#Aurora Ice Bar

[circusroyal]

AURORA 𝙻𝙴𝙵𝚃 𝙰 𝙼𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚃𝙾 : Aurora makes soft beeps to Kinger as a hello. The little digital face on her screen showing a sun. Basically saying "Good Morning." without the mention of words. She's always finding new ways to greet each circus member upon seeing them. Being unable to speak is slightly difficult.

����𝐄𝐑𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐒  one  of  the  first  cast  members  he  actually  doesn't  seem  to  startle  at  any  given  time  .  Maybe  account  that  she  really  couldn't  make  much  of  a  sound  other  than  𝐁𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆  .  It  was  hard  to  remember  to  focus  on  her  screen  sometimes  especially  when  his  mind  was  so  𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐘  .

The  greeting  sort  of  works  …

❝  Oh  ,  SUNSHINE / @wisteriagrcve !   ❞   It  could  be  interpreted  as  a  polite  nickname  for  the  situation  at  least  ,  if  you  thought  about  it  enough  .

[skzdust]

Ateez Snapshots: Calling them Daddy

All suggestive. Minors DNI.

Anon request here! Daddy is usually not my fav but these were actually a lot of fun. My fav is Wooyoung's :) Enjoy!

Summary: Reader, who is friends with each member, calls them "daddy" out of the blue... they respond in a variety of ways.

Pairing: Ateez x reader

Includes: coffee dates, amusement park dates, study dates, video games, bar dates, dinner with a friend, writing a song, and touching yourself during a movie

Word count: 1.8k

Taglist (Comment on a post/send an ask if you'd like to be added): @weirdowithaphone, @caught-in-the-afterglow, @palindrome969, @skzstan12345, @katsukis1wife,

@hyunjinsjeans, @somethingkindazainy, @silverstarburst

Network:@mirohs-aurora-society

Reblogs, likes, comments all appreciated!!!

Masterlist

-----

Hongjoong:

You and Hongjoong are having coffee, and your mind starts to wander.

Hongjoong is sipping his usual iced butterscotch latte with almond milk, caramel cold foam, and cinnamon sprinkled on top, and you have your usual order. You’re staring into your drink.

Hongjoong is your best friend, but you can’t stop thinking of him naked, pushing into you with a groan.

“Hongjoong… Daddy…” You’d whisper at the feeling, at him bottoming out inside you.

“Huh?” You look up, and Hongjoong’s flushed red.

“What?” You’re confused.

“Did you just… um… call me….”

Your eyes go wide as you realize. “Did I say that aloud?”

“Um… yes, you did.” Hongjoong is looking at you, waiting for you to respond. He’s all red, his fingers tapping against his cup, slightly biting his lip.

You want him so bad.

“Hongjoong…” You murmur. “I was just…” You sigh, unsure of what to say.

“Do you want to call me that?”

“Yeah, I do.”

“Then… ah, do you want to…” Hongjoong looks so nervous you laugh. “Don’t laugh at me!”

“I’m not laughing at you, I’m laughing cause you look adorable…” You lean in. “Daddy.”

Hongjoong groans. “Don’t say that in public. It’s gonna make me… ugh.”

“Kim Hongjoong, does ‘daddy’ turn you on?” You raise your eyebrows.

“Maybe.” He smiles.

“Then maybe we should go back to my place.”

Hongjoong’s eyes light up. “Yes, we should.”

-----

Seonghwa:

You and Seonghwa are at the amusement park, and your mind starts to wander.

You’re on the biggest roller coaster in the park, climbing up the first hill. Seonghwa’s hand is warm around yours, holding it tightly. You should be nervous about the drop ahead, but you can’t stop thinking about those hands, about what they could do to you.

Seonghwa squeezes, and you smile at him. “Thanks for holding my hand, daddy.”

“Daddy?” Seonghwa looks shocked, but before you can say anything, the car is toppling over the slope of the roller coaster, and you’re screaming, squeezing his hand even tighter.

Your stomach is in knots from more than just the coaster as it slows to a stop at the end of the track, and as you pull into the unloading area, Seonghwa doesn’t let go of your hand.

“Did you call me daddy?”

“I… um, yeah…”

Seonghwa smiles, a glint of mischief in his eye. “You know, if you want to call me daddy and scream, we could do something other than another roller coaster.”

