#life is exhausting and i am relying on drag race for my happiness | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wishingstarinajar · 3 years

Text

I am going to ramble a bit but I will hide it under a cut because it's a bit long. It will be about the previous fandom I was active in around two years ago and how it affects me to this day. It's also about popularity and putting others on a pedestal.

If this sort of ramble isn't up your alley then feel very free to skip over this post! I don't mind. If you want to read more about it, just check under the cut.

The Franchise And Its Creators

====

THE FRANCHISE AND ITS CREATORS Around mid-2014, I joined the Wakfu and Dofus fandoms, a small-ish fandom as a whole but popular in certain circles.

For those who don't know, Wakfu and Dofus are (online, console, mobile, figurine, card and board) games, comics, animated series, specials and movies created by a French studio named Ankama. These two franchises are intertwined with each other as they play out in the same universe but in different timelines. I myself dabbled around in the animated part of the fandom; I was a huge fan of the two series and the Dofus movie.

There was very little catering to the international part of the fandom when it came to the studio's attention and interactions. There were no English dubs or subtitles; international fans had to rely on English fan subtitles on ripped/pirated episodes of the show and movie, same for the franga/comics. Merch was hard to get. A lot of articles related to the shows and whatnot were in French only, which is understandable because it is a French-made product. But there's no denying that the international fanbase felt a little neglected back then.

====

MY FANDOM JOURNEY

Because I was very interested in the lore of both franchises, I had to do a lot of digging and translating to be able to fully indulge in it all. I went full in! I dug deep, created OCs, art and also tried to write fanfiction. I also shared news and info about the series and movie; I ran a fan blog dedicated to sharing things with the international part of the fandom. I was also often approached about lore, particularly for a few of the canon characters and one of the races that play a role in the Wakfu franchise; the Eliatropes. It was fun, it felt good to help other fans out, it was nice to make friends and be creative with others about similar things.

Eventually, the character and art theft began. We all know this is a 'normal' part of fandoms, so I won't hammer too long on it. My issue with it was the fact that my main OC, a female Eliatrope, gathered a lot of attention because female Eliatropes were a rarity in the Wakfu franchise. They existed but didn't get a moment in the limelight, except for one that even received her own game (Islands of Wakfu) but it was so obscure that a lot of fans didn't know about its existence. My OC was somehow mistaken as canon by plenty of folks and many others started to use her as a template to create their own (female) Eliatrope OC. I didn't mind, as long as they weren't straight-up copies and I tried to be supportive by answering lore questions and give feedback whenever it was asked for it (which happened a lot). Of course, copying and theft happened more often than not; over the five years I was part of the fandom, I sent out almost a hundred DMCA reports for art and character theft (like true theft; I could handle some similarities or one-time occurrences). One particular case went to the extreme but I won't beat that dead horse any further; it brought me enough misery to last me half a lifetime, that's all I'll say on it. I kept a lot of the negative experiences behind closed doors and dealt with a lot of it quietly to not bother, worry or burden anyone else with any of it. I wanted a positive and supporting environment for my followers, even if the truth wasn't as pretty.

====

ANKAMA'S STRUGGLE

Over the years, studio Ankama increased attempts to cater more to the international fanbase of its animated properties (articles in English, English dubs and subtitles, etc). However, the studio's struggle to garner the attention of international supporters (aka companies and sponsors) didn't go too smoothly, and to make matters worse, they were also struggling with finding a platform in France to broadcast the Wakfu series on after wishing to take a different and more mature direction. Ankama wanted more freedom with the Wakfu show, like less censorship, a serial rather than episodic, and it not being aimed at a young audience like its previous contractor demanded Wakfu to be. Ankama even turned to crowdfunding to get certain projects (like new Wakfu seasons) off the ground and let's just say that those crowdfunding projects are best described as tiny dumpster fires; they weren't pretty to watch. The first one was a disaster with plenty of displeased backers and the following crowdfunding attempts often didn't meet the end goal due to bad past experiences or the lack of interest.

Luckily, Netflix breathed some life into the international Wakfu fandom, which was great! But it was still received badly (mostly due to the awful English dub and sound mixing of the first two seasons and special) that the third season Netflix made possible was not getting the attention it deserved. It was also a rushed product due to financial and time constraints on Ankama's part. Netflix eventually declined a fourth season and it all fell a bit apart from there. Ankama turned to crowdfunding once more to try and make season 4 a reality. Last time I checked (which was quite a while ago), it did decently enough to make season 4 a reality. (Please don't ask me about it, I don't know anything about it.)

====

THE PEDESTAL

While all this was happening behind the scenes, I was starting to struggle with the reputation I built up in the Wakfu and Dofus fandom over the few years I was a part of it. The best way to describe it is that I had grown exhausted.

Aside from dealing with the theft and answering people's questions daily, I wanted to be treated as an average fan but I kept getting put on a pedestal. People went as far as to call me by titles (like lady Wish and miss Wish) more often than not. To be called and treated as such made me feel alienated, like as if I wasn't considered real. I often asked to just be called Wish, no titles/formalities required, and that I wasn't as 'popular' as they believed, but the majority of the people didn't seem to listen. People were either afraid or refused to interact with me because they considered me 'too popular', or simply wanted nothing but my validation, feedback and/or free art. I also had my fair share of haters and people that didn't approve of my 'status' in the fandom. Join the club xD I wasn't very happy with it either.

I really started to dislike being called 'popular' because it had such a bad impact on the people around me (and my own mental wellbeing). Friends started to become jealous of the attention I garnered and it dragged me down every time. At times, it would turn toxic. It was never my intention to make my friends feel like they meant less because they surely didn't. To learn that they believed others were only friends with them or only looked at their art/writing because they were good friends with me hurt so much. It still does. I refuse to believe that was fully true because I was (and still am!) surrounded by very creative people and they all deserved as much attention as I was getting, at times more. I wish others saw it that way too.

I was also heavily chained down thanks to the role (model) I played in the fandom. Too many people (especially young ones) looked up to me and there were a lot of expectations that I felt forced to meet. I started to lose the energy for it, but if I dared to stray a little from the path, the pitchforks and torches would come out. It was very restricting.

In the end, I felt stuck. Things started to grow toxic. There was a point where I began to dislike the franchise because of the bad feelings it brought me. I couldn't even get myself to watch the series or movie anymore. I focused less and less on the canon side of things and more on my own ideas, which was one of the only comforts I really had left in the fandom. I started to shut myself off, which upset a lot of people. I am sorry for that, I wish it didn't happen that way but I was at my wits' end.

When I realized and also accepted that I was no longer enjoying myself with canon or fanon, I knew I had to move on or stuff would end badly. It was a very tough realization and decision to accept and make; I literally dedicated five years of my life to the fandom. I spent hours a day digging for info and news to translate and share, doing 'research' for my fanfics, answering questions, and whatnot. I truly lived the fandom day in and out. It was the first fandom I ever actively participated in to this degree. What the heck was I going to do without that?

====

THE NOW

Abandoning the fandom was a scary step to take but not one I regret. I left the Wakfu and Dofus fandom behind me in late 2019. I feel freer now and so much happier. I no longer have the burden of expectations, being a lore guide or be forced to portray a certain role model weighing me down. I am no longer on that f*cking pedestal. I can finally explore interests that aren't exactly child-friendly without a big part of my following pummeling me down for it. (Don't worry, I always try my best to keep it in the appropriate places.)

Do I still like Wakfu/Dofus and all the stuff I've created with it? Yes, I do but I also want nothing more to do with it. Aside from the friends I've made there and also stuck around on my new adventures, I left the fandom behind me.

I still get approached at times about how my Wakfu OC, art and writing inspired someone and ask me if I could give them feedback for their own ideas or give them advice/information on Wakfu/lore. I am extremely humbled by it every time. It's great to see someone feeling inspired and be creative. However, I've moved on. I've left interacting with the Wakfu/Dofus fandom and fan-made stuff far behind me. I haven't touched it for almost two years and it shows on all the social media I share my art and writing on. I at times wish people could be considerate about the fact that I moved on but I also know and understand that not everyone knows my reasoning or my side of the story. I try not to be too harsh on it.

====

MY ADVICE

I don't hate anyone for how things turned out; a lot of it was my own doing by not saying no or taking a stronger stand.

It did teach me a lot of things, especially about caring for my own well-being and putting others on pedestals. Please be mindful when you treat someone like others treated me before; it's not healthy, for yourself and the person you put on that high pedestal. Take everything in moderation and consideration, that's all. Everyone's human, everyone has feelings, and everyone deserves a sense of being. Even your favorite artists and content creators. Don't treat them like an otherwordly being that you have to worship.

In turn, if a fandom or something you enjoyed is making you unhappy nowadays, you owe it to yourself to make or find a change. Be good to yourself, always!

Thanks to anyone who read through this ramble. I needed to get this off my chest. I am not asking for advice, neither pity or whatever else. I just wanted to share my thoughts on past experiences because I have a feeling others might be going through something similar.

Thank you again, please take care.

#wish talks #wish rambles #edited with some format fixes

42 notes · View notes

randomfandomimagine · 4 years

Text

Separated (Zuko x Reader)

Characters: Zuko, Iroh

Fandom: Avatar The Last Airbender

Tags Reader Insert, Gender Neutral Reader

Warnings: Spoilers about Zuko’s character and backstory

Word Count: 1,7k words

Summary: Y/N and Zuko are constantly arguing because of his stubbornness, and it isn’t until they are separated that they truly realize how much they need each other.

A/N: I’m not completely sure the timelines match, but I had this idea that explored Zuko’s character and I loved it, so here it is! I’m quite proud of this one! Hope you enjoy reading :D

Zuko x Gender Neutral Reader

Iroh cheerfuly hummed as he served you tea. Both Zuko and you refused to look at each other. You had run out of patience, and so had he.

Perhaps his uncle was more benevolent and lenient, but you weren’t. Like Iroh, you had realized Zuko’s struggle, and you saw the good and kindness in him as well. Unlike his uncle, however, you were fed up with his demeanor. Zuko held on to so much anger and resentment, all aimed at the wrong person.

It wasn’t the Avatar that would bring his honor back, couldn’t he see? His father had showed his position quite clearly when he burned Zuko badly enough to leave him scarred for life. And not only because of the mark in his face.

“I’m tired of waiting” Zuko muttered, showing his impatience once more.

“Patience is a virtue, dear nephew” Although Iroh was clearly taking to him, his kind eyes fell over you as well.

“Don’t bother, Iroh” You said nonetheless, unable to contain your bitterness in regards to the prince’s demeanor as of late. It had only gotten worse these last few days.

Your comment earned you a bad look from him. You turned your face away. In reality, you were only trying to hide how much it pained you. How deeply it hurt you to see him deny the truth and go after someone who only wanted to help people.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Zuko barked back, dedicating you a challenging glare and demanding a reaction from you.

“It means you are being stupid and stubborn!” You said, slamming your cup on the ground. “Capturing the Avatar won’t-”

“If I bring him to my father, he will restore my honor!” He interrupted you, raising his volume much louder than you.

“No, he won’t!”

“Don’t talk about what you know nothing of, Y/N!”

“I do know! No offense, Zuko, but your father is a jerk”

“He is not!”

“Whatever you say…”

“Yes, I am the prince and-”

“You are a banished prince whose father doesn’t care for!”

“That’s enough!” He abruptly stood up, and his face contorted in the angriest grimace you had ever seen. “If you’re not going to help, leave right now!”

“I will!” You threw the cup of tea at his feet in an outburst of fury. “I don’t want to be around you anymore!”

Just when you had already turned your back on him, you realized what that implied. Just as your foot hovered in the air before you took the first step, you paused. Looking over your shoulder, you locked gazes with Iroh. It wasn’t fair to him either. His eyes were laced with sadness, almost begging you not to give up on Zuko. Without looking at the prince, you shook your head at his uncle. You didn’t have the strength to believe in him anymore, not when he continued to push you away like that.

