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beerecordings · 3 months

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The Other Monster - Chapter 1

From my Graceling AU - Based loosely on Kristin Cashore’s Graceling books, this is a magic-medieval setting where Jameson is a child who’s been raised by Anti - a Monstrously beautiful assassin and abuse survivor who's come to see the world as evil. As Jameson starts to question his brother's perspective, he discovers another Monster in need of his help: Marvin the Magnificent, who's been abducted from his home and sold to the highest bidder.

Previous fics in this world: One l Two l Three

Next Chapter

For more context, I'll add that Anti and JJ are Gracelings (beings who have a supernatural ability of some kind). Anti is capable of Persuasion, and JJ is still discovering his power. In the books, all Monsters have a kind of Persuasion, but I didn't give that power to all Monsters, only Anti.

And let me be real upfront before we get started: this fic is never explicit in any scene, and absolutely never fetishistic, but it involves Anti continuing to process severe child sexual abuse, including incest, and Marvin being trafficked, held prisoner, and sexually abused. There is no pressure to read. I will tag carefully, but be aware these themes continue throughout. That being said... it's a story about healing and loving people anyway. Because a lot of us are all processing some stuff of our own too.

Okay. Let's go. And let me know if you want to see more <3

He dreams of Chase.

“Keep up, slowpoke!”

Running through the grass with their hands clasped together, turning to heave the child into his arms when the mud reaches his little brother’s thighs, making him shriek with laughter as he swings and rocks him through the muddy valley in mid-spring, blowing blubber kisses into his fat toddler tummy.

He dreams of Jackie.

“Keep quiet, keep quiet! You have to stop laughing.”

Sneaking through the hallways of the castle one at a time, beckoning for each other when the coast is clear before darting into the kitchen to steal lemon poppyseed muffins and jam bakes and a jug of apple cider each, causing trouble and then retreating as fast as their teenage feet could carry them to their rooms in the high tower or the swaying tree house they built for themselves in the arms of the old oak tree beyond the courtyard.

He dreams of his cousin.

“You study too much, come on, come play with us.”

Slamming cards and chess pieces down against the table as they played games at rapid-fire speeds, their eyes sparkling with a shared enthusiasm for the fond competition between them, exchanging insults in a half-dozen different languages, gossiping about everyone they know and laughing for the fun of it, curled up in front of the fire with mulberry wine and Henrik’s company to keep him warm through the winter time.

He dreams of his family.

“Where are you?” he whispers to the shadows. “Why haven’t you found me yet? You said you’d keep me safe, please… I know I act like I can take care of myself, but I’m scared. I’ve never been this scared in my life. I don’t want to be sold.”

A slam against iron like the striking of swords jolts him from his sleep with a scream. He grabs his own shoulders and shoves himself back against the walls of the cage, staring in terror up at his captor, who looks back with bleak blue pelican’s eyes, thoroughly unimpressed.

“Age?” he asks, holding up a pad of parchment.

Marvin breathes hard, staring around his cell, blinking.

“Still surprised to find yourself in here? You been in here three fucking days, start adjusting. Age?”

“What?”

“How old are you?” asks the man, enunciating his words slow and mocking. “How many years do your parents say you are when your grandpappy asks?”

Marvin squeezes his eyes shut, flushed with humiliation. “I – I’m twenty-six.”

He writes it down, unperturbed. Marvin wraps his arms tighter around himself, shivering in the cold. “Can I have something to eat?” he croaks out. “I’m starving.”

“Better if you’re thin,” answers the man blandly. “Maybe in a couple days. What’s your name?”

Marvin clutches his knees to his chest, staring at the filthy floor in front of him, his eyes flickering back and forth. “Fabian,” he whispers after a moment, hearing the frailness of his own voice. His whole body is giving out on him. His mind too, he expects. He closes his eyes. “I’m Fabian.”

“Good,” says the man, scrawling on his notepad. “You’ve already learned to lie about it. No one cares about your old name. No one cares about your old life. Forget it. You’ll never go back to it.”

“My family would pay a lot of money to have me back,” cries Marvin. “And my brother is a Graceling warrior! You ought to let me go before he finds me, or I swear to God that you’ll regret being born!”

“Glad to see you’ve resorted to threats instead of biting and screaming like that first day,” grumbles the man, shaking out the wound on his hand that Marvin gave him.

“You deserve it!” Marvin screams. “You and everybody’s who’s trying to steal me away! I’ll kill you like I killed the first one who grabbed me! If he didn’t have his fucking friends there – ”

“Any health concerns?” asks the man, staring down at his clipboard.

Marvin breathes hard, tears dripping down his face, holding himself in the middle of his cold cell.

“Well?”

“I… I’m allergic to walnut,” Marvin whispers, shrinking in on himself and closing his eyes.

“Great,” says the slave trader. “I’ll mark that down.”

He turns and walks away.

Marvin stares at the floor. The tears dripping onto it humiliate him. Everything is a humiliation. Everything is a threat. Everything wants to use him. To hurt him. To take him away.

He remembers being rebellious as a child when his parents would shave down his hair and make him wear coverings in public or hide him away during state dinners, never letting anyone but Jackie and Chase and Henrik see him, sometimes even telling guests they had only two sons to keep him a secret. He complained about being a prisoner - isolated, guarded, not allowed to grow up like a normal kid. At the time, the pain of his being hidden away from the whole rest of the world felt like something that would destroy him. It makes him want to laugh now, but all that comes out is a quiet sob. He should have been more careful. He should never have gone into town with Chase. He’s thirteen now and old enough to get anything Marvin needs from the city without him. What Marvin wouldn’t give to be back in their little summer cabin right now, making pancakes or swimming in the lake with him. With no one staring at him or touching him. With food in his belly and a friend at his side.

But the one upside to this hunger and the cold and the grief are that they keep sending him back to sleep. Back to dreams. He drifts off once more soon enough, chewing on a strand of his hair like he’s a five-year-old again, rocking himself against the stone walls on his every side.

He dreams of his parents, and his childhood.

“I don’t want to go to bed yet, Momma.”

“You don’t have to just yet, baby.”

He would like to be a child again, rocking on her lap, curled up between his parents by the fire. Jackie would be on the floor, looking up at him with his big child’s eyes, just a couple years older and protective from the start. Watching over him. With everyone close. With everyone holding him. He would like to be safe again.

“I don’t want to go just yet,” he whispers, pressed into his mother’s arms. Jackie would struggle up onto the enormous bed and squirm his way into his mother’s arms beside him, landing soggy child kisses on his face and reaching out to be held by their father, patting his chubby hands against his shoulders when he’s picked up and snuggling down against them both, the four of them sandwiched together in the warmth.

“You can stay,” his father would say, stroking his hair, blue as the galaxy, shining like its closest stars. “You can stay, my little son. No one will take you away.”

They had made him this promise time and time again. Even before he was old enough to realize it, his parents understood the curse that he was born with. No one, they said, will take you away. Even if we go. No one will take you. Jackie will protect you. Won’t you, Jackie?

And Jackie, from the time he was three years old, had nodded and promised with more intensity in his Graceling eyes than any child should ever have to muster.

“Yes, Marvy. I will protect you.”

He’s spent his whole life protecting Marvin. He’s given him everything he had. It wasn’t his fault. Marvin knows that. Their parents should never have made him promise. Their parents should never have promised him they could keep him safe. No one can. No one ever could. He should have known.

“I’m just a Monster,” he whispers, when consciousness comes to hurt him again. The walls of the prison cell stare back at him, wide-eyed and silent. “The whole rest of the world knows that this is where I belong.”

Forget that old life. You will never get back to it.

Marvin realizes that this might well be true. Up until this moment, he never knew it was possible to be this afraid.

“Please, Jackie… please hurry. Please find me soon, my brother.”

It's always so strange, watching the spiral his brother goes through before his birthday.

He doesn't think Anti knows that he notices, but it's been happening for years now. Anti starts out overenthusiastic at the start of the month, but as the days go on, he grows quiet, deflates. He's never liked the idea of Jameson growing up. He doesn't think he was supposed to notice that either.

He knocks on the door of Anti's study, waiting for a rumble of an answer before he comes inside. Or tries to. The door is locked. He hears his brother get up and come to the door, unlocking it and letting him in.

"You're locking your study now?" Jameson asks.

Anti scowls. "You never know who might come in."

Sure.

The fortress where they live is all cold stone and locked doors, always has been. Jameson knows it's not normal for the serving girl to have only one hour a day when she is allowed to clean one room at a time, and even stranger for her to be blindfolded when she serves them dinner.

But he also knows why they do it.

"Come sit," says Anti, patting the chair across from his desk before he goes to sit back down. Jameson notices a new patch of dried blood on one side of the cushion. Who did his brother kill here, and for what? A business deal gone wrong, an insult he couldn't abide by? Or did someone catch a glimpse of him, and figure out his secret?

Anti tucks away some papers on his desk, and Jameson studies the lines of his brother's face. He knows how rare a privilege it is to be allowed to do so. Rarer still for Anti to look back at someone without suspicion. With warmth. Sometimes, Anti even lets Jameson touch his face. Scratch his small nails along the rough texture of his beard.

His brother was born a Monster, not that Jameson will ever understand the word. Even after all these years, he's so fond of his brother's appearance. The skin is clear and smooth, no matter how little he cares for it, and even the scars seem artful, charming, intriguing. His mismatched Graceling eyes burn with color, green and blue, each competing to be brighter than the other, and the dark beard and waves of emerald hair are so familiar to Jameson. He remembers the first time he met him, when Anti came to his room to save him. He remembers asking his brother if he was an angel.

Not an angel. More like a demon. Always a Monster. But never to him.

"You wanted to talk to me?" Jameson signs, and Anti's quick to turn his head from his work. He swore to him years ago he would never ignore his signing, and he's not sure the promise ever leaves the front of Anti's mind.

Since he's about the only one who understands him, Jameson's grateful.

"You done with lessons for the day?" Anti asks.

"Yes."

"And you took care of Bertrand?"

"Of course I did."

"Good." Anti finishes shutting his drawers and gives Jameson his full attention, looking at him keenly from across the desk. "I need your help with a mission."

Jameson's stomach turns over. "I don't want to watch any more dying, Anti."

He sees his brother bite back on a sigh, his eyes fluttering closed for a second, and Jameson squirms in his seat. They've talked about this so many times, he knows what Anti's going to say before he says it.

"You have to learn how to kill someday, Jameson. I'm trying to get you accustomed to death. But if you're not ready yet, we can wait. It's okay for you to be a kid a while longer."

Right, thinks Jameson flatly. That wonderful conundrum of Anti wanting him to be fully grown and tiny forever at the same time.

"That's not it, though. I just need you to wait outside while I storm a building. A girl will come out and you can take her somewhere safe. Then I'll come get you and we'll go home."

"That's it?" asks Jameson suspiciously. "I just have to wait outside a building? Won't the girl wonder why I can't talk?"

"I'll tell her you can't. Just lead her away. To that big church nearby that you like. It will be easy."

"But can't some of your... minions help? Or Anja or someone?"

Anti starts laughing. "Minions, is that the sign for that? No, James, I can't trust lackeys with this, and partners even less so. Anyway, Anja is in Loughlin. You'll have to come with."

"Somebody tried to cheat you, then, and you're punishing them."

His brother pauses for a moment, looking him over. "No," he says. "They don't know me. But the girl is innocent and the rest are not. So you'll wait outside for her. Tomorrow night, okay? So get done with everything you need to do before then."

Well, it doesn't sound so terrible. "Okay, fine. I'll do it."

"There's a good kid. Come on, darling. You ready for some dinner?"

"Yes, let's go!"

He loves when Anti takes the time to eat with him. His brother puts a hand on his shoulder as he leads him out of his study, locking it firmly behind him, just like the rest. "And maybe we should talk about your birthday coming up," adds Anti.

Jameson looks up at him, surprised. It's not a topic they bring up, usually: Jameson getting older. He doesn't understand why, but he knows his brother's never liked it, knows celebrating his birthday is always something Anti has to force. It's like a secret they keep, at times - one of many.

"What about it?" Jameson asks.

"Like what you want to do and get for presents," says Anti. "You're going to be ten, after all. That's a milestone."

"What? No, Anti, I'll be eleven."

Anti stops short and looks at him, mouth curved down.

"I'll be eleven," Jameson repeats. "I was ten last year. Do you remember?"

"Ah," says Anti, and for a long moment, he's quiet. "Of course you were. I do remember."

And then, softer still, "you'll be eleven."

"Maybe you could stay home with me all day," Jameson offers. "And we'll go for a ride with a picnic, and we can have the beef with gravy I like for dinner?"

But Anti's doing that thing now, that thing that he does around his birthday. A sad thing, Jamie thinks, or maybe a mad one. He can never quite tell. But he looks at Jameson, and then right through him, and it's like he stops seeing him completely. He wonders what his brother sees when he looks at him like that.

"Of course we can," says Anti, but Jameson doesn't think he understood him at all.

It's happening more and more, lately.

Jameson puts his arm around his brother's waist and hugs himself against his side. Anti can give him missions and lessons and duties if he wants, and that's okay. But his real job is always going to be this: taking care of Anti, like Anti takes care of him. After all, if he doesn't do it, he knows there is no one else in the world who will.

#tw human trafficking #graceling au #i've posted the first section before but I'm starting over with the rest of the story! it needed fixing up #thanks for reading!!

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andromedaexists · 9 months

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The Binding of Bloom Mountain || Siggy Chambers

★★★★★

TW: HORROR

omg you guys I genuinely can't think of anymore triggers on this holy shit abut also WHAT THE FUCK

Where do I start? Right here:

This book feels like home.

That's right, this book that I had no idea existed until last month feels like home to me. I wish I could rate it 6 stars, it's re-framing my rating system in my head. It is 11pm a night, hours past my bed time, and I am going to tell you everything I can about this book.

This is an Appalachian Folk Horror. A genre I had no idea existed and now I need more of it. From the very beginning I felt peace through the descriptions. The book is set in Virginia, but it rings true of northern West Virginia and southern Ohio Appalachia too.

I argued against Celeste all the way through the book. There are just certain things you learn being raised in the boonies. Things such as NO DON'T GO OUT TO GREET AN UNKNOWN CREATURE THAT BECKONING YOU TO THE WOODS and RUN BITCH WTF

From the beginning you can tell that Celeste isn't going to follow those tried and true rules, she has something against the small rural town of Milton (that doesn't surprise me, she's living in DC when we meet her)

I also just love the inclusion of natural remedies in the book. Again, it makes it feel like home. I can't tell you the amount of natural remedies and things that people would consider witchcraft in the day and age that I was raised on. We take care of nature and she will take care of us, after all

And the horror element was so perfectly executed! It wasn't super gore heavy or really super horror heavy, but the horror that was in here really hit home for me. It was shadows in the forest and always being watched and creatures that just Aren't Right. I love it

This book changed me just as fundamentally as Angels Before Man did, but in a wholly different way.

There aren't many quotes that I want to pull out of this story, just two really:

the spirit wanted something to tend, something to watch grow and thrive, something to love. And it wanted to feel that love in return.

"The trees knew I was coming..." "More than that, Celeste. They were calling you home."

Okay, now that that's over let's get into the spoiler heavy stuff:

OH MY GOD ABRAM WAS HER GRANDFATHER!!!! I literally messaged Doom like 3 lines before that reveal because that's when I put it together holy shit it's sooo good!!!

And the way that literally everything is foreshadowed:

Ellie being shown as soon as Celeste enters Milton

Celeste being told that she might meet something worse up there and then being hunted for sport by her grandpappy

All the foreshadowing about how Celeste is not only a good fit to do the binding, but The Fit (because she has the blood and magic of one of the mountains guardians pumping through her)

AAAAA I'm SCREAMING

I cannot wait for the sequel to this book omg Doom you better give me that sequel holy shit

This is definitely being added to the recommendation shelf. Holy shit.

I am planning on writing little things like this every time I read a book just to help me keep track of them. If I don’t write down my opinions and thoughts right away I am liable to forget them. I am hesitant to call these a review because i’m really just not comfy with that lol I will do my best to make sure I appropriately tag and warn about topics. If I miss any please let me know!

#andi reads #book reviews #booklr #bookblr #lgbt books #queer books #queer book directory #the binding of bloom mountain #siggy chambers #doominique #appalachian folk horror

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cookie-run-kingdom-story · 2 years

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EPISODE 13: SNOW ON THE BLACK WALL

(Last few screenshots from Chateaw!)

Young Snow Cookie: Hello…? Guard! Is anyone in there? Young Snow Cookie: Open the gates! Please! Let me in! Gatekeeper Cookie: Leave at once. The castle’s gates open for no one! Young Snow Cookie: I must meet King Dark Cacao Cookie! Our village… is in danger… ???: What is the meaning of all this? Explain yourself. Young Snow Cookie: Our village has been starving for days! Things are so desperate, the adults are stealing things! And… wild beasts keep attacking everyone! Young Snow Cookie: We need your help! Please, send the Watchers! ???: This is ill news indeed… That is, if you speak the truth. ???: We’ve received word of villages on the outskirts disappearing one by one. But such rumors are easily exaggerated, even distorted. Young Snow Cookie: I’m not lying! The king must come and see for himself! ???: His Majesty is occupied elsewhere. If you seek aid, you will not find it here. Young Snow Cookie: Then at least let me tell the king myself. He might believe me! Young Snow Cookie: Hey! STOP! DON’T GO! Young Snow Cookie: King Dark Cacao Cookie… Have you really… abandoned us…?

Affogato Cookie: My King. Another bothersome petitioner came seeking your presence. I have sent them off, just like the others… Dark Cacao Cookie: … Affogato Cookie: Your Majesty, I believe they find it odd that the castle’s gates are locked. There are… voices of dissent as well. Dark Cacao Cookie: *Sigh* The burdens that weigh heavily upon my shoulders… There are none who understand… Dark Cacao Cookie: We must not falter. It is imperative that our defenses be bolstered, as per the plan… Affogato Cookie: My Liege…! Your humble servant stands in awe before your wisdom. Affogato Cookie: With your blessing, I shall oversee the day to day undertakings so that Your Majesty may strengthen our walls without distractions. Dark Cacao Cookie: These walls are the only defenses between our lands and the Licorice Sea. We must remain vigilant, for those foul beasts may strike at any moment. Dark Cacao Cookie: For now, we continue to fortify our defenses and keep a wary eye towards the sea. This entire continent’s fate is at stake…

GingerBrave: There’s a village right below the walls of the Dark Cacao Citadel. It’s just up ahead! We just need to head there and deliver this letter. Wizard Cookie: *ATCHOO!* Let’s h-h-h-h-urry on then! Wizard Cookie: A fading hope that the castle has some… hot chocolate… is what’s keeping me warm. It’s FREEZING out here! Custard Cookie III: Who said “hot chocolate!” The perfect drink for a king?! Custard Cookie III: Come now, my faithful subjects! Hand me the letter and I will lead the way! Ahem, he he! Chili Pepper Cookie: You kidding?! A small tot like you would get buried under all this snow. Oh well.. Guess we’ll come pick you up in summer! GingerBrave: C’mon! Just a little further! Then we’ll all have a good rest next to a cozy fire! ???: *Wind howling* Wizard Cookie: Hold on a moment! Did you hear that…? Chili Pepper Cookie: It’s just the wind, pointy hat!

???: *Wind howling* *...SCREEEEEEEEECH!!* Strawberry Cookie: N-n-no, that’s not the wind…! More like… a terrifying roar! Beast in the Dark: *SCREEEEEEEEEECH…!!* GingerBrave: Haaaah! Strawberry Cookie: S-s-s-stay back! Get away! Cookies: AHHHHHH! Chili Pepper Cookie: Move! MOVE! MOOOVE! We’re all gonna be crumbs! Wizard Cookie: Why did nobody warn us about these vicious, scary beasts?! FLEE FOR YOUR LIVES!

LICORICE VILLAGE Custard Cookie III: Hello? Is anyone home? Wizard Cookie: Looks like the road is blocked. Let’s head to the Milk Village over there!

(If Licorice Cookie is on team) Licorice Cookie: It was a shabby town to begin with, but now it’s completely in ruins. Tsk…

Cookies: AHHHHHH!

Young Milk Villager Cookie: Wh- Huh? Grandpappy! Look over there! Old Milk Villager Cookie: Hrrrrmmm… Put some milk on the fire, lad. We have guests. Old Milk Villager Cookie: Over here, travelers! This way! GingerBrave: *Huff puff* Oh wow…! Thanks for letting us in! Wizard Cookie: What was that… A local variety of a lion?! Its mane was so… so… SO FIERCE! Old Milk Villager Cookie: Ah! Ran into one of those beasts, I see? No need to fret anymore, you’re safe here. Old Milk Villager Cookie: Besides, Cookies should help Cookies, no? It’s a shame that our own King will not help us… Old Milk Villager Cookie: But it’s times like these where we of the Milk Village shine, for we are stalwart and strong! Here now, have some warm milk and heat yourselves up! Custard Cookie III: An excellent offer! Thank you, kind Cookie! Wizard Cookie: Wait, what did you mean when you said your own king won’t help you? Old Milk Villager Cookie: Hold on, you’re not from the Dark Cacao Kingdom, are you? No wonder you’re so lightly dressed for this cold! Old Milk Villager Cookie: You must be coming from the South? Right?! My dear guests! What is it like?! Is it always warm?! Tell me everything!

Young Milk Villager Cookie: Now, now, Grandpappy! We talked about this! Custard Cookie III: First, you must answer our question! What do you mean your king won’t help? Old Milk Villager Cookie: The Watchers once protected us, kept us safe. But ever since they stopped their patrols, wild beasts have been prowling about… approaching closer every day. Young Milk Villager Cookie: Our village is still hanging in there. Others have scattered to other lands. Rumors say that entire tribes and clans have become bandits! GingerBrave: Huh! That’s weird! Dark Cacao Cookie isn’t helping other Cookies? Old Milk Villager Cookie: The king has locked the Citadel gates… As of late, he is fixated on strengthening the Great Wall that defends the kingdom from the Licorice Sea. Old Milk Villager Cookie: I am not speaking ill of King Dark Cacao Cookie. After all, the kingdom and our tribe have been allies for generations. GingerBrave: We brought a letter from a friend of Dark Cacao Cookie. I’m sure he’ll be happy to read it! Young Milk Villager Cookie: But no one is allowed inside the Black Citadel! How are you going to deliver the letter? Old Milk Villager Cookie: It has been long since I’ve laid eyes upon the king… The king swore to be our shield, but where has he gone? Are the talks true… Is THAT king nothing but an echo of the past?

COFFEE TRIBE VILLAGE

GingerBrave: Huh? Looks like no one’s here. Strawberry Cookie: What could’ve happened here?

(If Espresso Cookie is on team) Espresso Cookie: Hmm… A faint smell of coffee residue. The Coffee Tribe must have left long ago.

Caramel Arrow Cookie: There’s a nip in the air… Yet another night spent out in the wilds. At least I’ve had my fill of Boar Jellies, ha ha! Caramel Arrow Cookie: A moon has passed since I’ve departed from the Black Citadel. I hope my Lord, Dark Cacao Cookie, is faring well. Caramel Arrow Cookie: *Sigh* I pray that the remaining Watchers do not fall victim to indignation… Caramel Arrow Cookie: …That deceitful snake. I swear to return to the citadel and prove my innocence!

Affogato Cookie: Your Majesty. A little bird has told me that the First Watcher has been shirking her duties and lollygagging at the villages, handing out rations most likely stolen from the citadel’s pantries. Caramel Arrow Cookie: There is no truth to these claims. It was my own rations that I decided to share and my own time I’ve invested in order to keep our lands safe! Affogato Cookie: How impetuous! Are you accusing this humble court of failing to serve our Cookies? Are you implying that His Majesty’s aides are selfish, greedy, and conniving? Gathered Retainers: Noble Caramel Arrow Cookie, stay your tong- Caramel Arrow Cookie: You have twisted my words and their intent! Affogato Cookie: If loitering outside these walls is what you enjoy, why not be repositioned as First Snow Plower? My Liege, I believe it wise that this lackadaisical Cookie before you be banished from stalwart citadel. Dark Cacao Cookie: So be it. Caramel Arrow Cookie: My King?! Please, my King, I am- Dark Cacao Cookie: Caramel Arrow Cookie. Heed my words. Dark Cacao Cookie: You need not return. Your spirit has always been one with the wilds, akin to the deer roaming the frostridden mountains.

Caramel Arrow Cookie: My… my King… What wisdom was hidden within your words… Caramel Arrow Cookie: Perhaps I am overthinking. No more tears, Caramel Arrow Cookie! Concentrate, keep busy! Caramel Arrow Cookie: This is a matter of perspective. There are so many tasks that I can fulfill out here! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Focus! You can’t stop now! I have to carve and fletch twenty arrows a day to ward off the wild beasts and defend against bandits. Wizard Cookie: AAAAAAAAHHH! It’s back! Caramel Arrow Cookie: HUH?! Cookies? Are they in danger? Caramel Arrow Cookie: Are they fending off beasts? HOLD ON! HELP IS ON THE WAY!

Frozen Peak Prowler: *SCREEEEEEEECH!* Wizard Cookie: AAAAAAAAHHH! It’s back! Chili Pepper Cookie: Whose idea was it to come this way?! GingerBrave: RUN FOR IT! Caramel Arrow Cookie: STOP, do not run! You must not scatter! Chili Pepper Cookie: Wuddya mean “don’t run”?! This thing won’t back down no matter how hard we try! Strawberry Cookie: I’m so exhausted… I feel so… cold and sleepy… Caramel Arrow Cookie: Listen to me, travelers! Whatever happens, stay awake and focus on the danger at hand! Caramel Arrow Cookie: To have lasted this long on your own… You’ve much skill in combat! Now, leave the rest to me! Caramel Arrow Cookie: The Wraith of the Peaks: a snow lion! A fast, agile, and unyielding beast indeed! But can you dodge THIS?! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Take this!

Caramel Arrow Cookie: Is everyone safe in one piece?! Caramel Arrow Cookie: When I heard your cries for help, I feared I was too late… But all of you are much tougher than you seem! Caramel Arrow Cookie: May I ask which village the lot of you call home? GingerBrave: We’re from the faraway Cookie Kingdom! You saved our dough back there! And that’s a really cool-looking bow! Chili Pepper Cookie: Myeah, whuddya look at that fancy bow! Expensive, huh? Lemme take a close look at it! Wizard Cookie: Your boots are very intriguing! Are they designed to help you walk in the snow? Caramel Arrow Cookie: Oh, these old things? Ha ha… I laced the bottoms with cords of straw to help myself hike through the snowy peaks! Caramel Arrow Cookie: But first, allow me to introduce myself. I am a humble servant of the king, a member of the Watchers. Caramel Arrow Cookie, at your service.

Custard Cookie III: A pleasure to meet you, Caramel Arrow Cookie. Today, you have saved a king! (He he, that’s me!) Caramel Arrow Cookie: I am relieved to see that all of you are injured. Now that the danger has passed, I shall be on my way. Farewell, travelers! Custard Cookie III: W-wait! You said you’re one of the king’s servants, right? GingerBrave: What luck! We have a message that we need to deliver to Dark Cacao Cookie! GingerBrave: Can you take us to the castle? Caramel Arrow Cookie: Ah… Well, the thing is… Caramel Arrow Cookie: *Sigh* The truth is, I was banished from the castle. I have fallen victim to false slander and accusations. I… cannot go back. Custard Cookie III: Huh…? That’s not nice at all! What king would do such a thing?! Certainly not ME! Wizard Cookie: Perhaps the rumors are true… Maybe King Dark Cacao Cookie really has changed… For the worst! Caramel Arrow Cookie: N-n-no, that is far from the truth. The king is, and will always be, an awe-inspiring leader. But that sniveling snake… whispering those poisonous rumors into the king’s ear… Wizard Cookie: Sounds to me things are going to be a LITTLE more complicated than we expected!

