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f0point5 · 2 months

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whenever i hear about ocon's parents selling their house and living in a caravan (iirc) i just feel so bad for him. it really reminds me of all those traumatised child actors whose parents quit their job because the child can now be the breadwinner. obvs it's two complete opposite sides of the spectrum but both are such unfair sitautions to be put in as a child! esteban needing to succeed because otherwise his family would be broke forever?? (also i know that these decisions are often mentioned in a heart warming "oh look at how much my parents sacrificed for my dream" -way, but i find it so hard to look at it from a positive light. i'm sure they did it all out of love but i just can't imagine putting your child in such a tough position and putting that much pressure on them. i guess i just lack that top performance athlete mentality lol.) not to mention that most of these racing children hardly have a plan b career plan since they usually drop out of school. so now you have a kid who single handedly has to save the family from financial ruin AND has no safety net or plan b whatsoever. that's just insane and it's no wonder esteban is like that. he really has the ultimate rags to riches back story but his history gave him such a massive chip on his shoulder that he's just become unlikeable, which sucks!!! wish someone would grab his shoulders and shake him around a little and say: estieee!! youve made it!! stop driving like losing would full on kill you and just focus on getting the best out of the car and be the best you can be!! you'd think that someone with his backstory would be the last person who'd need to be humbled, but fucking hell he acts so smug and can be so delusional it's exhausting.

anyyyyways, apologies for dropping a full essay in your askbox, i don't even care about esteban lmao. it's just that whenever i do happen to think about him i just get so frustrated 🤷🏼‍♀️😬

have a lovely evening!! 💞

This.

I remember reading that once when I didn’t know too much about him and thinking, okay that’s a bit extreme. And then I thought about how much pressure that must have put on him. Pressure to succeed, but also just pressure in terms of that being not an ideal quality of life for a teenage boy. His parents made his life exponentially harder in every single way to support his hobby in the hopes that he could turn it into a career to support them. And then I thought about the fact that if he hadn’t been that 0.00001% that makes it, how much harder his life would have got, and how much guilt he would have lived with. They set him up to live with constant insecurity and instability, and to shoulder the burden of making that all worth it for them. Who does that to their child? I don’t care how talented you think they are, betting you’re financial security on that is imbecile behaviour. Even Esteban said if he were in his parents’ position he wouldn’t do it. Poor guy knows what it does to child.

It’s exactly like moving your kids to LA to be the breadwinner, except it’s worse because the amount of kids able to support a family on acting work is probably 10,000 times the the amount of drivers making enough money to support a family from driving alone. Statistically, there was a 0% chance that that gamble would pay off for them but they did it anyway. That’s worse odds than a slot machine. And they bet the house their son was living in?! Ew. Just ew.

And yeah, people say “look what my parents sacrificed for my dream” with affection when that dream has come true. But what would have happened if he hadn’t made it. “Look what my parents destroyed because they bet my future and theirs on my childhood hobby”. What in the damn hell. These stories are not in any way endearing to me - they’re just examples of narcissistic and irresponsible parenting.

And now I’ve just seen clips of a podcast he did talking about his childhood and I was almost tearing up for him. How he and his dad used to take tyres from the other kids’ karts out of the bins and reuse them because he didn’t have enough sets over a weekend, and how he didn’t go to birthday parties or on holiday because it was all focused on his racing. That’s a CHILD. And he was talking about how he and his dad would see Max and Jos and how everyone was intimidated by them but he and his dad weren’t…because they had literally bet their shirts on his career and couldn’t afford to be scared. That. Is. A. Child. What if he woke up one day and didn’t want to do it anymore? What if he wanted a life beyond what his parents chose for him by putting their lives on the line? Would he have been allowed to? I mean. No bloody words.

Again, anyone who says Jos is a problem father better be coming for the Ocons (and Anthony Hamilton).

The way he is is so clearly connected to the fact that he lived his whole life in survival mode. That guy moves through the world like the last meal he had was one he had to fight for in an abandoned warehouse. And fair enough it got him where he needed to go, but once you’ve made it, It’s the most unpalatable energy to be around, and it no longer serves you. And it also makes you look like an ass because how can you be a whole f1 driver and stink of desperation. Logically it’s clear why but it’s still just not a likeable combination. He probably knows that, but doesn’t know any other way to be. That’s why he has such an issue with teammates - he can’t not fight for things because he’s always scared someone is going to take something from him. He’s like a stray dog that you take in and they hide food in their bed because they think you might not ever feed them again.

I really hope he’s getting some therapy because the childhood is trauma-ing out in the open.

I think of everyone on the grid he’s the one I feel most sorry for, because of all the backstories that you hear, he seems the most unhealed.

But the levels of delulu is something else. That f3 season where he beat Max (racing for a top team while Max was in one that I don’t think had even won a race until Max won 10 in one season) really got him thinking they were on a level and he hasn’t let go of it since. He’s like “oh I look at it like I’ve never had the opportunity to go against Max because we’ve always been in different leagues of car”…as if there’s not a REASON. You’re out here like “he’s in a red bull” well why aren’t you? By your own admission you were on the same f3 track…helmut wasn’t looking for you bro.

Hope you don’t mind my essay back lol. I’m low-key obsessed with him because I find him so annoying but at the same time he’s like literary gold dust. He has such Main Character backstory. It’s just a pity he comes across so unlikeable to me. And the thing is, I genuinely think underneath it all he is a sweet person (delulu still, but sweet), but it just comes secondary to his survival mode personality.

#esteban ocon

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foxes-that-run · 7 months

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Happily

In the 2019 Fine Line Rolling Stone interview While talking about Lights Up he said:

“‘Happily’ was the first time I saw my name in the credits. I liked that,” he says. “But I knew I’d only sing part of it. I knew if I wrote a really personal song, I wouldn’t sing it. It was like a safety net."

He also listed it as one of the 1D songs he loved to Rolling Stone after going solo:

He didn’t feel stifled in One D, he says, as much as interrupted. “We were touring all the time,” he recalls. “I wrote more as we went, especially on the last two albums.” There are songs from that period he loves, he says, like “Olivia” and “Stockholm Syndrome,” along with the earlier song “Happily.” “But I think it was tough to really delve in and find out who you are as a writer when you’re just kind of dipping your toe each time. We didn’t get the six months to see what kind of shit you can work with. To have time to live with a song, see what you love as a fan, chip at it, hone it and go for that … it’s heaven.”

Happily was written by Harry with Carl Falk and Savan Kotecha, who wrote many One Direction songs including What Makes you Beautiful. Midnight Memories was written between June - September 2013.

It may be set around April 2013 and the Brit Awards, Harry watched Taylor walk 21 Feb, she was then with Joe 0.1 Tom Odell 22 Feb. By the VMAs in August they were on good terms. Tom wrote Country Star about Taylor at the time which included "young American country star / She's telling me all about her new guitar / She's a little bit clever, a little bit daft / A little bit happy with a broken heart" it also included "We're rolling 'round like tangerines" when Harry was pictured holding one at the awards.

Live Performances

Happily was song 7 for the first 8 shows on the OTRA tour. Harry looked upset in these performances, in the second last in Perth, you see Liam ask Harry "are you OK?" (at 1:01) on 20 February 2015. It was last played 24 February 2015 in Osaka, the day Taylor met Calvin Harris. It hasn't been on any of their solo sets. It was replaced by Stockholm Syndrome on 25 February.

youtube

Lyrics

[Harry] You don't understand, you don't understand What you do to me when you hold his hand We were meant to be but a twist of fate Made it so you had to walk away

What I love about this song is it has all the elements of their relationship in quite simple terms. In NYD, You are in Love and DBATC she sung about them being a book that was left unfinished, I think this open is a similar idea of ended too soon.

[Niall, Zayn] 'Cause we're on fire We are on fire

They were (are still) on fire:

youtube

[Harry] I don't care what people say when we're together You know I wanna be the one to hold you when you sleep I just want it to be you and I forever I know you wanna leave So c'mon baby be with me So happily

These articles are all within 6 months of them going public, imagine one of these written about you at 18 or 22. Add to that each having an image worth 10s+ of millions of dollars to lots of people.

Happily "I don't care what people say",

I know places "Something happens when everybody finds out / See the vultures circling, dark clouds / Love's a fragile little flame, it could burn out"

DWOHT " People started talking, putting us through our paces / I knew there was no one in the world who could take it"

Adore You "I'd walk the fire for you",

Cowboy Like Me "Telling all the rich folks anything they wanna hear / Like it could be love / I could be the way forward / Only if they pay for it", and

Little Freak "Somehow, you've become some paranoia, A wet dream just dangling"

honestly, this list of lyrics could get real long so I'll stop.

Makes total sense for them. This doesn't mean it would not be harder still for them to come out, it totally would, and I am there for it if either do. What I can see is, either way is this is not welcoming. This is also just print media. Some fandoms are loud.

[Liam] It's four a.m. and I know that you're with him I wonder if he knows that I touched your skin And if he feels my traces in your hair Sorry, love, but I don't really care

I think this is a reference to Joe 0.1. Tom Odell. The lyric and context is almost the same as Taylor later sung in Delicate "Do the girls back home touch you like I do? Long night with your hands up in my hair"

#haylor #midnight memories #Youtube #one direction #one direction haylor

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artist-issues · 5 months

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Regarding the whole entire idea that self-love is a dead end, as a Christian writer myself, I think I just accidentally went there. I've been working on a musical that centers around separating best friends and I think the protagonist's issues with all the separations happening around her (she's socially disconnected and her mom is leaving) are somewhat resolved when she realizes she can stand on her own...like, okay. I know what the Christian viewpoint would be (that God will support her even when the people in her life fail her), but the thing is, I didn't make her a specifically Christian character and I don't know how to do this without falling back on that dead end. (If it helps to know the ending, she and her friend do reconcile, but only after they've properly prioritized their relationships to avoid being dependent.)

Oooo! I love the sound of your musical's story. I would watch it. It sounds deeply relatable.

If the main idea of your story is, "you don't need other people to be happy or feel valuable," that's still a Christian value. It's just a little incomplete--like, it raises the question, "okay, so I know I don't need other people; but what DO I need to feel happy or valuable?"

After all, there's no reason for your character to give up her old way of doing things unless she's shown how to do it a new way.

I'm not sure how I would solve your problem (not knowing your characters) but I would say, think about what your character hates about the separations. What's she longing for?

Maybe she likes the security having familiar people around her gives her. (God is the most familiar with you because He knows everything about you.)

Maybe she gets her sense of worth from the people who love her, and if they leave she'll be sad/bored with life. (God assigns us worth, and it's not for ourselves, it's from Him; and He's always reminding us of that.)

Maybe she has a hard time taking risks, and is socially awkward, but she knows that the people who are leaving have already accepted her and doesn't want that safety net to go away. (There's no reason to worry about people not accepting you when you're focused on how God has already accepted you.)

The point is, whatever she's longing for that she thinks is getting ripped away with her mom/friends who are leaving--she needs to find that thing she's longing for in something else. Something bigger and better outside of herself. (Your problem, if I'm understanding you right, is that she's currently finding that thing she's longing for in just...herself.)

Now, you don't have to make the thing she fulfills her longing with the God of the Bible, specifically. Like I've said in other posts, you can just make a type of "higher power" that she learns to hang on to.

In Disney movies that's usually a concept. A concept like, "be selfless, do the right thing, even if you no longer get to have your friends around." Like Belle giving up her dad and home and dreams, to save him--and that commitment to the "concept of good," in selflessness, winds up getting rewarded. And you can have this vague idea of Magical Something out there that WILL make you cosmically fated to be rewarded for goodness...like the Fairy Godmother or the Enchantress. Get what I mean? The Enchantress doesn't have any role in Beauty and the Beast except to set up the system by which Beastnis cursed and then goodness is rewarded. The Fairy Godmother's only in one scene. The characters are freed up to either commit to good and get unwittingly rewarded (and it's not "convenient" because the Rules of Magic that reward them are a stand-in for a higher power) or choose selfishness and get defeated. You get the idea.

But if you don't want to have supernatural elements in your story, you don't have to.

You could...also just explore the "what not to do" idea in the story. You could make your main idea "Don't put the burden of your identity and your worth on the people around you--that's selfish and it'll hurt them in the long run."

The problem is, then you usually wind up with a pretty sad story where the protagonist does everything she can to get them to stay, even to the point of doing things that hurt them (think Anakin Skywalker) and only stop that when they realize that they're being selfish. Then they stop, because they know that "love" is giving up what's good for you if it's good for the people you're letting go.

But.

Then you leave your main character without anything to hang on to. It's the same thing as an epic fantasy where the main character is a villain until the very end, then they make a big sacrifice for the heroes...but then die. That's fine. That's Darth Vader. But then your main character's whole point is "what not to do." And you need another character (usually the hero or whoever changed their mind) to be the one that represents "what TO DO instead..."

Like Luke does.

Yeah, Vader was a bad guy because he was committed to controlling everything out of fear of losing his attachments--then Vader dies sacrificially--but that's a back door out of having to learn his lesson, really. Because once he's dead, he's not attached to anything anymore--he doesn't have to give the people he's attached to up, really--he's just dying and taking himself out of the picture.

If your character in the musical resolves her struggle by saying, "I'll let you go, holding on to you too tight is selfish," but doesn't learn what to hold on to instead, even if she doesn't technically die, she IS just taking herself out of the picture in a way that might wind up not being satisfying for audiences. Because they know logically that her life will go on... but they'll be like, "so she's just lonely and sad forever?"

I guess all my thinking-out-loud is to say, don't solve that problem with her being "enough" for herself. But you do kinda have to solve it, don't you?

