#davy asks him for a kiss (i still think it’s crazy this was written by mike nesmith) but like micky can just say no thanks! and it’s all | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

wandsandwheezes · 3 years

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Gala | R.D

WARNINGS // 2k // SMUT 18+, Unprotected sex, Public (??) sex, Exhibitionism (??), daddy kink, breeding if you squint, jealousy.

A/N // Hi I am kinda coming back from writing because I literally don’t know where this inspiration to suddenly write came from and I’ve never written for our bb Rog before so this is a whole experience for me, I hope you enjoy <33 this one goes out to my Roger whores @darthwheezely and @amxrtentias xoxo

There was no denying that Roger was able to light up the room with his smile, he still held all the charm and confidence that being a quidditch captain gave him. Thankfully for you, he also had enough personality to hold a conversation with anyone he had the pleasure of greeting or introducing himself to, meaning that you could lazily drape off his arm while sneaking glances at the way he had pulled himself together for the event.

The days you saw your boyfriend in a suit always seemed to end in a mess of kisses and half-removed fabric as you desperately tried to grasp as much of each other’s skin as humanly possible. His hair was swooped almost too perfectly from the messy ruffle that he would usually wear. The shirt he wore was buttoned up to the collar, accentuating his sharp jawline and striking smile, at his neck sat a tie, grateful that by the least you were able to convince him to not wear a bow tie, at least not to an event like this.

Fred and George would usually hold an annual gala in celebration of the anniversary of Weasley Wizard Wheezes opening and every year both you and Roger would be sure to get the invite. This year was no exception, you were dressed up in a simple but elegant satin gown, hair pushed out of your face and makeup perfectly done, not only making you look like a billion galleons but also feel it.

Being close with the Weasleys meant that you were sat right up at the head table with the two owners of the shop. You would often lend a hand whenever they needed a spare pair of hands or someone to bounce ideas off of, to the twins you were just part of the family, the same way any of their siblings were.

You were sat next to Roger, his hand resting protectively on your upper thigh while your arm had looped through his, temple resting on his shoulder as you waited patiently for the first course to arrive. You were always pleasantly surprised just how many tables the Twins were able to fit inside the shop when all of the displays were packed away and the space was cleared away.

“You seem distracted,” Roger spoke quietly, a small smile on his lips as you looked up at him, you laughed a little, pressing a kiss to his cheek before going back to the comfortable position you were once in.

“Just hungry, love.” You hummed, I’m truth you were distracted, very much because throughout the course of the evening, he had ran his hands through his hair so much that little pieces had started to fall into his eyes much like they usually did and you couldn’t help but marvel at just how breathtaking he was.

“When aren’t you?” He joked, giving your leg a playful squeeze before you return with a laugh and a weak elbow to his side, watching as he broke out with a laugh, making you even more distracted by him.

“I should be offended, Davies.”

“You’re telling me you aren’t always hungry then?”

“That’s beside the point, Rog-”

Midway through the second course Fred leans over, whispering about how a girl from another table was throwing daggers your way, making a joke that he could give her something to look at, the thought in your head causing a laugh to fall from your lips as you dabbed the edge of your napkin against your lips.

Your boyfriend had observed the interaction, the grip on his cutlery tightening slightly at the way you reacted to Fred, a bubble of jealousy growing at how your friend had dared get so close to your neck, a place where he was already planning to paint with his tongue, leaving deep red hickeys in its place.

He accidentally dropped the knife against the plate, grumbling at the clattering sound as he picked it up again. You turned your head towards the noise, noticing the tensed jaw and disgruntled look that flushed upon his face. Roger was always easily jealous, not that he didn’t trust you but the thought of other people gawking at what was his gave him that edge.

“Rog, baby, what’s wrong?” You asked softly, hand placed gently on his bicep as you turned your full attention to him.

“Nothing, sweetheart.” He smiled, nose scrunching up sweetly as he licked his lips, head ducking down to bite the food from his fork before smiling again at you with his cheeks full of food.

It wasn’t until after desert had settled that you were being pulled away from the chatter and laughter up the stairs, being met with Roger’s bruising kiss as soon as you were out of sight from the rest of the guests. It was at this point that you realised when he said there was nothing wrong, he was most definitely lying.

His hands were practically tugging the satin away from your body as you melted into his touch, arms snaking around his neck, lips pressed together messily as he took charge of the situation, not realising that he was walking you backwards until your back was flush against a solid surface.

In the mess of kisses and the way you were practically putty in his hands at his very touch, you had hardly realised your surroundings until you broke away for air. His lips continued to pepper kisses over your neck while his hand pressed into the small of your bare back ever so slightly, arching your back for him at the feel of his electric touch.

“Baby, we can’t do this here, It’s Fred’s off–” You stuttered out through faint moans.

“Hmm... I don’t care, love.” He chuckled, nipping a kiss at your jawline, trailing kisses along until he pressed a kiss to your chin, each corner of your mouth then finally your lips.

“Now am I going to have to teach you how to follow rules again or can my good girl remember?” He hummed, deep voice rumbling into your chest, a faint whimper falling from your lips at the feeling.

“I’ll be good, daddy, I promise I’ll be so good for you.” You mewled, taking a quick and sharp breath in as he pulled you into his chest effortlessly with the hand pressed to your back, using his free hand to teasingly guide the zip of the dress down and over the curve of your ass, noting quickly the lack of underwear covering you.

“Yeah? Were you being good when you let Fred get all close? practically bearing your pretty little neck to let him mark… was that being good?” His hand slipped under the loosened material of the dress, his large hand squeezing at your bum as he chuckled, answering his own question. “I don’t think it was.”

“Roger, I–”

He cut you off, spinning you around quickly with his hand wrapped around your throat, back pressed to his chest as you whined against his firm grip.

“Breaking rules already are we, little one?”

You quickly shake your head, letting out a deep breath as he released his grip on your neck, hands working quickly to push the straps of the dress off your shoulders before taking your exposed breasts in the palm of his hands, pressing a sweet kiss to your earlobe before nibbling at the soft skin.

“Words, princess.” He hummed, thumbs teasingly running over your hardening nipples as your breathing grew staggered. Your boyfriend knew just how sensitive they were to touch, using that sweet spot against you as he teased you into speechlessness.

“Daddy, I–”

“What’s wrong, baby?” He teased, smirking as he used the same tone you had used with him earlier.

“I need…” you trailed off, his lips peppering kisses along your shoulder.

“You need what? C’mon, princess, you can tell me.”

“I need you.”

“Me? Hm, you’ve got me already haven’t you now, dumb baby? What do you need me for?” He chuckled, one of his hands hitching your thigh up while the other threw the spilt of the dress open, his fingertips finding your clit with ease.

“That what you needed? To be touched?” He began slowly circling at the bundle of nerves between your thighs, feeling the way he had already gotten you soaking wet, having hardly touched you.

“Yes, Daddy, I like it when you touch me like that.” The words could hardly come out as the grip on your thigh became tighter, making sure to keep your legs open for him.

“There you are, using your words like a big girl.” He praised, proudly drawing noisy moans from you, no longer caring if anyone could hear you at all, in fact he would rather everyone heard how you whored yourself out for him, drove him crazy in fact.

Spinning you around, you quickly found yourself with your backside pressed against the cold wood of Fred’s desk. Roger’s hands worked seamlessly on unbuckling his belt, pulling himself free before your hands quickly found his length, stroking him ever so slightly as he grew harder at your touch.

“Do you know how hard it is to stop myself from splitting you in two, princess? From filling my precious girl’s cunt up and leaving her ruined.” He mused, hand reaching up to tuck a fallen strand of hair behind your ear.

“Then don’t, daddy.” You whispered, hand tangling into the hair at the back of his head to pull him into your lips, kissing him roughly as you felt him groan against your lips.

His cockhead teased at your slick entrance for a moment before he began to push himself inside of you, forcing your legs to wrap around his hips as he leant forwards to make sure he was getting the best angle.

With every thrust, the handles of the drawers rattled and the wood creaked, Fred’s office becoming filled with breathy moans and the sounds of slapping skin. He wasn’t being particularly rough for the moment but the angle he hit was enough to send you to heaven, every time you thought he had bottomed out, he found another way to push deeper, filling you completely.

“Feels so good, daddy, please.”

“Tight little thing you are, feel so nice around me, my good girl.”

He began to pick up the pace, fucking into you at much faster speed than you were expecting, moaning out loud enough for anyone to hear, one hand pulling your hip so that you met every thrust while the other toyed with your clit, helping bring you to release.

“You gonna cum for me, baby? you’ve been so good.”

“Cum with me, daddy, please.” You begged, his forehead pressed against yours as he swallowed you moans with a kiss for a moment.

“Yeah? You want that, do you?”

“Please.” You whispered, feeling that familiar knot in your stomach as he continued to hit your favourite spot with his slightly slower but still deep thrusts. Releasing over his cock as you felt him painting your walls with his own release.

“Well done, baby, looking so beautiful.” He lovingly ran his hand over your hair, smoothing it out.

“Hope you’re ready for when we get home, I’m not quite done with you or your perfect cunt yet, princess.”

He took your hands in his, holding them both above your head before switching to hold both wrists in one hand while the other ghosted down your half-naked side.

“Get used to this, love, I’m gonna tie these wrists to the bed and absolutely ruin you.”

You leaned in to press a kiss to his lips, smiling at him bashfully. “Thank you, daddy.”

“You’re most welcome, sweetheart, now let’s get you home shall we?”

You nodded quickly, letting him pull your dress into place before leading you quickly out of the shop, leaving Fred’s office in a state. You both were avoiding the gaze of others as you ducked away from the function, eager to be at home with only each other’s presence.

It was surely going to be an eventful night.

taglist // @pansydaisy @feetoffthetablee @darthwheezely @http-caitwo @omghufflepuff @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @loony-loopy-lupinn @Sky-ran-away @theweasleytwinsgirl @pandaxnienke @turtletaylor98 @whizboyhalo @georgeweasleysbabe @lilypad-55449 @gaycatlord-stuff @garyluly @asthmax @planetasteri-blog @the-unmanaged-mischief @hufflepuffalice @weasleysprofessionalhoe @jorduhnn @the-clearest @freds-slut

((to my taglist - sorry if this is something that isn’t for you but I really do hope you enjoy <3))

#roger davies x reader #roger davies #smut #harry potter fic #harry potter writing #harry potter smut #fred and george #roger davies smut

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chanel5designer · 3 years

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Macgyver 5x10 final scene continuation fanfic

....“Hiding your emotions. Did they go way?”

Riley stares deeply into Mac’s eyes, trying to decipher what she sees written on Mac’s face. There is such a raw intensity about it - a longing she’s spent many nights dreaming about but never really believed she would experience with Mac.

A little frown appears on her forehead as she replies, “Why does it matter Mac? You’re going to propose to Desi.”

A flash of hurt skates across his face. Brokenly he responds, “It changes everything, Riles. I admit that my desire to propose to Desi wasn’t as well thought out as it should have been.” He glances away from Riley and gets a faraway look in his eyes, “Ever since my dad died, and losing Jack, I’ve been searching for a way to stabilize and clarify my relationship with Desi. I thought that by making that grand gesture by proposing marriage would get us back on the right track in our relationship. Admittedly, not my best, but I am so tired of feeling alone, like I don’t really belong to anyone. The uncertainty was driving me nuts. Until your confession, I thought you only saw me as a really good friend. I love our friendship, and the thought of screwing it up terrifies me. You’re the most stable, secure relationship in my life. The thought of losing that paralyzed me. You know what I see when I look at you? You are the epitome of all that I ever wanted in a woman, but never thought I had the chance to have. You’re a smart, beautiful, resourceful genius hacker who knows how to improvise and has the kindest heart of all the people I know. You love fiercely and have saved me in every way imaginable. It’s always been you, ever since I unlocked your handcuffs and you joined me in this crazy, dangerous life. You drew me under your spell and slowly filled in all of the cracks that I didn’t know I had. You are my rock, my best friend, my home. So I need to know, am I too late?”

Shocked by what she hears, Riley takes a deep breath centering herself as her mind races with this new information. Tilting her head slightly to the side, she says, “You really thought proposing marriage was the answer to your relationship issues? Not your best idea Mac. I really thought you were happy with Desi. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you is to be happy. Before I answer your question, I need to know if I say yes, will you go back to your original plan and propose to Desi?”

“No. Desi and I were done the minute I heard your confession to Bozer. I think she too knew that we weren’t the right fit for each other, and was tired of trying to fix what proved to be an unfixable relationship. We agreed to break off our relationship for good just prior to today’s debriefing in the war room. I’ve spent the last few hours wrestling with what to do about your confession. Do I act on it or let it go? On the one hand, your confession was like being given a cold drink of water after getting lost in the desert. It soothed the voice in my head taunting me that I don’t really belong to anyone. My entire family is dead. I know our group at the Phoenix is family, but I wanted something more. Something deeper. A personal connection - a person to wholeheartedly love and who would love me with that same passion. On the other hand, hearing that I was breaking your heart gutted me. I feel horrible for having caused you pain. You’re the last person I ever wanted to hurt. Learning Leanna had been killed reinforced my desire to see you. Life is short. I don’t want to waste another moment wondering what might have been. I know, no matter what comes next, whether you confirm that those feelings you buried did in fact go away or not, the no knowing would be worse than taking the risk to find out if my own buried feelings for you are reciprocated.”

She looks deeply into his eyes, contemplating how to respond to all that she’s learned. Mac - her best friend Angus Macgyver - admitted to having feelings for her. Can she risk everything and tell him the truth? She’s never stopped loving him, and never will. Out of nowhere, a lyric pops into her head. If you want to know if he loves you so, it’s in his kiss. “Could it really be that easy?” she thinks.

“Let’s find out,” she thinks. Riley reaches up and snakes her arms around his neck drawing him in for a deep, passionate kiss. It was like nothing she’d ever imagined. It was so much better.

Surprised by her move, it takes Mac a second to react to the fact that he’s kissing Riley Davis. Once his brain registers what’s happening, he pours all of the longing and buried feelings into expressing how much she means to him. When he finally draws back to get some much needed air, he looks down at her. His Riley. He now understands what Bozer meant when he said he didn’t want to die before getting the chance to kiss Riley. Getting the chance is life changing.

