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qweenexplosionmurder13 · 1 year

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Chaos ft. Katsuki Bakugou being a dumbass with a vibrator

MDNI 18+

All characters are aged up, college AU, argue with the wall 💅✨

CW: vibrator, public use, public orgasm, katsuki thinking he's slick, eijiro confusion, revenge listed katsuki

Katsuki sat in class, listening to Present Mic drone on about English vocabulary that he'd already learned from me or just watching movies in his spare time. That was until he remembered something...

The vibrator he'd put in me this morning. His neutral expression turned into a subtle smirk as he took out his phone to turn it on.

He went slow with it, not wanting to catch anyone's attention in class. He knew I was good at keeping a straight face, so we should be okay.

The first thing he noticed was how I crossed my legs and straightened up. As he turned it up more, my nails were digging into my leg as I tried to distract myself by writing. He didn't wanna turn it up to the max for fear of people hearing it, so he looked through the rhythms he could use.

"hard and fast" that should do it...

He watches me sink into my seat and lean my head forward, trying to breath normally. The foot from my crossed leg was bouncing in rhythm.

"Willow! Which one of these would you use back home in America? Pop, soda, or coke?"

"Shit" Katsuki thought to himself.

He tries to turn down the toy but ends up turning it to the max-

"So, um," I cross my legs even tighter, and try to keep composure, "that depends on the, um..." I take a deep breath, my face bright red, "region of America. Down in Tennessee, we'd say coke.."

"NO NOT THE RHYTHM ONLY SETTINGS!!"

another wave of pleasure that I cover with a cough, "my family says pop because they're from Wyoming out west, and people-" I feel a climax coming quickly so I try to finish my sentence, "in the north they say soda because Yankees," I laugh, covering up the intense orgasm I was in the middle of.

Katsuki just watched in horror and... Sort of impressed as I seemed to pull off the cover.

"Interesting... Are you okay? You look a little red-"

"IT'S THAT TIME OF THE MONTH!" I say louder than intended slapping my hand on the desk and laughing, "I'm just in an intense amount of pain, but it's fine!"

"O...Kay," Mic nodds and goes back to his lecture, as I tr

I turn to Katsuki.

"Turn that thing off or I'm shoving it up your ass and giving Eijiro the controls," I whisper, very angry as Katsuki tries not to laugh.

He does as I ask and then sends me a message.

Kat🧡: sorry babe, I didn't mean to turn it up when he called on you.

Willow💜: bite me explosion bitch. You're on my shit list.

Eijiro❤️: What are you guys talking about? Are you okay, willow? I've got chocolate and a heating pad in my room for you after class❤️❤️🥰🥰

Willow💜: Eijiro, be a good boy for me and find me a vibrator to shove up Kat's ass so he can feel THE HUMILIATION THAT I JUST DID!!!

Eijiro ❤️:... I missed a couple chapters here

Kat🧡: I love you

Willow💜:

Eijiro ❤️:

Katsuki 🧡:

#bakugou katsuki #katsuki bakugou x self insert #eijiro kirishima x self insert #eijiro kirishima

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ettawritesnstudies · 2 years

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Happy Mother’s day to Ms. Teagan who is taking this fae kidnapping thing rather well all things considered:

Their mother is walking up the driveway when they see her, and Hannah charges ahead to tackle her in a homesick hug. She is so bewildered by the sight of three girls and a weasel streaking out of the woods that she nearly tumbles backward in surprise. Hannah doesn’t even notice. Willow barks in delight at seeing her lost friend again, pulls at the leash until their mother drops it, and Cecelia throws her arms around the Newfoundland’s neck as she covers her in slobbery kisses.

“Ma, we’re home! I found my sisters! I’m so glad we only lost a week, I’m sorry we worried you,” she chatters, a million miles a minute, before their mother interrupts her with questions.

“What- What is going on? I’ve only been gone an hour and now this…”

“An hour?!” Hannah whirls on Cecelia. “I thought you said time passes differently there!”

She only shrugs and smiles. “It does. Just not the way we expected.”

“Cecelia!” Their mother folds her daughter into a hug, then spins her around to look her up and down for injury. “Thank God you’re home safe. Never wander off like that again, you hear me?”

“I’m sorry, Ma. I won’t, I promise.”

“Hannah, didn’t I tell you to stay out of the woods?”

“I found Cecelia, didn’t I?” she protests. Ma makes a noise somewhere between a groan and a growl, telling Hannah she is clearly not in the mood for an argument.

“And who’s this?” Hannah realizes they have answered none of her questions, but she knows a good place to start. She pulls Tess away from Willow, and whispers, “go on.”

“My name is Tess,” she says. “Hannah and Cecelia found me, and brought me home.”

A dozen different expressions flash across Ma’s face in an instant, but she composes herself upon seeing the roughed-up child standing before her, wearing her husband’s oversized coat. She looks from Tess to Hannah and her thin sweater and Cecelia still in the nightgown; with the classic I hope you have a good explanation for this look. Then she leans down to look Tess in the eye. “I’m glad my girls found you. Why don’t you come inside, and you three can all tell me your story over some hot cocoa, ok? It’s freezing out here.”

“Cocoa sounds wonderful, Ma,” Cecelia says, and Hannah echoes the statement. Their Ma continues interrogating them as she leads them into the kitchen. Willow gives Kit Kat a suspicious sniff, and Hannah instructs him to wait outside until she explains everything to their mother. She’s sure her parents will warm up to the idea of a pet weasel too. They sit around the kitchen table, and Hannah drags up an extra chair for their newest family member, even if their parents don’t know it yet.

“Do you have parents, Tess?”

“Nope.”

“Do you have a foster family?”

“Now I do.”

Ma takes a deep breath and puts her fingers to her temples. “How did you get lost in the woods?”

“I was kidnapped.”

“Kidnapped! Should I call the police?”

“No,” Tess grins and kicks her feet at the rungs of her chair. “I escaped. Hannah and Cecelia helped. They heard me last night and came looking for me, and we’re all safe now.”

Ma pales slightly, and her mouth sets into a thin line. She hums to show that she heard but doesn’t remark on that. Hannah suspects she’ll call the police anyhow, but they won’t be able to find anything. She decides this is the best time to speak up.

“Just in case, she should stay with us to be safe, right Ma? I promised her she could have my bed.”

“Yes…” Ma seems distracted by the cocoa, or maybe the kidnapping story. She dabs extra whipped cream on top of the hot chocolate and places the three steaming mugs on the table before the girls. Hannah shows Tess how to blow on it so she doesn’t burn her tongue, and when the younger girl has her first taste, her eyes go wide. Ma’s expression softens as she watches her savor the sweets.

“Yes, of course she can stay with us,” she says.

#runaways #wip excerpt #spoilers

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randomestroleplays · 1 year

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𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡: 𝔰𝔢𝔠𝔯𝔢𝔱 𝔯𝔢𝔩𝔞𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔥𝔦𝔭 (X)

POSSIBLE STARTERS:

if he doesn’t see it, then maybe it doesn’t exist

i keep saying things like, ‘i never saw him and we never kisssed.’

why the fuss if you say you just wanna be mine

love me, then pretend you didn’t

but I would die for you in secret

sorry for not making you my centerfold

you kept me like a secret but I kept you like an oath

no one knows about the words that we whisper

THEME SONGS:

cruel summer, taylor swift

tornado warnings, sabrina carpenter

i know places, taylor swift

somewhere only we know, lily allen

august, taylor swift

MOST SUITED OCS:

AISLING GREYJOY ( game of thrones / crossovers )

Amethyst Andrews ( riverdale / crossovers )

Arianne Martin ( teen wolf / crossovers )

Carlotta Falcone ( the batman / dc / crossovers )

CAROLINE SOMERSET ( original / fandom crossovers )

Elle Harper ( titans / dc / crossovers )

Ginny Cresta ( hunger games / crossovers )

Julietta Drake ( batman / dc / crossovers )

Kat Smith ( supernatural / crossovers )

Kyla Keller ( gossip girl 2021 / crossovers )

Lyra Lovell ( riverdale / crossovers )

OPHELIA WAYNE ( gotham / dc / crossovers )

MOST SUITED OCS (NOT YET INTRODUCED):

Abbie Hudson ( glee / crossovers )

Adelaide Stark ( avengers / crossovers )

Alessia Stark ( avengers / crossovers )

Charlotte Bridgerton ( bridgerton / crossovers )

Coco Bates ( gossip girl 2021 / crossovers )

Jacqueline Grant ( gilmore girls / crossovers )

Josie Archibald ( gossip girl / crossovers )

Valentina Wolfe ( gossip girl 2021 / crossovers )

Vanessa Kline ( titans / dc / crossovers )

Venus Malfoy ( harry potter, golden era / crossovers )

Willow Dell ( gilmore girls / crossovers )

#oc roleplay #roleplay plots #roleplay blog #roleplay muses #rp blog #wanted plot #wanted #𝔤𝔯𝔞𝔳𝔦𝔱𝔶 𝔩𝔦𝔣𝔱𝔰 𝔞𝔰 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔭𝔯𝔬𝔧𝔢𝔠𝔱𝔦𝔬𝔫𝔦𝔰𝔱 𝔯𝔬𝔩𝔩𝔰 𝔱𝔞𝔭𝔢 #⋘ ─ ∗ ⋅◈⋅ ∗ ─ ⋙ ooc

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tohandmlbgayshipsmybeloved · 2 years

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Raine’s brain question their life decisions.

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re-readingcomics · 4 years

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Comics read 02/25-03/02/2020

The House of Whispers #18: Somehow between the last issue and this one I forgot that part of this story takes place at an immigration determent camp, involves illegal adoption and a trans boy in a wheel chair. I have to applaud the makers of this book, including publisher DC, for including all these hot topics in a book at a time where there is regular angry backlash to anyone who tries to broach. The issue ends with Erzulie coaxing Corinthian brought back to whole form after being shattered into pieces of mirror. It’s appropriately a kind of disturbing feel good moment. The art is pretty inconsistent and that can be distracting.

