#what in the sons of the forest is goin on here

[outerspacedunce]

every episode of hannibal i'm like these crimes couldn't get any weirder

but they sure as shit do

#-squints- #what in the sons of the forest is goin on here #mercy watches hannibal #hannibal

[pretty-red-garnet]

Happiness At The End Of The World

Daryl Dixon x Fem! Reader • Road/Prison • Fluff

A/N: First time writing for TWD. Excuse any mistakes please! I’ve never written for Daryl before, so I’m sorry if he’s out of character or anything like that. This was just for fun, but would anyone be interested in sending requests? Let me know and maybe I’ll write some more.

     You didn't know being truly scared until after the end of the world. Until now.

     Lori held Carl to her closely. Her ever growing belly was sticking out of the thick blanket she had herself and Carl cuddled under a little. Rick was off taking watch, he had grown distant and cold, but who can blame him.

     Everyone else was supposed to be sleeping, but from the freezing cold, you're positive no one is, just laying there with their eyes closed and hoping that was enough.

     This winter was bitter and freezing. Being out in the elements most nights certainly didn't help. Sometimes your group would find a cabin or warehouse to hole up in, but walkers usually took that from you quickly. The cold meant most animals were gone, causing walkers to wonder deeper into the forest looking for food. Nowhere was safe.

     You roll over on the hard ground. You couldn't stand to look at Lori and her son any longer. She wasn't going to make it much longer, everybody knew. As her belly grew, her face just got slimmer and slimmer. The thought of the poor woman having to give birth out here terrified you. You shivered a bit at the thought.

     A blanket being thrown over you startled you. You looked up to find Daryl looking back, fixing the blanket so it covered your back.

     "You're shiverin'," he whispers. You sit up a little.

     "Everyone's cold. I'm ok, take your blanket back." You go to take it up but Daryl pushes your arms down.

     "I'm goin' to take over for Rick anyway. Keep it." He walks away with that. You settle down again. Daryl was probably the kindest, most selfless people you had ever met, even if he could be a little... surly.

     He cared through actions, not words. This wasn't the first time he had given you his blanket, although you argued a little every time. He was also the first one to give up his food portions if he thought Lori or Carl didn't have enough, or give Beth his gloves if her hands trembled too much. He always put others before himself.

     It was what made you fall in love with him in the first place.

     Ever since the first time you saw him, you knew he wasn't what everyone else thought he was. You were one of the first at the quarry camp, having been picked up by Glenn during a run to the city. Daryl came after with his loudmouth of an older brother.

     Daryl was a hothead then, too caught up in what his brother wanted him to be, but you always knew there was something else there. Especially with the way he always provided fresh meat for the group, or was the first to volunteer for night watches so others could sleep.

     And then with Sofia, always looking for that little girl. He never lost hope for her. Even if it didn't go how everyone wanted it to, it gave Carol hope, which was what she really needed then.

     Daryl had grown a lot since then, since being on the road after you lost the farm. He became your best friend and someone everyone relied on. Your provider and hunter. It was a no brainer why you fell in love with the man.

     The next morning everyone was up and moving again. You were hoping to find some roofed shelter. Lori was maybe 6 months along now. She was getting bigger and couldn’t keep up as well anymore. You needed to hunker down.

     Luckily, the group had found some fuel for the cars. Hopefully you could get a little farther this way and find a good place to hole up for a while.

     But before you left, you went with Daryl to check the woods one last time. A few squirrels or even a rabbit could go a long way right now. You followed him with quiet footsteps, he had his crossbow in front of him.

     He suddenly stopped, so suddenly you almost plowed into his back. He turned around to face you and shook his head.

     "Nothin' out here, might at well head back. We're just burning daylight," he said, angry at himself. You nodded and tried to give a small, reassuring smile, but you were sure it wasn't convincing. He didn't say anything, but he grabbing your arm lightly to lead you back to where everyone was waiting by the road. You're used to the casual contact by now, but you still appreciated it.

     "You think we'll find somewhere?" You suddenly ask, voicing your worries. You always did around Daryl. "Somewhere for Lori to have her baby."

     "Mhm hm." He nods and bites the inside of his mouth like he always did. "We gotta."

     Simple as that.

Luckily, Rick had found a little cabin in the woods later that day. There were no windows, just boarded up wood planks, but they did an ok job at keeping most cold out. The fire was nice too.

Daryl was sitting on the steps keeping watch and you decided to join him. It had been a bit since you two had been together and talked, and you missed it. Missed his smile and how he blushed when you and Carol teased him. Everyone had been so stressed by the barren winter and Lori, the three of you didn't joke anymore.

"Hey," you said as the dropped next to him. He nodded as he took a drag from his cigarette. "Those will kill you ya know." You smiled at him. "I might just hide them from you."

He just shrugged, didn't smile either. He must've noticed your crestfallen expression because he gave you a lousy half smile afterwords. It didn't meet his eyes, so you didn't try to make him laugh again.

"Well you were right. We found somewhere." He scoffed.

"Not much of a place." He took one last drag and finally put out the cigarette, it was just filter now.

"It's enough. Has a roof, nice fire." You shrugged and rested your head on your knees, trying to stifle a yawn. He'd make you go inside if he knew you were tired, and you just wanted to be with him.

"Why ain't you inside then?" You shrugged and gave him the brightest smile you could muster up in your exhausted state.

"And miss all the fun out here with you? Never!" He just shook his head but he let a little smile crack this time. Your grin got larger at the sight. He nudged you with his shoulder. You went to nudge him back but instead of pulling away, you melted against his arm. He tensed a second but relaxed quickly.

"Falling asleep on me?" Daryl asked lowly.

"No..." you mumble, eyes slipping closed. The last thing you feel before slipping into unconsciousness was fingers lightly smoothing down your hair.

     You woke up slowly from sunlight in your face and nearly forgot where you were. You were warm and cozy and almost didn't move, until you realized you were in Daryl's lap. You got up with a start, blushing and embarrassed.

     "Daryl, you should've woke me up! God, i slept on you all night?" He nodded and his own checks were a little pink. He was biting his thumb.

     "You haven't been sleepin..." he said with a shrug. Your face darkened even more. He could be so damn cute without even knowing it. Being so caring and sweet like that.

     "You neither, no one has."

     "You looked comfortable... didn't wanna move you." He got up with a groan and outstretched a hand to help you. You grabbed it and smiled. "'sides, kept me pretty warm."

      You giggled a little and he dropped his head with a embarrassed smile. You turned your head to the sound of movement inside. Daryl's cheeks were still a little red when you looked back at him, but he tilted his head towards the door.

     "We better get inside before little Shane eats our breakfast." You smack him lightly on the shoulder and shake your head at him, but a smile cracks anyway. You missed this.

     It was another painful couple months before you found the prison. It looked like a castle now, a safe haven, protected from walkers with two rows of those beautiful tall fences. It took one afternoon to block off a section of the courtyard, and you were ecstatic. Everyone was grinning. This was the most room everyone had in months to roam free.

     The fire in front of you was warm and nice. It was cool tonight, comfortable after the hot and sweaty day. Carol had gone to bring Daryl some food because as she'd said, he wouldn't eat if not bothered. They were standing on top of a bus not far, you can see them laughing and chatting together. You smiled a little just watching, Daryl seemed a little lighter.

     They came back soon after to Beth and Maggie singing. Daryl dropped himself next to you and Carol sat down not far. You clapped a little and smiled at the girls when they finished. Beth smiled a little bashfully at you while Maggie cuddled up to Glenn.

     You leaned up against Daryl a little, watching Rick do laps around as Hershel mentioned that he would've found a breach by now. Lori went to talk to him. Daryl was fiddling with a loose string on the seam of your shirt.

     "You gonna fall asleep on me again?" He asks teasingly. You turn your head to face him and stick your tongue out a little. Your face falls when you notice just how close both your faces are. You turn away again and Carol catches your eye. She looks between the two of you quickly and widens her eyes in a 'do something!' manner.

     Daryl continues to play with the string, but he seems extra distracted, like he also was taken aback by the proximity. Maybe it was your imagination, you're pretty positive Daryl doesn't feel how you do, and that's ok.

     Your friendship was something you didn't want to risk, ever, even if both Carol and Maggie and even Beth at one point had tried to convince you to make a move.

“Daryl is too shy to make the first move, it's up to you!" Carol's voice rings in your head.

     "He's in love with you, Y/N. You just can't see it," Maggie had said before.

     But Daryl was too important to risk. A confession would either push him away from you or he'd play along not to hurt you or make things awkward. Neither sounded good. Your relationship with him was good as is, even if you wished some nights it was more.

     "You good?" Daryl asks.

     "Huh? Yeah, why?"

     "Looked lost in thought is all." He shrugs and leans back against the grass, causing you to fall back next to him. Most others were ready to sleep too, other than Rick who was taking watch.

     "Just... thinking."

     "'Bout what?" It took you a second to think of something to say. You couldn't exactly say, 'oh just about how I'm in love with you and how everyone is convinced you love me too. Nothing much.'

     "If we could be safe here." Daryl nods and pats your hand that was resting between you both. The contact wasn't anything new, but with your mind thinking what it was, it sent a spark to your heart.

     "We'll make it safe," he says finally.

     The next day is full of killing more walkers to empty out a cellblock. The thought of sleeping in a cell might have made you dizzy before the end of the world, but now it was the equivalent of a five star hotel. Safe and sound and away from walkers. It helped that you tried to forget it was a cell and thought of it more as just a room, just four walls.

     You dropped your bags down on the cell floor. It had blood smeared on the wall but the bed seemed clean... enough. It was right across from the catwalk, which Daryl claimed. It seemed he didn't think of the cells like you, instead refusing to 'sleep in a cage,' as he said.

     That night was more uncomfortable than you thought it'd be. You had grown used to having your group, who you considered family now, always in eye sight of you. It was strange not to have them all around you. It was crazy, they were in the same cellblock, but it made your skin crawl anyway. You had grown used to felling the familiar presence of theirs around you as you slept.

     If you leaned off your bed slightly and peaked out your door, you could just barely see Daryl's feet sticking out of his blanket. He was tossing and turning. Maybe he had the same problem?

     You crept out of the bed and made your way outside your cell. Daryl was staring at the ceiling and fiddling with an arrow, or bolt as he'd corrected you with a snap back at the quarry.

"Can't sleep?" You whispered lowly. He shakes his head.

"You neither?"

"No..." You rub your hands on your arms, trying to fight the chill going through you.

"You ok?" Daryl asks with a worried look on his face. He sits up and pats the bed next to him, and you quickly sit down.

"Yeah... it's nothing. It's stupid," you reprimand yourself. It was a little ridiculous that you couldn't sleep in your own cell, like a child. Hell, even Carl was ok in his cell.

"C'mon," Daryl prods and bumps his shoulder to yours. "Tell me."

"I guess I'm just lonely in there... I got used to having you and everyone around me." You shake your head and close your eyes in embarrassment. "I'm bothering you, this is so stupid. I'm sorry, get some sleep, Daryl."

You go to stand but Daryl is quicker, grabbing your arm lightly to stop you. You slowly sit back and see his face is reddened.

"Just... stop," he says quietly with red cheeks. "Ain't bothering me, you could never bother me. I care 'bout you. And you ain't stupid either, don't say that shit."

He looked like he wanted nothing more than the earth to swallow him, but he pushed through. Your face was just as red as his now. Daryl was a man of few words and didn't often say out loud how he felt for others. He just acted. So the sudden declaration surprised you.

"Ok..." you utter. You weren't too sure what to say, this is pretty much the most open he had been with you. "Sorry."

"Jesus don't apologize, just..." He stops and bites his lip, fumbling his hands together. "I don't know what I'm doin.'"

"What do you mean?" You ask with furrowed brows. Daryl looks at you, face flushed and trembling hands. "Daryl?"

"I fucking love you, alright?" He scoffs and looks away. "So... you ain't bothering me talking to me."

You're speechless. You just stare at him slack jawed and in shock. Daryl obviously takes your stunned silence as rejection, and gets up abruptly.

"Daryl, I—"

"Forget it," he mumbled and takes the steps two at a time to escape from you. You recover from your shock after a minute and stagger up, scurrying down the stairs to try and catch the man.

You look around outside, trying to find him in the pitch black. Finally, you spot him leaning against the railing of one of watch towers. You admire him for a second trying to figure out what you'd say once you get to him. You hesitantly walk up to the watch tower, climb the stairs and soon your staring at his angel wings.

You takes slow steps until your standing beside him. You don't say anything for a second, just stare out at the trees next to him. He's smoking but you can see his hands are shaky and he shifts his weight from foot to foot awkwardly.

"You don't gotta say anything. It's fine, just forget it," Daryl mumbles. You're a little surprised he broke the silence first, but it's welcome.

"I don't want to forget it," you say. Daryl glances at you shyly. "Can you look at me, please?"

Daryl does so, his eyes dancing all across your face anxiously. The muscles in his jaw are tense and clench with nerves. You slowly move a hand to rest one on his cheek. He watches closely, eyes bouncing from your face to you hand, but he let's you.

You stroke his face, along his stubble before brushing his hair aside a little. It's longer than when you met him, overgrown and in need of a trim. You smile at him softly.

"I love you, too," you murmur to him. "And i would've told you that if you didn't run away from me so fast."

He looks down guiltily, but you just smile and turn his head to meet your eyes again. His pupils are blown, cheeks flushed, and lips are parted. He's never looked as beautiful as he does right now.

"Can I kiss you?" You ask. He doesn't answer, but leans down to meet you halfway. His kiss is light at first, but you both melt together and soon it's hard to tell when you end and he begins. His hands are hesitant at first when they grab at your waist, but soon he's more confident. Pulling you closer and closer to him, pushing his lips to you harder.

You meet him every step of the way. Gripping at his hair and back of his neck, pulling at him so he doesn't let you go. Your back is pressed against the cold railing now, but you barely even register it.

The mind blowing kiss ends all too soon. You follow his lips for once last peck when he pulls away. He smiles and caresses your check ever so softly.

"I love you," you say to him again with a grin. He smiles timidly and dips his head down shyly to your neck. He nuzzles into your shoulder, placing little hesitant kisses to your neck and collarbone. You giggle and play with his hair, giving the top of his head some kisses of your own.

"Oh god damn it." A sudden voice from the watch tower makes Daryl just about jump away from you. You look wildly inside the tower to see Maggie. In your bliss, neither you or Daryl heard her come up. Daryl's face is bright red like a tomato, and you're sure you aren't better.

"Maggie! We uh, didn't hear you..." you say awkwardly. She has her arms crossed and tries to look mad, but her face is breaking out slowly into a grin. "So... what's up?"

Daryl beside you isn't doing better, wringing his hands and looking anywhere but Maggie. His hair is tousled around from your roaming hands and you bite your lip to stop you from curling into yourself in embarrassment. You can't believe you didn't hear Maggie coming up and she caught you like that...

"I lost a damn bet with Carol! I said it's be after the baby comes when you two would finally get together!" She shakes her head and fakes an angered sigh. "Anyway, I heard you two leave and wanted to make sure you were ok. You'd been gone a while."

Maggie's grin could rival the Cheshire cat's. She rises her brows up and down suggestively. You cover your face with your hands and she laughs.

Finally, Daryl, having recovered from his embarrassment quicker than you, grabs your hand and takes it off your face. He gives you a hard and sloppy kiss on the cheek and begins to lead you to the door of the watchtower.

"Better pay up with Carol then," he says and just about pushes you out the door hastily. You hear Maggie's near manic laughter behind you as you let Daryl's tugging hand lead you back to your cell.

Maybe the end of the world wasn't all bad.

#daryl dixon #the walking dead daryl #twd daryl #daryl dixion imagine #daryl dixion x reader #daryl dixon oneshot #daryl x you #daryl fanfiction #daryl x y/n #the walking dead imagine #walking dead oneshot #walking dead fanfiction #the walking dead #walking dead prison #twd

[yournowheregirl]

welp, this one has gotten out of hand (over 3k... yikes) but here we are! part 3 of the secret-dolly-parton-fan eddie munson saga (only 2 more parts after this!) 

[part 1] [part 2] [part 4] [part 5] [part 6 + complete on ao3]

part 3: coat of many colors

Only a few weeks later, Eddie starts to slip up.

Any other day he’d wake up to the sweet, sweet sounds of his favorite Dio album, but one morning he grabs an old Johnny Cash album that Wayne sometimes listens to and puts that one on instead. 

It’s nice, and even though it’s apparently recorded at an actual prison, it still feels like home (Eddie tries not to think about that too much).

On a late night when Wayne’s still at work, he fishes his old acoustic guitar from underneath his bed and starts strumming away random chords that sound like the country songs his momma played when he was little. Sometimes he still remembers the lyrics, softly mumbling them even though there’s no one around to hear them. 

It’s nice, it doesn’t sound as sweet as when his momma played it for him, but it still feels like home (Eddie actually thinks about it a lot this time).

And it’s not like he’s abandoned his usual music or anything. He still has his Judas Priest tapes in the van because his driving would probably even more reckless if he drove without any music (and isn’t that saying something). And he still loves his sweetheart more than anything, she just has to deal with sharing him for a bit.

Not a lot of many people notice it, at first. Mostly because he still keeps that part of himself hidden, safely tucked away in the comfort of his own bedroom. 

But Wayne notices, because of course does.

“Whatcha wearin’ there, son?” Wayne asks, never looking up from where his eyes are glued to the morning newspaper. 

Eddie’s halfway out the door already, car keys jingling against his rings when his uncle speaks up, turns around in the doorway. “Uh…” 

He looks down at his clothes - what is he wearing anyway? Ripped jeans - all fine, nothing new. White t-shirt - okay, not his usual color but not that strange. Forest green plaid button down and beat-up leather boots that both actually belonged to Wayne at one point - yeah, that must be it. 

“Yeah, I mean I know they’re yours… You want them back or somethin’?”

Wayne chuckles and closes the newspaper, leaning back in his chair. “No, no. Not at all. Just surprised you’re wearing it. Ain’t you meetin’ the kids?”

“Uh, yeah?” Eddie frowns. “Should I… not be wearing this?”

“Wear whatever you want.” Wayne shrugs. “It’s just nice.”

“Nice?”

“Yeah, nice. Nice to see you bein’ comfortable wearing that sorta thing again.” Wayne says. “Lord knows you wouldn’t be caught dead in it years ago.”

Eddie thinks back to when he first came to Hawkins, with an almost empty suitcase and ratty old teddy-bear in his hand. He didn’t have any clothes that were fit for the cold Novembers in Hawkins, more used to the mild Tennessee winters, so Wayne did the best he could and dressed him up in the warmest thing he had on hand at the time. A warm, blue flannel that Eddie’s small frame almost drowned in.

Not that he cared about it at that point. He only cared about how warm and soft it felt.

Which was fine up until the point that the other kids at school started caring about their clothes and how they looked and they started laughing at Eddie’s clothes. Making fun of how poor he was that he couldn’t even afford a decent sized shirt. Teasing him in the locker room about the holes in his socks. 