Riley looks up at Mac checking to see his response because she’s wrecked right now. She’d imagined them kissing would be good, but this was exponentially better. She never wants to stop.

He looks as wrecked as she feels.

She realizes they are still standing in her door way and he could probably use a rest and an ice pack or three. She gently grabs his hand leading him to her couch pointing for him to sit down before going to her fridge and pulling out a couple bottles of his favorite beer and a bag of frozen carrots. He’s limping slightly and given the hell they’ve gone through, she knows he’s got to be covered in bruises.

“Do you want to live in a world of what if and might have been, or will you seize this opportunity to let out all of the emotions you’ve bottled up inside and come home?” She argues with herself.

She walks back over to the sofa, handing Mac his drink before sitting down on the chair across from him. He’s fidgeting. She grabs a paper clip and hands it to him. He smiles gratefully.

“Mac,” she whispers, “My feelings...they never left. No matter how much I suppressed them and tried to move on, I couldn’t. My heart has been and always will be yours. I’m never leaving you. It’s you and me no matter what.”

A huge grin breaks out on Mac’s face, causing the wound on his cheek to throb a bit. He lifts the frozen carrots to dull the pain and gets ready to speak.

Riley holds up a finger causing Mac to pause before speaking, “But Mac, I want to say a few things. While I still have feelings for you, I’m not ready to be in a relationship with you. Honestly, you’re not ready to be in a relationship with me either. I’m scared if we jump into this too quickly, it will flame out, making us just another failed statistic in the long list of Phoenix operatives whose relationships that haven’t worked. Besides we still have to work with Desi. Let’s be smart about this so that it doesn’t create a rift in the team. I have no intention of being your rebound, second choice or safety net. I need you to prove to me that we can still work together smoothly despite of our feelings. Show me that the knowledge of our feelings hasn’t compromised our ability to work together. I want you to promise me that you will be willing to work on finding healthier coping mechanisms to deal with your trauma. Maybe even talk to a therapist to see what kind of tools they have to help you process your negative emotions. I’ll go with you if you want to a session or two. It’d wreck me if I lost you because your body can’t handle all of the emotional trauma you’ve suffered and you ended up stuck in a panic attack like what happened in Kazakhstan on a future mission.”

His euphoria at their first kiss deflates a little bit at her words, but he understands where she’s coming from. He knew he needed to make some changes, not just for Riley but for himself. He admitted to himself that his erratic behavior was rooted in the fear of being alone.

“Does that mean I can’t ask you out on a date until I can prove to you that we can make this work professionally?”

“Let’s take a few months and focus on working on ourselves before we talk about going on dates and getting into a relationship. Don’t worry. We will still see each other and hang out. We will do it together, like we do everything else. You jump. I jump. You go boom, I go boom. So prove me wrong. Show me that not all Phoenix relationships have to end in heartbreak. Show me some of that infamous Angus Macgyver charm I’ve heard so much about. Sweep me off my feet if you can,” She smirked.

Grinning widely at the challenge issued, Mac replies, “I’m looking forward to it Miss Davis.”

Game on.

#riley davis #macriley #angus macgyver #macgyver #fanfic

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alindakb · 4 years

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Letters to my Parents - Saturday 16 July 1993 - by Alinda

Saturday 16 July 1993

Dear mom and dad,

I’m back at the Dursleys and the summer holiday is not even halfway done and I already want it to be done. As soon as I had come home Uncle Vernon had locked my spell-books, wand, cauldron and broomstick in the cupboard under the stairs. I have a lot of holiday homework I need to get done, so this was a big problem. And don’t be mad, but I picked the lock of the cupboard the first chance I had and grabbed the books I would need to do my homework. And now I study in the middle of the night. At least Hedwig is allowed to fly outside this year, so I can send and receive letters from my friends.

The last weekend at school was the best of the entire year. On Saturday morning Draco had to participate in an impromptu Quidditch match against Gryffindor. I went to watch it with all my friends and it was very exciting and fun, having both Gryffindors as Slytherin friends around me, screaming at each other in a friendly manner over the game. Ron and Greg are both very enthusiastic about Quidditch. Hermione and I just laughed at them half of the time for their crazy accusations of foul play. Blaise didn’t seem to be interested in the game at all and was talking with Daphne about summer holidays plans. Halfway to the game, Neville, Seamus and Dean joined us on the stands and joined in with the cheering for their house team.

I love watching Draco play. He’s really good and looks so beautiful on a broom. And now even more since he stopped putting so much grease in his hair and it falls more natural around his face. Mom, dad, I’m sorry, I’m hopelessly in love with him.

In the end, Slytherin won the match and Draco came to greet me with a sweaty kiss before heading to the showers. Daphne and Hermione wooed us and started laughing. Ron looked like he had just witnessed a murder being committed to the amusement of his brothers Fred and George (who are on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but didn’t seem all that upset with losing, their captain Wood, on the other hand, walked away with an angry scroll as soon as the game was finished because Terence had caught the Snitch). Come to think of it, that was our first kiss in front of others, I hadn’t realised until now. I wonder if Draco thought about that.

When Draco came back all showered and cleaned up we spend the rest of the afternoon hanging out on the stands until it was time for dinner. During dinner, we all sat down together at the Gryffindor table this time and Blaise his friend Luna (who’s in Ravenclaw) and Ron’s little sister Ginny joined us. We almost all eat together now, either at the Slytherin or the Gryffindor table. I hope we keep doing that when next year starts. It’s good to see everyone getting along. And even better is the fact that nobody cares that Draco and my hand are entwined non-stop. I miss his hand in mine here at home. I miss him a lot. He hasn’t written to me yet and he said it would be better if I would wait with writing to him until he was sure his father wouldn’t destroy my letters before he would be able to read them.

That last Saturday, Draco and I also had a party for our birthdays in the evening. It was a big success. All our friends came and Terence had enchanted a gramophone to play music non-stop. Fred and George had somehow managed to steal food from the kitchens and we danced and eat till it was time to go back to our common rooms because of curfew. We also took the time to open up all the presents our friends had gotten us. Hermione had gotten me a Broomstick Servicing Kit, with a large jar of Fleetwood’s High-Finish Handle Polish, a pair of gleaming silver Tail-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass to clip on our broom for long journeys and a Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broom-care. I know Draco was a bit jealous when he saw how happy I was with that present. The others had gotten me books about Quidditch or writing supplies. And Daphne had gotten me a scarf in Slytherin colours. Draco was also happy with his gifts that also included books about Quidditch, an identical scarf as mine and hair products. We ended with the gifts we had gotten each other and I was very nervous when I handed mine to Draco. He unpacked it and just stared at it for a long time without saying anything and I was afraid he didn’t like it until he looked at me with tears in his eyes saying it was perfect. According to Hermione, it was so cute to see us smile at each other like the world was perfect.

I had asked Dean to make a drawing of Draco and me. He draws with normal Muggle pencils, so the pictures don’t move, but he captured us in a happy perfect moment. And I’m so happy that Draco likes it. He said he will keep it under his pillow all summer so he can look it every time he misses me and can’t sleep because I’m not in his arms.

And his present for me was also perfect. My last letter I had to scrawl the last lines on the back cover of my notebook since I had ran out of pages and Draco has bought me a new notebook. It’s from a Muggle store, to make sure there would be no evil spirit in it to hurt us. And Draco has decorated it with magic so the cover changes colour according to my mood when I pick it up. It’s really awesome and just what I needed. He also got me a quill and ink set to write with. Hermione told me it’s a really expensive set and that I should cherish it. I told her that even if had been the cheapest quill in the world it would still be the quill I would cherish the most.

Before I knew it, it was already the 1st of July and we were on our way back to London with the Hogwarts Express. Our little group shared two compartments, walking in and out of them since one was too small to hold all of us. Daphne and Hermione are starting to become friends, talking about things girls find interesting and we boys don’t care about. We played Exploding Snap and practised disarming each other by magic. And at some point, Draco and I left them all alone to find an empty compartment so we could kiss some more before we would reach King Cross. I just hope it won’t be our last kiss for a long time and that we can find a way to see each other this summer, or at least that Draco will come back to Hogwarts in September and I can see him again. I wish he would write to me and tell me how things are going at his house.

Draco didn’t want to leave the train when we arrived at King Cross. He was afraid to face his father. He had written to his mother about what had happened in the last weeks of school and he hadn’t heard back from her and that scared him. It’s not normal for his mother to not write back. I told him that everything would be okay, that I would still love him even if he would go to Durmstrang. That we could write letters if that would happen and that we would find a way to see each other. What I didn’t tell him, was that I dread it just as much as him if we would not be at the same school anymore and that I’m scared of losing him over all this. Letting go of his hand before we stepped off the train was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, not knowing when I’ll be able to hold it again. But I need to believe we will be okay. I need us to be.

I still have bad days, where everything just seems to be too much. Draco gives me the strength to face those days and without him here, well some days I don’t leave my room at all. The Dursleys don’t care, they are happy to see as little as possible of me. Miss Davis has given me some exercises to do this summer that will help me fight the negative thoughts. She says they are Muggle techniques, so they don’t acquire me to use magic. I have to write down all my negative thoughts I have in a notebook she has given to me and then write behind them why they are not true and what I can think about instead to make it better. And I also have to write down when something good happens, so I can remember all the good things in my life when I’m having a bad day. I haven’t written down a lot of things yet since I’ve been mostly just been alone here. Writing down the negative thoughts is easier until I have to figure out why they aren’t true and what I should think instead. But I’m trying and that is all Miss Davis asked of me.

I’ll keep you informed of how my holiday is going and will let you know as soon as I know how Draco is doing.

Love you both,

Harry James Potter.

#letters to my parents #drarry #Harry Potter #summer break #dursley family #Draco Malfoy #depressed harry #but he's getting better #birthday party

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sumbarbietingz · 5 years

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Misjudged Life (beginning of the story)

Chapter 1

Book: Ride-Or-Die

Serie Rating: Mature 18+, contains sensitive subjects such as mental disorder(s), sexual assault, mental/physical/emotional abuse, and major character death. Read at your own risk.

Pairing: Logan x MC

MC: Emma Washington

Summary: What they all think: she’s just the daughter of a cop, whose life has been nothing but easy and the world has treated her fairly. What they don’t know: her traumatic past.

Words Count: 1992

@desiree-0816 This sweet and horribly wonderful person helped me with my story. I’d be completely lost without her so again Des thank you so much for your support and ideas this means the world to me❤️

I basically changed the plot but the story will still look the same as the original book Ride-Or-Die.

‼️IN NO WAY I’M ROMANCING DEATH, MENTAL HEALTH, RAPE OR ANYTHING, NOR COPYING THE MANGA THAT GAVE ME INSPIRATIONS FOR THE SERIE‼️

The last chapter was only a preview. The story starts now.

“Emma? Emma? Emma wake up!”

She slowly opens her big, narrow brown eyes, blinded by the light of the room. She groans a little bit before rubbing her eyes with the back of her hands, to fix her blurry vision, not properly seeing the person who talked to her. But quickly, when she comes to her senses, analyzing who’s talking to her, a small smile appears on her face. She sits and finally, she responds:

“Hi mommy.”

-New York, 2009

“Hi sweetheart! Did you sleep well today?” While the woman gently strokes her hair. Emma nods energetically, eyes full of happiness every time she would see her mommy. HER mommy.

“You know I had a pretty dream today” Pretty dream… that’s what she calls her nice dreams. Ugly dreams are obviously her nightmares.

“Really? What happened in your pretty dream baby?”

“Weeeeeeeeellll… You and daddy gave me a ponyyyy….” As she tilts her little head to the side while batting her eyelashes, a wide smile on her face, showing her pearly white baby teeth.

“I know this look, little missy.” She chuckles and picks her daughter up getting her out of the bed. She hugs her tightly caressing her tiny back. Emma wraps her arms around her mother’s neck, closing her eyes deeply inhaling the vanilla smell enveloping her. She pulls away and her mother puts her down.

“You know we talked about this a thousand times honey. You’re not responsible enough to take care of a pony. Look what happened to Mr. Pibbles.” She stands up and takes the little girl by her hand, both slowly walking out the room.

“But mommyyyyy! I fed him and did everything well!” She says looking up at her mommyyyyy, frustrated.

“That’s the problem baby, you gave him TOO much food. A hamster doesn’t need to eat so much you know? She opens the door of the little girl’s room, closes it behind them as they both walk towards the kitchen. She looks down and notices Emma with a sad face. It’s always breaking her heart to see her little sunshine like this. She sighs, stops in her track and kneels to face her tiny frame.

“Look, sweetheart. I’ll buy you a pet the day you’ll be ready okay?” Her face immediately lights up.

“Okay mommy!” She smiles again. It’s everything she needs. They keep walking and the closer they get to the kitchen, the stronger the smell of waffles is.

“Daddy made waffles?!” The excitement in her voice.

“Yes, baby and there’s a little surprise for you in the kitchen.” She smiles, her whole being filled with joy when she sees her daughter jumping and laughing. They both stand in front of the kitchen’s door, smiling at each other. Emma’s mother pushes the door and…

“SURPRISE!!!!!”

The little girl’s jaw drops when she sees pink and purple balloons all over the floor, the kitchen’s table filled with plates of bacon, waffles, pancakes with maple syrup and a bottle of orange juice. Her dad is holding a white strawberry vanilla cake, with purple straps on the side. On top of it, there’s an “8” candle in the middle of a giant “Happy Birthday Emma❤️” written graciously. It looks like her mommy’s handwriting.

“Happy birthday my love. Do you like our little surprise?” Her dad asks while he puts the cake on one of the last empty plates of the table, in the middle of it. Emma runs towards her daddy and wraps her arms around his hips. He caresses her little head and she looks up. Her eyes are full of stars, brighter than any galaxy in the universe. There’s no signs of sadness in them. Only happiness and an ocean of joy.

“I love it! Thanks, daddy!” He looks at her and can’t help but smiles widely. He can’t get enough of her beautiful face and her innocence. Every time he sees her, he sees her beautiful wife. They had Emma at 18, but they took their responsibilities and raised her. They are the women of his life and he wouldn’t change it for the world. He chuckles.

”Mommy almost did everything, my love. Right, Anelia?”

Anelia walks towards her family and caresses her husband’s cheek, looking at him tenderly. He puts his left hand over her’s.

"You don’t know how cute you look with her, Davis.” She says looking down at their adorable girl.

