#or Like Virgina water
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A soulmate AU: Steve Harrington x fem!reader [4.6K]
THE TIMELINE
"Oh, won't you stay, just a little bit longer.
Please let me hear, you say that you will,
Say you will."
- Stay By Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs
IV. MOUNTAIN LAKE, VIRGINA: 1963
The man in front of you was not part of your vacation plans. He was half naked, sweaty, annoyed and scowling. The man in front of you was a stranger.
Except he wasn’t.
Was he?
You knew his name by now, something you’d only learnt on Monday, or perhaps the day before. Steve, Steve Herringbone or Barrington or something. He didn’t like it when you called him Steven and he certainly didn’t like it when you argued back.
But this was supposed to be a getaway, a small summer break where you could maybe sneak a smoke by the lake when everyone had returned to their cabins and the geriatric morning yoga was done. Except your dad knew the owner of the summer retreat, a huge house settled in the Virginia countryside, the forest greener than it was back home. Bauman’s Mountain House was host to many golf courses, a fencing team, seventeen rowboats, an archery club, the best water aerobics in the state and an award winning dance show.
The very latter included the man in front of you.
Tall, broad shouldered and tanned from the summer, Steve Harrington was handsome and painstakingly so. Brown hair that he always tried to tame by pushing his hand through it, brown eyes and too many freckles to count. He wore a gold chain around his throat, black slacks and a leather jacket on his days off, driving around the resort in a BMW that made too much noise, but he didn’t seem to care.
He cared even less about his bad reputation and loud ways when his partner broke her foot weeks before the final show, a tiny girl called Nancy that you were unreasonably jealous of at first sight. You watched them both on your first night, sat between your mother and father as they took to the stage, dancing flawlessly, fluidly, like they were one whole person. You watched the way she touched him, an easy familiarity that had your stomach feeling unsettled and something inside of you burned when her hand brushed the man’s neck, holding onto him as he dipped her low, her fingers trapping two little moles and hiding them from sight.
You’d blamed the cheap cocktails and called it a night.
But then your father found him arguing with Mr Bauman about the show and suddenly you were volunteered against your own volition, your parents talking loudly and proudly about talent shows and dance lessons when you were much younger, boldly exaggerating about how must’ve been a dancer in another life as you shook your head and tried to escape back to the gazebo by the shoreline.
Now you were left spending your evenings with Steve Harrington and his tight trousers in a cabin that was much smaller than your own. There was a leak in the corner, a consistent drip from a missing nail in the roof and rainwater splashed against the wooden floor as if it were counting down the seconds.
As if it were counting down to— something.
It had rained every night since you had started seeing Steve, the stifling afternoons giving way to humid evenings that always started to smell like rain by six o’clock, sweet tea and lemonade taken over by the scent of a new downpour. There had been threats of storms, chattering of it during breakfast in the main dining hall, grumbles of it from groundskeepers during bowling on the green.
But nothing wild, not yet.
Steve had scowled the entire time he was with you, minutes and hours spent with a frown on his face as he did his best to avoid touching you, mumbling something about getting the timings right, about learning the steps and the footwork before putting it all together. It was tedious now, repetitive and too warm in his small room and even with the bed pushed to the wall, there was barely space to avoid brushing up against him when you moved.
You were flushed, skin shining with a thin layer of sweat and the same sheen made Steve’s lips look glossy, his hair sticking to his forehead in curls and flicks. You rolled your eyes when he hit rewind on the tape deck, a silent order for you to take it from the top. But you didn’t move as he made quick work on his buttons, undoing them one by one until his short sleeved shirt hung open, showing off far too much skin. Lean muscle and a smattering of hair across his pecs, more skating down the line of his navel and you sucked in a breath, pretending you hadn’t stood on your own foot.
“It’s too fuckin’ warm,” he complained, circling you as he spoke, watching you for more errors, inspecting your footwork, your posture, the way your held your head up and squared off your shoulders.
“No shit,” you couldn’t help but bite back. “How’d you think I feel?”
You wore denim shorts to his black slacks, but your cotton T-shirt was sticking to your torso now, the baby pink material too heavy and restricting for the heat inside the cabin. You pressed your lips together and moved, eyes on the wall ahead of you, your right foot moving in front of your left before you twisted your hips half a turn and—
“Take it off, then.”
You blinked, your framework going slack as you dropped both your arms and your jaw. You were hardly prudish, but something about this man had set you on edge since you’d first seen him. An electrical buzz every time you looked at him, fizzing through your bones, an invisible string tied to your insides pulling and pulling and pulling you closer. You’d ignored it until these dance practices, always turning in the other direction, putting the entire resort between you both.
But now… now?
He was standing all of three feet away, cheeks flushed from the heat and his chest on show, his hands behind his head and his fingers buried in his hair in frustration as he stared at you. Like he was challenging you. The muscles in his arms were flexed, taut cords and lines that showed off how hard he work at his job and you couldn’t help but stare.
“What?” You demanded it, a bite of an answer.
“Your shirt,” Steve nodded to the pink material, brows raised like it were obvious. He almost rolled his eyes. “Take it off.”
Above you, the rain outside fell a little harder, a consistent din against the thin roof.
You didn’t say anything. You just hoped you didn’t lose your cool as you reached for the hem of your t-shirt, untucking it from your shorts. The cotton stuck to you uncomfortably, dragging against your skin as you raised it up and over your head, the brief second where your eyesight was blinded a terrifying prospect.
Was he looking? At you? Was he watching? Did he care?
By the time you’d balled up the offending fabric and tossed it in the corner, Steve had turned his back to you, pressing some buttons on the tape deck until the song - some kind of mambo - played for the beginning again. You couldn’t see his face but you wondered if he’d caught sight of your bra, as plain as it may have been. White cotton, thin with scalloped edges and a tiny pink bow between the cups. Hardly sexy, nothing near scandalous, but there was certainly a lot more skin showing now.
Slick, damp skin that you wondered if he’d touch. It was like he wasn’t allowed to, the way he skirted around you all of the time, his hands shoved into his pockets when he wasn’t demonstrating the next step, a fist pressed to his chin as he watched you repeat his instructions, a wide palm always hovering just out of reach of your lower back when he scolded you for slouching, like he’d went to put his hands on you - only to pull catch himself at the last second.
“You gotta loosen your hips,” Steve’s voice interrupted your thoughts as he turned back around. His eyes were on the floor before he finally dragged them up your legs and over your bare stomach. He sucked in a breath. “You’re too rigid.”
“You told me to hold my shoulders,” you retorted, knowing fine well that he’d bitched about your ‘noodle arms’ for days.
“Yeah, your upper body needs to be squared off. Hold yourself tight from here up,” Steve gestured to your waist with the side of his hand. He didn’t touch you, but you could feel the heat radiate from him. “But from here?” He tapped at the button on your shorts.
You froze.
“From here down, you need to put a bit of swing in the hips, alright?” He spun, putting himself behind you but you could see him in the mirror that leant against the cabin wall, an old looking thing that was too ornate to be here. Once gold, it had carvings of cherubs on the frame, tiny wreaths and rosettes intertwined with ancient style busts. “It’s a mambo, sweetheart, put a little heat into it.”
The tape begun again and Steve leant against a dresser, arms folded across his bare chest, his open shirt plastered to his skin. He watched you, waiting. The intro played and you counted the beats, nodding your head to each note and before you could hit the mark. Thunder rumbled somewhere outside and you were suddenly reminded of a man that looked like Steve, standing and watching you like that in a room much smaller than this, lit by firelight, dressed like a fighter.
“You missed the count,” Steve sighed, exasperated.
His hair had been longer, his face bruised and bleeding, but it looked just like him. A familiar scene, like you’d maybe seen it in a movie, but it felt more like a dream you didn’t recall having. You looked down at your feet, chest heaving, lips parted in confusion and you were only more dazed when you saw your bare legs and not the long skirts you expected. Your body didn’t feel like yours, not really.
Like it was borrowed, or broken.
You turned, facing Steve as if you expected him to be dressed differently, in leathers and studs and pleats, but he was still the same, just looking at you as if you’d suddenly fallen ill. Maybe you had.
“Drink some water,” he ordered, and yes, that sounded like a really good idea. “Then we’ll go again.”
You chugged the bottle, the water tepid and hard to swallow but you gulped it down greedily, praying against heat stroke or whatever else it could be that could be plaguing you with such hallucinations. You swiped at your lips and closed your eyes before you turned back to the boy and when you did, he looked the same as he always did.
Annoyed, tired, pretty.
“C’mere,” Steve said briskly, crooking a finger at you. You stepped towards him, unsure of what he was asking you, lingering awkwardly with a few feet of space between you. Steve huffed and rolled his eyes. “Jesus, I mean— here.”
He touched you then, his hand reaching out to grasp your own as he pulled you forward, closer than you’d ever been. There was barely space for a prayer between you both.
You thought that his hand in yours would’ve made you feel something, a spark, a fizz, that buzz that you felt in your bones around him. But something else settled over you instead, a strange familiarity, a longing for a home you didn’t know or didn’t remember, like Steve touching you was hardly anything new. His touch made you think of the sea, of vast gardens, of islands and storms and great wars, ruby wine and promises that seemed impossible to keep.
From the unsettled look in Steve’s eye as he stared down at you, you thought that maybe he felt the same thing.
But then he was fussing, moving his feet into the right position and mumbling about your stance. His hand took you with him as he moved, less than an inch separating your bare stomach from his and you let him direct you as he pleased, waiting for the song to reply from the top. The drums began, a cacophony of instruments you’d never be able to name joining in.
And then Steve was counting, his eyes suddenly fixed on yours as he nodded to the beat. “And five, six, seven—”
Steve’s other hand was on your waist.
His palm felt huge, big enough to envelop your side and his thumb was pressed into the soft of your belly, just below your ribcage. His fingers were splayed out over your bare back, his skin warm against your own and you’d never felt so completely consumed by just one touch. You were reminded of white sheets and hazy mornings, the taste of fresh bread and an open window that looked out to blue skies and you could hear a fountain spraying water.
But you were moving before you could consider it, what it meant, what it was, if it was possible to have someone else’s memories trapped in your head. Steve moved and you followed, your feet chasing his step by step as he walked you back and forth, his hips turning into yours on each beat, his shoulders set and his chin held high, ever the professional.
“Don’t look at your feet,” he murmured, barely heard over the music. “Chin up. Look at me.”
You didn’t know how to tell him it hurt to do so, how looking into his eyes this close felt like giving in, it felt like being stitched back together without any medication. You had never been aware of any wounds in your body, but this man you barely knew seemed to fill the space very well.
So you did, holding your breath until your chest burned, your eyes meeting Steve’s as you clasped his hand in your own and gripped his shoulder, letting him lead you around the cabin floor. The storm raged on, louder than before, more threatening now, like it was arguing, fighting, scolding.
The rain poured harder and what little evening light there had been was now dampened, the setting sun hidden behind navy and violet coloured clouds - but the heat was just as oppressive. Steve turned you, a twist of his body that led into yours as you spun on your toes, and when he caught you— when he caught you, his hand moved lower, slipping down your overheated skin until his fingers grazed the denim waistband of your shorts.
Maybe he saw you falter, maybe he saw your lips part, but Steve sucked in a breath and kept moving, his chest brushing your own as you stepped into his space as he danced into yours, torso meeting, separating, meeting, separating, meeting—
“Keep count,” he reminded you. “Keep counting the beats.”
You nodded, Steve’s face startlingly closer than before, as if he’d forgotten his boundaries, the box he created with strong arms, the one that kept him professional as a dancer, standing tall and strong. Now his elbows were bent, his hand falling from yours so both of his palms could bracket your hips and it was too much, it was everything you’d ever wanted, it was something you felt like you’d once had.
You just couldn’t remember who had taken it away from you.
Lightning lit the cabin, the storm over the resort, the sky black.
“Remember your hips,” he whispered, and god, god, his forehead was almost touching yours, his nose drawing a line against your own as his eyelids dropped and his lashes fanned his pink cheeks. His hands guided your waist, moving you from side to side, following the rhythm. “Listen to the beat.”
You were sure he meant the music, but it was impossible to ignore the thud of his heart against your own chest. You could feel yours even more so, a constant drumming that seemed to seep into your bones, making them crack at the edges, something blooming between them, something new and old and familiar and exciting.
Like driving into your street after a long vacation, like falling into your own bed after too many weeks away, smelling the laundry detergent that clung to everyone else that you loved. It felt hopeful, like the beginning of the morning when the only thing that had entered your thoughts was the way the sun looked in the sky, how pink it was, how the clouds seemed softer than the day before.
Steve pushed at your hips, holding them as you swayed from side to side, your hands leaving the safety of his shoulders to slip up, holding the sides of his neck, the heat of his skin scalding your palms and he nodded, pupils blown wide and lips parted as he stared down at you in amazement, like he was seeing you for the very first time.
Like he was seeing you for the first time after a very long time apart.
“Good,” he told you softly, like he was still teaching you, like this was still professional. Like he hadn’t put his hand on your lower back and obliterated whatever wall someone else had built between you. Something that had once seemed so strong was knocked down so easily, like not even a god could keep it between you. “Good. Like that, just like that—”
He swore when you moved closer, emboldened by his pretty eyes and the way his gaze tracked down your chest, down your bare stomach. His fingers flexed on your hips, blunt nails tattooing your skin and you hoped the marks would stay there, you hoped they’d be there tomorrow so you could remember that this wasn’t a dream.
His leg found its way between yours, the song finally slowing to the last few drumbeats and you knew this was the time where you were supposed to spin in Steve’s arms and raise your hand in a grand finish. But Steve tucked your hips close to his instead and let his thigh push into the seam of your denim shorts.
The song that came on next was slower, lazier, languid.
The singer had a deeper voice, the drums rolling with a dirtier beat and this wasn’t the mambo, this wasn’t a salsa and it certainly wasn’t anything you’d do in a ballroom never mind on stage in front of others. You’d seen this kind of dancing once before, the night after you first arrived at Bauman’s. You hadn’t meant it, but a walk along the lake after the sun had set had led you to a larger cabin at the back of the resort, where the lights were on and the music was loud.
Music like this.
A guy at the door with long curls and an unlit cigarette hanging from his lips had appraised you, one eyebrow lifted at your little white summer dress and tennis shoes.
“You work here?” He’d asked and you had shaken your head, ready to walk back the way you came. “You a snitch?” He asked after a pause.
Again, you shook your head ‘no’ and listened as the music inside got louder. The man, who you were sure you’d seen on stage during dinner, playing the guitar for the dining guests, just shrugged. He’d nodded to a stack of beer crates at the side of the building.
“Grab a case and keep your mouth shut, alright?” He’d opened the door for you, the music louder than ever, the smell of smoke and weed and sweat pouring out. You remember how’d he grinned at you as you took in the sight. “Have fun, princess.”
It’s where you’d seen Steve for the second time, in the middle of a makeshift dance floor with the bow tie and dinner jacket he’d worn during his evening performance long gone. Moving with a girl with his shirt buttons open, his hair a mess, grinding and manhandling her in a way you weren’t sure you would even call dancing. Everyone was doing the same, hips gyrating, skirts too short, men’s chests bare, the smiles meeting in an almost kiss.
It was nothing short of scandalous.
You’d left, dumping the beer on a table beside a watermelon that almost rolled to the ground in your panic, turning from the crowd and walking out the way you’d came. The curly haired man had snorted at the sight of your wide eyes, calling out a goodbye between laughs.
And here you were, not even two weeks later, doing the same, if not worse. Why worse? You and Steve were alone.
Thunder cracked again, louder than before.
It didn’t feel wrong to be doing this. In fact, for as much trouble as you’d be in if your father had had to catch you, everything about it felt right, like you’d done it before, like this man was yours to touch. But something that felt like danger lingered in the air, a threat far more serious than your dad or Mr Bauman.
But still, you let your body move with Steve’s, a slow grind of your hips into his and when your hand found the nape of his neck and your fingers twisted into his hair, Steve’s palm cupped your ass, pulling you into him, making you feel how affected he was.
It should’ve scared you. How this man was touching you, this person you barely knew, alone in a cabin and who you were so sure had hated you only a mere ten minutes before. But Steve looked as gone as you felt, eyes filled with longing, a passion that was visible, his brows knitted together as he stared down at you hungrily, lovingly, adoringly.
It was almost too much to bear. So you let your head fall back, body slack as you kept dancing, trusting the man to keep you upright and against his own chest and you heard Steve let out a breath at the sight of your exposed neck, the long line of it offered to him like a sacrifice.
“That’s it,” you heard him murmur. “You feel the beat now?” His words fell on your throat, your bare skin, the top of his nose drawing a line from the base of it to your jaw, his mouth following and you were so sure he wasn’t talking about the music anymore.
But you nodded, clinging to him when he dipped you backwards, his hands holding you like you were precious, like you were made of marble and gold and suddenly you felt like Steve could’ve been. Like someone had taken a piece of the earth and grown this man from it, just for you. Like he had something ancient in his bones, like whatever he was made of you, you were created from the same thing too.
When he pulled you back up, effortless and graceful, you were closer than before, impossibly so. Chests meeting in the middle as you both panted into each other's parted lips, noses meeting and foreheads touching. Steve’s hands were curled around your waist, fingers splayed across your naked back as if he couldn’t bear not to touch every part of you. Your hand was on his neck, your fingers brushing over two moles on his tanned skin, the ones you’d watched Nancy touch before you.
But as you pressed your fingertips to them, your lips buzzed and Steve let out a sigh, like you’d unravelled a knot in his spine, like you’d found a magic button that fixed him. Like you’d touched a place that you’d once touched before.
“You’ve never touched me before,” you whispered, voice cracking on each syllable because it suddenly was too much.
Steve looked pained, lashes fluttering as his gaze dropped to your lips and he struggled to find the right words to give you. “I— I shouldn’t be doing it now,” he murmured. “I’m not allowed.”
“Why? Because of your boss? My dad?”
He grinned, a smirk that faltered too quickly and he shook his head, still not moving from you, his nose nudging yours as he struggled to keep himself from shifting closer still. “You’d think that should’ve been enough to keep me away.” Steve licked his lips and you tracked the movement, so sure that he’d taste like summer and salt and the peach tea from the diner. “Not even the threat of losing my damn job and house can keep me away from you.”
His words had an effect on you, breath hitching, chest aching. “Then who said you’re not allowed?”
The song was still going, a lazy beat that was easy to sway to, Steve’s leg still wedged between your thighs and his hands were wandering, sensual and slow, a whole other kind of dance over your skin. Fingers gripped at your waist before one hand trailed down your hip, over your bare thigh, ghosting over the line of your torn off shorts. He brought your thigh to his hip, hitching your leg high, pressing you both together until you could feel him all, until he could feel all of you.
Laid bare enough for you to feel like he could take the very soul of you from your body.
You found that you didn’t mind the idea of it at all.
“You’ll laugh at me,” Steve murmured but he didn’t sound embarrassed at all, like he didn’t actually believe that you would.
You shook your head, nose brushing against the tip of his and if you moved another inch, just one, you could’ve been kissing him, mouth slotting against his. “I won’t,” you promised.
“I started having dreams when you came,” Steve told you. “Dreams where it always rained and the sky was always dark. And there was a man there, a thing, maybe. But he felt ancient, older than the fucking world and he told me to stay away, to keep away from you.”
You didn’t laugh. No. No, in fact, you didn’t say a damn thing.
Steve laughed, breathless and without any humour, and his hand trailed back up your thigh as your leg dropped slowly to the floor. He spun you both, lazy and languid, but the world around you both still blurred. The cabin faded away, a mix of the low lights and the colours of his quilt on the bed.
You could barely hear the storm, but god, it was the loudest it had been.
“I want to do ungodly things with you,” Steve confessed and he sounded pained, his throat tight with the same kind of emotion you felt, like you were both sharing the same heart. “I want to do ungodly things to you.”
“Steve--”
“I know it sounds crazy, but there’s somethin’-- somethin’ in the sky or in the goddamn cracks of the earth that’s telling me I shouldn’t.” His bottom lip grazed your top one, an almost kiss, a whisper of one, a mere idea of it. Hardly a touch. “That something real bad will happen if we do.”
You couldn’t explain it, just like you couldn’t explain your sudden proximity to the man, the achingly familiar closeness you felt. But you knew, somehow, some way, Steve was right.
Tears stung your eyes, a fiery nip that you tried to blink away and when the music slowed to a stop and the next song began, Steve kept moving, your body melted to his, no space between either of you to be able to determine where you ended and he began.
Your voice cracked when you spoke. “What should we do?”
Steve took a breath before he answered, one hand coming up to push against your hairline, his palm coasting down your cheek, holding you, cherishing you. His touch was hot with adoration.
“We can keep dancing.”
#steve harrington#steve harrington x reader#steve harrington x you#steve harrington x y/n#steve harrington fic#steve harrington fluff#steve harrington imagine#steve harrington fanfic#steve harrington fanfiction#steve harrington oneshot
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stupid thought popped into my head, imagine Percy and annabeth just taking turns flustering reader, just casually brushing their hands against you on and off or whispering dirty thoughts into your ear. Is this cringy😭
is this cringy? maybe. but I don't care
you choke on your breakfast as the filthy words feel your ears.
"are you ok, doll?" Annabeth asks from across the table. her voice is still sleepy causing a silky Virgina accent a lot like her father's that never seemed to linger very often. you squirm at the sound, flushed as the arm holding you still squeeze tighter.
'do you think she'd notice if touched you under the table? '
Surely she would. Annabeth had a few faults and the lack of perception was not one. Percy smiles softly and shoves a bit of pancake into his mouth. Content with himself. You glance at him and he makes eye contact as if to say 'go on. tell her. '
"well? are you ok, doll." the name is both familiar and foreign from Percy. it's usually used in a joking manner to mock Annabeth more than anything. but the way it rolls of his tongue is frustratingly attractive when it's used to mock you.
" 'm ok. just sleepy." you lie as Percy's hand squeezes your thigh.
Annabeth looks between the two of you suspiciously. but doesn't say anything beyond that. she wasn't a talkative morning person... or a morning person at all. the rest of breakfast is uneventful in your tiny apartment besides the growing flushed feeling in your cheeks everytime a large rough hand runs against your skin.
it had been your turn to do the dishes and you awaited the excuse to flee from the grip of your boyfriend for a moment to catch your breath. however the feeling of rough hands was quickly replaced by cool slender fingers brushing against your stomach as Annabeth pressed her face into your neck from behind. the sound of running water faded into the background as the pounding of your heart reaches your ears. her chest was pressed against your back reminding you that despite her baggie attire (a shirt stolen from Percy) she was not flat. "hi flower..."
"h-hi Annie" you stammer as her hands fold under the fabric of your shirt.
"what is Percy up to with you today?" she poses it as a polite and innocent question, but you know it's anything but.
"I dunno," you huff as her hands brush up closer to your chest. "I swear."
"you swear?"
"swear." you almost whine when her hand pulls out of your shirt leaving your body feeling like you had a fever.
you turn and look pathetically at her with a grumpy expression. Annabeth smiles and kisses your pouting lips.
"well I need to know." she says as she pulls apart. you grumble and grab a fist full of her shirt pulling her back in. you'd be damned if they both left you this way. your lips met hers in a heated frenzy and you push your hips closer to hers in an attempt to seek friction she couldn't provide (at least not standing up right) her hands settle on your hips giving you a warning squeeze to slow yourself, her nails dig slightly into your skin and you feel a tingle up your arm and you pull back. she opens her mouth and you think for sure it's that shes going to tell you you should head back to her room. she leans in again just enough that her lips are almost touching but when you go to greedily close the gap she pulls back.
