#while we're sitting here and waiting might as well discuss

[herrscherofinsanity]

Yours Truly

Fluff (angst if you squint)

Yu Jimin x fem!reader

Word count: 10.1k (haha oops)

You had known Yu Jimin even before your career as a singer was officially launched. You two were inseparable; wherever you went, Jimin was sure to follow, but did she actually care about you or were you simply a job to her?

______________________

You sat inside one of the conference rooms FT Entertainment had to offer, bouncing your leg and fighting the urge to bite your nails as anxiety threatened to take over your body.

The higher ups had called you to discuss some details regarding your debut as a soloist. You had been working hard for the past four years, and they had finally given you the green light, but you knew very well that nothing was set in stone, hence your uncontrollable nerves.

As you waited for everyone else involved to arrive, you couldn't help but wonder what exactly was about to be discussed. The single had already been chosen, concept and music video were already brought up, the songs for the album were approved, the schedule was ready, everything was settled; or at least, that's what you thought.

Just then, the doors of the conference room made way for a group of people. You recognized a few of them from previous meetings, perhaps this meeting was simply to go over everything you had planned already one more time.

While you waited for them to settle down, your attention was caught by the person taking the seat right by your side. You turned towards the new occupant of the chair, trying to get a good look at them when you realized you had a vague idea of who it was. Maybe you passed by each other in the busy hallways of the company?

The young woman sitting beside you had a cold exterior, at first glance she was very intimidating. You first noticed the mole right by her lips, then her long black hair which framed her small face perfectly, her calculating eyes looked everywhere but in your direction. What truly caught your attention though, was the fact that under the table, concealed to the rest of the people in the room, she was picking at the skin around her nails.

A nervous habit, you thought to yourself.

You wanted to reach out and tell her to stop for she would end up hurting herself, but you brushed off the idea, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

You sighed, and that was what finally made her look directly at you. As you locked eyes, you gave her a small smile, trying to ease her nerves despite the fact that you were ready to combust any second now.

She didn't return your smile, but she gave you a slight nod in acknowledgement. Before you could muster up the courage to say something to your companion, someone else at the table cleared their throat.

"Good evening, everyone" the man sitting at the head of the table spoke, everyone else echoed the pleasantries before he continued "we're here today to go over the details regarding our new soloist's debut one last time, and also fix anything that might have been left behind. Please, proceed".

Another man present in the meeting went on and on about things you had already memorized. Trying your best to hide your boredom, you snuck a glance towards the girl sitting beside you only to realize she was dutifully taking notes of your schedule.

"y/n?" the man called out.

"Yes sir?"

"As you can see, there's only one thing missing from everything we have discussed so far" he paused, as if waiting for you to say something. When that didn't happen, he kept going "you can't just go gallivanting around without any type of supervision, which is why we've finally chosen the perfect person for the job".

You were confused, to say the least. He made it sound like you needed a babysitter and no one wanted to take the job.

"Are you talking about my manager, sir?" you cautiously asked.

"Correct. Don't worry, she might be on the younger side, but she has plenty of experience and she's already proven her worth" he had a pleased smile on his face, you noticed the girl beside you shifting a bit. "Coincidentally, she's sitting right beside you".

You, once again, turned to give the girl on your right your full attention. This time, she also did the same. You stared at each other for what felt like ages, you weren't sure what to think of your new manager, but you knew one thing. You can't make an enemy out of her unless you want her to make your life miserable. With that in mind, you tried to smile at her once more, you gave her the practiced smile you had been praised for by your media trainers before, but the girl beside you slightly furrowed her eyebrows before returning your smile hesitantly.

"I'm y/n y/l/n, it's very nice to meet you".

"My name is Yu Jimin, I look forward to working with you".

______________________

Yu Jimin had always been considered some sort of prodigy. Ever since she uttered her first words, everyone expected her to get far in life. Despite the pressure, Jimin lived a happy life growing up. She enjoyed school, had great friends, her parents were supportive of her dreams and her older sister was nice enough.

When Jimin told her parents she wanted to be a part of the entertainment industry they supported her decision. They thought their daughter wanted to be up on the stage, but that was far from what she wanted.

Jimin was interested in the entertainment world, sure, but she was more interested in how it worked, in the behind the scenes of it all. Jimin wanted to be a manager, she wanted to help out the artists, she wanted to be a part of the process. She aimed for a business management degree with a minor in marketing in the best university she could find.

During her senior year in college, she had an opportunity to work as a junior manager right there in FT Entertainment. The whole experience left a bittersweet feeling in Jimin's life, her client was far from pleasant and the senior manager was also far from being an ideal mentor. Nevertheless, Jimin wasn't ready to give up yet, she had never given up on anything in her life and she wasn't going to start now. So when FTE offered her a permanent position and a chance to be an official manager she took it without hesitation.

That's what brought her to you.

In truth, Jimin already knew you, or at least, she had an idea of who you were. She had seen you walking down the hallways of FTE, a smile always present on your face despite the grueling training you were going through. Jimin always thought you had a pretty smile, and you seemed to gather attention wherever you went, that was a good sign. Jimin had heard from the higher ups how incredible your skills were, and how it was the right time for your debut. They offered Jimin a chance to be your manager and she accepted the opportunity with much excitement.

Jimin's opinion on you shifted a bit when you threw that obviously manufactured smile her way. It wasn't the same pretty smile she had witnessed so many times in the hallways, it wasn't that genuine smile that gave others hope. Jimin didn't like it, not one bit.

She sighed, you were glued to each other now thanks to the contract, she just hoped you could get along.

______________________

After the introductions were made the meeting didn't last for much longer. You made your way to your newly assigned apartment, your schedule was officially starting tomorrow morning and you needed to get some sleep.

As you made your way through your night routine, you thought back to your interactions with your new manager. They were mostly limited to nods and hums here and there.

"Be ready by 5:30am, I'll come by to pick you up". That was the most the other woman had said to you.

You sighed. It's not that you were expecting to be besties with your manager, you were actually expecting some middle aged man with little to no patience whatsoever, but a spark of excitement spread through your body when you found out your manager was barely two years older than you were.

That spark was quickly put out when it was made clear by her that things between you were simply meant to be professional. So much for team work makes the dream work.

You were just about ready to close your eyes and get some sleep when your phone buzzed on your nightstand. Cursing whoever was texting you this late, you reached for your phone, puzzled as you realized it was an unknown number.

[10:45pm] unknown: Good night, Ms. y/l/n, this is your manager Ms. Yu.

[10:45pm] unknown: I'm just texting you so you can save my number. Don't forget to be ready by 5:30am. That's all, good night.

You sent her a simple reply, you didn't want to engage in further conversation and you were sure she wouldn't want to either. You set your alarm for 3:45am, internally crying when you saw the amount of time you would be able to sleep. Boy, it's going to be a long day.

When you awoke next morning, you seriously didn't feel like getting up, but you were in too deep in this whole thing now. Plus your manager looked like she would literally drag you to your next schedule, you had no choice.

As you stepped out of the comfort of your room to get something for breakfast, you almost had a heart attack when you saw a figure making its way through your living room. You let out the loudest scream you could muster as you made your way to turn the light switch on. The figure was clearly startled by both your shrieks and the light.

"What are you screaming for? It's just me, geez" your manager said, an annoyed look on her face.

"Oh my good god! What on earth are you doing here!?" she's the one breaking into your apartment and she still has the audacity to look mad? "We agreed to leave at 5:30am, what's going on?"

"I came to wake you up..." she replied, you noticed her picking the skin around her fingernails once again. Huh.

"I don't want to be ungrateful or rude, Ms. Yu, but I'm perfectly capable of waking up by myself" you huffed, but you felt some of your annoyance leaving your body when you noticed the girl before you looking embarrassed.

"I'm really sorry about that, I never meant to scare you" she looked down in shame, "my past client would never do anything at the arranged time, and it was my job to wake her up".

Your annoyance completely left your body when you heard that, poor thing really didn't mean any harm. You made a mental note to have better communication with your manager. You made your way to the kitchen without saying anything, she followed you curiously.

"What time did you wake up to get here so early?" you asked as you went through the fridge.

Jimin cleared her throat before responding "I have a feeling you're going to scream again if I tell you, let's just say very early".

You turned towards the girl and gave her a sympathetic look. "I appreciate the effort, Ms. Yu, but please don't sacrifice something as important as sleep for something so insignificant. Did you even eat before coming here?". Your manager shook her head and you sighed.

"Okay, we're gonna have breakfast together, and then you'll have to wait for me to get ready".

"Ms. y/l/n, that's not really-"

"It's not up for discussion, Ms. Yu" you cut her off. "Take a sit, I'll cook something up real quick".

Jimin reluctantly took a seat at the kitchen table as she watched you work. She's not at all what I expected.

"Again, I am very sorry for what happened" Jimin said, trying to break the silence that had enveloped you.

You sighed as you turned to face her "Don't worry about it, I know it's your job to take care of me, but what about you, huh?".

Your answer puzzled Jimin, "what do you mean by that?".

"You're gonna be taking care of me, so I will be taking care of you. It's only fair, don't you think? We're a team after all" you smiled at her, and this time she didn't reject your smile.

There it is, she thought, that beautiful smile.

______________________

The rest of the day was packed with activities, you and Jimin ran around the city barely getting any time to catch a break. When everything was over, it was almost midnight. Your manager dropped you off at your apartment, reminding you how you had to be ready to leave at 5:30am again.

You woke up the next morning and immediately made your way to the kitchen. As you were crossing the living room, you caught Jimin quietly closing the front door.

"Good morning, Ms. Yu" your greeting startled the other girl, she turned with a sheepish smile on her face.

"Good morning, Ms. y/l/n" she sighed "you don't seem surprised to see me".

"I had a feeling you weren't going to listen to me" you motioned for her to follow you to the kitchen "you're the stubborn type, aren't you?"

She blushed, that wasn't the impression she wanted you to have of her. "I'd prefer if you thought of me as... diligent".

"Diligent? Right." you chuckled "Anyway, breakfast for two?".

______________________

Months went by and as your debut was drawing near, your relationship with your manager had taken a turn for the better. She was much friendlier now, you found out she just needed a little time to open up.

Regardless of that, your schedules were still driving you crazy. You still had to get up incredibly early, and got home insanely late. You weren't the only one who was barely keeping it together though. Your manager would still get to your place way earlier than it was necessary and she would go back to her place even later because she insisted on dropping you off herself.

It was clearly taking a toll on her, you often caught her trying to take naps in between some of your schedules that didn't demand much of her attention. You were worried about her, she probably worked harder than you did and she wasn't going to receive as much credit as she deserved when the debut finally happened.

You were currently on a water break, your dance practice was almost over yet they allowed you a few minutes to breathe. You were sitting with your back against the wall, Jimin, as always, wasn't far away. She was sitting at a couch placed in the dance studio, lazily scrolling on her phone.

"Hey, Jimin?" you called out to her, feeling a little giddy. You still found it hard to believe sometimes how you got the rather standoffish girl to be your friend.

"What's up?" she turned to look at you with anticipation.

"So, I've been thinking-"

"Uh oh"

"Shush you, don't be mean" you playfully rolled your eyes as she laughed at her little joke "As I was saying, I've been thinking about our current situation".

"Don't tell me you're just realizing you're going to debut" she teased.

"Be serious for a second" you huffed "It's just, I've been thinking about how tired we both are, especially you".

"It's part of the job" Jimin shrugged.

"Right, I get that" you got up and walked over to where she was sitting "but things could be a little better, at least for you".

She stared at you for a second as you sat down across from her. "How so?".

"Why don't you move in with me?" you said casually. Jimin froze for a second not knowing how to react.

"What?" she said quietly.

"Jimin, think about it for a second. You only sleep for like an hour because you insist on coming over at 3am when you've barely dropped me off less than three hours ago. Also, you and I spend 24/7 together, we've known each other for a while now, it won't be weird".

Jimin sat quietly for a second, she was considering your offer. "Wouldn't I be bothering you?"

"I'm more bothered by the fact that you could collapse any second from exhaustion. Plus, I wouldn't be offering if it was a problem". You could see the gears turning in her head, she picked at the skin around her nails as she silently debated what to do.

"I can see you're not convinced so let's find a way to compromise" you suggested.

"Go on, I'm listening"

"Okay first, stop doing that, you're going to hurt yourself" you said, pointing at her hands. She blushed, but listened to you. "You move in with me, but it will be temporary. We'll live together until we have a decent schedule and you can get enough sleep at your own place".

Jimin considered your words and slowly nodded her head. "Yeah... yeah, okay. That sounds reasonable enough, let's do it" she smiled at you, and in that moment, it looked like all of her exhaustion was washed away.

______________________

("Ms. Yu?"

"Yes Ms. y/l/n?"

"Would you say we're friends?"

A pause.

"I don't see why we wouldn't be".

"Then... would it be okay if I were to call you Jimin?"

"It would be an honor if you did, y/n".)

______________________

The following days went off without a hitch. Jimin had temporarily moved into your apartment, and although your schedules were still insane your manager looked less like a zombie and more like your friend. Living with her wasn’t unpleasant, you both had your own rooms and bathrooms, and neither of you had displayed any annoying habits. Jimin was surprised, she didn’t expect you to be so organized; you were also surprised, you never expected the other girl to be so laid back when she got a chance to relax.

The universe had mercy on the two of you and granted you with three free days, you had planned to sleep through the entirety of your break, but Jimin had something else in mind.

“I hate grocery shopping! It’s boring and it takes too long” you whined, Jimin had never seen you resemble a child so much as in that exact moment.

“But we’re almost out of food” Jimin reasoned. If she had known you were going to complain so much, she would’ve tricked you into going instead of out right asking. I’ll just have to do that next month.

“Can’t we order something?”

“We don’t have that much money either” Jimin sighed. “Why don’t we make a deal?”

That caught your attention, you ceased your whining to hear her out. “Go on, I’m listening”.

“If you come with me and help out with the groceries, I’ll get you any snacks you want” you wanted to act like a child, she would treat you like one.

“Are you trying to bribe me? With snacks?” you arched one of your eyebrows “Jimin, I know damn well you’re older than me, but I’m not six”.

“Then stop acting like you’re six” she huffed. “Okay, let’s try that again. What do you want in exchange for a trip to the grocery store?”

Jimin saw the smirk that was slowly spreading through your face, and she swore she had never felt more nervous in her life.

“Anything I want?” you said, a suggestive look on your face.

“Try to be reasonable” she gulped “please?”.

“I want to spend some quality time with you”.

What?

“Huh?” she wasn’t sure she heard you right. She wasn’t expecting something so simple, she fully expected you to ask her for something ridiculous.

“Let’s have a movie night, we’ll sit back and relax, I think we’ve earned it” you smiled sweetly at her.

Jimin thought about it for a second, you weren’t asking for much and you both really needed those groceries. Plus, spending a little quality time together wouldn’t be so bad, you two would be working together for many years to come, it was the best course of action to try to get along as much as possible.

“Okay, but under one condition” she said, her voice taking a teasing tone, you shot her a look, waiting for her to continue “I get to pick the movie”.

“As long as it’s not horror I’m totally game” you shrugged.

“Fine by me, I don’t like horror anyway”.

“You and I are going to be the best of friends; I just know it!” you smiled brightly at her.

______________________

(“You chose a rom-com?”

“Yeah, is there something wrong?”

“…Are you trying to tell me something, Ms Yu?”

“Be quiet and watch the movie, y/n”

"Bossy... I like that"

"y/n!")

______________________

Time kept moving forward, and soon everything was ready for your debut. The album was completely recorded, the music video had already been edited, and you had perfected the choreography for your first live performance. Everyone at the company was beyond excited to finally launch the project, but no one seemed more excited than your manager. Jimin claimed she was a big fan of the album and she would buy a copy when it was available. You thanked her, but didn’t take it to heart; your roommate was always nice with you, you thought she was simply trying to spare your feelings.

When the long-awaited day came around, FTE hosted a party to celebrate the rise of their new star. The debut had been a success; the general public loved the music video and fresh concept; they praised your vocal skills and loved the choreography. You spent the major part of the gathering talking to the higher ups and trading fake, business smiles rather than enjoying yourself like any young woman would. Jimin, on the other hand, was stuck in a similar situation. She was being praised left and right for her diligence and all the effort she put into this project. They even offered her a bigger opportunity, managing a bigger artist in the company; Jimin didn’t have to think twice before rejecting the offer. She understood that her place was by your side.

As the party died down, you and Jimin made your way to your shared apartment. Your schedules became a bit more decent about a month ago, but Jimin insisted on staying there with you.

It will be way more efficient to keep working like this, she had said when you asked if she wanted to go back to her own place.

Making your way through the apartment, Jimin stopped you before you could step foot in your room.

“Hey, y/n?” she softly called out to you.

“Yes, Jimin?” she walked over to you and wrapped you in a long hug. It was something rather new, you had just recently become “touchier” with each other if you could even call it that. Brief hugs, hand holding to express support, leaning your head against her shoulder when you were having your ‘absolutely mandatory’ movie night, needless to say, you both had developed a bond along the way.

“I’m extremely proud of you” she whispered.

“Thanks, coming from you… it means way more than you realize” you whispered back to her.

She finally let go of you, and with one last smile she made her way into her room.

Jimin laughed to herself when she noticed the object that was waiting for her on her bed. A copy of your album with a note on top of it.

“To my biggest fan, thank you for your unconditional support. I wouldn’t have made it this far without you.

-Yours truly, y/n”

Jimin smiled to herself, every day she thanked her lucky stars for giving her this opportunity, she really couldn’t have asked for a better client. When she first met you, she had thought you were a diva in the making, a fake, but you proved her wrong every single day and she had learned to love every moment she got to spend by your side. So, when the time came for her to go back to her “home”, as you had called it, she had thrown an excuse regarding efficiency and didn’t look back. However, Jimin was too shy to admit that wasn’t the real reason for her now permanent stay at your place.

It’s doesn’t feel like home without you.

_____________________

(“Okay, I need your honest opinion”.

“Uh huh”

“What do you think of this outfit?”

“It’s very nice, I think it suits the concept”.

“…My eyes are up here, Jimin”.

“I was checking out the pattern!”

“Pinocchio was a better liar than you”)

______________________

Years went by, you’ve become one of the biggest artists in the industry, and Jimin was been there with you every step of the way. From the existential crisis and the hate comments to winning awards and breaking records, Jimin has never left your side. You could say, without a doubt that she’s your best friend.

Aside from her, you’ve managed to make some pretty good friends in the industry, one of your closest friends being a member from a famous band, Miyeon. The two of you had met at a variety show and immediately hit it off, you shared a lot of the same interests which made your connection almost instant. Miyeon understood you in a way that even Jimin couldn’t, you were very grateful to have a friend that was as famous as you were.

Jimin, on the other hand, didn’t like Miyeon.

Jimin felt threatened by Miyeon. For the longest time, it had been just you and her, but then Miyeon came along. Jimin was happy that you found a friend, but she didn’t like how that friend was the only thing you wanted to talk about, she didn’t like the way your eyes seemed to sparkle anytime the other girl was around. Jimin hated it. Although, she didn’t fully understand just why she felt like that.

It was one of your off days, Jimin was lazing around in the living room, wondering what to do with her free time when you walked out of your room looking ready to step out of your shared home.

(How come you and I don’t have nicknames for each other?)

“Hey babe, where are you going?” she asked.

(Is it necessary? Scratch that, is it important?)

“I’m going shopping!” you said, walking over to where she was sitting. “Do you want me to bring something back for you?”.

(Of course it is! How else are we supposed to showcase our amazing bond?)

“Mm nah, I think I’m good, thanks though” she paused, considering something “are you going by yourself?”.

(Okay then, I’ll try to come up with something. What are you going to call me?)

“You know I don’t like shopping by myself, it gets boring” you said dramatically, making your friend laugh “Miyeon is coming with me, she’s actually picking me up”. You finished with a smile, Jimin’s laughter quickly died down, her smile replaced with a scowl.

Jimin took a deep breath, trying to calm herself before she said something she shouldn’t. “Have fun, be careful, don’t get into a scandal, you know the drill”. she shrugged her shoulders sighing defeatedly.

“Looks like someone’s in a bad mood” before you could question her sudden change in attitude, your phone buzzed in your hand “saved by the bell” you gave her a look, she simply rolled her eyes.

Would it be too much if I chained her to the kitchen table? Jimin thought to herself.

(I’ve actually been thinking about it. What do you think of Yuji? You know, as in Yu Ji-min. I think it’s cute.)

“She’s here, I gotta go” you gave Jimin a long look before continuing “how about you and I watch a movie when I get back?”.

“Tonight isn’t movie night though” she said in her ‘I know better’ voice.

“Stop being difficult, let’s hang out, please” you shot her your wounded puppy look and she immediately felt her resolve crumble. “We can do something else if you want, I just want to spend some time with you”.