You could do it by having her lean on an "idea." It could even be a Biblical idea. Have another character say a slogan to her when they see her struggling, like, "letting someone go frees up your hands to hold on to new things," I don't know 😂 NOT that, but just a vague idea that she'll be okay, that there's other stuff to hold on to in life...

Ultimately, I think, if none of those quasi-solutions leaves YOU feeling satisfied, it won't leave your audiences feeling satisfied.

And honestly, now that the can of worms has been opened...now that you know "self-love" isn't the BEST solution for the character...you won't be satisfied with THAT first ending you came up with anymore, either 😅 So all of this typing of mine and yours might just make you come to the conclusion: start over. Make the story around a new main point with higher power or selfless ideal for her to cling to--instead of trying make your main point fit characters that weren't meant for it.

If that's what you choose to do--it's okay. It'll be okay! My Design Professor once told me, after a project got destroyed by accident, "It's okay; you can always do it faster and better the second time."

And it's worth it, isn't it? If this awesome musical of yours gets made, it'll live longer than you. It'll be something that people will use and relate to and love, long after you're not around to explain it or help them understand it. So you always want to make sure that the thing your musical is saying is true--for their sake, because truth will stand the test of time.

Those are my two cents, take it or leave it, obviously, but thanks for sharing!

(hey send me it when you're done? let me know where to buy the tickets! 😁)

#chaotic-theatrical-weaver #go fight win storyteller #storytelling #musicals #theater #asked #answered

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raven-at-the-writing-desk · 2 years

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Leona, Malleus: The Light of Another Day

QDBIHLLASIYFVIYAFSfisb;OFS;BO TH E WAY I WOKE UP TO THAT SMUG ASS FAC E AND MY frIENDSWERE LIKE “u up?”, “you gonna roll?”, “have u seen him yet?” 🤣 Gotta say, that initial pose looks pretty bashful if not for his stupid hot smirk, it’d kind of endearing in its own... arrogant way?

Leona and Malleus are sometimes portrayed (in the fandom) as rivals with an intense hatred of one another, but I’ve always thought that the hostility was more one-sided. It’s cool to see them act very vaguely petty in these vignettes, but also stay mature for the most part and actually relate to one another 😌

ALSO I LOVE HOW L(ONAS ‘S PICKSD KALIM MAinLY BECAUSE THE AS I m FAMIL UY WOUDL RESCU E THEM QUICKLY THAT’S SO BIG B4AINED KNING OTL ANASD L*ONAE CHOSING TH E SAME DORM ASM J WOR DZVN;OABIUDDBUIAPIDBAPBUDBbduM YOU DON’T SEE M Y S*MPING OVER THAT YOU DON’T

Imagine this…

The air was thick, charged with the tension of beasts sizing one another up. Two mighty powers, two mighty presences, had deigned to converge in the same space today. Lion and dragon, each silently vying for dominance.

Their combined auras, overwhelming. Exuding an air of absolute authority.

The dragon struck.

“Hoh. How interesting that you would pick to join Pomefiore dorm,” Malleus mused, a gloved hand stroking his chin. A playful smile played upon his lips. “To think that you’d have dreams of being a pampered, domesticated housecat rather than a wild one…”

“Me, join them?” Leona scoffed. “Please. They’d be the ones joining me. I don’t intend to be some prim and proper housecat—I’ll rise to the top and leave Pomefiore’s students mewling and kneeling at my feet. They’re the domesticated ones. Obedient. Servile.”

Malleus laughed darkly, flashing a brief peek of his pointed canines. “You already have your sights already set on stealing Schoenheit’s crown.”

“I could take him—him and Rook.” The birthday boy placed a hand on his jutted hip, a lazy confidence to his figure. “At the same time.”

“Hunt as well?” Malleus’s eyes shone with genuine interest.

“There’s only room for one of us. No vice dorm leaders needed.”

“I don’t believe they’re unnecessary, but I can understand the sentiment.” Malleus folded his arms, allowing his smirk to grow. “Ah, but I would imagine that the dorm and who stands in your way holds little meaning. Wherever you prowl, you will attempt to conquer the kingdom you find yourself in and surround yourself with loyal vassals. Isn’t that right?”

“See, you get it.”

One of the few times they saw eye-to-eye.

“I simply recognize the look of ambition when I see it. When your eyes are on the prize, you are like an entirely different person.” The corner of Malleus’s lip curled at a memory of several months ago--some attempt to injure him, and the report that Lilia had delivered.

A man seeking something greater than himself.

The right to break free. The desire to save his people, and to prove himself worthy. All the world watching him, breaths held in their chests.

We’re not so different, you and I.

Bemused, Malleus chuckled at the thought.

“Oi. What’re you snickering about?”

“Nothing that you need concern yourself with, I assure you.” Malleus raised a hand, matching the motion of his mouth.

“Tch. Conniving lizard.”

“So that’s your impression of me. Most humorous. The same can be said of yourself.” The fairy’s eyes narrowed into slivers, the green of his irises even brighter than usual. “What was it that you said, hmm? That you would pick poor Asim to make use of the safety net that his family provides. And that would be discounting your errand boy, Bucchi, and your dorm and club juniors.”

“Utilizing people and their skills as though they were pawns on a chess board... That’s quite the dangerous power in your arsenal.”

Leona only threw his head back and laughed, low and gravelly, like a great stampede of wildebeests. “You say that like it’s a bad thing. I’m using what’s avaliable to me to my advantage.”

“Fufu. I never said that it was.”

This time, it was Leona’s turn to narrow his eyes. “What’re you getting at, huh?”

“Accept the compliment for what it is, Kingscholar. I so rarely give them out.”

“Ooh, I’m shaking in my sandals,” he replied dryly. “You want me to roll over and purr or something? I’m not one of your lackeys that’ll keel over the instant you offer empty praise.”

“No, you’re not.” Malleus paused, his next words clasped against his chest like a string of pearls. “... A question, if you will.”

“What is it? Make it quick.”

“What do you intend to do once you are let loose from Night Raven College? When there are no dorms to take over, and no students to command?”

When there is no destiny to flee from.

“... Isn’t it obvious?” Leona held his head high, meeting Malleus with a fierce gaze. “I’ll carve my own path forward.”

Malleus lifted an eyebrow. “You...”

“The young Kingscholar could never match your grace,” Lilia had once said. Disappointed, dismissive. “He is selfish and prideful, one who is far better suited for a collar than a crown. He will never truly be ‘king’ with that rotten heart of his.”

And yet something had changed in him over the course of the past several months. A revived drive, and determination. Beams of light peeking through cracks in the clouds. The sun finally rising in the savanna.

Potential glistening, shining through his gruff exterior.

Another day come, led by him.

Interesting. It appears as though it is possible to teach an old cat new tricks after all.

“What’s with that dumbfounded look? Didn’t you hear me?” Leona rolled his shoulders back and smirked. “Crown or no, I’ll claw my way to where I want to be myself. I’ll be respected, saluted, and seen for the wonder I am.”

“Pfft. Humility isn’t your strong suit, Kingscholar.”

“It’s not exactly yours either.”

Sarcasm met with sarcasm. Lion and dragon, quietly clashing.

One to roam free, and the other soon to be caged in a castle, shackled to royal duties.

Mutuals on opposite sides of the scale.

Malleus found himself slowly nodding. “I see... so that is your answer.”

“Do you now?” Leona’s voice was a taunt laced with challenge. “Took you long enough.”

“Alas, how time does fly when we’re ‘having fun’. I do believe this interview should be wrapping up shortly.” Malleus tugged off a glove with one hand, then did the same to the other, tossing them both onto a table. “Are you prepared for what’s to come?”

Leona grimaced, his fur standing on end. “Even if I wasn’t, you’d still relish in pieing me.”

“Pieing? Let’s not think of it as something so common and barbaric. I, for one, can think of no greater privilege than blessing an oh-so-important prince by my own hand.”

“Grrrr...”

“Come.” Malleus swept up a pie, his expression calm, yet smug--eyes lidded and lips upturned. “I shall even do you the honor of blessing you the ‘old-fashioned’ way. No tricks, no magic.”

“Wow, I feel so honored.” Leona’s voice was as flat as a sheet of paper. “Tch, just get it over with. The sooner, the better.”

“Very well then. Do not cower like a kitten, and show me your greatest battle roar.”

Leona’s eyes flashed menacingly. “Don’t order me around.”

“Fufufu. My deepest apologies... and may you have the most blessed of birthdays, Kingscholar.”

SPLAT!!

The pie went directly into Leona’s face, burying him in whipped cream and spilling over his hair. He fumbled around for the pie and removed its platter, shaking furious to send whipped cream flying onto his clothes and the room. Inclining his head, Leona growled through his teeth.

“Hahah. So funny, I’m howling like a hyena,” he grumbled, crushing the paper plate in his hand. “I hope you know that I’m NOT taking this lying down.

“Be prepared, lizard. It’s payback time.”

#Leona Kingscholar #Malleus Draconia #twst #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland imagines #twisted wonderland scenarios #disney twisted wonderland #Leona birthday takeover #spoilers #something no one asked for #NOT L*ONA ROT

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sparkywrites25 · 1 year

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Lost - Chapter 6

Story Summary: Petra survives her encounter with the female titan but when she’s hurt and goes missing, her comrades believe her to be dead and make for home. Now she has to try and survive long enough to get back home. If she can manage that, what will be waiting for her there? What will Levi do if he’s faced with a second chance at having Petra in his life?

Chapter Summary: Petra finally sets off for home, but will she make it with her dwindling strength?

Pairing: Levi Ackerman x Petra Ral | Rivetra

Taglist: @lunar-rainclouds @captain-natey @wholeheartedly-alex

21 days since the expedition

As the last rays of sunset faded from the sky, Petra wrapped her arms around her knees. For about half an hour, she’d taken a seat on one of the weighty branches above the level of her hideout, staring into the shadowy haven within the wood. Her fingers played with her upper lip and each breath she took felt like it was being dragged into her. Her heart pulsed in an uneasy rhythm, as her chest constricted.

The fingers on her free hand twitched and moved towards one of her trigger handles. The urge to return into that dark hole was like a newborn flame, rising higher and higher. You’d be safe one night if you went back. The fear within her tried to remind her. You’d have another day to try and form a better plan.

Petra closed her eyes and brought both hands up to cup her face.

No. She’d waited long enough, had more than adequate time to come up with a better solution. Resources and energy were draining from her. She had to try while she was still strong enough. No amount of that unease could really make a persuasive, argument at this stage.

You’ve got to fight the fear, Petra, her father had taught her years ago. Her and her sisters had learned and re-learned that lesson over and over each time they came upon something that frightened them. Running away won’t help you at all. It’ll just let your fear grow big enough to catch you. Stand up to it and find out for sure what you can make of it. You might find that the great scary thing about it is just a shadow.

Her sister Jaime had picked up on that lesson well, Petra thought as she rubbed her forehead on the back of her hand. She was so damn fearless. The image of her sister in that dream days ago made Petra shudder with unease, raising her head and rubbing at her eyes. It was frightening how much Petra could imagine Jamie joining the Scouts out of vengeance against the titans if something did happen to Petra. Worst of all, Petra didn’t think she could see herself doing anything differently if their roles were reversed. She groaned into the air. I guess we’re both just stubborn pains then.

God, she wanted to see Jamie again, and Hannah and Celeste. She wanted to help her mother in the kitchen and laugh at all the ways she scolded Petra for the way she cooked. She wanted to listen to her father’s tales about his weird experiences down at the tavern. She wanted to listen to her sisters argue and watch them pinch each other. But to have all of this, to watch it all once more, she had to survive.

A cold whisper of wind brushed against her skin, like a hand pulling her from stillness and into a walk. Petra felt her joints wake up and renewed determination begin to fill up her body. Carefully she rose to her feet and turned away from her safety net. The sunlight was almost entirely gone and the subtle blue of dusk was settling over the sky. The trees began their nightly transformation into shadows in front of her.

Time to go, Petra thought as she stepped off the branch and fired off her hooks.

—————————————————————

She used only a short burst of gas to propel herself towards the edge of the forest. After that she began to walk at a brisk pace.

The growing shadows teased her already prominent anxiety, as if someone was sprinkling wood shavings over an open fire. But it kept her senses keen. Her eyes darted to any movements, any sounds, any shifts of air around her and her hands gripped the triggers even harder, the material digging into her palms.

More and more open sky began to show itself through the thinning out presence of trees as she walked. The chill of the night air grew with the view. Petra welcomed it as she approached the edge of the trees, drinking in the expansive horizon that stretched out ahead of her. It had been so long since she’d been foraging for supplies around here on that first night, since she had ridden into these woods with her comrades. All of that seemed like it had happened in a different life.

Stepping out of the shadows of the trees and onto the great moonlit plains felt like a weight had slipped off her shoulders. Petra sagged from the absence of it as she walked. She glanced back over her shoulder at the darkening woods and a great thrill of triumph coursed through her.

You’re out. You’re free. You’re on your way home.

Petra returned her attention to the horizon once more, a renewal of motivation filling her at once. She set off at a light jog, loosening her grip on her gear as she did. She was running into the wind but the cool temperature kept her concentration sharp. All of the food she’d finished off earlier had given her more energy than she’d had in a while. As long as she paced herself, she could run for a while.

Her mind thought back to the endurance runs back in training, back when she had first joined Levi Squad. Being criticized for her technique, then praised by the captain for addressing her problematic movements and for improving. A tug moved inside her chest, one of familiarity and nostalgia. I’ll be with you soon, Captain. I will.

