never grow up

[sewingshadowsx]

Wendy Darling is based on Wendy from Peter Pan. She is a 28 year old human, novelist, and uses she/her pronouns. She has no powers. Wendy is portrayed by Alycia Debnam-Carey.

ever since wendy was little, she has felt mature for her age. she spent much of her time doing whatever her parents expected of her that she sort of robbed herself from a spectacular childhood. her parents weren't bad people, they just wanted to make sure that wendy was strong and able to provide for herself and her family. they wanted her raised right and made sure she could be the one to help her brothers get through life when the time came for it.

while most kids her age were playing in the mud, she was reading quietly or practicing her mannerisms. she read the dictionary for fun kind of entertainment. she did enjoy the things she did, but the urge to be a little wild and reckless surged through her here and there. even if it meant no dessert after supper sometimes, any small rebellion was worth it. she just made sure they stayed small and that she behaved most of the time.

her sole escape was her dreams. the stories her mind would tell amazed her. so many of her peers thought she didn't know a single thing about being carefree, but in her stories she was. her imagination flourished no matter what her environment was in and she knew the only logical situation was to put thoughts to pen and paper. she knew she wanted to be a novelist, even if she didn't know how to tell her parents that.

wendy liked to think she was close as close could be with her brothers. john and michael often loathed the way she talked to them as if she were their mother, but wendy was really just looking out for them. they were the first people to hear about her dreams and stories and they always kept them under lock and key for the sake of wendy's sanity. it wasn't that her parents didn't know she told these stories, she just knew they were waiting for her to grow out of them.

when she ended up not growing out of them, that was when the pressure really started at home. she did her best to put herself in that perfect box that her parents unintentionally created for her until college came rolling around. she confessed she wanted to write fantasy novels for a living and even though her parents didn't outright scream or yell at her, she could feel their disapproval. so she just made it her mission to show them she could do just fine with the career she wanted.

she wrote her first full fantasy series before she even graduated. she worked so hard and tirelessly to write the series and when it was well-received and she was earning praise for doing such it was the best feeling in the world. the stories came so easy to her that it didn't take much for her to flourish.

neverland was a place she started hearing about in college. the moment she heard of its wonder she knew it would be the perfect location for her next series. she had to see it for herself to truly soak in the muse. inviting her brothers felt right because they were curious too and she could keep a better eye on them that way.

neverland was everything she needed and more. she could play the role of protector and still be filled with that childlike wonder she put into her stories. the adventure was nothing like she could ever imagine; peter and the lost boys...it all felt like it was clicking into place. she honestly didn't want to leave it ever, but she knew that she was going to have to.

and then she woke up in evermore. she was grateful that all of her neverland memories were in tact despite having no recollection of leaving the magical place. she had never felt so far from home before. still, as nervous as she was to not be in close contact with her parents, she was also pretty excited. maybe this was where she was meant to be. a town where no one knew her name and no one knew how she was supposed to be. she could do anything! but of course, she is still the same old mature wendy. habits die hard.

she is a bundle of nerves since she has no idea where her brothers are or if they are okay. she knows it is unlikely that they wound up in the same town but she is hoping for the best. since no one can leave evermore, hopefully they end up there and wendy can find them fast. she hasn't been in evermore that long and there is so much to be explored still. it felt like it wound on forever.

to cope with the new environment, she started writing it all down. she made sure to store the neverland notes somewhere safe and as much as she wants to dive into that story....her attention is on evermore and the strange things that go on in town. she has never written a mystery novel before, but now may be the time to start!

wendy is taking the steps needed to live a little. she figures her twenties aren't over yet and there is still some time to party or do the things that people her age does. she has no idea where to start, but she is sure she will figure it out.

she dreams of peter a lot. he had taught her so much about neverland and took her on adventures she had only ever dreamed about before. she misses him just about as much as she misses her family and she isn't sure if that is wise of her. she doesn't know much about romance aside from her worn-out copy of pride and prejudice, but peter does make her feel things she hasn't really felt for anyone before. not even her ex boyfriends!

she is the type of person to annotate her books. highlight her favorite lines, add sticky notes to the best chapters; she doesn't really loan out her books because they are like her babies to her.

she has a newfoundland puppy that she affectionately named little nana after her childhood dog nana. little nana makes her feel closer to home and she doesn't know what she would do without her.

wendy has always had a deep appreciation for the stars. ever since she was little she would stare out at them from her window and take notes of the constellations around her. astronomy was one of her favorite subjects in school. she loves learning about the universe.

one of wendy's other hobbies is ballet. she took classes since she was a child and she finds it a good outlet when she needs it. she is not the best dancer by any means, but she feels more in control when she takes up the hobby. each leap feels like flying.

wendy is a big fan of vision boards. they are all over her apartment and she will make them for just about anything she deems significant. from dream vacations to novel inspo, she is constantly going at it with the vision boards.

all in all, wendy is just trying to figure out life step by step. she likes to think she can both grow up and never grow up, but when the two contradict each other she is sure it won't be easy.

[wildcstwinter]

he noticed the slip , the way the facade of grace and innocent observation had fallen through lithe fingers . entangled itself amongst the jewelry enveloping her wrists , sunk into the punctuation that stapled her sentences . hook's glass was set down on the desk , the hand in his pocket retreating so he could warm up one palm with the other - hands rubbing together in a slow , circular fashion as dark brows furrowed ; " your mind , " he echoed again , voice low . drinking in each confession to replace the cocktail he had abandoned on the desk he now circled once more . a starved shark who had tasted blood in the water .

