#averting disasters and other ways to avoid your problems
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hi!!! i would like to request a zoya nazyalensky x female reader slightly based on mary's song by taylor swift! i don't know if you accept request like this so feel free to write it or not. i just think that the "i dared you to kiss me and ran when you tried", "i was 16 when suddenly i wasn't that little girl you used to see" and especially "said you'd beat me up you were bigger than me but you never did" lines are sooooo zoya coded, so if you also just want to write something using this ones? idk, maybe y/n arrived in the palace a bit after zoya and was also a squaller just a little younger and they made zoya teach her a bit so they know each other since they were little and she has been a pain in zoya's ass since forever well, feel free to choose and write however you want to thanks!
'after all this time, you and i' - zoya nazyalensky
masterlist
Zoya is having a perfectly normal morning until someone finally tells her the news.
Normalcy is hard to come by at the Little Palace. It’s hard to come by when you live in Ravka, when you are a Grisha, when your closest friends are kings with demons and girls without all of their eyes. One’s even a Sun Saint. So yes, Zoya’s definition of normalcy is a little strained. Defining this morning as normal purely means that no one has yet lit any buildings on fire.
Even this tenuous thread of normalcy, though, will not stand forever. Zoya has hardly been awake for a couple of hours before all of that comes crashing down again. Luckily for her, it’s not even bad. It’s just different, that’s all. Zoya knows it’s going to be different the same way she knows when everything else changes around here: gossip. The entire Little Palace is ablaze with it.
Zoya does her best to ignore the whispers as long as she can. Whatever new trouble has arrived to Os Alta will become her problem soon enough, but if she can push off the inevitable for as long as possible, that just means she won’t have to worry for quite as long. It’ll do her constantly furrowed brow some good, at least, if it can have a chance to rest every now and then.
She’s not too proud to admit that she’s definitely doubled back down corridors to avoid large crowds of over excited Grisha, nor that every time she sees someone who looks like they’re just bursting with information that must get out at once, she comes up with some nonexistent task that she just has to get to. If it’s a serious threat, someone would have come for her already. Zoya doesn’t want to hear about run-of-the mill calamities. Only the finest of disasters can be allowed to ruin her morning.
Genya Safin, in the end, is the one who has to break the news. This is also possibly because Genya is the bravest, or just the only Grisha around save for perhaps David who is capable of talking to Zoya without wishing the ground would open up beneath their feet and swallow them whole. Given that David is likely holed up in his lab somewhere, tinkering on gadgets and gizmos until Genya drags him off to meals, Genya herself is the one who must bear this morning’s news.
Even Zoya’s friendship with the Tailor cannot protect Genya from receiving a few haughty stares. Genya emerges from the shadow of a room as Zoya walks past, matching Zoya’s strides within moments despite Zoya’s repeated attempts to speed up and shake her.
At last, Zoya sighs and gives in, slowing down enough that they can walk comfortably. “What’s gone wrong?”
Genya laughs. “Couldn’t I just be talking to you because I felt like it?”
Zoya arches a cold brow. “Are you?”
“Partially,” Genya admits. “Also, there’s something you need to know.”
“Figures,” Zoya says. “What disaster do I have to avert now?”
“No disaster, actually,” Genya answers her. “I just wanted you to know that an old friend will be returning to the Little Palace.”
Zoya eyes her cautiously. “I don’t have old friends. Everyone I know is either here or dead.”
Genya closes her eyes faintly as if searching for patience within the confines of her mind. “Zoya, I know you’re never a sweetheart, but would it kill you to practice optimism every now and then? Just one day without making me listen to something incredibly depressing or cutting, that’s all I ask.”
“You ask for too much,” Zoya says crisply. “So? Who’s coming?”
Genya manages a smile in the midst of her consternation. “Y/N L/N.”
Zoya Nazyalensky is not much given to surprise. She has done her best to remove that unreliable element from her very existence. On the battlefield, you can’t afford for something to take you by surprise. Everything should be expected. If there is something Zoya does not understand, a battle plan or tactical maneuver she doesn’t anticipate, countless lives will be lost. Shock is simply not in her vocabulary.
However, all this being true, upon hearing that Y/N L/N will be back in Os Alta, back here, Zoya actually stops dead in her tracks in surprise. She breathes in and out deliberately, trying to regain her footing. “Y/N?” She asks at last. “You’re sure of it?”
“Positive,” Genya chirps. “I got word from her just this morning. She’ll be arriving later today with news from Shu Han.”
Zoya shakes her head slowly. “That’s impossible. I thought the crown sent her out there for five years. Has something gone wrong? Why is she back early?”
“She’s not back early,” Genya says softly. “It’s been five years to the day. Her assignment is up and so she’s coming home. You’re not unhappy, are you? I thought you’d be pleased to hear the news.”
“I am pleased,” Zoya says, but her mind is already a whirlwind of thoughts and memories, so it’s difficult to focus on the conversation anymore. All of the space in her brain has been taken up with that one idea, that one confounded, blessed, insane idea, that after all of this time, Y/N L/N might be back in Os Alta. Back with Zoya. Back home.
It’s been a long time since Zoya saw Y/N. Well, five years, if one wanted to be specific. Zoya usually likes dealing with specifics. Keeping to the rigid lines and absolute details is the only way that a person can guarantee they will be right. With Y/N, though, Zoya for some reason has difficulty sticking to the impartial. Perhaps it’s just because it’s been so long. Yes, that must be it.
Zoya met Y/N many years ago. Just about when Zoya arrived at the Little Palace, actually, they were both children. Zoya was first and Y/N was second, but only by a handful of months. They were only off in age by a year or two, but Zoya, being older and far more of a perfectionist, had convinced herself that she was infinitely more reasonable and advanced.
Both of them being Squallers, Zoya saw Y/N the most out of anyone in the Little Palace, or so it seemed. The younger girl was always hanging off of Zoya’s shoulder, talking her ear off or following her around from class to class. It used to drive Zoya mad during the early days, but over time she’d gotten used to it. It was a common sight back in the first years; there was Zoya, striding briskly across the grounds of the Little Palace, and then her shadow in a matching blue kefta, Y/N, never far behind.
During the first few years, Zoya had done everything she could to get rid of the girl. She’d threatened to use her gifts to drop her off of the tallest tower around, or beat her up in one of Botkin’s rigorous combat classes, but no matter what Zoya said, Y/N never listened. She’d just show up the next day or the next hour, beaming cheekily, and utterly, utterly immune to any of Zoya’s snarls or poor temper.
That was the beginning, though, and then it had been sort of nice to have someone always there for her. Zoya wasn’t immune to the idolatry of being older and more advanced in her practice of the Small Science. By the end of it, she was kind of fond of it, actually. Having Y/N there beside her was something to be taken for granted, a promise that would never be broken.
Just when she was starting to appreciate it, word got out that the crown was sending Y/N away to Shu Han for five years. Five. Zoya was immediately horror struck, then pretended that she was not affected at all, because why would she be hurt by something like this? Why would she find herself weeping silent tears at midnight because of the thought that where there was once a smiling, laughing girl, someone who had seen Zoya for years and genuinely still wanted her, there would soon be absolute silence?
Zoya had attempted to brush it all off like it didn’t matter. She hadn’t even hugged Y/N goodbye like the other girls, trying too hard to act stiff and unapproachable. She’d been there, though, when the horses rode off. She’d waved. She’d felt her whole world collapse.
Zoya had found a way to carry on, though, and over time she had convinced herself that she was just being nostalgic, that’s all. Goodbyes are always difficult when you’re a child. You think parting from someone once means you’ll lose them forever. It’s true sometimes, but not always. Sometimes, they come back to you. Sometimes, they sneak up on you one busy morning, and you’re left wondering how to open up their place in your heart after you locked it off for so long.
Zoya bids Genya a hasty goodbye before retreating back to her room again. She ends up pacing for quite a long time indeed, running through all manner of scenarios before deciding that she'd been thinking too much about the whole affair and needs to give it a rest. Y/N will come back. She’ll have plenty to talk about and plenty of people to talk to. It will be fine.
Zoya hears a general clamor erupt from outside the hall. The horses are here now, apparently, and everyone’s just dying to see their favorite girl after such a long absence. After taking one last moment to contain herself, Zoya steps out into the chaos, joining the other Grisha in streaming out the doors and into the bright sunshine of the afternoon.
There are too many people to get a good view of anything, so Zoya hangs back near the entrance of the Little Palace. If there are horses and riders, they’ve been swarmed by the other Grisha vying for stories and hellos and everything else. Zoya bides her time and watches everyone else go to and fro as if their lives depend on it.
There’s a slow, vague parting of the crowd as people shift to accommodate movement in the mass. Zoya tilts her head to the side, trying to see but also trying not to look as if she’s trying too hard. The grooms are moving away first, leading exhausted horses back to the stable. There are the soldiers that were sent to protect such a valuable negotiator, but then–
Someone shouts that she’s coming around the bend now, and Zoya shades her eyes with her hand to see properly, but she can’t find the girl anywhere. Zoya knows what Y/N looks like, remember it from when she was a child, but the only person there is a young woman who’s too tall and bright to be–
Oh, Saints. Oh, no. She’s beautiful.
It’s foolish to be thinking like this. More foolish still to watch the woman who must be Y/N striding confidently across the courtyard of the Little Palace, heels striking the cobblestones evenly. The blue of her kefta compliments her eyes perfectly, which flash with mischief as Y/N strolls up to Zoya and says briskly, “If it isn’t my favorite Squaller. It’s been a while, hasn’t it, Nazyalensky?”
Zoya would like to know when they reverted to a last name basis, but more than that, she’d like to know why she feels incapable of speaking without stammering. “Five years to be precise, L/N.”
Y/N’s face splits in a broad grin. “Oh, don’t be cold. I know you’ve missed me, haven’t you?”
Again, Zoya is struck by what five years can do to a girl. Before, Y/N had never dared to be so open. She never would have insisted on what Zoya could or could not feel, but now, she does it easily. She’s not that little girl Zoya used to see around the Little Palace grounds anymore, that’s for certain.
(Privately, Zoya wonders if that might not be for the best. If there might not be a reason Zoya wants her to be bright and tall and free-willed. If there is not something she can get out of the girl now that she hadn’t seen when they were both kids.)
“I did,” Zoya admits, surprising not just herself but likely both of them.
Y/N wavers on her heels for a second, evidently not expecting raw honesty from Zoya this early into her return, but then her smile returns in full force and she wraps her arms around Zoya in a warm embrace. “I missed you too,” she whispers against Zoya’s hair, and perhaps it’s just wishful thinking but Zoya swears the voice is more sly than it ever has been before.
Zoya can do sly, though. Zoya can handle conniving and planning and desperate secrets. So, she pulls away slowly, then slips an arm around Y/N’s waist, casually tugging her closer as they walk back to the Little Palace.
“You’re different,” Zoya says casually. “It’s good for you, I think. You had better tell me all about it.”
A returning grin from Y/N, and Zoya knows at last that they’re on the same page. Time can change us, yes. But it can also return us to the people we were always meant to be. For once, Zoya thinks that growing up might not always be a bad thing.
grishaverse tag list: @rogueanschel, @deadreaderssociety, @cameronsails, @mxltifxnd0m, @story-scribbler, @retvenkos, @mayfieldss, @eclliipsed, @gods-fools-heroes, @bl606dy, @auggie2000, @baju69, @crazyhearttragedy, @budugu, @aoi-targaryen
all tags list: @wordsarelife
#zoya nazyalensky#zoya nazyalensky imagines#zoya nazyalensky x reader#zoya nazyalensky oneshot#grishaverse#grishaverse imagines#grishaverse x reader#grishaverse oneshot#shadow and bone#shadow and bone imagines#shadow and bone x reader#shadow and bone oneshot#zoya#zoya imagines#zoya x reader#zoya oneshot#grishaverse zoya#grishaverse zoya imagines#grishaverse zoya x reader#grishaverse zoya oneshot
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Can you elaborate on the tech diver? I'm interested in hearing you talk about it
on like, how hearing about the sequence of events that led to tech divers deaths makes me want to get certified for technical diving?
i have a basic open water certification, and one thing that really interests me in diving is the procedural aspect - the importance of following certain rules while you're in a space that's hostile to life. not just regarding your life-supporting equipment, but also with how you interact with the space around you and other divers. the strict rules for communication and your practical relationship with others allow for a degree of predictability even in an inherently unstable situation. if you make a specific signal to your diving buddy, then they'll carry out a specific action.
the thing that separates technical diving from regular recreational diving is, in most understandings, the fact that an immediate ascent isn't possible. this can be either due to the presence of an overhead - such as in cave diving, ice diving, or wreck penetration diving - or due to engaging in decompression diving. the latter is what really interests me - recreational diving takes place strictly within the no-decompression-limits. though there's a mandatory decompression stop for safety, it's theoretically possible to ascend directly to the surface without stopping, if maintaining a safe ascent rate.
in decompression diving, it's necessary to plan, or calculate, necessary decompression stops. further, it's often necessary to manage different breathing gasses, and also be more careful with the consumption of breathing gas at depth. in short, all the procedural aspects are magnified - failures are much more compounding, and less forgiving. deviation from rules can lead to inescapable situations where death is inevitable, even if it won't occur for an hour or more. while there's no shortage of tech diver deaths, there are practically none where a breach of rules didn't occur - most often related to the buddy system, with experienced divers tending to think they're above it.
it's what also interests me with aviation incidents, and the way they're investigated - with the 'swiss cheese model' and the way that non-judgemental analysis focuses on the specific rules and regulations that could prevent accidents. industrial process incidents also interest me in a similar way, where there's always a specific issue that directly caused the problem, and allowed any further problems to exist - but also subtler factors that could have made that issue more likely. there's always multiple layers of safety that have been broken through, but also a clear line of events that could have been avoided to avert disaster.
in that way, hearing about the specific line of events that led to accidents makes me more interested in engaging with and carrying out the correct procedures that ensure safety
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crush on your mind
pairing: Rimuru x Veldora
summary: Veldora has been reading Rimuru's mind lately. Both of them don't know the true implications, but they're in for some fun.
wc: 7.1k
tags: established relationship, genderfluid character, vaginal sex, cunnilingus, tentacles, desk sex, telepathic bond, dom/sub undertones
Preview:
After their impromptu meeting was over, everyone returned to their duties and Rimuru was left alone with Veldora in his office.
Overall, it had been a fruitful conversation. They agreed on a course of action, also in the event that things with Hinata were to go awry. Somehow, Rimuru even managed to steer clear of a potential disaster by convincing Veldora to stand down. The slime didn’t expect him to be convinced so easily and with such a dumb excuse, but Rimuru was one to count his blessings.
He gave one final look to Shizu’s mask, before he stashed it inside himself. If they avoided Veldora’s involvement, he was sure they’d have some more leeway to talk. He really was hoping that Hinata wouldn’t be a problem.
He stood up from the sofa, turning into his mimic form to snatch a leftover cookie from the coffee table and made his way to the desk. With the big decisions made, the only remaining tasks were to conduct a routine check of his responsibilities… and check some of the initial festival preparations, of course. Despite the turmoil surrounding Tempest, he was still very much anticipating the festival, the excitement alone making his slimy self vibrating.
What he was not anticipating was the slew of documents that awaited him on his desk. Even if he could delegate the planning to his expert subordinates, everything still needed his express approval. He eyed the tower of paperwork he’d put off for too long with some regret and a lot of dismay. Shuna’s gaze was nothing short of terrifying when she told him it would be better if he finished his work within the day, but hey, maybe he could just keep pushing this off a little while longer…
He shook his head.
Even if his body was fundamentally immortal, Shuna could be unexpectedly vicious if she wanted.
He sighed, resigned. Better start sooner than later, then.
Still munching on the biscuit, he picked up the first document from the stack of paper and produced some ink and a pen from his palm so he could get to work. It was a mindless task, often just a final signature, since his squad already handled all the details. As soon as he put the pen on paper, some cookie crumbs fell on the sheet, and he instinctively brushed them away. A small curse escaped him when he smeared the fresh ink all over the sheet and his hand, and at the same time Veldora snorted out a laugh.
