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#willow whines
azural83 · 1 year
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Huntlow has done far more damage to willow's character than lumity ever did
And that's supposed to her relationship😭
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willowser · 10 months
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i want to write something domestic 🥺 like a real thing, not just drabble nonsense 🥺
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willowcrowned · 2 years
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god this paper fucking sucks
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daff0dilcr0wn · 11 months
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I feel so stupid. I think I got catfished or bamboozled at least. I was talking to this guy and we sent things to each other. He said he was going to come over, said he was about to park, and then I realized he unfriended me and deleted all of his pictures from our messages. So, I deleted all of mine, but I don't think it matters at the point, whoever this person is has some intimate pictures of me to use as they please.
I feel so fucking stupid. I didn't sleep at all last night and have hardly eaten anything.
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Xander is sooo annoying sorry
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existentialflirt · 7 months
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Idek idek but what if Willow was a technomage because honestly it was mad that she gravitated toward more....traditional magic. (read: idek some Wiccan bullshit). I mean honestly I have a complicated relationship with Buffy lore and magic. On one hand it's clear someone did some research but clearly not nearly enough to release themselves from the absurd dichotomy of black/white magic. Don't even get me started on "magic as drug addiction" analogy in season 6. It infuriates me, because there could have been some interesting exploration about Willow's increasing compulsion toward using her innate talent in magic to fuck with reality, but of course the easier route was taken.
BUT ANYWAY.
What if, knowing she would probably get killed sooner than later, Jenny wrote (or altered) a will to leave her books and notebooks about magic? That's how she gets into magic instead of the curiosity of Giles' intimidating, dusty old books. So yeah, I think I like it better that Willow is a technomage rather than Wiccan or whatever. I do wonder why that plot thread got dropped. Idek, maybe they feared having to deal with more CGI or whatever. In any case, I'm here to say fuck all. Wicca is the Christianity of modern witchcraft anyway. It's always puzzled me that someone Jewish had gravitated toward Wicca instead of Kabbalah (especially as a show from the 90s) but whatever. I don't know why I expect people to actually think deeply about their own bloody characters. Or maybe I'm the crazy one, but it's not likei spend hours thinking about these things. It's just about making connections innit?
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lizthewriter · 5 months
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that's my man / theodore nott
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PAIRING  theodore nott x studious!fem!reader
SUMMARY  you're exhausted from finals studying fatigue, so theo helps you to bed. (blurb)
TAGS  theodore nott x studious!fem!reader, caring!theo, loving!theo, fluff, comfort
QUOTE  "life was a willow and it bent right to your wind, / head on the pillow, i could feel you sneakin' in," - willow by taylor swift
WORD COUNT  350
WRITTEN  11.17.2023
You hummed softly to yourself, slowly dragging your feet up the stairs. Theo stood dutifully beside you, one hand hovering behind your back and the other keeping a hold on your arm. Finals fatigue had hit you hard and he didn't want you harming yourself by falling down the stairs out of exhaustion.
"Just a few more steps, love, you're almost there," he assured you, his tone soft and gentle. His dorm was not too far away, and soon he's be able to get you in bed to finally get some rest. It had been an absolute pain to try and get you out of that rubbish desk chair and into bed these past few days. He thought he had been studious - that was before be met you.
Finally, you found the final step and trudged towards his dorm with half-lidded eyes. He pulled on your arm gently, slowing you to a stop. Before you had any time to whine about the sudden stop, he swooped you into his arms. With one arm swung under your knees and the other, your neck, he easily carried you into his dorm and placed you down on the bed.
He didn't mind taking care of you like this - especially when you spent most of your time taking care of everyone else but yourself . . . normally him. He took off your shoes, placed them at the foot of the bed, and grabbed a blanket to wrap around you. Soon enough, he too was lying down in bed with you, arms pulling you into his chest.
"Thanks Teddy," you mumbled softly, your voice muffled by the way you were buried in his knit sweater and blanket. Your fingers wrapped around the collar of his shirt, pulling him as close to you as you possibly could. "Love you."
He couldn't help the love-lorn smile that grew on his face - he kissed the top of your head ans then rested his against your own. All was tranquil, quiet, and there was only comfort in the presence of one another. "I love you too, my love."
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euaphoric · 7 months
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🕸️ KINKTOBER - DAY 1. 🕸️
Show You What Devotion Is . . .
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[PAIRING] jungkook x f!reader
[GENRE] bf/gf, established relationship, pwp [WARNINGS] fluff, smut, small mentions of insecurities, body worship, devotion kink, face-sitting, biting, spit kink (sorta, kinda?)
summary: you don’t think you’re good enough for your boyfriend but he proves those thoughts wrong by showing just how much undying love he truly has for you.
wc -> 2.0k
A/N: first post of the month, 30 more to go woohoo~ so excited to do this and hopefully this’ll help me get a better idea of what i like/don’t like writing in the future. **fyi oc is told that she tastes like candy but obvi in the real world if ur hoo-ha tastes like candy that’s not normal .. o_O buttt this is fiction so just pretend they can sjdjfjsjjs.
kinktober m.list
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this day simply couldn’t get any worse. you missed the bus back home just by a fraction of a minute, all because you wanted to speak with your professor at his office hours but now in hindsight, you wished you never did. it was practically a waste of time anyway, he wasn’t giving much worthy feedback on your presentation and the anxiety about your final grade grew rampant as the semester progressed. ‘fuck, guess’ll wait for the next one in 15’ you mumble to yourself, annoyed and exhausted from earlier’s events. one side of you just wants to call jungkook to come pick you up but your other subconscious is telling you that’s selfish— don’t make him drive all the way here when you can just wait a measly 15 more minutes.
sigh~
it won’t kill you to wait, it’s not like you were in a rush to see him right now. it was actually quite the opposite, you weren’t prepared to tell him how you completely bombed your presentation. well, you wouldn’t say completely but it definitely wasn’t up to your impossibly high standards. public speaking was the only class you struggled with the most, you could articulate your words precisely in writing but saying it out loud? that was a totally different story. you have to outgrow this “fear” over speaking in front of an audience if you want to practice law one day. no one’s going to take you seriously if you can’t even read a single paragraph without tripping over syllables. all you could do was replay those embarrassing moments and internally cringe, almost missing the bus again from being so deep in thought— what a nightmare.
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“baaabyyyy!” the sweet sound of jungkook’s voice instantly made everything better, at least for now. his peachy soft lips went straight to your face almost immediately, smothering you with dozens of kisses while caging his beautiful, toned arms around your willowed frame. “you came home so late, was expectin’ you half an hour agooo.” he whines immaturely, holding you so tight he’s nearly squeezing you at this point. he must’ve really missed you. “i missed the bus… i wanted to talk with my professor about my presentation and thought i could make it but i guess not..” you pause, thinking if you should share what’s really crossing your mind, “…i was gonna call you to pick me up but didn’t think it was worth all that hassle.” now hearing yourself say that out loud makes it seem like he isn’t a reliable boyfriend, he very much is, it’s just the over-thinker in you. it’ll mark your 2 years of dating next week yet somehow you still felt like you were burdening him at times.
if the embodiment of ‘???’ was a person, that would be jungkook right about now; he couldn’t fathom you thinking such unlawful things. “hassle? what’re you talking about love, nothing is a hassle for me when it comes to you, absolutely nothing. next time you need me don’t hesitate to call babe,” he reassures sincerely. loosening his embrace momentarily to turn you around, he brings your chests together while his hands wrap your pretty waist, feeling his rapid heartbeat against yours. “i’m serious, you better call me next time.” the sternness of his voice alarming you that he’ll probably lecture you for this. he texts you hourly just to check in and make sure you’re okay, a simple drive to pick you up is the bare minimum to him. “well besides that.. how’d your presentation go?” jungkook’s doe-like eyes widen as he interrogates with questions. “i don’t wanna talk about it.” you silently mutter, already dreading what the final grades were going to be. “that bad, huh?” he proceeds with even more questions, “did you remember like we practiced last night?” you nod, lowering your head to stare at the floor, confidence dwindling by the second.
it truly hurts him to see you upset over something you’ve worked so passionately on, all just for it to feel ruined in the end. he hates that you’re not your usual bubbly and cute self, it makes him do everything he can to cheer you up. “it’s okay if you don’t wanna talk about it now, i get it. you probably did well though, i bet you messed up like one time and no one even noticed ‘cause you’re so pretty!” he teases, inked, slender digits trail up to find solace on your chin, lifting your head up to face each other again. “stop stressing over dumb little imperfections, it never ends well.” “oh, you’re one to talk!” you whine into his chest, unable to deal with his hypocrisy. not jungkook of all people giving you this speech when he is literally the #1 perfectionist king. “and i’m not even that pretty..” you quietly mumble, hoping he wouldn’t catch that. “wait, what did you just say?!” his voice raised an octave of confusion, you would think someone had just told him the most horrific story, but no, here he is on the verge of a mental breakdown over his girlfriend feeling insecure. “i said i’m not that—” “no no, i heard you the first time. my brain just isn’t registering the fact that you don’t think you’re anything less than a walking goddess of this earth.” he was flabbergasted to hear you talk with such low confidence, “sometimes, i feel like you can do so much better..” that’s what fully broke his heart as you spoke, it pained him to know you harbored all these feelings deep down inside.
the only answer in solving this dilemma is by being a better boyfriend to you, showering you with even more compliments than he already does daily, and most importantly, proving that he is 100% devoted to you and you only.