If you actually wanted to spend time with me, you wouldn’t be leaving with her right now. “Okay fine, let’s hang out when you get back” she admitted defeat.

“You’re the best!” you quickly gave her a kiss on the cheek and rushed to the front door “See you later, Yuji!” and with that final exclamation you left.

(Yuji… no one’s ever called me that before. I like it.)

Jimin sighed for what felt like the umpteenth time. She couldn’t possibly stay on the couch simply waiting for you to get back, she wasn’t a pet. She opted for calling her own friends, maybe they wanted to hang out with her, she thought rather bitterly.

You had been out for around four hours now, you and Miyeon had gone through every store and felt the exhaustion starting to hit, hence why you decided to stop by the food court to get something to snack on.

Laughter filled the table you two shared as you traded stories from your respective schedules. Miyeon had been casted for a drama and she kept complaining about how her co-star was ‘a literal man-child’. You, in return, told her about the different people you had met at your recent job as an MC for a music show. However, your laughter was soon interrupted by your phone.

You furrowed your eyebrows when you saw the name that was flashing across the screen.

Manager Yu.

Jimin had two phones; one which she used exclusively for work, and the other she used for her own entertainment. Business and pleasure shouldn’t mix, she had stated when you asked her about it. That rule applied even for you, she used her work phone whenever she had to notify you about an upcoming schedule, and she used her personal phone whenever she wanted to share something completely unrelated to work. The fact that she was calling from her work phone only meant that you were probably needed somewhere.

“Excuse me for a second, Miyeon, I need to take this” you smiled at your friend apologetically.

“Don’t worry about it, take your time” she returned your smile as she got up from the table “I’ll go to the restroom meanwhile”.

You watched her walk away, before sighing and bringing the phone up to your ear. As soon as you picked up, Jimin’s voice could be heard through the speaker.

“Hey baby!” she exclaimed.

“Um… hey, Yuji? Did something come up?” you bit your lip in anticipation.

“Huh? No, today’s our free day, they know better than to bother us” she stated, it only left you even more confused.

“Then why are you using this phone?” you asked incredulously.

“Well, I just really wanted you to pick up, I knew you wouldn’t ignore a work call” she said simply, you could literally hear the smirk on her face.

“I knew you were obsessed with me” you sighed “can’t even go a few hours without my wonderful presence”.

“You’re too full of yourself” she huffed indignantly “I just wanted to ask you if you could bring back pizza for dinner”.

You had a feeling that wasn’t the only reason she was calling. You were aware of the fact that Jimin wasn’t too fond of your friend, but you didn’t know why. She was probably calling to play monitor, nevertheless, you didn’t want to call her out on her odd behavior and make her feel embarrassed so you played along. “Alright, whatever you want”.

“Thank you, baby, you’re the best!” she cheered, you giggled at that. Jimin, at first glance, was incredibly intimidating, but once she managed to grow comfortable with someone the huge dork she hid perfectly to the rest of the world would come out. You often teased her about how adorable she was.

“Anything for my biggest fan” you said softly.

“I remember you said you were ‘truly mine’ the first time you called me that” your manager said in a low voice. Oh.

“I did say that” you felt your heart beating faster. What was she getting at? She has never said something like this, it usually goes the other way around.

“Did you mean it?”

“Of course I did” before you could say something else, Miyeon came back from the bathroom. “Listen, I got to go. We’ll continue this when I get back” you heard Jimin laughing before you hung up.

“Is everything okay?” Miyeon asked, a bit of concern lacing her question “you’re blushing”.

“Yes, everything’s fine, don’t worry about it”.

______________________

[1:27pm] Manager Yu: Meeting tomorrow with Music Bank staff, don’t forget.

[2:53pm] Yuji ❤️: babyyy check out this tik tok

______________________

 “I’m home” you called out as you stepped into your shared apartment. You heard multiple voices coming from the living room; had Jimin really spent this whole-time watching TV on the couch?

You made your way to the living room with Jimin’s favorite pizza in one hand, shopping bags in the other, you were about to complain to your manager about how she had tricked you earlier when you realized the other voices you heard weren’t coming from the TV. You froze when you noticed four girls lounging around your living room. Two of them were sprawled on the couch, but your attention was entirely on the two girls that were occupying the floor.

Jimin sat there, her back resting against the couch as she cuddled with another girl you failed to recognize. You felt your blood boiling, while you were out getting Jimin her favorite pizza she was here with another girl in her arms? You clenched your jaw at the sight, but bit your tongue, knowing full well as a celebrity you couldn’t exactly go off and insult random girls.

“Oh my god! It’s really her!” one of the girls on the couch exclaimed at the sight of you.

“She’s even more beautiful in person” the other occupant of the couch said, a smirk on her face.

You couldn’t really pay attention to the girls, your focus zeroed in on the way Jimin’s arms were wrapped around the third stranger’s waist. Jimin cleared her throat before speaking.

“Hey y/n, how was your day?” y/n? What happened to baby? Jimin rarely used your name, reserving it for times you two were in a professional environment, she hadn’t really called you that in years outside of conference rooms. You furrowed your eyebrows at that, and she immediately sensed your displeasure.

“It was fine, Yuji” you sighed, realizing your anger was out of place. You had no right to be mad at her for being with another girl, you two were simply friends; the thought didn’t help to ease how much it hurt though. “So, am I interrupting?”

“Not at all!” one of the girls on the couch said “you should join us!”

“Please excuse my friend’s excitement, y/n”. Ouch. “These are my best friends. That one’s Yizhuo, she’s a big fan of yours, next to her is Aeri, and this one’s Minjeong” Jimin introduced each of her friends.

“Come on, Jimin, I’m also a big fan” the girl who was introduced as Aeri said with a smirk. “It’s an honor to meet you, gorgeous”. You giggled at her obvious attempt; your reaction fueling her confidence.

“Thank you” you gave them your practiced smile, Jimin furrowed her eyebrows “it’s a pleasure, I love meeting fans, especially the cute ones” you winked at Aeri.

“Do you want to watch a movie with us?” Yizhuo asked, you swore you saw stars in her eyes.

You moved to place the pizza on the coffee table before answering “Don’t worry about it, enjoy your time together, I’ll be in my room”. Yizhuo pouted and you laughed “Maybe next time, okay?”. You smiled at the girls before making your way to your room, ready to collapse in your bed and be sad in peace, completely missing the way Jimin’s eyes followed your retreating figure.

Dinner time came around, you were debating whether you should step out and cook something up or just skip your meal altogether and sleep when the door to your room opened. Jimin stepped inside cautiously, holding a plate with two slices of pizza resting on it.

“Here, I saved some for you” she offered you a soft smile, and you felt your heart aching even more.

You accepted the meal with a soft thank you, not daring to meet her eyes. Jimin was concerned, she felt your sad state the second she locked eyes with you when you stepped into the apartment. She didn’t know what was causing your sadness, but she would do anything in her power to make you feel better.

“Baby” she softly called out, you huffed at her choice of words “what’s wrong? Did Miyeon do something to you?”.

That immediately made you look at her, surprise written all over your face “What are you talking about? Miyeon wouldn’t do anything”. She took note of the anger swimming in your eyes, there was something else there, but she couldn’t figure out what it was.

“Are you sure? You’ve been upset since you came back, don’t think for a second that I didn’t notice” she stated.

“I don’t want to talk about it” you rolled your eyes. You knew you were being unfair, but you also weren’t ready to go there with Jimin, your anger was still fresh, you knew you were bound to say something hurtful if you kept going.

Jimin felt herself growing more and more frustrated with you; she knew you like the back of her hand, one look into your eyes and she knew what was going through your head, she knew you often got stressed and took it out on the world, but you had never taken it out on her. Jimin couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you.

“Okay, you don’t want to talk? That’s fine” you stared at her suspiciously, she continued “we were supposed to hang out when you came back. Scoot over and make room for me, we’re watching a movie”.

“Weren’t you just watching movies with your friends?” you shot back rather bitterly, Jimin got a vague idea of what was bothering you.

“So? I want to watch a movie with my girl” she said as she climbed your bed, wrapping her arms around your waist and pulling you close to her.

“Your what?” you managed to squeak out, making her laugh in the process.

“You said so yourself. The first time you did was four years ago on that note you left, and you’ve been calling yourself that every single time you leave a note, no matter what the contents are, you always sign it like that” she held you tighter, her voice growing sultrier with every word she spoke.

“I have never referred to myself as ‘your girl’” you said indignantly.

“No?” she chuckled “You always sign your notes with ‘yours truly’ at the end, and I know very well you don’t do that for anyone else. Doesn’t that mean you’re mine?” she whispered in your ear.

You sighed, trying to calm yourself down. “What game are you playing, Jimin?”.

“Me?” she tried to ignore the way her heart dropped when you referred to her by her name instead of the nickname you always insisted on using “I’m not doing anything. I told you, I want to watch a movie with you”. When you didn’t say anything, Jimin counted this little moment as a victory for herself and chose a movie.

You settled down in Jimin’s arms trying to pay attention to the movie she had chosen; the key word being trying. Your mind kept going back to the girl that had previously occupied your current position. Jimin was a very touchy person, she was very into physical contact and you never complained, you enjoyed the attention. Cuddling wasn’t something new for the two of you, it happened rather often, but you made the mistake of thinking this behavior was something she saved just for you. Turns out she cuddles all of her friends, you thought bitterly.

Jimin could sense your inner turmoil, and it made her feel sad not knowing how to help you. She pressed a kiss to your head as she held you tighter, wishing to protect you from whatever it was that was causing you such distress. What Jimin didn’t know was that her actions made your heart ache even more.

______________________

(“Hi y/n! It’s so amazing to have you here with us today!”

“Thank you, the pleasure’s all mine!”

“Your manager is here with you today, isn’t she?”

“Yes, she is. Why do you ask?”

“We know your fans are also fond of her, they have this ongoing joke that you two are like an old married couple.”

You laughed rather loudly. Jimin, backstage, caught herself staring.

“What do you think of that, y/n?”

“Well, I don’t mind, I honestly think it’s cute.”)

______________________

About a week had gone by since your jealousy had gotten the better of you, and there has been a certain tension between you and Jimin ever since. Jimin had grown bolder with you, she used to make a few flirtatious comments here and there, but they’ve become more frequent. Her touches have also changed, as if she’s feeling more confident around you now. You weren’t sure how to react.

You walked out of your room wanting to get a snack when you ran into Jimin loitering in the living room couch. She smiled when she saw you, but it seemed rather forced. You walked up to her wanting to see what was wrong when she surprised you by pulling you into her lap, she nuzzled your neck as her arms made their way around your waist. You giggled at the sensation.

“That tickles…” you said, she hummed. “You seem upset, what’s wrong?” you asked as you played with her hair.

“I don’t want you to feel bad, don’t worry about it, baby” she mumbled.

You frowned at her words “what do you mean? Did I do something wrong?”.

“Not exactly” she sighed, wondering if she should really tell you, but one look into your concerned eyes was enough to make her crack. “You know how my birthday’s coming up? I wanted to spend it with my parents since it was a free day, I even thought of bringing you along so I could introduce you, but now that’s not going to happen”. She finished with a pout and you felt your heart melting at the sight.

“I’m almost to afraid to ask, but why isn’t it going to happen?” you bit your lip nervously.

“I got a call this morning, you have three interviews lined up that day and who knows if something else is going to pop off” she said, resting her head on your shoulder.

“I’m really sorry about that, Yuji. Maybe I could call the company and ask for someone else to go with me? That way you’ll get to spend your special day with your family”. You suggested but she quickly shook her head.

“Don’t bother, I wanted to bring you with me, it won’t be the same without you there”.

“Why did you want to bring me along?” you asked quietly, if Jimin wasn’t so close she probably wouldn’t have heard you.

“You’re the most important person in my life” she said as if it was nothing “of course I wanted them to meet you”.

You cursed everyone involved in booking those interviews in your head, maybe now would be a good time to retire. You mumbled a soft thank you to Jimin and settled in her arms without saying anything else. She leaned back into a more comfortable position; both of you staying there, simply enjoying each other’s presence.

I don’t know how, but I will make sure Jimin has the best birthday she’s ever had.

______________________

(‘y/n, what’s your most prized possession?’ Mm, that’s a good question, let me think about it.

Instagram live, you sat there reading through the many questions pouring in. Jimin was sitting a few feet away.

“Jimin and I went to this workshop a few months ago where we learned how to make bracelets, we ended up making bracelets for each other. See?”

You showed your bracelet to the camera.

“That’s my most prized possession, the bracelet Jimin worked so hard on because she loves me so much!”

Jimin rolled her eyes but still laughed, a fond look in her eyes.)

______________________

Jimin’s birthday rolled around and you pulled all the stops since the moment you woke up. Jimin had a routine she always had to follow, so you knew it by heart. You made sure to wake up before she did so you could surprise her properly. Honestly you had no idea if Jimin wanted to spend whatever free time remained with her friends, but she didn’t mention anything so for your sake and sanity you assumed she doesn’t have anything planned.

As you cooked breakfast for your manager, you went through the plan once again. You’d wake her up with breakfast in bed, while she showered, you’d leave everything ready so you could surprise her once you came back from today’s schedules. She could call her friends up if she wanted to after she received your gift, you wanted that moment to be only for the two of you.

Once you were done with her breakfast you made your way to her room with the tray in your hands. You tried to be as quiet as possible, not wanting her to wake up before you could put everything into place. You carefully placed the tray on her bedside table, took a deep breath and exclaimed:

“Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!”

Jimin jolted awake feeling completely disoriented, she tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes while she attempted to figure out what was going on. The first thing she noticed was the smell of food, she turned to her bedside table and found a tray lying there containing a plate with pancakes, a cup of coffee, and a note that read:

 Breakfast in bed for the birthday girl :)

-Yours truly, y/n

Jimin felt her heart melt at the sight, you clearly had woken up extra early to surprise her. She turned to you and opened her arms, silently asking you for a hug. You laughed but complied with her request.

“Happy birthday to the best manager in the world” you whispered.

“Thank you for doing this, baby. It means the world to me, really” she said fondly while she hugged you tighter. You let the embrace linger for a few seconds before making a move to get up, Jimin whined. “Where are you going? Aren’t we eating together?” she pouted, sometimes you found it hard to believe she was the older one between you two.

“I need to get ready, we have a job, remember?” you laughed at her expression. “Eat up before your food gets cold, there’s no time to waste!” and before she could keep complaining you rushed out her room. You had to make sure everything was perfect for her.

While you maneuvered through interviews and photoshoots, Jimin kept answering calls and texts from different people trying to wish her a happy birthday. At some point during the day, she had admitted it was overwhelming, but you countered that by claiming it was actually endearing how much others cared for her; the next time she answered a call her smile seemed more relaxed.

It was around 5pm when you two made it back home, Jimin quickly hugged you from behind, not wasting any time.

“You’re always so clingy after a photoshoot” you teased.

“I don’t like the way they look at you, sue me” she huffed.

You laughed but quickly changed the subject, there was no need for you two to get into a fight or something along those lines, at least not today. “Don’t you want to call your friends and invite them over?”

She hummed, letting you go so you could face her. “Minjeong called to say they would be here for dinner time. Is that okay with you?”.

You felt the jealousy bubbling in your chest when Jimin mentioned the other girl, but you tried your best to control yourself. “Yuji, it’s your birthday, you’re in charge today”. A pause “actually scratch that, you’re in charge every day, but you know what I mean”.

Jimin laughed “Do you want to do something together before they get here?”.

“Actually yes, I have a surprise for you. Sit on the couch, I’ll be right back” you said as you began to make your way to the fridge.

“Are you going to dance for me?” she said, wiggling her eyebrows and laughing.

“In your dreams, buddy!” you yelled form the kitchen, you could hear her laughter growing louder at that.

“Hey! It’s my birthday! All of my dreams are supposed to come true today”. You rolled your eyes not wanting to answer to that. You made your way back to the living room with a cake box in your hands, you placed the box in the coffee table before addressing Jimin.

“I have to get something from my room, give me a second” you began to walk away, before turning to look at her with a raised eyebrow “don’t open the box while I’m gone”. Jimin laughed and agreed to wait for you to get back. You rushed to your room as quickly as possible, not trusting Jimin enough with the surprise.

As you made your way back, Jimin noticed an even bigger box in your arms this time. You placed the box next to the first one and turned to sit beside her on the couch. “Okay, all done. Go on, open the smaller box first”.

Jimin complied, reaching for the box. When she pulled the lid off, she couldn’t help the gasp that came out of her lips. “A dinosaur themed cake, really?!” she exclaimed, a goofy grin spreading across her face.

You laughed at her reaction, pointing your phone towards her so you could take a picture. “You’re a nerd like that, it was only fitting”.

“I love it, thank you so much for this, babe!” she beamed before pressing a kiss to your cheek.

“Open the next gift, I have a feeling you’re going to love it even more” you said, this time switching your phone to video which made Jimin a bit nervous.

Jimin reached for the next box with trembling hands, once she had it placed on her lap, she paused for a second. She picked at the skin around her fingernails as she tried to relax; you placed your hand over hers and offered her a soft smile, in that moment she knew there was no need to be nervous, it was just you after all, you had never given her any reason to doubt. Jimin carefully opened the box and immediately froze when she saw the contents of it.

“This has to be some sort of dream…” she said quietly, her attention completely zeroed in on the box in her lap.

“Happy birthday, Yuji” you said softly.

Inside the box sat the ten versions of the ‘I Got a Boy’ album by SNSD, aka Jimin’s favorite band.

“How did you manage to get these? They’re almost impossible to find, and you even got all nine members!” she exclaimed.

“I’ve been planning this for months now” you shrugged, a smirk playing at your lips “the Jessica version was incredibly hard to find, but it was definitely worth it”.

Jimin laughed, not really knowing what else to do. “This must have cost a fortune”.

“Not to brag but being a celebrity has some perks, you know?”

Jimin, with extreme care, placed the box back in the coffee table and reached over to pull you into a hug. “Breakfast in bed, the dinosaur cake, my favorite band’s album… why would you go through all this trouble for me?”.

“It’s pretty simple, you’re my absolute favorite person, Yuji” you smiled at her “I would do anything for you”. Jimin held you tighter, never wanting to let go.

“Come on” you called out to her after a few seconds “why don’t we go through your new albums together?”.

______________________

(“For the next scene, we should have y/n on a boat” a man suggested.

 “No, that’s not a good idea” Jimin countered.

“Oh really? And why not? It’s summer, it’s a popular concept”

“That might be true, but y/n has severe motion sickness, she won’t be able to film the music video properly”

“She… does?”

“Yes, one look at the boat and she will be throwing up nonstop. In fact, whenever she gets on a plane-”

“Jimin stop embarrassing me!”)

______________________

In the entirety of her time knowing you, Jimin had never felt this furious towards you. Not only had you been ignoring her, giving her the cold shoulder and just acting like a complete brat, she had caught you in the kitchen of your shared home standing way too close to Aeri for her liking.

She could still picture the horrifying scene every time she closed her eyes. You standing there, giggling and twirling your hair like some school girl while Aeri leaned in close to whisper something in your ear. Jimin saw red as soon as she walked into the kitchen and caught you two like that.

Jimin didn’t know what was worse, the fact that she got into a fight with one of her best friends, that you had locked yourself in your room after the incident and refused to talk to her, that she still couldn’t bring herself to tell you how she felt, or that she had heard Aeri asking for your number right before she left.

Maybe she should go out, find a way to distract herself from this chaos. She was about to get up from her bed when she heard a knock on her door followed by your voice. “Jimin? Can I come in?”.

Jimin considered her options, she wanted to scream, she wanted to ignore you the same way you had ignored her, but her heart ached for you; what she wanted most was to for you to tell her it was all a misunderstanding and you were all hers.

“Okay, come in” you two should fix this mess as soon as possible, you couldn’t go out to work if you refused to talk to each other. You shuffled into Jimin’s room with a conflicted expression on your face, you looked directly into Jimin’s eyes before deciding the floor was more interesting than her face. Jimin sighed, and when you turned to look at her again, she motioned for you to sit with her on the bed.

 “Will you please tell me what the hell that was?” Jimin started, a stern expression on her face. You gulped; you had never seen her this mad.

“Aeri and I were just talking” you said.

“Bullshit!” Jimin exclaimed “I know Aeri very well, but it was clear as day that she was flirting with you”.

“You really want to do this? Fine.” You said defiantly, “I admit we were flirting, but why does that bother you, huh?”.

“Why does that bother me? Because you’re mine, y/n! Excuse me for being bothered when someone else flirts with you!” Jimin raised her voice, but you weren’t going to back down.

“I’m yours, really?” you laughed incredulously “Are you sure not mixing me up with Minjeong?”

“Minjeong? What on earth are you talking about?!”.

