s grip, but Uncle only holds on more firmly. Stop!

Uncle doesn’t even flinch. “Enough,” he says sternly. “Unless you want the switch again?”

“Don’t do it.” Charles hates how teary and panicked he sounds. “Uncle, please. Please don’t.”

“Don’t whine, Charles, it won’t change anything. Are you going to cooperate or not?”

“I…”

He looks up at Uncle. There’s no mercy to be found on his face. No guilt or regret.

Suddenly, several things click into place. Uncle will have his way with him no matter what. He can’t let Uncle continue hurting people like Raven. He needs to find out more about what Uncle and his colleagues are doing.

“If I… If I cooperate, you said you’d get better results, right?”

Uncle looks at him speculatively. “Trying to bargain? Let’s hear it.”

Charles takes a deep breath. “I’ll help you with all the tests you do. I won’t complain about the reading anymore either. But don’t do the tests on anyone else.”

“You can’t do anything to stop me if I say no.”

Can he? Charles isn’t still completely convinced he’s a telepath – it sounds like something out of a story, but then so does everything else – but if he can read minds, can he do even more than that? Control them?

“I’ll make things hard for you.” He says it calmly, knowing from experience that raising his voice will only earn him a thrashing. “You don’t need anyone else when you have me anyway. Reading minds is going to be more useful than anything else.” He feels cold when he thinks about how Uncle is going to use him, but he needs to do this. For Raven. “So. Do you agree?”

Say yes. Say yes.

Uncle stares at him. Charles can’t read him at all.

Say yes.

“Yes.”

(next part)

#cherik #xmfc #My writing

7 notes · View notes

alyricalberry · 5 years

Text

Building Bridges || Sebchel

Who: @alyricalberry & @bismythe

When: October 16, 2018

Where: NYADA, outside Florence Farr

What: Rachel runs into Sebastian outside of her classes and they get to talking.

Warnings: None

Sebastian sits outside of Florence Farr, looking effortlessly cool in an all-black ensemble that helps him appear A) subtle and B) seductive. Subtlety is the important thing for a change. He's been hogging this bench for the past hour in this exact spot (despite another pair of students pointedly edging closer and closer until leaving in a huff, score Sebastian) absolutely crushing Little Alchemy on his phone and keeping a watch at the main door to the building. Any minute Rachel Barbra Berry should emerge, and Sebastian will be ready. Of course there are multiple doors to the building, but after a few promising conversations with classmates and random students, he's fairly certain he's in the right place to catch her after whatever she does there on the weekends. Personally, Sebastian doesn't think it's any of his business when a Bloodline family produces a "lost child" to bring into the fold, but unfortunately hers is not just any family. SmytheCo. has been steadily crushing the Corcoran family since before Sebastian was born and his father - his father, a troglodyte who barely comprehends the existence of multiple social media platforms -- texted him to keep an eye on the situation, so that's what he's going to do. Sebastian pauses his game play long enough for a full body stretch and a less covert glance of his surroundings. Not seeing -- or hearing, he's been assured he'll hear her long before he sees her -- Rachel, he snaps his Xtra Patience Infused gum between his molars and settles in for another round of waiting.

Rachel had spent her Saturday mostly as she normally did, which was by rehearsing in one if the Florence Farr study rooms. It had been a tradition of hers since she’d started at NYADA. Every Saturday, two hours if vocal rehearsal followed by dance practice after lunch. It was true that her dance practice bad fallen to the wayside lately, and that was mostly because she’d developed a new habit, which consisted mostly of pacing in front of Shelby Corcoran’s office doors. Sometimes Rachel almost got the courage to knock on the door to see if the woman—her mother—would speak to her. But Rachel knew it was a fruitless endeavour. Whenever Rachel tried to speak to Shelby after a class, she would deftly sweep away, pretending she hadn’t heard her. It was clear to Rachel Shelby had no intention of ever being more than her professor, but that still didn’t stop Rachel from wanting it. She was getting to know her grandparents, which was wonderful, but there were questions she had that only Shelby could answer, like questions about her father. But Rachel could never get past that wall Shelby had put up between them. And so after having spent near an hour pacing the hall outside Shelby’s office, Rachel gave up, like she usually did, knowing she would probably never have the courage to try to talk to her mother. And today, for some reason, the thought made her more upset than usual. She quickly walked out of Florence Farr and collapsed in the nearest bench she could find, not noticing the student dressed in all black already occupying half of it. She buried her face in her hands and let out a long sigh, trying to shake off the latest wave of disappointment at how her life was turning out.

Sebastian suppresses his instinctive reaction to seeing a person in emotional distress, which is usually telling them to take that shit elsewhere. Instead he pauses his game and calls upon the same mantra he's been using for years: Fake it 'til you make it. "Hey, uh," he says softly, just enough to catch her attention, "are you okay? Normally, I wouldn't ask but with everything going on," he trails off, looking away. Sebastian can be charming when he wants to be; put him with a group of people at a party, and they'll be MagicMorph in his hands before the night is over. Sebastian just needs an opening and if Feelings are his way in, then that's just what he's going to have to do.

Rachel jumped when she heard someone speak to her. She looked up and vaguely recognized him from Tumblr, and from Blaine talking about him. “Um, hi. You’re Sebastian, right?” She asked. She pushed her hair behind her ears and sat up straighter. “I’m fine, really. Some days are just a little tougher than others with everything going on, you know with finding out I’m a secret Bloodline, and my biological mother having absolutely no interest in talking to me. It’s... a lot,” she said with a bitter laugh. “Sorry, I don’t mean to unload all this on you, I know we barely know each other,” she added, wiping discreetly at her eyes.