"if you don't finish the dishes we'll miss our movie."
the movie in question had what's been one of your favorites but now it felt like sitting through hell. it was a showing on cable TV so you couldn't pause or fast forward or reply but you couldn't focus on any of the parts that you knew where your favorites with one hand brushing over your core through your shorts every few minutes and the constant feeling of small kisses pressed into your shoulder where Annabeth rested her head. you can feel your hand flexing in terrible anticipation and frustration growing in your stomach until it pops. "JESUS WILL ONE OF YOU PLEASE JUST FUCK ME."
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Fish of the Day
Today's fish of the day is the candy darter!
The candy darter, known by scientific name Etheostoma osburni, is an endangered fish endemic to the East coast of America. Living in the Kanawha River, which is a tributary of the Ohio river, and flows through the Appalachian mountains, winding through Virgina, with a majority in West Virginia. Identifiable from the lookalikes likely to be found in the same general areas by the distinct saddles in front of the dorsal fin, and by the number of blue and orange bars on the fish. Despite the wonderfully bright color of the males, there is a significant case of sexual dimorphism, with the females of this species bearing the same marking but in a much cooler olive color.
Described in 1932, these fish are a rare find in freshwater areas of North America, being described as "[possibly] the most vivid freshwater fish in North America"- by A Field Guide to Freshwater Fishes, Page and Burr 1991. These fish used to have a historic range across 37 known sites, but can now be found in only 10, being impacted greatly by human interference. The biggest issue these fish face is the introduction of a second species of darter, the variegate darter (Etheostoma variatum) which is thought to have been introduced into the area by bait bucket dumping into streams. These fish are able to hybridize, and offspring are closer to variegate darter, than their cander darter parents, overtime wiping out candy darters from their natural habitats. Habitat loss is also a worry for these fish, as they rely on pure and unsalted waters and clean gravel to lay eggs on. But, hope remains for the fate of these fish. Conservation efforts for candy darters are well underway, and the ability to save these species is still very possible.
Candy darters can get as large as 4 inches, and have a lifespan of 3 years. Only hitting sexual maturity at about year 2. Their spawning season is April-May and is in a preferred temperature of 15-18 degrees C. Females during this season are bound to the river bottom as they brood hide, choosing only to lay eggs on fine pebbles and gravel. This is why excess sediment in rivers like this is such a huge concern for this species. During this breeding season male candy darters become aggressive and infight for the ability to fertilize eggs, leaving only the largest and most successful males the ability to pass their genes forward
During their lifespan the diet of the candy darter consists of macro-invertebrates. Mostly flies, caddisflies, mayflies, and larvae that they can get their hands on. Later in their life, they will be eaten by larger fish primarily. Along with these, these fish are known for their ability to help the reproduction of freshwater mussel species. This helps keeps river clear
Have a wonderful day, everyone!
#fish#fishblr#freshwater fish#fish of the day#candy darter#darter#Etheostoma osburni#Etheostoma#virginia#river#marine biology#sea creatures#marine animals#freshwater#biology#science
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hi It's the first time I have a request so I'll ask for the best
I was thinking about Aaron hotchner x BAU wife reader where the reader is pregnant and since she is in her last weeks of pregnancy she can't fly on a plane so she stays in Quantico Virgina helping Penelope and the team go to a case (the city of your choice) and reader's water breaks just at the FBI offices keeping Penelope company and helping in whatever way she could , then Penelope takes her to the hospital and while there she calls Hotch to tell him that Mini Hotchner is on the way, reader talks to Aaron telling him not to worry and that she will be fine saying something like "this baby won't be born until his daddy is holding my hand" then he is super distracted in the case and wants to catch the unsub to get his wife, Rossi tries to get him to go to Virgina but Aaron knows that they need him and García being in the hospital with reader sends messages to Aaron telling him how everything is going, and for Aaron's good luck they manage to catch the unsub and immediately return to Virgina and he manages to get to the hospital when reader still does not enter in labor and a few hours later Aaron and reader they welcome their baby boy introducing him to Jack and the team as "Eli Hotchner"
hi! this is on my pinned post:
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Pretty Little Letter’s
Dbf Negan Smith x Fem Reader
Synopsis - After finishing college you decide to on a gap year to take a breather after many years of hard work. Setting out to travel the country, you promise to write to your dad every week, what happens when his best friend Negan makes you promise to write to him too.
Warnings- No apocalypse AU, dads best friend, large age gap, feelings, love confessions, adventures, reader travelling, reader described as female, mentions of cheating, Negan is the one cheated on in this fic by ex wife, struggles with feelings, I took the John Winchester idea and made Negan a mechanic, obviously not canon at all, vague mentions of sex, but no actual smut in this chapter. There will be in later chapters though so 18+ only please.
Let me know if I’ve left anything out
Word count - 6.6K (sorry it’s a long one)
This is part one of two chapters in this mini series.
_______________________________________
Tomorrow was the day, the day you’ve been waiting for, the day you were leaving for an adventure. After 4 years of hard work and dedication, you had graduated Yale University with honours. You’d surpassed anything you felt you could accomplish, with the amazing support of your dad, who had raised you single-handedly. He has supported you throughout your life from scrapped knees and boo boos as a child, to finishing school with the grades you needed to get into Yale.
It was a dream you’d always had, even as a child. You’d pinned up pictures of the college on your wall, telling your dad ‘one day I’ll be here!’ When you received the letter you’d ripped it open with such ferocity, your dad was sure you’d shred your hands. Only to crumple to the floor in floods of tears, walking towards you he settles next to you pulling you in for a big hug, “Hey don’t worry baby girl, it’s not the end of the world we still have other letters coming, other options. No matter what I’m soo proud of you my darling girl” he cooed. You shook your head no, trying to steady your breath “No d…..ad” you stuttered “We did it, I got in, I did it dad! I got in” you continued through staggered breaths, he reached over and pulled it from your grasp reading the words carefully, his hand clamped over his mouth in shock. He started crying too, pulling you in tighter, letting his tears fall freely.
Being the amazing father he was, hours later he was on the phone with his oldest and closest friend Negan, explaining you’d got in, you’d done it, and if Negan could look for a house up there for you both, Negan lived in a small town in Connecticut not too far from Yale. He’d instantly agreed, finding you a lovely 3 bedroom home only a street away from himself. Your dad had been there behind you every step of your life, and he wasn’t about to let this one be any different.
So you packed up your life, making the lengthy trip from Virgina to Connecticut.
The experience has been amazing, you’ve loved every second of college. You came home every night excitedly animating your days to your dad, and many days to Negan too. He would be over often for dinners, you guys also going over his frequently too, the three of you spent many evenings together BBQs, football games, board game nights, you name it. You’d spent a lot of the last 4 years with Negan, he was a great friend to your dad. They’d kept in contact when he had moved from Virgina with his wife, because she wanted to be able to commute to New York easily. She took to the big corporate job like a fish to water, but she began coming home to Negan less and less, giving excuses about early starts and having to stay in some fancy hotel. Unfortunately one day when he made a trip to the city to surprise her, he’d found her rolling around the bed with her boss.
He called later that day to tell your dad what happened, your dad being the great person he is dropped everything and came up here to be with him, leaving you with your grandma for a few weeks.
After a lengthy divorce he’d stuck it out in the sleepy town, deciding he didn’t want to upheave his life once again. You hadn’t known Negan too well then, your dad called him often and you knew his voice, that deep rumbling voice, from their calls. You’d even answered the phone to him a few times, making polite small talk until your dad could take over. But he’d moved to Connecticut when you were only 2 years old, so you’d never really gotten to know him.
That all changed when you moved to start Yale, and you’d be lying if you hadn’t developed an enormous crush on the older man. Gods was he beautiful, he was funny sometimes making you actually cry from laughter. He was kind, loyal, owned his own mechanics garage, he was an all round great guy, and you had no idea why no one had snapped him up yet. Though secretly you were thankful no one had, because the mere thought stirred an ugly pit of jealousy in your stomach.
But tonight things were perfect, you were having a farewell dinner with the two men in your life, sat around the coffee table on your living room floor, eating pizza, heads thrown back in laughter as you whoop your dads ass at monopoly.
“Oh come on y/n not another hotel” your dad pleads playfully.
“I’m afraid so dad, told you the light blue were worth buying, the houses are cheap to buy, I can get as many as I want” you goad in giggles.
“She has you there man! I’d add another to Euston Road if I were you sweetheart! Finish him off” Negan jests.
“Don’t encourage her!” Your dad grumbles, causing you and Negan to roll in laughter even more.
“You know what I think I will” you reply adding another hotel.
Your dad takes his next roll landing on one of your hotel properties,
“Oh shit man! That’s you done isn’t it” Negan teases. Your dad stands then playfully tips the board over, making you gasp in mock shock before falling into giggles once again, in the moment you end up leaning your head against Negan’s shoulder.
“Right that’s it I’m done with this silly game, who wants another beer” your dad laughs.
“Me” you say, Negan nodding in unison his breath slightly shaken from your head still leaning against his shoulder, like it belongs there which in his mind it does. Man he’s dreading you leaving for a year, every time he thinks about it, there’s a constricting feeling in his heart. He brings his arm around you pulling you closer for a second, taking a moment to bask in your warmth. He gives you a quick squeeze, before moving to start packing away the game.
You watch him with a warm smile on your face, my goodness were you going to miss him. But you needed this, you needed to stand on your own two feet and experience some living. You also needed to get over this silly crush, he was 20 years older than you for Christ sake, he probably looked at you like a niece. He definitely wouldn’t return your affections, so you should go and clear your head. See some of the world, meet people and have experiences.
They always say you discover yourself while travelling alone.
You wanted to see if that was true.
But leaving these two behind would be hard, even if it wasn’t forever a year was still a long time. “So sweetheart your really leaving us tomorrow?” Negan asks, “Yup! Just like Bilbo Baggins I’m off on an adventure” you giggle, trying to make light it it, when in fact your heart is sinking at the thought. “Not gonna be the same without you here darlin’” he affirms, there’s a smile on his face but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes, and those beautiful dimples aren’t showing. For a second you wonder if he returns your feelings, but that wouldn’t make any sense so you push the idea out of your mind.
Your dad arrives back 3 beers in his hands, “I can’t believe my baby girl is going out into the world tomorrow, you promise to write to me every week yeah??” Your dad asks. “You know I can just text you? And call you right?” You answer, “Yeah you can call too, but I want hand written letters to have a part of you still coming home every week” he replies voice sounding emotional, this was a big step for him you had never been away from your dad before. Getting up you give him a big hug, “Ok dad I’ll write to you every week and I’ll send you postcards, so you can see where I’ve been!” You promise. “Yeah that sounds great baby girl” he affirms.
After your dad passes out snoring on the couch, you clean up the pizza boxes with Negan. While you’ve moved on to clearing up the kitchen he stands in the doorway watching you, “You know sweet cheeks, I’d love for some of those hand written letters too” he expresses. Looking up at him in shock, you ask “Really?”, “Yeah I want to hear everything your doing, plus it would be nice to have a part of you here with me too, like I said sweetheart it won’t be the same here without ya” he replies stepping closer, gently brushing a hair out of your face, hazel eyes bearing into you. “Ok Negan I’ll write to you too”, “Good” he sighs, leaning in he kisses your head wrapping his arms around you in a tight hug. “Gonna miss ya kid”, “Yeah I’ll miss you too” you reply.
Letting him out the door you say your goodbyes, before tucking a blanket over your dad.
This was going to be hard……
_______________________________________
You’ve been travelling a week now, slowly making your way down south to Florida. You made sure to stop for a few nights at your grandmas, you loved spending time with her, just like your dad she was a sweet soul, and you’d really enjoyed some long chats and a homemade meal.
The last morning of your stay you popped by taking a look at the house you grew up in, you always wondered if your mother had ever stopped by to see you. Missing you because you’d moved away, would she be proud that you’d made it to Yale, probably not. She’s never cared enough to call, she upped and left the day after you were born. Just left you in the hospital, for your dad to find when he came back in after some rest at home. Leaving your dad to step into both parents roles, which he took on without complaint bringing you up in a home full of love and laughter, you were beyond blessed to have been given him as your dad.
With that you tucked those thoughts away, your dad and grandma love you, are proud of you and support you. You didn’t need anyone else, well except maybe Negan.
By the end of your first week you’d made it to the Croatan National Forest, in North Carolina. You decided to stop here and see the sights, maybe do some hiking, some swimming on the coast. You found a cute little beach rental you booked for a few nights, it looked out to the river which joined the ocean. It was peaceful here, kids had all gone back to school and the soft autumn breeze was setting a chill in the air. So the beach was practically empty, with the exception of a few dog walkers.
Dark skies started settling in, greys and blacks filling the vast space, the clouds looked as if they were rolling towards you. A storm was coming which emitted some excitement in you, to sit there and watch them was one of your most favourite things to do, especially if the lightning was close and you could see it crack across the sky.
Settling in the bay of the bedroom window, you looked out at the water, pulling out your notebook you got to writing your dad his first letter. Folding it up you sealed in in an envelope, adding your home address and a stamp. Then you began to write Negan’s,
Dear Negan,
I’ve made it to North Carolina, to the Croatan National Forest. I’m staying in a really cute little beach house, which was cheap due to the holidays being over. I’m currently sat watching a storm roll in, windows open enjoying the breeze.
I stopped to see Grandma on the way down, she sends her love to Dad and you. She still hasn’t changed bless her, I also stopped by my old neighbourhood to see the house. I didn't feel as sad seeing it as I thought I would. I think that’s because you’ve made our lives so much more incredible. I miss you both it’s odd being without Dad for the first time, but it’s also strange being without you too now. You’ve ingrained yourself into my life now and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I think I’ll take a swim tomorrow if the weather allows it, I may even swim in the rain if I can. So there you go, you can picture me dancing under the storm.
Yours truly
Y/N
Xx
You sealed the letter, writing his address and placing another stamp. Maybe you poured a bit of how you feel about him in there but it felt good to let some of it out, like it was healing a small part of you.
You ran down to the post box before the rain hit, dropping the letters in and running back to your temporary home. Closing the door just as the torrential downpour started. “Phew that was close” you giggle. That evening you sat in your window watching the storm, the bright lightning cracked above illuminating the beach. Rain pouring and winds blowing, while you stayed cozy eating your soup admiring natures fierce show.
When morning came around it was still raining, though the storm had passed. You threw on your bathing suit and braved the weather, running into the water with a loud gasp as the cool liquid surrounded you. You laid back watching the rain fall from the sky, in that moment you’d never felt so free.
_______________________________________
Back home Negan received his letter a few days later, he’d been checking his post box every single day, like a man deranged. ‘Finally’ he thought tearing open the envelope before he even made in back inside. Sitting down at his dining room table he read your words, smile adorning his features, dimples pulling deep. ‘Ingrained himself into your life, and you wouldn’t change it for the world’ for the first time he allowed himself to hope, that just maybe you returned his feelings.
Was this your way of telling him so? He didn’t know but he needed to find out, he’d have to play this safe though, edge it out of you slowly, god only knows what would happen if he assumed wrong, you’d tell your Dad no doubt, he’d loose you and his best friend in one go, he couldn’t risk that.
Pulling out his phone he sent you a message,
‘Hey sweetheart,
Thank you for my little letter, I hope you had fun swimming and dancing in the storm, though I also hope you stayed safe.
You’ve also ingrained yourself into my life angel face, came into it like a spitfire but I wouldn’t have it any other way either. Enjoy your next week, just make sure you stay safe.
Negan
Xxx
He sent the text, and waited under baited breath for a response. He almost jumped out of his chair when his phone pinged.
Hi Negan
Your welcome, I can assure you I am staying safe, I’m checking my oil and water levels too, as promised. Car is running smooth still :)
‘Spitfire’? I wouldn’t say that! But I’m glad you wouldn’t have it any other way because your stuck with me now.
I’ll send you your next letter same time this week, till then ……
Y/N
Xxx
He smiles to himself once more, you most certainly are a spitfire. But you’re also the best thing to ever come into his life, he hopes one day he’ll be able to tell you so.
_______________________________________
End of your second week, it’s rushed by so fast and you can’t believe your already in Jacksonville Florida. Today your sat on the beach it’s much warmer here, no sign of any autumn breeze and the sunny weather bringing many people to the beach. Your currently writing to your dad again while listening to the soft waves crashing onto the shore. Finishing his letter you once again start writing one to Negan,
Dear Negan,
What a week I’ve had! Can you believe I’m already in Florida? Today I’m sat on Jacksonville beach watching the waves crashing. It’s much busier here and much warmer, apparently there’s a swell coming in tomorrow so I may try surfing. I’ll be sure to send you both some hilarious pictures, of me falling on my face.
I’m staying two nights here in a hotel overlooking the beach, the buildings here on the coast are like mini skyscrapers. I think they may be too tall, it ruins the feel of the place. My next move may be Orlando Disney, I’ve always wanted to go! May even get made into a Disney princess! Because hey you only live once, which one should I go for?
I’m starting to really miss you both, how’s my dad coping? I hope my boys are looking after each other,
Well I’m going to go find somewhere for dinner, speak soon.
Y/N
Xxx
Getting up you brush the gritty sand off your legs, setting out on a mission to find somewhere to post these letters. After exploring a few busy streets, you see it, Bingo! You spot the blue metal of the US postal boxes, slotting in your letters before finding a diner to eat dinner in.
Back home 48 hours later Negan received your second letter, “my boys” he reads, the thought of being yours makes his cheeks flush, and his heart quicken. He feels like a teenage boy again at 52 years old, he’d be yours in a heartbeat if you’d ask him. But he knows it’s out of the question, your his best friends kid, and what would you want with an old man? Your so beautiful and he doesn’t feel he’s got much to offer you at this point of his life. Even so he will allow himself to enjoy these letters, living in a little daydream for a while.
After pacing his kitchen for a good ten minutes he decides he has to talk to you, the words “my boys” still swirling around his head. Giving in and pulling out his phone he sends you a text,
Hey sweetheart
I remember Jacksonville well, I visited about 15 years ago now. I went to a work conference there. Your right the buildings are too tall beside the ocean, definitely not one of my favourite beaches.
Surfing? How did that turn out I’m still waiting on this photo.
“Your boys hey” I like the sound of that darlin. But yeah I’m making sure your dad cooks for himself, and I fixed his lawn mower for him, so your gardens looking a lot better now!
Make sure you continue to stay safe sweetheart, I hope you enjoy Disney, but you don’t need to dress up to be a princess you’ve always been one.
Negan
Xx
Ping
His heart is beating rapidly in his chest as he opens your reply,
Hey Negan
Actually I did ok surfing, I managed to stand up and everything lol
Xx
Ping
He opens the slightly blurry image of you standing up on a large longboard, big smile on your face. You look so beautiful and so happy.
Ping
So as you can see, not a complete disaster! I went to Disney world yesterday, it was great fun but all in all too many people about. I’ve set off west now aiming in a general direction of New Orleans, as I’ve always wanted to go. I think it may take a week or two to get there though!
And don’t worry I will be careful I promise. You’ll always be my boys
Y/n
Xxx
He smiles to himself you were going to be the death of him, he was sure of it.
Ok sweetheart
Look at you! You’re a natural! Well I’ll wait with bated breath until your next letter, I think you should send two a week I Think one a week is just too long to wait for sweet cheeks.
Negan
Xx
Ping
Ok Negan
Two it is, I’m off to bed now
Night
Y/N
Xx
He grins, two letters a week, he feels all important now. He wonders if your dad will also get two letters a week? Or if he really is special enough to be the only one.
_______________________________________
A few weeks pass in a blur, you keep your promise to Negan and write to him twice a week. Not only that you both text constantly and have started video calling frequently too. Your currently walking through the vibrant streets of New Orleans with your phone in hand, on video call to Negan as you show him the current festivities happening. “Look at the colours Negan! I’ve never seen anywhere so bright and colourful, and the musics been incredible.” You ramble off excitedly, “Yeah I can see that sweetheart, I wish I was with you right now it looks incredible” he replies.
“I wish you were with me too, it’s amazing! I’ll have to bring dad here at some point.” You gush,
“Yeah maybe we should all plan a trip” he replies and you nod along, “Yeah that sounds good!”
“So where are you off too next?” Negan asks, “Well I’ve booked to stay two weeks on this women only ranch just outside Austen Texas, so I’m going to enjoy a slower pace for a couple of weeks, I’ll get to go riding everyday and read books in the sun” you answered, “That sounds like a good plan sweetheart, you haven’t slowed down in weeks.” Negan hums, truth be told you were looking forward to slowing down for a bit, it’s been a full on couple of months, and as much as you’ve enjoyed it you’ve burnt yourself out a little.
Back at your hotel room you and Negan chat over video call for hours, you admire him as he throws his head back in laughter, while laying back on his couch. You're sat cross legged on your bed, window open so you can see and hear the ongoing festivities outside, the cheerful jazz music floating around your room.
“I can’t believe I’ve been away two months now, it’s gone so fast”, it hasn’t felt fast to Negan, it’s felt like every hour has dragged on without you home. Nights with your dad are much quieter, and your presence is constantly missed. “Yeah sweetheart” he agrees half heartedly, and you sense the change in his tone. “Everything ok?” You ask, voice laced with concern. “Of course darlin we just miss you is all” Negan admits.
“I miss you too you know, life on my own has definitely been quiet. It’s why I enjoy these video calls so much, it almost feels like your here, like it’s a normal Friday night Just without the beers and pizza” you laugh.
His heart warms at your confession, slowly over these weeks he’s noticed little things. The way you look at him, or the way your face lights up when you answer his calls, your letters have become sweeter too. He allows himself to truly hope, that maybe you return his feelings. He’s in half a mind to jump in the car and meet you on your travels, take you into his arms and lay it all out, tell you how he feels and hope you say you feel them too. But his mind always falls back to your Dad, his best friend of nearly 30 years. How would he take it, would he ever talk to him again? Would he forbid him ever seeing you again? It’s these thoughts that stop him ever taking anything further than flirty remarks, and terms of endearment, but god does he wish he could just take you in his arms, feel your skin against his own as he spends all night worshiping your body like the goddess you are.
“Negan…..Negan are you with me” your voice cuts through his daydreaming, “Yeah sorry sweetheart, must be getting tired it’s past this old man’s bedtime” he teases. You huff out a small giggle “You’re not old Negan” you reply. “I’m 52 darlin, I’m nearly at the end of middle aged” Negan groans, you shake your head in disagree “Nope I don’t agree”, “Well I’ll take that” Negan laughs, “We should get some sleep though, it’s like 1am! Night Negan”
“Night Beautiful”
As the call ends you sit there shocked, that’s new, he just called you beautiful! He’s never used that pet name before, usually it’s darlin or sweetheart. Butterflies erupt in your stomach and you can’t help the smile that tugs at your lips. You fall asleep that night with the smile never leaving, listening to the distant hum of jazz.
_______________________________________
The ranch is beautiful, picturesque like a postcard. You feel like you’ve stepped into some country and western film, you’re currently sat under a large tree watching the horses gallop about the pens. There’s a few other women staying at the ranch with you, and you’ve enjoyed getting to know them. One is a lot older than the rest of you, her name’s Frances, she’s been cooking for you all and mothering everyone.