He decided then and there to swear off all the clothes Wayne picked out for him and changed his style up completely. His classmates were gonna bully him anyway, but he’d be damned if they insulted Wayne in the process. 

“Well, yeah. Guess I’m goin’ back to my roots.” Eddie shrugs.

“Noticed that as well.” Wayne is smirking now, way too pleased about the whole situation and gestures to his mouth. “Your accent, Ed. Any minute now and you’ll be talkin’ like Miss Parton herself.”

Eddie’s face heats up - if only Wayne knew what he’s been up to in his spare time “Shut up, old man. You’re gonna make me late.”

He drives a little faster than normal to the Wheeler’s house, because Wayne really did keep him a few minutes too long, but he still ends up relatively on time for Mike’s birthday party. Everyone’s already in the decorated basement (balloons and garlands and all) and Mrs. Wheeler is snapping pictures left and right, much to Mike’s obvious dismay.

Mike’s face does light up when Eddie comes stumbling down the basement, present in hand.

“Happy Birthday, mini Wheeler.” Eddie says, ruffling his hair.

“Hey, not fair! We were friends way before you befriended my sister.” Mike sighs.

“Eddie’s just got good taste.” Nancy smirks before turning back to her conversation with Max and El.

“She said it, not me.” Eddie laughs. “Now open your present.”

He’d bought Mike this older copy of a D&D manual. It’s a first edition that Eddie randomly found one day in a thrift store and considering the grin on Mike’s face, Eddie knows he made the right decision. 

Behind them on the table there’s a bunch of already-opened presents but one sticks out to Eddie - a beautifully depiction of the Party members, including El and Max, painted onto a notebook.

“Nice notebook.”

“Isn’t it the coolest? Will made it for me.” Mike gushes. “He always knows what kind of present to get me. He’s such a good friend.”

Eddie bites back a laugh. Poor Mike, so tragically oblivious to what’s staring right in front of him, bowl-cut and heart-eyes and all. But since he can’t actually laugh Mike in the face, he just smirks and pats Mike on the shoulder.

“Oh Michael… Bless your tiny lil’ heart.” 

Mike just beams at him, once again blissfully unaware of the little back-handed compliment that just escaped Eddie’s Tennessee mouth and runs off again to join the party. Not noticing a thing.

But apparently someone does.

“What was that?” Steve asks from where he’s standing behind Eddie.

“What was what?” Eddie replies automatically. He doesn’t turn around just yet, slightly terrified to find out Steve’s reaction. Not there’s any malice to be heard in his voice, but Eddie’s learned to be careful even when everything seems to be safe.

“That… the whole bless your heart thing.”

“That’s a just saying.” Eddie shrugs.

“But the accent… where did that come from?” Steve stammers.

That comment finally makes Eddie turn around only to find Steve staring at him, jaw slacked and cheeks tickled pink. And well, isn’t that interesting. 

Eddie grins as he takes a step closer to Steve, head cocked to the side. “Didn’t you know? I ain’t from around here.” He’s really laying the accent on thick this time, just to see how Steve will react. 

It pays off beautifully because Steve just stares at him again, his face turning an even deeper shade of pink that contrast with the tight yellow t-shirt he’s wearing. Eddie’s stomach bubbles with giddiness at the sudden power he’s holding over Steve, making him all flustered like this.

God, he really shouldn’t be flirting with his very-much-straight crush but it just feels so good.

“Where- where are you from then?” Steve clears his throat, running a hand through his hair.

“Tennessee, baby. Born ’n raised.” 

Steve opens his mouth and closes it again, does it a couple of times actually, like he’s a goddamn guppy. It’s, frankly, adorable and Eddie’s never wanted to kiss him more. He lowers his gaze, his hands moving through the air like he’s unsure what to do with that.

“I’m just… I’m just gonna talk to Robin for a sec. Be right back, okay?”

Eddie watches as Steve disappears in between the kids, sees how he frantically talks to Robin before dragging her upstairs, clearly in need some alone time.

Huh. Weird. 

-xxx-

Eddie comes clean about his roots to the rest of his friends a couple days later and to his surprise, no one really seems to bat an eye. Sure, there are few laughs here and there but it’s never bad. A couple of questions (mostly from El) about where he grew up and that’s that.

Or so he thinks.

Because he also told Steve, Robin and Nancy about the fact that there’s a country bar just a couple miles from Hawkins and that he’s being going there almost every week just to feel a little at home again. And now, they obviously want to come with. 

Eddie’s feeling slightly nervous about it - this is still on a whole other level than just wearing one of Wayne’s flannels and bringing out his drawl every once in a while. This is about who he is, how he was raised, and he’s not really sure how things’ll go down if his friends react weirdly about it.

Pat is surprised to say the least when Eddie strolls into the Off-Road next Wednesday with Robin, Nancy and Steve in tow. Robin swore up and down that they should dress the part even though Eddie told her it wasn’t necessary, but there they are anyway, plaid shirts and all. 

It’s slightly embarrassing to be honest, but Robin seems to enjoy making him suffer (well, that was until Nancy took off her plaid shirt and tied it around her waist to show off her tight black dress underneath and Robin almost had an aneurysm. Ha, how’s that for payback?). And besides, Steve’s looking unfairly hot in that light blue flannel so who’s Eddie to complain?

“Well, well, well. Looks like you got some friends after all, Ed.” Pat grins. “Welcome y’all.”

After Eddie introduces everyone, Robin starts talking Pat’s ear off, overjoyed with the fact that she’s finally meeting another queer woman, asking her all kinds of questions about growing up queer and how she met Tish. Eddie smiles, feeling happy for his friend. 

On the other side of the bar, Steve and Nancy are hunched over the jukebox, arguing about the next song to play.

“Is that him?” Tish asks as she puts down his beer - Eddie figures he might as well take advantage of the fact that Nancy’s driving tonight. She nods to where Steve is clearly losing the argument with Nancy. The way he’s bending over the jukebox in those tight Levi’s is making his ass look insane and Eddie lets out a strangled sound.

“Yeah, that’s him alright.”

Tish lets out a low whistle. “Damn, Eddie. You’re screwed.”

“Why, geez. Thanks for that boost of confidence, Tish.”

Tish just winks at him and disappears back into the kitchen. Eddie just sits and sulks for a bit, head rocking along to the song that Nancy picked out until Robin suddenly slides into view, eyes filled with mischief that Eddie doesn’t care for one bit.

“So… A little birdie told me you’ve been singing Dolly Parton songs here on the regular.” Robin says in a sing-song voice.

Damn Pat and her blabber mouth.

Eddie narrows his eyes at her. “And what about it, Buckley?”

“Nothing! Just wondering if you might wanna play a song for us tonight?” Robin asks. She clasps her hands together and pouts when Eddie rolls his eyes at her. “Please? I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“And how exactly do you propose to do that?”

“Well… I can’t really say. Not yet anyway.” Robin smiles awkwardly. “But I promise you’ll be happy about it once it works out. Please?”

Eddie sighs - he’s never really been able to resist someone begging and he’s not gonna start now. He finishes his beer in one swig and makes his way over to the stage, taking the now-familiar acoustic guitar from the wall.

His friends sit down at a table close to the stage, staring at him with eager excitement as Eddie tries to think of a song to play. He feels strangely nervous. They had seen him play before, been to a few of Corroded Coffin gigs and he even sang the Beatles’ Blackbird for Nancy’s birthday but this still feels scarier, more intimate. 

And the thing is, he can’t really go with one of the songs he played her before because one wrong look in Steve’s direction and he’d be fucked for life. Or even worse, a love song - that’d make for a real awkward evening. So, he finally settles on a song that’s neither of those, but still a song that’s very close to his heart.

“Back through the years, I go wonderin’ once again. Back to the seasons of my youth…” Eddie sings softly, though his drawl rolls out of him with full force. 

He can’t help it, it’s the only way he knows how to sing this song because it’s the way his momma sang it to him every night before going to bed. Tucking him in tightly underneath the duvet, covering his face with kisses until he couldn’t stop giggling. Her voice soft and warm as she sang him to sleep.

“There were rags of many colors, every piece was small. And I didn’t have a coat and it was way down in the fall. Mama sewed the rags together, sewin’ every piece with love. She made my coat of many colors, that I was so proud of.”

He thinks of Wayne. Thinks of the clothes Wayne gave him while growing up. How he wore them to school with pride, excited to have clothes to call his own. To have a home and someone taking care of him, not because Wayne had to but because he wanted to. 

“So with patches on my britches and in holes in both my shoes, in my coat of many colors, I hurried off to school. Just to find the others laughing and are making of fun of me, in my coat of many colors my mama made for me.”

Thinks of his classmates laughing at his accent, at the way he dressed, at his amazement of seeing snow for the very first time. Remembers going home to Wayne with tears in his eyes, stuffing his plaid shirts into the deepest corner of his closet and trading it for plain black tees instead. Remembers staying up late when Wayne was at work to practice his speech pattern by watching old tv-shows and repeating the lines. 

Looks up at his friends. Realizes how he’s showcasing all those parts he hid away for years and is for once, rewarded for it. They’re listening intently, proud smiles on their faces. Nancy and Robin are leaning against each other, their fingers finding their way to one another.

Glances over at Steve, whose hands are folded underneath his chin as he looks at Eddie with a gentle smile, his eyes soft and almost like honey underneath the warm ceiling lights of the bar. He barely blinks, eyes glued to Eddie and Eddie only. It’s a bit distracting, if Eddie’s being honest. He feels his cheeks heat up and he almost misses a chord at one point, realizing then and there why he didn’t pick a love song in the first place. 

He needs to sing, not melt into a puddle of goo underneath Steve’s gaze, goddammit.

“Now I know we had no money, but I was rich as I could be. In my coat of many colors, my mama made for me. Made just for me…”

The song softly fades away and Eddie mumbles a quick thanks into the microphone as his friends and the rest of the the bar burst out into applause. He shuffles over to the table  where he’s met with Robin and Nancy beaming at him and pulling him into a tight hug.

“That was so good.” Nancy gushes.

“Yeah, it was amazing! You should switch music genres, if I’m honest.” Robin nods. “Change Corroded Coffin’s name into Corroded Cowboy or something.”

Eddie chuckles. “Not sure if the guys are gonna like that. But thanks, girls. Means a lot.”

Steve stays strangely quiet in between Robin and Nancy’s stream of compliments, just fiddling with the coaster in between his fingers. It’s not until Nancy drags Robin to the dance floor when an upbeat song starts playing and Eddie slides into one of the empty seats they left behind, that Steve speaks up.

“You have a really nice voice, you know that?” 

He says it so softly that Eddie can barely hear him over the bluegrass music on the speakers. Still, it’s enough for Eddie’s cheeks to flush pink.

“Thanks.” Eddie replies, ducking his head to prevent Steve from seeing his flushed face. 

“Seriously, man.” Steve says. “Think about Robin said. I mean, I love hearing you sing and scream about the world’s injustices with Corroded Coffin as much as the next person but…”

Eddie’s heart starts beating out of his chest because holy fuck, Steve loves hearing him sing, Steve loves hearing him sing, Steve loves hearing him sing.

“But these songs seem to come so natural to you, y’know?” Steve glances up to meet Eddie’s eyes, the corners of his mouth tugging upwards. “You make it seem so…”

“Easy?” Eddie supplies.

Steve smiles and there’s something in his eyes that Eddie can’t quite decipher. A secret that only Steve seems to know. “Yeah, exactly. Easy.”

Eddie feels the flush on his face deepen underneath Steve’s gaze and he needs a way out before he starts doing something incredibly stupid like drag him to the bathroom just to see what happens when he calls Steve darlin’. 

“You want a refill?” Eddie says quickly, gesturing towards the empty beer bottle on the table. “My treat.”

“Yeah, sure. Thanks, Eddie.”

The sound of his own name rolling off Steve’s tongue almost makes Eddie  stumbles as he stands up  makes his way towards the bar. Smooth, Munson, real fuckin’ smooth.

“Two beers please.” Eddie tells Pat, drumming his ring-adorned hands on the faded wood of the bar.

“Here ya go.” Pat says, handing him the drinks. Eddie’s about to turn back, when she stops him. “Ed, I don’t mean to mess with your head or anythin’… But are ya sure that boy’s straight?”

Eddie snorts. “What’d you mean? ‘Course he is.”

“Well, I won’t be so sure about that, kiddo.” Pat says with a knowing smile. “I’ve been seein’ the way he looks at you tonight and well… let’s just say it’s the same way I look at Tish every morning I wake up next to her.”

Eddie looks up to where Steve’s chatting with Jack, one of the older regulars who’s an actually banjo player in his spare time. He just watches them for a minute, a soft smile playing around his lips, the one he always gets when he’s looking at Steve. 

Steve looks up and their eyes meet, a bright smile appearing on his face as he wiggles his hands in the air to wave at Eddie. He seems so happy and he’s never looked more beautiful. 

Christ, Eddie’s so in love with him.

“That. That look right there. No one looks at their platonic friend like that. Not when there are other feelings involved.” Pat says firmly. “You might wanna start re-thinkin’ this whole situation, Ed.” She adds cryptically and returns to where she’s drying off another glass.

A tingly feeling spreads all over Eddie’s body, a shiver running up his spine. It should feel nice, it does feel nice, but at the same time Eddie knows it’s actually the worst feeling in the world.

Hope. 

tag list: 

@solosnail @gothbat99 @unclewaynemunson @legitcookie @henderdads @goblin-eddie @trikigirl271 @alienace @stevethehairington @blank1eboi @fruitandbubbles @courtjestermunson @steveisabicon @stereoteleversion @wrenisflying @spectrum-spectre @hotluncheddie @punkharringtxn @remislupinisthevoiceofgod @panicatthediaz @thegingervulcan @sharkruption @goodolefashionedloverboi @thelastwalkingsoul @undreamingscatworld @magpiemuseum @mightbeasleep @maya-custodios-dionach @theokatz @this-earlobe-is-naked

#steddie #steddie fic #steddie fanfiction #eddie munson #steve harrington #steddie ficlet #steve harrington x eddie munson #stranger things #this one got away from me #i got cursed by munson family feels as i often do #also sorry to everyone i tried to tag but somehow failed to do so?? #really dunno what happened there #alice's writing adventures

[jspenft]

Gojo drabble ☆ FATHER'S DAY EDITION

Fluff fluff fluff, suggestive if you squint (at the veeery end), maybe a bit cheesy, since it's Father's Day here in France here's a little something (we're the next day when I post this but anyway). It's just what comes up in my mind and one of the few times I'm really writing so be indulgent pls, english isn't my first language, 1,2k.

Satoru wakes up in a very good mood. Today is HIS day! (well every day is his day but here more than usual okay?)

He woke up so early but didn't get up. He'd rather wait for the kids to wake him up, like they did with you on your day.

Yeah back then, he prepared countless surprises for your Mother's Day with your children of 4 and 2 yo, respectively a girl and a boy.

So it's normal that he can't wait to see what you've all prepared for him today.

But your children never came to your room. *No breakfast in bed then? Well whatever, doesn't matter*

He won't stop repeating your kids things like:

"What a beautiful day to be a dad!"

"The weather is nice today, don't you think kikufuku"😀

"Honey what day is it?~" :))

"Huh? It's Sunday Papa", answered your daughter

And then, at noon, the kids still didn't say to him: "Happy Father's Day".

So honestly, he thinks they forgot, you all forgot.

How to say he went from his best day of the year, to his worst in less than a few hours.

Of course you notice that he sulks, and you're like,

"Can you help me with this step of the recipe please?", you ask him

"No. Don't want to"

"What's the matter Toru you usually love cooking with me?"

"I said don't want to", and he's pouting again

In the evening he expects only one thing: for it to be midnight to complain that you all forgot his Father's Day.

Around 6.p.m, he already wanna go to bed.

"'Night i'm going to sleep"

"NO!", the three of you scream in unison with shocked eyes as you watch him slowly walk towards the bedroom

"Huh?" he looks at you puzzled

"Um, I mean.. you can't go to bed just yet. We have- we have to go to the store to buy something to eat for tonight", you giggle nervously, scratching your neck

"Well you can go alone, I'll watch the ki-"

"No Papa! Let's all go together! Cmon, wear your coat!", your daughter cuts him off

"Yeah wear you goat Papa", your son, trying to imitate his big sister

He's bregudingly follows you. Anyway he has no choice, his children are busy trying to grab his coat and push him out of the house.

He continues to pout on the way, hands in his pockets.

"But the store isn't usually this way, why're we goin' to Jujutsu tech"

"Don't worry Toru it's a short way off", you say as you all enter the forest belonging to the Jujutsu tech

*Damn he's gonna suspect something, shit, we gotta hurry before he wants to go home* you think

A few minutes later, the children and you trotted to enter the park before him. You whisper things to each other before you all look up at him and shout:

"HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!"

His ears tilt when he hears what he wanted since this morning, and his eyes widen as he walks into the park.

Fairy lights and balloons surround a magnificent picnic table. His favorite dish, strawberry cake, pastries, and lots of decorations that your children prepared themselves.

*beautiful* He stopped walking a while ago and can't stop admiring everything.

"That's..."

He can't finish his sentence that he puts a hand in front of his eyes and... he's crying..?

"Papa ?"

"Papa why you crying? You don't like it?"

You're children think they didn't do well.

"No, no that's not it. It's just, thank you. No.. sorry. Sorry I thought you forgot", he confess

They giggle, "We prepared everything with mommy. We refrained from saying happy Father's Day to you before tonight! We did a good job didn't we?", your daughter smiles happily while holding her father's pants

Your son follow his sister saying,

"You like the surprise Papa?"

Satoru squats to hug them "Yes, I really appreciate that, thank you my loves"

He kisses them on their cheeks and stand up before telling them "Come on, go play with the balloons before you sit down to eat"

"Yayyy", they exclaim with joy as they start running around the table

He watches them play with a smile before hearing someone started talking.

"Soo...", you're approaching him "You really think we forgot?", you quipped

He rolls his eyes "Not at all"

"Toru you're pouting again", you looking at him with amusment

He raises his head and confesses "Okay maybe a little"

"You finally raise your head huh, your head were down the whole way.. such a drama queen", you tease him "but don't worry..", you say cupping his cheeks "I'd think the same if I were you. But that was a surprise.. I'm sorry", you avow before pulling him into a kiss

"You still love it?"

"Of course", he smile brightly "Anyway how did you prepare all this?"

"Megumi helped", you smile "He helped me get you away from home while we were preparing all the food and all. He was the one who set the table and lit the light garlands before we arrived"

He remembers something before answering "So, that's why I saw you on your phone all day"

"Yeah I had to check if the preparations were going well"

"You sneaky girl"

You laugh together when your little monsters kids call you.

"Mama! Papa! Come eat!"

Satoru couldn't help laughing when he saw them already starting touching the food.

"Hey don't you dare eat without me you rascals", he races to catch them, then they giggle so hard when he starts tickling them.

"What a beautiful sight", you smile at the view

After the cake, your little ones gives him his gifts.