Rimuru shot him a glance. The dragon was still lying on the sofa in the same position in which he’d spent the majority of the meeting. Amusement was plastered all over his face, while he flipped through a different manga from before, one he didn't remember he'd given him.
The slime sighed. Must be nice to be this carefree .
Right that moment, Veldora's tongue clicked. Their gazes met for a fraction of a second, a shudder sweeping through Rimuru when he glimpsed some contempt lurking in the dragon’s eyes.
Wait… He didn’t say that aloud, now did he?
After a tense couple seconds, Veldora went back to his manga, chuckle returning as if nothing happened.
And truly nothing did… But what was that?
Rimuru was pretty sure he hadn’t said anything for the last ten minutes, ever since the others had gone. Raphael confirmed too. So why did Veldora give him the evil eye all of a sudden? Crap… Maybe he figured out all that “last line of defense” stuff was just nonsense to keep him quiet?
He felt again the dragon’s gaze trained on him, but Rimuru was quick to avert his eyes.
Was he… He couldn't be reading his mind, could he?
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3 Lifesaving Commands Every Dog Should Know
Pet owners usually invest in dog training to fix problem behavior or brush up on manners, but training can do more than promote polite behavior. A few key commands could one day save your dog’s life. I love it when people ask me about the most important commands a dog should know.
There are three go-to commands that I believe every dog needs to know — for his own safety and the safety of other people and canines he comes into contact with. Click through the gallery to see what these commands are and why it is so important to teach them.
3 Crucial Commands
Although there are many behaviors that promote pet safety, there are three basic commands that are especially critical: “down stay,” “drop it” and “come.” Not only should every dog be familiar with these behaviors, but dogs should be trained to perform them anywhere, anytime.
Down Stay
A dog who immediately drops his body into a down, regardless of distance from his owner, will be better able to avoid danger. Search-and-rescue dogs are taught to respond to this command even if they are running at top speed toward a victim or are on top of a pile of rubble. Pet dogs can see similar safety benefits from this training.
There are occasions when your dog may find himself in a dangerous situation but calling him to you could actually create a bigger hazard (for example, you’re on one side of the street and your dog is on the other and there’s a car coming). Directing him into a down stay can keep him out of the way and safe until you can get to him.
Drop It
Everyday household items can be dangerous for dogs — ladies’ underwear is a common choking hazard, but other typical offenders include chicken bones and apple cores. And the most common poison hazards for dogs are human over-the-counter and prescription medications — for some drugs, even a single pill can have devastating effects on a dog.
This is why the “drop it” command is so important: Unless a dog has been taught to drop whatever is in his mouth immediately, he may play keep away and swallow the item before you can retrieve it. A dog that understands “drop it” will let go of the item, which can then be taken away, averting a potential disaster.
Come When Called
Dogs are often happily oblivious to potential threats around them, like traffic or poisonous plants, and can easily wander into dangerous — or deadly — situations.
Teaching your dog to always come when he is called can help minimize the dangers for a dog prone to dashing out of doors or pulling out of his collar — or one who is simply curious about the world around him.
Even the best-behaved dogs may find themselves in dangerous situations and it is truly risking life or death to not instill a reliable recall.
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Why using a trucking permit service can save you money.
Today is the golden age of DIY (Do It Yourself). People want to save money, and DIY can be synonymous with savings. Take home repairs as an example: A burst pipe can be a massive, costly headache for a homeowner. If you have the knowledge and expertise to deal with it, DIY home repairs can save you a lot of money. But a DIY job is more of a recipe for disaster when you’re trying to learn something specialized and don’t want an underwater living room.
Every DIY success story has a tale of heartache with a familiar plot: First, the DIYer will spend an enormous amount of time trying to do something themselves in the quest to “save money.” They’ll have trouble doing the job well, get too busy to give it the attention it needs or find themselves unable to finish what they’ve started. At this point, they’ll end up hiring a professional. After this whole ordeal, they’ll realize that they should have hired a professional in the first place and would have saved money doing so.
The moral of the story? Sometimes, you need a professional. Choosing a trucking permit company to help with your hauls is a way to avert disaster when things are more complicated than simply moving from point A to point B. We know our clients can obtain trucking permits for specific hauls on a DIY basis, and sometimes that makes sense. For example, if you haul heavy in Oklahoma regularly, you’ve probably learned what kind of permitting that entails, know the roads and can get things arranged without too much fuss. But what if your next load is oversize? Or a superload? What if you need to drive through rural florida, and you’ve never hauled there before ?
Declining to hire a trucking permit company can mean exposing yourself to time-draining hassles. Permit-issuing departments have different procedures, policies and turnaround times in other states. Moreover, government-run websites aren’t famous for being the most informative and easy-to-use internet resource. You may be stuck calling a government office for help (and we all know how that can turn out). You’ve already got a job, and it’s not sitting on hold listening to elevator music.
Let’s say that you’ve done the research and obtained permits, and you find three states in the haul where you have an improper license. You may have earned yourself a tidy fine. Without the help of an expert permit services specialist, you’re also going to be running new roads with your oversized or overweight load without a logistics partner who can create ideal routes that bypass problem areas. Poor-quality roads that narrow unexpectedly or are partially under construction can mean big trouble for heavy or oversized freight and damage your investment.
Luckily, helping you avoid these pitfalls is why we’re here. The Permit Company prides itself on making your haul happen without the headaches and fines, using years of experience and familiarity with the complexities of obtaining permits and hauling all around the United States (and in our neighbouring countries, too!). Don’t get stuck in a DIY permit disaster that costs you money. Trust us with crucial hauls, and we’ll stick with you every step of the way.
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Find out about The Tips Regarding DIY Furnace Repair
Furnace repair is the job many of us might be happy to be able to pay to some sort of professional. Nevertheless, it is an excellent idea to get the essentials of how to repair a furnace yourself in case of emergencies. With winter approaching fast, you have to be able to make sure that the heat system inside the entire house is in purchase. If it instantly gives out inside the middle regarding a stormy or even chilly night, obtaining a mechanic ideal away might get difficult. Some standard furnace repair abilities would come in handy in such situations.
A look at some basic DIY furnace repair tips:
DIY furnace repair tips : #1 - Check out the motor instructions The first point to accomplish is to check the motor in addition to see if it working properly or even not. It could require oiling or the seatbelt may need adjustments. Either way electric motor malfunctioning will prospect to fan not working and therefore low or zero transmission of warmth or air. This particular is true with regard to electric as nicely as gas furnaces. Periodic maintenance will certainly ensure that the motor is throughout working condition in addition to can be mended in emergencies. Inside more serious cases, it will have got to be replaced nevertheless for that are needed a new professional contractor.
DIY furnace repair ideas - #2 - Check the pump or air management - If an individual feel that your current furnace is not really generating proper volume of heat in that case check the water pump plus the air handle mechanism. Make positive that the water pump is regularly oiled leather and checked regarding performance. Problems in this field will lead in order to low heat technology and lack regarding hot air shift inside the property. Defective parts furthermore mean that you get using more energy than required and later pay for severe damages.
DIY furnace repair tips : #3 - Verify the air conditioner filter or gas burner instructions A blocked gas burner or even a filthy air filter are chief causes associated with low heat technology through the furnace. Typical checking and upkeep is required to be able to ensure proper equipment function as well since avert any type of disasters. Just cleaning the atmosphere filter from time to time may do the key. Help make sure the fuel burner is clean up and well-adjusted therefore that the furnace is always in proper working condition. In case of events these simple tips will see a person overnight before expert help arrive.
Apart from the blower motor, air filtration, and the pump motor the other points that you need to check are the thermal and the enthusiast control system. Involving course, not everything could be easily fixed by amateurs nevertheless the basic knowledge will certainly at least carry fort till an individual get the whole thing set or cared for.
Get more info is very important to avert disasters such as fire, in order to avoid health problems from suffocating or stale atmosphere. Most housing regulations also demand that you get your furnace examined periodically by condition certified inspectors in order that these situations do not arise. In situation you will find a problem an individual can hire a new furnace repair service provider to repair or replace your furnace.
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Averting Disasters and Other Ways to Avoid Your Problems
Characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Mentions of things that occurred in Angel: The Series season 5.
Main Pairing: Buffy x Spike
Characters: Buffy, Spike, Giles, Willow, Xander, Andrew, Faith, Dawn
Summary: Set in 2008, five years after Spike's resurrection at Wolfram & Hart. Buffy is living in Cleveland guarding the hellmouth. Spike has left Angel and company and is hiding out in Chicago. The Scoobies are scattered. When something starts going wrong with the slayers around the world, it's time to get the gang back together.
Changing POVs (Buffy & Spike) but clear about shifts. I know nothing about the comics, just the TV shows.
Chapter 1 below cut. Or read on ao3. Or read on EF.
Chapter Index:
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (all subsequent chapters are on ao3 and EF)
Chapter 1
Cleveland, Ohio
2008
The house was quiet. It normally was. Especially just before dawn, before the birds would quite start singing. Quiet house in a quiet suburb in a not-so-quiet city located directly over a hellmouth, another supernatural beacon for the weird, freaky, and dangerous. It should feel just like home, like Sunnydale. But it didn't. Not really. And it wasn't just the weather.
Sunnydale was gone of course. Nothing left of it but a crater in the earth turned conspiracy theorist tourist trap. Buffy hadn't been back since they blew it sky high. Why would she? There was nothing to go back to there. Even her mom's grave, lost. Gone. Gone like everyone else.
Buffy shrugged off her jacket and tossed it on the couch, rolling out her shoulders as she did so. Just another day on the job. Another night down. It had been a quiet week.
The answering machine blinked green indicating someone had left a message. She grabbed a granola bar and hit the button on the machine. It had to be Giles. Or maybe Faith. They seemed to be the usual suspects. Occassionally there would be a call from Willow, Xander, or Dawn, but those were few and far between.
Buffy didn't blame any of them for the lapse in communication. After all, it's a two way street. Dawn was off at college at UC Santa Barbara, starting her nice normal life with nice normal friends where she wasn't constantly in fear for her life. She was happy. She sent pictures. She had gotten a cat. She was doing well in school. It was everything Buffy could've hoped for her.
Willow and Xander had been enlisted by the newly restored Watcher's Council to help recruit and train the new slayers that had popped up all over the globe after Willow's spell in Sunnydale. They didn't always have the most reliable access to communication and Buffy rarely knew exactly where they were at any given moment. She had joined them, of course, at first... She had helped - led even - the first 3 years. Helped with training, fighting, recruiting, organizing, anything and everything in between. And it was good. It was better. There were more people to help ward off the darkness.
But she was tired.
"Hey B," Faith's voice rang out from the machine. "How's it been?"
Faith had been living in Cleveland since Sunnydale was wiped off the map under a fake identify courtesy of the Watcher's Council funds. Just like their houses. They were the guardians of the hellmouth. Forever and always it seemed.
"Look, I just wanted to check if things have been pretty quiet for you lately," Faith's slightly robotic voice continued. "Like suspiciously quiet. I didn't even dust one vamp last night. Let me know."
Buffy sighed as the machine beeped and went silent. Things had been slow lately...at least she was pretty sure they'd been slow. The last week was a bit of a blur. But why did she have to use the word suspiciously? Couldn't it ever just be a nice change of pace? Or putting a dent in the evil?
Buffy made her way upstairs to her practically bare bedroom and sunk into her bed without bothering to change out of her clothes that were still coated in a light dusting of ash. It could wait. It could all wait.
***
Chicago, Illinois
At least it's better than LA. That was the thought that ran through Spike's head as he took another punch to the face from a 600 pound chirago demon. It was all claws and scales and bloody strong. Spike slammed back against the wall and held up a hand as he grimaced and regained his bearings.
"Now, I'm sure we can work this out," he said. "No need to do anything rash, yeah?"
The demon only roared back and charged him. Spike dodged at the last second and the scaly demon crashed into the wall headfirst behind him with a howl. Bad thing about being 600 pounds is it's pretty hard to stop once you get going. Spike sidestepped and brought his fists down sharply on the back of the demon's hefty neck. He heard a satisfying snap and the demon collapsed limply to the ground.
"I told you that temper would do you no good mate," Spike said as he wiped the blood from his nose. He glanced over at the spectators to his little brawl. "The hell are you all looking at?"
There were a few mumbles and mutters, but the other demons in the establishment mostly turned back to whatever it was they had previously been doing. They were there to gamble and drink. Not brawl. That was for the arena next door.
Spike grabbed his jacket and left. Poker still wasn't his game.
***
Spike returned to his apartment, which was really just a dingy old basement he was renting from the elderly lady who lived upstairs. Mrs. Jefferson was nice. She made him cookies sometimes. Unfortunately, he was running on the last of the money he'd managed to scrounge from Wolfram and Hart before that whole fiasco. He wouldn't be able to stay in the basement much longer. He had thought about finding another crypt. Or perhaps leaving Chicago entirely.
He grabbed a cup of cold pig's blood from the fridge and sunk into his chair. It was dark and quiet. Mrs. Jefferson wasn't awake yet. He downed the cold and partially clotted liquid with a bit of a grimace. Should've microwaved it.
Since leaving Los Angeles 4 years ago, Spike hadn't had all too much purpose. And he didn't have practice. Living as a vampire with a soul, that is. And without... a reason. At least he didn't have to put up with Angel's whining. He got enough of that from his subconscious.
Of course there was no real point to any of it. He simply had to stay alive. To stay out of hell. The lesser evil. He could help people, or not help people. It wouldn't change his outcome. Maybe it shouldn't. He probably deserved it. But he would try to avoid it all the same.
Then again, maybe he was already there. Hell.
He shook the thought from his head. Spike had made an effort to stay off the radar. At least, off of Angel and associates' radar. He was done there. Retired. Solo agent only. He'd done his part.
"What's it take?" he muttered under his breath.
***
Spike woke up to a harsh pounding on his basement door. Far as he could tell, it was about midday. He groaned and sat up.
"The bloody hell do you want?" he shouted. "Whatever you're selling I'm not interested. Sod off!"
The knocking continued without pause and Spike sprung up with an audible groan. It wasn't really wrong to kill a con man salesman, right? They were essentially demons... by proxy. More or less.
He ripped open his door with a loud screech as it scraped across the concrete floor where the wood had over-expanded from the damp. Standing at the base of the steps was... bloody hell.
"Spike!" Andrew exclaimed with a grin as he flung himself into a hug.
Spike pulled Andrew inside and shoved him off into the wall.
"How did you find me?" he growled. "Can't a man find a bit of sodding peace from you Watchers? I'm reformed. I'm not your bloody lap dog."
Andrew chuckled somewhat nervously and shrugged him off. "Like it was hard?"
Andrew hadn't changed much since Spike had last seen him in LA. He was still wearing a tacky suit with styled hair that didn't seem to match his general demeanor. That this kid had survived the demolition of Sunnydale was beyond him. But apparently he was big in with the new and improved Watcher's Council... and with Buffy.
"Does anyone else-" Spike started briskly before pausing. "Does anyone know you're here?"
Andrew shuffles slightly on his feet. "Well... just Willow."
Spike's jaw clenched and he turned away from Andrew taking a few paces.
"Not to worry though!" Andrew added hurriedly. "She's sworn to secrecy. Though she did have a few choice words-"
"The point, Andrew," Spike snapped. "You wanna keep your head, I suggest you get to it."
"It's the slayers," he stammered. "Something's wrong. With all of them."
Spike froze. "All of them?"
#btvs#btvs fanfiction#spuffy fanfic#spike x buffy#spuffy#buffy the vampire slayer#buffy the vampire slayer fanfic#buffy summers#spike#reunion fanfic#averting disasters and other ways to avoid your problems
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Colour Me Red
Pairing: Steve x Reader
Summary: Your boss is chasing you like the proverbial hound of hell, and one vibrant shade of red is going to be his undoing, and yours.
Words: 3k
Warnings: Oral sex, allusions to smut, suggestive talking, kinda workplace harassment but not really, boss and employee relationship, 18+ ONLY
A/N: This is for my jaan Lexi’s 700 Challenge. Congratulations baby girl @bluemusickid , you deserve this and so so much more. Every day I live in awe of you and can only love you more. I’ve chosen the colour Red for this challenge.
