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presleyhearted · 1 year

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Yours Truly - Chapter 1: Make a Wish

・❥・Pairing: Elvis Presley x original female character

・❥・Genre: slow burn, mystery, angst, fluff.

・❥・Word Count: 4.1k

・❥・Summary: In which a 21-year-old girl suddenly finds herself having consecutive dreams of a particular rock ‘n’ roll star whom she has never met and who died 45 years ago.

・❥・ Ratings & Warnings: SFW. But a brief mention of a sexual topic (nothing extreme), curse words.

| chapter index | prologue | chapter 2

NOVA

When things appear to be blissful and tranquil, that can be snatched away from you in an instant.

"I knew I'd find you here," A confident statement followed by a sigh, not long after. The empty seat beside me creaks by the motion of being pulled back, as the person occupies it. I observe this in my peripheral vision, but my eyes are fixated on the pages and it's ink in front of me.

My unchanging position quickly goes noticed by the person beside me, as their hand appears right in front of me - right in the middle of the words that my eyes are drinking in.

"Luke!" I exclaimed, quickly turning my head towards him. My voice seemed to alert the librarian, as she shushes me very abruptly, a firm glare in her eyes. Both Luke and I mouth a 'sorry' before I turned to glare at Luke.

He threw his hands up in defence, a grin etched on his lips from the success of disrupting my concentration.

"I just had to," He shrugs, "your eyes were practically glued to that book."

"But rightfully so!" I flipped the book to show the front cover to him, pointing my finger at the title as if to say matter of fact.

Luke frowns, confusion wiped his features, "I don't get it."

"Hamlet. Shakespeare? For our assignment?"

He snaps his fingers as his mouth utters the realisation, "Oh!"

I nodded and shook my head, "Exactly."

"When's the deadline?" He inquiries, a slight panic in his tone - but not quite. Luke was always that person that did not have one single panicky bone in his body. Instead, calmness ran through his veins. Very laid back. Too much, I sometimes think.

"In three months."

"You are crazy, you do know that right?" Disbelief is written all over his features.

"Hmm. is that a rhetorical question?" I asked, a smile playing on my lips.

I do understand Luke's friendly concern over my perhaps 'extreme' attitude of studying. I start an assignment as soon as the professor announces it, never wasting any minute. It allows me the time to construct a first draft, then edit it, then write a second draft. The second draft I find is the midway of the getting that final draft perfect. Precisely on point.

"Anyways, " I begin, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your presence?"

"Two things."

"Good or bad?" I tilt my head at him.

I met Luke two years ago at the very start of my life as a university student. It was orientation day, and it wasn't anything entirely unique - we were stood next to each other in the line to get our ID's. I made a comment about the scorching heat of the sun, and he turned around to inquire whether I needed to borrow any sunscreen. A very odd way to start a conversation. We later found out that we shared one class together, Creative Writing. From then on, we hung out and naturally formed a friendship. Although, we couldn't be more different in some cases.

This may be one of those cases.

He grinned playfully, "Depends on what your definition of those are."

"I know we never share the same definition of either of those." I squinted my eyes at him, smiling.

"Touché."

"I like him." Luke stated, all the humour from his face has vanished and in its place is a dawned realisation and an unmistakable fear. There is no exaggeration when I say that Luke and I are polar opposites. He always took the leap into the unknown, never over-analysing possible outcomes - he just goes for it. Never a silver of fear and panic in him.

So to see that very rare emotion clear in his face - I knew that my friend was in a delicate state.

"Who?" I asked. I already had a gut feeling on who he was referring to, but to hear it from himself would confirm this.

"Matt."

I felt my heart sink for him. Luke and Matt began a friends with benefits situation, no strings attached. In our generation, that type of arrangement was not uncommon - and yet, I still worried for my friend, as I recall when he brought it up to me a year ago. Luke may be a very laid back person, full of spontaneity and fun - but he is prone to being caught up in the web of infatuation, very quickly and deeply. On the other hand, I knew Matt. Not closely, but enough to be aware that he is not a relationship-type of guy. So, I warned Luke about this - warned him that the no strings attached situation has its risks. An emotional risks that has the possibility of ending unfavourably for him, so this confession from Luke spikes up that worry that I felt when he first told me about their arrangement.

"Oh, Luke," I reached my hand out to lightly touch his arm, not wanting to say anything much yet. I wanted to give him the time to process his thoughts and voice them out to me. I needed to listen first.

He shook his head, "F.uck, I know. I remember you warned me about this. It was going as it usually is, Nova. Then. . . I don't know, " His eyes drift away from mine, as if recalling certain moments.

Luke proceeded to tell me certain instances where Matt would cross the boundary of the 'no strings attached' situation. Simple, yet it's an intense touch of one's mind. Gestures and actions that two people in relationship would do, a romantic couple. He then continues on to tell me that he finally confessed his feelings to Matt, but has been successfully avoiding him ever since then.

"I feel like s.hit, Nova." He groans, "I unloaded all of that to him, and ran for it. But I just don't know what else to do. I told myself I'll never find myself in this situation, and yet here I am." He mumbles the last part of his sentence, head in his hands on top of the library desk.

"Hey," I shake his shoulder comfortingly, "there's absolutely nothing wrong with running away. You did the hardest part Luke, you've got to give yourself credit for that."

He sighs, "Credit for what?"

"Being damn brave enough to tell him about how you feel, am I right?"

A second of silence.

"Right. I've got to agree with the voice of reason, I guess." A smile slowly breaks out from him, attempting to lift himself up from despair.

"Which I am?" I gestured to myself, smiling.

"From day one. " He sits up, "I want to know what Matt says, but I also don't want to ever know. F.uck. Why is adulting like this? Ever since I started my twenties, life has been putting me on maximum level of danger-type of emotional rollercoasters. " Luke chuckles.

"Yeah, I get you. But we can only control what we can. No use trying to hold onto things that was never in our hands in the first place." I shrug.

"You know what? Instead of reading books, you should write your own. Like 'Nova's survival guide to life.' or some s.hit." Luke jokes, using his hands for dramatic effect.

I laugh and shake my head at his ridiculous idea.

"What? I will bet my left nipple that there will be hundreds lining up to grab a copy of that. You have always been the wise one out of us two."

I continue to shake my head and dramatically sigh, "I just like being prepared."

Luke snorts, "Uh-huh. But. . ."

"Yeah?"

"Your birthday is in less than twenty-four hours."

"I am aware of my own birthdate, Luke." I chuckled, but I know that he is indicating to something more with it.

"What I meant to say is that now you are turning twenty-one. . . maybe just be a little reckless. Don't think, just do." He shrugs.

I tilted my head forward and he laughs, "Nah, not anything f.ucked up!"

Luke looks around our surroundings, "Libraries and books and being five steps ahead is cool, but don't be too busy looking ahead to notice what's right there in the corner of your eye."

I'm quiet for a moment, but quickly respond to Luke with a smile, "You should write your own book, you know. Like a survival gui-"

"Oh, shut the f.uck up!" He laughs.

The remaining hours of me being twenty years old flashed by like a speed of light.

I am now stood in front of my full-length mirror in my bedroom, self-consciously turning from left to right and right to left - in attempts to be satisfied with how the birthday dress feels hugging my body. It was a dark purple mini dress that reached my mid-thigh, with long sleeves that covered my arms. I rarely wear dresses in all honestly, only in certain special occasions. There's that silver of self-confidence that beats against the currents in my subconscious mind, creating a friction on my mental image of myself.

After all, we are our own worst critic.

My usually straight dark hair was done in loose curls, and I finished my look with a necklace my mother gifted me in advance and the earrings that my grandmother passed down to me a while ago. I always went for the simple makeup, often worried that I'll end up going overboard and looking absolutely ridiculous. So, to ease my worries, Luke's sister came over earlier to fix my makeup into something fancier, but suitable for the occasion.

Before the conversation with Luke in the library yesterday, I already had preconceived thoughts on the matter about me trying to be 'a little reckless.' I have the habit of journalling quite often, a cathartic way to organise my thoughts and hopefully, makes some sense of it. Like I said before, we are our own worst critic. Although I am firm in my ways of being cautious and wise, the thought of being outside of those lines has crossed my mind more than once for a while now. As the weeks came closer and closer to my 21st birthday, that topic did spin in my head and cluttered the blank pages of my journal.

When you are a kid, you gaze up at grown-ups in awe and wonder and you can't help but be desperate to grow up. There's that rush and thrill in growing up and being as 'cool' as them. But as the years of your life slip past you and you become older and older as years go by - you shake your head at that naive mind of younger you. How could they possibly think that being an adult is full of pure happiness and magic?

And the crazy thing is, I did not realise how special it was to be a child - until childhood was over. Now that I am in my early twenties, the more frightening it is becoming that adulthood can be emotionally abusive and there is that worry of not quite being right. I can be rational, but also feel like an inner child still. A true tug of war where we never truly know who will win.

But I have concluded this - once you enter adulthood, it seems as though the years past by in a blink of an eye. And I do not want to find myself in a position in the future where I am attacked by this crushing regret that I did not experience life enough. So, I plan from now on, on my first day of being twenty-one years old - I will try my best to take a step outside my lines of logic. Be spontaneous.

But just like any habit, it is easier said than done.

I take a deep breathe in attempts to pause my thoughts and exit my bedroom door. I am quickly greeted by a chorus of 'Happy Birthday to you' by family and friends, quickly surrounding me. I smile gratefully, walking slowly towards the table.

"Make a wish, Nova." My mother says, a bight smile on her face as she shakes my shoulders encouragingly.

I close my eyes, blocking all the people around me and focus on one particular wish -

I wish to finally let myself live spontaneously. Nothing extreme. Just something to help me take that first step out. Whatever it is. Send it to me, please universe.

And with that, I open my eyes and blow out the numerous candles on the luscious red velvet cake. A pattern of applause erupts around me, and the loud music resumes with Luke being the main control of it.

A little later on, Luke approaches me with a grin on his face, "how does it feel being twenty plus one year added to your life?"

"Weird. But I've made a decision."

This captures Luke's attention, he looks at me curiously, "Oooooh, a decision on what exactly?"

"What we talked about in the library."

Luke's eyes widen in happy realisation.

"Yes, that. I. . .I need to be more out there. You are right." I smile at him.

Luke envelopes me in a tight hug, "I am so happy for you! This is revolutionary, Nova."

I chuckle at his enthusiasm, and I am about to respond to him when something catches the corner of my eye.

Some sort of glimmer of faint light that danced from outside the living room window. It was faint and vanished just as quickly as I noticed it. It made no sense since it was night time. It was not the type of light that came from a car's headlight, a streetlight, a flash from a phone - or whatever else. It was a light that had a glimmer to it, almost the type of glimmer you find in animated fairytale stories.

I blinked and the light was no longer there. Tiredness might just be creeping into me. It was already 11.30PM, as the clock hanging from the wall reads.

