#only times ive caught fish is cause i fucked up the line and had to fix it nd when i reeled in there was a fish on the end

[7roaches]

busy avoiding spoilers AGAIN if they dont kiss nasty whats the point + bonus doodle under the cut

also the quality got really fucked click to see it crispy

#my art #art #fanart #adventure time #adventure time fionna and cake #simon petrikov #betty grof #petrigrof #trans #🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 #im gonna go fishing after classes but i suck at fishing #only times ive caught fish is cause i fucked up the line and had to fix it nd when i reeled in there was a fish on the end #really fucking mad at how low quality the pics look esp since clickin dont even make it better on some devices #some of this kinda sucks cause i started it at like 11pm last night nd went til almost 1 #idk why they way they walk reminds me of the bimbo pipeline meme thing #ill draw them ACTUALLY like actually fishing soon like in the action of actively fishing #good lord thats a huge block of tags #ok bye love you

[biostris]

Okay, so...

I noticed you do Chef Saltbaker x Reader posts, and I, kindly, want to request one!

But... make it Vampire!Chef Saltbaker!

What happens is all up to you!

A/N: I noticed you did a similar prompt! (I was scrolling the tag looking for the good stuff) if there are any similarities please know they are only coincidental! I wanted to make this a morticia x Gomez adams feel to is so the reader might be hinted to be AFAB but pronouns will remain they/them for the sake of inclusiveness.

(C/W): Blood (ink??), mentions of sharp objects,

NSFW motions (not actual sex but yeah), cannibalism and mentions of someone being cut up.

:Vampire! Chef Saltbaker x reader:

:Midnight snack:

The moon was high over the small fishing village of inkwell isle IV, and (y/n) was currently sound asleep in their lush bed. But there was on thing missing, “gah fuck-“, Saltbaker. (Y/n) groaned awake shuffling out from the blankets to see what the salt shaker was cussing over.

They treaded down the old wooden stairs and into the kitchen, where the silly old chef usually hung out when he had free time, a yawn pried their mouth open to escape as their feet met cold linoleum. “What’s going on?” They asked, sleep heavy in their voice, Saltbaker was startled and he slightly jumped as his cleaver landed a little to hard on his cutting board.

“Oh honeybun!” He exclaimed, just above a whisper, “I’m so sorry did I wake you up sugar?” He asked while wiping his hands in a kitchen towelette. (Y/n) shook their head “I was already starting to wake up,” the admitted as they soon found themselves wrapped in the bigger lads arms.

Saltbaker pressed a soft kiss into (Y/n)’s temple as he held them from behind, the soft and dark fabric of their robe spilling over his arms as he held his sugar plum close. He breathed deeply inhaling the scent from their perfume, hunger hit him where it hurt and he quickly had to pull away from (Y/n).

(Y/n) was confused as to why he was in such a rush, then it hit them and they smiled “oh my love~” they called out to their beloved chef who had already gone back to chopping some poor bloke to bits to distract himself from his hunger. Saltbaker pressed his lips into a thin line, fangs beginning to peak out from his lips and only grunted in response to (Y/n)’s advances.

“Don’t you grunt at me! I know you’re hungry my darling, do you want a little snack before your…” they looked around to the body of the old man sitting in multiple parts, his blood spilling into a bucket, “feast?” Saltbaker sighed “as much as I’d love that honey bunch,” another heavy slam from his cleaver echoed.

“I wouldn’t be able to control myself.” Familiar yellow rings formed around his pupil as he glanced to his beloved, there they sat, robe falling off their shoulders, exposing their jugular to him, he could practically feel their pulse through the ground as he began to feel his restraint slowly slip. They just looked oh so sweet.

“Cmon mi amor, you know I can handle it.” They cooed in a more comforting tone, (Y/n) raised their arms as if to invite him into a hug, their (E/C) orbs sparkling in the dim light of the kitchen. Two faint needle light holes caught his attention which caused him to fumble with the cleaver in hand. “Lord..” he whispered under his breath.

(Y/n) was internally smug as they watched Saltbaker slowly walk into their arms, the table they sat on creaked under the new weight of the chef and both beings flushed red. Saltbaker began to kiss up (Y/n)’s neck before taking another whiff of that sweet scent he loved oh so much.

(Y/n) smiled as they rubbed his back, they felt is warm tongue lick up their flesh and the gasped as blissfully sharp teeth pierced their skin. Saltbaker’s grip transferred from the table edges to around his loves waist, laying them down on the table in the process.

They were light headed in the best way possible, (y/n) let out a breathless gasp as Saltbaker detached quickly, “you’re mine you know that?” Was all he asked, his yellow eyes glowing as his shadow covered (y/n)’s frame. (Y/n) could only nod and pant, “good,” salt baker kissed his loves fore head before helping them sit up.

“Now don’t move, I think you need a little snack as well.” And with that he set aside his own meal and began to prep (y/n) an aftercare snack before they both went to bed for the rest of the night.

#chef saltbaker cuphead #chef saltbaker x reader #cuphead fanfic #cuphead the delicious last course #chef saltbaker #chef Saltbaker simp #vampire chef Saltbaker

[thewildomega]

Doughnut of lies Ch. 6

It had taken them a week to get back to Toto Land and during that time y/n had yet to wake up. Marco had told them that even with him healing her her body was exhausted. She had gotten an infection from her wounds but they had caught it early. He rarely left her bedside, only checking on his own ship that had been sailing beside Whitebeard's back to his home or to take a shower. His back ached where he had been sleeping in the chair but he wouldn't leave her, he couldn't. Everyone had been in shock when he they had docked, the famous Moby Dick a sight to see. Quickly ordering the doctors to take her to the hospital wing of the palace he had went to follow when he heard his mother yelling his name. 

"KATAKURI WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?! WHY IS HE HERE?! WHY..."

Quickly stepping forward to the young man's defense he looked to the woman and crossed his arms over his chest. "Linlin, you and I have much to discuss." he said. Having a stare down for a moment he felt his lip lift into a snarl and knew he had won. 

"FINE! KATAKURI YOU AND I WILL SPEAK LATER!"

"Yes mama." he nodded before following the servants carrying his love on the stretcher.

"I am coming with you Charlotte, I will need to tell your doctors of her condition." Marco said, jogging up beside the tall male and seeing him simply nod.

......................

An hour later after they had gotten y/n into a private room and got her hooked back up to an IV line he had taken his seat back by her bedside. Her face looked better than it had days prior, her eye no longer swollen shut and the deep cut on her lip and cheek healing well. The bruises were turning to a light purple and fading into green in some places. She still looked incredibly fragile to him though, when he stroked her hand or cheek he was always extra careful, not wanting to cause her anymore pain. He had been in the middle of attempting a small nap while holding her small hand when he heard a knocking on the door. "Come in." Watching it open he saw Brulee there and relaxed some, not even realizing he had tensed up.

"Hey. I brought you some doughnuts." She told him, holding up the basket as she closed the door to give them privacy.

Looking to the basket he sighed, "Thank you, but I am not hungry." 

WHAT?! He didn't want doughnuts?! She was shocked at first, or at least until her eyes fell to her friend and then she knew why. She looked horrible. The only part of her that didn't look like it was covered in bandages was her face and head, then from her shoulders down was covered in a sheet. "What happened to her?" she asked, sitting the basket on the table in case he changed his mind. 

Taking a deep breath he watched as his sister went about stroking y/n's hair. "From what I can gather her ship was attacked by some Pirates known as the Reaper Pirates. They killed all of her crew, destroyed her ship and took her. I do not know yet what there plans were, wither they planned to sell her or what. When I found her she..." Swallowing hard he closed his eyes for a moment, the image of her hanging in that room, covered in blood filling his mind. "...they had her chained up, they had been beating her, torturing her for days. She was barely alive, if it wasn't for Whitebeard's doctor, Marco, I doubt she would be alive now."

Moving to sit by him she furrowed her brows, "And what exactly does Whitebeard have to do with all of this?"

"He is her father." 

Brulee's eyes went wide at that, never expecting those words to come out of his mouth. 

Sitting there in silence for a moment he looked to his best friend and then down, "Why didn't you tell me?" 

Closing her eyes and dropping her head Brulee felt guilt in her chest at how disappointed her brother sounded. "She begged me not to, she is my friend..."

"I am your brother." 

"I know. I know I just... I wanted to, I tried convening her to tell you, even if it was just you but she wouldn't, she was afraid." 

"Of me?" he asked, his brows knitting together at the thought.

"No. No brother she could never fear you, she never has. I think she feared change, she was so scared that if she told you, told anyone the truth that everyone would treat her differently." when he said nothing she bit her lip in thought before deciding to tell him the truth. "She loves you, you know that right. She has for a long time."

Meeting his sister's eyes he saw she was serious and looked to the omega for a moment before looking back to Brulee. "Then why would she lie to me? If she has loved me all this time then why wouldn't she tell me the truth, tell me what she was?"

"Well for one she thought you wouldn't' feel the same and if she did say anything it would ruin your friendship. Another reason is because she doesn't think she is worthy of your love." She told him and then let out a sigh when she saw him confused. "Before she left I found her in her room, packing. She was crying, that bitch I am guessing made you tell her that you would never want her and for y/n it was like her worst fear coming to life. I tried telling her that it wasn't true because you both obviously share the same feelings for one another..." She told him and saw him blush a little. "But she... she was so sure that Nebula was the perfect woman for you. That she would make you the perfect wife. Y/n, as tough and stubborn as she is on the outside, on the inside is a different story. She doesn't think she is pretty enough, smart enough, tall enough, the list goes on and on... She left because as much as she loves you she just wanted you to be happy. She thinks you deserve the best and in her mind that will never be her." 

Thinking about what his sister just said he frowned. "How can she fell like she isn't enough for me when I am the one who is a monster..."

"You both are impossible!" she snapped. Looking to him she softened her eyes. "Y/n loves you, all of you. She knows what is under your scarf and she doesn't care. In fact she has told me on more than one occasion after too many drinks that she thinks your teeth are hot." 

His breath caught in his throat at that and he felt his face and neck heat up. Swallowing hard he heard his little sister giggle at how flustered he was. Seeing her stand he looked up to her. 

"There is something else, something else that has been holding her back from telling you the truth but I can't tell you what it is..." She told him. Seeing him give her a small glare she furrowed her brows and placed her hand on his shoulder. "I can't big brother, it's not my place. I have told you as much as I can but the both of you need to talk once she wakes up." Brulee told him with a firm look. 

Sighing he nodded. 

"I love you, if you need anything let me know." she said and heard him repeat her first words before she made her leave. 

Sitting alone with her he scooted to the edge of his chair and leaned over her some, gently stroking her face and hair. "I need you to wake up y/n. I need you to wake up so I can prove to you how perfect you truly are." 

..............................

Pain, that was the first thing you felt, pain, all over. It took you a few minutes to open your eyes, they seemed to be sealed shut. When you finally did get them open you were met with the sight of a dark room. Well a ceiling at least. Turning your head you looked over the room and quickly realized where you were. How the hell had you gotten here? Closing your eyes again you thought back on the last thing you remembered and winced, that guy was beating the hell out of you. But wait... you remembered a voice, a deep soothing voice calling your name. Katakuri. Had he really saved you? But why? He hated you. Looking around the rest of the room you saw two empty chairs and the stand that was holding up your IV bag. You were alone. Well of course you were alone, it was night time, everyone else would be sleeping. Slowly and painstakingly sitting up you looked down to see you were in a simple gown, bandages wrapped around most parts of your body. Turning to the side so your legs hung over the large bed you let out a sigh and then regretted it when your ribs throbbed. At least you could breath normally without any pain. 

You were confused on why you were here? Maybe Brulee had asked him to save you? Bringing your hand up to rub your face you froze, you necklace?! Where was your necklace? Oh no, that guy had ripped it off you but that means... you wouldn't be able to hide yourself. That means everyone would know, if they already didn't. No! Fuck! You were so screwed. Everyone would know you had lied, Big Mom would know you had lied. Oh God you were as good as dead. Maybe that's why you had been brought back, so she could kill you herself. Swallowing hard you thought of all their faces, all your friends. They would hate you, they wouldn't want anything to do with you. And then there was Katakuri... what would he say? All of a sudden your heart felt like it was going to beat out of your chest. Snapping your eyes to the window you made a quick decision. If you were going to die it wasn't going to be here. You wouldn't spend your last moments in some hospital room.

Practically ripping out the IV in your arm you eased off the bed, holding yourself up when it felt like your legs would fall out from under you. Once you got your balance you walked to the window and looked out to see you were facing the west side of the island. If you could make it to the fishing docks you may be able to swipe one of the smaller boats. Opening the window you looked down, you were on the first floor but there was still a good jump to the ground. Moving to sit on the ledge you saw a bush bellow, "Please don't be a rose bush." you mumbled, your voice cracking from little use and all the screaming. Jumping down you landed hard on the bush and rolled to the ground bellow with a muffled whimper, biting your lip when you wanted to cry out in pain and opening the cut there a little. Laying there for a few moments you looked up at the sky and the stars. Closing your eyes you got to your feet and looked around, making sure on one was there. Seeing the streets empty you made your way to the fishing docks. 

.........................

He was only supposed to be gone an hour at most. A quick check in on things, a bite to eat, a shower and then back at her bedside. He had been in the middle of his shower when he heard a banging on the door and then it opening. He was about to kill whoever had decided to barge in on him until he heard Oven's voice. While he didn't much like him being in here as well, he was his triplet brother, he had seen him naked before. "What is...

"Y/n... she's gone." Oven spoke quickly, getting directly to the point.

"What do you mean she is gone?!" he asked, quickly getting out and grabbing the towel to dry off a little. 

" I mean she is missing from her room, the nurse went in there to check on her and she said the bed was empty, her IV ripped out and the window was open." Oven explained while his brother quickly pulled on his pants, vest and scarf. "Do you think someone took her?"

"If someone did they will receive no mercy from me." he growled. "Go tell Brulee to check all the mirrors."

"Already done, Whitebeard has been informed as well..."

"Why was I the last to know?" he asked, giving his brother a hard look. 

"Daifuku went and told him while I went looking for you. Thought if someone had taken her then it would be smart to get Whitebeard's men to keep an eye on the docks." 

Humming he nodded, "Good point." 

"Don't worry brother, we will find her." 

............................

Being awoken to the news that his daughter was missing from her hospital bed was not ideal. Telling his men to keep an eye on the docks, he went to help look for her. As much as he hated it he didn't actually know her so instead he chose to think of what it was her mother would do if she was in this situation. From what Katakuri had told him about her she seemed much like Selena had been, kind, smart, funny and caring. Seeing a small trail going along the beach he lifted his chin as something told him to go that way. Walking down the trail he let the moon crescent moon light the path. When a group of small fishing boats came into view he spotted a small figure moving this and that onto one of the smaller boats. The light shinned off her blond hair and he felt a pressure in his chest as he took a deep breath and moved towards her. The closer he got he realized she was taking things off the boat, things she might not need like nets and such. He could tell she was still very weak, her body still not recovered form her injuries as her legs shook and she had trouble lifting some of the more heavier things. As she stumbled in the sand and a soft whimper met his ears he knit his brows, now close enough to notice the red seeping through several spots of her bandages. "They told me you were stubborn girl but they forgot to mention you were stupid as well." 

Snapping your eyes to the owner of the deep voice you were shocked to see him standing there, of all people, your father. Recalling everything that had happened when you had finally found him, remembering all the things he had said to you you felt your heart clench and quickly looked back down, gathering up the nets that you had dropped when you fell to finish dragging them higher onto shore. "Sorry to be such a disappointment." you whispered just loud enough for him to hear. It didn't matter anyway you were pretty sure he was nothing but a hallucination, your head had started spinning a little while ago. You wouldn't be surprised if your mother soon showed up as well. You would prefer her, at least she had wanted you. 

Frowning at her words he watched her drop the nets before she walked back to the small boat. When she had looked to him he had seen the haze in her eyes, the exhaustion. Seeing her lift a crate of water jugs into the boat, her chest heaving as she panted for air he moved over to her. "Do you have some kind of death wish? You know this little thing isn't going to last out there in those waters don't you?"

Swallowing hard you opened your eyes and moved over to grab the small crate of fruit and such you had gathered out of the other boats. "I'd rather die out there than get my soul ripped out by Big Mom." you said. 

"I'd like to see her try and lay a hand on you." he scoffed. He and his former crew mate had already had a long chat and he had made it perfectly clear that if any harm ever came to his daughter he would bring down the whole damn island. 

"Well I'm still leaving, no reason to stay." you told the figment of your imagination, bending over to try and lift the crate you let out a pained gasp as your chest was struck with a sharp pain. 

Seeing her fall to her knees in the sand and her hand shoot to her chest he was by her in an instant. Kneeling beside her tiny frame he placed a large hand on her back, the other holding her her steady as she was overcome with coughs. Moving his hand to her head he placed a single finger on her forehead and sighed. "Ahh, foolish damn runt, you're burnin' up." he huffed. 

Gritting your teeth to hide your agony you tried pushing him off and reaching for the crate again, "I'll be fine..."

"The hell ya will." Scooping her up into his hand he held her to him as he stood and started walking towards the island hospital. Feeling her trying to weakly wiggle out of his hold he held her to his chest, feeling her small fists hit at him and demand he let her go. "I see you got just as much fight in ya as your mother." he chuckled. "Maybe even a little more from me." he grinned softly. 

Giving up you laid against his warm, hard chest, hearing his massive heart beating "Why the sudden change, thought there was no way some pathetic runt like me could be your child?" you asked, your eyes watering up at the memory of his hurtful words. "I don't want your treasure..or..or the fame that comes with being the child of Whitebeard I...I just wanted to meet you...I just wanted to meet my dad." you cried. 

Feeling the blade of guilt stab his heart he sighed and looked down to her. "I'm sorry y/n. I truly am darling. I know I will never be able to take back the words I said to you, the hurt I caused you but if you will allow me I would like to be the father you deserve... I know I wasn't there when you needed me, when your mother needed me but had I known y/n.... I would have never let you, my daughter live like that, be alone."

Sniffling you nuzzled into his chest. Shutting your eyes you listened to his heart and felt it calm you a little, wondering if what they said about a parents heartbeat soothing their child to be true. "Did you love her?" you asked, your voice cracking. 

Swallowing the knot in his throat he grinned softly, "I still do."

..............................

Running down the hall towards her room he threw the door open and looked inside to see Whitebeard sitting in the chair by her bed talking to y/n. There was a soft smile on his face as he turned to look to him. Looking to the female sitting in the bed he saw her tired eyes lift to his, the two of them only staring at each other. 

Seeing the two looking at each other he hummed and stood. Stepping to her he leaned down to kiss her head, "I will be back tomorrow darling. Don't you go escaping again you hear me? You need to rest so you can heal." he told her. 

Nodding you grinned "Yes si..." hearing him clear his throat and look to you with a raised brow you smiled a little. "Yes papa." you said and saw him give you a large smile before walking towards the door.

Stopping to look at the young alpha he narrowed his eyes a bit and raised his chin. "You have started to grow on me boy." glancing back towards his omega daughter  for a moment before meeting the boy's crimson eyes he rose a brow, "Don't give me a reason to change my mind." he warned and saw the male remain as calm as ever. Huffing he grinned and smacked the boy's back on the way out,  "Goodnight runt." he said. 

"Goodnight." you said as he walked out the door. Being left alone with Katakuri you looked down at your lap, tugging at a loose strand on the blanket. 

Shutting and locking the door then pulling the curtain close on the window he moved over to her. Seeing her looking down at her lap he grabbed the chair and moved it over as close as he could to the bed. Sitting down in it he stared at her for a time, her eyes never lifting to his. Pulling down his scarf he sighed, "You lied to me." 

"You hit me."  you countered.

Huffing he looked to her, "Is this how you want to do this?" When she didn't answer he clicked his tongue, "Fine. Yes I hit you, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to, it...it wasn't me...well it was but she was making me... Nebula. She was using her devil fruit powers, stealing affection... stealing my affection for you." he said and saw her glance up to him before her eyes shot back down, "I hit you, I said horrible, cruel things to you, things I didn't mean and then I pushed you away and I am sorry. Believe me I made sure she paid dearly for the hurt she caused you." Noticing her biting her lip he grabbed her hands to keep them from fighting with the blanket. "Now it is your turn. You. Lied. To. me." he said with a slight growl to his voice. 

Licking your lips you tasted blood from your busted lip, "I didn't lie I just hid the truth..." you said but snapped your mouth shut when you heard him growl deeply. 

"For Twenty years Y/n. You kept the truth from me this whole time. And you know what makes it worse is that Brulee knows. You told my little sister who I know is a good friend of yours but we are supposed to be best friends. You know something about me that only a handful of people know, hell you are the only person I let sit with me when I eat but yet you kept this from me. Do you know how that makes me feel? Why? I want to know why." he spoke in a deep voice.

You knew he wasn't giving you an option not that you would keep it from him anymore anyway. He deserved the truth. "I was afraid that you would treat me differently, that it would ruin our friendship. You were the only person I had, I... I couldn't loose you too." you said, having to stop to force the lump in your throat down. 

Furrowing his brows he moved closer to her, if it were possible. "You will never loose me y/n. Never." Curling his large finger under her chin he lifted her eyes to his and felt his heart hammer in his chest. "Y/n I love you. I always have." he told her and saw her eyes go wide before they filled with tears and she started shaking her head. 

"No..no you can't..."

"I do. Don't you feel the same?" he asked, his heart aching at the thought that she might reject him.

"Yes. Yes of course I do. I love you so much Kata but... but you can't love me..." you cried, your heart clenching in your chest. 

Standing and moving to sit on the bed with her he placed one hand on her arm while the other tired lifting her face to get her to look at him. "Yes I can, I love you y/n. You are so beautiful and smart and funny and kind and caring and you look at me like I'm normal, like I'm not some kind of monster. You make me so happy y/n and that's why I will only ever marry you."

Sobbing you looked to him and in that moment you wished you had died back on that ship because that would be far less painful than this. You knew as soon as he learned the truth about you, he would change his mind and then that would kill you. 

"Say you will, say you will marry me, be my wife..." he said, looking into her teary blue eyes. 

Closing your eyes you felt your heart shatter. "I..c..can't.." you choked out. 

He felt as his heat sunk to his stomach. Grabbing her upper body he held her in front of him and looked down at her. "Why? Tell me why?! Give me a reason!" he roared. 

Sobbing you looked down, the pain in your heart unbearable. "Be...because I'mmm b..broken..." you cried, tears flowing form your eyes like rivers. 

Confused he breathed heavily and looked down at her for a few seconds, noticing how distraught she was. He had never seen her like this. "What... what do you mean?" he asked. 

Forcing your blurry eyes up to him you sniffled and felt your lip quiver, "I.. I can't have children... I have nothing to offer you." you managed to say before you dropped your head again and shook with sobs. 

He just sat there, the weight of her words crashing down on him. He could make out her apologizing to him through her crying. She sounded so crushed, so heartbroken. She couldn't have children? She thought she had nothing to offer him because of it? Broken, she had called herself broken. "How do you know this?" he asked, his voice low. Listening to her cracking voice explain to him that the medic that had stitched her up when she had gotten sliced open when they were children told her that she would probably never be able to bare pups because the knife had hit her womb he swallowed thickly. He remembered that day well, it had been the day after Brulee had been hurt because of him. He had went out to be alone, leaving his other siblings in charge of watching over Brulee and the other girls but Y/n had tried to go steal them something to eat. One of the merchants had pulled a knife and swiped at her, cutting her just above her pelvis. The wound was deep and had needed stitches. When he had gotten back to see not just Brulee laying on a makeshift cot wrapped in bandages but the girl he loved as well he had lost it...again. He had quickly found that merchant and covered the ground with his blood. But the man, the 'medic' that had stitched her up was nothing more than some small village person that proclaimed himself to be a doctor. 

Shaking his head he lifted her eyes to his once again. Noticing now how dull they looked, like her very soul had been cried out. "Y/n look at me. Do you honestly think that your ability to bare my pups would change my decision? That it would make me not want to marry you? Sweetheart if we have children then we will love them and care for them but if we don't then I will love you just as much. Nothing will ever damper my love for you." 

"I love you too Kit Kat." 

Smiling he glanced down to her lips and grinned. "I am going to do something that I have been wanting to do for a very long time." he told her before pushing his lips to hers. He held himself back, as much as he hated to, she was still very injured and he didn't want to cause her any discomfort. Even if it was light he couldn't help the low purr that left his throat at feeling her lips on his. Threading his fingers through her hair he held her to him until he pulled away. Running the tip of his nose along hers and over her cheek he sighed, "Is that a yes then?" he asked in a low voice. "Will you be my wife?"

Smiling you kept your eyes closed but nodded, laying your forehead on his, "Yes." you replied, pushing your lips back to his. 