But she could never be with the others again. Even so, there were still plenty of people back home waiting for her.

—————————————————————

It was a struggle to judge pacing, Petra found. The need to leave the forest behind and return to the Walls as quickly as she could battled with the fact that she needed to conserve energy because she didn’t know how long the journey on foot would take. Even a light jog sapped at her energy levels more than she would like meaning she had to slow to a walk quite often. The food she’d finished off between naps in the day had helped to boost her but still, she wasn’t quite at her best.

Once upon a time she could have kept up a moderate jog for a couple of hours (with very minimal pauses) on a really good day, A light jog would have been maintained even longer. She used to be able to power walk for a while as well. Back when she was strong.

She was out of sight of the forest within the first hour and she was met with wide plains, the occasional cluster of abandoned houses and sporadic trees. Now and again she would pass a sprawled out, lethargic titan laid out on the grass or against a house or tree. She considered killing them but quickly dismissed the process as a waste of energy. She couldn’t kill every titan that might catch up to her. She had to keep all the energy she could for home.

—————————————————————

The hours of night passed by faster than the miles. Petra limited her stops to very short periods even if that meant taking the rests more frequently. The landscape was harder to read at night but if she kept moving forward, she’d come across the wall at some point.

The boxes of blades banged relentlessly against her thighs when she ran. She ignored the pain but knew she’d have bruises there tomorrow. Over 20 days of wearing straps all the time wouldn’t look so good on her skin either. But these worries were as fleeting as they were thoughts in her head. Now wasn’t the time to get lost in her thoughts. Now was the time to put everything into moving forward.

So she ran and ran. Ran as her body ached. Ran as her head throbbed from the exhaustion. Ran as the chill of night deepened and threatened to freeze her insides. She tugged her cloak further around her although the benefit had long been lost. She lowered her mouth and chin behind it.

You can do this. Ilse did it. She evaded titans for at least a day or so before one found her. If you can make it to the Walls, you’ll be okay.

—————————————————————

Dawn soon crept over the horizon, filling the sky with light that sparkled on the dew that clung to leaves and the grass. Petra heard the wet swipe of the grass as she lurched through it, the balance in her exhausted legs giving out over and over. Even as she jogged, fatigue wore at her. She had to fight to keep her eyes open but they continued to fall half-closed every now and again. Her vision blurred in front of her and she kept blinking to clear it, more and more.

The increasing sunlight seemed to chase her, pushing aside any possibilities of sitting down and resting. Every second lost was a second a titan gained in sunlight. Besides, if she stopped, she didn’t know if she would be able to get herself going again. If she wasn’t destined to make it out of this then she’d rather black out than be conscious when a titan came to eat her. Petra scrubbed at her eyes with the back of her hand, streaking her face with dirt and tired tears as she did.

A particularly slippery patch of grass beneath her feet sent her flying forwards. “Ack-” she grunted as she hit the ground, sliding along, mud and grass sticking to her face. Her mind seemed to roll over itself. Colours and shapes danced in and out of clarity. Her eyes fluttered then tried to close again. Drowsiness swept through her, inviting her down into a dark, sweet oblivion. Do it. Let go. All your troubles will soon be over.

Petra’s fingers clenched in the grass and she exhaled, fighting the feeling as the faces of her parents, sisters, the captain, Nifa and her friends floated into her head. Even her former commandant at the Cadet Corps came to mind. Never just lie there and take it. Fight until you can’t any more. You never know when a situation can turn.

Raising her head with some difficulty, Petra rubbed her sleeve against her filthy mouth and reached for sturdier ground. She planted her palms down hard and pushed. Protest shot through her whole body as her arms took her weight and lifted her. She brought one knee forward and then another then shifted to one foot and finally the other until she was crouched.

Her joints burned with overuse but at least they were still working, Petra thought as she rose up and began to walk again. Only as she returned her eyes to the horizon properly, blinking away the urge to sleep again, did she freeze up. How had she not noticed that before?

Maybe half a mile ahead of her, the great stone barrier of humanity loomed towards the skies. Petra’s heart dropped a great deal of its tension at once. Wall Rose. Her eyes were pricked with what remained of tears but none actually fell. She felt dry and drained and empty. Except for the feeling of hope that now rose up within her.

Home.

Come on now, she told herself as she began to jog again, trying to ignore the punishing sensations on her body with each stride, with each swing of her arms. Just a little further and you’ve done it. The surprise had jolted a bit of wakefulness and clarity into her and she seized upon both.

The effort of running punched the breath out of her but she threw everything she had into moving forward, to try and make it to that gate. She tried to summon it all into one last burst, her eyes drinking in the welcome sight of the Walls with the tiny patrolling figures along the top and the…

… boulder blocking the gate.

Petra stumbled to a clumsy walk as she scrubbed at her bleary eyes again.

This wasn’t Karanes. It was Trost. She’d come a different way.

Even so, it was within the Walls. It was still home.

So she continued to run as quickly as possible. Light rose up behind her, stretching out ahead of her. The titans would be waking up now. She couldn’t afford to stop anymore, she realized, fighting against the agony. She needed someone to hear her. She needed to get close enough to the Wall to use her gear and get onto the wall. She could ask for help then.

Her head hammered in protest from her thoughts, the physical exhaustion and the fear that battered away inside it.

Run. Just run.

—————————————————————

The doors to the lift opened and the 104th gang trotted out of it onto the sturdy stonework of the walls, stretching their arms and staring out at the expanse of wild territory leading into the horizon. A low level of chatter and grumbling began to rise up among them. There was very little appreciation on their part for being pulled into a dawn session supervising and observing Eren’s titan form. The ride in the lift had been accompanied by Connie asking why they were all needed for this and Sasha asking when they were next going to eat. Jean had been dozing off against the side and had been thwacked awake by an irritated Levi while Hange had lectured them all on the importance of being part of Eren’s training together so they all understood where he was at with his progress.

There was a sadness to getting used to training without Historia among them but she was settling into her new role as Queen. There was a great deal of paperwork still to do and official business to observe before she would take an unsupervised role. But the young woman already had ideas for how things could be improved and she had the support of all the commanders of the military in her plans to do so.

Eren walked towards the edge of the wall, shielding his eyes from the rising sun. “Should I turn now?” he called back to Captain Levi and Hange who were disembarking from the lift. He half-turned towards them, one hand already balling into a fist.

“Not yet.” Hange called to him, folding their arms and rubbing their chin thoughtfully.

“Hold your horses, Eren.” Levi added.

Eren stiffened but then nodded. “Yes, Squad Leader, Captain.”

“We should wait until we see our first titan.” Hange told the teenager. “There’s no sense in having you wandering around in titan form with nothing to do.”

Levi stepped away from Hange and began to walk among his new squad. “However that doesn’t mean you can all just stand around, doing nothing. Patrol this area and keep an eye out for titan movement. Report back when you see one.” He then fixed his gaze on Eren. “Don’t turn until Hange or I tell you.”

“Sir.” Eren answered loudly enough but Levi could hear the unease that had been sitting in his voice since his capture by Rod Reiss. While Eren’s ego had been in need of a little humbling and calming down, what had happened down there had all but completely demoralized him until they#d heard Shadis’ story. That, at least, seemed to have given the boy some peace of mind. Levi took a small measure of comfort from that and chased that recognition away. It was just concern for his charge’s mental state. That was all. It would be easier all around if Eren wasn’t too emotionally imbalanced.

Levi observed as Armin placed a hand on Eren’s shoulder and led the scruffy haired boy away with him and Mikasa. At least his friends would keep an eye on him and keep him in line somewhat. That would make Levi’s job a lot easier. The fact that Mikasa was also an Ackerman played a significant role in his reassurance.

“He’s still not quite right. is he?” Hange asked as they joined Levi at the edge of the wall, their gaze falling on Eren as well. They let out a sigh that was too quiet for them but Levi heard it with his proximity. He watched their eyes soften sadly as they watched Eren. “I’d hoped that Shadis’ story would have helped him a bit more.”

“The kid’s not had much time to deal with any of this shit,” Levi grumbled. “Guess we should be glad he’s at least keeping some of his shit together.”

“Even so, I wonder how long that can last,” Hange’s tone was unusually hard. “If he falls apart when it comes to the Wall Maria mission-”

“I won’t let that happen, Hange.” Levi interrupted, his focus still on the retreating back of the boy in question. “I’ll have it out with him one way or the other.”

Hange’s face shifted into a smile. “My, that sounded almost paternal, Levi.”

“Did you forget that the brass put me in charge of the brat as part of our custody of him?” Levi retorted irritably. “Unlike some I take my job seriously.”

“Sure, that’s all it is, suuuuureeee,” Hange cackled quietly, ignoring his bait, and moved to take a better look at the horizon. They withdrew a small set of binoculars from their pocket and raised them to their eyes with a sad huff. “I hope some titans come along soon.” They spoke the wish with such reverence. “It’s a shame that we have to kill them. I miss my experiments,” they add. “Annie’s not around to ruin them this time.”

Levi turned and began to pace along the wall in short lengths. “You and your titan obsession can wait, Four-Eyes.”

“As it often has to,” Hange sighed dramatically and continued to watch the landscape for signs of titan movement. “Nothing,” they observed with an annoyed huff. “Not even a-” Suddenly they stopped talking, their shoulders squaring, their head leaning forward, mouth twisting in confusion.

“Spotted one of your pets?” Levi sneered.

Hange lowered their binoculars and then raised them again. “No,” they answered quietly. “I thought I saw but…” Their frown deepens. “No, there- there it is again. That’s got to be a trick of the light. It can’t be. That’s not- there’s no way…”

Levi began to advance on the Squad Leader. “There what is? For fuck’s sake, speak sense, Shitty Glasses.”

Hange lowered the binoculars again, looking sideways at Levi as he reached them. “Look over there.” They tell him as they hand the binoculars over. “Tell me you see her too,” they add, raising their arm to point in the specific direction.

“See who?” Levi took the binoculars, gave them a wipe with a handkerchief and put them to his eyes. Following Hange’s arm, he landed the binoculars focus on the spot they were pointing at. Levi’s own body went still with disbelief as he endeavoured to process what he was seeing.

Running along the worn down road that had been created by the Survey Corps over four years of expeditions was a soldier - by her uniform, a Scout - covered in grass and mud. Although her strides were quick, they were also clumsy and unsteady. Every so often the woman seemed to be on the verge of toppling over but managed to just about catch herself. Levi’s breath was stolen from him as her growing proximity gave him a better look at her, a better confirmation of just who he was looking at. The way the light set her ginger hair aflame, the way he could glimpse her rounded face whenever she lifted it to look at the Wall. How can she be here?

Petra

Something loosened in his chest, a feeling that Levi was completely unaccustomed to because fate had never given him anyone back before. Everyone who had disappeared on him had never come back except for Kenny and even then he wasn’t someone that Levi had wanted to come back. Yet here was Petra now and the strangeness of that reality took him out of his senses for a moment. Lightness sprung up and the corners of his mouth twitched up for a moment. That pain in his chest, the one he’d learned to live with ever since the conversation with her parents, ever since he’d filled out her death certificate, returned and then faded all at once, leaving him with a bizarre tingling feeling. Like he was stepping out of a dream.

He snapped back to reality, lowering his binoculars. “How can she be out there?” he asked Hange.

“Her body was never found.” Hange mused. “But even so, she’s been around titans for so long. How has she avoided them?” Already Levi could see the cogs turning behind Hange’s glasses. “This is unprecedented. No one has survived outside the Walls for this long.”

Levi handed them the binoculars. “We’re about to find out how, I guess.” He walked towards the edge of the Walls.

“TITAN!” Connie roared from the left just as a rumbling sound accompanied his words.

Levi’s hands were at his gear handles, his teeth gritted. “Shit.” His attention snapped back to Petra who was still running. Why hadn’t she engaged her gear yet? She was in range now. But instead she was headed straight for the blocked hole in the wall.

Sure enough, from the right, a titan came lumbering into focus, making a beeline for the human hurrying into its path. The creature had messy sandy hair and huge watery eyes, as if it was a harmless beast. Both its arms outstretched towards Petra as it ran towards her. Levi’s blood turned to ice inside him.

“EREN!” Levi shouted. “Engage that thing now!” He pointed towards the titan as he cried out. He leaped off the wall, sending his hooks into the stone as he descended to the ground sharply. He heard Eren give an answering cry as he plummeted. Seconds later, a golden light filled up the air and Eren’s titan roar followed after it.

The ground rumbled as both Levi and Eren landed. Levi spared one look towards Eren as he rushed at the titan which had stopped to watch the light of the transformation. It bought Eren time to reach it. The dark haired titan crashed into the pure titan and they both went sprawling across the ground.

Levi’s attention returned to Petra and his heart flew into his mouth. She lay flat on the floor, hand outstretched with drooping eyes, her body stilling before him. He began to sprint. His heart slammed in his ribcage, pumping a variety of emotions throughout his body: desperation, relief and frustration among them.

—————————————————————

The Wall was so close now, Petra could have laughed with joy if she had the energy. Instead, it was taking everything just to keep moving and not black out.

Her fingers grasped at the triggers of her gear but they kept sliding off them, her grip fading away almost instantly each time she tried to get a good hold of them. Concern rose up and quickly began to transform into panic with each failed attempt.

Why? She wanted to yell at her fingers. Why are you failing now?

She was almost at the Wall. She was close enough to engage, she was sure. The world was blurring a little now and her thoughts faded in and out of cohesion. Her fingers just grabbed clumsily at the triggers, sometimes missing and touching her cloak instead.

Come on. Come on.

Her fingers, also heavily dripping with sweat, just slid off the handles once again.