He loves any gift his children give him, really, any.

Pasta necklace? He wears it with pride

Drawing? He'll post it on the fridge, in the entrance wall, in his wallet, whatever as long as everyone can admire his precious children's masterpieces.

Cakes made with love with the help of their mother? He... honestly he would hesitate to eat them all at once or savor them.

The rest of the evening is spent in laughter and cheerfulness.

You come home late that day.

Your kids were gone at uncle Nanamin's house for that pajama party which was planned a long ago.

You in the bathroom, Satoru in your shared bed as he shout,

"Sweetheart come to bed alreadyyy", he wines

"Did you really think your day was over?"

"Hmm?", he thinks hearing wrong

When you come out of the bathroom adjoining your room, Satoru can't take his eyes off you.

You were absolutely stunning in that new underwear set, as you continue with a cocky smile,

"Happy Father's Day Daddy"

*God this is going to be a long night*

The rest is up to the future lmao

-------- bonus --------

The next day, Satoru complains to Megumi, "Why didn't you wish your handsome dad an happy father's day you unworthy sonnn", he cry out shaking him, pretending to cry

"You're not my dad i don't owe you a present or something" he exclaim

"Yet you helped Y/n yesterday, that counts as a gift, thanks Gumiii"

He's caught off guard

"Oww you're blushing! My little boy is blushinggg~"

Legend has it that Satoru left with a bump on his head after this interaction.

© jspenft 2023 : do not plagiarize, steal, contort, copy, or translate my content to other platforms.

#I just know he'd be hurt to think you forgot his day #Such a child #jjk #gojo satoru #gojo x reader #gojo #jujutsu kaisen #gojo x you #jjk x reader #gojo imagine #jjk fluff #gojo drabble #gojo headcanon #jjk headcanon #dad!gojo #father's day

[dumbass-tumbler-cryptid]

God, I'm sorry for asking about snippets all the time, but they are so good that I can't get them out of my head at all 😅 Could you post a longer fragment, no matter from which chapter?

Lol thank you! Honestly the flashback scenes are way less precious to me since it’s just an expansion on what’s already happened (and I plan on just posting all of them on here at some point) so enjoy the longest flashback I’ve written (so far).

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

Spider’s throat was killing him. He’d spent the majority of the day screaming at Quaritch as he tried and failed to feed him. Thrashed against his restraints and snapped at the man’s hands when he’d attempted to clean smeared food from his face. The effort had exhausted him, his empty stomach growling painfully. But it was worth it to see the frustration in Quaritch’s eyes as he fought to keep the calm facade of a patient parent. After three failed attempts at trying to get Spider to eat, each lasting hours longer than the last, his father had finally given up, leaving Spider in peace.

He stared out his open window, the crisp night breeze caressing his face, the sounds of a forest teeming with life lulling him into a doze. Alone, he could pretend he was on a camping trip with the Sully’s, laying on a blanket between Kiri and Lo’ak, gazing up into an expanse of billions of bright stars. A rare smile graced his face of its own accord as he pictured it, so vividly he could almost hear his friends breathing beside him. “What’cha thinkin’ ‘bout tiger.” Though his voice sounded gentille and incredibly tired, Spider startled his limbs spasming against the restraints.

“Fuck! Can’t you make a noise or something!”

“Sorry kiddo,” Quaritch reached out a hand to cup Spider’s face. Spider tried to maul Quaritch’s hand like an angry guard dog. Quaritch sighed, “you looked so happy there for a second. Made me happy just seein’ y’a smile like that. I was just curious what was goin’ through your head.”

“None of your business! Why are you even here anyway? I thought we were done for the day? Did you sneak in just to stare at me like the fucking creep you are?”

Quaritch hung his tired head, shaking it no, “I have something I wanted to show y’a. I look at it when I’m havin’ a bad day and well…this was a bad day.”

“Wasn’t so great for me either,” Spider said, rattling his chains.

Quaritch ignored him, instead holding up a brown leather book for Spider to see, “This is our family photo album,” Spider’s eyes widened, some of his anger being replaced by the longing he buried deep inside, to see the faces of his biological family. Especially his mother. He instantly wanted to see every last page of the book. But it was in Quaritch’s hold. And he was powerless to look through it himself. “Here,” Quaritch opened it to its first page. Spider looked away. Despite how badly he wanted to see the pictures he would not accept this offering from his tormentor. “These are your grandparents,” Quaritch narrated, “Your mama only had this one picture of her parents. They died when she was young. She bounced around a lot after that.” Spider’s heart bled for his mama. He’d never know how similar their upbringings had been. She was probably watching over him completely devastated.

“These are my folks right here,” Quaritch said, leaning in to try and get Spider to look. “Yeah. My old man there was a mean son of bitch, that’s for sure.”

“Is that where you get it from,” Spider said venomously.

“I’d be a lot nicer if you behaved,” Quaritch shot back, his fatigue getting the better of him. Checking his anger he took a deep breath, moving on, “my mama right here, was the coldest woman you could imagine. I really don’t think she wanted a kid but it was expected of her back then. Drank most days. Yelled a lot. I joined the marines when I turned eighteen and never looked back. I only got these pictures because I was sent their stuff when they finally died. I wanted to throw it all out. But I was seein’ your mama at the time. She convinced me to hold on to at least some of the photos. To not “completely erase them. Even though they were terrible.” That’s what she said.” Out of the corner of his eye Spider could just see the fond little smile on Quaritch’s face as he talked about his late wife, his eyes far away.

Spider squeezed his eyes shut not wanting to see that much love on such a cruel person's face. He heard the rustling of a page being turned. Quaritch continued, a little huff of a chuckle escaping his lips as he took it it, “this was when mama and I started seein’ each other. We couldn’t say we were really datin’. I never took her out or bought her flowers or anything like that. But she’d hang out in my office and take pictures of the two of us when I wasn’t lookin’. I think she did that for blackmail honestly but they’re funny pictures now.” Spider wanted to look, he really did. But he couldn’t. It felt like he’d lose if he did.

“And this here is our wedding picture. The ceremony itself wasn’t much but god did your mama look beautiful…” He wanted to see it. “…This was when we were painting your room. Mama has paint all over her but she’s smilin’ like crazy…” It hurt how bad he wanted to look. “…And this is the day you were born. Happiest day of my life.”

Spider couldn’t stand it. “I don’t want to look at your stupid pictures!” He lied. “Just go away already!” A heavy silence fell between them. For a moment Quaritch just sat there. Spider continued to look away. He heard the soft thud of the book being placed on the bedside table. The creaking of the chair as his father stood from his seat. And then his hands were on him lifting him up into a seated position. Spider groaned, all too used to this now but still incredibly annoyed. “Get the fuck off me!” He screamed and thrashed against his captors' hold, knowing perfectly well by now that it was no use but unwilling to give up fighting. Quaritch sat behind him, wrapping his arms tightly around Spider to restrain him.

“Jesus Miles, calm your ass down already! You're tired. I’m tired. Can’t we just relax and enjoy some family time together.” Spider growled at him. To his surprise Quaritch growled back, holding him even tighter. Something about it made Spider feel small, his struggles momentarily ceasing. His father tucked him under his chin then reached for the photo album, picking up where he left off. “This is the day you were born…”

Spider looked away, closing his eyes tight. Quaritch sighed, bringing his legs up to use as a book stand. He then grabbed Spider by the chin forcing him to turn his head. “Miles…” he said in that now familiar parental tone, “….Open your eyes.”

“Or what? You gonna tape my eyelids open.”

Quaritch sighed, “son what’s the point of keeping up the fight like this? Can’t y’a just let yourself enjoy some time with your old man.”

“Can’t you just get the fuck off me and go away.”

“You know you could benefit from being held more,” Spider snarled, “keep provin’ my point son….”

“Uuuggghhh…what’ll it take to get you to go away!”

“Just look at a few god damn pictures would y’a.” It was Spider’s turn to sigh. It seemed Quaritch’s full proof way of getting Spider to do what he wanted was to dangle the promises of solitude over Spider’s head. And it worked every time. Reluctantly he opened his eyes. There were a few different photographs on the page. His mom holding her little bundle of joy for the first time, her face covered in sweat and looking so incredibly tired and yet her eyes were bright with joy, a large grin of absolute amazement on her lips. Then there was one of his father, his smile more subdued but still, you could see him falling in love with the newborn cradled in his arms. And then there was the picture of all three of them, his mama in bed holding him, his father leaning protective over them both.

Spider said nothing as he took it all in. His father tucked his hair behind his ears then hugged him closer. Spider didn’t make a move to fight him on it, or say a single unkind word, too transfixed by the images of the love he was born into. His father turned the page to dozens of pictures of Spider as a newborn, so small, red and wrinkly. The teens' noses crinkled in disgust, “I was an ugly baby.”

Quaritch shrugged, “everyone is. Babies don’t get cute until around six months. Here….” He flipped forward to show Spider himself at six months old. His father was right. With a little time to grow Spider or “baby Miles” had become an adorable infant, huge sunny smiles in every picture, big curious brown eyes, and the wispy beginnings of platinum blond curls. “….see. You were cute.”

Every picture felt like a punch to the gut but now that he had started he couldn’t stop staring. He just looked so happy. Happier than he could ever remember being, aside from his time with the Sully’s. His parents doted on him in almost every picture looking like they were holding the most precious thing in the world. He guessed to them they were.

After being still for so long his father saw his chance to kiss his son on the temple. Spider felt tears in his eyes but didn’t pull away, slumping further into his fathers hold.

#miles spider socorro #spider socorro #miles quaritch #colonel miles quaritch #cabin in the woods #avatar fanfiction #my fanfic

[layce2015]

Supernatural (Dean Winchester x Female!Reader)

Human's Are The Best Hunt

Masterlist

"Hey, Officer? Look, we didn’t mean to press our luck." Dean said to Kathleen as we walk back to her cop car, the three of us holding a cup of coffee. "Both of your lucks are so pressed." She informed us. "Right. Look, we were wondering—why are you helping us out, anyway? Why don’t you just lock both of us up?" I asked her. "My brother, Riley, disappeared three years ago. A lot like Sam. We searched for him, but—nothing. I know what it’s like to feel responsible for someone, and for them—" she replied then she sighs then looks back at us.

"Come on. Let’s keep at it." She said as she gets in the car and Dean and I followed her.

Later, we were driving by a forest when Dean said. "Wait, wait, wait—pull over here. Pull over." Kayhleen pulls over and we get out of the car and walk towards the forest. "It’s the first turn-off I’ve seen so far." Dean said and I look at him, impressed. "Good eye." I complimented him.

"You two stay here, I’ll check it out." Kathleen said as she starts to walk down the turn-off. "No way." Dean and I said. "Hey." She said, firmly, and we stop walking. "Both of you are civilians. And felons, I think. I’m not taking you two with me." She said. "You’re not goin’ without us." I said and she sighs. "Alright. You two promise you won’t get involved? You’ll let me handle it?" She asked and Dean and I nod. "Promise." We said. "Shake on it." She said and she extends her hand. Dean shakes it just as she places a set of handcuffs on Dean’s arm.

"Oh, come on." Dean said, exasperated, as I said. "Hey!" Then she quickly cuffs me with another set of cuffs. Then she handcuffs Dean to the driver's side door handle and me to the back door handle. "This is ridiculous. Kathleen, I really think you’re gonna need our help." Dean said as she walks away. "I’ll manage. Thank you." She said and she locks the door and walks away.

"I gotta start carrying paper clips." Dean mutters as I start to dig into my jacket pockets. "Well, lucky for you, I'm a girl and I usually carry a hairpin with me." I said as I dig around the pockets. "Wait, seriously?" Dean asked. "Yeah....let's just say this isn't the first time where I've been handcuffed." I said to him. "Oh really?" He asked, intrigued, and I see him look at me over his shoulder. "Get your mind out of the gutter, Dean. It wasn't like that. Ah! There it is!" I said as I pull the hairpin out of my pants pocket and started to unlock my cuff.

"I was captured by a demon that dad and I were hunting. And needless to say, dad saved my ass and then basically beat it in my head to carry a hairpin or paperclips. For emergencies." I explained and I was able to un-cuff myself just as we hear the screech of a pickup truck. "Oh, son of a bitch." Dean mutters as I go over to him and start to unlock his handcuff.

Finally, I get his cuff unlocked and we run away from the car and head off into the turn-off. As we walked around the property, we could see lots of abandoned cars and noticed their plates were from different parts of America. Then we noticed a barn behind a house and we head inside.

We enter the barn and observe it in disgust as there were cages. Then we see Sam in a cage and I gasped. "Sam?" Dean and I said and Sam smiles at us. "Are you hurt?" I asked him as we run up to his cage. "No." Sam said and Dean and I smiled at him.

"Damn, it’s good to see you." Dean said, relieved. "How did you two get out of the cuffs?" Kathleen's voice asked. We turn around and see her in another cage. "Oh, we know a trick or two." I said and she stares at us, confused. "Alright." Dean mutters and we move to the door of the cage and see the locks, which were basically automatic types. "Oh, these locks look like they’re gonna be a bitch." Dean grumbles.

"Well, there’s some kind of automatic control right there." Sam said as he points over our shoulder and I look to see a control panel. "Have you seen ‘em?" I asked Sam. "Yeah. Guys, they’re just people." Sam said as we go over to the control panel. "And they jumped you? Must be gettin’ a little rusty there, kiddo." Dean said as he starts trying different buttons.

"What do they want?" I asked Sam. "I don’t know. They let Jenkins go, but that was some sort of trap. It doesn’t make any sense to me." Sam said. "Well, that’s the point. You know, with our usual playmates, there’s rules, there’s patterns. But with people, they’re just crazy." Dean said and I nod in agreement.

"See anything else out there?" Sam asked us. "Uh, he has about a dozen junked cars hidden out back. Plates from all over, so we were thinkin’ when they take someone, they take their car, too." I replied. "Did you guys see a black Mustang out there? About ten years old?" Kathleen asked us and we turn to her. "Yeah, actually, we did." Dean said and she looks at us, sad.

"Your brother’s?" I asked her and she nods. "I’m sorry." Dean and I said before we pause for a moment. "Let’s get you guys out of here, then we’ll take care of those bastards." Dean said then he points to the control panel. "This thing takes a key. Key?" He said as he looks at Sam. "I don’t know." Sam said, shrugging and shaking his head. "Alright, (y/n) and I better go find it." Dean said and we go to leave.

"Hey." Sam calls out and we stop and turn around. "Be careful." Sam said to us. "Yeah." Dean and I said, nodding, and we leave.

We walk into another dark room and turn on our flashlights and began to start to look around. The room is filled with shelves of jars and bottles, which contain various body parts. I look at a container filled with an unrecognizable item and squirrel up my nose. "Yikes." I said and we keep searching the room and comes across a wall full of Polaroid pictures.

Each photo shows two men, dressed in camouflage, standing next to a dead body. Then I notice a picture of them holding Jenkins’ corpse. "Dean..." I said and he walks up next to me and sees the picture. "I’ll say it again—demons I get. People are crazy." Dean said. "Yeah..." I said and he starts to move to a flight of stairs and climbs them. "I'll look around here some more." I said to Dean. "Ok, be careful." Dean said and I nod at him as I move around the basement area.

After while, I couldn't find anything here and stopped to think until I heard commotion upstairs, like a fight was going on, until it stopped. "Dean." I whispered, fearfully, and I run back towards the stairs and, quietly, make my way up. I, slowly, open the door and see a hallway to my left and I walk out just as I hear voices.

"I’ve hunted all my life. Just like my father, his before him. I’ve hunted deer and bear—I even got a cougar once." An old man's raspy voice said as I walk down the hall.  Oh boy. But the best hunt is human. Oh, there’s nothin’ like it. Holdin’ their life in your hands. Seein’ the fear in their eyes just before they go dark. Makes you feel powerful alive." The man said and I felt disgusted listening to his words.

"You’re a sick puppy." Dean's voice remarked. "We give ‘em a weapon. Give ‘em a fightin’ chance. It’s kind of like our tradition passed down, father to son. Of course, only one or two a year. Never enough to bring the law down, we never been that sloppy." The man said as I make it to the edge of the doorway and peek over to see Dean was tied up to a chair and a dirty old man sitting in front of him and he was surrounded by two men, also dirty, and a young girl.

"Yeah, well, don’t sell yourself short. You’re plenty sloppy." Dean said as he looks over the man's shoulder and sees me. His eyes widen a bit and gives a slight shake of his head. "So, what, you with that pretty cop?" The old man said as the little girl looks up at one of the men with a smile. "Are you a cop?" The old man asked. "If I tell you, you promise not to make me into an ashtray?" Dean asked, sarcastically, and one of the men walks over and punches him.

I jumped and gasped at this as the old man said. "Only reason I don’t let my boys take you right here and now is that there’s somethin’ I need to know." He said and he walks to the fireplace and takes a hot poker. I move away from the doorway as I hear Dean say. "Yeah, how ‘bout it’s not nice to marry your sister?"

"Tell me—any of the cops gonna come lookin’ for you?" The old man asked. "Oh, eat me. No, no, no, wait, wait, wait—you actually might." Dean said and I bite back a laugh at this. "You think this is funny? You brought this down on my family. Alright, you wanna play games? We’ll play some games. Looks like we’re gonna have a hunt tonight after all, boys. And you get to pick the animal. The boy or the cop?" The old man said and my heart beats fast.

"Okay, wait, wait—look, nobody’s comin’ for me, alright? It’s just us." Dean said to them. "You don’t choose, I will." The old man said then I hear a sizzle and Dean screaming in pain. "Ah, you son of a bitch!" Dean groans in pain and I place a hand over my mouth and I try to think of what to do.

"Next time, I’ll take an eye." The old man said "Alright, the guy, the guy! Take the guy!" Dean said, frantically. Then I hear some movement and I start to move away from the doorway and head towards the back door that was at the end of the hallway. "Lee, go do it. Don’t let him out, though. Shoot him in the cage." I hear the old man said and I go through the back door then make my way around the house.

I go around the side of the house as quietly as I could until I see one of the men walking out, heading towards the barn. I start to follow the man as he makes it to the barn and opens the door and enter. I get inside just as he goes to the control panel and pulls out a key, inserts it and twists it. "What are you doing?" Sam asked just as he door to his cage unlocks and Lee, I'm figured was his name, walks towards him. 

Then I jumped on the guy's back and grabbed his gun, which he fires but misses, and hold it against his neck. He tries to fight me off but I hold on and hold the gun against his throat as hard as I could. Finally, he starts to fall to his knee then I throw him down on the ground.

He groans and starts to turn to me but I kicked him across the face, knocking him out. "Sick son of a bitch." I grumbled as Sam comes out of his cage. I nod at him then go back to the control panel and unlock Kathleen's cage. "Alright, c'mon." I said and we start to walk out of the barn but we see the old man and his other son coming towards the barn.

"Crap." I muttered and we go back inside then Sam messes with the fuse box and I put the man in Sam's old cage and lock it. Then we hide just as the two men come in. "Damn it, Jared, get the lights!" The old man said and Jared moves over to the light switch and pushes it up. The barn remains dark.