Caramel Arrow Cookie: Pardon? The old allies of the Dark Cacao Kingdom are rising up once more? GingerBrave: We’ve seen the Vanilla and Hollyberry Kingdoms with our own eyes! And this letter must reach King Dark Cacao Cookie. It was written by none other than Pure Vanilla Cookie! Wizard Cookie: Earthbread is in danger. Dark Cacao Cookie’s support will be of immense help. Caramel Arrow Cookie: Are you certain…? Hmm… Then there is hope after all! Custard Cookie III: That’s the spirit! Any king would be proud to have a loyal servant such as yourself! GingerBrave: Let’s go to the castle together and talk with Dark Cacao Cookie himself! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Then let us be off! I shall lead you to the king! GingerBrave: YEAH! Let’s go! Time to meet Dark Cacao Cookie!

GingerBrave: Whoah! Look at that giant chocolate slab! What is this for? Caramel Arrow Cookie: This a monument to honor Watchers who have fallen in the line of duty… These are… were… the names of my comrades in arms. Caramel Arrow Cookie: Having your name inscribed here is the greatest honor for Cookies of the Dark Cacao Kingdom. Though I truly miss them… I am honored to have served together! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Not a speck of dust or grime… It is good to see this place is still held in high regard, despite our kingdom’s situation… Caramel Arrow Cookie: If you would permit, may I light an incense stick to honor the fallen while we are here? Caramel Arrow Cookie: My friends, my family… Ever keeping watch upon the Great Wall and Mountains… It is I, Caramel Arrow Cookie. Please, aide me in my effort to greet our king once more.

Caramel Arrow Cookie: The gates have been barred shut? But this means no one is able to go in or out! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Hear me! Is anyone on duty? Open the gates! Gatekeeper Cookie: Turn back.. Huh? Caramel Arrow Cookie! Why did you come? My friend, you should not be here! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Though I may be in exile, I go where I wish. These travelers are on a quest of great importance. They must meet the king! Gatekeeper Cookie: Honorable Caramel Arrow Cookie, though I wish to help you I simply- Crumbs!

Affogato Cookie: What is the meaning of this commotion? Who dares to spark trouble at our gates? Caramel Arrow Cookie: YOU! Lazing about more than usual, I see?! Just how many sweets and delicacies have you engorged yourself on? Affogato Cookie: Caramel Arrow Cookie? I do not recall any retractions regarding your banishment… Your presence here is in direct defiance of our king! Caramel Arrow Cookie: You treacherous…! I would never defy our king! It is your deceitful whispers that have caused me this shame! Affogato Cookie: Oh, I quite agree… shameful indeed. Look at you… Though shamed, you still have a sense of loyalty. But tell me, why has the king never summoned you? Caramel Arrow Cookie: Dishonorable worm! It is all because of those poisonous falsities you spew about! Stand aside! I shall personally ask the king about my so-called crimes! GingerBrave: She’s right! We have to meet King Dark Cacao Cookie! We need to deliver an important letter for him, and for his eyes only!

Affogato Cookie: *Scoff* Bringing vagrants to our great citadel as well… Affogato Cookie: Our king is preoccupied with a matter of great importance. He cannot be disturbed, nor will I allow such a disturbance! Begone! Custard Cookie III: What happened?! That Cookie treated you with so much disrespect! Caramel Arrow Cookie: My apologies. I have brought shame upon us all. GingerBrave: Huh? I’m sure it’s not your fault! Caramel Arrow Cookie: But I have yet to give up! I know of many hidden passages that can take us into the citadel! Caramel Arrow Cookie: Follow me. Hold position in front of that entrance. I shall open the door for you from the inside! GingerBrave: Sounds like a plan! Thanks, Caramel Arrow Cookie!

Dark Cacao Cookie: These fortifications were ordered to be bolstered weeks ago, but it is proceeding at a sugar snail’s pace. Quarry more cocoa and bring more syrup! Coat the walls in thick layers of chocolate to reinforce them! Palace Worker 1: By your command, my king! Dark Cacao Cookie: Bring more chocolate bricks and cauldrons for boiling water. Ensure there are enough arrows to hold off a siege! All towers and stations must be supplied! Palace Worker 2: Yes, Your Majesty!

Affogato Cookie: Pardon my curiosity, my Liege. We’ve already a sturdy, fortified wall protecting us. Why must the citadel be bolstered with such fervor? Affogato Cookie: Our kingdom’s coffers cannot sustain these efforts. May I advise caution for soon even our citadel’s kitchens will have to switch from Rainbow Jellies to… plain Jellies. Dark Cacao Cookie: Silence! There will be no meals at all if our kingdom is to fall. Affogato Cookie: A hundred pardons, Your Majesty. Though I humbly stand by my world, observe: the soldiers are growing weary. Affogato Cookie: As are you, my king. My Lord, as King of the Dark Cacao Kingdom, you must pace yourself. Your subjects need your strength… Dark Cacao Cookie: My health matters not at this time. Do not let up! Proceed with the construction! Dark Cacao Cookie: There is no room for regret or blame if we are ill-prepared when disaster strikes. All of you, double your efforts!

Affogato Cookie: The court must be convened. All ministers need to make themselves present at the Hall of Dignity. Cube Choco Cookie: Explain yourself, good Affogato Cookie. What is the meaning of this summons when we should be focusing on our king’s commands? Second Watcher: The Watch has little time to spare for such a summons! Say what you will with haste, for I must return to my post! Affogato Cookie: I humbly ask for your understanding in this matter. It was not my intent to divert the attention of this court from our duties. Affogato Cookie: I approach you because I am concerned with the future of our kingdom. We all know the dire circumstances of our treasury, but perhaps the reason for such concern is due to our king’s lapse in judgment?

Second Watcher: What?! You dare utter such treacherous words before us? Cube Choco Cookie: Hmmm… Noble Affogato Cookie. Indeed, your statement can be taken as an act of treason. Affogato Cookie: Now now, heed my concern and think rationally. Our king is obsessed with preparing for a war that will not spark. He is sickenly fixated on our defenses when there is no need. Affogato Cookie: Our soldiers are weary, their cries heard throughout the night. The treasury is depleting by the hour! Peanut Butter Choco Cookie: Your words do contain an inkling of truth. Never have the beasts penetrated our defenses. Our forces are stalwart as ever, almost excessively prepared. Second Watcher: There is no such thing as too much preparation! Our lands, bordering the Licorice Sea, cannot be sufficiently defended even with all of our forces. Second Watcher: With the banishment of the First Watcher, our forces’ morale is at an all time low. What if ferocious beasts were to attack at this very moment? Peanut Butter Choco Cookie: Why the concern when we already have enough Watchers? Do you need more Cookies as an excuse to stockpile more Jellies?!

Second Watcher: I will not be subject to such an accusation! Affogato Cookie: Refrain from this insolent nonsense! Caramel Arrow Cookie this, Caramel Arrow Cookie that… Good riddance! What use was there for a First Watcher who was always gallivanting through the wilds? Second Watcher: Hold your tongue! The First Watcher always put the Cookies of our kingdom first! Affogato Cookie: Are you defending a banished criminal…? Do you wish to be the next one to face exile?! Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: This has gone too far. Affogato Cookie’s words resonate with the truth. Second Watcher: Hrmph… You too..? Cube Choco Cookie: *Ahem, ahem* This is not a matter of choosing sides. What is it you propose, Affogato Cookie? Affogato Cookie: My concern for the wellbeing of our kingdom is too much to bear. I can barely sleep due to such a burden. The answer is crystal clear! Affogato Cookie: I cannot stand idly by while our king brings ruin upon our land. We must devise a plan!

Affogato Cookie: Ahhh… yes, everything is moving forward like clockwork. Confidence in our king has all but dried out. Affogato Cookie: Perhaps I shall expedite my plans, reveal all at once?! No, no... the king is still much too hardy and hale. Affogato Cookie: Things are moving along, indeed, but something is missing… There must be a method to make this kingdom my own in one fell swoop… Pomegranate Cookie: What an amusing conspiracy you have concocted… Has the kingdom been faring terribly of late?

Affogato Cookie: Who…?! You… you’re not from around here, are you? Affogato Cookie: All gates to the citadel are locked shut! How did you get in here?! Licorice Cookie: Hee hee hee! There’s ALWAYS a way. Poison Mushroom Cookie: Dark Choco Cookie! Hooray! He showed us the way… Affogato Cookie: Dark Choco Cookie? The traitorous prince who struck down his own father before fleeing? Dark Choco Cookie: Watch your words. I won’t warn you again… Affogato Cookie: P-P-P-Prince Dark Choco Cookie! Affogato Cookie: B-b-but you fled from our kingdom? W-w-what are you doing here? What do you w-w-want?! Pomegranate Cookie: Calm your nerves, we mean you no harm. We are merely seeking an ally… such as yourself. Dark Choco Cookie: If you truly wish to take the king out of play, bring him to the top of the tallest wall. I will take care of him myself.

Affogato Cookie: …What are you talking about? How am I supposed to trust you when we’ve only just met moments ago?! Dark Choco Cookie: You have no choice. Refuse our offer, and our armies will lay waste to this entire land. Licorice Cookie: Yeah! We got an army big enough to invade this kingdom twice! Think about it…! Handing the king over to us is better it wiped off the map! HA HA HA! Pomegranate Cookie: This kingdom will fare on even in the absence of its king. After all, are you not the more capable Cookie befitting of the throne? Affogato Cookie: (They are not wrong… This could be THE opportunity I’ve awaited. If they can truly take the king out of the picture…!) Affogato Cookie: An interesting offer. Very well. I accept your terms. Affogato Cookie: Dah-dah-dah! On one condition… Though your confidence speaks volumes, there is no room for failure! Pomegranate Cookie: *Soft, evil chuckle* Such an amusing conspirer indeed. Are you prepared, good “prince”? Dark Choco Cookie: Don’t waste your breath. I’m here to finish what I started long ago…

Affogato Cookie: This way, my Lord. My servants have prepared something that requires your wisdom. Affogato Cookie: As you can see, our work on the fortifications is proceeding as planned. I say this with humility, but my efforts to console the soldiers and other nobles have seemed to pay off. Dark Cacao Cookie: You? Overseeing security affairs? Hmm… Well done. Affogato Cookie: My Liege, may I offer my counsel on this matter? While a whip might suffice for now, a carrot may prove more effective. Loyal members of our court may be motivated tenfold with remunerations… Dark Cacao Cookie: Loyal? Of whom do you speak? Dark Cacao Cookie: Loyalty cannot be bought with rewards. Those truly loyal follow their king until the bitter end. Affogato Cookie: …Yes, my Lord. I agree with your words of wisdom. Dark Cacao Cookie: I remember the time the first stones for this citadel were set in place… I was driven by a sense of duty and fervor, a desire to protect our land with these walls. Dark Cacao Cookie: Our soldiers, myself… We continued on through that coldest winter, on the brink of starvation to protect our Cookies, our kingdom.

Dark Cacao Cookie: But I digress. How much further, Affogato Cookie? What is it that you must present before me? Dark Cacao Cookie: Your king speaks. Answer me. …Affogato Cookie? Dark Cacao Cookie: …Where has he gone? In fact… where has everyone gone…? Shadow on the Wall: It has been quite some time… Father. Dark Cacao Cookie: You…!

Dark Cacao Cookie: Dark… Choco… Cookie… Dark Cacao Cookie: Dark Choco Cookie… Do my eyes deceive me…? How did…? Dark Choco Cookie: You’ve quite the loyal retainer. Dark Cacao Cookie: …I see! Affogato Cookie, that traitorous worm! Dark Cacao Cookie: Tell me… Why have you returned? Are you here to ask for my forgiveness? Dark Choco Cookie: I had no choice but to come here. I… am here for the Soul Jam. Dark Choco Cookie: I have led Dark Enchantress Cookie’s armies to these lands, a force to be reckoned with. But if you surrender now and hand over your sword… We will leave immediately. Dark Cacao Cookie: As if trespassing into this citadel like wretched vermin wasn’t enough, you dare to utter that name and bring her forces here?! Dark Cacao Cookie: You do not deserve the mantle of a prince! You are no son of mine! Do you not feel a bit of shame, even as you walk past the Altar of the Fallen!?!?

Dark Choco Cookie: And you are not the great king we all thought you were! Dark Choco Cookie: This ancient citadel is crumbling by the year. The time has come to lay waste to it and watch all these lands be cleansed by the flames of war! Dark Cacao Cookie: Tread lightly, boy… Your next words may be your last! Dark Cacao Cookie: Gaaargh…! Dark Choco Cookie: You’ve grown weak over the years. This is your last chance. The Soul Jam! Give it to me…! Dark Cacao Cookie: *Cough* I have bad news for you, boy. I do not have it with me… Dark Cacao Cookie: The Soul Jam is hidden within the deepest recesses of this citadel… To protect it until the bitterest of ends! Dark Choco Cookie: Then our conversation ends here! Dark Cacao Cookie: Where do you think you're going?! I’m not done with you yet! Dark Choco Cookie: You’re nothing without its power! HYAAAH! Dark Cacao Cookie: HURRR!

Dark Choco Cookie: …… Dark Choco Cookie: No one can survive falling from this height… Dark Choco Cookie: Was this my destiny all along…? The king, this entire kingdom… decimated by my own hand… What a waste…

Licorice Cookie: So, that’s that then. Time for the next step then: summoning the monsters of the Licorice Sea? Licorice Cookie: I spent years trying to get as far away as possible from this foul sea. But where have I ended up? BACK HERE! *PTOOEY* Licorice Cookie: Yes… YES…! Witness the true might of Licorice Cookie!!! Rise up, dark creatures of the depths! I SUMMON YOU! Dark Choco Cookie: A great host of beasts… Will I be able to witness those forsaken walls finally crumbling? Poison Mushroom Cookie: Whoooooooa…! Licorice Cookie! That was… whoa… awesome! Pomegranate Cookie: It seems that even you have your uses, Licorice Cookie. Licorice Cookie: HA HA HA! With the depths of the seas, I can make anything possible! Ahem… with one caveat… They’ll turn to dust at sunrise… Dark Choco Cookie: These numbers will suffice. Pomegranate Cookie: The citadel will be ours before sunrise. There is no room for failure. Licorice Cookie: Let’s get this party started…! GO, MY MINIONS! Wreak Licorice havoc upon the Black Citadel!

Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: Affogato Cookie! The skies have gone black and the sea is churning! Something foul is afoot! Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: The Watchers decide it wise to report this to the king! Fear is gripping their hearts as we speak! Affogato Cookie: Our king has departed from the premises and left all matters of the kingdom to me. My words are delivered on behalf of the king! You need not seek him out so desperately. Affogato Cookie: (My plan has succeeded! Mhe he. Everyone believes that the King has not been seen since last night.) Affogato Cookie: (Oh, yes, that band of Cookies is quite efficient! I am finding it hard to hide a smile… This kingdom is MINE!)

Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: My Lord! What should we do about the Licorice Sea? Lord Affogato Cookie, please! Affogato Cookie: Ah, yes. Do not be concerned with the Licorice Sea. Let us hold a ritual to calm its waters. Relay my intent to the Watchers at once! Affogato Cookie: My very own servants will make preparations. As I am required elsewhere, I take my leave!

Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: The altar upon the walls has been prepared, good sage! Please, pacify the Licorice Sea! Mysterious Priest: Tide spirits of the Licorice Sea! Cookies: Tide spirits of the Licorice Sea! Mysterious Priest: Long have we resided upon these lands, disregarding your whispers. May we appease your rage! Accept our offerings and grant us peace once more. Mysterious Priest: Throw the Rice Jellies into the fire! Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: Huh?! There’s something beneath the water… Something… sinister! Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: SEA MONSTERS?! Mysterious Priest: What are you babbling on about? Nonsense! Licorice Ooze: Grrrrrooar! Bittersweet Dark Cacao Watcher: That sound… It’s like… a cry of anguish from the darkest of nightmares!

Mysterious Priest: Hush with your incessant whining! Are you Watchers of the Citadel scared of a few waves?! Second Watcher: Those aren’t just waves. Monsters from the Licorice Sea are approaching the Wall! Second Watcher: Sound the alarm! All stations, prepare for battle! Mysterious Priest: NONSENSE! The sea cannot climb up the wall! Monsters? BAH! Mysterious Priest: All lies, lies and false superstition! You’re intent on spreading blasphemy to invoke fear into the hearts of our Cookies! Second Watcher: Do you truly believe so? We have spent our lives, our every moment to keep watch upon these walls… Sugary Dark Cacao Watcher: Good sage, beware! Take cover!

Mysterious Priest: AH?! AHHH?! The monsters of the Licorice Sea are real?! No… it can’t be! IT CAN’T BE! Mysterious Priest: They’re hallucinations! Hallucinations, I tell you!

Second Watcher: Ancestors help us… They’re swarming toward us! Watchers, at the ready! Bittersweet Dark Cacao Watcher: DO NOT LET THEM GAIN AN INCH OF GROUND! Second Watcher: Leave this tower to me! GO! GOOO! HYAH! Bittersweet Dark Cacao Watcher: Huff… huff… There’re… ARGH! Too many of them! Second Watcher: Give them no quarter! Reinforcements will be on the way! Bittersweet Dark Cacao Watcher: Commander…! L-l-l-look! Living Licorice Abyss: GROOOOOOOAR!

Second Watcher: This… cannot be… What nightmarish beast is that?! Dark Cacao Watcher: AHHHH! Bittersweet Dark Cacao Watcher: Where are our reinforcements?! Second Watcher: That beast is attempting to smash the wall! STOP IT AT ALL COSTS! Second Watcher: CHARGE! ANCESTORS, GIVE US STRENGTH!

Cautious Dark Cacao Warrior: We’ve made it to the citadel! Make haste for the walls! Move, MOVE, MOVE! Swift Dark Cacao Warrior: Something off about all this. We’ll be fine… right? Cautious Dark Cacao Warrior: Fear not! For these walls have never fallen for generations. Swift Dark Cacao Warrior: Erm… er… LOOK! It’s shaking from the ground up! Cautious Dark Cacao Warrior: No… it’s not possible…! Bittersweet Dark Cacao Watcher: The walls are collapsing! RETREAT!

Second Watcher: No… impossible… Second Watcher: The Great Wall has fallen… Is this the end for this land? Dark Cacao Watcher: The wall has crumbled! Fall back! Prepare for the final stand!

#affogato cookie #dark cacao cookie #dark choco cookie #gingerbrave #caramel arrow cookie #strawberry cookie #wizard cookie #pomegranate cookie #licorice cookie #espresso cookie #poison mushroom cookie #cookie run kingdom #cr dialogue #second watcher #Custard Cookie III #chili pepper cookie #crk

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moonbaby26 · 3 years

Text

(gif from Jason Passaro’s youtube edit here)

Title: One Shitty Friday Night (Part 2) *contains some smut*

Pairing: Peter Maximoff x Fem!Reader

Summary: Set after the events of Deadpool 2, this is the conclusion from the previous part here. After your semi-disastrous double date night, you, Peter, Kitty, and Colossus head home with Deadpool and Russell in tow to face Logan, Charles, and Erik back at the mansion. You also get some well earned alone time with Peter at last, only to go back to chaos the following morning with Peter confronting Gambit, and Deadpool popping back in.

Warnings: It’s still a bit of Deadpool and all that entails, but only at the beginning and end. *In this part there actually is some Peter x Reader sex.* But you’re welcome to skip over that if uncomfortable with it. I clearly mark in red before and after any smut within the story so readers can choose what to read and still enjoy just the fluff and character interactions before and after if wanted. ❤️

Peter Maximoff x Reader Masterlist

——————————

The ride home was surprisingly quiet actually. Colossus driving, with Kitty sitting shotgun in the front with him. Russell was in the second row seat behind Kitty, but the seat that normally would have been behind the driver had been taken out specifically with Colossus in mind to let his seat sit further back with his large height.

That just left the third row of three seats. With Peter still not in the best mood, you’d chosen to sit between him and Wade. But they’d mostly just been snacking on the cannolis the whole way home rather than saying or doing much of anything else.

You’d only eaten two in all, hungry but not wanting a stomach ache from the sweetness. You’d felt your own phone buzzing in your pocket most the way home too, but you refused to look at it yet. You could only imagine which friends were trying to call or text you about whatever was being said on TV and the internet now.

Kitty only told you that she’d messaged Xavier to tell him you were all on your way home. But you weren’t sure if she’d warned him about Deadpool and Russell coming with you. Or if she’d kept her phone out at all either afterward, afraid of what the Professor might say in response.

It could have been worse was what you kept thinking. It had been worse actually. Deadpool had once killed an Essex House staff member on live TV, while wearing an X-Men shirt, and with Colossus and Negasonic Teenage Warhead also in camera view. But, given that that trouble had already come from him once, would the Professor be harder on you all this second time around? Would he still think you handled the situation as well as you could have or not?

By the time you felt the familiar turns up the long drive to the mansion, you realized that the period for anxiety was over. Whatever would be would now be.

Colossus had decided to park right in front the main entry doors instead of pulling down into the garage. Mostly just in case Wade’s welcome wasn’t a warm one. He could step right back outside if needed instead of already being in the depths of the compound.

Russell was actually the first one to speak though as you all climbed out the vehicle in front of the well manicured landscaping and dim accent lights.

“Holy shit, he is a rich son of a bitch.” The boy spoke, gaping a little at the sheer size of the mansion and the number of floors still above you.

“The cursing, Russell, please.” Colossus reminded. “There are younger children who live here.”

“Though they should be in bed,” Kitty responded, albeit sounding doubtful herself as she started up the entryway stairs.

They might normally be yes, but probably not if the rumor mill of tonight’s excitement was already burning through the place.

“Well I’ve actually never seen more than three people anytime I’ve been here. So there’s that,” Deadpool quipped.

“Yeah well, we were probably busy.” Peter retorted.

“Oh? Well yeah, maybe you were.” Wade replied, eyeing Peter. “Here’s a thought though, Peters. Maybe next time Ryan Murphy calls, just say N-O. No means no, right?”

“What-” Peter started to ask, but then thought better of it. It really wasn’t worth trying to piece together anything else Deadpool said into something more sensical right now.

As Kitty pushed open the doors and you all strode into the large foyer in front the main staircases, you weren’t sure what would be awaiting you. But the immediate, utterly ecstatic squeal that erupted from Deadpool next had all of you jumping before a gruff voice responded from up on the second floor landing.

“You have to be goddamn shitting me. You actually let that idiot follow you home?” Logan responded, the odd mix of disgust and annoyance so clear on his unshaven face.

“I thought you said no cursing here,” Russell complained.

“Logan is sometimes another matter...” Colossus attempted to answer with some neutrality, even as Deadpool was now bounding up the stairs towards the older man.

“Finally! Finally! I don’t even care if it’s just Tumblr and like two people and their FBI agents will see this! Beggars can’t be choosers! I missed you so much, papa bear!”

You stood there staring in complete disbelief, Deadpool looking as if he was actually going to try and hug the Wolverine.

You were likely all of the same mindset about the only way this could possibly play out, but Colossus was the only one to speak, pleading really. “Please, Logan! No blood on the inside of the house! You know how badly it would stain the floors!”

But Wolverine only growled, claws already aimed as Wade stopped just millimeters short, the metal tips now grazing the mercenary’s throat. “You heard him, Wade. Don’t give me a reason and you won’t be having to regrow limbs tonight.” Logan replied.

“You salty old bastard. We haven’t even seen each other in ages, you won’t return my calls, and this is the welcome I get?” Deadpool pouted.

“You’re bad luck walking, Wade. These kids don’t need you hanging around here for long.”

“Oh, and you’re such a tasteful role model. Grandpappy Wolverine teaching a class on cigar chain smoking, and stabbing your problems away this semester?”

“The fuck are you on about? How many people have you killed this month alone, Wade?”

“Twenty four and a half, thank you. And ask me how many of those never killed or raped someone themselves. How many the police never would have touched. What do you think I’ll say there?”

“Reason it all you want, bub. You’re just a wack job vigilante.”

“This could go on all night.” Kitty sighed. “Logan! Where is everyone else? We brought Russell with us, we need to take him to the Professor.”

Wolverine only softened slightly at Kitty’s voice, answering her. “Charles put in a curfew tonight, all students back to their rooms. Wade’s not allowed past the entrance, but the Professor is waiting for you in his study.”

“Discrimination.” Wade huffed, yet then posed in a mock seductive look. “But if you wanted me alone tough guy, all you’d have to do is ask.”

“Please do not make a mess, Logan. We will be back to collect him as soon as we can.” Colossus said with some concern, you all just starting towards the hallway that lead to Xavier’s office.

“No promises.” Logan called back before continuing, louder then so you could hear him even as you walked away. “And hey, Peter-”

“Yeah?” He answered back from your side, glancing over his shoulder at Logan.

“Your dad’s here, kid.”

Peter paused in his tracks, staring for a moment. You could see the emotions process through him before he took a deep breath. There was nothing more that any of you could do though. He just lifted a hand up in a wave of acknowledgement, finally starting to walk again. “Thanks for the warning,”

Even in all that had happened through the years though, going to see Xavier like this still brought back an odd sense of childhood. And that little feeling of dread to be honest. Not because you really thought he would be angry, but because you worried that you may have disappointed him. Which would have always been the worse of the two options in your own mind.

Colossus was the one to slide the ornate pocket doors open, you all trailing in behind him as you entered the study.

It was warm inside, the fireplace crackling and dancing. That fire was the only light besides a couple small table lamps and a TV now on mute, but still running the late night news.

You were but weren’t surprised to see Erik sitting there as well, a short glass of what looked like scotch in one hand. There was a chessboard as well, positioned between himself and Charles on a little table, the pieces clearly still in play.

As the TV flickered again though, you glanced back to it reflexively. You saw an exterior shot of the restaurant you’d been at only a short time earlier, now with police tape all around. It cut to a video of Colossus walking up to police cars with Giovanni in hand, but then just as quickly the flashing red and blue lights changed to the white flashes of cameras and yourself and Peter talking before the sudden kiss. You only looked to the floor in renewed embarrassment then, choosing not to read the ticker captions currently scrolling beneath the now looping video.

“Hey, Dad...” Peter said somewhat unsure, but still the first to speak. He’d shoved his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket now, as he often did when nervous. “Didn’t know you were in town.”

“Peter.” Erik answered plainly though, taking a sip of his drink before setting it back down. “I only arrived this afternoon. I had been hoping for a quiet evening.” He looked briefly towards the television, but then coolly back to Peter. “But here we are aren’t we?”

“Erik,” Xavier warned lightly though, no doubt sensing Peter tense further at the tone.

“They aren’t children anymore, Charles.” Erik responded sharply. “And it never should have been allowed to get to this point. I told you from the beginning that they should have worn masks, they should have been discreet. Trying to craft this foolhardy public image of the new X-Men as some celebrity clean up crew for humans’ mistakes, it’s making a mockery of us all.”

