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hd-junglebook · 3 months

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Part 2

word count - 3,446

The five of you stood at the side of the cliff, your hearts pounding with anticipation as Finn gripped the rope tightly in his hand, ready to swing across the gap. Finn prepared to make his leap, Jasper piped up, his voice filled with determination. "Wait, guys. Let me do it. I've got this."

There was a moment of stunned silence as his words sunk in. Clarke glanced at him, concern etched across her features. "Jasper, are you sure? It's a long way across." But Jasper was already stepping forward, a defiant gleam in his eyes. "Clarke. Trust me, I can do this."

The rest of you exchanged uncertain glances, but Finn nodded in agreement. "Let him try. We don't have much time."

With a collective cheer, you urged Jasper on as he gripped the rope and launched himself into the air. For a moment, he sailed across the gap with grace, his movements fluid and confident. As Jasper neared the other side, a spear soared through the air straight into his chest, sending him careening off course.

With a sickening thud, he collided with the rock behind him, the impact knocking the wind out of him.

"Jasper!" Clarke cried out in horror, rushing forward to help him. The rest of you watched in shock, the reality of the situation sinking in. You were not alone in these woods.

Finn took charge, his voice urgent as he scanned the surrounding area. "We need to move. Now. Whatever hit Jasper could still be out there."

You stood in stunned silence by yourself, gears turning in your head at the lack of choices you seemed to have in this moment. Clarkes voice waking you back up from your daze. You crouch down out of sight of whatever was out there.

The woods seemed darker and more foreboding now, every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs sending shivers down your spine. You looked back at Jaspers figure once more pinned to the rock, catching sight of Monty out in the open.

"Well, this is just fantastic. I always wanted to be stuck in a survival situation with a bunch of amateurs." You whisper to yourself, scanning the woods around you before lunging towards Monty, dragging him by his ear back to the group.

"We are so screwed," Octavia insisted, her eyes darting from tree to tree as if searching for any sign of their missing friend.

Out of nowhere, Jasper's chilling scream pierced through the stillness of the forest, sending a shiver down your spine and causing your blood to run cold. Panic surged through you, your mind racing with fear and uncertainty.

"Clarke, Jasper. He's alive," you gasped out, your voice trembling with a mix of relief and dread.

But Clarke was already moving, her determination unwavering as she raced ahead, heedless of Finn's warning. "Clarke, wait. Wait! Wait," Finn called out desperately, but she didn't stop.

Monty's voice trembled with fear as he scanned the surrounding trees, removing himself from you side to stand at the cliffs edge once more. "No. Where is he?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes wide with horror.

"They took him," Clarke replied, her tone heavy with sorrow and rage. The realization hit you like a punch to the gut, feeling paralyzed as you crouched in the depths of the forest, knowing that Jasper was now in the hands of whatever lurked in the woods.

---

The four of you sprinted through the dense undergrowth, the branches seemed to claw at your skin, leaving scratches in their wake. You reached out, grabbing Octavia's arm with clammy hands, pulling her along with you as you dodged and weaved through the obstacles in your path.

Glancing over your shoulder, you noticed Monty and Clarke lagging behind, their breath coming in ragged gasps. "Come on, guys! We're almost there!" you shouted back, urging them to pick up the pace. The forest around you seemed to darken, the sunlight filtering through the canopy overhead seems to diminish with each passing step.

light struggled to penetrate the thick trees behind you, casting long shadows that stretch across the forest floor like fingers reaching out to pull you deeper into the gloom with every step you took towards the safety of the camp.

The distant flicker of the campfire beckoned through the thick brush, you could almost feel the warmth of the flames against your skin, driving you forward despite the burning ache in your legs. Each step was a struggle, your muscles screaming in protest from the relentless exertion of running from Mount Weather.

You pushed Octavia forward through the trees, finally reaching the group, you were met with a scene that sent a chill down your spine. Murphy and Wells were engaged in a vicious knife fight, their faces contorted with anger and desperation.

Clarke stepped in front of you, her voice sharp with urgency. "Wells! Let him go!" she yelled, pushing herself through the crowd to intervene.

“Alright enough you two!” Bellamy growled as he pushed Murphy away from Wells. Meeting Clarkes angry glare before Octavia caught his attention.

He moved with determined strides, parting the sea of bodies like a ship cutting through choppy waters., his expression darkening with concern and anger. "Octavia, are you all right?" he demanded, his piercing gaze locked onto you, unwavering and intense. "You let her get hurt out there? Where's the food you were so spent on getting?”

You bristled at his accusatory tone, your sarcasm dripping like venom. "Oh, sorry, Bellamy, I was too busy dodging spears and saving Octavia to remember to pack you a picnic basket," you shot back, your frustration boiling over. "But you seem to have everything under control, as usual."

Bellamy's jaw clenched, his gaze hardening even further as he took a step closer to you. "Don't play games with me, y/n," he growled, his voice low and dangerous.

Finn stumbled forward, gasping for breath. "We... we didn't make it to Mount Weather," he managed to get out between labored breaths.

Clarke stepped forward, her voice cutting through the tension like a knife. "We were attacked," she announced, her gaze sweeping over the assembled group of delinquents. "They were waiting for us, lying in ambush."Her words hung heavy in the air, a chilling reminder of the dangers that lurked in the woods beyond their camp. The group exchanged worried glances.

Clarke's gaze softened as she addressed her friends, her voice sincere. "Everything we thought we knew about the ground is wrong," she continued, her eyes meeting each of theirs in turn. "There are people here, survivors. The good news is, that means we can survive. Radiation won't kill us."

"Yeah, the bad news is the Grounders will," Finn admitted, his eyes reflecting the gravity of their situation.

Wells limped towards the group, grimacing in pain as his voice broke through the tension, his concern evident as he inquired about Jasper's whereabouts. "Where's the kid with the goggles?" he asked, his gaze darting around the group anxiously.

Clarke stepped forward, her expression grim as she delivered the devastating news. "Jasper was hit. They took him," she revealed anxiously. "Where is your wristband?" she demanded, turning her attention back to Wells, her eyes searching his face for answers.

Wells hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice heavy with regret. "Ask him," he replied, gesturing towards Murphy with a solemn expression.

Clarke's frustration was obvious as she processed the information. "How many?" she hissed, her voice barely above a whisper as she awaited Murphy's response.

Murphy's reply was chilling in its simplicity. "Twenty-four and counting," he admitted, his tone sinister as he confirmed the number.

Clarke's frustration boiled over, her words laced with anger. "You idiots," she spat, her voice filled with bitter disappointment. "Life support on the Ark is failing. That's why they brought us down here," she scolded, her words a reminder of the harsh reality they faced.

"Don't listen to her. She's one of the privileged. If they come down, she'll have it good," Bellamy shouted, rallying the crowd with his impassioned words. "We can take care of ourselves. That wristband on your arm? It makes you a prisoner," he declared, his tone defiant as he challenged Clarke's authority as he faced her.

"I say you're not criminals! You're fighters, survivors! The Grounders should worry about us!" His words resonated with the crowd, drawing them back to his side as they echoed their agreement.

You shook your head in disappointment at the shortsightedness of it all, the frustration evident in your expression as you watched the crowd rally behind Bellamy's reckless rhetoric.

Monty pulled you and Clarke towards him, his faced scrunched in discomfort. "What do we do now?" he asked, his eyes darting between Clarke and Bellamy as he sought your guidance.

Clarke's response was firm and resolute, her gaze unwavering as she addressed him. "Now we go after Jasper," she declared.

---

You and Clarke worked quickly to patch up Wells, the urgency of the situation lending speed to your movements as you devised a plan to rescue Jasper. Clarke and Finn's heated exchange filled the air behind you, their voices clashing in disagreement.

Finn remained steadfast in his belief that venturing back into the woods would only lead to disaster. "I'm not going anywhere, and neither should any of you. That spear was thrown with pinpoint accuracy from 300 feet," he argued back.

Clarke's frustration bubbled to the surface as she refused to entertain the idea of leaving Jasper behind. "So what, we let Jasper die? That's not gonna happen, Spacewalker." she retorted, every word seasoned with accusation.

Finn stood his ground, his expression desperate as he countered Clarke's resolve. "It's not an adventure, Clarke, it's a suicide mission," he countered.

"Clarke, we could use Bellamy," you suggested, your voice tinged with reluctance. "He has a weapon. As annoying as he is, we need all the help we can get."

Walking over to Octavia, you handed her a bottle of water, offering her a small smile of reassurance before looking over her leg once more. Clarke approached Bellamy then, her voice commanding as she addressed him. "I hear you have a gun.” Bellamy reply came without hesitation, lifting his shirt slightly to reveal the weapon strapped to his waist.

As he did, you couldn't help but notice the defined contours of his abdomen, the muscles taut and well-defined. Caught momentarily in the act of admiring, you quickly averted your gaze, but not before Bellamy's eyes flicked up, catching you in the act.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he noticed your fleeting glance. "Like what you see?" he quipped, his tone teasing.

You rolled your eyes, unable to resist a sarcastic retort. "Please, Bellamy, don't flatter yourself. I was just wondering if that thing is even loaded," you shot back, your tone laced with playful sarcasm.

Clarke nodded in agreement. “That’s good. Follow me," she instructed, her words leaving no room for argument.

You fell into step beside her, Bellamy shot you both a questioning look, his brow furrowed in confusion. "And why would I do that?" he asked, his voice edged with skepticism. The two you halting in your walking.

You couldn't resist the urge to challenge him back, his self-righteous attitude grating your nerves for the second time today, "Oh, I don't know, Bellamy. Maybe because you're not as brave as you like to pretend," you retorted, your tone dripping with sarcasm.

Bellamy's expression hardened, and he stepped closer to you, mirroring your stance, his gaze intense. For a moment, you almost step back at his closeness, but you refused to back down. "Careful, sweetheart. You don't want to find out just how wrong you are," he warned.

You squared your shoulders, meeting his gaze with equal intensity. "Try me," you mocked, your voice steady despite the butterflies fluttering in your stomach. You walked away with Clarke, leaving Bellamy behind. You could almost feel the weight of his gaze boring into your back as you moved further away. A silent challenge lingering in the air.

---

Your focus, alongside Clarke's, remained on locating Jasper, the urgency tangible in every stride as the group trudged through the dense undergrowth. Bellamy's voice, sharp and cutting, sliced through the otherwise oppressive silence.

"Hey, hold up. What's the rush? You don't survive a spear through the heart." His words halted the group in their tracks, prompting a momentary pause in the relentless pursuit. Wells attempted to interject, his voice a soft plea for reason, "We have to find him, Bellamy,” but Murphy's abrupt intrusion blocked his path.

"We heard him scream when they moved him. We have to find him now." You voiced, restraining yourself from punching Bellamy in the face.

The exchange between you and Clarke, a tense back-and-forth of explanations and rebuttals, seemed destined to continue until Bellamy interrupted, his tone brusque and impatient. "As soon as you take those wristbands off, we can go."

“Over my dead body, Blake,” you huffed, finding his insistence infuriating. Bellamy was quick to put on a self-satisfied expression at your remark. Suddenly, Finn materialized out of the shadows, his unexpected presence bringing an abrupt halt to the argument.

"Clarke's right. We need to keep moving. We're not leaving anyone behind."

Clarke spared you one last glance, mouthing a simple ‘sorry’ before walking away with Finn taking the lead of the group. Once they dispersed, you found yourself beside Wells, Bellamy, and Murphy not far behind. Seeking solace in conversation, you struck up a dialogue with him, hoping to find some semblance of normalcy. Every step felt heavy, the worry for Jasper gnawing at your insides.

The sound of a low groan reverberated through the trees, causing both you and Clarke to snap into action. Without a second thought, you both bolted towards the source of the noise. pushing through tangled foliage and dodging gnarled roots. You finally stumbled upon Jasper, his figure slumped against a rock.

Your heart twisted at the sight of him, “Jasper!” you screamed, looking over his battered and bloodied form. Jasper's wounds were covered, a makeshift bandage hastily applied by unknown hands. Jasper groaned aloud once more, relief flooded through you at the realization that he was alive.

Before you could reach him, the ground beneath your feet gave way, the earth crumbling beneath you in a sudden collapse. Clarke's scream pierced the air as she watched you disappear into the darkness below.

She stumbled backward, her eyes wide with fear, before collapsing to the ground herself. The rest of the group rushed to her side, their shouts of concern blending with the chaos of the moment.

In the midst of the commotion, Bellamy's strong grip closed around your arm, your heart leaped into your throat, you locked eyes with Bellamy just as you were about to plummet into the unknown depths below.

For a fleeting moment, there was something indecipherable in his expression, a hint of uncertainty perhaps, but it vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

Before you could dwell on it further, you realized his attention was drawn to the wristband on your arm, and Bellamy's gaze flickered down to it for just a moment. Anger flared within you at the implication, and you snapped, "Let go, Bellamy!"

He hesitated, his grip on your arm tightening as if contemplating his next move. Panic overwhelmed you as you teetered on the edge of the pit, "I know you want to let go, Bellamy. Just do it already!" you snapped.

Bellamy's expression remained inscrutable, his gaze flickering briefly to your wristband before meeting yours again. Then, as if coming to a decision, he released you, allowing you to slip further into the spiked pit below.

Just as you were about to plummet into the abyss, Murphy's strong hand closed around your arm. The rest of the group rushed to your aid, their shouts of concern mingling with the chaos of the moment as they worked together to pull you back to safety.

With a collective effort, they hoisted you up from the brink, your heart pounding in your chest as you collapsed onto solid ground once more. Relief washed over you in a dizzying wave, but as you shot a glare at Bellamy, his gaze still lingering on you with an intensity you couldn't quite decipher.