The Books of Magic #17: While not exactly pretty, this book at least has much more consistent art. This helps in a story that involves Tim being trapped by his doppelgänger in a false version dream world. His teachers are really driving the action here, and while I find them pretty sympathetic, I have mixed feelings about this as a means of the battle for his soul. I do want a clearer idea if I should be prepared for some kind of crossover with other Sandman Universe titles. Will this feel better when I am only reading in trades?

Safe Sex #6: This issue was mostly part of an action scene in The Pleasure Center, where George is rescued. The issue also paints a quick flash back to when The Pleasure Center was The Dirty Mind and Jones and Sylvia were lovers. A good deal of the climax centered on the character of Nick, super rich former regular at The Dirty Mind. The book tried to build some tension around his intentions and it worked to the extent that I was shocked by the end. But he was also the kind of character I’d forget about between issues. I’m still getting used to the change in artist and on that front this issue was better than the last.

Invisible Kingdom #10: This is the end of second arc, and I’m shocked because it feels like it just started. It’s kind of amazing that this combination of an omnipresent capitalist behemoth intertwined with an aesthetic religion exists. The cliffhanger, which involves a separatist, reforming sect of the religion, is very intriguing. I highly recommend getting the first two trades to catch up on before the third arc starts.

Sex Criminals #27: After several issues of jumping around in time this issue had a fairly straight forward plot. There were a couple of bug reveals and things feel locked in for a wrap up. Also in the letters section Matt Fraction is an ass man.

Dykes to Watch Out For 309-316: I’ve mentioned that this comic’s referencing then contemporary events is quiet painful. While I previously focused on the Clinton Impeachment, I also have to mention the fear of big book chains pushing out independent bookstores like Mad Wimmin’s Books where many of the characters work. (Coincidentally today the Decoder Ring podcast released an episode about just that using the Eeyore’s/Barnes & Noble showdown that inspired You’ve got Mail. The host thinks, looking back it was kind of misdirected to see Barnes &Noble and Borders a the avatars of predatory capitalism.) This part also has ha early insightful notice of how the comic’s fictional stand in for Amazon, Medusa not needing to make a profit, though it doesn’t yet get why that’s so dangerous. Entry 312 focuses on Mo trying to make sense of the US and NATO’s involvement in Balkans and some how being talked through most positions to her frustration. That another one where looking back, the fact that it seemed to work but we could make sense of why, was incredibly dangerous.

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katnissdoesnotfollowback · 3 years

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How's my favorite otter-loving librarian? (technically, you're the only otter-loving librarian I know... but the sentiment is the same <3) How about "I have a surprise for you" as a prompt?

On the upswing at the moment. Those other librarians are totally missing out on the otter love. Thanks for the prompt, friend! May I offer you an otter as apology for what I am about to do?

Goes with these three related ficlets from yesterday: Grief Catches Us All.

“Mo’ song! Mo’ song!” Aurora shouts, banging her tiny, flat palms on the table.

“It’s bedtime,” Katniss says, although she knows there’s no strength in her words, not with the way she’s smiling so widely.

“It’s my birthday,” Peeta argues, sticking his lower lip out in an entirely, unbelievable, petulant expression.

“Someone’s gonna step on that if you leave it hanging out.” She smirks at him and reaches out to snare his lip. He dodges her and pulls it back in to grin at her, and Aurora giggles.

Aurora and Peeta exchange a glance from their spot on the floor and as if they planned it, they take a breath and pound the coffee table together.

“Mo’ song!”

“More song!”

Peeta’s clear enunciation adding emphasis to Aurora’s still slightly garbled toddler speech.

“Alright!” Katniss laughs, her heart light as she tosses back some of her hair and positions her guitar.

“Yay!” Her rapt audience pounds the table and shouts in approval.

“One more. Then bed!” She eyes the pair of them and their matching, devious, blue eyed expressions, unconvinced when they agree that they won’t demand an encore. Shaken when struck with the chords of just how much Aurora does look like Peeta.

Focus and music. She channels her strange feelings into the quiet lullaby. One that she and her mother used to sing to Prim. It’s been years since she sang this song and the chords ring a little hollow under her fingers. The lyrics feel like rust in her throat. The cloak of leaves. The moonbeam ray. The Willow and the meadow.

She hasn’t thought of these places in so long. They seemed so out of reach. An impossible dream and a capricious promise that was snatched from her first when her father died then again and again, every time her mother struggled with depression until the grief won, and claimed victory over another soul.

The elusive dream slipped away, forgotten then stolen one final time when fate claimed a Primrose and left an Aurora behind.

And yet, as Katniss sings, and looks up into the mesmerized skies of her audience’s eyes, she begins to think, to believe that perhaps the dream is not so elusive.

When she finishes, there’s one heartbeat too many of silence, and Katniss shrinks in on herself a little before Aurora and Peeta burst into raucous applause. Her cheeks warm and a fluttery curiosity trembles in her chest.

“Bravo! Magnificent!” Peeta cheers and Aurora does her best to imitate his words. Katniss stands and gives a cheeky curtsy.

“Alright, Rora. Bedtime,” Peeta declares and stands, swooping her into the air for a breathless moment before clutching her giggling to his chest. “Give Kat-mom a kiss goodnight.”

Aurora leans out of Peeta’s arms towards Katniss and smacks a kiss on her cheek. Then another on Peeta’s he proceeds to kiss her cheeks and shoulders, wildly showering her with gobbling kisses. Aurora’s peels of delighted laughter ring wildly, like church bells in jubilation, as Peeta carries her down the hall to her room.

Katniss sinks onto the couch and reaches under the coffee table to check on the gift she’s had hidden there all night. Waiting for the right moment. It’s still there, so she sits up, leaving it hidden.

“Peeta, I have a surprise for you,” she whispers, testing out the words. She’s never been good with speeches. It’s always been her boss’ big complaint, claiming she had as much charm as a dead slug. But this is important.

She closes her eyes and tries again, but a vibration cuts through her thoughts.

Katniss scowls at Peeta’s phone, sitting on the coffee table and vibrating like mad, in a dance across the table. She’s about to snatch it up to silence it when Peeta returns, yawning and then smiling at her.

“Not a bad birthday at all,” he says and she returns his smile, sliding across the couch to make room for him and setting her guitar to lean against the table.

“Your phone has been going crazy,” she says and he reaches out, plucking it off the table. He makes a strange face as he checks whatever it is and starts tapping out a reply. “Anything important?”

“Nah. Just a few people I know from class asking if I’m gonna meet them at a bar.” He yawns again.

The words hit Katniss deep and true. Cold and icy, painful truth. She swims in the memories of loud nights, ear thumping concerts and warm bodies packed tight to talk and hear over the shouting. The hanging smoke, the sweetness of weed when someone managed to smuggle it into the place. The giddy haze of youth and drinking away your stress. Someone yelling for another round for the birthday girl.

Peeta sets aside his phone and turns on the couch to face her, stretching his arm on the back of the couch. His hand resting less than an inch from her shoulder.

His phone vibrates again. Katniss bites her lip, feeling the regret welling up in her chest.

“You should go,” she says.

“Why?” he asks and Katniss rolls her eyes.

“Because it’s your birthday. You’re twenty-three. You can’t tell me that this is the pinnacle of your year.”

“Maybe it is,” he says with a smile.

“Please. I hardly count as the rock concert of the year.”

“Only because you didn’t sing any rock songs. Your voice, though, that’s something worth talking about.”

“You don’t need to flatter me.” His brows furrow and his eyes shadow as she scoots back away from him and swipes his once more vibrating phone off the table before holding it out to him.

“Go. Have fun.”

“I’d rather stay here.”

“With a decrepit spinster and a sleeping toddler?” she says derisively. Her eyes drop as his phone vibrates in her hand. The text a string of suggestive emojis. Alcohol, party symbols, presents and... lipstick prints…from someone named simply Cass.

Cassandra? Probably blonde and leggy and, what is the term these days? …

Thirsty.

Katniss swallows, her throat inconveniently dry in the moment as she tries to speak.

“You’ve got an entire life in front of you, Peeta. Wasn’t this part of going back to school?”

“I’m too tired to try and be sociable tonight,” he says and takes the phone from her, clicking something on it before setting it aside. “And thirty-one hardly counts as a spinster.”

She scowls at him, gives him her best exasperated look, the one that usually works on Aurora, but on Peeta has zero effect.

“I don’t have anyone sending lipstick print emojis to me,” she reminds him and his cheeks pinken a little.

“She’s like that with everyone,” Peeta says, and if Katniss didn’t know any better, she’d think he was trying to justify it to her. This young woman who is clearly attracted to and interested in him. Trying to justify it as though Katniss has any claim to him.

She doesn’t. She won’t.

She forces herself not to press a hand against the pain radiating out from her chest. Seeing Madge with the dandelions, the thoughts that hit her as she stood there, analyzing her reaction… she can’t ignore it any longer.

“Peeta, go. Enjoy your birthday and being young.”

“I really don’t--”

“Just go!” she cuts him off, terrified that if he denies himself one more time, she’ll crack.

“Katniss, I don’t understand. What about Aurora?”

“She’s fine. She’s in bed. It’s not like you’re her father or anything.” As soon as the words leave her mouth, she knows they’re all wrong. She sees the flicker of pain in Peeta’s eyes and immediately regrets it. Considers retrieving the present from under the table and asking him to stay. Continuing in this pretend fantasy where they’re some kind of family. Some kind of more.

But they’re not. Not really. And her present is as worthless as ash compared to the chance to fully live your life without feeling the burden of shouldering someone else’s mistakes.

“Why would you say--”

“Maybe I want some time alone,” she snaps.

He shakes his head then and stands, grabbing his phone.

“Alright, geez. That’s really all you had to say,” Peeta tells her.

He glances back at her as he shrugs into his jacket by the door. He pauses as though waiting for her to change her mind. Katniss stares at the wall, wishing she’d never asked him to move in with them. Maybe then she would have been spared this hollow ache, this realization that of something that cannot, should not be.

She closes her eyes as the door shuts. Loudly. Noticeable.

