#'i caught a beetle and threw it outside!' | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

olinblogin · 6 months

Note

Hi, I wanted to ask if you could do a Redson and reader child romance that reunited later on? The reader is gender neutral ^^

Yes! Absolutely I can!

REDSON X GN!READER

(Requested childhood romance to reuniting, reader is also a demon)

Rising from your bed, you let your bed-ratchet hair fall over your eyes with a groan. Swiping it out of your vision, you threw yourself off the bed and stumbled around your dingy apartment.

Apparently being the heir of a powerful demon family did no use into helping you finding a good living area.

With a begrudging sigh you grabbed what little coffee powder you had left and tossed it into your coffee maker. Eventually the smell of the coffee beans filled your senses while the carafe filled with the nearly black liquid.

Not even bothering to pour or prepare your coffee, you just grabbed the carafe and chugged it down.

You were thankful to be this heat resilient; thanks to your childhood sweetheart.

Oh yeah… you were wondering how he was doing.

It had been centuries since you two had seen each other… you two used to be inseparable.

Letting yourself zone out, you fondly reminisce on those memories of your childhood.

Through the grassy plains you were chasing around a younger Redson, holding a beetle in your palms and trying to urge him closer to it; his shrieks of terror fueled your laughter.

“C’mon, Redson! It’s just a tiny baby-beetle!” You would try to coax him, to which he hid himself behind a tree, cheeks flared red and the tips of his hair a vibrant orange. “No! Those things are super gross, and scary!”

You laugh at his terror, finally having your fill of fun and tossing the beetle away. “I can’t believe you’re scared of beetles like that,” you’d tease and sit down next to him.

“Psh- it’s not like I’m scared of them or anything they just-.. they catch me off guard, is all!” Redson tried to argue, face a brilliant red as he tried to save himself from embarrassment. “Yeah, Yeah… whatever, hothead!” You flicked his forehead, to which he grabbed you; now both of you were wrestling in the dirt. Both your shrieks of laughter filled the air as you tried to one-up each other.

You finally managed to get the upper ground, wrapping your arms around Redson and pressing his back to the tree. “Okay, okay, you win!” He huffed begrudgingly, still a faint hint of red on his cheeks. “Nah, I wanna hug you for a bit. You’re warm.” Your comment made him splutter, and eventually let you cuddle close to him despite his embarrassment.

Your mind snapped back into reality when a buzz came from your phone, with an exasperated sigh that your daydream had been interrupted you grabbed your phone and scrolled through. There was something that caught your eye though, a headline; “Demon Bull Family opens a noodle shop”.

Now that seemed something worth your time. There was no way Redson wouldn’t be there… he had to be.

Besides, you wanted something to eat anyways.

Grabbing whatever you needed to go out, and making sure you had a few of your more demonic features so you could go outside without being jumped.

It took you a hood bit to find the place, but eventually you did amongst the crowd…

Opening the creaky door you let yourself in, a bell chiming at the top of the door in your arrival.

“We’re closed right now. Go find food somewhere els-“ the Redhead’s words caught in his throat when he laid his eyes on you. “That’s no way to talk to a friend, now is it?” You snort, making your way up to the counter and smiling fondly at him. Oh how he’s grown.

“[Y/N]? Is that really you..? I thought I’d never see you again! Your family said you’d run away centuries ago…” Redson took your hands in his, the warmth of his hands encased yours just like you remembered.

“Yeah, I did. Long story short, my parents wanted to marry me off to a suitor… but that doesn’t matter right now. How are you, is everything good on your end? I was surprised to see you opened up a noodle shop…”

Redson blushed bashfully and pushed his tiny glasses up his nose. “Well.. I am a proud member of the Demon Bull family, something as mediocre as this is no issue!” He boasted proudly. He was a lot more confident then he was as a kid…

“Wow, you got a lot more confident over the years.” Your comment made him shake his head in surprise to your statement. “I was always confident!.. I just… wasn’t confident with you…” he squeaked out that last sentence with a red face. “You’re still as blushy as i remember, it’s cute.” A little flirty comment was enough to make Redson’s hair burst into flames of embarrassment.

A quiet skittering sound broke both of you out of your trance, you both looked to the floor to see a beetle. Redson let out a shriek of terror, scrambling away from it. “Get that thing away from me!!!” He shrieked out. With a cocked brow, you simply stomped on the bug, much to Redson’s surprise.

“You killed it..-“ he spoke softly. “Yeah, I did.”

“You used to be a lot more gentle with bugs when we were younger,” he stated obviously with a perplexed expression. “Well I didn’t have anyone to chase around with them,” you poked his forehead playfully, to which he scoffed.

A comfortable silence molded between you two, the slight hum-buzz of the fluorescent lights being the only thing that kept it from being completely silent. “So, I was wondering…” you started, his head snapped to look at you.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go somewhere sometime… maybe grab a bite to eat..-“ you were caught off guard when Redson abruptly grabbed your hands and screamed, “yes!” Like you were proposing to him.

Now it was your turn to blush.

“I would love to, [Y/N].”

#redson #lmk red son #redson x reader

90 notes · View notes

spectral-musette · 2 years

Text

Obi-Wan and Satine in a pile of flowers, but this time they aren't white lilies. (variety!)

ficlet below the cut, ~850 words

“This one has been fallow for two seasons now, but it’s due to be planted with breadroot in a few days.”

Obi-Wan had arrived on Mandalore a few hours ago to determine what assistance the Republic could offer to ease the food shortages caused by the trade route disruptions. However, the tour of the agricultural domes had been extended due to the sandstorm preventing the delegation’s return to Sundari for a few hours. The Protectors from the Duchess’s entourage had gone back to the main dome for an impromptu cu’bikad tournament to pass the time, but Satine had offered to show Obi-Wan some of the domes off of the usual tour pathway instead.

The fallow domes were less climate-controlled than the ones frequented by workers and researchers, so Obi-Wan and Satine had shed layers at the doorway to adjust for the heat and the humidity, he to his undertunic and trousers, and she to the pale blue underdress of her gown. It was just the same color as the flowers growing thick across the earthen floor.

Satine smiled at him as she noticed his glance flicking between her and the flowers. “They are lovely, aren’t they?” she said, leaning to pluck one. “A Concordian variety. They restore nutrients to the soil faster than any of the other species we’ve tested. But I adore them. Our pollinators love them too,” she observed, indicating the tiny, iridescent beetle trundling out of the flower. It took flight, buzzing past Obi-Wan to land on the transparisteel dome behind him. The wind gusted outside, but they, the beetle, and the flowers remained tranquil, still, safe, almost like a fossil encased in crystal. “I know it’s all part of the cycle, but it still makes me a little sad to think they’re due for harvest as mulch.”

“So it’s all right to pick some?” he asked, kneeling on the stone pathway.

“I expect the harvesters would appreciate it, provided you leave them in the composter before you go.” She sat on the pathway beside him, stretching out her legs and kicking off her stiff, heeled shoes. The sight of her, barefoot and in her comparatively simple, sleeveless underdress, threw his memories sharply back to their year together so long ago… fleeing bounty hunters across the Outer Rim, young and frightened and desperately in love.

He gathered a handful of the blue flowers, carefully choosing only the most perfect ones, and shaking a few more jewel-like beetles free to fly up to their hive boxes suspended overhead. The flowers had long, tough stalks, so it was easy to begin knotting them together to make a garland.

She watched him work a little while, a soft smile on her beautiful face, flushed rosy in the heat. “Show me,” she finally prompted, gathering a handful of flowers of her own. She was quick to catch on, though her garland grew a little more slowly than the one spun from his hands. He looped it around her narrow waist, then draped it up over her shoulder, so that the petals caressed the dewy skin exposed by the deep neckline of her dress like the soft kisses he longed to press there.

The intensity of that desire caught him a little by surprise. His love for her had been steady as a heartbeat even during their long separation. Since their recent reunion, it had rarely been far from his mind. But evidently as little as a few weeks apart again was enough for him to be startled by how much he wanted her. She spoke before he could dwell on it too deeply.

“I remember when you made me a garland like this on … oh, I’ve forgotten where we were.” She furrowed her brow, tapping one of the flowers against her pursed lips as she tried to summon the memory.

“I don’t recall either, but I remember that I sneezed for about an hour afterwards.” They both laughed softly.

“No allergies today?” she asked, holding up a flower close to his face.

He leaned to breathe its light, sweet fragrance, then pressed his face against her hand, kissing her knuckles lightly. “Seems not. Even if there were, it would be well worth it,” he assured her. She moved her hands to his face, dropping the flower.

“It would be quite inconvenient for what I have in mind,” she said, and then startled him by kissing him, hard and reckless.

He sighed her name into her mouth after he caught a breath. She tugged him down into the flowers so that the tall stalks bent over them, enveloping them. He glanced up for a moment at the soft blue of the flowers all but obscuring the stormy sky as the wind and sand buffeted the dome. Then he looked back to her in his arms, her eyes soft and her golden hair becomingly tousled. She reached up to stroke his face, her fingers cool against his hot cheek. When she kissed him again, it was slow as a bud opening to the sunlight.

#obi wan kenobi #satine kryze #obi wan/satine #obitine #star wars art #my art #watercolors #i wrote a thing #if you want to look under the hood #bcbdrums asked me if I had drawn Satine in a dress inspired by a specific red carpet gown #and this is where I ended up #happy to watercolor again #its been a while since I got out the paint

483 notes · View notes

to-boldly-nope · 2 years

Text

Thumbelina- Jean-Luc x Reader

Plot: {requested by @groovy-lady} Fairytale AU: Jean-Luc Picard x fem!Reader and the tale of Thumbelina (the Don Bluth version please)!!!

Words: 941

A/N: I honestly would write a longer one but I'm not feeling that well lmao

You hated every second of this. You didn't know if it was something Q had done, or if some alien decided to transport you into their world, or if you were actually stuck in the holodeck, but a) you hated being the size of a thumb, b) you didn't know if anyone was here with you, and c) you were getting married to an actual mole!

"And you, Thumbelina, take this mole to be your lawful wedded husband?" The rat preacher asked, making you give him a slight glare.

"Never. I cannot marry Mr. Mole, I don't love him!" You yelled as you threw your bouquet on the ground, making the audience of underground animals gasp.

You stormed off, but the toad that was chasing you earlier came crashing through the top of the cave.

"I marry you!" The toad yelled, trying to stop the already ruined wedding.

"No!" You groaned. "I no marry you, I go home!"

You continued to make your way out of Mr. Mole's tunnel when the beetle that took you to a ball just to be made fun of showed up.

"Hiya, Toots!" Mr. Beetle greeted, making you roll your eyes as you picked up the bottom of your dress and continued to walk.

"I'm not your toots!" You called out as you continued further down the tunnel, trying to get away from the crowd chasing after you.

As you made it to the end, you realized that the tunnel was blocked off by Mr. Mole's gold coins, but you were determined to get out of there. You searched for a hole and you saw something shining.

"The sun. The sun is shining again," you told yourself as you moved a coin and made the whole pile come down.

You gave the underground one last look before escaping to the outside world. You wiped some dirt off of you as you admired the sunlight. As you were trying to still wrap your head around things, a swallow by the name of Jacquimo swooped down next to you.

"Jacquimo, it's you," you sighed as you gave him a hug. He seemed to be the only one who would help you.

"Yes, c'est moi. I have found the Vale of the Fairies."

"No, Jacquimo-"

"No, no, listen it is true. I talked to the rabbit, who talked to the fox, who talked to the bear, who know for sure. You see – ah, I show you. Jump on. Hang on!"

Jacquimo threw you up in the air and caught you on his back and flew you to the Vale of the Fairies.

"You brought me to a weed patch!" You yelled.

"No, it's the Vale of the Fairies," he stated. "Sing for them. Sing, Thumbelina."

"My name is (Y/N) and I just want to go home! I don't even know if anyone is here, I don't even know if Jean-Luc knows I'm here. I don't even know where here is!"

"But everything will be fine if you sing," the swallow said, making you groan. You weren't starting to like fairytales ever since you got here. You looked at Jacquimo and sighed.

"You will be my wings. You will be my only love.You will take me far beyond the stars. Jacquimo, this is silly. This is a weed patch," you pointed out.

"Trust me, it is the Vale of the Fairies, just sing."

"Can't you just take me home?"

"Let me be your wings. Like that. Sing, like that," he instructed.

"You will lift me high above," you sang out, watching for a change in the environment.

"Oh, magnifique!"

