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prefect30 · 2 months

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Little Dove

Instead of Lucy Gray, he got her younger, little sister, Rosalie Jade.

Previous Chapter

Chapter Three

"Hey there, Capitol Boy."

Why are you talking to him? Wait, why is that District mutt even here?

The Academy, deciding that it would benefit all students for their new project, let all senior mentors out of school early to help them get to know their tribute.

It was a bit of a hassle for Coriolanus to get out early. High-as-a-kite-bottom argued that he shouldn't be let out early along with the others because he already had a headstart and was late.

Surprisingly, though, Coriolanus' new best friend, Dr. Gaul, said that since it was his idea for the mentors to get closer to their tributes, Coriolanus should be able to go.

So here he was, at the zoo once more. Only to find Sejanus Plinth, standing close to the cage, with an overflowing backpack of different foods, talking to his tribute.

I thought that I was Capitol Boy?

Coriolanus could see the sandwiches, which looked to be a variety of chicken salad, peanut butter and jelly, and egg salad, but how would he know, he's been eating watery cabbage "soup" for almost his whole life years, small water bottles, and ripe, deep purple plums that were slowing falling out of the bag with all of the other foods.

Reaching Sejanus and Rosalie Jade, he picked up on some of their conversation.

"I used to know him. We were friends."

"I'm sorry to hear that, Sejanus. I can't imagine how that feels, having to see an old friend being forced to fight for his life. That's awful." Trying to comfort him, Rosalie Jade held onto Sejanus' hand while talking

Deciding that enough sympathy hand touches were given to each other, Coriolanus interrupted their little conversation.

"Rosalie Jade, how are you?"

"As fresh as a rose in the winter." She smiled at him.

You're actually going to make me go mad with all for your stupid ass riddles! As fresh as a rose in the winter? What the hell is that supposed to mean?!

Sensing his confusion, Sejanus whispered, "She's not doing good. She's not strong or ready."

Not ready?

Looking at Rosalie Jade and then Sejanus in disbelief, Coriolanus tried to save face. "I knew that, I was conf-concered about her not being ready."

But ready for what?!

"Well course I'm not ready. I'm 12 and goin' to fight to the death for my life!"

Ohh! That's what she meant. Why didn't I figure that out and how did the District mutt figure it out first?

"Which is why I'm here, Rosalie Jade. To help you."

So listen to me and leave this mutt here and let's talk away from him. Far away.

"I know Mr. Snow. But Sejanus here was trying to help everyone get something to eat and since on one was movin’ to get any, I came up to get some and maybe hand out some since they might take it if it’s “from” me rather than Sejanus here. Unless you don't want me or anyone else eatin'?" Rosalie Jade teased him.

"Of course I want you to eat, Rosalie Jade. Just maybe over there, where we can talk about strategies to help you during the games." Coriolanus pointed to an area where there was a rock on the side of the cage Rosalie Jade was in.

"Right, so we can talk about ways I can snap the necks of my opponents. Now that might be a bit hard, with my height an' all." Roslaie Jade joked.

"Rosalie Jade." Sejanus said her name in the way he thought a mother would when their child said something offensive to someone.

"Oh, relax, will ya'? Let me make my jokes. I know I ain't makin' it back home. At least let my mind stay on the sunny side." Rosalie Jade said as she slowly walked away towards the area Coriolanus pointed out earlier.

"Don't say th-"

"What was that? I can't hear you!" Rosalie Jade interrupted Sejanus, making a fake pouty face at him while reaching her hands in front of her, making grabby hands.

"Too far! Oh, the shame! The misery!" She laughed as she turned around and plopped herself down on a large rock.

Sejanus lightly laughed at her antics while Coriolanus scoffed.

She needs to take this seriously. This is her life we're dealing with. My life. Both of our lives. We're connected and she needs to realize that her actions affect me as well. We're in this together, unfortunately.

“Well, she’s not listening to me anymore, might as well leave the bag here in case anyone decides to take any of the food Ma made.”

No one is ever listening to you, Sejanus. And, Ma? Really. We are in public, try to have at least some dignity and decency.

“Yeah. Hey, that was a good idea. Bringing them food and all.”

Maybe if I compliment him, he’ll give me some.

“Thanks! I couldn’t just let them starve in here. You know, no one is feeding them in there. They just threw them in the cage without anything!”

Nope, he’ll just complain to me more. God, when will he get over this. It’s been more than a decade since he came from Two, he needs to get over himself and let it go. And besides, they gave them a working faucet, at least they can drink and clean themselves.

“Yes, well too bad there is nothing we can do about it.”

So let it go.

“But there is! We could get them to stop the Games somehow, then no one would have to worry about having to fight for their own life!” Sejanus exclaimed.

People looked at the boys, surprised by Sejanus’ outburst and in shock from his words. Coriolanus looked around, smiling trying to distance himself a bit farther away from the lunatic boy. He quickly looked towards Rosalie Jade and saw her laying on the rock, her dress splayed out all around her, making it seem like she was lying at the end of a rainbow.

“I’m not talking about this in public of all places, Sejanus. But you need to accept them, you can’t do anything to change them. Thank you again for giving the food to Rosalie Jade, but I have to go to her now.” Coriolanus said, attempting to walk away when he was stopped by hearing Sejanus’ words.

“Wait! Do you think maybe we could trade tributes?”

What?

Coriolanus slowly turned around to look at Sejanus, his face in complete disbelief.

“Pardon me?‘

“It’s just that, well me and her kind of hit it off and my tribute, he just…he just won’t talk to me. Please?” Sejanus rubbed the back of his neck, looking down, embarrassed by his question.

What does he mean, “hit it off?” We hit it off too, right? And why does he want to have Rosalie Jade as his tribute so much? She’s my tribute, not his. Wait, do I finally have something that Sejanus Plinth doesn’t? Or is it that he sees how well she has been doing in Capitol eyes and wants to take that from me? No. I won’t let him. She was given to me, so she is my tribute, not his. And he sure as hell isn’t taking her from me.

“I’m sorry, Sejanus, but I don’t think we can trade tributes. Besides, we already started the project. It wouldn’t benefit either of us if we were to switch tributes now.”

“Ok, sorry for asking. It’s just-nevermind. Bye Coryo.”

Don’t call me Coryo.

“Goodbye Sejanus.”

Finally walking over to Rosalie Jade, he saw that she was now sitting up and finishing the last bit of the sandwich she was given.

Dammit Sejanus.

“Sorry about not bringing any food, I didn’t get the chance” Coriolanus said, crouching down to her.

“It’s fine! I’m just glad that I even got to meet Sejanus. He was real nice.” Rosalie Jade said, picking up her plum.

Enough about Sejanus!

Coriolanus watched as she bit into her plum, the juices dripping down her chin in slow motion.

He watched in a lustful hunger as she licked her fingers on the excess juice, wishing it was him. He was just so hungry.

“Mmm! Guys! This is real good! You should get some!” Rosalie Jade hollered about to the other tributes, encouraging them to eat.

Looking back at Coriolanus, Rosalie Jade said,”Sorry, but I wanted to make sure that they at least know they can eat the stuff without it killing them.”

“Killing them? Why would the food kill them?” Choriolanuss asked her, confused.

“Never know if one year the Games start early.” Rosalie Jade huffed.

“Well I can assure you that no food that will be given to you to eat will be poisonous or kill you.”

“Ok Capitol Boy, whatever you say.” She shook her head, laughing quietly.

So I am Capitol Boy.

Coriolanus waited until she finished eating her plum, which felt like hours, till he started to talk about his plan for her.

Setting down the plum pit, Rosalie Jade looked at him expectantly.

“Well Capitol Boy, whatcha’ got planned for me?” Rosalie Jade said, clapping her hands together.

“I need you to sing again.” Corioalnus said.

Rosalie Jade just looked at him hesitantly.

Then out of nowhere, she snapped at him.

“I don’t sing when I’m told to. I sing when I got something to say.” She crossed her arms defiantly.

“But this is the only way I can help you! You have to sing, otherwise there is nothing I can do to help you in that arena.”

Rosalie Jade just turned her head the other way so she wasn’t looking at him.

Crouching even lower to the ground, Coiolanus said, “Listen to me. They are thinking about making changes this year to the rules. If I can get some of my ideas passed, I can help you get sponsors.”

“Sponsors?” Rosalie Jade raised her eyebrow.

“People who are betting on you. They will send in money to help me buy things for you in the arena to help you survive, and hopefully, win.”

“Now I heard that there is some sort of prize for the student with the winning tribute. So are you helping me to win or to actually help me?”

Well of course I want you to win. I need the prize. But there is something about you that I need to figure out. What you reminded me of earlier this morning in the cage.

“Both.” Coriolanus shrugged.

Rosalie Jade looked him up and down before coming to the conclusion of, “Ok. I’ll listen to you. But I won’t promise I’ll sing. But maybe if you get me a guitar, then maybe I’ll think about it. Ok?”

“Amazing! Yes, great!” he said, slowly standing up.

“Maybe!” Rosalie Jade laughed.

“Ok, I’ll see you tomorrow, and this time with food!” Coriolauns yelled back to Rosalie Jade as he started to walk away.

“Got it, Mr. Snow!” Rosalie Jade teased.

Looking back at the cage, Coriolanus saw that the once overflowing bag of foods was now bone dry and even knocked over. Most of the other tributes had gotten their own sandwich, bottle, and plum. However, some didn’t because others took more than one, being greedy.

Well, it’s a good thing that Rosalie Jade got her food first. Now where the fuck am I going to find spare food and a guitar?

Just as Coriolanus was reaching the exit of the monkey exhibit, he stopped in his tracks, hearing it.

“Deep in the meadow, under a willow

A bed of grass, a soft green pillow

Lay down your head, and close your sleepy eyes

And when again they open, the sun will rise.”

Rosalie Jade had listened to him and started to sing.

“Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you.”

He started to walk back into the exhibit, but was stopped by a Peacekeeper.

“Deep in the meadow, hidden far away

A cloak of leaves, a moonbеam ray

Forget your woes and let your troublеs lay

And when again it's morning, they'll wash away.”

“Sorry kid, closing time. No more visits.” The Peacekeeper said to Coriolauns.

“But it’s still bright out and I need to see to my tribute.” Coriolanus answered back to the tribute.

“No kid. You gotta go home. Come back tomorrow. Sorry.” The Peacekeeper said with finality, turning Coriolanus around and pushing him closer to the exit.

“Here it's safe, here it's warm

Here the daisies guard you from every harm

Here your dreams are sweet and tomorrow brings them true

Here is the place where I love you

Where I love you.”

Rosalie Jade had finished her little song and Coirolanus didn’t even get to see her sing because of the incompetent Peacekeeper.

So she can listen. Good, obedient girl.

The next day, Coriolanus was sitting down in the Academy lunchroom trying to figure out how to get food for his tribute. He had already asked Persephone Price if she had an old guitar laying around, remembering how before the Dark Days she would take lessons for it was all she could talk about.

