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hiddenobject-fanblog · 7 months

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His Soul (Chapter 5)

Investigation

Summary: After saving the abducted collectors, you were trusted with Curioso's box. What seems like a dangerous possession slowly turns into an opportunity to learn more about this creature and his curse. Can you earn his trust, and possibly, his affection?

Pairings: Curioso/Reader, Curioso/The Detective

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That next morning, you completed your early routine and ate a nutritious breakfast to make up for last night’s dinner. You were feeling pretty good about today…what happened was behind you. You were determined to see this case through.

You headed downstairs and prepped everything to be locked up. You didn’t know how long you’d be gone, so you made a small sign informing any potential-clients of your whereabouts and how to contact you. Couldn’t risk losing business over a small case like this…you weren’t getting paid much for a second day’s worth of investigation.

You searched through some drawers before finding a decently-sized bag. You held it in front of Curioso’s box to see if it would accommodate him. You nodded to yourself before carefully lifting it and slipping it inside - it was a sturdy thing, made out of some sort of mystical wood, you were sure, but you didn’t want to rattle him around. You wondered if that would even be possible.

You held it in your grasp and tested its weight. It wasn’t bad, but you needed something better so you could use both your hands. You wondered how this thing wasn’t any * heavier *, with the world and creature it held inside. You started rummaging around for something more convenient - a backpack, maybe. Something you could tie it to, or carry it around on your hip….

“I hope I’m not inconveniencing you,” You heard Curioso’s teasing tone.

“Not really. I use bags all the time for inventory space.” You stood to your feet and presented an older backpack you were sure would fit him. “..You’re not going to be picky, are you?”

“Perish the thought..!”

You chuckled, knowing he wouldn’t be. If he started complaining, you had no problem leaving him at home. You stepped forward and placed his box inside the backpack. It took up all the space inside. It just barely had enough room for the zipper to clear it. You tested this theory and closed the bag, then moved back and blinked.

“Can you see anything like that..?”

“Not terribly much,” His muffled voice replied. “Imagine you’re squinting, Detective. That’s what this looks like to me.”

“Interesting…” Your mind whirled with possibilities, but now wasn’t the time to pester him with questions. “What if I open the bag a little?”

You unzipped the backpack halfway through and removed your hand. Then you saw the box glow, completely illuminating the dark space. It was only somewhat visible from outside the bag. You weren’t sure how concerned you were about anyone nearby seeing it. You could just make up a lie about what you were carrying. No one would really believe you if you told them it was a magical box containing a supernatural jester, anyway.

“Hmm. A bit better. But I would prefer being *outside*…”

You gave him a stern glare and he laughed. You were caught by surprise at the noise - you haven’t heard him laugh since his ‘game’ at Andrew Collins’ house…

“I’m just kidding! I’m allowed to joke around, aren’t I?”

“I guess I’ll allow it, since you are a jester.” You leaned down to move the straps around your arms and properly carry the backpack. “-What’s the story with that, anyway? You’re a magical jester?”

“The costume wasn’t exactly my choice of permanent clothing,” His voice sounded clear behind you. You’d have no problem at all communicating with him like this.

You moved to twist the door handle and lock your office. While you put the key in, you hummed curiously. “Huh. Then what do you usually wear?”

“I don’t have a choice with that matter.”

You were walking to your car now, searching for your keys in your pocket. “What? You can’t take your clothes off?”

“It’s complicated. And really, we have more important things to do right now…”

You looked up and noticed a man walking his dog on your street, who was looking at you peculiarly. It must’ve looked like you were speaking to nobody. You probably looked like a madman right now. You grinned sheepishly as you politely waved to the stranger and hastily entered your car. You moved the backpack to the passenger seat, thought about it for a few seconds, then buckled him in.

Curioso sounded amused. “I appreciate the thought, but-”

“Yeah, yeah. It’s not for your safety - I just don’t want that thing breaking in a crash and *you* getting out.”

“How cruel…”

You started the engine and adjusted your mirrors. You’d been a little messy following that car around last night. You noticed the mug of dried coffee stains still sitting in the cup holder and the crumbled up newspapers on the floor. You had no time to clean up right now, so you drove out of your spot and onto the street, following the GPS route you logged last night.

While driving, you looked over at the backpack sitting beside you. Things were quiet right now, so you had no clue what was going through Curioso’s mind. You wondered if he was looking outside the window, admiring the views that you two passed. It’s what you used to do all the time as a child, watching the buildings and lands to pass the time during car rides. A pang of sympathy hit you as you realized it was the first time he’d been outside since you captured him.

You decided to break the ice. It would take a bit of time until you arrived, anyway. “So, why exactly are you interested in my detective work?”

“I’ve read a lot about you and your cases. Why wouldn’t I want to see the famous detective in action? To know how you do it all?”

“Okay, you keep calling me that, but I’m not famous. I…barely make ends meet, sometimes.” You confessed sadly. It almost hurt to say that out loud.

“Not to me. You played my game and proved you’re the better collector out of the two of us. You will always be renowned in my eyes, Detective.”

You weren’t sure how to feel about that. His words uplifted you, to know that someone actually looked up to you. But he was a magical creature who challenged your wits to a game of morals and decisions. How much did his respect mean to you, exactly? Judging by the heat on your face and a sudden struggle to find the right words, it was probably more than you thought.

You cleared your throat and focused on where you were going. The silence prolonged, but it didn’t feel awkward or tense. You had the feeling Curioso was simply enjoying the ride. The atmosphere felt light. It was a beautiful day out right now - the sky was clear and the sun was warm, with some pleasant gusts of winds ruffling your hair through your open window. It strengthened your hopes for today.

But then you were on the street you’d encountered last night, and that feeling subsided. It was replaced with an eerie sense of being watched. As you drove on the dirt, your chest grew tight and a chill climbed on your back. It made no sense…it was the middle of daylight, so nothing was hidden from your eyes this time. But the sensation almost felt tenfold now that you were actually on the road.

“Curioso? Do you feel that?” You asked desperately.

“Feel what?”

“This…cold, unsettling feeling. Like…I don’t know.” You groaned as you thought about how to word it. “It’s like something is trying to stop us from moving forward. Like I’m pushing against something.”

Curioso was quiet, which only added to your anxiety. You were quickly becoming a mess. You slowed your car down and took a deep breath, trying to compose yourself before you freaked out. You locked your jaw and looked around. The neighborhood was desolate. You couldn’t spot another soul outside right now, nor any cars beyond some broken and abandoned ones sitting on a few properties.

Your heart began to race as you proceeded forward, trying to keep your eye out for any sign or clue of Sophie’s whereabouts last night.

“Detective, calm down. I think I know what this is, and you’re not in any danger.”

“How could you possibly know what’s going on!?” You exclaimed. You didn’t mean to raise your voice, but you felt stressed right now, though you couldn’t fathom why.

“It might be a concealing spell. Some use it to hide something or some place that they don’t want others to see.”

“Spell? What are you on about?”

“You believe in magic, don’t you? ”

“Curioso, this is making no sense. Who would have cast a spell in the middle of nowhere like this? There’s no one who could possibly-”

“I could show you, but I need you to do something that you might not exactly like.”

You eyed him wearily, somehow feeling like he was going to ask you to release him from the box. No matter how you felt right now, it was not dire enough to let him free. You would drop this case right now if it meant making sure Curioso was still in your possession. Nothing could be worth that risk.

“Press this part of my box. Sadly, it won't free me, but it will help you.”

You slowed your car to a stop on the side of the road. There was a pink mist pointing to one of the blue gems decorated on the box. You hesitated before leaning over and pressing on it. You were surprised that it acted like a button, and even more so when your surroundings began to change. It was a lot like the magic Curioso had first presented at Andrew Collins’ house - when the world around you seemed to slow in time, and your surroundings became dark and light simultaneously.

When you looked out of your window, you spotted a house that had not been there before. Something about it felt ethereal…like it wasn’t meant to be there, yet it was.

“What just happened?”

“I revealed what was hidden. If someone’s been playing with magic, then so can I!” Curioso giggled. “We’re in the same place, Detective, but now you can see what you couldn’t see.”

You wondered what pressing that button on his box actually did, but you had no time to dwell on it. He was still in there, and that’s what mattered. You reached over and shrugged on the backpack, locking the car before walking over to the house.

You stood on the front porch and realized there was no doorbell. The whole place looked quite old-fashioned. You knocked on the door instead and waited. As you stood there, Curioso spoke quietly behind your ears:

“I’m surprised someone is hiding this by means of an incantation. It’s suspicious.”

“I get that,” You whispered urgently back to him. “Franky, I don’t understand how this is even possible.”

“You’re lucky you brought me! You would have never found this place. How clueless you would’ve looked, driving around and around…you could’ve gone mad..!’

You were about to argue until you realized there had been no movement nor noise for awhile. You reached forward and knocked again, with more force to make sure whoever was inside heard it. After a few minutes, you surmised that no one was home. You’d been intending on asking the residents about Sophie or any strange sights, but this felt like a strange situation in itself.

You began to inspect around, peeking through the windows to spot anyone inside. Most were hidden by a curtain, but you reached one that wasn’t blocked. The kitchen was empty and the window was right in your reach…as you lifted your arm and attempted it, it opened freely under your grasp.

You gaped at the sight. You thought for sure the window would’ve been locked. Curioso must’ve noticed your confusion and made a comment.

“Why would they bother locking the windows if most people can’t see this place? You should go and search inside.”

“That would be trespassing. It clearly isn’t abandoned.”

“I won’t tell if you won’t…! Besides, nobody's here.”

“We don’t know that for certain.” Your grip on the window faltered. “They could be sleeping, taking a shower, or they left and they’re coming back-”

You could hear yourself talking and snapped your mouth shut. Since when have you become this cowardly? It was something about this place, you swore. You shook your head and climbed inside, making sure Curioso’s box didn’t fall out as you did so. Your entry was quiet. You slowly shut the window behind you. You didn’t move for the first minute - intently listening for any noise. After that, you began to freely roam around the kitchen.

“Look around while I do this; find anything related to Sophie or the men she was with.” You’d shown him your notes and photograph yesterday, so he was up-to-date with everything you knew.

“Aye-aye, captain!”

The kitchen was standard and yielded nothing worthy of your attention. If anything, it looked a little unused and under-stocked. You moved onto the next room - which appeared to be the living room, with couches, tables, and a T.V. You searched around to look at the photographs, keeping an eye out for Sophie or the others you’d seen at the restaurant. You didn’t recognize any of the people, so you moved onto looking in the drawers. For notes, important papers, anything….

While you looked, your mind wandered. There was something still bothering you. “Curioso?”

“-I’m afraid I don’t see anything, Detective. Could you use a screwdriver or an axe?”

“Not right now.” You shook your head and your gaze shifted. “I can believe this house is under a hiding spell, but it doesn’t really explain why I’ve been feeling so…weird.”

“It could be another conjuration, made to deter people from getting close. Causing fear, anxiety, a sense of intrusion…that could be why no one really lives on this street.”

Your eyes widened. “That’s a good theory.”

You stopped when you spotted a small notebook in one of the drawers. You opened it and scanned what had been written. The first few pages were random measurements and a grocery list, but in the back of the book, something interesting caught your attention. It was a drawing of some sort of symbols. On the next page was a list of colors. Knowing your history with these things, you didn’t hesitate to pocket it.

“Found your first clue?”

“Yeah. It could be for a nearby puzzle. People like to put those in their homes sometimes.”

You carried on to a nearby hallway. There were several doors to go through, but a few of them were locked. You swore under your breath - you’d have to find some keys or a way to open them. Your attention moved to a staircase leading down into the basement. Those usually held a bunch of storage items that might be telling about the owners of the house. You climbed down the steps and faced an elaborate-looking puzzle. You smiled until you realized a piece was missing. You gritted your teeth - now you’d have to go and find THAT as well.

As you opened your mouth to complain about this trivial detail, you were interrupted by a blinding flash of light.

The blindness surprised you and made you stumble backwards. You fell to your feet and hit your head on one of the steps. You clutched it in pain as your eyes struggled to open. You lost your sense of balance and had to use the steps to right yourself. Once you were standing, you quickly checked your backpack to assess the damage.

The box was still intact. You sighed in relief. You’d nearly landed on your face, but at least you didn’t break anything.

You rubbed the sore spot on your head that was quickly forming into a bump. Ugh. You’ll have to tend to it later. “Curioso? Are you alright?”

Silence.

You quirked an eyebrow. Why wasn’t he saying anything? You turned your head in search of someone in the room - maybe he saw something you didn’t. But there was nobody there. You decided to try again.

“What was that? Curioso?”

Still no response. Panic flooded into your system as you threw the backpack off your shoulders and looked at the box. It was dim again - no sign of life nor colors. Something compelled you to start shaking it and pressing the gems frantically, only for nothing to happen. This left only one explanation:

He’d gotten out.

Shit!

#whispered secrets: morbid obsession #whispered secrets morbid obsession #hidden object #hidden object game #big fish games #fanfiction #curioso #his soul #curioso x reader #quick update cause i had nothing better to do today

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purplehairedwonder · 2 years

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Hearts With(out) Chains chapter 22

Fandom: One Piece Rating: PG-13 Pairings: Monkey D. Luffy/Trafalgar Law (eventual), Donquixote Doflamingo/Trafalgar Law (nonconsensual) Words: 4,038 Characters: Trafalgar Law, Donquixote Doflamingo, Trebol, Diamante, Monkey D. Luffy, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin Notes: I’m taking my turn at the Corazon!Law AU because my brain won’t leave me alone until this is written down. Tags will be updated as the chapters come out.

Summary: Law is reclaimed by the Family when he’s 17 and, with Doflamingo holding the lives of his crew as collateral for his good behavior, eventually becomes the third Corazon. Years later, trapped by his impossible situation, Law finds a strange connection to Monkey D. Luffy, which offers a glimpse of something he’s repeatedly had ripped away from him: hope.

Previous chapters: Prologue | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21

Missing scenes: Pre-story, Chapter 5, Chapter 20

Read also at AO3 / FF.N

The weight of Doflamingo’s gaze was heavy as the carriage took them back to the palace—and away from the allies Law had risked everything to join. Rather than meet Doflamingo’s gaze, Law looked out the window, watching the familiar streets pass and Dressrosans go about their morning routines, unaware of hidden goings on in the city. But hadn’t that always been true here?

The further the carriage moved away from the Colosseum, the stronger the old tug in Law’s chest became once more. He did his best to ignore it, telling himself that he didn’t regret making the deal, not when it meant the safety of his nakama and the Straw Hats. However, he was also fully aware of what it meant for him; fulfilling his side would undoubtedly break something in him irreparably.

Though perhaps he was surprised to find there was still something left in him to be broken at all. Luffy had sparked an ember of hope behind his breast that he hadn’t known still existed until Punk Hazard, but Doflamingo had quickly extinguished it once more. There was no going back after this, but it was a price worth paying after all the pain he had caused the people he loved.

The carriage jolted as it rolled over uneven ground, and the resulting flare of pain that radiated from his abdomen pulled Law from his thoughts with a curse. He slumped back in his seat, eyes sliding shut as he rode out the agony.

“In pain?” Doffy asked. Law opened his eyes to give the Warlord a sour look, and Doffy’s lips twitched in amusement.

“Are these still necessary?” Law asked, gesturing with his shackled wrists. “We made a deal.”

“You’ll have to forgive my hesitance to trust you, little bird.”

Law pressed his lips into a thin line before replying, “I’m not going to risk the freedom of my nakama by going back on our agreement.” That would defeat the entire purpose of the deal.

“No,” Doffy said after a moment. “I suppose you wouldn’t. Sentiment has always been a weakness of yours.”

Law bit down on his retort as Doflamingo reached into his coat and pulled out the key. Law sat up and held his wrists out. Doffy unlocked the cuffs, careful to avoid touching the Seastone himself. Once the restraints clicked open and fell to the carriage floor, Law inhaled sharply as his energy returned and he could feel his fruit again. Being exposed to Seastone always made Law feel like he was looking at the world slightly out of focus, and its removal slotted everything back into its rightful place.

Law sighed in relief before holding a hand to his bandaged abdomen. He opened a small Room and performed a Scan; Doflamingo’s bullets had torn through skin and muscle, but they’d avoided anything vital. Uni, Kani, and Iruka had done an admirable job of removing the bullets and closing up the wounds. Thankfully, though, Law’s fruit allowed him to speed up the healing process; what would take weeks, if not months, for a normal person would only take a few days for Law.

He did the same for his hand, grimacing at the number of breaks his crew had had to set before accelerating the healing of the bone. Even with the excellent work of his crew and the accelerated healing, there was a not insignificant chance his hand wouldn’t function the way it had before. As a surgeon, that terrified Law.

Forcing his concerns aside—all that was left was to wait and watch the healing process—Law dropped his Room and leaned back in his seat. Doflamingo was watching him intently.

“I never grow tired of seeing your mastery with your fruit,” Doffy said at last. “Though I never intended for you to have the Ope Ope no Mi, it seems as if you were destined for each other.”

Law wasn’t sure what to say to that. He knew Doflamingo intended Cora-san to have it, unaware that Cora-san was already a fruit user, so he could manipulate his brother into making him immortal. Now Law was the one with the ability to do so, and Law had just made an agreement to do whatever Doflamingo asked of him. He didn’t doubt that that surgery would be the cornerstone of his to-do list.

Law was saved from having to respond by the carriage pulling to a stop at the palace gates. As the footman opened the door, Law glanced out the window and grimaced when he saw the other executives standing atop the steps, waiting for their arrival. Their gathering like this was never a good sign.

“Come,” Doffy ordered before stepping out of the carriage. Law had no choice but to follow.

“Welcome back, Young Master,” Baby 5 called as Doffy rounded the carriage.

“What happened with Coraz—” Gladius started before cutting himself off as Law came into view. His eyes went wide as he looked between Law and Doflamingo. The other executives burst into indecipherable chatter, though it was clear they were unhappy.

“Ne, ne, Doffy. Is this wise?” Trebol asked, eyes narrowing. “You know how he is.”

“Corazon and I have reached an understanding,” Doflamingo said, placing a hand on Law’s shoulder. His grip was iron, and Law had to fight not to flinch in response. “There will be no further need to question his loyalty.”

Law could feel the stares of the others falling on him, so he did what he did best—allow the mask of Corazon to slip on. It was as natural as breathing after all these years. He straightened his spine, raised his chin, and twisted his lips into a smirk, which only further infuriated the other executives.