Everything we’re dreaming of will soon be ours. Anything that we desire, anything at all. Everyday you’ll take me higher," you sang, finally getting hopeful. You frowned as the environment stayed the same old weed patch.

"Let’s be practical," you sighed as you sat down on the branch that you were standing on. "This isn’t the Vale of the Fairies. And whoever is supposed to save me is never going to show up."

"Mon amour?"

You looked over and saw Jean-Luc and behind him was fairy wings. You couldn't help but to giggle.

"Oh, these," he pointed out, "Laugh all you want."

"I can't believe that I found you. I thought I was going to be stuck here forever."

"You know, I've seem to notice a pattern with these situations," Jean-Luc pointed out, making you tilt your head.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Not only is it us two, but we always seem to kiss or get married at the end before returning to the ship. So, (Y/N), will you marry me?"

"Oh, so we're single in this universe?" You laughed.

"Apparently so," Jean-Luc laughed with you.

"Gee, I don't know if I want to marry you again," you thought aloud, making him smile at you. "I mean, I guess I can marry you twice."

"Honestly, I couldn't ask for anything better," he stated before leaning in for a kiss.

Remember when the author said in a previous post that Picard doesn't show much public affection? Yeah, well when the two of you were kissing, you both teleported back onto the bridge and everyone saw. You opened your eyes and jumped back.

"Mon amour, what seems to be-"

You saw some color drain from his face as he realized where he was. He straightened his uniform before sitting in the captain's chair. You gave him a slight wave before leaving the bridge, blushing from ear to ear.

"Sir, may I speak freely?" Riker whispered to Jean-Luc.

"What, Number One?" He sighed, waiting for Riker's comment.

"I didn't take you for a person for public affection," Riker laughed while Jean-Luc sighed and watched the monitor in front of him.

#jean-luc picard #picard #star trek #star trek the next generation #star trek tng #star trek imagines #star trek x reader #picard x reader #picard imagines #jean-luc picard x reader #jean-luc picard imagine

37 notes · View notes

fancoloredglasses · 2 years

Text

The Greatest Story Never Told (super heroing for fun and profit)

[All images are owned by DC Comics and WarnerMedia. I hope I’m too small-fry to sue...]

As I have previously said, I am more a fan of the B- and C-list heroes (much like the junior Justice League members above. Who can name them all without Google?) than the Batmans and X-Men of the comic world. So you can imagine my thrill every time the main roster of JLU took a back seat to allow others to shine.

In fact, this episode features one of my favorite DC heroes of all time: Booster Gold!

What makes Booster appeal to me so much? I really don’t know. I had written him off when he made his debut, and I didn’t warm to him until he joined Justice League International and became best friends with another favorite of mine, Blue Beetle (Ted Kord)

(Thanks to GamesRadar)

Booster (AKA Michael John Carter) was a 25th century sports star who threw a game for money, disgracing him to the point he could only get a janitor’s job at a museum. Then he found tech from the past in the displays (well, except Superboy’s Legion flight ring from the 30th century), including a time machine, all of which he stole (as well as his companion robot Skeets) and went back to the 20th century where he used his (well, Skeet’s) knowledge of past events to become a super hero, trying to get the fame and fortune he lost in his own time. At least this version isn’t as complete a sellout as he was Smallville

(Thanks to Amino Apps)

However, despite his gloryhounding, when the chips are down he gives his all and proves he’s actually a hero. And that’s what this episode focuses on. If you would like to watch it, it’s available on KissCartoon.

We open to Booster having just defeated some sort of giant robot. Problem is, no one knows who Booster Gold is. No worries, as Skeets has a promotional video cued up for such an occasion. By the time the video ends, the crown is fed up with the blatant self-promotion and walks away, except one kid who asks for his autograph, only to be disappointed he’s not Green Lantern (You do know the current Green Lantern is black, right?)

Later at the Watchtower (the orbital fortress that serves as Justice League HQ), Booster is trying to pressure Martian Manhunter into assigning him more high-profile missions so he can get better press. At that time, Wonder Woman calls...

Mordru is rampaging all over Metropolis, and the heroes on the ground need help! Just what the Booster ordered! Cue the opening credits!

Martian Manhunter assembles every able hero available...and Booster. The heroes teleport to the surface for assignments.

youtube

(Thanks to mister custodian)

Now, I know this sequence is to hammer the point that Booster gets no respect, but COME ON! Booster is thinking he’s not destined for greatness, and that maybe he’s doomed to crowd control forever.

Then an explosion happens (that is not from the battle with Mordru) at a nearby research lab! Booster rushes to the lab to help, and one of the evacuating scientists say someone may still be inside.

Booster finds the someone (Dr. Simmons) Skeets checks her vitals while Booster checks her out (no wonder you’re still on crowd control!) Dr. Simmons wakes up, stating everyone is doomed. When Booster tries to assure her he’s here to help, Dr. Simmons explains that an alternative power source got loose after an explosion (that her colleague Dr. Brown was caught in) and now the world is doomed. Booster isn’t worried (probably because he didn’t understand a word of it) and want to know where this power source is so he can Save The Day.

The “power source” is a black hole, that has merged with Dr. Brown. You are so screwed, Booster!

Booster immediately calls the Watchtower for support, but J’onn hangs up on him, telling him to get back to crowd control. Booster consults with Dr. Simmons, who has some sort of containment collar that should neutralize the black hole in Dr. Brown’s chest.

Outside, it’s pretty easy to spot Dr. Brown...

Booster takes the collar, telling Dr. Simmons to get a safe distance away. Booster thinks this will be easy, but some of the debris Dr. Brown is drawing in gets past him, colliding with Booster.

As he rushes to catch up, he hears a scream from a nearby ambulance (after the EMTs get a case of black hole-itis) Booster opens the ambulance to discover...

Hope Skeets has medical knowledge in his databank, cuz I can guarantee Booster doesn’t know how to deliver a baby! He tries to foist the expectant mother on Dr. Simmons, but she’s not that kind of doctor. She grabs the collar, leaving Booster to midwife. Some time later, the woman gives birth.

“Thank you, Green Lantern!”

Seriously?!

Booster gets back on the trail of Drs. Brown and Simmons.

I think he found them. Dr. Simmons is being drawn toward the black hole, but Booster manages to pull her away. The two share a Look...then a Gaze...and as they draw closer...

...Skeets shows up to bring them back to reality. Oh well...back to work.

Booster heads into the subway to deal with Dr. Brown...

...as he swallows the C-train. This seems to take a lot out of Dr. Brown, so Booster prepares the collar...

...right in the path of the F-train. Fortunately, his force field keeps him from being totally flattened. If you thought he’d hit rock bottom before, now he’s ready to hang up his stolen suit.

He mopes out, but puts on a brave face for Dr. Simmons as he gives it one more go. He approaches from behind once more...

...but then the battle with Mordru (remember that?) intersects with Booster’s mission (Batman’s gonna be pissed that Booster isn’t on crowd control) Dr. Brown turns to save his friend, but...

...there’s a casualty as Skeets is drawn in as well as the animated building! With the building, the black hole in Dr. Brown’s chest hits critical mass and begins to draw everything in. Dr. Simmons says Booster can still save the day, then Booster spills the beans about his past.

However, Dr. Simmons doesn’t care who he was, just that he’s here and Superman isn’t. With that pep talk, Booster grabs the collar and gives a last ditch effort, hurling himself in the path of the black hole...

...and snaps it in place as he’s sucked in. The black hole immediately spits Booster back out...

...along with everything else it sucked in. Booster Gold saved the world! (and no one saw him do it, dammit!) With that, he mopes off into the sunset.

Meanwhile, the battle with Mordru (remember that?) is over except for the cleanup...

...and, as predicted, Batman is pissed that Booster left his assignment.

“Excuse me, Green Lantern?”

Oh, that is it! Booster’s gonna give that person what--

Turns out is was Dr. Simmons...Tracy...giving Booster a hard time, asking if Booster is able to have dinner with her, or if he’s busy with cleanup.

“Who, me? Nah, I’m strictly crowd control.” as they stroll off into the sunset.

#DC comics #justice league #booster gold #dini-verse #Fan Colored Glasses

9 notes · View notes

gusu-emilu · 3 years

Text

Cantatio: Chapter Eleven

Ship: Lan Zhan / Wei Ying (POV Lan Zhan)

Summary: Jin Zixuan is missing, and Lan Zhan is growing suspicious of Wei Ying.

Cloud Recesses Academy AU, Rated T, No Warnings Apply - read on AO3

The coast was clear if they wanted to sneak away.

Bichen quivered in his grip.

“Do not disrespect the elder. Uphold the value of justice. Do not shirk your duty,” he told himself.

But before Lan Wangji finished the list of rules he’d be breaking, he had already slipped out the doorway and unsheathed Bichen, with Wen Qing at his heels and Wei Ying’s name on his lips.

< Ch. 10 | Ch. 12 > | chapter list

After hearing the news of Jin Zixuan’s capture, there was not much else to do but wait for his return. In the meantime, Lan Wangji tried to report his recent misconduct to his uncle, but the clan leaders already hurried away to organize more search parties.

Song Lan and Nie Mingjue were the only two authority figures left. They corralled everyone into the Main Hall to safely await results from the search parties.

Nie Mingjue stood in the front corner of the room scowling at the noisy disciples. After a few minutes, Song Lan began restlessly pacing along the wall. Then he strode to the front of the room as if about to make an announcement.

Like the beginning of Beings & Creatures the previous day, Song Lan stood as if frozen, that same subdued sorrow hovering around him in a haze, until every pair of eyes was fixed upon him. Then he said, “We will continue our lesson on animating guardian statues. It seems especially relevant today.”

Although the disciples were still intimidated by Song Lan, they had warmed up to him after an exciting class yesterday. It also helped that they had witnessed him tear down Wen Chao, the most hated disciple in the class. Now, instead of gaping up at Song Lan, they were bold enough to whisper to each other about the announcement once he finished speaking.

“Although taking immediate action is important when addressing a crisis—in this case, that immediate action is finding Young Master Jin—it is also essential to address the root of a problem. Someone please inform the class what the root of today’s problem is.”

The hall was silent except for a few disciples shifting their robes or murmuring to each other.

Nie Huaisang flapped open his fan, the whoosh echoing through the hall.

“HUAISANG!” Nie Mingjue bellowed. “You open that fan, you answer the question!”

The fan snapped closed and disappeared into juniper sleeves. Nie Huaisang waved his hands in front of himself as if fending off the dozens of eyes now fixed on him. “Oh, no, no, I don’t know! Don’t call on me!”

“If no one answers the daozhang’s question, that filthy pet bird of yours is getting released into the woods this afternoon!”

Nie Huaisang’s eyes darted around the room in panic, searching for a brave disciple to save him as if he were the sparrow about to be abandoned in the wilderness.

In the back of the hall, a hand slowly rose into the air. Upon seeing it, Nie Huaisang sighed with relief.

It was Wen Ning, his eyes wide but eager. Wei Wuxian sat beside him and patted him proudly on the back.

Nie Mingjue snorted.

“Young Master Wen?” Song Lan called.

“W-W-Well, Young Master Wei and I were just discussing that no one seems to know exactly how the lion was animated. S-So…maybe that’s the problem?”

Song Lan nodded slowly. “That is correct.”

Wen Ning beamed, and Wei Wuxian swatted at Wen Ning’s arm excitedly. Wen Qing turned around and smiled at them.

“But only partially correct.”

Wen Ning’s face fell.

Song Lan cocked an eyebrow and relaxed his shoulders, the silvery-gold hilt of his sword shifting behind him. “Thank you, Young Master Wen, for starting us off.” He turned to Nie Huaisang. “Perhaps Young Master Nie can complete the answer. Clan Leader Nie seems to deem you quite capable of it.”

Nie Huaisang scratched the back of his head. “Oh, no, no, I’m sorry, my brother expects too much of me, really…” His eyes wandered to the ceiling, circling around vacantly.

“But if I had to guess…like, if I was forced at sword point—wow, that would be scary!—ummm, I would say that the problem isn’t how the lion was animated. It’s by who.” He threw his hands in the air. “But I’m not sure! I don’t know anything! I really don’t. Please don’t call on me again, daozhang…”

A faint smile crossed Song Lan’s face. “This is the correct answer.”

Having saved himself and his pet bird, Nie Huaisang snapped open his fan once again, flapping it merrily in celebration. Nie Mingjue scowled even more, but his shoulders relaxed a bit.

“Does anyone know why we do not need to ask how the statue was animated?” Song Lan asked.