#words are peetas thing not mine #grief catches us all #i apologize now for katniss' obtuse stubbornness #endlessnightlock #look at that ask

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sexyrasputin · 2 years

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“Oh, hey,” Kat greeted, coming up to the door of Smith 278 where Xander stood outside. He looked up from his phone, shooting her his everyday warm smile. It was crooked, a little sparkle in his eye, and he’d perfected it over the years of acting and schmoozing. Now it was his go to smile. Just imperfect enough to win everyone over and make them feel at ease. It did that for Kat, because her shoulders relaxed.

Xander was a decently big name at their school. He had starstruck classmates at the beginning of each semester. Between his stage acting, his vlogs, and now the teen drama he filmed a town over several times a week? He’d made a name for himself, just like the argumentative Silas Renwick had.

“Hey there, Kitty.” Pink dusted her cheeks and the bridge of her nose, and Xander vaguely remembered she went by Kat. He liked Kitty better, and since she didn’t object, he assumed she did, too.

“Why haven’t you gone in yet?”

An anguished shout of frustration came from behind the wooden door, and Xander tilted his head towards it.

“That’s why.”

Her lips tightened into a flat line for a bit before her smile came back. It was pretty, made her eyes crinkle at the corners.

“Fair enough. Who all is even in there?”

“Lauren O’Grady, Silas Renwick, Sebastian Lowe, and my twin, Atlas. Plus whoever the screenwriter is.”

“Marshall Davidson, I think. I’ve never met him before.”

Xander raised an eyebrow at Kitty’s guess. “You sure it’s a he? The screenwriter was shrieking at Silas too high to be a dude.”

Kitty smiled back at his comment. “Maybe so. You headin’ in anytime soon?”

“Nah, I don’t think they need more bodies in there. Maybe once that Marshall chick and Silas stop fighting, it’ll calm down.”

“What’ll calm down?” Willow, a fashion student who didn’t like rules, asked. Xander hadn’t heard her come up, and judging by Kitty’s slight jump, she hadn’t either.

“Our lovely partners.” He shot Willow a wink and watched her grin excitedly. This wasn’t going to end well, but he knew the two of them would have plenty of fun playing jokes and pulling pranks along the way. Willow had designed a suit for him for the Golden Globes last year when he was up for an award. He’d won almost every best dressed article released the next day thanks to that suit.

“Promising fun, then, aren’t they?”

“Doesn’t anything involving the two of us always do that, Will?”

“Got me there, Alex.”

He scowled. His name wasn’t Alex. His brother was Atlas, both their parents had names starting with A, and their younger two sisters both had A names, Amelia and Annalise. Xander loved his family, sure, but he hated being lumped in with them all and assumed he was just like them. No, Xander was his own person, something people forgot a lot in the early days of his and Atlas’ vlog.

“Ooh, someone’s got their panties in a twist.” Willow grinned conspiratorially at Kitty, who only looked concerned.

“Xander here refuses to acknowledge the first half of his name,” Willow whispered loudly to the other woman.

“It’s a bad name,” he said, shrugging it off. The fighting seemed to have subsided, so he cracked the door open, and when he only heard Lauren and Atlas chatting, he walked in, leading Kitty and Willow behind him.

He looked around while sitting between his twin and Lauren. Judging by Marshall (if that was her name after all) and Silas’ twin glares, he hadn’t avoided the fire entirely, but he at least escaped the worst of the burns.

“You all need to be promptly on time, if not early,” Silas said, looking at the whole group.

“I had a paying acting gig that ran late. Only so much I can do when I’m on their dime,” Xander said, not making eye contact. Silas scowled probably. He didn’t have to look to know that. They’d worked together on a few short films in the past, and SIlas had a perpetual bad mood and an even more frequent scowl.

“And do you two have excuses?” Silas spat out, turning his glare on Kitty and Willow, settling on the latter. In his defense, Kitty had that innocent look, and Willow exuded snark and annoyance.

“Didn’t feel like being on time,” she said, smiling freely.

“Change that, then, or I’ll make sure you’re dropped.”

“With what lawyer? We’ve all signed contracts.” This came from Sebastian, who didn’t look like he wanted to be there. At least he got Silas to shut up.

“Who put you in charge anyways, Renwick? It’s a team, not a dictatorship,” Willow smarted off, still grinning defiantly.

“I’m the director, and I’m the one here with the most experience in cinema and production. Of course I’m in charge.”

“She has a point, Director. I’m the one most experienced with writing stories, shouldn’t that put me in charge? Or Lauren and Xander, who are most experienced with acting?”

“A woman after my own heart!” Willow shot a winning smile at Marshall, who only glanced her way briefly. “Like I said, Silas. Team effort. We’re all equally important here.”

“If we’re equally important, then we all need to be one time.” Silas’ growl was deep. He was reaching his limit, and Xander hated seeing Silas losing it. It got dirty quickly. Looking to his twin, who understood Xander’s unspoken hatred of conflict, he prayed Atlas could step in and smooth things over.

“We’ll do that from now on, but we’re only wasting precious time,” Atlas said, sounding resigned. “Why don’t we introduce ourselves? Or work on starting off on the basics?”

This soothed Silas’ temper, and Xander noted to thank Atlas later.

“I’ll start,” Atlas sighed, speaking up only when a few beats of silence passed. “I’m Atlas Raptis, and I’m the assistant director.” He gestured to his twin to continue.

“Xander Raptis. Yes, I’m twins with Atlas. Yes, I’m on that show, and that vlog.” He wasn’t being cocky this time; Xander was used to fielding these questions when he introduced himself. “I’m playing Eli Casper, the male lead.”

“Lauren O’Grady, and I’m playing Hannah Mitchell, the female lead.” Her lips straightened as she said the name Hannah. Xander wouldn’t have noticed if he hadn’t heard her drunkenly rant about baby names one night when one of their other friends was talking about trying for kids with his wife. She’d had a whole spiel prepped on the name Hannah and why no one should name their kid that. Xander had teased her about it a few times since, but she always clammed right up when he did, so he’d finally dropped it several months ago.

This led to Sebastian going next. “Sebastian Lowe. Sets.”

“Marsie Davidson. Don’t call me Marshall. I wrote the script and I’m here for any necessary rewrites, edits, or basic characterization tips. Don’t piss me off, either, or I’ll make it hurt.”

Xander didn’t believe that last bit. Maybe she could throw a fit, but Marsie—not Marshall—was just over five feet tall. No way she could cause him—at six foot two—any lasting damage.

“I’ve been doing Krav Maga since age seven. I’m not joking.” Marsie offered this as proof, probably to quiet the doubtful looks the rest of the table wore.

“I’m Silas Renwick, as we all know. I’m the director. I expect you all to take both this project and my directions seriously.”

Xander held back a snigger. Yeah, with that haircut? Maybe his directions, but not Silas himself.

This left Kitty and Willow. Poor Kitty was stuck between the two of them.

“I’m Katherine White. I go by Kat. I’m helping with photography and filming. I’m also really excited to work with everyone.”

She was joking, right? No way anyone could be excited to work with some of the moodiest people he’d ever met. Lauren kept strange company in Sebastian, who could snap at the slightest blow and currently had what looked like a broken leg, and she wasn’t much nicer herself (even if she was hilarious). Then there was Silas, and Xander knew he put on a smiling front, but it wasn’t exactly truly reflective.

“I’m Willow Valentine. Costuming and help with sets and other crap. Now, can we get started already?”

Yeah, no way was Kitty excited to work with this bunch.

#frederick kennedy school of the arts

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pra370r1an · 3 years

Link

The final (joke) chapter. Whole chapters under the cut

“There it is,” King Lilith gazed at the castle in the distance. “Camelot!”

“Camelot!” Ser Willow breathed.

“Camelot!” Ser Gus called in wonder.

“It’s only a model…” Eda remarked.

“Shush!” King Lilith quickly commanded. “Now let us ride! To Camelot!”

“We don’t have a Lord,” Hooty said.

“What?” King Lilith asked.

I told you! We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune! We're taking turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week,” King the fox explained. “But all the decisions *of* that officer has to be ratified at a special bi-weekly meeting by a simple majority in-”

“Shut up, would you?” King Lilith sternly said. “I get it.”

“Shut up, eh? Who does she think she is?” Hooty asked before resuming playing in the dirt. “Some lovely dirt over here King!”

“I’m your King,” Lilith said.

“Well, I didn’t vote for you,” Hooty replied.

“You don’t vote for kings,” King Lilith explained. “The Lady of the Lake held aloft Excalibur and decreed a divine mandate that I would be King.”

“Listen,” King the fox explained. “Strange women laying in ponds, distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some... farcical aquatic ceremony!”

“Be Quiet!’ King Lilith demanded.

The fox continued, “I mean, if I went 'round, saying I was an emperor, just because some moistened bint had lobbed a scimitar at me, they'd put me away!”

Lilith reached down and picked King up by the scruff of the neck, shaking the fox. “Will You SHUT UP!?”

“Ahh! Now we see the violence inherent in the system!” King smugly said. “COME SEE THE VIOLENCE INHERENT IN THE SYSTEM!!” He announced as he was shook, “HELP! I’M BEING REPRESSED!”

King Lilith dropped the fox and stormed away, “Damn Peasant!”

“See!? See!?” King looked at the small crowd around him. “That’s what I’m on about! You saw her repressing me, right!?”

The evil Greater Basilisk looked around, “Wait, where did that knight go?”

*Scene change*

“Brave Ser Matt ran away” the bards sung as they followed their knight through the woods.

“No!” Ser Mattholomule objected.

“Bravely ran away away.”

“I didn’t!”

“When danger reared its ugly head, he boldly turned his tail and fled.”

“No! I didn’t!”

“Tell your master that we’ve been charged by God to seek the holy grail! And he may join us if he’d like!” King Lilith shouted up towards the walls.

“Well, I will, but I’m afraid he’s already got one!” The man shouted back in his accent.

“What?” King Lilith asked.

“He said he’s already got one?” Ser Luz glanced around to see if she heard right.

“You already got one!?” King Lilith inquired.

“Oh, Yes! It’s very nice!” Belos turned and whispered to Kikimora, the Golden Guard and Warden Wrath. “I told her we already got one!” The three broke out in giggles.

“Well, can we come up and look?”

“Of course not! You are English types and this is a French Castle!”

“What are the French doing in England?” Ser Luz shouted up.

