#the shock has worn off and i can now look at the pictures very happily now dhdjjfhfj
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i feel like its actually sunk in that they did, in fact, get married and are in love and happy together 🥺
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Stripes the 50 year old tiger
This will be a longer post, because it’s all about the details, and there was a lot of going back and forth with photos and emails to get Stripes and his stripes just right. So be sure you’re comfy when you sit down to read it. :-)
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Stripes person first wrote to me back in December about her tiger, Stripes, and his companion RedEye the snake. Both were starting to feel their age, but as she said,
“ As you can see Stripes is in the most need of repairs. Personally, I’m guessing that a full recovering is needed, but I’m certainly no expert and will follow your advice. Here are some pics which show Stripes fur disappearing and soon he will be bald. Amazingly he has no damage that I can find. His ears need some stuffing, but they have never been tall, firm standing Teddy Bear ears.”
Here are the diagnosis photos she sent:
As you can see, his belly section was pretty good, but his furry parts were wearing and fading. His person really wanted his fur recovered, in an orangier rather than tanner fur, and she opted for him to have a spa too.
Here he is in his bubble bath:
Once he was dry, he got restuffed and of course, got a heart with a bit of his original stuffing. Here’s his heart being made:
Then it was time to choose furs. As some of you know who’ve been reading for a while, usually with tigers we use a solid fur of the preferred background color, then add the stripes by hand afterwards. Here were the best fur options:
His person opted for the orangier, furrier one.
Stripes got recovered, and some smaller wounds on his belly were sewn. Then, it was time for hand striping. I did some basic striping, and then sent photos for feedback:
His person’s first response was:
Beth, you’ve made me cry at work. I’m absolutely over the moon with Stripes new look!!! Holy cats he’s looking beautiful!! You are AMAZING!
But I was asking for striping feedback, and she happily provided it:
The stripes. Thank you for being so conservative. :) I would like to add some more stripes. I’ve included an updated pic that shows where I would like some stripes added.
Tail: Could you put 2 stripes in a ring pattern around the tail? They continue the black spots you started. I also noticed with other Gund tigers that the ring was painted at a slight angle or sprayed as 2 “halves”, not a straight ring that looked like a raccoon’s tail. (pics) I know that there was more black at the tip of the tail, but I don’t think the whole tip was black.
Back Leg: I’ve continued your 3 spots into stripes.
Body: I’ve added 2 stripes, but if you will notice stripe #2 is in the shape of a ‘V”. (I remember this detail as a child) The stripes do NOT have to line up with the fabric underneath. They didn’t before. :D
Face: I’ve added a short stripe above Stripes’ right eye. This detail always gave him a slight serious look without being mean. (not a lot of slant to the line, if any) I have always loved this detail about him. And I’ve elongated the stripe on his forhead.
Beth, I’m pretty sure we will be adding some more stripes to the back, especially his head but I thought we might tackle this bit first.
She closed with:
Again, I just absolutely can’t thank you enough for your beautiful and loving work on my best friend. I have been showing people the before and after pics for the last 5 hours. I’m so happy!!!
So back to drawing stripes on Stripes I went. Here are the next batch of photos:
Stripes person was thrilled:
Stripes looks spectacular!! I mean he is just awesome with the stripes that you’ve filled out.
She wanted just one more stripe. She sent a photo, but it was in another format, so I won’t put it here, but she also described what she wanted very well:
So I just have 1 more stripe for you. If you look at my pic, you will see that I’ve drawn a line over the small black dot that is on his forehead. In the last pic you sent me you can still see that it’s just a spot and not a stripe. Could you lengthen that spot into a stripe for me?
Please note the position. When you are seated facing Stripes, this stripe includes/starts at the black spot and runs towards the right. You have a pretty stripe that’s higher on the head already placed on the left so this one goes off to the right and is the same length as that one.
Adjustment made, I sent another photo (you can see the printout with her line instruction next to him):
Her response:
Perfection Achieved! I’m so so happy!!!! How many exclamation points can I put in an email to show you how perfect Stripes is!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So Stripes got packed up and headed home to a grateful human and snake. Here he is at home with his pal, RedEye:
His person was soooo happy! She wrote a very long thank you, with a history of Stripes and RedEye, and I don’t want to edit it, so I’m copying it entirely here for you to read. But you can skip it if you want and just know she was happy!
Hi Beth,
Sit back and relax. This may be a little bit of a long happy read. :D Please feel free to use any content or pics from my emails for your blog.
I waited anxiously for Stripes to arrive. Yes, my husband signed for the box and I couldn’t wait to get home!
And so the moment has arrived. I brought Stripes best friend Redeye in from the bedroom to help me open the package. We open, I close my eyes dig in past the packing peanuts and pull out our best friend. Oh My Goodness! He is beautiful! bright! and colorful! He practically glows! I see his face. Yes, yes! It’s Stripes! I see the same face I’ve gazed into and loved for 50 years. And that’s when the tears start. Crying, mouth open in shock but my husband says he’s never seen me happier. ..After many long years, I can finally cuddle my friend again.
Beth you have given me back something I thought I would never have again. I love Stripes so, but I couldn’t, didn’t dare to pet him or cuddle him. I had to be so gentle, so afraid that I was doing more damage to him. But now all that is over! I can sleep with my buddy by my side. I can take him on vacations again! I’m tearing up just writing this. I can’t express my joy…absolute joy over the work you have done. Stripes looks like a beautiful and bright toy again. Thank you Beth. Thank you so very much.
…And I’ll be sending Redeye to you some time in February. I’ll be sure to email you first to start the process.
And here’s a little history about Stripes. Stripes was a Christmas present in 1969. I have always loved tigers and I was in deep love the moment I saw him. He has enjoyed play tea parties with me, and watched drive-in movies sitting in the back window. He has looked over the candy hauls that I collected during Halloween and been in a beautiful oak tree during the crisp dry autumn. (Carefully placed on a towel, but he needed to experience a tree. He is a tiger after all.) He has been with me in Japan for a year and traveled all over the US northwest looking out of a train window. And he has done all these things with Redeye by his side.
--But let’s face the facts, in the last few years my friend was disappearing before my eyes. There was good fortune that his seams were okay but the fur was coming off. His stripes were completely gone in areas. He was looking more yellow everywhere. And I dared only to pat him. That’s when I began to search for help to restore my friend and so I found Realms of Gold on the internet.
Beth has been wonderful, corresponding with emails and working out details by sending pictures back and forth. She listened to my input and was absolutely amazing at applying the stripes in the right places. We actually discussed exactly where to put them. :D I trust Beth’s skills so much that I will be sending Stripes best friend Redeye along soon. He was amazed and so happy with Stripes look, that he can’t wait to go to Realms of Gold!
Okay Beth, this may be a little serious but I wanted to express my honest feelings, and let you know why this has been so important to me.
With my 2 stuffed animals loosing hair and looking tired a sobering thought occurred to me. If something happened to me, what would happen to them? We have no children to give them to. We can’t donate them because being so worn out, no one would take them. And the thought that they might end up in a garbage bin was too much. Of course for me, my goal was to pet, play and enjoy them again. That goes without saying. But now, seeing Stripes beautiful bright colors, I am happy and secure in knowing that years from now, I can donate or will him to a children’s home where he will continue to be loved. (I have several friends who grew up in orphanages and we think it’s a wonderful idea.)
Thank you so much Beth!!!!!!
I don’t know about all of you, but that made me smile all day. :-)
#stuffed animal repair#stuffed animal hospital#stuffed animal cleaning#stuffed animals#tigers#tiger#stuffed animal tiger#toy tiger
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Carrie Wilson Meets (And Roasts) Caleb Covington
Carrie huffed as she walked out of the kitchen, her decision made. She was going to follow Nick to figure out whatever was going on with him. He had been acting weird for the last week and Carrie was absolutely sick of it. One day, she and Nick were over for good and Nick was planning to ask Julie on a date and the next day, Nick was just strolling up to her locker wearing a sequinned capelet to ask if she was still interested in ending Julie's reign of terror on her and delineating this incredibly detailed and elaborate plan to humiliate Julie so badly that she begs her dad to move to another state and Carrie can happily continue to be the queen of the hallways at school and will never have to worry about Julie again. That was inarguably suspicious to Carrie.
"Dad, I'm going out!" Carrie shouted to her father somewhere on the other side of the house and walked outside without waiting for a reply. Shutting the door behind her, she started her journey to Nick's house just as he was leaving to go... Somewhere. She furrowed her eyebrows as she sneaked behind a bush, sniffing a rose quickly before rushing after him.
She groaned softly as she rubbed her sore foot, shaking her head. Ugh. She really should have worn her favorite Adidas running sneakers for this. She'd been following him for an hour in her two inch heeled loafers (what a mistake) to what looked like some creepy hotel building. She glanced up, furrowing her eyebrows in confusion when she saw... "Julie and Flynn?" She whispered to herself, watching Julie turn her head to speak to air next to her. She frowned at that, turning back to "Nick" to see him walk inside the building, Julie and Flynn following closely. "Carrie Wilson, what on Earth are you getting yourself into?" She asked herself and ran to follow "Nick" and the girls into the hotel before the doors could apparently magically close behind him.
She shook her head as she watched that happen behind her and looked around while Julie and Flynn followed Nick to wherever he was going. She let out a breath as she took in pictures scattered along a wall around a sign that read "THE HOLLYWOOD GHOST CLUB MEMBERS ONLY" in bold golden lettering. "Ghost club?" She questioned quietly, hoping her little slip up had gone unnoticed once she realized she's spoken aloud. She quickly found the group and hid behind a plant, a little ways away from them but close enough to hear what they were saying.
Hearing things like "Caleb Covington", "what do you mean he possessed Nick?", "Luke, if the three of you weren't already dead, I would kill you for coming here and messing with this guy" only served to make Carrie extremely confused. She had no idea what was going on anymore. Why was Julie talking to thin air? Who was Caleb Covington and why did he possess Nick? What the Hell was this place?
She huffed and started to follow Nick, who was currently dressed in a very un-Nick-like tight black button up and trousers to what seemed to be a dressing room, being stopped by hearing a very familiar voice speak to her.
"Are you a new member here?" She turned her head, her jaw dropping slightly.
"Kayla?" She blurted out in shock and confusion at the girl in the purple dress in front of her who looked very much like her best friend, Kayla.
"Um, no. The name is Betsey." The girl smiled, reaching out to shake her hand.
"Carrie?!"
Carrie flinched and turned to see Julie and Flynn gawking at her, four new faces suddenly surrounding Julie. She let out a small shriek at that, blinking as she took a closer look at the boys. Julie's band were with her! But who was that new boy with long hair?
"I see the three of you are back. Come to accept my offer after all?" "Nick" smiled menacingly at the boys, his eyes rolling back.
"What- What are you and Flynn and your band doing here?" She asked, incredibly bewildered and disoriented as "Nick" started to glow blindingly white, and then there was a flash of light and a tall man appeared next to an unconscious Nick lying on the floor.
"Nick!" Julie ran and crouched next to him, looking up to glare at Caleb. "What did you do to him?" She yelled in anger.
"Oh, relax!" Caleb gave dismiss wave of his hand and rolled his eyes. "The boy will be fine in an hour." He told him. "But I'm not interested in him. No, I'm interested..." He raised both hands to point at Julie's bandmates. "In you three."
"Well, too bad! You still can't have us, Covington!" The shortest boy with large, angry eyes shouted, protectively stood in front of the tall blond and the long dark haired boy, who were in front of the one clad in a leather jacket.
"Mmm, are you sure about that?" Caleb scrunched his nose up, clasping his hands together. "Because last time I checked, I very nearly got you working here."
"You mean you very nearly killed my friends!" Julie snapped, Nick's head now gently perched on Julie's knee.
"Wait, what?" Carrie blurted out, blinking as she processed what Julie was accusing this man of.
"Ugh, details." Caleb shook his head, rolling his eyes once again. He was really starting to leave a bad taste in Carrie's mouth.
"Mr. Covington here," Julie huffed, clenching her fists bitterly. "Tried to charm my band into leaving me to join his band and work under him." She pursed her lips, taking a deep breath. "He forcibly put this mark on them, that would jolt them any time they went against him. He was going to have my boys, or he was going to kill them a second time. Poof them out of existence. Gone." She explained slowly.
"You tried to do what to Julie's band?" Carrie snapped and walked toward Caleb, getting in his face.
Caleb frowned, backing away from Carrie as she just continued to stomp toward him.
"How dare you? Do you have even a shred of morals in your hideously gaudily dressed body?" She asked him in disgust, hands on her hips. "Or are you purely stale air?"
"Oop." Flynn watched her with wide eyes, glancing at Julie before returning her gaze to Carrie and Caleb.
"Because I feel like if you have to try as hard as you did to take Julie's boys away from her so that you could have them instead, which as much as I dislike the girl, she did not deserve after the year she's just had," She glared at him, surprising everyone. "and then tried to literally obliterate them from existence as some kind of messed up revenge for refusing you, which neither they nor Julie deserved either," She grimaced at him, tilting her head slightly. "then I feel like I'm allowed to say that maybe, just maybe, you aren't really as-" She lifted her hands to make finger quotes. "'special' and 'talented' as your-" She lifted a hand to tap a finger against his over-gelled hair. "nar-cis-sis-tic lit-tle pea brain has convinced you that you are." She pointed out with a smirk, making Flynn snort into their hand.
"Carrie, I-I don't think antagonizing him-" Alex piped up but was cut off by Carrie lifting a finger and continuing to speak.
"In fact, not only did you need Julie's boys, but you needed an entire band behind you, dancers and aerialists, and a magic show," She counted each group of lackeys and minions Caleb needed behind him on her fingers. "to entertain all of your guests, all of whose souls were forcibly taken by you. I gotta say, that's incredibly off putting, and..." She sniffed, sneering at the man. "I smell a diseased rat. But hey, maybe someday, if you decide you want to really work for it, you can earn the love of your fake fans instead of forcing it out of them magically like some badly dressed creep with beady eyes and too white teeth." She shrugged, and the girls and the phantoms snorted and snickered into their hands, watching her. "I dunno." She turned to Julie and Flynn with a smile, tucking her hair behind her ear. "See you at school, girls!" She waved, the girls quickly waving back at her in silence, and gently hauled Nick up to get him out of this awful place. She began to strut away, stopping when she heard Caleb speak.
"How dare you speak to me like that, you insolent little girl?" He uttered in shock.
"I simply spoke the truth." Carrie shrugged carelessly, bored of him. "Now if you don't mind, I'll be taking my ex boyfriend home to recover from you and Julie, Flynn, and Julie's band, are just leaving."
Julie smiled and nodded, taking Flynn's hand in her left and Luke's hand in her right. "Yes, we are." She looked up, smirking at a glowering Caleb Covington. "Adios, Mr. Covington." She said simply and the group walked away, leaving Caleb alone.
#julie and the phantoms#carrie wilson#nick danforth evans#caleb covington#julie molina#flynn taylor#luke patterson#reggie molina#alex molina#willie#jatp fanfic
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Somewhere That’s Green
Pairing: Jack ‘Whiskey’ Daniels/Reader
Word Count: 3,220
Warnings: None
Jack’s always known his girlfriend was big in musical theater. He’s heard her practice, listened to her sing, and driven her to the theater more than once. But this is his first show of hers, and boy is he in for a shock. Between the on-stage kissing and the death of his girlfriend’s character, Jack Daniels has never been so invested in musical theater.
“And you’re sure you’re okay with missing work?” You asked, picking up your coat from Jack’s coat hook. “It’s a long show.”
Jack smiled, grabbing your waist and pulling you close to him. “Darlin’ I wouldn’t miss this show for anything. I’ve been waiting two months to see this play.”
You grinned, kissing him slowly, almost teasing. “Just promise not to murder my costars, okay?”
“And just why would I be murdering your coworkers?” Jack asked, keeping his arm around your waist as he walked you out to the parking lot.
Stepping into the parking lot and following the familiar trail to Jack’s car, you took a breath. “The show gets kinda dark. My character is abused by her sadistic boyfriend.”
“Oh.” You could hear Jack’s jaw tightening, hesitation filling your chest as you thought over inviting him to the show. Again.
“Babe,” you said softly, trying to console him. “If you want, I can introduce you to my co-star Alex who plays the character. He’s a sweetheart, I promise. Wouldn’t hurt a fly and y’know how Stevie is my best friend? Well, Alex is like the cool big brother I never had. He’d never even think about touching me. And he knows I’m totally off limits. Stevie does too.”
“Stevie’s the one who’s playing your nice fictional boyfriend?” Jack asked, opening the Bronco’s door and helping you up.
You laughed. “Yes. Stevie is the one who gets to kiss me on stage and his character isn’t a huge dick. Alex is my first fictional boyfriend, and Stevie and I get together halfway through the show. He gets to kiss me.”
Jack’s eyes darkened behind his sunglasses. “Does Alex kiss you?”
Reaching across the center console, you took Jack’s hand. “No. Alex does not get to kiss me.”
As Jack drove to the theater, you mulled over this decision. Since dating Jack, you’d done three musicals, but this one was your biggest and proudest role, as you’d finally managed to get the female lead in a musical after countless ensemble roles and smaller name characters.
“And what’s the show called again?” Jack asked, squeezing your hand.
You smiled, lifting his hand and pressing lazy kisses into his knuckles. “Little Shop of Horrors.”
Jack hummed, his face scrunching as he thought. “Ain’t that that movie with the crazed talking plant?”
“It was adapted from a musical,” you explained. “And then they redid the movie in the early 2000’s and put it back on Broadway.”
“Ah.” Jack turned to look at you as you pulled up to a red light. “I’m sure you’ll kill it. You got the voice of an angel.”
You smiled to yourself, the fate of your character entirely unknown to Jack. “I know I’ll kill it.”
Upon reaching the theater, you hopped out of the Bronco, looking at Jack. “Wanna meet Alex and Stevie? I think Yvette and Eva are here too, and I know for a fact Amber’s been here for an hour, at least.”
Jack shrugged. “Why not. I’ll go park, you go get your friends.”
You eagerly headed into the theater, practically jogging around as you looked for your costars.
“Eva!” You shouted happily, hugging Eva and seeing Amber around the corner. “Is Yvette here?”
“Nah,” Eva said, gesturing to the empty dressing room she shared with Yvette and Amber. “You know she always gets here at the last damn minute.”
“And she’s somehow always ready to go first,” Stevie said behind you, causing you to laugh and spin around to hug him. “Heya Auds!” He used the nickname he’d given you based on your character, causing you to punch him lightly.
“I want y’all to meet someone,” you said, walking towards the entrance, where you knew Jack was waiting. “Jack’s finally coming to see the show.”
“Ooooo,” Amber said, coming out of the costume closet. “We finally get to meet the mystery man!”
You waved them off, looking around for your final costar. “Where’s Alex? He didn’t call in tonight, did he?”
“Of course not,” Eva scoffed, drawing her coat closer around her. “He doesn’t call in unless he’s like, bleeding out.”
Laughing, you pushed open the door, seeing Jack leaning against the Bronco. “Jack!”
Jack drew closer, smiling and looking at your friends. “Alright. Who’s who?”
You introduced everyone, the chatter flowing easily until someone came up behind you, lifting you off your feet with a happy growl. “There’s my girl!”
“Alex!” You squealed, squirming and laughing. “Alex you absolute fuck! Put me down before Jack murders you!”
Alex put you down, grinning and holding out a hand to a very shocked Jack. “So you’re the mystery man our darling has been swooning over for the past three years. Nice to meet you.”
Jack shook his hand. “Their darling?” He asked you as you stood by his side.
“That’s what they always call the female lead,” you explained, tucking yourself under Jack’s arm. “Alex, Jack has promised not to kill you upon seeing the show, which is a damn relief because I don’t think we can do next year’s show without you.”
“What’s next year's show?” Jack asked, looking at you.
You shrugged. “I heard from the director that they were seriously considering School of Rock.”
Alex whistled. “Auds, that’s been a rumor for years now. They aren’t gonna do it.”
“Okay Dewey,” you said jokingly, reaching out to give Alex a light punch. “You wanna talk about people who were born to play certain roles? Alex is a spitting image of Broadway’s Dewey Finn,” you explained to Jack, who had gotten very lost very fast. “We’re all just waiting.”
“Oh, so you wanna talk about that, huh?” Stevie said, raising an eyebrow. “I swear that voice of yours is identical to Audrey’s.”
You flushed, checking your watch and looking up. “An hour,” you explained, extracting yourself from under Jack’s arm and heading back to the theater’s entrance. “I’ll see you after babe!”
Jack grabbed your hand, kissing you deeply and nipping ever so slightly at your earlobe as he murmured a teasing “break a leg darling,” into your ear.
“I like him,” Alex said, coming up behind you and smiling. “He’s good for you.”
You rolled your eyes, grabbing Alex’s white jacket out of the costume closet and handing it to him. “Go get dressed, dork. We can talk about my boyfriend later.”
Alex shrugged. “Just saying. You have my blessing.”
“I don’t need your blessing!” You called after him, seeing him disappear into his dressing room. “And where’s Jake?”
“Where he always is!”
You sighed, heading to your own dressing room and sitting down, beginning the long yet calming process of caking your face in stage makeup. It took forever and made your face feel heavy, but the results were worth it.
Eventually, by the half hour call, you were ready, having pretty much cemented your hair into beautifully picturesque curls and shimmied into the tight cheetah print dress that barely covered the tops of your thighs. Thank god you were able to wear tights.
You tossed a fluffy cream colored faux fur cropped jacket overtop your dress and adjusted your black heels. With your makeup and your sufficiently warmed up voice, you were entirely ready for the night.
Picking up a picture frame, you gave the glossy photo of Jack a kiss, slipping a worn out penny he’d given you when he’d first heard you did theater into your bra. It was a symbol of luck, and the magic would hopefully continue into tonight.
“Knock knock,” Alex said, knocking on your doorframe. “How’s the princess?”
“Good,” you said, raising your voice to get the perfect breathy innocence that was needed for the role. “How much time?”
Alex checked his watch. “Ten. I think the girls are on stage already, and Jake’s having his fun on the beams. Are you sure you’re ready?”
“Just nervous,” you mumbled, fiddling with the sleeve of your jacket. “I dunno what Jack’ll think.”
“Does he know the ending?”
“No.”
Alex whistled in a breath. “Damn. Ten bucks says he cries.”
You scoffed, slipping past Alex and smiling, your heels clicking on the worn out flooring. “Twenty!”
The opening of the show, as was the rest of it by now, was a familiar chaos to you. The fanfare that signaled the beginning spurred you and Alex to your places, tucked just outside of view but still able to see the show.
The ensemble and the girls rushed past, filling the stage and giving life to the purposefully worn down set. You craned yourself neck, heart swelling when you saw Jack, his hat off, sitting in the front row.
“Front row, fifth seat in, stage left,” you whispered to Alex, who nodded, spotting your boyfriend as well.
Stevie joined you at that moment, grinning as Alex told him where Jack was sitting. “He got a good seat, huh?” He said with a wink, sliding past you to take his place on stage.
As the second song started up, you adjusted yourself, tugging on your dress and asking Alex for help with your mic.
“Break a leg,” he said, watching you rush behind the set to the section that was your fake apartment.
At the cue, you opened the door, slipping out and beginning to sing. It was easy to lose yourself in the role now that everyone else was singing too. Stevie came out, singing his part as you sat weaved in and out of the ensemble members, climbing up a ladder to a fire escape on one of the building fronts. Leaning on the railing, you sang along with Stevie, spotting Jack beyond the stage lights and grinning as you finished out the song.
The next four songs went smoothly. You left the stage after the next one, when Stevie got his first solo song. Standing next to Alex, you checked your phone.
Jack: You’re amazing doll. Love the dress.
You smiled, slipping your phone back into your pocket. Stevie was, as usual, doing great on stage. Everything was running perfectly.
While the songs you weren’t really in ran in the background, you helped prepare the other sets. The apartment set you were about to use was ready to go by the time your first big song was about to start, and you walked back out on stage, reciting lines you’d memorized months ago. As the set turned, revealing the inside of the apartment, you began to sing.
The song was a nice one. Maybe a bit of strain on your voice as you pitched it upwards, but otherwise easy to sing. You poured a certain mournfulness into it, taking your jacket off and hanging it on the coat hook.
Every so often, you’d see Jack out of the corner of your eye, grinning like a lovesick fool at you. When the stage rotated again, showing you leaning out the small balcony, singing about your character’s dreams for a brighter future, you watched Jack carefully. His eyes never left you, winking when he realized you were watching him.
The song ended, the audience clapping as you slipped out, grabbing your coat on the way.
One quick change and bit of makeup adjusting later, you were cycling through another song. Nerves began to bundle in your stomach as the introduction of Alex’s character drew closer. You always drew a few gasps when he roughed you up, but it never made you this nervous.
Thankfully, it was a short scene, as the focus shifted to the introduction. His touch was always professional and careful, never actually harming you. You slipped off stage as his character began his song, settling down on a beat up old couch and loosening your shoes. You didn’t have to be on stage for a while, so you half listened to Alex and half focused on checking your phone. No texts from Jack.
“Hey hon.” Alex flopped onto the couch next to you, shocking you a bit. “C’mon.”
You quickly tighten your shoes, standing and taking Alex’s hand as he tugged you towards the stage for another small scene that you knew would make Jack’s jaw clench.
The scene was, yet again, not harmful. You moved in perfect tandem with Alex so neither of you got hurt, stumbling a bit as you walked off stage after only two minutes.
“You okay?” Alex asked, steadying you and checking your wrists where he’d grabbed you.
“Yep.”
“Everything good up in here?” He asked, knocking gently on your temple.
You smiled. “Haven’t been this nervous about a show in, gosh I don’t even know.”
“You’re doing amazing,” Alex promised, pulling you into a hug. “I’m sure he’d love it even if it all went to shit.”
You nodded, tightly hugging Alex back. “Yeah. He would.”
You two got ready for your final scene together, the one where he ‘hit’ you. The slap had been practiced until it was instinct, until it was a guarantee Alex’s hand would never even touch your face.
Watching the stage and slowly moving behind the set pieces, you bopped a bit to the song, looking up and seeing Jake having the absolute time of his life above your head, singing for the plant.
“Ready?” Alex asked, squeezing your hand.
You nodded, hearing the cue and starting your nervous babbling conversation with a shouting Alex, stumbling through the door and smiling at Stevie. “Hey Seymour! I left my sweater here before.”
Immediately, Alex followed you, still shouting. You couldn’t see Jack’s reaction when he called you a slut, or when he slapped you, your pitiful voice breaking as you and Alex headed off stage.
As soon as you were out of sight, Alex hugged you, murmuring the apology he always gave after that scene and heading off to act his death.
It was a favorite scene of yours, and you watched as Alex ‘died,’ unable to leave the scene until the lights went dark and he hurried off, Stevie taking a bag of fake limbs and grinning to you as the lights rose and he headed back out.
During intermission, you left the couch, allowing the girls to collapse into the frankly disgusting crease. Instead, you curled up in the oddest place that shouldn’t have been comfortable, the antique dentist’s chair from Alex’s scenes.
Which was where he found you, settled into the leather and adjusting your makeup. You were humming along to some music playing out your phone, carefully wiping away your black eye and touching up your foundation. “Good job. You absolutely murdered it.”
Alex smiled. “Thank you. Still nervous?”
