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rohirric-hunter · 2 months

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Actually further reflection on Azagath and the Kindred of the Coins -- just a bunch of random thoughts that sort of string together... I stopped last night just before heading into the Citadel with the water-bearers, so that's where I'm at with these thoughts.

Obviously I think Azagath is up to no good. And the game is leading me to believe Azagath is up to no good. However... I don't really have any proof of that? And the only real evidence is the fact that the water carriers think he's vanishing their friends who know too much. Harmelak doesn't trust him, but why do I trust her? I have no way of knowing she's not trying to get rid of the perfectly benign leader of the Kindred so she can be in charge herself.

As for the other members, I feel genuinely bad about killing Tathata's lions because I did those quests about Ezoti with her people and it seems like she really cares about animals, and based on some random quest text it seems like she's done some good things for people too. Her dialogue during that instance isn't too overtly threatening; even her joke about the lions eating Corudan could just be a lighthearted jab without any real threat behind it. Corudan says she argued for more freedoms for him, and she doesn't start attacking in that instance until Cruel Dancer starts threatening her. In fact, she doesn't start attacking the PC at all until after you kill her lions.

I haven't had any extended conversations with Rothog, but based on the stories about him, he seems cool. A bit violent and scary, maybe, but as the protagonist of an MMORPG, I will refrain from judging. Haven't met Belondor at all, but we have it from Sirgon's own mouth that he at least used to be a good man and was the victim in the situation that led him to become a member of the Kindred, so it's not unreasonable to assume he might still be a good man.

Of all the to-do about Kholtekh, to be entirely honest he isn't guilty of anything except looking suspicious. He might have had Hamisar lie to Aragorn about who he was, but Hamisar might also have just done that on his own. We really don't know. And there's actually a pretty compelling argument that he pretty strongly opposes the idea of Umbar going to war with Gondor: he knows that Aragorn is Thorongil. If he wanted all of Umbar up in arms against Gondor, all he would have to do would be to make that information public. But he hasn't, at least not yet. It's unclear whether or not the rest of the Kindred knows, but Harmelak does say he doesn't share all his secrets with them. So it may just be that only he knows. And why would he keep that information secret unless he knew that Aragorn posed no threat to Umbar and was happy enough to leave well enough alone?

In fact, the only member of the Kindred of the Coins that we know for a fact has done something wrong is Nakasi, and her worst crime? Is kidnapping. She hasn't even killed anyone unprovoked. Her assault on Iaphel was violent, yes, but they didn't even kill anybody. Like, I'm not excusing it. She almost certainly would have killed people if she had been allowed to continue. But she wasn't. And yeah, she dealt with the Heirs of Castamir in Linhir with extreme prejudice, but what do you expect? They'd just murdered her husband in cold blood.

Which raises the question... why do we want any of these people dead? Aren't we supposed to be specifically avoiding a war? Oh, right, those bounties in the Shield Isles. Bounties put out by... Sakalphel. Since when did Player Character LotRO support the Heirs of Castamir?

It's almost like "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" will have you working with people who are probably much worse than the people you're trying to take down.

And to circle back around to Harmelak and Azagath: so there's conflict in the Kindred of the Coins. One of these two is up to no good. But we don't actually know which one it is. One of them is supporting this Song of Waves and Wind that will apparently lead to the destruction of Gondor, and we're led to believe it's Azagath -- but we don't actually know anything about it. So picture this: what if Azagath is exactly what he presents himself as and just has very unfortunate facial hair that makes him look like a mustache-twirling villain. He's got no interest in going to war with Gondor, and is not the mastermind behind this Song of Waves and Wind as Harmelak suggests. Because again, we don't know what this is. We've just heard the name. Harmelak suggests to the PC that she doesn't know what it is, that it's suspect (they already knew this) and that Azagath is behind it. She asks them very politely to assassinate him and take a problem off her plate, suggesting that this will improve things for both Gondor and Umbar.

Except... if this plan goes off without a hitch, then what happens? Azagath is beloved by the people of Umbar. If, after you leave, Harmelak reveals that he was assassinated by agents of Gondor who snuck into the citadel for apparently no reason? What's gonna happen next? How are people gonna respond to that?

I don't know if it's the case, but if Harmelak happened to be the actual mastermind behind this Song of Waves and Wind... well that would be quite the plot twist.

That being said if everything is played straight from here on out I would also love that. There's a certain juxtaposition that's very satisfying: Rossaran reported that the people of the Lower Ward don't really trust Harmelak because of how rich and reclusive she is (and probably in no small part because of her visible support behind the previous regime), but what if she was the one who really had Umbar's best interests at heart and the beloved hero Azagath was willing to just use them for his own ends? There's also a fun parallel to draw between Galadriel starting the White Council and meaning for Gandalf to be in charge but having Saruman slip in and take charge himself. That would, I think, be a really fun tie in.

#lotro #spoilers of umbar #long post #im kind of glad im doing this in little spurts between workdays. gives me time to think about it #but i think i will probably finish sometime today or tomorrow #if the fact that im level 148 and the quests are now level 150 doesnt kill me

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lunapwrites · 2 years

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Some random Marauders (mostly Remus tbh) headcanons. Enjoy.

Jelly bean capitalism (that Remus engaged in grudgingly) and newspaper habits. (I have other specific posts about these somewhere but hell if I can find them right now lol)

Remus was the best artist of the Marauders, but they didn't let him draw the map because he was left-handed and always smudged the hell out of everything.

James had the best handwriting.

Sirius couldn't sing for shit, but he was the best dancer.

Remus couldn't dance for shit, but he was the best singer.

James couldn't do either, but he made up for it with enthusiasm.

Sirius and James met on the train and bonded over a shared (and ironic) disdain for snobby rich purebloods.

Remus and Peter met on the train and bonded over a shared love for Dune.

Lily swore like a sailor and had a HEAVY Scouse accent.

She could also drink James under the table. Sirius too, on a good night. Peter, if she was really going for it.

No one tried to outdrink Remus. Ever.

Remus liked muggle magic tricks and sleight of hand, and used to teach himself when he was a child. Later, he'd teach the boys.

(Later still, he'd teach Harry too.)

(He regretted teaching Peter.)

Sirius learned how to crochet after moving in with the Potters.

Remus could sew, and always attached cool patches to everyone's jackets. Including his own.

James had the worst taste in music. Peter and Lily shared a love for Joni Mitchell. Sirius became enamored with rock music the first time Remus figured out how to make the record player work at school.

Remus, despite what he wanted everyone else to think, was the punk of the group.

Sirius argued this. But Sirius was a punk for the aesthetic. Remus was a punk culturally.

They were all a little bit in love with each other, in different ways. Some a little more than others.

James was a natural caretaker.

Remus and Lily were each other's firsts, and they promised to take that secret to the grave. (James held out for about a year and a half before he admitted he'd known the whole time. Neither of them could lie for shit.)

Remus had the worst poker face. Peter had the best, though to be fair that was just because he was always a little twitchy and sweating like a sinner in church. Remus was about the only one who could tell the difference.

(It would keep him up at night, After.)

James wasn't gullible, but he often believed the best of people to the point of literal stupidity and Sirius and Remus both despaired of him.

Lily and Peter thought it was admirable, till it wasn't. (Then he was just an obstinate mule.)

Sirius was best man at the wedding, but couldn't get through the speech he prepared without sobbing, so Remus and Peter took it in turns to read his speech for him, in character.

Lily could speak passable Welsh, but couldn't understand a lick of what Remus was saying when he got going.

"I thought you spoke Welsh!" "I do!" "Then what is he saying?" "Fuck if I know, Nain's from Wrexham, Sirius, it's basically another planet!"

In calmer times they would chat about the differences between their dialects, and lean a little (a lot) into the politics behind it, and how it differs even further between the magical and mundane communities.

I have many more but frankly this is starting to get ridiculous lol.

#hp #headcanons #Marauders #lp talks #not me realizing i defaulted to South Wales speech whoops #ninja edit weeee

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mightshad0w · 3 years

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POV:

Victorian era.

You are married to Lord Erwin Smith, Earl of Lancashire.

A marriage that was extremely expected by your family, which was of the nobility but unfortunately penniless.

But you do not especially carry in your heart.

During an evening with very close friends, during the social season, you take advantage of all this world to escape from its grip.

However...

Levi:

You had taken advantage that your husband is a dance with one of your cousins, this last one had not refused because finding her a little more docile than you. In fact, Erwin is a true viper's tongue and does not hesitate to make fun of you openly.

The Gallery of the Paintings seemed quite silent, while usually some young aristocrats comment happily on the brushstroke of your genius husband.

"It is not fitting for a lady like you to be alone, especially in the company of a man who is neither your husband nor your brother, let alone your father.

The voice comes from behind you, a man neither young nor old. His hair is so straight and black that it looks like the wings of a raven. Even his black suit with gold embroidery reinforced his peculiarity.

