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halcyone-of-the-sea · 11 months

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Songs That Sound Like Sea-Foam (I)

AU MASTERLIST || PART II

PAIRING: Fisherman!John Price x F!Mermaid!Reader

WORD COUNT: 6.2k

WARNINGS: Fluff, mentions of death, being hunted, vulgar language, price in a tunic (yes this is a warning by itself), awkwardness, nakedness, suggestive (?), implied age gap, etc.

A/N: I'm feral over this AU, ong. A million kisses to the Anon that brought this to my attention-btw this is definitely becoming a mini-series.

*I do not give others permission to translate and/or re-publish my works on this or any other platform*

Your family told you to never go beyond the deep waterways of the cove, never to brave the open sea. Times were changing. The Harpies, when they weren't as shrewd about their feathers getting wet, would fly down from their tall mountain spires and tell stories—ones about the hunting ships.

They’d seen them, they said as your family listened on in horror from the rocks, dragging all manner of Merfolk up from the waters in large nets made of iron and hard steel. Spears that tore scales to take for profit. In other instances, the unlucky individuals were even sold to royalty to become showpieces in displays of high wealth and standing.

But it wasn’t just Merfolk. It was all manner of mystical beast and being. Hunted. Sold. Humans, your parents had told you, were not friends. They were greedy and selfish; more than often cruel.

And so they started to do the same unto them. Your family would lure them with their voices to the ends of the great ships that were brought close to your cove—watch as they hurled themselves from the sides into the grasp of the ruthless waves. They did it for you, they explained. To try and keep you safe.

For years they did this until they were gone too.

Suddenly the cove seemed more like a prison than a safe spot, and the Harpies no longer came to converse or tell news. Killed or taken you had no idea, but it was becoming fairly obvious that even interactions with your own people were impossible. Were you the only mermaid left? It was a good question to ask and one that you could never answer. All that you knew was that you had been alone for a very long time.

That was, before you first laid eyes on the fisherman.

You watch him now, yet again, from behind the sharp jutting body of the rocks; the water delicately bobs you up and down as your vibrant tail hangs limp in its otherworldly throes. Eyes softly wide and mouth parted in wonder.

He’s walking along the deck of a small ship—not the large and intimidating ones of the other men that sail the seas—with a strong form. A hat on top of his head of brown hair and a well-trimmed beard of the same color made him look gruff in appearance.

Your hands shift over the sharp black stone, and the nakedness of your top is covered by the long strands of your wet, uncut, hair. This man wore a plain white tunic and brown pants stuffed into large boots. Even as far as you were, you heard the soft whistled tune dancing in the shell of your ears. Delicate eyes watch, head slowly peeking out more and more.

He was tending to the nets he had on the bow and as you studied him you were mystified.

“Fascinating,” you whisper, unknown emotions swirling in you.

His muscles strain, large and expansive shoulders lead down to a tapered waist; legs that you blink at before glancing at your tail under the rippling water. There’s a large grunt before the fisherman’s net is thrown in a beautiful arc, hitting the water with a slap and a spray of liquid as it begins to sink. Startled, you flinch back, gasping loudly.

With a racing heart, you quietly scold yourself for the childish reaction, flicking your tail in annoyance. Slowly but surely, your head peaks back out with water dripping down the flesh of your shoulders.

But when you shift back into the open, you find a deep set of stormy blue eyes digging into your field of view. You freeze, seeing his lids go back in surprise and shock as your jaw slackens. A cold fear enters your veins at the new attention brought to you but you find yourself unable to look away.

The Fisherman is the picture of utter stillness, just as you are, like twin mountains of ancient stone. Your nervousness only seems to grow as he doesn’t do anything—teachings and lessons about those who walk on two legs and sail in ships poking holes into your mind.

Gawking and spying were one thing…but being seen meant death. You swallow stiffly and go tense, shifting to half-hide behind your rock.

“Oh, no,” your mouth murmurs, self-hatred and fear lining the tone. “Oh, no, no, no.”

And yet the Fisherman had not moved, nor made any attempt to pull his sinking net back into his boat. Fish panic in the rope grave they’ve been ensnared in. His eyes….why are they so curiously locked on you?

You spare one last glance before shoving away from the rock and disappearing under the water with a violent splash; making off for the deep underwater caves that offer salvation.

When you’re down there—in the darkness with only silent ripples of light to guide your eyes—you find it hard to stop thinking about the Fisherman and his strong jaw. His genuine awe at the sight of you.

Had he not heard the stories of the Merfolk of this region? Or…or were you truly the last of your kind?

The thought troubles you, and, riddled with anxiety, you go over to your store of shiny trinkets that you’d collected over the years; grabbing them in your hands and fiddling with them to try to put your mind at ease. The walls of the caves bare down on you and you hope you’d not just signed over your own death warrant.

Maybe he’ll go away, you offer yourself, face tight and tail curled close, maybe he’ll be afraid and won’t come back.

It was a pointless belief. They always come back—driven by greed or a righteous authority. Humans were cruel.

But your brain goes back to stormy blue eyes like pebbles and softly parted lips. Orbs glinting with wonder and shock. No attempt to shout or grab for the large knife you’d seen strapped to his belt.

A fisherman, you told yourself, who hesitated to go after the biggest fish of them all.

You didn’t quite know if that made you more afraid or more intrigued.

—

It was only after you’d spent three weeks in the underwater caves of the cove that you’d finally decided the coast was clear. You’d cautiously gone back through the winding seaweed and schools of marine life to hide in your little rock fort; afraid but brave. From under the waves in the calm of the water you’d scanned the surface for the shadows of a boat, anything to indicate that the man had returned.

Nothing.

Tension leaves your shoulders and you travel upwards, vibrant scales shimmering like jewels. You were quite close to the mainland, you would say, back to the shore to look out over the open entrance to your home. At the first sign of danger, the rocks would be your first point of shelter if you wished to remain hidden but continue to watch.

Ears popping as your head surfaces, you only look out with the water swaying below your eyes; nose and chin hidden. Sand from behind you shifts.

“Knew I’d seen something, then, eh?” Your heart lurches—brain flashing to hooks and nets; you shove yourself back under the water with a garbled gasp.

Fish around your form dash away as you frantically look back at the surface, your scales shining as the light hits them. Fingers tense in the water, you shift your body so that your form has its back to the floor of the cove and breathe quickly in your own mermadian way with shaking fins.

On the very edge of the shore, you see the shadow of a sitting body in the sand. He hadn’t moved, this Fisherman. Was waiting as inanimate as an empty shell.

What had he said? You ask yourself, hair disturbed by the flow of the waves above your head. A gentle back and forth. After a moment of contemplation, the large muscle in your breast slows itself and a nervous curiosity grows.

Yet still, the shadow stays completely motionless beside the occasional itch and brush as facial hair. Waiting.

Waiting to attack, your hand twitches in the water and you flutter your tail to take you closer to the open air, or waiting to see me?

Taking what you can describe as a deep breath, the top of your head once more breaks the top of the water; lashes dripping salty tear-drops as you blink away the sting. Every part of you is ready to disappear once more if things go south.

And then you lock eyes once more.

The Fisherman sits in the sand with his boots pushing up the granules—his right hand rests over his bent knee while the other keeps him up in a relaxed position from behind his back. You stare, the sun reflected in your eyes with a small glinting and hair in your vision. A foreign heat builds in your face when the man’s head tilts; tiny eyes narrowing as if he’d just proven a point to himself.

Why doesn’t he seem surprised?

There’s a moment of a smirk that slashes his hidden lips but it’s gone in a fraction of a second. His mustache moves as he speaks and your face slightly bobs lower instinctually. The Fisherman doesn't seem hostile—he has a kind of stern comfort to him.

Stubborn gruffness. And his accent only amplifies that fact.

“Well, wasn’t expecting to find you here,” his chest rumbles with his words. You find you quite like the sound of it. Shells grinding against each other and pearls that clatter in palms. Your eyes widen with innocence. The Fisherman clears his throat, still watching carefully as the water sloshes over his boots. “Else I would have stayed clear when I still could.”

Your hands tread water around you, tail flickering in small movements.

The man's gaze darts down to stare as well as he could through the ripples.

“Bloody Christ,” he murmurs to himself, returning your eyes once more, “thought you were all mostly extinct. Fuckin’ hell.”

“Extinct?” Your lips flinch, chin caressing the waves as brows pull up. The Fisherman blinks as if surprised to hear you speak. To be honest, you were half afraid you couldn’t either—how long had it been since you’d had a conversation above water? You spent most of your time passing comments to rare traveling Hippocampus and Sea Serpents.

Not that they could respond, of course.

By now your face had entirely left the water, that word startling you. Your chest tightens.

“What do you mean,” you ask the older man, this strange Fisherman who was shifting his weight in the sand, “extinct?”

Dark brows furrow and his back slightly straightens itself.

“You aren't exactly what I’d be calling common, Love. No one’s seen one of your kind in years.” Your face stills.

“Years?” Head angling itself down, you stare at your reflection in growing fear.

The Fisherman makes a move to stand, and you dart back swiftly. A pale hand is held in the air as if to sedate you.

“Easy, now.” It’s said softly, a grunt stuck at the beginning. A small moment passes before the man fully stands up, dressed similarly to when you’d seen him before.

Top, pants, hat. There’s also a flash of metal around his neck, some piece of jewelry hidden on the chain under the layer of his thin, flowy, tunic. Hands go to cross over his chest in a display of muscle gained from a long time of hard work.

You nervously plead for an explanation, “B-but that…that doesn’t make any sense! I’m not the only one left!”

“No,” the Fisherman slowly states, taking off the hat from his head and delicately placing it on the ground. “No, you’re not the last.”

His eyes dart along your visible body, trying to catch a glimpse of that tail that was in all stories about your kind.

“Your name, Ma’am,” he asks, blue returning to your own sights, “what is it.”

“Well, what’s yours?” You counter, getting snappy in your anxiousness. “You come into my home and expect me to answer to you? And where’s your fishing boat anyways—unless a male Selkie has suddenly managed to brave the deep sea?”

Perhaps it had been a trick of the light, but you had sworn the Fisherman had smiled at you; it was a swift slash of something that pulled his mustache back and wrinkled his face. An amused thing it was. A sort of tiny tease, in its own right.

Your heart beats steadily at the sight, eyes watching.

“Well, I suppose you’re right, then.” He scratches at his beard with one hand, still studying you with a tilt of his head. As if weighing what he should tell you. There was an air of intrigue but that did nothing to hide the hesitance. “I docked my boat in the sea cave, thought it would do more harm than good to leave it in the open. If you’d seen it, you wouldn’t have shown, eh?” The Fisherman points and you look to the deep indent in the mountainside, the tiny ship visible as it stays stationary. You blink at it slowly.

“And you can call me whatever it is you like, I don’t bloody care, but I’m not inclined to tell one of the Merfolk my name—I may have come ‘ere, but I’m not fuckin’ daft, now.”

It was true, what he spoke of. Names to your people have a stark and violent purpose. To know one's name is to own a piece of that person’s soul. Songs gain more power, words grow into orders followed without thought. Not that it was your intention.

You glower, brows pulling in.

“A simple fisherman does well to know that it’s rude to speak ill like such in another’s home.” The man smirks, cheeks rising.

“Simple, am I?” The already expansive build of his shoulders widens as he leans back on his heels, water sloshing at his boots. His eyes glimmer like lighting with humor. The look makes your cheeks burn with warmth, throat swallowing saliva.

“Why are you here?” You avoid the question, treading water and letting your tail drift. Willing the water to cool your senses. It was obvious that this man wasn’t a hunter—foolish, perhaps, but no hunter.

Or maybe just confidently brave.

The Fisherman hums under his breath, grunting in the way you’d already come to associate with him. Rugged fellow, really. Weathered like a pile of old rope but still handsome, the sinews under the stain of dirt pure of color. You found yourself, however apprehensive, enjoying the squareness of his face; how the brunette’s hair would sweep in the warm breeze.

He was attractive.

“Fishing, Ma’am.” A broad sweep of one of his hands, “You have a proper cove. Plenty of places to cast.”

Your tight arms somewhat loosen.

“Just fishing?” Your voice darkens. “Then why is it you’re here on shore and not doing just that.” Tail flickering, it lightly brings you back from him, eyes always darting away to stare into the background of his form—at the dark shadows of trees behind the dark rocks. At the open mouth of the cove in case of extra ships.

If what he told you earlier was true, you were in danger just by living.

Extinct? Not seen in years? No, that can’t be right. A deep knot forms in your stomach.

“I may be human, Ma’am, but I believe myself to be above intrusion.” The Fisherman splays his hands by his waist and shifts his thighs. He seems serious again, like a wave going forward and back he seemed to always revert to a crafted visage of firm resolve. “This is your home, and I’m asking to ferry my boat here when able. Nothing else.”

You blink in surprise, brows pulling back.

He was…asking you?

“I…own the cove no more than the Manticore owns the desert,” your voice stutters, oddly touched by his sincerity. You pause and push yourself farther above a wave. This large man didn’t seem cruel to you. “I have no claim on the waters—they have been here longer than I. Do as you wish.”

While that should have been the end of it, you found his blue eyes continuing to watch you, head tilted like a shaggy dog. Thinking deeply with a slight parting of his lips and rising to his lids.

At the intensity of his silent wonder, your head goes light. Had you said something strange? No, it was just the truth. Then…why was this man’s face going to a modest pink shade? Why were his eyes darting away from yours and his feet shifting?

You narrow at him before he speaks, clearing his throat and crossing his arms.

“Alright,” the Fisherman mutters, chest rumbling.

A silence falls where your ears twitch to the lapping of the sea-foam and the feeling of blood in your veins which mirrors such movements. As you saw him do to you, your vision falls to the man’s body; looking across the tapering of his waist and the rolled sleeves of his tunic—showing off years of muscle

“I don’t suppose…” Your tail flinches from the sudden noise from the brunette, expecting him to swim over to his boat and get to his business. You stare and listen, and for the first time, you believe a mermaid has been entranced by another's voice. “That I’ll have the pleasure of seeing you again?”

The Fisherman speaks slowly, hands shifting on his biceps; thighs tense and settle. You allow the waves to connect and slide around your body and a feeling reminiscent of warm rocks in the sun grows in your heart.