" dove , " hook spoke low , quite , so as not to disturb the waters she seemed to be actively sinking beneath . " indispositions are not comparable . what ails you , wendy , ails you — no matter its likeness to what ails me . " he didn't wish for her to retreat , to skulk away . to leave the uncharted terrain of her mind untouched and out of his invasive reach . not when her tongue had started to freely slip from its perch between her rows of porcelain teeth , confessions rolling off of it - though clumsily - to land upon his most intrigued ears . greedily , he wanted her to keep speaking . " no , " james cooed soothingly , warmed hands now stretching forward to collect her own . he aimed spindly fingers upright , knuckles against his palms , so he could trace the heart lines carved into hers with calloused thumbs . spoken quietly , soothing a bird with puffed feathers . on alert ; " a lost mind , well , i do not find it to be a bad thing . " he fishes for her gaze , an indistinguishable flash in his eyes . " for a woman who loves stories , i did not expect you to be one who shied away from the unknown . isn't the exploration of that in which we don't understand all part of the adventure ?? "

[sewingshadowsx]

her eyes met his and she didn't know how to decipher him in this moment. he held her hands so gently but the gesture didn't match the man in the slightest. at the same time a lot of it did. him trying to coax out her wants, challenging her; that was familiar. she hated that he was right and indirectly causing her panic at the same time. she knew he demanded her words, her response despite the flow of insecurities that had taken over her. she was not one to be scared so easily and yet she just struggled to shake this feeling that she was teetering the edge of the plank right now.

"you thrive in madness," she said quietly, her eyes drifting to their hands. "it is what ebbs and flows the waves of your revenge. i do not thrive in chaos....i thrive in fantasies that are made out to be just that. where logic can pull oneself back from the insanity once i've had my fill of it. but these days....it's just all madness." she supposed this was what it meant to be a real adventure seeker. to really push her own limits for the sake of a good story. she thought she had taken those steps but it turns out she was still walking up a spiraling staircase made of the most fragile glass. "there is much i want to know....there is so much to take in. it can be a bit overwhelming and i...i was getting a little lost in the tragedy of it all." she removed her hands from his and took a step back, building herself back up. his study contained much and nothing at all simultaneously. she made a footnote of that in the back of her mind. "guide me...show me where else i can go...what else there is to learn. what i need right now is a proper captain."

[sersh]

ALYCIA DEBNAM-CAREY via Instagram, August 11th 2024

[wildcstwinter]

it feel intimate , in some peculiar way . like wendy was peeling back his flesh and inspecting his bones , observing the way nerves wound around ivory and prodding at the conduits of veins that ran hot . he lingered a fair distance away , a shadow behind her , yet not like the one she'd have become familiar with - one that had a more physical presence , posed a greater threat . turning her back to him was something he imagined she'd have never done in neverland , something she shouldn't be doing now . all it would take was one swift motion of ringed fingers slipping into his pocket , followed by a flick of his wrist , and he could be striking the back of her skull - piercing that beautiful mind - with the well-tended metal of his blade .

" — and why , pray tell , do you think that might be ?? " a hidden motivation was interwoven amongst the spoken inquiry , a tilt of his head as she drifted around the room like she were an intruder . stepping past the threshold of somewhere she wasn't particularly supposed to be . something that lingered between amusement and fascination twinkled in hook's eye , trailing behind her as she made her way into another room - his study - a bit closer to her heels than he had been in the living room . he moved around her , towards the other side of his large mahogany desk , the room's walls lined with bookshelves ornamented with varying knickknacks , maps , and other bobbles and bits . hook pressed a hand into his pocket , feeling the hilt of his knife , stroking its leather with his fingers as he cocked his head ; " what is it you have lost , wendy darling ?? "

[sewingshadowsx]

this was the first instance where she felt like she had gone a little too far. that she had meddled somewhere she shouldn't and that her tour could come to an end in any second. her breathing was becoming a little uneven as she felt his presence consume both the room and her very being. "it is as you said...this isn't your actual home. and well, it very much reflects that." her free hand travelled to the bracelet on her wrist. it belonged to her mother once and the only real trinket she had of her own home. she twisted it around her wrist until it started to hurt from the skin becoming raw from the trinkets that adorned it. she was suddenly missing her own home more than she had ever thought she could. there was something about his study....something about his home...that was starting to fester her anxiety. like the reality of it all was only just not crashing down on her.

"i've lost....my mind, for one," she said with a small wince. the pain of her own actions being the only thing to ground her as she tried to keep her composure with the sickly feeling of intrusion. "i've lost much...but i haven't seem lose as much as it feels you have....and it saddens me as much as it unsettles me....it feels as if the more i see, the more i have lost my own way...." she didn't dare turn to look at him. she couldn't handle him looking at her like she sounded utterly stupid or even sounding incredibly spot on. she couldn't trust her own tongue anymore when it came to him and she knew it wouldn't take much for him to have the urge to carve it out of her mouth. "i think i'm done with the tour....it was very lovely. but i'm feeling as if i am overstaying my welcome too much."

[wildcstwinter]

ever observant , hook took in her expression , lingering on the finite details he had come to appreciation very much . soft lashes that fluttered like that of butterfly wings , round cheeks , pouted lips that seemed hesitant to smile ( as if she was still fighting an internal battle on whether or not such an expression was warranted around a man the likes of him ) . finally sipping his own cocktail , stepping away himself to grant the woman some untainted air to breathe , he gestured with a limp wrist vaguely around the room . " if you think my home provides you with such an insight , by all means , wendy . see what it is you'd like to see . " perhaps she'd use his home to humanize him , to find pieces that weren't smeared in carnage and sullied by vengeance . he wondered if she'd notice the missing hands on clocks or the collection of hunting manuals that had been stacked on the mantle, collecting dust .

