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#rose immediately shows up to drop kick him

incorrect-hs-quotes · 1 year

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Eridan: oceans rise

Eridan: empires fall

Eridan: wwe havve seen each other through it all

Eridan: and wwhen push comes to shovve

Eridan: i wwill send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my lovve

#submission #eridan ampora #source: hamilton #homestuck #incorrect homestuck quotes #mod terezi #rose immediately shows up to drop kick him #not because she thinks this is creepy (she does) but because she had a hamilton phase that she is deeply embarrassed about

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darklydeliciousdesires · 8 months

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Summer Rose - An Ivar the Boneless/Reader Smut Short.

Bit of smut and fluff, some softer Ivar? I was feeling a certain way about him today, so now so can you, too!

Words - 633

Warnings - Smut below the cut, minors DNI!

Ivar is a man who wears many faces. The unflinching stare of contempt perhaps being his most famous, or the unnerving grin of a man working four steps ahead of his enemies. For you, though, your favourites are the ones he saves for when the two of you are alone.

The look of sheer bliss as you top him is perhaps the one you love most.

“Fuck, my love. How good you feel around my cock.” The words pour from his beautiful, full lips like wine, his hands grasped tight upon your hips while you work in serpentine against him. His thick cock ruts you fully, hitting every angle, every depth, your body cast in pure gold from the firelight, the sight of you atop him warming his heart as much as it does feed his lust.

For this Viking, he never thought love could match the roaring flare of carnal desire, until he met you. Until you showed him, told him, made him feel it in his very bones. It mingles in waves of ebullient delight, his thumb moving to drag heat across your aching bud, sparks roaring up your spine as you cry out.

“You are always at your most beautiful when you...” he trails off, his words deafened by your ascension, grinning with a deep chuckle as he witnesses it, your complete undoing that leaves you a shaking wreck atop him. “...when you fall apart like that for me.”

Gathering yourself, you continue to roll your hips against him, wanting for his own pleasure to streak through him wildly, his eyes closing tightly as he groans, deep and rolling, whispering curses as the flutters of your cunt make lightning begin to flicker within his depths.

His mouth drops open, panting hard, the icy shards that are his eyes opening to fix you with a lust drenched stare, the thickness of him splitting you wide causing pleasure to spark over your nerves, hitting the heights of a swirling tempest again with him as he fills you with thick ropes of hot spend.

“Gods,” you breathe, fingers weaving through his as you chuckle, “I am tired now.”

“Hardly surprising,” he pants, pulling you to him, offering kisses steeped in soft heat. “Come, love. Let me make you comfortable.” You climb from him, carefully taking to your back, Ivar pulling the pelts and blankets up over your legs, arranging the pillows plumply beneath your head. When he gazes down at you, you feel as if your heart could burst.

He caresses your cheek, nuzzling your neck, his hand slipping down to stroke the rounded swell of your belly, shifting to kiss it. A tiny foot kicks against his mouth. “Child, you dare kick your father in the face?”

Your laughter fills the room, Ivar prodding your bump with his finger, waiting for it. A tiny foot kicks back immediately. “She is all fire, just like her mother.”

Ivar has stated with every confidence ever since you told him you were with child that she would be a girl. He felt it, knew it, he said, that your first would not be a son. Unlike many of his brethren who keen for an heir, he did not care an ounce that your baby would be female. “You will be a fine fighter, a fearless shieldmaiden, my little summer rose. You will be all that your mother is, and so much more. I know this, my tiny daughter. I long for the sun to grace our lands once more, for that is the time I shall meet you at last.”

Watching him talk to your baby, seeing the look of complete adoration as he strokes your belly, you change your mind. Of the many faces Ivar wears, it is this one you love the most.

#ivar the boneless fanfiction #vikings fanfiction #alex hogh andersen #ivar ragnarsson fanfiction #ivar the boneless x reader #ivar the boneless x you #ivar the boneless smut #vikings smut

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behidethetrees · 4 months

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LOVE IS ONLY A FEELING.

IN WHICH… You have a bittersweet reunion.

Pairing: Coriolanus snow x Fem! reader

Content: Ooc! Coryo (he's not evil), Covey! reader, They're definitely a situationship, Possessive! Coriolanus, 1.3k words. Requests

You were greeted with Loud clapping and cheering once you finished your original song at the nightclub. It wasn't often that people would stop dancing to take in someone's beautiful words, But everyone did for you. You thanked everyone and stepped down from the stage to get some water when suddenly a brunette boy walked over to you and asked for a dance. Of course, you agreed.

It had been months since you’d seen Coriolanus snow. He had gotten in a fight with your ex, As he was swinging, he accidentally hit one of the covey members with his backhand. You yelled at Coriolanus so much you were surprised your vocal cords were still intact. He never apologized. He never came back after you kicked him out. He had left you for months with bitterness and anger, But you couldn't hold onto that forever. You were done with Coriolanus snow.

The brunette boy was slightly taller than you and he danced well enough. Though His hands were sweaty and he messed up his foot placement every now and then. As you danced with him, Your long white skirt swaying, A drop of temperature in the room occurred, You knew right away that only one man could make a room feel cold. Coriolanus snow. The man that you were so hopelessly in love with but hated every inch of, Stood in the back of the room with a clenched jaw and eyes that could pierce anyone. All you could do was roll your own pair and abandon the boy you didn't even know the name of.

The covey band was singing one of your songs And Coriolanus immediately recognized it. It was the one you sang to him the first time you showed him the big wildflower field one summer night. He had thought back to when you held each other under that green and yellow leaf tree. When he finally found you on the side of the stairs leading to the stage, Coriolanus swept you off your feet, Like he always did.

His strong arm gripped your waist tightly but he held your hand gently. You were close enough to smell him, he smelt just like roses. You had started to notice actually how nice he looked. He wore a black suit with a red shirt under and his curly outgrown hair was combed back. Was he dressed up for someone else, Or you?

You looked up at him Through your curled lashes, Your eyes were pure, as snow he thought. His upper lip slightly lifted into a small smirk. As the covey band continued, Coriolanus began to move your body with his slowly. Coriolanus liked you better like this. When you were hidden away in his hold, When you struggled to hate his touch, When he knows he's got you.

“Did you miss me sweetheart?” Coriolanus says with that sickly sweet smile. His tone was arrogant like he had no doubts.

“Not one bit.” You gripe back at him. You had missed him. Sitting by the lake only you two knew as you sang and he’d listen, Late night walks while his muscular arms kept you safe from any harm, The feeling of his hands. How rough and slim they were, You’d wonder who else's blood had fallen on them.

“Well, that's a shame because I missed you.” Coriolanus wasn't lying. He missed a certain girl waltzing around with long dresses and feathers in her hair, Those love songs she’d sing to him as she traced flowers in Coriolanus’s palm with her little finger, the security and comfort her aura provided him.

“Then why didn't you come back?” You ask him. You can tell that hit a nerve by the way he swung you to the right harshly, then returned to slowly swaying side by side. Coriolanus didn't have a reason nor an excuse. He, who was so defensive, never apologized for anything. He just sighed.

“I waited for you Coriolanus.” You couldn't help the tears starting to form in your eyes. Every night you left your window open and a key under the mat. Waiting, listening, Hoping he would come back. Something about you calling him ‘Coriolanus’ disappointed him to his core. He felt his girl slipping from his grasp. He felt the only thing that had ever belonged to him was disappearing.

It wasn't just your kindness and easily persuaded mind that Coriolanus liked. It was the way your big, curious eyes looked at his unforgiving blue ones like he was more than a poor capitol boy trying to carry on his family name. Like he had the chance to be someone to somebody.

He slowly stopped the movement of your bodies. “Look at me.” Coriolanus was now gently cupping the sides of your jaw with both hands, Forcing you to look at him. You searched for something in him. The guilt in his eyebrows, the reassurance in his eyes, and the slight resentment he had towards you in his lips.

“I'm here now. And I'm so, so sorry I hurt you. I will make this right, you just have to let me, please.” Coriolanus Begged. You had Coriolanus Snow, One of the most intimidating boys in the capitol, Begging for a way back into your life. His forehead touched yours while he delicately wiped away your tears with his thumb.

His big arms eventually hugged your waist. He buried his head into your shoulder, taking in the scent of you that he was addicted to. You felt so close to Coriolanus, so vulnerable. You placed your arms around his neck. The warmth of your bodies rose, That feeling you both had been chasing since that night.

A few minutes went by as the covey continued to play. You felt the rise and fall of Coriolanus’s chest, His steady heartbeat thumping against his insides. Coriolanus picked his head up to say something. Coriolanus thought for a minute, His lips drawing together. No, he couldn't say that. he couldn’t tell her why he didn’t want to love her. That she’d be the only thing above him, the only weakness people could dangle over his head. That she would have the power Coriolanus so desperately wanted. But if he told her, He’d have to live with that for the rest of his life. The guilt would hurt him no matter how hard he would try not to feel. The regret would build up in his stomach but Worst of all, his jealousy would seethe through his veins and kill him.

The cold sensation of his hands on your jaw and neck swirled into your skin and down to your heart. He took a moment to look across all your features before he put his lip onto yours. It was passionate and long. He never pulled away because he wanted this so bad. he wanted you so bad. to have all of you to himself. his hands gripped tighter on you. His lips pressed harder onto yours. He hated that others were around while you shared this intimate moment. He hated that others were around you.

Coriolanus’s thoughts started wandering into the darkest parts of his brain. He kept his composure. He didn't want to scare you away with his mind because he didn't think he'd survive if he lost you again.

After you pulled away, he gave you a quick smile and guided your head back to his chest as he wrapped himself around you again. His chin rested on top of your soft hair. The lights glistened as you closed your eyes, Listening to a mix of the covey and his heartbeat. Sweet moments of Coriolanus kissing your hair and whispering sweet words blurred together. Coriolanus’s presence sent you in a state of euphoria.

Coriolanus knew it wasn’t over. He knew you, better than you knew yourself. You’d always come back to him and he’d do the same. You were his. This was a never ending story of you two. Coriolanus smiled. He got his girl back.

A/N: srry ive been gone writers block sucks. Anyways hope u enjoyed :3

Requests

#coriolanus snow #coriolanus x reader #coriolanus x you #coryo snow #coriolanus snow x reader #coriolanus snow smut #tom blyth #tom blyth fanfiction #coriolanus snow imagine #coriolanus snow fanfiction #coriolanus snow x you #coryo x reader #coriolanus x y/n

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ghulehunknown · 6 months

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Papa Headcanons 🫂🩸

Day 14 of KINKTOBER is here! 🎃

**WARNING - some NSFW included**

Also available on AO3!

My headcanons of the Papas taking care of you while on your period

Primo

Does not fully understand how painful it is for you, but shows empathy all the same, knowing he’d never want to experience it himself

Holds you in his arms, rubs your shoulders and back, and kisses your forehead

Brings you a heating pad and hot chocolate or tea, or anything in particular you’re craving

He is absolutely fine not having sex or receiving BJs from you and does not bring it up unless you seem particularly keen

Gives you his own edibles made from Ministry-grown marijuana

Stays up to watch a movie with you, holding your hand while you’re curled up in pain but quickly falls asleep next to you

Secondo

Has a stockpile of necessary items for all his ghulehs - pads, tampons, pain meds, heating pads, snacks, etc.

Is usually known throughout the Ministry to have extra tampons under his bathroom sink in case you run out or forgot to put one in your purse

Already has towels down on the mattress and is prepared for sex to get messy

Is fine with getting blood on his dick but prefers to shower right after

He’s also perfectly fine to eat you out

Gives you lots of kisses whenever you want

Massages your back

Terzo

First, curses the universe for punishing you simply for having ovaries and a uterus. Second, praises Lucifer that you’re not pregnant.

Will gladly go to the store to get you anything you want or need, but definitely buys the wrong thing (“Babe, what size pussy do you own?” and proceeds to buy the wrong kind of pad anyway)

Drives you to McDonald’s at 3AM because you woke up hungry and craving fries (because oddly so did he)

“Wahoo, blowjob week!”

Keeps saying “You know the cure for your pains, eh? *waggles eyebrows* The feeeemale orgasm!”

Fucking LOVES the sight of your blood on his dick

Excited to go down on you

Enjoys quiet movie nights when you’re not feeling up to sex

Cardinal Copia

Gulps and gets a little nervous

The sight of blood makes him woozy

He’ll still run to the store for you to get what you need, but gets lost and only brings back half of what you asked for (“They didn’t have it!” he’ll claim, sure that he checked everywhere)

Tells you a story about how one time in elementary school some kid kicked him in the balls so he understands your pain

Nervous about having sex and seeing blood but he would try anything for you if you really wanted to

He’d prefer to make you happy in other ways like giving you snacks and back rubs

Dracopia 🧛

“Your cunt looks especially delicious, tesoro.”

Celebrates your body’s natural cycles and praises Lucifer

He already knows your menstrual cycle and knew you were about to start it before you did

Has pain meds blended up in a smoothie for you

Tells you he didn’t buy tampons at the store because you don’t need them *wink*

Practically cums when he smells fresh blood on you

“You are so wet~” “Copia, it’s blood.” “Ehh, yes I know”

Eats you out like a champ

Popia

He drops whatever he’s doing and goes to the store immediately to bring you snacks and tampons

Gets you whatever snacks you desire and eats half of them

Texts you every step of the way in the store (“Okay I walked inside…okay I turned to the right…10 steps down the…3rd aisle? Okie dokie!”)

Content to just cuddle and watch movies with you

Also content to get blowies but particularly curious about going down on you and how different it might be than usual

Nihil

Still thinks you can’t get pregnant on your period

Thinks you bleed out of your pee hole. Actually, he thinks your vagina is also your pee hole. Actually he doesn’t know. There are 3 holes?!

Grumbles, not understanding your pain, but you return home later and a single rose and some pain meds lay on the nightstand with a Hallmark greeting card that says “get well soon” - he’s too out of his comfort zone to buy pads or tampons

Won’t touch your vagina unless you’ve just showered, but will gladly hint at getting a blowjob

When/if you do have sex he wears it like a badge of honor as if he’s just gone to war and braved some unspeakable fate, almost expecting to get praised for doing so

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klausysworld · 1 year

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Klaus being in a rut which bothers him what if he gets too harsh with Y/N but she is all ready for him and convinces him to use her as he pleases

Thank you😊

I Trust You

Klaus had been spending half his time avoiding me and the other half clinging to me. Since unlocking his werewolf side he’d been struggling from time to time, we’d discovered that he has pattern of falling into a rut, kind of like going into heat. It makes him more aggressive, possessive and drives his desire.

Each time he’s been in this state he has refused to let me help him, wont let me touch him, wont touch me and avoids basically the entire female population because he fears that his mind would cloud over and he’d cheat on me. He’s a very dramatic person.

He started showing signs of his rut at the end of last week, scenting me, keeping us both inside, then i found him getting himself off and i knew he was falling into it. He’s been pushing me away the last couple days, urging me to leave him be, i woke up and he was on the couch while panting in his sleep

So today i decided i’d trap him. I dressed up in a new lingerie set, all white with a black silk robe loosely wrapped around me. I had the lights dimmed, candles lit around the room, blankets piled around the bed almost nest like and positioned myself in the centre, on my knees with my thighs spread so he could see my lace panties. My hair was in a low bun with a few strands out at the front and a white ribbon in my hair.

I quietly put my hands in my underwear to get myself off before he would arrive, if he could smell me he’d be more persuaded to let me help. I applied a little more pressure to my clit softly grunting and grinding against myself. I heard a door close from downstairs and quickly pulled my hand out, i wiped my fingers and made sure everything was how i wanted it to be.

I could feel my heart pattering away, oh god what if he ran away? Silently praying that he would take this well i rolled my shoulders back and opened the robe letting it fall to my elbows

The door handle turned and Klaus walked in, his gaze immediately on mine, eyes wide, nostrils flaring and lips parted. Be took very hesitant steps forward and then backwards again

“my love… we can’t be doing this today” he uttered, his eyes travelling down my body with a growing hunger within them

“please Nik, i want you to, i need you to fuck me, i need you to use me for your rut” his chest rose and fell faster as he slowly closed the door behind him

“i could hurt you” he muttered while reluctantly climbing onto the bed so he was sat on his knees infront of mine.