"Levi Ackerman, Earl Delay's brand manager. I am partly responsible for the fact that black tea has conquered all of our beautiful England."

You didn't drink tea, or your husband for that matter. Erwin is far too attached to his morning coffee, which he used to take in silence while reading his newspaper.

"Do you like my husband's paintings? He takes a lot of time to make them but the work is worth it, especially the details" you say, not wanting to look like an uneducated person with the tea.

"They are certainly beautiful but far too artificial, landscapes without clouds, flowering gardens without weeds,... Isn't it too beautiful to be real?"

- His hand slipped over yours to then take your shoulder, you had the impression of being on the arm of an ice statue. And with the little light there was, you were still looking for the shadow of a smile.

"Let's go inside quietly, it wouldn't be right to find us both here, especially since you've only been married a short time."

Hansi:

Fireworks was one of your husband's great passions, which he described as a subtle mix between leisure and science.

Yet he had ordered you to stay inside. He had caught some of the servants and valets stealing some food from the buffets when his back was turned.

Here you are again, abandoned to your fate, watching over thieving servants.

"What is our host doing alone, while her husband is feasting quietly."

Hansi Zoe, old friend of Erwin Smith. His youth seemed to be eternal, and it was his style of dress that reinforced this youth. He often wore a deep red frock coat with a collar richly embroidered with golden flowers, which he adorned with an ecru scarf.

His gaze was on the servant who was behind you, caught in flagrante delicto. In just a few seconds, Hansi had changed his personality. You didn't even notice the riding crop he wore on one side of his waist.

No wonder, Hansi is the manager of a workhouse. He expected a certain rigor and righteousness from the household staff, being also the one who had advised Erwin in the choice of these servants.

It was unbearable to see, the blood was dripping down the poor servant's shirt, writhing with each blow of the whip. You were left with only one solution suitable for a woman of your rank: fainting

You didn't even have time to touch the ground before you were already in Hansi's arms. The servant had been quietly evacuated, while others cleaned the floor.

It was just him and you, those big eyes sublimated by a pair of glasses resting on your deceptively weakened body.

"I'm going to warn Erwin right now, I'd hate for him to think I'm courting you or even much worse."

Mike:

One last dance, there was only one spot left in your notebook and two people were arguing over who would give it to you. Mike Zacharias, a wealthy bourgeois who made his fortune in silk and Nile Dok, a distant member of English royalty.

Mike isn't much of a dancer, from what he claims. Yet, each of these large limbs moves with a certain grace.

His face is impassive, he observes each person who could be around him. It must be said that it is not invisible, either by its size or by its status. He is a great bourgeois, in the middle of the high English nobility.

However, women come and go towards him, he has a great sense of aesthetics and takes care to discuss with each of these future customers.

But there, there is only him and you. Those big silk-gloved hands slip around your hips as he hums along to the music.

"Are you enjoying your new life with Lord Erwin? I've heard nothing but praise for him and your marriage," he asked, while casting a tender glance at you.

He is so far from reality, Erwin is cruel and deceitful. For him, the world is a vast chess board. And your role was still far too blurred, but you were not the queen or at least not yet.

"Yes, very much so! We are planning to go to France for our honeymoon. He always has good ideas to please us!" you replied, knowing it was all a lie.

The «us» implied your pregnancy. Just married, he had knocked you up. One more anxiety to manage, while you live under the same roof as him and especially far from your parents.

"Would you tell me if Erwin were to change? You know, men are so unpredictable. Will you promise me?" he asked in a whisper, before leaving to freshen up.

#aot #aot erwin #attack on titan erwin #erwin smith #erwin x levi #mike zacharias #attaque des titans #snk erwin #hanji zoe #levi ackerman #Victorian Era #mike zacharius #miche zacharius #snk hansi

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captainjanegay · 3 years

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Summary: Bucky is a single dad coming back from a work trip with a very bored, very whiney 7-year-old girl. A mysterious stranger with a kind heart and a notebook full of doodles comes to the rescue.

A/N: I was pondering whether I should leave the dance recital for later or just go with it and I decided that I had no idea how else could this third chapter go, so here it is! I hope you'll like it and as always I wanted to thank you so so much for all the love and kind words :') They all make my heart melt and make me actually excited (even though still anxious) about posting next chapters :') Thank you so much to everyone who has read, commented, liked or reblogged this fic, it means the world to me ♥

I was worried this one is going to be shorter but I've added some last minute Natasha content because who doesn't love Natasha content? I certainly do. Enjoy and see you all next time ♥

Chapter 3

(4.4k words)

Bucky is nervous. It feels almost as if he is the one who’s going to dance in front of all those people in less than an hour. Although he thinks it would be less anxiety-inducing than watching Alex's performance. It’s not like he doesn’t believe in her. If there’s one thing that Bucky is sure of, it’s that his daughter is talented and brilliant and that she’s going to be amazing. He just knows how important it is to her, so he wants everything to go perfectly. Which is why in the last two minutes he has sent at least four messages to Clint to make sure he won't be late.

Each time Clint told him to fuck off and not be a dick. There’s still over thirty minutes left before the recital starts and objectively Bucky knows Clint would never miss something that’s so important to Alex. It doesn’t stop him from worrying, though.

With a sigh, he slides his phone into his back pocket and looks around the lobby. Not that many people are around yet and Bucky is not that surprised. Besides the parents, there are rarely any other people coming to those things. Sometimes not even all the parents do. Alex probably has the biggest support group even on the smallest events. And Bucky doesn’t even need to drag anyone forcefully. They’re just lucky enough to have plenty of supportive friends in their life and thinking about it makes Bucky really emotional sometimes.

The door opens and Bucky’s eyes skip that way automatically. The man that walks in is tall and blond-haired, dressed in an old-school brown leather jacket and a scarf wrapped haphazardly around his neck. He hovers by the door for a few moments and looks a bit lost, scanning the lobby.

“Steve?” Bucky says and the man’s head turns towards him quickly.

When Steve's eyes land on Bucky, a big smile blooms on his face.

“Bucky, hi!” Steve says, walking over to him.

“You came.” Bucky points out with a smile. Steve made it clear on a few occasions that he will, but actually seeing him here is still a bit of a surprise.

“Of course. Didn’t want to let Alex down. Or you, but mostly her,” the sincerity in his voice warms Bucky’s heart. Steve rubs at his neck in a nervous gesture and reaches to his messenger bag. “I’ve actually— You’ve said how important to her it was so I— I’ve made a little something for her, I hope that’s OK?”

Surprised, Bucky looks down and sees that Steve is holding an open folder. Inside, there’s a drawing made with coloured pencils and when Bucky sees it his breath catches.

It shows Alexandra in full ballerina gear, with a big fluffy tutu and a little tiara on her head. There’s a huge smile on her face and her eyes are sparkling in the spotlights. She’s caught mid-pirouette. Even though it’s just a drawing, it’s so dynamic Bucky half expects her to start twirling across the page. Around her there is a confetti of musical notes and roses being thrown her way, some of them scattered on the stage in front of her. It’s so beautiful Bucky’s fingers twitch forward to touch the drawing but he quickly catches himself.

“God, Steve—” he starts but he has no idea what to say next.

“I just— I don’t know, I wanted to have a little gift for her? The dancers are given flowers after their performances, but I— I don’t know, I can just—,” Steve mumbles.

When Bucky finally tears his eyes away from the drawing, he notices that Steve has an honest to God blush on his cheeks and he’s still rubbing his neck in that nervous gesture. A sudden urge to wrap this amazing, kind man in a hug overwhelms Bucky. He manages to stop himself. Instead, he puts his hand on Steve’s bicep and squeezes lightly.

“It’s beautiful. I can’t even— My god, it’s amazing. Alex will go crazy when she sees it. I bet she’s gonna make me hang it somewhere,” Bucky lets out a chuckle. “And I’ll gladly do that, it’s really wonderful.”

A shy smile appears on Steve’s face as he closes the folder and carefully tucks it into his bag. “It’s nothing, just a little drawing.”

“Maybe for you but she’s gonna be over the moon. And I can’t believe that you really came and did this drawing and— You’re amazing, Steve.”

The blush on Steve’s cheeks only deepens. He looks down, refusing to look into Bucky’s eyes and he opens his mouth to say something.

But before he gets the chance, there’s some commotion on the other side of the lobby. When Bucky looks that way, he sees Clint and Scott arguing about something, the former holding a phone in front of his face. Walking calmly behind them are Hope and Cassie, both with similar tired yet fond expressions on their faces.

“Hi guys, you’ve made it!” Bucky greets them with a smile.

“We did! Clint kept rushing us cause apparently you’ve been bugging him for the last hour not to be late,” Hope says giving Bucky an one-armed hug.