“I know you don’t intend to question the Young Master’s judgment, Trebol,” Law sneered.

The sentient slime bucket gaped for several seconds before simpering, “Never, Doffy. I am simply expressing my… concerns.”

“Noted,” Doflamingo replied coolly before using his grip to steer Law toward the palace. The executives moved aside to allow Law and Doffy through before falling in step behind them up the steps and into the palace entryway.

Doflamingo released his grip and looked down at Law. “We will make an island-wide announcement of our deal.”

Law nodded. That would be the best way to make sure the two scattered crews knew they had the chance to leave unharmed. It also meant he could make sure Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were freed. He turned toward the dungeon but froze when Doflamingo’s hand found his shoulder once more.

“And where are you going, little bird?”

Law glanced back at Doflamingo. “To the dungeon. Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin are no longer prisoners. Per our deal,” he added with emphasis.

“That can wait until after the announcement. There is much to do first.” Doflamingo looked Law up and down a moment before adding, “Clean yourself up and meet me in the throne room in one hour.”

Law narrowed his eyes, but he knew he couldn’t disobey so soon after their agreement. He spared a glance in the direction of the dungeon before jerking his head in acquiescence. “Yes, Doffy.”

He strode past the gathered executives toward his chambers, raising an amused eyebrow at Trebol and Diamante, who were glowering. Just as he turned the corner toward the executives’ wing, he heard Doflamingo ask, “Any news on Violet?”

“No,” Giolla said. “No one has seen her since yesterday afternoon.”

The conversation faded from Law’s ears as he kept walking. Violet was gone? His stomach twisted. If she’d decided to defect just as Law had turned himself back in to the Family, he could very well have inadvertently signed her death warrant while trying to save everyone else.

Unless she could get out with the Hearts and Straw Hats…

No. Law discarded the thought before it had finished forming; she was much too loyal to her father, to her niece, and to Dressrosa to do that.

He was pulled from his thoughts when he reached the door to his chambers. He opened the door and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. When he turned back to face the room, he froze. There was a bloody gash on the wall where Diamante had stabbed his hand and another dark stain on the carpet where Law had fallen forward onto his injured hand. His hat still lay on the floor. Law walked over to the spot and picked up the hat, running a hand over the soft fur. He placed it on the bed atop the coat he’d worn to Punk Hazard. Kikoku was still on the bed under his coat as well. Law ran a hand along the sheath and could feel the sword’s pleased hum and the return of her master.

He turned back toward his desk, taking in his Den Den Mushi and the blueprints. He ran a hand over the blueprints, something twisting inside him. He wouldn’t need these anymore, would he? His nakama would be free, and Law would hold up his end of the bargain. He took the papers and folded them then placed them back into the secret compartment at the bottom of the drawer.

When he looked back at the desk, he realized Luffy’s straw hat was gone. Law was sure he’d left it there after using it as a ruse to pretend he’d killed the other captain. Thinking back, though, Luffy had been wearing his signature hat when Law had last seen him. Had Luffy been in his room? Or had Violet or one of the other Hearts retrieved it? He supposed it didn’t matter—as long as…

His eyes flicked up to the vent where the surveillance snail sat recording his room. As long as they hadn’t been caught on film.

There was nothing Law could do about that at the moment, so he pushed the problem to the back of his mind for later. He went into the bathroom and shut the door. He turned the shower on and stripped his clothes. Then he set to carefully pulling the bandages from his chest. Once the bandages were off, a quick Scan showed the accelerated healing was already taking effect, beginning to stitch the damage beneath together. He also pulled the splint from his hand to keep it from getting wet. Unsurprisingly, his was swollen and mottled with bruises, though a Scan showed the bones were already starting to heal.

Law stepped into the shower and washed the blood from his skin and hair, careful not to jostle his injured hand. Once he was satisfied he was clean, he stepped out and ran a towel over himself. After wrapping it around his waist, he pulled out his personal medical kit. His first task was to rebandage his chest. The wounds might be healing well, but they still needed to be covered. It was a challenge since he could only use one hand, but he had taught himself to be functionally ambidextrous for times like this, so he was able to finish the task with minimal frustration.

Then Law turned his attention to his hand; his nakama had been limited to a short splint while his wrist was shackled, but how that it was free, he could use a more supportive one, as he was not going to risk to use of his dominant hand. Once the hand was wrapped and splinted, he headed back into the bedroom. He pulled a clean shirt and jeans from his closet and quickly dressed. He pulled his hat on and settled Kikoku against his shoulder, a familiar weight that grounded him, with a loose grip necessitated by the splint.

A glance at the clock told Law he needed to leave to meet Doflamingo’s deadline. After a moment’s deliberation, he grabbed his Den Den Mushi from his desk and pocketed it then headed out the door.

The route to the throne room was one Law knew by heart after so many years in the palace, and it was with equal amounts of relief and dread that Law took those steps. Once he reached the throne room, the guards at the door bowed him in. Law allowed his Corazon mask to fall into place once more and walked through the doors.

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Doflamingo sat on his throne while Law stood at his right side and slightly behind him. The video snail turned on, and the broadcast went live.

“Citizens of Dressrosa,” Doflamingo began, his arms resting easily on the throne, the picture of a confident monarch. “I regret that I must interrupt your day with an important announcement.”

Law stifled a snort at that. No one liked hearing themselves speak the way Doflamingo did. He relished any chance to be in front of the people.

“There are pirates on this island that seek to undermine our way of life. But there is no need to fear. You are in no danger, so long as those pirates listen to my words.

“To the Hearts and the Straw Hat Pirates, Corazon and I have reached an agreement,” Doflamingo continued, gesturing back at Law. Law kept his expression carefully neutral. “You have until noon to leave Dressrosa. You will be neither harmed nor impeded in your exit.

“If, however, any of you remain on Dressrosa once noon has passed, you will be treated as enemy combatants, and the full weight of the Donquixote Family will come down upon you.”

Doflamingo’s expression twisted into a rictus grin. “I assure you, that is a choice you will regret. So, make the right decision. For yourself and for Corazon.”

Those final words hit Law like a blow, and he stiffened as the broadcast ended.

Doflamingo turned to look at Law. “I’ve held up my end of the bargain, little bird.” There was something predatory in his expression that set Law’s teeth on edge. “Now, it’s your turn.”

He rose from his throne and held out a hand; Law was suddenly reminded of the first night Doflamingo had taken him to his bed after an evening chess game Law had won for once. Once Law had declared checkmate, Doflamingo had hummed thoughtfully before leaning back in his own chair and steepling his fingers. With the motion, his entire aura had shifted, sharpening in a way that made the hairs on the back of Law’s neck stand on end, much as they did now.

“You deserve a reward.”

“A reward?” Law asked warily.

“Indeed,” Doflamingo said before pushing himself to his feet. He held out a hand to Law. “Stay the night with me.”

Law took a steadying breath and reached out to take Doflamingo’s hand. The larger man pulled Law to his feet, his fingers tracing the inside of Law’s wrist before letting him go. Law shivered despite himself, and Doflamingo’s lips twitched, pleased. The Warlord then turned on his heel and headed out of the study, clearly expecting Law to follow him.

Law did.

“Show me you mean to keep your end as well.”

Law chanced a glance between Doflamingo’s outstretched hand and the glowers of Diamante and Trebol on the other side of the throne room. Knowing what he had to do, Law turned his gaze back to Doffy’s and took the Warlord’s hand.

“As you wish,” Law said, inclining his head.

Doflamingo smirked at Law’s easy agreement then turned back to the room. “Trebol, I’m leaving you in charge. Make sure we are not disturbed.”

“Of course, Young Master,” Trebol said, bowing. However, Law knew the slime bucket was silently cursing his name as Doffy led him down the stairs and out the back exit toward his quarters.

Once they reached the familiar double doors leading to Doflamingo’s chambers, Law allowed himself to be ushered inside. As Doflamingo shut and locked the doors behind them, Law made his way over to the bed and rested Kikoku against the wall.

When he turned back to the room, Doflamingo was shoving into his space. With one hand, he pulled the hat from Law’s head and rested it on the nightstand. Then he cupped Law’s cheek with a hand, his thumb stroking up and down.

“My Corazon,” he murmured. “I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you.”

Law blinked in surprise at the candid words. “Doffy?”

Doffy chuckled. “Fufufu, you’re always thinking the worst of me, little one. But you are very precious to me. I would let a hundred pirate crews go to keep you by my side. They mean nothing.”

Maybe my fruit is precious to you, Law thought, though kept his expression neutral.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said instead.

“Our deal,” Doflamingo agreed, and his thumb stopped stroking Law’s cheek. “Anything I want, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Show me, Corazon,” Doffy breathed. “On your knees.”

Law’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment as he shuddered at the way Doflamingo’s voice dropped an octave, but then he opened them and nodded. He dropped to the floor as Doflamingo unbuckled his pants. This is the price of their freedom, he thought. And I’d pay it a thousand times over.

-----

The sound of his Den Den Mushi ringing pulled Law from his doze. As he hurriedly rolled out of Doflamingo’s bed, he glanced back at the closed bathroom door, the sound of the shower running thankfully covering the sound of his snail. He scrambled to find his jeans then dug around the pockets until he found the snail.

“Hello?” he answered in a hushed voice.

“Captain,” Bepo wailed, and Law winced at the volume.

“Bepo—” Law started before his brain caught up with the moment. Bepo and the others were supposed to be in the dungeon. How were they calling him on his Den Den Mushi? “Bepo, where are you?”

“In the middle of town,” Penguin broke in. “We had to find a Den Den Mushi after that batshit announcement went out. What the hell, Captain?”

Law blinked dazedly. “You’re not in the dungeon?”

“Violet broke us out yesterday,” Shachi broke in impatiently. “She took us to the Colosseum to hide out, and we met up with Straw Hat this morning.”

“Toraooooo,” Luffy called somewhere in the background. “Why did you leave?” and Law furtively glanced back at the door once more, relieved to hear the shower still running.

“You were at the Colosseum this morning?” Law echoed in shock. Doflamingo had said…

No, Law realized belatedly, Doflamingo had implied Bepo, Shachi, and Penguin were still in the dungeon. He’d never said it directly. And he hadn’t wanted Law to go down and free them when they’d gotten back to the palace. Fuck. Law had been played.

“We saw you leave, Captain,” Bepo said quietly, and Law’s chest twisted.

“What kind of agreement did you make?” Penguin asked. “What did he mean by that, Law?”

“We reached an agreement for your freedom,” Law said. “All of you.”

“At what cost?” Shachi demanded.

Law huffed a humorless laugh. “I gave him what he’s always wanted. Me.” He glanced at the clock on Doflamingo’s nightstand. “You have half an hour until noon. Please get out of here. All of you.”

“Dammit, Captain,” Penguin cursed. “Stop trying to do all this by yourself!”

Law’s eyes narrowed, suddenly defensive of his decision. “I had to,” he growled. “The only reason you’re all here is because of me. Doflamingo’s held you hostage and punished you all these years because of me. The Straw Hats are only here because of me. If the choice is between my life and all of yours, it’s an obvious choice.”

Law glanced back toward the bathroom door once more and realized the shower had stopped running. “I have to go. Get the rest of the crew, and get out of Dressrosa,” Law said hurriedly. He could feel something cracking in his chest as he spoke. “Those are my last orders as your captain.”

“But—”

Law hung up the call, cracks spreading within him, just as the bathroom door opened. Doflamingo had a towel wrapped around his waist, and he raised an eyebrow at Law.

“Corazon?”

Law grabbed his jeans and slid the Den Den Mushi back into the pocket in one motion before rising. “I was about to get dressed—unless you intend to go another round.” He raised a questioning eyebrow.

Doflamingo snorted. “Don’t tempt me.” He crossed the room and gripped Law’s chin. He leaned in and pressed his lips against Law’s, nipping his bottom lip before smoothing it over with his tongue. Law’s eyes slid shut, following the other man’s lead, unable to stop a small groan as Doflamingo’s tongue entered his mouth. Doflamingo’s hands trailed up and down Law’s spine, making him shiver.

They broke apart after another moment, Doflamingo pressing his forehead against Law’s. “I could get lost in you all day, Corazon.”

“I’m all yours,” Law replied, quickly glancing at the clock to see how fast noon was approaching. Soon. The longer he could keep Doffy occupied, the longer his people had to get out.

“That’s right,” Doffy growled, reaching down to grab underneath Law’s thighs. Law nearly yelped in surprise as Doffy lifted him up and carried him back to the bed. He dropped Law on his back then climbed into the bed, towering over Law. His towel didn’t leave much to the imagination at this point.

Law was embarrassed to realize he was already half hard at the attention. In the last couple of years, his body had learned Doflamingo’s touch, and the Warlord knew how to take him apart and make him beg. If he could use that to his advantage now…

Doflamingo leaned down, his huge frame covering Law’s slight on,e and started sucking a bruise into his neck. Law turned his head to give Doflamingo more access, and he grinned into Law’s neck. Law wrapped his arms around Doflamingo’s neck, and Doflamingo rolled his hips.

“Fuck,” Law cursed, his eyes rolling back at the sensation.

“Planning on it,” Doffy replied in a possessive growl against Law’s next, and Law’s hips bucked in response. He hated himself for it, but it was keeping Doffy’s attention, and that was what mattered most, Law’s pride be damned.

Doffy’s hands were starting to move down Law’s chest when a banging on the door startled them both. Law pushed up on his uninjured arm while Doffy peered over his shoulder at the locked door.

“Y-young Master!” the poor soul on the other side called.

“What is it?” Doflamingo snarled, furious at being interrupted.

“M-master Trebol said to summon you, sir.”

Doflamingo’s expression narrowed at the mention of Trebol. He rolled off Law and stalked toward the door. With a wave of his hand, the door unlocked, and a terrified soldier cowered on the other side under the gaze of the king; the fact Doflamingo was wearing nothing more than a towel didn’t even seem to register for the poor bastard.

“Summon me for what?”

“H-he said you need to see it for yourself, sir.”

Doflamingo growled but nodded. The soldier scampered off and Doflamingo slammed the door shut once more. His gaze met Law’s. “I guess we’ll have to put this on pause, little bird.”

Law nodded, and both men quickly scrounged for their discarded clothes. Once Law pulled his boots on, he was thankful he could use his hat to hide his hair. He grabbed Kikoku, and nodded at Doflamingo, who was waiting at the door. He followed Doflamingo down the halls toward the entrance hall, where he found the executives gathered.

“What’s going on?” Doflamingo demanded as he pushed through to Trebol’s side.

Trebol simply nodded out to the front gates. Doflamingo stepped outside. Law stepped out beside him after trading a barbed look with Trebol then froze at the sight that greeted him.

Luffy stood in the middle of the palace grounds, Bepo, Shachi, Penguin right behind him. The rest of the Hearts—as well as Violet and Rebecca—and Straw Hats were scattered behind the quartet.

Law’s eyes widened while he felt Doflamingo go tense next to him. The tug in Law’s chest nearly brought him to his knees as Luffy’s gaze met his.

“Torao!” he called. “We’re here to get you back.”

#This story lives #I sat down to write this one and it just flowed #Trafalgar Law #Monkey D. Luffy #Donquixote Doflamingo #Heart Pirates #One Piece fic #One Piece fanfiction #Caitlin's fic

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recreancyrpg · 2 years

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Welcome to Recreancy, Beth!

You have been accepted for the role of EDGAR BONES!

Please take a look at the new member checklist and send in your account within 24 hours!

OUT OF CHARACTER:

NAME & PRONOUNS: Beth (She/Her/Hers)

AGE: 26

TIMEZONE: CST

ACTIVITY LEVEL: I teach, so my summer commitments are fairly flexible. At least through the beginning of the school year, I predict I’ll be on 3-5 times a week. Once we get to August, I’m not certain, but I do plan to continue. It might drop down to 1-2 times, depending on the week and additional responsibilities I may be taking on next year.

ANYTHING ELSE: None at this time

CHARACTER DETAILS:

NAME: Edgar Bones

AGE: 19 (December 11, 1965)

GENDER, PRONOUNS, and SEXUALITY:

Edgar uses he/him pronouns, more out of convenience than anything else. As someone with a nonbinary sibling who has shown him that adherence to male and female is completely unnecessary. Edgar has had many conversations with Estell over the years about how they knew, what clued them in, and general feelings about gender. Ultimately Edgar has decided that he is not male; however, he doesn’t have any dysphoria about others seeing him that way. He’s not a man, but he definitely isn’t a woman and doesn’t feel enough not like a man to want to choose a specific identity outside it. He doesn’t have a label and also doesn’t feel like he needs one.

Unsurprisingly Edgar has been equally vague in labeling his sexuality. He doesn’t really think about himself as having a preference. He’s dated more women because that was easier in school, but he’s definitely also interested in men and people who identify as neither. The best modern word for him would probably be pansexual, but Edgar doesn’t feel the need to look for a word.

BLOOD STATUS: Half-blood

HOUSE ALUMNI: Hufflepuff

ANY CHANGES: Nothing needed

CHARACTER BACKGROUND:

PERSONALITY:

Edgar – never Eddie – never set out to surprise people, but he tended to be good at it. Studious and bookish, he might be seen in the library and made assumptions of that he would immediately break by setting off fireworks in the common room to celebrate the end of an exam. Mostly it’s the loud side of him people see first, that brashness. Edgar doesn’t set out to put people at odds. He’d like to believe he’s capable of being anyone’s friend, but he’s not everyone’s cup of tea. He’s too hard to track sometimes, given how quickly he pivots from one topic to another.

Within that pivoting, though, Edgar can be almost obsessive about the things and people he cares about. He wants to understand a thing in its entirety, try out any possible practical application to determine whether he really gets it or not. Generally if someone is put at risk by this, it’s himself. Edgar isn’t afraid to be his own guinea pig. Some might see it as a disregard for his own health and maybe they’re right, but Edgar sees it more as proving what he can do rather than putting himself on the line. Maybe that’s why he’s so quick to volunteer when he can for Order-related business. It allows him to do while not necessarily taking in everything that could go wrong.

This one-track-mindedness had another edge to it: Edgar can be blind to the bad, especially in other people. He trusts very easily and tends to create excuses before acknowledging that trust should be revoked. People have to hurt him pretty badly for him to stop caring. Even then, he’ll still care but from a distance. Hufflepuff for a reason and all that. Just because Edgar wasn’t as quiet as some expected from his house, he has always been fiercely loyal and hardworking. He’ll push himself to his limits if it means pleasing someone else, and he’s in this war to protect people who need it. That means people he knows, but it also means people he feels should be protected. It means tearing down walls that never should have been built.