"They must have blown the fuses." Jared shouts as they move into another room of the barn. Sam and I hide behind a bale of hay just as the men hear a noise. Jared looks around in one area of the room, while the old man climbs a ladder leading to a balcony. Then the old man sees Sam and I and begins chasing after us. 

He fires his rifle twice, but Sam and I escape. We make it down the stairs and see Jared has his gun aimed at Kathleen, who was on the ground. "You stupid bitch." He growled and he gets ready to shoot her, but we run at him.

"Hey!" We shouted and he turns around to see us. He fires the gun, but we run away to dodge it. At the same moment, the old man had walked in behind us and gets hit with the bullet instead. He falls to the ground as we get behind Jared as he cocks the gun and turns around. Sam grabs the gun and hits him in the face with the rifle several times, and Jared collapses, unconscious. 

Sam and I place Jared in Kathleen’s cage and close the door. He walks to the control panel and locks the cage then we make our way over to Kathleen, who is standing over the old man, with her gun raised. "I’ll watch this one. You two go ahead." She said and Sam stares at her, motionless, while I said. "You sure?" She nods and said. "Go ahead." She said and we leave and head back into the house.

We make it back to the house and enter inside to see Dean still tied up in a chair and the little girl turns to us, holding a little knife. She screams and charges at us with her knife raised. Sam jumps back, slightly, but I grab the girl's arm and knock the knife out of her hand then backhand her across her face, knocking her out.

"Thanks." Dean said as Sam goes over to him and untie him as I go put the girl in a closet and lock it. "Man, didn't realize you had such hatred for little girls, (y/n)." Dean said and I chuckled. "Only the knife wielding ones." I said as Sam gets Dean out of his binds and we walk out of the front door and down the porch steps.

There we meet up with Kathleen, who is leaving the barn. "Where’s the girl?" She asked us. "Locked her in a closet." I replied. "What about the dad?" Dean asked her and she pauses. "Shot. Trying to escape." She replied and all of us exchange a look.

"I think the car’s at the police station." Dean said to  us as we start to leave the house while Kathleen is listening to a woman on her walkie-talkie. "Backup unit en route to your location." The voice said and she approaches us. "So, state police and the FBI are gonna be here within the hour. They’re gonna wanna talk to you. I suggest that you three are long gone by then." Kathleen said to usm

"Thanks." I said and she nods. "Hey, listen, I don’t mean to press our luck, but we’re kind of in the middle of nowhere. Think we could catch a ride?" Dean asked her. "Start walking. Duck if you see a squad car." She instructs us and I nod. "Sounds great to me. Thanks." Sam said and he goes to grab our arms but Dean stops him

"Listen, uh….I’m sorry about your brother." Dean said to he . "Yeah, me too." I said and she begins to tear up. "Thank you." She said, appreciatevly. "It was really hard not knowing what happened to him. I thought it would be easier once I knew the truth—but it isn’t really." She said then pauses. 

"Anyway, you should go." She said. The boys and I nod and walk away.

"Never do that again." Dean tells Sam as we walk down the road. "Do what?" Sam asked him. "Go missin’ like that." Dean said and Sam laughs. "Gave us a heart attack." I said. "You guys were worried about me." Sam said. "All I’m sayin’ is, you vanish like that again, I’m not lookin’ for ya." Dean said and I chuckle. "Sure, you won’t." Sam said, rolling his eyes. "I’m not." Dean said and Sam and I chuckle.

"Don't worry, Sam. I'll look for ya." I said as I go and give Sam a side hug and he places an arm around me and hug me back. Then I look over at Dean, who was looking down at the ground, and I give a small smile. "C'mere you." I said and placed my other arm around Dean and side-hug him. He rolls his eyes and places his hand on my shoulder and pats it.

"So, you got sidelined by a thirteen-year-old girl, huh?" Sam asked as we continued to walk, still in a group hug. "Oh, shut up." Dean grumbles as he removes his hand off of me. "Just sayin’, gettin’ rusty there, kiddo." Sam said, repeating Dean's words from earlier, as he and I remove our arms off of each other. "Shut up." Dean chuckles and we laugh as we continue walking.

#fandom #fanfic #fan fiction #reader insert #x reader #supernatural #dean winchester #dean winchester x you #dean x you #dean winchester imagine #dean x reader #supernatural dean #dean winchester x female!reader #dean winchester x reader #supernatural fanfic series #supernatural fandom #supernatural fanfiction #tv show fandom #tv shows #tv

[walker-bait-1973]

8 Years Part Two

Photo Edit by Me

Part Two of the ongoing series with Daryl Dixon x Sybil Tremont (OC)

Background information: It’s assumed the reader knows the world of TWD. This Fanfic takes place after Alexandria, Hilltop, Oceanside, and the Kingdom are established and at the height of success. Carl is dead. The communities are bound by a doctrine created by Michonne. Rick is presumed dead. Daryl and Michonne never lost hope and searched for several years for Rick without luck. Daryl had a short relationship with Leah. The Saviors disbanded with Negan in a jail cell in Alexandria. The Whisperers have been defeated, and Lydia is a valued member of the Hilltop homestead.

To read Part One: Click Here

Master List

18+

Warnings: Typical TWD Violence, Angst, Slow Burn, Smut

Chapter 10: Sybil’s Secret

Mom? Daryl watched as Sybil turned quickly and went to the boy shielded behind her.

“Yes, it’s safe.” She checked him over, “Put your knife away. It’s all clear.” She slipped her hand into his and rejoined the group. Daryl’s eyes dropped to the disheveled boy. He bit on his lower lip as he saw a pair of eyes identical to his looking up at him curiously.

Daryl and Sybil regarded one another. His lips had grown tight into a thin white line. She was unprepared for a moment like this. Her green eyes softened.

The older man that was with them said, “We can’t stay here. We should try to find somewhere safe to stay for the night. I think I remember there being an old house to the north of here.”

 “Know a place, ‘bout an hour’s walk. C’mon.” Daryl slowly turned, Dog jogging up ahead of him and walking back the way he’d come from.

Sybil, completely out of sorts, hesitated at first. Her son tugged on her arm, “Are we goin’?”

“Uh, yeah…” she picked up her pack.

“How’s he know your name?”

“We used to… know each other…” She couldn’t believe she was less than ten feet from Daryl. The man she loved. The man who broke her heart. He was still alive! Still… alive.

“C’mon Mom… we’re gonna get lost behind.”

She gave him a silly look, “Have I ever gotten you lost before?”

“No,” he chuckled.

“But you’re right. We better keep up.”

The walk was in silence, everyone keeping a lookout for trouble. Once they arrived at the cabin, Daryl performed a quick sweep before anyone went inside. Sybil was grateful as she went in the door and said, “Thank you.”

Daryl sucked in a forced breath of air and closed the door behind him.

“I’m Gertie, and this is my father, Stan,” the other woman introduced herself. Daryl nodded.

“Thank you for everything,” the man said, sitting down on the floor heavily. He was winded, “I don’t know how much further I could’ve made it. We’ve been on the go for days. Dead ones everywhere we turn. We thought we’d get away from the roads. And at first, things seemed good in the forest.”

“It’s hard to tell where those things will show up,” Gertie added, “there’s no rhyme or reason to them.”

Daryl was listening, but his gaze stayed on Sybil and the young boy with her. Her son. Once Gertie got her father as comfortable as could be expected, she laid down next to him, falling quickly asleep. Daryl slowly approached Sybil. He opened his pack pulled out some venison jerky and held it out to her.

“F’ y’ an’ the boy…” She hesitated before taking it.

“Here, Ryder,” she said as he sat down on the floor near the fireplace, “thank you, Daryl.”

“Thank you,” Ryder said happily, munching away.

“You haven’t met. Ryder, this is Daryl.”

“Hi,” the boy greeted between bites.

Daryl nodded in his direction,“’ll start a fire,” he went outside to get some wood.

Outside, Daryl started breaking up sticks and gathering large pieces of wood. He didn’t know what to think… and he felt all jumbled up inside. And what of the boy? He had quickly pieced things together as soon as he saw him. Daryl had to hear it from Sybil’s lips.

He went inside and stoked a small fire, more for comfort than warmth, and left again.

“Mom, I’m tired,” Ryder yawned, “is it okay to sleep?”

She nodded, “Yes, we’re safe… for tonight.” She smoothed back his unruly hair with the stubborn cowlick on the left. She smiled lovingly at her son and kissed his forehead. He laid his head on his pack.

“Sweet dreams, Ryder…”

“Night Mom.” He rolled over to face away from the fire. She drank some of the water in the bottle she’d been carrying. She quietly walked into the adjoining room and allowed herself a moment to breathe. As she did, she felt tears well up in her eyes. She held back the sobbing, but her hands shook.

Two years after graduating college, Sybil managed to find a job as a teacher’s assistant. It wasn’t what she really wanted, but it was a stepping stone in the right direction. One night when she came home, Daryl was waiting for her with a boxed pizza and some cokes. She dropped her bag at the door and sniffed the air excitedly.

“Hey there,” he said, rubbing her shoulders slowly. She lowered her head, enjoying the warmth of his fingers as he kneaded the knots away.

“Oh, what a wonderful thing to come home to. My handsome man with magical fingers, a hot pizza, and ice-cold pop.”

“Only t’ best f’ you,” he grinned, kissing her lightly.

“Mm…” she sat and grabbed a slice while Daryl popped open his drink, “So what’s new today?”

Daryl set his drink down quickly, “Y’all will never guess what happened t’ Terry.”

“Oh, I can only imagine. What happened?”

“He knocked up Camille.”

Sybil nearly choked on her pizza, “What?”

“Yeah,” Daryl continued with a flourish, “Jus’ found out yesterday. She’s near three months.”

“Are they happy?”

“Dunno. He seemed shocked. Dunno how they’re gonna do it. I wouldn’t wanna be tied down with a kid. We got things good, you an’ me.”

She set her pizza down and picked at the pepperoni, “That’s how you really feel?”

Daryl scoffed, “I ain’t no daddy material, Syb. Ain’t even thirty yet. An’ y’ ain’t even doin’ what y’ want yet at work. We don’t need no kids tyin’ us down.”

She heard the cabin door shut and quickly swiped her eyes again before going to the doorway. Daryl sat by the fire skinning three rabbits. She squatted down next to him and took one of the rabbits away to skin. Her knife was razor sharp. And although she wasn’t as adept as him when it came to a fine clean body of meat, she did well enough. Once they’d been cleaned, Daryl had them laying in the hot coals to cook. He threw the raw liver and hearts to Dog to eat.

There was no sense in small talk, neither knew what to say. The pure shock of it all kept them silent. And Daryl’s discovery of her secret, the boy, made things even more difficult.

Once the meat was cooked, he carved the first one, giving her half to eat. She started tearing the meat apart and devouring it. It’d been so long since a real meal. Once she’d eaten half of it, she walked over to wake Ryder up and offer him some. She’d wanted him to get a little sleep. They’d been dead on their feet for god knows how long. He sat up immediately and began to shovel the meat in.

“Take your time, you don’t want to get sick from having an empty stomach.” He nodded, chewing the meat carefully, washing it down with water from his canteen. Daryl watched with great interest at the interaction between the two. Gertie and Stan woke to the delightful smells of the food and Daryl doled them each a half. He brought more food over to Sybil.

“Eat up,” he said, his voice like gravel.

“Have you eaten yet?” She asked.

“Got some. Eat.”

“Thank you,” She said, “it’s delicious.”

“Yeah, thanks!” Ryder smiled with newfound enthusiasm.

Daryl ducked his head in response and returned to the fire to pick at his half, eating tiny bits as he watched the others to make sure they’d had enough.

“What a fine meal,” Stan spoke up, “thank you again…”

“Daryl.”

“Right. Daryl,” Stan nodded, “so how do you two know each other?” He asked curiously. Daryl and Sybil exchanged looks.

“Knew each other ‘fore the Walkers,” was all he said. And that was the end of it for the night. Daryl went outside for a smoke.

“Your friend isn’t much of a talker,” Stan remarked, “but he knows how to survive.”

“He’s always been a survivor. There’s not much to talk about these days.”

With a full belly, Ryder slept heavier than he had in a long time. Sybil lay down, placing a protective arm around him, soon falling into a fitful sleep of her own.

Chapter 11: Daryl’s Offer

Daryl mulled things over while the others slept, and toward morning, he gently nudged Sybil awake. She came to with a start, but Daryl placed a finger over her lips.

“Need t’ talk.”

She looked down at Ryder’s sleeping body.

“Okay.” She followed him outside, her arms crossed in front of her chest. Before he could speak she said, “I know we have a lot to talk about.”

“We do,” he agreed, “but right now, gotta get y’ outta here. ‘S some places I know of… safe places. With walls, shelter, food, n’ people. Gotta get y’ n’ him there.”

She squinted, “Walls?”

He nodded, “Good people live there. Friends n’ family of mine.”

She smiled, relieved, “the gang made it out?”

Daryl shook his head, “naw…”

She hesitated her heart sinking, “I’m sorry. Merle?”

“Lost him… got bit.”

“I am sorry. I know how much he meant to you.”

“Was a long time ago. These are people I met ‘long the way. Been w’ some since the beginnin’. Let me take y’ there.”

She nodded, “We’ll go with you. How far?”

“’S gonna take a lil’ while.”

“Daryl, I thank you, for yesterday… and for this place you’re taking us.”

“Gotta get ‘em up n’ movin’. Now.”

They rustled up the small group. Each person had some of the last bit of rabbit that Daryl had reserved. Dog was out the door first.

“Is there really somewhere safe?” Ryder asked, tying his hoodie around his waist. He shouldered his backpack as Sybil repacked the few things she’d taken out of hers.

“If Daryl says there is, there is. It’s about time we find someplace where you can feel safe.”

Ryder stood up straight as he followed her outside.

Somewhere safe.

Dog let out a bark, and the group was on their way.

Chapter 12: Kiss Me Like You Love Me

“Syb… wake up…” Daryl brushed one fingertip along Sybil’s nose. She scrunched it up, wiggling it. Amused he chuckled, delighted. Her eyes fluttered open, and she snatched his finger, giggling.

“One of these days I’m going to catch you before you do that.”

“Doubt it.” He nuzzled her face with his nose, smacking his lips against hers. As he rose from the bed, she pulled him back, “Hey now… gotta get ready t’ go. Don’t wanna get m’ fired, do ya?”

“No…” She rubbed his back slowly as he held her, “Kiss me like you love me.” She puckered up her lips.

Daryl ran his thumb over their fullness, “Y’ know I do.”

Daryl leaned against a tree while the others slept. He couldn’t stop himself from watching Sybil and Ryder every chance he got. If they lagged, he stopped for them to catch up. He made sure they had every bit of extra food, insisting on giving up most of his. She’d try to give him back some of the rations, but he refused. Yet he kept his distance as much as possible.

Sybil couldn’t sleep. The others were well on their way to Slumberland, but not her. They’d been on the march for nearly a week. She sat up, brushed some leaves off her pants, and walked towards Daryl in the dark.

“How are you still standing? You’ve had no sleep since we started this trip. I can stand watch.”

“Naw. I got it. Get some sleep.”

“I can’t,” she confessed, “I-”

“Shh…” his ears perked up. The dog started barking. Everyone began to wake to the warning as Walkers could be seen weaving through the trees in the moonlight. Stan shouted out in fear as Gertie stood to fight.

“Get down!” Daryl yelled at Stan, but he moved as if in slow motion, lame from sleeping on the ground. Before Daryl could put an arrow between the Walker’s eyes, it latched onto Stan and tore out his throat.

“No!” Gertie cried, running to grab her father’s hand, “Dad no!”

“Gertie, let go!” Sybil commanded in desperation, stabbing a Walker in the head. Ryder was in the center and was well protected until Stan was taken down, and now Gertie was being grabbed by another Walker. They were encased by rotting bodies, eating at them, clawing into their vital organs while their screams became nothing but guttural cries.

Daryl used this moment to grab Ryder by the waist and bark, “Sybil, c’mon!” She looked from the horror in front of her to Daryl behind her. He reached for her hand and pulled her away from the ghastly scene. He kept the boy held tight as they ran into the night. Panting, their chests on fire from the exertion, they finally collapsed near a small stream. Daryl set Ryder down. The boy fell to the ground next to his mom. Dog was circling, keeping watch.

Daryl knelt; “y’ alright?” He asked them, “Didn’t get bit?”

Sybil was checking Ryder over, “No… we’re … we’re okay. You?”

“M’ fine.”

“Gertie and Stan…” Ryder croaked; his eyes cold from seeing so much death.

“They’re gone,” Sybil admitted. The harsh realities of the world she could not keep from him. He had to know the dangers, and how to stay safe.

“’S ok here. Sit for a minute… catch yer breath. Gimme y’ water bottles.”

He filled them with fresh water. Sybil ripped a corner of her shirt off and soaked it in the stream. She then smoothed the cool water over her son’s face, cooling him off in the heavy, hot summer air, but also taking off some of the baked-on dirt.

“Gertie was nice to me,” he said.

“Yes, they were both very nice people.” She smoothed back his unruly blonde hair and asked, “Are you okay?”

He nodded, trying to shake off the night’s travesty, “Uh huh. I’m ready to go.” He stood up, shaking his limbs loose. He was a little sore from Daryl lugging him, but said to the man, “Thank you.”

Daryl bobbed his head and hummed, “Mhm.”

“C’mon then,” Daryl said, leading them further east.

Chapter 13: The Shed

Walkers at every turn, Dog cut a line through, finding them an escape. Daryl yelled, “’s way!” Sybil and Ryder ran as fast as they could to keep up with him. He pointed to an old shed, “In there!” He tore the door open, took a quick look, and motioned them inside. He closed the door rapidly behind him and the three grabbed whatever they could to bar the door.

Scratching, groaning, and shaking at the door, the Walkers knew well where they’d gone. Daryl pointed at Dog to keep him quiet. Dog stood sentinel while Sybil moved Ryder back into the recesses of the shed. It was pitch black inside.

“Stay here,” she told him, “I’m just going to talk to Daryl.”

“Okay.”

“Dog, go” Daryl motioned. The dog went into the corner and sat protectively next to Ryder. Ryder felt the dog’s heart beating as he nudged close to the boy.

“We’re trapped,” she whispered. Daryl bit his thumbnail, his ears listening to her ragged breathing while a cacophony of growls emanated from outside.

“’ll getcha outta here,” he replied, “just gotta wait f’ some light.” He kept his voice down so Ryder wouldn’t worry.

“Daryl… how?”

“’ M gonna getcha outta here,” he repeated with more urgency, “‘ll figure somethin’ out.”

She held her breath reaching out into the darkness until she found his hand and squeezed it. Daryl held it for a moment longer before she let go, “whatever we need to do,” she said firmly.

They both stood guard through the long night listening to the groaning, scratching, and shaking of the door on its hinges. Ryder kept himself busy curled up next to Dog, petting and whispering to him to sidetrack his mind from the seriousness of the situation.

