AthenaScarlet

[cssns]

WOW!!!!!! Can you believe it? We're done and it's time for the CSSNS23 Roundup!!!

Before we get started, I need to recognize and thank my team of mods, @winterbaby89 @jrob64 @stahlop and @ultraluckycatnd, without whom this event wouldn't have happened this summer! Please join me in giving them all the long distance internet group hugs!!!!

And NOWWWWWWWW... Here we GOOOOO!!!!! Under the cut, unless Tumblr ate it.

@hufflepuffinstorybrooke opened us up this year on July 1 with a wonderful soulmates OS called If You're Lucky, Love Leaves Scars, that I was privileged to make artwork for. The fic left me in tears and melting at the same time!

On July 3, @teamhook posted the first chapter of her fic The Last Witch Hunter, inspired by the Vin Diesel movie of the same name. Only one ch so far, but I'm absolutely captivated and eagerly awaiting more! Very intriguing artwork by herself.

@spartanguard dropped her Killian's evil twin MC on July 5, Sons of Love and Death, with artwork by herself. That artwork, of two incredibly handsome guys shouldn't be as chilling as it is, but IT IS... The fic is completely written and she's been updating weekly, so we're on ch9 of 13. Just sayin, but I'm about ready to use a certain dagger on a certain evil twin.

July 7 @goforlaunchcee posted Smoke and Mirrors, a HOOT of a ghost story, with such lovely artwork by @piinfeathers that perfectly captures CS in this fic. Three chapters are up so far, and I can't wait for more!!!

July 10, @killiansprincss posted her OS A Court of Vines and Shadow inspired by A Court of Thorns and Roses, with absolutely gorgeous artwork by @hollyethecurious. I was not familiar with the source material, so I was completely surprised and delighted with this fic!!!

@athenascarlet posted her merman Killian OS on July 13, The Merman with a wonderful visual on Tumblr 😏 Just a regular night between a sheriff and her merman pirate... Would love to see more of this, but it's staying a OS... for now, she says...

Also on July 13, @anmylica posted the first chapter of Fly With the Black Swan with amazing artwork by @zaharadessert. We have two chs of ten up so far, and I'm sitting on pins and needles waiting for more!!!!

On July 15, @whatevenisthisbloganymore posted the first chapter of Forest View Apartments, a ghost story that has the questions swirling through my mind and eagerly awaiting the next installment! Amazing artwork by @undercaffinatednightmare!

Speaking of @undercaffinatednightmare, real life has been very rude lately and has left her unable to post her two planned fics for this summer, but she has managed to make the artwork for them both that you can find here and here! I love her writing so much and I know whenever RL lets up, both these fics are going to be wonderful!!!

July 19, @deckerstarblanche posted An Offer She Can't Refuse, with more lovely artwork by @undercaffinatednightmare. Emily only planned two chs for this very hot and sexy Omegaverse fic, but she took it in a very angsty direction in the final scene of ch2, and so has now promised that she'll come back and add one more ch to give us all the happy ending we deserve!

July 22, @zaharadessert posted a very hot demon Killian OS, Sacrificial Lamb that made bloodthirsty Krystal VERY happy. I was once again privileged to make artwork for the fic, with an assist by @motherkatereloyshipper who was responsible for the Emma edit I used.

July 23, @mie779 posted the first chapter of Finding Caldera: The Hidden World of Dragons, with just lovely artwork by @undercaffinatednightmare. The adventure of this fic is just wonderful! We're on ch9 and nearing the end!

On July 25, it was my turn to post for the event! Into the Light was inspired by the 1987 movie The Lost Boys, my very first introduction to vampires and it has never left me! Incredible artwork was created by @motherkatereloyshipper that still just leaves me staring at it slack jawed!

@hollyethecurious posted the first chapter of The Law of Surprise on July 28. Now complete in three parts, this beautiful BEAUTIFUL but also heartbreaking fic was inspired by the law of surprise from The Witcher. Breathtaking artwork was provided by @eastwesthomeisbest and can be found here, here, and here.

@xarandomdreamx posted her CS Practical Magic AU A Crystalline Knowledge of Love and Magic on July 30. Beautiful artwork by @hollyethecurious. Only one chapter so far and my heart is so broken for Emma and Elsa but also completely in love with the story!!!!

