𝘓𝘖𝘝𝘌 𝘛𝘈𝘓𝘌𝘚,

⭑ ⸺ ༄ her father would lose his mind if he knew of her alliances, what she was doing whilst on land ... was always told to wash her hands of human wars, demigod wars especially. CALAYKARY KEPT TO THEMSELVES. except one calaykarian that was a little too curious for her own good. had her own agenda, even.

PERCY KNEW FRIENDS WERE THE WAY TO SURVIVAL.    maybe years at war had taught him so.   and there was,   finding a mermaid on his way.   not one of his father's.   at least not related,   but all things in the sea sort of belongs to his father's empire.   he was glad they weren't related.   he realized that when she leaned into his side,   and he got to hold her close and get a scent of her hair.   a good whiff of her.   she smells like ocean.   like beauty and seawater.   but he frowns when she suggests she might be  too heavy   to lean on him.   shaking her head,   he wraps his arm around her.   kissing the top of her head.   he dared to do so.

"    you're very light,   no need to worry.   besides,   i work out.   that's one of the hardships of being a demigod,  you know.   i got you.    "        he smiles,   helping her walk,   but he can feel how she's getting weaker being away from the water.      "    we're almost there,   can't you feel it?    "       he was never a mermaid.   but he could feel  the sea,   as a son of poseidon.   he could feel the ocean calling his name    -    and how much he longs to be there,   dip his toes in and feel the healing and the power that was gifted to him by the ocean itself,   and by the man who controlled it.

               elliot   had   been   grateful   for   the   rest   of   their   undercover   work,   because   getting   information   and   getting   the   evidence   on   film   proved   to   be   an   excellent   distraction   to   the   thoughts   that   consumed   his   mind.      those   thoughts   consisted   solely   of   olivia.      the   way   her   lips   felt,   how   her   hair   glided   through   his   fingers   with   ease,   how   perfect   her   body   aligned   with   his.      thoughts   that   would   send   him   straight   to   hell.      he   was   probably   already   going   to   end   up   there   for   the   thoughts   he’s   had   in   the   past   about   her.      honestly,   after   this   he   might   have   to   stop   by   confession.      but   when   has   he   ever   listened   to   the   priests?      all   of   them   say   the   same   thing.      remove   the   temptation,   remove   this   woman   from   your   life.      elliot   would   rather   burn   in   hell   than   lose   his   partner.

THE NIGHT HAD BEEN A SUCCESS. it was a case closed, victims were saved, the new yorkers could sleep a little safer tonight. olivia benson, however? she wouldn't be sleeping tonight. she knew it would be elusive. that elliot and his kiss would be haunting her mind for the foreseeable.. well, ever. but that was her vice to bear. it was her sin, to want and long for a married man. to be in love with her partner - despite knowing she could never have him. she didn't make a move, she never made a move. not even on the job, tonight had been the first time they'd ever shared a kiss - and she hopes it doesn't change anything, or worse... everything.

she arches a brow when he doesn't ask - but he tells her. tells her that she wasn't dating anyone, that she would've told him. and she hates it. like she wasn't allowed, that only he got to have something else besides what they weren't. they weren't a real couple, it had been pretend. undercover work for the job, so she crosses her arms over her chest, head tilted to the side. and she watches him, really watches him. it was unnerving to him - the idea that she would be going home to someone who waited for her. " it's not official yet. there hasn't been much to tell. " shaking her head, lips do a little twist to the side. " why are you giving me that look, stabler? " not elliot. that was too intimate for this.

MOTHERHOOD HAD BEEN A CHALLENGE, it still was. but it was never unwelcome. gods, no. the girls had been a gift, the way they'd saved her, in ways she could probably not begin to describe even if she tried. she'd lost her own mom, her sense of direction - and then they had come, by magic and miracles ... maybe by fate. it definitely felt like caroline's own fate. to become a mother to the twins, from feeling them kick to watching them grow up and go off into the world. but along the joys, so came all the worries. the fears, more than what a regular mother felt. no human mother with human children had to really fear a gemini twin merge. but caroline did, and she felt the fear every single day. maybe she held on too tight, maybe she was away a little too much trying to find ways to avoid this. ways to get both her daughters to adulthood. for them to have wonderful, and long, lives together - but also apart.