“Because we just learned how to do it yesterday,” Jin Zixun shouted, clearly pleased with his useless response.

Song Lan blinked for a few moments. “Anyone else?”

Lan Wangji lifted his chin. “Animation by humans is impossible," he said.

Every disciple in the room turned to stare at him. However, the only pair of eyes he felt was Wei Wuxian’s.

A pair of eyes that Lan Wangji was growing more and more suspicious of.

Despite answering the question, Lan Wangji did not fully believe his own words.

“Very good, Second Young Master Lan. To animate a guardian statue so powerful, a quarter of the Cloud Recesses’ population would need to lay hands on it and connect with its spirit. One or two people could have gone unnoticed, but such a commotion could not have, not even in the dead of the night.

“Furthermore, the guardian lion did not protect the Cloud Recesses upon coming to life, as was its duty. Instead, it attacked a disciple. Mere mortals are incapable of convincing a guardian lion to violate its duty. Their method of communication is ancient, cryptic, and spiritually demanding. They are not easily persuaded to stray from the prayer intentions that created them.

“Therefore, the question is not how. We would waste our time to focus on this. The question becomes whom, or—more precisely—what. That is our true adversary, not the lion.”

The hall hummed with speculation. Wei Wuxian crossed his arms and nodded approvingly.

But Lan Wangji still did not agree.

He was very, very suspicious.

Who had animated the pixiu yesterday with no sign of drained spiritual energy and then refused to explain how? Who had been outside the mingshi last night? Who hated Jin Zixuan for what he did to Jiang Yanli?

Wei Wuxian had the means, the evidence, the agenda. Slightly out of order, yet still compelling.

But would Wei Ying really do something so malicious?

How could he seem so calm this morning if he really was responsible?

Strange things had happened in the Cloud Recesses before, without any known human interference, such as the appearance of the monster beetle in Wen Qing’s room. This could be another case. Perhaps the guardian lion statue had even been animated by the melody of the haunted guqin.

And yet.

Wei Wuxian was a trickster, and sometimes his pranks went too far. What had happened to Jiang Cheng just last night after drinking a poorly-made sleeping potion?

Wei Wuxian might not have had a mean streak, but he did have one for recklessness.

Plagued by these thoughts, Lan Wangji struggled to focus on the rest of Song Lan’s improvised lesson, only catching bits and pieces, itching to simply stand up in the middle of class and march over to Wei Wuxian.

The lesson was so lively that Lan Wangji wished he could have paid more attention. Song Lan preferred to let the disciples do their own thinking, and let them speculate what might’ve animated the lion. Lan Wangji caught mentions of hungry ghosts, magical beasts possessing golden cores, demons, Heavenly Immortals, even dragons. Then Song Lan guided the class through the process for detecting traces of a creature’s visit. The disciples grew more and more enthusiastic as they exchanged ideas, their energy filling the room. The disciples were forbidden to go outside to search for the guardian lion, but Song Lan promised to speak to the clan leaders about letting a team pilot the detective work.

When the lesson finished and the hall plunged back into a mill of voices, Lan Wangji walked toward Wei Wuxian immediately. But after only a few steps, another thought seized him. He swerved and headed toward Wen Qing, who was in the midst of praising Wen Ning for speaking up during the lesson.

“Lady Wen.”

“Second Young Master Lan?” She lifted her hands to the top of her head to adjust her golden hair piece with an air of regality. “You look tired. Join the club.”

Unsure of what to say to that, Lan Wangji simply nodded and asked, “Did you observe Wei Ying during Beings & Creatures yesterday?”

She sighed. “No. I was busy focusing on my own pixiu. I don’t have much of a golden core, and Young Master Su is a very lackluster partner. We couldn’t even animate it.” She finally let go of her hair piece. “A-Ning, did you watch him at all?”

“Yes. He brought the pixiu to life without his partner’s help.” Wen Ning grinned. “He’s really awesome, Jie!”

Wen Qing’s eyes widened. “He did it by himself? Are you sure?”

He nodded.

Wen Qing turned to Lan Wangji. “That’s the reason you were hollering at him during class?”

I did not ‘holler’ at him, Lan Wangji thought, but his reply was, “Half the reason.”

“…We’re thinking the same thing right now, aren’t we?”

“Mn.”

“Have you talked to him?”

Lan Wangji shook his head.

Wen Qing gave him a look of disappointment. “You should talk to him.”

Lan Wangji turned away, intending to search the room for Wei Wuxian, but he was unable to focus on identifying any particular person. “…Come with me.”

Wen Qing rolled her eyes. “What, are you scared of him?”

“No. But he is scared of you.”

Wen Qing grinned for the first time he’d seen. “Still relying on me to do your dirty work for you? I’d say it’s almost like we’re becoming friends, Lan Wangji.”

Lan Wangji froze at these words.

Friends...

Finally, he managed to nod a goodbye to Wen Ning, then swiveled around and strode away before a small smile could cross his face in front of the Wen siblings.

Behind him, Wen Ning said, “Jie, is Young Master Wei in danger?”

“No, A-Ning. He’s fine. Stay here.”

A few moments later, he heard Wen Qing’s footsteps behind him.

They paced around the perimeter of the hall hunting for Wei Wuxian. When they didn’t find him the first time, they passed through the center of the hall, circled around one more time, studying every person in the room. A sinking feeling of dread grew inside Lan Wangji with each step.

Wei Wuxian was gone.

* * *

With Wei Wuxian nowhere in sight, the next best option was to confront his brother.

Jiang Cheng stood glaring out the doorway of the Main Hall, clutching his sword. His shoulders were tense and his legs were slightly spread apart, as if he were about to join the starting line of a race.

“Young Master Jiang, have you seen Wei Wuxian?” Wen Qing asked.

Jiang Cheng scowled at her, as if offended that she had spoken to him. Then he noticed Lan Wangji, and turned to stare out the doorway again.

“Him? Tch. That dumbass ran outside a minute ago. I was going to tell Clan Leader Nie, but I’m thinking I should just go after him myself before he gets killed.” He paused. “So I can kill him,” he added.

So it was confirmed. Wei Wuxian had left. Was he seeking Jin Zixuan and the guardian lion that captured him? Was he running away from suspicion? Was he just bored in the Main Hall and looking for fun?

“Why?” Lan Wangji asked.

Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. He mimicked his brother’s overly-excited voice. “’I’m going to save Jin Zixuan so I can stand on his head while he apologizes to Shijie!’ The idiot. The clan leaders have been searching for ages. He’s deranged if he thinks he can find him.”

A wave of relief washed over Lan Wangji. Even if the guardian lion’s animation had really been Wei Wuxian’s doing, he could not have intended to seriously harm Jin Zixuan.

However, facing off with a guardian lion was not a feat that one could do alone. He needed help.

Jiang Cheng glanced around the hall, then tightened his grip on his sword. “Anyway. I’m hunting him down. If anyone asks, you didn’t see anything.” He sprinted outside, unsheathed Sandu from its dark purple scabbard, and jumped onto the blade, soaring into the clouds.

“Follow him,” Wen Qing said.

“I will tell the daozhang and Clan Leader Nie.”

“Didn’t you just hear Jiang Cheng? He doesn’t want anyone to know about this.”

“Authorities must be informed.”

Wen Qing crossed her arms. “Young Master Wei and Young Master Jiang just left. We can bring them back before anyone notices—that is, if you stop clenching your fists and get on your sword.”

Lan Wangji glanced down at his hands. Feeling a bit embarrassed, he relaxed them and placed them in their usual proper position—one holding Bichen at his side, one behind his back. Then scanned the interior of the Main Hall to check if anyone was watching them.

Lan Xichen and Nie Mingjue were having a light-hearted discussion with Jin Guangyao. Song Lan was frozen in Lotus Position in a corner of the room, his eyes narrow and unfocused.

The coast was clear if they wanted to sneak away.

Bichen quivered in his grip.

Do not disrespect the elder. Uphold the value of justice. Do not shirk your duty.

But before Lan Wangji finished the list of rules he’d be breaking, he had already slipped out the doorway and unsheathed Bichen, with Wen Qing at his heels and Wei Ying’s name on his lips.

Holding his sword in front of him, he nodded toward Wen Qing.

She sucked in a breath and unsheathed her own blade. “Let’s go.”

Lan Wangji leapt onto Bichen and zipped into the sky beside Wen Qing. They soared through the clouds and mist with the speed of a dragon, cold air slicing at their cheeks.

They soon caught up to Jiang Cheng on Sandu.

“The hell are you doing?!” he snarled.

“Helping you get your shidi back!” Wen Qing shouted.

Jiang Cheng scoffed. “As if I want him back! Once we’re done, you can have him!”

As they flew over the green swath of forest, an uncomfortable thought entered Lan Wangji’s mind.

Since when had he stopped trying to discipline Wei Ying, and started trying to get him out of trouble instead? It had only taken a day at most. Was Lan Wangji really this soft?

A worse thought followed.

Was Lan Wangji fated to become another Jiang Cheng in Wei Ying’s life? A beloved brother, sure, but one who was always a sword’s length behind, chasing after an unbounded energy he could not hold?

That wouldn’t do.

Just as Wei Wuxian’s smirking face appeared in his mind’s eye, he spotted the real Wei Wuxian streaking through the air on his dark blade.

“WEI WUXIAN! GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW OR I’LL KNOCK YOU OFF YOUR UGLY SWORD!” Jiang Cheng shouted.

Wei Wuxian gleefully waved at them, nearly falling off the sword himself without any help from his brother. He shouted something back, but the words were drowned out by the howling wind. His red hair ribbon whipped behind him like the feathers of a phoenix as he sped away.

Wei Wuxian’s pace continued to increase. But Sandu and Bichen were closing the gap.

Suddenly, Wei Wuxian pointed at the forest to his left. He swerved and rocketed down in that direction, plummeting through the air like a torpedo.

What was he thinking? At this speed, he was going to crash!

Bichen and Sandu shot down after him. The swords buzzed in anticipation of the forest canopy that they were about to smash through. Wind battered Lan Wangji’s face.

At the last moment, Wei Wuxian’s sword leveled off just above the tree line. He swooped to the right and dove into a break in the treetops next to a mountain cliff.

He was headed straight for the ground, where a giant boulder met the grimy dirt.

Now he really was about to crash!

“Wei Ying!” Lan Wangji cried.

Whoosh!

Wei Wuxian charged at the foot of the boulder. But he didn’t smash into the ground like Lan Wangji had dreaded. Instead, he vanished.

Lan Wangji, Wen Qing, and Jiang Cheng dismounted their swords over a patch of grass beneath the boulder. Jiang Cheng marched toward the rock. Thin black strands of hair coiled over the top of his head where his sleek locks had been pulled back, now a mess from taking a vertical drop at such a high speed. Wen Qing and Lan Wangji looked just as windstruck.

Wen Qing rested a hand on Lan Wangji and gasped for breath as she clutched her stomach. “This is why…I prefer medicine…over the way of the sword.”

Lan Wangji gingerly removed her hand from his shoulder.

The moss-covered boulder towered over them, reaching the height of a pagoda. They approached the crack that Wei Wuxian had vanished into. As they angled closer, the crack expanded into a dark tunnel that burrowed beneath the boulder.

It was the opening to an underground cave.

“The hell is he thinking!” Jiang Cheng stuck an arm out toward the tunnel. He looked like he wanted to strangle the entire boulder above it. “Don’t tell me he actually found the lion and followed it into this cave! He hadn’t even been in the air for five minutes!”

Lan Wangji and Wen Qing exchanged hesitant glances.

If this was true, and Wei Wuxian had entered the cave after the guardian lion, then he would need all the help he could get.

“Well? Who’s going in first?” Jiang Cheng said.

After a few moments, Lan Wangji stepped inside.

The mouth of the tunnel was coated with mud, descending to murky black depths that glared up at him hungrily.

He slipped.

Slammed on his back.

Clenched his eyes shut and slid down the tunnel, accelerating faster and faster as the slope tilted steeper and steeper, until the darkness swallowed him whole.

* * *

Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed this chapter, you can be a supportive sibling like Jiang Yanli by liking, reblogging, and visiting me on AO3! New chapters posted every Monday on AO3 and Tuesday on Tumblr.