Before the Dark Days. How funny. How before the Dark Days, Persephone was an aspiring “musician.” How she wasn’t a cannibal.

Coriolanus Snow had many bad memories from the Dark Days, but the worst one would always be when he witnessed his neighbor, Nero Price, Persephone’s father, cut off the leg of a maid to eat.

That was the day when Coriolanus had truly witnessed humanity being stripped, even from the “rich.” How anyone would do anything to survive.

Just thinking about it gave Coriolanus a slight chill. Persephone most likely didn’t even know that she became a cannibal that day. Most likely thought it was some sort of meat mixture of rat, dog, and/or cat. But that didn’t matter to Coriolanus. Persephone Price and her family were cannibals, even if most of them didn’t know.

However, most know that while Persephone Price is a very kind person, she can be very competitive and geedy. So when she told Coriolanus, “Of course! I’ll have to look for it though. It might be buried somewhere deep in my attic,” Coirolanus knew that she would not look for the guitar one bit.

Of course she wouldn’t. She has her own tribute to try and win with. Which is why after he talked with her, he went to Pluribus Bell.

Pluribus was a big black market dealer and had helped Coriolanus and his family during the Dark Days. Coirolanus had always made sure to pay him back either with what little money Tigris made or with the gossip of what was happening in the Capitol and Academy that Pluribus couldn’t hear or see that Coriolanus had a front row seat too. But he always paid him back. Coriolanus hated owing anybody anything.

So when Pluribus said, “I think I should have one in the back. It’s for her, though, huh? Your tribute? Keep it for her. Give it to her and let her have it, as a final gift sort of thing. She would sound so pretty with it with her voice. Let your little songbird have this guitar as a gift from me, no charge, no debt,” Coriolanus was both grateful and annoyed. He got what he needed, but now owed, or at least felt like he owed Pluribus something.

But yet, he took the offer and intended on going back to him tonight to get the guitar for his tribute’s interview on Sunday.

So here he sat, thinking of a way he could get food to Rosalie Jade.

I could take it out of the cafeteria, but that’s not allowed and I’m sure if Highbottom saw me do that, he’d bust my ass and give me another stupid fucking dermit. I could maybe bring something from home? Oh, who am I kidding. The only thing we have at home is the disgusting cabbage soup and bringing that into a public setting would give away the very thing I’ve been hiding for years. How poor we are.

Deep in thought, thinking through his options, Coriolanus didn’t even realize that Sejanus had made his way over towards him. Only when he slammed his tray down, earning many looks of disgust from the other students, did Coriolanus even realize he was there.

What does the District mutt want now?

“Quite the ideas you had Coryo.” Sejanus said, looking Corilanus dead in the eye.

That’s what. Of course it is.

“Yes, thank you. I thought it would benefit Rosalie Jade if I was able to send her food or water in the arena.” Coriolanus answered him, trying to make it seem like all of this was to help Rosalie Jade and not himself.

“Yeah.” Sejanus muttered, looking down annoyed.

Deciding that this was the best time to ask, Coriolanus asked, “What were you and Rosalie Jade talking about before I got to the monkey exposure yesterday.”

This made Sejanus look up fast and in turn, make Coriolanus curious.

“Oh, just family stuff. Both her and mine.” Sejanus said after hesitating for a minute, looking around as if it was safe to talk.

“Ok, but what did you mean by ‘I used to know him?’ Who were you talking about?” Coiolanus asked right after Sejanus finished talking.

Looking down at his lap, Sejanus took a deep breath. “My tribute, Marcus, I used to know him. I went to school with him back in Two.” Sejnaus looked up.

Ohhh. But you moved here when you were so young, how could you have made such an “unforgettable” friend that a decade later, you still remember?

“My father probably bought him to my tribute to remind me where I am, what my place is, and well, you get the jist.” Sejanus started to rant.

I get the jist. I always do. Everyone does. You don’t shut the fuck up about it.

Trying to calm him down before he goes into full on protester mode, Coriolanus said, “Well it’s not your fault that your father bought him for you. You’re not to blame.”

“I'm so blameless, I'm choking on it.” Sejanus rebuttal bitterly.

Deciding that the risk of Highbottom giving him another dermit is better than having Sejanus Plinth drone on and on about how life’s not fair, Coriolanus wrapped his sandwich in his unused napkin and stuffed it into his pants pocket.

“I should go to see Rosalie Jade, he might be hungry.” Coriolanus stood up, collecting his belongings.

"Quite the rebel you are taking food for her." Sejanus told Coriolanus, looking him up and down.

"Yeah, I'm bad news." Corioalnus answered, getting out of his chair.

“Tell her I said ‘hi!’ ” Sejanus yelled to Coriolanus as he started to walk away.

“Ok!” Coriolanus answered back.

No.

Walking up the cage, Coriolanus saw that Rosalie Jade was still near the large rock. Except this time, instead of being on it alone, she was resting beside it with her eyes closed, leaning her head on Jessup.

Why must he always be touching her?

Coriolanus looked closer at the scene in front of him, realizing that not only was she resting her head on him, no. She was holding his hand.

What. The. Fuck.

Upping his pace to stop the comforting affectionate physical gesture, Coriolanus almost missed his fellow classmate, Arachne Crane, teasing her tribute with food. He saw the desperation in the tribute's eyes and knew from experience that she was experiencing horrific stomach pain from the lack of food.

Coriolanus quickly stopped, “Arachne, maybe you should just give her the bread. She most likely hasn’t eaten in days, maybe even a week depending on which District she came from.”

Arachne just looked Coriolanus up and down. “Who are you now, Sejanus? Why do you even care, Coriolanus?” Arachne scoffed, buttering a piece of bread.

“Besides, if she really wanted it, she would try a little bit harder. Wouldn’t you, girl?” Arachne mocked the girl, teasingly waving the buttered bread in front of her face.

Coriolanus just scoffed, “I am most definitely not turning into Sejanus. I am merely just trying to help you.”

“Yeah, well why don’t you just go over and help you little songbird? She looks like she needs your help real bad, oh wait! No she doesn’t! She seems just fine eating Plinth’s food and resting her eyes with her tribute. Maybe you’re the one who needs her help. Cause from the looks of it, she sure as hell doesn’t need you.” Arachne snapped at him.

Coriolanus' nostrils were flaring and his face was red from embarrassment and anger.

Of course she needs me! I’m her mentor for fuck’s sake! She’s only little and she needs protection. She needs to be protected by someone. And that sure as hell isn’t Jessup. It’s me. She needs me.

Trying to keep his composure and not blow up in Arachne’s dumb fucking face, Coriolanus simpley said, “I suppose then your tribute doesn’t need you either. It’s not like you're doing anything to help her, only yourself.”

Then, he slowly bent down to Arachne’s ear, whispering, “I bet you just want the Plinth Prize for yourself, you greedy little pig.” With that, Coriolanus stood up right, turned around, and started walking to his tribute before Arachne could even comprehend in her dumb little brain what he had just said.

Coriolanus knew he shouldn’t have said that, but he just couldn’t help it. He always had to get the last word.

Finally making his way over to Rosalie Jade and Jessup, he saw that she had opened her eyes and she smiled at him when she realized that he was coming her way. Getting up, she brushed her dress down and pushed her hair behind her back. Jessup looked up at her with confusion at her sudden movement, but when he saw Coriolanus, he raised his eyebrows up in a look of recognition. Waiting for her to walk over to him, he saw Jessup getting up too, following Rosalie Jade like a lost puppy.

I don’t remember being your mentor, why the fuck are you coming over to me? She doesn’t need you to “protect” her, that’s why I’m here.

“Mr. Snow.” Rosalie Jade pulled him from his thoughts, tipping her imaginary hat to him.

This got a genuine laugh out of him. Even in the midst of her inevitable death, she still stands here, joking around.

“Miss. Baird.” Coriolanus said back, pulling the sandwich out of his pocket, presenting it to her as if it were a bouquet of roses.

Giggling, Rosalie Jade took the sandwich, joking, “My! How pretty! Must taste even better than it looks.”

It better, this was supposed to be my lunch.

Turning around to Jessup, she split the sandwich into two, urging to give him the other half.

“Here,” she said, “eat up.”

Jessup shook his head. “No, you eat it, Rosie Jay, you need it. ‘Sides, I’m not hungry.” Jessup pushed his hands out to deny the food.

Rosie Jay?

“You think I don’t hear your stomach growling, Jessup Diggs.” Rosalie Jade said, putting her one hand on her tiny waist.

“Eat it, please. For me?” She said, giving him puppy dog eyes.

“Fine. Only for you though.” Jessup muttered, taking half of the sandwich and walking away to sit behind the rock.

Through the whole conversation, Coriolanus’ face had the same look the whole time. Disgust.

He hated how close Jessup was getting to his tribute. How he had taken on a “brotherly” role of some sort. No. That was Corioanus’ job. Well, to get her to win, and inturn, him, was his job. Taking on a brotherly role couldn’t hurt anyone.

“You ok?” Rosalie Jade noticed the look on Coriolanus’ face and thought that something was wrong.

“Yes, I am fine. I just-I have never heard anyone call you Rosie Jay before.” Coriolanus answered.

“Ohh, yeah. Well, only my close friends and family call me that. Some just call me Rosie or just Rosalie. My sister hates when people do, says it takes away my roots.” Rosalie Jade said, plopping herself down on the ground of the cage.

So she does consider Jessup like her brother. Well, we can’t have that now can we.

"Well, should I have a nickname for you? I feel as though we've become good freinds."

Rosalie Jade looked at him with her eyebrows raised. Then, after a bit of silence, she smiled saying, "Well only if I get to call you one too!"

Coriolanus smiled, "You can call me Coryo. And what do you think about Little Dove as a nickname for you?"

Rosalie Jade smiled back at him, "I think that if you like it, then I do too, Coryo." She finished, looking at the sandwich to realize it was yet again a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. She muttered a little 'yes' as she did an air pump to herself.

Coryo. It rolled off her tongue so easily and, God, did it sound good.

“My sister would like you.” She said randomly, smiling up at him, patting the ground in front of her on the outside of the cage.

“Really?” Coriolanus asked, looking around the crowd before sitting down on the cold, slightly damp concrete ground.

“I think so.” Rosalie Jade said, tearing a piece off of her his sandwich to eat.

Coriolanus eyed the sandwich. He was so hungry today. He didn’t get to have the disgusting cabbage soup this morning, having to meet with Plurbis early in the morning to get Rosalie Jade’s guitar. And missing not one, but two meals today was most definitely not helping his infinite hunger. But, ohh! All he wanted to do right now was rip the sandwich right out of Rosalie Jade’s hands and eat it himself. However, even as he imagined the sandwich, he knew that what was left wouldn't be enough for him. No, he would need the whole sandwich. He would grab Rosalie Jade’s cute little baby face and suck the food out of her mouth. He didn’t care if it was bad manners or obscene, he needed to feed his hunger.