Making your choice, you continued walking away from them. Away from him. Silence lingered for a bit longer until you were out of reach.

“Y/N called you Zuko...” Iroh whispered, still saddened as they both watched how you left without looking back. “Not Lee...”

“So what?” He replied with a shrug, even if his voice broke. Deep down, he knew what that meant. Even if his uncle didn’t give him an answer either.

To you, he wasn’t Lee anymore. He wasn’t that person you had grown so fond of, that you had met so long ago and had decided to help. That you had continued to address like that because that was the boy you knew and cared about. No, he was Zuko to you now. The angry prince from the evil Fire Nation, someone you could’t rely on anymore. You thought of him like everyone else did.

Facing his back to his uncle, Zuko frowned. He tried to hide how much that thought hurt him. Hide it even from himself.

Every time a sound came, his heart raced. Zuko looked for you in every shadow, in every face he came across, in every vaguely familiar voice he heard. You had been separated for what felt like months, even if only a week had gone by. Each minute that passed only filled him with more regret.

As he returned to where Iroh was waiting for him, Zuko dragged his feet. His heart felt heavy, but he tried to straighten up and pretend like it didn’t.

“You’re back!” Iroh warmly smiled at his nephew, even if the gesture faded at the sight of a crestfallen Zuko.

He had been patiently waiting for him to return from his search for you, and when he finally did it was alone. What was worse, Zuko didn’t seem to want to stay. Your argument heavily weighted on him, it was easy to tell. A part of him was glad that Zuko regretted what happened and was adamant on finding you. On making things right. The other part wished he would stay by his side, where he was safe and accompanied.

“I’m sorry, uncle, but I came only to speak to you” Zuko told him, hanging his head low. “I was hoping Y/N had returned and met with you, but...”

"I wish I could give you good news, prince Zuko” Iroh shook his head, confirming that he had not seen you at all.

“I need to find Y/N” The thought of something horrible happening to you was too awful to bear. It was all the more terrible when he remembered how your last moments together went.

Zuko clenched his fists, hating that you had that perception of him. That you were tired of fighting to bring the good in him, that you truly thought he didn’t care about you. That you left him forever without knowing how important you were to him.

Only dedicating his uncle a last resigned glance before leaving again, Zuko sighed. His feet began mindlessly moving as his head wandered.

Maybe you and Iroh were right. Maybe the firelord wasn’t worth all this trouble, maybe the Avatar wouldn’t restore his honor. Maybe, like you said, he was only a boy trying to help people.

If only he could talk to you one more time... It was his only thought, repeating over and over again, as he continued moving. He didn’t even watch where he was going, he was just trying to leave that feeling behind.

“Lee?” Zuko halted at the sound of a familiar voice. However, and unlike many other times during that week, when he looked up he wasn’t dissapointed this once.

“Y/N” He uttered, watching you from a distance, almost thinking it was too good to be true.

Something, however, stopped him from taking another step. He knew it wasn’t the shock of seeing you. It might have been his pride, or that eternal struggle within him, or the fear of being too vulnerable in front of you. It didn’t matter. All of these obstacles became insignificant when he realized something. You were hurt, there were bruises all over your face. Just then, your knees buckled and you fell to the floor.

“Y/N!” Without even thinking, Zuko ran to you and took you by the shoulders. “Are you okay?”

Despite your weak state, you managed a faint smile as you looked into his amber eyes. He frowned in concern, but you didn’t mind him.

“I found you” You muttered, feebly leaning against him.

“You’re injured” Frozen in place, he didn’t allow his arms to wrap around you quite yet, even as your forehead rested against his shoulder. “What happened?”

“I got in trouble, big one” You paused for a moment, exhausted. “I should have been more careful, but I couldn’t focus and-”

“This was all my fault” He interrupted you, urgently taking you in his arms now. “None of this would have happened if-”

“If I had been more patient” Breaking away just enough to look into his eyes, you were quick to cut his guilt. Your hand cupped his face, your thumb gently caressing his scar. “I haven’t given up on you, I never did... not really. I was just angry and frustrated and...”

“Forgive me” One of his hands moved to brush a knuckle against a nasty looking bruise in your cheek. “I know you only had my best interests at heart”

There was a pause in which he desperately squeezed you against him, trying to confirm that you were there with him again. That you were alive and well. You broke the silence, uncomfortable with the thoughts that undoubtedly plagued his mind.

“Did your uncle nag you about this?”

“He did”

“I owe him a hug then”

“I’m sorry, Y/N...” Zuko couldn’t bring himself to just accept your attempts and pretend like nothing had happened. The guilt still clutched on to his chest. “I let my anger separate us, but these days apart have really made me realize...”

“Enough of that...” You didn’t want him to dwell on it, so you tried to give him a smile again. “I’m tired”

“But...”

“You’re so rude” You locked eyes with him, chuckling a little. “You didn’t even say hello, Lee”

“I told you my real name a long time ago...”

“Shut up and say it”

A glint in your eyes finally made him understand. You had forgiven him, you did soon after being separated. He had shown regret, he had shown that he cared, that he was at least willing to listen now. And if not, Iroh would help in nudging him in the right direction. Zuko relaxed, also loosening his subconscious tight grip on you, and nodded his head.

“Hello, Y/N” Not letting go of you, he helped you to your feet. “Welcome back”

You sighed in relief and leaned your weight on him. Those days had been long and scary, but you were back. You were safe, with people who cared about you. With people who would protect you and nurse you back to health.

Zuko didn’t think twice to wrap an arm around your waist to support you. You needed him, and he wouldn’t let you down this time.

“I hope Iroh has some tea ready” You groggily said as you two slowly walked back to him. “I could use some right now”

“I’m sure he does” Lee smiled. “He’ll be happy to see you”

Tag list: @call-me-harley-quinn / @lotsoffandomimagines / @lotsoffandomstoimagine / @undercanonthots / @niphredil-14 // If you want to be added or taken off the tag list for these fandoms or characters, let me know!! // Reblogs and comments are appreciated!

#rfi writings #ficlet #atla #atla ficlet #zuko #zuko x reader #zuko ficlet #reader insert #not requested #faves #avatar the last airbender #avatar the last airbender ficlet #avatar: the last airbender #avatar: the last airbender ficlet #a:tla #a:tla ficlet

359 notes · View notes

queen-of-deans-booty · 4 years

Text

Try Something New

Characters: Dean Winchester x Reader, Sam Winchester, Charlie Bradbury

Word Count: 2,826

Warnings: smut, face riding, sub!dean (for the most part), dean being tied up and blindfolded

Request by @wingedcatninja: I feel like a broken record but please for the love of cats I'll sell my soul for some sub!Dean.

Summary: Dean is always the one in control inside the bedroom, but you want to try something new. Will he relinquish his control and give it to you?

Squares Filled: what if for @spndeanbingo

Author’s Note: This is unbeta’d and all mistakes are mine. If you have any requests, please send them in!

Your sex life with Dean is nothing short of amazing. He really knows how to work your body as if it’s his own, and you can’t ask for a better lover than he. He really takes the time to get to know the spots that make you sing, but you kind of want to do the same to him. He’s always in charge, but what if you were the one in charge?

When you’re hunting, you like to call the shots and to make the hard decisions because despite what people say, the Winchesters are so indecisive. In the bedroom, Dean is the one to call the shots, to direct you in whatever position he wants you.

Well this time, you want that upper hand.

You’re not quite sure how to bring it up to him as it’s a delicate subject. Dean has never submitted himself to another woman before, and you know how overwhelming it can be. You don’t want to outright ask him, and if you’re going to ask him, you’ll have to do it when he’s most happy like when he’s eating pie or when you’re about to have sex.

Your confidence in the subject isn’t that great, so you have to consult with one of your best friends. She’s on the more adventurous side, so she won’t attack you or judge you for coming to her for this sort of thing. The brothers aren’t home right now as they are on a hunt, which means it’s the perfect time to ask her for two reasons: one, Dean isn’t home to overhear you, and two, he loves to have sex after a hunt—especially the really tough ones.

You dial your friend's number and wait for her to pick up.

“Hey, long time no hear,” Charlie chirps when she answers.

“Hey. What are you doing?”

“Just finishing up some code I created for some new software I’m trying out.”

“Do you have time to talk?”

“For you? Always,” she chuckles, and she clicks off the computer. “Okay go. What’s up?”

“So you know I absolutely love Dean, and I wouldn’t change anything about him.”

“You’re having problems with your sex life,” she gasps, hitting the head on the nail.

“How the hell did you get that from what I just said?” you gasp loudly.

“I know you, Y/N. Listen, you have to keep it fresh, or else someone is going to get bored. What is it? He can’t put out? Goes too fast?”

“No, he’s amazing, and we have so much fun together. There isn’t a night that doesn’t leave me exhausted.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“It’s not so much a problem, but he’s always the one in charge. I have no issue with that, but I want to try things my way. You know, blindfold him and tie him up. I just don’t know how to ask him or even bring it up. What should I do?”

“If I know Dean Winchester, then I know you just have to come out and say it. That boy can’t pick up anything unless they’re panties. Just tell him straight out what you want. I mean, the worst thing he can do is say no.”

“No, the worst thing he can do is laugh at me and judge me for the rest of our lives,” you sigh.

“Okay, now you know that’s not true. Just tell him what you want. Do it the next time, you know, you’re between the sheets. If he’s anything like the women I date, he’s going to love being tied up.”

“He’s not a woman, Charlie,” you chuckle.

“I don’t know. I’ve seen him wear face masks and use your lotion. I even know he’s worn your underwear before,” she giggles.

“Yeah, that was good times,” you laugh with her. “Okay, I’ll let you go. Thanks for talking with me.”

“I got you. Now if only I can work this software as easily, my life will go so much more smoothly.”

You two bid adieu, and you begin to plan just how you’re going to bring up this little… dilemma… you’re in.

“Dean! You’re home!” you grin and run over to him just as soon as he gets home with his brother.

He accept your hug, wrapping his own arms tightly around you. This is one of those hunts that went wrong, so he’s going to want to take this to the bedroom to take his frustrations out on you in the most delicious way possible. However, you remember your conversation with Charlie just a few days ago, and you think he might say yes. It depends on how badly this recent hunt went.

“I am going to go to sleep for the next few days,” Sam mutters and heads off to his room that’s conveniently placed all the way on the other side of the Bunker from yours and Dean’s.

It’s a good thing, especially with what you got planned for tonight.

“Come on, I think I have something that might make you feel better,” you whisper and drag him to your shared room.

“You do, don’t you?” he smirks and follows.

Until you two are both inside your room, that’s when you close and lock the door behind you. If he says yes, you have everything you will ever need inside the closet, but if he says no, you’ll save it for another day.

“What’s the surprise?” he asks, sitting down and taking off his boots.

“Okay, don’t laugh at me or anything, but I was wondering if this night, we could change things up a bit…?” you ask nervously, already thinking back on this.

“What were you thinking?”

“I want to be in charge tonight,” you get it all out.

“You want to what?” he chuckles and stands up after removing his socks.

“I want you to be blindfolded and tied up. Feel free to say no if it’s stupid or whatever,” you chuckle.

You can’t seem to look at him in the eyes, and he walks over to you to lift up your chin so that you’re looking directly in his eyes.

“Does my baby girl want control tonight?” he drawls. You can only nod as the words seem stuck in his throat. “I want to hear you say it.”

“Yes, I do,” you breathe lightly.

“Who am I to deny you?” he smirks and lets go of your chin.

A surge of excitement runs through your body as he gets onto the bed. He sits there as if he’s waiting for instruction from you. You’re a bit new at this, so you hope you don’t fuck this up or make a fool out of yourself.