“i wouldn’t mind” i whispered while taking his hand and putting it on my breast which he squeezed instantly with a groan

“i won’t be able to stop myself if you change your mind” his voice was low, eyes impossibly dark

“i trust you” i told him while guiding his hand to slide down to between my legs, he pressed against my clit through my panties and sucked in a breath

“i had to touch myself because you wouldn’t do it for me, please i need you to do something to me, please fuck me Klaus, breed me, use me, whatever you want to do, i’ll take whatever you give me and i’ll give back whatever you want” his head lulled forward and dropped to the space between my shoulder and neck, his heavy breaths hot against my skin. I reach up and ran a hand through his hair urging him to do what he desired. He grunted as i ran my other hand down his chest between us. When i brushed down his abs until i harshly gripped his crotch through his jeans making his gasp into my neck

“bite me Klaus, i know you want to, i want you to, please do it” i all but moaned while palming him firmly. His open mouth pressed against me, two sharp teeth slowly sinking into me, we both moaned out as he fed from me. I quickly i undid his pants urging him to kick them off his legs and pulling him on top of me as laid back.

“touch me” i whispered and this time he didn’t struggle, his hands immediately gripping my breasts tightly, almost painfully. I arched into him further as he pulled away from my neck with a gasp, his eyes shining a bright golden, purple veins beneath his eyes as he hummed a growl. I looked up at him with doe eyes while he dragged his colossal hands up and down my body. He split my bra in two and tossed it away, i tugged at his top making him throw it off and quickly rip the remaining underwear from my body, i went to push the robe off but his grip on my wrists stopped me

“no no we keep this on” he muttered pulling it up over my shoulders

“okay” i whispered while he brought my hands up over my head. His other hand continued to stroke my skin from my inner thighs up to my neck and then back down over and over, his eyes flickering between gold and blue

“Nik…just let go” i nodded to him and he frowned a little digging his nails into my wrist as he inwardly battled with his own subconscious

“Klaus, let go, just let it happen” i encourage wrapping my legs around his waist to pull his hips to mine, his covered cock pressing against my bare pussy. He growled softly as his eyes now remained a solid gold. The sound of fabric tearing was heard before he then tossed his boxers, i arched my back as his dick now sat at my entrance. His hand applied pressure to my wrists once again before letting go.

I made sure my legs were as wide open as they could be as he pushed his tip inside of me. It only took one harsh thrust for him to fill me completely, my arms flew forward to grab his shoulders while i moaned loudly, his pace was immediately brutal, fast and harsh forcing my walls to tense and clamp around him. Klaus was always rather gentle in bed, he was always afraid to harm me, this was an entirely different experience.

My eyes were screwed shut as i tried to contain the endless amount of moans i was creating, Klaus grabbed a wrist in each hand and held them by my head, pressing me down into the mattress. All i could hear was down right pornographic sounds of our bodies moving together, his guttural groans and my own pleasure filled sounds.

I could feel every vein in his thick cock pressed into my velvety walls while i squeezed tightly around him

“oh- mygod!” i chocked, i could feel him at my cervix and i could hear the bed frame smacking into the wall behind us. I forced my eyes open to see an almost feral looking Klaus, his hair was already damp, a thin layer of sweat causing him to look as though he were glowing. His animalistic eyes found mine as he panted heavily, a softness overcame his eyes for a moment, his pace faltering before he began fucking harder, rougher. My wrists were beginning to bruise, i could feel it and i knew how upset he would be later if he hurt me

“K-Klaus let go” i muttered through my sharp intakes of breath, he did so almost instantly and instead gripping the blankets beside me, i brought my hands up to his face, stroking the apples of his cheeks lightly, watching the veins dance across them while he groaned loudly. Despite his animalistic behaviour i couldn’t help but feel more in love with him, seeing all sides of him made me feel closer to him emotionally.

Within my lower abdomen that familiar tension began to build. My eyes shut again and my hands pulled at his hair as i cried out a moan, i could feel him spilling his release inside me with a deep drawn out moan. I don’t think Klaus has ever cum before i have until today, his movements didn’t slow like they usually did after he finished, he just continued to fuck as quick and as hard as his body would physically allow. I could feel my first orgasm quickly approaching as the entire bed shook with force and he groaned loudly. I chanted his name in a raspy whisper while my walls closed around him, his tip was hitting against my spot so fast it was as though he was rubbing it, i moaned out for him while i let go of the tension and clamped around him tightly

“you’re doing really well” he uttered so quietly i felt as though i imagined it as i fluttered my eyes open to see him still panting heavily as his hips bucked repeatedly. I squeezed his waist with my legs making him grunt. He soon grabbed my left knee lifting it up and over his shoulder

“hold onto my arms” he muttered as i felt my body jolting along with his thrusts. I nodded as i quickly moved to grab his biceps. I dug my nails into his skin slightly so that i could attempt to stabilise myself, i gripped tightly as he kept up his bruising pace. My brows furrowed together and i whimpered quietly as his tip kept going for that spot within me. I heard him make a snarl like sound as his teeth grazed my throat, the opposite side to last time. He wasn’t as gentle as they sunk in this time, he drank with much more need, and the overwhelming combination of both his teeth and cock inside me had me letting go around him again. He was quick to release after me as he pulled his head away from my neck and groaning, he came so much i felt it coming down my thigh. I glanced to his upper arms where i noticed my nails had drawn blood making me pull away from him while he slowed down.

His eyes were still flickering between colours as he licked the blood from his lips and pulled out from my convulsing hole. He moved back putting my leg back down, he left a trail of kisses down from my knee to my ankle. I watched him quietly as his face neared my core. His tongue greedily lapped at my thighs, my throat felt dry from the continued flow of noise i had given. When his lips enveloped my clit all i could do was gasp, my body lurched forward making me whine at the ache from where he was now missing.

My body collapsed back to lay flat as he now let his wolf out to play once again. His tongue inside me, mouth moving harshly, clit toyed with, g-spot curled into. Despite not pounding into me he was still able to bring me to my peak impossibly fast. I felt his hands on my thighs, two finger tapped above my clit before sliding done and into my entrance, they slipped in and out repeatedly while his eager mouth still worshipped at my button. He panted through his actions, his hot breath only adding to the sensations. I didn’t bother trying to prolong the orgasm, choosing to just let it wash over me with a throaty moan. He seemed to be stuffing any remains of our pleasure back inside me as his fingers moved from my inner thighs to my cunt.

“gonna have you full of my babies love, all mine, gonna have you all night” he muttered over and over in various ways. He made his way back up my body with kisses peppered up my body

“Nik?” i questioned cautiously watching as the animal was put away for a moment, my soft loving Nik back in control

“do you need me to stop?” he asked with a light kiss to my lips

“a drink, i just need to drink” i rasped and he nodded. Thankfully i had predicted this and already had water bottles waiting on the bedside table. He hurriedly brought the water to my lips and helped my sit to pour it down mu throat, i gently pushed him away when i was finished and he checked me over

“okay, i’m ready, i can do it” i nodded kissing his lips in encouragement

“are you certain?” he asked quietly

“i want you to do this, and look..you stopped, you gave me a minute, you can do it, i trust you so much” he nodded slowly and kissed my cheek

“i love you and i will never hurt you” he whispered while positioning himself over me again

“i love you too”

and with that, the night continued.

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neteyamslovrr · 1 year

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omg imma abuse this 2k event thing

category: fluff

number: 9

character: aonung

(ps. HAPPY 2K KAY!!!!! I LOVE YOUUUU)

SURPRISE

second 2k event fic for my beautiful moot lex <333

You and Ao’nung had been mated for almost two years. Knowing each other since you were children and constantly spending every moment with each other no one was surprised when you both announced your union.

Even when your souls had already intertwined the two of you still found the need to endlessly be in each other’s company. Whether it was your head resting on his shoulder, laying together in the sand or a large hand resting on your stomach.

You had found out you were pregnant months ago, something Ao’nung was beyond excited for. He already felt blessed to have you beside him every day, to think you were gifting him with a product of your love was something he would be eternally grateful for.

This resulted in him being incredibly protective of you. Constantly looming behind you, his large hands hovering over your body as he was give his signature glare to anyone who dared look your way. (You told him he was just being delusional that no one was looking, but he insisted.)

“Ao’nung I understand that your mate instincts kicked in but I think you may be having more pregnancy hormones than me.” Ao’nung scoffed at you with a smile plastered across his face.

“I am just worried flower, I don’t want you to hurt yourself. You waddle like a baby”

“If I remember correctly I have a baby in me. This is your fault.” You faced him with a cheeky grin on your face. He couldn’t even get tired of seeing the way your eyes squinted as your cheeks rose showing your beautiful smile.

“I think we are both at fault actually.” Your mouth dropped in annoyance as he laughed at your expression.

“Come with me. I want to show you something.” You groaned, your feet getting tired from the walking. Ao’nung gave you a encouraging look as he held your hand.

“Why must you torture me. Do you take joy out of me moving like an elder.”

“It is funny…kinda”

“Ao’nung!”

“I am sorry flower, I do not relish in seeing you in pain. But I promise you’ll want to see this.” He dragged your hand as he walked towards the direction of your marui. You were walking slow, feet growing tired as you grumbled complaints to your mate who was pulling you along.

“Ao’nung this better be worth it.”

“It will be, but what’s your threat if it isn’t my tough girl?” He looked back at you with a smirk as you glared at him.

“You don’t want to know. Way too hardcore for your pregnancy hormones.”

“You! You are the pregnant one!” Ao’nung groaned still pulling you along as he mumbled a number of profanities.

“Now show me the surprise! I am bored!”

“Ok close your eyes pretty girl.” He watched you close your eyes, double checking before he guided you to the inside of your marui, a hand securely resting on the small of your back and your stomach.

The light dimmed as you got inside, making your anticipation grow larger. “Can I please open my eyes now?”

“Eywa, so impatient. But yes open!” You opened and immediately gasped, your hands covering your jaw that had dropped.

There in front of you was a newly decorated section part of your marui. Adorned with carved toys, new woven mats and most impressive was a ground cot that was woven so delicately in the yarn of your favourite colours. He had created small blankets to drape over the cot along with a mobile that hung above it, with little carved ilu’s twirling softly.

“Oh my Eywa. Ao’nung this is beautiful.” You felt yourself tearing up, turning to crash Ao’nung into a tight embrace. He chuckled and rubbed his hand along your back giving you a soft peck to the head.

“Do not cry flower. If you cry, I’ll cry and that won’t be fun for anyone. You know I’m not a pretty crier.” Ao’nung looked at his work proudly, a sense of pride growing his chest, just like his soon to be growing family. “Tsireya helped me with the weaving. But I started carving the toys as soon as I heard you were pregnant. I guess I got a tiny bit carried away.”

“Thankyou so much my love. I love this so much. I love you so much.” You hugged him tighter before looking up to give him a tender kiss. The happy tears brimming your eyes as Ao’nung caressed your face softly.

“Do you think our child will love it as much as you do?” You nodded quickly.

“Of course they would. How could they not? I can’t wait to see our child grow up with your love.”

“Our love flower. Our love.”

reblogs super duper appreciated my lovelies have a great day/night !! <3

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hadassah4ever · 10 months

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igby slocumb pre-dating & dating hcs

this takes place after he ran off bc he deserves it <3

warnings: like 1 mention of sex but that’s it, igby being insecure as hell, my lazy ass writing 💀

w.c.: 851

pre-relationship

• this boy really wasn’t expecting to fall in love so quickly again

• he obviously notices attractive people, but it typically doesn’t go further than a date or two, maybe a one night stand

• when he realises he really likes you, frankly he’s terrified

• he’s already dealt with one situationship running off, his ego would be completely decimated if you did too

• so he pushes down his feelings and doesn’t tell you, but honestly, he’s terrible at hiding it

• he would physically need to stop himself from staring at you for too long, and he doesn’t even realise how lovingly he looks at you

• so yeah, even if you aren’t completely sure, you have a general idea of how much he likes you

• eventually when his feelings for you would get too heavy, he’d start ignoring you

• again, this boy has some anxieties about you leaving, not even mentioning his already existing self esteem issues

• but anyways

• you’d obviously get a little pissed at him for basically just completely ignoring you, not knowing about his past ofc

• so when he does confess his feelings, it’s a big deal

• obviously he’s not hauling you to a 5 star restaurant and sprinkling rose petals on a fancy hotel bed, but it’s a big deal for him

• it probably comes after a bout of him wanting to see you again, then ignoring you for a bit again

• and you show up to his apartment and get into a squabble about how disrespected you feel and how if he just wants to leave, then you can just stop talking

• then he probably starts crying because that’s literally his worst fear (he’s hiding his tears tho because 🎶boyyys don't cryyyy🎶)

• and you immediately stop because you didn’t want to go this far

• and he starts dropping small hints about his past with sookie and how scared he is to lose you, and how torn he is between pushing his feelings for you down and his crippling fear of abandonment

• then you comfort him and let him know that you’d be open to dating him (as long as he stops ghosting you, off and on again)

• bing bam boom ur dating

dating

• he really starts to unravel his “i need to be witty and sardonic 24/7” persona and allows himself to become SLIGHTLY more tender with you, of course with an igby flare

• after you comforted him, his fear of you leaving eased up a little

• obviously it didn’t disappear overnight, but he realised that if you were going to run off, you probably would’ve done it one of the many times he’s ghosted you, or during the night you two fought

• you’re still there, though!!! so that’s a win

• he doesn’t really plan dates, he either spots you out and about and just joins you on whatever you’re doing, or he calls you up day of and asks if you wanna go out (you’ve gotten used to it)

• mentally, he convinces himself he’s the big spoon, but as soon as you two start to cuddle and fall asleep, he’s curling up on top of you, his head on your chest

• if you gave him any kind of nickname he’d pretend to hate it

• like, you’d probably just be like “hey igs” and he’d be like “yuckyyy ewww” but internally he’d be squealing and kicking his legs in the air like a schoolgirl

• he literally loves anything you do

• not even work or interest related, he just watches you do anything and is in love

• brushing your teeth? what a cutie. washing the dishes? you’re so responsible. sleeping? in the least creepy way possible, he could watch you sleep forever.

• he would NEVER say that out loud, though, he doesn’t really express love through words. he just looks at you with those little puppy dog eyes of his.

• he has a really hard time expressing his love for you at all, but you sense it.

• i think the closest he could get to it though would be a mixture of quality time and gift giving

• HE doesn’t plan dates, but if you wanted to plan something, or even just ask him to do something with him asap he’d be sprinting to your apartment

• he’d probably give you small gifts and not really take any credit for it

• small things, like your favourite snacks, or something that fit your interests, like a stuffed animal that reminded him of you, it’s yours

• and when you thank him he’d be like “yeah it’s whatever” but he’d also be all heart eyes

• he’s not really one for pda, he doesn’t really have anything for or against it

• he’d probably hold your hand or whatever, but i feel like full on making out is too much for him

• he does really like being close to you, though. he mainly just saves it for when you two are alone

• he’s also still healing from his “sex = love” mentality he had

• and even after that and all of his insecurities and fears, he’s still a wonderful boyfriend, just in his own, igby slocumb way.

#igby slocumb #igby goes down #igby slocumb x reader #kieran culkin x reader #roman roy x reader #roman roy x you

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ryry-rebel · 9 months

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Satoru Gojo with a s/o who has arachnophobia

🕷️Satoru Gojo x Reader🕷️

Synopsis- Gojo torments you with a spider because he’s a little shit

Warnings- mentions of spiders, cussing

Word count- 629

Pronouns- none

Content- mentions of spiders, Gojo being an asshole

My Masterlist -> Masterlist

This may or may not have been loosely inspired by something that happened to me

“SATORU GET IT THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!”

You love your boyfriend, you really do, but it was times like these when you really asked yourself how you fell in love with him. Sure, he is a very prepossessing guy with a hot and cocky personality. He was strong too and protected you whether you needed it or not. He was also a fun guy to hang around, too childish for his own good, but he could get serious when he needed to be. He was caring too. He always made sure to buy you a little souvenir when he was away on missions. And he would always put your needs before his own.

But when he’s tormenting you with a spider because he thinks it’s funny, all your feelings are tossed out the window. You absolutely loathed him at the moment, and you started to reconsider your whole relationship.

“It’s just a tiny spider y/n. Don’t be a baby. It won’t hurt you.”

“How do you know it won’t? Did the spider tell you that?”

“Yes, as a matter of fact, it did. I can talk to it, and he says he likes you.”

“Bullshit. Now get it the hell away from me! Take it outside!” You kept walking away from Gojo who held the spider in his bare hands. But every time you took a step away from him, he took a step towards you. Granted, the spider was tiny, but you still feared it, even if it was the size of a pea. Spiders were creepy looking and not to mention ugly. Their 8 legs and bulging sets of eyes scared the living shit out of you. You could never fathom the idea of having a spider as a pet. Letting the damn thing crawl all over you, absolutely disgusting!

“Come on y/nnnnn, it’s so cute though! We should keep him as a pet. I’ll name him Nanami Jr.”

“No Gojo! Stop walking towards me you asshat! Take that damned thing outside, now!”