In the morning, light wafted through the cracks between some of the rough wood that made up the small building. The Walkers had not given up. Daryl could now see enough to look around. He carefully pressed on boards here and there, studying nails and grooves in the wood. Sybil tested the floor. It was worn in spots. She pulled up one board and looked below. A cement slab. She cursed under her breath.

Ryder moved quietly around, trying to keep himself and Dog out of the way.

“There!” Daryl hissed, pointing up at the ceiling. The beams looked strong and sturdy, but the aluminum roofing was partially lifted in one corner. Daryl shouldered his crossbow and hefted himself up onto a pile of junk. His fingers gripped one of the beams in the space between it and the roof. He pushed on the roof where it was loose. It budged easily enough at first but caught on to something. Daryl climbed back down.

“C’mon,” he offered his hands as a lift for Sybil, “see if y’ can get that bent back.”

He held her up. She worked at it, manipulating the sheet, trying to bend it back. She couldn’t get it bent but lifted it enough to get a view of the outside.

“What d’ya see?” Daryl asked.

“There’s a tree practically growing into it… from behind.” He brought her back down and went to the back wall. Pulling his largest knife from its sheath he started prying the boards with it. Sybil rushed over to help. As the two wedged their knives into the crevices, they worked until the long nails pulled free.

“Back up,” Daryl told her. She put an arm around Ryder’s shoulders as Daryl pulled the board free. Sure enough, slightly to the left was a thick tree trunk. Setting his crossbow and pack on the floor, he tried to squeeze through, but the space was too narrow.

“Help m’ get that other board off.” The two set to work, the pointed tips of their knives digging away at the board. It was a stubborn plank, but they managed to get it off. Sybil silently set it down with the other one. Daryl slid sideways through the gap. Sybil handed him his pack and crossbow. He motioned for Ryder to go to him. The boy joined Daryl just outside. The tree blocked any view from the area where the Walkers were congregated by the doors. Daryl reached out to take Sybil’s pack just as the door gave way. Walkers began to fall onto the makeshift barricade they’d built spilling into the building.

“Mom!” Ryder gasped, turning to go back inside to help his mother. Daryl yanked him back and nabbed hold of Sybil’s hand.

“C’mon,” he grunted. Her other fingers stretched to grasp her bag, but it was too late. The Walkers were nearly upon her.

“F’get it, ‘s go!” Daryl pulled harder. Her hip caught on a nail, slicing into her jeans, and cutting her. She sucked in a breath of tight air at the stinging sensation and tripped into Daryl’s grip. He caught her, setting her up on her feet, and said, “Go!” They sprinted into a close-by tree line, Dog bringing up the rear. As soon as Daryl deemed it safe, they stopped, again catching their breath.

Ryder noticed the blood forming on his mother’s pants and said, “You’re hurt!”

Sybil had tears in her eyes, “my pack.”

“Y’ don’t need it,” Daryl said, “anythin’ y’ need I got w’ me.”

“You don’t understand!” She insisted sadly, “The one picture I had of Ryder as a baby was in the bag!”

“We can’t go back,” Daryl said softly, “y’ know we can’t.”

Her lower lip quivered, but she nodded, “Yeah, I know…”

“Can’t depend on holdin’ on t’ nothin’ no more. This world ain’t like that,” he told her gently. He looked at the blood and said, “lemme see that cut.” He dropped his bag as she held the tear open. It was bleeding increasingly. Daryl dug into his pack and produced a folded-up piece of paper. Inside there were some green leaves. He put some in his mouth and started chewing them up.

“What’s that?” She asked.

“Yarrow… t’ stop the bleedin’. Take them pants down.”

Sybil blushed. Although she and Daryl had once been lovers, she was still embarrassed after such a long time. But this was no time for modesty.

“Ryder, turn around,” she said. He did as he was told. She unzipped her jeans and pulled them off her hip. Daryl spit the poultice into his hand.

“’S gonna sting.”

“Go ahead,” she said. He applied the herb. It stung like a handful of bees stinging her all at once.

She groaned, “You weren’t kidding!”

He then took out some gauze and pressed it against the wound, “Ain’t got no way t’ secure it, but if y’ hold it in place, t’ bleedin’ will stop right quick.”

She nodded, carefully pulling her jeans back up and putting pressure on the cut, “thank you.” He nodded as she said, “Okay, you can look now.”

Ryder turned back around and asked, “Is it gonna be okay?”

“Yeah, just fine,” she reassuringly smiled at him and rubbed his shoulder tenderly.

“How much further?” Ryder asked, “It’s been a long time.”

“Yeah, it has,” Daryl agreed looking up into the sky, “’bout one more night.”

“Really?!” Ryder practically shook with excitement.

“Mhm.” Daryl couldn’t help the small curl of his upper lip into a slight smile as the boy’s face beamed up at him.

“Hear that, Mom? One more night!”

Sybil exhaled, “That’s great news.”

Chapter 14: One Last Time

Merle stopped by the garage just before Daryl finished work one evening.

“Baby brother, got somethin’ to ask of you.”

“Sure. What’s it?”

“Not here. Outside.”

Daryl punched out and joined his brother by their bikes, “’kay spit it out.”

Merle rubbed the back of his neck, “I got a run to do.”

Daryl frowned, “Merle, y’ know ‘m tryin’ t’ fly right.”

“Just one more, Daryl… one… more. And I’ll be getting out of it too.”

Daryl shook his head, “y’ ain’t ever gonna stop. Why y’ need m’ help?”

“It’s a big one, biggest we’ve ever had. You could put a nest egg away for you and your woman. You said she deserves a house… this could be a good chunk of change for a downpayment.”

Daryl lifted his head, “y’ ain’t shittin’ me are ya?”

“No, I swear on Mom’s grave. It’s worth it. All you gotta do is carry some of the product on your bike and stand back during the trade. That’s it… and you get money in your pocket.”

“’S all I gotta do?”

“Mhm. That’s it. Have I ever put you in harm’s way before?”

“No.”

“So what d’ya say, Daryl? One last run?”…

Sybil was livid, “you told me you were done with that crap!”

“I know, Syb… but…”

“Nothing is worth trading drugs,” she hissed, “I told you before that we can do things on our own!”

“Y’ don’t understand…”

“No, you don’t understand. Just because you never got caught before doesn’t mean you wouldn’t get caught now! It’s wrong, and you’re better than this!”

She pulled the roast from the oven, “Let’s be done with this talk and have a peaceful dinner.” She left the roast on the counter to cool while she set the table.

Early the next morning, Daryl had made his decision. He sat on the edge of the bed watching Sybil sleep. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. Sighing, he rubbed his scruffy face slowly. He’d thought long and hard about what to do all night. She deserved nice things. He wanted to be able to give that to her. One last run.

He left her a note saying he’d be back in two days’ time; that he owed it to his brother and would never do it again after.

When he returned, there was a letter waiting for him.

Part Three

#daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon fluff #daryl dixon smut #daryl dixon x oc #daryl dixon twd #daryl dixon imagine #twd fanfiction

[dialovers-translations]

Diabolik Lovers LOST EDEN ー Ruki Ecstasy [09]

CHAPTER MASTERLIST

ー The scene starts in Kino’s room in the Ghoul’s manor

Kino: ーー In short, those Mukamis have been foolishly glorifying the same guy who is responsible for their own misfortune, treating him as their Savior.

Fufu, it’s so ironic, you can’t help but question whether if it’s even possible, right?

Yui: ( ...No way... )

Kino: That concludes our trip down memory lane~ Did you find it interesting? 

Yui: What you told me...is actually true...?

Kino: According to my personal investigation, yes. I’m fairly certain that Ruki came to the same conclusion. 

Yui: ( I can’t believe it...But if what he told me is the truth, thenーー )

ー Several flashbacks ensue

Yui: Azusa-kun...Thank you. I guess that makes it a family album, huh?

Azusa: Yeah. So...There’s pictures of Karlheinz-sama as well.

Ruki: !

Azusa: Look, over here. ...We never took many pictures with him, so there’s only one.

Kou: Fufu. When I look at it now, it looks like a picture of a dad with his four sons, it’s a little embarrassing.

Yuma: I mean, we kind of are, right? Aren’t we, Ruki?

Ruki: ...

Yui: ...Ruki-kun...?

Azusa: Ruki...Why are you crying...?

Ruki: ...No, I’m sorry...

--- 

Yui: Hey, Ruki-kun...You no longer want to return to the Demon World, to the others?

Ruki: ...Why would you say that?

Yui: I mean...When I look at you right now, it feels as if you’re trying to forget about everything...

Ruki: ...

ー The flashbacks ends

Monologue

It was right then and there,

that all pieces of the puzzle finally fell into place.

Ruki-kun worshipped Karlheinz-san,

more than anyone else. 

However at the same time,

he never forgot about his real, biological family. 

To think that those two...

would end up being connected in the worst way possible. 

Even I felt incredibly shocked,

after hearing everything just now. 

So I cannot even imagine how Ruki-kun must have felt.

Yui: ( Ruki-kun...doesn’t want this information to spill. To avoid his brothers from getting hurt. )

( Besides...If they were to find out, they would start doubting all of the good memories they have of Karlheinz-san. )

( All the time they spent as a family up till now...would turn out to be one big lie. )

( Is that what Ruki-kun is afraid of...? )

I had...no idea...

Kino: Seems like it. I mean, I’m sure he couldn’t bring himself to tell you. By voicing it out loud, he’d basically acknowledge it as the truth and I’m sure part of him still doesn’t want to believe it.

Yui: ( I wonder why I said all those things...when I should have known he would surely have a good reason for everything. )

...Uu...

Kino: Ahーah...Someone turned on the waterworks. Not my fault though.

...Do you wish to apologize to Ruki?

Selection

→ I want to say sorry right away (❦)

Yui: I do...Right away. 

( I want to apologize...and hold him close. I want to tell him again and again, that he doesn’t have to burden everything on his own... )

→ I still want more time

Yui: I do...but I’m not mentally ready yet...

Kino: I can imagine. I’m sure this is a pretty big shock to you as well. 

Kino: Well, I’m sure the two of you will get to see each other soon enough. 

Yui: Eh...?

Kino: If he were to come looking for you...It should be pretty easy for him to track this place down ...I purposely made it that way after all.

ー The scene shifts to the forest

*Thud* 

Ruki: ( ...It’s gone. )

( Up until this point, her presence and scent still vaguely lingered in the air. However, it suddenly stops right here... )

( Instead I can smell a Vampire and one other type of scent...Does this unfamiliar smell belong to...Ghouls, perhaps? )

So they got to her before meーー ...Fuck!

Ruki: (  The Ghouls’ homeland is up in the North, at Rotigenberg...! )

ー The scene shifts to the entrance hall at Eden

Yuma: Fuck!

*THUD*

Azusa: ...Yuma, calm down...You’ll end up punching a hole in the wall...

Yuma: How am I supposed to stay calm!? How long is that fucker goin’ to ignore us!?

Accordin’ to what the Familiars looked into, there’s jack-shit goin’ on in the human world, so why...!? 

Azusa: ...

Kou: ...Seems like the Vibora are indeed targeting Eden as it’s often regarded to be the status symbol of the Vampire Clan.

It’s most likely just a question of time before they decide to strike. We need to come up with a strategy before that...or else this place will fall into their hands. 

Yuma: ...You sound pretty calm given the current circumstances. 

Kou: We decided that we would no longer rely on Ruki-kun for everything, didn’t we? I mean, we’re no children anymore either.

...Just kidding. I’m only pretending to have everything under control. Deep down, I’m terrified. 

This situation made me realize just how amazing Ruki-kun is once more. 

I finally understand...just how difficult and rough it is to keep your composure at all times. That’s whyーー 

If he’s behaving like this right now because he was fed up and tired with all that pressure...then I honestly don’t think I can even blame him. 

Yuma: Ugh...

Familiar A: ーー Excuse me! I have an urgent announcement! 

Yuma: Did those Vibora bastards show up!? 

Familiar A: No! Not the Vibora...! We just...spotted Sakamaki Shuu-sama by the front gate!

Kou: Shuu-kun’s here...!? 

ー The scene shifts to the outside of Eden

Shuu: ...Took you long enough. 

Ayato: My thoughts exactly! Don’t make us wait after we were so kind as to come here!

Kou: ...He’s actually here...!

Azusa: Even Ayato-san as well...Why...?

Shuu: We already looked into the Vibora’s course of action. They will soon move onto the offensive, won’t they? 

Yuma: So you’ve come to reinforce us? Y’all...? 

Shuu: Don’t dig too deep into it. It would just be troublesome to have our home invaded, that’s all.

I couldn’t care less about the sovereignty over the Demon World, but I realize that it’s important to protect ourselves from potential dangers. 

Kou: Shuu-kun...Thank you...!

Shuu: Let me be clear, I’m not directly helping out. ...Come with me, Reiji. We’re going to come up with a plan.

ー Shuu and Reiji walk away

Yuma: ...Didn’t think that guy would show up.

Laito: Despite everything, he’s still our leader. When necessary, he will act. Probably. 

Azusa: Only probably, huh...?

Monologue

You will meet again soon enough. 

The way he said that,

made it sound like he personally set it up that way.

But for what reason exactly?

While I had my doubt about the whole situation,

my mind was more so preoccupied by thoughts of Ruki-kun. 

How should I apologize to him when we meet?

However, rather than what to say (何を言うよりも) , I just wanted to wrap my arms around him already.

I don’t need any words.

That is the sole thing I want to do for him (そうしてあげたい). 

ーー TO BE CONTINUED ーー

#diabolik lovers #dialovers #ruki mukami #lost eden #diabolik lovers translation #lerukiecstasy9

[steelcarbuncle]

╔Cross╗

Cross: "We'll cross that bridge when we get there." "We've crossed the bridge and burnt it behind us." "This is a crossroads."

Mood Music (Not the whole thing! Just the song at the time mark.)

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

Warm winds blow over the sands of Thanalan, bringing the soft whispers and life to the glittering morning of the desert. Teteni's vibrant red hair waved in the breeze as she sat listening to the voices it brought, eventually rising with a soft jingle of her crimson dancing silks and bells. Opening her brilliant turquoise eyes, she took in the the tents of the caravan folk, starting to be broken down for today's travel.

"Mama! Mama!" Her twin girls exclaimed excitedly as they ran up to her, dressed in identical dark blue vests and silks for the day matching their blue, violet streaked hair. They spoke in unison in a fashion that some of their people found unsettling, but Teteni just found it endearing as they continued talking, "We get to the forest today, right?"

"Yes, my dears," She reassured the children, nearly her height already despite being so young, she patted both on the head. "Before nightfall anyroad, have you packed your tent?"

"Yes, Mama! Can we ride in front?" Sasari, the technically elder twin, grasped her sister's hand as they asked. "We packed and bid the sands good morning," they both spoke excitedly of their maturity, never referring to themselves individually. What one did, the other always did.

"Help your father finish packing and then you can ask your uncle, he probably would like for you to keep Sasai company, she always gets headaches when we enter the Twelveswood."

"Yes, Mama." The twins' faces droop for a bit but the nod and dash off into the work being done, hand in hand.

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

"Confounded woods!" Sasanecco exclaimed as his wagon teetered for a moment from having gone over some particularly large roots, the chocobos warked in indignation over the whole ordeal. The young Lalafellin man had to halt the lead wagon and hop off to make sure the wheel was good and attached after that. He pushed the turban back from his forehead as he worked to make sure the wheel was affixed properly as the smaller riding chocobos pulled up behind him, Cocoepo's distinct throat clearing making him scrunch up his features. "It'll be fine, I just gotta reinforce the fastening pin."

"Best mind your words 'round here, brother. You know tha trees are listenin'," Cocoepo patiently reminded his subordinate of their surroundings, traveling in the Twelveswood was always a mixed bag for the Caravan. He raised his hand to his son's bird behind him to get them both to come to a halt. "We'll only be stopped a moment Fif, go let your mum an' 'er sister know."

"Yea, pa." The young lad with soft sky hued hair responded in a cracking voice and turned his royal blue bird around to head to the second wagon that was approaching. He pulled up beside the brightly colored wagon and smiled to the two drivers, similar looking woman save for the stark red hair and garments of one and the royal blue hair and pale sky blue outfit of the other. "Pa says we'll be goin' soon… is Sai okay?"

"She will be, Fif," Teteni smiled and responded to her nephew as the woman beside her pulled heavily on the reigns to get the chocobos to come to a stop. "Your mother's given her a sleeping draught and the girls are looking after her. Where's your carbuncle?"

"'E's scoutin' ahead like Pa asked." Fifiton managed to not let his cracking voice mangle the words this time. "Missed tha roots tho'."

"Ya mean playin' under them?" The woman clad in light blue next to Teteni grinned at her son. "Go on an' get its report then since we gotta wait, eh?" She then shoos the boy along. She leans to her twin's side and sighs after the boy rides off, "Gotta keep 'em busy else he frets."

"I know, Susuli… fate of those born without the Price I suppose." Teteni muses for a time, then shakes her head and looks back to her twins in the wagon, fussing over their sleeping cousin by making sure she was tucked in and comfortable since the wagon came to a sudden stop.

"I wouldn't reverse our roles, Teteni, m'content wit my potions," Susuli reassures her sister. She glances back at the children and then looks back to Teteni. "Though 'tis a shame how it manifests sometimes."

"They'll figure it out in their own time," Teteni says firmly, refusing to meet her sister's gaze for fear of finding pity in them. She looks instead at the men bickering over the wagon wheel ahead. "We twinborn all do."

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

"'E's nothing more than a grave robber." Cocoepo placated his brother in law as they walked back into camp together. He pinched the bridge of his nose and then looked to the walls of Gridania, still within sight through the trees. "And what he wrought from the depths 'ave no place in our lives in this age."

"Aye, I know, Coco," Sasanecco sighed and set down the bag of samples he had gathered from the guilds and began sorting through the lot. "S'just there was a couple of things I thought the little ones could use. Sari's a got an eye for metals and Sani…" he trailed off into a slightly pained expression before dropping the thought. "Well I am sure she'd like anything her sister would if his prices weren't straight thievery."

Cocoepo's expression softened at the pained look his brother, his friend, wore at the thought of his daughters' struggles. Those who marry in have their children subject to the family's curse and he very much understood his struggles, "Well, they are sisters. They're bound to like similar things." Even Cocoepo didn't much believe what he said, but he was trying to be there for the man. "We can go back on the morrow, the man says he'll be in town for a week. There was that set of, bracers, that Sari was interested in yeah? She played with them for a good quarter bell."

Sasanecco put down the pair of shoes he had taken from his bag and shook his head, "They weren't bracers, they were shackles. There was binding between them. I won't get them even if he does come down in price, the girls don't need something like that." He shakes his head, "Some ancient means to trap somebody just sounds like an accident waiting to happen. I'll not let the girls endanger themselves like that."