I broke away from the hug with Luke.

"Have you opened any of your presents yet?" He asked.

"Not yet."

"Ok, ok good. But we all know mine is the best." He flips his imaginary long hair in a dramatic motion and laughs.

"Of course." I roll my eyes playfully.

Luke picks up some of the opened birthday cards, "But you've opened some birthday cards I see. Did any cash fall from any of these cards?" He whispered in a conspirator way.

I chuckle and whisper back, "Yes."

"B.itch you better share. I am broke."

Before I could respond, Luke's curious tone stops me, "Oh, this one's different."

I looked down at the envelope he is holding. It was a red envelope, but the red was quite faded and It had a small rope that tied it together. I furrowed my eyebrows in curiosity, It felt out of place and it wasn't just because of its color. But there was something else I couldn't quite put my finger on.

"It's giving me vintage vibes." Luke says.

Precisely!

"I was just about to say that it looks out of place."

"Hmm, maybe from your grandmother?" Luke shrugs.

I shake my head, "I don't think so. I've already opened her birthday card for me."

Without a second of hesitation, I take the envelope from his hands and open it in almost a frenzy. A state of curiosity overpowered me, but then there was confusion. As I peeled open the envelope with my hands, I am met with a blank white greeting card - its front and its inside is blank. No text or illustrations at all. None.

"There's nothing." I state, flipping the card back and forth as if it will magically make a difference to its blankness.

"You've got to be kidding me," Luke says as I hand it over to him.

"I don't get it." I furrowed my eyebrows.

Luke walks over to the source of music and turns down the volume, "Hey everyone!" everyone in the room, which is roughly only about 20 people, turn to him and stop dancing - probably in hopes to receive an explanation on why the sudden pause on the music.

"Apologies for interrupting! I just want ask who out of you all has gifted the birthday girl this blank card in this vintage-looking envelope?" He yells, waving the teared envelope with the blank card in it.

Everyone exchanges quizzical looks and shaking of heads.

"No? No one? Okay then." Luke gets down from the chair, and resumes the volume of the music. He walks over to me and hands me the envelope with the card, "Either one of your cousins is playing a prank on you or no one really has a clue."

"Well, it would've been nice if there was at least one letter on here. Just anything really. But I doubt it's any of my cousins, they've all collectively just greeted me over the family group chat. " I chuckle.

"Oh well, after that shortly-lived adventure - I am starving. I think it's time we go get ourselves another slice of cake." He hooks our arms together and pulls me along with him towards the cake on the table.

"I agree." I grin.

Not long after, perhaps around midnight - my guests started to say their goodbyes and head home. The energy of the party has withered down, and myself included - needed to get some much needed sleep.

"I hope you've enjoyed your birthday, sweetheart." My Mother says, giving me a hug at the front door of my apartment.

"I have, Mom. Thank you so much."

"We'll text you once we get home, kiddo." Dad says, smiling at me as he gives me a hug.

"Okay. Love you both!"

Both give me wave before turning around and stepping out the front door. I shut the door and lock it, turning around myself and sighing in tiredness.

"I honestly have no idea how you manage to party throughout the week." I admit to Luke.

Luke and myself shared the apartment, so naturally he was already lying on the couch.

"Coffee, Nova. Coffee." He shortly replies.

"Seriously though. My energy is already drained and that wasn't even a crazy party."

Luke sits up and starts to clean up the table, I shortly join him but he promptly stops me from doing so.

"No way. You are the birthday girl, go get some rest. "

"Are you sure? I can help, it won't ta-"

"Dude, seriously. On the rare occasion that I do clean, which is right now, take advantage and just run." He shrugs.

I laugh because it is true, Luke was a rather messy person. He was not extremely messy. But let's just say he does get lazy when it comes to the action of cleaning his surroundings.

So, in this case, he does have a point.

"Okay, fine. Thanks, bestie." I give him a side hug and walk towards the stairs.

Once I reach my bedroom, I fight the urge to just plop down on the bed. I change into comfortable pyjamas, remove my makeup and place my jewellery on the dresser.

I yawn as my body finally greets the bed, I pull the duvet cover over myself. My gaze momentarily meet the journal on my nightstand, which reminds me of blank pages that I could fill to chronicle the events of today. But my fatigue is overpowering that action.

The blank pages make my mind revisit the same state in which the birthday card had, the one that was found in that vintage-looking red envelope. It was strange and made no sense at all. Surely, if it was a prank - then there would be some kind of joke written on the card. But there was nothing on there.

Nothing.

I feel the waves of fatigue slowly take control of my body, and I allow it. My body finally relaxes, as I am lulled into the hopes of a pleasant dream.

There is such serenity in the silence that greets you when you take a break from the world, and get that few moments of sleep. Some dreams I remember in vague details, others I do not remember at all - as if I did not dream at all and just slept in nothingness until the morning sun greets me.

My trail of thought is disrupted by the screeching sound of train tracks, I jolt awake with wide open eyes in panic. The sound is so vivid that It is possible that it is coming from just outside my apartment, which is impossible since I don't live anywhere near a train station.

It takes me a few seconds, but my eyes drink in my surroundings. To the right of me, a wide window that is speeding past the scenery of its exterior. My hands instinctively touch what is beside me - It seems that I am sat on a soft, blue plush wide seat. I already register my surroundings, but my brain cannot fathom the possibility of it.

I am on a train. A moving train that is going on to I don't know where. But the wooden furnishings of the train compartment make me believe that something is out of place. It all seems so new, but so old at the same time. Like an air clinging onto the past. But not quite.

"I found you. . . finally." A voice says, in a tone of sheer relief.

I freeze. My head turns to the source of the voice. The source being the man sat on the seat opposite to me in this train compartment. My eyes drink him in - a wave of thoughts crash through my mind.

His eyes are unmistakably beautiful. The color blue have never looked more ethereal, and the depth of his gaze made anyone maintaining eye contact with him re-adjust themselves. My throat felt dry all of a sudden. His strongly carved-out jawline was a perfect match for the deep cheekbones that adorned his face. A face that seems impossibly symmetrical - sculpted like the Greek gods one would hear about. His black hair felt into place deliciously against his tanned skin. His lips was curled into that infamous smirk to nicely add onto his overwhelmingly attractive aura.

It would be impossible to not know who I am facing.

"I. . .how? you?" Words fail me as I point at him.

He shakes his head, an amused chuckle escapes his mouth, "Hi, honey." He says, that deep southern drawl prominent in his tone.

I take a deep breath, "You're. . . him. Elvis Presley." I could not believe the words coming out of my mouth.

He nods, that smirk of his still very much there, "Yes. Yes I am. " He swiftly gets up, "Hold on."

He leaves the compartment and shortly returns with a glass of water, "Thought you might need it, darling."

He hands it to me and I gladly accept with a 'thank you', but my brain cannot comprehend the situation. While I'm drinking the water, I cannot keep my eyes off him - his aura was intensely surrounding me, but also the flood of questions that my brain begs to be answered.

His blue eyes never left mine, with the depth in his gaze - there was something else. There was a sense of disbelief I see in them, but pure joy mixed in too.

He leans in slightly and with a smile softly says, "I'm glad you're awake, Nova."

next chapter

#elvis x oc #elvis fanfic #elvis presley #elvis x original female character #original female character #fantasy #slow burn #angst #fluff #mystery #elvis fic #chapter 1

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penhero · 11 months

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Caran d'Ache Leman V2 Bicolor Black Fountain Pen Fine Open Stock $528 on eBay

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ecoamerica · 1 month

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youtube

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ticklishraspberries · 2 years

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Such A Nerd (Dipper, Pacifica)

Summary: While poking fun at Dipper about his nerdiness, Pacifica discovers a new thing to tease him about. (Based on an anonymous prompt! This fic can be interpreted as platonic or a ship, up to you, I wrote it pretty ambiguous on purpose. Anyway, hope you enjoy it!)

After the events at the Northwest mansion, the Pines twins realized that Pacifica was actually…kind of cool. Sure, she was still pretty stuck-up, arrogant, and occasionally quite mean, but she was also funny, adventurous, and had a secret soft side that very few people got the chance to see.

And while she still put on a high and mighty act about it all, Pacifica actually found herself visiting the Mystery Shack often, because she truly enjoyed spending time with Dipper and Mabel, who were like the first real friends she had ever had.

Mabel, who had put their silly rivalry behind her long ago, was over the moon to have a new friend to talk about the girly things her brother couldn’t understand. They talked about fashion, and Pacifica even admitted that Mabel’s knitted sweaters were quite cute, which prompted her to knit a custom purple sweater just for Pacifica, which she pretended to hate but secretly wore all the time.

And while Dipper liked to pretend it wasn’t a big deal, he was clearly happy to have her around, too. Fighting a ghost together was a sort of bonding experience that you just couldn’t brush aside, and so he found himself growing more and more fond of the blonde girl as the summer days went by.

That afternoon, Mabel had run off with Candy and Grenda, leaving Pacifica and Dipper alone at the Mystery Shack, sitting on the couch in the living room, watching television.

Well, Pacifica was watching the television. Dipper was scribbling away in his journal, filling in information about the ghost he had encountered in Pacifica’s mansion, and how Pacifica had so bravely defied her parents to defeat the vengeful spirit—

Beside him, Pacifica peered over his shoulder, and scoffed. “You know, most people attempt to entertain their guests,” she said, but her words lacked their usual venom.

“You can always go home if you’re that bored,” he replied simply.

She huffed, but stayed put on the couch, just like he’d suspected. “You are such a nerd.”

Dipper ignored her, writing a note about how the silver mirror was only a temporary solution, contrary to the author’s original findings. However, his concentration was quickly broken when Pacifica’s elbow nudged him in the side, making him draw a stray streak of ink on the page, a soft yelp of surprise escaping him.

Confusion overtook Pacifica’s face. “Did I hurt you or something?” she asked, clearly unsure how her touch had caused such a dramatic reaction.

Dipper flushed. “No, you’re fine, you just startled me,” he said.

At that moment, Mabel burst through the door, her two friends right behind her. “Dipper, you are such a bad host,” she said, shaking her head. “Hey Pacifica, want a tip on how to make my brother less boring?”

Pacifica perked up. “Absolutely.”

“Mabel, don’t,” Dipper warned.

“He’s probably the most ticklish person on the planet,” Mabel proudly announced. “Have fun!”

And before Dipper could say a word, she scampered off to the attic, giggling with Candy and Grenda the whole way.

“Oh, is that why you freaked out when I touched you?” Pacifica asked, a smile twisted on her lips.

The journal was suddenly forgotten as Dipper brought his hands up to guard his body, already beginning to giggle in anticipation. “Uh, okay, so maybe I lied,” he said. “But you should really just take Mabel’s word for it, you don’t have to try anything.”