Gojo took another step towards you. Then another, then another big step until you were backed up against the wall. Your back and palms were flattened against the wall as Gojo stood a foot in front of you. Tears began to swell in your eyes, and you started to shake in terror. Gojo wasn’t backing off, instead he started to stretch out his hands, presenting the deadly creature to you. Thinking on your feet, you brought your knee up and kicked Gojo in the balls. Gojo hadn’t been using his infinity, so your knee actually collided with his junk which caused him to double over in pain. His hands immediately flew to his groin, causing him to drop the spider. Gojo went down on his knees as you watched the small bug fall to the floor. You screamed out as you jumped away. Gojo started to whimper in pain as you sprinted back to the living room, hiding behind the sofa.

“Serves you right asshole!” You shouted.

“Owww, okay, I’m sorry, but was that really necessary?”

“Absolutely it was! Now take the damn bug outside or I’ll knee you again!”

“There’s no need. You stepped on Nanami Jr. He’s dead now.” You felt your body relax and you let out content sigh as Gojo got onto his knees and gently picked up the spider. The amount of gentleness Gojo showed to that spider baffled you. He rose to his feet and walked to the front door.

“I’m going to hold a funeral and a proper burial for Nanami Jr. I assume you won’t be attending?”

“Absolutely not. I don’t have remorse for Nanami Jr. Fuck that spider.”

“You’re so mean y/n.” Gojo opened the door and walked out.

Good riddance to that spider.

#jjk x y/n #fanfic #jjk fanfic #gojo saturo #gojo x you #saturo gojo x reader #gojo fanfic #gojo satoru x reader #gojo satoru x y/n #gojo satoru #gojo sensei #gojo satoru x you #jjk gojo #gojo x reader #gojo x y/n #Nanamijr

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1moreff-creator · 9 months

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Matching the DRDT Characters with their Roman Numeral Quote (LGI MV)

So, I immediately fell in love with newest Literature Girl Insane MV, and I have to drop everything I’m doing just so I can talk about it. Although there is so much to discuss I don’t even know where to begin, one thing which immediately caught my eye was the crosswords which flashes on the screen for a moment.

As many have figured out, it’s made up of the names of everyone in the cast, plus Mai Akasaki, minus David. As the footnote on “Now” says, it’s better to use full names instead of nicknames (such as Julia instead of J) and to exclude the protagonist of the MV.

Here’s the solution by raspbeyes, who I believe may have been the first person to upload it to Tumblr.

However, what’s really interesting is that, by the nature of a crosswords, it connects all characters with a Roman numeral. And these Roman numerals show up throughout the video, attached to different sentences. That way, you can connect the characters to these sentences. And so, you get some pretty interesting stuff. With that in mind, I went through and collected all the Roman numerals (it’s not very difficult, apart from one exception), and I wanted to share my thoughts on them.

Now, the numbers don’t actually show up chronologically for the most part, and the only real logic they seem to follow is “they show up after the crossword flashed on screen”. I’ve decided to list them in the order of the actual number instead of the chronological order, as I don’t find the latter to be very important (apart from one case).

That said, I will actually start by number two, since number one is a bit of a special case. You’ll see. For now:

II - Rose ~ Ego cogito ergo (turbatus) sum

We have some latin to kick things off! “Ego cogito ergo sum” is the ever famous “I think therefore I am” philosophy, but in latin! This phrase (from what I understand) claims that the only thing we can be truly and absolutely sure exists, is our own reasoning and consciousness. This fits Rose decently well, as she’s established her photographic memory causes her trouble separating what’s real, what’s a memory, what’s a dream, etc. Even more so, it sorta fits with the song “Cartoons” from the now vanished character playlist, which some theories placed as Rose’s.

However, there is also the addition of “turbatus” to the saying. Turbatus, from a quick Google search, means something like “disturbed”. Thus, the full meaning is something like “I think, therefore I am disturbed”. This fits Rose even better, considering her scene with Teruko and Nico in the dress-up room. Don’t think I have to go too far in explaining this one.

III - Charles ~ If you doubt brittle things are broken

So, is this about his dead brother he doesn’t remember? As in, “if you doubt your memories, as they’re brittle, they’ll break? Or is this talking about the relationships between the cast? “Distrust will lead to our collapse”, sorta fits the talk he had with Teruko early in chapter 2.

However, I actually lean more towards the brother thing, because of the blue, long quote which is flipped upside down on top of the image.

“And now here’s my secret, a very simple secret. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye”

So, here’s where the Roman numerals become sorta weird. Does this count as part of Charles’ quote or not? I assume it’s at least related, especially seeing some of the other stuff we’ll see in the background.

Now, to the actual quote. I recognize it as a quote from the fox in “The Little Prince”, a book which if you have not read, you should honestly read. It’s a surprisingly sweet book to attach to Charles, but I can honestly see him blushing while talking about it, so it fits.

The quote itself is simple to understand; the material things in the world are not as important as our feelings, relationships, hopes, dreams, all that which can only be seen with the heart. This could be talking about the group’s relationships like I mentioned, but I lean more on thinking it’s referring to the memories of our loved ones, aka, Charles’ memories of his brother. Yes, the fact the quote starts by talking about secrets influences this interpretation.

IV - Arei ~ Right now, why do you cry?

Not much to talk about here. Arei’s the victim of this chapter, that’s why she cries. You can read into it a bit more and claim it has to do with Arei’s bullying of other people (“why are you crying, you wimp?” is something which could conceivably come out of her mouth), or more optimistically, it’s talking about how Arei used to only cry crocodile tears, but as she’s grown more empathetic, she now cries for her friends. Or some sappy shit like that.

Yeah, it’s still probably just about being the CH 2 victim.

V - Ace ~ Right now, why do you go insane? [flipped]

I’m not gonna lie, I kinda laughed a bit when I checked which character this one belonged to. Yeah, it’s pretty fitting, Ace is always going off for the most inane stuff.

More interesting is perhaps the background quote, “a cat has 9 additional lives”. Considering we’re talking about one of two people who’ve survived murder attempts so far, it makes sense, though I wonder if it’s going to come into play again later.

… Also, this just confirms in my mind the song from the playlist which belonged to Ace was “Yesman”. Undead, undead! and all that. I swear I’ll make a post about it eventually, I’m just more focused on this at the moment.

VI - Arturo ~ mind exercise 1 2 3 4

… Uh, well, as a surgeon, he do be exercising that mind though? Or something like that. Yeah, frankly I got nothing. This is just another moment where we Arturo enjoyers gotta take the L.

(Yes, I did just come out as an Arturo enjoyer-)

VII - J ~ Do it like that, let’s live together!

Another one I have no answer for. Like, what do you want me to say, this implies J’s the mastermind? Because it sort of does, seeing as she’s telling everyone to live together. But I really don’t see anything too interesting in the main quote.

However, the background quote may be more noteworthy. Anything in brackets is covered by something else but can be guessed with context.

“The Moral La[w] causes the people to be in com[plete accord] with their ruler, so that they wi[ll f]ollo[w] [him] regard[less of] their lives, undis[mayed] by any danger”

Had to look this one up. J’s quote is from Sun Tzu’s “Art of War” of all goddamn things. The Moral Law the quote is talking about is, from basic research in Google, some sort of unity of purpose; the idea that if the followers and the rules have the same interests, their side will have an advantage in war.

… What?

Yeah, this one’s a bit odd too. For now, my best answer is that it may have to do more with Mariabella than J herself. If you see Mariabella as a sort of leader, and her fans as the followers, it could be talking about how the combined pressure of Mariabella and the media overwhelm J, the “other side” of the “war”.

But if you’re really into the mastermind J idea, you can read it as “she’s the leader of the killing game, with the followers being the people at home that have the same purpose of wanting to see despair and keep the show running by watching”. But I really doubt we’d be getting this sort of mastermind allusions in an MV from chapter 2 of all things.

If anyone has better ideas on this quote or any other, I’d love to hear them.

VIII - Nico ~ even if i try to think, idk!

Another one I can’t talk too much about. My best guess as to what this means is “Nico tries to think about social cues, but doesn’t get it”. Relatable, but also nothing new. Maybe I’m missing something big, but it’s what I got for now.

IX - Levi ~ look, aside from the usual, give me that medicine

Disclaimer, the words don’t actually appear in that order in the MV, but this phrase makes a lot more sense than “look aside from that the usual medicine give me”.

I really don’t know what this means. I mean, I can guess Levi might take some medicine? Whit did say some people took prescriptions apparently. But I really don’t quite understand why this is the first time we’ve had his character associated with medicine.

EDIT: The last few paragraphs about Levi are dead wrong, I’m just leaving by them up so you can laugh at how stupid I was. Here’s a correction with a better analysis.

The background quote doesn’t make it much better. It’s just talking about the orbit of a thing, something something representative trajectory… something something Jupiter… something something 1930…

Oh shit, it’s about the discovery of Pluto! That’s what Google seems to think when I put those keywords in, anyways. Well, as fun an astronomy tale as that one is, I actually have no idea what it means for Levi’s character. I guess it’s something we’ll see in the future.

… Or maybe, crazy idea. You know how Pluto was first thought to be a “planet” but then got reclassified as”dwarf planet”? Maybe this means my theory is right: Levi will get “discovered” as the blackened of the second trial, but then “reclassified” as an accomplice when they find out Eden is actually-

Alright, I’ll stop. I’m joking, obviously… (unless?)

X - Min ~ Democratic-ly

Wait, hold on a second, you may say. That is an X, but it doesn’t really look like the rest of roman numerals font-wise. There are plenty of times X’s appear in the video aside from here, such as… well, the blank death portrait that’s always in the background.

And yes. To my joy, Min got given a bit of special treatment, since the roman numeral for ten, being an X and all, can be seen all throughout the video. However, there is one reason I believe this is absolutely Min’s X.

You see that tiny little 10 next to the X? That’s a footnote. And footnote number 10 is “The Roman numeral for 10 is X”. Of course, the reason we’re reminded of it here is because that X isn’t just a bunch of blood, it’s a Roman numeral.

Of course, Min gets the biggest numeral because she is just that much of a girlboss.

Anyways, numeral oddity aside, it’s pretty obvious why this is Min’s. The background text is just the description of the rules of a class trial, a trial where the outcome is decided democratically, and the reason Min died. This scene is directly followed by more references to class trials, which although they have some interesting implications for the MV as a whole, only help to solidify Min’s connection to her line.

As for other footnotes, footnote seventeen on the word “democratic-ly” is just an objective fact (“Not a real word. Can’t be found on any dictionary”), though the fact “democratically” is spelt wrong could be a reference to Min’s execution, where she was forced to get a lot of things wrong before dying.

Final note is footnote 12, on the class trial definition, which talks about majority rule and how, because it’s the fairest way to make decisions in a group, “murderers never complained when we voted for them to die”. There are implications here about the fact Teruko also received votes in the first trial, but for Min, there isn’t anything new here.

And yes, Min got three footnotes. As she should.

XI - Mai ~ God is dead

Honestly, I guessed who got this line before even checking the crossword. It just fits what we know of Mai too much. Which isn’t a lot, but it’s enough to know she would get a line as dramatic as this. If you want a proper interpretation, Mai is sometimes treated like a god by the others considering the secret quotes, but now she’s dead or gone or something.

Of course, that’s the literal meaning of that phrase. When you look at it through the lens of Nietzsche (and Wikipedia to make sure I didn’t fuck up anything), the phrase “God is dead” refers to the idea that as christianity became increasingly non-universal, the ethical and sociocultural elements of society which had been built on it would be questioned and revised. So, “growing lack of faith causes shifts in the status quo”, or something like that. It’s something which, again, may fit Mai from what we know of her backstory. Someone everyone had unquestioned faith on, who did something which had consequences, so maybe that caused a breakdown of that original faith, or something? Anything involving this character is always extremely speculative, but I frankly think the more literal interpretation works better in this context.

In any case, this phrase is about as cryptic and dramatic as everything involving Mai, so it fits.

XII - Eden ~ ???: But you’re in my way, aren’t you?

… Alright, Eden, I know I believe you to be the CH 2 killer and all that, but you gotta at least try to defend yourself against the allegations! The hell is this?

In case anyone was wondering, I think she’s the killer who wants to get out to meet back up with the girl she kissed (who I’m starting to get convinced is Mai but I’m not ready for that conversation), so this line reads like something she’d say to Arei in that theory. However, it’d be kind of a weird thing to put in the MV before the chapter ends, and besides, there’s an interpretation I like more.

You see how there’s a triple question question mark there? There’s a chance someone is saying this to Eden. I’ll actually get back to this later, because I have to talk about XVI before I cover my theory on this. Apologies.

CW for XIII: Suicide

XIII - Teruko ~ or

… He. Alright, out of context, this is kinda funny. But if you let the MV play, it’s “… or not to be?”, from “To be or not to be?” Shakespeare and all that. That said, the video does, in fact, only keep the number on screen while it says “or”, so I choose to notate Teruko’s quote as just that. Also, as raspbeyes noted in their original post, the number thirteen is considered unlucky, so Teruko.

With that, I have to talk about how insanely dark it is to cut that phrase off at the “…or not to be” section. For anyone who hasn’t read this speech from Hamlet (which I hadn’t either, btw, had to look it up), the phrase “to be or not to be” is actually about suicidal ideation, with the word ‘be’ serving as a synonym for ‘live’. Therefore, cutting the phrase off at just this section leaves behind only suicide as the option.

It had already been implied Teruko has attempted suicide before (see: her telling Arei that failed hangings hurt a lot), and that her luck is the only thing keeping her alive. This just seems to imply it’s a much more present issue than we believed.

Then there’s the background text. From my research, the one on the left is a quote from “Murder on the Orient Express” and the one across the bottom is from “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas”.

“Murder on the Orient Express” is easy to tie in, as it’s literally a murder mystery novel. Uh, spoilers for the novel, I guess, but it ends with the main detective, Poirot, concluding that the murderer was either no one in the train or everyone there. That sort of ties into Teruko’s hidden quote of “It is an equal failing to trust everybody, and to trust no one at all”, I guess? For the line itself, it seems to be about a character hatefully looking at the detective. You can take Poirot to be Teruko because she’s decent at class trials (as opposed to everyone else being horrible at them), and the person looking at her to be… any blackened, or anyone, or David, take a pick.

“The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” is a bit weirder. It’s a short story about Omelas, an utopia which is the perfect life for everyone there, except for a young child who is forced to live in mysery for the sake of the others. The quote in the video expresses this pretty succinctly. I guess it’s talking about class trials? How the happiness of everyone hinges on one person being very unhappy? Teruko’s the protag, so it makes sense she gets a line like this. There could be other interpretations, but I think that’s the most straightforward one.

XIV - Veronika ~ Things like substance of the arts

I mean, it fits. Veronika’s talent is artistic in nature. It seems a bit… non-dramatic for Veronika? But I guess there’s nothing wrong here.

… Well, there may be, but I’ll get there in a moment.

XV - Whit ~ Remaining ignorant, isn’t that “happiness”?

(Trust me, that’s the order the words show up on screen)

This one’s also easy. Whit’s secret is “Your mother is dead. You omit this truth”. This, combined with his behavior in the killing game, characterizes Whit as someone who prefers to ignore tragedy rather than process it, remaining “ignorant” in a way. The footnote attached, 15, just talks about the phrase “ignorance is bliss”, which is pretty much what the quote is.

…

The problem is the background text.

Thinking Time: “Subtract 4 due to tetraphobia”

That’s the phrase in the background, which appears as both Veronika’s and Whit’s lines are there. This is noteworthy because this is the only time in the MV that two different Roman numerals appear on screen at the same time. The phrase is also attached to footnote 4, which defines tetraphobia:

“The practice of avoiding the number four; it is most common in Eastern Asia. This superstition arises from the fact that the number 4 can be read similar to the word ‘death’ in several languages”

This connection is further implied because the character with the Roman numeral IV is Arei, who died this chapter. There is special attention brought over and over again to the number four, and this phrase asks us to “subtract” it.

And of course, this phrase chooses to appear when two “characters” are on screen, to make sure we can’t figure it out definitively.

Let’s start with Veronika: If you substract four from fourteen you get ten (astounding maths, I know). That connects her to Min and “democratic-ly”… which is the part of the MV most related to class trials and the killing game. Because if there’s a way to look like the mastermind, you bet Veronika’s hopping right on that train!

Other than being “Veronika playing mastermind footsies” for the fiftieth time, and the fact she sorta enjoys class trials, I don’t see any other connection between her and Min’s section, so.

I should address, too, you can remove 4 from 14 in a more literal way, and end up with 1 (doing it with Roman numerals just gets you ten again). This would connect her to Xander, whose line I’ve yet to cover, but trust me on this, I don’t think it connects to Veronika.

However, that’s for the line itself. Veronika might actually have a connection to Xander himself, because of their lines about Mai. Xander’s is “she couldn’t stand to do nothing” and Veronika’s is “a girl who didn’t foresee the consequences”. These are the only lines which allude to whatever big thing Mai may have done. If Xander and Veronika have a connection, it is likely through Mai.