Davis brings her hand to his mouth and kisses it lightly.

“I know but you look even cuter with her love”

Anelia looks at both of them for a moment, then deep breathes.

”I have something to tell you two”

Emma cocks an eyebrow and looks at her mother.

”What mommy?”

”Yeah, what mommy?” Davis replies playfully.

Anelia takes a step back and exhales slowly.

”Well, it looks like Emma’s going to be a big sister”

Emma gasps in surprise and Davis stares at his wife. He doesn’t know if he’s hallucinating or if it’s real.

”What?”

”I’m 5 weeks pregnant, I took a test earlier. I wanted to te-”

She can’t finish that he crashes his lips to hers and little Emma in disgust, closes her eyes and turns around. He hugs her tightly and feels tears blurring his vision. He cups her cheeks with his hands and he sees that she’s crying as well. He wipes her tears with his thumbs. She leans in and kisses him gently, inhaling the smell of his cologne.

”Are you done now?” They both stop to look at their daughter still not facing them. Davis laughs, picks her up and sways her around, causing her to giggle. He hugs her tightly and Anelia hugs her as well. Emma closes her eyes, wrapping her small arms tightly around her father’s neck.

”I’m gonna be a big sister… Thank you, mommy, thank you, daddy.”

They hold each other a moment before finally eating what they made for Emma’s birthday. A while later, after Emma cleaned up, the three of them take a walk in Central Park. They buy her an ice cream and a huge teddy bear as her birthday gift. It’s almost as tall as her. In the evening they all come back to their apartment and they decide to watch a DVD in the living room. They watched ”Up” but they couldn’t finish it; they all fell asleep. Emma managed to finish the whole thing while thinking the whole time:

”It’s the best birthday I’ve ever had”

Once she’s done watching the DVD, she cuddles next to her mom and finally… She sleeps.

Two weeks later

The Washington family is sitting in the living room in the evening, watch a DVD again and this time everyone pays attention to it. Once it’s done, Emma yawns and prepares to go to sleep.

”Do you want me to accompany you to your bed sweetheart?” Her mom’s asks.

”No mommy it’s okay I can go by myself” She replies.

”Our little girl is growing up babe.” Davis says as he takes his little girl in his arm.

”You’re right daddy!”

He can’t help but chuckles then hug her tightly.

”But know that you’ll always be my little baby. No matter what happens, I’ll always love you sweetie pie.”

”Me too daddy. Promise?”

”Promise.” He kisses her cheek and puts her down. She hugs Anelia as well.

”Goodnight my heart. Mommy loves you so much.” She kisses Emma’s forehead.

”Me too mommy.” She pulls away and walks out of the living room, leaving her parents. Once she’s in her bedroom, she jumps to her bed and holds her huge teddy. Slowly, her eyelids become way too heavy for her to resist the urge to sleep. A few hours later in the middle of the night, Emma wakes up because of a loud noise in the living room.

”Mommy and daddy had an argument again?” She gets out of the bed and takes her teddy with her. She’s still sleepy but she makes the effort to leave her room. She rubs her eye with the back of her hand as she walks down the dark hallway. She keeps walking and rubbing her eye, already missing her soft bed sheets. Once she stops rubbing her eye, she looks around searching for her parents in the living room, still sleepy.

”Mommy? Dad-” Once she lays her eyes on her dad, she’s paralyzed. She drops her teddy bear in shock. She can’t move, can’t think nor scream. Her eyes are filled with tears. Her heart beating like crazy in her chest. She can barely breathe. She feels her knees getting weaker and weaker every second. Her whole tiny body is shivering in fear. She’s about to piss herself but when she sees her mom on the couch, things only get way worse for her mental health. They are both covered in blood, no more sign of life in them. The curtain is torn. The huge window has red stains. The coffee table isn’t placed like it used to be. The vase they bought 3 years ago is on the floor, broken. The smell of their blood everywhere is filling her nose. Tears are running down her cheeks she can’t even control herself. She’s about to throw up from disgust and shock when a tall figure appears in front of her. She looks up, terrified he would kill her as well. She wants to run, to scream, to kick him, do ANYTHING but she can’t. She’s still paralyzed. The man has a knife in his right hand. It’s covered in blood. Her beloved parent’s blood. She’s praying this was just an ugly dream. She’s praying she would wake up and find her parents sitting on her bed, smiling at her. But the horrible truth is that she will never see them again. She will never see her mommy smile or hear her laugh like she did every day. She will never see her daddy cooking delicious meals and acting like a fool to make her and Analia laugh out loud. All of this will never happen ever again. The intruder has a maniacal smile on his face. His teeth are crooked and his face has red stains as well. His clothes are bloodied. He kneels to face her properly. His face is inches from hers. Then he speaks.

“Ohohoooo so you’re finally here~”

His voice is deep and hoarse. He sounds like he’s completely enjoying the situation. The situation he caused.

”Don’t be so scared honey I just want to have some fun with you. I observed you for a long time you know?” She can’t believe this is happening. She wants it to stop. She’s completely terrified and she wishes she could do something but fear has taken complete control of her.

”I’m soooooo sorry for your parents but they were too agitated so I calmed them down~” He plays with his bloody knife in front of her, almost taunting her. He’s about to grab her when they both ears sirens coming closer in the night. He sighs.

”This must be this fucking neighbor. Okay, little one. When the cops will come here, Don’t you dare talk about me got it? If you do, I’ll kill you~ Even if I get locked up, when I’ll be out, I’ll come to kill you.~” He slowly wipes his bloody knife on her cheek, causing her to shiver even more.

”Such a waste that I have to leave you now. But don’t worry. I’ll come back, and it’s gonna be a lot funnier when you’ll grow up into a beautiful young woman Emma~”

He gets up and leaves by the door like nothing happened. This sentence would leave her in fear forever. A few minutes later, a bunch of cops burst into the apartment and find a little girl completely stuck, watching in horror her parents dead. They bring her to the police station, try to get her name but she can’t tell them. She’s scared to death and totally broken. She lost the two persons she loves the most. Her little heart is shattered in a million pieces, only leaving in her an empty hole filled with pain and sorrow.

Tag list

@leelee10898 @desiree-0816 @indiacater @client-327

#choices rod #rod fanfiction #rod mc #choices fanfiction #dark fanfiction

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rmg91 · 5 years

Text

The Woes and Antics of Living Together-4

....This chapter started strong but I feel it ended kind of meh. I'm sorry for that but it just didn't want to cooperate no matter how much I tried to rewrite it. But then again, I wrote it so I see it is as yuck *shrugs*

The Snack Pack has made an appearance! Yay!

Enjoy.

Previous Chapter/Next Chapter; AO3/FF.net

@writerofberk CHAPTER 4!!! (hopefully tumblr alerts you)

~*~*~*~*~*~

Living with Poppy was proving to be...an experience for Branch. If she wasn't dancing around the apartment singing along with some annoying pop song or scrapbooking, she was out with her friends either at a party or off on some crazy scheme and Branch often wondered how she had time to study or actually get to get class with how busy she seemed. Of course she also constantly tried to get him to go along with her, thinking it would be easier now that they lived together but his answer was and would always be 'No'. At least she had yet to invite her equally crazy group of friends over since he had moved in but Branch had a feeling it was only a matter of time till their place was invaded.

Walking across campus one late afternoon about a week and half after moving in, Branch was hoping to make it to the news stand to grab a paper before they closed as he was starting to go just a little stir crazy without having a job already. He also wanted to hurry before Poppy inevitably found him and distracted him like she did, which was the other reason he needed an excuse to be out of the apartment. He was already losing what little resistance he had against her and it hadn't even been a month yet! Maybe he should reconsider this whole arrangement they had...

But then he'd be right back where he had been and the prospect of living under a bridge still wasn't very inviting and at least if he stayed with Poppy he'd have a real roof over his head. But then he'd still have to deal with her sunny optimism and her lovely, over-the-top singing, plus the adorable way she wiggled or bounced around when she was excited. Not to mention the way she just lit up when something made her so happy or the way she bit her lip when she was concentrating or even the way she'd pout and glare at him in such a way that was both cute and attractive and made him want to just kiss her and tell her all the poetry he'd written about her gorgeous smile and endearing freckles and-

Branch growled and tugged at his hair, No, no, no, no! Stop it! This was why he shouldn't be living with her! He was just falling even deeper down the rabbit hole than he already was! Stupid, stupid, stupid! She was never going to love him back! She only saw him as a friend and she didn't need him complicating her life with his greyness and she was so infuriating and impossible and beautiful and adorable and wonderful and-and-and...

And currently standing in front of him looking concerned.

"Branch?"

"Aaaaahhh!!!!" He screamed, jumping back from her, "Don't do that!"

Poppy placed her hands on her hips and raised an eyebrow at him, "Then don't just stand in the middle of the sidewalk freaking out about something." She tilted her head to the side, "You okay, by the way? Wanna talk about it?"

He frowned at her, "No. I'm fine." Like he would tell her.

"Come on, tell me. I'm sure you'll feel better."

"No." He shoved his hands into his pockets as he looked away, "There's nothing to talk about because I'm fine."

"Uggh, fine." Poppy rolled her eyes, "So stubborn. So!" And now she was back to being almost overbearingly perky, "What's for dinner, Roomie?"

Branch gave a silent sigh of relief as she let it go, "I was thinking chicken and broccoli casserole with some salad."

"Mmmm~ Sound yummy!" She smiled sweetly up at him, "I gotta say you could make it as a professional chef one day if you wanted to. You're cooking's the best!"

"I just follow the recipe. Not a big deal."

"I mean it!" She lightly smacked his arm, "I enjoy your cooking, Branch. And anyway..." The pinkette started walking toward the parking lot, "I had something I wanted to ask you."

"What?" He should've known she was trying to butter him up for something.

Poppy worried her lip between her teeth as she fiddled with the strap of her bag before blurting out, "Would you be okay with the Pack coming over tonight?!"

Branch, momentarily distracted by the way she had bit her lip, blinked to clear his head, "What?"

"Please? It's not for a party! Well...it sort of is... But a study party, you see? Not like the super, amazing one from this weekend you totally should've come to! And anyway! We always get together to study on Tuesdays and it's my turn to host and since you live with me now and I promised as part of our deal I'd let you'd know when we'd have company over, I'm letting you know, you know? So are you going to be okay with them coming over tonight?"

It took Branch a second to decode her fast paced rambling and when he did, he groaned. He knew it, he just knew he'd have to deal with her friends sooner rather than never.

"Oh, come on, Branch. It's not that bad. You could join us! It'll be fun!"

"No." He liked to actually study and not sit around listening to gossip all night.

"Please~?" She clasped her hands under her chin and gave him that wide eyed, puppy dog look again.

Branch frowned and looked away, he wouldn't fall for that stupid look again, "No, Poppy. I'm not studying with your friends."

"They're your friends too."

"Pretty sure they're just your friends."

"Our friends."

"Your friends."

"Our friends, don't fight it."

Before Branch could continuing arguing the voice he hated most cut in, "Trouble in roommate paradise already?"

"Hi, Creek~" Poppy smiled at the guru, "And no, I'm just trying to convince Branch he should join our study sesh tonight."

Creek nodded, "Of course. They do say the more the merrier and all." He then turned to Branch with that fake pleasant smile he always wore when interacting with him, "Join us, won't you, Mate?"

"No thanks. I'd rather come back to study in the library." Branch deadpanned.

"Ah," Creek tsked, casually putting an arm around Poppy, "But I'm afraid the library's a might closed tonight. Shame, isn't it?"

Branch bit back the growl that was threatening to escape, "Then I guess I'll just study in my room."

"What's the harm joining us, Hm? A little company could do you some good."

"I'd rather study on my own." He then stormed off.

Poppy sighed as she watched her roommate march off, "Well...I don't really know what that was about. Still, I wish he'd join us. We could have so much fun..."

"Worry not, Love. I'm sure he'll come around eventually. Just give him some more time and that glowing positivity of yours will be sure to work it's magic."

She giggled, "Alright." She wiggled out of grasp and grinned at him, "So I'll see you tonight?"

"Indeed you will~"

"Great~ See ya later!" And then she was running off to catch up with her grump of a roommate.

~*~*~*~*~*~

A little while later found Branch and Poppy cleaning up the kitchen after dinner. As Branch sealed up the leftovers, Poppy was singing and dancing in place as she washed the dishes. Slipping the food in the fridge, the dark haired man came up beside her and grabbed a towel to dry the clean utensils. Poppy, smiling as she sung, bumped her hip against his in an attempt to get him to play along, Branch simply ignored her.

"When the workin' day is done, Oh! Girl's just wanna have fuuuun~!" She sung with a flourish before flashing a smile at Branch, "Sooo, Branch! My man~ You sure you don't wanna join us tonight? It'll be fun~ Eh? Eh?"

"Yes, Poppy. I'm sure." He answered tiredly.

She pouted, "Oh come on. You can't just locked yourself in your room all the time! We had a deal."

"A: Excuse me for wanting a little privacy while you have your friends over. And B: I haven't been locking myself up," He gestured to his books sitting on the table, "So your argument's invalid." An obnoxious knock suddenly filled the apartment, "And that's my cue to leave."

Grabbing his books, Branch made his way down the hall leaving a pouting Poppy in the kitchen. "Spoil sport!" She called after him before answering the door.

"Guys! Hey!"

"Hey, girl~!" Fashion crazy twins Satin and Chenille Couture greeted.

"'Sup, Pops?" Saluted Suki Akiyama, DJ extraordinaire.

"Hi, Poppy~" Waved soft-hearted Brian 'Biggie' Cordon.

"What'up? What'up?!" Bounced Cooper P. Davis.

"The fabulousness has arrived!" Guy Diamond said, tossing his glittery, silver hair back.

"Let's wreak this homework!" Cried Susan 'Smidge' Riley, the shortest yet strongest of them all.

"Hello, Poppy." Greeted Creek from behind them all.

"Come on in!" The pinkette invited with a wave of her as she moved to the side to let her friends in.

The group of multi-hued haired friends made their way inside, books, bags and snacks getting dropped onto the coffee table as they made themselves comfortable. Cooper flopped down on one of the beanbags, almost tipping over before righting himself with a giggle. Satin and Chenille took a few cushions on the floor, Chenille smoothing her skirt out while her sister began pulling out binders and pens from their designer bags. Guy and Suki made themselves comfortable on the couch with Biggie between them, organizing supplies into neat piles. Smidge crashed in the free beanbag, dumping her stack of books beside her before pulling her bright teal hair back into a tight ponytail. Creek helped Poppy quickly gather some drinks and brought them over before taking a spot on the floor, leaving the armchair for Poppy.