The exasperated breath that came out of the Professor next told you that this was far from the first time that this subject had come up as a point of contention between the two. But the rest of you were quite helpless whenever Erik and Charles would start to argue in front of you.

Xavier countered, “As I have also said before, Erik, we all knew there would be some negatives from moving more into the public eye with our team. But how can mutant kind ever be accepted for who we really are if we only kept slinking in the shadows for the rest of our lives? It’s no different than Raven showing herself on camera all those years ago. You know what an impact that made on the youth in our community then.”

“But the humans are fickle. The magazines and the talk shows only jest at you now. What happens when they turn on you? When my son’s face is only on a wanted list in a database, Charles? What then?”

The anger and protectiveness flaring up in Erik’s tone only made the room even more uncomfortable, yet you didn’t find yourself surprised. Peter’s relationship with his father would never be an easy one, but you knew in the end that Erik did feel a sense of responsibility towards his progeny. And hell have mercy on anyone who did ever truly harm Wanda, Peter, or Lorna and word of it get back to their father.

Charles remained patient though, likely understanding those paternal emotions all too well himself. The Professor treated you all as well as his own after all. “The ones that wish to harm us already knew who we were, Erik. They don’t need to pick up that gossip drivel to find us. We protect ourselves by staying together, as we always have. They want us, then they’ll have to face us all. And Lord knows even gods have tried.”

Erik frowned, and for a moment you wondered if Xavier was saying something more to him telepathically. Something to make him finally quiet or at least agree to postpone the argument’s continuation for later in private.

Regardless of whether your instincts were correct or not on that, their conversation did end abruptly then. Charles switched to a warmer, but still slightly tired tone as he looked back to the rest of you. “Well, I know you’re all ready for tonight to be over. I won’t keep you much longer. Kitty, if you could make sure that weapon you confiscated ends up locked in Hank’s lab tonight, we’ll see about it later. Given that those men would not need something so extravagant just to dispose of other humans, I’m certain it was developed or at least purchased with our kind in mind. We will learn what we can.”

She nodded in agreement before he then turned his attention to the, to this point, uncharacteristically silent Russell with a kind look. “And Russell, I appreciate you deciding to give us a second chance. You’re welcome to stay of course. Did you still wish to speak to me? I know it’s late. Don’t feel obligated to stay and talk if this is all a bit much right now. We can always go over more about the school in the morning.”

“Um...” The boy blinked, not quite ready it seemed for any of the focus to be back on him so soon. And it was only then that you realized it was Erik that Russell kept staring at as he tried to formulate a real response. Actually Erik and briefly back to Peter, that tell tale look on the boy’s face that you’d seen so many times before when people realized who Peter really was, who his father was. Russell was maybe even regretting picking on Peter earlier now.

Charles certainly hadn’t missed that though. Surely sensing all the boy’s thoughts and feelings now as he continued. “It’s alright, Russell. Yes, Magneto does stop in here from time to time. We’re old friends. Yet I hardly think you should be so concerned with him when you’ve already gotten on quite well with my stepbrother haven’t you?” Xavier was actually smiling then. “To get on the Juggernaut’s good side, if even briefly, is quite impressive I must say.”

That did seem to finally break the ice a little then as Russell looked back to Charles. “Yeah, I... I needed a prison friend. A big one.”

“He is that, certainly,” The Professor responded. “Yet to answer the other questions still running through your mind -and forgive me to read you- but of course you can absolutely train with us to better learn to control your fire powers if you’d like. And yes, you may also have a television in your room. I think that’s a reasonable request after living in less than desirable conditions with Wade for this long.”

“Yeah, there were rats and the old blind lady sells cocaine.” Russell answered so matter of factly that the rest of you, minus Charles who was evidently now fully aware of Russell’s recent memories, all just stared.

“Despite his, ah, unique flaws, I can say that Wade would never willingly let anything happen to you.” Xavier just continued. “But yes, it would likely be best to give you a bit more sanitary and less illegal living conditions. And of course this would all be voluntary, if you find you don’t like it here after all, you’re always free to go as well.”

“Cool. Yeah.” Russell agreed. Though not really sure what else to say.

“Wonderful,” Charles just looked back to Colossus and Kitty then. “Can you two please see Russell to one of the empty rooms so he may pick one out to sleep tonight? And please let Wade know of his decision to stay for now.”

Colossus spoke up though before they all walked out together, “And am I sending Wade home as well? I do not think he and Logan can be peaceable for a whole night in the same building.”

“Agreed. Like oil and water there. I would prefer not to have to repair cerebro again either, as we’d had to from his last stay with us.” Xavier looked apologetic though to Colossus. “Is it too much to ask that you offer him a ride back home tonight?”

But Russell just cut in before Colossus could respond. “Nah, Wade already called a cab to meet him back here before we left town. You can just dump him outside now. Let him be their problem.” But even Russell knew to elaborate a little. “And it’s not some random person he might scare off. It’s his friend Dopinder. But you might want to give him some money first. He never pays the guy. Wade doesn’t carry a wallet. Tightwad.”

Kitty sighed. “I’ll cover it. I have cash. Never got to eat or pay for our dinner after all.” She glanced to you and Peter briefly. “Maybe next weekend?”

“We can try,” You offered quietly.

She smiled, understanding that sentiment that you all might want to lay low for awhile after this fiasco of an evening. “I guess we’ll see how we feel. Night, guys.”

“Night.” You and Peter responded to her in unison.

When Kitty, Colossus, and Russell had left the room, you happened to glance back at the TV, though you were at least a little relieved to see the news had finally gone off and by the captions it was just some talk show host joking about whatever a bigger idiot politician had done now.

But Peter’s voice brought your attention back to him.

“Are we free to go too?” He asked cautiously, maybe even more uneasy now that it was just the four of you as he looked to his father and Charles.

The two older men exchanged a glance of their own as silence hung for a moment.

Erik sighed eventually though to break it. His voice serious, but lacking it’s usual coldness. “You can’t keep diving into everything headfirst, Peter. You’re going to get yourself killed.” He seemed to be studying his son’s face a moment. “And what are those bruises even from?”

“I, uh...fell down a flight of stairs.” Peter answered, taking a breath as if to steel himself for further scolding, obviously that admission only adding to his father’s point.

Yet you interjected before Erik could respond. Before you could help yourself, as it wasn’t fair for Peter to be singled out here. “I’m the one that told him to go to the basement.” Normally Scott was mission leader, or maybe Ororo. This wasn’t a role you were used to, but you’d take responsibility where it was due tonight. “I thought it would be safest for him to go first, to disarm them all, but-”

“But you sent him straight into an ambush.” Erik countered. And when his gaze shifted to you with those words, it was clear that even after this long, it still had an effect. An intimidation factor that you could only hope didn’t show through in your expression.

But it was Charles that came to your defense. “That’s a gross over simplification, Erik. Peter had already examined the area on his own accord moments before to no harm. There would have been no reason for them to think he couldn’t return to it.”

For Xavier to already know that level of detail, meant he’d already searched you and Peter’s minds tonight as well, just as he had Kitty about the gun. Which honestly was okay with you as it meant you wouldn’t have to really explain everything that had happened and risk making things sound even worse.

But Erik was still staring at you both, looking displeased.

Peter shifted, uncomfortable with the quiet. “Look, if you’re going to yell at me for what I did on TV, then just get it over with. It wasn’t (Y/N)’s fault. I was the one that made us stay as long as we did, and I was the one that got pissed off at what those guys were saying. It’s always like no one can believe we’re still together. Like I have to keep proving it.”

That admission actually did catch you off guard. Especially to be said here in front his father, and well in all honesty sort of stepfather that Charles was for all intents and purposes. You immediately felt you should say something, but were even further stunned when Erik beat you to it.

“Peter, for God’s sake. You may have problems, but I assure you that (Y/N) is not one of them. Quit being so dense, boy.”

You blinked, unsure if you’d actually just received a rare semi-compliment from Erik.

But Peter just rolled his eyes. “Thanks for the pep talk, Dad. Yes, I know that. I’m saying how do I make everyone else know that? Some fatherly wisdom would be great right now.”

Erik frowned, looking annoyed at Peter’s reaction. “I’ve told you before, I can’t teach you self-confidence, no one can. Though I’ve always been willing to fight for what I wanted. That’s a start.”

“Erik, no.” Charles interrupted. “Peter, we all question ourselves from time to time. But when it comes to relationships, nothing going on on the outside will matter as long as you focus on keeping things strong between the two of you. Weakness there is the only way those outside troubles can get in to break things down.”

“Oh typical, Charles. So it’s still turn the other cheek to everything else then? Pacifism is not how love is won.” Erik replied, now staring back at Xavier.

“Love is not a thing to be fought over, Erik, and neither is (Y/N). People are not trophies to be claimed.” The Professor responded, meeting Erik’s gaze easily.

“Okayyyy,” Peter said, glancing to you and the no doubt really uncomfortable expression on your face now. “I think we’re just going to go to bed now.” His voice was getting a little quicker as he touched your arm as if to usher you out with him. “We’ll be more careful next time, we learned our lesson, so sincerely sorry and humbled, good nigh-”

“Peter.” Erik called back though before you could both reach the doorway.

Peter looked back reluctantly, only to see Erik now holding up a phone.

“Do at least message your sisters tonight to tell them you’re alright. As refreshing as it is to be receiving so many calls from them this evening, it’s only you they wish to speak to.”

“Uh, sure,” Peter offered, a little surprised. “I haven’t even looked at my phone. I will. Night!”

“Good night.” You also managed, speaking back at least politely to the two men just before Peter hurried you out into the hallway.

——————————

You’d both chosen to take one of the other halls afterward, as to avoid the front foyer and any drama that may still be occurring there if Wade and Logan were still facing off. There was another set of stairs at the back of the house, and it’d been a real relief not to run into anyone else on the way as you took them up to your floor.

By the time you finally got to your bedroom, you didn’t bother to turn on the ceiling light, just switching on the lamp at your bedside end table as you sat down on the bed. You pulled off your shoes, and heard Peter’s jacket already hitting the floor before his own weight hit the bed, making you bounce slightly.

“Ugh,” He said, already barefoot and stretched out behind you laying on his back. “That was awkward right?”

“What part of the night specifically?” You questioned, throwing off your own coat into a then indiscernible pile in the darkness outside of the lamp light. Normally you were the one picking up after Peter, but you weren’t in the mood to hang up or fold anything tonight.

“Good point,” He conceded. “But I was mainly thinking of Dad and Charles. Sorry to drag you into that.”

Yeah, that had been pretty weird. “Well, Xavier was just trying to help. And I think your Dad was too...in his own way. I guess.” There wasn’t a whole lot you could add to that. Peter’s insecurities could flare up from time to time still, but he’d actually gotten a little better over the years. At some point he had finally realized you really were going to stick around. It wasn’t just pretty words and passing teenage hormones.

After you’d actually started rooming together officially, you knew there had even been some joking from your friends about Magneto one day becoming your father-in-law. But you tried not to humor any of that. You were in no hurry, and felt further commitment to that level would have to be Peter’s decision. It wouldn’t be fair to put him under that kind of pressure.

You knew he had reservations on the subject when none of his father’s marriages had ever worked out. He wouldn’t say it outright, but you were sure Peter felt there was still some sort of family curse there that he didn’t want to tempt fate with. As if making you his spouse would be the final straw and something would come to take all his happiness away.

You felt him moving a little then as he pulled his phone out of his pocket. “Alright, before I forget, group message to Wanda and Lorna...” But he paused, looking up at you with just a blank white screen on the phone. “What do you think I should tell them?”

“Peter, they’re your sisters.” You smiled, not sure why this would be a question to you. “Just say you’re fine, you’re back at the mansion, and you’re going to bed. You can always call them tomorrow.”

He made a face at that though, “What if I don’t want to call them tomorrow? They’re just going to lecture me. Oh, I know!” He smirked as if he’d thought of something clever, adding to whatever he was already typing. “Dad already fussed at me. So don’t worry about it. Wanda, tell mom the same thing. ❤️👍”

He turned the screen to show you. “Think that will work?”

“Genius.” You replied.

“Smart ass.” He grinned, but sent the message before quickly turning his phone back on silent and setting it on the other end table.

You took your own phone out your pocket, intentionally not reading the number of notifications left on the home screen as you also set it to the side before standing up to take your pants off.

You’d just slid them down, trying to step out of them when a sudden pinch to your backside almost had you stumble forward, one foot still stuck in a pants leg.

“Speaking of ass...” Peter teased, pulling his hand back before you could smack it.

“So the cannolis gave you a second wind, huh?” You turned, not surprised to see that devilish grin starting as he now looked you over while you next removed your shirt. You’d think he’d be used to this view by now.

“I was feeling hopeful, yeah,” he replied, though remaining where he was in the bed as your shirt joined your pants on the floor. “Of course I am still pretty tired,” He added, “Maybe you could help me out here?”

You raised one eyebrow as he motioned to the zipper of his jeans. Oh, so this was how it was going to be? He seemed so pleased with his idea though, you couldn’t help but be amused.

***smut starts here, scroll on to skip*** “So pitiful, my poor speedster.” You said, albeit smiling as you climbed into the bed. You straddled him gently, seeing that needful look already beginning to cloud his eyes as he still laid on his back beneath you.

You were tired yourself, and hungry still, but you’d survive until morning. This effort for some physical intimacy seemed worth it to at least end this bizarre night on a good note for the both of you.

And you knew you both wanted it. He might be making a play that he was going to make you do all the work right now, but you highly doubted he’d have the self control to not jump in once things actually got going.

You pushed his shirt up, running both your hands up the sides of his torso. Like anyone would expect for someone as fast as him, he was built lean, though there was sinew there. Just that bit of muscle, storing all that energy, ready to take off at a moment’s notice.

The room was cool. It was still winter and the high ceilings didn’t do much to keep heat near the floor. You knew your hands would be a little cold as well. So you willed just the slightest bit of your energy field from your palms, warming them as you stroked his chest. You could see the bit of bruising here and there from his earlier fall, but luckily nothing extreme.

He relaxed his head into the pillows behind him, clearly enjoying the feel even as you heard his breathing increase slightly. He liked to be petted, but you knew it would be too much of a tease for him if you focused above his waist for too much longer.

You left his shirt pushed up to bare his abdomen to you, even as your hands ran carefully back down, stopping at his belt. Never quite the typical guy when it came to fashion, it wasn’t a normal peg and hole type, but actually an old seatbelt buckle. You undid it with a click, pulling it out through the belt loops of his pants as he arched a little to take his weight off the back and fully free it.

Once that was out of the way, you unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans with little fanfare. His normally loose boxers were already a little tighter though you noticed.

He made a noise, shifting into the touch as you cupped him with your hand. You massaged the area through the fabric, feeling him gradually stiffen as you got a little more forceful.

By the time he was fully erect, it was all too simple to slip him through the now stretched open flap in the boxers.

You had been intending to stroke him now, but on a whim you decided to go another route. Something a little less predictable you hoped, but what you knew he would still like. You doubted you were all that good at it really, but he’d never complained before.

And you could tell he was surprised, you heard him take in a quick breath as you lowered your mouth down on him, sucking him as he spread open his legs for you. You couldn’t take him in too deep without gagging yourself, but you tried to make up for it by moving up and down gingerly as you used your tongue as well.

It must have been stimulating enough for him though as you felt his hand on the back of your head shortly after, and felt his hips starting to rock rhythmically against your mouth.

He gave a quiet moan, he was so very hard now, but you didn’t let up. You knew sometimes, especially if it’d been a while since you’d last had a chance to be intimate together, he may actually cum fairly quickly. But if he did, then he did. You weren’t worried about whether you got anything in return tonight. Truthfully, your heart was already pounding, the heat in you building, just because you knew he was so aroused.

It was always give and take, and there was no rule of whose turn it was at any given time.

His whole body stiffened a little and for a moment you thought that would be it. But his hand moved to your shoulder suddenly instead, pushing you back as you released him in response.

You pursed your lips as you looked back up at him, that little bit of irritation still felt on them of where they’d dragged against him.

He was already sitting up though, pulling his shirt off completely before he tossed it off the bed. “Come on, babe, clothes off please.” He breathed, his silver hair falling into his dark eyes as you moved off of him and he laid back again just long enough that he could pull off his jeans and work his erection free from his boxers before they ended up cast out into the darkness as well.

While you’d been watching him, you’d also been unhooking your bra as requested, tossing that away. Which left only your underwear before you’d slid it down your legs, flicking it off too once it’d only been left swinging from one foot. He closed the small distance between you so fast then, you were sure he’d actually just used his powers before you felt his lips against yours. Desperate almost, as his tongue pressed through immediately afterward.

You shivered, not expecting the feel of his fingers against your entrance almost simultaneously. Just two of them, moving methodically against you. The room felt far from cold now. But you were just kissing him equally as hard now as he started to push his fingers in further, testing your readiness.

By the time you trembled again from his probing, you knew you were fully wet enough. It was a mutual realization evidently as he broke the kiss, urging you to turn so your back was facing him as he moved behind you on the bed.

You understood what he wanted as he kneeled behind you. You let yourself lean down onto your elbows in the pillows, but also on your knees in the back as you felt him grab your hips from behind. You arched your back, curving your back downward to help angle yourself into him as you felt his tip pressing into you.

As wet as you were now, he only had to try a couple times before he was able to slide fully in. To the hilt so to speak as you felt his torso now pressed flush against you. Already that slight sheen of sweat was starting where your skin touched together as he began to thrust.

The bed was creaking, and you bit back a moan of your own, never quite sure how thick the walls really were in this house. It was kind of an unspoken thing that as long as precautions were taken, and the others in the house didn’t have to hear or see anything you did in the privacy of your own room, then no one would care if people coupled up. For the two of you, precautions only meant a birth control pill, not worrying about condoms any longer after several years of monogamy.

His thrusts were getting even more uneven though, which told you he was close to orgasm. But you couldn’t help but push back against him yourself, panting a little as you felt him grab and squeeze one of your breasts. He was supporting himself with his other arm as he leaned forward suddenly, still inside you as he nipped you lightly on one shoulder, then kissing the same spot before he breathed in your ear.

“How do you always feel so good?” He murmured.

As he let go of your breast, you felt his hand go back between your legs. Even though he was still buried fully in you, his fingers went back to teasing the outside. The over stimulation left you shuddering, and you knew he was trying to get you to orgasm first.

His fingers just kept moving as he started to thrust again. You loved that feeling of fullness, when he was all the way inside, but it was the added teasing of his fingers where you were most sensitive that finally sent you over the edge. Your muscles inside spasming around him then as that unmistakable burst of euphoria went through you, leaving every piece of you trembling.

He clearly felt your orgasm, only moving both hands back to your hips then. Pulling you back against him as he thrust roughly several more times, enough to get his own release as you felt his erection pulse in its own right, knowing he had then let go inside you as you felt that warmth already dribbling back out onto the bedsheets.

Even though you’d started the foreplay, he’d done most the work for the finish. Yet you still felt spent now, only rolling onto your back after he pulled out, trying not to let too much of his seed run back out of you and onto the bed.

He was still breathing a little unevenly as he left the bed only long enough to go grab a clean hand towel from the bathroom. One of those pluses of having had the mansion rebuilt back then was that so many more of the rooms now had their own bathrooms. And after he’d wiped the residue off of himself, he handed you the towel. You dabbed up the small spot on the bed, before wiping off the remainder from your skin as well, then tossing the towel unceremoniously onto the floor with everything else.

Peter turned off the end table lamp before climbing back into the bed beside you in the darkness. The only light then coming from the moon and starlight through the thin curtains at the windows.

You were both still naked, and a little bit hot as you only pulled the covers as high as your waists, knowing the room’s cool air would chill you quickly enough now that no more physical exertion was taking place.

Hot or not though, his arms went around you as he then pulled you into a spooning position in the darkness. You actually felt that he was still about half hard too as it touched against your backside again, you now both laying on your sides with your back to his chest.

***sex over, you’re safe to start reading again*** “That almost made up for this entire night,” He joked quietly, kissing the back of your neck a couple times before you felt him smile against your skin. He moved one of his hands to trail it lightly over your hip, the sensation tickling you slightly as he spoke again. His voice was soft, a true contentment in his tone. “Love you.”

That wasn’t a phrase he said often. But the both of you seemed to save the word as to never water it down. When it was said, it made it really mean something more.

You reached down for his hand that’d been playing with your hip, grasping it warmly and weaving your fingers between his. “I love you.” You said simply, no need to elaborate on what was just a fact.

He squeezed your hand a little harder, but said nothing more, you both just enjoying the touch and comfort of each other’s presence.

You moved your head a little more into the pillows, getting just right as you closed your eyes.

——————————

Your dreams faded in and out, nothing you could remember in detail though as the sunlight on your face now had you squinting. You thought of just pulling the blanket back over your head, but your brain started to register the smell of food as well. Bacon specifically as you lifted your head a little, trying to focus.

“It lives!” Peter joked from beside you, sitting cross legged on top the blankets and just in his boxers again. Two plates of food sat in front of him, the source of the smell you realized as you sat up a little, pulling the sheet up enough to cover your bare chest in the cool room.

Very rarely did he ever wake before you, and your still half asleep stare of confusion only made him smirk a little.

“I had to pee.” He said through a mouthful of food, a sausage biscuit with a large bite already taken out of it in one hand, and a video game controller pressed down into the bed with the other. His hand with the controller was blurring slightly as he moved it just fast enough to work the joy stick and buttons simultaneously. “Then I remembered they released that new DLC last night. Had to try it out. I turned the volume down though. Considerate right?”

And it was indeed silent, not the usual grunts and blasts and screams from that gory fighting game he loved so much. His character was currently comboing another into oblivion on the small TV across from the end of your bed.

Your lack of any real dinner the night before had you focusing back to the food in front of you though.

“Go on,” Peter encouraged. “I knew you’d be hungry. It’s not all for me.”

Normally you were against eating in bed, just from the crumbs and general mess it could make. You’d had the misfortune to find the sticky remnants of Twinkies and the like from Peter’s late and early snacking many times.

Yet even as you picked up one of the amazing looking sausage and egg biscuits for yourself, you wondered if anyone else was now going without. Was it stolen goods? “Where...did this come from?” You asked, voice still a little hoarse from just waking, even as you bit down hungrily.

But the implication of your question didn’t even faze him. “Oh there was plenty. Raven told Hank he didn’t know how to cook, so guess who wins? Us when he made three damn trays of these things.”

“Sounds like she had a plan.” You responded, also grabbing a couple pieces of bacon now.

“Totally.” He agreed. “And orange juice is on the end table, babe.”

You glanced to your side, indeed just noticing the glass beside you then. “Well, you’ve been busy.” But your attention eventually drifted back to him only sitting there in his boxers after you’d taken a few sips of juice. “Did anyone even see you?”

“Nah. Maybe they felt an errant breeze or two.” But he was grinning in a way that still gave you pause.

You watched him a little while longer, only feeling more and more sure before you finally offered out the accusation. “No. You did something. Something else...”

He’d already emptied his plate now, both hands on the video game controller then as he seemed to put his focus solely back to the TV screen. Intentionally of course before he grabbed the nearby remote to start turning the volume back up.

“Peter.” You spoke anyway, knowing full well he could still hear you. “Did we not just scrape by last night without any big consequences? You’re going to put that goodwill to the test already this morning?”

“It’ll be fine.” He answered. “It’s nothing.”

Your eyebrows raised a little. His ‘fine’ and yours could sometimes be completely different things. You sighed, going back to eating the food in front of you as Peter’s character liberated the head off another in a ridiculous fountain of CGI blood.

If you could just finish your breakfast before the next possible calamity-

The bedroom door absolutely rattled in its frame with the pounding on it that almost had you spilling the juice in the bed. By the time your annoyed look moved to the spot Peter had just been, the video game was already paused. Only yourself now alone with whoever was on the other side of that door.

“Just say I’m not here!”

You couldn’t even tell where the whisper came from. Peter either hiding in the closet or maybe the bathroom, they were too near each other to tell.

“I’m not even dressed!” You retorted just to him, quite literally naked as you tried to disentangle yourself from the blankets without dumping your food plate, while simultaneously setting the glass of juice back onto the end table.

Peter said nothing more, so you could only call out that you were coming as you anxiously tried to find some of your clothes from the night before. You were able to find your underwear, and the um, incriminating towel, but that was about it. Sure it’d been dark, but how on Earth anything else could have gotten much farther or under something so quickly was beyond you. You kicked the towel under the bed, and you just had to settle for Peter’s t-shirt crumpled in your path as you grabbed it up and yanked it over your head, hurrying for the door.

You still tried to tug the shirt down as far as you could though, at least covering your panties and butt you hoped before you finally pulled the door open. Pantsless, barefoot, and probably with bedhair as you stared up into the glowing red eyes of a very irritated looking, and entirely shirtless Remy LeBeau.

His expression softened just slightly at the sight of you, his lips curling into a handsome smile. But one that didn’t quite reach those crimson eyes. “Mornin’, cher...so sorry to intrude, but I need to have a few words with that boy toy of yours.”

Yet you were staring still, taking time to process the sight before you. There was black...large black streaks all across his face. It circled his eyes in a cartoon like representation of glasses. Though he already had some stubble on his face, the streaks condensed around his mouth as well, like the upturned mustache and goatee of an old timey villain. As if he should be going to tie up some poor girl to train tracks somewhere.

“Oh my God,” you breathed. Permanent marker, seriously? How old were all of you again? “Remy, I’m sorry.” You thought about saying something about how Peter had let those paparazzi get under his skin last night. But it wouldn’t matter. Not if none of these boys were in the mood to be reasonable right now.

“You know you’re not going to catch him.” Is what you finally said. “Please don’t blow up my bedroom trying.”

“And he ain’t worth my chasin’, petite. I just want to talk,” Remy insisted though, voice as smooth as you’d ever heard it as he leaned against your doorframe in only a pair of pajama pants.

But the few playing cards now flitting between his fingers told you otherwise on his supposed peaceful intentions. Yet when he saw you look down at them, another one appeared seemingly from nowhere in his other hand.

He offered it to you, “But if he isn’t man enough to show himself, at least I get the pleasure of your company, non?”

The card was the king of hearts of course as he palmed it into your hand before you could think to stop him. But you knew it wouldn’t be charged if he was handing it to you like that. You trusted him at least that much.

Yet you were quite sure he was still only trying to lure Peter out by audibly flirting with you now. And sadly, it would probably work. “Remy, can you two just save it for the danger room?” You tried again. “It’s too early, really. I was just trying to eat breakfast.”

“Well, seeing as how you’ve been ditched, I don’t see why someone like you should have to eat all alone.” He answered effortlessly, just strolling past you further into the bedroom as if there was no awkwardness in this at all.

In a moment of panic you wondered if it’d be best to just call for backup. Your cell phone wasn’t very far. Was everyone awake already? What if you just called Rogue? That’d be the most straight forward right? Oh, but you could imagine that conversation. Hey girl, come get your man out of my bedroom please? Yet she totally would. He’d be as helpless as a toddler if she decided she was dragging him out.

“You know,” Remy said, considering a little as he palmed one of the uneaten biscuits right off the tray like it was a bauble to steal. “I did think we looked good together in those pictures they printed from the beach. It’s only natural you know. When two people have chemistry, everybody can see it.”

And that was it, the final straw. You didn’t even know why you still jumped when the bathroom door flung all the way open. The window opened too, a couple cards Remy had already thrown then exploding out there harmlessly like little fireworks as Peter had redirected them outside.