“Nah.” You closed your makeup bag, spinning the chair lazily. “No more than usual now.”
You two just hung out, as usual, until the signaling music began to play. You shook yourself out, standing and smiling. “Halfway there!”
Alex laughed and took your place, grabbing a book.
You were significantly more involved in the second act, breezing through the first few songs, feeling an uncomfortable tingle of guilt in your stomach as you and Stevie kissed during the second song. It was an emotional scene that was immediately followed up by a murder. Not your murder. You weren’t set to die until later.
Of course, your next big scene was your death. You ran over the process in your head, just in case. Stevie would throw you into the giant plant puppet, and you’d slide past Jordan, who was the puppeteer inside, and out through a hole so you didn’t have to sit inside the cramped puppet.
However, you had to die first in probably the most heart wrenching scene in the play.
You walked out as Stevie walked in, alone on the stage aside from the plant. Sitting on the couch in your fake apartment, you began to sing, wandering over to the florist’s shop set and talking to Jake, who was still sitting above your head.
And then it all went to shit.
Jordan, inside the puppet, grabbed you with a vine, tugging you close as the song finished out, and you fake struggled as he pretended to eat you, the voice and the body working in perfect tandem as you got deep enough and struggled enough to open a buttoned up tear in your dress, smearing fake blood all over and making it truly seem like you’d been bitten, all without the audience knowing.
Stevie pulled you out, revealing the wound to the audience. He carefully set you down, going through the musical motions as you poured everything you had left into your final few minutes on stage. Your voice broke, the gentleness fading slowly as you did your best to imitate someone who was dying, actually starting to cry with your last line.
When the music swelled, Stevie wiped your tears and lifted you, slowly and gently placing you in the plant puppet and allowing Jordan to grab you and pull you in, helping you down and out the other side. Immediately, Alex helped you up, handing you a change of clothes and a pack of wet wipes. It was easy to remove the blood and toss the stained dress into the wash as soon as it was off. By the time the last plot important song was over, you were completely ready for the finale.
You were unable to spot Jack as you and Alex walked out together, singing one final time for the night and taking your bows. It was a giant group number, everyone happy and very much not dead. Jake came down, singing and throwing an arm over you and over Stevie, dragging you two forward to take the first bow.
Amidst the clapping and the people leaving and the actors heading off stage, you didn’t see Jack until he met you and Alex at the Bronco.
He scooped you up, laughing and firmly kissing you. “Holy shit babe! You couldn’t’ve told me that would happen at the end?”
You laughed, wiping tears off Jack’s face. “Alex! He’s crying!”
“Well fuck.” Alex leaned against the car, smiling. “Guess I owe you.”
Jack put you down, still holding you tight. “Y’all did good. I almost got up to smack you halfway through the show.”
You rolled your eyes, squeezing Jack’s hand. “I’m exhausted.”
“Alright,” Jack said, opening the Bronco’s door and helping you up. “Pleasure to meet you Alex.”
“Same,” Alex said, stepping back. “You be good to our girl, you hear?”
Jack snorted. “I will.”
The drive home was quiet. Now that the adrenaline of the show was gone, you felt limp, every part of your body in pain. Jack, the ever sweet and loving boyfriend, carried you inside, setting you down on the bathroom counter and grabbing your makeup wipes for you.
“Anything else?” He asked once you were done, cuddled up in your favorite pyjamas.
“Well,” you hummed, getting down and heading over to the bed. “I seem to be missing my boyfriend. C’mere.”
Jack, now eager, took his shirt off and crawled into the bed next to you, pulling you close. “You were amazing tonight, truly.”
“Thank you,” you murmured, already falling asleep.
“You’re welcome.” Jack shuffled so you’d be more comfortable, stroking softly up and down your back as you fell asleep properly, safe with the knowledge that Jack’s first musical theater experience had been a good one.
#kingsman the golden circle#kingsman#agent whiskey#jack 'whiskey' daniels#agent whiskey x reader#agent whiskey x you#Pedro Pascal#My writing
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A/n: as a technically plus size girl myself i really liked writing this! feel free to request again after I finish the rest of the ones I have now! (sry this is not thoroughly edited)
Word Count: 3.8k
Warnings: cussing, mentions of hate
Requested by: anonymous
Tag List: @distrikt9 @mini-meanhoe @poeticallyspaghetti @hanstagrams @yangomangos @hoes4hoseok @desertfordessert
Summary: Being on the larger side had never stopped you from anything before. You were confident in your curves and loved how you looked. It was one of the reasons that Han Jisung fell head over heels in love with you. Who would have thought a few silly little pictures would turn your world upside down.
Genre: fluff, little angst, romance
✯
Meeting Jisung was a complete accident. A complete accident that changed my life forever. I was a lost foreign exchange student desperate to find her way back to her dorm in the hot summer streets of Seoul. By pure chance, I had bumped into him on the street. I had no idea who he was at the time and he seemed to find that fascinating.
We ended up walking together until the sun set and the store signs lit up casting neon glows on our faces. Soon we both got lost wandering through the streets talking about everything and nothing in my broken korean and his adorable english.
Jisung bought me dinner and then we finally found my dorms. He left me with the promise to take me out and get lost again. And that was the start of our relationship. About our fifth date, Jisung told me about his job and who he was. He was utterly shocked that I didn’t freak out about his celebrity status. He always said that what I told him after was when he began falling in love with me.
“Whether you sing in front of thousands of people, pick up garbage on the side of the road, or teach pre-schoolers not to pick their noses, I would rather be with you than any other place or with any other person on the planet.”
Now a year and a half later, we were dating and living together in an apartment near the company. Jisung was quite upset that he had to keep our relationship a secret. The company after many attempts at breaking us up gave in and let him continue our relationship despite his dating ban, but only if he kept quiet about it and nothing got leaked to the press.
This meant we rarely got to go out unless both of us wore masks and hats and for five months out of the year, I was sitting at home waiting for Jisung to come back from tour trying to pretend like I didn’t have a boyfriend to begin with. But, it was all worth it. Jisung was worth it.
“Yes, dad. I promise I’m eating well.” I said looking at my father through a computer screen. My ears picked up on Jisung moving behind me to open the fridge and I knew what was about to happen next.
“Jisung!” My father called. Hearing his name he turned and leaned over me to look at my father. “Jisung, how are you?” My dad smiled and turned to focus on my boyfriend.
Jisung laughed seeing me drop my head in my hands. He leaned against the counter, a bright smile on his face. “I’m fine, Mr. L/n.”
“How many times have I told you? Just D/n is fine. Now, is she eating well? I know she has exams. You have to make sure my daughter is eating!” Jisung’s arm wrapped around my stomach, pulling me to his side.
“Of course! We are going out to eat soon actually.” He said cheerfully, pushing the hair away from my face.
I jumped at the opportunity Jisung secretly handed me. “Yes, Dad! So, we have to go! I love you, talk to you later, bye!” Jisung waved before I slammed my laptop closed, effectively hanging up on my father. “Can we really go out to eat?” I asked, wrapping my arms around his waist. He smiled taking my face in his hands, squishing my cheeks.
“Of course. I’m starving.” Placing a kiss on my forehead he exited the kitchen. While he was doing whatever he was doing, I ran to our bedroom and changed out of the pajamas I had worn all day.
Grabbing some shorts and one of Jisung’s shirts I started tying my shoes. How any of his clothes fit me at all was a mystery to me. Jisung was a twig compared to me. Granted he was a very muscular twig. But a twig none the less.
Jisung smiled seeing me in the baggy white fabric that covered my shorts entirely. He leaned against the doorway, dark hair falling in front of his doe eyes. He didn’t bother changing out of his gray sweatpants and tank top. “I never get tired of seeing you in my clothes.”
“I never get tired of wearing them.” He smirked, watching me get up from the bed and walk over to him. I let my hands travel up his chest as he looked down at me. “Are we taking the car or the subway?” I whispered, leaning up and kissing his lips. A cheeky smile slip onto his face as his hands grabbed onto my ass.
“I heard it’ll rain soon. Subway?” I nodded and kissed him again, fingers threading through his hair. “Ready to go, baby?” With another nod, we left our apartment, masks on and hats covering our faces. Instinctively, I pulled the white cap on Jisung’s head lower to cover his handsome features. He did the same with the black bucket hat (which was probably his) that I wore.
Just as Jisung said, a light sprinkled down on us as we walked to the nearest subway station. Unfortunately, the train was crowded, leaving no seats for me and Jisung. We got a few weird looks, most likely because of the excessive face covering.
We shared low whispers about where to eat and bickered about what stop to get off at. I turned out to right and dragged him off with train, just before the doors closed. Laughing, we ran through the rain to get to our favorite sushi place.
The woman who owned the restaurant greeted us happily when we entered, ushering us to a secluded back table. Jisung didn’t even look at the menu before ordering enough food to fill every inch of the table.
“How is the new album coming?” I said picking up a piece of fish. He nodded cheeks half full of food. I smiled seeing his little habit resurface itself.
“Good. I sent a song off to Chan this afternoon. He and I will work on composition tomorrow.” His long fingers maneuvered the chopsticks to place another roll onto my plate. I tried to put it back but he shook his head, adding another one as well. “How are your classes?”
“Stressful, but manageable. You know the girl next to me in my Maths class is a STAY. She has Seungmin’s photocard in her phone case.” Jisung smiled eating another piece of sushi. “Her phone rang in class the other day. Guess what her ringtone was?”
He hummed and looked up at me expectantly. “What?” He said covering his mouth, silver rings glinting in the low warm light.
“Close.” Jisung’s eyes lit up as he started laughing.
“I almost got in so much trouble when I released that song.” He said dipping a roll in soy sauce. “STAY almost figured out about us.”
“Well, you did all but put my name in the song,” I said with a laugh. Somehow we had managed to eat all the food on the table. “Did you really feel that way when we met?” I asked him, my elbow resting on the table.
A waitress came and cleared our table. Jisung stared at me, a soft look in his eyes. “Of course. You were the most gorgeous girl I had ever laid eyes on.”
“You are just saying that because you thought I had a great ass.”
“It is a great ass.” He said eyeing me up and down, a sly smirk on his face. “We should get going. It’s already raining cats and dogs.” Jisung paid for our meal and shoved his black hat back on my head with a smile, draping his arm over my shoulder as we walked out. He was correct. The rain was pelting down on the streets like bullets. “You ever been kissed in the rain?” He asked out of nowhere.
That mischievous smile glowed on Jisung’s face. “No, why?”
Without another word, Jisung pulled me out into the rain, soaking us both. His brown hair turned dark and stuck to his forehead as he pulled down my mask. My eyes glanced around the nearly empty street, before staring back into Jisung’s bright eyes. His long fingers lifted up my chin before resting on my cheek. The cool rain dropped around us, but I felt warm in his arms.
His lips dragged over mine, butterflies thundering in my stomach along with the rumble in the sky. My chest pressed against his, the wet fabric rubbing together. His teeth cheekily dragged over my bottom lip as I pulled away.
“Get out of the street!” Someone yelled honking their horn. Jisung and I turned to see a car’s headlights shining through the rain. We laughed and moved back under the awning. “Crazy kids!” The man yelled as he drove passed us.
I kissed Jisung again, tangling my fingers in his wet hair. “I love you,” Jisung whispered, pulling away. “All of you,” His hands ghosted over the curve of my hips. “Do you love all of me?”
“More than anything, Jisung.”
The cool rain sent a breeze under the cover. He pulled me closer to him kissing the top of my head. “Home?” He muttered looking around the wet street.
“Home.”
I pulled the dark fabric over his face, leaving nothing but his round lively eyes for me to see. His warm hand enveloped mine before we ran through the rain. Our feet splashed through puddles as each step brought us closer to the train that would carry us back to our little apartment.
✯
Bright light streamed through the bedroom window. An arm was wrapped tightly around my stomach. I smiled and shifted under the blanket so I could look at the handsome face of the man next to me. My eyes glanced at the clock before reaching over and stroking his hair.
“Jisung?”
He hummed, nestling into the pillow. I smiled feeling him reach for my hand and bring it to his lips. Drowsy kisses from his plump tired lips trailed over my skin. “You saying my name in the morning is so sexy.” My laugh filled the bedroom. His raspy voice never failed to send shivers down my spine.
“You think anything I say is sexy.” Jisung’s eyes slowly opened and his hands moved to rub his face, the muscles in his arms flexing ever so slightly. My fingers traced patterns over his bare chest, the skin radiating a welcoming warmth under my touch.
“No way. Prove it.” He said with a goofy smile.
Chuckling, I kissed his cheek. I thought about what to say. Leaning down, my breath fanned across his cheek. “I have to go shopping because we have no ramen left in the kitchen.” My words floated into his ear and I could see his cheeks redden at my tone.
Jisung groaned, pulling me fully on top of him. “Yeah, you were right. Anything you say is sexy.” He laid still for a moment, his hands rubbing up and down my back. “Do you need money for groceries?” He hummed. Shaking my head, I sat up, legs falling on either side of his waist. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, Ji. You don’t have to pay for everything, you know.” He laid back with a smile on his face, hands behind his head. Jisung stared up at me keeping that sleepy bright grin on his face. “You should get up. You’ll be late before you know it.”
A sigh heaved from his chest as he watched me leave the bed. It was evident his eyes were trained on me as I sorted through our shared closet. “You’re right.” The rustling of sheets told me he was shuffling out of bed and most likely towards the bathroom to shower.
Soon I was walking Jisung to the cab he had called down in front of our building. The fabric of my leggings brushed together as I rushed forward pulling him back for one more kiss before he entered the taxi. “Don’t forget, we have a date with pizza and a drama tonight,” I whispered against his lips.
His long fingers gripped my waist, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. His warm touch slipped into the waistband leaving something paperlike between the tight fabric and my skin. “For the groceries.” Jisung pecked my lips before getting into the cab. “Love you!” He called, rolling down the window.
Waving back, I watched the car pull away from the curb and drive my boyfriend to his company. Curious, I reached for the money he slipped me. Had I worn a hoodie and not a crop top, he wouldn’t have been able to do so easily. It was a habit he had of spoiling me and paying for things despite my protests. “Good grief, Ji,” I muttered to the near empty street.
My feet carried me to a nearby supermarket. I walked the aisles tossing anything we needed into the cart I picked up at the entrance. My hands lingered on a bag of chips, debating whether I actually needed the study snack. Jisung never cared how much weight I put on or how much I lost. I was confident in how I looked, so I wanted chips. I would get chips. Smiling I tossed them in the basket before moving to the next aisle to pick up a few bottles of wine and soju. I never knew when Chan and Changbin would pop by for a ‘lyric session’ and need ‘inspiration’
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw two girls whispering and looking my way. More than a year with Jisung had taught me to have an observant eye in public places whether he was with me or not. They stopped their talk when I turned to look at them. After placing the bottle in my cart I waved to them with a kind smile before going on my way.
Jisung returned later than usual. But, then again. There was no usual for when he came home. He passed out on the couch while I ordered us a pizza. While I waited, I lazily scrolled through twitter until something caught my eye.
“Rapper Han Jisung Spotted With Supposed Secret Girlfriend”
My eyes skimmed the article searching for any proof. My heart sunk finding what I sought. Several pictures of Jisung and me from the day before were shown below. Our faces were seen as clear as day despite the rain. We should have been more careful. I sighed, head in my hands. Curious, I scrolled to see what his fans were saying.
“I can’t believe this”
“So he really was seeing someone?”
“She’s so fat! She doesn’t deserve him”
“My friend and I saw her at the supermarket. She had like eight bottles of soju in her cart. Alcoholism puts on wait you know.”
“She’s a drunk and fat. I can’t believe she’s dating our Han.”
“She looks like a cow. Seriously I understand why he hid her from us.”
“Guys, stop. If he is happy then leave him alone.”
“He looks disgusted in those photos”
“Does she not care about herself? She’s dating one of the greatest rappers in the industry and she looks like a heavy slob.”
I tossed my phone onto the kitchen counter, not wanting to look a the comments anymore. My shoulders felt heavier than usual. Shower. A hot shower always made me feel better. Abandoning my device, which was blowing up with notifications, on the counter I marched to the bathroom and turned on the water letting steam fill the room.
The scalding water pelted against my bare skin as I stood under the showerhead. After my skin turned red, I stepped out of the shower, wiping steam away from the mirror.
My eyes raked over the body I once thought beautiful. How could my mind change so quickly? The curves I used to love now seemed ghastly and unflattering. The rolls on my stomach seemed more prominent as I looked over my bare body. My fingers traced over the waved marks on my thighs and pelvis, wondering how I never noticed them before today.
“Y/n, baby?” A knock sounded at the door but did not wait for an answer to open. Instinctively, my hands slammed it shut shocking the man on the other side. “Woah- Babe, what’s wrong? Are you okay? It’s nothing I haven’t seen many many many times before.” The smirk in his voice was evident, but I still felt exposed, despite the towel I moved to wrap around myself.
“Just go away. I’ll be out in a sec. There is beer and soju in the fridge. Go get one; the pizza will be here soon.”
I waited until I heard Jisung walk away before turning the knob and sneaking into our bedroom. My fingers grasped at the first baggy shirt I could find, but looking in the mirror it hugged in places that should not be hugged and made my body look lumpy and fat. Throwing on some leggings and one of Jisung’s fluffy jackets I decided this was enough coverage suitable to walk around in.
Jisung’s eyes widened when I entered the living room. “Wow. You planning an expedition to Antarctica?”
“I’m just cold, Jisung.” He watched with wary eyes as I pull the jacket further around my body. The doorbell rang turning both our heads. “I’ll get it.” Jisung nodded and picked up the remote, turning on the TV.
Opening the door I expected to see a pizza delivery man waiting for his tip, but instead, the hallway was empty. Before I closed the door, my gaze landed on something on the welcome mat.
A bouquet of wilted, dried, dead flowers. A ribbon darker than black was wrapped around the fragile stems. With shaking hands, I picked up the flowers. Petals and leaves fell to the ground. A note was tucked between the graying stems.
Fat Bitch.
Subconsciously, I pulled the jacket around my body, covering as much as possible. “Y/n? Everything okay? They didn’t forget my garlic knots, right? They forgot last time.” Jisung’s voice called out. My eyes still stared down at the bouquet in my hands. “Baby?”
I felt cold. It felt like I wasn’t in my own body; like my soul had left this world leaving me a shell standing with no will of its own.
“What the fuck is this?”
Shaking myself out of the trance, I looked to see Jisung standing beside me anger flooding every inch of him. Not waiting for an explanation he took the bouquet from my hands, more petals falling to the floor. The note seemed to make him even angrier.
“Fuck,”
I closed the door and watched him throw the flowers onto the counter, sending dead leaves flying across the kitchen floor. He turned to me, fury in his eyes. He seemed to be waiting for me to say something. “We both knew this was going to happen sooner or later.” His jaw dropped, not believing my words.
“You aren’t furious? You aren’t pissed off? Why are you not bothered by this?”
“Jisung, I can’t be bothered by something I already know is true!”
He stared at the flowers littering the counter. “You can’t possibly think that...can you?” Jisung sighed watching me shrug and fiddle with the sleeves of his jacket. “Y/n...this is not you. What happened to the girl who surprised me in my studio wearing nothing but a trench coat and lingerie just because I said I missed your smile?” My gaze fell to the floor, fixated on one of the leaves. “Where’s the girl who went skinny dipping with me on the night of our anniversary in Jeju?”
“I don’t know, Jisung!” He was shocked hearing me yell. “They are right! Okay! I am a fat cow with no reason to be dating you. I’m not sexy and skinny and I don’t have the body of a model. You know who does? The girl you should be dating! Maybe I just don’t like myself anymore!”
“The Y/n I know and love didn’t care how much she weighed.”
“Well...maybe I’m not your Y/n anymore.”
“That I don’t believe.” Jisung took my face in his hands, staring into my eyes. “I know about the photos. I know about the comments. They are all false, okay? None of them are true and you know it.” His thumbs brushed over my cheeks, voice full of desperation and sadness.
“Jisung, I’m not beautiful. I don’t feel beautiful anymore. I don’t see how you can love someone who can’t even see themselves as pretty.”
He sighed, leaning down and capturing my lips in a breathtaking kiss. I could feel all his emotions, everything he wanted to say as his lips moved against mine. Jisung pulled away, his eyes looking lovingly into my own. “I don’t love you because you are beautiful,” He whispered, pushing a strand of wet hair behind my ear. “You are beautiful because I love you. All of you.”
“Even the stretch marks?”
“The stretch marks. The curves. All of you.”
Sighing, I rested my head against his chest. “Why did I even think that?” Jisung let out a shaky breath stroking my still damp hair. “Shit, I was so stupid to believe those comments for even a second.”
“I can’t blame you. I’ve done the same.”
Pulling away, my hands cupped his cheeks before moving to wrap around his neck. “I love you,”
“I love you more.” Jisung kissed my forehead, dark hair falling in front of his eyes. A thought came to mind that made me giggle. “What?” He asked with a smile, leading me back over to the couch.
“How did you even remember that studio thing? That was like...in the first month we were dating!”
He laughed, pulling me into his chest and falling back onto the sofa. “Are you kidding? That may have been the single greatest day of my entire life.”
“You are just a pervert.” Again the doorbell rang, causing both of our heads to peek over the top of the couch cushions. “Can you get it?” Jisung nodded and got out from under me. A few moments later he came back with two pizzas and his beloved garlic knots. “They didn’t forget?”
“Nope!” He said happily flipping open the boxes. “Here.” He pulled one away and fed it to me, the fluffy breading melting in my mouth.
“You know what I think?”
“What?” He asked already somehow halfway through the box of garlic knots.
“I think I can eat this entire pizza faster than you.”
He closed the garlic knot box, a wry grin on his face. “Oh, you are so on, babe.” He planted his feet firmly on the floor and turned to his pizza box. “Ready? Three....two....-” Before he finished counting down I grabbed a slice and stuffed it in my mouth. “Y/n that’s cheating!” Between bites, I laughed as I watched him try and catch up from my early start.
“Come on, twig boy! Catch up.” He laughed and shoved another slice into his mouth filling his cheeks.
✯
Requests are Temporarily Closed! Sorrrrrryyyy
Masterlist
#stray kids imagines#stray kids#han jisung imagines#han jisung imagine#han jisung oneshot#han jisung smut#han jisung#han jisung au imagines#han jisung fluff#han jisung angst#han imagine#han imagines#jisung imagines#stray kids masterlist#stray kids scenarios#straykids#stray kids fake texts#stray kids au imagine#stray kids au imagines#stray kids college au#rubber ducky you're the one#stray kids angst#stray kids incorrect quotes#stray kids reactions#stray kids smau#stray kids social media au#stray kids soulmate au#stray kids preferences
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How would the RO’s react if MC hid their child from them. Like never told them about them because they came from a one night stand or they broke up since then etc etc??
I assume this question is related to this ask. Anyway, to the answers.
Ardwen: He would utterly freak out about it. Knowing there’s a child involved when he starts the relationship is one thing, finding it out when he’s already involved feels like a breach he isn’t comfortable with. He isn’t fond of children, he’s not capable of looking after them.
Just… give him time. But don’t expect it to be happily ever after unless you really work at it.
Arke: He’s mostly just surprised. Again, children are a lot but it isn’t a deal breaker to hide the child—he’s sure you have your reasons and who is he to judge them? Of course, he’d need some time to consider the prospect of a child much sooner into the relationship than he might be ready for one but… he can do it. Just give him time to process.
Bex: Bex always wanted children. Sure, perhaps this came along in a totally different way than he was expecting but his main goal is protecting you and your child. Everything else can wait.
Calyssa: More confusion from her. She’s neither ready not willing to have a child in this climate but she supposes life never waited for when anyone’s ready. So she’ll deal with it and try to understand instead—being a prick about it isn’t going to help. Let it be be said, however, that she isn’t comfortable finding out about this when she’s already in the relationship. It wouldn’t have changed her answer but there’s something to be said about trust.
Druvel: No. He would be afraid. Maybe he’s decent with children but he never asked to have one himself. He’d draw away for a few days, ask you just to give him space to think. It isn’t that he doesn’t like children, just that this wasn’t what he was expecting when he decided a relationship with you could be fun.
He has to decide whether he’s truly invested or if it’s better just to cut and run because not knowing, not being told, feels uncomfortable at best.
Emil: more smothering of his own emotions. It is what it is, he has no right to really react a certain way and, really, if you’re happy he’s happy even if he has no idea how to interact with children. This would go on for quite a few days until he inevitably breaks down in a certain kind of way and just. Blurts out his concerns. He feels like this was put on him without warning, like he’s expected to just get over it like nothing is going to change between the two of you and maybe it won’t. But he can’t ignore a child. He can’t ignore the fact that they’re someone that requires attention he isn’t sure he’s prepared to give yet. Just give him some time and eventually he’ll calm down and realise he overthought his way into a breakdown. He’ll be fine.
Ettia: She’d simply have to accept it for what it is. Perhaps she already knew and thus had some time to come to terms with a child in the picture, perhaps not, but it doesn’t bother her. She won’t say she’s ready, per se, but she certainly isn’t going to kick up a fuss about it. Everyone has their reasons for doing what they do, after all.
Gwyn: Oh, he’d make many jokes but that would just be to hide his uncertainty. He isn’t sure how he should react when a child is in the picture, it certainly isn’t what he expected but maybe he should have. He’s a God, after all, he should have known. That would worry him more than the existence of a child to be honest, maybe he’s becoming more mortal than he thought.
Herron: Why, how, and when are all the questions you get from a very surprised Herron. He’d think that in the past five year’s he’d recognise it if MC had a child. After the initial shock has worn off he’d take a deep breath, take your hand, and express his utter confusion about the whole affair.
Keller: She’d ask if it’s okay to see the child, if they’re safe. She would try not to take heed of her own emotions, which are cautious at best. If a child’s involved, and she already loves you, all that matters is their safety.
Korrin: Perhaps they already knew, perhaps not, but either way they take it in stride. You had your reasons for hiding them just as they have their reasons for their own secrets. The only question here is whether they’ll ever tell theirs.
Lokeira: Don’t be concerned if he disappears for a few days after finding out. He needs time to prepare himself because he’s not a particularly good person with children. Eventually he’d wander back, probably looking a little nervous, and apologise for his sudden disappearing act. He never thought he’d be having a child in the first place but he never intended to leave over something that was so apart of you like a child. So. He’ll stay. If you’ll have him.
Necrolym: You have a child? And you never told him? He’d be kind of upset about it but not for the reasons you might think. He likes children and has always wanted a family of his own, with you he might have wanted to one day start one with you whether with children or with pets. This… this feels like he’s somehow an intruder, like the child won’t accept him—and he’s well aware that it is completely his own problem not your own.
Nox: Well, that’s less than ideal. She never planned on having any children but if that’s the way things are then guess she’s just going to have to step up. Caring is hard but she’s done enough of it by now to know when she’s legitimately invested in something. In someone. She doesn’t ask why you hid the child. It’s not her place.
Qora: First she’d ask exactly why you thought it was a good idea to hide the fact you have a child from your partner, but in time she’d soften. She wouldn’t know how to feel at first, mainly because Zora certainly can’t be around the child without a risk of hurting them, but that’s just something she’ll have to come to deal with.
Severa: For the first time in a long time Severa would have no idea what to say. At first she’d frown, then she’d go utterly slack, unable to voice her myriad thoughts. She never wanted children, least of all in times of strife, but the child isn’t hers and she’s already with you, so whether she likes it or not that’s how it’s going to be. She’ll be fine.