If it wasn’t for the war, Edgar would probably have ended up in a career similar to his current one, although he’s not sure Amelia understands that. Edgar wants to make a difference and joined the Order accordingly, but above all, he wants to live. He’d still be exploring and pushing if he didn’t have this outlet. It just might mean a little less self-risk, but then again, Edgar hasn’t fully come to terms with that risk. It ranked too low to worry about with everything else going on.

BRIEF OVERVIEW OF FAMILY:

In a family like the Bones, standing out was fitting in. For some youngest siblings with shoes to fill as eclectic as Edgar’s older siblings, that might have been a source of frustration, but he was more concerned with finding his own way than avoiding theirs. He took on Amelia’s cleverness, Estell’s loyalty, and Ackley’s nerve, happily letting the best parts of them rub off on him. He was never just a combination of his siblings, though. Edgar was the baby of the bunch, and that gave him the freedom to jump in any direction, even if he didn’t quite acknowledge that being the youngest also meant no one would let him fall.

He may have been insulated from consequences as a child, but Edgar’s parents instilled in him a strong sense of right and wrong as well as a healthy dislike of institution for institution’s sake. Tradition was almost a naughty word in their household. Edgar was raised to believe it’s always good practice to question everything. Never do something because that’s the way it’s been done. Edgar took that to heart perhaps more than his parents intended, but even his mother had to admit that just because Edgar could have a respected life at the Ministry didn’t mean he should. Edgar’s pretty sure she’s secretly proud of him, even if he knows she disapproves of some of his choices. She’d probably be less pleased by the ones she doesn’t know, but Edgar doesn’t want to worry her. He’s already got one blood relative mothering him about his Order participation. Amelia doesn’t need the backup.

Just because he grew up with a distrust for tradition, however, doesn’t mean Edgar understands the full extent of pureblood dynamics. His family aren’t purebloods, so they didn’t live the politics that went with it. They also weren’t muggle-connected, so Edgar didn’t have to know how bad things got. He thinks he knows. He thinks he was keeping a close eye on it in school, but he’s really fighting more for the principle of the matter than for individuals. He doesn’t like the system, but that’s more because it’s a stuffy old system with a lot of flaws than seeing the effects of it firsthand. So far, his Order experience hasn’t show him anything different when purebloods are apparently more likely than muggleborns to go missing. Edgar sees it more as an “us vs them” because he’s never had to live through or confront anything different. He feels very strongly about that “us” because he knows they’re in the right, but it’s less personal and more justice.

OCCUPATION:

Tattoo Artist: Edgar’s various escapades in school related to self-body modification were not momentary passing whims. Well, maybe the ear was, but after that grew back, he vowed not to go in with so little knowledge in the future. That led him into a deep dive of research into magical and even muggle tattoo techniques before giving himself one. It’s certainly not his best work to date, but it did show enough skill and determination for him to convince Forrest Max at Illegibilus Ink that he had potential worth taking on. Edgar has worked for Forrest for a year now, and while the Order is his primary focus, he has to be not to take pride in the artistic and magical strides he’s made in that time.

LIVING SITUATION:

Edgar values his independence a lot, and as soon as he left school, he found a flat above Whizz Hard Books in Diagon Alley. It’s not the fanciest of apartments, but it’s enough for him and only a short walk to the tattoo parlor in Knockturn Alley. And anyway, he doesn’t spend all that much time at home anyway between work and the Order.

Note: I am very open to the idea of Edgar having a roommate if anyone is interested!

ORDER OF THE PHOENIX:

Edgar hadn’t been involved long enough to fully understand the politics of the organization or to know his niche, but he’d like to consider himself a jack of all trades if they’d only give him a chance. He’d been following the war for ages and had some sense from the outside of patterns, but no one seems to care what a kid has to say for strategy. Still, he can fight all right and had the grades in school to show he has brains. He’ll gladly help research something or jump in on a mission if they’re looking for volunteers. Edgar feels like he hadn’t had a chance to prove himself yet, and he’s itching for it.

He worries some people see him as nothing more than Amelia’s baby brother, and while she is a badass person to be connected to, Edgar wants to be worth having around in his own right. Edgar knows he can help make things better. He just needs an opportunity to show it. So far, he’s contented himself trying to learn the people there. Every time he thinks he has a handle on someone, they shift as he sees them interact with someone new, but that’s good. It’s adding to his understanding. These are the people he’s signed up to win a war with. He wants to know them inside and out, see their strengths and all the good they’re capable of.

RELATIONSHIPS:

Edgar remembers being little, too young to know how to read yet himself, and being read to by Amelia. Not children’s stories, although she’d do that too on occasion. Instead she’d read her school textbooks to him, and Edgar would curl up tucked against her side listening attentively. In their little group of four, he’d always been the closest to Amelia. Maybe that made sense in some ways. The other three were closer in age with a bigger gap between Edgar and his older brother. Ackley and Estell had always been closer, so perhaps it made sense that Edgar would latch onto that sister who’d done as much parenting as their parents. Sometimes he wishes he could go back to that. He misses the fond look Amelia always used to get, the pride and amusement, even if it sometimes came with admonishment. Now she looks at him and seems sad. Sometimes cross. Edgar isn’t used to Amelia being disappointed by his presence. Things are strained between them for the first time ever, and Edgar can’t understand why. Amelia of all people should understand why he couldn’t just stand on the sidelines. He was only following her.

Edgar went to school for seven years with Lucinda and Emmeline, but he didn’t know either particularly well then. He doesn’t quite know how to feel about Emmeline and what she’s gone through, but he feels like he understands Lucinda. She’s got a lot of the same fire as he does, even if it burns for a very different reason. Edgar would like to believe that if either came to him, he’d support them in a heartbeat. They’re all young, and that means they have to stick together. Lucinda in particular is someone that Edgar feels like he understands without being directly in her position. He could have been. Every once in a while, he tries to put himself in her shoes and try to imagine losing Amelia. He can’t. But he does think he would have followed Lucinda’s lead and joined the Order in her memory like Lucinda did her brother. He gets her or at least her loyalty.

Despite Sirius and his friends being several years above Edgar in school, he was very aware of them. Their pranks were legendary, and while Edgar would never admit it, that initial hair dye incident happened because he wanted hair as iconic and recognizable as Sirius and James. Edgar isn’t a little kid anymore, and they aren’t the cool older kids anymore; still, he can’t help wanting to impress them. Maybe they aren’t perfect and maybe they make mistakes, but as far as Edgar is concerned, everyone does. Maybe if Sirius turned to someone like him for a mission, things could be successful. He’d give anything not to let Sirius down.

Edgar suspects Caradoc barely knows who he is, but as someone who works in Knockturn, Edgar spends a fair amount of time in the man’s bar. He’d like to think that if he can convince Caradoc, he could be useful. First he has to get over his own intimidation of Caradoc, though.

OOC EXPLORATION:

SHIPS/ANTI-SHIPS: Edgar x Chemistry. I see Edgar as the kind of person who has a messy dating history. He tends to jump in quickly and gets attached easily. As a result, he has issues being seen as clingy and/or jealous (because his behavior sometimes fits that bill). I am absolutely down with figuring out an ex situation and am also willing to play out any relationships that organically pop up!

INTERPERSONAL STRUGGLES:

Edgar has always been smart and good at figuring things out through hands on crazy exploration. That doesn’t bode well in an organization that’s been active for a decade. Some of the lessons older members have already learned are ones that Edgar still needs to, and I don’t think he’ll be good at understanding why if he’s just told no. I can definitely see that rubbing people the wrong way and causing conflict.

On the other hand, he’s very willing to overlook people’s flaws if he feels like he understands the good in them. Maybe that will endear him to people who don’t have a lot of their own people left, but maybe it will also make him ignore obvious red flags and bad excuses.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO?

I actually was taking an rp break, but having rped with both admins previously, how could I say no? I know what a good job you do curating a community, and that’s important to me. The plot and characters intrigued me too, but I just really love how well you set up members for positive communication and frankly friendship. Specifically with Edgar, I’m excited to play him in general. I was intrigued and considering several characters, but this bio blindsided me with just how much it clicked for me. Color me inspired, but I am excited for this little bundle of optimistic chaos too smart for his own good.

PLOT DROP IDEAS (OPTIONAL): I would be interested in doing something related to Edgar’s work. He’s in Knockturn Alley and listens too closely for his own good. It could be interesting for him to witness and/or hear something that either he shouldn’t or that would be helpful to the Order.

ANYTHING ELSE? Here is a playlist link for additional character inspiration.

#recreancyaccepted #edgar bones app

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wildrosesirene · 27 days

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PS: Play mo muna yung music sa baba bago mo basahin!! MAKINIG!! KA!!!

I bathed in blood brimful of bruises and nightmares. I believe in no one and trust no one. I was in a zenith of despising love. L O V E, then you came. You showed up on my path. You sat beside the chair I used to sit in. What have you brought to the table I sit at?

1. Sincerity

2. Dedication

a. Pure intentions

b. Consistency

3. Peculiarities, in which you stand out beyond the firmament. You have reached the walls I built to protect myself against:

• Temporary and shallow men

• Overthinks

• Heartache

• Pain

“Ikaw ang paborito kong desisyon at

'Pag napaligiran ng ingay at ng gulo

'Di ko 'pagpapalit ngiti mo sa mundo. ”

Despite the traumas and doubts, you managed to hold my hand and lead me to where we are right now. Can you imagine how possible it is? I re-read our old conversations. I saw how many times I pushed you away and how many times you tried. In that moment, I witnessed your sincerity in loving me. Ikaw ang paborito kong desisyon. You are worth the risk, and no matter how chaotic the world is, even our minds (sometimes) never kitang ipagpapalit.

Despite all the misunderstandings, the cold and dry days, The exhaustions.

“Ngunit sa huli, palagi

Babalik pa rin sa yakap mo

Hanggang sa huli, palagi

Pipiliin kong maging sa’yo

Ulit-ulitin man

Nais kong malaman mong iyo ako palagi. ”

In your ingress, I’m glad. In your arms, I’m happy to have found peace amidst the havoc. Dating you was great, loving you made me float beyond the universe. I envision you and me sharing the same path and dreams. How does it feel to walk on a rough path with you? How does it feel to overcome those challenges and reach the pinnacle of success?

I love how your lips touch mine, how your hands roam around my body, and how they give me butterflies with every movement of our bodies, creating unforgettable rhythms.

YOU AND

1. Palagi by Tj Monterde

2. 24/7 365 by Elijah Woods

3. ilu by Elijah Woods

4. It’s you by Keshi

5. Last girl by Elijah Woods

OPEN LETTER for my love, Crown.

Hi, my love. Does this seem so cringeworthy to you? First and foremost, happy 4th monthsary with you, Pa. It’s been a while. It still feels so unreal to me, yet I am already at the stage of recognizing the fact that you and I are dating and together. And with that, I’m beyond happy. I’m so happy that I allowed myself to love you, and I don’t regret it. Are you fond of reading this kind of letter? I hope you’ll like and appreciate it. We’re kind of far from each other, but I hope you can feel my presence and love for you. I hope our relationship will continue and keep its foundation stronger. Let’s keep each other safe, happy, loved, respected, and appreciated. I hope you are happy to have me. More months with you until we reach the anniversaries. I love you so much. Lp na, chariz. WHAHAHAHAHA.

To answer this question and also to appreciate you, too. Kumusta ka nga ba as my boyfriend? Well, actually, you never failed to make me happy. Even though we had an argument, we still managed to solve it. I like how you apologized to me after the misunderstanding, and I like how we fixed it. You were the kind of boyfriend who was somehow serious, a man with great opinions on certain issues or topics. I love how you include me in all of your plans. You are the kind of boyfriend who is sweet and somehow clingy. Natutuwa ako, to be honest, kasi kahit tumatagal na tayo nakikita, and nararamdaman ko pa rin yung pagiging sweet mo towards me. I can still feel your presence appreciating me. You never fail to make me feel loved. I like how you seek my attention and crave to me. I know throughout the relationship, hindi naman nag-stay lagi sa masaya and sweet. There’s a time na puwedeng mawala iyang sweetness sa isa’t-isa. But for me, what matters most is that we still managed to make each other feel loved, appreciated, and valued. Yung, how are we going to keep on choosing each other regardless of the situation and despite all the misunderstandings and shortcomings? I appreciate you as my boyfriend. I look forward to one day na makasama and mag kita na tayo.

#SoundCloud

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danna-kurt · 2 months

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From Unexpected to Unforgettable Gem Experience (Travelogue)

I joined last year's field trip in 2023. Like a lightning bolt on a clear day (simile), it was unexpected to join a field trip because my father always did not allow me to join educational trips in order to protect me from danger. However, that time he agreed because of the persuasion of my mother. She said to him, "Let our daughter gather happy memories," and she believed that it would happen if my father let me join. Fortunately, I became as happy as a dog with two tails when I joined a field trip that was unexpected. (Simile) I felt more blessed when I came to these majestic places: Aguinaldo Shrine, Museo ng Katipunan, and El Deposito.

Because of this, I felt nationalism run through my veins (hyperbole).

Firstly, I woke up at 3:30 and came to “Tapsihan” , the meeting place at 4:30 am. At 5:00 the bus started its journey. We first came to Aguinaldo Shrine. That place was so spacious that it could accommodate aliens from other universes. (hyperbole) Aguinaldo’s mansion was huge and beautiful. It was a house designed by Spaniards. It has a lot of rooms, windows that's why you feel the air, and mirrors (imagery). During the colonization of Spain, having numerous mirrors indicated wealth. Additionally, I also saw historical facts and equipment used in the war. Aguinaldo was a lion for expressing his bravery. (Metaphor) Here, it is reflected that Aguinaldo was rich in love for Filipinos. I also learned from "Kuya Vince," our tour guide, that Aguinaldo did not die from illness, but from old age.

Next, we visited the Museo ng Katipunan. I saw a lot of visual representations, such as the gatherings of the Katipunan. Even if they are just toys displayed, it still depicts intense feelings of nationalism, the willingness to take risks, even their own lives, just to achieve sovereignty. I also saw historical facts and equipment or weapons. I also saw the poem made by Bonifacio, "Pag-ibig sa Tinubuang Lupa." He may not be a poet and certainly not as good compared to his fighting skills, but I felt his genuine love for the Philippines. The message was about deep love and commitment to sovereignty. Moreover, we must use our voices to fight for our rights! It highlights the importance of unity, sacrifice, and patriotism in the struggle against oppression and injustices. This stuck in my mind until we left the place. The spirit of being a Filipino is awakened, that's why even the land says to Spaniards that “ They don't have the right to steal other people's rights.” (apostrophe)

Moving forward, we visited El Deposito. This was the hideout of Filipinos from the Spaniards. The smell was unpleasant as I walked on the bridge. The water below was almost dry as well. Because of the unpleasant smell, it signifies that it's unpleasant for Filipinos to hide even in their own country. But even so, they never dried up in their love for the nation, nor try to hide it. (Symbolism) We went around the long, somewhat narrow bridge until we left.

This travel of mine not only highlights the beauty of the place but also the beauty of its people. A place is more worth visiting if its people are good. Furthermore, in this case, we visited historical places because there are good people who showed their courage, intelligence, and nationalism. We are not here today in our current situation if they hadn't fought for yesterday. So open your eyes and visit these places to witness how they fought for our rights. Finally, I am happy because I was able to go on the field trip; the unexpected moment turned out to be unforgettable. Our history is our wealth, and we should not forget it. We must be thankful and continue to live right for the sake of our heroes. The love for Filipinos is rich and classy like a gem! (Simile)

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apocketconfessional · 1 year

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i love you

it was away at school, 330 miles away and missing him like crazy. We both had busy schedules, but we had finally managed to carve out two days together. It wanted to get to him as soon as possible, and that had meant leaving right after work at 9:30 pm. Daddy had work that day so he had been up since 4am. He would be sound asleep when it arrived, and it knew it had to be sneaky to get in without disrupting his sleep. His partner would let toy in around 4 when she woke up to let the dogs outside before getting ready for work. otherwise the barking would have woken him up. The drive was long and listening to a true crime podcast had made it even more antsy to get there. It got there early and sat patiently on its phone until she had texted it. It gathered its things and closed its car door as gently as possible to avoid alerting the dogs. It snuck inside his bedroom and took its place on the floor next to his spot on the bed. It was getting comfortable when it heard two soft taps on the bed. It instantly knew what he was saying. It climbed onto the bed and snuggled into his side, finally home. He wasn't angry that it had woken him up. It selfishly thinks he was too excited to sleep. He held it safe in his arms for what could have been 30 seconds or 30 minutes. It thought he would just want to go back to sleep, but instead he moved its face to give him a kiss. The last time it had seen him, there had been a rule that it was not allowed to speak each day it spent with him until he had cum, so when he asked if it was worth the drive, toy nodded with a smile and gave him another kiss. It explored his chest with its hands, slowly sweeping his body. It couldn't believe this man was real and was really being as sweet to it as he was. each kiss sent sparks throughout its body. but mostly to its core. It wanted to kiss him everywhere, wanted him to feel some fraction of the overwhelming adoration it had for him in that moment. and in a lot of moments. It would have driven as far as it took to see him, 5 hours suddenly seemed such a small price to pay. Its hands continued their adventure heading ever south but never right where they longed for, and our tongues continued their dance. His arm was around it still, possessively. Toy was conflicted. It needed to say what it had been putting off for far too long. He had a right to hear the truth, although it was an obvious truth to us both. It wanted the timing to be right, it knew this was the perfect time... unless it wasn't allowed to speak. And how does one ask if it can speak? It decided to risk ruining this perfect moment with this perfect man, it had waited long enough.

"I love you."

Of course, this did not take him by surprise. He did respond seeming pleased, though. He had obviously not considered the no speaking rule, so toy loosened and spoke a little more. Mostly it just repeated "i love you i love you i love you" while kissing him everywhere there was skin to kiss. Eventually the touching and teasing became too much and he shifted it in order to get to what was always his. He was slow and powerful with it, exactly the themes for the night. At some point, he kissed it again, and although it was already drunk with bliss and not expecting anything more from him, he said the very last thing it had ever expected to hear from him.

"I love you too"

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niobiumao3 · 1 year

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Finally got to see Wakanda Forever

I think overall Black Panther was better, but only in that it felt like Cougler had a bit too much ground to cover in this movie for its runtime. I would like an extended, 4-5 hour cut of this film, I bet it would be stunning. The film is astonishing, regardless my personal takes.