Rounding out July, @caught-in-the-filter posted original artwork featuring ghost Emma and vampire Killian that was absolutely CHILLING!!!!

@snowbellewells started Aug off on the 2nd with an incredible one shot, Deluge! Gorgeous artwork by @eastwesthomeisbest. I am so hopeful that Marta will eventually write more of this wonderfully intriguing fic!!!

Then, @eastwesthomeisbest was so inspired by Marta's fic, she made her own original art in the same vein as the art she made for the fic. Absolutely breathtaking!!!

On Aug 8, @booksteaandtoomuchtv posted the Prologue and ch1 of Witchy Woman. I have sooooo been waiting for this fic and so far, four chs in, it is hitting ALL my buttons! Artwork coming soon from @cocohook38.

On Aug 10, @cs-rylie posted The Journal, a seriously SCARY fic, only 3 chs in, inspired by Native American legend. Artwork by me, again with a much needed assist from @motherkatereloyshipper who was responsible for Milah and the journal itself.

@iamstartraveller776 posted her new fic, To Cleave Destiny on Aug 13. Featuring Demon Killian, just this Prologue has me on the edge of my seat!!! Artwork coming soon from @cocohook38.

@exhaustedpirate posted Parent for Hire on Aug 14. A Mandalorian inspired fic, Caro has melted my Captain Cobra heart so many times already, only four chs in. She also did moodboards to accompany each ch that you can find on each of the Tumblr ch posts x x x and I was also privileged to make a banner for the fic.

On Aug 16, @grimmswan posted the first chs of TWO fabulous fics!!! Dracula in Storybrooke comes from the woefully underutilized Land of Untold Stories arc, and Love Bites (But So Do I) is a supernatural adventure of vampire Emma and werewolf Killian. Artwork coming soon from @cocohook38.

On Aug 18, @snowbellewells posted her second fic of the event, Carolina Moon. A fic inspired by the Nora Roberts novel of the same name, my heart is already, only two chs in, broken for Emma and on the edge of my seat waiting for more! Beautiful artwork again done by @eastwesthomeisbest!

@jrob64 posted Saying Goodbye and Moving On on Aug 20, a DESPERATELY NEEDED and ABSOLUTELY PERFECT fix-it fic from the Underworld arc. I was again privileged to make artwork for it, and I'm just gonna have to accept that I almost can't make picsets anymore without the aid of @motherkatereloyshipper. For this one, she was again responsible for ghost Milah.

Aug 22, @padfootprongslet posted the Prologue for Like Our Love (Falling Down and Over Again). A Mr. and Mrs. Smith inspired fic, my heart was absolutely SHATTERED in this first ch and I can't wait for more! I was again privileged to make a picset for this with @motherkatereloyshipper coming in the clutch entwining the rings.

On Aug 24, @jonesfandomfanatic posted Stolen From Time. Now complete in three parts, this fic was absolutely BRILLIANT!!! @motherkatereloyshipper made a beautiful video to accompany it.

Our final fic by @wyntereyez will post in the next few days. She’s dealing with a hurricane at the moment, so she’s excused! Artwork by spartanguard. Can't wait!

That's it everyone! Please enjoy all these FABULOUS fics and artworks and be sure to give the authors and artists all the love they deserve!!!

[empireofthesin]

I’m thinking Crowley wouldn’t want to go back to the bookshop but he has a soft spot for innocent angels and Muriel is such a baby and she won’t know what to do…

[athenascarlet]

I wrote a whole fanfic with that idea!

5 Things Crowley Learned About the Bookshop Now That Aziraphale is Gone

[i-seeaspaceshipinthe-sky]

I understand you need a nanny.

[athenascarlet]

OK, but Aziraphale pulls his miracle from above in Heaven and Crowley pulls his miracle from below from Hell and I’m feeling all kinds of things about that.

[athenascarlet]

5 Things Crowley Learned About the Bookshop Now That Aziraphale is Gone

Summary: There are a few things that Crowley is learning about the bookshop now that Azira… well, now that a certain person who he can't name is no longer there.

Notes: Just a little five things snippet inspired by Good Omens 2. Spoilers!

AO3 if you prefer

1. Crowley drove as far away from the bookshop as he could and somehow his Bentley still brought him back to where he started.