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eyes half-lidded in lust, limbs spasming and going numb from the continuous stimulation, you can’t do much but moan out jungkook’s name on an endless loop. the first hour, jungkook took his heavenly time with your delicate, angelic body. everything about you is divine to him, he wants to appreciate every single inch of you, even the parts you despise. he dedicated his lips to kissing and pleasuring your whole body, leaving no surface of you untouched. he’d rave in between kisses about how beautiful you are, how lucky he is and how he’s willing to do anything to make you happy. if being love-drunk was a disease, he’d rather fall into a coma and never wake up than find the cure. he’s living his best life as he cherishes your innate beauty, leaving wet, open-mouthed kisses to your inner thighs as he reaches them, taking ample time to caress and praise your dreamy body. he’s always had a thing for your cute plush thighs, the way they’d bounce and jiggle when he plays with them makes him all giddy inside. he can never get enough of them or you, leaving numerous bite marks and coating them with his spit, “you’re a work of art princess, a masterpiece. don’t think any different.” jungkook murmured against you, voice laced with pure seduction and infatuation.
body buzzing in anticipation as he kept working his way up, leaving a chaste peck to your left and right hip bone, firmly gripping your thighs as he drags his lips to your center. the urge to make out with your cunt was insatiable for him, he needed his face buried between your legs, there was no place he’d rather be. “after this you’re gonna use my face as your throne and m’gonna give you the most mind blowing orgasm, capeesh?” jungkook props his head up for a second before kissing below your belly button. “c-capeeshh.” you hazily reply, mind still fuzzy from just his kisses and touch alone. you know you’re in for a wild ride whenever you sit on your boyfriend’s face, he always eats you like a starved man and makes sure you cum multiple times, he takes such pride in himself for having you be a twitching and moaning mess by the end of it all. his only goal and mission for the night was to make you feel so good that you reach your climax hard enough to see memories of your life flash before your eyes. as he made his way up to your waist, you melt into his warmth, craving him more and more as time goes on. you thought you felt your soul leave your body when he unsuspectingly attaches his mouth to your nipple, babbling nothing coherent as you rut your hips into nothing.
as much as jungkook wanted to keep the teasing going, he was so down bad to have you sit on his face in this moment, ready to show exactly how much love and obsession he has for you. “need you so bad babe.. need to taste you,” he sighs, shamelessly gawking over you as he maneuvers you on top. “you’re so fuckin’ sexy mama... would love to be in between these pretty thighs for the rest of my life.” you couldn’t help but blush at his dirty talk, feeling flustered as you slide off your damp polka dot panties, watching as he licks his lips, planning to devour you whole. jungkook was so excited, you’re always scared of hurting him whenever you sit on his face but he reassures you often that he’ll be fine, “you’re not gonna kill me babe, trust me. even if you did i think it’d be sick to put ‘died from too much pussy juice’ on my gravestone anyway.” he lightly jokes, never taking anything in the slightest bit serious. you position your lower half, hovering over his face as he stares directly at your wetness. the tent in his boxers only surged, he was so hopelessly attracted to you, he could cum just from giving you head.
“fuuuu- oh my god so good, so good! yess, keep going babyy..” your legs shake violently as you rock your hips back and forth, rendering a steady motion against your boyfriend’s soothing tongue. as you throw your head back in pleasure and delight, jungkook grips onto your thighs for dear life, using every bit of manpower he possessed in making sure you don’t move away. “mmmhh~” he’d hum into your sensitive, eliciting the harmonious moans he loves to hear every night. you clutch onto the floral sheets of the bed, hand full of jet-black hair in the other. “mmm.. taste so sweet for me..” he grunts against your dripping core, “like candy..” a few more sloppy licks then he’s back to aggressively sucking your clit. you were grinding his face with more speed and didn’t care as much about hurting him anymore, if he really was uncomfortable he’d speak up. jungkook would never do that though, you are his goddess and he wants this night to be all about pleasing you. “uhhh, t-think m’gonna cum..” you felt that familiar knot in your tummy, hips subconsciously rutting faster into his mouth as eyes roll to the back of your head. you couldn’t tell much of his condition below you but his stamina never slowed, eating you out with everlasting hunger as his grip refuses to unravel. “cum for me princess, please.” his encouraging words help reach your high, feeling a whole new state of nirvana as your chest heaves, “fuck, jungkook, i love you!” you cry out, clenching around his tongue as he licks every crevice of you clean. the room spun around as you catch your breath, having trouble regaining your balance for a split second.
you droop down onto your heavy panting boyfriend’s chest, lightly sticking to his dewy skin from all the built up sweat. “sooo, how’re you feeling now compared to earlier? did it work? are all your insecurities vanished and gone now?” he’s back to his normal self again, asking his little series of questions. you giggle, “i feel great koo, definitely helped me relax..” flashing a warm smile as he reaches out for you to cuddle, “i must’ve done some life-changing shit in my past lives to deserve someone as good as you.”
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enha-doodles · 9 days
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Omg sjsksk I love your works and i was wondering if you can write head canons or reaction of Slytherin boys reacting to their darling being from gryffindor 👀👀
SLYTHERIN GUYS REACTION TO YOU BEING IN GRYFFINDOR | ✧⁺。
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Pairing : ( Mattheo , Tom , Theodore, Lorenzo, Draco ) x reader
Note : tysm for the request lovely !! I'm glad ppl are enjoying these ✨✨ wrote this quickly because I hit 500 and i wanted to post something for it sksjdhkdk
Warnings : none
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Mattheo Riddle
Mattheo couldn't give a flying Snitch about house rivalry because he's head over heels for you. Still, he can't help but grumble about those Gryffindors, muttering how the Sorting Hat must've been napping when it put you in the wrong house.
He's like, "You? A Gryffindor? Nah, you're Slytherin material, love. Just look at how cunningly you stole my heart."
Tom Riddle
Tom's all about that subtle domination, like a cat playing with its prey. He'll casually drop hints about your Gryffindor status whenever he can, but it's all in good fun... mostly.
It's like he's saying, "Oh, you're a Gryffindor, darling? Well, just remember who's the real king of the castle here , who your lord is"
Theodore Nott
At first, Theodore's perplexed , wondering why on earth the Sorting Hat put you in Gryffindor. Stupid ass hat . Lowkey blames it on the hat being old and not having the same sense "maybe it's lost its power to sort along with its sanity"
But then he's like, "Eh, whatever. House smouse, as long as I've got you cara mia." He'd rather spend time cozying up with you than waste energy fussing about house rivalries.
Lorenzo Berkshire
Lorenzo's not one to beat around the bush Whomping Willow. He straight-up asks you to beg Dumbledore to switch your house. Very annoyingly continuosly.
He'll be like, "Come on, babe, it'll be easier for both of us. Slytherin's where you belong." But hey, even if you stay a Gryffindor, he's still all heart eyes for you.
Draco Malfoy
Draco's the drama queen of Slytherin, whining about your Gryffindor status like it's the end of the World.
He's all, "You're not seriously a Gryffindor, are you? Ugh, next thing you'll tell me is you're besties with Harry Potter." But deep down, he's just a lovesick puppy, willing to overlook house drama for your sake.
。    ✧    ⁺     。
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luveline · 1 year
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𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 | 𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫
one | two
Finding out you're a princess isn't half as intimidating as suddenly acquiring a full-time bodyguard. Especially when that bodyguard is disarmingly handsome, charming, and can't seem to stop flirting with you.
bodyguard!james, fem!reader, shy!reader, princess diaries au (sort of), all characters in their 20s or older, star-crossed lovers/ forbidden romance james isn't flirty this chapter i lied but he will be <3
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You're in the process of ruining your pyjama bottoms with willow charcoal when your father dies. 
The charcoal is fragile, unhoused, and it snaps with too much pressure. An uneven half falls between the sheets of your sketchbook, marring the artwork it rolls over indiscriminately. 
You sigh without thinking and rub your tired eyes, spreading a line of smudgy black under your brow. Squinting, you peek at the portrait you'd been drawing. A young woman with deep, dark skin, her cheek shaded by the leaves of a sycamore tree. The branches arc over her skin in shadowed lines, sunlight dappling illustrated by sparse triangles of the white paper underneath. 
It had been an okay sketch. The snapped charcoal distracts from what you'd originally set out to do — a dynamic, revealing portrait — and instead replaces it with a more abstract feel. 
You sigh again, this time with a melodrama you'd only ever feel comfortable displaying alone. Thankfully, that's the case more often than not. You live by yourself, no partner, no pets, nobody around to see you drop your sketchbook onto the floor beside your bed, kick out your feet toward the rug, and moan. Your socks slide against the hardwood. You kick them like a child as you slip down the side of the bed, shirt caught behind you, soft middle exposed. 
You swear to yourself quietly, pressing the backs of your hands to your eyes. 
A sharp trilling sound chimes. On the nightstand, your phone vibrates hard, and the water in the glass next to it crests against the sides like tiny shockwaves. 
You pull it into your lap and stare at the number. It goes to voicemail, and then it rings again. Again, again, and again.
You consider turning your phone off. Five phone calls and counting indicates an emergency, but every cell begs to avoid whatever it is on the other side. 
You can't avoid everything, no matter how much you want to. You answer the phone. 
"Hello," you greet.
The muffled echo of a cheerful voice responds.
"Yeah, that's me… Okay. Yeah, now is fine."
More chattering. Less cheerful, diplomatic.
"My father?" you ask.
You are told two impossible truths. 
"Oh," you say. The walls spin. "Right." 
"I hate flying," Sirius mutters.
James hums, noncommittal. 
"You know, my good looks are wasted if we end up lost in the middle of the Atlantic ocean."
"It's not the middle of the Atlantic ocean," Remus says, sounding about as interested in Sirius' whining as James is currently. "It's an arm." 
"It's the fucking English channel," James says. It's barely the ocean. "How much do you reckon a pair of in flight headphones will cost?" 
Sirius, despite his anxiety, has the bandwidth to appreciate James' bad mood. "What crawled up your arse?"  
James sinks down into his seat, knees immediately pressed into the hard plastic of the chair in front, back aching and head heavy from a lack of rest he won't make up anytime soon. 
"He's agitated," Remus says. 
"Helpful, Moony. Super helpful."
"Fuck yourself, then," Remus says, pulling his sleep mask over his eyes and plugging in his earbuds.
The tannoy dings. The seatbelt light flashes. 