#charlotte katakuri #one piece katakuri #Katakuri x reader #Katakuir fanfiction #Alpha Katakuri x omega reader #one piece #One Piece Fanfiction

[writingawaymylife]

Dance Around - Jump Forward Part IV - Finale

A/N: This bloody part has been through five revisions, countless energy drinks, and hours of Metallica editing sessions, but I finally think I’ve gotten it to a quality that it deserves - especially since it’s technically the ending of DAJF. I’m really grateful to everyone that has read this so far, I really appreciate the patience and support - it has literally made me so happy. Seeing the comments and people getting excited for it... Oof, it’s really made me so, so excited to write again. I really hope this is everything you guys hoped for, and maybe even a little more. K, I’ll let you get to it before I get soft and shed tears (gross). Love you all!

Ship: Higgs/Reader

DAJF Masterlist

Warnings: Near death experience (Higgs), swearing, a bit of soft served ice cream at the end.

_______

Everything he had ever built for himself was falling apart. One crumbling piece by crumbling piece, slowly turning to dust until there was nothing left in the ruins but remains of the one thing he had fought so hard for. He didn’t know what to feel. Anger? Resentment? Betrayal? Fear. That one he knew without a shadow of a doubt. 

He hadn’t felt this in a long, long while. Not since his last conversation with…

Higgs looked down into the sand his knees were slowly sinking into. Mind fading out and away from the voices of that fucking bastard Sam and that bitch of a woman Fragile. He felt sick. Too many emotions that didn’t fit underneath the terms “happy”, “proud”, and “accomplished”. Even when he had so much power, even when all the odds pointed his way, he would never accomplish anything in this pathetic life, would he?

He was bound to be the failure. The loser in the Endgame. He was nothing more than a tiny blip in the fabric of time and space. He was nothing. 

His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. Each breath felt like he was sucking in nothing. For the first time in years, he felt his eyes burn. His eyes closed, head bowing even more as he tried to get some semblance of poise. He couldn’t do this, not now. Not with Fragile and Sam a mere few feet away from him. But the reality still crept into his mind and held his heart in a vice grip. 

This was his end. On a Beach, surrounded by dead, stinking fish and at the end of a gun, pointed by none other than Fragile. It wasn’t what he wanted - no, what he wanted was to be by Amelie’s side. Watching the world crumble and burn before the end dragged him down with it. He wanted to end knowing that he had some impact on this world and the next, that he had done something that was right. But, when looking back, he should have realized that it wasn’t in the cards for him. 

What did he really accomplish? What was it that he did that would mean anything in the end? The lives he had taken would have been for nothing. All that effort to weave this pathetic tale with Amelie to use Sam, would be for nothing. Throwing away his entire life for a cause would be for nothing. Pushing away the one person that had ever wanted to be with him for him would be for nothing.

How naive he was. An incompetent, powerless, obtuse man. He should have known. 

He should have seen this coming from a God-damned mile away. 

In the end, it was (Y/N) that seemed to appear the most in his mind. As they had for the past couple weeks. It hurt to think about them, shame and anger accumulating and overflowing in ways that had made him a near ticking time bomb.

What would have happened if he had stayed with (Y/N)? Taken that chance to fix the mess he had made. Even if it terrified him to admit whatever he felt towards them, he had a chance to form a connection that wasn’t based on power and manipulation. They were safe. A serrated knife that was never used against him, even when they were tempted. They were a haven that gave him much-needed respite from the crumbling world outside of that small bunker. 

They had risked everything in knowing and befriending him. If anyone had found out about (Y/N)’s connection to him, they would have been in a world of danger, their life ripped away from them in a blink of an eye, and they wouldn’t have been able to do a single thing about it. Yet they let him stay, let him carve himself a place in their life, and take up residence there. Then as soon as the both of them had begun to really become something, he ran away. Tore open a wound and left it there, untreated and bleeding. He couldn’t stop thinking about the shaky breath they had sucked in, the fear in their body and eyes when he had pressed he had appeared behind them, had threatened them. For most people, he didn’t care. But, in a disgustingly cheesy way that had Higgs’ upper lip lifting in disgust, (Y/N) wasn’t most people. 

Higgs didn’t regret many of his actions in life. What happened, happened and there was nothing anyone could ever do to fix that. But if there was one thing that would weigh on his shoulders as the void took him, it would be how easily he had thrown out his relationship with them. 

It was the sound of a magazine locking into place that brought him back to reality. Death, casting her shadow over him, ready to pounce. This wasn’t how he wanted it to end.

Higgs looked up. Eyes catching Fragile’s who were cold and calculating. She looked so unremorseful, and he could see there was a part of her that took pride in this. In knowing that the last face he’d see would be hers before he was filled with led. The roles had reversed, and now she was the one with the power. 

“So. This is it, isn’t it? The end of the line.” His voice was steely and rough, not a single sway as he kept his vocal cords in control. He pushed through the pain, sitting up straight as his aching muscles protested with pulls and stings. In the end, it wouldn’t matter, his pain would be gone in a few moments. And if there was one thing he knew, it was that he was going down with as much dignity as he could have. 

“I’m proud of you, for comin’ all this way for revenge. It seems that in the end we really did have something’ in common, didn’t we?” The butt of the gun was shoved into his face with just enough force to leave him light-headed and on the ground.  Blood was filling up his mouth yet again, copper taste overriding his senses as he spit onto the sand below him. His chuckle sounded weak, even to his ears, but he forced the shaky, sore smile onto his face. A liquid, thick and warm and most definitely blood, was seeping from his forehead.

“You never know when to shut up, do you?” Her voice, just like her face, was flat. Any spark of emotion he had seen before was gone, there was nothing there. No hatred, no anger. Only cold, hard apathy. 

He slowly got back onto his knees, digging his shoulder into the ground to help push him up, and fighting the grunt of pain that slipped from his lips. “Oh Honey, what else would you expect?”

The gun was turned in her hands. Stock pressed into her shoulder, and the barrel pointed in his face. Her head tilted, eyes narrowing just the slightest as she spoke. “Will those be your last words?”

The question hung in the air for a moment, heavy and terrifying as he realized that this really was the end. ‘There’s no avoiding the inevitable’, as he always said, and, in the end, he knew that the idea would always extend to his death as well.

But he was never one for going with passive compliance. If he was going down, he would make sure he left a stain she would never be able to scrub off.

He sighed, shaky and thick, as he shook his head and looked up at her with narrowed eyes. A smile, sickly sweet and just as poisonous, crept onto his face.

“I hope ‘ya know that my blood will always be on your hands.” 

Fragile seemed shocked, eyes widening slightly as she looked over his face. For the first time in their brief conversation, he saw hesitation. 

He rolled his eyes, trying to feign as much boredom as he could as he looked up towards the sky. 

“Well?” He started, voice casual and disinterested. “Get it on with.”

The seconds ticked by, and, as he lowered his head and looked over at her, he could see the trepidation in her face. Eyes narrowed and jaw working, body shifting just slightly as if she was fighting with herself. 

He wondered, for a brief moment, if she was going to let him live. 

The gun, which had lowered just the slightest, was aimed back at him before he could really give the thought much attention. Whatever it was she had been fighting against, she had stifled. Fragiles finger was on the trigger. His eyes moved back to the cloudy sky. He sucked in his last breath.

“Stop!” 

Time seemed to freeze when the word broke the tense atmosphere. A voice he hadn’t heard in so long, thick with fear, relief, and desperation, had everything within him freezing just like the atmosphere.

No. 

His brain stopped. Heart skipping a beat. The breath left his lungs. He felt frozen, just like the atmosphere. Scared to even look in the direction of the voice. 

That couldn’t be them. They had told him they hadn’t Jumped in years. Hell, they said that they would never jump again! 

There was no possible way this could be happening.

“Oh. Fuck.”

He couldn’t handle it any longer as the words, now dripped with more terror than the first word, forced him to look over his shoulder.

“What the fuck?” His voice sounded ragged and breathy, lungs crying out for air as stopped working, and he caught eyes with the last person he had ever expected to see.

(Y/N)’s eyes made contact with his, and he swears he sees a look of relief and concern wash over their face as they look him over. Shoulders slumping with the slightest release of tension as they gave him this soft, reassuring smile. It took only a few seconds for him to see just how exhausted they were, bags under eyes and thighs shaking with the need to rest

“Higgs.” Their voice was rough and drained, lungs heaving as their hands slipped from their place by their head and they turned to look at him.

“Do not move.” (Y/N) frozen, eyes widening as they moved from his to Fragile’s.

“Don’t shoot!” Their hands were up. Breath coming out in short, barely controlled and quavering every few seconds, and body as stiff as a board as they turned their body so they were facing hers. “I don’t want to hurt you or anyone, that wasn’t why I came here, I have no intention of doing so.” Their eyes moved between Fragile’s and her gun, voice just slightly higher than usual. “Please, there’s… no need for that.”

Any fear he had felt for himself shifted with a sharp and freezing knife in his chest, trailing up his spine and forcing him to fight the reaction to tackle Fragile. He sucked in a breath sharply, brain working a mile a minute as he tried to comprehend what was happening, and desperately trying to calm his breathing and manage the terror at the idea of them getting hurt.

They shouldn’t have been here. Not after their last conversation, not after what he had said, and how he had threatened them. Why would they be here?

His eyes darted in the direction he had heard Sam and Amelie head in, and relief flooded him when he realized that they were too far away to have seen or heard the commotion. He could only catch a glimpse of Sam from behind a whale, though he hadn’t caught on to what was happening. 

He hoped the fuck would stay that way.

“Who are you? Why are you here?” Fragile demanded, taking a small step towards (Y/N) as her finger slowly inching towards the trigger. 

Higgs felt powerless, eyes moving between the two as he tried to find a way to get the gun pointed anywhere else. He grunted as he tried desperately the get out of the rope wrapped around his wrists, a low growl in his throat as they cut into his skin. Fragile glanced over at him, but nonetheless kept the gun aimed at (Y/N).

(Y/N) looked just as scared and shocked as Fragile and he himself was, body shaking with adrenaline and fear as they tried to keep themselves from making any sudden moves. If they so much as took one step that Fragile didn’t like, all three of them knew that there would be a bullet in their skull. 

He was so powerless. 

Binds felt tighter than they ever were in this moment, digging into his wrists as he tried to tear them off or get his hands out of them. This wasn’t what he wanted. He could deal with himself dying, he knew that was going to happen, whether it was for or against his plans. But the mere concept of them getting hurt sent a spike of rage through him that had him nearly seeing red. No. No matter how many bodies he saw or created, the brutal image of them, on the ground, dying, was one that shook him to his core. He didn’t want to see that. Not now, not later, not ever. 

Fuck, why did they have to be so reckless?

“I don’t think it would be the greatest moment to share who I am-” They stopped when Fragile glared, an intimidating step and gun being pointed with more force than before. He hoped he knew Fragile enough to know she wouldn’t hurt them, but in this moment, when she was so ready to go against her set of morals to kill him, he wondered if she would let anything get in her way. “and I swear that the only thing that I want to do is get him out of here. Nothing more, nothing less.” 

Higgs’ eyes widened. Out of anything he expected to come out of their mouth, that was most certainly not that. He didn’t need to be saved. He wasn’t saveable, he was a doomed man who was already reaching the end of his ticking clock. His life wasn’t worth risking theirs for. Not now. Not ever!

“(Y/N),-” The serrated edge in his voice was enough to them to look over at him, but he didn’t have enough time to finish before Fragile cut him off. 

“I can’t let you do that.” Fragile had taken another few steps forward now, eyes narrowed as she tried to gauge them out. He wanted to scream, panic overriding his system as the image of them, dead and bleeding out on the sand kept repeating over and over in his head. 

“Get the hell out of here!” He hissed, tugging hard enough to feel something pull tightly in his shoulder. He let out a groan, deep and low in his throat as he closed his eyes and managed his breath. 

“Did you not just hear me?” Their voice, a pitch higher and faster, ripped him from the throbbing in his shoulder enough to look over at their distressed and angered expression. “I’m not leaving without you. I’m trying to save you, dumbass!” He bowed his head, mumbling a string of expletives and insults as he let out a clipped and sardonic chuckle. Even with the situation, (Y/N) had still found a way to insult him. He could practically feel (Y/N) glare before he looked back up to see it in full effect.

“He isn’t yours to save.” 

They looked back towards Fragile. “But he’s yours to punish?” (Y/N) took a step forward as well, hands lowering slightly as they tried to work with Fragile. “I know he has done some horrific things, and he has hurt far more than he was healed. But that doesn’t give you or I or anyone other than Death the right to take his life away. He still has some hope, he can still be good. I still have hope. I have faith in knowing that he could be so much better than he ever was. Please. Do you really want his blood on your hands? What would that do?” They sucked in a deep breath, voice breaking in fear as they moved closer to him.

“What if you’re wrong?” Fragile’s voice was softer than it had been in the tense past five minutes, though it still held a serrated edge. Her head tilted and turned just enough to look at him. 

“Than I’m an idiot?” They kept their eyes on her. “Then he will be…” Their jaw clenched and they winced. “My responsibility. Whatever that entails. Just… please. Please don’t do this.”

The air felt suffocating. Thick and buzzing with more than just Chiral Matter and death. The beat of his heart, fast and heavy, filling his ears with the blood rushing sound as he kept his eyes on (Y/N).

They needed to get out of here. This was so stupid. 

“Take him. Before I change my mind.”

His eyes widened and he looked over at Fragile, eyes connecting with hers as she let the gun slip from its hold and rest against her hip. Fragile stood there for a moment, staring at (Y/N) who stayed where they were standing, before she walked around him, eyes moving from (Y/N)’s to his, as she leaned down and picked up his Chiral Mask and her bag. The look in her eyes when she stood back to her full height, was one he would never forget.

She turned and walked away, towards Sam and Amelie. 

No. This couldn’t be happening. This couldn’t be real. 

(Y/N) was in front of him in seconds, knees pressing into the sand and thighs brushing against his as they cupped his cheeks. It took everything to take his eyes away from Fragile’s back and turn to look over at (Y/N), afraid that once he did everything would disappear. Their eyes, that beautiful inviting colour that pulled him in and left him breathless. Clear as day and just less than a foot away from his. Their thumb, gentle and with more emotion than he thought possible in the action, brushed gently against his cheekbone. 

His shoulders slouched, and eyes moving across their face as his breathing came out in short, light huffs. He couldn’t stop searching their face, looking for anything, a flaw, and warping, to prove that he had just finally completely, purely, lost it.

“Hey.” Their voice was so delicate at that moment. The briefest of whispers as they looked over his face. 

The warmth from their palms seeped into his skin, and, as the realization truly soaked in that they were here, for the first time in so long, he let himself melt into the touch. A laugh, thick and heavy, left his lips as he looked into their eyes, searching for the answer for their stupid decision. 

“You’re an idiot, you know that?” His voice was rough and thick, wavering slightly as he raised his brows. 

They let out a laugh, one that had his lips perking up into a soft smile as they shook their head. And tears, fresh and confusing him with the happiness they held, spilled from (Y/N)’s eyes.

“Let’s get you home, okay?”

Home. 

He liked the idea of that.

“Okay.”

#higgs x reader #higgs monaghan x reader #higgs monaghan

[shaechans]

ask game!!

the answers are under the cut in case it goes too long hehe

Last Song You Listened To?

from home by nct

Relationship Status.

single!!

Did You Wake Up Cranky?

no in fact i woke in a really good mood cause i didn’t have school lmao

How Many Followers?

426 holy shit thank you

Take A Vitamin Daily?

nope

Do You Sing In The Shower?

of course. but sometimes i just think of shower thoughts

What Books Are You Reading?

started the hunger games series recently

Grab The Book Nearest To You, Turn To Page 64, Give Me Line 14.

“information technology (IT) is the study of design, development, implementation, support or management of computer based information” that’s my sisters’ 8th grade social textbook lols

Favourite Anime?

death note (thats the only ive watched so far, gonna start haikyuu soon)

Last Person You Cried In Front Of?

my mom sigh i cried cause of this terrible headache i had and couldn’t handle anymore

Do You Collect Anything?

...albums?

What Did You Have For Lunch?

fish curry and fish fry yum

Do You Dance In The Car?

more like sing than dance but then again, it depends on the song and the mood im in

Do You Watch The Olympics?

as of now, no but i might have to soon

What Time Do You Usually Go To Bed?

11pm on school days and 1-2am on weekends

Are You Wearing Makeup Right Now?

nope

Do You Prefer To Swim In A Pool Or The Ocean?

none. i don’t like swimming. but if i chad to choose, pool. i’m thalassophobic

Bottled Water Or Tap Water?

bottled!!!

What Makes You Happy?

making people laugh, the noise of laughter, kpop, and spending time with people i like annoying

Post A Gif Of What You’re Currently Feeling Right Now.

Do You Study Better With Or Without Music?

with music. but like music i haven’t heard before otherwise i get distracted and sing along

Dogs Or Cats?

dogs!!!!!!!111!!!! but cats have been coming at me recently

If You Were A Crayon What Colour Would You Be?

ngl red or orange

PlayStation Or Xbox

hmm playstation

Would You Swim In The Lake Or Ocean?

lake better than ocean

Do You Believe In Magic?

yesss except black magic that’s bullshit

What Colour Shirt Are You Wearing?

juniper green

Can You Curl Your Tongue?

yup!

Is There Anything Pink Within 10 Feet Of You?

yes my shorts

Do You Have Any Obsessions Right Now?

yes treasure (and superm’s super one album)

Have You Ever Caught A Butterfly?

noooo they’re scary

Are You Easily Influenced By Other People?

yes VERY easily. i’m a trend follower

Do You Have Strange Dreams?

all the time, it’s fun to think about in the morning

Do You Like Going On Airplanes?

oh yesss i love plane rides

Peanuts Or Sunflower Seeds?

peanuts

If I Handed You A Concert Ticket Right Now, Who Would You Want The Performer To Be?

nct / the 1975

Are You A Picky Eater?

yes, VERY. and i have a small appetite so i can never really eat too much

Do You Like To Read / Write?

hmm write more than read

Do You Like Your Music Loud?

in between. sometimes it depends on my mood. but i’ll often lower the volume than increase

Would You Rather Carve Pumpkins Or Wrap Presents?

hmmm present wrapping would be fun

What Season Are You In Right Now? (Weather)

it’s the autumn > winter transition

What Are You Craving Right Now?

cookies and french fries:(( even though i ate those an hour ago

Post A Screenshot Of Your Tumblr Feed.

lmao my ask and yes i use my laptop so

What Is Your Gender?

female!

Coffee Or Tea?

i don’t mind really but i would prefer coffee over tea

Do You Have Any Homework Right Now? If So, What Is It About?

nope but i do have a marketing test on the 29th yikes

Do You Make Your Bed In The Morning?

yes im tidy like that

Favourite Pokemon?

squirtle and snorlax cuties

Favourite Social Media?

ngl right now really proud of my tumblr. but it’s usually my instagram

What’s Your Opinion On Instagram Stories?

i love them

Do You Get Homesick?

YES ALOT, like i feel like that as soon as im out my house for like 5 minutes

Are You A Virgin?

yes and im 15

If You Were Far From Home And Needed To Sleep For The Night, Would You Choose To Rent A Crappy Motel Room For $60 Or Sleep In Your Car For Free?

fuck that motel i’d sleep in the car wtf

Are Both Of Your Blood Parents Still In Your Life?

yes<3

Whats The Next Movie You Want To See In Theaters?

hmm i don’t really yet

Do You Miss Your Ex?

don’t have one woohoo

What Is Your Favourite Quote Right Now?

if beyonce can forgive jayz, i can forgive you ~ kevin moon

Did You Like Swinging As A Child? Do You Still Get Excited When You See A Swing Set?

the swings were are my favourite on the playground. i LOVE going on them and will fight 5 year olds to sit on one >.<

What Was The Last Thing You Ate?

banana

Would You Give A Homeless Person CPR If They Were Dying? Why Or Why Not?

OF COURSE. i would help anyone in need of help, homeless or not, outcast or not. if you wouldn’t please unfollow me thank you

Been On The Computer For 5 Hours Straight?

...yes

Stalked Someone On A Social Network?

..........yes

Do You Like Meeting New People?

sometimes yes sometimes no. it depends on the group of people, i’m attracted to lively and playful groups pf people

Do You Wear Rings? If You Do, Take A Picture Of Them.

nopeee

Do You Sleep With Your Bedroom Door Open Or Closed?

opennnn

What Are Three Things You Did Today?

made myself a sandwich, replayed enhypen’s teaser a billion times and watched nct world’s latest episode

What Do You Wear To Bed?

comfy clothes

List All Of Your Different Beauty Products You Have Right Now.

none

Are You A Day Or Night Person?

day hmmm what

Tell Me About A Dream That You Had And When It Happened.

i.... cannot remember.. i briefly remember this one dream where i, along with a group of people were locked up in this tower thing and it was a test???? and the judge was rain. he trained us for a week or something to rock climbing. and then i remember sunwoo helping me win when he was in the opposite team and he was about to kiss me woop but i fell.. and suddenly i was running away in a getaway car there were sirens in the beat of your heart kjakjahsj and then i woke up whew

Favourite Soda Drink?

ginger ale

Do You Wear Jeans Or Sweats More?

jeans

How Do You Look Right Now?

face oily, neck sore and eyes falling woooo

Name Something That Relaxes You

this playlist

What Tattoo Do You Want?

lowkey want a mmdiii (2503) or Yea, Simon says Hurry up 거리에 널린 flat hoop들 멈춘 순간 널 향해 조준 다 쏜다Hands up 뒤돌아 Hands up 흔들어 숨이 가득 차도 여기 법 계속 달려왜 또 눈치만 보고 서있나 우두커니 왜 또 겁먹은 표정을 짓나 이걸 원해?주문을 외워 I'm God 너희를 홀려 like wow NCT we all so sexy NCT noise you can't break me 누가 날 욕해 who Bless me achoo Simon says be cool Don't be such a fool Simon says 우린 real vibe killer (killer killer killer) Simon says 우린 real vibe killer (killer killer killer) 너네들은 다 mine mine mine mine mine 너네들은 다 mine mine mine mine mine 필요 없어 그딴 말말말말말 We don't pay no mind mind mind mind mind Yo 꽉 막힌 차 사이로 길을 여는 siren 니 맘에 그 체증을 밤새 뚫고 달려누구보다 빨라 전부 뒤에 가있어 거침없어 모든 건 내게 달려Eh 점점 분위기는 high high high high 우릴 막는 소린 bye bye bye bye 신경 다 끄고 놀아 밤새 누가 뭐라 하든 상관 안 해주문을 외워 I'm God 너희를 홀려 like wow NCT we all so sexy NCT noise you can't break me 누가 날 욕해 who Bless me achoo Simon says be cool Don't be such a fool Simon says 우린 real vibe killer (killer killer killer) Simon says 우린 real vibe killer (killer killer killer) 너네들은 다 mine mine mine mine mine 너네들은 다 mine mine mine mine mine 필요 없어 그딴 말말말말말 We don't pay no mind mind mind mind mind두려워하지마 널 막는 건 너 일 뿐 yeah 착각하지마 우린 오늘 break the rules 눈을 뜨고 깨어나 이 순간 깊숙이 빠져들어가 현실과 꿈의 사이 진짜 널 찾는 그 순간Simon says 우린 real vibe killer (aye, real vibe killer) Simon says 우린 real vibe killer (aye, real vibe killer) 너네들은 다 mine mine mine mine mine 너네들은 다 mine mine mine mine mine 필요 없어 그딴 말말말말말 We don't pay no mind mind mind mind mind We don't pay no attention but i don’t maybe the mmdiii.

whew that was a long one...kudos to whoever read all this bullshit

#mes time #games #ask

[maviemesregles]

Once I was an Eagle

Thank you all who keeps following this story, who hits Kudos on AO3, likes and reblogs and gives a kind word in the comments. It means a lot <3 I am still genuinely surprised somebody finds it interesting but I DO appreciate each and one of you for that.

This chapter has been much saved by my trusty beta Anne. Thank you! She's been my source of any possible and impossible medical info I need, patiently answering all of my questions, giving me advice and just generally making this story so much better!

Read on AO3.

Chapter I: The beginnings

Chapter II: Sassenach

Chapter III: Catharsis

Chapter IV: Lovestruck. Part I

Chapter V: Lovestruck. Part II

                                     CHAPTER VI: Flecks of sun

Saying goodbye was something Jamie and I were very bad at. The moment we would part with a kiss (so soft that it leaves a lingering tenderness float over the lips) we text or call in a space of an hour again. We were inseparable and I could not even remember anymore how it was to live without Jamie’s constant presence in my life.

Without him making the best coffee I’ve ever had.

Without the heavyweight of his arm over my waist that kept me imprisoned in the mornings in our bed.

Without our hours-long calls when we both were in our beds on different sides of Edinburgh.

Without his solid body and warmth on my couch with a bowl of crisps and Netflix on.

Without his lips on my skin and his hands knowing every inch of my body better than anyone.

Without Jamie cuddling Adso but next moment cursing in Gaelic when my cat decides to scratch him.

Without Jamie’s quiet reassurance and gentleness when my days are particularly hard at work and he’d come with me in the shower, working out the tight muscles in my back.