He wasn’t sure how long he drove or how far he got, but he knew it was long enough that the bookshop had changed in his absence. At least that’s what he could tell from the outside looking in.

“Are you going to sit here all day again just staring across the street?”

He looked up at Nina staring at him.

“Maybe.”

He took a sip of his six shots of espresso and peered out of the window some more. The store looked the same for the most part except for some gauzy white curtains that framed the windows on the inside.

“You’re scaring my customers away. No one wants to drink coffee next to someone who broods all day.”

“I’m not brooding,” Crowley said defensively.

He watched someone walk into the bookshop and the gauzy curtains above the spot where the desk was – or used to be? – were so light that they moved in the wind. They were like delicate angel wings.

Crowley growled and was about to take another sip of his coffee when his mug disappeared from his hand.

“Nina,” he said with disdain. “Give. Me. My. Espresso.”

She put a defiant hand on her hip. “I’m putting it in a to-go cup. You can’t stay here anymore.”

He gave up and followed her to the counter, taking the to-go cup from her hand without a word. He knew he wasn’t wanted there anymore today – and he knew Nina would have his espresso ready for him tomorrow.

He also knew he wanted to see what else he could learn about how Muriel redecorated Azira… Nope, he couldn’t think of that angel’s name today. It would hurt too much.

2. “‘ello, ‘ello, ‘ello.”

Crowley sighed as he closed the front door behind him. “Muriel, we’ve been over this. That’s not how humans greet each other anymore.”

“Did they talk like that before?”

Crowley thought about it for a moment. He was sure they had before but when? This was one of the issues with being around for 6,000 years. Days and months and years jumbled together sometimes.

Instead, he just gave Muriel a shrug. “Hell if I know.”

Their smile was infectious – at least to humans – but it irritated him. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was just too cheerful or bright. Maybe it reminded him of the infectious optimism of the angels.

Crowley was like that once when everything started and he created Alpha Centauri. And he used to still have fleeting feelings of happiness around Az… well, the angel.

Muriel was trying, he would give them that, but he was learning that no smile could lift his dour spirit whenever he actually visited this place.

3. Yes, Crowley visited the bookshop on a regular basis, but he still couldn’t explain how exactly that started.

He would sit outside in his Bentley and brood and then moved to the coffee shop and brood and then started visiting the bookshop itself to brood.

Muriel was a sweet angel but very naive, which worked to his advantage because they never asked him why he kept coming in or why he went from never being around to wandering the aisles for a few hours every day looking at the shelves over and over again.

Crowley remembered that time only a few years into Aziraphale’s ownership of the bookshop when he found the squeaky board between the two shelves in the back, but he had been avoiding it since he started visiting the shop again with the angel here.

Crowley could hear Muriel talking to a customer and figured it was a good time to finally summon the courage to step on that board again, knowing it would remind him of Aziraphale.

But when he stepped on it, the board didn’t squeak under his weight.

He wasn’t sure if Aziraphile had finally fixed it or Gabriel nailed it down during his work in the bookshop when he couldn’t remember who he was.

Crowley did know that he didn’t like it. He missed the sound… or maybe it hurt because the sound reminded him of Aziraphile.

4. Seriously, did Arizaphile put these books in any logical order? Because Crowley couldn’t figure it out.

“Muriel, do you know where the Jane Austen books are?”

The 37th order scrivener angel poked their head around the corner of the shelf. “It’s over in the section with the B’s.”

“Why?”

Muriel shrugged. “I don’t know. That’s just where Mr. Aziraphale put them.”

Crowley trudged over to the B section of the bookshop before stopping mid-stride. He was standing in the spot right where Aziraphale had pulled him over to dance with him that night.

The Jane Austen Ball.

Aziraphale put the Jane Austen books in the B section for Ball.

Crowley figured it was a sign left over from the angel that he should actually read Jane Austen.

So he did.

And he was surprised just how good a brandy smuggler and diamond thief could write books.

5. Crowley still couldn’t figure out how Gabriel was able to lay in this little bed without being uncomfortable.

Sure, the archangel wasn’t as tall or lanky as Crowley, but even he couldn’t have been comfortable on this little piece of mattress.