Spotter: More fear. They’re not comfortable with children. The child may be your own, and they may love you, but they’re totally out of their element here. Quietly, they’ll wonder why you hid the existence of the child from them, but ultimately would never ask.
#ROs#Scenario ask#Anonymous#every day i wake up and realise i have so many ros#i love them and ill never drop them but also theres. so many#Rott#rott game#regrets of the traitor game#interactive fiction
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🎂 happy belated birthday month to fellow ghosty boy, aka the soft boy Jaewoo is stuck to in any AU, the one and only @phantombs ! 🎂
* : ✮ ┆ the one in which they both bond with the afterlife .
call it the synchronisation of two backgrounds harmonising that cultivated this very moment of Jaewoo enthusiastically bursting through Cường’s front door. the trust that Cường has in him to provide key access speaks volumes of unfathomable confidence despite the striking contrasts between what the two deem as amicable greetings. typically, Jaewoo is akin to a sudden blast of nippy wind that tends to slap someone across the face with its sharp stinging icy breeze whereas Cường is the type to snore through category five typhoons. this indisputable fact about the elder male is what provides Jaewoo with the brazen guts to invade his home so unabashedly since he knows that nothing will stir the unconscious figure. as according to plan.
detecting the lump in the midst of the blankets, Jaewoo now enters stealth mode as he navigates his way around the bedroom. setting down the canister of helium with a slightly louder thunk, he sucks in his cheeks in horror as he tersely waits to see if it elicits a stir or two out of Cường. it doesn’t. with a smug sense of achievement, he proceeds with the first step of filling up confetti-filled balloons so he can robustly tie them in batches of three with blue ribbons. what the true finishing touch is the polaroids of the abundant pictures he has taken of Cường over the span of time they have spent together. besides the absolutely candid shots varying from Cường overlooking the speckles of freshly budded cherry blossoms to him randomly snoozing in an upright position on the park bench, the polaroids consist of vintage filtered memory snapshots ranging from . . .
one. tiny coffee puddles lingering at the bottom of almost emptied mugs. licked up cupcake crumbs. overcast cherry blossom shadows merging with the tabletop. the lining of plush armchairs overlooking the open cafe balcony. pink-tinged cheeks from the open breeze. a slumped over snoozing figure, his mouth slightly agape as he snugly fits in the width of his chair. it’s ironic really, sleeping right after a caffeine dose ? classic Cường.
two. rain-streaked panels. the lazy streaks of dusk filtering through clearing horizons. idly bustling of Cường’s back faced to him as he gently rifles through his collection of mugs. thick woolly covered socks perched up together. a low hum of a cheery tune. the cheeky grin he flashes when Cường turns around with the familiar scolding look. “ you’re going to be chilled to the bone, wrap up the blanket tighter around yourself. ” the elder male warns him and he obliges.
three. dusted piano keys. a pair of hands gliding across the ivory. the other pair patiently listening, and listening, and listening. time stands still in the air, the concept being sapped away between the gaps of the keys as Cường plays the tunes of a piece so bittersweet. reminiscing curls his lips downwards until Cường gently grabs hold of his hand and gingerly swaps it with his own. “ learn to play with me, ” he jerks Jaewoo out of his transfixed spiralling stance that threatens to plunge him into a nostalgic dimension.
four. flash. flash. flash. another piercing flash. it washes him out, bringing out the sallow side of his physical manifestation. he’s suddenly very self-conscious. all he is doing is walking along the river, breeze tickling through his hair. the only person he notices is Cường with his mobile phone pointed in his direction. “ wait, I’m not ready for a picture. ” Jaewoo protests, immediately raising his hand up into a peace sign with a chirpy grin. Cường snaps a few more before shaking his head, a fond smile taking over. “ you silly boy, does the sun ever need to prepare its shining brightness ? nor do you. ”
five. buzzing electric hums crackle. indignant yells from preteens cause a crease between Cường’s brows. blaring beeps and glowing neon signs cram up any leftover space in the arcade. they promise many bountiful rewards. get your hands dirty, you might win an oversized stuffed narwhale. Jaewoo rubs his hands gleefully, akin to a persistent fly about to dig into a tasty feast. “ I know just the thing you need on the days you sleep for fourteen hours. ” pivoting to the flashiest claw machine with Line characters packed like sardines, he eagerly hunches over with his tongue sticking out in concentration. he will win this. inserting his leftover cash in enthusiastically, he aims the metallic grip of death to the nearest stuffed bunny. taking in a noisy deep inhale to quell his adrenaline, he jabs at the pretentiously gaudy red button for the claws to suffocate the bunny to victory. it works ! he didn’t expect it to in full honesty but now he can smugly brandish it to the amused male. “ let’s call him Lele. now you will never be alone. ”
. . . a shrill whistle sounds from Jaewoo as he clambers towards Cường’s bedroom window. a hoard of worn out older dogs struggle to float up to the window’s height. but with the aid of Jaewoo’s awaiting palms, they are safely directed into the warm haven of Cường’s birthday setup. what’s left is the lighting of candles and the birthday. the ghost had considered buying a massive rectangular cake to fit the few hundred candles on it but he reckoned that Cường wouldn’t be up for using all of his lung power on blowing out that many candles so he settled for placing fifty seven instead. not a jibe to the other’s age at all.
clapping his hands together, Jaewoo motions at the expectant dogs to go huddle up against the sleeping figure in bed. beyond eagerly, they all contentedly clamber besides Cường as they are familiar with the man and his previous visits to the shelter. the wholesome sight warms his heart and he hurriedly moves to snap a picture of the cosy sight before Cường can object. by the looks of it, he still hasn’t fully stirred from his slumber yet so Jaewoo takes the cue to finally begin the slow singing of the birthday cheer.
“ happy birthday to you, happy birthday Choi Cường, happy birthday to you. ” the dogs happily grumble along to Jaewoo’s trilling voice in an unique harmonisation to celebrate the cheer of Cường entering another year of life yet again.
Cường finally arises with groggy eyes, hair sticking out in random tufts and incomprehesible noises that only those fully acquainted with deep sleep can fathom. Jaewoo approaches him with his birthday cake, eyes glazed with delight.
“ make a wish ! ” Jaewoo shoves the cake in front of him and Cường indulges him by huffing out the candles in three goes before tugging him onto the pile of puppies on the bed. “ please don’t tell me you wished for more sleep. ”
alas, Cường has already fallen back into a half-drowsy state but it’s okay. the cake can wait.
* : ✮ ┆ the one in which they both bear the weight of the crown .
huff puff. huff puff. huff puff. look at what lengths the young prince goes to. it takes a lot of cautious scrambling on the ivy-clad bricks. it surely would have been a call for an immediate plummet to death. had the prince not been thoroughly experienced with years and years of experience in exiting the castle grounds for invigorating quests for adventures, he wouldn’t have made it beyond a single ledge. as lithe as a cat, he even managed to maintain his hold on a staggering wide window ledge that showcased an approaching candlelight, presumably one of the many patrolling guards. security had greatly intensified ever since that eye-opening hectic night of ultimate meetings of meetings. the only leeway he was able to breakthrough and finally make through the fortress was through months and months of extensive study with the aid of prince Cường’s silent cues on illustrating ways on how the other may keep visiting him in his lonely desolate tower.
evidently, the legwork pays off since Jaewoo is able to navigate his way through the labyrinth of tenacious security personnel. it’s extraordinarily exciting to be going through such leaps and bounds to visit your secret werewolf best friend, son of the rival kingdom that your family swore an oath against !
entirely pleased with himself and his progress, the young prince proceeds with his voyage to the grand tower window after ensuring with a peep that the patrolling guard has moved on. he makes a quick mental note of how the fourth floor garrison seem to take around seventy five seconds for a quick sweep before moving on with his cat climb.
it must have been a nasty shock for Cường to have his grand balcony doors thumped on frantically in the dead of the night. Jaewoo can faintly make out the startled grunt followed by groggy scuffling towards the set of gold-plated doors. the sight that Cường is faced with upon opening the doors with hesitance is one straight out of the many books that he’s read with Jaewoo in their more relaxed princely hang out sessions. the moon crescent gently laminates Jaewoo’s tall and proud silhouette with its sheer pearly luminescence glimmering off the many encrusted jewels on his figure.
“ prince Cường, head of all mythical protection, the defender of deep sleep and all other his realms, you have officially lived to see and enter another blessed year ! ” Jaewoo enthuses, his eyes dancing wild in delight with his self-perceived inspirational opening. “ despite the beast inside, quite literally if I may add, you have persisted and floated through the face of adversity. a very very joyful and happy birthday to you. as my gift to you, I must insist on you going out with me on this clear mid spring evening. ”
to be expected, Cường stares at him incredulously before opening his mouth to come up with a gurgle of excuses ranging from it being too late and the best birthday gift he can give is to have the longest nap. this is all naturally dismissed by Jaewoo with a wave of hands although he switches up his tactic with pleading beseeching eyes.
“ I swear in the name of all things that I love, this will be a minimal effort journey for you, your highness. ” Jaewoo holds his hand on his chest to declare his oath. “ outside your grounds, I have brought a sled with a comfortable makeshift that I specially made for you. please please please. I shall carry you along the entire time. you only need to walk the distance to and from your bedroom to outside the grounds but even for that, I can piggyback you for when we are out of sights from your garrison. ”
Cường sighs in defeat, knowing that it takes far more energy to Jaewoo who doesn’t take no as an answer either way. the duo had been continuously going out for either one of Jaewoo’s gutsy expeditions in his quest for seeking fantastical legends or heading for a cosy hangout in his secret shed hangout. so it is a familiar cause-and-effect process that Cường has grudgingly gotten accustomed to.
soon enough, the two are bundled up warmly and exit their usual and lesser dangerous route from within the castle instead of dangling off precariously on tower walls. as they veer near the edge of the perimetres of the castle grounds, Jaewoo begins to piggyback him as promised. with Cường’s thick plush cape enveloping his body too, Jaewoo enthusiastically leaps towards the awaiting royal sled concealed underneath the moss of an oak.
“ see, I made it like almost exactly like your real bed which you love to lay in so much ! “ Jaewoo gingerly lowers down Cường after ensuring every speck of leftover moss is flicked off. almost immediately, Cường nestles himself underneath the main heavyweight blanket with his eyes flitting shut which is a sure sign that Jaewoo must have accurately devised a mobile sleeping quarters for the lethargic prince. with the toothiest grin, Jaewoo leaves his nap to him in peace before securing the sled to his armour.
as they traverse through the grounds, a route that Jaewoo deliberately scoured for its even ground to avoid jilting Cường too much, the night begins to sink in deeper. an expert in creating handheld torches, Jaewoo lights the way for himself and his drowsy reluctant companion through the sweeping grand grounds of eclipsing trees. thankfully, the destination in mind for the birthday isn’t too far off so much of the night isn’t wasted on the journey time itself.
they arrive to a clearing that opens up the dull moonlit night with a large lake in sight. there is already a boat awaiting for them ( a product of Jaewoo’s meticulous birthday planning ). the barely illuminated body of water does not do justice for the usual daytime blue-green depths as the night overcasts its murky shadow. in fact, it would have been totally understandable if Cường was to believe that Jaewoo dragged him out in the midst of the night to kill him in this open valley. ironically, the birthday boy does reflect similar sentiments as he questions Jaewoo as to why they have come here but he does thank Jaewoo for bringing him out in the open air.
“ behold my dear friend, you shall see why I brought you here. ” Jaewoo holds out a hand in plea before sticking the burning torch into the ground near the docked boat. “ I’m going to transfer you to the boat now. I made it extra comfy for you, do not fear. ” admittedly, the wooden boat does look slightly shabby from what the torch’s amber lighting shows up. yet the confines of the boat are layered thick with nothing but fleece plush-lined winter blankets and opulent feather pine-stuffed pillows directly from Jaewoo’s palace.
transferring Cường to the boat takes no more than a second, the birthday prince not weighing more than mere grapes to Jaewoo who is amped up on adrenaline. blowing the touch out, must to Cường’s skepticism, he hops into the boat eagerly before grabbing the oars to paddle them out and away from shore. the atmosphere drastically dips to an eerie cloudless night with not a source of light to be found yet Jaewoo keeps on paddling and paddling and paddling.
“ what do you bring me here for ? ” Cường questions yet again, sounding helplessly bewildered. Jaewoo swats at him.
“ ssshhh, you’ll see in a moment. don’t be too loud now ! ” Jaewoo playfully jibes despite being several pitches higher than Cường. setting the oars now with definitive decisiveness, he stops paddling as he opts to shoulder another blanket around himself. “ any moment now . . . ”
as if just to vehemently rebel against Jaewoo’s words, the pair are left in the sweeping frigid silence in the enveloping darkness. the lake is completely still. the air almost stagnant from its lifelessness. Jaewoo frets about Cường falling asleep again. before he can reach out for Cường’s arm to harshly pinch. it begins to appear.
the fireflies begin to leisurely appear. each warm glow emitting slowly one by one until it begins to reflect against the clear lake depths, stark in its crystal clear glowing luminescence. it starts off with ten good fireflies darting around until a few hundred more show up to entirely brighten up the entire body of water like one of the radiant lantern festivals celebrated in the kingdom. some begin to glimmer near the boats which causes a cascading effects of pale yellow to light up all around them. finally Jaewoo can glimpse the entirety of Cường’s face who looks utterly in awe. he gently holds a finger out, witnessing how a firefly immediately beckons to his fingertip. it warms up the features of his face significantly.
this once, Jaewoo remains serenely silent as he soaks in the magical sight of the fireflies and their endless etched out glittery reflection on the still lake’s surface. glancing back to Cường, he brings out the hidden sack of pastries so he can gingerly stuff one in his mouth.
“ happy birthday, your highness ! ”
* : ✮ ┆ the one in which they are both reliant on coffee and stacks of books .
yeah, birthday, it's your birthday. if I die, bury me inside the Louis store, they ask me what I do and who I do it for and how I come up with this shit up in the studio. all I want for my birthday is a big booty hoe !
it is six in the crisp fresh early morning. the scatter of April’s cherry blossoms softly breeze past the windows. in the far off distance, the blue buses agilely shuttle to their timely scheduled stops. what is there to greet the overambitious joggers is the bountiful stretching of the clear blue skies and its cheery sunshine companion. what a landscape of utmost urban tranquility.
skrr, skrr, wrists movin, cookin', gettin' to it cookin', I'm in the kitchen, yams everywhere !
this lyric accurately reveals where the culprit of the booming bass music is located. what should be another college boy routine of panicked last minute waking up, rolling out of bed, brushing teeth and forgetting to comb before running out of the house is not happening. it’s pulverised along with the vibrating bass that resonates through the tight budgeted walls.
ah, Yeezy, Yeezy, how you do it, huh ? it's my birthday, I deserve to be greedy, huh ?
whether the actual birthday boy is begging for the chance to be greedy or the chaotic sound source in the kitchen is debatable. the April birthday boy is was soundly fast asleep in his bedroom underneath the newly gifted weighted blanket and he must be too groggy with early morning drowsiness. he groans as the bass violently shakes his bed before waiting a few moments to see if the music will miraculously switch off. perhaps this spring day will bless him with a power shut off to banish the ruckus.
I show up with a check to your work place then hand the valet the keys to the merces. tell the DJ play your song, this shit come on. what I'm seeing from the back I can't front on. they ask me what I do and who I do it for !
as fast as Cường’s lethargic feet will transport him to the kitchen despite it being a mere few steps in their apartment, it feels like eternity to him. as he languidly inches towards the kitchen, the deafening birthday song begins to ring his ears. it elicits a slight grimace out of him. his only plan is to lower the music volume to five before noiselessly dragging himself back to bed to flop down to prolong his sixteen hour nap.
however, his plans are rapidly crushed to itty bitty microscopic bits the moment he stumbles across the sight of Jaewoo haphazardly dancing along with ardent strong passionate strokes in the midst of the glammed up kitchen. stray confetti and metallic balloons litter the countertops and corners. a stack of presents line up on the island as a standout centrepiece on the counter set up for two. the warm scent of fresh souffle pancakes fill up the air and berry compote compete to overwhelm senses along with the brewing green tea. when Cường is set to open his presents after breakfast, he will come to find out that Jaewoo has purchased a drawstring hoodie pillow, an interesting choice of a pillow, another ostrich pillow for classes, an aromatherapy eye pillow, microwaveable slippers, a book light for philosophical bedtime reading, a golden ratio notebook, a poster, and a self-heating coffee mug.
“ finally, I was beginning to wonder how long it would take to bait you out of bed ! ” Jaewoo chirpily waves at the dopy figure in the middle of his twirling hands up motion, who is seemingly flabbergasted. it’s an overload of various stimuli to all take in at once at six in the morning. but to his credit, Jaewoo begins to lower the volume to a decent level that won’t burst eardrums.
“ who are those presents for ? they better be for you. I told you, you didn’t have to do anything for me. silly boy. ” Cường finally remembers how to vocalise after awakening slightly.
wiggling his finger at him, Jaewoo jubilantly shakes his head with a smug smile before grabbing hold of the other’s shoulders to steer him to sit down on the island stool. “ so you are allowed to do whatever you want for my birthday but I can’t do the same ? if you do not accept these presents then I will have no choice but to start playing Tinashe at full volume. you know how her songs get me going. ”
it appears to be that Cường receives the message so he expectantly grabs his chopsticks. with a triumphant grin, Jaewoo pours out a cup of green tea to him before pouring out a bowl of seaweed soup for him. “ eat up birthday boy, live a very long healthy prosperous life. who else will I take to astronomy club ! I need you alive ! ” with his eyes sparkling mischievously, he then whispers out one final. “ happy birthday Cường. ”
#ok so at least it is still April where you are so#hAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH CUONG#this is super late but it's here .#this may be slightly chaotic#proceed at your own cost#there's like so many reoccurring themes no matter which au they are in JSOIFJSKPFFK#just don't judge<3#phantombs#* : ✮ ┆ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑 (𝐶𝑢𝑜𝑛𝑔).
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The Petite Prince: Chapter 7
Chapter 7: Princes Don’t Need Help
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8
SideStory
Summary: Roman is a child. Virgil is spending time with said child, and said child likes Logan’s Crofter’s.
Words: 2179
Ships: Familial everything, except roceit. Eventual familial roceit
Genre: Fluff with a side dose of angst
Warnings: A few swears, tell me if there’s any more!
Taglist: @pricklyfish777 @sunflowerblondeuwu @itriedandimtired @draw-your-perfect-world @cemmy @battlebunnyteardropsinthesun @nonbinary-lizard-2 @fanforeveruniverse @i-cant-find-a-good-username
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Virgil was content.
After hours, hours of searching for the precious little bean, here he was in the emo’s arms.
Finally.
The small royal giggled as Virgil made a silly face at him.
Scary reputation? Who’s she.
The baby reached up and tugged at the anxious side’s hair, marvelling at the pretty purple color, pulling at his own chocolate curls in comparison.
“Woah!”
Virgil felt his heart melt as the petite prince tugged his hair again, happily beaming and showing off his gap tooth.
He knew that the others were watching the exchange, but, for the first time in his ‘life’, didn’t even care.
Then Roman’s face scrunched up in concentration, and he let go of the emo’s hair.
“Liv’ roo!”
Virgil smiled softly.
“The living room?”
“Liv’ roo!”
So. Cute.
___________________________
Okay can I just interrupt for a second?
You already have, but go on.
Why do you all keep emphasizing how cute he was?
Because I was absolutely adorable.
Because he was absolutely adorable.
…
Fair enough.
___________________________
Patton was still chatting with Logan, about brownies and endorphins and all the like, but he still felt sad.
Patton was the literal dad of the group, and yet when one of his kiddos turned into a literal kiddo, he could do nothing about it. Well, for now at least.
Logan had told him that Roman had most likely felt extremely overwhelmed, causing him to regress further, and therefore should not be exposed to one of the main reasons he had felt overwhelmed by for a bit.
The logical side had faltered near the end, which the moral side took as a good sign.
Maybe he doesn’t think I’m too big a ‘main reason’.
Patton held on to this hope.
Because any hope, no matter how trivial, was hope.
____________________________
Remus really hadn’t wanted to give his little bro over to Virgie, and was considering to just, well to just not, but the look that Nerdy Wolverine had given him had convinced him of doing otherwise.
Whatever. I guess they still think I want to kill my brother.
Which he didn’t.
But again, whatever.
The Duke ignored the sting that the thought had left.
Whatever.
____________________________
Back in the living room, Roman was grinning wider than ever.
It was working! There was waaaay less sad, and even better than that, he had helped.
Ooh, look at the pretty lights! And the pur-pur hair! Wait, he had already seen the pur-pur hair. It was still pretty though!
The room was being decorated with nice bright colors and fairy lights. Big him (and Little him) loved those!
“So. What d’ya wanna do?”
Roman turned and looked at Virgil, a tad confused, before shrugging.
“You choo!”
Big me never got to choose. Wow! Fluffy blankets!
The little prince missed the shocked face Virgil had worn at his response, and his confused face before that.
“Disney?”
“Yeah!”
_________________________
Why had the bean looked so confused when I had asked him what he wanted to do?
That was a question that would surely echo throughout Virgil’s mind for the rest of the movie marathon, and most likely after it as well.
Looking to the adorable little royal, Virgil smiled an anxious smile.
I hope he’s okay.
Virgil looked at the wide green eyes, engrossed in whatever the Disney movie at the moment was. He was so small, but that was to be expected of a now fifteen month old baby.
The paper crown slipped down over the prince’s eyes, blocking his view of the film. He huffed and pushed it back up with his tiny hands.
“Need a little help there?”
Vigil was still smiling as the bean harrumphed, rather dramatically.
“No.”
“You sure about that? The crown keeps falling.”
“No.” he retorted, stubborn as ever.
The crown fell again.
This time tears filled the prince’s eyes and he pouted angrily.
“Stay!”
Virgil reached over to fix it, only to have his hand swatted away.
“No! Prin’s don’ nee ‘elp!”
Princes don’t need help? Well that doesn’t seem… healthy. What if the bean isn’t healthy?! Well, its obvious he’s not- he is regressed, but what if- I should probably try to stay calm. For his sake.
It was funny, the literal embodiment of anxiety trying to be calm.
The crown fell again and tears rolled down the youth’s cheeks.
Virgil wrapped his arms around the bean, attempting to comfort him. He did want to find out what the small royal had meant, but he couldn’t bear seeing an upset little royal.
The bean must not be sad!
And so Virgil kept hugging the little prince, trying to ignore the phrase.
Princes don’t need help!
Great, two things that would probably haunt him forever.
_________________________
Roman dried his eyes in VeeVee shirt, already regretting the tears.
He was supposed to make them happy!
Sad=bad!
And so, the petite prince took a deep breath, and cuddled closer to Virgil.
_________________________
Both boys had forgotten about their movie marathon by now, content to just cuddle there forever, but then the baby prince had an idea, an idea that would hopefully make VeeVee happy.
The hoodie itself was reeeeeally nice and soft and fluffy and warm, and the prince wasn’t even wearing it!
If it was that nice on the outside, what it be like on the inside?
And so Roman had two options.
Option one: snuggled inside the jacket against Virgil’s chest,
Or
Option two: snuggled in the hood.
It was a very hard choice to make, but the small royal eventually clambered to the top of the emo’s head, getting ready to drop down into the soft embrace of fabric.
Virgil was extremely confused throughout the whole of it.
Roman giggled, and then he was laying in the warm, warm hood.
Oh look! Pur-pur hair!
And so the prince was cosy and the emo was amused.
“Adorable.”
_________________________
Logan walked into the kitchen the next morning, ready to enjoy his sweet, sweet Crofter’s, when a giggly Roman and a smiling Virgil entered the room.
Now, this would not have struck Logan as odd if it weren’t for the fact that the tiny prince was sitting in the anxious side’s hood, his little arms wrapped around Virgil’s neck.
Logan.exe is experiencing a malfunction. Overload of cuteness has temporarily shut down subject’s brain.
Now, Logan wasn’t a robot, or anything of the sort. He was a metaphysical human being. But in that moment he just ‘couldn’t’.
This is odd, I’ve seen and identified the child as ‘cute’ before. Why am I so overwhelmed by the cuteness now?
Virgil must’ve noticed Logan’s mini meltdown, as he snorted and said “You good there teach?”
“How is he so adorable?”
Virgil was about to respond but got interrupted by the little prince.
“Mama!”
Logan.exe is experiencing a malfunction. Overload of cuteness has temporarily shut down subject’s brain.
Twice in a minute. That was most certainly not normal.
But it wasn’t necessarily bad, either.
________________________
Roman, even as a baby, loved attention, and teasing people. So when he noticed he had a chance to get attention and mess with Mama, of course he would do it.
His spot in Virgil’s hood was very comfortable though.
It could wait until after breakfast.
The little prince hugged Virgil’s neck tighter, and pointed at the jar of Crofter’s next to Logan.
Well, he could still mess with Logan from up here.
________________________
You were literally fifteen months old, and yet you still felt the need to be annoying?
Hey! I didn’t want to be annoying, I just wanted to mess with you.
Sure.
And also eat your Crofter’s.
As you would usually say, heathen.
________________________
“You shouldn’t be eating this. Too much sugar could be detrimental for your teeth.”
Logan, in the end, gave in to the whims of the adorable little child and let him eat the jam.
…
Logan and Virgil were mostly silent throughout the meal, happy to listen to the small royal’s babbling.
And then there was a tug.
The left brain boys had completely forgotten about Thomas.
Virgil looked to the logical side, panic evident in his expression.
“What the fuck do we do?”
Logan had on a similar expression.
“The more pertinent question is do we tell him?���
“Tell him what?”
“About Roman. He doesn’t know that sides regress.”
“He doesn’t!?”
“No.”
“How come I thought he did?”
“You were usually the regressed side.”
“That doesn’t mean anythi-”
Another tug.
Roman let out a whimper.
One of them had to go, but the other had to stay with the prince.
“Roman can’t sink down, he isn’t touching the floor.”
“Guys!”
They heard Thomas’s voice this time.
And so, in a heat of the moment decision, Virgil gently but quickly lifted the bean out of his hood, handed him to Logan, and sank down.
“I’ll come up with an excuse!”
_________________________
Logan sighed, and looked to the petite prince now in his arms.
“No he won’t.”
The scaled-down side nodded his head in agreement.
Logan smiled at him and with a quick flick of the wrist, summoned a book.
It was a small picture book with a few words littered throughout.
The nerd knew that normal fifteen month olds would not be able to read at all, but they weren’t exactly real, and so didn’t follow the ‘natural process’ of aging accurately.
Roman squealed as the book landed in front of him, a golden light illuminating his tiny features.
Wait a… gold light? Where is that coming from?
Very odd.
A few moments later the princely side, after being few pages in, started humming.
And then there were birds.
And rabbits.
And squirrels.
And deer.
Where are all of these coming from? Should I be concerned?
Logan stared incredulously at the child, who didn’t seem to notice his new company.
Curious.
…
And then the humming stopped.
Logan, who had summoned his own book to read, looked up to see a frown on the youthful side’s face as he seemingly struggled to read a word.
“Do you require any assistance?”
The royal shook his head fiercely.
“No! Prin’s don’ nee ‘elp!”
Oh. Oh dear.