Unfortunately for Coriolanus, him imagining eating food did not help his stomach, but rather upset it, making it growl out. Coriolanus turned beet red and prayed that Rosalie Jade hadn’t heard his stomach.

But she had. She had also seen him eyeing her food today and yesterday. So, being the kind person she was she insisted that he have some.

“Here, have some.” She said, ripping her half of the sandwich into another half.

“No, it’s ok. You need to build your strength up.” Coriolanus said back.

“Oh yeah, so I can strangle the others while they sleep. I don’t think that's going to happen.” Rosalie Jade snapped at him.

“Besides, I need my mentor to be strong and healthy to take care of me.” Rosalie Jade said, grabbing the sandwich and putting it into his hand so he couldn’t refuse.

Coriolanus just nodded, wanting to ignore the spark he felt everytime she would touch him.

Rosalie Jade smiled as he bit into the sandwich, “Now it’s like a picnic!”

Coriolanus just gave her a smile.

“I thought that people in the Capitol always had somethin’ to eat. I guess never judge a book by its cover.” Rosalie Jade whispered to him, knowing that he wouldn’t want everyone around him to hear that he wasn’t well off.

“Yeah. You know, one time, I ate a tube of paste just to stop the pains in my stomach.” Coriolanus said, gesturing to his stomach.

He didn’t know why he was telling you this. This was personal, private information. Something that only him and him only will know, and now, Rosalie Jade. But, maybe they were sister-brother bonding?

“Yeah? And how’d it taste?” Rosalie Jade asked, smiling at.

“...Pasty.” He said.

To his response, Rosalie Jade laughed, causing Coriolanus to laugh as well.

“Descriptive.” Rosalie Jade joked.

“What can I say, I have a way with words.” Coirolanus joked back.

Rosalie Jade just looked away, softly laughing. But she stopped abruptly when she saw another young tribute.

“You see her there?” she said, pointing to a young girl.

“Yeah.” Coriolanus responded, subtly bringing her hand down. It was rude to point and big brothers have to teach their little sisters the manners and rules of the world.

“She’s only young, like me. A bit older, but still young. She doesn't deserve to be here, none of em’ do.”

“Neither do you, Rosalie Jade.” Coriolanus said, taking her hand in his.

That feels nice.

Rosalie Jade just looked away when he said that, her eyes catching onto Arachne, who was still taunting her tribute, this time with the cheese.

Rosalie Jade scowled at her, “Hunger is a very powerful weapon. Your friend over there seems to know it too.” Rosalie Jade said bitterly.

“She’s not my friend, she is poison with a pretty smile.” Coriolanus responded, just as bitterly as Rosalie Jade. What? He was still pissed off from what had happened earlier.

Arachne looked over at them, feeling eyes on her. She looked Coriolanus right in the eye and mouthed the words, ‘Needy Bitch.’

Shit. How does she know?! Fuck! She probably overheard Rosalie Jade and I. Dammit! With her big mouth, the whole Capitol will know before morning, especially since I had insulted her earlier. FUCK!

“I like your rose. Where do you keep getting them from?” Rosalie Jade said, reaching out to touch the rose.

“What-oh from my Grandma’am’s rooftop garden.” Coriolanus answered. He needed to keep his cool if he was going to figure out how to deal with Arachne.

“Rooftop garden?” Rosalie Jade questioned.

“Just a garden on a roof.” He answered.

“Ohh. Well, is there anyone else in your family other than your grandma’am? You know about my sister and Covery, I wanna know about you.” Rosalie Jade asked.

“Yeah, there’s my cousin Tigris. She is one of the sweetest people I know. I-uh, I was supposed to have a little sister, but-umm, she and my mother died in childbirth. My dad died out in District 12.” Coriolanus said, looking down.

He hated talking about his family, especially his mother. She was the only person he felt loved him during the Dark Days. Of course Tigris did, but it was a different type of feeling of love coming from your parents.

Rosalie Jade reached out for his hand, and gently dubbed her thumbs over his knuckles, “So you’re an orphan, just like me.”

Coriolanus looked up and just as he was going to say something, he saw Arachne tribute sneakily take the butter knife laying next to the bread. Arachne didn't realize as she was yet again taunting her tribute with water this time.

Seeing what her tribute was going to do, Coriolanus called out to Arachne.

"Arachne! Watch ou-" Coriolanus was cut off by a high-pitched scream.

He was too late.

The tribute had taken the butter knife and stabbed it into Arachne's neck. She was flailing around on the ground, hands over the wound on her neck as she bled out.

Over her screams, Coriolanus couldn't just make out the sound of someone throwing up behind him.

Rosalie Jade!

She was violently vomiting from witnessing the murder.

Well there goes the food she just ate. Shit, is this how she'll react in the arena? We'll have to work on that.

Turning back towards Arachne, Coriolanus saw the cameras from earlier short little interviews with the other tributes. He knew that if they were still recording and they just saw him standing there as if he didn't care, it would not help his cause at all. Not to mention, the whole crowd of people who came to visit the tributes were watching him.

He knew he had to help Arachne.

Rushing over to her side, he lifted her head onto his lap, pushing down onto the wound, trying to stop the blood.

The blood. There was so much blood. It reminded him of the day his mother died. How she wouldn't stop bleeding and he couldn't do anything to help her.

Shit. This was a bad idea.

Arachne was shaking her head from side to side, not being able to talk. He knew what she was saying though. 'I don't want to die.'

"It's ok. I got you." He whispered to her.

"Help! Somebody, please! Help!" Coriolanus started to shout out. And just when he thought that a Peacekeeper was coming to help her, he pulled out his gun and started shooting at the tribute that had stabbed Arachne.

He quickly covered his head, getting blood on his ears and face. He looked up slightly to make sure that Rosalie Jade was safe and didn't get shot. She had been dragged over by a Peacekeeper from where she threw up, to against the wall with all the other tributes, their faces to the wall and backs to the Peacekeepers and their guns.

"Nobody move!" One shouted.

Looking back down at Arachne, almost forgetting she was there and only remembering when he felt her move slightly, he saw that she had moved her hands back to her neck, since Coriolanus had taken his off to cover his ears.

As he went to put his over hers to add more pressure, he saw a tear roll down her face and the dull light in her eyes go dim. Her hands had let go of her neck as they slumped down to her side.

Arachne Crane was dead.

Just then , Peacekeepers came up to Coriolanus and lifted him up, dragging him away from her lifeless body.

Maybe Rosalie Jade was right. You'll never know if the games will start early.

“This is it. This is how it starts!” Grandma’am shrieked.

Since Coriolanus had gotten home, Grandma’am had not let go of his hand, afraid that yet another loved one of hers would be taken from her. Both Tigris and Coiolanus had tried to calm her down, but nothing would work.

“Grandma’am, please calm down. Everything is alright, I didn’t get hurt. I am right here.” Coriolanus squeezed her hand, trying to comfort and calm her down.

“Oh, you’re just lucky that songbird of yours didn’t peck your eyes out!” Grandma’am said bitterly.

“She would never do that Grandma’am. She’s just a girl. Now why don’t we get you to bed?” Tigris said, trying to usher Grandma'am to her room, but she didn’t budge.

“That beast hasn’t been a girl in a long time.” Grandma’am said matter of factly.

Coriolanus, getting annoyed at how Grandma’am was talking about his tribute, said, “Tigris is right, Grandma’am. Rosalie Jade is different. She wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

Grandma’am just looked at him and sighed, then started to get up with the help of Tigris.

“Just find a way to win, Coriolanus. Use her to win for all I care. Just make sure you use her before she uses you and you end up dead in the trees of 12 like your father.” With that, she walked away towards her room with Tigris helping her.

Coriolanus reflected on this monstrosity of a day in the silence brought from Tigris and Grandma’am leaving.

He looked back on his little chat with Sejanus. He needs to separate himself from him before his rebellious ideas bring him and Coriolanus down. He needs to get Rosalie Jade more food since she threw it all up because of Arachne.

Arachne. She’s dead.

It took him some time to process what that really meant. She was dead, she wasn’t coming back, neither were his secrets that she knew about.

Thinking about it now, maybe it was a good thing she died? I mean, how else would she keep my secret. Bribery, with what money, sexual favors? Most likely, she is, sorry, was quite the whore.

Yes, the unfortunate death of Arachne Crane was a good thing. It was the only way he wouldn’t have told Coriolanus’ secrets without him losing his dignity. Besides, it’s not like Coriolanus killed her. No, it was her own tribute.

It was the only way.

“Today we remember Arachne Crane whose life was taken before her time.” Dr. Gual states behind the podium standing on the stage.

The Academy had decided to hold a huge funeral service for Arachne two days after her death, where her family, friends, and all the people of the Capitol were in attendance.

Coriolanus thought that all of it was over the top for someone as insignificant as Arachne, and it had even taken time away from seeing Rosalie Jade, but he put on his face of sorrow as he walked to the stage to give his “sorrows.” For Ararchne’s parents had asked for him to sing the Gem of Panem anthem in memorial of Arachne since he had tried to help her.

Taking a deep breath, he started.

“Gem of Panem

Mighty city

Through the ages you shine anew.”

His ribs hurt from the “training” his Grandma’am gave him to make sure that he said each lyric correctly.

“We humbly kneel

To your ideal

And pledge our love to you!”

As Coriolanus had finished the verse, he saw something, a car he thought, move in the distance, towards where the funeral was taking place.

“Gem of Panem

Heart of Justice

Wisdom crowns your marble brow.”

Coriolanus could see it coming closer and he soon realized what it was.

Holy shit.

“You give us light

You reunite

To you we make our vow.”

A truck, holding all of the tributes, was coming straight to the funeral service and hanging at the top of a crane, iconically, was the dead tribute who had killed Arachne.

“Gem of Panem

Seat of power

Strength in peacetime, shield in strife.”

Coriolanus tried not to mess up as he felt a lump form in his throat. He couldn’t believe that this was happening. He watched the truck as it turned, right as he started the last verse, showing off all the tributes and the dead one to the public.

“Protect our land

With armored hand

Our Capitol

Our life.”

He heard cries come from the crowd, either from his singing or from young kids seeing the dead tribute hanging from the crane. As the truck passed by him, he saw his Little Dove, with her head down, trying to comfort Wovey, who was crying. He saw that all of the tribute's hands were cuffed again.

Why is she comforting someone older than her? She should be the one getting comforted.

But his thoughts were interrupted by seeing the truck leave and the Peacekeepers enter, carrying Arachne’s casket on their shoulders.

So dramatic, even in death.

Next Chapter

#dark!coriolanus snow #yandere coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x y/n #coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow fanfiction

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bluegekk0 · 2 months

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on the topic of ogrim, maybe youve answered this one before, but how did he and pk react to seeing each other again?