" i will admit , there isn't much here . not much of interest , anyways , " hook mused , stepping around her , dark eyes looming over the shadows in corners and squinting at them for a moment longer than necessary . " — it's mainly a collection of things taken from the shops inventory. items i found too , , , valuable to be priced . much like that book that had caught your eye . " stepping into his living room , he waited for her , rolling the rim of his glass against his row of bottom teeth . " my home is my ship . the open sea , " hook reminded her , a glance cast over in her direction . a smile , then , that seemed almost somber . " — this is merely a placeholder until i can get back to her . "

[sewingshadowsx]

wendy nodded, understanding his sentiment fully. evermore was a placeholder, a temporary means to an end...yet she found herself discovering so much more than she ever could back home, even in neverland. she still had an inkling that this home would reveal more about james than he even thought it would. so she started her exploring, tender in each step. she didn't touch a thing as she moved through what she assumed was the living room, just stared and took notes in her head. she was trying to memorize every detail, every speck of dust. this could be the only time she ever got to explore so freely and she didn't want to waste a second. the more she observed the more she felt this strange sense of...she didn't know how to describe it. like a gentle wave of sadness amongst, well, nothingness. a rebellious feeling that refused to settle, refused to make it completely his own.

of course, some things were very much his. the silence was his and there were things that still looked new and obviously were not and there were things that looked very worn down that were probably newer than the other things. she paused her observations, looking back at him with curious eyes. she didn't say a word to him before resuming her search, entering a different room entirely. she should have asked permission before venturing further but her eyes had a sparkle in them that was determined to find some sort of clue about the man that was not far behind her. "i almost feel like i'm adrift at sea myself..." she mused aloud. "like a wreckage that is keeping me afloat....but pulling me farther away from what was lost...i know not every home is...a home. but i thought....or i guess i didn't, really..."

[wildcstwinter]

a slanted smile dressed his lips ; " i'm glad you enjoyed it . " words were delicate , soft , like smooth silk being draped across bare shoulders as he coated the air of his kitchen with pleasant tones and niceties . nevermind the way his fingers twitched — an unspoken urge to tug out the remainder of her words when she cut herself short — making him feel like a ventriloquist who had lost control of his most beloved puppet . instead , he pocketed the thought , figuring he'd find a way to elicit her ramblings later . eventually .

swift as the wind as it brushed up droplets of salt from the sea , hook's hooked pointer came to guide the underside of her chin up as she sipped from the cocktail , pleased she had trusted him , pleased at the floating sound of appreciation that resonated from her after the liquor had slipped down the back of her throat . " delightful , " hook echoed , as if it were his first time hearing such an adjective , having yet to sample his own cocktail . he was far too immersed in observing the consumption of hers . an impish flash of his eyes , complimented by the wicked curling of his lips ; " i can think of plenty of worse ways in which you have opted not to act like a lady . " the comment , though teeming with light mirth , carried weight . purpose . a reminder of the things she had given him , and what he had happily greedily taken .

" you're welcome , darling , " came his sticky sweet reply , complimenting the sugar that swirled in her glass , pressing the pad of his thumb to her lip and feeling the sticky residue of the drinks additives against the lower of her petals . lowering his face to hers , james gave her a knowing look , a brush of his nose against hers ; " now , are you waiting for me to offer a tour , or are you going to ask me for one yourself ?? "

[sewingshadowsx]

these days it felt like all wendy did was blush around the captain. willingly putting herself in these predicaments gave her no one to blame but herself. she didn't have a clue what she was doing anymore in regards to this man but she wasn't trying to stop herself or stop him from these interactions. she willingly let him touch her, humiliate her in private, and she had no one to blame but herself.

her breath hitched the closer he was. in an instant it felt as if her brain had short circuited. she felt that if she actually moved she would somehow embarrass herself further, so she stayed still. his question hung in the air far too long based on her knowledge of his ever-short patience, but she still remained silent a breath too long.

"i was...i was getting to asking..." she answered lamely, trying to calm down the atrocious fluttering in her chest. she wasn't sure if she was more excited about his touch or his home. she had to let out an exhale as if she had stopped breathing before stepping back on her own two feet. such bravery, she chided herself. "i would love a tour of your home...i'd enjoy seeing more of what makes you...you...very much. so i am asking. yes, i am asking. would you be kind enough to show me around?"

[pirxtefairy]

“I don’t think I would be a very good stalker or kidnapper by stepping out into the street and introducing myself,” Zarina retorted flatly. Well, maybe ‘introduction’ was a little far fetched, but unfortunately she was very quick to get defensive these days. She sighed, trying to will away the combative comments despite her patience slowly dwindling the longer they remained in the area. A quick tongue wasn’t necessary right now. Not yet at the very least.

“Look— I just—“ Zarina struggled to find the words to say. She meant well, her intentions protective even. The issue was that she wasn’t sure if she, or this girl, was the one who needed that protection. “Neverland is my home, okay? And I haven’t seen it for over eight years now; so you’ll have to forgive my impulsive curiosity and potentially backwards way of going about wanting to find out how a stranger in Evermore knew so much about it.” Once again, only half the truth fell from her lips— though there was more heart to this response than the last. Zarina wasn’t even sure if she could call Neverland a home anymore. Would she have anywhere to go if this cursed town ever spat her back out on that island? She certainly wouldn’t have anyone to turn to… Regardless, the fairy figured this was the safest answer to offer until she learned of this woman’s relationship with James.

“There’s a dive bar close by. Lots of regulars at this time of night, so you don’t have to worry about me trying to ‘kidnap’ you… Are you okay with that?” The Snuggly Duckling seemed like a good choice of relocation. It should be busy enough where they could both feel safe, but empty enough to also have a bit of privacy at a reasonable volume. That and— well the drinks were pretty cheap there.

[sewingshadowsx]

Wendy nodded her head. "A dive bar is just fine," she said, waiting for this mysterious woman to direct her towards it. She had so many of her own questions. She had yet to meet a Neverland native she did not know and while she knew logically that made plenty of sense she wanted to know her story more than anything. She clearly knew more than Wendy expected and she had to know what details were foreign to her. She also needed to know what parts of Neverland she hadn't been allowed to see.

She didn't feel as if the woman was a threat anymore. Her sense of judgement on that was already mediocre at best but she really felt in her gut that this woman was looking out for her more than she was trying to harm her. They walked in silence but that was alright with Wendy. It gave her more time to think about all she wanted to ask and how much information she was willing to give herself.