Ch. 12 > | chapter list

#mdzs fanfiction #the untamed fanfiction #wangxian fanfiction #mdzsnet #mdzs fanfic #the untamed fanfic #wangxian fanfic #cql fanfic #mdzs #the untamed #cql #lan zhan #lan wangji #wei wuxian #wei ying #wen qing #cantatio #emilu fics #emilu creations

12 notes · View notes

selfwriting-sugarquills · 4 years

Note

I have this dead cute idea in my head, not sure how to start it but -George likes you, but you don’t know -you end up going to the Yule ball with someone else cause he’s too shy to ask you -your date ends up kissing someone else at the ball -you’re upset about it, but George ends up telling you how he feels,which you have felt the same way the whole time. -maybe once you complimented him on his “G” jumper, and after the ball he gives it you cause you’re freezing in your dress? I’m not sure 🥺

A/N: I will honest to god never get tired of yule ball centred fics with the twins so I loved this request!!

Warnings: None.

Word count: 1.490

“Are you going to ask her?” Lee asked as he opened a bag of Bertie Botts’ every flavoured beans, outside the boy’s dormitory the sky was darkening despite it only being half-past three in the afternoon, snow was falling softly onto the windowsills, Fred was lying with his head on the bed, his long legs stretched up against the wall behind his four-poster, his feet hidden beneath the Gryffindor banner suspended in a lopsided manner. George was much less relaxed than his dormmates, he was sitting up straight in his bed, his arms tightly crossed across his chest, his cheeks burning. He’d just told them about his longtime crush on Y/n. He’d been head over heels in her since their second year when she’d complimented his jumper and since then he’d tried to get closer to her, which had worked. They were friends, yes, close enough for him to spend time with her outside of class, however, he’d never spoken to her about his feelings, neither had he spoken to Fred or Lee about it, till now. With the yule ball coming, the discussion had fallen on which girls to ask and George had confessed his crush,

“I don’t think so,” Said George, “no, no I can’t - what if she says no?” his fingers tightened on his biceps,

“Mate, she won’t,” Fred said, “if she does she’s mental,” he added, catching the box of sweets Lee threw at him with ease,

“Yeah, who else is going to take her?” Asked Lee, through chews, “one of those Durmstrang douches or the Beauxbatons boys? I hardly think they’re her type,” He giggled a little at his own words before grimacing as he stuck another bean into his mouth, “Eurgh, Vinegar,”

Through laughs from Fred and Lee, George sat back with a sigh,

“Dunno, she could have anyone she wants, she’s gorgeous,” he muttered, his eyes shut in mild agony at the thought of her going with someone else, Fred and Lee shared a look,

“Christ,” Said Lee, “You’ve really got it bad, huh?”

“Really,” Answered George plainly, not opening his eyes.

***

“So, have you found a date?” you asked, cutting up your ingredients for potions, George looked up from the textbook,

“Erh, no - don’t think I’ll go if I’m honest,” he said quickly before returning to finding to the right page in his book,

“What?”

“Hm?”

“George, you’re joking,”

“Hm - nope, not joking.”

“Geoorge, you’re going, why on earth aren’t you going?”

“I just don’t see what all the fuss is about, finding dates and all, it just seems like it’s going to be disappointing either way,”

You scooted your chair closer to his, his brown eyes caught yours,

“Is it the date thing?” you asked very quietly as if the topic of finding dates was the most delicate subject in the world, when he didn’t answer but just tilted his head with a sheepish smile, you rested your head on your hand, your elbow placed on the table beside you,

“It is, isn’t it?” you said in the same tone, “y’ know I could probably help find you a date if you want?” you asked, he shook his head,

“No thanks, y/n, I’ll be fine hanging out in the common room by myself,” he said, painfully aware of how sad that truly sounded, “might actually get some work done with you gone,” he teased, feeling relieved when you scrunched up your nose at him in a grimace before returning to the ingredients, seemingly letting go of the subject.

“Have you got anyone?” he then heard himself say, he couldn’t help himself, if you didn’t, he might have a chance, “for the ball, I mean?” he put all his concentration into pretending to be interested in the contents of the book, hoping it would hide the way his face was reddening,

“Erh, yeah, one of the Durmstrang boys asked, I think his name is Dragan?” you said, catching the beetle you were supposed to add as it tried to escape,

“Sounds like a tough guy,” George said, his face now considerably pale, his mouth felt dry, of course you already had a date,

“He isn’t really,” you chuckled, “he stuttered so much when he asked me I could barely understand a word of what he said,” you grinned at George who tried to return the smile but found that he for some reason couldn’t, he felt vaguely nauseated.

***

George sat and watched as you danced with your date, he smiled at the way you laughed as you were spun around. He had been dragged along, despite insisting that he wasn’t going, and now that he’d been here for the majority of the evening, which he had spent glancing at you and wishing he could take the place of your date, he decided it was time to leave. What he didn’t see was you noticing him leaving, your eyes not breaking away from him as he turned the corner.

It was getting late, and George felt too cooped up in the common room, he’d changed out of his robes, leaving his button-up shirt on but slipping on one of his many jumpers, and had sat in front of the fire, trying to work on some ideas he’d discussed with Fred, then he’d tried reading but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stop thinking about you. He couldn’t stop wondering if your date had kissed you and if he had, had you enjoyed it? Would you reemerge in the common room and tell him about how much you liked him and retell the story of how Dragan had confessed his love for you? was tonight the night he’d have to accept that he was never going to be more than “just George” to you? Shaking his head, George stood up and headed out of the common room, feeling an immense need for fresh air, when he reached the entrance hall to the castle he heard the music blaring from the great hall and grimaced as thoughts about you flooded his mind again. He headed to the courtyard.

The snowy landscape was indeed very refreshing and also very very cold. George realised now, as he trudged through the snow, his shoes leaving soft crunches as they sunk into the white powder, that maybe he should have brought a coat before storming out of the common room.

“George?” It took a moment for George to register your voice, before he spun around to see you standing there, looking positively freezing in your dress, “What are you doing out here?” your eyes fell to the ‘G’ on his sweater, “in your jumper?”

“I left early, figured I’d leave you alone with your date and get some air,” he didn’t mean to sound so cold and he wished instantly that he hadn’t because your face fell from curiosity to concern for a moment, and he almost feared he’d hurt you but when he opened his mouth to make amends you let out a breathy laugh,

“Oh yeah, no he ended up snogging one of the beauxbatons’ girls,” you said, tears brimming your eyes despite your smile, “and I guess I can’t be mad, with all the talk of ‘international relations’ I can’t blame them,” you laughed a little again, shivering as you did. George didn’t hesitate to take off his jumper and hand it to you, tensing at the cold air seeping through his thin button-up shirt, when you hesitated to take it, he said “Please, you’ll catch a cold.” you put it on whilst mumbling that ‘so would he’, and you looked visibly more relaxed now that the jumper, which was still filled with his warmth enrobed you. It even smelled like George; a slightly sweet and spiced smell, somewhat like a fireplace with a hint of gunpowder.

“You look adorable,” George said, you crossed your arms,

“No I don’t, my make-up is probably all messed up by now and let’s be honest, this hairdo looks like a birds’ nest,” you wiped a singular tear, which had escaped your eyes despite your effort not to feel upset over your date, somehow, though it still felt like being stood up, even if you didn’t know him at all,

“No you absolutely do, you always do y/n that’s why I love you so mu-” He clasped a hand to his mouth as soon as the words had escaped his lips, you were staring at him, and he stood there horrified, feeling like he needed to turn and run. For some reason, he didn’t.

“You do?” you asked, tears filling your eyes again, this time for a different reason. George noticed how your eyes were glistening in the low lights from the hall, then he stepped forward and wrapped his arms around you, your arms finding their way around him as well. Standing there in silence, snow fell onto George’s fiery red hair and shoulders but he didn’t feel it, all he could feel was the warmth of you against him, your face pressed against his chest. He pressed a kiss onto your hair and whispered to you,

“‘Course I love you.”

#George Weasley #george weasley x reader #George weasley fluff #the twins #weasley twins #weasley twins x reader #weasley twins fluff

196 notes · View notes

m0chisenpai · 4 years

Text

Honey I’m Home

Series: Beetlejuice the Musical

Pairing: Beeltejuice x demon!Reader

Warning: domestc fluff may give too many uwus

Back in the Netherworld the Shoggoth household stood proudly on a tall hill. Think of it as the Maitland’s home but more spacious and a bit more dark and victorian gothic on both the outside and inside as a breather friend helped decorate.

The newly wedded couple were back after spending a month away in Scaris for their honeymoon together.

After returning Y/N was granted a higher position as her ex boss met a unique demise involving a sandworm by a mysterious cowboy.

In the kitchen Beeltejuice stood over a large bubbling pot with god knows what in it with an apron that read “kiss the corpse” written across it. He held the spoon o his mouth smacking his lips together.

“It’s missin’ somethin’“ a beetle ran across the counter which he caught “aha!” He dropped the bug into the pot taking another taste and humming in approval.

Y/N slowly walked in hiding a bottle behind her back as she tip toes into the kitchen where her husband was humming to himself shaking his hips much to her amusement.

“Honey! I’‘m home!”

“Babes!’ He threw the spoon behind him flying forward to scoop the demoness up pecking her all over her face.

“I haven’t been gone that long have I?” She giggled planting a sweet kiss on his lips.

“Yes you have been! You wanna know what I did? I almost watched the...the shopping network.” He stuck his tongue out like a child.

“Well look what I got as a little promotion gift” Y/N pulled the dark bottle from behind her back.

“Worms Wart! Ah I haven’t had this in a while.” Beetlejuice took the bottle uncorking it and breathing in the drink.

“Lets save it for dinner I’ll help you set up bugaboo.”

Y/N snapped her fingers and a nice set up appeared in the living room with a few candles lit and flowers in the middle of the table with some grizzly horror movie ready to be played on tv.

“Alright and now for the main course of tonight, cream of newt”

“Oh my favorite” Y/N cooed as Beetlejuice filled up the bowls while Y/N poured two glasses. Beetlejuice settled next to her picking up the glass swirling it around letting out a content sigh as he wrapped an arm around his wife pulling her closer to his side.

“If I knew married life would be this good I would have eloped with you centuries ago.”

“Is that so Mr.Shoggoth?”

“Indeed Mrs.Shoggoth” he smirked down at her kissing her lips while gently tapping their glasses together and taking a sip when they pulled apart. A scream from the tv caught the attention of the two.

“Ooo is this the part where her head spins?”

“Hell yeah look at her go!”

#Beetlejuice the musical #beetlejuice x reader #Beetlejuice #alex brightman #beetlegeuse

107 notes · View notes

someonefantastic · 4 years

Text

They Look So Pretty When They Bleed

I had fun interpreting this prompt :) This was gonna be my longest fic so far but tomorrows fic actually is longer so look forward to that. Anyways yay for making it to double digits! Also this is set ambiguously in s8 cause I love me some established shules. Summary: Shawn and Juliet are having a nice date night, what could go wrong? Warnings: stabbing, blood loss, passing out, some innuendos but nothing too outside of the show also on ao3 (this gets kinda long so it’d be better accessed on ao3 tbh) ___ “So Mr. Spencer,” Juliet started as they exited the restaurant and turned on to the boardwalk, “Where to now?”

Shawn grinned and grabbed her hand, a bounce in his step. “Well Detective O’Hara, I was thinking we’d go back home and pop in a movie. Maybe a little Netflix and chill action hmm?” He waggled his eyebrows.

She threw her head back, her laughter only causing his grin to widen. “You have a one-track mind sometimes.”

“Oh, I always have a one-track mind when it comes to you,” He smirked.

She rolled her eyes. “You know, that would be almost romantic if we weren’t just talking about sex.”

He gave a half shrug. “Tomato, cucumber.��

As her laughter subsided, he caught her looking at him out of the corner of his eye. “What?”

She gave him a soft smile, “Nothing. I just like looking.”

Even after almost three years of dating, his cheeks still flushed at the compliment. “Thanks. I like your face too.”

“Thanks, Shawn.”

“Anytime babe.”

It was a beautiful night. A warm, salty breeze came off of the ocean, turning the sticky humidity of the day into a gentle glow. Music faded in and out, as they passed restaurants and clubs, a chaotic symphony of noise. Waves crashed in the distance and the wooden slats creaked beneath their feet.

Shawn tugged on her hand, leading her towards the parking lot. Underneath a streetlight sat her green VW beetle, the interior illuminated. A tall man, clad in jeans and a hoodie stood by the front door, patting his pockets with fervor.

They exchanged looks.

“Is he trying to steal my car?” Juliet whispered, eyes darting from him to the guy.

He shook his head, “I doubt it. He doesn’t seem like the type. Look at him, he seems like he’s looking for his keys. Probably got your car mistaken for his own.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “You think he drives a green beetle?”