Strange, this man. This serious-faced Fisherman who asks one of the Merfolk for permission over the waters we don’t control. You tilt your head to teasingly mirror the brunettes. He humphs in his throat at your action. I enjoy him.

At the first sign of danger you’d leave—but for now…talking felt good.

“Perhaps,” you say, lips twitching into a smile. “Would this nameless Fisherman enjoy the company of a mermaid? Not many would say yes.”

“I think you’ll find I’m not like those many, then, yeah?” He smiles, a small twitch of his lips. You begin backing up, getting to deeper water while maintaining eye contact. “I don’t care what you are, just that we have an agreement.”

“Very well,” your neck dips under the waves, tail momentarily peaking above the surface. Blue flickers to it, shoulders lowering in hidden awe. The Fisherman’s lungs still.

He hears your giggle before you dive under, disappearing swiftly down to your caves with a splash.

It’s a long while before the brunette picks up his hat and begins walking the length of the shore—strong steps taking him back to his ship with a tiny smile brightening his ruggedly handsome face.

He runs a hand over his chin and chuckles.

“Fuckin’ hell.”

—

You perch on the side of the Fisherman’s boat, golden comb in your grip as you run it over and over through your locks. Tangles and knots are rendered useless to the fine and beautiful make of the object, the handle covered in small barnacles and seaweed. A nice breeze wafts in the air, and behind you, the padding of feet goes across the deck. With the sliding of nets and a small whistling from the Fisherman, you feel your tail gently sway from side to side; the bottom under the water whose waves rise and lower the vessel.

It had been a week since your first meeting and you had become more relaxed about this man’s presence. He had been truthful—every day he would come and fish.

At first, you’d watch from the black rocks, sitting atop them and studying. More than once you’d see the brunette raise a hand in greeting when his boat had entered the cove; an acknowledgment that you were there and nothing more. No expectation for you to come over or speak to him.

Day after day you’d see the net being thrown from the side only to be reeled back by large arms, legs apart and firm to the deck.

On day four, you swam over and grappled onto the side of the ship, curious. Before you could even realize he instantly knew you were there—despite his back being to you—the Fisherman spoke in a cheeky tone.

“Come up, then, if you’re that interested. No use watching from the water.” So you had, with a bit more fire to your cheeks than you thought mermaids could handle.

Now it was routine. The human man would pull into the cove and you would sit on the side of his fishing boat, doing whatever you wished as he worked.

You pull your comb through the ends of your hair, placing it down after and closing your eyes before your hands grab the shiny strands, twisting them. Under your breath, you hum in tune with the Fisherman’s whistled song; the notes like a growing symphony in your head.

Song to Merfolk is sacred and revered—everything sings, in its own right, and deserves careful crafting to fully understand.

“You seem to enjoy that,” you startle to a stop, eyes popping open. Sharply looking over your shoulder, you pause your hands. Staring, the man has completely stopped his work; nets at his feet with slapping fish of all colors stuck in the rope’s limp weavings.

He squints at your confused face.

“Rhythm.”

“Oh,” you offer a smile and watch him look away only to kneel down and begin separating his quarry. “If you’re worried I’ll sing around you, think nothing of it—I know what that could cause.”

The Fisherman hums, amused at you, “I’m not. I was complimenting you,” the knife at his belt glints in the light. “You have a pretty voice, Love.”

You shyly watch him, hair partly covering your visage, and catch a glimpse once more at the necklace he seems to always wear. Silver and shiny but still hidden.

“If you knew about my species, you wouldn’t be saying that.” Explaining lowly, the man grunts, sending a look your way as he tosses a Cod farther up the deck—you watch it flop around for a moment.

“Well,” the Fisherman explains, hands pausing and body leaning closer as one of his knees connects to the wood. It’s a teasing whisper that slides into your drum, and you find yourself nearly shivering from it. Blue eyes twinkle with mischief. “I did. No worries, I’ll never tell.”

A deep chuckle joins a lighter one, and your tail shimmers in the open light; scales vibrant and rich-looking. From what the brunette can see on the deck—the smaller plates that extend all the way up your navel to stop at your belly button—you know he stares at them.

Not a greedy, evil, stare…just one of hidden admiration. It was of no surprise to you that he found it beautifully uncanny.

You have no idea how to read this Fisherman; have no idea what he wants. You think he doesn’t want anything. On your face, a strange calm settles.

“Tell me, Fisherman,” his gaze snaps from your scales to your face, momentarily stopping at the dip of your neck as you turn as fully to him as you’re able from your perch. Your hand rests at your side; spine twisted halfway. “Who are you? No, I don’t mean your name. I want your person. You don’t act afraid of me—of what I am.” He stays kneeling and lets the net rest for now, his heart beating steadily in his breast. “There is more to you than a human at sea, surely.”

Your words are not accusatory, they lacked any sort of confrontation. Curiosity, though, like enclosed treasure, was stuck behind your tongue. He surprises you by standing and beginning to walk over, boots thumping.

As he nears, he sits down with a huff on the edge, right next to you.

There’s a moment when you both stare into each other's eyes as you feel the world shift. Blinking up at him, at the closer range you take into account the ancientness of his eyes and how it seemed, for such an alone man, it was making him look far older than he was. Still older than you, yes, but the sentiment still stands.

With his hat having been retired not five minutes earlier onto one of the many ship’s barren tops, you saw the streaks of sun-bleached strands in his brown hair. You unconsciously reach for your comb but stay your fingers as they flinch over the gold.

Storm-blue carefully glances away before coming back to you.

“Not much to know, Love,” the Fisherman’s brow raises, “you understand?”

“No,” you say, honestly, head tilting at him. He looks surprised, breath hitching.

“It’s just…there’s not much to tell, Sweetheart.”

Humans are strange creatures.

Not knowing this word game, you take your hand away from the comb and bring it to his chest, slipping under the neck of his tunic to grasp at the necklace he always wears. A hand snaps to your wrist almost immediately—a startling speed that makes you flinch.

Above your heads, seagulls squawk at you, but all you can gaze into are those pure blue orbs. They trap you, drag you down far faster than a whirlpool into the briny depths of hypnotic appeasement.

Perhaps you were naive to the magical whims of males that walk on two feet.

The Fisherman’s jaw clenches, eyes tightly narrowed at you in hesitance and veiled threat. You blink at him softly, not doing anything besides twitching your fingers and widening your sight. Before long, his hold loosens but doesn’t leave, allowing you on whatever it was you were doing yet still touching your damp flesh.

Lips parting, you don’t make a fuss. Instead, you hum under your breath and allow his calluses to scrape you. The toughness becomes a stark contrast to your own make-up.

Feels nice.

Your digits peel out the article of jewelry and you shift closer to look; bare chest brushing against his. You can feel his pulse through the brunette’s tunic, the way his throat shifts in a tense swallow of nothing.

The necklace held two pieces of small, round, silver and said the following.

“Jonathan Price, Captain, 141st company under the King.”

As you read, your tail gradually begins brushing his leg in its swaying. Through it all, the large Fisherman only slants his chin down and watches, breathing half through his mouth and half through his nose. You hear his throat clear; feel his grip squeeze your wrist.

It is a small and taken-aback kind of noise. He doesn’t move his hand.

You are happy he doesn’t.

“You’re a…Captain?” Asking, you look up shocked and aren’t taken aback by how close your face was to his. Even if your cheeks begin to burn at the beard bristles itching your nose.

“...Yes,” breathe puffs over the lower half of your face. Your fingers detangle from the Fisherman’s necklace and let it thump to his chest. “I was. Left.”

Blinking, you whisper, steadily, “What’s a…Captain…?”

A small sound is made in the back of his throat and he releases your wrist and pulls back before a loud bark of a laugh jerks his chest. You stare in innocent confusion, hair falling over your shoulders.

“What?” Gripping his mouth, Jonathan Price grounds himself by gripping his thigh as he chuckles.

“No, no,” he takes a deep breath and releases his face, smoothing down his beard quickly with amusement stuck in his smile. “Bloody hell, it’s nothing. Nothing at all, Love.”

He sends you a warm side glance and you huff, moving back and picking up your comb, getting back to brushing your locks again. You are acutely aware that you now know the Fisherman’s name, but refrain from saying anything until he does. Now you know why he reacted in such a way.

Your tail twitches in the water as fish brush past it and the brunette begins with a soft look.

“I was in charge of a small group of men—we had a ship. Far larger than this old girl,” he pats the deck, and you slow your motion to show that you are listening, intrigued. “We did what was needed of us, but there was a thin line that needed to be drawn to keep every bastard sane.”

Blue meets your eyes and the man’s expression darkens. Your fingers twitch as the breeze ravages his hair, chest tightening.

“And yours?” You ask softly, entranced and open, “What was your line, Captain Price?”

He hums after a small silence, sighing deeply. Along the hull of the boat, the waves rock the vessel gently side to side, and your mythical attention seems to entrap him far better than your voice could. His face loses that dark edge, well-trimmed beard relaxes as his jaw does.

The past it seems, looms over him like a tsunami.

Reaching up a slow hand, his fingers brush the tendrils of hair that had slipped out of your hold and were dangling in front of your face; the Fisherman blinks and pushes them back behind your ear. By now your brush had long stopped and your breath was held in your chest. For the first time in your life, you think you feel yourself shiver at the delicate scrape of his skin on yours.

“John,” he mutters, and you suck down a shallow breath as he watches you like you were an idol of the Gods, “Just John.”

Your smile leaves his fingers pressing deeper into your scalp and, perhaps a bit naively, you welcome him to you like a bird to the sky. You liked his gruffness—his beard and his face. The lines on his forehead that you could imagine tracing as if they belonged on a map instead of the squareness of this Fisherman’s profile. Tiny sockets that hold sapphire stones.

“Maybe I left because I couldn’t stand seeing such beautiful creatures being put to the hook, eh?” Your eyes widen, tiny gasp leaving your lips.

Merfolk swooned with flattery, truth be told. They enjoy being doted on and praised; given gifts of both words and objects. You were no different.

Oh…did he call me beautiful?

John smirks at your reaction, taking his hand off of you and standing with a low chuckle. Your tail flutters at the sudden absence, head following after him as he walks back to his net with a sway in his step. You blink in astonishment.

“You’re a strange human, John,” calling to him, you grimace at the blatant disappointment in your bones at the lack of his skin on yours. At his humored hum, you sense your growing attraction to the grind of his vocal cords. His voice. “I don’t know what to think of you.”

“Then think nothing of me,” he explains easily, casually, re-gathering his nets in his toned arms. You try not to let your jaw slacken at the bulge under his tunic when he carries them. “I’m not offended by it, Love.” A sly look, “Do as you wish.”

Your tail twitches so violently you’re afraid you might break the side of the ship.

And so this strange dance between the two of you continued well into the longer months—John would come in his ship nearly every day and you would join him on the side of the deck. Sometimes you would hum for him and he would whistle a tune back, others there were long bouts of conversation about the ways of humans and beasts. John told you that the King had ordered the total extinction of all manner of ‘strange and unordinary’ creatures to secure his line safely to the throne.

When he had explained it, the mad had gone red with anger.

“Fuckin’ muppet,” he’d spit, fiddling with his knife as you watched a small distance away, playing with his silver necklace in your hands. You twiddled it around and liked how it shimmered like your scales did in the light. “Bloody thought I would just go along with the deaths of innocent beings. He had no facts—no proof to back up his claim. I’ve done things. Horrible things,” John explained to you, sending you a stiff look, “but I’ve not forsaken my damn mind to reality. Takin’ the piss.”

Muttering the last sentence to himself, you had felt your lips curve into a smile. “You have a proper conscience, John, done bad or not.”

“Yeah, well, Sweetheart, I’ll be done in soon enough.” You only stared with care-drowned eyes and caressed his necklace. When he had seen this, his body had deflated with an exasperated grunt.

You shared a chuckle and he got back to work; feeling his melting gaze drawn back to you every so often.

Later, yet again, you found your form on his boat, this time with his hands across the small of your back as you studied the blade of his knife.

“Careful, now. Don’t run your finger along the edge.” His free grip points to the sharp side—breath fanning your ear. You feel your throat tighten and nod, caressing a thumb on the leather handle.

John’s hand is hard on your bare skin and you sense his heat drilling past your veins into the very marrow of your bones. You unconsciously sigh when his fingers slide slightly higher, traveling the length of your spine; his scars catching on every knob of bone. Your exploration stills and your pupils widen.

His breath is on your neck, nose tilting as his jaw does just above the meat of your shoulder.

“Why’d you stop?” You stare off into the metal, lashes fluttering when his fingers finally curve at the swell of your neck. Lips drag on your flesh before a deep grumble of affection stems from John’s chest as he kisses your rapid pulse. “Distracted? Hm.”

“It’s,” you breathe out, scales reflecting light as your lower body shifts on the wood. His opposite hand circles your waist, drawing your back to his chest. Skin burns and thoughts go to liquid as you feel his roving muscle. “It’s g-good. Pretty—”

Words fail you as his lips continue to slowly travel.

“Could say the same,” John grunts; beard scraping down your flesh.

Your eyes flutter, head tilting to give more room at the same time you whisper out, violently shivering at the compliment, “John…”

“What is it?” The grip moves to run over your scales, right where your upper hips would be; the sensation of him caressing you with gentle, deep, rubs of his thumb was all it took for you to give in completely to him. “Go on, Love, speak.”

You take a breath and feel his heart beating steady along your back—the texture of his tunic. “What…are you doing?”

John moves your hair and places open-mouthed kisses on the back of your neck. He breathes in your scent and you turn your light head to stare unabashedly at his flushed face. Your tail sways, limp, over the side of the boat.

Blown pupils hide that sea-storm blue like a lock and key to dangerous thoughts and attraction.

In answer, his eyes flicker down to your lips hungrily and your gaze widens; a small sound in the base of your throat.

“You’re somethin’ beautiful, y’know that?” He says and you let him lean in closer to your face, eyes threatening to close when you take in the musk of human flesh and sweat. Rope and wood oil. John’s words make you shiver again, hairs standing on end—responding to that deep growl with a roaring in your ears.