“I—,” Bucky stutters. “It wasn’t an hour. Besides I wouldn’t if I knew he was picking you up.”

“Of course it was an hour and of course you would, Barnes. Don’t lie and pretend you're not a crazy person,” Clint says, looking up from the phone.

Clint’s eyes skip from Bucky to Steve, who moved half a step back and is watching the commotion with a polite smile on his face. When Clint looks back at Bucky, he wiggles his eyebrows with an awful smile.

Bucky never wanted to smack him so badly.

“You won’t introduce us?” Clint asks.

Sending him one last hateful look, Bucky glances at Steve, giving him an apologetic smile.

“Sorry. Here’s Scott, his fiancee Hope and his daughter Cassie. And this idiot is Clint, sorry about him. Guys, this is Steve, a… friend, we’ve met recently.”

“It’s nice to meet you all,” Steve says with a smile.

“Wait, what Steve? How is James making friends, I didn’t know he could do that?” comes a voice from Clint’s phone, making Bucky groan.

“We’re just as surprised, Nat.”

Clint turns his phone around, showing the screen with Natasha’s slightly glitchy face on it. She quickly scans the new surroundings and her eyebrows shoot up when she notices Steve.

“Oh hello,” she greets with a signature Natasha smile, kind but slightly wolfish and possibly intimidating to strangers. "I'm Natasha."

“Um.” Steve sends a confused glance Bucky’s way, but says. “Nice to meet you too, Natasha. I’m Steve, the new friend. Apparently that's an achievement for Bucky.”

If Bucky felt sympathetic for Steve for being ambushed by his friends, he’s not anymore. Instead, he groans again and ignores the small smirk that Steve sends him and Natasha’s “I like this one!”.

“Can you all just shut up and proceed to the hall, please?” Bucky gestures towards the door across the room. “Since we’re all here already and the show is going to start soon we can as well take our seats already.”

When they don't move, Bucky ushers them forward, waving his arms as if they were a flock of chickens. Sometimes it feels like they are. Eventually, they do move and Bucky sends a small smile towards Steve who hangs back waiting for him.

"So, um—," Steve starts, looking at the small group in front of them before glancing back at Bucky. "Your wife couldn't come?"

Steve's voice is conversational so he seems surprised when Bucky halts to a stop.

"I'm—” Bucky furrows his brows in confusion. "I don't have a wife."

"Oh." Steve looks both confused and embarrassed now. "I'm sorry, I didn't— I just assumed, since Alex mentioned her mum a lot and— sorry."

"Oh no, Bucky's single," Scott says, apparently hearing the little exchange.

"And desperately ready to mingle," Clint prompts helpfully, throwing a grin over his shoulder.

It feels like Bucky has been doing nothing but groaning in distress during the past few minutes. "I'm not desperate—"

"I'm the mum!" comes Natasha's chipper voice from Clint's video call and he kindly turns the phone around. "Not the wife, though. James's too insufferable as anything but a friend. And likes men too much for that."

"Tasha, for fuck's sake," Bucky says loudly, getting a dirty look from some random mum who overhears him.

He pointedly doesn't look at Steve throughout this whole exchange. Why do his friends hate him so much? He doesn't deserve to be treated like this.

"Can we just—" Bucky takes a deep breath, pinching the bridge of his nose, "not talk about this and to the performance, please. It's starting soon."

It's Hope who stops this madness and decides not to ignore Bucky's obvious discomfort. With a smile directed at both Steve and Bucky, she takes Scott by his elbow and turns him around, pushing Clint slightly towards the hall. They don't object. Bucky has never been more grateful for her.

It's not until a few minutes later when they are all seated in the hall, surrounded by the quiet murmur of different conversations before the show, when Steve leans closer from his seat next to Bucky's.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable," Steve says quietly.

Bucky chances a look at him. The lightning is dim but the distance between them is small enough for Bucky to make out the dark blush dusting Steve's cheeks.

"It's not your fault my friends are idiots," Bucky jokes to lighten the mood. "Should've worn ya' before I've invited you."

Steve laughs at that. "Still, though. Shouldn't have just assumed things."

"It was a perfectly normal assumption to make." Bucky points out. "Really, don't stress about it. It's all good."

For a moment, Steve doesn't look convinced but eventually he nods and smiles. Bucky reciprocates the gesture. For a moment they just look at each other but their attention is soon drawn towards the front of the room. Some more lights above the stage appear when the owner of the studio walks in with a smile, asking everyone to take a seat. Her introductions are pretty standard and she keeps them short. Soon enough, the main show begins.

It’s really entertaining, even considering the fact that the age of the performers varies between 4 and 12 years old. They’re dancing in many configurations, the smallest dancers mostly in big groups and Bucky smiles the whole time, watching their — sometimes still clumsy but oh so cheery — dancing. Two of the oldest kids perform an amazing pas de deux to the music from Sleeping Beauty. They dance to a lot of contemporary music and loads of Disney songs, to Steve’s great delight. Bucky only shakes his head with a disbelieving smile when he hears Steve singing along to A Whole New World under his breath. Feeling Bucky’s eyes on him, Steve only shrugs and laughs quietly.

Alex is in two group dances and she has her own solo performance. She’s brilliant in all of them. And it’s not just Bucky’s biased opinions, because the hall erupts in loud applause when she finishes her solo with a bow and a huge smile on her face. Watching the concentration on her face, mixed with the absolute joy of dancing makes Bucky teary-eyed and by the end of her last performance he doesn’t even try to stop the tears. All the pride he feels, threatens to tear him apart. He would be the proudest even if she sucked but the fact that she manages to awe everyone in the room makes it all so much better.

After the recital is over, some of the guests leave to wait in the lobby but Bucky and his friends stick around in the hall, moving closer to the stage. Soon enough, Alex bolts from backstage, still in her dress and everything and launches herself into Bucky’s arms.

“You were incredible, my love!" Bucky says, hugging her tight and kissing the side of her face. “I’m so proud of you! You made me cry real tears, you were so beautiful.”

“Thanks, papa,” Alex laughs, leaning away a bit to look at him, her eyes sparkling with joy.

Soon enough, she gets whipped away from Bucky’s embrace by Clint who starts spinning her around the room, both of them shrieking loudly. They earn some disapproving looks by doing that, but they couldn’t care less. Bucky only watches them with a fond smile, laughing and getting emotional again when Alexandra notices the huge bouquet they’ve bought just for her. She talks briefly with Natasha - the video conference was on during the whole performance so even though Nat couldn’t be here in person, she could still watch the whole thing. Natasha apologises for not being there but promises to make it to the next recital that is supposed to happen around New Year’s Eve and she points out how proud she is every two words.

Bucky lets everybody congratulate his little girl and shower her with the love she deserves. He’ll have plenty of time to do that at home. So he takes a step back and stands next to Steve.

Steve, who waits politely, probably not wanting to interrupt as he just watches it all with a smile on his face. But when Alex’s eyes finally land on him, matching big smiles bloom on both of their faces.

“Steve! You came!” Alex exclaims, bouncing closer to where Steve and Bucky are standing.

“Of course I did,” Steve says and he crouches to be on Alex’s eye level. “You were incredible! Thank you so much for inviting me, it was so worth it. And I have a little gift for you.”

Hearing that, Alex starts bouncing on the balls of her feet in excitement and she watches as Steve retrieves the drawing. The moment her eyes land on it, she lets out a small gasp. Just like Bucky did before, she moves her hand as if she wants to touch it but stops, afraid to ruin it. When she looks up at Steve, her eyes seem a little watery.

“It’s for me?” she asks and when Steve nods, she carefully takes it from his hands. “I love it! Thank you so much, Steve!”

With that, she wraps her small arms around Steve’s neck. The movement catches Steve off guard, almost enough to make him lose his balance and Bucky laughs at the surprised look Steve sends him.

“You’re so welcome, Alexandra,” Steve says eventually, rubbing her back. “I’m happy you like it. Thank you again for inviting me.”

“Papa, look!” Alex yells, moving away from Steve and proudly showing Bucky the drawing. “It’s me!”

“It is!” Bucky agrees, hugging her close one more time. “It's my wonderful little ballerina!"

***

After the performance, they all decide to go to a restaurant for a celebratory dinner. Steve tries to flee but both Clint and Hope — which comes out as a bit of surprise to Bucky — nag him to join them. He sends a look at Bucky, probably hoping Bucky's gonna back him up.

He doesn't. Instead, both he and Alex send Steve their best puppy dog eyes saying that they'll love if Steve came along. Steve is not able to resist such power.