A flight attendant raises his voice from the start of the aisle. "If everybody could take their seats and buckle in, we'll be taking off in less than two minutes. Please turn all electronics to aeroplane mode. Thanks so much."  
"Is your phone off?" Sirius asks. 
"No, I actually want us to drown in the channel, but thanks for asking." 
A dark shock of curls lands against his shoulder. Sirius drapes himself unabashedly across James lap, hand on his friend's thigh, ankle crossing over ankle. Genovian through and through, Sirius doles out affection wantonly, smelling ridiculously nice as he does: a heady smell like browned sugar and citrus blossoms coalescing tickles the inside of James' nose. 
"Are you still cranky that you got demoted?" Sirius asks, smooth tones pitched into bubbly baby talk. 
"I didn't get demoted," James argues. 
James had, in fact, been demoted. 
"No, of course not. You've fallen from third guard to the Royal Prince of Genovia, may he rest in peace, to glorified babysitter of said Prince's illegitimate, forgotten child. Sounds the same to me." 
"Then we agree," James says, wanting to close his eyes. 
He'd pretend to sleep if he thought Sirius would believe it. Growing up together erases any semblance of privacy. Sirius knows James as James knows Sirius, and as they know Remus. Remus likely knows them all better than he'd ever admit, the youngest of the trio and the smartest, most perceptive man James has ever met. 
Sirius isn't perceptive, he's vigilant. He can read even the smallest signs of unrest, and it makes him uneasy. There will likely always be a shadow cast over him from a rough childhood, and while James is in a god awful mood, he reaches out to alleviate Sirius' anxiety. 
"I'm fine," James assures him, "just tired." Not mad at you goes unsaid. 
"It won't be as bad as you're thinking." 
"I'm fine. I'm not worried. Didn't sleep last night, and," —he grins as Sirius clasps his arm, their seats shaking underneath them, the plane beginning its race across tarmac— "some scrawny git is squeezing fuck out of my arm." 
Sirius flinches away from him. "You're annoying." 
James presses his shoe up to the side of Sirius' and leans back in his chair, wincing at the rattling carriage as they take off, and again when he remembers where they're going. You wait in London, though nobody in the task force assigned to your assimilation or the advisement team could come to explain how you'd ended up there. Your Genovian citizenship is unacknowledged on your passport, your birth certificate, even, and as far as Lily had been able to suss, you have little understanding of who you are. 
"She sounded tired, mostly," Lily had said when pressed for details about the new princess' personality. "In shock. Slightly disbelieving, but could you believe it?" 
Lily, James'... friend, and work colleague at a stretch, is an ambassador for the UK and full-time genovian resident. Along with a handful of other representatives and officials, she’d been responsible for opening the talks between Genovia and yourself. That is to say, she'd broken the news. 
Surprise! Your dad just died! Double surprise, you're a princess. And, no pressure or anything, but we kind of need you to come back to Genovia to maintain the royal lineage before your grandmother abdicates the throne (unwillingly). 
"Did you mention the tiara?" he'd asked Lily. The Princess' diadem, a master craftsmanship of silver-gold with a diamond the size of an apple. 
"Weirdly, Potter, I didn’t mention the jewellery." 
He supposes there hadn't been time to weasel that tidbit in between condolences and recruitment. 
You haven't promised anything in ways of returning to Genova or taking up the mantle. James understands. If he were in your shoes, he likely would've laughed down the line and blocked the number. You’d shown incredible promise as a future leader, agreeing to meet with Lily and her team at the Genovian embassy. Then, a day later, they'd modified the plan and asked if you'd be okay meeting somewhere more private. 
You'd said yes. 
As someone who may be very involved in your bodily safety in the near future, James thinks you're an idiot. Somebody calls you, claiming that you're a princess, though nobody has ever bothered telling you this before because you were never heir apparent, and that they'll tell you more should you deign to meet with them in a place with meagre surveillance, and you say yes to this?
How you've survived as long as you have is a mystery. 
He hopes you won't make his job difficult. Isn't that what everyone hopes? He feels guilty for judging you without meeting you, promising in his head to be nicer to you in actuality. You're probably grieving and definitely confused. He shouldn't be worrying about his job. 
Redetermined, James lets the anxiety of his new assignment water down. 
Sirius is thinking along the same lines: how easy will you make his particular occupation. "Bets are on. Scruffy or sweet?" 
"Huh?" James asks, pretending he doesn't understand in hopes of rectifying Sirius' attitude. 
"Slovenly or love-nly?" 
"I'm sure she's fine." 
"You should hope so, you'll be looking at the back of her head for a while." 
James rolls his eyes. 
"I'll manage, pretty or not." 
His confidence draws Sirius' curiosity. "How're you so sure?" Sirius asks, chin-lifted, light eyes narrowed in bemusement. His expression dances with the surety of somebody well-raised. He could wear a potato sack and his regal air would endeavour, deep-seeded and neat like the trim stitching of his expensive clothes. 
"Look at my face right now. Do I seem affected?" 
Sirius laughs much too loudly at the implication. "Don't act like I'm not handsome, Prongs." 
"Years of practice." James schools his features into an unaffected mask. "Uggos have no effect on me." 
"How else would you look in the mirror?" Sirius drawls. 
When Remus wakes afterward, he finds they haven't quite killed each other, though James has threatened it twice. With one hand, Black.
"Far are we?" he asks. 
Sleep has made little difference to him. He’s the kind of fatigued that can't be improved with an afternoon nap, and the kind of unwell that can't be fixed. Medicated, diminished, but never fully healed. He rolls his neck and makes three separate, unfortunate sounds, stretching his tight hands out flat over his thighs. 
"Landing any minute now is my guess," Sirius answers. "How are you feeling?" 
He waves his hand around, tired eyes locking onto James' lasting frown. "Sorry for leaving you alone with him." 
Sirius gasps his indignation. The three of them all smile in tandem, James in a rush to add to the joke. 
"You should be, fucker, I don't care how sick you are. You're sick in the mind if you think it's acceptable to-" 
"You're sick for acting like I'm some misbehaved child you've been pandering to. You're bullies, and as soon as we're in the airport I'm ditching you both in favour of a Great British Burger King." 
"One," James says, still smiling widely, "I have your per diem, so unless you brought your wallet, you're sunk." Sirius frowns. "Two, I'd love it if you would repeat that little moniker you gave me a minute before he woke up. Seriously. Shed some light on the real bully." 
Sirius pulls his sunglasses from his jacket pocket and places them over the bridge of his nose delicately. "Unnecessary." 
"I wouldn't mind Burger King," Remus says. 
"We have to be quick," James says. 
Sirius is so incensed he actually spits a bit as he scathes, "You fuckers. I want food and it's lorded over my head, but Moons wants something and your only limitation is how fast he can eat it?" 
He's not truly as angry as he appears. He's joking, and he's fallen into a familiarity that can only come with years of ragging on one another relentlessly. Still  Remus pats his tight shoulder and smiles.
"I'm a slow chewer." 
"He's a slow chewer, Sirius. Have some compassion." 
“How fast could he chew missing a few teeth, I wonder?” Sirius asks.
James gasps, delighted at his friend's casual threat. Remus does a better job at hiding his amusement, tamping back a smile as he reaches over the armrest between their seats and slapping a hand into Sirius’ seatbelt. The mechanism unlatches, the ‘Fasten Your Seatbelts’ sign flashes, and a shaming beeping sound rings overhead. 
Sirius squeaks. 
What do you wear to meet a British ambassador? A Genovian ambassador? Any sort of diplomat? You aren't too sure what an ambassador even is, only that every word Lily Evans has said to you sounds shockingly official. 
"Your citizenship has been reinstated whether you choose to move forward or not. We want to stress that you have choices," Lily says. Call me Lily, please. "You don't have to do anything you don't want to." 
"We also want to stress," says Emmeline, the Genovian ambassador, "that your presence in Genovia is greatly desired. For the funeral." 
"The funeral," you say softly. 
"It will be a… very, very big event. We don't have to talk about all of the logistics now. Or ever, if you're not interested." 
Emmeline clears her throat. "The family would appreciate it." 
The family. The royal family. The Queen of Genovia, your grandmother, and her… unfortunate younger sister, who's behaviour (according to the Internet) has been less than ideal. Her sisters son, who might take the throne if you refuse it. Or, so you've come to understand. 
All this lineage and politics has been hard to navigate by yourself, though rest assured, you've been assigned two personal assistants of a sort. One for appearances of the physical, and one for appearances of the mind. 
A stylist and a tutor. 
"And a bodyguard," Lily says, "your safety is the most important thing." 
You grip the end of your dress in your hands and squeeze the skirts tightly. Safety? You'd rather not embarrass yourself by asking. 
"We actually want you to meet them now," Emmeline says. 
"Whenever they show up," Lily adds. She sounds embarrassed but unsurprised, like this has happened before. 
There's a small silence. You pull your bag into your lap and squeeze it, hoping it hides the curve of your stomach. You aren't sure what you're supposed to wear to occasions like this, and so you'd worn the nicest thing you owned, a pretty, simplistic dress ruched under the chest, and a cardigan overtop. 
You catch yourself frowning and quirk your lips up into a practised smile. Gentle, amicable, the kind you'd offer a passing stranger. 
"Well," Lily says, filling the awkwardness, "I'm sure they'll come around soon. Maybe we should talk about inheritance." 
"Legally, you're entitled to an inheritance. You could think of it like a pension, an allowance you'd be given from the age of eighteen. You've already passed that, and so you'll be given the years upto, and then the rest in annual increments," Emmeline says. "There's a team of people who can and will explain it better at a later date, or whenever you want to discuss it, once you've agreed to a paternity test." 
"A paternity test?" you ask. 
You feel rather useless. All you've done is ask for explanations since you sat down, your head a spinning mill. Information goes around and around with no time to sink in. 
Emmeline opens her mouth to continue and is interrupted by three sharp knocks. 