You smile. “Are you serious?”

Seonghwa’s eyes dart over you. “Yeah, I’m serious.”

-----

Yunho:

You and Yunho are studying together, and your mind starts to wander.

Both of you are in a chemistry class together, and you just can’t get the calculations quite down. As Yunho’s showing you one for the third time, you can’t stop thinking about him fucking you on that table. You’re in one of the most private study rooms in the library, so it’s unlikely anyone would find you…

“And then you carry the one… got it?”

“Got it… daddy.” You whisper the last word.

“Daddy?” Yunho repeats.

“Yeah.”

He tilts your chin up so you meet his eyes, and your stomach jumps. “Did you mean that?”

“I did.”

“Fuck.” He says softly, his eyes roaming over your face. “You’re so beautiful, I’ve always thought that, but I didn’t think you… wanted…”

“Wanted you to dominate me?” You say boldly.

“Yeah.” Yunho smiles. “But now that I know… we’re gonna have fun, aren’t we?”

-----

Yeosang:

You and Yeosang are playing video games, and your mind starts to wander.

Well, Yeosang is playing League, and you’re laying on his bed and watching him. Your best friend isn’t very good, but it’s fun to heckle him as he plays.

He finishes his game and tosses his controller on the table. “I swear, that was not reflective of my skills.”

“Sure.” You laugh. “Whatever you say.”

“Oh, come on.” He spins around in his chair to face you.

“What did you want me to say? Yes, daddy, lose that game harder!” You say, joking, but Yeosang goes deep red, quickly looking away.

“Don’t say that.” He mumbles.

“Kang Yeosang, do you have a daddy kink?” Your eyes widen, and you grin.

“No!” He protests.

“You totally do, daddy.”

He puts his face in his hands. “Shut up.” His words don’t have any bite.

“Fuck me, daddy!” You whine. “Harder.”

“Seriously, shut up.” He looks at you. “If you keep talking like that, I’ll start to think you’re serious.”

“Well, maybe I am.” You say, your stomach jumping. Would that make things weird?

He blinks. “Seriously?”

“Yes… daddy.” You smile, shy.

“Fuck.” He whispers. “I love it when you say that, y/n.”

-----

San:

You and San are at a bar, and your mind starts to wander.

He takes another drink of his beer. “You look distracted, what’s up? Weird day at work or something?”

You shake yourself out of it. “Yeah, exactly that.”

“What happened?”

I was thinking about you fucking me all day and I couldn’t focus on my project, but I did have some fun fantasies about calling you daddy, so that was good. You think. “I was just really spacey today, I don’t know. Couldn’t focus on anything.”

“Really?”

“Yes, daddy.” You say without thinking.

San laughs. “Daddy? Where’d that come from?”

Your face goes hot. “I— um—”

“Be honest, baby.” He lifts his eyebrows. “Where’d that come from?”

San calling you “baby” lights a fire in your stomach. “I’ve been thinking about it a little bit.”

“Thinking about… calling me daddy?”

“Yes.” You look down.

“Hey. Look at me.” San says gently.

You look at him. His expression is full of compassion and maybe something a bit darker. “You can call me daddy if you want. And if you want me to fuck you, just say so.”

“I want you to fuck me.” You whisper.

“Okay, then let me finish this beer and we’ll go back to my place.” San takes another long swig from the bottle, nodding at your glass. “Finish your drink, and we’ll go, baby.”

You smile. You drink your wine as quickly as you can.

-----

Mingi:

You and Mingi are having dinner, and your mind starts to wander.

It’s just hamburgers from your favorite local place. You’ve gotten takeout and you’re sitting at the dining table in Mingi’s apartment.

But it feels like more than that.

“Did anything exciting happen today?” He asks, taking a bite.

“Um… not really.” You say, smiling, images of Mingi’s hand around your throat filling your head. “Nothing too interesting.”

“Whatever you say, sunflower.” You blush at the nickname. It’s your favorite flower, and it’s his special nickname for you. “But your little grin says otherwise.”

“What do you mean?”

“What really happened today?” Mingi raises his eyebrows.

“I was just… thinking.”

“About a guy?” He pokes.

You take a breath. You’ve been in love with Mingi for so long now, you may as well go for it. “About you.”

“Me?” He looks surprised. “I don’t get it.”