Your bedsheet seemed to have a mind of its own as it ripped off the bed and tied around Gambit as well, pinning his arms to his sides as he was forced to then kneel in front of you.

Peter reappeared at your side, looking down at his handiwork as he scowled at the other man. It was a rare expression on Peter’s face, but a little more jarring for that reason.

“Apologize to (Y/N).” Peter demanded. “Or you’re going out the window next.”

But you knew Remy’s wounded pride meant there would be no such possibility of deescalation now. They were going to have to be physically separated and given a cool off period no matter what. As you considered whether to actually put a shield around one or both of them to essentially begin preparations for mutant time out, Remy was already countering back at Peter, a mocking tone rolling off his tongue.

“Alright. I’m sorry, (Y/N). I’m sorry that you got saddled with a jealous little boy who goes after rivals in their sleep rather than face them like a man. And then just hides behind that same woman he thinks they’re going to take from him, yeah?”

Oh for God’s sake! You dropped the card Remy had given you, that you’d for some reason still been holding. You powered up, trying to catch both of the guys in two of your force fields, Peter had already been in movement though. In actuality you’d only ended up shielding Remy just before Peter had kicked the field, looking as if the hit had been intended for the Cajun’s chest.

“Don’t protect him!” Peter looked to you in surprise.

“I’m protecting both of you!” You responded, then glowing white and hovering now several feet off the floor in your annoyance.

“Kinky.” A new voice spoke, followed by a sing song voice that unfortunately you did now recognize as Deadpool continued. “I see London, I see France, I see (Y/N)’s underpants!”

With your energy humming around you, Peter’s shirt you were wearing was now billowing up a little you realized. Indeed giving a full view to all those below you. You dropped back to the floor immediately, but didn’t power down, keeping the field around Remy as you turned to look at the several people now standing in your doorway.

“You know, this is exactly how those rumors start,” Ellie said in her usual dry tone, taking in the truly bizarre scene of the three of you. “Putting on some clothes might be a good first step. Or you know, at least closing the door.”

The girl otherwise known as Negasonic Teenage Warhead was never one to mince words, even to you all, her sort of superiors. Her girlfriend Yukio only stood beside her, smiling a bit sheepishly.

“Yeah, don’t mind us you little OT3, I just came back to bring Russel his stuff.” He motioned to the boy, who was now also staring at you all. “And your boss Charlie X said I had to have an escort, so I got my old buddies here Nega-angst and Yukio-chan. Oh and-”

Deadpool suddenly grabbed another man who had been standing behind them, bringing him to the front. “This is my all time best buddy Dopinder, he wanted a tour of mutant Hogwarts as well.”

“Hello.” The young man waved a bit shyly. “It is an honor to meet more of DP’s superhero allies.”

“Hey.” Peter said oddly to them after a moment, then looking back to you again. The randomness seemed to have snapped him out of his fixation on getting even with Remy at least for the moment. It now looked like he was waiting for guidance from you on what to do next.

You heard an audible sigh from Remy then as he spoke up. “I rather not destroy your sheets, cher. Truce for today?”

You glanced back to Peter first though before letting down the shield. Making sure he’d agree to untie him. Peter looked reluctant still, but eventually nodded.

And with that you powered down, your field around Remy disappearing as all the energy faded back inside you. In another instant he was completely untied, the sheet semi neatly back on your bed then. You knew some of the food had to have gone flying wherever when Peter had ripped off the bedsheet earlier in their scuffle. But you didn’t really care right now.

“Woah, woah. Is that the new MK game?” Wade just questioned suddenly, then seemingly oblivious to all else as he strode into your room as well.

Why no one had any boundaries today, you had no idea.

“Wait, we get video games too?” Russell also sounded impressed, just following.

“Some of us,” Ellie replied though, giving Peter a skeptical look. “That one might have had a five finger discount.”

Peter huffed at her, non committal on the truth of that statement though, “It’s the new one, yeah. The new DLC just added more characters too.”

You didn’t even care anymore honestly as Wade pulled off his mask and hopped immediately onto your and Peter’s bed, grabbing a controller. “Dibs on Johnny Cage, mother fuckers. Let daddy show you how it’s done.”

“Hey, I want to be Scorpion!” Russell replied, actually sounding like the fourteen year old he really was for once.

And you saw Peter was already digging out another controller from his gaming pile as he scoffed at them both. “Man, you can try. I’ll wipe the floor with you and buzzcut you down to bloody stumps with Kung Lao.”

“Dopinder, google Johnny Cage combos, stat!” Deadpool requested as his friend hurried in, dutifully sitting on the floor and pulling out a cell phone to do just that.

Remy was actually the only male in the room to not be sucked in as he gave you a little look while walking back out. “Later, petite. Sorry for real about the fuss. You know he just irks me.” He leaned in a little closer just to you though. “And I know you’re faithful. He just needs to leave me out of it. Quit readin’ dem damn gossip magazines, yeah?”

“Yes.” You agreed with a smile. A little optimism returning that maybe the two of them could be reasoned with after all. “See ya, Remy.”

He nodded, winking at both Ellie and Yukio as well before he slipped past them and out down the hall. Yukio giggled, but Ellie only rolled her eyes.

“Well, if you put some pants on, maybe there’s still some breakfast left down there. Want to go?” Ellie asked you, crossing her arms. She smirked then though, the guys now commentating and mocking one another like there was some big sporting match going on just a few feet from you. “Let Wade be Peter’s problem for a while, I think you’ve earned it.”

“Sounds like a plan.” You agreed without much hesitation. If Peter needed you, it’s not like it’d even take him two seconds to find you, even with the size of this house.

You did see him glance back ever so briefly as you dug some sweatpants out your dresser drawer and pulled them on though. You made an eating gesture and he nodded, understanding where you were going.

He also made a motion like drinking and you knew that meant he wanted you to bring him back some soda. The more sugar the better for him.

As you walked back downstairs with Ellie and Yukio, Ellie chuckled to herself a little. “You know Wade’s going to think Peter is his bff now. Better buckle up for that ride. Colossus can probably give you some pointers.”

You sighed, looking at the younger two girls. “We’ve survived everything that’s been thrown at us to this point. Could always be worse.”

“Oh yeah, it’ll get worse.” Ellie answered.

Yukio nodded, yet still smiling. “Wade is very special. And deadly.”

“Like a contagion,” Ellie added.

It still didn’t matter though. New, strange friends, or old sometimes combative friends. Gossip and rumors, or anything else. In the end you had to agree with Xavier as you so often usually did. As long as you and Peter kept strong together, none of that outside noise could ever tear you down. You had each other and that was all you needed.

————————

End. Thanks for reading! Art by NACCHAN96.

#quicksilver x reader #quicksilver x y/n #quicksilver x you #quicksilver x oc #quicksilver #quicksilver xmen #peter maximoff x y/n #peter maximoff x you #peter maximof x reader #peter maximoff x oc #x men #xmen #x men fanfiction #xmen fanfiction #xmen fic #deadpool #wade wilson #dadneto #remy lebeau

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bssaz97 · 3 years

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Meeting Xing and Citrine Part 3

A/N: Time for the third installment of a collaboration between @tanakaclinkbeard and myself. Features his OC kids (Xing Xiao-Long and Citrine Rose Arc) going to my AU and mine (Rowan and Summer) going to his. If you would like to see how they’re doing go check out his blog. Now on with the show!

- Xiao Long Residence -

Taiyang crouches down as he keeps the watering can in his hand, tending to his sunflower bed in front of his cabin home. The veteran Huntsman now grown old and even grew a nice beard during his free time, enjoying his recent retirement.

Ruby: Morning Dad!

Taiyang lifted up his head as he recognized that voice from anywhere, a warm smile graced his face as he got up to greet his daughter’s family.

Taiyang: Petal, what brings you byyyyyyy-

Taiyang loses his train of thought as both his daughters walk up the path but he sees two entirely new young children who were not the grandchildren he was expecting.

Yang: Hey Dad, we got two kiddos that we’d like to introduce to you

Citrine lets out a cheer and runs up and jumps into Tai's arm.

Citrine: Grandpappy!

Xing with his eyes still red from crying never left Yang's side and clutched her pants leg, giving Tai a wave and doesn't really look at anything but the ground.

Xing: Hi.

Taiyang: Um, Hi there. Ruby? Yang??

Citrine proceeded to climb up Taiyang like she did Ruby before.

Taiyang: Whoa! Haha, easy there, this old man ain’t what he used to be.

Citrine giggles and looks up and gives Tai a big hug.

Citrine: Missed you!

Tai was still a bit confused as to what was going on, but hugs the tiny girl in his arms nonetheless.

Taiyang: Girls, perhaps he can continue this conversation inside?

Ruby: That sounds fair.

____________________

Taiyang: So these two are from another universe where you are married to Jaune, you get pregnant and have a child, while both Rowan and Summer were sent to their universe.

Yang: Basically.

Taiyang: And this was done because...?

Ruby: We’re still not entirely sure.

Xing listened to the adults silently, never saying a word, but in his eyes there was a touch of sadness. While this man may look like his grandfather, it was clear to him that this was not the same grandfather he knew, and therefore did not immediately recognize him or Citrine as his own.

Yang: But they are two great kids and were happy to meet them!

Taiyang: Well while I’m happy to have more grandchildren, won’t their parents be worried sick if they find them missing?

Xing is still holding on to Yang while Citrine bounces around.

Citrine: What’s this? What’s that? Where’s Uncle Zwei? Is he back yet?

Taiyang: Uncle... Zwei?

Ruby: Yes their Uncle Zwei who’s definitely related to us and is your son, right Daddy?

Xing wordless takes out his scroll and hands it to Tai showing the same picture he showed Yang and Ruby earlier.

Taiyang: ....OH! I see, right of course, Zwei! Oh that son of mine. He’s ah... on a mission right now, just missed him.

Citrine: Awww! I wanted to see him. Does he have a different haircut? Does he have kids? Am I older than them?! Xing! Don't you wanna know?

Xing: ....Not really.

A bark is then heard coming from the kitchen.

Taiyang: .... Uh oh.

Xing looks up as well as Citrine who sequels

Citrine: Puppy?!

Xing once again does not move from where Yang was, still clutching on to her.

She gets ready to bolt where the barking is from, but Ruby gets up just in the nick of time.

Ruby: (‘SHOOT! I completely forgot about our Zwei being at Dad’s house!’) Um, Citrine, wait sweetie!

Citrine stops and gives her alt mother a pouty look.

Citrine: But puppy mama!

Ruby: Well you see Sweetie, Dad’s dog is a big old and needs to be handled delicately.

Just then the black and white corgi comes in from the kitchen, tongue out and moving about as youthful as ever, despite the few gray spots here and there.

Zwei: *Barks!*

Yang: Delicately sis? Really?

Citrine gasp and runs up to pick him up.

Citrine: Soooo cuteeeee!

Zwei (corgi) then starts to lick at her face.

Xing: Oh. That's what he looks like here.... that's weird.

Yang: Man you sure are smart kid. ‘Sniff’ So proud…

Xing blushes and hides his face.

Xing: Thank you.

Ruby: ‘sigh.’ Well since the dog is out of the bag- Shut it Yang! I should just tell her. I hope she’ll understand though… Sweetie can I talk to you a minute please?

Citrine: I can still hold him right? Pleaseeee?

Ruby: Of course.

Xing: ...My head hurts mom. Can I leave the room?

Yang: Hm? Oh sure thing Xing, you can rest in one of the rooms upstairs if you want.

Xing gets up and wordless goes up stairs as Citrine walks up to Ruby.

Ruby: Now sweetie, you know I love you right?

Citrine: Ye!

Ruby: Ok good, because I have something to confess.... I haven’t been entirely truthful to you.

Citrine: Huh?

Ruby: I may have told you a half truth because I didn’t want to confuse you or make you sad but now I realize that by hiding this truth from you that I’m also going to hurt you. So I’m very sorry that I had to keep it secret, but understand I did from a place of love. ‘Sigh’.... Citrine. That corgi you’re holding. That’s Zwei.

Citrine gives Ruby a blank stare for a few minutes

Citrine: .....Why does the puppy have the same name as uncle Zwei?

Ruby: No sweetie, what I’m saying is... This IS our Zwei. I don’t have a brother in my world. So... he doesn’t exist here.

Citrine looks even more confused.

Citrine: But.... you said he was on a mission.

Ruby: I know, I know what I said... I-I only said that because I didn’t want you to find this out right away. I wanted to spare you that pain and didn’t want to make you feel confused.

Citrine: ....I don't get it....

Yang: Citrine, you know how me and your mommy are not like us right? We’re different.

She nods, still petting the corgi in her arms.

Yang: Well it’s kinda like that, like how we’re different from your Mommy and Auntie Yang, our world is also different.

Citrine stared at them for a while before smiling widely.

Citrine: Okay! Can I show Xing the puppy?

Ruby: Sure thing sweetie.

She jumped up, it was clear to both of them that she didn't really understand, and wanted to move from her spot. She ran up stairs to where Xing was.

Taiyang: I’m still not entirely sure what is going on, but I do hope she and Xing are alright, this must all be very confusing for them.

Yang: Yeah... no kidding.

A scream was heard from upstairs as Citrine cried Yang's name out.

Citrine: Autine Yang! Star's noise is bleeding!

Yang: What?!

All three members of the Xiao-Long household quickly ran up the stairs and went to a room which had an open door.

Citrine was crying holding on to Xing, who was clutching his nose looking embarrassed at the wall. A Lot of blood was pouring from his noise, staining his clothes.

Citrine: Xing please don't die!

Xing looked at the adults awkwardly.

Xing: …Hi.

Yang: Oh gods Xing! Uh I mean, it’s ok, look we’ll get you clean up. Dad can you get some tissues, soap, and a clean shirt?

Taiyang: Sure thing.

Ruby: Oh Xing, what happened? How’d this happen?

Xing: Um... my powers are acting up.

Taiyang comes back with all the things .

Taiyang: I’m back, what'd I miss?

Yang: Powers? Xing what are you talking about?

Xing: Do- Do you guys have maledictus-eris here?

Ruby eyes widened just for a moment upon hearing those words.

Ruby: What did you just say...?

Xing: Auntie?

Yang: Oh gods.... Shoot, where’s Ren when you need him? Look sweetie, don’t worry, let’s just get you cleaned up real quick.

Xing: Uncle Ren and Zwei usually helps me... Da long doesnt like me....

Taiyang: Da Long?

Ruby: Look Xing, sweetie, I need you to listen to me carefully. How many times has your nose been bleeding like this?

Xing: Like as of today?

Ruby: As far as you can remember.

Xing: Um. Since I was 5.

Ruby: ....We need to get him to Anima.

Yang: Wait now?

Ruby: Yes now Yang. {turns to Citrine} Sweetie, want to go see Auntie Nora and Uncle Ren?

Taiyang: Wait can someone explain what’s going on?

Yang: Ruby he can’t travel like this.

Ruby: I know! I just- I’m trying to think.

Citrine cheers and then goes quiet and gets nervous.

Citrine: Um... is Valerie there?

Ruby/Yang: ....ah crud.

Xing: Valerie isn't gonna be there Citrine. She is back at home.

Citrine: .....

Xing: I can survive the trip mom.

Yang: Are you sure? You don’t need to rest or anything?

Xing: I just want Da long to leave me alone.... I'm... I'm not weak!

Yang: ....Ok then, then let’s go to Anima. Lucky for us, I know a quick way to get there.

Xing nods and lays back on bed.

Yang leaves the room briefly and pulls out her scroll and dials a number.

Yang: Hey it’s me. Listen I know it’s short notice, but... I need a favor. Can you get us to Anima today?

-Fin-

#rwby #ruby rose #yang xiao long #rwby xing xiao long #xing xiao long #citrine arc #citrine rose #citrine arcrose #rwby taiyang xiao long #rwby taiyang #collab #tanakaclinkbeard #rwby lancaster #gauntlet and greaves #rwby gauntlet and greaves #lancaster #rwby ruby x jaune #ruby x jaune

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kmalexander · 3 years

Text

The 2020 Cosmic Horror Holiday Gift Guide

The phrase “Black Friday” has a more menacing tone in 2020—especially here in the United States. Hopefully, you’re following the advice of the experts, staying home, laying low, wearing masks, and washing your hands. But a pandemic shouldn’t stop gift giving! So, once again, I took some time and assembled my List of Lists for 2020. In it, you’ll find a plethora of paraphernalia for the weird-fiction fanatic, cosmic-horror connoisseur, or mythos maniac in your life. As with previous years, I’ve worked to assemble a list of exceptional items for all ages and budgets.

There’s a few changes this year. First, I’m now linking to IndieBound for all books. Please do what you can to support your local bookshops and small businesses. Odds are they can get you anything Amazon can, and it’ll help out your community. Secondly, where possible, I’m also linking to the author’s personal webpages. Check them out. Follow them. It’s a nice way to stay current with what’s happening in the world of weird fiction. Please remember, while I’ve ordered these by price, the prices and availability are subject to change. I don’t have any control over that. Happy shopping!

QUICK LINKS

• Books • Music • Apparel • Games • • Housewares • Miskatonic •

Books

Mother Hydra’s Mythos Rhymes by Jarred W. Wallace $9.95 + Shipping (Paperback)

This mock children’s book features twenty-one sinister nursery rhymes twisted with a Cthulhu Mythos bent and illustrated by the incredible Heather Hudson. Also included is a complete Edward Gorey-style alphabet. Every budding cultist should learn their ABCs after all.

The Worm And His Kings by Hailey Piper $13.00 + Shipping (Paperback) $6.99 (eBook)

This arrived only a few weeks ago, and I can’t wait to dive in. Set in New York City in 1990, the story follows Monique as she hunts for her missing girlfriend. But the trail goes much deeper than she realizes, sending Monique into a subterranean world of enigmatic cultists and shadowy creatures.

The Stars Were Right by K. M. Alexander $14.00 + Shipping (Paperback) $2.99 (eBook)

I’m nearly finished with Book Four’s edits. So, if you haven’t, now is the perfect time to start reading my Bell Forging Cycle. Follow Waldo Bell as he is sent careening through the multi-level megalopolis of Lovat, fighting to clear his name as a bloodthirsty killer stalks him. It’s mystery and monsters, chases and cults, and an ancient evil in a world that is similar but not quite like our own.

RADIO by J. Rushing $15.99 + Shipping (Paperback) $3.99 (eBook)

A jazz-infused, opium-soaked, historical fantasy with a transgressive edge that explodes from the opening chapter and never relents until its final pages—a welcome addition to modern fantasy literature and weird enough that it earned a place on this list.

Murder Ballads And Other Horrific Tales by John Hornor Jacobs $16.95 + Shipping (Paperback) $7.95 (eBook)

Seems like it’s becoming a tradition to see a new book from John Hornor Jacobs on this list every year, and it’s no surprise. He’s arguably one of the best mythos writers working today. This collection of recent horror and crime short stories takes you through tales involving old gods to malevolent artiﬁcial intelligences, plus it includes the sequel to his 2011 novel, Southern Gods.

The Cipher by Kathe Koja $17.95 + Shipping (Paperback) $3.99 (eBook)

Part haunted house story, part body horror, part descent-into-madness tale all told in the style of Transgressive Literature. The Cipher is one of those stories I was shocked I hadn’t read until this year. Koja writes stunningly physical characters and knotted complex relationships that feel eerily familiar to anyone who’s spent time in artist circles. Enjoy the Fun Hole. (One of my 2020 Three Great Horror Reads for Halloween.)

The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones $26.99 + Shipping (Hardcover) $9.99 (eBook)

At its heart, this is a horror novel about growing up poor and native in western Montana. But The Only Good Indians also a novel about revenge, mistakes, and their extended consequences. I blew through it. I grew up not too far from where this novel is set, and I have yet to find a recent author that captures the behavior and actions of the people in that area quite as well as Jones. You’ll never look at elk the same way again. (One of my 2020 Three Great Horror Reads for Halloween.)

The City We Became by N. K. Jemisin $28.00 + Shipping (Hardcover) $14.99 (eBook)

The first of the Great Cities series focuses on a roiling, ancient evil that stirs beneath the streets of New York City and threatens to destroy the city. New York must go on, and it will take five protectors scattered across the boroughs coming together to stop it. An allegorical response to Lovecraft’s work and a love letter to the city.

The Dark Brotherhood and Other Pieces by H.P. Lovecraft $650.00 + Shipping (One Copy Available—Sold via AbeBooks)

This rare late-60s first edition copy from Arkham House is in fine condition with a fine dustwrapper. It also comes with an inscription by the publisher and editor of this work: “for Herb Arnold from the compiler – August Derleth.” An extremely unique find and a unique piece of weird fiction history.

No book catches your interest? Check out the books featured in one of the previous guides. • 2014 Books • 2015 Books • 2016 Books • 2017 Books • 2018 Books • 2019 Books •

Music & Audio

Tribute To H.P. Lovecraft by Epsilon Eridani Free (Digital Download)

This atmospheric and somber dark ambient album is the third project from Mexican electronic artist Juan Pablo Valle. Blending instrumental tracks, spoken words performances, and recitations of parts of Lovecraft’s stories, this tribute serves as an excellent horror soundtrack.

The Yellow Sign $6.99 (Digital Download)

While Lovecraftian music often skews towards dark ambient or metal performances, The Yellow Sign goes takes a more orchestral approach. Composer Graham Plowman has created a fantastic classical soundtrack putting this album on par with any feature film—brooding, menacing, and wonderfully enjoyable.

Beyond Madness by Aklo $9.00 (Digital Download)

Erich Zann would be jealous. Aklo, like its madness-inducing namesake, is hard to pin down. But this album captures “the beyond” in ways not often heard in modern music. Part noise, part experimental, Beyond Madness is an excellent addition to any Lovecraft fan’s collection.

Live from Stockholm by Ogham Waite $12.00 (Digital Download)

Ogham Waite, one of Innsmouth’s Deep One inhabitants, and the Amphibian Jazz Band are the mythos’ answer to the lounge stylings of early Tom Waits. Bluesy and moody, this seductively smokey album drips with saltwater. Waite’s performance and delivery are melodious as they are melodic, a great addition to mythos music.

Ambrose Bierce’s The Boarded Window $20.00 + Shipping (Vinyl)

This limited vinyl pressing of Bierce’s unsettling perspective-shifting tale is read by Anthony D. P. Mann and scored by Chris Bozzone. Cadabra Records always goes the extra mile with their products, and it’s clear from the hand-poured red and white splattered vinyl to the incredible art by Jeremy Hush.

Deities by Tortuga €22.50 ($26.68) + Shipping (Vinyl) €5.00 ($5.93) (Digital Download)

This one showed up randomly on a playlist, and I found myself intrigued. Once I listened to it, I became a fan. Tortuga is a Polish doom metal band whose work is loaded down with intricate and heavy driving riffs inspired by Lovecraft’s writings. It’s good stuff.

Not finding any music or audio that interests you? Check out one of the previous guides. • 2014 Music • 2015 Music • 2016 Music • 2017 Music • 2018 Music • 2019 Music •

Apparel

Tiki Cthulhu Embroidered Patch $9.00 + Shipping

I see many patches as I search for new cosmic horror gear throughout the year, and occasionally I find one that rises to the top. This sew-on tiki-styled Ctuhulu is 3″ x 2.5″ and was created for the 2018 H. P. Lovecraft Film Festival. If you want a mythos inspired adornment for your bag or jacket that’s a bit outside the norm, look no further.

Cthulhu Socks $18.00 + Shipping

It’s winter in the northern hemisphere, that means you need to keep your appendages warm. Also, socks-for-Christmas is a right of passage. Why not consider getting these Cthulhu Socks from PutYourSocksOn featuring tentacles up the side and an illustration of the dead and dreaming Cthulhu on the ankle.

Sourpuss Tropicthulhu Rosie Dress $29.00 + Shipping

When you are associated with the ocean, you generally get associated with the tropics regardless of where your sunken city dwells. This 40’s style Rosie Dress allows you to show your appreciation of R’lyeh’s favorite son in a subtle but delightful manner.

Amulet of Azathoth £23.95 ($34.42) + Shipping

It’s the grandpappy of the mythos deities in amulet form! Well, kinda. A representation of the nuclear chaos beyond angled space himself. This antique amulet is a little over an inch and a half long and is cold cast in a mixture of resin and brass—a stunning little pendant.

Mother & Father Statuary Set $85.00 + Free Shipping

These handmade and hand-painted resin figures of Dagon and Hydra would work perfectly as bookends or garden statues. Aged in a way to evoke feelings of lost treasure salvaged from the seafloor or perhaps a dank and forgotten chamber somewhere beneath Innsmouth. Kinda cute to boot.

Cara Mater Silvae Shub-Niggurath Woodcut Print $187.50 + Free Shipping (Limited Edition)

Liv Rainey-Smith’s fantastic woodcut work has long been a fixture in the weird lit community. This limited-edition print is done in the style of a sacred icon and features a great rendition of Shub-Niggurath, The Black Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young, or as my readers will know her, “Cybill.”

Keeper of the Nightmare Mask $331.53 + Free Shipping (Made to Order)

Plague doctors always cut a fearsome figure in humanity’s historical memory, but what lies beneath that leather mask and shielded eyes? This custom made-to-order mask twists tentacles to form that familiar (and terrifying) plague-doctor shape adding an extra level of menace to an already menacing form.

Not finding apparel you like? Check out the apparel on one of the previous guides. • 2014 Apparel • 2015 Apparel • 2016 Apparel • 2017 Apparel • 2018 Apparel • 2019 Apparel •

Games

No Players Online Name Your Own Price (Windows/Linux)

What starts as a simple old demo of a capture-the-flag 3D shooter found on a discarded tape eventually twists and turns becoming something else entirely. I’m a sucker for the 80s glitch aesthetic, and it’s used here in masterfully unsettling ways—multiple endings, interesting game world, very much worth your time.

Kadath $5.99 (Digital Download, Early Access)

This first chapter of a first-person cosmic-horror adventure has you following the case of a World War II Nazi train that vanished only to reappear in a cave in the Himalayas 75 years later. Dripping with atmosphere and filled with brilliant puzzles, this first chapter left me excited for Kadath and wanting more.

Fate of Cthulhu $20.00 (Downloadable PDF) $35.00 + Shipping (Book + PDF)

In this tabletop roleplaying game from Fred Hicks and Evil Hat Productions, you and your friends will find yourself sent into the past on a mission to prevent the future. It’s a race against time as you try to stop the stars from being right and prevent Cthulhu’s foretold return, all before you and yours are transformed into something monstrous.

Elder Sign Dice – Blue Aether $24.99 + Shipping

Infinite Black has been making some wonderful cosmic-horror-themed gaming products for a few years. They’ve finally gotten easy enough to nab for holiday gifts. These Blue Aether Elder Sign Dice stood out to me, but they have a robust catalog making it easy to find the right gift for the dicing Lovecraft fan in your life. (Or yourself.)

Fate of the Elder Gods $63.99 + Shipping

Cults battle cults in this race to summon your ancient order’s elder god of choice! But it’s not just the other conniving worshippers and cult leaders you need to worry about, crafty investigators are on the prowl, and they’re working to subvert everyone’s goals as well. Hasten the earth’s doom in this competitive area-control game for two to four players.

Hastur $274.99 + Shipping (Two Shipments)

I’m a big fan of the Mysterious Package Company, the quality of their products always impresses. This latest journey into the realm of Hastur is no exception. Taking place over several mailings, Hastur invites the recipient into the world of the King in Yellow, the play with the same name, and the utter madness that dwells within those words.