“Mind your own business!” Belos shouted. “Now I don’t want to talk to you no more! So go away English King and take your silly English Keniggets!”

“Listen, is there someone else we can talk to!?” Ser Luz shouted up.

“No! Now go away before I taunt you a second time!”

“We found a witch! May we burn her!?” the angry mob shouted.

“I’m not a witch!” Bo yelled back. “They just say I am!”

“But she’s dressed like one!” Kat shouted, pointing towards her pointy hat.

“You are dressed like a witch,” Ser Bump ceded the point.

“Yes, but they dressed me like this!” Bo yelled, she pointed to her pointy nose. “This isn’t even my real nose!”

Ser bump examined the fake nose and turned to the crowd, “Is this true?”

“No! No! … Well, yes. Maybe. But she really is a witch!” Amelia insisted.

Bo looked to Ser Bump in exasperation.

“Don’t worry, we’ll figure this out! Now, how do you know she’s a witch?” Ser Bump asked.

“She turned my head into a giant eyeball!” Eyeleen accused by pointing.

“AN EYEBALL!?” Ser Bump looked in shock at the girl’s completely normal looking head.

“…I got better…” She looked around awkwardly.

“Burn Her!” Somebody shouted and the rest of the mob took up the yell.

“There it is!” Eda pointed over their cover towards the creature by the cave.

“What behind the bunny?” Ser Willow asked.

“No, it is the bunny!”

…

“You silly sod!” King Lilith scolded as she stood from her hiding place.

“What?”

“You had us all worked up over a bunny!?”

“That’s no ordinary bunny! That rabbit has a vicious streak a mile wide!”

“HOW!?” Ser Gus asked incredulously.

Eda held her hand like a claw, “It’s got huge sharp, uhh…” She held her hands slightly apart, “It can leap about…” She pointed back towards the cave opening, “Look at the bones for God’s sake!”

“Right,” King Lilith gestured to a nearby knight. “Ser Snaggleback, cut its head off!”

Ser Snaggleback strode forward unafraid, “One Rabbit stew coming uAUGHHH!!”

“Holy!” “Jesus!” “Christ!”

“Run Away!” King Lilith shouted.

Ser Luz held her shield protectively before her, as the denizens of Castle Anthrax slowly approached. Before her, the co-leader of this strange place informed Luz what was expected of her.

“And then! You must Spank her!”

“I’m sorry?” Ser Luz looked bewildered. “What?”

“She has been extremely naughty and you must spank her. Then? Spank me!”

“And me!”

“Me too!”

“Yes, you must spank all of us!” The woman gestured around to the beautiful women surrounding Ser Luz. They all looked thrilled at the prospect.

“I’m sorry, is this story too graphic?” Luz asked. “I was really worried when pra370r1an was writing it. But I think it turned out alright considering we’re all adult knights.”

“I mean at least my scene played with my mannerisms and my favorite minion’s name to craft a funny situation,” King said.

“And my joke was original and wasn’t a blatant rip-off of a movie from the 70s,” Eda mentioned off hand, Owlbert nodding on her shoulder.

“At least they didn’t mention the Moose?” Ser Willow mentioned, Ser Gus looking away horrified.

“Can we just get this over with?” Amity said looking annoyed, purposely looking away from the scene.

“Yes, get on with it,” Emira agreed.

“Yeah, hurry up!” Edric rolled his eyes.

“Ewch ymlaen ag ef!” The bearded huntsman from chapter 5 yelled, the fish hook servant and tall servant nodding in agreement.

“Get On With It!” King Lilith and her knights all shouted together.

“Oh, good! I promise this is the last bit of absurdist humor in this fic!” Luz smiled.

“GET ON WITH IT!” The cartoon depiction of God shouted from the heavens, shaking the view.

“Right, so…”

“Well,” Ser Luz looked around. “I guess I could stay for another night…?”

Behind her a door burst open and three armored knights rushed in, putting themselves between Ser Luz and the women.

“Ser Luz!” Ser Boscha took her arm.

“Boscha?”

“Quick!” Ser Boscha pulled her back towards the door.

“What?!”

“Quick! You’re in mortal danger!”

“What, I am?”

“No, she isn’t!” One of the women insisted.

“Silence foul temptress!” Ser Boscha raised her sword, only for Luz to grab her arm.

“That’s not necessary!”

“Come on! We’ll cover your escape!” Ser Boscha started pushing Luz back. The other knights retreated as well and the women followed.

“Boscha! I think I can tackle this singlehandedly!”

“Yes, let her tackle us!” The women shouted.

“No, Ser Luz! Come on!”

“No really! I can handle this easily!”

“Yes, she can! Quite easily!” The women agreed.

“There’s only 150 of them!” Ser Luz shouted as she was forced through the door.

“Yes, we haven’t a chance! Ahh, Shit.” They stopped as the knights followed Ser Luz out.

Ser Boscha continued to hold Luz’s arm, dragging her away from the castle. As they continued to argue.

“Looks like we got here in the nick of time! You were in great peril!”

“I really don’t think I was.”

“Yes, you were, terrible peril.”

“Tell you what? Let me go back and face that peril.”

“No, too perilous.”

“Just a little bit of peril?”

“Nope! Not healthy.”

“Don’t tell me you’re a homophobe.”

“I am not!”

Eda held up her dismembered hand while shrugging, “It’s only a flesh wound.”

“Ser Boscha! You came to rescue me!”

“Lady Skara!” Ser Boscha looked around wildly, lowering her sword. “You’re the one getting married against your will?”

“Oh, it’s just like the stories! I feel like I could… could!” Skara opened her mouth to sing. Disembodied romantic music started to hum around them…

“STOP THAT, STOP THAT!” Skara’s father came in, wildly waving his hands and the music died back down. “Who are you?”

“I’m your daughter!” Skara answered.

“Not you! You! Did you kill all those guards?”

“Uhh, oh! Yes,” Ser Boscha nodded awkwardly. “Sorry.”

“You killed 8 wedding guests and the groom and his father! And wounded 20 others!”

“Yes, uhh, sorry about that. Got a bit carried away there,” Boscha looked back at Skara briefly. “I can explain. See I was riding from Camelot…”

“Camelot? You’re uhh, from Camelot?”

“Umm… Yes?”

“Oh, well! Would you like a drink?”

“Oh, that’s awfully kind of you,” Ser Boscha allowed herself to be led away by Skara’s father.

“Yes, but to apologize for the damages you’ll have to stand before everyone…”

“Oh, uhh understandable.”

“…And repeat some vows from a priest…”

“Uhh, sure?”

“And kiss my daughter…”

“Wait, what?”

“Halt! I am Tibbles! Guardian of the Bridge of Death! You must answer my questions to see the other side!”

“Ask your questions I’m not afraid!” Eda defiantly said.

“What is your name? What is your quest? And WHAT… is your favorite color?”

“Oh! Uhh, Eda of Camelot, I seek the holy grail and red.”

Tibbles waited a second before waving her along, “Alright off you go.”

“Oh, thank you,” Eda said as she started to cross the bridge.

“That’s it! That’s Easy!” Ser Mattholomule shouted as he moved up. “Ask me the questions, bridge keeper. I’m not afraid!”

“What is your name? what is your quest? And WHAT… is the capitol of Assyria?”

“Ser Matt! To find the Holy grail. And, uhh… Istanbull?”

Ser Matt was flung violently into the air by an explosion sending him tumbling into the ravine with a scream.

King Lilith and Ser Bump shared a look before the King stepped forward.

“What is your name? What is your quest? And WHAT… is the air speed velocity of an unladen swallow?”

Lilith paused before answering, “What do you mean? African or European?”

“I don’t know that,” Tibbles said before being violently flung to his doom.

“How do you know so much about swallows?” Bump asked.

“You have to know these things when you’re King,” Lilith said as they moved to cross the bridge.

They got to the other side, but Eda was nowhere in sight.

“Eda? EDA?! Now where did she get off to?”

*Scene change*

Eda had her hands against a cop car while Police bobby Kikimora patted her down for contraband.

“My Brave Knights! We will take this Castle by Force! Now Follow Me! To GLORY!” King Lilith and Ser Bump charged with swords drawn, a massive army following them with a shout.

They made it a few feet closer to the castle’s walls when sirens announced the cop cars which slid to a halt in front of them.

“That’s them! They’re the ones who left the Coven!” Kikimora shouted as she emerged from the lead car.

“Alright, you two are under arrest,” Police bobby Belos directed. “Put that sword down and turn around.”

“Now wait a minute,” Lilith said as she was turned around and handcuffed. “I think there’s been a mistake!”

“Alright! Nothing to see here people!” The Golden Guard waved the army back. “Everyone go home now! Keep it moving!”

“Hey, You!” Warden Wrath advanced menacingly. “Stop Your Writing! Stop it Now!” He continued to shout as he reached out towards Pra370r1an to slap his hands away from th-..-_>--.-;’.-

“On second thought, let’s not go to Camelot…” King Lilith decided, thinking on the many show tunes probably being sung right now. “Tis a silly place…”

Her knights nodded in agreement.

#The Owl House #Luz Noceda #Eda the owl lady #Eda Clawthorne #Amity Blight #Lilith Clawthorne #Willow Park #Gus Porter #its absurd I know #pra370r1an #Ser Luz and the Green Knight #toh king

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leejieun-ia · 3 years

Text

Almost human - Past ~ Kat x Jieun

There had been rumors floating around, whispers of a new witch at the academy who was gifted in certain spells and charms but a name was what she had yet to find. There were secrets at the academy, but they never stayed secret for too long; at least for her, being nosey had its perks.

While she wasn't able to get a name, she was able to get a phone number from someone who had been helped by the witch before. A few short text and Jieun had a location for the two of them to meet and hopefully for her to receive the help she had failed to get.

It was odd to follow directions that were described as 'go through the forest until the split tree, veer towards the setting sun and I'll be under the leaves of the oldest willow.' She was used to the forest, used to the paths but for those who didn't go out wandering it had to be a strange feat.

She was greeted with the sound of barking as she neared the willow tree and she stopped for a moment as a rather gigantic dog trotted out from the vines to sniff her extended hand. It wasn't the first time she had seen such a large animal and she remembered it sitting on her once in another part of the forest. The dog nudged her once and turned around pausing until she followed and as she passed through the vines she gasped.