“Whenever Minjeong is around you always treat me differently, as if you don’t want her to see anything, and before you try to brush me off again, I know for a fact you two used to date”.

“How do you know that?” but Jimin knew the answer before you said anything.

“Aeri told me” you shrugged “she told me all about how you were each other’s first love and how you’re probably going to start dating again”.

“Minjeong and I are just friends, we’re better off as friends” Jimin huffed.

“I see the way she looks at you, Jimin, I’m not stupid” you got up from the bed, wanting to put some distance between you.

“Oh yeah?” she stood up as well, now you were screaming at each other from opposite sides of the bed “and how does she look at me, huh? Please, enlighten me”.

“She looks at you the exact same way I do, Jimin!” you felt tears threatening to spill form your eyes, but you had to get your point across. “It’s the exact way I wish you would look at me!”.

“If what you say is true, then why the hell were you flirting with Aeri?!” Jimin wasn’t ready to let that one go just yet.

“I wanted your attention! I wanted you to look at me!” you cried out. “Every time Minjeong is around you act as if there’s a wall between us, but whenever it’s just the two of us you treat me like I’m the only one you want. The last time I tried to talk to you about it you called me dramatic, I didn’t know what else to do”.

“…You gave Aeri your phone number” Jimin mumbled.

“Jimin-”

“A-and what about Miyeon, huh?” it looked like Jimin still had some fight in her. “You're practically obsessed with her!”

“What?” you shrieked.

“I’ve been in love with you for the longest time, y/n. I love your laugh; I love the way you scrunch up your nose when you’re trying to concentrate. I love the way you hum along to whatever melody is stuck in your head when you cook; I love how you pretend to like sweets because you know I like them. I love the way you have to take a pill before getting into a car because your stomach is just weak like that, which brings me to how much I love the fact that you’re willing to ride rollercoasters with me even if it means you’ll be puking your guts out for the next hour. I could go on and on, listing every little thing I’ve come to love about you, but it would probably take me decades. I just… feel insecure sometimes. I see how everyone else looks at you, I see these celebrities throwing themselves at you and I just know they could give you a better life than whatever it is that I could offer; but know this one thing, baby, they will never love you the way I do”. Jimin finished her heartfelt speech with tears spilling out of her eyes.

“You stubborn fool” you sniffed “I want to be yours. I don’t care about anyone else; do you have any idea how many celebrities I have rejected because I’m waiting for you to actually ask me to be your girlfriend? Yuji, you’re the most important person in my life, I don’t want anyone else”.

Jimin looked at you as if she couldn’t believe what you were saying. “I thought you wouldn’t feel the same…”

“You’re joking, right?” you laughed despite the tears that were coming out of your eyes. “I honestly thought you were just fooling around”.

Jimin walked over to you, wrapping her arms around your waist and lowered her voice, making you feel weak in the knees. “There’s still a lot of things we need to talk about, but right now?” she placed a kiss on the corner of your mouth. “Right now, I’m going to show you how much I love you”. She placed a kiss on your neck. “And I’m also going to remind you who you belong to”.

Jimin desperately pressed her lips against yours, you sighed melting into the kiss.

“I’ll make sure you never forget just how much I love you”.

______________________

("I just can’t believe how dense you were. I’ve been madly in love with you for ages.”

“You’re one to speak…”

“Excuse me? I wrote a whole album about how much I loved you.”

“Yes, but-”

“I have a song literally called ‘yjm’! You know, as in Yu Jimin?”

“Okay but-”

“We went to Paris for my birthday!”

“Yeah, as friends!”

“The city of love? Really, Jimin?”)

______________________

A/N: It's finally here! I've been working on this one for the longest time, but I never expected it to be this long haha

I hope you guys enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you have any suggestions regarding whatever just let me know.

#aespa imagines #aespa scenarios #aespa x fem reader #karina imagines #aespa #karina scenarios #yu jimin #yu jimin scenarios #yu jimin x reader #aespa fanfic #aespa fluff #karina x reader #yu jimin imagines

[tehloserprince]

Some folks asked me to post/share this here because they found it useful, so ...

I was a little surprised by the amount of people who thought Gabriel and Beelzebub literally met only three times before deciding they were in love and running off together. It's true that we see three pivotal moments in Gabriel's memories, and I think @neil-gaiman and co. showed the audience these specific moments for a reason, but the writing and visual cues in each of the scenes seemed to be done in a way that would emphasize the passage of time between meetings and the development of the relationship between Gabriel and Beelzebub to the audience.

First Meeting: I believe this one happened not too long after Armageddon failed to materialize. We're given an immediate visual cue from Gabriel, whose outfit is closer to what he wore in S1; he's wearing the same scarf and jacket that he wore throughout that season, and also when he met Beelzebub on the Tadfield airbase. Could be appropriate attire for the season, since we do see Gabriel wearing the coat again a bit later (sans scarf).

At their meeting, Gabriel is seated on the left and Beelzebub is on the right. Their meeting place seems to be somewhere in Russia (away from their home territories). The table is rather large, creating some distance between the two of them. Their body language is also a lot more guarded: legs and arms crossed at times, and they tend to lean away from each other more throughout the conversation. This meeting is short, but there are some sparks between the two of them: the gentle teasing ("well, you lost"/"so did you"), Beelzebub crossing their arms and trying not to smile at Gabriel's "Arma-bloody-geddon" moment, and the shared understanding over the burdens of being the respective Commanders-in-Chief of Heaven and Hell.

It ends with Gabriel leaving quickly after saying it's a pity they'll never speak again, but ...

Second Meeting: ... obviously, they do end up speaking again. When Gabriel enters this particular meeting, he's wearing an outfit closer to what we see him wearing in S2 prior to him losing his memory. Again, possibly a seasonal cue as well. At the beginning of the Second Meeting, Gabriel sits down across from Beelzebub and immediately proposes the idea of "no Armageddon." He would have no reason to do that unless there had been other meetings that deepened their initial connection and made him realize that hey, a victory for Heaven would mean NO Beelzebub, which would kind of suck because he's grown to enjoy their company and their little "work meetings."

While they've built a sort of rapport over their work lives, there seems to be something else simmering beneath the surface. This is reflected in more visual cues: their body language seems more comfortable/relaxed - they lean towards one another as opposed to leaning back and maintaining distance; the table itself is much smaller (meaning they're seated closer together/with less distance between them); and they've also switched sides - Beelzebub is now seated on the left and Gabriel is on the right. Their meeting place seems to be a bar in America, which might mean they've still been avoiding any meetings in their home territories.

Beelzebub is open to Gabriel's suggestion and agrees to it almost immediately. Instead of rushing off like he did after their first meeting, Gabriel remains seated and Beelzebub seems to get a bit flustered by his gaze. They discuss the music playing on the jukebox, and Beelzebub is so much more patient with Gabriel's lack of knowledge than they would have been with anyone else. There are multiple layers to Gabriel's line, "Then ... I also like it." The little subtleties from Jon Hamm and Shelley Conn add a wonderful depth to these short scenes tbh.

At the end of the meeting, Beelzebub straightens up, fixes their gaze on Gabriel, and very pointedly states that there's "no NEED for them to ever meet again," smiling slightly as they wait for his response ("none whatsoever"). The wording there is important because ...

Third Meeting: ... there IS no "need" for them to ever meet again. From here on out, they're meeting solely because they WANT to be in each other's company. They're no longer pretending that their meetings are strictly business, and they're also not limiting themselves to locations outside their home territories. I get the feeling that the Third Meeting the audience gets to see was more like their "first date." Instead of meeting directly at a public location to discuss "business," Gabriel takes Beelzebub to see something important to him. Of course, this is Gabriel we're talking about, and he's taken Beelzebub to see the statue of him in a local cemetery in Edinburgh. But still! The statue is meaningful to him, and he wanted to share that with Beelzebub. They're even standing right next to each other as the scene begins, with Beelzebub's head cocked to listen as Gabriel speaks. Shelley Conn gives us this awesome moment of Beelzebub looking at Gabriel almost wistfully, and mmm do I have Some Thoughts about that entire scene. I've shared them elsewhere, maybe I'll eventually post them over here, but the TLDR is that yeah, I feel like they're wishing Gabriel would look at them Like That. I also think maybe there was some larger doubt re: whether or not the Archangel Fucking Gabriel, God's Messenger, would ever love a demon over their heavenly duty/station. But I digress.

Following their excursion to see the statue, Beelzebub and Gabriel wind up at The Resurrectionist. Gabriel's been wearing that coat again, which could show another shift in the seasons. Instead of sitting across from each other, Gabriel and Beelzebub are now seated next to each other in a cozy booth. The candles and dim lighting give it a romantic feel. Adding to that clumsy sort of romantic feeling, we see Gabriel and Beelzebub each doing something nice for the other just to see them happy. Gabriel performs a small miracle on the jukebox to have it play what has essentially become "their" song, and Beelzebub gifts a fly in return - essentially, a small piece of themselves, as they are the Lord of the Flies after all. It also happens to be the first thing anyone's ever given to Gabriel, a fact that has quite an impact on Beelzebub.

When Aziraphale is talking to the owner of The Resurrectionist, he learns that the jukebox miracle occurred "last year." So we can deduce (detective word!) that Gabriel and Beelzebub had been "dating" for about a year prior to his "disappearance." A year is a long time for them to develop much deeper feelings and intimacy. Not necessarily talking about sex there either, because folks can imagine whatever they want to in that regard. I mean intimacy in the sense of knowing and feeling comfortable with each other. The way they hold hands and have their arms around each other in the S2 finale indicates that they'd gotten pretty cozy with all of that. I mean, come on, look at how happy Gabriel was to see them once his memories were returned and how immediately his entire demeanor changed.

In the brief moments we see Gabriel prior to his memory loss, he's behaving differently from his S1 counterpart, who was a lot more rigid and laser-focused on Armageddon. Even Beelzebub seems a bit changed; that scene with Demon Josh is a great example. Granted, Beelzebub was more subdued/worried about Gabriel in that moment, but it seems like they'd grown a longer fuse and/or were less quick to anger/annoyance. Daydreaming can do that to a demon, I suppose.

I love this pairing; they're such a great example of how loving someone and being loved in return can bring out the "real"/best version of yourself. I'd totally read an entire novel about them. And can I just add once again that the visual cues were so well done? Not just the acting from Shelley Conn and Jon Hamm, who really brought a lot to the table (see what I did there) with their facial expressions and mannerisms, but the actual visual cues in each of these scenes: the way the two of them were gradually seen to be sitting closer until they were seated right next to each other; the shift in body language between meetings; the way they switched sides during each of the meetings we got to see, as opposed to Aziraphale and Crowley having dominant "sides" that we tend to see them on; etc. I could write an essay on this (more than I already have) so I'll have to stop myself now.

Anyway. Screenplays are neat, and it's fun to see how words and imagery combine to tell a much larger story. Of course, you need great actors to really bring it all home, and thankfully we've been blessed with many in Good Omens. Much love to Jon Hamm and Shelley Conn for their work here.

#good omens #good omens 2 #gomens #ineffable bureaucracy #boxfly #beelzebub x gabriel #gabriel x beelzebub #lord beelzebub #archangel gabriel #s2 ep6 #shut up j #listen i just enjoy analyzing media sometimes #especially when it brings me serotonin

[breelandwalker]

How can you motivate yourself to practice? I'm so busy with work and other daily life things that I often don't have time, energy or motivation to practice, or I just forget. Time goes so fast these days and suddenly I've missed the last two sabbaths and full moon, then I get bad conscience and feel like I'm a "bad" or "failed" witch. (I struggle a lot with self deprecation in general with my mental health) Do you have any tips on how I can motivate myself to practice more?

Oof, I hear you. We all have the best of intentions when it comes to keeping up with our practice and making progress on our goals and projects, but damnit, Real Life just keeps on getting in the way.

Ideally, we'd all be able to keep perfect track of the occasions we wish to celebrate and the cycles of the moon AND have time and energy to devote to our practices on top of taking care of silly things like jobs and families and social lives and household management. Ideally, we'd be well-read, well-rested, well-organized, and perfectly in command of our faculties.

It's nice to dream, isn't it?

In reality, we're all doing the best we can and despite our best efforts, we miss holidays and moon dates and gatherings and go weeks or months without having time to sit down and actively work on our craft. And that is OKAY. None of it means we're bad people or failed witches. It just means we're human beings with human lives and human limitations. We can only do so much with 24 hours in a day.

The nice thing is that the craft meets us where we are, and if that means waiting a while, it's got a loooong shelf life. Besides that, practicing witchcraft isn't JUST performing rituals and casting spells and lighting up the altar. It's research and rest and reflection too.

In my practice, I've found that doing small things as part of my daily routine and larger things when I have time really helps. For instance, stirring a blessing into my morning drink, or setting my wards when I lock the front door, or wearing a charmed piece of jewelry. I do my best to keep track of the moons using reminders and a planner so I can put my jars out, but I forget sometimes. It's annoying, but there's always another one coming. And I find ways to make things I'm already doing magical as well, like cleansing my home when I clean or take out the garbage or reconnecting with the land I live on while doing yard work.

And when all else fails, I take a break and go back to the things that inspire me. I work on crafts. I journal. I try something new. I listen to music and watch movies and maybe re-read some things, and I give myself a little grace. (I've run myself into a full burnout before by ignoring my limits before. I don't recommend it.) Then when I have the time and energy, I get back to work.

Here are some posts that might help:

My Intuitive Spark Feels Low - How Do I Get It Back?

I’m In A Slump - How Do I Get Out Of It?

I’ve Reached A Stopping Point - What Do I Do Next?

How Do I Know When I’m Ready For The Next Step In My Practice?

Witchcraft Exercise - Quantifying Your Craft

Witchcraft Exercise - The Book of Lessons

Witchcraft Exercise - Witchy Inspo Journal

Witchcraft Exercise - Music To Witch By

I also discussed the topic on two episodes of my podcast:

Hex Positive, Ep. 027 - When Inspo Takes A Holiday (March 2022)

Hex Positive, Ep. 033 - Touch Grass (April 2023)

Hope this helps! 😊

#theswahn #witch community #witchblr #witches of tumblr #witchcraft #battling the slump #Bree answers your inquiries

[reds-skull]

Not Alive, Nor Dead

[PREV PART] [AO3]

We're getting close to another favorite moment of mine... I can't wait to write it lol

“Rudy, Vargas.” Ghost greets them, sitting down to eat his breakfast. 

The two Vaqueros nod, Rudy speaking with a mouthful, “Fantasma, slept well?”

He lifts his mask just enough to take a bite of the eggs, “no.”

“Oh.” Rudy swallows the food, “sorry to hear that?”

Alejandro snorts at his awkwardness, “what got you uneasy, hermano?”

Ghost sighs, scanning the room for stray Shadows. He leans in closer to quietly tell them, “caught a Shadow following me and Johnny last night.”

The men’s gaze darkens, “I’ve had a bad feeling about the Gringo for a while now…” Alejandro stabs a tomato angrily, “I’m starting to think he’s not here to support us.”

“What’s your theory?” Ghost indulges.

“He’s the Americans’ way into whatever this mess will lead us.” Rudy nods, continuing for the Colonel. It seems like this isn’t the first time they discuss this, “Shepherd wants his name on our success, and Graves is his toy soldier.” He frowns, “making his Shadows stalk you and Soap, however…”

Ghost finishes his meal, “Shepherd might want to eat the cake and leave it whole. I’d suggest watching each other’s back. Cheers.”

��Keep yourself safe, hermano. Thank you.” Alejandro gives him a sharp nod, mind undoubtedly swirling with all possible scenarios.

Ghost returns the nod, leaving mess. 

If Graves turns his back on them, the fallout will fuck up more than just taskforce 141. The Vaqueros, Commander Karim and Keller, Laswell…

He knows too much. If he betrays them… Ghost will make sure he keeps his mouth shut.

Whether it’s on earth or Limbo, Graves won’t escape him.

Johnny waits for him when he leaves for the training grounds, grinning cheerfully when he spots Ghost.

He falls into step beside him, “goin’ to let Limbo out for a spin?”

His gruff accent sands down the tension he accumulated while talking about Graves, “need to take off the edge, don’t want them too wild on the mission.”

Ghost looks down at Soap, deciding to kick a little at his boots, “you sure you want to follow me to the field? Limbo still wants to take a bite off you.”

Johnny stumbles for a second, pouting up before smirking, “I’ll follow you anywhere, LT”

Ghost gazes at his eyes, the reflection of the sky encompassed within them. He’s only half joking when he murmurs, “that’s what I’m afraid of.” 

He makes Soap stand far, perhaps a little over worrying, but Ghost rather having to shout for his Sergeant to hear than risk his life yet again.

As he lets Limbo loose, he thinks back to his Last conversation with his Reaper. How Johnny is supposed to kill him.

Ghost wishes he believed it more wholeheartedly. It could’ve helped with his constant concerns, his nightmares, the visions so real he can almost see Soap in Limbo now, vacant eyes chasing his light.

Ghost shakes the illusion away, Johnny isn’t here. No reason to torture himself with those ‘what-ifs’.

Limbo has returned to its usual state, his victims all screaming and crying, reaching for the protective light surrounding him. Things have been turbulent for the residents in these last couple of months. Ghost almost feels bad, if he ever let himself feel anything towards his eternally trapped victims.

It’s a slippery slope he rather not go down on.

When he steps out of Limbo, streams of blackened dirt point at Johnny, stopping only a few meters from the Scot.

Ghost huffs when Johnny waves over eagerly, calling out that he’s ‘faster than the creepy gits, LT!’ and that Ghost has nothing to worry about. Maybe once that was true, but the way his lips curl into a smile tells him otherwise.

They part ways when Soap has to go to yet another debrief, not before he taps his shoulder and promises to find him afterwards. Ghost’s heart practically sings when he murmurs, “you better, Sergeant.”

Garrick catches him while he’s still gliding on the high of those promises, a horrified face pulling him back to earth, “Gaz? What’s-”

“I need to talk to you.” his eyes flicker around, “privately.”

Ghost nods, instantly snapping back into business mode, “follow me.”

They silently make their way to the roof, the 4-storey building and the single access point, making for the most secluded place in the entire base.

Gaz walks over to watch the fields, avoiding eye contact with him. Ghost impatiently waits for him to spill whatever got him so frightened.

“Do you know someone called Kirill Bogomolov?” the Sergeant mutters, his back still towards Ghost.

He opens his mouth to give the negative, when he stops. Bogomolov… he has heard the name before.

Ghost inhales sharply. Konchar.

“Yes.” 

Gaz’s head snaps around to gawk at him, “where? Who is he??”

“You first, Sergeant. How do you know Bogomolov?”

Garrick’s voice is somewhat desperate when he speaks, “my Reaper. It said… fuck, Ghost. Kirill was its, strongest Revenant of the Pull ever created.”

“Konchar was Reaped by the same Reaper that got you?” Ghost exclaims in surprise.

Gaz’s eyebrows furrow in confusion, and Ghost exhales, “Konchar is the callsign of Bogomolov. Why did your Reaper bring him up?”

“It said…” Garrick looks down, “it warned me about Soap. Told me I should stay away from him. That it won’t lose another revenant to ‘the Reaper of Destruction’.” Gaz’s eyes look at his, “Soap didn’t kill Konchar, right? Tell me my Reaper’s wrong, Ghost.”

Ghost narrows his eyes, “I heard about Konchar first when Soap lost his memory. He said Konchar killed his squad.”

Gaz’s face scrunches, “fuck…”

“Official reports state Konchar died from the explosion in Verdansk six years ago. Soap, allegedly, was Reaped in the same event.” Ghost’s mind races faster than he could speak, “Reapers don’t lie, Garrick. Soap must’ve…”

The Sergeant rubs his temples, exhaling a shaky breath, “killed Konchar because of that. But you said they couldn’t have met?”

Ghost goes over the timeline again, “if we assume the reports are faked, which they are since your Reaper won’t lie…” things are still so disconnected… “Konchar didn’t die in the explosion. Which means Soap was Reaped before it.”

Gaz floats a few inches of ground, “what do we know on the mission Soap and his squad were on in Verdansk?”

“Nothing. His file is fucking blacked out.”

He drops to the ground again, “couldn’t you ask Soap? You two are close-”

“Johnny won’t say shit.” Ghost almost snarls, frustrations building, “whatever happened there, it made him scream and ask his Reaper why it didn’t fucking kill him.”

“Jesus…” shock spreads on Garrick’s face, and he groans, “what do we do, Ghost? First your Reaper tells you Soap will be ‘your demise’, then mine shows up for the first time in months to warn me it will not lose another revenant.”

“Parra’s Reaper warned him about me as well.” Ghost recounts the memory, “they seem to do that when a strong revenant is around.” he sizes Gaz up, looking for any signs of fear. “We’ll bring it up to the Captain, but if it were up to me… I won’t let that change anything. Although…”

Garrick perks up, “we’ll keep a distance from Johnny when he uses his powers extensively. Don’t underestimate him.” Ghost finishes.