And why the hell did Aziraphale even have this thing here in the first place? Angels don’t need sleep so it seemed like a waste of space anyway that could be used for books instead.

Still, there was something about coming in here and laying down to close his eyes that didn’t feel good to Crowley, but sort of made him feel content. A quiet spot away from the bookshelves downstairs so he could be alone with his thoughts.

He wondered where Aziraphale was and what he was doing right now. Could he see Crowley in this room folded up on this stupid bed? Could he sense that Crowley was in the building?

Did he even think about Crowley at all?

He didn’t want to contemplate the answer to that last question. It would hurt too much, and Crowley was still working on not feeling pain every time he thought of Arizaphale.

[azirafuck]

first shot we get of crowley in s3 is set to queen's somebody to love and as it starts with "each morning i get up and die a little / can barely stand on my feet" we see him literally getting out of bed (been sleeping for months) and bump into countless bottles of wine scattered on the floor. he looks around looking for a half-full bottle and starts drinking again.

doorbell rings. multiple times.

he drags himself to the door and opens it as the song says "somebody to love". it stops abruptly and turns to complete silence as we see aziraphale at the door holding an infant (baby jesus 2.0) looking like he just ran a marathon.

[athenascarlet]

OK, but here me out: Crowley doesn’t have a doorbell because he’s living in the guest room at the bookshop that was once occupied by Jim/Gabriel. And he’s only staying there to help Muriel with the bookshop because she’s a 37th class angel and needs some serious help understanding humans and he’s just doing it because he feels responsible for her. It’s definitely not because it helps him feel closer to Aziraphale or anything. Nothing like that. And no, the little twin bed does NOT accommodate his tall, lanky frame at all.

[petite-madame]

The Fall - (2023)

Inspired by The Lament for Icarus by Herbert James Draper.

[athenascarlet]

Ohmygosh, you guys. This is FAN art, not some Renaissance thing or whatever. Amazing.

[igbsworld-deactivated20230824]

my favourite thing rn is Crowley in pink 🥰💕💕

please help me, am I don’t this right?? Am I supped to post these kinda stuff on tumblr?! 😭 im so confused I feel like a dad

[rylandsgrace]

#What if this is my last straw

[athenascarlet]

No, I haven't been scrolling through tumblr after being away for months just because I finished Good Omens 2 and need to see all the fan art and fanfic and fan speculation and those little gifs that make me happy.

Why do you ask?

[vroomvroomwee-deactivated202508]

Crowley is Lucifer

(Ok I know some of you don't believe this theory but I highly suggest you give this a quick read anyway. I tried to make it short and easy and I'll be going chronologically, from s1 all through s2)

- First, let's get this out of the way, Lucifer and Satan aren't neccesarilly the same person. Even in the show the devil that appeared in s1 has only ever been reffered to as Satan, not even once as Lucifer.

- In the bible Lucifer was the one to tempt Eve with the apple, and who do we know that does that in the show. Crowley is literally THE snake from Eden.

- An obvious one perhaps, but the red hair is also a giveaway

- In the bible Jesus was tempted by the devil for 30 days, in the show Crowley says "I showed him all the kingdoms of the world", so that's another role Lucifer has that Crowley had in the show

- It's well known (even mentioned in the Sandman) that Lucifer was the most beautiful of all angels, and our demon is played by no other than David Tennant

Now on to season 2 because there's a LOT to unpack here

- He litterally started the engine of the universe which was one of Lucifers roles

- He's the first to say "let there be light", which is pretty fucking huge since that is Gods line

- "I worked closely with upstairs on it" even in the first scene they're telling us Crowley is an angel of very very high rank

- He fell for asking questions, which is litterally what Lucifer fell for, for questioning God. This in and of itself should be a pretty big indicator. "I only ever asked questions"

- Shax: "a miracle of enourmous power only the mightiest of archangels can perform"

Crowley: "How do you know I didn't do it"

And Shax just... doesn't counter that. She looks even skeptical, as if it COULD be a possibility, unlike Uriel who says to Aziraphale don't excpect us to believe you did it. Shax litterally doesn't shut the option down which confirms Crowley has the power not only of an archangel but of the mightiest kind

- In the bookshop with Gabriel/Jim he says "I don't remember. It [gravity] seemed like a good idea when we were all talking about it"