"It's you??? But you're an elf!"

#katarinaia

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artisticbunny · 1 year

Note

Alright Bun— bonus ask before I go to sleep because I think I’m getting Whispering Willow brainrot lol (on top of utdr and fnaf rot ough—) Because tbh I sincerely think it’s really well thought out, with the little tidbits I’ve read about. The first chapter of it was cool Yk? I’m gonna guess that you’re new to ao3 writing? :3c am I right?

But, skipping the rambles, Lemme get to what I wanted to say:

Can you pretty please feed give us me Kat lore? Like I love ghosties and everything, especially ones that hang around. Like how does she hang around? We know she got buried alive (must’ve been terrifying seriously my bros buried me in sand once but not my face…) but how does her spirit hang about?

Also, why’d her adventure friends bury her? Was it for a reason or just them being like plain old toxic? I don’t think they’d have to like, bury her tho if it’s the second option… :( maybe it was a sacrifice??

(Thanks for storytelling tho Bun! I’m totally locked in! It’s very interesting so far! <3333)

UWAAAA THAT IS SUCH A HUGE COMPLIMENT THANK YOU!!! Literally I have no idea what’s more flattering than having someone brainrot over something you made!!! I’m so SO glad you like it so far!!!

I AM new to writing on ao3!!! You are correct!!! I actually just made my account about a month or two ago! I actually attempted to post this on a website I made in the past, but 1: it didn’t get any traction and 2: I didn’t like my writing, this is actually the third iteration of this story! I am much more comfortable with my writing now than back then :3

Anywho, on to Kat ;3

Here’s the ref I made for her for visualization’s sake! :D

You may recall on the post where I gave a brief rundown on each of my ocs that Kat was framed for a crime she didn’t commit. Kat was originally a Part of an adventuring group called The Rogues of Justice, though since her death she can’t remember the name of her group or the people involved, or even their faces. The Rogues of Justice were a chaotic good group of jokesters. They were known for helping wherever they could and for their wacky and often nutty solutions that didn’t seem like they would work, but always worked out in the end. They were very close.

On Kat’s final mission, she was framed for a crime that severely broke her team’s moral code. She was made to look like she’d ransacked and destroyed a nearby town. Entire livelihoods and homes were destroyed and burnt. People were severely injured. She was found with valuables from the people of that town hidden on her being, and thus was the one to blame.

Of course, she didn’t actually do this. She would never. She was most likely the one who believed in the moral code the most.

She was set up and doomed to be buried alive by a member of her team. Someone who, once upon a time, she loved dearly. When things didn’t work out between them, in a fit of rage, her ex was the one to have sealed her fate.

He didn’t exactly expect for it to go this far, but he didn’t dare speak up, even as the dirt was being shoveled onto Kat’s face. He stood on the sidelines, watching her last moments.

She woke up days later, memories missing, with only the feeling of once being part of something, a burning feeling of injustice and betrayal, a fuzzy memory of a single face she couldn’t recognize, and a crippling fear of tight spaces that gives her a horrid sense of deja vu. She had no idea where she was or how to leave, stuck in the middle of nowhere with nobody nearby. She had been stuck in those woods, going in circles, unable to escape, losing track of time until the day she would find a way to leave.

So basically what’s keeping her here is unfinished business that she forgot ;)

It’s honestly really really sad, but she copes with humor and distractions most of the time so she doesn’t have to think about her memory gaps and the extreme distaste for that one person she can’t quite remember.

There are quite a few dark themes hidden in the story beyond the found family and fun fantasy settings, sorry haha!

I should also mention that the main reason she sticks around with Brook and the gang is cuz she’s BORED. Like she has been stuck in the woods and these are the first people she’s seen in GOD knows how long and they’re on a quest??? That’s some high quality entertainment there!!! She also gets pretty attached pretty quickly because again: human interaction!!!! And they helped her get out!!!! It’s honestly the least she can do while having hundreds of thousands of years ahead of her of existing.

Fun fact!!! Ghosts are basically the magic sparks of people who refuse to return back to the cycle just yet for whatever reason. They can last a REALLY long time but eventually they will get re-absorbed back into the cycle as everything continues on. :)

#bun did a draw #bun rambles #kat whispering willow #whispering willow book #I’m sorry for any grammatical errors or spelling mistakes or anything I’m typing this before bed so I’m a bit tired hehe #also Moog i want you to know I’m reading all ur tags on the reblogs and every time I do I get all giddy #laying on my bed and kicking my legs like a schoolgirl <3 #i should also mention that these refs are a year old now- I made them for art fight last year #i think they hold up pretty well tho :)#long post

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trojantoast · 4 years

Text

Cold is the Night (Day Two: Counterpart)

Zutara Week 2020// Day One

@zutaraweek

Ao3

Bring me some hope

By wandering into my mind

Something to hold onto

Morning, noon day, or night

You are the light that is blinding me

You're the anchor that I tied to my brain

'Cause when it feels like I'm lost at sea

You're the song I sing again and again”

- The Anchor (Bastille)

____

Zuko didn’t know what to say.

She closed his hand around the smooth stone.

“Katara, I...I can’t take this.”

“Yes, you can.” she pushed it towards his chest,

“No, I won’t let you.”

“Zuko,” she squeezed his hand, and furrowed her brow. His throat closed. “You’re not letting me do anything.”

He opened his palm and looked at the necklace, her necklace, her mother’s necklace.

“But,”

Katara sighed, “Here,” she took it from him. A weight flew off his shoulders, but she just grabbed his bare wrist and slowly wrapped the blue silk around it.

“Zuko, you want to get married, right?” He tried to open his mouth and agree, but no sound came out, he just nodded. His eyes didn’t leave her calloused tan hands, “Well, then I’m giving this to you.” She finished. The stone, and it's all too familiar design, rested on the inside of his wrist, against his pulse.

She moved her hand to cradle his left cheek. They were a cool salve to his scar. Her fingers threaded into his hair. Looking into her eyes, he leaned into her touch. A gentle smile flitted across her lips.

They had only talked in the abstract about getting married, but last night… even the memory of the words they had shared filled his chest with warmth.

“I love you, Zuko.” she rose to her tip toes and kissed him. Immediately he wrapped his arms around her waist, like an anchor. She broke the kiss, but stayed close. He circled his thumbs across the fabric of her tunic, but she reached down and took his wrist.

“This,” Katara brushed her hand along the silk, “is a promise.”

He finally found his words, “It’s your mother’s Kat, I can’t take it away from you.”

She smiled, but the expression on her brow was insistent, “You're not taking it from me, I’m giving it to you.” She ran a thumb along the stone, “I trust you, Zuko, with this, and with my life, and our future together. I was never supposed to keep it forever. My grandmother gave it to my mother, my mother to me, and now I'm giving it to you.”

Her eyes shined, but there was no sadness in them.

“And… maybe one day,” she raised a brow, “We’ll give it to our daughter.”

Zuko balked.

“In many years, of course!” her eyes went wide. His sigh of relief rustled her baby hairs.

There was a knock at the door, they both jumped.

“Ambassador Katara, if you’re in there, the ship to Ba Sing Se is leaving in thirty minutes.”

Katara pouted. Zuko smiled at the expression.

“What will I do without you, while your off building hospitals in the Earth Kingdom?”

Once again she reached up, but this time her fingers ran all the way to behind his ear.

“That’s another thing its good for,” she kissed him again, this time slower, “I’ll always,” she planted another kiss on his jaw, “be close.” her third kiss was the tip of his nose.

He laughed, and pulled her against him. He buried his nose in her soft hair, and she couldn’t hold him tight enough.

“I’ll see you in ten months?” she whispered into his neck.

“In ten months.”

___

A year and eleven months later...

Katara had never seen a more beautiful morning. Though, she would enjoy it more if she had slept the night before.

For hours she laid in the dark until the sky turned gray outside her open balcony doors. Cool, damp wind blew through the sheer white curtains and caressed her face. Spring had stayed for longer than usual in the Fire Nation. The oppressive heat and humidity of summer had been delayed. Katara wondered if it was divine intervention, or dumb luck.

She pulled the duvet, pale blue, up to her cheek, and snuggled closer into the cool white sheets. Once, she was under the impression that everything in the Imperial Palace was red or black, but on her first night as a formal guest of the Fire Lord (a phrase which made her chuckle every time she heard it) she had been lead into a sunny room, with slate gray wood walls, light maple furniture, and a lovely four poster bed with pretty blue bedding. A pile of pillows topped it in shades of lilac, periwinkle, and the softest green.

Pale, watery light filled the room and softened the edges of her sleepless night. It filtered through the stacks of papers piled on her desk.

For another moment she observed the dawn’s quiet beauty, then slowly sat up and stretched.

It wasn’t like she would be getting any rest anyway.

The waterbender wrapped a red silk robe around her bindings and tied it securely around her waist. Slowly, she crossed the room and stilled at her reflection in the mirror. A young woman stared back at her. Curves, recovered from years of hardship, enhanced hard muscle. Wild, untamed, chestnut curls crowned her head and fell to her waist. Blue eyes turned clear in the coming light of day.

She was no longer the little girl, a wisp of skin and bone, who cradled the head of the last airbender, six years ago in the snow. She was a new creature.

___

Katara found herself curled in the ancient roots of the willow tree, on the banks of the turtle duck pond. She had come to this place many times before, and it always cleared her mind, but the thoughts swirling around her countenance were a different beast this morning.

The sun was minutes away from crowning the gray hills in the distance, and the sky had turned the softest blue. The clouds above were tinged in pink and gold.

The turtle ducks had just begun to wake up, and were quaking quietly to themselves. Chirping birds and the wind in the fresh leaves became the backdrop of her silent thoughts.

Katara watched the mist rise of the mirror-like surface of the pond. She reached out, feeling the gentle pull of the water in her navel, and curled it to her whim.

“I didn’t expect to find you out here so early.”

Katara started at the breaking of her silence, but then she smiled.

“Goodmorning, Uncle.”

Iroh smiled gently then gestured to the grass next to her, “May I sit with you?”