"Come in," Lily calls. She turns her gaze to you, orange hair moving over her shoulder in a silken sheet, and raises her eyebrows. 
You don't know what it means. 
First to enter the room is a modestly dressed man with straight, sandy hair. It's long enough to peek out from under his ears, where it curls. He steps into the light, illuminating a shock of shiny scars clawed over the bridge of his nose and teasing up into one thick eyebrow. 
"Sorry," he says, not quietly but certainly not loudly. "We had trouble finding the room." 
Behind him immediately stands a man with dark hair to his shoulders, white but tanned. He wears slacks, in which a shirt has been tucked on one side and not the other, a purposeful dishevelment. 
"And the building," adds the second. 
Last to enter is the biggest of the three. You'd hazard a guess that he's six foot or taller, not the tallest of his companions but the most imposing, with a monotone outfit of pristine blacks that he fills too well, his shirt clinging to the muscle underneath it. His skin is a warm brown that soaks up the big light overhead and shines golden, his hair black and thick, laying in mussed ringlets stroked back from his face. 
He is the most handsome person you've ever seen in real life. It startles you. Worse, when he meets your eyes. 
You smile carefully. He smiles back. 
Lily stands to gesture toward each man in turn. The first, "Remus Lupin," she says, "your tutor on all things Genovia." The second, "Sirius Black, stylist and your guide on media presence." 
The third. 
"James Potter," Lily says, not looking at him. "Bodyguard. James will be with you for the foreseeable future, even if you decide on– Well. You should get to know one another, at any rate." You must wear your worries on your face, as she continues, "You're in safe hands. James was third in command in the protection of His Highness." 
"Hello," you say. 
Sirius' eyes widen in tandem with his smile. "Hello." 
"It's nice to meet you. We're sorry for your loss," Remus says.
"No," you say, head tilted toward your shoulder as you frown at James sympathetically, "I should be sorry, you actually knew him. I can't imagine how this feels for you." 
"Thank you. But don't be," James says. "You have nothing to be sorry for, Princess."
You look to Emmeline, almost like you're waiting for her to correct him. 
She smiles at you hopefully. "Shall we talk arrangements for your departure?" 
James is trying not to look at you too much, though if he is he can write it off as purely protective. You're sitting in your seat like you're worried about touching a seat mate who doesn't exist, arms wrapped around your middle and face pointed to the floor. 
"I'll rent a car," he says. 
You curl into yourself a little more. "What for?" 
"It's much safer." 
"I don't want you to– I mean, you aren't a chauffer." 
"I'm not." He bends at the knees to speak directly to you. "There are seven other people on this bus. One is elderly. Three are younger than sixteen. All seven could potentially harm you." 
You look to the left without turning your head, toward the sound of young laughter. He'd bet money on your thoughts. Even the children?
"The driver could have an aneurysm. He could be paid off. He could be carrying a concealed weapon." James smiles at you placatingly. "Understand? If I drive, the potential danger goes down to one." 
"Me?" 
"No. Me." He tries very hard not to wink and look like a dickhead. "But I'm not going to hurt you. Not really my perogative." 
"Oh, good." 
James recall what Lily had said, rightfully. You and James will be in each other's company for the foreseeable future, and while he has a job to do, there's room for friendliness. Sort of. 
He splits his attention between you and the front of the bus, where a small family carts a pushchair. 
"What do you do?" he asks. 
He knows you attend classes for a degree equivalent at your local college. He knows you're a waitress. He knows you moved to central London when you were very young, and that your estranged mother had been the cause of all this confusion. He asks you because he wants to know how you'll frame it. In your own eyes, what is your life?
"I'm a waitress." 
He nods. "Local?" 
"Mm. At a pub called The Morgan." 
"You have a shift today?" 
"Not today. I took the day off." You stand up and click the STOP call button on the rail James is holding. Your arm brushes against his. "It's this stop." 
James trails behind you, off of the bus and straight into a busy street. 
"How far is it to your house?" he asks, loud to be heard over the hubbub and the roadworks. 
"Not long. Are you okay to walk?"
James finds himself oddly charmed by your question. "I'm just fine." 
You squeeze through the crowded pavements lining the street, folded in, keeping your arms close, and you apologise every time you touch someone, even if it's the other person's fault. James keeps close to your back, moving to your side when he worries you might sprain your neck trying to check that you're following. He had some height on you, which is a good thing for security purposes — he can see uninterrupted over the top of your head when he stands this close. 
The day is cool, the last dregs of an end of summer heat lingering in the air and encouraged by so many bodies in one place. James wonders if you're too warm, dressed as you are in tights, but the thought fades when you trip. 
James grabs the top of your arm, fingers sliding between your arm and your chest. Closer than he wants to be, crueller than he means to be as he keeps you steady. 
To his surprise, you laugh. A really nice sound, sudden but sweet. 
"Sorry, Princess," he says. 
"You saved me," you say, a hint of breathlessness in your tone. "Thank you. My flat's in the next building over." 
"Brilliant." His bag is fucking heavy, a weight between his shoulders that aches when he lifts his hand to shield his eyes from the sun as it sets. You've got a long, long night ahead of doing nothing. "What's your address?" 
You tell it to him. "Why?" 
"For the rest of your security detail." 
He slows as you come to the main door of your building. It's quieter here, the loudest sounds a symphony of barking dogs, car engines revving, and the jangle of your keys as you unlock the door and bump it with your hip. 
"More people?" you ask. "Is that really necessary?" 
"You always do that?" 
"It gets stuck," you explain. 
He hums. "It's necessary. The media's been paid handsomely to keep our operation to themselves for now, but there's always pressure to be the first to break a story." 
"And I'm the story?" you ask, nodding toward the stairs in the centre of the room. 
He steps over a bundle of scattered letters. The building is mostly clean, but mail bulges from cubbies, and an old mattress has been left propped against a wall. 
"You're the story," he says, head up to analyse the atrium. There's a skylight spotted with green moss above. 
You take the stairs up to the first floor, where your flat is the first he comes across. That increases your risk of a break in, rapists or robbers. He asks you to wait at the door while he clears each room, knowing it's an unecessary precaution but taking it anyway. It's not worth saving the half a minute it costs on the off-chance you've been infiltrated. 
He snorts at his own train of thought and returns to you, where you're sliding a special locking mechanism between the door latch and the frame. You shake the lock. 
"Did you get that recently?" 
You look up at him and smile. "Since I moved in. I'm first on the floor. Don't want to get murdered in my sleep." 
"Good girl," he says absentmindedly, crossing the room to secure your window. 
He moves into your room again and secures the larger window over your bed. Then, because he's awful and curious, he catalogues your things. 
"You're an artist," he says, head listed toward the doorway. 
You stop by the dresser, hastily stuffing clothes left aside back into the top drawer. "Not– not really." 
The room is a crammed collection of things. It's clear you've attempted to keep it clean. You were doomed to fail, an outpouring of your heart stuffed into a matchbox; books, sketchbooks, notebooks are stacked against the leftmost wall between your bed and your dresser, while paints and pencils take up two thirds of your desk. A small sketchbook rests closed in the mess of your unmade bed, dark bed sheets disrupted by a pair of white pyjamas discarded at the end. Soot or something similar stains the fabric. 
He averts his gaze from your dirty hamper and faces you. 
"At 8PM, one of my team will swap duty with me. His name is Frank, and I've worked with him before, but if you aren't comfortable with anything he does while I'm not working, you can tell me. If I do something that makes you uncomfortable, you can tell Lily. You can tell me, of course," he amends. "I can take the couch." 
"You sleep at eight?" 
"I sleep at nine." 
"You don't mind sleeping on the couch?"
"Not at all." 
You walk to your dresser and pull open the bottom drawer. Inside is a layer of linens, and you pull them out neatly. 
"You don't have to, uh, put on a show for me," you say with a wince. 
"Sorry?" 
"I'm not a princess. I'm not the princess." 
"You don't think so?" 
You look sweet, kneeling on the floor, hair in pretty disarray from the walk home. You move it out of your face and offer a folded square to him with both hands. 
"It's a misunderstanding. But…" You take a pillowcase into your hand and stand up, closing the drawer with your ankle. "Even if I were, I don't think you need to be so formal, you know?" 
You move past him, a wave of nice smells.
"It's my job." 
Again, you surprise him by laughing, climbing on top of your unmade sheets to grab one of your pillows. "Right," you say, stripping it of its pillowcase and shaking it into a new one. The tip of your tongue makes a brief appearance as you plump up the corners. 
You climb off of the bed. "Here," you say, taking the sheet he's holding to press the pillow into his hands. 
"Oh," he says, looking down at the pillowcase. It's covered in small pink flowers. "I don't need this." 
"My settee isn't comfortable." 
"Half of my job is being able to sleep anywhere." 
You smile at him. His words don't discourage you, and he stands in the doorway between your bedroom and your living room as you lay down an old quilt over the settee and tuck a sheet around it and under the sofa cushions. 
"I know it's strange, but you could take my bed, if you wanted to. You're so tall, I don't think-"
James cuts you off, not unkindly. "Thank you, but I couldn't." He lets the side of his chest rest against the doorway, arms crossed. Your back is straight, tense with anxiety. "I have something for you." 
You blink at him. "For me?" 
He grins, his first proper smile all day, and pulls his bag onto the freshly made settee to unzip the front compartment. He pulls out a small jewellery box, pulling the lid off to hold between his arm and chest. 
The tennis bracelet inside is thin but strong, made up of gold-silver links with sapphire-coloured gemstone. He assumes them to be real sapphire or something similar, like blue-hued ruby. 
"This is a panic button." 
You seem more anxious than when he'd pulled out the box. 
"Don't worry about losing it. I'm sure the Genovian coffers will recover." 
"It's not that. Do you think it will fit?" you ask. 
He hadn't thought about it. Luckily, Mary had. 
"There are spare links hidden under the velvet." 