"Papa! Papa!" Sasari and Sasani bound from behind one of the still wagons, hand in hand and out of breath, "Fif helped us practice carbuncles! We made one together!" The young girls' cheery smiles gave both the somewhat brooding men smiles themselves. "He wants us to bring him sweets cause Sai's too sick to make snacks."

Sasanecco laughs heartily and digs around his bag to find the candied chestnuts he had picked up for them. He tosses the small bag to the girls, "Go share with your cousins then."

"Thanks, Papa!"

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

Teteni woke with a start, there was piercing cries filling the night air from a voice she wasn't exactly used to hearing. At least, not a voice that often sounded by itself. She slid from the furs covering her bedroll and pulled on a robe to head out of the tent and towards the smaller, colorful tent that comprised her girls' private space. Somewhere between getting robed and the door flap, she had broke into a run. Something was wrong.

"Mama! Sari's gone!" Sasani wailed looked up with panicked pale blue eyes at her mother. She soon turned her tear streaked face back to the crumpled form of her sister laying on the rug of their tent and continued to shake her limp form.

"No," incredulous, Teteni felt the world lurch beneath her and she had to grab one of the tent's supports to keep herself upright. She pushed forward with every ounce of strength she could muster as it tried to abandon her body and dropped to her knees beside her daughters. She turned Sari's unmoving limp form supine to note the odd metal bands she bore upon her wrists almost immediately. They were bound together, these were shackles! She checked for signs of life and was relieved to find the soft thrum of her heart beneath her fingers and the slow breaths of someone in deep slumber. She gently rested Sari down on the rug and pulled Sani's still panicked form to her in a hug, "She sleeps little one, shush now. Calm down so I can help her."

Sasani quieted into sobbing hiccups and leaned into her mother's side as she handled her fallen sister. She clenched her hands in the pale red robe her mother wore and finally hid her gaze from her sister's form by burying her face against her mother. She couldn't stand this feeling of being alone.

Sasanecco had gotten to the entrance of the tent finally, his battle axe slung at his backside as he had been a part of the evening watch on the far side of their camp. Very soon after, Cocoepo and Susuli, the leaders of the caravan dressed in night clothes joined him.

"How is she?" Susuli was the one who broke the silent shock the three newcomer's shared as she pushed the men aside and went to kneel next to her twin sister.

"Asleep, I think? I can find nothing wrong with her…" Teteni lightly touched the metal that was latched around the young girl's wrists. She could sense the enchantment from them keeping them in place, but the magic was foreign to her.

"We'll take 'er ta the conjurers, Teteni. They might know what to do." Susuli put a hand on both Teteni and Sasani's shoulders.

"Mama," Sasani began weakly and sniffed while she unburied her face, "I can't feel her anymore."

#FFxivWrite2022 #FFxivWrite #FFxiv #Sasari Sari #FFxivRP

[deke-rivers-1957]

Toby and The Frog

"Well Toby dat there's Uncle Travis' homestead."

Ah look round the forest as Pop talks ta a man wit a red beard. Ah think it's Uncle Travis but Ah ain't gonna interrupt Pop while he's talkin. Uncle Travis might be mean an yell at me.

"Awright Toby le's go an get settled in."

"Ok Pop."

Ah follow Pop inside an get settled into the Irish Kwimper's homestead. Ah see a pond wit froggies and toadies on mah way in, but Ah don't wanna mess with 'em jus yet.

Time Skip

Bout a week passed an Ah'm startin ta like it here in Ireland. Things ain't exactly like Florida but everythang's been yummy so far.

"Toby. Time ta wake up son."

"Mornin Pop."

Ah wake up feelin thirsty so Ah head into the kitchen fer some sweet tea. Pop's been teachin Uncle Travis how ta make it cause he done knows we drink a lotta it in Florida. Suddenly, Ah hear laughter from out front.

"Toby! Toby!"

One of mah younger cousins, Patrick found a froggie and brings it ta me.

“Oi foun' a green frog, cousin. Didn't yer say yer needed a pet ter go ter 'ogwarts?”

Ah ain't been here long nough ta understand Irish people but Ah know Cousin Patrick done found a froggie. Ah like froggies so Ah wanna look at 'em.

“Oh yeah! Tha's right. Thanks, cousin! Lemme see this cute lil' guy.”

Ah study the frog, his cute little legs, his warty skin. Maybe havin a pet ain't such a bad idea after all…

“Yer shud name 'imself Trevor. 'e's part av our big family nigh.”

“Trevor. That's a good name, cousin.”

A smile spreads across mah face. Ah never thought Ah'd be goin to Hogwarts wit a froggy buddy. It's a new experience for a country boy like mahself.

“Ah’mma take this froggie ta Pop. Thanks!”

Ah bring ‘em ta see Pop. He’s lookin all ‘mazed at me.

“You's must be usin magic son. Trevor ain't been movin outta yer hands. It's like ya got an understandin with him even though he don't know no English.”

“Ah do, Pop. He's so cool. An cute. So Ah get ta take Trevor to Hogwarts with me?”

“Course ya can son.”

Ah start wigglin wit mah froggie in mah hands.

“We's gonna be gettin everythang fer Trevor an yer schoolin tomorrow. Go an ask Uncle Travis fer a bowl ya can put him in.”

Ah head back outside to search fer a bowl. After a short while, Ah find Uncle Travis on the front porch.

“Uncle Travis! Ah've got me a froggie an Ah need a bowl fer it.”

“Jist go git a bowl from de sink, fella. Seamus did a gran' job findin' a pet for yer.”

Cousin Patrick was the one who done found it. Ah'm jus happy cause ya know, Ah got mah first pet froggie."

Ah go inside an find an old bowl ta put Trevor in. Ah bring him back ta the front porch an show him ta Uncle Travis.

“Here he is, Uncle Travis. This’ Trevor. He's gonna be comin' wit me ta Hogwarts an Ah'll even make 'em a bowl of sweet tea so's he'll be a little more at home. Pop done said this here Trevor don't know no English yet but Ah think Trevor understands a little bit. Maybe ya can teach him some English.

"Dat frog's only got eyes for yer fella. Oi 'ill in me brown be able ter git 'imself ter understan' anythin' oi say."

"Well, maybe you could start by sayin' "croak." That'd make Trevor feel real welcome, now."

Uncle Travis laughs and does a little imitation croakin' noise. Trevor blinks his cute little green froggie eyes and blinks his weird froggie eyelids a couple times.

"Yer gonna be mah best friend Trevor."

Trevor looks at me an Ah start ta daydream again. Ah can see mahself settin up a whole tank fer Trevor in a weird lookin bedroom. The girl wit white hair's there 'gin. Dunno why since Ah ain't even done know her name.

"Toby come an get yer eats!"

Ah hear mah Pop hollerin an look at mah froggie again.

"Awright Trevor, we's goin inside now. Comin Pop!"

Ah go inside wit Trevor an completely forget bout what Ah jus saw.

Tagging: @arrolyn1114, @aliengoth3, @vintagepresley, @comebackep  @thetaoofzoe, and @presleysgirl6.

#toby kwimper #toby and the veela #ecu fanfiction #hp au #toby likes his frogs lol

[bonkusdonkus]

Video Games are still GOOD! Just look a little closer!

I feel like everywhere I go I see people bemoaning how games aren't fun anymore, or getting stuck in a rage loop about how their favorite game series have been turned into cash farms by big AAAs who don't understand what video games are. And like, I get it. A lot of the big online Live service franchises have just turned to mush at this point, trying to squeeze every last penny out of you, and using psychological tricks to get you hooked so you keep coming back for more. And some of the big AAA single player games really feal like they're either recycling the same formula over and over, or chasing every trend they can find in a desperate bid for relevance. The games we love get drained of all the passion, artistry, and love that made us fall in love with them in the first place, replaced with monetization and mediocrity to squeeze our nostalgia for all it's worth. The devs make big promises, then fail to deliver over and over, and we get phoned in apology after phoned in apology.

It's exhausting, infuriating, downright unacceptable. I totally get why people get so bent out of shape about it. But, I also get really upset when people say things like "There are no good games anymore!"

Because... Listen. Listen, listen, listen.

There are still incredible, mind-blowing games coming out all the time. Games made with love, passion, and with creativity unrestrained by incompetent corporate leadership who don't know their butt from a hole in the ground. This year alone has been a MASSIVE year for videogames!

We got a Deadspace remake that was actually good, a 3D kirby game, TOTK, Pikmin 4, Like a Dragon Ishin, Final Fantasy 16, a remake of Metroid Prime of all things, Baldur's Gate 3 is tearing up the internet as we speak and breaking record after record, Street Fighter 6, the Resident Evil 4 remake, Hi-Fi Rush, the list goes on and on! And that's not even all of them! MORE are coming! Armored Core 6 is right around the corner and I CAN'T WAIT!

And that's not even mentioning the endless tide of incredible Indie games! There's so many! Indie devs have been goin NUTS this year. We got Dredge, a fishing horror game of all things, games like Psuedoreglia reminding everyone why 3D Platformers once ruled gaming, Warhammer Boltgun is just a solid boomer shooter especially if you're a 40k fan, Sons of the Forest, Wildfrost, Darkest Dungeon 2 finally came to steam, Dave the Diver somehow made being a fishing roguelike super engaging, Blasphemous 2 is almost here and it looks sick, and those are just the ones off the top of my head. So. Many. GAMES. just from this year!

If you're one of those people struggling with modern gaming, I understand. It's rough out there. But I'm begging you, please, please! Don't give up on video games! If you're sick of watching Activision Blizard spiral their beloved franchises into oblivion in a conflagration of short sighted greed, or seeing Ubisoft release the same handful of games over and over again with a different coat of paint, try expanding your horizons a bit.

Maybe experiment with some genres you've never tried, or try some old classics that you never got around to playing! Look into some Indie games, there's like a thousand videos on you tube shouting out tons of good ones, or just look at some reviews! There are so many games, of any genre you can imagine, and even some that defy genre altogether.

There are just too many good games out there to throw up your hands and say "Nope! I'm done!" After a bad experience.

#video games #indie games

[daryl-dixon-daydreams]

Words: 3,185 Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Reader Reader pronouns: she/her Era: Alexandria Warnings: Language, violence, mentions of suicide, gore, sexuality, fear and anxiety, disturbing imagery, typical TWD stuff A/N: This is part of a series! Find the previous parts on the Masterlist! Summary: Someone dies and Daryl finally learns about Y/N's past.

Your name: submit What is this?

“Where ya goin’?” Daryl’s voice behind you as you headed to the gate, your recurve bow slung over your shoulder.

“Hunting,” you said. You’d been reserved since Hilltop and Daryl was worried.

He shifted his weight back and forth from one foot to the other. “Huntin’ what?”

You caught his meaning and sighed. “Food. I promise.”

He nodded and paced closer to you. “Good. Look, if ya want to go out and hunt them, I’ll go with ya. Ya shouldn’t do it alone.”

You nodded. “Been doing it alone a long time now,” you countered. “But I won’t today.”

Daryl nodded. That was about as good a response as he could hope for. “Alright.”

“Where are you off to?” you asked, noting the bag slung over his shoulder.

“Denise found a place she thinks might have meds. She asked Rosita and I to go with.”

Your stomach twisted suddenly and you felt unbalanced. You didn’t know why… it sounded like a routine supply trip. But eventually you shoved the feeling down and nodded. “Alright. Be careful…”

“Ya. We will. You too, alright?” Daryl wished he was brave enough in that moment to—to do or say something more. He could sense that whatever had happened to you, whatever you knew about the Saviors, it was eating you. It had been since Hilltop, and likely even before, probably since the run-in with those men when he was laid up with his ankle. That time when you hadn’t been able to sleep and he had stayed at your house… And he wished he knew how to lift that burden, how to make it stop or at least lighter, but until you were ready to talk about it there wasn’t much he could do.

You came back that evening with a deer. The gates rolled open to admit you and you headed toward home. That’s when you saw the crowd gathered on the porch of Rick’s house, but something was wrong. No one was talking and their expressions were grave.

You felt your stomach lurch. You slung the deer down onto your porch and started walking over. Daryl broke off and met you halfway. You gulped at the tightness in your throat. He looked pale. “What’s going on?”

He wouldn’t meet your eyes and he was chewing his bottom lip anxiously, drumming his fingers against his leg. “Denise,” he croaked, the gravel in his voice even thicker than usual.

You looked up, and the fact that everyone was gathered at Rick’s house and not outside the infirmary made what had happened clear. You felt like you’d been punched in the stomach. Your chest heaved with terrified breaths. “No… H—How?” you whispered.

“That guy with the girls I helped in that burnt-out forest, the ones who ended up fuckin’ me over, takin’ my bike and my bow… He’s one of them now.”

Your eyes narrowed. “The Saviors?” you asked in an undertone, your heart starting to race.

He nodded, finally lifting his blue eyes to yours. “Shot her with my crossbow right in front of us. Right—right in front of me.”

Your eyes glistened with emotion you were trying to hold back. “Oh God. No. No, no, no…” You were reeling. Your wide eyes had an unseeing quality.

Daryl gulped, speaking what was consuming him, a rasp in his throat as he fought emotion. “It’s my fault. I should have killed him. I should’ve made Denise stay back. I should’ve—”

“Stop,” you said forcefully, gently resting your hand on his arm. You stepped forward to look up into his face, which was now contorted with some emotion. “It’s not. Don’t do that.”

“It is. She wasn’t ready and I—I should have known they were there. We shoulda been more careful, not out in the open. I—It’s my fault,” he rasped.

You shook you head, holding his blue eyes. “No. It’s not. Even if you had killed him, we don’t know that anything would turn out differently. We don’t get to know. So, you have to stop.”

“I’m goin’ back tomorrow. I’m gonna track ‘em.” His grief and regret were turning into rage quickly.

“Daryl—”

“I’m goin’. He’s a dead man,” he growled.

Your eyes were wide and fearful. “Please, listen to me. Just wait. We can do this, but we have to be smart about it.”

“What’s smart is trackin’ ‘em before their trail disappears,” he growled. “I’m gonna kill that son of a bitch—"

You shut your eyes, a flash of emotion on your face and Daryl softened a little at the sight. “Just—come over later. We need to talk,” you whispered. You shot him one last look, the worry line you always got by your left eyebrow quite pronounced. You turned and went back to your house to deal with the deer you had shot. Daryl watched you drag it around to the back of your house and he thought that for even the weight of the deer, your steps looked heavy.

It was already late when you heard the front door open from your seat on the couch. “Y/N?” Daryl’s deep voice.

“In here,” you called back. His boots on the wood floor came closer and he appeared in the doorway.

“Ya alright?” he asked. You shook your head.

“No. You?”

He shook his head. “Nah.” Daryl sat down on the other end of the sofa, placing his own crossbow, recovered after the scramble with the Saviors that day, on the coffee table. He could tell you had been crying earlier. Your eyes were a little red. “What is it?”

Your heart was racing and you felt like you couldn’t draw full breaths. It felt like there was a weight sitting on your chest that was keeping your lungs from filling. You couldn’t meet his eyes. “I’m—I’m gonna tell you what happened to me. How I know about the Saviors.” You stared down at your hands and he heard you pull in a raspy breath. “I’ve never told anyone this…”

A shadow darkened Daryl’s face. “Alright.”

You sighed and licked your lips nervously. “I had a brother. He was two years younger than me. We were with a small group of people, holed up in some house, scraping in town for supplies. Just a group of survivors who fell together, like yours did. The Saviors showed up. They said they were going to ‘save us.’ Said we had to come with them and if we did they’d keep us safe and fed in exchange for labor. Of course, none of us trusted them. Who can you trust these days? We all knew they just wanted what we had, and maybe even just us, like commodities. We tried to fight. Almost all of us were killed and they got control of those of us who were left.” You passed a somewhat shaky hand over your eyes briefly. “Negan showed up. He executed one of our people in front of us. Bashed his head in with a baseball bat wrapped in barbed wire and made us watch. Terrorized the rest of us. Spouted off a bunch of bullshit about how he hadn’t wanted to do it, but we had forced his hand. My brother and I survived, along with a couple of the others. They took us back to their headquarters.” You finally glanced over at Daryl and your striking eyes, looking wide and anxious, met his blue ones. “They call it The Sanctuary.”

Daryl thought of Denise, dying right in front of him. “I’m sorry,” Daryl said.

You shook your head. “I’m not even close to done.”

Daryl’s stomach hardened into a tight pit and he waited for you to go on.

“I knew right away that something was different… with me, I mean. They separated me from the group, from my brother. Shoved me in a tiny, completely dark, barren cell.” Daryl watched your brow furrow. “Just me. Alone. Sometimes I was chained up, handcuffed, sometimes I wasn’t. Every second of every day I just sat in the dark and wondered what horrible thing was going to happen to me the next minute. I didn’t understand why I’d been singled out at first, except maybe that I’d fought the longest. I didn’t know if my brother was alive or dead…” Your eyes grew faraway, detached, and Daryl felt like someone had twisted a knife in his stomach. You went on. “The isolation and hunger was bad enough but they had more in their playbook. They purposely kept me awake for days at a time—lights, loud music. Some real Guantanamo Bay shit. I lost track of time. I thought I was going crazy after a while. It was obvious they were trying to break me. And then one day, he came.”

“Negan?” Daryl asked. You nodded.

“He told me I’d paid enough for trying to fight. That he understood why I had and that I had a few choices in front of me. I could eventually die in that cell, I could work, or…” you trailed off and shut your eyes for a moment. “He told me he thought I was…different. That I was tough, brave because of how I was during the fight and after. He said he’d—he’d taken a special liking to me and said I could marry him, be one of his wives, and live the way we did before the world fell apart. All I had to do was take care of him and his wants and needs and he’d take care of me.”

Daryl was staring at you with a scowl on his face, his stomach twisting at your words. His eyes were narrowed and he was so still he looked frozen. Anger was boiling in his chest. You gulped, hoping to clear your throat but weren’t successful.

“I asked him if my brother was alive and he said yes. I told him I’d work. I just wanted to be with my brother. So, I became one of the workers in The Sanctuary. You work there to earn points, which you use to ‘pay’ for food and whatever else you need, but it’s never enough. It’s slave labor where every once and a while they throw you a peanut. Conditions are terrible. And after a while, my brother and I were both almost wishing we were dead. But at least we were still together.” You settled back more deeply into the couch and sighed. “Negan rules with an iron fist. If someone tries to escape, someone steals, screws up at all…” Your face contorted as you thought about what you’d watched him do. “I’ve watched him do the most—inhuman, horrendous things... unfathomable. I watched him burn people with a hot iron, brand people, beat people to death for not following his orders perfectly… And his men? They’ll do the same things in his name, some of them worse. The whole place is guarded, patrolled, locked down like a fortress. But more than anything it’s the fear that keeps people there… And I was trapped in it because all I wanted to do was keep my brother alive and for us to stay together.”

You stopped for a moment and Daryl watched as you tried to steel yourself to go on.