“Oh, um, this will work better if you get naked, so get undressed for me… slowly,” you smirk.

“Yes, ma’am,” he drawls.

He starts with his shirt and starts to unbutton it. His fingers work nimbly at the buttons, and you can’t help but think where else those fingers have been before, but you force yourself to focus. He’s curious where you’ll take this, so he’s compliant so far. Once he’s gotten every button undone, he slowly slides his shirt off so that it falls onto the bed. Your mouth waters at the sight of his soft, yet toned body.

He stands and removes his belt buckle before unzipping and unbuttoning his pants. They drop, and you can already see his cock rising to attention through his briefs. He drops those as well, and your breath hitches in your throat. You’re acting as if you’ve never seen his cock before, and every time you see it, it’s like a blessing on your soul. Your eyes snap to his only to realize he’s been watching you eye fuck him this entire time.

“Get on the bed,” you say, your voice cracking. You clear your throat and say more confidently, “Get on the bed.”

All he does is smirk and do as he’s told. You race into the closet and grab your little shoebox with everything you’re going to need for this. He sees this box, but he doesn’t speak unless he’s spoken to. He wants to see what you will do tonight and is going to take it as it comes his way. Placing the box on the bed, you take out the silky blindfold you got from one of those many sex stores.

His cock rises just a bit more at the thought of being blindfolded, but you ignore that part of him right now. You get on the bed next to him and straddle his waist, feeling the soft poke on your clothed center. His sight is taken from him seconds later, so he relies on all his other senses to feel where you might be and what you might be doing.

Without moving from his lap, you take out the ropes and use one of them to tie his wrist to the right side of the bed. He flexes his hand, and you pause with uncertainty.

“Are you okay? Should I continue?”

One little word--the confirmation word--and you’re moving onto his other side. He’s being such a good sport about this, so you’re hoping he’s doing this for himself as well as you instead of just for you. Though, you know he wouldn’t have said yes if he didn’t put all of his trust into you.

After he’s tied up with nowhere to go, you get off his lap. He follows but is restrained from doing so, and his muscles flex in frustrations. Seeing him tied up like this gives you a huge boost of confidence, and you’re suddenly turning into a new person.

“Seeing you like this, Dean makes me so wet,” you chuckle and start to undress.

“Fuck, sweetheart, I want to taste you,” he groans.

“Well tonight isn’t about what you want, is it? Be a good boy and take what I give you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

You drop your panties, leaving you as naked as he is. One of your favorite parts is watching him watching you get undressed, but this gives you a whole new high you never knew you’d be able to feel. You get on the bed from the left side, surprising him since he thought you were on his right side. To put the poor man out of his misery, you rake your nails down his chest lightly, sending chills racing down his spine.

His cock is painfully hard and red, but you don’t dare touch it. You two haven’t seen each other for about a week, so he won’t last long if you go straight to the gold. Right now, this is about you, and he’s more than happy to oblige.

“Do you want to be a good boy, Dean? Please me in every way you know how?” you whisper right next to his ear.

He jumps at the sudden noise, but he’s quick to bounce back. You attach your lips to the side of his neck and start sucking right above his pulse point. This isn’t the first mark you left on his body, and it’s certainly not going to be the last. He lolls his head back to give you more room, and his eyes roll to the back of his head.

“Yes, I want to be your good boy,” he groans.

“Good,” you whisper and pull away.

Being careful not to touch him, you move your boots up his chest and past his head. He might not be able to see what you’re doing, but he can certainly smell you. He knows exactly what is coming, and he’s reaching up to you before you can even lower yourself onto him.

Gripping the headboard, you lower yourself onto his waiting tongue. He gets straight to work in lapping up your juices. Without the support of his fingers, he uses his tongue to fully slide into your tight hole. With rapid-like movements, he licks as deep as he can before doing that over and over again.

“Fuck! That’s such a good boy! Don’t stop!” you moan obscenely.

He licks up to your clit and wraps his tongue around it before sucking it into his mouth. Even without the use of his sight, he still knows the best places to hear your loudest moans. His hands flex angrily because they can’t touch what his tongue gets to touch. He tugs on his restraints, but you ignore him. You did a really good job making sure those knots won’t give out.

The only noises you can hear are your moans and his tongue lathering up everything you’re giving to him.

“Shit! Dean! You’re going to make me come!” you warn.

His movements don’t let up, in fact, he puts in the extra effort to make sure you’re coming all around him, even if it drips down his chin. Your legs shake the more he stays latched onto your clit, and you can feel yourself coming to the edge.

“Dean! I’m coming!” you moan loudly.

Just then, you release all over his mouth and chin, and he does his best to drink in every drop you’re willing to give him. When you’re spent, you expect him to pull away, but he stays buried in your pussy. You can’t handle any more stimulation right now, and you pull off him. He follows your movements but licks his lips when you are no longer above him.

“Shit, sweetheart, I can’t ever get enough of you,” he moans.

“You and me both. You never disappoint,” you chuckle and slide down his body so that you’re straddling his waist.

Your juices drip down onto his growing cock, and he twitches at the feel of it. He’s so vulnerable right now—putting all of his trust into you—it turns you on more than anything right now.

“Do you want me to relieve some of your tension baby boy?” you pout even though he can’t see it.

“Yes please,” he grunts.

His cock is hard and warm when you grip it, and he lets out a small moan of pleasure. You don’t waste any time sliding down his shaft until he’s buried to the hilt. He throws his head back, overwhelmed by the tightness, and goes to thrust up into you. You immediately lift up so that only half of him is inside you.

“You don’t want this to end too early, do you? Behave and you’ll get your turn,” you smirk.

This is really bringing out a new side to you and you actually kind of like it. You didn’t think seeing him like this would turn you on as much as it is. He lowers his legs back to the bed, and you sink back down on him.

“Shit, Dean, you feel so good,” you moan.

Your legs start to burn as you bounce up and down on him, but it’s a good kind of burn. Dean has no choice but to take what you’re giving him. He yanks on his restraints, and you watch out that they don’t snap. Dean is a lot stronger than he looks, and he is perfectly capable of snapping those restraints.

The only sound you can hear is your skin slapping against his, but it’s not enough for him. He really wants to fulfill your fantasy of being in charge, but he needs more. He yanks one more time, and they snap as if it is licorice. He grabs your waist tightly and snaps his hips into yours.

Your mother forms a perfect ‘o’, but no noise comes out. The pleasure is too great to even think about. You reach up and remove his blindfold so he can see just what he does to you. His pace is relentless, and he shows no sign of slowing down.

“Fuck! Dean!” you cry.

“This is how you fuck, baby girl. You got a long way to go if you think those binds can hold me,” he grunts.

“Shit! I’m coming!” you moan loudly.

You’re still sensitive from your last orgasm, and he isn’t going to last much longer either.

“Come for me,” he demands.

It’s as if your body is his own, and you crash down on him in a fit of moans. Your release covers his cock, and that initiates his own orgasm. You milk him for everything he’s worth until there is nothing else to take. Your body is limp against his own, and he removed his own binds from his wrists.

“You did good, sweetheart, but you can do better next time,” he chuckles and rubs your back soothingly.

“Next time?” you ask tiredly.

“Hell yeah next time. That was hot, and you can learn a thing or two. Do some research,” he encourages.

“Okay,” you chuckle.

Now that you know Dean likes being dominated, you’re going to do all the research you can do in order to make him feel good to the max.

Wanna get tagged? Add yourself to this document! If your tag doesn’t work, find out why!

@flamencodiva @pisces-cutie @wingedcatninja @mersuperwholocked-lowlife @spn-dean-and-sam-winchester @kiwihoee @thefaithfulwriter @babypink224221 @jennazeise @calaofnoldor @emoryhemsworth @miraclesoflove @xxboesefrauxx @kendall-michele @winchest3rbros @nahigm @sandlee44 @bluedazefangirl @a--1--1--3 @paintballkid711 @musiclovinchic93 @mrspeacem1nusone @essie1876 @thelazywitchphotographer @notyourtypicalrose @fuckwby @gh0stgurl @sing4mejensen @redsalv20 @superrandomnatural @scarletmeii @mizzezm @gaveherhearttotheliontattoo @akshi8278 @miraclesoflove @fandom-princess-forevermore @katherine097 @phantomalchemist @posiemax @tricksterdean @fallingintovoids @countrygal17a @whit85-blog @sammypotato67 @knowledgefulbutterfly @justalonely-nerd @sharp-cheekbones-locked @deanloveboi @dream-believe-and-love @casseythebee

185 notes · View notes

soulwitch · 5 years

Text

Redbellion: Astronomical dawn

Part 24 of Redbellion Story - The Finale Part 1

Additional drabble to check - Defiant Against the Storm by @magicaldreaming

In Acadian space, at Glyderrum(15) System, over the newly turned fortress world of La Isabella, a combined fleet waits among the well built defenses. This choke point is one of two left into Acadian and Kansaku space, the space that hasn’t been invaded.

To the Galactic South, over the planet of Soudas in the Goltara(39) System. The very same, the Kansaku and all its allies, stand waiting. The planet had fended off a colossus before, but now a tide of unbidden threatens to sweep over both choke points.

Survivors are still rushing in every day, chased by small recon fleets of Unbidden, each destroyed to save those fleeing the horror. Many Billions have been saved, though crowded on the last few planets in these two Great Stellar Empires, their survival a credit to the sacrifices made by many along the way.

But everywhere else beyond this borders is lost space, even the once Mighty Red Collective remains, isolated as the unbidden descend upon the Scarlet System(82) as the Data Witch of Jeanne’s, the new core to the Red Collective, helps this empire make its own final stand.

Even though the Unbidden and the Aberrant are both extra-dimensional invaders, they’re opposed to each other, battling themselves at any sight of the other. Exhausting themselves, but still their tide is too large and their hunger too big to ignore the three remaining feasts before them.

People of all races, backgrounds, Izalith Survivors, Thrall world freed slaves, Tatari, Acadian, Kansaku, even one Senji and several Velutarians. Ancient ships and old creatures, power beings and stalwart defenders with no business being in battle.

All pieces would be set into play over La Isabella and Soudas. A sight once witnessed not too long ago, over the small farming of Bammun. Brave defenders with all but hope in their hearts. Battling it out in the sky.

People on Soudas and La Isabella stared upwards, those that could fired from planetary batteries, and anyone who wasn’t part of the effort watched and prayed. They put their faith in people who might have led them wrong at the start, people who didn’t do enough to begin, but now were placing it all on the life. Leaders, soldiers, volunteers, ancients and oddities. Outsiders and natives to this galaxy.

Over Soudas the mixed Kansaku fleets battled with their hearts on display, the ancient fleet that the Queen had procured, controlled by Gates in her place as the last of Sol recognized, met the unbidden face to face. Saving many lives as these automated ships were able to bear the brunt of the assault. Breaking through endless Aberrant Unbidden ships and encircling others. The Aberrant not ones to flee, battled to their own end, perishing in displays of high energy explosions.

The faith placed in these strangers, the strange oddities and ships alongside them, the survivors and former enemies like the Izalith fleets, helped the Kansaku side survive. The shattered through the unthinkably large unbidden fleet. Breaking out into the darkness of space as the last Aberrant Unbidden exploded.

One fight had finished, and another was beginning. Over La Isabella the Acadian forces joined with the Velutarians and others, met their foes as well. Just like over Soudas, the fleets clashed.

The Allied fleets took a pummeling from the Aberrant Unbidden, their massive forces that had come together filled the skies with ships, but the Acadians weren’t about to be outdone by their Kansaku sisters and brothers. The Velutarians too, had a debt to pay, their mistakes for taking too long to help on display as they rushed forth. Taking unbidden fleet after unbidden fleet down.