I probably did, but I think it might be lost under all the yapping hahaha

On Ogrim's side, he was incredibly excited to see his king again, though as he soon learned, he shouldn't call Vyrm by that title anymore. There was some awkwardness to it too, I think at that point even FPK was still a little conflicted about how he wants other bugs to call him. Decades of being referred to as "youe highness" and any similar titles does that to you, it's hard to adjust to just using your name. But they eventually agreed to just call each other by their names.

Ogrim held onto the hope that he would see Vyrm and the other knights again, but as he soon found out, he was the only one left, at least to his knowledge. It saddened him, and Vyrm shared that sadness. But it's not Ogrim's style to dwell onto negative topics for too long (not while he's talking to others, at least, he did plenty of mourning in private), so they talked about something else. What they were up to, how they're dealing with the post-infection life, and so on.

On Vyrm's side, the conversation was very awkward. As I mentioned prior, he still had to adjust to being just a lowly bug, not to mention talking to others in general - he was all alone for about a month before Hornet found him, and with his post-hibernation confusion, it took him a while to remind himself how to actually interact with others. And at that point, he was still mentally in a horrible place. The guilt was eating him from the inside, and the sight of Ogrim, as well as the questions he asked, only intensified it. He apologized many times, for failing the kingdom, for abandoning him and everyone else, for everything, even things that weren't his fault. His self-loathing was at its highest, he basically saw himself as worthless and was convinced that even him still being alive was something to apologize for. If it wasn't Ogrim he was talking to, he would likely end up spiraling even further.

But Ogrim's positive energy dragged him away from the negative thoughts, and they changed the conversation to something more uplifting. Ogrim was going to move into the town, he was looking for a fitting house he could modify into a diner, and Vyrm was just the right bug to discuss that with. He asked whether Vyrm still dabbled in his workshop projects, and hearing that the other already had some rough plans about renovating his own house and the rest of the town, he picked up on the idea and excitedly talked about his vision.

It was a great distraction, and even Vyrm visibly cheered up at the thought of helping Ogrim with his ideas. Having some kind of plan, especially one that could be helpful to someone else, was his main driving force in his darkest moments, and to this day he remembers working on Ogrim's diner plans very fondly.

So in short, their reunion was pretty emotional on both sides. Ogrim's positivity definitely carried it away from turning awkward and even depressing.

Hope the answer is satisfying! I enjoyed rambling about this, thank you so much for the ask!

#ask stuff #feral pk au #save #fpk #vyrm #ogrim

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alarrytale · 3 months

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Hi Marte. I need to vent and would like your opinion! I'm a lesbian and I have a straight friend who is open minded about Harry and Louis being gay but some of their (bad) takes drive me crazy because it is so typical of how straight people think. They're of the opinion that we'll never know how a celebrity identifies unless they explicitly tell us and if they tell us they're straight they probably are in that moment of time. They think that Louis was once straight but has possibly turned gay. What the hell???? That's so insane to me. They think people can change their sexuality like flipping a switch. Queer people lie about their sexuality ALL THE TIME and there are endless reasons why, it's such a common thing to do. Even celebrities who are CO now have lied about their sexuality at some point. Billie said many times that she was straight. Maybe the odd person can switch from straight to bi or gay, anything is possible, but 99% of queer people know they're queer when they're young but maybe they're closeted or in denial or haven't come to terms with their sexuality yet. People usually have a feeling. My friend also says that because we see 0.01% of a celebrity's life we don't know that they're queer when we have so little information. While that is somewhat true, people have no issues with assuming someone is straight. Also, I feel like we can make educated guesses based on stereotypes and gaydar. It might not be 100% accurate all of the time but these stereotypes exist for a reason, so fellow queers can pick up on them and recognize them as part of the community. Queer coding exists for a reason and shouldn't be ignored. It annoys me that straight people always think they know better than queer people. Queer people are dismissed as 'wanting someone to be gay'. Maybe that is the case sometimes but often it is them recognizing their own and picking up on queer coding. Something straight people don't understand because there are no repercussions from being straight.

Hi, anon!

Feel free to vent! This is just plain heteronormativity. It's so ingrained in most people (no matter what sexuality), because most people are straight. So if you think someone is straight, statistically you're probably right. It's an unconcious bias or preconcieved notion. Straight until proven otherwise.

So when you see a person, no matter how much they queercode, or how much they act and look stereotypically queer, people are going to think they're straight by default, or at least not question if they're queer. Queer people don't always do this because they look and search for people who are like them. So queer people are much better at picking up on queecoding and gay stereotypes and identify that people are queer and not straight.

When people (often straight) are confronted with their preconcieved notions or unconcious biases they often do not know what to look for to identify queer people. Simply because they're not trained to do so, because they're straight. They don't have a finetuned gaydar. Why would they? Being queer is still looked down on some places and queer people still don't have the same rights as straight people everywhere. Some straight people will feel that calling closeted queer people queer is dishonoring them, because they don't understand why people are closeted. They also may feel led astray and lied to by the closeted queer, when it's not the closeted person's fault but straight people's heteronormativity and unconcious biases (and sometimes homophobia).

I agree with you that some queer people want celebrities to be queer. Of course they do, they want representation and role models and people to project onto like everyone else. But i don't think queer people do this to random celebrities without picking up on queercoding or without the person fitting some queer stereotypes.

I think you should tell your friend that queer people are much better at indentifying one of their own. If a celebrity uses gender neutral language a queer person may think to themselves "i do that too!". Queers will recognise the same behaviour and mannerisms in the celebrity that recognise in themselves. Since they do the same as me, and i'm queer, they must be queer. It's not foolproof of course, but it's probably accurate if the celebrity is intentionally queercoding.

Since it's not a bad thing to be queer, it's not a bad thing to believe that a celebrity is queer, and confidently say you believe they're queer. You don’t need to believe they're straight until you're 100% sure they're queer. You will only be 100% sure when they come out and tell you they're queer. So it's enough to be 90-99% sure they're queer. Take TZP for example. He's married to a man, but he's never said he's queer. You're allowed to say that TZP is queer. You don’t have to wait until he comes out to believe it. It's also not your responsibility to protect celebrities' closets. You don’t need to guard their closet door. They can do that by themselves by regulating their behaviour, like queercoding, and curating their image.

You might need 0.9 seconds to confidently clock someone as queer, whereas an untrained straight person might need years to reach that same level of confidence. They've got heteronormativity against them, and they're sometimes also gaslighted to see something that's not there, or ignore something they do see. So that's why some straight people say that they don't have enough information or that we only see 0.01% of their life, and can't confidently conclude one way or the other. In order to get past the heteronormativity and gaslighting and see that someone is queer you need to have incentive to do so. Queer people do, straight people don't.

So i wouldn't worry too much about what your friend believes or not, or trying to get them to see things your way. You're better equipped and motivated to indentify queers than they are.

#heteronormativity #queercoding #fandom

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another-corpo-rat · 1 year

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In your opinion (and/or hers), what is the worst thing Victoria Crane has done?

this was such a fun thing to think about, so thank you anon!! putting this under a read more as once again, i have rambled quite a bit

In my opinion: it's likely what she did to her father's mistress / half-brother's mother. While Victoria treated that whole trio awfully with varying levels of severity, what she did to Angelo's mother was monstrous.

She, unnamed and so will be marked by [s] from now onwards, was a spitfire of a woman from Rancho Coronado. Confident despite her shaky foundations in life, not afraid to speak her mind and bare her teeth - that would all change when Victoria came on the scene.

Victoria was methodical in tearing this woman's confidence apart, at making little digs that could be waved away as meaning something else, something harmless but said in a way that made their meaning clear. The barbs dug in deep, and things [s] used to take pride in were questioned in a condescending way, coated in honeyed tone that was distinctly corpo. And Joseph had kept [s] largely away from the corpo lifestyle, so when Victoria arrived she was sorely ill prepared for being caught in its jaws.

When [s] did manage to get her own dig in once, Victoria regarded her with little more than a hum and looked at her like she was a fly in her drink; struggling in the boiling water of it.

Retaliation came in the form of a sensory assault; a military grade bite of a sonic shock that made [s]'s ears bleed and her skull ring for far longer than the quickhack was active for. It fucked up her hearing to the point she needed new audio implants, and still she could hear echoes of it almost at random. She was certain it was Victoria's fault, but couldn't find any way to prove it.

Life continued, with a soft ringing in her ears but there seemed to be a long period of peace after this event; Victoria was busy in Arasaka and [s] was able to relax in her home again, without paranoia nipping at the back of her neck. That would change on a night meant for celebration, a dinner at Embers to mark Angelo's recent promotion.

She had a very public meltdown and hasn't been seen since.

Meanwhile, Victoria's project OIZYS moved forward after a successful test-run.

tbh i consider this the worst simply due to how targeted it was, but Victoria has done a lot of terrible shit through the years that i reallly need to sit and think about / write out sometime

in hers: Look I love her but this bitch has a moral backbone made of stringcheese so it made really thinking about what she'd consider the worst thing she's ever done interesting.

It'd be a time she acted on impulse; someone brings in a potential new subject and she overhears the head of the project call them 'the New Smasher' and she just. sees red in a way she'd never admit to, a rush of protectiveness and fury she finds unbecoming in others. And of everyone she considers hers, Smasher is the last to need her guarding him in any way.

But, she does. And maybe its not as impulsive as she'd hide behind, because she has the sense to wait until the opportune time, knows to use an access key not her own to get into the empty lab, knows to repeat the camera's footage from the previous uneventful night rather than killing them completely. She lifts the nearest thing she could find and drives it into the subject's temple, twisting to scramble it enough that nothing feasible remained, that it couldn't be placed into a conversion frame.

No one knows, the act of sabotage is expected to have been from Militech - and the project head is investigated when its found he was talking quite publicly about this project when he shouldn't have been. It's easy to pile onto that avalanche so it falls on him, including a few spoofed emails to a Militech contact and he was gone.

She considers this one of the worst things she's ever done because she acted against Arasaka's interests, for entirely selfish reasons. And really, the more she thought of it after calming down, entirely unnecessary, Smasher isn't so easily replaceable and the fact the mere thought of it got her reacting like that isn't something she's proud of, or will ever admit to.

#cyberpunk 2077 #Victoria Crane #oc rambling #ship: gilded chrome #barely but theres hints of it so #im not even going to be like 'oh but consider xyz' because Victoria is just #god awful #and i love that about her #there's no 'but consider' to her actions #no excuse for her to hide behind #she's terrible and that makes her fun to write #and NC gives me a playground where someone terrible like her gets to absolutely *thrive*#asks #ty for the ask anon!#this one really made me think oml

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rogue-durin-16 · 3 years

Text

THINGS NEVER GO AS PLANNED (Part V/VII)

"the perfect excuse"

Summary: After Fred's death, George and Y/n lean on each other to carry on. This wasn't the most brilliant idea, though; George was pretty much in love with the girl, and Y/n— well, she had been dating Fred prior to the Battle of Hogwarts.