Sebastian blinks. "Yeah, no, that sounds like a lot," he replies, to give himself time to re-evalute his strategy. Well. That was easier than he thought it would be. He expected a little hesitation before he could tease out the problem, but this is even better. "It's fine, really," Sebastian says, and realizes he might sound too eager. He clears his throat. Slow and easy does it, Sebastian. He repeats, in a calmer fashion, "It's fine, really. Sometimes people find it easier to talk to strangers to get an outside perspective." He shrugs, opening his messenger-style bag to retrieve his toiletries bag. He takes out his Magic Refresher Towel -- guaranteed to remove signs of tears without messing up her make up -- and hands it to her. "Nice to meet you. It's Rachel, right? We're, uh, mutuals on tumblr or something?" As if he doesn't know that already. "I'm sorry she doesn't want to talk to you. I'm sure you have important questions for her. If you don't mind me asking," Sebastian begins slowly, "if she won't talk to you, how did you find out?"

Rachel couldn't help but smile at Sebastian's sympathizing with her. It was nice having someone who would just listen to her. Even if he was a stranger. She accepted the towel from her and gently dabbed her eyes. "Thank you, and yes, that's me. You're friends with Blaine, right? He used to live in the room beside mine in Zephyrus, before he randomly moved to Notos. I still don't know what that's about," she told him. She pondered answering his question for a second. He wasn't the only student who'd ask her about all the drama that had unfolded in her life lately. But Santana's video was floating around somewhere so what was the point in hiding it. "Well, my grandparents—Caroline and Jacob Corcoran, I don't know if you've heard of them?—they found out about me somehow and had me watched by a bodyguard for a while before they decided to have him very publicly announce that I was the long lost Corcoran heir. That was a fun day," she said, somewhat bitterly. "Anyways, they're the ones I have contact with. Ms. Corcoran isn't very interested in having a relationship with her daughter, apparently. But that's okay. At least I have my grandparents, right?"

"Of a sort," Sebastian replies. Even though there really isn't much to say, he figures it can't hurt to give her some extra information. "I moved around a lot as a kid, so we haven't had a chance to catch up. Notos is located in the heart of campus and is a popular place for NYADA students to socialize, study, dine, and then tuck away high into the clouds for rest. I mean," -- is he quoting the brochure? He's quoting the brochure -- "It's also pretty secure from what I understand. Not the worst move to make." He nods thoughtfully. "One of the Corcorans usually attend one of the events hosted by my family, but they're pretty attached to their reclusive mystique. I'm surprised they decided to announce it so publicly. I couldn't begin to understand how you feel." No, really, Sebastian would be mortified to find out he was a Corcoran, but that's because he's already a Smythe. A downgrade like that? No, thanks. "At least you have your grandparents," Sebastian agrees, thinking it over. So her grandparents are onboard but their daughter isn't? Interesting. "Maybe their daughter just needs time to come around. You said you were adopted, right? If your grandparents are the ones who approached you, then maybe she just needs time to get over the shock of your... introduction into Bloodline Society the same way you do. And if not? Well, what can you do? Her loss."

"I get that it's just... it doesn't seem very Blaine-like for him to have up and moved like that. He and his roommate really got along. I just can't help but feel like something's up," Rachel explained, but decided to let the subject drop. She listened to Sebastian speak and couldn't help but smile. It was nice to have someone sympathize with her and actually understand what she was going through. "I know that. I know it's her loss. It still hurts, you know? Like I'm being completely rejected by my own mother," she told him. "But I am grateful to have my grandparents, at least. They've been so nice. I take it you don't really know much about them? No one else really seems to either. Maybe that's why they wanted to make it so public, to start being seen more in Bloodline society? I don't even know. I'm still very new to all this Bloodline stuff," she chuckled. "Anyways, I'm sorry to be dumping all this on you. Thank you for listening, Sebastian. I really do appreciate it."

Sebastian shrugs because what he does and does not think about Blaine Anderson is a para for another time. "You should trust your intuition," he says, without much feeling. That's like advise 101, right? He somehow keeps his expression sympathetic as he listens to Rachel pouring her heart out. Hopefully this isn't going to be a regular thing. "The Corcorans are pretty reclusive, so what I know is courtesy of the Bloodline Magic Gloryvine." He pretends to think for a moment, hoping enough time has passed for him the idea to seem spur of the moment instead of as a the manipulation for permanent openings for future conversations that it is. "Hey, I am the master of useless genealogy trivia- I can't really help with your mom, but if you need any advice on navigating all of the 'Bloodline stuff,' I'm happy to provide assistance. We bloodlines have to stick together, right?" he says, easing himself a little closer.

Rachel couldn't help but smile at Sebastian's words. "Thank you, Sebastian. That's actually really kind of you to offer," she said. She leaned into him when he scooted closer. "I think that would be great. God knows I could use the help," she added with a chuckle. "Give me your phone. I'll give you my number and we can meet up for coffee or something? I have to be going to my next class..."

#para: Building Bridges #bismythe

5 notes · View notes

lady-divine-writes · 6 years

Text

Kurtbastian one-shot - “Watching Christmas Burn” (Rated PG13)

After Kurt’s bad day, Sebastian comes up with a (slightly dangerous) way to make his husband feel better.

Until their son comes home. Then Kurt’s day goes from bad to worse. (1840 words)

Notes: I had written a version of this for Klaine, but I was originally writing this for the Hummel Holidays prompt "unexpected/bad luck". Anyway, I think this turned out cute, too.

Part 32 of the Daddies verse

Read on AO3.

“I want a hippopotamus for Christmas … Only a hippopotamus will do … Hey, babe!”

“Hey, Bas.”

Oh no. Sebastian frowns when he hears Kurt’s reply. His husband, who had been a vibrating thread of excitement earlier that morning - singing Christmas carols, and bouncing from room to room, quadruple checking that everything looked parfait - has gone monotone.

Sebastian hangs up his coat and heads to the living room. It’s a hop, skip, and a jump from the front door into the main family room, but with the massive amount of holiday decorations they’d put up this year, Kurt is a little difficult to see at first glance. But as he approaches, Sebastian finds his husband - slouching on the sofa, still dressed in his brand new Alexander McQueen suit. He’d loosened his tie, unbuttoned a few buttons, and kicked his shoes across the room. There they lay, overturned in front of the fireplace, too close to the heat to be good for the leather.

If Kurt is letting the finish on his shoes get ruined and one of his favorite suits wrinkle, his day can’t have been good.

“Uh … how was the photoshoot?”