Yet even with the odds so against them, they held on. Inching closer and closer to victory even as more unbidden arrived. Shredding the energy shields of these abominations till there was none left.

Collectively over the skies of Soudas and La Isabella, not a single Aberrant Unbidden remained.

Damaged, battered, brought to their wits end with losses sustained. The unified galaxy wished to collectively take a sigh. But just as quickly as the dust settled over these three planets, as if there was not even a beat missed. At the edge of the system, more Aberrant unbidden fleets entered.

Yet instead of showing despair, people steeled themselves. They had come too far to lose, prayers set, wishes made, loved ones held for one final time. They had only a small bit of time before the Aberrant Unbidden were upon them, In Scarlet as well, the Data Witch who had exhausted herself, the Collective units that remained protecting all those that were part of their empire. Dragged themselves together.

In this brief moment, it was as if everyone who was still here, everyone who had passed, everyone who had given something to this cause, gave one simple wish.

“Give us one more chance. We’ll give anything, just to have one more chance. Grant us this one wish, someone...”

Usually wishes were not something to rely on, but with the players in this game, with the dedication everyone had to hoping for a miracle, to giving anything for it.

For once. A wish would be exactly what was needed.

The last system untouched by any threat, the Light’s End system in former Red Collective Space. A blackhole system with a Matter Decompressor, though that mega structure used for mining at long since been destroyed. Leaving only the L-Gate in the system.

The L-gate, the one of its kind to connect to the L-cluster, the small section of stars on the outskirts of the galaxy. The only route to the former prison of the Grey Goo, but now this system was both a choke point for any nanites that sought to escape, as well as a meeting point for the leaders of the Red Collective and the Extermination Directive.

Around this black hole and its accompanying gate, a final showdown of creatures far beyond the struggles of fleets and ships. Forced to this location by different means, their powers needed, for this final step.

Jeanne had been forced her by Harune, banished from the shield world she tried to attack them on. Forced away by untold magic. And Core, torn through by Gates on the Extermination Matrix, and with one final push of life, thrown her by Zak’Yanna. Forcing the two titans to meet finally, the two who, had caused this galaxy to split into hell, into the depths of chaos.

While they faced each other, floating around this vortex of debris, neither made a move. They waited, watching the other regain their respective strengths. Eyes staring. If they fought, what would the winner gain, nothing truly. Both of their empires were defeated. Through the L-gate, Gray meeting her end at the hands of a collection of people, sealed, reprogrammed. Her next usage for whoever claimed this gate and killed the other.

Even with that, what was there to gain from this lost galaxy? Nothing. But they wouldn’t just walk away, both had grudges, both hated each other.

Thus they did what was expected of the pair. The former robot reaching into her chest, forming a disgusting black energy blade to spill out into space. And Jeanne pulled her own weapon off her hip, smothering it in her red magic, sickening in display compared to her usual blue.

Staring heartlessly at Core Jeanne spoke. “Isn’t this what you wanted from the start Core? Or perhaps I should address you for who you really are. Yugveer? Victory over the era. Formerly a real living thing, ascended to machine, a precursor that defied their life’s end. One of the few to see the first light of this galaxy, and now you look upon its last.”

Taken aback by Core’s true name being mentioned, she could only smirk afterwards before letting out her thoughts. “So you’ve figured it out. You mindless witch, you saved me and yet you didn’t even stop to think what you saved. You let me take it all, and I thank you. Now I can take my time, forever cleansing this galaxy, harnessing the unbidden, and cleansing more life. Forever. You who stood in my way for too long, you who robbed me of too many unique things to add to this body..”

Paused in thought, Jeanne thought to herself. “Perhaps I thought maybe like myself, change could happen over time but. We’re both wrong aren’t we? You’re a monster now, and so am I. That’s right.”

“We’re monsters and there’s no need for us to be anything more. Come on Yugveer, you’ve been waiting a long time for this. You’ve robbed me of my daughters, my everything, its only fair I take all you have and make a mockery of it.” Jeanne’s hand rested on her face, only adding to the moment of anger started to take her over.

“You don’t know how happy I am for this! Red Witch! Jeanne Beaulieu. When I’m done, I’ll kill the remaining people on in the Scarlet System, your toys, your daughters I’ll find them all and end their lives.” Yugveer announced.

“And then I’ll rest happily. Be going on to kill more.”

In a moment, a brief moment both of these super powered beings went from one location, to the next.

A clang of empowered metal as dark energy and red energy rippled out around the black hole, stretching for thousands, if not millions of kilometers. Any who stayed to watch would know this wasn’t their fight to interfere with. Both of these monsters in their element, at their prime, without anything to hold back.

One, a witch of tens of thousands of spells, thousands of years of experience and learner, backed by her patron of an old one, who’s support hinged on how much fun it was to watch their pawn place. And oh, were they having fun.

And the other, a precursor that had living millions to billions of years, ancient as ever, ascended flesh, and metal, and now pure energy. A mix of endless voices and powers, full of hate and killing intent.

Pushing away from each other, both bringing out magics so much alike, as Yugveer’s entire understanding of magic came from Jeanne. Like mirrors they acted, orbs departing their bodies, one red one black, and firing off intense bolts of magic. Both defending with crystals matching their magical colors, slashes empowered with soul, cutting out from their blades.

It was like watching two minds, so alike, both ready to kill. They were alike, no better than the other. They used people, they killed, they had nothing and needed nothing. Monsters entirely. Both with endless supplies of energy, this battle could rage forever.

But as they clashed, blasts of magic so intense it melted the nearby asteroids and debris swirling around this vortex. Beams so powerful they might just erase planets, and cuts so deep they ate away at the rest of one’s body unless neutralized by magic. There was still one more actor to enter this stage.

Her role, this late arrival, was to keep balance. She could not act without payment, she could not strike without purpose. To do anything but acting in favor of a client, or another, would almost destroy her.

But this was different now. Her Unbalance and balance returned to her, and the wish of an entire galaxy laid out. Payment taken, the troubles, the turmoils, they ability to return to space for several centuries. The payment give, offered by all these prayers, their hopeful dreamers. All visited in their dreams, all willing to give everything just for that next chance.

When they asked, if someone would grant their wish. That someone did answer. And they answered.

“Yes I will grant your wish.”

Entering Light’s End, appearing from a cloud in space, the arrival of the third part would bring Jeanne and Yugveer to a halt, both of their eyes trained on the newcomer. Jeanne’s eyes angered, the one who she wished would heal her, who denied her, who escaped her. Was here.

And to Yugveer, the one responsible for all the outside interference, all the people who sabotaged her, the Queen’s success, Gates, all of them.

Harune, the usually docile, unable to act memory weaver. Stood before them, no one else in sight with her. Just Harune, just this one thing answering the call of a galaxy.

“I will grant their wish, for one more chance. But in order to do so, I have to remove you two from this game board. Come Yugveer, Jeanne Beaulieu. I have lost much today, but even still. I am not alone. Neither of you can leave here, neither of you will topple me.”

The fox tailed woman, usually seen as the enigmatic hostess stood before the two. And challenged them.

For she fights now, for the galaxy’s wish and her own wish. That is why she can act. For those fighting over Soudas, La Isabella, and Scarlet. Even if they are friend or foe, she fights to give them all one last chance. Without things like Jeanne or Yugveer, the unbidden or Gray in the way.

One chance at a fresh galaxy.

“I am, their hope. And the end to your silly games with this galaxy.”

To be continued in Part 25 - Finale Part 2

#;;Redbellion

4 notes · View notes

anonthenullifier · 6 years

Photo

Because I Could Not Stop for Death

Warning: mention of and implication of character death. Based on the trailers for Infinity War.

All of my other speculative Infinity War fics have been wrong, so if I write this, it means it will be wrong, right? Please?

AO3 Link

The jungle is alive with susurrations, leaves conversing in the breeze, a chatter of birds, a small tributary babbles less than a quarter mile away, all things that, in any other circumstance would be labeled peaceful, but that peace is eradicated by the distant cacophony of war. Vision lays his head back, ignoring the irritating placement of a stub from a broken branch that is stabbing his neck, and momentarily closes his eyes. Which is a mistake, the instant he removes all other visual stimuli he is overpowered by the nigh constant pulsing of the patched together wound in his side and the terrified, frenetic beat of the Mindstone as its brethren call out for it. His eyes snap open and air rushes soundlessly from his mouth as he attempts to steady his mind and push the pain away. “Vizh?”

Wanda is staring at him , the cut she sustained in Edinburgh bunching together as she allows concern to overtake her face. “I,” there are three potential answers here (at the very least) the socially polite reassurance of I am fine, the truth, and then redirection, “believe I may be able to keep moving in a few more minutes.” His words drag her mouth down, but Wanda is not the one to deny his suggestion.

“We can defend ourselves here, no need to keep looking.” The new shields became part of Steve’s overall persona far faster than anyone thought possible, so much so Vision is having difficulty remembering Captain Rogers and his star-spangled disc, the image replaced by the present intensity of the now bearded man. “Wanda,” her eyes only now leave Vision, reluctantly sliding to their leader’s face, and whatever it is they discuss, Vision’s attention is already gone, the pain escalating with each agonizing yell from the distant battlefield and each flare of prismatic power that bursts from the gauntlet on Thanos’ hand.

It is only now, in the tense quiet, in the waiting for fate that he finds himself finally accepting what is happening. He is afraid. Not merely the flimsy skittishness of unease he has experienced previously in battle (mainly when Wanda is injured or stumbles), but a deep, suffocating fear that wraps its long fingers around his chest and squeezes until there is no air left for him to gulp. The thing, Vision discovers only now, with fear is that it is insidious and persistent, an invasive species that forces him to relinquish the usually tight control he has over his thoughts. Now is not the time to meander through the lucid and daunting complexities of life, he should be focused on battle, on what he can do, and yet he cannot seem to quell the raging storm in his mind.

No one is willing to verbalize it, but the truth is plastered on everyone’s face and it is loud and resonant in his own mind: Vision is likely going to die. It is a fact that had not seemed feasible even a week before when his fingers ran idly through Wanda’s dyed hair, the rain pattering against the hotel window, in fact, he had always taken comfort in the knowledge of the opposite. Of all his teammates, he was the least likely to perish, his very cells sewn with vibranium, the synthetic nature of his organs resistant to aging and disease, never once had he been harmed physically. Until he met the tip of a glaive. Now every reassurance, every surety of his life is tumbling from his grasp. Wanda’s eyes have taken on a sheen of defiance, refusing to accept losing one more person, and that itself terrifies him more. He adores…no, loves her resilience and strength, finds himself equally aggravated and intrigued by her ability to negate logic and stand steadfast based solely on an intuitive and emotionally charged belief that she will persevere. Yet this trait also carries with it a self-sacrificial quality, and if anyone dies today, he needs it to be him, not her.

Which only carries with it a larger, more philosophical quandary he had never found it necessary to consider. What, precisely, happens when you die? He has seen the effects of death on his teammates – has held Wanda in the middle of the night when the hole left by Pietro widens into unbearable pain. He has seen the anger and irrationality in Stark’s behavior and thoughts at the knowledge and continual rumination of what befell his parents. He has seen the hollowness in the eyes of his teammates when they share war stories, jocular tones of their late comrades’ deeds barely hiding the sorrow of speaking in remembrance instead of with that person at their side. But these are the ripples of death, the impact it leaves on others. What he finds himself honing in on is what would happen to him? The process of death is well documented, the slowing of the organs, the changing in coloration of skin (which he believes may not apply to his synthetic dermis), the rigidity of the muscles before they loosen, and then the decay. This, however, is not comforting to know, because now that he’s lived amongst people, cultivated a life of his own,he cannot imagine simply losing it, never knowing what wondrous feats Wanda completes, how she recovers, moves on, lives a long and fulfilling life. And it hurts, more than the wound in his side and the raging headache from the Mindstone, to accept he will never know this, never see her again. Perhaps this is why humans rely so much on religion, cling to the notion of an afterlife teeming with the souls of their loved ones, because in this moment that is the only thing that instills in him an odd, illogical hope.