"Alright!" She exclaimed as she clapped her hands together, "What's on the agenda tonight, you guys?"

"We've got some French to go over but first..." Started Satin, sharing a look with her sister.

"You've got to tell us what it's like with your new grumpy roommate." Chenille finished.

Biggie nodded, "Oh, yes. How is Branch adjusting?"

"I still can't believe you're letting him live with you." Smidge said, "Just remember if he tries anything, say the word and he'll get a pounding." She punctuated her statement by hitting her fist against her other hand.

Poppy laughed, "That won't be necessary, Smidge. And, come on, he's our friend and he needed help. I wasn't going to let him live in a box somewhere."

"Yes, we know, Love." Creek patted her knee, "Your kindness knows no bound."

"Seriously though, Pops'," Suki spoke up, "Things going alright?"

"Of course! He keeps to himself." She waved a hand in the direction of their rooms, "But I know he'll warm up soon."

"Hey!" Cooper cried suddenly before stuffing a chip in his mouth, "Maybe we should get him to join us?!"

"Cooper! Snacks for later!" Scolded Biggie.

"And I already tried, Coops. Multiple times. He's being stubborn right now." Poppy said, crossing her arms, "But just wait, I'll get him to part of our study group some day!"

"Okie-dokie!"

"Alright, alright. Enough gossip about Branch..." Guy said before striking a pose, "Let's talk about me instead~! And the delicious date I went on~"

The group made noises of intrigue, 'ooh'ing at Guy before Creek cut in, "You can tell us all about it after some we've done some work. That's the whole point of tonight, Guy."

"You're just jealous, Darling. Admit it."

Creek smirked, "Extremely. Come now, everyone. We can hear all of Guy's tawdry details in a little bit."

There were whines and complaints but soon all the young adults settled into their routine. As papers were shuffled and books opened talk turned to their various subjects, some offering advice if they could, others giving help in the form of checking things over and of course there was always the positive comments of 'You can do it!' whenever anyone got stuck. They spent a few good hours like that before finally calling a break to snack and listen to Guy talk all about his latest date.

Branch found them like this, clearly gossiping and not studying, when he ventured out into the kitchen for a snack of his own. Rolling his eyes, he dipped into the fridge for a water bottle before leaning against the edge of the counter, unable not to quip, "Wow. You guys look like you're studying so hard."

Poppy turned around from her seat and stuck her tongue out at him, "Stop. We're just taking a break."

"And how long has this 'break' been, hmm?"

"That's none of your business."

"Uh-huh." Branch turned around but before he could go far Cooper suddenly spoke.

"Hey! Did you and Branch ever christen his moving in?"

Poppy gasped and Branch had a sudden bad feeling, he should've stayed in his room, "Oh My Gosh! No!" She flew out of her chair and into the kitchen, "Branch, don't go anywhere!"

"What are you doing?" He asked as she reached into the cabinets and pulled out a couple of shot glasses before digging around their few liquor bottles.

"Housewarming shots!" She cried happily, brandishing a bottle of Creme de Cerise, sour cherry flavored creme liquor.

"No way!" Branch denied, "I'm not taking shots with you."

"Oh, come on. One won't hurt you. Plus it's tradition! It's how we celebrate moving into a new place now."

"Yeah! It's tradition!" Chimed the twins.

"No. There is no way I'm doing this."

"Please? Just one."

"No."

"There's nothing wrong with a shot now and again."

"Poppy, I said no."

"A celebratory shot isn't going to kill you, Branch. Live a little for once!"

"Fine! If it'll get you to shut up!" He finally shouted.

Poppy pursed her lips, "There's no need to shout, Branch. And thank you."

Pouring the liquid quickly into the tiny cups, Poppy handed one to her grouchy roommate as their friends watched on. Flashing a grin at him, she downed hers and gave him an expectant look for him to take his. Branch grimaced at the red alcohol before knocking it back quickly.

"Ack!" He gagged, "What the hell is that shit?! It's disgusting!"

Poppy rolled her eyes, "It is not. You just have no taste."

Branch coughed and took a deep drink from his water bottle, "Yeah, sure, that's it." Shaking his head, he turned away, "Whatever. I'm going back to back to my work." Making a grab for the fruit bowl, his hand found nothing but air, "Hey...Where's the last peach?"

"Oh, sorry, Branch." Cooper answered, "I ate that a little while ago."

Branch glared at the blue dread-locked man as Poppy replied, "No worries. We can just get some more. Right, Roomie?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever." Branch growled before marching back to his room.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Snack Pack left a little while later with smiles and promises to see each other the next day. Closing the door with a happy sigh, Poppy flipped the locks before skipping back into the living room to finish cleaning up. Humming to herself, Poppy tried to think of a way to make it up to Branch for the miseaten peach. Bouncing in place as an idea occurred to her, she went to the kitchenette and began gathering ingredients.

No one could resist a fresh chocolate chip cookie!

She easily whipped up a batch, not even bothering with a recipe having made these so many times before and was soon pulling the pans out of the oven. Taking a deep inhale and dancing in place as the smell of her childhood swirled around her, Poppy was sure this would cheer Branch up. She placed a few onto a plate and happily went down the hall. Knocking softly just in case he was asleep, Poppy quietly opened the door before pausing in surprise.

He was sitting at his desk, back to her and pencil tapping on the surface while his radio played faintly but that wasn't what had her pausing.

"I'm outta my head hopelessly devoted to you. Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you..."

So he did still sing! And while she had thought he had a nice voice when they were kids, puberty had very kind to him, he sounded like a downright angel. Poppy closed her eyes and enjoyed it for a moment as he sung along with the radio, wondering briefly why he didn't want to share that beautiful voice with the world. Then she realized she was eavesdropping and closed the door before he could noticed her, not wanting to ruin what little trust he was developing for her.

She stood there for a moment and then knocked loudly, acting as if she hadn't heard anything at all, "Hey, Branch! I made cookies! Thought you may want some~"

He opened the door a few seconds later, an incredulous look on his face, "You just randomly decided to make cookies at almost ten at night?"

"Yep~!" She offered the plate to him, "They're fresh from the oven. Also, the gang's gone now, so you can come out at anytime."

Branch eyed the cookies for a moment before taking them from her, "Thanks. Maybe when I'm done with this paper."

She shrugged, "Alright. You live here too after all and can do what you want. And...sorry if I've been maybe a little pushy about somethings. Just really excited you're here, you know?"

Branch fought the urge to blush as he took a few moments to reply to the sudden, random apology from her,"...Yeah..no, it's fine. I wouldn't expect anything less from you."

She grinned and giggled, "Okay~ I'm gonna go take a shower now but feel free to help yourself to more cookies if you want them!"

He watch her disappear into the bathroom before shrugging and turning to close his door again but before he could she suddenly popped back out with a cry, "Oh wait!"

She was then hugging him from behind before he knew it, "What are you doing?!"

"It's called a hug, Branch."

"Yeah, I know that! Why are you doing it?!"

Poppy giggled, "Because I can and because you needed one." She let him go with a cheeky grin, "That wasn't so bad was it?"

He glared at her silently.

"Glare all you want. I have no regrets." She then spun back toward the bathroom, "Night, Branch! Don't stay up too late!"

"You're crazy!" He called after her.

His response from her was only a giggle as she closed the door. Sighing and shaking his head, Branch closed his own door and wondered why she was so crazy.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Was I too obvious with Branch's song choice? Maybe but I don't care! Anyway, donno why Biggie and Smidge got real first names but they did XD And aww~ Tiny-ish Broppy moment, also good girl Poppy, don't let him know you were listening to him...but next time just don't do that XP

I hope you all enjoyed!

Song credit: "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"-Cindi Lauper

"Hopelessly Devoted to You"-Grease (Glee version used as visual however)

#Dreamworks Trolls #Broppy #Branch #Poppy #Fanfiction #Human AU #Modern AU #Snack Pack #Roommate AU

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couturebabi · 4 years

Text

devil’s couture

an original piece written by

couturebabi

chptr 1

Feeling sunlight kiss her eyes. She awoke from her deep slumber. Is what she would’ve wanted to happen. Instead, having a rude awakening to the blaring alarm clock with droll written all over her face. Only five minutes till she had to leave, quickly getting up, showering, doing all the things she needs to do in the time of lightspeed. Rushing to get into the car, dread filled her head with the thought of junior year. She turns her mind to other things. Like her future, music, or all the love ridden thoughts of her new boyfriend.

Noticeably the droll returned to invade her lips as she thinks of him. Tall, dark, and handsome. The one and only Brody Miller. Apollo kissed each and every one of his features with a gorgeous sun dipped tan. Muscles gripping his tight knitted shirt, showing off his body in all the right ways. Inked black hair rich with fullness clasped onto his scalp, his natural waves showing when he doesn’t style it. Deep, dark brown globes engulfed his eyes. Intimidating but sensual, his thick lashes laid upon the orbs. What was there not to like about Brody? His laugh was contagious, his smile made every girl woo, and oh god his lips. Like dark fuchsia rose petals, kneaded with feathers and cotton. Feeling his kiss, was like how the ocean felt when it’s calm and at bay.

The sudden jolt of the cars breaks pulled her out of her train of thought. Quickly jumping out of the vechile, heading towards the small beige and maroon building. A cloud of distain hanging over her head all in the meanwhile. Going to a small school was tough, having no friends while going to a small school was even more so difficult. Entering the building, trudging up the long hallway of stairs. Basically having to climb her way through a plethora of hormonal, smelly teenagers. Thinking to herself, “They really need to redo those stairs. Too small of a hallway, too tall of stairs. Jesus fuck, my calves are gonna be toned as shit.” Reaching the top of mount everst, she was greeted with another hallway filled with, you guessed it, the smell of body odor with faces filled with braces and acne. Having to shove her way through the mounds of moody teens, to finally be rewarded with the satisfactory of seeing her classroom.

Walking into the classroom, her senses suddenly scream with anxiety. Seeing familiar unfriendly faces, reminding her of all their shittyness. Looking around the room, she tries to find an empty table to sit at, to avoid any uncomfortable polite conversation. Spotting an empty desk, the chatter of the classroom bombarded her mind. High-pitched and bitchy tones shrill with fakeness mid-conversations of reintroductions and summer vacations. “Oh my god, Stacy I’m so happy to see you! Wow can’t believe we couldn’t hangout this summer.” Rolling her eyes at the faux sorrow, she tuned her listening to other conversations being tossed about the classroom. Hearing the so obvious attempted ‘deep’ voices, she turns her attention to the pubescent 17 year old ‘men’. “Dude wow can’t believe we did that crazy shit over summer, I mean we totally pulled so many bitches - like you don’t even know, you don’t even know.” Bile quickly flooded her throat, only to be forcibly pushed back down.

Sighing with contempt, she makes better use of her time and pulls out her notebook and pencil. “Nice to see everyone again!” A booming authoritive voice fills the classroom. Gaining everyone’s attention, Mr.Remi enters the class, taking front position in front of the whiteboard. Nonsense chatter dies down as he continues his introduction to the class. “Recognizing all of you from our past three years of English, hopefully you all know that this is English 101. If this is not your class on your schedule, I’d recommend going to your first period.” Everyone’s attention is on Mr.Remi, a few whispers are passed between fellow classmates, as he starts taking attendance.

Name after name being called, waiting for mine to be called next. “Rebecca Olson?” Recognizing the name, my eyes scan the room as I look for my not-so-sort-of-friend. A timid knock echoes through the class, behind the door stood Rebecca. Plain Jane type of girl, standing there almost taller then Mr.Remi, with books in hand. “Decided to show up?” He remarks snarkly. “Sorry, traffic.” Rebecca explained as she makes her way torwards the empty seat next to me. I give a quiet hi, as attendence continues. I might have understated that I didn’t have any friends at this school. But Rebecca’s and I’s friendship is quite a complicated one, but that’s for another time. “Dior Adeline?” Mr.Remi calls in a monotone voice, clearing my throat to respond I give a half heartedly, “Here.”

Finishing up attendence, Mr.Remi writes a refresher prompt on the whiteboard hanging on the puke green wall. Chatter is back at the same frequency as students work on the prompt. “So... how’s Brody?” Rebecca attempts to spark up a conversation. Feeling some sort of way about her asking about my boyfriend, I ignore the initial gut suspicion and respond. “Oh he’s fine I guess. I had a lot of fun with you this summer.” Okay, I definitely understated that I didn’t have any friends. Rebecca and I did hangout throughout the summer, but seriously still we have a weird history. “Me too! I thought it was kinda funny how Angela responded to the whole Brody situation.” This girl knows me better then she should, I do love a bit of gossip.

To give a bit of vital background information, cliff notes version, Angela Davis used to be my best friend of fives years. Then she started to make some body shaming comments about me, which upstarted my ed and body image issues, so I stopped being friends with her. During the time I was friends with her, she and our other mutual friend Karen Bishop, had a massive crush on, you guessed it bitch, Brody fucking Miller. So after I stopped being friends with the two of them, I slid into Brody’s dms unapologetically.

“Holy shit, I know right? All the petty subtweets - I can’t. Like and the football game though?? Literally this bitch came up to my face and asked me to stop seeing him. When I’m literally not even her friend anymore. I seriously can’t even make this shit up.” Unable to keep my mouth shut about this whole situation, Rebecca laughs at my obvious pettiness. “I mean like, sure we can both agree that it was a bit shady of what you did sort of, but even then like - not really? Like you ended that friendship, for good reason, and went after what you wanted. Which unfortunately is what Angela wanted too.” Shaking my head, agreeing with Rebecca about how it was a bit shady and turning our attention back to the prompt.