“Why not?” Logan decided to say, in a deliberately soft voice.
“B-b-bi’ me!”
Big him?
Logan was tempted to get another side’s help, but decided against it.
He could help the child himself.
“You should never be ashamed of needing help, Roman. Everyone needs it sometimes, even me.”
Roman looked up at him with tear filled eyes.
“Rea’y?”
Logan smiled.
“Yes, your highness, it is true.”
The miniscule royal frowned.
“Bi’ me ner g’elp…”
Logan was having a tough time translating.
“Big you never wanted to get help?”
The prince shook his head.
“Go’ elp.”
“Big you never got help?”
Roman nodded.
Did he not?
“How come?”
“Asd, bu no.”
“He asked but no?”
The royal nodded again.
That is quite concerning.
“No’n elp ‘im, so no nee’ elp!”
Logan really needed a dictionary.
“No one helped him, so ‘no need help’?”
“Ee d-d’ided no nee’ elp.”
“He decided he didn’t need help?”
“Ya!”
Well.
Logan definitely needed to have a long, possibly uncomfortable discussion with the rest of the sides.
As Virgil would so eloquently put it, ‘We fucked up.”
_______________________
In Remus’s room, the day before…
Remus had joined the conversation with Logan and Patton after Virgil and his RoBro left.
He had also found out everything that had happened.
And he was not happy.
_______________________
Janus was happy.
Very happy, in fact.
The slimy snek boy knew it had literally been a day since it happened, but still.
He had gotten accepted!
He had revealed his name!
And it was great. Extremely freeing to know that he finally had nothing more to fear.
Except Roman. Except Virgil.
He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind.
He was Denial after all.
No one has spoken to you since then. Not even Patton.
He pushed those away too.
Happy. Happy. Happy.
You were too harsh.
He forced out a smirk and ignored it.
All he did was call your name stupid.
Happy. Happy.
He didn’t even mean it. You know when people are lying, and he was.
Happy.
He didn’t mean it, but you did.
Jesus Christ Superstar!
All Janus wanted was to be happy and feel nice feelings after being accepted!
These thoughts were pushing through an indestructible wall of denial, something only Remus could d-
Remus.
You and I are going to have a problem.
____________________
In Remus’s room, the day before…
Patton had been happy to chat with Remus as well as Logan, (or so he told himself) and so when the Duke had asked what had happened with him and Roman, he had been fine with telling him.
Well, would have been.
Logan had interjected before the moral side had had a chance to open his mouth, and Patton inwardly shrugged and listened.
It seemed so much worse when you put it like that.
And so when he had seen Remus’s stormy expression, he had been worried.
Well, shit.
______________________
Thank you for reading this chapter of the Petite Prince!
Another competitor has joined the arena!
Also before you say (if anyone was going to say anything) ‘oh my god! Patton swore!’ I personally do hc Patton as someone who swears. Not like ‘oh god’ or anything like that, but since Thomas swears, I think all of the sides do.
#sanders sides#thomas sanders sides#tss#the petite prince#roman sanders#baby roman#virgil sanders#logan sanders#patton sanders#remus sanders#janus sanders#im probably going to add remy#not as a side#but you'll see
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OUAT AND ME: SEASON 6
Story - Season 6 returns to the single-season story arc structure, with its story being the Savior's Fate Saga. The story deals with Emma reaching the point that all Saviors eventually reach: burnout in the lead-up to their Final Battle. And Emma's Final Battle comes courtesy of the Black Fairy, the creator of the Dark Curse who wishes to extinguish all light magic.
And yes, that is the core story of this arc. The problem is that it only constitutes about 25% of it; the rest is dedicated to subplots upon subplots: all the people who were brought in from the Land of Untold Stories, the strange case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Evil Queen split from Regina, Regina and Zelena's sibling rivalry reigniting, Belle and Rumple's relationship growing more toxic then ever before, Aladdin the Savior of Agrabah and the Princess Jasmine who is looking for him, a new curse befalling Snow and Charming, the mystery behind how Charming's father died, a new realm being created by a genie's power which brings about the "return" of Robin Hood, a multi-realm quest undertaken by Hook, and flashbacks that have jack shit to do with anything....this season is so packed, it's insane!
If the core story was particularly strong, maybe this wouldn't matter so much. But it's not, since it relies upon yet another bullshit redefining of what it means to be "the Savior"; all of a sudden it's an ancient position that has spanned across all of time and through every realm, like a fairy tale version of the Slayer concept from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. And anything empowering about being the Savior is totally gone with this new definition, as now it's a requisite that all Saviors get worn out and die in their Final Battles, doomed to never obtain their happy endings. What a cheap, lazy, miserable way for the writers to raise tension after realizing that all of the epic, mythological stakes raised last season would be hard to top.
Not helping is that in a pretentious way of subverting expectations, they have the majority of the Final Battle...not actually be a battle. Instead, it's a ham-fisted "full-circle to Season 1" situation for Emma and Henry, while everyone else is getting to do more exciting things in the Enchanted Forest. Even the actual battle part of it ends up being underwhelming. Everything does still get wrapped up in a pretty suitable ending, but it's undermined by both the infernal status quo the show's been stuck in since 3B and an intrusive sequel hook into the ill-conceived "reboot" that is Season 7 which never should have been allowed to happen.
Tl;dr: this story arc sucks.
Characters - It's the lowest point for so many of them...
* Emma is a little better in Season 6 than she was in Season 5. She's still generally treated terribly due to the very nature of the arc and has some horrifically shitty things done to her, but she is also able to catch a break every now and then rather than the misery being an uninterrupted stream. She also marries Hook by the end and even plays a decent role in the finale showing how far she's come since Season 1. It was as good a note to go out on as she was going to get, and Jennifer Morrison made the right call to make this the end of her story.
* Snow and Charming...what is there to even say about them at this point? I guess I can say that not only have Goodwin and Dallas' performances largely flatlined and not only are they still written as more parental toward Regina than to their own goddamn daughter who Regina separated them from for 28 years, but they now have retcons applied to them that are ludicrous at best, character assassinating worse than Season 4's eggnapping subplot at worst. No wonder that Goodwin and Dallas were all too glad to call it quits after this trash!
* Henry, despite all odds, is still one of the better characters in this season! Jared Gilmore continues to prove what a better actor he's become and bring a likability to Henry that sometimes is even enough to counteract less-than-ideal written material. Also, getting to see him more invested in Emma again after being hogged by Regina for so long is great.
* The Savior's Fate Saga is a tale of two Reginas. The Regina Mills of Storybrooke is still as insufferably written a Mary Sue as ever, but now we also have the Evil Queen, the dark side of her personality that split from her. With the exception of one episode, the Evil Queen is played excessively campy by Lana Parilla. Adam and Eddy's claims that this "purely evil" Evil Queen would be even worse than the previous one are laughable when we end up seeing what's actually on screen; the Evil Queen from the first two seasons was a legitimately frightening and formidable villain, whereas this Evil Queen is a clown. Sometimes she's an entertaining clown, while other times she's a cringe-inducing clown. But what she most certainly is not is a worthy adversary to the heroes, especially this late into the show.
And then there's the irony in her ultimate fate: rather than destroy her, Regina mixes her heart with hers so that they are both equal and both redeemed. On the one hand, this is a mind-boggling new level of Creator's Pet for Regina to reach, as you would think that the whole point of the Evil Queen is for Regina to suffer the karmic fatal punishment that she deserves for all her years of atrocities without actually having to kill Regina off. And yet in the end Adam and Eddy couldn't bring themselves to kill off any version of Regina, even after they gleefully killed off alternate versions of Snow and Charming a few episodes earlier. But on the other hand, the redeemed Evil Queen is honestly more likable than the redeemed Regina, actually apologizing to Snow for everything, temporarily sacrificing herself for the greater good of everyone in the finale, and getting to have a happily ever after with an alternate version of Robin Hood following a romance closer to what that relationship should have been from the very beginning. In the end, though, I'm just left wishing that the writers had done a far better job redeeming Regina so that this split Evil Queen wasn't necessary. Who knows, we might have had a better season if so many of it wasn't wasted on her.
* Rumple is awful in this season. Just...the absolute worst. After resolving the plotline that the Season 5 finale left him on in the premiere episode, he cuts his hair short and takes his Darkest Dark One shtick to a whole new level of unpleasant and abusive. He stalks and harasses Belle, attempts to take her baby away, makes out with the Evil Queen, and continues to casually threaten Storybrooke without any remorse or any repercussions. And once his new son Gideon and his mother the Black Fairy enter the picture, he dicks around in nonsensically written plotlines in both the past and the present, while Belle essentially takes him back yet again despite the horrific abuse he inflicted upon her. It's painful to watch, especially when Robert Carlyle has completely given up and is phoning it in like mad, with his regular delivery of lines being in a sleepy tone of voice that actually gets grating to listen to.
Much like in Season 5, Rumple improves in the last five episodes of the season, with Robert Carlyle regaining some energy as he declares war on the mother who abandoned him (if you know Carlyle's life story, you can understand exactly why this is) before learning the shocking truth that he was born as a Savior with his mother being his fated enemy, and that she was banished after she cut him off from that fate. Finally exhausted with it all - light, darkness, heroism, villainy, everything - after the emotions of this revelation hits him, Rumple lays his last cards down on the table, joining his mother's side for the Final Battle but with a magical contingency in case she betrays him (which she does). He then kills his mother, chooses to do the right thing for Belle and Gideon's sake even against the temptation of his dark side, and is rewarded for this one good deed by getting a do-over with the two of them as a family and even being accepted at the table with the other heroes. To quote Rumple back when his character was of the exact opposite quality as it is now: "Well, that was a bit of a letdown!"
Now, the "Rumple was born as a Savior" twist is out-of-nowhere nonsense, but it might have worked if Season 6 had been the final season. Not only would it had made him an effective foil for Emma, but it would also add more dramatic weight to his ultimate fate: his death. Yes, Rumple was in fact all set to die if either the show hadn't gotten renewed for another season or if it was and Robert Carlyle turned down returning for it as he actually was very close to doing, sacrificing his own heart in order to break the spell on Gideon's, conquering his dark side once and for all. A very similar scenario ends up being utilized for Season 7's finale, but it lacks the punch it would have had here, where it's the would-be Savior who, after having reached burnout, dies in his Final Battle, rather than the actual Savior who is able to survive thanks in part to his sacrifice. Of course, I still would have preferred Rumple's death after him being the sole Big Bad of a two-part series finale at the end of Season 5, but I digress. Bottom line: Rumple was a complete mess this season and it's sad how far he’s fallen.
* Hook starts off well enough in this season, being Emma's stalwart emotional support who accepts her offer to move in with her (a pay-off that we should have had in the Season 5 finale if it only wasn't so crappy), bonding further with Belle and Henry, resolving the hanging plot thread of his younger half-brother while gaining a new father figure, and eventually making plans to propose to Emma. But then...it happens. It's revealed to both him and us that in the most contrived situation possible, Hook was the one who killed Charming's father. This derails his entire character for most of the remaining season, initially torn between telling Emma about this and covering it up before having a break with her which causes him to go mope and dope for a while before being forcibly sent off on a multi-realm misadventure by Gideon and, once he's finally gotten back to Storybrooke, has his transgression easily forgiven by Charming and his marriage proposal re-accepted by Emma, making this entire stretch of time absolutely pointless! Hook has some good moments in both the musical episode where he and Emma's wedding happen and the finale, but they aren't enough to salvage this from being his weakest showing in any season. Dark Hook was better than this!
* Belle...nope, not even gonna talk about her. Like I said before, she's done as a character.
* Zelena is this season's screwed over regular, and in comparison to Archie, Ruby, Neal, Will Scarlet and Robin Hood, she's got it easy. Her problems have less to do with her character, which is one of the better ones in the core cast at this point, but with her material. First, she and Regina have a sudden falling out because Regina...blames her for Robin's death. OK, all of that talk about how far Regina's come for not going evil over the loss of her romantic partner in the Season 5 finale isn't really worth much anymore when she's still resorting to blaming other people who aren't the actual murderer for that loss! Zelena then goes back to living at her isolated farm house, entering an alliance with the Evil Queen where she'll help her out in small ways but also not commit to fully teaming up with her as a villainess since she has a baby to take care of, plus she rightly doesn't entirely trust her alternate sister.
After the Evil Queen betrays Zelena but Regina still doesn't forgive her for what she blames her for, Zelena is absent or in minor roles for several episodes before she ends up joining the heroes' side out of altruism and the desire to become a good example for her daughter, eventually sacrificing her magic powers to aid the cause, which finally gets Regina to forgive her (probably because it's a sacrifice she's never been able to make). And that's about it.
Oh, but she does get to hit the Black Fairy with a car. That was awesome.
* The Black Fairy / Fiona is the Big Bad of the Savior's Fate Saga. Jamie Murray does a great job portraying her, being whimsically evil like you'd expect a dark fairy to be, and the Black Fairy being the person who created the Dark Curse actually makes a lot of sense when you go back and rewatch Season 3's "Going Home", a Dark Curse-heavy episode that first talks about her, or the Blue Fairy's knowing, worried expression upon Rumple's mention of a curse back in Season 1's "The Return". Unfortunately, that's all the praise I can afford her.
The core problem with Fiona as a character is a simple one: she is too derivative of previous, better Big Bads...especially Regina and Peter Pan. Like Regina, she is a powerful, larger-than-life villainess that Emma has always been destined to face as the Savior, and who ultimately casts the Dark Curse which makes herself mayor of Storybrooke, Henry's adopted mother, and a foe that Emma can only defeat if she believes in magic. And like Peter Pan, she is a parent of Rumple who also chose power over love and abandoned him, becoming the all-powerful ruler of a dark realm who occasionally went out and kidnapped children to bring there, and who is positioned as the story's Ultimate Evil who makes her last stand casting the Dark Curse in Storybrooke and being killed by her own son. This is especially bad when we already have an evil version of Regina to contend with this season and when it's following off of Hades, who was a better successor to Peter Pan's style of villainy (ruler of a dark realm that the heroes venture into to save someone) while still being unique.
She did improve somewhat in the last few episodes, where we see that she at least has sincerely loving Rumple as a differentiator from her ex-husband, has a warped belief that eliminating light magic and wiping out all realms but one is actually the right thing to do, and plays her role in the finale well. But it's too little too late for her to be considered as belonging among the great OUAT villains, let alone the Ultimate Evil that she's billed as. She needed a lot more originality and a lot more truly heinous deeds if that was ever to work.
* There are tons of new side characters in this season, usually either well-handled or not.
Well-handled side characters include the Tremaine family (particularly Lady Tremaine) who make Cinderella's life miserable in both the past and present, Captain Nemo who serves as a father figure for Hook and his half-brother Liam II, Gabriel the Woodcutter who makes an entertaining villain in an otherwise dumb flashback, Robert the father of Charming who is well-depicted in spite of how he dies, and Roderick, Gideon's brave but ill-fated friend.
Poorly-handled side characters include the Oracle who is a plot device character if there ever was one, Edmond Dantes (the Count of Montre Cristo in name only) and his lover Charlotte, Beowulf (another in name only character), Stanum the Tin Man who is pointlessly shoved into Zelena's backstory, Tiger Lily who is an exact carbon copy of Tinker Bell, and almost all of the Wish Realm characters because, as I will discuss later, the Wish Realm episodes are awful.
Then there are the in-between side characters, the ones that are handled...well-ish.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde carry over from the Season 5 finale at the start, then are both taken out of the picture in the 4th episode. Their backstory is well written, they are both well acted, and their death contributes to the ongoing Evil Queen plotline. However, it can't help but feel disappointing - we'd only just gotten a working relationship going between Dr. Jekyll and Dr. Whale in the previous episode, and now that's rendered pointless. And Sam Witwer is such an entertaining presence as Mr. Hyde, so it's sad to see him cut down so soon.
Robin of Locksley, the Wish Realm version of Robin Hood who crosses into Storybrooke, is cool in that we get Sean Maguire back and he is allowed to play something slightly different, since this version of Robin is a selfish, sarcastic asshole instead of a noble, chivalrous hero. However, it also reinforces how badly handled Robin Hood in general has been. Much like with what I said about Regina, I would have rather him and his romance with Regina been written well from the beginning so that this "do-over version' wouldn't be necessary.
After much hyping by the network, Aladdin and Jasmine kind of suck. Aladdin has an inexplicable cockney accent that is really distracting, he's written more selfishly and immaturely than his animated counterpart, and making him a Savior in order to tie him to the main plot is stupid. Jasmine fares better, especially when she receives some development in the 15th episode that largely focuses on her, but before that she was just kind of there and didn't possess the same strength of character she was so known for in the animated film.
Jafar, the Big Bad of Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, is featured too. He is now played by Oded Fehr, and while Naveen Andrews is missed, Oded is one of the best replacements possible and does a stellar job. But while he's great whenever he's on screen, that's the problem - he isn't on screen very much at all. He also doesn't accomplish anything relevant to anyone beyond Aladdin and Jasmine in the time he has - even when he is released from his bottle in the present day, all he does is have a confrontation with Jasmine before BOOM! He gets turned into a wooden staff by magic dust thrown into his face and that's it for him. This was yet another sad waste of a great character with a great actor, but then again, Jafar returning in any medium tends to elicit diminishing results compared to his initial outings.
Finally, we have Gideon, Rumple and Belle's son and Emma's direct opponent in the Final Battle. The problem with Gideon is that the writers keep changing his character on a whim. First he's a projection of Rumple and Belle's future son from within Belle's womb, who masquerades as Morpheus in order to put Rumple through a test which he fails miserably. Then, after being kidnapped by the Black Fairy and taken to the Dark Realm, he shows up as angry, Kylo Ren-esque villain who claims that he wants to kill Emma so that he can somehow absorb her power, become the Savior and defeat the Black Fairy. But then it turns out that this was an act he was forced to play - after having been raised to be a villain by Fiona, Gideon rebelled, so she ripped his heart out and has been using it to control his actions so that he could free her from the Dark Realm for good. So he's a pure innocent, then. But then, in the Final Battle, he is rewritten by Fiona's curse into a stingy, spiteful businessman before reverting back to his innocent but controlled self...and then reverting back into a baby. Gideon, you've come full circle....and I still have no idea just who the Hell you are.
Returning characters include Violet, Ashley / Cinderella, Dr. Whale / Victor Frankenstein, the Dragon, August Booth / Pinocchio, King George / Albert Spencer, Baelfire, Tinker Bell, Ariel, Blackbeard, Malcolm, and Isaac Heller. Some of these returns are successful (I always love to see Ariel, and Isaac receiving some closure as a character was fantastic to see), others not so much (Tink's cameo was contradictory and pointless, and there was no excuse bringing back Baelfire in a flashback - for God's sake, Dylan Schmid is as tall as Robert Carlyle now!)
Atmosphere - There really isn't much of one anymore for the majority of the season. There is nothing remotely special about Storybrooke or the Enchanted Forest at this point, new places like the Dark Realm are woefully underexplored, and there aren't any locations like Camelot, the Underworld, or the Land of Untold Stories from last season that make a big impact.
However, there is certainly atmosphere in the two-part season finale, "The Final Battle". Unfortunately, instead of being an epic atmosphere like you would expect, it's dark and miserable and claustrophobic up until the happy ending. Kind of sums up the show now!
Episode Quality - A few episodes in this season are so bad that they're downright unwatchable, and I was able to watch the worst of late Season 2. "Changelings" is all about Rumple taking his abuse of Belle to a new level all while the episode tries to use the Evil Queen and the Black Fairy as scapegoats so that you can feel bad for him. "Ill-Boding Patterns" continues the whitewashing of Rumple at the direct expense of his sons, completely butchering Beowulf in the process. "Page 23" is an exercise with boredom in both the flashback and present day stories and comes to a truly awful conclusion for Regina's character that doesn't even make sense for her. And "Awake" has the ugliest-looking, most ill-conceived flashback story ever: Snow and Charming actually woke up during the Dark Curse and then woke up Rumple so that he could take them to Emma, only to then choose to abandon her so that she can achieve her destiny as the Savior before everyone goes back to sleep (quite literally in Charming's case, how the fuck does that work!?) The only reason this exists is so that Adam and Eddy can say "See? Snow and Charming totally DID abandon their daughter!" whenever anyone says it's Regina's fault Emma grew up without parents.
Perhaps most insidiously, we have the two-part midseason finale, "Wish You Were Here" and "Tougher Than the Rest". Aladdin is turned into a genie and the Evil Queen takes advantage of a passing statement Emma made about sometimes wishing she wasn't the Savior by making a wish that Emma's desire was granted. Thus the Wish Realm, an alternate world where the Dark Curse was never cast, is created. And the insults just keep piling up from there: the depiction of Emma as a wimpy princess if she had been raised by her parents, Regina trying to prove to Emma that "none of this is real" by crushing Wish Snow and Wish Charming's hearts (I can vividly envision Adam and Eddy having an orgasm over this scene), Emma snapping out of it when Wish Henry tries to kill Regina and that's "everything Emma never wanted him to be" (a fucking hero who will bring down the monster who slaughtered his grandparents!?), Charming similarly being considered "dark" for trying to kill the Evil Queen, the explicitly stated notion that Emma owes Regina for ruining her life because that's what made her strong, the appearance of Wish August who is so much more boring than the real August, the appearance of Wish Hook as a fat old drunk, and Rumple and Belle getting back together due to what's going on with Gideon, with Belle asking "What have we done to each other?" (NO. There is ZERO moral equivalence between Belle and Rumple here.)
"The Savior", "A Bitter Draught", "Street Rats", "I'll Be Your Mirror", "Mother's Little Helper", "Where Bluebirds Fly" and "The Black Fairy" are all watchable, if not particularly good.
All the other episodes have their strong points. "The Other Shoe" is a fun breather episode the likes of which this show desperately needed more of. "Strange Case" features a great take on the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. "Dark Waters" has Hook and Henry at their best and introduces Captain Nemo played by the great Faran Tahir. "Heartless" is the only episode in the season where Lana Parilla plays the Evil Queen with old-school menace, with the curse she ends up placing on Snow and Charming being legitimately ingenious and diabolical. "Murder Most Foul", until its literal last minute twist, is a highly engaging story and features a (rare at this point and thus even more appreciated) explosively emotional performance from Josh Dallas in its climax. "A Wondrous Place", if you ignore the awful Storybrooke scenes, is a weird and wacky crossover between characters of various stories that reminds you why you liked this show to begin with, and features Oded Fehr's last and best performance as Jafar where he is finally able to match Naveen Andrews in raw intensity.
Then there's the musical episode, "The Song In Your Heart". This is the textbook definition of an episode that is really good and enjoyable in a bubble, but is utter nonsense when applied in context. The flashback is a total filler story about a musical curse being cast by the Blue Fairy so that its result can be used by Emma in the present, and it’s only being used by Emma in the present because the Black Fairy suddenly decides "forget casting the Dark Curse and having the Final Battle, I'll take the Savior out now!", and when she fails it's right back to casting the Dark Curse and having the Final Battle as if nothing ever happened! And Emma and Hook having their rooftop wedding where the whole town starts singing and dancing about "a Happy Beginning" despite knowing damn well that the Dark Curse's arrival is imminent is hysterical- all logic dictates this should have been saved for after the crisis is over, not before it's even begun! It's dumb as Hell, but the songs and dance moves are fun (except for the Snow and Charming vs. Regina one, that was just cringy) so it gets a pass.
Lastly, there's "The Final Battle". For all of its many, many faults, it is better than Season 5's two-part finale (and also better than Season 7's, as we'll get to in the next post), and the areas where there could have been improvement are so blatantly obvious that what could have been is easy to imagine (ex: Rumple dying, a few questionable shots from the final happy ending montage cut, and the entirety of the dumbass Season 7 lead-in framing device removed entirely). It's the closest to a decent series finale we have, even if in terms of satisfaction it pales in comparison to the likes of "A Land Without Magic", "Going Home", "There's No Place Like Home", and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland's "And They Lived..."
Overall - I need to issue a formal retraction about the statement I made in this long-ago post. Not about how Season 5 would have been better with an even stronger connection between its two arcs; I still believe that. But returning to a full-season story arc format was a terrible idea, because with Season 6 we see that Season 1 was lightning in a bottle that's never getting recaptured. Every other time Adam and Eddy are given a full-season story arc, their ADHD style of storytelling won't let them stay focused and they'll end up throwing everything but the kitchen sink into it, resulting in a disjointed, convoluted, borderline incoherent mess. This is especially bad at a point where the vast majority of their most talented scriptwriters have long since departed from the writing team. Season 6 isn't the worst season (that comes up next), but it's probably the most miserable and depressing one, especially considering the fact that it was enough to make several main cast members quit. Back in Season 3, I'd have been ecstatic if you told me that this show would be getting 3 more seasons. Now, when actually at Season 6, I was horrified when I was told that it was getting 1 more season.
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Do You Believe in Fate Chapter 8
Hope You Didn’t Have Any Big Friday Plans
In which Scully learns of motherhood. Read on AO3 here
Tagging @today-in-fic
“Dana Scully speaking”
“Hope you didn’t have any big Friday plans”
“Why? Missy what’s wrong?”
“Well there was a bit of an accident at lunch today…”
“Melissa you tell me what’s wrong right now.”
“Mom’s in the hospital. She tripped down the stairs, fractured her leg”
“I’ll be right there”
“I didn’t even tell you which hospital!”
“Georgetown?”
“Yes. The emergency center. Room 305.”
“I’m already in the car.”
Scully rushed into the hospital, hurrying past doctors and nurses alike until she got to the emergency ward. A receptionist questioned her but must have seen the panicked look on Scully’s face before showing her on to room 305 at her insistence, where she walked in to find her mother laying propped up on a hospital bed, leg already casted.
“Jesus Mom what happened?” Scully asked, immediately fussing over her despite Maggie’s attempts to wave her daughter away. Scully made a mental note to ask for her chart later.
“It’s nothing dear, I’ll be fine. I tripped on my way downstairs, fell down a whole flight…”
“Did they check you for other fractures? Do you have a concussion?”
“Yes Dana, they checked everything. Apart from some minor bruising the only thing wrong is my leg.” Scully went to interrupt her again, but Maggie shot her a glare that silenced her. “I’ll have the doctor give you a copy of my x-rays but honestly there’s nothing you can do sweetheart. The doctor is very nice, and seemed quite competent.”
Scully seemed to relax, choosing to walk around the side of the hospital bed and sit in the vacant chair beside it, still critically eyeing the cast on her mother's leg.
“I’m sorry. I’m glad you’re ok.”
She reached out and grabbed her mother’s hand, who held it with a squeeze by her side. She looked around the room and only then noticed the absence of her sister.
“Where’s Missy?”
Maggie, sighed and dropped Scully’s hand.
“That's what I needed to talk to you about…”, she pressed her hand to the bridge of her nose, clearly thinking heavily on her next words. “Melissa took Emily home for her nap. And with me going to be out of commission for at least the next few months, were going to have to discuss who will be taking care of Emily.”
And the realization dawned on her that Scully had been so preoccupied with her mother and sister, she had completely forgotten about the whereabouts of her own fucking daughter.
“Oh. Can Melissa watch her…” she knew the answer before the question had even finished coming out of her mouth.
“Dana, your sister has her own life, her own job. She cannot just drop everything to look after your daughter.” She wasn’t shocked by the words, but by the frustrated tone with which her mother scolded her.