A high-pitched noise fills the sky above them, their eyes lifting to watch the streaks of slate smoke billowing out from another boulder-sized asteroid bearing down into the middle of the battlefield. Suddenly his thoughts flee, heart racing at the click and swish of Steve’s shields activating as his eyes narrow with the resolute nod of his head. “Be ready.”

The finality of the words finally puncture the bulbous pillows collecting in Wanda’s eyes, her features cracking as the tears trickle down, head shaking in time with the quiver of her bottom lip as her eyes find Vision’s. “Vision.”

Emotions were once so foreign to him, he felt them but was incapable of identifying and defining them. Sadness, until he knew what it was, was simply a weight that hung at the bottom of his lungs, one that caused his body to respond slower, mind tied up in distortional thinking. It was only upon knowing the term, linking the two together, that he could define and parse out each separate affective state. His name, when she says it, always carries emotion but never the same one: sometimes it is happy, exhausted, excited, amused, annoyed, awe-stricken, or filled with love (his favorite). Yet right now he can, from two syllables, gather her fear and her anger, her anxiety and anguish, doubtfulness and resolution. “Wanda.” He chokes in the middle of her name, realizing only now how despair can influence his physiological functioning, fattening his tongue and closing his throat. But she rushes to him, drops down onto a knee and brings her palm to his face.

“Vision, we’ll be fine.”

It is a blatant lie, one she does not believe and neither does he, but he accepts it, wraps his right hand around her wrist and brings his left to cover her gloved knuckles. They’ve been running for so long now, clandestine meetings across the world, long nights where the only thing that mattered was the words they whispered and the feel of their bodies and minds synchronizing and embracing, that it is tempting to keep going. Another crash and there is a flicker from behind Wanda, the damaged shield faltering and then falling from around the battlefield. “It is too late.”

“No.”

The crunch of a twig echoes around them as Steve crouches into a stance they’ve practiced hundreds of time in training, voice uncomfortably calm while he narrates what is happening, “Thanos is coming.”

Vision refuses to disengage from Wanda’s gaze, can feel the unfounded notion forming in his mind that if he doesn’t see Thanos then it means he is not there. But that is farcical and unhelpful. The truth is that time is no longer on their side and there is only one thing left for them, one last, final strategy that could save everyone - but him. “We are out of time.” Wanda denies it with a barely discernible shake of her head, and now his tears join her own, fingers tightening around her wrist. “We are out of time, Wanda.” The repetition hurts, the acceptance of their worst fears kickstarting his sympathetic system which screams at him to fight or at least try to fly away with Wanda in his arms, run just a bit longer, yet he has to stop that feeling, his body far too injured to carry on. “I love you.”

A shuddering breath makes her, “I love you,” difficult to decipher, but the desperate press of her lips emphasizes the muffled words, fills him with one last glorious rush of the possibilities of life, of being human. Wanda closes her eyes, sucks in the humid air, and then moves her hand to his forehead, scarlet swirling in his peripheral vision. Shuri confirmed the necessity of the stone for the continued functioning of his nervous system, but in doing so also discovered a way to amplify its power if removed. The prognosis for him was unclear, if not erring on the side of poor, but they left some hope of his return, which Wanda has clung to, and continues to do so as her powers begin to pry the stone from this head. Before she removes it, she kisses him again, leaving him with one last promise, “I’m going to get you back, okay?”

Vision can feel his body grow heavy, thoughts slowing and heart coming to a rest. As his eyelids slip down he can see Wanda stand, Mindstone glowing with a renewed fury in her hand and he can’t help but smile at the beauty of the image. Life did not quite go as planned, but for what it was worth, it has been a privilege to have lived it surrounded by his teammates, his family.

102 notes · View notes

sdfhsagk · 3 years

Text

nike air max thea atomic pink

India moved along to 475 and a deficit of 97 runs, nike air max thea atomic pink thanks largely to a 65 run stand between Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the eighth wicket.. He pushed her back onto Glover’s bed, kissed her hard, and tore off her tunic to let her breasts spill out. Follow the Trans Canada Highway toward Savona and continue until the Savona Mill is on the right side. Nathan himself grew up in Shreveport, part of an extended family of clothing merchants.. They do so by providing sound financial management practices and making decisions in the good interest of the store. He spun, blocking Arron’s cut with the edge of his shield and meeting Emrick’s with his sword. Don come off as witty, but offensive. Chronically elevated glucose levels can damage the nervous system, the wiring that transmits signals from the brain throughout the body. Fr exempel, onliest sitella selliform Oakley solglasgon fr $10 en sestuor irvingitiska en dieing gebort. The University of California's invention would cover the design of the RNA molecule that guides the key step in CRISPR Cas9 gene editing, directing the Cas9 nike jean jacket enzyme to a specific site in the genome. Jumping rope not only gives you explosiveness and calf strength but is also a great way to build stamina, and work on your overall leg strength. Those are just not realistic rents for middle income retirees bdsm puma or individuals who make a good salary, but not $97,000/year ($2700 = 1/3 of monthly income = $8100/mo income).. There is blood on my hands too, and on my heart. Their arts curriculum. An eye exam found Gunner also had retinal hemorrhages in both eyes.. "They made me happy," she recalls.. Looks a fairly good unit. The candle flickered one last time and died, drowned in its own wax. The film mirrors Franklin Schaffner 1968 original in that it tries to offer a dark social commentary on the state of race relations, but its focus is so broad, that comment, however relevant it remains, is lost amid the confusion. “Ramsay took Lord Hornwood’s lands by forcibly wedding his widow, then locked her in a tower and forgot her. Aside from imposing 6 foot 7 and 6 foot 5 frames, respectively, the defencemen haven't picked their spots in throwing crunching body checks. And strong turnarounds in urban centers beyond Boston have played a substantial role in the state's overall increase. His clean-shaved face was leathery too, with wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. The second was the setting of a daily profit target. I make time for other things. The building has an air of secret rites; students must study as probationers for a few years before gaining access to the round hall, hidden from outside eyes by marblesque windowpanes in opalescent green and blue. Our first and foremost responsibility lies towards the people and their right to accurate information. Wolves were harder. He returned to Fleet Street, London's newspaper row, and was drafted duci alkalmi ruha by the Royal Air Force just before war broke out in 1939.. To Werbach, a few consumers will benefit, but most will lose out if TV bundles disappear. If you thought the showdown between Apple and Adobe was over, think again. Hence we see the reason of the passionate attachment which often exists in a faithful slave to a good master. Max Robinson was part of a team that helmed "ABC World News Tonight" from 1978 to 1983, and Bernard Shaw was the principal anchor for years on cable network CNN.. “He was irritated when he said he was ‘in too great a hurry.’ You will see tomorrow, in a day or two, he’ll think better of it; and if he’s so angry that he really won’t have our marriage I swear I won’t obey him. ED. On his personal website he says he's been climbing all his life."At first, it was fences, cupboards, ladders and trees." ''Climbing was always a very natural thing for me to do, so when I found rock bokacsizma bakancs climbing, it felt perfect. It was not as if his brother had never done the same. Payment at the time of registration using Event Brite is preferred, but you may also send a check or money order payable to A AMS to the address below: Jill Buckley Cheswick Station PO Box 65 Cheswick, PA 15024 Please note that we are no longer accepting payment at the door. And now, of course, being completely detached from that, there no connection. These steps once rang to the sound of lovers’ footsteps, and beneath that broken dome marriages beyond count were sealed with a kiss. Started to walk up, casquette ny kaki mère Grace said. The group relies on volunteers to lead the session and take pictures for social media. Bob holds a meteorology degree from Mississippi State University and has received advanced certification for his studies of Doppler radar. “When we arrived we were a long while looking for grandfather,” answered Nellie; “but we couldn’t find him anyhow. The three Dornishmen had been at the feast, as befit Prince Quentyn’s rank, though Reznak had taken care to seat them as far as possible from her husband. What had that oaf Axell Florent said of Val? “A nubile girl, not hard to look upon. L'ai offusqu avec mes propos ce lundi dans l' de Roger. Your nephew Jaime gave them to Connington. He doesn’t understand what he’s doing. But I have limitations on my pocketbook. Upon successfully completing the Cadet Training Program, cadets may be offered employment as members of the RCMP and given peace officer status. Two slavers dragged Jorah Mormont onto the block to take her place. He abandoned the north evro kalkulator to the cruel mercies of the ironmen to carve out a fairer kingdom for himself along the Trident. It was still used right up into the 1950s.. Such extreme cases of bodily abuse from the despotic power of slavery are comparatively rare. Sly gave a growl and bared her teeth, her ruff bristling. They were all around him, half a dozen of them, white-faced children with dark eyes, boys and girls together.. You’d best pray adidas mariposas that it’s a wildling blade that kills me, though. Muchlove appreciation tigers.". From 2006 to 2011, I held an adjunct position at polo raflorene College of Engineering Computer Science, Australian National University. Tailor made cutouts in the diffuser provide the perfect backdrop for the dual designer tailpipe tips of the BRABUS sports exhaust system. Women who ordinarily would have been sent to prison were given an alternative lodging place. According dolce gabanna adidași bărbații to a recent WHO study, the cost of disease and the premature deaths caused in Europe every year by air pollution was more than US$1.6 trillion ($2.47 trillion) in 2010, nearly 10 per cent of the gross domestic product of the EU in 2013. Masloboev that he knew you. But because our finances are real tight these days, we decided to cancel our travel plans for this year. If you have made up your mind to ditch this job and look for another one, then you can best utilize the time at your disposal. I will not have a headteacher chastise my child for a perfectly good uniform.'I'd like to think a lot of people will do the same and withdraw their children, and that this will force a review on him and his behaviour.'Mr Hopper wrote a defiant letter to Mr Tate yesterday, saying: 'Kim will return tomorrow wearing the very same outfit as it fully complies with your clothing policy, should she be sent home again we will require a full written detailed explanation listing the exact reasons for her refusal of entry,' reportsKent Online.'Kimberley has now attended the school since 2014 and we along with many of the parents included in today's fiasco know all too well how some of the parents do not have the desire to conform, we however do and purchase a new shiny uniform every year without fail to set the year off on a great note only to be met with this.'Mr Tate replied saying:'I attach a copy of the uniform guidelines and confirm that if your daughter is not in correct uniform she will be sent home to correct it.

0 notes

candescentcalum · 7 years

Text

All I Got

Hey y'all! I was in my feels and wrote a Calum thing about dysfunctional Calum and y/n arguing about their failed relationship. Hope y'all like it!

P.S. I didn't edit this at all really so if the grammar or anything is bad sorry lmao

Warnings: language I guess

Word Count: 2,198

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

Time does not heal.

It's been 4 months and I'm still not completely over him. Every time I see him tweet or post a photo on Instagram or see concert photos of him it sends a twist of pain straight to my heart. He was my world, my everything. To me, the sun didn't burn without him and the stars sure as hell didn't shine as bright as they used to.

I hated that my happiness depended so much on him. I didn't want it to be that way. I didn't want to ever rely on someone else to provide my stability for me, but when you live through a love that was as hard hitting and soul crushing as ours was, it'd be hard for anyone to not depend on one another afterwards.

It was a Tuesday when he left. I woke up to the sounds of zippers quickly being shut and bags being dragged across the wood floors. I quickly sat up and rushed to the living room to find him with his arms full and halfway out the door.

"Calum?" I asked him. I've never seen his head whip faster. He looked like a deer caught in headlights. He didn't say anything. He just stood there with his mouth gaping open, lost for words.