The Sergeant nods, “yes sir. I’ll go inform Price.”

Ghost stays behind on the roof a little longer. If Johnny and Konchar have met after his Reaping…

Is there anything on his file he could truly trust?

The revenant in question finds him while he haunts the halls around the meeting rooms, waiting for him to show up.

Johnny seemed surprised to see him there, and the expression quickly melts into a pleased sort of joy.

“Missed me that much, Ghostie?” he teases.

Ghost can’t stop his eyes from rolling, “in your dreams, MacTavish.”

Soap raises an eyebrow, saying with a lop-sided smile, “oh, you do a lot more in my dreams, LT.”

His face feels on fire under the mask, Ghost stiffens, “that so?”

“Aye” Johnny gives him a shit eating grin, “last night ye took me teh a fancy restaurant, treated me right. If only you were such a gentleman in my waking hours, LT” he puts a hand over his heart, shaking his head in disappointment.

Ghost cuffs him over the head, “don’t see you taking me anywhere nice, Sergeant. You get what you give.”

Soap rubs at the back of his head, frowning up at Ghost, “Oi! You know what, I’ll take ye somewhere real good next time we get leave. You won’t have any excuses after that!”

“I’ll hold you to it, Johnny.”

Soap smiles, the two of them gazing just a little too long at each other’s eyes (not his fault Johnny got pretty ones) when Price’s voice echos in their minds, “I’m truly sorry for interrupting you lovebirds, but we need you two here.”

A comically grief-stricken expression washes over Johnny’s features, “I just got out of debrief…” he whines.

“Won’t be long, Sergeant, just need to verify something.” Price sighs in their head.

Ghost takes hold of Soap’s drooping shoulder, “up and at ‘em, Johnny. The sooner we go, the sooner we finish.”

His Sergeant sighs loudly, “Aye sir…”

“No…” Soap takes a step back, voice shaking, “your Reaper too…? I-I don’t… I would never…”

Ghost takes a hold of his arm, stopping him from running away. He can feel the tension coiling up in Johnny. He knew his Sergeant won’t take the news well, that yet another person is now in danger of him.

Ghost wants to shout at all the Reapers in the world beyond, explain Johnny is the last person to hurt his teammates, that he’s righteous and self sacrificial to a fault.

He knows it won’t matter to them. They don’t care for such small, insignificant details of their human servants.

“We know, son.” Price attempts to calm him, “we’ll change the plan as much as we can, but you’ll have to use your powers to some extent. I’m sorry, but you’re irreplaceable.”

Soap tries to back away again, “no! I can’t- just make me do something else, I’ll be fine with exploding again, I can heal, I-”

“Johnny”, Ghost tightens his hold on him.

Soap stares at him, eyes terrified, “I can’t LT… If I kill any of ye… I wouldn’t forgive myself.”

Price looks between them, crossing his arms. Ghost thinks over the plan again, of the most recent iteration. Soap and Gaz were supposed to create a distraction, make the PMC revenant run away, only to be caught by the rest of their forces, and slowly be pushed back from all fronts.

He turns his head to glare at Price, “swap me and Garrick out, sir.”

Soap and Gaz both exclaim as one, “what?!”

“Go on.” Price squints.

“Me and Soap are the strongest revenants in our forces. If anyone could push the target, it’s us.”

“You two are not immune to each other, Lieutenant. It will be risky to send my best soldiers together.” Price comments.

Ghost feels Soap turn to stare at him, “if Soap is far enough, I can use Limbo safely.”

“And if you get caught in an explosion?”

Johnny takes the arm on him with his hand, squeezing and shaking his head lightly. Ghost ignores him.

“Limbo would stop them.”

Price’s eyebrows raise, Soap gapes at him from the corner of his vision.

The Captain's voice asks in his head, “have you done it before?”

He looks down at Johnny, “no” he whispers in his thoughts.

“Simon…”

Blue eyes shine up at him, skies that hold stars in their depth, “I trust him, John. With my life, with my death, with everything left in me.”

Price tilts his head, something sad softening his features, “...don’t make me regret this, Lieutenant.” he says out loud.

“I won’t, sir.” he doesn’t avert his eyes from Johnny’s.

Plot twist! Konchar and Gaz have the same Reaper!

#call of duty modern warfare 2 #cod mw2 #cod ghost #cod soap #cod gaz #cod price #rodolfo parra #alejandro vargas #revenant au #call of duty fic #call of duty fanfic #call of duty modern warfare #cod fic #cod fanfic #ghostsoap #soapghost #ghoap #when i say favorite moment #yall should already know its angst... lmao

[nerdieforpedro]

We have two Wavelengths

Din Dajrin x plus size female reader

This blog overall is for readers 18+ MDNI

Word Count: about 2k

Summary: You and Din have grown closer since you’ve joined the Razor Crest. A trip to his coven is rather informative and inspires some new thoughts.

Warnings: Two nervous people, maybe a sort of interrogation, we're still all about the hands, actual good advice?, forehead bumps are scandalous!, so are dreams at times, Nerdie is not serious with these tags

Notes: Paz Vizla and The Armorer make an appearance! ☺️ Are they helpful? Maybe. We’ll see.

Main Masterlist/ Din Djarin Masterlist/ Our Journey Across The Star Ocean Series

He told me to call him Din six months ago. Things changed then. For one, I finally knew his name. It’s…fun to say. I’m not sure what that means, I don’t think I say in a weird way, it’s just after calling him ‘Mando’ for so long it’s so good to know his actual name. We’ve been holding hands when sitting in the cockpit together, often without his gloves on. I’m not exactly sure how important that is, but it holds some significance given he’s normally covered head to toe. Even when we make stops to refuel or for different jobs, Din normally has a hand gloved or not on me somewhere. I thought I would be a lot more nervous about the more public display, but I enjoy it. I wonder how I can show him how I feel too, wait how do I feel? 

I mean he did buy me a new work apron (I couldn’t stitch my old one back together. The different patches were coming apart.) and a sort of vest he said to wear when we’re going after bounties. He came back with it a month after we visited ‘The Armorer.’ The name sounds ominous, but she was very kind and had a booming laugh. I feel like if there was ever a time I could picture Din’s helmet turning red with embarrassment, it was when she asked him if I was his ‘riduur (wife/partner).’ That’s clearly something else important because he looked at me while answering and said, “we haven’t discussed anything about that yet. She has equal say in it.” Maybe it means like a full partner in bounty hunting endeavors or something. The way she chuckled makes me think she was teasing him a bit. I thought his body language would only be that stiff around Peli. But he eventually loosened back up in calling me over to shake hands with her. Grogu knows The Armorer well as he jumped in her arms and patted her golden helmet. She planned to take measurements of me and told Din to go check in with someone named Paz. He didn’t seem enthused about this at all but did as she asked.

“You know his true name I assume. This denotes a high level of trust in you.” Walking around me, her head tilted back and forth. “You have been traveling with him for a little under a year, yes?” I nodded to her question and held my arms out as she took a measuring tape off the wall of her forge. “You know not what is under his armor, correct?”

“He’s never removed his helmet in front of me. He would never do that.” It’s a slight sting when I say it, but it’s one of the essential tenets of his creed so even if I’d love if he did, I’d never ask him to do something like that. I feel her touch the blaster on my hip before going to scribble something down and returning to take more measurements.

“Djarin gave you this did he not? Has he given you anything else?” The Armorer sounds genuinely curious with this question. I nodded and told her about my new work apron he recently got for me and a dark green scarf to tie my hair back when I’m out and about. But Grogu normally plays with it and likes to sleep with it sometimes, so I have a yellow one he got me as well as a backup. She’s stroking the bottom of her helmet where I assume her chin might be. “I shall create something for you. You are welcome back here anytime. I will let Djarin know of this as well. Oh! Take this.” She hands me a retractable knife that looks just like Din’s armor. I know what material that is.

“Ma’am this is beskar. I’m not…I can’t take this. It’s only for Mandalorians right?” I’m starting to wonder if she’s testing me, like would you accept something you know you’re not supposed to have just because Din was cool with bringing you here? Hmm? Her laugh fills all the space in her forge, and she claps her hand on my shoulder.

“Consider it a welcome gift my dear. The fact that you’re here already means you have been accepted. Not quite the same as us given our different ways, but I can tell you mean no ill will. Most critical - you respect and care for him and his foundling deeply. If you did not, you’d have met my hammer swiftly.” I feel equal parts relieved and frightened. Din returns with a towering Mandalorian in navy blue beskar. The armor varies greatly, and I wonder if the colors are just personal preference or have other meanings. The navy-blue armor nods in my direction and leaves back down the hallway. The Armorer whispers one more thing to me before picking up Grogu who’s been playing with a dome on the ground. It could be a shield, or shoulder pad? No, the right name for it was…pauldron! “When you get back to the ship and before you rest for your next journey, tap your forehead to the top of Djarin’s helmet. You’ll be wishing him to get you all to your destination safely.” I could hear the smile as she instructed me, and she’s gone to meet Din near a wall of weapons he’s looking through. I feel like that holds significance as well, but again I don’t know what. I’m going to need to add all these to the notes I’ve been keeping about Mandalorian culture.

My vest the Armorer made me had a small gold wrench symbol over the left chest where the entirety of the armor was silver like Din’s. It’s so beautiful but heavy so I needed help putting it on and taking it off for a while until I got more used to it. Din still offered to help me put it on sometimes, so I let him, it’s also another time he doesn’t wear his gloves so I feel his hands on my shoulders and arms. 

I did as The Armorer told me that day when we got back to the ship. Grogu was in his bassinet near my cot. I told Din to get some rest himself and held his hand like I normally do before I leave. This time, I closed my eyes and leaned down to touch my forehead to his cool beskar. I lingered for a few extra seconds and didn’t realize that I had placed my other hand on his breastplate. “Good night Din. Don’t forget to rest too. You’re going to show me some of the basic controls one of these days so you can sleep too.” I bid him goodnight and went off to sleep, recalling his humming. He normally does that when he’s pleased so it was worth feeling a little silly.

Maker I think I’ve done a bit too much. Not that I didn’t want to, I actually want to do more. I’d like to give her the same type of hug Grogu does after one of his naps, snuggled up against her. But I can’t, well I could, but I might set off all the sensors in my armor if I do that. Things have been going smoothly. Her work apron had seen much better days so I got her a new one that’s much more durable and of better quality. This combined with the blaster and two scarves is quite a bit, I’ve pretty much proposed. I’m investing in her, she’s my…well partner for now. We’ve been together nearly a year, that’s enough time. I’ve seen outside of Mandalorian culture I’m supposed to get a ring for her. Figuring the size will be easy. I’ve decided to take her with me on my next delivery of beskar to the coven. 

Every other time, I hate Paz. With the burning passion of The Armorer’s forge when she melts down the beskar I bring, but on this single matter. The mir’sheb (smartass) is right. I told him how our interactions had been so far, exchanges and the like. 

“Sounds like you haven’t really told her anything and have just been giving her stuff without context dumbass. She’s not one of us, how is she supposed to know?” I hate that this nerf herder is correct. I need to have an actual conversation with her about everything. “Has she seen your face Din? You aren’t so far gone that you forgot that, did you?”

“No she has not. She respects the creed. She’s never asked me to do anything to dishonor it.” I had gone with Paz to visit some members of the coven whom I hadn’t seen for a while. We weren’t particularly close, but it’s always best to say hello at least. I’m not sure what conversation The Armorer would have wanted to have with her, but it shouldn’t be bad. I think. 

“It sounds like you’ve found someone you should keep by your side then. Just talk to the woman. If she’s stuck around you this long, it’s in your favor that she’s not going anywhere. Since you already gave her one weapon, you can give another one that suits her along with one of those rings you see those basic humans wear.” Paz snorts and Din hits him on his shoulder. “Calm down Djarin. I didn’t say she was basic. I was referring to non-Mandalorians. You’ve always been so sensitive.” Rounds around the coven went quickly and we were back in the forge where it seemed they had been discussing something important. After getting a new weapon from The Armorer and her telling me to stop back by in a month, we left. I’d already had her hand in mine on our way out. They should know here too that she’s with me. That’s what the ring would be for, wouldn’t it? We picked up some more supplies and headed for the ship. 

Grogu took some rounds of ‘hide the shiny ball’ to settle down to sleep. I was able to sit with cyar’ika (beloved) without interruption. I told her about checking in at the covent and expressed that I’d like her to walk around with me the next time we have beskar to drop off. She expressed that she would and I placed my hand on her knee. A bit forward on my part, but she placed her hand over mine and stood up. I thought she was going to tell me about what her and The Armorer discussed but she told me to get more rest. She’s normally telling me that. I’m used to functioning on less sleep, but I’ve trained myself to wake when I hear odd noises. Until I got used to Grogu’s sounds, I didn’t sleep much the first few months I had him. 

I should have pulled her close and held her. I’m not sure if she knows what the touching of foreheads really means in Mandalorian culture, but she wished me to get some sleep and said something about the controls before she left. In the minute (or maybe longer), she held her forehead to the area above my T-visor. One of her hands is in mine and the other is on my chest. This new level of closeness - I’m not going to let it go. I’m finding I'm so greedy when it comes to her, in a way that I haven’t been, even with the care I provide to my foundling Grogu. I’m humming with glee, at least I think that’s my armor. It could be me, I’ll do diagnostics later.

The dream I have later that night when I fold my arms and wrap my cape around myself to doze off. 

She’s given me another forehead bump, but I’m bold this time and put my arms around her wide hips, pulling her close to press my T-visor into her soft stomach, easing her to sit on my lap. Just having her lean against me, now her cheek pressed against the side of my helmet. I call her cyar’ika while she calls me Din. I hear her say it repeatedly, while I place my hand on her thigh, keeping her in place. 

If she does it again, I’ll definitely pull my mesh’la (beautiful) close like in my dream. We’ll figure out the communication later, I just want to dream right now.

Part Two Part Four

Space Buddies 🚀: @maggiemayhemnj @angelofsmalldeath-codeine @missladym1981 @morallyinept @bishtrouille

@sherala007 @yorksgirl @daddy-dins-girl @604to647 @megamindsecretlair

@anoverwhelmingdin @theincredibleinkspitter @alltheglitterandtheroar @mrsmando @drawingdroid

@harriedandharassed @i-own-loki @lady-bess @pedroshotwifey @thefrogdalorian

@ramblers-lets-get-ramblin @jessthebaker @connectioneverywhere @grogusmum

#pedro pascal characters #fanfiction #pedro pascal fanfiction #din djarin #the mandalorian #pedro pascal #din djarin x plus size reader #din djarin fanfiction #din djarin x you #Our Journey Across the Star Ocean

[naamahdarling]

How do you cope with “don’t trust your brain”? I can’t trust it at any time of day, due to the dysthymia.

For me, realizing that it is time-related for me really helped. I learned to identify those feelings in specific because of when they routinely occurred, and am now able to lower their internal priority.

With dysthymia that isn't going to be helpful, though.

But still, some of this probably will be at least a bit useful because the helpful part for me was less the time - that was just the factor that made it easiest to catch. It was mostly that identifying them was the first step. Like that part isn't always easy, the thoughts are REALLY COMPELLING, we assign them high priority because of their strength, so it's hard to say "Wait. These intense feelings I am having are not accurate They are a distortion of the facts. They are based on valid fears. However, the way they are currently all ganging up on me, or feel unusually intense, is not in proportion."

And that's sort of where I am now. Here's some stuff I do.

I respond by gently reminding myself that I have a condition that predisposes me, I tell myself it's okay to have the feelings, and then I say "I am going to do what is best for me in this moment while these thoughts upset me." And that can me hard as hell and I can't always do it. But I am trying and learning.

When I get the three o'clocksies as I call them (my schedule is often twisted around enough that they happen at 3, my equivalent of 8 or 9) I take a short bit to remind myself it's a distorted perception (or sometimes utterly false, like when I get the "everyone hates me"s), I challenge it gently, then try not to give it a chance to respond. I try not to argue with it because that doesn't help. And I just find something else to do or think about.

Maybe I move to something I know I like even if I don't want to, and give it a bit to see if I can switch gears. Maybe I say "well I'm ruined for a while, might as well do something hateful like get some water or gather some trash, or brush my teeth, because if I have to suffer I can at least suffer to make my future self a bit happier." That didn't come easy either. Occupying my hands AND my mind is important. I often can't turn the bad feelings volume down if I don't occupy my mind. Movies don't work, but podcasts/audiobooks and hand crafts or engaging phone games do. I have like sixteen I can choose from. (Your library may have audiobooks to borrow digitally btw. It's very cool.)

I ask for help, I ask for asks here a lot, I have some friends to talk with about fun things, my boyfriend is great. Doing imaginative stuff like discussing silly questions (the gryphon question I just got was like a perfect example, thanks!), what-ifs for our OCs or fanfic, or silly stuff like we watch a ghost hunting show and stop it to ask what we/our imaginary people would do, or a spooky movie or podcast or reality show and we raise a hand at the point where we would nope out. We're watching a cake show and we pause it to say what we would do or what winner we would pick. Having another person is so helpful, but you CAN do this with yourself. Write the answers out longhand or journal them on your phone (Journey app!). I will now often do this WHILE I AM CRYING, guys. It helps. Even if I think it won't. I did it during a goddamn tornado warning where for once it WAS very fucking close. Boyfriend was safe across town, I am unbelievably scared of storms and was in about the scariest one I've been in since a kid, and I was snot-crying on the phone and once we said our I love yous we just talked about stupid OC shit. And by god it got me through.

Reading aloud to my cats has helped before.

Like. Whatever it is that's crawling up your spine. It's so much about saying "look, I feel this way, and it is INTENSE, but I don't have to just sit with it; I can do other stuff WHILE I feel this way, I can engage with things ALSO, I can have other thoughts too." You don't have to end the thoughts by force. You can just let them run and move on as much as possible, think about other things as best you can. And with practice it DOES get easier. It does.

Another thing I have recently discovered is that I need TIME to have emotional reactions. Someone I love said something unintentionally SUPER HURTFUL a while ago, and y'all I was SO ANGRY. SO FURIOUS. And I realized before I could address the situation and tell them they crossed a line, I needed to make room to have this huge emotional response before acting, and they DIDN'T need to be part of that. Even though the intense feelings demanded I act, I didn't. With practice, amazingly, I have learned to give MYSELF the space we all talk about giving others to feel first, solve after. It took practice but I'm there. Once I cooled off, I realized not just why I reacted the way I did (specific past trauma) but why they said what they did (their own past trauma, inappropriately dumping it on me) and was able to talk it over with them in an empathetic way and it all smoothed out, with better boundaries now.

The having the emotional reaction thing may not work in some cases such as repetitive thoughts of, say, trauma, but when there is a precipitating event that just happened or I get blindsided by a trigger, it is really helpful to realize it's a reaction, probably a really understandable one, and I won't feel like this forever.

Also psych meds and specifically mood stabilizers are really great for me. I'm on two, and at first I had some internalized ableist shame around taking them because I didn't like how it implied I was like my toxic mom with her uncontrolled rapid cycling (not why she was toxic, but it made me feel like I was failing at being Not Like Her), but WOW having them has helped. The right meds. It can be hard to get that in place, but I did want to say, it really did help me.

I have also with my therapist built a safe place in my mind. This doesn't have to be boring! I have a floating island with cloud oceans, lovely ruins, amazing wildlife, and a badass wizard lair. And in it is a box for the horrible thoughts I can't deal with right now like the PTSD stuff, so it's contained when I'm not working with it, and a koi pond where I drop these glowing rocks I imagine the scary feelings going into, and then the water cleans them and turns them into pretty stones. Like, this was just stupidly useful and I never thought to do it in a way that wasn't boring before. So I can go there, now, with practice, for a quick visit to drop some bad stuff off. I also visit as I fall asleep and explore, to help make it easier to go there quickly. Doesn't work for everyone, has been good for me. Come to Magic Floating Islands! We have perytons and flying coelacanths!

Anyway, I don't know if that's helpful. Other folks might have ideas. But that is kind of where I'm at. It isn't perfect, doesn't always work, but I'm getting better because it's partially just a skill. You know? You're already a bit ahead of where you were initially, since you know it's a distorted pattern. There was a time before you realized that and it probably sucked even more, and there will be a time after this when you have one or two things to try that will suck a little less. It won't be a hundred percent, but you do move forward a bit at a time.

Hope that helps a little. 💕

[layce2015]

Supernatural (Dean Winchester x Female!Reader)

The Devil You Know

Masterlist pt 1

Masterlist pt 2

The boys and I followed a doctor through a hospital full of very sick patience, putting on face masks to protect us and them. "Check it out...I look like the king of pop." Dean said, as he gestures to his masked face. Sam and I sigh at this while Dean chuckles. "Too soon?" He asked. "Too soon." Sam replied. "Yeah, c'mon, I'm still not over that. Been listening to Thriller nonstop." I grumbled.