“I need a drink,” Kurt grumbles, waving his fingers at his husband, signaling Sebastian to get him one.

“It’s only two in the afternoon!” Sebastian kicks off his own shoes and takes a seat on the floor beside his husband’s left leg so he can rub his foot.

“And?”

“And you don’t drink.”

“It’s never too late to start.”

Sebastian focuses his knuckles on Kurt’s arch, knowing that’s the spot to hit when Kurt’s in a sour mood. “That bad, huh?”

“That bad?” Kurt laughs dryly. “You might say that. Look at the tree.”

Sebastian gazes at their Christmas tree, overflowing with an eclectic collection of expensive heirloom ornaments and handmade creations by their son, and sighs. “It’s a beautiful tree.”

“It is, isn’t it? But did you know it’s uneven?”

“It is not!” Sebastian tilts his head from side to side, trying to see it. He can’t. It must be one of those miniscule things that only photographers notice, like the fact that Kurt’s right earlobe is supposedly longer than his left.

“Well, not the tree so much” - Kurt scoots closer to his husband - “but the presents underneath it. Apparently it was bereft of presents.”

“But we have presents.”

“Not enough presents …” Kurt moans when Sebastian hits just the right spot. “Apparently, in order for me to be convincing in my role as Executive Fashion Editor at Vogue and earn my right to be featured in the center spread for Christmas, our tree needed more presents. Extravagance is the key. Excess.”

“Excess has never been a problem for me, babe. You should have hit me up. I would have had Bergdorf’s delivered.” Sebastian does a double-take of their tree, at the stacks of presents that weren’t there when he’d left gathered anew around the base. “I was wondering where the avalanche of gifts came from. I thought maybe you’d gotten motivated.”

“They’re not ours. They’re empty boxes,” Kurt mutters, sinking into the couch cushions. “They’re there to make our tree look fuller.”

“I feel sorry for the poor prop guy who got stuck wrapping all those.” Sebastian snickers … until he feels his husband’s knee knock him in the ear. He looks up at Kurt glaring back at him, and his final snicker shrivels into nothingness. “I take it by the bony joint digging into my temple that you wrapped them?”

“A-ha.”

“How many?”

“Roughly five dozen.”

“Oh, babe!” Sebastian sympathizes, but he’s still laughing – mostly at the image of a put-off Kurt in his expensive suit, sitting on the floor and cursing under his breath while he wrapped sixty Goddamned gift boxes. “Don’t they pay some schlub good money to do that kind of stuff?”

“Yeah, well, supposedly his wife went into labor,” Kurt groans, his head falling back as he pinches his eyes shut, “so he had to leave early … the jerk.”

“That bastard!” Sebastian is one hundred percent behind his husband … though, in reality, they probably can’t blame the man for rushing off to be with his wife when she gives birth to their baby. But there had to be someone else they could call in to do the grunt work. Isn’t that what interns are for? Speaking of … “Nice to see they left you to clean up the mess.” Sebastian scoffs, looking at the number of boxes underneath their tree. “We’re going to have to deal with these before the peanut comes home. We don’t want him getting the wrong impression about the size of his haul.”

“You know, all I’ve wanted to do since the crew left is set one of those little motherfuckers on fire with my mind.” Kurt squints hard at the box closest, checking one more time that he can’t. “Could you imagine how satisfying it would be to hear the paper crackle … see the sparks fly as it burns …?”

Sebastian considers that. Even though he himself has never wanted to throw a wrapped present into a fireplace, other things come to mind: Calculus textbooks, his high school uniform, a few ex-boyfriends. He understands wanting the satisfaction of watching something you loathe devoured, consumed out of existence, slowly and painfully (maybe from the crotch out). A pop from the fireplace draws his attention there, to the fire Kurt had lit for ambiance, its single log still burning, breaking down in its cradle. He knows that burning a present in their fireplace probably isn’t the smartest thing to do, especially wrapped in metallic paper, but smart hasn’t necessarily been a pre-requisite for a lot of the things Sebastian has done.

Besides, if it makes Kurt feel better, then where’s the harm in disposing of one?

He gets up from the floor. Kurt whimpers as he leaves, raising his foot to remind Sebastian what he was doing and that it was important. But when Kurt opens his eyes, he sees Sebastian by the tree, juggling one of the smaller fake presents in his hands. “Why don’t you chuck one in the fireplace then?”

Kurt sputters a laugh, but his brow draws together when Sebastian stays put, tossing the package up in the air and catching it.

“Are you … are you serious?”

“Why not? I mean, it’s not going to be as fun as lighting it Firestarter style, but you’ll still get to see it burn.”

Kurt rises from the sofa. Without fixing his suit, he walks towards his husband.

“Come on.” Sebastian hands the present over. “It’ll be great for stress relief.”

“What about sex?”

“We can do that afterward.” Sebastian winks, grabbing a healthy handful of Kurt’s left ass cheek. “But for now, let’s set some presents on fire!”

“I … I can’t,” Kurt says, but takes the present out of Sebastian’s hands with a quickness that makes him laugh. “It’s just … it’s crazy!”

“It’s crazy that you had to wrap them in the first place! And for your own Life and Style shoot, too. Your a-hole boss should be ashamed!”

“Shhh!” Kurt slaps a hand over his husband’s mouth. “Anna Wintour has eyes and ears everywhere! I wouldn’t be surprised if one of these presents is bugged!”

“Uh … creepy. All the more reason to burn them then, in my opinion.”

Sebastian watches Kurt contemplate the gift in his hands, taking longer than he’d anticipated – long enough to start re-thinking himself. So he comes up with a solution to move this party along. “Well, if you’re not, then I’m sure as hell going to.”

He reaches for the box. With an angry flash of Kurt’s blue eyes, Kurt tosses the empty box over the safety grate and into the fireplace. Sebastian and Kurt watch as the fire engulfs the package, immediately eating away at the wrapping paper. Black holes form, their edges curling back, the entire thing throwing off a sprinkle of gold and silver. They watch the box burn until the paper is gone, the remaining cardboard innards collapsing into ashes.