You shouldn’t be enjoying this. Shouldn’t be enjoying his lips or his tight grip; his…his rough, large, hands that encapsulate your body and drown you. It terrifies you, this heart-stopping magnetism. You can’t get enough of him.

John presses his firm lips to yours, groaning into the connection as you sigh and part your mouth. Fingers shaking, you twist and place your hands on his chest, gasping mutely as his teeth nip into your lower lip and pull back before pushing back forward. Sparks of subdued pain mix with pleasurable agony at the scrape of his beard hair.

“Every inch of you…” John’s grip captures you closer, hands ensnaring you against his chest like deeply intertwined strands of fabric, squeezing as he licks his upper lip. He catches his breath shallowly. Blue eyes burn through you. “...is fucking perfection.”

You grab at his necklace and drag him back in, feeling him not waste a single moment to grip the back of your head and keep you trapped to him, tongues slipping out of mouths to tangle together like seaweed. Perhaps it was foolish, but a part of you knew that this Captain, this strange Fisherman—this Johnathan Price—was the only man or being on this planet, land or sea, who could make you feel like you could walk and fly all at once.

When he lifts you in his arms and drops you in his lap as if your body weighed as much as a pebble, you knew you’d brave the open ocean for this man in an instant. His arm drips with water as it slips under the joint of your tail; where your knees would be if you had them, and you whine into his mouth at the slip of his fingers.

Intoxicated, drunk off of his scent and his pressure.

A dangerous mix of two different lives.

It couldn’t last.

TAGS:

@luuvbuzz, @emerald-valkyrie, @anna-banana27, @blueoorchid, @cryingnotcrying, @writeforfandoms, @homicidal-slvt, @jade-jax, @frazie99, @elmoees, @littlemisstrouble, @alpineswinter, @phoenixhalliwell, @idocarealot, @lavalleon, @facelessmemories, @h-leigh, @20forty9, @glitter-anon-asks, @emily-who-killed-a-man, @neelehksttr, @aeneanc, @escapefromrealitysm, @i-d-1-0-t, @pparcxysm, @hawkscanendme, @caramlizedtomatos, @konigsleftkidney, @sanfransolomitatm, @maelstrom007, @jemandderkeinenusernamenfindet, @pheobees, @glitterypirateduck, @uselsshuman, @fan-of-encouragement, @halfmoth-halfman, @ghostlythunderbird, @I-inkage, @pukbadger, @kopatych11, @0nceinabluem00n, @cocrorapop, @knightofsexyness, @abnormalgeil, @smallseastone, @jacegons, @330bpm-whiplash, @simon-rileys-housewife, @4-atsu, @tiredmetalenthusiast

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thefandomdirtymind · 6 months

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I would love to see a story where reader and sanji were dating until he left to go with the straw hat pirates and a year or two passes and they meet again but reader seems more interested in zoro and so we get some jealous sanji but reader still loves sanji and so they make up 🗣️🗣️

A/N IMPORTANT: First of all Thank you for your request anon, second i'm so sorry it take me so long ! Due to my job schedule I have only few time to write and my request list was kinda long. So thank you also for the wait. I have fun with the drama and jealousy in this one as well at throwing some Zoro and Sanji Fan Service. I hope you will like it !

You left me

OPLA - Sanji

Sanji / OPLA Masterlist and Coming Soon

* English is not my first language, I tried really hard to correct myself but, I hope you will excuse me if some mistakes are still there.

-----

The morning air, that day, was fresh and crisp.The perfect day for sailing. As you were watching by the second floor window, you saw Sanji, a foot on the boarding plank, looking behind, clearly searching for something or someone in the small crowd of the Baratie employer. But he will not find you there, he made a choice and you did yours.

“...You said yesterday that you were not leaving…that Zeff needed you, that it was where we are...” You said, watching him throw his clothes in his travel bag.

“Well the old man seems to say he doesn't want me here anymore he wants me to go” Sanji harshly replied, the argument with his mentor still burning.

“And what’s that mean for me…for us” You enquire, afraid to already know the answer.

“ Come with me, think of all the things we will see and live together!” He simply replied, small hope coloring his voice.

“Becoming a pirate? I can’t Sanji…My parents need that money to take back the bakery, I need that money “ You protest, guilt, anxiety and sadness starting twisting your guts.

“ Y/N we are talking about finding the All Blue!” Sanji replied, putting the last items in his bags.

“ Yes, your dream is important, but us, our future, were all you told me were empty promises? “ You asked, seeing that said future of running the Baratie side by side, getting old together and love each others more and more crumble before your eyes.

“ No but Zeff is right, staying here will not help me find the All Blue…” The tall blond says, defeat, seeing himself the realization of the inevitable situation rolling up in front of his eyes.

“Then leave” You whispered, shock slowly flooding your system.

“Y/N” He pleaded, trying sadly to reach for you.

“ Leave ! “You suddenly shout, taking him by surprise.

It was still only after he had closed the door behind him that you let yourself fall on your knees, crying, as your broken heart seemed to be aspired to by an black hole.

You knew that things could have been taken differently, should have taken at least a more compromise turn. But everything had been so sudden and you had become so quickly frustrated that he didn’t understand the situation he was putting you in, that you didn’t want to try to be rational, he had chosen adventure and a mystical part of the ocean full of fishes, you had chosen your family. Still, as you watched him disappear in that ship, you couldn’t stop the burning tears from running down your cheeks.

Two years later

Sanji almost wished he had stayed on the ship. The atmosphere in the tavern was too loud for his current mood, the drink either not cold enough to be enjoyable or badly mixed and the food was so blank he had to fight the urge to enter the kitchen and throw the faulty chef out. But, Luffy had insisted on going out with everyone and nobody could resist their idiot but joyful captain.

That part of the year was always kinda bittersweet for him. Even with all the happy or more hard events that had followed his departure from the famous floating restaurant. The best cook of the east blue couldn’t help himself from missing his old man, keeping as a reminder, a small jar of oregano at his eye level in his kitchen. But it was you that he was missing the most, your tender eyes on him as he was talking about a new recipe, your humor finding a way to make him laugh or smile, your lips soft under his, your body warm and fitting perfectly between his arms.

The guilt of your last conversation had frequently haunt him, during those years, your eyes full of tears, a recurrent memory of how badly he had handled the delicate situation. With time, the culpability had little by little given him some rest as the realization that it had been indeed one of those impossible cases nobody could have gone out without dommage. Yet, you were still a souvenir tormenting his heart he didn’t feel the need to share with his crew members.

“ Nami, how far are we from the next group of islands?” Zoro asked, coming back from the bar, new bottles of alcohol in his hands.

“ Few days, maybe a week, why ?” The navigator answered, trying to see behind the tall form of the swordsman.

“ I would ask for a temporary place on your ship if it’s possible” A feminine voice answered, making Sanji lift his head and knock down his glass, spilling the mediocre liquor across the table,surprising everyone.

If the tall blond was honest with himself, he would admit that for the most part of the first year, he had searched for you in every crowd he had crossed, stupidly hoping that you had a change of heart and had finally decided to go with him. But everytime he had believed seeing you, he had ended up with some cruel deception.

However, this time, he couldn’t make a mistake.Standing at the side of Zoro, in an elegant but simple dress he never saw, your hair pinned in a way Zeff would never admit in the kitchen, you were absolutely stunning and real. As real as your surprise but shock, gaze on him.

“ I found her talking to the barman about a way to travel to the next water, I thought of catching her before Luffy somehow tried to recruit her.” The green haired man said, letting you sit before taking himself a seat.

“ Y/N.. ? “ Sanji asked, himself shocked to see you in front of him, so far from the restaurant.

“ Do you already know each other ? “ Usopp asked, his eyes traveling between you and the cook, clearly reading with Nami a tension the others didn’t already catch.

“ Hello Sanji. Yes, we had worked together at the Baratie under Zeff command “ You replied, trying to avoid his hypnotizing blue eyes, cursing the universe for reuniting you.

“ What, what are you doing here ? “ Sanji asked, cleaning the table with a rag a waitress had brought.

Looking at the straw hat crew, somehow embarrassed to be so suddenly the center of attention, you adjust your dress, preparing yourself ,like if you doing a difficult task, to answer Sanji, trying to raise as far as you can the barrier around your heart.

“ Well, my parents died so I had to get back home for the funeral yesterday. “ You replied.

A vague sympathy and condolences enveloped you as you tried to not again be submerged by the emotions of the devastating event. You casually start to play with the discarded paper of a straw.

“So you will take back the bakery “ The blond asked, wondering why you weren't already there instead of trying to buy yourself a passage for some island.

“ I sadly have nothing to take back, the bakery was the cause of my parents death. A fire had caught in the middle of the night, they didn’t wake up in time. The neighbors tried to help but it was too late. “ You confess, taking a deep breath as the hand of Sanji advances to press your hand in sign of reconfort.

But, it was the hand of the swordsman giving you one of his beers who reached you first, before tapping uncomfortably your shoulder in an essay of recomfort. As you gave a look to Sanji, his hand still half-way, you realize that you never saw what seemed like blue flame in his eyes before.

Offering a thank you smile to the clearly well-intentioned but more reserved man, noticing for the second time of the night that he too, has some really fine features. You face every member of the crew.

“ I can pay for my transport, name me the amount of Berries and it’s yours. So, will you accept me on board ? “ You asked as Luffy exploded in an exclamation of joy despite his already mouth full of food and Nami’s smile enlarge at the mention of Berries.

—

His hands gripping the rope, showing the strong muscles of his forearms while sweat was sticking on his naked back and torso . Zoro was keeping at a comfortable height one of the heavy stabilizers, letting Usopp do his carpenter magic, while you were sitting with Nami, in one of the chairs in the upper deck, clearly enjoying the show.

Well, at least of what Sanji could see. He was as well on the lower deck, trying to avoid the many discard tools while collecting fresh tangerine for one of his dessert idea, ideas who had recently start flowing again since your two path have cross again Yet, even if his hands could blindly and with ease found the perfectly ripe tangerine, his gaze alway seem to linger to you, drooling on that moron of a mosshead.

Like if it wasn’t enough of a torture for him to having you so close but at the same time so far, since you was barely talk to him except for the polite minimum. He had now to watch you fall for a pile of muscle with no brain, who already thought he was better in combat than him. No, he couldn’t tolerate it. For four days, he had already endured enough of your smiles toward him, or your genius question about his show off three swords and the sweet way you had answered his observation about your knife technique. For god sake, Sanji was the one who had shown you and helped you perfect that skill, he should have been the one complimenting you about it. His blood boiling in his veins at the thought, pulling too harshly a very ripe fruit, he felt it crush in his hand, staining his shirt with the sugary juices.

“ Merde! “ The cook exclaimed, extending his arm to avoid spilling more of the citrus liquid on himself. * Shit

Abandoning the basket behind, his mind full of french curses addressed to the damn swordsman, who clearly wasn’t aware of the ultimate luck he has to have caught your attention, Sanji slammed the door of the kitchen behind him, letting go of the smashed fruit in a small bowl before discarding his now dirty shirt.

“ Oh…sorry you had forgotten your basket...I just wanted to...” You said, stopping in your tracks as your eyes fell on his shirtless frame.

It wasn’t the first time you saw the bare chest of Sanji. In fact, you had often joked that you knew his form so well that you could easily draw a map of his naked torso with your eyes closed. However, as you admired the sun highlighting new muscle lines on his shoulder and chest, you couldn’t deny that the life at sea had given him some benefit and had turned your previous mental map of him almost useless. Trying to keep your head cold and not ruin four days of hard effort in the salt water, you bite your lips and gently put the basket on the kitchen island.

“ See you later “ You simply said, counting your breath, adding mentally some bricks to the crumbling fence around your heart.

“ What’s the rush, it’s not like you didn’t already see me like that. Or the spectacle of Moss head outside is more memorable. “ Sanji bitterly said, holding his shirt in his fist, mouth half open in a sarcastic smirk.

“ What are you talking about ? “ You asked, confused.

“ I’m talking about you and Zoro. Look I get it, I left you behind to accomplish my dream to find the All Blue and you have all the right to resent me for it. But, that man didn’t deserve even half of the perfection that you are.” He said, frustration blooming in his chest. “ I see you for days now trying to flirt with him, look at him with your beautiful eyes like if he was your favorite pastry. I know him for two years mon coeur, and I swear it he isn't made for you “

“ And you are ? “ You asked, old anger slowly rising to the surface.

You knew, after two years, that the situation of your break up was meant to happen. But the pain of being abandoned by who you thought was the love of your life, was still an open wound you had hoped would close with time.

“ You know that I am, but you still drool with Nami on that imbecile !” He exclaimed, throwing his shirt on the counter.

“ Drooling ?!…I was talking to Nami about our last relationship ! We were looking at you ! “ You shout. “ You have left me alone for the last two years in a restaurant haunted by our memories ! “

“ And I regret it everyday ! I was haunted too ! I saw you everywhere, smelled the ghost of your perfume on my skin, and heard you call my name every time I was trying to move on and talk to another girl. You were there without being there ! I missed you so much“ He replied, tears filling his eyes as your heart arches in front of his now vulnerable state.

You had tried to keep your heart safe from him. But at the minute your feet step by themselves to meet him, you knew it was a lost cause. You were tired to fight your feelings, tired to pretend you could forget him.

Taking his face in your hands, brushing off the few tears running down his cheeks. You lifted yourself on your toe, kissing him gently, the soft sensation of his lips against yours tried to bring you back in your memories. But, as you felt his arms close around you, holding you like if he would never let you go again, you decided that new choices have to be made, and this time, you both choose each other.

Bonus :

Few weeks later

“ Sanji, I will go pick some tangerine outside,don’t be jealous, Zoro his training shirtless so I will try to not slip when I will drool “ You tease your boyfriend, laughing when he abandons his new recipe to try to catch you before you leave.

Easily pinning you against the door, kissing you breathless, his laugh caressing gently your lips, you smile against his mouth, letting your body take his place against him.

“ I love you “ He whispered, stealing another kiss.

“ I love you too” You replied, more happy than ever.