"Don't get me wrong...I'm glad the CDC is here, but what we really need is vaccine." The doctor said, stopping and turning around to look at us. "You got that right." I muttered, looking around at all the sick people sitting in the waiting room. "Well, tell me, have you noticed anything unusual about the strain...Any signs of behavioral change, like aggression, maybe?" Sam asked the doctor. "Excuse me?" She asked, confused.

"Have the flu victims shown any signs of, uh, homicidal tendencies?" Dean asked. The doctor look between us and chuckles. "uh...Symptomatically speaking, we're looking at a relatively mild case of swine flu here. Probably add up to a miserable week off of work, and that's about it." She said. "So nothing unusual." I said, questionable. "Hmm. Day and a half ago, we didn't have a single case. Now we're looking at over 70. The infectious equivalent of a briefcase bomb. So, yeah, I might call that a little unusual." The doctor explained as she signs something for another doctor.

"Day and a half?" Sam said to Dean and I. "That's the same time those statues started crying." I said. "Yep." Sam replied. "I'm sorry. What was that?" The doctor asked. "What was what?" I asked. "Did you just say a bunch of statues started crying?" The doctor asked. 

"What?" Sam asked then laughs. "Why, no. No. W-who would..." He said. "Who would say that, huh? Crazy people." Dean said. "Exactly." Sam said. "Yeah, which we are not." I said. "No." Sam said. The doctor looks between us, confused. "Just...Get us some vaccine." She said, we nodded and she walks off with the other doctor.

Later, we were driving down a dark road in the Impala, while Bobby talks on speakerphone. "Let me guess...another steamin'-hot pile of swine flu." He said. "Yep." Dean replied. "Doesn't make any sense, Bobby. Pestilence touched down here. I'm sure of it." Sam said, certain.

"But why is he dealing them soft serve like swine flu when he's got the croatoan virus up his sleeve? I-I-I don't get it." Dean said. "Doesn't matter what the sick son of a bitch is doing. What matters is this is the fourth town he's hit. That we know of and we're still eating his dust. Did you get anything? We got even a snowball at probable next target?" Bobby asked. "Uh, no pattern we can see." I said and Bobby sighs.

"Okay. Hold on." He said, we then heard a squeaky noise from his wheelchair. "Well, far as I can tell, he's still heading East, So...Head East, I guess." He said, unsure. "East?" The boys and I said in unison. "Bobby, we're in West Nevada. East is practically all there is." Dean said. "Yeah, well, you better get to drivin'." Bobby replied and Sam hangs up the phone and sighs.

"Say..." A voice said and I jump, rearing to the left behind Dean as Crowley was now suddenly sitting in the backseat beside me. "I've got an idea." He said. The tires screech as Dean swerves, slamming on the brakes. Sam tries to stab Crowley with Ruby's knife, but only stabs the seat of the Impala.

"Did you get him?" Dean asked. "He's gone." I replied then we hear a tap on Sam's window. Sam pulls the knife out of the seat and we look to see Crowley was now standing outside the car. "Fancy a fag and a chat?" He asked but then the boys and I get out of the car. "You're upset. We should discuss it. Not here, but..." Crowley said, backing up as Sam and I stalk after him.

"You want to talk? After what you did to us?" Sam asked. "After what I...what I did to you?! I gave you the Colt!" Crowley said, now standing in front of Dean. "Yeah, and you knew it wouldn't work against the devil!" Sam growled. "I never!" Crowley said, sounding offended. "You set us up. We lost people on that suicide run! GOOD people!" I exclaimed, angrily. "Who you take on the ride is your own business!" Crowley said.

Crowley then he turns to look at Dean. "Look, everything is still the same. W-we're all still in this together." He said, grinning. "Sure we are." Sam said and he attempts to stab Crowley again, but Crowley teleports behind him. "Call your dog off, please." Crowley said to Dean. Sam was about to advance on Crowley again but Dean grabs his arms, stopping him. "Give us one good reason." I said. "I can give you Pestilence." Crowley replied.

"What do you know about Pestilence?" Dean asked. "I know how to get him." Crowley said and Dean and I look at him surprised.  That's got your interest, doesn't it?" Crowley asked, noticing our looks. Sam looks between Dean and I. "Are you actually listening to this?" He asked us. "Sam..." I try to say. "Are you friggin' nuts?!" Sam exclaimed. "Shut up for a second, Sam!" Dean growled.

"Shut up, the lot of you! Look...I swear...I thought the Colt would work. It's an honest mistake. It's all part of the learning process. But nothing's changed. I still want the devil dead. Well...one thing's changed. Now the devil knows that I want him dead. Which, by the way, makes me the most buggered son in all of creation." Crowley explained. "Holy crap. We don't care." Dean grumbled and Crowley looks at him, offended. "They burnt down my house!" He said, no one says anything. "THEY ATE MY TAILOR!" He yelled, Dean just rolls his eyes.

"Two months under a rock, like a bloody salamander! Every demon on hell and Earth's got his eyes out for me! And yet...Here I am...Last place I should be...In the road, talking to Sam and Dean Winchester and their little sidekick, (y/n) (l/n), under a freaking SPOTLIGHT!" Crowley yelled, then he gestures to the light above us and it explodes. "So come with me. Please." He pleaded after composing himself.

The boys and I continue staring at him, not moving or say anything. "Do you want the horsemen rings or not? Yes, I know all about that. Shall we?" Crowley asked. The boys and I exchanged, warily, looks.

We let Crowley back in the Impala and he gave us directions to an abandoned house. Crowley sighs as we enter the house. "Here we are. My life on the lam. How the mighty have fallen. Single-pane glass, Used contraception in the fireplace." He said lighting the fire with just a hand gesture.

"The water damage alone." Crowley said, turning around to face us. "My heart's bleeding for you. Now, how do you know about the rings?" I asked. "Well, now...I've been keeping a close eye on you lot." Crowley said. "We got hex bags. We're hidden from demons." I said. "All but one." Crowley said, holding up his index finger then points to himself.

"That night you broke into my house, our first date, my valet hid a tracking device in your car. A magical coin that easily trumps your little bags o' bones. It allows me to hear things, too. And, my, the things I've heard." Crowley said before he chuckles then looks at me and Dean. "I'd have to say the little break-up conversation you two had, left me heartbroken. Oscar worthy." Crowley said and my hands start to shake with anger. "Unless you want to keep your tongue, I'd suggest you shut up." I growled and Crowley gives me an impressed look.

"My, my, my....feisty one." He mutters, teasingly, then he turns to Dean. "No wonder you like her so much." He said and I could see Dean clenching his jaw. "So!" Crowley said, getting our attention. "You want to cram the devil back in the box? Cunning scheme. I want in." He said. "You said you could get us Pestilence." Dean said.

"Well, now...I don't know where Pestilence is...Per Se. But I do know the demon who does. He's what you might call the horsemen's stable boy. He handles their itineraries, their personal needs. He's who you want believe me. He'll tell us where Sneezy's at." Crowley explained. "Well, how do we get him to spill? Rip out his toenails?" I asked. "No. Nuts at his pay grade don't crack. We bring him here, then I sell him." Crowley replied. "Sell him?" Sam asked.

"Please. I've sold sin to saints for centuries. Think I can't close one little demon?" Crowley said. "All right, so where's this demon of yours?" I asked.

Later, the boys and I were loading our guns in a duffel bag when Sam turns to us. "Why are we even listening to him, guys? This is totally insane." Sam said. "I don't disagree." Dean muttered. "Me either." I said then Crowley claps his hands together getting our attention. "One big happy family, are we, then? Fantastic." He said. "You ready to go?" I asked him. "Yes. Yes. I am. Sam, keep the home fires burning." Crowley said, we look at him confused.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "Sam's not coming." Crowley replied. "And why the hell not?" Sam asked. "Because I don't like you...I don't trust you...And oh, yes. You keep trying to kill me." Crowley said. "There's no damn way. This isn't gonna happen!" Sam growled. "I'm not asking you, am I? 'cause you're not invited. I'm asking them." Crowley said, pointing at Dean and I.

"What's it gonna be?" He asked us. Sam look at us then back at Crowley, who scoffs. "Lady, gentlemen...Enjoy your last few sunsets." He said, turning and walking away. "Wait." Dean said, getting him to stop.

Dean looks to me and I nod. "We'll go." He said, grabbing the duffle back and throwing it over his shoulder. "What can we say? We believe the guy." Dean said to Sam before following him to the door.

Sam then turns to me. "(Y/n)..." He said. I look down, walking to the doorway where I stop and turn back to him. "Sam, we don't have much of a choice. We gotta try something." I said and Sam stares at me not say anything. I sigh and turn to follow Dean and Crowley to the Impala.

Dean and I were using binoculars to watch the Niveus Pharmaceuticals building from the Impala. "Demons." Dean said, lowering his binoculars. "Nah. Human shields. The demons are up top. 12th floor." Crowley said, from the backseat. "All right, then. We'll have to find a way in through the back." I said, lowering my binoculars away. "You (l/n)s and Winchesters make everything so complicated." Crowley said then disappears. "Ah, crap." Dean grumbled. "I don't like that." I said.

Dean and I look through our binoculars again to see Crowley reappearing in the building behind the security guard. He waved to us then slits the guard's throat. "Oh, crap. Crap! Crap!" Dean said as we get out of the car and run to the door of the building.

Once we get there, Dean knocks on the door. "Door's open!" Crowley yelled and we enter the building to see the other guard is dead. Dean and I gesture to Crowley like 'what the hell?'

"What?" Crowley asked, cleaning his knife. "You killed them?" I asked. Crowley sniffs and puts his knife away then steps over the other guards. "We're on a tight schedule. Come on." He said turning us away and walks us to the elevator. I look over my shoulder at the guard. "Now you're squeamish? Please." Crowley said, making me turn away.

Dean and I step inside the elevator but Crowley does not. Instead he just hits the 12th button for us. "Go get 'em, tigers." He said.

The elevator door starts to shut but Dean held out his hand to stop it. "Wh...You're not coming?" Dean asked. "Oh, no. It's not safe up there. There's demons." Crowley replied. "Yeah, we get that." I said, annoyed. "Look, just do what I told you, a-and try to be convincing. It'll work like a charm. Trust me." Crowley said, pushing Dean back so the door could close. Crowley smiles and waves goodbye before the door shuts and the elevator carries us up.

Arriving on the 12th floor, Dean and I kill the demons guarding the office door when suddenly the door opens on it's own. Inside the office, a demon sits at a desk. "Dean Winchester. (Y/n) (l/n). What, no appointment?" He asked us. "Kind of an 11th-hour thing, you know?" Dean replied as we step over the bodies to enter the office. "Well, then, you're just on time." The demon said, closing the door with a gesture. "Have a seat." He said, turning the chairs in front of his desk with a gesture. "How's your brother?" he asked Dean.

Dean doesn't say anything and we take a seat in the chairs, turning them towards the desk. "Well, down to business, then. What can I do for you?" The demon asked, closing his laptop and smiling at us. "Actually, it's about what we can do for you." I said. "Really?" The demon asked.

"Us and Sam dropped two of your jockeys. I think you know that." Dean said. "Yes. I got the memo." The demon replied. "Well, we kept their, uh, secret power rings. Which is why we're here. We heard some folks saying that you wanted them back and you were willing to pay." I said.

The demon leans back in his chair, thinking. "Hmm. Where are they?" He asked. "Not here. But you want them, you'll come with us. Nice and civil. We'll get out of your little batcave here, and we'll discuss a transaction." Dean said.

"Who says I want them?" The demon asked, makng Dean and I look at him confused. "What?" Dean and I asked. "Who...Says...I want them?" He asked. "You know...Folks." I replied, shrugging. The demon smiles at us and we, nervously, smile back.

"See..." The demon said, he clears throat and stood up, walking around his desk to sit on it in front of us. "War and Famine, even if I could cram the rings back on their bony fingers, I doubt it would do much good. They're withered husks right now. Fetal position on the floor. All thanks to you. So I don't want the rings. What I want is retribution. And I'm gonna rip it right out of your assess!" He growls then he throws us out through the office door, crashing on the floor.

"This...is so good." The demon said walking over to Dean and I as we struggle to get up. The demon kicks us each in the stomach, keeping us down, and he chuckles. "...Therapeutic, for sure. You know, guys, I really owe you one, buddies, 'cause I feel..." The demon said as he kicks us again. "So...Much..." He kicks us again. "Better!" And kicks us again. The demon let's out a breath as he fixes his hair.

Dean and I laid on the floor, groaning in pain, until we eventually managed to escape the demon and ran to the elevator. I push the buttons repeatedly as the demon calls out to us. "Guys, where are you going? We're just getting started!"

The elevator door closes and carries us down to the ground floor, it dings and the door opens. We exit the elevator cautiously, seeing now one in sight. Suddenly something hits me on the back of my head and I fell to the ground and slide across the floor along with Dean. "Good meeting, guys. You know, I'm excited." The demon said. Then Crowley approaches from behind, and drops a sack covered in a devil's trap over the demon's head, then bashes his head with a crowbar.

"Evening, Uncle." Crowley said, then starts hitting the demon a couple more times on the head with the crowbar, until the demon drop to the floor. 

Dean and I look at the demon lying unconscious on the floor then up at Crowley, who smiles. "What the hell was that?" Dean asked, helping me up as he stands. "That was perfect." Crowley said. "Perfect? He didn't want the rings. He wanted us." I said. "Imagine the surprise on your faces." Crowley said. "What?" I asked, confused. "Your ignorance and misinformation. I mean, completely authentic. You can't fake that." Crowley said and we glared back at him.

"What? I-it went like clockwork." He said. "Not for us, you son of a bitch!" Dean growled. "That's what you get working with a demon." Crowley said, pointing at him with the crowbar and grinning.

Later, we were driving back towards the abandon house as I was wiping the blood off mine and Dean's faces. Crowley was carving a sigil into the demon's torso. "Hey, hot stuff, watch the upholstery!" Dean said to Crowley. "Up yours, mate. This bit of carving will tie our friend here down. No zapping off, no smoking out. Locked in the meat suit...An important piece of our bargaining strategy. Now, up here, we don't want I-50. Take 93 north." Crowley said.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. "Look, we can't take this guy back to Sam." Crowley said. "Why the hell not?" Dean asked, but Crowley doesn't answer. "Crowley!" I exclaimed. "They got history, all right?" Crowley said. Dean angrily screeches the Impala to a halt. "You want to go anywhere, you start talking. What history?" He asked.

*3rd Person P.O.V*

Back at the abandoned house, Sam was sitting on a bed waiting. He hears The Impala approaching and finds Crowley downstairs. "Where's Dean and (y/n)?" He asked, warily.

"Now...For the record, I'm against this. Negotiating a high-level defection. It's very delicate business." Crowley said. Sam narrows his eyes and tries to go into the other room, but Crowley held up his hand, stopping him. "What are you talking about?" Sam asked. "I begged Dean and (y/n) not to come back. We should be miles away...from you. Your brother replied with a colorful rejoinder about my 'corn chute.'" Crowley said and Sam scoffs.

"So, go ahead. Go ruin our last best hope." Crowley said. Sam stares at him for a moment then slips pass him. "It's only the end of the world." Crowley said as Sam goes into the other room.

*(y/n)'s POV*

Sam enters the room where Dean and I have the demon still hooded and tied to a chair in a devil's trap. "Sam." I said, walking up to him as Dean finishes tightening the rope. "What's going on, guys?" Sam asked, wary. "We need you to stay on mission, okay? Focused." I said, firmly. "I don't understand. What's all this about?" Sam asked. "We're doing this 'cause we trust you." Dean said, walking around the demon to join me. "Trust me to what?" Sam asked.

"Sam?" the demon said, before Dean or I could say anything. Sam looks at the hooded man, confused, as the demon clears throat. "Sam, is that you?" He asked. Dean removes the hood for Sam to see. "Brady?" Sam muttered, surprise, and Brady chuckles. "Brady hasn't been Brady in years. Not since, oh...middle of our sophomore year?" He said and Sam's eyes widen.

"What?" He asked. "That's right." Brady said. Sam glances at me and Dean then, quickly, back to Brady. "You had a devil on your shoulder even back then. All right, now, let it all sink in." Brady said. "You son of a bitch." Sam whispered. "You son of a bitch!" He yelled, approaching Brady. "YOU INTRODUCED ME TO JESS!" He shouted as Dean and I hold him back. "Ding, ding! I think he's got it!" Brady said.

Sam struggles to push past us to get to Brady. "Damn it, Sam!" Dean growled. "I'm gonna kill you!" Sam growled at Brady as Dean and I push Sam out of the room, while Brady laughs.

Dean shoves Sam into the living room and Sam sighs then turns trying to go back but Dean pushes him back. "HEY! That's enough." Dean said, firmly. "Get out of my way." Sam said, calmly. "No." I said, firmly. Sam grits his teeth as he tries to stay calm. "Get out of my way, guys." He said.

"There is only one way to win, and it ain't by killing that thing in there." Dean said as Crowley walks up. "Well...sounds like you got him nice and fluffed. Thanks so much." Crowley said before he walks off to talk to Brady.

"Listen to me. We need Pestilence to get at the devil, and we need Brady to get to Pestilence." Dean said. "Why? Because Crowley said so? Because we trust him now? Like I trusted Ruby? Or like I trusted Brady back at school?" Sam asked.

"Sam, listen. I get it, you're pissed but you have to trust us when we say we need him. Brady is our only lead to Pestilence, okay?" I said and Sam looks over at me. I walk up to him and place a hand on his shoulder. "This gets us one step closer to taking down Lucifer. And once we find out where Pestilence is, then you can kill him in any way, shape or form you want to." I said and Sam stares at me before he looks down.

*3rd Person POV*

Meanwhile, Crowley brought a chair over to Brady and straddles it. "Look...Do the math yourself. If Lucifer wins, he'll turn this place into his kingdom. When the morningstar cleans house, we all get the mop." Crowley said. "He created us. Why would he destroy us? That makes no sense." Brady said.

"Look at who...at what he is. Then take a look at what we are." Crowley said. "Maybe you should be a little less worried about our necks and be a little more worried about yours." Brady replied. "Has crossed my mind. That's not really the point." Crowley said. "Actually, Crowley, that is the point. No one will know greater torment than you. Lucifer is never gonna let you die. As for me, I know the score. I'm dead, whether I tell you anything or not. So I think I'll die on the winning side, thanks." Brady said. "Good talk. Cheers." Crowley said, getting up.

*(y/n)'s POV*

Dean and I were sitting at the table, having a beer when Crowley comes back in. "Well, how'd it go? He buy your girl scout cookies?" Dean asked. "Not yet." Crowley said then he noticed that Sam was gone. "Where's your moose?" Crowley asked. "He's cooling off." I replied. "All right, then. Get bent." Crowley said. "You going somewhere?" Dean asked. "Well, he won't budge, so now I go stick my neck out." Crowley said.

"What are you gonna do?" I asked, worried. "Exactly the kind of desperate swashbuckle I've been trying to avoid. Now I go kick open a hive of demons. This whole bloody ring business better work." Crowley said and he disappears.

Later, Dean goes into the bathroom to wash his face and I walk up beside him. "Dean...?" I asked and he hums at me. "Be honest...is this the right thing to do?" I asked. Dean sighs then turning off the sink and stands up to look at me. "No, not really. But..." he started to say but then the door shuts behind us. "Sam?" I called out and I go up the door, and grabbed the knob. 

"He's locked us in!" I growled and Dean comes up next to me and tries the door.

*3rd Person POV*

Sam had shut the door and put a chair against the doorknob, preventing Dean and (y/n) from exiting, as they stood and talked in the bathroom. "Sam?" (Y/n) called out as he hears the door knob jiggle. "Come on, Sam! Don't do this!" Dean growled as the two bang on door. Sam ignores them and takes out Ruby's knife. "Sam, come on! Hey! Open the door! Open the door!" Dean and (y/n) shout as Sam leaves the two of them trap and goes to Brady.

"Well, here we go. We doing last words or no?" Brady asked. "Sophomore year, huh?" Sam asked, walking around to stand in front of him. "Brady, here, he was a good kid. Straight arrow. I mean, your best friend, really. Perfect point of access." The demon said. "Thanksgiving." Sam said, questioning.

"Yes, sir. Remember when I came back from break all messed up...Dropped out of pre-med, the drugs, the bitches?" Brady asked and Sam smiles, tightly, as he nods. "That was the new Brady. That was me." He said and Sam glares at him.