Petra gasped out a weak, broken sob as she stumbled forward.

Something pounded in the distance. Regular beats like giant footsteps. Petra turned her head sluggishly, horror slow to crawl on her face as comprehension crept in.

I’m dead. I failed. The realization hit Petra like the fall from a horse. It rattled through her and stole the breath from her lungs. She willed herself to change course or to stop but nothing happened. Her legs kept moving, kept carrying her forward but why, she didn’t know. What was the point? She wondered as she raced ahead. The titan’s path was about to cross hers and then it would be over.

A shout cut through the air but Petra’s brain was too panicked to make sense of it. However a familiar golden light filling the air behind the titan caught her eye.

Her legs finally caught onto the danger and stumbled, forcing her to slow to a stop. She tripped and hit the ground again with a thud, eyes still on the light.

The fall should have made her an easy meal but the titan had stopped too, diverted by the explosion of sound and light near it.

That would have been Petra’s cue to keep moving but all of her strength had abandoned her. She lay limply on the ground, struggling to even regulate her breathing, her eyelids drooping heavily as she watched her predator’s diversion. The aches in her bones and joints returned at once, overwhelming her with discomfort and pain, mingled with a rush of relief that she’d stopped moving at last.

I tried… she thought as she battled to stay awake.

She thought she heard other sounds against the ground. Perhaps more titans were coming from far away. She sighed into the grass. Guess it didn’t matter now.

She kept her eyes on the titan that was staring at the distraction. In a moment, a familiar-looking titan raced out of the light and charged her would-be killer, bringing them both to the floor with a crash that sent shockwaves rattling through her. She saw the long dark hair and the luminescent emerald eyes of the saviour titan.

Eren… so he’s okay.

Her eyes began to droop shut again and her hand, reaching out, lays flat on the floor, her body finally giving up.

“Petra!” A voice reaches her, deeper and more piercing than any she’d heard in the forest. A voice so distinctive, so heart-provoking, that it was enough to make her lids lift open as a blurry figure in green and brown appeared next to her. Her heart throbbed in aching recognition and her throat released a tiny cry as she tried to respond. She tilted her head so she could see up into the narrow eyes and dark bangs of a familiar face. The sunlight lent his pale complexion a cozy, warm glow.

She exhaled shakily. “Captain,” she breathed. At least I get to see him one more time. “Thanks for finding me,” she managed to rasp before her eyes fluttered shut. “I can’t… I’m sorry…” she breathed.

“Hey,” Levi shook her shoulder. “stay awake, Petra. I’m gonna get you out of here.”

“Can’t… can’t use my gear,” Petra murmured, her eyes still closed. In the background, she could hear Eren’s titan roaring and ripping his opponent apart. But that sound was growing steadily quieter as blackness crept in on the edge of her vision. “My hands won’t work.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Levi told her, giving her shoulder another squeeze. “I’ll take you.” His hands began to unfasten her blade boxes and he shoved them aside immediately. Petra groaned softly at the absence of their weight against her. “Just stay awake.”

“Mmm, can’t. Too tired, Captain.”

“You can sleep soon. Just keep talking to me,” he murmured, tucking her into a sitting position, leaning her side into his sturdy frame. “Put your arms around me,” he instructed, one hand rubbing her back as the other moved to hold her elbow.

Petra’s arms moved of their own accord, instinctively crawling up and around his neck.

There was a whoosh of cable movements and another finger dropped into Petra’s line of, admittedly blurry sight. Someone with dark hair.

“Tie her wrists together,” Levi said to the figure. “She won’t be able to hang on on her own.”

“Yes sir,” a young, female voice sounded. Petra thought she recognized the stoic tone of Eren’s friend Mikasa. Petra felt small, sturdy hands binding her wrists together behind Levi’s neck. “Do you want me to help carry her?”

“No, I can manage,” Levi’s tone was firm. “Keep an eye on Eren with Hange. Keep watch for any more titans.”

“Of course, sir. I can take some out if many come.”

“Don’t engage unless you have to. This is Eren’s training session, not ours.”

“Sir.”

“Take her blades back, if you can manage them,” Levi added.

Petra heard Mikasa grabbing at the boxes and examining the blades. “There’s only two left. I’ll take them.” Next came the sound of two metallic slides and the rush of cables being fired again. Petra slumped against the captain’s chest with a small groan. Her eyes had well and truly closed now.

“Almost there, Petra.” Levi assured her before a couple of shouts from far above had him cursing. From behind them, some thundering footsteps sounded. Petra felt one of Levi’s hands on the back of her head while the other instantly covered one of her ears. “Eren! Incoming!” he shouted away from her.

An answering cry from the direction of Eren’s titan was quickly followed by rumbling footsteps.

Levi stood up, pulling Petra against him like a limp doll. She weakly cried out at the movement. Levi’s hands, now in fists around his triggers, pressed against her back to hold her steady. Petra’s face leaned into the warmth of his neck, her cheek on his shoulder. She was too tired to worry about how filthy she was making him right now.

In a second there was another whoosh of cables and they lifted off from the ground. Petra felt her stomach jolt uncomfortably as she and Levi rushed through the air.

“Urgh,” Petra mumbled against him.

The feeling lasted mere seconds as Levi landed them onto firm stone. The impact of it had Petra’s feet knock into the floor and her body sagged even more. Her linked wrists and Levi’s hands kept her from falling to the ground. Her eyes opened and she lifted her head in a daze.

“Let’s get her laid down,” Petra recognized Hange’s voice though it sounded garbled as though Petra was hearing it from beneath the surface of water.

Blurry green figures moved about her. Her wrists were unlinked and she felt Levi’s hands on her back, lowering her to the ground. She felt something soft beneath her and a slow smile crossed her face at the feel of it.

“Wanna sleep now,” she whispered.

“Not yet.” Levi was kneeling next to her. “Stay with us a bit longer. We’re going to get you to the hospital.” His words faded away to silence.

Petra could only smile at him as darkness clouded over her and consciousness was finally taken away.

#my fics #fic: lost #attack on titan #attack on titan fanfiction #shingeki no kyojin #shingeki no kyojin fanfiction #levi ackerman x petra ral #levi ackerman x petra ral fanfiction #levi x petra #levi x petra fanfiction #rivetra #rivetra fanfiction #levi ackerman #levi ackerman fanfiction

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redstainedsocks · 2 years

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Just Like That

Contents: aftermath of whump, hurt/comfort vibes, mentioned foot injury, tracking device UwU

Let's get some exposition in this thing and then we can do the more fun parts, okay?

[Previous] [Masterlist]

It had been three days since the “incident”. Three long, blurry days where he’d hardly had the energy to think. And then Bryson had called him for a private meeting. He’d spent the entire ride across town going over reasons and excuses, answers he could give that would be enough of the truth to get by and avert suspicion. And all the while the burner phone had sat heavily where he’d taped it to the small of his back, a constant itching reminder of who he was really supposed to be protecting.

As it turned out, all Bryson did was make him an offer. He sat there stupidly trying to take in how he was getting away with his plan while Bryson talked about optimal outcomes and safety nets and all Zach could focus on was that he had a way out.

“Just like that?” he asked.

“Just like that. We look after our own. You should never have been caught up in this mess in the first place.”

“And it’ll be safe, for everyone else I mean?”

“As much as I can promise in our line of work, yes.”

“Then I agree.”

“Excellent.”

Bryson got up to extend a hand, which Zach took tentatively before clasping tighter as Bryson clapped him on the shoulder. He floated to the door in a haze, head fogged, like this was all a dream. He’d have to give it further thought later when he was alone, when he had time to think on how to proceed. To process.

“Oh and Zach,” Bryson paused with his hand on the doorknob. “I think it goes without saying that this conversation remains between us? As far as anyone else needs to know, we spoke only about your current needs and further care.”

“Of course. We can… you can explain to everyone else when it’s appropriate.”

“I truly hope it never comes to that, but yes.”

The door opened and though he thought he saw a hint of concern and sadness on Bryson’s face, it was quickly masked by detached professionalism. What he didn’t expect was to find Archer on the other side of the door.

Archer raised his eyebrows at Zach, who could only gulp, shrug and step aside to let Archer pass. They held eye contact, but if ever they’d been able to exchange thoughts and read each other’s expressions that time had long passed. Archer looked bemused and confused, surprised. Zach had no idea what he conveyed himself, until the door closed with a decisive click and Zach walked the length of the hallway to find Bryson’s assistant and waited to be escorted to the next part of Bryson’s plan.

The heel of his foot smarted, and he wiggled his toes just to remind himself he could. He shifted in his seat and watched buildings speed by outside the window.

“Does it hurt a lot?” Archer asked.

Zach shook his head. “Just a bit.” Nothing like the kind of hurts he’d grown accustomed to. It just felt strange to know there was a tracking device, something small and plastic with a heart of metal, lodged under his skin. “Should heal well, apparently.”

He glanced over to see Archer wrinkling his nose and smiled at the familiar sight, even as he picked nervously at his own sleeve.

“Just seems extreme, being able to track you. What if someone else gets their hands on that information?”

“Lacey will make sure no one does.”

“And Bryson said it’ll stop you worrying so much about… about Decker trying to take you back?”

“I guess, something like that, yeah.” Zach looked at his lap, only he knew what Bryson really had planned, what Bryson counted on… was that Zach would find a way to end it, once and for all. The tracker? That was just an insurance policy that Zach knew he probably wouldn’t be able to cash in on. “It helps, I think.”

“Good.” Archer reached over and nudged him with an elbow. “Looks like we’re almost here.”

The car was slowing down, turning into the driveway of a three storey terraced house. It was the end of the row, surrounded by high bushes and set back from the road. There was already a van parked outside, presumably making sure everything was set up as it needed to be.

“So this is the safe house, then.” Zach stated.

“One of many, and only the best for you. Come on, I’ll show you around.”

“You’re coming in?”

“Yep! Gonna stay the first few days with you, make sure you’re settled and all that. Then we’ll set up a rotation.”

Zach looked up as he climbed out of the car, hobbling a little on his newly prodded foot. It looked tall, imposing, and yet the most like a home he’d seen in years. “You know,” he said, watching Archer pull bags out of the boot, “You don’t have to watch over me twenty four seven, I mean, don’t you like going home?”

Archer scoffed. “My home doesn’t have the high speed internet we’ll get here, this is much better.”

“Arch…”

“Just let me have this okay? A few more days and then I’ll go be a normal human for a while. And you’re not my mother, so you can’t tell me what to do anyway.” Archer strode off towards the front door.

“You don’t even let your Mum tell you what to do, so I definitely don’t stand a chance.”

“Exactly! Come in already and take some weight off that foot. We’ll have you settled in no time.”

His heel throbbed, but he agreed, and he imagined at that very moment the small beeping signal let the team know exactly where he was with a steady, pulsing red dot.

#aftermath of whump #foot whump #hurt/comfort #angst #injuries #team whump #zach and archer #whump writing #whumpblr #OC whump #whump #whump series

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nade2308 · 2 years

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CHICAGO MED RANT!!!

I can't wait for s8 to start, but my hopes in the writers are pretty low atm, so I wrote something my heart desired. And because this got too long to represent the notes in my story, I am posting it separately, as a rant.

A) ANOTHER Pat Halstead scenario. Really? Are we really going with Will might suffer in a similar way his father did and later died as a result from it? This is almost like Cornelius having a heart murmur for years he neglected to treat, at that point I screamed. Pat's mitral valve regurgitation, much? Just please, whatever you do, handle that storyline with care. If Will is going to survive, give us realistic healing process, and maybe some burns/scars as a treat. I believe that Nick can pull off the whumpy parts SO WELL.

B) You cannot convince me that Connor Rhodes would act so worried about Will for him to leave without saying a word to him. You'd be amazed what people do when they are betrayed irl or something truly bad happens. I get it, it was an emotional reaction, but please, I don't think he would have done that as it happened. I had bad things happen in my life, people still betray my trust, yet, I am still here. And even if I leave, it won't be because of that. Granted, my ex girlfriend who killed my father did not cut her throat in front of me, but imho, Connor Rhodes I know and love wouldn't have made a decision like that. Borne out of Impulse and despair and lack of distance between what happened and how he felt about it. Once again, the writers wrote themselves in a corner.

C) Imo, Will Halstead followed Connor Rhodes out of Med in 5x01, the rest is a very long dream.

D) Why do the writers always give Will toxic relationships he gets stuck with? And he keeps chasing something unattainable, because imo he feels like he has to, because otherwise he is not worth it. Absolutely not gonna fly with me.

E) So many missed moments to have Will and Connor share screen time. And this is purely my platonic/friendship brain thinking, I'm not sure the writers would have written a good dynamic if they were together as a couple. Just so many missed moment that could have made a change.

F) Someone on Tumblr said that when Connor left he took Will's last braincell with him. They were right. CONNOR PLEASE COME BACK, AND SET YOUR BOY STRAIGHT, or you know, just set him right.

G) I cannot stop thinking about what happened with Jennifer Baker. And the writers thought that it'd be good thing to give Will a clinical trial storyline and have the worst possible scenarios written for him. I cannot get past that no matter how hard I try.

H) And if by any chance he wasn't convinced Med wasn't the place for him, he should have been when Goodwin blackmailed him like she did, up to the point where he thought it was his own decision if he was in or out + he thought he did it because it is what he always does. Baby, we established in s4 and the Burke storyline: GTFO of undercover work, it always ends up in a mess or trauma.