-----

@alienstardust @phantasmagoricalzenith@downforsanji @faefanatic @strongindependenttrash @hi3431 @sunnanse @neko-loogi @theluckyplaces @simbaaas-stuff @ofherscarlettwitchyways @juskonutoh @buffkirby2020 @miomao-ehe

Join my Tag List

#opla #opla sanji #one piece netflix #opla!sanji x reader #sanji x reader #one piece sanji #vinesmoke sanji x reader #one piece #opla vinesmoke sanji x reader #sanji x y/n #black leg sanji #black leg sanji x reader #black leg sanji x you #vinsmoke sanji #sanji vinsmoke #taz skylar

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ireallyamabear · 3 months

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Thank you for tagging me @0liver-hope ! I made a new post bc that other one was really fucking long already. Also my phone just tried to correct that to gucking

Last Song:

I'm eating a pizza right now and there's some kind of techno remix playing in the pizza place...

Favorite Color:

Green! Just got a new green jacket. I dress like a little army man these days 🥲 my bike is also green and vegetables and the grass! Amazing. Have you guys heard about this

Last Movie/TV Show:

I saw John Wick last week for the first time... it was okay. Keanu Reeves can get it tho. Also I'm watching black sails and mash right now. I'm enjoying both, I'd say black sails is an amazing production but drags sometimes.... but I love how contemporary the historical people feel? Just like people? Mash is good too.for a long time I totally thought mash was the show about American pows that my grandpa used to watch in the 90s. Different show oops

Sweet, Spicy, or Savory:

Savory!!!!! I can't handle Spicy food much and in the last few years started to not enjoy overly sweet stuff anymore... watch out it'll happen to you too. I had the perfect potato gözleme the other day...

Relationship Status:

Eligible bachelor only by tumblr standards 😬

Last Thing I Googled:

If you can use multiple different library cards with Libby. Apparently you can! I duckduckgoed it actually

Loooove libby it's making me read so much!

Current Obsession:

Still in the andor trenches with you buddy. That fanart the other day with dead melshi???? Killed me dead as well. Im also lying there lifeless on a beach. It actually reminded me of the dead dog in John Wick ,wait which came first??? Does the dog die in rogue one? Yes unfortunately

It's actually good for me that the andor fandom moves so slowly these days,makes it easier to keep up ..

This was fun let's do it again!

No pressure tagging the last 7 moochs in my notes @bornforastorm @gayvillains @mysouvenirs @hideflen @tremendouskoalachild @chipthekeeper @bisexualwintermoon and anyone who wants to!

#me #tag games #thank you!

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cricketnationrise · 4 months

Text

wip weds 24.3

once again, greetings from hawaii - yes i am having a fabulous time in the sun while it snows back home. no regrets, no remorse.

thanks to @anincompletelist @firenati0n @kiwiana-writes @clottedcreamfudge @tailsbeth-writes @hgejfmw-hgejhsf @ships-to-sail @cha-melodius @orchidscript and @tintagel-or-cockleshells for the tags last week and this week!

i have in fact FINISHED the camboy sequel draft, and am moving into editing mode, so have a particular favorite passage of mine from that doc under the cut.

i'm tagging @dumbpeachjuice @heybuddy-drabbles @iboatedhere @missanniewhimsy @thoughtsofthegirlwiththecurl @indestructibleheart @indomitable-love and @rmd-writes, plus anyone else who wants to play along

Henry is about to fully combust watching Alex. It’s taking all of his willpower not to break his bored onlooker persona, toss his phone aside, turn the camera off, and fuck Alex through at least two orgasms. Christ alive, he’s being so good for Henry, playing to the camera beautifully, never taking his eyes off Henry’s face, desperate and panting as he works his cock feverishly. The dark blue lace is almost black from how much Alex is leaking onto them. Henry glances down at his phone again, where he’s still got the chat open to rain praise down on Alex. He can’t say it out loud, or he’ll get picked up by the microphone, so H has been more verbose than usual.

Alex groans and takes his hand away, dangerously close to the edge, and then—

“Fuck, I’m so close, need to come, please—” Henry sees the frenzy that Alex’s last word stirs up. He’s certainly never begged on camera before—Henry would remember—and the chat is going by almost faster than he can read it as they freak out. Pride flashes through him, quick as lightning, with the knowledge that Alex’s subscribers just heard him beg. For Henry.

#cricket writes #wip wednesday #rwrb #camboy sequel #it has a title now actually #so get ready for #SET IN PLATINUM #coming soonish to an ao3 near you

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piratecaptainscaptainpirates · 5 months

Note

I'm loving all your wonderful fics. If you are still interested in prompts, would you consider one that relates to your recent sick fic: Ed telling Stede about the past situation where he had to juggle leading his crew through a storm while stitching himself up?

Ough yes good prompt!! This one made me sad, I love it.

Send me a prompt and I'll write a 1k word fic! (still accepting prompts btw, can't promise I'll get to all of them but if I'm inspired I'm doing it!)

Ed told the story like he thought it was supposed to be funny.

“So there we are,” he said, leaning over the dinner table. They’d just finished eating, and Ed had lit his pipe, and yeah, at first, the story had been fun. “Now, remember, I’ve been a captain for all of-”

“Three months,” Stede nodded, demonstrating his active listening to Ed’s story.

“Three months,” Ed repeated. “Maybe ninety days strung together, right? I’m barely twenty-five. Barely even had Blackbeard’s black beard. Mostly just a scraggly thing stuck to my chin. And that raid fuckin’ rung me out. But I made it! Not a single casualty on my crew, not one.”

“Bet the other crew couldn’t say the same,” Stede laughed, and Ed laughed with him, and Stede was dreamily thinking about how Ed must have looked, so young but already so brilliant, so confident, so-

“But I didn’t know then what I know now,” Ed went on, taking a couple puffs from his pipe. “And I didn’t notice my helmsman pointing us right into the squall. Barely had time to get away from the ship we’d been scrapping with before we hit it, head-on.”

Stede shivered. Ed’s storytelling voice never failed to capture his attention.

“And, remember,” Ed continued, “I’m trying to hide that I’m bleeding all over the fuckin’ place.”

“Wait,” Stede interrupted, raising a hand before Ed could continue. “Bleeding?”

“Well, yeah, I told you the raid rung me out pretty good,” Ed shrugged. “I’d been so busy watching what my crew were doing I was hardly paying attention to myself. Reckon I still - yeah, look.”

Ed adjusted in his seat, hitching up his shirt and pulling the waistband of his pants down with his thumb, running his finger along the faded, jagged scar that ran from right under his ribs to to the top of his hip.

“Got me pretty good,” Ed said with a chuckle.

Stede kissed his fingers, then reached out to press them to the old scar, and Ed covered Stede’s hand with his own to keep it there.

“What did you do?” Stede asked.

“What I had to,” Ed said, pulling his shirt back down, taking another puff of his pipe, and getting right back into his storytelling voice. “I’d been thinking I needed to go and stitch myself up, right? But by the time we’re in it, rain’s already coming down in sheets, and this crew is still new to my ship, and they’re new to me, and I’m new to them. So I tied myself to the wheel, and-”

Stede felt his eyes get wider and the pain in his chest get deeper as Ed went on with the story, telling Stede about how he’d tied himself to the wheel to avoid sliding right off, shouting orders to his crew, yelling at his first mate to take some younger sailors who were panicking below decks before they got everyone killed.

He told him about how he’d only stopped once he was starting to get dizzy from how much he was bleeding. He’d made up some excuse to run below decks, grab a sewing needle, and get about halfway through sewing himself up before someone called for him.

He told him how he’d had to cling to the railing for dear life because his legs were so shaky.

He’d tied a scrap of canvas, torn from a sail by the winds, around his middle to try and control the bleeding.

By the time he’d been able to finish stitching himself back up, he said, laughing like it was just some slight misfortune, he’d been so weak he’d tied himself to the wheel again, just to stay upright. It had been hours after that until he’d been able to sit down.

And Ed must have realized, finally, Stede didn’t think this story was as fun as he did, because he was frowning, by then. “Pretty cool, right? Tell ya, I was a tough little fucker.”

“How are you laughing at this?” Stede finally managed to ask.

Ed looked surprised. “I mean, if you can’t laugh, what can you do?”

Stede pursed his lips. “Why didn’t you get help?”

Ed blinked.

“Couldn’t,” he said, like it was obvious. “Told you, I was young, most of these guys were twice my age. Any weakness and…y’know.”

Stede swallowed, imagining it. Ed gritting his teeth through the pain, afraid to let anyone see. Slipping on the deck, unsure if it was the rain or his own blood wetting the boards. Hinging his bets on a scrap of canvas tied around his waist.

“Hey, Stede, babe!” Ed snuffed out his pipe and reached across the table, taking one of Stede’s hands to press to his own chest, so Stede could feel the steady heartbeat beneath his palm. “I’m alright, see? I’m right here.”

Stede clenched his fingers in Ed’s shirt. “You know,” he said, “that you can come to me if you need anything? Anything at all? You know that, right?”

“Yeah, of course I know that.” When Stede cupped Ed’s face in his hand, Ed’s hand came up to cover his, nuzzling his face into his palm. “I know I’m safe with you.”

And Stede wished he could go back, to save Ed from all that pain, but - he could be there for him now, and that would have to be enough.

A few days later, while working on repairing a section of their roof, Ed hit his thumb with a hammer.

It was a tiny injury. Barely anything at all, especially not compared to that story.

But Ed came down to find Stede, working on the walls, and he showed him his bruised, sore thumb.

“Kiss it better?” Ed asked.

Stede obliged happily, of course, and Ed might’ve looked sheepish at first, but soon he was soaking up the attention. Stede couldn’t go back and fix everything, couldn’t save Ed from any pain, but he could help him feel safe now - and that was enough.

#ofmd #our flag means death #ofmd fic #my fics

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blackfangedreaper · 2 years

Text

PHOTOGENIC

Prompt: "Beach alliance party"

Pairing: Luffy x black!fem!info!Reader

Warnings: sexual content; dry humping, sex on the beach (literally) curse words, display of public affection (noone noticed though) and grammatical errors. Mdni.

Tag list: @closet-degenerate @luffyinlove @euphoficc @444katsuki @audreys-works @boa--hancock

The waves crashed onto the shore in a soft manner wetting the dry sand before going back once again. The clear skies and bright sun reflecting off the ocean to give it a bright blue tint. The strawhats-cough luffy cough- decided take a little break before sailing to the next destination; much to law's distain. He actually expected you to scold luffy but when he met your eyes you looked just as excited as luffy so he erased the idea off his mind.

After getting to the shore safely the strawhats and heart pirates bounded up on the beach donning they're swimsuits. Nami and robin decided a little sunbathing wouldn't hurt, sanji ran helping them in any way he could before setting up a cooking station for them but it all flew out of the window when luffy and co. rushed by, collecting everything deemed eatable as they ran past the stand. "CURSE YOU HEATHENS!" He fell to his knees crying as he apologised to nami and robin for being so careless.

Law seemed to be in the far side of the beach doing who knows what, he didn't seem to be alone though. Hmm? What about you? Well you found a shaded area to lay your beach chair. Luffy saw you and ran up to you, his face messy from earlier on. "Oh luffy! Your all messy." You scolded cleaning his face then him pushing him unto the beach chair and telling him to wait. "Don't move ok? I'll be right back!"

He whined watching you run towards and into sunny. "Oi luffy!! What are you doing? Come take a look at this!" He turned his attention toward ussop, penguin and a wheezing shachi, they were all holding their laugh as they patted down the mermaid tail they constructed on the sand. And if you shifted your eyes to the upper half you'd notice a sleeping zoro. Completely unaware that he was being casted as the little mermaid in this story.

"HAHAHA!!! Just what is that?!!" Luffy laughed falling off the chair and holding his stomach as he rolled around on the soft beach sand. "I know right!! Now come over here!! If we keep shouting he'll wake up!" Ussop said panicking. "Sorry i can't! Y/n said to stay put!" Luffy sulked turning to look at the ship and thankfully he saw you coming and boy was he stunned.

You had a on a red bra-top that flattered your breasts a whole lot, matching with some red bikini bottoms that accumulated your curves a little too well, this made your ass look round and plump- in short you were sexy as fuck. You had a light blue scarf wrapped around your waist flowing down to your thighs and brushing your calfs a bit. Your braids were taken out of its bun and fell down your back in a graceful manner, swaying with every step you took. "I'm sorry baby, did i take too long?"

"N-No- wait a minute, Yes!" Dazed for a second luffy snapped out of it and pointed towards your direction accusingly, his lips jutting out in a pout. "But honey, i only took two minutes. I was looking for the sunscreen, don't want you to get sun burnt like last time." You explained furrowing your eyebrows at his stutter in the beginning.

"Come on, I'll rub it on you." You insisted starting with his back first, you took off the scarf covering you and when you did luffy averted his eyes cause if he saw you, he would do unspeakable things to you right that instant and with no shame at all but whose to say he wouldn't do it later. You sat behind him and begun to apply the sunscreen. When you were done you stood up and walked to his front, he watched your hips sway as you walked past him, your hair brushing your butt as you did so.

You knelt down between his legs using your right hand to push him down the chair before straddling him properly. Your thighs side to side with his abdomen and your bum sitting comfortably on his thighs, that was until you felt his hands slither up your thighs to grasp your waist, pulling you forward so your ass could take rest on his crotch. You mewled feeling his light bulge, looking him straight in the eye you scolded him. "Not here luffy!"

"Awww why not?!" He pouted looking up at you with his puppy dog eyes, ugh you couldn't say no when he did that so you removed the black shades you kept on your head and placed it on luffy, shielding his eyes from your sight. "There, all better." You snickered feeling him tighten his hold on you. He's fingers digging into the fat of your thighs in frustration. He tried bucking up a little but you pressed your hands on his chest stopping him completely. "...Fine." He gave up sighing but his hands still remained on your thighs, closer to your bum this time.

"Good boy." You beamed sitting up straight, pouring the sunblocker solution into your hands and rubbing it on his body. Your body was slightly tilted forward as you worked up and down his chest without haste, making sure to leave no spot untouched. On the other hand it wasn't helping luffy's case as he watched your breasts bounce with every action you made. Fuck he would have thought you were out to tease him if not for the concentrated look on your face but he highly doubts that cause he was sure you could feel the tent growing in his swim shorts.