"Remember how much time you spent trying to get me back on the right track? You really were a good friend. But ol' yellow eyes didn't send me back to be your friend. No, we could tell we were starting to lose you. You were becoming a mild-mannered, worthless sack of piss. Now, come on. We couldn't have that. You were our favorite. Well, one of our favorites. Azazel also had a soft spot for your friend, (y/n), as well. She was coming along nicely...except for the fact she was always around her Daddy, her weak spot at that point in time." Brady explained, grinning.

Sam breathes in, slowly, and exhales slower, trying so hard to keep himself together. "So he dealt with her father, personally, while I hooked you up with a pure, sweet, innocent piece of tail. And then I toasted her on the ceiling." Brady said as Sam looks down, his hand twitching around the knife as he grips it, tightly.

"That's right...Azazel might have put the hit out on Jessica, but, man, I got to have all the fun!" Brady exclaimed then he laughs. "You know, she thought we were friends, too. Let me right in. She was baking cookies." He taunted and Sam breathes, faster, as his anger starts to take him over.

Brady laughs "She was so surprised...So hurt when I started in on her." Brady said, which set off that spark in Sam. He lunges forward, grabbing Brady by his jacket and holding the knife to his throat.

But Brady just laughs. "Come on! Do it, if it'll make you feel better!" Brady yelled and Sam nicks his throat with the knife. "Do it, Sammy! Do it! Come on! Come on." Brady yelled. Sam glares down at him as he face twitches in anger. Then he let's Brady go and steps back and Brady laughs again. "Ohhhhh." He said, chuckling and sighs. Sam leaves the room walking back to the bathroom.

*(Y/n)'s P.O.V*

Dean paces for a moment while I lean against the sink. "You don't think he'd go through with it, do you?" I asked him, worried. "I don't know what to think anymore." He said then he bangs on the door again. "Hey, hey, hey! All right! Wait! I'm gonna open it." Sam said.

Dean steps back and the door opens, letting us out. "What happened?" I asked. "Nothing." Sam replied. "My ass." Dean growled and we walk back towards the room. "Guys, I'm fine." Sam said. "Yeah? And what about Brady?" I asked and Sam sighs. "Like you guys said...We need him." He said as we reach the room to see Brady is still alive.

"God." a voice said and we jump and turn around to see Crowley, with some blood on him and his suit ripped. "The day I've had." He said, slipping pass us and walking up to Brady. "Good news. You're going to live forever." He said and Brady stares at him. "What did you do?" Brady asked.

"Went over to a demons' nest had a little massacre. Must be losing my touch, though. Let one of the little toads live. Oops. Also might have given said toad the impression that you left your post last night because you and I are wait for it...Lovers in league against Satan." Crowley explained then chuckles and Brady sighs.

"Hello, darling." Crowley said, smiling down at him. "So, now Death is off the table. Now you get to be on the boss's eternal-torment list with little old me." He said. "Oh, no, no, no, no. No." Brady said, shaking his head. "Something else we have in common apart from our torrid passion, of course Craven self-preservation. So, now, why don't you tell me where Pestilence is at?" Crowley asked. Brady open his mouth to say something but stops when we hear howling in the far off distance.

Dean breathes in, sharply, and looks around. "Oh, God, Crowley." Brady said. "Was that a hellhound?" Dean asked Crowley. "I'd say it was." Crowley replied. "Why was that a hellhound?" Dean asked Crowley, who groans and pulls out a coin.

"What's that?" Sam asked. "Remember I was telling you about my crafty little tracking device?" Crowley asked. "Yeah." Sam and I replied. "Demons planted one on me." Crowley said, holding up the coin. "You're saying a hellhound followed you here?" I asked, agitated. "Well, technically, he followed this." Crowley said, waving the coin.

"Get me out of here. I'll tell you anything you want." Brady said. "Shut up." Sam said to him. "Okay, well, then we should go." Dean said. "Sorry, gang. No one knows more about the hounds than I. You're long past the point of go." Crowley said and he tosses the coin to Dean, who catches it.

When we look up Crowley was gone. "Damn it." Dean growled. "I told you!" Sam exclaimed. "Oh, well, good for you." Dean said, mockingly. "Luckily, we have salt in the kitchen." I said, walking towards the kitchen. "We'll watch Brady." Sam said and Brady scoffs. "Watch me? Get me the hell OUT OF HERE!" He yelled, panicked.

The howling and snarling continued as I spotted the salt on the counter. But before I could reach it, a window shatters as the Hellhounds break through. I run out of the kitchen, shutting the door to try and slow the invisible beast down. Of course the hellhound just burst right through the door and I pick up the shotgun and fire at the hellhound to keep it back. I began backing up towards the room when I shout. "Boys!" Then I heard footsteps and I look over to see Dean coming up besides me with his own shotgun.

He fires in direction I was shooting at as we came back into the room, seeing Sam untying Brady. "Salt?" He asked. Neither Dean or I say anything and just reloaded our shotguns as the hellhound growls. "Damn it, get me out of here!" Brady yelled, fearfully. "Shut up!" The boys and I said in unison. "Great. Just great." Brady grumbled.

I pumped my shotgun about to fire on the hellhound until I hear a voice. "Hey!" Crowley yelled, standing in the living room. "You're back?" I asked as I turn to him. "I'm invested. Currently." Crowley replied then a new hellhound barks. "Stay!" Crowley ordered, looking to his right.

"You can control them?" Dean asked. "Not that one." Crowley said, pointing towards me and Dean. "I brought my own." He said, patting the invisible hellhound beside him. "Mine's bigger. SIC HIM, BOY!" 

The hellhounds bark and growl as they fight each other, breaking everything in sight. Dean scratches the devil trap with his knife as Sam removes the rope around Brady. "Go, go go go!" Dean said and we run outside and to the Impala, where Crowley already was standing on the passenger side.

"I'll wager $1,000 my pup wins." He said, laughing as he gets in the car. I shoved Brady into the backseat and join the two demons there while the boys sat in front. We drive away as the hellhounds continued, viciously, fight each other.

In an alleyway, Brady hands Crowley a piece of paper. "Yeah. I'm sure Pestilence will be there. Thanks." Brady said. "What do you think?" I asked Crowley. "It's good." Crowley replied, handing Dean the piece of paper.

Crowley turns to look back at Brady. "You got no reason to lie, have you? Like I said before, you're in my boat now." He said. "You've screwed me...for eternity." Brady said. "Nah. Won't last that long. Trust me." Crowley said.

Crowley follows Dean and I down the alley past Sam who is standing, staring at Brady. "Where are you going?" Brady asked. I bend down and begin to pour a salt-line behind Sam. "I'm going to do you a favor." Crowley said to Brady, then turn to Sam. "I expect we'll be in touch." He said, walking away.

I was about to reach the end of the alley, but stop to let Crowley pass. The demon smiles at me as he slips on by then disappears. I then close the salt-line. "What is this?" Brady asked.

"All those angels, all those demons, all those sons of bitches...They just don't get it, do they, boys?" I said. "No, they don't, (y/n)." Sam said. "You see, Brady...We're the ones you should be afraid of." Dean said. Brady scoffs as Sam approaches Brady with Ruby's knife.

"I bet this is a real moment for you, big boy. Gonna make you feel all better?" Brady asask.him. "It's a start." Sam said. Brady starts backing up as Sam continues approaching.

"Gonna make up for all the times that we yanked your chain...Yellow eyes, Ruby, me? But it wasn't all our fault, was it? No, no, no, no. You're the one who trusted us. You're the one who let us into your life, let us whisper in your ear over and over and over again. Ever wonder why that is, Sammy? Ever wonder why we were so in your blind spot? Maybe it's because we got the same stuff in our veins and, deep down, you know you're just like us." Brady explained, grinning at Sam.

Brady lunges at Sam, who nicks him with the blade. Sam pushes him back against the wall and Brady pants in pain, turning around to face him. "Maybe you hate us so much because you hate what you see every time you look in the mirror. You ever think of that?!" Brady asked but Sam doesn't say anything and Brady laughs at his silence. "Maybe the only difference between you and a demon...is your hell is right here." Brady said.

Then Sam stabs Brady hard in the stomach until he dies. He takes the knife out and lets Brady's body slump down to the ground. "Interesting theory." Sam mutters and he walks out the alley, past us. Dean and I turn and watch him leave, worried.

#fandom #fanfic #fan fiction #reader insert #x reader #supernatural #dean winchester #dean winchester x you #dean x you #supernatural dean #dean x reader #dean x y/n #dean winchester imagine #dean winchester x reader #supernatural fanfic series #supernatural fandom #supernatural fanfiction #fantasy #horror #tv #tv series #tv show fandom #tv shows

[mimiatmidnight]

Hey! How are you? Would like to say that I LOVE your blog, and I was wondering if you would like to update your top 5 H&M moments, maybe add another 5??

Folks, if you've ever wondered what is the oldest message sitting in my inbox, it's this one. (Well, I'm pretty sure there are a couple others that are a touch older but every time I try to scroll back that far, my inbox just glitches. There are . . . a lot of messages sitting in there. Sorry about that 😬). So I just want to say thank you to this anon and everyone else who has sent me tens of messages over the years asking for this updated post (unless the messages were all from the same one person all this time, in which case, my god I'd feel even GUILTIER).

It's been two years since the original, but an even wilder FIVE years since Harry and Meghan wed in one of the most consequential events in modern cultural history. What a wonderful, special day to look back on their relationship, with even more of my favorite moments between these two unlikely lovers. While writing this post, I laughed, I swooned, I cried. And I, uh, REALLY went off the rails at the end. Content warning for just the sickest, sappiest philosophizing you've ever seen. I'd apologize, but I just can't help it. Harry and Meg just have that effect on me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

So, with one more thank you to everyone who has been so patient and kind and loving to me these past few years, let's get into it! Five(-ish, lol) more of my favorite Harry and Meghan moments:

5. WE will not look a mess

I'd be remiss not to start this list of my personal favorite H&M moments with what is, judging by the numbers, arguably the entire WORLD'S favorite H&M moment. This iconic video by twitter user @/ddarveyy is perhaps the Sussex Squad's most viral fan tweet of all time? And if qualitative evidence is more convincing to you than quantitative, this video has been blessed with the mark of being liked by none other than Madame Rhianna herself. That's certified social media Diamond. The tweet also spawned some great jokes, ranging from Virgo Harry always making sure to keep his wife looking on point, to some people speculating about certain other, ah, intimate contexts where H might have developed this habit of putting his hands in her hair.

Ahem, either way, I've always seen this touching practice of his as being in the same vein of all those times he watches out for her footing on stairs or treacherous terrain. He's always on standby, always keeping an eye on her, never 100% focused on something else when she's near. You know, just in case she needs help. Or (more likely) just in case he has an excuse to fuss over her 😏 And you know what? Harry strikes me as the kind of man who has waited a long time to have someone to fuss over, someone to worry about and take care of outside of himself. And now that he has that someone . . . well, Captain Wales reporting for motherfucking duty 🫡

BONUS MAINTENANCE FASCINATION:

Yes we're doing bonus content again -- I did say "five(-ish)" moments! The "ish" was forewarned!!!

Anyways, while we're on the topic of sentimentally rhapsodizing about Harry keeping an eye on Meg and her hair, I want to sneak in a reboot of a discussion I had with an anon a few months ago after the Netflix documentary came out. These quiet, behind-the-scenes moments where Meg is getting her dress fitted or painting her nails, and there is Harry happily watching from behind. It's a small thing, I know, but it speaks volumes to me. The intimacy that comes with watching your partner prepare herself to face the world, the peaceful trust and unspoken support. And if you think THAT is me reading too much into it, scroll back to that original discussion and watch me make myself cry over picturing Harry as a kid watching his mom go through her similar glam routine. Y'all don't even KNOW the kinds of crazy parasocial assumptions I can lose my mind over!!!!!

And while we're here barely on topic talking about the intimacy of behind-the-scenes, let's move now from the "before" preparation, to the "after" unwinding (and undressing??). One of the most bittersweet moments from the doc for me was this picture, taken after one of Harry and Meg's final royal duty events. Away from the cameras, and the press, and the people, alone in their kitchen at last. I can think of no better representation of "Leaving the world behind."

4. Meghan "My Husband" Markle

There has been much discussion over Harry being the ultimate "wife guy," and deservedly so. If I tried to put in this post every moment the man has practically glowed with the pleasure of saying "my WIFE," I'm afraid this website would crash from server overload. But a less-discussed, yet equally sweet through line is Meghan being the ultimate "husband girl." And I think no single moment is a better demonstration of this phenomenon than her opening speech last year at Invictus 2022.

Introducing her husband to the crowd of his Invictus family, Meghan said, "I could not love and respect him more, and I know that all of you feel the same. He is your fellow veteran, he's the founder of the Invictus Games, and the father to our two little ones, Archie and Lili. Please welcome my incredible husband, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex." And then the crowd roared, and Harry and Meghan kissed, and we got all these ooey-gooey heart eyes.

And then as Harry took the stage, overwhelmed by the love of his wife and his community, he choked up.

"Thank you my love."

And I was never the same :')

BONUS "HUSBAND GIRL" SIMPING:

At the 2021 Salute to Freedom Gala, a reporter asking, "Meghan are you proud of your husband?" And Meghan bashfully turning back to answer, "I'm always proud of him." 🫠

And one even blushier, from the African tour documentary. Somebody come pick our girl up off the FLOOR!!!!

3. BAY. BEES.

Ok so I am REALLY gonna have to restrain myself for this section, cause if I put every single heart-bursting baby moment (especially after the FEAST we were delivered through the Netflix doc), I would never be able to finish this post. So I'm just gonna highlight a select few and keep my baby fever in check (and then mayhaps rewatch the entire documentary tonight lol whoops).

Our first real baby moment ever was Harry being so delirious with joy and nerves and just like, raw energy, after the birth of his first child (and then turning around after the big birthday media announcement to thank the horses in the stable behind him 😅).

A few days later, there was a particularly famous photo of Baby King Archie meeting some regal relatives or whatever, but in THIS photo, the two irrelevant old geezers are instead replaced by the new little prince's noble steeds, Guy and Pula. An iconic family photo. Outsold the original, if you ask me 😌

The news of their pregnancy with Lili was world-stopping for many reasons, but most famously it held a powerfully touching connection with the past. Apparently accidentally, Harry and Meghan announced they were expecting their second child exactly 37 years to the day after his mother, Diana, announced she was expecting him. Two extra-special Valentine's Days to remember.

And once again, as I said at the time, I am NOT someone who is particularly occupied with imagining the spirits of the departed watching over us, nor am I crazy about inserting the memory of Diana into discussions in which she has no agency. HOWEVER . . . who could stop the wave of emotions looking at this moment, as the grandbaby she never got to meet reaches out to her photo, through glass and time, trying to hold her hand. Bruv . . . 🥲 Even a motherfucking atheist can occasionally feel God in this Chili's tonight.

I don't even have anything to say about these next two, except to wonder with awe at the universal panacea that is baby snuggles. My absolute favorites:

And lastly, to wrap up this unbearably melty baby section, I have a moment that isn't really about the babies at all. In this video you can watch here, Easter 2021, we have Mama Doria, Meg (bursting at the seams with soon-to-be Lili), the little king himself, Sir Archie, his ever-loyal canine companions, and Harry -- who stands there, on the other side of surviving so, so much, and says almost under his breath, "Come on, family, let's go." And . . . yeah. That pretty much says it all 🥹

2. My Sussex Squad Origin Story

I'm going to keep this one short, cause I know what #1 is about to be and it's a doozy. But I wanted to briefly mention a moment in Harry and Meghan lore that will forever be the most special to me, because it is the one that sucked me into this here community I still haunt to this day.

October 2018. I have just recently managed to recover my old Tumblr password and logged into this site for the first time since middle school. I am scrolling the trending pages and see "Meghan Markle" listed among the top current tags. It says she's recently announced her first pregnancy. "Huh," I think. "I kinda remember hearing she got married." I've never willingly read or watched a single solitary piece of information about the royal family ever in my life. I don't even really know who's who, outside of the members immediately surrounding Diana. But I scroll through the Meghan tag, and I see she and her new prince are on tour. I see a photo. I read the headline attached.

Is that an actual tear spilling out from the corner of my eye? I stare at the tag for a few minutes more. What is wrong with me? Maybe I'll check this page again tomorrow, just to see what else they get up to on this tour. Couldn't hurt to learn a little bit more about this couple that literally stopped me in my tracks. I wipe the back of my hand across my burning eyes. "Well," I think as I try to bring myself back to what I was doing before. "That was weird."

Ha. Little did I freaking know :')

1. A Modern Fairy Tale

And now, to end this long-winded (and -awaited, sorry again >_<) journey, if you will allow me to get a little unbearably sappy.

When I set out to write this Part 2 post in 2023, I was doubtful. Could I even muster up that same enthusiasm, that same untrampled hope with which I beamed when I wrote the original? Harry, Meghan, the world, and I have all lived a thousand lives in these brief five years. There has been so, so, so much unspeakable pain. More than anyone has a right to suffer in a lifetime, let alone half a decade. "And for what?" I've sometimes asked myself. "What is the point in trying to love when there's all this pain that follows?"

This June, we will be coming up on the 10 year anniversary of my absolute favorite Internet meme of all time: Tim Kreider's legendary New York Times Op-Ed "I Know What You Think Of Me," which gifted human history with his startlingly sincere declaration, "If we want the rewards of being loved, we have to submit to the mortifying ordeal of being known."

Well, there is perhaps no one on the planet who has submitted herself to a more painful ordeal of being known than Meghan. She has bared to the world her vulnerabilities, her quirks, her flaws, her losses, her pains. To think of the life she has lived thus far, and the life that she walked away from to be here . . . I can't pretend that I've always been certain of the righteousness of her choice. But as I was working through writing this post, I reached a point in my research where I landed back on the speech Meghan delivered on the night of her wedding, shared in their Netflix documentary. And she told, as she called it, "a modern fairy tale."

“Once upon a time, there was a girl from LA (some people called her an actress) and there was a guy from London (some people called him a prince). All those people didn’t fully get it. Because this is a love story of a boy and a girl who were meant to be together.

“Amidst whatever momentary worries that creep in, they look at each other and think, ‘Whatever world, we’re in.’

“They would love, and garden, and travel, and laugh, and rack up more air miles than any couple could have.

“And when the tides were rough, they squeezed each other tighter. ‘Nothing can break us,’ they’d say, ‘For this love, she was a fighter.’

“I appreciate, respect, and honor you, my treasure, for the family we will create . . .

“ . . . And our love story that will last forever.

“So I ask you to raise a glass to the astounding assurance that now life begins, and the everlasting knowing that, above all, love wins.”

And so, here I am once again, with real actual tears streaming down my face, listening to a woman who has crossed so many oceans and lost so much of herself to get to where she's sitting today, and yet still, STILL, speaks with the same determination and conviction in love that she had all the way back at the beginning. They have taken so much from that woman, but they have not taken this. And so if Meghan, of all people, can still believe that love is worth it all . . . well, then, how could I possibly disagree?

Happy 5th anniversary to the lovebirds, and my heartfelt wish to you all that you may find victory in joy, love, and peace, just like them.

L'chaim 🥂

#meghan markle #prince harry #harry and meghan #anniversaries #see you all again for year 10? #and to many many more 💞

[sorcharavenlock]

30. "Hello Kitty"

I give Dean Kitty's address.

"We'd better come with you, it will be a lot to spring on her so suddenly," I say.

Loki quickly sits down in the front seat.

"Hey, that's my seat! "Sam complains.

"Come and sit with me in the back," I ask Loki, who hesitates. "On Midgard royalty always sits in the back while the peasants drive them around."

Loki grins and comes to sit in the back with me.

"Did she just call us peasants?" Dean asks rather annoyed.

"Just let it go," Sam tells him as he gives me a wink.

"So, Marianna. You've watched the show? Are you a Sam or a Dean girl?" Dean asks curiously.

"Neither really. I always had a little crush on Gabriel though," I blurt out. I avoid looking at Loki.

"Hah!" Dean laughs.

"I'm starting to dislike this Gabriel more and more," Loki mutters darkly as he looks out of the window.

Dean parks the Impala in front of Kitty's house. I hesitate. Maybe I should have called Kitty first.

"You guys stay here, I'll talk to Kitty by myself first," I say as I walk to the door.

"Marianna, what a surprise! Is Loki not with you?"

"He's waiting outside. I ehm... I have an even bigger surprise for you."

"What, you found Thor?"

"Bigger," I say. "Maybe you should sit down. It's quite the story..."

Before I can say anything else Loki and the Winchesters come in through the door.

"I am not waiting outside any longer with these two! They are insufferable!" Loki grumbles.

"Marianna?" Kitty looks at me, rather wild-eyed.

"So this is Kitty. Well, 'Hello Kitty!" Dean practically purrs.

"Marianna! What? HOW?" Kitty asks. She is rather flustered both by the appearance of the Winchester boys and the attention Dean is giving her.

We all sit down as Sam explains how they entered our universe through a haunted cinema screen.