“Gus drives a blue echo.”

Pursing her lips, she bopped her head from side to side. “You’ve got a point.”

He turned his attention to the man who was still frantically searching his pockets. “Hey man, lost your keys?”

The guy jumped, whirling around, his eyes wide. Actually, he was more like a boy, had to be in his early twenties at least.

“Uh, yeah. I can’t seem to figure out where I put them.” His voice wobbled as he spoke.

He shifted his feet and Shawn noticed something glint in the corner of his sweatshirt pocket. Subtly, he took a small step forward, making sure he was closer to the guy than Juliet.

“Dang man, I hate when that happens. I lose everything. Last week I lost half a ham sandwich in my best friend’s desk. Boy was he not happy about that.” He chuckled.

The guy didn’t laugh, his eyes darting around the parking lot.

“Well anyway, I think I know one problem here.” The man’s eyes snapped to his face. “This isn’t your car.”

Shawn saw the muscles in his arms tense before he moved. His hand shifted inside his pocket, eyes wild and scared.

There was no time, he had to protect Jules.

The second he stepped in front of her, it seemed like the whole world slowed down. He saw the guy pull out a knife, the streetlights glinting off of the patches of metal that weren’t rusted. He watched as the knife was jabbed into his stomach, cutting through his grey button-up shirt and piercing his skin.

His vision blurred, a dull ringing beginning to creep into his ears. He was frozen, unable to move or speak in a mix of shock and something he couldn’t quite place. All he could do was watch as the guy moved towards Juliet. And as much as he wanted to tackle the guy or do something to protect her, he knew she could take care of herself.

His point was made as the assailant was met with a swift punch to the nose. That was his Jules.

Clutching his bruised, if not broken, appendage in his hand, she took advantage of the situation. Pulling up her dress’ skirt- if he was in his right mind he may have commented on that being incredibly sexy- and unholstering her gun.

“SBPD. Drop the knife.” Her voice was even and her eyes icy.

Blood was now running down the guy’s hand and his eyes were unfocused but he complied. The knife clattered to the ground. Not wasting any time she shoved him up against the side of the car, detaching handcuffs from her other thigh and clasping them around his wrists. At this point in their relationship, Shawn wasn’t even surprised that she had brought handcuffs on their date night, though he was a little disappointed that they weren’t going to be used on him.

Eventually- he couldn’t be sure when Juliet in cop mode was very distracting (also the knife wound but mostly Juliet)- he had wound up on the ground, leaning heavily against the rear tire. The area under his hand was wet and he could feel his heartbeat through his stomach. That wasn’t normal.

He heard the car door slam and Juliet knelt next to him, her eyes wide, breathing heavily.

“I called for backup, they should be here in ten.” She gingerly picked up his hand, gasping as she inspected the wound. “Shawn you’re losing a lot of blood.”

“Oh is that why I feel so lightheaded?”

“Might’ve hit an artery. Gosh, I hope not.” She muttered more to herself. Gripping the bottom of her light blue sundress, she tore the fabric.

His words were starting to slur together, but he couldn’t resist making a joke. “Wow Jules as much as I enjoy you undressing, I don’t think now is the time.”

Shaking her head, she wrapped one arm around his back and gently eased him away from her car and to the ground. “You’re losing too much blood, I gotta try to stop it somehow.”

As much as he’d usually love her touch, this time he wasn’t a fan. He bit back a scream, the pressure on the cut sending fire throughout his stomach. Her face twisted into a mix of sympathy and concern and she grabbed one of his hands.

Raising their joined hands, she pressed her lips against the back of his. “I’m sorry sweetheart.”

“So much for Netflix and chill.” He chuckled weakly.

He watched her apply pressure to the wound for some time. Even given their undesired circumstances, she was still beautiful. Her hair was down, it’s length and style reminding him of the time when she went undercover at a sorority house. He had been so enamored with her. Her quick wit, her sharp investigative skills, her empathy, the way she always kept him guessing, not to mention those great outfits. If someone had told him then, that he’d wind up in a committed relationship with her, even considering marriage, he would have simply laughed and told them to stop messing with him.

But even then he had been in love with her, though he didn’t realize it until much much later and admitted it later still. He loved her. Simple as that.

His vision blurred and his eyelids felt so heavy. It was getting harder to pay attention now. He was shaking, feeling so cold and yet sweating all the same. All he could feel was the pain. He didn’t want to close his eyes, to lose the vision before him, but he didn’t want to stay awake either. Maybe if he just slept for a bit, he’d have lovely dreams of Jules.

She felt his hand go limp. Whipping her head around, she watched helplessly as his eyes slid closed.

“No, no, no... Shawn!” Letting go of his hand, she gently patted the side of his face. His skin was cold. “Shawn, I need you to stay awake.”

When he didn’t respond she swore loudly. Of course, he passed out. He was losing blood- a lot of it.

Picking up her hand, she cursed again at the sight of crimson soaking through her torn dress fabric. Without hesitation, she tore again at her dress, replacing the bloody scrap with a fresh one. Applying even more pressure, she watched his face, looking for any response. She was met with none.

His skin was pale, an odd contrast to the dark stubble around his cheeks. Breathing too shallow for her liking but she could only focus on one thing at a time. Right now stopping- or at least slowing- the bleeding was the priority.

She ran a hand through her hair and then down her face. He couldn’t die. She wouldn’t let him. They still had their whole lives in front of them. Sure it had only been a few months since they got back together but marriage talks were already becoming more and more frequent. Late one night, he told her that their breakup had shown him that he didn’t want to live life without her. She had nearly proposed to him on the spot. But they were still getting back in their groove and engagement was a big step. She wanted him- both of them- to be absolutely sure about their decision before taking that step. Now she just hoped they’d make it that far.

“Shawn Spencer, if we get out of this, I’m gonna kiss you for all you’re worth. Or kill you. I haven’t decided yet.”

Hunched over him, her hair fell around her like a curtain. Brushing it behind her ear she slightly scolded herself for not wearing it up today. Curse Shawn and his love for her hair being down.

She tore again at her dress, scowling at the now mid-thigh length. If he kept bleeding like that, he’d get his wish about seeing her undressed.

As if sensing an opportunity to make a joke, he stirred. His eyes flickered open. Unfocused but still open.

“Shawn,” She gasped, feeling tears start to pool in her eyes. In the distance, sirens blared. There was hope for them yet.

The corner of his mouth turned upwards. Hand reaching out, he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re so beautiful.”

Later at the hospital, she would look in the mirror and laugh, much to the disturbed looks of the people around her. Leave it to Shawn to compliment her while her dress is half torn and her face is streaked with blood. Boy did she love him.

She'd tell him such as soon as he woke up.

#whumptober2020 #no. 10 #they look so pretty when they bleed #blood loss #juliet o'hara #shawn spencer #shules #blood tw #knife tw #violence tw #angst #shawn whump #skipps writes #psych fanfic

9 notes · View notes

inkribbon796 · 4 years

Text

Days of Childhood

~::~ 10 Years Ago ~::~

Summary: 5+1, Visitation Day. Yancy palling around with his family. All taking place within the same week.

A/N: Bim and Yan are currently 21, making Yancy and Kay 22, and Illinois and Arthur 23. Meaning that here they are 11, 12, and 13 respectively.

5. Arthur- Bugs Alive:

“Come on, hurry up,” Arthur called out, his notebook clutched to his chest as he ran off, Yancy was struggling to keep up with all the rocks and tree roots.

The two boys were running around the spooky woods surrounding the Manor. No wild animals, except for insects and rats, could be found. Normally people who entered the woods became lost and died. Dark took great pains to hide the skeletons that could be found within the unhallowed woods.

Yancy only caught up when the young Author had stopped at a fallen tree that was covered in mushrooms and other fungi, moss covering the rotting wood in sickly patches. He looked giddy and excited, holding a large jar along with his notebook.

In later retellings, Yancy would admit to this being a huge red flag.

“There you are slowpoke,” Arthur shoved the jar into Yancy’s hands. “I need some bugs so I can study them for my stories.”

Unsuspecting, Yancy smiled, “Can I look at them too?”

The young author shrugged, “Sure, whatever.”

“Did you hear?” Arthur started, smiling mischievously, cracking his notebook open. “Dark gave me a nickname, like the kind his network have.”

“I thought we weren’t allowed to join,” Yancy reminded in confusion.

“Well I’ve got one, that means I’m better than Illy,” with a couple quick words, the entire tree trunk violently flipped over, exposing dozens of types of teaming insects out in the open. “No one else here has one but me.”

Yancy frowned at the snide look on his older adopted brother’s face, “Bim goes by Junior.”

“He doesn’t count,” Arthur snapped angrily, and ripped the jar away and started scooping up insects, uncaring if they crawled over his hands to get away from him. “Wil gave him that.

“So what’s your nickname then?” Yancy asked.

“Dark calls me “his little Author” neat huh?” Arthur smiled proudly as he screwed the cap on and smiled at the jar.

“Yeah,” Yancy leaned in to look at the bugs. “So where are you going to hide them? Dark’ll get mad if you bring them into the house.”

Arthur wrote another couple of words and his bat appeared at his feet, a smile on his face, “What do yah mean, Yanc?”

Yancy scurried back with his hands as Arthur brought the bat onto the jar, crushing many insects as others frantically tried to escape. The young author crushed one trying to flee, bringing up his notebook and making sure they all froze in place. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Sick to his stomach, Yancy tried to scoop up some of the insects, the little crawlers freed from Arthur’s powers when they touched his hand, and he flung them into the safety of the bushes.

“Hey, they’re mine!” Arthur shouted. “Don’t throw them away.”

“Run little bugs,” Yancy scooped up some beetles and a worm and threw them into the bushes.

With a couple flourishes of his wrist, an equal number of bugs that Yancy had saved, exploded. “I can kill them faster than you can take them.”

Yancy stuck out his tongue, scooping up another beetle, “You can’t stop me!

Their game continued, Yancy running back to the Manor with a bloody nose and Arthur more than a bit scratched up.

4. Illinois- Heroes and Villains:

Inside the Manor there were two young boys running around the house, one as, and the other who was in a kid’s brown fedora that tended to fall over his eyes was 13.

“Stop running,” Illinois yelled at Yancy. “You’re the hero, you’re supposed to chase me.”

“Youse always play the villain, I’s want a turn,” Yancy yelled back at him and tripped over the rug, crashing hard on the ground.

“Oww,” Yancy grumbled as Illinois jumped onto him and started tying up his feet.

“Gotcha!” Illinois cheered, “now it’s . . .”

The older boy paused for a bit, “You okay.”

“Yeah it just hurts,” he complained.

“Oh,” Illinois stopped and finished tying him up, grabbing a blanket that had been left on the couch. “You can be the villain for a little bit long if you want.”

“Youse gonna ta drag me ta jail?” Yancy asked, smiling and giggling when Illinois rolled him onto the blanket.

Illinois grabbed the blanket and began dragging it towards, “You’re going to jail for stealing a candy bar!”

“No!” Yancy yelled overdramatically.

Illinois picked up a corner of the blanket and began dragging him towards the nearest closet. They passed Dark who was outside his office and looking at them, unimpressed.

“You two aren’t playing that game again are you?” He asked.

Illinois adjusted his hat so it wasn’t over his eyes, “Yes?”

Dark groaned, “Play that outside, you’re going to break something.”

“OK, Dad,” both Yancy and Illinois agreed and Illinois began dragging Yancy and the blanket towards the door.

Because both of them were turned away they missed the scared look on Dark’s face at the title they’d give him. Fear that quickly gave way to a colder mask. “It’s Dark.”

Both the boys frowned,, correcting themselves before Illinois finished dragging Yancy onto the back patio and then carried him down the stairs to the lawn where he grabbed a couple croquet pins and made a little small fence around him. Both boys unaware that Dark was watching them from the balcony

“There,” Illinois said proudly, hands resting on his hips. “I won.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Yancy complained. “Whatever. Untie me already.”

Illinois tapped his chin, “Nah, untie yourself.”

“Noisy!” Yancy yelled. “Get back here!”

Then Yancy noticed a danger sticking out of the ground. Quickly Yancy rolled over and grabbed the knife and began cutting himself free.

“Hey!” Illinois began racing for the patio stairwell door as Yancy finished cutting himself free. Since the knots were tied by a thirteen-year-old and Illinois hadn’t actually meant to keep him trapped indefinitely, it didn’t take long.