Eventually, she couldn't keep her thoughts to herself. "I'm sure you miss Neverland terribly," she said softly, glancing at her. "I hate that we have to meet like this...but I'm eager to know more....it's been a while since I've met someone new who knows what I'm talking about."

[seccndstar]

~

Her gaze was distant and Peter wondered why. Something was different. Something had changed. Was it obvious to Peter? Not in the fucking slightest. He wasn't stupid enough to not know there was something off, but he didn't notice much past Wendy's mannerisms. Their brow furrowed, listening to Wendy speak. "Things are different," he repeated. "That doesn't mean they're bad though. We're back together. Things...things might begin to feel normal again. Now that I have you back I know they will." Peter was often surrounded by people but that never stopped the aching loneliness he felt that only Wendy could fill. And now she had.

Peter's heartbeat was fierce, drumming against their chest so hard they could almost hear it. They weren't about to let Wendy feel so...whatever it was she was feeling. Maybe she had been having an off night, which if she was Peter knew his presence should immediately cheer her up so surely that wasn't it. Or, maybe she was in so much shock she didn't know how to react. Regardless of which Peter knew he had to trigger her familiar. warm smile and longing gaze she always had for him.

"I've missed you too," he admitted. He cocked his head to the side for a moment as he thought. "I've missed you an awfully lot, my darling Wendybird. More than you know." The words didn't feel as strange on Peter's tongue as he'd thought they would. In fact, they felt...comfortable. They took a step closer to her, hands reaching out to cup her cheeks. The feeling of her warm cheeks beneath his palms felt different than it had before. He smiled at her, trying to really look in her eyes as much as she wanted to avoid it. "I missed you so much that I could-- Well, I should just show you." Without another word Peter leaned in, pressing his lips against hers.

[sewingshadowsx]

Perhaps she didn't use her words right. Perhaps she had been so lost in her own head and her own guilt that she forgot to visibly show she did not want to encourage old behavior. Perhaps she did still look like the lovesick girl who wanted Peter to see her as more than any other companion; played the part she knew so vividly too well. She could blame the stars, her misfortunes, and maybe even him. The result stayed the same. Did he notice her loss of interests? She doubted that. Peter was still the Peter she knew and he rarely thought of others feelings like that outside his own. Even thinking that made her feel like James's influence was ever-present.

No, what troubled her about this kiss was that it felt like he was trying to take claim of her, to remind her that he owned her. She didn't like to think she belonged to anyone, even bitterly so at times. It didn't make sense why he would suddenly try to invoke the feelings she had carried so loudly and without shame for years and years...right now. He just found her. He couldn't have known...had Hook found him first? Is he trying to send a message? No, they were alone right now...which meant Wendy could slip up her act just this once.

Wendy did kiss Peter back, and just as quickly as she had she pulled herself away. Her heart was beating so loudly she was sure it would leap out of her chest and run for the hills. Dying sounded more appealing then trying to wit herself out of this. She needed time. She needed to be away from everyone...she needed to feel like she could breathe. "Peter...that was...that was unexpected..." she said, her palm on her chest as she steadied herself. "I...I don't know what to say...or....I think I need to go. I think I need to go check on my home and....I have a deadline for a story...."

[seccndstar]

~

Hearing his name fall from her lips was enough to make Peter's heart skip a beat. Their smile grew brighter as her arms swung around them, their own wrapping tightly around her waist. Peter lifted her slightly off the floor, wishing he could spin her in a circle and scream from the sky how he'd found Wendy. It felt so surreal but Peter knew there was never a more real moment in his life that mattered. He had succeeded in his quest of finding Wendy and now...well, now what? It didn't matter. All that mattered was he had her in his arms. "I will always find you. In every town, world, or universe. I will always find you."

Peter took the effort to gaze into her eyes. They were just as he had remembered but with something else. They couldn't place it and they didn't want to either. Not now, maybe not ever because all that mattered was he had his Wendybird. "Come on," he said as his arms dropped from her waist so his hand could grab hers. He tugged her through the crowd until they were in his office. Peter had a lot of questions and he wanted to ask them all. "How long have you been here?" he blurted. "I've been searching for so long and it's always been a dead end. I knew you were here though. I just knew it. It was only a matter of time until you came back to me."

[sewingshadowsx]

His hands around her waist felt so different now. She used to try to memorize these kinds of embraces with Peter, always craving more even when she knew it was silly of her to do that. Now all she felt was as if he were suffocating her with feelings she didn't understand at all anymore. Putting her down made her sigh to herself in relief. Being taken away from everyone's stares was even better. The last thing she needed right now was for James to learn about their reunion. Not that she should care if he cared to know or not. She knew he cared. He wanted to destroy Peter, so naturally he would be delighted to know he's shown face. She couldn't ignore the raw and sudden wave of displeasure knowing that was the only reason, but it plagued her mind as Peter spoke to her and held her hand.

"I....It's hard to say," Wendy answered honestly, not being able to look him in his eyes as he was trying to with her. "I just...woke up here....and have been here since. I should have known if I could find you anywhere it be here....a miscalculation on my end...." Until she came back to him. The words felt like knives slicing into her character. "Of course I was looking still....it's been....things are very different...and it's nice to see you here and alright....I've missed you terribly." She did. Even though it felt wrong to when it hadn't before.

[wildcstwinter]

james observed wendy with a bird-like curiosity ( a humorous comparison given the fact he referred to her as his feathered pet ) as a thick brow to raise on his forehead . a smirk , tilted with wicked amusement , loomed on his lips as he used the hand guiding her — the one floating over the small of her back — to press against the lower knobs of her spine with a bit more force . drawing her to him . closer . he inspected with an peaked intrigue ; cherry-red stained the apples of her round cheeks , a taught politeness in the way she attempted to keep her gaze from wandering . he knew his bird would wish to investigate his nest ; she had been inquisitive of him and his mind since the moment they had crossed one another's paths on the ill-lit streets of evermore . he'd be an idiot to invite a woman of literature , of scripture and storytelling , into his home with the assumption she wouldn't wish to explore . instead of a reply , instead of acknowledging her undeniably festering inquisitiveness , , , he pressed a swift kiss to her temple — less so a full stamp of affection and instead a ghosting of a gesture — before turning on his heel to move towards the cabinet .