---

Murphy and Finn rushed forward to help Jasper, you stayed back, still trying to steady your breathing after the near fall. The others scrambled to their feet, scanning the forest for any signs of danger. your eyes landed on Bellamy's gun lying on the ground nearby.

Before you could think twice, a low growl echoed through the trees, sending shivers down your spine. Your gaze shot back to the source of the sound just in time to see a sleek panther emerge from the brush, its predatory eyes fixed on Bellamy.

“Bellamy!” Clarke shouted. “Get the gun now!”

Bellamy reached in his waistband, feeling around for his gun coming up short. A look of confusion passed over his face as the panther crept closer to him. For a split second, you hesitated, your anger and resentment towards Bellamy flashing through your mind. ‘he doesn’t deserve to live.’ You thought. But against your better judgment, you lunged forward, grabbing the gun and aiming at the panther.

You fired off a shot, the sound echoing through the forest as the bullet found its mark. The panther let out a fierce roar before getting ready to strike again. You straightened your aim, stepping closer before firing another round. The panther collapsing to the ground with a loud, its threat neutralized.

Breathless and shaken, Bellamy turned to face you with an eyebrow raised. "Guess I owe you one," he replied, his tone laced with sarcasm.

---

“They're back!”

The gates of the camp swung open, allowing everyone to stream back through the camp, you found yourself lingering behind, lost in the tumult of your own thoughts. Memories of your mother, her accusing words, and the weight of her disappointment flooded your mind.

You recalled the countless times she had blamed you for her circumstances, her voice echoing in your head like a haunting refrain. The sharp sting of her words, the relentless yelling, and the coldness in her eyes all played vividly in your memory.

"You coming?" Bellamy's voice broke through your reverie, pulling you back to the present.

You glanced up, meeting his gaze briefly before looking away. "Yeah, I'll catch up," you replied tersely, your tone betraying the turmoil within. Your legs guided you without a second though, taking your place on a log settled by the fire, surrounded by the other delinquents. You let the warmth of the flames ease the tension in your shoulders.

Harper and Miller's banter provided a welcome distraction, their jokes and laughter cutting through the heavy atmosphere that hung over the camp. You found yourself drawn into their playful exchange, a small smile tugging at the corners of your lips as you listened to their witty repartee.

"So, did you hear about the guy who stole a calendar? He got twelve months!" Harper said, laughing to herself while Miller poked the fire next to you.

"Oh man, that's almost as bad as your last joke!" Miller responded, shaking his head at her bad attempts at jokes.

You chuckled along with them, appreciating the light-hearted moment amidst the chaos of your situation. You caught yourself watching Bellamy, your eyes hazily looking over at the line forming in front of him.

"Next!" Bellamy shouted, while Murphy continued to break off the wristbands of each delinquent in line. You watched as he worked efficiently, his movements brisk and purposeful as he conducted his trade.

"Food for wristbands. One at a time, let's keep it moving."

Despite your lingering resentment towards him, you couldn't help but admire his resourcefulness and determination to provide for the group.

But when Bellamy's gaze briefly met yours, you couldn't bring yourself to accept his offer of food, instead choosing to remain seated by the fire, surrounded by the company of your fellow delinquents.

Every now and then, a knowing glint danced in your eyes, a subtle acknowledgment of the secret you held close. While Bellamy spoke with confidence, there was a hint of unease in his demeanor, a flicker of uncertainty that betrayed his facade of bravado.

It was clear to you that he didn't realize you were privy to his secret, the truth behind his presence on the dropship, the lengths he went to in order to secure his spot among the delinquents.

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geminijade · 6 months

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What Are We? Part 3

A/N: Any and All Military Mistakes Are My Own. I'd love to thank @mrsevans90 for helping me get the ball rolling on this installment. It would not be possible without their input and feedback!

Trigger Warnings: A Vague Disclaimer is Nobody's Friend. You and you alone are responsible for your reading material. Jake Seresin is a complete menace. I tried to tag as many as possible but it wouldn't let me tag everyone and for that I apologize. Angst in the form of parental death/drunk driving. Illusion to Goose's untimely passing. Airplane accidents. A little bit of smut because this is Jake we're talking about. I think that covers it. If I missed anything please feel free to let me know! Hearts, likes, comments and reblogs are always appreciated ❤ Happy Reading 📚

The next morning came bright and early with Jake's alarm clock waking him. He groaned and rolled over to stop the offending noise. He slammed his hand down until he made contact and all noise ceased. Lying on his back he roughly ran his hand over his face trying to wake up, he looked out his window and the sun was barely peaking over the horizon. Today was going to be a very long day of running drills and flight plans.

Jake wished that it was you waking him up with your warm, soft lips and hands instead of his shrill alarm clock. He grabbed his phone that was sitting on his bedside table and saw that he had a missed text from you. Just seeing your name first thing in the morning brought a smile to his face. Y/N: Good Morning, Handsome. You're probably still sleeping. Call me or text me when you see this. If I don't hear from you I hope that you have a wonderful day!! xoxo Y/N

Jake tossed his phone onto his slept in bed and made his way to the head to drain the snake. His dog tags rattling around his neck and his grey sweatpants slung low on his hips. He quickly took care of business and washed his hands. He was desperate to hear your voice hoping that it would make his day go by quicker. Checking the time he saw that it was only a little bit past 6 in the morning.

He wasn't sure why you were awake so early but you hadn't texted him that long ago, he dialed your number and listened to it ringing on the other end. You picked up on the 3rd ring and answered, "Hello?" "Good morning sunshine. What are you doing awake this early?" You could hear the humor in his voice, Jake knew that you weren't a morning person at all. "Oh, ya know just thought that I would be up before the sun. You do this every day? On purpose?"

Jake let out a chuckle "hazard of the job, Sweetheart. So what are you doing up this early?" You groaned that Nat had talked you into joining her on her daily juice and jog as she called it. Phoenix always starts her day with a juice cleanse and a jog and she roped you into it. You were changing into a pair of leggings and matching Tshirt plus some sensible shoes. You pulled your hair into a messy bun and resumed your conversation.

"Oh you know, trying to fit in some sister quality time before she goes to work." You took a good long hard look in the mirror and decided that you looked fine for an early morning run. You were pretty sure that muggers wouldn't care what you looked like. "Can I ask you for a favor?" "Anytime. What you got for me?" You felt awkward asking and you figured that Jake could sense that.

"You don't have to be shy around me, remember I know what you sound like when you cum. " You could pretend to be scandalized but he was in the right. "Could I drop you my location? I'd just feel better knowing that you know where I am incase anything happens. Logically, I know that nothing will but I've definitely seen one to many true crime shows and horror movies that start with this exact scenario: Hot young women go jogging and boom they either find a dead body or end up as said dead body. "You were aware that you were rambling but couldn't stop yourself.

Jake thought it was adorable but he didn't want to diminish your anxiety and he thought it was cute that you were still shy around him after everything. "Of course you can. Do you know where Phoenix is taking you?" You pulled your phone away from your ear and googled the directions. "Mission Beach Park," you let Jake know as you scrolled through the pictures. It looked really pretty and not secluded but it was still dark outside and you'd rather be safe than sorry.

You dropped your location to Jake's cell phone and he heard the ding a few seconds later. You felt a little bit of relief that someone else knew where you would be. Now that you got that out of the way, it was time to move on to why you really texted him so early in the morning. You weren't sure how to broach the subject so you just dove right in. "So, next week Nat and I are hosting a little get together at the house. It was actually Amelia's idea and Penny's too. Everyone's invited. "

You kind of let the silence fill the void, the implication being that you were looking forward to seeing him again in a more personal setting. Jake decided to put you out of your misery, "wild horses couldn't keep me away from seeing you again. " You released the breath that you weren't aware that you were holding. "Good." Jake could practically feel your smile through the phone.

Phoenix yelled up the stairs that she was going to get ready and your freshly squeezed juice was sitting on the kitchen counter. You gave him all of the information for next week's gathering and you were hesitant to end the call. "I gotta run, literally. " You let out a snort and Jake thought you were adorable and had no problems letting you know that. "You're so goddamn adorable it hurts me. "

"Oh no, we wouldn't want you to be in any pain. You might have to come over and let me kiss it and make it better. " A sly smile on your face had Jake groaning into the phone. "Don't be a tease Y/N, you know that I'll drop everything and be there so fast your head will spin. " You gave yourself a final glance in the mirror and went downstairs to the kitchen.

You saw your juice where she said that it would be and you could hear the shower running as you took a sip of the green juice. It was surprisingly good and you finished about half. "Don't threaten me with a good time, Seresin." That brought a smile to his face as he was changing into a pair of athletic shorts and tshirt, you could hear his dog tags rattling as he slid them under his shirt. "What's on the agenda for today?"

Jake tried to keep his tone light when he told you that he was joining Coyote on his run followed by breakfast in the main dining hall followed by a few flight test runs and then being debriefed. "Just a typical day, sunshine. I should be done around 6. I'd love to take you out for dinner and drinks, pick you up and take you out on a proper date. You put on your best dress and get all dolled up for me. How's that sound?"

"I know what you're trying to do here, you're trying to distract me from you training for life and death missions, Lieutenant. " That got a laugh out of Jake. "Tell me that it's working?" You begrudgingly acknowledged that yes the idea of being wined and dined by him was definitely working on you. "Good. " You heard a banging on his door and you caught bits and pieces of his conversation with Javy. "Tell Javy that I say hi and you guys have a safe flight training."

Jake could hear the worry in your voice and he hated it. "I'll see you at 7 sharp, Princess." You tried to take the fear out of your voice so that he wouldn't worry about you being worried about him. "I'm counting down the seconds" you whispered into the phone as Nat made her way further into the kitchen to put on her running shoes. You both quietly hung up and you turned to face her.

"You ready?" You nodded and grabbed your light athletic jacket and you made sure that you had your gps on and your pepper spray. You and Nat stepped out onto your front porch and she locked the door behind you. "What are your plans for the rest of the day?" Phoenix asked you as she did some pre run stretches and you followed suit. You looked at her warily and let her know that Jake was picking you up at 7 tonight for a date. "Oohhh, the plot thickens, " she smirked at you.

"That's not until later tonight. I think that I'll look for a job or maybe I'll go back to school. I'm not sure yet what I want to do." Phoenix nodded and linked your arms together as you started to walk together towards the beach. "I'm really happy that you're planning a future here, I honestly wasn't sure if asking you to move here and uproot your entire existence was the right thing to do but I'm willing to help you figure everything out. "

"I appreciate you offering and for everything else that you have done for me. I should plan at least one trip back home to get the rest of my stuff out of storage and finalize the sale of the house." Phoenix lightly punched you on your shoulder and you looked over at her. "You know that you don't have to do everything on your own, right? I mean I'm all for being a strong independent woman but sometimes the adult thing to do is ask for help. Let me help you."

Your sister's words brought tears to your eyes and you were too choked up to speak so you just nodded yes and hugged her. "I love you, Y/N. You're my family and the squad already considers you one of us. There's no escaping it now." That made you laugh through your tears "only a crazy lady wouldn't want to be surrounded by hot U.S. Navy men and live near the ocean. "

That elicited a groan and an eyeroll from your sister who playfully kicked you in the butt. "I should have known that would have been the deal breaker for you. " You put your hands on your hips and started jogging down the path. "Catch me if you can," you called over your shoulder and kept up a steady pace. You two jogged in comfortable silence for a few miles and made it home just as the sun was rising.

Phoenix made sure that you got home safely and got her stuff ready for work and soon the house was quiet again. You made yourself a light breakfast of egg whites and avocado toast and took a quick shower. You threw your dirty clothes into the washer and changed into a pair of shorts and tank top. You found your laptop and fired it up, you were quickly burning through what little savings you had and you desperately needed a source of income. You refused to sponge off of your sister as you browsed the help wanted section.

In your previous life back home you were going to school for nursing and working part time when your world was turned upside down. You didn't want to go back to school so work it was, you emailed a few different places with your resume and hoped that someone would reach out to you soon. You cleaned up the kitchen and switched your laundry and decided that you would need something pretty to wear on your night out with Jake. You looked at the clock and saw that it was only a little bit past noon and you figured that it was as good as a time as any to text him and ask him where he was taking you so you could decide on an outfit. Standing in the middle of your room you shot him a quick text.

JAKE'S POV:

Jake was standing in line for lunch when his phone vibrated in his shorts pocket. His morning and afternoon consisted of a 5 mile run with Rooster, Bob, Payback, Coyote and Fanboy. A few laps around the track to cool down and then they hit the showers just in time for lunch in the mess hall. His blonde hair was still damp from the shower and he was starved. After lunch they'd be practicing evasive flight maneuvers.

He reached into his pocket and pulled his phone out and saw that it was you asking for hints about how fancy should you dress up. He planned on taking you to the best steakhouse restaurant in San Diego. He fired off a quick text letting you know that he thought you would look stunning in a burlap sack. Two seconds later he got your response : not at all helpful, Seresin. Coyote was standing behind him and trying to look over Jake's shoulder to see who he was texting.

You had it narrowed down to a few different options and decided to send Jake some pictures and let him decide on which outfit was your best look. Unaware that Javy was still looking over Jake's shoulder he opened the picture messages and Coyote let out a wolf whistle. "Yo, who's the hottie sending you sexy pictures?!" Jake quickly put his phone back into his pocket but it was too late, the damage was done. All of the guys swarmed Jake trying to figure out who you were. Rooster and Phoenix walked in and saw the guys huddled around Jake.