Bucky's not sure why he insists so hard on Steve coming with them, not really knowing what to expect. It turns out he had nothing to worry about. Steve fits right in with their little group. The evening is very nice and they all feel comfortable in each other's company. Bucky's a bit afraid at the beginning, when Clint starts asking some pretty nosy questions and is being his horrible self. Everyone except Steve has gotten used to it and they know that Clint is the best friend one can have but for some reason, he sometimes hides it quite well. But Steve doesn’t seem to be judging or getting annoyed in any way. Quite the opposite. It also turns out that under all of Steve’s gold-heartedness hides a little asshole with witty comebacks and good-natured jabs at whoever tries to mess with him. He can totally keep up with whatever Clint’s up to at any given moment.

It's enough to say that Clint absolutely loves it.

They don’t stay at the restaurant for too long. They can’t since Alex is tired after all of today’s excitement. She tries very hard to hide it, though. Fortunately for her, Bucky knows her better and he saves her from crossing the line between happy and miserably exhausted. No matter how nice the evening is going so far, they should go. So for the sake of Alex’s pride, Bucky says he’s getting tired and the two of them are probably going to head home. It's not even a lie. Considering he's only 29 and it's not even 10 p.m. it's kind of sad that he really does feel a bit sleepy. Alex tries to protest but it’s weak, which only proves Bucky’s assessment of her energy levels was correct. Of course, everyone else jumps to their feet almost immediately. They exchange hugs and thank-you’s and more congratulations for Alexandra and finally some goodbye’s as they all go in different directions.

The short walk home wakes Alex up a bit. And because it's still her big night, Bucky lets her stay up for a little longer than usually when they finally get home. They cuddle on the couch and watch How to Train Your Dragon together, while sharing a bowl of ice cream. Of course their private little celebrations can’t start until the drawing from Steve is safely put away in Alex's room with promises that Bucky will hang it tomorrow.

About halfway through the movie Alex drifts off to sleep, curled safely on Bucky's lap. He takes a few extra minutes stroking her hair, trying not to think too much about how big she's getting or that soon she won't be so happy about cuddling with her papa anymore. Eventually, Bucky picks her up gently and carries her to her room. He finishes the movie and gets himself an extra scoop of ice cream before he heads to bed.

The next morning Alex almost drags him out of bed, rushes him through breakfast and almost pushes him out of the door. All that because he promised they're gonna shop for things they need to put the portrait from Steve on the wall. Bucky is not even mad. It is a gorgeous piece of art and he's really happy that Alex is so thrilled with it.

A few hours, some drilling and vacuuming tons of dust later, he snaps a picture of the drawing hanging proudly on the wall above the chest of drawers in Alex's bed. He attaches it to a message.

To: Steve Guess who got bullied into an IKEA trip at 10 in the morning on a Saturday just to buy a frame? Saturday, 12:30 A.M.

From: Steve Sorry? :) Saturday, 12:31 A.M.

From: Steve I'm honoured she likes it so much, though. Saturday, 12:32 A.M.

To: Steve I bet you're not sorry at all, you jump out of buildings for fun, you can't be trusted. Saturday, 12:37 A.M.

From: Steve I did NOT jump out of a building, stop saying that! And what happened to "you're amazing, Steve"? Saturday, 12:40 A.M.

To: Steve ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Saturday, 12:41 A.M.

***

After all the emotions from yesterday, Saturday passes in a nice yet uneventful way. Alex falls asleep on her feet at barely half past seven, but it’s no surprise that the tiredness has finally caught up to her. She doesn’t even try to argue when Bucky suggests she should head to bed earlier. After tucking her in, he lays down on the couch for a second, promising himself that he’ll do the dishes before heading to bed. Suddenly, it’s past 10 P.M. and he’s mindlessly watching some late-night reruns of Say Yes to The Dress. He’s not even surprised at this turn of events.

The noise his phone makes blasts in the quiet of the living room, making Bucky jump. He’s in such a rush to turn off the ringing that he drops the phone on his face, accidentally answering the incoming video call.

“Hi, dimwit. Did you just drop your phone on your face again?” He hears Natasha’s amused voice.

“I’ve never dropped a phone on my face in my life, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Bucky answers as he rubs his aching nose that has taken most of the impact.

Natasha only rolls her eyes at that. “My girl already asleep?”

“Yeah, went to bed before 8 p.m. and i bet she’ll sleep in tomorrow. She was positively exhausted today.”

“I’m not even surprised. She deserves some rest though, she was so brilliant last night,” Natasha says with a sad smile. “I hate that I couldn’t be there.”

“Don’t do this to yourself, Tasha. She understands,” Bucky tries to convince her. “Besides you’re gonna be here for Christmas, right?”

Natasha is not reassured. She thinks she hides it well enough for Bucky not to notice, but he’s known her for too long. She sighs but then answers with a small smile. “Yeah, I will be home for most of December. I’ll need to go to Cali for a bit, as always, but I should be back for Christmas.”

“That’s great,” Bucky smiles. “We miss you here and you’ll be just in time to see Alex in the Nutcracker, you know that one’s even more important to her.”

“Can’t wait. She’s gonna outmatch me sooner than I’ve expected.”

“She will and I don’t even feel sorry for you. She’s just so incredible. Like with your skills and my brains and also my good looks she’s destined for great things. I feel kind of bad for other kids,” Bucky chuckles but he only half-jokes.

In response he gets a raised eyebrow from Natasha. “I think you’ve meant my skills, my brains and my good looks and your—,” she waves her hand towards him dismissively. “I mean, I’m sure there’s something, we’ll figure it out at some point. Maybe it’s your love for Say Yes to the Dress, who knows.

“I’m—,” Bucky tries to defend himself but the grin on Natasha’s face tells him it’s a lost fight. He didn’t expect Natasha to recognise the background noise of his TV but then — it’s Natasha, so he should have. “You’re so full of shit, Romanoff.”

“I’m not. You are though,” Natasha says and when Bucky sends her a questioning look, she explains with a cheeky smirk. “I can’t believe you haven’t told me you’ve found yourself a new, smoking hot friend!”

“You know what, I don’t have to put up with this, I’m gonna go to bed,” Bucky sighs, but he makes no move to actually hang up.

Natasha only laughs triumphantly. “Oh my, why are you so defensive all of sudden? I didn’t say anything bad, did I?”

“You’re something bad in general, so I’m always prepared. Why are you all so obsessed with Steve? I have to put up with Clint already, so please, leave me alone.”

“We just care about you! And since you’ve been stuck with just us for ages, we’re excited there’s someone new, kind and handsome in your life!” the grin on her face makes Bucky groan out loud. “He seems nice and I hope you’ll be able to get to know him better. In a lot of ways.”

“See? This is exactly what I meant. I can’t believe I’ve been friends with you for so long.”

Another laugh escapes her mouth but her eyes soften when she looks back at him a moment later. “Really, though. You can’t be alone your whole life. And don’t bullshit me saying that you have Alex, you know that’s not my point. You’re just a huge softie who needs someone to make heart eyes at, it’s basically in your blood.”

Bucky chuckles in disbelief, not sure how this conversation got to this point. “What are you even talking about? I’ve known Steve for way too little for you to say all this. I’ve seen him in person twice. Twice, Natasha.”

“I’m not saying it has to be Steve, I know you’ve just met him. It was just a side note, completely unrelated to Steve. If anyone’s making a connection here, it’s you. So maybe you should think about that.” Natasha looks at him pointedly and when Bucky tries to chime in, she doesn’t let him. “Also on a completely unrelated note, Steve seems like a good guy, if you think about dating. And if you think about casual, he’s also smoking hot.”

“You’ve already mentioned that,” Bucky points out. “And you’ve only seen him via video chat.”

“Well, he is and it was clear even through Clint’s shitty camera.”

It’s hard to disagree with that. Even though Natasha is insane and he is not going to date anyone in the near future, let alone Steve whom he barely knows. He can objectively agree that Steve is unfairly attractive, though.

“Before you go all defensive and mean again — I just want you to be happy, James,” Natasha says. “And maybe having around someone who’s not Clint would be good for you.”

Bucky shakes his head with a chuckle. “You might have a point. But dating is not really on my priority list and I don’t think it’s a good time to change that now.”

“Ugh, whatever,” Natasha groans. “I really hope it won’t turn out that our daughter actually inherited your brains, because you’re an idiot.” She takes a deep sigh and changes the topic. “But let’s get to the important things now — is it just me or the dresses he shows this Caroline chick are getting uglier and uglier?”

“Oh God, I know, right? I don’t think I can handle another one of those monstrosities.”

taglist: @steverrogers @till-the-end-of-the-line-punk (@ anyone else - let me know if you want to be tagged ♥

#stucky #stevebucky #stucky fic #stevebucky fic #stevebucky fanfiction #stucky fanfiction #where i'm meant to be #chapter 3 #i love you all and i wish you a nice day and i hope you like it :')#my writings

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etlunainmorte · 4 years

Text

"Oh, my!"

V's eyes widened and his protective instincts kicked in as he saw Lady just bump into you. On the other hand, you didn't even notice it when the woman who looked like Audrey Hepburn suddenly, and out of the blue, appeared just like that, and you totally blamed it on your lack of focus.