Without him just being there.

Our absolute inability at saying goodbyes was one of the reasons I was invited to Broch Mordha. After I was away for a week in Boston for a medical conference, Jamie simply asked me to meet his family. So now I found myself in the kitchen next to Jenny who was making dinner. Jamie had gone to the stables to check on the new horse Brian bought before he left for Glasgow. Ian was away at work and all the children were visiting his parents. I was left alone with Jenny and somehow I felt more nervous than I anticipated. She was Jamie’s older sister and nothing escaped her eye. I’ve felt like under the microscope.

* * *

Claire’s cheeks were positively glowing when she realised it was a selfie of her and Jamie snapped on his phone during their hiking two weeks ago. It was a silly one. Jamie was smiling from ear to ear. He looked as if he received the best news ever while Claire gave him a smooch on the cheek. Her hair loose, framing her face. She had the look of a woodland faerie wild and free.

Jenny snorted noticing Claire's face had become a lovely shade of scarlet.

“Jamie put it there right after yer wee hike adventure,” Jenny adjusted a magnet (that she and Ian brought from Greece) that held a small square photo. “This is our fridge of ridiculous family photos.”

A lopsided smile touched Jenny’s lips as she turned back to the salad she was preparing. No longer under the curious gaze of Jamie's older sister, Claire looked at the numerous pictures of the Frasers gracing the refrigerator.

There were childhood photos of all siblings, including William. One captured all three of them playing in a small swimming pool outside on a particularly sunny day. A little girl about six-years-old, with two dark ponytails, was laughing while she was held high up by her father. Her brother Willie, accompanied by his red-headed brother Jamie, seemed fascinated by a yellow ball he held in his hands. Jamie clearly made an effort to relieve his brother of the toy.

Claire’s eyes moved up finding a picture of Christmas day.

In that picture, Ellen Fraser sat with a little swaddled baby in her arms, (it was Jamie, Claire assumed), on a carpet by the huge Christmas tree surrounded by her other two bairns, who proudly held their new presents, with ripped wrapping paper scattered around them.

A black and white photo captured their wedding day showing the happy faces of Frasers standing outside the church in Inverness. Another one of Jamie all dressed up at his High school graduation. One of Jenny holding her university diploma, both parents proud at her side. Ian and Jenny on their honeymoon in Spain, ridiculously tanned. Pictures of all the family members outside the hospital commemorating the birth of Jenny and Ian's first born. Ian looked overwhelmed as he held his newborn son, Jenny drowning in bouquets of flowers with a blue balloon floating over her head that said: “It’s a boy!”.

And now there was a picture of Jamie and Claire. Somehow she felt thrilled by the fact that Jamie decided to put their photo there as she belonged to this family. Showing that Claire was part of their family seemed important to him. As she turned to ask if Jenny needed any help, Jamie’s sister picked up a phone that was ringing for the second time already. Claire never knew that colour from someone’s cheeks can drain away that quickly.

“Jenny?” She tentatively touched her shoulder watching her face become paler and paler. Something frighteningly awful happened to cause a cold feeling to rise from deep within Claire's belly.

“It’s Jamie. There’s been an accident.”

* * *

When people experience sleep paralysis they often describe a feeling of choking, as if some supernatural creature would sit on their chest purposely cutting an airflow in their lungs. I felt that and more. When Jenny slid down the barstool, her hand still holding a phone I stepped closer. Her face became paper white. I managed to compose myself adopting that professional mask I always used in the hospital in spite of my breathing becoming harsh and uneven.

“Jenny, what happened? Tell me.”

She raised her head, eyes fixed on my face but not actually seeing me.

Jenny tried to stand up but shifted and almost dissolved into my arms. “Jamie had fallen from a horse. He doesna move.”

He doesna move.

Each syllable ran through my head as a manifesto cutting deep into the tissue of my brain.

Jenny sobbed, chin quivering.

“Jamie is good with horses but…” She gulped and escaped from my hand that was tight on her shoulder. “Dear God, I canna lose another brother.”

She spoke in a trembling voice and her hands shook causing me to feel the weight of a ton of bricks pressing down on my chest. With each shallow breaths, I thought I could actually feel my sternum crush. Like Jenny, my legs became weak, numb lacking the strength to carry me. My mouth became dry, my eyes burned but no tears came and I gasped for breath like a fish removed from its watery home.

“Christ, what if he’s dead” Jenny whispered flying out the door into the misty evening.

“He’s not.” I tried to sound confident but inside I just wanted to shake her and scream “Of course he’s fucking not!”.

I never knew I could run this fast. I never thought I would feel that terrifying paralyzing fear of losing someone again, not so soon after learning about Uncle Lamb's heart condition. With each meter closer to the stables my stomach clenched and the coffee I had an hour ago threatened to escape, rising up in my mouth. I tried not to imagine all the possible images of Jamie’s injured body. Jenny’s gasps and cries were crawling inside me waking my own fears, making me sick. When my eyes caught the side of Ian’s figure crouched down next to still Jamie the tears snaked down my cheeks. Sniffing, I dried the salty paths away with the back of my hand.

Suddenly I remembered when a young nurse had asked me if I could perform surgery on someone I love, on someone significant. I said I wasn’t sure. In fact, I could not. She asked me if I felt the pain when I lost a patient’s life. My answer was that of course, I did. But not without reason some people call doctors cold-hearted. If we were allowed to show our true emotions it would become a mess. There were times I had to tell that terrible news to relatives and then afterwards in the company of my cat I could allow myself to feel that pain and sadness.

But now it was Jamie. This very moment I knew true fear. The reality suspended around me and the only thing I tried to think of was the severity of the fall from the horse.

Jamie’s skin was pale and there was sweat glistening along his forehead as far as I could see. My heart was beating erratically as my trembling fingers searched and found the carotid artery on his neck. I exhaled feeling the steady pulse at his clammy skin.

“Have you called the ambulance?”

“Aye, I did the second I’d found him like this.” Ian ran his hand through hair, biting his lip nervously.

“Is he alright? He’ll wake up, right? Claire?” Jenny was squeezing Ian’s hand with such force that I was afraid she would break it.

Her voice was a mixture of hope and fear, projecting her worried state of mind and confusion on me. My eyes closed as I willed myself to concentrate pushing my emotions aside.

“First of all, we need to get him to Emergency. He fell from a height and I am not sure whether he hit his head, for that he must have CAT scan.”

Jenny nodded as she clung to her husband.

“He’ll likely regain his consciousness within the minute but if not please, don’t panic. He’ll be alright.” My voice shook at those last words. Slow but steady rising and falling of Jamie’s chest was a reassuring sign of him breathing. And I smoothed his red curls back with my palm. “You’ll be just fine. I'll make sure of it”

And that same moment Jamie’s hand stirred slightly, a little twitch but enough for my eyes start to water again. This time with relief.

His eyes fluttered open. Jamie looked disoriented and the way his lips curled into a tight line I could tell he was in pain.

“Hi there,” I whispered my palm cupping his cheek gently. “You fell off a horse, honey. But you’re going to be okay.”

He made an effort to nod, his eyes closed again.

“Jamie, are you hurt?”

“My shoulder-”

I saw his Adam’s apple bob under his skin as he swallowed.

“Hurts like hell. And I feel dizzy.” It took a great amount of exertion for those words to come out.

“Be still now.” I shushed him seeing the lights of the ambulance arriving, blue lights ablaze.

* * *

Jamie had been put onto the stretcher with me sitting beside him holding onto his hand. Finally, we arrived at the hospital where I was relegated to wait in the hospital waiting room.

The hospital of Inverness was about three times smaller than the one in Edinburgh where I worked every day. The manicured hand of the receptionist pointed me to the waiting room. That room reminded me of a train station with its plastic chairs, grey painted walls, and a sad lonely ficus. The ficus failed at an attempt to brighten and lend some coziness to the room. My imagination seemed to be running wild, as I thought that even the radiators shivered from the starkness of the place.

Picking up an old issue of Elle magazine from the colourful stack I flicked through it without actually paying attention to the content. In about twenty minutes after becoming quite sick of the TV programs playing along with their obnoxious commercials, I heard footsteps coming down the hallway. A nurse, Laura as her name badge indicated, peered at me as she tapped her clipboard with a pen.

“Ma’am are ye a relative of James Fraser?”

“No-,” I shook my head, standing up. My knees painfully jerked on the table that stood in front of me sending pain down my legs.

The nurse quirked her eyebrow in a question and before she made a guess I blurted the first thing seemed logical.

“A girlfriend.”

Laura clicked her tongue as if she did not believe me and after scribbling something down with a blue and white pen she guided me to the hallway. Her hand felt heavy and cold on my back and her accent made me replay her words in my mind at least twice.

“Mr Fraser has a severe concussion. CAT scan hasn’t shown any bleeding but we advise the patient to stay overnight to monitor the symptoms.”

I just nodded walking over the sleek floors in the hallway space where my eyes started to hurt from all shiny steel and bright white walls.

“The dislocated shoulder was treated and we’ve given him ibuprofen for the pain but he’ll need rest and peace. Mr Fraser has asked about ye. Do ye wish to stay over the night, Ma’am?”

* * *

When I entered Jamie’s hospital room he was asleep. Worn out by the accident and all the procedures that followed. Jamie rested quietly in the realm of Morpheus now. Giving my eyes a few moments to adjust to the darkness I reached the bed where he laid as quietly as I could. My lips softly brushed over his forehead before I slid down the chair next to him.

Just then I allowed myself to exhale deeply, all the feelings catching up with me.

I sat there in the darkness of a late November evening watching the lights of lonely passing cars draw lines over Jamie’s face.  My previous organised state of mind turned to dust in the revelation of the night creeping in. Tears stained my cheeks sliding down into the valley of my neck and finally creating a damp stain on my sweater.

I wasn’t sure where it came from but the slightest idea of losing Jamie, losing us created a hollow aching space inside my heart. It made me wrap my arms around myself for comfort as I shook my head reminding myself to breathe.

Just breathe.

You can never learn how to lose someone you love.

I’ve lost both of my parents. I was five at the time and maybe I didn't quite understand the idea of death but that evening I not only lost my parents, I also lost my childhood and old carefree self. I never got a chance to say how much I love them one more time. I’ve regretted it all my life. No matter how often I would repeat those words visiting their grave each year it would never fill that endless hole inside me.

I never got a chance to say those words to uncle Lamb. How many times did I let this sense of regret eat the flesh of my heart like a vulture devouring carrion? I knew about the poor state of his health during his last years. And I berated myself for not saying "I love you" enough.

The slightest idea of losing Jamie now slashed a deep, bleeding scar over my heart. The tears burst like a water dam, lashes heavy with dampness, my hand pressed over my lips afraid to wake Jamie with my cries.

The fear was ripping through my heart, my very being, coming out it wrenching sobs, turning my guts out. Everything became a blur as the sounds became muffled leaving me in complete silence with the only echo of my own quiet confession.

“I love you”

* * *

“I love you.” My lips repeated those three simple words again as if I was not sure I’d said them a minute ago. Sniffling into the sleeves of my sweater and smearing the remains of mascara I leaned to Jamie.

“You scared the hell out of me,” my whisper sounded hoarse and raspy. “I know you’d laugh at me. You’d say I’m a doctor and you’re in good hands. But Jamie…”

A nervous chuckle came out as I took his hand in mine, my thumb placing gentle caresses over his warm skin. Maybe I was a coward but it was easy to tell him all this while he slept.

“I can’t lose you. I can’t”  

I kept repeating those words until the rivers on my cheeks dried out and all the sounds around came back to me. Soothed by Jamie’s quiet breathing my fingers caressed his stubbled jaw.

“It’s as if my soul that’s been torn and reborn started breathing from the moment you found me.”

His hand slightly twitched in mine, fingers seeking that contact. But he was still asleep. Bringing his palm to mine I pressed my dry lips to it. The same as he did on our first night together.

“Good God, I know it’s dangerous. To let myself having someone I’m afraid to lose.  But it’s you that I need.”

I smiled.

“You know, when I went to that medical conference in Boston I swear I kept thinking about you each minute.”

After our ‘wee’ getaway to the Highlands life resumed its chaotic rhythm and swayed us away into the depths of it. Joe and I had to leave to the medical conference in Boston for a week. Jamie also had an urgent business he needed to deal with together with his uncles at the brewery.

We said our goodbyes with sloppy kisses at the airport and fifteen minutes rushed sex in the men toilet (where firstly I wiped the toilet seat before Jamie had settled himself down and then me on him). He laughed saying that I am ridiculously hygienic (calling me Dr.Beauchamp as he bit my earlobe gently). After moderately satisfying goodbye sex we parted promising to call each other each evening. In fact, we spoke only three times during that week and I ached for Jamie.

When day six arrived I was so ready to come back to beloved rainy and windy Scotland. Jamie and I chatted on Whatsapp for an hour creating so many plans for when I come back (it included a sex marathon to make up for the time apart, eating our favourite Chinese takeaway, going to see the new Marvel movie, Jamie promising to fix the dripping sink in my bathroom and me coming to Broch Mordha).

It was something I did not expect but something I was no longer wanting to reject. As I folded the last piece of clothing into my suitcase Jamie’s voice message popped on the app.

“Claire, there’s something I wanted to ask ye. But firstly I want ye to know there’s no pressure or anything like that. And ye can say no, I willna be offended. But it is important for me and I would be glad if ye agreed.”

His tone became a bit quieter then.

“I would love ye to come to Broch Mordha. To meet Jenny and Ian, to meet my Da. I could show ye around. Maybe ye could stay for a night?”

I recorded a message back.

“I would love to visit your hometown. Or rather home village should I say? I don’t mind that, Jamie. Especially, when I think of all the things you’d promised to do to me.”

I joked but in fact, I felt the butterflies in my stomach. Though I knew it must mean something more than we both anticipated at the beginning I was nearing that point. The point that I was ready to be in love with him. The point when my heart longed for him so much it hurt. The point where I thought I must already love him.

And when the last day opened its door my phone buzzed with a text that was trying to find its way to John Grey but ended in my jeans back pocket.

“Sorry, man, no pub this weekend. My girlfriend comes back from Boston and we have plans at home.”

My fingers typed back.

“I hope my boyfriend has good plans for me.”

The stupidest smile appeared on my face and I spent an additional five minutes at the airport security control because certain James Fraser called me his girlfriend and I knew he’d be the end of me.

“You should have seen the face of that officer, Jamie. He thought I was mad.” I whispered smiling. “But that’s the most unusual way I’ve become a girlfriend so far.”

I remembered arriving home in Scotland waiting for him to meet me there.

Something was rising in my chest when I saw him through the window walking up the front porch. God, I longed for him. I could almost cry with the want to be held by those hands again, to feel his body move against mine. But mostly I just wanted him near. To simply exist together in one space, to see his face when he wakes up and to listen to his untuned humming in the morning to the radio. To be with him. My breath hitched when the doorbell rang. Suddenly the blush crept in all the way on my neck to my cheeks. When my hands unlocked the door and Jamie entered our eyes settled on each other my heart pounded in my chest so hard I thought it’ll break free.

We haven’t seen each other for a week but it felt like years passed by and I couldn’t live without him any longer.

Jamie moved first, making two solid steps towards me before I myself wrapped my arms around him letting my head rest against his chest.

“A Leannan” He whispered softly pressing a kiss at my brow.

"I missed you”  I confessed quietly, Jamie’s jacket muffling my voice.

“So did I” He smiled when his thumb raised my chin and our lips collided.

I remembered when finally we went to see that Marvel movie but in fact, I had seen only the first twenty-five minutes of it. The rest will be forever be imprinted as a memory of Jamie’s hands roaming over my body and the fact that I could never tell this story to my children.

I remembered watching Jamie fixing my bathroom sink, cursing in Gaelic every now and then. It stirred something sweet and undeniable inside me and I walked over to him pressing at least a hundred kisses to his bare back.

I remembered a time when Jamie waited for me to finish my shift at the hospital and on our way out the new (and very nosy nurse) said with mischief in her eyes that we would have “verra bonnie bairns”.   It made the tips of Jamie’s ears become red and causing me to cough forcefully.

I remembered when it was time to finally come to Broch Mordha.

“Jamie, I know you cannot pick me up, I’ll take a train, it’s fine,” I started scrolling through the timetable of trains on the Edinburgh-Inverness route.

“Let Ian bring ye from the station at least, I’ll ask him,” Jamie wouldn’t drop the topic of my safety.

I smiled chewing on my lip.

“I appreciate it, but it’s not necessary. I don’t want to be a bother. You know that I can fend for myself”.

Jamie snorted but the words came out serious.

“I ken that very well, Sassenach. Yer a fierce one. But I wouldna wish for ye even to try to do that. So just agree. Aye?”

“Aye,” I mimicked him but had to admit my life now was under a guard. In every sense.

I talked a lot to him until I lulled myself to sleep in that chair.

* * *

When Jamie woke his head was spinning and he had to blink several times for his vision to adjust to the darkness of the room. He felt as though his head was splitting in two. Then that nagging pain was running down his neck all the way to his shoulder.

He could feel a familiar warmth. Claire’s hand remained curled over his. She was a fragile figure covered in shadows, crouched on that hospital chair, her head dropped down her chest. The image of her, tired, asleep and so delicate made him want to cradle her and keep her safe inside himself, with his soul being her comfort. The words echoed in his fevered memory and crawled into his heart. Taken away from his dream that was put there by Claire’s voice before.

“Tha gaol agam ort”

Claire stirred and then rose in a swift motion woken up by Jamie’s voice.

“What did you say?”

She blinked still being half drowsy.

“I said I love ye”

#fanfic #outlander fanfic #modern au #claire and jamie #the frasers #maviemesregles #once i was an eagle #flecks of sun #claire beauchamp #jamie fraser #slow burn #angst

[haddonfieldproject]

<<PREVIOUS⏺<<CONTENTS>>

1.2.21 HALLOWEEN NIGHT/NOVEMBER 1st AROUND SUNRISE

Haddonfield, Illinois

Rosalita craned her neck to see the time. There was no clock in the supply closet, no light now to see a clock if there was one, the power had gone off shortly after Sheriff Brackett had left her here. When that lightning hit, she thought. She knew the lightning had something to do with it. The Sheriff's daughter, who lay in a hospital bed that took up virtually all of the room in the storage closet, had an IV hooked up to her arm. On the pole that held the IV was a little box with all sorts of buttons and blinking lights and gauges of a sort. Rosalita of course, had no idea what it all meant or was for, but the box had a little display screen that cast a soft blue-green glow inside the closet, and gave her the only light she had. On the bottom right corner of the box was the time. ‪05:46‬. Next to the time was a battery symbol, it was red and flashing...just like the same kind of symbol on the box on Rosalita's IV had been as well before it died about thirty minutes ago and went dark.

This one is gonna die too and soon I'll be in the dark, she thought to herself in her native Spanish, looking down at her newborn baby which she cradled in her arms. The Sheriff had left her, the baby, and his unconscious daughter more than an hour and a half ago. He said he was going to see “just what the hell was going on”. A part of her hoped he'd gone ahead and found it out—or was going to find it out soon— so she could get out of this god-forsaken closet. Another part of her hoped he didn't.

She knew what was going on.

When they had heard the gunshot, she had known right away it had come from Ole' Bitch.

The only thing Sparky Warner may have loved more than his shotgun was draining the cans of Coors Light he used to shoot with it...certainly not Rosalita. He abused his wife almost as much as he had abused the cans. At least when he was done with Rosalita he just rolled ahead on over and went to sleep, but with the cans, he liked to line them up on a log in the back yard and either take pot-shots at them with his .22 or sometimes, if he was in the real mood for some fun, he'd obliterate them with 'Ole Bitch'.

“I named it after your mama,” he had told her once as he pulled it from the back of his work van.

Rosalita knew who the shotgun blast was for too.

Whitey Grey had done a bang-up job on the new roof of the Warner home last year. Sparky had been real appreciative too, and knowing Whitey to be a stand-up guy, and having felt sorry for him because he had been on the outs with his high-school sweetheart, he had been all too willing to give Whitey some odd jobs here and there around the Warner castle in exchange for some cash from time to time.

“Chelsea Keane has always been a fucking bitch, ever since high school” Sparky had belched, crushing an empty beer can in his hand and tossing it off the front porch. “I'm surprised you stayed with her this long.”

Whitey had looked into the hole of the can of his own beer. “I've always loved her man. Ever since we were in six grade. I've always felt she was the one for me.” He had taken a swig. “You know, like my soul mate.”

Sparky had fished a cigarette out of his mouth and laughed, punching his friend in the arm. “You gotta be kidding me with that pussy shit.” He had said, putting a flame to the end of his smoke. “Naw man...you stay here with me. Make that bitch feel what it's like to miss you.”

“You think so?” Whitey had asked.

“Fuck yeah. Besides, I got tons of shit around here you can do in exchange for crashing on the couch.” Sparky had replied, the cigarette bouncing in his mouth.

“Your old lady won't mind?” Sparky had asked.

“Who do you think wears the pants around here motherfucker?” Sparky had exhaled a plume of smoke. “You see,” he had said, pointing the cigarette at his friend. “That's your problem. You always let that bitch run you over. You think I ever let my woman boss me around?”

Whitey changed the subject, “What do you want done around here?” He had asked.

“You're a handy motherfucker...lots of shit.” Sparky had smiled. “These gutters haven't been cleaned a month of Sundays. I've been meaning to pressure wash this driveway. I got siding on the side that's fucked up and could use replacing...and shit...that well in the back has been compromised by about three autumn's worth of leaves.”

Whitey had shrugged and taken another swig of beer. “That sounds cool.”

“Yeah!” Sparky had taken another drag, “And you know...odd job shit. Like bring the salt pellets in from time to time. That shit's heavy and God knows my old lady can't do it.”

They had laughed together at this. Rosalita had watched and listened to this conversation out of the window while she was doing the dishes. She remembered it well because moments after her husband had berated her to his best friend, she had sliced her finger on a steak knife under the soapy water. It had left a small car on the inside of her left index finger.

Rosalita felt that place in the darkness now, thinking.

Yes, Whitey had done a real good job around the house.

After all, Sparky was real busy. His little electric company hadn't taken off the ground as well as he had liked, and he found himself a corporation of one, working seven days a week, twelve hour days.

Anyone with half a brain would have known how this was gonna play out.

One of Sparky's job's on a ‪Tuesday morning‬ had re-scheduled. Rosalita had never found out why. Sparky had come home ‪at ten o'clock‬ in the morning to find Whitey Grey in his underwear making pancakes for Rosalita, who was also in her underwear...well...at least from the waist down. If it wasn't for a well-timed right hook by Whitey and an even better timed smack with the pancake skillet by Rosalita...Whitey and Rosalita would have probably gotten a taste of “Ole Bitch” right then.

Rosalita and Whitey had gotten a room at the Extended Day down in Russellville for awhile, after six months they snuck back into Haddonfield, renting a little apartment two blocks from the Bypass near Orange Grove. By then, Rosalita was sporting a little belly that everyone in town knew wasn't Sparky's doing, and word of mouth travels fast in a little Midwestern town.

So far though Sparky hadn't caused any trouble. Hadn't even called.

That didn't stop Rosalita from knowing that the shotgun blast had come from “Ole Bitch”. She knew it as well as she knew that the sun was gonna come up over Little Egypt ‪tomorrow morning‬ from the east and set over the corn fields and hills to the west ‪tomorrow evening‬. She knew it deep down in the marrow of her bones and the bottom of her soul and had now fought for the last hour and a half to shake the image of Whitey Grey, the father of her newborn baby, laying dead somewhere in the hospital with his brains splattered all around.

And Sparky was now coming for her.

Her and her baby.

Can't think about that now, Rosalita thought, looking down at her newborn baby boy. The Sheriff said he'd figure out what was going on, and he'll figure it out.

Sheriff Brackett had been the top deputy dog in the town as long as Rosalita could remember. If pressed she would say that she had always trusted him, and she would just plain have to trust him now.

The display screen on the Sheriff's daughter went dark. Rosalita couldn't see her hand in front of her face...let alone her baby.

Oh please God. She thought. Let somebody find me in here.

And then she caught herself.

Anybody but Sparky.

NEXT>>

#halloween #halloween franchise #michael myers #horror #horror writing #haddonfield #horror film #fan fiction #fan writing #spooky

[noroger]

Take good care of my baby

Roger Taylor x Reader

Summary: Roger looses his girl to another man.

Based off the song ‘take good care of my baby’ by bobby vee.

My tears are fallin'

'Cause you've taken her away

And though it really hurts me so

There's somethin' that I've got to say

Roger remembered the day when you had confessed to him that you had adopted feelings for another man whilst he was on tour.

His heart shattered and he couldn’t form any words, he never thought he would be the one on the other end of the relationship who was heart broken.

“Im sorry Roger but ive fallen for another man” you had whispered as tears dropped from your eyes.

He sat there for a moment and took it all in, his heart thumped in his chest and he became numb.