“God!” Kurt moans so deeply it sounds sexual. “That felt better than I thought it would!”

“See?” Sebastian licks his lips, ready to attack Kurt’s neck after that. “I told you this was a good idea.” Especially if Kurt makes that noise because of it.

Kurt reaches past Sebastian and grabs a handful of presents. He shakes them to make sure they’re empty, and then tosses them into the fire. For a moment, the boxes overwhelm the flames, and Sebastian thinks that Kurt may have snuffed them out – the power of the presents and their sparkly wrapping too strong. But with an impressive whoosh! the stack lights on fire. Even before those boxes are properly singed, Kurt grabs more.

“I don’t think we can burn them all!” Sebastian laughs. “Our fireplace isn’t big enough!”

“That’s okay,” Kurt says, chucking one more in for good measure. “I’ll hide them behind the real presents. Then every time Thomas misbehaves, I’ll pick one up and toss it in as a warning!”

“That’s awful!” Sebastian laughs. “Even I’m not that mean!”

Kurt raises a skeptical brow, but he refrains from commenting. “I’m just kidding! I’d never do that! In fact, we should probably stop now. Thomas is going to be home any min---”

“Daddy! Papa, I’m … aaahhhh!”

Kurt and Sebastian, huddled close together and laughing into one another’s shoulders, stop with a choke as the bloodcurdling scream of their only son fills the room. They turn and stare at the little boy stopped short before them with his loyal dog by his side, both mentally preparing with breakneck speed to field the questions and accusations that Thomas is sure to lob at them.

“Tom-Tom …” Sebastian starts first, seeing as – in his pressed dress shirt and slacks - he’s the parent who doesn’t look like a desperate madman, as opposed to Kurt, who looks like he spent the afternoon sleeping on the sidewalk in a $2,000 designer suit.

“Wha---wha---?” Thomas pants, his eyes darting from Kurt, standing beside the fireplace with two presents in his hands; to Sebastian, in the process of handing over one more; to the fireplace, flames climbing higher as the charred skeletons of other gifts burn to a crisp.

“Thomas” - Kurt puts the empty boxes carefully back on the pile and raises his hands in surrender - “it’s not what you think.”

“Daddy? Papa? I … ah!” And with that, Thomas faints, positioning himself beside his dog Hepburn first, then dropping on top of the Labradoodle gently with a hand thrown over his forehead. Kurt and Sebastian look at their little boy, probably honestly devastated over the loss of what he thinks is a genuine present … but so obviously faking.

Sebastian looks at Kurt.

Kurt looks at Sebastian.

Sebastian points at the heap of overdramatic child lying atop his dog, and says, “Okay, now, that’s your son.”

#kurtbastian #sebkurt #sekurt #frankie writes

43 notes · View notes

thorne93 · 7 years

Text

Who Will Win? (Part 22)

Prompt: Jefferson (Once Upon A Time) sees you on the sidewalk one day, his “dead” wife.

Word Count: 2135

Warning: Threats, language, angst, sadness, darkness, talk of loss of parent / grief

Notes: This will span from season 1 through 5, if you don’t want spoilers, maybe don’t read this, haha. Also, the reader’s Storybrooke name is Alice. Beta’d by the amazeballs @like-a-bag-of-potatoes and badgered @amarvelouswritings Thank you both! Could never get this done without you!

Tags: @amarvelouswritings @cocosierra94 @essie1876 @magpiegirl80 @letsgetfuckingsuperwholocked @harleyquinnandscarletwitch @iamwarrenspeace @marvel-imagines-yes-please @superwholocked527 @myparadise19982sand @missinstantgratification @thejulesworld @nedthegay @marvelloushamilton @munlis @bubblyanarocks3 @thefridgeismybestie @kaliforniacoastalteens @random-fluffy-pink-unicorn @hardcollectionworldtrash @igiveupicantthinkofausername

Sebastian Stan Tags: @nedthegay @lostinspace33 @alwayshave-faith @elleatrixlestrange @buenostardissherlock @the-red-world-of-jess-chibi @lenawiinchester @memory-of-a-goldfish

Who Will Win Tags: @mrs-lancelot @elivanah @ultrarebelheart @learisa @isis278

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You had been searching and searching for a way to get everyone back to Camelot that needed to go back, including Merida, so she could return to her home as well. You were coming up empty and you were becoming enraged from staring at spell books and debating on whether to consult with the Charmings and Regina or not. You wanted to trust them, but after they broke in, you couldn’t. You didn’t blame them for wanting the Darkness out, but if that’s really all it was about, why not come to you first?

With a sigh filled with frustration, you got up and began walking around the castle, hoping the exercise would do you some good. You heard someone softly crying and you realized it was coming from Merida’s room.

You opened the door softly, seeing her shoulders bob from the sobs that coursed through her body. You quietly made your way over to the other side of her bed and sat down. She wasn’t startled by your sudden presence like everyone else usually was.

“Your father,” you said, a knowing in your voice. You knew how grief was. You could be fine for days at a time and the smallest thing could send you spiraling into heartache. You also knew Merida. She was your closest companion for years, she hated to cry, and there were only a few things that would probably make her weep near another. The loss of King Fergus.

She nodded and swallowed so she could talk. “I...Before I was taken with the curse that swept us here, I was looking for my father’s killer. I discovered a piece of his cloak on my arrow on the battlefield. I was hoping I could track him somehow using it. I have been on the hunt looking for his killer for so long but now….being here, my father’s killer is out there somewhere, roaming free.”

You remained quiet as your eyes flashed to the thing she was fiddling with in her hand. A piece of torn, burgundy cloth. She was turning it over and over in her hand.

“I just feel like I’ve failed him,” she said, looking up at you for the first time.

“I know what you mean,” you offered. “My dad...he was sick for years...and he put up one hell of a fight for a long, long time. Too long, too long he endured. But when he passed, I feel like it was my fault. I mean I should’ve gotten him better care or a better doctor. I even imprisoned the doctor’s brother who cared for him,” you admitted with a sad laugh. “Part of it was grief, and pain. I wanted him to feel the loss that I felt, but part of it was I couldn’t come to terms with the fact that I failed him. I should’ve taken off work to be with him more. I should’ve looked into better care….I don’t know, gotten him home healthcare. Anything is better than dying alone in a hospital.”