they might clash, but maybe that was just how looking in the mirror of your younger self was supposed to feel. " you want me to turn around? " she offers, head tilted to the side. she was willing to bargain for a trip to lizzie's destined places. this was their girl trip, there were no rules. " you could give me a tour - i promise to only be semi-embarrassing? " and then she does a very annoying, but mother like thing, and reaches out to brush a strand of her daughter's hair behind her ear. she already misses her. both of them actually. she wasn't ready to leave again, and she wasn't ready for them both to go off to each their adventure. her heart would always be split in two, an equal piece for each halves of her heart. josie and lizzie, her little girls. who were not so little anymore. " okay, you know what. i'm getting off - the highway isn't my speed anymore. people are so rude, i feel like some country air - until we reach your future college will be good for us. who knows, maybe you'll even see some nature when avoid my eyes. "

there's no better person in the world than rory's own mom. she knew this for sure, she would take zero arguments - nope! she won't even hear you out. her mom had done amazing, with the cards she'd been dealt in life, most people would've given up. but not lorelai gilmore, she fought through hardships and she inspired people - at least she inspires her daughter. even when she taunts her about reading, and her obsession with school. rory's trying to be good enough, measure up to her own expectations. her mom would've been fine if she hadn't gone to chilton, she would've been fine if harvard and yale weren't on the table. honestly, sometimes it feels like her mom is a little too proud of her - like she might break out into song when rory changes to a new pair of socks, you know? but she wouldn't miss out on it for anything in the world. and she's proud too, not so much of herself - but of her mother. her mom was everything to her, and she was her hero. as simple as so. waving a dismissive hand at her mom. " no books in the snow, but i do want to make time to cozy up under a blanket and read at least five more books before christmas break is over. "

she would've cooed and fawned over the stories of baby bump rory - if her mother hadn't followed up with talks about j-names ... only to double down and mention the actual j named boy by name, even promising she'd be nice to him if rory brought him over. and it's tempting ... she really likes jess. like a lot. and it was very scary, because liking boys, and letting them into your life was two very different things. jess didn't ask, he just took up.. so much space in her heart. and she really really happens to like that. which was also scary, so maybe they were both avoiding each other right now - because it scares him too. " um, i know. it's just.. " a shrug of her shoulders, because she reaaallyyyyy wants to talk to her mom about this. let her into the wonder and miracle and scary feelings that are boys, especially j-named boys. especially jess mariano. " if i tell you something - do you promise on the holy bible of rom-coms not to be weird about it? you have to promise! really promise, to try and be cool and not freak out, okay? " because rory was freaking out enough for the both of them.

PERFECT PENNY, NOT SO PERFECT. the words taste like acid when she hears them. she strived for perfect - she craved perfection more than love. perfection equaled love. she watches her sister, the one who had been like an extra mother growing up - until she fell like lucifer from the sky, and scraped her perfect knees as she stumbled back down to earth. maybe that was the same fall penny was doing now. would she survive the landing? she wasn't necessarily convinced. she'd been one of the few to know about their mother's heart disease. she'd found the best doctors. but none of it had been enough ... she failed, she let down the one person who'd been like glue in their family, and now everything was castles crumbling around them. " hm, it's almost like you're enjoying this. " she hums, she wanted to drink her own wine, sit and get tipsy. dream herself into a coma where her mother wasn't dead and her daughter wasn't slipping through her fingers like sand from her beloved beach. " i don't recall taking pleasure when you stopped being so perfect. "

▣ ▣            ⸺          THERE IS A GRIN,             SACCHARINE - SWEET AND RADIANT OCCUPYING SCARLET PETALS.             tusks pressing into lower tier and a shrug to follow.          “         in that case,             you’re gonna love this,          ”          riff disintegrates when body angles into lover perched beside her,          “         WE FOUND HER.             we found jessica sinclair.              SAFE.          ”          there is solace in being able to utter that word aloud :             safe.             a certain zeal it brings to oceanic gaze.             dulcet touch elevates from hand to stubbled jaw,          “         IT LOOKS LIKE I'M ALL YOURS TONIGHT,             LIEUTENANT SEVERIDE.          ”          forehead presses to his,             the warmth of his breath against her maw a welcome need,             something she’s missed ‘pon all those long nights trapped in the precinct working.          “         no more late nights.             at least            …            not for a while.          ”          this feels like a celebratory event.             a child safe and sound and back home with her family,             young enough to regain mirth without being burdened by trauma.             A ROMANCE 'TWEEN DETECTIVE AND FIREFIGHTER ABOUT TO BE REKINDLED.          “         so,             tell me            —             what is it you’re going to do with that information?          ”