James puts the box on your coffee table and clicks the links into place, handling the bracelet with less care than he ought to. Firmly snapped into place, he offers the lengthened bracelet to you unlatched. 
"Here," he says, pointing toward one link in particular. "If you squeeze this tightly, the heat sensor will alert me."
"It won't feel the heat of my wrist?" 
"It will. It's sophisticated, it'll disregard anything that isn't a sudden spike. That's your panic button. You squeeze that–" He pinches it in demonstration. The small radio clipped discreetly to his shoulder starts to beep, a circling alarm. He removes his fingers from the bracelet and it stops. "Okay?" 
"I haven't even passed the paternity test yet." 
"My being here indicates that you're of special interest. We don't know if you're the Princess for certain, and neither do the newspapers. You're still in danger either way." 
You press your lips together and hold out your wrist. 
James steps close to you, enough to see details and lines he's missed. The longer he stays in your company, the more endeared he is to your shy smile, and your kindness, and he thinks you're the type of person who's outsides reflect the insides. You smile. 
Either side of your wrist glows with heat as he drapes the bracelet over your skin and clicks it closed, wary of pinching you. 
The room is quiet. The clock over your small kitchen table ticks. 
"There," James murmurs, taking back his hands. 
"Thank you." 
He disregards it completely. "No worries." 
His informality gets you, and you smile, your own first and proper smile since you'd been introduced. 
By the time Frank arrives for turnover, James is confident that his assignment to your protection won't be nearly as awful as he'd thought. You'd insisted on making him something to eat, which he'd been sincerely grateful for, as a man can't run on Burger King alone, and then you'd practically showered him in an awkward but entirely genuine hospitality, offering your bathroom and all its contents, every blanket you owned, the TV remote, and a tin of biscuits. 
He introduces you to Frank, and for an hour you make yourself busy in the kitchen, cleaning dishes you'd refused his help with and wiping down the counters. 
He senses your unease at being outnumbered in your own home. Unfortunately, there isn't much he can do to make you feel better, besides appoint Frank to door duty and try to offer some words of comfort. 
James tries not to look as imposing as he feels, clearing his throat to draw your attention as you leave the kitchenette.
"Listen," he says softly, a mirror of you now that you're both changed into lounge clothes and damp-haired from the shower, "I want to reassure you— I'm here to protect you from any and every threat. I know this is unconventional, but I promise to do my best to make this easy for you." 
You look down at your trainer socks. "Sorry." 
"Can you do me a favour?" 
"Yeah, of course," you say, raising your chin. 
"No more apologies. This is hard, and I know that, you don't have to say sorry for anything. I'll promise you whatever you need me to if that will make you feel more comfortable."
Princess or no princess, you're confused, and you're unhappy in your own home. James wouldn't want that for anybody. 
"Do you think someone's going to kill me?" you ask. 
James softens. "No. Nobody is going to kill you." His smile melds slowly to mischief, dark lashes kissing in the corners of his eyes as he squints. "I'm a brilliant bodyguard, okay? Don't doubt my skills. And Frank's alright." 
You laugh under your breath, relieved. "I'm not doubting your skills." 
"Good. I'm not just a pretty face, Princess." 
You sober at the title. The flicker of camaraderie between you fizzles, and you shake it off. 
"Can I get you anything?" you ask. 
He hopes that in a month, or a year, when you're living the high life in Genovia with a hundred serfs and lavish goods beyond your wildest dreams, you'll keep your earnest smile, and your good heart. He's seen exactly what court politics can do to timid young women like you.
"No," he says, matching your volume, "nothing."
"Okay. You can wake me if you need anything." 
He absolutely won't. "Thank you... Goodnight." 
"Goodnight."
You disappear behind your bedroom door. James lays down over the small sofa, alarm set for a dry-eyed 4:30AM, and listens to your flat as it cools. You close the blinds, sharpen a pencil, and for a period of time, he's lulled by the mild shushing of a pencil over paper. 
He falls asleep. He must. A silence settles, thick and uninterrupted as poured molasses. 
A splintering crash pulls him back to consciousness, and every nerve-ending sings as a weight falls to the floor. A thump sounds from behind your closed door. James practically leaps over the settee's arm to your door, Frank hot on his heels. 
He throws open the door, braced for impact.
You aren't anywhere to be seen. 
˗ˋˏ ♡ ˎˊ˗
thanks for reading!! i hope you enjoyed this first part, and if you did and you have the time please consider reblogging, it makes a difference! plus i'd love to know what u think or what you'd love to see in future<3
the fics title is adapted from a line in piedra del sol by octavio paz
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willowser · 2 years
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hi there!!! I dont know if this will help at all, but I wanted to tell you that your writing is legit spectacular. I cannot sing enough praises about your prose, your characterizations, and (perhaps most importantly) your ability to evoke such strong feelings in your audience! your skill and dedication to your craft are apparent in each one of your pieces - thank you so much for sharing them with us!! 💞
this does help, my dearest !! 🥺💖 and you are so sweet for taking the time to send it to me and to have such nice and significant words to say about my writing 🥺🌸 i'm so grateful for you and that you're here to enjoy whatever i manage to put out !! truly lucky, and i hope you are well 🌿🦋
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thebearer · 9 months
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wait, carm accidentally snapping at teddy. maybe she’s extra clingy to you guys after willow is born and she’s been passed between sugar and richie for the past few days and she’s like “stay with you dada” and she’s crying and not putting on her shoes or something. and he’s like “Dammit Dorothea, you need to listen” and she’s screaming even more
"Teddy, please." Carmen huffed, he was balancing a clinging toddler that only wanted to climb his legs, be held and cradled all the time. He knew it was because Willow was being held all the time, the three year old didn't comprehend that babies had to be held. She just knew that she wasn't being held, and there was a tiny flare of jealousy with that.
"Up!" Teddy huffed, foot stomping on the ground. Little ballet shoes against the hardwood. Carmen had managed to wrangle her into the tights and leotard before they had to leave for her Twinkle Toes Class, but his patience was gone.
Willow had started to whimper, waking up and hungry, lips smacking and face scrunching in irritation. Carmen cursed, turning to coo at the baby. "It's alright, Wills. C'mere, sweet girl." He cradled the baby, Teddy scowling at him at the lack of attention.
Carmen fished the bottle out of the fridge, bouncing the baby while he put it in the bottle warmer. You were in the shower. He wanted to give you a moment of peace, to be able to shower for the day. You were only a month and a half postpartum, still balancing trying to heal, be a mother of two, and sleep and eat somewhere in the middle. Carmen was great, he was, always trying to stretch himself thin for you, for the girls, for the restaurant.
"Daddy," Teddy huffed, tiny lips pouting- she looked just like you. Carmen would have melted if he wasn't so frazzled already.
"What, Teddy?" Carmen huffed back, a short breath leaving his nostrils, shushing Willow's tiny gummy cries.
"Daddy!" Teddy screamed, her voice teetering from a whine to a cry- on the cusps of a breakdown.
"Dorothea," Carmen snapped, eyes cutting to her. "Don't start."
That only made Teddy cry, a wail of a cry that had your ears perking, drying off in your bathroom down the hall. Slipping on your shorts, Carmen's shirt, you padded down to the kitchen, stopping at the entrance at the sight.
Teddy was on the ground, plopped down, red faced with fury and wailing, tears streaming down her tiny cheeks. Willow decided to join her sister, a much softer cry than the three year old, but the pitiful baby gasp cry that always had your heart splitting- your boobs leaking instinctively.
Carmen looked beyond frustrated, brows furrowed, eyes darting from Teddy to Willow to the bottle, all around the kitchen. His chest heaving, teeth grit.
"Dorothea! Enough! Ok? Enough! Stop crying and go sit by the door!" Carmen roared, vein protruding out of his neck when he looked down at her.
Teddy stilled, a hiccuping, fearful gasp, looking back up at Carmen with rounded, teary eyes. Her lip wobbled, chest stuttering- Carmen never yelled at her. You gawked at him, stunned from the doorway.
"Carmen," You hissed, mouth fallen in shock.
Carmen's eyes were wide- with realization or being caught, you weren't sure. At that point, you didn't care. You knew he was on the brink of lashing out, his hands shaking and mouth stuttering. Teddy ran towards you, barreling into your legs, rubbing her wet face into your legs with loud sobs that racked her whole body. Willow wailed, jostled, upset, and still hungry.
Carmen's heart was going a million miles a minute, he felt like he might go into cardiac arrest, head spinning and stomach lurching. Your face- fuck, Teddy's face. The way her little face fell with fear. Carmen could feel spit filling his mouth, bile rising.
"I-I-"
"Step out." You grit, stern and a little hurt. Carmen wanted to sob.
"No, just let me-"
"Carmen." You snapped, hoisting a still sobbing Teddy on your hip, cradling her head into your neck. "Step out. Now."
Carmen's hands shook, putting Willow on the nursing pillow on the couch, grabbing the bottle to hand to you, eyes already brimming with tears- angry, hurt, frustrated, furious with himself. "Teddy, please, I-I didn't mean-"
"Carmen." You voice was softer this time, eyes still hard. "You need to cool down, so do we. Step out. Go on a walk."
Carmen knew you were right, stepping out of the house. He stepped onto the busy neighborhood street, seeing happy couples with their babies in strollers, dads running after their toddlers, holding them on their shoulders. Carmen felt his stomach turn, pivoting to the bushes and throwing up.
Four cigarettes and a blubbering call to Richie later, Carmen came back in. Red rimmed eyes, running nose, but there was no crying. Teddy sniffled besides you, lying on your lap while you burped Willow, her body still stuttering with tears. Carmen tilted his head back, trying to keep his own emotions in.
You turned your head, tracking him as he came over to the couch. Your own heart broke, seeing him like that. You knew Carmen was a good dad, you would never had kids with him if he wouldn't. It was an adjustment for him too. It was easier for you, you carried them, birthed them, spent all your time with them, but you still had your moments. Moments where you locked yourself in the bathroom to cry while Teddy screamed and Willow sobbed, when you wanted to pull your hair out and scream too, but you couldn't.