I can't help but notice Dean can't keep his eyes off Kitty.

"He likes you," I whisper.

"I am going to kill you, then resurrect you, then kill you again for bringing him here without warning," Kitty whispers back.

"We're thinking about staying for a while. With Hela gone the amount of hauntings here has multiplied. We're needed here more than in our own universe," Dean explains.

"And since our cottage is already rather crowded, we thought they might stay with you!" Loki says hopefully.

"I know it's a lot to ask. But we'll be perfect house guests, I promise. And you couldn't be safer than with us here."

"You won't even notice we're here, unless you want to, of course. Please?"

"Pretty please?"

How could Kitty ever resist those puppy eyes?

"Okay, sure!" she says.

"Thanks, you won't regret it! This will be so much better than dingy motels!"

Mwhahahaha! I love it when a plan comes together!

We chat for a bit longer, discussing the adventures of the Winchester boys in the past. Dean can't stop looking at Kitty and Kitty can't stop looking at Dean!

When we leave, I give Kitty a big hug.

"Are you still going to kill me?" I ask.

"Maybe just a little," she grins. "but only once we find a way to bring both you and Loki back!"

[teaspoonnebula]

The Beryl Coronet Part 1 - Notes!

I'm having a lazy Sunday morning so I'm going to luxuriously type out my thoughts while I'm reading today's letter! I'm especially excited because I don't think I've properly read this one.

bow-window looking down the street

I have however read this little nugget of detail because I tried to find any and all descriptions of Baker Street for a game I'm making (The Beekeeper's picnic, you can wishlist it on Steam if you like...)

In a different story it's described as having a bay window. Both bow windows and bay windows project from the exterior wall. Bow windows usually have more panes of glass to make a smooth outward curve.

Both are also fiendishly difficult to convey when you're working with 320x130 pixels.

“Holmes,” said I as I stood one morning in our bow-window looking down the street, “here is a madman coming along. It seems rather sad that his relatives should allow him to come out alone.”

Outdated attitudes towards mental health aside, I think it's sweet that Watson is able to see someone in distress at a distance and immediately find it sad nobody is looking out for him. His doctorly instincts are aroused!

Sherlock Holmes pushed him down into the easy-chair and, sitting beside him, patted his hand and chatted with him in the easy, soothing tones which he knew so well how to employ.

Likewise, Holmes is knows by now how to handle someone in distress. There's a really sweet illustration of this moment by Josef Friedrich

We have done a good deal in this direction during the last few years, and there are many noble families to whom we have advanced large sums upon the security of their pictures, libraries, or plate. “‘It is absolutely essential to me,’ said he, ‘that I should have £50,000 at once.

B-b-b-Blackmail, methinks. Either that or this is some kind of scam on the bank (perhaps they upfront the money for the coronet but never receive it, or receive a fake) But since we're apparently dealing with a famous notable person, I don't think that's going to be it)

‘You have doubtless heard of the Beryl Coronet?’

There has already been a mountain of discussion about coronets in the LfW server - what precisely it is, how the word is pronounced, the etymology...

I'd always thought a coronet was something like this - basically a tiara but a little more gender-neutral!

Turns out it's actually a small crown which has a top to it.

“‘I should be happy to advance it without further parley from my own private purse,’ said I, ‘were it not that the strain would be rather more than it could bear.

I really hope this is just lip service and he wouldn't have really done that. Please Mr Holder, don't lend clients your own money! I feel he's being set up here, either by the narrative or by this Mysterious Notable Man.

I determined, therefore, that for the next few days I would always carry the case backward and forward with me, so that it might never be really out of my reach.

I just want to sit all Sherlock Holmes characters down and give them a long lecture about how the most vulnerable time for any precious or valuable object is when it is in transit. Also the the bureau of your dressing-room is not actually more secure than a safe at London's second largest bank.

Another, Lucy Parr, the second waiting-maid, has only been in my service a few months.

She gets a name, and is therefore Suspicious.

I could not trust him in the handling of large sums of money. When he was young he became a member of an aristocratic club, and there, having charming manners, he was soon the intimate of a number of men with long purses and expensive habits

Libertine son Arthur is also Suspicious.

Twice my boy has asked her to marry him, for he loves her devotedly, but each time she has refused him.

...... they're cousins? Right? I mean they are cousins. Not just cousins, but she's been adopted by his father. Right?!

I thought that first-cousin marriage was a bit of an eyebrow-raiser at this time even though it did happen sometimes.

Where are the jewels which you have stolen?’ “‘Stolen!’ he cried. “‘Yes, thief!’ I roared, shaking him by the shoulder. “‘There are none missing. There cannot be any missing,’ said he.

Ok, I think that was actually a "Stolen?!" and he's as surprised as anyone. The beryls were already gone by the time he got there. I'm sure Lucy's disappearance has something to do with it!

at the sight of the coronet and of Arthur's face, she read the whole story and, with a scream, fell down senseless on the ground.

I feel bad for laughing at this.

I am enjoying this one SO MUCH so far! The missing item genre of Sherlock Holmes story is one of my favorites, and so far we've had a really tense tragic narrative with lots of complexity.

I am a little worried that this story isn't a well known one and so perhaps it's a bit of a flop towards the end - but who knows, perhaps it's appropriately a hidden gem!

#sherlock holmes #letters from watson #the beryl coronet #beryl coronet

[joshithekitsune]

Cacktasma expecting headcanons (pt. 2)

TW: There will be depictions of childbirth

Here ya go, @itsavee4117 and @aliencatwafers!

We're going to review some things that we just discussed.

• Cackletta has been 8 months in. They didn't expect this at all. Antasma and Fawful become wary of her condition. Antasma is pretty neutral while Fawful is just fidgeting around in circles thinking of the horrendous consequences. Do you blame them?

• She certainly didn't plan on being full term at all, (VERY rare for a beanish to be full term). But alas, her stubborn unborn hybrid kid needs more development than an average beanish baby.

• Okay, an average beanish gestation is 5-6 months total. For her, she'd be 40 weeks in a human gestation. (I've done some research, trust me when I say this).

• Beanish share a few traits from humans, in fact, (flexibility that is). This gives Cackletta a better chance into having a normal birth. Good for her I guess.

• It's midnight and the couple are soundly asleep. The baby is getting fussy and she groggily gets out of bed with a nightgown draping over her bulge. She hobbles through the hallway rocking her belly to sleep. She feels a slight cramp along her lower back, she winced. At first she thought it was a false alarm but it's gotten worse every few minutes... til she felt something flowing. Her water just broke.

Shocked, she looked down seeing an amniotic puddle soaked on the carpet. What a mess. She mumbled: "Decided to come out, eh?" She patted her belly and sighed in relief. But it wasn't long til another contraction struck, she groaned from the affliction. She hurriedly waddled back into the bedroom to wake up her husband who was in a deep slumber.

She nudges him on the broad shoulder, telling him it's time. Antasma begins to panic, screeching in realization. He rushes to wake up Fawful and he begins to freak out as well. The boys frantically gather all the equipment for the sunroom while Cackletta awkwardly sits on the bed, waiting for them to be finished.

After they were done with the preparations, Antasma bridal styles his wife to the sunroom filled with plants and a foldable bed. He gently places her down on it. Hours have passed, she felt like utter shit, contractions were getting way worse than they did while back. The big one strikes, she screams. LITERALLY. Clenching into Antasma's paw, she screams "I NEED EPIDURAL!!! GOD FUCKING DAMMIT!!!" Fawful rummages through his medical kit, and injects it into her spine. She sighs in relief after the epidural kicked in. He looks down at her... you-know-what and announces that she's fully dilated.

The last contraction hits and she begins to PUSH! She wailed like a banshee as she pushed. What felt like days, the baby finally slips, squawking from the moment it came out. Dewy-eyed from all the exhaustion, Cackletta weeps: "...Oh... my babyyy...!" She reaches out for her newborn. Her whole body trembling, she got to hold her little girl in her arms for a couple of seconds before giving her back. The baby does need some preppin' after all!

The couple finally got to see their little bundle of joy, they named her Callia. ❤

• Fawful this whole time was VERY embarrassed yet felt uncomfortable while seeing his master's... pussy this whole time. Especially her birthing. He desperately wanted to puke after seeing all that imagery. Do you blame him?!

• They're DEFINITELY not having kids again after what happened. They might change their minds after their daughter moves out, who knows!? 👀

#m&l rpgs #superstar saga #headcanons #callia #mario oc #fanchild #mario fanchild #cacktasma #antasma #cackletta #fawful #dream team #suggestive

[ravensmind]

Day 1 - The Bond

Dream Consequences

Pulling up in front of a tall oak tree, Robin cut the engine of his R- Cycle. He took off his helmet and glanced around the otherwise empty parking area, grateful that they would at least be alone for this rendezvous. He had tried to pick a quiet place away from prying eyes, including those of their friends. He breathed in the forest air and got up, gravel crunching under boots as he stood. He showed his helmet in a compartment on his bike before he enabled the R-Cycle's security system. His breathing was calm despite his nerves and he didn't spare the parking area another moment before starting down a dirt trail into the woods. 

Birds chirped all around him as he walked, while rabbits and squirrels dashed through bushes. The sun cut through the green leaves of trees that hung over the path before him. A light breeze created shifting shadows around him. He didn't have too far to go and he was early yet, so he could take his time if he desired. No reason to rush into the awaiting difficult conversation with Raven. He still wasn't sure of what he would say. After all, how do you admit to inspiring constant shared romantic and intimate dreams by way of a magic bond with a close friend you've otherwise never so much as kissed?

It had taken a while for both of them to acknowledge the situation to each other, as they had both thought the dreams were temporary, but it had been two months since they started and there was no end in sight. If anything, the dreams had gotten more intense. Initially, he wanted to discuss things with her in the tower, but they kept getting interrupted or one of their friends would be in proximity. He proposed meeting somewhere relaxing with little chance of being overheard. He came to a fork in the path and went right, then when he came to a sign marking the direction of the lake, he took a deep breath and headed for it. 

He could sense her waiting for him when he tried to reach for her through their bond. She hid her emotions well as always, but she couldn't conceal everything from him, and her anxiety was a sharp, repetitive whistle against the quiet of the day. He took some comfort knowing she was as nervous as he was, but wished he hadn't been the reason. She deserved more than what she was having to deal with and the last thing he wanted to do was to aggravate the nest of her emotions.

Robin put on a smile before he stepped free of the tree-walled path and into the clearing. Raven was sitting on a bench overlooking the dark blue water of the lake under the shade of a large tree, her legs crossed, and an open book in her lap. He approached from her left side and her eyes flicked to look at him before he made it to the bench. 

"Charming spot, secluded, too. Been here before?" Raven asked.

"Yeah, a few times, coming here clears my head when I really need it," Robin replied, as he joined her on the bench.

"I can see why. That said… nooot helping much with this situation," she said, closing her book.

"Not sure what would, but uh, at least it's peaceful and there's no one here but us now," he said.

"No witnesses to hear that you have feelings that didn't revolve around hunting down some criminal, right?" she asked with a smirk.

"None to hear that you might be enjoying the trouble with your own emotions, either," he replied with a smirk of his own.

"Who said I'm enjoying any of this?" she asked, frowning even as the corner of her mouth twitched up for an instant.

"You don't have to hide it, we're as alone as we can be. I uh, just don't know how to start talking about this," he said.

"Neither do I… which is either sad or stupid. There isn't much point in trying to do anything but be honest. I…just wish I'd had the spine to say something sooner, but here we are," she said, looking out over the lake.

The water was as calm and still as the air around them, making Robin feel Raven's presence and emotions more acutely. Her posture was fixed, as if she held herself as rigidly in place as possible. He was having trouble keeping himself from fidgeting with his belt or gloves. She had fallen silent and he was trying to push the words from his lips. At first he hadn't known what she meant, but he could feel it now, without any distractions to interfere with his thoughts. Being alone with her like this made him all at once overly cautious about saying or doing the wrong thing, more observant of her finer features, and he was a breath away from trying to flatter or appease her, anything to make her smile. A connection like theirs was almost impossible and it was bound to affect them in drastic ways, he just didn't think it would mean dreaming of satisfying every heated desire with one another. His feelings went beyond those physical desires and he wanted to ask her out, it just felt strange doing so while they were going through this, but maybe he shouldn't have waited, and he definitely should not continue to wait.

He had to say something first, before she could explain it away or apologize or assume guilt for having created their bond in the first place.

"I like it," Robin blurted.

Raven's eyes darted to focus on him with intensity, her breath catching as she froze next to him.

"You…like what?" Raven asked.

"Dreaming of you, like that. I uh, think it'd be awesome… if they weren't just dreams," Robin replied.

His face felt like it was melting, but he held her gaze and tried not to smile in anticipated excitement at the red that flooded her cheeks.

"I-um, I like it too. Except. I don't know if I can try, my powers being what they are. I'd rather not bring the tower down on us if I lost control doing… that with you. I don't even know if I can kiss someone I have feelings for without losing it," she said.

"Hmm, yeah, that, uh, is a problem. Well… we're not in the tower right now…we're alone, if you felt like trying… the kiss part, anyway,"  he pointed out.

"Clearly I feel like trying. I'd just feel horrible if I hurt you somehow, so I'm…thinking about it," she said, "I need to meditate, either way."

"I get it… take your time. I'm not going anywhere," he said, smiling at her.

Raven nodded and closed her eyes, crossing her legs and levitating a foot above the bench. Robin tried to act like he wasn't there, but his mind and eyes would wander helplessly back to her when pretending to watch a pair of ducks float by on the lake didn't work. He tried to distract himself by taking out his personal phone from his utility belt and going through Jump City news pieces, but that too proved difficult. 

He didn't keep track of how long they stayed silent by the lake, the sun had moved, but wasn't anywhere close to setting. Aside from some birds and ducks and a squirrel or two, nothing had moved or made noise. He tried to remember the last time he had experienced a day like this and couldn't. Criminals in the city kept him either making tracks after them or spinning his wheels on open cases. 

"Okay," Raven said aloud, almost as a whisper.

She returned to the bench and uncrossed her legs before standing. He didn't have a chance to reply before she took his gloved hand and led him from the bench to the water's edge. She wouldn't look at him, even as she turned her body to face his own. Then she took a breath and met his gaze. A breeze picked up and threw a few strands of her hair across her face. She sighed and let go of his hand to deal with it. He caught her hand before it reached her face and brought it down, then brushed the strands of her violet hair back into place. He cupped her cheek in his hand as he stepped closer to her.

"You sure you're ready?" he asked.

"I don't seem to recall you being oh so careful and gentle in any, well, most of our dreams," she replied with a smirk.

"Uh, well, most of those aren't real, this one is," he countered, "but I'll see if I can't make some of the others come true."

"It's sweet. Yes, I'm sure," she said.

Her lips parted and he eagerly pressed his lips to hers, seizing the first moment of what started a deeper, loving, more intense relationship that would satisfy both of them endlessly.

Maybe not every cherished dream of his would come true, but he was eternally grateful that this one had.

#robrae #robraeweek #teen titans #fanfic #robraeweek2023 #robin #raven #robrae week day 1 the bond #fluff

[koumeowkami]

🪐 no celestial ; kanallen

— chapter three

"Kanata was a poor little angel that heaven couldn't help. He'd always been a tough one, not trusting anyone but his little brother Nayuta, the only person that ever made him feel love. Growing up by themselves, he did everything in his power to protect his sick brother, things that dirtied his holy hands. "It's for a good cause though", he thought. But it wasn't enough, and Nayuta died soon after.

Kanata's soul was completely spent. He became unable to feel love, and adding to his dirty dealings that soon were found out, he got cast out of heaven. Fallen on Earth with his wings blackened, he felt so lost and empty he thought he could've just died.

But a random encounter with a very annoying, persistent, stupid redhead human boy would've made him discover love again."

1430 words

genre: supernatural, hurt/comfort, angst

warnings: none

previous ✧ next

Allen was finally back to his apartment, tired and with his mind clearly elsewhere. It was almost 3 AM. While he was trying really hard to be as quiet as possible, the lights in the living room were suddenly turned on.

"Where the hell were you!?"

Standing there was Anne, arms crossed and a scowl on their face. Hajun was behind them, looking immovable as always.

"Do you have any idea how late it is? I thought you fell asleep in front of your laptop!" Anne whispered-shouted, getting closer to Allen looking at him inquisitively. They might look cute and all but God, were they scary when angry.

"Sorry... I just took a detour when coming here. Tonight's soft breeze is so relaxing..." Allen replied, smiling softly with his head lowered. For some reason, he couldn't tell them about his encounter in the park. Well, he'd probably never see Kanata again anyways, would he?

Anne kept looking at him weirdly, as if they were trying to spot a lie, but in the end they accepted his answer. "Well nevermind, it's too late for a discussion now. We have school tomorrow so we'd better head to bed" they said yawning, and went towards their room. Hajun, who had been silent the whole time, got closer to Allen. "Don't go wander so late ever again, alright? Because if you don't get up in time for class the next day, we're leaving you here" he whispered, flashing a smile that made Allen gulp in fear.

"Understood."

Probably half an hour had passed, and Allen still had his eyes fixed on the ceiling of his room. He just couldn't stop thinking about what happened that night. For some reason, he was instantly attracted to that kid, as if he was put under some spell. He felt like he couldn't leave him alone. Behind the rage in those galaxy-colored eyes he saw so much suffering, one he couldn't ever imagine. Behind that steel barrier he put in front of his heart, he could feel his loneliness. He wasn't able to understand why Kanata would force himself to deny that despite everything.

Frustrated, he got up and sat in front of the window, gazing at the shining moon.

"How can I go beyond that wall of yours?"

— ☾ —

"...Allen? Hello? Earth to Allen!"

With a gasp, Allen paused the music in his headphones and raised his head from his songwriting notebook. He was faced with a pouting Anne, who was sitting across from him at one of the university's cafeteria tables.

"Huh? What is it...?"

"Look, I know you always get invested when doing anything that has to do with hiphop, but you've been really out of it for the past week. I've been calling you for five whole minutes!" they said, exasperated.

"Are you okay? You haven't even had your lunch yet" Hajun pointed to the ramen sitting beside the notebook, "We have class in fifteen minutes, so hurry up please. I don't want to be late because of you." he said, sipping on his coffee.

"Don't worry, I'm okay! It's just that I'm having trouble with this one... I haven't gotten much sleep lately either" Allen smiled, "I'm gonna finish lunch quickly, you guys can go already!"

Anne and Hajun took their bags. "We're waiting for you in the hallway, alright?"

"Sure thing! See you there!"

— ☾ —

Hajun and Anne walked, an awkward silence filling the air.

"So..." Anne started, looking at the boy beside them, "Have you also noticed something weird about Allen, lately?"

"Of course I did. He's awful at lying and keeping secrets, he wears his heart on his sleeve after all." Hajun said, "It all started when he came home late the other day..."

"Yeah. He always looks like there's something on his mind but he won't tell us! Ugh, it's so frustrating!" Anne pouted again, slightly gripping their hair, "I know he doesn't want us to worry... but if something is troubling him I don't wanna leave him alone!" they said, closing their hands in a punch, resoluted.

"Oh Anne, you're so cute~" Hajun teased playfully at the little display of protectiveness from Anne. "Shut up! I know damn well you'd do the same for him, even though you pretend not to!" they replied while crossing their arms.

"I wonder?" he giggled, while his eyes confirmed Anne's words.

— ☾ —

"Guys, I'm gonna head out for a bit to breathe some fresh air! I'll be back for dinner!"

Allen sprinted towards the park. There was one in a million possibilities that Kanata would still be there, but he wanted to see that with his own eyes. He hadn't stopped thinking about their conversation for the whole week, he tried to pour his feelings on a piece of paper like he always did, but something was missing. He thought that seeing Kanata would've cleared up his mind a bit.

The park was already almost empty when he got there, most people were already heading back home or going to eat somewhere; he immediately reached the most hidden part, where he was sure Kanata would be hiding, then wandered slowly to catch him, but to no avail.

"Tch. You're here again."

Allen turned around, eyes widened.

"You're still... here?" he said, looking over at the boy. His once white clothes got dirtier than the time before, his long hair a bit tousled, his eye bags bigger, his skin paler. Allen's heart was hurting. "Why does he keep doing that to himself?" he thought.

"Not that I could be anywhere else. I'm too tired to walk around this huge city" Kanata sat on a bench, "Didn't I tell you to fuck off, the other day? But you still came to me... you're really that stupid, huh."

His piercing gaze intimidated Allen slightly, but he still stepped forward. No matter what, he had to make his words reach the boy.

"Well... I just wanted to see you. You've been on my mind for a while" he said shyly, looking somewhere else, "And I still have a promise to keep after all. I really wanna understand you better."

"The only thing you gotta understand is that I wanna be left alone and yet you keep annoyin' me and bein' a creep. So I'm gonna tell you again, fuck off."