He looked up at you with tear filled eyes that matched yours and he could see your guilt and sorrow.

He nodded as softly choked out an ‘okay’ as he stood up from your shared couch and walked outside to have a smoke, his hands shook as he tried to light the end.

Roger never thought this day would happen, he thought you were the one for him, but for some reason he wasn’t angry at the other man or you, he was angry at himself.

He spent so much time away from home even when it was unnecessary. Tour was necessary, the studio was necessary but the partying everynight wasnt at all.

The hardest part for Roger was that none of this was your fault, you didn’t cheat on Roger and you didn’t kiss the other man whilst with him. You explained everything to Roger and he understood because Roger lacked showing you love physically and emotionally.

Take good care of my baby

Please don't ever make her blue

Just tell her that you love her

Make sure you're thinkin' of her

In everything you say and do

What drove you away from Roger was his interaction with other women, he didn’t think of you when he flirted with them or offered them a drink at the bar because he only thought of what he wanted in that moment.

You hadn’t told Roger who the man was, he didn’t really want to know either because he knew he would compare himself.

Roger wanted this man to keep you happy and never make you upset with the small arguments, always just to work things out peacefully.

He hoped he could do the things Roger never could do for you because you deserved the world.

He wanted this man to show you how much he loved you every minute of the day either physically or emotionally, small gifts and romantic gestures.

He remembered the time your face lit up when he would buy you a bouquet of your favourite flowers or your favourite box of chocolates.

“These are wonderful!, thank you so much” you would gush with a smile on your face as you kissed Roger so passionately.

He loved to see your beautiful smile, the way your eyes would light up with joy, it made his heart flutter against his chest as he grinned back at you.

Oh, take good care of my baby

Now don't you ever make her cry

Just let your love surround her

Paint a rainbow all around her

Don't let her see a cloudy sky

One time Roger came home to you sleeping on the couch in one of his shirts, the collar was still wet from your sadden tears.

His heart broke because he knew that it was because of him, he forgot your anniversary.

He forgot and went out drinking with the boys after the studio and that was also when he talked up another girl.

His eyes drifted to the kitchen where the soft sound of the radio was playing and he found his feet gliding him to it. His heart broke even more when he saw the beautiful set up in the kitchen you had for him.

Although there sat two burned out candles, both plates sat full of Rogers favourite meal that was most likely cold by now. Your favourite wine bottle sat empty on the counter and he noticed his favourite whiskey you had purchased beside it.

He went back to your side at the couch and stroked a fallen piece of hair that was in your face back behind your ear. You stirred a little as you felt his warm touch.

Your sore eyes from crying met with his which startled you a little.

“Love, i’m so sorry” Roger whispered, his breath smelled strongly of alcohol and a small pink lipstick stain was on his neck.

You let out a small smile at him as you told him that it was okay, you ignored the stain because you didn’t want it to be true.

Roger lied, told you that he was hung up in the studio. It hurt your heart to know that he could lie so harshly but you loved him so you went with it.

To this day Roger knew that you knew he lied and he hated himself for it.

Once upon a time

That little girl was mine

If I'd been true

I know she'd never be with you

He wished he could go back in time and change how much he had distanced himself from you.

It had been four months since you left Roger, four months since you went to live with another man, four months where Roger went back to his boyish ways of one night stands with groupies.

He wished you had yelled at him when he stayed out late or when he lied to you because then maybe it would have knocked some sense into him. Maybe him change his ways and give him a warning that if he didn’t start acting like he was in a relationship then you’d be gone.

He should’ve noticed it for himself, he should’ve loved you properly because you didn’t deserve how much he hurt you.

He fucked up royaly but why didn’t he feel angry at the other man for taking his girl? or why did he not feel angry at you for not staying true to him? it was because he knew he wasn’t good for you, he knew you wouldn’t have fallen for someone else if they weren’t treating you good.

So, take good care of my baby

Be just as kind as you can be

And if you should discover

That you don't really love her

Just send my baby back home to me

Rogers heart felt heavy as he stepped inside the small local coffee shop you loved.

He went to walk over to the table you guys would always occupy in the corner but he noticed someone sitting there already and he sighed as he searched for another table.

He hoped that the man had made a mistake by believing that he was in love with Rogers girl, maybe he was punishing Roger for being such a shit boyfriend to you.

Maybe he was just dreaming, a terrible nightmare that he wanted to wake up from but he knew that it was reality and it haunted him every day since you left him.

Roger had remembered the day he met you, it was at some shitty science museum that Brian had dragged them along to as they went sightseeing.

Your face at awe as you looked at the exhibitions which made Roger chuckle a little because he found it both adorable and amusing.

Your excited smile made his heart flutter as he glanced at you from time to time, silently thanking you for going the same way as them, but you didn’t notice Roger until he got bored and started to cause a scene.

“Roger!” Brian hissed at the blonde as he picked up a fragil display rocketship.

You giggled at the sight of the two man fighting over the small object, the hush of your giggle alerting Roger, making his eyes flick over to your and his actions hult.

Brian sighed in relief to see the blondes attention on something else so he could place the object back in its place safely.

You and Roger held eye contact and you sent him a shy wave with a smile as you were dragged alone by your friends.

Roger felt him self following after you, like he was drifting in a spell. His band mates scoffing at his actions, thinking that he just fancied another girl he’d seen and wanted a shag.

As he followed you stood facing a solar system display as your friends were at the other side of the room, he threw his hand in his pockets and stood beside you.

“Interesting huh?” Roger spoke up which startled you.

You let out a little huff and held your hand to your heart which made Roger chuckle and apologise for scaring you.

“You must be a star” he spoke up from beside you again as you both faced the display.

“Huh?” you questioned as you turned to face him, a puzzled look on your features.

“Well the light around you guided me here” he tired to smirk but laughed at how adorable your face was when you understood and laughed at his cheesy pick up line.

“You didn’t just use a space pick up line in a space museum” you laughed with a tut.

Well, take good care of my baby

Be just as kind as you can be

And if you should discover

That you don't really love her

Just send my baby back home to me

Rogers breath hitched as he heard the same laugh in the small shop which knocked him from his day dreaming stage.

He followed the sound and noticed you.

You had joined the man who sat at the same table you and Roger would.

It must be the man you left him for.

You looked beautiful, you always looked beautiful. You laughed at something the unknown man to Roger had said and it made Rogers heart shatter a little and a tear started to prick his eyes.

He shakily let out a breath as he brought the coffee cup up to his lips as he tried not to look over at the table again.

He couldn’t help it, he had to look again and when he did he caught your eyes and you sent him a soft smile.

He immediately diverted his eyes somewhere else, feeling embarrassed that he had been caught looking at you, for being caught showing his face again in that cafe that you loved.

He looked up again quickly as he noticed you get up and so did the man who’s back faced him as he dug through his wallet to receive the cash to pay for your drinks, even fished out a generous amount of coins to leave as a tip for the sweet old woman who owned the cafe.

Oh, take good care of my baby

Well, take good care of my baby

His world collapsed around him as he made eye contact with the man who had taken his girl from him.

He knew this man very well, not personality but from the media.

As he looked at the man the only thing that ran through his mind as they made eye contact was ‘Just take good care of my baby’

He sent a little nod to the man and he returned it.

Almost as if they were sending peace to each other.

The last tear that Roger would ever shed for you fell as you walked out of the coffee shop with your new lover. Roger accepted the fact he couldn’t go back, that you were no longer his girl.

Roger Taylor maybe have been the love of your life once but George Harrison was your soulmate.

#queen x reader #queen imagines #roger taylor x reader #ben hardy x reader #brian may x reader #george harrison imagine #george harrison x reader #the beatles x reader

[astras-world]

WHAT MAKES IT WORTH IT CHAPTER IV- AVOID.

Warnings:Swearing, small fight scene

Thanks for everyone who sent in suggestions from the prompt list!

You weren't sure how you were going to do this. How you were going to avoid having these secret moments with Tom so abruptly but you knew it had to happen.

This was getting you nowhere, your feelings would eventually get in the way of work and truth be told you still needed this job.

So you started small, like pulling your hand away when he grabs it or sitting next to anyone else except for him. You started to ask Harrison to wake Tom up early in the morning to get him to taping and he reluctantly obliged telling you that confronting Tom about your feelings would be more helpful and solve all your problems.

But it wasn't that easy, nothing with Tom was even as kids he would disagree with you and do the exact opposite of what you wanted to do, he was a pain in the ass.

Now is a whole other world of problems starting with how to detach yourself from him in any form possible, the first step to erasing your feelings for him.... Maybe.

Truth be told you had no idea how to do it or if it will even work cause you knew you were already in too deep, getting rid of your feelings for him seemed impossible.

You've been successful so far and so far meaning a couple of days and you weren't sure how much longer you can keep it up.

You missed him, everything about him. The way his hands felt against your skin, his soft lips pressing small kisses on random parts of your body, his body enveloping yours in his completely. You missed the comfort, you missed his laugh to the point that every chuckle physically pained you.

It hurted more everyday that passed, it made you want to run into his arms and stay there forever. But that wasn't possible you kept telling yourself everytime the thought came into your mind which happened way too often

You weren't sure if he noticed, if he did it didn't matter, he wasn't making much of an effort anyway.

But Tom did notice. He noticed the way your hand would slip away from his evertime he tried. He noticed how you didn't sat next to him anymore. How you made excuses to not join him for his naps, how you made Harrison wake him up Every morning instead of going yourself. He noticed how you would pull away from him when he started to get close

He figured that maybe you were mad at him or something so he gave you space thinking that in a couple of days everything would go back to normal. He hoped it will.

He missed you, more than he'd ever admit to himself. He missed running his fingers through your hair everytime you got a headache, he missed holding your hand and the comfort you provided, he missed the way you would fit into him so perfectly when he'd hold you as the both of you were sleeping, he missed your voice telling him off, your laugh, everything. It was almost painful.

But days turned to weeks and those weeks turned into a month, it was taking a toll on the both of you it was evident on the bags unde. your eyes and your forced smiles.

Tom didn't understand why you were acting the way that you were, it was starting to not matter at all. He just wanted his best girl back.

Tonight you were out clubbing with the rest of the gang, you needed to get drunk and Tom had a plan to talk to you.

So after entering the club you immediately went to the bar and ordered your favorite drink hoping to get drunk by the end of the night.

Your wishes came true cause nearing the end of the night you were drunk and dancing with strangers.

One particular stranger caught your eye, he was tall and had charming brown eyes and in your drunken state it was enough to get you giggling like a school girl.

Tom however wasnt in the mood for a drink and he kept an eye on you all night long, keeping an eye on the man that spoke to you at the bar.

Noticing his hand on your waist and the way you smiled up at him, he could almost hear your laugh if it weren't for the music blasting through the speakers surrounding the area.

He let you do your thing, let you get drunk, let you hang around this guy but that didn't stop the sinking feeling in his chest. It didn't stop him from clenching his jaw and his hand curl up into a fist.

Harrison noticed of course. Tom was never one to turn down a drink or a good time and so he followed his line of sight and there you were, flirting with a handsome stranger.

He had to laugh, you were both idiots who kept denying the way you felt about one another.

'She seems to be having a good time" Haz says nudging tom a little

"Mmm" Tom hummed in agreement.

"why aren't you?" Haz says turning to Tom

"What are you talking about? I am having a good time" Tom denies.

"uh huh, that shit doesn't work on me." Haz gives him a look.

"nothing, I just- I want my girl back." Tom says sighing

"She's not yours though, is she?" Haz says cautiously

"No she's- not in that way. You know what I mean" Tom stutters out.

"Yeah I know exactly what you mean. Why don't you make her yours?" Haz asks.

"We're not like that, man. Besides she deserves someone better" Tom says shaking his head.

"Someone better? What kind of better?" Haz asks outraged

"you know, someone stable. Someone who's not everywhere every time." Tom says.

"Mate she travels with you everywhere" Haz says flatly.

"yeah but that isn't what she wants now is it? She likes to settle down. She likes to stay at home, she's adventurous sure, but my kind of adventures aren't for her." Tom says.

"That doesn't even make any sense" Haz says and Tom sighs.

"Listen, Me and y/n, we're not like that. We can't" Tom says with finality

Harrison was about to respond when they heard a squeal very much like yours and they both turn their heads to where the sound came from

There they found you trying (and failing) to push the man away from you. Who was clearly trying to make a move

Tom's blood immediately boiled at the sight. Almost like blacking out he was suddenly punching the guy away from you.

"What the fuck, man?" the unknown guy said wiping blood off his face

"Thomas!" you shouted at the same time in shock immediately holding him back.

"She said no, man." Tom said menacingly.

"Why don't you mind your own fucking business?" The man said pushing tom provoking him further

"She is my business now back the fuck off will you?" Tom said lowly.

The man was about to throw another punch at Tom when Harrison interviened

"I wouldn't do that if I were you or would you rather face a billion dollar lawsuit for damaging Marvel's golden boy?" Haz said clicking his tounge tilting his head slightly.

The man left with an angry huff leaving you with Tom and Haz.

"Take her home, Tom" Haz then turned to you "And you little miss, are in a lot of trouble." pointing his finger at you a smirk playing on his lips.

Tom dragged you away after an exchange of goodbyes with your other friends keeping a tight arm on you as he goes along making sure you stayed by his side.

You on the other hand was still pretty out of it, just sober enough to understand what happened.

Tom led you to the car and you sat in silence for a while, you all too willing to keep ignoring him. If you break now you don't know what would happen.

"So that's it? You'll keep ignoring and avoiding me and think that I don't notice?" Tom said breaking his silence.

"I'm not avoiding you nor am I ignoring you." You said trying to keep your voice.

"I thought the saying went 'drunk people say sober thoughts" Tom said raising his eyebrow at you

"I'm sober" you said defensively

"You were drinking like a damn fish" Tom said flatly

"I may have had a couple shots." you say pouting

"Uh huh, that's what I thought." Tom says humorously.

"Why are you like this? What did I do?" Tom

"You didn't do anything."You shrugged

"Then why are you mad at me?" Tom said defeatedly.

"I'm not mad at anyone" you said blankly.

"Well why are you acting like this, then?" Tom asks

"Acting like what?" You ask brows furrowed.

"Acting like, like,, not like you!" Tom says.

"And when did you become an expert on who I am?" you ask incredulously

"You can't possibly think you're the only one who picks up on habits, who cares enough to notoce anything?" Tom ask rhetorically but you answer anyway.

"Yes. I do. And if anyone else were to, they wouldn't be you." You say.

"and why is that?" Tom asks

"The only person you care about is yourself." Ypu say, immediately wanting to take it all back.

"That's bullshit and you know it." Tom says hotly.

It was. You knew it was. You knew he cared more than he'd ever let on. You knew he cares too much sometimes. He always cared.

But you stayed silent anyways. You were persistent on staying like this. You didn't have it in you to find out what would happen if partially drunk you started talking about what's wrong.

So the drive continued silently. You didn't notice falling asleep but the next thing you knew you were being carried up.

You felt the familiar warmth wrapping around you and you immediately relax, you missed this, everything about it and now here you were back in his arms like and you didn't know how the hell you could ever pry yourself away from him ever again.

So you open your eyes slightly still half asleep.

I love you.

You wanted to say. You wanted him to know. You wanted to just tell him right there.

But you didn't..

"you have, the most beautiful eyes, Tommy." you muttered so quietly it was a miracle he heard you.

"Really, love? I thought they're quite boring?" Tom said humorously reminding you of a moment where you told him that his eyes were indeed boring

You and Tom were only starting to get along, today you had to help him with his lines, Tom always had a hard time reading his lines but he did great remembering it, his dyslexia has been getting difficult especially being mixed with stress and time zone changes, so he needed extra help studying his lines.

The scene you were reading was between him and Zendaya, a scene where they take off swinging in the city and the dialogue starts once they land

"Oh my god I am never doing that again" you said acting as though you were breathless

"It was fun! Sorry, did I freak you out?" he said acting happy then immediately switched to concernedYou lift your eyes from the script meeting his eyes feeling yourself slowly drifting deeper into his chocolate colored eyes.

"No, I just uhm.. I-" you stutter forgetting the lines immediately looking back down on your script and blushing

"Getting lost in my eyes, love?" He says teasingly a smirk dancing on his lips.

"Oh please Thomas, who would get lost in your eyes?" you scoff bot allowing yourself to get caught.

"You apparently." Tom chuckles and you scoff

"How could I? You have the most boring, standard eyes anyones ever had" You say rolling your eyes"

whatever you say, darlin'."

"Hmm, I lied" you hum.

"I know darling, I saw you blush." Tom says laughing "Nothing wrong in thinking I'm attractive, love" he shrugs a smile playing on his lips as he lays you down on the bed Taking off your shoes and crouched on the floor near you brushing hair away from your face.

"There is when you don't think the same." you mumbled.

"Now who said I don't find you attractive?" Tom chuckles

"I did." You sneered sleepily.

"Now that's just ridiculous, love. I think you're gorgeous." Tom said softly, seriously, admiration clear in his voice

You opened you eyes only to meet his and your gazes lock on each other.

"Can I tell you a secret, love?" Tom asks

"Anything." you answer right away.

"I really want to kiss you right now." Tom says brushing his thumb against your cheek.

"then kiss me." You said seriously your eyes still locked on each other.

"If I kiss you right now, I won't be able to stop." Tom said his lips inches away from you.

Taglist:

Shoot me an ask if you wanna be included or removed from this taglist! Please leave a like, send feedback and reblog Thanks for the support on this series, yall are A M A Z I N G.

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#tom holland #peter parker #tom holland imagine #tom holland imagine smut #peter parker imagine #tom holland imagine masterlist #wmiwt #Tom holland x reader #Tom holland fluff #Tom holland angst #Tom holland imagine fluff #Tom holland imagine angst #Spider-Man: Far From Home #Ffh #I HAVE SUCH A GOOD AUDIENCE FOR THIS SERIES I'M:CRYING.

[dammitadolfnomorecake]