However, now Yancy was chasing Illinois around with a knife in his hand as the boys ran up the stairs. Dark quickly snatched the knife out of his hand the first chance he got.

“Dark, he cheated!” Illinois called out.

The Entity was just sipping from his coffee cup as the two boys raced around him. “You’re the villain now, get away from him.”

Yancy and Illinois kept running around the backyard until they got exhausted and Dark brought them inside for a nap and a snack.

3. Kay- The King of the Squirrels:

Kay was arranging some of the stuffed animals he owned into a pile. The young boy had a red blanket tied around his neck. Dark and King were in a bit of an arms race. King always asked for a pet, every birthday, Christmas, and Thursday. Dark, sick and tired of always saying a two-letter word over and over again bet he could find any stuffed animal and if he was ever unable to, Kay could have that animal as a pet.

It was bet Dark had yet to lose, which led to an arms race of Kay finding different names for animals, and a very extensive stuffed animal collection.

Yancy jumped out of the pile, and raised a stuffed platypus above his head, “Found it!”

“Uh, they don’t hunt squirrels,” Kay reminded him.

“What do they eat then?” Yancy asked, trying to get out of the pile without knocking the whole thing over.

“Bugs, worms,” Kay shrugged and grabbed a leopard plushie. “Here, cats can eat squirrels.”

“But I’s like the platty-pus,” Yancy complained.

“Bring them both,” Kay shrugged, and Yancy took the leopard and held both of them in his arms in a warm hug.

Out of all of his siblings, Yancy liked spending time with Illy, but he always thought Kay was the nicest. The boys ran outside, to where Kay had hidden some of his favorite stuffed animals, his squirrels, up into a tree towards the edge of the tree line into the creepy forest. Wil had magicked them all up a treehouse. Dark had been less than impressed, only agreeing to keep the kids’ new “wooden death trap” when Wil demonstrated its sturdiness by getting up and jumping up and down on the thing and not fall through the wood.

King usually spent all his time up in the treehouse. And Yancy waited at the bottom until he could throw the toys up and climb up.

The afternoon was spent peacefully playing with the stuffed animals.

2. Bim- Starlight, Starbright:

Yancy and Bim were out on the front lawn, sneaking out late at night to catch fireflies. Normally Dark let them stay up late all summer collecting bugs and sleeping in the backyard. But for the last few days he’d been keeping them all inside, constantly watching them any time they went near the backyard. He promised them that whatever was lurking around the area would be gone soon and they could go back to enjoying the stars and bugs.

And if Yancy heard Dark screaming and fighting something in what he was pretty sure was a dead, haunted forest, the young boy was too nervous to talk about it with anyone else.

Bim jumped, his glasses almost falling off his face. He caught another firefly in his hands, cupping his hands around it, “Yes!”

Yancy was catching another firefly and carefully putting it in a jar where there were already a dozen fireflies buzzing around inside. After the fiasco with Arthur, he kept a tight grip on the insect jar, even though Bim had never ruthlessly tortured insects before.

The two boys kept putting little lightning bugs into their jar until Bim was finally satisfied. “Yeah, look at them,” Bim cheered. “Aren’t they cool, their little butts glow.”

“Yeah, ain’t they something,” Yancy agreed, before noticing that the fireflies were disappearing from their backyard, as if they were being chased. “I’s think Dark’s comin’ we should get inside.”

Bim frowned, “I didn’t even get my wish.”

“We’ll make it inside, come on,” Yancy began running inside, both boys missing the slowly gathering black mist that was in the treeline as the two boys raced inside and up into Bim’s bedroom. Only then did they giggle a little bit in the darkness, the only light was from the little bugs in their jar.

“Let me make the first one,” Bim reached for the jar.

“No, you’ll let them all go,” Yancy reminded, holding the jar away from him. “Come on, I’s never get the first one.”

He pouted, folding his arms like Wil tended to do, “Come on.”

Yancy moved over to Bim’s window and began to open it as Bim swiped the jar and grabbed one of the bugs, pinning it to his hand with his almost invisible aura. Yancy lunged for the jar to close it, but two glowing bugs escaped through the window. “Hey!”

“I want to be just like Daddy when I grown up,” Bim wished, blowing gently on the insect and allowing it to fly off.

Yancy was carefully getting another lightning bug on his own finger so he could make his own wish: “I’s wanna be a good person.”

Bim scoffed at that, but only ordered, “Give me another bug, I’ve got more wishes to make.”

Glaring at him, Yancy fought over the fireflies until they were all gone and Bim closed the window, all their troubles safely locked out of Manor.

1. Yan- Teddy Bear Picnic:

Yancy was sitting out in the back lawn with Yan, a little table between them and as many chairs as the little table could fit with a teddy on each chair. Each bear had on a bow tie and a frilly hat and a full tea party in front of them.

Yan was in a nice little red dress while Yancy was in a bow tie,

Two of the bears belonged to Yan and Yancy respectively, and the other three were politely and quietly “borrowed” from Kay’s collection.

Yan kicked her feet a little bit as she poured tea for the bear next to her.

“Why do you always give tea to her first?” Yancy complained.

“Because Ms. Talia is a lady,” Yan said.

“Youse been sittings’ there pouring her tea fer ferever,” Yancy reminded.

Then suddenly the whole table jolted, Yan and Yancy froze and leaned away from the table, Yan gasping in horror as her hard work was mostly tossed to the floor.

“Rawr! Rawr!” Artie began growling excitedly as he moved underneath the same tablecloth.

“Artie!” Yan got up and stomped her feet angrily. “You wrecked my tea party!”

“I’m not Artie,” Arthur said. “I’m a sea monster.”

“There’s no sea monsters at tea parties,” Yancy reminded sharply.

Arthur frowned, “Then you’re having a lousy tea party.”

“No,” Yan spat. “I don’t want sea monsters at my tea party!”

The young author frowned, before growing a bit and running off with the table cloth.

A chase ensued on the back lawn, the two kids chasing their older brother until they could rip the cloth away and slowly start rebuilding their little tea party. With Artie the sea monster in sea monster jail until the end of the tea party.

+1. Dark and Wil- Bruised Egos and Bloodied Knuckles:

It began simply enough. Arthur had brought a rat into the house, and Kay had been excited. A secret little pet to hide from Dark for a while.

Kay named him Pretzel.

The poor creature barely lasted an hour. It was in debate for the rest of Arthur’s existence on what had happened to the rodent. Whether he was jealous of the rat spending more time with Kay, or he simply got bored of it.

Either way when Kay snuck off to check on Pretzel, the rat was gone with only a couple specks of blood on the floor of its cage.

He angrily went to confront Arthur, who was watching a show with Wil and the other kids. Arthur feigned ignorance and Yancy jumped Arthur for killing another creature, trying to separate him from his notebook and hold him down.

The fight resulted in Arthur getting a black eye, Kay getting some scratches to the face, and Yancy getting one of the last of his baby teeth getting literally kicked out of his skull.

Wil was trying to separate the three boys with his aura, and looked relieved when Dark ran in and grabbed Arthur, the two porting over to the young boy’s room.

With Arthur gone Kay finally stopped fighting and just started crying, Yancy crying a bit at how upset he was.

Yancy was given a lollipop as Kay spoke through his tears. “He killed my rat, he killed Pretzel.”

“There, there,” Wilford waved another lollipop into his hand and did a little magic trick. “You’ll see Pretzel again. He didn’t die.”

“Wil!” Dark walked in, looking unhappy. “Don’t make it worse.”

“Kaylor if you wanted another rat toy I could have given it to you,” Dark reprimanded, summoning up a little rat plushie in his hands and holding it out to the boy. “You shouldn’t be fighting with Arthur over a rat.”

Kay glared at the toy and pushed it away, “I don’t want a toy, I want Pretzel.”

Dark took a deep, audible breath, and handed Yancy the toy instead. “We can’t have a pet, and this is why. Be lucky you got as long as you did with the thing.”

“Pretzel,” Yancy corrected.

Rolling his eyes, Dark corrected, “Pretzel, fine. Be lucky you got any time with Pretzel. No one in the house can control themselves, and any other pet will not last. Hopefully Pretzel escaped on his own.”

Dark picked Yancy up with his aura, setting the boys side-by-side as he talked to them. “Just imagine that Pretzel escaped and is living with the other rats. If that makes you feel better.”

Kay nodded and Dark smiled as he dried Kay’s eyes, “I’m sorry we can’t have the pet you want, and maybe one day you’ll get to actually own a pet.”

Giving a small smile, Dark smiled back and smooth out Kay’s slight curly hair.

Then he turned to Yancy, “As for you.”

“What?” Yancy argued back.

“What were you thinking?” Dark demanded.

“Artie killed Pretzel an’ might use his book ta hurt Kay,” Yancy accused.

“How do you know he killed it?” Dark quizzed.

“Because he smashed a jar a bugs an’ he hit me,” Yancy answered as Dark just stoically stared at him.

When Yancy finished, Dark summoned up his favorite candy bar and held it up in front of the young boy.

“Listen to me, Yancy, you need to always protect your siblings, even if sometimes you have to protect them from each other.” Dark had the softest look in his eyes that Yancy had ever seen. When Yancy reached for the candy bar, Dark’s looked hardened and he pulled it away.

“This isn’t a free license to beat up on your brother, do you understand me?” Dark demanded.

“Yes,” Yancy replied earnestly.

Dark smiled and gave him the candy bar. Turning back to Will he said, “Well hopefully Arthur’s calmed down a bit. Can’t leave him in his room all day.”

Dark ripped open a portal in the Void and walked through it, leaving Wil to take the kids back to the living room where then TV was waiting for them.

18 notes · View notes

thewritewolf · 4 years

Text

In Due Time Chapter 6: Hold My Baton

Chat Noir helps Marinette with her lack of inspiration.

@marichatmay

Enjoy!

First Chapter | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Read on Ao3

Upside to getting up early on an autumn day? Well, there was almost no one in the park to bother Marinette right now. The chill and the early hours were both powerful motivators for most people to stay inside, tucked warmly in their bed. And that, of course, meant that there weren’t many distractions for Marinette, letting her enjoy a rare moment of serenity in Paris.

But then there was the downsides. She had never been a morning person, which was very ironic given that she was the daughter of bakers, a group of people renowned for their early rising. Pun intended. Not to mention she absolutely loathed the cold. Even bundled up in two jackets, a hat, and a scarf, every time there was a cold breeze it cut right through to the bone.

If all that meant that inspiration would start flowing and she’d be able to fill up her sketchbook with something that might actually find its way into reality, then she would consider it all worth the suffering. But the page before her remained stubbornly blank. Well, mostly blank - there was the ghostly remains of a few abortive attempts at previous drawings, none of which had any feeling behind them besides frustration.

Maybe it was because she had seen this park so many times over the years. Rain, snow, sunny days. Packed and barren. Maybe she had wrung all the inspiration she could out of the place? Something had to change, give her a new perspective on the same old thing. A twist on the ordinary.

“You look lost, little witch.”

It was a testament to how out of it she was that she barely even jumped at Chat Noir’s voice coming out of nowhere. She glanced up to see him lazing on a streetlamp, his tail swishing idly as he watched her.

“I’m just frustrated is all,” she said, resting her chin in her hand. “I’ve been feeling pretty uninspired recently and I was hoping breaking out of my usual routine would help.”

“Oh? Not much of an early bird usually?”

“Absolutely not,” Marinette said with a scoff. “I do my best work in the evenings.”

“Right after the heart pounding adventures of walking through the city at night, I assume?”

“I don’t make a habit of doing that, you know.”

“That’s good to hear.” Chat Noir spun around the top of the lamp post before leaping off, twirling head over heels to land perfectly on his feet. She smirked and gave him some light applause, which he accepted with a bow. “Anyway - if you do your best work at night, I’m sorry to tell you this but you’ve waited too long. It is now the morning.”

Marinette rolled her eyes. “I realize that. But I haven’t been that inspired then either. I thought mixing it up might help but…” She gestured at her blank sketchbook.

“Hm… that is pretty rough.” Chat Noir rubbed his chin in thought before snapping his fingers. “Hey! I know just the place if you really want to get inspired.”

“Really?” Marinette said dubiously, but there was a note of hope in her voice. “Honestly, I’m ready to try just about anything at this point.”

“Great!” He took out his baton and extended it into staff length. With his other hand he reached out to her. “C’mon!”

She took his hand and he pulled her close. Reflexively she threw her arms around his neck and his hand shifted to her waist, pulling her even closer. She swallowed heavily as the chill of the early morning was forgotten in the face of the warmth coming off of Chat Noir.