One of the things I think is most striking in Cougler’s films as opposed to the rest of the MCU is how the women have their own, personal arcs, for themselves and one another. It’s so uncommon in film in general, much less for black women, to say nothing of a superhero franchise. And yet here we are:

- Shuri, struggling with her personal tendency, as a member of a younger generation, to set aside traditional, spiritual beliefs in favor of more modern mores. Coupled with the intense grief of losing her brother and then her mother, she’s a young woman at war with herself and everything else around her. Yet she bottles it up and sits on it, and we don’t really see her anger until she takes the herb and can no longer hide it from herself or anyone else. What an amazing thing to see, a show don’t tell of how women--especially black women--aren’t allowed to be made, aren’t allowed to be fragile, aren’t allowed to be.

- Ramonda’s long-simmering anger about how everyone turned their backs on her family when N’Jakada showed up. I had always wondered about this, and when first M’Baku and then Ramonda called people to the carpet for it, I was so happy to see it. It was heart-breaking how she blamed Okoye for Shuri and Riri’s kidnapping, but I couldn’t help but sympathize with her anger and its real source: the way Okoye didn’t stand be her family when N’Jakada came for them. It comes out there, in her fury over her entire family being gone, and Okoye is the unfortunate recipient of that rage.

- Speaking of which, I have a lot of sympathy for Okoye, a victim of circumstance, stuck wrestling with the traditions of her position and the realities of what’s going on around her. She was entirely within her rights to not expect such powerful forces to come for Shuri and Riri. Likewise she was surprised Ramonda still harbored resentment for the insurrection, which goes to show how carefully Ramonda kept it hidden (wonder where Shuri gets it from...). Of course, she’s a Queen, she has to if she wants to be seen as a competent ruler. In this way Cougler both presents a society in which Black Women are more equal and valued, and yet still gives a Black Woman character a similar catch-22, where she cannot be emotional, or angry, or herself, lest people doubt her. And so Okoye is entirely caught off guard, rightfully so I think; she’s more allowed to be herself, and maybe had no idea Ramonda was so angry, still, all these years later. (Now I am DYING for bits about during the snap, when it was just the two of them...)

- Riri, the fish out of water in the midst of this all, simultaneously a contributing factor to Wakanda’s problems and an emblem of all T’challa hoped to set right in the world. That moment where Riri talks about her dad, stopping short of speaking of his death--I don’t know the comics canon here, but I could feel in the look she and Shuri shared the unspoken meaning. There was no need to spell it out, only to show the scar and allow the viewer to take it in. (The fact that three Black Women are, moments later, surrounded by cops shooting at them brings it home.) She struggles to understand why Ramonda (or anyone else, really) would risk themselves for her, another show-don’t-tell about how the world has treated her, the way its ground down her assumed worth in the eyes of others. God, Dominique Thorne was so great in this role, full of late-teen energy and excitement.

And the other big thing: the primary men of color, Namor and M’Baku, and the brief appearance of N’Jakada himself, represent the very different poles for Shuri to cleave to. M’Baku, who could be calling her out as he did in the past, has learned and grown, just like Shuri. He understands now that what she needs most is guidance, not judgement, and takes that to heart. (And takes a moment to show up and remind everyone that in the past they completely fucking failed to support Ramonda and Shuri when he didn’t. I love him.)

Namor, on the other hand, comes offering carrot or stick. The movie doesn’t make the mistake of villifying him for wanting his people’s safety, which would be so easy to do. No, it’s the fact that he murders numerous Wakandans that’s the problem. To this extent he’s similar to...

N’Jakada, who appears when Shuri is at her lowest, and though I think it’d be easy to think of him as the devil on her shoulder I feel the real purpose here is to discuss how she’s not wrong to want Namor dead for what he’s done. In fact it’s probably not unreasonable at all, given what he’s done and is threatening to do. The problem, as M’Baku points out, is that Namor is revered by his people, not just as a leader but like an emperor of old, a god. Killing him will not be like killing a rival national leader, will not bring about the resolution they want. He’s not unsympathetic to Shuri’s desires, doesn’t even voice the notion that she’s wrong to want it; he just recognizes it won’t protect the people of Wakanda. N’Jakada is short-sighted enough to not think about that, and encourages Shuri to be the same. This is where she has to choose between herself and others, and reluctantly, she makes the right choice. And it costs her, we see her struggle when Namor’s life is hers to end--why should she, who’s lost so much to this man, have to let him live? But she does, for the sake of others, to protect, as the Black Panther should.

So yeah, this was an amazing narrative and had so much, I think I just wanted more more more. (Also I immediately went and re-watched Black Panther.) If you were looking for a movie about women and their lives with superhero trappings, look no further.

#marvel #mcu #wakanda forever #spoilers #all of them

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stirlingsports · 2 years

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How to Style Your Nike Puffer Jacket – 5 Ways to Wear

Your Nike Puffer Jacket may be the warmest, most useful coat you own, but it doesn't necessarily mean it looks its best. Some of the ways that people most commonly wear their Nike puffer jackets are unflattering and just plain wrong! Check out these 5 ways to style your Nike puffer jacket, so it always looks as good as it feels! This article will also show why some of the more common ways people wear their Nike puffer jackets are not the best to use when going about your day-to-day life!

Layer Over a T-Shirt

A puffer jacket is a layering essential, so don't hesitate to wear it with a simple white t-shirt and a pair of jeans for an easy yet on-trend look. The jacket adds warmth and protection from inclement weather without adding bulk underneath your clothes. Don't be afraid to shop around! You might find that buying online can save money and ensure you get your hands on the latest styles. Remember: When it comes to fashion, you get what you pay for!

With A Monochrome Athleisure Look

A monochrome athleisure look is a simple style for your Nike puffer jacket. It comes in tons of colours, prints and designs—but sometimes it pays off to keep things simple. Style your Nike down with a clean white tee, black leggings and some cool kicks. Throw in an oversize bag and some jewellery for an easy look that's still super stylish. And don't forget to throw on a pair of cute gloves so you can keep warm during those cold winter months! The key here is confidence—if you feel great wearing it, go for it! And if not? You can always mix up your look by throwing on some accessories or adding another layer underneath.

With Cozy Knits And Sneakers

The trend of puffer jackets with sneakers is all over stores. While it can be a fashion risk, remember that you don't have to go overboard. Pairing your warmest jacket and thick knit booties or sneakers is perfect for these chilly days. A warmer day calls for an open front with flowers, but if it's cold enough, even those florals need some warmth; throw a scarf around your neck and pair it with thicker pants and boots. Going against the norm: If you are feeling daring, try pairing your Nike puffer jacket with something other than sneakers like loafers or flats. Make sure they match in colour, so there aren't any awkward textures between your outfit pieces.

With Faux-Leather Leggings And Combat Boots

The first way to style your puffer jacket is with a chic combat boot look. Start by putting on your favourite pair of faux-leather leggings. I like how they help make my legs look longer and thinner. Then throw on your favourite t-shirt or a blouse; just make sure it looks good when tucked in! Finally, put on your jacket and pull up your collar until it feels snug (the tighter you keep it, the longer you'll be able to wear it!). Some people think that if a jacket doesn't fit perfectly off-the-rack, it's not worth getting. But trust me: many jackets are sold too large for retailers' tastes, which allows us, consumers, more room for personalisation!

Best For A Travel Outfit

Today I'm going to share how I wear my puffer jacket. As an avid traveller, I rely on a comfortable and durable jacket for long flights. While puffer jackets have been extremely popular for years, one of my favourite brands is upgrading its classics with new colours and styles—and that's exactly what we're focusing on today. For example, you can now purchase a stylish puffer from Nike in various colours, including red and green. Now that's something worth showing off! Here are five ways to style your Nike Puffer Jacket.

Source: https://dailybloggingnz.wordpress.com/2022/06/21/how-to-style-your-nike-puffer-jacket-5-ways-to-wear/

#nike puffer jacket

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may-fanfic · 3 years

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Hiya,may I request romanoff!reader (of course lol) like she's a civilian and no one really knows apart from a few that nat even has a daughter to keep her safe. So Nat finds out that she's started dating this amazing girl she met (maybe like a book shop) so surprise surprise the day Nat visits she finds out yn has a date and the door knocks sp Nat decides to open it, not expecting Wanda to be there, both shocked as hell till its reveled wanda is the date and nat is her mum :D please and thanku x

Broken Agreements

summary: when Natasha had you, she kept you out of the public eye but one day you go out and meet someone unbeknownst to you, your mom and wanda already know each other

warning: none, correct me if I'm wrong

paring: wanda maximoff x reader, mom!nat x reader

word count: 2,062

a/n: sorry this took so long, I wasn’t home for a couple of days but I hope you enjoy 💕

((feel free to send in any request you may have 💕))

masterlist

---------

when Natasha had you, she knew that it was the best bet to keep you out of the public eye. it wasn't that she wanted to keep you locked up in the house all day but she knew there were far too many risks when it came to introducing you. it was easy for her to keep you in her sight when you were younger but the older you got, you began to crave more than just visits to Clint's house. she secretly hated that you were older now because she knew you need more and when you uttered that out to her, she couldn't stand the puppy dog eyes you were giving her. "okay fine." she rolled her eyes as you squealed, relieved that she was understanding enough.

so with that, Natasha allowed occasional outings, warning you that you had a set time to be back because she couldn't stand the idea of you being alone in the middle of the night. you were understanding of that, promising that nothing would stop you from returning home before the sunset.

---

Natasha was gone for the day, leaving just after she made you breakfast and despite promising your mom that you wouldn't leave without telling her first, you had just finished your last book. you wished that you picked an extra one-up the last time you were out because now boredom struck and you had nothing else to do. you knew you could make it back before your mom ever returned home so with that you dressed, checking the time before you went. 1:22 pm. you had more than enough time you reminded yourself with a small grin.

knowing that you weren't allowed to be out, only made it more exciting. you hardly ever broke rules when it came to your mom, not only because she was intimidating but because you respected her and you knew she always had your best interest in mind. you finally reached your favorite book shop with a certain book in mind already you moved through the small shop. you browsed for a moment, not turning up with anything more interesting than the book that you saw last time. you knew exactly where it was because you knew that store like the back of your hand so you moved to the section you could find it, grinning when you saw that there was only one left. you hardly noticed the girl beside you until you reached forward to grab the book just as she did, her hand softly brushing against yours. you shyly retrieved your hand, your gaze fixed to the floor. "sorry." you uttered out causing the girl beside you to chuckle lightly.

"it's okay," she reassured, nudging you lightly with said book causing you to look up at her, only now taking note of her breathtaking features. you could feel your heart pound in your throat as you swallowed hard, she had been smiling sweetly at you, far more relaxed than you. "here, take it." she offered but you quickly shook your head. "you can have it, I'll wait for the restock," you muttered despite, really wanting to read that exact book. she shook her head, her smile growing with every passing second.

"I couldn't," she muttered, extending her hand forward for you to take the book but when you didn't move a muscle, the girl sighed, the smile still prominent on her lips. "how about this-" she paused for a moment when she noticed that she had peeped your interest. your eyebrows rose in question waiting patiently for her proposal. "I'll give you the book if you buy me a coffee," she stated, her smile growing when your cheeks seemed to flush over. "it's only fair," she stated, shrugging lightly.

you knew your mother always warned you about strangers but your interest in the young woman had been strong and you couldn't help but wanna get to know her more so with a nod, you took the book from her hand, letting her follow you through the shop and out the door.

she uttered out her coffee order to you, smiling when you moved to go to the counter. she called out that she'd find both of your seats. you could feel your heart pound as you made your way over to the table that she settled down on, placing her mug right in front of her. she had been looking through the book, setting it aside when you came to greet her. "you're gonna like the book." she whispered causing you to nod lightly.

"I hope so, I've been meaning to buy it," you stated, her expressions had been soft as she brought the hot mug to her lips, looking over at you from over the top of it. once the awkwardness of the situation died down, the conversation seemed to flow naturally and you noticed that you were losing all of yourself in the conversation, time hadn't been a thing.

realization seemed to dawn on you when the shop owner announced that they'd be closed in less than 5 minutes and then your heart sunk and you felt the nervousness eat at your once joyful mood. "I had a really good time, wanda but I gotta go," you whispered suddenly noticing that the sunset and the street were lit up by the streetlights, there hadn't been a sign of sun anywhere. "let me take you home." she offered but you knew your mom would throw even more of a cow if she knew you gave your address to a stranger. "thank you but I'm okay." before wanda could even completely process what happened, you were gone.

you looked at your watch, reading the time only made you feel so much worse. 8:56 pm. you let out a soft sigh, rushing home as quickly as possible. you were breathing heavy and hard when you finally made it to your house, hoping that the redhead was still stuck at work.

you opened the door after catching your breath, meeting the faces of every Avenger. they had all been like uncles to you but you'd never seen them all in the same room, suited up before. it made you feel guilty, you knew you had worried them before you could even talk, Natasha rushed over to you, her fear outweighed any anger she felt because you were okay and that's the most important thing to her. "oh my god! where were you? what would you thinking?" she rambled, tugging you into a tight hug that you melted into, feeling yourself relax because she wasn't as mad as you thought.

you spoke too soon because as soon as she pulled away from the hug, you could see her relieved expression turn into pure anger because how could you leave and have her worry like that?

"what were you thinking, Y/n Romanoff?" the use of your full name made your eyes widen as you stared back at the woman who gave you life. "I wanted a book." you stated softly causing a huff to slip past her lips. "you couldn't pick up your phone? that's why you have it y/n! I called at least a hundred times!"

your gaze snapped from her eyes to the floor, finding it to be the most interesting thing right about now. "I even had to call uncle tony, steve, and bruce. you know how worried you made us?" you swallowed hard, hating the feeling of disappointment. "don't you ever do that again, you hear me?" she lectured causing you to mutter out a soft 'yes ma'am'.

"go to your room." she was done as she turned away from you, you didn't think twice before speed walking up those stairs and into your room.

it only now dawned on you that you didn't get the girl's number. the only proof of your day was the book and coffee receipt. sighing softly, you set the paper aside, taking a seat on the foot of your bed, staring down at the book in disappointment. it wasn't until you flip open the book and settled on the front page did the lecture you received from your mom seem worth it because on the paper, neat handwriting could be made out. you smiled down at it, feeling your heart skipped a beat tracing the words with your pointer finger.

I still want the book, call me when you're finished - wanda

you smiled down at the number in disbelief, determined to finish the book as quickly as possible so you could call wanda.

you read the book much faster than expected, you were eager to finish it and when you finally called wanda to tell her that she could have the book, muttering about how good you thought it was, she had been grinning madly because almost every day she waited by her phone hoping and praying that it'd ring and now she could hear your voice so clearly. she didn't hesitate to cut you off about the book and ask you on a date.

-----

as much as you enjoyed having your mom around, you were glad when she told you she'd be out that day because it gave you the chance to invite wanda over for dinner. wanda happily accepted the invite, glad that she would finally spend some alone time with you.

for the past couple of months, you’ve had occasional meet-ups at coffee shops and restaurants but Wanda always wanted more and now she had been given exactly what she wanted. she couldn't be more excited.

your excitement seemed to wear off when your mom arrived home much early than expected, questioning you about the candles and seemingly put-together dinner. your eyes flushed over, stumbling over your words when you told her you had a date and thought she'd be out much longer. she wiggled her eyebrows at you, a smirk playing on her lips. she knew that you had been involved with someone because one day after returning from a date with wanda, you had been too giddy and couldn't hold back when she asked you why you were so happy.

"I can't wait to finally meet this mystery girl." she teased, smiling at the redness in your cheeks. you knew she'd met her eventually but you were still nervous, your mom had always been a hard person to please and you wanted her to like Wanda as much as you did.

when the knock at your door sounded, your mom's eyes met yours, her grin grew even more. "I got it," she spoke, her voice filled with excitement before you could even stop her from opening the door, she had already been there, turning the doorknob with ease. you took a couple of steps forward to stand behind your mom so the girl didn't feel too bombarded.

when the door was pulled open, her smile was the first thing you saw, and then it was the flowers she held, you could feel your heart swoon but then you noticed the way her smile dropped when she looked at your mom, confusion written in her expressions. "Wanda?" Natasha uttered out as she looked over the girl intensely enough to make the girl's gaze drop to the ground. "what are you doing here?" your mother questioned as she stared blankly at the youngest Avenger. "I'm here for-"

"you know each other?" you suddenly questioned, looking between wanda and your mom. you searched their faces for an answer but turned up with nothing until your mom spoke softly. "she's been recruited." that was enough for you to know exactly what your mom meant.

Natasha couldn't be upset at Wanda, there was no way she could've ever known that you were her child and if she was honest, she was glad wanda turned up instead of an unfamiliar face. "come in, wanda." your mom's voice came out gentle and almost reassuring.

"aren't you supposed to be on lockdown?" she questioned once wanda had entered and taken her coat off, holding the roses tightly in her hands.

it finally occurred to Natasha why the witch was never around. every time they had been looking for wanda, she was with you.

"cap let me out for the day." she lied causing Natasha to raise an eyebrow at the teenager but she didn't press. "lockdown for what?" you stared up at the witch, feeling like you knew absolutely nothing about her. wanda hated the way you were looking at her. she opened her mouth to talk but was quickly cut off by your mom's soft voice.

"that's not important, babes." but it felt pretty important to you and Natasha knew you wouldn't drop it. "I'm gonna head out," she spoke softly, offering the both of you a smile. she knew you'd both have a lot to talk about and she wanted nothing to do with that.

once the door closed, you turned to wanda with a wary look on your face. "I was gonna tell you." her words had been shaky, her gaze struggled to meet yours but she still did. wanda had looked beautiful that night all dressed in a flowy red dress. "why didn't you?" you questioned, a frown taking over your lips as she breathed out a sigh.

"I didn't want to ruin things. you're the only person who's ever really seen me for who I am and I was scared you wouldn't look at me the same," she confessed and you couldn't be mad at Wanda so instead you nodded, looking at the roses that she had a tight grip on.

"are those for me?" you asked softly, her usual smile tugging at her plump lips, her cheeks turning bright pink. she extended her hand, her smile only growing when you took them, along with her hand leading her through the house and to the dining room. as you did so, wanda couldn't help but swoon. she was relieved that nothing really changed and you'd still have you at the end of the day.

she didn't know what she was worried about before, it was clear that you were different.