- "You're welcome to come in, you might even spot an archangel" don't tell me this was Crowley just egging Shax on and not being sneaky

- The fact that he could sense the demons coming. "Somethings wrong""It's coming in waves", when Aziraphale couldn't. It could be a demon thing but we saw Sandalphon, an archangel of lower rank, in the first season mention "something smells evil" so obviously angels can sense demons too, they just have to be powerful enough. And keep in mind Sandalphon was already in the book shop for quite some time, Crowley sensed them even before they had arrived (he also sensed the hell hound who was some fucking miles away)

- The.fucking.folder. "You have to be a throne or dominion above" and this dude opens these clasified documents like it's nothing. If this isn't an indicator of his high position as an angel I don't know what is.

- He's worked with Saraqael, another very high ranking angel

- "I'm the only first order archangel in the room"... and the camera imediately pans to Crowley, and for anyone who's read the book and watched the show you know that rarely anything is coincidental

- When the Metatron says they can't lose another prince of heaven. This... this fucking line. So it's relatively well known that Gabriel and Lucifer are brothers, and if Gabriel is one of the princes of heaven I wonder who the other one could be. "Two princes of heaven". And the Metatrons words were very careful, he doesn't say lost as in heaven can't find him, he says it in the context that they won't be sending Gabriel to hell since they won't lose another prince to downstairs

- In the bookshop when no one can identify the Metatron he turns to Crowley who imediately recognises him. Now you have this dude, who's literally on top of the angel hierarchy and is responsible for running heaven and the connection to God themself, surrounded by archangels and a principality you spoke to face to face with just a few years ago and... none of them can tell who you are, the only one who does is the literal demon. That tells us that Crowley has not only seen him in this form, but has probably worked with the Metaron himself personally. "Always asking damn fool questions", 10 million angels and he remembers what this one particular angel was like 6000 years ago

- Crowley is also very reluctant to reveal his identity as an angel. Now if he were just an ordinary angel of no real significance he wouldn't have a problem revealing his name, but... if his name was one that's the literal representation of all evil in this world, then it is understandable he keeps it a secret, in fear he might scare Aziraphale away

- And I wanted to leave the best for last. So you remember in the book when Crowley has to sign his name to start Armaggedon, and Hastur tells him "no, your real name" after which he reluctantly writes it. Now in the book we never see him write anything, but in the show we see him write a sygil, something that looks very mich like an L. An L... A FUCKING L. And now I wonder how this theory didn't come up sooner.

(Also he can fucking stop time, like dafuq)

Edit:

- "Oh looky here it's Lucifer and the guys" we all thought he was talking about someone else, he's just refferencing things other angels have said about HIM. FUCK

- I keep seing people saying Crowleys memories were wiped because he couldn't remember Saraqael and Furfur. But I think people forget, demons lie. He's lying to make them think he's not that angel they worked with, that he's not Lucifer. (In season 1 we hear him a few times refferencing his life as an angel, so he does remember most of it)

- Also saying if the Raphael theory were true then as showrunners they would have mentioned him somewhere for those not that familiar with the bible (or don't read much fanfiction). The refferences for Crowleys past are so so vague that it would be too sudden and confusing if he were Raphael. But there is one name that everyone is familiar with, no matter who you are how old you are or where you're from, a name that needs no introduction.

Edit 2:

- Back to him being the most beautiful angel, I don't think it was ever quite explained how every single demon when they're in hell looks... awful, but Crowley doesn't. Beelzebub has the spores all over their face, Hastur the maggots and the sh-, Dagon the scales etc. But Crowley doesn't, not even when he's in hell, he's always just so, well, pretty.