"Oh, how silly of me!" Lady apologized with a smile as she helped you on your feet.

"It's alright. I wasn't paying attention. I - "

"Jive." Lady whispered to you the moment she leaned in closer to your ear.

"Sorry?"

"That's the next dance." Lady went on, surveying the whole room at the same time with her sharp eyes. Probably on the lookout for her sly partner, as well. But, this only proved she's even more sly than Lancaster, himself. "And Fleminger is absolutely fond of Jive. So, make it count."

"Why are you doing this? Aren't we supposed to be enemies?"

"Are we?" Lady answered, and with a wink, she waved goodbye and made her way towards Lancaster, who was currently being pampered by Fleminger's older guests.

So, Jive,... is Fleminger's favorite dance,...

Just like,... !

Wait, was that the reason she - ?

"My dear, are you alright?" You heard V ask you, bringing you back from your own reverie to reality.

Looking up at him with renewed determination and keeping the little facts you've just stitched together for your own ruminations later, you answered, "Yes, I'm,... super!" Drumming your chin with your fingers, you smiled as a wild and very sudden idea just came into your mind. You were one hundred percent sure that your grandmother would faint if she finds out about this plan of yours but, you might as well make this once in a lifetime gamble worth it, right? Looking up once more at your partner, you laid your hand on his arm and said, "I'm just gonna,... fix something."

And to this, you saw how V's eyebrows furrow in utter confusion. "P - pardon? Is everything alright?"

"I'll be right back, I promise." You told him with a reassuring smile.

Slightly running towards the powder room, your eyes quickly surveyed what the other Queen competitors were wearing. And if Lady was, indeed, correct, you assumed that all of them would have a really hard time moving with those voluminous skirts of theirs.

"Ugh. Fleminger, you are such a huge sadist." You thought out loud as you opened the door to the powder room, which was luckily unoccupied, and looked at yourself in the mirror. Giving your precious vintage gown one last look of pity like it was a criminal on the verge of execution, you grabbed the skirt and started tearing it, the sound of ripping fabric piercing your sensitive ears and making you feel sorry for your great grandmother, who previously owned it. With a huge sigh and a spark of inspiration, you, then, reached up to your hair and pulled the pins that kept it secure, letting the (H/C) tresses tumble in waves at your back.

After making sure that the ripped fabric was disposed in the proper place, you gave yourself one last look in the mirror. "Not bad, actually." You told yourself as you made your way back to your partner. Ignoring the wide variety of comments by the guests who saw you, you took a deep breath and exclaimed, "Told you I'll be right back."

V turned around, and his initial expression of relief upon knowing that you're well turned quickly into that of complete shock when his wide green eyes roamed on your loose hair down to your bare legs. You couldn't help but feel sorry for the poet. Almost.

"(Y/N), dear, I don't think that's - !" V stuttered in distress, wanting to blurt out the word inappropriate as gently as he could.

"Trust me, V." You reassured him as you smiled confidently at him. Yes, you don't quite trust Lady. But, her words earlier,...

There was no way in hell that she would lie to you! No fricking way!

You looked up at the upper boxes and noticed Fleminger excitedly leaning in closer to his seat the moment the musicians picked up their instruments. What's more, you also noticed that his eyes landed on yours.

Taking a deep breath and carelessly brushing a wayward lock off your face, you spread your arms wide with much confidence and waited for V to take the lead.

His heart pounding wildly, a small bead of sweat trickling down his forehead, and his eyes wide with anticipation, V finally realized what you were planning to do. Your important, non - verbal message seemingly received and well - noted by the wise poet, you let V take your hands. With one last nod to your partner as soon as the music began, you left everything to your actual skills, your stamina, and your trust towards him.

Together, you'll see this one dance through.

And one step in, you knew. You both knew. There's still a chance to turn this whole situation around to your favor.

***

🌸 Three Wishes 🌸

***

XIV

***

Wooh!

So, you're still thinking of me,

Just like I know you should.

I cannot give you everything, you know I wish I could.

I'm so high at the moment.

I'm so caught up in this.

Yeah, we're just young, dumb and broke.

But we still got love to give.

Christopher grimaced at the way the audience was seemingly entranced, not by him and his partner, but by something else. Their excitement felt different from before during the first three dances where he simply dominated the rest of the dancers with ease and without so much as a single effort. And when he made one wrong decision to turn away from his beautiful partner and see for himself just what these ignorant people were cheering for now, he realized. He finally realized, and because of that, he lost his balance for the first time that evening.

It was you. And your lover.

Such vibrant moves! Such,... perfectly coordinated steps! Such,... powerful connection! And chemistry!

"What,... in the actual fuck?!" Christopher blurted out when he saw you and V wowing the crowd with your quick Jive kicks and flicks. And what's more,...

Since when was V able to move like that?!

That smile on his face,...

He seemed to enjoy the Jive too much! The way he's giving it his all and showing off his flashy moves at the same time,...

First verse in and you're already giving it your all?! Thought the evil doctor as he turned his attention back to Lady to try and outshine your routine. Are you really that desperate to win against me?!

"We'll see about that!" Christopher screamed as he forced Lady to do the American Spin, making the woman almost stumble to her feet.

I'll win this game! Christopher thought as he sadistically led Lady. The flashier the moves, the better! I'll become King and make you pay for humiliating me!

While we're young, dumb,

Young, young dumb and broke.

Young, dumb.

Young, young, dumb, and broke.

Young, dumb.

Young, young, dumb, and broke.

Young, dumb, broke high school kids.

Yadadadadadadada

Yadadadadadada

Yadadadadadadada

Young, dumb, broke high school kids.

Adelaide threw an infuriated look at the host of this wretched party, who was watching the show from that lofty upper box. And the man seemed to be massively enjoying the show! And at what expense? The women tripping on their skirts as they try to keep up with the brutal pace of the Jive? The men covering up their partners' mistakes by making unnecessary moves?

Her grandchild ripping her skirt and letting her hair loose wildly like that?!

"Ugh!" Adelaide exclaimed in utter disgust as she observed the man. "You never change your ways, Flanagan!"

We have so much in common.

We argue all the time.

You always say I'm wrong, but,

I'm pretty sure I'm right.

What's fun about commitment?

When we have our life to live?

Yeah, we're just young, dumb, and broke.

But we still got love to give.

While we're young, dumb,

Young, young dumb and broke.

Young, dumb.

Young, young, dumb, and broke.

Young, dumb.

Young, young, dumb, and broke.

Young, dumb, broke high school kids.

You felt yourself so energized with that yadada that the women were singing. Their overwhelming energy and eagerness to support their lead singer gave you even more motivation to support your own leader, who was surprisingly very good at this dance!

As he led you to the mooch right after that little hip bump, V couldn't help but be amazed at what you have shown so far. Nico did say that you can dance the Jive but, he never really expected you to be this good, that he almost wondered where you pitched in those extra dance lessons in between your music studies. What's even more, you sure knew how to follow his lead and still look graceful doing it. And that was a vast understatement.

Seeing you enjoy this wonderful dance with him made him enjoy the entire dance, as well. And as long as you're happy, he's happy.

And that was the only thing he wished for.

For you to be happy.

With him.

As the song came to a close, you made one last effort to make a graceful bow, hoping to still look decent after being sorely beaten by Christopher Lancaster and his stunning partner. Taking hold of V's hand, you looked up at him and gave him that smile of yours that never failed to make him feel warm.

"Thank you, V." You simply told him.

The man smiled back at you but, a bit of confusion was still present in his facial expression. The poor poet honestly thought that he did nothing so special and that he didn’t deserve your gratitude. "It's always a pleasure." He answered regardless.

You two were about to step out of the massive ballroom when you noticed some people cheering wildly despite the dance being over. And this made the others cheer, as well.

But, why?

"Bravo!" A man dressed as a general cheered at the top of his lungs.

"Encore!" A woman, who was dressed as Marie Antoinette, added.

"Elvis!" Some group of young women dressed like the Spice Girls cheered in unison. "ELVIS! KING ELVIS!"

"Elvis?" You muttered in question as your eyes met with V's. "They're cheering for you!”

"I don't understand." V answered, his eyebrows knitted, too many questions going on in his mind. "We barely did anything,... "

"MY QUEEN!" Another man, who was dressed as an Italian painter, called. "MY QUEEN!" And his attention was totally directed at you. Not at Lady, not at Trish. You.

"QUEEN!" Some of the men started cheering, as well.

"QUEEN! QUEEN! QUEEN!"

"They were calling for you!" Trish, who was standing next to you, happily told you, shaking you a bit to keep you focused.

Dante, who was only ever so proud of V, patted the poet on the shoulder ( a bit too much ), and beamed at him. "The floor is yours, Mr. Poetry!"