Not finding a game you’d enjoy? Check out the games on one of the previous guides. • 2014 Games • 2015 Games • 2016 Games • 2017 Games • 2018 Games • 2019 Games •

Housewares & Collectables

Cedric’s Eatery 11oz. Mug $16.00 + Shipping

It’s cold out, and you need a new mug. Why not pick one up from Lovat’s own Cedric’s Eatery located in the entresol between Levels Three and Four. An in-between place for in-between folks. Waldo Bell’s latest hangout. Fill your mug with 11 oz. of bad coffee, your favorite tea, or something stronger. [From the pages of the Bell Forging Cycle.]

Cthulhu Clay Idol & Letter $29.80 + Free Shipping

Alternative takes on the Cthulhu idol are rare. More often than not, we see the same shape repeated over and over. Because of that, this rawer, more original piece stood out to me. It feels more realistic in many ways, reminding me of the sort of thing one would find on an archeological dig. Plus, with the attached letter, you get a little mini-experience here.

Sea Monster Shower Curtain $32.00 + Shipping

There be dragons. And there. And there. And… well, all over the place! If you love weird old sea monsters and old maps, then this curtain will be perfect for you. Decorate your shower with this fantastic curtain featuring beasts that look lifted from early Renaissance maps. 70″ x 72″. Liner recommended.

Cthulhu Lovecraft Blanket $59.99 + Shipping

As cooler air moves into the northern hemisphere, we can all celebrate the arrival of the cozy season. To stay warm, why not cuddle up beneath this cotton and acrylic Jacquard Knit blanket featuring the squatting visage of The Great Dreamer himself? He might be cold but you don’t have to be.

Anxious Blob Original Sculpture $325.00 + Shipping (Supplies are limited.)

This weird little one-off sculpture of a nervous little entity is made with polymer clay and hand-painted. The eye sits beneath a glass dome giving this piece a unique character. Who among us hasn’t wanted an anxious blob with hundreds of teeth and a single staring eye decorating our walls?

Not finding a houseware item you like? Check out the housewares from one of the previous guides. • 2016 Housewares • 2017 Housewares • 2018 Housewares • 2019 Housewares •

Miskatonic University

Miskatonic University Pennant $15.99 + Shipping

I love seeing all the different takes for Miskatonic University collegiate gear. Here you can show your support for “Ole Misk” with a felt pennant from H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society and cheer on the “mighty Miskatonic Myrmidons” to another victory. Wave that banner proudly!

Miskatonic University Real Leather Notebook $41.40 + Shipping

Journaler? Artist? Writer? Mathematician? Norwegian sea captain? Random idea generator? If you’re one of these, odds are you need a notebook. This 8″x6″ Miskatonic-themed journal features 100 sheets of thick handmade Khadda paper and is durable enough for the dig site while still being elegant enough for the classroom.

Miskatonic University Wax Seal $48.07 + Shipping

Secure your correspondence with old friends from bygones eras who seek answers using this classic and exquisite seal. It might not stop prying eyes, but at least your old colleagues will know if someone’s been tampering with their mail. (Wax sold separately.)

Miskatonic University Hockey Sweater $109.00 + Shipping (Supplies are limited.)

Every sports fan needs a jersey. Miskatonic students are no different. It’s why when I came across this Hockey Sweater from Geeky Jerseys I knew it’d be perfect for the cosmic horror student in your life. (While this one is great, I’m hoping the superior Miskatonic 2.0 sweater becomes available once again.)

Not finding any Miskatonic University gear you like? Check out the Miskatonic University items from one of the previous guides. • 2014 Miskatonic • 2015 Miskatonic • 2016 Miskatonic • 2017 Miskatonic • • 2018 Miskatonic • 2019 Miskatonic •

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

So that wraps up the seventh annual List of Lists. Let’s all keep wearing our masks, socially distancing, and washing our hands so we can all do this again next year. Big thank you to everyone who has suggested items in the past to help me pad out this list. Y’all rule. If I didn’t get to your submission, fret not. There are many more holidays ahead. I appreciate the help.

Do you have a book, game, album, or other weird fiction-related items I should feature in 2021’s Cosmic Horror Holiday Gift Guide? Leave a comment below with links to your favorite goodies for others to see, or send me an email as a potential submission for next year!

Want to stay in touch with me? Sign up for Dead Drop, my rare and elusive newsletter. Subscribers get news, previews, and notices on my books before anyone else delivered directly to their inbox. I work hard to make sure it’s not spammy and full of interesting and relevant information. Sign Up Today→

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babbushka · 4 years

Text

Last Straw (2/12)

Newly married to your high school sweetheart Kylo Ren, the two of you move into Skywalker Ranch, a farm recently passed down after the death of Kylo’s grandfather. The place is charming, and the people seem friendly…but are they?

Content Warnings: Animal death, animal cruelty, gore (relating to the animal death), blood.

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

No, you think, you really aren’t the best equipped to do such intense renovation work as the house needs. And you desperately want it to be done well, to the best that it can be, to bring it back to its former glory – if for no other reason than to help Kylo heal. He is a big, strong man, but he can’t do all this alone, not all by himself.

Besides, you think, neither you nor Kylo were strapped for cash, not by any means. If you could help support a local family business with a job like this, one that was sure to take a long time and require a lot of labor, well, then you’d be happy to do so.

“I think that’s a great idea honey.” You decide finally, putting your mug down and walking into the living room to look for your purse. You always carried a small pad of paper and about five different kinds of pens on you at all times, “Do you want me to write it up?” You ask once you’ve found it, once you come back to the kitchen.

“Would you? That’d be great, thank you.” Kylo wraps his arms around your middle, rests his chin on your shoulder as you write in clear clean letters:

Help Wanted!

Historic farmhouse – complete renovation (help us restore our family home!)

Will pay well! Please contact Mr. & Mrs. Kylo Ren at:

Skywalker Ranch, Sweetwater co. WY

“I need to go into town to pick up groceries, cleaning supplies, that sort of thing, I can drop this off at the news station, if it’s still where I remember it.” Kylo says with a smile as he picks up the slip of paper, careful of the drying ink.

You know what he’s smiling at, at the little Mr. & Mrs., the first time you’ve ever really put that down on a piece of paper after the wedding. You smile right back at him, nudge his calf with your toes until he’s fully grinning.

“Do you want me to come with you?” You ask, and he grows so shy – as if you didn’t just get married a week ago, as if you hadn’t been in love all your lives.

“Only if you want to.” He shrugs, bashful in the way that means he absolutely wants you to join, and you sip the scalding coffee as quickly as you can without totally burning your tongue, something which makes him laugh as he passes you on his way to the bedroom.

It takes almost forty-minutes to get all the way into town, into town properly anyway. About half an hour into the drive there are houses that spring up, scattered about. Nothing that could really be called a suburb, not the way you think of it anyway. But ten minutes more and suddenly you’re driving down Main Street, a bustling road filled with people walking, biking, driving.

It’s just the one road, but it’s got all the sorts of stores you might want, anything you might need. There’s a grocery, a pharmacy, the library. A couple store-fronts selling clothes, home goods. There are restaurants, bars, but none of them, nothing on the street is a chain. Everything is mom-and-pop, established signs and plaques boasting over one hundred years of operation.

“You know, I’ve always wanted to live in a place like this? It was always my dream, getting out of the city, out into nature. I love how wide open everything is.” You say, the sun-bleached pavement smooth under the tires of the truck.

“Good, because we’ve got just about nothing but nature.” Kylo replies, as he parks the car in front of the grocery store.

The little bell at the door dings when he opens it for you, and you’re surprised to see it’s busy. People must get their shopping done on Saturdays, you think, as you grab a shopping cart, already fishing around in your bag for the list you wrote up on the drive over.

You’re just about to start roaming the aisles when an old man recognizes your husband and slaps the register happily.

“Benny! How ya doin’ son?” He calls out, lifting the little swing door enough to get through it, to come greet Kylo with a big hug.

“Mr. Dormer I go by Kylo now.” He patiently responds, giving a stiff hug to the sweet guy.

He’s got to be over seventy, you think, with deep tanned, weathered skin and a missing front tooth. He wears a faded baseball cap and a denim shirt tucked into bright blue jeans, almost as blue as the turquoise bolo tie he has around his neck.

“Kyle-o, now that’s a name! You earn that in the city?” Mr. Dormer chuckles good-naturedly, and Kylo blushes.

“Something like that.” He mumbles, but Mr. Dormer is far too excited to register it.

“By gosh by golly you look just like Anakin, you know that? Have his eyes.” He says, and you give Kylo’s hand a squeeze reassuringly when the tips of his ears go red at the comparison. “And this! Who is this lovely young thing?” Mr. Dormer asks, and now Kylo blushes for real.

“Mr. Dormer, this is my wife, (Y/N).” He introduces you, and the old man takes your hand and gives it a big kiss.

“The (Y/N)? The one you used to spend all summer bitchin’ and moanin’ about wishin’ you could go smooch instead of helping your grandpappy till the land?” He chuckles again, and you raise a pleased eyebrow, very amused.

“Mr. Dormer please – ” Kylo starts, because now he’s drawing some attention, and if there’s one thing Kylo didn’t want, it was the public’s attention.

“Oh I don’t mean to embarrass you Kyle-o, it’s just nice to see a new face round here.” He waves him off, but you can tell he’s sincere.

“We stopped by because we’ve moved into the farmhouse, and there’s nothing in it.” You say kindly, gesturing to the long list of things you need to pick up.

“Don’t let me stop you, in fact when you’re all ready to go I’ll give you the friends and family discount.” Mr. Dormer winks, and Kylo just reaches out to shake his hand.

“Thank you Mr. Dormer, it means a lot to us.” Kylo says, but once again, the man just waves him off with a weathered smile. Before Kylo turns away, he pats his pocket where the little slip of paper you wrote up lives. “You don’t happen to know if they still publish that weekly newsletter, do you?” He asks, and Mr. Dormer scoffs as if offended.

“Oh ‘course they do! Three buildings down, can’t miss it.” He replies, but he does so with a wink, and you simply shake your head, tug Kylo happily down the aisles.

When the cart is full and everything on the list has been crossed off, you load up the bed of the truck and walk hand in hand down the three buildings, where just as Mr. Dormer said, stands proud and tall the publishing house. Inside it is a staff of only three people, so you figure might as well walk right up to the front desk, greet the woman there with a smile.

“Ben!” The woman with a little nameplate that says Stephanie gasps in recognition when you and Kylo stand before her.

“Hey Steph, it’s Kylo now.” He says, and you already feel bad for him, because you know this is going to be a trend. She gives an apologetic glance, but Kylo just moves on, “Me and my wife would like to run this ad please – honey how long do you think?” Kylo asks, turning to you.

“Well, how much is it?” You ask, trying to do the mental calculations.

“Well we charge by the line.” Stephanie says, chewing her gum.

“Understandable, we’ve got uh,” Kylo looks down at the little slip of paper, “Four lines?”

“Alrighty then that’ll be four dollars.” Stephanie replies, and you both frown.

“That’s it?” He asks, at the same time as you go, “Are you sure?”

“Yes ma’am. Dollar per line, always has been, always will be.” Stephanie says proudly, pointing to a small hand-painted wooden sign that reads the exact same.

“And is that per week?” You ask, still not fully recovered from the shock of how criminally inexpensive that is.

“Yes ma’am, so having the ad run for about a month would make it sixteen bucks even.” Stephanie nods, and you suddenly grow concerned.

“Do you think it’ll be a month before someone reaches out?” You ask Kylo, and he looks at you, chews his lip and you can tell he’s thinking the same thing.

“You can always do a two week run and then renew it if you’d like.” Stephanie suggests, twirling a curly lock of hair around her finger, “First ad will go out tomorrow, since it’s Saturday and all.”

“That sounds perfect, thank you.” You agree, sliding over a new ten dollar bill, telling her to keep the change as you leave.

Back at the house, Kylo is quiet as he helps you put the groceries away. Thankfully the fridge and freezer are working fine, electricity up and running no problem once you called and made a new contract with the utilities company. One of the benefits of living with farmers was that everything from the grocery store came from right there, all the milk and cheese fresh, all the fruits and vegetables ripe and perfect. The meats were priced well, and really the only thing you splurged on was a cake from the bakery, a small little chocolate thing to celebrate the first real day in the new house.

“Are you happy here?” Kylo asks, feeding you a forkful of the fudge icing, “Like, will this place make you happy?”

He’s so serious, so genuine, that you almost think something is wrong. But he’s got that look in his eye again, and you nod, because of course, of course you are.

“I’m happy wherever I am, as long as I’m with you.” You say simply, and he groans, just puts more cake in your mouth, making you giggle.

“You’re cheesy.” He grumbles, but he’s blushing.

“Maybe, but you married me.” You wink, “Just think, once the place is all fixed up, it’s going to be so beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.” Kylo responds, and you laugh, get up from the little kitchen table to put the forks and plates in the sink to deal with later.

“Who’s the cheesy one now?” You tease, when suddenly something rushes under your foot and you drop the things you’re holding in shock with a, “Oh shit!”

“You okay?” Kylo is by your side, and your heart races until you hear a soft meow coming from behind a cabinet where whatever it was that spooked you had gone to hide.

“Yeah, there’s just, we have a cat, apparently.” You sigh, before smiling to yourself, feeling silly.

“Huh?” Kylo frowns, and you walk over to the pantry where a beautiful calico kitty has scurried.

Her fur is glossy and thick, and she doesn’t look emaciated. When you open your hands to her, she sniffs your palms before headbutting you, purring loudly. Poor thing was well fed but in desperate need for some company, if no one had been around as long as Kylo had said.

“She’s nice, look. No collar though, probably lives in the barn or something.” You say, and the cat lets you scoop her up into your arms.

You’ll probably need to take her into town for a vet check-up, but for now, she doesn’t look sick and you can’t see any fleas, so you let her down gently. She winds around and around your ankles, brushing her fur against your calves, and you give Kylo a pleading look.

He doesn’t say anything, only rolls his eyes and leaves the room, grabbing the broom and the mop on his way, which means you are victorious.

The next morning, you’re lounging in bed trying to get a decent phone signal to check your twitter when there’s a knocking at the door.

“Honey? Could you get that?” Kylo calls from the bathroom where he has managed to fix the plumbing and take a shower.

You abandon your phone, a signal no where to be found, and wrap yourself up in your robe. Once downstairs, you look through the peephole of the front door.

Standing on the porch are three men, one much older, and two younger ones who look to be identical twins. The twins are boys really, just barely getting through puberty from the looks of it. They’re clearly family, sharing the same crop of red hair and sprinkling of freckles, and when you open the door they all give you the same smile. It’s a slightly disconcerting smile, particularly on one of the twins, who looks like he isn’t used to the gesture, like it hurts his face almost.

“Mornin’ miss!” The eldest reaches a hand out for you to shake, “My name’s Brendol, these are my sons, Armitage and William, you must be (Y/N)?” He asks.

“Yes, that’s right, it’s a pleasure to meet you, but what can I do for you?” You ask in return, shaking his hand so as to not be rude.

“Actually, it’s what we can do for you – we saw this ad you put out in the paper?” Brendol unfolds the newspaper clipping, and your eyebrows shoot up.

“Jesus that was quick!” You can’t help but exclaim, you really had thought it would take much longer, days at the very least, for someone to want to reach out, but a quick glance at the clock told you it was not even seven o’clock in the morning, the sun taking its time to rise with the changing seasons.

“Let’s not take the Lord’s name in vain now.” Brendol says, entirely too cheerfully, and you blink, feeling scolded.

“Oh, sorry.” You cringe just a little, no one cared about something like that in the city, you’d have to be careful so as to not accidentally offend anyone here in the mountains. “My husband’s just finishing up in the shower, please come in, can I pour you some coffee?” You open the door wide enough to invite them in, and they all smile once again, almost on cue, all together.

“That’d be mighty fine, thank you.” Brendol says, and you step aside so they can pass.

You offer them a seat at the table and set to finding mugs, making sure your robe is tied tightly around your waist so that you don’t accidentally expose yourself, both for their and your sakes.

“I’m sorry for not being more presentable, I honestly didn’t think we’d hear from anyone so soon.” You explain with a little chuckle, trying to be friendly, “Or at least, so early.”

“F-farm folk get up with sun and go down with it. You can expect us h-here helpin’ from dusk till’ dawn, if you think we’d – if you decide we’re a good fit.” One of the boys, William says with a very soft voice. He seems nice, you think. Shy, but nice.

“That’s very kind of you, but if you don’t mind I’m going to leave that decision to my husband. He knows more about being handy than I do, that’s for sure.” You chuckle, and Brendol gives you another one of those smiles.

“No problem at all.” He nods understandingly, and you feel some awkward tension rising.

Luckily, the coffee pot comes to a stop just then, and you are quick to pour a mug for the man, a little thing of cream and sugar already on the table.

“Armitage, William, would you like coffee too?” You ask, reaching for mugs for them, but the boys protest right away.

“Oh, no thank you m-ma’am, no that’s alright.” William puts his hands up as if you’ve just threatened to hit him, and you frown.

These were strange people, you think to yourself, before shaking the thought away. It wasn’t ever good to judge, you remind yourself, because you were sure that to them, you and Kylo would be pretty weird too.

“Juice, if you happen to have?” Armitage asks, and that’s an easy enough request.

“Of course.” You pour them both a tall glass of orange juice, before you begin to grow too uncomfortable, just standing there while they drink. “Would you excuse me a minute, I’m just going to let my husband know we have visitors.”

You practically bolt up the stairs, scaring the poor kitty who you still need to think of a name for. The shower is still running when you open the door to the

“(Y/N!)” Your husband pokes his head around the plastic liner, the two of you not having gotten around to getting a real shower curtain just yet, and you can’t help but smile at the way his hair is plastered to his face, how his ears stick out, “Hey honey, would you look at this the water pressure’s great!”

“That’s wonderful sweetheart but there are people downstairs in the kitchen, they want to talk to you about the handywork.” You gesture towards the kitchen, and Kylo frowns.

“Fuck, already?” He asks, and you nod, desperate to not be left alone with them anymore.

“I know! That’s what I said.” You say, and he’s already reaching for the handle, pushing it to stop the water flow as you ask, “Come down soon?”

“Yeah, give me like two seconds.” He nods, and you sigh with relief, heading back down the stairs to the kitchen where Brendol and his sons still sit at the table.

You more or less twiddle your thumbs for a minute, before something dawns on you.

“You know it’s funny, but, I don’t think I put my first name down on the ad.” You say, trying to keep the conversation light, aloof.

“Pardon?” Brendol asks, and you shrug.

“When you came to the door,” You explain, fiddling with the tie of your robe, “You said, ‘you must be (Y/N).’ And I am, only, I don’t think that was anywhere on the ad. Do you happen to know my husband at all?” You ask.

“No, no I don’t believe we’ve met.” Brendol says as he licks his lips, appraises you in a way that makes you want to draw at the same time as your husband comes bounding down the stairs two steps at a time.

“Hey! Sorry for the wait, I’m Kylo, Kylo Ren.” He extends a hand, and all three of them stand up, all give him a great big smile.

“That’s a funny name.” Armitage comments off-handedly, but Brendol only smacks him upside the head, hard.

You and Kylo both exchange a quick glance, but your husband isn’t intimidated.

“Yeah, I guess so.” He says, before gesturing to the front door, “Would you guys like to come with me, I can show you the property while we talk?”

They agree, and the four of them go outside, likely to appraise the level of work that needs to be done outside before any work can start inside.

You take the opportunity to go upstairs and change, get yourself ready for the day and go through your full routine as best as you can with mostly everything still packed. There’s a draft in the room from the poor ventilation which brings in the cold, so you throw on a sweater and one of Kylo’s big jackets over it before peeking out through the bay window.

There had been…issues, in the past. Things that had gotten Kylo in trouble, back before he was Kylo. Issues you didn’t want anyone knowing about, that no one could go asking about. It was a big draw to moving here, moving away from the city, moving away from the past.

You didn’t like the feeling of this family, of these men. Didn’t like the way they smiled or looked at you, didn’t like the way they acted with one another. You had half a mind to call child protective services, those twins had to be fifteen, sixteen at the most. Your mind keeps flashing to William bracing when you only asked him if he’d like coffee, that can’t…that just can’t be healthy.

But as you watch them walk around the house, they begin to speak expertly about different renovations, different things that need to be done. You can’t hear all of it, not from all the way upstairs, so you creep down the steps, careful of the spots where the wood was weak.

“We’ll be here bright and early tomorrow, thank you again.” You can hear from the front porch as you look through the peephole once more.

“No no, really, thank you.” Kylo says back, waiting for them to climb in their truck which they’ve parked next to yours out front. He puts a hand up to wave with a, “Have a good day, see you.”

You scare him just a little when he opens the door to find you directly behind it, and you search his face to see if they made him as uncomfortable as they made you.

“It went well?” You ask, and Kylo nods, smoothing his hands up your arms and kissing the top of your head as he passes you.

“Yeah, I’m going to draft up a contract for a month’s worth of work, and then we’ll get started.” He responds, going to the kitchen to pour himself a mug of coffee, it being so early in the day still.

“How much did they ask for?” You ask, doing the same, finally having a moment to relax now that company was gone.

“Nothing.” Kylo hums into his mug, and now his brow is furrowed, and his signature scowl has found its way back to your lips.

“Nothing?” You shake your head, “You can’t give them nothing, that’s taking advantage.”

“I know, I tried telling them that. All they asked was if they could stay in the barn until the month’s up.” Kylo shrugs, and something about that bothers you, but you don’t know why.

“The barn?” You ask, in case you misheard, but Kylo only shrugs again, looking just as confused as you are.

“Yeah, they were kind of insistent about it.” He explains, and you wonder if maybe they had nowhere else to stay, to live.

“That’s...” You don’t know, actually. You don’t know what it is.

“Yeah.” Kylo says, just to say something.

You two exchange a glance, and this time, there’s something strange in the air, something you can’t quite place.

You don’t know when exactly they move into the barn, but every day at sunrise they are doing work with Kylo in the house. Every day at sunrise you are woken up to the sounds of saws and hammers, drills and nail-guns.

Some days you greet them, but other days by the time you get dressed and ready for the day, they’re too engrossed in their labor to talk for too long, and other days still you avoid them entirely. They’re good workers, very good workers, and fast too. You look around the house, compare it to how it was just a few days ago to how it is now, and the difference is staggering.

Between the four of them, they’ve managed to completely redo the wood paneling on the outside of the house in a week. They tackle one room at a time, patching walls and fixing wiring, replacing the glass windows. You bring them glasses of water, of juice, tea, whatever they ask for, make sandwiches that they accept with a smile. You sweep and mop and dust after them, and soon the place is looking really nice, looking liveable, and not run-down, not a code violation – if there even were codes out here.

They are good workers but.

But.

The smiles…you don’t know.

“You ever notice something, odd about them?” You ask Kylo one day, as you’re both driving back home from a trip into town.

This time to pick up some various hardware supplies they need. You’re almost at a point where you can start wall-papering and painting the house, and it’s exciting, so exciting to see it come back to life. Kylo had managed to save a few scraps of the paper, a few chips of paint, and you had gone to the home improvement store to match it. Lucky for you, nothing ever seemed to change, and his mood is so high when he discovers the exact same colors and patterns are still there.

You have bundles and cans of it in the bed of the truck, as you pull through the gate once more, crossing onto your property. The sun is setting behind the mountains, casting that beautiful orangey-pinky glow across the land, and everything seems more or less picturesque, perfect.

“About who?” Kylo asks, lost in thought, tapping his gloved hands against the steering wheel to the music from the radio.

“The Huxes.” You clarify, and he frowns.

“What do you mean?” He asks, immediately frowning, protective, so incredibly protective.

“I don’t know. Something about them creeps me out.” You say softly when the truck pulls up to the front of the house, the men in question nowhere in sight. “I don’t like the way they stare.” You whisper.

The stares had been the worst, worse than the smiles, you think. It was a haunting feeling, the kind where you could tell someone was looking at you, could tell you were being watched, everywhere from the living room to the closet.

And yet, each and every time you try to catch someone’s gaze, no one seems to be paying you any attention.

Kylo’s grip tightens on the gear shift as he puts the truck into park, reaches across the bench to kiss you soundly.

“I’ll talk to them about it, the month is almost over, and then they’ll be gone.” He says, not needing to or wanting to question you about it, taking your word for it, and for that you’re grateful. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know you were feeling so uncomfortable, I don’t want you to ever feel like that.”

You just nod, so relieved, so in love with your husband for not pushing the issue, that you can only kiss him back soundly.

You both carry things to the front porch, when suddenly you scream, let out the most horrified sound, drop the paint cants onto the wood as you cover your mouth in disgust and horror.

“Oh my god!” You scream, “Fuck – oh my god!”

“Honey?” Kylo drops what he’s carrying too and rushes to your side, collects you in his arms as you start to sob.

“Kylo there’s – she’s – something killed her!” You wail, not even able to get anything out, not able to articulate it because the image is so gruesome that you can’t get it out of your head, no room for anything else.

“Killed who, what?” He asks, and you point to the other side of the porch where the cat, the poor sweet calico, lays decapitated in a puddle of slowly drying blood.

Flies swarm her, and you’re on the verge of vomiting. She must have been out there all day, all by herself, and you cry cry cry, you never even had the chance to name her.

“Look at that, that’s not – that’s not natural oh my god they took her head, Kylo why would they take her head?” You bury your face in his neck, and he just holds you close, soothes your back, tries and tries to help you calm down.

“What the fuck happened, you don’t think…?” Kylo asks, staring at the poor thing, and you hiccup, trying to clear your head so you can think.

(If you blame the men click here) (If you blame it on wild animals click here)

#reader insert #kylo ren x reader #kylo ren/reader #kylo x reader #kylo/reader #my writing #dead dove do not eat #last straw

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kohakuriver · 5 years

Text

A complete Frozen 2 trailer analysis and breakdown + my own theory

I will be covering both trailers in this post so it will get long as well as bringing up many things I haven’t seen other people say, particularly on youtube. Another thing I will be bringing up is leaks that the general public does not know so if you don’t want spoilers please do not keep reading. Though the spoilers are quite light and only reference small points of the plot that will most likely be revealed in the coming months. There are one or two screencaps I won’t bring up because they’re irrelevant and only showed up in the trailer for show.

EDIT: After annecy new information has dropped. This will be edited to include those spoilers.

One thing I’d like to clear up is that these are both teaser trailers and not full ones. I believe Disney will be releasing a full one that will be less vague in September. These Frozen trailers are an anomaly that I personally think were only done this way because of the Aladdin controversy. Disney never release teaser trailers that early. The one released in June was cut up and released in February to move attention away from the controversy which is why it's short and vague.

In the first seconds of the first trailer we see Elsa running towards the ocean. Determined to cross it.

What is she trying to do? Get to Anna because she was shipwrecked? But there's no wreckage around her. And if she wrecked in the middle of the ocean she would have used her magic to try and turn back. Without the context of the second teaser trailer we had no idea what she was doing. Now we know Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Sven and Olaf all went on the trip together. So we know it's not Elsa trying to get back home to Anna and Arendelle. She wouldn’t be leaving by herself. During the ocean scene in the second trailer we see her with The Nokk.