Merida offered you a sad, supportive smile. “I’m sure he felt it was his time. I knew your father well and only he would let himself go. He was his own man. Nothing could stop that man.”

You smiled at her. “Thank you. I just….I had so much rage inside me, that becoming the Dark One it just...it gave into that. That’s what scares me the most. I had these feelings before coming the Dark One, I just kept them buried inside. Now? Now I do what I want, when I want, where I want.”

“Grief will make you want to do terrible things. I understand that,” Merida said.

“Your father was proud of you, you know.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“Because I am. You always were just like him.”

She smiled before tears started to fall down her cheeks. “I miss him so much. I wish he was still here to guide me.”

You nodded before your own tears began to fall, you hadn’t even realized you were crying. “Me too. Our father’s were great men, who deserved better. I miss him every single day. There are days it doesn’t feel real, and days it feels all too real.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” Merida said.

“I know they wouldn’t want us to dwell on their passing, but to live and relish in their memory. But some days...I find, it’s all I can do, to not break down entirely.”

Merida laughed a quick laugh. “Aye, I know that pain. It seems like every time I want to only focus on the good, the fact that there won’t be any more good memories seems to take its place.”

“That it does. That it does…”

This was so therapeutic for you. You had no idea this was what you needed. You thought giving Victor pain would do that, and at first, it did. All the grief and heartache you felt when your dad passed had manifested into bitterness and hate. You hated seeing other men who weren’t deserving of the air they breathed just walk around and be with their families. You were tired of women who were vicious have their fathers. Why did they deserve their parents but you didn’t? How was that fair? Besides that, you had seen villain after villain cause issue for your family and friends. You were tired of going through life, taking the good path, only to watch evil, heartless people get all their heart desired. They say villains don’t get a happy ending, but from where you stood, neither did the heroes. Constantly battling the villains, constantly at war with someone, their families being threatened...How was that a happy ending, either?

So you thought causing pain to those who you thought deserved it would make you feel better. But what you really needed was this. Someone who absolutely understood your pain. Jefferson parents were still alive. He could sympathize but that was it. Snow lost her father and mother, but it didn’t seem quite the same. Merida and you grew up together practically, your father’s almost the same men. You and her were like spitting images of your fathers, with their same heart and vigor and love. Knowing she had lost her father as well killed you, of course, but now your shared grief was a bit of a blessing in disguise. She could understand the jealousy and bitterness when it came to seeing other girls with their fathers. She could understand the soul crushing feeling that he wouldn’t be there for grandchildren, weddings, holidays. They would miss it all.

An idea struck in your head.

“Merida, what if we could find your father’s killer?” you asked.

“But...you said revenge didn’t make you feel better.”

“Well, to be fair Victor didn’t murder my father, he may have just not saved him. But in your case...whoever is the owner of that cloak, he did take your father from you. It’s only fair to find him. Even if you don’t kill him, I’m sure you’d like to know...Yes?”

“Well, of course. I’ve been searching for him since it happened but…”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yes.”

“Then give me the cloth and we’ll find your father’s murderer.”

She nodded as she pursed her lips and gave you the cloth. She followed you to your magical room and you placed a drop of locater potion on the cloth.

“What will this do?” she asked.

“It will find its owner. It’ll lead us right to them.”

You let it go and the enchanted piece began to fly away from you two. You worked to keep up with it, following from the castle, to the driveway, to the street, to into town, to finally - Granny’s.

The cloth landed on a table in front of Arthur where you and Merida approached.

“It’s you? You killed my father?” Merida accused from right behind you. You put your arm out, more to protect her than Arthur.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Arthur scoffed with a half smile, looking to his friends.

“You! You were there and killed King Fergus, my father,” Merida repeated.

“Clearly you’re deranged or this Dark One here,” he said, looking up at you with malice, “has twisted your reality.”

“Did this cloth belong to you or not?” you demanded in a low voice as you picked up the clothing and held it in front of his face.

“I--” he started before you cut him off.

“Choose your next words wisely, Arthur, you’re dealing with a dark one who hates villains and is a grieving daughter. So I suggest the next words that come out of your mouth be the wisest words you’ve ever uttered.”

He looked at you, then the cloth, then Merida, then back at you before he jumped up and ran out of the diner.

“What a coward,” you muttered as the two of you followed. You flipped your hand up and froze Arthur where he stood in the street. You and Merida stood before him as you unfroze him, noticing that the townspeople were emerging from stores and restaurants on the main street to see what was unfolding.

“Such a coward,” you said, circling him. “First you kill King Fergus with his back turned, your face hidden. Then, you can’t even admit it to his daughter. Then, you run away when approached. Tell me, Arthur, how is it that you pulled Excalibur from the stone? I thought that a hero was required for that. All I see before me is a pathetic excuse for a man.”

“Please. I needed the helm that your father was wearing,” Arthur explained to Merida.

“The magical helm?”

“Yes, but when I got the bloody thing, it didn’t work. The helm your father was wearing wasn’t enchanted.”

“I knew it,” Merida said. “But you...you killed my father...for a helm. What kind of a person…” she asked, the idea trailing off as her eyes turned glassy with hurt and rage.

“I had to do what I must,” Arthur said, drawing his sword. Merida immediately drew hers.

“And I must do what I must, to avenge my father.”

“I killed Dumbroch’s king, what makes you think I’ll have any trouble killing its queen?’ he asked, stepping up to her. Next to them, you watched. You wanted so badly for Merida to get her revenge, and if you had to, you would intervene to make it so.

“Because I have fire in my veins, lad,” she answered. She stepped forward. “You killed my father, I’m going to make you pay for that mistake.”

“Do your worst, girlie,” he challenged. Within the next second, they were sword fighting, beautifully.

It seemed they were equally matched, the fight just wearing them out. You wanted this to be over. You finally reminded her, “Merida, he killed your father. He took him away from you. You’ll never see him again and it’s his fault. Don’t let him get away with this.”