#natasha romanoff #natasha romanoff x reader #natasha romanoff x you #natasha romonova #natalie rushman #black widow #black widow x you #black widow x reader #wanda maximoff #wanda maximoff x you #wandavision #wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #avenger #the avengers

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lexa-lives-in-us · 3 years

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Saving Tips for Hard Times

I found this old document where I collected a series of tips to save money. This is all part of my experience of when I was near homeless, and some work depending on where you live, some don’t. Here we go.

BILLS:

1. The optimum temperature for refrigerator operation is 5°C, and -18°C for freezer operation. As a rule of thumb, for each additional degree of refrigeration output about six percent more electricity is used.

2. Unplug your appliances. Lamps, microwave, tv, computers etc. They don't need to be plugged until you use them, and it saves energy to keep them unplugged. Therefore, money.

3. Do homework for phone companies and internet plans. Call them! Often they are toll free and if you mentioned that you were already with them or thinking of going with them and then found out another company had a better deal, they could offer you deals for lower prices. I had to do it all the time for my phone, until they couldn't really offer anything better.

4. BIKE. Invest in a used bike if you can, especially for the warmer months. It offsets the transit costs and better your health.

5. WALK. That's the same as the bike, honestly.

6. Pay your bills on time, you will avoid late fees which can up to HUNDREDS of dollars wasted over the course of a year. If you can, set up automatic payments so you don’t forget.

FRIDGE:

1. Every time the refrigerator door is opened, cold air escapes and warm ambient air enters. To compensate for the temperature increase in its interior, the refrigerator must then use energy to bring the temperature back down. Always avoid opening the door unnecessarily and for too long.

2. When defrosting frozen food place it in the refrigerator. Not only does this ensure that the food is carefully defrosted, its presence cools down the refrigerator interior, reducing the amount of work that the compressor has to do, and therefore lowering energy consumption.

3. Never put warm food in the refrigerator as this will heat up the interior, as well as other stored foods. Hot food should always be allowed to cool to room temperature before placing it in the refrigerator

MONEY:

1. Keep all the containers like glass bottles, juice bottles, jars, cans etc. Look for your Return-It depot and have trips to return them. They give back coins for laundry, small expenses etc

2. Use that junk mail. Go through it, find coupons for food, for essentials like toilet paper or shampoo.

3. CHECK. THAT. DOLLARSTORE. They often have things like pasta, ketchup, toilet paper, batteries etc for literally 1 dollar. Pasta is pasta, toilet paper is toilet paper. Seriously. Don't need to spend 5$ on a shampoo bottle when you can have it for 1/5 of the price.

4. Do homework and check with different banks for which one offers a better plan. Some of them are willing to help out. Sit down with their advisors, find the best solution!

5. Use the envelope system! For example, one envelope with a label “food” the other with “entertainment” the other with “bills”. Then set the right amount of cash for each. That’s what you’re allowed to spend each month. If you realize you need more for food, grab it from the entertainment envelope. Adapt and arrange as needed.

6. If you can, set up an automatic saving (example 50$ every paycheck) for both regular saving AND an emergency fund.

7. Use the 24-Hour Rule. Avoid purchasing expensive or unnecessary items on impulse with a self-imposed 24-hour rule. For any non-essential item, wait 24 hours before purchasing. It’s perfect for online shopping where your items can simply be added to your cart to purchase later.

8. Make a grocery list BEFORE going to the grocery store and STICK to it. You’re going to avoid buying things you don’t really need.

9. DO. NOT. SHOP. WHILE. YOU. ARE. HUNGRY. Or you’ll end up buying food that you actually don’t need just because you feel snacky!

10. Only use ATMs from your bank, or you get charged small fees.

11. Set a “No Spend Day” per week, where you consciously DO NOT spend any money for that day.

12. Ditch the paper: Cutting out paper towels and using cloths and napkins that you can simply wash and reuse is a simple way to save.

13. After you wear clothes, hang them outside your wardrobe, on a door or something. You can air them out a bit, then stick them in the closet without washing. You can basically reuse the same clothes two or three times without having to wash them, sometimes they just need a bit of air and they won’t smell AT ALL.

14. If you don’t own or want to spend money on an iron, hang whatever blouse you need to iron in the bathroom while you shower. The steam will humidify the fabric and straighten it up.

15. Hang stuff to dry. Really don’t need to spend money on the dryer.

16. Sign up to the library. They have so many books and DVDs nowadays. You can also just go, sit at the library and stay warm for a while, so that you don’t have to sit at home and either suffer the cold or use money on your own heat.

17. Budget, budget, budget. Get a lil notebook, write down the monthly expenses, cut what you don’t need. It gets easier with time.

FOOD:

1. Make a meal plan. Write 10-14 days worth of dishes that you can do (lunch, dinner, everything you need). You can then toss them around as you go on with your week, but that way you have a pretty clear idea of what you use and the food you go through for how long. It also reduces the risks of getting take out since you already have plans for what to eat.

2. Cook double! Seriously. Make that dinner and double it up. Leftovers can be frozen or put in the fridge for the day after.

3. Meal prep. Once a week, prep a bunch of different recipes. Let them cool down, stick them in the freezer. At that point you’ll already have all these meals at the ready to just thaw/microwave or oven up.

4. You don’t need pop. You don’t need alcohol. You most likely don’t need milk, but go for it if you wanna. Just remember dairy products go bad WAY more quickly than non dairies, so consider getting food and drinks with no dairy in them. Mainly, though. Water. Just drink water. Lots of it too! Sometimes our brain can’t tell the difference between hunger and thirst. You think you’re snacky? Drink some water instead! It’ll quell your hunger.

5. Freeze fruit! If you think you’re not gonna be able to eat fruit in time, put it in a Tupperware or a ziplock and slap it in the freezer. You’ll be able to then use it for smoothies.

6. Use the Italian saying “Colazione da re, pranzo da nobili, cena da poveri.” Which quite literally means “Breakfast as a king, lunch as a noble, dinner as a poor.” Breakfast should be very filling, carbs, protein, vitamins. It carries you for the whole day. Lunch should be quite filling too! But supper doesn’t really need a lot of it, and if you REALLY have to skip a meal, skip supper. Your body doesn’t need that much sustenance while sleeping.

7. This is for the desperate times but I’ve done it, and I would do it again if I ever had to. Go to markets that have like… Fruits and veggies. Talk to them. Ask them “HEY, can I have the fruit/veggie that you have to throw away?” Ask them if you can have the ugly produce, the one that doesn’t look pretty enough to be put out. Or ask them to have whatever extra they have to dump because is past the expiry date. EXPIRY DATE IS USUALLY MUCH LONGER THAN WHAT THE LABEL SAYS. I wouldn’t risk it with dairy stuff or with things that are VERY expired, but one or two days? Totally fine, I promise. And if you have to? Dumpster Dive. Especially at markets with fruit and veggies that have to be sold on the same day (because it’s not considered “fresh” past that day.) Or behind pizza places like Dominos or Panago or whatever chain. They get pizza orders wrong all the time. Just give a peak behind these buildings and look inside their boxes. You have no idea how many times I found perfectly fine pizzas. For free! IF YOU DUMPSTER DIVE, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE GLOVES, A MASK AND PLASTIC BAGS TO PUT YOUR STUFF IN. ONCE AT HOME, DISCARD GLOVES AND WASH PRODUCE THROUGHLY. Also check tumblr for your divers community, they usually know the best spots.

CLOTHES:

1. Thrift shop! So many GOOD used clothes are out there! Honestly! My whole wardrobe is thrifted and everything looks brand new. It takes a bit of research and maybe that shirt you liked is not in your size, but you can find EVERYTHING, from socks to bras, at a thrift store. Don’t thrift underwear though. You want to go new with those.

2. Invest in some needle and thread, then open youtube. There are SO MANY tutorials that teach you how to mend holes in socks and underwear. And really, no one will really notice if a mend is perfectly done or not. After a week, you’ll forget it too! But that prevents you from throwing away clothes that could just be mended a little.

3. Something doesn’t fit you? Too small, too big? YouTube, homie. They have tutorials on how to fix these kinda things! All you need, again, is needle and thread.

4. Organize clothes swaps with friends and/or neighbors. Everyone brings clothes they don’t need, put them in a pile. Go through the pile and grab whatever there is. There’s no money exchange, one could go home with 1 item and one could go home with 50 items. Who cares? The extra stuff… DONATE IT TO A SHELTER.

Feel free to add more, and stay safe!

#saving #saving tips #saving tip #money management #savings #small savings #homeless #saving account #my tips #signal boost #thrifting #dumpster diving #recycle #creative reuse #reduce reuse recycle #reducereuserecycle

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tommyspeakycap · 3 years

Text

nsfw alphabet - andy robertson

A - Aftercare (what they’re like after sex)

He's a sweaty cuddler after sex. He doesn't care that neither of you have cleaned up or that you're both hot, sweaty and sticking together. He couldn't care less. Andy loves to pull your naked body as close to him as you can get with his fingers drawing lazy patterns on your bare skin until you fall asleep comfortably in his arms.

B - Body part (their favourite body part of yours and of their own)

Of yours, has to be your boobs. He just loves them. Loves to knead them between his hands, rolling your nipples between his fingers to arch your back into off the bed so your body is flush against his. However, more innocently he loves your stomach. It's always so soft and warm and it harboured your little kiddies for nine months three different times. He loved to talk to it when they were in there and now whenever you get time to be together, he makes sure every single mark, scar, stretch of skin is kissed and named as beautiful as he truly knows you are.

C - Cum (anything to do with cum, basically…)

Ohhhh in you. He loves to cum in you. Got a bit of a breeding kink to be fair but we'll get into that later. To know you're full of him even when he pulls out of you or to think about you leaking him until he pushes his fingers up to stuff you full of him again is one of the greatest turns ons of his life. However, Andy would also argue there are few sights more fascinating than that of you on your knees in front of him, his cum dripping down your chin as you look up at him through your lashes.

D - Dirty Secret (a dirty secret of theirs)

He gets turned on when people call you Mrs Robertson or (y/n) Robertson or even Robbo's mrs. Anything like that just sends him fuzzy headed. You're his and only his. You have his name, you wear the rings that he gave you and he gets enthralled by calling you "Mrs Robertson" a million times a day and occasionally in bed. Get's him ready to go any time of the day to be honest. Also it’s not dirty, more fluffy and adorable but he gets really, really excited after you get married and he gets to refer to you as his wife. He loves to point you out and just be all awe struck with sparkly eyes as he proudly announces “That’s my wife.”

E - Experience (how experienced are they? do they know what they’re doing?)

Not necisarrily experienced but he is very good with what he does know. You've been together so long that you've learned just about every nook and cranny of each other so no one is left un satisfied at the end of the time you get to spend together. He's learned your body like the back of his hand and even on a day where the sex is as vanilla as can be, you always finish it feeling very satisfied. Also, for some reason that man has absolutely mastered the art of using his fingers.

F - Favourite Position

I get the feeling Andy probably prefers plain old missionary. It's the easiest, risks the least injury possibilities and allows him to see every single reaction and movement of your face as he bottoms out of you before plunging back in balls deep. He loves watching your eyes roll back as his name dances off of your tongue.

However he does also love taking you standing up. He loves the feeling of your legs tight around his waist because your knees were too weak from him to hold you up anymore and despite the fact it is much harder work, it's always well worth it. This usually doesn't happen at home, it tends to be the hidden corridors and empty rooms of Anfield after matches that are subject to said against the wall sex.

And finally, possibly his favourite is also watching you sink down onto his length, eyes fluttering shut. You take the reigns and he just melts, turning to putty in your hands. He rests both large palm on your upper thighs, fingertips bruising the soft skin of your bum, but they usually wander to your boobs until he’s reaching his high, where on will return to your bum and the other will grab a fistful of the bedsheets in a white knuckle grip as hips buck instinctively until he shoots his load into you with a loud shout. He loves when you ride him whether that’s lying on the bed, sitting up on the couch where he has an angle for his thrusts or if it’s simply you, rubbing yourself against the material of his shorts until he tugs them from the way and allows you to coat his bare thigh in your juices. He loves to be ridden.

G - Goofy (are they more serious or humorous in the moment)

He's a goofy guy through and through. He actually strives to make you laugh during sex because its the most intimate way and space a person could ever make the person they love giggle. It's usually when he's going in hard, almost always afterwards anyway. He'll share or tell little jokes or one liners that make you giggle, a blush heating your cheeks because he's still literally balls deep inside of you and you're giggling away. He just adores everything about it and making you laugh during sex always feels like an extra accomplishment.

Although if he's frustrated or got a lot of pent up energy then no ones laughing. The only noises that can be heard as slapping skin and you on those occasions and no one is complaining.

H - Hair (how well groomed are they? does the carpet match the drapes etc)

We've all seen that video from Jordan Henderson's insta story so we all know it appears as though he is completely clean shaven down there. He's not necessarily got a strict routine, he just maintains himself how he likes it as he pleases. It's his beard you think about. Andy likes to keep his faint beard and when between your thighs, it definitely makes all the difference.

I - Intimacy (how they are during the moment? are they romantic?)

He can be quite romantic depending on the occasion (birthdays, anniversaries, valentines etc) but romance is subjective. Some may like rose petals and candles, but you're happy with just Andy really. He can make things romantic sometimes and other times he's just Andy, making jokes and making you feel ridiculously good. Although he certainly can dress up nice, putting on suit, lighting some candles and dimming the lights kind of evening. Those are few and far between but you're certainly not complaining.

J - Jack off (masturbation headcanon)

He doens't do it a lot really. Maybe in the beginning of your relationship but almost never now. The time that he does want to get it on is always when you're there. Otherwise he's at training or with the kids or something like that. He's rarely not busy. When off travelling, Andy may opt to take things into his own hands purely for a release that he needs if he's feeling a bit wound up and missing you. There was one particular point however in your first pregnancy where you got all embarrassed one morning before admitting that the hormones raging around in you had conjured up a dream about Andy jacking off and you getting to watch, so occasionally he'll treat you with that in a nod to that little thing you love that has stuck around ever since.

K - Kink (one or more of their kinks)

Like I mentioned earlier, he has a bit of a breeding kind and further to that, he was absolutely always turned on for pretty much the whole of your pregnancy. He found himself doing a lot of jacking off then because you unsurprisingly weren't up for it most of the time that he was during the course of those nine months. But he was absolutely ravenous seeing you all swollen with his baby. He wanted to be all over you all the time. It just made him wild with desire.

He also has a hefty thing for winding you up in public. One time, at a players gala he fingered you under the table while everyone was eating and you had to sustain a conversation with Jordan Henderson, his wife and Jurgen Klopp. Andy just got so hard knowing what he was doing to you under the table and no one has any idea. It was marvellous; watching you fight everything back as he felt you clenching around his fingers, trying not to arch your back or buck your hips against him. You had a white knuckle grip on your silverware by the time your orgasm rippled through you and you had to pretend that you had chocked on your meal in order to cover up the small cry you let out.

To this day, Andy still whispers about it in your ear when you're in public and you're still waiting for a time to get one over on him for it.

L - Location (favourite places to do the deed)

He’s not really got a preference. Like i said earlier he really like to take you up against the wall, but he’s also partial to bending you over a counter or sinking you down onto him in the front seat of his car. He just is willing to take you anywhere really. Personally though one of his favourite is the shower. Your body can be all slippery, soapy and warm, reactive to his touch and despite the slight danger of possibly slipping, the heat of one of your legs hooked up around him, as he uses the stamina he’s gaining from being a professional athlete to pound himself into you as you yelp and shout out his name. The heat and steam just makes everything better.

M - Motivation (what turns them on/gets them going)

He is also insanely turned on by you in the mornings, groggy and messy haired with a sleepy smile and tired eyes. Watching you clamber out of bed ready to take on the day again with those little kids who laugh like you and yell instead of talk like Andy. You'll also usually emerge from bed wearing one of his old shirts or strips - like an old Hull City training shirt he hasn't worn in 5 years or a stupid cheap t-shirt he bought when he was 18 working in M&S that he thought he lost but actually had ended up being yours. You'll sit up on the bathroom sink while he showers, brushing your teeth ridiculously early just so you both get some time with each other before the little devils wake up. He'll stand between your legs, going in for a kiss that deepens until he's lining himself up with your entrance having pushed your very unflattering underwear to the side and you'll have to be as quiet and as quick as possible. He just loves every minute of living his life with you - even sneaky sex in the bathroom at not even six in the morning. He'll gladly take it.

N - NO (turns off, something/s they won’t do)

Andy is not at all interested in adding another person to the mix. He's surprisingly private as a person and he doesn't ever want your sex life to be something that comes out into the open to be talked about. There is always a risk with another person, plus he doesn't see either of you actually getting any pleasure out of it when sex is so good already. He probably will also never record or take pictures of the ac because he knows how easy it is for these things to end up in anyones hands. When he was younger, he used to. Andy had a really favourited picture of you on your knees in front of you with his hand in your hair as you look up at him after sucking him off. Cum and saliva were dripping down your chin and he still thinks about that long since deleted picture to this day. Andy is great at remembering things in his mind anyway, so he doesn't feel the need to create sex tapes that one day his kids might have to deal with when they're older if it ever breaks onto the news.

O - Oral (are they good? do they prefer giving or receiving?)

Honestly he prefers receiving but he definitely does not shy away from giving. Oh my god the beard burn he gives you is literally to die for, the perfect amount of friction he talks so much that his tongue is his lost exercised muscle so he is very, very good with it when it comes to going down on you. To be fair, it is one of those things that he wasn’t always very good at, but he has vastly improved and now it is something you will never ever turn down.

However, being sucked off by you is probably one of his favourite things ever. He literally cannot get enough of it, watching you get him off. God it’s unreal. Meanwhile he’ll have his head thrown back against the ball, hands on your hair muttering, “That’s it, pretty girl, fuck, perfect. Beautiful.” And you’re soaking wet waiting for him already.

P - Pace (are they fast and rough? slow and sensual?)

He’s usually going for fast and hard. It’s all sweaty bodies and rapid breaths, whimpering out his name as his skin slaps against yours. He can be very sensual but rarely ever slow. His pace lets him reach every inch of you, pushing into you in every way as your nails drag down his back with your ankles linked around his waist. The way his muscles ripple quickly and his body clashes with yours is hot and fiery and perfect. He loves it, you love it. Why bother doing anything else?

Q - Quickie (their opinion on quickies. do they prefer it? how often?)

Dear lord Andy loves a quickie. Slamming into you with his finger over your mouth, warning you to be quiet in a Hampden park back room? Bliss. Pure bliss. He could get off just thinking about it. Post-match quickies are very common and when you become parents, quickies are also necessary when short on time. He prefers to have all the time in the world to take on you, but he will never complain about having a quickie.