“Mom…” Scully felt her cheeks flush with shame. Maggie carried on, staring sternly at her daughter in the chair.
“You do remember that she is your daughter, right?”
Despite her mother being the one in the hospital bed, Scully felt like the one receiving surgery. She attempted to choke out a response but found her voice wasn’t working properly, she simply sputtered at her mother’s sudden accusation. Maggie’s eyes softened, but her voice remained firm.
“Dana no one knows more than me how much you’ve been through. And you know I will support you in any way I can but she’s your daughter. She’s your daughter and you’re going to have to get to know her some day.”
Scully stared at the linoleum floor tiles, her eyes mapping the grey outlines of the squares one by one in an attempt to stop the tears she felt forming. She could feel her mother’s gaze burning into her cheek.
“I don’t know how.” Her voice cracks as she speaks, and she hears Maggie sigh, but still can’t bear to look at her. “I don’t know how to be a mother to her. I’m scared I won’t do it right.” A rogue tear slips down her cheek. “She doesn’t even like me.”
Her mother grabs her hand again, and Scully can only see her concerned look out of the corner of her eye.
“Baby, none of us know. You don’t go into motherhood knowing exactly what to do, you just try. If you try your best, that will be good enough for her.”
Scully was still staring forward, so Maggie gave a gentle tug on her hand to get her attention. She looked up, the figure of her mother blurry through a haze of tears. Maggie leaned into her despite her restricted leg.
“When Bill came along he didn’t like me much either. Cried every time I picked him up. He refused to eat, refused to nap”.
Scully had to laugh. Of course Bill was difficult, even as an infant.
“But I kept trying. I kept holding him, feeding him. And one day, he just stopped crying. I held him in my arms and he looked up at me with his little eyes and smiled. And I knew I had to have done something right. You kids all turned out ok, anyway.”
Scully smiled up at her, giving her hand a gentle squeeze back.
“Yea Mom, you did alright.” Both women laughed, and finally the tension was released.
“You have to give yourself a chance Dana. Give yourself a chance to be a good mom.”
-
Why was it that staring into the face of her own daughter made her feel so nervous? It wasn’t like she was scared of a baby. Or was she?
Emily was sitting in her play-chair station, bouncing happily and spinning a little plastic ring. Scully sat with her hand propped up on her hand at the kitchen table watching her. She’d been stuck there for at least 10 minutes, just watching the child bounce and play, unable to interact with her but refusing to walk away to safety. Her child. Her mother was upstairs in bed, she’d put her there herself, insisting she needed rest. Melissa left to go back to her apartment, and she was now alone in the kitchen with a one year old, who she was quickly realizing she was more terrified by than any person she had ever known.
Dana pull yourself together. She’s just a baby.
“She’s your baby”, she whispered to herself, partially as reassurance and partially as a reminder.
When she first got back, after the shock of it all had worn off, when she had rational thoughts running through her head again, she ordered a DNA test for Emily. She didn’t tell her mother, or even Missy. She gets it done through a friend at the hospital, and she handed her back the results in an unmarked folder over private coffee. A manila folder holding a potential explanation of what had happened to her and it had taken her almost 2 weeks to open it. She was torn between wanting desperately for the truth and being terrified of it. Of course, she had thought through the possibilities before hand, being the logical person she was.
Option 1) She was already pregnant when she got abducted. It wasn’t out of the realm of extreme possibility. She had been seeing someone occasionally, the time-frame matched up, and though they had been careful, she knew the percentages. It was unlikely she hadn’t shown any symptoms, but again, she had read of instances where women hadn’t shown pregnancy symptoms until late third trimester. Altogether unlikely but not improbable.
Option 2) Emily was someone else’s daughter. This is what she had rationalized as the most likely answer, given her lack of pregnancy symptoms. The FBI suggested that other women may have been abducted by the same man. She may have stolen the child away during her escape and simply lost the memory. And when she held her, when her mother placed her in her arms and introduced Emily to her as her daughter, she had felt a startling lack of maternal feelings. Usually mothers who reconnect with their children document immediate connection, feelings of easy recognition, familiarity. She could have been holding a lively loaf of bread wrapped in a blanket for all the connection she felt to the little bundle of joy placed in her arms. No, Scully had convinced herself quite quickly that she was in possession of someone else's offspring. But that was before Emily sprouted little red curls from the top of her head. Before her mother pulled out a baby picture of little Dana and even she herself had to admit the resemblance was uncanny.
She opened the envelope at the kitchen table at midnight after she padded downstairs, long after her mother had gone to bed. She’d had another nightmare. Tests, needles, bright lights, the usual vague images plaguing her mind and dampening her brow with sweat. But that night, for the first time, she dreamed of her. Dreamed of the cry of an infant through the blinding lights, and felt her heart lurch at the sound. She woke with a scream just short of her lips, so scared not only for her, but for the child. It was then that she realized. She needed to know.
It was a flip of a coin, option 1 versus 2, neither one a best or worst case scenario. But she miscalculated. With some sick twist of the universe, the coin managed to land perfectly on its side and the rational Dr. Scully was presented with the previously unknown option 3.
She was hers, oh yes, that was undeniable. 46 chromosomes of Scully, in fact. She read the report 3 times, looking for the tiny differences to indicate the presence of two distinct genotypes combining to form one unique human, the way she was taught even back in her undergraduate classes. The natural order of things. The only viable way. She found no differences.
Emily was genetically identical to her, a perfect clonal match, down to the individual base pairs in her DNA.
Option 3 provided little answers and generated so many questions. So many questions even the well educated mind of Dr. Dana Scully couldn’t comprehend. The only solace was that when her mother asked her over tea at the dining table about the ever-so-sensitive subject of maternity, she didn’t have to lie.
Of course, that only spurred her mother on more. She kept subtly leaving the baby with her, asking her to hold it while she prepared a bottle or ran to the garden. It was obvious what she was trying to do, although Scully was obstinate to her intentions. To be honest, the idea of a daughter wasn’t what frightened her. She had always seen herself as a mother one day. She used to play dolls with Missy and Charlie when they were little, and she had fond memories of rocking little plastic dolls to sleep, pressing bottles to their unmoving lips and bossing her little brother around the playhouse insisting that she was too busy with the baby to take care of the chores. She worked with kids at the hospital, mostly got along quite well with them actually. She would have been happy to have a daughter of her own.
But Emily wailed every time Maggie dropped her into Scully’s awaiting arms. She screamed her lungs off for the first few months of her life every time Scully was even in the room. While Scully previously saw the merit of her mother’s actions, it slowly turned into a torture for both of them. So much so that Maggie stopped trying all together. After months of stubborn fits from both Scully girls, Maggie found it best to simply keep Emily in her own arms.
Until now.
She cursed the stairs, cursed her mother’s socks and their hardwood floors, cursed God, who was probably looking down at her and laughing. She cursed herself, a pathetic mother, scared of her own child.
Emily stopped spinning the little plastic rings. She grabbed at a stuffed duck, tattered and stained, perched on the side of the activity seat, babbling happily to herself. The duck managed to elude her little grasp however, and instead fell to the floor.
Immediately, Emily’s eyes welled with tears, and she banged her fists against the plastic surroundings of her seat, bouncing up and down and shaking the entire structure. The screaming started shortly afterwards.
Scully’s eyes widened as well, and she sprung out of her chair, dropping to her knees in front of Emily and grabbing the duck. She placed it in front of the wailing toddler, still bouncing and shaking in her seat.
“Look, here’s Ducky. Ducky’s here.” She shook the toy in her line of site, willing Emily to calm down, if only for the sake of her sleeping mother. Emily opened her eyes and saw the toy in front of her, suddenly ceasing her tantrum. She sniffled and took the doll from Scully, grabbing it rather aggressively by the neck. Scully laughed, despite her trepidation, as the duck was strangled by the fists of a toddler.
Emily looked up at her then, little blue eyes wide, satisfied by the presence of Ducky and intrigued by the giggle Scully let escape her lips. They were face to face, and Scully felt oddly self-conscious. She fixed the collar of her shirt as Emily regarded her. She didn’t cry, though her tantrum induced tears were still dewy on her cheeks.
Scully found herself bringing her hand up, slowly. It was shaking, in fact all of her was shaking, with nerves, emotion, whatever . She brought a hand up to Emily’s cheek and carefully brushed a wet droplet aside with her thumb.
Her skin is so smooth, she thought. She was scared the act of contact would cause the kid to burst into tears again, but still Emily simply returned back to looking at Ducky, who was arguably more interesting than Scully.
She likes the duck more than you. It was a ridiculous thought that caused her to chuckle again. Immediately, Emily’s eyes were back on hers. This time, she pursed her tiny lips, as if in deep thought. She looked down at the duck in her hands, back up at Scully, and then suddenly thrust the yellow duck towards her.
“Ducky” Emily said, leaning again towards Scully and pushing the toy at her. Scully responded with only a baffled smile, which Emily then returned in full toddler exuberance. A gummy, wonderful toddler smile, and for the first time, Scully felt a little twinge in her chest as she looked at her.
She took the duck. Emily clapped her hands together, giggling her own twinkling laugh, like windchimes in a gentle breeze. She then turned and went back to spinning the little purple plastic rings, unbothered by the exchange she had just participated in.
Scully, however, looked as if she’d seen a ghost. Or witnessed a miracle. She held the cloth duck like scientific proof of the unexplainable event, unwilling to let it go, gazing down on it in awe before the tears from before resurfaced.
On the floor of her mother’s kitchen in the soft light of the evening, Scully cried over a cloth duck. She cried over the softness of baby skin, over chromosomes and unknowns, and over all the shit she’s been through. She sank down off her knees and sobbed an apology to the little girl in front of her. She felt her body shake as she sloughed off the moths of feeling like a stranger in her own home, avoiding the kitchen during feeding time and her mother’s disappointed smile. She pressed the duck to her face, feeling the soft fabric absorb the tears off her own cheek, and she inhaled the scent of her daughter.
When the tears had subsided, she looked up at Emily still preoccupied with the little plastic puzzles. She leaned in, clearing her throat, and danced the duck along the top of the seat. Emily’s eyes lit up, and quickly she grabbed at the duck, pulling it in close to her face and hugging it with all the ferocity of a child’s love. She looked up and smiled at Scully again, and the idea that it was all a fluke flew out of Scully’s mind.
Scully reached over and brushed a tiny red curl out of her baby’s eyes, again feeling awed by the softness of her skin against her fingertips.
“Hi Emily”, she whispered into the still air of the kitchen, and Emily smiled at the sound of her name, clutching Ducky closer to her chest.
“I’m your mom.”
#txf fanfic#this is all scully but i mean its kinda cute#dana scully#fox mulder#msr fanfic#the x files#emily AU#the x files AU#sam writes#dybif#msr
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got hitched
Quick ficlet for my Bencole people. Featuring domestic Quindo. Cross-posted to the ao3 cricket ficlet collection.
//
eight years after graduation | august
Sebastián is completely unsuspecting, when the Snapchat comes in.
The house is quiet, and he and Quinn are in bed. He figures they’ll actually go to sleep soon, or at least soonish, but for now, they sit up against their pillows, with the light still on. It’s long past Violet’s bedtime; Quinn put her down at least an hour and a half ago, and after sitting out on the patio with him for a bit, Sebastián carried his husband to bed for little to no reason other than he just felt like carrying him.
He’s watching a Coyotes preseason weekly recap on his phone, and next to him, Quinn is knitting. His yarn is royal blue and bright red; he’s working on a scarf he keeps swearing he’s going to mail up to Remy to wear to games when his season starts. To celebrate his contract , Quinn said, when he told Sebastián what he’d be doing, all self-satisfied smiles. I think he could use something new in Montreal colors, don’t you?
His needles clack together every now and then, and the audio on Sebastián’s phone is low, but it’s not like Quinn would be bothered by that anyway, seeing as he took his hearing aids out for the night hours ago. Their house, Sebastián is happily aware, is a safe zone for Quinn, has been since the day they bought it to build their life in together.
A notification buzzes his phone, and the banner at the top tells him he has a Snapchat from Ben. Which isn’t weird, until it is— because what time is it in France right now? It has to be, like, kind of early in the morning, right? In what world is Ben up early on vacation?
He opens Snapchat to investigate. The Snap has been sent into a group chat, but not a new one; it’s one containing himself, Ben, and Quinn, and has to have existed since college even though it hasn’t been used in a short while.
He opens the Snap. It loads. As it loads, he wonders if this is a leftover message from Cole’s show last night. That was, after all, the whole reason Ben crossed the Atlantic Ocean for vacation in the first place. It’s Cole’s first tour outside the US, and Ben and Remy created this whole scheme for Ben to surprise him, which Remy was on board with because he will use literally any excuse to travel to Europe, especially France, and Sebastián has heard about this over several elaborate text exchanges, phone calls, Snapchats, et cetera—
The Snap loads.
Sebastián looks at it.
Wait. Wait . WHAT?
It expires before he can fully process, but he knows what he saw. He scrambles to replay it, leaning forward and off the pillow.
It’s a picture, a selfie, of Ben in bed with Cole wrapped up in his arm. They’re both, like, clothed and everything, and they look all soft and in love, but that’s not the main point of interest.
Because Ben is holding both of their hands up to the camera, and although Cole has had his black engagement ring for upwards of two years, Ben… is also wearing a ring. And Cole is holding a piece of paper. A certificate.
The caption Ben has typed reads: got hitched
Cole is holding a marriage certificate .
Sebastián screenshots the picture before it can disappear again, and then immediately starts tapping-slash-whacking Quinn in the thigh to get his attention. He’s gentle about it, but he still feels bad when Quinn startles and shoots daggers up at him. He drops his needles and signs. What’s wrong?
In lieu of signing a response, he turns the phone to Quinn, because it’s easier than attempting to convey via sign his current stream of consciousness (Ben got married is he kidding how did he just get married in the middle of Paris on a whim oh my God he is going to bust his ass so much but also he’s pissed because he wanted to go to his actual wedding and Ben Shaley Is Actually Fucking Married he can’t believe it like yeah he knew this was coming because he’s been engaged for two years but like— Rho got married !!!!!!!?!??!????!!?!).
Quinn studies the photo, then his eyes widen with realization. In a moment, he shifts from his complete bedtime serenity to animated, excited confusion. He looks up to Sebastián, then back to the phone, then up to him again, and signs, in quick and snappy motions, They eloped? , and then, immediately, Call Ben.
Sebastián nods, as Quinn lunges to the bedside table and grabs his hearing aids. He opens the phone app, and picks Ben out of his favorites, and as it rings, he just sits there vibrating. He can’t believe it. He actually can’t believe it. Ben just went and got married. Like— okay, that’s admittedly the most Ben way he could possibly think to get married, but— is this real life?
Ben picks up on the second ring, as Sebastián is putting the call on speaker. “Helloooooo!” His voice is singsong, like he knows exactly what he did. Which, like, obviously he knows what he did. But Sebastián is still shook —
“ Dude !” he cries, half-laughing, as Quinn leans back over to him and scoots closer on the mattress. “How could you just send that out of context?”
Ben laughs. “In my defense,” he remarks, his voice the picture of chill, “it really doesn’t require that much context, right?”
Quinn fiddles with his ears, and then he must get them turned on, because he chooses that exact moment to cry, “Benjamin Shaley.”
“Mini!” The joy in Ben's voice is indescribable. “I knew you’d bitch me out for this!”
“I cannot believe you,” Quinn says. “You did not elope last night.”
“Oh, but I did,” Ben remarks, every bit the wise-ass he’s always been, and he sounds so happy , and Sebastián is, like, so fucking happy for him right now—
“Rho— congratulations , holy shit,” he tells him. “Did you plan this?”
“No,” Ben laughs. “Not even a little. And I think that’s maybe the best part. Hold on.” There’s rustling and mumbling on his end for a second, and then a fourth voice enters the conversation.
“Good morning, guys.” Cole’s voice is super raspy, like he just woke up. Sebastián tries to do some quick math, but all he can determine about time zones is that it has to be early over there. “Sorry we didn’t tell you.”
“Cole, I can’t believe this,” Quinn says. “How could you let his chaos influence you?”
“Mm.” Cole pauses, contemplatively, and then yawns. “I’ll actually be letting his chaos influence me for the rest of my life, now.”
Quinn takes a deep, therapeutic breath. Sebastián wraps an arm around his shoulders. He has, many times, seen his husband get simultaneously pissed and excited; it’s a hilarious thing to witness. “I love you both,” Quinn says, in a slightly less sharp voice. “And I’m so very happy for you. But words cannot describe how much I wanted to actually attend your wedding.”
“We’re gonna have a party, Q,” Ben replies, like he was ready for this question. “When we get home. Well. Like. Not right when we get home. But we’re gonna start planning it when we get home.”
Quinn pauses, like he’s contemplating this, and in the silence, Cole adds, “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision.”
“Well, I’ll say,” Quinn says. Sebastián thumbs at his shoulder, to soothe the good-natured rage. “My goodness , you two. I should have known you’d get married some crazy way.”
“Tell us the story!” Sebastián adds, because he is extremely eager to know.
Cole lets out a soft laugh. “It’s not a long story,” he says.
“We were at dinner,” Ben explains. “Last night, after the show, with Remy. And Cole just… out of nowhere. He was like, we should get married.”
“ Cole Kolinsky ,” Quinn gasps. “Your mother is going to kill you.”
“She knows!” Cole cries. “She knows. I promise. She’s the only person who knew before you. Her and Remy.”
“Was Rem with you?” Sebastián asks.
“He was with us when we decided to do it,” Ben says. “But not at the town hall.”
“That little shit,” Sebastián cries. “Where is he now?”
“Out galavanting in the streets, I bet,” Ben mutters, and Cole laughs at him.
“I’m sure Remy is asleep,” Cole amends. “We were out so late last night.”
Quinn rubs his temple, leans into Sebastián’s embrace, and whispers, “I cannot believe you two.”
“Oh, you love us, Quinny,” Ben says. “Don’t even try to hide it.”
“Of course I do,” Quinn replies, in that tone so characteristic of him , where he’s firm and kind at the exact same time. “My goodness,” he says. “You’re entirely too much for me.”
Cole laughs again. “I promise, Quinn,” he says, “it’ll be a really good party.”
“Oh, it best be.” The grin on Quinn’s face is so cute, Sebastián could combust. “I have very high standards.”
“Ah, yes,” Ben says, in a posh accent, “nothing but the best for the esteemed Quinny Cooper—”
“ Ben ,” Cole mumbles, and Ben laughs so loud.
“I’m so—” The initial shock has sort of worn off, but Sebastián still feels like he’s processing several things at once. “I’m so happy for you guys, jeez ! Why are you awake so early, anyway? It’s your honeymoon morning!”
“I have to—” Cole breaks his sentence with a yawn, like talking about being up early is making him more tired. “I have to be on my tour bus at eight-thirty.”
“Oh, Cole ,” Quinn whispers. “That’s a real wrench in your morning, huh?”
“Is what it is,” Cole replies.
“Wait, so… what time is it now?” As soon as he mentioned the fact that it’s their honeymoon morning, it started occurring to Sebastián that he and Quinn are… keeping them on the phone. On their first morning as a married couple. He loves his friends to death, but nobody interrupted him and Quinn the morning after they got married. It was just the two of them; even Vi was at Mama’s house for a sleepover. The only thing they had to do was bask in that fresh joy.
“It’s seven,” Ben announces. “Seven-oh-nine.”
“Okay, so,” he says, “I’m gonna, like, hang up the phone now.”
“ Nanny ,” Ben says, with a snort. “We knew you’d want to talk.”
“Yeah, but we talked,” he replies, “and now I’m hanging up so you guys don’t have to, like, talk to us until Cole leaves.”
“Hm.” Ben pauses, and then, in his peak wise-ass tone, remarks, “What if I hang up first?”
“Oh, goodness , you two,” Quinn mumbles, into Sebastián’s shoulder, “don’t get into one of these arguments.”
“Bro, you hang up first.”
“No, you hang up first—”
5,000 miles away, in a hotel bed in Paris, Ben Kolinsky hangs up the phone. He rolls over in bed and grins at his husband. “How did I do?”
Next to him under the nice white sheets, Cole is the best thing he has ever seen. He laughs, with his hand over his face, before he reaches for him. When they meet in the middle of the mattress, Cole presses a kiss to his lips. “You are an idiot,” he whispers.
“Mmm.” Ben kisses him again, and Cole wraps around him, and he thinks there’s absolutely no way heaven could be any better than this. “That’s a title I’ll proudly own, but only with an amendment.”
Cole tangles his fingers in Ben’s hair, long and now sort of messy from sleep, but who gives one single fuck what their hair looks like when they just got married to the love of their life last night. “What’s the amendment?” he asks, between kisses.
“That I’m your idiot.”
“ Oh .” Cole laughs. His eyes wrinkle shut, and Ben is going to be gone on him for the rest of his days. “You’re definitely my idiot.”
“Perfect,” Ben says, and kisses him again, and he doesn’t need anything else.
#ao3 link#ben/cole#quindo#nandoooooooo#mini quinny#rhode island headass#actually he's cole#ficlet#crickets#mel writes
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LOOMING SUNLIGHT Chapter Three
The link to the AO3 version of this chapter here: https://archiveofourown.org/works/30351717/chapters/75897176
Waking up was always a chore when the temperature outside made it tempting to lay around aimlessly. Cedar chose to wake up before the sun had properly risen, especially since it meant the weather was slightly cool. She felt a strong burst of longing towards Shadowclan, whose warriors were generally asleep during the morning and midday and awake during dusk and night.
Stretching, Cedar poked her head out of the elders den warily. Most of the camp was sleeping soundly and she felt confident enough to move further outside, yawning silently. She licked her white forepaw and groomed herself slowly, tension unwinding as she watched the sun rise. Tigerpetal emerged from the tangled hedge that made up the medicine den, stretching dramatically before entering the leaders den. Cedar wondered what the medicine cat was doing talking to the leader so early on.
Her ears flicked towards a sound behind her and she noticed a black pelted cat approaching. Their eyes were a very vibrant green and one of their ears was crooked. What was their name? Cedar wondered a tad anxiously as it became apparent that they were coming to talk to her.
“Hey kit.” They meowed sleepily. Cedar squinted, offended at being called a kit. “You and Mothscar got a job today?”
“Not that I know. You should ask my mentor.” Seemed improper to ask an apprentice-or a ‘helper’ what they would be doing for the day without the mentors input. The black cat blinked.
“I can’t, Mothscar needs his beauty sleep.” Beauty sleep? Cedar tilted her head slightly in confusion. Emerging from the elder’s den, Mothscar laughed.
“If I’m aiming for beauty than I’m afraid I’ll be asleep long enough to wake up and see Larkkit’s ceremony.” Mothscar walked up to the two cats, nudging the lanky cat affectionately.
“Cedarpaw, this is Newtpool. We left Riverclan together when they were just a kit.” Cedar wondered what Mothscar had been doing leaving Riverclan with a kitten, the two were clearly not related. She suddenly faintly remembered her father Ridgesnarl complaining about ‘picky’ Riverclan cat’s. At the time she’d been confused at Ridgesnarl’s disgust, but perhaps pickiness was more specific to kicking out cats who weren’t good enough?
Newtpool glanced at the older white tom with an oddly neutral face, seeming to have a silent conversation with him. Mothscar just continued to smile placidly.
“Mothscar!” Tigerpetal yelled as she was exiting the leader’s den. She completely ignored Newtpool, walking in front of the lanky cat. Newtpool rolled their eyes to Cedar, who just stared back.
“You and your helper are coming to the gathering tonight. But there’s a couple caveats to your presence being allowed.” Behind her, Newtpool puffed out their chest and was pointing their nose in the air in a way that did kind of remind Cedar of the way Tigerpetal was looking down at her. She concentrated very hard on staring neutrally at the medicine cat.
“You’re not to tell anyone where you’re from, and don’t go conversing about your helper position.”
“Well, that seems silly.” Purred Mothscar. “Why wouldn’t we want the other clans to her about our new position? Maybe they have some kits they’d want to keep from becoming apprentices too.”
Tigerpetal’s lip raised slightly, showing gleaming white teeth. There was a long drawn-out silence as the medicine cat and the elder stared each other down, and Cedar couldn’t help but notice the chatter of cats waking up had completely drawn to a halt. Her ears pressed against her head, and she wished that she was beside Newtpool or at least behind Mothscar instead of in front of Tigerpetal.
Finally, Tigerpetal let out a low growl. “Mind yourself, Mothscar. The ice you’re walking on is getting thin.” Mothscar said nothing, simply looking at the ginger tabby with a friendly expression. Tigerpetal tail lashed once, before she stalked away to the medicine den.
“Newtpool!” She yowled from inside the den. “Get your tail over here!” Newtpool looked dismayed, shooting Mothscar a grumpy glare.
“Great.” They meowed, “Now she’ll have a burr in her pelt all day. And who has to deal with her?”
“NEWTPOOL!”
“I’m coming!” They yelled back, stomping away to join their mentor. Mothscar’s posture slumped slightly.
“Poor Newtpool.” He joked, looking back to his apprentice, whose fur was puffed out and eyes wide. She had no idea why Mothscar kept pushing his luck when it came to her status. Did he just hate Rootstar so much he would oppose his rules whenever he could? Would Tigerpetal really hurt an elder? Could she even, as a medicine cat? Was that…allowed?
Seeming to accept that she wasn’t going to say anything, Mothscar flicked her lightly with his tail.
“Let’s go see if we can find some moss.”
--
By the time the sun had started to go down, Cedar was full of nervous energy. Going to the gathering felt like an opportunity, but for what she wasn’t sure. To escape? Was the situation bad enough that leaving it would be escaping?
And even so, what clan would want her? She was wary of Riverclan because of the conclusions she’d drawn with Mothscar and Newtpool, but would Thunderclan take her? What if they were worse? She had no idea what was considered normal behavior towards a cat living in your camp who was from an enemy clan.
Besides, what if they punished Mothscar for her betrayal?
A paw poked her shoulder, interrupting her thoughts. She turned to see Willowpaw’s grass-coloured eyes shining at her. She moved back slightly.
“Hey Cedar!” He chirped happily. “Me and Stormfang are supposed to be pairing up with you at the gathering! And I’m even allowed to call you Cedarpaw!” Cedar felt like he could have said that last part a little quieter, because Stormfang immediately left her conversation to glower at her apprentice. Cedar left the Willowpaw to his scolding, briefly hearing his voice squeak out ‘you said I could though!’.
Cloverpaw was waiting by the entrance of camp, watching her mentor with tired eyes. Pigeonflight was talking loudly to Marigoldfur, who couldn’t have looked more uncomfortable. Cloverpaw glanced at Cedar but seemed too worn out to snap at the she-cat. Cedar wondered what training Pigeonflight was making Cloverpaw to cause her to look so run down.
They both sat beside the other completely silently, watching Pigeonflight fail to flirt like they were spectating. As the grey tabby accidentally implied that Marigoldfur’s brother was stupid, Cedar flicked her ear. “Yikes.” She meowed simply, and Cloverpaw snorted before looking at the dark grey she-cat with shock.