Arthur’s wife came running up the sidewalk at that moment.

“Arthur?!” she called. It was the moment Merida needed. He was distracted, she was enraged, she raised her sword and knocked him to the ground. Guinevere cried out. “Arthur!”

“Make one move toward him and I’ll snap your neck from where I stand,” you said as you whipped your face to her, holding your hand out at her. She remained planted where she was, her eyes going from you to Arthur on the ground. Merida stepped forward, her blade close to his throat.

“Do it, Merida,” you encouraged. He wanted to get the darkness out of you and you didn’t want that. You needed it. You needed him out of this town. If she killed him, it would help a friend and help you. Two birds - one stone.

She looked at him for a long time, something in her eyes. There was a fierceness...A loss in her eyes.

“I--I can’t,” she stammered, tears brimming over as she took her blade away from his neck.

“Merida,” you said softly.

“I can’t, Y/N. I can’t take another man’s life in cold blood. I thank you for finding him though,” she said.

You nodded. “I understand. I wouldn’t want you to darken your heart anyway.” You turned to him though and knelt on one knee. “Me on the other hand…” A sword manifested in your hand as you raised it high above you. “I don’t mind wiping out his kind.”

You were about to swing when you heard your name and you were being pulled somewhere against your will.

“What the hell?” you muttered, looking around and seeing you dark castle surrounding you. You turned and saw Jefferson, holding the dagger.

#who will win #jefferson fic #jefferson x reader #jefferson #jefferson once upon a time #jefferson ouat #ouat #ouat fic #once upon a time fic #once upon a time #sebastian stan

21 notes · View notes

guardmesherlock-rowan · 7 years

Note

Can we request headcanons? If so, can you please do one wherein MC catches the boys (Sherlock, John, James, Sebastian, and maybe Mycroft) kissing another girl and about the angst/drama that would ensue? I love angst hahah! Thanks for all your hard work!

Okay so I was torn on how to answer headcanons like this. But I think I got it.

Iapologize anon for taking forever and a half to answer this (which Iknow means that the last part about my hard work is null and void). Like seriously this has been sitting here staring at me from my inbox for a long time. I just wasn’t sure how to proceed.

When it comes to the guys they are all possessive. It makes it hard to imagine them even glancing at another woman besides MC. But I will give this my best. Honestly though this one had me stumped.

Please bare in mind these are just what would happen in my opinion.

Sherlock Holmes

This could’ve come about many ways. A woman who is smitten by the detective she’s read about, someone hired to get between Sherlock and MC, or some really really bad advice that Sherlock has taken. Either case he doesn’t hear her as she walks in, gasps and there’s a moment of confusion before she runs. Embarassed and emotionally distraught. Probably goes to Simon cause who else will she turn to? Sherlock tries calling her, and she ignores his calls. Finally it’s John’s phone calling her, she answers but it’s Sherlock and he barely starts to apologize when she hangs up.

Mikah is the one that MC contacts so he can go and get her things as it’s hopeful that Sherlock wouldn’t put in as much effort to stop him and he would to stop John.

Even when Sherlock goes out of his way to express his apology he doesn’t seem to fully understand how deeply it hurt her. Simon is the one to answer the door and when Sherlock shows up she slams the door in his face.

It takes Sherlock breaking in to a rehearsal disguised as someone to get MC alone so they can talk.

John Watson

He is kissing someone, for a reason I can’t even begin to fathom, and Sherlock bursts in in the usual fashion thinking he’s with MC, cause who else could he be with? He sees what’s going on and the girl runs out flustered and past MC who goes upstairs confused. John accuses Sherlock of being mean to a potential client and MC asks if they should go after her to make sure she’s alright.

Sherlock walks out of the room not saying anything. John tells MC he’ll be right back and he goes to ask Sherlock if he won’t say anything. That he just needs to get things fixed and figured out (possibly an old girlfriend that he never officially broke up with before and he doesn’t want to hurt). Sherlock doesn’t understand but begrudgingly agrees to avoid hurting MC.

John’s hand fell on Sherlock’s shoulder, “hey thanks for not, you know.” Sherlock turns, a look of contempt usually saved only for the lowest of low criminals when he and Sherlock are out on a case, “do not thank me. I am still uncertain that I won’t go up there and tell her what has happened. But-” He looked away, “it would break her heart. I do not wish to hurt MC. But you should tell her right now John.”“You’re right though it would hurt her… I can’t tell her that-”“Oh yes you can! You go tell her right now, and I can comfort her once you’ve done the right thing and confessed your sins.”“But I thought you didn’t want to see her hurt.”“I do not wish to see her hurt, and I do not wish to hurt her, but I also do not wish to see her played by someone like you.”“Sherlock you don’t even know what happened.” John hissed through his teeth pulling Sherlock further away from the study door, hoping to avoid MC over hearing.“She’s an exgirlfriend of sorts who is shy and doesn’t seem to know that things are over between the two of you.”“I mean I would tell MC about this, but after she kissed me…”“The ladies all think they’re special to you, and you always continue to treat them as such. But John you need to tell MC, or I won’t hold myself back from doing so.”“Just give me time to get this all sorted out, please Sherlock.”“…. make it quick.”

However she does finds out later that they were both lying to her.

James Moriarty

When you’re a wealthy man, as also proposed in the story in Seductively Glamorous. Sometimes other families try to get you to be in a relationship with their daughters. When you’re a criminal consultant you don’t really want people to know you have relationship ties. So when James was dealing with a very determined and pretty young lady he had Jack and Sebastian try to keep her occupied out on the town. But he had not finished getting it through to her that he wasn’t interested when they came back home.

They tried to show MC to other parts of the estate and keep her away from James and this young lady, however she got curious and opened this one door leading to a security room where she was able to see that they did have cameras set up around the place recording certain rooms. One of which had a young lady straddling James, planting kiss after kiss on him. Jack and Sebastian weren’t sure what she had seen when they went to find her and she was running down the hallway. Though one peek at the monitors in the security room was enough to make them wonder exactly how James Moriarty was going to make them pay.