"What's going on?" Phoenix asked and they all turned to look at her. Javy was the first to spill the beans, "Hangman has a hottie sending him sexy pictures and he won't share." If looks could kill there would be five mortally wounded men in the mess hall. Rooster glanced over at Phoenix and elbowed her in the side, "ain't that your sister, Y/N?" Phoenix slowly nodded her head and as she was walking towards them they at least had the common decency to scatter. "Before you attempt to rip me a new asshole she's not sending me nudes, she's asking for my opinion on outfits for our date tonight. "

That seemed to appease Phoenix as Jake showed her the pictures that you just sent him. "Tell her to go with the LBD and the black stilettos. " Jake quickly replied that he wanted to see you in that little black dress and sexy heels. With that decided the squad sat down and dug into their food. "What's on the agenda for after lunch?" Coyote asked Rooster. "We're going up in groups of four and practicing different counter strikes, basically the last two pilots flying are the winners. "

Hangman and Coyote fist bumped each other "Y'all might as well forfeit because you're looking at the winners right now. " That got a collective groan from the dagger squad as they made their way to their respective quarters to change into their flight suits. As they strode out onto the tarmac and waited for Maverick and the rest of the instructors to arrive Jake sent you one more text that he couldn't wait to see you tonight. Your reply was pretty much instantaneous: the feeling is completely mutual. See you soon 😉. The first four pilots got into their fighter jets and taxied down the runway.

Jake, Coyote, Phoenix and Bob were next. Everything was going according to plan, Hangman was in his element in the sky until he made a move to counteract Phoenix's attack and the sun was in his eyes and he didn't see the incoming flock of birds getting sucked into his plane's engine and everything started going haywire and he couldn't get it back under control. The next thing he knew was going into a spin and all of the fighter jets alarms started going off. "Pull up!" Coyote shouted at Jake as he struggled to bring it back under control. "I can't! All systems are in failure!! Eject!! Eject!! Eject!!"

Y/N POV

It was getting closer to 7 pm and Jake should be here any second now. You curled your hair and pulled it into a loose pony tail, you sprayed enough hair spray to put another hole in the ozone layer and once you were satisfied that not even a hurricane could move your hair you moved to put the finishing touches on your makeup. You went with a classic cat eye and fire engine red lipstick, you were spraying some perfume and getting your black clutch that matched your outfit and you heard the doorbell. You smiled as you grabbed a black leather jacket and made your way downstairs and opened the door expecting to see Jake but it was Maverick and Hondo instead. Your smile faltered and you felt your stomach sink.

"Hey Pete, Hondo. Is everything okay? Is Jake running late and he sent you to keep me preoccupied until he gets here?" Pete couldn't look at you and Hondo had his head down. Pete shook his head and cleared his throat, "I'm really sorry Y/N, earlier today we were flying flight maneuvers and patterns and there was an incident involving Hangman and Coyote. They lost contact with the control tower and ejected somewhere over the desert. Their GPS gave their last known location but it's not exact coordinates. Search and Rescue are out looking right now. "

You couldn't hear Pete but his lips were moving and Hondo looked to be on the verge of crying. You couldn't breathe, your chest felt tight and it hurt to inhale. Pete made a move to step inside your house and it all went silent. You must have dropped the stuff that you were holding but you didn't realize it. You tried to shove past them but they gently stopped you.

"No, I...we...he....had plans...." you weren't sure when you started crying but you were on the verge of hysterics and everything was happening at lightning speed while you felt like you were sinking in quicksand. Their words running through your head: Jake...Coyote....accident...desert....search and rescue. You couldn't focus, you couldn't breathe. You just knew that you couldn't sit here and wait for word if they were alive or dead. You must have made it to your room to change into jeans and a sweater.

It gets cold at night in the desert and you couldn't help but think are they hurt? Are they cold? Are they injured? Are they... no. Not possible. You wouldn't allow yourself to entertain the thought. You were frantically looking for a flashlight that you had somewhere and you found it under a pile of clothes, you saw Jake's brown bomber jacket and you grabbed that too. You ran down the stairs and grabbed your car keys sitting in the dish by the door.

Pete was chasing after you but you were quicker than him and Hondo. You got in your car and drove as fast as you could towards the base. "Shit, Hondo we have to get there before Y/N. She doesn't have the credentials to get on base and she's not thinking clearly. Text Phoenix and let her know that Y/N is headed that way. "

Hondo nodded and let Phoenix know that you knew what happened and were driving like a bat out of hell. The ride to the base was quiet and somber, Phoenix let them know that she was waiting for you at the gate. "Do you think that they're ok?" Pete took his eyes off the road for a split second and shook his head. "I honestly don't know, I really hope that they are. Y/N and Phoenix lost their parents not too long ago in a drunk driving accident. I don't think that Y/N would be able to recover losing someone who she cares about so soon after...."

You somehow made it to the base in record time without being pulled over for speeding. You barely put the car in park and jumped out leaving the keys in the ignition and the drivers side wide open. Pete and Hondo pulled in after you, "Y/N! Wait!" Their pleas fell on deaf ears and you barely recognized your sister standing at the entrance. "Natasha!! You were flying with him and Javy!! What happened?!" Pete parked your car in the visitors area and pocketed your keys and followed you onto the base and into a waiting vehicle designated to take you to the search and rescue site. "I'll fill you in on the way but you have to promise me that you'll stay out of the way and let the professionals do their job, promise me?"

You couldn't speak so you weakly nodded yes. Nat filled you in without going into to much detail. You felt stupid and weak for crying in front of your sister and her superiors but you didn't care. You couldn't lose Jake so soon after losing your parents. You made it to command central, military personnel and ATVs were scouring the desert.

Nat led you to the makeshift shelter that they had set up. It was at best controlled chaos and pandemonium. Radio chatter and flood lights overwhelmed your senses. You were numb and just standing under the white canvas tent staring into the inky darkness. You felt more than saw someone slip a wool blanket over your shoulders and hand you a cup of coffee.

You glanced over and saw that it was Rooster. He gave you a sad smile, you took the coffee into your ice cold hands and quietly thanked him. You took a sip and grimaced at the black bitterness but it was just what you needed. It was beginning to thaw out your hands and you were grateful. "We don't have to talk but just so you know I'm here for you. "

You were too overwhelmed with emotions to thank him but you hoped that he could tell you appreciated him and his efforts. Rooster led you over to a chair and you all about collapsed. Rooster sat next to you and ran his hand over your back in comfort. You had a million different questions and you wanted to ask but you thought it would be inconsiderate. You had a death grip on your coffee cup and your leg was bouncing wildly.

Rooster's big hand was on your leg trying to cease your jumpy movements. You put your hand over his and held on so tightly that your knuckles were turning white. There was a lull in the commotion and you could hear excited chatter throughout the crowd of military personnel. ".....found the wreckage ..... ejected....no sign of......bringing in trackers...."

Your head snapped up at the mention of trackers being brought in to help with the search. You looked at Rooster with hope in your tear stained eyes and he didn't have the heart to tell you that it wasn't always a good sign. He didn't have it in him to add to your heartbreak. "What does that mean? That's good, right? They walked away from the crash? They're still alive?!" Rooster silently pleaded with Maverick and he came and sat on your other side. "It's too early to tell but we should know something soon."

Dejected and overwhelmed with worry you felt a fresh set of tears forming behind your eyes. You were starting to succumb to exhaustion and fatigue. Your eyes drooping shut, you just decided to close your eyes and rest your head on Rooster's shoulder. Soon enough you let the comfort of darkness consume you completely with one last thought of Jake and Javy. Please let him come back to me.

~fin~

@tess-love @erindiggory @luna-lovethegood @scarlettwidow19 @ilack3 @imlilconcerned @sarahwasfound @sgt-barnesveins @angelbabyange @mini-bee-bee @supergirl000983 @mrsevans90 @trickphotography2 @jakeyzzz @jessa-21 @madisonmg @these-books-are-ruining-my-life @1111zxc @topgunfan1986 @tess-lecter-blog @tgmavericklover @hangmandruigandmav @hookslove1592 @the-romanian-is-bae @kyliesalvatore @runningawayfromsociety @awhitemanswhoresblog @halibshepherd @atarmychick007 @86laura11 @rockstxr-x @kissmunalodz @crispycitrus @dizzybee03 @caitsymichelle13 @bellaireland1981 @blah-blah-blah-bla @mamachasesmayhem @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth @beautifulandvoid @rosiahills22 @erindiggory @tonkatesuramen @fandom-life-12 @tootser98 @ellianwhite @mamaskillerqueen @kyliesalvatore @toobouquet

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shrewstew · 2 months

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Dancing headcannons for South Park characters, they’re at a school dance or something

Stan: Does the little cowboy shuffle his dad taught him in “You got served” and he is stiff with it. Otherwise I don’t see him as a big dancer.

Kyle: No rhythm, TikTok dances, anything that involves footwork is nearly impossible for him (I want to clarify that this isn’t me trying to stereotype him, I’m getting this from the rainforest episode)

Cartman: The aggressive kick/punch move that Mac does in Its Always Sunny (see: gif). He would be a fucking menace in a mosh pit. That or he talks a massive game but is too embarrassed to actually dance.

Kenny: Does whatever the fuck he wants, lots of jumping and spinning. He’s not good at it, but his energy diminishes any second-hand embarrassment

Butters: Took dancing lessons, probably doing a dance routine he had to practice, and werk🕺. SHOE FLIES OFF AND KILLS EVERYONE OH GOD THE HORROR

Tweek: Dancing is too much pressure, he prefers to stand scared.

Craig: Keeps Tweek company. Dancing is lame anyway.

Clyde: If dancing is cringe, than he does not want to be based. He tries to get Tweek and Craig to join him by doing a dorky lasso movement.

Tolkien: TikTok dances, ofc. But he has no problem doing some fancy footwork.

Jimmy: Not a lot of dancing going on. However South Park loves the gag of the disabled characters doing things that are physically impossible for them. So idk, maybe he does breakdancing, somehow. He would, don’t lie. He spends most of the dance with Timmy and the other disabled kids.

Timmy: Aggressive head banging, no matter the genre, he is a metal head at heart

Goth Kids: School dances are for conformists, but you know they would fuck up the dance floor with their shuffle-step

The Girls: YOU KNOOOOOWWWW they went as a big ol’ group, they look gorgeous. Unfortunately there WILL be some devastating drama by the end of the night, but it’ll be fine

#south park #stan marsh #kenny mccormick #butters stotch #kyle broflovski #craig tucker #eric cartman #tweek tweak #clyde donovan #tolkien black #jimmy valmer #timmy burch #headcanon #cringe #wendy testaburger #bebe stevens #heidi turner #henrietta biggle

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theresattrpgforthat · 3 months

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Got anything that lets you play as monsters (vampires/monsters/etc) in the modern world in the vein of VTM? Ideally something in the PBTA/FITD area of system, but open to others for sure (: Thanks as always for your recs!!

THEME: Urban Monsters

Friend, the difficulty with this post isn’t that I don’t have recommendations for it - it’s that I’m trying to find recommendations that I haven’t talked about ad nauseam to this point. So I hope you don’t mind a fairly extensive “Past Recommendations” at the bottom of this post, because most of the PbtA games I know of are going to be there. I have limited experience with Vampire: the Masquerade, but I’m a big fan of Changeling: the Lost and other World of Darkness games, so I’m going off of general knowledge rather than specifics.

Bubblegum Vampires / Bubblegum Wizards 2, by Gormengeist.

You're a vampire in an infinite urban cauldron of muck and rot, of psionics and wizards, of danger and shadows. Though you are surely terrible, great, horrifying, (etc.), half the day is an enemy to your people; so set forth through the night to make your coin, secure your dwellings, and vanquish your infinite enemies.

You're a wizard who chews bubblegum and collects trading cards. That is to say, cards with the trapped souls of items and enemies within, obviously. An insignificant wizard in an infinite city has lots to prove and you've got to get help somehow. Break heads, steal money, drive stupid, chew gum, trap souls. Simple as.

Neon-Bright art and d6-based rolls, that’s what’s common across both of these games. This is the same world, but you’re living in two different spheres of it, depending on which game you play. As wizards, you collect spell cards that hold the souls of creatures you’ve vanquished, and use them to get yourself out of sticky situations. As vampires, you accrue vampiric powers through blood sacrifice, and your opponents are usually folks with especially tantalizing veins. Both games have various factions that have different goals than you, so if what you like about Vampire: the Masquerade is the amount of different ideologies that have the ability to fuck you up, you might like this game. Thematically, it looks a little more upbeat and pulpy than your typical V:tM game, but if you like one, you have another game in the same system ready to go.

The Hidden, by Dragons Are Real.

As children our parents read us fairy tales, ghost stories and recounted local myths. We’ve always assumed these stories are told to entertain or scare….what if these aren't just stories….everything you have been told is true.

The creatures from fairy tales, mythology and folklore all exist. Have you ever thought you saw something strange out of the corner of your eye but when you look again all looks normal. These creatures live in plain sight, unseen by the majority of people, only those who know they exist see them in their true form. Every culture has a name for these creatures but we know them simply as The Hidden.

The Hidden is a modern urban fantasy game powered by the Breathless RPG. It is inspired by such media as Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Constantine and The Dresden Files.

Another pulpy sort of game, the Breathless system that powers The Hidden is great for replicating diminishing resources, putting your characters in more and more difficult situations every time they pause to take a breath. This makes this game great for horror-style stories, and World of Darkness games firmly find a home in the horror genre. If you want something that’s fast-paced and can cover a lot of ground in a short session, The Hidden might be for you.

Tween Wolf, by Ibi Deficit Orbis.

Tween Wolf is a micro-RPG about middle schoolers experiencing both the fantasy of being exceptional, and the fear of being humiliated. As these kids come to terms with their awkwardly developing human bodies, they will also be faced with lycanthropy. And in the process they will experience supernatural heroism and intense shame—and learn to manage both.