"IMPOSSIBLE!" Christopher, who was watching the incredible scene unfold right before his very own eyes, murmured, unable to believe that you and V just stole his thunder right under his nose with just a simple dance.

HOW CAN THIS BE?!

"It looks like we have a winner." Fleminger declared as he gestured for his musicians to do the much requested encore. The leader nodded and gestured for the singers to have another go at it. And when that Jive music started playing once more, the other couples left the ball room to make room for you and V, all of them acknowledging your clear and clean victory.

Well, except Christopher, of course.

"Hey," The evil doctor called after Lady when he saw her going towards Dante and Trish. "HEY! WE'RE NOT DONE YET!"

"Are we?" Lady responded with much sass as she finally left her partner to cling onto Dante instead.

"Hey, babe!" The tall Devil Hunter, who was only too grateful to have two beautiful women by his side, greeted with much gusto. "Looking sharp as always!"

"Leaving your partner so soon?" Trish teased, an evil smirk fully and intentionally directed at Lady.

And to this, Lady just giggled and waved her hand. "That man needs a babysitter, not a partner. He's just too old to be grumbling like that. Besides, I’m done collecting his handsome payment for being his partner for the evening.”

"Whatever you say,..."

"May I have the honor of this dance, my lady?" V asked you with a proud smile as he held out his hand to you.

"It would be such an honor." You answered happily and graciously as you took his hand.

My name is Olly, nice to meet you can I tell you, baby?

Look around there's a whole lot of pretty ladies.

But not like you, you shine so bright, yeah.

I was wondering if you and me could spend a minute?

On the floor up and close getting lost in it?

I won't give up without a fight.

I just wanna, oh baby!

I just want you to dance with me tonight!

So come on, oh baby!

I just want you to dance with me tonight!

We're getting sweaty, hot and heavy in the crowd now.

Loosen up and let you hands go down, down.

Go with it girl, yeah just close your eyes, yeah!

I feel the music moving through your body.

Looking at you I can tell you want me.

Don't stop keep moving till the morning light, yeah!

When I saw you there,

Sitting all alone in the dark,

Acting like you didn't have a care.

I knew right then, you'd be mine.

We'd be dancing the whole damn night, like,

Oh baby, I just want you to dance with me tonight!

So come on, oh baby!

I just want you to dance with me tonight!

How can two people have so much fun dancing so energetically together like this? How can these two not mind the fatigue and stress of this crowded and heated place? How can these two lovers have all the fun in the world as if no one else existed but them?

You would never know the answer.

All you knew was that you were here with the person who made you smile. The only person who healed your broken heart.

The one and only man who made you so happy like this that you forgot all of your troubles.

And you wanted to be happy with him, not only during these mooches, these flicks and kicks, these American spins, or these simple chasses.

You wanted to be happy with him, and only him, even after this Jive.

You wanted to be happy with V. Always.

And not only you. Nico and Nero, who apparently just returned during your encore performance, were both cheering for you. As well as your stubborn but loving grandmother, who was honestly sticking out like sore thumb among the well - dressed crowd with her non - vintage attire comprised of a bright purple coat, a bright pink beret, and a pair of little blue pumps. Oh, yes, she looked so proud, and she should be! After all, she spent a huge amount of time zealously and passionately teaching you the Jive in between your piano lessons when you were just a little girl. And you kind of just figured out why after all those years of harsh, grueling footwork training!

You were on your way to your loved ones after the music changed to disco for everyone to join in when Christopher, who just appeared out of nowhere, grabbed your arm and forced you to face him.

"What did you do?" The evil doctor questioned, positively fuming with anger after being humiliated. "You,... FUCKING BITCH! WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!"

Finally having enough of Christopher's bullying and abuse, V raised his hand in an almost blind rage, ready to snap his fingers and bring chaos down unto his sorry ass when Nico interrupted by grabbing his arm.

"Ah, ah, ah! Ya haven't met our friend, yet!" Nico warned as she gave V a threatening look and forced his arm down. Gesturing for Nero to come forward, all of you watched, in utter shock and horror, as the young Devil Hunter dragged a shady looking man forward, making Christopher's veins pop up from his already red forehead.

"Who is this man?" You questioned as you uncomfortably watched Nero manhandle the poor, Kevin Bacon - wannabe guy.

"His name is Salvador!" Nero answered with a vicious smile as he crushed the man with his muscular hug, seemingly hurting him more than introducing him. "I believe he is a friend of Dr. Lancaster here."

"Is,... that so?" V asked, his eyes dangerously narrowed and his patience already snapping like a twig.

"Yeah." Nico replied. "And check this out!" She exclaimed excitedly, taking out Sparda's ripped set of vintage clothing from her backpack. "He has this all along!"

"What's the meaning of all this?" You questioned, alarmed after seeing V's infuriated face as he glanced at the fabric in Nico's hands.

"BOSS, TELL THEM THE TRUTH!" Salvador pleaded, visibly suffering from Nero's painful hold. "TELL THEM!"

"I - I,... DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT - !" Christopher yelled, feeling hopelessly cornered, as he tried to get away from you once and for all. Unfortunately for him, Dante, who sensed all this unease and left the dancefloor for a while to come to your rescue, was already standing behind him, and the moment he turned away, he bumped against the Legendary Devil Hunter's rock hard chest, making him stumble on the ground ungracefully.

"Hey, is there something wrong here?" Dante asked good - naturedly, trying not to escalate the situation to prevent it from getting worse.

"He stole father's things." V answered monotonously, his enraged eyes still on Christopher. "And made an enemy of Sparda by tormenting (Y/N)."

"Ah, is that so?!" Dante, whose eyebrows began twitching the moment he heard the word torment, said as he began cracking his knuckles, the sound of his popping joints frightening poor Lancaster and Salvador beyond their own wits.

"Oh, please, you're being too harsh on the poor man!" You interrupted with a smile, startling everyone, most especially V.

"But, dear, this man hurt you - !" V argued but he was cut off when you helped Christopher on his feet

"Thank you!" The doctor cried as he graciously took your hands. "Thank you so much, (Y/N)! I' am very much - !"

"FUCK YOU!" The crisp and horrible curse escaped your mouth as you let out a powerful right hook that connected straight to Lancaster's cheek, feeling his head jerk deliciously sideways beneath your hardened fist. The man stumbled on the ground once more, and when he tried to get up, he saw blood on the floor where his face was. He looked at you in fright and scrambled to his feet, making his way outside and finally leaving all of you, hopefully for good.

"BOSS! DON'T LEAVE ME!" Salvador called as he wriggled free from Nero's iron grasp and chased after the defeated doctor.

“That hand,... PRACTICED THE PIANO 40 FREAKING HOURS A DAY!” You screamed at your pathetic, narcissistic ex, and, man, it felt so, so good! "Wow." You breathed a sigh of relief, a proud look on your face. "That was so intense!”

"You betcha!" Nico laughed as she watched the two men scurry their way outside in fright.

"They should think twice before crossing any Sparda next time." Nero added, shrugging his shoulders.

"There won't be a next time! Mark my words.” Dante corrected as he stretched his long arms and made his way back to the dancefloor.

"I shouldn't say this but," V added as he closed the gap between the two of you and linked his fingers with yours. " … I'm so proud of what you've done, (Y/N). And I won't ever regret saying it."

"Haha, thanks."

"And what is going on here, if I may inquire?" You heard Fleminger's voice. Apparently, he has been watching the whole scene unfold right before him in silence. And he didn't look overjoyed.

"Well, I,... " You stuttered, feeling nervous under the host's scrutinizing gaze. "Took care of,... something?"

"Here, man." Nico whispered to V as she handed him something from her backpack.

Fleminger shook his head with an apologetic look on his face. "You must know that,... violence,… is strictly discouraged in these halls of entertainment. And for that, I must disqualify the both of you from winning the title of King and Queen for this evening." Fleminger declared, bringing down the hammer of justice right before you and V. Shaking his head with a distinct frown in his face, he turned around and muttered, "Such a shame."

"Go for it! I'm countin' on ya!" Nico told V as she pushed him closer towards you.

"Is there something wrong, V?" You asked, the sweet victory of winning against Christopher and the bitter sting of being disqualified as Queen still very much fresh in your system.

The man smiled as he shook his head. Then, making one swift decision to trust his gut and finally get this one final plan for the evening over and done with, he took your hand and led you outside, getting past the people who congratulated you, both for dominating the dance floor and for giving that evil doctor a piece of your mind.

***

🌸 I was actually wondering why it's taking me so long to edit this chapter but, then I realized, there's over 4k words in this.😅😅😅 🌸

🌸 @la-vita , @dreaming-gamer , @birdgirl69 , @v-vic , and @hanniskywalker . 🌸

***

That,... bitch! That fucking bitch and her skinny boyfriend who thinks he owns the world!