" have you read that book ?? the one from the shop ?? " hook inquired , retrieving two rocks glasses and opening the freezer to pop out a pair of cylindrical balls of ice from a tray , dropping them into each respective tumbler with a CLINK !! the pouring of honey-hued bourbon quickly followed , a lighter hand used for the portion divvied into her glass . bitters were splashed into his , maple syrup and brown sugar mixed into hers , , , during the process , there was never a stolen glance cast over his shoulder . entirely concentrated . he felt her presence though , looming and cautiously disquisitive . turning to face wendy once more , he closed the distance between them , offering her tumbler with a coy cock of his head . another test ; did she trust him to fix her a drink ?? he hoped silently she didn't , but also hoped she knew him well enough by now to know if he was going to do the horrendously vile things he had told her he fantasized about - he wouldn't opt to turn to something as simple and underwhelming as poison . " try , " hook gently instructed , jutting his chin in the direction of her cocktail .

[sewingshadowsx]

her foolish hand had touched her temple before she could even process the gesture. wendy hated that she continuously broke character around this man to behave like a girl with some schoolgirl crush. all it did for her was make the swarm of butterflies in her chest flutter madly. more like a swarm of locusts; forever multiplying and consuming. she had almost missed his question entirely because of her own thoughts, but she quickly put herself back in her place. she couldn't allow herself to think about how james tended to make her act before thinking....it was too dangerous a territory and she was already in the middle of a storm, no matter how deceivingly calm it was at the moment. "i have," she finally answered, standing stiffly as he made her a drink. "i can't believe no one else had grabbed it. it's full of short stories of the grandest adventures i'v ever read! the words practically come to life in your mind as you explore its contents and i'm almost envious of the author. the storytelling, the lore...it is just beyond anything i've read before! i could probably write my own novel just marveling at it! romance and history and---"

wendy stopped herself, a fresh blush creeping on her face. she had been so absorbed by her admiration that she hadn't even realized james had gotten so close to her again. she took the drink in hand and sipped, her eyes wide and watching his. she hadn't even pretended to act cautious; yet another impulse made due to this man's presence. a small moan left her lips at the taste of the cocktail and she allowed herself another sip before setting it down. it was blaringly obvious how she felt about the drink, but she knew better than to stay silent when he studied her the way he was. "it's...delightful..." she whispered, afraid of speaking too loud when he was so close. "it's like you've read my mind.....if i weren't a lady, i could have chugged the entire drink..." it was almost as if she was reminding herself that she was in fact a lady and a guest at that. the judgmental whispers of those who instilled proper manners on her were having a field day with her recent behavior. "t-thank you, james..."

[seccndstar]

Closed starter for: @sewingshadowsx Location: Neverland

It was a lively, Friday night at Neverland. It usually was. Something felt off to Peter that night though. He kept looking over his shoulder, checking to see if there was someone following him. He told himself it was all in his head though as he continued to pour himself another drink behind the bar. It was his party, every night, and he would do as he pleased. He'd made a few patrons some more drinks, flirting with the occasional person. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was a presence there that was both familiar and new. He disappeared for a bit into his messy office, retreating a while later after he delt with what he was doing. When he turned the corner to come back out into the club area he froze. There she was. His Wendybird. He would knew the back of her head anywhere. Any and all other thoughts were gone from his head. It was instinct as his feet made their way across the dance floor, pushing past people. When he reached her he placed his hand on her shoulder, and when she turned around a beaming smile came to his face. "I found you. I knew I would."

[sewingshadowsx]

Wendy would think that at a place called Neverland, Peter would surely be there. When she had first awoken in Evermore it was one of the first spots she scouted out. Even when disappointment washed over her the first time she tried a different time of day to see if maybe she had just missed him. Failure after failure almost made her give up entirely. Then James found her and....well now things felt so complex that Wendy almost didn't want Peter to be found. An awful thought that matched with awful feelings. Her guilt was what made her look, though she told herself tonight was the last time. If she didn't find Peter, he could find her.

So naturally, he found her.

The look of absolute shock crossed her features first. Then came relief that he was okay. Then more of that stubborn guilt. "Peter," she called out, the people surrounding them disappearing from her mind completely. The man who inspired her stories and the man who had a tight grip on her heart. She used to dream of him finding her here and whisking her away to better days and better adventures. Now she felt like she couldn't breathe...in the worst ways. She felt betrayal, but which person she was betraying the most at this point she didn't know. All feelings to deal with at another time. So she shoved it all down; it was an art to how she allowed herself to behave around him at this point. She swung her arms around him and held tightly, his familiar scent washing over her senses and making her heart ache more. "You found me. I knew you would too."

[lcngstcryshcrt]

@sewingshadowsx

"So if you have any hot tips on how to wake a princess under a magic spell, I'll take any advice I can get," Max joked, hoping the ring of truth under the laughed words wasn't too obvious.

[sewingshadowsx]

"In the fictional sense I have plenty. Though the most common practice is true love's kiss...which I have a feeling that is not an option for your situation." Wendy thought it was an odd question, but she was learning Evermore was filled with odd things. "You are joking, right? Do you know any princesses? Should I know about any royalty here?"