It is designed to be played with a bent towards exploring the unforgiving social cruelty of middle school, self-image, and dysphoria. It requires one Game Master, 1 to 4 additional players, a few hours, one six sided die for each player, and two additional six sided dice for the table to share.

This is a very short game, with very few rules and a big focus on trying to keep your wild side under wraps. If what you like about WoD games is the struggle between the monstrous and the human, this might be the game for you. There’s not nearly as many big moral quandaries as there are in typical WoD games - you’re middle schoolers, not eons-old bloodsuckers - but to a middle-schooler, your problems are massive. I feel like the movie Seeing Red might be a good touchstone for this game.

Glamour of Our Youth, by Yuri Runnel.

Glamour of Our Youth is a roleplaying game based on the Forged in the Dark system. Drawing inspiration from media like Riverdale, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina among others, it works to tell stories of supernatural teenage adventures.

Building on the FitD framework, Glamour serves to tell exciting stories with high stakes, putting the youths through their paces as they try to make their way through a strange and hostile world, struggling with conflicts both internal and external, arcane and mundane.

This game doesn’t cast your characters as specific supernatural beings, but the character options certainly make it possible. You cobble your character together from two different halves: Archetypes and Arcana. Your Archetype hails from classic high school cliques, such as Rebel, Outcast, Socialite and Athlete, while your Arcana details your supernatural ability, including Shapeshifter (which might translate to werewolf), Oceancaller (which you could turn into a selkie) or Shadow (which feels rather ghost-like to me). There’s also plenty of ways to play a teenage mage.

This game is in playtest, but it’s considerably far a long, with recent updates that indicate that the crew is hard at work refining the final product.

Protect the Child, by MintRabbit (that’s me!)

Humans have always been protective of their young, sometimes overly so. Humans have also always feared that which might make their young strange or different, and so insist that only humans can raise their own young. Monsters cannot raise human young. This is known. You have a human baby. You cannot find its parents. What is even worse, is that this child has powers, powers that others covet, and so everyone wants it. If you want to prove that you’re not the heartless monster that everyone says you are, that means you’ll have to raise it, at least until you find someone who is better suited to it than you. You are creatures of fur, scales and fangs. You have claws that can rend flesh, faces that can crack mirrors, howls that can cause ears to bleed. And your charge wants a blankie.

Protect the Child is a Forged in the Dark game about monsters caring for a young human, a human who contains strange and mystical powers that make them a valuable asset in any monster crew. The setting and factions present in this game are flexible: you might be aliens in a far-flung future galaxy, fantasy monsters from rival kingdoms, or even everyday wild animals that fear human society.

So I’ve only just started play testing this game, which means that it’s very much in barely-playable mode. This game is also setting-agnostic, meaning that you can decide exactly when and where your game takes place - including as modern-day monsters trying to take care of a human baby with magical powers. The game is very specific in the themes of the story you’ll be telling - that is, themes about monstrosity, parenthood and responsibility, but if you all want to play different kinds of vampires, you can absolutely do that!

BloodLite, by ruan8000.

BloodLite is a role-playing game (RPG) designed to be played solo, but can be played in a group. In this game, you will create a Vampire following the rules and you will also create the world that this vampire interacts with, as well as the conflicts and obstacles that he will face. The world in BloodLite is like ours, but a little darker and more dangerous, full of supernatural creatures.

This game has no ties to PbtA or FitD, but it cites Vampire: the Masquerade as a direct inspiration, and you can see it in the Bloodline options available at character creation. You have a supernatural gift that give you advantages and also trigger your Hunger, which is your character’s thirst for blood. The goals of the game are represented through an Oath track, which fills when you fight enemies, overcome obstacles, and solve problems. This a fairly stripped-down game, but if you’re familiar with V:tM, then you probably won’t have a problem filling the world with factions, back-alley deals, and political wars.

Hearts of Yokai, by Lowell Francis.

So, this game isn’t out yet. But I can’t stop myself from talking about it a little bit. It’s the product of a Changeling:The Lost PbtA hack that Lowell has been working on for a very long time. I’ve been a bit fan of Changeling: the Lost and I also love PbtA games so I’m really excited to see more of this.

The link in the title leads to the current google spreadsheets that detail the current content of the game and the associated playbooks. The link for Lowell is to a blog post he wrote about the game, talking about the history, the changes he’s made, and the ideas behind what the current iteration is. What really intrigues me is how it incorporates "the actions of the Gentry through the lens of colonialism.” I’m really eager to follow the progress of this game.

Games I’ve Recommended in the Past

Urban Shadows 1e, by Magpie Games.

Bite Marks, by Black Armada Games.

Monsterhearts 2e, by Buried Without Ceremony.

Strays, by kumada1.

Eldritch Investigative Drama Rec Post

#tabletop games #indie ttrpgs #dnd #game recommendations #asks #urban fantasy #monsters #vampires #indie ttrpg

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jianqzai · 9 months

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Lan Wangji getting drunk, but this time, terrorizing poor Sizhui.

Lan Wangji had been trying to increase his alcohol tolerance, so he indulged in a sip or two per meal with Wei Wuxian. Though at the beginning that was enough to get him tipsy, as days passed by, even those effects diminished.

Which led to overconfidence, which led to him trying a full cup and getting completely drunk.

Stubborn as always, as soon as he regained consciousness, he walked out from the Jingshi into the Cloud Recesses main compound, Wei Wuxian trying ineffectually to herd him back inside. A drunk Lan Wangji looked very much like a sober Lan Wangji, it was only his words or childish behavior that gave him away, so as to not gather attention, Wei Wuxian could only walk next to his husband, in whatever search mission they were into.

Lan Wangji checked the dining hall, then the library, and finally Lan Sizhui’s room - huffing in annoyance when he discovered it was also devoid of his son. He walked to the only other place he could think of: the rabbits' meadow

Sizhui was in fact there, with Jingyi and a couple of his friends.

Everyone scrambled to their feet when they watched Lan Wangji approach, bowing with a chorus of "Hanguang-Jun."

"It's alright kids!" Wei Wuxian breathlessly called from where he was jogging behind his husband. "You can sit down."

As soon as everyone settled down, Lan Wangji also lowered himself, gracefully kneeling down in front of Sizhui, holding his face between his hands.

"H-hanguan-Jun?" He stuttered, turning redder by the second. He tried to gently dislodge himself, but his father's hold was unmovable.

"Aiyo, Lan Zhan, let him go. Look how hard you're squishing him!"

Lan Wangji slackened a little his hold, but kept making Sizhui do funny faces, kneading his cheeks to his heart's content. By this point, everyone was aware Hanguang-Jun was drunk. They were trying their best to hide their laughs behind their sleeves, more than anything in commiseration to their friend, but they weren’t being very successful.

Sizhui turned pleading eyes on Wei Wuxian, but he only shrugged, knowing it was impossible to stop Lan Wangji if he was set on doing something.

As for Lan Wangji, maybe he had been feeling sad because Sizhui was starting to become more independent with each passing day, or maybe he and Wei Wuxian had been talking about Sizhui's childhood. Whichever the reason, he was feeling melancholic.

He finally stopped with the kneading, but before Sizhui could breathe in relief, Lan Wangji held his face once again, making intense eye contact.

"You're still my baby."

Sizhui’s whole face turned red.

"Father," he whined faintly, already planning where he was going to move after all this ended.

Then, to everyone's absolute horror, silent tears started to fall down Lan Wangji's cheeks.

"Baba, no. What." Squeaked a panicking Sizhui, hands hovering awkwardly in the air, unsure on what to do. Unbothered by his fretting, Lan Wangji started tracing the length of his forehead ribbon with his fingers, then fluffed up his bangs and finally settled his hands on his shoulders, cheeks still wet.

"You have grown so much. I am proud of you."

This time it was Sizhui's turn to cry. It was not like his father had never told him that before, either with words or approving glances, but watching him tear up had gotten him emotional as well. At his tears, Lan Wangji threw an alarmed look to his husband.

"Wei Ying"

If his hope had been for Wei Wuxian to do something to calm down their son, then he was going to be disappointed, because he was also sobbing into his hands.

"Xian-gege. A-die, don't cry." Sizhui said, which, of course, only made Wei Wuxian cry even harder. So at the end, the three of them ended up hugging and crying together, until Lan Wangji passed out and Wei Wuxian had to carry him back home

#lan sizhui #lan wangji #wei wuxian #dadji #loto text #sizhui's friends disappeared the moment lan wangji started crying. that wasn't something meant for their eyes they thought #yes jingyi used this moment as blackmail for the rest of his life #twitter thoughts #I think I'll start crossposting more bc I wanted to re-read this thread so badly while I was on time out and couldn't 😭#it is always soft wangxian family o'clock for me

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deadvnstudios · 7 months

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How would everyone take care of a sick MC?

"No, just...sit up. Here, drink this."

Noel is methodical in his approach to care. By the time the MC has awoken from their nap, he'll have already whipped up a hardy broth that warms their bones and tastes like home. Noel prioritizes the MC's comfort: helping them sit up for every meal, fluffing their pillows, changing their sheets - and often does so without being asked. He is very strict with the MC on not overworking themself, making sure they take their cold medicine on time, and keeping them hydrated.

"Wait...I. Let me put these in your water."

And he certainly carries a couple of electrolyte packets on him with several flavors for them to choose from.

Mona is a bit overbearing in her approach to care. If the others were not already aware of it being a common cold, they'd be led to believe it's bordering on terminal. Though her dramatic flair remains, she takes to her caretaker role very seriously and has no shame in babying the MC. She's constantly adjusting pillows and sheets, pressing her hand to the MC's forehead, and monitoring them in between crafting sessions for any signs of discomfort.

"Here, something to soothe the sickened soul. Oh my, why so shaken? Worry not, even I am aware my work would be wasted on such a...diminished palate."

She laughs at the way the MC's face twists in horror as she carries soup to their bedside. But don't worry, she didn't prepare it. Merely heckled Noel into doing so.

"Such feverish skin...slowly, go slowly."

Sorin is very gentle in their care. He isn't disturbed by the grosser aspects of human sickness and takes no issue with more intimate tasks such as wiping down the MC's clammy skin, bushing their sweat-slicked hair out of their face, and helping them walk to-and-fro with them pressed against his side. They have nowhere else to be, but beside them. Tending to more delicate things is in their nature, after all.

"Her breath, drawn up from the dank, sunken cavern of her lungs, perspired in the humid twilight air. She wandered the shore alone, all shaken puffs and sulken skeleture, aimlessly careening in a feverish haze. Despite the distance, the sea could not quell its love for her. Seafoam tickled the soles of her feet, teasing heated skin with cool caresses, before whisking her away into its pool of tears. And there they could wallow in their sadness, together."

They go silent, peering up from the tale when they're interrupted by a soft snore. A small smile paints their lips at finding the MC asleep. They had grumbled earlier, upset that Sorin had urged them to reconsider reaching for their phone when they awoke. Instead, Sorin had offered to read them to sleep once more.

Mary's already at MC's bedside when they wake up.

"Hey, I got you some grub."

The porridge is already cold when MC grabs the bowl. Mary presents them a spoon that she was hiding somewhere in her skirts.

"I've heard that if you manage to shove a spoon down your throat, you instantly get better. Wanna try?"

She's definitely joking... Right? Her smile never wanes, only becoming sweeter when she hands them the spoon.

Tempest is sincerely at a loss when it comes to care. Used to suffering in silence or bitching about it to no one - someone showing any dependence on him puts him way out of his element. He's bare bones in the way he 'watches over' the MC, but he emulates what he's seen in shows and movies. He probably thinks they look gross.

"Seriously, what a drag. Can't you at least wear something nice to look at?"

And tells them so.

Still, he tucks them in, feeds them, and fills their water up with minimal mumbled complaints. And he’ll whine all around the commune about all the fun he's missing out on, even while on his way to ask Noel whether a hot or cold compress would be better for them.

"Oooo here it is, ah - wait! No, let me pour it, it's like super hot."

Vein is carefree but caring in her approach to care. Always looking for ways to keep the MC entertained and engaged, tethering them despite any lingering fever. She'll visit Sorin at times like these, requesting any medicinal plants to steep for soothing relief. She happily prepares a pot for the two of them to share and sip on as she loads up a film. No matter how much the MC complains that she'll get sick, Vein sticks stubbornly in bed beside them.

"Ah - look look! They just added this one, you wanted to see it, right?"

Vein will play whatever the MC wants for a change, even if it's not up her alley. But she'll still sneak in a horror flick or two when they pass out.

#fool's paradise #indie games #visual novel #indie game #vn #tempest #vein #mona #noel #sorin #mary #ask #anon

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halcyone-of-the-sea · 3 months

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Hi, I was just rereading Blood-Stained Wool Spun At Midnight (Absolutely terrifying btw!! Great job scaring and horrifying the shit out of me! You're so good at horror, you should do more!) and I wanted to make sure I understood the forest/Primordial/Lord correctly. BTW SPOILERS EVERYONE ELSE! I think

Forest is big old magic forest, possibly sentient on its own (?)

Scary primordial enters forest when it is baby forest, gets stuck there

Scary primordial is strongest thing there, becomes Lord of the forest

Either the forest or the Lord lures in other monsters? And like maybe during the day they can try and get away (since Simon is able to leave the forest to go to the Reader's shop) but the Lure always calls them back once they lose themselves to their monster side?

(Which, question, if a monster/Simon were to run as long and as far and as hard as they could during the time when they had control over themselves, could they get far enough away that the Lure has no power over them anymore? Or is it like stuck on them forever?)

Reader doesn't kill the Lord, but somehow banishes or diminishes it

The forest itself decides to help her and Simon (possibly because the Lord no longer has control over it?)