“Cedar.” Stormfang called, walking with a pouting Willowpaw. Cedar looked away from Cloverpaw’s blue and green eyes. She followed Willowpaw, feeling Mothscar follow her out of camp. Most of the clan left for the gathering in order to look like they had more cats than they actually did. Since Shadowclan was out of the picture, Windclan no longer had to worry about their camp being ambushed while away. The whole trip to four-trees Willowpaw talked her ear off, often stumbling as he tried to walk and look behind him at the same time. Meanwhile, Cedar was interested in watching Windclan’s long grass slowly become shorter as they approached Riverclan. She could even see the edge of Shadowclan’s burnt pines, which made her throat close up. He forced herself to look instead at Four-trees, which wasn’t totally undamaged either. The fire seemed to have badly burnt the tree closest to Shadowclan, but the other three were slightly singed as well.
Between the trees was more cats than Cedar had ever seen. Her eyes widened as she tried to take in the number of bodies packed into a relatively small space. Willowpaw also seemed shocked, tail shooting straight up in the air as he let out a small ‘meep’. Cedar slowed her pace so she could walk directly beside Mothscar, who seemed amused at her surprise.
Windclan seemed the last to arrive at the gathering. Most cats seemed to be sticking with their own clans, murmuring with each other. Cedar noticed that Windclan moved as a unit, barely spreading out and heading right beside Thunderclan.
“Everyone seems spooked.” Mothscar noticed, eyes flicking to Shadowclan’s burnt tree before returning to the crowd. Cedar grunted noncommittally. She’d never been to another gathering.
“So we just sit here?” She asked, and Mothscar looked a little surprised that she had spoken, before shaking his head.
“No, not normally. Young cats like yourself often talk to the other young cats of every clan.” He paused, and meowed “Stick with Thunderclan cats for now though. They’re the ones that don’t smell like fish.” Cedar nodded hesitantly, stepping away from the white elder slowly. Social interactions were not especially her strong suit. She had little time to worry about it before an orange tabby stumbled into her. The fire coloured apprentice whirled around to face Cedar, fur oddly spiky without being raised.
“Hey, a Windclan cat!” They meowed excitedly, tail lashing. “Wow you look really grumpy!” She added on belatedly. Cedar was not aware of what face she was making and attempted to shift it to a more friendly look. The Thunderclan apprentice flinched back before laughing uproariously. Willowpaw padded towards them, waving his tail at her as he sat near them.
“Hi! I’m Willowpaw, and this is Cedarpaw. What’s your name?”
“I’m Robinpaw.” Robinpaw announced, bowing with flourish. Willowpaw giggled, delighted. Cedar stood awkwardly, glad Willowpw had introduced her.
“This is my second gathering, and I haven’t seen you guys before. You must be new apprentices huh?” She asked, whiskers twitching. “Little tiny babies? Sparrows just leaving the nest??” Willowpaw mroowed with laughter.
“A sparrow? Can we be a cooler bird than that?” He asked happily, and Robinpaw opened her mouth to reply when the leaders yowled for the gathering to start. The clans fell quiet, turning to face what trees were left.
Rootstar was sitting proudly on the Great Rock, startling larger than the other leaders. Beside him was an older looking she-cat with a pale sun coloured pelt and amber eyes. She had several vicious battle scars on her but looked bored even as she was standing to begin speaking to all the cats gathered in front of her. Leaping up the Great Rock was a silver tabby with sharp looking white patches. Her eyes were yellow like the flowers in the meadow, but she looked decidedly more unpleasant. Something about their expression felt like fire against Cedar’s fur.
“Do you mind if I start?” The silver leader asked the other two. Rootstar flicked his tail in a ‘go on’ motion, looking slightly annoyed. Robinpaw leaned into Cedar’s vision, whispering: “The creepy grey cat is Troutstar. And the cat with all the cool scars is Sandstar, Thunderclan’s leader.”
“Why not.” Sandstar snorted, and Troutstar ignored the sarcasm in her voice, stepping forward.
“Riverclan has done well this moon. Despite the heat the river is running well, and food is plentiful. We had no trouble with the fire, as the river protected us.” Cats murmured uneasily as Troutstar casually mentioned the fire, and Cedar gritted her teeth.
“Rockshade has given birth to two kits, and we’ve chased some troublesome rouges off our land.” At this, Sandstar stepped forward. Troutstar shot the other leader and icy look, which Sandstar ignored.
“Speaking of troubling rouges, could Riverclan please stop chasing away their own members? It’s getting depressing to watch.” Cedar’s ears flicked, glancing backwards at her mentor, who looked vaguely troubled. Troutstar scoffed.
“Your mistaken if you think Thunderclan has any rights to command anything of Riverclan.”
“I’m commanding nothing; but I think most of us know that a stable clan shouldn’t be running off loyal clanmates.” At this, Troutstar’s whole bearing changed, fur laying flat and posture loosening.
“Thank you for the suggestion Sandstar. May I ask how your own clan is doing in these hot temperatures?” She asked, tilting her head. Sandstar looked at the other leader with lidded eyes, almost amused. Cedar swore she almost heard the older leader mutter ‘flawless transition’ to themselves before speaking to the clans at large.
“Thunderclan is doing fine. The shade helps the temperature feel more bearable.” And with that, she sat down. Rootstar took this to be his cue, coming to stand beside Sandstar.
“Windclan has new apprentice’s joining it’s ranks, Cloverpaw and Willowpaw.” The rest of the cats repeated the names to varying degrees of enthusiasm, but Robinpaw gave Cedar a confused look. Pelt prickling, Cedar pretended not to see. Why hadn’t Rootstar just lied and named her as well? Wouldn’t excluding her just be more suspicious as more cats began to recognize her and learn her name?
“Prey is doing well, and we’ve fond the heat quite unbothersome.” Rootstar lied, looking unbothered and smug.
“But enough of that. I’m sure we’re all aware of the fire that raged in Shadowclan territory this moon. Shadowclan’s lack of presence here tonight is telling, and I feel it’s reasonable to assume they were either chased off the land by the fire or…” Even Rootstar’s hate for Shadowclan seemed to falter for a moment. Sandstar shook her head softly.
“We will mourn for Shadowclan if they are gone. It is an unprecedented tragedy in Clan history, to have an entire clan taken from us.” There was a deep and painful silence as the gathered cat’s absorbed the implications of Shadowclan’s loss. Cedar, meanwhile, was digging her claws into the dirt. She felt the heat of the flames flickering around her, and worse, heard the laughter and chatter of clanmates who might be-
“While this is true,” Troutstar meowed, looking unmoved “Their land needs to be divided among us.” At this Sandstar turned to the other leader, looking angrier than she had the rest of the gathering.
“Until Starclan gives us confirmation that Shadowclan is gone, we shall. Do. No. Such. Thing.” She hissed out fiercely, pelt raising and looking ready to strip the flesh off of Troutstar. Troutstar’s ears flattened, and she almost took a step back, before standing her ground. After a moment of silence, the silver leader smiled pleasantly.
“I can agree to this, for now. If there is no news in the next three moons, Riverclan will take it’s claim of territory.” And with this announcement Troutstar leapt from the Great Rock, Riverclan hurriedly following their leader.
“Wow that was eventful!” Willowpaw meowed nervously, looking guiltily towards Cedar. Robinpaw nodded, bouncing slightly.
“No kidding! I thought Sandstar was gonna shove Troutface right off the Great Rock!” With this startlingly impolite statement, a warrior shoved Robinpaw onto their paws.
“Don’t be rude to a leader.” They grumbled, sending Robinpaw along with the rest of Thunderclan, which had begun to trickle out of Four-Trees. Willowpaw watched her leave with wide eyes as Cedar turned to her mentor, surprised to find Stormfang close behind her as well. Had she been there the whole gathering? Pelt prickling, Cedar rushed past her into Mothscar’s white pelt.
Even as Windclan begun to leave Cedar couldn’t help but feel things were going to get a lot worse. Was Shadowclan really lost?
#wc#warriors oc#warrior cats#warrior au#original warrior cat#warriors#warrior cat story#looming sunlight#windclan#shadowclan#riverclan#thunderclan
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heart under construction (01)
word count; 5142
summary; jake notices sam’s feelings way before sam does, and plays match-maker.
notes; suuuuper cute. I know it’s not all that exciting, it’s really just an introduction to the series to lay some groundwork.
warnings; none!
Swiping his thumb over the screen, Sam worried his lower lip between his teeth as he tried to choose a photo. The problem was, they were all pretty good selfies, if he was being totally honest. The girl who had messaged him was extremely attractive, the sort of attractive that had knocked Sam’s breath straight from his lungs at the picture he had received from her two minutes ago, and now she was waiting on a reply.
Settling on his third option, he hit send, the content smirk on his face quickly being wiped away as he felt a huff behind him, the shadow that he hadn't realised had been looming over him was finally shifting and he spun around, a slight heat rising to his cheeks as he realised his brother had caught him in the act. Jake merely scoffed, rolling his eyes and moving away to begin lugging equipment from the truck, and yet, Sam couldn’t find it within himself to follow his brother out of the house and down the pathway as his phone buzzed, notifying him of a response from the beauty he had been speaking to.
His fingers dashed across the keyboard on his phone as he carefully crafted a flirty response, in hopes of landing himself a date that night, and he was so preoccupied, he didn’t even register the sounds of his brother’s voice taking up in conversation until a lighter laugh cut through the air. Glancing up, your back was facing him, but there was no mistaking you. The same colour hair that had preoccupied his mind the entire day before, the same sweet-sounding voice that had been ringing in his ears was back, and suddenly, he was finishing his text as soon as possible, shoving his phone deep into his pocket as he took off down the pathway to you.
When Jake’s eyes left your face to see him approaching, you turned, a wide smile on your face as you looked at him and he couldn’t help but return it. The expression didn’t last long, however, as he caught sight of the purple bruise that had blossomed on the side of your forehead. Angry and slightly swollen, the mark was prominent against your skin and guilt once again flooded his system as he came to a stop before you, Jake’s voice pouring out apologies on his behalf, and he even threw another on of his own out as he looked at the bruise.
“That looks really bad. Shit! I can’t believe I did that!” He finally dragged his gaze away from the injury he’d caused, his eyes finding yours, your smile still prominent as your shoulders rose and fell in a shrug.
“Hey, it’s totally okay, don’t worry!” You nudged his shoulder a little as you spoke, a small chuckle leaving you. “I think it makes me look badass, actually.”
His own laughter followed, the sides of his eyes crinkling at the sudden amusement and he shook his head fondly at your words. “Fancy yourself a little streetfighter or something then, huh?” With a clap on the shoulder and a nod of the head, Jake was walking past him, a slight smirk that Sam couldn't decipher sitting on his lips but he didn’t focus on it, instead, turning his attention back to you. Your brow crinkled as you laughed, a low ‘ow’ slipping from your lips as you did, and your hand hovered over your face as you tried to contain your giggles.
Without thinking, Sam lifted his hand, his fingers brushing the stray pieces of hair back from your face and tucking them behind your ear as the pads of his fingers skimmed lightly over the damaged flesh, your eyes watching him carefully, wide and wondering before he realised what he was doing, red heat creeping along his skin as he pulled his hand back.
“I really can’t tell you how sorry I am. I’m a fucking idiot.” You merely rolled your eyes at his self-deprecating comment, reaching out and taking the hand he had just dropped back to his side in your own, squeeing lightly and his fingers twitched, curling around your own gently and holding on.
“I told you, it’s fine, I’m fine!” Your grip on him had loosened, only a single finger still linked with his as your barely-connected hands hung between the two of you, and he dropped his head in shame, eyes focusing on his hand just slightly holding onto yours as you spoke. “Do you think this is the first bump I’ve been given? I work with kids, they like to smash things against your head all the time. I’ve been clocked with a Thomas the Tank Engine, kicked in the ribs, you name it. I’m totally okay.”
He let out a sigh, tilting his head back up to look at you as your stern gaze looked into his until he eventually nodded, forgiving himself for his accidental assault on your head as he let a smile break through. “How did your meeting go?”
“It went really well!” Your face lit up at his words, and he felt proud of himself for remembering to ask, seeing the joy on your face that he recollected your meeting had been plenty reward for him, the same expression reflecting on his own features. “We got the funding we needed, which means I can start my planning for our big event, which is very exciting. All the parent representatives were on board, it went without a hitch. I was really happy with the outcome, couldn’t have asked for better!”
He wanted to ask you more, he just wanted to hear you talk, the excitement in your voice as you shared your day with him was something he would never grow tired of, his grin only dulling slightly as he watched you glance down at your watch, eyes widening before looking back up to him.
“Oh, wow, I really have to go. It was lovely to see you again, and don’t worry, the bump is nothing, really!” Your touch finally left him entirely, the finger you’d had linked delicately with one of his was torn away as you spun on your heel, granting him one final shining beam before you were taking hurried steps down the street and away from him once again. He watched you go, hearing a sharp whistle from beside him and he glanced up to the door of the house, his brother giving him an incredulous look, mouthing the words ‘her name, moron!’ at him, and Sam’s eyes widened, his feet moving below him as he took off after you in a quick jog.
Locking an arm on your elbow, he spun you back to face him, your expression slightly shocked as he gave you a sheepish smile, retracting his hand and letting you turn to fully face him yourself, you eyebrows raised in silent question. “I- um.. what’s your name?”
Your head tipped to the side, that same beautiful smile he was quickly growing very fond of making a small appearance as you held your hand out for him. “(Y/N). My name is (Y/N).”
Slipping his hand into yours, he shook it firmly, enjoying the way your hand felt holding his once again, even if it was only for the briefest of moments. “I’m Sam. That up there is my brother, Jake.”
“It’s lovely to meet you both. I’ll see you soon, I hope?” You were pulling away once again, and no matter how much he wanted you to stay, he had to let you go, instead choosing to nod happily as he watched you take a few steps backwards.
“Yeah, I hope so, too.”
Once again, you plagued the man’s thoughts. Your sweet nature, your smile and your sense of humour carried him on a high and light mood throughout the entire afternoon. Even when he has dropped a plank of wood on his foot, and even when he was arranging the date he had been awarded for this morning’s flirting attempts, he was smiling as you lingered in the back of his mind.
The hours had dragged by, and while they had got a considerable amount done in real terms it still looked like nothing. The pair of brothers had spent the morning measuring and mapping out the place where the new extension would be built, having to change their minds on the placement and shape what had to have been ten times before Sam had decided he was happy with it.
Once they had their markers in place, the heavy manual labour of actually beginning to clear out that section of the garden had commenced. Hours of digging, dragging and drilling later, they had removed two tree stumps, dug down into the ground and marked out their foundations, and officially worn themselves out. All that work, and it just looked like a half-dug hole in the ground.
He knew it was a remarkable progression for one day, but he hated this part, because it looked like nothing, even though logically, he knew it was everything.
Rolling his shoulders, he eased his head from side to side as he looked down and over the edge of the ledge he was sitting on, his legs dangling from one of the holes where they had taken out the windows in order to replace them with new ones, his feet swinging freely from the second floor of the large house as his brother sat beside him. Unwrapping his sandwich, he groaned in excitement for the food, his stomach rumbling as if to emphasise the toll that the actions of the day had taken on his appetite. Clearly, Jake felt the same, because he was practically inhaling his food beside him, loud chewing and scarfing of food sounding out from the father beside him.
Taking a glance at his watch, he was shocked to see that it was only just ticking past four o’clock, he felt like they had worked late into the evening, and was shocked to see it was still midafternoon. Just as he ducked his head to pick up his meal, his eyes caught onto movement down on the street, and he let himself take the chance to look, his mood picking up considerably as he realised just who was walking past.
Looking down at your phone, you had a slight pep in your step as you strolled up the street, your shoulders slumped slightly from your own exhaustion of the day, and he paused, his food halfway to his mouth as he watched you walk past the house. Not sensing his brothers gaze on him, he snapped himself out of it with a small shake of the head and a clear of his throat, taking a large bite from his lunch and humming happily as the food hit his tongue.
He practically choked when he swallowed, however, when your name was called out loudly from the man beside him, and he watched you jump slightly in shock, spinning around as you surveyed the ground around you, coming up empty and clear of other people. Sam’s head whipped around to look at his brother as he coughed up his mouthful, brows furrowed as you finally looked up to see the two of them, a hand covering your eyes from the sun as you spotted them, smiling and waving up to them from so far down below.
“Hey, (Y/N)! You want to come join Sam for lunch?”
“Dude, what?”
His hissed out words were ignored by his brother and he choked down his bite of sandwich, eyes wide as his brother continued to ignore him, looking to you instead. “Uh, up there?”
“Yeah! I was just finishing my own, but I’m sure Sam would love the company.” You seemed hesitant, your eyes raking over the ladder before you as you took a few steps up the property pathway, worrying your bottom lip between your teeth, and Sam unconsciously lifted a hand to rest atop the ladder and steady it. “I have a chocolate bar you can have to make up for my brother hitting you yesterday?”
You merely laughed at his brother’s attempts at bribery, shrugging off your coat and bag to hang them on a nearby standing metal rod, looking up at the two of them as you set your hands on the ladder. “You had me at chocolate.” Looking at the metal under your hands cautiously, you took a deep breath before mumbling a ‘fuck it’ under as you exhaled and began to climb.
Holding his hand out for you, Jake helped pull you the rest of the way up, letting you take a seat beside Sam, your thigh pressed against his, your shoulders bumping as you adjusted yourself in the space of the empty window frame, taking the relinquished chocolate from his brother, who was quick to shoot him a wink and disappear down the ladder.
“Uh, hey..” He coughed, covering the slight tremble of uncertainty that had been carried on his voice, choosing to occupy himself by continuing with his meal, watching as you unwrapped the candy in your hand with a happy expression. His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he shuffled awkwardly at the sudden sensation, your face finally turning to face him and just like that, all his anxiety and tension slipped away.
“This is a hell of a view.”
He nodded, chewing faster and swallowing his mouthful as he let his gaze flicker out to glance each roof of every other house on the lower sitting area and out to the horizon. “It really is. You should see the view from the other side, it looks out onto all these beautiful fields and- well, of course you know, you live here, but it’s stunning. Really.”
“I would love to see that! I imagine it’s a really beautiful sight.” You snapped off a piece of the candy, a sigh leaving you as you glanced around the inside, scanning an inquisitive gaze over all their work equipment. “So, who’s house it? Are my new neighbours going to be nice?”
You elbowed him gently at the joke, and he chuckled, pushing the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and thinking over his reply before he gave it to you, settling into a comfortable silence in the meantime as you eagerly awaited his response. “It’s mine, actually. I bought it, I saw it online and I had so many ideas about what to do with it. I’m going to do it up and flip it, put it on the market for more, I think.”
Your jaw dropped, nodding at his words as you thought it over, a sound of agreement leaving you. “Makes sense. You must’ve gotten it for a right steal, too. It really fell apart while it wasn’t being looked after, but I bet you will do an amazing job making it look all pretty and presentable again. How long do you think it’ll take you? I mean, there is only two of you.”
“Eh, maybe six months? Me and my brother make a pretty good team. Always have.” Your eyes twinkled as he spoke, the soft awwing that left your mouth had a familiar blush coating his cheeks, and you both looked down to see his brother on the phone in the truck, talking happily to his family.
“I’m impressed! I’ve always loved this house. I’ve lived here since I was a kid, but nobody has ever moved in, so I never got a chance to see it in all its glory. It’ll be nice to see it be made into something beautiful.”
Mulling over his decision, he scrunched up his wrappers and threw them into a nearby bucket for waste and scrapings, standing up and brushing himself down as he backed away into the house, looking back at you over his shoulder with a smirk. “Come one then, I have to show you around your dream house. Give you the grand tour, and all that.”
You jumped up, a small laugh leaving him at your enthusiasm as you brushed the stray dust from your pants and followed after him, wobbling slightly on the loose floorboards.
“Right, we’ll do this backward since we’re already on the top floor.” Gesturing around himself, he dragged you to the middle of the room so he could turn you to show off the space. “The top floor here is pretty much open plan. Or, it will be. I’m picturing it being the main bedroom, and a big one. I want to knock almost all of the walls though, and put some exposed support beams across the top to give it sort of a classic vibe. The stairs come right up into the room, and I’m picturing a big closet in the corner, walk-in with shelves and built-in wardrobes.”
“I would put a bed, a big one right up against that wall, and a television on the opposite wall. Solid wood floors, but plenty of those really soft rugs that go down, and I’d put a dresser under the window over there, with all the natural light. You know?” You turned to him, your smile never having been so wide as you spoke animatedly about what you’d do with the room if it was yours, and he couldn’t help but agree as he thought about it, picturing the room with you.
“A bookcase over here, with a few small couches and a coffee table. See how the sun hits it just right from where the large windows will be? It would be the perfect reading spot.” You let out a happy sigh as you pictured it, Sam’s eyes unable to leave you as you dreamed happily about the room around you. “Want to see the rest?”
He guided you across to the other side of the room, the gap for a roof to floor doors available as you peered out at the broken terrace.
“There wasn’t originally a balcony here, but since there’s space out here for it I’m going to turn it into one. I think those big opening glass doors would look good here.”
“You could put little planters all along the edge near a railing, with nice flowers growing in them. Maybe something bright, maybe ‘million bells’. They’re small and low maintenance but so cheery!” He nodded, swallowing thickly at the idea of having a balcony decorated with beautiful flowers, the idea making him light up.
You stared out at the scene a little longer, before following him carefully across the wobbly and creaky floor to the stairs. The banisters had all been removed, gaps in the stairs showing evidently and Sam held out his hand in your direction as an offering, your soft palm sliding flat against his calloused one as he guided you down the staircase and showed you where to step. “Again, I want to put some exposed beam work along the corridor, going with that classic vibe, but it’s bigger down here. I don’t want to do as much, though.”
You walked along, his hand lingering in yours, and as you didn’t pull away form him, he didn’t either, instead, he wove his fingers through yours and let you guide him along as you peaked into each open doorway. “You could have three bedrooms here, or two bedrooms and a game-room, if the new owners had kids. You could have an amazing study or office, big enough for desks and bookshelves!”
You were practically skipping along as you spoke, and he told you all about the renovations he was going to be doing. There was less going on in the middle floor, just some simple repairs and redecorating. As a breeze swept through the empty window holes and along the corridor, your body had moved a little closer to his for warmth, the smell of your perfume filling his senses as you stood close enough for him to catch a drift of it. “I was thinking, if it were my house-”
“It is your house.”
He deadpanned at your joke, giving you a look as if to question whether you had a really made that joke, and you hadn't stopped the giggle that poured from your lips as he shoved you lightly, rolling his eyes as you laughter only bubbled over even more. “Anyway, as I was saying. I’d have two bedrooms, both along one side, and one of the other two would be an office where I could get all my work done. I want to put one of those big, really nice bathtubs in the bathroom as well, because the bathroom above and below us can only just fit showers in.”
“You could get one of the ones with the clawfoot tubs, to match your older-style theme.”
“I like that. A lot, actually.” He could picture it, the tiles surrounding it, large enough for two people, a beautiful bathroom that was a combination of both modern and classic elements. “Just wait ‘til I show you the kitchen.”
Guiding you down and through the rest of the house, he had show you everything, and he’d told you all his ideas. You had been in absolute awe of the large plan kitchen, with enough space for an island counter in the middle, the kitchen was the only part of the house that he wanted to make modern, and you had been practically overflowing with ideas as you planned it moving from one end of the room to the other as you poured out all your desires.
Jake had caught up with you both as he had been showing you the connected dining room, and he’d pitched in to show how he thought it should be. Sam hadn’t realised he was still clutching onto your hand, your fingers weaved through his comfortably until he’d caught sight of his brother’s proud smirk while you weren’t looking, his gaze flicking down to your connected hands and back up.
With a flush, he’d realised your hand, explaining himself with a shrug as you grabbed your coat, the chill from the house passing by beginning to take its effect, but you couldn’t leave without looking at the garden. The garden stretched on and on, and you had excitedly told them both to picture how good the garden would look lined with hedges for fences, with a few trees to provide shade and maybe a table for sitting at in the summer. He had proudly boasted of the shed he would build if it were his house, big enough to store all his tools and supplies as well as putting up shelves for blueprints and maybe even a small table inside for working on plans.
The sun was setting by the time you were ready to go, and he really wasn’t sure how the time had passed by so quickly. Now, you were standing before him, your bag back on your shoulder and your hands buried deep in your pockets to keep them warm as you thanked both of them for giving you the chance to look around the house you had always admired form the outside.
“It’s really the least I could do. I mean..” Waving idly at your forehead, Jake let out a bellowing laugh, bidding you a goodbye as he set off into the house to begin to close up for the night, once again leaving the two of you alone and that feeling of pure comfort and peace settled over you once again. “So, you like the house?”
“It’s so much bigger inside than it looks on the outside. It’s incredible.”
“I’m glad I could show you, I had a lot of fun.” He ignored the not-so-subtle whistling of Jake behind him, and you nodded, taking you hands out of your pocket and jumping forward, your arms wrapping around his midriff as your face buried in his chest for a second. He barely had time to respond, and by the time he was lifting his own arms to return the affections, you were pulling away, rubbing your hands together for warmth and taking a few steps back.
“I had a really lovely time, Sam. Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe?”
“Yeah, tomorrow. I’ll see you then.”
A warm feeling filled his chest at your promise, and now, he couldn't wait to get home, just so he could get up in the morning and see you again on your way to work. He hadn't had such fun in a while, and all he had done was show you around a derelict and destroyed house, and yet, it was more enjoyable than most of his dates were now.
You had long since gone, but he was still staring out ahead of him, grinning to himself like an idiot when his brother took your abandoned spot before his eyes, a knowing smirk on his older siblings face as he looked at him. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You haven’t checked your phone in four hours, even though it keeps chiming.”
“So? That doesn’t mean anything.” As if on cue, it suddenly felt important to check it again, and his hand plunged into his pocket to fish out the device, but Jake’s hand on his wrist prevented him from doing so, a look in his eyes that told him to give his full attention to the conversation they were having.
“You don’t even pay attention to me when I’m talking if your phone buzzes.” His brows furrowed as he looked at his brother, his lips curling down in a frown and his jaw dropped to explain himself, but Jake was soon waving his hand to dismiss the statement. “You’re always too busy swiping this, that or the other. You totally like this chick!”
Jake a wide smile on his face and his arm held out wide, hands twisted in thumbs up and Sam’s eyes widened as he thought about you, and about him. His phone buzzed again in his pocket, chiming the familiar note of notifications from tinder, and he shook his head, denial beginning to pour from his lips as he ignored and suppressed the warmth that blossomed in his chest at the mere idea of you. “No, she’s not my time. Nuh-uh.”
“Uh, she’s exactly your type.” Holding a hand up to count off, his brother began to list your qualities, ones that he knew Sam particularly loved in a girl. “She’s sweet, she’s cute, she’s funny, she spent the whole afternoon talking to you about remodelling.”
“Yeah, and she’s also the type that wants to have a real relationship. She wants that exclusivity thing, a guy who’s totally head over heels for her, all that crap.” Sam let out a sigh as he thought about you, about the way you might feel in his arms or the way your lips might feel against his, but he was quick to push the ideas from his mind. “She works in a nursery for Christ’s sake. That’s not me. I don’t settle down.”
“What? Do you just never want to settle down?”
“Sure, one day.” He shrugged, letting out a ragged sigh and running a hand through his hair. “I mean, you seem super happy, because you found ‘the one’ or whatever, you had a baby and the house and the white picket fence, but that doesn’t mean it’ll work for me.” The underlying feeling of pure rejection and fear barely being hidden.