Caramel Skin Under A Purple Rain prt 44 full draft

Sitting in the pilots chair Keith was finishing up as he wrapped Lance’s welted wrist to prevent his husband from scratching at it further. His nails had turned the site into a bloody mess as they’d walked, Lance claiming he didn’t notice how badly he’d hurt himself until Keith was cleaning the wound up. Rather than opening their own medical supplies, Keith was his using the supplies on the pod in an attempt to do everything by the book. If the princess lodged some kind of official complaint over their behaviour, Keith would be able to show her the footage of him bandaging Lance’s wrist, and administering the on board antihistamine shot into his husband’s thigh with the injector gun. Kissing the bandage before securing it with a claw clip, Lance rolled his eyes at the action as Keith tried to be romantic about it. Keith didn’t need to look up to his husband’s face to know he had. He knew Lance well enough to know that was how he’d react. Ensuring the bandage was in place, the half Galra rolled Lance’s sleeve back down “All done” “Thank you. I don’t think I needed a bandage though” “You scratched your wrist up. It could have got infected if you’d left it”’ “I’m fine. You’re worrying too much” “You literally said you hated being itchy. Has the shot kicked in?” “No. If anything I’m itchier...” “I don’t know how long it takes for these kind of things to kick in” “Neither do I. I guess all that’s left is to head...” Lance didn’t get to finish his sentence as their surroundings shook with an ear splitting boom. Rushing from the pod, Keith grabbed his blade from his boot. Ahead of him was a rising plume of smoke, the sky reddening alarmingly before there was another great boom and the ground shook again. Turning back, he found Lance’s on the ground near the pod, both hands on his stomach, torn between the cause of the explosions and his husband, he shook his head slightly before hurrying back to his husband where he threw himself down beside him “Babe? Hey, babe?” Lance was wheezing, as if he couldn’t breathe. His fingers digging in to his stomach as he let out a gasp “Lance?!” “Something... something wrong. I can’t... I... ugh... it hurts!” “Babe?” “Uh... Keith.. it hurts... the twins... something’s wrong... I fell... it hurts... it hurts...” “Babe, in a scale of one to five how does it feel?” “Hurts... hurts so bad... I need... my meds... somethings wrong...” Keith glanced back over his shoulder, the pod wasn’t that far away, but it’s unique signature could probably be detected from a distance “... something’s... I think I’m bleeding” Doubling over, Lance hissed in pain. In the distance another boom came, accompanied by screams from the people in the temple. They were too exposed like this. Lifting Lance, Keith carried him to the temple wall. Sitting him down as carefully as he could, then taking his husbands face in his hands. Lance was panting like a fish out of water, his grip on his stomach so hard that his fingers were partly white with the effort. Fuck. Fuck. He needed to get Lance’s medication... finding his husband staring past him, Keith shook his shoulders gently “Lance?” “K... Keith... what’s that?” As the sky turned red around them, Keith reacted without thinking. Throwing himself over Lance, rubble flew over the top of them as more people screamed. Counting to ten ticks mentally Keith leaned back to assess his husband. Dust and dirty caused him to cough, his eyes watering as the irritants wafted through the air. Lance was shaking hard, his eyes scrunched up. Keith couldn’t hear much of anything other than the ringing in his ears and screaming. The wall behind Lance was mostly in tact, the openings other side of it were no longer chiselled for perfection, rubble strewn from the temple to the pod. “Keith! Lance!” Supporting Krolia, Curtis had his arm looped around his mother’s waist as he lead her over to them. A deep cut somewhere in his hair line as blood ran down his face. Leaning Krolia up against the remaining wall, his mother was rubbing her stomach as she forced down deep breaths. Fuck. That was right. He had two pregnant people he had to protect. He wanted to stand and rush to his mother’s aid, but Lance was now openly crying as he gripped his stomach... and where the quiznak was Shiro? He couldn’t see his brother. Other people were stumbling out the cloud of debris “What happened!?” “Lance fell!” His ears gave a weird pop as he yelled, Keith suddenly free to hear himself yelling “Curtis, you help Lance up. Get mum and him into the pod. I need to go find Shiro” Trying to release his hold on his husband, Lance grabbed his arms “Don’t go!” “Babe, I have to get your medication and I have to find Shiro” “Don’t leave me! Please, don’t leave me!” “I’ll be right back. Curtis, I need you to get him to safety” On his hands and knees, Lance reached for him as Curtis moved to intercept him, Keith’s arms torn through his jacket by his husband’s grip as he freed himself “No! Keith! Don’t leave me! Keith!” Screaming for him, Keith wanted to give in. But he didn’t know if Curtis was injured further than the blow to head... that’s why he’d changed his orders. If Curtis got Lance to the pod then he could get him his medication to stop whatever was happening due to the fall. He was faster and more mobile than his future brother-in-law. He needed to find Shiro. He needed to make sure his brother wasn’t harmed. He couldn’t lose him on this piece of shit planet... but Lance... His instincts were roaring at him to get his pregnant husband to safety. As the sky started to burn red, everything moved in a blur. Krolia grabbing Curtis by the arm and pulling him around the corner of the wall as Keith threw himself at Lance again. The wall and the side of the temple they were on dissolving into blackness as he was thrown off his feet by the blast. Pain tearing through his body so intensely he felt as if he was being doused in flame. Lasting a handful of ticks he unconscious as he smacked the ground hard, towards the twisted burning pile of metal where the pod had exploded within half a tick of the last blast. Lance thrown with him, both unconscious under the wall fragments. * “Keith!” Lance didn’t know how long he was out for, some enormous weight was laying across his body. His stomach had hurt so badly, feeling as if he’d chugged two litres of spoiled milk, each wave of cramping agony. His arm was stretched out, reaching for his husband. The hand that clasped his wasn’t Keith’s, Shiro’s robotic hand curling around his “Lance? Lance, can you hear me?” Groaning groggily, Lance’s eyes felt glued together with the grot of the dust and debris, never mind his throat “Don’t rush it. You’re ok. We’re back on Daibazaal. Kosmo’s on your legs...” Groaning, Lance lost the strength to hold his arm up, Shiro bending closer as he lowered Lance’s arm. Trying to open his eyes, his eye lashes stuck, another groan coming from his lips “Lance?” “Mmm... m’ eyes...” “Your face is a bit of a mess. Keep them closer for a tick” Dampening a tissue, Shiro wiped his gritty eyes clean, Lance grateful for the careful touch. As he’d work, he’d been dying to ask about Keith and his twins... he remembered explosions, and the pain, but had no idea how they ended up on Daibazaal “That’s better. You’re probably thirsty too. You’ve been out for the last two quintant. You spent a night in the pod... You came out sooner than we expected...” Lance coughed, wishing he could reply properly and not be half choked by the lump in his throat “Right. You’re probably thirsty. Hold on” Pouring him a glass of water, Shiro stabbed him in the nose with the straw, apologising as he finally got the straw into his mouth instead of up his nose. Knowing the drill, Lance took a couple of small sips before forcing himself not to gulp down the rest. There was a small clink as the older man placed the glass back down. Shiro looked exhausted, like he hadn’t slept since the party “Shiro... sit...” “It’s ok, Lance. I’m fine standing. You have no idea how good it is to see you awake” “Ngh... just sit. You’re too tall” Reluctantly Shiro sat on the very edge of the infirmary bed, Lance’s hand slapping his thigh as he tried to find Shiro’s hand again. Thankfully Shiro took his hand before he blindly smacked his brother-in-law in the crotch “You need to stay still. You’re going to pull your IV line out if you keep moving” “You haven’t slept... I can tell...” And the only reason Lance was functional at all was because he was high as fuck. He could tell by the lack of pain, and the way his eyes kept shooting open every time they started to slide closed “I’m fine, Lance” “No... you’re not. ‘ can tell... where’s Curtis?” “He’s here. Concussion and minor injuries from rubble. Keith is still in the pod. Kolivan’s somewhere around here too. Krolia went into labour” “Is she ok?” “For the most part. They’re waiting until after she’s given birth to put her in a pod...” “Keith’s gonna be a big brother...” “Yeah. You should rest” “I’m ok... can’t feel anything bad” “That’s because you’re on medication. You’re still under observation. You had a serious bleed. The pod’s stopped it for now, but you need to remain calm and in bed” “Don’t want drugs, Shiro... please...” “Sorry. I know you don’t. I know, but it’s for the good of your twins” Lance appreciated Shiro was trying to answer him, but it was all going through one ear and being caught in his foggy mind without processing “Where’s Keith...?” “He’s in a pod, Lance. You were too” Shiro sounded tired. His back and side look tired... Shiro wasn’t facing him properly, probably because he was so tired “You need rest, Shiro. You don’t look good” “I will soon” “You’re no good if you’re sleepy” “You’re the one who should be resting” “Curtis will worry if you don’t... where is he?” “In the bed next to yours. He hasn’t woken up yet” “You should go sleep next to him” “I’m going to stay awake until he wakes up” “No... you should sleep... you need sleep... where’s Keith? “He’s in a pod. You need to get to some sleep” Shiro sounded so tired. Lance wasn’t that sleepy. He kept forcing his eyes open for some reason... and something warm was across his waist. Standing up, Shiro moved his arm, then patted the bed, Kosmo crawling up to huff at him as he dropped his head on Lance’s shoulder. Wrapping his arm around his fur son for him “Get some rest, Lance” Shiro didn’t look back at him as he walked away. Lance letting his head loll sideways so he could see Kosmo. Whining softly, his fur son pushed his nose up to his cheek. He’d missed his dopey boy... if Kosmo was with him, maybe Keith would be there soon? He hoped so... he couldn’t feel anything and he wasn’t sure what to think... He wanted Keith... but he wasn’t able to move to find his husband. He’d have to wait until Keith found him. * Wheeled by Shiro, Lance was confined to a wheelchair if he wanted to go anywhere. Keith was still in the pod, it’d already been one seriously long quintant since he’d woken up. Shiro was dozing in the chair beside his bed, waking when Kosmo yipped happily over Lance coming too. Krolia had asked Shiro to bring Lance to see her when he woke again, that was the only reason he was allowed this slice of freedom. Hitting the hand reader, the door slide open softly. Lance wrinkling his nose at the smell of sterility and disinfectant. Unaware of all the small lies told out of love, the Cuban thought he was going to see Krolia sitting up nursing her new child, instead he got Kolivan holding his child looking out of his depth... in front of Krolia, Curtis and Keith. All suspended in pods behind him. Feeling their sons moving, Lance bit his lip as he looked to his husband behind the glass. He hated pods with a passion. He hated them so fucking badly and now Keith was trapped behind one. His family were all trapped in pods. “Lance. Shiro...” Yep. Kolivan was way out of his depth. He looked as if he’d aged 10 years and not in a good way. Lance might be ready to break down crying at the sight behind him, but he was trying his god damn hardest not to “Hey, Kolivan. Congratulations... and who’s this?” Kolivan cast a glance to Krolia, before looking back down to his child. There was fondness in his face as he adjusted the blanket around the baby “K-... Yora, her name is Yora” Kolivan stumbled, Lance catching that there was something there. Yora... so close to “Yorak”... Yorak. The near name of the son of Krolia and her former lover. For that reason, Lance guessed her official name was still being decided “Hey, Shiro can you give Kolivan and I a moment?” “Lance?” Shiro had been “protective” of him, his every move watched by the man. Reaching up, he patted Shiro’s hand “I’ll stay in the wheelchair, you don’t need to worry... I have a feeling Krolia left a message for me, and Kolivan’s the one to pass it on. 5 doboshes max...” “Kolivan?” “I assure you no harm will come to him” “Maybe...” Shiro didn’t want to let him out of his sight. Lance knew there was more happening than what Shiro had told him. All his questions were met with the request to rest. But there were only so many vargas he could sleep, so many times Kosmo could nuzzle into him before giving him that sad whine because Keith wasn’t there. It wasn’t like his sleep was restful. His dreams were of Keith, so he didn’t want to sleep. He couldn’t get the scene of him screaming for his husband not to leave him from his mind. Of course, if something had happened to Shiro he never would have been able to forgive himself, but now it was obvious that Shiro was physically fine, he was angry that Keith had wanted to leave him... Emotionally... emotionally Lance was sure Shiro was on the same damn ship of depression he was. Feeling just as useless as they were forced to wait for the pods to evict the ones they loved the most “5 doboshes. No more than that, you’re not supposed to be out of bed for long... and I promised the medical team I’d monitor you” “Kolivan’s like my father-in-law already. Go take shower and get something to eat. I promise I won’t leave this room until you return” “I don’t want to be away from you...” “Kolivan is capable of hitting the call button if I need help. Go clean up. You’re not much of a silver fox with that greasy hair. I’m pretty sure you’ve still got bits of rubble in there” “Not as much as you do... I’m fine, Lance. Maybe we should...” Lance shook his head. He wasn’t having it. Shiro wasn’t fine. He wasn’t fine and he was a whole ocean away from being so. Even if he wasn’t fine, he might as well be clean and depressed instead “I’m not allowed to shower properly. You are. Now shoo. I’ve got a baby to meet” He wasn’t supposed to stand. Again, Shiro dodged his questions... he was getting pretty fed up with it all “If I find out...” “Not getting out of the chair. Pinky promise. Good hand and all” Shiro sighed, Lance not expecting him to kiss the top of his head as he moved his hands off the handles off the wheel chair “You’ll call...” “Kolivan will call. Now go clean up. Curtis will worry about you if you don’t at least pretend to look presentable” He knew he was being cruel using Curtis’s name, but it finally spurred Shiro into moving. He knew he’d hurt Shiro, but he also knew Shiro needed to take a little time to cry out what he was feeling, once he had, he’d be back. The Cuban didn’t need to turn back to know Shiro paused at the door before leaving him and Kolivan alone. Freed from his “babysitter” Lance wheeled himself carefully over to the chair that had been placed in the room. To him it looked as if it’d been added for Kolivan, or by Kolivan, as it a blanket lay folded neatly on cushion. Being as bad as the rest of them, Lance was confident that Kolivan hadn’t slept since they’d returned “I won’t tell Shiro if you don’t” Climbing out the chair, he nearly snagged his IV cannula on the way. He’d been freed from the drugs pumped into him for this unplanned trip, so was determined not to be hooked back up any time soon “Lance...” “It’s fine, Kolivan. I got the feeling you need someone to talk to, and honestly, I could use some honesty too. Here, you look a little out of you depth with Yora” Kolivan raised an eyebrow, Lance patting the space beside him as an invitation to sit “Krolia said you’d notice that immediately” “Mumma K knows us both way too well. I’ve got nieces and nephews and someone in the family was always having a baby, or a friend of a friend was. Kids were always in and out of the house. Plus, I’ve kind of got two on the way...” Finally sitting beside him, and not before Lance had started to feel stupid for patting he cushion for so long, Kolivan pulled the tip of the blanket back to reveal Yora. The little baby girl was every bit as beautiful as her mother, luckily for her “Oh, wow... She’s gorgeous” She had the same facial structure as her mum, with her marks. Her wispy hair was white, like her father’s. Tiny hands balled into tiny fists as she scrunched up her eyes, then let out a loud wail. Kolivan seemed startled by the noise. The poor man head over heels in love with his tiny daughter, with no idea how to care for her properly. As far as Lance knew, Yora was his first “I’m sorry... She’s been unsettled since Krolia went into the pod” “And she said I’d be able to help you out? Pass her to me” Passing her over, Kolivan’s size difference was almost comical. Yora seemed to be about the side of his head, all swaddled up carefully in her blue blanket. Supporting her, Lance smiled at the screaming cutie. He could feel his breasts starting to leak again at her crying. He couldn’t help but coo over her, wishing Keith was here to see this “I know. I know, it’s so hard when you’re so cute. Yes. Yes... I know, darling girl. Now, has daddy fed you? Or is he waiting for mummy?... oh wait... Are you a smelly little girl? Saved it all for your big brother-in-law? Kolivan, have you got nappies and wipes for her?” Yep. It was definitely a nappy change. As adorable as she was, she didn’t smell terribly adorable as cried harder “Uh...” Poor Kolivan was definitely new to this “Kolivan, she needs a nappy change. Did Krolia show you how?” “I... she did...” “Ok, don’t tell Shiro about this. You go get her things while I lay little miss down. I’ve changed more nappies then I can count” “You shouldn’t be exerting yourself” “I’m not. Krolia knows I’ve been around babies. She knows you probably need a bit of a helping hand. Plus, this little one makes a nice distraction from Keith being a pod. Don’t you, sweet girl? You look like your mummy, but you’ve got your daddy’s hair” Kolivan cleared his throat. Right. He was probably feeling instinctually insecure over having someone else handling his daughter and telling him how to take care of her “Don’t worry, I’m talking to her, not you. I’ll talk you through it if that’s better... She’s your little girl, you want to do everything for her. I get it. She’s such a little cutie. Maybe you can impress Krolia with your new skills?” Lance wished he had photo of Kolivan holding the nappies and wipes. He looked incredibly uncomfortable as he knelt in front of the chair, baby Yora laying on the blanket Lance had moved to cover the cushion with while Kolivan was fetching the supplies. Talking him through how to change a nappy, Lance felt he might as well have been talking Kolivan through how to diffuse a bomb with the level of concentration across his face. Yora wasn’t impressed by it all, while Lance couldn’t keep his eyes off her beautiful little face. Her lilacy-purple skin was something else. She looked so soft and warm, and a little on the chubby side. Kolivan had never had to deal with the black tarry poop of a newborn, the sight cheering him up far more than Shiro had managed to. Getting her changed, Lance talked Kolivan through how to swaddle her back up so she felt safe and warm, grateful to be allowed a second hold while Kolivan cleaned up the mess he’d made. As her cries petered down, her brilliant purple eyes blinked up at him. Lance finally breaking down into tears as he moved his finger so her hand could grip on “You’re very skilled with infants” “She’s a pup. Krolia taught me that much. But yeah, my big brother Luis and his wife Lisa have two girls and a boy. And my family is kind of massive so I used to baby sit a fair bit. She really is gorgeous, but I have to say, I’m not a fan of the name” There was few moments of silence, Lance wondering if he’d pushed too far. He knew Kolivan was also unsure of the name. Sitting back beside him, Kolivan leaned over, almost looming over his baby girl “What’s wrong with her name?” “It makes you uncomfortable. I know you adore Krolia, and I know you respect her, but I also know that Krolia wanted to call Keith “Yorak”. I kind of feel like it’d be like me calling one of my children “Allura”. I know Keith would be ok with it, but I’d also always wonder if he really was... Does that make sense? I don’t want to sound rude, but I also noticed it before. You hesitated. She’s beautiful, and “Yora” is a pretty name, but I kind of feel it’s not the name you want to give her. Like a name of your own... You can tell me to be quiet if you think I’m being rude, and stuff...” Kolivan let out a soft sigh “Krolia and I have discussed this” “I know you have. Mumma K and I had a talk to... Especially because... well, you know about that favour I asked for. What would you have named her?” “I don’t really know. She’s so much smaller than I expected... I’ve never...” A flustered Kolivan was kind of sweet and cute in its own way, not that he’d ever say that out loud. It was Krolia’s job to fawn over him “What about... Kora? Instead of Yora? It’s close to Yora, but it’s more like... your own? ‘cause it’s like Kolivan, so that’s the “Ko” and “Ra” from Krolia... ok, so it’s not the same, but she’s half of you and half of Mumma K. Keith says I talk to much when I’m tired, so if I’m talking too much then just tell me” Even in “New Dad Mode” Kolivan was slightly scary. Lance felt he had to keep talking because Kolivan wouldn’t fill out the gaps in the conversation or initiate it if he didn’t. An awkward silence was likely to kill him right off if Shiro’s worrying was to be believed “Kor-ra... Korra... I shall think about it” “It’s probably stupid listening to me though. Keith and I are terrible at talking, but you and Krolia talk. She loves you... and you’re supposed to be able to tell the one you love these things. I promise she won’t be mad” Yeah. He’d definitely overstepped by bringing up the Kolivan wasn’t sure over his daughter’s name. Lance was sure he’d shoot anyone who insulted either of his sons’ names... but someone had to tell Kolivan to talk to Krolia and that it was okay to, that he had rights and that was perfectly okay “You’re handling this rather well” “Which bit?” “All of it” Lance snorted, he wasn’t handling things, not at all “That’s because no one wants to be honest with me. Every time I ask Shiro what happened, he tells me to rest. I remember the explosions. I remember needing help, but then it all goes black... I know something’s wrong, if it was only a bleed then the pod should have helped... They won’t let me out of bed. They keep pumping drugs I don’t even know into my system. I can’t even look at the pod’s. Keith’s right there, behind the glass and I have no idea when he’s going to wake up. I can’t... I can’t do anything without him. I can’t... I can’t raise our sons without him... How can I make plans for what comes next when I don’t know how long it’s going to be, or if he’s going to be ok. Or what even happened to him when does. I remember Curtis being ok... but he’s in there too and now... Korra helps... How was Krolia? Was she hurt?” “Not having all the information always causes issues when strategising ones next move” Letting out a sniffled laugh, Lance wasn’t able to picture a more “Kolivan” answer to his feelings if he tried. Kolivan wasn’t good at this whole “feelings” thing “Yeah... yeah, it’s like that... Keith says I’m bad at sitting still. He was right... he is right” “Is”, not “was”. Keith wasn’t dead. Keith was right there... Trapped. Keith couldn’t talk to him. He couldn’t reassure him. He couldn’t demand answers from Shiro over what happened. He couldn’t feel their twins moving. He... He hadn’t even met his baby sister. Wrapping his arm around him, Kolivan’s “hug” lasted a few ticks before they both mentally agreed that it was awkward and the Galra removed his arm from Lance’s shoulder. His skin crawled from the contact, as his stomach rolled. Patting Korra gently on her bottom, he lost his battle to his tears. Keith was supposed to be there to be the third person to meet the little girl. It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t quiznakking fair. Why didn’t he get to know what was going on? “Please don’t cry...” “I’m sorry, Kolivan. I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s going on and I hate it” “There was an attack on the planet you were visiting” “I know that. But Keith and Curtis were both ok. Keith was going to find Shiro... I don’t understand why this had to happen” “Keith shielded you from an explosion. You had a fall and started bleeding, then you were thrown in the explosion. You lost quite a large amount of blood, Veronica making the call to prioritise your life over your pregnancy until you could be placed in a pod. Keith was thrown in the same explosion, suffering broken ribs and cracked skull as well as numerous small cuts and abrasions. He had not regained consciousness before being placed in the pod. Curtis suffered a broken femur, protecting Krolia, as well as debris abrasions and concussion. Sudden trauma induced Krolia’s labour, she was monitored through the birth, then placed into a pod after birth. She has been there for 6 vargas now, and is expected to be released tonight. She asked that you be told and brought to meet our daughter. The Shiro’s arm was damaged slightly, but was attended to by Hunk on the scene. Hunk and the previous members of Keith’s team were unharmed, evacuation procedures activated with the first blast” “And the twins?” “I do not know. Your bleed was profuse. When you were released from the pod so early the assumption would be that your life, and those of you children, are not in immediate risk. I do not have the results of any scans conducted. Shiro is most concerned. He was hesitant to allow you to come here” “Don’t take it personally... He... knows a fair bit about my issues... Thank you for telling me... What happened to the inhabitants of the planet?” “The Coalition will be offering them no aid. They ordered the attack to solidify the idea that they were in desperate need of military strength. Our alliance with them had become null” Lance blinked a handful of times as the words sank in. They’d angered the princess so much she’d done something incredibly stupid and reckless. She could have lost her own life in the process, not to mention the lives of her people... and the lives of their friends and team mates. It was her fucking fault that his family had been hurt. He shoot have shot her and Krystaal when he’d had the damn chance “Will they be punished?” “No. They caused this issue and they must be the ones to sort it out in their own terms. They weren’t alone in planning this attack. Rather, they were approached during the tour and offered a large sum of resources for their cooperation in a similar plan. Having already set their initial plan in motion, the request was accepted. The ruling family admitted the circumstances with some gentle persuasion from the Coalition leaders. Harming three former Paladin’s and risking a forth has not failed well for their interplanetary relations” “So there was a leak in the group. Do you know who it was?” “We have two suspects in custody. One claims they did not mean for it to go this far. The second refuses to talk” Lance knew he was going to sound paranoid and possibly like a jealous husband scorned, but he had to know “Was it Krystaal? He left the party for an extended period of time... after pulling some bullshit with Keith” “He will not speak” Confirmation. Lance’s shoulders slumped as he closed his eyes. He’d known Krystaal was a piece of shit, but to go that far... Why the quiznak couldn't he have been blown up? “Shiro knows about him being detained, doesn’t he?” “He does” That meant everyone other than Keith and Curtis knew. Keith was going to be crushed all over again, in a completely different way “He hasn’t said anything at all?” “No. He’s kept his silence. His quarters have been thoroughly searched. Nothing incriminating was found in the room. On his person we found various recordings taken through the tour. There is also another issue. Your confession has been sent to a variety of media outlets. It confirms you killed Klearo. Some facts have been released regarding his dealings with child trafficking and extortion. Generally it has been accepted that he deserved his death, at least through the Galra empire it has. Some are calling it a lie to cover the murder. Some are also questioning why he was not brought before a jury for a public trial. A video of Krystaal and Keith sharing a kiss was also submitted, as were photos of Shiro comforting Keith. There has been backlash against what went to print. Yours and Keith’s popularity took a slight dip in some sectors, yet for the most part, you are both still seen in a favourable light” Now he was starting to shake. Korra didn’t appreciate his mood change, Lance passing her over to her father as she started to cry. Clenching his fists, he pushed them against his eyes “I’m going to shoot him. I’m going to shoot him in the goddamn dick. He’s ruined Keith’s life enough. Keith’s as thick as a bag of bricks when it comes to realising someone has taken an interest in him. We all saw the way they were. The way Krystaal was... He fucked Keith right over. He thought they were friends. He probably even thought they were more than that. Fuck. Shit. I need to stop swearing in front of the baby... Quiznak...” Realising how upset he was growing, Lance forced down a slow deep breath, following with a second then third. He couldn’t shoot Krystaal if he threw a seizure right now “Perhaps it is time I called Shiro to collect you...?” “I want to stay” “Lance...” “It’s a... When one of us was in a pod, we always tried our hardest to have someone waiting for them to wake up... I want to wait for Keith. He’d wait for me...” “Keith would wish you to rest” “I want to stay. He... he thought I would dump him because Krystaal kissed him. He was in tears, scared I’d abandon him. Not being here feels like I am” “I shall remain. As shall Korra and Krolia once she is released. To Keith you are his most important person” That was because they were a couple of idiots completely and totally in love with each other... but then Keith had chosen Shiro over him... Lance didn’t want that to be their last memory “He’s mine too... Don’t ever forget to tell the ones you love that you love them everyday. If he... the last time... I was screaming at him not to leave me to go find Shiro... It hurt so bad and he still left me... he wouldn’t even stay when I was losing the twins... some important person I am” “I’m going to call Shiro. You are visibly growing more distressed. It is best you do not think of such things as a measure of his love for you” Lance took that to be Kolivan’s polite way of telling him to shut up. Kolivan was the leader of the whole damn empire. He didn’t need Lance’s snivelling whining. If he’d been the Galra man, he probably would have kick himself out too. No wonder Shiro didn’t want him to be here alone. Everywhere he went, he always had to take it too far and ruin everything for the people around him.

[femmeveined-a]

📱 rachel & vic oof

📱( Accepting! )

RACHEL

May 7th, 2010

Rachel sprawled out on her bed, the night’s events turning over in her head as the sun rose over the trees. The concert had been the first time she and Chloe had really gotten close since they called a truce on their dislike of each other. Chloe already knew more about her than the kids at Blackwell, who only knew Rachel as whoever Rachel wanted them to think she was. Running into Chloe at the Old Mill had been completely out of Rachel’s control, and she couldn’t decide if she loved it or hated it. Groping at her sheets for a minute, her fingers grasped her phone, and she looked out the window as she tried to figure out what to say.

4:26 AM: i’m so amped up from last night i can’t sleep. would‘ve hella sucked without you, glad you decided i was cool enough to hang with, finally.

She weighed her options, mouth screwing up into a pucker. She’d flirted with Chloe all night, even over text after they’d parted ways. But she had to mix it up, keep it interesting. Deleting the text in seconds, she opened Instagram, posting the best picture she could find from the previous night, with the caption, “Firewalk with me ;)”

July 24th, 2011

Rachel jumped a mile when her phone vibrated, earning a sidelong glance from Frank. “Is that Chloe? Rachel, she has to know by now. Where did you even tell her you were going today?”

Rachel swiveled the driver’s side chair and jumped up to put Pompidou on his leash. “I told her I was in Seaside. Which we are. I just… Didn’t mention we were taking your RV. Or that ‘we’ involved you. I even sent her a postcard, I thought she’d chill, but–”

“Chill? Chloe Price?”

“Frankie, stop.” Rachel laughed, rolling her eyes. “She’s not… Okay, she’s a little much. But you have to love her.”

“No I do not.” Frank looked downright offended at the suggestion, and Rachel sighed, raking her fingers through her hair.

“Fine. I do. And I know she won’t like it, and it’ll just start bullshit drama. Not really our style. And I like our style.” Rachel leveled her gaze at him, the way she knew could get her her way any time she wanted.

Frank held her gaze for a long minute, before tossing her her phone. “Just text her. Tell her you’re okay. She goes nuts when she doesn’t hear from you, y’know.”

Rachel considered it for a minute, telling Chloe everything. About Frank, about how she’s really in love, and how happy she is. Holding Pompidou’s leash between her knees, she types it out, just to see it in writing.

1:56 PM: hey babe. i’m in seaside, remember? buuuuuut… i didn’t tell you who with. it’s frank. y’know. that frank. we’ve been hanging out for a while, and uh… now we’re kind of hooking up. and i think he loves me. and i think i love him. maybe. idk. but i love you too. and idk what to do. it’s scary but i don’t wanna lose you, or him. not as friends, or… anything else.

Rachel only realized she was gritting her teeth when the headache started, and she pressed delete, holding it down for a solid minute after the words vanished. Like hell am I ruining today like this. 

March 8th, 2012

Rachel had never felt grosser. She’d known David was a creep from the start, but when she’d caught him tailing her in his shitty car, taking her picture by Frank’s, and on campus, she went into damage control mode. Cut Frank off by starting a fight and leaving him a letter goodbye, and distanced herself from the Vortex Club and Nathan. There was only one link left to get David off her back.

Chloe.

Her fingers shook slightly as she typed out the text, a lump in her throat.

9:17 PM: hey. sorry it’s been a few days of silence. needed space, y’know? but i need more. a lot more. i have school stuff to work on since the semester’s almost over, so things will be hella crazy for me and i just won’t have time for a social life. we should-

Her typing stopped as a new message popped up from Chloe, as if she’d known what was happening.

9:17 PM: holy shit dude, v just told me stepdick is stalking you. that SUCKS. he’s such an asshole. i can get him off your back. cause mischief, you know, my usual. just say the word.

Rachel smiled softly, her chest feeling a little lighter, as she deleted her previous message in the making.

January 16th, 2013

For nearly the last year, Chloe and Rachel had been closer than ever, even more so than before her secret relationship with Frank put a rift between them. Initially, when Mark Jefferson had been chosen to teach at Arcadia Bay, Rachel had only thought of her future. Sure, she had some professional shots in her modeling portfolio, but Mark was a known, celebrated photographer. She’d been subtle at the start, a stark contrast from the fan girls that drooled over him and whined for his attention. Asking him for advice on her portfolio or assignments for class, casually asking if he could maybe do a small shoot for her.

It was almost too easy for that to blur into what it was now, sneaking back to the dorms after a scandalous hookup in his office that had become their routine. She fished her phone from her bag to read the long list of texts Chloe had sent her over the last two hours, chuckling and shaking her head. She’d tried to write it all out, to tell Chloe about him. But it never felt like the right time. And Chloe would lose her shit anyways, no matter when she told her.