It’s been nice, you weren’t used to a motherly woman being in your life. You’ve told her so too, told her about your life and that your dad raised you alone. She’s been a great listener, she brought up her two sons and how she couldn’t understand a mother ever leaving her children, she could never. When she asked if there was anyone special in your life, you’d bitten your lip and done your best to redirect the conversation. After much convincing you’d told her there was a man who held your affections, but he was much older than you. So it wasn’t an easy situation, but she’d told you there’s no age restrictions on love, so long as both parties involved were adults and felt the same.
It lead you to hope, that maybe you and Negan could maybe one day be something. You were starting to also hope that maybe he felt the same way you did, he had called you beautiful after all.
Taking out a pen and paper you began writing your letter’s.
Dear Negan
This ranch is beautiful, even in the sweltering heat it’s like something out of an old movie, there’s other women here too so it’s been nice to get to know them and make some friends.
I’m currently watching this black horse run through the field, he’s almost ethereal the way he moves. He looks so free, no worries in the world, and I fell like I’m witnessing his wildest joys and deepest secrets.
There’s a lovely lady here called Frances, she’s been like the mother hen to everyone. I’ve had many chats with her, especially about mum. She couldn’t understand how she just left me, said she never could leave her children. I do wonder if she ever thinks about me at all? Maybe she does, or maybe she just moved on with her life and never looked back.
I talked about you too, how important you are in my life too. I’ve been thinking a lot recently. Anyways I’ll send another letter soon.
With Love
Y/N
Xxx
After sealing the letter you wondered if you should send it, had you made things too obvious? Maybe you needed too to see if there was something there? With a deep breath you dropped it in the postal box, placing it to the back of your mind for now, before joining the rest of the girls for the activities for the day.
_______________________________________
Just two days later Negan received your letter, reading the words he felt incredibly sad. You were hurting he could tell, he doesn’t understand how your mother left you either, she’d never know how incredible the girl she brought into the world turned out to be.
Because you were, you’re incredible. So kind, loyal, brave with a determination he’s never witnessed before, and you were so beautiful beyond compare. So yeah she was the one who had missed out, missed watching that baby girl become the most amazing woman. Something himself and your Dad had never taken for granted, even only really getting to know you these last four years, he’s seen you change and thrive becoming the amazing person you are today.
He’s glad you’re making friends along the way though, he was worried you were starting to get a bit lonely being alone for so long. Still the thought of coming to the ranch himself and holding you in his arms was so compelling right now, you were sad and he felt such a great need to make you smile, or hold you as you cried. You deserve the world, he hopes he can show you that someday.
His heart lurches at the thought of you talking about him, and thinking about him? Thinking how? Is that a confession? Or just you missing home? He would call you later, see what he can coax out of you.
You were sat on the porch watching the sunset, the sunsets down south were the most beautiful you’d ever seen, the oranges and yellows shine over the whole landscape, painting the buildings and your skin in a warm orange glow. As you were admiring the skies your phone started buzzing, removing it from your jeans pocket you smile seeing Negan's name flash up.
“Hey Negan, how are you? Sorry it’s been a little while since we’ve called, I’ve noticed only certain areas get signal” you explain as you answer the video call.
Smiling at you “That’s ok sweetheart, I understand, you’re out in the sticks no one gets phone signal there. How are you doing darlin? I got your letter today and I thought I’d call you”
“Yeah I’m ok, I felt sad for a little while thinking about mum, but I’ve realised how lucky I am to have the people I do in my life. I have people who love me and some people don’t have that.” You admit.
“It’s ok to feel sad though sweetheart, what she did to you wasn’t right and it’s ok to be hurt by that, but yeah you are loved, sometimes I don’t think you know how much your loved sweet girl, your dad, your grandma, myself, we adore you, you’re not alone not ever and I hope you know that.” Negan assures.
Tears well up in your eyes, you swallow a large gulp before answering him “Thanks Negan I needed to hear that” you admit.
“Anytime baby girl”
A small creak behind alerts you of someone’s presence, “Sorry love I just came to tell you dinners ready, if you’d like to join us” Frances explains.
“Oh yeah please, I’ll just be a moment” you answer, she nods walking back into the barn.
“Well it looks like I have dinner to attend” you laugh, “Ok beautiful, enjoy your dinner I’ll speak to you soon” “Yeah speak soon” you smile, hanging up the phone you stand up and dust yourself off before heading inside.
Frances meets you at the doors with a knowing smile, “Was that him?” She asks, blushing you look downwards, “Yeah that’s him” you admit. She nods before saying “Marry that man girl, if he looks at you like that, and speaks to you like that, you’d be a fool not too”. You gasp “How much did you hear?” She gives a gentle laugh, “Enough. Now come on in and eat” she guides you inside, but your whole stomachs fluttering now, and you don’t know how much you will actually be able to eat.
_______________________________________
It was the morning you were leaving the ranch, you felt sad to be going. It had been such a positive experience being here with these women, you’d made some friends and you have exchanged numbers with Frances, who would love to stay in contact. Hugging everyone goodbye you waved your last farewell as you entered your car, today you’d be starting your trip to Los Angeles. Although you didn’t think you’d want to visit Hollywood, you had mapped out some lovely vineyards and beaches.
Starting the engine you made your way off the ranch and onto your next adventure. Driving down the highway you turned you music up, opening the windows letting the wind whip at your hair, singing along to your favourite song. Determined to enjoy every aspect of your road-trip, including the tedious highways.
You made it as far as the Texas/ New Mexico boarder before pulling into a motel for the night. Once you were settled in your room you pulled your phone out and called your dad, “Hey baby girl! Long time no speak, where have you been! Only one letter in two weeks and no phone calls! I’ve been worried!” Your dad stresses.
“I’m so sorry Dad the ranch had nearly no signal, Negan managed to call once while I was there, I think I found a fluke spot that evening, because I couldn’t get through to either of you again” you explain.
“That’s alright honey, I just worry, you know I do! How have you been? I didn’t know you spoke to Negan, do you call each other often?” He asks, and you can tell the confusion in his tone.
“Umm yeah we talk a couple of times a week I guess, same as you and I talk. I think he likes to know what I’m up too. I’m good yeah thanks dad been super busy though, but yeah I’m having a great time, how have you been doing?” You answer.
“Yeah no complaints here, I miss you though. House is too quiet without you kiddo, and it’s ok I just didn’t know the two of you were talking, he’s never said anything to me. Other then the fact you send him the occasional letter too” your dad explains.
“Yeah I write to you both, as per requested” you laugh before adding “I hope your looking after yourself though dad, and actually cooking? Not ordering take out every night. I do worry about you both when I’m not there, you don’t have the best eating habits” you giggle.
“Hey we are doing just fine! I did a BBQ the other day we even had salad!” You dad defends.
Laughing out loud now you reply “Oh some salad too! Well I don’t know why I was worrying then”
“Oi little miss, I do just fine! I managed to cook for you ok growing up!” He argues playfully.
“Yeah I know dad I know, I’m just teasing, well I’m glad you doing good, I’m going to head to bed it’s been a long day, lots of driving” you admit.
“Ok kiddo sleep tight”
“Will do night dad”
Ending the call you lay back on the bed and sigh, your dad seemed so confused about you talking to Negan, you hope you didn’t give your feelings about the man away? Nah he was probably just surprised. It will be fine, you think.
After getting ready for bed your phone starts buzzing again, you glance at it sat on the bedside table. ‘Video call from Negan’ grinning you answer the call “Hey!”, “Hey beautiful, how is your journey going?” You admire him for a second, dimples showing as he grins through the phone at you, why does he have to be so beautiful, “Yeah it’s going well I’m on the Texas/ New Mexico boarder, in a small town called Eunice I think. I’m in a small motel, I’ll be carrying on towards Los Angeles in the morning” you answer.
He’s walking about his kitchen, tidying up and nodding as you speak. You love the domestic feel to it, you wish you were there with him, just doing ordinary household chores. “That’s good! You’re making great time sweetheart. And at least now you have signal” he laughs, “Yeah there’s great service here, so what have you been up too?” You ask, “Not much darlin, just work. Some poor guy came in last week with a blown head gasket, it’s taking a lot of time to fix it. So I’ve been at the garage long hours this week. Other than that not a lot, Bill is trying to set me up on some date with his wife’s friend, but I’m not too sure” he admits.
Your stomach sinks at that, a date, no don’t go on a date you think, especially not when I’m thousands of miles across the country and can’t do anything to help stop it. Your heart is pounding in your chest, but you try to keep yourself together. “Yeah?” You ask, voice sounding way more strained than you hoped. “Yeah, you ok sweetheart?” He asks looking at you full of concern. “Yeah I need to umm go get some sleep it’s late and I’m exhausted” you blurt out in haste.
“Yeah ok darlin, goodnight”, “Night” you answer before quickly hanging up. Tears sting your eyes as you lay back on the bed, harshly rubbing the tears away you sit up, sod this I’m going for a drink, you determine. Pulling some jeans and a jacket on, you cross over the road to the local bar.
Entering the building the smell of stale beer and smoke hits you, wrinkling your nose in slight disgust you sit at the bar, “A beer please” you ask the bartender, who nods at you placing a bottle in front of you.
Across the country Negan can’t get your reaction out of his head. He was thinking maybe the date would be a good way to move on. Because you probably didn’t feel the same as him, he was delusional right? Thinking he saw signs that you wanted him. But you went from cheerful to distressed in seconds, now he doesn’t know, he could always ask you, he knows this. But he also knows he couldn’t deal with rejection, not from you. He sits down on his couch placing his head in his hands as he tries to make sense of it all.
You on the other hand have just stumbled back into your room after a few drinks, and you feel in your drunken state that your heads so much clearer. With the new found confidence the alcohol has given you, you pull out your phone and send Negan a text before passing out on your bed.
Don’t go on that date Negan, please don’t …I love you
The buzzing of his phone he’s pulled out of his thoughts, reading your message he’s sat in shock. You love him? Gods you love him! That’s it he needs to see you. Jumping up he rushes to pack a bag, throwing as much as he can fit in the duffle. Moving to grab his keys, phone, charger and passport. A flight to you will be the quickest way!
Leaving the house he sends you a message back,
Don’t go anywhere sweetheart, I’m on my way! Xx
#negan smith#Dbf Negan#negan x reader#twd negan#negan x you#the walking dead negan#negan fanfiction#negan x female reader#dads best friend#Dbf x reader
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Currently Reading - November 2023
Gosh, it's been a little while since I did one of these!
The Year of Peril: America in 1942 - Tracey Campbell . Found this one at the library booksale just after I finished the 1942 podcast series. The book is excellent so far and really flipping some interesting issues over.
Just Finished Reading:
Millions Like Us: Women's Lives during the Second World War by Virgina Nicolson - This was excellent and I strongly recommend it. I got a lot of inspiration for the end of TDS in it and there's a lot of material that I think will come in handy for MOTA.
Sisters in Arms: British Army Nurses Tell Their Story, by Nicola Tyrer - Another super excellent book that filled in a serious knowledge gap I had about British nursing. Might come in handy for future SAS:RH productions.
An Unladylike Profession: American Women War Correspondents in World War I by Chris Dubbs - This was an impulse purchase on thriftbooks and was very interesting.
The Call of the Wrens, by Jenni Walsh. Fiction. Glad this was only a library book - it was just okay. I'm not a big fan of time jumps as a narrative device - it feels thin.
Cassiel's Servant, by Jacqueline Carey. Fiction. It was really fun to go back to Terre D'Ange for this one, and interesting to see Joscelin's side of things. Realized Joscelin may be why/how I write Dick the way I do.
Ashes under water : the SS Eastland and the shipwreck that shook America, by Michael McCarthy. This was a book club pick that I ended up not being able to join discussion on. A really interesting story, if you're into maritime disasters.
Prisoners of the castle : an epic story of survival and escape from Colditz, the Nazis' fortress prison, by Ben Macintyre. This was on the shelf at the library and I was reading mostly for mentions of David Stirling. Still - very interesting, especially when paired with...
Churchill's Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare: The Mavericks Who Plotted Hitler's Defeat, by Giles Milton. This book was fascinating. A lot of backstory behind the stuff that made the war work.
The Immortal life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot. A book club pick that I'm really glad I read.
Just Finished Watching:
Our Miracle Years (Unsere wunderbaren Jahre, Das Erste/PBS) - follows the life of one family in the post-war period. Some good food for thought here.
A Place to Call Home, Season 1 (Foxtel/ Hoopla) - More post-war, this time in Australia, which I started just as something to watch and am now very embroiled in. (Fair warning, this show contains conversation therapy, a miscarriage, and antisemitism, and may probably be triggering for some.)
World On Fire, Season 2 (BBC/PBS) - I came, I brought my Passport subscription, I tried...and after all six episodes I still don't like this show. I don't feel like we spend enough time with any of the characters to really appreciate them. It feels like everyone's there to make a point.
Outlander Season 7 (STARZ) - This was just fun. I'm not a huge fan of the books, but the TV series is really enjoyable for me.
Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) - This has been on my list for a while and it popped up recently on Hoopla. I like Peck's nervousness in the role.
Dalgliesh, Season 2 (Acorn/Hoopla) - Bertie Carvel continues to do great in this role. I kind of wish there was a crossover involving him and Morse.
To Walk Invisible (BBC/ PBS)- It was really fun to watch this back to back with Emily.
Emily (2022) - Getting two mostly recent takes on the Bronte sisters so close together was really interesting.
Farewell My Queen (2012) - watched this while on vacation in Williamsburg. A nice 18th century drama.
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CUCKOLD REASON
Jamie came home just as I finished getting the kids to sleep. She looked a mess. She had met a new lover tonight. She headed straight to the bedroom. I followed her as I walked in She had already shed her dress. I noticed bruises on her breast. And hickeys on her neck.
"Are you ok?" I asked concerned.
"Yes, very much so" she smiled and headed to the bathroom and a hot bath. Again I followed.
"Paul, he was an amazing lover. He was so aggressive and just took me" Jamie explained. Jamie had learned of my Cuckold fantasy months ago the whole idea turned her on as much as it did me. First she had hooked up with a guy she worked from. That had lasted a few months. After she had met a black man named Nathan she was fascinated by the size of his cock but it wasn't a good fit. She had turned to an online site and met this new one. I started to wash her hair and noticed the cum in it as Jamie told me about her date.
"We didn't even make it to dinner" she informed me. "He took me back to his place and used me" she almost moaned. "I have never, it was amazing" she continued. She then turned and looked at me.
"Did you?" She smiled.
"No the girls just got to sleep" I told her.
"Poor baby" Jamie giggled. Noticing the bulge in my shorts.
"You're alright he didn't hurt you?" I asked.
"No" she looked at her breast "well not really, I mean he was enormous and felt like he tore me in two. And very forceful. But it was the best sex in my life" Jamie continued her hand slid down and opened her pussy as if gauging how much he had stretched her. She sat and soaked as I washed her back and feet. Getting out only when the water was getting cold. She walked back to the bedroom and crawled in bed naked.
"I will help you with that in the morning" she told me pointing to my still present bulge. And fell asleep. I went and watched sport center fighting the urge to jerk off. Before go to bed myself. I woke in the morning to Jamie texted her lover. I could tell she was excited. She cuddled with me showing me thier conversation. He had told her to meet him again today. He was telling her what to wear and expect. This all turned Jamie on.
"Lick me while I answer him" Jamie said spreading her legs. I did as she asked. She then video called him. She told him how much she enjoyed last night as I realized how stretched her virgina was. She agreed to meet him for lunch. She hung up as I made her cum. Just as the girls knocked on the bedroom door.
"Poor baby" she smiled rubbing my hardon through my boxers. She told the girls I was coming to make them breakfast. "It seems even smaller somehow" she teased. I got up to make the girls breakfast. Jamie was still in bed when I finished getting the girls ready they where watching TV. I bought Jamie some coffee. She pulled down my shorts and reached into my boxers.
"Where is it?" She joked. Before grasping hold of it. She slowly ran her hand over it.
"I am meeting Alec for lunch. I don't know when I will be home" she told me. "Would you like me to make you wait?" She asked. I only nodded. She continued to tease my hard dick.
"How small are you?" She asked knowing the answer having measured me months ago.
"A little over 4 inches" I said barely over a whisper.
"Alec must be at three times as big" she told me barely touching my hard dick. She kept me on edge. "Your undies are two big for such a little man" she told me. She then suddenly stopped and got out of bed to get ready for her date. She went to shower. I went to check on the girls. The where playing dress up. Our oldest decided to dress me up as well. They had great laughs putting bows in my hair and jewelry on me. In the middle of this Jamie joined us.
"Daddy looks buetiful" she told the girls. And kissed me. She took out her lipstick and applied it to the girls. Then turned and smiled and did my lips as well. The girls where sad mommy had to go out again. But Daddy would play princess with them.
"You can wear one of my dresses" she told me. The girls giggled running off to pick one out for Daddy.
"In my drawer you might find undies that will fit you better" she whispered in my ear rubbing me thru my shorts. Then left I talked the girls out of dressing me up. Jamie texted me posts about being a Cuckold and a sissy. About wearing panties. Then she sent me a pic of her hand wrapped around a huge hard cock. Then nothing. I thought about what she had said all day. It was late the girls already in bed when she pulled in the garage. She came in and again headed straight to the bedroom. He dropped her dress she wore no underwear and stood naked. Her ass had red markes hickeys covered her breast shoulders and neck. Cum ran down her thigh. She stepped close and pulled my shorts down. Disappointment crossed her face. She stepped back and pulled out a pair of pink satin panties from her drawer. She handed them to me. I stripped and put them on.
"Would you like to taste him " Jamie asked her hand stopped up his cum from her thigh.
"I could never feel you again. And I will never let you have another woman." She told me offering me her cum covered fingers. I turn my head away. She rubbed me thru my panties.
"Rub yourself like this" she told me. I laid on the bed and rubbed myself thru the soft material.
"Did you wear one of my dresses today? "She asked. I nodded no. She pulled out her vibrator and held it against my dick. She slid down and spread my legs to hold it against my asshole. Through her panties. She again offers me cum off her fingers. This time pushing it into my mouth. She climbed on top of me and lowers herself to my tounge. I begin to suck her lovers cum from her as she uses her vibrator to tease my asshole and balls. Made her cum with my tounge. This pushed the rest of his cum out of her gagging me. She didn't let up until I came in her panties.
"Such a good boy" she laughed. She made me sleep in my wet panties. As she went to take a bath. I felt humiliated as I laid in wet panties and fell asleep.
Once again Jamie woke before me. When I woke up she showed me that she was ordering online. I was horrified as she showed me a strapon cock and an anal training kit. She just shush me when I tried to raise an argument. She got up and got ready for work. When she slid on a pair of cotton bikini cut white panties. She also pulled out a black thong and handed it to me. I knew she wanted me to wear them I showered and put them on as she watched while doing her hair.
"You look so cute" she said cupping me. "And they fit" she added. She pulled them up so they sank into my ass. I quickly got dressed so the girls would not see. Jamie left for work leaving me to tend to the kids. I ran a few websites and only needed to work a few hours daily. Making me the primary caregiver. I dropped the oldest off at kindergarten and the younger at daycare and went back home to work for a few hours. Jamie sent m sissy videos. Asking if I loved my new underwear. She then sent me instructions to order myself new panties. I did as she said buying a dozen thongs and a few other sexy styles. She spent the next few days sending me memes, stories and articles of what she expected of me. She avoided anything intimate between us. Although she did have me start wearing a small plug while I was home alone working.
Friday night she told me she was meeting Alec again. When she came home it was almost midnight. She woke me and handed me a present. I rubbed my eyes as she rubbed me thru my new purple thong. I opened the box to find a silver necklace. She quickly put it on me. It was tight a choker like a woman may wear I looked at it in the mirror and noticed it said sissy on it if you looked close.
"Alec fucked my ass tonight" she informed me. Pulling out the strapon she
It's had bought but we had not used yet. She made me help her adjust it. She didn't ask just pushed me back on the bed. And pushed my legs on to her shoulders. She lubed my ass before she pushed her cock in. I cried out. As she just forced it in. She shoved a rag in my mouth and fucked me. Tears rolled down my face as she took me.
"Everyday, everyday I am going to fuck you " she told me. She was not gentile but rained a brutal assault on my ass. I was even more humiliation humiliated when I came from this all over myself. Only then did Jamie stop. She had me remove her cock, then spooned me as we slept.
My ass hurt when I woke in the morning. Jamie saw me walking funny and laughed. She had me wear a larger plug all day. And under no circumstances was I to ever remove my necklace.
Jamie met her lover again that evening and returned home to fuck my ass again. Again there was no tenderness just a brutal assault when she finished she pulled me to her breast and held me as I cried.
"That's it let it out, little sissy girls need to except their place" she told me. "In the morning I want you to shave, I want you smooth like a girl." She kissed my ear. In the morning my ass still sore she reminded me.
Before she went to meet Alec again. "He is much tougher on me then I am on you" she informed me. "And I can't get enough, soon neither will you" I dropped the kids off for a play date and went home. I sat and thought about the past few weeks. It all excited me I had to admit. And decided to shave as Jamie had told me. I ran my hands over my legs and chest it excited me. I wanted to jerk off but instead rubbed myself thru my panties. I came in my panties and fell asleep. I woke to Jamie standing over me.
"Naughty girl" she laughed. And lowered herself on my face I licked her lovers cum out of her. But there was so much.
"He let his friends have a turn " Jamie told me. "Three mens cum you are eating" she informed me. After I had cleaned her to her satisfaction. She let me up. Stuffed a huge plug in my ass and sent me to fetch the girls.
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Just wanted to make this Yaku x Horo one short 👀 I'm starting to like this ship. I don't know why. They make an interesting couple.
I might do a +18 one short for them- Idk
"Ugh..."A hangover Horo groaned in pain, having his head laying down on the long kitchen island while sitting on an adjustable height chair. It was Saturday, and it was almost 2 in the afternoon. Horo barely woke up from his slumber. "Here."Kaga spoke, placing a cup of water and a painkiller in front of Horo for him to take for the pounding headache,"This will make you feel better. I'll tell Yaku to make you some food once he returns from grocery shopping."
Horo slowly lifted his head and grabbed the pill. He put it on the back of his tongue before swallowing it with the water. He placed the empty glass cup down,"Thanks..."He mumbled out and leaned against the kitchen island,"What happened last night? I remember we went to the club to drink and relax, but after a few cups, everything became blurry, and I don't remember what happened after."He explained.
"Yeah. We did. You drank too much, though."Kaga grabbed the glass cup and placed it in the sink,"Homu, Yaku, and I had to almost drag you to the car when it was time to go back home."
"Everything was normal. You kept dancing with the women you called 'Hot babes' in the club."Homu responded as she was sitting down on the couch and scrolling through her tablet while Meka was watching a new episode of her mega anime that came out this morning,"Yeah. Oh, and you kissed Yaku."
Horo's body froze at what Meka said and slowly looked back at her,"I did what?"
"You kissed Yaku. I even took a video of it."Meka said and reached out for her phone next to her. She unlocked it and scrolled through her gallery. She lifted her arm to show Horo her phone screen. Horo immediately stood up from his chair and went to Meka's phone. He snatched it and watched the played video.
Meka was right.
In the video, Horo was kissing Yaku rather passionately while Yaku was standing with shock. Yaku's visor had exclamation marks. After a few seconds, Yaku seemed to be kissing him back!
Horo stared at the phone with a blank expression, but deep inside, he was horrified. The video ended, not showing what happened next. Meka snatched her phone back from Horo,"I'm saving this for blackmail."She slid her phone in her pocket to prevent Horo from grabbing it and deleting the video.