He shrugged apologetically and she could almost swear she could see a blush peeking out from under his mask. “Sorry, it’s just better if I’ve got an extra good grip on you. Ready?”

At her nod, he extended the staff and they went hurtling into the sky. Her grip tightened and she screwed her eyes shut while the wind whipped past her. She thought eventually it would calm down a little but it just felt like they were going up and up and up. What buildings in Paris were this tall?

“Little witch?” Chat said once they’d stopped moving for a few moments. “We’re here, if you want to open your eyes now.”

After waiting a second longer, Marinette peeked open one eye but was so stunned by what she saw that both eyes became wide open as she took in the view. The city she loved so much was sprawled out before her in its entirety. It didn’t take her long to realize where they were, which was quickly confirmed when she looked down to see the mass of the Eiffel Tower below her.

Naturally, she’d been up the Tower before, but she was even higher than they let people go, with Chat Noir latched to the very highest antenna, wind whipping around them.

“What do you think?”

“It’s beautiful, Chat! And you really get to come up here whenever you want?”

“Mhm,” he replied. “Sitting here all by yourself loses its appeal eventually, though.”

While he said it in an upbeat way, Marinette could feel the pangs of loneliness that emanated from him. She tore her eyes from the view to look at Chat. The wind struck just right and she caught a glimpse of his new earrings again. It reminded her of something.

“But… you aren’t usually alone, right? Red Beetle-”

“He didn’t much care for patrols or doing anything outside of akuma battles,” he said. His eyes narrowed into slits and his tail flicked back and forth irritatedly.

“O-oh.” Marinette wasn’t sure how else to respond. There was clearly a lot of history she was missing out on. She had known Red Beetle wasn’t the best hero, but… “I didn’t realize you two… disliked each other so much.”

“We didn’t get along on a lot of things. In a way, I’m glad I won’t be seeing him again.”

“So he’s really gone then, huh?”

He glanced at her out of the corners of his eyes. “Yup.”

“You don’t have a lot of luck with partners, huh? First Red Beetle, now Mister Bug…”

His face screwed up in confusion. “Huh?”

“Well, you and Mister Bug have to be mad at each other or something, right? Why else would he wait until you’ve left to get the akuma?”

“Why indeed.” There was a glimmer of amusement in his eyes as he turned back toward the vista of Paris.

Realizing he wasn’t fond of the subject of partners, she followed suit and looked out into Paris. Just like she’d hoped, she could feel the creative juices flowing once again.

“Thank you, Chat Noir.”

“Oh it’s no problem. If it helps you break out of your rut, this was definitely a good use of my time.”

“Well, yes, that too,” Marinette said with a nod. “But I meant more this.” She gestured towards all of Paris. “Keeping my city safe all these years, even if you and your partner didn’t get along. I know it hasn’t been easy and sometimes some citizens aren’t as grateful as they should be, but I’m happy you’re protecting us.”

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

Later that day, long after he’d dropped Marinette off at her apartment’s balcony, Adrien laid down in bed and stared at the ceiling, remembering that moment.

Silhouetted against the early morning light stretching out across the city, her cheeks reddened by the cold and eyes bright with wonder, he could believe it.

It really was her city. And that made him want to protect it all the more.

#miraculous ladybug #Marinette Dupain-Cheng #Chat Noir #Marichat #ml fanfiction #my writing #Aged Up AU #MarichatMay2020 #In Due Time

32 notes · View notes

dreams-of-the-arcana · 4 years

Text

Okay! There’s no art for this unfortunately (I feel like I should commission a header with all the characters in their modern AU roles 😂)so here’s a pretty flower instead! Here’s a short chapter one! This one is Nadia centric as we introduce some of the backstory.

Pairings: Nadia Satrinava X Emrys, Andi X Asra Alnazar, Cleo Rosehyn X Muriel of the Kokhuri, Kit X Portia Devorak

Warnings: Mentions of illegal activity

Chapter 1: The Note

Sprawling red words seemed to rip across the white paper which sat atop the Prime Minister’s desk. Whoever had written the note seemed to be angry at its very existence and took it out on the fragile medium.

Prime Minister Nadia Satrivana had been staring at the note for almost an hour now, unmoving and deep in thought.

The sky had long since gone dark outside her 12th story window. When Nadia had first moved into the office it felt so full of hope and promise. Newly married and full of determination, Nadia thought she was ready to face any challenge the world could throw at her. It had been a tough campaign. Some Vesuvians were hesitant about the idea of an immigrant being elected but Nadia’s PR manager played it to their advantage. “All People Together” was the rallying cry for many voters who wanted to embrace Vesuvia’s melting pot culture.

Andraste Ó Conail, or Andi, had been a rare treasure in those trying times. The young woman faced any challenge with the same determination as she had during her time as a journalist. The sassy blonde kept everyone informed and threw off the toughest interviewees with her short statue and big bright blue eyes. A position in the new office was quickly made available for Andi after the election. Nadia was thrilled to have her on the team.

Not all members of the team were as helpful. Lucio Morgasson, just the name was enough to turn Nadia’s stomach now. In her naivety, Nadia had fallen (very briefly) for the handsome war hero. Though he didn’t have any connections in society, his name did inspire the citizens who spoke of brave and daring missions. Lucio was a well known Army Veteran and Nadia Satrivana was the least known of her family’s good name. The Satrinava family held power and prestige back in Prakra but Nadia had lived her whole life in her siblings shadows. Being the youngest of seven, it felt like anything important was already being done by someone else. With Lucio, Nadia took her ambitions to reality. It boosted her ratings once she announced their engagement taking her from a farfetched idea to the ideal underdog.

Well when alcohol is flowing and a handsome face is involved, it was always doomed to go downhill. Nadia held onto the fantasy for the first six months but then the rumors finally reached her. Lucio wasn’t mysterious and exciting, he was just gone so much that he seemed aloof. Trashy tabloids wrote about Lucio’s new nightclubs taking in people from the street for illegal fighting. It was even suggested that children were groomed for fighting, gambling, and entertaining. What really broke through though was the photo of Lucio kissing his mistress.

It took a lot of influence to keep that out of the press.

Allegations kept building then disappearing but Lucio couldn’t run forever. The Doctors said it was stress that caused Lucio’s immune system to weaken. When Lucio got sicker it looked to everyone he had caught the illness sweeping Vesuvia and would certainly die like the others. The “Red Beetle Sickness” they called it. Something was said about germs or cells, something resembled red beetles. Most Vesuvians thought it was a stupid name and called it the Red Mist. Everyone thought they were so original.

The past caught up to Lucio faster. One of his gaudy nightclubs caught fire with him inside and burned him beyond recognition. Oh the tabloids had a field day.

“Prime Minister’s Husband Victim of Jealous Rage!”

“Who Killed The Count? Jealous Ex-Lover Gets Revenge”

“Doctor Turned Arsonist Still On The Run!”

Andi ran around as if she were on fire herself trying to settle all the rumors. Press releases were dispatched quickly.

“The cause of the fire has not yet been determined... Dr. Julian Devorak is considered a person of interest only... please do not approach...”

Just remembering could trigger Nadia’s migraines.

Truthfully though, she hadn’t been saddened by his absence. Nadia had certainly never wanted him dead but divorce was in her mind beforehand. Maybe that’s why she was being punished now? Should she have been sadder about her husband’s death? Was she guilty for feeling slightly relieved?

Bzzzzt

The sound of the intercom pulled Nadia from her somber reflections.

“Prime Minister Satrinava?”

Portia’s light airy voice came through.

“Yes, Ms. Kocourek?”

“There’s a gentleman here about... uh... well about the note, ma’am.”

Nadia held in the sigh that threatened to spill over. She was definitely too tired for this.

“Send him in, please.”

Nadia straightened in her chair and waited. Nothing could have prepared her for who walked through the door though.

#oooo who is it!#tune in next time!#it’s very short but I promise more soon #I hope this sounds enticing 😅#I’ve never really done a complex AU before #super excited to share it with you all though!#the arcana #the arcana game #arcana fanfic #arcana au #the arcana nadia #nadia satrinava

15 notes · View notes

extraterrestrialconnections · 3 years

Text

Exercises for Humans- Responses

I received only a few responses to Exercises for Humans, but I was very honoured to have received any at all. Both of my parents, and Stella sent responses- I will be documenting them below. I will be referring to each instruction with the numbers 1 through 4, with the first instruction (think kindly of the mites...) being number 1.

Mum

1. my mites ma mites :) love-em or hate-em// my team-mates steam-mates esteem-mates// are they partying when i feel itchy? arid skin- have they sucked me dry?

2. blew in and grew in. threw out long sheets over & thro the earth patting down new roots creating new plants...repeat...// eaten, shat out to share out.// their parent grew, flourished, blossomed and faded left seeds of themselves: self perpetuation only new and different, but not, maybe just like me

3. down down wriggle wriggle around through cold thick damp earth passing beetles bugs mites pupae and worms round rocks stones probing feeling seeking...// having problems imagining intertwining with roots of others// other roots unknown fearful trepidation how can i know... problem problem problem

4. buzzard flying high squirrel on the fence squirrel in the grass apple-gorging black birds and pheasants tiny bugs on the glass crows high in the fir trees can the trees see me and the bugs in the trees the tiny birds: wrens and tits and that jay// walls and doors bed chair wardrobe mirror clothes paintings bags luggage human hair + fingers + thumbs cats fur cats whiskers soft clothes flies spiders eyebrows eyelashes other hands old hands young hands tiny mites my breath the breath of others wasps + hornets sunlight wind rain hail snow

Dad

1. We are all symbiotic beings and live together for mutual benefit. Get on board, more room on top!

2. All life is miraculous and we all have the same process of life and death// We all leave bits of ourselves in those we touch

3. Roots around other roots and endless mycelium all working to keep our biome, which is Earth, healthy and sustainable. More than we can count, more bacteria in our gut than stars in our universe!

4. Looking out through 170 year old glass which many have cleaned and looked out at the wildlife of the woods. The changes of nature closing down, returning to the soil. Behind me the detritus of all who have gone before. The Mine Captain and his family caught in the dust between the floorboards.

Stella

1. I tried. I'm cool with them as long as I don't see them , I'm sure they're very nice and mean well but I'm not ready to explore our relationship deeper.

2. I went to our herbs garden. I know my grandma takes care of them. She's an incredible gardener and she probably grew them from plants she bought or little branches that she received from neighbours and friends. I arrived there by walking down the stairs of our house to the back of our garden. Not a very long journey but I got to the point were I don't leave the house much anyway. It is cool and very dark outside and the plants were almost frozen.

3. I imagine how my roots would grow and fill the sealing underneath my bedroom. I imagined how the furniture of that room would then also grow roots but the wooden furniture's roots are soft and fluffy like cotton and mine are tense, they feel like muscles and they are wide spread. I almost feel like a parasite.

4. I tried the activity three times because neighbours kept going outside and I don't have the courage to become the village creepy girl so I moved from my bedroom to the living room and was facing our garden and the road. It's 6:00pm and I can see my silhouette reflect in the window from the light behind me. I tried to think of what's in my living room but when I try to imagine the space I know that what I'm thinking of isn't actually our living room. I simplified it and blur out details. I'm happy cause I know that no one can see me.My cat probably touched this window. He loves going outside and chewing on the Christmas decorations. My mom has touched this window, she tries to hinder the cat from eating fake flowers.

//I’m overwhelmed by these considerate responses. Written responses was not something I asked for with these instructions- I simply asked people to spend some time enacting them and thinking about them. The different ways of thinking, and different relationships to the world shown here are fascinating to me- they really speak to the core of what this project is about: different people reflecting on what connection means to them.