- I saw a few people asking about how Lucifer started the rebellion and Crowley wouldn't do that. I think it's the same Crowley who wouldn't get stuck in traffic after creating the M25, or the same Crowley that wanted to call Aziraphale after bringing down the entire London network, "you told them you invented the spanish inquisition, and started the second world war""so the humans beat me to it that's not my fault", "so all this is your demonic work?""no, the humans thought it up themselves nothing to do with me"

- Also I think Satan's in charge of hell not Crowley the same way the Metatron's in charge of heaven and not Gabriel (and who can very easily demote angels if he so wishes)

[athenascarlet]

The Merman Pirate

Summary: Emma was trying to settle back into normal life after her trip to Neverland so answering calls to the sheriff’s office feels good again. Except the call leads her to the local school and something she never expected. Rating: T Notes: For @cssns! I’m so excited to get this story out for Captain Swan Supernatural Summer. I’ve been thinking about Hook as a merman for awhile now and found this to be a fun one-shot to get out of my brain. Post-Neverland but pre-Pan curse. Just a normal night with a princess and a pirate. ;)

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

The sky was dark and stormy as Emma drove through the streets of Storybrooke with her windshield wipers on high to clear the water away.

She had been back for a whole day from Neverland and was already fielding calls to handle another issue as a sheriff of this town. She didn’t really mind though. After being stuck on that stupid island for however long they were there, it was nice to be back and handling the normal calls that came into the office.

It also helped to distract her from what was going on with her son. Henry didn’t seem himself after the Jolly Roger returned to town, but she was still trying to figure out exactly what was going on there.

So a report to the sheriff’s office that someone broke into the town’s school? Totally normal and a good distraction.

Emma pulled up to the front of the school and ran through the pouring rain to the front door. Another benefit of working for the sheriff’s office is Emma had plenty of keys to buildings in the town, but it took her a few tries to find the one for the school.

She finally found the one she needed and slipped it quietly into the lock. The school itself was empty as she went through the halls checking classrooms and finding no one. Henry’s classroom included some artwork on the wall that he had done before they left for Neverland. It was just another reminder that despite their adventures, her son was still a kid going to school. Well, some days.

Emma made her way to the cafeteria and then the gym, finding no one. Perhaps the call was a dud or whoever was here had already left even though nothing seemed out of place.

There was a flash of lightning outside illuminating an open door on the far end of the gym and she started to make her way over as the thunder boomed overhead. Emma hoped it would hide the sound of her squeaky shoes on the floor.

She gently pushed the door open into the school’s pool, realizing she had never been in this part of the building before.

Emma didn’t always like Regina and it made her skin crawl at times thinking of the curse that Regina cast to create this town. But there were other times like now when she couldn’t help but admire Regina’s work. The pool’s walls were covered with tiles depicting colorful fish, sea serpents, and jellyfish. She wondered what Hook would think of this. He would probably ask to have someone add his Jolly Roger to the wall.

There was a splash from the pool and Emma’s attention was pulled in the direction of the water. It wasn’t still. There was someone in there.

She pushed herself into a shadow, realizing she had exposed her presence while staring at the walls. Her hand was on the holster of her gun as she peered back out into the water to see what was there.

And then she saw the mermaid.

Emma thought nothing could shock her when it came to magical creatures and fairy tale stories, but she couldn’t help but stare at the water glimmered on the scales of a gorgeous dark blue tail. It was darker than she expected and not like the tail that she had seen Ariel unfurl a few times in the open bay in Storybrooke.

And then the rest of the mermaid crested above the water, and Emma realized it wasn’t a mermaid.

He was a merman.

Hook.

His eyes were just above the waterline and she could tell it was him by his wet hair and that little peak on the top of his ears. But that was the only part of him above the water while his tail seemed to shimmer below the surface.

Emma took a breath and finally stepped out from her hiding spot. “Hook.”

He turned dramatically, his tail splashing through the surface as he pushed himself higher and his piercing blue eyes landed on her. A sexy sneer teased at the corner of his lips when he realized it was her and the tension in his shoulder seemed to slip away.

“Good evening, Swan. Fancy seeing you here this late.”

She walked over to the edge of the pool and looked down at him as he swam to the edge near her feet.

“I got a call about someone breaking and entering.”

“Well, I am a pirate.”

She crouched down to give him a closer look as his arms reached up to give him some extra leverage on the edge of the pool.

“You also seem to be a merman?”

“I do like the water.”

Emma shouldn’t be staring. She didn’t mean to stare. But Hook was right in front of her and he was a merman. His tail was dark against the light background of the pool and he was lazily flipping it around under the water. She wasn’t sure if this was the normal movement for his fin or if Hook was trying to put on a show because he could tell she was watching him.

And he was wearing clothes?

“What’s with the shirt?” she asked.