"Teddy Bear," Carmen cooed lightly, catching her attention. He tried to choke back the sob that clawed out of his throat when she whimpered, a pitiful sniffle, curling into your lap.
You ran a soothing hand down her hair, watching them carefully. Carmen crouched in front of her, eye to eye. "Teddy, I-I'm sorry I yelled." Carmen shuddered. "I should not have ever yelled at you like that. That was very mean of me."
"Yeah." Teddy agreed, sniffling into your leg, face still half concealed. "You hurted my heart."
You watched Carmen's face crumble, reaching out to squeeze his shoulder lightly. He ran a hand down his face, hiding behind it, while he tried to regain his composure. "I know." Carmen nodded, clearing his throat lightly. "That wasn't good of me to do, at all. And I'm very sorry."
Teddy hesitated for a moment, turning up to you. "Sometimes, Mommy and Daddy yell when we're hurt too. When our brains hurt." You explained simply. "That's not ok, but just like you yell, we yell too. And we shouldn't. Should we?"
"No." Teddy agreed, pushing up on your thigh. You tried not to groan at the tiny hands prodding into your flesh. "Not 'sposed to yell at friends." She looked at Carmen pointedly, repeating some Ms. Rachel or Sesame Street episode.
"You're right, Teddy." Carmen nodded, running a hand down her cheek gently, chest loosening when she didn't flinch or pull back. "I'm very sorry, baby."
You gave Teddy a look, soft but pointed. She was stubborn, a terrible trait she inherited from Carmen, and even at three, she was his carbon copy. "What do you say, hm?" You said softly.
"'s ok." Teddy sighed heavy, dramatic. You fought an eye roll, catching Carmen's tiny smile.
"Can I have a hug?" Carmen asked, arms stretching out, nearly falling back when she launched herself in them. The little shit, Carmen thought, but he held her close, rocking her longer than he should have.
He looked over her head at you, your soft smile while you rocked Willow in your arms. "We're gonna be a little late for dance." Carmen looked at the clock. "Do you still want to go today, Teddy, or-"
"Yes!" Teddy squealed, squirming out of his arms and bounding towards the door.
Carmen stood, leaning over to kiss you, sweet, an apology. You let his forehead rest against yours. his hand on Willow's back, grounding himself for a moment. He needed it, needed it to feel forgiven for himself.
You stood, watching them leave out the door. "You need anything?" Carmen asked, patting his pockets for his wallet and keys.
You shook your head. "No. Have fun, Teddy. Dance pretty. Point your toes." You cooed.
Teddy spun for you, dramatic and nearly walloping Carmen's crotch which made you laugh, his eyes bulging and nearly missing the hit. "Be back later. Text me if you need anything." Carmen muttered, pressing a kiss to the corner of your mouth.
"Daddy, can we get ice cream after?" Teddy asked, spinning around Carmen's hand down the cobbled steps.
"Carmen." You warned, eyeing him. You knew he'd give in. He always did.
"We'll see. If you dance good, then we might get yogurt." Carmen responded, winking at you before shutting the door.
You pretended to be irritated, huffing at him lightly when Teddy came home with chocolate around her mouth, a dribble on her leotard, but even then you couldn't be too mad. She had him wrapped around her finger, all his girls did.
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daff0dilcr0wn · 1 year
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It's ridiculous how much power I give people over my feelings. Like, I've been talking to this guy for a few days and we agreed to meet tomorrow. But he hasn't messaged me all day and I sent a message and still no answer. Like, if you changed your mind just tell me. We aren't dating or anything so it's not like you have to follow through with the plans. But I honestly don't know how much disappointment I will continue to allow in my life.
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localemofreak · 1 month
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Chocolate Chip Pancakes.
(Rockstar!Dad!Eddie Munson x Mom!Fem!Reader)
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(A/n: there's no song connected to this one, I just got bored and came up with a cute little story because two things have been in my mind 24/7- Rockstar Eddie and Dad Eddie. So I mixed them, please enjoy idk what I'm really doing here-)
‼️Warnings: LOTS of fluff, kissing, little kiddos, teasing of smut but doesn't happen bc of kiddos 😔, but that's really it ig- tell me if I forgot something.‼️
—————————————
The Saturday, LA sun shined through the curtains right onto your face, slowly waking you up to the feeling of warmth on your face.
A small sigh fell from your nose as your eyes fluttered openly slowly, turning your head slightly to see your husband already awake.
Eddie was laying on his side, his brown curls wild from sleep and his brown doe eyes soft with a tired tint in them- his head rested in his hand as he looked down at you with a little tired grin, slightly making it obvious he had been staring at you when you were sleeping.
"How long have you've been watching me-" you mumbled tiredly while slowly closing your eyes again, causing Eddie to let out a small chuckle as he picked his head up from his hand.
"Long enough my sweetheart~" he hummed, moving his lips right next to your ear which caused a small shudder to run down your spine.
Eddie seemed to take notice, letting out another low chuckle as he pressed a small kiss on the back of your ear, slowly moving his small trail of kisses down your neck as you tried to wake yourself up.
"Ed- baby... it's too early for this-" you whined quietly, lazily pushing him away as you opened your eyes slightly, your actions doing nothing to the metalhead as he just smirked against your skin, continuing to kiss at your exposed neck.
As Eddie moved his lips more downwards in the crook of your neck, your eyes slowly fluttered shut as you let out a small hum, obviously enjoying it in some way as you slowly tilted your head to the side, giving him more access to your neck.
Eddie just let out a small chuckle against your skin, lightly sucking and nibbling at your skin as shaky breaths fell from your lips.
As Eddie started to slowly make his way to hover over you, you hear the sound of your guys bedroom door slamming as the door swings open- causing your eyes to shoot open and Eddie to quickly pull away.
You sat up slowly as your ears filled with the sound of tiny excited shrieks from your two young daughters, causing you to wince slightly since it was still pretty early.
"Girls-! Girls-! Come on ladies, tone it down please." Eddie called out, raising his voice slightly as the shrieking seemed to hurt his ears as well.
The young girls just quickly climbed onto the bed, trading their playful shrieks to giggles as they quickly got on all fours, crawling their way up to the top of the bed to cuddle with you and Eddie.
"Mommy! Daddy-! We're hungryyyyyy" your 6 year old daughter, Sabrina whined- her little arms wrapping around her dad's tattooed bicep as he sat up in the bed.
"Yeah-! I'm hungwyyy!!" Your 4 year old, Willow whined as well, her little lisp showing through her words.
They both were just clinging onto Eddie, causing you to chuckle as you watched him lift them both up, standing up from the bed with both of them in his arms.
"Alright, alright-! Why don't we head downstairs my little babes- get everything set up for mom, how does pancakes sound??" Eddie said, causing the girl's faces to light up as he quickly placed them down.
"Pancakesss!!!" They both squealed before quickly sprinting out of the room, causing you and Eddie to look at each other and chuckle.
As Eddie followed them out of the room, you slowly got up, rubbing your face and yawning as you slowly shuffled behind.
The girls were already in the kitchen, eager to start making pancakes as Eddie went to go grab the supplies to make pancakes.
Both girls were chasing after each other, squealing and giggling happily as they ran around the big kitchen of your nice Los Angeles home.
With the success of Corroded Coffin, it also came with a shit ton of money for Eddie- too much almost, he always thought it was stupid with the amount of money he owned now.
So he decided to try and use it for some good use, spoiling his two little girls and the love of his life-obviously wanting to make sure you all had the best life possible..
As Eddie started making pancakes, you watched the girls as they ran around happily, which you couldn't help but smile at.
You had the perfect life- two beautiful kids, a handsome and caring husband, an amazing home.
It was perfect..
You decided after a little bit of just standing there to walk up behind eddie, slowly wrapping your arms around his bare torso while laying your head down on his back.
"Hey baby." he muttered softly, turning his head to look back at you with a soft smile.
You just looked back up at him with the same smile, admiring him while placing a small kiss on his back.
"I love you so much Munson." you said, slowly moving one of yours hands to rest on his back as you continued to lean against him.
"You're the love of my life sweetheart." He said, slowly turning his body to face you as he wrapped his arms around you, engulfing you in a hug.
You stood there with Eddie for a while, just enjoying the moment and the warmth of his chest as he held you..
After a little bit, you decided to let Eddie finish cooking as you set the table up, also telling the girls to sit down at the table.
You all just sat down at the table together as Eddie placed the pancakes on everybody's plates, all talking and laughing and just enjoying time as a family together.
You couldn't have asked for anything else in life.
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wileys-russo · 4 months
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hello love, ive been reading your writing recently and i love how you write the players personalities exactly as i imagine them to be!!
ive had an idea that i think you would write perfectly, of alessia adopting a puppy, but as lessi is so clumsy and forgetful, she accidentally leaves out a big bag of crisps and her ‘demon puppy’ as she would call it, eats the whole bag
lessi freaks out and takes it to the nearest vet (aka us) before training and is basically being being a flustered and blushing mess, when she gets to training people pick up on her still tinted cheeks and manage to trick her into gushing about the ‘cute vet’ she met that morning
it could end with lessi returning to awkwardly asking us on a date
thankyou love 🤍
four legged wingwoman II a.russo
"-no you cannot come over for dinner again!" alessia rolled her eyes, pacing around her room with her phone squished in between her shoulder and her ear. "and why not!" vic gasped in offence on the other end of the line.
"because if its not you its one of the other girls. i've had a rotating door of dinner guests almost every single night since i got willow and i want time with my puppy alone!" alessia laughed, her team mates adoring her ten week old puppy just as much as she did, which was making it difficult for her to get any one on one time with her.
"because she is so cute and most of us do not have dogs lessi, you are being selfish!" vic whined, but the blonde held firm in her decision just as she had when lia and leah had tried to invite themselves over tonight too.