“It was like that for a while. We were practically starving, always just waiting for the next thing, the next trauma. And then I got sick… Very sick.” Your eyes flitted up to meet his. “A blood infection. I was dying. And they’ve got a doctor, medicine, but if you use them you owe more than you could ever pay—and that means they own you even more than they already did. It’s just leverage to them. My brother—” your voice broke. You squeezed your eyes shut for a moment and Daryl could hear you pull in a few slow but ragged breaths. “He tried to steal some antibiotics. To save me. And he got caught.”

You were silent for a long moment, trying to stop yourself from crying. Daryl just waited, feeling sick to his stomach, feeling enraged, wanting to tell you it was going to be okay, but knowing he couldn’t... Nothing he could say was going to fix whatever you were about to tell him. He knew that.

“I ended up in the infirmary anyway. I don’t even know how. I had been so delirious with fever and I can’t remember a lot from around then… But when I was better, eventually, Negan came to see me again. He told me they were going to make an example of my brother. He broke the rules and Negan couldn’t have people thinking you could get away with that. I knew what that meant. Negan would kill him horrifically. In front of me and everyone else.” Despite what you were saying, your voice was somewhat detached. It was like you were on autopilot as you explained, like you had told the story in your head a million times and were just replaying through it. Daryl thought you probably were.

“But he gave me another—another choice,” you said. Your tone conveyed that it was presented as a choice, but there was no refusing. “His offer still stood. If I ‘married’ him and became one of his wives, he’d spare my brother’s life and erase all of our debts.” Just saying the words made you feel sick and Daryl watched as you reached a hand out to clutch onto the arm of the couch as if you were spinning and needed grounding. “What could I do?” you asked, turning to look at Daryl again, your eyes frantic, devastated, shining with tears that you were barely containing. “I just thought—‘I need to keep him alive.’ That’s—that’s all I could think and I would deal with the rest of it later.” You opened your mouth to continue speaking but the words wouldn’t come out and your gaze at Daryl was desperate until you couldn’t look at him any longer.

“Hey,” he said. “Ya had to. S’alright. Ya didn’t have a choice.” He moved closer to you and was brave enough to gently lift your chin so you would look at him again, and the glistening in your eyes hit him like a punch. “Ya had to,” he said gently.

You nodded, shrugging vaguely. “I agreed. And Negan didn’t kill my brother but he cut off his hand in front of me and everyone else.” Your jaw clenched and you shut your eyes against the flashbacks.

Daryl stared at you in horror as you took a breath, trying to hold yourself together enough to continue. His face was growing darker and darker as you told the story.

“But we went on. He worked for points and I—” You couldn’t even speak of it. “For a while, that’s how it was.” You were suddenly silent and Daryl felt yet another twist in his stomach, apprehension about what was coming. You continued, your voice disconnected again. “And then one day Negan came in and told me that my brother—” you gritted your teeth against another wave of emotion. “My brother killed himself.”

You hurried on, afraid you wouldn’t be able to get anything else out if you didn’t rush through it.

“And the thing is—” your voice broke, “even that he didn’t do for himself. He didn’t do it because he was miserable there or because he couldn’t go on.” Your bottom lip quivered. “He did it because he knew that while he was there, alive, I wouldn’t leave. If he was alive, I wouldn’t try to escape. He killed himself to save me, to give me the option to get out.”

Daryl felt a sinking emptiness in the middle of his chest. For a moment he just sat still and watched as you struggled not to go entirely to pieces, but he couldn’t allow you to reel the way you were any longer. “C’mere,” he said gently. He enfolded you in his arms and you sank in against him, resting your head in the crook of his neck. He could feel your shuddering breaths and he held you tighter to him, his heart racing, feeling sick waves of horror and anger. He rested his chin on the top of your head. “Ya got out. You’re out. S’alright.” He smoothed a hand over your hair and down your back until you stilled somewhat. You pulled back only slightly to look up at him, your faces mere inches apart.

“Do you understand?” you whispered. “You can’t just go barreling after them, Daryl. You can’t. I—I can’t lose you.”

Daryl gulped, his eyes flickering between yours… But inside he was thinking that everything you just told him was exactly why he had to go...

“I hear ya,” he said finally. He pressed you tightly against him again, shutting his eyes and relishing the feeling of you beneath his hands, even while his mind raced. He held you for a long time, until you seemed to have calmed again. Finally, he pulled back and looked into your face. “It’s—it’s gonna be alright.”

You soaked in the reassurance of him, calmed by his deep voice, his hands gentle on your arms.

“It’s—It’s late… Ya gonna be alright if I go? M’sorry. I don’t wanna leave ya but I wanna check on everybody…” he murmured.

You nodded. “You should. It’s okay. They—they probably need you. I’ll be fine,” you said, knowing it was probably a lie. You were sure you’d have nightmares that night if you managed to sleep at all. You slipped from him the rest of the way and as you separated, he felt like you took some part of him with you.

“G’night,” he murmured, climbing to his feet and collecting his crossbow from your coffee table. As he picked it up, he couldn’t help but think about how the bolt that had killed Denise had left his bow. He should have killed that asshole when he had the chance. “Y/N. Ya should tell Rick,” he said, nodding. “Ya should. If ya can. It’d help him understand, ya know?”

You considered him for a moment. “Okay. I will,” you replied. You watched him across the kitchen as he made his way to the front door, the wings on the back of his vest catching the light differently than the leather, almost looking like they were glowing. With his hand on the handle of the front door, he glanced back at you and gave you a thoughtful look. You managed a somewhat sad smile at him, anxiety still pulling one of your brows inward, and then he disappeared outside.

#daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon twd #the walking dead #twd fanfics #daryl dixon drabbles #daryl imagines #daryl dixon x reader #fanfics #writers of tumblr #twd drabbles #sacrifice #daryl dixon series

[amor-immortalem]

The Lord of Fools and the Stubborn Commoner ch.33

Previous

Taglist: @flare-love @ithinkimdekubutreallyimdenki @ice-icebaby @hobin-gnoblin

When he wakes up the next morning, Mammon’s first stop is the dungeon only to inform Essi that their son was not at all interested in meeting her. When he arrives at her cell, he has the guard open it for him and enters as Essi sits up in the bed.

“Rather early for you to be up,” she says as she studies his body language to gauge what type of mood Mammon might be in. “Usually, you’re not up before nine.”

“Yeah, well I have some bad news for ya.” The white-haired man crosses his arms, “Also I want information from you.”

“Cyrus doesn’t want to meet with me, does he?”

“Yeah, and I’m not forcin’ him to either. If he changes his mind, then that’s fine but ultimately it has to be his choice if he wants to pursue any form of familial relationship with you...” Mammon’s quiet for a moment, “Ya know he blames himself for you leaving?”

“You told him that’s not true right?”

“Course I did, Essi, I’m not gonna just sit there and let him think that about himself. And I have no idea how he could have gotten that mindset either since I ain’t ever said anything one way or the other about ya. I didn’t wanna sway his opinion of you in case ya ever popped back up one day and I hadn’t remarried yet.”

“You would have taken me back?” She's surprised at the comment.

“Only for our son. Even if I was never able ta love ya again, I woulda put up with you for his sake.”

“I see,” The brown-haired woman sighs as she thinks about what would have been if she had just been stronger, if she had just bit the bullet so to speak and told him about what his former head butler had been doing to her. “Can you pass along a message to him for me then?” She looks up at Mammon and he nods, “Will you tell him that I’m so sorry that I made him feel that way? That no matter what, I will always love him more than anything and I never wanted to hurt him like that.”

“Sure, but if you’re hoping that might change his mind, then I wouldn’t hold yer breath. Cyrus can be incredibly stubborn when he wants ta be. Musta got it from your side a the family.”

At that, Essi chuckles, “I can see it... So, what information did you want me to tell you?”

“I wanna know where that bastard took ya. The abduction of a noble is essentially a capital offense, not only that but I sure as hell am not letting him get away with what he did to you. It makes me angry that this was all happening basically under my nose and I had no clue about it... and all the failed pregnancies we had during that time... it makes me wonder how many of them were actually my children that you were carryin’.”

Essi nods at that, “That was one of my main worries too. Even with Cyrus, I was scared that he wasn’t actually yours but the other man’s. I was so relieved when he was born and he looked just like you. Anyway, we only went to two countries over- we were in a secluded forested area of the Land of Masks. It was north of the capital city- we actually rode passed it on the way there.

“Thanks,” He turns to leave but stops, “Also, apparently my wife is under the impression that you’re not a threat anymore... if you can prove to me that that’s true, then you can leave the dungeon under certain conditions, alright?”

“That’s fine, I’ll agree to those terms but how do I go about that? There’s not much I can do while stuck here in a cell.”

“Well, you gotta bathe at some point, right?” He looks back at her. “Plus, this place is pretty dark and dingey, so you’ll have short breaks away from here just to take care a yourself since you’re stuck with us for the next three months. Like I said yesterday, you’re goin’ back to your parents when Asmo leaves after the twins’ christening and I’m not that much of a monster ta leave ya down here in yer own filth. That’s how you’ll prove it ta me- by stayin’ away from my wife ‘n children until I’m certain yer not gonna do anything to any of ‘em.”

“Okay,” She nods quickly as Mammon takes his leave and the guard escorts Essi out of the cell.

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

The next three months pass without much incident. Lucifer had left the month after, citing an issue that had appeared in his absence from his throne as the main reason for his departure but before he left, he stated that he would be back in time for the christening. True to his word, Mammon had allowed Essi to leave the dungeon but only on the condition that she be sequestered to the southern wing of the castle and not approach him, Arella, Cyrus unless she was approached first until Asmo took her back to the Land of Lechery with them. Cyrus still refused to meet with her and it appeared that the child wasn’t planning on changing his mind anytime soon.

“Young Master, is something wrong? You seem rather distracted by something?” One of Cyrus’ nannies as she sits with him in his room, the two of them coloring in one of his many coloring books.

“Yeah, something is wrong.” The boy pouts. “There’s an intruder in my home and she’s not leaving fast enough.”

“An intruder? Who might that be?”

“The woman who abandoned me and Daddy. I don’t want her in the castle- she should still be in the dungeon and I don’t know why Daddy would let her out. She should be punished for what she did.” The young prince growls. “I hate her.”

“Hate is an awfully strong word that you shouldn’t use lightly, my prince, are you sure that’s what you feel?”

“Yeah! She left us and made me feel bad about myself for a long time! And now she thinks she can just come back here and everything will be all better when it’s not! It’s not gonna be better until she leaves and we go back to our normal lives!”

“I didn’t realize you felt this way... have you told your Father and Lady Arella about this? It’s not a good thing to hide your emotions like this.”

“No... but that’s because they’re super busy right now. The christening is in a few days and they have a lot of work to do.” Cyrus explains. “I don’t want them to have to worry about me too when they’re already so busy- that's not fair. Besides, I feel better when I’m playing with the babies so I’m not really worried about it... Everything will be better after she goes away and never comes back.”

The nanny frowns, “Here’s an idea and you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, but what if you talked to her and told her these feelings you have about her. Maybe that might help you feel better over the next couple of days. Sometimes, you just have to let these things out, you know?”

“Do you think so?” He peers up at the older woman, “I don’t like feeling this way.”

“I’m sure it will,” She smiles.

“Alright then. I’ll go. But don’t tell anyone about where I went okay. I don’t want to get in trouble for going without Mommy or Daddy.” Not waiting for a reply, Cyrus marches off to confront Essi.

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

Next

#obey me swd #obey me #obey me shall we date #obey me! shall we date? #obey me mammon #om! mammon #obey me oc #arella #cyrus

[mirrorscomic]

MIRRORS: CHAPTER 7

Summary: In Mainverse, the appearance of the pair from Villainverse has apparently caught the attention of the gods. Will this attention be a good thing, or perhaps be a problem?

Author Notes: i'm back finally with another chapter! this is a special chapter that marks the beginning of the original mirrorsverse context; this is no longer taking place in the dragon ball universe! some changes have been made to the story and characters, such as names and designs, as well as an art style shift! i hope you enjoy the changes ive made! <3

Another day passes in the Land of Creation--the realm where the Gods of Creation reside. Here, a creator god sits by herself in a field, seeming concentrated on one area of the sky. A figure creeps up quietly behind her, not making a sound…

“So, what is the North Creator up to today, then?”

She’s startled, but her body relaxes when she realizes who has joined her, and she lets out an annoyed sigh. “Oro, don’t you have better things to do than bother me? Go back and watch over the South Quadrant like you’re supposed to. I have bigger things to worry about over here.”

“Oh?” The other creator god, Oro, looks out to try and see what she is looking at. “Like what?”

“A lemurian living on Earth. His counterpart from a parallel universe somehow hopped through the cosmos with a wormhole and came to stay with him for a few days. I’m keeping an eye on him for now to make sure he doesn’t try doing the same thing.”

“A lemurian?” Oro seems interested. He squints, focusing where she is concentrated on. His vision flies through the galaxy, zooming in on one particular spot of planet Earth, where a lemurian farmer and his mother are seeming to practice. It’s Patoto and Zumeg, and Zumeg is encouraging her son.

“Come on, Patoto, you can do it! Dig deeper!”

“I’m trying…!” Patoto says as he seems to be straining himself to power up. In an abrupt blast of power, he achieves Super Lemurian--something he’s used to--but this time, he’s trying to reach a higher level.

The sight amazes Oro, and he widens his eyes. “What in the world is that?”

The other god doesn’t look from her spot. “It’s called Super Lemurian. Their race can achieve transformations like that to grow more powerful. There’s also a Super Lemurian Two, which is what I assume this lemurian is trying to reach. There may even be a third level.”

Oro watches in awe. “Such power…”

...should be used by a god.

He stands up straight and waves his hand as he turns to leave. “Well, you have fun with that. I’ll be off back to my own business.”

The other god frowns a little. “It’s about time.”

As Oro walks away, he glances over his shoulder with a rather devious expression.

Back on Earth, Patoto leans over onto his knees, obviously winded from all the exertion. “Phew… I think I’m gettin’ closer!”

Zumeg smiles and walks over to pat his back. “I think you are, too. Your energy seems a lot more intense now than it was before.” She walks by him, then. “I’ll go get us some drinks. You deserve a break. I’ll be right back, okay?”

“Okay!”

As Zumeg disappears into the house, Patoto is left to stretch happily. However, almost immediately, his body transforms into that of the creation god, Oro. He’s confused by his new, smaller appearance, looking down at himself. “H-huh? What the--?”

“This is a very interesting planet you have here.”

Patoto looks over to where the voice came from. There floating in the air is what looks to be himself, wearing strange new clothes and earrings. Patoto is even more confused than he was before. “H-hey… That’s my face!”

His copy grins wickedly. “Finders, keepers, I guess. Hm…” He looks over Patoto’s clothes, seeming to inspect them for a moment before waving his hand over his own body. His wardrobe changes to that of Patoto’s suddenly, except this version is all black. He grins and holds out his hands to his sides. “Blends in a little better, don’t you think?”

Just as this happens, Zumeg returns from the house with two drinks. She stops in her tracks when she sees the scene playing out before her, furrowing her brow. “What in the world?”

Patoto looks back at her. “Mom!!” He quickly makes his way over to his mother and points at the false Patoto. “Mom, this stranger stole my body…!”

She looks at him confusedly. “What…?”

“Please believe me!” Patoto urges. “I’m Patoto! That guy over there isn’t me; he stole my face!”

Zumeg looks back at the apparent copycat. He has a sick smirk on his lips, which causes her to frown. “... I believe you. My son would never look at me like that.”

Setting the drinks down, she walks away from the real Patoto and glares at the newcomer. “Who the hell are you? What do you want with my son?”

The fake Patoto sticks up his nose with a grin. “It makes sense that you wouldn’t know me. I am Oro, one of the five Creators of your universe.”

“Creators? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Of course you wouldn’t understand. To put it simply, I am a god of your world.”

Patoto looks at his hands. “A...god? Y’mean I have a god’s body right now?”

“Yes. But, I don’t expect you to know how to use it, heh.”

Zumeg chimes in. “What would a god want with my son, then?”

Oro folds his arms behind his back, looking around at the scenery. “I was watching you all from my world and I saw something amazing. You transformed and became much more powerful than you were before. I saw this power and realized that it was much more suitable for a god than it was a measly mortal. So, I wanted to try it out for myself.”

“So, you stole my son’s body?” “Borrowed without asking.” Oro raises a hand and charges up an energy ball with it. “I wanted to play around with it for a while.”

Realizing what’s about to happen, Zumeg dives back towards Patoto and tackles him out of the way just before a ball of energy hits the ground where he stood. Once they’re safe, she turns back and snarls at Oro. “Hey!!”

Oro doesn’t seem to be paying attention to her. He’s looking at his hand, mesmerized. “Amazing… Even at base strength, the power is incredible. Now, for that transformation…”

Zumeg and Patoto watch as Oro channels his energy through his body, yelling as he does so. In a sudden burst, his hair turns blonde and his eyes go crimson, completing the transformation to Super Lemurian. He looks back at his hands, smiling. “Amazing…! I’m overflowing with immense power! This transformation is outstanding!”

Zumeg starts walking towards him. “Alright, you’ve had your fun! Give my son back his body!”

She charges at him with a punch, but he blocks it easily with his finger. In response, she begins to throw a flurry of punches, but he blocks all of them with a finger as well, almost taunting her. With a smirk, he suddenly whaps her away with his tail, and she goes flying.

Patoto is watching from the ground in dismay when he’s suddenly joined by another person seemingly out of thin air. He turns to look at them--a woman with pink skin and white hair, similar in appearance to his current body. “W-who are you?”

She turns to look at him. “I am Enlil, a God of Creation. I’m the Creator in charge of your universe quadrant. I’m here to stop Oro from causing more trouble than he already has.”

Patoto blinks. “You’re a god, too?”

Behind them, Kinpa and Evelyn come hurrying out of the house, apparently having heard the ruckus outside. Evelyn looks at the two standing in front of the porch. “What’s goin’ on out here?”

She notices Zumeg and Oro in the sky as they fight. “What in the world are they doin’ up there?”

“Your son’s body has been stolen by a god who thinks he can just do whatever he wants,” replies Enlil. She gestures towards the real Patoto beside her. “This is your Patoto.”

Patoto’s eyes start to tear up. “Mama…”

As he rushes over and hugs her, Evelyn looks startled. “P-Patoto…?”

Kinpa looks from Patoto up to the dueling lemurians. “So… That’s not Patoto? That’s a god in Patoto’s body? How did he switch bodies like that?”

“He used objects called the wishing stones on a planet called Phibia to wish it that way,” Enlil explains. “Unfortunately, those wishing stones can only be used once a year. I have to find a way to keep him at bay until they can be used again.”

Kinpa thinks for a moment. “Wishing stones…? Hey, don’t we have those on Earth? I remember an icejin talking about them.”

Enlil looks over at him in surprise. “Really?” She proceeds to close her eyes for a moment in silence, and she then opens them again. “You’re right! How did I not see them before? There’s a phibian on this planet who has a set.” She turns to Kinpa and holds out her hand. “Come with me. I need someone with me in case something goes wrong.”