And then there’s Whit, who is also on-screen at the time. Or, well, his Roman numeral is.

Alright, Whit. Veronika’s being super suspicious, so the tetraphobia line has a good chance of being about her. All you gotta do is be normal about this “subtract four” thing, alright? Good.

When you subtract 4 from Whit’s 15, you get 11, which is Mai’s “God is dead”-

For fuck’s sake.

He really just can’t dodge these mastermind allegations, can he? Anyways, if this is about him, he killed Mai, or something, and thus is likely the mastermind.

I’m joking- well, kinda. There are other interpretations, like maybe he… was the first to lose faith in her, in the Nietzsche interpretation of Mai’s line? I don’t know, but the murder is the more straightforward answer for this, if you ask me.

The problem, of course, is that there’s no way to tell which character the “subtract four” thing applies to. Well, the use of the word “tetraphobia” feels more Veronika leaning, what with phobias being related with horror and psychology, but to counterbalance, the line only appears when Whit’s numeral shows up, so it’s even again.

Anyways, back to the last numeral in sequence.

XVI: Hu ~ ???: Go and cry

Alright, you don’t have to be so mean-

In all seriousness, I believe this relates to Hu’s reaction to David’s reveal. And possibly her secret if it’s the one Veronika has.

However, what’s interesting about this line is that it seems to be a direct quote from a character, because of the triple question mark at the beginning. And this is where my theory comes in.

I believe triple question marks is David. This would fit perfectly with this line, as it’s totally something David would say post-magical girl transformation. And with him being the protagonist of the MV, it makes sense for him to be involved.

And that takes me back to XII. If you remember, I said I would talk about Eden’s line a bit more after talking about XVI.

Well, it’s pretty simple, really. Eden’s line comes right after Hu’s in the video, so it’s reasonable to assume ??? is the same person for both of them. In other words, I believe it’s David who tells Eden “but you’re in my way, aren’t you?” This still implies Eden’s the CH2 blackened, by the way. As in, “you’re getting in my way because now I need to figure out a murder”, or something like that. There really isn’t any other thing it could be referring to. Unless it’s like, “you’re getting in my way because you’re so nice you’re preventing murders from happening” or “you’re getting in my way of manipulating Arei by befriending her”, but the first one is too abstract and the second one doesn’t work since David didn’t know about their friendship until after Arei died. So don’t go thinking I’m giving up on that theory. It just changes the context a bit.

And with that, we’ve successfully gone through the sixteen numbers. Except, wait! Don’t think I forgot about the funny British boy!

Well, to be frank with you, there is a reason why I chose to save Xander for last. And that is… I didn’t want to start the list with disappointment.

I - Xander ~ Inconclusive

See, the problem is that Xander runs into much the same issue as Min, but without a footnote to help solve the problem. The Roman numeral for 1 is just “I”, so any time the word I appears, Xander’s Roman numeral appears.

Now, maybe you think this is stupid. Obviously any time “I” appears as an actual word, it’s not meant to be Xander’s numeral! We just need to look for the time it’s not a part of the lyrics or a phrase in the text!

This is obviously the most intuitive solution, and it does arrive at… an answer. So, I present, the First Possibility.

First Possibility

I - Xander ~ (the world of abnormal sentiment dances)

Now, at first glance, this works! You have the numeral next to a phrase, and there’s nothing else it could be!

Except, the problem is that that only extends to the screenshot. In this part of the video, the same phrase is on the screen for a good few seconds, but the “I” disappears and gets replaced by several numbers, then the “&” symbol, more numbers, and what seems to be a “=“ sign, maybe? But could be II sideways. Don’t know, looks like code, not my expertise.

The issue here is that this would be the only time a character’s phrase lingers longer than their numeral. This is pretty inconsistent with the other phrases we’ve seen, which is what gets me to hesitate and wonder if that “I” is actually made to be part of the code and not the crossword thing.

That, combined with the line itself. Because what does “the world of abnormal sentiment dances” have to do with Xander? I looked it up, but it’s not the name of a book or anything. Maybe I’m missing something, but I really don’t think this is related to Xander in any way.

So, I looked for other possibilities. The problem is that, like I said, all other possibilities are part of lyrics or phrases, not a standalone numeral.

And yet, there is one which stands out to me as a good candidate. This has a high chance of being wrong, but I’ll bring it up anyways because I think it’s cool.

Second Possibility

I - Xander ~ I hate the things that I love, and I love the things that I hate

… Well, I know it’s hard to read it in that clusterfuck, but that is what the red text says.

This line has a bit more to do with Xander, or at least, David’s feelings towards Xander. We know he probably did like him based on some scenes from the MV, but he’s sad about his death. He hates him for leaving, but his heart loves him anyways. That could be read as romantic or platonic… hesitant on the platonic-

That said, the problem is explaining why I believe this is the Xander line. And that comes down to the background text.

… Yes, that background text.

You see, in the MV, it slowly fills out in a way which lets you read it somewhat. I’ll tell you what each part of the text means, but if you want visuals, I’ll ask you go to the video.

What first appears is white text on top and the right. The white text on top is Big Clue #1, as it’s a definition of electrocution. You know, that thing Xander died from.

The text on the right, meanwhile, seems to be an excerpt from “Alice in Wonderland”. The specific passage seems to feature Alice lamenting how much “pleasenter” [sic] things were “back home”. And well, for everyone but Teruko, their homes were likelier “pleasenter” than the killing game. However, in this context, it could be an analogy to David missing the past, when Xander was still alive.

Then, more white text appears on the bottom as yellow text appears under the white text on top. The bottom text is, again, more talk of electrocution, but the yellow text is a bit more complex. This is the line (from Google, exact wording may vary):

“To me, you are still nothing more than a little boy who is just like a hundred thousand other little boys. And I have no need of you. And you, on your part, have no need of me. To you, I am nothing more than a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But if you tame me, then we shall need each other. To me, you will be unique in all the world. To you, I shall be unique in all the world...”

Another “The Little Prince” quote, another straight banger (I love that book). Imma need the hornier of you to not focus too much on the “taming” wording and focus on the important part. This one speaks of the beautiful simplicity of relationships; everyone is “just some dude” until you meet them and establish a relationship, and then, they become unique.

This is an especially wonderful quote for Xander and David’s relationship. David truly wanted nothing more than to be “a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes” instead of the idol Xander saw him as. He wanted a genuine relationship with him, where they were not just each other’s idols, but something bigger; each other’s boyfriends :D

Alright, sappy stuff aside, this quote is related to Xander, that’s what you need to know.

Then there’s the big pink text. It says “note: can’t read”. Yeah, fair.

But before that note appears, some cyan text begins sprawling out. It’s not a quote from anything as far as I can tell, so here’s a transcript:

“…man crushed by reality puts on a s[how]…

…[of end]urance. If that’s beyond your

[com]prehension, dear reader, then you a[nd]…

[I’ll n]ever understand each other. Life’s…

[short?] so we might as well make it…

[count?] real life is a realm th…”

So, yeah, I’m sort of guessing half the words here, and I can’t even tell what the last line is, but I think we can get the gist from this. Reading this with the context that Xander’s probably connected, it’s easy to figure out. David was crushed by reality when Xander died, and he put on a show of endurance after that. The insult to the reader is a bit uncalled for, but I don’t particularly care, it fits David.

So, with the idea that this little breakdown is related to Xander, it’s safe to say the line “I hate the things that I love, and I love the things that I hate” (not a quote from anywhere I could find btw) is linked with Xander as well.

And, well. There are other references to Xander, but they’re never paired with an “I”. And there are other instances of the word “I”, but never in relation to Xander, at least not as much as this little breakdown.

This clusterfuck of text also forms directly after the crosswords shows up. And while most of these aren’t in chronological order, number II through V do. Wouldn’t it make sense for I to appear right after the crosswords and make I through V in chronological order?

In any case, I believe this is a decent alternative to the “world of abnormal sentiment dances”, whatever that means.

Conclusion

This was really fun! I am satiated for now, the content drop was awesome, I loved it a lot. There’s so much more I want to talk about in this MV, but this was priority number one in my mind.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading! If you made it this far, you deserve your own Roman numeral, all for yourself! Take care!

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lostmyremembrall · 11 months

Note

Prompt three please! 📖

📖𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐚 𝐁𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐆𝐢𝐟𝐭

𝑮𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒆: 𝑭𝒍𝒖𝒇𝒇, 𝑨 𝑯𝒊𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒔𝒕

Will you keep it safe for him?

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 1𝐾 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡! Now closed

“Imagine that, you can do anything you want now!” Canopus Lestrange smirked and fell back to the couch, spilling the contents of his drink onto the shabby old seating, along with, unfortunately, Abraxas Malfoy’s lap that happened to be in its way.

The room was full of the loud chatter of your friends, some even from other houses. It was one, massive and successful party as they engaged in idle chitchat, laughter erupting from around the room as butterbeer continued to flow.

Abraxas furrowed in visible displeasure at his trousers. “Just because they’re now 16, doesn’t mean they should be following in your footsteps, Canopus,” he gave a cool side glance to his friend as he dabbed away at his trousers with a napkin.

“Lord knows how difficult my life has become just to keep an eye on you,” Abraxas sighed exasperatedly, turning his pleading eyes up to you. “I beg of you, I’m so tired.”

You grinned into your glass of butterbeer, Abraxas mirroring the gesture as an amusing shimmer returned to his eyes. “No promises, I’m afraid,” you chuckled. “You’re going to get us out of trouble in the end, anyway.”

“The Headmaster and the Ministry are already tired of hearing your names,” Abraxas chuckled warily, recollecting the number of times he had to write letters, using his connections and the famous last name. “I’m tired of your names.”

You tossed your head back in laughter before beaming at your drunk friends. It has been a wonderful birthday party orchestrated by Abraxas, though Canopus and Alphard Avery would argue that they helped by bringing the fun.

Your still-laughing eyes wandered across the room, settling on the certain, mysterious, tall, and handsome man in the corner. He was leaning against the wall in the quieter area, his Michelangelo hand holding the rim of the glass against his lips as his curious eyes studied you. His left forearm crossed in front of him, supporting the weight of his right arm as well as the glass of whiskey that he opted for. Noticing your gaze, his left brow rose in an inquisitive suggestion.

“Oh, come on, Abraxas, you love us,” you teased the blond, never taking your eyes off of Tom, to which Abraxas responded with a wave of his hand.

“I’ll need a few more drinks to admit something like that.”

“Well then, you better be more drunk by the time I come back,” you finished your glass with a swing, settling on the table beside the couch. “It is my birthday after all.”

You winked at the blond, ignoring the exaggerated roll of his eyes before manoeuvring your way around the room to your boyfriend.

“Finally,” was Tom’s first word upon reaching him. “I was wondering when I’ll get you to myself,” he smirked.

“What can I say,” your eyes shimmered in amusement. “It’s hard being this popular.”

Tom rolled his eyes, but did not care to correct your statement.

“Come on,” he kicked himself off of the wall. “Let’s get out of here.”

You felt the distinct flutter of your heart when you were with Tom. You smiled eagerly and followed him out of the double doors.

The silence that greeted you was near deafening when you two left the Room of Requirement. Tom let out a long sigh, as if a heavy weight has been lifted off of his chest. Your eyes caught sight of his gait that immediately relaxed upon leaving the room, being reminded that parties were not his scene. It showed: the mask he shed when he was just with you.

You noticed halfway through that Tom was leading you towards the Transfiguration courtyard. At the sky that opened up, he took in a deep breath of fresh air. His head dropped back as his lips softened into a smile, gazing up at the starry night.

“Do you remember?” he breathed out. “The night we met looked something like this.”

You followed his gaze; the translucent fabric of the deep nightshade blue blanketed the lines of the castle, illuminated from underneath by the orange torch flames that flickered here and there. It was an unusually cool night despite the nearing graduation; the air was crisp and chilly, aiding in cooling down the heat that rose to your cheeks from the rounds of butterbeer.

“How could I?” you murmured, relishing in the sweet memory of the night you first met the then-prefect during his nightly patrol. He was comically stoic, only responding in short hums and nods. He’s come a long way, you admitted, from exchanges of sarcastic comments to opening up about his dark deeds and his visions for the wizarding society. In the few years that he’s known you, he’s grown attached to you – protective, even.

You thoughts were interrupted when you felt the back of his hand brush against yours. It was surprising, how timid he still was in these advances. With a quick glance, you studied his features, trying to decipher his intentions in the shadows that cast over his stark features. His eyes wavered back and forth before him at the grass of the courtyard, biting his lips. He seemed to be building himself up to something.

Tentatively, he took your hand in his. It was very gentle, contrary to his usual abrupt movements. In the mere seconds, you felt the warmth of his hand spread to you. As if his circulation made its way around your body, warming you through your core, reaching your cheeks, until it was returned right at him through their hands. His palm was rough and coarse in the places that he held his quill.

You smiled against the wind, trying to conceal your blush. It was then, that a cool, sharp object pressed into your palm. Your brows knitted at the unforeseen sting, and looked down to his hand that held yours.

“What is this?”

You turned your palm, Tom’s hand slipping out of yours in the process. In the orange light of the torch, you found a ring: an octahedral black stone set into a golden band, embellished with elegant etchings.

Tom turned to you to study your expressions carefully, intent on detecting any sign of disappointment. “... your gift,” he quietly said in the end.

You blinked rapidly at the small object in your hand that still exuded grandiosity. “Tom… it’s beautiful,” you managed to whisper.

Your words seemed to encourage the Head Boy, whose eyes now held a certain glimmer of excitement. “It’s an heirloom, actually,” he continued, a hint of pride concealed in the inflexion of his voice, “about 700 years antique.”

You gasped, the ring suddenly seeming too heavy for your hand. “I–, I can’t accept this, Tom–”

“You must,” Tom’s urgent tone took you off guard, effectively silencing you. You peered into his eyes, his lips pursed and his hands nervously gripping at each other at his waist.

He almost seemed – despserate for you to keep it.

Coming to his senses, Tom tore his eyes away from you with a blink. “I–,” he searched for words. “You’re the only one I would trust it with.”

He reached for the ring that still lay flat on your palm. “I’ve cast a very powerful spell on it,” he continued in a low voice, evading your eyes. “A part of my soul – a part of me is encapsulated in it.”

Staring into his abyssal irises, you intuited a very arduous and torturous process that went into creating this gift. Tom took another step towards you, his towering figure shielding you from the wind and engulfing you with his warmth. His fingertips held your hand in the air, sliding the ring onto your middle finger. The obsidian echoing the two black lakes of Tom’s eyes. You thought the ring felt warm – whether it was the trick of your mind or the effects of the spell – the warmth of Tom’s presence contained within the ring –, you weren’t sure.

“This way, I’ll be close to you wherever I go,” he whispered, almost to himself.

Tom’s eyes softened, his eyes saccading across your features as they took you in. The corners of his lips rose in utter bliss and serenity that your presence brought him. His fingers rose to tuck a loose strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers tracing down your skin and lingering on your cheeks before he finally relinquished your touch.

But, your mind was too distracted by his wording to pay heed to the tender moment. Your eyes flickered between his, confusion clouding your eyes as you murmured, “Are you going somewhere?”

“Uh,” Tom bit his lips, his eyes sharpening in a slight alarm at having spoken too much. “A small graduation trip,” he hastily added.

A cold breeze suddenly seemed to infiltrate the space they held between, dampening any remnants of excitement and cheer from the birthday party. A small trip, was all he said. Not even a destination. There was a slight pang in your heart at the revelation that, for whatever reason, you weren’t allowed to accompany him, and Tom was unwilling to disclose anything more.

Tom had clearly sensed the gloom that had overtaken your features. “It’s dangerous,” Tom explained. “Very dangerous.”

“I’m dangerous,” you responded, somewhat curtly. Your gaze fell on the ring, realising with bitterness that this ring will be the only reminder that you’ll have of Tom until his return.

“Yes, I’m well aware,” Tom nodded. “Which is why I am leaving this with you,” he sighed, his eyes turning downcast as he took your now ringed finger to observe it under the warm lumination. The stone gave an enigmatic glint in the light.

“This took the destruction of two men’s souls to create,” Tom breathed out, his narrowed eyes piercing at the ring in a mixture of veneration and haunting wonder. The wince of his brows interrupted the observation for a brief moment, however, at the reminder of the heavy price he had to pay.

He slowly bent forward, bringing his lips close to your fingers. You watched in silence, frozen on the spot, as he pressed his lips against your ringed finger. It was subdued, yet somehow passionate, revealing the devotion he felt for you – and perhaps tried to hide. However brief, it left an unforgettable scorching heat on your fingers that you would come to associate with the ring.