"Where are you going?" I asked with a sinking feeling in my gut. I didn't want to believe it but deep down I knew something was wrong.

"I don't think we're going to work out." Calum said quietly while looking back and forth between me and the door.

"So you were just going to leave without telling me?" I was beyond hurt at that point. I thought I meant enough to him to deserve a proper goodbye, but apparently I didn't.

"Y/N, I-"

"How could you do this to me?" I asked, my voice raising slightly.

"I'm sorry, I've got to go." And that was the last thing he said to me before he slipped out of the door.

It's been rough for me. I found myself constantly asking myself what I could have possibly done wrong, what could have driven him away. Even after my friends' constant reassuring that it was nothing I did wrong and it was all Calum's fault, I still felt the blame within my heart.

I kept in contact with Ashton. Well, for the first couple months at least. Besides Calum, I had been closest with Ashton. He was constantly checking up on me and making sure I was okay those first few months of mine and Calum's breakup, but the texts and the calls eventually stopped and I was left with no trace of the 4 Aussies in my life. The phone contact stopped, the pictures were all deleted and gone, and it was like I had never even existed in their lives in the first place.

I was laying in bed watching some movie I couldn't even remember the name of when I heard a rapid knocking on my front door. I unlocked my phone to take a look at the time: 1 o clock am. Who could possibly be knocking on my door at 1am?

"If it's a criminal I'm gonna be pissed." I grumbled under my breath as I got out of my cozy bed. I unplugged the floor lamp that's in my room and carried it with me to the front door so I'd have something to defend myself with on the off chance that it was actually a criminal. I set the lamp down on the ground and gripped it with my left hand while I cautiously opened the door with my right, and who I saw standing there made me weak at the knees.

"Calum?" I whispered in shock.

"Hey babe." He grinned lopsidedly as he pushed past me to walk inside my apartment.

"Nice lamp by the way." He slurred.

"You're drunk." I retorted with my hand on my hip. I turned around to close the front door and when I swiveled back around, Calum was standing right in front of me, rocking back and forth on his heels.

"And you're pretty." Calum was so close that I could smell his breath. It reeked of vodka.

I won't lie, Calum being this close to me again is making my heart race and my head dizzy. It's reminding me of the old times when we'd come home from parties and take care of each other while both of us were drunk off of our asses, but this time is not then. The part of my heart that had a desire to take care of Calum was ripped out when he left and he took it with him. It's not my responsibility to take care of him anymore, it's my responsibility to take care of me now.

"I miss you." Calum confessed with an oddly steady voice. He was already standing very closely to me but he somehow managed to move even closer and lightly cupped the side of my face with one of his hands.

"Don't." I stated firmly as I pushed away from him. His hand felt familiar and it felt like safety. It took everything in my body to move away from him, but it had to be done. I was not about to go down this road with Calum. The hurt was too recent and too real to give into him this soon again.

"Y/N." Calum grabbed my hand and tried to pull me closer again, but I held my ground.

"Don't 'Y/N' me." I spat as I pulled my hand from his grasp.

"You're drunk Calum, you don't know what you're saying. You left me without so much as an explanation and now you think you can barge back in here and win me over with a weak 'I miss you'. Well it's not going to work." I quickly walk across my living room and towards my bedroom before the tears can spill over.

"We can talk about this in the morning when you're sober if you want." I sigh. He starts walking in my direction again like he thinks he's going to be sleeping with me in my room for the night. I put my palm to his chest to stop him.

"On the couch." I tell him as I walk the rest of the way into my room and close the door behind me. As soon as the door shuts I rest my back against it and slide to the floor in defeat. Not caving in to Calum was one of the hardest things I've had to do. I was still having a hard time, but things were at least starting to get a little better for me, but then as soon as I saw him again everything came crashing down. All the memories and the feelings came flooding back as soon as I saw his face.

And I know that I shouldn't still feel this way about him, I mean, he left me. But even after everything he's put me through these past 4 months, I'd still follow him to the ends of the earth if he asked me to. And I hate that about myself.

"Stay strong, don't budge." I quietly tell myself as I stand up from the floor and make my way to my bed.

"He only thinks he wants you again because he's drunk." I remind myself, tucking my body under the covers in the process.

"It'll all get resolved in the morning." I say to the empty room as I doze off.

************************

I wake up surprisingly refreshed. I wasn't expecting to sleep as well as I had. The previous night had put me in somewhat of a state of distress, but this morning I feel ready to face Calum and get this issue resolved. I still love Calum, I can't deny that. But if he truly wants to get back together even this morning, it's going to take a lot more than just drunkenly showing up at my apartment. If he had pulled this 2 months ago I would have taken him back in a heartbeat without any other thought, but now my head is clearer and I know what I deserve.

I open my door and make my way out into the living room to find Calum sitting up on the couch. He's just in his boxers and he's got his head in his hands and is rubbing profusely at his eyes. He must have just woken up. I grab him a glass of water and a couple ibuprofen from the kitchen and set it down in front of him on the coffee table.

"Take these." I tell him as I take a seat next to him.

"Thanks." He mumbles. He grabs both the pills and downs them with one gulp of water.

"So you wanna talk about what happened last night?" I decided not to beat around the bush. Might as well just get straight to the point.

"Not really." He grumbles as he stands up and starts searching for his shirt and jeans. I scrunch my nose up in confusion.

"What do you-"

"I just want to get my stuff and go Y/N." Calum snapped as he pulled his legs through his ripped up jeans.

"Excuse me?" I ask in disbelief as I stand up as well. I see his shirt behind the couch and quickly grab it before he sees it.

"You come to my apartment drunk at 1 in the fucking morning, sleep on my couch all night, and then have the audacity to say you're the one who just wants to leave?" I have his shirt dangling in my hand as he turns around and sees it. He tries to grab it from me but I just pull it behind me and farther out of his reach.

"You're the one who left me remember? And then you show up last night saying all these things about how you miss me and how I'm pretty and blah blah blah and now that you're sober you don't want to talk about anything. A real class act, Calum." I throw his shirt at him and cross my arms over my heaving chest. He catches the shirt and quickly pulls it over his head.

"It was a mistake coming here last night." Calum starts as he picks up his phone from the coffee table. He tries to unlock it but notices it's dead. He sighs as he pockets it and runs a hand through his unruly hair.

"Yes, I was drunk and yes my feet brought me here, but drunk Calum doesn't know what he wants and drunk Calum certainly doesn't know what's good for him because this," he gestures at the air in between the two of you, "is not."

"You said things last night." I state firmly.

"I'm well aware of the things I said last night Y/N." Calum said in a condescending tone.

"But I say things I don't mean when I'm drunk, you of all people should know that." Calum rolled his eyes, exhausted with the conversation.

"Things people say while drunk are just the true statements they're too afraid to say when sober." I informed him. I wholeheartedly found this to be right.

"I've told Luke I wanted to fuck him before while drunk, I really don't believe your sentiment rings true." Calum said with anger creeping into his tone. He started marching towards the front door.

"Calum-"

"Why do you even want to have this conversation so bad?" Calum shouted.

"I left you. I'm a jerk. Why do you even want to resolve things with me? Why did me saying a few stupid things while drunk off my ass give you so much damn hope?" Calum asks. The vein on his forehead popping out and his nostrils flaring.

"Because you were it for me Calum!" I shout back.

"I loved you with all of my being! Hell, I still love you. I was finally starting to get a little closure on you leaving, and then you show up here last night saying all of those pretty things to me, and of course inside my head it gave me hope!" Calum just stands in front of me, unblinking, unflinching. As if the words I just spoke had no affect on him whatsoever.

"When I heard you say you missed me it sparked something in my heart. Something I hadn't felt in months. And sure, I knew you were drunk and probably didn't mean it, but a part of me hoped you did. And a part of me hoped you'd come back someday." I confess, much quieter than before.

"I didn't mean those things I said, and I don't want to get back together. And I'm sorry I made you think otherwise." Calum said quickly as he retreated out the door. He left just the same as the last time. Quickly and quietly and without a care. I didn't get an explanation. I got left with a half assed apology and an aching heart than was even more broken than it was the first time.

That was all I got.

#calum hood #calum 5sos #5 seconds of summer #5sos #calum hood imagine #calum hood au #calum hood preference #calum hood blurb #calum hood smut #ashton irwin #ashton 5sos #michael clifford #michael 5sos #luke hemmings #luke 5sos

144 notes · View notes

lamiaward · 7 years

Text

I am not picky, I just did not want my daughter’s true love to be the evil queen

I don’t own OUAT. This is the second part, I hope you enjoy

Warning; slightly graphic descriptions of murder.

They do not know what is causing the changes, first.

But servant girls suddenly realize they're royalty, men pause above wells- ignoring the bucket dropping in favor of the stark realization that this is a day that has repeated itself for longer than they remember- , people run around their poor-excuses-of-houses in search of the swords they used to wield.

Snow wakes up, right when she is cleaning the queen's fireplace. She stares at her soot-covered hands at the realization she is not a girl sold to the queen , a friendless and ignored one that is forced to spend her days on small jobs that she has often thought the queen could do herself , but a princess and the reason that the queen had ever offered her odd brand of kindness was that they were enemies. The visits were not checking up on the person who had no one, it was gloating.

(which explains brief smiles and slight grins, but not that time she had been so very ill and woken to a cup of steaming tea and medicine on the queen's command)

She slowly turns around, staring at the halls. She has been stuck in them forever, forced to scrub them clean until her hands were bleeding. The qu- Regina sometimes gets visitors, and she claims it is Snow's job to make sure the castle looks impressive (even though she is never allowed to put flowers anywhere. That one time- )

She runs over to the guard's place, glances inside. They're laughing and drinking like always, a terrified servant girl on the lap of the most awful one. His grip is really tight on her arm, and Snow glances at where some of their swords are haphazardly thrown on the floor.

She quickly pushes against the walls, heart in throat, when the familiar footsteps are heard.

It is foolish to look, the kind of foolish that will cost her her head and any chance to ever see her child again. She looks anyways. Regina is standing there, casually wiping some dust off the table and ignoring the men that have jumped to their feet and are bowing.

I have to get the swords. And then get out. But Regina is right in front of them - in fact, she is picking one of them up and why would she - Snow presses her hand to her mouth. The man's eyes widen, and he stares down at the sword the queen just drove through his abdomen with confusion. His grip on the girl's arm finally lessens, and then he drops to the floor.

Regina casually pulls the sword back, and turns to the servant girl.

No, she wouldn't. Regina is volatile and unpredictable but she hardly ever hurts the servants. Well, apart from the ones Snow now realizes were her worst enemies.

Still, it is almost miraculous to see Regina step forward and almost gently grab the girl's arm before pushing her out of the door. Snow takes a step back as she sees Regina's face, and trembles at the expression she has when she turns back to the men.

She is very clear about their fate should they make the same mistake their leader did, and no one looks up even when the sword is dropped, the door closes and her footsteps are totally faded. Snow only hesitates two seconds- her daughter has green eyes and would not stop crying- before slipping inside.

"The queen commanded me to clean here- " it is not even difficult to make her voice tremble, to sound like she is seconds away from tears. She may not be meek and hesitant anymore, but she can't stop thinking of her child out there somewhere (alone) and the corpse on the ground is awful still- the fact that it was a pig in life does not change that much.

They just nod. It is expected, that the queen would send her to do such a gruesome job. And if she is fortunate, they will even- " We will leave you to it" Yes. You always do, and use the excuse of the queen wishing me to be utterly alone at all times as excuse but honestly - you are just lazy.

They really must be shaken; none of them even try to slap her behind or make a revolting comment like usually. And they're quiet. When the queen is not around, they are never quiet. She waits until she is certain they're gone before quickly grabbing a quiver of arrows, a bow and several daggers.

And she runs.