"You were really into it."Homu said, having her eyes glued onto her tablet screen,"I was predicting that you two were going to sleep together, but that didn't happen. Either way, you two seemed to enjoy it very much."
"I didn't think you would be attracted to men, Horo."Kaga smiled mischievously on the new information he got of his roommate.
"I'm not."Horo protested, shooting a glare at Kaga.
"Well, that video says the opposite. You two kissed for a good 2 minutes."Kaga smirked widely. Horo groaned in annoyance,"I don't like men. I like women. Tits, virgina, and ass, okay?"
"Now you can add penis on that list too."Meka teased him, having her eyes on the TV screen. "At least you had your first kiss with the person you trust the most."Homu reassured him. Horo covered his face with his hands, being irritated on the situation,"I can't believe this happened. Now, I can't do anything about it."He muttered.
The door opened to reveal Yaku carrying bags full of foods that they needed. Yaku closed the door with his foot and made his way to the kitchen counter. He placed the bags down with a soft smile on his face. He glanced over to spot Horo,"You're awake. I was going to make you food, but it would have been cold by the time you woke up. I'll make you some food real quick -"Yaku stopped himself from continuing once Horo's eyes stared Yaku down,"What?"He asked with question marks on his visor.
"Meka told me what happened between us. She has a video of it."
Yaku continued to stare at him before realizing what he was talking about,"Oh! The kiss. Oh yeah, that happened. For someone who hasn't gotten his first kiss, you're a good kisser!"
"Was that the reason you kissed him back?"Kaga questioned, looking over at Yaku while putting away the groceries. Yaku nodded,"Yup! Also, I was a bit tipsy myself, so my mind wasn't fully there. It was a good experience!" Horo stared at Yaku in disbelief before making his way towards him. His hand immediately met the back of Yaku's head smacking him.
"Hey!"Yaku yelped.
Horo crossed his arms, feeling irritated, but kept a blank expression on his face. Yaku rubbed the back of his head and looked at Horo,"It was a good experience,"He leaned closer to Horo with a smirk on his face,"I didn't know you were so passionate."
Horo grabbed Yaku's face and pushed him away from him. Yaku stumbled back, but balanced himself,"Hey!"
"I'm not drinking again."
"You will. You're just too shy to accept that you love me."Yaku smiled and wrapped his arms around his best friend happily. Horo blankly stared down at Yaku,"I will smack you again."He threatened.
"You can smack my ass if you want."Yaku teased, having a mischievous smile on his face. In response, Horo smacked his head again, earning a yelp from his best friend.
"I was just joking!"Yaku cried out with a soft pout and rubbed his head again.
#yandere#yandere simulator#yanderesim#kaga kusha#meka nikaru#homu kurusu#yaku zaishi#horo guramu#horo x yaku#roommateau#yaku x horo#i just wanted to write this out before it leaves my mind lol
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Postcards from Snagglepuss
So who was O. Winston Link, anyway?
O. WINSTON LINK MUSEUM, ROANOKE, VA: Outside of railfans (especially such fond of the Norfolk and Western Railway, which has long had a presence in Roanoke, one continuing in its contemporary form as Norfolk Southern) and students of photography, the name O. Winston Link (1914-2001) probably doesn't ring quite a bell.
But in the Blue Ridge country, his photography of tne Norfolk and Western Railway as it was preparing to make the transition from steam to diesel locomotion in the late 1950's is something of the stuff of legend. Especially a two-year initiative of his during 1955 and 1956 in particular, which featured plenty of night scenes of steam draped against backdrops rural, semi-urban and urban ... the sort, you might say, bound to strike the fascination of Super Snooper and Blabbermouse. Who, for some reason, decided to join our own party of vagabonds in Roanoke's former Norfolk and Western station, as houses the Roanoke Historical Museum, of which the O. Winston Link such is a part and parcel.
"It just seems particularly fascinating, Blab," Snoop could be heard remarking, "how one could situate a hotshot freight train in the background of a drive-in movie theater, with the inevitable pair of lovers kissing away in the foreground."
"And wondering what to pay the more attention to--the movie or the train," remarked I. (Which, you might like to know, was taken in the summer of 1956 in Iaeger, West Virginia.)
"It just gets me here, Snoop," Blabbermouse was quick to note on seeing a picture of a coal train passing through a small West Virginia town in the proverbial wee small hours of the night as the late shift waitress was being picked up from her shift at the local cafe. Like sentiment was directed at a nighttime wedge shot out of Luray, Virginia as the engine was preparing to take on water.
Crazy Claws was quick to chime in as well: "And you wonder how many flash bulbs he went through just to get the shot, to begin with!" (As a matter of fact, Link and his assistant, George Thom, relied on the asynchronous firing of no less than 42 #2 flashbulbs and one #0 flashbulb just to get that shot at the Iaeger drive-in. As Link himself famously explained that penchant of his for night photography in that project of N&W steam in its twilight, "I can't move the sun — and it's always in the wrong place — and I can't even move the tracks, so I had to create my own environment through lighting.")
Breathe in, then, such sentiment for times long past, bringing in a sense of moodiness in a landscape doubtless much changed. Yet it makes you wonder, especially as moi, Huck, Snoop and Blab took note of one shot of a gravity-feed gas pump at the local store in Vesuvius, Virgina as the N&W's premier overnight train, the Pocahontas, passed by at close range ... in the middle of a power outage affecting the village!
*************
@warnerbrosentertainment @groovybribri @jellystone-enjoyer @ultrakeencollectionbreadfan @zodiacfan32 @artistic-octopus @archive-archives @thylordshipofbutts @thebigdingle @themineralyoucrave @screamingtoosoftly @warnerbros-blog1 @iheartgod175 @indigo-corvus @theweekenddigest @funtasticworld @warnerbrosent-blog
#hanna barbera#fanfic#fanfiction#road trip#postcards from snagglepuss#huckleberry hound#unlikely crossovers#super snooper and blabbermouse#o. winston link#o. winston link museum#night photography#night photoshoot#rail photography#norfolk and western railway#steam's twilight#hannabarberaforever
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The Table as Taylor Swift PT 2
California - the 1
never let him find out a about folklore tbh he would die on sight.
"I’m doing good, I’m on some new shit Been saying “yes” instead of “no” "
this line is about trying to be positive about change. california more than anyone else is always in need of change and even strives for it. he's hopeful when no one else is.
"You know the greatest films of all time were never made"
just like a movie that never came to be, californias hopes are trapped in a mythology. one not to be respected and adapted, but one to be mocked.
"And if you wanted me, you really should’ve showed"
he constantly is stating he has no friends, even despite the fact Oregon and Washington in various scenes admit to being his friend. he doesn't think they "show" it enough. when in reality, their attention just isn't good enough.
Massachusetts & Virginia - The Great War
they're my comfort duo i can make them have a duo song if i wanna
"Sucker punching walls, cursed you as I sleep-talked"
Virginia and Mass were close during the american revolution with a ton of the people who helped most came from those two states. i like to imagine this having them grow close, than virginia left the union during the civil war. the anger Mass must have had seems scary.
"Tore your banners down, took the battle underground"
the union needed virginia, mass needed virgina. he was just too furious to understand his own feelings. all he needed was too win.
"You said I have to trust more freely"
most definitely pre-civil war. the civil war definitely created trust issues within all the states, but these two especially. you can't just leave and except to beg back trust.
"Broken and blue, so I called off the troops. That was the night I nearly lost you"
i'm so normal about them (lie)
Texas - Seven
i picture him as the child being talked about in the song.
"Cross your heart, won’t tell no other."
a promise of secrecy, it's a promise that is broken only a few lines down. this reminds me a bit of california and texas' relationship which would have close before the party switch.
"Passed down like folk songs. The love lasts so long"
Gossip or Legend? both are someones secrets written in the sky for all to behold. folk music is passed down generation through generation, much like how texas mentions having "daddy issues" and turns into the monster he was born from.
"And I’ve been meaning to tell you. I think your house is haunted. Your dad is always mad and that must be why "
this line of Seven is in which taylor naviely puts a puzzle together. she's unable to recognise a horrible behaviour in someone meant to be fatherly so she assumed there is a kind of demon possessing the boys father. do i have to explain more pff
Oklahoma - Peace
a lot of folklore i know
"And it’s just around the corner, darlin. ’Cause it lives in me. No, I could never give you peace."
the inability to offer one stability. There will never be a forever “calm” in his life. he knows he could never think of promising someone such a thing.
"But I’m a fire and I’ll keep your brittle heart warm. If your cascade, ocean wave blues come."
the slightest bit of water is an instigator to fire, the whole ocean is an powering feeling. a powerless feeling for the fire.
"Sit with you in the trenches"
It’s notable that soldiers typically crawl when they’re in trenches to avoid being seen by an enemy fighter.
#taylor swift#welcome to the table#the table#wttt#wttsh massachusetts#wttsh#wttsh headcanons#wttsh california#wttsh oklahoma#wttsh texas#wttsh virgina#texas' daddy issues
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Kurona Ranze isn't much taller, around 5’3. She has a bob and bangs that she cuts herself and two long strands on each side of her face that she ties into braids when she's bored of whatever you're saying. She has shark teeth and braces with blue rubber bands to fix her overbite. She has a collection of cat and slogan t-shirts and fun colored thigh high socks that get covered up by the same dark blue shark sweatshirt and pair of brown boots every day. She carries around the same plastic water bottle every day and goes on rants about overconsumption killing the ocean. She paints her nails with sharpies and pens and doesn't know how to use makeup but still carries around a bag of dollar store eyeshadow and clearance aisle lipstick. Her favorite movie is one that aired on television 9 years ago and her favorite song is one she heard in a grocery store one time. She doesn't understand poetry that doesn't rhyme but likes stories of women falling in love with someone that might be a man. She imagines that it's not.
Kurona Ranze likes a girl.
Kiyora Jin was a solid 5 foot tall. Her hair comes down to her mid back and she pins it back with too many hair clips. She treats her wine lipstick as blush and eyeshadow and her mascara as eyeliner. Her skirts all come down past her knees and she's been wearing the same pair of converse since her first year of highschool. Her bag is tearing at the seams and her oversized shirts are all hand me downs from her sisters. She has a red pen that she uses to draw up and down her arms, doodles of stars and swirls and intricate patterns she’ll never be able to recreate. She carries around the same poetry book everywhere, it's tattered at its corners and no one is sure where she got it but Kurona knows. She likes statues of dead people and her interpretive dance class. She's the most interesting person Kurona has ever met.
She doesn't talk but if she did Kurona would listen to her all day. Kurona knows her favorite colors and the difference between her favorite songs even though they all kind of sound the same. Kurona Ranze has memorized Kiyora Jin the way Kiyora Jin memorizes poetry. She sees Jin when she closes her eyes and holds her hand when they cross the street even though Ranze was about 80 percent sure Jin doesn't like girls. Was.
“I like you.”
“I like you too, Jinnie. You're my best friend.”
They were at the library again, it was the only place in 100 miles that they could get away from the howling jocks and laughing hyenas that called themselves their classmates. They were half whispering even though they were the only people on the floor. Jin was reading the same poetry book that she had last week and Ranze had found a new shark book on the kids floor.
“No.” Jin's eyebrows were furrowed as she tried to find the words that she was looking for. Her brain thought in the form of the poetry she memorized and songs she vaguely knew the names of. It's hard to make your own sentence when all of the puzzle pieces are too big. She was searching her catalog of death themed rhymes and cryptic rhythms for romance, a genre that she never ventured into.
“Like Romeo and Juliet.”
“I don't want to be Romeo and Juliet.”
Jin whipped her head around, confessing was risky but the rainbow bracelets and pink and orange pins on Ranzes backpack made her feel safe. It was on a whim but she had been confident that she was right. Had she miscalculated? Or was the problem not that she was a girl but that she was her.
“I want to be Virgina Wolf. You can be Vita Sackville-West. She was a poet like you.”
“You almost killed me.”
“Sorry, sorry.” They were laughing now, and though she didn't like poetry Ranze could write a million pages about the way Jin looks and sounds and feels in her hand when she laughs.
“I like-like you too.”
“Like-like,” Jin mirrored back.
“It's one way to say it, it's clunky, clunky. They don't use it in poems.” but she said it again. “Like-like.” She was memorizing it. Memorizing Ranze like a synth wave song and Edgar Allen Poe.
“We should get married.”
“I have dance class later.”
“Not now.” Ranze laughed again, for as literate as she was she could be a little air-headed, she had her head in books and that's where it stayed when she closed the pages. “Just in general, like later in life, later.”
“Oh.” Jin thought about it, she imagined a wedding in a cemetery and shark themed cupcakes. In her head she started a new poem about white tulle covered in mud and frayed at the end by sea creatures made of bones and love.
“I'll get us a dog, we can name it after a food.”
“Oreo.”
“Bagel.”
“I like bagels.”
“I know.”
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Okay let me start trying to talk about Nova.
Nova is maybe 15-16 when she meets Desmond and 16-17 when the crash happens. She doesnt have a last name, and its unsure if Nova is actully her name. Its the only thing she'll respond too and shes very tight lipped about personal information.
Shes a street kid, getting involved in scrapes and problems with wannabe gangs and the police. She has a habit of graffitying things, stealing, and gets in a lot of fights. Shes besn arrested and escaped myltiple times. When meeting with Desmond for the first time, she arrived in handcuffs that she quickly escaped from after the police had left.
If you thought Max's anger was hard to deal with, why not add young women sass to it. She talked very blunt and often spoke over Desmond and his questions.
Her representive color is Rose-pink which might end up changing as i think thats the color tonia has. Her tape is that pink color, and its found in a fairly empty holding home. It had no decoration, just the basic nessesities.
Her shadow is called "The Thief" whcih is pretty self explanitory. Shes often a shadowy figure, being seen as a quick blur more then a physical entity. Occasionally she dows stand still, and its when shes seen doing graffiti on walls. Shes quite small, being the smallest of all the shadows, only about 4ft. She has a gargoyle like figure, demonic looking with exaggerated features.
Her graffiti art is made out of a pinkish version of the chemical, similar to virginas writing. Its often drawings related to her distaste of adults, the law, and the people in charge. If interrupted when doing her graffiti, she will run off and never finish the art.
Her level is based around differwnt areas of the city, like thw city compressed. Theres sections similar to the other tapes, a basic street and alleyways, a large dock like area near water, a rockier moutain style area, and part of the park. The area is quite destroyed, similar to the office itself. Theres evidence of where she stayed in every bit of the level. There was also evidence of police and gangs in every area.
Her level unlockable would be a lockpick of types, often unlocking different secret areas or tunnels, likely paths Nova used to move undetected. Sometimes it leads to nothing but loot, sometimes it would be a way around a blockage.
I'm not quite sure how she would be defeated overall. I think her tape would be either right before or after Max.
Here's her art again.
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Sweet Nothing
Chapter Two: Special Order
Summary: Blake decides she needs to work on some relationships, in particular some she may be working with the most. So, she invites them to dinner at her house.
A/N: um sorry if this is a bit out of character for jack and will, i don't really care but this is pretty much how i'll be writing them for the rest of the series.
Warnings: Light ableism (?)
Word Count: 2.6k
Sweet Nothing Masterlist
Previous Chapter | Next Chapter
Acclimating oneself into a team who seems to be so attached to each other that they would take a bullet for each other is certainly hard, but it’s especially harder when bullets are a real thing they may encounter on a daily basis. So what better way to get to know anyone than to throw a small dinner party? Nothing bad has ever come of those, right? Surely not.
Imagine Jack Crawford’s surprise when he got a hand-written letter on his desk inviting him to dinner at Blake Adler’s home. Or the fact that he wasn’t the only one to get the expensive piece of parchment with his name is calligraphy. It seems she also invited Doctor Hannibal Lecter who he’s never seen interact with Blake before, maybe this was her way of networking? Hannibal did work with their team a lot and Blake hasn’t had a chance to see him much yet. Invitations were also handed out to Doctor Alana Bloom–another Jack realized they didn’t interact with each other–and Will Graham. Will may have been the only person Jack has seen Blake talk to, besides Beverly, but their conversations were short and to the point. Possibly because it’s been slow the past week Blake has been admitted into the Behavioral Unit.
Maybe the serial killers knew to take a break.
As Jack looked up at the house in front of him, he stepped up the stairs to the door. It was a cold Virgina evening, the beginning of winter so he bundled up accordingly. Jack studied the house for a while. It was a small two-story house, more like a cottage–more than enough room for one woman–it had deep blue siding and a black roof with gothic looking windows. If he could guess anyone lived here, it would be Blake Adler. They somehow matched well.
“Jack! Hey, want to come in?” Blake said from the doorway, a light smile on her lips. She also seemed to be bundled up accordingly, a simple deep chocolate sweater and some jeans on. Jack nodded kindly and entered her home. A wash of warmth ran through him. “Hannibal and Alana have already tried asking for wine, but I find it…. Disgusting. Though, I can make mixed drinks.” She said, motioning over to the coat rack for Jack to hang his on.
As Blake ventured in further to her home, Jack followed her to see Hannibal, Will, and Alana already at the table. They straightened in their seats as Jack came closer, deciding to sit next to Will at the table. Hannibal and Alana had some sort of cocktail in their glasses while Will had water in his.
“So what are we having for dinner?” Jack piped up, a polite smile on his lips as he folded his hands on the table. It smelled good at least, but it didn’t smell like anything in particular that he recognized.
Hannibal hummed, “I believe it’s lasagna.” He answered before Blake could, pursing his lips slightly. He had a much more…. Refined palette.
“Right you are, Doctor Lecter.” Blake winked at the older man as she made her way into the kitchen. “It’s my mom’s recipe. Much more of a homey meal than I’m sure you’re used to, Hannibal.” She joked as she took it out of the oven to serve it on the plates set up next to her. She then began to set the plates in front of each of her guests. “If you’re concerned about what’s in it, it’s a homemade meat sauce with ricotta and parmesan.” Blake explained as she sat down at the head of the table.
Will analyzed the lasagna in front of him for a moment before he gathered some on his fork and hummed as the food hit his tongue. He hasn’t really had a home made meal in a while and having one alone with his dogs didn’t…. Have the same effect. It felt…. Strangely nice, as if there was warmth trying to escape from him.
“This is delicious, Doctor Adler.” Alana complimented, wiping her mouth with a napkin after a few bites. She seemed very genuine. But then again Blake is very…. Suspicious of others and how they word things.
Blake smiled graciously at Alana, “Thank you. And you can call me Blake, you met me on the first day anyway.” She shrugged innocently as she went to take another bite. Alana may have thought certain things when she found Blake and Will in a lecture hall together but it wasn’t what it appeared to be to her. Or perhaps, it was just the start of it.
Alana blushed, embarrassed as she looked down at her plate. Hannibal and Will looked amused as they ate their plate of food. “Is there any particular reason you invited us here today?” Hannibal asked, carefully lifting his fork to his mouth. Compared to the rest of them, he was a slow eater.
“Well, I wanted to get to know the people I’ll most likely be working with very closely for the foreseeable future. And, perhaps, you could get to know me.” Blake explained, taking a sip of her sparkling cider. She shrugged as she looked at the others at the table, “You can ask me questions and I’m hoping I can ask you some as well.”
Alana pushed her fork around on her plate, “I was wondering why you chose to opt out of having a Bureau approved psychiatrist.” She admitted softly. Blake’s eye twitched slightly, unsure how she was meant to take that.
“I have my own psychiatrist which I trust and have been with since I graduated college. I simply wouldn’t trust you or Doctor Lecter enough to not tell the Bureau absolutely everything I might say in sessions.” Blake said, finishing up her meal as she gave Alana a light smile. Hannibal cocked his head at Blake. “My therapist, Doctor Martin, is very great at knowing which information to give Jack and which information is more private. No offense, Jack, but you do ask for a lot.” She mused softly.
Jack shrugged, “None taken. And, to ease your worries, Doctor Bloom, Doctor Martin is very experienced and obviously has a great relationship with Blake. I wouldn’t break them apart just for convenience.�� He admitted softly.
“Hmm.” Will hummed, thinking it was funny. If he’s known Jack to want anything, it’s convenience. After all, he’s decided Hannibal needed to be his therapist after Alana talked about just how good he was.
Blake looked at Will’s direction before averting her gaze down to the fizzing bubbles in her glass. “Therapy helped me learn a lot about myself. Not to mention putting names to things I do. For instance, to do what I wanted to do today I’m doing a lot of masking. Not necessarily intentional but helps me portray myself as ‘normal’ in others’ company.” She explained, not sure why necessarily she’s telling psychiatrists things they would most likely already know. But then again, you may forget some things after you get your PhD and licensing to be a practicing therapist.
"People on the autism spectrum are more common than one would think, after all, diagnosis was not at all accurate in the early 1900s." Hannibal nodded, adjusting the way his tie laid across his chest.
Blake chuckled softly and nodded as well before she glanced at Will who seemed to be more interested in a specific groove in her wooden table. She pursed her lips, remembering what it felt like to not be included. Whether it was in conversations with friends or simply not being there all together, it was hard. Blake never wanted anyone to feel as if they were left out, sometimes to the point where she'd take on too much at once.
"What do you do in your spare time, Will?" Blake asked, an expression of genuine curiosity to get to know him on her face.
Will answered simply, "I fish." He gave a slightly strained smile, feeling as if Blake only asked the question out of courtesy.
Blake let out a light hum, "I used to fish with my grandparents. Grandpa would take me and my brothers out on his pontoon and, if I was lucky, I'd be able to drive it." Her eyes glazed over slightly as she recounted the memory. Blake was certainly more open than Will would have anticipated.
"What do you…. Do in your spare time?" Will inquired back, feeling much more interested in talking about Blake than himself. The attention of the table turned to her.
Jack pursed his lips, cocking his head as he thought about what Blake might do. She was a somewhat outspoken girl, dyeing her hair might be on the list.
Blake glanced around the table for a moment and let out a dramatic sigh, "I sing. Definitely not well but it gets the emotions out." She admitted with a laugh. "Also boxing, that's pretty good too." Then something else popped into her mind. "And driving! When I was younger, my brothers would take me to race tracks and I always wanted to learn. I eventually did when I turned about twenty, probably would've been the job I picked before I found this."
Alana blinked at her small story. "You would have…. Become a race car driver? And chose the FBI over that?" She was completely shocked.
"Yeah, well, we all start somewhere." Blake chuckled softly. "Mine just so happened to be in my Dad's garage, learning how to change his van's oil when I was ten." She shrugged, fiddling a little with her sleeve.
Jack joked, "Well, now I know how to call when I need to get my next tire rotation."
—-------
After dinner, it was just Blake and Will left. So Blake began washing some dishes, deciding not to kick Will out of her house even if she did have the nagging want to be alone all of the sudden. Blake hummed softly as she set the rinsed dishes into the dishwasher and turned it on.
"Did you really want to be a race car driver?" Will asked, arms folded against his chest as he leaned against the counters. At this proximity, Will almost had to look up to see Blake's face.
Blake hummed in response. "Before I…. Matured, it was fairly easy for me to get in and out of the cars." She explained softly. "But then I was diagnosed and was suddenly very interested in how the brain works and why certain people are the way that they are."
"Your conclusion?" Will asked.