Most people arrived at work early to impress their boss. You came early to avoid yours. Every morning was a race to dress up faster so that you could be out before he pulled up at your place to give you a ride. When you’d started working at the Avengers Compound, you thought your biggest problem would be alien attacks or spontaneous combustion. Yet, here you were, being pursued by your boss who was the very embodiment of the hounds of hell.
Captain Steve Rogers, for all his brilliance, was a man unaccustomed to being told no. At one word from him, agents would run in the field and fight a battle of their lives. He was respected and revered, his beautiful visage both an endearing and terrifying symbol. However, all you wanted was for him to leave you alone.
The first time you’d met him, Steve had taken one look at you and said, “I am going to fuck you”. You had gaped at him in disbelief, wondering if this was the true Captain America. You had almost gone back home, intent on finding another job but you needed the money and well, there were so many others around, how often would your paths cross with him?
Turns out, a lot. You had applied for the PR secretary position for Natasha, so imagine your surprise when you showed up for work and were told that you’ll be working for Steve Rogers. In retrospect, you should have quit that day, but the pay was far too good. You had ignored sleazy men before, how difficult could it be to ignore Steve’s advances?
From the very first day, Steve didn’t bother to hide his interest. He offered you a seat in his office, but only after you pointedly ignored his offer to sit on his lap. He had rolled his eyes playfully, explaining your role and duties before dismissing you.
“Walk slow, I want to have a good view of that ass.”
Months later now, you could say it was a well-versed routine. He would flirt with you and you’d kindly remind him about appropriate workplace practices. He would bring you flowers, and you’d pass it on to the old lady who sat behind the reception. You almost wanted to thank him, for it was because of him you’d become a pro at running in high heels.
Arranging your documents, you waited for Steve to arrive. He won’t be happy knowing he has a press conference today. You’d typed out his speech, he only needed to say it into the camera without looking constipated.
“You evaded me again today.” Steve greeted you, entering and taking his seat behind his desk. You met his eyes, unimpressed. He never gave up, did he?
“Good morning Captain Rogers.” You said with a smile, handing him the papers that he took with a wince.
“You don’t call me Captain Rogers in my dreams.” He casually said, going over the planned interview. You rolled your eyes, ignoring him the best you could. It would be a lie to say you didn’t find Steve attractive, but you were not about to sleep with your boss.
“Can you please stick to the script this time and not call the government a piece of shit organization who are greedy, racist, bigots?” You asked, not wanting another disaster management situation on your hands.
“Spot me the lie darling.” Steve said, smiling. He threw the papers on the desk, leaning back to look at you with a fond look in his eyes. “You need to let me drive you here someday. Or I’m gonna camp outside your house so you can’t run away.”
You flush, averting your gaze. God, why did he need to be so beautiful with such gorgeous eyes?
“Can you give it a rest until the press conference? I have a lot on my hands.” You said, rubbing your temples tiredly. Steve frowned, his eyes lingering over the dark circles under your eyes before getting up and coming around the desk to stand behind you, his large hands gently taking your shoulders and kneading. A soft moan escaped you, your bunched muscles relaxing under his touch.
You leaned back farther, your head meeting his firm stomach. His fingers splayed over your collarbones, heal of the hand pressing into the soft juncture where your neck met the shoulder. Groaning, you relaxed yourself, letting Steve massage the stiffness out of your body. Slowly, he leaned down, mouth right next to your ear.
“Imagine the kind of sounds you’ll make when you’re under me.” He breathed, pressing the softest of kisses on your cheek. Your eyes widened and you shot up, putting some distance between you. Steve grinned, taking in your labored breath with interest.
“Captain Rogers” You warned, taking a step back when he took one towards you.
“Say my name.” He demanded, walking purposely towards you until you crashed against the wall. Leisurely closing the distance between you both, he caged you with his hands, leaning in close. You gulped as he got into your space, his breath fanning over your heated cheeks and eyes turning liquid.
“This is inappropriate.” You said, blinking and looking away. You were scared his super senses would smell the arousal pooling between your thighs, warming your core. Steve chuckled, dipping his head as if to kiss you but stopping short.
“I’ll let it go today, since you’ll be screaming it soon enough. Why don’t you go and edit the speech, hmm? I want that part about thanking the government for their cooperation struck.” He smelled like sin, the musky aftershave he always wore clinging to your pores and infusing in your scent.
Smiling a little at the deer caught in the headlights look in your eyes, Steve pushed away from you and flicked your forehead playfully. He turned and walked back to his desk, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as your stumbled out of his office after hastily collecting your papers. Every time you thought you’d gotten used to his advances, Steve would reduce you to a bundle of nerves with a few well chosen words.
Persistent little fucker.
If he didn’t show up in five more minutes, you’ll have a coronary. The reporters were already waiting for him, and you still needed to debrief Steve about the changes you had made. Left to his own devices, he’d unapologetically curse the government out and call out their crap with Bucky and Sam cheering from the sidelines. Again. That had been a nightmare.
“Where is he?” Jacob asked. He looked frazzled, looking worriedly at Tony from across the room. His boss was just as likely as yours to cause a scandal during a press conference and when they sat together, a shit storm was definitely on its way.
“I have no fucking idea!” You swore, running a hand through your hair and hoping your makeup hadn’t run off. You’d be sitting at the podium beside Steve, ready to kick his shin at the first moment he went off script. Jacob shot you a sympathetic look and a pat on the shoulder, his hairline glittering with sweat.
“One day I’ll quit this job and be a professional troll just to roast these assholes. Oh god, where the hell is he?” You bemoaned.
“Right here.”
You turn around, finding Steve striding towards you. The frustration in your eyes melted as you looked him over, the crisp navy blue suit fitting his body in a way that saliva pooled under your tongue. Shaking your head, you wagged a finger at him, trying your best to give him an angry frown instead of fuck me eyes.
“You’re the reason I’ll get greys so early in my life.” You scolded. Steve, however, lost his smirk. His eyes were trained hard on you, eyebrows turning in as if deeply disappointed. When his eyes met yours, you unconsciously stepped back and stumbled into Jacob. You knew Steve had a temper, but that anger had never been directed so harshly at you before.
“What the fuck?” He hissed from between clenched teeth. You blinked in surprise, completely at a loss of words about why he was suddenly so angry. You exchanged a bemused look with Jacob who was inching away from you, eager to be out of sight of the fire that was so obviously burning in the captain’s eyes.
Gulping nervously, you peered at him and cleared your throat. “Captain Rogers?” Your voice was soft and confused, and yet it only seemed to incense Steve more. He made a deep rumbling sound in his chest before grabbing you by your arm and pulling you away with him. You protested, trying to steer him back towards the conference but you were no match for his strength. He remained silent as you tried to loosen his grip on your arm, alarm evident in your voice at this unexpected aggression.
He brough you back to his office, pushing you in before he shut the door with a loud bang that would be sure to scare off anyone who might have wanted to step in and save you. Facing him in bewilderment, you opened your mouth to ask him what the fuck had gotten into him when he raised a hand in warning.
“If I hear ‘Captain Rogers’ pass one more time from your lips, I’ll shut you up in a way that will leave your throat sore for days.” He growled. Your breath hitched, fear and thrill spreading like venom through your blood as he prowled towards you, completely masculine and yet feline in his approach. Your legs refused to follow your command to move away and stayed rooted to their spot, trembling when Steve was standing right before you.
“Say my name.” He whispered. You licked your lips, eyes locked with his as his name passed your lips for the first time ever.
“Steve”
It was barely audible and yet you could see the shiver that ran down Steve’s body, a victorious growl expelled from his throat and suddenly you were pulled flush to his chest, his lips enveloping yours and branding a searing kiss on your lips. You gasped into his mouth, clutching his shoulders to keep steady on your legs that had turned to jelly.
“You dare,” Steve said, pulling away to glare at you, “you dare wear that shade of sin on your mouth in front of the world?”
It took you a moment, brain still in shock from the intimate embrace you’d just came out from when you registered what he said. Taking in his words along with the red that bled from your mouth to his, you sputtered in indignation.
“Did you drag me in here because I wore a red lipstick?!” You asked, slapping his chest to push him away. Steve, unhappy with your ire, pulled you closer still and slowly traced the curve of your bottom lip, pulling back his thumb to show you your lipstick that sat in stark contrast to his pale skin.
“My girl doesn’t go out looking like this in front of the world.” He countered. You scowled, twisting in his hold so you could knock some sense into the sexist bastard.
“I won’t be policed by somebody who regularly wear three sizes too small t-shirts to fuck with my ovulation cycle deliberately. And what the fuck does it mean ‘looking like this’? What do I look like to you Captain Rogers?” You sassed, breathing heavily.
Steve fisted your chair, tilting your head back as he possessively ran his nose down your neck and sniffed appetitively. “Looking like this, like the forbidden fruit that caused man to fall. You are already my undoing, do you wish to cause a war looking as tempting as this?”
Anger that had boiled in your gut disappeared as if doused by water. Maybe you were still pissed at being treated this way, but the heat that simmered deep in your bones overpowered it. His words set your heart on fire, a raging desire you rarely let yourself feel near him sending you straight into his arms, your head buried in his massive chest that cradled you close. Oh so close.
“There are ten different things I have to say to you about what just happened here, but I’ll do it later when my sanity has returned to me.” You said and Steve chuckled, his arms around you strong like boulders.
“If my kisses alone drove you insane, you’ll be a puddle of dumb mess after I’m done with you.” He huskily whispered in your ear and your core pulsed, a warm gush flooding your panties. This man would be the death of you. For months you’d fought the urge to let him fuck you on his desk and in the elevator, trying your best to overlook this eye fucks and flirting only to end up in his arms, right where he had prophesized you belong the moment he clapped eyes on you.
You didn’t believe in destiny, but then again Steve Rogers didn’t need a divine force to interfere on his behalf to get him what he wants. This moment had been building for a while now, like a volcano threatening to erupt until it finally did, encasing those close to it in scalding layers of passion and sin and love.
“I love this shade but just this once, I’ll make an exception. I’ll wipe it off.” You conceded. This was not you accepting defeat, just a compromise. There was much left to talk about and discuss, but you had a hoard of reporters waiting for the good captain to make his big speech.
You reached for the napkins on his desk, intent in quickly wiping your lipstick off when Steve grabbed you to himself again, cupping your face.
“Oh no honey, that trace of desire won’t stain a piece of paper. The only place its going to be is smeared on my cock. On your knees.” He ordered, very much like he did on the field. And yet, the order was as much a request. You could say no and drag him to the conference right now with no consequences. He was the same man who came by every morning to give you a ride despite knowing you’d already have left. He was the same man who cheekily rolled his eyes when you snubbed his affections, and yet never said a mean word to you. What would it feel like, marking this exemplary man with your colour, knowing as he walked that he was coloured in you?
You sank to the floor, hands already working to free his cock from the confines of his pants. Steve looked at you, letting you do everything, his hands resting lightly on your shoulders. Peering up at him, you marveled at the fact that it took so long to have you here like this.
“You could launch a thousand ships even on your knees.” He said.
Your lips pressed against the head of his cock, kissing him delicately. Steve jerked at the first touch, digging his fingers in your flesh when you licked him from head to base, suckling lightly, teasingly. You adored the noises that escaped him, loving that he didn’t even think of hiding them from you. When it came to desire, Steve Rogers didn’t mince his words.
His cock was beautiful, silken and hard in your fist and on your tongue. He tasted like the sea after a storm, salty and electric, dangerous and beautiful. Loving him this way came easy, and though you hadn’t had much experience with cocks as big as his, you were determined to show him your feelings with a gusto. Running your tongue along his slit with an impish grin, you swallowed him deep, humming to send vibrations up his length. Had your mouth not been stretched around him, you would have smiled wide at the curse he just yelled.
Picking up your pace, you bobbed your head and rolled his balls, getting high on his taste and sounds as he came undone in your mouth, spilling his essence that went thickly down your throat and ended with a moan from both of you. Pulling away, you saw his member streaked with the red traces of your lipstick and an animalistic possessiveness swelled in your chest. You marked him.
Steve helped you stand up, kissing you deep as he seemed unable to utter anything at the moment. You reveled in his touch, holding him close and wiping the stray tear that was lingering at the corner of your eye.
“You know its love, don’t you?” He asked you softly, the most vulnerable you’d ever seen him.
Was this love? Was it love when you’d secretly smile at his fixation with you? Was it love that you always kept a flower from his bouquets before passing it on to the old lady? Was it love when you could read his tiredness in the lines of his forehead and make his coffee stronger? Maybe it was. Maybe it was love because there was no other way you’d have went on your knees to worship a man. Unknowingly, in accepting every ‘no’ you threw his way, he had earned your ‘yes’. In forsaking the access to your body, you had gifted him your heart. Holding his gaze, you pressed your lips to his palm, smiling.
“It is love.”
“Mr. Stark, where is Captain Rogers?” A reporter asked. “Wasn’t he supposed to be a part of this conference?”
Jacob groaned, kicking Tony’s shin repeatedly to no avail. He wished he could slap a hand on his boss’s mouth and drag him away, because the glint in Tony’s eyes meant that he would be working damage control for the next coming weeks.
“Rogers, you ask?” Tony said grinning, his face alight in mischief. “Friday just gave me some million dollar worth information on that, and I am proud to announce to the public that the world’s oldest virgin just got his dick wet.”
Banging his head on the desk in the view of the clambering reporters, Jacob cursed you and your libido that had ruined him.
“Why couldn’t they wait until after the conference?” He moaned, jumping out and almost tackling Tony who was about to give the media some ‘video proof’. “Oh no you don’t Mr. Stark, you sir are on time out. I’ll be reporting you to Miss Potts!”
#lexisholiday2021#bluemusickid700challenge#steve rogers x reader#steve x reader#Steve Rogers#boss!steve
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oppa! | ot7 (prologue)
Description: Being raised by a caring yet distant father, a close, tight-knit family is the one thing you have craved in your short life. After your adventurer father remarries a rich woman, you’re stuck with seven new brothers. Seven very hot, very different men.
This is not what you meant by family.
(Based on the anime and game Brother’s Conflict, but with a twist.)
Prologue
Genre: Fluff | romance | later angst and smut. PG
WC: 2k
Warnings: For this chapter, none other than cursing.
(After some readers wanted me to post Oppa! on Tumblr, I have delivered! I really hope y’all like this haha)
[ The prologue delivers hints on who each brother will be. These hints will be bolded. Some will be very apparent, some will not. ]
Rubbing your head, your eyes glazed over the notes you took from yesterday’s lecture in preparation for today. Were you on drugs when you wrote these? It looked like chicken scratch. Was that drool in the corner?
Your ears perked up at the strains of loud music coming out of your friend’s Airpods. Hyerim, your closest friend at University, seemed oblivious as she bopped her head to the hard beat. Several classmates around the lecture hall noticed too, yet weren’t as accommodating as you and sent judgemental looks towards Hyerim.
“Hyerim,” you whispered, aware that class was starting in a few minutes. She didn’t respond, still nodding along to the music.
Pursing your lips, you plucked the small pod out of her ear. “Hyerim, your music—”
She gasped, eyes lighting up in excitement. “You liked it? Okay, so I was listening to this random rapper on SoundCloud—”
“Your music's too loud —” you hissed.
“—but the real feature is the producer, who made this beat. His name is Yoongi—” Hyerim continued on obviously, caught up in her own world.
“—that’s lovely, but can you turn your music down—” you pestered, looking around worriedly.
“—but his producer name is Gloss and he’s so talented and hot and his voice —”
Seeing the majority of the seats in the hall being filled up, you clamped your palm over her lips. She let out a whimper, finely shaped brows frowning at you.
“Have you not noticed the five separate glares you are currently getting at this moment?” you said between gritted teeth, enunciating each constant hard. You stared down each person around you who was giving Hyerim looks and, embarrassed, they averted their eyes and busied themselves with something.
“Oh wait, what?” Hyerim exclaimed. Closing a fist over her AirPod, the music continued and her eyes widened as she realized how high she had turned up the volume.
Hyerim turned to the person on her other side. “I am so sorry,” she said apologetically, the random student smiling awkwardly in acceptance.