THE LIEUTENANT WAS MOSTLY JOKING. he knows her work had needed her, and he knew the case was about a little girl. so he wasn't really complaining - of course she was needed more there, instead of at home, with him, in their bed. so when her forehead is pressed to his, he simply smiles. brushing his nose against hers in a soft and gentle touch. just to remind her of what love felt like - in case the world had gotten scary, and she might've forgotten. " what am i going to do with that information? i'm bringing my girl home, leaving this beer half empty in this bar. " moving his hand to brush over her jawline before he claims the kiss he missed from his own twenty-four hour shift. " i'm glad your case had a happy ending - ready to go home? or too busy of a mind? we can go for a walk around the pier? talk it through? - or go home and order takeout, i'll cuddle you while you feed me pizza? choice is yours. " @redeity

・ ⸺ ⋆ leela was used to new places, meeting new people, it came with her job. america was new, however, usually based within european teams ... but she received an opportunity she couldn't refuse with the chicago raptors, & LEELA JUMPED AT THE CHANCE. that's where she met the ray of sunshine, INDIGO IVERS. who insists she be called indy ... and leela adores indy.

indigo ivers - who goes by indy - is sprawled on leela's bed, watching her pick an outfit for tonight. an important night, a night where indy will get a little tipsy - just the right amount. and then she's going to set up her friends. THE PLAN WAS BULLET PROOF. or at least, that's what she's aiming for. she knows rio, she's getting to know leela, and she knows the girl is pure sunshine walking on pink clouds - and she knows there's no better man than rio deluca. maaaybe with the exception of her fiancé, ryan shay. he was pretty perfect too. she misses him a little, but they were all meeting up later. even if rio had pouted because he had to get ready with the guys - right until indy had baited him with her man's presence. then he was suddenly fine with the no girls aspect.

" we're going for ... comfy-sexy. aka, whatever is really sexy, but something you feel confident in. " because nothing was sexier than a woman who was confident - right? indy wasn't always confident, but she still managed to bag herself a man ... while eating vegan ben and jerry's on his couch. still, she considers herself quite the love expert. " what about that red little thing? " pointing to a dress she hadn't seen yet.

“ okay wrong— ” if he thought she was going to acquiesce, boy did he have another thing coming. she could do this all day. “ i didn't use him! i told you he's just a reliable source and we agreed to meet up to discuss my story. ” digits dig into the fabric of his dress shirt, her forehead still pressed against his for another second before pulling away enough to look into his bright eyes. “ if i'm guilty of anything, it's using the idea of not needing you. ” a self aware huff, knowing it was useless to plead completely innocent when they both knew better. “ and we saw how great that turned out. ” 

HIS HEAD COCKS TO THE SIDE WHILE HE WATCHES HER, curious to why she thinks he'd believe what she's saying right now. he loves her, but love didn't make him blind, at least not to these facts. so he digs his digits into her hips, holding her close. " oh, okay then - if you weren't using him, why couldn't he know you're mine? why did it bother you so much when i told him? " he holds onto her, doesn't let her slip away. their heads together until she pulls back, and he allows himself to drown the blue ocean of her eyes. he would take this fight any day - and he wouldn't give up on her, or on them. he was just as stubborn.

but then she admits that she needs him, and worse, that she's been pretending not to, and that almost does the trick on his poor, foolish heart. " i need you too, " he whispers, kissing the crown of her head. he loves her, and he would always love her. she was his best dream, a dream he could live in for the rest of his life. " you're so stubborn, baby. so stubborn. "

jay laughs at her next words. a wholehearted laugh. she could be mad all she wants to be, he was okay with that - as long as he gets to go home with her. " you can be mad, i can handle that. as i told you, your anger doesn't scare me. your feelings won't make me run. " and then he pulls her close, stealing a kiss from her lips. slow and gentle, but still heated. he was mad about this woman, more than he was actually mad. he'd happily deal with both. " you're the love of my life, that doesn't go away because you're upset with me. i promise. "

IT WAS NOT EVEN A LITTLE UNBELIEVABLE when she starts talking him out of it. like there is a version of this where he doesn't love her. where he takes it back, where he walks out the barn having swallowed the words again. not a single universe. he stood by what he's said, and he's going to stand by it even if she doesn't feel the same - but he hopes she does. hopes she can feel the sincerity of it all, from the way his heart beats for her. the way it has for a while now. it might've started out as a covert operation. one where he needed to find out what she knew about SUPERMAN. but now? he just wants to find out about her. everything about her, the things she's dying to share - the secrets no one else know. he wants to uncover all of her. so he laughs when she steps back, using her hands to take a stance, like she was the superhero of it all. maybe she was.