By the time his resolute eyes rose to you once more, any hint of regret was gone. “My soul now belongs to you, (y/n),” he whispered.

His eyes softened in reverence at the sight of you haloed by the torch light. His lips pursing to contain his quivering sigh. His brows quirked nervously as he entrusted his whole life to you.

“Will you keep it safe?”

A/N: I missed writing for Tom. A bit rusty, maybe. But I love that with Tom, you can't tell whether he's just being deceptively sweet and manipulative or genuinely in love. I am sorry it took so long to get to your request. Thank you for joining in on the celebration!

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deathmetalunicorn1 · 1 year

Note

Hi, can I request please of ROR humanity x Teen! Reader who is in next her round of arena to fight the gods. The humans are scared to see their precious reader is fighting the god because she is so young. Reader got injured abit but she didn’t give up but stay strong and determined and say something that she won’t give up no matter what. Once she defeated the god, Reader shouted out like releasing out some steam after the fight and passed out.

-You were regarded as one of the strongest people ever, for your age, being a middle-aged teen (15/16) but your age just made people underestimate you. That was their first mistake, as you loved to be underestimated. It made the surprise more enjoyable for you.

-When you met with the other fighters for humanity, Brunnhilde calling your group the Einherjar, you were met with wide eyes, dropped jaws, and almost immediate anger directed at Brunnhilde.

-Adam had you almost instantly in his arms, hugging you protectively, “This is a child, Brunnhilde, are you going to force a child to fight?!” most of the others were in agreement with the best dad in the world.

-You pouted up at him, “I know how to fight! I’m stronger than I look!” Raiden was the one to pick you up, holding you by the back of your shirt, you looked like an angry kitten, pouted that you were being treated as a kid, “But you’re so tiny!”

-You just grinned at him, once he set you down, your fists on your hips, “I’m tiny but mighty!”

-The only person who seemed to sense your power was Lu Bu, who stared down at you, his eyes meeting yours and your eyes turned into sparkles as he grinned, almost ferally, at you, when you saw his pointy teeth, thinking they were awesome!

-When it came time for you to fight, you had to basically avoid most of the other Einherjar, who were trying to grab you to prevent their baby from fighting, having already adopted you and didn’t want to lose you.

-When you stood at the doorway to walk out, you turned, “I’ll be fine! See you in a bit!” before you ran out, the crowds quickly going from joyful cheers to shouts of outrage on both sides, seeing a child being sent to fight.

-Your opponent was Eris, goddess of chaos, who was fighting with a pair of short swords while you have a metal baseball bat.

-You were quick to prove them all wrong, easily dodging blows, for a time, and landing whirlwind guillotine kicks to your opponent, showing your strength and skill.

-You took a hard hit to your midsection, getting blown back head over heels and you could hear your new family all calling out for you and the audience behind you calling out in worry and in anger.

-You stood, seeing your baseball bat was broken after you had managed to break one of her swords, and you wiped the bit of blood coming from your mouth as she smirked, “Just lay down, child, and I’ll end this quickly!”

-You glared and punched your fists together, “I ain’t given up, you cock sucking fuck-face!!”

-Everyone, gods, humans, and Eris, turned white in shock, staring at you for your foul mouth, which only appeared when you were pissed.

-Eris shrieked in rage and charged at you, “You little shit!!” but you were able to grab her hair as she went by and pendulum threw her over your shoulder, sending her hard into the ground, “You’ll have to do better than that, ya pussy!!”

-After a few minutes, taking a few more hard shots, you managed to defeat Eris who called you some rather cruel words before you flipped her off and headed towards the entrance while the humans were cheering for you.

-You couldn’t help but grin, despite bleeding everywhere as your arms rose, cheering along with them which made their cheers only grow in volume.

-You don’t remember blacking out, but the next thing you knew, you were in the medical wing, your new family sitting around you, waiting for you to wake up.

-Once they saw you were awake, they were so happy, giving you hugs and you couldn’t help but beam, “Told ya I could handle it!”

-Brunnhilde then approached, her arms folded and had a glare on her face, “Y/N, where did you learn such foul language?” you flinched immediately as their eyes all turned to you as you panicked, eyes darting around rapidly before you gave a weak smile, “Zeus?”

-Elsewhere Zeus sneezed suddenly, wondering who was talking about him before a chill went up his spine, unaware of the fib that you just told, one that was going to get his ass kicked for tainting such a young mind.

#record of ragnarok #ror x reader #ror adam #ror brunhilde #ror zeus

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builtbybrokenbells · 7 months

Text

Gold Dust Woman | viii

Y/n quickly learns that touring with the brothers she is so emotionally intertwined with is not all that it’s cracked up to be.

Read part seven here

Listen while reading: Money for Nothing - Dire Straits, Voodoo Child (slight return) - Jimi Hendrix, Pride and Joy - Stevie Ray Vaughan

Pairing: sam kiszka x f!reader, jake kiszka x f!reader

Word Count: 12k

Warnings: drinking, swearing, smoking, arguing, jealousy/intentional jealousy, insecurity, angst, sad Jake, flirting, making out, brief emotional talks, sorry if I miss any!

finally!! most of this is light hearted fun, but the end is clearly setting the tone for the following chapters. the calm before the storm, perhaps 🥰 sorry for the wait, and sorry if this is not my best work! im just trying to bridge the gap and set the themes before we get into the gritty emotional stuff next. as always, enjoy, be kind, and don’t mind any grammar mistakes!! (p.s. this is super lightly edited 🫣)

Your bag dropped to the ground with a pathetic echo, the sound barely breaking through the dead air of the hotel room. It seemed just as exhausted as you were, and you found the slump of the fabric on the track bag ironically funny, because you felt like doing just the same. You kicked your shoes off at the door, immediately looking to the bed with longing in your eyes. Before you could get the chance to shut the door and climb under the covers, a surge of voices rang from down the hallway. You made your first mistake of the day as you peeked your head around the corner to investigate. Immediately, you saw your bandmates following behind Danny, who was moving towards your room with mischievous intent written all over his features.

By the time you had registered what was happening, Danny was close enough to reach out and touch you. You took a step backwards, a fruitless attempt at escape, but his hands were already reaching out for you. His fingers closed around your wrist just in enough time to pull you back into the hallway. “Danny!” You exclaimed, feeling a laugh break from your lips despite your disinterest in their antics.

“What do you think you’re doing? Trying to get away from us?” He questioned, raising an eyebrow as he spoke.

“Was hoping to take a nap before the show tonight. You know, so I don’t fall sleep on stage.” You rolled your eyes, but that answer was unacceptable for him.

“Oh come on, you’re gonna sleep away your first day of tour? Don’t let a little travel get you down.” Your two bandmates nodded their heads in agreement, standing guard with their arms crossed over their chests.

“I’m okay with that.” You nodded. It was uncharacteristic of you to refuse a party, but your bones were aching with sleepiness, begging you to rest on a mattress even for a moment.

“Yeah, but I’m not.” He said, reaching into his pocket and grabbing a mini bottle of fireball. “Drink up, sound check is in two hours.” You watched him, hoping for him to change his mind, but he had never looked so serious. You grabbed it, although openly reluctant about doing so. “That’s my girl.” He basked in his victory only for a moment before crouching to the ground.

“Danny, I’m not getting on your shoulders.” You refused. It was a charade the two of you seemed to fancy when you were drunk, but you were far too sober to entertain the idea now.

“Come on, have some fun!” He exclaimed, clearly over your displeasure with his attempts to set the mood. You let out a sigh, but ultimately did as he asked. You were never one to say no to Danny, especially when he seemed so happy. “Aha!” He spoke in triumph as he secured his hands on your thighs. He rose to his feet, and you ducked your head instinctively. The ceilings were high, not near close enough for you to hit your head, but your anxiety seemed to be much worse when you didn’t have any false confidence from alcohol.

“Don’t drop me, Daniel.” You scolded, holding onto his hands secured on your legs.

“Shut up and take the shot.” He chuckled, both of you knowing that dropping you was the last thing he would do, and if he did, he would cushion your fall just to make sure you wouldn’t get a scrape. He was the best friend you had ever had, and you were always a priority to him. He stopped in front of another door, loosening his grip on your leg only for a second to knock on the wood. After a few seconds, shuffling could be heard from inside the room, and Josh popped out from behind the door. He let out an immediate boom of laughter at the sight, clearly equally as thrilled about the first day of tour. Danny carefully grabbed another fireball shot from his pocket and handed it to the boy. He accepted and joined the party without a single exchange of words. You realized that this must be a normal antic for the boys, which also came with the realization that you had willingly signed up for months of the same torture.

“Two more to go.” Danny smiled.

“How many shots do you have?” You questioned, genuinely curious about the collection he was hoarding.

“Enough.” Was all he replied. Another door was knocked on, and Sam joined the party.

“Seems you’ve gotten taller.” Sam noted, looking up at you with a twinkle in his eyes. You wanted to chastise him, to sit back another witty remark, but every time you looked at him for a moment too long, all of the thoughts seemed to disappear from your brain. He always stole the moment, shining brighter than anything else. Instead of waiting for a response, he cracked the cap of the shot and tilted his head back, drinking down the liquid with nothing to spare.

You were hyper aware that the last person to retrieve was Jake, and you were excited to see him, although a bit nervous. Since the fiasco of the tour agreement signing, you and Jake had been distant. Not by an overwhelming margin, but definitely enough to notice. You were withdrawn because of your guilt for pushing him away, and he was withdrawn due to his hurt from you doing so. In your moments and nights spent alone, you could feel the tension in the air. It was minimal, but completely unspoken. Even the sex seemed to be different, definitely still phenomenal but a little less emotionally gratifying. You were both aching for connection, but couldn’t seem to find the right words to express it. You hadn’t seen him much on the plane, and you were itching to catch a glimpse of him, like an addict looking for a fix.

Sam, on the other hand, had grown quite fond of your company after the shared sweetness that night in his car. He felt closer to you than he ever had, and he wasn’t willing to give that up. In the weeks leading up to the start of tour, you had found yourself playing house with him more than usual, spending the night and drifting through the morning in minimal clothing and hearts dancing in your eyes. Morning coffee no longer tasted the same without his company, and the sunrise was a little less pleasant when he wasn’t there to share it with you.

Even with the space in your bed spoken for and the mornings laced with a promise of love, you couldn’t help but miss Jake. Every now and again, you yearned for that first morning spent with him, with his hands around your waist and his sweet nothings whispered in your ear. The serenity of cooking breakfast while he plucked away at a guitar and wordlessly dedicated songs to you; it was a subtle show of affection because, like always, he had been too afraid to speak it into existence. Your heart still ached for Jake, even with Sam loving you so deeply. He could tell; your eyes spoke it louder than any words you could say. You loved Sam, and he knew that even if you had refrained from saying it aloud, but he knew you loved his brother, too. He chose not to mention the pain he felt at the thought.

The debacle the three of you found yourself in had been going on for months, now. All of you were tired, ready for it to be over, but nobody was willing to give up. By refusing to let go, all of you were simply allowing the hurt to grow. If a choice in the beginning was impossible, it had grown into something even more catastrophic than what it started as. You prided yourself on being a levelheaded person, someone who was calculated and well thought out, but this mess was something so uncharacteristic for you. Had you been half the person you viewed yourself as, you would have put a stop to it long ago. You were a fool for both of them, and a fool for thinking you could outsmart them in their own game.

“Open up!” Danny sang as he knocked on the door of the last brothers room.

“M’coming!” He grumbled from inside. Within a moment, he appeared looking just as tired as you were feeling. He paused his movements, head just slight cocked to the side as he took in the sight before him. Slowly, his head upturned to you perched on Danny’s shoulders. You gave him a smile, one that showed him just how happy you were that he decided to join. His eyes softened at your expression, any gruff exterior melting away within an instant.

“Fireball?” You asked, carefully reaching down to hand him your bottle.

“You shouldn’t have.” He chuckled, retrieving the shot from you. He let his fingers rest on yours for a second extra, desperately wanting a moment of closeness with you. “But what about you?” A smirk tugged at his lips.

“Plenty more where that came from.” Danny answered for you, content that you seemed to be enjoying the energy, now. “Onward!” He sounded, turning quickly to go back in the direction you all came from. You grabbed on to him, holding yourself steady in fear of being dropped. He tightened his grip on your legs, a silent reassurance that he had you, and he wouldn’t let you go. “You know, I think we should try beer pong like this.” He theorized.

“I think that’s cheating.” You replied, seeing him near the door of your room.

“I’d let it slide.” Josh said, as if he were the commissioner of the game. Danny let out a noise of triumph, happy that he had someone on his side to disregard your arguments. He led everyone into your room, immediately walking to your bed and leaning backwards. You let out a shriek of terror as you began to lose your balance, but he loosened his grip on your thighs. You fell to the mattress, landing with a thud and a chorus of laughter from the audience surrounding you.

“Asshole,” you grumbled as you straightened yourself out.

“Here,” Danny threw a mini bottle at you. It landed beside you, catching your attention and distracting you from the excitement of the moment. “Drink up.” You did as you were told, cracking the cap and draining the alcohol from the bottle. The burn settled deep in your chest, the cinnamon overpowering and warming your body. Although the burn was not comparable to both of the familiar sets of eyes on you, neither thinking anything wholesome.

Sam was by the door, lost in chatter with Dylan and Riley, but his gaze was only settled on you. It did not matter who he was caught in conversation with, or what he was busy doing, you were permanently in the forefront of his mind. Jake was talking to Josh, small business about the show tonight and the importance of an opening night. Even though the context of the talk was about his passion, his biggest dream in which he’d been working his whole life to achieve, you were still heavily weighing on his thoughts. Jake was not even attempting to hide his stare; Josh was aware, and uncaring of the infatuation between the two of you. He continued speaking despite knowing Jake’s attention was not directed at him.

“Another?” Danny asked, pulling a few more bottles from his pocket.

“Jesus,” you laughed, amazed at the amount of alcohol he had shoved in the pocket of his jeans. “I’d like to make it to the concert, tonight.”

“Oh, you will. Don’t worry about that.” He assured you. “We’re celebrating your first day on tour ever. Isn’t it exciting?” He questioned, taking a seat next to you. You turned to face him, your back to the brothers in hopes to forget about their lingering eyes and wistful thoughts. You have a shrug, plucking another shot from his hand.

“Of course,” you nodded, but your tone was withdrawn.

“You’re nervous.” He stated, narrowing his gaze at you.

“No,” you scoffed, but avoided meeting his eyes at all costs. He could read you like a book; he didn’t need you to say the words for him to know. “Yeah.” You finally changed your stance when he refused to look away. “It’s normal, is it not? I mean, those people are there to see you guys, not us. And your fans… they can be ruthless, sometimes. I’m about to give my entire soul to the public, everything I’ve been scared of for my whole life. I think it’s okay to be a little scared.”

“Of course it is, y/n, but if you’re scared because you don’t think you have the talent, that’s not okay.” He corrected. You drank down the second shot, finally feeling a touch of relief from the anxiety constricting your chest. You took a deep breath as you swallowed down the alcohol, bargaining with your fear.

“I mean, I guess.” You sighed. “Fear of not being good enough is just as normal as anything else.”

“Not when you have as much talent as you do.” His answer was final, no willingness to debate the issue any further. “You’re going to get up there, and they’re going to love you just as much as they love us. You’re going to do fantastic, y/n. I’m not worried and you shouldn’t be, either.”

“Thank you, Danny.” You smiled. The warmth of his sincerity alone was enough to make you feel better, but his company worked even better. “I am excited, but I think the anxiety gets in the way of that sometimes.”

“Trust me, when you get in your stage clothes and they put your makeup on, you’ll feel like a whole new person. It’s a different kind of feeling, like you’re the most extravagant version of yourself and you can take on the whole world.” He assured you, taking a shot of his own. “Plus, we’ll be there on the sidelines cheering louder than anyone else. If you get nervous, just look for me.” He grinned. Sometimes you were overwhelmed by the support and love that Danny gave you. It was more than you had ever felt in your life, and you hoped he never stopped. Friendship with Danny was more beautiful than most simple pleasures in life, and he proved that love existed in many different ways, and even stronger than romantic by times.

“I love you.” You smiled, feeling the tension whither away indefinitely.

“I love you.” He said, glancing past you for a moment. “I think lover boy is jealous that I’m getting a moment alone with you.”

“Fuck, which one?” You sighed, rolling your eyes at the thought.

“Both.” He muttered, laughing to himself. “Any sign of stopping?”

“Plenty, but it seems like I’m colourblind, now. The stop signs look green and the red flags look pink.” You mumbled, twirling a frayed string from the rip in your jeans around your finger. “But the show must go on, right?”

“Not necessarily.” He shrugged. “Effect from cause, remember? If you’re hurting, you can stop it at the source.”