6:23 PM: hey blue. i’m fine, sorry i went quiet. i was kinnnnnnd of with someone. but i need to tell you in person. bc it’s sort of… taboo. like, hella taboo. pick me up and we can-

A hand on her shoulder elicited a horror movie scream that echoed off the brick walls lining the sidewalk. Beside her, Nathan jumped back like he’s been shocked, hands raised in defense. “Shit! Sorry, Rach! I just, I just saw you come out of the main building and I just…”

His words trailed off as he looked at something behind her, and Rachel followed his gaze, neck craning to look without turning. Mark was half-jogging down the stairs, briefcase in hand. He gave her and Nathan a curt nod before heading to his car, and Rachel turned back to Nathan, who’s expression had visibly darkened. “Uh, you good, Nate? He give you a shit grade or something?”

“Or… Something.”

April 21st, 2013

Something was very, very wrong. Sure, Rachel had taken some shit, and drank a little. But she could hold her own. A little weed and molly didn’t leave her stumbling like Bambi learning to walk, head spinning, and her stomach lurching. The flashing lights of the party stung her eyes and made her head throb, like she had the worst hangover in the world. Victoria had seen her, mocking her for not being able to hang. She vowed to never drink again if she survived this. Chloe was here somewhere, but Rachel just needed out, now. She pushed open the doors, deeply inhaling the cool evening air. Pulling out her phone, she tried in vain to type, but everything came out jumbled and nonsensical.

The door opened behind her, Mark stepping out onto the sidewalk next to her. “Rachel, are you alright? Let me get you back to your dorm.”

By that point her vision was blurring and darkening at the edges, so she just nodded.

Next thing she knew, she woke up in the dark, feeling like she was flying. After a minute, looking around with each movement taking all her strength, she realized she was in Mark’s car, laying across the back seat. Realizing her phone was still clutched in her hand, she typed out a single text to Chloe, the car coming to a stop as she finished writing it.

1:29 AM: somethings wrong. scared. mark took me. idk where i am. help.

Mark opened the door, Rachel letting out a low groan as he dragged her from the car and letting her drop outside the car as he picked up her phone, watching the text try to send, until the words flashed across the screen.

MESSAGE SEND FAILURE. RETRY?

October 13th, 2013

Rachel had been in the hospital for three days, and only really conscious for two of them. Hooked up to an IV giving her nutrients to try and supply everything she’d missed over the last six months as well as water. They’d recovered her phone in the bunker, giving it back only after they’d gotten all evidence off of it. That pissed Rachel off, but she didn’t have a leg to stand on since her own naivete and secrecy had gotten her kidnapped in the first place. After everything, all the shit she’d hid from Chloe, Chloe had found her. Saved her. And Rachel couldn’t bring herself to talk to her.

Tongue bitten between her teeth, Rachel frowned at her phone for over a minute before hurriedly opening it and getting to Chloe’s messages. She’d seen all the calls Chloe had made to her before, when she was tied up and left to die. But none since, because she was a hundred feet away, in the waiting room.

1:56 PM: hey life saver. come say hi. i owe you a thanks. and like, so much more.

VICTORIA

March 7th, 2010

Why the fuck did I call her Kari? This was the thought swirling around Victoria’s head as she sat in her Chemistry class. She was replaying the scene over and over in her head. She’d asked, specifically, what Chloe’s name was on the picture of them at that concert. But instead of, “Hey, Chloe, cool concert?” she’d gone on some ego-maniac spiel about her dumb photography award, and called her Kari. Victoria was cringing so hard she thought she might combust.

Sneaking her phone from her bag to her lap, she typed out a quick, hopefully casual message.

9:56 AM: thnx for the chem help. maybe u could tutor? i can pay.

But then, from behind her, the teacher’s voice rang out shrill and angry. “Ms. Chase, what is the meaning of this?”

Dread and understanding filled her, and she deleted the message, typing out an angry, belligerent message in its place. Fuck Chloe, this is what happens when you ask for help.

January 1st, 2011

The night previous had been unexpected, to say the least. Chloe wasn’t exactly in Victoria’s social circle, and hadn’t been at Blackwell for over a year, so their only connection was the rare times Rachel forced them together to hang out with her. They tolerated each other, even occasionally laughed at each other’s jokes. But last night had been different.

Rachel had completely bailed from the Vortex party, leaving Chloe to mope in the corner, nursing her red solo cup clutched a little too aggressively to be casual.

Pathetic.

Just to get Chloe out of there, to avoid souring the mood of the whole party, Victoria had taken her out to stairs and offered her a cigarette, forgetting herself as she lit it by leaning in close with her own. Brown eyes meeting blue and illuminated by the burning ends of their cigarettes, they held the gaze for what could only be a moment before pulling back and laughing it off. What followed had been nearly an hour of honestly talking, ranging from Rachel being a bitch for ditching Chloe, to the Vortex Club, to life at Blackwell. Small talk, sure, but it was easier to talk to Chloe than Victoria could have ever expected. When it became clear Rachel wasn’t making a reappearance any time soon, Victoria walked Chloe back to her truck after double and triple checking she wasn’t too fucked up to drive.

Now, in the harsh lights of the bathroom as she double-checked her make up, Victoria looked down at her phone, even picking it up and typing out a message.

7:50 AM: it’s v. hope you didn’t die last night, from alcohol poisoning or otherwise. last night wasn’t terrible, quelle suprise. guess we’re not totally at a loss if rach keeps bailing.

Just then, Taylor and Courtney entered, Taylor immediately checking herself in the mirror, and Courtney handing Victoria her morning coffee. Forgetting the text, Victoria shut off her phone, and accepted the coffee.

March 11th, 2012

Despite the odds, Victoria and Chloe had gone from tolerating each other to something… Different. Rachel’s presence was no longer a prerequisite for them to hang out together, though they insisted on keeping it secret regardless. Their drunk talks outside Vortex Club parties had turned into dizzying, intense hookups in Chloe’s car, or the bathroom, or wherever else they could get before they tore each other’s clothes off.

And still, Victoria couldn’t bring herself to just be nice to her. She was well aware it was Chloe’s birthday, it was all over her Facebook and Rachel’s instagram, that they had “big plans” for the big 1-8.

Plans that did not include Victoria.

Poring over her homework, textbooks covering her entire desk, Victoria’s head jerked up when she heard the now familiar revving of Chloe’s hideous truck. For a second, she thought Chloe had changed her mind. Chosen to hang out with Victoria instead of Rachel, not just hung out with her because she was the next best option. Her heart jumped, and she picked up her phone to text the birthday girl.

10:25 AM: since it’s your birthday we’ll drop the pretense. give me five minutes-

But her heart dropped back down just as quickly with the all too familiar sound of the dorm door banging opening, where from her window she could see a streak of blonde hair and flannel running to Chloe’s truck.

Oh.

Silently, Victoria sank back into her desk chair, swallowing hard as she tried to focus on her work instead of the annoying, dull ache now sitting squarely in the middle of her chest.

August 7th, 2013

Rachel had been missing for three months and sixteen days. And Victoria had stopped answering Chloe’s texts a month ago. But she was beginning to crack. The texts from Chloe ranged from poorly faked nonchalance (’hey vic, whats up, i’m at blackwell let’s chill’) to accusatory (’you always hated rach, you wanted her gone, fuck you!’). So Victoria ignored them. But she was scared, just like Chloe. And sad. And news of the disappearance was harder to get ahold of when she wasn’t in Arcadia Bay, stuck home in Seattle until the beginning of the school. Skimming over the unanswered texts, Victoria bit her lip and started to type something out.

3:05 PM: any news? hope ur having a nice summer. other than the obvi.

But a knock at her bedroom door, and Danielle, the family’s cleaning lady, poking head in distracted her from the ache, if only for a minute. She threw her phone into the middle of her bed and walked out, giving a rare, sweet smile to Danielle, and flounced out of the room, pushing all thoughts of Rachel, Chloe, and Arcadia Bay from her mind.

October 4th, 2013

Oh my god. Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.

Even in Victoria’s alcohol and coke fueled buzz, she knew what she’d seen. Nathan had been shadowing Kate all night, after being the one to invite her, and then slipped something in her drink, which he was now handing off to her. Victoria felt icy, like all circulation in her body had stopped. The pounding bass felt otherworldly with the music muffled by her panic. In her mind, two dots struggled to connect, separated by months and what, at the moment, had seemed like absolutely nothing. But when Kate started stumbling, her dark blonde hair lit up by the flashing lights, deja vu hit Victoria like a truck.

Rachel had been drugged before she disappeared. It all made sense now. Why she was so out of it, and why she’d left so fast. Chloe was the first person Victoria thought of, and she fumbled to pull her phone out.

11:38 PM: chloe it’s vic call me ASAP i think i have a clue to what happened-

Courtney and Taylor, who until now had been watching Kate, mesmerized and horrified, looked over at Victoria for instruction. Victoria opened her mouth, unsure what was about to come out. Before she could speak. Courtney laughed and grabbed her phone. “Holy shit, Saint Kate is going Girls Gone Wild. We’re so posting this.”

November 24th, 2013

The month and some change since the End of the World Party had been bizarre. Victoria had lost nearly everything, from her Everyday Heroes win, to her friends, to the Vortex Club leadership position. But Max had approached her like it was nothing, and sat with her when no one else would, and brought her assignments when she couldn’t bear to leave her room. An extension of Max’s friendship was being reunited with Chloe, whom she hadn’t spoken to in four months.

It wasn’t easy, trying to piece together a genuine friendship after how quickly Victoria had dropped Chloe, and Chloe had accused her of being involved in their still-missing friend’s disappearance. But somehow, they did it. When Max headed off to Seattle for Thanksgiving break, and VIctoria’s family let her know she wouldn’t be welcome at the family gathering after her “disgrace”, Chloe was the first person she turned to.

11:40 AM: sorry for the late notice, but… any chance you’ve got a spare seat at your table? kinnnnnnnd of disinvited from thanksgiving, with nowhere to go.

Twelve long minutes later, her phone vibrated in her hand.

11:52 AM: v, i think if i turned you away my mom would disinvite me. yes, you’re coming. bonus points if you make david feel shitty with me.

#victoria; interactions #rachel; interactions #punkdtm

[trinity-blood-translations]

ROM 6 - Chapter 1 Part IV (english translation)

Translator: Roven, Editing: Lamy

Trinity Blood (by Sunao Yoshida) ROM 6 - Chapter 1 -  Link for Part I - Link for Part II  - Link for Part III -

Part IV

—Isaak, do you think Esther liked our gift? —I don’t know, mein Herr," —-Panzer Magier replied respectfully to the voice coming from the microphone of the regeneration tank.

  All the newspapers were spread out on the table so that the creature in the tank could see them immediately as soon as it came out. —In my opinion Miss Blanchett is very afraid of power. Being a princess besides Saint... I wonder if it’s not too much burden for her.

 —No, Isaak. My gift wasn’t to make her a princess, but to make her a queen... Maybe already tomorrow.

  The Ritz Hotel was the most luxurious building on Piccadilly Street. Entire Londinium could be seen from the suite. It was so big that a whole house could fit in. In the middle of the vast space was a strange object: a water tank made of glass, measuring about two meters in diameter. The room, which costs ten thousand dinars a night, had seen all kinds of exotic pets like crocodiles or leopards. But what could be in that water tank surrounded by complex machines and control panels that resembled the cockpit of an airplane. Innumerable pipes came out of it and gave off a smelly vapor. The strangest thing of all, however, was the content. The shiny black liquid looking like coal tar didn’t seem to contain any living thing. However, the innocent voice came without any doubt from the inside.

—Esther Blanchett... I've spent so many moments with her and she's helped my brother so much... The least I could do for Esther was this.

—Actually... Speaking of your brother, mein Herr, what do we do with Mr. Abel? I'm afraid there's no way to save him.

—Ah, Abel! He died, the poor thing. He never had luck in life. One misfortune after another. What a pity…

—Well, it didn’t seem like it has cost you much to kill him...—the man in black pointed it out coldly. — I was surprised you reacted like that. After so many centuries without seeing him, I expected you to have a lot to talk about with him...

—It’s that Abel scared me; He suddenly became furious. From what you told me, I thought that he has matured a little, but apparently nothing has changed.

  The voice lowered as he laughed.

  —But that is not important. The important thing now is to recover my brother's body. At least it will help us to solve this very heavy problem.

  —You're right. But there is still the question of how to transport the body, —the man replied, carefully watching the pressure controller while rubbing the glass with his hand.

Turning to the mail accumulated on the table, Panzer Magier added in a worried voice:

  —In addition, we have his comrades. I don’t think they're going to let us take his body so easily.

  —Oh, sure! Surely they also value Abel a lot. Well, it's a problem... You can be recognized and I won’t be able to move for a while. What about the others?

  —Neither Reißzahn nor the Red Baroness could. I can’t imagine anybody would be able to infiltrate through the security measures and get to 02, apart from you, only two people could: your brother and your sister.

  — So I'll have to go... But I still can’t go out...

  —Exactly you have twelve hours, eight minutes and twenty-eight seconds. That means that tomorrow, just before the sun rises, you can get out of the tank.

  —Twelve hours? If we wait so long, the Vatican will take Abel to Rome. Now that’s a problem. What shall we do?

  The voice hummed absently through his nose. With a serious tone that contrasted with the indolence of his lord, Panzer Magier proposed:

  —What do you think about this idea? Tonight I will do my best to win as much time as I can. I will not allow your brother's corpse to leave the city. So, when you are healthy again, you can go and look for it yourself.

  —Gain time? Do you have something in mind?

  —Indeed. Yesterday I found something interesting in the underground.

  Panzer Magier then showed one of the briefcases he has collected the day before. If Vanessa has seen it, she would have realized that it was from one of the four mummies that had disappeared trying to recover the lost technologies.

  —Of course, I don’t have here all the pieces I need, but I've been thinking of someone who could serve me... If it goes well, my lord will have time to recover quietly and your brother's body will not move from here.

  —Ah, okay. I count on you, Isaak... By the way, I want to ask you something important.

  —What is it?

  Panzer Magier respectfully lifted his face, shaking his hair. However, the voice didn’t show any trace of seriousness and said, as if talking about time:

  —Tomorrow for breakfast I want fish and chips... With a lot of vinegar and salt.

                                                 ***

Following the River Thames about ten kilometers in its downstream to the North Sea one could reach Greenwich, the city that served as the base of the Royal Navy.

The campus of the naval school was surrounded by the riverbank and on its docks was the fleet of Albion, one of the most powerful in the world. In addition, it had shipyards, dams, arsenals and all kinds of facilities necessary for the Navy built next to each other like a steel wall facing the river.

  The hill at the south of the city, however, was a much quieter place. At the top there was a brick building topped with a white cupola and surrounded by rows of delicately arranged trees and innumerable rows of tombstones.

Before the Armageddon it was the headquarters of an astronomical observatory but later it had become the cemetery of the Royal Navy.

There rested eternally from the anonymous sailors killed in combat to the most famous admirals. The old observatory had been converted into a church, and its priest used to celebrate masses in it for the souls of the deceased. The cemetery received visitors every day from all social classes who came to leave flowers there. The rows of adorned cars and carriages with aristocratic emblems were never lacking in the parking area.

  —I'm sorry I took so long.

The huge car that was parking this afternoon in one of the corners of the parking area looked like that of some nobleman who was visiting the cemetery.

The black sedan had shaded windows. The car of exaggeratedly stylized lines didn’t carry any sign of manufacturer or affiliation, but at first glance it could be seen that it was an exclusive and quite expensive vehicle. A middle-aged gentleman walked to it. He seemed to be the owner, besides he opened the door and threw a pile of documents on the passenger seat.

  —I had to dig through dozens of files. Besides, I haven’t been able to get away from having a tea with the priest, and that caused me to waste even more time... I‘m very sorry for having kept you here for a while, milady.

  —But what’s all this about?!

The dark glass made the interior of the car remain in the gloom, but the voice that came out of the back seat was even darker and colder.

The blond-haired girl slid away to avoid the setting sun that entered the car and stared severely at the knight with her eyes of steel.

  —Answer me, come on! What does this all mean!?

  —All this? It's what I was telling you, the documents...

  —Fuck! That's not what I'm asking you! The young girl screamed as the gentleman started the car. Why does a Vatican priest save a methuselah!? What are your true intentions!?

  —Not that I expect any reward, but you could be a little less aggressive with the one who saved your life ...—answered William Wordsworth, driving with an expert hand while lighting the pipe. — Besides, I wouldn’t know what reason to give you either. Helping a lady at need is a natural thing for a gentleman, don’t you think?

  —A lady!?I!? Stop telling bullshit, old man!

      Listening to her allegedly deadly enemy Vanessa Walsh choked on the words for a moment but then reacted by turning red with anger and drawing her claws. If the car hadn’t been already going at a considerable high speed, there was no doubt that she would have decapitated the priest right there.

  —A dog of the Vatican saving a methuselah..., or should I say, a monster, as you say... Surely you have some hidden intention! Do you think I'm going to swallow that bullshit of chivalry!?

  —A monster?

  The gentleman seemed not to notice the anger of his passenger. As if he had forgotten that he was carrying a medusa in the car, he answered calmly:

  —I found you fallen next to the Saint. At that time I didn’t know you are a vampire... We were in full operation and there was no time to notice those things.

  —Don’t fuck with me, old man…

Vanessa lowered her tone, but not because Professor's explanations convinced her. With the claws on the back of the seat she was looking for the exact entry point to tear out his heart with her claws.

  —I don’t have time to listen to the stories of an old cunt. Tell me now! Why have you saved me!? What are you up to!? Do you want to use me as a hostage to negotiate with my brother!? In that case I'm sorry to tell you that Virgil is incorruptible for something like that. He will never endanger the clan, not even for his own sister.

  —I know that without you telling me. Also, negotiating with your brother is impossible right now.

  As the car was twisting on the winding road, the Professor lowered the tinted glass. The first stars had begun to appear in the sky and the sun was only a pale reflection on the horizon. Looking westward with a weary expression, the priest explained:

  —The Earl of Manchester was captured last night by the men of Colonel Spencer and has been locked in the Tower of London. To speak with him, I need the direct permission of the colonel.

  — They ca…, they caught Virgil!?

Vanessa was astonished for a moment but then looking at the reflection of the gentleman in the rearview mirror she exploded, bringing her hand to the door:

  —Shit! Why didn’t you tell me before!? I have to do something about it!

  —Wait. The sun hasn’t set yet. And what would you plan to do all of a sudden, my lady?—said the priest, calmly, seeing the methuselah ready to jump out of the moving car.

  —You should know, as a Londoner, that the Tower is impregnable. Even if you are a methuselah, it will not be easy for you to enter without being discovered. In addition, your brother will be under particularly severe surveillance. Going foolish and crazy now won’t do any good... Oh, and I'm telling you in advance: taking me hostage is just a waste of time.

The priest spoke in a slow but implacable voice to the girl, who threatened him with her sharp claws. As if he were a teacher entrusting duties to an awkward student, he added:

  —But you can be calm, because the colonel isn’t planning to kill your brother immediately. In fact, right now your city, the ..., the ghetto, is that how you call it? The ghetto is completely blocked. Military engineers have tried all kinds of measures, but they are unable to enter. That's why they have your brother, to give them the information they need... If we don’t get nervous, we still have time to save him.

  —We have? —Vanessa repeated, with a distrustful voice. —What do you mean by “we”!? What do you mean!?

  —I wonder if you really listen to what you are told. Haven't you heard me? You need the Colonel's permission to enter the Tower. You will never succeed in saving your brother by yourself. That's why we're going to...

  —That's not what I'm asking you! Why have you saved me!? I am a methuselah, a vampire, and you are a priest of the Vatican. Why have you saved me!?

  —Hmmm, it’s not easy to answer that question. But if you insist in wanting me to give you an answer... It will be... an attack of sentimentality? —Replied the Professor, biting his pipe with his eyes closed without changing his poker face.

  —Last night I lost an old friend. Let's say I didn’t want to see anyone else die even if it was... well, even if it were you. I know it's not a very logical answer, but I'm afraid it's the truth.

  —You're an idiot, though?! Vanessa replied immediately.

An attack of sentimentality? As if that were enough for a Vatican priest to save the life of a monster!

 —

Do you think I'm going to swallow that for something like this a Vatican priest is willing to save us!? Stop talking nonsense and tell me the truth! Are you trying to trick me into telling you how to open the ghetto!? Or is it that you are planning something else...!? Spill it out! Whatever it is!

  —Let’s see, I would like to be able to speak frankly, but... —the Professor answered with a smile, as if he wouldn’t worry about the terrifying fact that his interlocutor has sharp fangs.   —The truth is that I understand it’s suspicious for you that I helped you, since I am a priest. But well..., since I have saved your life, can’t you trust me a little?

 —Ja! What you want is to catch me off guard, dirty terran!  —Vanessa retorted obstinately at the paternal tone of the Professor, although this time her voice sounded sad. —We have lived with the terrans for centuries. In exchange for the protection of the queen, we offered our science; in exchange for the blood of the poor, we gave them money and medicines. If someone had an illness in the shacks, we were going to cure him. The people loved us more than the aristocrats or the Church, who did nothing but empty speeches. We had lived together so well for so long... And now this! At the minimum they blame us for everything! The same ones who had received our help come to chase us with the yell «death to the bloodsuckers»! How do you expect me to trust you!?

  —You have reason enough not to trust…

The Professor waited for the girl to finish her speech before intervening calmly:

  —I understand your anger perfectly, Miss Walsh. It is undeniable that the Kingdom of Albion and its people have sinned ungrateful... but it doesn’t mean that we are all traitors.

Framed in the rearview mirror the Professor's face showed a strange emotion. His voice was serene but from his tone it almost seemed that he spoke from his own experience.

  —Many times people let themselves be carried away by the environment. It is true that right now your relationship with the kingdom is difficult, but you shouldn’t hate all its people because of it. Sometimes it may seem that the ones that shout the most are speaking on behalf of the whole group, but that’s not always the case. Most people simply get carried away. Don’t lose hope in the human race so quickly.

  —Did something happen to you, old man? —Vanessa asked, with a strange face. —Are you feeling bad? Do you have a fever?

  —The truth is that you could have been a little more polite, Miss Walsh. Even I have my moments of ... Eh?

The methuselah didn’t hear what the patient Professor wanted to explain to her, because an alarm signal went on in the glove compartment. It was followed by a female voice.

  —Do you hear me, Dr. Wordsworth? Iron Maiden II is speaking. Respond, please.

  —One moment, Miss Walsh. My colleagues are calling me... Wordsworth here. I hear you, Iron Maiden II. What’s the matter?

  —We have the results of the investigation you have commissioned before. You were right. In recent months, there has been an enormous traffic of weapons in the black market of Londinium, enough to start a war... However, there is no sign that they have got into the hands of the criminal gangs. The Scotland Yard researcher who helped us had no idea where they might be got.

  —I see. Good work, Kate. Ah, I have also found what I was looking for, —said the Professor, taking a full notebook  from his pocket. —The bionic soldiers we have found in the hotel and who later attacked Sister Esther in the ghetto had received corporal improvements of type K. Albion has used that technology four times in its history but in the last thirty years it has only been applied once... It was five years ago, in the case of a marine infantry who had suffered serious injuries. His name was... let's see... Sergeant Jack Ironside, of the forty-fourth regiment of the Marine Corps, 5th Special Operations Battalion. He was thirty years old.

  —Marine Corps... 5th Special Operations Battalion. And what happened to Sergeant Ironside? Did he remain in the army?

  —He didn’t. He remained in the same regiment, but two years ago... in Percy's rebellion... the forty-four was exterminated in Beaufort. All of its members died and were awarded the Waterloo Cross posthumously. Ironside was promoted to a brigade and buried in Greenwich Cemetery. Since he had no family, it was his superior who was in charge of the funeral: Colonel Mary Spencer. That's what I found in the military archives…

The speakers were filled for a moment with static noise, and the Professor touched the controls to try to improve the reception.

  —The curious thing is that the ecclesiastical archives contain no trace of Sergeant Ironside's burial. And not only him. Among those killed in Percy's rebellion, there are hundred men of the forty-four whose funeral we have no record of.

  —So they officially died in combat, but their burial was not recorded? —Kate asked, surprised.

It was the army that kept the record of the dead on the battlefield, but the Church was in charge of the funeral. It was not uncommon that there were some discrepancies between the archives of both institutions and that until then nobody had bothered to check it. Anyway, the disappearance of a hundred corpses of soldiers was not normal. Where had they gone?

  —What happened then, Professor? I don’t understand anything…

  —I want to tell you, and I also have more interesting information, but we'll have to leave it here for now... I think this conversation is not private, — the priest said, smiling at the interferences coming from the speakers, and raised the voice so that the methuselah that was in the back seat could hear. —What I can say is that someone plans something big for the next few days. I'm going to try to talk to that person and find out what's behind the issue. Once I've finished, I'll tell you everything. Until then, I have to ask you to keep waiting in the city. If my intuition doesn’t deceive me, something will happen soon. You must be ready to react at any time.