Jake opened his mouth to reply, being fixed with a short glare before Sam was making his way toward the truck, sighing agitatedly and leaving Jake to follow after him, the conversation forgotten as the truck was started up and they headed home for the evening. He did his best to push away the feeling of how good it felt to spend the afternoon with you, and he couldn’t deny the connection the two of you had made.
He spend the night thinking about it, considering your ideas and writing them down as the house lingered in his mind, your face and how good the garden would look done up just the way you had suggested. The only escape he got from you was when sleep finally took him, and as he drove to work the next morning, he was conflicted.
He wanted to see you, he was checking the direction of the street you walked from more than he was checking his phone, but he also lingered up on the top of the roof, because he didn’t want to let his feelings grow. He doesn’t do relationships, they don’t work out. His last relationship didn’t end well, he didn’t have a good history, and he wasn’t getting himself all worked up over it now.
He was still hiding out on the roof when you passed by, your voice ringing out and bringing harmony tot he small work area as he peeped over the edge of the roof, his eyes finding yours as you waved to him happily, calling out a greeting to him which he quickly returned, before diverting his eyes and trying to focus on screwing in the bolts on the wall before him. You had stayed to chat for a while, even handing over a large flash to Jake before you were saying your goodbyes, waving to him and shooting him a bright smile before you were disappearing, and finally, he allowed himself to come down the ladder to stand by his brother’s side.
Unscrewing the top, Jake took a sniff of the liquid, letting out a groan as the steam curled out into the cool air. “She brought us coffee?”
“Yeah. She’s a real sweetheart.” His brother mumbled, and Sam let his head tip to the side, accepting the small plastic cup filled with the hot liquid, and he shook his head fondly at the thought of you making them coffee and bringing it for them.
“She’s so fucking cute, but also hot. I don’t get it, she’s got it all.”
“Stop it.” His daydreaming was brought to a quick end upon hearing the harsh tone of Jake’s voice, and his eyes narrowed as he looked at his brother.
“Stop what?”
“She’s lovely, and you don’t want to settle down, you made that perfectly lear last night. Don’t hurt her by sleeping with her, Sam. She’s not one of your tinder girls, leave her alone.” His brother gave him a curt nod after delivering the hurtful, but truthful, words. The sweet coffee burned as he swallowed it, and he cringed at both the burns he had received in the last thirty seconds, both physically and metaphorically.
Pushing down how he felt, he cleared his mind, swigging the rest of his drink before moving away to start his work for the day.
#sam taylor#sam taylor amazing stories#dylan obrien sam taylor#sam taylor x reader#sam taylor/reader#dylan o'brien#dylan obrien#dylan obrien smut#amazing stories#dylan o'brien amazing stories#dylan obrien amazing stories#HUC#heart under construction
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Here Comes The Sun
Summary: Sometimes the love we give and the love we feel drive us to do crazy things in the name of that love
Word Count: 3.6k
Warnings: soft and lovely and feels, however we be getting naughty my friends - smut alert!
Author Notes: This was sketched out a totally different way in my head. I had started that way. Then we took a turn to the smutty. Oops? #sorrynotsorry
This is part 5 in my series (whose name is still TBD) – the first four parts can be found here on my masterlist. No need to read them as most can be stand alone, however it helps give a little more context to the verse I’ve created if you do.
Many thanks to @whenidance & @sinplisticshawn for being my sounding boards to my insecurities and concerns with heading this way.
It’s fascinating to you to have such an inside look at his process. You’ve seen bits and pieces before, the tail end of the work on the last album. But this time, you have the chance to see things formulate at the very beginning. He’s taking it easy this week, partially because you’re around through the weekend but he’s also still coming off the high from Sunday. Your neck and his collarbone bearing the marks to prove it, aside from the few new pieces of hardware sitting on the piano downstairs that confirm it.
His room at the beach house has a massive window seat tucked into a wide bay window that faces out over the hill and down to the water. When he’s not been with you or in the studio, you find him tucked into the cushions, guitar strewn across his lap and journal balancing precariously on one knee.
It’s exactly how and where he is Wednesday morning when you finally wake up, missing the rumble from his chest behind you. “I should have known,” you say, half caught in your throat as you stretch. You look over at the clock on the bedside table and realize it’s earlier than you thought.
“I didn’t wake you up did I?” he asks, finishing a scribble on the paper before looking up at you fondly. “Something just hit me, and I wanted to get it down before I forgot. I was going to come wake you in a few when I was done. I do believe you and I have somewhere to be today.”
“Beach day,” you sigh happily. “Me and you and the sun and a cooler full of strawberry limeade and warmth and sand and did I mention the sun?”
He laughs brightly, “Should I leave you and the sun alone?”
“Perhaps Shawn, perhaps,” you smirk before bounding out of bed, his laugh bigger than before.
The weather is perfect that day, and the fact that the house has private beach access makes it even better. The two of you can truly relax and let go without worry. It’s been a while since you’ve been able to completely disconnect like this, even just for a few hours. You are both looking forward to it.
Making your way down the path hand in hand, beach bag slung on your shoulder and a cooler in your free hand, two chairs in his other, you can’t help but smile wider as the sound of the waves gets closer. “You lucked out finding this place,” you say. “Killer set up, the house and a private beach? I’m shocked it’s not more well talked about.”
“It’s not that old, plus I think the guys who own it are super selective. Don’t blame them. I really like the vibe here; it feels right and super comfortable, plus I like being a little out of the way. I’m already trying to talk my way into another block over the summer, especially when I know I can steal you away again. There’s still more places in that house I need to have my way with you in, like that gigantic outdoor rainfall shower,” he grins wickedly as your feet hit the softer sand.
You bump your hip against his and pull your hand back, “You’re incorrigible. Now, come on, I don’t want to waste any of this precious sunshine.”
You quickly dump all your belongings down to the sand setting up your little encampment for the day, far enough from the water to not get soaked by an errant wave, but still close enough to enjoy the views.
“I like this,” he says catching your hips in his hands before you go to lay on the blanket spread in front of your chairs, fingers dancing over the raised subtle pattern of your bathing suit while he mouths at your neck. You fight back the moan bubbling in your throat, leaning more against him instead. The deep berry tankini was definitely a little different than what you’ve worn before and you’re not too surprised he took notice.
“I don’t remember seeing you wear it. You look good in it. Really good. But remember, it’s a private beach,” he whispers as he nibbles at your ear, his hands skating up your sides. “I think it may look better tossed over the arm of my beach chair.”
“Shawn,” you whine, winding a hand back into his hair to tug at his unruly curls. “Don’t tempt me, honey.”
“But I want to tempt you,” he skirts his hands over your breasts, one hand cupping your left, while his fingers carefully trace the flesh peeking out above the hem of your suit on the right. “I want to have you right here on this beach. I want to make you come, baby. I’ve thought about it so many times since I got here and saw how secluded this sand is. We can finally do what we couldn’t in Mexico.”
Your mind flashes back to the moonlit walk on the beach in December, the wandering hands, his hot lips tracing over your shoulder, your mouth worrying a spot on his chest over his heart. You both wanted that memory, that moment of just more, but there was too much risk. As it was, you were pushing the boundaries on a beach where you could be discovered at any moment.
He slips his left hand down to your hip, pulling you flush against him. You’re bombarded by sensations; his bare chest against your back, his breath puffing more against your ear, and he’s impossibly hard against the soft swell of your ass. He dips his right index finger to tease and track across your nipple.
“Damnit Shawn,” you moan, pressing back against him. “You’re making it really hard to say no to you.”
“That’s the point,” he whispers, shifting his lips down your neck and across your shoulder, licking and biting his way over your skin. “It should be yes Shawn yes. Loudly. In that throaty voice of yours you get when you’re so turned on. While I’m inside you. Please baby.”
What little resolve you have left is fading and fast. He’s grinding against you now, slowly and methodically while his left hands trails from your hip across your stomach, his pinkie and ring finger sneaking under the waistband just to keep his hand against you. You know the risk is as minimal as it can be, but there’s always a chance. The last thing either of you need or want are pictures of a tryst leaked out. But the fucks you normally give are wearing down to nil.
“Fuck,” you bite out, squirming from the stimulation he’s providing and your eyes fluttering shut. The hand still threading around his curls grips tighter, making him groan against you.
“Let me make you feel good. Want you to fall apart on my tongue and fingers first, then slide into you to feel you come around me,” he sighs out, pulling you against him tighter, rutting into you harder.
Something breaks, snaps quickly like a rubber band, and you turn in his grasp. You loop your hands around his neck and surge up on your toes to sip from his lips.
“It’s so damn hard to say no to you, especially when you’re this wound up and so damn convincing. But, there’s too much sand for some of that, as much as I really want to come all over your mouth,” you mutter between gasps and the biting kisses that are progressively getting wetter. “Compromise? Fuck me, make me come on our blanket. Then I’ll make you come, riding you nice and slow on your beach chair, Shawn.”
“God yes, baby, yes,” he breathes out harshly against your cheek. His lips then start wandering down your jaw while pushing you back towards the sun-warmed cotton and his hands slide over you to take a firm grasp on your hips. Next thing you know he’s shifting you up, moving your legs to sling around his waist to tilt you gently down onto the old patchwork quilt. He eases down onto you, slotting one of his legs between yours and leaning on his forearms, just putting the right amount of his weight against you.
“I’m going to take my time with you,” he says into the soft skin of your neck, his tongue doing wicked things against your pulse point. “Going to take advantage of laying you out in this sunshine you love so much, show you exactly how much I love you, how much I adore you, exactly why I love making love with you.”
Your hands wander across his back and down over his ass, but then you grasp onto one of his biceps and his shoulder as he sucks down hard. You hiss out an exhale, your right leg coming up to hook against his hip as your hips tilt into him. He soothes the spot ever so lightly with just the tip of his tongue. He’s just started and he’s already making you lightheaded.
“I want to hear you, don’t hold back,” he asks, tracing a haphazard pattern across your neck down to your collarbone. He noses at each of the straps on your shoulders, sliding them down until they fall loose around your elbows. He slides his hands down your arms, lifting yours through the loops and then drops them into his hair. Your fingers find purchase around the swirls of his dark curls.
“Need to spend a little quality time here,” he purrs, his fingers pushing your top down to free your breasts. His mouth is wicked, you know this firsthand, and he’s proving it again. He alternates between lapping at you, sucking at your nipple and nibbling, lightly biting at the pebbled flesh while his pointer finger flicks over the other he’s not latched onto. You lose track of how much time his face is nestled there, and you can’t help but let out a chain of needy mewls and gasps. You crave more friction. You want nothing more to grind more against him, your hips start bucking against him. He knows he could make you come just from this, but you don’t want to come that way. Not today.
You tug at his curls to try to pull his mouth away, whimpering his name loudly, “Shawn, please, baby.”
His lips leave your nipple with a loud pop, shiny and red. He grins cheekily at you, chin propping up on your sternum while his fingers start their way down to the ties on your suit. “I’m not nearly done with you yet, dear. Need to make sure you’re nice and wound up, oh so wet for me,” he explains, nosing at the underside of your breast, while his hands make quick work of your top, then moves his attention the bows at your side.
“Damnit Shawn,” you keen out as he yanks the bottoms from you tossing both piece of your suit over to land on the seat of your chair, his hands kneading at your ass. He shifts himself down the blanket while he licks his way down your stomach, taking his time to leave marks along the way, ones that will last for a few days. But of course, because it’s him, he adds in blowing a raspberry or two on the way to make you giggle. He nudges your legs open, his head leaning up against your left thigh. You lean up onto your elbows to look down at him. He just looks at you for a few moments, eyes wide and dark, his fingers twitching against your flesh.
“Oh sweetheart,” he murmurs, his right index finger brushing ever so gently over your clit, then down to your entrance. “I know you said there’s too much sand, but I’m sorry, I might just need to take a tiny little taste. You’re so wet for me. God, that’s so hot.”
He draws his index finger into his mouth, sucking at the pad carefully, eyes wide open and locked onto yours. You squirm, partly from being turned on, partly from the look on his face. He gives you no warning, his lips going immediately for your clit with abandon. He’s overwhelming you, not expecting his mouth on you, alternating between kitten licks, sucking and teasing you with the tip of his tongue. You gasp, crying out his name loudly, your hands flying back into his hair. You’re not sure if you want to pull him away and off you or push him in closer.
“Shawn baby, please,” you choke out, breath catching. “I want to come around you, I need you inside me. No more teasing. I want you, need you.”
He looks up, a devilish grin across his face and is mouth is slick with you, “I love hearing you all breathy and fucked out for me.” He quickly wipes his mouth hastily with the back of his hand before leaning down for a bruising kiss. With him slightly preoccupied in trying to untie his shorts, you lean up and it’s your turn to catch him by surprise, knocking him onto his back.
“Change of plans, I’m riding you here and now,” you husk out, hovering over his knees making quick work of the knot he was struggling with, sliding his swimsuit off. If you weren’t so worked up, you’d make him squirm like he did to you, work him up with your hands and then your mouth. Right now, though, you want to fuck him. Badly.
Once you’ve tossed his suit aside, you go to reach for him. However, he’s got his right hand wrapped around his hard cock, stroking over it loosely and slowly. “C’mere baby,” he rasps out, half smile quirking his lips.
You’re mesmerized for a moment, watching him. It’s unfairly gorgeous, he’s gorgeous. You push his hand away gently, tracing a finger over his tattoo as you move, lining up your hips to his. Instead of sinking down onto him right away, you taunt him a bit, sliding the head of his dick through your wetness, nudging the head against your clit a few times. You can’t help but throw your head back and whine. His hands fly to your waist, pulling you down onto him as he grinds up against you with a deep groan.
“Can I slip inside you honey?” he bites out, pupils blown so you only see a small ring of golden around them as he pulls you down against him again. “Let me fuck you now baby, let me make you come. You know you want to.”
You nod, biting your lip, stretching up to your knees. He brushes your hand away, holding himself up so you can sink down. But not before teasing you one more time, flicking at your clit a few more times, first with his thumb before the head of his cock again.
“Shit Shawn,” you sigh out deeply as you slide down slowly, taking your time to feel, to enjoy the stretch and fullness. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
He grasps onto you easily, letting you be in control of the speed, but you can see the clench in his jaw as you finally bottom out on him. “There you go sweetheart, you feel so good. Tight and warm around me,” he says through an exhale.
You can’t move yet, despite the amount of times you’ve enjoyed each other lately, it still takes you a moment or two to get used to him, especially when you’re on top. Even more so when he gets all mouthy like he is today. He twitches ever so slightly and slips just a bit deeper. It sends you reeling, whimpering and your head lolls back while you brace your hands on his chest.
“I should say I’m sorry but I’m not, not when you look that beautiful above me, blissed out,” his eyes soft, hands drawing loops across the tops of your thighs. “Whenever you’re ready.”
You start easily, a light rock, a swivel and circle of your hips. Your fingers flicking at his nipples. His eyes close, only for a moment though, his lips part as he takes a deep breath. Increasing the speed of the grinding, consciously clenching around him while still buried deep inside you, it makes him grip your knees tighter, his knuckles turning white.
“If I can’t hold back, you can’t either,” you fight out, watching him bite his lip, eyes still locked onto you. “I want to hear those delicious sounds from you, Shawn.” You slide up off his cock slowly, then slip back down quickly. It earns you a growl. Both slow on the up and down, a sigh with a head loll to the side. Quickly up and a slow way down, a hiss through his teeth.
After a few passes at each, you try to keep him growling, making faster passes, you bounce quicker on him. He braces his feet up, hands shifting to squeeze your hips and he starts meeting you for each thrust. He leans up, lapping and sucking at your breasts again. You can feel the build up at the pit of your stomach. You chase it, moving faster, grinding your hips on the down for stimulation on your clit.
“Baby, shit. I’m getting close, can you, touch me please. Make me come, I want to come, I want to come for you,” you babble out, so near blissing out completely.
He takes hold and surprises you this time, flipping you onto your back without sliding out. He pushes deeper, hitching your left thigh up over his hip and leaning your calf up against his arm. Your eyes start to flutter closed, overwhelmed. “Let me see those pretty eyes of yours. I want to see you when you fall apart and fall over the edge, when you come all over my cock,” he pleads, hips snapping into you.
His hand slips between the two of you, thumb making the up and over loop that he knows drives you over the edge. “Come on baby, just let go. Come for me,” he leans down, whispering into your ear before biting at the lobe.
That sparks everything. You lock eyes with him and cry out, arching your back. Your hands dig into his biceps as you shake, clenching around his dick. It overtakes you like a warm wave. He coaxes you through it, slowing and easing as you come down, nuzzling your neck.
“Damn,” you say, somewhere between a sigh and a whimper, hands making their way up to the nape of his neck. “Holy shit baby.” He’s still shallowly shifts his hips against you. Trying to respect how sensitive you are after you orgasm, but still being wound up himself.
“Your turn, I know how badly you want to come too,” you mutter into his cheek, twirling the damp curls at the base of his head. “I’m ok, take what you need honey, I can’t wait to feel you come inside me.”
“Fuck,” he bites into your shoulder as he speeds up, strokes getting deeper and faster. He hitches your leg up again, this time up over his shoulder. “You felt so good coming around my dick, baby. I’m not far off, you have me close.”
You skate your right hand down his ribs, grabbing a handful of his ass pushing him closer and he fights back a growl. “No holding back, sweetie. Feel it all. Just come. Let me feel you coming deep inside me. I know you want to.”
A few more stuttered thrusts and he’s grinding his hips as he tips his head, groaning your name deep and loud as he comes. He eases your leg down and leans fully down onto you, his head finding that spot he loves so much where your neck and shoulder meet. You feel his warm breath coming back down to normal, while your fingertips map the muscles of his shoulders and back.
“This was so much better than I even imagined,” he sighs happily, dusting kisses across your collarbone before leaning up onto his forearms to look at you. His smile is easy and soft, content and relaxed. He tucks a stray strand of hair up behind your ear. “I am so lucky to have you, in general, but then to have you like this? That you let me love you this way? I’m grateful. I love you; I love you more than I think I can say. Words aren’t enough. This isn’t even enough. You’re all encompassing. You’re everything you know?”
You get misty and can’t help but lean up to kiss him sweetly.
“Sex so good my little songwriting rockstar is speechless?” you tease with a giggle.
He starts to tickle you, “I’m trying to be sweet and loving here and you have to go be a smart ass.”
“But I’m your smart ass, the smart ass who knows exactly how you’re feeling. The one who loves you just as much. The one who doesn’t want to have anyone else other than you,” you say, cupping his cheek. “I love you Shawn, so much that it’s scary and exciting at the same time. I don’t want to know what it’s like not to love you.”
He turns to kiss your palm before leaning down to kiss you ever so gently, “Come on, let’s go take a dip. Don’t even think about putting that suit on yet. I have more plans for you. I promised my girl a day in the sun and I’m not letting her down.”
TAG LIST: @whenidance, @justinndavis, @sinplisticshawn, @hollandraul, @fallinallincurls, @itrocksmysocks, @rainbowshawn, @lasingphomustra, @illumecherry
#shawn mendes#shawn mendes imagine#shawn mendes fanfic#shawn mendes fanfiction#shawn mendes oneshot#shawn mendes story#shawn mendes smut#shawn mendes fluff#shawn mendes blurb
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I Luv You (A CS HS AU)
Reader prompted CS High School AU oneshot where Emma and Killian are friends but Emma wants more. There’s miscommunication (Emma thinks he loves someone else), but ultimately a cute and fluffy ending. Available on FF here and AO3 here.
A/N: Hey all! I have had quite a few of you ask for more high school AUs for Emma and Killian, and my muse rarely trends in that direction. But, after many many months of trying to find a story that worked, I stumbled across this song, ‘I Luv You’ by Sofia Carson and R3MIX. One of the lyrics has been stuck in my head on repeat, and I’ve thought of how wonderful it would be to incorporate into a CS drabble. As such, this story centers around Emma and Killian meeting in their senior year of high school. Killian is new to their school, having moved from the UK, but they’ve instantly clicked and prom season is coming up. Emma wants to go with Killian, but she’s aware that he might not be over someone else from his past, then, because I’m addicted to fluff, it all turns out to be a great big misunderstanding. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy and thanks so much for reading!
Everything’s going to be fine. I can handle this. I can get over him. Maybe? Someday? Oh God.
Closing her eyes and taking a steadying breath, Emma shook away the anxious thoughts that had clung to her for weeks. She didn’t want to linger in them, but she couldn’t let them go. Everywhere she went they followed, and there seemed to be no reprieve. As a result, she was a stressed-out mess, and her ability to hide her feelings was growing weaker and weaker by the minute.
“I don’t know why you’re so worried about this, Ems,” her friend Ruby said casually from where she was perched on Emma’s kitchen countertop, eating directly out of a tub of Ben & Jerry’s chunky monkey.
Ruby’s legs dangled as she swiped the last of the ice cream from her spoon greedily. She’d downed a full carton just this afternoon, the calories and sugar rush a non-issue. Emma knew if she tried that her mother would probably have a fit, but Ruby could get away with anything in the Nolan house. Emma’s parents had adored her since Emma and Ruby’s first day of kindergarten all those years ago when Ruby announced to the class that Emma was her ‘bestest friend’ and anyone who messed with her was ‘gonna know her wrath.’ At age five Emma had no idea what that meant, but to this day her Mom and Dad adored Ruby. She was loyal and courageous, and she’d lived up to her promise, proving to be the best friend Emma could ask for.
“I’m not worried,” Emma replied, but the declaration was hollow and lacked conviction.
“You’re gonna need to work on your acting, girl,” Ruby said with a sigh and a sad headshake, as if Emma’s attempt at seeming okay was just pitiable. “But seriously, all this stressing is for nothing. Killian is totally going to ask you to prom. He’s gonna swoop in with everything but a white horse, tell you he loves you, and steal your heart.”
“Ruby,” Emma whispered, chastising her friend but without much conviction. She wanted to reprimand Ruby for her fanciful ideas, but she couldn’t form more words in the face of someone stating exactly what she dreamed of.
“And honestly, it’s about time. You’ve been dancing around each other for ages. I mean I love a good slow burn, but this is just ridiculous.”
It certainly felt like Ruby was right, but Emma knew better than to believe that. No matter how many butterflies might take flight within her every time she saw him, or how many times her thoughts drifted to the handsome boy who’d become one of her closest friends, Emma knew that the feelings in her heart were one sided. Killian was in love with someone else, a girl back where he was from who he’d known before moving here. She still had his heart, and so Emma never could. She only wished that everyone else understood, maybe then they’d stop always talking like the two of them being together was a given.
“You’re one to talk. Dee, asked you to prom literally months ago, before prom was even announced.”
“Of course she did. She’s my girlfriend. Plus, she wanted to lock me down. I’m a hot commodity, as you well know.”
Emma rolled her eyes at Ruby’s antics. Her best friend loved to talk a big game, but since meeting her girlfriend, Dorothy, last year she’d been nothing but the picture of fidelity. She was smitten as could be and very much in love, but Ruby was determined to be considered a ‘wild child’ and Dorothy, or Dee, as everyone called her, was only happy to oblige.
“Okay well new rule, happily coupled off ‘besties’ don’t get to tell the single one not to worry.”
“Ugh, fine. But only because I love you and you used the word ‘besties’ with only limited sarcasm. I’m totally wearing you down.”
Emma bit back a smile and shook her head, but she was grateful for the out Ruby provided her. It wasn’t her friend’s natural instinct to walk back her opinion, and it showed Emma how much their friendship mattered to Ruby that she’d even try to do so.
“Also, I may or may not have agreed to be part of a conspiracy meant to distract you and then guide you to an important event that I cannot actually tell you about because I swore myself to secrecy.”
“Come again?” Emma asked, totally confused even as her pulse began to beat in faster time. Secret plot? What the heck was that? And why did she feel like it involved a certain hot, charismatic, and irresistible boy she could never stop thinking about?
“Wish I could explain, but that’s the whole thing about swearing yourself to secrecy, you kind of have to mean it. Mums the word, or whatever people say.”
“Ruby, what did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything except for making one teeny tiny little promise.”
“And that promise was…?”
“To make sure you stayed right here until…” she glanced at the time on the stove and smiled, “Now. All right, two minutes from now, but still. You get the drift.”
“Ruby, I don’t understand.”
“Emma,” Ruby said taking Emma’s hand and squeezing it gently, “You know I would never steer you wrong, right? I can’t get into it, but let’s just say there’s a reason I’ve been promising you that everything for prom would work out.”
Emma took Ruby’s words in and did the simple math: Ruby had been telling her not to worry about Killian asking because she knew he was planning to. He had told Ruby somehow, convincing her to help him with this surprise, and Ruby had agreed. It made Emma’s heart thump loudly in her chest over and over again, but then dread crept in. He was going to ask her to prom, but it was going to be a friend asking a friend. Somehow that was worse than not being asked at all. It would mean being so close to what she wanted, but still so painfully far away.
“Killian,” Emma whispered, her lips not daring to utter more than his name as the nerves took over.
“Yes, Killian,” Ruby said with a gleam in her eye, hopping off the table and straightening out Emma’s hair and her outfit like a personal stylist with a critical eye. “Don’t worry, you look totally kick ass, and so my work here is done. He’ll be here any minute, and I think it’s best if I get out of here before he does. Wouldn’t want to stifle any moments with my ever-present wit.”
Emma stood there in shock, watching her friend grab her bag and sashay out of the kitchen. Emma heard her retreating footsteps and barely managed to all out “Wait, Ruby!” before the front door closed. Ruby was gone, having departed the scene in a haste on par with that cartoon roadrunner she used to watch as a kid.
For a moment Emma warred with herself about what to do. She wanted desperately to wait here and to let him ask her. Maybe it would be more than a friend asking a friend. Maybe something had happened with the girl back home. Maybe he was free, free to love her, to choose her, to want her back… but then again maybe her greatest worries were exactly right. Maybe the nagging voice in the back of her mind that said something so perfect could never work out was correct. Either way she panicked, choosing self-preservation over facing what may come.
Leaving everything behind, Emma snuck out the sliding back door, breaking out in a run from the porch and heading into the thick grove of trees behind her home. There was a well-worn walking path that headed deep into the woods, and Emma knew it well, well enough to veer off of it and find her way to the one place she could imagine any kind of comfort at a time like this – the meadow.
Not far from her house there was a private glen that ran along the river, out of the way of any foot traffic that may come through the bramble of these woods. Emma had found it as a child, and for some reason no one ever seemed able to find her there. She could get lost for hours in that grove, enjoying the sun and the flowers and the sound of running water coursing by. It was close to home, but felt lightyears away and in that glen she could be anything and anyone. Her imagination was free there and her cares were far away. It was her special place, the one she never shared, the one she kept so close to her heart it felt like only hers. But then, on a whim, she’d brought Killian there, and though it was scary to do that, he’d reacted in the perfect way.
“It’s otherworldly, Emma. I can understand your love for this spot. I can think of no better place that I’ve ever been before.”
Emma held back tears as she approached this little oasis, knowing that it wouldn’t hold the answers that she wanted. Instead it would likely just remind her of Killian, and all that she wanted but that they just couldn’t have.
The closer she got, however, the more Emma realized that something was different. It was early spring, but she saw bright colors from afar. They were similar to the wildflowers that bloomed in May and June, but it was too early for them. Only when she got closer did she realize what was happening. The flowers here were real but were not wild. They were an assortment of every kind of blossom she’d ever loved and they had been placed by someone, filling the space in an attempt to recreate the most magical moments this meadow had to bring.