“I think that would hurt worse.” You gave a sad smile, shaking the idea from your head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s my own fault, so I’ll fix it somehow.” You advised, shuffling to your feet. “Thanks for the pep talk. I needed it.” You spoke softly as you moved towards the large glass doors on the other side of your room. Danny watched you walk away, realizing that pre-show anxiety might not be the only thing that was troubling you. He let you slip on to the balcony with no intent to follow. He loved you enough to recognize when you needed to be alone, and solitude was what you were craving. You were fine with the crowd hanging around your room, but you were searching for a moment of peace in hopes to decompress from the days activities.

You broke out into the afternoon air, surrounded by the distant sounds of the city. The sky was blue, cloudless and beholding the type of beauty you couldn’t recreate in a picture. You rummaged through your sweater pocket, locating a pack of cigarettes, and pulled one out. You took a seat on the patio chair, lighting the end and watching the flame from the lighter fizzle away in the wind. The building was tall, taller than any you had ever seen in your hometown, and you were nestled nearly at the top. You’d seen plenty of skyscrapers in Nashville, but upon your arrival in Atlanta you couldn’t believe how many people littered the streets of the cities you had never been privileged enough to visit.

You thought of your younger self, how excited she would be for you now, how thrilled she would be that you had broken free of the generational curses and you were finally living your dream. If only she could understand that implications of dreams were dangerous, and just because you were living the life you had hoped for did not mean you were perfectly content. Ever since the confessional of your broken childhood to Sam, it had been looming over your head like a sinister nightmare. You felt more pain over the memories of your past than you ever had before. You were forever wounded from the scars you had collected from loving the brothers now, and your body was giving way underneath the weight of your wrongs.

You were living your dream, yet you were so worn down that it was painful to enjoy it. You felt guilty for not being able to have fun; you knew you should be joyous, celebrating and drinking with the rest of your friends, but the ache that settled in your chest was almost too strong to withstand. Laughing felt foreign, and you thought that fun could not come without crushing guilt following it. You wished so badly that you could fall out of love as fast as you fell in love, but it just wasn’t possible. For a while, you felt like you were ahead, winning by possessing the ability of control, but they had their teeth in you, and as the days passed, claws, too. They were tearing you apart and you were letting them. The grief was growing, rooting into your bones and metastasizing on your soul while you mourned something you hadn’t even lost yet. But, loss was familiar even if you weren’t aware you were feeling it; you had lost yourself, respect for yourself, and the sense of right and wrong. You’d spent months believing you were gaining something from their love, but it simply wasn’t true. You’d given up so much of yourself amidst loving them that you were unrecognizable, now. The losses outweighed the benefits, and you were finally beginning to understand.

In your journey of learning how to love, you had quickly learned that loving was not easy. You can love and hurt at the same time, just the same as you can die while the sun is shining. As you sat under the sun, cigarette smoking in your hand, you realized that you already were. You were inviting it, welcoming death with open arms just to enjoy the peacefulness as you drifted. You were out of ideas on how to satiate the pain without inviting it back into your life, no idea how to heal the wounds without reopening them. The pain was worsened by them, but healed by them, too, and you were at the end of the road. Your last flame was flickering away, and they were out of fuel to keep it going. Instead of protecting it, you chose to focus on attempting to warm yourself with their fire, ignorant to the fact that their flames were producing a wind strong enough to turn you to dust.

“Hasn’t anyone told you that those are bad for you?” His voice cut through the serenity like a knife, breaking you from your internal brooding. It was so familiar, so comforting, yet left a lasting burn on your skin. He was comfort, but he was also catastrophe. Unfortunately for you, you were so comfortable in chaos that you loved him despite the disaster.

“Woke up a hypocrite, today?” You asked, not bothering to turn and look to him. For once, you weren’t yearning for the moment with him. You were perfectly fine with being upset, and perfectly fine without his help.

“Ouch,” he said, taking the seat beside you. “Just because I do it doesn’t mean I want you to do it, too. Not allowed to worry about you anymore?”

“I think you should stop worrying, Jacob.” You said, still refusing to look at him.

“I thought you quit?” He refused to give up, knowing that being on the receiving of your standoffish nature was better than not speaking to you at all.

“Living the rockstar lifestyle, now. Have to look the part.” You joked, but your tone was flat. You both fell into a silence, listening to the sound of cars passing below. You wanted to touch him, but you were afraid that you would give too much of yourself to him once more. It was so easy to give everything to Jake, even when he wasn’t asking for it.

“I miss you, y/n.” His admission was prompted by nothing but his own heart. The distance between you two was larger than it ever had been, and he was desperate to bridge the gap. He craved that connection he felt with you in the beginning, and he was fearful that all of the time you spent with Sam was locking him into a corner. He regretted pushing you to tell him your troubles, scared that it drove you even further away from him.

“I miss you, Jake.” You finally looked over at him, the sight of his face giving you nothing but pain. He caught your eye, holding your gaze but doing nothing more. He didn’t reach for you, not even expressing a thought that he would. He wanted you to reach for him, he needed to feel like you still wanted him as badly as he wanted you. If only he knew how much you wanted to tell him, he would never have to worry. You wanted to be everything for him; the best version of yourself, one that knew how to love properly and how to be loved by another, one who could give him the entire world, but you were fearful that you would never be that person, that you couldn’t be that person.

“When are you going to let me in, Gold Dust Woman?” He asked, looking back out over the balcony rail. The cloud of emotion radiating from him was so large that it was beginning to fill the sky with confessions and desires.

“I’m trying.” You whispered, flicking the ash off of your cigarette and watching as it fluttered to the ground. “I don’t know how.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yeah.” You admitted. “I really do, Jake, but it’s hard.”

“I think it’s time you let go of the idea that intimacy is easy.” He said, no passion nor desperation in his voice. He was fighting the battle with nonchalance despite every molecule in his body screaming for salvation. He had become painfully aware that emotion was not easy for you, but it was still excruciatingly difficult to contain his own. “You’ve been searching for the simple solution, but you need to understand that it’s not supposed to be easy. If it was, this would have been over a long time ago.” You wanted to be angry, upset that he shoved words down your throat that you didn’t want to hear, but he was right. Simplicity was extremely tempting, but it was not the answer to your questions. If you continued to search blindly for it, you would remain on the same journey until you died empty-handed and alone. “If you want to love me, you can. If you want to love him, you can. Sam and I aren’t strangers to the world we’ve been living in. I know you love him. I can see it. I can feel it when you look at him, y/n. I’m not asking you to stop feeling that way for him. I’m just hoping that you feel it for me, too. I think that you do, but I need to know if this is more than just sex, or if I’m only waiting to get my heart broken.”

“You’re an idiot if you can’t see it.” You were harsh, unbelieving of the fact that he was unsure if you felt that way for him. “It’s never been about sex, Jake. Maybe that first night, but never after that. If Sam gave me the world, and you didn’t, why would I still be here?” You asked, pulling your knees to your chest on the flimsy chair. Your cigarette was long burnt to a butt in your hand, but you continued holding it so you wouldn’t reach for another. You did feel obligated to teach them a lesson, but you never would have subjected him to so much pain if you felt nothing for him. “I don’t know how to let you in. I’ve spent my entire life trying to keep everyone out. Before you and Sam, I never needed to open up. I apologize for struggling, but it’s never been because I don’t want you.”

“There you go.” He whispered, looking back at you with more hope in his eye than before. “I’m not asking to be your hiding place for every secret. I would always keep it safe for you, but I know that’s too much to expect. I just need to know that you care. I think we’ve been doing this long enough for me to ask.”

“Like I said, Jacob. Idiot.” Your words were insulting, but a smile was tugging at your lips. There was one on his, too. “Don’t convince yourself you’re not special, because you know it’s not true. You know what you mean to me.”

“Don’t have to be so mean about it.” He joked, but the tension was nonexistent. You were back in the realm of comfortability that you hadn’t felt in a long time.

“I think we’ve been doing this long enough for me to say that.” You shot back his own statement. “In fact, I think you like it.”

“Sadist,” he whispered, hopeful for normalcy. He was rewarded when extended your hand out to him, which he slipped into his own eagerly. Silence became you as you both leaned back in your chairs, fingers interlocked while looking down upon the city. Although normal was not even close to what the current situation was, it was normal for you and Jake, and that was all that mattered.

“Are you excited?” He broke the silence after a long while without conversation.

“Scared.” You corrected. “Seems like fear is the only thing I know how to feel.”

“You’ll blow them away, Gold Dust Woman.” He assured you, giving your hand a gentle squeeze. “I didn’t give you that nickname for nothing.”

“I can’t believe you talked me into this.” And you meant it. It was beyond you that Jake was able to persuade you to join them on tour, and although he did not single-handedly convince you, he definitely did the brunt of the work.

“You’ll change your mind after tonight. I promise.” He assured you, still trying to keep his eyes off of you. He felt if he looked in your direction again, he would never be able to look away. “Once the dream comes to life, you’ll never look back. You’ll want to live in it forever.”

“You’re telling that to someone who’s created a life from running away.”

“At least slow down to look at the sights, this time.” You broke, looking over at him in a moment of weakness. Through the storm weathering your brain, he was the moment of serenity. It was like driving under a bridge during a hurricane, loud for so long until you were covered by his shadow and blessed with silence.

“I am.” You promised, the two words strong and full of hope for something better. “I’ve been angry with myself for not knowing how to change, but it’s time to learn.” You explained. “I’m done running, and I’m trying not to be afraid anymore.”

“And I’m proud of you for it.” He finally caught your gaze again, weak from the power you had over him. “I’ll be proud of you forever, even if it has to be from a distance. Even if you don’t pick me, Gold Dust Woman.” He hoped the profession wouldn’t cause another rift between you, but the truth was that you had been waiting years for someone to say something so meaningful to you. When he said it the first time, it was too overwhelming to accept. Now, you could listen to him say it forever. Little by little, he was breaking down the wall.

“I…” Love you. “Like you, Jake. A lot.” You couldn’t muster the strength for the truth, but he knew. Even without the proper word spoken, he could feel the power of the statement.

“I like you, too.” He said, leaning in for a kiss. It was short, but sweet and filled with love. If you weren’t okay with speaking it aloud, he could settle for showing you. “We should probably get ready to head to the venue.” He said, regretful for pulling away. He wished he could kiss you until his lips turned blue and his lungs could no longer remember what oxygen felt like.

“Yeah, you’re probably right.” You agreed, but wished you could stay, too.

“I’ll come and see you before you get on stage.” He promised. “Just so you know your biggest fan is cheering you on.”

“You don’t need to be there for me to know that.” You murmured, nose still brushing with his own. He left another kiss on your lips, the sweetness strong enough to last until he could get the chance again.

The two of you filtered back into the hotel room to join the crowd. Your chest felt lighter, like Jake had picked up some of the weight that was dragging you down and put it upon his own shoulders. In a sense, he did. Jake was always willing to carry some of your struggle so you could walk with ease, even if it was a bit too heavy for him to handle. You grabbed your bag from the floor, picking through it to grab your wallet and any other necessities for the night. By the time you collected your belongings, the rest of the company dwindled away, returning to their own rooms to do the same. Jake did not stay to chat, but he did give you a look of longing before emerging into the hallway. He didn’t stay long enough to see it, but you gave him one just the same.

When you arrived at the venue, the sheer size of the building was overwhelming. It was a long journey from playing bars around town to opening for a world tour. A regular crowd for your local shows wouldn’t even fill a single section of this venue. Riley slipped an arm around your shoulder, sensing the return of your anxiety. He was incredibly understanding, mostly because they were both feeling the pressure too. When you entered the back door, event organizers were pointing you in the correct directions. You tried to swallow your nerves, but seeing how naturally the boys responded only made you realize how much of an amateur you were at their craft.

“You guys are up first for soundcheck,” Aaron said, nodding towards the stage. “We do most of the work, so just play a few songs. If something sounds off, let us know.”

“Oh, o-okay,” you nodded, looking to your bandmates. They seemed eager to get out there, like they were counting down the minutes until they could finally play for the world. You wished to dig a hole and hide in it forever; you never felt more out of place than you did in that moment.

“We’re okay.” Dylan assured you. “It’s going to be fine.” You gave another nod, letting the other to lead the way to the stage. Your instruments were set up, ready to go so the sound check could run smoothly.

You grabbed your guitar, throwing the strap over your head. You plucked a few of the strings, caught off guard by the volume. Riley did the same with a grin eating away at his cheeks, wanting to test the volume for himself. Dylan couldn’t contain her laughter at the excitement dancing in his eyes, hitting a few off beats to join in on the moment. It seemed like the sound of the music had struck a nerve in all of you. The sheer excitement from the volume was enough to keep you going. “Give me something to work with.” You broke out of your shell, joking with the drummer. She was pleased with your response, taking your comment and running with it.

She began a familiar beat, the sound ringing through the empty stadium. The noise was so strong that you could feel it in your chest, rattling your bones and overtaking your heartbeat, but it was fantastic. You had never felt more alive; all the fears you had been feeling seemed to float away, replaced with electricity from the booming beat of the drum. After a few moments, you hit a couple chords on the guitar. The clean tone wasn’t good enough for you, though. You took a step towards the pedalboard and engaged one of the switches with your foot. The distortion kicked in, prompting a smile on your lips. Dylan hit a high, her arms moving faster than you could comprehend, and then she stopped completely. There was stagnant air only for a second before you started the main riff of the song. Once you ran through it, Dylan and Riley joined.

“Now look at them yo-yo’s, that’s the way you do it

You play the guitar on the MTV

That ain’t workin, that’s the way you do it

Money for nothing and your chicks for free.”

You stopped playing as you finished, opting not to play the entire song and eager to move onto something a little harder. You looked between the two, your smile never leaving your face. “Let’s pick up the pace.” You teased, breathless and your cheeks stained red.

“Try me.” She challenged.

You turned off the distortion, clicking another pedal to replace the effect. You hovered your foot over the Wah pedal and began an intro to Voodoo Child. The other two joined and Riley began singing the lyrics to the song. You finished without a hitch, all of you giggly and high off the adrenaline rush.

“You want a challenge?” Riley asked. You nodded, listening intently for him to begin a bass line. He plucked a few familiar notes, lighting a fire in you.

“You’re on.” You cut him off, switching your pedals again. He lowered his hand, taking a step away from the mic in anticipation. You took a breath, closing your eyes for a moment to channel the right energy. He had picked a hard song, and you were unsure if you could pull it off, but you were more than willing to try. You took a look over your shoulder before starting, catching the staring eyes of the four boys watching in awe. Jake wasn’t even attempting to hide his stare, falling more in love with you every time your fingers graced the strings of the Les Paul. His eyes flickered to your face, hoping to catch a glimpse of your beauty in the moment. When he realized you were already looking at him, he sent a smile your way. You gave him a wink, but didn’t wait to see a reaction.

Your fingers carried the tune from muscle memory. It was fast, hard to keep up with even when you were the one setting the pace. You took a step to the microphone, Riley already well aware that you were leading the way. It was your favourite song to play, and one of the most difficult to beat in comparison to any other. It was a show stopper, and clearly he was looking to set the record straight with your talent. He knew that you belonged on the stage, but he wanted you to realize it, too. You sang through the first verse, extra concentrated to ensure you didn’t make any mistakes. When the chorus came around, the tension in your shoulders dissipated indefinitely, and you were one with the guitar as you played.

“He’s my sweet little thing,

He’s my pride and joy

He’s my sweet little baby,

He’s my little lover boy.”

You laughed into the mic as you sang and Riley jumped right into the next verse. He sang the second chorus, looking over to you as he led you into the solo. You took a step back from the microphone and towards the bassist, leaning into him as you played. He laughed at your antics, leaning forward as well while his fingers continued to move on the fretboard. Dylan was giggling as she tried to keep time with you both, always finding your performance hilarious. Being on stage seemed to bring out an entirely new side of you, but it was fantastic for them to see. You had a passion for performing, and if you could, you would stay on stage and sing until your lungs gave out. It was getting up there that was the trouble, and never anything that came after.

You both moved back to the microphones to finish the song, singing the lyrics together for the finale. When you plucked the final note, you barely had time to comprehend the loss of the music before cheers erupted from the side stage. You looked over at the group of boys, skin still tingling with the euphoric feeling of playing live music. Aaron gave you a thumbs up, happy with the sound and signalling that you guys were good. You placed your guitar back on it’s stand, rushing off to meet the group waiting for you. “We sound okay?” You asked, looking between them with a hopeful gleam in your eye.

“Okay?” Sam scoffed.

“Try amazing.” Josh corrected.

“Three man band really is all you need.” Danny smiled.

“Stevie Ray Vaughan?” Jake questioned, an eyebrow raised. The entire group turned to look at him, wondering if he was really going to critique the performance.