Blake gave the man a light smile and shrugged, standing next to Will as she looked at the floors. "Still not sure. Certain things happen when people are born. Autism is not a disorder that is developed, while things like dissociative disorders are usually developed because something happened in your childhood to make you cope in that way. It all really depends on the person and what that particular person is going through. It also depends on what stage in their life it may be happening." She explained, cocking her head slightly.
Will pursed his lips, eyes fixated on the edges of the countertops. Recently, his grasp on time seemed to have been taken away from him. He certainly wasn't sure why, it hasn't happened before but he has been working on cases more frequently than ever. Perhaps it was taking a toll on his mind.
Except with Blake. He can say for certain that he's been present the whole time he was in her home and even on the way there, Will remembered it. Why…. Was it like this? Will barely ever felt safe at work and, now, with him experiencing lost time there as well, it's even harder. But Doctor Blake Adler…. She felt safe. Her whole home screamed it. With its deep blue walls that almost seemed black and the vintage framed posters on the walls, even the green velvet couch in the living room that was just begging for someone to lay on it. Home was foregin to Will Graham. He only ever felt at home with his dogs, even then it was hard to be in the mindset of home.
"Would you…. Want to get coffee?" Will asked, almost pained to be saying the words. "With me?" He wasn't the best at…. This. Talking. Or intentionally trying to be friendly to meet some end goal.
Blake cocked her head for a moment, honestly thinking about which made Will more nervous than it should have. "There's a Starbucks we can walk to that's not too far from the Bureau." She suggested as she went to grab a coat from her chair.
"Not…. Now." Will let out a dry nervous laugh, lips trembling slightly until he felt the coat on his shoulders.
"I know." Blake winked, hands placed gingerly on Will's shoulder. "You looked cold." She said innocently. "I think it's time you go before it gets colder, okay?"
Will blinked at Blake before he pulled his hands through the sleeves of the jacket. He caught a sniff of Blake's perfume, something light but citrus and almost masculine. The sleeves themselves were almost too big for Will, he let out a small huff of a laugh at it.
Blake then pursed her lips in thought. "I can send you home with some hot cider if you'd like." She suggested softly, pulling her hands away from Will's shoulders. "I can promise it cures any type of cold away from your body."
"Oh, um…. Sure." Will smiled lightly, a small one but it was genuine.
Something Blake learned early on was that Will's smiles were never really true. They were remorseful, strained, disgusted, after a sarcastic comment, but never filled with joy as one would hope a smile entailed.
—------
With a thermos full of warm apple cider, Will made it to his house and was greeted by a herd of dogs. He smiled softly at each one of them, carefully patting each on their heads as he made his way inside. Once they calmed, Will sat on the bed in the corner of the room and looked down at the coat still on his shoulders. He tugged it closer to his body, feeling more of that same emotion. Warmth. Will would never have thought warmth could be classified as an emotion but he sure as hell felt it.
After a while, Will grabbed a mug from his kitchen and poured some cider into it. He watched the steam evaporate in front of him, signifying it was still hot even after the long drive home. It had to be about 1 am by the time he reached his house. Will looked somewhat enthralled with it. The cider was a deep golden color but still transparent enough to see the sides of the mug through the liquid.
Lifting the mug to his lips, Will could only describe the smell as a stereotypical fall day. Probably something filled with jumping in piles of leaves. And the taste of it just reinforced that idea. What magic did Blake perform on this liquid to make it so enticing? Either way, Will wanted more. But he knew to pace himself. He had to savor it. Who knew the next time he would have something like this?
Will made his way to his living room yet again and sat cross-legged by the fireplace as he sipped at the cider. Warmth certainly was coursing through his body while his skin still felt slightly cold. Blake was right. The cider was slowly willing that cold away. Will's expression turned to that of fondness as he tugged the coat tighter and took another sip of his cider.
This was possibly the best he's felt in years. Especially now with Will's blackouts, he's never felt more content and present.
#oc#will graham x oc#will graham#hugh dancy x oc#hugh dancy#nbc hannibal#hannibal#hannibal lecter#jack crawford#alana bloom#hannibal is a cannibal#hannibal is a comedy#will graham is soft
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24. tender - Illogical Husbands
I know you just did one for these two, but I could really use a happy fic right now, and they are my favorite pair. (I just got some bad news.)
Oh no, I'm sorry, anon! I getcha, I had some really bad news the other day, and I've been doing a lot to cheer myself up.
So, here's a nice little Illogical Husbands fic for you!
On with the fic!
--
Domestics were not really Bill's forte, not that he hadn't tried them over the years, but there had always been issues with doing what he knew was the proper way of having a good nuclear family and such.
Still, the very least he could do in this new stage of his relationship with Alec, with being, well, fiances, was to try and do his best to be a good future husband. He failed with Libby, which he still regrets, and things with Virgina never got into this state, but with Alec, he figured the man deserved his best attempts.
Still, it wasn't easy, but no one ever said relationships ever were.
But he tried tonight, when Alec came home late, looking just... done with things, must be a heavy case. What had once been a nice little town seemed to now be drawing in a lot of trouble in the area since, well, Alec's first case here.
The very least Bill could do was just let Alec relax, ignore the world. While the detective went to shower, Bill had ordered them something for dinner. He could cook for them, yes, but it might just be easier this way. Bill ordered Alec's favorite for him and when he finished, he waited for his finace to come out of the shower.
Alec soon appeared, wearing more comfortable house clothes, looking only slightly better. He raised an eyebrow at Bill. "What? Why are you looking at me?"
"Just checking to see if you're alright."
"I'm... getting there." Alec replied and moved to sit down on the couch, rubbing at his head. Bill moved, handing him a glass of water and some painkillers. Alec looked at him, blinking, before taking them. "Uh, thanks?"
"You're welcome." Bill replied. "I called, got you and I dinner from that one place you like, the one that doesn't have the waitstaff that always likes watch us, see what we're gonna do."
Alec swallowed the pills and some of the water, then set the glass aside before looking at Bill. "Alright, who are you and what have you done to my Bill?"
Bill raised an eyebrow, then smiled just a little. "I don't know what you mean."
"You're being suspiciously nice."
"What? Can't I be sweet and tender, treating my tired, emotionally and physically drained future husband with a little TLC?"
"Not unless if you want something, I'm sure."
"No, I just want you feeling better tonight, you look dead on your feet."
Alec sighed, closing his eyes. "I feel it." He was quiet for a moment, crossing his arms, before cracking open an eye. "Thank you, Bill."
"You're welcome, Alec." Bill nodded, feeling pleased, knowing that Alec did appreciate his attempt.
#illogical husbands#broadchurch#masters of sex#alec hardy#bill masters#john's drabbles#good omens extended universe#moving forward au
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Negative
TV SHOW PISTOL
COUPLE: MALCOLM X READER (KINDA)
RATING: FUNNY + SWEET
I hurried my feet as fast as they would carry me though the dirty london streets pasted piles of rubbish bags taller than me. I ducked into the little pink shop hurrying to the stock room where I set my bag down and slipped off my jacket. I took a deep sigh before scurrying out to the main part of the shop trying to focus on my work.
"You alright y/n?" Chrissy spoke up from the counter
"Yeah. Fine" I answered
"Why were you so late today?" Jordan spoke up as she stood unboxing some stuff
"Oohh uhh… I had to grab some stuff on the way to work. Took longer then I imagined" I answered
Jordan nodded and headed back to the stock room
"Where from?"
"Just the pharmacist"
"Is everything okay are you feeling sick?"
"No it's nothing really i-" I began
"Found it!" Jordan spoke up from the stock room "what's this?" She asks appearing from the curtain with my test in her hand
"Jordan!" I yelled in shock "that's not mine that's…. Someone else's." I blushed
"Ohh babe. Your worried?" Chrissy asks
"A little"
"Hey." Jordan came over handing me the box "you'll feel worse till you know. Go on"
"Your sure?'
"Course. We'll be right here with you" chrissy smiled
"Thanks girls" I smiled
"We've all had scares"
"Well this is more than a scare"
"How much more?"
"Well. I just need to know" I said going to the small shop bathroom with the test but I could still hear them
"Well it's no or it's yes" jordan spoke up
"Either way, your gonna know" chrissy added
"What are the instructions?" I asked
"Uhhhh… do not insert the test stick into your Virgina"
"Really?"
"I'm not joking."
"Next instructions"
"Make sure to not capture toilet water as this can cause a false reading" jordan read
"The hells in british water?"
"I hope you drank enough this morning"
"I hope so too" I nodded
"Wait fifteen minutes for results."
"Okay" I nodded slowly doing my best to follow instructions and take the test
"We've all been here pet. One day late and I'm panicked"
"Yeah I'm on the pill and it still freaks me out"
"Okay." I sighed as I returned "now… we wait" I said having a seat in the little chair
"How… pregnant do you think you might be?"
"Uhhh not much" I shrug "last gig really"
"Who is the pretty boy then?" Jordan laughed
"Uhhhhh well…"
"Someone I know?" Jordan asked
"Yes."
"It's not Steve is it?" Chrissy asks
"No. No." I answered
"Someone from the last gig?" Jordan pondered "someone we know?"
"Which one of the boys? Come on you can tell us" chrisy smiled sitting with me
"You promise you won't tell?"
"Course"
"...... Malcolm"
"What!" They both yelped
"Malcolm? Like malcolm, malcolm?" Jordan asks
"Yes"
"How the hell did that happen?"
"Well…. I was drinking. I do stupid things when I drink!"
"Yeah get on the wrong tube or steal a traffic come stupid not fuck malcolm stupid" Jordan complained
"What exactly happened?" Chrissy asks
"Well I went to the gig same as everyone. And I had fun had a couple of drinks. Once it was over everyone began going off to the boys place but I wanted to head home so I went to grab my coat but malcolm was still there. He offered to get me a drink so I obliged and we chatted for a while, he was being such a sweetie" I smiled
"Are you sure we are talking about the same malcolm?" Jordan asks
"Continue" chrissy asks
"And after a couple of drinks he offered to walk me home. He was being so nice and sweet. When we got to my place he asked if he could just come in for a water before he headed home I said sure and we ended up chatting inside for a while and… he said I looked pretty tonight, and one thing lead to another and" I explain "here we are."
"Did you guys use-"
"No."
"Did he pu-"
"No"
"Did he fi-"
"Yep"
"Okay."
"Well… maybe his… machinery is broken? Maybe his boys weren't swimming?"
"Joseph?" I remind them
"Fuck yeah." Chrissy sighed "well… what are you hoping for?"
"How can one stupid night fuck your whole life up"
"Hey. Don't be like that. We don't even know if it is yet"
"I am… praying. For negative"
"Well I'm crossing my fingers" Chrissy smiled holding my hand
"Yeah. Me too" jordan smiled giving me a hug "we do not need any more malcolm in this world"
"Ummmm. It probably sounds hard to believe but he can actually be really sweet. And admittedly. Fantastic dick."
"Guys who have the best dicks usually are the biggest dicks"
"Times up. Guess either way your gonna know"
I nodded and went back to the bathroom where I left the test I didn't want to look but it knew I had to
"Well?" Jordan asked
And I looked "shit." I sighed seeing that little pink plus sign
"Well… I wonder who's gonna be more mad at Malcolm, you or vivienne?"
"I am happy for us to tag team on the beating of his skinny ass"
#tbs#tbs au#tbs fanfiction#tbs smutty#tbs smut#tbs sex#tbs spy#TBS Imagine#tbs imagines#thomas#thomas sangster#thomas brodie sangster#thomassangster#thomasbrodiesangster#thomas brodie sangster i#thomas brodie sangster imagine#thomas brodie sangster smut#thomas brodie sangster s#thomas sangster imagine#thomas sangster smut#thomas sangster x reader#thomas sangser imagine#Malcolm#Malcolm McLaren#malcolmmclaren#sex pistols#pistol#pistol2022#pistoldisney+
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That Butler, Silver Scales
MigotoNami
Summary:
Ciel Phantomhive was just like any other 19-year-old trying to make a living out on the sea. But something has been bothering him lately. There's something in the water, and it keeps plaguing him. Just what is this sea creature? And what does it want? SebastianxCiel/AU Story/Rated M *Revised*
Notes:
Disclaimer: Black Butler belongs to Yana Toboso.
Songs Listened To When Writing: Virginia Company from Pocahontas, The Steamboat Willie Medley, Gypsies Tramps and Thieves by Cher, *Foxhunter by Celtic Woman(Ciel's song)*
P.S. I do not support whaling.
Fun Fact: This ENTIRE fic was inspired by “Virgina Company” from Pocahontas.
(See the end of the work for more notes.)
Chapter 1: The Catch
Chapter Text
The wind was crisp and cool as it hit the teenager's face, whipping his slate grey hair around and causing the ends to tickle his face and ears. Ciel placed his foot up onto the deck's side, resting his arm upon his raised knee and stared down at the dark blue waters below. He could vaguely hear Finny humming a happy tune as the carefree teen swabbed the deck, the clamor of the eating hall below providing a strident crescendo in the background.
The 19-year-old chose not to take part in the drunken mess downstairs. Instead, Ciel sighed and looked off into the distance to see nothing but constant clear waters, their waves lapping at the tired wood of their ship like persistent, hungry predators. In the quiet still he allowed his mind to drift off into, the teen vaguely wondered how his mother and father were doing without him. Continuous letters had passed between the three of them in the two years that he had been off at sea, a reminder that he always had something to return to should he feel the need.
His family led modest lives back home. Food and a comforted shelter had never been an issue for them, and Ciel never once thought it as a horrid lifestyle. But he always wanted, for as long as he could remember, to explore all this world had to offer. So when the chance to travel the seas came, he immediately took it, even though the job only called for a deck-hand. This fact didn't matter much to him though, because the offer came with one thing: opportunity. Any dock they entered could be his escape. Ciel could make a life for himself wherever he wanted, whenever he wanted. The freedom was addicting, like the rich texture of dark chocolate, just begging for him to sink his teeth into. The bar of candy, however, remained untouched for now, as he had yet to find his ideal escape bridge just yet.
The ship that would eventually take him there was called the Biàntài Hǎidào, one of the best whaling ships in the world. The ship was medium-sized, allowing for good speed and versatility, with a specific crew to handle every aspect of the whaling process. First of all, there was the navigator, Claude. He steered the ship and could spot a whale from remarkable distances that no one else could see. Next, there were the people who went out onto the water and harpooned the whales: Mey-Rin, Agni, Ash, Undertaker and Grell. Usually on whaling ships there was a bigger crew to harpoon the whales, seeing as it could get dangerous, but these five always got the job done without getting hurt. Their skill was that impeccable.
Then, there were the people who cooked the everyone's meals and also processed, stored and preserved the whale: Bard, Hannah and Tanaka. Their job was messy and Ciel didn't envy them, although he did wonder why Tanaka barely helped out and just sipped his tea most of the time. Next, there was William. He sold their goods at the port and he was damn good at making money. His way of talking to people was strictly professional and polite, but all the while still managed to trick them into foolish deals.
Lastly, there were those who cleaned up the mess around the ship: Ciel and Finny. Their hub wasn't so big as to require two people to swab it all the time, so he and Finny traded off. Finny, who was forever addicted to sunshine, cleaned up during the day while Ciel took the night shift when everyone was asleep. It was a simple system, but it worked out perfectly for the both of them.
The captain was a person that Ciel really didn't care for. Captain Lau was nice enough, but was certainly one weird individual. He would pop in on the crew at the most random of times and would only give out orders when absolutely necessary. Mostly he spent all this time just talking with William and the firstmate in the captain's quarters. He was ever an odd individual, but was harmless enough, it seemed.
Right now, the ship was sailing out to sea again after having just sold a catch. The money weighed heavy in Ciel's pocket against his leg as he reminded himself, once again, that he had to stash that away soon, lest he forget. He opted to do this later though, as he inhaled the clean salted air slowly, a contented sigh leaving his lips. It was so nice to have unhindered breathing. He had almost forgotten what it was like during the entire time that horrid smelling carcass was aboard their ship. God, did those things smell after a while...
All of a sudden Ciel was ripped from his thoughts when he heard something hit the water. His blue eyes hardened as he realized that splash had a very familiar sound to it. The teen looked over the edge, not the least bit surprised to catch a glimpse of a silver shimmering tail disappearing below the water.
'There you are again.' He thought to himself, watching the creature vanish beneath the waves. That same splash had plagued him for nearly a month now, teasing him relentlessly only to leave him unsatisfied as he could only catch a brief glance of that tail whenever he tried to investigate. After all this time, he still couldn't figure out what that creature was, and it bothered him endlessly.
When he couldn't find anything else, the teen frowned and took off his eye-patch, using both of his cerulean eyes to scan the water's surface. There was nothing wrong the eye he hid underneath the patch, truth be told. The black patch had been a gag gift from his father when the teen had taken the sea-bound job offer. In spite, he had worn it only to mess with his father, but it had somehow just stuck with him ever since.
''...What are you? A dolphin?'' The teen asked out loud, looking down at the murky depths below as if he could find the answer only if he stared long enough.
''Dolphin?'' Ciel blinked as Finny came to stand next to him and stare down at the water as well. ''Was that what that splash was?''
''I don't know, I couldn't see.'' Ciel frowned and the two of them searched the water's surface for a few moments before someone shouted at them.
''Hey, you two! Stop leanin' over the railin' like that. You're gonna go overboard and I'm not goin' in after ya.'' Bard scolded as he made walked up the steps from the dining hall below deck.
''Oh, oops! Sorry, Bard!'' Finny said, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly as he turned to get to work again. Ciel moved back as well after stealing a final glance at the water. The blue-eyed boy silently tied his eye-patch back on while tuning out Bard's scolding. Honestly, the cook was good guy and all, but his constant brotherly over-protectiveness was irritating at best. Ciel found he couldn't even listen to the whole lecture before he just waved the cook off and walked away, ignoring the offended shouting that he left behind.
By now, people were starting to come back up from the dining hall and Ciel sighed as he heard Grell's flirtatious comments toward William. He managed to skirt past the doorway to the eating hall before the two of them walked on deck, not at all willing to see the shameless attempts at trying to steal a kiss from the businessman. Ciel nearly shuddered at the thought.
''Hey, where are you going so fast, little boy?'' Ciel frowned as the large unmistakable black figure of Undertaker stood in his path suddenly.
''Do you honestly have to ask?'' Ciel questioned, sighing and bringing a hand to his head as he heard a smooching sound and then the loud smack of Grell getting punched in the face.
''Hee hee hee I suppose not.'' The Undertaker cackled and peeked around the corner to watch the quarreling couple, giggling all the while. Ciel looked at him silently, his sapphire eyes calculating. He could never figure the old man out. All he seemed to want to do was just laugh all the time. Besides that, no one knew a thing about him, not even his real name, only his nickname. But the white-haired male was harmless, so no one questioned his odd quirks.
While the Undertaker was distracted, Ciel turned around and headed to the back of the ship, nodding to Claude and Ash as they walked past him. The pair barely acknowledged him, too caught up in their conversation about which part of the sea they should go next.
At the back of the ship, Ciel wasn't surprised when he found Hannah, Meyrin and Tanaka all sitting together. The girls usually stayed to themselves here, preferring the slight privacy it offered. The other crew members rarely came to the stern as there was nothing of interest here. There were only barrels of cargo and other miscellaneous items including a large fish tank. Tanaka usually could be found on different parts of the ship, so he came back here occasionally. Though oddly enough, nobody ever saw him get up and switch spots.
''Oh, Ciel!'' Meyrin greeted and waved him over as soon as she saw him. Hannah silently turned around and stared at him, causing Ciel's flesh to acquire goosebumps as he came to sit down with them. Hannah rarely ever spoke to him, just stared, but she never failed to keep him on edge in her presence.
''You barely touched your food at dinner.'' Meyrin said, frowning as Ciel sat down on one of the high barrels next to her.. ''Is everything alright? You've been acting weird lately, yes you have.'' She asked, concerned, as Tanaka concurred with his usual santa impression.
''Yes. I just wasn't hungry, that's all.'' Ciel said and leaned back against the barrels, looking out over the railing to see the waves rolling behind them. Meyrin silently decided to let the topic go for now and the girls picked up their conversation again as the teen drifted off, thinking about that mysterious silver colored tail.
Eventually, Ciel retired for the rest of the day, waking up around ten in the evening. The blue-eyed teen stretched his arms above his head as he made his way on deck. He didn't bother to grab a coat on his way, however, as the night air here was very warm. Claude must have decided to steer them towards the tropical oceans in search of sperm whales this time.
Speaking of Claude, he, William and Ash were all sitting at a table near the right side of the bow, playing cards and smoking. Well, Ash and Claude were smoking. William was apparently too fancy for such things.
The teen silently walked past them to reach his work tools but stopped when he heard William call out to him, ''Phantomhive. Come here a moment.''
The teen couldn't help but sigh as he turned around and made his way over. He'd rather not deal with these three. Talking to them was always an endevour, as if talking to a brick wall, only worse. At least brick walls never stared at him like he was nothing but a small piece of filth on one of their shoes.
''Yes?'' He asked, coming to stand in front of the table the three were seated at.
''It has come to my attention that you did not do a thorough job last night and that Finnian actually had to pick up your slack.'' William got straight to the point, putting down cards simultaneously with Claude and Ash on middle of the table. His gaze never bothered to look at the teen.
''Oh?'' Ciel asked, lifting an eyebrow and unable to keep the smug lilt of cheeky defiance from his tone, unimpressed with the elder man's rude behavior.
''Yes, and if it happens again, I will dock your pay.'' The slight irritated twitch of William's eye for Ciel's tone didn't go unnoticed.
''See now, you don't have to be so cruel.'' Ash said as he gathered the cards on the table into his deck. ''He's just a boy and people make mistakes.'' Ciel frowned at the insult to his pride for the age dismissing comment but otherwise was surprised that Ash was defending him at all.
''Mistakes must be reprimanded.'' William countered, flipping a card again. ''You know this very well, Ash.''
''You just won't let that go will you?'' Ash chuckled and shrugged. ''You let one whale go by accident and you're branded for life.''
''Yes. That whale cost us a fortune.'' William pushed up his glasses and glared at the white-haired male.
''War.'' Claude said suddenly as the same number card appeared on the table and everyone started laying down three cards to duel.
''Anyway, Phantomhive.'' William said as Claude won the duel, taking everyone's cards. ''I expect you to do your job tonight, thoroughly.''
''Of course.'' Ciel said and returned to his duties, feeling ashamed that he had let his mind slip so much last night by accident. Even more so about the fact that he didn't even realize it until just now. It was all that stupid sea creature's fault. If it would just come up out of the water and show itself, then Ciel surely wouldn't be so obsessed with it.
With a little more force than necessary, Ciel closed the door to the broom closet and decided to start with the back of the ship. He didn't want to be near those three right now, not after that embarrassing lecture.
''Ciel!'' The teenager frowned and stopped when he heard a door close and footsteps approach him from behind. ''There you are. I have been meaning to speak with you.''
The blue-eyed boy turned around when he realized that it was only Agni. He had expected it to be William coming to scold him again. ''Speak with me?''
The teenager set down his bucket, deciding to start swabbing here so that he could still talk to Agni while working. ''Yes.'' The Indian nodded. ''Meyrin told me that you didn't eat dinner.''
''Now that is an exaggeration.'' Ciel said, swabbing the area with practiced ease. ''I did eat, just not very much.''
''Precisely.'' Agni implored, standing in front of Ciel's mop, causing the boy to frown. ''You were distracted by something today, just like all the other days for a long while now.''
''So?''