“I tink about you all the time, Mingi.” It comes spilling out. “You bending me over my desk, you pinning me against the wall, kissing me… all that kind of thing… daddy.” You whisper the last word.

“Daddy?” He whispers back.

You squeeze your eyes shut. “Yeah…”

“Call me that again, sunflower.”

You open your eyes. He’s looking at you intensely, his eyes burning with a fire you’ve never seen. “Call me daddy.”

“Daddy… will you fuck me?” You whimper, putting it all on the line.

“Shit.” Mingi says softly. “I’ve been wanting you to ask for so long. Yeah, daddy’ll take care of you.”

-----

Wooyoung:

You and Wooyoung are working on a song, and your mind starts to wander.

You usually don’t write sexy music, but the melody Wooyoung has built with the guitar combined with the riff you’ve composed on your bass has an undeniable seductiveness to it. Heavy, like a heartbeat, but somewhat risky, too. Wooyoung’s got an effects pedal plugged into his guitar that’s making it even hotter.

And you’re thinking about his fingers deep inside you as you play the bass line you’ve got down practically by heart at this point.

“That sounds really good, y/n!” Wooyoung says loudly over your playing.

“Thanks, daddy!” You say back, and then stop playing as you realize what you’ve just said, staring at him for any reaction.

“Daddy?” Wooyoung laughs. “Damn, you’re really getting into the… mood of the song, aren’t you?”

“I am.” You laugh nervously, hoping he’ll dismiss it at that.

But he takes a step closer. “Didn’t know you had a thing for ‘daddy’. I’ll have to keep that in mind.” He taps the tip of your nose, winks, and turns around to pick up his guitar again.

You feel hot all over. “What do you mean keep that in mind?”

“I just mean it’s good to know what you’re into. You know, in case you want to fuck.” He slings the guitar strap over his head, facing away from you, but you can hear the smile in his voice.

“In case— what?” You sputter.

“Oh, c’mon, I’ve noticed.” He smirks. “You stare at my fingers a lot when I’m playing. You want them inside you.”

“I— I mean, maybe.” You exhale.

“I’m up for it if you are.” He starts playing the chorus to the song, looking down at his guitar, and you notice the blush on his cheeks.

You smile. Wooyoung’s just as down bad as you are.

-----

Jongho:

You and Jongho are watching a movie, and your mind starts to wander.

Jongho kissing you, pushing you down into the couch, making you his.

You sneak a glance at him. He’s watching the fight scene contentedly, sticking a piece of popcorn in his mouth. He doesn’t even notice you looking.

You carefully slip one hand under the blanket on your lap.

And then you slide it under your sweatpants.

You close your eyes for a second. It feels so good to touch yourself after how worked up you’ve made yourself thinking about him. You know it’s wrong to touch yourself thinking about your best friend, much less when said best friend is sitting next to you, but you can’t stop yourself now.

“Fuck, Jongho, daddy.” You whisper, the words bubbling up on your tongue before you can stop them.

“Did you just…” The movie pauses, and you open your eyes to see Jongho looking at you, blinking.

“Oh, I was just— um—” You search for words, but you can’t find any.

He grabs the blanket and pulls it off, revealing your hand down your pants. You snatch it out and he takes it, licking your fingers and making hard eye contact with you.

You shiver. You hadn’t been expecting that.

“Beautiful girl.” He whispers. “Were you touching yourself thinking about me?”

“Maybe.” You whisper back. “I… maybe.”

“You should’ve just asked me to do it for you.” He licks again. “I would’ve said yes.”

“Can you do it for me?” You breathe.

His eyes glint. “Sure thing, baby.”

[glow-worms-are-believers]

Living off the (Si)grid (dp x dc)

Sigrid does not remember how long they have been waiting for someone to come but as time went on and Sigrid was still captive, it seemed as if they had truly been forgotten by all.

A failed experiment that had been left unfinished in the lab, nothing more than a project. And Sigrid had grown colder, their blue skin hardening like ice. And yet, even as the temperature drops and drops, their breath never clouds.

Dead things do not breathe and Sigrid is ice and snow, desolate and forgotten.

"Hello?" A voice says.

At first Sigrid believes they have imagined it.

"Is anyone here?" The voice sounds again.

Sigrid lifts their head, looking beyond the bars, the electrified door of their cells and searches for the voice's owner.