I) Do not get me started on the trauma and the lack of support system. Because no one believes in this precious sweetheart, no one really cares about him. The only thing they care about is to tell him how good he is when it's convenient for them, and when it'd lead to Will doing something for them because he'll feel wanted and important at that moment. Except maybe Dr. Charles, that guy does feel like he genuinely cares about Will. And Connor, but Connor is not there anymore. I mean, come on, you cannot tell me Jay wouldn't call or text at least once a day to check on him and vice versa. Because he is the only thing left from their family, and it'd be logical to stick together even in the toughest situations. The rest of the time, what everyone does is distrust him, monitor him when he doesn't need that, keep pointing his mistakes and like that's the worst thing ever, and all around it feels like they don't appreciate him right.

J) The conclusion being is:

- Will needs a safety net that consists of at least two reliable friends, more is always better.

- Will needs a healthy relationship (preferably outside of work this time). Someone who will not be a bitch, brat, act entitled and scream and blame him for everything. Someone that will tell Will how things are and will actually love him instead of gaslighting him. Because yes, Natalie was a typical abuser/gaslighter, please don't come to me with the explanation that she has issues too, that she is a woman and that she had the right. No one had the right to do to Will what she did to him. The end. Phillip Davis had no right to say Will ruined Natalie's life in that one scene because it was the other way around.

- Will needs a healthy work environment. If he makes a mistake, talk to him about it, ask him why he did it, INVESTIGATE what caused it. If he doesn't know why, it's fine, even if something undesirable happened. Hazards of the job. He is not a psychopath or a serial killer or anything like it. But even those people have reasons and motives, so please, don't make him the bad guy in any situation always, I am begging.

- Normalize people having friends outside of work. I mean, we have seen friends, family and acquaintances of almost everyone at Med, but they rarely spend time with people that don't work at Med. Tell me about Will's college friend moving back to Chicago, about that one surgeon from NYC that he still keeps in touch, some of the guys from Sudan that finally made it to the states, maybe a baby he helped deliver that's now 4-5 years old and wants to meet him. Give me more Will with kids content because it's adorable and I'm pretty sure I am not the only one craving this.

- Have Will's colleagues stand up for him for once even if he is wrong. Someone really needs to show that boy that he is appreciated and like that, that he has the support from many people and that they would love him be it the wrong or the right thing he did. I screw things up every few days, yet my friends haven't yelled at me like I did the worst possible thing, or told me to get out, only because I made A MISTAKE. It's why it's called a mistake, gee. Granted, it's not the work environment one would face in Will's case, but work is also a relationship. Just be there for Will, people!

And to sum it all up:

GIVE WILL HALSTEAD A BREAK, PEOPLE!

Stronger or weaker person notwithstanding, they would have broken so many times by now if they went through all that Will went through.

Oh and:

P.S. 1: I'll never forgive Goodwin for what she said in 1x18, that the only reason she okayed the offer to Will was because she wanted to see how and when he'll get himself fired. I believe the exact term was how long will it take. Sorry, writers, irl, if my future employer says that, I am out of there the second that is said. No way I am staying to prove someone's point. Besides, if she didn't trust him for him then, then what's the point to get up every day for work when it won't matter to her or anyone? Yes, you will save the lives, but at what cost?

P.S. 2: Connor should have told Will what he did to save his life. It feels to me like that was an important thing to tell someone who is a close friend in the least. Will deserved to know.

P.S. 3: Will Halstead is a precious boy who deserves the world. He needs to be loved, held and cherished. Protect the boy at all costs.

And yes this and much more has been discussed with @thethistlegirl over the course of the last two months and even though she doesn't watch the show, she agrees with me wholeheartedly.

WILL NEEDS TO LEARN THAT HE IS WORTH IT!

I think that's all. For now, lol. We never know when my ranting urges will return.

#chicago med #one chicago #will halstead #Nade rants #I had the urge to rant about this boy I love so much #my ramblings

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indyhypnosis · 7 months

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How To Stop Worrying and Grow Your Business Faster!

Once upon a time, a girl around 14 approached her wise grandmother and asked, “Do you ever get scared?” Her grandmother smiled and replied, “Sure, everyone gets scared.”

Visibly upset, the teen asked, “How do you deal with it? I can’t stop thinking about all the bad things that could happen.”

Her grandmother replied, “Child, two wolves live in our minds. One is a bad wolf. It wants us to be afraid and tries to hold us back by conjuring dreadful images and thoughts. The bad wolf wants us to be small and remain in our comfort zone by reminding us of all the injustices that have happened, and could occur again, if we attempt to make life better.

The other is a good wolf. It wants us to be courageous, shine brightly, and expand our comfort zone to grow and experience more of life’s joys. The good wolf encourages taking chances because only through experience can you gain the wisdom and confidence to know you can handle anything that comes your way. That is where inner security and peace of mind come from. These two wolves are constantly battling in your mind.”

Curious, the teen asked, “Grandmother, which wolf will win? The good wolf or the bad wolf?”

Seizing the opportunity, the grandmother looked deep into her eyes and, with great conviction, said, “The one you feed, child. Because that one will be the strongest!”

As you know from all the emails, I’ve been working for months on my Practice Accelerator, Practice Amplifier, and One Belief Away™ Certification programs.

The bad wolf in my head says, “Why are you putting so much effort into this when nobody will show up anyway? People complain about their situation but do little to change it, so why are you working so hard for these people? You’re just setting yourself up for disappointment again.

Go back to growing your practice. It’s what you know. Besides, why would you give all your secrets to strangers who will take them and run? Or worse, now you’ll have better-trained competition! This idea of building an Army of Healers is dumb, and you’re wasting time trying to make this world better by teaching others how to build successful practices. The world doesn’t want to change, and people are too afraid to do what it takes for them to succeed anyway. So focus on making yourself richer and forget about helping others win.”

Then the good wolf steps forward and says, “Everything you’ve experienced up to now has prepared you for this moment. All the ups and downs, breakthroughs and heartbreaks, and wisdom you’ve acquired have equipped you to be the tip of the spear for elevating the personal development industry.

You finally have all the pieces in place because of your willingness to charge forward into the unknown without a safety net and no backup plan. Your decision to believe in yourself and your dreams and to pursue them fervently despite fears of running out of money, unworthiness, and not being smart enough has unlocked doors of opportunity and success that would not have opened any other way.

At this very moment, your light is attracting those who also have GREATNESS within them and are enthusiastically ready to join you on this much-needed mission to end needless suffering for millions of people. Some have already raised their hand and said, “I’m in.” Others will do so today, and many more will follow because they also want a life filled with meaning, purpose, and joy. So ignore the bad wolf and KEEP GOING!”

Every time the bad wolf thinks, “What if it doesn’t work out?”

The good wolf in my head says, “What if it DOES work out and it’s the BIG break I’ve been reaching, working, and praying for?”

I keep feeding the good wolf by following my coach’s advice, hanging out with like-minded people who are heading in the same direction, and listening to my Millionaire Brain Tapes every day.

Which wolf are YOU you feeding? What are you doing to feed it each day?

🙂 Tim Shurr Certified OBA Hypnotist™

#growth #business #motivation

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romanaisalive · 8 months

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next generation

Whumptober 2023

Prompt:

No. 1: “But now this room is spinning while I’m trying just to fill in all the gaps.”

Safety Net | Swooning | “How many fingers am I holding up?”

Concerning Us universe - long-standing Sanctuary fic, as far from canon at this point as it could be without going all AU.

Original characters, implied one-sided James/John

Warnings: grief/mourning, discussed mortality

“Hm.”

“What are you humming at?” Ethel asked, glancing up from her tea to look at John.

“Do you think they will end up like us?”

He was staring out the window, to the garden where Janine, the younger John and James Watson were laying on a picnic blanket, lost in discussion. If she knew them, and after housing their shenanigans for almost a year she liked to think she did, they could have talked about anything from the most mundane logic puzzle to the most brilliant scientific discovery. They were smart, cocky and quite unhinged.

Oh, to be young.

“No,” she said after the silence stretched on too long. “I will make sure of it.”

“Why? We ended up rather well, I would say.” John sat down next to her and stretched out his legs.

“Because we clawed our way there,” she pointed out, reaching for the tea. “I don’t wish that on them.”

“True enough,” he sighed and accepted the cup. “What are your plans, then?”

“Janine will inherit the house. She and James will marry, he’s a well-off gentleman as well. Together they will have enough assets to support themselves and John, if the need arises. I will leave him everything else but the property so he shall be safe, too.”

John raised his eyebrow.

“That is not so different. How are you so sure Janine and James will marry?”

“Oh but it is different in all the ways that matter,” she smiled. “When I married dear Edward you were a first born son, tied to your family with duty and responsibility. He had enough riches for us to live comfortably, but he needed to take care of his cousins in exchange. I had nothing on my own. We were safe but we were never free. Not the way they will be.”

John didn’t answer. She felt her husband’s ghost in the room with them, the man she loved as a friend, the man whose death gave her the independence she craved since she was a girl.

She never wanted to pay that price. Edward died on a voyage, chasing wealth to have enough for his cousins without having to restrict themselves. Yes, they were comfortable, but the sail ships called for their hearts. Comfortable was never going to be enough.

She gave up on her traveling dreams after that. She started working with the Grittners, helping all kinds of abnormals reach Praxis, even as they warned her that Praxis didn’t look favourably on surfacers. She got to know their species, their unique abilities and she was happy, as happy as an aging woman alone in a house could be. John was busy with his family, their old friends scattered and even those who stayed to work in the university barely had time.

These kids deserved better.

“What about that marriage, then?” asked John after a while.

Right, that.

“Look at them,” she said simply. “They are friends. Neither of them is looking elsewhere. They are smart and a lot more pragmatic than your son, they will see the advantage.”

And she knew the look James gave the younger John, even if the kids themselves didn’t understand it. No, James Watson was never going to look elsewhere for a wife.

“I suppose you must be right.”

“Shall we bet on it?” she teased.

John snorted.

“Incorrigible woman.”

“You know it.”

The rest of the afternoon passed in peace. When she said goodbye to John she took a detour to check her mail, but there was nothing from the Grittners.

She shook her head. Magdalena left to help in some unspecified experiment weeks ago, and all correspondence stopped since then. She didn’t like the silence. It meant something went wrong, and best case scenario they were busy setting it right, worst case scenario Praxis wanted to cover up a tragedy here and they decided that after she worked so closely with them she was more trouble than worth.

Which could have meant anything from locking her out of the loop to more… Drastic measures.

Edward always called her a pessimist but she couldn’t take that chance.

The kids were going to be safe in Oxford, with Gregory Magnus and his daughter.

She was done with losing people.

#whumptober 2023 #no.1 #safety net #concerning us #ethel hallow #sanctuary

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grad604designresearch2avastiven · 8 months

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Week Eight

Unpacking your chosen elements:

Bob The Builder

Bob the Builder. My favourite show when I was a baby, my parents have said that they could not take pull me away from watching it or I would cry and scream. My first word was Bob, and Bob the Builder was my first birthday cake.

Movie Symbol

Film. My love and obsession with TV and movies has been around ever since I first discovered film. My room is full of posters from my favourite TV shows and I even collect Lego from some of my favourtie movies.

YouTube Symbol

Youtube. Youtube was a creative media that was a big part of my growing up. I remember coming home from school every day and watching any new videos released by my favourite YouTubers.

Apple Logo

Apple. The first ever Apple product I ever owned was an IPod touch 2 that I got for my 10th Birthday. Ever since then I have been a loyal Apple customer. I am technology obsessed and this has only grown since I began studying graphic design.

The Simpsons

The Simpsons. The Simpsons was a huge inspiration of mine growing up. I loved the show so much it’s the reason the first ever dream job I had was “to be an animator”.

Sunglasses

My sunnies. My favourite pair of sunglasses that barley ever get worn until summer time rolls around. These sunglasses remind me of summer break, Christmas, New Years, and spending time with my friends and family.

Auckland

Auckland. Auckland was where I was born and raised. I’ve moved around a bit growing up, but never left Auckland. I think Auckland will always feel like home to me no matter where I end up in life.

Book

A book. This drawing was based off one of my books from the series ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ or better known as ‘Game of Thrones’. I’m a huge nerd and love all things fantasy. I’ve loved reading for as long as I can remember.

Air Jordans

My favourite pair of shoes that I got for christmas last year. I love fashion and I had my eye set on this pair of shoes for months. I find I’m very specific with my taste and know exactly what I like and what I don’t most of the time.

Koalay teddy

My Koala teddy that is very precious to me. His name is Koalay and he was my aunties when she was a child before he was passed down to me. I remember my Auntie telling me to ‘take good care of him’ and that I have.

Mirror

My desk/makeup mirror. Another object that I use every day. I have had this mirror for years now and it has been very reliable and trusty. I bring it with me whenever I go away as it is just small enough to pack. Perfect getting ready mirror.

Sunscreen

My sunscreen. Ever since a very young age my Mum has drilled into me to wear sunscreen every day, a lesson that I have carried with me into adulthood. I put sunscreen on every day no matter the weather.

Makeup Sponge

My makeup sponge. Probably the most used object in my makeup routine as I use this after ever step to blend everything out smoothly. A sponge will come with me any time I’m traveling or going out.

Makeup Brush

One of my makeup brushes. This brush is from a set I ordered from England from one of my favorite makeup brands. I’ve always seen makeup as another media of art that I’m very passionate about.

Watercolour palette

A watercolour set that my Nana gave me for Christmas one year. My Nana is my only grandparent so I am very close with her, she is a painter and whenever I would visit as a kid we would spend the day painting in her backyard.

Perfume

My favourite perfume. Even though I’m a broke university student I always find enough money to restock on this perfume when I run out. The smell is perfect, not too strong or too sweet. I wear this every day and love having a signature smell.