“The chlorine is harsh on my skin.”

“And why are you even here?”

There was another flash of light outside the pool’s window and thunder rolled overhead. Hook just looked up as a way to wordlessly answer the question.

“So you’re a mermaid who doesn’t swim when there’s water coming down from the sky?” she asked sarcastically.

“I’m a merman, Swan.” Hook’s tail flipped gently out of the water and back in as if to emphasize the difference. “And storms churn up all the dirt in the bay so I came here instead.”

“Sure,” she replied. “Yep, all logical.”

He shrugged and pushed off the wall, his tail swinging around underwater and then surfacing right where she was crouching, splashing her boots with a little water.

“Perhaps it’s not logical in your human realm, but you are the sheriff of a town full of people from the Enchanted Forest.”

“Don’t remind me.”

He gave her one of his wicked smiles and ducked down into the water, covering the length of the pool without coming up. He dove lower in the deep end and then quickly surfaced, the wet tail below his waist shimmering as he emerged high above the surface.

Then Hook was swimming back to her with the seductive look that reminded her of their kiss in Neverland. The way he stared at her, daring her to reward him for saving her father.

“Would you like to join me, Swan?”

They were back in Storybrooke now. She had to remember that. She was the sheriff who simply came across a merman because she was doing her job.

“Not tonight.”

Hook swam a little closer to her again and used his tail to hoist himself out of the water so he was eye level with her now. It was unnerving and delicious, and he was turning her on again just as he had when they were in Neverland.

“Perhaps another night then,” he said seductively.

Then he slipped back under the water and began his swim again.

Emma needed to remind herself that she was the sheriff and she was her on official sheriff business. Flirting with a merman was not part of her job description and she needed to get back to work.

She stood up and looked down at Hook in the pool again. He seemed content as if this was his way of releasing the frustration and stress from their time in Neverland. She wondered if she would ever have some kind of magic that could help her channel away those same feelings.

But that would have to be for another night.

“Make sure you lock up when you leave,” she yelled down into the water.

Hook surfaced again, his tail dragging behind him out of the water. “As you wish, Swan.”

As you wish. Unlike their moment in Neverland, this time his “As you wish” was teasing and flippant.

She liked the other way better.

The way he said it to her after she kissed him.

Emma knew that could never happen again.

“Good night, Hook,” she said before turning and heading back toward the gym and her job.

She heard a splash as his merman tail hit the water as she walked away.

[cssns]

Hi again everyone! Please help me welcome @athenascarlet to CSSNS23!

What’s your Tumblr?

@athenascarlet

How long have you been in the CS/OUAT fandom?

First episode of OUAT

When did you start shipping Captain Swan?

Season 3

What drew you to this event?

An idea for a story that won't fit anywhere else

What inspired your topic?

Mermaids!

If you would like to share a snippet/sneak peek/summary of your fic or artwork, please use the space below.

Not yet

What are you looking forward to most about participating in this event?

Writing about a topic I've never written before

We definitely need more mermaid fics! @athenascarlet's one-shot will be dropping Thursday, July 13th. Please make sure to go say hi and welcome her to the event!

[athenascarlet]

Thanks for the welcome! I have my story outlined sort of and I’m excited to start writing it!

[athenascarlet]

Deep in the Heart

It’s here! If you’ve been missing my Captain Swan fanfic Hide Your Love Away, I overhauled it and published it as an original novel that you can buy now!

Can an actress prove her love for a media consultant is more than an act? Actress Hannah Knight didn’t mind going to the country’s biggest comic convention to promote her television show. After all, that’s also where she met Nate, a man with no last name and an expensive suit that ended up on Hannah’s hotel room floor. But while Hannah was getting lucky, her co-star Trevor Lowe was getting drunk, and the video of him passed out on the street went viral. Fans are shocked and advertisers threaten to boycott the series. To fix this public relations nightmare, the TV network’s president comes up with a plan: the two co-stars will fake a relationship to help rehab Trevor’s image. Enter The Burnham Agency, a pair of brothers who have earned a reputation as the best crisis management team in Hollywood. But this time, Nate Burnham is fixing a problem he created after he slept with Hannah and her boyfriend got drunk when he found out about it. At least, that’s what Nate believes. Hannah swore she would tell no one – not even the Burnham brothers – that she’s faking her relationship with Trevor. But what happens when the man she really wants to be with is the man who was hired to sell her fake relationship to the public? Deep in the Heart is a romantic comedy that features a fake relationship covering up a secret relationship, a one-night stand at a nerdy convention, and more than one reference to undercover cops in white suits in Miami.