Rolling your eyes with an unbidden smile poking at the edge of your lips, you turned back to the disaster of your notes. How were you supposed to understand this lecture when you barely wrapped your head around the last one? However, you honed in on your Calculus woes to ignore how your phone burned in your pocket and the latest text you got from your father...
So focused on your lamentation, you didn’t notice the boy behind you clear his throat. Nor did you notice the second or third time he did, each one getting progressively louder. As you attempted to retrace the argument on your paper, you felt a tap on your shoulder.
“Excuse me?”
Whipping your head around, you craned your neck upwards to see where the tap had come from. To your surprise, you saw a very cute-looking boy, bangs pulled into a top knot, smiling apologetically at you from behind you.
“Hi! Yeah, do you need anything?” you smiled.
A blush rose on his chiseled cheekbones and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m super sorry to bother you about this, but I dropped my charger right next to your chair. I- uh, would you mind—?”
“Of course! No worries, it happens,” you comforted, bending down to get the coiled white wire from where your bag sat. “Here you go.”
He got up from his seat to hunch over the lecture hall desk to meet you in the middle. You eyed the large difference between each of your hands’ as you handed back the charger, as well as how huge his shoulders seemed up close.
“T-Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
“No problem,” you replied, turning around to open your laptop.
Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Hyerim’s mouth partially open in disbelief.
“You need something?” you prodded.
“I—” she took a glance at the boy behind you, as if confirming something— “I’ll tell you later.”
Shrugging, you zeroed in at the lecturer at the front of the hall.
“Alright, so what was that about?”
Your Calculus lecture had just ended, and the two of you were in the mob of students leaving the lecture halls to get to lunch.
Hyerim looked surreptitiously around, black bangs swishing around her face. She leaned in like she was about to share the juiciest piece of gossip, and you unconsciously did so too.
“Did you know who that is?” she asked, her voice a whisper.
You felt your forehead crease and you gave her a look. “No, I did not.”
“Really?!” Hyerim pitched her voice high in disbelief.
You gave her a dry look.
It was her turn to roll her eyes. “Sometimes, I swear you’re in your own world, Y/N.”
Incredulous, you opened your mouth to argue but she waved a hand in front of you.
“That was Jeon Jungkook, Y/N! How do you not know him?”
“Oh yeah,” you snapped your fingers. “He’s that Streamer dude, right? He games and shit.”
Hyerim nodded slowly.
However, you frowned. “I heard he was intimidating and cold and stuff. Are you sure that was him? Charger boy was super nice.”
“That’s the point! It was Jung Jungkook and I have never seen him acting this soft. What did you do, ma’am? Snap him? Flash him?”
“Who do you think I am?” you sputtered. “All I was doing was thinking about how much I hated Calculus, not— not seducing someone!”
Your friend gave you a suspicious look, but decided to let go of the topic. Shaking your head, you walked past the gates of Yonsei university and into the city proper on the lookout for your favorite food place. The beeping of horns, buzzing chatter, and the small of smog filled the air as you zig-zagged between side streets to avoid busy roads.
“Excuse me,” you muttered as you pushed your way through a mob of women all entranced by something above you. Since they were not moving, you huffed and decided to see what was worth all the hype.
It was a huge, flashing LED billboard that was the central focus of the square. On it, a very sensuous looking man with blond hair and a velvet, tight-fitting suit doing some very slick moves in a dark concert hall.
Happy Birthday Jimin! It read in bright white font.
“Wah, oppa is so handsome!” a woman, who must’ve been 5 years older than the man on the screen squealed behind her white medical mask. “I’m so glad our ad turned out well.”
Her friends agreed and ooh and aahed along with her. You turned around to see if Hyerim was following you but she stood, entranced, with the mob of women on the sidewalk.
“You can thirst over him later, preferably when I am well fed,” you snapped irritably, pulling at the pink flowy material of her blouse.
She pouted but acquiesced, taking your hand as you dragged her though the intersection. All you were focused on were some good dumplings, after the mental aerobotics Calculus had forced on you and the emotional stress your father was putting you through. As you turned the corner, you breathed a sigh of relief as you saw no line.
Nestled between a large office building and a parking deck, this tiny Japanese restaurant was a favorite among Uni students for its cheap prices and good food. You usually had to arrive here early to beat the line of students and office workers that gathered here for their dinner breaks.
The cute sign that said Umaido flashed brightly above your head as you entered the restaurant. To the side of the main sigh, a smaller print reading “by the RM Group” glowed, subdued.
Waving over a pimply teen, you ordered two servings of gyoza and waited for Hyerim. She ordered a very conservative meal of sushi and some salad, and you both watched the waiter retreat. Something glossy caught the attention of your eye, and you saw some magazines on the shelf next to your head. The main one in the middle, which looked like a new age artsy publication with a cult following, was simply titled with a white V at the bottom corner.
Like a robot that was powered off, you collapsed in your seat and put your head in your hands. You really did not want to look at your phone.
“Was Calculus really that bad?” Hyerim winced in sympathy, neatly patting your head.
“It isn’t Calc,” you mumbled. “It’s Dad.”
Her expression turned down even more. “What happened?”
Lifting your head from your arms, you propped your chin on your palm and looked out the window. “You know, you’d expect for someone to give you important news in person or at least over a phone call, right?”
“Yeah?” Hyerim asked, lips pursed in confusion.
“Like, if you got remarried or something , you would at least tell your loved ones in person or at least over the phone, right ?”
“... Shit, Y/N.”
Fumbling for your phone in your bag, you ignored the notifications and pulled up your latest conversation. “Look what he texted me this morning!”
Hyerim took your phone and scrolled through it with a manicured fingernail.
Dad : I wish I could call you, but I’m somewhere with limited service.
Dad : I just wanted to let you know I got remarried to this amazing woman, Kim Seoyeon, a few days ago. We met and just clicked, something I haven’t felt since your mom.
Dad : She has seven sons, all of them are grown up. I’m worried about you living on your own, so I’d like you to move in with them. Details coming soon. Love you.
Hyerim was speechless, mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water. “I’m sorry, what?”
“My dad has gotten spontaneously remarried to some random woman and now wants me to move in with her sons. Like, geez, it’s not like life changing news was delivered to me in less than a hundred words!” you hissed, voice getting higher and tinged with a bit of hysteria.
“Your dad sucks,” Hyerim pronounced, taking a pointed sip of her iced water. “Seriously.”
“Hey, my dad is not that bad,” you defended. “It’s just… he’s a bit distant. Absent-minded. But he’s cared for me in the best way he could.”
“You and I have very different definitions of what constitutes good parenting, Y/N. This man left you largely on your own since you were five, and now he gets worried about you living on your own? Something's not right,” Hyerim retorted.
Ignoring her in favor of the food that arrived, you practically inhaled twelve of the fried gyoza. Rolling her eyes at your typical running-away behavior, she primly dipped a piece of sashimi in soy sauce and took a dainty bite.
“So? What’s the plan? Are you going to stage a rebellion and stay in your apartment, or go stay with some random men?”
Your response was cut off as cheers broke out from the corner of the restaurant, where a large group of men and women were huddled together.
“Cheers to our National win!” a man announced, his face already a bit flushed. “To Neuron!”
“To Neuron!” the group cheered loudly, and lifted up their shot glasses in celebration.
“To our leader, J-Hope!” the same man pronounced brightly, some sake sloshing over the tip of his cup.
“Hoseok!” the group whooped louder, more rounds going around.
As their cheers quieted down, you turned back to Hyerim. “I don’t know. I think I’ll decide when I meet them. They could either all be idiots or they could be chill. I really hope for the latter.”
“Good plan, good plan.”
An awkward silence permeated the booth since both of you were at a loss to say something.
“Onto lighter things, “ Hyerim forced out brightly, clapping her hands. “Let me tell you about my younger brother’s really hot doctor. His name is Dr. Kim and he’s tall and…”
As Hyerim continued to babble on about the tall, handsome pediatric doctor, you felt a buzz in your pocket.
Dad: Their address is 111 Hannam-dong, Yongsan-su
Dad: They’re ready for you.
Can you guess who each stepbrother is and what they do? Comment below!!
Arc 1: Stepbrother Introductions will be released on February 15th at 8pm ET. It’s about ~15k words of getting to know these boys. Please look out for it!
#btswriterscollective#btsgoldnet#bts x reader#ot7 x reader#jungkook x reader#taehyung x reader#jimin x reader#namjoon x reader#jin x reader#hoseok x reader#bts fluff#yoongi x reader#bts fanfic#stepbrother au#bts imagine#bts poly au
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Suprise?!
Eggsy x Reader
A/N: Thank you @primaba11erina for helping me. I have another one with Eggsy! So far, the other one is going to have three parts if I ever finish the first part. I give up trying to fix this, with my need of trying to make all these fics perfect. Sorry for any mistakes. Oh. And I feel like this one needed cuss words even though I never cuss. So that was weird for me to write.
As a secret agent, you thought Eggsy would be well equipped to handle anything. You never meant for this to be that big of a surprise. Not that you wanted it to be one in the first place. You were going to tell him, eventually. The timing wasn’t right. Especially when he was on a mission. One that lasted four months. How could you tell him? This mission was the most time you had ever spent apart. Today he was back! You were so excited to see him, yet nervous at the same time. You didn’t know how he would take the news.
All morning, you bothered Merlin asking him to let you sit in on the debriefing because you couldn’t wait one more minute. You were shocked when Merlin said yes. He could probably sense your desperation. One of the other agents watches the recruits while you and Merlin head to the briefing room to wait for Eggsy.
Every time you turned around you needed a new suit, even though you weren’t going on any missions you still needed to wear a uniform that fit. You were going to need a new one soon. Eggsy knew every part of your body, he was bound to notice this.
Your heart was racing as you waited for Eggsy to walk through the door. Finally, you hear the door knob turning and look up to see him. “Y/N!” He yells, as soon as he discovers that you are also in the room. Scooting your chair back, you stand up and turn to face Eggsy. He stops mid stride when he notices your baby bump, making your smile fall and you almost bursting into tears. His face. His face says it all. He switches from horrified to confused in a matter of seconds. Once he snaps out of it, he walks the rest of the way towards you, leaning in to give what you think is going to be a hug. Instead, he wraps his hands around your arms, holding you close. “What. The. Fuck.” Eggsy hisses into your ear, sending chills down your spine.
The shock of his response terrifies you. Yeah. You and Eggsy fought sometimes but this already feels different. He releases your arms, stepping back and carefully looks at you. Averting your eyes from his death glare, you sit back in your seat. Eggsy also takes a seat, leaving a chair empty between you and him. Merlin clears his throat to get Eggsy’s attention. You stay focused on Merlin as he starts the debriefing.
The only reason you went to the debriefing was to see Eggsy. So, it was probably okay that you stopped listening to Merlin and zoned out. Ok. That was not the reaction you were going for. You knew he would be surprised. You thought he was blowing it out of proportion. Although, he did have a right to be angry. He probably thinks you cheated on him. Was this going to be the end of your relationship? Would he leave you to raise the child on your own? The last question was probably an exaggeration. When the debriefing is over, Eggsy gets up and leaves the room without even acknowledging you. “Merlin...” You whisper, too afraid to say anything else since you are already on the verge of tears.
“Listen. Eggsy just returned from a long mission to find out your pregnant. You need to give him some space to sort everything out.” The rest of the day is a fog. The scene keeps replaying in your head even though you are supposed to be concentrating on work. At least it was only training with the new recruits so nobody got hurt. Ok. Maybe a few of them got hurt but nothing serious.
You arrive home expecting the house to be empty and Eggsy to be out with his friends, not for him to be at home. A pit forms in your stomach as you walk up to the front door and see lights on in the house. Taking a few breathes to calm yourself before you turn the key and open the door. Hanging up your purse and coat, you turn to see Eggsy on the couch watching tv. Heading into the kitchen to get a drink of water before the fighting starts. Filling up your cup, you take it over to the door to peak at Eggsy. He was still sitting down. You thought he might follow you into the kitchen. With a sigh of relief, you drink you water and place the cup in the sink. Leaving the kitchen, you walk into the living room to the stairs. He hasn’t even turned to look at you since you stepped foot inside the house.
You can’t take the silence anymore. “So, you are just going to ignore me forever?” You ask him, holding onto the banister, not expecting him to reply.
The faint whisper of Eggsy muttering under his breath hits your ears. “It’s probably not even mine. I can’t even leave you alone for a few months.” His words stung but you didn’t want to fight. You are too tired from dealing with the recruits and being on your feet all day. What you thought would be a nice welcome home turned into a disaster. You head up the stairs into the bedroom without saying another word.
Walking into the bathroom, you turn on the shower before you head back into the bedroom. Removing your clothes, you drop them in the hamper on your way into the bathroom. You decide to lock the bathroom door to take a shower in peace. After THAT accusation, you didn’t want to talk to him. You knew it was wrong and it would make him angrier but you didn’t care that you were being childish. You were a mad at him.
Suddenly, you hear Eggsy trying to get into bathroom “Why did you lock the door?” He demands, banging on the door. The banging stops and you continue your shower. A few minutes later, he is back, finding a way to unlock the door. He finally unlocks the door, swinging it open, sending a rush of cool air into the room. “To keep you out.” You answer, letting the warm water run through your hair and body before turning off the water. When you open the curtain, Eggsy is standing in the bathroom, his mouth agape and eyes wide seeing bare belly for the first time.
“Please stop.” You request. Quickly, you grab your towel using it to cover your body. His prolonged staring was starting to make you feel uncomfortable. “Eggsy! Get out now!” Your yell finally gets his attention. “Go!” You cry out, spilling tears and pointing at the door. He exits the bathroom, leaving you alone.
Stepping out of the tub, you finish drying off and twist the towel in your hair. He is nowhere in sight when you walk into the bedroom. You didn’t even know if he was still in the house. You grab your pajamas and put them on. Then you brush out your hair before you get into bed.
Laying on the bed, you stare at the wall, eventually falling asleep. When you wake up, Eggsy’s side of the bed is undisturbed. Walking down stairs, you see him asleep on the couch. You knew he would have at least a few days off so you left him alone. You didn’t want to talk to him anyway. Hopefully, you could eat and be gone before he woke up. You look at him one last time before leaving for work. The recruits probably hated you today, you yelled at them nonstop, taking your anger out on them. It was easier to do that than to deal with your problems at home. You knew that eventually, you and Eggsy were going to have to talk. He was still your husband.
This time when you get home, the house is dark. Walking inside, you turn on the living room light. He didn’t leave a note and you didn’t have any calls or messages from him either. You weren’t really expecting any but it would have been nice for him to tell you what he was up to.
After the second day of returning to an empty house, you were starting to get worried. You decide to text his mom to see if he has heard from him. She texts you back, telling you Eggsy comes around but is staying with his friends and doing fine. But he is still pissed off.
For the rest of the week, you still don’t see or hear from Eggsy. You assumed he stops by the house while you were at work so,he wouldn’t have to interact with you. Another week passes and still nothing from him. Sitting down at the kitchen table, you stare at your phone deciding whether to call him. Standing up, you walk over to the fridge. Opening the fridge, you stare inside, trying to find what to cook for dinner. Closing the door, you jump once you see Eggsy standing in the kitchen holding take out. You almost start crying right there. You didn’t know if he was ever going to come back home or if he was still angry. You sit back down in the chair. Eggsy places the bag of food on the table, taking a seat across from you. “We need to talk.”
“Oh. You finally figured that out?” You snap at him. “I have been worried sick.”
“Could have fooled me.”
His remark makes your jaw drop. “You know what? If you don’t want to be with me then you can just leave.” You stand up from the table to walk out of the kitchen, wanting to head upstairs but Eggsy is faster. He blocks your escape.
Since you couldn’t exit the kitchen, you decide to back away from him. While you are backing up, you look up at his face. He has dark circles under his eyes. Was he really that stressed out? “What do you want?” You ask as you continue to retreat until you are against the counter. “A paternity test? Would that make you feel better?”
“I want an explanation.” He stands under the doorway with his arms crossed.
“You want an explanation? Is that all?” You ask, sarcastically, placing your hands on your hips. “Then why did it take you two weeks to come back home?”
“This is what I was trying to avoid. A big blow out.” He walks back over to the kitchen table. “I knew that if I didn’t go somewhere to calm down, we would end up saying something we both would regret.”