The forest is safe for them now, since Simon moves her stuff to his house? Or maybe just the hallowed ground cabin is safe for them? Is Reader functionally trapped on the hallowed ground? Wait, was it even actually hallowed ground or was Simon just being a sweetie and not breaking into his own cabin??

No more Lure to lure monsters to the forest?? What's happened to the Lord long term? Will it come back to torment Reader again?? Is her soul still tainted by it?

Again, I really love the fic and it's scary as shit!! Love your AU mini-series. Everything in there absolutely slaps

I haven't thought about that AU in a while, so I'll go off of what I remember, lmao.

Most of what you said is the basic stuff I was trying to get across - the forest is entirely sentient and acts like a prison for the monsters inside. While most of them can come and go as they will, as they're not large threats, this 'greater' monster can't because the forest was created to only keep that one there 100% of the time. The forest is sort of like a beacon for dark energy/beasts/monsters/etc, and while the primordial is there, the 'pull' so to speak, is amplified because the forest doesn't want it there anymore. Think of it like the forest is drawing more and more people/monsters there to take part in a constant battle to banish the primordial away again.

The home is hollowed ground, so it's completely safe for the reader to be there, and after getting back, the only thing really keeping her on the normal plane of existence is the piece of Simon's soul she has; her own is tainted. And the forest itself is still a place for monsters, just less so now that the main 'bad guy' is gone, lol. There's no pull, but the place is still very dangerous.

#halcyone answers #also #the forest is 100% gray in its decisions #it's not good or bad #it just is #that's why letting Simon save the reader is so strange/unique #It had never picked sides before that point

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sheep-from-rad · 2 years

Note

okay but imagine getting isekied (idk) with your best friend SAGAU!reader Is like a total gremlin and like the other bestie is just like you know,the calm one-

PLEASEE. I WOULD LITERALLY BUY JUST TO READ THIS- JUST PLEASEEE

SAGAU: Calm bestie and leash kid chaotic reader Note: Hello!!! Sorry it took so long for me to answer this one. Requests are open 24/7 as per usual. Warnings: None Masterlist

Chaotic reader and a calm best friend. Do you know that scene in Euphoria where Maddy fights Cassie and then their two friends is like ‘Maddy, NO!’ and the other being ‘BEAT HER UP MADDY! SHE FUCKED YOUR BOYFRIEND!’ That’s how I see things right now I’m sorry.

The moment you first opened your eyes in Teyvat, the first thing the calm best friend did was to hear the nature first in case something potentially is near and you know what you did? You looked at your best friend and said ‘Grass :D’. And then it went down from there. Calm best friend trying to watch their steps in case you two come across some enemies, went to look around to see where you two are and before they know it, they already lost sight of you and found you having a dance off with hilichurls.

Nothing and no one is safe from your chaos and by ‘nothing and no one’ I meant nothing and no one. At one point you became close friends with Hu Tao and Xingqiu and oh boy Teyvat is ending. Tourism in Wuwang Hill stopped because someone allegedly witnessed two figures doing bad rituals, acting possessed and throwing talismans at each other. No one knew it was just you and Hu Tao playing Uno.

Even the Electro Cicin Mage in Wuwang Hill tries her hardest to watch her surroundings because the last time she was doing her job there you lured her deeper in the Hill horror style and gave her a jumpscare. Rumours from other agents that she still has nightmares about it.

You’re banned in Wanmin kitchen from trying to do the ‘When mom is not at home’ vine with Xiangling herself. Yanfei loves you but the amount of laws you break in one day is enough to fill up a whole book and because of that she has to restrain herself every time she sees you.

PS. The leash joke was a joke until you stepped foot in Mondstadt. Like you know how those windmills have doors at the very bottom so you can enter and climb the ladder safely? Yeah you tried climbing a windmill except you didn’t use the ladder and climb it like a resinless player.

One time you smuggled an anemo slime inside Mondstadt and used it as a trampoline. Let’s just say that the water on the fountain diminished to half on that day including minor casualties like a Calvary captain who was innocently passing by and ended up having a shower.

Tsurumi Island is a no no place to go because the two of you are asked to go there to light candles for spirits but you know what you did? You played fetch with the wolves. The only places that you’re allowed to go in Inazuma are Narukami Island and Watatsumi Island. Why? Because the last time you saw an electro barrier, you tried licking it.

Characters like Zhongli tries his best to keep himself calm because one Hu Tao is enough and suddenly there’s two of them and the new one is even more troublesome. Amber has to keep watch as well, she loves the chaos but challenging Andrius in a fist fight is not a good idea. One time, your best friend was having tea and talking with Cloud Retainer and then you suddenly went missing. Where did they find you? Napping inside Azhdaha’s domain.

The friendship between the two of you is often questioned by people around but none of you two cares. Yeah sure you get into trouble a lot and they save you in trouble a lot but at the end of the day, it’s not the chaos or the calm. It’s friendship.

So what if you’re chaotic? Maybe you’re troublesome but your chaotic curiosity always leads you to knowing your environment and knowing which road is dangerous. You get to see the things first and made sure you get to protect them as well. No harm will fall on your best friend, just like how no harm will go down to you.

As what Yin and Yang means, in bad there is good. In good there is bad. That is life…but it doesn’t mean you get to run in the morning and scare Timmie’s birds. Poor kid.

Taglist! @chihawari @zurithegalaxywolf

#sagau x reader #genshin imagines #genshin scenarios #genshin fanfic #genshin impact #genshin x reader #genshin impact x reader #genshin x you #genshin impact sagau #genshin sagau #sagau #sagau brainrot #sagau fluff #self aware genshin #genshin self aware au #genshin isekai

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ailelie · 19 days

Text

The Diazes Know the Future (This Isn't It)

This is complete and utter crack. Please do not take it seriously.

I've also thrown it on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/55094557

On the night after each of his children are born, Ramon dreams of their future spouse just as he'd once dreamed of his own future wife.

And Eddie, his beautiful boy, is going to marry a man with a bright smile and a bruise over one eye.

Ramon is not okay with that at first, but, by the time his son is old enough to walk and interrogate the world, he has accepted what will be. But he also knows the world will not be kind to his son who will love a man and so he does everything he can to ensure his son is strong, manly, and good.

Growing up Eddie shows no signs of his inclination, but this does not worry Ramon or Helena. They have prepared. They have a variety of cross-stitched flags hidden away for whatever identity Eddie eventually comes to them with--gay, bi, queer, or even demisexual.

So. Shannon is a surprise.

After Eddie meets Shannon, every hope and wish Ramon and Helena had for their son seems to diminish. They try to like Eddie's wife, but when Ramon looks at her, all he can see is a barrier between his son and happiness.

When they learn Chris, amazing Chris has CP, Helena whispers in bed one night if Ramon thought it was a sign. She immediately apologizes for the thought and never says anything to anyone else, but sometimes when their eyes meet during Eddie's long absence, he knows what she is thinking.

Then Eddie returns and Shannon leaves and Eddie decides to relocate his entire life with barely a plan and it seemed like everything was falling to pieces.

They just want him to be happy.

But then their son reaches out again. He is smiling again. After each call, Helena frets, wondering if she should apologize, but fearing re-opening the wound if she speaks up again.

Then they meet Buck. On Zoom first and Ramon loses his words for a second finally seeing the man he dreamed of nearly three decades prior. Helena keeps poking his arm in excitement while trying to sound normal. God only knows what Buck thinks.

And then Eddie says he'll be visiting due to work. Buck will be coming along, too. Helena gets out her old cross-stitch flags and fans them across the dining room table. "Which one, do you think? Should we frame it somewhere he can see?"

But. Eddie brings no announcements. He and Buck are friends. Not even dating. Ramon and Helena both keep looking for signs, but find none. When Eddie notices the framed pride flag on the mantle, he only says he hadn't realized his mom had gotten back into cross-stitching. He doesn't even notice it is a pride flag.

After he leaves, Ramon sinks down on the couch next to Helena and asks, "Where did we go wrong?"

When Eddie says he's dating again, they get their hopes up, only to be disappointed once more.

"Ana?" Ramon spits with disgust. "Why are all these women wrecking my boy's future?"

"He said Christopher needs a mother. Why does he think Christopher needs a mother? Did we teach him that?"

They look at each other in horror. Had they done this somehow?

"We will fix it," Ramon promises.

They start by letting Eddie know they love him and are proud of him. No matter what. Ramon makes a point of mentioning one of his friends has a lesbian daughter and how happy they all were she was getting married soon. Helena asks after Buck. Ramon asks after Buck.

They both wonder if Eddie even notices their fascination with Buck, or if he's just happy for the chance to wax poetic on his 'best friend' and spit spite toward Buck's girlfriends: Abby, Ali, Taylor, Natalia.

"He sounds very important to you," Helena says, faintly, after a particularly long tangent on Buck.

"Of course he is," Eddie responds, not even seeming to realize what he's saying. Then he tells them about his will.

They can tell he's braced for anger, but this? This finally makes sense.

"Sounds like a good decision," Ramon says.

"We know you've always done your best for Chris," Helena adds, hoping again that her words lessen the sting of the ones she said years before in frustrated anger.

"Thanks," Eddie says, but he looks confused. "Is everything all right?"

"Of course," they tell him.

When Pepa calls crowing about setting Eddie up with Marisol, Ramon wants to break something.

"I'm sure he doesn't need your help," he tells his sister. He refuses to out his son before he is ready, at least not to anyone other than Helena, but she's his mother and Ramon's wife; she's the exception.

Then finally they get a call.

"What's wrong, mijo?" Ramon asks after Eddie's attempts at conversation start and wither for a full ten minutes.

"Nothing. I don't know why I called."

"Is everything all right with Marisol?"

"Oh, fine. Or, not fine. We just broke up."

"Good," Ramon says before he can stop himself. Then, into Eddie's stunned silence he adds, "She was not right for you."

Eddie barks a short, humorless laugh at that. "Is anyone?" Then, while Ramon is trying to formulate a response that is more than just soothing words, Eddie blurts out, "Buck's bi."

Ramon pumps his fist, glad they're on the phone and not Zoom. Helena sees him and rushes over. "Is that Eddie?" she asks. "Did he--?"

He places his fingers over her lips to quiet her and shakes his head. 'Buck,' he mouths.

Her mouth drops into an oh.

"I'm putting you on speaker. Your mother is here."

He taps the speaker button and places the phone on the table. Helena leans over. "Congratulations to your friend, honey. Do you think he'd like a pride flag? I've got several."

Ramon can see they're abandoning all pretense at subtlety.

"Why would you have pride flags?" Eddie asks, bewildered.

"Just in case," Helena chirps.

"Right." Their son is skeptical. "So if Adriana or Sophia or I--"

"Yes," Ramon cuts in.

"Always," Helena adds.

"That's why we wanted you strong," Ramon adds. "People are not kind."

"I have no idea--thank you?"

"We love you," Helena says. "No matter what."

"No matter who you love, whatever their gender," Ramon continues. "You are ours. Always."

"I--oh, shit, I need to go. Love you!"

"You too."

They do not know how their words send Eddie's mind spinning. They do not see the automatic way he enters the 118 and slowly walks upstairs. Or how, instead of saying 'hello,' he says in an almost dreamlike voice, "I think my parents just gave me the coming out speech?" Because he's practiced that speech before, too, when Chris was younger. He wanted to be ready so he didn't freeze in the moment just in case.

They do not see the double takes his co-workers give him or the presses for information. They do not see how their son's cheeks slowly warm as he processes the phone call more fully. "They told me they loved me whoever I loved. Even if that person is a man."

Nor do they hear Hen ask in a too careful and confused voice, "Did you tell your parents you were queer?"

And their Eddie will laugh and shake his head, because he hadn't. But then, when Buck bounds upstairs with a too-happy smile, a stone will sink in his gut and he will bury his face into hands right then and there because he had. He just hadn't realized.

Ramon and Helena will know none of this until 36 hours later when their boy calls them once more and asks without preamble, "How did you know? I didn't even-- I don't--"

And Ramon hands the phone, still on speaker, to Helena who finally gets to use her years of research and she asks him, "Have you heard of demisexuality? There are many ways to explain, but my favorite is that you have to want someone with your heart before you can want them with your body. You have to share a heart first. Honey, from the first time you mentioned Buck to us, we could tell how much your heart reached for his. And these days, when you talk about him, his love of knowledge, his way with Chris, we see how much of your heart you've already shared."

"I love him, don't I?"

"We're happy for you," Ramon says, but he hates how lost Eddie sounds. Love should make people feel sure and steadfast, not at sea.

That's when Eddie tells them about Tommy.

"Why is Eddie's path so hard?" Helena asks him after they've hung up.

Ramon shakes his head, also wishing he knew.

Eddie calls more often after that. He hasn't told anyone else yet. He says he doesn't know how to tell anyone without it being a confession and he can't confess. He refuses to wreck Buck's happiness.

Their stupid self-sacrificial son.

"You could be his happiness," Ramon argues.

Eddie doesn't listen.

Helena sends two of her flags: a bisexual one for Buck and a demisexual one for Eddie.

She does not know how long Eddie stares at the white, purple, gray, and black flag after he opens the package. How he runs his fingers over the stitches like they burn him until he finally picks it up, clutches it to his chest, and cries because here is actual physical proof of everything his parents have been saying and promising. He hasn't disappointed them. He is loved.

She does not know it takes him two weeks to take the cross-stitched flag with him to work and hang it in his locker. Instead of coming out, he simply re-adjusts. He is demisexual and in love with his best friend. The world keeps turning. Some people notice the flag and he just confirms their questions with a smile and quick word. He doesn't want to talk about it. He just wants to let it be.

Helena and Ramon start calling Buck "your Buck" in phone calls to Eddie. He protests at first, but Ramon says he should have faith.