[wildcstwinter]

𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫: @sewingshadowsx !! 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: hook's place

never had wendy darling breeched the threshold of hook's home . the farthest the woman had ever been allowed to go was his porch , and even that was enough for him to feel as if a boundary had been crossed — a line in the sand tampered with before he could draw his sword across it . now , he guided her through the open front door with a hand cupping the lower knots of her spine , fingers barely grazing the fabric of her jacket , his jaw tight as he willed his heart to be still as something resembling anxiety made it quiver .

the last one to see his home before it had been restored was zarina ; her footprints still haunting him as they trailed in shadows from one door to the other. . . but as he guided the darling through his foyer , down the hall , towards his living room — he successfully willed his guilted heart to slow as he brushed his nose against the crown of her head . inhaled her scent , basked in the warmth of her presence .

i will consume all you are , and all you've yet to become. . .

words that had been purred against her throat as he stole her virtue yet another time in the middle of his shop , hands and mouth having been greedy for her in a way that felt almost primal . all after he had described the varying ways he'd rid the world of her ; how he'd bathe in her essence and wear her vestments like a second skin . the veins in his neck flared as the memory crossed his mind , willing it away as he stepped to the side — casting his eyes to hers ;

" fancy a drink , dove ?? "

[sewingshadowsx]

wendy was in a daze. she couldn't believe that hoo--james, was allowing her into his space like this. a person's home was a sacred thing; it revealed many intimate parts about a person and with someone as private as james, she was sure his home was a vault full of knowledge. this was beyond an author getting a few extra pages of backstory for a novel; this was real. this was a kind of trust that wasn't given out often. she was feeling a mixture of endless curiosity, nerves that made her heart pound so loudly she was sure he could hear it, and another feeling she couldn't quite put into words (which was a first for her).

her eyes scanned everything as he led her into his home. she wanted to memorize as many details as she could just in case she was never afforded the luxury of seeing it again. james wasn't really giving her a tour, not that she expected him to, so she kept her lips sealed shut despite the questions forming on her tongue. besides, his closeness was just as distracting as his home was. it was easy to lose her train of thought when she could feel his hand on her back, practically burning her with the simplest touch. just a glance could bring her back to the last time they had really spoken. Not that he really had to do much to make her remember that. Stolen moments in the darkness of her room had her reliving it plenty.

by the time they were in the kitchen was flustered, trying to calm the redness she was sure was present all over her face. she was his guest and she wanted to be polite. she couldn't believe she really had to chide herself to get her mind out of the gutter. she nodded to his question before correcting herself. the captain preferred her to use her words, after all.

"a drink sounds lovely. surprise me."

[wildcstwinter]

❛ 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚… ❜

& 𝗷𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗸 ft. WENDY

james hadn't expected her to lean so heavily into his wicked fantasy, but the murderous beast that burrowed itself into the cavity of his chest all those years ago couldn't help but purr at her eager and enthusiastic means of doing so. . . a delighted hum rumbled in his throat, vibrating against hers as he not-so-delicately sunk canines into flesh, pulling it between his lips and willing the vessels beneath to break at the will of his mouth. " do i ?? now why is that ?? " hook muttered once he had released his suction with a noisy POP - a rune of branding having blossomed atop porcelain. a rune he began to compliment with a mate just below it, feeling the buzz of muscle beneath, wondering just how willing she'd be to let him sink his teeth in deep enough to rip the tendon from where it laid. his grasp tightened, his fingers locked in an iron fist with the material of her dress bunched between them. the door was locked, she had sealed herself in - willingly offering herself up to the starved wolf on a platter littered with the bones of bodies long forgotten.

his head lifted, however, at her question. eyes two black pools of tar as they bored into seas of cerulean, icy blue frames to swelling pupils that were so reflective he could see the lethal gleam in his own gaze. the hand that had been cradling her chin moved to, instead, encompass her throat- pad of an eager thumb pressing cruelly hard against the blooming bruises he had marked her with. " you want to know what i'd do to you ?? " he mused, an offering for her to back out, one last chance of escape. however, the option wasn't a real one - not entirely, and soon he was dropping one hand to join the other at her waist, hoisting her up and turning them around so he could plant her right on the counter, the book he had disposed there clattering to the floor.

paws forced the fabric of her dress up to the round of her hips, a commanding jerk of his knee spreading ivory limbs wide enough for him to nestle himself between them. the hand returned to her throat, but it took its time getting there, gently crawling up the front of her torso, wandering beneath the seam of her breast, sliding over it before gliding up and over her clavicle. finally, it found its mark, and ringed fingers waisted no time in circling around her neck. with a noxious hum, james brought his nose to her, breathing in the scent of her with a deep inhale before he mocked the breath he now stole as fingers began to squeeze. " my dove, i've thought about killing you since the day i met you . . . " hips rolled forward, the hand still on her waist forcing hers to meet his, teeth moving to nip at her lower pillow with a greed that couldn't be satisfied. words were spoken with a sultry purr, one that was complimented by the twitching of muscles as he had to refrain from acting out upon spoken fantasy.

" i'd take my time with you, wendy darling. i'd draw it out so long you'd beg me to finish you off. to end your life so that the suffering may cease. i'd drag my blade from sternum to naval and see if you're as enchanting on the inside as you are the out. " mouth migrated, finding the bone of her jaw, tracing it's marble-carved edge with his teeth. with each passing moment, his groin continued to spazz, a dull throb beginning to pulse alongside an alien heartbeat that had him hardening with each spoken thought. the imagery of wendy submerged in a pool of carnage so delicious he was salivating. breath began to infuse his words, the power of his own imagination proving itself too strong to be contained. no semblance of control save for the force he put on her windpipe. " i'd cut out that wickedly devious tongue of yours, listen to the drowning of your mindless babble as you choked on your own blood. i'd tell you to be a good bird and swallow - taste the iron in which you so cruelly taunt me with when you so much as nick your thumb turning pages too quick. . . " her pulse sung the most delicious melody beneath his thumb, and he squeezed her ; giving little thought or care to whether she could breathe. not giving a shit if he shattered her windpipe and starved her of oxygen permanently. right now, watching the light fade from her eyes was such an intoxicating premonition his dick twitched at the thought and a low, promiscuous growl sounded in his chest. his other hand moved between her legs, the tips of his fingers finding the apex of her thighs and pressing commandingly against her clothed cunt.