"You thought you have the last laugh, eh?" Christopher said, and as he was about to reach for that thing in his breast pocket, he felt a strange presence behind him. Looking back, he saw a tall, and ridiculously attractive dark - skinned man who was leaning against a pillar just outside Fleminger's mansion. Unlike the other guests, he was not dressed in his best vintage and he looked like he was only there to crash the party. His dark, gleaming eyes seemed to observe him very, very closely, and it felt like those eyes were piercing through his skull right to the depths of his soul.

"Can I help you?" Christopher asked, suddenly feeling the atmosphere getting heavy right before this stranger's presence.

The man raised his eyebrows. His hands still in the pocket of his grey pants, he nodded and spoke in a very deep, and yet, sweet - like - honey, voice. "Maelstrom."

"Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about - ?!"

"Exactly." The man answered. "I thought I sensed something special here. Alas, I was mistaken." The man left the pillar and turned the other way to leave. But before that, Christopher heard the man mutter something under his breath. "Ah, such a shame. No wonder Bedlam has been so down for decades now, I see. Aha, time to search for someone else,..."

"EXCUSE ME?! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU - ?!"

"Who are you talking to, scum?"

Just then, Christopher heard another voice behind him. But unlike the honeyed voice of the attractive hobo who just left, this one sounded like it was filled with such poison. He turned around and found a tall, white - haired man standing before him. He was staring him down with those cold eyes of his, and his right hand was lurking dangerously close to the hilt of the katana on his left hand.

"What now?!" Christopher howled in agony, feeling as if he was losing his mind completely.

"I believe," The white - haired man drawled, his voice sounding so much like a feral hiss, as he finally unsheathed the Yamato and pointed it at Christopher. " ... you have something that is mine in your possession?"

Wait a second here,...

Tall, ridiculously virile - looking, and white - haired,...

"Another,... SPARDA?!" Christopher helplessly gasped in fright as he felt his bladder fail on him.

Vergil gave him one last sadistic smile as he went closer to the man who almost ruined his brother's evening with you.

"And that's the last time you'll ever say that name." The eldest son of Sparda said as he raised the Yamato,...

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#vitale sparda #devil may cry 5 #three wishes #v x reader #v x you #chapter 14 #another one bites the dust

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leftbouquetfestivalus · 7 years

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this is a little sample of my book i hope some of you like it i just posted the cover of my book

SCANDALOUS

by Danni Hawkins

CHAPTER ONE

I'm sitting in class waiting for the last bell to ring.

I cannot wait until class is over., I look down at my watch. Fiftteen more minutes left until school is over. Why can’t this class can’t just hurry up?

I’m tapping my nails against my desk. I didn't realize how loud I was tapping my nails until Miss Gale call my name.

“Winter” Miss Gale yells my name, and I look up at Miss Gale. her.

Miss Gale is the assistant teacher who complains over every little thing. “Can you stop tapping your nails against the desk?

“"So I can't tap my nails against the desk now?

“You can, but I thought you would have a little more Respect when your classmates are doing their work. Can you try to care about other people besides yourself” she said with an attitude.

This bitch is worrying about me tapping my nails against the desk when the whole class is making noise.

I stand up. “I do care about other people. Who do you think you are?

Miss Gale picks up her head and looks at me. I am about to say something rude that will put me in detention, but I keep it to myself.

“Winter, are you done making a scene?

“That was no scene, but I will show you one if you’d like me to".

Miss Gale picks up her head and stares at me.

“Winter, one more disrespectful comment, and I will send you to detention and call your father.”

“Okay, call him. He's never home anyways.” Now everybody is staring at me.

“I'm warning you, Winter. You’re skating on very thin ice.”

“That’s okay. I know how to ice skate.” I have the whole class dying laughing.

Miss Gale takes a deep breath. “Know what, Winter. I'm going to take a walk. When I come back, I hope you have controlled your mouth.” Miss Gale walks out of the classroom, and I just roll my eyes at her, take a deep breath, and sit back down slowly in my seat.

My name is Winter Juliana Marian Marino. I live with my dad, Marcus. He's a lawyer. My mom, Diane, left us when I was younger because she chose her stupid career over us. Well, that's what my dad told me. She never once picked up the phone to call us. No letters, no “Happy birthday”s, no nothing. That’s the least she could do.

I don't get how a mother could leave her family like that. We were happy. They argued like all married people do, but the way they looked at each other… Nobody could fake that. It was nothing but love. I remember when Diane would hold me in her arms for hours and never let me go and kiss me all over my face and read me to sleep. What was so bad that she packed her bags and left? How many arguments did she have in her head before she decided she couldn't take it anymore? Or did she just leave and never look back?

My mom met my dad when he was moving from Italy to New York. Marcus used his Italian accent to hit on Diane. He claimed he was lost. That was a lie; he knew perfectly well where he was. What female doesn’t like a man with an accent? Of course she fell for his charm. The rest is history.

Marcus is Italian. He has big, green eyes, blonde hair, and a porcelain skin complexion. Diane is Trinidadian with a chestnut skin tone and short, curly hair. I think half of her hair was weave. My older brother Rome and I have caramel skin complexions and green eyes. Rome keeps his hair gelled up and spiky, and I have long, dark brown, curly hair. I prefer my hair straight, and it usually takes up to an hour to straighten my hair every day. I have my mom's curvy figure. The boys at my school say that my figure can cause car accidents. Idiots! Who makes up these dumb pick-up lines, and who’s dumb enough to fall for them?

Every boy at this school tries to get with me but never succeeds. It’s just not happening. They’re just not my type, and it’s a waste of my time.

My older brother Rome is away at college. He goes to the University of Miami. I miss him a lot. When he used to attend high school before I enrolled, every female wanted him. He's not even cute, but his name still travels around. Like, get over him; he's not even thinking about you.

I don't see the attraction these females have for him. The things he does are total turn-offs. He eats with his mouth wide open, and you can see all his food mashing up together. That's just plain nasty! Like, close your mouth.

Caridad's dumb ass walks into class. She’s always late. Walking behind her are her dumb butt-lickers. She's just mad I won't lick her butt like they do. She sits right in front of me. She turns around in her seat to face me. She stares at me and smiles like I just amused her, and she flips her hair. I personally believe Caridad is jealous of me because I don't take her crap, unlike her butt-lickers. They do everything she tells them to do. It's like they don't have minds of their own. It’s sad to watch. I stand up to her; I will never let someone like Caridad boss me around and treat me like crap, like I'm nothing. That will never be me. If I have something to say, I will say it. I won't bite my tongue for anyone, especially not trash like Caridad. I'm not afraid of anybody, and definitely not Caridad. Nobody puts fear in my heart. She needs to know she cannot control everybody. Every time she gets some type of attention, positive or negative, she shows off like she's so important. It's whatever. It's not always about you; get over yourself.

Caridad flips her hair and continues to smile and stare at me. She really has nothing better to do with herself than harass me. “Winter, I love your green contacts. What store did you buy them at?” she laughs, and so do her butt-lickers.

“Caridad, unlike you, I don't wear fake shit.”

“I do not wear anything fake.” She laughs and looks around to see if anybody is paying attention to her. Her voice gets louder so that everybody begins paying attention. “I'm all natural.” Caridad flips her hair and throws her arm in the air dramatically.

“Caridad, the weave in your hair is FAKE.” I remember when we were in middle school, I walked in the bathroom and saw her taking off a wig. The length of her real hair stopped at the beginning of her neck. “The contacts are FAKE. Everything about you is FAKE. Don't try to deny it; you will just embarrass yourself. You’re just a wannabe. Look at your fake, wannabe-bougie ass.”

"Well, I heard you were adopted.”

This bitch wants to get slapped. “You didn't hear shit about me because I'm not adopted. Caridad, keep spreading lies about me, and I…” I have to take a deep breath. “Know what, forget it. You're not even worth it. You’re just mad you're not me.”

“Trust me, Winter, I don't want to be like you.”

“Yes, you do. You try so hard to be like me. It's cute though.” I just smile at Caridad. “I think it’s adorable that you look up to me.”

Caridad flips her hair. “Please, Winter, don't flatter yourself.”

“Caridad, everybody knows you want to be just like me. You even dyed your hair the same color as mine and got the same bag as mine—even though mine is real. What, you get that bag from the 99-cent store? But who’s counting, right?” I hear someone say, “Oooh, she got you! Check mate!” Everybody starts laughing, and Caridad gets really quiet. I can tell she’s embarrassed now. She continues to insult me, but I get bored of her and ignore her.

I have one best friend, Terri-Ann. She's got a dark brown skin complexion and short, bouncy, curly hair. Every time she moves, you can see her curls bounce, too. I tell her everything. Terri is the sweetest person you can meet, but don't get on her bad side. She will make your life nothing but hell—I’ve seen her do it.