They're discussing another visit to El Paso when everything changes again. Eddie has them on speaker so he can talk while he cooks.

"Your abuela says you need to bring your Buck home with you this time. She wants to test how well he remembers her pozole recipe," Ramon says.

Helena laughs. "I still cannot believe you never questioned that. Even I had to earn that recipe and your Buck gets it on, what, his second meeting with her?"

"Fifth." The correction does not come from Eddie.

"Buck." That does.

"We will talk later," Helena says. "Love you."

And they hang up even though neither of them wishes to. But if this is the moment that their son finally gets happiness, they aren't going to risk ruining it.

The next hour is nothing but nervous energy. Helena frogs a nearly-finished glove just to keep her hands busy. Ramon cleans.

Their phone chimes with a text. It is from Eddie. And it reads:

'My Buck. Thank you.'

Helena slumps into Ramon and he wraps his arm around her.

Finally.

#fic i want to read #buddie #not!fic #supportive diaz parents #fic

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prsk-krow · 1 year

Note

(Overworked Niigo x Reader)

What do you do when you want to help a team who’s been pretty burnt out over their last couple of songs?

A good relaxing game of Mario Party of course!

(Or any party game in general, if that’s okay with you.)

First request answered in like... 3 months? I am so sorry, but I hope that whoever this anon is, they can see this. -.- Also, time for a few format additions...

{Niigo and Mario party!}

▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱▰▱

Kanade Yoisaki

)─── ･｡ﾟ*.☽ .* •ﾟ. ───(

Kanade is surprisingly calm playing any games outside from horror, and she is rarely taunted by the enraging side of competitive luck based ones like Mario party. If Mafuyu wasn't there, she'd probably be the most calm!

She is a follower of the 'its just a game' mentality, and that just makes it harder to get her to react strongly to anything this game can throw at her! That does diminish the excitement though...

That being said, the kindness of her words and actions, no matter outside the game or not, makes it hard for anyone to target her as a victim of mini games or thefts! She's just too nice to take advantage of!

But if anyone does, they better be ready for the others to gang up on whoever tries to ruin the soft angel's plans! Especially with players like the artist and the video editor! How dare they!

"A-ah, wait, you don't really need to steal from them that much... I understand that they did the same to me, but isn't that how you play this game? ... Because it's me? I'm sorry, I don't think I get it..."

In the end, the composer is one of the players that wins the most, mainly because everyone almost always stays out of her way, and only luck can decide if she wins or not! Without the interference of others, it's not hard to see her winning games!

Mafuyu Asahina

●══════⋆☆⋆══════●

The one that never reacts to anything. Not just because she has a resistance, but because she doesn't understand the point of a luck based game. Fun? What's that?

She especially has problems thinking about why this game makes it so easy to let your plans and strategies come tumbling down, be that because of luck or someone else's actions.

The realization of the nature of a troll game never really sets in, and she mostly just plays to try to win, even with all of the signs of a casual game to just mess with your friends. Yeah, Mafuyu doesn't get the vibe...

Eventually, she decides to just opt out and watch, which is a decision that will become pretty frequently in these game nights. Maybe try to get her to play less rng based games next time?

"So, it just changes your position with another player you can't even choose? That's stupid. It's low price, but i don't see why you would even bother in the first place. Am I ruining the mood? Oh. I still don't get it."

When she does play, she does a pretty good job ending in 2nd or 1st, but without her on the playing board, nothing can really be predicted. At least she gives advice whenever they ask for their opinion...?

Ena Shinonome

•————•°•✿•°•————•

The worst rager. By far. Ena already gets angry at two of her partners, so at a game that has a history of destroying friendships with pure luck? Yeah she'll be screaming at the screen sooner than later.

At first she is fooled by the friendly and lightheaded looks of the game, and assumes that this is just going to be relaxing and enjoyable! Boy is she wrong.

The moment she realizes just how bad this game gets is when she first misses her star because of a bad roll, and then all of the wonder she had for this game is immediately gone, vanishing in the wind.

She will get angry at this game, at its luck based strategies, at its seemingly random and confusing mini games, at the thieves of coins and stars. Combined with the fact that she just wanted a normal game to wind down from work, and...

"Oh, COME ON!! A one?? Really? As soon as I'm about to turn things around and create an opportunity to win this game refuses to give it to me?? What is this, a psychological experiment??"

Her placements are never the same, sometimes she does luck out and wins, sometimes she loses by a few coins. The worst thing is that no matter what, she'll always be just a tad bit away from a different placement...

Mizuki Akiyama

>—~—~— *.୨୧.* —~—~—<

The worst(Best?) troll. They get so much enjoyment out of messing with their dear artist friend, so making them play a game that's meant to infuriate the ones playing them is like their home turf.

As soon as they play the first turn they immediately understand and synchronize with the game. The luck, the unfairness, everything! It all clicks at once, and the grin that appears on their face already spells danger...

It won't take long for them to start creating strategies and using items not to win, but instead to screw with the others! Especially Ena. Actually, screw with only Ena, probably.

Why? Well, the composer is too sweet, and the lyrics writer probably wouldn't even react, so that leaves only one person left to mess with throughout the entire game!

"Oh, whoops! Looks like that star is going somewhere else! Hehe, a bit too late there, huh Ena?? Aww, don't get so mad! As Mafuyu says, it's just a game, isn't it?? Hehe, I can't get enough of your reactions! It's so much fun!"

They honestly couldn't care less about their actual placements! As long as they get to do some tomfoolery, they don't care about winning or losing a single bit!

#project sekai #project sekai headcanons #project sekai imagines #project sekai x reader #prsk #pjsk #pjsekai #kanade yoisaki #yoisaki kanade #mafuyu asahina #asahina mafuyu #ena shinonome #shinonome ena #mizuki akiyama #akiyama mizuki #/cawcanons #/🦋anon!

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scribble-dribble-writes · 1 year

Text

Loveless - (9)

<<<Prev Next>>>

---

Pairing: Namor x Shuri

Featured appearance: Everett Ross

Word Count: 1500

Warning: none

---

Chapter 9

Everett’s idea of loyalty had always been tarnished, the life of a double agent was always littered with moments of looking over your shoulder and never trusting anyone. When he heard of the events in the Atlantic, loosing two of his friends to the only nation he trusted reinstated the one true fact that he lived by, he can never depend on anyone in this job. He couldn't quite understand the obsession people in his line of work had for Vibranium. So it’s the rarest in the world but it’s not worth losing life over. Not worth pillaging another land for.

His life was kept under a microscope, one because people suspected him, the other because his ex wife enjoyed making his life miserable. And because of her he was headed to prison in an orange jumpsuit that only made him look a lot more paler than usual. But all that was now in the past and yet as his career went up in flames, he felt reassured. Even though his trust in them wavered, they did not let him to his fate. All that was only because of his late dear friend, Tchalla. That now, instead of being an accomplice he had the ability to get away before he was forced to tear open a land with his own bare hands and hurt the memory of the person that had saved his life.

It was the thought of letting anyone get close enough to diminish what Tchalla had built cause dissonance withing himself but it made working against the CIA all the more better. Where he had found himself now however, was altering. When he walked out to get some fresh air, the truth sunk in that he was the only American in Wakanda, he was the minority. In a land that remained untainted by the horrors of the real world, knowing what he knew now, he knew dreams could turn into nightmares in an instant. History was taking place all around him and he was a part it, to sit on a bench alone to witness it. To think this new world power had all but been hidden right under their noses made him feel tiny in the other multitudes of unknown elements that could exist around him.

But as he saw the display of such vibrant cultures in front of him, his panic rose, remembering Valentina’s glee as she said, she dreamed of a day when America hoarded Vibranium. Her glee will turn into a sadistic snarl if she discovered how unique the Talokans were. She will have them be captured, to be tamed and studied to extract their biological qualities to create bio warfare weapons. No stone is left unturned in her presence. She will get what she wants at any cost. His senses lost grip of reality, overwhelmed by the facts and figures that littered his mind, the end probability not looking favourable to the people here. Helplessness set it, that even if he tried, he could never stop it, stop her. She was accustomed to play by her own rule book, hiding in plain sight, tilting the world towards her goal through any means necessary. He raked his mind, he had been in the force longer than her, her strategies were too wild to be studied, too dirty to be played but if she was his opponent, he would have to beat her in her own game and for that, this time, he cannot do it alone. He had to let Shuri know, he had to track down Valentina, he had to…

He had to try damn it, before it was too late.

M’baku managed the royal duties well, the tribes were satisfied and so he eased back into the throne. He had come to enjoy the silence more after having to witness the constant chatter of the tribal elders. But with the Dora milaje striking their spears into the floor the doors swung open, and there it went, his moment of rest. In walked a small American man looking out of place in his Wakandan outfit. A chuckle reverberated through his chest. “Ah the infamous CIA Liliput.”, he found it amusing, he had only just finished reading ‘Gulliver’s travels'. But the levity of the situation died upon noticing the distraught expression on this man’s face, he became serious. “What is it?”, he asked.

“Are you going to make gorilla noises again if I were to speak?”, Everett asked as he halted in front of the throne. “Depends.”, the king cocked his eyebrow. “I have intel on a possible threat for Wakanda.”, he shared his thought. M’baku sat back but his shoulder remained stiff. "What does it entail?", he asked and watched the agent sigh. "War.", he replied. He knew Wakanda could not survive another war, even more so now with added complexities, chaos will rain down. He clutched the edge of his staff as he held it close. Peace was beginning to become Wakanda’s rarest resource. He always had a hunch, the elders whispered about it, the need for their country to prepare weapons of war. But with Shuri back, his mind eased, she took care of the advancements, it was one less thing to worry about. He would have to convene another meeting, these gatherings were beginning to feel stagnant. No one ever settled on topic or a decision, making his attempt to be a fair ruler restraining. He called for the members of the court, all of them would have to hear it.

Everett felt nervous deep within. Partly with the fear that not all of the people here would even value his take on the matter. He watched as the elders assumed their seats, when there was one that looked out of place, like it had been dragged out of the sea. Shuri entered, he eased, a warm smile on his face but it wavered when he realised the missing presence in the room. The queen had passed suddenly and he didn’t know how. What are you friends hiding?, Valentina's voice clawed it's way into his mind. He had only spoken with her a few days ago before the news aired. He felt the gravity of that loss, what if it had been targeted? To stir the spark to break the strong defense she held. Making it the perfect ground for someone else to take over. Shuri held herself gracefully, if he did not know about the events that had happened, he would have assumed everything was fine. His grief would mean nothing compared to hers. But his heart went out to the young princess as she took her place, what he was about to say might only prove to her that she had yet have a lot more to lose.

The buzzing court grew silent upon the emergence of the last person. The doors closed with a thud behind him. He did not know this man, who walked towards the lone chair leaving wet footprints, wings on his ankles settled and tucked in. His glare scanned the room, a robe pinned across his neck. Everett recognized the jewelery he wore much similar to people outside, he had only seen such items in museums before. Slowly, like a map beginning to make sense, Everett put the pieces together, to connect the dots of all the information he had gathered. The attacks in the Atlantic, Ramonda’s fear as she refrained from saying anything more. The people in the market, their water masks, their discolored skin, his eyes widened. As he watched this new man take his seat, he knew who he was. He was the new world power. He ruled the seas. Pinching the edge of his wrist in the hopes that this was just a bad dream, his nails pierced into skin with the reaffirming sting of reality. This new being was real.

His fear began to swirl, was he like Thanos? His mind fell into the depths of anxiety, reminded of the time the world mourned the dusted. His chest began to heave, none of his PTSD relieving strategies were working now. All this was so much bigger, and more complicated than he had anticipated. Valentina unknowing, was going to disrupt a hive of bees. The balance of the life he knew, now balanced on a pin. The man’s gazed landed on Everett and he felt like a sardine gaping at a great white. His eyes darkened like he was closing in on his prey. “Who is this man?”, he roared within the room, making Everett fall back into his seat. He watched as he gripped his spear, the wings on his ankles beginning to flutter, sounding like the rattle of a snake. This would the second time he had come close to death. He anticipated the whiz of the metal and then the pain. “He is our American ally.”, Shuri spoke up quickly. Her voice in a tone that seemed to get through to him. Everett watched as the man’s face relaxed into confusion. He stood still, Everett’s heart unwilling to calm down. “An ally?”, he asked turning to her. Shuri nodded, this interaction causing him to take his seat. But his eyes burned when they landed on him. It was eerie, to meet a man who had already hated him having never known him. M’baku grunted from the throne. “Glad we do not have to kill each other. I will not be cleaning that mess.”, he shifted his staff between his hands.

Namor’s knuckles turned white as he held it around his spear. Anger coursing through his blood, this stranger’s presence disturbing him. Paranoia working into his mind. None of it made sense, the fact this man was loyal to Wakanda, it had to be a lie. He held back, watching him as he walked to the middle of the room, fear in his eyes anytime he glanced his way. He was the reason his people had to run. He wanted to run loose, like a shark on a rampage, but when he caught the eyes of the princess focused on him as though she knew what plan he was stringing together in his head but it also held a warning and the sign of a test. He sighed. A few days ago in the lab, she helped heal his wing. Not out of duty to the throne but out of her own volition, she had a heart too big to keep it contained that she shared it with beasts like him. He cannot destroy it again, their fragile friendship that swayed like a reed in troubled waters. He relaxed into his seat, this was just another political meeting, he was a just ruler, he dug deep into the pit of his very being to find the tolerance he needed to consider the man who stood in front of him, a loyal ally. For her sake, he will listen to what this man had to say.