Pencil

One of my pencils. Pencil drawing will always be my safety net, as it’s what I’ve been doing for the longest. Even as I learn and improve my skills in other areas of art pencil drawing will always be a favourite as that was where it all began.

Headphones

My headphones. I barley ever go anywhere without headphones or air buds. I need my music constantly, on the bus, walking, working out, doing design homework, I’m listening all the time to every genre there is.

Hair brush

My hairbrush. Another gift from my mum. Me and both of my two sisters all have matching brushes and I find it the best brush for my hair. Nothing else has the same effect and I bring it with me everywhere.

Gold necklace

A necklace I got from my Mum for my 16th Birthday. This necklace is real gold with gem in the eye. I treat it very carefully as it is such a beautiful piece of jewelery that I plan of having for the rest of my life.

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le-souriant · 1 year

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#MusicMonday Review - March 2023

#MusicMonday is the hashtag I've been using for quite a while to share music recommendations from up-and-coming artists. Always fresh, and always different, trying to look for trends before they become one. You can check February's review for more music.

This month's music takes us to a different realm, populated by dreams. Either with sounds, themes, or mysterious lyrics, go ahead, and let it take you away, with a word from the artists themselves. 🎧

Zap Euphoria – Nottingham Tune

Don't try breaking me down I'm not here for messing around

I keep trying but end up dying No more rock and roll, yeah

Like almost all dreams, in this Tunbridge Wells, England based Indie Rock song, lyrics are cryptic, and enigmatic. Just remember that people don't put you down, they only get you used:

"The track came about believe it or not In Nottingham. We were playing guitar over another song, then Erik (bassist) played the intro riff. We paused the music and wrote the song around that.

We wanted to write a tune that a whole field of people could jump around to. The lyrics aren’t about much, but we think that is funny."

Elemantra – No Shadow

The keys are in the car But no one Is in the driver’s seat

I wanna be there when the wheels turn I wanna feel it when we burn

From Buffalo, NY, we get a Dream Pop track that shows us how black and white are the colors of everything in this world:

"As far as the theme of the song and it’s overall message goes, it was mostly inspired by a fairly traumatic event that happened in my family during the summer of 2020.

My older brother was diagnosed with a very serious heart condition, out of the blue. He’s not much older than me, and it was just so shocking and scary for us all. I always viewed him as such a strong and worry-free person. Never thought something like that could happen. So to see him like that and to have something like that happen to him, it got me thinking like, damn bad shit can happen to anyone and for no good reason at all. It’s all just black and white, either something happens or it doesn’t. This all occurred too during the height of the Covid-19 paranoia and fear. So, there was already this spooky and uncertain atmosphere in our lives, which definitely further amplified these feelings. But, on the bright side, this all forced me to find peace in the acceptance of being powerless to the will of the universe.

If you’re aware that you can’t change what is going to happen, you’re free to just go about your life. And this train of thought brought about other concerns, like is this a healthy and sustainable way to go about life? I felt like maybe it was too simplistic. But ultimately, it let me accept and feel comfortable enough to move on. There’s no safety net, there’s no god, but there’s also no invisible malevolent force in the universe out to get you. You can just be you. Things might go your way, things might not."

Night School – Little Human Thoughts

You said we’re okay And i know we’ll end up with a house Someday

But it’s the idea that it’s not what you want That makes me so nervous I sob

Moving to the West Coast, in Oakland, CA, we continue with more Dream Pop about those thoughts that make you nervous, because you know the truth hurts:

"It came from a personal experience in a relationship. It’s essentially about fearing that the other person in a relationship is not as committed as you’d like."

The Tullamarines – Said Enough

I’ll put on a brave face I’ll put on a big smile

I feel like I'm feeling too much when the lights are down And I'd say it is nothing But it feels like it's something

Coming up next, from Adelaide, Australia, an Indie track about the nightmarish internal struggle that happens when you have trouble communicating. Are you hearing me?

"The song is basically about being the quietest person in the room and not knowing what to really do or say."

The Straights – Dead Set Detective

Baby you and I, We’re like the stars. Not so much apart, But yet so far.

Blinded by the light, But in the dark.. I’m in too deep.

From someone who can't express himself, we end our journey in Portsmouth, England for another dysfunctional example of loneliness, and attraction:

"(Band member) George wanted to write a song that was essentially an anti-love song, so thought it would be interesting to write the lyrics from the perspective of an incel.

Rather than just creating a horror-esque narrative, he wanted to touch upon the psychology of obsessive behaviour among stalkers, almost as though the songs narrator was totally unaware of their behaviour, with an honest perspective.

He had heard about how a-lot of these individuals find themselves in the position where they effectively worship the person of interest, and see themselves as protectors or guardians of some form."

Listen to them and much more on the Playlist

@osornios

#music #MusicMonday #review #march #2023

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lilgynt · 2 years

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it is SUCH a weird feeling to know i’m choosing to be child free for several reasons but then still feel the deep urge to have kids like it’s a phantom limb

#personal #like i might change my mind in the future if situations change but #like #for myself and that unborn kid i can’t see a good enough life for us to justify the risk #like i don’t think i have any fertility risk the women in my family get pregnant fast and easy #but like the risk of something going wrong for the kid #like when i used to think i could i dreamed of setting up safety nets #if i wasn’t ever enough or god forbid bad to that kid i wanted people they could rely on #but i can’t really guarantee that and future graham could easily just. negate that decision #and i can’t guarantee i just won’t be crazy #i know how it is losing a parent bc they’re just not there and i can’t promise a kid that won’t happen to them #i cant #and i don’t think it’s fair to me #i want to live as my own person for a while. i’m 22 and still live for my mother #and i would want to have a kid on the right side of 30 button #but* can i realy promise my life to someone else forever after only having a few years to live for myself #who would i ever have this kid with? i genuinely can’t picture myself marrying anyone #audrey and gg would be there and that’d be fine but i don’t know #and i refuse to raise an only child you guys are fucking freaks #and god can i handle the grief of bringing someone into this mess? is that remotely fair? how can i claim to love this kid and do that to #them? maybe i could adopt an older kid but i’m still so so so so scared of hurting them #and the body horror id go through of just pregnancy #but like. i still find myself wanting a kid so bad #adopted pregnancy whatever #i just want to help someone experience the world #i want to watch them grow and become a fully realized person in the world #i want dumb arguments that we laugh about years later #even with the body horror i do want to carry around a little life for nine months and then get to meet them #but then again im just glamorizing the nice stuff while high so 🫡 but again weird urges when i’ve made my choice

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endofthelinegang · 2 years

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𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐥

𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ druig x fem!reader

𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ you were blipped but when you appear again druig has a hard time knowing you're real. (2.3k words)

𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ big sad, big fluff, cursing (ik this is always a warning but i have a potty mouth)

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ this is what happens when i say "oh my god i don't know what to write!!"

join the gang!

Time meant nothing to the eternals, it never did. To them it was an endless cycle that somehow managed to be exactly like everyone else’s. They still had to suffer through emotions and if they got close to anyone else who wasn’t immortal like them they had to suffer loss. They had to sit and watch the world burn itself down, collect itself, and then burn down again without being able to truly do anything about it. Druig was particularly smart about all of those things. He ran away with someone who was going to live just as long as him to a place where no one could find either of you. It was beautiful, basically untouched, and the only people that were around were keepers of peace. They were a lot like Druig, sick of watching the world burn and just wanted to live out their days in happiness in a space that was unbothered. He thought that nothing bad could ever happen, but in the back of his mind he knew you weren’t untouchable. Though immortal you weren’t an eternal so the likelihood of your demise was higher than his. Druig would never tell you this but that’s one of the reasons he had taken you so far away from everyone else. He thought that was his safety net. Until one day half of the world's population went missing and you were one of them. He played that day over and over in his head to the point it caused dreams of delusion. There he sat on the bed the two of you shared looking at the wall of pictures as he thought back..

“Are you cold?” Druig had his arm around you as your head rested on his shoulder. The two of you were looking out across the river on it’s bank.

“No, I’m alright.” You whispered and leaned up to kiss his cheek. This was one of your favorite things to do right before the sun set. The open water was a perfect place to watch the sky change. The colors changed almost like a painting and the two of you always took time to appreciate it.

“You still have that flower in your hair.” He had been running his hand through your hair gently before bumping the flower that he had placed there much earlier.

“Well yeah. I love those flowers, you know that.” You giggled and moved yourself so that the two of you were facing. Druig looked over to the river nodding his head with a shrug of his shoulders.

“I pay attention sometimes.” He joked as you giggled at his expression, putting a hand on his face as you stroked his face.

“I know you do, it’s one of the million reasons I love you.” Before he could speak you took in a deep breath and held your stomach with your hands. You could no longer hear him but you could tell he was showing concern. It felt like you were being quickly pulled away. In one swift moment you sat up and kissed him like you would never see him again. A single tear rolled down your face before you could no longer see him or the sunset.

Druig panicked when he opened his eyes, you were gone. Dust was all that was left behind, that and the flower that fell out of your hair when you jumped forward to kiss him. He picked up the flower with shaky hands and looked out at the sunset. Druig had no idea what had happened, all he knew was it hurt him more than anything he had ever felt in his entire life…

He looked at the flower that he had hanging on the wall next to where you used to sleep. It had just been a little over 5 years since he last saw you. The moment you left time began to have a severe meaning, it was so long and difficult to deal with. Every moment he was alive he knew he was going to think of you and that nothing was going to heal the wound. He kept absolutely everything the same that you had left behind. He could not fathom that one snap of fingers could take you away from him in seconds. The fact that such a simple movement held so much power and knocked his whole world into misery. Most nights he couldn’t sleep but passed out from pure exhaustion after days of staying awake. But on the worst nights when he would wake up from dreams that you came back he would hold one of your pictures or a piece of your clothing and just sob silently on the edge of the bed. Druig could feel that exact thing happening as he laid down for bed. It had been a beautiful day, he fully believed that you blessed days like those to exist. He had gone outside for a few moments just because he knew you wouldn’t want him to just stay inside like that. But now darkness had fallen across the sky so being outside any longer was pointless. Instead he hung his head in front of the flower and tears began to fall.

It would’ve been beneficial for him to have stayed outside. Quickly just like before your body had fully materialized back into existence. You were sitting and leaning into something that wasn’t there.

“Druig?” You looked over your hands and around where you were, further making sure you were real. Standing up and kicking at the spot that you were in the last time you had been here you backed away from it. Thank god I retained my memory. You thought as you ran back through the woods to where you and Druig had lived together. You noticed certain trees had grown taller and that the forest was still beautiful. Druig had not let anything go to ruin.

Approaching the door you really hoped that he hadn’t moved away, that he was still there. Tracing over the pattern on the door you knocked three times. No one answered. So you knocked twice more before leaning in on the door to hear doorsteps. Druig inside, took a deep breath in before composing himself enough to go to the door. His eyes went wide as you stood there.

“Oh thank god.” You ran into him and hugged him in tears. There was nothing more you would have wished for than to have him back in your arms. In fact just to have him back at all was perfect. But he wasn’t hugging you back. Druig was stiff as a board looking down at you. “What’s wrong?” You pulled back and looked at him concerned.

“I’ve gone mad. I know I didn’t fall asleep. I can touch my illusions now.” He backed into the house and looked down at his hands, scared of what he believed was happening. There was absolutely no way this was real. Dreams like these had happened too many times for him to believe that you just appeared again.

“No no I-I’m real Druig, I know this is all confusing but the blip reversed.” You walked into the house, closing the door behind you. He couldn’t even look at you. It wasn’t because he didn’t want you back he just never in any situation saw that happening.

He sat down at the table with his head in his hands shaking it back and forth in tears. Druig really believed he had gone crazy, that this was all because he missed you.You occupied his mind, so this made sense that he would eventually snap. Keeping your distance you looked around the house and you wondered if you were in an illusion. The house hadn’t changed at all, everything from that day was in the exact spot it once was. It was like he cleaned around the little messes you had made, in fact the coffee mug you used that day was cleaned out but sat exactly the same way as you had left it. Continuing to walk around the house you looked at the calendar. You weren’t in any illusion, not only did the calendar confirm that but the ticking of the clock did as well. Then you turned around as you felt eyes staring into your back. Druig was teary eyed and staring right at you like he was seeing a ghost. You smiled at him now realizing that he had kept it all the same to remind him of you every waking moment of the day. He rose from his seat slowly, as if the floor under him was going to completely collapse. With wobbly legs he walked over to where you stood. Tears rolled down his face as he struggled to gain control over his breathing. Cautiously he put his head against yours and touched your cheek with his hand. Slowly he leaned down and kissed you, you could feel his tears touching your face as he brought you even closer to him.

“I wish you were real.” He sobbed looking down at you and moving his hands around your waist. His hands were rubbing up and down in a comforting motion.

“Do you want me to slap you? I’ve heard that it can be a reality check.” You joked with him through your own tears wiping his off his face as his grip around your waist tightened.

“I love you so much, and I will forever. I can’t let you go.” He chuckled at your remark before making his still not believing that you were real. Druig had heard that people who had to accept grief too soon could potentially hallucinate hearing their loved one. He assumed his powers made you visible, that he was mind controlling himself.

“You won’t have to, let’s just go to bed, and if I’m here in the morning then I’m real. I don’t think you can hallucinate that long or dream that long. I’ll set an alarm for the morning.” You pleaded with your eyes, the more you looked at him the more depressed and sleepy he looked. He clearly hadn’t slept in so long. It also happened to be quite late and you missed sleeping next to him. You missed everything with him and you were just waiting for him to realize that you weren't made up.