“Oh, but I’m so bored,” she teased. “You’re my new source of entertainment!”

With that, she easily pushed Dipper’s hands out of the way and prodded at his stomach curiously. Unsurprisingly, her childhood had not included much roughhousing or playfulness, so she was only partially sure that she was going about the whole thing correctly. However, it seemed like it was working, because Dipper immediately curled in on himself, giggling like mad, face flushed a bright red color.

Pacifica was enjoying the power trip the playful attack gave her, watching her new friend squirm beneath her fingers. Usually, Dipper was more stoic and serious than his bubbly twin, and it was nice to see him let go and laugh. Especially because the sound was so sweet, all hiccupy and hysterical. Pacifica couldn’t think of a time she had ever laughed that hard in her life, and the thought would have saddened her if she wasn’t so focused on switching her tactic to squeezing at his sides, doing it gently as she wasn’t sure what pressure would be appropriate.

Clearly, it was working, because Dipper’s laughter continued, and he pushed at her arms uselessly. “Pacifica, please!”

“Please what?” she asked innocently.

“Cut it out!”

“Alright, I’ll stop…If you stop being such a nerd and actually do something fun with me,” she replied, latching onto the bottom of his ribs and scribbling her fingers.

With a squeal, Dipper’s hands grabbed onto her wrists for some kind of tether to distract from the sensation. “Okay, okay! We can do whatever you want!” he cried.

Pacifica grinned triumphantly, slowing her tickling fingers, but Dipper didn’t let go of her wrists right away, making her stomach flutter.

As he caught his breath, Dipper eventually let go, but stayed slumped against the couch. “I am going to kill Mabel for that,” he said.

“Please, I would have found out eventually,” she replied.

He gave a shy chuckle. “I guess so, yeah. Anyway, what do you wanna do now?”

Pacifica hummed. She hadn’t thought that far ahead. “Why don’t you show me some of that nerdy journal of yours?” she suggested, surprised at herself even as the words left your mouth.

Dipper seemed equally as shocked, but excited nevertheless. “Really? I mean, you don’t just have to say that, if you’re not interested.”

“I know, dummy, now just show me before I change my mind,” she said, but she was smiling.

And so, Dipper took Pacifica on a tour of the aging pages of the journal, through all the drawings and writings about the creatures that he and Mabel had encountered, and as he spoke, Pacifica found herself completely fascinated by his stories, and happily rested her head on his shoulder while she listened.

“You’re such a nerd,” she said at one point.

“Hey, you wanted to hear about this,” he replied. “Maybe you’ve just been holding out on your own nerdiness.”

That earned him a jab to the side that sent him into a new fit of giggles, and while neither of them wanted to admit it, they each thought that the other was pretty cool.

#dipifica #pacifica northwest #dipper pines #ticklish!dipper #ticklish dipper pines #gravity falls tickle fic #gravity falls ticklefic #gravity falls #tickle fic #ticklefic #raspberry writes

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wildjuniperjones · 2 years

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Writeblr Re-Introduction: NaNo Edition

Wild Juniper Jones

Writeblr & Writeblr Encourager

This NaNo season, I'll be focusing on the main WIP that has consumed my brain for the past year - now titled Bonds of Trust.

My Works

I write primarily fantasy, with dips into historical fiction, alternate history, sci-fi, romance, and erotica. Themes include friendship, solidarity, trust, healing from trauma, and explorations of identity.

Bonds of Trust (formerly Starcrossed) - modern fantasy, romance, erotica

When a succubus grad student/dominatrix meets a hurokin martial arts instructor/former MMA star, an unlikely friendship forms. Can they overcome their past traumas and learn to trust one another? And what happens when their past comes back to haunt them?

Features: non-binary, intersex character, PoC main characters, positive depictions of sex work and kinks, two POV

Warnings: explicit sex scenes, alcohol use/abuse, historical dissonance

Amongst the Goblins & the Fishes - steampunk fantasy, adventure

A soldier returns from war, forever changed, forever wounded, forever burdened with the secrets best left on the battlefield. Can he evade his government's agents to get the information to the Azure Knight? And more importantly, can he heal from his wounds, both inside and out?

Features: transmasculine, disabled MC

Warnings: violence, PTSD, trauma

The Silver Hand - fantasy, alternate history, mystery, adventure

A group of monster hunters only known as The Silver Hand scour the forests of Scandinavia in search of prey. But when one among them is killed, what had been a safe haven now feels like a prison. Can they discover the killer before it's too late? [Very tentative plot]

Features: diverse cast

Warnings: violence, trauma, PTSD

Anarchy Ink - historical fiction, mystery

When a poor, shrewish printer is courted by an uptown gentleman, she can't believe her luck - until their first date ends abruptly upon discovery of a murdered reporter. Now they're under investigation, and escape seems like the only sensible option. But where in Chicago can they find safe harbor? And can they find the killer before he strikes again?

Features: platonic relationship, disabled character, anarchists, communists, ACAB

Warnings: violence, trauma, PTSD, alcohol use/abuse, corruption

The Delta - sci-fi, mystery

A generation ship has journeyed for more than a hundred years in search of a new earth to call home. Now they think they've found the right place, but the rule they hold sacrosanct comes into question - they cannot colonize a planet occupied by sentient creatures. Does this new world hold promise? Or ruin?

Features: non-binary MC, queer & poly relationships, experimental social structures

Warnings: angst, mostly

Another Lost Cause: The Life & Times of William Clark - alternate history, mystery, solarpunk

Larger than life. A legend. William Clark was a genius entrepreneur turned philanthropist, turned statesman, rising to the presidency faster than any before him. He revolutionized the energy sector, communications, manufacturing, all with an eye towards creating his utopia. But as his biographer discovers, the man may not have been all he seemed, and something darker was at play...

Features: non-binary PoC MC, queer & poly relationships, solarpunk vibes

Warnings: historical dissonance (may cause a feeling of loss for a world that never existed, retelling of most of 20th - 21st century history)

Writeblr-Specific Info

I am open to and excited for any and all ask/tag games! You can always tag me or ask me anything, especially if you're needing encouragement this NaNo season (and anytime). I try to keep politics off this blog, and keep it to @juniperjones-else. Occasionally I'll slip up, but I do try to tag everything (usually with #capitalism bad), so filter if you need to.

Witchblr-Specific Info

I originally made this blog for witchblr reasons, so you might see that kind of content crop up now and then, but my main focus is writing. I'm interested in astrology, tarot, sigils, and chaos magic. I consider myself to be a hedgewitch, incorporating neo-shamanism (yes I know, but I don't have a better word for it), herbalism, and cosmic witchcraft (paying attention to the astrological makeup of times and dates with regard to workings). I'm not terribly active, but it's still very important to me, and it shows up in my writing with some regularity. I primarily work with genius loci, or location spirits, on land stolen from the Cowlitz tribe and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians & Grand Ronde.

A Note on Appropriation

I'm white. I'm so white I'm see-through. The only claim I can make to an ethnicity is Lithuanian.

I acknowledge my privilege to be able to have the leisure to post and write freely, even if I am disabled. Not everyone has that luxury. I write about cultures and people who are not my own, experiences that are not my own, and though I do my research, I am bound to get something wrong. It is not anyone's job to correct me or educate me, but I certainly appreciate it when folks do so, because the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone with my words. I am doing what work I can to uplift POC authors, and would welcome anyone who wants a signal boost to tag me, DM me, or send me an ask. I realize that it's the bare minimum I can do, but it's what I can do without seeming overly performative. I know I can do better, but I can't do so without knowing what I'm doing wrong in the first place.

Thank you for your patience, your grace, and your time.

#pinned bios #writeblr intro #witchblr intro #writeblr #witchblr

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inukag-archive · 2 years

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Favorite story where for some reason Kagome become demon/hanyou?

You got it, anon! Here’s a list of stories where Kagome either starts off as or becomes demon/hanyou. Happy reading!

The Little Human by Silken Ink (M)

She is willing to break all the rules, leave everything behind, even give up her own voice...and maybe her very soul... for the freedom to be herself, to see beyond the walls of her tiny world, and to choose to stand by the side of the one she loves. Will Kagome find love and life, or will she fail and be consumed?

Metamorphosis by King Baka (E)

"Sometimes in the winds of change we find our true direction." An unusual youkai attack transforms Kagome's very being. Can she come to terms with her new self, and can Inuyasha accept, perhaps even love, the new Kagome?

Holding Out for a Hero by @lavendertwilight89 (E)

Inuyasha has always lived alone until the new lord of the Western Lands banished all kinds of beings onto his lands. Now he is tasked with rescuing a princess from a dragon for the lord can marry her. But what happens when they fall in love along with way?

Two Sides of the Same Moon by SailorChibi (T)

After participating in a ritual to save Inuyasha's life, newly hanyou Kagome awakens to find herself trapped on her side of the well. But the story isn't over... it's just continuing in a different way in a new time with the same players as before.

Through Another’s Eyes by @that-one-nerdy-gal (T)

All a witch wanted was some peace and quite, but apparently that's too much to ask for these days. Especially when a specific silver haired young hanyou and his strangely dressed companion start a screaming match. This witch is about to teach this "so-obviously-in-love-but-won't-admit-it" couple a lesson in actually listening to each other!

Shattered and Remade by Gypsyn (M)

Naraku's new demon wields the power to attack the soul directly. His target? Kagome. The attack leaves her barely alive and her soul shattered. Now the only way to save her is if Inuyasha agrees to share a bit of his soul and healing ability with her. But the spell is more binding than anyone anticipated and shows him more of his miko than he ever thought he'd see.

The B Word by TheMondayChild (E)

Two half-demons during mating season. What will happen? I think we all know.

For Him by Silken Ink (M)

Learn archery, become a priestess, learn patience in the face of unrequited love, fight a crazy zombie ex-girlfriend, get beaten up by flying monkeys, turn into a demon …. there was nothing Kagome wouldn't do …. for him. This is a re-imagining and rearranging of the original plot line, with more romance and a few new elements thrown in for funzies.

Turnabout is Fair Play by Ookami-chan (M)

A hazy night and a mysterious tattoo somehow turn out to be the perfect way to balance the odds.

Miko Malice by Emilyblood (M)

Trying to escape tension with his family, Inuyasha finds himself gambling at a seedy tavern. When he wins more than he bargained for, our hanyou is forced to befriend a young nekohanyou slave named Kagome who is more than she appears to be.

The Captain and the Hanyo by @goshinote (T)

In a world in which youkai have been forced into hiding after the Great War, Captain Higurashi is known as one of the cruelest youkai-hunting pirates. After Captain Higurashi kidnaps Inuyasha, a prized hanyo, a plan is set in motion. Inuyasha will find out Captain Higurashi is nothing like the stories say, and he will discover that nothing is truly as it seems...