Pairing: George Weasley x Reader

Genre: angst mostly

Tags:

Suggested by: @crispykittywitch

Things never go as planned: @sarcasticallywitty15 @beautyschoo1dropout @s1ut4georgeweasley @sunshineandshadowss @missmulti @weasleywh0r3s @andreaareynoso @georgeweasley19 @dianarte

Permanent taglist: @elia-the-bibliophile @randomparanoid @karlthecat15722 @thebutchersdaughtersblog @amourtentiaa

Warnings: language, drinking, makeout getting spicy

A/N: idk what happened here, this was not planned I'm just horny ig??? Anyway have this part that was definitely not meant to unfold like this but hey, I'm not mad, so enjoy <3

Prologue: the aftermath

Part I: sleepless nights

Part II: candy floss

Part III: shock therapy

Part IV: wrong name

Part VI: the downfall

Part VII: apart

Epilogue: I still love you

Rogue-durin-16 masterlist

I checked myself in the mirror one last time before heading to the kitchen. There was no actual need of dressing up nicely, since we both would be spending New Year's Eve at the flat, but since Ginny, Ron, Harry and Hermione were coming, we decided to clean up for our guests.

"Hmm, smells good." I leaned on the doorframe, observing George finishing cooking.

"These past five months' messes paid off." He joked, grabbing a kitchen rag to clean his hands. "Can you keep an eye on it while I go get read..." He trailed off automatically when his gaze landed on me. "Woah— okay." He cleared his throat, eyes slightly widened at my outfit, and I couldn't help but enjoy a bit too much his attention. "You look really good— is that the new blouse?"

"Yup." I replied, a coy smile dancing on my lips as I stepped to him and picked the kitchen rag myself. "C'mon, go clean up nice for our guests."

It only took him a couple of minutes, since he might have had his suit ready.

"Mind lending a hand with the tie, love?" He requested, stepping into the kitchen with his attention on the shirt's cuffs which he was buttoning up.

Damn, he looked so good; it wasn't even fair.

"Y/n?" He chuckled, finally looking up.

"Uh— yeah! Sure." I threw the rag over the counter and led my hands to the tie, taking my time to make the knot; maybe I wanted an excuse to have my hands on him.

We stayed in silence until I was finished; it wasn't an awkward silence, but it wasn't comfortable either— it was, in fact, stifling.

"There you go." I more like whispered instead of talking, sliding my hands down his chest briefly. His eyebrows were knitted, trying to decipher my demeanor; his hands caught one of mines before they fell limply on my sides, and for a second, I thought he was about to do something really stupid —something I had wanted to do for the last three months—, but then the bell rang and we stepped away from each other, going to receive Ron and Hermione as if that moment hadn't happened at all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

GINNY'S P. O. V.

I took a sip of my brandy as we laughed at Ron's joke, my eyes drifting to Hermione and then to Y/n's lap, where Teddy rested, giggling and blabbering nonsense at George's hand movements and funny faces.

George had confided me quite ashamed that he fancied Y/n about two years ago, but I knew the looks he gave her were of something more than a little crush, if you may.

Had I not known Y/n, I would be worried she was projecting Fred onto the younger twin, but the girl knew better than that, so when we got to experience how their domestic life unfolded during New Year's Eve, I felt nothing but happiness at the way Y/n laughed at my brother's jokes, or how she stared at him in pure adoration as he played with Tonks's and Lupin's baby.

"You're getting him waaay too exited, mate." Harry chuckled, extending his arms for Y/n to hand him the toddler. "He needs to go to sleep."

Teddy, who we had put to sleep in Y/n's room shortly after dinner, had woken up right before the New Year came to us, and, since he refused to go back to sleep, Y/n took on the task of entertaining him. George joined as soon as he witnessed Teddy's hair going rainbow-like at Y/n's actions.

"Actually, I think we all need to go to sleep." I said, leaving the glass on the table.

"Boo, you're supposed to be the youngest!" Y/n whined, earning a laughter from the rest.

"Ginny's right, though." Ron stood up and all of us followed his lead. "It's really late and I don't want mum to see us drunk when she wakes up."

"Not a good impression to make on your future mother-in-law, oi, Granger?" George's tease made Hermione's cheeks flush, murmuring an 'idiot' before giving him a hug. "Take care, all of you." He added after he and Y/n had hugged everyone goodbye.

The five of us exited the flat and apparated in the Burrow's yard in silence until Harry asked, "are they together now?"

"We don't know." I confessed with a grimace.

"Well, together or not, they're definitely fucking."

"Ronald!" Hermione exclaimed, slapping her boyfriend's arm.

"I just said what everyone else's thinking." He defended himself, and none of us could deny it.

READER'S P. O. V.

We began to pick up the dirty plates, glasses and cutlery in order to take them to the sink and leave them there to wash them tomorrow.

"Oi, look what I found." George wiggled a firewhiskey bottle at me from the living room.

Without thinking twice, I grabbed the half empty ice cream tub I had just left over the counter, a couple of clean glasses, and I made my way to George.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"—and that was only in our... Third- no- fourth! year?" He finished the story, joining me in the giggling; I didn't doubt the story was funny, but I was sure it seemed ten times funnier because of the alcohol. "Wait- where were you back then?" He knitted his brows in confusion.

"A year below you." I laughed.

He snorted. "Below me," he took a look at his empty glass before reaching for the bottle with a laugh "hell, I wish."

I couldn't help but laugh too. "Sure you do." I wouldn't have laughed if I were sober, but then again I highly doubted he would have said that if he were sober. "Y'know- you can have me below you anytime you want, Georgie." I replied between lazy giggles, leaning on him so he would pour more firewhiskey into my glass too.

A loud snort left George, triggering one of my own. "Sure, darling." He loosened his tie and tossed it to the floor. "Why's it so hot in here?"

"Mmm... Must be 'cause of you." I threw my head back to stare at the ceiling. "Or... maybe's just the alcohol." I groaned at the feeling of my head spinning, and sat upright again to chunk the now full glass in one go. "I'm hot too."

"Oh darling... You can't even imagine how much— I mean... Every day— but tonight you look partic... particular...ly? Dashing." George was leaning back against the armchair's feet, his eyes closed, his cheeks flushed and an amused smile dancing on his lips. "Why must you be so bloody perfect?" I found myself staring a bit too much at the ginger. "There's still a conscious part of my brain that knows I shouldn't be saying this shit." An idle chuckle left his chest and one of his eyes peeked open. "I'm gonna blame the alcohol, aight?"

Right, the alcohol —The perfect excuse.

I laid my glass on the floor and got up, stumbling towards him. "Oi, careful— you don't wanna trip and fall." He laughed, steadying me with his hands as I plopped down on my knees besides him. "We won't make it to St. Mungo—" With one hand on his shoulder and one on his cheek, I went for it, cutting him mid-sentece in the process.

It was one hell of a sloppy kiss, and I was so concentrated on doing it right that I didn't even hear the moan I sent into his mouth.

What the hell are you doing?, My mind screamed.

I attempted to pull away, but I felt George's hands on my sides, clutching my clothes in his fists to tug me flush against him. I took the cue and did my best to climb onto his lap and straddle his legs without losing balance.

What we were doing felt terribly wrong, and, the morning after, we would regret this little slip so much, but in that exact moment I could only think that his lips tasted like fire whiskey, strawberry and chocolate, and that the quiet moans slipping through them between the kisses were loud enough to quiet down everything in my head.

I stopped to take a breath, resting my forehead against his; our eyes locked, pupils blown out.

Heavy pants left our lungs, as if we had just run a marathon. It felt like the kiss had made a bomb go off, one that we had unconsciously been building up those past months.

It took an instant of looking at each other to know we thought the same; we wouldn't get this opportunity ever again, so at that point, we might as well carry on and pray for it not to be too bad in the morning.

This time it was George who smashed his lips against mines, teeth clashing and tongues going in each other's mouths. The situation was escalating quick; a tad too quick, I daresay.

He cursed and mumbled something about too many clothes, proceeding to pull his shirt over his head with my help, given that he could only do so much with that amount of alcohol in his sistem.

I could do even less, though. It was proven when I first attempted to get rid of my blouse.

I struggled to unbutton it, an awkward, dizzy silence falling among us before his hands travelled to mines "Wait... Lemme..." He frowned, finding that simple task as frustratingly difficult as I did. "Bloody..." A browned off grunt left his swollen lips.

"Tear it." I mumbled, letting my hands roam over his chest.

"You sure?"

I hummed, somehow impatient. "We'll fix it tomorrow." I captured his lips once more.

We'd fix it tomorrow.

I felt his hands fisting my shirt by the cleavage before giving it a firm tug, making my gasp; I wasn't expecting all the buttons to come off in one go, given his drunken state.

I didn't even have time to discard the piece of clothing before his lips attacked my neck, shutting my brain off instantly due to the sensation.

"You want this?" He whispered in my ear, his hands going up from my thighs to my back until they reached the clasp of my bra.

Not trusting my voice, I nodded vigorously, making the world shake around me so hard that I had to shut my eyes.

I felt a feather kiss on my shoulder and his fingers unfastening the bra; he was doing his best to be smooth, which wasn't a lot, but I could tell he was trying hard.

"You're so sweet." I blurted out as his fingertips ghosted over my skin while he removed the top from my body.

He tried to reply something, but articulating kept getting harder and harder as we went deeper into it, so he gave up on words and so did I; at least until his fingers slid between my legs and started to tease me through the fabric of my remaining clothes.

"Bed." I whimpered, unconsciously rocking my hips against George's hand whilst my own travelled to his crotch, feeling his erection and consequently earning a moan from him.

"D'you think we'll make it?" He inquired, already retreating his hand briefly so we could stand up.

Soon enough we were stumbling to my room, hands all over each other, bumping against the furniture and walls due to not being able to stand upright.

When we fell on the bed and tossed the rest of our clothes to the floor, it began to dawn on me how bad this was going to be.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

GEORGE'S P. O. V.

My head was pounding violently in my skull; that's most likely the reason why I woke up. It took a moment for the blurry memories of the previous night to flash into my mind.

"You feel... so good..."

"Fuck- George— faster, please..."

"Y/n— I'm-"

"No." I shoot up, not acknowledging that Y/n was still asleep by my side. "Fuck no. Nononono." I ignored the terrible headache caused by the hungover and, grabbing my clothes, I exited the room. "No fucking way." I kept mumbling to myself, stalking to my dorm to throw on some fresh clothes.

I sat on my bed, my hands running through my locks, bringing back the memories of Y/n's tugs on them in the process.

"What the fuck did I do." I almost choked on the sentence.