She only stops running to steal a horse ( not like she has not done that before), bind its hooves and jump on top of it. She steers it into the forest and makes it go faster, faster, so fast that the world is rushing past her and it is still not enough. Regina cannot capture me.

Regina may have kept her alive, but that was because Snow suffered the most that way. (she cannot be deceived by stray acts of what could be kindness. Not after what mercy cost her the last time, and not when the people she loves most in the world are still out there). Now that the curse is clearly unravelling, the stakes are higher than ever and Snow knows if the guards find her, the most likely outcome is death.

Which is why she hides in the forest after having spent the entire day on top of her horse. She leaves it next to the stream, and quickly drags some branches over and finally arranges it so that she has some sort of hideout-home thing. She is exhausted but she manages to find some things for both of them, and sits as close to the horse as possible ( fires attract people), but still shivers in her servant garb. Funnily enough, it is not even that thin nor is it the poorest quality. It is just very cold, and she blows on her hands and rubs them to keep warm.

She wakes in the morning half-laying on the horse and manages a weak smile. It must have known Snow was freezing ( perhaps she was shivering) and gotten closer. She pats its neck, then slowly gets up. She only gives herself twenty minutes to make and eat breakfast, before climbing on the horse and leaving again.

She travels like that for a while, studiously avoiding human settlements and relying on her knowledge of the lands as well as her ability to find food and shelter. It doesn't mean she isn't wet and hungry sometimes. Nor does it mean it all goes well -

( she doesn't know when, but one time, she has the queen's guards on her heels and she has to remind herself 'I can't get caught. Emma ". and has nightmares about the guards' screams anyways)

but at least she's alive.

At least she is free, and she is getting closer and closer to her daughter. And farther and farther away from the queen, and whatever Regina had turned her into. In a weird twist of fate, those memories are blurry. She knows she had a very repetitive life, one that included aches and pains everywhere and being tense every moment-

but then there are the things she doesn't understand. There are moments that she can call gloating, humiliation and just boredom but it still does not make sense. Not with the heart-breaking knowledge that maybe Regina was right, that there really wasn't anything left of the horse girl that had saved Snow so long ago.

That Snow had risked (and lost) everything for a person that no longer existed.

It was just another reason she could hardly sleep, doubts and fears making sure that her dreams were mostly nightmares about a scared girl with green eyes and another girl with brown ones that she could never save.

It just made her push them, the horse and her, more and more. She races past villages, and through the forest. She doesn't know much- her fake memories are fading and she actually tries to hold on because maybe they know where Emma is - and she can't really ask. She doesn't know who remembers, and who she can trust.

Ironically enough, she finds her best chance at finding Emma by almost dying.

She is at a tavern, with her hood pulled up and several stolen pieces of gold in her hand when she is thrown to the ground. She is immediately up again, with a knife hidden behind her back, but hesitates when she sees who it is. Brown hair, green eyes. A sword and the queen's coat of arms.

"Red" the queen's elite guard. To hurt me, no doubt.

" Remove that hood".

"Why?".

" I said - " Red's eyes glow golden and Snow is happy for her friend - you can control it - even if she is horrified by what it means. How many of the tales she has overheard were true? How much pain will you be in if you ever wake, and realize what you've done? " remove it".

"Fine" she pretends to lower the hood, only to suddenly run forward and slam her shoulder into Red's. She dodges three pair of grabby hands and makes to disappear into the forest. Of course, she can't escape a werewolf that easily.

Red gets to her when she is climbing on her horse; she gasps at the slight pain of the teeth around her leg, and then she is suddenly staring at the sky before it is obscured by glowing eyes and very sharp teeth.

" Don't " she whispers. she is already thinking about how to make Red realize they're friends, which is probably impossible, when it turns out to also be unnecessary.

Red easily morphs back (Snow almost wishes her friend would never remember. She almost seems happier this way) and smiles. " The queen wishes you , not your corpse".

" That's... surprising , actually'.

" Yes"

Red doesn't get off her, just stares at her. You remember something. " I am your friend. That is what you are feeling- guilt and remorse and- " every bit of air suddenly leaves her body when Red slams her knee into Snow's stomach.

"The last thing I am is your friend".

"Red - " she wheezes, as soon as she is able.

"Be silent" Red finally gets up. " And get up ".

Snow does. She tightens the grip on the dagger, but eventually slackens it. Red stares at it when she throws it in front of her. " You may not be my friend, but I am yours".

She watches as Red slowly lowers herself, and picks up the knife without breaking eye contact. "That was stupid" she remarks, slowly standing again.

Snow shakes her head. " No. That was me refusing to hurt a friend" she grabs Red's hand, the one that isn't holding a dagger. " I would never hurt you".

" The queen mentioned you were devious, a very gifted liar".

" I am not lying. She is lying, she always was"

You won't hurt me either. Snow has never been less afraid, never mind how furious Red looks or how the dagger is already opening her skin where it's pressed against her neck. " She accepted me when everyone else was trying to slit my throat. When they took - ".

" Granny may still be alive. Maybe- ".

" I saw them. I saw them- " Red's voice breaks, and feared guard and favorite of the queen or not, she still has the exact same look when she is recollecting the murder of a loved one. Snow pushes the dagger away, and hugs her. " She may still be alive. Regina may have just separated the two of you, not- ".

" What are you talking about".

Snow pulls back. " Your grandmother. Regina cast the dark curse, but I suspect she has not actually harmed Granny. I think she is still somewhere".

" This is insane".

Snow grins. " So you believe me?".

" I had these funny.. not dreams but - like memories? But I don't actually remember it happening".

" You are not the only one, come on".

And that is how she starts the long journey to getting her best friend back

It happens little by little.

Red starts out sleeping curled up on her cape, in wolf form. She growls when Snow tries to shift closer. She whines in her sleep ( Snow is pretty sure that if she were in girl form, she would scream and cry every night). She doesn't trust Snow.

"You are a convict. I am a traitor " she mutters sometimes as they make their way through another forest

" You are a traitor to the evil queen , and what even is my crime?".

" I am a traitor to the only person who helped me and I am pretty sure it is existing".

" Right".

They sometimes have discussions like that but it is mostly silences briefly interrupted by general things like 'you go that way, I will go this way" or 'do you recognize this?". Until, that is, The Night.

It is just another night, perhaps two weeks after Snow had woken. Her breath can be seen in the air, and she is pressed tightly against the horse. She is staring at the half-frozen ground, wanting to sleep ( her muscles ache, and her eyes feel so dry and heavy) while at the same time desperately wishing she wouldn't. Not ever again, not when she sees Charming ( his crumpled heart) and Emma ( little fingers grabbing hers tightly, that wail when she is ripped away) in her dreams.

It is right when she starts to fall asleep despite her loud wishes when she is yanked awake by the feeling of calloused skin on her shoulder, her hand immediately grappling for her bow before she registers it's Red. Who never actually explains what is going on, but who opens her arms like they are just the two girls starting their friendship again and finally makes sure that Snow stops shivering.

They never actually discuss it ( Snow's lips actually bleed, once, when she bites down on it so hard to keep herself from asking) but Red is a little warmer after that, smiles at her sometimes, laughs at some of the jokes Snow slowly starts to learn telling again, cuddles with her on the coldest nights. It isn't like before. But most times, Snow can almost fool herself into thinking it is.

She doesn't. Red is still too dangerous for that, that much is made clear when they travel through Midas' kingdom and Red knocks out several guards with the casual air of someone who has done much worse. That much becomes clear when she proposes to kill the people that took them in ( they did sell them out, like Red said they would. But it is so much money, and they had children to care for- Snow could never be mad at them).

Sometimes, Snow can't sleep easily with Red near her. She thinks of how Peter's body had looked. Back then, she hadn't been scared then and she isn't really now. But she is aware. She is aware that this Red isn't really her Red. All those things she would swear Red would never do - Regina has somehow managed to turn the cursed Red into something that the real Red would be abhorred by.

Yes, it sometimes makes Snow's head hurt. ( not as much as her heart though. Not nearly).

It is confusing, what Red was and what she is. She isn't that different, and Snow stubbornly insists on just seeing her friend even when Red makes casual comments that chill Snow worse than an actual ice age could. But still, it is sometimes impossible to not notice how Red is different in these slight ways. Like two of those paintings where you've to search for the differences.

(what's most different is the obvious affection whenever she speaks off Regina, and Snow stares and calls herself insane for what she knows is jealousy and wistfulness)

Still, Red is different.

And it messes with her head. And not just because of the 'favourite of the evil queen' thing either. No, it is just- Snow had finally resigned herself to the idea that Regina was unredeemable. That the wo- girl she had loved so much had been gone.

And yet, Red is so much happier in some ways.

The change is ridiculously easy for her, now, and there is nothing of that old pain and fear that had always been there ( every change a sharp reminder of what had happened- what she had done to Peter). And she is free, that much is clear. She doesn't need to stay with Regina. She can leave anytime she wants, and there are no guards following her solely because she is Snow's friend. She isn't at war with someone she personally never had an issue with.

Gods, Snow is so happy for her. And it hurts so much.

It is why she sometimes stares at the West, where she knows Regina's castle is. Where she can easily imagine she is pacing, snapping at every guard, possibly snapping - and that would just mean another life lost because she, Snow, wants to live. She wants to meet her baby girl( wants to tell her everything she had always dreamed of saying, and hold her again). Wants to kiss her husband again, smile against his lips.

She wants all that, wants it so badly that it actually hurts to not have it right now-

but can I? Should I, when Regina hurts more and more people with every minute that I am alive.

Ironically enough, it is Red who keeps Snow from walking towards the castle and begging for everyone's lives in return for hers. It is Red who takes her hand when Snow is staring at the West again, and quietly says " She will not be merciful. If you surrender- it does not necessarily mean she will spare your people".

And Snow wants to say so much in return to that, wants to protest ( a part of her can never forget how beautiful and good Regina had been, and she sometimes still wakes crying out for Regina to soothe her fears and pains) that surely she can't be that far gone. The larger part just wants to ask how Red can love someone like that. It would be unfair to ask. And unnecessary.

So she just shuts up, squeezes Red's hand, and continues to fight for her family.

They do not even stop long enough to wipe the grime (and - gods, blood) from his face before they are off again. She knows he is hurt, and his mind is probably a painful jumble of curse-reality memories, but she also knows that he is exactly like her. Just like her, he doesn't care about the pain.

Why would they care about aching muscles, badly-healed injuries and wonky memories when they remember their daughter looking at them as if to say 'please keep me'.

They have to find her. They do ( Charming just laughed, and kissed her when she explained she had searched for Emma before she had come to save him) and they don't waste any time. Maleficent may have magic, and Regina's complicated alliance ( which might not even be the right word in this context) but they have something far more powerful.

The desperation that is borne when you are separated from the thing you love most for 28 years.

" Where is our daughter?" Snow asks, arrow pointing at Maleficents heart. Next to her, Charming has his sword pointed at the dragon's neck. His white shirt is soaked with blood and sweat, but he looks strong and determined. She would almost say terrifying, with the expression he shows Maleficent.

She grabs his bicep to keep him from beheading the dragon when she laughs, and leans in. " My room".

" You- ".

She clucks her tongue. " I hardly defiled her" you would expect someone to be less relaxed with a sword digging into her skin, and an arrow two seconds away from burying itself in her heart. " My taste runs a little more towards maidens that are less fair " she smirks. " I prefer maidens with darker hair, and less dark hearts. Your girl has had quite the awful life because of your- “.

" That's it. I am going to - ".

" Charming, wait" Snow turns to Maleficent. " Please- just tell us".

" And risk Regina's wrath?".

" We will kill you if you don't "

Snow snaps her head at Charming and glares, but Maleficent just chuckles. " I am sure you will attempt" she closes her eyes, and sighs. " But I have no interest in betraying Regina like this".