In the Beholder’s Eye by Sarga (T)

Naraku is dead, the jewel is whole. A wish takes place leaving Kagome in a lifealtering situation. How will everyone react? AN: Story includes all main characters. No explicit content.

A Monk’s Curse, A Cat’s Cure by @mrfeenysmustache (T)

Inuyasha is a humble monk learning to devote his life to faith and the service of others, until his fellow monks turn on him for daring to befriend a yokai. Woken up after being sealed away for 500 years, he’s out of time and out of place, until a sweet, friendly Hanyo with an even sweeter family give him a new place to belong.

Aftereffects by osuwariboy (T)

The last battle with Naraku has been fought and the jewel is finally complete. With Miroku and Sango down for the count, can Inuyasha and Kagome prevent the jewel from falling into the hands of evil once again?

Evolution Charm by BonaFideGarbage (M)

When Inuyasha meets a female half-demon named Kagome, his viewpoint on the world is suddenly changed, but is there more to this half-demon that even she doesn't know about? SlightAU, Inu/Kag, lemon, foul language, etc... You've been warned!

Kagome a Hanyou? by Clouds of the Sky (T)

Kikyo has discovered Kagome's secret. In a attempt to turn Inuyasha against Kagome she brings that secret to light. What does Inuyasha think of Kagome now that he found out she lied to him? What do their friends think?

#inukag archive #inukag fanfic #hanyou kagome #demon kagome

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duckprintspress · 2 years

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Contributor Spotlights: Tris Lawrence and Annabeth Lynch

Welcome to She Wears the Midnight Crown and He Bears the Cape of Stars, two brand-new anthologies that share a common theme – masquerades – but tell different types of stories – wlw in She Wears the Midnight Crown and mlm in He Bears the Cape of Stars. These collections are the latest titles from Duck Prints Press, the indie publisher founded by fans to publish original works by fan creators, and they’re crowdfunding NOW, only on Seed & Spark!

Curious about the collections? Well, here’s a sneak peek of the works of two of our creators!

He Bears the Cape of Stars Contributor Spotlight: Tris Lawrence

Biography: Tris Lawrence has been writing since she was a child, filling notebooks with the worlds, dreams, and voices from inside her head. She declared in sixth grade that she wanted to be a writer, promptly started drafting her first novel in seventh grade, and never looked back.

Tris has always been fascinated by the way people work: how their relationships fit together, how they interact socially, how they learn and discover. She has read avidly her entire life, devouring mysteries, romances, science fiction, and fantasy novels, and as an adult still loves all of these genres, as well as reading YA constantly. Her favorite stories center on people who are learning or discovering new things, and coming-of-age stories top that list, which is how the school of Pine Hills University came to be. She wants to share stories of people who are learning how to relate to each other, how to adult, how to college, and how to just be. She hopes to share stories about diverse characters with representation of everything she wishes she could have read growing up, and she hopes that these stories will touch the lives and hearts of those who read them.

When not writing, Tris is a wife, a mother (to two children, a cat, and a dog), a knitter, a system administrator, a black belt in taekwondo, an avid reader, and a music aficionado. Sleep, she claims, is optional.

Links: Facebook | Pillowfort | Tumblr | Twitter

Story Title: Delta

Teaser:

Ellis tried to imagine any of the people at work playing the game. Maybe someone down in IT, or one of the folks in Marketing… he couldn’t imagine any of the executives he worked with, or the financial people. On the other hand, he supposed no one would expect him to play, either. While Ellis would bet money that none of the people he worked with—or the other parents and teachers he had to deal with for his family—played Delta, he could be wrong.

It’s a risk I’m willing to take. Delta is the only place I feel like me. I spend so much time feeling uncomfortable in my own skin, I just want to have something here to remind me every day that I’m still me under the hood. I feel real in Delta. More real than reality. I want to be able to see the ink and have that touchstone for myself.

Ellis cleaned up his office, neatly stacking papers for tomorrow and writing out a list of tasks that needed to be done first thing. He responded to the one email that came in, then shut down his computer for the day. Anyone else who needed him here could wait.

Sasha’s message came in just as Ellis was retwisting the low bun in his hair. He stuck the hair pin in to hold it in place, then looked at his phone.

You don’t feel real?

She Wears the Midnight Crown Contributor Spotlight: Annabeth Lynch

Biography: Annabeth Lynch is a genderfae (she/they), bisexual author who writes mostly queer stories, preferring to write marginalized characters finding love. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, daughter, and two very overweight cats.

Links: Facebook | Instagram

Story Title: Silver Secrets

Teaser:

“How did you know it was me?”

Kanna shook her head. “I will always know you. You are the one thing that is never lost to me.”

Thalia’s eyes were still bright with unshed tears when she leaned into Kanna, their lips brushing. “You always were too smart for your own good,” she whispered against Kanna’s mouth.

Kanna pulled away, putting her hands on Thalia’s cheeks. “I need you to tell me right now. You didn’t do this, did you?”

“What? Of course not. How could you think that?” Thalia gasped, eyes wide.

“I don’t. But if you did, you can’t lie to me. I need to know now. Before the cops get here and start looking. I will always protect you unconditionally. You know that.”

“You saw me through my mask, can you not see me through my words?”

There was a long pause as Kanna stroked her cheeks. After a moment she said, “I see you, Thalia.”

Intrigued? You should be! But, if you want to read the rest of these stories you’ll need to back our campaign, running now through July 14th, 2022!

Visit our Campaign Page Now!

#duck prints press #mlm fiction #wlw fiction #queer fiction #queer anthology #genderqueer characters #genderqueer fiction #trans character #trans stories #crowdfunding

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maguro13-2 · 1 month

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Demons Unleashed ~ Origins of the Ink Demon Gaiden Finale (5/10)

[Crisis City (Classic Ver.) - Tomoya Ohtani]

*IFRIT ROARING*

Eggman Nega : Yes, Ifrit! Yes! Once I have enough more chao to feed, I will have enough more time to get rid of that pesky Robotnik that is always getting in the way! Huh? Where did the chao, who freed them all!? This can't be happening!

(we then show Silver and Espio freeing the chao)

Silver : When it comes to monsters, Gods, and machines, this is what I do religion and no, summoning the Ifrit is a Dark Fantasy thing.

Espio : Quite be to be having this weird friendship, it's not a gay lord thing, it's a friends thing, although you acted like a jerk back in the year 06 in terms of being called a douche.

Silver : Yeah, you're right. I had no chills and I was being savage towards sonic since 06 was retconned, I apologized for that matter. So now that we're freeing all of the chao to get secured by custody, who's going to look after them? Maybe security knows about that.

Espio : Who knows? It's good that we have someplaces needed to be.

Eggman Nega : Who's down there!?

Silver : Yikes!

Espio : Damn we've been detected again! (talks into communicator) Hey, Vector. We finally managed to free all the Chao. Eggman Nega were using these lifeforms to lured to the Ifrit as food. It's no wonder that the villains of our world or universe had the nerves to be so-selfish and get away with everything that is homicide, genocide, or omnicide!

Silver : After 06 mysteries, I don't know how that's gonna work on us!

Vector : (via communicator) That's quite weird so why did a villain from another dimension wanted Eggman's world to be extinct in order to recreate Crisis City.

Espio : Because he's not from another dimension, he's from 200 years in the future of our world.

Vector : (via communicator) That explains how did Nega appeared during the Black Alien invasion since the Dreamcast Era ended over a year ago.

Silver : which is kind of messed up for a bunch of idiots who gave those Emeralds here in our world.

Espio : Don't mind that, stuff let's just get these Chao to safety and get the hell out of here. (tries to leave, but Metal Sonic 3.0 is in the way) Pardon me, sir. It seems that you are in the way.

Silver : Uhh, I think that's Metal Sonic 3.0.

Espio : [he and Silver Looks at each other] Uh-oh.

(Metal Sonic 3.0 chases the two while running around)

Silver & Espio : *SFX : Sonic EXE scream*

Eggman Nega : (chuckles) That'll keep them busy! Alright, on to summoning the Ifrit.

*FLAMES WHOOS+BOOM!*

Blaze : Eggman Nega! So this is what you're cooking! I should've known you were from 200 years in the future, am I not correct?

Eggman Nega : You pitfiful princess, I see that you dare stand in my way of getting what's rightfully mine.

Blaze : Oh no, you don't. Nobody's getting away with it, after our encountered since the Black Arms invasion, I despise of you making a mess between the two fights and then I had a fight over Sonic against you for stealing the Sol Emeralds. Two Eggmans, two worlds, one planet. I am desperate of saving my people from the clutches of you and 200 years in the future. I hope you are going down with the ship, Negative.

Eggman Nega : Oh, I wouldn't mind doing that. Whisker. Can you handle this one with a big knock out. This one has kept it's nine lives with.

Captain Whisker : Arrrgh! With pleasure, matey!

Blaze : Huh? Hey, what the-!? (Whiskers traps her in a sack as scene goes black)

*Waves crashing*

Blaze : (wakes up, groaning) Huh? Where the heck am I? What am I doing here? Hey, what is this place!?

Marine : Oi, Mate! You just made it!

Blaze : Huh? Marine!

"MARINE THE RACCOON : INHABITANT SOUTHERN ISLAND"

Blaze : Marine! What are you doing here!?

Marine : I was in bit of a pickle after Sonic and friends were fighting against fire demon, reminded of the one you sealed with another fire demon from the future.

Blaze : That was retconed a year ago. Sonic 06 has never been same since all evidence and events of the game's story were reset by him, thanks to the Princess of Soleanna! I never fought that would really choke my gizards after Eggman Nega was using that creature.

Marine : I'm afraid so. Guess it's your call to be the lucky one around here.

Captain Whisker : We don't take many visitors from those who has ever roamed the Seven seas! As collecting the Sol Emeralds of getting a 100% completion, I suggested that this will be your final "Walk the plan" and directly send you to Davey Jones with ye! And it makes me go Cattywampus on the poop deck!

Marine : Oi, when did he get into Pirate talk in this time of year. This isn't the 17th century, you know and it's not North Carolina. We're talking it to a major swell here, Mate.

Blaze : You're not having a Big Swelling fever I might ask you that.

Marine : What makes you say that, Mate?

Blaze : That's because we're on the Big Swell!

[Big Swell - Tomoya Ohtani]

Captain Whisker : Sorry for the intrusion, Princess! I'd be gladly ask if you tell me that we were going to retrieve the jeweled to Scepter to the two robotniks from two worlds.

Blaze : What!? So this was all of Eggman's scheme to take the Jewel Scepter that was inside the cave of Corals? That darn scientist, I knew he would come up with a plan on destroying planets. It's not like anyone can get away with attempted omnicide or anything.

Captain Whisker : Introducing the last of the greatest Ghost Machines that scorches ocean floors of your world, Princess!