#journal #couturebabi #writing #devil’s couture

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sawthingsiimagined · 7 years

Text

A NEW ME -1

[ Let Just Keep It Real - JADA ]

I admit it. I wasn’t happy about leaving the tour, pausing the group and returning home to Agusta. I had grown accustomed to big cities, big lights and the variety of people, especially men, that I was able to encounter daily while on the road with my FLAME crew. I didn’t want to rob Jace of his high of going solo and joining the Miguel tour but I was going to definitely miss him. We sacrificed so much of our lives to sing and do what we love. Now I’m headed home to be a 20-year-old mom. I’d be 21 in a couple of months but either way, I didn't feel that I was ready. My parents were so disappointed in me. So much so that grandpa was the only one that extended a hand of mercy to me. I guess seeing that everyone was so opinionated and had done all but kicked me out, he decided that I needed some type of support.

For now, I have told my family that Q was the father although I was uncertain. Once I knew for sure I’d feel a lot better. Luckily he just received a slap on the wrist since he hired a great lawyer. He would be released by the end of the week and hopefully, I could get some answers regarding his lifestyle. I was extremely nervous about telling him about the baby. What I needed to do first was make sure that Ernest wasn’t the father. What the hell would I say if my security guard turned out to be the father of my child? Granted, Ernest was a beautiful man and seemed like a sweet person but I didn’t make it my business to get to know him outside of our sex sessions.

Thinking about everything now honestly made me consider terminating the pregnancy. I was against it morally but I do believe that women should have the choice. I knew I was thinking crazy so I was glad when Adrienne decided to stop by for a visit. She decided to leave the tour and help me out with things concerning the unborn baby.

“Come in,” I said while laying on my bed.

“Hey trick. How are you feeling?” she asked.

“Today is a good day. I’m just a little tired and don’t feel like getting out of this damn bed girl,” I said.

“Ok. Enough with the pleasantries. Catch me up on what’s going on. Have you found out who the baby daddy is?” she said with her super arched eyebrows raised.

Adrienne was the only one aware that I wasn’t quite sure who the father of the child may be. I hadn’t even told Jace. He and I had yet to have a real sit down to discuss what was happening in our separate lives. I knew that I was missing much of what was going on with him because he was busy recording and rehearsing for the upcoming tour. I really needed my brother but I had already placed so much strain on us with this pregnancy I figured I’d spare him the details about the paternity issues.

“Well, honestly I don’t know what my next move should be. I did go ahead and make an appointment with my doctor. I’m planning to talk to Ernest tonight about the possibility of it being his baby. I’m not sure exactly where he is since I’ve come back home. He’s not securing Jace. I know that much,” I said with a blank stare.

“Well, that’s enough of a plan. That may be the hardest part about all of this,” she said.

“No the hardest part is that I can’t have sex and I don’t know how to contact Q. His phone it turned off. Probably has a new number,” I said.

“First of all, you can still have sex. I actually heard it was good for the baby so don’t fret. And yeah, I’ll help you try to get in contact with him,” she said while standing to leave. “What you don’t know is that while you were creeping around with Q, I was getting to know one of his assistants named Bryan. I can text him and get the juice on what’s going on,” she said with a sneaky smirk on her face.

“You damn hoe. When were you gonna tell me this?” I said sitting up in the bed so I could look her in the eye.

“Well, it was just a thing that happened one night we were all at the club. Girl, I’ve been getting to know a lot of guys on this tour. I had my fun. Hate it had to come to an end but whatever,” she said. I immediately felt a rush of unwarranted guilt flush over me.

“I’m so sorry. I allowed my actions to take food out of everyone’s mouth. I really didn’t mean for it to end this way,” I said on the brink of tears. My hormones were doing the most lately and today I was extremely emotional.

Adrienne ran over to hug me. “Girl, life happens. We had fun and we’ll have more fun. Our first responsibility to each other is to be family first. The work was just a bonus. There are other faces that I can beat and other booties I can dress. Don’t underestimate me, diva,” she said with a warm smile.

She left the room and laid back down to figure out how I would address Ernest. He was there to do one thing and that was to secure me. Now he may be my baby’s daddy. When hoeing goes wrong.

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

[ On My Own - Jace ]

I’m going to come back before the rehearsal to pick you up so we can ride together,” Demarion said while placing kisses on my cheek, lips, and forehead.

“Ok, dude. Get off of me so I can have this conference call,” I said while play fighting him off of me.

“See you later man,” he said flashing that toothy smile that melts me before leaving my room.

Things were happening so quick. I could barely keep up but this is the life I signed for. It was just different now that all of the attention was on me. We had one more week left before I left to join Miguel on his U.S. Tour. The first stop would be Austin, TX. I knew I needed to call home and check in. I really needed to make sure Jada was cool with our decision and hopefully, she could come to my first show. I had written recorded 4 new songs for my set and was about to release an EP in a few days. Between rehearsals, meetings and kissing up Demarion, I hadn’t much extra time for a long phone conversation. I planned to go home before the tour. I was in Atlanta currently and my hometown of Augusta, Ga was only a few hours away. Mona had me set up in the heart of the city at the Aloft Hotel, Downtown, Atlanta. The only people currently here were her, the band and I. I opted to keep the same band that we had on the previous tour because we meshed so well. The conference call we were having today would decide who else we would keep or bring on for the new tour.

Things were moving fast but felt good. Luckily Demarion was in the city to keep me company and it helped a lot that he was actually from Atlanta so he was able to take me to some of the citie’s staples in between rehearsals. This morning we woke up and went running around the trail at Piedmont park and grabbed some smoothies from a unique juice bar called Arden’s Garden. We were supposed to eat lunch later but I haven’t been hungry lately. I’m sure it was still from the butterflies I was having. Strange enough, Demarion and I hadn’t discussed what we were or what we would be after sharing our common attraction for each other. With everything going on it didn’t quite matter but I still found myself daydreaming when he wasn’t around. He made me feel a way that no one had ever made me feel. We hadn’t done anything sexual only kisses, cuddles and hugs. That alone made me feel connected to him and gave me wet dreams. I even caught myself being jealous. This morning when were running he had his shirt off. His chocolate colored body was glistening and his big chest bounced at every step. He had on his earbuds listening to trap music, I’m sure, and didn’t notice me admiring him. That’s when I caught a girl wearing a yellow sports bra and running tights running towards us. She almost tripped when she saw him coming around the curb. That part was cool. However, she had the nerve to turn around and run behind us the rest of the way. It took everything in me not to stop us mid-run and tongue him down right there in the middle of the park. I let her have her fantasy gaze that day but I gave her an ugly glare to let her know ‘you can look but you won’t touch’.

That explains how I feel about him. As much as I admire him, he admires me and super protective of me. He holds nothing back when he thinks someone is giving me a hard time. I wanted to continue rehearsing last night and one of the bandmates kept complaining about the time. Demarion ripped into and told him he could leave and not return. I stood there speechless knowing he was only that upset because he knew it was annoying me.

My facetime app, on my computer, alerted me that I had an incoming call interrupting my thoughts. I quickly threw on a t-shirt and positioned the camera to get me waist up. I was only wearing boxers and Mona didn’t need to see that.

“Hey Jace, I have to be quick. I have a call with the label after this. I need to finalize the budget and you need to tell me who you want on this tour with you. We can only have 6 full-time crew members outside of the band. I’m already counted as one so that leaves you with 5 more,” Mona said immediately jumping into the call. She was very nice but strictly business when it came to business. As she should be.

“Hey Mona, well I definitely want to bring TJ on to do the lights. Also if we can see if Mr. Davis is available to run sounds. TJ has a friend named Bryson that can do the video and photography work. He can call also set us up with local photographers in each city to help us get more photos. I honestly don’t have an assistant or stylist in mind. I’m open for suggestions though,” I said matching her business tone.

“All of those sound great. I will get the information for Bryson from TJ. My niece Ashley just graduated from college and looking for some work. She majored in Business Administration so I think bringing her along as you assistant will be a great opportunity to her to see what she wants to do with her degree. You don’t want to bring Adrienne to style you?” she said.

“No, she’s going to stay behind and be with Jada. I’m sure I can reach out to her to see if she has any friends she’d like to recommend,” I said.

“Cool. Well, this is enough information for now. The entire crew will be asked to meet us here in Atlanta on Sunday so we can warm up to each other,” she said.

“Wow that’s a short time,” I said.

“Welcome to the music business baby. They either want it or they don’t,” She said with a wink. “Well, I gotta go. Check your email before bed.”

“Ok I will, thanks, Mona,” I said closing the facetime app.

I didn’t realize I had received a few texts while talking to Mona. There was one from TJ, two from Demarion and one from a number not saved in my phone. I decided to check TJ’ s first. I knew Demarion was probably just confirming the time he’d be back to get me.

TJ’s TEXT | “Hey boi. Am I invited on this tour? Did you talk to Mona?”

MY TEXT | “Yes. Just spoke to her. You’re confirmed. Even told her about your friend Bryson. She’ll be calling you soon to get more information.”

TJ’s TEXT | “Dude I freaking love you! I’m excited. I’ll tell Bryson to get some samples of his work together”

MY TEXT | “Cool. FYI. If everything goes well Mona wants Y'all in Atlanta on Sunday.

TJ’s TEXT | “I can do that. Atlanta isn’t far from Charlotte. I’m here with my grandparents so I can be there in no time.”

MY TEXT | “Cool”

I decided to answer Demarion next.

DEMARION’s TEXT | “Yo. It took everything for me not to give you some earlier.”

DEMARION’s TEXT | “My bad my mans. I just had a moment haha. Sorry.”

He must have thought since I didn’t immediately reply that he offended me. I texted back.

MY TEXT | “No apology needed. It was definitely hard for me to cool off after our run. *wink emoji*”

I immediately say the reply bubbles letting me know he was responding.

DEMARION’s TEXT | “No rush though. I want every moment with you to be perfect. Becuase you’re perfect. I’ll be back in 2 hours. Have those lips ready. I already miss kissing you”

MY TEXT | “Cool. *blush emoji* and Same.”

I said putting down the phone. I could already feel his full lips on mine and his thick tongue inside of my mouth without him even being there. He was a great kisser; soft but intense.

I was about to shower when I remembered I had another text. I decided to open it.

UNKNOWN NUMBER TEXT | Please tell your sister to answer the phone. I’ve been calling her.

I didn’t know who this was. It was quite unsettling to read, to say the least, but I would relay the message. I feel like whatever Jada was in right now was deep but I couldn’t let it distract me. Although I would do my best for her, I had a lot going on. Besides, we’re both grown and I’m out here on my own.

#Romen Writes #A New Me #Tumblr Story #Writer #Black Writer

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beselten-pitch · 7 years

Text

Mutually Assured Destruction

Alternate last year at Watford fic, written by the previous owner of simon-and-basilton

Chapter One / Chapter Two / Chapter Three / Chapter Four / Chapter Five / Chapter Six / Chapter Seven / Chapter Eight / Chapter Nine / Chapter Ten / Chapter Eleven / Chapter Twelve / Chapter Thirteen / Chapter Fourteen / Chapter Fifteen / Chapter Sixteen / Chapter Seventeen / Chapter Eighteen / Chapter Nineteen/ Epilogue

Chapter Sixteen

Days tripped into each other, months breaking down as they smashed together. Time was crashing by at its usual reckless pace, pulling everyone along behind it. Outside, the air was getting colder.

People were panicking. The Magickal Record was calling it “a dark time in the World of Mages”. Student attendance continued to drop.

It was clear what they thought: this was the beginning of the end.

The end of what, however, no one was sure.

BAZ

Lips, chapped and rough, capturing and releasing each other with desperate fervor. Chins jutting together, dragging past, returning. Fingers twisted in hair, slipping under shirts, tracing ribs and vertebrae and taught muscles that tightened under his hands.

Tawny skin, bronze hair, that damnable smile.

“Baz.”

A whisper, his name, warm and sweet and pronounced like a promise. Bazzz, with the ‘Z’ lingering in the space between them.

“Baz.”

Again, but this time closer. His name breathed against his own cheek, along with a brief press of rosebud lips.

“Baz.”

This time, a plea. A stuttered, muttered prayer, with those two consonants and lone vowel tripping over each other in a desperate rush.

He listened, and he listened, and finally he replied.

“Simon.”

Simon.

Goddamn Simon Snow.

Baz sighed, rubbing his face in an attempt to clear the dream away, as though it was nothing more than a cobweb that had been caught in his hair.

You love him.

He sat up, took a drink of water from the glass on his bedside table, and fell apart. That was all he did, really.

I do not fucking love him.

I hate him.

He was going crazy in this stupid house. It was distressingly ordinary, with no wheezing ghosts or squeaking floorboards or gargoyles, stone or real. The whole building was a sad affair, actually. It was brick, for fuck’s sake.

Maybe it wasn’t the house. Maybe he’d always been crazy. The talking to himself thing wasn’t new, at least, and that seemed crazy enough. Falling in love with your archenemy was pretty crazy. Dating them in secret was fucking insane.

The whole thing was insane.

He pushed off his covers and stood, staring blankly at the white plaster walls of this room, which was not his. Because his room had lovely red walls and snarling creatures and looked nothing like this.

No. His room was too small and had two beds and a gorgeous boy sleeping across from him.

You love him and you can’t possibly kill him.

Baz punched the wall, busting a hole in the drywall and breaking at least one of his fingers.

Because it was true, and that was the worst thing. Baz couldn’t possibly kill him. Snow had ruined his life, had destroyed his home, had lied to him. He’d been in league with the Humdrum the whole time. But still, Baz was in love with him.

Hopelessly, desperately, stupidly in love with him.

All Baz did was let people down. The Families needed him to kill Simon Snow. His father, Aunt Fiona, they needed him to kill Simon Snow. He needed to kill Simon Snow.

No.

He needed to kiss Simon Snow. To kiss him again, and again, and to go on kissing him forever.

SIMON

The week and a half since Penny had said “Simon, I think you’re the Humdrum” had been blurry. It wasn’t hard, once he’d acknowledged it, to see all the links between them.

His own young face, an echo from the first time he went off. The red ball.

The holes.

The attacks.

The gaping, gnawing emptiness inside him, desperate for magic and explosions and more.

The Humdrum was what was left when he was done. So it was up to him to get rid of it, right? It was his responsibility. His mess.

His classes had become impossible. His normal lack of focus had only worsened now that his brain was overcrowded with thoughts of how to stop the monster he’d created and thoughts of Baz that he tried to ignore and his desperate attempts to stay even moderately sane despite it all.

Penny had shot to the top of the class in Baz’s absence, by some miracle. He didn’t know how she concentrated on schoolwork at all when she spent all her time out of class in his room trying to figure out what their next move was going to be.