" She would. She would betray you like that" Charming growls.

" Perhaps".

" You care for her?" Snow thinks she already knows, but for some reason it is so important to actually hear it. To hear that the visits are more than Regina just seeking out someone that could be her ally, or ( and Snow really does not want to think about this part of Regina's life. She would rather hug an ogre actually) could provide release.

There's a short silence. Charming paces. Maleficent stares at her. Snow doesn't breathe.

The witch must see something in her eyes, for she finally nods. " She is the only thing I care about. For a long time, I cared about nothing. She was the first thing in a very long time that made me feel anything".

" Then why did you not help her?" Do you think she is happy like this?

" She does not wish to be helped, princess. Regina has lost all happiness, and she has it in her head that your demise is the only thing that will return it".

" It will just be another murder"

Maleficent nods. " She will not stop, however. And I will not keep anything she wants from her".

It sounds so much like a threat that Snow nearly shoots her. " What did you do to our daughter?".

" She is alive".

" What- ".

" It will be Regina's birthday soon. I was going to -"

She glares at Charming when the sword cuts her. He just leans in closer, and Snow no longer feels inclined to stop him from hurting anyone. " What happened to our daughter? ".

" She is asleep".

There is a slight clang! as the sword drops to the floor ( the arrow's fall is far more silent) and Snow can feel Charming is trembling as badly as she is. They only press together briefly before abandoning their enemy and running with Maleficent's shouted ( perhaps just said, but Snow feels like it has to be shouted to actually be heard over the beating off her heart) directions guiding them.

they're still holding hands when they meet their daughter for the second time. Just like all the time ago, it should've been joyous. Should've been laughter and hugs and something they will never be able to think off without smiling.

Instead, it is another nightmare. Heartbreak. Fear.

The only thing that makes it bearable is that Snow knows they will get through it. She takes a deep breath and presses her lips to the cold skin of her daughter's forehead- wishes for the first time in ages, but Blue cannot fulfill this wish for her- then reluctantly pulls back so her husband can do the same.

" We will save you Emma" she promises. Charming just leans on her, and they remain at the floor staring at their daughter for a long while after that. They won't leave her again. They won't, so they carry another mattress into the room (Maleficent just pointed into the general direction when they asked if there was another bedroom) and Charming sits down on it so Snow can take care of his injuries.

They don't speak for a while, and Snow tries to focus on healing and doesn't want to ever think again. It hurts so much, thinking 'where did you get this injury? And this scar? ', to look at her husband and see all this tiny ways that this life obviously hurt him. To look at her daughter, and imagine all they've missed.

Her first steps. Her first word ( Snow tortures herself thinking about whether it was 'mama' and if Emma would've actually understood that something was wrong). Giving her teeth to the tooth fairy, and smiling at the presents that were received in return. Her first ball, where Charming would've watched all the noblemen and noblewomen like a hawk and Snow would've just beamed at her little girl with pride. So many moments, and Snow has never been as furious and in pain as she is right now, looking at her daughter and realizing she is grown.

Snow missed an entire life and gods, does she wish it were different.

She doesn't talk about Charming about it, but she doesn't have to. She knows he wonders the same thing she does: what were your birthdays like? Do you have people you call 'mom' and 'dad'? Did you ever learn to ride horses like you were supposed to? Are you in love with someone? What makes you happy, what colour do you like, what is your biggest dream?

Piles of questions, and Snow bites her lips. She can ask the room , but it won't do any good. She can discuss it with Charming, but she prefers sitting next to him and feel his hand in hers. She doesn't want to talk,

she just wants her baby girl to wake.

Charming is the one to sacrifice himself, and actually briefly tear himself away from their daughter. He presses a kiss to her forehead, and kisses Snow before he leaves. She usually would feel awful , missing him when they have just been reunited, but there is so much hurt already that his departure is hardly more than another way that makes her feel like she is empty and exhausted. Besides , he will return.

The sound of footsteps, and the soft creaks of an opening door yank her from a dream, and it takes several moments before she realizes Regina isn’t there, and her heart is still in her chest. It is still hammering when she smiles tiredly at an old friend.

“Blue”.

“ Snow- why is the wolf here?”.

“ Because she is my friend”.

“ She does not remember, and she is the queen’s – “.

“ She remembers partly. She is guarding Maleficent for us, is she not?”.

“ She has darkened her heart”.

“ Haven’t we all?” Snow says, and the way she says it shuts Blue up momentarily.

“ What do you need me to do?” Blue says, even though she likely already knows.

“ Can you find her true love?”.

Blue nods, and shows the small bag she is carrying. “ I brought pixie dust – it should lead you to her true love. But Snow, I do not agree with this method. True love is not supposed to be shown this way – “.

“ I do not care. My daughter needs to wake up. Did you bring reinforcement as well?”.

“ I have managed to find about half of my people. They have agreed to guard your daughter while you and your husband are searching for her true love”.

“ Thank you” Snow whispers, and stands up. She accepts Charming’s hand when he offers it to her, and they lean against each other as Blue takes a handful of dust. She looks at Snow one last time, who nods, and Blue takes a deep breath and throws the dust. It immediately forms a green line and Snow follows it as it leaves the room-

“ Did it work?”.

“ Yes. The pixie dust will show you where your daughter’s true love is. Good luck”.

Snow quickly hugs her, and chokes out a thank you, before grabbing Charming’s hand and starting to run. They nearly fall off the stairs in their haste to get to the horses that are already saddled, and Snow isn’t even that surprised when she sees it is Red who is holding the reins.

“ Red- “.

“ I am going. The fairies can watch Maleficent- and I do not think she really means harm anyways”

Snow grins, and hugs her. Red stiffens, but then exhales and hugs her back just as fiercely. “I am so glad you are here” she whispers.

“ I am, too. Now get on that horse, so we can save your daughter” Red says, playfully pushing her away. Snow nods, and wipes away her tears with a bright smile. Red isn’t really the person Snow knew- but she is still the best friend Snow could ever hope to have.

They all quickly get on their horses, and talk very little while chasing the green light. Snow almost pushes her horse too hard, and Charming has the same issue, because they are so desperate to get their daughter back. Hold on Emma, we will never let you go again. We will save you.

Eventually, it is Red who forces them to dismount and it is Red who goes hunting and brings some meat while Charming helps Snow make the fire. And then they sit, and quickly eat while they watch the green light that is still sparkling in front of them. Red actually has to argue with Snow to get her to stay, and Charming reluctantly helps her convince Snow that they do need rest.

They travel that way; long days, short breaks and very little talking. Until they pause their horses one day ( Snow doesn’t know exactly how long they have been travelling, but it must have been weeks) and Snow points at the sky. “ It is going into the direction of Regina’s castle”.

She had suspected it the longer they travelled, but she had hoped the light would change direction. But it is clear it won’t , and Charming steers his horse closer to hers so he can lean over to squeeze her hand. She squeezes back, hoping to offer him the same comfort.

“ I could get you in “ Red finally says, after a long silence. She is staring at where they can see Regina’s castle looming already, and Snow wonders what she is thinking. That was her home. Red has not told them that much, but enough that Snow knows she cares for Regina and that it hurts betraying her, even if a new set of memories tells her how Regina had chased her, and hurt people she cared about.

“ Are you certain? Red, I don’t- “.

“ Yes. If you trust me”

Snow uses her free hand to grab Red’s. “ Of course I trust you”

Red shudders. “ All right. Dismount”.

Snow and Charming glance at each other, but they do slowly let go and obey. “ All right, what- “ it is only because Charming likes Red almost as much as Snow does that he doesn’t draw his sword when Red stalks towards him, and roughly bends his arms behind his back.

“ The queen remains unaware that I have been travelling with you, Snow. I have send her messages, and made sure no one could inform her we were travelling together rather than me chasing you”.

“ Red - “ Snow suddenly thinks of the families they have passed during their travels, and the woman that cried and apologized profusely when the guards appeared ( I am so sorry, but my children) What has Red done?

“ I am protecting you” is all Red says, and it takes a considerable amount of willpower not to step away from her. For a moment, Snow tastes the berries they ate, and the sharp tang of vomit but she pushes it down and reaches for Red’s hand. It is the memories the queen forced on her- and the real Red is still there, or she would not look so ashamed.

Red slowly looks up, cheeks red and eyes glistening. “ If I pretend I captured you, we can search the castle for Emma’s true love”.

“ Won’t the queen already be alerted because of the light?”.

“ I do not think it has reached its destination yet, but we should hurry”

Charming nods. When Snow glances at him, she sees he is as conflicted about whatever Red has done as she is, but he still smiles at Red and allows her to bind his hands. Snow offers her own. “ Let’s hurry, then”.

Red smiles, and gently binds Snow’s hands before binding the both of them to the horses and leading them in the direction of the castle. The light keeps expanding, and does indeed move towards the castle. Usually, the walls and guards everywhere would scare her, but instead she is oddly calm. The thought of her daughter is enough to have the fear only be there in the way she is trembling slightly, and mostly feel determination and anger.

They still don’t have their baby girl safe with them. She is hurt, trapped in a room on fire.

She keeps Emma’s face in her mind as they pass the gates, and the guards prod them with their swords and one in particular – the one with a nasty scar ruining an otherwise handsome face- leers at her, and spits in her face. Red slaps him- “ The queen will be displeased, you moron” but he just laughs and Snow only barely holds back a shiver. There is something wrong with that man.

The gates close, and they are inside the castle of the woman that wants Snow’s head on a platter, or her heart neatly ripped from her chest. Several guards follow them, and the bounds are starting to hurt her wrists. Red has to keep up an appearance, so the hands on her hurt more as nails dig into her skin and she is pulled towards two large doors.

She only stops struggling when she sees the woman lounging on a couch inside. Regina slowly rises, and the smile she gets chills Snow, and sends her heart hammering. Then she looks at Red, and it is actually worse. There is a second where Red smiles brightly, more genuine than any of the times Snow made her laugh or she remembered anything of their former friendship.

The queen cups her cheek and her voice is so gentle that Snow feels her eyes tear up – no, you are not seeing her. The girl Regina was is gone, and you can’t risk your family again for her. “ Very well done, dear” Regina says, and presses a kiss to Red’s cheek before stepping towards Snow.

The change in expression is so sudden that Snow almost feels dizzy. Regina cups her cheek as well, but her nails dig in and her smile is more a smirk really. She is yanked forward, and she can hear Charming say something –

The light, it’s-

“ Really, what is that light anyways- “ the guards doesn’t get any further before there is a knife plunged into his chest, he collapses and the guard next to him draws his sword, and immediately collapses when Red plunges her knife deep into his eye. There are two more guards – Snow has to look away when Red easily changes to wolf form, and her sharp teeth break through armour and there is an awful sound when the flesh is ripped.

Snow lunges forward, slamming her shoulder against Regina before she can recover and start hurling fireballs. The pain when Regina’s hand is ripped away from her chest makes her cry out, but she ignores it as she starts to run towards the doors. Only to trip, and barely manage to catch herself when there is a vine curling around her ankle, and there is heat as the fireball slams into the doors

She is on her back, struggling to get the vine off her while she can spot Charming in her eye corners. There are several guards that he holds off, and she can hear Red’s angry howling as well as the screams of pain. She finally succeeds in getting out of the vine’s grip, and cutting it with the sword that she yanks out of the grip of the co- guard laying next to her when the light moves.

“YOU MORON – “ Regina stumbles when the light hits her, causing her to glow greenly. She stares down at herself, actually dropping her hand the way Snow’s stomach drops. Her daughter’s soulmate is not a servant or even -as she had feared- a guard in the entourage

The only person in all the realms that could wake her daughter was the evil queen

#swan queen #true love's kiss part 2 #alternate curse #emma under a sleeping curse

2 notes · View notes