(Ghost Titant eyes shine)

Captain Whisker : Call him Ghost Titan! A pinnacle of robot energy capable with built-in missiles from it's shoulder, a genuine robot of the greatest pirate army! The ultimate weapon of a pirate!

Blaze : Can't say no to that! Looks like you're gonna regret that on a evening like that every day! I won't let you do this to my world ever again!

Captain Whisker : Enough talk! Let's see if you can outsmart Ghost Titan that is the number one ghost titan of the century!

Blaze : I wouldn't think so. I bigger plans to make it out, you're just gonna cut some slack into it. You dig?

Captain Whisker : What!?

(Bob-Omb noises)

Captain Whisker : Argh! This is driving me nuts!

*DBZ/One Piece SFX : Loud Explosions*

Blaze : Come on, Marine! Let's get of this thing before it blows!

Marine : Right back at ya, mate! (the two runs off)

Blaze : Hang on!

Marine : This is going to get Messy...! JUUUUMP! (the two jumps off)

Blaze : Huaaaaaaaah!!!

*DBZ SFX : Grab*

Marine : Huh? What's going on? Did we dipped our selves into the water no?

Blaze : Whatever it is. Something's grabbing my hand.

Mizune : Hey, you need a lift? You could really use a hand here!

Blaze : Oh, lucky me! A witch.

Mizune : That's top hat Mizune for you. I'm a world-class treasure hunter. Them pirates had been scurvy for some jome kind of Jeweled scepter.

Blaze : I understand that would be the consequences. So how on earth did you manage to catch us quickly?

Mizune : Easy! I did it with the help of my mousey friends.

*DBZ SFX : Surprise*

Marine : Crikey! That's a lot of mices! Good thing that they become a great help!

Blaze : Don't get me crazy on this one, a treasure hunter a bunch of mice from Nintendo. Wait, their mouses big ears.

Mizune : Alright, everyone! Pull us up! Get those muscles working!

Blaze : Well, this considered to be a great help.

Marine : I wonder who should we meet.

(cuts to the three entering the room)

Mizune : Sorry it took so long, sir. I managed to bring the cat and the raccoon girl to get them inside the ship.

Daroach : Good work, Mizune. So you did find out who's been turning the tables wide open.

Mizune : Just a friendly reminder, that mad scientist from 200 years in Sonic's world was going to planet in Omnicide. I don't what the big fusses of what's going to happen for this planet.

Daroach : It's going to be a remarkable deduction on whether that mad man has been feeding off the lifeforms that were a part of the Chaos Heritage. But I felt that the man from 200 years will pay.

[Cutscene : Normal - Serirou Okamoto]

Marine : That's great to hear, mate. Blaze will become something even greater than being a princess. She will become the Princess that seeks just against the man who sabotages the planet for omnicide! No evildoers will make a smart move to destroy the world and that's why the princess is always on the horizon! Thank you! Thank you!

Mizune : Yeah...I reconsidered that to be my own princess of Justice. So much for not giving any instructions on whether you fight or crime or crime doesn't pay a price and I was that cool that it would be all a misunderstanding. So if I'm willing to think that we needed all something that could help the planet be protected and defended from the deadly forces that tried to bring galactic Conquest.

Marine : That's because no jerk would wanna do something bad, and I reconsider that obligated negotiations! So that's why we're saving this planet from evil deterioration, we shall never surrender!

Daroach : You got a point tho. And that's really surprisingly a fact about evil deterioration.

Blaze : We'll do, sir. We'll do. (in mind) Sheesh! When do I give extra credit for being the sole princess that goes solo on my sorry flaming tail. Too bad there's no way that we could pull this one off. [talks out normaly] *clears throat* Thanks for pulling us up, sir. I mean Madam. We somehow managed to get into your ship. So what brings us here?

Jet : What brings you here, (turns chair to reveal himself) is that you got a lot of guts meeting Sonic again. I heard that he collected one of the Eight Pure Hearts that connects to the Eight vessels, known as the Eight Pillars that were used as keys to unleash that "what-ya-gonna-call it" into the galaxy.

Blaze : It's Darkness, Jet of the Babylon Rogues. Of course Sonic was given a Green Pure Heart from the boy who created Soul World due to leading to the 1000 year annihilation in the Ohkuboverse. What did you brought something in your hand?

Jet : This? This one on my hand is the Ark of the Cosmos, we are not destined to meet a reunion by the year 2008, that's when this 14-year old meister chick is going to have her very own TV show, which will lead to her humiliation.

Blaze : Ark of the Cosmos, Maka, TV show? 2008. That's the year when Sonic and the others will face new dangers, but he will face the entire world of dangers before...he could even join Smash. That's his own prediction of Joining as Smash Bros.'s first third-party characters to join the fight. This could change everything since we participated in the Olympics. I will help him out, so that's why I decide that we will take down the evil forces that have been unleashing the demons into this world! So help me out with this one! It's time for me to gather the Sol Emeralds and become Burning Blaze once more!

~ Stage 34 : A Princess's Justice ~

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yabutsuba · 5 months

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Loved by the Gods Though the Way Home is Lost

#len'en #touhou #lumen celeritas #nitori kawashiro #the idea behind this is that #The Gensokyo the Gods Loved is sometimes called “the Gensokyo anthem”#and Though The Way Home Is Lost ~ KEEP_IN was made with the image of the entire Mugenri in mind #+ both happen to be stage 3 themes #so it'd be neat to combine the two stages & their bosses and show the contrast between the fantastical Gensokyo and the cage-like Mugenri #mysterious origin “ink and silver”

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agentrcmedy · 11 months

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@peacereflected | starter

“Sh-Hill? Romanoff?” The static response that met her on the end of her earpiece was more deafening than a thunderclap of lightning close by as she glanced out from her hideout tentatively. There was no sound of gunshots, no scuffling or grunting of people fighting. Eerily, she could hear nothing but her own sharp breaths as she tried not to panic. Where did her team disappear to? She could not remain in one place for too long, as this mission was particularly dangerous for someone not well versed in offensive combat. And...well, Mel was not versed in any type of combat except self defense when her life was on the line.

Surreptitious as her lithe figure slunk along the wall in shadows, keeping her dark chocolate gaze constantly sliding back and forth at her deathly still surroundings, she tightened her trembling grasp against her handgun. She had originally protested against using a weapon, normally being the healer of her team, yet the other women had insisted considering she was not yet fully trained from the assassin and S.H.I.E.L.D. commander. She would thank them later if the three of them got out of this mission in one piece.

Her feet faltered as her abilities picked up a strange energy, nearly robotic in form as it sought out targets like a tiger in the underbrush of the jungle stalking its prey. Why she chose to follow the energy, she did not know. Instinct pulled her in that direction, and as she peeked around the corner, she looked upon a man clad in black and silver, mask and scruffy chocolate hair shielding his features and ensuring his identity remained a mystery, his daunting metallic arm inked with a red star. Who on earth was this man, and what was he hunting? Pressing backwards into the shadows, she remained concealed as she gazed upon him, slowing her own breathing and trying to remain stock still and calm on the other side of the corner.

#peacereflected #closed starter #we'll avenge it; younger timeline moments

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timelessamritsar · 1 year

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Sushma Rapolu, Hyderabad

Catalogue for Art Expo-Amritsar Spring 2023

(15 june - 30 aug) | Curated by: Vulcan Art Gallery | 📍Timeless Amritsar,8, Queens'Road, Amritsar

Artist statement

This is Sushma Rapolu an Indian Artist Belongs to Hyderabad, India and I’m a self-taught Artist. I usually work on acrylic medium. My Art work includes- Kerala mural, Madubani, contemporary, pencil art, Abstract Resin, Texture, Fluid, Alcoholic Ink, Oil paniting etc I always paint impressionistic and surrealistic way. I feel a moment or visualize some ideas and paint it so that, others can also feel the same. Art for me is pure form of emotion. I personally believe, whatever you feel, the mood and atmosphere, the inner mind starts developing that strongly into a painting. If you can feel the subject, it becomes easier to paint. I don’t Levy any rules and regulation for my artworks. It happens many a time when I just follow my instinct, impulse which arouses me to paint. The painting captures my flowing life- energy through all those strokes and colors. It’s like a meditation.

-sushma rapolu

Chess KING, with Gold & Silver Leafs

Acrylic with Gold & Silver Leaf on Canvas

48 x 36 in

₹77,999/-

King – A true King is always a King.So, What is your Description about King?

Colorful Life

Acrylic on Canvas

24 x 24 in

₹24,999/-

Showing Abstract with Candy Bright colors which makes you feel pleasant, “ Make your Life colorful.”

Amritsar - Golden Temple

Acrylic on Canvas

32 x 26 in

₹59,999/-

One of my favourite Painting, Here I'm trying to show Golden Temple with Unique look surrounded with different kinds of flowers and peace Nature.

Guitar & Piano Gold Leaf Art

Acrylic with Gold Leaf on Canvas

48 x 36 in

₹84,999/-

Guitar & Piano Art is made with Gold Leaf, which is representing the Precious of music

Shree Yantra

Acrylic on Canvas

30 x 30 inches

₹53,999/-

Sri Yantra, also known as Sri Chakra, is a complex sacred geometry used for worship, devotion and meditation. Yantra means 'instrument' or 'machine' in Sanskrit. This sacred symbol is in use for thousands of years, and its origin is clouded in mystery. Also The Sri Yantra is the symbol of Hinduism, which is based on the Hindu philosophy of the vedas. The Sri Yantra is the object of devotion in Sri Vidya. The Shri Yantra represents the evolution of the multiverse as a result of the natural Divine Will of the Godhead Aadi Paraa Shakti.

Support Partners for Art Expo - Amritsar Summer 2023

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doodlegirl12345 · 2 years

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Lilies {One Shot}

Hello everyone, it’s Doodle again posting one of my older stories. Just like the previous story this was originally written during the hiatus between season 3 & season 4 of Miraculous Ladybug. So it’s been a while and the series have significantly progressed since then. But I figured there might be someone on here might enjoy it.

So without farer ado here’s one of my throwback stories “Lilies”. I hope you like it! 💕

Also available on Wattpad

Previous throwback story: A Friendship Tested

Lilies

Toxicity.

When we step out in this world the most common thing that is done is forming relationships with others. We are born into most of them but others are created from work and compatibility. But just because these self made relationships are formed does not mean that they are always healthy especially if they are romantic. As people can be toxic to others without even knowing it. They can lead you down a dark path with their own addictions and bad habits. A path that can impossible get off without being rewarded with a few scars. But if you are lucky then you will realize the best thing to do is to walk away before a tragic mistake is made.

It was late spring morning when Nathalie Sancoeur walked through the foyer of the Agreste Mansion to enter the residence’s shared office. She approached the office’s double doors with a large Starbucks caramel Frappuccino in hand and a black messenger bag filled to the brim with papers on her shoulder.