“That already happened. Or did you forget?”
“What?” He looks startled, holding onto the back of the chair.
“Don’t play dumb with me, Gary!” You yell, pointing at the living room. “You sat there on that couch and mumbled ‘It’s not even mine’.”
He flinches at the use of his first name. “You heard that?” His eyes go wide in shock. He takes a good look at you, registers your distressed state. “Y/N, you need to calm down. The stress isn’t good for the baby. Come here.” He motions for you to sit down in the chair again.
When you don’t move, Eggsy walks toward you.
“Get away from me!” You scream, holding your ground and the edge of the counter. He walks to the other side of the kitchen, giving you space. You by pass the kitchen table, walking into the living room and sit down on the couch. Your hormones were already out of whack and Eggsy wasn’t making it any easier. Tears finally fall from your eyes. Lifting up your feet, you lay down on the couch, turning onto your side.
Eggsy sits down in the chair adjacent to the couch, which also happens to be next to your face. He moves to the edge of the chair, placing a hand on your shoulder, rubbing your arm.
“I’m sorry.” He murmurs, leaning closer to you. “I didn’t know you heard me.”
When you finally stop crying, you state your disagreement. “You shouldn’t have said that in the first place. How do you think I feel when you accuse me of cheating?” Your voice is starting to warble, so you take a deep breath before defending yourself. “I would never do that to you. Especially when you were gone on a mission. How can you not trust me?”
“How do you think I feel? Coming home to find you pregnant.” He slides off the chair, sitting next to couch on the floor.
“Just so you know I am six months pregnant. And how long have you been gone? Four months.” Turning over to lay on your back, you stare at the ceiling. “Do the math, asshole!” You grab a pillow and put it over your head.
After about a minute of silence, Eggsy finally figures it out. “Oh.” You hear him say. “Well, I was in shock and I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“That still doesn’t let you off the hook.” Removing the pillow, you turn you head to face him.
“Why didn’t you tell me?” He stands up from the floor, walking to the over to the couch, lifting up your legs, so he can sit down.
“When was I supposed to tell you?”
“Right... Merlin could have told me.” He suggests.
“And blow your whole mission. You would have been distracted. I need you alive.”
Eggsy hesitantly places his hand on your belly. “Do you know the gender?”
“No. I wanted to wait until you were home so we can find out together.” You turn to look towards the kitchen. “What are we eating for dinner?”
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Corruption
A continuation of Flowers and Moon.
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"You- You planted them in the portal?" Danny squeaked. The only one of the flowers his parents were experimenting with that could bloom in the portal were...
Graveflowers. Oh no.
He cast a wild look down at his hands. Sure enough, they glowed with a soft, white radiance. A sort of whine made its way out of the back of his throat. "I- I can explain," he said, backing away.
Maddie looked stricken. Jack looked- Danny twitched his head to track his father as he moved across the room to stand by Maddie. Every part of him vibrated under tension, ready to react to any threat. Were they going to attack him? Reject him? He should have been more cautious, he should have gotten rid of the graveflower seeds when he first saw them, he should have made Jazz come down instead, he-
The lab shook again. Jack and Maddie whirled to face the portal, and, for a split second, Danny contemplated running.
"It's destabilizing the portal," said Maddie.
That sounded bad.
"It shouldn't have grown this fast!" said Jack.
Oh, that sounded worse.
They both turned to look at Danny. He cringed, holding his hands protectively in front of his chest.
"D-Danny," said Maddie, her voice breaking on his name. "I think- I think this is happening because of your accident." Her voice grew steadier as she continued. "Between that, the ectoplasm, and the portal, it must-" she broke off. "According to my research, you should be able to control it."
After living with his parents for his entire life, Danny knew how to spot when they were being less than truthful. Maddie's voice was higher pitched than it normally was. He couldn't tell what she was trying to hide, though.
Maybe he was just paranoid.
"If they aren't stopped soon, they'll destabilize the portal," said Jack. "They portal will explode."
"It'll what?"
Forgive him for being on edge, but his parents had (possibly) just found out that he was a ghost, and they were talking about explosions.
"Explode," repeated Jack.
"But you should be able to control them, Dan-ny," she stumbled over his name again. "Just- tell them to go back. To shrink."
Ghost plants were weird, and ghostly abilities numerous, but Danny didn't think it would be that easy. Frostbite had mentioned something about 'communing' with the plant, but he had sort of tuned out after deciding it wasn't a threat because no way would his parents try to plant something inside the portal. Except they had.
His thoughts swirled, chasing each other pointlessly. Finally, it latched onto the danger. The danger to himself and his family.
"Go back," said Danny at the plant, trying to sound authoritative. The vines kept creeping outward, digging into the seams between the wall panels. Danny bit his lip and then grabbed the cutting on the lab table. He held it out, feeling it, the ectoenergy in it tickling his palms. "Go back," he said, more firmly. "Let go. Get back." He took a step forward, and the ground rumbled again. "This is my place. Go back."
The vines and their hanging flowers trembled and, miraculously, began to recede, pulling back through the portal's rippling surface. Danny stepped forward, following, and watched as the huge plant wrapped around itself until it was just a shrub, lying on the torn and warped surface of the portal floor.
Danny walked to it carefully, avoiding tripping hazards. He had no desire to die here again. He picked up the plant and carried it out of the portal.
His mother had sunk to the ground. Jack was half bent over next to her. She struggled to her feet as soon as she saw Danny. She hugged him, stiffly.
"Thank goodness," she said. One of her hands found its way to Danny's wrist. "I'm so glad. This was just... a bad stroke of luck, sweetie. Just a bad stroke of luck that your accident simulated the conditions for that to bloom, that's all." She patted him on the shoulders and took the graveflower. "Well, disaster averted, so why don't you, um, order some takeout for us, okay?"
"Sure," said Danny. He glanced at Jack who looked deep in thought. "I can do that." He brushed bits of bark off of himself. If his parents were going to be in denial about the whole 'dead' thing, who was he to stop them?
He escaped as quickly as possible.
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"Maddie," said Jack, "are you sure that's a smart thing to do? If he's- Maddie, it's a ghost, just a corrupted copy, and we have- we have no idea how far that corruption goes."
"It- He hasn't done anything yet," said Maddie, barely holding back tears.
"That we know of," said Jack, his voice was broken, too, "and now... if it didn't know before... I just don't think letting it keep playing this game is a good idea."
"I don't think he knows."
"Maddie..."
"I felt a pulse," said Maddie. "When I held his wrist, I felt a pulse. A ghost shouldn't be able to do that. A ghost should be colder. Jack, I don't think he's dead. I think- I was lying, so he wouldn't know, but what if it was the truth? What if that's what's really happening?"
"That would be really unlikely," said Jack. "But we've seen more unlikely?" His voice tilted up at the end, as if asking a question. "We'll... we'll have to monitor carefully. Keep track, see if we can confirm biological functions. Make sure- Make sure Danny doesn't hurt anyone." He frowned deeply. "It might not be what you think, though."
"I know, I know," said Maddie. "I know. But- Even if he is a ghost. Maybe- Maybe what Jazz has been saying holds water. Maybe we've been looking at things wrong. Maybe he isn't corrupt, even if he is a ghost. He might not be able to learn new things, but he could be- he could still be Danny." Maddie was aware that she was rambling.
Usually Jack was the emotional one. He was shaking, too.
"That would- God, I hope you're right, Mads."
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They watched him.
They watched him eat. They watched him sleep. They took samples whenever they could. They caught him trying to sneak out at night several times, and each time they did, he spent the day moody and anxious.
The samples didn't seem to indicate that anything was amiss... Except, of course, that Danny was hideously ectocontaminated, to the point where it shouldn't be compatible with good health. Otherwise, they looked human. His hair and fingernails grew. His body dealt with food in a normal way. He slept as a human would, deeply and with dreams.
Maddie would have liked to take that to mean that everything was normal, that the only problem was a little ectocontamination, contamination that he had adapted to, but they caught glimpses of things beyond mere ectocontamination, now that they were paying attention. His eyes flashed green when he was angry. Small cuts and scrapes faded from his skin rapidly, sometimes in a matter of minutes. Some days he would have freckles, other days his skin would be perfectly porcelain white.
It only got worse when he thought he was alone, when he didn't know they were watching through hidden cameras. Sometimes he would do things. Ghostly things. They saw him stick his arm through a wall at one point. Another time, they saw his whole body flick invisible. Once, they caught him drift down through the ceiling, asleep, on camera.
Worse, it appeared that he was aware of what he was doing.
If he was aware that he was a ghost, that meant that he was purposefully keeping it from them. He wasn't just going through his day on autopilot.
But a ghost couldn't mimic life so perfectly, and they were certain that he wasn't possessed. They had tested him in every way they knew how, and he wasn't possessed.
Just as surely, he wasn't human. He couldn't be. So what was he?
Maddie didn't know, and it was killing her.
"We need some way of watching him while he's at school," said Maddie, drumming her fingernails on the table. "While he's not in the house. Maybe then we'll be able to- to classify his behavior." They hadn't even decided if his... ghostly characteristics had pushed his personality into malicious territory.
"A modified boo-merang, maybe?" said Jack. "Tell it to maintain a certain distance from the target, instead of hitting it, and add a camera? The mark one already keys onto Danny."
Maddie nodded and looked out across the lab, not really seeing it. They had pushed aside everything else to work on this. The only part of the plants project they were keeping up was the graveflower bush, which they had planted in a five-gallon bucket in the corner. For some reason, neither she nor Jack wanted to get rid of it.
As if detecting Maddie's thoughts, the plant trembled. The flowers began to unfurl.
"Mom? Dad? Are you down here?" her son's voice echoed down from the top of the stairs. "Is it okay if I come down?"
Jack tipped his notes over the side of the table and Maddie hastened to hide her own half of the research. "Sure, Danno!" called Jack. "Come right on down!"
Danny drifted silently down the stairs. He looked more nervous than he had since he had seen the graveflower that first time.
"Mom, Dad," he said, his fingers tying themselves into knots. "I have something to tell you. I-" He glanced at the graveflower and winced. "It's about my accident. The one with the portal. I've noticed you watching me, and I think- I need to tell you how it changed me."
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Do you guys think this is a good place to end this one, or should I do one more?
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Alright. Get ready for a trip. I'm gonna go point by point through this because I'm obsessed with these games, I dig the real world connotations, and the new trailer just dropped and I haven't played any DA since the flood. So...
We need to start with a discussion of Solas in general. He's Fen'Harel, the Dread Wolf. He fought against institutionalized and systemic slavery, freed his people, and fought alone against corrupt being powerful enough to be considered gods (and they are the old gods of the Tevinter Imperium, I believe, but that's a whole other thing). He created the veil and imprisoned the gods, possibly in Black City, and doing so nearly killed him and sent him into a thousand year coma. He didn't understand the consequences of his actions, but he trusted people enough not to mess it up further.
And then he woke up.
Let us start with the Qun. The Qun is fascism. Individual Qunari are fascinating individuals, especially when they are removed from the Qun as a whole – Sten and the Iron Bull being our prime examples. But everything we know about them paints them as fanatics that torture mages and lobotomize anyone that doesn't accept their philosophy. Their entire culture is systemic slavery, which is the very thing Solas opposed. Of course he hates them.
There's two instances that can change his mind: one is a possible Qunari Inquisitor, but your Inquisitor is Vashoth (edit 2020/09/03: as noted by @felassan -- thanks!), someone who was never part of the Qun. He's not been awake long enough to see it, and it shocks him out of binary thinking. He's apologizing badly, because he's personally a social disaster who doesn't know how to people (and we'll get to that). The second is if you choose to save the Chargers; Solas turns around on the Bull instantly, shows genuine concern towards him, and helps him deal with Fade-related PTSD.
In fact, all he ever wants to do is teach. If he comes out and says he's Fen'Harel people are going to assume he's a crackpot, but I think Solas, as a persona, is actually who he is. He jokes with the Bull and Blackwall about his Fade knowledge, and offers them both knowledge on how to kill fade spirits more efficiently. All three of them respect one another as soldiers. He compares knowledge of magic and history with Dorian, Cassandra seeks his opinion on organization and faith, Josephine appreciates his insight, Leliana asks his advice, and Varric and he chatter and shoot the shit.
He constantly tries to teach or learn. The only two people he has issues with are Sera and Vivienne, and even there he tries to offer advice and wisdom as best he's able. Sera can't stand him because she hates elves, and Viv is a victim of the Circle and can't imagine a world without an entrenched power structure, regardless of how many people it hurts.
And I suppose that's a thing a lot of people have trouble with when it comes to Solas: he tells you straight out at the end of Trespasser that he's going to tear down the Veil and destroy the world as we know it. And that's terrible. That's destroying a world state and trying to return thing to how they were, kind of like how the Inquisitor and Dorian reset time in Redcliffe. I mean, that world was a hellscape where everything you ever cared about was dead or corrupted, and fixing it was the right call. It's not at all like how the world Solas wakes up to is a hellscape where everything he ever cared about was dead or corrupted. Fixing it is the right call?
And we could argue that the future that we averted was a monstrous place, but how does Solas see his own world? His people worship the slavers he defeated and die with a terrible frequency. Elves die and face fates that are about as terrible as that faced by mages; he's fucked coming and going. And we know he went to the Dalish and tried to talk to them and they attacked him. Why wouldn't they? He knows about what's happening outside of the Plato's cave that the Dalish are dying in.
His actions are going to kill thousands. His actions are going to save millions. The Dalish are dying in droves and the city elves are going to follow. Giving them a fighting chance at survival means reminding them who they are.
He also tells us that waking up was like “swimming in tranquil”. I think creating the Veil crippled the elves in some way, and he's not trying to give them magic so much as he's trying to heal them of a disease he inadvertently created. And while I know it's hard to take him at his word, it shouldn't be: he lies by omission once (about being Fen'harel, as we've covered the reasons why already), and lies directly twice.
After Orlais, he talks about how much he missed intrigue and court. If you ask him about this, he stumbles and you get disapproval – the only time you get disapproval for asking him a question. He lets his guard down around you and still doesn't know what to do.
The last time is in Crestwood and only happens if you romance him. He's about to tell you who he is and he chickens out and tells you about the slave marks on your face instead. Because – and this is the important thing – he cares. He's viciously selfless; he doesn't believe he deserves happiness and he can't imagine a world where he can save his people and be happy.
Make no mistake: the elves are threatened with extinction with the world as it is. The city elves in Origins are blamed when they react to some of their number being raped and killed by human nobles. The Dalish in Origins can be wiped out by the werewolves. The Dalish in Awakening are wiped out regardless of what you do. The Dalish in DA2 can be wiped out in Act 3. The city elves in Kirkwall are hunted for sport, see their children kidnapped and raped before being murdered, are locked away and left to burn whenever there's any problem at all. Three different Dalish clans can be wiped out in Inquisition, and it's so easy for Lavellen to lose her clan.
The status quo is killing the elves. It is wiping them out. This is an existential threat that no one is doing anything about, except Solas.
He's also lonely.
He says he was derided by his enemies also when he offered to share his knowledge of the Fade. We took this to mean the Dalish before Trespasser, but given who he is, we can speculate that he's talking about the old elven gods. But if his enemies derided them, that means his allies did, too. His old allies still saw him as a madman and a fool, probably because he was one man standing against an empire. He clearly couldn't trust anyone in the old days, and even tells Sera he had to sacrifice some of those closest to him for fear of betrayal.
Consider that the Inquisition was the first time he had friends. No one knows him as anything other than the elven apostate hobo with bad fashion sense and a weird relationship with spirits, but, as mentioned, he has mostly good relationships with everyone. People rely on him. They like him. Lavellan potentially loves him, and he loves her.
You change his mind on the Qunari race (but not their culture). You show him that he was wrong and he accepts that with good grace and moves on; he keeps coming to the Inquisitor afterwards because he respects you and he does not want to do what he sees as the only way to avoid genocide. I don't think he ever stops feeling bad about any of the things he's gotten wrong; he wears his mistakes like a chain and tries to do better, never stops trying to do better, but his perspective and capability are so much greater than anything the Warden, the Champion, or even the Inquisitor currently understands.