“Yeah,” you breathed, suddenly feeling nervous. ‘Was it that bad?’ You thought to yourself, shifting your weight on your feet.

“You have to be one phenomenal guitarist to pull that off.” He said, gaze still lingering over your face. He had a far away look in his eye, like his mind was completely elsewhere. “I think that you played it even better than he did. That was fantastic, Gold Dust Woman.” The term of endearment slipped out, like a little secret he’d been burying for a lifetime was finally too strong to withstand. He was too in love with you to notice, and you were too ecstatic to care. Hearing such a compliment from Jake was more intoxicating than any kind of substance you could use. You wished you could live in the cloud of elation from his words forever.

Before you could speak to thank him, you were being pulled in another direction from a set of unfamiliar hands. The event staff was whisking you away to your dressing room, but you weren’t ready to leave. You wanted to tell him how much his compliment meant to you, to stay and admire his beauty for just a moment longer. Looking at Jake was like wishing upon a shooting star; normally, your hopes felt feeble, but the sight of him before you served as a reminder that all dreams could come true if you wished hard enough. Before you were completely out of reach, he managed to reach for your hand and give it a gentle squeeze. Your fingers broke from him while still caught in a plea for more, but you had things to do that did not include his company.

“Gold Dust Woman?” Dylan asked, both her and Riley following along close behind you. The staff directed you into a dressing room, stating that this would be yours and your stylist would join you shortly. “Did the name come from him, or does he call you that because of the name?”

“Lines a little blurred there, honestly. I couldn’t tell you.” You shrugged, stepping inside the room. Riley went his separate way, being led down the hallway to a different area. But Dylan wasn’t one to quit, never leaving your side until you were unable to escape her.

“Come on, y/n.” She pried, a laugh stuck in her throat.

“Yes, the name came from him.” You snipped, taking a seat on the couch. She sat beside you, kicking her feet up on the table sitting in front of her and making herself at home.

“I thought you and Sam were a thing. Doesn’t it bother him that you named your band after Jakes nickname for you?” It was your turn to laugh, the question so incredibly hard to answer that it was more humorous than anything.

“Yes, Sam and I are a thing.” You said, sinking down into the cushions. She watched, waiting for you to continue. When you didn’t, her eyes widened in shock.

“Him, too?”

“Him first, actually.” You muttered. “It’s all so fucked up.

“They’re brothers,” she said, looking off into the distance as she processed the information. “Promiscuous.” She giggled, looking back at you. “Good for you.”

“No, not good.” You chuckled, still finding her jokes funny despite the twisted premise of the conversation. “It’s a mess, and I don’t know how to get out of it.”

“Clearly, if you named the band after him.” She let out another giggle, shaking her head at the new information as she reiterated her point. “You’re a smart girl. You’ll figure it out.” She assured you.

“Haven’t felt very smart lately.” You sighed as you looked up at her. She gave a sympathetic nod, but wasn’t anywhere near ready to end the conversation yet.

“They’re cute, so you have that going for you at least.” You both shared a laugh, unable to refute the fact. “How long?”

“Couple months.”

“And you’ve been keeping it a secret from me for that long?” She feigned a look of hurt.

“Guess I thought if I didn’t talk about it, it would work itself out. I was wrong.”

“It’s okay to be wrong sometimes. Happens to all of us.” She shrugged. “I thought Gold Dust Woman came from your love for Fleetwood Mac. I was wrong. Very wrong.” You both divulged into another laugh, one that made your stomach ache and your lungs desperate for oxygen.

“Which one are you in love with?” She asked, ceasing her laughter but holding her smile. You looked up to meet her eyes, unable to give her the proper answer. “I mean, whichever one you choose should be the one you fell in love with. After this long, you should know that by now.”

“Both of them.” You mumbled, looking to your hands in your lap. “I love them both, for completely different reasons.”

“Ouch,” she winced, not expecting the bluntness of your words. “That makes it tough, then.”

“You have no idea.” You replied, cut off by a body entering the room carrying two large suitcases worth of supplies.

“Alright, y/n?” The unknown woman asked, eyes drifting between you both. You raised your hand, giving her a smile. “You’re up first for makeup and wardrobe.”

“I’ll leave you to it.” Dylan slapped her hands to her thighs before making a move to stand. You gave her an apologetic smile, but she was out the door before she even noticed. You turned your attention to the girl you had yet to be introduced to, giving her a warm grin, excited for what she had in store for you.

She ushered you over to the chair on the other side of the room. You took a seat, but didn’t speak a word until she got a good look at you, familiarizing herself with your face. “I’m your stylist. Specifically yours, but I do work with Greta’s team occasionally. I’m Rachel.” She hummed, running her fingers through your hair.

“Nice to meet you.” You said, looking at your reflection in the mirror while she studied you. You could already tell you were going to like her; she had an exuberant attitude that drew you in, even with her minimal conversation.

“I have lots of stuff planned for you, but I want to hear your thoughts.” She said, pulling another chair up beside you. She took a seat, leaning back and watching your face. “What do you want to look like? Who do you want to be when you get up on that stage?” You pondered her words, thinking hard about the personality you wanted to encase.

“Confident. I want to be me, but just more confident.” You deducted. “Don’t have a whole lot of that normally, so I want something to make me look like I am. Maybe I’ll actually feel it once I get out there.” She nodded as you spoke.

“I like it.” She smiled. “Are you a bold colour type of person, or do you like darker?”

“Darker clothes usually, but I don’t mind a bit of excitement.” She chuckled.

“You’re comfortable with makeup?” You nodded. She repeated your action, standing once again. “Alright, I think I’ve got it figured out.”

She got to work, starting with your makeup. You made as much small talk as the situation would allow, but mostly just enjoyed being pampered. It was something you had never experienced before, and you were enjoying being able to sit back and relax while somebody else was doing the brainstorming for the final look. She was agile with her hands, quick at her job and damn good at it, too. When she finished your makeup, she took a step back for you to admire the sight. You had a black smokey eye, bold and yet elegant looking. It was complimented by a precise wing of gold eyeliner that made your eyes stand out. Deep contour and a dusty blush plastered your cheeks, and your lips shined with a glossy glow. Where highlighter usually sat, she had arranged a few gold star stickers that shimmered under the light. Your eyebrows were done neatly and false eyelashes sat on your eyelids.

You barely recognized yourself; you felt more beautiful than you ever had before. The makeup was heavy, but somehow looked natural, like your face was meant to house such a statement. When you looked to her with a gleam in your eye, you didn’t even have to tell her how good she did. It was written all over your expression. She got you into your outfit next, saving your hair for last. She helped you into the unfamiliar clothes, fixing a shirt on you that would certainly catch attention. It was a metallic gold tank top with only one strap. It was asymmetrical, coming down further on the opposite side of the strap and sitting above your hip on the other. She used a few safety pins to hold the fabric to your bra, ensuring it wouldn’t slip out of place. You out on a pair of black pants that were tight, hugging every inch of your skin and complementing the right spots.

“Heels or no?”

“Yeah, I’m good with heels.” You agreed. You wore them often enough to be comfortable in them all night without worry. She found a pair of black leather boots with a thicker heel to make you as comfortable as possible. You changed from your regular shoes into the new pair before checking yourself in the mirror.

You were baffled at your reflection; you had no idea you could look so enchanting with such little work. It seemed like she completely transformed you into the most stunning version of yourself. “Alright, hair and then we’re done.” She smiled. You took a seat back in the chair and watched as she searched for the tools she needed. She took little time running a curling iron through the locks of your hair with ease. She clipped them as she curled, wanting them to keep their shape while she worked. Once she finished, she brushed through the ringlets with her fingers, breaking them up as they formed into one solid wave. She doused it with hairspray to hold it there, and then spritzed some glitter into the strands so it would glisten under the stage light. “What do you think?”

“I… I don’t even know what to say.” You gave a small laugh, inspecting your reflection intently. “I don’t even recognize myself. It’s… ethereal.”

“It’s all you, Gold Dust Woman. You just look the part, now.” She grinned, making a move to pack up her things. You knew that she had called you that because of the name of your band, but you couldn’t help but feel a tingle down your spine at the term. Jake had done fantastically at sedimenting himself into your thoughts, making himself inescapable even when the situation had nothing to do with him. “I have to get started with Dylan, but if you need me I’ll just be in her room.”

“Yeah, okay.” You nodded, still breathless at the glamorous nature of your presentation. “Thank you.” She filtered out of the room, bags rustling as she struggled to keep them all in her arms. After a few more moment of admiration for her work, you decided to explore the place a bit more.

You stepped into the hallway, peering around for a familiar face. You heard the sound of music lingering through the air, figuring the boys were still amidst their own sound check. Instead of waiting around, you walked towards the door that led to the main building in hopes of locating a bar. You snuck into the next hallway, looking around curiously at the unfamiliar territory. It was silent, seemingly no bodies present in the area, but you continued on your search anyway. You broke into a main entrance, sunlight beaming through the panel windows. Chatter sounded from a distance, and you noticed a sign on the wall displaying directions. You let out a noise of triumph, following the arrow that was pointing to a bar.

When you presented yourself in front of the counter, there were a few people bustling behind it and making small talk amongst themselves. When they noticed your presence, a younger man walked to greet you. “Was hoping there was a bar here. Otherwise I would have looked quite ridiculous walking around for nothing.” You grinned.

“Where there’s music there’s alcohol, right?” He chuckled.

“Right.” You agreed. “Double rum and coke, please.” You pulled a twenty from the back of your phone case, ready to pay him, but he seemed immersed in the details of your face.

“You’re part of the opening act, right?”

“Yeah, that’s my band.” You smiled, nodding your head towards the tour posters splayed across the walls.

“So, was that you I heard singing earlier?” He raised an eyebrow. You scanned his expression, noticing his eyes were laced with flirtatious undertones. He wasn’t bad looking; in fact, he was quite handsome, but you were in no position to entertain a third pursuer. Not that he could ever compare to the two boys you had already fallen for, anyway.

“It was.” You nodded, keeping the smile on your lips. Entertaining was different than enjoying, after all, and you could definitely enjoy it without intent for more. “Did I sound good?”

“Don’t know why you’re not headlining.” He responded, his voice dropping slightly as he poured the liquor into your cup. “Pretty face, pretty voice. You’ve got it all.” Under all of the makeup, you felt your cheeks heat with a blush. He sat your drink on the counter and you tried to pass him the money to pay. “This one’s on me,” he said, refusing to accept the bill. “As long as you come back and say hi before the night ends.”

“I guess I’ll have to.” You grinned, taking a sip from the straw. “Thank you.” He grabbed a pen and quickly jotted something down on a napkin. He slid it your way before speaking again.

“If you’re around town after the show and looking for some sights to see, give me a call. I make a great tour guide.”

“I’ll certainly keep that in mind.” You grinned before uttering a small goodbye. You followed the same path back to the backstage entrance. As you made your way back to your room, your stomach sank with disappointment in yourself for flirting back with the bartender, even knowing how in love you were with Jake and Sam both. Even so, you couldn’t help but notice the carefree nature you had during the interaction; it was nice flirting with someone other than the two boys. It was easy, no crushing guilt nor worry for repercussions about your actions. You’d spent so long tangled within the Kiszka web that you forgot how simple love could be, and the realization was horrible to feel.

Amidst loving both of them so deeply, you had forgotten the ease and carelessness that came before them. You adored them, and knew that what you felt for them was true, but the pain from loving them was hard to handle sometimes. It wasn’t hard enough to want to stop, but it was definitely painful enough to make you wish for something easier by times.

You rounded the corner into your dressing room, stopping with a shock when you noticed the body present on your couch. He looked up from his phone with a smile on his lips as he prepared to greet you. Once his eyes landed on you, he couldn’t seem to find the words he wanted to say. At the sight of him, your previous thoughts dissipated instantly, only leaving a residual sense of guilt behind. The phone number in your pocket was meaningless; no matter how difficult loving them could be, nobody else could ever make you feel the same way that the brothers could. “Hi, Sammy.” You breathed, suddenly nervous just from his presence. Even in his street clothes, completely relaxed and careless, he was stunning.

“Hello, Gorgeous.” He greeted you in the same awestruck tone, a smile tugging at his lips. “Or Gold Dust Woman, rather.” He corrected. You forced a smile onto your lips, worried that his words were hidden with hurt from Jake’s term of endearment, but he didn’t seem to be upset at all. Perhaps he was just referring to the band name. You had gotten yourself in quite a bind by naming the band after Jake’s favourite nickname for you, but it felt so right at the time that you couldn’t seem to refute the idea.

“Like the new look?” You asked, moving towards him. He stood, ready to greet you as you approached. Once you were within reach, you placed your drink down on the table and he snaked his hand to your waist, pulling you into him.

“Love it, actually.” He brought his other hand to your cheek, fingers gently brushing against your skin as they moved under the hair framing your face. Your eyes fluttered closed at the touch, an involuntary reaction prompted by the blissful feeling of his skin on your own. “I think I’d like it more if we took the clothes off.” He added, the hand on your hip tightening more as he spoke. You felt a flutter in your stomach, unable to fight the rush of emotion that arose from his statement.

“Behave yourself, Sam.” You scolded, but a smile was growing on your lips.

“Where’s the fun in that?” He was smiling, too. His face was just hovering over your own, his lips dangerously close to yours. Too close to resist. “I’m sure your stylist wouldn’t mind fixing you up again. If we locked the door, nobody would ever know.”

“Don’t want to ruin her hard work.”

“Can I at least get a rain check for the hotel?” You could practically feel his lips on yours, his close proximity being the only thing you could think of.

“You know my room number.” You said, leaning forward and bridging the gap between you. He responded enthusiastically, happy that you made the move. Although you denied him sex, you weren’t willing to deny him everything all at once. You parted your lips slightly, deepening the kiss. The longer you kissed him, the more you were willing to agree to his suggestion of locking the door. When you parted from him, you were both breathless with stars dancing in your eyes. “Is that my good luck for tonight?”

“You don’t need any luck,” he brushed your comment off. “Not with that much talent.”

“So it was just an invitation for later.” You laughed.

“Yeah, exactly.” He agreed, pulling you in for another kiss. It was short, but sweet and filled with love. You both had become experts at saying I love you without uttering a word. “They opened the doors not too long ago, so you guys will be up soon.”

“Okay,” you heard his words, but didn’t really register the meaning. You were too immersed in his company to care about what was to come next.

“I don’t want to distract you for too long.” He mumbled, letting his thumb drift over the exposed skin on your neck. “Just wanted to tell you that you’re going to do great. The kiss was just a bonus.”

“I think another one would be even better.” You crooned. He let out a low chuckle, agreeing with you but not willing to give in. “Just for a little extra luck.”

“Well, if that’s the case…” he trailed off, leaning down and pulling you into one last kiss. You held him to you, enjoying the moment too much to let it slip away so soon. You let out a hum of pleasure against him, letting him know just how much you appreciated his company.

You were so lost in him that when a sharp knock on the door sounded, you nearly jumped out of your skin in fear. You jumped away from him, much like a kid who was showing guilt for doing something mischievous. Although your entanglement was known to many, you still felt that pestering need to hide it. You turned, nearly vibrating with anxiety, to see who was at the door. When your eyes landed upon the intruder, your stomach sank. Jake was standing in the doorway, face stoney and eyes glossed over with a type of pain that was impossible to conceal. You had forgotten about his promise to visit you before the concert. You had forgotten about your own rule of keeping your relationships with them separate. You had welcomed Sam and disregarded Jake once again, and this time it seemed like it had devastated him even more so than the last.

Sam could sense the tension, also appearing sheepish for being caught. It served little comfort to know that neither seemed like they were in a rush to leave. “Wardrobe, Sam. They’ve been looking for you for ten minutes.” His tone was strong, his sentences short. His chest was aching at the thought of Sam loving you in the same way he did. Knowing it was one thing, and seeing it was another, even more horrible thing.

“Sorry,” he cleared his throat. He omitted any type of goodbye, but did brush hands with you on his way by as a silent show of apology. Jake barely moved out of the way to let him by, causing Sam to bump Jake’s shoulder with his own. When he disappeared around the corner, you were at a loss for words to express your remorse.

“Came by to make sure you were doing okay. Guess he beat me to it.” He gave a tight lipped smile, showing no emotion as he spoke, but you knew how much it was bothering him. “You seem to be doing more than alright.”

“Jake, I’m sorry.” You pleaded, desperate to make up for the mishap somehow. You took a step towards him, but he took a step back. He didn’t want it, and you didn’t want to push him. As he scuttled away from you, his eyes landed on something on the floor. He leaned down and picked it up, eyes dusting over the words written on the paper. The napkin with the bartenders phone number had slipped from your pocket, but the innocent interaction seemed to come back just to bury you within the grave.