Allen looked at him properly and clenched his fists. There it was, that huge wall in front of his heart again. He didn't want to forcefully pry into Kanata's past, but he also didn't like standing there and watching him suffer. That boy surely didn't deserve it, despite what he said.

"I'm not going anywhere. Why do you want me not to get close to you? I'm not scared of you..." he got a bit closer, approaching him steadily but still not too much, "And no matter how much you push me away, I'll come back, 'cause I know deep inside... you don't wanna be alone. I know the loneliness in your heart, I know the pain-"

"...You don't know shit about me!!"

Kanata stood up, gritting his teeth. He pushed Allen, who only moved slightly. "Who do you think you are? Thinkin' you know me oh so well to make such stupid assumptions. You don't know all the shit I went through, the reasons why I ended up like this..." he said shivering, "You don't know why I deserve... all of this..."

"All I know is that you don't deserve it! I can feel you're not a bad person, and no matter what you did, there's always a second chance! The world is full of possibilities!"

"You're so naive it's pathetic... is your head filled with flowers and butterflies? Only the gifted ones are given second chances. If you've gone once through the mud, you're stuck in the dirt forever." Kanata wasn't looking at Allen anymore, the latter's eyes too intense they made him flinch. "Wake the fuck up, Suzaku. This is the real world, a fuckin' pile of garbage!"

Allen's gaze softened, but still let his tenacity flow out. "Well... if you put it like that, then I'm gonna prove you wrong. I will be the one to give you a second chance!" he said smiling proudly, "How about you move in with me and my roommates? Don't worry, we'll give you lots of personal space! The apartment is big after all and-"

"...He said what!?"

"Anne, you should lower your voice..."

Allen heard some not so muffled voices behind the bushes and immediately turned around.

"Anne... Hajun...!?"

#🪐; no celestial #paradox live #paralive #kanallen #allenkana #allen sugasano #kanata yatonokami #IT'S BEEN 84 YEARS #i was just ITCHING to write again #i'm thinking about publishing a new chapter every month but. who knows #anyways yes their final dialogue was a bit inspired by the desire drama cd :> #it's one of my favorites so why not remaking it 🤪 #i hope y'all like it!! reblogs asks and comments are always appreciated <3

[tailorofcha0s]

We better survive this.

"They reached the highest part of the city as the sun began to set. Destruction had already taken its toll on that side of Baldur; crumbling buildings, broken ground, and the smell of sulfur. Their allies were waiting in a small building that still stood. They planned to spend the night there. Persephone and the others discussed their next steps and prepared a plan for the battle. Afterward, while everyone was having dinner, she stepped away from the group and went to sit next to some ruins outside.

The sky displayed a crimson color; nautiloids sailed through the skies while several githyankis on dragons attempted to incinerate them with their flames. She felt sad as she glimpsed what was left of Baldur; after walking its streets, soaking in the atmosphere and the people, there was now barely a trace of that city. The flames of the buildings in the distance illuminated Persephone's cheeks as if it were a bonfire.

'You haven't finished dinner, my love,' a sweet and melodious voice was heard behind her, 'you need to replenish your strength; tomorrow is an important day.'

Persephone turned to look at Astarion, who came to sit with her accompanied by a bottle of wine.

'I know, dear. But I needed to clear my thoughts a bit,' Persephone said in a melancholic tone.

'For that, we have me and...' - he filled a glass of wine and offered it to her - 'this red wine, my love,' Astarion joked with a small smile, displaying his fangs, although immediately his face became serious. 'Now tell me, my dear, what is troubling you?'

Persephone looked at the horizon while holding her glass and sighed. She remained silent for several minutes before speaking. 'This could be our last night together,' she said with some difficulty; trying not to shed any tears.

Astarion, who was drinking from his glass, placed it on the ground and delicately took Persephone's and did the same. Then, he took her thin and delicate hands while stroking them with his thumb to reassure her. They both looked at each other intently.

'I know... my sweet. I'm terrified, too. We just claimed our lives back; we escaped from Bhaal and Cazador. But we've come so far, look at us. I believe us to be capable of much more, so much more.  It must not end here, it can't.' 

Persephone hid her face in Astarion's chest.

"There's a possibility that we might not make it, and that's what I fear the most. I know that even if we destroy the netherbrain and everything returns to normal, we'll still have to keep fighting for our future, for a challenging future and love. I'll age, and you'll see me die, and we'll only be able to live our love under the moonlight. But I don't mind... if it means I can still keep you by my side. We've endured so much, we carried our heavy hearts and so many wounds for so long to get here and deserve something good... something like the love we have for each other. Tomorrow, if I have to die, my last breath will be dedicated to you."

Astarion tried to remain strong, but tears began to well up in his eyes.

"You're such a fool, my sweet petal. We're in this together. No matter what happens. Until the end. And if my final day is tomorrow, I'm glad that in war and in love, I had you as my partner."

Persephone smiled through her tears and kissed Astarion with a warm, silent, and lingering kiss. Shortly after, she tried to regain her composure and held onto one of the vampire's arms, resting her head on his shoulder.

"We better survive this," she added after a pause, "I still have so much more love to give you."

Astarion smiled faintly and sighed. Both gazed at the apocalyptic horizon before them. He, too, rested his head on Persephone's. No matter what happened, if this was the end of the world, they would face it together.

______________________________________________________

Just a little something i wrote today cause i was inspired (i know its not perfect and it took me almost two hours to properly write this, its been years i dont sit down and write something like this) This early morning i reached the very end of the game - you know, when you go to the upper city and get ready for the long battle and chase of the netherbrain- and i got very emotional. Astarion and Persephone even had a little different kiss in case it would be the last before initiating the quest.

#durge x astarion #baldur's gate 3 #astarion #astarion ancunin #fanfic #fanfiction #Youtube

[inertflouride]

Turmoils of you- Part 3

(I meant to post it earlier but had a really bad migraine and viral fever)

Episode 10 references⚠️

Warning: Disobedient MC and rough Jake *snickers* Sorry, had to repost it again TuT

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" is what I get to hear once I'm out of the shower. Jake turns to me, pauses for a while, his eyes going over me for a minute or so as he takes me in, before getting to the matter at hand. "Uh, I've made a plan to get Hannah and Richy out but I need to know if you're up for what I'm about to ask you for."

Do I see worry? Sure do. If this has him worried, it's got to be something big. "Sure Jake, go ahead", I respond cooly, trying to mask my shrieky voice.

"Well, as you know, I've stayed here for a some time already", he starts, "there is a high chance that my pursuers might show up in..., let's say the coming few days. But then that's just a hopeful assumption. They may visit me in the coming hours as well."

He pauses for a while and stressfully rubs his hand on his forehead. I begin to say something but he beats me to it. "I wouldn't have taken a risk this big had it not been for Hannah", he trails off.

I move upto him and take his hands in mine, giving him a reassuring smile. His eyes go wide for just a moment and he returns a smile. "And none of this will go in vain. We will get Hannah back, Jake. I know we will."

"Yes", he affirms, then pauses for a moment. "Okay so whatever I'm about to tell you right now, you will listen to it, without interrupting me. Is that clear?", he asks, indicating that whatever I'm going to hear isn't going to be fine by me but I decide to give him the benefit of doubt and nod.

"Like I said earlier, I won't let you anywhere near that sick bastard so, you won't be coming in the mines", he declares.

"No. No. No. No. Did I mention, no!", I say, giving a brief pause between every 'no'.

"What did I say? Listen to me first", he orders me, which of course weakens my traitor body. I need to get my shit together!

"I want you to do something more important", he curtly tells me.

If this is his way to pull me away from danger and make him the target, it ain't happening. "Jake, if you want me to sit back and watch you risk your life, I'm not doing that."

"Instead, you are going to keep a track of my pursuers and inform me about it when I'm in the mine", he declares.

"Huh? How will I tell you that when I won't be in that stupid mine in the first place?", I ask him, fiddling with the skin on my thumb.

"You won't be IN the mine but I can't keep you in here with no protection so you'll be around that area. Aside from that we need to discuss evacuation plans as well", he mumbles the last part, getting busy by the details.

"Then lets do it. I don't think we have much time anyways", I say as I stand up.

"Let me arrange everything. Till then, here's your phone. Your friends are worried. Try to talk down things", he suggests and passes me my phone.

I read through whatever has happened till now. Jake handled the situation pretty well, especially when Thomas started insisting on going to the Grimrock on his own. Gotta say, that man has some real dedication for love.

MC: Sorry guys, I went missing in action for a while MC: Especially during the time when you all needed me MC: But trust me, we're going to get Hannah, super soon MC: Please have some faith on me, one last time.

I quickly type it all in the group chat before moving onto Michael's messages. Fuck. I had completely forgotten about keeping him on wait. The fact that Dan has shot him and he is injured puts him in a vulnerable state mentally, making him prone to make hasty decisions. Plus, it's already been 2 hours since I messaged him. I just hope he hasn't done something stupid. Again.

Unknown: I have been waiting for you

Unknown: You are going to regret this

UNKNOWN IS OFFLINE

"It doesn't matter anymore. His hiding place has been exposed so, don't worry about this", Jake reassures me as he peeps in my phone, suddenly coming from behind.

"Thanks Jake. Um, you were quick. Are you done with whatever you had to do?", I blabber as I get nervous from the close proximity of our faces.

"Mhmm", I blush as he stares at my lips. As soon as we're done with this, I'm literally a goner, the one who'll actually be at HIS mercy. Provided he doesn't pull an 'It's too dangerous for us to be together' or 'You deserve a life which I can't give'. And to be frank? This is pretty likely to happen too.

I notice him going to his desk, picking up a black box like thing with a few buttons on it.

"Is this a walkie talkie? You know like the ones policemen use?", I ask him out of bewilderment and curiosity.

"Hmm, close but no. This device here produces low frequency waves, since only they can penetrate rocks and enable communication", Jake begins explaining the whole mechanism, "Ah, I'm sorry, I went in too much details."

"Never mind that, it isn't like I'm completely clueless", I reply to him, secretly loving it when he talks nerdy to me.

"But Jake, how did you get a hold of this?", I ask him in curiosity.

He smirks at me and then says, "I made it."

"For real?", I exclaim at his proficiency. I didn't expect a hacker to know how to build devices too but then, he's not just any hacker, he's the best one out there, so it makes sense.

He continues, "So, I make it underground via the Terrandale entrance. Just before I do, you will click this button here", he indicates a red button on his laptop screen. "This will make all cameras go blank for 10 minutes, infecting his system completely."

"Just 10 minutes? No way in hell will you make to Hannah and Richy in 10 minutes!", I imply in bewilderment.

"I'll still have the element of surprise. As long as he thinks he's alone in the mine, my job becomes easy", he explains. "After that, there's this tracker here which will help you with my pursuers. If they get within 10 kms range, the device will alert you like it did when they tried to hack into your phone."

"But what after that, after, let's say, they do get here?"

"Once it starts beeping, you signal me via this device which I have given you. It will alert me when that happens", he pauses to show me how both devices start beeping. "As soon as you are done alerting me, you will get in the vehicle in which we went to the mines and leave for Colville. Do not wait for me and never get back to this place. Every nook and corner here will be compromised by then."

"I will not leave you in the mine and evacuate, Jake. No way in hell am I doing that. We go in and get out. Together", I declare.

"Please listen to me, baby. If they get their hands on you, they are going to use you to lure me. Don't think that they will abstain from using force or any other means of brutality to get out information about me from you. They are willing to go to any lengths, so when I say leave, we leave. Don't worry, I'll join you in Colville. I promise I will."

I do not say anything and get to packing up my stuff. I grab my bag pack which rests along the wall and look towards Jake, so as to know when will we get going.

"You do trust me, don't you?", he asks me, intently waiting for a response.

"I don't know, Jake. Do I?", I shoot back at him only to find him staring at me so intensely that had I not known him, I'd have run for the hills. He gets close to me with a dark look and whispers "I had you unconscious for 1 whole hour, love. If I wanted to do something, I would have, wouldn't I?" and smirks at me.

I move to wipe that smirk off his face with a slap, but he grips my wrist before I could and pins me to the wall. "Nuh uh. I wouldn't slap a guy I met a few hours ago and was powerless against if I were you."

"But now that I do dare, what are you going to do about it, Jake?" I challenge him, matching the dark look in his eyes.

He tightens his hold on my wrists and puts his mouth right in front of me, our noses touching and lips barely apart. "Say that again", he says to me, trying to suppress my rebel attitude.

"Why? Can't get it the first time?", I sneer.

He presses his lips on mine, asserting his dominance over me. Not so soon honey. I knee him in his crotch, not that hard though, but enough to make him back down from me. He hisses in pain, surprised by the sudden attack. I move past him, taking my belongings with me. I find one of his hoodies on the chair and put it on myself and then looking at him, asking nonchalantly, "So are we going or not? We have hostages to save who don't have all day for your shitty attitude, you know."

He straightens up and impressively laughs at me. "You did pique my interest. You indeed did." I give him a toothy grin to hide my annoyance at not getting a response I wished for.

He then grabs his own bag and a set of keys, possibly his vehicle's. Opening the door gently, he moves outside but motions me to stay put as he goes out to check the surroundings, analysing every little detail. When he's sure there isn't anything, he asks me to follow him and leads us to a black XUV concealed behind the bushes.

Suddenly, right in the middle of our path to the car, a bush starts shaking and alerts us, making my heart almost pound outside my body. I look at Jake who is around 20 steps behind me and signals me to crouch my way to the car. I do as he says, and slowly make my way to the car, not daring to stand up when my knees give up or either look back at him to know he's following me until I don't make it there.

As soon as I reach at the foot of the car, I turn around just to find Jake taking cover behind tree, aiming a handgun towards the bush. He showers a rain of bullets at the bush, each shot making me finch. When he notices no movement for a couple of minutes, he takes off towards the car.

A black shadow emerging from the bushes pounces on his back, making him fall on the ground and not letting him get back up. I desperately try to make out what is happening, squinting at the scene but the fact that both the figures are dressed black, that too in the night theme, doesn't make it any easier for me.

The panic from whatever is happening makes the person I most dread appear. She wraps her arms around my shoulder and slowly breathes in my ear, her fingers trailing from my elbows to the tip of my fingers. "What will you do MC?" she asks me, making my skin crawl.

Well, that's an excellent question. So, what am I going to do?

PART-4

#duskwood mc #duskwood #duskwood everbyte #duskwood fanfiction #duskwood jake #duskwood jake x player #jake x mc #duskwood turmoils of you

[nygleskas]

umm jr² loreposting by episodes. if u care.

so, my s/i is besties with mona-lisa. so me and jean have def met before (i mean how can u be besties with someone and just Not meet their sibling wGDH), but we probably haven't talked a ton. we've prob just said like.. hey in passing lol. We Know Of each other.

2x23 the master plan - we'd have like a proper meeting at april's party lol. i'd go to tell april happy birthday and i'm like "heyy happy birthday april :D!... and ?.. jean-ralphio's here... That's a surprise" wFKHSN but we'd chat a bit. <- i'd probably pick up on andy/april liking e/o so for her to be w jean is so jarring to see wGHNJS. ermm we might interact more in this ep? i kinda wanna rewrite this ep so andy and april get together -> me and jean interact more but idk. ummmm also i probably realize that Oh. now that i see him for more than a minute he's kinda cute wGJHN

3x9 andy & april's wedding - btwn eps we'd chat some more :o maybe not total friend status but close. i can't think of anything rly specific for this ep we prob just talk n hang in the kitchen when he's not in kahoots w tom wgskdhnk?

3x13 the fight (my fav ep wooo) - at this point we're friends. i'm sitting w tom at a table and jean comes over to chat. during this ep jean constantly makes raps with ppl's names but just can't end them on a rhyme, so. Obviously. he tries to make one out of my name. he fails miserably and i'm like "....well i do have two first names, so you can try one with 'reyes'. ykno, maybe you can redeem yourself" and he does and fails again and me and tom are like "that's worse... How is that Worse" WKEHSJG. i feel like at some point i'd just be vibing by myself at a booth and he comes over n talks to me. everyone in this ep is so Out There (mainly cus they're drunk lol) and i'm just very To Myself and he tries to get me to have fun/be outgoing. wait he'd absolutely try to get me to dance or wtvr wHNJGSN. also i just realized i would have to not only deal w everyone being drunk (i'm the only sober one along w chris and donna) but i'd have to deal w jean being drunk.. and he's a sad drunk (or at least with snakejuice he is)... g-dwjgsdhj. i'm just sitting at the bar on my phone and he comes up like heyyy *insert stupid nickname he makes up for me here* my man hows it going and we chat which quickly turns into him just randomly discussing abt his parents unhappy marriageKWGNSJD (<- i have so much lore for their family) and i'm just like 🧍‍♂️..oh. sorry about that?? wHSKDNH

3x16 li'l sebastian - so during this ep jean tries to convince tom to join him and create entertainment 720 (multimedia conglomerate... they literally do the same stuff as waystar, but they don't Actually do it cus they're so bad at their jobs lmao), while also working on the memorial for li'l sebastian together. i would be helping them w the video presentation that happens later that night (i'd also help with smaller stuff for preparing the memorial). tom is off discussing plans with someone else and while jean and i work he talks abt entertainment 720, and how they'd need video editors and suggests i could work w them. i say i'm totally down for it and that it sounds fun and at the end of the episode when they create the company i work there with/for them :3

e720 era is very short lived but i have sm thoughts..... but i don't feel like typing them all out rn wsHN basically during e720 we become real good/best friends and also mutual pining era begins hehe

ok. time to skip to

4x6 end of the world - (my 2nd fav ep) this is the ep where Unfortunately e720 dies wHKSNG, bUT on the bright side it is also the ep where we become canon <3 at some point during the party jean texts lucy (tom's ex) to come to the party and they both reconcile/it's implied they get back together. i feel like after he sort of sets them up he decides he wants to confess to me. edit!: i believe the marching band bit is after the tomlucy stuff.....and during the marching band bit jean wears a pink/black uniform ..which are my favorite colors (and literally my hair color) 🤨🤨he could not be any less subtle (but i'm so oblivious i don't even think twice abt it.. i'm just like oh haha what a coincidence :D).....ok anyways. i'm hiding away in the pirate ship bouncy castle, just like.. in a corner on my phone. vibing. (<- one thing about me is i will be in a corner at a party) he eventually finds me and we just sit together talking. i go on a tangent about thanking him and tom for this opportunity and how fun it was to work w them (even tho they barely worked lmao) and get closer w them and blah blah blah. he's quiet during this but it's not like a bad quiet. like he's just rly listening. when i finally shut up he agrees w like. everything i said and just adds onto it. he says he really enjoyed my company and i'm like yeah :> same here and there's just a silence (tension? 🤔) for a min while we just sit together skhDNG i start to talk abt smth and he just. kisses me. and i'm frozen wsDKH he thinks my reaction is negative so he starts to apologize so i'm like ??!?!?! i'm trying to talk but i can't get the words out (i am v awkward lol) but eventually i do and i'm like "!???! NO NEEd to apologizE!! i mean i uhh i like you. too. so. yeah. There..?!? i mean.. If that kiss meant you like me?? which i hope it does? i mean it'd be kinda weird to do that if you Didn't like me??? do you?-" (bAsically i'm a mess) and he's like ! Yes! and we talk it out and we. start dating. Yeah. (ermmmmmm just had a thought . he asks if he can kiss me again bc that first kiss wasn't a ~real~ kiss and i'm like 'um. i mean Yeah. but like. i don't really know How? to kiss?? well i mean i know How, like i watch movies..but i don't know Howww to kiss?' and he just teaches me how to kiss lmaowgsjhhkn ALL WHILE? IN A BOUNCY CASLTE THAT ANYONE CAN WALK IN ON LMAOSGJNHok anyways. um. he teaches me and we're laughing and giddy . and we kiss. like for reals. ummm and he's like i wanted to do that for a whilewrkhnjhlICNAT ICANT DO THISim done goodbye oh my g-d)

ummmm during the rest of s4 we're secretly dating

i don't know Where but somewhere in season 5 we become public. no one is surprised wKHDNS except like.. ann and leslie. they're surprised for sure. esp leslie like it takes a whileeee for them to warm up to us together wlgdjhn

UHHH that's it. goodbye *runs back to my cave*

#.txt #lore tag #tweeted this earlier but figured i may as well. putthis here wHSNH i mean that's what this blog is for #ok technichally i just posted short desc's for the eps like i did not go into as much detail as i did here. for reasons. #<- i just feel embarrassed wHrhN #also Apologies for infodumping on some eps . idk how many ppl actually watch this show i just want every1 to knw the Context #also typing the eps out made me realize thisseems to happen faster than i thought . #i forgot how much time canonically passes. #queuing this bc i'm too embarrassed to post . #jean