“Okay.” He reluctantly agreed, fully knowing in his mind you would be gone. Druig let you lead the way, trying to see if you would disappear in the changing light.

The two of you walked into your shared room, it felt just the same as when you unintentionally and forcefully left. The pictures were still hung up, your clean laundry was still sitting on the chair near the window, and the little notes you used to leave for Druig were all in a little jar right next to him. Your side of the bed was still made exactly how you did it. You chose to just sleep in the clothes you were wearing not wanting to mess up his little set up. You could tell he was not at all convinced that you actually existed outside of his mind. He laid down on his back and you snuggled into his side, taking his arm and placing it around yourself after you had set the alarm on the nightstand. Druig was dead silent and any movement he made you had made for him besides him laying down. You took his hand and kissed the back of his knuckles,

“I love you forever Druig.” You knew you were going to fall asleep and that he would too, eventually.

The moment you were warm you passed out. His presence had always made you feel safe and in bed he was always so warm. You were pressed against his side, head on his chest. Druig laid awake staring at the ceiling he wanted to cry but he didn’t have any tears left. He sighed out in frustration and held you a little tighter before falling asleep...

7:00 AM

Druig woke up so fast at the sound of the beeping from the alarm. What he did not expect was the groan next to him when he attempted to pull his arm up from under you. He took in a quick breath and began to touch you all over in fast motions. His hand was on your forehead, the other on your arm squeezing lightly. He did this fast pace behavior all around your body. Dragging his hand lightly over your shoulders, back, legs, and face. Druig laughed out in glee that you were real. Picking you up from your position on the bed he held you close against his chest kissing your face all over. Originally you were just gonna curl into his chest and fall back asleep but now he was relentlessly kissing you. Opening your eyes slowly you giggled at him holding you so tightly and kissing you all over.

“Can I help you sir, it’s early.” You joked with him as he continued to love you all over.

“No my beautiful beautiful y/n, you have done enough for the rest of your life.” He fell backwards onto his back making you shriek. “I’m so sorry for my behavior last night, you don’t understand how many nights I dreamed this would happen. I woke up in bed alone.”

“It’s okay, I understand, I just did not expect you to miss me this much.” You propped yourself up on his chest and looked up at the flower hanging on the wall.

“I missed you more than the stars miss the sky at night. The moment you were gone it felt like someone had taken a knife to my chest. I would’ve given up my abilities to have you back, I would’ve given up anything. Without you I was drowning in a wave that would not pull back. Time slowed down. I couldn’t bear life without you. You’re the one who’s designed for me, there is no other soul meant to pair with my own. ” He moved hair out of your eyes as he spoke lovingly to you.

“God I missed you.” You moved up a bit, putting both your hands on his face and kissing him deeply. “That is one of the million reasons I love you.”

Druig got wide eyed for a second and you tilted your head confused at what he was doing. Then he held you tighter than he had the entire time you’d been back and said,

“I love you too”...

#druig imagine #druig x female reader #druig x y/n #druig x reader #druig fic

947 notes · View notes

falling-pages · 3 years

Text

Bend the Knee: Kyoya x Reader

Thanks @ouranbound for the idea <3

“I fear I’ve been so busy planning our future that I did not give time to notice how they were exploiting your present."

Sometimes Kyoya's betrothed needs help adjusting from their commoner life to one of splendor.

Kyoya Ootori x gn! Reader

Genre: Fluff, established relationship, arranged marriage, Commoner! Reader

Warnings: None

“Quit.”

“What?”

“Quit. You complain about that job every night, so just resign.”

You sit up on the couch, gasping to even begin to make the young heir understand how preposterous his words were. He barely even noticed, just kept his eyes glued to his novel as you were having a crisis. Just another normal Tuesday in this household. “I can’t quit just like that, without two weeks’ notice.”

“The other employees did.”

“But I’m their best,” you scramble, “I can’t bail while they’re still looking for two more people.”

Kyoya scoffed, licking his fingertip and turning a page. “Is that how they treat their best? Overworked and underpaid? They don’t sound like very good bosses to me.”

“It’s not that, it’s…”

It was that. It was exactly that, which made his smug smile all the more frustrating, igniting that fire under your nails to just punch his lights out. But then you’d have to admit it’s bothering you, and he would win, and even though you were engaged to marry this man, you just couldn’t have that.

You ran your hands through your hair, dropping back down onto the couch. His office futon wasn’t comfortable in the slightest, perhaps to discourage relaxation during work hours, but it’s what you dealt with in order to spend time with him in the evenings, a change you would certainly implement once your name was on the deed and in the will--a revamp of his working space was imperative.

But you supposed you couldn’t complain. It was your little life together, where he manages a multi-billion dollar empire and you whine about your job, where he pretends to not pay attention while you spill your guts. What was the sense in commenting when he knew you wouldn’t take his advice?

“I’ve worked hard for this position,” you settle on, closing your eyes and letting your brain do the work. “I’ve climbed the ladder and gotten promotions and I used to feel so important, and it isn’t my dream job, sure, but I’ve enjoyed the process.”

“Then it’s time to move on to something different,” he suggests, and his tone is softer than usual, though still careful to sound detached. “You know I have more than enough money to provide for you and our family someday. Is that not enough?”

You open your eyes when the voice sounds closer, right above you, and you see him kneeling down beside you on the couch. You start to sit up, but he pushes you back down, helping you stretch out your spine, shake out the stresses in your limbs. And when he takes your hand, drawing his long fingers over the arch of your wrist and against your palm, you were startled to see him at eye-level.

Kyoya Ootori bent his knee to no one except you, and only once, when he slipped that pretty gold ring on your finger. But here where you lay, your faces were on the same level, and you felt like an equal.

“The world I come from isn’t black and white, Kyoya,” you say, as he strokes the back of your knuckles. Such tenderness was seldom seen from him, but you revel in it, grasp onto it with dirty fists and brazen recklessness. To have him so attentive to your needs and listening to you was rare. It was a privilege, a standard you would soon be held to, as well. “To be just...launched into fame because my dad won the lottery is hard, I still need to adjust. It can all be gone in a second, so I can’t just drop something. I can’t...sever the safety net. They need me to keep the place afloat, and even as tough as it has been, I can’t leave on such bad terms. They need me. Just for a little bit longer.”

He sighs your name like the afterthought of a prayer, settling his other hand beside you on the couch. His fingers dig into every indentation, as if joining your discovery of its stiff cushions. The sheen in his glasses signaled he’d look into it, but there were more pressing matters to attend to at the moment.

He remained silent, odd for a man with all the answers, but he continued to look at you, not like he was trying to drill a hole through your head, but like you were a puzzle he was just beginning to figure out.

“Have I really been so absent, my love?” he whispered, raising his hand to your face. One finger stroked along your cheek, slowly, lulling you into peace. “I fear I’ve been so busy planning our future that I did not give time to notice how they were exploiting your present. Please, forgive me.”

All of the air was knocked out of your chest as his gentle words, so soft that you almost didn’t recognize him. When your parents betrothed you, and when you fell in love with him, agreed to marry him, even, you knew that he would always be an Ootori, with every string attached. You were ready for the challenge, ready to be with this man no matter what--but his sudden kindness was unexpected, the poetic words unfamiliar in your ears.

“Kyo, you think I wouldn’t forgive you?” you ask, taking off his glasses.

He let you, and when you set them on the nearby stand, his dark eyes glittered with something you had never seen before. Deeper than love, deeper than compassion, a feral protectiveness mixed with sadness skating across his face. It was so rare you saw him without this shield of his, you had almost forgotten how his eyes were like galaxies, like the murky night sky, expansive, swallowing everything in its path.

“If I had been suffering so, I wouldn’t forgive my partner had they not noticed,” he said.

“I’m not suffering...”

“Mmm-mm.” He shuttered your lips closed with his finger, and you couldn’t help but return the affection and press a kiss to it. He smiled, softly, and you thought about how long it had been since you had seen that smile, and how long it had been since he’s seen yours, too.

“I know I’m not the best at expressing my feelings,” he said, and when you snorted, he rolled his eyes and leaned away. “See, this is exactly why.”

You leaned up and kissed his cheek, giggling. The feeling was foreign in the pit of your chest, drumming near your spine. “I’m sorry. Please, continue.”

“Thank you.” He cleared his throat, softly wiping where you had kissed him, a repetitive, soothing motion. “I’m not the best at expressing my feelings. I’ve been raised to think that if you throw money at something, it will go away. It’s a powerful position to hold, knowing you can change everyone’s fates on a whim, but…” he swallowed, breaking eye contact, and you felt his energy shift into something vulnerable. “But you changed that. You make me feel...you make me feel. And at first I didn’t like it. I loved you, but I didn’t like what you did to me. I didn’t like how you made my world shift off-balance, until I realized my world was no longer my family’s company or stocks or what other stiffs thought of me. It was you.”

You tried to lean up and kiss him, but he grabbed your hands and held them in his own. “Please, let me finish, I want...I want you to know. We’ve been betrothed for so long, but I’d like to think we were only truly engaged when I bowed to you with that ring.”

“Okay,” you breathed, shallowly, taking it in, squeezing his hands to help him along.

“Because that took everything in me,” he continued, and his voice shook, his hands shook, and all you wanted was to gather him in your arms and hold him till he relaxed. “I was raised as a superior, but I’m not. Not with you. You are my equal, and I love you, and there’s no future with us if I can’t look beyond my own problems to see yours.”

Your stomach quelled in light of his confession. The life of luxury and fame you had so recently come to know was a blur compared to his childhood swathed in privilege. Only six years ago you were waiting tables to save up for college when your dad bought a lottery ticket for the hell of it. Now you were attending charity balls and engaged to the son of the richest man on earth.

He took a shaky breath and kissed your forehead, seeming to only find the courage once his lips met your skin.

“I notice. I swear I do,” he said. “I tried to act disinterested when you vent to me because it was a protection, it was a way to stay cold, because that was all I ever saw from my mother and father. They were separate people who happened to live in the same house. That’s not us. I’m not my father. I swear I notice. I notice your tired eyes and your tense shoulders and your fake smile and I want to fix it, but I don’t know how, so I clam up. I shut down. And I’m sorry. I truly am, my darling. I don’t know how you put up with me.”

It was an absolute miracle that you could even breathe at the end of his speech, panting almost as heavily as he was. And when you leaned forward to kiss him, this time he didn’t object, but pulled you even closer, shrouding your body with his, his sharp scent overwhelming your senses, clouding the air around you, even when there was no distance between you. His mouth was hot with passion, yet reserved, and though it wasn’t the first time you kissed, it was the first time you thought he meant it when he told you he loved you.

“Kyoya, I love you,” you whisper against his lips. “I have for so long. I wouldn’t have stayed with you if I didn’t, no matter what our parents said.” He laughed, nipping your bottom lip lightly. “And I don’t want you to change for me. You’re under so much pressure, I understand why you act like you do. But our home isn’t Wall Street. My heart isn’t some business bargaining chip. You don’t need to fight your nature to love me. It’s one and the same.” One of his tears splashes down onto your face. “So just see me. Love me. Choose to be vulnerable. I promise it won’t scare me off.”

“I will. I promise.”

He kissed you again, burning his brand against your tongue, hard like a handshake to know he meant it. You wrapped your arms around his neck, pulling him even closer, like you were breathing the same air, using the same lungs, the same heart beating in tandem.

When you let go, his forehead remained pressed against yours. His eyes were slightly open, watching you, eyelashes fluttering against your skin. He was so soft, like this. You wanted to hold him forever.

“Come to bed with me,” you whisper, trailing a hand through his hair. “I just want to spend time with you.”

He kissed your forehead, rubbing his nose against yours in compliance. “I’ll spend all the time in the world with you, beloved,” he sighed, capturing your lips once more. “For as long as you’ll have me.”

Kofi

#ouran high school host club #kyoya ootori #kyoya x reader #kyoya ootori x reader #ohshc

935 notes · View notes

inkandpen22 · 3 years

Text

Chaotic as The Sea (3/?)

Pairing: Jack Sparrow x Female!Reader

Word Count: 3k Warning: swearing, violence Part Summary: The Black Pearl arrives in Bimini and as any adventure with Jack Sparrow, there’s chaos

Masterlist

Two days later...

Will

We arrive at Bimini as the sun begins to set. Y/N and Barbosa argue that we should wait until sunrise to explore the island. I argue that we can't waste another minute without trying to rescue Elizabeth. Jack, to my surprise, agrees that we shouldn't wait. Though, I think his reasoning is because he wants to see the fountain.

Barbosa, Jack, Gibbs, Ragetti, Pintel, Y/N, and I all hop off the boat to explore the island. Gibbs, Will, and Pintel all carry long torches for us as the only sources of light.

"Okay, so I know the general direction, but unless you feel like risking the chance of getting lost, which I don't, I suggest we use the compass," Y/N announces.

"I thought you were certain of the fountain's location," Barbosa remarks a tad agitated.

"Every tree and speck of white sand look exactly the same. Next trip, I'll drop your ass in a jungle in the middle of the night and tell you to find your way out!" She snaps.

"Okay, well then let's use the compass." Ragetti takes the compass of Jack's belt and hands it to Y/N.

The device begins to spin in her hand and Ragetti peeks over her shoulder. Jack quietly moves to stand beside her, wishing to catch a glimpse of himself.

Abruptly, Y/N shuts the compass and frantically tries to get rid of it. "Oh uh, no it's okay, Jack can take it." She tosses it to him.

"Me?" He looks at her wide-eyed and panicky. "No, give it to Will! He wants to find the bloody place." He tosses it to me.