" but it's true, my parents do love you. " he laughs, once more. as he brings up his parents, once more. clearly hard of hearing when it came to her commands about this. he knows her dad is a general in the army, maybe she's used to scared men. but lois doesn't scare him, not like that. what does scare him though? the risk of never getting to know her. the risk of never getting to love her, like really love her. " okay so i'm sweet..? but you don't handle what well, lois? because this would be new to me too. we can learn together, " he pauses, then tentatively taking one step closer to her. daring to defy the space she'd put between them now, again. " i don't want to reconsider, but thank you for the offer. maybe.. you'd like to reconsider? before you run off? before you write me off.. " his eyes glance up, then meets hers. flashing a careful smile, one that holds so much emotion, the same ones he's trying to downplay - while still getting them out there. it was a fine balance.

THE GAME WAS STILL GOING ON when ilya was taken , but momentum was always a fragile thing : & once it's broken , it rarely comes back . under such ideal , he didn't need the score update to know how it likely ended ― he can feel the loss like a second injury , deeper & more corrosive than a broken bone . a long sigh falls through his lips , before rozanov gestures vaguely at his face , at the blood ― DISMISSIVE . ❛ it's just a nose . not brain , not spine . tape it and i leave . ❜

HOCKEY PLAYERS / ANY SPORTSMEN REALLY - make the worst kind of patients. especially the elite ones, and now standing with this one's chart, he understands why dana had sent him, and not anyone else. maybe she was mad at him, maybe she just wanted to give the others a break. he looks over the chart, but he doesn't need a chart. that nose was definitely broken. and a bad break too, one that he needs to fix. it needed to be set back, or he might have trouble breathing. which he would've explained in a few minutes, if the other wasn't bleeding through bandages, trying to make robby let him leave.

" sure, it's just a nose. but if you plan on playing hockey, or doing any form of exercise and being able to breathe nasally? " looking at the player over his glasses, before he pushes them up, using his index finger. " you're going to let me set it. legs up, back on the bed. it'll be over faster if you don't fight me on every move, and trust me - i don't want to wrestle a six foot something hockey player today, but my friend over there? she might. " it's a joke, and robby does laugh to play it off as one. he wouldn't even try to withhold him. if he really wants to leave against medical advice, robby would let him. but he also knows doctors and medicine, and he wouldn't be allowed to play. not for a while, and not until they know if he can breathe. " if you let me set it back, you could play in a week i think? if you'd be careful. "

it's hard sometimes, remembering the good. especially after a thought shift, a though day at work. somehow the good simply drowns out in all the missery they see. but if they're going to be able to do this, at least she feels like it, she can't only focus on the bad. sometimes, they make a difference. the good kind of difference. at the end of the day, the people possibly having the worst day in their lives, eventually get to go home. they get to spend more time with their loved ones, a second chance at their lives. and she think that's beautiful. bottle of beer clink together and she takes a small sip of it, slight shrug of shoulder. can't help the smile forming tho. with three sisters, she guess it comes with the territory. the dramatics sometimes were a little bit overwhelming.

genevieve was beautiful, and she was kind and bright too. giving him great advice to go on, without being condescending. he was lucky she was here - right next to him and guiding him through the mess that was called life. and maybe he was even more lucky that she didn't turn away to run off when he mentioned wanting to kiss her. because he did - he does want to kiss her. so he leans against her, bumping his shoulder to hers. " you're good ... with people, not just those sisters. i still would love to meet them one day. " and he's not just saying this to get into her good graces, he knows how important family is to the chamberlain siblings - and he really wanted to be a part of that.

" ah, what kind of trouble.. you like identifying your problems before running into burning buildings? " taunting her with a gentle nudge of shoulders again. as a flight paramedic, she might've actually run into burning buildings, but ... " i'd like to think the trouble is less than so. i'm just.. i guess a little scared of what'll happen if you.. " licking his lips and shaking his head. this was the least sexy bit of tonight. " i'm scared of kissing you, and messing everything up. "

" i feel judged. do you feel judged ? " one hand around the cup of hot chocolate, the other in her pocket, she narrows her eyes as people keep skating by them. she catches a glimpse of the third scowl in the last five minutes & it does dawn on her that this is very much an aquarium experience – luckily, fish are limited in their ability to tell you to go to hell with nothing but their eyes ! in the girls' defense, they had come here with clear goals of joining the chattering teeth masses – chloe's skating is nothing to marvel at, but she had every intention of dusting off her mediocre skills for a trip to the rink with lana. the smell of hot chocolate simply happened to be stronger than their love for the ice. they didn't plan on slipping into a people watching session, but she's not exactly all broken up about it, either. there's this one guy who keeps trying to trip up his friends & chloe's become very invested in watching his downfall – she might not be a gambling girl, but she's putting all her faith in a good dose of instant karma right now. another lengthy sip later, she scrunches up her nose. " we should probably go out there, right ? " those words don't sound particularly determined. " soon. five minutes, tops. "