''So I want to know what it is and so does everyone else. It is not like you to be so distracted.'' Ciel could see that Agni was only concerned and wanted to help, but Ciel didn't need his help, nor anyone elses for that matter. He was perfectly fine.
''It is nothing, Agni.'' Ciel said and walked off to continue working. The slight burn he felt from Agni's concerned gaze watching him was easily brushed off. They all wanted him to open, but he never understood why. It wasn't like any of them were his friends. He didn't need to be close them. He didn't need to open up to them. It would be better for everyone this way, since he had never planned to stay long in the first place.
It was around eleven when Ciel was finally left alone and everyone was sleeping below deck. But it unfortunately took another hour of his alone time for him to actually finish his job. Now, with nothing left, the teen went to his room and brought a case up to the bow of the ship. One would think that since Ciel was done mopping that he would go back to bed, but no. His other duty was to stay up til at least three a.m. and then wake up a crew member so that someone was watching over and steering the ship at all times. Ciel himself could steer the ship in case of an emergency, but that usually never happened. Claude, for the most part, kept the ship in a path that was void of any danger.
The blue-eyed boy set the case on the table and opened it, revealing the violin within. He usually didn't play at night, because he might wake someone up, but he did play it now and again when he felt that he might fall asleep if he didn't do something to keep himself awake, like tonight, when the small sounds of calm waters slapping against the ship was not enough to keep him up.
Placing the instrument at his neck, Ciel sighed at the familiar weight on his shoulder. He strung his bow across the strings, playing a tune from memory, one that his mother had taught him. It started out slow, but progressively grew in speed, working his fingers rhythmically to the lilts and jigs of the Irish tune. As he played, Ciel could faintly hear splashing from the water, but chose to sternly ignore it.
Partway through the melody, the teen frowned and stopped when he hit a wrong note, looking at the strings to try and remember how a certain part went. Everything was quiet as he thought, the splashing having stopped. A few moments later he picked it up again and so did the splashing. Ciel's eyebrow rose at this and he experimentally stopped playing. In response the noise stopped. Now he was really intrigued.
He tried one more time and the same response was found, causing a cheeky smirk to come over Ciel's lips as a smirk found it's way to his lips. As quietly as possible, he went over to the side of the ship where he heard the noise and looked down. The water moved in a strange way before settling, signaling that whatever was there retreated down below. The teenager slithered back to the stairs that led to the steering wheel of the ship quietly, carrying his violin with him. There was a crank up there that controlled a large net used to catch fish in the meantime when the ship was looking for whales.
Ciel grunted quietly as he turned the crank to position the net where he wanted quickly before taking up his violin again. His legs shook as he kept his foot lightly on the latch that dropped the net, keeping his eyes on that one spot where the rustling water had been.
Normally this net was used to just drop in the water and open like a butterfly net to catch stray fish as they sailed, but Ciel figured that it might work in this situation and perhaps the sea creature would get tangled up in it somehow. He severely hoped that it would. He had tried countless times to catch this thing, and had failed every time. Perhaps now, with his violin, he could get it to stay in one spot long enough to catch it.
As he expected, he saw the water rustle in that same spot, but he waited just a little bit longer, until his sapphire gaze caught silver scales. The moment Ciel saw it, he hit the latch with his foot, releasing the net on the water below.
Once Ciel saw the net wiggle, the teen wasted no time in putting his violin down and cranking the net back up again. He didn't look to see if he had actually caught anything yet, focused on moving the net onto the deck so that if he really did catch something, than it would just fall onto the deck if it managed to break free.
All the while, his mind was racing as he moved the net, adrenaline and excitement coursing through his veins. 'I bet it's just a dumb dolphin.' Ciel thought as he slowly stopped the crank. 'Or it could be a shark, for that matter.' Well, whatever he was expecting to find, Ciel sure wasn't anticipating to encounter widened wine-red eyes staring back at him in shock.
Ciel couldn't believe what he was seeing. His jaw dropped in shock before he could stop it as he stared at the creature before him, time at a stand still as sapphire and ruby gazes clashed.
He’d heard stories of such creatures from the drunken sailors that returned from god awful long journeys from the sea. But of course no one ever believed them: It was just a silly tale. But now, here he was, staring one straight in the face. A real…life…”Merman…” The word left his lips in an amazed whisper, time at a stand still as sapphire and ruby gazes clashed in stunned silence.
~Random Short~
Ciel sighed, bored, as he stared out at the vast ocean in front of him, leaning against the ship's railing. With each rock of the ship he could feel his body shifting to get closer and closer to the edge, but he couldn't fathom to care whether it dumped him into the ocean right now. At least it would be more exciting than listening to Grell's endless cooing at William.
“Ciel~!” The teen frowned as a voice whispered in his ear all of a sudden in a jamaican accent. “What are you doing?” The teen scrambled back as a live crab suddenly appeared in front of his face. The crustacean wiggled, it's pincers held together with rubber bands and Bard held it up in front of the teen. “Up on this ship is your home~!”
“What are you doing?” The teenager asked, voice irritated as he held a hand to his startled heart.
“Ciel, listen to me. The ocean world, it's a mess~!” Bard continued to sing to him, not at all bothered by the deckhand's murderous expression as he made the crab dance a bit in his grasp.
“Stop it right now.” The Phantomhive hissed as he backed up some, only to find himself backed up against the Undertaker.
“Life up on this ship is better than anything they got down there!” Ciel actually let out a manly squeak as the Undertaker suddenly picked him up into his arms from behind. The weird man then decided to spin the teen around as he and Bard started to sing. “The seaweed is always greener~!”
They unfortunately didn't have get to finish their song as the teen managed to escape from the Undertaker and push the two of them overboard, causing Bard to squeal in a girlish manner and the Undertaker to laugh hysterically.
“Idiots.”
Chapter 2: The Gaze
Notes:
Disclaimer: Black Butler belongs to Yana Toboso.
Songs Listened To When Writing: Lights by Ellie Goulding, Omen III by Magic Affair
Fun Fact: This ENTIRE fic was inspired by the song 'Virginia Company' from the movie, Pocahontas.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Ciel could only stare in silence, mouth dry and agape. His hands shook with unbridled shock as the merman just continued to stare at him with an unreadable expression. The teen felt his legs move without his consent down the stairs and ever closer to the mystical being in the net. It was like there was some unknown force drawing him forward as the two of them continued their staring exchange.
Ciel had managed to get only a few feet from the net before the spell was broken by the sound of heavy footsteps making their way upstairs. ''Ciel? Why are you making so much noise, bud?'' Bard asked as he came up on deck, yawning rubbing his eye irritably.
A stunned silence suddenly fell over the chef like a cloud of cool water as he laid his gaze upon the merman. The group was enveloped in the awkward quiet then as Ciel looked lost as to explain what had happened. All of a sudden, Bard let out a high-pitched girly squeal when the merman turned his judging wine-red gaze on the chef. The burly man had scampered over to Ciel before the teenager could blink.
Ciel wheezed when Bard forced all the air out of his lungs as the chef enveloped him in a bone crushing, overprotective hug. ''Bard, let go!'' He glared at the man and pushed at Bard's forearms, trying to break free.
''Wh...What is that thing?! When did it get here!? Don't ya' know the stories? It'll cast a spell on us and kill us all!'' Bard said hastily, moving shaking the teen in hysteria. He had heard the myths and legends about things on the sea. Mermaids/men were a hot topic to talk about among sailors, after all. And while he fully knew that half that spewed garbage was probably made up, he couldn't help believing it anyway because he had always been a very superstitious man...and a gullible one too. ''It'll lure our ship inta' the rocks and then feast on our innards!'' Bard cried, shaking and sobbing as he abruptly crushed Ciel against his chest, the latter having a bored look upon his face.
''He has a gender.'' Ciel said in a monotone voice.
''You don't know that!'' The chef answered then started sputtering and took a step back with Ciel as the merman twisted, grabbed onto the ropes with his hands and gingerly lowered himself onto the deck. The creature in question had his eyes fixated on Ciel with an amused smirk on his face, making the teenager shiver slightly.
''What what WHAT is going on up here?'' Another voice yelled from the entrance to the deck as Grell stormed his way upstairs, wearing a sexy red silk nightgown and curlers containing his deep red tresses. ''Oh!'' The whaler threw his hands together and swooned when he saw what lay on the deck, hearts a flutter in his gaze. ''And who is this unexpected beefcake?''
Both Bard and Ciel had matching looks of disgust on their faces as they watched Grell let down his now curled tresses and practically run at the merman to glomp him. ''Ooo! Hold me, my scrumptious man-candy!~'' The red head didn't even get close to the sea creature as the merman abruptly rolled out of the way of the oncoming whaler, causing Grell to slip on the watered wood underneath him and crash against some barrels on the other side of the deck. Surprisingly enough though, Grell seemed to like it. “Ooo~! Playing hard to get aren't we?”
It was then that William decided to show his face, coming up onto the deck in his blue and white striped pajamas and angrily pushing his glasses up higher onto his nose.
''What in the blazes is going on up-?'' The brunette stopped mid-sentence at the scene before him. Bard was hugging Ciel to him and sobbing uncontrollably, shouting out lines like, 'He's making it mad! It's gonna kill us now!' as the teenager in his arms remained expressionless. Meanwhile, Grell was trying to glomp some fish-man and kept getting smacked in the face with its silver tail.
This was...not what William expected to find when he came up here.
The business man's eyes met with the merman for a moment and William felt himself begin to shake. His eyes widened as he stared, just thinking about...all the money to be had off of this creature. At that moment, William didn't care why or how he got on deck, just that this merman was going to make everybody on this ship stinking rich! He could just see the possibilities now. William's hand shook as he held onto the side of his glasses, causing them to shake as well as dollar bills flashed in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Ciel was growing increasingly embarrassed by the fact that he knew these people and sighed as he patted Bard's arm, wanting desperately to be let go right about now...
After William came on board, everything seemed to blur together in a jumble. Eventually, the entire crew was on deck to make a disorderly a circle around the mer-creature. Grell lay comatose from too many hits to the face while Hannah, Meyrin, and Agni had held down and completely immobilized the merman. Throughout all this, the sea creature said nothing, only stared at them all with a poorly guarded curiosity.
Once the merman was restrained, William had been the only one of them to take the initiative to the captain's quarters. Ciel could hear his frantic knocking against the captain's door from where he still lay ensnared in Bard's overprotective embrace, squished uncomfortably close to Finny, who had somehow also got snagged as well. The cook was sobbing comically now and saying over and over again, ''It's alright guys! I'll protect ya!'', even though the danger was handled.
''We are fine.'' Ciel finally said, a clearly annoyed jilt to his voice. ''Let go, would you?''
''Don't you panic Ciel! I said I would protect ya!''
Ciel groaned and harshly rubbed at the skin around his temples, feeling the beginnings of a headache coming on. Everyone suddenly became quiet and the teenager looked up at the Captain's door when William abruptly called for silence.
The sound of shuffling could be heard from inside as William impatiently knocked again. ''Captain! Your presence is required on deck.'' The business man pushed up his glasses and waited as he heard a voice coming from the room. It's tone was teasing, a serpentine type of mischief threading it's core.
''The ultimate symbol of misfortune and greed. For anyone trying to capture the mystical creature would surely end up in Davy Jones' locker. But then again, what sailor wouldn't want to pursue such an alluring prize, even knowing all that awaits him is total destruction? Tis truly a devil's game we are playing.''
William could barely contain his shock as he heard this and took a step back as the door handle turned and started to slowly open. ''So you already know what we found?''
''Oh? So you found something have you?'' A chinese man with brown hair and squinting eyes opened the door, a curious look on his face. He placed his right index finger up to his lip in thought as his other hand rested on his bare hip. The only article the man was covered him was a black thong with which he apparently held no shame in revealing. ''Oh my. Well what is it then?''
''Captain Lau!'' William shouted, immediately covering his eyes at the captain's indecent state of dress. ''Please put on some clothes at once!''
''But why? I was only reading Ran-Mao the tale of The Little Mermaid.'' The chinese captain held up a copy of said book. ''Isn't that right, Ran-Mao?'' His firstmate walked up behind him then, wearing Lau's captain's hat and coat, which sagged down on her petite form and barely covered her breasts.
''Seaweed.''
William sighed and held up his hand, pinching the bridge of his nose. He was quite curious to figure out exactly what they had been doing, but then again, he'd rather not know. ''Just...put some pants on and come down on deck, if you will.''
''Of course. I'll report on deck in a moment.'' Lau laughed and thrust his hips forward when he said the word 'deck' and William immediately felt that he didn't need to see that...
It took only a few minutes before Lau and Ran-Mao were both on deck, staring at the merman with quiet, puzzled features. ''So...what is it?'' Lau finally ventured to ask after the silence engulfed them all for far too long.
''It's a bloody merman!'' Bard shrieked, squeezing Ciel and Finny to him painfully, still keeping a safe distance from the sea creature. Finny seemed unaffected by the man's strong grip but Ciel felt like there was a ton of bricks on his chest. The eye-patch wearing boy coughed and slapped the man's arm in response, but Bard refused to budge.
''And it's quite squishy too!~'' Undertaker cooed as he poked the sea creature's cheek and then retreated his fingers when it snapped angered red eyes at him.
''And not to mention beautiful! Oh just let me at him!~'' The newly awoken Grell preened from off to the side, where he was held back because of Claude's tight hold on his long red tresses. ''I'd be his little cuddlefish any day!''
''Oh...'' Lau finally piped up, looking over the catch on deck. ''So.... what do you want me to do about it?''
''Captain Lau.'' A large red vein popped on William's head and he stepped forward towards the chinese man. ''This...creature could potentially make us more money than any of us has ever seen in our lives.'' A look overcome with greed overcame his eyes as he gazed at the creature. “Do you not see the possibilities to be had?”
''Ah...'' Was all the captain said in response, starting to see why William was in such a fuss about this.
''Yes. Now I suggest we...''
Ciel drowned out the business-talk that William proclaimed to the boss, not caring about the outrageous numbers thrown around and calculations to be made. He looked up at Bard when the cook's arms grew lax, his mouth practically watering over the amount of money that William was describing. The blue-eyed boy removed himself from his grip and looked around the deck at his crew mates.
Undertaker had stopped pestering the merman and was now just standing off in the corner with Tanaka, cackling to himself as the two of them sipped tea. Grell was screaming at Claude to let go of his hair while the other male just remained emotionless. Finny kept dozing off in Bards arms as the chef had dollar bill signs in his eyes. While Ash had now joined the discussion and both he and William were bombarding the poor captain with numbers and math.
As Ciel saw this he sighed and brought a hand to his head. He never knew that this lot could be so obsessed with money. But then again, it wasn't entirely a surprise seeing as they all came from middle-class families and were not used to hearing such big amounts when discussing economics.
The boy felt eyes on him then and he looked up, connecting gazes with the merman. A shiver snaked itself down Ciel's spine as that red gaze felt as if it were staring into his soul. He could barely stand it and looked away abruptly, trying to shake off that feeling. He never noticed the smirk that appeared on the merman's lips at his reaction.
Eventually it was decided that everything would be handled in the morning. The mer-creature was placed in the tank on the back end of the ship that was used to house fish that were caught using the ship's nets. Wire mess was placed over the top of the tank and it was then pushed into the center of the back deck, making escape impossible for the creature.
After the merman was settled in his new prison, sleep was desperately calling out to all of them. William and Claude were to stay awake together, though, and keep watch over the merman, seeing as it was Claude's turn to watch the ship at night and William had decided to accompany him to calculate some figures.
Claude himself had never taken his focus off of the sea creature, which Ciel found to be very disturbing, but he left him alone, having another issue in mind.
''Hey. We're not just going to leave him here like this are we?'' Ciel spoke up, shoving his hands into his pocket, unimpressed, when everyone had turned to head below deck.
''What do you mean?'' Ash asked, looking very annoyed by now. He detested working late, after all.
''Well, aren't you going to... put some fish in there or something?'' Ciel asked, probably being one of the few people on board that actually saw this merman as an autonomous being and not just some bag of money. Annoyance or not, he still felt responsible for the thing, even if he had wanted to dive underneath the harsh waters and strangle it for it's elusive actions more than once.
''Yea, what if he gets hungry?'' Finny piped in, looking upset. He cared about the merman's feelings too apparently.
''Come to think of it, what does he eat anyway?'' Agni pondered out loud.
''Who cares?'' Claude asked no one in particular. For some reason he didn't seem to care one way or the other about the merman's wellbeing...
''It appears that you should.'' Undertaker cackled, poking Claude's nose with his long finger. ''What if he dies from starvation? Then we'll be out that large sum of money dear William was talking about.''
Lau clapped his hands together, gaining everyone's attention. ''You do have a point. I suggest we throw some fish in for him before we head off for a long night's rest. There still should be some live ones from the other day's catch, yes?'' While at sea, sometimes they caught and ate their own fish, to conserve money whenever possible.
''But what if he's a vegetarian?'' Finny suddenly gasped, holding his hands together and looking from Lau to the merman's tank and back.
''Then some kelp should suffice for now. We have more than enough of that stuck on our nets.'' William offered, pointing to the net from which the merman was caught. There were long strands of kelp streaming off of it, deep shades of green tangled with the harsh brown of the ropes.
''Yes. That sounds good enough for now.'' Lau agreed and the items were thrown into the merman's tank before everyone headed off to bed. Ciel was the last to leave the scene and shivered slightly as he could feel those red eyes on him as he walked back to the bunks. He dared one look back and wasn't at all surprised to see the man-fish smirking at him in what the boy could only describe as a mischievous way.
In response, Ciel turned up his chin and stalked off. Even though he was initially shocked that what had been plaguing him this whole time was a merman, that didn't mean that Ciel still wasn't angry with the creature for not showing himself sooner. A little hint would have been nice, thank you very much.
The teenager nearly jumped when a hand landed on his shoulder unexpectedly as he rounded a corner. Lau only smiled at the boy as Ciel inwardly ordered his racing heart to calm, having not expected that in the least. ''Ciel. A little birdie told me that you were the one who actually caught the.. the...''
''Merman.'' Ciel could not help looking at the man as if he were an idiot. Seriously, how on EARTH could Lau not know about this? Had he not heard all the stories? ''And by 'little birdie', do you mean William?''
''Ah, little Phantomhive you never cease to amaze me with that brain of yours.'' Ciel stiffened when the captain threw an arm over his shoulders. He had never been one for physical contact, after all. ''Yes it was William, and he and I would like to thank you wholeheartedly for your excellent fishing skills.''
''Good.'' Ciel twitched when Ran-Mao said this and patted his head like a child.
''Thank me?''
''Yes. When we bring the fish to port, you will get a significant cut of the money and I'll also promote you when all this is over.''
Ciel's eyes widened at this. That sounded too good to be true, but apparently it wasn't as Lau looked the most serious that Ciel ever saw him. ''That sounds...great, sir. Thank you.''
''No problem.'' Lau laughed and messed up Ciel's hair, causing the teenager to frown. ''You caught the thing after all, ha ha.'' The captain removed his hand and gestured towards the stairway to the bunks. ''Now, you should probably get some rest. You've been up all night.''
Ciel felt kind of insulted to be talked to like he was just a little kid, but he didn't have the strength to argue. The man was right, it had been an extremely long night for him. His legs felt like led as he dragged himself off to his own bunk, thinking about those mysterious red eyes all the while.
Up on deck, Lau and Ran-Mao came to stand beside William and Claude. The two were calculating numbers at the table they had moved in front of the merman's tank. The smell of ripped eraser permeating the sea salt filled air as they constantly wrote and then erased estimates. The merman himself had laid down by the bottom of his prison, watching them with a laced intent.
Lau looked at the man-fish, the expression on his face dark. ''So...do you think we can get more money if he's alive...or dead?''
The merman's ears perked at this, but he otherwise remained motionless. ''I don't know.'' William said, not looking up. ''I would have to make a few phone calls to be sure. More research could be done on him if he were dead, but still, a live merman is not something that people find everyday.''
''Hm...until later then.''
The next day, Ciel yawned as he helped Bard, Tanaka and Hannah peel potatoes for lunch, even though Tanaka wasn't assisting at all. He just sat in the corner, as per usual. The teenager sniffed, his eyes drooping. He had tossed and turned all night long, but sleep had not taken him for some reason. He blamed that stupid merman, he couldn't get the fish off his mind at all. Even now, he was still plaguing the teen's thoughts.
''Ciel.''
He didn't even know why either. That creature wasn't anything special. It was just half fish. So what?
''CIEL.''
Then again, those red eyes of his did have something mysterious to them. Ciel couldn't even begin to think what they lay hidden about the creature's true thoughts.
''CIEL!''
''Huh?'' Was said teen's intelligent response when Bard threw a potato at him.
''Geez. Would ya' listen? I told ya' three times to go upstairs and get a barrel from the stern. We're out ta potatoes.'' Bard crossed his arms, glaring down at Ciel.
''Oh...'' The blue-eyed boy said and got up from his seat, putting down his half peeled vegetable on the table and turning to leave.
''Are you alright Ciel?'' A hand was placed on the boy's forehead and everyone, except for Hannah, gawked when the real Tanaka was standing there, checking Ciel's temperature. ''You seem pale. Did you get any sleep last night?''
Ciel's initial shock wore off and he gently removed Tanaka's hand from his forehead. ''Yes.'' He said and made his way up onto the deck, ignoring the two concerned looks that were thrown his way.
The afternoon sun blinded Ciel as he ascended out of the ship’s stomach. He grumbled and shielded his eye while it adjusted, feet ascending the steps to the cargo area solely from memory. He kept his eyes from going anywhere near the fish tank, determined not to feel the chill that went up his spine when those bright red eyes connected with his. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed to the creaking floor boards as he made his way to the barrels. ''If I don’t look at him, then he can’t disturb me.'' He reasoned to himself.
'Oh, I think you’d be wrong about that.' A foreign voice resounded within his skull. The voice was smooth and resonated with a deep timber full of mischief.
Ciel spun around on his heel with a gasp, looking to face the direction he’d heard this internal voice come from. The teenager’s single cerulean eye widened and he heard his own breath go still.
The merman had sunk to the bottom of the tank and was leering at Ciel with those piercing red eyes and a bemused smirk. 'We meet again, it would seem.'
~Random Short~(Written by my best friend, A Midnight's Dream)
“Thank you for your continued patronage, Lord Ciel.” The stand tender dipped his head in sincere gratitude while said earl pocketed his wares.
“No need to thank me.” The boy said politely. “You’re by far the best of your trade. To go anywhere else would be foolish.”
The man was about to open his mouth to thank him again when screaming from a few stands over interrupted him.
“Help! Help!” A woman at the fruit stand was pointing to a man who was running away from the stand with a burlap sack thrown over his shoulder. “Thief! Someone stop him!”
Ciel nearly forgot to mutter an excuse me as he started to race after the thief. He reached behind him in his pack until he felt his fingers close around a familiar, spherical object. “I know how to stop him.” Ciel brandished a two-toned red and white ball from his pack and pressed a metal button in its center to make it expand in size. “Go, Sebastian! I choose you!”Ciel whipped the ball through the air and with a burst of light the ball opened to release the crude shape of a creature. A small crowd from the bazaar gathered around the spectacle, waiting to see what pocket monster the lad had chosen.
“Meeeeeeeoooooow!” A Grell wearing a Cheshire Cat cosplay mewed, licking his paw and running it over his ear.