It dawned on her that no one would know to do this but Killian, and as she got closer Emma felt the tears brought on by his sweetness. By the time she was at the meadow’s edge, tears were streaming down her face, and she didn’t bother wiping them away as her hand came over her mouth.
There must be thousands of flowers here, and Emma had no idea how he could have possibly done this. Where would he even find so many flowers? And how could he have time? It would have taken him all day to do this, and so much longer to think of it. This was so much effort to go through for a friend, it almost made her think that she had to be wrong. He must feel the same. He must –
“I had pictured this going a little differently,” a voice said and Emma whipped around to see Killian, looking at her with a warm smile. He was genuinely glad to see her, but the bashfulness on his face was unmistakable and it made him look even more handsome. That earnest feeling mixed with seeing him dressed up, well it drove her a little wild, but she didn’t dare to move, waiting for him to approach her instead. “But I should have known you’d find your own way. You always do.”
“Why?” Emma asked, and Killian’s brow furrowed before she elaborated. “Why did you do all of this?”
“Because you deserve nothing less,” he countered, taking her hand though his blue eyes stayed locked on hers. “I did this because I’ve been wanting to ask you something for a very long time.
I’ve gone back and forth about when and how. I wanted it to be right, but I couldn’t decide how. It’s just – well it’s complicated. Us being friends, it’s amazing and I’ve never had someone in my world like you, and I was afraid I’d muck it up, so I…”
He trailed off, his hand scratching behind his ear in a show of embarrassment and Emma swallowed down the hurt as best she could. She had been right. This was a prom proposal based in friendship, nothing more. He didn’t feel the same. He didn’t want her. He was just kind and good and perfect and he wanted to give her a lovely memory even if he couldn’t give her his love.
“Emma Nolan, will you -,”
Before he could get the words out Emma interrupted him, afraid that if he asked she’d break down in front of him and give herself away. This was a nightmare right now and she couldn’t bear it. “Killian… I’m sorry, I can’t.”
Before he could respond, she sprinted back towards the house, tears falling as she raced through the backwoods. Through the haze of her adrenaline, she heard him call her name, and then she felt his hand on her arm, halting her, holding her steady.
“Emma, love, I don’t understand. Have I done something? Is there…” his voice grew fraught and tense. “Is there someone else?”
“Of course there is!” she exclaimed, “But not for me. For you!”
“I don’t understand,” he replied, looking genuinely perplexed.
“Of course you don’t,” she said, a sad laugh emanating from her as she waved her hands in dismay. “I love you, Killian.”
“I love you too,” he replied immediately, and she shook her head.
“No, not as a friend. I love you. Like for real.”
“Emma, I feel the same way about you. I’ve been trying to tell you forever, but every time I tried you shut me down.”
“I had to,” she cried out. “Because you’re not over her.”
“Over who?”
“Merida.”
“Who?” he asked, sounding completely unaware of the name of the girl he loved.
“You know, the girl Liam’s always reminding you about.”
At the mention of the name Killian still looked confused and then he laughed. Wait, he’s laughing? Why is he laughing? This is serious! Before she could get angry though he pulled her to him, distracting her with his nearness as the sound of his voice washed over her.
“God I could kill my brother for this, but I haven’t got the time. Emma, ‘Merida’ is not some long-lost love I’m pining away for. She’s a seventy-six-year-old Scottish woman who used to be our neighbor.”
“Oh.” What else was there to say? Clearly she’d been an idiot.
“The only girl I’ve ever pined for has golden hair, jade colored eyes, and a bit of a temper.”
“Hey, I don’t -,” Killian interrupted her with a kiss she never saw coming, but that Emma immediately melted into. How could she fight with someone when they could do this instead? God it was perfect, everything she’d ever dreamed of, and even more he loved her! He’d said he loved her right? Oh please let her have heard that right. She waited when they broke apart, hoping he’d reiterate the words she’d always craved.
“She’s also brilliant and beautiful and bold. She’s kind and honest, fair and good. She’s always looking out for the people who she loves, and by God when she smiles at me, it’s like heaven itself made just for me.”
Emma looked at his face, searching for any trace of deceit, but there was none. He was pouring his heart out to her and laying it all on the line. It was just what she’d always wanted.
“I love you, Emma. I knew I would from the moment that we met. It’s you Emma. The girl I can’t get over is you, and I have no plans of ever trying. You’re it for me. I know we’re young, but I don’t care because -,”
This time it was her turn to pull him for a kiss, and she couldn’t help herself. After months of wanting him, he was finally hers, or maybe he had been all along. It felt so good to finally have this, to know that the dream she’d been waiting for was even better than her imagination could fathom, and only when they broke apart did she realize what this meant.
“Oh my God I messed everything up,” she said, hiding her face in his neck in embarrassment. “You tried to ask me to prom in the most romantic way and I ruined it.”
“I wasn’t planning to ask you to prom, Emma.”
“You weren’t?”
“No, love I was asking you to be mine, just as I’m yours. But as for ruining things, surely you must know you never could,” he said, his fingers running through her hair as he gazed at her adoringly. “You’ve made this the best day I’ve ever known. You told me you loved me. You let down the last bit of wall that was separating us. Everything’s been said now. There’s no secrets, no more doubts. You know my heart and I know yours. I couldn’t ask for more. And as for prom, if you want to go then we’ll go. I want to be wherever you are, Emma. For me it’s just that simple.”
“I want that too,” Emma said, kissing him again and feeling the lightness and joy that came with love that was reciprocal and true. After all the heart ache, they were together, and Emma knew their love would be forever. No matter what may come, or where they went from here, they were just meant to be. Always had been, always would be.
And though they spent the next few hours surrounding themselves in their newly found bliss, they eventually concurred that prom was a must. After all, Ruby would kill her if she didn’t go, and with Killian by her side it was bound to be a night she’d always remember and never forget.
…………….
You the type of guy to write a song about
You're laid back, nobody know what's on your mind
We been talking for a while now
(We been talking for a while now)
And I been falling for a while now
You say that everything with you is fine
Even though we're always hanging out
I get the feeling that you're not around, yeah
We were always up to something
Now you're all in your head
I love you
But I wish it wasn't true
'Cause I know you think of her
When I'm lying next to you
I love you
And I don't know what to do
'Cause you can't get over her
And I can't get over you
You the type of guy to tell your mom about
You're laid back, but running circles round my mind
I been falling for a while now
(I been falling, I been falling, I been falling)
But you been lying for a while now
You say that everything with you is fine
Even though we're always hanging out
I get the feeling that you're not around, yeah
We were always up to something
Now you're all in your head
I love you
But I wish it wasn't true
'Cause I know you think of her
When I'm lying next to you
I love you
And I don't know what to do
'Cause you can't get over her
And I can't get over you
(I can't get over you)
I love you
And I don't know what to do
'Cause you can't get over her
And I can't get over you
Post-Note: So there we have it. I hope you guys have enjoyed this little drabble, and to my lovely readers who always ask me for more bisexual Ruby representation, I had you guys in mind with this one too. I know it’s a very short feature, and I am usually very committed to the Ruby/Graham pairing, but I’m happy to share the love for everyone that I can. I wish the show had developed a lot of these characters and relationships more, but hey, there’s always fanfic! Anyway, thank you all for reading and hope you have a great weekend!
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9,Part 10,Part 11, Part 12,Part 13, Part 14, Part 15, Part 16, Part 17, Part 18, Part 19, Part 20, Part 21, Part 22, Part 23, Part 24,Part 25, Part 26, Part 27, Part 28, Part 29, Part 30, Part 31,Part 32, Part 33, Part 34, Part 35, Part 36, Part 37, Part 38,Part 39,Part 40, Part 41, Part 42, Part 43, Part 44, Part 45,Part 46,Part 47, Part 48, Part 49, Part 50, Part 51, Part 52, Part 53,Part 54,Part 55, Part 56, Part 57, Part 58, Part 59, Part 60,Part 61,Part 62, Part 63, Part 64, Part 65, Part 66, Part 67, Part 68,Part 69,Part 70, Part 71, Part 72, Part 73, Part 74, Part 75,Part 76,Part 77, Part 78, Part 79, Part 80, Part 81, Part 82, Part 83,Part 84,Part 85, Part 86, Part 87, Part 88, Part 89, Part 90,Part 91,Part 92, Part 93, Part 94, Part 95, Part 96, Part 97, Part 98,Part 99,Part 100, Part 101, Part 102, Part 103,Part 104, Part 105,Part 106, Part 107,Part 108, Part 109, Part 110,Part 111, Part 112,Part 113, Part 114, Part 115,Part 116, Part 117, Part 118,Part 119,Part 120, Part 121, Part 122, Part 123,Part 124, Part 125,Part 126, Part 127, Part 128,Part 129,Part 130, Part 131,Part 132,Part 133, Part 134, Part 135, Part 136, Part 137, Part 138,Part 139,Part 140, Part 141, Part 142, Part 143, Part 144, Part 145,Part 146, Part 147, Part 148,Part 149, Part 150, Part 151,Part 152, Part 153, Part 154, Part 155, Part 156, Part 157, Part 158,Part 159, Part 160, Part 161, Part 162, Part 163, Part 164,Part 165, Part 166, Part 167, Part 168, Part 169, Part 170,Part 171,Part 172, Part 173, Part 174, Part 175, Part 176,Part 177, Part 178, Part 179 , Part 180, Part 181, Part 182, Part 183, Part 184, Part 185, Part 186, Part 187, Part 188, Part 189
#captain swan#captain swan fic#captain swan ff#cs fic#cs#cs au#cs ff#cs fluff#cs hs au#captain swan high school au#emma swan#killian jones#ruby lucas#ouat au#captain swan mixtape#cs mixtape#i luv you#i luv you cs#prompted fic
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Lost in the Blizzard (Chapter One)
This is another story that I’m working in the Tangled Fandom. I, of course, don’t own Tangled and make no profit from this. Enjoy.
There are forgotten legends when it comes to magic but one is still very well known. One about a which from the Land of Ice and Snow who rules over the land. All the people lost in the blizzards are hers but she especially loves children. Now she has set her eyes on a new treasure.
Once upon a time, there lived a woman, we don’t know what her name is or what it was when she was nothing more than a regular woman. For you see her true name has been lost to time through heartbreak and long years of loneliness her story only a small part of a larger story. One of love, adventure, and mysticism. For it was she who created the events that led up to the journey.
Depending on where you go around the world the origins of the woman differ some say she was girl cursed with the powers of ice and snow, her powers slowly consuming her until she was nothing but an empty shell. Others call her a demoness from another dimension who takes from our world with the power of her blizzards, striking so suddenly that the lost can never be saved. Others say that she was once a mother who had lost her children during the winter to the elements and driven mad with grief, she lost her life searching for her children in the blizzard. When she finally lost her battle with nature her spirit continued to search for her dead children.
While we can never truly know what happened to make the woman of this story there are somethings that we do know. She is a woman whose heart is as cold as ice, with hair as black as night, skin as white as freshly fallen snow, and powers as fierce as the blizzard storms she can conjure. Her powers where so fierce in fact she was unable to ever leave her realm of ice and snow for if she did then she would surely lose her power, no she was most powerful in the winter.
Then one day a wizard had appeared in her land, he was a frail and pathetic thing who had always wondered the true fate of those swept away by the blizzards now he knew. When he went to her ice palace looking for shelter the woman said: ‘Tell me stranger do you what happens to those who trespass in my land?’
To the wizard the strangest think about the woman was not the power that she exuded but the child who followed her around like a shadow. The child wore rich blue clothes to that of royalty with a crown made of ice like of the Queen's design, although strangely enough, they did not wear shoes. They would talk to the Queen calling her mother and vying for her attention which she gladly gave. However, despite the seemingly warm response from the Queen, the wizard could not help the foreboding feeling in his heart. The wizard replied: ‘No, your majesty I do not for this is a strange and far off land indeed. A land where there seems to be no spring, summer, or autumn only an endless winter. Pray tell what does happen to those who trespass?”
‘Men like you who wander into my home have but only two options,’ the Queen pointed out the window where the Wizard spotted what he could only assume were statues. ‘you can either become apart of my garden or,’ she points further away to a beast not quite a horse, ‘you could be a beast who shall pull my carriage.’
Neither option sounded appealing to the Wizard to either become an ice statue or a mindless beast forced to trek the endless tundra. That is when he was struck with an idea, knelling down to gain her favor he said: ‘Your majesty my talents would be wasted if I were to become such things but if you allow me I can create for you a window to see beyond your realm of ice and snow to new and more exotic realms.’
This caught the Queen's interest no one had ever given her a proposition such as this and while she would never trade her home, she was often curious about the worlds her children often came from. Seeing no reason why she could not humor the Wizard she spared his life with the promise that if he were to create this “portal” she would also give him a way back to his home realm. Once the deal was made the Wizard set off to work.
To create his promised object he needed metal, which the Queen pointed him towards a village at the base of the mountain. When he arrived after a day’s journey, he was shocked to find that the residents weren’t human at all. While they spoke and worked like humans such as himself, they were Polar bears. When he told them of his plight and of the deal, he made the chief said: ‘I must warn you stranger take the other options for any gift you give to her will surely be ruined by her own hand.’
Put off by the warning the Wizard asked the chief what he meant by that: ‘If you want to truly understand only look at her children.’ The chief would not say anymore but at the man's insistence gave the Wizard the precious metal he asked for to create his gift. As he worked, he kept the chiefs warning in the back of his mind every time a curious child came to watch him work. As their unnaturally blue eyes watched him pound into the metal, they watched as he carved the runes into the metal to create the spell.
There was something wrong with the children, but he didn’t care much for them other than himself. If they were lost there was nothing, he could do about their current situation it was even possible that they were living better lives than their previous ones. Even if he wanted to do anything for them the was nothing he could do against the Snow Queen. It was simply not his problem.
When the month ended the Wizards, the gift was complete when he presented it to the Queen, she received what looked like a simple silver mirror. He said: ‘To activate this mirror you must only think of what you want to see, and the mirror shall show you what you want to see.’
Listening to the man’s instructions, she walked to the new mirror hanging in her throne room she touched its reflective surface and pictured one of the locations her children previously described to her before they decided to stay with her. The reflection rippled and became distorted showing her a forest clearing with different animals that the Queen herself had never seen before. This pleased her greatly it seemed that the man had done exactly what he promised. Now it was her turn to fulfill her end of the deal.
Walking towards the man she held out her hand and said: ‘Give me the sharpest item in your possession.’
Put off and wanting to return home the Wizard gave her his sharpest knife one he used to skin wild game during his travels. Yanking the knife from his hand the Queen gently rubbed her hands against the worn steel covering it with ice using her powers. Once it was completely enveloped the ice broke but in its place was not the same dagger the Wizard had given her. In its place was silver dagger encrusted with blue gems, handing the knife back the Queen said: ‘Only think of where, who, or what you want to go too and slash the air then you shall be able to go home.’
The Wizard took the knife gratefully and did what the Queen instructed that was when he found himself home in the little cottage in the woods. There he lived the rest of his day peacefully putting the realm of ice and snow away from his thoughts. Not once did he think of the children he left behind and not once did he think of their fates. The Wizard just simply continued to live his happily ever after.
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“Daddy?” Varian asked as he leaned against his father for warmth. He was very put off by the story, it didn’t seem very right with how things ended. The young boy had expected a fight for the Wizard to free the realm from the Snow Queen or even a trick to get the children away, but there was nothing of the sort only one man getting a happy ending.
Quirin, his father smiled warmly at his son, “What is it, son?” He had just told his son about the story as it was the only thing they could do while the snowstorm was happening outside.
“Why did the Wizard do nothing for the children or the people?”
“Because he didn’t know how too,” Quirin said. “Personally, I think this story is like the myths about the sun and moon gods’ ways to explain the natural world around us. In this case, it explains why there are surprised snowstorms like this and why some people get lost in these storms.”
Varian yawned, it was getting very late and the fire in the fireplace was slowly dying down leaving nothing but embers. Yet, Varian tried to put on a brave front for his father he was four years old and he was a big boy. He didn’t need his daddy to carry him to bed.
Quirin, on the other hand, knew better, he slowly stood up making Varian face plant onto the cushions of the couch. He put his hands under his son’s armpits and gently lifted him from his seat, sometime between then Varian fell fast asleep his soft breaths ticking against his fathers’ neck. Not wanting to wake his son up Quirin slowly and quietly took Varian to his room where he placed the boy on the bed and tucked him in. After making sure that Varian was fast asleep Quirin brushed a hand over his sons’ forehead and planted a soft kiss on his forehead, “I love you son, sweet dreams.”
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It had been ten years since that night, now Varian had grown older but not necessarily wiser. A teenager who spent all his time inventing and working for the good of his village. That isn’t to say that whatever he invented always worked with them oftentimes exploding instead of actually working. These failures did little to curb Varian’s inventive spirit instead pushing him forward to work harder although always after he finished cleaning the mess he made. Currently, this wasn’t one of those times.
“So, Ruddiger what do you think about the mirror?” Varian asked as he examined the results of his latest experiment. It was not technically anything new, but the process of making the mirror was fascinating although the cost of the materials actually made the entire endeavored worth it. The only difference to his experiment, when compared to other manufacturers' mirrors, is that he forgoes the mercury amalgam normally used to create the mirror effect. Varian hoped that by using his new method that poorer citizens might be able to afford mirrors rather than only the rich fellows.
Ruddiger chittered at his friend’s newest creation being captivated by the raccoon trapped within. No matter where he went the strange raccoon followed and when he went to greet the stranger, he still couldn’t reach them. To say that Ruddiger was impressed would be a lie despite Varian’s denial the mirror really was something of magic. It was a nice break from the black rocks that normally took the boy's time.
Ever since Varian came from the science expo (and Ruddiger was properly introduced to Rapunzel and Cassandra) he had been spending his time searching for a solution for the rocks plaguing his village. Answers were not coming easily to the boy as they seemed impervious to tampering but that did not stop Varian from at least obtaining information. Right now, he had the chemical makeup of the rocks which he was confident that no one else in all of Corona had. While he would normally be over the moon and inform his father of the results, he promised the princess to keep any information about them to himself.
Although in recent weeks the promise itself seemed very pointless when factoring in the amount of trouble they were causing, destroying homes, ruining crop yields, even disrupting trade between villages. While this was normal in Old Corona (except the disrupted trade) with Varian as a resident for such damage to not be caused by the leader’s child was just unusual. These rocks couldn’t be cleaned up, destroyed, or removed which was a massive change for the residents.
When thinking of all this it was only natural that Varian tries to curb his more ambitious projects if only to save people the stress if they go wrong. It was sort of strange to him that he wasn’t the cause of so much destruction considering that it seems to be naturally forming. That was his first hypothesis anyway until he saw the rocks react to the princess more specifically her hair.
Ruddiger chittered bringing Varian back from his thoughts about the rocks. The mirror was supposed to be a break for him nothing serious or messy but enough to take his mind off the current problem. He thought that by giving himself a break he could think up fresh and new ideas in dealing with the problem. The only reason why he thought to make a mirror was because of how one could see their reflection off the rocks. It was silly he knew but it was better than nothing.
Looking at the clock Varian realized how late it really was he should have been in bed hours ago. Placing a blanket over the mirror he gently hulled it to his room with Ruddiger close behind him, the mirror wasn’t very heavy but the size of it made it awkward to carry around but at least anyone looking at it would be able to see their entire body. Varian placed it next to all the other experiments and inventions around his bed being mindful of the delicate piece. Once he was satisfied with its placement, he turned to get ready for bed.
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Varian did not know how he found himself in the middle of a snowy wood. One minute he had nodded off in the warm confines of his bed with Ruddiger and suddenly he was in the middle of nowhere seemingly lost. He shivered as the cool breeze bit into his bones running through his thin pajamas causing him to wildly look around for any possible shelter. There was none. It also did not help that he was forced to walk barefoot in the snow causing him all sorts of pain and discomfort, he hoped that he was able to avoid frostbite. Hands wrapped around him, he turned to figure out the best direction he could go.
His surroundings gave Varian an eerie feeling, no forest should ever be so quiet and still. Yet this is where he found himself, there was no sound of animals foraging for food. There were no winter birds filling the silence with their wild songs. It was as if time itself was standing still throughout the area. That’s when he heard it, the song.
It was a beautiful song the likes of which Varian had never heard before. It filled the eerie silence with a charm that Varian could not ever hope to describe filling his very being with a want to find the origin of the music. feel a wave of emotions all at once. Happiness, sadness, he wanted to try and laugh at the same time these emotions were so strong that Varian forgets the bitter cold. He wanted to know who was playing such wonderful music.
Trudging through deep snow Varian followed the music as the snow crunched under his bare feet. As he followed the music Varian looked at his surroundings other than the music there was no life in sight although that was to be expected of the weather. The trees were nothing of likes he had ever seen before looking as if they themselves were made of ice. While others looked of simple pine with the green of their needles clashing with the white of the snow. That is when Varian saw a break in the woods.
Eyes widening in excitement Varian dashed towards the clearing, but not before stopping himself and shyly hiding behind a pine tree. He could not understand what was happening to him normally he could confidently walk up and greet anyone he set his mind to. He did it to Cassandra. He did it to princess Rapunzel. Yet why did this woman make him feel so strange and childish?
The woman delicately strummed her crystal harp making the strings strum softly, it was the most magical thing Varian had ever heard. She was seated in what he could only describe as a bench made of ice under a gazebo also made of ice. The woman herself looked like she would be royalty with her skin as white as snow, and hair as dark as night her clothes looked extravagant and very expensive with a white glittering dress under an icy blue cloak. Varian gulped nervously he wanted to greet her so much so that he gathered himself and took a step towards her.
CRUNCH!
Varian winced somehow stepping through the snow was too loud overpowering the soft music produced by the woman with the harp. He ducked his head in shame as the music came to an abrupt halt at his intrusion, he hadn’t wanted to upset this stranger by ruining her song. However, to his surprise there was no annoyance or reprimand at his intrusion only worry at his current state, “My poor child,” she said walking towards him, “look how cold you are! Come sit with me here so that I may keep you warm and so that you may continue listening to my music.”
Varian’s heart lifted at her words and while he did not quite understand what she meant about the cold he timidly walked towards the bench. As he walked the woman resumed her playing never giving him much mind even when he leaned against her shoulder in fact, she encouraged his behavior stating that being close to her would only make him feel warmer. He was feeling very warm and comfortable now.
While he listened, the woman introduced herself to him, “My child I am the queen of this domain but to all my subject I am known as the Snow Queen and who might you be?” At first, Varian tried to remember what his father taught him about giving his name to strangers before he rationalized that as she already gave him her name it was only polite to give her his. He did this and more answering her questions with complete honesty. She got him to tell her about his life in Old Corona and all the inventions he made even the ones that exploded. She seemed especially interested in him which he didn’t mind as he hardly had such attention from any adult let alone his own father. Suddenly he let out a yawn, his eyes felt very heavy all of a sudden.
As he tried to keep himself awake the Queen abandoned her harp, wrapping her arms around him in a hug. “Shhh, you must be very tired now.” She softly petted Varian hair combing her fingers gently through individual strands. “Varian did you like your visit with me?”
“Yes, I did very much I loved it,” Varian said snuggling into her mantle.
It seemed to be the answer the Queen was looking for because she hugged him harder, “Good because I would love for you come again, visit my lovely home, maybe get something warm for you to eat and drink.”
Varian nodded against her shoulder to visit her again would be a great opportunity for him. He gave her his word that he would do just that the next night before finally losing his battle to sleep. As he slept the Queen continued to pet his hair.
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Ruddiger couldn’t believe his eyes when it happened one minute his boy was sleeping peacefully under the covers of his bed before an eerie song was heard. At first, the raccoon thought that he was only imagining the song as there was no way such a thing could ever happen in his boys’ own room. That’s when Varian moved, but even then Ruddiger did not believe that Varian was in much control over his actions at the time. As the music filled the Varian began to stir in what Ruddiger could only assume was an annoyance at the music.
When Varian got off his bed Ruddiger simply watched as the boy walked towards his new mirror. Now that Ruddiger knew what he knew now it should have been obvious that something was amiss, even when the boilers were underground causing havoc Varian was still able to sleep through the night. There should have been no possible way that soft music would have awoken Varian from his sleep. His first clue of something amiss was Varian’s movement, walking as if he was being led by someone or something towards the mirror.
He assumed that is was the dark as humans did not have the same things raccoons as he had which was night vision. It was when he saw Varian’s reflection in the mirror that the raccoon panicked, his eyes were glowing but with none of the warmth, they looked to be in a haze, blanker than paper. When the boy started to walk into the mirror that’s when Ruddiger dashed towards his friend, while he had little idea of what Varian did, he did know that a mirror shouldn’t do that. However, he was too late to follow Varian through as Ruddiger got a pain in his head for all his trouble.
That is when he was presented with a choice, he could go to the boy’s father and try to tell him what happened to his only son. While Ruddiger was confident in his ability to communicate with humans he doubted that even he could describe what happened to a man with such a seemingly low opinion of him. The other was to wait until Varian came back because that was all he could hope for, hope that his boy was okay and that he wasn’t hurt or in pain wherever he was spirited away too. After what felt like hours the mirror started to change creating ripples and distortions on the reflection.
The first thing that came out was a familiar arm, then a familiar leg this continued until Varian was back in his room. Ruddiger chittered in relief and excitement his boy was safe and that what mattered to him, yet there was something different about him the raccoon didn’t know what, but he felt that Varian wasn’t the same. The raccoon tried to get Varian’s attention, but the boy ignored him instead of heading straight to his bed and burying himself under the covers. Ruddiger followed jumping onto the bed and snuggling into his boy, fast asleep as he should be and most importantly safe.
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Meanwhile, the Snow Queen had enjoyed the time she spent with her brand-new treasure the boy was everything she loved in children. His eyes were just her favorite color matching the blue ice often found in glaciers, yet they held such warmth and wonder for the world. She loved the splash of freckles on his face, and his dark soft hair which fell over his forehead. What she especially loved about the boy, however, was the amount of love he put into everything.
She had watched him for a very long time although she would admit that she became interested in him after the first few failures of his inventions. What made her continue observing was the love she saw Varian put into his work just by seeing him continue working with alchemy. Even while watching the boy she noticed that he was always alone working in his lab. When he would talk to his little pet he would talk about his inventions and how they work as if it could answer back to him.
Varian practically projected all of his emotions, the utter want for approval from his father and the other villagers. The admiration for the former thief that saved a princess and a woman who wouldn’t pay attention to him until he impressed her. The boy has wasted with all those people none of them gave him what he wanted or needed, in fact, they never seem to do anything with him unless he initiated the interaction.
The Snow Queen wanted that; she wanted those eyes on her she wanted to feel the boy’s admiration on her as she could do everything for him. She wanted him to pay attention to her. Ever since she got her mirror the Queen could afford to be pickier with the children she took under her care before she had the mirror it was always a chore to wait for a blizzard the weaken the lines between their realm and her realm. She wouldn’t always make it in time and often times the children froze before they went into her realm it was a shame, but it was a reality that she accepted. They wouldn’t have survived long anyway.
There was no doubt in Varian’s ability though, she could just tell that he would be her most valuable treasure.
#Snow queen au#my stories#my fanfiction#fanifiction#varian#ruddiger#quirin#tangled#tangled the series#rapunzels tangled adventure#Part One
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