they were on a girl date, aka they had gone to a christmas market, getting away from drama (smallville and the men that lived there) and that wasn't even including the meteor victims who showed up every week - with a new superpower. but today it was just two dear friends, who started out everything but, drinking their hot chocolates with every single good intention to go skating, riiiiight after they finish staring at the people on the ice, including the menacing one. " you think they are judging us for judging them? feels like, kind of a full circle moment. " she ponders out loud, then sips her hot cocoa, whipped cream on her upper lip. " you know how to skate, right? " there's a tilt of her head as she inquires about her friend's skating abilities - lana knew how to, she wasn't sure when she learned, but her aunt used to take her every year. " we can skate around, and then you can tell me about oliver queen? " poking her friend with her elbow, grin on her face while she inquires about the love life, one hopefully more simple than her own.

never thought she would find this. never thought she would love someone like this. feeling loved, being taken care of like mason did her. and sometimes it's scary, feeling so dependent on this one person. because as afraid of commitment she had been, that's what happened. she had become dependent on him. her day felt a little better with him in it. her attention always went to him, if he was in the room. they were together, they were a couple, but he was also her best friend. and his mom had become more family, closer to her, than to her own parents.

the only source of light in their bedroom is from outside, which isn't much. can almost imagine the look on his face. in his eyes. hint of a smile tug at the corner of lips, a soft hum coming from her. he's on his back, she's resting on her stomach, half sprawled out ontop of him. arm over his middle, cheek against his chest, ear against the thud of his heart. steady and strong, just the way he is. " me too, " low murmur as head tips to look up at him, thumb lightly brush against his side. always feel more relaxed when he's here. more centered in a way. her head a little less chaotic. kinda hates it, when his arms isn't wrapped around her, when the familiar warmth radiating off him replaced by a cold spot on the bed.

life was so much better with jackie by his side. and his sleep so much better with his girl in his arms. she wasn't the only one who was a little codependent. he was too, she was everything to him. and he was in love with her, more than he'd ever been. so when they're here, snuggled in bed, he can't help but to bury his face in her neck. breathing in his favorite person. " how bad do you think jensen will yell at me if i'm late today? just to snuggle you? " a laugh, because they both knew the yelling would be like, majorly bad. he would be red in the face if his defense man was gone. especially for a girl, even if she was the girl. and jackie was the girl of his life, his heart and his world.

his hand slides up her shirt, then his fingers start to rub up and down her side, from hip to rib. touching her, gentle touches, stolen moments, before he has to go to practice. of course he had practice every day during the winter time, when jackie had the least practice. " come cheer for me, " the facts were that jensen didn't like girlfriends hanging out during practice, calls them a distraction, but if he sneaks jackie in, and she doesn't shout when he gets tackled? they're home safe. and he really just wants to look up and into the stands to see the love of his life there, for him - and maybe for her twin brother too. sorry brett.

・ ⸺ ⋆ she had gotten so used to the sun, she almost forgot how she liked the cold. as strange as that sounded. LEELA ENJOYED THE SNOWY WEATHER ... mainly because she liked curling up by the fire with a book, or her laptop and phone these days. she enjoyed her job, and she was starting to really love chicago ... maybe that had something to do with the nine people that are helping her make it feel like home.

THE DEFENSE MAN IS STILL ON THE ICE - it wasn't like he had somewhere better to be. someone to go home to. not like all of his friends, and some of them even had kids too. rio was just alone, alone, sad and even more alone. so he's just messing around with a puck, practicing some shots - but mostly.. he was just skating around for time to pass. he loves being on the ice, and he really thought he was the only one here. that no one would notice how he never changed out of practice gear and went home. he isn't wearing his helmet though, maybe that's how leela notices him. or maybe she knows his number, but he doubts she knows just how relieved he is to see a friendly face right now.

skating towards the pretty and friendly face at the bench. tapping the glass with his stick, a grin on his face. his hair's a mess, but so was he. he has music blasting, from his stereo of course. " why're you still here? i'm sure there's a million people you could hangout with tonight, " a small shrug of his shoulders, and a pair of brown eyes that were begging her: but you could hangout with me? so he tilts his head with a boyish grin, only to drop the facade after a bit. sighing as he leans over the board. " training did end. but i'm going to die if i go back to that house alone again. "