----

Ooooo trouble ahead ⚠️

Tags (your comments make my day 😍):

@mazune @lilsadb-itch @orlandoblumhouseofguccimane @hypernhappy @elmush @paperback-writer0807 @sirenbeloved @aslutforscarletwitch99 @gotship123456 @girlymusiclover09 @hoeforsuk @plutosundercoverking @championofthegalaxy @theheartofgrey @wonderkimi-chat @theamericanjewitch @amillylove20 @goldshawty1001 @euphoricjupiter @queenoffantasyland @terrab3 @dumbbcam @1000heartbeats @agirlwithwinter @fartdart25 @wxnderstruck @sheisbrunetteworld @ijustwanttopasstime @namurii @presidentlokiluvrsblog @itgetzweird08 @littlepadika-main @did-i-ask-no @sorandomfangirl @babybubastis @denise-huxxtable @mhj-url @yippeeki-yah @darlingdandridge @gervi86 @geeyooo @therealoutereffect @notredamneit @Ilevame-a-la-lunaa @queen-of-knowhere @deluluzone @sheontcare @jupiter9545 @fandomsleaveuemotionallyscarred @too-many-atoms @lavenderhazel95 @33shadowhunters

#shuri x namor #tenoch huerta namor #namor #mcu namor #namor x shuri #shuri black panther #queen shuri #shuri #shuramor #mcu shuri #mcu fic

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go-to-the-mirror · 1 year

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@a-mag-a-day

Before I get into the relisten: hot jon rights.

This is going to be another stream of consciousness ramble. Maybe I'll say something good, maybe I won't.

(The official transcript.)

CW for a little bit of paranoia inducing rambling about Alternates from TMC.

BREEKON That's right. Just wanted… to… to drop off a package.

The way Breekon speaks, all broken up. It's just so sad :(

BREEKON Dunno. ‘s not right on my own. Not right. No point in doing it on my own. Dunno what happens now. Thought I might kill you. Missed my chance. Thought I might just deliver something. So, here’s a coffin. In case you want… to join your friend.

It's sad about Breekon hours :( How are you supposed to mourn for a part of yourself? How are you supposed to heal when you're literally incomplete.

BREEKON Make me. [A whooshing noise starts to rise with Breekon’s words, but immediately ceases when the Archivist speaks] ARCHIVIST Stop. [Heavy static rises] BREEKON What’re you doing? BASIRA Jon, what are you doing? BREEKON What’re you— Stop it. Stop it! ARCHIVIST No. [Breekon winces in pain] BREEKON Enough! Stop looking at me! [Breekon lets out a final cry and flees, a door is hear distantly. Static diminishes]

HOT JON RIGHTS!!!! I love this part it's so cool!!! He's so cool.

We started in a plague. Not like the nasty crawlers, but like bringing any other doom.

Fun fact about me, when I learned about the bubonic plague in primary school I was terrified. Not really of getting sick, though I think it was part of it, but of a red cross painted on a door, a mark of death. I was scared of the certainty that if I was infected, I would die. And no one would try to help, for fear of their own demise.

Not really relevant, but there it is.

Two strangers rolling towards them, unstoppable and uncertain, wearing faces they would only half remember, bringing a fate they would beg their god to forget. They could not hate us any more than they might have hated the rock that falls on them from a crumbling cliff. They did not know us, but they knew what we might do to them, what we might bring them.

This! This is the fear of The Stranger that actually gets me. Not the clowns or the mannequins or whatever, I'm not actually that freaked out by those, and I have yet to find art of Nikola that would actually freak me out or scare me. It's this kind of stuff and the Strangers from WTNV. Standing, staring, they could be right behind you, they're not doing anything but they might, they might at any moment attack. They're unfamiliar and strange and you have to be on your guard because you don't know what to expect, but they don't do anything, they just wait, as your dread grows ever higher.

Horror like that makes me very paranoid. I have a page in my notebook of trying to convince myself that the Alternates from The Mandela Catalogue weren't real, and what I was most freaked out about with them was that they could be anywhere. They could be posing as your friends, they could be in the corner of your room, they could be a puppet show on TV, they could be right behind you.

Don't turn around.

He squeezed its first owner until they stopped, and dumped them in a river, and I stayed with the second until they didn’t know who they were any more than they knew what they were.

The Stranger is weird. <3

The winter in Russia was cold, and in the icy air the absence of our breath was clear for all to see.

I like imagining that, something subtly wrong, you don't even notice it until you do, and when you do, you can't stop noticing it.

I have never known hate before. I have never known loss. But now they are with me always, and I desire nothing but to share them with you.

Don't know what to say to this. Just... :(

BASIRA And don’t open the coffin. ARCHIVIST It is addressed to me… … Yes, alright. You’re right.

I like his sense of humour. It's similar to mine sometimes.

Anyway! This is over! I only said a couple things of worth, but I hope you enjoyed the look into my mind regardless!

#the magnus archives #tma #mag 128 #breekon and hope #tmc #jonathan sims #a mag a day #landscaping your mind chapter one

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allthatglittersisnotgoldrush · 7 months

Note

I’ve been thinking a lot about the brotherly dynamic between Celegorm and Maedhros, especially after reading the last few chapters. From my perspective, Maedhros seems to view Celegorm as a better example of what an older brother should be (should have been). While, on the other hand, Celegorm adores Maedhros. Sometimes, I think that Celegorm tries to see Mae clearly but can’t go too deep into understanding him because it feels like criticizing him. Out of all the brothers, Maedhros knows that Celegorm will be the one to protect the family. He’s as unyielding as a mountain. I think Maedhros knows Celegorm is smart where it matters most (even though everyone else doubts it). That’s probably why Mae thinks of Celegorm whenever he’s close to death.

Am I completely wrong? 😅 I probably am haha. What are your thoughts on the relationship of these two brothers? These two young men who try their hardest to do away with their sensitivity in favor of strength.

P.S. I read three published books this past month and NONE compare to your Gold Rush. I want to print it, bind it in gold, and paint miniature images of your stories like a medieval monk would.

“These two young men who try their hardest to do away with their sensitivity in favor of strength”

Ok first of all I will post links here to a few select fics from our massive list that illustrate EXACTLY the relationship you have described, because far from being completely wrong in your interpretation, you are completely RIGHT. It is difficult to even add any of my own thoughts as you have already articulated them very well!!!

Mae does see Celegorm as being naturally better suited to being the eldest and a leader than he is (which we know from canon . . Isn’t true) and also recognizes that Celegorm is actually very intelligent, when most people assume otherwise. He is so relieved currently to have Celegorm to lean on; out of all his brothers i think he views Celegorm as his peer the most. If he had to leave anyone in charge again, he might not choose Maglor. Celegorm, however, wants Maedhros to continue to be the exceptional eldest; to have to admit that Maedhros has been changed by his time in Angband is a horror to him.

Celegorm wants to keep his worship of Mae as the eldest alive, but he has always been most perceptive of the brothers (besides perhaps Caranthir). He understood what was happening when his parents would fight and Mae would have to peacekeep. He understood that if he came home from wandering and wasn’t scolded for missing chores, it’s because Mae did his work to cover for him. Mae’s language of love is so frequently nonverbal and sacrificial, and Celegorm is sensitive to injustice; he has thus always understood instinctively when Mae is doing anything out of love, and has understood too how to give Mae love back in ways that don’t burden him. This used to be a really easy balance between them. Since Mae was captured and returned, it’s all been knocked askew.

Celegorm loves Mae so much he can’t bear to consider that Mae /has/ been diminished or damaged in any way by his time in captivity, after Celegorm failed to rescue him; meanwhile Mae loves and respects Celegorm so much, he can’t bear for Celegorm to think him weak. They should talk about this, but neither wants the other to think worse of them, so they don’t. The result is . . . Increasing dysfunction, borne out of mutual love and disappointment/fear.

#admin mythopoeia #gold rush au #gold rush au asks

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mangher · 8 months

Text

Eun . male . 20 . human

Eun was born into luxury. His money is unlimited, his spendings lavish, his clothes costing more than some people's rent. He's never had to work a day in his life, and probably never will either, as he is to inherit his father's wealth at some point.

Of course, in order to inherit it, he has had to study and graduate with top numbers. He is still in college, but is getting through that. Eun is studying law. Safe to say he's academically relatively gifted, though not the smartest. He will have to put work into his studies in order to succeed.

Eun also likes to party, he likes to flirt. He is all for a good time and is of the opinion that one should buy themselves something nice, especially if it's been a rough day. This means, Eun can be seen shopping about once a week, but at a minimum once every two weeks.

With his wealth does of course come paranoia. Eun has heard enough horror stories from the people his father associates with, as well as other rich kids he himself has been friends with during his private high school years. Has very little friends, due to this.

Eun tries his best to blend in with "common folk" but he does stick out like a sore thumb most of the time. Eun has never cooked in his life, having a chef come cook him his meals, and he also has a maid come clean after him daily.

Details:

both his eyes have (central) heterochromia, making them have two colors; pink and blue

short, messily styled white hair, with a longer fringe covering one eye

piercings in both ears

a small tattoo on the inner wrist of his right hand

180cm tall

likes pudding and frozen yoghurt

favorite fruit is honey dew and berry are raspberries

lime based alcoholic drinks are his go to

With the life he lives, he can recognize brands far away, and also is able to tell if the item is fake or not. It's nearly impossible to scam him.

He does have a bodyguard tailing him, but he's also taken martial arts for self defense purposes. Still takes those classes, making sure he doesn't get too rusty. Thus far, he's had to use those skills twice in his life.

Eun does think he can get away with almost anything, as long as money is involved. This train of thought has somewhat diminished over the years he's been studying law, but sometimes, he will try to talk his way into places he's got no right to enter with a little bit of... sweet talk and some convincing in paper format.

Lives in a modern, luxury loft apartment his father has paid for him.

He's got a hard time accepting a 'no' for an answer, or being told 'no', since he's always gotten what he asks for.

#. 銀 . muse info #one baBIE

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d4rkhold · 2 years

Text

the quietest crescendo (Agatha Harkness x Fem!Reader)

OVERVIEW: Your current piano tutor moves away to take up a new job in a different country, and you are left with a new teacher - a strange and alluring creature who inevitably draws you into her orbit. For what you didn’t know, her world was painted in a purple that was harsh and almost monstrous.

WORD COUNT: 3.7k

WARNINGS: None in this chapter.

A/N: Hello everyone! Here’s an Agatha-related AU that I have been thinking about in my head for a few months (only for me to give into the urge of throwing all my ideas onto an actual draft and turning it into an actual fic)... This will be several chapters - however, I only have Chapter 1 finished and Chapter 2 roughly planned out. Special thanks to my two lovely friends who beta-read this for me (they won’t see this, but I LOVE YOU GUYS). Anyways, I hope you all enjoy reading this fic! (Also if you want to be added to a taglist for future chapters, feel free to let me know & DMs are always open). You can also find me on AO3 (same user as this one).

“Words have no power to impress the mind without the exquisite horror of their reality.” - Edgar Allen Poe.

Your curiosity had betrayed you tonight as you looked at the empty doorway and stopped to hear for any signs of movement nearby. Fluorescent lights from buildings and traffic signals out on the streets were the only illumination source where beams of light seeped through the large window of the hallway outside the office. The carpet under your feet, which was usually soft, felt like eggshells as you were conscious with each step you took, slowly making your way around the large oak desk. You couldn't tell if the murmuring noises you initially heard before entering the room were getting quieter or if your thumping heart was trying to drown out the unnerving commotion.

Exquisite paintings decorated the walls amongst dark green paint, and an unlit fireplace was concave within the walls of one side of the room. You noted the items on the desk: a simple lamp, a brooch with a motif you were unfamiliar with, and sheets of music scattering the desk's surface with scribbles of blue ink on them. You clutched the score in your arms tighter as you suddenly realised the strange sounds were getting louder.

They seemed to be coming from one of the draws, which led you to open the top ones, only to find more arbitrary personal items within them. But when your hand reached the bottom drawer, the sounds ceased for a second. You almost thought you had imagined the whole unusual situation until you pulled open the drawer to reveal a charcoal-stained book with peculiar shapes and symbols on its cover - and to your dismay, it was glowing slightly amber. A lump formed in your throat, and you poked up above the desk's height to observe any movement in the hallway again.

Right, you had to do something about your terrible nosiness later, as now you had the book in your hands, heavier than you anticipated it to be. You grazed a hand over the jagged cover, eyes wide in awe of its peculiarity, for you had never seen something so unusual before. As you began to open it up to the first page, the murmuring noises started up again, but this time they were more aggressive and high-pitched, causing you to drop it unexpectedly.

As if the book itself had snitched on you, a familiar figure suddenly stood in the doorway, her eyes cold and piercing. You felt your throat go dry and your heart threatening to claw its way out of your chest as if it also didn’t want to be there at that moment.

“Aren’t you a nosey one, darling?” A low voice muttered from the other side of the room and you swore you saw a purple glint in her eye. She stepped into the office, shutting the door with a click, and you felt the world around you diminish. There was also the sheet music for Brahm’s Intermezzo, left forgotten and wrinkled, on the carpet floor near your shoes. You could not think of a better alternative to dying at that very moment.

---

The sound of laptop lids simultaneously shutting echoed throughout the lecture theatre. People around you shuffled in their seats, shoving laptops and books into bags, eager to head out and into the weekend. It wasn’t a surprise that the classroom today wasn’t packed as it usually was, considering that semester break was only a week away. “That’s it for today. Have a good weekend, and see you all next week.” Chattering filled the room that was jarringly silent about a few minutes ago. “Oh, and class - don’t forget your last quiz of the semester is due next week.”

Physics was not your best subject, but it also wasn’t your worst. You enjoyed it a reasonable amount, but you were still trying to adjust to the amount of work that was expected of you. Yet, it was an interesting subject to learn about, as your class was currently learning about quantum physics which you really enjoyed.