He was about to slip his hands into your panties to grasp your nyash ass raw but he was interrupted by ussop hollering at both you and him. "Oi! Y/n! Luffy! When your done let's have a sand castle competition! Not like you'd get 1st place that's my spot." Ussop said laughing smugly. "But it seems I'll cut you guys some slack, as a professional i can't be bothered with criticising your amateur sand castle." He puffed his chest not noticing his nose grew a little longer at his lie and false confidence.

"Yeah right!" You laughed not noticing luffy taking his left hand and returning it back briefly. Ussop turned to you startled. "Damn it! she figured me out!" He scampered away leaving a wheezing you. You turned your attention to luffy once again, looking back at him you were startled to see him looking right at you, Your sunglasses no longer covering his eyes but now rested on top his ebony locks. Now the shades were off you could see something glinting in his eyes and you felt like you knew what it was.

"Luffy?" You said tilting your head in question, your braids following your movements. Why was he looking at you like that, you weren't complaining but does he know what he's doing to you? "Why are you looking at me like that?"

His dark brown eyes where almost shielded by his lowered lids, his eyebrows at rest and his lips set in a straight and thin line. He eyed you up and down drinking your appearance for the nth time that day and damn... You seemed to look better with each and every glimpse.

"Stop that, it's turning me on." You leaned in almost hypnotised by his gaze. Didn't he know his burning gaze set every cell in your body alight. He must have known he had such an effect, if not he wouldn't be looking at you like that, like he was utterly in love and infatuated with you, like he wanted to do sinful things to you, like he wanted ravage you.

"Hmm, is it?" His voice taking a deeper turn than its usual light tone. His eyes switching between your beautiful (e/c) eyes and plump lips just begging to be kissed. Your hands trailed up and down his toned sun-kissed body before once again taking refuge on his chest as you leaned in closer to kiss him.

"Yeah..." You whispered, your eyes never leaving his. You were so close he could feel your breath lightly brushing against his lips. Your braids shielded you both from the outside world and just when the world seemed quieter your lips met, kissing with raw passion and lust, moaning at each others taste. Your tongues were intertwined and you didn't bother fighting for dominance, you knew luffy would always win.

"Mmph!" You whimpered into the kiss, feeling a smack land on your rear as he intensely made out with you. You felt so soft being pressed up against him, your palm flat against his chest and he could faintly feel your boobs through the space your parted hands left. Your back arched and butt slightly up allowing you to be comfortable and luffy to gain quick access to your behind.

Luffy cupped your ass and squeezed, gaining handfuls of your plump soft flesh as they spilled through the spaces of his fingers due to how much of a tight grip he had on you then processed to knead you cheeks together, packing as much fat as he could before squeezing and caressing to his desire. He spread his fingers wide, palming your ass then bringing you down to grind on him.

He bucked his hips, his clothed crotch rubbing against yours slowly and softly. You whimpered feeling your self get wet- dammit it hadn't been an hour yet but here was your bikini; soiled. Taking one hand off your bum he kneaded your breast, rolling the nipple that had made it's self know through your bra top. "Nngh!"

"Hmm..." You both broke apart and so did the thin string connecting your lips. You looked around to see if the coast was clear before you trailed your hands down to his shorts to pull his hard shaft out. Luffy's mouth part slightly to let out little whimpers from the pleasure he got from your strokes "ugh... Inside, i wanna go inside."

"Hmm? Now that's just rude honey, what the magic word?" You pouted rubbing circles round his pre-cum soaked head. "Nng! Please, please let me in y/n!" He begged pursing his lips at you. "Ok!" You beamed complying with his wishes. You sat on your knees shifting your soaked panties to the side as you rubbed his head up then down your slit before pushing his head past your clenching hole. "Oh!"

"So warm!" Luffy moaned at the feeling of your tight and wet insides while you threw your head back whimpering at his size, he wasn't even halfway in and you were already struggling. You swirled your middle and ring finger round your pearl in hopes to get you more wet as you continued to sink down on his cock. Too bad luffy didn't have that type of patience, he grabbed your waist. "What? Luffy! No-" and slammed you down, hard. "Hnngh- luffy!"

You froze, one hand on your clit and the other squeezing luffy's hand on your waist in shock. Your walls clenched at the sheer size of him almost bringing him a quick orgasm. He waited for you to adjust before grabbing your ass in a tight grip, pulling and pushing to make you grind down on him. "Y-Yes just like that y/n!"

His eyes halflidded, almost rolling back in pleasure when you started to bounce up and down on him. The cool shade the tree provided covered you both from prying eyes, the crashing waves doing the same to your moans and wails. You used his chest to stabilise yourself, your palm flat against his pecs as you rose up then down to grind against him, you repeated these steps careful not to go too high as to not separate from him.

The beach chair creaked at both your weights but still stayed stable taking both your masses like a boss. Your control was soon overtaken by luffy as he wrapped his digits round your thigh to lift you up a little, his veins and muscles becoming visible. Lifting you till his tip was almost out of you before slamming you back on him, thrusting upwards to meet you in the air.

"Oh Fuck! Luffy!" You wailed at his force. He laughed at your pleasure filled face, pistoning in and out of you like a hydraulic press. Pushing in and out of you at his desired pace loving how your head rolled back and how your throat forced a groan. "Faster baby! Please!" Running your palm up from the curve of your ass trailing to the dips of your waist and then the undercut of your bra top to grasp your breast, you massaged your boob before squeezing your nipple between your index and middle finger. "Oh!"

Luffy landed a smack on your ass before following your hand, trailing after the spots your hands traced on your body, rubbing your hand before slapping them off your breast. He lifted your bra-top up to tug and squeeze at your breast and nipples, watching them bounce to the rhythm of his thrusts. "Look how pretty they are."

He beckoned you closer, you obliged leaning down to captured his lips with yours before he trailed it down your jaw. He littered your skin with kisses and harsh sucks. You whimpered at the feeling before doing the same to the under side of his jaw. He groaned at the feeling of your hot tongue marking his skin.

Rubbing your butt he rocked you back and forth slowly on his dick as one of his hand found its way to your neck, pulling on your braids lightly to press his lips against yours. As your tongues chased after each other he began to move you faster chasing both your highs. His tongue leaving your mouth to trace your lips slowly, looking in your eyes as he scratched a particular itch in you. He landed a harsh slap on your butt watching you shudder and release a shallow breath. Your eyes rolled back in your skull due to your abrupt orgasm.

"Ouhh- fuckkk!" You whimpered your brows furrowing at the powerful orgasm that shook your body. Your pussy clenching tightly at its intensity and the still thrusting luffy. "L-Luffy! Wai- oh my!" Relentless he pounded into you his control snapping at how tight and wet you felt. You then bit his earlobe dragging it slightly before grazing the thin skin behind it with your teeth. Suddenly you felt him shiver, his grip on your ass tightening as he rocked you forward one last time before pumping his heavy load into you, his balls straining against his shorts as it emptied itself.

"Oh fuck!" He growled, panting in exhaustion and at the strain of his release. Feeling him pat your bum you took it as sign to sit up. You raised your hips letting luffy slide out of you and unto his belly, you sighed in relief before you jolted, feeling luffy palm your womanhood. You looked at him in question before you felt it, his cum sliding down your walls looking for the escape route due to how full you were.

Before you know it luffy shoves his middle and ring finger up your slot, spreading his essense on your walls massaging them in deeper. You gasped feeling his fingers come out to coat your slit in his cum before shoving them back in. After spreading his essence within you he pulled out, his fingers dripping with both his and your cum. You stuck your tongue out welcoming the taste of both his and your mixture on your tongue. You hummed licking his fingers clean the releasing them with a 'pop'.

You sat up straight on him, tucking his dick back into his shorts and fixing yourself. A smile formed on your lips as you brought out your camera. "That was fun! Wanna take a picture?" You laughed the sexual tension dissipating in the air as you said that.

"Hell yeah! Is it one of your post card thingies?" He tilted his head in question. You nodded thinking of what pose you could do. Then suddenly. "Ahah!". You lifted the camera up leaning forward with your back arched. Your right hand laid flat against luffy's abs, your braids framing your face as your lips took on a teasing smile. You took the picture and brought the camera to see the result and it was pretty good.

It showed you in your full glory; your red bikini set brought out your brown skin, little sun beams breaking through the tree shade highlighted you making your skin look a beautiful golden brown, the hickey on your neck showing clearly. Your butt your pushed out, bringing your curves out more, your thighs fitting snuggly against luffy's side with your palm laid flat upon his built abdomen.

To be honest you knew people would be more interested on who you were straddling. The picture only showed his delicious abs and you made sure not to get his scar in the picture, only from his abdominal region down to the hem of his red swimming shorts, so it was all good, it'll keep the fishes wanting more and that's exactly what you were going for.

"Haha! What's with the sinister smile." Luffy laughed sitting up to take a look at the picture before smiling in satisfaction before looking up to address you. "You look beautiful."

Your face heated up beaming as you squealed, glomping him, your soft mounds pressing against him and putting him in a bashful state. "Your so cute i could die!"

"Haha! Your so weird y/n, don't go dying on me though!" You pulled away looking at sweatdropping before commenting dryly."Funny coming from you."

"Shishishi! I don't know what your talking about! Come on let's go change then pester tra-guy to build a sand castle with us! He's such a grump." Luffy said wrapping your legs around his waist, carrying you by your ass then standing up abruptly causing you to bounce a little. He then took off to sunny with you in toll quite excited to disturb an unsuspecting law who was already dealing with his own... problems.

#monkey d. luffy #luffy x reader #one piece x reader #mugiwara no luffy #luffy x y/n #hawt #fem reader #luffy x black reader #one piece #luffy smut #one piece fanfiction #informant series

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jjaylove27 · 8 months

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True Love

This story is about Killian Jones. Him and Emma are together but he has a past with a girl from the Enchanted Forest that he long forgot about.

Y/N POV

I grew up in the Enchanted Forest when the curse was cast I was left in the forest. But I got separated from my husband I don't know if he went where everyone else did but I'm determined to find him again.

It was like any other day in the forest I was at a tavern drinking rum before I had to get back to the ship. Yes, I'm a pirate the sea is my second love. That is when I seen him walk in. It can't be true. I must be seeing things. I've been looking for him for so long and here he is in front of me.

HOOK POV

"Luv you must be crazy! You can't just walk into a tavern wearing the clothes from the other world. People will think you are crazy."

"Hook I'm going to look crazy regardless! I'm looking for the pirate who is Jack Sparrows daughter and ask her for her blood so we can get home."

Then she just walks in though the doors. I just grit my teeth and follow her. No matter how much I love her she just loves putting her self in danger.

As I walk in I see a girl at the bar with y/h/c and y/e/c. She looks like she's seen a ghost. She looks very familiar to me but I just can't put my hook on why.

"Excuse me we are looking for Jack Sparrows daughter. We need her help with something."

Then I see her stand up and walk towards us. "It's Caption Jack Sparrow. I'm his daughter how can I help you?"

That voice it sounds so familiar almost like I know her. Made it's Because I was on her dads ship when I was young lad. She just keeps looking at me.

"Hi my lady, My name is Hook we-"

"Yes, Killian I know your name. Do you not remember me?"

"I'm sorry lass. I assume I know you from your fathers ship."

Y/N POV

H-he doesn't remember me. My own husband the man I grew up with doesn't know me. I've have been searching for him and I finally have him in front of me and he just looks though me.

"What do you need my help with?"

"Emma here needs your blood to take us back home to Story Brook."

Emma that's her name. The women he showed up with. The women he is staring at so fondly. I found him and I already lost him.

EMMA POV

I've seen her in Henry's book. A lot of the pages was ripped out about her. Almost like someone didn't want anyone knowing about her.

"All we need is a drop of your blood to open the portal."

She finally looked at me and all I seen was sadness in her eye's.

"I'll help you. Just give me something to put my blood in."

"Well we need you to come with us."

She nodded her head and threw out her hand for us to start walking.

"So luv tell me about the time I was on the Black Pearl my memories are foggy."

I watched a light come into her eye's. Like she just got asked to see the Queen of England.

"Well you and my dad use to get into a lot of trouble. He taught you how to sail and what loving the ocean was about. But to never trust anyone but your right hand man Mr. Smee."

"Sounds like I owe your father a thank you."

We finally reached where we was going. All we needed was her blood.

Y/N POV

"Do you think I can come with you?"

They both look at me and then look at each other before nodding. I pricked my finger and the portal opened. We closed our eyes and jumped in. When I opened them up I see that I'm standing on a road.

"Well I have things to do. Hook do you mind showing her around?"

"Sure I don't mind love." Then he leaned in and kissed her. That hurt but he is with her. I just hope he remembers me. He turned around to me and flashed me his famous smile. It made me melt inside. He offered me his arm.

"So I never actually got your name Miss. Sparrow."

"It's Y/n."

He showed me Granny's Dinner and helped me get a room. He intruded me to several people.

"So luv why did you want to come with us?"

"Well I'm looking for someone and I was hoping I would find some leads here."

"Well there is a whole book of our story's that someone wrote. Maybe we can look and see if your story is in it?"

"What do you mean-"

"Well if it isn't Hook and Sparrow. Mrs. Sparrow I wondered what happened to you."

"Leave her alone Gold." Then he grabbed my arm and kept walking.

"Who was that Kill?"

"Huh? Oh that was Rumpelstiltskin he goes by Gold here."

I just nodded my head. So he remembers me I'll have to talk to him. He must know something. We walked around for a little longer before he took me back to Granny's.

"Well that ends our tour my lady. Maybe tomorrow I can take you to my friend and we can look at the book."

"Sounds like a plan. Noon?"

"Sounds like a plan."

He walked away. As I watched him I seen Emma come around the corner they talked for a minute before walking away. I walked into Granny's and sat down. Ruby walked up to me.

"You hungry or thirst?"

"No, I think I'm gonna go lay down."

I got up and went into my room. I took off my boots and pulled my necklace out from under my shirt and looked at Killian's wedding ring. Tomorrow I'm gonna talk to Gold. Then I laid down and went to sleep.

I know this doesn't follow OUAT story line. I hope you like it! Thank you for reading.