1 note · View note

lemonietrinket · 4 years

Text

Cinnamon Snow ||| Seonghwa x Reader

Summary: You and your boyfriend hire out a cabin in the snowy woods for the winter holidays to spend some time relaxing away from the hustle of normal life. Genre: Fluff Warning(s): Just a chaotic reader I guess Word Count: 2576 Theme Song: Home - JBJ95 AN: The first fic of the prompts made by @songi-writes. This is a mix between 1 & 2, because I found the prompts too late in the day of the 1st Dec. so oops.

~~~

You awoke to a bright light, and a painful chill in the air. Groaning, your hands swept across the other half of the bed to find only the blankets, stone cold. Sitting up, you lazily opened your eyes as best you could, daylight gleaming between your eyelashes and causing you to whine.

“Seong… hwa? Seongie…?” you drawled, hands coming up to your rapidly cooling face. You palm met your near-icy nose and you hummed in dissatisfaction, grimacing as you prepared for the trek downstairs.

The bare pads of your feet met the wooden floorboards that may as well have been crafted out of solid snow, and you hissed at the iciness. Grumbling, you hauled the duvets over your hunched figure, before descending the stairs like a cryptid. With you head half-covered by a fringe of a quilt and your legs embroidered with the tassels of an ancient blanket, you stumbled waywardly towards the only sounds that could be heard, echoing densely from down the hallway.

When you passed the desktop (garnished with a lace cloth that really didn’t fit the rest of the cabin’s aesthetic) halfway down the corridor, your nose, frozen by the lack of heat, was filled with a sweet, heart-melting scent. The incense of Christmas.

Cinnamon.

Speeding up your gait, you waddled straight into the kitchen, barging the door open with a padded arm and giving your boyfriend the fright of his life.

“Oh! Good morning b—what in the name of...?”

“Morning!” you greeted briefly, breathing in the warmth and instantaneously forgetting your troubles. “What’re you...?”

“Baking,” Seonghwa replied, straightening his apron as he tilted himself so he could just about catch a glimpse of your face beneath the duvet, “cinnamon rolls—have you got all of the bed covers with you?”

You bowed your body in a ‘yes’.

He grimaced slightly, eyes reflecting a level of disdain that your more chaotic antics often warranted, but his lips were being toyed with by a smile, gently tugging his expression into disdainful and amused bafflement. “Well then, since you actively chose to bring them with you this time—”

“Yeah,” you interjected, “unlike last time where you threw me—!”

“I did not throw you—!”

“Bloody yote me, you did.”

“I?! No, it—! I would still argue that you didn’t even have to bring them then either but...” You scowled defiantly, not that he could really see with the hood of your duvet slouching right down and nearly to your nose, all while he continued, “...this time you can help me put them all back.”

You sighed, exaggerated and indignant, but he just chuckled.

“Fine,” you groaned, faking impudence, before leaning a bit closer to the bowl.

“Do you want to help?” Your boyfriend’s smile was wide, sunny and heart-warming—just like the rest of him—and so you lifted your duvet tentatively to see more of it. His smile only faltered when your head turned back to the soon-to-be-food and you got a bit too close to where he was mixing. “Yah, be careful!”

“Seong, I’m not going to get the mixture on the blankets, you’re too careful for that!” you giggled, nonetheless pulling the blankets closer to your body.

“Well, if you’re sure.” He handed you a spoon. “If you want to help though, you’re going to need to lose the blankets.”

“And freeze to death? No thanks.”

He shook his head with a laugh, placing the spoon back in its holder. “Well, you’d better go get dressed then. The heating will warm the house up soon enough. I’ve also got something to show you, but it’s outside so…”

A spark of curiosity began to glimmer in your chest. “Oh? What is it?”

“A surprise,” he answered, a small, satisfied smirk on his features, “that you won’t get to find out unless you get dressed.”

You were interested to say the least.

With a bit of jostling, you managed to slip the duvet further down from your head just enough so you could chastely press your lips to his jaw, before waddling away, back up the stairs. “Thank you! I love you so much!”

“You have until these go in the oven!” he called after you, cheeks starting to hurt from how widely he was beaming. He could still feel the pressure of your lips against his skin, and it set more shivers up his spine than the cold ever did.

It wasn’t long before the mix had been made, rolled and placed in the encompassed heat of the oven.

Seonghwa pressed the buttons on the timer, eyebrows furrowed, before hanging up his mitts on their hook on the back of the door.

As he opened it again, he was confronted by you, suited up in a thousand layers.

Once again, you witnessed his beautiful dark eyes widen and gorgeously curved lips part to emit a barely audible cry of surprise. It was satisfying to see the usually calm and collected man break face for a second. And it was just visually satisfying to see him anyway I mean, look at him.

He did wonder how you’d managed to sneak up so quietly, but looking at the thick fluffy festive socks you wore (over several other pairs), he didn’t find it much of a surprise.

“Aren’t you hot?” he enquired, humoured but slightly worried.

“Of course I am Seonghwa,” you tossed your head dramatically to the side, “you wouldn’t date me otherwise.”

He barely restrained himself from face-palming. “No, I mean—”

“So you don’t think I’m hot then?” you pursed your lips, trying to cover up your teasing smirk. “Ooooh, Hwa you’re in trouble...!”

His eyes widened even more as he guffawed. “That—! That’s not what I meant, you—!”

“I know, I know, relax,” you waved your gloved hand, “and no I’m not, because the heating still isn’t on.”

He frowned, puzzled, and stepped around your marshmallow-like pile of coats and into the corridor. Instantly, he was met with an iciness that the kitchen’s oven hadn’t managed to permeate.

“Oh.”

The landlord had promised that the cabin’s heating was fine and fully serviced when you decided to rent it out that winter holiday.

You caught onto Seonghwa’s distaste. “Yeah, I know, they lied. The little—”

“Do you mind—”

“No I do not.”

“—lighting a fire?”

“Oh, sure.”

You headed off, along the dingy corridor and into one of the rooms on the left.

Seonghwa suddenly became rather afraid that said-room wasn’t the living room with the hearth.

“Lighting a fire in the fireplace, I mean!” he shouted after you. He turned his back to turn off the kitchen light, and prayed that the movement he saw out of the corner of his eyes was just his imagination, and not you heading out of a room and into another.

He exhaled. Even if you had some chaotic tendencies, and caused him no end of trouble, he wouldn’t trade you for the world.

Eventually, a fire was lit, and Seonghwa had put on a few more layers.

After strapping up his coat—chic as per usual—he began to unlock the door, while you sat on the stairs, trying to do up your boots.

“Ready to go, little marshmallow?” he threw over his shoulder, not really looking at you, who currently was caught in a predicament.

And this was something in your favour, as it likely saved you no end of shame.

You, at that moment, were straining with your arms outstretched, desperately trying to reach your laces for long enough so you could tie them. You no doubt looked like an upturned beetle, trying to roll itself back onto its legs.

“Not really,” you huffed, falling back and catching a breath. You could just about reach it, but it was hard work, and it hurt a little bit.

You didn’t like the way Seonghwa’s eyes lit up at that moment.

It was that teasing glint, that mischievous glimmer.

“Aww, can my little marshmallow not quite reach her own little feet?” he cooed.

You told him to shut up, but it only made it worse.

“Awww, does she need some help from her lovely, handsome boyfriend to do her little laces?”

It was at that moment you vowed you would avenge your pride.

And you had the perfect plan.

Through his teasing, your boyfriend did still do up your boots for you, even if you turned your head as he requested a kiss as a thank you.

Instead you slipped past him and beckoned him through the front door.

“You won’t give me a thank you kiss?” he said, pouting.

“Show me this surprise and I may reconsider.”

“Meanie.”

“Love you too babe!” And you darted out of the doorway and into the cold.

With a sigh, and a laugh, he shook his head and followed after you, into the depths of the winter cold.

Seonghwa knew he probably should have been looking at the scenery around him, with its trees draped with cascades of white like wedding veils, the tiny robins flitting every now and again between the shallows and summits of the snowy drifts.

But he was instead staring at you, your own eyes entrained on the tiny snowflakes that melted in your gloved palm. Delicate and silent, their minuscule crystals faded into nothing, and you poked at the tiny dabs of water that they left behind, entranced.

This wasn’t what he wanted to show you, but if you were in awe at snowflakes, he knew you would find the next part absolutely astonishing.

“Seongie, are you staring at me again?” you asked, a mischievous tone to your voice.

“How could I not?” he responded.

You curled your lip at his answer, looking up and shaking your head. “Ew.”

“Ew?”

“Yeah, ew.”

“Me?

“Yeah, you.”

He put his hands on his hips, sending you a look that you had dubbed his Mum Stare. “Now listen here Y/N, you should remember that you are beautiful enough to distract your boyfriend from many things, and—”

“Including the path?”

“Yes, including the path, but luckily you haven’t quite distracted me from that just...” he took a glance at his surroundings for reassurance, only to find the fence he’d been following as guidance was nowhere to be found, “...yet.”

You stopped. “We’re lost aren’t we.”

He followed suite, but was laughing anxiously. “We’re not lost don’t worry! I know exactly where we are.”

“Where?”

“Well,” his eyes scoured the trees around him, desperate to pick up a sign, “we are... in a forest. Yes. I know that much.”

You arched your eyebrow. “Oh no.”

“Look, it’s fine, we’ll just retrace our steps and—”

Suddenly, you jerked up a hand and pointed over his shoulder. “Oh Seonghwa, look!”

He spun on his heel, and felt relief wash over him like the waters of a hot shower. Through a gap in the trees, not too far away, an abnormally large sheet of azure climbed up into the obscurity of the treetops. At its feet, a pool of deeper blue, and, leading down the hill to it, a path that cut a rune in the snow.

“Oh, there it is.”

“Is that the...?” Your laugh puffed a cloud of silver that dissipated as you suddenly took off into a jog. “Come on, let’s go!”

He took off after you, trying to encourage you to be careful and watch your step but it was no use, you were already bounding down the steep hill, disappearing into the frosted bracken.

As you came up to the opening of the trees, your eyes glistened.

You came to the bank of a solid lake, reflecting shields of light from the sun hidden behind the clouds. And, at its furthest point, descending from the broken plateau above, was a huge waterfall, frozen in time by winter’s hands.

“Oh, Seonghwa…!” you whispered, feeling him make the final steps to reach your side.

Gazing at the sheet of blue, even he was stunned. It was taller than he’d expected, and seemed to trap the smallest glimmers of light in its frozen surface, a jagged cloth of illuminated night sky.

You leant your body into his, resting your head against his shoulder, admiring the spectacle through clouded breath.

“It’s so beautiful...”

“I thought you might like it,” he grinned, bringing an arm around your back to pull you in closer.

“Like it?” you glanced up at him, “I love it! Thank you so much for bringing me here, I’m sorry it took me so long to get out of the house...”

“You know I don’t mind. And that I wouldn’t want you any less difficult.” He pressed a kiss to your exposed temple, before drawing the hem of your bobble hat to cover your bare skin.

You didn’t push off his fussing this time round however, and fulfilled your promise from earlier, standing on tiptoe as best you could in clunky boots and gave him a proper kiss.

“There,” you said, about to continue, but you found yourself at a loss for words. His blushed cheeks and nose, with his determined stare and delighted smile, all made him appear like a snow prince. His beauty had snatched your voice away.

“Y/N, you better not be staring at me again,” he mimicked, smirking at you.

“Oh shush! Just... go get a photo of the ice-fall, go on!” You ushered him away, closer to the lakeside.

He obeyed happily, drawing his phone from his inside pocket, and striding through the thicker snow with ease, off to get a better view.

Though he didn’t stride fast enough, and he’d taken the bait oh so nicely.

As soon as his back was turned, you scooped up a bundle of snow, as much as you could carry, and chased after him.

The only piece of warning he got was the sound of a flurry of footsteps passing through the snow.

Within seconds, you’d thrown the snow in his hood, and pulled it over his head.

He shrieked, halting in his steps with hands flying to his head to brush off as much of the cold as he could manage.

You attempted to make your escape, turning in the snow and trying to make your way back up the hill.

Only that Seonghwa was much faster than you, and somehow was able to catch you.

Snaking his hands around you waist he pulled you back, but the momentum of your run and his tug collided and knocked the two of you into the snow in a chorus of laughter.

“Nice try, little marshmallow!” he cried, scooping some snow onto your face.

“Hey!”

He chuckled, swooping in to kiss you once again, but you caught his face with your hands. He tried to wriggle free but you held him still.

“There is no escape!” you declared, smushing his cheeks.

“Even if I ask really nicely?” He mumbled through his pursed lips.

You brushed your nose against his tauntingly. “Try it!”

“Pretty please?” He bat his eyelashes, pulling the best puppy-dog eyes he could.

You didn’t even hesitate.

Both your lips may have been cold, bitten by the air, and you may have been shivering in the cradle of the snow, but his kiss set your skin on fire no less.

This winter would never be the most peaceful of them all, not when you ran rampant. However, that was the best part of every season, to him, and he wouldn’t change you for the world.

~~~

AN: I struggled to end it but here we are! The following oneshots will likely not be this long, because I don’t quite have as much time :(( but I look orward to writing them nonetheless. Thanks for reading!

Masterlist

(edited 22/01/2020)

80 notes · View notes