Get it on Amazon as an ebook, paperback or in Kindle Unlimited

[athenascarlet]

Deep in the Heart

It’s here! If you’ve been missing my Captain Swan fanfic Hide Your Love Away, I overhauled it and published it as an original novel that you can buy now!

Can an actress prove her love for a media consultant is more than an act? Actress Hannah Knight didn't mind going to the country's biggest comic convention to promote her television show. After all, that's also where she met Nate, a man with no last name and an expensive suit that ended up on Hannah's hotel room floor. But while Hannah was getting lucky, her co-star Trevor Lowe was getting drunk, and the video of him passed out on the street went viral. Fans are shocked and advertisers threaten to boycott the series. To fix this public relations nightmare, the TV network's president comes up with a plan: the two co-stars will fake a relationship to help rehab Trevor's image. Enter The Burnham Agency, a pair of brothers who have earned a reputation as the best crisis management team in Hollywood. But this time, Nate Burnham is fixing a problem he created after he slept with Hannah and her boyfriend got drunk when he found out about it. At least, that's what Nate believes. Hannah swore she would tell no one -- not even the Burnham brothers -- that she's faking her relationship with Trevor. But what happens when the man she really wants to be with is the man who was hired to sell her fake relationship to the public? Deep in the Heart is a romantic comedy that features a fake relationship covering up a secret relationship, a one-night stand at a nerdy convention, and more than one reference to undercover cops in white suits in Miami.

Get it on Amazon as an ebook, paperback or in Kindle Unlimited

[athenascarlet]

Deep in the Heart

So if you’ve been following my writing journey, you may remember this story back when it was part of a Captain Swan writing challenge. But now, it’s new and changed and original and for pre-order!

A fake relationship with a twist!

Actress Hannah Knight didn't mind going to the country's biggest comic convention to promote her television show. After all, that's also where she met Nate, a man with no last name and an expensive suit that ended up on Hannah's hotel room floor. But while Hannah was getting lucky, her co-star Trevor Lowe was getting drunk, and the video of him passed out on the street went viral.

Enter The Burnham Agency, a pair of brothers who have earned a reputation as the best crisis management team in Hollywood. But this time, Nate Burnham is fixing a problem he created after he slept with Hannah and her boyfriend got drunk when he found out about it. At least, that's what Nate believes.

Hannah swore she would tell no one -- not even the Burnham brothers -- that she's faking her relationship with Trevor. But what happens when the man she really wants to be with is the man who was hired to sell her fake relationship to the public

Pre-order NOW on Amazon https://amzn.to/32iE3X7

[athenascarlet]

I don’t know if you’re still active but I hope all is well! Wishing you a happy New Years! xxx

Thanks! You too! And while I'm not really active here anymore, I have some cool things coming out this year. Especially now that I'm a USA Today Bestselling Author! Insane!

[athenascarlet]

Free stuff!

So I’m pulling down a few free stories so make sure you read them before they go away!

First is an original hockey romance novella just in time for hockey season!

Breakaway in the Bubble

Blake Gardner is happy to be playing hockey again despite the pandemic raging outside of the league's bubble. Sure, it feels weird to play without fans and be stuck in Toronto for months, but the New York Generals are still in the playoffs and that's all that matters. But when Blake meets hotel concierge Kat Shelby, he wonders just how far he can push the league's quarantine rules. Is it possible for him to play hockey in the bubble without losing his heart?

Second, a Captain Swan AU from a few years ago that I’m going to be turning into an original fic so keep an eye out for the new version in the future!

Look What the Cat Dragged In

There are only a couple things Killian Jones knows about his neighbor, Emma Swan. She's a bail bonds person and she's attractive. Also, she apparently has a cat. And he apparently is now her cat sitter.

AO3 | FF

Hope you enjoy these! And make sure to follow me on Twitter at jennyredford​ for updates on what’s coming next -- and believe me, you want to see what’s coming next!