And I wouldn't be surprised if we get a chance to fold him back into the party at some point. I think the actual villain of the series lies with the monsters the Evanuris fought against and were corrupted by.
I think the actual villains are the Forgotten Ones, and I think they are the Blight, and I think they are what lies in the corruption we know as Red Lyrium.
#dragon age#dragon age 4#dragon age origins#dragon age awakenings#dragon age 2#dragon age exodus#solas#fen'harel#the dread wolf#redcliffe#evanuris#tevinter#dorian#blackwall#the iron bull#the chargers#sera#vivienne#kirkwall#dalish#dalish elves#lavallen
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Hiya your Tim drake imagine was *chefs kiss* lovely and I was wondering if you'd do a Damian or Tim x reader where they introduce their so to the batfam and the reader is like drop dead gorgeous and the batfam spend the whole time asking reader tf their doing with him (if you don't feel like it das cool) :))
hi thank you so much for the request! I did this for Tim since I feel like I have a bit of a better understanding of his character than I do Damian. sorry this is also a bit shorter than expected, the end was a bit rushed.
Tim Drake x reader - Gorgeous
warnings - making out, flirting, a little bit of angst
word count - 3200
requested - yes
“Babe, how do I look?” I turned, showing my knee length red dress to my boyfriend. It was a simple look, not too basic to make me appear boring, but not too many accessories to make me seem snobby or obsessed with looks. I had planned the outfit weeks in advance of this event, yet I was still worrying my head off.
“You look amazing, as usual.” He responded.
It was just like any other ordinary day. Except that it wasn’t. Today was the day of the dinner. I mean the dinner. The dinner that all relationships have eventually. The terrifying dinner where you finally meet your lovers parents. In this case though, I think I have it worse than any other ordinary person. You see, my boyfriend is Tim Drake. Yes, the Tim Drake. Son of Bruce Wayne. And brother to… a whole lot of people.
I mean don’t get me wrong, I love Tim. A lot. I would do anything to make him happy, and if that means meeting his terrifying and rich family? Then so be it. I just hope I don’t screw anything up.
“Are you sure? I mean is it too casual? You said it wasn’t fancy but I don’t want to be the only one there in basic clothing… What if we show up and they’re all in suits! I mean, i can’t-” Tim interrupted me.
“Darling, you’re going to be just fine. They may seem intimidating but I promise you they’re going to love you. No need to worry.” He walked up to me, placing his right hand on the side of my cheek, caressing the skin with his thumb. He then scrunched his nose in what appeared to be.. concern? Worry? I wasn’t sure.
“Actually, scratch that thought. I’m the one who I should be worried. My brothers might steal you from me.” He turned away from me, his expression clearly displaying worry and fear.
“That’s nonsense, Timmy. I want to be with you, not any of your brothers.” Looking back I should have made a larger effort to cease his negative feelings and doubt, but I didn't know any better.
He looked at me, the worry disappearing from his eyes, almost completely. There was still a hint of it there, but I brushed it off as just nerves. We were both nervous. Just for different reasons.
“Yeah, alright babe.” He smiled at me. I smiled back. I turned to the door and grabbed by purse, slipping on my shoes simultaneously. I turned to Tim who was fixing his hair in the circular mirror hanging on the wall near the front door.
“You wanna head out? It’s almost time for the dinner.” He grabbed the keys, opening the front door for me, then doing the same when we reached the car. My cheeks heating up. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how sweet Tim is.
I avoided his cocky smirk and as we both got seated, Tim started driving us to the mansion. Hopefully, this wouldn’t turn out as a disaster.
“Alright, let’s go.”
.
“Hello Master Drake. I presume this is the y/n I’ve heard so much about?” Tim and I arrived at the mansion door, only to find their butler, Alfred, already waiting for us out front with the door opened. We paused for a bit as Tim and Alfred conversed.
“Yup, this is her Alfred. Are Dick and them here yet?” Tim looked over Alfred’s shoulder to peak into the huge home. Curiously, I also tried to peak over the older man’s shoulder but saw nothing as Tim was in my way.
“Yes sir, they just arrived a few minutes ago. I presume you shall find them in the main room, probably breaking something I’ll have to clean up later.” I chucked a bit as Alfred made a subtly annoyed look. I felt obligated to say something, so I separated from Tim as he walked into the doorway, entering the hallway.
“Um, hello. Thank you for opening up the door for us.” Alfred smiled at my thanks. While it is his job as a butler, there’s no harm in saying thank you, right?
“It’s my pleasure, Miss l/n. And thank you for taking care of Master Drake. He has been significantly happier in recent times.” I blushed at the butler's words. I knew Tim didn’t always have the best habits but did I really have that much of a positive impact on him? Quite frankly though, it was nice hearing about Tim from his family members, and how he’s happy.
“Oh it’s no problem! I love Tim, I’m glad I could help.” I brushed a strand of hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear.
“Y/n? Come on, you must be getting cold out there.” I turned at the sound of my boyfriend's voice, it was getting a bit chilly and I was only wearing a dress, no sweater or leggings.
“Oh, that’s my call, bye Alfred! I hope to talk to you more soon.” Alfred stepped aside, giving me access to walk through the open doorway. I turned back a bit, waving towards Alfred.
“Likewise, Miss l/n” I cringed a bit at the honorary title. I wasn’t a member of the family or household. The title ‘Miss l/n’ just didn’t feel appropriate or right.
“Oh do please call me y/n.” I waved off the butler, hoping he would respect my wishes.
“Likewise, Miss y/n” i huffed a bit at his stubbornness, but chuckled and walked deeper into the large place, the sound of Alfred closing the door behind me.
So far this has gone well, maybe I was worried for no reason.
.
“Wait, you’re Tim’s girlfriend? You?” I was suddenly bombarded by two older men and their abundance of questions as soon as I entered what I assumed to be the main living room. It was quite scary, to be completely honest. Not only were they Tim’s family but they were both very large men, clearly very fit.
“Ye-yeah. We’ve been together for about 4 months now.” I stuttered, stepping a few inches back as I tried to get myself some space away from the two men.
One was a bit more aggressive than the other, he had a lot of scars and seemed to be very flirtatious. He was the taller and more muscular out of the two, with aquamarine eyes. I assumed he was Jason, Tim mentioned a few times that he was a “stupid brute” with “stupid scars” after he arrived at home after what he said was an argument with Jason during patrol.
The other I assumed was Dick, he was a bit kinder, and seemed effortlessly flirtatious, unlike the other who was purposely trying to flirt with me. Dick, I’m guessing, had more greyish-blue toned eyes and had very dark hair. Regardless of how handsome both the brothers were, they were far from my type. Their strong flirting and comments on my appearance was, quite frankly, off putting.
“But.. why?” Jason propped his elbow against the wall they had backed me into.
“Uhm, what do you mean.. ‘why’?” I hesitantly answered. Slowly becoming less nervous and more annoyed.
“I mean, you’re gorgeous. And Tim’s.. well, Tim.” Dick stood to the right of me, leaning on the same wall Jason was propped up on. He chucked a bit.
“I.. don’t follow.” I raised an eyebrow in confusion, they were Tim’s brothers. They should know how amazing he is and should be supportive of his relationships, not trying to dissect how he got into the relationship.
“Princess, why date that nerd when you could be with me?” I turned to the left, Jason leaning down and getting a bit too close to comfort, at this point I saw Tim scoff a bit as he left the room. I frowned a bit but then was distracted as Dick pushed Jason back and got even closer than his younger brother.
“Or, instead of being with a nerd like Tim, or a total brute like Jason over here, you could be with me.. I’m a total gentleman.” I scoffed shuffled to the side a bit, averting close contact with the tall man.
“Well, I highly doubt that seeing as your name is literally Dick.” He looked taken back, and went from way to close to me, to leaning back against the wall. Muttering something about “Is my name that bad?” or something along those lines.
“Pft- she’s feisty. How’d you score a total 10 like her Tim?” Jason turned around only to see Tim was nowhere to be found. I noticed it too, but took the sudden silence as a chance to defend not only myself, but my boyfriend.
“And I’m perfectly happy with Tim, for your information. I have no need for dating anyone other than him. Especially not his brothers, adopted or otherwise.” The two looked taken back at my sudden lecture.
“Don’t you think it’s also a bit unethical and immoral to be flirting with your brother's girlfriend? I was so worried about impressing you all, but now that I see how immature you all are I see that there was no need for worry. You are all easily impressed children.” The two looked embarrassed as they stepped back, both going to sit on the couch as the youngest chucked at them and their stupidity.
“Tt, maybe you’re ok…possibly s bit too good for Drake though.” I looked at the child who gave such a big attitude and he looked no older than 13, there was only one candidate for who he could have been.
“You must be Damian right? I've heard a lot about you. You can do some pretty impressive stuff, huh? I’ve been told you’re more than a bit mean though. I would greatly appreciate it if you stopped terrorizing my boyfriend.” I bent down a bit, to get more to his level. Height-wise and respect-wise.
“... I’ll think about it.” According to what I’ve heard from Tim, that was about the best response I could have gotten out of the little gremlin. He ‘tt’ed and looked away, his sky blue eyes holding a glint of what I saw as respect.
“Ok. Thanks.” I smiled and turned around, meeting the eyes of Alfred as he walked through another entry to the right of where I came in through.
“Hello again, Miss y/n.” He smiled at me
“Oh! Hello again Alfred!”
“I came in to announce that dinner is being served in the dining hall. I suggest you all hurry before the food gets cold.”
.
“So, y/n, how’d you end up so gorgeous? Were you just born so beautiful?”
Dinner had just ended. Everyone had stayed at the table, besides Mr. Wayne who couldn't make it due to a ‘business emergency’, and we all made small talk. Unfortunately, my mini speech earlier was not enough to drive the two oldest brothers from asking me odd questions and borderline flirting with me. This time Tim was sitting right next to me, looking more annoyed with each question. I tried my best to stay respectful though, as they are still Tim’s family.
“Oh uhm, thank’s Dick.. uh I-“ my response was cut off as Tim got up, grabbing my hand and dragging me away from the rest of his family.
“Let’s go, y/n” I looked at Tim’s face and he looked more upset than i had ever seen him.
“Wh- what? Tim, babe, where are we going?” While I was a bit grateful, there was still a part of me that felt a bit nervous about our sudden leaving and the impression it would have.
As I let Tim pull me, we entered an unfamiliar room. I assumed it was his as it smelled faintly of his cologne. He let go of my wrist and shut the door. Walking over to the bed in the middle of the room, sitting down and resting his head in his hands. I followed his steps and sat down next to him. The silence killed me. The words that he spoke after though killed me even more.
“... I mean, they’re right you know..” his voice was slightly muffled by his hands but i could still hear the crack in his voice.
“What?” I stared down at the hairs on his head, not being able to see his face.
“They’re right to ask why you’re with me,” he looked up at me, his eyes watery and lips slightly quivering. He was insecure. I should have realized it earlier when he got worried about his brothers stealing me from him. Or when his brothers actually tried to steal me from him and he just walked away. He continued as I was wallowed with guilt.
“You’re an amazing person, y/n. You’re smart and funny and are good with people. You’re naturally friendly and people are just drawn towards you. Not to mention you’re incredibly gorgeous. You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. But me? I’m none of those things. I’m not amazing like you, or any of my brothers. I’m not good with people and charming like Dick. I’m not brave and strong like Jason. I’m not incredibly skilled and widely faceted like Damian. I’m not even that good looking. You’re an amazing, wonderful person. I love you so much. I just.. I don't understand why you would reciprocate and stay with me. You could have so much better. You cou-“ i interrupted him before he started crying. There were tears in his eyes and I couldn’t take it any longer. I needed to tell him I love him and reassure him before his insecure thoughts broke the both of us.
“I’m going to stop you right there. I love you, Tim. I love you. Not Dick, not Jason, and certainly not Damian, I mean he’s a child, that’s gross. You are so much more than what you give yourself credit for. You may not be like your brothers, but you have your own strengths. You are the smartest person I know. And it’s bullshit that you say you're not charming or handsome, because you charmed me the second I saw you. You remember? How I got your order completely wrong because I wasn't paying attention when you ordered? Because you were just so fine that i was stunned?” He chucked a bit, gently grabbing and caressing my hand.
“You didn’t even make me coffee, you just put coffee beans in the cup and drizzled caramel syrup over it.” He softly chuckled.
I used my unoccupied hand to caress his cheek, wiping the tears from his eyes. Continuing my speech, I scooted closer towards him on the bed, our legs pressed against each other and our faces almost touching.
“Yeah, I’m not as perfect as you think. And that’s ok! We all have faults, Tim. We just have to find the people whose faults are worth looking past. And you’re that person for me, Tim. I love you so much. You’re smart, funny, not to mention handsome. You can solve an incredibly complex case in less than an hour. You can learn at an incredibly fast pace. You are incredible at the things you do. Hell, you’re even a vigilante! You go out every night and protect thousands of people! You have a huge abundance of skills. Who cares if Damian has ‘more’ skills or ‘better’ skills. I don’t. Because it’s you I want. Not Dick, not Jason, not anybody else. You’re an amazing person, more amazing than you think I am, and I’m willing to bet way more amazing than your brothers as well. I mean, who was the one who lifted Bruce up out of his depression when Dick hated him and Jason died? You. You did that. Who forgave me after I completely forgot how to make coffee the first time I met you. You. Who’s the one who’s dating me? You. You’re the one I want and the one I love. I honestly need you Tim. I don’t know where I’d be without you. I could never do better because there’s nobody better than you.” I pecked Tim on the lips for extra reassurance and leaned back a bit, looking into his eyes that were watering once more. Hopefully out of joy instead of sadness.
“... you really mean all that?” He spoke softly, voice still a bit weak and raspy from the crying. His eyes were red and puffy, and his lips were slightly swollen. It broke my heart to see him so upset.
“Of course Timmy, I wouldn’t say it if I didn’t.” I leaned in and kissed him, once again. This time, it lasted much longer than a simple peck.
It was sweet and soft. I could taste the tears that had run onto Tim’s lips, giving him a salty aftertaste. He deepened it, grabbing my waist and pulling me so close our torsos were touching. I could feel him smile into the kiss, and I’m sure he felt me do the same. Before we both ran out of breath, Tim broke off the kiss. This created a comfortable silence that followed, until he finally spoke.
“... thank you, y/n. I love you. I can’t express with words how much I adore and am amazed by everything you do, are, and stand for.” Our faces were still close and as he whispered these words i could feel his warm breath on my cheek.
“Can’t express it with words, huh? Well I guess you’ll just have to show me then huh.” I smirked and leaned back a bit, teasing the boy sitting across from me. He paused for a second, looking taken aback, until he shook it off and leaned closer to me.
“I guess so, huh, why don’t you come here so I can show you?“ In that moment, the both of us crashed into each other, turning the sweet moment into a flirtatious make out session.
.
“Well, now we have our answer. She’s perfect for him.” Dick looked at Jason as he spoke, nodding in agreement.
“Yeah, we’ll have to explain and apologize to both of them later but, it was worth it.” The two looked back into the room through the cracked open door. They both cringed and backed up a bit as they saw their brother completely making out with his girlfriend.
Maybe it wasn’t the best idea to spy on their brother... Maybe flirting with his girlfriend wasn’t the best idea either. No matter why they did it.
“Tt, you’re both dumbasses. You didn’t need to flirt with her to get her to prove her loyalty. There are other ways of doing it.” The youngest brother, Damian, popped up leaning on the wall opposite from Tim’s door. The two older brothers looked back at him in suspicion.
“Oh yeah, like what?” Damian raised his eyebrow and scoffed like the answer was so obvious.
“Put her in a high risk situation where she would have to risk her life to save him. That’s true dedication.” He said it as if it was nothing. The three boys all looked at each other in an awkward silence until Jason finally spoke up.
“.. you have issues, kid.”
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The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Thursday, November 25
Spike: A bear! You made a bear!
Buffy: I didn't mean to.
Spike: Undo it! Undo it!