#killian jones #captain hook #once upon a time #emma swan #gold #rumplestiltskin #emma x killian #killian jones x reader #killian jones imagine

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waitmyturtles · 2 months

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To my taggers @hughungrybear, @ranchthoughts, @he-is-lightning-in-a-bottle, and @telomeke, this one's for you!

GET TO KNOW ME TAG :)

do you make your bed?

Not until I sleep in it!

what's your favorite number?

Feel like I don't want to spill it because I use these numbers in passwords lol

what is your job?

Executive management

if you could go back to school, would you?

Such a good question. I already did it once, mid-life, and it was THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE, and one of the first decisions I truly made just for myself. Would I go back AGAIN? I would have considered it if I didn't know so many PhDs who are at various levels of happiness with their decisions. So: maybe. What I really look forward to is being retired so that I can take free classes at local colleges and have all the time in the world to read through the syllabi.

can you parallel park?

Fuck yes, who do I fucking look like, someone that can't parallel park? /end-East-Coast-road-rage

a job you had that would surprise people?

Hmmm. I don't think I have one that fits this category!

do you think aliens are real?

I think humanity's definition of "life" is too limiting

can you drive a manual car?

UNFORTUNATELY NOT, and I really wanna learn

what's your guilty pleasure?

Watching dramas, honestly. I shouldn't feel guilty about it, but I'm Asian, so I feel guilty about everything

tattoos?

Love them on other people, never made up my mind on what I wanted to get, and I feel like that ship has sailed for me

favorite color?

My kids ask me this all the time: pine green, rich purple, deep pink, all oranges, aquamarine blue, and black

favorite type of music?

I can't choose one. My playlist is all over the place. Korean hip-hop and New Orleans bounce (THANKS @bengiyo) have been my workout go-tos lately

do you like puzzles?

I will when my kids have more patience to do them

any phobias?

HEIGHTS :(

favorite childhood sport?

Ice hockey

do you talk to yourself?

Absolutely, and I've needed to use meditation to manage the inner monologue over the years

what movies do you adore?

Oh gosh. All I think about lately are Thai BLs, so I think a lot about the impact of The Love of Siam and Dew, two movies that are so tough to digest, but are really well done. I've also had two wonderful Japanese movies on the mind for no reason, Like Father, Like Son: Soshite Chichi ni Naru, and Drive My Car.

coffee or tea?

Both, all the time, often mixed

first thing you wanted to be growing up?

I wanted to be a journalist. I was such a rabid sports that I thought being a journalist would get me the closest to sports that I could go without being an athlete. And I actually got to do sports journalism for a while, and it was fun! (But I quit media, which is a whole other thing, and now I'm much happier)

Who hasn't been tagged? How about the old Only Friends Ephemerality Squad, how y'all doing?! @lurkingshan (I think you already did this Shan) @neuroticbookworm @twig-tea @slayerkitty @thatgirl4815 @distant-screaming @clara-maybe-ontheroad

#thanks for the tag!#get to know me tag game

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rheapankow · 6 months

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Devils in the Details

paring(s): jj x mom!reader

summary: You never liked JJ Maybank. He was arrogant and sometimes rude. To sum it up, trouble. But he was your daughters' surf instructor. The best on the island and only the best for your girls. But what what happens when one of them lets family secrets slip?

warning: abuse, one cuss word

┌──────┐

He rolled his icy blue eyes. "You're a kook, I don't think money is an issue for you babe. I expect it by the end of the morning when you pick them up or else I'm going have to drop them." The woman's heart stopped as she looked to Matilda and Mercy, fear locked in their green eyes.

"I'll get what I can."

"And be here by noon. I'm not a daycare." With that, he ended the discussion and focused on the girls. "Come on girls, let's put some zinc on. I got pink and purple for my two favorite princesses." They cheered and clung to his leg.

If y/n hadn't watched the previous sessions, she would say he hated children and hated his job, but that was the furthest from the truth. The joy in his eyes when he worked with students and seeing them conquer any task. Tilly could go on for hours about how amazing he was. Mercy on the other hand just stared at him and worshiped the ground he walked on.

The soft eyes filled with tears, losing any last ounce of dignity. There is no way she could get that money. Full kook, yes. Money, no. Not hers at least. Y/n's dreadful husband, Rafe, sat on a pile of it, checking every expense made, berating every choice made for thier kids, leaving everything to him. She had a small sum on the side that was hidden away, but all of that went to Mercy and Tilly. If he could just wait for Rafe to leave, y/n can sneak to the safe to take a little. She sat in her tinted black Escalade, formulating a plan.

The clock on the dash read '10:45am' as the car sat in the driveway of a multimillion dollar home, all thanks to her husband. As terrible as Rafe was, the luxury made up for where he lacked. Was that a selfish thought? Did that make me a terrible person? It didn't matter at this point. Mercy and Till remained at the forefront of y/n's mind. Protecting their innocents from the sins of their father consumed her mind daily.

"Rafe?" Y/n called out. Despite not seeing his car, you couldn't trust the silence. "I'm home." Once scoping at the place, she raced to his office safe located behind the sail boat. Rafe was simple, his passwords simpler. '6969.'

Y/n skimmed a small stack of cash covering enough for next session of lessons, gas, and ice cream for the girls.

"Excuse me miss?" A small elderly voice call from behind.

Her heart sank, praying the maid wouldn't pass on the information. "Oh Claire I didn't know you were here!"

"Mr. Cameron doesn't like people in here."

"I'm his wife, he knows." Y/n prayed a false bravado would be enough to hide the shaking hands.

"Yes ma'am." Once she left, y/n raced backed to the surfing shack with thirty minutes to spare. That's enough time to finish her latest novel. Enough time to escape from Rafe's wrath when he finds out what she did... again.

Y/n was pulled away from reading by the sound of giggles getting closer. "Mom!" Tilly called out as the door opened. "Please tell me you have the money. He's going to tech me how to duck dive and we're going to go even deeper!"

The lady muster up a smile and said she handled it. "Do you mind getting Mercy buckled so I can give it to him?"

Tilly nodded enthusiastically. For only being five, the girls more advanced than the average kindergartener. She's curious, adventurous, and can't forget funny. Mercy on the hand is cautious yet full of wonder and a deep love for her sister. Mercy does what Sadie does and surfing is just that. The joy it brings seeing both girls eager to learn. Next thing y/n knew they are going to be competing against each other.

"Excuse me, JJ?" Y/n's demeanor was timid, scared he might explode at any second.

"You can just put it on the table and head back to figure eight." The comments were not new, but it still shocked y/n. Didn't he know she grew up just right down the road, didn't he understand she had to work ten times harder to be where you are. Too bad JJ only saw two things, money and women.

"Do you even want to work with my kids?" Y/n let out a heavy sigh. "I don't understand why you have this deep rooted disgust towards me?"

"Your kids have more talent in their pinky toe than I did at that age. They are going to go far in surfing. I hope to be the one to teach them. I don't disgust you, I need to make rent and a living. And I hate your husband."

"Sorry."

"Don't be sorry, be better. I'd hate to have to drop them." Y/n's heart sank even further.

"See you tomorrow." With that, y/n walked out, worried about heading home. By the rate her phone was blowing up, Rafe knew. A storm was coming.

—

Y/n did her best to hide the bruises scattered on her, but nothing compared to the shiner and gash on her cheek. "I slipped in the shower" she told the girls, trying to laugh the abuse off for the sake of saving face. That was the easy part. It's the adults that poke holes in every syllable.

"Mommy, are you going to walk with us?" Tilly shyly asked. Ever since the young girl work up, she's been more soft spoken, always close by.

Y/n looked into her eldest daughter's eyes. The glimmer that once was there was gone. 'Does she sense her mother's pain?' The agony engulfed the young mother. "Anything for you girls." Y/n scooped both girls into her arms and began the short journey. "I think you two are getting a little too old for this. I'm not what I used to be." She teased, ignoring the wounds on her ribs.

"Good morning ladies!" JJ made his way to the small group of three. Mercy was the first to run to JJ and engulfed him in a hug. He gladly accepted it. He loved his job and loved all the kids he instructed, but these girls were his best. They were full of life and joy making every lesson fun; a breathe of fresh air.

Tilly cautiously walked over in an uncharacteristically manner. Her eyes sunken back and darker. JJ tried to signal to y/n but she was hidden behind a sun hat and glasses. "I'll be over in the boneyard reading until is time if that's okay?"

Y/n's body slumped over, hiding her face. A mannerism that JJ did not miss. "You can go run errands like usual or something as long as you are back by noon."

"No, I'd like to be close to my girls." JJ ignorantly dismissed her and took the girls to go get their wet suits.

"How are we doing today?" JJ began engaging in conversation with the girls.

"Mommy made tuna mac!" Mercy excitedly screamed about her dinner.

"Was it delicious?" JJ had now turned his question to Tilly.

"Yes." Her shoulders dropped at the thoughts of last night.

"Anyways let's go stretch and then we can get out on the water. Waves won't last all day."

Throughout the session, JJ kept a closer eye on Tilly. Maybe she was coming down with something. She was adamant on continuing the class, not wanting her daddy's money go to waste. As if Rafe wasn't snorting it up his nose like it grew on trees.

"Mister JJ?" Tilly looked at him. "Are you safe?"

The instructor got on a knee to look her in the eyes. "What's up, t?"

"Teacher at school says to talk to someone safe if you need help." JJ glanced at Mercy who was building a sand castle during the break, then back at the older child.

"I am safe, but have you talked to your mommy about it?" He didn't want to overstep his job title, but also didn't want the girls to not trust him.

"I can't." He gently grabbed her hand to encourage her to speak. "Mommy lied to me."

JJ wanted to chuckle but Tilly's eyes showed immense depth of hurt and betrayal. "What makes you say that."

"She says she slipped in the shower, but last night I heard daddy say something mean to mommy. And when I went to go check on her she was sleeping on the floor and had blood on her face." JJ's eyes widened, not wanting to jump to conclusions. "I think daddy hurt mommy. He always hurts mommy."

JJ understood being in Tilly's shoes, but where does he go from here? Should he call cps and watch the family be torn apart? Or should he confront y/n about it? All he knew is he couldn't not do anything. "Would it help if I talk to mommy about it?"

"I don't want her to get sad. I didn't know who else to tell." Tears began streaming down her face. "Help please." The girls sobs reminded him of his own, each cry more heart shattering than the last as she collapsed into his arms. "I'm scared."

JJ did his best to calm the child, but he knew the last ten minutes were going to be less productive and more play. "How about you stay here and play with mister John B and mercy while I go make sure mommy is alright? How does that sound?"

She nodded, slipping out of his arms back to the sand. "Bird, you got them for a second? I need to talk to y/n for a bit." He nodded confused but took charge. Having a kid of own, John B has become great with kids, all those dad tricks.

Y/n leaned perched up against a tree, nose tucked into a book. The sound of the blonde headed man snapped her back to reality. "Y/n?"

"Oh is the session over already? I guess my mind has been somewhere else." Every movement was curated perfectly, shielding her face from his gaze.

"We ended a little early. I, um, wanted to talk to you about Tilly." He stumbled over his words. The last thing JJ wanted to do was make her feel unsafe. How many times has he made comments about how perfect her life was? How many days has he treated her with contempt all because she had what he didn't. Maybe their story has more in common than he thought.

Y/n was worried about what Tilly said, the young girl is incredibly smart and picks up on everything. What if she-

"Y/n. Please look at me?" JJ's typical cold tone was warm and comforting, something so pure and trusting. As she looked up, her glasses shifted allowing a clear view of her face. Something else JJ didn't miss, something he never imagined.

Hues of blue and black littered her skin. A deep cut ran along the bone. JJ let out a gasp. "Y/n."

"Don't. Just leave it alone." Her voice shook.

"Tilly told me she went to check on you and you were passed out." Y/n's heart stopped. “That didn’t happen. Kids make up stories all the time. Over active imagination.”

“Y/n.”

“I slipped in the shower. I’m fine.” The desperation to believe the lie was evident. “I’m okay, really I’m-”

JJ’s voice became softer than before. “Y/n, please.”

“No, I-” The levy broke through the cracks. Tears began pouring down her sun kissed cheeks.”

For the second time that morning, JJ held another human in his arms. “It’s going to be okay.” He reassured her the best he could. “You’re not alone.”

Once the storm blue over, the lady composed her self. “Why are you being so nice to me?”

“I’ve been where Tilly and Mercy have been, except my mom had enough sense to get out, not enough sense to take me with her. I don’t want the girls to be collateral damage.” He leaned in close with a soft smile. “Don’t tell anyone, but I have a soft spot for kids. Especially ones as sweet as yours.”

“They are pretty great.” Y/n took a deep breath. “Did you turn out alright.”

JJ chuckled. “Oh fuck no. She tried to smile, but feared for the future too much.

“I don’t know what to do. They love their dad. I can’t just take them and go. Rafe has all the money. I have a little from teaching, but it’s for the girls. Everything I do is for them, but it wouldn’t be enough for us.” JJ felt the guilt rest on his shoulders. He couldn’t wait one more day for her to get the money, she probably had to sneak money away. Now she’s beaten, bruised, and broken. It’s his job to fix it.

“So let’s come up with a plan. You open a separate bank account, find a better teaching gig or pick up tutoring, prove to yourself you can do it. Then when you feel steady enough, find a place and make an escape plan.”

“Easier said than done.”

JJ nodded. “I know I haven’t been the friendliest person, but I’m here to support you now if you’ll let me. It’s not easy, but I don’t want anyone to go through what I went through. If I can help it.”

Y/n looked deep into his eyes for the first time. “I’m not sure if I want to do this.”

“For Tilly and Mercy.” JJ offered his hand to help her up. “One day at a time.”

“Yea something like that.”

JJ and y/n walked back. The seasons were changing, a new tide was coming. “Change isn’t easy, but you’re going to get out.”

With that, everyone went their separate ways. One day at a time.