A mythological water spirit that Disney describes as a protector of the forest and its secrets. In order to get past the Nokk someone must prove their worth. I believe this is what Elsa is trying to do. Get to the Nokk and let her pass into the forest. Or perhaps she needs its help to defeat something? Another theory is that it’s part of a trial she must face in order to gain knowledge. It certainly does not want to harm her. In fact it looks curiously at her and in the illustration they are shown seemingly working together.

If it wanted to harm her it would have done so when she was vulnerable. I heard a rumor that Elsa will form a tight bond with the Nokk and it will be an integral part of the movie but I’m not sure I entirely believe that. I personally believe it’s just a protector and another obstacle that Elsa must go through.

Edit: At Annecy we learned that Elsa and the Nokk do in fact have a battle. I still personally believe she is doing this to prove herself to the Nokk.

The next scene shows Anna, looking at the crystals that we now know Elsa created. I will bring up this scene later since it gains more context in the second trailer and is out of place in this trailer.

Now the next scene with Kristoff- there isn’t much to say other than this has to be when they are in the enchanted forest. The setting looks the same and we know they all get separated at some point. I believe he’s trying to get back to the rest of the group with the help of Sven and some new friends that Sven made. It’s definitely dramatic so Kristoff probably thinks his family is in extreme danger.

Next we see Anna alone in a cave. This cave must be the one we see Anna and Olaf fall into in the second trailer. They must have been separated after falling off the waterfall and Anna is shown trying to find Olaf. I’d also like to mention that Anna and Olaf are looking up at what seems to be an Earth Giant (the one shown in the last seconds of the second trailer) before they get to the waterfall.

If you look at the screencaps the rock looks different and oddly shaped, perhaps it’s a foot. The reason it doesn’t attack is because it’s sleeping. Another thing to mention is their ice boat is obviously made by Elsa. This leads me to believe they separated on purpose.

The next scene we see Olaf and Elsa surrounded by purple fire in the shape of a heart. Elsa is trying to get rid of the fire using her magic. This scene gets more context in the second trailer. We are shown Anna, Sami (from the way they dress they look like Sami, an indigenous group in norway and sweden) and guards possibly from Arendelle fleeing from the fire.

We are also shown Kristoff swooping in and taking Anna as Elsa is on the ground (most likely with Olaf behind her) in the same scene. Perhaps Elsa told them to flee so she could face the person putting them in danger with her magic. Other than that there’s not much we can take from this scene besides the possibility that someone is probably trying to keep the forest safe from intruders.

After the scene with purple fire we are shown two new characters that I have a whole theory on. Their analysis will be saved for last. The only thing I'd like to say before moving on is that these two could not possibly be Iduna and Agnarr. You don’t just turn ginger if you’re blonde and the girl seems to have tanner skin than Iduna, yes it could be the lighting messing with my eyes or something but the girl also has brown eyes whereas Iduna has light blue. The girl also has a lighter hair color and a different eyebrow shape. And the boy has an upturned nose where Agnarr has a hooked nose. I know there's some “confirmation” from someone who apparently works at disney but I really don’t believe that. They really look nothing at all alike when you start to analyze their features.

Next the crew is looking at the enchanted forest. This scene most likely takes place after Elsa goes through the fog while revealing the four runes we know to be symbolizing Earth, Water, Air and Fire.

But how can she move the fog? Her powers are of Ice and snow- not Air. Although I guess you could argue her power is water and clouds/fog is a form of water. It's worth mentioning she did make clouds in the first movie as well. But I have another theory as to why she was able to move the fog which I will get into later.

In the last seconds of the first trailer Anna grabs kristoff’s sword and attacks someone. In the raw audio file we hear a “woah!” Coming from a deep voice. Many believe this is Hans. Considering they went north not south I find this hard to believe. I’m not sure why Hans would be all the way up in the north or why he would make a comeback but on some sites it does show that his voice actor returns so there is a possibility.

Now onto parts of the second trailer I didn’t discuss yet. The events are extremely out of order so instead I will be analyzing it in chronological order.

We are shown a flashback with Elsa and Queen Iduna looking up at aurora borealis. This must be the night that Elsa hurt Anna. If you look at the wallpaper it’s different from Elsa’s single room and looks the same as the one in Anna and Elsa’s room. Iduna must be explaining something about her past to her as that is what Grandpappie talks about in the background.

Next Elsa is shown chasing magic that is constantly changing form and shape. She is definitely singing in this scene so we know it is extremely important. I have seen people say this is a dream because she’s in a nightgown and it’s black all around her but I disagree. Considering the fact that she’s shown chasing the magic off a cliff outside and at her feet is grass.

And the very next thing she does is use her magic to summon the crystals with runes.

EDIT: From the spoilers dropped at the Annecy festival we have learned that this scene takes place after the main group just finished playing charades and went to bed. Throughout this time Elsa hears a voice and begins to look for it. This leads her outside where she begins to use her magic along with the magic message she is chasing.

Anna notices this and runs to the balcony in the first trailer. I believe these crystals showed up around the entire kingdom which made the trolls take notice. Which is why they come to Elsa, Anna and Kristoff in front of regular townsfolk who went outside to see what was happening.

The trolls have come of course, to tell Elsa she must travel north. There she will learn of her past and an ancient evil our heroes must face.

Back to the scene with Elsa chasing around magic- this is where I start to get into my theory. I theorize that Elsa is chasing a message sent to her. It shows the Nokk and the Earth Golem’s that she later faces and then turns into autumn leaves that we know references the enchanted forest. This message is telling her to come to the enchanted forest and showing her what she must face in order to figure out her past.

Edit: I still believe that she is chasing a message. After all, the magic she chases suddenly disappears and it doesn’t look like ice/snow magic in my opinion.

I would like to bring up this leak:

In it it says “along the journey she will discover the life she was meant to live”.

This might seem far fetched but- remember those kids we saw in the first trailer?They are in the enchanted forest and someone we don’t see uses wind magic. I believe these three kids are guardians of the forest that Elsa was supposed to grow up with and the scene we see is a flashback. The girl possibly has fire powers, the boy being blown into the air has earth magic and obviously the character we don’t see has wind magic. Elsa is the one that symbolizes water. Remember how I talked about the fog that covered the entrance to the forest before? The reason I believe she was able to move it is because she is of the four children of the elements meant to go through it. A normal person who is not worthy can’t pass unless one of the elemental sorcerers was with them.

One thing that could debunk this is their clothes. The boy seems to be a noble considering the colors and style while the girl a commoner. If they’re supposed to be growing up together it wouldn’t make sense they’d dress so differently but maybe i’m looking to deep into it.

Edit: Part of this could have been debunked as it is rumored/implied the boy we see is in fact Elsa and Anna’s father. Do I really believe that? I’m not sure. Like I said before they don’t really look alike to me so I’m still skeptical. Though parts of my theory still stands. It just means the kids we see in the flashback will be much older if we see them in the present.

I heard a theory that perhaps Grandpappie was asked to remove parts of Elsa’s memory long ago. Which is why he said “the past is not what it seems”. Perhaps Iduna took Elsa away from these group of sorcerers to be raised as a princess instead. We know that Iduna will be an important character and this might be a stretch but when I went to see the frozen musical on Broadway Iduna had a closer relationship to “the hidden folk”. So maybe she had asked grandpappie for help to remove Elsa’s memories. Why? I am not at all sure. There’s not enough context or leaks for motive. The obvious motive is something dangerous but we don’t know what the danger is.

In the same illustration it says that an ancient magic awakens. This is something we still have no knowledge of so I can’t really guess what it is.

Next I’d like to bring up this leak:

Judging from this I think Anna will most likely be on the back burner in this movie. In the trailers she doesn’t smile once but Elsa is constantly excited and is shown smiling many times. Elsa and Anna seemed to have completely flipped from the first movie. This movie will be showing everyone separated many times and will bring many new characters to the table. We know there's going to be three new important character’s- at least important enough to get funko pops.

There are more leaks out but I don’t think they’re relevant so I won’t be sharing. I’m too lazy to go and look for sources but I might link them later. If you really wanna see them just look on the tumblr or twitter search honestly they’re everywhere but no influential people are doing coverage on it.

All in all those are my thoughts and analysis on the frozen 2 teaser trailers. I am so excited for this movie. Let me know what your theories are in the comments or if you have any additions to what i’ve said just let me know!

#Frozen 2 #Frozen #Disney #Frozen theory #Frozen 2 theory #Frozen 2 anaylsis #Frozen 2 trailer #anna frozen #queen elsa #kristoff #prince hans #olaf #Sven #Disney theory #Disney animation

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wildshadowtamer · 5 years

Text

Andy the Bird Boy [SDV Fanfic]

Dunno if this counts as a fanfic or not but I'm presuming it is!

Andy belongs to me and all the others belong to ConcernedApe, creator of Stardew Valley.

Warnings: Bit of angst/depression at the beginning but otherwise good. Also short gay boys.

Word Count: 3,170 Words 17,739 Characters 71 Sentences 108 Paragraphs

Story under the cut cuz It’s long:

"And for my very special grandson" Grandpa laid in his bed, a young blonde boy kneeling beside him "I want you to have this sealed envelope." He passed the child a white envelope with a purple seal on it, he tried to open it, but his Grandpa stopped him "No, no, don't open it yet. Have patience" His grandson stopped, looked at the seal and nodded

"Now, listen close." the lad shuffled forward quietly "There will come a day when you feel crushed by the burden of modern life....and your bright spirit will fade before a growing emptiness." The tired man explained, "When that happens, my boy, you'll be ready for this gift."

"Now...let grandpa rest..."

that was the last time he ever saw his Grandpa.

23 years later...

[His POV]

Same job, same work, same life over and over. That's how my life is going so far, just dull and repeating.

My nightmare.

You see, i work at Joja, a large office company that does nothing to make their employees lives good. We barely even get breaks.

For a smoker who can't sit still for too long without going insane like me, that's a few hundred layers of hell on the daily.

Today, i was feeling particularly pessimistic, hunched over at my desk, half-asleep and dreading the next eight hours that followed. That was, until, I remembered my grandfather's old letter he gave me "....hmm."

I leaned back in my seat, opened my drawer next to me and removed the sealed envelope Grandpa had given me way back when I was a young boy "...well, can't get worse than this." I mumbled as i tore open the letter and straightened it out

It read:

"Dear Andy,

If you're reading this, then you must be in dire need of a change.

The same thing happened to me, long ago. I'd lost sight of what mattered most in life...real connections with other people and nature. So I dropped everything and moved to the place I truly belong.

I've enclosed the deed to that place...my pride and joy: Sunflower Farm. It's located in Stardew Valley, on the southern coast. It's the perfect place to start your new life.

This was my most precious gift of all, and now it's yours. I know you'll honour the family name, my boy.

Good Luck.

Love, Grandpa."

I couldn't help but cry, Grandpappy was the person i was closest to, I was so heartbroken that I wasn't given anything when he died but...I was wrong, Yoba was I wrong!

I flipped over the letter, and there was an extra piece of writing:

"P.S If Lewis is still alive, say Hi to the old guy for me, Will ya?"

I shakily laughed, tears rolling down my face and a goofy smile on my face.

I got up and headed shakily to the manager's office, there were already two tickets to the farm in the envelope so I didn't care what would happen

"Sir, I quit." I walk in, merely putting the letter on the desk and leaning against it, management nearly choked on his drink, he spluttered and looked at me like I had grown wings "w...what!? You can't do that!"

I looked at him with a completely straight and serious face, "Yes, I can. And I just did." I responded in such a monotone voice i was surprised my voice could even do that, but with that, I shrugged, took my letter, clocked out and went home.

I called my parents, and they were so happy, saying they'd call Lewis to tell him ahead of time since I couldn't go for another week.

One week later.

My alarm went off loudly, and I scrambled to get dressed in possibly the best clothes I have: a white undershirt with a fancy red waistcoat and matching red dress pants.

Terrance, my Mourning Dove, called hungrily, I quickly fed him and scurried to grab my tickets and brush my hair, which is now a flaring red compared to my old childhood blonde.

"Come on, Terry!" I grabbed his cage and made it down to the bus stop, adjusting the fabric cover so he wouldn't be too loud. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I couldn't help but grin happily, admittedly i did get some looks from the other people waiting since i was dressed like i was from the 1700s, but I like it so why should i care?

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

Andy waited patiently throughout the hour-long ride, keeping Terry's cage on his lap as he watched the city turn to landscape, then rolling fields and beautiful forests.

Eventually, the bus rolled to a stop, the young man, being the only passenger left jumped to his feet once he felt the bus stop, he grabbed Terry's cage carefully and stepped off the bus happily.

A mid 40's woman with orange hair waved him over "Hello! You must be Andy!" She exclaimed happily as he approached "I'm Robin, the local carpenter. Mayor Lewis sent me here to fetch you and show you the way to your new home. He's there right now, tidying things up for your arrival." Continuing, she held out a hand, to which Andy shook politely

"The farm's right over here, if you'll follow me." She grins, leading him over to a pathway, a small house in the distance.

"This is Sunflower Farm." Andy took a step back and gritted his teeth in surprise when he saw the state of his old grandfather's farm, overgrown with weeds and trees as far back as it went. "What's the matter?" Robin asked with a giggle, turning to speak to him clearly. "Sure, it's a bit overgrown, but there's some good soil underneath that mess!" she smiled, hands behind her back and giggling as Andy sighed, giving her a glance that read 'are you sure....?'

"With a little dedication, you'll have it cleaned up in no time!" She reassured the nervous boy, turning his attention to the humble little shack behind them "...and here we are, your new home!" She exclaimed; happily, the door slammed open, and an older gentleman with a well-kept mustache walked out "Ah, the new farmer!" He smiled, walking down the steps to stand beside the two redheads

"Welcome! I'm Lewis, Mayor of Pelican Town." he addressed himself, holding out a hand which Andy quickly took "Andy, s-sir." The boy stuttered as he formally addressed the mayor.

"Please, just call me Lewis." He smiled; Andy went red and nodded, pulling his hand away "Y-yes s- uh lewis." He stammered, keeping his hands formally behind his back.

"You know, everyone's been asking about you." Lewis continued, "It's not every day that someone new moves in. It's quite a big deal!" He exclaimed cheerfully; Andy was redder than his hair that resembled a lions mane, no matter how hard he tried.

"So..." Lewis went on "Your moving into your grandfather's old cottage." Andy nodded, the three of them turned and looked at the house once more "It's a good house, very...rustic." Lewis raised an eyebrow at the half-broken home

Robin snickered "Rustic? That's one way to put it! 'Crusty' might be a little more apt, though." Andy smiled awkwardly, trying not to insult his grandfather

Lewis rolled his eyes and glanced at Andy, smirking

"Don't listen to her, Andy. She's just trying to make you dissatisfied so that you buy one of her house upgrades." Andy giggled, and Robin gasped "Rude!" she crossed her arms and looked away "Anyway, you must be tired from the long journey, you should get some rest." Lewis nudged Andy towards the house a bit, to which he half-stumbled over the steps and brushed himself down once he got to the top of the two-step stairs

Lewis smiled "tomorrow you ought to explore the town a bit and introduce yourself" He proceeded "The townspeople would appreciate that." He nods absentmindedly, ignoring the bright red Andy standing in front of him barely able to stand from the embarrassment, Robin tried to hold back her laughter.

Lewis walked off, stopping at the big shipping box next to him "Oh, I almost forgot. If you have anything to sell, just place it in this box here. I'll come by during the night to collect it." and with that, the two walked off, leaving Andy red-faced, embarrassed and tired.

"...wait, what." the last half of Lewis' previous sentence caught up to him "Alright then." He mumbled to himself, calming down and opening the door to his new home "Ohhh boy" He looked around the small room:

a plant, a rug, a single bed, a fireplace, a table & chair and tv was all that stood, in what was mainly a wooden box.

Locking the door, he got changed from his smart clothes into his nightclothes: an oversized hoodie and sweatpants. "Well Terry," he placed the bird on the table "Welcome to our new home."

Terry started calling loudly from underneath the cover, to which Andy quickly fed him before readjusting the sheet one last time and collapsing into a tired heap on the small single bed.

He rolled over and sighed, smiling as he drifted to sleep.

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

Once he woke up, he could hear the birds tweeting outside, and his own hungrily cooing "Alright, alright, gimme a sec..." Andy mumbled, tired from his long day previously

It took him a bit to wake up, but he did eventually feed the Dove and collect the tools that he noticed at the foot of his bed, as well as a present on the floor.

"huh..."

He kneeled down and took a note off it along with some parsnip seeds:

"Here's a little something to get you started -Mayor Lewis." He giggled, grinning at the sight of Mayor Lewis leaving this hear for him in the middle of the night.

Coo! Terrance called loudly "Whaaaat? You're extra loud today!" Andy got up and took Terrance out of his cage, to which the bird flew onto his shoulder and shut up "...you wanna come with me." He sighs jokingly annoyed.

"Alright, fine, but just because your such a cute birdy." He stroked the bird lightly before stepping outside and sighing "... I'll just go meet the residents before I tackle that." Andy excuses it, hurrying over to the town-centre

On his way over, he noticed some beautiful daffodils over by the bus stop, so he decided to pick them and throw them in the backpack he brought with him.

The town-centre was very lovely, clean and relatively old-fashioned from what he was used to, he even spotted a saloon opposite him.

"Oh! A calendar!" He exclaimed, reading the birthdays, he mentally noted that Lewis' was coming up 7 days from then, only then did he notice the sign above it "Pierre's" He mumbled, presuming it was were the glass doors lead to beside him.

"AND a help wanted board? Wow, this town is great!"

The boy continued to explore the town while nobody was up, but someone bumped into him while he was exploring:

"Whoever you are, I don't wanna talk, leave me alone." The man snapped harshly, making Andy stumble back in surprise and start blushing from embarrassment "O-oh, okay sir, s-sorry!" He backed away and hid behind a bush, his face extremely red

"...I didn't even catch his name..." He thought quietly, taking a deep breath and continuing his exploring.

On his way, he met multiple residents:

Gus, Penny, Pierre, Abigail, Caroline, and so many more.

Eventually, he skipped over the nearby bridge cheerfully, until he spotted a jojamart, and his stomach sank, he instinctively felt sick and started shaking. Trying to back away from it, he stumbled into a blonde boy who was just heading over the cobblestone bridge

"O-Oh! Oh, yoba i-i'm so sorry! i just...i..." He trailed off, barely able to stand "Woah, Hey, It's alright!" The blonde boy grabbed him, keeping him upright

"Take a deep breathe, what's wrong?" He asked cautiously, Andy breathed shakily and calmed a bit "I-It's just...I came here t-to get away from J-Joja and...It's just....h-hard to handle." He teared up, getting pulled into a hug by the stranger "Hey, it's alright, I work there too. I know it's pretty bad, but you don't have to go near it if you don't want to." He reassured the short man, rubbing circles into his back.

"S-sorry...U-um..." Andy pulled away, blushing through the tears "M-my name is Andy, I didn't mean t-to scare you." He nervously smiled, the other grinned and chuckled "It's no problem! The name's Sam! If you do need to go into there at any point, I'll stay with ya if you need it, okay?" He tells Andy, who nods shakily and waves him goodbye.

"Ack- No, Andy, don't be falling for cute boys just yet..." He mumbled to himself, his face redder than before.

Eventually, he went on with his day, Terry asleep on his shoulder and by night he decided to go to the saloon.

"Hey, Andy!" Sam called from the side room of the saloon, running over to hug the small, seemingly younger man "What brings you here tonight?" He asked, keeping one arm around him as he escorted him to the bar "Oh...just curious..." He mumbled quietly, his face bright red once again, about the 4th time today.

"Say...are you even allowed to drink? Legally, I mean?" He asked, Lewis rolled his eyes behind them "Uhh....do i really look that young?" He asked nervously, rubbing the back of his neck

Sam glanced him up and down "Yeah, younger than me, and I'm only 20!" He chuckled, Andy went a shade of red that probably isn't possible

He laughed awkwardly "I'm....30..." He said slowly, he felt the whole place stop and stare at him in disbelief:

It was fair enough, he did have a baby face and sounded about 14, acted 17 and was about 5'4, the average height of a 14-year-old, so he was far from offended, just surprised.

"No, waaay!" Sam laughed "30? Damn, I wouldn't have guessed! If you were any shorter, I would have thought you were 10!" He teased, poking at Andy's waistcoat

"Yeeaaahhh..." He wanted the ground to eat him at this point "So, way over the legal age to drink aha" He joked, Sam nodded and gestured for Gus to get the two of them a drink.

"Huh, you're old." A Dark-haired emo appeared next to Sam, his hair covering one eye ", And you look like a vampire, what about it." Andy snapped suddenly, crossing his arms.

The room went dead silent once more, the tense atmosphere so thin you could cut it "....sassy, nice." The emo finally spoke up, Andy regained his usual nervous personality and continued to get redder in the face, especially after he noticed both Sam and emo boy were ever-so-slightly blushing.

"Right, so!" Sam interrupted "This is Sebastian, my best friend!" he put an arm around Sebastian instead "But I call 'im Sebby!" He grinned, Sebastian shrunk into his hoodie, getting more red-faced.

"...Out of all the places you chose to live, you chose Pelican Town?" Sebastian asked quietly, the entire bar focused on them "uhh...y-yeah, the city got a bit too much for me....B-but It's better here, so...hah." Andy grinned awkwardly, stroking Terry absentmindedly

"....what the hell is on your shoulder?" The emo pointed to Terrance, Sam nodding beside him

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

[Andy's POV]

The bar was silent and listening in, a few people whisper to one another about my bird "Oh, he's my Mourning Dove, T-Terrance! He doesn't tend to fly so h-he's completely safe, don't worry!" I reassure the two younger boys, Sebastian raises an eyebrow "....right." he mumbled, eyeing Terry cautiously

I squirmed a bit before making a dove call, sending Terry awake instantly and calling back "See?" I hold a hand to Terry's feet, he gladly steps on and coos

"He's completely docile! Got his shots n' everything, so he's fine to hold!" I continued to explain, feeling my heartbeat quicken "Hey Terry, do a twirl!" And with that, Terry flew into the air and follow the instructions perfectly, twirling around and eventually landing on Sebastian's head, cooing softly

Sam suddenly laughed, and Sebby went so many shades of scarlet he resembled my waistcoat "H-HEY! GET YOUR DAMN BIRD OFFA ME!" He yelled, unable to move much "Aaawww Terry likes you!" I laughed, carefully picking Terry off Emo's head.

"....thankyou," he mumbled, redoing his hair now that a bird isn't in it.

"Holy s-" Sam laughed, practically doubled over, Abigail half-choking in the background too "Wooow Seb! Never knew you were a bird guy!" He joked, his friend glaring at him through his hair and blush.

After Sam and Abigail had calmed down, we continued to chat for a half-hour until I noticed someone in the corner of the room

"hm?" I stopped, staring at the familiar person "Oh hey! I think we met earlier, right?" I got up, approaching the man in the scruffy blue jacket

"i thought i told you to leave me the hell alone." He growled, taking another sip of beer from the can he's been drinking all night "Don't mind Shane, he's pretty antisocial" Emily, the bartender, piped up

"...I like your hair." I mumble, trying to start a conversation "does it look like i care?" he shot my attempt down "....alright, sorry...." I mumble, half bowing and backing off

"Geez, what's wrong with that guy?" Sam asked as Andy returned to the group "I-I'm sure he'll lighten up eventually! You can't be salty forever... Besides, he looks older than me, I'm not gonna mess with him." I explained, feeling a bit more optimistic.

"Well, now that we've got hat over with, You three up for some pool!?" Sam jumped to his feet and ran to the back room where the pool table was, I scurried after him with Abigail behind me, Sebastian slowly following.

It was a few hours until people started to leave, but the four of us wanted to stay a little longer "Hey, Andy." Robin piped up before she left "You seem like a nice guy and that house is pretty broken down, how about i upgrade it for you? Free of charge, of course." She suggested, Sam gasped and Abigail grinned while I felt my ears go red

"Uhh yeah sure, thankyousomuch miss Robin!" I stumbled over my words, bowing to her in thank, we waved her goodbye and turned back to the pool table

"Where you gonna sleep now." Sebastian asked quietly "...Sam?" I turned to Sam, who nodded and grinned "Then it's settled!" I giggle, leaning into Sam slightly, although barely noticeable.

Sam showed me where his house is, heading back first with me following, but not before i heard something from Abigail

"Oh their so gay." and a chuckle from Sebastian, I went redder and chased after Sam, getting scolded by his mother for staying out so late without warning but then being welcomed and having a great sleepover.

I think I'm gonna fit in here.

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

#stardew valley #Stardew Valley OC #sdv oc #sdv shane #sdv emily #sdv robin #sdv lewis #sdv sebastian #sdv sam #Andy Garth Superhalk #Terrance The Mourning Dove #fanfic #story #my writing

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konan720 · 5 years

Text

Little Julia and MoonJumper Short-

This short is actually pretty lengthy- I’ll attempt to make it shorter next time.

(Short three: Home alone)

It was one of those days again, where Julia was off from school, but her parents had to work; However, first it’s ever been under MoonJumper’s watch.

“Julia, your father has already set off for work, and I’m just about ready to leave-“ Julia sat at the dinning table watching her mother walkabout, getting ready. “The babysitter will be here within twenty minutes..”

Julia’s mother walked around the counter of the kitchen, grabbed her purse, and turned one more time to look at Julia “and please, behave yourself. No causing trouble, alright?”

Julia nodded, and with that, she watched her mother leave. It was now just her, and MoonJumper.. wherever he was.

“So, she just leaves? Doesn’t wait for the sitter?” Julia heard Moon ask

“She needed to go,” Julia said, jumping off the chair she sat at “beside, I think I can do fine by myself for a bit.” She smiled

“Ah, but that’s we’re you’re wrong my dear-“ MoonJumper chuckles “you are not alone.”

“Sometimes I forget that, thank you for reminding me” she giggled, it seemed like a sassy remark, but Moon was unsure.

Stretching out, the small child walked on to the couch, MoonJumper groaned as she sat down “don’t tell me you’re going to let your brain melt while you wait; I don’t see the purpose of that moving box beside it giving you wrong ideas.”

Julia turned on the tv, Various cartoons played, one of her favorite ones was about two animals chasing each other.

“Mindless violence.” MoonJumper said, however he to got caught watching for while. Shaking his head “Why don’t we do something outside?” He asked.

“Moon, you know I’m not allowed to leave the house alone..” she said almost like a whisper “I’ll get in trouble.. even if it’s just the front yard..”

“Child, I will say this again- you are not alone-“

“But your always invisible here..” she said frowning, no longer in the mood for television “I know I’m not alone, but sometimes it’s heard to realize that when I can’t even see my friend when I’m awake..”

Moon just floated idly by, listening to her- she had a point, the children at her school think of him as an imaginary friend. When in reality he’s just as real as them. But he can’t put himself at risk knowing someone will be here shortly.

“Perhaps.. something indoors then?” This made Julia look around “maybe a board game?”

Julia’s eyes lit up, she knew exactly what.

————————

“Check mate!” Julia yelled, kicking her little leg under the table. She was smiling at the other end of the table, where she assumed MoonJumper was gawking at the board. The sudden noise that came from there is what gave her the idea.

“C-check mate-?!” He looked around the board, at all angles- his king was flanked by a Rook, two knights and a pawn. No mater where he moved there was trouble- his Queen was taken out earlier in the game session; but he thought not of it. “Now, how did this happen..?”

MoonJumper was at a loss, Surly it was just first game luck, maybe if he played another game he’d win.