" i'd tell you i loved you while i treated your spillage like fine wine. i'd use that pretty little word you value so dearly and hurl it like a spear. over and over. i'd purr my affections into your chest as i carved out your heart to hand deliver to pan himself. i'd tear you to bits and i'd savor every fucking moment. you're blood would paint murals on my walls. the whine of your last breath would sound like a symphony in my skull. i'd be so bewitched by your destruction that i would bath in it." james began to rub small, tantalizing circles against her, his own breaths shuddering. " i'd make you the most incredible work of art you'd never see. they'd write poetry about your destruction , wendy darling , and i would read it to your headstone every fucking night."

his head then lifted, a look of yearning so tender it was a wonder how such an expression could compliment the hellfire his words raised. " are you still feeling so ill-deterred, my dove ?? " he lessened his grip, only enough to give her sips of air in order to fuel her reply. " words. now."

[sewingshadowsx]

& wendy darling ft. HOOK

fueling his flames was her intention, though the outcome still left her breathless in all senses. wendy darling was coming to terms with a few things at once. first, she was accepting how fragile ones' life really was. how it could be ended in a flash by a wild man with nothing to lose and all to gain. a reality that was only glazed over as if she was skimming a book to see if the material was as genuinely enticing as the cover. she never thought she would face her potential demise so suddenly and with no fight from her, but at the same time she knew this was a lie. james hook was a man that was good on his words, threats included, and she had offered her flesh before a starving beast time and time again.

the second thing wendy was coming to terms with was that the very thing that could kill her spoke so beautifully, so raw, that she was inspired. even as her vision started to fill with tiny black dots as he was lost in his madness, she could only think about how well spoken he was. how she almost wanted to capture his morbid fantasies onto paper so that she could dissect it all later from a reader's perspective. as if he was telling a tale instead of allowing her to know a well-intended promise. he was a vile, depraved, sinister being, and she couldn't even pretend she wasn't moved by his words. how her will clung to life simply to let him speak. if this was what he felt about her, a third party in his bloodlust, then she could only imagine the story she could being out of him regarding peter. how insane was that? to feel as if she was having a breakthrough with the very villain who detailed exactly how he would slaughter her.

lust crossing into savagery was a violent storm to weather. it heightened every sense to a point where pain and bliss were one and the lack of oxygen to her brain meant she could only feel as she stared into the eyes of a truly lost soul who was maddened by the wrongdoings dealt upon him. her movements were small but unablet to be helped as he teased her core, bringing her to a point where she thought she was going to die of lust first. even when the faintest voice in her head was telling her he was going to follow through, he was too far gone to help himself, she felt nothing but empathy towards the man. she had always been the type to want to aid those who seemed like they needed it most and she had never met a man who needed that more than james. he was both everything she feared and nothing of the sort. a contradiction that could cost her everything or free her from her own shackles she had placed on herself.

just when she had accepted she was a cautionary tale, a tragic story of a girl trying to figure out her place in womanhood and mend the ties of a war she had wedged herself in the middle of, he let her breathe. her lungs tried to fill as best as they could. she coughed uncontrollably until she could adjust to the more familiar grip he had on her throat. there were tears spiling from her eyes just from being allowed this chance to speak. her heart beat so wildly in her chest she was sure it was ready to leap out for him to hold in his bare hands. carnage in the most poetic way. there was so much she wanted to say, so many questions forming in her pretty little head. the only free hand she had available went to the arm that was around her throat and she just rested it on top of him, not in a way to stop him, not even to deter him from finishing his goal. just a fucked up way to connect herself to him, to remind his mind she was still very much present.

"oh captain, my captain," she managed to say, her voice hoarse and faint from the roughness it endured. "i'm afraid that fear is something more now. if that is what you truly wish to take from me, then your own words are your guide...." she paused to cough more out of her exhausted lungs, but continued. "i hope, though, that you give me more opportunities to hear more of your stories first. to...to have this now and to lose it....it would be a very shameful end for me..."

[wildcstwinter]

at her easy dismissal of his confession to murder, hook grinned — a wicked, lethal curl of his lips that he pressed eagerly against the shell of her ear. " oh ?? you don't think death at a man's hands can be creative . . . ?? " hook mused, using his grasp on the fabric at her waist to yank her form forward until it fully collided with his own. his tongue flicked like that of snakes, forked and venomous as it tasted the cool metal of her earring, feathering the enflamed skin beneath. " — i can assure you, dove, that i have mastered the art of the perfect crime scene. . . i can paint the prettiest pictures using only what the human body has to supply. i am a man who lacks may things — but creativity ?? that is not one of them , my darling. " words were hummed as if they were erotic coos, though the visual of decapitating her beloved crow and mounting his head above his office door was one that made his groin cramp in morbid excitement. not to mention the wispiness of her breaths as words rode along them, coiling in his ears, so compliant and docile when just about a year ago she had flinched at the sight of his shadow.

not that hook blamed her, he wasn't fond of shadows himself.

lips then scripted their unspoken prayers against the warmth of her throat, feeling the villain within stirring at the prospect of once more being presented with the opportunity to further defile one who was once such a naive and sacred thing. wendy's trust in him was as confusing as the riddles she used to cry alongside the lost boys on the island. as confusing as her blindness to peter's hand in making hook precisely who he was. when youth and fantasy were all she had to focus on whilst he withered away in the confines of his cabin, he figured it made sense that she'd view him as evil; every story needed a good villain, and in the name of revenge, it was a part the man had taken in stride. the hand on her waist shifted downwards, beginning to gradually bundle the fabric of her dress in his hand as the hem of the garment rose higher and higher, canines carving sigils into the curve of her throat as predatorily purr made his own vibrate. " does that scare you ?? " hook asked against her flesh, soothing whatever havoc he wreaked on her neck with the flat of his tongue. " — do i still scare you, wendy ?? "