~~Pangs~~
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
Forego Empty Promises (crossover with Stardust Legacy, Xander, T) by madimpossibledreamer
Turkeyed Out (Dawn, T) by Cornerofmadness
Convincing Angel (Angel/Spike, T) by Gabriel_Is_My_Guardian_Angel89
Still the One (Angel/Buffy, E) by calenlily
Hold On (crossover with Tin Man, Rona, G) by Vashti
Thick & Quick (crossover with Tin Man, Rona, Oz, G) by Vashti
[A small and typical conversation between you and your favorite slayer] (Buffy x reader, not rated – worksafe) by xayneimagines
Cookies Redo: Take 2 (Buffy, Angel, Spike/Buffy, PG-13) by bruskiboo
Cookies Redo: Take 3 (Buffy, Angel, Spike/Buffy, R) by bruskiboo
Gravy (Spike/Buffy, PG) by Sigyn
Snow Day (crossover with Tin Man, Oz, FR7) by Vashti
Poem: Episode 120 – Villains (Willow, not rated – some canon violence) by Kim Wade
[Chaptered Fiction]
A Guide to the Slytherin!Willow ‘Verse, Chapter 1-3 (crossover with Harry Potter, Willow, the guide rated G, the stories T and M) by zedpm
In Between Worlds, Chapter 1-5 (Spike/Buffy, M) by DianneRose2016 (Tempestt)
The Slayer and the Vampire, Chapter 5 (Spike/Buffy, PG) by violettathepiratequeen
First Wives but Second Loves, Chapter 15 (crossover with Charmed, Spike/Buffy, R) by rkm
Averting Disasters and Other Ways to Avoid Your Problems, Chapter 9 (Spike/Buffy, R) by JaneRemmington
Come Back to Me, Chapter 7 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by honeygirl51885
Soul Swap, Chapter 20 (Spike/Buffy, R) by ZombieRed
Bite Your Tongue, Chapter 26 (Spike/Buffy, NC-17) by hostile17
Cookies Redo: Take 4, Chapter 1-2 (Spike/Buffy, PG-13) by bruskiboo. COMPLETE!
United We Stand, Chapter 1 (surprise crossover, Faith, FR15) by batzulger
Dungeon Designs and House Keeping, Chapter 27 (Tara, FR18) by MistofRainbows
Konquest of Champions, Chapter 1 (multiple crossovers, Xander, FR21) by Sithicus
[Images, Audio & Video]
Gifset: i’ve got a monster inside me that eats personality types (Buffy, Faith, worksafe) by andremichaux
Buffy x Faith vidlet (worksafe) by youfriendlyneighbourhoodvampire
Manip: more catspike (Spike, probably worksafe) by cat-ear-god
Artwork: a Buffy edit (Buffy, worksafe) by makeupjunkie95
[Reviews & Recaps]
I read the comics… And for the first time, BtVS started feeling… touchable. Started feeling like it needs to be fixed. by takaraphoenix
Ideas for Buffy season 7 that could have foreshadowed the end a bit better by confusedguytoo
I think I might be starting to like Buffy season 8 more. by oveliagirlhaditright
How Spike becomes “good” in Boom IS pretty great. by oveliagirlhaditright
Why the season 1 hate? by rapbarf and others
Unpopular opinion - Buffy would not be as acclaimed as it is today without season 6 by jdpm1991 and others
PODCAST: Pop Culture Role Call - OFF THE RECORD!!! - Angel S01E11 - Somnambulist
PODCAST: Buffy Boys 136 - Fatal Dating (S07E14 "First Dates")
[Fandom Discussions]
Thinking about Giles getting impaled again and... I have a few questions and Ways to get Giles out of the way without impaling him by melonsmessymusings, rachaeljurassic
[Catherine Madison and Eyghon as foreshadowing for the s6 addiction arc] by confusedguytoo
After they had Angel angrily tell Buffy..., “You’ve moved on. I can’t. You found someone new. I’m not allowed to, remember?”... by oveliagirlhaditright
I really wish Xander and Anya could have ended up together by oveliagirlhaditright
An underrated piece of evidence to pile on the “Buffy had feelings for Faith” hill by herinsectreflection
Headcanons: Buffy watching The X Files vs Mulder and Scully watching Buffy by 5bi5
Even today in media we haven’t gotten to normalising “I love you” and having physical affection that isn’t inherently romantic and/or sexual but by calamitys-child
I’m trying to think of all of Angel’s friends that he bit by oveliagirlhaditright
Part of the reason I ended up shipping Bangel by oveliagirlhaditright
[I really respect that BtVS consistently shows that... you cannot magically heal trauma] by calamitys-child
Did Drusilla like Spike? (Do you think she was in love with Spike?) by Missunnay, Tiny Tabby, Stoney
What’s the darkest/most disturbing moment/element in the series to you? by Thorfan23 and others
Was Warren always gonna let Jonathan and Andrew take the fall like he did in "Seeing Red"? hosted by jdpm1991
My emotional maturity can be measured in how I viewed ‘Into the Woods’ on first watch as a teen and rewatch now as a 30-something adult. by keedanlan and others
Talking About X but Really About Y Trope by rednax2009 and others
Could you see potential in a Faith/Gunn or Faith/Connor friendship? by LightBlueSky55 and others
Ethan Rayne was such a missed opportunity by LordEdapurg and others
[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]
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In Your Honor - Ch. 5
Luz has wanted nothing more in life other than to join the ranks of the Emperor's Knights - the highest rank of royalty defenders, but after a disaster of a first impression with the bratty princess, she starts to wonder if it’s worth it.
Of all the things Amity could be doing right now, going for a walk with Boscha of all people wasn't exactly what she had planned. She had planned to take a stroll to clear her mind and get some peace, before her attention was demanded elsewhere. What she did not account for was the Duchess Boscha to demand to go with her ‘just in case she fell ill again’. The two turned a corner as Boscha told Amity about her “daring” battle with another lower class royal and it took all of Amity's self control to not roll her eyes directly at the other girl.
“You should have seen the look on his face, your highness.” A smug smile was plastered on the three-eyed girl's face. “He didn't expect me to pull out a third sword.”
“Where did you even hide a third sword?” Amity raised a brow but didn't take her eyes off the hallway in front of them. She wouldn't admit it but she was searching for a way out for sure.
“A girl never tells her secrets.” The Duchess winks and this time Amity doesn't try to stop herself when she rolls her eyes as she lets out a soft chuckle.
They enter a new hallway and Amity spots Willow, along with the human Luz, having a conversation near the end. It seems like they were finishing up as Luz turned to leave, waving goodbye to her friend. This was the princesses chance.
“Luz!” The princess picks up her dress so as to not let it drag on the floor, jogging right up to the human. Luz stops in her tracks at the sound of the princess’s voice, turning with a raised eyebrow at the girl running up to her. Thankfully her outburst followed by her slight speed up confused the redhead that accompanied Amity, giving her a chance to speak with Luz before she caught up.
“Play along, alright?” Amity hissed at the human girl as she slid an arm around the other girl's slightly muscular arm. Wow, that's not something she was gonna think about right now.
Boscha finally catches up to them and raises one of her three eyebrows at the princess, her eyes focusing immediately on where their arms have linked.
“Sorry, Boscha, but it looks like Luz is lost again and as heir to the throne it is my duty to help all those in need.” Amity smiles at her companion, nudging Luz in the process.
“Wha-OH! Yeah, I get lost all the time in the castle, sorry about that.” Luz says, managing to look actually apologetic.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have me do it, your majesty?” Boscha held out her hand as if to take the human away from Amity.
“No, no, it's alright. I can handle this simple task.” Amity responds, giving Boscha a specific look and a farewell curtsy before turning and pulling Luz along.
Amity waited until they were out of sight before she let out a breath she hadn't even realized she was holding. She allowed herself to relax as she pulled away from Luz, the human girl rubbing at the back of her neck nervously.
“So, what was that about?” Luz pointed back in the direction of Boscha.
“Hmm? Oh, her,” Amity sighs. “Boscha is.. well, we were friends at one point.” The princess makes a vague gesture with her hand as she explains. “But ever since I turned 14, she's been extra clingy.”
“What's the big deal about turning 14?” Luz tilts her head in confusion. It's not like being 14 was anything important in human culture. Maybe it was different for elves?
“Nothing,” Amity gives the other girl a particular look. “It's about what happens when I turn 15.”
“Oh! I get a quinceañera when I turn 15! Do elves have something like that?” Luz leans a little too close to the princess, causing the green haired witch to lean away in turn.
“A what? No. When the heir to the throne turns 15.. they get betrothed.” Amity says as her face drops a little, unable to hide it. Luz has never seen her look like this, and she has no idea how to feel about it.
“Okay, that sucks.” Luz says lamely as she stares at the other girl in muted shock, still trying to process this information.
“And since I turn 15 soon, Boscha has been trying for the title of my betrothed.” The witchling sighs, crossing her arms over her chest. “Not that she really has to try hard, I'm pretty sure my parents are going to pick her based on her family relations alone.”
“That's so dumb!!!” Luz shouts, slamming a fist into her open palm. “You should be allowed to marry whoever you want!! You're a princess for titans sake!”
Amity’s so surprised at Luz’s outburst that she manages to accidentally let out a laugh. Luz catches her trying to hide it behind her hand with a cough, and that action mixed with the sound of the other girl’s giggle has Luz’s own face beaming back at the princess - almost like she’s excited she got to be the one to witness this rare event. Amity averts her eyes out of fear of being blinded by Luz’s shining smile, why was she so kind and caring? No one else has ever said this about her before. Saying she should be able to choose her own future?
That’s something she’d think more on later.
“Thank you, Luz.” Amity gives the other girl a genuine smile. “For lying for me, and for thinking I deserve some kind of freedom to choose who I want to be with.”
“No problem, your highness.” Luz says as she puffs out her chest and smacks a fist against it. “It's a knight's duty to care about her princess!”
The two talk for some time before Amity has to leave. She was a princess after all, and she had other duties to attend to.
Luz left the castle that day with a new skip to her step. Her initial meeting with the princess had gone.. er.. bad. But now? She thinks she might be getting somewhere with the other girl. There’s hope for her yet, maybe they could be friends? Regardless, she couldn't wait to visit the castle again.
--
It had been a few weeks since Amity’s meeting with the human while on her walk. She hadn't seen her since and, honestly? The princess wasn't sure about how she felt about that. She had made a point to not think about it and avoid any mention of the other girl. Amity had returned to classes like normal and had acted as if nothing had happened last time she had graced them with her presence, and her teacher would often give her questioning looks but Amity would never acknowledge them.
Amity found herself sitting in the empty classroom, hours after one of said classes had ended. She flipped through her tome absentmindedly as she allowed herself to think about the human. Where had she been for the last few weeks? Her mother and aunt both worked in the castle and she had made friends with Willow and Gus. Those were all decent reasons to visit. Was it something Amity had done? No, the princess thought, she had actually been nice to the human girl their last meeting.
She lets out a sigh as she flips another page, a sound behind her getting her attention. The elf girl freezes as she hears shuffling footsteps behind her, and waits for the sound again before standing slowly. There are only three people in the castle who would sneak up on her and two of those were her siblings but there was only one set of footsteps she had heard. This meant that it had to be the only other person who would sneak up on her.
“Boscha, I’ve told you not to sneak up on me.” The princess grumbles, not turning around.
“I'm sorry, your highness.” A gruff male voice responds. “But Boscha isn't here right now.”
Amity whips around in time to see a large figure casting a magic circle.
Before she can react, the circle wraps around her throat and vanishes. The princess tries to scream but when she opens her mouth, no sound comes out. Panic sets in as she realizes the man had cast a silencing spell on her. She tries to take a step back but bumps into the desk behind her. The tall cloaked man takes a step forward, a low chuckle leaves his throat.
“I'm really sorry about this, princess, but you’re gonna have to come with me.” His voice holds no emotion as he approaches the small elf girl.
He reaches into his cloak and pulls out a jagged knife, the blade glints in the low candle light. Amity feels across the desk behind her as the assailant approaches. Her hand lands on her inkwell and wraps around it. She waits until the man lunges for her before tossing the inkwell at his face. The glass shatters against his skull and ink spills into his eyes. He shouts, tumbling backwards, as Amity dashes around him and out the door.
Out in the hallway she finds her guards unconscious, obviously under a sleep spell. She doesn't linger when she hears the man yelling from the study. With all the speed her dress would allow, she dashes down the hall. The frightened princess looks for anyone who could help her but the halls remain empty. Heavy footsteps echo behind her as she turns a corner. The man yells for her, as if she would stop for someone who had tried to kill her.
In a blind panic, the young witch finds herself running head first into another person. They tumble to the ground in a tangle of limbs, Amity quickly pulls herself up and sees that it’s Luz of all people, who’s still sitting on the ground full of confusion. The human girl stands and shakes her head before her eyes meet Amity’s.
“Amity!” She greets her, smiling brightly - and Amity has never been more happy to see the human in her life. “Is something wrong?” The human tilts her head, reading the fear on the princesses face quite quickly.
Amity opens her mouth to respond but is reminded of the silencing spell as no sound comes out, and she motions with her hand that she can’t speak. She grabs onto Luz’s upper arm firmly in hopes the girl can see the panic in her eyes as she points in the direction of which she came. Just as Luz looks up to see what Amity was pointing to, the large cloaked man turns the corner. His hood hides his face, but Luz can see the smallest hint of a smile as he approaches. Luz moves to stand in front of Amity, her hand already pulling out her few premade glyph papers.
“Who are you, and what do you want?” Her voice carries an uncharacteristically dark tone to it as she guards the princess, splaying her other arm out as wide as she can.
“A commoner, just like you.” The man's gruff voice puts the human on edge, and she feels her heart rate pick up speed. “Just trying to make a point..” He takes a small step forward, holding out his hand while his other hides behind his back carefully. “Hand over the princess and run, you don't need to be a part of this.”
“What do you plan on doing to her?” Luz pushes Amity farther behind her, the princess clinging to the human. Luz can feel the other girl shaking with fear.
“Let’s just say.. We’d like to use her to make an example.” He says, the last word coming out of his lips dripping with malice.
“I don’t think I like what you’re suggesting..” Luz narrows her eyes at the man as he takes another step forward, hand still outstretched as if trying to get Luz to take it.
The human's eyes flick between the man's hand and his barely visible face. Finally she lets out a sigh and reaches out for it, as if to take it. She can feel Amity pull on her shirt behind her but she doesnt turn to see her face.
“That's it, just hand over the princess and you can go free.” The man chuckles as he goes to take the smaller girl's hand.
Before he can grasp it, Luz slaps his hand with a piece of paper. The paper is quickly engulfed in flames before becoming a searingly white floating orb, and the man shouts as he’s blinded for the second time that night.
Quickly, Luz grabs onto Amity's hand and pulls her away and around the man as he rubs at his eyes. She takes the princess to the only place she can think of, the healers hall where her mother was working a late shift. Behind her she could hear the man yelling as he chased after them. The witch in training curses under her breath, her light spell wasn't strong enough to blind him for long. Amity barely manages to keep up as they run, one hand holding onto Luz’s for dear life and the other holding up her dress so she wouldn't trip.
The two round a corner as something comes whizzing by their heads. Luz doesn't stop to see what it was as she sees the healers hall just before her. She practically kicks the door down and pulls Amity in behind her. Her mother shoots up from her spot next to a patient eyes landing on her disheveled daughter and princess.
“Mija, what are you doing?” She whispers harshly at her daughter. “There are people trying to sleep!”
“Sorry mom but there's someone chasing us and I think they want to kill Amity!” Her daughter tries to keep her voice low as she pulls Amity close to her, scared out of her own mind. The princess still holds onto Luz’s hand, her grip tight with fear.
“Woah, slow down Luz, who's chasing you?” Camilia tries to calm her daughter as another person enters the healers hall. The older woman's eyes look up to see the cloaked figure, dagger in hand. It all clicks together and she motions for the girls to get behind her. “Stay back, both of you.”
“I'm getting tired of this game of cat and mouse, princess.” The man growls, grip tightening on his dagger. “Just come with me peacefully and these humans get to live. ”
“I wouldn't count me out just yet.” Camilia reaches into her apron pocket and pulls out a few vials of a dark red liquid.