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thinger-strang · 5 years

Text

Singing in the Shower and Other Sins (aka three times Steve was caught singing and the one time he wasn't)

@gideongrace this is for you 😚

(link to the version on ao3 https://archiveofourown.org/works/21394876 )

Steve sings all the time. Loud and off key in a goofy sort of lovable way. He jams with Dustin on their way to school, dances around Scoops and Family Video when it's slow, uses anything and everything as a mic.

Which made it so weird when Robin walked into work to find Steve singing like, good.

He had his back to her with an armful of tapes. His voice was soft and he was gently bopping (so he didn't drop all the videos). But his voice was so good!

Robin leaned against the wall and just observed Steve for a moment. It was weird, almost wrong, to hear the correct sound notes come from him.

"Having fun there, Springsteen?"

She shouldn't have scared him, she knows that. But his face was so funny when spun around, barely holding onto his stack of tapes.

"Jesus, warn a guy, Buckley!" He snapped, running his free hand through his hair.

"You can sing."

"What?"

"You always sing bad when I'm around, but you can like actually sing! Like sing really good!"

"Oh, no I wasn't singing? That was...that was definitely just the radio, I can't sing for shit, you know that--"

"Nuh uh Harrington, I know your dirty little secret now! You've got pipes!"

Steve rolled his eyes.

"Rob." He started putting stuff away again. "You of all people know I can't sing to save my life."

"I just heard you, don't know why you're denying it."

"Whatever, go get your vest before Keith gets here." Steve nodded towards the break room door but smiled at her knowingly.

"Fucking knew it!" She shouted as she went to put her vest on. "Why are you trying to hide this magnificent gift God herself has bestowed upon you?"

Steve shrugged and handed her half his stack once she got back.

"Don't tell anyone, don't need you messing up what little cred I have left."

She flipped him off.

He stuck his tongue out at her.

Life went on.

ii.

Steve made the mistake of telling Dustin where the spare key to his front door was. Under the ceramic frog in the planter left of the door. But the kid was basically his little brother and he'd shown Steve where his spare key was the week before. So they were even now.

So Dustin let himself and the rest of the party into Steve's house for an impromptu hang out sesh. Mike, Lucas, and Max made a beeline for the kitchen to drop off the arm fulls of snack they had while Dustin showed Will and Jane around.

Jane had started going by "Jane" full time since the Hopper-Byers move and the party was supportive as always. And since their move, the party had had three? maybe four hang outs at Steve's. So a tour was necessary since they missed the preliminary Casa de Harrington party.

"Holy shit do you guys hear that?" Will whispered once they got to the second floor's landing.

The other two stopped and listened. They heard a shower running and a radio going. Nothing special. Dustin strained his ears.

"No way."

"'No way' what?" Lucas asked as he, Max, and Mike joined them.

"That's Steve singing in the shower!"

"What's so bad about him singing in the shower?" Jane asked.

"Steve can't sing to save his life!" Mike said, incredulously.

"He's not that bad guys," Max tried to defend him.

"Okay, I love the guy like a brother but he drives me to school everyday and no, he cannot sing." Dustin explained as they crept closer to the bathroom door.

The shower shut off and his voice became clearer. The party continued bickering until the door swung open. Steam billowed out and Steve sang a line until he noticed the gaggle of teenagers in his hallway.

"What the fuck guys."

"What the fuck yourself Steven!" Mike shot back.

"Yeah, are you serious? For like, almost a year I've had to listen to you screech along to the radio when you've had the voice of an angel this whole time?! That's just plain rude." Dustin crossed his arms dramatically.

"Angelic's a little generous, Henderson."

"Your voice is really pretty," Jane said in awe.

Steve blushed and wrapped his arms around his torso.

"Thanks kid. Hey, how's Missouri treating you guys?" Steve pulled his shirt from the floor and put it on.

"Pretty good, the school has a huge library and Will joined an art club!" Jane said excitedly.

Will nodded along with her, putting his hands into his hoodie.

"Oh that's awesome! Glad you guys like it up there--"

"Can we get back to the whole 'Steve can actually sing' thing? Because that's still blowing my mind," Lucas interjected, flailing his arms a little.

"Yeah, can you sing Whitney? Because those were some pretty high notes if my ears don't decieve me." Max grinned evilly.

"No, I can't sing Whitney, I can barely sing, remember?" Steve sounded like he was talking to toddlers.

"Dude, none of use are deaf, we all heard." Mike gave him an unimpressed look.

"Yeah, and that was Queen and you definitely hit all those high notes. You can totally sing Whitney!" Max laughed and nudged Will when he stifled a giggle.

"I can't believe I'm being mocked by a bunch of 10 year olds!"

"We're fifteen, Harrington," Dustin said sarcastically.

Steve rolled his eyes.

"Okay, can you shits get out of my room so I can get dressed? Don't feel like spending the day in a towel while you make fun of my singing abilities."

He started to herd them towards the stairs as they protested, claiming they weren't making fun, just confused as to why he would torture them with a fake awful voice.

When Steve came downstairs, Max pushed play on the tape player in the living room. "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" started playing and Steve turned red.

"This isn't fucking karaoke night you dweebs!"

But he started laughing when they all started throwing popcorn at him and he proceeded to dump snacks onto everyone else, starting an epic pre-movie night food fight.

iii.

Robin's parents were going to be out of town for the first time in a thousand years so, naturally, she was throwing a party.

It wasn't a typical high school rager, more like a get together between friends and absolutely no children, Steve!

So really it was just Steve, Nancy, Jonathan, Barb, and Billy.

Steve and Billy came over early to help make food. Which translated to Steve making food while Billy sat on the couch and read, using the "I died for you bitches" excuse for the millionth time.

And ever since Robin had caught him singing at work, he became more and more comfortable singing around her. She didn't ask about him singing around Billy. So here he was, singing while mixing something together in a bowl. Like a goddamn housewife.

"If my parents were here they'd be so pleased I found a nice boy who knows what he's doing in the kitchen." She said as she measured some milk out for the brownies.

She could hear Billy snort from the living room over the "knowing what he's doing in the kitchen" comment.

Steve laughed and kicked at her shins.

Wham! came on and Steve's face lit up. And it was the yo-yo song, the best freaking one. And Robin was in band so her inntonation wasn't like awful, she definitely had the lungs for singing.

So they were singing along to George Michael in the Buckley's colorful kitchen while making brownies when the other three showed up.

"You can sing?" Barb asked with big eyes.

"You act like I've never sung in front you you before." Steve replied while hunching over, self conscious.

"Yeah but normally it's more...pitchy," Nancy offered.

"We're not judging your anything man, you've got a great voice," Jonathan filled in quickly. "Didn't really believe Will when he said Steve could sing."

He said that last part mostly to Nancy, but everyone heard it.

And Robin was kind of done. Because Steve told her, one time when they were hotboxing his car, that he sang bad on purpose because his dad thought it was "faggy" to be able sing that well. That he sounded like Freddie and George and Bowie in the worst way. And she knew he was bi, knew he got embarrassed when people started talking about him singing because of what his dad said.

She was about to call them out when Billy flipping Hargrove beat her to it.

"Leave him alone, you're just jealous your pipes aren't as good," Billy said in a monotone voice from the couch.

"It's fine, Billy, they're--"

"No he's right, lay off."

Nancy and Jonathan at least had the decency to look embarrassed. Barb walked into the kitchen to help out.

"Your voice really is good. Didn't mean to sound so shocked before. You were just...really good. And I totally remember you singing into a hairbrush that one time? And your voice cracked all over the place?" Barb bumped her hip into Steve's, wiggling her eyebrow.

"Oh my god, I almost lost my voice from that! God, that was forever ago, cannot believe you remember that."

"Yeah that's what made me realize 'King Steve" was like an actual human boy, not this entity the entire school and Nancy made you out to be."

Billy migrated from the couch to the counter when he heard the words "King Steve" and put his book on the counter top.

"When was this?" And thank god for Billy because Robin wanted to ask so bad what they were talking about.

"Oh Steve threw a little party back in junior year to woo Nancy and he was a little buzzed and was trying to make her laugh by singing along to, what was it?" Barb turned to smirk at Steve.

"ABBA, it's was ABBA."

Billy rolled his eyes and mumbled "of course" as Robin cackled.

"Very on brand, dingus."

"Yeah but he overexaggerated the awfulness and his voice cracked, like, painfully. Like, I felt it, it was so bad!"

Steve scrunched up his nose at the memory and laughed. Robin and Billy started laughing too and Barb continued telling embarrassing stories about Steve that the other two had never heard before.

+i.

Steve jolted awake to a loud clattering sound coming from the other end of his room.

"How many times do I have to tell you to clear off your fucking desk, Harrington," Billy stage whispered angrily.

"How many times do I have to tell you to use the fucking front door, Hargrove."

Steve hopped out of bed to meet Billy by the window. He scanned his face for bruises which made Billy rolls his eyes.

"Can't a guy just visit his boyfriend in the middle of the night without anything being wrong?"

"Yeah but you only sneak in through my window when you've had a bad night, you dramatic fuck." Steve cupped Billy's face with one hand and let him lean into it.

Comfortable silence enveloped them before Billy broke it.

"Couldn't sleep," he mumbled.

"Okay." Steve let Billy drop his head into his shoulder. " Do you wanna talk about it or go to bed?"

Because "couldn't sleep" is generally code for nightmares.

Billy shrugged, shoulder bumping Steve's chin a little, and Steve nodded, tugging him towards the bed.

He helped Billy get down to just his boxers and a tee before getting under the covers. Steve positioned them so that Billy was half laying in Steve with his ear over his heart and their legs tangled. Because Steve liked the pressure and Billy liked listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat.

They laid like that for a minute, getting comfortable and used to each other's warmth.

And Billy had told him, a long time ago, that his mom used to sing to him when he couldn't sleep. And that was before Billy knew Steve could actually sing. That was what made Steve sing for real in front of him.

So, on nights like this, Steve sang.

He started humming the intro to "Going to California", moving his fingers in time up and down Billy's back. Billy let out a sigh and pressed himself closer into Steve's chest.

So Steve sang into the dark of his bedroom, chasing away monsters; the kind that live in your house and the kind that live underground, until Billy drifted off and pulled Steve with him into a warm and deep sleep that only comes when wrapped around someone you love.

#harringrove #fic #my writings #HOLY SHIT #guys pls read this i spent three hours frantically writing this thx #harringrove fanfic #this is kind of mean to nancy and jonathan but i dont like them so suck it #and theres backstory on ao3 but hopper survives and lives with the Byers and therefore moves with them and barb is here bc i said so #its a happy boys and supportive lesbians fic fight me

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nothingbutfangirlsmut · 5 years

Text

The Girl Out of Time

Pairing: Bucky x Reader & Sam x Reader

Rating: Story will be overall MATURE but not every chapter. There will be strong language, talk of both mental and physical abuse, some good ole angst, and some eventual smut once the story reaches that point.