Instead of her usual attire the assistant was wearing a black lace blouse with sheer short sleeves, red slacks, black lace high heels and a delicate silver linked pendant around her neck. Her blueish black long hair was pulled back into a low ponytail. Compared to other days her outfit might have seemed a little much, but again today was her birthday.

If she couldn’t dress up today, of all days, then when?

The assistant took a slip of her coffee letting the caffeine add to her already low energy. A fact that was apparent from the dark circles underneath her eyes. They had appeared only a few days ago even with the maximum application of foundation and concealer; they were still apparent, just a little less so. This was new but seemed to fall underneath the category of the changes in her physical health along with her coughing and lack of energy. But in her mind, it wasn’t much that a little makeup and coffee couldn’t fix.

Besides, she needed to work as her job was important even if it was different from others. That was one of the reasons she unlike other people she didn’t take off or complained about working on her birthday. Other than dressing up and a few endearing birthday cards in the mail from relatives today was just another day. Nathalie opened the door and entered the office expecting to be the first one here like usual.

So imagine her shock when she turned to her desk to see a crystal vase filled with a large bouquet of pearl white lilies tied with a purple ribbon. Nathalie’s face lit up with intrigue. She put her coffee down on the desk as she noticed a small white card attached to it with a message written in black ink:

Happy Birthday, Nathalie!

-Gabriel

Suddenly the assistant’s face turned a shade of rosy pink as a soft grin formed on her face.

He remembered. Nathalie thought, touching the velvety soft petals of the flowers.

This act of kindness pleased her as she examined the vase and undid the soft violet ribbon. It was oblivious to anyone with eyes that Gabriel and Nathalie had gotten close over the past few months. To unwitting eyes this was a mystery, a shock as Ms. Sancoeur had worked for the Agreste family for a number of years and nothing seemed to spawn from it until a few months ago. But the witting eyes knew why; that they shared a bond doing something with good intentions but insidious actions.

An act that if it was common knowledge would paint them differently in the eyes of the public. But nevertheless, that bond and this act had only deepened her apparent feelings for him. No matter how wrong they might be, especially since he’s still married.

Suddenly there was a knock on the office door. Nathalie put the flowers that were her hands back in the vase. “Come in.”

The door gently swung open as Adrien entered the office with one hand kept behind his back.

“Hey Nathalie,” he greeted her.

“Good morning Adrien,” Nathalie said as he approached her. “If you are looking for your father he hasn’t come down yet. I’m assuming he’s still upstairs.”

“I figured, Father usually likes to sleep late on Saturdays. But actually I was looking for you.”

“Really? What do you need?”

Adrien moved his hand behind his back revealing a small green gift bag in his hand. “Happy Birthday Nathalie.”

The assistant’s eyes widened with surprise as he handed her the bag. “Oh Adrien, thank you. But you didn’t have to get me anything.”

“But I wanted to, you have done so much for my father and I. Especially these last couple months, giving you a present on your birthday is the least I could do.”

Nathalie smiled, she wrapped her arm around him giving a hug. “Trust me, it’s not a problem.”

“Good to hear, so are you going to open it?” Adrien asked as she let go of him.

“Of course,” she said, putting her hand in the bag fishing underneath the thin black tissue paper. Her fingers felt something hard and plastic. She pulled it out to reveal a red and navy beaded bracelet. “Whoa, did you make this?”

“Yeah I had some beads and elastic left over when I made another gift for one of my friends a couple months ago. But just in case you think that’s lame there’s also a Starbucks gift card in the bag too. I got it yesterday after Gorilla picked me up from fencing practice.”

“It’s fine,” she slid the bracelet on her left wrist. “I love it, thank you.”

“No problem, so are you going to do something special for yourself this year?”

“It’s still up in the air as I really don’t do that much when it comes to my birthday. I guess it depends how late your father needs me to stay tonight. By the way, don’t you have a date with Kagami today?”

“Yeah, we are supposed to go to the theater to finally see that movie The Halcyon Court. I heard from Nino that it’s really good.”

“Great, so are you actually going to keep your phone this time?” Nathalie asked, putting the gift bag on the desk.

“Depends, are you and Gorilla going to give us privacy this time like you promised?” the model narrowed his eyes at her.

“Yes,” Nathalie narrowed her eyes back.

“Then yes,” his features softened.

“Good,” Nathalie sat behind her desk and slid off her messenger bag. “But don’t you also have a final paper on the book How to Kill A Mockingbird due on Monday?”

“Um...yeah,” Adrien’s emerald eyes shifted. “I’m almost done.”

“Really? How far? The assignment sheet stated that the paper should be at least five and a half pages.”

“About two and half.”

“That’s not bad, it’s almost ten if you get to work soon then you should most likely finish before we have to leave for your date around three.”

“It’s not due until Monday. I got time.”

“Actually you don’t. I’m not even looking at your schedule and I know you have a public appearance at the PAWS Animal Shelter fundraiser tomorrow. It’s going to take up the majority of the day. So unless you have plans of staying up late tomorrow I suggest you do as much as you can today.”

“Oh your right, I forgot about that.”

“It’s alright but I suggest you take advantage of the time you have. As the school year is ending soon and that paper is going to affect your final grade. You don’t want to have any reason for your father to reconsider letting you return to public school for the next school year, do you?”

“No,” Adrien sighed. “So I’ll get to work right now.”

“I’m just looking out for you,” she told him as he started to leave the office. “Thank you for the present.”

Adrien just nodded his head as he left the office, closing the door behind him. With that Nathalie opened her messenger bag and started to pull out paperwork for the day. Then turned on the desk’s computer to get started. She started to run through her mental list of things to needed to do today: check work email for last minute details for tomorrow fundraiser, place a order of several rolls of various silk fabric, book the next location for Adrien’s photoshoot, contact Adrien’s photographer-

Just then there was a click of the office’s doors as they opened again but this time it was her boss Gabriel Agreste. The man entered the room with a tablet in one hand and a small silver metallic suitcase in the other. Nathalie’s face lit up as the fashion designer approached her desk.

“Good Morning,” the assistant smiled as he put his belongings on her desk. “How are you?”

“Fine, I had already got work done,” he answered before his eyes shifted to flowers. Then he gave her a little smile. “I see you have gotten flowers.”

“I did,” she gave him a little coy smile. “How did you know that lilies are my favorite flower?”

“I have my ways,” he said. “But you did comment on them a few weeks ago when you trailed behind Flora Gal. When she led Ladybug and Chat Noir to a public garden. You said that white lilies looked lovely.”

“You actually remembered that. Thank you but you really didn’t have to get me anything.”

“After everything that you have done these past months. Flowers are the least that I could do considering that you don’t like to make a big deal about your birthday.”

“That means a lot, Gabriel,” Nathalie took a sip of her coffee as she felt her heart fluttering in her chest.

One of the signs of their closeness seemed to be that some boundaries have fallen. Or at least redefined as a few weeks ago Nathalie mistakenly called her employer by his first name instead of sir or Mr. Agreste like she always has done. But he had yet to correct her which emboldened her to do more often.

Yet, she still hasn’t been reprimanded.

“I saw Adrien walking out of here when I came down the stairs,” Gabriel said. “Is everything alright?”

“Everything is fine,” she held up the wrist with the bracelet. “You aren’t the only one that remembered. Unless, did you put him up to it?”

“No, I didn’t,” he shook his head. “I didn’t even know he knew when your birthday was.”

“Well I still told him to work on his English paper before his date with Kagami this afternoon. Also last night when I got home I filled out the medical sheet for the Paws fundraiser. It’s just to make sure that Adrien doesn’t have allergies for the provided lunch tomorrow. I already talked to Tasha, the head organizer about his feather allergy and she says that she is going to take note of that. He’s most likely going to help with either the cats or dogs,” she picked up one of the papers from her bag. Then stood up handing him the sheet. “I just want you to check it before I scan it and send a digital copy via email to her.”

“Everything looks right,” Gabriel’s blue eyes skim the form before returning back to her general direction. “Is that a new outfit?”

Nathalie looked down at her clothes.

“Actually, yes I brought them last week as my brother’s and sister’s usual birthday money came a little early this year.”

“They look very familiar.”

“They should be as these pieces are from your current collection.”

“Really?” he studied her outfit intensely. “You’re right, I just didn’t recognize them considering how they were paired.”

“I didn’t commit a faux pas, did I?”

“No, in fact you look really nice.”

“I do?” the assistant’s face became rosy like a schoolgirl.

“Yes you do,” he told her, putting the sheet of paper on the desk.

Their eyes locked blue on blue, a magnetic pull was being established between them. But before any mistakes could be made there was a ping sound from Gabriel‘s tablet that broke their gaze.

“Right,” the fashion designer’s eyes shifted to the tablet. His face read like he had almost been caught committing a felony. “Too bad Emilie is not here, she would’ve made her famous peanut butter chocolate fudge for your birthday. Just like she did two years ago.”

“I remember,” Nathalie said, sitting back down. “She was always a good cook.”

She looked at the golden picture of Emilie that hung in their shared office. Emilie, one of the few entities that made her question her feelings for Gabriel. Half of the time it seemed they seemed valid, as these feelings had been growing stronger in the past few months. But there was also the other half that made her feel like scum as this was someone else’s husband. But these feelings that she would often get when being with him felt different, wonderful, enchanting and exciting.

It was like two halves were fighting against each other as Nathalie believed something was there. That she wasn’t delusional for these feelings and the loyalty she has to walk in the lion den for him.

Gabriel looked at his tablet then smiled, “Speaking of which I would like to show a project that I have been working on for the past few weeks.”

“Project? What project?” Nathalie asked, a little confused as she was always aware of all his work and deadlines. He had finished his sketches for his winter line just yesterday as he had shown her. So the news of another one surprised her.

“I’ll show you, may I?” he gestured toward the computer.

“Oh, of course,” Nathalie stood up from her chair letting Gabriel take her spot.

He opened the web browser on the computer. Within a minute or so he was on YouTube and had pulled up a video. On the screen there was a video of a young girl standing in a pink and white accented bedroom. The girl looked around eleven years old. She had tan skin, almond brown eyes and long thick curly black hair. She was wearing a pink t-shirt with a daisy pattern, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. After a few seconds the video began playing on the screen.

“Hey everyone it’s me Sierra aka Lucky Beauty with another video for you. I hope everybody is having an awesome day,” the girl’s voice was energetic and bright. “Thanks to your many requests we are finally going to make edible glitter slime and glow in the dark lip balm.”

“What am I watching?” Nathalie asked as the video continued to play.

“Our next target,” Gabriel answered. “She’s one of those D.I.Y girls. I accidentally tapped on one of her videos when she was on the recommended videos page. But the most important part is that she said in one of her videos that she lives in Paris.”

“But she looks a little young compared to our usual targets and she looks too happy,” Nathalie looked at the screen as the video was still playing. Sierra was all smiles as she dumped a bottle of purple edible glitter in a styrofoam bowl.