The bell finally rings. I grab my books quickly and walk out of class. I bump into Jay, almost knocking him down, but I catch him before he falls on the floor. “My bad, Jay.”

Jay is conceited, and not in the sexy way. He carries a mirror in his back pocket, and he takes it out just to look at himself. Really, who does that? He hits on every girl who gives him some type of attention.

“Did you see Terri?” I asked Jay.

“Um…no, but I saw her earlier.”

“Well, if you see her, tell her I was looking for her.”

“Okay, I will, Winter. No dance today?”

“No, not today.” I take dance lessons at a studio three days a week. I want to be a professional hip-hop dancer and teach choreographed dancing.

I drive home and walk inside. “Dad?” I call out. No answer. He's probably still at work. I take my mug that I made in pottery class out of my bag and place it with the rest of the family photos on the mantel in the living room. Marcus has removed every picture of Diane. I walk into the kitchen and make myself a sandwich. I'm really fed up with Caridad. She gets under my skin. I don't show it, but she gets me so angry. One of these days she's going to catch me on a bad day where I say, “Fuck self-control,” and fuck that bitch up.

Marcus walks into the living room.

“Hey, Dad. When you get home?”

“Around two, I think.”

“Well, I was calling you.”

“Sorry, I had ear plugs in my ears.”

“Dad, why did you have ear plugs in your ears?”

“I'm working on this big case.” Marcus is a workaholic. Ever since Diane left us, all he does is work, work, and more work. I think that's how he deals with his pain. He never takes a vacation. The last time we went on a vacation, Diane was still here. We went to Disney World.

“Dad, you need to take a vacation.”

“I know, it's this case.”

“Dad, there's always going to be a case.”

I sit on the couch next to Marcus and finish my sandwich.

Terri storms through the front door like she lives here. Anybody could rob us because Marcus never locks the front door.

Terri sits next to me on the couch. “Hello, Mr. Marino,” Terri greets Marcus.

“Hello, Terri,” Marcus says back. Marcus walks out of the living room and into the kitchen.

“O.M.G., Winter, my mom is driving me crazy.”

“What happened this time?” Terri thinks her mom is out to ruin her life.

“So I was in the dining room texting Mark.”

“As usual,” I say. Terri smiles. Mark is Terri’s head-over heels, can't-live-without-you boyfriend. They've been dating since junior high school.

“My mom came in the kitchen and said she thinks Mark and I are getting way too serious.” Terri didn’t say anything for a few seconds.

“So what did you say?”

“I told her how I felt. I said, ‘Instead of worrying about my relationship, worry about your marriage. You can’t even keep Dad home.’”

“You said that?”

“Yes,” Terri says quickly, acting like what she said was nothing.

“Terri, that was harsh. What did your mom say?”

“She slapped me in the face, so I left. I should call A.C.S. on her. That’s child abuse, you know.”

“Terri, you’re sixteen years old. That is not an A.C.S. case, and you probably hurt her feelings.”

“Well, it’s true.”

“She’s your mother, and she deserves some respect.”

“I know, but she never gives me room to breathe. She’s always hovering over me. Winter, it’s like I’m suffocating. All she says to me is, ‘You'll thank me one day.’ Thank her about what? All she said was that she thinks Mark and I are getting too serious and that I’m just a teenager who can't control my emotions.”

“Do you talk to her?”

“All the time.”

“Terri, just talk to her.”

“Are you even listening to me? I always talk to her.”

“Terri, that’s not what I mean. I want you to really talk to her and make sure she hears you, not just listens to you. She is your mother, and you need give her some respect. At least she cares and didn’t leave you for her job.”

“You’re right.” Terri takes a deep breath; she doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, but then she looks at me. “I’m sorry, Winter, you’re right.”

“Don’t apologize to me; apologize to her.” I change the subject. I hate talking about my mother; it gets me upset.

“So how's Mark treating you?”

“Great!” Terri blushed. I really don’t want to know what that’s all about.

Marcus walks in the living room wearing a tacky, red, ripped apron around his waist. “Dinner time.”

We walk to the bathroom to wash our hands. My dad has cooked smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes with gravy, and string beans, as well as homemade iced tea. Nobody utters a word; the meal is so good, nobody has anything to say. I even have a second plate.

After we finish eating, Terri stands up.

“Mr. Marino, that was excellent,” Terri says, rubbing her flat belly.

“Winter used to tell me how much she enjoyed my cooking. Now, look!” I roll my eyes, and Marcus stands up.

“Well, I will see you kids later,” Marcus says, leaving the dining room.

I start to wash the dishes while Terri cleans the table. “Terri, you know you don’t have to clean.”

“I know,” Terri says as she grabs the rag out of the sink.

“Winter, can I ask you a question?”

“You just did.” Terri rolls her eyes at me, and I laugh, saying, “Okay, go ahead, Terri, and ask me.”

“Why don’t you date anymore?”

If I had known she was going to ask me this question, I would have said “No.” I look up at the ceiling, thinking, Not this again. She had asked me the same question a couple of months ago. “Terri, didn’t we discuss this already?”

Terri hands me the dishes. “Yes, but I need to keep pushing you. Look at you. You’re beautiful and popular, and you’re the captain of the dance team and, don’t forget, my best friend. Any guy would love to date you, but you shut them all down. You don't give any guy a chance.”

“Terri, it’s not all about dating. There’s more to life than guys. Guys will come and go and break your heart and some.” I smile and continue, “There will be the one guy I’ll fall in love with, and nothing else will matter. But first I want to explore, Terri. Have fun, party, go out. I’ll find a guy, but when I do I want to be ready.”

“Winter, you haven’t been dating since middle school.”

I roll my eyes; here we go, again. “Terri, stop. Please. When I start dating, you will be the first to know, so drop it.”

Terri lets out a breath in frustration and says, “Fine.” She looks down at her watch. “I better get going before my mom sends the police squad looking for me.” She smiles and kisses me on my cheek before leaving through the front door.

I head upstairs to take a nice, hot shower. I walk downstairs into the kitchen, open the freezer, and take out a gallon of strawberry ice cream. I sit on the couch pretzel-style, watching a movie and eating ice cream. I fall asleep without realizing it; when I wake up, my gallon of ice cream is all melted. Half-asleep, I head upstairs to my room to use the bathroom, and then I climb onto my bed and fall right back to sleep.

The next morning, Marcus wakes me up by shaking me awake. “Winter.” Marcus continues shaking me. When I open my eyes, he looks mad.

“Yeah,” I whine.

“Get up.”

“Give me a few minutes.” I throw the covers back over my head to go back to sleep.

“Winter, if you don't get up now, you will be late. You don't have another few minutes to sleep.”

I sit up quickly on my bed. “What?”

“I said, you don't have—!”

I cut him off. “I heard you the first time.”

“What happened?” he demands. “You were supposed to have been up and almost ready by now.” I can hear the attitude in his voice.

“I know. I know, Dad. I forgot to set my alarm clock last night.”

I brush through my messy hair.

“Winter, hurry up,” he says sternly before leaving my room.

I jump out of my bed and take a quick shower. I usually take a longer shower than this, but I'm running late. I blow out and straighten my hair quickly; it isn’t really as straight as it normally looks. I grab my brush out of my dresser, brush my hair into a neat ponytail, and curl my bangs. I put on my sliver hoop earrings—not those fake ones you buy in the 99-cent store—that fake shit is cheap. I wear the real silver earrings with the real diamonds.

I get dressed and apply my red lip gloss that makes my lips nice and juicy and plump. I make my bed; I don't usually make my bed, but what the hell? I'm feeling lucky today. I know, I know: You don’t have to remind me. Marcus tells me all the time that I take a long time getting dressed, but you have to pay a big price when you’re beautiful like me. You can’t rush perfection.

I grab my book bag and head downstairs. Marcus has already left for work. He left on the countertop my favorite blueberry muffin. I take a big bite and pour a cup of hot, fresh, steaming French vanilla coffee. I inhale the aroma and sip on my coffee slowly, so I won't burn my tongue. I grab my keys off the coffee table, and I walk out the front door. When I arrive at school, I park in the students’ parking lot.

I get out and spot Terri and Mark kissing like there’s no more air left. “Get a room!” I shout jokingly.

Terri smiles, shakes her head at me, and continues to kiss Mark. As I walk over to Terri, she breaks their kiss.

“I forgot to set my alarm clock this morning, and my dad had to wake me up. He was mad.” Mark kisses Terri on the lips quickly.

“I’ll see you later, babe,” Mark says to Terri and kisses her again on the lips. “Later, Winter.”

I just nod my head. I don’t really talk to Mark. We only say “hey” and “bye” to each other for Terri’s sake. It’s not that I don't like him; we just disagree on a lot of things that will turn into arguments, so for the love of Terri we just don't say anything to each other but “hey” and “bye.”

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