That was the way she said it, too. Plural. She asked him ‘what are we going to do?’ and said things like ‘so, here’s our plan’.

He’d corrected her the first time she said it. He’d shaken his head and said, “No, Pen. You should be asking me what am I going to do. I don’t want to drag you into this, okay?”

But she’d just rolled her eyes and said, “You dragged me into this when you met me. Do you honestly expect me to let you do this by yourself?”

Her tone and matter-of-fact nod were enough to let him know that this wasn’t up for discussion.

And so they continued.

“Maybe you just…don’t go off again?”

They were sitting cross-legged on the floor between his and Baz’s beds, frowning at a notebook that they’d labelled HOW TO STOP THE HUMDRUM (aka simon or whatever)

The page was empty.

“You honestly think I have the control for that?”

Penny shifted uncrossing her legs and stretching them. She turned so she could lean against the base of Baz’s bed, crossing her ankles and bumping Simon’s knee with one foot. She kept doing that, touching him just barely, as if to prove that she was no less comfortable around him now then she had been before they knew he was the Humdrum.

He was glad she did it.

“Maybe you could transfer your magic to someone with more control before you go off, the way you did with Baz.”

“Maybe.”

They wrote it down.

HOW TO STOP THE HUMDRUM (aka simon or whatever)

Simon doesn’t go off anymore (or transfers his magic if he’s about to??)

That was as far as they got. Because that was the point when a bird landed on the windowsill and started pecking on the glass.

The Mage.

Simon got up and walked over to the window. He lifted the latch of the pane halfway, and then reconsidered.

He dropped the latch and turned away.

Fuck the Mage.

Simon hadn’t seen or heard from him since they’d left for the Pitch Manor. He’d gone off and the Humdrum had swallowed up all of Baz’s family’s magic and Simon had passed out and woken up outside the gates to Watford.

No explanation. Nothing.

So fuck the Mage and his speeches and apologies. He’d told The Record that it had just been his Men at the Pitch mansion that night, that no students had been present. He said that it had been a coincidence the Humdrum had attacked while they were there, that they’d only gone in order to retaliate for the Old Families’ attacks.

But there had been no attacks before then, at least not from the Old Families. Simon remembered Baz telling him about his cousin’s house burning down and wondered if, perhaps, the only attacks prior to that night had been from the Mage, as well.

All he’d done was lie.

Since that night, though, skirmishes were frequent. A group of Baz’s cousins had caused one of the Mage’s Men’s Range Rovers to crash when they pulled up to search their house for banned books, or whatever the hell they were looking for now. There had probably been other things as well, things Simon didn’t know about.

So he ignored the bird, even when it’s pecking became vigorous enough that he thought that glass might crack beneath its beak.

Penny raised an eyebrow at him but said nothing.

DAVY

The bird came back.

His own heir was ignoring him.

Insolent child.

He sighed and stroked his beard. He hadn’t wanted it to come to this, but it seemed that it would have to.

This is sacrifice. This is the way to victory.

His hands had begun to go numb whenever he lied. His skin bruised more easily than it used to, and he’d found new gray hairs crowding in among the brown.

This is sacrifice.

This is worth it.

Spells for lying, spells for convincing, spells he steals from the banned books that he confiscates from the Old Families’ houses. They take their toll.

This is sacrifice.

SIMON

There was no knock. The door just burst open, and there he was.

In full Robin Hood regalia, hands on his hips, looking tired and pale and frail, somehow. And also like he was ready to rip Simon’s head off.

Penny sat straight up and cursed under her breath, because she could be expelled for being in his room. She would probably prefer to have her head ripped off rather than being expelled, actually.

The Mage didn’t even seem to notice her.

“Simon.”

There were thunderclaps and wild drum solos in his voice. It sounded like the apocalypse, but two shades darker.

“Sir.”

He would be lying if he said he wasn’t terrified. But he tried not to let it show in his voice, he tried to pretend he still felt like his feet were on solid ground. He managed to keep “Sir” sounding defiant and unruffled, but he thought that anything he said that was multisyllabic might just fall apart.

“You ignored my bird.”

“Yes.” He didn’t back up or turn away, but he didn’t meet the Mage’s eyes either. Something about the his newfound frailty made him seem even more imposing, as though he’d traded away his youth for something darker and sharper.

“Why?”

Despite the level tone and calm stare, it was hard not to feel like this was worse than if he’d been yelling. He sucked all of the air out of the room. He spoke softly, but he thundered.

Simon was terrified.

“Because you don’t own me.”

He closed his eyes, half-expecting the Mage to smack him. Every muscle in his body was tensed, ready, prepared to take a hit.

But there was nothing. Nothing but the sound of the Mage muttering under his breath, something in another language, and behind him Penny was screaming.

It took him too long to process what she was saying.

“Shit, no, SIMON COVER YOUR EARS—”

He didn’t cover his ears, but he felt her hands cupping either side of his head, pressing until he couldn’t hear a thing. She was still shouting, cursing at the Mage and at him, but she kept her hands over his ears.

The Mage was saying something, something that Simon couldn’t hear, but he could feel Penny shaking from whatever it was.

Her forehead dropped against his back, and he could barely make out the sound of her shouting, “No, no, no, no, no.”

Simon tried to grab her hands, to pull them off his head, but she held on to him even as she screamed.

In front of him, the Mage was looking progressively more skeletal. His skin clung tightly to his bones, and he was noticeably thinner and paler than he had been moments before. Simon watched him ball his hands into fists, but it wasn’t enough to stop them from shaking uncontrollably. His mouth was still moving, though, but Simon could only just barely make out the timbre of his voice.

He felt Penny shudder, and then her fingers slipped from his ears as she slumped to her knees.

Simon could hear again—he could hear himself screaming. He hadn’t realized he’d been doing that.

Fuck. Fuckfuckfuck.

Penny.

He dropped to his knees beside her, cradling her head in his lap. She was limp, but breathing. She inhaled shallowly and whispered, “Cover your ears, Simon.”

There was no way he was going to let go of her, much less cover his ears.

As it turned out, he didn’t need to. The Mage looked drained, leaning heavily against the wall. He sniffed disdainfully and spat, “You ungrateful brat.”

And then he was gone.

PENNY

She hadn’t even considered covering her own ears. Of course not.

The Mage had blown in with his blackened glory and started spouting off strange Latin spells, things that she’d learned but would never dare to cast. Those were the kinds of spells that had begun the rumors of witches, the kinds of spells that people called deals with the Devil. Dark magic.

It was a spell to make someone do anything you wanted.

She would not let Simon be the Mage’s puppet. Never.

So she’d clapped her hands and hadn’t let go, not when the Mage screamed at her, not when he ordered her to release him. It hurt, it was a wriggling, clawing, parasitic thing. The spell caught hold of her and she couldn’t resist—it was listen to him or die.

But she held on for as long as she could, until the pain made her pass out.

There hadn’t been another option.

Simon would always be her priority.

SIMON

“Pen? Penny? I don’t—are you—I mean—Penny.”

He pressed a cold washcloth against her forehead, because he didn’t know what else to do. Would the school nurse even help her, if she knew it was the Mage that had done the damage?

There were spells that could’ve helped her, but he didn’t trust himself not to make it worse by trying to cast them.

Her eyes fluttered open, but they’d been doing that for a few minutes. This time, though, they stayed open.

“Simon?” She forced the word out, but her throat rasped and she broke off in a cough.

He pressed a glass of water into her hand and helped her sit up to drink it. Her eyes looked as though they’d been recently hollowed out. It made his chest hurt. It made him want to go find the Mage and punch him right in his annoyingly white teeth.

“Are you okay?” He asked, even though she clearly wasn’t. He couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“I’ve been better.”

Her voice was wry, but there was still pain ricocheting around in there.

“What happened?”

She shook her head, drinking the rest of the water. He took it and refilled it from the tap in the bathroom and then went back, sitting next to her on the floor. She’d pulled her knees up against her chest and wrapped one arm around her legs, and when he sat down, she collapsed heavily on his shoulder.

“He cast a…one of those banned spells. The dark ones.”

“He did?”

“I guess his reforms don’t apply to him.”

She took another sip of water and coughed lightly, pressing her face against his shoulder.

Oh, Merlin, Penny.

“What did….what did he do to you?”

“It was a spell that makes people do what you say. And if you don’t do it then it kills you.”

Simon didn’t know how to align this manic, dark Mage with the man who had essentially adopted him.

“And he told me to let go of you. And I didn’t.”

Simon turned towards her and wrapped both arms around her, hugging her tightly. He pressed his hands against her back and tried to pretend he didn’t blame himself for the way she shook.

“Does it still hurt now?”

“Not much. Just…aftershocks.”

Baz was right.

It hit him, then. All the times he’d left in the middle of the night for one of the Mage’s missions. All of the invisible monsters he’d fought that had pushed him to the breaking point, the times he’d gone off and holes had opened up.

The Mage has been using me.

All along.

Since the beginning.

#mutually assured destruction #fic

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shanannigansthebibliophile · 6 years

Text

Hey guys!

I’m back with Part 2 of my TBR Tackle! After another successful school drop-off (Again, she didn’t even look back *Sniff), I am going to pick up where I left off yesterday. If you missed Part 1, click here!

Science Fiction & Dystopian

Fly Paper: A Novel by Chris Angus

How do you fight a deadly disease that comes from beyond planet Earth?

When a 2,000-year-old mummy is unearthed in central China, investigators from all over the world fly in to Washington, DC, for a top-secret meeting, hoping to find an answer to its mysterious genetic anomalies.

But the scientists may have mistakenly released a new, deadly disease of extraterrestrial origins in the process of examining the genetic markers of the ancient mummy. The devastating human error causes a worldwide plague—one that penetrates the barriers of the human immune system. Sino expert Eric Logan and archaeologist Dr. Marcia Kessler lead an expedition back to the icy glaciers of China to extract a much older 20,000-year-old mummy, which could help them formulate a cure. Even as they embark on their mission, the strange illness afflicts the people around them, turning men into mindless monsters.

The team retreats to a remote Buddhist monastery and must hold off a vicious army of victims. As they wrestle with the possibility that they may be the last living humans on earth, someone finds an ancient burial object that may hold the key to ending the apocalyptic epidemic . . .

My Thoughts…

Sounds really good right? Well, it was okay but it wasn’t all I had hoped for.

It was well written and engaging enough, but it was missing something. Unfortunately, I can’t quite say what that something is but it left me feeling a bit unsatisfied.

Overall, a decent read with a good premise but had a lackluster ending. As the song says, “That don’t impress me much”.

Rating… C+

The Dreams by Matthew R. Flemming

Waking up in an unknown forest with four strangers, James has an unsettling feeling that the group is not alone. As tension mounts and he finds himself questioning the motives and loyalty of his companions, one of the group members disappears, leaving only a pool of blood behind. It soon becomes clear that something very large and unnatural is in the deep secret places of the forest. And it knows they are there.

My Thoughts…

This was originally a DNF. The first one in a long while. I loved the premise and the cover is brilliant, but it was so messy. Disorganized with way too many words. I hate overly descriptive writing!

This what I put on Goodreads:

DNF: Good premise by lacking proper execution. I couldn’t stick with it.

REVISED…

OK I finished it but only because I needed to know how these poor suckers ended up here. I still maintain my original opinion.

Yes, I went back and finished because I felt bad. It did not get any better!

Rating… D-

Ghost Virus by Graham Masterson

The girl had been staring into her mirror all morning before she picked up the small bottle of sulphuric acid and poured it over her forehead.

Samira was a young woman with her whole life ahead of her. What could have brought her to this? DC Jerry Pardoe and DS Jamila Patel of Tooting Police suspect it’s suicide. But then a meek husband kills his wife, and the headteacher of the local school throws her pupils out of a window. It’s no longer a random outbreak of horrific crimes. It’s a deadly virus. And it’s spreading. Somehow, ordinary Londoners are being infected with an insatiable lust to murder. All of the killers were wearing second-hand clothes. Could these garments be possessed by some supernatural force?

The death count is multiplying. Now Jerry and Jamila must defeat the ghost virus, before they are all infected…

My Thoughts…

This book is hard to classify. It’s a little bit sci-fi, a little procedural, with a paranormal backbone. The premise is a bit misleading, which I guess is the point but I thought I was going to be reading a good plague story.

I loved everything about this book until the origin of the virus is revealed. Then I was like, “WTF? Are you kidding me?” And not in a good way. It’s just so silly! Here I was thinking that this book had everything. Suspense, gore, mysterious virus, and then the author went and ruined it for me.

Maybe you will like it and won’t find the ending ridiculous. You’ll have to make that decision for yourselves.

Rating… C

Blue Skin: A Dystopian Vampire Thriller (Book #1) by Steven Jenkins

The world has turned inward, away from the sun, in the wake of a mysterious disease that has altered the human race. No longer able to bear healthy human children, our mothers and daughters have brought vampire-like hybrids into the world, and with it a new order. Now that reproduction has been banned, those left with young children face a terrible and devastating decision – turn your babies over to the government or pay the price. For young Freya, keeping her brother hidden is the only real option.

Enemies of the state, Freya must stand between her family and the forces of a fearful world. Although her brother may not be human, there is little else separating her and those of the blue skin.

Choices will be made. Lines will be drawn. The battle for humanity has only just begun.

BLUE SKIN is the first book in a 5 part vampire dystopian, thriller horror series.

My Thoughts…

Ooh I really enjoyed this book and the follow-up, Blue Skin: Book #2 that was released this past May. Good vampire stories are really hard to come by these days since the genre was drowned in vamp tales due to the Twilight phenomenon.

Blue Skin however, is an interesting mix of vampire and apocalyptic. The fact that the vampires are children make it especially horrifying.

Great writing, a unique plot and a strong female protagonist make this book appealing to all sorts of readers. I’m looking forward to reading more in this series!

Rating… A+

Contemporary Fiction & YA Fiction

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before (Books 1-3) by Jenny Han

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister’s ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all

P.S. I Still Love You

Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?

Always and Forever, Lara Jean

Lara Jean is having the best senior year.

And there’s still so much to look forward to: a class trip to New York City, prom with her boyfriend Peter, Beach Week after graduation, and her dad’s wedding to Ms. Rothschild. Then she’ll be off to college with Peter, at a school close enough for her to come home and bake chocolate chip cookies on the weekends.