"What's wrong with you two?" Barbosa yells in frustration.

"The compass doesn't work for them," I state.

"Seriously!" Y/N huffs.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Barbosa questions.

"When Jack holds it the arrow points to Y/N," I explain pointing between them.

"Who told you that!" Jack questions.

Then, Jack and Y/N both glare at Gibbs. "Gibbs!" They bark in unison.

The older man holds up his hands in surrender.

"Well, why can't Y/N do it?" Pintel questions timidly, circling his hands together.

"Why can't Will just bloody do it and we can move on!" The woman challenges.

Jack nods. "I'm with her on this one."

I sigh. "When Y/N holds it, it points toward whatever she wants so bad in New France."

"But isn't New France North of here?" Ragetti questions.

"Yes!" The rest of us answer in unison.

His face scrunches together in confusion. "But uh-"

Y/N elbows Ragetti in the ribs. "Shut it!" She's quick to change the subject. "Let's go! Will! I'll lead the way, you just act as a checker."

_______________________________________________

30 minutes later...

Y/N

As the seven of us continue to march through the thick jungle, Jack appears beside me. "After we're finished in New France. I say you and I pay a visit to Tortuga for old time's sake."

I laugh. "Ha! Wish to relive our break-up?"

"Think of it as a celebration of our reunion," he tries to sugarcoat it.

I roll my eyes, laughing as I move ahead to join Will up front. "In your dreams!"

Ragetti

I pick up my pace to catch up with Pintel. "I know something you don't know!"

"What?" He eagerly asks.

"When Y/N was holding the compass, the arrow was pointing toward her," I whisper.

His face scrunches together. "Y/N desires herself?"

"No!" I huff. "Jack was standing next to her!"

He gasps, putting it all together. "So you mean-"

"Yes!"

He grins. "That's kinda sweet actually."

Y/N

"Now be careful!" I announce to the men, watching my step as we get closer to the mountainside. "The natives made pit traps and other boobytraps-"

Before I can finish my warning. Jack screams from the back of the group. When I whip my head around, Jack is nowhere to be seen. "For idiots like Jack," I sigh.

"Does anyone see him?" Will questions, moving his torch around.

"It's kind of dark!" Gibbs remarks.

"Thank Jack and Will for that! They refused to wait until morning," I grumble, marching back to where I last saw Jack.

"Jack!" We all call in a scatter as we search.

"Captain!" Gibbs shouts.

We all watch our steps, checking the heavily covered jungle floor and sky for any sign of him. He could be hanging from a tree in a net or in a hole somewhere. If it's deep enough and well covered, it'll be hard to hear him.

"This is ridiculous!" Gibbs huffs.

"I say we leave him and tell the crew some natives got him," Barbosa suggests.

"I have an idea," I announce as one pops into my head. "Give me the compass," I ask Will, holding out my head.

"But how will that help?" He questions with a raised brow.

I hold the compass in my palm and lift the lid. I watch as the arrow spins. Soon, each of the men are gathered around me in a circle, eager to catch a glimpse. Then, the arrow stops, pointing Southeast. The men break apart, allowing me to follow it.

"Watch your step," I advise.

I keep a close eye on the arrow, making sure it doesn't change direction. I'm about to take another step when Will suddenly grabs my arm. I glance ahead and realize there's a massive pit in front of me. Its edges were covered in leaves and brush.

"Oh, thanks," I exhale deeply.

"Captain! You down there?" Gibbs shouts down below, holding a torch above the massive pit.

I kneel down beside the pit and await an answer.

There's a faint, "Am I dead?"

I giggle and shout back. "No, you're not dead you idiot!"

"Pintel! Ragetti! Go fetch a rope from the ship!" Barbosa commands, sending the two off.

I laugh, relieved that Jack is okay. Based on the distant swooshing sound, the pit is filled with water thankfully, not spikes. This could've been a recovery mission. I sit back on my knees and glance up to find the remaining three men staring at me with knowing grins.

"What!" I sass, crossing my arms over my chest.

"Nothing," they all say, breaking apart to roam in different directions.

I roll my eyes, such nosy people, pirates.

____________________________________________

The men work together, yanking Jack up from the bottom of the pit. I remained to kneel beside the edge, holding up a torch so we can see Jack when he pops up.

"Ho!" Barbosa calls out as they tug the robe. "Ho!"

Soon, Jack appears from within the darkness and I grip his belt, guiding him to safety. The men release the rope and relax, releasing panting breaths.

"You okay? Captain!" Gibbs questions.

"Yeah," Jack flips onto his back, catching his breath, "yeah, I should be fine. How did you-" His eyes flicker about until his eyes land on the compass on the ground beside me.

"Ah, now that's interesting." A cheeky smirk begins to form on his face as he lifts his gaze to meet mine.

I shove him in the shoulder, frustrated. "I told you to watch where you were going!" He has no idea how worried I was.

"I was a tad distracted by you, Love," he chuckles.

My eyes fall shut as I release a sigh of relief. Thank God, he's okay.

Jack places his hand on my thigh, capturing me by surprise. His dark eyes meet might and I place my hand over his. He flips his over and they interlock in my lap. His eyes soften at the sight.

Suddenly, there's a series of yells from across the jungle. Each of us tosses our heads to the side and sees small glimmers of light in the distance. Jack flies up beside me from his laid position.

"Are they with us?" He questions.

There's the ring of a gunshot and the bullet hits the tree right by Barbosa's head.

"Don't think so!" Will declares, his voice shaky.

"Who are they?" I shout.

"Wait! They're Black Beard's men! I remember one of them. He's the one who took Elizabeth!" Will determines.

“How did they find the fountain?” Barbosa yells.

“He knew you’d come and find me!” I comprehend and look over at Jack. “He’s been following us here!”

Pintel and Ragetti immediately make a run for it.

“I’m with them, time to go!” Will decides and starts to run back to the ship.

Jack takes my hand and instantly brings me to my feet. We begin to run too, hand in hand.

“Cowards!” Barbosa shouts and stands his ground. He whips out his gun and begins to shoot at the mob. “Come and get it you slimy gits! Ha!” He laughs.

Running utterly blind in the dark jungle, there’s hardly any light other than that that can make it through the tree tops from the moon. We make it through the jungle and see the beach a few yards ahead. Will and the two morons make a bee-line for the ship, when they’re suddenly stopped by a cluster of Blackbeard’s men running from down the beach. Jack pulls me into his side and draws his sword.

Suddenly, I feel a hand wrap around my wrist and I’m yanked away from Jack. He immediately whips around and his eyes grow wide. My back slams into someone’s chest and I struggle to free myself. More of Blackbeard’s men appear from within the jungle and begin to fight Jack. Two men begin to drag me off and I fling around, trying to break free.

"Jack!" I scream. “Let me go you bastards!”

Jack searches for me and when he finally spots me, he screams. "No!" He looks at me pleading and full of guilt.

As more of Blackbeard’s men appear, we both quickly realize there’s nothing either of us can do. These morons are taking me to their ship, more than likely to see their captain and to be held prisoner. This is yet another reunion I did not request.

______________________________________

After sailing out to the Queen Anne's Revenge a couple hundred yards from the island, the nasty men take me aboard and immediately drag me off to the captain’s quarters. They swing open the double doors below top deck and we enter a familiar red velvet decorated office.

A tall man stands behind the desk with his back to us. "And who do we have here?" A familiar voice purrs. When he spins around, his grin falls to confusion. "Y/N?"

"I told you! Idiots!" I huff and yank my arms free from his buffoons."Hi, Eddie," I offer a fake smile.

"Eddie?" The pair beside me repeat in unison.

The captain pinches the bridge of his nose with a sigh. "How many times must I tell you?"

"You could hand me the Templar Treasure yourself, I won't call you Blackbeard. It's stupid," I laugh, approaching him.

"Leave us," he commands his minions. Once we’re allow, he moves to stand the other side of his desk. He props himself against it with a grin. "So, you and Jack are back together again..."

"No way in hell," I snicker, taking a look about his office. He’s changed it in the last five years. "He promised me he knew where the Templar Treasure was, I'm simply completing my half of the deal."

"Which is?" He inquires.

I stop my admiring of his decor to meet his gaze. "Showing him to the fountain."

"You would honestly betray me like that?" He acts offended my placing his hand against his chest.

"If it guaranteed me the Holy Grail? Yes,” I stand firm.

"Your loyalties still lie with that treasure? You truly are a pirate at heart,” he smirks. He rises from his position on the desk to pour us chalices of wine. As he approaches me, his eyes travel up and down my entirety. "Dare I say, you look amazing."

I accept the wine, but roll my eyes at his compliment. "Oh save it.”

He pouts dramatically. "What happened to the spirited eighteen-year-old I first met?” He reaches up and tucks strands of my hair behind my ear. “You're bitter now."

I lift my arm and knock his hand away from me. "It's called maturing."

"Have you matured enough to conclude that I'm the better man than Jack?" He smirks, stepping closer to me.

I move away from him and toward the book case against the far wall behind his desk. "I think I prefer neither of you,” I answer over my shoulder.

"One point, if I recall correctly, there was a point where you couldn't choose between us." He narrows his eyes, taking a sip of his wine as he creeps closer to me again. "Do you remember those few months in Bermuda?"

I shift of my heels, allowing my eyes to fall to the Persian rug beneath them. "It was always going to be him, Eddie..."

Abruptly, he rushes toward me and pins me against the bookcase. My wine falls out of my hand and stains the rug. "I could've had you if I wanted!" He growls.

I look him dead in the eyes with a clenched jaw. "You dare threaten me!”

He laughs mockingly. "What? Going to curse me?"

I grin. "That used to terrify you if I recall correctly."

"You're all bark and no bite. I happen to know for a fact, you don't practice dark magic!" He challenges.

"Just because I don't practice it, doesn't mean I don't know how to use it.”

There’s a commotion outside and soon the double doors swing open to reveal Jack marching in, gun drawn. While Eddie is distracted I pick up a vase off one of the shelves near me and I knock him over the head with it. The vase shatters into a hundred pieces over his head and the man falls to the ground with a thud at my feet. My chest rises and falls rapidly as I meet Jack’s gaze. His eyes flicker away from the man knocked out on the floor and up to me.

"I hate that I'm relieved to see you," I pant.

He runs over to me and takes my hand. "Consequence of loving me." He guides me over to one of the windows and swings it open. “Can you jump?”

I look at him as though he as three heads. “Can you jump? What kind of dumb question is that?” I mock. Then, I ask him a similar dumb question. “I don’t know Jack, can you swim?” I roll my eyes and climb up onto the windowpane and jump out.

“Jesus, Mary, and the bloody camel sorry for asking!” I hear him grumble under his breath as climbs out the window and jumps in after me.

___________________________________

Jack

We’re not sure how we’ll get Elizabeth back, but we will. Though, I suspect that he was never after the fountain. No, what he truly wanted was Y/N and the fountain was just a cover-up. I brought her right to him. For now, we just need to create some distance between us so we can form a plan.

Y/N climbs the ladder above me and Gibbs helps her on board. She offers him a thank you and brushes herself down. The crew is well into their tasks, getting us far from this island as soon as possible.

“Glad to see you’re safe, Miss,” Gibbs greets.

“Did everyone make it back okay?” She questions as I climb aboard.

“Yes, even I,” Barbosa announces with a proud grin. “Not with the help of you lot,” he adds.

“Don’t exactly have a death wish,” she giggles.

“There’s a change of clothes for you in the Captain’s office,” Gibbs informs her.

She offers him thanks and begins toward my quarters. Barbosa and Gibbs break apart to return to their positions.

“You! Hold it!” I call out.

The two men glance in my direction, wondering who I’m speaking to. They follow my gaze to Y/N.

She whips her head around, her gorgeous, long, wavy, Y/H/C flowing in the breeze. She crosses her arms over chest. “Excuse me?” She scoffs with a grin forming on her lips.

I narrow my gaze at her. “I have one question.”

Barbosa and Gibbs watch the interaction, their heads tilting back and forth between us with each exchange. The crew too watches as they attempt to multitask with their duties. Her eyes remain on the deck panels and anywhere else but me.

“Did you know the compass would lead you to me?” I ask.

There’s a pause and I can tell she’s reluctant to answer despite the amused expression she wears. Then, her eyes rise to meet mine with a sigh. “Yes... maybe...”

I smirk, approaching her slowly. “Oh see now that’s interesting, don’t you think?”

“What? Just going to gloat about the ship now?” She rolls her eyes, directing her focus in the distance away from me.

I bring my hands up to her cup her face and make her meet my gaze. To my surprise and pleasure, she doesn’t move from her spot or shove me away. Instead, brings her fingers to hook through the loops of belt.

“You stay with me from now on. No more hiding out.” I smirk. “That’s an order,” I tease quietly between us.

“Whatever you say...” Her eyes fall to my lips and then flicker back to my eyes. She grins. “Captain.”

One my hands slips behind her head to her neck and I bring my lips to meet hers in a needy kiss. Her arms fling over my shoulders, deepening the kiss.

“Now they’re going to be insufferable!” I hear Barbosa grumble to Gibbs as he stomps off.

Five years of searching for her, waiting for, wondering if I’ll ever see her again. What happened between us all those years ago is one of my greatest regrets if not the biggest. Our relationship has never been easy, in fact it’s exceedingly complicated and one giant headache. We haven’t stopped arguing since the moment we met and rarely agree on anything. Yet, we love as we do argue with each other, passionately and with everything we have. Now that I have Y/N back and I know she loves me in return, I’m never letting her go. God help me if I let Blackbeard anywhere near her.

_______________________________

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