"i will literally see you in an hour pavlova, goodbye!" alessia rolled her eyes at the girs insistent begging and ended the call, tossing her phone onto the bed. "now where the hell did i put it?" the striker frowned, hunting around for her spare training top with the other one in the wash.
as adorable as willow was she was the furthest thing from well behaved and was right in the peak of her naughty puppy phase.
if she wasn't chewing things up she was running around with them in her mouth and dropping them all over the house, meaning alessia could barely keep track of anything and as soon as she'd put it down it was being moved.
but the ten week old chocolate lab had the most alluring eyes she'd ever seen so of course alessia could never stay mad at willow as infuriatingly cheeky as she was.
speaking of it was suspiciously quiet as alessia dropped to her knees and sighed in relief finally tugging her training top out from under the bed, huffing at the small teeth holes in the hem of the collar.
"willow!" the blonde called out, frowning when she didn't hear the usual scattering of her nails against the floorboards as she'd bound over. "willow?" alessia called again, quickly changing into her shirt and grabbing her training bag off the bed.
"willow baby where are-" her eyes widened as she hurried into the living room. "oh no no no no!" alessia groaned, grabbing the puppy and tugging her head out of the xl bag of salt and vinegar crisps.
"shit you ate some of the bag too? willow!" alessia gasped realizing there was large bites from the foil as panic set in. "okay um, the vet! we'll go to the vets." alessia spoke to herself, hurrying about like a tornado grabbing what she needed.
"ah willow don't eat that!" alessia huffed, tugging her keychain out of the labs mouth and locking the door up behind them, clipping willow in safely in the passenger seat.
near certain she was breaking more than one road rule alessia sped to the closest vet clinic in record time, sending a hurried half legible voice message to lotte that she would be late to training and why.
grabbing willow out of the car alessia made a beeline inside, wincing as it begun to rain and she did her best to shield the small shivering dog inside her shirt.
finally inside alessia let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding in seeing the clinic was almost empty. "can i help you love?" a kind looking middle aged woman asked from the front desk.
"er my puppy ate a full bag of salt and vinegar crisps and most of the bag itself." alessia admitted with flushed cheeks, the receptionist nodding and making a note. "have you been here before?" the blonde shook her head and placed willow down on the floor, tight grip on her leash as the woman handed her a clipboard instructing her to fill it out.
"come on then miss trouble." alessia mumbled, moving to a free seat and maintaining her tight cold on willows leash so she couldn't wander very far. scribbling down her details her eyes would glance to the dog every few moments who didn't seem to be feeling any discomfort.
handing the clipboard back the woman added alessia and willow into the clinic system and gestured for them to sit down, informing there was only one vet in today but it shouldn't be too long a wait.
"oh god willow no!" alessia whispered with wide eyes as the puppy relieved itself right in the middle of the waiting room. "if you've brought her here for bladder control issues im afraid thats just going to need some toilet training." alessias head whipped up at the new voice.
"this must be willow then?" you smiled with amusement, grabbing a roll of paper towel from behind the desk and dropping to your knees. "no please i can do it!" alessia hurried to take it from you though a little too eagerly as she smacked her head into the vets, both of you wincing in pain.
"oh god i am so sorry." alessia apologized with wide eyes, and if her face wasn't red with embarrassment before it must have been the colour of a tomato now.
"its alright, normally its the animals who take a chunk out of me sometimes but i guess its not bad i have a little more contact with humans." you joked, standing up and offering her a hand which she graciously accepted.
"marley do you mind?" you gestured toward the remains of urine on the floor toward the receptionist who nodded, sending alessia a reassuring smile as the girl apologised over and over, dismissing her with a wave.
following after you alessia lifted willow up onto the table as you closed the door behind the pair of you, the blonde seemingly still a little shocked at how young you seemed, you couldn't have been too dissimilar in age to her if she was to go off looks.
"so what brings you here to visit me today willow?" you smiled softly, offering the puppy a treat which she happily accepted. "um well i sort of left a bag of salt and vinegar crisps out and she got into it and ate all of them as well as most of the actual bag." alessia again winced in embarrassment.
"chewer then? they grow out of it." you laughed, scratching behind willows ears and sending alessia a smile which had her stomach flipping. "you have a dog?" alessia asked, wincing yet again at how awkward she sounded.
"i do, and she was once just like miss willow here eating everything and anything she could get her little paws on." you chuckled at the memory, moving to put on a pair of gloves. "has she seemed out of sorts since she ate it? any strange behavior or unusual bowel movements?" you questioned, gently opening willows mouth and inspecting inside as best you could.
"not really? i drove her straight here as soon as i realised." alessia rubbed the back of her neck as you hummed, whistling to gain the puppys attention and quickly checking her pupils with a small torch.
"she seems happy and healthy. did you have somewhere to be?" you asked, nodding to alessia's training kit. "oh just training but i let my team and coach know i'd be late." the striker assured as you rewarded willow with another treat.
"i'd like to keep her here for a few hours in the kennel for observation if thats alright? you're welcome to stay or if you need to go to training i promise you she'll be well looked after. if she's going to pass it or if anything seems a little out of sorts we'll know by midday." you smiled toward the girl who nodded.
"you gave your number when you filled in the patient paperwork right? if anything at all goes wrong or seems remotely off with her we'll call you right away." you assured sensing her hesitation, knowing too well how much owners cared for their pets.
"you should go, really! you'd just be sitting around here twiddling your thumbs. thursdays don't tend to be very busy which is why i'm the only one here, but we have an intern who stays in the kennels to monitor and hang out with the animals so she'll be under constant supervision and i'll check in on her regularly." you continued, willow barking a few times as alessias eyes hovered over here and she gave a nod.
"okay, i trust you."
~
"-she ate the bag too!?" leah asked with wide eyes, tapping the ball back to alessia who nodded with a sigh. "you gotta get her into puppy school less." the blonde grinned with a shake of her head.
"i know i know, the vet told me the same thing. they actually offer obedience classes there so she said she'd talk me through it when i pick willow up later." alessia shrugged, her phone tucked securely into her pants despite the normal rules, jonas making an exception given the circumstances.
the staff calling it for the morning everyone made their way to over to the coolers, chugging down water and cooling off before they were expected in the gym.
"which vet did you take her to?" steph asked curiously as alessia finished recounting her morning adventures to a few more of the girls. "just the clinic closest to me, green road practice?" alessia tried to remember the name.
"oh! yeah we took calvin there for his vaccinations when he was a puppy and for obedience school, they're really good there." steph nodded which helped melt some of the nerves the striker was feeling about it all.
"i just feel so stupid! imagine if it was like a block of chocolate or something she got into?" alessia groaned as they all started to head inside. "hey its like being a parent lessi, you learn on the job and the best way to learn is mistakes!" beth slung an arm around her waist and squeezed her tightly.
"yeah but-" "no buts! she's okay right? and she's in good hands at the vets yeah?"
"yeah i guess its the best place for her. the vet was actually quite young? well i assume so anyway, not that i asked. but she knew so much? to be fully qualified, again assuming she's round my age, and to know so much is really impressive. plus she was the only vet working so she has to know her stuff!" alessia was so caught up in her rambling she missed the amused knowing smiles exchanged between her teammates.
"so was she cute?" kyra grinned catching alessia off guard. "well she wasn't ugly."
"very nice less, make sure to say exactly that when you ask her out!" leah clapped her on the back with a smirk making the blondes eyes widen. "ask her out! what?"
"yeah? you've been going on and on and on about her all morning. you clearly think she's hot so tell her that." kyra shrugged in explanation as alessia scoffed and stuttered out she didn't. "stop it! leave her be." steph warned the younger australian, arm landing on alessia's shoulder.
"she can ask her out anyway she wants to." "steph!"
~
alessia shook her head with a frown, head swamped with the teasing words of her teammates that she'd endured all day.
trying her best to brush them off she exited the car, locking it after her and hurrying inside grateful that the rain had subsided and she would no longer look like a disheveled drowned rat.
"alessia, welcome back." marley the receptionist smiled kindly, waving for her to take a seat advising you were just with another patient and would be with her shortly.
the striker busied herself with the team groupchat which seemed to be going off nonstop as the girls argued over room arrangements for the upcoming away game.
"-and i'll see the pair of you in two months for the next round of injections." her head snapped up at your voice as you waved off an older woman and her cat, meeting her eyes with a smile.
"welcome back. how was training?" you asked, genuinely seeming interested in her answer as you hummed to show you were listening. "well i'm glad you didn't break your foot, i'm only licensed to treat animals injuries." you teased as alessia finished recounting the story of kyra dropping a dumbbell and missing her foot by about a millimeter.
"oh don't worry i basically have a tab going at the local hospital, i'm cursed to be dreadfully clumsy, always have been." alessia joked back as you lead her out back toward the kennels. "maybe we should be training willow as a service dog then." you grinned over your shoulder, shouldering open the door and waving for her to step inside.
"so she passed the bag around an hour after you left, but besides that her behavior has been completely normal and i can't see any red flags popping up. she's free to go!" you smiled, unlocking the crate where willow was as within seconds she'd sprinted out toward alessia who squatted down.
"hi baby, you been a good girl?" alessia cooed, scooping up the puppy who wiggled and whined and licked all over her face. "i'd try to break her out of that habit, i've seen a lot of dogs eat a lot of poop." you smiled apologetically as alessia paled and immediately placed her back down on the floor wiping her face.
"noted. thank you!"
alessia once again found her head swamped with the words of her friends as you happily explained how the obedience classes worked, the striker humming and nodding to show she was listening when really her head was off with the clouds.
"but of course there isn't any pressure i know theres a whole load of classes and schools, we actually have a bunch of brochures back in the waiting room so please take some and look into whatever option works best for you and willow." you smiled softly, bending down again to play with the small puppy.
some of the best advice alessia had ever been given was by her brother luca, they were incredibly close and as much as he also frustrated her to no end sometimes he had passed on a pearl or two of wisdom over the years.
one of which was that if alessia was ever dreading something to count to three and just do it, because the longer she took to do it the more she'd overthink and the opportunity 9 times out of 10 would be lost.
so now trying to keep that in mind instead of everything else the girl took a deep breath and counted to three as you stood up and brushed off your scrubs.