Life couldn’t be more perfect!

At least, that’s what Lara Jean thinks . . . until she gets some unexpected news.

Now the girl who dreads change must rethink all her plans—but when your heart and your head are saying two different things, which one should you listen to?

My Thoughts…

I’m lumping all 3 of these books together, not because they don’t deserve individual reviews (They totally do!), but because I read them all together, one right after the other like a big novel.

Why you ask? Well I watched the Netflix movie of course, and fell in love! (Read review)

As soon as the credits rolled, I quickly purchased all 3 books and had myself a lovely binge read. All 3 were fantastic! Nostalgia inducing, charming, adorable, and funny. I really enjoyed them and I’m happy with how the author ended the trilogy.

Want to hear something crazy though? I liked the movie more and something tells me I’m not the only one.

The actors had such great chemistry! ‘Lara Jean’ and ‘Peter’ were so good together on screen which added a whole new dimension to the story. Honestly, they made the story and I really hope the other books get movies too.

Rating… A+’s all around!

Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The broken glass washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge.

My Thoughts…

Warning: Major Triggers! Mental illness, Abuse, Addiction, Self-harm, Suicide, and Disturbing Scenes (Just to name a few).

I would give this AMAZING book 6 stars if I could! It’s riveting, evocative, heart-wrenching and incredibly illuminating. It’s not the easiest book to read but if you can stomach the darkness, it’s a brilliant story about survival and self-discovery. The protagonist ‘Charlie’ will take you on one hell of a journey but it’s worth it. Just be prepared to feel every emotion on the spectrum.

Honestly, I have nothing negative to say. I truly loved it, if that’s the right word, and can’t recommend it enough!

Rating… A+++

Well, I’ve caught up a ton with these two posts. They’re certainly some of the longest posts I’ve ever written lol. Like I said before, I had really gotten behind with my writing but I’ve never stopped reading (I’m 18 books ahead on my yearly Goodreads challenge) and I never will.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on these books, especially if you’ve read them.

Until next time!

#TBR Tackle & Mini Reviews (Part 2) #BookBlogger #BookReviews #Books #AmReading #BookHaul #Thriller #Romance #YA Hey guys! I'm back with Part 2 of my TBR Tackle! After another successful school drop-off (Again, she didn't even look back *Sniff), I am going to pick up where I left off yesterday.

#Amazon #Bibliophile #Book Blog #Book Haul #Book Reviews #Books #Bookworm #Goodreads #Kobo #Reading #Romance #Shanannigans&039; Picks #Summer Reads #TBR #Thriller #To the Boys I&039;ve Loved Before #Womens Fiction #YA Fiction #YA Romance

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theonemusicmaniac · 6 years

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Yo,yo,yo, tell us some of your fave musicians/bands? : o

Oh my gosh, of course I’d love to talk about that!!!!!!!

I’m gonna preface first & foremost by saying that I AM a music major & have been exposed to all kinds of music, so you’re probably gonna get a LOT of answers from me!! I’m also gonna put this under a read more cuz I am a crazy child who can’t shut up!!! Anyways, here we go!!

So as a musician, I actually started off playing the Alto Saxophone. That being said, my biggest jazz inspirations are probably Charlie Parker (my MOST fave saxophonist tbh I studied all his music!!), Cannonball Adderly, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, & Herbie Hancock!! And my favorite thing about Herbie Hancock (other than the fact that he’s still alive & bumpin’) is that he is one of the biggest successful names who also practices the same sect of Buddhism I’m involved with, & that’s Nichiren Buddhism. Hancock is evidence of our buddhist practice because he chants Nam-Myoho-Renge-Kyo (loosely translates to “devotion to the Mystic Law of cause & effect thru sound”). So why is that important? We believe that if you chant NMRK & also put your thoughts into action, then you will receive immense benefit. The point of our practice is that we believe anyone can become happy thru chanting, & our goal is that if we can make everyone know happiness, then the world will know peace. ANYWAYS, back to music, that’s just my jazz answer!!

I’ve also had to study a lot of classical music growing up, & I must say that I’m most fond of Romantic Era & 20th century classical music. Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Brahms, & Liszt are some of my faves from Romantic Era. Stravinsky, Schoenburg, Copland, & Ives are some pretty incredible 20th century classical composers as well.

GROWING UP, I started off as a lil bop/top hits child because, yknow, parents will only make you listen to what they deem appropriate, but as I became exposed & learned more, I actually became a lil rocker child like my dad!! Dad exposed me to Led Zeppelin, Queen, AC/DC, Kiss, all the classic rock shit. This was also around the time that the one Jack Black movie came out (School of Rock I think it’s called). So I eventually began exploring rock music within my own generation (which there are TOO many bands that I like to even list off).

My biggest inspirations from middle school (and still to-date) are Alkaline Trio & 65daysofstatic. These two band saved my life when I thought I was down at my worst back when I was suicidal.

Going into high school, I was still the rocker child, but I think 65daysofstatic exposed me to start listening to more electronic stuff. Not necessarily dubstep bc dubstep didn’t become really big until just about when I graduated high school, but like. Stuff like Armin Van Buuren. Trance stuff. I thought it was super cool. And honestly, my favorite thing about seeing dubstep thriving into fruition was that I felt like a saw new generation of music being born. I couldn’t help but wonder, “Is this what it was like when rock was born? Was this what it was like when jazz rose within America?” It was SO cool!! Even though I’m still a lil rock child, I have so much love, appreciation, & respect for electronic music, & would definitely incorporate it into my own compositions (but since I don’t have a band rn, as you can see, electronic is all I make for now).

I would say my top 4 biggest inspirations to-date are In This Moment, Motionless In White, New Years Day, & William Control. & I can break this down easily:

1) In This Moment

In This Moment is SOOOOOOO important to me!!!! Gosh I almost don’t know where to start!!!!! I remember the first time I heard them was actually on MTV back when Headbangers Ball was big, & “Beautiful Tragedy” was like, their new biggest hit! I DIED when Maria Brink collaborated with Chris Motionless to make the music video for “Whore!” But most importantly, “The Fighter” was my motherfucking anthem after my ex & I broke up last year, & ESPECIALLY when I was sexually assaulted five days after. “I will not hide my face, I will not fall from grace, I’ll walk into the fire baby. All my life I was afraid to die, but now I come alive inside these flames.” The other thing is that Maria inspires me SO MUCH from a lyrical/compositional aspect cuz like (& I know I said I’m Buddhist from a philosphical standpoint), I also consider myself a witch, & Maria has a very enchanting witch aesthetic, & ALL of her music is written to have these really heavy messages with grand morals & such, so I see bits of both my buddhism & my witchcraft thru their music! I’m gonna be seeing them live for the first time in April and ASDIFHAOIJGPOWJGE I am so excited!!!!

2) Motionless In White

WowowowowowowoWOW where do I begin again!! I know people make fun of old MIW since it was basically only screamo/edgelord stuff, but I used to LOVE that shit once upon a time, and tbh, I think MIW is the only band of its original genre to actually become successful in obtaining that Halloween/goth/nu-goth aesthetic (which is exactly why I LOVE IT), I admire Chris for his “idgaf” attitude & for the depth in which he writes his music. MIW is obviously a very political & socially aware band, but they also take time to write very personal music too. I think the Graveyard Shift album was VERY personal, given that 570 & Hourglass were their favorite songs to make & they had such deep messages about their own journey as musicians. I’ve had the pleasure to meet this band twice, & the second time I think I left a good impression! I gave everyone in the band & their girlfriends (bc I’m such a barista) Starbucks gift cards, & they were all very nice & thankful!! I think Chris also remembers me as the one who asks really heavy music-related questions at VIPs cuz like, the first time I met them I was like, “What advice do you have for musicians like me who want to do what you do??” & the 2nd time I met them, I had a question regarding composing music. Nicest band, 10/10, & if you’re going to the final Vans Warped Tour show, you should definitely go support them because they’re on the lineup!!! (Not important info, but they also featured Maria Brink in their song “Contemptress” off the Reincarnate album, & I think that’s amazing that they team up so well)

3) New Years Day

MY BABYGIRL ASH IS SO GOOD SHE JUST GOT ENGAGED OMG I AM SO HAPPY FOR HER!!! Anyways, NYD is another REALLY nice band, & much like ITM & MIW, they carry both the witchy aesthetic (since Ash is an open witch), & they also have a bit of a Halloweenish vibe to them in their own sense (but not in the same way MIW does). I think, if you’re not big on the heavy music ITM & MIW make, NYD is a PERFECT recommendation because it’s still dark-themed music, but especially vocally speaking, it’s much “easier” on the ears (I love all of this kind of music, but this is also what people in my close circle also tell me cuz not all my friends like my music). I’ve only met this band once, but I’ve also had SO many incredible interactions with them! I met them for the first time at Vans Warped Tour last year, & it was exactly one month after I was assaulted. I didn’t feel all that great that day (partly cuz I was going to VWT by myself & I hate going alone to concerts), but Ash Costello called me beautiful when I felt my ugliest. And that’s when I realized, “Fuck if my idols can see my own worth & beauty when I can’t, the who the fuck am I!?!?” I also got to experience music lessons with both Nikki Misery & Jeremy Valentyne (just before Jeremy left the band) & they’re both very cool people! I’ve also supported Ash’s now-fiance as a musician by donating to his GoFundMe when he was doing presales on his very first EP (I think I was one of his top highest donators??) & I also made a purchase off of Ash’s DEPOP once, & she actually sent me Christmas/New Years thank you letter & some polaroid photos of herself and I???? Cried??? New Years Day is one of the few bands that I actually genuinely actively see interacting with their fanbase & loving their fans as much they do, they’re so GREAT. If you get into them & interact with their social media or go see them live, they’ll love you up to bits & pieces, they’re so sweet. I want to be as humble as them if I ever make it big.

4) William Control

A god amongst kings... My love & appreciation for this man runs so deep & knows no boundaries. I grew up on Aiden in both middle & high school, but when I learned about how the industry fucked with Aiden as a band, not only did I support Will’s transition from the punk/goth Aiden to his now electro-synth Control morally speaking, but I was actually surprised to find that I actually genuinely really LIKED his electro stuff more than his rock stuff! You can almost tell he’s going forcibly high in Aiden, like he’s straining his voice so much to get that right tone (even though he KILLS IT cuz he’s a MONSTER). But Will’s openly said before that the transition to William Control has helped him vocally because now he sings in a much more comfortable range. He also exudes an aesthetic that I wish I could obtain within the music industry?? Like, his music is sexually themed, but he’s not inadvertently SEXUALIZED. That’s how I WANT to be. I want to make music that can have sexual themes, but without actually sexualizing MYSELF. He’s also really open about being in the BDSM community, & most of his merch is based off of BDSM like his “Fuck Christian Grey” t-shirts (I think he even has his own branded butt plugs?? bless him). He has been able to transform his life so much that he went from “broke-but-famous” Aiden, to “I own my own record studio now & I’m the boss now” William Control. He actually technically retired as a musician (he’s stated that he hates touring & knowing that his son could grow up without him, so he wants to take time to focus on his family), but he’s still the manager of his very own Control Records. Because I don’t see myself forming a band anytime soon, it’s actually one of my goals to apply for Control Records as an electronic musician.

As for what I’m listening to right now (I don’t condone smoking, but if you do smoke, smoke weed), I sometimes listen to stoner shit cuz I do get high with my friends recreationally, & I do genuinely need weed to help me cope with my anxiety & depression, & my IRL friend @spectra-indica recommended CloZee to me & I can’t stop listening to it!! It’s both organic & electronic in it’s own fascinating way, & one point I got so high & connected so deeply with CloZee’s music that I almost started crying.

And yeah, those are my top faves by far!!! I wish I could list more, but then it’ll get too long aaaaaah ;A;

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alindakb · 4 years

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Letters to my Parents - Thursday 3 November 1994 - by Alinda

Thursday 3 November 1994

Dear mom and dad,

Well, my normal year has turned into a nightmare. I never should have thought that I could just be Harry for once, without anything weird or dangerous happening to me. Everything changed during the Halloween feast. In the beginning, we were excited about who would become the champions for the TriWizard tournament. Dinner seemed to go on forever before Headmaster Dumbledore finally stood up and announced it was time to learn who the champions would be. He extinguished most of the candles in the Great Hall, making it semi-dark. The Goblet of Fire shone brightly, the sparkling bright, blue-whiteness of the flames almost painful on the eyes. And then the flames suddenly turned red and a charred piece of parchment fluttered out of it.

The first champion was Viktor Krum for Durmstrang. He was sitting with Adrian and Miles a little further down the table. We all clapped and watched Viktor walk passed the staff table through the door into the next chamber. Fleur Delacour became the champion for Beauxbatons, the girl that is part Veela and makes most of the boys (and Millicent) swoon before her.

And then the entire Great Hall became silent. It was time to find out who would be the Hogwarts champion. We all hoped it would be one of the Slytherins who had put their name in the goblet. Adrian and Miles were clearly nervous. They both looked scared while we waited for the goblet to light up again. I must say we were all a little disappointed when Dumbledore told us that the Hogwarts champion was Cedric Diggory from Hufflepuff. The Hufflepuff table went crazy and Cedric was grinning while he walked to the other room.

When the clapping had died down a little, headmaster Dumbledore started a small speech, only to be interrupted by the stupid goblet that can’t count or something. Its flames had turned red again and another parchment came flying out of it. The headmaster seized the parchment and stared at it for a long time. And then my life turned into a nightmare again when he uttered the words ‘Harry Potter.’

I was frozen on my seat, just staring at the headmaster, expecting him to say it was a silly joke. Draco was squeezing my hand tightly and I was aware that he was shaking his head. Professor Snape got up and whispered something in the headmaster's ear. I was aware that nobody was clapping or cheering. No everyone was staring at me. Hermione was even standing on top of the Gryffindor table so she could see me. I looked her in the eyes and said I didn’t put my name in. I know she couldn’t hear me but she nodded.

Headmaster Dumbledore called for me again and told me to get up there with him. But I couldn’t move. I was still hoping it was all one big nightmare and that I would get woken up by Draco any second now. Only that never happened. Draco got up from his seat and pulled me to my feet. He guided me towards the front of the room. I felt a little grounded by Draco’s hand in mine, it made the long walk seem less threatening. But just before we reached the front of the tables where we had to go right through the small door, professor Snape stopped us. I was to go on alone. I shook my head and tried to hold onto Draco’s hand. I was close to crying and I needed Draco. But Professor Snape wouldn’t let him come with me.