Ciel made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat and returned the pokemon to its pokeball. “Blast it, all these pokeballs look the same.” He cursed while brandishing another two toned ball. “Damn it, the thief is getting away.” Without hesitation Ciel whipped the second ball through the air. This time when the ball burst open a black suited butler clad with white bunny ears crouched on the ground with a bored expression on its face.
The thief noticed that Ciel wanted to fight, and turned to face the opposing pokemon with a growl. Good. Ciel thought. Now I’ll have a chance to catch it. “Sebastain, use your furry attack now!” Ciel yelled, thrusting his finger threw the air at the thief.
The pokemon only yawned and laid down on its side.
“What? Hello! I’m talking to you!”
A small caption appeared out of the edge of his vision reading: Trainer Ciel does not have enough gym badges. Sebastian ignored orders. Sebastian is loafing around.
“What?!” Ciel cried in outrage. His pale cheeks tinted a light scarlet when he started to hear spectators from the crowd chuckle at his inexperience. Damn it all, this was supposed to be my time to shine, not embarrass myself! “Fine, I don’t need you.” Ciel growled the last word at his black clad pokemon. “I’ll catch this one myself.” Reaching into his pack Ciel brandished the most expensive and most powerful pokeball money could buy: an ultraball.
“Go! Ultraball!” He cried and hurled the thing through the air far enough to collide with the thief’s chest. The ball opened, and turned the thief’s form into a polygon of light before it sucked him inside the ball. The ball fell to the ground and began rocking to and fro as the thief within struggled to get out. Ciel clenched his fist and diligently watched the pokeball. Eventually the ball stopped rocking and made a soft ping noise, signaling the pokemon’s capture. Excited cries erupted from the crowd and Ciel let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. A caption appeared at the bottom of the screen, Booyah! Wild Thief has been caught!
“Of course. It was nothing for the head of the Phantomhive family.”
Give a nickname to the captured thief?
Ciel placed a finger to his lip for a moment in pondering before a wicked grin spread across his face. She would be so mad when she found out but he didn't care.
“Yes…Lizzy.” He thought the name perfectly suited the burly, 40-year-old man.
Notes:
Hey guys! Thank you for all the support I've gotten so far as I repost this fic. I'm so glad that it's getting attention, because I honestly didn't think that it would seeing as I had just planned to upload it for content on this new account of mine.
As always, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter, and any continued support, questions of comments is forever appreciated. Thank you! Ja ne!
~Migoto Nami
Chapter 3: The Voice
Notes:
Disclaimer: Black Butler belongs to Yana Toboso.
Songs Listened To When Writing: Under The Sea from the Little Mermaid
P.S. This ENTIRE fic was inspired by the song 'Virginia Company' from the movie, Pocahontas.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
''You.'' Ciel said, abandoning his task and walking closer to the merman's tank. ''Was that you just now?''
The only response he got was a slight tilt of the head from the sea creature as the being's smirk grew wide. Ciel grit his teeth, feeling irritated. He knew that he heard someone talking to him. ''Do not play dumb with me, creature. Respond!'' The merman remained silent, placing his elbows on the bottom of the tank and resting his chin on top of laced elegant fingers. He looked away innocently, mischievous grin still in place, when Ciel moved closer to his prison.
One single blue eye glared down at the annoying sea creature. ''I said answer me!'' Ciel slammed his hand against the glass but the merman appeared unaffected; those alluring red eyes looking off to the side teasingly. ''I know you can speak. I am not crazy.''
''Are you sure about that, little Phantomhive?'' Said boy didn't even have to turn around to see who was addressing him as he felt a long black fingernail poke at his cheek.
Ciel slapped the Undertaker's hand away from his face and turned around to face the black silk clad man. ''Yes, I am.''
The white haired male cackled at the teen's response. ''I wouldn't know about that. Sane people normally don't talk to fishies.''
Ciel deadpanned. ''You're one to talk. You're probably the most insane person out of all of us.''
''Oh I wouldn't say that. I can think of another who is just as crazy as I am'' The Undertaker laughed when a blur of red abruptly ran past both of them. Grell pressed up against the tank, batting his pretty eyelashes and running his hands over the glass as if he were stroking the sea creature himself.
''Sweetheart, did you miss me? I missed you~! I thought I was going to die during those three minutes that we were apart~!'' The man-fish visibly shivered and turned away in response.
Ciel looked away from the scene immediately, holding no desire to see Grell's botched attempt at flirting for the twelfth time that day. ''...I see.'' He turned to go, but the Undertaker placed a hand upon the teen's shoulder.
''Next time you want to annoy the fishy, try something else. Cuz if that glass breaks we're gonna have to put him in a glass cup instead.'' The old man cackled to himself, swaying at the idea. ''On second thought, that would be hilarious! Hee hee continue what you were doin' then.''
''No never mind. I get it.'' Ciel said and went to retrieve the barrel of potatoes that Bard requested. He could feel the merman's eyes staring at him again but the teen blatantly refused to meet the fish's gaze as he made his way back towards the kitchen.
He skirted past Meyrin and Agni, who waved hello to him before continuing their walk together, continuing their conversation as they went. As he descended past the doorway that led to the kitchen, laughter could be heard from above. An instant scowl formed on the teen's face as he could hear Ash's obnoxious guffaw reached his ears. He was probably up in the helm talking and joking around with Claude, like usual.
The teen rolled his eyes before the aroma of food wafted into his nose upon entering the kitchen. Ciel looked betrayed as he saw that breakfast had already been completed. ''Hey, I thought you needed these?'' The boy put down the barrel next to the others, glaring at Bard as the chef sheepishly scratched the back of his head.
''Well...I do. But not until later.'' The chef said. ''I figured that I'd ask you to get em' while you're still up cuz there's no way in hell that I'm goin near that man-fish.'' Bard just shivered at the thought. ''Besides, you haven't been outside all day. I thought that maybe you could use some fresh air.''
Ciel sighed and shook his head, having no strength to argue. ''Whatever.'' was all the teen bothered said as he went upstairs to get some rest for his shift. He usually woke up when everyone else did in the mornings and helped prepare lunch for the day(seeing as there was surely nothing better to do). Then he would eat and sleep until supper so that he wouldn't be tired while he worked all night.
Today, though, Ciel's appetite had vanished unexpectedly and as such decided to just go to sleep early. That sultry voice inside his head has startled him as well, but he knew that he hadn't imagined it, so it must have been that merman's doing. It had to be.
Unfortunately for Ciel, his shift came around far too soon for his liking. Also,to top it all off, everyone had decided to go to bed early because they didn't get much sleep last night because of the rambunctious night they had all had beforehand. This left Ciel with much more alone time with the sea creature than he could deal with.
A sigh left the teen as he stood there pondering how things could get any worse, as he felt those wine-red eyes staring at him again. Ciel had actually been avoiding coming back here altogether for the better part of an hour because of this particular reason.
Fortunately, Ciel didn't hear that voice inside his head again, which he was extremely thankful for, but the silence was getting to him as he went about his nightly routine. After about a half an hour of silence though, he could take the staring no longer.
''You know, why don't you just take a picture?'' He finally snapped, eyes finally locking upon expectant red. ''It'll last longer.''
There was a silence as the two of them just stared at each other for a few moments. Ciel scoffed and went to get back to work but froze when he heard a voice, the same one from before.
''What's a picture?''
''I knew it was you!'' Ciel shouted, turning around to face the man-fish and pointing an accusing finger at the merman, who cocked his head, that stupid smug smirk in place. ''I knew you could talk.''
''If you already knew that, then why are you acting so surprised?'' The merman's voice was laced with amusement as he watched the teen's flustered face get.
''Shut up! Why didn't you say anything earlier? You made me look like an idiot.''
''Oh, I assure you, you didn't need my help with that at all.'' The sea creature chuckled and Ciel's eyes narrowed in anger.
''Just answer my question.''
''My goodness I never knew humans were so needy.'' The man-fish cackled.
''You are so annoying.'' Ciel grumbled, closing his eyes and massaging his temples.
The merman chuckled, floating up near the top of the tank and looking down at the teen. ''To answer your question, not just anyone can hear me speak.''
''...What do you mean by that?'' Ciel crossed his arms, giving the merman a skeptical look.
''I mean precisely what I said. The only people who can hear me are those I choose to have listen.''
''And you chose me?'' Ciel frowned, feeling goosebumps appear on his arms as red eyes met his.
''Yes. You are very interesting, and I find you quite entertaining.''
''Is that the reason why you kept plaguing me for the past month?'' Ciel let his arms drop to his sides, genuinely curious to hear the merman's answer.
''Basically.'' The man-fish shrugged and sunk down to the bottom of his prison. ''I do not really have a reason as to why I kept following you... But your reaction to only seeing my tail was definitely a bonus.'' Ciel's face flushed in embarrassment and grit his teeth.
''Whatever. This conversation is over.'' The blue-eyed teen snapped and grabbed his mop, which had fallen to the ground at some point. ''I have work to do, so just sit there and be quiet like the stupid fish that you are.''
Ciel rolled his eyes as he heard the merman chuckle at him once more. Any other person on this planet probably would have been excited to be conversing with such a mystical being but Ciel just found him to be annoying and cocky so far.
Thankfully, the merman was silent as Ciel went to work. When finished, the blue-eyed boy put away his cleaning instruments and made his way back to the stern. He looked at the tank to find the sea creature lying down, his back towards Ciel. The teen bit his lip, feeling as if the guilt could swallow him right there.
Ciel had never meant for this to happen. He had just wanted to see what had been plaguing him for the past month and had planned to throw it back into the ocean once he figured it out. But last night, everything transpired so fast and it just wasn't Ciel's place to argue with Lau or William. Especially not over something like this that could potentially make all of them rich. The prospect of getting that much money and a promotion, like Lau had said last night, should have made Ciel feel extremely content, but all he felt was growing shame.
He watched the merman for a few moments before sighing and walking over to him. ''So...what's your name?'' The teen asked, crossing his arms and leaning his back against the tank.
''Why do you wish to know?'' Red eyes peered at him. Ciel stared into them for a few moments before looking away.
''I'm just curious.'' The teen shrugged. Ciel, like anyone else in his position would be, was curious to know a few things about the merman.
''I don't have one.''
Ciel heard shuffling in the tank and turned around to face the man-fish who was now laying on his stomach, facing the boy. ''How can you not have a name?'' Ciel asked, raising an eyebrow.
''I had one once. Though it has been so long since it was used by another sea creature. I can not recall what it was.'' The merman shrugged, tail swaying back and forth slowly in the water as he watched Ciel. ''If you think about it, a name isn't all that important in the ocean.''
''Well on land it is.'' Ciel explained. ''It's how we address each other. For example, my name is Ciel. People call me as such when speaking to me.''
''I know. I heard a few people address you with that name.''The merman chuckled. ''And if me having no name bothers you so greatly, then why don't you just give me one?''
''I...well...'' Ciel didn't know what to say, suddenly feeling awkward from the suggestion. ''Are you sure?''
''Are you not able to come up with anything? Odd. I pegged you as being an intelligent human. I suppose I was wrong.'' The sea creature teased, taking great delight in seeing Ciel flush and glare at him. ''I do not care either way, I assure you.''
''Fine then.'' Ciel looked around the stern, trying to find something to inspire a name for the sea creature before he got teased again. His eyes caught a red picture of a particular crustacean on a barrel. A sly smirk found it's way to his lips as he walked over to it, placing his hand atop it and turning to face the merman, who was looking at him curiously. ''Then...Sebastian. From now on, at least to me, your name will be Sebastian.''
The merman was silent for a moment before he smiled at Ciel, causing the boy to blink. ''Certainly, well then please, call me Sebastian.'' He said, trying out his new name for himself. ''But may I ask why you chose that name?''
''It's the name of a red crab in a story that I know.'' Ciel explained and tapped his index finger on the picture of the crab.
''I see.'' Sebastian said, bringing an hand up to his mouth to hide his laughter. ''How...clever.''
''I didn't hear you coming up with anything.'' Ciel said, an angry vein pulsing on his forehead. ''Anyway, I am going to retire now.'' The teen saw the clock out of the corner of his eye and saw that it was time to wake up Claude. He stretched his hands over his head, lacing his fingers together as he did so. ''So I will see you later.''
''You don't have to, you know.'' Sebastian said suddenly, causing Ciel to stop and stare at him. The merman stared at the teen with hooded, impish eyes causing him to shiver slightly from their intensity. ''I can sense the guilt that you harbor for imprisoning me.'' Ciel flinched and a smirk made it's way onto Sebastian's lips. ''You know you can always release me... and let go of your regret.''
Ciel didn't say anything, staring straight ahead and away from the deceitful sea creature. He looked at Sebastian after a moment and gave a smirk of his own. ''You know... I would, but I don't have the keys. So, I'll have to bid you good night, Sebastian.'' The deckhand said before the sea creature could protest and headed on his way downstairs. Ciel would be lying if he said that he didn't feel any guilt towards the merman's current situation, but letting him go was definitely not an option right now.
Sebastian watched him go, a frown piercing his lips. ''Good night...Ciel.''
“In sixteen hundred seven~! We sail the open sea~! For glory, God, and gold AND THE VIRGINIA COMPANY~!'' Ciel covered his ears with his hands and glared at Bard as the cook merrily sang. He looked over to Hannah, who was calmly making breakfast and appearing totally unaffected by the loud singing. How the hell did she manage that?
Ciel growled when he felt Bard throw an arm over his shoulders and sway them both together as he continued, ''Or so we have been told by the VIRGINIA COMPANY~!''
''Bard! Shut up! You sing that same song EVERY morning!'' Ciel protested loudly but the cook didn't care and just continued with his early morning routine as he cut up some fruit. The deckhand grumbled and pinched the bridge of his nose. ''Ugh. I am going to kill you one of these days.''
''Ciel.'' Hannah said, getting the boy's attention. Which was a miracle in itself because of Bard's obnoxiously loud singing. ''Go tell everyone that breakfast will be ready shortly.''
''Oh thank the Lord.'' Ciel mumbled to himself and headed up on deck, thankful to be away from that mess. His task didn't take very long as most of the crew could be found still asleep among their bunks or in their normal morning locations. The only ones who were oddly misplaced were Agni, Meyrin, and Grell, and the teen had a sneaking suspicion as to where he might be...
''Oh my scrumptious noodlekins! You're so cute when you look at me that way!~'' Ciel couldn't help the cheeky grin that came over his face as he found Grell torturing Sebastian once again. A chuckle left the deckhand as he lent against the side of the ship, watching the chaos unfold.
Red eyes could barely hold their glare as the the merman caught his gaze and Ciel wasn't at all surprised when he heard Sebastian's sultry voice echo in his mind again, 'Please get this...individual away from me. I am gathering a headache.'
Ciel couldn't stop his amused smirk. 'Why should I make him leave? You look you're having so much fun.'
'I most certainly am not. Now I implore you to get rid of...him.'
'Alright alright.' Ciel shook his head and walked over to Grell, getting the red head's attention.''What do you want, brat? Can't you see I am oggling my hunky fish-sicle?''
Ciel raised an eyebrow at the whaler's choice of words but otherwise didn't comment on it. ''Breakfast is ready and also, William's looking for you.” He gestured for Grell to come closer, as if to tell him a secret. “I think he's getting jealous that you're spending all your time out here with the merman instead of with him.''
''What?'' Grell exclaimed, taking a hold of Ciel's shoulders and shaking the teen, much to the boy's irritation and Sebastian's pleasure. ''My poor William! I was just flirting! He has to know that he's the only one for me, right? Oh my dear William, I'm coming~!'' The redhead zoomed off to find his love then, leaving the deckhand quite disoriented and dizzy.
''...Thank you.'' Sebastian said after a moment, getting as close to Ciel as the glass would allow. ''I can not describe in words how...disturbing that person is.''
''Trust me, I know.'' Ciel agreed, dusting off his clothes. ''I've had to put up with him for years.''
''...He has come onto you like this?'' Ciel looked up at Sebastian, gulping when he saw the a shaded look in the merman's eyes.
''No I didn't mean it like that.'' The blue eyed boy put up his hands, trying to keep the peace. ''I meant that I've just had to be around him for a long time, that's all. We both live on the same ship.''
''...I see.'' Sebastian said, looking off to the side quietly. It was then that Ciel decided upon a change of subject.
''Have you seen a tall guy with white hair and a girl with red hair and glasses recently? I need to tell them that breakfast's ready.''
Sebastian gazed back at Ciel and nodded, gesturing behind the teen to two figures talking over by the very end of the ship. ''They have been over there talking for an awful long time.''
Ciel looked behind him and saw Agni and Meyrin looking awfully close to each other as they talked. The Indian was scratching the back of his head sheepishly as Meyrin laughed. ''Oh, I see what's going on here...'' He had thought that the two of them had been spending a lot more time together than usual, and now he knew why.
''...Is she his mate?'' Ciel nearly jumped in surprise when Sebastian bluntly asked his question right next to his ear through the glass.
''I don't know.'' Ciel answered incredulously, crossing his arms and looking off to the side. ''Don't ask me.''
''To me it appears that she is.'' Sebastian said, lying down. His signature smirk came onto his face as he looked up at the teen curiously. ''Tell me Ciel, do you have a mate?''
''What?'' Ciel asked a little more loudly than was probably necessary. ''No.''
''Oh? Why? Is it because of your disagreeable personality?''
''No!'' Ciel snapped. ''And you are one to talk.''
''Or maybe perhaps it is that your species finds you unattractive?'' Sebastian teased, smiling mischievously when the teen glared angrily at him.
''Would you be quiet?!'' Ciel practically yelled, not caring that he was probably heard by half of the whole ship.
''Or could it be that you have no mate because of your-''
''Ugh, just shut up Sebastian!''
''So...have you found out anything yet?'' Lau asked, stroking Ran-Mao's back as she sat in his lap. William was currently in front of him, hair messed up with a pencil shoved behind his ear as he typed away on an old fashioned calculator.
''It appears that either way we will get thousands of dollars no matter where we sell him.'' William said. He had already contacted numerous ports, trying to find someone who would pay the most money for their catch, but none of the numbers were high enough for his liking just yet. ''But it will take me some time to figure out which port we should sell to in order to make the most profit.''
''I see.'' Lau said, smiling. ''Well take as much time as you like. We still have to catch a whale before we go back to land anyway.''
William nodded and went back to his work and Lau sighed. The business man wasn't really much for conversation, was he? The captain's attention switched to his first mate in his lap instead. ''So it appears that the merman will be staying with us for some time. Isn't that exciting, Ran-Mao?''
''...Seaweed.''
~Random Short~
Sebastian politely knocked on his master's door. When he acquired permission to enter the room, he pushed the serving cart into his master's office, shutting the door behind him. He placed his master's lunch down in front of him, reciting with much practice what was on the menu for the day.
''Today, young master, we are having roast duck with..'' As Sebastian was talking he noticed his master's widened eyes. Ciel looked at his butler with a serious on his face, slowly reaching for a news paper that was on his desk and rolling it up.
''Is there something the matter, young master?'' The demon finally asked, not liking the look that the boy was giving him.
''Sebastian. Don't move.'' Ciel commanded, getting up from his chair and walking towards his butler. ''There's a spider on your face.''
''What?'' Sebastian raised an eyebrow and looked at his face the best he could and noticed a black and yellow blob on his left cheek.
''Well howdy doo~!'' The spider said and tipped his small hat to Sebastian, who remained as stiff as a board for a second, and then...
Sebastian screamed and and started running around his master's desk, clawing at his face. ''GETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFFGETITOFF!!!!!''
''Well I would if you would just stay still!'' Ciel roared and chased the demon. ''Quit acting like a baby and get over here!''
''NOOO! YOUNG MASTER GET IT OFF!''
''I'm trying!!'' The Earl growled and then finally tackled Sebastian to the ground.
''What in the blazes is going on in here?'' Bardroy yelled, barging into the room with the other servants behind him. They had all heard the screaming and had rushed to help, but froze at what they saw...
Only the very top of the young master's head was visible over the desk and Sebastian's feet stuck out from the sides. The butler's feet were moving erratically as Ciel groaned and fought with the demon, irritated that Sebastian was still trying to get away from him and freak out about the stupid spider.
Bard's cigarette dropped to the floor in shock and he covered Finny's eyes as Meryin blushed, a trail of blood flowing from her nose. To them, the scene before them looked very...questionable indeed.
''Young master, just do it already!''
''I'm trying!''
''You're not getting it!''
''That's because you won't stay still! Be still so I can do it right!'' Ciel groaned as he tried to simultaneously hold down Sebastian and whack the spider at the same time. Apparently that groan was mistaken for a moan because Bard covered quickly covered Finny's ears as well. The cook blushed as more noises were heard and tried to usher everyone out of the room, but not before they all heard Sebastian scream,
''Ew! It's all sticky on my face!''
Bard quickly threw everyone out and grabbed onto the door handle,fishing into his pocket and pulling out a few packages from his trousers. ''Stay protected!'' He yelled and threw the condoms into the room before practically running away from the scene.
''You big baby. You didn't need to scream.'' Ciel huffed and got up off his butler, who now had spider guts all over his cheek.
''That was a very traumatizing experience, master.'' Sebastian sniffled and got up from the floor, wiping at his face with a stray napkin.
''Whatever...Sebastian what are those?'' The Earl asked when he finally noticed the condoms on the floor.
''Oh my!'' The demon chuckled when he too noticed the small packages. ''It appears that someone has left us an invitation. Should we indulge in their wishes?''
''Whatever it is, no. Bring me my tea.''
''But master~''
''No.''
''Aw...''
Notes:
Hey again guys! Once again I'm glad that you're enjoying this story so much! As always, I hope you enjoyed, and any feedback would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again! Ja ne!
~Migoto Nami
Chapter 4: The Dream
Notes:
Disclaimer: Black Butler belongs to Yana Toboso.
Songs Listened To When Writing: Jellyfish Jam from Spongebob, Sound the Bugle from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron, Kingdom Dance from Tangled(((Ciel's Song)))
P.S. This ENTIRE fic was inspired by the song 'Virginia Company' from the movie, Pocahontas.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
''Eat.''
''No thank you.''
''Sebastian, just eat already.''
''I decline.''
Ciel rubbed his temples with two of his fingers irritably as he tried to calm himself down. Before lunch, William had ordered him to give the merman more food and the deckhand had thought that this would be a simple task at the time.
Sebastian hadn't eaten anything so far and now they were fighting...again. And just when Ciel had been beginning to think that they were starting to tolerate each too...
''You ate the other fish. This is the same exact thing, just eat it.'' Ciel grumbled, trying to remain calm. He knew if Sebastian didn't eat then William would have a fit.
''I only consumed that horrid excuse for a meal because I had no other choice at the time.'' Sebastian seemed bored as he floated amongst the calm water of his tank, more interested in examining his nails than the fish that were swimming around his living space.
''Well you have no other choice now either. So just eat the damn food already.'' Ciel glared right back at the sea creature, not backing down from his request.
''That is not true. Back then, I was unable to speak with you, but currently I can.'' Sebastian let his tail stretch out as he shifted into a more comfortable position, still keeping his arms crossed. ''Now, I have made my request for what I wish to consume. Acquire it for me, and you shall have no further problems with my eating habits.''
Ciel just glared harder at the merman when Sebastian threw him that cheeky close-eyed smile of his. The teen put a hand up to the bridge of his nose and pinched it. ''Sebastian. I am not diving... into the ocean...to find you your stupid tuna.'' He spoke slowly, as if speaking to a child. ''So just eat your fucking snappers and be done with it.''
''Then it seems we have reached an impass.''