“Of course,” the older man nodded, and settled in a lotus position beside her.

“I usually have my morning tea out here, I would be honored if you joined me.”

As Katara nodded, Iroh pulled a teapot out of the small basket at his side, and handed her a cup. With a gentle smile he poured the steaming liquid.

She took a sip and her chest grew warm.

“Mmm… what type of tea is this?”

“Gyokuro, very good for waking up,” he took his own sip, “though… it also does well for those who never went to sleep.” He gave her a pointed look. Sheepishly, Katara stared down at her tea, and then the pond.

“I couldn’t stop my mind from…” she waved a hand around her head, “spinning.”

“Often, the wills of the mind overcast the needs of the body.”

Katara sighed, and slouched a little, “Yeah.”

“Is there anything in particular you are worried about, Lady Katara?” Iroh’s expression was calm, and he topped off her tea cup. She sighed, then scoffed,

“Besides the obvious?”

“I prefer not to assume the apparent obvious, I’m too frequently incorrect in my assumptions.”

The sun had finally dawned over the mountains and the entire palace and gardens were lit up in brilliant gold. The red roof tops of Caldera City burned in the dawn. Katara pulled her knees closer to her chest and took a deep sip of tea. She knew Iroh would not pester her for a speedy response, so she took the time to collect her thoughts. The general just simply waited and drunk his tea, while he watched the surface of the pond sparkle like a jewel.

“It’s the wedding. Don’t get me wrong! I want to marry Zuko, I love him, and can’t imagine being without him, but there's so much… pressure.”

Iroh, just watched her, and waited for her to continue.

“I have to look perfect, and act perfect, and say all the right things. I have to bow to this person, and remember this person's name. There's so many customs and rules. What if I do something wrong? What if something crazy happens? Like assassins attack, or there’s a freak tornado?”

Katara’s voice had risen in volume and pitch as she went on, but now her words were quiet, and the hands gripping her tea cup trembled. “I know that there's people in this country who don’t like me. I hear them in the streets when I go shopping. They whisper behind my back at parties and announcements. ‘Southern Savage’… that’s a favorite… there was one woman I passed in a corridor that called me ‘Zuko’s Whore’”. Tears slipped down her cheeks. Iroh’s expression darkened.

“Does my nephew know of these impertinences?”

Katara sniffled and wiped her cheek with the sleeve of her robe, “No, he has so much to worry about, and he can’t fix it anyway.”

“And I feel so stupid!” the waterbender threw a hand in the air, threatening ripples disturbed the pond, “I’m not some soft maiden. Usually, I would defend myself. One time in Ba Sing Se, some girls made fun of Toph and I sent them down the river! I challenged a waterbending master without any formal training. I started a prison riot. I defeated Azula. Iv’e fought assassins, and soldiers!” Katara hid her face behind her knees, curtains of hair blocking her tears from view, “But, I just freeze. Every time. My brain screams at me to do something, but I can’t, I just stand there like an idiot. Eventually, I remember that fighting wouldn’t have helped anyway, or changed help how people saw me, they'd just think I was even more of a ‘savage’.” She spit the word out like poison, “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do. I should stand up for myself, but..” she trailed off.

“Those things aren't true, Katara.”

“I know,” she turned to Iroh, resting her temple on her knee, “but, it’s hard to handle it. I’ve never been stoic, I’ve never been able to just ‘brush things off’. Like Mai, she gets all kinds of stuff thrown at her because she’s with Ty Lee, but she’s always the perfect noblewoman.”

“Just because your strengths differ from those valued by Fire Nation nobility doesn’t mean they’re less valuable.” A melancholic look over took his features, “my wife was very similar to you. She was raised in the colonies, born out of wedlock on top of it, but she too was never able to brush things off.”

“What did she do?” Katara turned her whole body in interest.

“She worked hard, she served the people, and was kind to everyone. She did so much good for the Fire Nation, before she died, that slowly the people who didn’t like her were the minority.”

Katara nodded.

“And,” Iroh made a point to look her in the eye, “she confided in me, and we were able to get through it together. Tell my nephew, the next time something happens. Even if he can’t do anything about it, which would be a rare occurrence, he receives his own ridicule, as I’m sure you know. You two are stronger together. You and Zuko, both, have grown up having to fight for every scrap of respect” Iroh breathed in deeply, “and you must continue to do so. However, the arena has changed, Lady Katara. You have to rely on each other, and your natural strengths to navigate it.”

The general chuckled to himself, “and don’t worry about messing up at your wedding. Nothing can be worse then when my cousin spilled the entire puch bowl on his pride, then got so drunk he challenged her brother to and Agni Kai.”

Katara’s jaw dropped.

“Of course, the man was a non-bender, so the challenge was null and void. What I’m trying to say, is that the wedding doesn’t matter as much as what you do after. You have a strong heart and, most importantly, empathy. This country doesn’t need a noblewoman, it needs a warrior.”

The young waterbender was now looking back over the pond, her brow furrowed.

“Is there anything else on your mind, Lady Katara?”

She considered it.

“What is it going to be like...being Fire Lady?”

Iroh took another sip of his tea, “I’ve never been one, so I can’t say that I know for sure,” she smiled, “but the most important thing to remember is that you are the most powerful person in the Fire Nation. That fact comes with privileges, but it also comes with responsibilities. You will swear the same oaths as Zuko. You are the mother of the nation.”

Oddly enough, that was the easy part to her. She had always been a caregiver. The memory of a small village on a river came to mind, of a little boy with a fish, and a veiled rice hat. She frowned, softly,

“What do you mean I’m the most powerful person in the Fire Nation? I thought that was Zuko, he’s the Fire Lord.”

Iroh shook his head swiftly, “My father and grandfather spun many lies about our customs and beliefs. They changed thousands of years of history to feed their own egos and suit their agendas, and to have unquestionable power. The Fire Lord and Lady are equal in power and in status, or at least they were before the War.” He turned to Katara, whose eyes had gone wide, “it is my understanding that Zuko will honor those ancient traditions.”

He continued, “You and Zuko have always been equals, even before he found his way. You are two sides to the same coin, moon and sun.You have always been matched in skill and mind. Similarly, The position of Fire Lady is the counterpart to the Fire Lord.”

“Yin and Yang.” Katara whispered. She reached up to the new pendant at her throat (so like her old one in weight and shape) and traced the familiar pattern engraved in luminescent green stone. She thought of a battle, so long ago. Katara had been so angry then, but her and Zuko… they had been equally matched. How many other times had they met on the battlefield and fought till a stand still. Even now, as friends, as more than that… they had always been on level footing. Never before had she hidden in Zuko’s shadow. He always recognized her strengths, and how they complimented his own weaknesses. Katara smiled to herself. Why would that change now?

You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun.

Balanced.

She turned to Iroh, and bowed slightly, “Thank you, Un…” Katara paused to yawn wide, “...cle”

He smiled, and bowed back, “Tomorrow is your wedding day, not today, I believe you may have some time to rest your eyes.”

Katara nodded, yawning again, and stood. Before she left she wrapped Iroh in a tight hug. He responded in kind.

When Katara made it back to her room, she found her mind clear as she settled into bed. She was asleep before her head hit the pillow, her hand still resting on the engagement necklace around her neck.

___

(Please reblog with thoughts & criticism!!)

Day two!!!

So I added that part at the beginning because i wanted to share my personal headcannon about the necklace (Also, read my Zutara Week submission from a couple years ago on the same subject) and it ended up being my favorite of today’s prompt :) Anyway, Thank you for reading!!! Tomorrow’s will be ~t h e w e d d i n g~ and then on day four we diverge a little for my personal favorite piece I wrote. (Because it’s lore and lore is the bomb diggity)

#ems zkw2020 #zutara week #zutara week 2020 #atla #Avatar The Last Airbender #zutara #Zuko and Katara #Katara #zuko #iroh #zutara fanfiction

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mythsofmodern · 4 years

Text

Katherine “Katie” Bell

“You never know what you can expect from life until it almost shoots you out.”

Katie was born in London and lived there for the first few years of her lives. She was only five years old when they moved to Banbury. She has no siblings and is therefor an only child. Her father works at the Ministry and her mother at St. Mungo’s. The first few years her mother stayed at home with her, but when she was old enough she went back to work and the young girl was sent to the kindergarten. Her parents had doubts, then they knew their daughter, she barely could keep a secret for herself and they were worried she could tell the muggles about the Wizard Word and their secrets. Against the worries she got along with the muggle children very well and got a few friends, even if she preferred to spend her time with her cousins. Especially because she could play quidditch with them. Katie got her first broom when they moved to Banbury, gifted to her by her favorite cousin was Timothy. Although he is much older than her, he always took the time for the girl, he taught her to play quidditch. In the holidays Katie often visits him at his shop at the Diagon Alley. The girl was very excited to get her letter from Hogwarts, even though it was not a question for her family that she would get one, and immediately dragged her parents to Diagon Alley to get everything from the list.

Soon she was sitting on the train that brought her to Hogwarts. She was, of course, very excited, then she already heard so many stories from her parents and her cousin, Timothy - he graduated a year before Katie started the school. And not to forget, there was the big question, in which house she would be sorted. The Sorting Hat sent her to Gryffindor and she was happy. Katie got accepted quickly and the only thing that made her sad was, that she was not yet allowed to apply for the quidditch team and that she wasn’t allowed to bring her own broom. Katie found friends in Angelina Jones and Alicia Spinnet and they even went out to the quidditch pitch with her sometimes to play.

About the second year she was even more excited, then now she was allowed to try out for the quidditch team - and got accepted. But that was not the only exciting thing about that year, then it was the year when Harry Potter - yes, the famous Harry Potter - started his first year at Hogwarts. And he was even in the same house AND same quidditch team! She became friends with the rest of the teams too.

Katie’s third year at the school for wizards and witches was way more eventful, although not exactly in good ways. The Chamber of Secrets was opened. The students were scared - at least most of them - especially when Mrs Norris was no longer the only victim anymore. Lots of people accused Harry, but Katie had a hard time believing he could be able to do anything like that. However, she did become more careful. What happened, didn’t leave her unaffected, she felt bad for the victims, she was scared and often when she thought no one was looking, she even cried. Katie was in a bad shape. And with every victim it just got worse. When the little girl who happened to be Fred’s and George’s little sister, got kidnapped it seemed the school would close forever. It was terrible to see her friends so hurt and in pain, everything scared and confused. What were they supposed to do without Hogwarts? Fortunately at the beginning of the summers the students could go home knowing in September they would be able to come back.