Draco kissed me in front of the whole school then. He took my head in between his hands and told me he would be right there waiting for me. He told me to be brave and rested his head against mine for a small second. I nodded and turned to the door, alone and scared.

The other champions first thought I was sent in to deliver a message. And then Mr Bagman entered the room. He took me by my arm and said it was extraordinary and introduced me as the fourth champion. I was vaguely aware that Fleur and Bagman had a discussion, but I didn’t really hear what they were saying. I was still in shock. Mrs Davis says that this was very normal, to be in shock like that after what happened. I’ve been to see her again, even though we agreed at the end of last year that maybe I could do without our regular visits. Draco said I should go see her, talk about what happened.

And then the other teachers were moving in around me. Professor Snape was there and he stepped next to me, shielding me away from the others. The headmaster asked me calmly if I had put my name in the goblet and I answered him truthfully. Then all the teachers were discussing how it could be that my name came out of the goblet and that it was unfair that Hogwarts would have two champions. Professor Snape stood up for me, saying that I wouldn’t lie about something like this. I opened my mouth to tell them that I can redraw, that I don’t want to compete anyway, but I never got the change. Professor Moody came walking in that instant and told us all that it was a magical biding contract and that there was no choice but to compete.

What he said next scared me most off all. Professor Moody thinks that the person that has put my name in the goblet might want me dead. And that they would have to be a skilled witch or wizard to fool the goblet like that. And there is no way for me to not compete.

After all that Mr Crouch gave us the instructions for the first tasks, which aren’t useful at all. The only thing we know is that it is to test our daring and courage. We are only to take our wands with us. The only good thing they told me was that I was exempted from end of year exams.

Draco was still waiting for me in the Great Hall when Cedric and I left the small room. Draco took me in his arms as soon as I was through the door. Cedric hovered a little around us. He asked me how I’d gotten my name in. Draco told him to get lost if he was stupid enough to think Harry wanted to compete in the stupid tournament.

We slowly walked down to the dungeons. I told Draco about what was said in the small room, about what Moody had said, that maybe someone put my name in to get me killed. I mentioned my dream from last summer wherein I’d heard Voldemort plotting my death. Draco stayed silent next to me, he just held my hand while I talked.

It seemed like seconds had only passed when we reached the stretch of wall that was the entrance of our common room. Draco waved his wand and once we stepped in, we were greeted by our housemates. Most of them were cheering and applauding. Miles asked me how I did it and Warrington clapped me on the shoulder, saying he wasn’t that upset about not being a champion knowing there was another skilled Slytherin competing. They had food and were ready to party. Nobody believed I didn’t put my own name in and nobody noticed that I didn’t feel like celebrating. Nobody except Draco, who forcefully pulled me down to the dormitories after a short while.

Blaise was in our dormitory and he looked lived. He had wanted to enter badly, wanted to show his mother he was good for something. He blamed me for not telling him how I had gotten past the age line. Draco told him to shut up. But Blaise just went on and on, about how we were supposed to be friends and that I didn’t have to lie to him, that I could tell the truth about how I did it. I told him I didn’t, but that someone did because they wanted me dead. Blaise just laughed at that. And then Draco slapped him in the face. Before I knew it they were rolling over the floor, fighting each other, until Greg came in and pulled Draco off Blaise. Greg and Blaise left for the hospital wing because Blaise had a bleeding nose. Professor Snape told Draco the next morning that he will have to serve detention for that little fight this week. He’s with professor Snape right now, probably cleaning caldrons or something.

The next day, Hermione pulled me to the library to talk about what happened. She believes I didn’t put my own name in and is worried just like Draco about the fact that somebody might want to kill me. Ron and Neville were with her, and they also agreed I would never have entered. Ron said I would have put Draco’s name in if I’d had the change since I went on and on about how good a candidate Draco would be. This made Draco blush and he kissed me on the cheek, saying Ron was right. Neville tipped in that he thinks I will win, but that he also believes I didn’t put my own name in.

Professor Snape had already informed Sirius the night of the Halloween feast and he’d written me a letter back straight away, which arrived the next morning. He’s also worried and he said he would see if he can come and watch me at all the trials. He’s afraid that Moody might have a point about somebody wanting me dead. He told me to stay clear of Karkaroff, that he’s a former follower of Voldemort and that he might have ill feelings about me. Draco laughed at that, said that it wasn’t me defeating the Dark Lord that made Karkaroff hate me, that he had a bigger problem with us being a couple and kissing right in front of him.

And that is how this year went from being fun to being a nightmare. I’ve got no idea how I’m going to get passed all the trials ahead of me. Not now there are so little friends left that want to help me. But at least I’ve got Draco and Hermione on my side, a godfather that looks out for me and a head of house who’s let me know that if anyone is giving me a hard time, he will put them on detention, making them clean slugs and other nasty tasks.

Love you both,

Harry James Potter.

#letters to my parents #drarry #harry in slytherin #Harry Potter #Draco Malfoy #triwizard tournament #champions #goblet of fire #AlindasStories

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infinitehouseofbooks · 7 years

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BLOG TOUR - Servants of Fate Box Set

DISCLAIMER: This content has been provided to INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS by Bewitching Book Tours. No compensation was received. This information required by the Federal Trade Commission.

GENRE: Paranormal romance

Servants of Fate

Boxed Set

Books 1-3

Wendy Sparrow

Genre: Paranormal romance

Publisher: Pen and Kink Publishing

Date of Publication: December 24, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-988233-21-5

ASIN: B01N1Q567S

Number of pages: 308

Word Count: 96,000

Cover Artist: Amanda C. Davis

About the Books:

Book Description:

As servants of Fate, Father Time’s sons must sacrifice a mortal’s lifetime on behalf of humanity before each year ends. It’s simpler if they don’t get involved, as their immortality is a barrier to relationships and to understanding the emotions of those whose lives end in a blink, especially if these time holders have a hand in it. Servants of Fate pass in and out of the lives of those around them, never interacting, until a different type of fate steps in. They can stop time, but love will leave them powerless.

Amazon

THIS COLLECTION CONTAINS ALL THREE TITLES FROM THE SERVANTS OF FATE SERIES

Stealing Time

Father Time’s son, Zeit Geist, must sacrifice a mortal’s lifetime to the Fates each New Year’s Eve. Last year—inexplicably, really—he made an 11:59 substitution. The Fates are pissed and they’re after his mortal Hannah. With the year ending, he ought to figure out why he’d saved her—and why he keeps doing it.

Following an unlucky year, Hannah Lyons needs a week’s holiday in a lodge to unwind. What she gets is near-death experiences and a sexy immortal who can’t avoid kissing her, but might have to kill her. After all, even Zeit can’t hold back time indefinitely.

Taking Time

Tempus fugit. Time flies…unless you’re Tempus Halt, Father Time’s son. Day in and day out are the same, except for New Year’s Eve when he steals the life of a mortal on behalf of the Fates. This year marks his first failure to stay the monotonous course. A mortal’s kiss and her insistence on taking the place of his year’s sacrifice stalled out everything. Now, Tempus has to keep her alive for a year so his sacrifice isn’t wasted, but that’s the only reason—definitely.

One of these crazy grim reapers stole Lacey Carpenter’s estranged father’s life two years ago. She’ll give her own life rather than letting it happen again. It backfires when Tempus doesn’t actually kill her, and they have to spend the year together. She’s falling for an immortal who stops time, not just to save her life, but also to ruin her dates and steal her books. This can never work and fate is just not on her side—in fact, they’d really like her dead before Tempus falls for her in return.

Keeping Time

When Ruin’s mortal sacrifice to the Fates on New Year’s Eve is already dying, it should be the easiest life he has to take, but not this year. The dying man knows Ruin is there to kill him, but he asks Father Time’s son to look after his twin sister. Ruin can’t stay away from the sweet and sensual Phoebe. His previous interactions with women changed the definition of his name, Ruin, so he can’t fall for her, especially when the lovely mortal doesn’t know he killed her brother.

Phoebe’s brother promised to send her a guardian angel, but Ruin seems too devilish to be holy. He only wants to be friends and keep watch over her, but she can’t resist him. Loving Ruin is a sin tempting her heart. How wrong is it to cause an angel’s fall? Ruin and Phoebe’s time is running out as another New Year’s Eve sacrifice approaches, and Ruin might lose everything for keeping his true hand in fate secret.

Guest Post:

Paranormaling Outside the Normal

When you’re preparing to have a book published, one of the steps is to figure out the tags that match it and the lists that it’ll go on. I ran into a problem with my first novella released four years ago. There weren’t lists for paranormal romances about Jack Frost. There’s not a tag for it either. You’d think I’d have learned my lesson, but I don’t color inside the lines.

The Servants of Fate series is the story of Father Time’s sons finding romance…also not a category on Amazon. It should be. This is a problem you face when you play fast and loose with established parameters for the genre though. It makes summarizing a little more complex. There aren’t lists on Goodreads for Father Time’s sons.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the more commonly found paranormal creatures. I’ve written a trilogy about lycans (werewolves) called Taming the Pack. I’ve written unpublished novels with vampires. I’ve been in anthologies with zombie romances. He’s a little more off the beaten path for shifters, but I’ve got a gargoyle in an upcoming young adult book.

It’s not just in writing, either, I devour books about shifters. I cruised my way through Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series twice last year. I finished and restarted immediately. Thea Harrison’s Dragon Bound? Geez, that was one sexy book. Then, there’s the sweet but so freaking funny Nocturne Falls series by Kristen Painter. Have you read that? GO! NOW! (Wait, what was I doing? Riiiight, guest post referring to my books.) I will say that there are definitely very unique aspects to all these books, despite their use of more common character types. I love that—that sparkle and originality.

When a submission call went out a few years ago asking for holiday romances, I could have grabbed one of the more common creatures or beings when I decided to go paranormal, but I didn’t. As I looked at the various winter myths, I stumbled across the idea of Father Time and juggled it in my brain, looking for an ‘in.’ There’s an aspect to the myth about Father Time actually dying at the end of the year and being reborn with the new year. That downside really appealed to me so I twisted it to work. It’s sinister. I love sinister.

When you create your own myths or shift lesser-known myths, you have the task of creating a new world and reason for conflict. New worlds have rules to go with them. How does your magic work? What are the costs and benefits? What abilities do your paranormal characters have? In my experience, this builds as I create my world and characters until I have my fully-realized vision. It’s different each time I go outside the box, though.

In the Servants of Fate trilogy, each of Father Time’s sons must sacrifice a mortal’s life to the Fates in exchange for the time they’ll use to change the fates of worthy mortals over the next year. They each have a “good of the many” mindset firmly in place to justify this—up until they find a mortal who’s worth more than “the many” to them. I dug the moral conundrum that each of these men face at that time and how they deal with it. These types of conflicts are one of the reasons I love to explore the paranormal world beyond werewolves and vampires.

If you’ve run across paranormals outside the normal, what have you liked about them? Answer in the comments.

Thank you for letting me crash your blog for the day!

Excerpt:

It took them another three attempts to get what they both deemed were acceptable snowman portions.

“Hey. Coal.” With raised eyebrows, Hannah held up the two lumps of coal that had come in his snowman kit. “Get a good long look because this is what you’re getting next year.”

He couldn’t stop smiling at her. A dozen times each hour today, he’d wished he could slow down time because he wanted to spend more time with Hannah—he needed that. She was singing Frosty the Snowman with a carefree abandon he’d never felt before. If only he didn’t have the end of the year looming over him.

“Okay, pass me his corn cob pipe,” she said.

He pulled the “pipe” out of the box and stared at it. “Our snowman is a smoker? And this is a kids’ song?”

“It was written back before people worried about things like their lungs,” she said, reaching for it.

He pulled it away. No. It wasn’t right. “His days are already numbered, and he’s playing with fire—actual fire?”

“Ohhhh, right.” She tilted her head. “Wow, that does make him a bit of a rebel, doesn’t it? I bet the snowladies were all suitably impressed.”

Zeit looked around. There were mortal children all around. Young impressionable mortal children. He put the pipe back in the box.

“Or he’s not really a rebel. He likes to play things safe. Then again,” she tapped his coal eyes, “he did earn his coal. Maybe he’s got nothing to prove. There should be buttons in the box.”

He pulled off his glove to search through the bottom of the box, pulling out three buttons. “What is he buttoning up?” he asked as he handed them to Hannah.

She’d started pressing the buttons into his middle snow section, but she stopped and bit her lip as she stared at the round button still in her hand. Finally, she shrugged and pushed the last one in. “I think you’re overanalyzing this.”

“Or it’s a mortal tradition that could use some scrutiny.” He held out the faux carrot that came in his kit.

“But, look, he’s healthy. A carrot.”

“Is he going to eat his own nose?”

“I can’t do this with you now.”

About the Author:

After a childhood spent wandering as a military brat, Wendy Sparrow found her home in Washington State. Her days involve convincing her two kids she knows how to properly parent and her nights showing her husband all the cool things romance authors know… or goofing around online… or reading, but mostly the first thing.

She’s active in OCD and autism communities and writes on her blog to support awareness in both. With her whole heart, Wendy believes everyone deserves a happily-ever-after. If she’s not writing or wrangling kids, she’s on Twitter, @WendySparrow, where she’ll chat with anyone about anything.

Web: http://wendysparrow.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WendySparrow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WendySparrowAuthor/

Tour giveaway

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A handmade original choker from Neath the Veil’s “Every Rose has its Thorn” collection. Soft woven ribbon holds a gorgeous cream and black rose cameo set in a silver finish frame. It drapes down 5 inches from the top of choker to the bottom. The length is sized from 11-1/2 inches to 16 inches by clasp and adjustable chain. This giveaway is international.

Additionally, three paperback copies of the anthology Legendary will be given away individually. The anthology is edited by Laura Harvey and contains an urban legend inspired story by Wendy Sparrow. These copies may be won by those in the U.S. or Canada.

The final giveaway item is a $10 USD Amazon gift card which is open to countries with Amazon sites.

BLOG TOUR – Servants of Fate Box Set was originally published on the Wordpress version of SHANNON MUIR'S INFINITE HOUSE OF BOOKS.

#infinite house of books #shannon muir

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