“Grandpappy taught me...” She smiled brightly, but then dimmed “we’d always play together when I visited him-..“ she seemed to mumble for while, it was sad really. Moon was unable to hear anything from this.

“Another game, then.” MoonJumper announced, snapping the child out of her downed state “if you win, and prove this wasn’t just luck, I will allow you to wear my coat. For awhile”

This sparked wonder in her eyes, Moon never takes his coat off- to a point where Julia just thought it was just apart of him. MoonJumper had never seen her so serious; face focused.

What had he done?

———————

It was a shock, for the fact that MoonJumper had lost to a little girl in chess- And for the fact that he cannot catch this child with his own hands, who was now running rampant with his cloak. Giggling with glee, Julia looked back at him with a big smile.

An hour had passed since the chess game, the sitter hadn’t arrived yet. Quite possible that they forgot; Julia states that this happens from time to time. She doesn’t seem too worried about it. So within that same hour, MoonJumper saw no harm in showing himself. If the sitter wasn’t coming within that hour, they wouldn’t show at all.

“Julia! Hand back my cloak this instant!” He yelled, diving for her, however Julia just turned a corner around the table and ran for the stairs to her room “alright, enough of this..”

Before the small child could even make it past her door, red strings shot out, tangling her legs. Falling with a soft thud due to the overly large coat. She was halfway dragged down the stairs before Moon picked her up.

There was an attempt to take the large coat from her, but Julia held strong, cocooning herself with in it. “Julia, stop fooling around- hand me my cloak.”

“Nuh-!” Was a muffled reply.

With a sigh, “Right, then..” With a smirk. If she wasn’t tired from running yet, she will be after this- MoonJumper grabbed one of her sides and started tickling her. A loud squeal escaped the girl.

With her legs bound and cloak wrapped around her, she was tripped; the only way out would to release Moon’s coat. However, Julia wasn’t going to give up just yet! She wiggles and thrashed around, unable to stop laughing-

But MoonJumper held on tighter, “Oh no, my child-“ he smiled “you are in my clutches now, and I will not let you go until you give me what is mine!”

Eventually her grip was lost, and with a pull, MoonJumper had his cloak returned to him-

Julia was placed on the ground, heaving for air; the strings were united and she was free. Taking in a big breath “that’s not fair! You used your strings to catch me!”

“Frankly my dear, nothing in life is ‘fair’.” He side glanced, and smirked. Smile getting a little bigger due to Julia’s pouting face. Julia tried to jump at him, but MoonJumper floated back. “Even after all that, you still have air in you?” He was surprised.

Julia being the little energetic gremlin that she was, once more tried to jump at him. Two thoughts in her mind, one of payback, and the other- ‘was Moon ticklish?’.

“Payback!” She called out, her little battle cry not going unheard as MoonJumper kept dodging her.

“Is that so-?” MoonJumper questioned, understanding what she meant “then, you’ll just have to find me first-!” No way was he going to fall to the mercy of a mere child. He’ll just vanish for awhile until things blow over. Julia should be find until he gets back.

“...Moon..?”

————————

Ten minutes, just ten minutes of fresh air above the residential house he was occupying- it was nice an quiet, Julia should be tired out by now. This would be the right moment to-

A sudden scream of terror was heard, wide eyed looked to the house;

“Julia!” MoonJumper yelled

It was just ten minutes!

Intangible, and invisible, Moon fazed through the roof; what he saw mad him freeze- two masked men invaded the house, one held tightly onto Julia, Covering her mouth. While the other looked around for valuables.

“Quiet squirt, were just here to take some thing’s and leave.” The one roughly holding onto Julia said. In his other hand a baton “Nobody has to get hurt-“

MoonJumper had made himself visible, and a horrific look on his face frightened the one holding the child “Unhand. That. Child.” He growled.

The man screamed, dropping Julia, and swung at Moon, but it went right through him- he was unfazed. The scream, still screaming man, grabbed the others attention and immediately ran down the stairs.

Only to come down to see his partner cocooned in red strings, and very angry monstrosity. Before the second man could bolt, he to was grabbed and strung up- then in a moment, MoonJumper dragged them away. And all was silent once more.

Julia had hidden under the table, then a knock on the wooden surface; frightened still, the small girl looked out, it was Moon! Tears welled up in her eyes as she hurried to him.

“Julia, I leave you alone for ten-!” But stoped mid sentence; she was crying. Why did he always hate it when she cried?

“Where... were.. you?” She hiccuped “I was looking for you, and then I heard a scary noise, and then-!” She was repeating herself as she struggled with words. Each babble that left her mouth made him feel like his chest was being crushed.

“I thought you were still here-“

He held Julia in comfort, how could this much trouble happen within a short amount of time?

“You are safe now, I will not leave you..” MoonJumper whispered “not again, not ever.”

What had happened to the two men? Well, they didn’t escape-

and the cops never found them.

#A Hat in Time #AHiT #Short Story #It’s not actually short #it’s pretty long

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sometimesrosy · 5 years

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The 100 S5 rewatch: Sleeping Giants

All right going in. Everyone is coming home. This is when Bellamy finds out Clarke is alive. And when Clarke is captured. These are all long. I’m recapping the damn things and giving my commentary. Look under the cut. this is like 1500 words. If y’all want a tag drop a line. I need to start doing these more regularly so I don’t run out of time before the new season OMG ITS ALMOST SEASON 6!!

McCreary Shaw and Diyoza, handsome trio of incorrigibles. Oooh. One of those prisoners is impaled. Madi doesn’t think it’s the right thing to do to kill the prisoners. Clarke says it’s their home and they are taking it. The prisoners aren’t listening to Diyoza when she says hold. McCreary is like ‘this is not your damn army I’m not gonna—“

KAPOW Clarke shoots dude. McCreary rolls for cover. You shoulda listened to your ex girlfriend dude. She’s smarter than you. Bringing the earthmover in. Diyoza sends McCreary in to hunt down somebody to interrogate. Shaw doesn’t want to fight. “Why does it have to be war.” Diyoza’s mad because he gave up jets for spaceships.

Hey Spacekru. I love them. Emori’s flying them to elegius 4. “Commencing operation uninvited guests.” Ha ha. Raven is funny. Oh Raven had to take over. The ship was spinning and Emori couldn’t align it. Murphy is an ass to Emori. Echo takes out her sword on the ship and Bellamy eyes her. The past is already coming back. Raven sends Emori back to the ship to run diagnostics and Murphy offers to stay and help. But they snipe at each other so Harper stays instead.

Prisoners. Mining missions were dangerous. They sent people they thought were disposable. Sounds familiar.

Monty finds the com. They hear that the Eligius is hunting their people. Clarke puts Madi into the hole and tells her she loves her to lead them off.Bellamy is listening to them tracking her, and they don’t know that it’s Clarke. A feisty one, pretty, too, and Raven looks at Bellamy. They think it’s Octavia.

McCreary shoves Clarke to the ground, he’s such an ass. “You only caught one?” “We only saw one.”

“Her people will come for her, be ready.” They don’t even know. Shaw is playing good cop.

McCreary starts hitting Clarke and Shaw stops him. And then McCreary goes after Shaw because he’s not one of them. They are not a unified people.

Shaw sees the night blood. ‘Blood alteration like they had on Eligius 3. Two suns. No sunscreen.” Foreshadowing.

Clarke and Diyoza. Two peas in a pod.

Murphy Monty and Echo wheeling the fuel to the ship. Echo missed Murphy’s stupid little joke and Monty and Murphy are sniping at each other. Useless. Coward. Brats both of them.

Echo finds the cryo sleepers.

Kodiak protocol coming. Harper’s trying to make Emori feel better. Wants her to give him a second chance. Murphy, “you were talking about me, weren’t you?” She says “don’t flatter yourself.” But they WERE talking about him.

Bellamy was looking at the ship manifest and they are all murderers. Raven tries to make him feel better because his grandpappy Blake was a 4 time phd and astronaut and he’s not at all like that. They’re still thinking that these people are descendants. They see the video when Diyoza takes over the ship. There’s the best dad in the universe mug.

In comes Kodiak. Hush I need to watch Bellamy fight. God I love watching him fight. He’s gotten so much better at it.

MAN. Kodiak is TOUGH. Echo slashes him across the back and then runs his gut through and he just kicks her off. Bellamy has to choke him with a wire while Raven has been gut punched like three times.

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic,” This is a quote from Arthur C Clarke. He is mentioned. Clarke’s name sake.

Murphy wants to kill all the sleepers. Bellamy doesn’t want to start a war and escalate. Echo also agrees that they should be killed. “I know how you feel but it took three of us to take out one of them. Giving them reinforcements when we can stop it is a strategic mistake,” Echo says.

“We’ve been off the ring for less than a day and we’re already talking about murdering hundreds of people.” Bellamy is not happy.

“This is not murder. It’s survival. They die now or we die later. If Clarke were here this wouldn’t even be a question.” Murphy. Clarke is very much still a part of their lives. She’s dead but not forgotten. AND NOT DEAD.

“WELL CLARKE’S NOT HERE!” Bellamy yells.

“Exactly. She died so we can live. Bellamy This is how we do that.”

“Maybe not,” Raven says. She’s got the plans.

Echo says to rig it so they can trigger it from the ground. “Leverage,” Bellamy says. Murphy huffs off and Bellamy calls him back because he wants his opinion. He says it’s a risk.

“But Clarke didn’t die for us to live just for us to go back to the ground and make. The same. Mistakes.”

“What the hell. Let’s be good guys.” Murphy gets a little thrill.

Okay. I think that’s as important a conversations as Clarke’s voice over about there being no good guys. Remember season 1? Bellamy as the rebel king selfish ass and Murphy as the murdering psychopath? And Clarke is now the one with no mercy, impaling strangers.

Now Clarke with Shaw. I expect to see some good interaction with them in s6. Playing good cop. “Believe it or not, this is the best conversation I’ve had in a hundred years.” He’s from Saginaw MI. (JR is from Detroit.) And he was an altar boy, who rode a motorcycle. McCreary has found Madi, And Clarke speaks. “Please she’s just a child.” She tells about the trap that Madi is leading them into. “IF you let her go, I’ll tell you everything.” McCreary doesn’t want to listen but he’s standing down.

Let’s begin. Start with how the world ended.

“Which time.” Lol. Classic.

Wow. I can’t believe they’re still on the ship. So much happens in this episode. Raven tells Bellamy that she has to stay up there. Bellamy is like no no way.

He’s really affected by the thought of leaving her behind. He wants to stay. She tries to make jokes about him screwing it up. It has to be me. ‘I am not leaving you here.” She says he needs to go find his sister. But Bellamy doesn’t want her staying behind to kill 300 people.

“No no, I left Clarke behind to die and I can’t—“ like he breaks “—I’m not doing that again.” Foreshadowing there. And also showing how much that hurt him. It really did. You can see it in everything he does.

Raven flat out lies. Oh yeah there’s an escape pod. Calls him an idiot. He still doesn’t like it.

“Six years ago I promised myself I would find us a way to get us back down. Bellamy this is it. Please. Let me get you all home.”

Emori is like where is she? She offers Murphy to stay. “I said it’s technical.” Monty offers.

Murphy heads off, and Bellamy is like “NOW Murphy.”

He’s like nope. Raven might need backup. “Hey with Emori flying, this is the survivor’s move.” Making jokes. Why do they always make jokes when they’re doing something self sacrificing and don’t want the other to feel bad, “See ya on the other side.” Ugh that’s Jasper’s line. Emori smiles and then she’s like. Wait I don’t like this.

Raven is like… What the hell are you doing here? “Why is everyone so surprised? It’s not like there’s no escape pod—“

“There’s no escape pod.” She lied so Bellamy would let her stay. “You know what you were right. Dying alone would have sucked.” An actual reference to that time she tried to kill him after the ring of fire. And he was like, “I woulda shot me too.”

Emori putting the pod down. It makes me so happy when she sets that puppy down light as a feather. And then the big smile when Bellamy tells her they didn’t die.

OH they’re out. And Eligius finds them.

Clarke is telling her story and they tell her they’ve found new people. And she is FLABBERGASTED. They are about to kill FOUR or our people NOPE. Madi to the rescue. She is a BAD ASS. Thwack. Bam. Bam. All dead.

Bellamy staggers back. “She’s just a kid,”

“Bellamy? She says. Clarke knew you would come.”

“Clarke’s alive?” And he’s just stunned.

“She’s in trouble, we have to go.”

Monty steps forward and asks about the bunker and she’s just like yeah no let’s do that later, she grabs Bellamy’s hand and drags him off. THAT IS THE BEST SCENE.

Ugh McCreary, you are such an ass. Shocking her. OH DON’T WORRY YOU’LL GET YOURS AND CLARKE WILL GIVE IT TO YOU. Poor Clarke. She’s REALLY being shocked hard. DIYOZA STOP SHOCKING HER.

THE ROVER. I will not stop yelling. You can’t make me.

Clarke is like, “Madi… no,” and inside the rover…

Bellamy is like, ‘Madi… no,” when she tries to take out a gun and go with him. And he promises he won’t let anything happen to Clarke. Parenting alike. Exact same dialog. “Take the rover back. I won’t let anything happen to Clarke, I promise.”

Clarke is watching him through the headlights. She has no idea who he is. But she jumps when she hears his voice.

Bellamy negotiates with his Captain Daddy mug and tells Madi to leave with a fist in the air, at which Clarke can take a breath finally. He walks towards her, watching her.

“283 lives? She must be pretty important to you.”

“She is.”

BOOM OUT.

WHAT A FUCKING MASTERPIECE!!

#the 100 #rewatch #liveblog #the 100 liveblog

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cryptid-killjoy · 2 years

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Shit that’s Happening

Captain Hook Shit

Hook gets mercy from Delta. He won, but she has his whole body waxed down (as he was growing it back) for cheating, so he’s now starting all over, minus the roots, or eyebrows. The mercy wasn’t actually for Hook’s sake. It was for Hunchy’s. She knew he was going to be busy getting ready for his wedding and Paris and decided it was better to have Hook doing what she wanted in the meantime. They honestly had more lost boys now than Vic needed for quite some time due to the start up bump. Call it part of her wedding gift to the Hunch trying ensure she doesn’t have to bring him back in his honeymoon.

However, due to Hook’s cheating in the game she only full filled half her deal with him. She released the waters back into Pirate’s Cove. The rush of the water would have washed the damaged Jolly Roger to shore. So, the ship itself was still like a beached whale with even more damage than before from the push of the wave, but their beloved cove was back to normal.

There was truce between Delta and Hook, but it was purely business. This was not a good feelings truce. This was a I’ll stay out of your face if you stay out of mine truce. It was a you get me what I want and don’t bitch one more word to me about your ship and I won’t destroy you like I should have for breaking my rules or raising your voice at me in the first place truce.

Hook was not pleased, but at least at this point, it was over, and his only real problem was rebuilding the Jolly Roger now that it was out of the haunted sea and the waters were free.

Laveau Shit

They’ve been ignoring their phone refusing to be brought down at the start of their new life.

Yes, they can see through their magic eyes drama is ensuing yet again, and as always, and they figure if it’s too terribly dreadful someone is going to try and get to them through Thomas or Scout. If Thomas or Scout decide whatever it is is actually worth getting involved in then they’d answer. But, they are seriously leaving every text ignored, not even reading them, not leaving them on seen, just straight up not reading them at all because something is going on.

They have a voicemail message that says, “You’ve reached Valerie’s voicemail. I’ll listen to it when I’m damn good and ready to, that’s when. Currently on a quest for fun and frivolity. Love you. Toodleloo.”

So, Chip and River have been attempting to get a hold of them because they know they helped Kuzco out of his llama situation with Yzma and wanted their formula.

Kuzco would have been enjoying his purple Barbie Belvedere he was ordering around that night until they brought Dale home. Then my oh my would the llama memories have come back.

He would also remember one ingredient to whatever Flotsam did help him because he remembered Clopin telling the tale so fantastically. It was Diablo’s feathers. The Diablo who was currently in Hell with Pierre and Maleficent. Clopin plucked the little feller and let him go.

So, for now, Dale seemed stuck as donkey until they could one, get the formula, and two, Pierre finished his quest. They also realized this was going to require going through Delta and Frank again and possibly Maleficent for all they knew unless they could find a creature like Diablo of equal magical properties to use.

Beagle Shit

When Babyface got home he’d slap Grandpappy Beagle’s red handed out of their mailbox trying to get a hold of Ma Beagle’s social security check. He’d get it out of his hands and walk into the trailer like a normal day of perfect timing.

He’d be looked at like ‘oh hey you’re back’ like it was any other day by a couple playing video games on the couch.

Ma Beagle would instantly want her hair dyed complaining her roots were showing. “My baby’s home. He’ll do it for me, won’t you?” “Yes. Ma. I’ll do it.” He’d jump right in and push her up to the kitchen sink to cover her greys before he ever got his own shower.

It would feel good though. That was what he was used to. Nobody making a fuss. He could hear snoring as loud as Kristoff’s coming through a closed door. Someone was still sleeping off the night before. He had to clear the sink of whiskey bottles to be able to dye her hair.

Bebop had told Bouncer, the two that stayed the closest involved with Babyface of all the brothers as they lived in the same trailer, once even the shared a room, but Bebop had passed on what Dale said to Bouncer. That pair informed the family of nothing.

They kept it to themselves as to not alarm anyone until they figured out what was going on. It had technically only been a day. They hadn’t had time to do much footwork themselves aside from calling juvie and seeing them play the “There must have been a error in filing” game when it came to his age. They were sticking to the whole he was released alone story because his age allowed him to be so when he crossed the adult line.

So, for now Bebop and Bouncer only said, “Okay, thanks for letting us know” and hung up the phone. They did not debate it. The last thing they wanted to happen was to fix the error and have the cops after Babyface just to have a manhunt after him to send him back to juvie.

So, when the pair that did know something was happening saw Babyface home, and after a talk, they decided to leave it in their kid brother’s hands to handle it himself. It was his life. If he wanted it sorted, they’d help. If he wanted it left be, they wouldn’t ask another question. They were just the sort of family that knew sometimes the less you knew the better, and that’s how they rolled. This was just the first time Babyface was the one with the information. He somehow made juvie his bitch, broke out of juvenile prison early, and was on the streets with his own enemies, people, and crew now. So, in a way, to the Beagles, it leveled him up.

Mazzie would be back to school before Babyface. Mazzie would be back at it directly making sure everything is perfect for CPS trying to make sure face is on and no red flags get noticed. But, Babyface is going to take a week to himself before stepping back into all that. But, he’ll be back, and when he does, the rumors are going to be wild. Between Ronno rumors, and Ellie’s face, and juvie, and what Babyface gets into before getting back into school, Beagle business back in play, definitely not learning any lessons on being a good boy through this, right back to same game, only bigger, because now he’s got connections in juvie and out. Juvie hated him before. But, they’re gonna really hate him now. He might not know what guards or who did it to him exactly, but he knows it was someone there. That’s all he needs to know. He’s not done fucking with the justice center.

When he finds out what’s up with Jax, he’s not going to help with school work or anything like that. He’s more the revenge guy. He blames the assholes who couldn’t handle him at juvie for being such coward bitches because everything was fine and would have been fine if not for whoever paid to do that to him.

As for Dale. It sucks to him. He feels bad. But, considering he’s been through this before with his brother Bacon Beagle who is currently a pig and has lost loved ones to magic folk transformation before he’s feeling a little numb to it. Bacon didn’t end up that way trying to rescue him though. That’s the part getting to Babyface. Dale did. That really hits him deep that Dale would even have risked that to begin with when they weren’t even family. So, in a way it feels like a familiar loss and he isn’t as hopeful as the others that he’ll ever be changed back. He lost Bacon young to Circe’s pig magic years ago, so that doesn’t leave him with much faith anything can be done for Dale.

#head canon #shit happening

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i-just-love-writing-crap · 6 years

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Who Knew This Would Happen

Warnings: Cheating, ANGST (poorly written angst because I legit suck at writing tear-jerking stuff), swearing Word Count: 7591 Summary: You knew that something was up with your husband, Connor Murphy, but never could you have known what was actually going on. It broke your heart, and what was worse is that you two had a child together. This will be 2 parts because it will be too long otherwise. My brain went a way with this and I need to figure out how to flesh out the ideas I have to the second half of this story. This was supposed to be out the 5th, on my birthday but I got… busy with family drama that day. SO HERE YOU GUYS GO, MY LATE BIRTHDAY GIFT! FROM ME TO YOU~!! Masterlist Tags: @jaredstrashcan @glowingsaphaelruby @several-fandoms-girl @robot-anon @arsonboirich @lover-of-fanfics (since you said you couldn’t wait I decided to tag you) @fike-maist

“Connor, honey, how was work? Did my dad work you hard today?” you called to your husband from the kitchen as you heard him walk through the front door. You were holding, bouncing your and Connor’s five month old baby boy—Jason—on your hip. The pause between your question and his answer was unusually long, it had been growing longer since about a month before you got pregnant. So for a year and three months Connor had been taking longer to respond to you and seemed to distance himself from you. “Con? Sweetheart? You okay?” you asked again, walking out of the kitchen.

In the living room, Connor was sitting on the lavish couch, on his phone. He had not looked up from it until you stood in front of him. “Honey? What’s so important on your phone you ignore your beautiful wife and bouncing baby boy?” you joked, trying to get him to laugh.

You recoiled a bit when you saw the hardened look he shot you as he looked up from his phone. “What? What is it, (y/n)?” he said in a hard tone before looking down at his phone again. “Call me when dinner is done, I’m going to the study to read for a bit,” as soon as that was said, he stood up and walked upstairs, stuffing his phone into his pocket.

Frozen to your spot, your widened (e/c) eyes watched as your husband climbed the stairs. Something stirred in your heart, something was wrong with him. He was reverting to the early years of your relationship, back to when he was still cold, not yet having opened up to you—and you were stunned. You had been dating for almost three years before marrying three years ago. “No, everything’s okay… it was probably just a tough day at work,” you told yourself in an attempt to soothe yourself. Looking down at Jason, he gurgles and coos at you, you smile. “Papa just had a bad day, Jay! Grandpappy probably just made him do some hard work. Let’s go and I’ll make him some food,” you say softly, walking back into the kitchen.

About an hour after Connor arrived home, you finished dinner. Per his request, you went upstairs to tell him that dinner was done. Thinking he was in his study, you made your way to the room. “Connor, honey? Dinner is done,” you said, opening the door to find your husband not there. That was peculiar, where could he have been if he wasn’t in his study reading? The bedroom, you thought to yourself and with a smile. As you turned away from the study, closing the door behind you, you made your way to the bedroom you shared with your loving husband.

As you near your shared room, you knew something was wrong: he was on the phone. Connor usually never was on the phone. Stopping just outside your door you listened in, not wanting to interrupt him, in case it was an important call. Connor was talking in a low growl, “Yeah, yeah. The first thing she did when I walked in the door was be a bitch. God, she’s nothing like you are, babe. You’re one of a kind, a true sweetheart. Someone who I love to hear talk, a woman I love to hear moaning my name.”

Your mouth dropped and you silently leaned against the wall, hand clamped over your mouth to silence the choked sobs that threatened to tear through. Tears swelled in your eyes, what you heard broke your heart, it petrified you, rooted you to the ground. Rendered unable to walk away, you listened in still. Many thoughts rushed your head, many of them asking: is this real? Is this actually happening? Is Connor… cheating on me?

Connor moaned someone else’s name as he said, “You are the only one I want, baby! God, I wish I was there to both keep you warm and bury my cock so deep in you. You’d enjoy that, wouldn’t you, you naughty slut?”

Tears started to slide down your face in torrents. You were unable to stop them as each of his words, which you had once thought he would only say to you, stabbed you in the heart and twisted. Those were supposed to be words he said to you and you alone, so why was he sitting your shared, marital, room moaning someone else’s name while saying those words to another? Your body started shaking as you struggled to keep your hand over your mouth.

“God I wish you could come over right now so I can bend you over every surface and forget about my boring wife. Maybe you should come over tonight after she’s asleep? Or maybe I could come over to your apartment after she falls asleep. I love you and need to feel you around me in all sense of the word,” Connor said in a cross between a moan and a snarl.

As you felt your heart breaking into numerous pieces, time seemed to stop, your vision blurred and your eyes stung. You stood there, shaking against the wall, listening to Connor having phone sex with this woman who was not you. This went on for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was only a mere fifteen minutes, until Jason started to cry from downstairs. That was your wakeup call. Sniffling, you tried to stop your tears as you walked off downstairs—your son should not see you cry for a man who did not love you anymore.

A sharp pain shot through Connor’s chest as he heard your retreating footsteps. You heard him having phone sex with a co-worker he was sure of, but he did not know how much you had heard. I pray she only heard that last sentence, Connor pleaded with whatever higher power there was. “Look, sweetie, I have to go. My dinner is ready, I’ll call you back after she goes to sleep,” he said into the phone before hanging up.

Downstairs, you were rocking Jason in your arms, cooing at him, “It’s okay, sweetheart. Mama’s here and she loves you with all her heart. No reason to cry.” Tears still slid down your face in soft streams as you looked at your son.

Being so absorbed in calming Jason down, you were unaware that Connor had walked down the stairs. Unaware of his presence in the kitchen until he spoke, “You were coming upstairs to tell me dinner was done, but then Jay started crying and stopped you, huh?”

You bit your lip as you forced yourself to speak in a faux-happy voice, “Yeah… yeah, exactly. Hey, love-bug, can we talk after dinner? It’s important.”

Connor’s heart sunk at your faux-happy, but noticeably soft words; guilt had begun creeping up his throat and washing over his entire being. Though you did your best to conceal it, he heard the defeated tone in your voice. He had been caught, now and only now had the guilt began to swell inside in him. “Yeah… we can,” he said softly, looking at the plate of food that you had made him.

“Cool. Now come eat, sweetie,” you said, swallowing your sadness and feelings of betrayal to put on a happy act. As you held Jason, you turned and watched Connor sit down. You saw his eyes widen as he gazed at your red, puffy eyes—a glint of understanding of why you were crying flashed through his eyes. However, you saw it: saw the lying question flickering in his eyes, and indulging it, you internally laughed mirthlessly. “Sorry you have to see me cry, sweetheart. Before you got home, I got a call that my distant cousin passed away in a motorcycle accident. An SUV ran right over him… and the news just hit me. So… in light of that news, I’m not— I have no— I just can’t eat right now,” you lied.

Something in Connor tried to convince him that was the truth, but he knew that was a lie, but he would not press you on it. He just simply nodded and said, “I’m sorry for your loss, (y/n)…”

A new wave of tears swelled in your eyes as you replied, “Yeah… me too… now please excuse me, but I’m going to feed Jason in our room. Please come get me when you finish dinner and are ready to talk.” Without another word, or even waiting for Connor to answer, you left the kitchen and went upstairs to your room.

When you entered the room, your eyes hardened as your betrayed gaze met his side of the bed. “I’m kicking him out,” you admitted tenderly to yourself. “If he wants to go be with his little wh—” you stopped yourself, looking at Jason, a smile flooding your face and you continued, “friend… then we’ll let him, won’t we, Jay?”

Setting the babbling Jason on the bed you went to grab the remote from Connor’s nightstand. “I’ll put on some Looney Tunes for us to watch, okay?” you asked your child, who looked at you, clapped his little baby hands together and giggled as you clicked on the television. Jason always found a way to make your heart melt while swelling with pride and happiness all at the same time. Grabbing your little tyke gently, you pulled him into your lap. “You’re so perfect, Jason Murphy—my perfect little man,” you cooed, giggling as he looked up at you.