[sewingshadowsx]

the pictures that hook had placed in her mind just with an implication were graphic, horrifying, and beyond anything she had witnessed firsthand. wendy should be concerned with the way her mind was capable of thinking of creative ways to murder. she could shrug it off as being too creative for her own good, her stories needing a darkness to them that they lacked, etc. or wendy was just more fucked in the head than she knew. did her desire spill into a part of her that already existed or one that she had just started crafting? she never had a violent streak to her before but she dismissed most taboo feelings as improper and left it at that. she didn't really have a need for bloodshed or enemies to make disappear. she didn't think she was an angry person....but that was not entirely true. rage did simmer deep in her underbelly. rage at herself for the lack of life she has experienced, rage for the expectations put on her....it wasn't the same so it didn't make sense for hook's words to effect her the way they did.

but they did effect her. they went straight to her core until she was weeping for his touch, for more. the good girl she had been was screaming at her to leave, but instead she just leaned into his touch. instead of putting a stop to this she moaned as he assaulted her throat with his tongue. the same tongue that was just preaching that he was a master of violence, alerting her senses towards danger and morphing into pleasure, of want. did he scare her? "you terrify me," she said, her voice sounding more like a sigh, acceptance. "you could change your mind about me and snap my neck as if it were nothing...." the coolness of the room that became ever more present as he gripped her dress made her gasp and tingle and she could feel how soaked her lace panties were. her body was trembling because it wasn't sure which sensation to take in first. "would you paint pretty pictures with my blood? or will you make me suffer more and make it quick? would my death turn you on? i fear i know the answers to a lot of these questions....and it hasn't deterred me once."

[pirxtefairy]

'I've been there,' the girl said. A very curious choice of words in Zarina's opinion. They implied that she wasn't native to the island, but a visitor. A visitor? Those weren't all too common in Neverland. Maybe that slightly explained why she appeared to be so friendly with James. She didn't know better—but that thought was disrupted by the next words she spoke. So she knew Pan, too... even seemed to perk up at the mention of his name. Zarina's eye's narrowed as she scrutinized the unknown woman and the information she was subtly spilling. Friendly with James, but Pan was the first person she inquired about? That didn't make much sense at all.

"Pan is— he's an acquaintance. Are you?" It was a neutral response; truthful as well, although Zarina dodged everything else the girl asked. The fairy has had little one-on-one time with Pan, and most of it was in Evermore after her unfortunate run-in with James. If she was now on anyone's side of the infamous Neverland feud, it was Pan's... but Zarina wouldn't say they were friends by any means. She didn't truly have any of those to begin with. The brunette looked around, now suddenly aware of how out in the open they were. "I want to hear more about what you have to say, but I think we need to go somewhere more private." They were still far too close to the antique store for Zarina's liking; and it probably wasn't best to discuss sensitive information about 'fairytale' islands on a random sidewalk.

[sewingshadowsx]

Wendy didn't know what to make of this woman. An acquaintance of Peter's who only addressed him as Pan...it was suspicious. She never really saw Peter use formalities in any occurrence and the only one who really referred to him that way was James....and now this stranger. Was James testing her? Was Peter testing her? She felt these days all she was given was test after test....it was starting to get a little maddening. She wasn't going to prove herself to either side because she didn't even know what side to be on anymore.

"Where do you suggest we go to talk then?" she asked, still guarded. She wasn't just going to bring her to her place; that was a dangerously stupid idea. Wendy was aware that she hadn't answered her question about being Peter's acquaintance but if she wasn't going to answer all of her questions then Wendy was going to return that courtesy. "You're the one who was following me. What was your plan? To stalk me? To kidnap me? I would like to know why you want to know of my knowledge of Neverland if you want me to go anywhere with you."

[pirxtefairy]

Zarina had a talent for sneaking around in the shadows. Sure, it was a talented nurtured from her time on the Jolly Roger, but fairies were naturally light on their feet. Even, it seems, in human form. Her mind was racing, trying to foresee a completed puzzle that she didn’t have the pieces to. The mysterious girl halted her steps, calling out into the night. That’s all she had to say to gut feeling of someone following her? Okay, so this stranger was definitely not a pirate. That much was now clear. Nonetheless, as far as Zarina knew, the pirates were the only Neverlanders friendly to James like that. Everyone else either hated him or was afraid of him. Rightfully earned. So then… who the hell was this girl?

Keeping her head low and her back pressed into scattered spots of darkness, Zarina had half a mind to wait. To let this girl walk away at least for a little longer. No. Her head and heart were moving far too swiftly for the rest of her to slow down and even fully realize a proper thought. Just as the girl went to turn back around, Zarina finally revealed herself; slinking out of the shadows in a way that somehow achieved both precision and awkwardness. There was a silent pause between the two as they stared at each other under the amber light of the street lamp. The flutter of a moth’s wings beat against bout of dead silence from above. Zarina didn’t know what to say… and it’s not like she had the most grace to begin with. So, with nothing else to lose, she just came right out and said it.

“How do you know about the second star to the right?”

[sewingshadowsx]

Admittedly, Wendy didn't think the person following her was going to actually reveal themselves. She was, like at most times, all talk when it came to being brave in the face of danger. If Neverland had taught her anything, it was that no one was as they appeared. Even though this woman didn't exactly look like a threat, that didn't mean she wasn't very much one. She tried to appear composed and together, but she felt like a little girl cosplaying as a woman in charge.

The stranger's question had her more curious than scared. Wendy had never seen her during her time in Neverland, but that hardly meant anything. There were all kinds of people that lived on that island. Meeting someone new from a place she thought she knew a lot about was thrilling. "I've been there," she said earnestly. There was something about her that made Wendy sure of disclosing that information. "What about you? I don't mean to sound accusatory or anything but I have never seen you in the time I spent there so I have to know what you know. Are you a friend of Peter's?" She seriously doubted she was on the pirates side of things. Not many people were.