  —Understood. Professor, be careful. Remember that Abel... God forbid that you too...

The Professor did not hear the end of the sentence, because a storm of interference completely erased the worried voice of the nun.

  —What is it, old man? Has the radio crashed? Ha! Tthat terran technology...

  —No, it’s not that.

The priest responded with seriousness to Vanessa's sarcastic comment. Without even trying to manipulate the controls, he casted a sharp look at the indicator lights.

  —They are caused interferences. Someone is using high-powered electronic countermeasures... Also, the radar reacts. Something is coming through the air at high speed. At one hundred knots per hour? That fast can only be... a combat aircraft? But who will do training flights around here after sunset?

  —Is it coming from this direction?

Vanessa discovered something by looking through the smoked glass. The eastern sky has already darkened but two bright lights appeared in it. A human look would have confused them with two stars but the methuselah didn’t hesitate: there were two biplanes flying in formation, one above the other.

  —They are two fighter jets of the Royal Navy... But how strange... They don’t carry identification number or license plate...

  —Hold tight to the seat, milady!  — The Professor shouted.

Before the methuselah had time to mock his serious tone, the sedan accelerated violently down the road.

  —Old man! What’s wrong now!?

  —Silence! I don’t want you to bite your tongue because of me!

Where did the car get that power from? Raising a huge dust cloud on the deserted road, the sedan gained more and more speed, like a cheetah chasing its prey. However, when Vanessa raised her voice again, it wasn’t because of the speedometer needle, which seemed to being about to go off. The two biplanes slowed to approach them and seemed ready to plummet like two hawks on a hare.

  —Bu..., but who are those...?! They are coming for us!

When the methuselah finally realized what was happening, the biplanes had already opened fire, and curtains of dust were rising on each side of the sedan.

  —And they are shooting us! They are shooting us, old man!

  —Thank you for letting me know... But I'd honestly prefer you to stop using expressions like that. If you want us to treat each other with more familiarity, you could call me grandpa...

  —I don’t know if it's the best time now to... They are coming back!

The sedan already was driving with more than a hundred kilometers per hour, but the biplanes doubled its speed. Releasing a cap cloud, they made a new pass over the vehicle. At once they exceeded three hundred meters, turned around, crossed and prepared to launch a third burst.

  —Hmmm, they're good. Surely they are class L pilots, at least.

  —Keep the comments for others... We have them on our tail! They are shooting! —Vanessa shrieked watching the grim shadows growing on the other side of the glass.

The first two misses helped them to calculate the firing trajectory. The third would be the final one.

  —They are coming!

  —No need to worry... Rocket acceleration!

With a thunderous noise, the car accelerated and left behind a column of white smoke. The force of the acceleration caused Vanessa to fall against the seat.

  —Acc..., acceleration rockets!? But, old man, what do you mean!? Ah...! Ah ...! Aaaaaaaaaaah!

In the midst of a crash that seemed to have opened the sky and earth, the vehicle began to vibrate so much that the methuselah couldn’t say anything else, and her voice became a moan.

Meanwhile the sedan didn’t stop accelerating. Its speed already exceeded two hundred kilometers per hour so that the biplanes that pursued them had to make efforts to keep track them. In addition strange noises were to hear coming from the lower part of the vehicle. Metal plates appeared on each side of the sedan.

  —Are they wings!? But ...does this car have wings?!

  —Let's leave the details for later. Now fasten the belt, because we're going to take off.

  —Take..., take off!? But what...?!

Before Vanessa could finish her question the vehicle responded to her by rising gently in the air.

—It fli..., it really flies! Murmured the aristocrat watching the short wings leading the car on its ascent.

As fast as they were, it was incredible that they could fly, but she couldn’t deny that the ground was moving away before her eyes.

  —This is absurd!

  —Absurd? My favorite car?

  —I don’t know what is more incredible, the car or you! A sedan that flies!

  —Well, it's not a surprise either. Nowadays, who can be called a scientist without being able to fly a car?

  —Thi..., this old man is crazy...—Vanessa replied, rubbing the bump on her forehead.

A strange smell caught her attention at once. It was a stench of ammonia and burned hair. Searching the source of the smell with her nose the methuselah looked down and got stupefied.

  —Hey…! The seat is burning! Hey, old man! That smoke is coming out!

  —Smoke? How strange... But they didn’t hit us…

The Professor looked at the young woman in the rearview mirror and immediately tensed his face.

  —Hmmm, this doesn’t look good. We are losing fuel.

  —Losing fuel?

But why was so much smoke coming out of the leather seats? Seeing the look of incomprehension of the methuselah, the Professor began his chemistry lesson:

  —You see, these rockets use hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizer and a mixture of methanol and a derivative of hydrazine as a reducer. This fuel has the advantage of generating a great impulse force with very little quantity. The only drawback is that the reducer is extremely corrosive... and it escapes from the tank very easily. I have to investigate how to use electrolytes to seal the tank and avoid leaks. Oh, by the way, better don’t touch the part that has been eroded. Hydrazine breaks down proteins, and your body wouldn’t last for a second.

  —You ..., you idiot! You should have warned me before!

Vanessa took a sudden leap to see how the bottom edge of her jacket began to dissolve.

  —I'm leaving! I get off right now! I want to get off this jalopy!

  —Don't jump around, please. You don’t know how difficult it is to get the car to fly in balance. If you don’t stop moving we will lose speed and...

  —And what are you telling me...? Aaaah!

Vanessa rushed to the door to try to open it, but before she could reach it, the seat turned around. Without warning, the sedan made a ninety-degree turn in mid-flight.

  —Aaah...! Look what you've done! Didn’t I just tell you that...!?

  —Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

Vanessa could only respond to Professor's warnings with a scream, while the sedan plummets down to the river. If it lost speed it’s very difficult for such a vehicle to remain in flight. The water was rapidly approaching them.

  —Don’t you think it's not very feminine to shout «aah»!? A lady like you should scream «oh!» Or at least «aaay!»...

  —Don't fool around and do something, damn it!

  —Hmmm?

While the miserable roar of Vanessa the Professor’s attention changed to the two biplanes which were also starting the descent. They probably intended to shoot them when they fall into the river. The last rays of the sun made the cannons of their machine guns to shine.

  —Well, it seems that we don’t have much time to play... Now I will give you what you are looking for.

The gentleman with the pipe drew a smile from ear to ear.

At the same time he lifted the steering wheel, the priest stomped on the pedals, which caused the nose of the vehicle to rise with a roar. The propulsion rockets, which seemed to have gone broken, received a new injection of fuel that brought them back to life. Cutting the surface of the water like a sword, the sedan regained height at a devilish speed.

But…

  —No! We can’t escape!

Vanessa huddling at one end of the seat to escape the corrosive liquid watched her pursuers with a desperate glance. The biplanes were getting in position to launch the final blast against the sedan. She could almost see the gloomy smiles of the pilots as they carefully pointed their deadly weapons. Their rockets were not rivals for the two planes. It seemed like it was only a matter of time before they were turned into a sieve. However the cries of Vanessa found in response the calm voice of the priest:

  —Let's go up, Vanessa! Hold on tight!

The sedan began a violent ascent that caused the methuselah to scream. The persecutors on the other hand didn’t stay behind and also rose as if following their trail.

  —It's useless! We are going to...!

A gigantic explosion interrupted the girl's scream.

The surface of the river rose as if a volcano has erupted underwater; even the sedan, which was in a good distance from the ground, noticed the jolt. However, the biplanes which were closer to the water didn’t have room to maneuver. The column of water rose like cannon shot and tore them apart in mid-flight.

  —What ... what happened !? —Vanessa murmured and stunned as she were watching the column of water falling back into the river like rain.

The ground was strewn with the remains of the two biplanes, as if a detonation had reached them fully. Their persecutors had found the destiny to which they intended to send them. What happened there?

  —Just before we got up, I released some of the fuel on the river... Hydrogen peroxide is an explosive and more unstable than nitroglycerin. If an insect gets stuck in the tank, it would be capable of causing an explosion, —the Professor explained calmly as he stabilized the vehicle and verified that the pilots had managed to jump off the planes. —Well, I see there have been no victims... Come on, there's no time. We will fly to Londinium. Fasten your seatbelt, Vanessa.

  —But..., bu ..., but what was this...?

  —Didn’t I explain it to you just right now? Hydrogen peroxide, when in contact with water...

  —It’s not that! What I want to know is why they were persecuting us! If they can send two biplanes to eliminate us, they are not just murderers. It must have been the government or the army... Hey, old man! You said before that something big was going to happen, right? What the hell have you discovered!? Do you have any idea who they might have been!?

  —Well, it’s more than just an idea. I can say that I'm sure.

  —Sure? What are you sure of?

  —The thing is that I don’t feel like to tell it someone with such bad manners. At least you could try to say something like «Honored gentleman, would you be so kind as to answer this question?» Or «Vanessa really wants to know, Grandpa ♥[1]!» Then everything would be much more flexible.

 —What are you doing old man!? Are you playing with me or...!

The methuselah lifted her claws back to the priest's neck, but stopped for a moment. One of the gauges installed on the glove box started to sound with a sharp noise at the same time as a red light illuminated the word ALERT.

  —Hmmm ...! This doesn’t look good.

  —And what is that this time? More enemies!?

  —An unknown radar signal is directed towards us. I don’t like this... They have located us.

  —Located!?

But who or what?

Vanessa turned around, but didn’t see any other aircraft. There was nothing but the moon and a group of fishermen in the Thames who followed with their mouths open the image of the flying sedan. There was also foam on the river... Foam!?

  —Old man! Below! Underwater!

The river opened almost at the same time as the methuselah cried. Two long thin objects were rising in the night air.

Once they were completely out of the water the two rockets powered their engines and turned their sharp heads towards the sedan, guided by the radar of the huge body that was under the water.

  —Missiles! Impossible!

  —Hold tight, milady!

Casting a quick glance in the rearview mirror the knight set the fifth gear. The fuel filled the rear propulsion rockets, and the sedan was driving off at a devilish speed.

However, the missiles that pursued them were even faster. The distance between the vehicle and the metallic heads that were bringing fire of destruction was getting smaller and smaller.

  —No! They're going to catch us!

The Professor shouted abandoning for a moment his usual sophisticated vocabulary, at the same time he looked in the rearview mirror…

And a glow ripped the night.

[1] The little heart is in the Japanese original but not in the Spanish version.

#trinity blood #Sunao Yoshida #Thores Shibamoto #kiyo kyujyo #kiyo qjo #William Walter Wordsworth #vanessa walsh #cain knightlord #Isaak Fernand von Kämpfer #Esther Blanchett #light novel #translation

[expressandadmirable]

RP Highlights: Collection IV (Mourning)

Morgan lets herself be folded into Lux's arms and sighs, her head falling into the crook of Lux's elbow. "Is that the basic setting for most people? Assume lies until proven otherwise?"

"It can be. It'll keep you alive. But it's also very lonely."

* * *

Morgan sighs. "I just wish I knew what damage needed repairing. The things I can see are easy.  You can't take people apart to find out what's wrong with them."

* * *

"I should have put up a different sign, huh?"

"What would you have put up instead? 'Gone to save the world'?"

* * *

Sol moves to stand close at the Tiefling's side, her hand moving from Aviva's shoulder to cradle the back of her neck as she pulls the other woman into her arms, lowering her cheek to Aviva's forehead and breathing slowly in. She says nothing, but after a few moments she shifts to press a gentle kiss to Aviva's temple.

It's as if Sol's kiss releases a pressure valve. Aviva slumps into Sol's arms and buries her face in the fabric at Sol's neck, wrapping her own arms around the Drow's torso. She weeps, silent but for the breath hitching in her throat, her whole form shuddering. After a minute or two, she calms somewhat, lifting her head and wiping her cheeks with the heel of her hand. She stops when she opens her eyes to look at where her face had been. "Oh. I left blood on your collar."

Sol holds her, tightly and silently, and closes her eyes as she feels Aviva's sobs against her chest. When the Tiefling draws back, she pulls off her gloves and tucks them away, the better to hold Aviva's cheek gently with one hand and sweep a slate-dark thumb lightly over the woman's split lip.

* * *

When Sol opens her eyes again, the corners of her mouth lose a little curve. "How are you feeling?"

Aviva sighs contemplatively, genuinely unsure how to answer the question. After running through a few options, she selects the bluntest one. "Honestly, I could go for a fuck." It's not an invitation, just a statement of fact. "Nothing like being sharply reminded of your own mortality to make you want to do something that lets you know you're still alive."

Sol huffs a short laugh, straightening a little but not drawing away. "Not once have I been able to guess what's about to come out of your mouth before you've said it."

* * *

After a moment Aviva snakes her arms around Sol and pulls her close again, quietly enjoying Sol being taller than her when she kneels instead of sits. A small whining sound escapes into Sol's armour. "I need a nap."

Sol enjoys it too, being able to rest her chin atop Aviva's head and smooth her hand over the tense join of neck and shoulders. Her thumb brushes the nape of Aviva's neck beneath her vivid hair, and just for a moment she closes her eyes. "A nap I can promise you." She falls silent, if only to savour the sound of Aviva's breath against her.

* * *

Wil settles in beside Lux carefully, either trying to read the tone of the melody, or avoid the pain his body wishes to continuously remind him of. He's quiet for far longer than he's known for, almost nodding along with the music, before he finally opens his mouth. "Thank you."

"For what?" Lux looks up at him for a moment, eyebrow raised, before looking back at her strings.

"I'm not sure if everyone does it. ...Thanks you, that is. Or if maybe I just haven't." Wilhelm begins to rub away at the burnt edges of his sleeves, severely fraying them and losing far more material than he ever hopes to save. He frowns, and continues. "Somehow your voice always seems to bring us back."

Lux smiles slightly, her shoulders lifting in a small shrug. "I do what I can." She pauses. "But I appreciate you saying so."

* * *

Lux sighs sharply and palms the strings, stopping the music. "No, Wil, it's not fine. I'm not fine. I'm grieving and frightened and if one more person lies to me I will eat their tongue out of their godsdamned skull. I'm trying desperately not to lose hope and the only way I can do that is by believing in the people in this room. Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm not fine. I want to believe I'll be fine. I'm going to try my best to be fine. But no, right now I'm not fine."

"That's exactly what I wanted to hear, because considering your reaction to fire coming forth from your body that first time, you've a bad reaction to keeping things buried for so long." Wilhelm's gaze fixes on Lux, eyes narrowed.

* * *

Lux watches him for a long moment, adding the pieces together in her head. When she finally speaks, her voice is barely a whisper. "What happened to you, Wil?" She searches his profile, not entirely sure what to look for. Some indication of how he came to be the strange, damaged person sitting before her. "What's really going on in that head of yours?"

"I'm perfectly fine." Wil's words sound rehearsed, eyes fixed on some blur before him. He's not even entirely sure just what it is, he's just aware that his heart is pounding in a new and interesting way, but in a way that makes his body feel ice cold when combined with the words from Lux's mouth. "I'm here for every reason that the rest of you are."

"No you're not." It's not an accusation, just a statement.

* * *

Wilhelm's lip curls up in a sneer, "I'm not-- scared. Not of this connections thing. I just see no point in it. I can understand its usefulness, I can understand why peoples form communities and express feelings towards others, but I can't see it in my future when it hasn't been a building block in my past. I have spent the past twenty years in the same professional company, this isn't... a thing. For me." Finally, he turns to watch Lux. He watches her fingers on the lute, and the way her mouth moves when she's chewing over the words she wants to say. And he sighs, empty. "This isn't to mean I'm not loyal to any of you. I care in some way about each of you. Even that intimidating Orc is growing on me."

Lux keeps her eyes on him. "Please believe me when I say I understand. I've spent as long as I can remember carefully curating my life so nobody would miss me if I left. I could write a symphony on how to keep people away while still outwardly looking like a functioning member of society. You could use me as a case study in your next class. But... The very fact that you care in some way about each of us means you do see a point in connections. Somewhere in you, it feels right. And it may not be for you, but it's definitely scary for me."

* * *

Wil fixes a lopsided grin on his face. "Ah... Considering how many of us you speak to, and how many times I've seen you pick up the pieces, I don't think you'll have too many issues with connections. You're a glue keeping us together, it seems. You make us work. I know I'd miss you."

* * *

"I don't understand why you aren't blaming me." Wil leans back, hands pressed to the cold ground behind him. "He meant things to you. You mourned him, the same as Morgan. But to me, he was a blank spot who didn't seem to trust me, or the actions I took. I heard Thorncurl's word, and I should have known what was happening in that moment. I expect blame. I don't understand why I'm not receiving it. It's a new experience."

It takes Lux a moment to comprehend. "You... blame yourself for his death? Why? There was nothing you could have done. There was nothing any of us could have done. Was there?"

"I'm certain I could have done something. If I'd-- ah, I don't know, I could have hexed him, I could have insulted him, I could have done anything to keep it from happening. I'm certain I could have." The frustration builds in Wilhelm's voice even as he tries to keep a calm composure, the mix bringing his breathing to an anxious pitch. "I could have held him and stopped this entire situation from happening. I did nothing, I made it worse. Like I do."

Lux's smile is almost sad. "You can go over it in your head as much as you like, play through every What-If you can possibly think of, but all it will do is drive you mad. It happened too fast. Thorncurl -- or whatever he was -- had it planned. There was nothing we could have done. We avenged him, and that has to be enough."

"I could have been faster than him. I'm certain of it."

* * *

"If I fail, I don't do it again. There's no reason to continue doing something if all it leads to is... disappointment."

"But that disappointment still sits in you. That doesn't seem like the healthiest way to absorb lessons." Lux offers a sympathetic half-smile, her music soothing.

"No, but it serves as a reminder of what not to do. I can keep it in there, and just... ah... know to avoid what caused it in the first place. It's a learning experience." Wil shakes his head slowly, closing his eyes. "I suppose it would be like what would happen if one had a bad relationship. They'd still know the signs, and avoid future engagements like those prior engagements."

Lux scoffs. "The mortal heart is far too complicated to actually take its own good advice. You'd be surprised how many mistakes you can repeat."

* * *

Wil waves his hand, as though to clear away their previous conversations. "I don't allow the failures to consume me. I know what I want, and I know to take the most direct path towards it, and nothing will stop me. Just... make me have to stop and focus."

Lux watches his face as he covers his tracks. "And what is it you want?"

Caught up in a line of remarkably clear truth, Wil says an Elvish fuck word under his breath. "...Ah. Well. I just want us to wake the Seer. That is my ultimate goal here. And then I'll see what's next."

"Mm." Lux strums the open strings of the lute as she fishes in her pouch for her cigarette box with her other hand. "Maybe someday you'll even tell me."

"Maybe someday I'll even know myself."

Lux lets out a light laugh. "Maybe." She places a cigarette between her lips and flicks the edge of the tinderbox with her thumbnail.

"And when that day comes, I promise you'll be the first to know." Wil glances at her cigarette, mouth opened for a question before closing with a snap. He'll just enjoy the sweet smoke for a while and sort out the emotions playing havoc in his head.

Lux raises an eyebrow and glances sidelong at Wil as she blows a smoke ring. "I'm gonna hold you to that."

* * *

Aviva nods to the tin of burn salve. "Shouldn't wait too much longer to apply that. Too many facial scars and you won't look like you anymore."

Sol tips her head back against the cold stone of the column, the side of her mouth that Aviva can see curling up just a little. "I like Grummer's look. I thought I'd give it a try."

Aviva returns the smile with a look that's a little bit joking, little bit pleading. "Please keep both your eyes. You need those. And I like them."

* * *

Sol opens her eyes just a little, enough for Aviva to track her glance across the room. "Did the boy put you through the ringer again?"

Aviva laughs ruefully and leans her head back against the column to give a beleaguered look to the heavens. "I wish I could say I learned my lesson. But I learned some interesting things about him, at least. Which I guess is the best I can hope for half the time. To unravel some of his damage."

"One day we'll need talking to him to not be best likened to getting blood from a stone." Sol's palm slides absently up Aviva's shoulder, just high enough to toy with the tips of her vivid hair. "No more secrets." She says it with a strange resolve.

"Wishful thinking, but I'll keep on wishing."

Sol turns her head to smile softly and meet Aviva's eye. "It's got to start somewhere."

* * *

"We'll need to go soon. Are you ready?"

Aviva follows Sol's gaze. "I think so. I'm not excited to be exposed out there, but it doesn't reek of death and ancient evil as it does down here." She looks back at Sol as she plays. "And maybe there will be flowers."

Sol's smile grows just for a moment at that, the tip of a finger just brushing the bare skin of Aviva's neck before her hand retreats. "Maybe we'll be so lucky."

Aviva's head tilts just slightly toward Sol, as if it's protesting the withdrawal of her hand. "I'll just be happy to see sky."

Aviva isn't left protesting long, Sol's hand finding hers and gently stilling it on the strings of the lute, ending the song. She nods. "For the first time in my life, so will I."

(These snippets are all part of one long scene that took place during a rest, which I think is pretty cool. Lux's text and minor edits by me, Sol’s text by @b-e-m-l-t, Wilhelm’s text by @biasanduntrue, Morgan’s text by @stufflaalikes)

#Dungeons and Dragons #Original Characters #Canon #Roleplay #Aviva Lux

[twotoned2marta22-blog]

ONE (1) WHOLE EMPATHY ==>

[[ logs with @carnivalsorphans​, trolling npcs Aradia and Feferi. Aradia is not the troll getting or giving one (1) whole empathy. ]]

-- cataclysmicSwing [CS] began trolling carnivalsOrphans [CO] --

cataclysmicSwing he d0esnt kn0w fire dancing at all, d0es he all ive seen is menti0ns 0f aerial silks

carnivalsOrphans no, he don't. he don't go hunting, neither, he just waits for others to get too close. you're a fuckin moron and you deserved ta get caught.

cataclysmicSwing yeah, uh huh, g0t that last time just wanted t0 c0nfirm, seeing as y0ure apparently his ment0r

carnivalsOrphans i teach him silks and in exchange he gives me horns and bones.

cataclysmicSwing awes0me anyway, c0ngratulati0ns y0ur student w0nt be missing practice, y0ure welc0me, g00d night

-- cataclysmicSwing [CS] ceased trolling carnivalsOrphans [CO] --

carnivalsOrphans > That was probably a threat. Stupid fuckin coward can't even stick around long enough to have it make sense.

cataclysmicSwing > She’s equipping the Captor’s block with aerial silks. Ominous.

carnivalsOrphans > Well, time to troll someone else.

-- carnivalsOrphans [CO] began trolling crownCuller [CC] --

carnivalsOrphans heard ya might be busy and ya might wanna stop bein busy for a few minutes

crownCuller > Feferi has finished her sixth business meeting of the night, hasn’t slept more than ten minutes at a time in over a week, had coffee spilled on her very heat-sensitive hands, and an unfamiliar account is messaging her personal, private handle. > She rubs her face, takes a breath, and tells herself to think sweet thoughts.