“She’s technically older than Sapotis, Chris Master, and Gigantitan. Besides we practically liquefied our resources at Adrien’s school nearly every student and teacher has akumatized at least once,” Gabriel reminded her. “I figured we could start moving towards the even younger generation. As for Sierra being happy I have been working on that.”

“But I thought that we did this type of planning together.”

“I have tried to tell you for the past couple days but you told me that you were busy with your usual work. So I decided to work on this one myself.”

At that moment Nathalie’s eyes shifted at that remark as what he said was true. The assistant had told him that she was busy with her other responsibilities that kept things running smoothly around here. But also there is another reason, another entity that has been haunting her for the past couple weeks. The feeling of a pit in her stomach that would appear with things akuma related. It was spontaneous with its’ coming and going but would often pop up during this subject. This caused Nathalie to think about this less and less about this double edged sword if she could.

She was loving the awards that she had gotten with this. The closeness with Gabriel, her slow forming bond with Duusu, and the confidence when donning the blue skin of Mayura. It made the negative side effects on her health worth it. But the actual act itself, the affection for it, was greatly dimming.

“What do you mean by working on Sierra being happy?” she asked him.

“For the past couple days I have been leaving some negative comments on her page underneath various accounts, trying to chip at her self esteem,” Gabriel picked up the tablet and started tapping the screen. “I made some screenshots to show you.”

He handed her the tablet, Nathalie looked at the device’s screen. It had a screenshot of an account named Apex insulting Sierra. “Apex” told her that her hair was ugly and she needed to change it. That she would lose her audience if she kept up this appearance. In addition she should get braces as the middle of her teeth was supposedly too far apart. Nathalie’s finger ran across the screen to the next photo, this time with another account name; this one reiterated the insults of the previous one but was more aggressive. She slid her finger across the screen again and the next one was more hostile. Each time she slid her finger to the next of the dozens of screenshots they were getting more aggressive and more vulgar than the last. By the last one Nathalie’s face grew deeper with shock as she handed him back the tablet.

“I know it’s a little much but I’m giving her a little push,” the fashion designer took back the tablet. “She should be breaking soon as I have been spamming her comment sections for a while. Once that happens that’s when you come in.”

“Come in for what?” she asked him.

Gabriel‘s attention then shifted to the metallic suitcase that was sitting beside him on the desk. “For phase two, I want to trail behind Sierra when she gets akumatized. If she loses then I want you to follow Chat Noir and use this on him.”

He opened the case revealing a long silver syringe filled with a mysterious blue liquid that sat in the middle of the case by thick black foam packaging.

The assistant’s jaw dropped ever so slightly, being flabbergasted by the sight. “What?”

“I want you to follow Chat Noir after the fight and use this on him,” Gabriel stated, leaning back matter of factly like in his chair.

“But why Chat Noir? Wouldn’t it make more sense to follow Ladybug? I thought the miraculous suits are indestructible; it would take more than a simple needle to break through it.”

“It would be for Ladybug but after we followed her to the great guardian I’m sure her guard is more up compared to before. But also I have plans for Chat Noir as the best way to take out Ladybug is to remove her shield. I have a design in mind for Sierra’s akumatization that I’m going to put in an intentional flaw in that it would be beneficial to use Chat Noir’s cataclysm. If Ladybug is actually smart as she thinks then she will use this opportunity to win. This will lead Chat Noir‘s time to run out and for him to transform back. That’s when you follow him and inject the needle when he’s in his civilian form. The blue liquid is a modified substance of what doctors use to put their patients asleep before performing surgeries on them. But this type is more potent as it hits the bloodstream quicker and the person is out much longer with this dosage. You need to use it when his guard is down.”

“Gabriel...” Nathalie‘s eyes shifted away from him. “I don’t know about this.”

“Why not?” the fashion designer sounded shocked. “You have fought Chat Noir before.”

“True but with a fan and he was wearing a suit. But this...it involves needles and flesh besides what I’m supposed to do with him if I use this?”

“Obviously he is going to be unconscious once the substance takes effect. That’s when you would bring him to the lair and we would try to abstract as much information as we can from any means necessary. Then I would akumatized him as I have noticed that when a miraculous is merged with akuma it’s more powerful. With him under my complete control this will draw out Ladybug and the other heroes. Since I know the other heroes’ identities I have similar plans for them too. You just need to be the one to put everything in motion.”

“I still don’t know,” she turned her head, stepping away from the desk. “Aren’t we crossing another line here? Those kids aren’t any older than Adrien. I don’t think Chat Noir is any different.”

She was starting to feel the pit in her return. It seemed to be digging deeper, building a burrow within her stomach. But then she felt a hand intertwined with hers gently pulling her back. She turned her head to see Gabriel holding her hand.

“I know this is a lot but this might be the closest we can get to Ladybug and Chat Noir’s miraculous. It’s a risk but the ones that we already took had paid off. We were able to get the great guardian’s tablet, find out the other heroes’ identities, and have repaired your miraculous.”

“I still don’t-“ she started.

“Is this because I planned this alone?”

“No, it’s not,”

“As you had done something similar a few months ago with the Ladybug sentimonster. Which I had to save you from.”

“I’m aware but...”

“But what? Can’t you see that you’re an essential part of this? It would start with Chat Noir then eventually progress to Ladybug. I won’t be able to do this without you, save Emilie without you.”

Nathalie bit the bottom of her lip and the pit feeling had yet to vanish. In fact, it felt like it was growing stronger. This whole thing felt wrong but there he was holding her hand.

“Please Nathalie,” Gabriel gently caressed her cheek with his other hand. Her eyes locked with his. “For me.”

She looked into his strong blue eyes and the assistant felt like she was in a situation of being condemned either way. But at the same time Gabriel’s happiness meant so much to her. That was the reason she had done the many things that she had done.

It was all for love.

At that moment a violet light shined from underneath Gabriel’s tie. The fashion designer looked down, letting go of Nathalie.

“It’s time,” he said, walking toward the secret entrance of the lair then looked over his shoulder. “Are you coming?”

Nathalie looked at him as suddenly the pit in her stomach vanished. She walked toward him and took his hand without another word.

A decision had been made. But was it the right one?

Time passed as the pair went down to the liar and Hawkmoth sent out one of his akumas. It reached Sierra and turned her into the villain named Hair Raiser. She wore a glittery dark purple suit with black gloves and boots. Her hair became midnight black and fifteen feet long that could alter its length and be divided into ink like tendrils. Havoc rained on the city as Hair Raiser made it a stomping ground for her rage. This summoned the appearance of Ladybug and Chat Noir as they faced the problem head on. However, little did the heroes know that Mayura was trailing behind them during combat, keeping her distance due to Hawkmoth orders. She didn’t interfere when Hair Raiser got tangled up in Ladybug’s yoyo and smacked with Chat Noir’s staff.

Nor she didn’t interfere when Ladybug and Chat Noir split up and Ladybug summoned up an industrial size roll of plastic wrap with her lucky charm. Then ran to the nearby craft store returning with glue which she used to create a trap using the plastic wrap between two parallel lampposts and squirted glue on the plastic wrap. She didn’t, especially when Chat Noir came down the street with Hair Raiser on his heels, traveling by her hair. As they got close to the trap Chat Noir called on his cataclysm then performed a backflip over the villain touching her headband with his ring hand, disintegrating it. Hair Raiser collided with the plastic wrap and got covered with glue.

The akuma flew out of the headband and purified within seconds. Ladybug tossed the plastic wrap in the air creating a swarm of Ladybug repairing the damage and turning Sierra back to normal. Ladybug and Chat Noir bumped their fist together then Ladybug left, leaving Chat Noir seemingly alone.

Mayura didn’t interfere at all.

“Mayura I have lost connection with Sierra,” Hawkmoth’s voice came out of the peacock’s fan communicator. “Phase two has commenced, don’t lose him.”

“Will do,” Mayura spoke into her fan, then closed it.

She jumped from the rooftop where she was doing surveillance to get closer to follow Chat Noir. As she did the peacock noticed that he hadn’t moved much from the street that Ladybug had left him in. Instead of leaving like expected, the cat themed hero was sitting cross legged on the sidewalk next to a weeping Sierra. Mayura noticed that Sierra didn’t have her long curly soft black hair anymore but now it was a light lime green and her ends were cut unevenly and jagged.

What is he doing? she thought, landing on the rooftop of the building behind them. His time is going to run out soon.

She stuck out her fan to pick up the nearby conversation between the hero and the girl.

“- then she told me no. So I took my sister’s hair stuff and tried to do my hair myself,” Sierra wept. “I wanted to make it blonde but it turned out all wrong and came out green. I don’t know what happened and tried to cut it to make it look better but it just turned out worse! I’m such an idiot!”

“It’s okay you just made a mistake,” Chat Noir patted her on the back. “It happens to everyone.”

Is he...consoling her? Mayura thought.

“It was a stupid mistake,” the girl sniffled. “Those YouTube comments are just going to get even worse!”

“You said that the whole reason you did this to your hair was because of some nasty comments online, right?” the cat asked her.

“Yeah,” she answered.

“But why did you listen to them if they were being so nasty to you?” he asked.

“Because I...I...” Sierra started. “I don’t know, I just wanted people to like me. So many people were commenting stuff saying all the same things. I thought if I changed my hair then they would.”

“If a small group of people are saying the exact same thing in the exact same way, one thing that small then there is a chance it’s the same person on multiple accounts. Even if it wasn’t for something like that you shouldn’t waste your energy on people like that who treat you badly. Besides, they probably aren’t going to stop if you give in anyway.”

“What do you mean?”

“If you actually succeeded in changing your hair, who says those bullies would stop? They might not like the color you picked or the length. Or they might move on to something else like your clothes or the way you talk.”

“What’s wrong with the way I talk!?”

“Nothing, there’s nothing wrong with it. But if you give in to these kinds of people then in their mind gives them clearance to let them think they can change you. If you give in then the next thing you know you won’t even recognize yourself in the mirror.”

“That would never happen.”

“Yet you tried to change your hair. Even though you said it wasn’t your idea to do it.”

“But...that was a mistake.”

“I’m glad that you see it that way. But don’t beat yourself up, practically everybody gets hate comments once in a while, even me.”

“Really? But you and Ladybug save the day all the time. Who could hate you?”

“Well Hawkmoth and Mayura for starters do you really think that they like that I, Ladybug, and the other heroes ruin their plans all the time? But I was talking about my personal life. I’m on Instagram and even though I have a lot of followers I still have gotten some nasty comments.”

“Wait, you are on Instagram? Under what name?”

“Nice try,” Chat Noir laughed while shaking his head. “What I’m trying to say is it happens to everybody. If those comments really bother you then you can either block the sender or turn off the comment section all together. As for your hair I’m sure you can find a hairdresser to fix it for you. It might not be how it was before but something that you'll be much happier with.”