''Sebastian.'' Ciel glowered. ''I am going to kill you. Just eat!'' The teen slammed his hand on the glass separating them, having had enough of this.
''No. And do not do that.'' Sebastian's right eye twitched with irritation, red and blue eyes glaring at one another.
''I'll stop when you eat something.'' Ciel hissed and slammed the glass again. He didn't use enough force to harm the tank, only enough to make Sebastian irrate.
''I already told you-'' Sebastian was cut off as Ciel slammed the glass again and the merman covered his own ears, glaring death at the teen. ''Stop that.''
''Eat.'' Slam.
''Ciel-''
Another slam. ''No. Eat.''
Sebastian hardened his gaze and suddenly flicked his tail upwards with some effort, causing a wave of water to splash out of the tank and crash over Ciel. The deckhand instinctively shielded himself with his arms as he got soaking wet.
Ciel was stunned into silence for a few moments as he shivered and coughed from being soaked to the bone with cold water. He looked up at Sebastian, who could barely contain a self-satisfied smirk. ''You little wretch!'' Ciel coughed, extremely pissed.
''What ever is going on back here, Phantomhive?'' Someone asked, stopping Ciel from all but climbing into the tank and strangling the merman.
Ciel coughed for a few more moments before addressing the three that had approached him. ''What does it look like?'' He growled, not at all caring that he was being rude to his superiors.
''Well it looks like you got your ass handed to you by a fish.'' Ash brought a hand to his mouth to hide his smirk as Claude frowned at the boy's lack of respect.
William, on the other hand, let the disrespectful tone go for now as he surveyed the scene before turning back to Ciel. ''Phantomhive. Clean this up.'' He adjusted his glasses higher up onto his nose as he walked over to the tank and gestured to Sebastian. ''I have told everyone on board that this creature is property and should be treated as such.''
Ciel bit into his lip and looked away, remaining silent.
''I can not have you damaging the ship's property, so I will ask you to keep your distance once again.'' William fixed his glasses and looked at Sebastian out of the corner of his eye. ''Honestly, I don't understand why anyone would want to purchase him alive. If you ask me, this creature is better off dead. It would be easier on all of us.'' He mumbled to himself, irritated from all the trouble already caused by the sea creature.
In an instant, William ended up soaked from a splash, having suffered the same fate as Ciel just a few moments ago. His glasses slipped off of his nose due to the crash and the business man coughed. ''My glasses!'' He exclaimed when he noticed that they were gone and scrambled to find the missing piece of eye-wear.
Meanwhile, Ash started laughing loudly and Ciel chuckled to himself when William blindly searched for his spectacles on the soaking we floor. Claude on the other hand, remained silent like usual, but he gripped onto the side of his own glasses, silently pitying the poor man in front of him.
''Stop laughing this instant! I will not tolerate such disrespect!'' William hissed and pointed at the laughing duo as his other hand continued to look for his glasses.
This only caused Ash and Ciel's laughter to increase because he pointed in the wrong direction from where they were standing. Eventually, Claude decided to step in and handed William his glasses. The business man gave Sebastian a look that could kill before turning his attention to Ash and Ciel. The former was still laughing as Ciel wisely stopped.
''If you find this to be so funny, Ash, then you can clean up this mess.'' William said and shoved a mop into the white-haired male's chest before angrily stalking off, Claude in tow. Ash seemed to snap out of it after that and ran after the two, complaints spewing from his mouth.
Ciel let out another chuckle as he watched them go before turning back to Sebastian. His amused expression instantly vanished, however, when he saw the barely contained hurt in those red eyes. The teen bit his lip and moved to talk to him but was stopped at William's shout of, ''Phantomhive! Go dry off this instant! You are tracking water everywhere!''
The deckhand sighed at this, and gave one final look at Sebastian before leaving to go change.
A while later, Ciel was all dried off and buried beneath the covers of his bunk. He had gotten off easy with cleaning up the deck as William had very angrily ordered Ash to do it in revenge. Ciel in the meanwhile, had tried to talk to Sebastian, but the merman refused to even acknowledge his presence.
Ciel sighed to himself as he turned over in his bed and brought the blankets up around himself more comfortably. His sapphire eyes slipped closed as he listened to the waves hitting the outside of the ship, the familiar noise lulling him to sleep. The teen had almost slipped into dreamland when he heard two pairs of feet make their way downstairs.
''Oh, Ciel's already sleeping.'' The teen could instantly make out the voice of Meyrin.
''Yes, it appears that he is alright then.'' He could make out the voice of Agni next and Ciel furrowed his eyebrows from under the covers, wondering why they would come down here.
''His asthma must not have bothered him from that splash.'' Meyrin commented quietly to herself and Ciel heard her sit down on a bunk near his. They must have heard what happened.
''I am glad.'' Agni whispered in the quiet room and Ciel felt his eyes droop slightly when he heard Agni sit down next to her. ''For a while there, I had been concerned about him.''
''I know. When he suddenly stopped eating, I felt so worried about him too, yes I did.'' Meyrin said quietly. ''I'm glad to see he's doing alright, yes I am.'' The room became silent after that for a long while. Ciel closed his eyes, ready to fall asleep, when Agni picked up the conversation again.
''Miss Meyrin...about our conversation yesterday...'' He seemed unsure about how to proceed and Ciel raised an eyebrow but otherwise didn't move.
''I know...I've thought about it, yes I have...'' Meyrin whispered back so quietly that it was a miracle that Ciel even heard her. ''And I think...that we could do that...'' shortly after that Ciel heard the bed next to him creak and Meyrin give a faint surprised gasp. Ciel's breathing evened out as he finally fell asleep, but not before hearing the unmistakable noise of soft, feverent, kisses.
His ears heard the noise, but instead of imagining Agni and Meyrin, his sleep-filled mind conjured up the image of himself and Sebastian kissing. Ciel shifted in his sleep as he felt dream-Sebastian wrap his silver tail around one of his legs as the teen tangled his fingers in the merman's raven colored locks, tongues twisting and searching inside eachother's mouths.
His dream self pulled Sebastian closer as the merman ran his fingers down Ciel's chest, causing the teen to shiver. He could feel Sebastian's smirk through their kiss and Ciel bit down on the raven's bottom lip irritably as he cradled the back of Sebastian's neck in his right hand while his left slid down his bare back slowly. He could feel Sebastian grip his hips, tracing his merman tail up and down the teen's thigh. Ciel's dream eyes opened at this and red eyes met one blue before the deckhand felt tugging on the back of his head as Sebastian untied his eye-patch and let it drop into the darkened haze below them. Ciel slowly let his other eye open and he could feel Sebastian smile against his lips when both ocean-colored eyes gazed upon him for the first time. Ciel returned the smile before he could stop himself as he kissed Sebastian again, gazing clearly into those two beautiful wine red-colored eyes.
Had the real Ciel actually been awake, this scene might not have been as inviting, but to his sleep-deprived mind, it was a pleasant image indeed and the teen smiled slightly in his sleep before slipping further into unconsciousness.
When he awoke a few hours later, Ciel ate dinner and got ready for work, all the while still pondering what had just transpired. The fact that he had heard Agni and Meyrin together didn't bother him nearly as much as his dream did. Even now, as he started to work, the image wouldn't leave his mind.
Ciel mopped down the bow of the ship with a little bit more force than necessary. Why was he suddenly having these thoughts about Sebastian now? Ciel should be mad at him, but no. His stupid mind had to come up with crazy ideas. The teen could find no ill feelings within himself towards Sebastian about what happened. At least not anymore, not after that weird-ass dream.
Once everywhere but the stern had been cleaned, Ciel couldn't stay away any longer. As he was making his way to the back, he thought about his dream again and closed his eyes, a frown coming onto his face as well as a light blush. Ciel could just imagine the merman's cocky smirk if he ever found out.
As he rounded the corner to the back, Ciel had expected Sebastian to have calmed down from earlier and to be waiting for him with a smug look on his face, but that isn't at all what he found. The raven was lying down on the floor of his tank on his stomach, his quiet gaze towards the sea. The deep longing he found within those wine red eyes tore at something inside the teen.
He pulled back and rested the back of his head against the wall, looking up at the stars. Now he felt like a complete and utter ass hole for capturing the merman. Sebastian didn't deserve this. Nobody did. Ciel bit his lip, feeling the desperate urge from nowhere to comfort the merman, his mind racing past images for a way to do so. An idea formed into his head after a few moments and headed back to the bow of the ship.
Sebastian silently watched a few happy dolphins jumping in and out of the ocean, meticulous eyes taking in their every move. While the raven severely hoped that he wouldn't be put to death by these humans, if staying in a cage the rest of his life was the other option, then maybe that wouldn't be so bad.
The merman sighed as those thoughts entered his head before he onto his side and closed his eyes, willing the thoughts away with the scattered sea breeze. Wine red colored eyes slowly opened when he heard a wonderous sound reach his ears. He slowly sat up and looked off in the direction of the sound to find Ciel with an instrument he had never seen before. Sebastian remembered the sound as being similar to the noise that he heard two nights ago, but different, more exciting. He swam closer so that he could hear more clearly.
Their eyes met in that instant as Ciel played, red and blue colliding in a silent haze. Sebastian slowly sat down as he heard the teen play, feeling a sense of indescribable calm wash over him as he intensely listened. All too soon, though, Ciel lowered his bow, stopping the beautiful sound.
There was silence between them for a moment before Ciel spoke. ''...Hey.'' He said quietly, at a loss of what to say.
''...Hello.'' Sebastian said softly and watched as Ciel set down his instrument carefully.
''Sebastian.'' The deckhand sighed. ''I'm sorry about before-''
''Don't fret about it.'' Sebastian said, looking reserved about the entire endevour as he interrupted Ciel by holding up one of his hands. “It's in the past.”
''No, I overreacted. I'm sorry.'' Ciel said hastily, guilt pushing him on. Sebastian was the victim here. He was the one being held against his will in a tank. He had every right to be as selfish as he wanted to be.
''No, I lost my temper.'' Sebastian corrected him calmly.
''Well I was the one who freaked out over stupid tuna.'' Ciel recalled, hoping to bait Sebastian's reaction some. The merman was slipping further into his shell, a mask that allowed no emotions to seep through. It was a defense mechanism, and Ciel hated seeing it.
''Tuna are not stupid.'' The merman said, frowning as Ciel smirked a little.
''They are pretty stupid.''
''They are quite delicious.''
''I'd rather have a snapper.''
''Then you certainly have no taste.''
A heated glare was passed between them before Sebastian shook his head and looked away with a small smirk, causing Ciel to raise an eyebrow in question. ''What's so funny?''
''We can never just agree on anything can we?'' Sebastian asked, failing to hide his amused expression.
''No.'' Ciel said, starting to chuckle as well as he sat down with his back against the tank. ''I guess we can't.'' A comfortable silence settled over them for a few moments before Sebastian broke it.
''Ciel, I really am sorry for hitting you.''
The deckhand looked over his shoulder to find that Sebastian was sitting similarly to him, only the glass separating them from sitting back to back. ''No, it's alright. I'm just sorry that I made you feel like...'' He thought for a moment on how to phrase his words. ''You couldn't count on the one person you confided in on this entire ship.'' Ciel looked over his shoulder again to find Sebastian staring at him silently.
''I humbly accept your apology, then.'' Sebastian said, closing his eyes and smiling at the deckhand. ''You seem to realize your own mistake anyway that this was entirely your fault.'' Ciel felt a vein throb on the top of his head irritably but decided to let that comment go in order to keep the peace. ''Anyway, Ciel.'' Sebastian lied down on his side, facing the teen. 'He can never just stay still can he?' The blue-eyed boy thought to himself as the merman made himself comfortable.
''What ever was that instrument that you were playing?''
Ciel looked over to the instrument in question, which was lying peacefully on top of a barrel a few feet away. ''It's called a violin.''
''A violin? I see.'' Sebastian stared at it as well. ''It's music is quite enchanting.'' The sea creature closed his eyes, remembering the sound that he had heard only moments ago.
''Do all mer-creatures enjoy music this much?'' Ciel asked, amused at the other male's antics and genuinely curious how Sebastian could be so obsessed with just hearing a violin.
''I can not say. I have not met many other creatures such as myself.''
Ciel raised an eyebrow and looked at Sebastian, his curiosity piqued. ''What do you mean?''
''I have never met any other mer-creatures besides the ones in my pod.'' Sebastian explained.
''Your pod?''
''Yes.'' The merman placed a finger to his chin, trying to figure out a way to explain. ''I suppose you could say that your 'pod' is your 'family', in human terms.''
''...I see.'' Ciel said, for some reason, the thought of Sebastian having actual family out there never crossed his mind until now. The very idea of them looking for him and missing him made the teen feel even more like a jerk for taking him away.
''Yes. There is only two of us now. Just my great great grandfather and I.'' Sebastian's ruby red eyes gazed up at the stars.
Ciel was silent for a while, his tongue burning with a subtle tang to ask further. He ultimately decided against it though and asked something else. ''Are there any other pods out there?''
''Not that I have encountered.'' Sebastian's brows furrowed as he tried to remember. ''I believe that there are some, but they are probably only populated by males. In all honesty, I think that mermaids went extinct a long time ago.''
A single blue eye widened at this. So there were no actual mermaids left? But then... ''How do you reproduce?''
''We don't.'' Sebastian locked his eyes with Ciel's and the teen stiffened at the serious look in those red eyes. The merman held the gaze for a moment before looking away. ''We are a dying race.''
Instant regret filled Ciel then as he watched Sebastian retreat into himself. The more he spent talking with the merman, the more he wanted to help him, but that only ended up making himself feel torn between Sebastian and the crew. The feeling gnawed at him whenever he interacted with the merman, a painful, silent reminder.
''Ciel.'' Said teen turned to Sebastian when he heard him quietly call to him. ''Could you perhaps play me another song? I can not stop thinking about your music.'' The merman said, a smile that help none of it's usual mischief upon his lips.
''You truly are obsessed.'' Ciel commented lightly, but still got up to retrieve his violin anyway.
''I can not help it. The sound is so enchanting.'' Sebastian commented as he lay down to watch Ciel.
The blue eyed boy shook his head before starting to play, all the while feeling extremely pleased with himself that he could at least give Sebastian this one small joy.
The next morning, Ciel's fingers had a few callouses from his continuous playing and the stern of the ship had been swabbed last minute, but it had been done nonetheless. The deckhand rested his chin on top of his fist as he watched Sebastian consume the tuna that he had to fight with Bard tooth and nail for. But the teen didn't really care so much as long as the merman was content.
Ciel didn't even know why he wanted to please Sebastian so much. His mind tickled his thoughts with his dream but he swatted it away. It was probably due to guilt or something along those lines. Yea, that was probably it...
''Hey Ciel, are you okay?'' Said teen blinked when he saw Finny's hand wave in front of his face. When did he get there?
''Yes, I'm fine.''
''Oh, good. I thought you had flown off to the moon or something.'' Finny laughed. ''You looked so out of it.''
''Yea...'' Ciel mumbled to himself, looking past Finny. The other deckhand raised an eyebrow and followed Ciel's line of sight, laughing when he saw that the blue-eyed boy had been looking at Sebastian this whole time.
''You know Ciel, if you want fish, I'm sure Bard would give you some.'' The blonde said, making assumptions.
Ciel raised an eyebrow at the happy blonde before getting up, deciding to use that excuse rather than admit that he had been creeping on the merman. ''Uh, yea. I guess I'll go ask.''
''Okay. And Ciel, make sure you get some sleep tonight. The bags under your eyes are huge!'' Ciel twitched at Finny's blunt honesty but otherwise didn't comment as he walked away. His eyes cast one last look at Sebastian to see the merman giving a genuine little smile to him and couldn't help giving a small one of his own back.
''So then I said, THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!'' Bard laughed at his own crude joke as everyone was eating lunch down below deck. Lau laughed with him as everyone else pretty much remained silent. Undertaker, on the other hand, was laughing so hysterically that Ciel thought that he was going to pass out from lack of air any second.
''Please refrain from such comments.'' William said, adjusting his glasses. ''I am trying to eat.''
''Oh don't be such a stiff, William.'' Lau said, clapping his hands before opening his mouth to allow Ran-Mao to spoon feed him some of his meal. ''It's all in good fun. Right, Undertaker?'' The captain chuckled, earning loud cackles from the white haired male.
''Anyway.'' William said, ignoring the captain. ''I have some news about our latest catch.''
''You mean my hunky fish-sicle?'' Grell swooned from his spot next to William and Ciel froze, hand holding food halfway towards his mouth. William glared at the red-head before he nodded.
''Yes. I am able to give you a brief estimate of the amount of money that we are going to be able to acquire.''
''So how much dough are we talking about here?'' Ash piped in, eager to know.
''I do not have an exact number but all of my calculations range somewhere within the two thousands.'' William said, earning a few shocked gasps from around the table.
''That's awesome!'' Bard said, dollar signs practically dancing around in his eyes.
''Oooh! I can buy so many new red dresses!'' Grell said, fantasizing about all the beautiful accessories he could purchase. Likewise, everyone at the table was thinking similar thoughts, all except one.
Ciel gulped, feeling a lump lodge itself within his throat at the impending news.
~Random Short~(Inspired by Coach Hines from Mad TV)
Ciel placed his pen under his nose and balanced it there by pursing his lips upwards. He had been doing paperwork for hours and was now goofing off because he didn't want to do it anymore. He was also trying to see how much he could mess with Sebastian by not doing what he was supposed to do. That was always fun.
The Earl nearly jumped out of his skin when said demon burst open the door to his office, looking extremely P.O.ed for some reason. Ciel frowned when his pen fell from his lips. Now he would have to try to beat his own record all over again.
''My lord.'' Sebastian said, walking up towards the boy's desk. He didn't care right now that he was being disrespectful and slammed his hands on the boy's desk. ''I am going to kill Finny and Bard.''
''Sebastian, how long can you balance a pen under your nose?'' Ciel completely ignored the demon's death threat, biting said writing instrument.
''My lord, I am serious this time.''
''So am I. Lizzy once went three days without dropping her pen. Three days, Sebastian!''
''My lord, please. I implore you to let me have my revenge upon them.''
''I mean how did she even eat?!''
''Ciel!''
''Tell me how Sebastian! I command you!''
Sebastian was silent for a moment, taking angry breaths, before he swiftly exited the room. He came back in two seconds flat, holding Bard and Finny's ears as he dragged them.
''Ow! God dammit that hurts!'' Bard cursed as Finny basically started crying.
''Get over there.'' Sebastian pushed the two blondes towards Ciel, who was about to lick a blue glue stick for some reason. The demon ignored it and shoved the chef and cook again. ''Get over there and tell the young master, RIGHT NOW, what you did to me this morning!''
''I don't want to!'' Finny exclaimed, wiping his eyes as he started bawling.
''Sebastian, whatever it is, I can assure you that I don't care.'' Ciel said as he rolled up the stick even higher before licking it again. The raven took the stick away and held it where the Earl couldn't reach it, making the boy whine.
''You better care or I'm not making you any more chocolate cakes!''
Ciel gasped comically before backing down and grumbling to himself. ''Fine. What happened?''
''Okay um, this morning we put crazy glue in Mister Sebastian's gloves.'' Finny confessed, still silently crying tears.
''Tell him what you did, after that!'' Sebastian hissed, pulling at Bard's ear.
''After that we called Grell and told him that Sebastian wanted a...few things.'' Bard hissed, his ear hurting like mad.
''That...individual is currently locked in the down stairs bathroom with nothing on but lingerie!'' Sebastian glowered. ''Unbelievable. Now tell him what you did after that!''
''After that we shaved his favorite cat that lives outside in the gardens.''
''Yes. Now tell him what you did after- woah wait WHAT?!'' Sebastian's eyes widened as he stared at Bard in disbelief. ''You did WHAT?!'' In an instant the demon was out of the room and the cook, gardener and Earl could hear his shouts of, 'MY POOR BABY!!!!' from out in the garden.
''Eep! I'm outta here!'' Bard wailed and wisely fled the scene as Finny did the same, each running in opposite directions to make finding a hiding spot easier.
A few minutes later, Ciel could hear Finny and Bard's cries as Sebastian basically beat the crap out of them, but the Earl didn't care one bit about what was happening with them right now. No, he had other things to think about.
''Ah, alone at last.'' Ciel said as he licked his precious blue glue stick.
Notes:
Hey guys! As always, I hope that you enjoyed this chapter! Please leave a comment if you can! Ja Ne!
~Migoto Nami
Chapter 5: The Kiss
Notes:
Disclaimer: Black Butler belongs to Yana Toboso.
Songs Listened To When Writing: You Snuck Your Way Right Into My Heart from Phineas and Ferb
P.S. This ENTIRE fic was inspired by the song 'Virginia Company' from the movie, Pocahontas.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Humans are strange This is what Sebastian has come to realize after spending a little more than three weeks observing them.
They are able to spontaneously combust themselves at random. Nearly a week ago, a sudden crash was heard from below deck before a man with blonde colored hair dressed in white ran around the deck, screaming like a distressed whale. Others soon joined him and they all proceeded to run around, a strange red aura surrounding them. Sebastian was indeed sure that he had never been as incredibly confused then he had been at that moment...
Old humans in particular, are in a whole different league of weird when compared to their younger counterparts. The merman had, on more than one occasion, found anold man sitting by some barrels when he could have SWORN he hadn't been there a second ago. Also, there was an individual with long grey colored hair that kept giving him kelp and swishing around whilst saying, ''Fishy Fishy enjoy your dishy!~'', much to the merman’s annoyance.
Lastly, and probably most importantly, Sebastian had learned never to trust men in with clear circles over their eyes(glasses, as Ciel called them). Women with glasses were alright, but men...No. Just no.
As usual, Sebastian had just been minding his own business when he had been bothered again by that red-headed...male? At first, Sebastian ignored him, like always, but then that other man in glasses approached, looking horribly angry. The merman wasn’t paying particular attention to them, so he was quite startled when the brunette forcefully pushed the perverted red-head against his prison, whispering words like, ''You are mine.'', ''How dare you look at anyone else.'' and such, as the other practically screamed, ''Oh Will!''. After that, if Sebastian could have left, he would have, to say the least.
So yes. Humans are very weird creatures indeed...
Ciel yawned as he stretched both hands above his head in an attempt to wake himself up for work. Things had been considerably awkward for him over the past few weeks. The crew kept whispering of riches to come, but Ciel refused to join in on the conversation. He could understand their enthusiasm, but at the same time, he couldn't comprehend how they could be so heartless.
Sebastian was just as autonomous as anyone else. He had thoughts, feelings and, as Ciel quickly found out, more intelligence than most of the people on board. Sebastian had conveyed that he was nearly 300 years old, and that he hadn’t seen his only family, his great great grandfather in over 50 years, due to the raven’s tendency to swim between oceans frequently. Likewise, Ciel had also shared information concerning his family, his own age(To which Sebastian had laughed at, saying that he was ''But a guppy.'') and other pointless things like his favorite color, food and various others that Sebastian asked about. As a result, a time woven tight bond had actually formed between them now that they ceased their useless fighting.
Ciel had found that he rather liked having someone to converse openly with, and had actually been caught talking with the merman on more than two occasions by various people on the ship. Nobody particularly cared about this, however, as most could agree that Ciel talking to a fish wasn't the weirdest thing that has happened on this ship. No, that honor would forever belong to the time when Undertaker had gotten drunk and started doing the macarena and shamelessly flirted with Finny and Hannah in some lingerie that he stole from Grell...
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