Note: This is something I've had an idea of for awhile but just now getting the idea to form an actual story. Kind of a let's see how this goes project. I hope you guys enjoy! Don't be shy let me know what you think!

Chapter 4

Natasha and I started walking down the street. She said it was a nice day for a walk and I couldn't complain. I'd like to see more of the city and how its changed.

After walking around for about an hour while chatting and asking Natasha questions I felt I had a little bit of a handle on this new place but I'm still far from knowing everything.

"You hungry?" Nat asked.

"I could definitely eat." I laughed.

"There's a cafe on the next street that has some of the best food." She smiled wide as she lead the way.

If you didn't know the cafe was here you'd miss it easily. There was no sign only the name on the glass window. I followed Nat inside and up to the counter. There was a large sign on the wall behind the counter showing the menu. I scanned over it looking for something I wanted to try.

After we ordered we stepped to the side to wait on our food and drinks. Nat had ordered me some kind of coffee she called a French vanilla latte with caramel. She said it was to die for.

"After we eat I was thinking we could go check out that museum exhibit Grace mentioned. Maybe it can help you remember something about that guy." Nat said with a smile.

Before I could answer a young woman handed us our drinks. Nat smiled big as she took hers. I waited to take a drink as I thought over her offer.

"I appreciate it but I think that's something I need to do with Steve. If I did know this James Barnes then Steve should remember him." I stated simply.

"I'd definitely ask him about it when we get back. He should be there by now."

I nodded. Did Steve know this guy? If he does how did I forget him? If what Grace said was true then I shouldn't have forgotten him. I remember everything about my life and about Steve but not James Barnes. What happened to me to make me forget?

When our food was done Nat grabbed the bag. We decided to go back to the tower and eat there. I had too much I needed to talk to Steve about.

As soon as I stepped off the elevator in the tower I heard Steve's voice. He was standing in the kitchen talking to Clint. Natasha walked over to the counter and sat the bag of food down. She pulled mine out and handed it to me. I sat on one of the tall stools with Nat beside me. Steve was standing on the other side in front of me.

"Where did you two go?" He asked us.

"To see Gracie" I said simply.

"Gracie? Your sister?"

I nodded then took my first bite of food. Nat was right it was delicious. It also went well with the amazing latte she had gotten me.

"That's great that you got to see her." Steve smiled.

"She gave me this." I said pulling the photo out of my pocket.

I handed it to him. He laughed the moment he looked at it.

"I forgot this photo even existed. Look at us. I was horrendous." He laughed shaking his head.

"You and Bucky" he smiled shaking his head again.

"You know him? Grace said his name was James Barnes."

Steve looked up at me with a brow raised.

"You don't know who he is?" Steve asked.

"No, I have no idea. I don't remember him at all." I kept my eyes on my food.

"How is that possible? You remember everything else right?" He asked sitting the picture down.

"Yea, I remember you and me. We were always together and causing some kind of trouble or exploring New York outside of Brooklyn. I don't remember James ever being with us." I explained after I took a few more bites.

"His nickname was Bucky. That's what most people called him. Everyone except you. You always called him Jamie unless you were mad at him then you'd use his full name. He was always with us. Every memory you have of just you and me Bucky was there too. There was always a spark between you two but you never acted on it. At least not until the night this photo was taken. You were upset thinking you'd never see Bucky again. When we found you after you ran off from us you were in tears. I let Bucky handle that one alone. I don't know what exactly happened but when you two met back up with me you were smiling and hanging off him. He always meant something to you and you were always his light. When we were together as the Howling Commandos he told me it was the small photo of you that he kept in his pocket that kept him going. Your light and happiness."

I just stared at him. How do I not remember this man who apparently meant so much to me? I picked the photo up to look it over again. Who is he? What kind of person? What did his voice sound like?

"What happened to him?" I asked not looking up from the photo.

"He died. I tried to save him but I failed. My best friend died right in front of me. The thought of coming back home and having to tell you scared the hell out of me." He gave me a small sad smile.

"Then you nose dived into the ocean and never got the chance." Natasha stated.

Steve nodded.

"I need to clear my head." I said getting up from the counter.

"Wanna help me train?" Nat asked.

"Train?" I arched a brow at her.

She nodded then hopped off her stool. She walked up the few stairs to where I stood. She wrapped her arm around mine then drug me down the hall.

The training room was larger than I expected. There was equipment everywhere of every possible kind you could think of. Nat walked over to the wall and grabbed four gloves. She came back over to me and handed me two.

"I'm gonna help you let off some steam. I can't imagine what it's like having part of your life ripped from your memory on top of you waking up almost 70 years into the future." Nat smiled then grabbed my shoulders.

She turned me around then pushed me towards the punching bag at the far end of the room. She's right I do need to blow off some steam. I'm so tense. I need to clear my mind for a little bit.

I took my first swing at the bag. It was harder than I thought it would be.

"I want you to think about everything that's bothering you right now. As you think about it let that frustration come out in each swing." Nat explained.

I nodded and took a deep breath.

"I was kidnapped."

I punched the bag.

"Then they froze me."

I punched the bag.

"I wake up 67 years later."

I punched the bag.

"I have memories taken from me."

I punched the bag.

"Who was he?"

I punched the bag.

"Why take those memories from me?"

I punched the bag.

"And now I'll never know the answer."

I punched the bag.

"Because he's fucking dead!"

I punched the bag.

Both Natasha and I stood frozen. The bag I had been punching now laid in a pile a few feet from us. It was busted open. It's guts spilling out onto the floor.

"What the hell?" Nat breathed out.

"I don't know. I've never done that before." I panted.

"Jarvis, get Steve in here now." Natasha ordered.

I tore my gloves off and tossed them to the floor. How did my life change like this? I swear three days ago I was home with my sisters. In my home in 1946. Why did this happen to me?

Steve ran into the room closing the door behind him.

"What's wrong?" He asked glancing between both of us.

Nat pointed to the bag on the floor then looked to me. Steve seemed to understand what she was saying. He walked over to me and took my hands.

"I want you to hit me." He said sternly.

"What? Why would I do that?" I asked in confusion.

"I need to check something. The only way to do that is for you to hit me or fight me. I need to feel what kind of strength you have." He explained.

"Steve, look at me, I don't have any strength. That was just a weird accident." I stated.

Steve shook his head obviously not believing me.

"Seriously Will, I can handle it." He smiled at me.

"Fine" I huffed.

Steve stood in front of me as I pulled my arm back. I swung as hard as I could hitting him in the chest. Steve let out a groan as he fell backwards.

"Oh shit" Natasha laughed.

Steve groaned as he rolled over to slowly stand himself back up. Once he was on his feet he leaned on his knees breathing heavy.

"I think you broke something." He groaned rubbing his chest.

"Stop it Steve that's not funny." I scolded him for his act.

"It kinda is" Nat said.

"I'm not playing Willow." He lifted his shirt over his head.

I had to force myself to focus on the spot I hit instead of his ridiculously chiseled abdomen. There was a bruise already forming in the middle of his chest. There is no way I hit him that hard. He's a super soldier! I can't bruise him.

"Come on, I need Bruce to run some tests." Steve said quickly after putting his shirt back on.

---

Masterlist

#nothingbutfangirlsmut #the girl out of time #natasha romanoff #nick fury #bruce banner #clint barton #tony stark #steve rogers #bucky barnes #sam wilson #sam wilson fanfiction #bucky x reader #bucky imagine #bucky fanfic

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thehealingplum · 3 years

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Something I realized is that I do really dump a lot of my anxiety on other people. I'm. Definitely a coward and paranoid about a lot of shit. I overthink a lot and I know a lot of my thoughts are just nonsense. It's okay that I have these thoughts but it's not okay for me to keep projecting them onto others.

So like yeah I'm insecure and sometimes I'm like "oh no what if my friends actually hate me" but... Idk I guess I try to look at things differently and tell myself "you shouldn't doubt your friend's love for you." It's easier for me to trust my friends over my parents tbh. The only family member I would trust with my life? My brother. Everyone else is. Oof.

But anyway. Yeah. Don't project your worries onto ppl. Write them down in a journal and maybe read them later and be like "wow what the fuck was I even thinking."

Keeping sad journals is a double edged sword for me. On one hand it shows me just how bad my emotional state was for my whole fucking childhood. But on another hand it shows how much I've grown over the years despite someone basically smothering me.

#thinking aloud #becoming a better person doesnt happen over night #its a process #and im gonna be the only one who really sees all the progress ive made cuz #i spend the most time with me #so even if ppl see a lot of my not so good parts #theyre just cherry picking

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deidaratheartboi · 3 years

Text

Hidan Kakuzu Story PT1

Yeah been awhile sorrryyy and I'll try to write on Wattpad no promises school is coming up for me so ya know. Anyways enjoy! Edit: Also I don't know much about Naruto and stuff so bare with me lol. ------------------------------------------------- 3rd/1st POV? Hidan and Kakuzu's footsteps could be heard as they trudged through an empty alley of Yugakure. The weather was fairly humid as expected much to Hidan's dislike. So your probably asking why they are in the peaceful, quiet, beautiful village? Well Pain sent them there because one of their main informants were there kind of ironic since the village was known for it's pacifism. The informant was suppose to meet with them at some sort of diner an odd meeting place indeed, but no one would suspect it. The place was called "Leo's Diner" and it was more then just a salon it was also the hotspot for black market deals, gambling, and other illegal activities. Who would have thought such a great village would have a bad side? Of course in order to even get in on all of this you have to have a password; such a cliché. They had arrived at a magenta colored door and a shabby looking window with a sign in it that said "Opened". Kakuzu and Hidan walked in and looked around. Yup this was the place lots of shady character were already here. Kakuzu walked up to the bar and Hidan sat at a neary table. Kakuzu POV It looked shabby on the outside but, the inside was pretty nice. Marble floors, really expensive chairs, and a full liquor bar (Graystillplays moment). The smell of things being fried filled the air along with the sweet smell of cheesecake. I might just eat here but, today is not that day. I have a mission and I can't not lose sight of it. I motioned a waiter over towards him. He looked a bit old probably in his sixties he seems a bit rich too he had several rings on one finger. The man looked at me with an uninterested look on his face. "What can I get you?" "A large milkshake for two with a regular burger and fries on the side." The old man scoffed. "Any desserts? "Two regular cheesecake and one triple chocolate cake." The old man nodded and told me to wait until everyone was gone. I walked over to Kakuzu and told him the news and of course he didn't like it. "Your telling me we have to wait here until everyone is gone and we don't even get food?" I didn't feel like responding to him and just let him throw a tantrum, until people started staring then I sent him a withering glare. He had shut up but, continued to grumble and curse under hos breath. I just couldn't understand him sometimes we have a mission to complete and limited time to do it drawing attention to ourselves wasn't helping either. I sighed I just wanted to go to bed. Minutes turned into hours as I let myself fall into a deep sleep but, I was awoken by a smash. My eyes instantly opened and I was enclosed by chaos and of course Hidan was the center of it. Chair were thrown, drinks were spilled and people were tossing each other around like ragdolls Hidan being one of them. I don't know if I should do anything or not but, if I don't our chances of getting our hands on the informant were slim. Just my luck. Hidan POV Great Kakuzu has gone to sleep and almost everyone was gone except a few guys. Man this sucked I mean I could wake him up but, who needs him anyway. I was bored and tired so I did the only thing that would help me. I decided to mess with people I took a straw and some napkins and spit out spit balls. (That sentence-). I hit like four guys new record but, they didn't seem to see it that way. Next thing I knew I was being smashed onto the table and thrown around like rock. I looked over to where Kakuzu was and to my luck he was awake but, not too happy. Kakuzu just sat there he looked like he was thinking. But, about what?? Oh yeah sure let me just think right quick as my partner is being thrown around! Man I hate him. Eventually he got up and helped me long story short everyone was not here we were the only ones. Then we see the waiter dude stomp over to us. Kakuzu and him had gotten into a