“My sister Dawn, she just graduated from beauty school a few weeks ago. That’s why she had the hair dye stuff in the first place.”

“There you go, she might be a little mad that you used her stuff without her permission but I’m sure that she will help you after you apologize for taking it. Also she probably can show you how to block users on YouTube too or you can look it up yourself.”

Mayura watched Sierra hug Chat Noir as their conversation wrapped up. The pit in her stomach reappeared as those comments were supposed to make the girl mad not completely trample all over her self esteem. At least that’s what she wanted the intentions to be.

Just then she saw Chat Noir leap into the air onto the rooftop in front of him to leave the scene. Without missing a beat Mayura leaped forward not wanting to lose the black cat. After a few rooftops the cat jumped into an alleyway between a section of buildings. The peacock followed, taking a few shallow breaths as she tried to trail behind Chat Noir. She was suddenly starting to feel exhausted but still kept up, landing against one of the building walls on the opposite side of where Chat Noir was. A flash of neon green light bathed the alleyway.

The peacock moved her hand pushing the fabric of the slit of her dress revealing the infamous syringe strapped to her leg with thick black fabric. A plastic cap covered the needle to keep her from unintentionally stabbing herself. She undid the fabric and cap placing the syringe in her hand. Ready to ambush the hero when she heard a tiny scratchy voice causing her to stop in her tracks.

“Nice work, Kid but you gotta admit you were cutting close with Sierra back there. If you stayed a minute longer then you would have changed back in front of her.”

That’s probably his kwami, Mayura thought.

“I know Plagg,” Chat Noir said. “But it didn’t seem right to leave her when she started crying seconds after Ladybug left.”

“And that’s why Master Fu gave you a miraculous in the first place because you have a good heart,” said the kwami.

The peacock pressed her hand to her stomach feeling the pit growing roots.

“Thanks,” the hero said. “That means a lot but you’re not just saying that because it would make me give you your cheese faster, is it?”

“What? No, I’m completely serious, you have grown a lot,” Plagg said. “That being said it really wouldn’t hurt passing some cheese this way, right?”

There was a familiar audible sigh as Chat Noir said. “No, but eat it quickly as I still have that paper to finish. I know you can considering that you swallowed a whole wheel last night in one bite. You practically unhinged your jaw like a snake.”

“You’re just jealous that you can’t do it,” Plagg said.

“Trust me of all the things I want to achieve in life, it’s not that,” Chat Noir said.

The peacock stood there with unreadiness to move her body with the syringe still in her hand. It felt like her boots were filled with solid concrete.

“Relax,” said Plagg. “Besides, even if you don’t finish before your date, what do you think is going to happen? Do you actually think Nathalie is going to keep you from going to the movies with Kagami? It’s not like she’s your parent.”

Suddenly Mayura’s violet eyes widened at the sound of her name.

What...why did that kwami say my name? she thought, pieces slowly coming together in her mind. No, no, no...it can’t be...anyone but him.

She peered her head around the building‘s corner against her own better judgment to see.

That’s when she saw him.

Adrien. He was leaning against the wall, his arms folded. While a tiny floating black cat chomping on a piece of cheese.

“I know,” Adrien replied. “But Nathalie is always looking out for me. The least that I can do is take her advice.”

Mayura moved back out of sight as tears started to form in the corner of her eyes.

Adrien is Chat Noir. She thought.

Her mind took her back, flashing through the last couple months showing her the warning signs. He always wore that silver ring, it was often hard to track him down sometimes as he was great avoiding her and Gorilla, the amount of cheese she had to order for him and....that man.

That elderly man in the red and white floral shirt that Adrien had helped up on the first day of school. After she brought Adrien back home with Gorilla that day, she had never given that elderly man a second thought.

Not till now as it just clicked who he actually was...the former great guardian.

Every blow and strike that she had done to Chat Noir over the past few months came to mind that was now drowning with regret. Tears streamed down her face as she dropped the syringe on the ground.

“Did you hear something?” Adrien asked.

“Nope,” Plagg said. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yeah,” Adrien said. “Plagg, claws out!”

A flash of neon green light filled the alley. Mayura then saw Chat Noir high in the air leaping from rooftop to rooftop toward the direction of home. She looked down at the ground at the syringe. That’s when a voice came from her fan.

“Mayura report, has the target been acquired?”

It was Hawkmoth.

The peacock’s eyes pulled away from the syringe as she brought her fan to her mouth. Yet she didn’t know what to say.

“Mayura report, has the target been acquired?” Hawkmoth repeated.

“No,” she said. “He’s gone,”

“Gone? What do you mean gone?” Hawkmoth asked.

“He’s gone Gabriel,” she told him, shaking. “I-I just couldn’t do it. This shouldn’t have happened in the first place.”

“Mayura what happened? Did Chat Noir attack you?”

“No, he didn’t, but we need to end this right now. I know that this means a lot to you but A-“

“So what are you trying to say?” Hawkmoth’s voice become cold. “You say that you know how much this means to me.”

“I...I think that we should stop this akuma business right now and move on from this. I understand about Emilie but I realized it is crucial that we stop this now.”

“How could you say that? After all the work that I have done and the money that has been spent. What’s the reason that’s suddenly you just decided to lose your nerve at the most inconvenient time.”

“Gabriel I saw...“ Mayura tried to force out the words. “I saw...”

“Saw what?” he asked her. “How to ruin our chances, have you realized how long I’ve been planning this?! How many of those insufferable girl’s video that had to watch-“

“Her name is Sierra,” she sharply cut him off. “Did you know that she had cut her hair because of your bullying?”

“What does that matter? In fact, what has gotten into you?”

That was a good question as that pit in her stomach had grown roots and blossomed. It had gotten so strong that it couldn’t be ignored anymore even though it had been suppressed for many months.

That pit was her conscience, that’s what got into her.

“I realized that we should stop with all this Gabriel. I know it hurts considering what happened with Emilie. But we can get you some professional help for your grief-“

“Are you insane!?” Hawkmoth growled. “Suddenly you have become so self righteous in the past ten minutes? We have been together in this from the start. So don’t talk to me like you didn’t have any hand in this!”

“You don’t think that I know that!” she raised her voice. “I’ll be aware of that for the rest of my life for the mistakes I made these past couple months. But I’m just trying to help you to not do something that you will regret! As when is this supposed to end!?”

“When Ladybug and Chat Noir is nothing but a faint memory!” Hawkmoth’s voice strung with vindictiveness. “Maybe the path that I have taken was dark but there’s no point in going back. By knowing that Emilie is at the end of it makes it all worth it. There’s nothing else that matters in my life other than finding a way in bringing her back! Even if this means burning the whole city down if it causes Ladybug and Chat Noir’s downfall. No matter who they are underneath those masks, nothing else matters!”

“Even Adrien?” she asked him as she felt the sting of his razor sharp words. “He doesn’t matter to you at all in this?“

A few seconds went by as there was complete silence between them. Every second felt like a moment to the peacock of reevaluating her life, all the events that led her to be willfully suffocated by this man’s fog.

“He was implied,” he told him.

“It doesn’t seem like it,” Mayura told him. “Which is why, as in right now, I quit.”

“You what?” Hawkmoth’s voice growled over the communicator.

“I quit, maybe I can use my new free time to make up for the mistakes that I had made. I can’t do this anymore. I thought that I was helping you but instead I was enabling you to give you clearance for the harm that you have been doing. In a way, some of it is my own fault as anything you wanted, I did. Even when I should have said no. But refuse to be a part of this anymore.”

“Mayura you cannot do this I won’t let you. We are a team and have something special, just me and you.”

“Really?” the peacock features softened.

“Yes,” said Hawkmoth, his voice sounding smooth and coaxing.

“Then it ends today,” her eyes hardened again. “As you need professional help that I can’t provide. Inform Gorilla and Adrien I will contact them both individually, eventually. Also tell Adrien that I’m proud of him and to keep up the good work that he’s been doing.”

“But you can’t-“ Hawkmoth started before Mayura closed the fan, cutting him off.

She then took a deep breath and slid down on the ground as she said. “Duusu close my feathers.”

A serge of blue light flashed in the alleyway pulling off her costume and reverting back into her civilian clothes. The little peacock kwami Duusu flew out of the broach and landed in her hands.

“Wow,” the little floating bird said. “You just quit didn’t you?”

“Yes,” Nathalie told her. “It hurts but yes.”

“If it hurts then why did you do it? You could go back right?” Duusu asked, her eyes seemed unsure about the whole situation. “If you wanted you could say you’re sorry, right?”

Nathalie’s eyes widened as her whole cringed just realizing that she had given up everything in less than a minute. Without much consideration on the negative effects. She was now unemployed, she had some savings but that wouldn’t last forever. Maybe this was a mistake... she could beg for her job back...

The feeling of hopelessness flashed within her. But then she looked at the beaded bracelet on her wrist, which put everything back right into perspective.

“I could,” she stood up from the ground. “But I don’t want any of this . Even if I still did, I can’t want it anymore.”

Something had changed within her that made her realize that what she was that she was pining for was not worth the cost. She would be bound to spill Adrien’s secret even if it was an accident to his father. Already the former assistant had felt her resistance slipping earlier while Gabriel spoke to her. A complete mistake as Gabriel had already shown his true colors. That he could not be trusted with this secret without hurting his son within the process.

The best thing to do is to leave the city to be away from temptation.

Nathalie did have options as she was educated and had family nearby. She had a sister in Essonne and a brother in London. It would only take a cheap train ticket to get to either of them.

“Duusu,” she said. “Spread my feathers.”

A royal blue light filled the alleyway as it seemed she did the right thing. Even if that cost her everything.

Everything, so she could start anew.

The End.

Thanks for reading! 😊

So… as you can see this was written a long time ago. These was before season 4 when Gabriel knowing the reserve heroes identities was still a big deal. When I originally hope that we would get some significance character development from her as she was at the time holding one of the biggest secrets in the show. At the time we mainly saw her as an willing accomplice who obliviously in love with Gabriel.

But it seems that we have actually gotten it since then. For example, in the season 5 premiere she called out Gabriel for his actions. It most likely was an mix between being tried of Gabriel’s failings that have practically turned into a obsession and her suffering the serious side effects of using the broken peacock miraculous such as her ability to walk. So it clear that she is at least mentally done with Gabriel’s nonsense.

Nevertheless, I hope you like this story.

Normally I like to end a part/story with a song. So this time the song is “Ashes” by Celine Dion.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SrBQwtjeyS0

youtube

This story is also available on Wattpad.

See you next time. 💕👋

#miraculous ladybug #miraculous fanfic #nathalie sancoeur #miraculous nathalie #mlb nathalie #mayura #my writing #ml fanfic #ml characters #ml chat noir #ml hawkmoth #Youtube

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