Mycroft Holmes

MC walks in and he has his hand under his other woman’s chin, tilting her face up as he is gently demanding her to kiss him back. MC yells “What’s going on here.”

The poor woman is just surprised and Mycroft has an arm around her holding her still while he faces MC, “this is my girlfriend.”

"But I thought I was-“

"You were mistaken, don’t worry, it’s an honest mistake.” He gives her a smirk before she takes off and heads to the only people she knows of as friends John Watson, but she hesitates in front of the house because of Sherlock. He’s Mycroft’s brother, even if they don’t get along, he would’ve known wouldn’t he?

Sherlock rushes out to meet her because he saw her through the window. He is able to get her to spill the beans and leaves her crying in John’s care while he goes and takes care of his need to punch his brother.

They do what they can to get her to feel better. Simon coming back and picking her up and keeping MC with her for a bit. It’s a few weeks of hell on MC when suddenly Mycroft shows up with a shrug, “he’s come to take MC back home with him.” MC refuses. Mycroft won’t tell her what’s going on, but is just trying to get her to go along with it. That’s not going to work and he needs to try to woo her all over again while Sherlock tries to figure out what his brother did to explain to MC why she can’t forgive him.

Jack Stillman

MC walks in on him and another woman, maybe not kissing, but looking like they’re about to. She gives Jack the run around in the Moriarty Estate while she messages John and Sherlock to come pick her up. She can’t think clearly. She isn’t sure how to handle this. After all they went through together.

Jack begs her to come out and talk to him, thinking he can reason with her. She still doesn’t come out to talk. She’s hiding in the closet waiting for a message from John to let her know they’re there for her, when the doors fly open.

Sherlock and John show up and rush to the door to help MC, but she opens it cheerfully. Not understanding why they’re there. They try to talk to her about it.

Days later the woman is reported missing.

Sebastian Moran

MC hears Sebastian complimenting a woman in their room, his voice full of warmth and love. She starts to hear him talk about how he just wants to keep kissing her little face so much. This is the last straw and she bursts in, tears in her eyes, ready to yell at him. He drops the cat he was talking to.

(I’m sorry I just can’t imagine it, like…. if he did kiss someone else after finally struggling to get James’s approval? It would be so far out of character that he would’ve… had… to have been…. DAMMIT JACK GIVE ME THE FREAKING COIN AND STOP HYPNOTIZING PEOPLE)

Jeremy Cassell

It isn’t that MC hasn’t had to kiss people while acting. It’s acting. She always appreciated that Jeremy could respect that and even help her with practicing getting a character down. Though to Jeremy there was only one person who could see through his disguise no matter how well he did it. So when he was disguised and working as Lupin and had to kiss the sweetheart of who he was pretending to be and MC had seen it? He wasn’t so sure what to expect.

MC started to avoid him and when he did finally get her alone with him she tried to avoid looking at him or talking about what had happened. Finally he was able to confront her, he knew she had no where else to be. It was then that she asked for a break. What was the big deal? It was just an actors kiss. “No.” MC looked away, her eyes welling up in tears. Not to that lady.

She left while he was stunned. The romance he put on was an act, MC understood, but she was sympathizing with that woman and how it was real for her. Jeremy would have to figure out a way to apologize and get MC back.

Hercule Poirot

This man won’t let drama anywhere near him. As soon as that woman started kissing him he would push her away. Trying to be as nice and calm to her as possible, stating that while he is flattered there is only one woman in his heart who would ever be allowed to kiss his lips. MC who probably could’ve walked in on a bad scene is confused with how Hercule has an apologetic look on his face and how the woman in question looks a little heart broken.“This,” Hercule indicates towards MC, “is my girlfriend. The only one who can light up my life. If you are in need of detectives she and I will be more than willing to help you. For her heart is as big as her beauty.”

Another shout out to @cinnamonteaandbiscuits for proof reading this all day with me

#sherlock holmes #john watson #james moriarty #Sebastian Moran #Jack Stillman #Mycroft Holmes #Jeremy Cassell #Hercule Poirot #Guard Me Sherlock #headcanon #cheating #mc #talk to me #anon