yelling match something about "valued customers" and "ruined". Kakuzu then dragged me out of the diner. "Well at least everyone is gone?" I tried to lighten the mood a bit but, that just made him even more pissed. "What the hell did you do? Now how will we find the informant?" Typical Kakuzu blame it all on me. "We can just go back in and ask the owner right?" Kakuzu rubbed his temple and groaned. "That was Leo. He works their as a waiter sometimes." Wow who would have known? "Well how the heck does making us wait for hours make any sense just to meet someone?" Kakuzu just stared at me as if I was dumb. "The informant was in the back room and because people were their Leo had to wait to let us in or people would become suspicious. If you don't know our informant has access to lots of information and is pretty famous in the underworld people sit at the diner everyday just waiting for an appointment but, few get it. We were the few but, now you fucked that up beyond repair." Ohhhh hm maybe I shouldn't have threw those balls. Kakuzu POV I never felt so angry in my life but, that's what I get for taking my eye off Hidan so it's my fault. Then in front of me I see boss and his projection body. (Idk how to explain it Ik it's shinenha but, I can't explain how it works sum like that). "Have you found the informant yet?" Do I play it off? Tell him? Well either way he was gonna see through it might as well shoot for the truth. I told him what happened and Hidan beside me nervously laughed. The boss simply nodded and said "Well lucky for you the informant is at another site a saloon s called "Yui's Nails And Hair." And this time don't mess it up it is vital we get the info we need." "Wait so where is it?" Hidan says. "It's nearby let's just hope they haven't heard of your little incident. You can't miss it." The boss then hung up. I just wanted to sleep in today. Hidan was already off and I followed behind not in much of a mood and it only got worse once he started talking. This was going to be a long walk. Hidan POV Finally, a chance to prove to Kakuzu and the rest of the Akatsuki I am not a failure. I spot the neon sign a few feet away "Yui's Nails And Hair". Hah take that Kakuzu. I ran up to the door and waited for Kakuzu to catch up. When he did I knocked on the door and a very pretty lady answered she looked young around her twenties. "What can I do for you boys?" But, she wasn't looking at me at all she was staring at Kakuzu. Creep. Kakuzu stepped forward and pushed me aside. I would have been mad but, he as better with people then me surprisingly. "We're here to see The Phoenix". She smirked and nodded. "Right this way boys." She led us through the saloon filled with people. It seemed like everyone and their mom was their. Some gawked at us, some looked disgusted, some even sent flirtatious glances our way or maybe it was Kakuzu's. We went into a back room and she pulled one of the tables aside and pulling a lever revealing a staircase going downward. Coooooool. Kakuzu POV This place reeked of crime and so did this woman. Especially this woman everyone seemed to be afraid. I don't know if Hidan noticed but, everyone seemed to ignore her gaze. That also could just be me being paranoid. As we descended down the stairs it became more apparent we were far from anyone else. No one could here if we screamed or were in trouble but, I doubt they cared. She opened a door and it led us into a small but, nicely decorated room. "I'll go get him". She sashays into another room. Minutes later she emerged but, she looked way different. "I heard you wanted to see me?" I stood there a bit shocked and surprised not because she turned out to be who we were looking for but, I knew her. ------------------------------------------------ Ok

#akatsuki scenarios #hidan akatsuki #kakuzu akatsuki #pain akatsuki

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shostakobitchh · 7 years

Note

I have trouble with the idea of Snape as a positive character, and I'm hoping you can shed some light on it for me. I know a popular interpretation is that Lily let him down by not sticking with him after the Mudblood incident, and that she could have saved him, but that doesn't truck with me - like it's not black people's job to make whites believe they're worth, yknow, not murdering, it wasn't Lily's job to prove that he shouldn't have been a Death Eater. (1/2)

He should have been able to do that himself, regardless of background. The fact that he couldn’t, the fact that his behaviour towards Hermione and others implies that he didn’t actually regret being a Death Eater because it was wrong, just because it got Lily killed, means to me that this narrative of him being a saviour is very hard to swallow. I’d be really interested to hear your take on it. (2/2)

“Snape was a bully who loved the goodness he sensed in Lily without being able to emulate her. That was his tragedy.” – JK Rowling

You’re exactly right in saying that it wasn’t Lily’s job to save Snape – that is 100% on point, and I agree with this to the fullest extent. Lily was a fifteen year old girl at the time, in the middle of a war. I don’t think it’s fair to blame Lily for Snape joining the Death Eaters, which some people tend to do. She had every right to walk away from the friendship. Snape was already on the path to joining the Death Eaters from what we see, so it’s unfair to Lily to assume that she was the only thing standing in the way. I don’t think she was – Snape would’ve joined regardless. It would’ve been a lot harder for her, I think, if she’d continued being his friend, which is probably a large reason why she did what she did, the Mudblood-incident aside. A lot of Snape-defenders don’t take into account how Lily must’ve felt, having her best friend call her that in front of her peers. All they see is Snape and how awful he must’ve felt, but I’m pretty sure that Lily felt 150% worse than he did, in the short term, which is why she chose to break it off. Why would she continue being friends with someone whose aspiration pertain to eliminating Muggleborns? Lily wasn’t aware of his feelings, so who was she to assume that Snape would never harm her once he became a Death Eater? Who was she to know that he never would’ve harmed her?

She didn’t, so that’s why that argument is invalid, at least, in my opinion, it is. You can’t put the weight of someone else’s soul on another – especially on someone as young as Lily was. She couldn’t have saved him, and it’s wrong to assign blame to her for Snape’s decisions.

That being said, I don’t necessarily view Snape as a “savior” or a “positive” character. Do people tend to put him on a pedestal? Yeah, they do, and that probably has largely to do with Alan’s portrayal in the movies and how tame he was in comparison to Book Snape. The problem with Snape is that before Lily was endangered and targeted, he loved the idea of power more than Lily. Once he saw that she was being hunted by Voldemort, that changed – something did shift inside of him. He’s all grey – he’s morally ambiguous.

Snape was a product of his environment, the same way Draco was. People tend to “forget” that Snape must’ve been around the same age when Draco was Marked – maybe older by a year or so, but good god, that’s still young. Does that excuse his behavior? Not by any stretch.

To get to your next point, which addresses Snape regretting his actions, I do thoroughly believe that joining the Death Eaters was his biggest regret. While Lily’s death contributes largely to it, and is obviously that pivotal eye-opener, we see other instances in canon that Snape no longer believes in Voldemort’s cause.

“Don’t be shocked, Severus. How many men and women have you watched die?”

“Lately, only those I could not save.” said Snape. (DH, 687).

That line was always the most telling to me about where Snape’s allegiances lied, concerning Lily or not. It’s not his responsibility, or part of the Vow he made to protect Harry, to save others. If he were truly only doing it to avenge Lily instead of genuinely regretting his choices, he wouldn’t have concerned himself with “those he could not save.” It’s obviously something that bothers him – that shows he has a conscious, unlike Bellatrix or Fenrir. Snape possesses the moral capability to change, but not the emotional, which brings me to my next point;

Obviously, there are points in the books where Snape is fucking awful. There’s still that scene in GoF where Harry is frantically looking for Dumbledore, right before they find Crouch acting weird, where Snape is standing outside the Headmaster’s office, goading Harry while he’s clearly frightened, that makes my blood boil. He’s really awful to the kids.

That being said, bullying children doesn’t really translate to being a Death Eater and not regretting his shitty choices earlier in his life. He bullies Harry, Hermione, Ron, and all the other Gryffindors because he just really hates James Potter. His grudge against him was projected onto his son, Harry. That does not excuse that behavior. That’s simply the reason behind it, which is why you cannot categorize Snape as an exclusively positive character in canon. This is a man who has found himself dedicating his life to a woman he killed, to her son, a product of his greatest fear come to pass. Again – not a valid excuse here – but that is why he was so awful to the kids. That doesn’t mean he never regretted his Death Eater days. For example;

“You have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realized how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry. I believe it to be the greatest regret of his life, and the reason that he returned –” (HBP, 549).

Initially, I do think he regretted joining the Death Eaters solely because of Lily, but over time, based on the evidence in the books, Snape came to truly understand why what he’d done was wrong, Lily aside. The whole bullying-children thing is simply just a product of Snape’s limited emotional status. As the quote I stated in the beginning says, Snape was unable to emulate Lily’s goodness. Not an excuse, but that’s his tragedy.

Personally, I enjoy Snape because there’s a lot of unknown potential behind him. There’s still a great deal we don’t know. What if Harry had discovered his secret? What if there had been more to their relationship than just a grudge against a dead man? I honestly wish that instead of going straight to Dumbledore after he heard that Snape had told Voldemort the prophecy, Harry had gone directly to Snape. Could you imagine that conversation? It might’ve been the one time Snape couldn’t mask himself with naked hared against him.

So, all in all, Snape is a not a great guy, and I guess it’s up to everyone and their individual interpretations whether or not Snape truly achieved redemption. I think he did – is a he a dick? Yeah, a giant one. He always reminded me of House – brilliant and saving lies, but a fucking piece of work to deal with. He did, however, do the right thing when it came to protecting Harry and the Order and Lily’s cause, which he did truly come to believe in.

Listen, if Harry Potter, who had the worst of Snape and his bullshit, could forgive him, I think that says enough. You don’t have to like the character, but he’s extremely interesting, and I think he fulfilled his debt, in the end. I just don’t think he was some tragic snowflake waiting to be rescued – he didn’t know what he wanted until it was too late.

#sam speaks #writing until my hands fall off #snape #the great snape debate #I feel like there's two very radical ends of this argument #and I am the only one who likes the middle #but I'm also #pro snape #idk i just love the character and how shitty he is #like i feel that I'm allowed to ship jily but also love snily fic if its well written #but i openly acknowledge that snape is a piece of shit in canon

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