38? S)(ello, w)(o is t)(is? Very busy IND--E--ED boat alwaves )(ave t)(e time to kelp!

carnivalsOrphans i ain't completely decided yet. either an enemy, or someone who'll leave ya the fuck alone that all depends on what ya tell me glad you is so eager to help

crownCuller )(m. You )(ave a finteresting wave of intunaducing yours)(elf!

carnivalsOrphans > Goddamnit, this ain't the time to be charmed by fish puns.

yeah, i like to think so

crownCuller W)(ale, let's sea w)(at we can do )(ere, s)(ell we? W)(at seams to be t)(e probubblem?

carnivalsOrphans you got sollux captor you intend ta use him to further your cause

crownCuller O)(... You must be t)(at clown Aradia was telling me aboat. Ringleader, fis)(n't it?

carnivalsOrphans ;o)

crownCuller I'd rat)(er avoid issues if posseabubble. Too muc)( fig)(ting foar bad reasfins, don't you sink?

carnivalsOrphans depends on ya reasons, honestly so what are they

crownCuller Sollux Captor is a crus)(oal part of our plan to OV--ERTHROW AND R--EHAUL TH--E --ENTIR--E --EMPIR--E.

carnivalsOrphans well no shit

crownCuller Fin fact, we acs)(oally can't do it wit)(out )(im. W)(ic)( is )(onestly terreefble.

carnivalsOrphans i got mixed feelings on rebellion. your job, this exact second, is convince me the overhaul is gonna be somethin worth fightin for.

crownCuller W)(ale... If seaccussfully ac)(ieved, t)(e over)(aul would lead to t)(e abeelishment of t)(e caste difis)(ion structure. Jobs, poseations, AMBOC--EANS TH--EMS)(--ELV--ES, will naut be controlled by a troll's color. T)(e constant fig)(ting wit)(fin and wit)(out our seaciety will also be put to a )(ALT. Troops pulled out of conflict wit)( other species, eelstablis)(ing peace treaties, acs)(oally utilizing our resources to repair our own struggling economy, end slavery, bring war criminals to account and ideelly atone foar t)(eir crimes wit)(out addoceanal suffering...

carnivalsOrphans that's a lotta ideals and just what are you willing ta do, to make this all come about?

crownCuller W)(ale, yes. And I've been planning on )(ow to make t)(em )(appen foar quite some time. W)(at I going to do is take )(--ER out mys)(elf, wit)(out risking ot)(er potentieel casualties. But t)(ere is no seanario w)(ere I can win, and no seanario that an army will either.

carnivalsOrphans so you're willing ta put someone who didn't ask for this shit on the front line

crownCuller T)(is is w)(ere t)(e discovery of lime psi came in, aboat... o)( s)(ell, seamw)(ere over t)(irty sweeps back? Sollux is unfortunately t)(e only one we've gotten wit)( t)(e correct type. )(e was meant to be finformed of t)(is a long time ago, boat w)(en )(e came to me, t)(e Sufferists )(iding in my )(ive scared him off befoar we could meet. T)(--EN of course )(e )(as been understandably paranoid, and kills any w)(o try to find )(im. I )(ad )(oped )(e would calm in time, but it's too close by now.

carnivalsOrphans so has he ever agreed?

crownCuller 38/ I just said )(e )(asn't been finformed.

carnivalsOrphans and so the best way ta inform him was to put out a hit on him, fail to kidnap him, and then succeed to kidnap him, injurin him in the process? what happens if he don't agree?

crownCuller T)(en again, )(e may )(ave known somefin befoar! I w)(ale admit I was not fin charge of monitoring. T)(ere are a lot of fins going on at once )(ere. If )(e says no?

carnivalsOrphans ta bein part of this

crownCuller W)(ale, we'll find out, won't we. I've been told )(e woke up a little w)(ale ago acs)(oally, would you like me to pass on any message from you?

carnivalsOrphans no, tell me. what are you gonna do if he says no

crownCuller Sea w)(at it is )(e isn't understanding, of course!

carnivalsOrphans and what if he still don't wanna?

crownCuller Sollux is a troll w)(o agrees wit)( w)(at makes sense to )(im. T)(is plan will, )(e's )(alf of t)(e trolls we tailored our plan to.

carnivalsOrphans and what if he says 'fuck you, i don't wanna do this because you kidnapped me and hurt me' what if he just wants ta be left alone? what if he ain't reasonable?

crownCuller )(e's V--ERY W--ELCOM--E to take t)(at up wit)( Aradia.

carnivalsOrphans i'm not talkin about aradia. i'm talkin about you

crownCuller S)(e is an aggressive troll, and )(e's learned to be, so it's more t)(an a bit diseastrous! 38(

carnivalsOrphans oh no oh no, people don't like bein kidnapped they get aggressive if they are taken forcibly from their hive :o(

crownCuller )(e wasn't S--EAPPOS--ED to be kidnapped, good gracious.

carnivalsOrphans well, then what do you know about the teal? you are the LEADER, you ain't supposed ta just go 'oh yeah, my rail did it, i didn't mean it that weren't me'. she did it for you, you gotta take responsibility he's got every fuckin RIGHT ta take anythin up with you

crownCuller W)(ale of course )(e does.

carnivalsOrphans 'he's very welcome to take that up with aradia' ain't that what i just read with my own two ganderorbs?

crownCuller I didn't reelize every word I say )(as to )(ave footnotes foar all t)(e extra comments. 38/

carnivalsOrphans you're a LEADER YOU'RE GONNA BE A QUEEN GET FUCKIN USED TO IT.

crownCuller > “Holy nook-fucking pitch goddesses, does he really think I’m as diligent with disclaimers in private as I am in public. Dumbass.” > The troll bringing her an iced tea looks startled. Feferi gushes apologies and charm. Now, for the dumbass.

T)(at is already w)(at I do on t)(e nig)(tly baseas, and I've been told it's annoyfin to add paragraphs of detailed explanocean to every comment in private conc)(versation! T)(is is a private conc)(versation fis)(n't it? 38( If you wanted an offis)(oal talk you s)(oald )(ave gone foar my business )(andle.

carnivalsOrphans whoops didn't care enough. what happens to sollux if he don't want to help you. ignore the reasons why, just assume full stop he don't wanna help and it ain't gonna change least not without the kinda persuasion that comes from somethin other than words

crownCuller You are talking aboat a 1% posseability )(ere.

carnivalsOrphans this ain't about him. this is about you, and what you're willin to do to achieve your goals

crownCuller We aren't going to TORTUR--E )(IM W--E DON'T DO THAT H--ER--E.

carnivalsOrphans then what will you do?

crownCuller Talk!

carnivalsOrphans and if that don't work? if all he wants to do is be let go?

crownCuller T)(en )(e can go after.

carnivalsOrphans if he don't WANT TO HELP if he wants to be let go right then

crownCuller I cannaut t)(row away t)(e lives of TRILLIONS, foar one troll t)(at says no. I cannaut allow one s)(ellfis)( decision spell out t)(e end foar everyone else. If t)(ere was ANY ot)(er way foar me to take, I would. But t)(ere isn't, and )(e will know t)(at.

carnivalsOrphans so despite the fact you're sayin you ain't gonna force him ta do nothin, you are willing you gonna be willing after you win?

crownCuller W)(at?

carnivalsOrphans you gonna be willing ta do that sorta shit 'for the greater good'? forcin people to do what they don't want to do?

crownCuller If t)(at is w)(at it takes to stop trolls foam destroying worlds? Destroying our own? Yes. T)(at is w)(at leaders )(ave to carry.

carnivalsOrphans what about after that, what about after you gain peace?

crownCuller If Sollux isn't t)(ere, I will die, every troll under my protection will die, and t)(e slaug)(ter across t)(e galaxies will continue as Alternia falls apart.

carnivalsOrphans when do you stop bein willing?

crownCuller You don't G--ET to stop.

carnivalsOrphans > Gods, he is being reminded far too much of his pitchmate for comfort.

do your troops know you're willing ta do this?

crownCuller I'm naut the ideelist you keep accusing me of being. I've watc)(ed t)(e suffering drag out for longer than most land-dwelling trolls get to live. I know I don't get to put t)(is burden down once I've picked it up.

carnivalsOrphans i ain't ACCUSIN YOU of shit i'm askin you

crownCuller But Sollux? )(is part ends w)(en I step into t)(e audience )(all, and I will never ask )(im of anyt)(ing again. Even if I still fail wit)( )(is )(elp, I've made certain t)(at )(e will get out un)(armed. My troops know, yes. T)(ey've been tasked wit)( evacuating t)(e rest of my trolls in t)(e event t)(at I fail. And I can only )(ope t)(ey'll be able to run fast enough.

carnivalsOrphans no, i'm talkin willin to force someone to do shit for you

crownCuller As often as I am faced wit)( t)(at decision and as often as t)(ere is no way around it, I will take t)(at decision.

carnivalsOrphans ya know this is basically pale rape, right? what you're makin him do?

crownCuller Yes. And I will naut try to fool )(im into sinking ot)(erwise.

carnivalsOrphans you tried tellin your moirail that?

crownCuller S)(e's gotten... desperate. And I do naut condone what s)(e's done out of that desperation. W)(en a fig)(t )(as taken up your entire life, I can eelmagine it's )(ard to keep your pan sorted.

carnivalsOrphans > He thinks of his church. Of how much stronger they are together, how they keep each other strong with that support.

crownCuller Foar now though, Sollux is )(ere, and w)(ale )(urt from an explosion II cannaut let )(im go wandering off. Again, do you want me to tell )(im anyfin foar you? I am naut going to be seaing )(im foar a couple moar nig)(ts boat I w)(ale try to pass it on. And as my fis)(ter mig)(t say, tell Aradia to "c)(ill t)(e s)(ell out."

> Long silence. Feferi downs her iced tea.

38? S)(ello? Ringleader?

carnivalsOrphans yeah, i'm around the fact that she's so desperate is somethin you should be helpin with, as her rail. and as her leader.

crownCuller > Annnnnd there goes the glass. 

Buoy... getting finto someone s)(ellse's private life is a lot moar t)(an w)(at c)(ecking in on yoar friend requires. I've been open in ot)(er ways, please leave t)(e one private t)(ing I )(ave alone. (W)(ic)( does also mean to stop reading our logs. I'm assumfin t)(at's )(ow you got my finformation.)

carnivalsOrphans sis, that's advice, from someone about a thousand times older than you. if she's desperate, you're failing her, and you need ta help. that's about the only good thing you're gettin from me, so you better take it. or not, i don't really care, it ain't my fuckin life.

crownCuller Was t)(ere or was t)(ere naut anyfin you wanted me to tell Sollux?

carnivalsOrphans i'd rather be able ta actually talk to him ya know. myself.

crownCuller W)(at am I seapposed to say, "Yoar mentor Ringleader )(as been messaging us but doesn't want to tell you anyfin." Yikes, orcay. I need to SL--E--EP befoar I get crankier.

carnivalsOrphans that shouldn't be a hard request. just tell your rail ta give his palmhusk back, considerin she stole it and talked ta me on it which is a bit above and beyond kidnappin, if ya ask me

crownCuller T)(e palm)(usk isn't working, s)(e said. Largely broken, s)(e's trying to transfer it to a moar seacure device.

carnivalsOrphans uhuh. then ya know. she should get right on that. breakin other people's shit is rude.

crownCuller )(e's t)(e one w)(o decided to blow up t)(e cliff! All )(is fins would )(ave been brought )(ere fintact ot)(erwaves. Fin any case. I )(ave moar meetings to get to, and work on top of that. If you have moar questfins talk to Aradia. Good lig)(t.

carnivalsOrphans good light

-- crownCuller [CC] has ceased trolling carnivalsOrphans [CO] --

#[[ is ringleader trying to help? we just don't know ]] #logs #!npc #Event: Hotel Fuchsiafornia #mentions of: #torture // #injury // #pale rape //

[blookmallow]

some misplaced thoughts/attempted half-formed analysis on outlast 2, im not finished with it yet so im still missing half the information here but do NOT tell me about anything that happens later on dont fill in my blanks for me just yet ill find out (or ill reconsider my thoughts at the end if im wrong/if things get left unclear) 

im currently just a bit past the raft adventure, havent quite caught up my liveblogs yet bc transferring switch pics and sorting through them all takes 11 thousand years

this is. very disorganized and so many words, my thoughts are all over the place but i had to get it out somewhere lmao

ok so some key symbols ive noticed:

- obviously hanging/noose imagery

- again obviously, crucifixion/christ 

- water, most likely symbolic baptism 

- both of those last two things together in an overall “christian/catholic symbols but Horribly, Horribly Wrong” 

- the plagues!!!!!! i noticed some reference to this but recently realized i think we’re being forced through ALL of them actually 

so:

- again the hanging imagery is an obvious one, blake is (very poorly) coping with the trauma he experienced as a kid (or high school student. i was under the impression they were middle schoolers for some reason but high school is still a young age to be dealing with something like that) surrounding his friend’s suicide, he clearly feels like he’s somehow responsible for it, possibly only because he didn’t stop it, but it doesn’t seem like he really could have done anything. this trauma is absolutely resurfacing through all he’s going through now and it feels like his past and current pain are starting to converge more and more as time goes on. honestly even if there wasn’t some weird fucked up mystery going on and it was just a symbolic representation of him reliving his trauma id still think its absolutely fascinating and really well done but it seems like there’s definitely More Going On than just that 

this is something im going to make specific notes on when i do a story mode replay, note every time hanging shows up... some ive noticed: occurrences of hanging in the temple gate/”real world” often bizarrely coincide with blake’s salvation, he’s able to get away from the scalled leader by stealing the rope off the corpse of a man who hung himself, there’s a hanged corpse right near where the raft ends up when he crashes it on the river

there’s definitely some “somebody else died so that I could live” going on there, I don’t know if that’s directly related to the incident with jessica or not yet 

and that again ties into the crucifixion, the death of Jesus brings about salvation and life for everyone else (and, while he was not hanged, there’s still “hanging” on a cross, and the cross is often referred to as a “tree”) (it doesn’t seem like jessica hung herself from a tree but the other corpses have been) 

- obvious again, the crucifixion is showing up absolutely everywhere, clear sacrifice/murder for the greater good concepts, im not catholic but i am coming at this from a christian perspective myself, and like. on the one hand it’s taking very important religious imagery and hideously distorting it into “now we got the flayed corpses of cultists stuck everywhere” but on the other I think it’s actually... really important not to forget that the cross was in fact an execution tool, the death of christ was a horrific, bloody, and cruel event that would have been absolutely revolting to witness and unfathomably painful to experience 

and the sanitized, pretty, kid-friendly image of the cross you so commonly see in churches now really disconnects from the reality of it. a mutilated corpse rotting on a splintered, bloody piece of wood is a much more realistic image, for better or worse, than a little neon plastic WWJD toy cross. i dont actually think the crucifix imagery here is sacrilegious at all. obviously the cultists are fucking monsters but im talking about specifically the use of crucifix imagery here. the parallels with the unsettlingly realistic jesus statues (and the fact that they show up both in temple gate and in the high school hallucinations especially) is like. actually pretty solid. i dont want to get into religious debate with anyone so im not gonna get too deep into that but i wanted to mention it 

- there’s also blake as an unwilling “messiah” figure (which. hes literally declared “the skalled christ” so this isn’t exactly subtle lmao) and. i dont know exactly what his religious standing is but we do know he was raised catholic, and like. it was quite an intense and harrowing experience to me, as a christian, watching the skalled crucifixion scene through his perspective, so i cannot even imagine what it would have been like for him to actually be in that position for real experiencing it himself. and we have the. jesus Knowing what was going to happen, dreading and wishing he could escape it, but resigning to it/blake absolutely wanting no fucking part in any of this and literally tearing his hands out of the nails, jesus resurrecting from the grave/blake digging his way out of his “grave” (though he wasnt actually dead), i dont really have any deeper observation to make there i just think its interesting 

- i do not know whats going on with water! something is! i wasnt paying much attention to water before so this is probably another thing ill be watching for/making notes on in my eventual story mode replay but Something Is Very Wrong About That Lake and i keep getting murdered by the Whatever THe Fuck That Thing Is in water, either from falling in the lake/the river or there’s that pool scene in the high school

seems like there’s some kind of... chemicals in the water causing weird shit but i dont know whats going on yet (dont tell me!), so there’s probably something about baptism/entering the water and leaving fundamentally changed somehow but in a Very Wrong sense, but i dont have all the information yet so im just blindly guessing. and we got piles of dead fish in the water very soon before you see piles of human corpses in the water, that as well,

and along that line:

- the plagues!! i cant believe i didnt realize we’re going through the plagues! i had noticed some reference to them but figured it was just more weird religious imagery for the aesthetic or something and didn’t quite realize we’re actually hitting all of them, they’re not necessarily happening in order but they sure are happening: 

water turning to blood: we’re surrounded in blood from the start but this was what really made me start fucking paying attention because where im at right now it is RAINING BLOOD SOME FUCKING HOW 

I have no IDEA how that’s happening in the “real world” unless it’s like. not really blood and some kind of chemical reaction with whatevers going on with the water, or if its some mass hallucination thing, or what (again dont tell me!! i want to find out!! shh!!!!) but, uh, that’s a pretty clear “water into blood” situation there, 

this one also is happening simultaneously with the high school dimension, all the water in the bathroom and the fire sprinklers all became blood, and you get fucking drenched in it, so there’s probably some amount of “baptism of blood” happening there too

plague of flies: i dont remember there being any specific moment where you get overwhelmed by flies but its possible it happened and i forgot, but either way you hear flies buzzing around constantly, it gets in your head, theres flies everywhere because of the gore piles rotting all over everywhere 

disease on livestock: there’s dead rotting cow/horse carcasses absolutely everywhere, so,

plague of boils: the skalled village, may not be Specifically boils but they’re definitely uh. very, very diseased 

plague of locusts: you get attacked by a shit ton of locusts and fall into the ravine, this one’s, uh. pretty blatant 

plague of darkness: you’re stuck in the dark for the entire everything, so

there’s also an instance in the high school dimension where everything goes black and you cannot see anything whatsoever and can’t do anything but follow jessica’s voice and hope to god you don’t run into That Thing Again

the only ones I haven’t seen yet are the plague of frogs, gnats/lice which i completely forgot was even a plague but apparently was (though again this could just be included in with the general “everything is covered in flies and god knows what” happening everywhere), hail/fire storms (though you do get attacked by flaming arrows, so that could count)(that also happens in the skalled village/shortly after you discover the skalled, so that would be in order), and... the death of the firstborn

the exact order of the other plagues isn’t necessarily all that important but that one as the final plague is very important and it definitely feels like they could be building up to that 

so it’s. likely something really, really bad is gonna happen with lynn by the end of all this

(do NOT!! tell me!!! dont!!! do not) 

also a minor thing but i did notice blake at one point goes “these are signs!! this is the apocalypse!!” and, like, maybe that’s just because he’s obviously not in his right mind right now/it wasn’t supposed to be taken that seriously but the plagues on egypt were not signs of the apocalypse, but signs displaying the power of God to the pharoah, a “let the slaves go free Or Else” demonstration, and blake as someone who grew up in catholic school would know this, but that could just be like. a minor writing error or just. biblical accuracy isnt really his first priority right now lmao 

#lucy plays outlast 2 #ok i think i got it all out now i think thats everything i was gonna say lmao #For Now anyway. im still goin through it so im sure ill learn more things and notice more things later

[italicwatches]

[Legacy content] My Hero Academia - Episode 08

You know, I’m not so much mad that there was no sandwich bread in the house this morning. I’m mad that the mini donuts I had to get at the gas station instead for breakfast were so fucking shitty. …Anyways, it’s My Hero Academia, episode 08! Here we GO!

-We see, that scene we’ve seen so many times before. That time in the forest, between Katsuki and Izuku…And then…The Detroit SMASH, the one where Izuku tanked his opponent’s attack, to throw his teammate an opportunity to claim the victory. And Katsuki seeing, up close, what Izuku’s power, what taking that fire, did to his body. And then, seeing those eyes…That damned determination in the face of everything…

-As Izuku’s body shuts down…Katsuki’s brain basically cracks like a fuckin’ egg.

-Opening!

-And the hero team is declared victorious…As Izuku passes out, and Ochaco is fighting to keep lunch inside of her. (Also to Tenya’s credit, he breaks character immediately to help her out. You’re a good man, Tenya.) And everyone in the monitoring room is just staring, really seeing what this kind of thing means. The kind of stakes of even something like this…Izuku has to be carried out of there by robots. While Katsuki…Katsuki is really not taking things well. But it turns out I gave him far, far too much credit.

-See, I thought he was freaking out at the extent of Izuku’s injuries. I thought he was seeing the kind of injury that came out of his effort to be the big scary bully, and had his eyes opened to how he can’t fuck around like that anymore. A crisis of conscience as his heart grew three sizes that day. Hahaha nooooooo. This fucko just is freaking out because little Deku won through his head. And then as he’s in total freakout mode…That’s when All Might tries to calm him down, telling him to come back and see the results. Whether you win or lose, seeing what you can do to improve is an important part of life.

-Episode 08! Bakugo’s Start Line.

-And it’s in the monitoring room…Where All Might declares Tenya the MVP of the match! Who can tell him why he made this decision, hmm?

-It’s…Skimpy-outfit-girl, who figures it out. Tenya adjusted his plans actively and on the fly based on the actual goal he was given(that is, “protect the bomb”), doing his best to achieve his actual goal. He also took into context his opponents’ abilities, doing his best within time and circumstances to tilt the playing field in his favor by removing the miscellaneous debris that Ochaco could have used with her powers.

-Contrast Katsuki, who actively pursued Izuku over a personal grudge, using unwise and massively destructive techniques for the context…And then Izuku, while he did better, still ended up having to use an incredibly rash and unwise plan that left him completely out of commission. And then Ochaco let her guard down in the thick of things, and also made use of strategies that, quite frankly, only worked because it was an exercise. Her wild strategy to get to the bomb only worked because her goal was only to touch the bomb. Had she needed to, say, solve a puzzle to defuse it, she’d have been screwed.

-Tenya’s only mistake, in sharp contrast, was playing within the context of the training exercise’s fiction, as opposed to operating around the strictest, most game-like interpretation of the rules. …God DAMN, she caught everything. Meet Yaoyorozu Momo, one of four students who got in on recommendations alone…

-And now it’s time for the next groups to go at it! Keep in mind the specifics from this first exercise, whether you are in the field or monitoring from here. And so it’s Team B up on the hero side, and Team I on the villain side…Team I, which includes…

-Ah.

-An invisible girl.

-Who cannot make her clothes invisible.

-Well then.

-And it’s up! Bat-guy Shoji Mezo, with his arm wing things, starts by gathering extra data…And pins them both on the fourth floor. So his comrade, an ice man, steps up and starts to just freeze the building out…Where he’s able to lock down both villains, then just walk on in! It’s a bit of an overkill technique…But it also works. Especially because he undoes it as fast as it happened, melting all the ice and turning the place into a sauna. He’s Todoroki Shoto, one of the other four to get in on recommendation.

-So that was one quick match, as it’s soon review time…And Katsuki is losing his cool bit by bit.

-Then it’s the third match, where we see some of the odd tricks of Team J’s duo…When our bird man and frog girl of Team H go right in…And otherwise, it’s general quick flashes of power. These range from some of the classics like super strength or electricity, to odd things like a girl who can plug into the surface of the building and pull sounds…

-And when it’s all done, the tests are done, with only Izuku injured out of the lot. Which All Might is quite happy about, as now he has to go check up on the student and pass the results on to him. He shall see you all soon, children! And then he’s off in a flash…Already trying to figure out how he can help Katsuki from going over the edge…

-And then he’s got to race into the staff elevator, where he locks himself in just in time for his powers to fail. Fuuuuck…

-Commercial break!

-And we’re back! Recovery Girl is tearing into No Might for how this kid has been in here like three times in the first week…His body literally cannot take her healing powers this much. She had to just rapidly get him through the worst of it, and now he has to heal the rest by staying here overnight on an IV. Also, she knows the nature of One For All, as well as No Might and Izuku’s secrets. And thinks they’re both being utterly ridiculous. Because where she stands, of course, she doesn’t do the whole “acting like a symbol” thing. She tries to fix problems. That’s what she’s done ever since she was a plucky young thing back in the day. And if you’re going to be a symbol…You got to know what it means to guide this kid, to make him grow into someone great…Because in the way he’s going, he’s going to be a mess of scar tissue and pain meds before he’s old enough to drink.

-And eventually, Izuku comes to…And realizes it’s well in the evening by this point, as Recovery Girl decides he’s well enough to at least get home. Go home, rest in your own bed, and be back here first thing in the morning, young man.

-So Izuku heads back to the classroom to get his things, already expecting a talking-to from any number of teachers…But instead he finds like half the class has been there waiting for him, and they think he did awesome! You’re fuckin’ cool as hell, man! We get names, but I’m not keeping most of them in my head. I’m not not.

-And then Ochaco gets back and she sees the poor injured Izuku and you poor thing! But there’s only one thing that Izuku wants to know. Where’s Katsuki? He…Just went home a few minutes ago, as soon as he heard they were letting you out…

-So Izuku bolts, catching up to Katsuki out in front of the main campus…And Izuku…Reveals the nature of his Quirk. It was given to him by someone else. A hero saw what he did that day, with the slime thing that nearly killed them both…And chose Izuku to inherit power. He spent the entire last school year training his ass off just to be able to handle it…And he still barely can even survive using it. Everything that happened to day, was because he didn’t want to rely on that power he got from someone else, this power that tore his arm apart…

-But Katsuki doesn’t believe a word. He thinks Izuku is just fucking with him, that he’s been messing with him…And all Katsuki can think, is his fury. His rage, at having gone from the big fish in a small pond, to being in the fucking ocean, where the whales swim in the deep…And with tears in his eyes, with his rage turned inward more than anything else, Katsuki swears he’ll rise to the top again. He’ll be number one when they leave. He’ll, fucking, beat, you!

-And that’s when All Might finds the two of them. And he takes up Katsuki, and reminds him of something. To be proud of yourself, is a fine thing. But you must not let it blind you, or let it cause you pain when you are still young and inexpe—

-Katsuki demands he let the fuck go, now. Because he’s not interested in a lecture. He’s going to be somebody. He’s going to push himself, he’s going to be stronger than even YOU, and he doesn’t need your damn lectures to make that happen! All Might, too shocked to properly respond, can only let the kid go…

-As everyone’s watching…And Ochaco is continuing to get fired up about fated battles between men. She really does wanna just see Izuku get all sweaty and shirtless, doesn’t she.

-Credits!

-Aftercredits! A few days later, they’d all find out, just how terrifying and cunning villains can be…As in a bar, back in the Now, a few villains are talking about the fact that All Might’s in town, now a teacher at UA…

…Fuckin’ hell, Katsuki. You’re a real piece of work, you know that? Anyways, we’ll see how his ego keeps getting him in trouble next time, in episode NINE of My Hero Academia! Wait for it!

#where I watch #recap #anime #my hero academia #boku no hero academia