└──────┘

A/n: part 2??? Feedback would be so appreciated:) - Rhea

Tag list: @multifandomwhore-003

#outer banks #outerbanks #obx cast #obx fanfiction #obx fic #obx #rafe obx #obx x reader #obx imagine #jj obx #obxedit

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toseehowthestoryends · 21 days

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World fucking help me, I have fallen so deep into Black Sails that I cannot breathe. This show has sucked me in and here I go, writing goddamned fanfiction again when I'm supposed to be focusing on my original works. How will I fit this in? Only the sea gods know.

But here we go, a big AU with angst, brotherhood, sea battles, and all the things I love.

Yes, Captain James Flint has eaten my brain. If you know me, this should not be a surprise. Fellow Rumbellers, if you haven't watched Black Sails, this show is TOTALLY YOUR JAM and Flint will kill you so many times. He is an angst monster to his core.

#black sails #captain flint #angst #fanfiction #here I go again

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onelatenight-longago · 7 months

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Stepping Into The (Spot) Light

Warnings/Tags: Fem!Reader, Depictions of Violence and Torture, semi-soft Buggy, he's a danger but also a marshmallow of a man, life on the Big Top, becoming one of the crew, sexual tension and teasing, romance, finding freedom and found family

Description: Buggy plays the hero just the one time and now he's a got a new crew member who will change everything for him.

A/N: I'm sorry for the delay, life has been pretty draining lately. I wanted to give a MASSIVE thank you to the Anon that reached out to me, you gave me the kick I needed to keep going.

Chp. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] - First Person Chp. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] - Second Person (below)

The crew had assembled, all squeezed in at long tables and sat with more food than you had ever seen in your life. Buggy was beside you the whole time, introducing his ‘freaks’ as he affectionately called them. Telling you all about their skills and acts. He was proud and genuine and it tugged at something in your heart. They may have been a pirate crew but it was easy to see why they were all so loyal to one another and most of all to their captain.

The lion was a surprise to say the least. A man named Mohji introduced the lion as Ritchie, and you couldn’t help but laugh at their similar looks of excitement at meeting someone new. Next were the Funan Brothers, as their act was called then The Acrobatic Fuwas and then the Superhuman Domingos and so on. Each performance group grew rowdier with their introductions while Buggy himself was at the center laughing and cheering his crew on.

It was all so intoxicating, the laughter and cheer. You couldn’t remember ever smiling so much before and by the end of the night your cheeks were sore with delight. Everyone had been just as entranced with your Boa Boa abilities as Buggy had and Ritchie was covered in feathers and dancing about as well as a lion could.

Between laughs you fought back yawns, your body and mind exhausted from the whirlwind of a day you had.

"Come on little dove." Buggy's voice deep and quiet whispered into your ear. You found his detached hand at your hip, pushing you gently from the crowd until you both found yourselves alone outside the main big top tent.

Buggy, all put back together again, watched you closely as you walked about the makeshift circus.

"This all feel like a dream." you said softly to yourself. When Buggy came closer, his look of concern pushed your thoughts from your mind to your mouth. "I've been a captive for so long. I've haven't had a home or a family and now in one night my captor has been…." you faltered.

"Dispatched." Buggy supplied calmly.

"Yes, that." You nodded and turned to him, finding his bright sea blue eyes already stating into your own. "And my rescuer," You nod to him, watching his self-satisfied smile grow. "Has offered me a place on his crew. A home on his ship."

"The Buggy Pirates are very much like a family." He spoke casually with a shrug. "We spend our lives sailing together. Performing together."

"Fighting together." You interrupted.

"Yes, that." Buggy mimicked your earlier reply with a wicked grin on his face. "Come now little dove. I saw that glint in your eyes when you were throwing those knives!" Buggy rounded on you quickly, his hands brushing across your hips as he placed himself behind you. Just as he had been earlier that evening during the show. "You enjoyed it." He whispered into your ear. You couldn't stop the shiver that tore down your spine even if you wanted to.

"I did." You admitted quietly as though more to yourself than to him.

"You belong amongst my crew." He flexed his grip on your hips. "You belong with me."

Something dark and twisted reared it's head in your heart and at the back of your mind and tore yourself from his grip instantly. As you put space between him and you, savage looking black boas appeared all over him. They constricted dangerously.

Buggy was only momentarily surprised, his fight or flight sense causing him to detach limbs where he could to struggle for just a moment before he stilled. His look of anger and fear dulling as he stared at you. That was when you noticed the tears falling down your cheeks and the shake in your hands.

"Shh," Buggy cooed, putting his hands up in surrender. "Come on dove, ease up. I'm sorry. You're safe here, I promise. I don't chain my freaks or even force them. If this is the home you want I will gladly give it to you. If you choose to walk away then so be it. If you wish to sail with us until you are far enough away from anyone who may know you, then leave my company without so much as a second thought then that is fine too."

As Buggy spoke your shallow breaths deepened and you let your tightened muscles ease as the boas slowly slipped away from around him and disappeared.

"You're not the first traumatized performer I'd take onto my crew and you likely won't be the last. I rule the unwanted, the outcasts. I make them fierce and feared so that they will never be treated wrongly again." Buggy crooned, puffing himself up with pride.

"I'm sorry…" You began before Buggy once more stepped into your space, his smile wild and genuine.

"Join me, little dove. Sail the seas with the Buggy pirates until all the world fears you!" Buggy decidedly kept his hands to himself this time, something that made you feel a bit disappointed which you didn't want to examine at the moment.

You could only nod and smile, lost in a sea of emotion, unsure if your voice would betray you if you spoke.

"I need to hear your answer, little dove. I need to know that this is what you want." Buggy spoke softly but with an air of command and another shiver tore it's way down your spine and your skin erupted in gooseflesh. You watched his eyes turn black then a small, laughing voice tore through my thoughts.

"Yes…" You spoke slowly, your voice low and breathy as a smile crept across your face. "Captain." The effect was instant and you got what that small voice in the back of your mind wanted.

Buggy’s hands returned to your hips, his grip just shy of too hard. The rest of him crashed into you, your arms quick to pull around his shoulders to leverage yourself up. The kiss was rough, all lips and teeth every which way. It was spectacular. He laughed deep in his throat as you pushed and pulled each other. You could've climbed him then and there.

When the need for oxygen tore you apart, he pulled back and admired his work. You could feel the grease paint now smeared across your lips and chin, even on your nose and cheeks and you couldn't stop the laugh bubbling up in your chest.

"That's a good look on you little dove!" Buggy laughed again.

He looked hungry and wanting of more. You had known dangerous men all your life and you knew he was one as well. A feared pirate captain capable of gods only knew what. But you could tell then and there that those sharp eyes and even sharper smile, though beaming down at you then, were never meant to and would never harm you.

A small part of you was still wrought with fear. The question lingering of whether or not you were safe. The doubt you had no control of, telling you that he only wanted what he wanted and would take it from you even if you kicked and screamed in fight. Byproducts of a rough life. It's hard to learn trust when all you knew in life was pain. You were reeling at the absurdity of that feeling now blossoming under the attentions of a pirate captain of all people. You were sure there were stranger things to happen.

#buggy the clown #buggy the clown x reader #buggy x reader #buggy #buggy the clown fanfiction #buggy the clown x reader fanfiction #buggy one piece #buggy fanfiction

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ringringimdeadhere · 11 months

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Okey I'm gonna give my side of the discourse, mainly because I've been thinking about it a lot

This all started because of a cultural shock, and also because of misinformation and just straight up harrasment

I am latino, so I will be biased. Here in latinoamerica the N word does not hold the same weight as it does everywhere else, and most of us where introduced to the word via music and general US rap culture. I at least thought it was closer to the Weon equivalent when I was little, from before I even learned to speak english. Now I know that it might be closer to the "Sudaca" slur (which even then, is a regional slur, not a racial one)

And besides, Roier and Cellbit where minors when all this happened (literally Roier is only 2 years older than me). And as someone who lived around that era on latino internet, shit was wild. It was not a safe space for developing minds that do not understand the weight of racism (especially if you are lightskinned, my god, idk how my mulato friends tolerated me, I was a demon and I got away with everything while they got scorted by security for doing the same thing)

But once again, our racial biases and cultures are different from the US. So once this two mixed, it was obvious it wasn't gonna be all smooth sailing. Especially because our humor tends to be a lot more.. self degrading, like we make fun of our culture all the time. So no matter your skin color, you are used to make and being made fun of for it. I had a friend we called el gringo because he looked so white, la chochos (the curly haired one) because of her afro hair; calling someone "negra/negro" is a friendly nickname for your black friends (only in spanish please dont try this anywhere else-); and my nickname was morocha (yes even though I am still very lightskinned). It's not great, but it is normalized.

And blackface is horrible, that's just fucked up. But ignoring the fact that this happened when Cellbit was a 15 y/o is just denying someone the opportunity to grow up and better themselfs. And also, I find it very weird that all this critique is mainly against the latinoamerican streamers when many white creators have done horrible things in their youth also, yet I have not seen the same amount of criticism. Like have you seen the Smosh videos from the same era? A hella lot of sexism, transphobia and ableism is in there. But they are also allowed to grow and change, and they have better themselfs as people. One of the best things you can do when growing up in a bigoted space is to learn from your mistakes and prejudice.

WITH ALL OF THIS SAID OH MY GOD STOP HARRASING BLACK PEOPLE FOR THEIR GENUINE CONCERN ABOUT GIVING BIGOTED CREATORS A PLATAFORM. THEY ALSO DONT HAVE ALL OF THIS BACKGROUND WITH THE LATINO COMMUNITY AND GOT JUMPSCARED WITH A 15 Y/O BLACKFACE CELLBIT AND BITS OF ROIER SAYING THE N WORD NONCHALANTLY, OF COURSE THEY ARE GONNA BE CONCERNED

I have been in the same position, having seeing all of this 2015-2017 racist ass humor about latinos on many of the content creators I just got around watching. They are allowed to be uncomfortable and even worried about the kind of people they admire. So PLEASE, be patient, and be aware that when you try to justify racist actions of a creator via "oh gringo black people are so sensitive about latino dark humor" that speaks more about you than about the creator.

I genuinely believe that Roier and Cellbit are not bad people and that they grew out of those bigoted mentalities (lord knows I had to grew out of some disgusting eras of myself). But I will not blame NOR ATTACK black people for fearing the type of content creators that are given the opportunity to be this influential.

#qsmp #qsmp discourse #roier #cellbit #qsmp twitter #twt

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defeateddetectives · 1 month

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9 Fandom Peeps to Get to Know Better

thank youuu @coquelicoq for the tag! yes this is an entire month late because of who i am as a person :'D

3 ships you like: actually gonna give some real estate to the ones i have NOT been rotating nonstop on this space like a rotisserie chicken lately to mix things up!

1) hiyakawa/mikado (the night beyond the tricornered window) - a plug for my tiny, spooky, hilarious and obscure af manga series that blindsided me with its pathos (and because i want everyone to read it and then create some very niche fan-content for me specifically! :D wait who said that!) emotionally oblivious loser 4 emotionally oblivious loser!!! except they're emotionally oblivious in fun, complementary ways! their whole journey is absolutely bonkers and unexpectedly heartfelt, and yes, exorcism should be this hot always!

2) natsume/tanuma (natsume yuujinchou) - i know that no one will believe me when i say that this is still THE natsume yuujinchou ship to me at the end of the day! something something if i loved it less i might be able to talk about it more! but lonely kids finding one another and making each other's lives SO MUCH BETTER solely for existing in each other's orbit and being such a paragon of healthy, functional communication and trust and growing connection that still floors me to this day (and with such courage and eloquence that most adults still cannot manage...i say...sideeyeing two v specific adults)!!! theirs was the thread that pulled me into the series to begin with (i literally just watched all the tanuma eps on first pass) and i'm still so grateful for them and everything about them

3) jack rackham/anne bonny (black sails) - platonic/queerplatonic/romantic/whichever combo or other nebulous way you slice it! THE soulmates of all time that haunt me on the regular and really said to the audience: watch us take your expectations and definitions and parameters of love, joyfully smash it to smithereens, and create something so tremendously unrecognizable and beautiful. truly partners till they put us in the fucking ground!!!

first ship ever: the first fanfic i stumbled upon in my life featured taichi and yamato from digimon adventure. i still remember this because it was interspersed with an edit of yamato in a dress and posted on ye olde personal webpages and shown to me by a school friend, both of us looking like the :o face incarnate. we were Babies. it was a Time. i don't even think i knew what a ship was at the time but hashtag formative things!

last song you heard: it's been a grimes & janelle monae - venus fly kinda day

favourite childhood book: soft spot for whitechurch by chris lynch forever. i think i read it maybe in high school? it rewired my brain and is probably a huge part of why i am the way i am/write the way i do subconsciously.

currently reading: does vi bullying me into danmei count? in which case, global examination....at snail's pace. in this house we love and appreciate a good arson!

currently watching: recently started rewatching the original a:tla for the first time since it finished airing after trying and failing miserably with the live action :( only a few episodes in but augh its still so good and some things hit even harder with foreknowledge. there will never really be another character arc like zuko's ever again.

currently consuming: a smoothie! i've discovered i am a fan of almond butter when dunked in a blender with berries, yogurt and milk. 11/10 would recommend!

currently craving: earlier today i was daydreaming of bbq so let's go with that

super low pressure tagging @endless-season @half-infinite @argyros @fadedclxssic @caroline-hill @kastellaran @doubleboyfriend @constastan @spookirou and as always, everyone is welcome to steal

#memetime

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drunkinchicago · 6 months

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coriolanus snow x lucy gray baird

link: chapter 1, link: chapter 2, link: chapter 3 link: chapter 4

Chapter 5: violent dog

Notes:

trigger warning: the word rape is mentioned, the act does not occur nor will it but the word is used

Chapter Text

I'm not a violent dog - I don't know why I bite.

Isle of Dogs

“I am a cage, in search of a bird.”

Franz Kafka

Snow

It won't be long before we'll all be there with snow

Snow

I wanna wash my hands, my face and hair with snow (snow, snow)

Rosemary Clooney, “Snow”

White organic ribbed towels, baby pink nail polish, black lace knee-high socks, a custom lightwood Fender guitar he’d commissioned months ago. Coriolanus spent the entire morning preparing for her arrival, equipping the guest room with little things he assumed she’d like. A pretty cage for a pretty bird. It’s a Saturday, divine timing. Had it been a weekday, he may not have been able to do this, would’ve been busy at the University or the lab. But it’s not - it’s a Saturday. Perfect.