The older woman holds out her arm to guard the children as she tosses two of the vials at the cloaked figure. The glass shatters against his chest and the red liquid splatters over him, and he looks down at his drenched cloak before letting out a boisterous laugh.
“Did you really think a weak human potion could stop me?” He hisses as he goes to take a step forward. Just as he moves he notices smoke rising off his cloak before the red liquid starts to bubble, and then foam. “What the..!?”
“Not so weak now, am I?” Camilia placed a hand on her hip, a mocking tone to her voice as the man became completely covered in a thick red foam.
Amity realizes her voice has returned as the man's concentration is interrupted, and squeezes Luz’s hand to get the other girl's attention as Camilia leaves to retrieve the guards. She finds herself incapable of meeting her eyes as she struggles to find the right words.
“..Thank you, Luz.” She finally settles on something simple, her voice sounding a little horse from being locked away.
“Don’t mention it. I mean, I am training to be a future Emperors Knight, this is just all part of the job technically!” Luz smiles at the princess in reassurance, looking a lot less shaken than before now that her mother has taken care of the threat.
Amity finally meets the other girls eyes and realizes just how close they're standing to each other. She takes a tentative step back and lets go of the other girl's hand. Luz frowns at the lack of contact but doesn't reach for the princess, knowing the girl might need her space. Before either of them can say another word the Blight twins come running into the healers hall, voices overlapping as they show concern for their younger sister.
“Amity!” Emira rushes up and wraps her arms around the youngest Blight. “Are you okay?” She holds her sister close, stroking her hair. Amity clings to her sister and nods as Edric approaches and wraps his arms around both his sisters.
Luz hears a small sniffle from the princess and decides to give her space and time to be with her siblings. She walks past the man covered in foam, his muffled shouts barely audible. The young witch in training sticks her tongue out childishly at the man before heading out into the hallway. As she opens the door she sees several Emperors Knights being led by Captain Wrath, and she moves out of their way as they enter the hall. She doesn't stick around to see what happens, instead she spots her mom at the tail end of the group of guards and runs to her. The young girl throws her arms around her mother and hugs her tightly, burying her face into her mom's soft apron.
“You did such a good job, mija.” Her mother smooths out her hair and gives her a tight squeeze of a hug. “You were so brave and smart to bring the princess to me.” She reassures her daughter, rubbing calming circles into the girls back.
“I was so scared, mami.” The young girl's voice is muffled by her moms clothing. “He had a knife, and Amity couldn't speak, and he could have killed us!”
“Shoosh, it's all okay now sweetie.” The older woman hugs her daughter tightly, pushing the hair out of her face gently in comfort. ”Let's go home for the night, dear, no doubt your mother has felt this by now.” She pulls her daughter away from her and gives her a soft smile, the younger human nodding and taking her mom's hand as they head home.
Luz takes one look back, eyes immediately falling on Amity several feet away. The princess gives her a soft wave goodbye as her sister drapes a blanket over her shoulders, and Luz’s stomach twists at seeing how small the other girl looks, remembering what had just happened. What if Luz wasn’t there for Amity to run into? What would’ve happened if the man had caught her and no one was there to help? She doesn’t want to elaborate on those thoughts at all anymore.
Luz returns the wave before leaving with her mother, trying her hardest to push those lingering thoughts away.
The guards offer the two a ride home, which Camilia happily agrees to. The entire ride is silent, Luz leaning on her mother the whole way home - she watches her daughter stare blankly ahead the entire time, and tries to calm the worried tug in her chest.
When they finally roll up in front of their house Eda’s waiting on the doorstep with frustrated worry written all over her face, arms crossed and foot tapping against the ground. The carriage pulls to a stop and Camilia opens the door, motioning Eda forward to carry their daughter who had fallen asleep during the drive. Eda enters the carriage and easily scoops up their kid to carry her inside, and Camilia follows close behind. Once inside the house they immediately put their daughter into bed, both giving her a gentle kiss goodnight before making their way back downstairs, King jumping up on the bed to cuddle at the human girl’s feet.
“So.. you mind telling me what happened?” Eda breaks the silence as the two women enter their kitchen, giving her wife a stern look.
The grey haired witch moves to the stove to put on a pot of tea while her wife takes a seat at the table. Camilia slumps against the table, head in her hands as Eda moves about the kitchen, waiting patiently for her to speak.
Eventually Eda places a cup of black tea in front of her, and she lets out a shaky breath as she takes the cup, watching as the other woman takes the spot across from her. They sit in silence a little longer while Camilia blows on the tea before taking a sip.
“Someone tried to assassinate the princess.” She finally speaks up, her voice barely above a whisper.
“What.” Eda sets her cup down a little too hard, causing the cup to rattle against its plate.
“Someone tried to kill the princess.” Camilia repeats. “She managed to get away and found Luz.. of all people.”
“And the kid was only there because she was bringing you your overnight bag.” Eda blinks and looks at her wife, concern all over her face. Camilia solemnly nods her head.
“You would have been proud of her, Mi Alma.” She smiles sadly into her cup. “She was so brave and she brought the princess right to me.” She continues to tell the older witch all about the assassin and how she stopped him.
Eda listened intently as Camilia recounted the events of the last few hours for her. She sipped silently on her tea until her wife had finished completely.
“I'm proud of both of you.” Eda smiles at the potion master who had won her heart. “I wasn’t even there to kick any ass for you, but what do I know? Clearly I was the one that married up.” She takes another sip from her tea as her wife hides a growing blush.
“You certainly have a way with words,” Camilia chuckles, grasping her mug lightly between her fingers. Eda watches her ring glint in the low light of the kitchen.
“I knew you wanted me for this mouth,” Eda grins cheekily and chuckles, Camilia spares her a scandalous look and Eda laughs a little harder at that, before the laughter dies down and a more serious expression falls on her face. “I do have to admit though, when I felt that fearful tug right here..” She points to her chest, right where a heart would normally be. “I almost flew straight to the castle.” She lets out a small laugh. “But then I could feel the calm that settled afterwards and figured I shouldn’t risk going to jail… again.” This gets a strong laugh out of Camilia as Eda smiles softly at her wife.
“This soul bond between us better NOT be the reason you get caught by authorities, Edalyn.” Camilia gives the other woman a flat look, taking a long drink of her tea.
“Not the full name!” Eda whines. “You’re sounding like my sister.”
Camilia rolls her eyes at that, unable to help the smile on her face. “Come on dear, we should head to bed. I still have to go back to work tomorrow.”
“Yeah, you're right.” Eda sighs as she stands, stretching her back.
Camilia stands with her and takes their cups, placing them in the sink. The two older women head upstairs, stopping only to check on Luz and King before heading to their own room for the night.
-
The next morning the street is filled with the townspeople as Camilia tries to head into work. Eda and Luz stand next to her as they all look to a hastily made stage. On the stage stood two Emperors Knights and Captain Wrath. A low murmur broke through the crowd as two more guards started to set up a guillotine on the stage. Captain Wrath cleared his throat to get the crowd's attention, the townspeople falling silent.
“Last night an assassin made his way into the castle.” His voice echoed through the streets. “He made an attempt on the princesses life.”
The crowd erupts into a cacophony of voices, the towns people shouting over each other to have their questions answered. The captain simply holds up his hand and the townspeople fall silent.
“We do not know if he worked alone.” Captain Wrath explained. “Once we have extracted what information we can from him, he will be publicly executed.” He waited for the townsfolk to quiet down again before continuing. “His execution is scheduled tomorrow at sunrise. That is all.”
The captain is followed by his fellow Emperors Knights as they head off the stage. The crowd yells and demands more answers but receive none as the knights enter a carriage that takes them towards the castle.
“Castle security is going to be more strict now.” Camilia comments as she turns towards the building in question.
“Will I still be able to visit my friends?” Luz frowns up at her mom as they continue their walk.
“Of course you can. You’re my kid and Lilith's niece, they aren't going to keep you out.” Camilia ruffles her daughter's hair.
“As long as they dont know I'm your other mom.” Eda adds with a wink which gets a laugh out of two humans.
The three made their way to the castle, the unrest in the town more evident now than ever. The announcement of a public execution was the main topic of every conversation. There hadn't been one in over 10 years after all. The last one was when the Queen had found her husband's secret lover and had him publicly executed to make a point. Of course the King had not tried to stop her, his subjects are simply playthings to him after all.
Luz felt uneasy as she entered the castle, the amount of guards more apparent now then they had been her last visit. She wasn't sure what she could do but she was overcome with the need to talk to the princess. Maybe together they could figure things out.
#toh#the owl house#lumity#luz noceda#amity blight#camilia noceda#edalyn clawthorne#does eda and camilia have a ship name?#the answer is yes#its cameda#cameda#eda x camilia#boscha toh#boscha#my writing#in your honor#alternate universe#knights au
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pas de deux V [Bruno Bucciarati x Reader | Risotto Nero x Reader]
[SFW]
AO3 VERSION
PREVIOUS CHAPTER | NEXT CHAPTER
You’ve worked your whole life to earn a place in the Rome ballet company, yet everyone seems to work against you.
Between the stress of working to match the other dancers to unforeseen romantic issues, problems just seem to pile up.
Morning came too soon.
The soft pinks and oranges of dawn brushed past your curtains, waking you far earlier than you had intended.
Your only course of action was to get up. A quick breakfast and shower, you dressed in your usual gear: stockings and a leotard. It wasn’t the uniform most people had in mind, but it was yours. You caught yourself in the mirror, quietly mulling over the night before. The night before was a disaster. Maybe, you were being dramatic in saying that, but it felt like the only word that could describe it. You bit your lip in an effort to distract from the anxiety of it, walking out the door with more than a second thought.
The walk to the company was nice. It was early enough that you were catching children playing outside, waving hello as you passed.
The doors were more intimidating than you expected. Pushing heavily, the doors creaked under your weight. You cringed in embarrassment. Following the signs along the ceiling, you found yourself in a light-filled studio. Dusty wooden floors, brightened by the mirrors on two walls, the room was serene. You took a deep breath in, feeling as though you were about to exhale all your stresses.
Back facing the mirror, you changed your shoes. There was a quiet hum to the room that droned as you stretched. The ambiance of birds outside overlaying the sounds of the city beyond the windows, you felt as though you were watching from a television.
The door opened, you jumped. Even more so, you felt like crying when you registered who it was.
He spoke as he walked past you, setting his bag in the corner. “You’re early.” Risotto Nero didn’t pay you mind, you were lucky if he even remembered you. You worried over nothing. What a relief. “I didn’t expect you to make it through the night.” He finished his thought.
Nevermind.
“Excuse me?” You were set aback by his comment, almost annoyed if you hadn’t been so surprised.
He hummed, that same dissatisfied hum you heard last night.
You felt like you were going to explode. “Did I offend you last night?” You stood, brushing dust off your stockings. Your heart felt like it would beat out of your chest; the overwhelming feeling of annoyance and relived embarrassment hurt your head. Your breath felt heavy and sharp in your lungs, like the air was suddenly filled with knives.
“No,” He answered curtly, quickly. “You didn’t.” He rifled through his bag, quietly reviewing notes.
“Then, do you, just, not like me?”
He was silent for a long moment. “You forget your place.” He stood. At his full height and without your heels, he towered over you. You could see why other ballerinas were scared of him. He was at least six feet of lean muscle and bad temperament. But, your resolve clouded your better judgement.
“I haven’t forgotten anything.” You tried not to cower, tried not to retreat back to your apartment in shame. “I’m just confused on why you cannot seem to stand me.”
Risotto sighed, annoyed at the argument so early in the morning, annoyed at the rigid ballerina before him. This was not the morning he expected, who can plan for an angry dancer at seven in the morning?
When he didn’t respond, you found yourself looking for words and falling flat. The emotions were fresh in your mind, clouding it beyond comprehension. Returning to your stretches, you sat back down. You avoided looking over at him by staring into the mirror ahead of you. Rejection was a wound most painful when fresh.
“Signore Buccirrati spoke highly of you.” You stopped mid-stretch, turning your head uncomfortably to meet his averted gaze. Asshole. He continued, “but, I saw your pas de deux. You were mediocre.”
You broke the stretch, turning to sit cross-legged. You wanted to believe he would say something constructive, considering he likely choreographed 90% of the company shows. Hopefully, this wasn’t a bait for an insult. Blinking once, then twice, you desperately hoped he would continue.
He turned away from you, “you had no chemistry with your partner.” Wow, rude. “You dance fine, technically, but with no emotion. Like a dead fish.” Somehow even worse.
“You think I have no… emotion.” You deadpanned. Emotion was not something you were worried about that night, you were more focused on staying on your feet in your anxiety. “I didn’t need emotion that night, I needed it to be perfect.” You did not want to get into this with Risotto, who seemed apt at becoming your biggest obstacle.
He furrowed his brows at you, clearly disagreeing. “I see.” Which was almost as bad of a response as his hum. “I’ll be excited to see you dance, then.” Advertently ending the conversation, he turned back to his bag and you, your stretches.
While you finished your seated stretching and moved up to lift your leg along the barre, you dived into a spiral of turmoil over his final comment to you. His hopes were not high and yours were properly dashed.
The malice in his tone, the genuine dread that filled you, those stuck with you as other dancers filed in. Bruno caught your eye, you made sure to cower behind him everytime Risotto looked your way.
The session was quick, at least it felt that way. Maybe, you were so busy with the sporadic yelling of moves Risotto would start in and with avoiding him that you hadn’t noticed the passage of time. Nevertheless, as Risotto announced the session was over and continued on, announcing auditions and events. His voice went in one ear and out the other as you tried to leave.
Your attempt is futile though, as Risotto calls your full name. It grabs your attention and it may cause you to tear up if you think about his tone for too long. Surely, you can't be due for another verbal beating that soon.
As other dancers left the room, they whispered. Who knew what rumor would pop out, you could only hope it wasn’t an affair or something of that nature. You’d be blacklisted from every company on earth if that were the accepted story: you sleeping with the ballet master in an attempt to work your way to the top.
Risotto seemed not to notice their whispers, or didn't care, nor did he notice Bruno waiting just outside for you. You were hopeful, for a moment, that this would be short.
“Meet me here tonight.” He spoke curtly to you again, his words cut off in a way to accentuate their rudeness. “We’ll begin working on your pas de deux.” You were dumbfounded.
And here, all this time, you thought he had wanted you to quit. You would’ve bet money on it; hell, you were so confident that this man wanted you gone, you would’ve bet your mother’s soul on it. “I’m sorry?” The confusion dripped from every word that left your mouth, causing you to cringe slightly at the thought of Risotto’s pity.
“I will not tolerate mediocre performances.” His tone was serious and you did a quick glance around the room to make sure there were no cameras. You felt like you were being punk’d for the second time this week. “Your presentation is a representation of this company.”
He paused as if to give you a moment to respond, but you had nothing to say. You swallowed so hard it hurt the back of your throat.
“If you cannot present, you will not represent.” His eyes appeared almost blood red as he scanned over you. “I will teach you a new pas de deux and we will continue these meetings until you show me emotion.”
You were no stranger to disenchantment, but the emotional rollercoaster you were on was a bit much. Responding with a quick alright, you made your move to leave.
“7 PM. Don’t be late or I will no longer put the effort you need in.” He said, as you closed the door behind you.
Bruno, ever vigilant and ever noticing, pulled you to the sideline of the hallway. His hand on your elbow is a comfortable warmth, bringing you back from your frenzied head.
He spoke, just barely above a whisper. “Are you feeling alright?” He looked into your eyes, without a gleam of giving up this line of questioning.
You breathed, blinking away the small, crystalline tears that threatened to grow. “I’m fine.” You didn’t divulge this morning’s conversation with Risotto to Bruno. It would only make him angry. “He wants to, um,” You needed a moment to collect your thoughts. “He wants to help me with my emotion on stage. We’re meeting at seven.”
Bruno furrowed his brow. “And, you agreed?” You nodded. He breathed your name, your ears hardly picked it up. “I don’t think this is a good idea.” Contrary to the pitiful tone he used with your name, his declaration was firm. He didn’t think this was a good idea, that was final.
#bruno buccerati#risotto nero#reader insert#female reader#sfw#bruno bucciarati x reader#risotto nero x reader#jjba#jjba au#ballet au#pas de deux ao3#my writing
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