“You really have been busy tonight.” He hummed, looking back to you and extending his arm for you to grab the napkin. “Better give the ‘handsome bartender’ a call, just to make sure he doesn’t feel left out, too.” He didn’t intend to sound so rude, but he didn’t know how else to respond to the situation. You snatched the napkin, frantically reading over the message the nameless boy wrote.

“This?” You said, crumpling it and throwing it in the garbage. “Is nothing. If I can swear to anything, it’s that.” You came off stronger than intended, your desperation evident and very unflattering. “I’m not calling him, Jake. I call you, I want to see you, I like spending time with you. I like you.” You hoped that your profession would serve a purpose, but it only seemed to drive him further away. Perhaps if you were able to speak the true sentiments that you had for him, it would have made the difference.

“And Sam, y/n. Can’t forget about him.” He reminded, raising an eyebrow at you. You couldn’t find the words to answer, so instead you said nothing. You had never seen Jake look at you with such contempt, and it was killing you. Any thoughts of the simple nature with the bartender were futile. You were certain you would never care this much about another person. You had never before cared enough to want to stop someone from walking away. You were a lot of things, but never one to beg someone to stay. “And it was enough to get you to take his number, though. Two not enough for you anymore?”

“Oh, fuck you, Jake.” You snapped, feeling a bubble of anger rise within you. “You started this and now you want to chastise me for being stuck in the middle? You don’t get to be mad, Jacob. We’ve been over this.” Your defensive response was not what was needed to diffuse the situation, and you could tell that it did nothing but worsen the tension. Jake gave a slow nod of his head, wondering if you were going to say anything else. When you stood, staring with fire dancing in your eyes, he spoke again.

“You’re gonna do great tonight, y/n.” He said as monotone as he could. He thought if he had the ability to properly express himself, he might be able to put the suffering to an end. The first time was child’s play, a superficial scrape in comparison to the stab that came with this one. Before, it was easy to digest the knowledge of you loving Sam. Now, it was excruciating. Everything was easier to overcome when love wasn’t a question, but once the dreaded feeling settled in and seemed to want to stay, the pain seemed to hurt just a little bit worse each time.

“Wait, I’m sorry. Jake, please.” You took another step towards him, hoping he would stay long enough for you to talk to him.

“You look beautiful.” He added, turning away from you. “You really fit the part, Gold Dust Woman.” He muttered to himself, shaking his head as he walked away. You stepped into the hallway to follow, but instead, you watched him walk away. You knew there was no way to stop his hurt; that ache in his chest was all too familiar, and the only thing that would put an end to it was a decision that you weren’t ready to make. As much as you wanted to take his pain away, you needed to understand that sometimes it was impossible, especially in that moment, because you were the one causing it. It was horrible knowing that you wanted to give him the world, but you were the sole reason he couldn’t have it.

You didn’t have time to dwell because your bandmates had crowded behind you, jittering with excitement and eager to see your outfit. In hopes to tend to your own wounds, you retired to your dressing room with the other two in tow. You drank away your sorrow as your friends expressed their feelings about performing, and after a while, you managed to find the strength to speak, too. When the time to perform drew near, the staff came to explain how it would work and give you instructions and cues to remember. You were so nervous by the time you were supposed to get on stage that your interaction with Jake had floated to the back of your mind. Your stylist came to touch up makeup, and the three of you were sent to side-stage.

You had your eyes closed intermittently as you walked to the curtain, blocking out the world and repeating encouragements in your head to overshadow any doubt. As you opened your eyes and exhaled the breath you were holding, you took a look around your surroundings. When you turned your head back towards the hallway, you felt like you had been punched in the stomach. Jake was placed perfectly against the wall in plain sight. He had a smile on his lips and his arm slung around the waist of an unfamiliar woman. In an instant, you were brought back to your own garage, drunk off cheap vodka and grief over your non-existent relationship with Sam Kiszka. It only took one smile with hidden implications to send you into a downward spiral of despair. One touch that was bordering the line of innocence shattered your confidence, leaving you choking down the suffocating feeling of not being good enough. His fingers lingering on her waist were grounds to drive you to insanity. You felt like you were going to be sick.

As if he knew you were watching, like he knew you were there and hurting over his careless behaviour, he looked up and caught your eyes. He let his stare captivate you for a moment too long before a smile graced his lips, proving that his motive was solely to piss you off. He was intentional about his actions, and covering his own hurt in the only way he knew how: shutting down and pushing you away. It was soul-crushing, the way he protected himself, because it was the exact same thing that you had learned to do. He didn’t break your stare until the woman let out a giggle and wiggled further into his arms.

“You look like you’re going to throw up.” Dylan said, worry evident in her tone.

“I’m good.” You assured her, swallowing down your momentary distaste for Jake. If he wanted to play with fire, he was asking to get burned. “Let’s put on a hell of a fucking show.” You said, staring straight faced at the instruments that awaited your hands.

“You guys are on.” Aaron ordered, cutting your conversation short. You shared a look between your bandmates, feigning confidence as you emerged onto the stage. You pushed the thought of Jake as far down as you could, ignoring the searing sensation left in its place. Your entire body felt like it was on fire, ignited with rage over his childish tactics.

The spotlight beamed down on you, nearly blinding you as it illuminated your face. You picked up the Gold Top, taking your place by the microphone as your friends situated themselves with their own instruments. “Hello, Atlanta!” Riley boomed into the microphone. He was met with cheers from the crowd. Thousands of people were staring up at you, curious about who you were and what you had to offer. “It’s great to be here. We’re new at this, so please be patient with us while you wait for the main event.” Laughter filled the air, easing your erratic heartbeat.

“If you don’t know who we are, I really hope you will after tonight.” You smiled into the mic, eyes drifting over nameless faces. Another wave of applause filled the stadium.

“There’s no better way to introduce ourselves than by honouring the woman who started it all: Stevie Nicks.” Riley said, looking to you. “Take it away, Gold Dust Woman.” You smiled at his introduction, immediately looking down at your hands and plucking the first notes to the infamous song.

Muscle memory guided you through the cover of the song you held so dearly to your heart, but the lyrics served no comfort as you sang. You took the stage by storm, breaking out of your shell and singing the anthem of the band, the anthem perfect for a woman who was as despicable as you, but there was still some habits that you couldn’t seem to break. Every face in the crowd seemed to morph into Jake’s, and your lungs burned with anguish at the sight. No matter how hard you tried to forget him, he seemed to want to invade every possible aspect of your life until there was nothing left to overtake. You loved him dearly, but it was at a cost too high to afford; you were losing your sanity, and he was just happy that it was at his own hands rather than his brothers. Your twisted game only seemed to become more sick as time passed.

But, the blame was not on Jake alone. You would not have taken the name Gold Dust Woman had it not fit the narrative. You would not be a Gold Dust Woman if not for your deepest desires being the exact things that would inevitably destroy you in the end.

Rock on Ancient Queen

TAGLIST: @itsdannysworld @gretavansara @jaketlove @laneygvf @freefallthoughts @psychedelicsprinkles @idontwannabeherenow @joshysgirl @sanguinebats @objectsinspvce @klarxtr @sinarainbows @jakesmustache

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specialagentlokitty · 6 months

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Thomas Barrow x sister!Reader - protect you

Could you maybe write a Thomas Barrow x sister!reader where she lip reads because she's deaf or hard of hearing and Thomas just has her back every step of the way despite what people say? It's okay if not. Thank you🤍 - Anon💜

Sitting at the table, you were reading from your book, immersed in your own little world only to be pulled out of it when you felt a tap of your shoulder.

Looking yup, you smiled at your brother as he sat down.

“Have you had breakfast?” He asked.

You gave a small nod of your head, and he rose a brow at you.

He took a plate from in front of him and passed it over to you.

“Don’t lie to me (Y/N), I never saw you down here.”

You gave him an apologetic looked, and he gestured to the plate, taking the book away from you so you would focus on eating instead.

While you were doing that, he went to reading his paper.

When Mrs Hughes walked in he kicked your foot and you looked up before standing up, giving her a smile.

“Good morning (Y/N). How are you today?”

You gave her a bright smile and she smiled back.

“Doing well today I see, wonderful. I will need you to do a few small repairs on her ladyship’s dress after you have eaten if you have time.”

You nodded and Mrs Hughes smiled, leaving the room.

Sitting back down, you turned to Thomas who looked at you.

“You’re welcome.”

With that you carried on teaching before going about your daily tasks and the jobs that needed done as soon as you could.

You tried your best between working and focusing on your surroundings so you knew people were there, but sometimes it was hard.

While most of the staff knew about your condition, some of them didn’t, so when it came to more servants coming for a huge event, they were oblivious to the fact you needed to be tapped on the shoulder if they wanted something.

So when Mr Bates was walking past the boot room and he saw people crowded around the door he stopped.

“Is there something interesting in there?” He asked.

“There’s a girl in there and she has yet to notice we’re here, so we are playing a game.”

The small group parted to show him who was in there and he stared in shock.

You had small bits of paper thrown around you, and they were clanging some shoes together behind your back while laughing.

“You know, I don’t believe it wise to be messing around with her like this.”

“It’s fine, we so have no idea who’s servant she is, nobody will admit to her being part of their staff.”

“I see.”

Mr Bates did debate on getting involved, but instead he walked away, and he went in search of somebody else to deal with the situation.

And soon enough he found who was looking for.

“Mr Barrow.”

Thomas looked up and sighed heavily.

“What?”

“You may want to come handle the servants who are currently using your sister as a game for their entertainment.”

Thomas immediately dropped what he was doing and stood up.

“Where?”

“Boot room.”

Thomas sprinted in that direction, and Mr Bates followed with Anna, Mrs Hughes a few others behind him.

They could hear the shouting before they even reached the hallway, and they turned around to see a young man crying as he held his nose while some others cowered in fear.

Jimmy was standing by a door, blocking them from running into the kitchen, keeping Mrs Patmore and Daisy out of the way.

“You think it’s funny to be picking on a young woman?!” Thomas yelled.

They stayed quiet.

“If I ever see you talking, or so much as looking at my sister again I will do so much worse than break your nose.” He growled.

“Mr Bates, please take the injured boy to see Mr Carson and tell him what has happened, the rest of you sit down, we will be telling the head butler and head housemaids for your respective employers about this, as well as his lord ship.”

The rest of the Downton servants helped ensure that the culprits were kept in one room and kept quiet, and Thomas turned to you.

He took some small paper balls out your hair, and placed his hand on your head.

“Are you alright?” He asked.

You nodded.

“We will have them all dealt with.”

You nodded again, and he sighed.

He could tell you were upset, he could see it on your face as he held out his arms.

Getting up, you tightly hugged him, and he hugged you back.

He was furious, but he knew you needed him to be with you, so he set aside his anger to be there to support you.

This was the exact reason he had gotten you a job with him, so he could keep you safe, and he was furious anybody would this it okay to use you for their own entertainment.

Yes, you may be different, but you were still human after all.

You were his little sister, and he would be dammed if he ever let anybody get away with treating you with anything but respect.

He didn’t care who it was, high status or not.

Nobody was going to treat you like that and he would be sure of it

#Downton abbey #Downton abbey x reader #Downton abbey imagine #Downton abbey x you #Thomas Barrow #Thomas Barrow x reader #Thomas Barrow x you #Thomas Barrow imagine

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aemonds-wifey · 1 year

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Warrior Queen & Holy King

Chapter 1

Summary: As heir to the throne of your fathers kingdom you have finally won back your crown , now justice is served it is time to pick up the pieces of your old life…and your old love , the baby Monk

The winds howls echoed through the open , cold castle courtyard . A small scaffold was built by the tower, you stood by the small almost ornate wooden block fashioned for the execution.

Your eyes scanned over the crowd, the nobles had gathered to witness this, you stood in your elegant armour- a steal breastplate covered with a cloak made of black and green colours that intertwined with each other.

Then the crowd turned , Two men, arguably two of your best fighters, Finan and Sihtric - followed by loyal banner man brought him to you , Haesten- bloody, battle worn and in chains. Your eyes never left him as they brought him over the light blanket of snow towards you, a rage that had burnt inside you was beginning to dwindle…seeing him helpless and take his final steps up the scaffold- you felt nothing.

When the siege was finished , only Haesten had remained alive, you offered clemency to him- but he openly tried to attack you when you dropped your guard. Only to be taken down by your superior fighting skills, you decided then and there he would answer for his crimes, by execution- by your royal decree.

They dropped him before the block, forcing him on his kneees , he now knelt before the block- at your mercy.

“Do you have any last words?” You asked inhaling the crisp thin air , the wind howled as the light snowfallHaesten ,at spat at your feet - you did not flinch, she only looked down at him pitifully. Finan moved his leg to kick the man about to meet his death but too held your hands up to stop him.

After all these years, all the torment you had suffered- the years in exile you spent away from your home and fighting to survive. Here you stood. Hands firmly on your sword, ready to behead the man who had brought her so much pain and suffering . The man who murdered your parents, tried to kill you in an attempt to take your throne was now going to face justice. Sihtric had offered to behead him by his own hand, but you insisted you passed the sentence, therefore you must be the one to swing the sword.

You gently knelt down , her face inches away from Haestens , your long silver blonde plaited hair that rested over your shoulder almost touched the ground, you paused before

Opening your mouth to speak.

“This is too good a death for you….but I intend to be a just ruler…to show my people that I will not be the wretch you tried to make me….”

Haesten watched as you rose to your feet, firmly holding the sword handle with both hands - you took a moment and in mere moments, you brought the sword down and severed Haestens head away from his body. His head rolled down off the scaffold and into the snow. He was dead. The people watching did not gasp, they looked on as the tyrant they had suffered for five years was brought to a swift end.

Your squire offered his hands to take your sword, you handed it over to him. Watching as the body was taken away to be burnt , after the head was collected you left the scaffold.

Overcome with emotion you sought refuge by the fire in the council room, as you walked through the many hallways of the old castle you were greeted with smiles and bows. This was the first time you had retraced your steps in the castle since that fateful night , It was still so alien to you, when you were named as your fathers heir you were immediately bewildered by the sudden responsibility on your shoulders - your mother was equally proud of this decision, your parents commanded great respect as rulers of their kingdom and they had bestowed it onto you , their only child. Guided by your parents you started your journey onto becoming a worthy ruler …but then it all changed on the stormy late summers night upon your fifteenth winter.

Haesten sought to claim the throne, believing he was more worthy than a girl , he attacked with a cold fury that shocked you to your very core. After he had slain your mother , he held your father atop of the balcony overlooking the large courtyard , you were stood at the iron gate, your fingers gripped on the metal and only watching at the horror before your eyes. Haesten made the foolhardy offer to spare him and let him wallow in exile if you agreed to marry Haesten. Before you could even refuse, your fathers actioned echoed your thoughts. He elbowed Haesten and screamed at you to run, you could only watch as Haesten mortally wounded your father and tossed him aside over the edge of the balcony. The high pitched scream that left your ears only amplified throughout the stone work of the castle, as you were dragged away to safety- the last thing you saw was Haesten crowning himself with the precious crown he had removed from your fathers head after throwing him over the balcony.

A knock on the door turned your attention away from your memory.

“Yes?” You asked removing the cloak from your shoulders.

Uhtred stepped in , bowing his head slightly. Closing the door behind him.

You smiled warmly, Uhtred was the man who saved you from the burning tower the night Haesten sacked the castle, Uhtred taught you to fight and how to prepare to take back your crown.

He looked so proud of you “Haesten is dead I hear?”

You nodded “Swiftly and quickly. More than he deserved.” You said

Uhtred agreed “true…but you have shown you are stronger …takes courage to not butcher a man out of anger …”

He placed a comforting hand on your shoulder as you inhaled slowly

“And now you will be a Queen…the mightiest warrior Queen this land has seen.” He said

“Uhtred I could not have survived without you, Finan , Sihtric all of you…I’m eternally in your debt…” you said humbly.

“You have overcome great odds…to win back your throne is no easy feet but you did it…and now the usurper is dead.” He spoke leaning against the stone wall folding his arms.

You inhaled stepping away from the fire, looking briefly at the table littered with open parchments and rolled up scrolls. So much was to be done. You gripped the table end with two hands, looking at the map that was now your kingdom, you looked at Uhtred “I thought you would have wanted to witness his end?” You asked

“I was taking care of another matter …” he said with a glimmer of hope.

“The prisoners…?” You asked standing up straight.

Uhtred nodded only once. “We found them…housed at the great castle on the coast…” he said.

Your heart churned at his words “You mean…? He’s alive?”

Uhtred smiled “Very much…and very eager to see you.”

Your hands clasped over your chest for a moment and your exhaled “Osferth…” knowing he was alive was the greatest news you could have received. Your hand moved to the gap between your tunic and you fished out the small necklace you wore, on a silver chain the pendant was that of a small cross. You held it closely to your lips.

Chapter 2