Looking over his shoulder, with the big (e/c) eyes he got from you, Jason spoke his first word through soft baby babble, “M-mmm-mama.”

You gasped and picked him up, new tears pricked your eyes, this time being ones of happiness. “O-oh my god! You just said mama! Yes! Mama’s here for you, Jason!” you exclaimed excitedly. You shot off the bed with Jason on your hip, you had to tell someone—and your first instinct was to scream for Connor. Without a second thought, you shouted from your bedroom door, “C-Connor!! Connor come here! Quick!!”

You heard Connor run up the stairs, a frenzied look in his eyes. “What?!” he panted, “What is it?!”

Turning your now love-filled gaze to your son, you said, “Jason said his first word! He said mama!!”

Connor looked at you with wide eyes, his gaze flickered between you and Jason. “H-he said his first word and I missed it?” his voice held a hurt tone, upset with himself that he had missed his son’s first word.

Forgetting what had happened in your momentary bliss, you said without thinking, “Don’t worry, honey! When we have more kids, you’ll be there for their first words.” Your mind was so happy and filled with images of you and Connor having more kids that you forgot about his infidelity.

Reality came crashing back in around you as he moved toward you. “I love you, (y/n). I can’t wait to have more children with you,” he whispered, faking love for you as he wrapped his arms around your waist, lips closing in on yours. That was when you remembered his betrayal, his infidelity, and you shook yourself free of him—leaving him confused. “Baby? What’s wrong?” Connor asked, hands reaching out to touch you.

“No,” you said in a shaky voice as the feelings of betrayal, of being cheated on, flooded your mind. “You don’t love me, you don’t want any more children with me. So don’t lie to yourself—don’t lie to me, Connor. Answer me this: do you love her? The woman you were talking to on the phone earlier?” you spoke with resolve in your tone.

Your husband is stunned by your question and truthfully, he could not answer you—yes, part of him did love her, but he still loved you too. As messed up as that was, it was the truth; therefore, instead of answering you, he remained silent and just looked down at the ground. Solemnly, his gaze was trained at the ground, unforgiving guilt building inside him. He had

With a heavy sigh, you spoke in a low voice, “That’s what I thought. Connor… I think it’s best if you leave. You obviously don’t love me anymore, so go live with that woman… the one who makes you happy. The one who you actually love. I won’t stop you… I couldn’t let myself stand in the way of your true happiness.”

The raw sadness that your tone portrayed as it faded to a whisper cut Connor like a serrated knife. Connor’s guilt-heavy heart shattered at your words. He stood there, heart floating in his stomach, mind reeling for the right words—any words for that matter—to say. Words that would convince you. “(Y/n)…” he whispered, “please don’t make me go. I do love you… and Jason. Please…”

His words punched you in the stomach and your heart twisted in pain. Yes, he had hurt you, badly, and had done something that you should not have even thought to forgive; however, your heart still loved him—wanted him to make it right, prove what he said. Sucking in a breath, you said words you wish you had not said, words you wish you could take back, “Fine… you can st—” you hesitated.

Did you really want him to stay? After all he said to that woman over the phone? Yes. You did; you detested yourself in that moment because you had friends that told you, back when you were still dating people before, to never stay with a cheater. To dump them and leave them, because if you stay with them, you are in an abusive relationship—no matter if you were married and had a child. However, that was easier said than done, especially when you had been happy for such a long time and were truly in love with someone. Because you were truly in love with Connor Murphy—having proved that staying by his side through his aggressive depression of senior year of high school. You could not just shut off your feelings for him. So, yes, you were positive you wanted this—positive you wanted him to stay.

Coming out of your thoughts, you looked into Connor’s eyes as you picked up where you left off, “You can stay.” His eyes lit up and he moved to hug you, but you stop him by putting up a hand. “However, since my parents were kind enough to get up a larger house with several guest bedrooms, you will be moving into the one furthest away from me,” you spoke in a serious, no-nonsense tone.

“Y-you mean…” he started and looked at you with hurt eyes.

You nodded and finished his sentence, “The one downstairs? Yes. That’s exactly the one I meant.” Your words paused as you saw the hurt in his eyes grow again. Sighing, you said, “Connor, as of right now we are estranged spouses. You may live in my house, and though I still love you with all my heart, but you don’t feel the same way. Therefore, we’ll try this out for a bit and if it doesn’t work then we will divorce. In the meantime, I won’t try and stop you from seeing that woman, if you want her, then I’ll let you go.” Once again, your words cut Connor deep as he was rendered speechless, his eyes just staring at you with sadness flooding them. “Tomorrow, after I finish my work from home, I will be moving all your clothes to that room and it will be yours—you will have no need of coming back in this room. Understood?”

Casting his eyes at the ground, Connor nodded, but said, “What about tonight?”

You closed your eyes and sighed, that decision was a tough one. “For tonight, I will sleep in the guest room, near Jason’s room,” you said in a soft voice. “But after tonight, I will have the master bedroom. So… go back downstairs and finish eating. We’ve had the talk I wanted to have, I have nothing more to say to you. Please just… leave me and Jason alone for a little while,” you finished in a low tone.

Connor looked at you, his heart screamed at him to reach out and capture you in a tight, remorseful embrace; however, his brain advised against it. His eyes scanned over your body, focusing in on how serious your facial expressions were. Look at her eyes… her eyes are ice cold, seriousness pouring from them. I fucked up and now I have to suffer the consequences… I need to leave her alone, he thought to himself. “I—” Connor began but cut himself off, turning away from you, “yeah, okay.”

With that, your altercation with your unfaithful husband came to an end. It left you brain unable to decide whether it was happy that Connor had put up a something of a fight (could you really have called it that?) in leaving or mad at yourself for not following through with kicking him out. Your brain was at war with itself and you didn’t know which side to stand with—the logical left side or the emotional right side. Stepping back into your bedroom, Jason’s cute babbling faded in and out of your hearing as you slowly became absorbed in the internal war within your very being. Without thinking, you walked over to the bed, sat down on the king-sized bed with your back against the headboard, and placed Jason in your lap so he could watch the Looney Tunes.

All the while, you listened to the bickering between love and logic—seemingly forgetting about the world around you. What the fuck was that?! I thought we agreed, UNANIMOUSLY on kicking him out, EMOTIONS!! you heard the left side of your brain roar in irritation.

Then came the meek-voiced right side of your brain, But I love him! Surely he didn’t know what he was doing, or had a lapse of judgement! There is no way that is the Connor Lawerence Murphy I married three years ago, Logic!!

I’m pretty sure that cheater IS the same person I married. And it seems like he’s fallen out of love with me. I know you know it’s a thing that can happen, Emotions.

There is no way Connor could have fallen out of love with me! I have given him what he’s wanted: unconditional love, acceptance, a child… what more could he want? Am I just not enough? Have I not been sexually pleasing him enough that he has to turn to some whore to get off? Explain that to me, Logic. Why would he cheat or fall out of love with me?

I couldn’t tell you, Emotions. I couldn’t tell you. Sometimes you think that you’re truly in love with someone, and will be in love with them for the remainder of your life then— your left brain pauses because Jason made a soft crying noise. Shifting, you pull his little body closer to yours, cooing something soft, a soft reassurance that you were still there. After Jason made a happy gurgled babble and leaned his head against your stomach, your brain picked up. Sorry, continuing. You think that then one day, you wake up and you just don’t feel the same way you had felt for years before.

And you think Connor had that happen, Logic?

I do. I can’t believe you still want him to stay after what he said to that sleazy skank of a woman, Emotions.

Shut up! You know you don’t want him to leave either, Logic. I did the right thing. I still love him, and there is a possibility that he still loves us. Why do you think he asked to stay? To prove he loves me.

Yeah, okay, sure.

Your brain finally settled down and you were able to think coherently again, you had control again. As your vision came back, you realized you had been blankly staring at the television with Jason, who was giggling and clapping his hands as Bugs Bunny did something crazy. The next thing you noticed was that your phone was ringing from your nightstand. Slowly turning your head, you leaned over and saw who was calling you. Evan Hansen, your good ole anxious friend from high school who you had kept in contact with a lot. Yes, you kept up contact with Zoe, Jared and Alana, but you talked on a more daily basis with Evan.

Smiling brightly, your hand reached for your phone and you answered it, starting off with a cheerful, “Hey buddy! What’s up?”

Evan’s smile could be heard through the phone, “Hey there, (y/n)! How are you today?”

“Personally, I’ve been better. But Evan!! Guess what happened!!” you gushed into the phone.

Clearly able to tell you were bursting with excitement, Evan answered, “Yeah? What happened.”

Looking at Jason, your smile grew impossibly wider as you said with so much pride in your voice, “Jason said his first word today!”

Evan screamed in excitement. He knew you had been talking about how much you were ready for your precious little bundle of joy to say his first word. Most of the time when you talked about it with him, whether in person, over text or over a phone call, Evan could tell you were very eager. Now, to hear that it finally happened, Evan was overcome with joy and pride. “Oh my goodness! That’s amazing, (y/n)! What was his first word?” Evan asked.

“Mama! Evan, it was mama! Most babies don’t say that until they’re a bit older! I’m so proud of Jason! My little man!” you gushed, heart filling with pride as you played with your son’s tuft of hair. Huffing when some of his dark brown hair comes out with the slightest touch, you said, “I don’t like how Jay’s losing his baby hair! Though I know it’s normal, he just looks so perfect with his little tuft of brown hair!”

“I’m so proud of little Jason! And,” Evan trails off into a soft chuckle, “I understand, it will be weird to see him without hair when he fully loses his baby hair. But, sadly, it’s only natural and you’ll have to watch him grow it ag—for the first time.”

Evan’s words caused you laugh heartily. “You were about to say again weren’t you, tree boy?” you asked with a snicker.

With a soft chuckle, Evan answered you, “Yeah, yeah I did almost say that, baroness von pines.”

“That was a crappy nickname you just made up, Ev,” you laughed. Jason looked over his shoulder with his big eyes, questioning silently who you were talking to and why you were laughing over his Looney Tunes. “Oh, Jason is giving me the stink eye because I am laughing over his Looney Tunes. Look who called me, Jay,” you said, putting Evan on speaker. “Say something to Jason, tree boy!”

Evan’s playful eye roll was heard through the phone as he said, “Hey there little Jason! Is your mama being mean and talking over your show again?”

You laughed as Jason squealed, his little baby hands reaching for your phone. “He knows your voice, tree boy. And Jason, honey, you can play with mama’s phone just as soon as she’s done with her call, okay?” you said that and Jason pouted, which had you gushing. “AWWWW look at your cute little chubby cheeks as you pout at mama! It’s funny you think it’ll work.”

Scoffing playfully, Evan said, “(Y/N)! Are you laughing at your son? All he wants is for mama to let him play on her phone!”

“Evan,” you said in your mother voice, “you know what I meant. Don’t twist it!”

The laugh that left Evan made you crack a laugh, as well as cause Jason to giggle-squeal in happiness, clapping his little baby hands happily. “Okay, okay. Fair point. I guess I’ll call you back tomorrow or something,” Evan said with a smile.

You hummed at his words, and as your brain let them sink in you spoke in a jolt, “HEY! Speaking of tomorrow, Evan, I have something to ask you.”

“Yeah? What is it, (y/n)?” Evan asked, almost worried by your sudden outburst.

With a nervous chuckle, you asked, “Could you maybe come over tomorrow either during your lunch break or after work to help me with something? I need to get some stuff moved around before Connor gets home from work tomorrow, and I also know that you get off before him.”

You heard Evan hum in thought before he said, “Yeah, of course. Anything for you. What time does Connor get off work?”

Now it was your turn to hum in thought. It took a moment of thinking before you answered, “Around 7:00 to 7:45 pm. The earliest he’s gotten home from work is 6:30 and if I have to I can ask my father to keep Connor later. Heh, perks of having a husband that works under your father. When do you get off?”

“I usually get off earlier, about 5:00 pm,” Evan laughed at your words, “I honestly forgot that Connor works with your dad.”

You chuckled at Evan’s realization. “Yeah! I kinda forget that from time to time myself. In fact, I think I’m gonna text my dad and ask him to keep Connor at work late… saying I’m doing something to surprise Connor,” you said with a smile.

“That reminds me, what are you moving around?” Evan asked. He heard your breath hitch at his question and he immediately panicked, he didn’t want to push you into telling him if you did not want to. “A-and, and look, I understand if it may be something you don’t want to talk about. Don’t think that I am try–trying to get you to tell me or anyth—”

With a solemn and mirthless laugh, you cut off the panicking young man, “I caught Connor cheating on me, Evan.”

Evan’s end went silent. You heard his voice choke in his throat, unable to comprehend the somber news that you had just relaid to him. His breath halted as his voice caught in his throat, you heard it. Evan opened and closed his mouth gently as he tried to force words out. “I… how could—… that’s so—…” Evan’s voice wavered in and out as his brain scrambled to find the words to convey his condolences. He went silent again as he tried to find the words.

It felt like a lifetime as you waited for Evan’s voice to come back. As you waited, you played with Jason’s tuft of hair, grinning softly at his little noises he made when he liked something. Just like mama… loves when his hair is played with, you thought to yourself as you bent down to kiss the top of his head. “Perfect…” you mumbled silently to yourself.

Finally, after a few long minutes of silence, Evan’s voice came back, no longer wavering, “I’m so sorry, (y/n). That– that is horrible. Are you needing help moving things out?”

“Out of the master bedroom, yes. I was originally just going to kick him out, make him go live with his little friend who he wants to have phone sex with instead of talking to me! But I—” you stopped yourself before the tears and sadness swept over your body once again.

“But what?” Evan asked softly.

Sighing, you felt stupid saying it out loud. Felt stupid that you agreed to let that cheater stay in the house your parents had bought you two. Just barely above a whisper, you answered Evan, “But I couldn’t do it, Ev… I love him too much to kick him out. No matter how hurt or angry or upset I am with him…”

You heard Evan suck in a breath before he replied, “Look, you know me, (y/n). I respect any and all of your decisions because you’re doing what you think is right for yourself. I can’t change what is right for you, nobody can. All I can do is be there for you because this, what Connor’s done, is very serious and can destroy the family he’s always wanted. If you want to give him another chance, then I am all for it too. Reluctantly, but that’s only because of my personal experience with something along these lines.”

“Yeah, because your dad just… fell out of love with Miss Heidi, right?” you asked. Sadness swelled in your chest as you thought the very same thing had happened with Connor. The thought just tore at your feelings, at your heart, leaving you feeling raw and unbridled sadness and hurt.

A soft sigh left Evan’s lips as he answered you almost reluctantly, “Yeah… that’s exactly what happened.”

“But you would think, if he truly did fall out of love with me, that he would have left to be with his friend by now! Right? Because Evan, I think this has been going on for a year and three months; he started acting distant a month before I got pregnant. And I remember the last time we did it, the time that lead to my pregnancy, he seemed off… he didn’t want me to face him like usual. He usually loved to watch me fall apart under him… but not that time… he felt so cold and distant,” you paused for a moment and remembered who you were talking to and blushed. “Sorry, sorry Evan! I’m sure you did not want to hear that!”

“You’re right,” he laughed, “I didn’t want to hear that but… I think you needed to hear it and think it out for yourself. You needed to figure out the timeline, and I don’t mind being the one you talk it out with. Now, I hate to cut this short, because I love talking to you, but me and mom are going out for dinner soon and I need to take a shower.”

You gasped, “Oh yeah, yeah! I’m sorry, I hadn’t noticed how long we had been talking! Go have fun with your mom, cutie. I love that you still live with your mom and help her pay bills and stuff, Ev.”

Evan laughed again, “Yeah, it’s a good thing. Now, you know if you need anything, I always answer my texts.”

“I know, I’ll text you if I need anything. Thanks Evan, you’re a great friend,” you said in a silly, mock-sarcastic voice.

“You are too, (y/n). Talk to you later,” he spoke in a gentle tone he always had.

Smiling, you echoed, “Yeah. Talk to you later Evan.”

“Bye,” you both said in unison before hanging up.

Placing your phone back onto your nightstand, you turned your attention to Jason, who was asleep against your stomach. He was snoring softly as he grabbed at your shirt in his sleep. While you were on the phone with Evan, Jason had turned to face you and cuddled against your stomach. You silently squealed at your adorable little son. “I guess it’s time to put him down for the night,” you said silently, scooping Jason up gently. Jason stirred from his slumber for just a moment as he looked up at you through barely cracked eyes. “No, no, go back to sleep little one,” you cooed. Relief washed over you as Jason cooed and closed his eyes again.

Not looking up, you made your way to your bedroom door. You couldn’t have known that Connor was opening the door to walk in until you gently bumped into his chest. Glancing up, your smile twisted into a frown. “Oh… hey Connor. Sorry, I was just going to put Jason in his bed then I’ll come back and get the baby monitor, my phone and be off to the guest room,” you said with a certain soft sadness in your tone.

Connor reached out with both hands and touched your shoulders, your body reflexively tried to step away from him in disgust, but it was too late. He already had a grip on your shoulders. In a soft whisper, Connor said, “Stay in our bed tonight… please…”

Your eyes narrowed at his words and you could not help the quiet but furious words that came out of your mouth, “And sleep in the same bed as your unfaithful ass? Pfft, yeah I don’t think so. In case you’ve forgotten, I just caught you cheating on me tonight, Connor. With you promising to go see your little mistress once I fell asleep, saying how much you need to be inside her. Well, congratulations Connor Murphy, because you don’t have to wait for me to go to sleep. If she makes you happy, then go now. Get out of my face and go spend the night with that slut if it pleases you. Just… move, jerk off.”

With that said, you pulled away from his grasp and pushed him out of your way with your shoulder, throat emitting a low snarl. Connor watched you walk down the hall to Jason’s room with wide eyes. You hadn’t called him a jerk off, in a serious sense, in seven years—and the only reason you called him that was because you just met in junior year of high school. You had even shoved him away from you in the crowded hallway of the school in the exact same way as you just did. Wow, he thought as he watched you open Jason’s bedroom door silently before you disappeared in it, that sure brought me back to high school. To what drew me to her to begin with.

Inside Jason’s room, you silently flipped on the light and danced around the toys that littered his floor. “Note to self: clean Jay’s room tomorrow after I move what needs to be moved,” you silently noted to yourself as you reached Jason’s baby crib. Stopping at his crib, you looked at your sleeping angel. “You’re so perfect Jason… don’t ever forget that,” you cooed, setting Jason in his crib and tucking him in. After you tucked him in, you turned on his noise machine that played classical music. Leaning down into the crib, you pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead before straightening up and leaving his room, flipping the light off and baby monitor on then gently closing the door behind you.

Now that you had put Jason down for the night, you had to go back into you and Connor’s shared room, grab your things and get out. Get out before you were actually convinced to stay in the same bed as him for what may be the last time ever. You had never walked so quickly in your life—ready to just get it over with. For the umpteenth time that evening, you swallowed the pain you felt in your chest and opened the master bedroom’s door. Inside the room, you saw a sight that made your chest tighten.

Connor was sitting on his side of the bed, the side furthest from the door with his back to you, but you saw and heard it. He was hunched over, elbows resting on his knees, hands covering his face in utter defeat. Soft, almost inaudible sniffling came from him and for a fleeting moment, you wanted to go comfort him. You had to snuff that little bit of compassion from your heart right now, as much as it pained you to see or hear him cry. For Connor Murphy crying was a very rare occurrence, happening only once in a blue moon. You saw him tense up as he heard your saddened breathing. “Please,” he said in a broken voice, “Please just let me sleep beside you for tonight, (y/n).”

The overwhelming sadness that you heard in his voce cut you like a knife, just as your words had done to him previously. “Connor,” you said seriously, “I’m not staying in this fucking bed with you, a filthy, lying, cheating bastard. How DARE you even think to ask me to sleep in the same bed as you! Do you know how upset I am?! Do you know how fucking hard it is for me to still let you be here?! I am doing it because god damn it for some dumb, unknown reason I still love you when it is obvious you don’t love me! So, no. I won’t be sharing the bed with your sorry ass.”

Quickly, you grabbed your phone, a charger, and the baby monitor then turned on your heels and stormed out of the room. You didn’t care if you slammed bedroom door closed, which you definitely did, nor did you care that Connor was left broken-hearted in your once love-filled bedroom. “She… wouldn’t stay…” Connor muttered to himself, looking over his shoulder at the door.

Well what did you expect, dumbass? For her to just suddenly fucking forgive you for what you did? You cheated on her—your wife of three years, and you have been cheating on her for a year of your married life. You started cheating on her, got her pregnant in the most unromantic session of sex she will ever experience, then proceeded to practically ignore her throughout her pregnancy. All for that slut at work? Really? Evan was the one who called you telling you she was in the hospital giving birth to our son. You almost missed the birth of your son because you wanted to have sex with some cheap bimbo from work who gave you sex. The sex wasn’t even that good! (Y/n) giv—gave you better sex than that slut, because you have refused to touch your WIFE in order to stay that slut’s. For what? I hope your happy, you deserve a divorce from her, Connor and you know it, Connor’s brain shouted at him. He lowered his head in acknowledgement of his actions and the consequences he deserved.

Connor knew he didn’t deserve your kindness of staying. He didn’t even know why you still felt anything for him, he deserved to be slapped, punched, hurt in the same way he had hurt you. However, you were a gracious soul, sparing him and allowing him to stay in the house you had built your lives in together. “She’s an… angel…” he muttered to himself as he started to undress for bed.

Meanwhile, anger and sadness swelled in your chest as you neared the guest bedroom across the hall from Jason’s room. Swinging open the door, you stomped into the room and tossed your phone and it’s charger onto the queen-sized bed, twirling to gently close and lock the bedroom door. In a huff as you turned on the baby monitor and set it on the nightstand, you said to yourself, “I can’t believe that bastard asked me to share that damn bed with him!”

Picking up the charger, you bent over to plug it into the wall. “Fuck, I have to call dad and ask him to keep Connor late tomorrow,” you said to yourself, picking up your phone. “I’m going need something to drink,” you laughed to yourself. “Maybe Evan would come over and make sure I don’t get too out of control?”

As you called your father, you mused about calling Evan after this and asking him to come over—or at least texting him once you remembered about the dinner he and his mother were having. The moment you decided to text Evan, your father picked up and you said with a smile, “Hey dad! I have a favor to ask!”

You father chuckled and answered, “Yes? What is that my precious daughter needs from her papa?”

Laughing, you said, “I need you to keep Connor late tomorrow.”

“Why?” your father questioned.

You hesitated for a second before you said, “I’m doing something for Connor and I need him to stay at work for like two hours after work. Please dad, it’s important. Remember our anniversary is in like two months, so I’m preemptively preparing! I just need some extra time.”

“Oh, that’s true, sweetie pie. Okay then, yes, I can keep Connor at work for a little while after work to give you some extra time. Maybe not two hours after work, but definitely like an hour to an hour and a half after work,” your father agreed with a smile.

“Thank you so much, papa! I love you! Now, I have to go to sleep early, I have to get some work done tomorrow before I start my surprise,” you chuckled.

Your dad chuckled back at you, “Yes. Yes. Sleep is important for doing your job right, my precious cupcake. Goodnight.”

“Night papa,” you said softly before hanging up. Letting out a heavy sigh, you said to yourself in a relieved tone, “Phew, that’s good thing. Now I have to text Evan asking him if he could come over so I could—” you stopped and thought about it, “No… no, I don’t need the alcohol. I still have a child to take care of. Not to mention we both have work tomorrow. We’ll have plenty of time to drink later, now is not the time.”

Nodding at your decision, you slipped into the bed. The room was silent, and the bed felt empty without Connor in it with you. Turning on your side, you looked at the empty space beside you. “He’s an asshole and I still love him…… why?” you asked yourself softly, hand reaching out and stroking the pillow. “This isn’t even the pillow that would have scent yet… I can still see this being the routine… me reaching out for him. Me yearning for the warmth of his body…”

You were unaware that you started crying until you heard yourself sniffling. Turning your hand back toward your face, you wiped away the tears. “W-why am I crying?” you asked in a broken voice.

When you woke up, Jason was crying through the baby monitor. Sitting up, you rubbed your eyes as you said to yourself, “Fuck, my head is KILLING me… did I cry myself to sleep last night?”

Jason proceeded to cry even more, and you moved to get up when you stopped, hearing a familiar voice coo, “It’s okay, Jason. I’ve got you.”

With a smile, you jumped out of bed, ran to the door, unlocked it and went to Jason’s room. “EVAN!” you exclaimed, opening the baby’s door. “I thought you had work today?”

Evan bent down to pick Jason up from his crib, saying, “Well, I did, but I remembered I have these wonderful things called vacation days. So, I used one of them last night so I didn’t have to go in today. It’s a good thing you gave me a copy of your house key for when you and Connor would go out of town.”

Jason stopped crying as Evan picked him up. You smiled at that and said, “Looks like Jay really likes you, tree boy. It takes me about thirty minutes to calm him down. How did you do that so fast?”

Evan looked at Jason and said, “Because he just needed a man to hold him, didn’t he?”

You rolled your eyes at his joke. “I mean, it has been forever since his father held him. But then again, Connor is never home anymore…”

“Hey, hey, right now let’s focus on feeding Jason and moving Connor’s stuff to the guest bedroom. Okay, my friend?” Evan said, giving you a small smile.

Looking at him, you smiled and said, “YEAH! Come on, Ev. We have to take Jay to the kitchen where I keep his formula. He likes it chilled, so it’s nice that I have it in the fridge.”

Evan chuckled and cooed at Jason, “He did seem hungry.” You laughed, walking out of your son’s room, Evan following after you. Evan bounced Jason on his hip, causing the little five month old to squeal in entertainment. “He likes to be bounced on your hip, doesn’t he, (y/n)?” Evan asked with a smile.

Walking down the stairs, you said, “Yeah, he does. He likes it a whole lot, Ev.”

As you walked into the kitchen, Evan sat down at the dining table, setting Jason in his lap. “You’re such a good mother, you know that, right? Jason is such a happy child, never really crying besides when he’s hungry,” Evan said with a soft smile.

You blushed as you reached into the fridge and got out a bottle of baby formula. “You think I’m a good mama… really Evan?” you asked as you sat down beside him.

“Yeah,” Evan said, handing you Jason, “I really do think so.”

As you started to feed Jason, you felt your cheeks warm up even more, “Awww shucks, Ev… that means a lot, especially since I’ve been the only parent acting like one since Jason was born…”

Touching your shoulder, Evan said, “Don’t worry, (y/n)… maybe this will give him a wake up call…”

“Yeah, or not,” you answered with a scoff. “Connor is a little schmuck because of his cheating… but I want him to have more interactions with his son.”

“That’s not wrong, that is perfectly normal,” Evan says softly.

You laughed, “Thanks, Ev. After Jason eats, we can start the moving process. We only have to move his dang clothes out of the room so he won’t have a reason to ever go back in there.”

With a soft smile, Evan said, “Okay, we can do that!”

#connor murphy x reader #dear evan hansen x reader #dear evan hansen #dear evan hansen imagine #jared kleinman #evan hansen #evan hansen imagine #jared kleinman imagine #zoe murphy #cynthia murphy #larry murphy #heidi hansen #all the angst #bad angst #i'm so bad at writing angst #connor murphy angst

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