Katie’s fourth year was just a little less crazy. It didn’t involve a hidden chamber and a murderous basilisk, but a murderous Death Eater - or so the whole wizarding world thought. Sirius Black escaped and it seemed he was on his way to Hogwarts. At least that explained the dementors at the school. The fact they were there for the student’s safety didn’t make Katie feel any better about them though. They were terrible and made her feel terrible. As she learned later from rumors - and these were always popular at Hogwarts - Black wanted Harry. And obviously he wanted him so bad, that even the dementors couldn’t stop him. The best thing about that year was to win the Quidditch Cup! At the end of the year Katie was glad she could leave, no more dementors! And that was not the only reason why she was excited…

… then it was the summer of the Quidditch World Cup! And of course Katie couldn’t miss that! It was very exciting and she enjoyed the celebration after the game - or at least until suddenly everything changed. Death Eaters appeared, panic raised in camp and -the worst - the Dark Mark appeared on the sky. Katie was too young, she never had to experience the feeling to come home and find the Dark Mark above your house, but even she knew what it meant. Going back to the school, Katie was excited to play quidditch again, maybe even try a few things she saw at the world cup. However soon enough she had to learn quidditch was cancelled this year. Then this year Hogwarts was about to host the Triwizard Tournament! It was very exciting that Cedric Diggory became the champion, but even more exciting that Harry became one too. Many students - especially the Slytherins - were against Harry as a champion, but Katie supported him. Besides, this was a great way to get back at the Hufflepuffs for the game they lost last year against them. The fun turned into serious matter, when Harry returned from the maze with Cedric’s dead body and the words that Voldemort was back. Katie got reminded on last summer and the Dark Mark above the camp. It was hard to believe was Harry and Dumbledore were saying, and the Daily Prophet didn’t, then they kept publishing articles about how the two were liars, but the girl knew they had no reason to lie… Not about this.

The first few days of the summer holiday, Katie’s parents were in panic - as everyone else who believed Dumbledore - and Katie often heard them whispering and then stopping when she entered the room. After that they kept disappearing, for hours, sometimes even days. Later the girl found out, this was, because her parents joined the Order of the Phoenix. Getting back to Hogwarts it seemed things were normal… As normal as they could get at the school. But then things got worse and worse and the source of it was Umbridge. At some point the Gryffindor wished the dementors and Sirius Black back. When Fred, George and Harry got expelled from quidditch, she even thought the basilisk was better, than the pink dressed professor. It felt her with joy to go against the woman and didn’t hesitate to join the group Harry and his friends founded. Dumbledore’s Army became the best thing about that year, Katie learned a lot and gained a few new friends too. Somehow they managed to get through the year and by the end of it Katie wasn’t even that surprised, that they got rid of Umbridge. The curse worked once again.

Finally! It was Katie’s last year at Hogwarts. She was excited, but also a bit sad, than most of her friends graduated - or just took their brooms and flew away - last year. But she still had friends at Hogwarts, she had quidditch and she had to make sure she would pass her exams. All seemed to go quiet well, until that afternoon at Hogsmeade. Katie couldn’t remember what happened, but later she got told, that someone placed the Imperius Curse on her and she touched a cursed necklace. It was all pure luck she didn’t die. What she could remember, however was the terrible pain. She spent six months at St. Mungo’s before she could return to Hogwarts. Katie studied even harder so she could finish school this year, even though everyone told her not to put the extra pressure on herself and she could come back next year. In the end she exceled at her exams and graduated, leaving Hogwarts behind her. The blonde girl is a kind person, her friends are very important for her and she always stands up for them. She is honest, sometimes too honest, then Katie always says what’s on her mind without to take the time and think about her words first. That can end up very badly if she talks to the wrong person. Everyone who know her would confirm, that she is one of the most clumsiest person on earth. That’s the reason why no one would believe what a good quidditch player she is until they see her on her broom. As soon she flies her movements become graceful and she is full in her element. It was her second year when she got part of Gryffindor’s house team, but she already get to know them in her first year. Angelina and Alicia often went to the pitch with her and played quidditch, when they didn’t have practice. It was them who told Oliver Wood, that he should let her try out. Despite the fact, that she was cursed in her seventh year and spent a long time at St. Mungo’s, she was still able to graduate at the end of the year. The summer after her graduation she joined the Order of Phoenix. Among a lot of other members and her friends, she too became known as a blood traitor and was hunted by Death Eaters. She participated in the Battle of Hogwarts, she fought with her friends.

After the war Katie became a curse breaker and works for Gringotts.

Nicknames: Katie, Katie-Kate, Kit-Kat, Kat, Bell Date of Birth: 27. November 1978 N.E.W.T.s: Charms: E (Exceeds Expectations) Transfiguration: O (Outstanding) Potions: A (Acceptable) Defense Against the Dark Arts: E (Exceeds Expectations) Herbology: E (Exceeds Expectations) History of Magic: A (Acceptable) Astronomy: O (Outstanding) Arithmancy: E (Exceeds Expectations) Care of Magical Creatures: O (Outstanding) Ancient Runes: E (Exceeds Expectations)

Wand: Willow, phoenix feather, 10 ½ “ Pet: an owl named Brownie Special Position: Chaser on the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, Member of Dumbledore’s Army, Member of the Duelling Club // Member of the Order of Phoenix Partonus: Wild Rabbit Boggart: Darkness Amortentia: the grass at the Quidditch pitch, chocolate frogs & Gryffindor common room Family:

Eleanor Bell (nee White), former Ravenclaw, works at St. Mungo’s at the reception [mother]

Edward Bell, former Gryffindor, works at the Ministry of Magic at the Centaur Liaison Office [father]

Timothy Bell, former Gryffindor, has his own antique shop at Diagon Alley

from Harry Potter Wiki [canon & source]

VERSES

Student Verse: Katie after being sorted into Gryffindor, could barely wait to be part of the quidditch team and explore the castle with friends. She ended up having an even more amazing friends group than she could have ever imagined. And adventures that could last for more than a lifetime. After Harry Potter became a student, life at Hogwarts was never the same again - and certainly never boring. ( sirius black stole my homework // 𝓚.𝓑. student verse. )

Pre-Battle Verse: Once she graduated, Katie joined the Order of Phoenix, just like her parents and her cousin did. She also applied at Gringotts, then it was her dream to become a curse breaker. However, soon things got more complicated, Katie got on the list of blood traitors and it was time to go into hiding. However that didn’t mean she stopped her activities for the Order. She still did everything she could. However, being chased and the upcoming war weighed heavy on the blonde’s shoulders. Katie still didn’t recover fully from the curse last year, almost every night she woke up screaming or crying, she had nightmares about the pain and was reliving that day over and over. The fear of her and her friend’s and family’s life didn’t make her situation any better. When Neville called the former DA members through their coins, Katie didn’t hesitate to go back to Hogwarts and to join in the battle. ( wanted blood traitor // 𝓚.𝓑. pre battle verse. )

Post-War Verse: It was terrible. They lost so many people - so many great people. Friends. Families. Yet those who survived had to keep going. And that’s what Katie did too. Or at least tried to do. The memories faded, but returned as soon she closed her eyes and added to the nightmares she already had. To the world Katie shows herself as the brave and cheerful girl she always have been, but inside she is breaking and she doesn’t know how to stop it. ( we are survivors // 𝓚.𝓑. post war verse. )

Modern Verse: Katie was always good at getting herself into trouble, but she always had her friends to count on to get her through it. Never afraid of a little adventure, Katie grew up admiring the Indiana Jones movies. So much so that she ends up studying archaeology herself. ( a magically normal life // 𝓚.𝓑. modern verse. )

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the-quiet-winds · 5 years

Text

Everything’s Coming Down Roses

“Gold star for Cathy Parr, right?”

Aragon rolls her eyes. “That’s the worst line to use in this situation.”

“Situation?” Parr asks, a hint of cheek in her words. “We don’t have a situation. Do we?”

Aragon looks down at the game board. She sighs. “I do.” She stares intently at the board, and she pretty much knows she’s hosed.

“We’re playing two out of three,” she says without looking up.

The only tiles left in Aragon’s tray are K, P, O, and U.

She’s pretty much done for.

The Scrabble board is full of words of varying lengths and difficulty, some so obscure that Aragon consulted an online dictionary to check their validity.

“Earth to Aragon?”

She jumps, finding a smirking Parr looking back at her. “Throwing in the towel?”

“In your dreams,” Aragon grumbles, although she’s fairly sure she doesn’t have much of a choice.

“Fine, let’s play again.”

Parr grins, genuinely and excitedly, and begins to gather all of the tiles off the board to redistribute them between the two players and the bag.

“While you do that,” Aragon says, standing up and stretching, “I’m making a snack.”

She moves to the kitchen and tosses a bag of microwave popcorn in and sets the timer. As she listens to the pops, Aragon leans back against the counter and watches her goddaughter setting up the next game. The younger woman is smiling brightly, an almost childish, innocent sense about her.

Aragon feels her heart melting at the sight. She wishes she had known her in the first life, but knowing her now, it makes up for it.

She’s startled out of her daydream by the timer going off on the microwave. When the popcorn is poured into two bowls and she manages to carry them both coupled with water bottles, she makes her way back to the table.

“Did you stack the tiles?” Aragon teases.

Parr scoffs in mock-offense. “I would never-”

“Anne would beg to differ.”

At the reminder of the time she had fixed the game to mess with Anne, Parr blushes. “Come on, it was funny.”

“Alright,” Aragon concedes, “it was pretty funny.”

Parr smirks again and reaches for tiles, but Aragon snatches the bag away.

“I’ll go first.”

“Godmother!” Parr gasps, her hand over her heart. “You don’t trust me?”

Aragon returns Parr’s smirk from earlier. “Not at all, love.”

She pulls tiles out of the bag and hands it back to Parr, who takes some as well.