He'd been attempting to put together the dinner menu when his communicuff notified him that they were roughly an hour out. Coriolanus hated that he could hardly think of what she’d want to eat. In Twelve, they’d shared whatever they could find - roots, flowers, the like, and in the Capitol, he’d simply brought her what he could. He didn’t have these resources then. He wanted her to coo and sigh at all he could give her, imagining such a reaction as he carefully penned down ideas for the staff - goat cheese salad with pomegranate dressing, Cornish hens, honey glazed salmon in case she preferred seafood, blanched vegetables, a balsamic raspberry dessert.

It was the perfect setting to begin quizzing Lucy Gray, as she was getting the first taste of the rest of her life. Coriolanus expected to feel angry initially, coupled with obsessive desire and thankfulness that she was finally within his reach. He would never let her get away from him again and was fully convinced it’d kill him if she did. It wasn’t difficult to recall the horror of realizing she’d escaped him, how slick the gun had felt in his hands, wet with rain, sweat and tears. “Lucy Gray!” He’d screamed, over and over and over, rubbing his vocal cords raw. “Lucy Gray!”

As Coriolanus handed the menu to one of the maids, he verbally expressed the importance of the home looking its best and the meal looking even better. “You watched the Games, didn’t you?” He paid careful attention to how he spoke to an Avox, making sure to only ask yes or no questions. The older woman nodded, refusing to meet Coriolanus’ eyes and studying the meticulously inscribed piece of paper instead.

“Then you know her, my tribute. She’s my very special girl. Do you understand?”

Another nod.

“She can have anything she desires. If she asks for it, you get it, all of you.”

Nod. Coriolanus mulled over his words. For safe measure he added, “Unless she asks to leave.”

Coriolanus was wearing his best suit, all black, but left his hair messy. See how long it’s gotten, Lucy Gray? You can touch it.

He felt as though he was hallucinating, experiencing a posca induced episode of grand delusion. This must just be what it feels like when dreams come true, he decided. He recalled a semblance of the feeling when he’d - they’d - won the Games, but this felt much bigger, more significant. Perhaps he would have to grow accustomed to this sensation, considering he planned to get everything he wanted and then some.

When the doorbell rang, he was sprawled on the couch, letting his shoes touch the light blue leather. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed an Avox sailing toward the door swiftly, to which he screamed, “Don’t you dare open that!”

The maid was startled by Coriolanus’ uncharacteristically loud episode, backing away from the door as though it was an explosive. He was already striding toward her, determination dancing in his eyes. “Go to the kitchen and stay there until I tell you to come out,” he murmured as he passed her, seeing nothing but the door and what he imagined to be behind it - her on her knees.

The doorbell rang a second time, an action he knew she wasn’t responsible for. But he heard her, whimpering, talking to someone. The sound made his head rush, dizzying him. No, he wanted her alone. He adopted an authoritative tone as he demanded, “If there is anyone on the other side of this door that isn’t Lucy Gray, leave now.”

More sounds - footsteps, the elevator door opening and closing, Lucy Gray crying, “Please!” This enraged him, her begging for someone else. He opened the door at once, sending her falling onto the porcelain tile, tears streaming down her face.

“There you are.” Coriolanus couldn’t hide the awe in his voice, noticing the cuffs tied around her little hands.

There she was indeed. Lucy Gray Baird, flesh and blood, her curls wild and long, eyes dark and beautiful, wounded and needy and starved. She was wearing a dress he immediately knew to be Capitol-made. Who had undressed her, changed her? He’d have to talk to somebody about it. It was plain, not the sort she’d have chosen herself, white and long. It set her off like a picture anyway, contrasting the warm tone of her skin. She was smooth everywhere, and supple, and crying still, crying so hard.

“Why are you crying?” He said it plainly, leaning down to help her up. Lucy Gray flinched at his touch, which was painful but expected. She’s adjusting, he reminded himself. She’s just scared. He almost liked the idea of it, warmth gathering in his lower stomach. He was making her heart pound, wasn’t he?

“Untie me, Coriolanus,” she sobbed, turning to face him. He removed his hands from her sides, reaching his right one over her shoulder to slam the door and lock it in a single swift movement. Lucy Gray was standing now, and Coriolanus was towering over her. They looked like some makeshift bride and groom, rough on the edges. He couldn’t stop marveling at her, how perfect she was, how real she was.

“Untie me,” Lucy Gray repeated, pleading.

Coriolanus leaned down to meet her eyes, leveling their height. “If I do that, are you going to play nice?”

She wanted to spit in his face and touch him simultaneously, hating herself for it. She couldn’t meet his eyes because it would make her remember it all, getting lost in the blue of them until they were back where they used to be - a blue Peacekeeper uniform, a blue lake, the blue bruise he’d left with his mouth on her neck. She worried that he could see right through her. It used to feel that way, at least, like they were communicating through a different wavelength both during the Games and after. It was that very sensation that’d haunted Lucy Gray during the last several months. The idea that he was always watching her, the way she swore she could hear his voice in her head, their thoughts merging to protect her - it had once been a comfort. It became a curse when she’d left, shivering in southern blue gum trees alone and imagining his frame behind her, whispering in her ear in the low voice he reserved for her. We could’ve talked it through, the ghost of him would say, wrapping his hands around her belly. Don’t you regret it?

To avoid his face, Lucy Gray looked past his shoulder to see the rest of the sprawling penthouse, the twenty foot high ceilings and decadent furnishings. So this is what you were doing while I was gone, Lucy Gray thought. Getting rich.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Coriolanus’ voice brought her back to reality, barely a whisper.

“This is the house you ate a whole jar of paste in?” Lucy Gray scoffed, feeling a glimpse of satisfaction as she saw his fist curl. “Or was that another lie?”

“These are the bones of that house, yes.” Coriolanus was trying his hardest to keep his composure, his breath shaking as he returned to his full height, standing straight and rigid. “I remodeled it.”

Lucy Gray simply nodded, noticing how cold the tile felt against her bare feet. A female Peacekeeper had stripped her of all personal belongings before they’d exited the train, hosing her down in a private cubicle like she was a street dog. She felt stripped of more than just what she owned, like a base model, reduced and made smaller in size. The Capitol representative who’d escorted her to the penthouse assured her that the Snows would have what she needed and to request anything they didn’t preemptively equip her with through Coriolanus. Still, she felt dirty standing barefoot in that elevator, knowing who was waiting for her on the top floor. So dirty. “Untie me.”

“You have to promise to be a good girl.”

Lucy Gray shook her head, refusing to repeat his words.

“Say it.”

“No.”

“Stay tied up, then.”

They were both quiet for a moment, tension buzzing between them like a powerline. Lucy Gray allowed herself to look at his face for a beat, her knees weakening as she did. He had always been so achingly beautiful. There was not necessarily hatred in his eyes, something closer to love muddled with fervid anticipation - it was a look she couldn’t assign a term to, an expression that had been worn by Coriolanus Snow from the first time he’d seen her. Obsession, perhaps, the type of adoration a person would kill for. He looked older than the last time she’d seen him and evidently more well fed, his arms straining at the confines of his suit jacket. He’d dressed up for her, she noticed. It was strange, though, to see him standing in this room, boasting these assets, clearly knee-deep in wealth and security. Lucy Gray used to believe that the way he looked at her was partially the blame of hunger. Yet he was, appearing hungrier than ever.

“Why am I here?” Lucy Gray said under her breath, already knowing the answer. Because he wanted her, because he never stopped. Had she? Standing before him, she was not as sure of what she thought she knew.

Coriolanus removed a white rose from the pocket of his dress pants, ever the romantic - a sentimental remembrance of their meeting at the train station. “We’re lucky, you know,” he murmured, placing it behind her ear as though he was touching stained glass, afraid to move too harshly, to break her. “Some people don’t get the chance to make it right. They die before finding where they belong.”

Lucy Gray wanted to touch the rose, unable to determine if the desire was to caress it or rip it to shreds, disrespecting the beautiful thing that smelled so much like his chest. She began to cry again, crushed by the pressure of such an unfamiliar environment and the fact that somehow, it felt more familiar than she thought it would. He wasn’t being cruel, or violent - but he could be. Her sobs were accompanied by shivers as she remembered the sound of his screaming followed by seemingly endless gunshots, a rage so great he couldn’t control it. And she’d given it to him. She was the rage.

Coriolanus was leaning down again, a softness taking over his face. “Hey, hey, hey,” he whispered. “What’s the matter?” His hand found purchase on her face, the size of it engulfing her right cheek. Lucy Gray instinctively found herself leaning into it as if it had been yesterday and not ages ago that they’d last done this.

Suddenly, she wanted him angry. She wanted a reason to hate him, to detest him, a reminder of why she’d run away so that she could stop feeling stupid for doing so. Upset him , she thought. Make him show himself.

She met his eyes in totality for the first time that afternoon, watching his pupils dilate, a black saucer lost at sea, growing and growing. “Are you going to rape me?” She choked out, the words tasting vile as she said it.

Coriolanus sprang back as though he’d been shot, creating a significant gap between them. The edges of his vision began to blur. What had she said? He felt like someone had come up behind him and stabbed him between his shoulder blades, twisting his spine and straightening it like he was a marionette doll, dumb and lifeless. They’d never explicitly discussed sleeping with one another. It was alluded to, made clear that they both wanted to, flirted with over heavy petting sessions and in the look on Coriolanus’ face just after they kissed. But never, ever, had Lucy Gray said something like this. The notion that she would reduce their first sexual experience to an assault made Coriolanus physically nauseous. Did she not want him?

“What did you just say to me?” Coriolanus’ voice was barely a whisper. He could do nothing to hide how wounded he felt, suffering a physical reaction. His right hand, which only a moment ago had been caressing her face, now clutched his shirt in anxiety, resting on his heart.

Lucy Gray was crying harder now, her cheek cold at the loss of his touch. She’d known it was a low thing to say, had even thought not to - but she was disoriented, scared. She felt disillusioned with reality. How was she here? How was this real?

“What on earth did you just say to me?” Coriolanus’ shock was transforming into anger, into furious disgust at the prospect that he’d somehow done something to convince her of such a possibility. “You think that I would do that to you? You think that’s what I brought you here for?”

Lucy Gray couldn’t speak through the chokes of her sobbing. Why had she said it? She knew why, really - because she was disgusted with herself. She was ashamed to have made such drastic measures and still feel such a passion for him, such a deep desire for him to ravage her. She was insecure over it, the true concept she’d been attempting to run from - the idea that she would always want him this much, that she would be tethered to his Capitol heart and Capitol hands and Capitol eyes. He was a Gamemaker. He helped contribute to the source of her nightmares, personally conspiring on how to kill in a way that made people watch. How could he also be the subject of her most intense dreams, the ones she awoke from with a noticeable ache everywhere, longing for him? He was a liar, a murderer - she knew who the third person he’d killed was, had assumed it after long days analyzing their circumstances on a loop. It had to be Sejanus, his ‘best friend’, ‘his brother’. Coriolanus had betrayed him in a way that Lucy Gray had not discerned. All she knew was that such a choice had resulted in Sejanus’ death, yet Coriolanus was the one standing on that platform silently, listening to Sejanus choke behind him. Coriolanus Snow was self-righteous, greedy, and gorgeous. And she couldn’t get enough of it, not unless she was hundreds of miles away, tears in her eyes and her hands covering her mouth, desperate not to whisper his name in her sleep.

Coriolanus let her cry. “Ask me again, Lucy Gray.”

Lucy Gray shook her head as she wept. Her cards were out, already spent. What an idiot you are, she told herself. You fool. She wouldn’t be able to repeat it, and then he’d know that she’d said it as a gimmick, as some cheap, disrespectful attempt to rile him.

Coriolanus took a step closer to her, confidence building as he caught the insinuation that she could not bring herself to say it once more. “Are you a liar, Lucy Gray?”

“No, I-”

“So ask me again.”

More sobbing, her shoulder shaking, her hands straining at their confines.

“Are you a liar, Lucy Gray?”

She couldn’t bring herself to respond to this either. The warm lighting of the chandelier above them was starting to get to her head. She felt lightheaded and off-balance, dehydrated at the cost of her tears.

Coriolanus was getting closer still, walking in her direction carefully and slowly. “Okay, that’s too hard for Lucy Gray. We can try other things. Tell me that you don’t want me to touch you then, and I won’t, ever again.”

Lucy Gray was as quiet as a statue, unable to move, or speak, or protest. All she could do was look at him, shame pouring down her cheeks. He was wilder now, a vision in his ink-colored suit and furious eyes. He had her - almost. As Coriolanus closed the barrier between them, Lucy Gray looked up at him, begging him to kiss her, hating herself for it.

“Tell me that you don’t want me to fuck you.”

“I do, Coriolanus.” Lucy Gray couldn’t bear to be silent anymore, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment at her confession, at how quickly she had responded only when he took it that far. She wanted to take it back, cover her mouth, time travel - but she couldn’t. The moment was lost to Coriolanus’ sharp teeth, a revelation that he would let melt on his tongue and save for later.

His eyes lit up. He knew he’d won, and Lucy Gray knew she’d lost.

“You do?” He slowly put his thumb in her mouth, watching her take it as she did a rose petal. Her eyes opened wide up to him just as his hardened, yanking his finger from her in a swift movement. She fell forward gasping, her lip beginning to bleed. “That’s too bad.”

He left her on the floor, beckoning for the maids to clean her up. “Make sure she eats, even if you have to force feed her yourselves,” he commanded, thinking of how her ribs were visible in that stupid sheer dress, her stupid perfect body, her stupid fantastic lips.

Pure rage coursed through his veins as Coriolanus entered his bedroom, slamming the door behind him with as much force as he could bear. How dare she, his little bird? The contentment of her obvious physical attraction to him was hardly enough to swallow the betrayal he felt, but it did help. She had been lying, an obvious attempt to put him down, to plant insecurities within him. And for what excuse, because she was feeling vulnerable, uprooted? He’d just have to train her, wear her out, build her back up. This was where Lucy Gray belonged.

This was home now.

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