Kinpa looks at her hand before hesitantly taking it. “U-um… Okay.”

In an instant, the two teleport away, leaving Evelyn there with Patoto. The next thing they know, they’ve arrived at what seems to be a campsite in the middle of a forest somewhere. As they look around, someone opens the door to the little hut that is sitting in front of them.

A green-skinned individual, the phibian in question, comes out and blinks. “Oh! Can I help you?”

Enlil steps forward. “We don't have much time to explain, but we need to use your wishing stones. There’s a crisis that could eventually endanger the whole world if we don’t stop it right now.”

The phibian looks them over. It doesn’t take long for him to nod in approval. “Okay. I can tell your intentions are good. Let me get them for you.” He starts to disappear into his hut, but he looks over his shoulder first. “Name’s Kigai, by the way! It’s nice to meet you. Now, give me one second…”

--

Back on the farm, Zumeg and Oro continue their fight as Evelyn and Patoto watch in concern. Zumeg is getting beaten back pretty good by Oro, who hasn’t even broken a sweat. The god dodges elegantly away from every punch.

“This was fun for a while,” he muses, “but now it’s starting to get annoying. You’re persistent; I’ll give you that. But…”

He points two fingers at her before firing a laser beam through her chest. She falls to the ground lifelessly as Evelyn and Patoto watch in shock.

“You should know never to cross a god.”

--

“How do we summon the dragon?”

Kigai looks at Enlil after finishing arranging the wishing stones on the ground. “Like this…” He hovers his hands above the stones. “Wish dragon Shtelru, by your name, I summon you!”

The stones begin to glow a brilliant blue, and then, suddenly, an energy beam shoots upward out from them. From the beam forms a giant dragon, towering above the group. Kigai and Enlil seem unfazed, but Kinpa is blown away from the size of the creature.

Soon enough, the dragon speaks. “Speak your wishes now, and I will grant them, if it is within my power,” he booms.

Kigai gestures to Shtelru, turning to Enlil. “Go ahead.”

Enlil steps forward. “Great dragon, I wish for you to switch Oro and Patoto’s bodies back to normal!”

Shtelru’s eyes glow a bright red. “Very well. It is done.”

In an instant, Oro and Patoto’s bodies swap back to their original owners. Oro looks down at his body in confusion. “What?!”

Meanwhile, Enlil turns to Kinpa. “Kinpa, you stay here. I need to make sure it worked. I’ll be back.” She looks up at the dragon again. “Shtelru, can you wait just a moment?”

“Do not make me wait long.”

“I won’t.”

Enlil teleports back to the farm, leaving Kinpa to stand with Kigai. When she arrives, she’s greeted by the scene of Evelyn holding her wife on the ground, sobbing over her body.

“Zumeg…!” Evelyn cries. “Zumeg, wake up…!”

Enlil is shocked. She looks to where Patoto is standing with his fists clenched tightly at his sides, now in his own body. He is trembling.

“You… You shoulda never hurt my mom,” he growls. The air around him begins to crackle as his energy spikes. Suddenly, he explodes with power, his hair turning blonde and his eyes burning red. Tears are streaming down his face. “I’ll make you pay!!!”

He launches himself at a surprised Oro, who proceeds to get the punch of his life directly to the face.

He’s flung back through the trees, crashing through the forest before skidding to a stop in a ditch formed by the impact of his body on the ground. He opens his eyes just in time to see Patoto flying towards him, and he just barely dodges an intensely-powerful blow that instead strikes the ground below him. Patoto snaps around as Oro tries to fly away, grabbing him by the leg before slamming him directly into the ground.

While this is happening, Enlil stands over Evelyn. “Wait right here. I can fix this, I promise.”

She teleports back to the others at Kigai’s camp, wasting no time before speaking again. “Zumeg was killed. Can Shtelru bring her back?”

Kigai nods. “As long as she hasn’t been brought back before, yes.”

“Okay.” She looks up at the dragon once more. “Shtelru, I have another wish!”

Shtelru’s thunderous voice responds, “Speak it now, before I run out of patience.”

“I wish for the lemurian Zumeg to be brought back to life!”

Once again, the dragon’s eyes glow brightly as he grants the wish. “It is done.”

Miraculously, thanks to Shtelru, Zumeg’s eyes flutter open as Evelyn cries over her. She sits up, surprising Evelyn in the best way. Evelyn hugs her tightly. “Oh, honey, I thought you were gone…!”

Zumeg rubs her head. “What happened…? Where’s--”

She looks up to see Patoto kicking the absolute shit out of Oro. The god is bleeding profusely, evidently having been taking an intense beating from the lemurian. Patoto performs an overhead kick and sends Oro flying down to the ground, where he crashes and slides along the dirt. When he stops, he weakly looks up to see Enlil staring down at him in disappointment. Patoto lands a few feet behind them as Enlil nods to him. “I’ll take him from here Patoto. Thank you.”

Patoto doesn’t seem to be quite finished with him yet, still clearly angry, but the voice of his mother stops him from stepping forward.

“Patoto!”

He turns to see Zumeg running towards him, and the anger in his expression completely disappears into relief. “Mom?”

The two hug tightly as Patoto powers down to his base form once again. As this happens, Enlil lifts Oro up over her shoulder and turns to everyone, who is gathering around Zumeg and Patoto.

“I’m sorry to have brought you all so much trouble,” she assures solemnly. “He won’t be back to do it again after this; I promise.”

The two gods disappear, leaving the group to stand there. Patoto nuzzles his mother lovingly, clearly happy to have her back and safe. Evelyn also seems pleased with the outcome of all this. Kinpa is the only one whose mind seems to be elsewhere.

#mirrors #chapter 7

[penwieldingdreamer]

Dante's Prayer - Chapter 1

Thank you all for your likes and reblogs. I'm really happy you liked it. Now on with the next part. Let me know what you think about it and if you want to be tagged. As always thank you @fortheloveoffanfic for being my beta.

Warnings: Mentions of war, mentions of sex, period-typical sexism, canon-typical violence

Words: 1304

Chapter 1

Arrow House, Warwickshire, 1924

"Tommy, you need to consider remarrying." Aunt Polly told him, bouncing Charlie on her knee as she watched her nephew pace behind his desk. "There have been rumors goin' round."

Taking a deep breath, the leader of the Peaky Blinders turned to the older woman. "What would you have me do, Poll, ey? Take the next best woman that's out on the streets?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Tommy. You need someone with good connections and money." she told him, hoisting the boy into her arms and coming to stand next to Tommy. “She has to accept that you’ve been married before, that there’s a child. Even though we’re rich now, doesn’t mean that all women of the world will fall over for Thomas Shelby.”

Snorting, the second eldest Shelby grinned at his aunt, although the smile wouldn’t reach his eyes. Not since Grace had been shot because of him. “As you just so nicely reminded us, we don’ need the fuckin’ money, the Shelby’s are already fuckin’ rich. What are you gonna do? Arrange a marriage, just like John and Esme?”

“Stop the cursin’, will you. There’s a small child here.” Shrugging her shoulders, Polly regarded him with a stern look he just knew all too well. “I talked to Johnny Dogs, he knows a family in Ireland. Lots of connections, loads of old money.”

“No, Poll.” he shook his head, opening the silver case to grab another cigarette, hoping to calm his nerves from the nagging of his aunt. “I’m not goin’ ta bring anyone new into this family. There’s enough people to take care of as it is. Who’s to say that family doesn’t have ties to our enemies?”

Smoothing out Charlie’s dark blond hair, Polly Grace shook her head. “Stubborn as a mule, that one.” she muttered to the boy, the corners of her lips moving up into a smile as she heard the two-year old laugh at her. “Even John wasn’t bitchin’ so much. I know why you won’t do it, Thomas, but you need to see reason. Your boy needs a mother and you, you need someone to warm that heart of yours, even if ye don’ believe me. Be ready in a week, Johnny will take you to see your future wife.”

Grunting, Thomas Shelby watched his aunt leave the study, his son perched on her hip. Grace had only been gone a few weeks - or had it really been months? - and yet his family was forcing him to marry some spoiled high society girl, whose only problem would be the perfect temperature of her tea. Letting out a defeated sigh, the leader of the Peaky Blinders sank into the plush sofa Polly had occupied minutes before and looked at the portrait of his late wife. “What am I goin’ to do without you, eh? You shouldna have been involved in my fuckin’ mess, Grace."

Of course there was no answer from her, the smile on her lips stayed forever frozen. Dropping his head into his hands, he breathed in the air filled with tobacco and whiskey, trying to keep every detail of his love in his heart, never to forget her.

Dublin, Ireland 1924

"Edward, when will you tell our daughter that it's not ladylike to run around with a horse like that?" Helene McCann, Duchess of Leinster and Baroness of Kildare, admonished her husband entering the large sunroom of their country home Castletown House.

Sitting at the table with his other two daughters Amalie and Louise, he read the newspaper and only hummed. "What would you have me do, hm? Send her to her rooms and lock the doors?" Andrew, Duke of Leinster folded the papers and leaned back to watch his wife with an amused smile on his lips. "She is just as free spirited as you, my darling."

"Oh no, I'm definitely blaming you on that one. Saoirse has done everything to avoid being a proper lady, no thanks to you, love." she countered, sipping her tea and giving her husband an angry look. “You know that Mr. Shelby will arrive today and I want her to be presentable.”

Shaking his head, Andrew grabbed his pipe and lit the tobacco. "Saoirse is just like your mother's cousin has been. She was a free spirit, too, a friend of nature and I know you often went to visit her. I do believe Mister Shelby will be very lucky to marry her and you know that as well."

Sighing, the mother of three leaned back in her seat and turned her gaze on the gardens, hoping that her youngest daughter would at least be fine while out there riding through the forest behind their home.

Hooves beat against the cold ground, harsh pants of the horse sounded in the silence of the woods as it raced through the trees, nostrils flared and kept its attention on the sounds around him.

“Socair.” Saoirse spoke softly, guiding her stallion through the thick undergrowth. “Calm, my love.”

Since her mother had told her about the arranged marriage, the youngest of three daughters left to find solace with her animals. Her dappled grey White Knight brought her to the flower field she had found a few months earlier. “Good boy, we’re going to stay here and enjoy the sun before those men come.”

With a snort, the stallion stopped and Saoirse jumped from the saddle, taking the bridle off of him. She took a deep breath and brushed her hand over the speckled coat of the horse. “I can’t believe father agreed to that marriage mother arranged.”

There had never been time in her life that she wished more than ever to not be a descendant from royalty than now. Arrangements had been made with Thomas Shelby, leader of a gang in Birmingham. Her mother had told Saoirse that in a few months she'd be his wife and make sure that their connections would help him further his business and standing in politics.

Leaning against his neck, the young woman closed her eyes. "What should I do, huh? I don't want to be a wife being kept in a house as a broodmare. I just, I want freedom."

Both, rider and horse snapped to attention when a twig broke behind them in the woods. "Who's there?" she called, her eyes flitting through the green leaves of the trees.

"It's just I, princess." the man reasoned, his accent thick as he spoke. Moving through the underbrush, Saoirse could see the kind eyes of Johnny Dogs he only reserved for her. "I knew I might find ye out 'ere."

Smiling, she moved in for a tight hug. "Oh, how I missed you, Johnny. It has been boring ever since you left."

"Oh I know," the Irish mused with a smile. "I bet yer mum has had you reciting poetry and embroidery."

Rolling her eyes, Saoirse lightly hit his shoulder. "Don't remind me. I'm not as much the lady she wants me to be. But now, why are you here? Don't tell me he's here already."

"I'm afraid he's 'ere." Johnny sighed, seeing the defeated look darken her eyes. He had known her since she was a little girl, having worked for the Duke in his stables and taught her everything about horses and riding that he knew. "Please Saoirse, it's not as bad as ye make it out to be."

Exasperated, she turned away from her friend, crossing her arms over her chest. "I'm losing my freedom to be a gangster's wife so he can further his business while I'll have to sit in his manor and play the lady of the house, greeting guests and giving him children to make him seem good."

"Just give Thomas a chance, once in a while people will surprise you." Johnny tried to reason with her.

tagging:

@fortheloveoffanfic @fics-not-tragedies

#tommy shelby x oc #tommy shelby imagine #tommy shelby fanfic #tommy shelby #arthur shelby x oc #arthur shelby imagine #arthur shelby fanfiction #arthur shelby #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders imagine #peaky blinders #shelby family

[mamabearcat]

I know April Fool’s is over but...

It’s morning here in Australia, and it’s already April 2nd - Good Friday in fact. I woke up after an incredibly stressful week in which I moved my family from the little unit we’d lived in for the past sixteen years to another one a suburb away, while still working retail in the evenings. So much money spent. So much stuff. So many emotions. So little sleep. So it’s not surprising that this morning I had a bizarre dream. A dream in which Inuyasha, and another movie and Easter all got mixed up together.

Kagome gave a tired sigh, doing her best to stretch out her back after folding all the clean cloth nappies from the washing line. Thank goodness Juro was nearly out of nappies - they would be needing them by the time their next baby was born. Which judging by the heaviness in her womb, really wouldn’t be too far away. Thank goodness it was just one baby this time.

The gigantic stew pot on the fire bubbled, releasing the scent of savoury vegetable soup. It smelt almost ready, and the steamed rice sitting on the edge of the fire should also be just about done. Time to call her family in for dinner. She waddled over to the doorway and braced her arms against the frame to take a deep breath, before calling out as loudly as she could.

“Juro, Kuro, Hachiro, Shichiro, Rokuro, Goro, Shiro, Saburo, Hajime, Haruko, Keiko, Natsuko, Akiko, Rini, Satsuki, Momo, Moroha and Inuyashaaaa! DINNER TIME!”

Children poured towards the doorway from where they’d been sent off to play in the forest nearby, after she’d released them from doing their afternoon chores. They eagerly ran towards her, the older ones carrying the little ones. Kagome dropped a kiss onto the top of each head as they passed through the doorway, even though her older boys squirmed a bit. Moroha came last, carrying little Juro who was rubbing his eyes sleepily, his tiny pink nose twitching at the smell of the stew.

“Cawwots Mama?” he asked, blinking at her, holding out his arms and leaning towards her.

Kagome lifted him out of Moroha’s arms with a smile. “Yes, there’s carrots in there for you my baby boy”, she grinned, ruffling his white hair, being careful of his soft ears, still a little floppy. It would probably be another six months before they stood up straight. All her children had inherited her husband’s ears, something she’d been very happy about. She bopped her son teasingly on his twitching nose. “But you have to eat the other vegetables too, if you want to grow up as big and strong as your Papa.”

She shifted the toddler over to rest on her hip as she smiled lovingly at her eldest child, Moroha, now almost sixteen summers old. Older than she’d been when she’d first met Inuyasha. It was a frightening thought in some ways - was she really this young when she’d been off fighting youkai and recovering the shards?

“Did you see your father on the way home sweetheart?” Kagome asked, watching as her family helped to spoon rice and soup into the bowls. Moroha nodded as she joined the line for dinner.

“Yeah, he was just talkin’ to Miroku, he’ll be here in a minute.”

A small scuffle broke out between the triplets over who got the largest piece of carrot in their bowl, and Kagome was quick to step in before the fight got out of hand.

“Rokuro, Goro, Shiro, behave yourselves! What would your Papa say!”

A tall shadow fell through the dooway.

“He’d say he’d hope you’re not causin’ trouble for your poor tired Mama boys, or that stew will be goin’ in my stomach instead a yours.”

The boys glared at each other, but settled down. “Sorry Papa, sorry Mama.”

“That’s better.”

Moroha filled the smallest bowl for Juro, and Kagome put him down so he could toddle over to his biggest sister, making himself comfortable in her lap as he did his best to spoon the food into his own mouth, mostly successfully with a few near misses.

Inuyasha touched his soft nose to Kagome’s in greeting, looking her over carefully. She looked exhausted. He’d been out helping Miroku with his vegetable garden today, seeing he could dig much faster than the human could, but looking at Kagome, he knew it was time to stay close to home from now on.

He helped his very pregnant wife to sit on a cushion, rubbing her back to help ease the kinks out, and she melted against him, looking over her large family with a happy sigh.

Momo spooned out rice and soup for her mother and father, and he smiled approvingly at his daughter as she brought it over to them, then sat down to finish her dinner. The room was filled with the sounds of happy eating, their children finishing up the soup and rice quickly, then turning their eyes expectantly towards their parents as they finished up their own dinner.

“No story until your dinner bowls are washed up and put away”, said Inuyasha firmly, and the children sighed, but got to their feet and lined up at the tub.

“Actually”, said Moroha softly, “instead of a story tonight, there’s something I want to say.”

Seventeen pairs of tall fluffy ears and one pair of human ones twisted towards her.

“It’s something I’ve been thinking of for a while now. And I wouldn’t be leaving straight away, not until after the new baby is born and you’re all settled in Mama. But I’ve decided, and Setsuna, Towa and Hisui are gonna come too. I can make the world a better place.”

She took a deep breath, then stood up, tearing off her typical red clothing to reveal a navy blue suikan and shorts underneath. She plopped a blue hat on her head between her long fluffy black ears. “I am going to be a police officer.”

Everyone blinked.

“What’s a police officer?” whispered Inuyasha into Kagome’s ear.

Kagome smiled with pride at her eldest child. “It’s someone who helps others and stands up for those who can’t defend themselves”, said Kagome. Inuyasha gave his eldest daughter a wide buck toothed grin.

“Well, if that’s what you wanna do, knock yourself out kiddo, I’m proud a you.”

“Wait, what? You’re not gonna try and convince me to be a carrot farmer like you?”

Inuyasha snorted. “The only reason I’m a carrot farmer is to feed you lot. Before you kids arrived, your mother and I travelled around fighting evil and helping people. So if you feel a calling to do that, who am I to stand in your way? Just steer clear of stinky wolf youkai and you should be fine.”

“Inuyasha, it’s been fifteen years since we’ve seen Kouga”, Kagome sighed. “Don’t you think you should let that go?”

“Nope. He called you his. And he stank. Grudge forever.”

Kagome rolled her eyes.

“Anyway Moroha, I agree with your Papa. We will miss you of course, but if you think this is what you want to do with your life, we’re proud of you.” She held out her arms to her eldest daughter. “Just stay safe and come home and visit us once in a while so you can tell us about your adventures.”

Moroha dropped down to hug both her parents.

“I’m so happy! So happy you’re my parents and you love me and you never went mysteriously missing without a trace leaving me with a huge debt to pay off or anything!” she sniffed.

“Uh... okay.”

Moments later Moroha was covered in a pile of brothers and sisters, all hugging and laughing and crying, saying how much they would miss their big sister.

“Aww, look at that pile of fluffy bunnies”, Kagome smiled tearfully. “I love my family so much. I just never expected there to be so many of them.”

Inuyasha hugged her tightly. “Well, that’s what you get for marryin’ me”, he whispered into her ear teasingly. “You know what they say about rabbits.”

#ridiculous writing #inuyasha #I honestly don't know where this came from #moroha as judy hopps #dreams are weird