The game goes relatively well. As well as a game of Scrabble between two of the most educated and competitive queens could go, that is.

They’re neck and neck the entire game, battling wits and words between mouthfuls of artificially-buttered popcorn.

Finally, they return to the last few tiles, and Aragon is in a much better position.

This time, Parr folds first.

“You said two out of three, right?”

“I suppose I did, didn’t I?”

Their final game is even more intense. Barely any words are exchanged at all, they both are so focused on the tiles in front of them.

It’s simultaneously a slow and fast game. They can’t pick a pace.

They near the end again. They’re both slowing down.

It’s really anyone’s game.

But Aragon’s next turn is her last, because somehow, someway, she has the same four damn letters from the first round.

And she can’t use them.

She watches Parr intently, and her goddaughter picks up a tile and lays it down, turning willow into willows.

Aragon forfeits with a huff and crossed arms.

Parr breaks into the biggest grin Aragon had seen out of her yet. It quells a moment later and she extends a hand to her godmother. “Good game.”

With a playful roll of her eyes, Aragon excepts the peacemaking gesture. “Good game.”

Parr tugs on her hand as she stands, and Aragon is forced to her feet. She’s barely gained her footing when Parr’s arms are around her waist, hugging her tightly.

Aragon winds her arms around Parr’s slim frame, pulling her slightly closer.

“I love you,” Parr mumbles into her shoulder. She feels Aragon chuckle lightly in her chest.

“And I love you, mi amour.”

Parr smiles at the nickname and settles closer to Aragon.

“Next time,” the older Catherine whispers, “we’re playing gin rummy, and you won’t know what hit you.”

Parr pulls back just enough to look Aragon in the eyes with a devious little smirk.

“You’re on.”

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tag list: @percabeth15 @kats-seymour @qualquercoisa945 @jane-fucking-seymour @a-slightly-cracked-egg @justqueentingz @annabanana2401 @wolfies-chew-toy @broad-way-13 @tvandmusicals @lailaliquorice @aimieallenatkinson @sweet-child-why03 @gaylinda-of-the-upper-uplands @funky-lesbians @thinkaboutitmaybe @hansholbeingoesaroundzeworld @anaamess @beeskneeshuh @prick-up-ur-ears @theartoflazy @justqueentwo @brother-orion @paleshadowofadragon @lafemmestars @beautifulashes17 @jarneiarichardnxel @idkimbadwithusernamesandstuff @sixcago @mixer1323 @boleynssixthfinger @aimieallen @elphiesdance @boleynthebunny @krystalhuntress @lupin-loves-chocolate @bellacardoza16 @bluify @katherines-choker

#six the musical #six musical #catherine of aragon #catherine parr #julie writes #everything's coming down roses

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pollylynn · 5 years

Photo

“And that’s why I want to marry you.”  —Kate Beckett, For Better or Worse (6 x 23)

Title: Travail Rating: T WC: 1500

The Four Stages of Rogan O’Leary are quite the rollercoaster ride. It’s enough—more than enough—to make him hate the fact that he ever suggested getting married on a rollercoaster.

At first, he sort of loves the idea of him. Or, rather, he thinks that at literally any other moment in time, he would have loved the idea of him, because Kate Beckett’s drunken, drive-thru chapel husband? The notion has considerable appeal.

Not because he wants to take her down a peg or anything. Somewhere around the ten-seconds-after-meeting-her mark, he knew two things with absolute certainty: One, she was out of his league in every way, and two, he’d give anything to be with her. And the moment the idea of Being With Her took on capital-letter status, he accepted—welcomed—spending the rest of his life with someone so very far out of his league.

So it’s not about the fact that Rogan O’Leary is, apparently, a dirtbag’s dirtbag. It’s not about the fact of him . . . humanizing her or something, though he’d be lying if he said the Early Onset Dork in his past wasn’t a little relieved to find that there are some dark corners of her adolescence and young adulthood that aren’t all tight leather, motorcycles, romances with European Nobility—Not Otherwise Specified, and poetry slams.

His early enchantment with the idea of Rogan isn’t about that at all, though. It’s about the fact that there’s nothing he wouldn’t give to know anything of her before that January night. He loves her—loves all of her—entirely and without exception or qualification. He would change nothing about her. Even when she’s grappling with the demons that make her so reckless with herself, even when she is being the epitome of stubborn and holding herself to impossible standards, even when she’s beating him at Scrabble, there isn’t the smallest thing he would change.

But he wishes he could catch a glimpse, just once, of the young woman who was the kind of reckless eighteen-year-olds are supposed to be—the kind who’d head to a drive-thru Vegas chapel like that, even as she set her sights on the US Supreme Court. He wishes he could see her in all glory—strong and self-respecting, not hardened and terrified of loss—as she kicked the compulsive liar to the curb without batting an eye.

His romance with that facet of Rogan ends abruptly, though, when the seriousness of the situation sets in. When he sees how genuinely miserable she is at the prospect of her youthful whim derailing the wedding, it crashes down on him how monstrously unfair it is that her past should rear up to snatch away the happiness she’s only just been able to truly wrap her hands around, because they just fucking finished beating back her painful past.

In Stage Two of Rogan, he spends more time than is probably healthy—and certainly more time than he will ever admit in his outside-his-head voice—wondering what it would take to put a contract out on her not-nearly-erstwhile-enough husband.

But murder for hire is probably impractical, so he throws money at Stage Two. He throws his very good lawyer at it, and reluctantly agrees to her divide and conquer plan, because she’s . . . embarrassed. She feels like she needs to do penance and clean up the mess on her own, and okay, maybe he’d make that one small tweak to his otherwise perfect goddess-cum-future-wife if he could, but in the mean time, he agrees to stay behind.

He holds in reserve the idea of paying out for a time-sensitive hit. He reviews all the guys he knows who know those kinds of guys and revisits the possibility every time she calls and she sounds a little bit smaller, a little bit more desperate. Eventually, he chucks out the idea of summary execution entirely, and instead decides that the man needs to suffer—really suffer—just as soon as he signs the divorce papers.

Laying the groundwork for Rogan’s post–Beckett pain is uppermost in his mind when he hits Willow Creek after a more or less sleepless night, but then they meet Tildy. Then they meet Tildy’s mother and Sapphire and the myriad women of Willow Creek who look at her with wounded black anger behind their eyes and tell her Let him go. Then his relationship to Rogan O’Leary changes again.

He’s disgusted by the man. He’s fascinated and amused by him on the surface of things. And, okay, he’s amused well beneath the surface about the dirtbag genius of Coma Wife, but it’s genuinely awful that this guy—this ridiculous, low-rent con man—has managed to do so much real damage. It’s genuinely awful that he’s still doing real damage right this very second, and in Stage Three of Rogan O’Leary, he’s terrified that he’s no better.

He thinks back to three years ago. He thinks of Damien Westlake and his halting confession. Without him, I’m a lawyer, a grifter, a rodeo clown. He despises his own trick of the trade, tucking away the most likely outcome between two absurd alternatives. He thinks of the people he’s hurt in the course of cultivating his bad boy image, in the course of insulating himself from any real human interaction. He thinks of the ways he’s hurt her over the years, how recently he’s reverted to type and hurt her.

He’s terrified and sick with amorphous guilt when she hears about the dress, and on top of the fire and every single Rogan-related problem, it’s too much for her. All of a sudden, she’s citing him, chapter and verse, about Signs from the Universe—the most versatile tool in the con-man’s arsenal. All of a sudden, she is worn down and devastated and sure that she somehow deserves this disaster.

His relationship with the idea of Rogan doesn’t change then. He’s still disgusted. He’s still terrified in his heart of hearts, but in a dizzying reversal, he’s the one talking about work. He’s the one arguing for effort and persistence and working at this great love of theirs, because he will not—will not—let one more person on this earth, including and especially this dirtbag who might be a Mirrorverse version of himself, take one more damned thing from her.

Meeting Rogan—entering the final Stage—is an odd combination completely irrelevant and a blessing. He’s such a nonentity. He’s nothing but a doofus stuck in the past. He calls her Kit-Kat and lobs insults that aspire to high-school level wit. He is a relic.

He doesn’t have a kid, a mother, an avocation that means something. He’s never had anyone or anything he’s had to step up for until maybe now. Until maybe Tildy, and in yet another twist, he turns out to be a victim himself. He’s harmless and he might even be worthy of some exasperated measure of sympathy if he weren’t cursed with the worst luck in the world. If he weren’t about to get them all killed.

But Rogan doesn’t get them all killed. Inspiration strikes at the critical moment, and he doesn’t care if it’s the Universe looking out for them or the culmination of all the work they’ve done. He doesn’t care who or what it is that snips the strings that tether them to cold feet and the stupid, stupid past. He only cares that they’ve managed to kick free and now they can get on with it.

He sends her on her way to the Hamptons. That’s how the Rogan Denouement begins.

“Go,” he tells her, kissing her hard in the middle of the street. “Sort out the dress with Lance. Rest up and do all your . . . girlie beauty stuff.”

“My girlie beauty stuff?” she laughs and hangs around his neck, but he can feel the tension thrumming through her. He can feel the tug-of-war between what she wants to do and what she thinks she should do.

“Not that you need it.” He brushes his lips over each cheek in turn. “Go, Kate. Spend some time with your dad. Let me do the paperwork for once.”

“The paperwork!” She laughs at that. It rolls over him like a cool, silvery wave crashing in sunlight, and he knows he’s won the day. “You think you can make up for six years with one grand gesture, don’t you?”

“No. No grand gesture.” It comes out a whisper. He’s choked up and overwhelmed. He wants to marry her right then and there, whether he’s good enough or not. He wants to marry her in front of everyone who loves her and him and both of them together. He wants to get them over the finish line to their perfect day. “Just a start on the rest of my life. The rest of our lives.” A/N: Thank you again to all of you reading and following me through this silly journey.

images via homeofthenutty

#Castle #Caskett #Castle: Season 6 #Castle: For Better or Worse #Kate Beckett #Richard Castle #Fic #Fanfic #Fanfiction #Fan Fic #Fan Fiction #Writing #Drabble #Drabble Fail #My Brain is Fucking Incorrigible

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