"look i don't normally do this but i'm trying this new thing where i don't let opportunities pass me by. would you like to grab a coffee or something sometime?" alessia asked nervously, fiddling with the leash in her hand as you looked on in surprise and the striker prepared herself for rejection.
"yeah! i'd love to."
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ladybirdswritings · 4 months
Text
Bound - Miguel O’Hara x Reader
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Summary: Miguel O’Hara was never known to be a man wanting. He was beyond content with the power surging through him upon his multiversal throne. That is until he lays his hungry eyes upon you. Now, he will do whatever it takes just for the taste of you… dark!miguel x reader fic. very steamy as always <3
Notes: I couldn’t stop myself from this hades and persephone-esque fic so I hope you enjoy!! SW&P is far lighter if you desire that <3
next chap
one
Morning is a sweet greeting to you, warm and incandescent to shine it’s rays upon soft skin. As it always is. Though you find it to be dreary on days like this, as it is the same as the day prior, and the day prior to that day. As if it is not sparkling gold but shadowing gray.
All the same repetitive waltz for you.
Yet to your unknowing mind, much would change within the quick hour. Change not in the way of little things but rather in the way that would make your toes curl and your eager hands grab your tresses so you might not trip upon them on your dash toward the tallest hills.
You would have run had you known what was to come.
Yet you didn’t; and so? Your morning was quite a bore.
Similar to a zombie are your sunken cheeks and coffee kissed eyes decorated with awful bags. Your toothbrush is made of oak as is your boar-bristled comb. You tend to your prettying before slipping away from the hustle and bustle of a lively home. Four sisters and two brothers you sport, and an overbearing woman you dare to call your mother.
You made routine of this. Sneaking away with the latest print picked up from the small shop next to the apothecary in town. Out the oak wood door and past the burnt toast and meat to cuddle yourself comfortably against your favored weeping willow by the bend.
Your only company is the ducklings these days, though you don’t mind them much. They are mostly quiet beyond the occasional quack.
Serenity became you as you lay there in the remnants of springtime’s shadow, willfully sprouted in peonies and lilac blossoms.
Your print is a work of Austen, an old and worn thing but one you’d found comfort in recently. It would be your fourth time revisiting.
Would… however.
“Oh heavens sakes! You must enjoy making your mother walk upon tousled soil, girl! Have you got half a mind!? I don’t presume so otherwise you’d avoid any possibility of me losing a leg!”
A whine like that of a carnaged cat rings out from behind the bend. In the grassy plains your mother struggles her way toward you. You stand to your feet in swift motion, but your wandering eye finds curiosity in an unfamiliar bloom. Its colors an odd pairing of red and blue unfurled toward the sun.
What an odd thing, you think.
The huffing and puffing snaps your attention center, and you nearly grumble in complaint as you hurry toward your mother.
“Mama I was just—”
“Oh save it. I see you slip out each morning, I know full well your disdain for the company of your own family… but I didn’t come here to admonish you, sweet girl. Quite the opposite in fact. I am here to ask a favor of you. It seems the cold air has made our chickens most unwilling to provide us with eggs. Won’t you go in town and gather some?”
Like the rainfall’s mist caught by breath of wind, your hopes and plans of reading in the bend till dawn have dissipated. Pursing your lips, you nod— not wanting to administer a guaranteed headache at wake of your protest.
In to town you’ll venture.
✧*̥˚ … *̥˚✧
The cobblestone is cracked underneath your boot, as it is dampened by springtime’s departured mist. You like the clicking sound, though it is most lonesome at this ungodly hour.
The house cannot be run well with lack of your aid. Father left long ago and mother is just a dreadful housewife. The doctor blames her dissonance on the ailments within her mind’s confines though— she swears herself always to be whole and well.
Regardless, for the sake of your sisters— you help. Besides this, you owe it to her.
Your basket is made of weaved wicker and adorned with crimson cloth, at the end of the cobble is where life shines proud. A more lively gathering of townsfolk in search of early morning eggs to enjoy with their breakfast.
A single carriage, outdated as the things are, surges forward in an unstable command by a young man. He cannot be past twenty three, and his face is speckled with pale freckles. His hair is a burnt orange rasp.
The stallions are dark as midnight, sweat being huffed like chimney smoke from their nostrils. Dear god, the way he commands them is certain to ensure an accident.
You tuck the thought away in to the back of your mind to be focused upon your task. You’ll need no more than a dozen or perhaps three what with the vacuum cleaner your eldest brother refers to as his mouth.
Babblebrooke, it is where you’ve lived most your orphaned life. Surely some places have technology of picture books and magazines you skim through when you are awarded the rare chance but— you find yourself content with a place so simple.
You cannot imagine a life of loudness, no quiet space to tuck away and read. It’s a frightening thought.
The stand is nearby, only a few more passing steps and you’ll reach it. Your eyes are locked on the fresh berries, but you know full well you won’t have enough for them.
A bark startles you out of your trance, one excited and pointed. You jump at the sound and turn your head to find a cocker spaniel hound circling round and round to chase its own tail. You giggle at the sight, and its chestnut ears raise in alarm at the vibration.
Oh, it’s noticed you.
The little thing hobbles over excitedly, and you cannot help but bend on your knee to brush back its silken locks.
Beyond a canvas collar of pale pink lays a heart, engraved in molten silver the title: “Lyla.”
So she belongs to someone. Such a kind thing, they are to be a lucky companion indeed.
You smooth back the hair from her excited eyes before lifting to your feet again and continuing forward. She begins to follow you, but a movement in the alleyway shadows is a matter she finds far more pressing for her attention.
“Lyla…” you test in a whisper as you make your way behind a man hunched and gray— awaiting his eggs for breakfast.
Time seems agonizing and the line moves awfully slow, you peek behind the elder man to find annoyance laced in the eyes of the townsfolk. Blaire has taken a liking to the farm boy— it seems she’s busying herself with conversing nonsense with his mother rather than picking her fresh fruits for tart pastries.
You sigh, checking the time on your cracked, golden watch with impatience brewing at the soles of your boots. You sway on them, shifting your weight forward and back. No use just staring ahead.
Though it is quite loud, it doesn’t stop you from reaching in to your tote for “Jane Eyre.”
You find your favorite part, their first midnight meeting in the hallway. How romantic it is, you only wish that to be a possibility for you one day. You forbid yourself from joining the season of course but somewhere tucked away inside— you wonder how marvelous it would be for a broody and handsome thing to appear upon your doorstep with a bouquet the size of France.
You grin at the thought. Though it is swiftly interrupted by the quick patter of familiar paws.
“Woah! Easy!”
Your head snaps up at the gasps of those around you, and you are most horrified to see that the horses have reached the steep bend mere steps away. The ginger fool, they halt in warning and he kicks at them— slapping them with a russet pole. They comply, and the carriage loses control.
It creaks, hurling forward and disconnecting from its rusted shell. Tumbling at godspeed down the cobble and straight for little Lyla who lays mindlessly and happily on her back now.
Panic surges, and your eyes find worry in everyone’s features and yet no motive to act alongside it. Such cowardly men, allowing the poor thing to succumb to the bite of freak nature and cruel fate.
You won’t allow it. Though you feel frozen, the sharp and desperate shout of “Lyla!” from a phantom voice is enough to snap you back into the most horrible moment present.
“Christ!” You breathe, tossing Jane Eyre to the sapphire sky before surging forward. The carriage stalls on a pebble for a quick moment and it’s enough time for you to beat it by a mere step. You scoop the silly thing into your arms and as the wheel just grazes your skin— it is you now that is saved from immediate death.
A warm hand tugs at your wrist and you’re certain the brick wall has grown awfully large palms and fingers; for what you slam up against is hard and unpleasant.
You grunt, Lyla yelping in surprise where she is tucked up tightly against your chest.
Whistles and claps overtake the coward crowd and you sway upon your own boots as the wind itself makes you unsteady with its light graze. Firm palms steel you, grasping your shoulders tight to keep you together and well.
Your eyes venture on an upward path to find two crimson pupils imploring your features as if they are etched in stone and stored away in a beloved museum somewhere in Rome.
Brows pinched and quite bushy, eyes cold but curious, his reddened orbs search your face for what feels like a millennium. Fascinated.
Awed.
You blink, and the cry of the sweet creature in your arms breaks the trance you were entangled in. Lyla leaps from your arms and onto the cobble path— and you only huff and reach a weak arm toward her before the exhaustion of a skipped meal and your adrenaline fueled actions bring you to sit on the cobble ground.
He kneels beside you, the stranger. Yet you cannot find yourself mustering enough energy to truly examine his face. Just his eyes, rare things they are.
“She’ll be alright.” He whispers, hands still pleasantly upon your shoulders as if he fears you’ll topple over and shatter once he parts.
When you do lift your gaze however, stricken curious by the sickly silken sound of his voice, he’s gone.
“Thank y-”
The word croaks in your throat, and you can only wonder how it was possible… how quickly the phantom left you upon the cobble. The farm boy rushes over soon, much to the demise of poor Blaire. She stares on at the carriage and ginger man as if she wishes it was her nearly trampled.
He hands you fresh water and berries, and you wave his concern away and the crowd’s curiosity with a weak hand.
Your mind is only glued upon one thing.
The phantom.
🏷️’s: @reirain @needybitez @migueloharastruelove @laysmt @maomaimao @daisy-artfield @poutysprouty @chorizobeets @tabalittlelong @iitangerine @queenb27sblog-blog @dprmooni @neptunieesworld @cyd2301 @amelialysm @justanothers-things @heartfeltlonging @coralreefses @knightowl019 @cybersry
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