R - Risk (do they think to experiment? willing to take risks?)

Andy loves the risk. He loves to pump his fingers into you under tables or have his fingers wound in your hair as you suck him off in a fancy marble walled bathroom at a gala. The rush of potentially being caught always heightens the pleasure. When you were younger and he used to still live with his parents, he didn’t care for the thumping of his headboard against the wall as much as you did. He just loves that he can have you like putty in his hands wherever. It’s not about the people there, it’s about the fact he can drive you crazy and he is in full control and nobody even knows. Although, you too like to get your own back on him, shuffling around in his lap during movie nights so he has to stay glued to the couch the rest of the night because of the hard bugle in his jeans. He’s also into experimenting. Anything that could bring you more pleasure? Bring. It. On.

S - Stamina (how many rounds? how long do they last?)

Everybody says that Andy is one of the biggest grafters in the team in terms of his engine. He could run forever, so i don’t see him being at all different in the bedroom. He could genuinely probably go forever and he very, very much loves to do so. When you’re wildly overstimulated, muscles tight, skin shining with sweat as you pant and gasp for breath beneath him, he gets intoxicated by it. His eyes drink your in, flicking over your face and taking in every little bit of you. He commits it to memory every time, each better than before.

But yeah, Andy could go for hours and honestly he will. It’s a very special treat for you always. Plus, who doesn’t like a guy who can go hard and fast four three rounds and still be fully ready to go down on you afterwards?

T - Toys (do they own any? do they use any? if so, preference?)

He does own a few, all funny little things he bought to tease you with. Like little vibrators that he can press again your clit and stuff like that. He doesn’t use them often and many he got when he was injured and couldn’t have sex with you the way usually would it would want to.

U - Unfair (do they like to tease? if so how much/often)

Aaaaabsolutely. He’s a massive tease. Andy absolutely loves having you writhing and whimpering beneath him, begging to have him fully in you or to go faster, to just move. Loves it. Definitely a big fan of edging you so close until you’re hazy, incoherent and begging for an orgasm that’ll ripple through your whole body so every in a five mile radius will know his name. Whenever you’ve got the time and the freedom, he’s teasing you and sometimes it’ll start in the morning before he leaves for work and he won’t finish it till much later it the day, making for an even more intense orgasm.

V - Volume (are they loud? what sounds do they make?)

Not necessarily loud, but he is very very very into dirty talking right into your ear. His hot breath tickling at your neck between kisses, grazing his teeth against your sensitive skin, god it drives you crazy. He’ll hum against your clit about how wet and ready for him you are and tell you the whole time how beautiful and perfect you are. It’s both romantic and painfully attractive. Apart from that he’s mostly grunts and some groans of your name but the sound he makes when he cums is *chefs kiss*. It’s deep and guttural, coming straight from the base of his throat when his eyes screw shut and his mouth drops open. It’s unbearably hot.

W - Wild Card (random headcanon)

He low-key loves to be marked by you. Not even actively, just passively almost?? Like he doesn’t think about it at the time but afterwards when he’ll spot the scratches down his back when he passes the mirror or if the guys comment on it in the changing room, it makes him feel good. He’s glad everybody knows he belongs to someone in every way, from the most romantic and simply to the most intimate. And knowing you have the faint, painless bruises from his fingertips on your hips with little nipped in love bites around your breast makes him feel satisfied that he’s left you with a memory of the evening. Even just you wearing your wedding ring or looking down at his own on his hand proudly makes him silently happy and all fuzzy inside in a completely non-sexual way because you’re so happy to show off to the world that he’s yours and your his you both love each other so so much.

X - Xray (what’s doing on beneath the belt?)

Again, i’m sure we all seen that video on Jordan Henderson’s insta story the other week, so we all know he is fairly packing. He’s not got anything extravagant or jaw dropping, but it’s still moderately bigger than bang average. It’s honestly just more about what he does with it and how he reaches every but of you that’s the wow factor.

Y - Yearning (how high is their second drive?)

Pretty high, to be fair but nothing out of the ordinary. like it’s not overkill but it’s usually completely unscheduled. Some weeks you’ll want to jump his bones every single night and he’ll fuck you twice a day and other time they’ll be a week between it. Schedules can be awkward and after you get married and have kids it’s a lot harder for things to run to any kind of plan. At the moment, it’s more of an ‘if we have time let’s just fucking go for it’ kind of thing. Although his sex drive is always higher when you’re pregnant or if the team are having a winning streak.

Z - zzz (how quickly do they fall asleep afterwards?)

Both of you fall asleep pretty quickly after sex now to be honest. You’ll usually fall asleep first because he’s tells sweet, soft jokes while stroking your hair and drawing circles on your skin softly. It’s very soothing. And then once you’ve fallen asleep, fatigue usually finds him quite quickly, but he’ll get up out of bed and clean you up a little because he’s ever the gentlemen. Then he’ll climb into bed and fall asleep pretty much instantly once you’re wrapped back in his arms.

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twentytarot · 3 years

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wow, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? sorry that i kinda dropped off the map there, but you know how it is. life calls when it does. anyway, today we’re doing a reading on your next five years. for this reading in particular, if you’re drawn to more than one group then i’d suggest you read them both, because 5 years is a long time and it’s definitely possible for bits and pieces of your prediction to be scattered around this reading. devise a strategy that works for you even, for example, if i’m drawn to pile 1 first and then 4, maybe the beginning of pile 1 is more relevant to me but the end of pile 4 will resonate more. enough of my rambling, on to the reading!

*year 1 means from now till year from now, year 2 1-2 years from now, and etc.

PILE ONE: GLASS PANELS

overall, the next five years has you waiting for the right moment to begin living. currently you are stuck in a place where you’ve been hurt and betrayed— yet you cannot leave yet. you’re probably trying to plan a way out, but perhaps, surrounded by the unbreakable glass panels in your life, you’ve come to the same conclusion as me: it’s not going to be any time soon. for the next two years, you will have no way out. however, you will become much more resilient so that 3 years from now, you have the power and strength to break out of your current situation and build your dream life. it seems that there will be a lot of movement leading up to this event; perhaps you will be moving house and leaving most of the people around you now behind. whatever the case, in year 3, you will be building a new foundation for yourself. if there are responsibilities and duties you cannot fully leave behind from your past, you will learn to balance them in year 4. in year 5, you’re building up your finances, having found your footing at home and at work. finally, five years from now, you will finally feel like you are in a place where you can feel stable and secure financially and emotionally.

in other words, the main message for you is “one step at a time”. you will have the life you want, but it will take a while. for now, you will have to heal your inner wounds and learn to brave the coldest of storms on your own. then, the next step will be to gain the courage to forge ahead and create a foundation that will allow you to build your life the way you want, away from the toxic people that you have had to rely on. once you have found your own independent footing, then the next step will be to go after you want, especially in career and life purpose. don’t be afraid if things start coming down, almost no one goes through their 20s and 30s without having to destroy something fundamental. finally, once you have learned to juggle all of this alone, the final piece will fall into place, and that is the rest of the world. friends, a new family, and days that make you so excited you want to sleep early so that the sun rises faster tomorrow. this is a long journey, but i’m confident it’s worth it. you got this! :)

PILE TWO: APPLE PASTRIES

for the next five years, you will ride a wave that brings you to the top of the world, and then you’ll prepare for the next chapter in life. we start off in year 1 with you being a little unsure of what it is you want to do long-term— perhaps you’re aware that it’s about time you start settling on a path with how responsibilities are piling up, but you’re also rather reluctant to let go of all your ideas and inspiration. that’s alright, you don’t have to decide just yet. in year 2, things get a little more exciting in the personal department: you might meet your future spouse, get engaged, get married, or even have a kid, depending on where you are in personal life right now. i’m leaning towards you being pretty young and just beginning to entertain the idea of marrying your special someone. whether it’s navigating a new relationship or wedding planning, you’ll be pretty caught up in it in year 2, and your work life will naturally fall into the background. not for long, though, because someone enters your life in year 3 and they don’t have your best interests in mind. they’re not out to get you, but they also don’t care if they had to step on you to get higher. this person brings you a whole lot of clarity on your life purpose and career, though, and so you transform your life quite rapidly, especially in view of the fact that you’re getting older and it can’t be helped, you’re going to have to start making some commitments. the transition is very successful and in year 4 you reap all the benefits. you are like water, you balance the push and pull effortlessly like the waves, you bring energy wherever you go, you complete the cycle and finish what you start. you’re in a position to give advice now, and people begin to look up to you. life’s... well, it’s actually pretty good.

year 5 is whole new chapter, likely on patience. the bliss of making it through one chapter in life never lasts long enough, and it is time for your life to move on. take care of yourself and always be open to growth. take the people that will betray you as lessons on how to better watch out for and protect yourself. wield the sword of clarity with conviction. before you know it, everything else will follow.

PILE THREE: FLAT WHITE

your next five years is about breaking free. you are often harshly judged by the people around you, and it’s like you can never catch a break. you wished for a peaceful getaway, and your wish is only partially granted. let me stop for a second and explain. for example, if you’re harshly judged at work, you might be able to get out of working with the particular team that makes your life difficult, but you won’t be able to leave the company entirely. something like that. you’ll have to do more than what you’re doing right now to truly get out of this situation. thankfully, towards the end of year 2, your heart hardens. enough is enough, you decide, and with your sharpened sword, you go after what you want.

the battle in year 3 is ugly. you say things you wish you didn’t have to, you do things in ways that keep you up at night. sometimes we don’t have a choice, though, because it was the only way you would be able to take what is yours and run. just in time, too, because in year 4, you will realise the stability you thought you were being offered was as strong as a house of cards. by defying expectations and going out on your own, you have nudged this house and cause it to topple. you get to watch from somewhere a little further away, but it’s still hard to deal with the questioning, the anxiety, the wondering whether you shouldn’t have left in the first place. no, darling, of course you should have left. year 5 is a year filled with so much more stability and happiness, it’s like you can’t recognise the person you used to be, the world you used to live in. if you thought that you will never truly make it out of there, my cards are here to tell you that there is a day where you will stop wanting to cry before you go to sleep, there is a day where the demons will shut up for good. so don’t give up! you’ll make it out of there if it’s the last thing you do, because that’s you: strong, persistent, and forever optimistic in your heart. and this personality of yours is what makes you lucky. when you want something with all of your heart, the universe can’t help but want to give it to you.

PILE FOUR: NIGHT

pile four, your reading is all about finding love! things are about to slow down for you now, and it looks like it will continue to be slow for awhile. and honestly, for you i don’t think that’s a bad thing at all, seeing as you are just coming out of having had to make difficult choices and work hard for what you want. for the next year or so, you’ll simply be continuing what you’ve started and letting the payoff roll in. in year 2, however, you’ll begin to look around at your life again and find out what is it you want next. at that point, perhaps you will come to the conclusion that it is love you’re looking for. or maybe it’s just excitement, since you’re pretty collected yourself. you’re the kind to meditate and sleep on things before you decide, and the person you meet in year 3 is decisively... not that kind of person. they’re hardworking, smart, funny and honest, but they’re also rather blunt and impatient. they’ll jump from one thing to the next without thought; they’ll argue with you through the walls of your room is it means they’ll win. you may wonder if this person is going to force you become their parent. well, no. this person has entered your life to show you that the world has so much more to offer if your just take the leap and jump. this person is here to show you that sometimes, you don’t sleep on decisions. you just go for it. once you begin to see the charm of this person, they will light up your life as a friend, a listening ear, then a worthy partner, then a worthy opponent, and then finally, in year 4... a worthy soulmate. and you will realise that taking risks is actually not as scary as it seemed, because this person is right next to you, and will be there to help you pick up the pieces should you fall. this might be a new feeling for you, because you come from a background of having to watch your own back all the time. being able to take calculated risks is what pushes one up from being a prince to a king. it pushes you and your life purpose to its full potential, and even if the ride of taking risks and forging ahead is rocky with this person in year 5, you will come out hardships closer than ever, stronger than ever.

#pick a card #pick a card reading #pick a pile #pick a pile reading #tarot reading #free tarot reading

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yandearest · 3 years

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May The Odds Be Ever in Your Favor (Hoseok x Reader Hunger Games AU) Chapter 7: Natural Born Killers

Summary - Living in District 4 you never thought you would have to worry about being selected for the Hunger Games. With a training centre right near the dock of the houseboat you lived and fished from, your district was known for volunteers who trained their whole lives for a shot at glory and riches. But at age 18, your name is called and no girls volunteer to take your place. Your devastation is answered when Kim Namjoon volunteers for the males shortly after. Tall, muscular, highly intelligent and charming, the years of diligent preparation have bestowed Namjoon with the expectation of being the next District 4 champion after Finnick Odair last won 3 years ago.

Fishing for a living has granted you skills with a knife but, as your mentor Finnick is quick to describe, your beautiful face may well be your best asset.

Upon arrival in the Capitol you are quickly faced with the reality that Namjoon may not even be the biggest danger inside the Arena. Especially when you capture the obsessive attention of District 2′s own volunteer, and killing machine, Jung Hoseok. Hope soon fades from ‘survival’ to ‘the mercy of a painless death’ but Hoseok certainly has other plans.

Pairing - Hoseok x (fem)Reader

Genre - thriller, angst, yandere

Word Count 9.5K

Warning: This chapter is very heavy with multiple deaths described in detail.

PLEASE AVOID READING IF YOU CONSIDER THIS CONTENT UPSETTING

The following is a dark fic featuring a yandere character, violence, obsession, and coercion. By no means does writing about this in a fictional setting condone any of those behaviours, much like Stephen King writing horror doesn’t mean he approves of psychotic killers in reality. Please avoid reading if any of these warnings makes you uncomfortable.

Previous Chapter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6

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You had remained with the girl’s body after her canon sounded. The momentary adrenaline rush from killing her attacker had faded and you were filled with despair at the sight of her lifeless eyes. It was strange how little guilt you were feeling, you had just killed someone – something you never thought you could actually do. Even though what he was about to do to the girl was disgusting, you were expecting to feel some sense of remorse over taking another life, but yet there was none. You remembered Hoseok’s vicious attack on seven from yesterday and shuddered, did you have more in common with him than you wanted to admit?

‘No.’ You shook your head, arguing with yourself. ‘He’s a monster, he took pleasure in his kill. I killed to protect someone else… But didn’t Hoseok kill to protect you?’

Disturbed by your conflicting emotions you hit your head against trunk of the tree, begging for the thoughts to leave your head. It was too much to try and process right now, especially with the girl’s body lying on the ground next to you. The impact on your skull and the rough bark grazing against your forehead provided a welcome distraction from your inner monologue.

For a moment, you thought that a whirring noise was coming from the ringing in your head, until you felt a blustering wind, along with surrounding leaves and twigs beginning to lift from the ground. Confused, you scrambled away from the girl and over to your bag. Shouldering the straps, you whipped your head around trying to see what the cause could possibly be, as the wind and whirring sound only grew stronger.

With nothing abnormal around you, you turned your gaze upwards to see an airship hovering just above the trees. A door along the bottom opened, and a large metal claw slowly began to lower through the leaves, knocking several branches out of the way. You stumbled backwards, not wanting to get in its way, and watched with sick fascination as the claw reached the boy. It hovered for a few seconds, getting its bearings, before the metallic arms began to retract. The gears whirred as they clasped around the body, some digging into the dirt below him, before they formed a tight grip with a sealed clunk. And then the claw was moving upwards, the thick cord retracting until it disappeared into the ship above.

It was such an odd sight, such an inhumane way to treat a dead child (‘the dead child you had just killed’). You just stood there staring, until the claw reappeared at the door, once again empty. You looked over to the girl’s body, regretfully knowing she would be taken next. But there was nothing you could do for her. You didn’t know if the airship could be giving away your location, or whether the other tributes would think to run in the opposite direction, but you didn’t want to stay and find out. Securing your bag, you turned your back and ran.

Two hours later it was difficult to see the sun through the leaves above, which made it hard to try and navigate. You were starting to run low on water and you had an idea to try and get to the edge of the pool behind the cornucopia, closer to the waterfall. Your idea was basically that people who wanted supplies would go to the cornucopia itself and those trying to run away would have gone in the opposite direction. If you could sneak along the edge of the forest, maybe you could reach the fall and stay hidden. Your plan had worked well, after finding where the edge of the forest neared the river, you had stayed hidden in the trees and made your way in the direction of the waterfall. When the cornucopia came into sight, you took a longer detour back inland through the trees, not wanting to risk coming into contact with any tributes who might be hiding so close to supplies.

You knew you were getting close when the sound of crashing water began to get louder, and more rocks started appearing in your path. A canon sounding very close by caused you to jump and momentarily forget your plan. Looking around you had to be at the cliff that would take you up towards the top of the fall. Remembering the careers from yesterday, you knew you definitely didn’t want to keep going in that direction. The noise of the canon seemed to have come from further inside the forest, close to where you had been walking through only moments ago. Climbing up the cliff wasn’t an option, and neither was staying in this part of the woods, so the waterfall remained your target. You let the noise of the water guide you and continued to made your way over – the surface becoming increasingly rockier the closer that you got.

The cornucopia came into view, in all of its temptation. It was across the other side of the rocks that you were traversing. It was less filled than yesterday; however, you could still spot an array of supplies scattered around. For the first time you felt your stomach rumble and you longed to run across and raid it for some of the fruit that you could see. But it was far too out in the open to be worth the risk. So, you continued towards the fall.

The closer you came, the more you were left in awe by the design of its structure. The rocks became harder to climb over, but you realized that they went behind the pounding curtain of water, into a cave. You were apprehensive. It was such a brilliant hiding spot, but being so close to the cornucopia you felt like another tribute had to have found it by now. However, someone could only have seen it if they had chosen to come closer to the fall, rather than the cornucopia, which wasn’t necessarily an expected move.

You didn’t want to take any chances, and pulled your knife out from your pocket, just to be extra careful. Doing your best to balance, and stay hidden between the large rocks, you slowly made your way closer to the water’s edge. Once there you crouched down, repeatedly checking behind your back to make sure no one was trying to sneak up on you, and filled up your container. Once full, you put the cap on and then began to try and scrub off the lingering traces of blood that were staining your hands.

It was as you were finishing up that you spotted a moving figure through a crack between the rocks, in the direction of the woods. You sprung to your feet and quickly hid behind the closest rock. Making sure to check behind your shoulder first (in case anyone was trying to sneak up on you whilst you were distracted), you peered out from behind the boulder to see your worst fear – Hoseok and Namjoon working together.