You were still typing away while almost a third of the theatre had already started to empty out. As you finished up typing a to-do list for the weekend, you felt the hard nudge of an elbow dig into your side. “Ouch! What was that for?!” You exclaimed.

Darcy had an unamused look on her face. “Everyone is almost gone! Class is over; can’t you finish that later?” She crossed her arms. You sighed and rolled your eyes as you saved your notes and shut off your laptop. “You don’t have a single ounce of patience in you, do you?” You muttered, grabbing your things and shoving them in your bag.

“I really do not,” She grinned. “Anyways, it’s Friday, and Monica texted me earlier today asking if you want to grab a bite to eat and head back to her place. Kate’s coming as well,” You stood up and started to follow her out of the classroom. You and Darcy Lewis met during first-year physics and have become good friends ever since. She had told you that she was planning to go into astrophysics and thinking about doing a PhD afterwards. However yourself? Well, you weren’t too sure where you were heading but had some vague ideas about what you wanted to do.

You were just about to tell her you were keen to come along, but then you remembered the wrapped gift in your bag. Today was your last piano lesson with your teacher, Professor Woo (he always urged you to just call him Jimmy), and you wanted to give him a farewell gift. He was one of the state’s finest pianists and had stopped playing professionally a few years ago to become a piano teacher. Aside from his astounding skills, he was patient and got along with people of all ages. The reason for his resignation was that he was offered to mentor a group of young “prodigies” in New York, aiming to play professionally one day. Speaking of ‘playing professionally’, your mother had wanted you to become a professional pianist. You’ve been playing the piano since the age of ten - enrolled by your mother, who was a beautiful player herself and had played competitively during her youth. However, you always kept piano as a side hobby and nothing more, despite your mother’s frequent suggestions over the years that you had great potential and should pursue it further.

You loved playing the piano. It was your catharsis through thick and thin; with each melody of every song you played, you could feel it unravel the tension of the day within your body. You weren’t the greatest player, but you were somewhat proficient and could keep up with a couple of relatively complex pieces after many hours of practice.

“Crap… I have my last piano lesson with Jimmy today, and he’s moving away for good,” You sighed. “I won’t be able to make it tonight; I’m sorry.”

“You’re so boring-” Darcy winced as you punched her shoulder playfully. “Ouch, I was just kidding!” You laughed at her reaction, and she stuck her tongue out at you.

The two of you exited through the doors and saw Monica leaning against the wall. She was holding a stack of textbooks in her hands and perked up when she saw you and Darcy approaching. She seemed to struggle to balance the items in her arms as she tried to give the two of you a wave but struggled as she tried to prevent her books from falling onto the ground. “Hey, Monica… How’s it… Uhh… going?” Darcy’s eyes widened as she repeatedly looked at Monica and back down at the books in her hands as the two of you approached her. You held out your hands to Monica, who passed a couple of books and gave you a thankful look.

“Oh Lord, thank you, Y/N,” She straightened her back. “Well… As you guys can see,” She cleared her throat. “It’s not looking too good for me… Professor Hayward said that our exam is in five weeks, so I decided to get some extra resources from the library because he teaches so badly. As well as that, my back has been killing me with all these books I have to carry around all day! I’m so over this week.”

The three of you started to make your way outside. It was only the middle of Autumn, and you noticed that it became slightly colder every day. Star-shaped leaves of various shades of orange and brown scattered the ground like a mosaic of earthy hues while rows of trees stood unmovingly and bare in the still afternoon. “Oh yeah, Monica, Y/N said she’s not able to make it this evening because it’s her piano teacher’s last day. How lame of her, don’t you think?” You rolled your eyes upon seeing the smirk on Darcy’s face. “Darcy, don’t be a bully… It’s fine, Y/N, have a good lesson, okay?” Monica smiled.

“Alright, I’ll see you guys next week,” You tucked a strand of hair behind your ear as a cool breeze passed by. “Tell Kate I said ‘hi’.” Monica nodded and waved at you with her phone in hand. “We’ll text you! And of course.” Darcy was busy trampling the leaves on the side of the path, which produced a satisfying “crunch” every time she stood on one. As you turned to leave, you swore you heard a protest from Darcy as Monica urged her: “Hurry up, we still have to get food!” You chuckled to yourself as you started to make your way to your lesson.

---

It only took around eight minutes to get from your last lecture to the music building you were so familiar with, situated just on the outskirts of the city. The building itself was considered ‘old’ to many who set their eyes upon it. It must have attained its prehistoric label due to the fact that there was an old church not so far away from it and how every other surrounding building seemed to appear relatively more modern. You often thought that the music building would’ve been renovated or upgraded by now, but it hadn’t been, and you were somewhat relieved. You loved it the way it was; its ‘oldness’ stuck out to you with its corinthian-styled pillars at the entrance and the tall archways that decorated the exterior and interior.

Every time you stepped into the building, there was a feeling of something similar to sanctity in the air as you stood in the foyer, where an old resplendent chandelier hung elegantly from the high ceiling above you and groups of people lingered and talked before and after music lessons. You made your way through a set of large wooden doors and then proceeded to make your way up a set of stairs. The building was around four stories tall - and it wasn’t just pianists who were getting lessons: there were violinists, trumpeters, drummers, and many more to name.

When you reached the top of the stairs, you made your way down the hallway, heading for the room where Jimmy always tutored you. Entering the small room, you let out a gentle huff as you placed your bag down and sat on the piano stool. Just after a few minutes, there was a knock on the door, and you perked up when you saw a familiar face poke around the corner with a warm smile. “How’s it going?”

You crossed your arms in mock anger. “Actually, I’m not doing very well because somebody is moving to a different country to lead a bunch of tiny future Frédéric Chopins.” Jimmy laughed at that as he closed the door behind him and sat on the chair next to you.

“‘Future Frédéric Chopins’... That’s funny.” He put down his own bag on the floor. “Well, there goes that humour I’m going to miss. As well as that, you’ve been a fantastic player and a pleasure to teach as always.”

“Thank you, but please don’t make me cry - the lesson hasn’t even started yet.”

45 minutes had passed, and Jimmy was going over some parts of Beethoven's ‘Für Elise.’ It was such a gentle and graceful piece to play - certainly one of your favourites. However, more often than not, you did slip up on the second section of the music - the more virtuosic part, which was relatively more complicated to play at a satisfactory speed. “You don’t need to rush. Just slow it down. Remember, we need to slowly build up our tempo and rhythm before diving right into this section.” Jimmy gave you an assuring look, and you nodded in acknowledgement.

“Alright, I think that’s all.” He smiled warmly. “Well done today. You’re doing well. Beethoven would be proud, in my opinion.” You let out a small laugh, then remembered the gift you had for him. You almost jumped out of your seat, ignoring his quizzical look and pulled out a wrapped-up box from your bag to present to him.

“You are very generous, thank you.” Jimmy smiled as he took the box from your hands. He began to unwrap the gift to reveal a woolly dark green scarf. He gave you an appreciative smile, which made you start to feel tears well in your eyes because you had reminded yourself that this was the last time you would most likely see him. You gave him a hug. “Thank you. It’s fantastic. This will definitely go well with the snow in New York.”

After a brief moment of shedding tears - which were mostly yours - and saying your goodbyes (and to your surprise, he presented you with a small gift as well), you both fetched your things. “Oh, I just remembered. The tutor who will replace me is in the building today. Do you want to meet her now? She won’t bite, I assure you.” Rolling your eyes, you scoffed with amusement. “Sure, it won’t hurt, I guess.” He chuckled and made his way out the door to fetch your new teacher, leaving you alone in the room.

For a moment, you stood alone in the small familiar room with the brown piano that was perched against the wall, trying to listen intently to the noises coming from nearby rooms. You could almost faintly hear the sound of a violin through sound-proof walls and light laughter coming from the stairwell. The building today was quieter than unusual — probably due to the fact that it was a Friday afternoon and the start of the semester break was closing in very soon. You turned and headed to the window to gaze outside, observing how the sky was becoming quite gloomy, threatening to rain later on. There were cars whizzing on the streets below, as well as the flowing crowds of people on the pavement, all hurrying to get to their destinations.

It was interesting to think about who would become your new tutor. In all honesty, you were somewhat nervous about meeting the person who would now be teaching you how to play Beethoven and so on. What if you didn’t get along with your new tutor, or what if the two of you wouldn’t see eye-to-eye? Some musicians you were acquainted with mentioned that some instrumentalists were excellent at playing but weren’t as good at teaching. Taking in a breath, you assured yourself that it would be a fresh start nevertheless and wouldn’t be that big of a deal.

You continued to stare out the window until the gentle clearing of the throat all but caused you to break away from your daydream. Turning around, you saw Jimmy enter the room, followed by a woman who suddenly made the breath in your throat hitch. So much for not being a big deal, you thought.

Aphrodite had nothing on her, for the woman had wavy brown hair that fell past her shoulders and cerulean-blue eyes which were more captivating than any ocean you’ve ever seen, urging you to sink and dive into the depths of her oceanic irises.

Jimmy closed the door. “You’re lucky that I caught her; she was just on her way out.”

Hands in pockets, she made her way over to you, pulled out a hand, and held it in your direction. “Hello darling, the name’s Agatha Harkness.” She spoke, her voice low and alluring. In all her beauty, you noticed she had a mysterious demeanour, an unusual coolness and a formidable aura that surrounded her. As well as that, ever since she entered the room just minutes ago, you could faintly smell traces of lavender essence in the air. She was the earth's electromagnetic field, and you were drawn to her orbit, her mere presence making you want to shy away but be close to her simultaneously. You told yourself that you were just lonely in terms of romantic interests. Nobody really has piqued your curiosity for a long time - or as Darcy had bluntly put it: “You hardly leave your apartment, of course, you’re not going to find anyone to swoon over.” In all honesty, she was somewhat correct - you didn’t really go out that much as you were busy fretting over your studies most of the time. However, that led to you having a lack of experience with proper relationships and an occasional melancholic prick to the heart.

You took her hand and shook it, thumbs and fingers brushing against hers while you met her gaze, a sudden heat creeping over your collarbones. “‘I’m Y/N Y/L/N. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Professor Harkness.”

A soft smirk formed on her lips. “Oh, the pleasure is all mine. Woo has been telling me how much of a lovely student you are. I’ll just have to wait and see how you play, though, my dear.” You felt your face grow warm, her sultry words and piercing gaze suddenly becoming too much. It took every inch of your body to resist averting your eyes to avoid coming off rude. How can one being subjected to Agatha’s sole attention threaten to ignite a smouldering fire within you? You thought to yourself.

“Harkness’ lessons with you will be at the same time and room on Fridays. There has been no change to the schedule, which makes it easy. She will be happy to discuss further matters with you later on.” Jimmy spoke and checked his watch, sighing. “Sorry to you both, but I have to get going. I have to get ready for a farewell gathering with some friends very soon.” You and Agatha bade your tutor a final goodbye and all the best for the future. Watching him walk through the bone-coloured hallways for the last time made you feel a wave of saturnine wash over you. But you smiled to yourself, knowing you’ll soon probably see his name in news articles and receive awards for leading an extraordinary ensemble in New York.

There wasn’t much to talk about between you and your soon-to-be tutor, which led to the two of you standing outside the music building after a short while Jimmy had left. Agatha’s effect on you was strange, for you were afraid to speak - intricately curating each response in your mind, and each time you spoke, your awkwardness was apparent to the woman. However, Agatha pretended to pay no mind to your sheepish behaviour, filing that slice of information away for later.

You sensed that it was time to part ways as the two of you stood outside on the pavement, the end of Autumn being evident as the evening was much colder today and the sun was starting to drift out of view, ready to trade places with the night very soon. Looking down, you watched as Agatha pulled out a pair of black leather gloves from her pocket and started to put them on, and only then did you notice her slender, pale fingers. The older woman in front of you cleared her throat, and your eyes shot up to her face, which she had an indecipherable look. Her mouth formed into a small curve. “I’ll see you next week, Y/N. It was a delight to meet you, dear.” Hearing your name fall from the tip of her tongue made your stomach coil and your throat dry up. It was as if you were an ocean, and she was drinking every single drop of water, savouring it slowly while you were suspended in time and immobile in your own body — sip by sip, you watched her take everything from you.

Before you could reply, she had already turned around and started to make her way in the opposite direction, and you stood there on the pavement, watching the woman walk away from you. It could’ve almost been an ending scene of a film — her brown hair dancing gently in cooperation with the slight breeze and the people - who looked so ordinary compared to her - walked past her. She was like a goddess among mortals, and you wished for nothing but to be graced by her presence endlessly.

Nearby, the church bells rang out - the long, deep sound you heard so frequently - but today, it sent an eerie shiver down your spine and reverberated in your chest. You then turned and made your way to a set of stairs close by, which led to the underground train, attempting to brush off the unusual feelings at the same time.

The London Underground was teeming with people who, most of them, had finished work. Around you, you could hear the sounds of shoes hitting the concrete and light chatter amongst people who were also waiting for their ride home. Once you got on the train and sat down, you contemplated the weekend, silently cursing as you remembered you had to wake up early for work tomorrow morning at the bookstore. How annoying - you were looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow after a long week of staying up to study and waking up early for lectures.

It was only for a small portion of the journey home that you were thinking about the coming events of the weekend until your thoughts had slowly drifted to your encounter today with the woman who was Agatha Harkness, for she had bewitched you in an unfamiliar and tantalising way.

#agatha harkness #agatha harkness x reader #agatha harkness x you #wandavision #agatha harkness imagine #agatha wandavision #marvel au #agatha x reader #agatha all along #kathryn hahn #house of harkness #marvel #agatha harkness smut

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