27 notes · View notes

angelavengedinspo-blog · 6 years

Text

“And you’re totally sure it was Jace?” Isabelle asked, for what seemed to Clary like the forty-seventh time. Clary bit down on her already sore lip and counted to ten. “It’s me, Isabelle,” she said. “You honestly think I wouldn’t recognize Jace?” She looked up at Alec standing over them, his blue scarf fluttering like a pennant in the wind. “Could you mistake someone else for Magnus?” “No. Not ever,” he said without missing a beat. His blue eyes were troubled, dark with worry. “I just—I mean, of course we’re asking. It doesn’t make any sense.” “He could be a hostage,” said Simon, leaning back against a boulder. The autumn sunlight turned his eyes the color of coffee grounds. “Like, Sebastian is threatening him that if Jace doesn’t go along with his plans, Sebastian will hurt someone he cares about.” All eyes went to Clary, but she shook her head in frustration. “You didn’t see them together. Nobody acts like that when they’re a hostage. He seemed totally happy to be there.” “Then he’s possessed,” Alec said. “Like he was by Lilith.” “That was what I thought at first. But when he was possessed by Lilith, he was like a robot. He just kept saying the same things over and over. But this was Jace. He was making jokes like Jace does. Smiling like him.” “Maybe he has Stockholm syndrome,” Simon suggested. “You know, when you get brainwashed and start sympathizing with your captor.” “It takes months to develop Stockholm syndrome,” Alec objected. “How did he look? Hurt, or sick in any way? Can you describe them both?” It wasn’t the first time he’d asked. The wind blew dry leaves around their feet as Clary told them again how Jace had looked—vibrant and healthy. Sebastian, too. They had seemed completely calm. Jace’s clothes had been clean, stylish, ordinary. Sebastian had been wearing a long black wool trench coat that had looked expensive. “Like an evil Burberry ad,” Simon said when she was done. Isabelle shot him a look. “Maybe Jace has a plan,” she said. “Maybe he’s tricking Sebastian. Trying to get into his good graces, figure out what his plans are.” “You’d think that if he were doing that, he’d have figured out a way to tell us about it,” Alec said. “Not to leave us panicking. That’s too cruel.” “Unless he couldn’t risk sending a message. He’d believe we would trust him. We do trust him.” Isabelle’s voice rose, and she shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. The trees lining the gravel path they stood on rattled their bare branches. “Maybe we should tell the Clave,” Clary said, hearing her own voice as if from a distance. “This is—I don’t see how we can handle this on our own.” “We can’t tell the Clave.” Isabelle’s voice was hard. “Why not?” “If they think he’s cooperating with Sebastian, the mandate will be to kill him on sight,” Alec said. “That’s the Law.” “Even if Isabelle’s right? Even if he’s just playing along with Sebastian?” Simon said, a note of doubt in his voice. “Trying to get on his side to get information?” “There’s no way to prove it. And if we claimed it was what he’s doing, and that got back to Sebastian, he’d probably kill Jace,” said Alec. “If Jace is possessed, the Clave will kill him themselves. We can’t tell them anything.” His voice was hard. Clary looked at him in surprise; Alec was normally the most rule-abiding of them all. “This is Sebastian we’re talking about,” said Izzy. “There’s no one the Clave hates more, except Valentine, and he’s dead. But practically everyone knows someone who died in the Mortal War, and Sebastian’s the one who took the wards down.” Clary scuffed at the gravel underfoot with her sneaker. The whole situation seemed like a dream, like she might wake up at any moment. “Then, what next?” “We talk to Magnus. See if he has any insight.” Alec tugged on the corner of his scarf. “He won’t go to the Council. Not if I ask him not to.” “He’d better not,” said Isabelle indignantly. “Otherwise, worst boyfriend ever.” “I said he wouldn’t—” “Is there any point now?” Simon said. “In seeing the Seelie Queen? Now that we know Jace is possessed, or maybe hiding out on purpose—” “You don’t miss an appointment with the Seelie Queen,” Isabelle said firmly. “Not if you value your skin the way it is.” “But she’ll just take away the rings from Clary and we won’t learn anything,” Simon argued. “We know more now. We have different questions for her now. She won’t answer them, though. She’ll just answer the old ones. That’s how faeries work. They don’t do favors. It’s not like she’s going to let us go talk to Magnus and then come back.” “It doesn’t matter.” Clary rubbed her hands across her face. They came away dry. At some point her tears had stopped coming, thank God. She hadn’t wanted to face the Queen looking like she’d just been bawling her eyes out. “I never got the rings.” Isabelle blinked. “What?” “After I saw Jace and Sebastian, I was too shaken to get them. I just raced out of the Institute and Portaled here.” “Well, we can’t see the Queen, then,” said Alec. “If you didn’t do what she asked you to, she’ll be furious.” “She’ll be more than furious,” said Isabelle. “You saw what she did to Alec last time we went to the Court. And that was just a glamour. She’ll probably turn Clary into a lobster or something.” “She knew,” Clary said. “She said, ‘When you find him again, he may well not be quite as you left him.’” The Seelie Queen’s voice drifted through Clary’s head. She shivered. She could understand why Simon hated faeries so much. They always knew exactly the right words that would lodge like a splinter in your brain, painful and impossible to ignore or remove. “She’s just playing around with us. She wants those rings, but I don’t think there’s any chance she’ll really help us.” “Okay,” Isabelle said doubtfully. “But if she knew that much, she might know more. And who else is going to be able to help us, since we can’t go to the Clave?” “Magnus,” Clary said. “He’s been trying to decode Lilith’s spell all this time. Maybe if I tell him what I saw, it’ll help.” Simon rolled his eyes. “It’s a good thing we know the person who’s dating Magnus,” he said. “Otherwise, I get the feeling we’d all just lie around all the time wondering what the hell to do next. Or try to raise the money to hire Magnus by selling lemonade.” Alec looked merely irritated by this comment. “The only way you could raise enough money to hire Magnus by selling lemonade is if you put meth in it.” “It’s an expression. We are all aware that your boyfriend is expensive. I just wish we didn’t have to go running to him with every problem.” “So does he,” said Alec. “Magnus has another job today, but I’ll talk to him tonight and we can all meet at his loft tomorrow morning.” ...

Isabelle had moved closer to Simon. “I guess that leaves us the rest of the afternoon,” she said. “Should we go to Taki’s? They’ll serve you blood.” Simon glanced over at Clary, clearly worried. “Do you want to come?” “No, it’s okay. I’ll grab a cab back to Williamsburg. I should spend some time with my mom. All of this stuff with Sebastian has her falling apart already, and now . . .” Isabelle’s black hair flew in the wind as she whipped her head back and forth. “You can’t tell her what you saw. Luke’s on the Council. He can’t keep it from them, and you can’t ask her to keep it from him.”

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

“I can’t go,” said Magnus. “Only female Shadowhunters can enter the Adamant Citadel.” “And you’re not going,” Jocelyn said to Clary in her sternest No-you-are-not-going-out-clubbing-with-Simon-after-midnight voice. “You’re safer here, where you’re warded.” “Isabelle,” said Alec. “Isabelle can go.” “Do you have any idea where she is?” Clary said. “Home, I’d imagine,” said Alec, one shoulder lifting in a shrug. “I can call her—” “I’ll take care of it,” Magnus said, smoothly removing his cell phone from his pocket and punching in a text with the skill of the long-practiced. “It’s late, and we don’t need to wake her up. Everyone needs rest. If I’m to send any of you through to the Iron Sisters, it will be tomorrow.” “I’ll go with Isabelle,” Jocelyn said. “No one’s looking for me specifically, and it’s better that she not go alone. Even if I’m not technically a Shadowhunter, I was once. It’s only required that one of us be in good standing.” “This isn’t fair,” Clary said.

#re: jace.#re: clary.#re: simon.#re: alec.#re: seelie court.#book five.#quotes by isabelle.#quotes about isabelle.

0 notes