You spun back around, your back hitting the rock, as you pressed yourself against surface. They definitely hadn’t seen you yet as they were moving towards the cornucopia and neither of them had been looking over in your area. You recalled the canon from before and instantly knew it had to be their work. Your heart was racing and a tightness was beginning to seize across your chest making it harder to breathe. You wished you could somehow melt into the rock and hide inside until these games were over, but you knew it wasn’t a realistic option. Staying outside here would be far too risky with them so close by. The forest wasn’t safe as they would very likely see you if you tried to run back now. Your best option was the cave behind the fall, as it was surrounded with large rocks for cover, and neither of them seemed to know of its existence. The possibility of another tribute being inside no longer scared you when the two worst tributes in the arena were so close by.

Using the rocks as a shield, you scrambled the last remaining meters to the fall. Once safe behind the curtain of raging water you stood in awe of the size of the cave within. The boulders from outside seemed to morph into smoother steps that lead upwards and further inside the cliff structure. There was still no sign of any other life inside, but you kept a firm grip on your knife in case of any hidden attacks. The higher you climbed, the drier the rock below your boots became. With the waterfall keeping you hidden from the outside, you deliberately allowed your footsteps to echo throughout the cave in order to alert anyone inside. You weren’t here to fight.

When you reached the top of the rock steps you found a smooth plateau and the first sign of life. There was a makeshift camp of a few supplies – a sleeping bag, a pot, and flint – set up around the ashes of an extinguished fire. The coals still had a faint tinge of orange, so someone still had to be close by.

“Hello… Is anyone here?”

You called out, but were only met with the sound of your voice bouncing back off the walls.

The sleeping bag looked like it had some sort of shape underneath it, so you slowly walked over, wondering if anyone was still inside. You didn’t want to come off as threatening, but you also weren’t stupid enough to approach someone without a weapon, so you hid your knife behind your back.

“I’m [Y/N] from Four, I ran away from the careers. Two and Four are at the cornucopia now.”

The closer you moved towards the bag, the darker the cave became, but you could still faintly make out some sort of shape. You frowned, why wasn’t the person responding to you?

“Please, I’m just want to hide,” you lowered your voice as you reached the bag.

“I promise I don’t want to hurt you.”

You tapped at the bag with your foot but were met with a hard feeling beneath your toe.

Rocks?

A trap

Leaping away from the sleeping bag, you narrowly dodged the swing of a machete from a figure hiding in the shadows by less than an inch.

“But I want to hurt you”

The voice of your attacker was feminine, but you had no idea who the person is.

“Are you fucking crazy, I’m trying to offer you an alliance against the careers,” you swore as you shuffled backwards, trying to put some distance between yourself and your opponent.

“No thanks. I had one until your boyfriend killed him…” The girl continued to follow you, and as she steps further into the light, you recognize her from District 7

“…And I’d like to return the favor.”

She swung the machete again, and you narrowly ducked with a shriek, rolling towards the edge of the plateau. You just managed to catch yourself from rolling off the edge, but before you could get to your feet, Seven charged at you with another swing of her blade.

You brought your knife up to block it, which she clearly didn’t expect. She’s too stunned by the fact you stopped her attack to block your leg that kicked up and into her stomach. She hunched over and gasped, barely keeping her grip on her weapon after having the wind knocked out of her. You didn’t give her the opportunity to catch her breath. There was no time for guilt or doubt as you thrust your knife upwards. It sunk in between her ribs with a broken scream, causing her to finally release her grip on the machete. It clattered to the ground beside you as you pulled your knife out.

She was still alive, her hands pressing against the bleeding wound as she stood above you. The previous sight of your would-be-killer is gone, replaced by a scared girl who knows she’s going to die. You can’t exactly blame her for trying to kill you – after all your alliance tortured her district member – but there’s no point in feeling sorry for her now. The best you could do is give her a faster death than her partner. Getting to your feet, you stabbed her again, this time in the stomach. She made a strangled gurgle, coughing up blood as you ripped your knife back out. She moved to try and grab for the machete, but stumbled over her feet and instead slipped off the edge of the plateau.

You looked over the side with morbid curiosity, to see her body had landed amongst the rocky water at the bottom. The pool below is a violent mess of currents created from the waterfall and you watched as her body was quickly pulled under to the sound of a canon.

“I’m almost disappointed by how easy this has been,” Namjoon commented as he picked up a small sack of rice and tossed it into the water. Since disposing of Krystal, the duo hadn’t so much as seen a trace from another tribute on their way to the cornucopia. They had arrived with ease and quickly finished stocking both their backpacks with food items. It was when they discovered there would still be plenty left for other tributes that Hoseok had come up with the idea of throwing whatever they couldn’t take with them into the river.

“If only [Y/N] was that easy to find,” Hoseok muttered in response. Between tossing away any food he came across, he was also searching for more arrows.

“Nothing good is ever easy, she can’t hide forever.”

*boom*

The noise of a canon stopped them both in their place, it had sounded very close by. Namjoon looked around in a circle to see if there was any sign of an airship, whilst Hoseok suspiciously eyed the waterfall. The canon had definitely come from that direction. It was too high to see their camp up the top, but in his mind the noise had sounded closer. For a few minutes there was an uneasy silence, until he spotted something in the water.

“Over there”

Hoseok tapped Namjoon on the arm and pointed towards a figure that was emerging from the raging waters. Forgetting about throwing away food, the two moved towards the edge of the cornucopia’s rock to try and see the body. The water near the fall was a violent mess of waves, before it smoothed out into an eerily placid pool by the cornucopia rock’s edge. They watched as the body was tossed around, pulled underneath the currents, until it eventually drifted further way from the fall and resurfaced closer in their direction.

“It’s a girl,” Namjoon commented as they watched the body float closer.

It was difficult to see any details, but they could both tell the body was too big to be one of the younger tributes. There were no male tributes with hair long enough to tie into a ponytail, which gave away the fact it was a girl. With Athena having short hair, Krystal being killed earlier, and four known female tributes having died yesterday, they both mentally ran through which older females were still left in the games.

“You don’t think it could be…”

“No.”

They were both thinking the same thing, but there was no way Hoseok would allow Namjoon to say your name out loud.

It wasn’t you; it couldn’t be you. There was no way that you could have been taken from Hoseok without him feeling it inside. You were tied together and the second you left this world he would be able to feel it like a tether had snapped, right? He had no idea what he would do if you died before he was able to reach you in these games. It was a given that he would kill whoever was responsible in the most excruciating manner possible, but afterwards? Probably a rage induced rampage until he was the only person left, before killing himself. If you weren’t together with him at the end, then no one could win.

Hoseok followed the body along the rock as it drifted, until it was close enough for him to be able to reach. He could hear the sound of an approaching airship, but he had to see who it was with his own eyes first. Leaning over, he grabbed the body by its jacket and pulled it close enough for him to flip over. His sigh of relief upon seeing some insignificant nobody was audible.

“Not her,” he called to Namjoon, who had followed behind him.

“Stab wounds…” Namjoon acknowledged, nodding at the two bleeding cuts in the body. A solid incision between the ribs and a deeper wound in the stomach.

“From someone who knows how to handle a knife…"

Hoseok’s words trailed off at the end as he recalled your training in the arena. Particularly, your skill with throwing knives. The boys looked at each other, both knowing what the other was thinking. You were very close by. Looking at the waterfall where the body had appeared, there was nothing to suggest that you were around. If it weren’t for the fact that you were trying to stay away from him, Hoseok would have been proud that his girl was so good at keeping herself hidden.

“Look over there”

Hoseok’s head snapped over to the direction Namjoon was pointing at, but couldn’t see anything.

“What am I looking for?”

“The rocks. I didn’t notice before, but look how they trail behind the waterfall. I think there’s something back there… more importantly, someone.”

In an instant Hoseok was at his feet, the body below him forgotten about entirely. His bow and quiver of arrows were already on his shoulder.

“Leave the supplies here, we can come back for them when we have YN,” Hoseok instructed as he walked over to pick up some rope from the cornucopia. He doesn’t want to have to restrain you, but given you ran away it’s not like you’ve left him much choice.

Eying the rope in Hoseok’s hands and the knife in his own, a dangerous smile flashed across Namjoon’s face.

“Let’s go get our girl.”

The guilt you were wondering why you didn’t feel earlier, seemed to crash down upon you all at once. With a horrified gasp you, were hyperventilating over the reality you had now killed two people in one day. You didn’t want to, you didn’t mean to, you knew that you had to otherwise it would have been you that was dead. But it didn’t make the reality any less awful. You wondered what your father would be thinking if he was watching. He had been the one to train you with a knife in case that your name was ever called, but could he handle the reality of actually seeing you kill other kids? What about your mother? She was already dead, what if she was waiting for you to join her in peace, but you were sending other children to her instead?

You felt sick, but there wasn’t any food in your system to throw up. Instead, all you could do was dry reach and cough as you backed away from the ledge of the plateau. Maybe you should throw yourself over into the rocks to drown. You didn’t deserve to live as a killer. But then wouldn’t that make those deaths meaningless? And as selfish as it sounded, you didn’t want to die a painful death. You were scared. Scared to die, scared to suffer, scared to survive and have to live with yourself if you made it.

You crawled backwards until you felt your hand touch something soft. You flinched in surprise, looking down to see the sleeping bag from seven’s camp. It felt wrong to even consider, but you couldn’t help but think it would be a nice spot to hide out for a while. There was shelter and more importantly, warmth. You weren't exactly in the mood to return to the woods again and have to climb another tree. You shrugged your backpack off your shoulders and tried to distract your racing thoughts with the task of pulling the rocks out of the sleeping bag that seven had stuffed inside.

As you worked, you could hear the sound of rocks crunching. At first you thought it was just the sounds of the ones inside the bag as you moved them, but then you paused, and you could still hear the noise. It was hard to hear anything over the sound of the waterfall, but you had a bad feeling. You fumbled for your backpack and began to slide further backwards into the darkness of the cave.

“[Y/N]”

You feel as if your blood has turned to ice at the sound of Hoseok calling your name. How the hell could he possibly know that you were here?

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…

You shuffled backwards until you hit a rock. You couldn’t see anything in the darkness around you, and you could only pray that darkness would keep you hidden from him. You curled your knees into your chest and tried to shrink yourself as small as possible, clutching onto your knife, which would be your only hope of escape if he found you up here.

“Son of a bitch!”

You flinched at the sound of Namjoon’s cursing, and felt yourself panicking. Hoseok on his own was bad enough but Namjoon with him was too much. You doubted you could take one of them in a fight, but you knew that both of them would be impossible. You didn’t know what Hoseok’s plans with you were, but you swore you would rather die on your own than find out. You might not be able to fight them both, but you still had your knife, maybe you could take yourself out on your own terms.

“What?” Hoseok barked, his voice getting closer as he began to climb the rock steps.

“Some little shit is stealing our bag.”

That caused him to pause. Whilst the careers did have some basic supplies back at their camp, because they had thrown away a lot of the other food at the cornucopia, they needed those bags.

“Go stop the prick then, I’ll meet you out there with [Y/N].”

Namjoon nodded with a pissed off frown, turning around and heading back out of the fall the same way that he came. He hated when his plans were interrupted and he was going to make whatever moron thought they could steal from him pay.

You had no idea what bags they were talking about, but felt a sliver a of relief over Namjoon leaving. At least you had a fighting chance now if Hoseok found you. You could hear the sound of Hoseok’s footsteps coming closer, as he continued to climb.

“[Y/N]~” Hoseok’s voice echoed throughout the cave as he sung out your name in a sickeningly sweet call.

“Why are you hiding from me, angel? You should know that I would never hurt you.”

His steps continued to get closer and you clasped one hand over your nose and mouth to try and muffle the sound of your breathing. You tried to breathe as slowly and quietly as humanly possible.

“If it’s over how I tortured that boy from seven, I only did that because he tried to hurt you. But if you want, I’ll make all my other kills quick and painless. I’d do anything for you.”

The sound of his footsteps reaching the plateau kept you paralyzed in fear. He was here, there was no escape anymore. You clenched your eyes shut and prayed that the darkness could keep you covered.

Hoseok’s brows furrowed as he reached the top level and saw the abandoned camp. There were visible signs of a struggle from the earlier fight, but he couldn’t see anything else. The sleeping bag was barely visible in the darkness, but he could vaguely tell there were rocks nearby and some still inside of the bag. So that dead girl had tried to set a trap, but you were too clever. Again, he felt a combination of pride and frustration. If only you weren’t so afraid of him, you would be unstoppable together.

If his vision was to go by, you weren’t here. There weren’t any rocks to hide behind and it was possible you could have run in the opposite direction than where Namjoon and himself had approached from. But why did you feel so close? He narrowed his eyes and tried to squint further into the darkness, how deep did that cave go? Could you possibly be hiding in plain sight?

He pursed his lips, preparing to walk closer before the sound of a canon stopped him in his tracks.

Yoongi was in a bad mood.

After his argument with Krystal, he had been left alone to fish up the stream, but he had a lingering sense of unease. Why didn’t she understand that he was only looking out for her best interest? He didn’t sign up for these games to protect her just to watch her get killed for some stranger. It’s not that he hated you, or wanted you to die. He felt sorry for you and the way that Hoseok had singled you out, but it was better you than Krystal.

His luck with fishing had been mediocre. He had been apprehensive to use their food supplies for bait in case there weren’t actually any fish in the river. On the plus side it turned out there were indeed fish, but on the negative, the ones he had managed to catch were tiny. He lost track of how long he had been fishing for, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his face after such a freezing night, when he was snapped out of his peace by the sound of a canon.

Something was wrong.

He couldn’t put his instincts into words, it didn’t make any logical sense, but he had a very, very bad feeling. It was like a part of him had collapsed inside of his chest.

‘Where’s Krystal?’

Surely, she would be back at camp, just like she was supposed to be?

He tried to shake off the feeling, canons were a normal part of the games, if Krystal was smart then she would still be with Athena. On her own Krystal was a formidable opponent, and Athena was a powerhouse. The only real threat that could take those two were the other careers, but they were all back down the cliff. She should be fine… so why didn’t it feel like she was?

With a huff, Yoongi wheeled in his wire and tossed the coil into the bucket. He would try fishing again later, using the smaller fish as bait. But first he had to go and find Krystal to put his mind at ease. He dipped the bucket into the river to fill it up with a little water, in order to keep the bait fresh in the meantime, then began his walk back to the campsite.

When he rounded the corner of the river that led to the waterfall, he felt his stomach drop upon seeing Athena alone at the campsite.

“Athena! Where’s Krystal” He yelled.

Her head jerked up from picking through a pile of different sticks, organizing them into different firewood. She seemed surprised, but Yoongi just thought that was from how loudly he had yelled at her.

“YOONGI, LOOK OUT!” Athena screamed back at him.

‘Look out for what? We need to look for Krystal?’

But his confused thought was interrupt by a searing pain running through his thigh. Gasping in agony, he was in so much pain he couldn’t even scream. Looking down he saw the long blade of a machete protruding out of his leg. Before Yoongi could even react, he was struck across the back of the head, whilst someone else landed a kick to his speared leg. Disorientated from the pain, the two attackers were easily able to manhandle him face down into the river.

Athena leapt up to help, but was met with a rope being wrapped around her neck from behind. The pressure instantly cut off her air, causing her to choke as she desperately clawed for the rope. But whoever had attacked her had miscalculated their strength. Once she was able to get a grip on the rope around her neck, Athena didn’t waste time trying to pull it away. Instead, she used her hold for leverage and rolled her body forward, causing the girl behind her to come flying over her shoulder.

Laying sprawled out on her back District 8 realized she had made a terrible mistake, but it was too late for her. Athena snatched a nearby spear from the weapons pile and drove it straight down into the girl’s stomach. After ripping the point out, Athena kicked her sharply in the side, sending her rolling into the rushing waters. Whether it was from the stab wound, drowning, or falling onto the rocks below, all Athena cared about was the sound of the canon that followed.

Spear in hand, she raced up the bank to save Yoongi.

One down, two to go.

Hoseok was quick to dismiss the sound of the canon as Namjoon taking care of the boy trying to steal from them, but his head turning towards the direction he thought the sound came from caused him to see a falling silhouette through the waterfall.

“What the fuck?”

He didn’t care for his allies atop the waterfall, but the odds for his plans in the games were better if they could stay alive until the outlier tributes were taken care of. He cast a quick scan around the cave for any sign that you were there, but seeing nothing he huffed and started climbing back down.

You couldn’t believe your luck.

After everything that had gone wrong so far in the arena, the moment you were seconds away from being found by your worst nightmare, something managed to distract him.

You should have felt guilty that the distraction came in the form of another person dying, but you were to high strung to properly register that. Listening to the sound of Hoseok’s footsteps, you waited until he was at the bottom of the steps before slowly moving forwards. Not wanting to risk being seen or heard, you slowly crawled your way to the edge to see Hoseok disappearing back out the side of the waterfall that he had come in from.

There was no way you were going to remain in the same place and risk being caught if he came back. Making sure your backpack was still secure, you climbed your way back down the same steps. But when you reached the bottom, you hurried along the rocks under the fall in the opposite direction that Hoseok had left.

Namjoon and the boy from 10 on the cornucopia had been trapped in a stalemate ever since Namjoon had returned from the waterfall. The boy had been distracted with filling up a bag as quickly as possible that he initially didn’t notice Namjoon sneaking up on him, but a movement in his peripheral version alerted him to the career’s presence. His head snapped up, as he saw him coming back to the cornucopia. Namjoon held the boy’s eyes with a dangerous stare that screamed one thing; ‘you’re dead, kid’.

There were barely any supplies left, the rock was sparse and the last remaining good items were now in the bag slung over his shoulder. Clearly Namjoon had to want what was in the bag if he was coming back for it.

“Don’t come any closer, or I’ll drop it!”

The break in his voice severely reduced the impact of his words, but the boy dangled the bag over the side of the water to show that he was serious.

Namjoon rolled his eyes, clearly not taking the threat seriously as he continued to walk, forwards, only to stop when the boy released the bag entirely. The boy caught the bag by the handle, but held it back up over the side of the edge once more.

‘So, he’s quick,’ Namjoon internally assessed as he held up his hands in a mock surrender.

“You have something of mine that I want back,” Namjoon nodded to the bag.

“If it was yours you would have taken it with you,” the kid snapped back.

“Everything in this arena is mine, including your life. Drop the bag on the rock and your death won’t be a painful one,” Namjoon threatened as he rolled up the sleeves of his shirt to showcase his muscular triceps that were probably three times the width of the scrawny teenage boy’s.

“Come any closer and your bag will be thrown to the bottom of your river”

Namjoon longed to rush the boy and slam his head against the rock to teach him some respect, but the bag of supplies kept him rooted to the spot. Meanwhile the boy was tossing up his options. The boy from 10 knew that he was fast, but the weight of the bag would slow him down, and it was possible Namjoon could catch him. But if he dropped the bag his odds of outrunning him into the forest were much higher. But the boy wanted the bag just as much as the careers did. He hadn’t eaten since the start of the games. He had scarfed down a protein bar whilst cramming supplies into the bag, but he didn’t think he was going to last long in the forest without anything.

And so, the two stood eyeing each other down, neither willing to cut the loss of the bag, not even a body flying over the edge of the waterfall to the sound of a canon could distract them. However, Namjoon could still see Hoseok resurfacing out the side of the fall.

Hoseok could be brash but he wasn’t an idiot. Seeing the boy holding the bag over the water and Namjoon with his hands up, he could tell that there was some sort of bargain happening. With the boy’s arm over the water, it wasn’t like he could just shoot him with an arrow, without the bag falling in. Being within Namjoon’s line of sight, and with the boy having his back to him, Hoseok sent Namjoon a signal to let him know he would approach quietly.

Keeping his hands raised, Namjoon began to walk around the boy. He maintained the same distance, moving clockwise around the rock with lazy steps.

“You’re not getting off this rock with that bag,” he taunted as he walked, deliberately keeping the boy’s attention away from Hoseok, who was moving closer towards their direction.

“As a matter of fact, you won’t be getting off this rock alive at all”

“Then there wouldn’t be much sense in me keeping a hold of this bag then,” ten sneered.

“The second you drop the bag, is the second you die and you know it,” Namjoon replied coolly as he continued to pace.

“Not unless I make a trade”

Namjoon barked out a laugh.

“For you to make a trade you would need to have something I want. The only thing I want is that bag.”

“Oh really?” Ten asked with a knowing grin starting to crawl across his face.

Namjoon rolled his eyes at the audacity of the kid to think he could possibly strike a bargain, but he had to admit it was somewhat amusing.

“And what else could you possibly have?”

“I saw you and two earlier, I know you’re looking for your district partner. I also saw where she went”

There was a hint of glee in ten’s voice, like he was aware of a hilarious inside joke and Namjoon didn’t like it one bit.

“Bullshit,” he called.

At this reaction, ten outright giggled.

“I know you were tracking her, and that you killed that other career. But I also saw where she was going, and you were both so close.”

“And what makes you think that I believe you?”

Whether Namjoon believed him or not, having the boy keep talking was an excellent way to stall for time as Hoseok continued to get closer. With Namjoon now on the other side of the rock, it was only a matter of time before they had the kid trapped between them.

“She’s a pretty thing, isn’t she?”

Namjoon let out an exasperated sigh.

“No shit, we’ve all seen her at training and the interviews. Hardly proves you saw her today.”

Ten fumbled the bag slightly, his arm starting to burn with lactic acid from holding it over the water for so long. Bringing it down to the ground, he placed a foot on top, easily able to kick it into the river if he wanted. It was in the process of doing this that he caught sight of Hoseok approaching from his peripheral vision.

“Tell him to stop right now, or I kick the bag,” he immediately threatened.

“Hoseok!” Namjoon yelled, before making a cutting gesture across his throat, to get him to pause.

Hoseok reluctantly listened, coming to a stop just slightly further away from the boy than where Namjoon was on the other side of the cornucopia.

“So now what? I drop the bag and I die, or I give you the bag and I die” Ten deadpanned as he looked between the careers on either side of him, not exactly liking his options.

“Sounds about right to me,” Hoseok grinned, sliding the bow off his shoulder and preparing to load an arrow from his quiver.

“If you shoot me now then I can’t tell you where your girl is.”

Hoseok paused his hand right as it touched upon an arrow.

“Where is she,” he demanded.

Namjoon mentally slammed his palm against his forehead, of course Hoseok would be too blinded by his obsession with you, and buy into this bargain.

“I’m not just going to tell you so you can kill me. Look I can see there’s no situation here where I leave alive with the bag, so I’ll drop it. Here,” Ten paused to toss the bag a few feet in front of himself.

“Walk towards me and let me walk past you” Ten gestured towards Hoseok “and I’ll tell you where she is.”

Hoseok nodded curtly whilst Namjoon just rolled his eyes. He thought Hoseok was a lovesick fool, but was satisfied with the fact they at least had the bag back again.

The walk across the rocks began, ten deliberately tried to walk in a path that would create a gap in width between his body and Hoseok’s when they met. Hoseok read this and navigated himself in a way to lessen that distance, in case Ten tried to run without giving him the information that he wanted.

Meanwhile Namjoon walked towards the direction of the bag to retrieve it, but spotted something from the corner of his eye. There was some sort of shape in the rocks near the waterfall. He knew he should probably be paying attention in case Ten thought it was a good idea to jump his teammate, but Hoseok was strong enough to take care of himself, and this weird shape was bothering him. It was hard to see over the mist that sprayed up from the crashing impact, and when he squinted his eyes to look, it was like it was never there at all. For a moment he dismissed it as a bird until it moved again. A blur ducking up and then disappearing behind the closest rock. And then suddenly it clicked – why Ten had been laughing when talking about how close they apparently were to you before. The boy had seen you…

“HOSEOK!” He bellowed right before the two boys were about to pass each other “SHE WAS INSIDE THE CAVE. SHE’S MAKING A BREAK OUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FALL”

Whatever luck you had acquired for Hoseok to leave inside the cave, seemed to have vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared. You couldn’t hear the words that Namjoon had yelled over the rumbling noise of water crashing nearby, but you could see him pointing in your direction.

For a split second you all froze. You were caught like a deer in headlights, Namjoon was pointing at you, Hoseok looked livid and the boy from ten was scared to death. There was barely any distance between Ten and Hoseok. They were less than six feet apart, with Hoseok blocking the way to the forest, and Ten had just lost his only bargaining chip seconds away from managing to escape. With no weapon on his body, and no way to get around the armed career in front of him, he made a split-second decision to turn back around. If he was going to die, then he wasn’t going to let those careers get that bag, He’d kick it into the river if it was the last thing he did.

Immediately, chaos erupted.

You took off into a sprint across the rocks. You no longer had to worry about remaining hidden and put all your focus on speed. There was no point in prioritizing your safety on the dangerous surface either – it was either get away, or die. You’d risk slipping and breaking your neck than winding up caught between Hoseok and Namjoon any day. Using every ounce of instinct built from years living on the coast, climbing your boat, and scaling rocks near the sea, you made a break for the forest.

Being the closest, Namjoon would have pursued you, if wasn’t for ten turning around. Reading his move for the bag Namjoon had to race him for it, which was in the opposite direction that you were running. Hoseok and ten were both the same speed, so it was down to him being closer to save their supplies.

“No! Get her! GET HER!” Hoseok yelled to Namjoon as he watched you slipping through his fingers, whilst you ran closer to the forest’s edge.

But Namjoon ignored the demand, leaping onto the bag just seconds before Ten’s foot could make contact with a kick. Instead, Namjoon took the hit to his side and rolled, causing ten to go flying over the top of him.

Ten landed with a sickening crunch. He had thrown his arms out to break the fall, only to break his wrist on impact with the rock. Despite the agony, he used the momentum to keep rolling and fell off the side, into the water below. Namjoon sat up with a grunt, with his water experience, swimming the boy down wouldn’t be a problem, except Hoseok was about to beat him to it.

With his bow loaded, Hoseok shot an arrow straight into the shoulder of ten. The boy let out a muffled scream as he fell underneath the surface, no longer able to swim. With ten no longer a threat, Hoseok looked up to try and find where you were, to see you were right at the border between the rocks and the forest edge.

You had made it to the trees and stopped to look behind to see if you were being chased, when you witnessed Hoseok shoot the boy from ten. You thought that would be it, that he would be left to drown now that he could no longer swim, or that Hoseok would fire a second arrow to be certain. Instead, you found yourself rooted to the spot as Namjoon reached into the water and pulled ten back up to the surface by the arrow stuck inside of his body. As Namjoon continued to drag a screaming ten out of the water, and back up onto the cornucopia rock, Hoseok stood at his side, pointedly staring at you.

Your eyes were locked onto his, trying to read what he was going to do next. You leaned against the closest tree as you tried to suck in deep breaths. Your lungs burned from sprinting over the rocks, but you had to be ready to run again into the forest at any moment. In return Hoseok was eerily still. He watched the rise and fall of your chest with every breath you took, studied the flush of red across your cheeks and beads of sweat trickling from your forehead, and thought of the ways in which he would love to elicit such a response from your body. He ached to run and take you into his arms so he could feel the warmth of your body pressed against his, but knew that you would disappear into the forest the second he tried to. So, instead he chose to drag those seconds out as long as possible, just watching you breathe from a distance to find comfort in knowing you were still alive.

The sound of the canon had distracted the two boys that were holding Yoongi under the water. Turning their heads over towards the sound they were hoping to see Athena dead and the other girl from eight returning to help them take care of the last person at camp, but were met with the sight of an enraged Athena running in their direction.

“Shit! What the fuck do we do?” The boy from district 8 hissed, as he maintained his pressure on Yoongi’s neck to keep him face down under the water.

“How the fuck should I know?” the boy from district 9 snapped back, “You’re the genius who said your partner could take care of her”

“I thought she could! How hard is it to sneak up and kill someone from behind?”

“Too hard apparently”

“WATCH OUT!”

The two boys’ bickering was cut short by eight shoving nine to the side and narrowly avoiding the spear that Athena had thrown.

“That was clos-”

Eight’s sigh of relief was cut short by a second spear landing in his throat.

Nine released a horrified scream at the gruesome vision. The canon hadn’t sounded yet as eight was barely clinging to life, choking out gargled breaths as blood spilled profusely down his neck and into the water below. Nine was so preoccupied by the sight that he didn’t even notice that Yoongi had surfaced from the water. With an agonized grunt, Yoongi pulled the blade of the machete out of his leg and swung it straight into the kid’s head.

Two canons sounded one after the other as the boys died simultaneously.

With the surge of adrenaline fading as quickly as it had appeared, Yoongi collapsed on the shore, vomiting up the water he had been forced to swallow whilst being held under. His injured leg was throbbing, he had a splitting headache and his chest felt like someone had been sitting on it. He was barely conscious when Athena caught up to him and dragged him further out of the water, to make sure he didn’t get caught in the stream and sent over the waterfall.

Pulling her button up shirt from her body (leaving just a tank top underneath), Athena set to work on creating a makeshift tourniquet by tying the sleeves tightly above the wound.

“You know, I could easily just kill you now,” Athena mused.

Yoongi’s response was a laugh in the form of a sharp huff. It was true, he was defenseless. The machete had been lodged into nine’s skull and taken away with his body. He now had no weapon and a major injury in his leg, whilst Athena was a skilled hand to hand combat fighter. She could also easily run back to the weapons at their camp before he could even struggle to his feet.

“So why don’t you?” he grunted, closing his eyes and letting his head fall onto the ground below.

Yoongi knew his shot at the games was practically over with such a severe injury. His bad feeling over Krystal was only made worse by the surprise attack from the three tributes. What if they had killed her when she went off to have a bathroom break earlier? She hadn’t been seen in hours and there were far too many canons that had sounded today. If Krystal was dead then there was no purpose for him to be here anymore, though he hoped to at least wait to see the tribute display in the evening and confirm Krystal was gone before entirely giving up.

“Hoseok and Namjoon,” Athena sighed in response.

Though his eyes were closed, Yoongi raised an eyebrow, indicating for her to elaborate.

“What do you think those two would think if they came back and saw you dead in camp and your sister missing too? They’d probably act like I did it and kill me on the spot for betraying the alliance.”

“That sucks,” Yoongi grumbled.

“Yeah, it does,” Athena laughed. Nothing about the situation was actually funny, but it was such a surreal experience it was all she could do.

“But you know what else sucks?” She continued, earning a questioning grunt from Yoongi.

“That this wouldn’t have even happened if Hoseok and Namjoon didn’t go off on their stupid search for YN. The weird obsession with her, it’s literally insane.”

“I don’t get it either,” Yoongi sighed.

“I’m sick of it. They left us here to die, maybe Krystal already has…”

Yoongi flinched.

“Sorry. But for what? A stupid crush they’re going to have to kill in the end anyway. I didn’t get my name pulled out of that bowl just so I could die as a side character in some weird love story.”

“So, what are you going to do about it? Jump them when they come back to camp?”

Athena scoffed at the suggestion.

“Tempting but I think we both know they’re stronger than I am. I might take down one of them with me but I couldn’t get both. And it’s not like you’d be much help there either.”

“I offer you my complete moral support” Yoongi deadpanned.

Athena barked out another laugh.

“I’ve got nothing,” she sighed. “Maybe we have that in common, and maybe we should at least watch each other’s backs.”

Yoongi opened his eyes and looked up to see Athena staring down at him.

The pain of potentially losing Krystal was still too raw for him to properly process, especially without any closure of knowing that it had really happened (though every instinct in his gut told him she was gone). But he had been so focused on his goal of protecting his sister he hadn’t given much thought to any of his other teammates.

Athena looked tough and intimidating, she scored high in trials and interviewed well. By all standards she was just another typical career, but the reality was she was also human. Yet another sacrifice to the capitol, just like his sister and just like himself. With Krystal, he had someone he loved with him, but Athena had no one. Her closest thing to a partner, in her district mate, had abandoned her for a prettier girl like a child distracted by a shinier new toy. If they were both doomed to die here, then the least he could do was make sure she wasn’t entirely alone.

“Yeah, I think we should”.

The sound of two back-to-back canons cut short whatever moment you were having with Hoseok. It was a slap across the face reminder that this was a game to kill until the last person standing, and the man standing across the rocks from you would ultimately have to try and kill you, no matter what sweet promises he made.

“YN wait, please!” you heard him beg as you broke eye contact, but you didn’t look back again as you turned and vanished into the forest.

“FUCK!” Hoseok screamed in frustration, launching a kick into the ten’s shoulder, the same one he had shot the arrow into. If he couldn’t have you now then he was going to make the little shit who ruined his plans pay.

Namjoon took a step back, and picked up the bag of supplies. He then walked over to a nearby rock and set the bag down in front of him, perfectly secured between his legs. Unzipping the top, he reached inside and dug out an apple, biting in as Hoseok ripped the arrow completely out of ten’s shoulder. Namjoon watched nonchalantly as Hoseok reloaded the arrow and shot it into ten’s other shoulder, the younger boy writhing in agony below.

The torture continued as Namjoon ate his snack. Hoseok would pull the arrow out of ten’s body by twisting it painfully, before reloading and shooting it again into another non-lethal area. His arms and legs were more like a bloody human pin cushion by the time Namjoon had finished a second apple and decided he was bored.

“We should get back to camp,” he declared, shouldering the bag.

Hoseok turned his attention to Namjoon with a raised brow.

“Those two canons earlier, and the one before that, we should check on Athena and Yoongi.”

Hoseok opened his mouth to argue before Namjoon cut him off.

“I don’t care about them either, however it would benefit us to know if they are still alive and who attacked them if they’re not. If there are other tributes working together, we need to take care of them before they go after YN next.”

Hoseok rolled his neck to stare up at the sky with an exhausted sigh. He knew Namjoon was right, and self-indulgent torture sessions weren’t going to get you back.

“Good,” Namjoon confirmed with a smile, before leaning down and snapping ten’s neck with his bare hands.

Another canon.

It took slightly longer than an hour for Namjoon and Hoseok to climb the cliff and return to the campsite, where they were met with the sight of Athena wrapping a bandage around Yoongi’s thigh. The duo was informed the first aid kit was a gift from a sponsor and that the Yoongi and Athena were ambushed by three tributes, all now dead. When Yoongi asked if they had seen Krystal, Namjoon denied anything and asked if they heard any canons before they were attacked. Athena confirmed there had been, and Yoongi had broken down crying.

Hoseok left the other boy to grieve, knowing his sister was dead long before the nightly display confirmed it. Laying down in the tent, he longed to run into the forest and find you right at this second. However, he knew he needed to rest, and that tomorrow when he left camp, there was no way he would return without you. For now, he settled on mentally calculating how many people had to be left in the games. Krystal was gone leaving only himself, Namjoon, Athena and an injured Yoongi in the careers, and of course, there was still you. Eight tributes had died on opening day, two had died over the night, there were two earlier canons that morning, and with the short-lived alliance of three, the person you had killed, and the boy from ten, then that only left one other tribute who was still alive…

You sat high up in a tree, tied to a branch, as you heard the Panem music blast throughout the arena. Shivering under your blanket, you listened as the game maker praised the blood bath of the day, and commented that you were on track for the fastest games in history. When Krystal’s face appeared in the sky as the first tribute, you lost it. You bundled the top of the blanket into a ball and openly sobbed into the fabric, mourning the loss of the only person in the arena who you would have called a friend. You cried far longer than it took for the capitol to display all of the people who had died, and so you honestly had no idea who was left, or exactly how many people there even were now.

You knew Hoseok and Namjoon were still alive as only one more canon had sounded after you ran into the forest, and there was no doubt in your mind it was for the boy that had been shot with the arrow. You felt physically sick from crying; your sinuses were clogged and you had a nasty headache. You were also dizzy from not eating anything in hours and downright drained from how physically and emotionally taxing everything was. You had zero plan for survival in the arena, and no idea what you were going to do the next time Hoseok came close to finding you. In your exhausted state, you decided that would have to be a problem for tomorrow. Letting your head fall back against the trunk, you closed your eyes and quickly succumbed to your body’s need for rest.

Little did you know that someone very close by had been tracking you since earlier that afternoon, and was waiting for this exact moment.

Note: Ten’s idea was to grab the bag and run, he didn’t stop to search what was inside, and obviously regretted the fact he didn’t check for a weapon when he had the chance

So close to 10K but I didn’t want to fill it with garbage for the sake of trying to boost the word count, so 9.5 it is.

#yandere #yandere bts #yandere hoseok #yandere bts fic #yandere jung hoseok #y!hoseok #bts x reader #dark bts #dark bts au #hoseok fic #hoseok x reader #hoseok au #dark jhope #HUNGER GAMES AU

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