"Hey," Sigrid hears and then there is a floating figure, with snow hair and aurora eyes. Their chest tightens in familiarity.

"Hi." Sigrid has believed they'd forgotten how to speak but here they are, mouth and tongue working as they've done before.

"What's your name?" the boreal figure asks. "I'm Phantom."

That is a hero name, and Sigrid should give their own hero name in return but they do not feel like 'Icemaiden' any longer.

"Sigrid," they answer.

"You got ice powers, don't you? I can feel it." The figure floats down and approached Sigrid's cell, who tenses at the approach. "It's ok, I have ice powers too." Then, Phantom opens their palm and in it forms a crystallized ice drop.

Sigrid's eyes are wide open as they leaned in towards the ice, forgetting amidst the awe about the electrical barrier separating them.

The shock is painful and tears a cry out of them.

Immediately, Phantom is by their side as if no barriers can stop them, "Are you ok?" the borealis child asks and Sigrid blinks, but before they can answer, the ice child continues, worriedly. "I'll get you out right now."

Then Phantom is out of the cell, and is plunging a hand in the console in front of the cell. The constant buzz fades out and replacing it is a blessed sound of silence.

"You're free. Sorry, I should've started with that," the aurora child says, bashfully.

Sigrid looks out and cannot see the tell-tale shimmer of a force-field. Hesitantly, they take a step out and then another and another and they're out.

"I'm free," Sigrid repeats, hardly believing it. Phantom gives them a slight shy smile and Sigrid can not stop themselves from embracing the child. "Thank you." Their voice trembles and the sincerity in the words is unmistakable.

Softly, the child's arms come to rest on Sigrid's back in a gentle embrace.

This must be a dream, Sigrid thinks. If it is, they don't want to wake up.

[world-in-a-nook]

"And upon his name was a crown of jewels, and the brightest was Hope"

character : Aventurine pairing : Aventurine (drunk!Aventurine at the end) x avgin!gn!reader (specified blond hair) ; angst/comfort art : @しかく

synopsis : Aventurine, while sitting in a bar, finds you performing at a bar in Penacony. Surprised to see another Avgin, he watches your dance performance and comes to see you after it. inspiration : dance ; warnings : spoiler for 2.1 (all of the Aventurine's backstory) ; Avgin racism (implied prostitution); alcohol ; petname ( little gem ; darling ;) ; survivor guilt ; might be ooc lore taken from : Signoia, Unclaimed Desolation (I went full on worldbuilder and might have expanded a bit) wc : 3.1k author's note : not my native language

The night had long started inside the bar with drinks passing from hand to hand, chatters getting loud. The cocktail, an Imagined Sunrise, in Aventurine’s hand swirled the sweet colour of sunsets. He was seated in an obscure corner, far from anyone’s gaze. Although his client had long left, he decided to stay anyway to pass time. Why stay in the boring room when you can have fun outside?  His bodyguards would have preferred the former since it meant being less alert but Aventurine wasn’t the type to cooperate especially after a frustrating deal.

Through the rose-tinted glasses, he looked at his surroundings. The bar was crowded like any night of Penacony, people sipping on the dream syrup or on some Soulglad. The chatter filled the room mixing with the clicking of the ice and the music. The coloured bottles shined in the dimlit bar creating drinks. His own was gleaming like some dawn, one that he dreamt so much of. He took a sip before looking at the clock, curious to see if the casino might still be open. His thought process was interrupted by the bar’s owner standing up on the stage:

“Tonight, folks, I’ll present you with an exotic flower from a faraway land. This desert bloom will offer you a performance like none other!”

It was at this point that you appeared on the stage, waiting for the musicians to start. Though Aventurine was already captivated because he could now grasp what the owner meant with “faraway land”. He recognized the patterned clothes, the colourful jewellery and golden hair gracefully swaying with each movement. And when he finally saw your colourful eyes, he felt as if the ground was breaking before him. Each one of your movements seemed like turning his world upside down. He followed the movements of the colourful fabrics, of the golden jewellery. The fabric moving like the wind in the golden dunes, your hair like the rays of gold that warmed his skin. The jewellery chimed together as making a melody on its own. He crossed your gaze through his glasses and couldn’t resist to lean forward in disbelief. Those movements reminded him of the time faraway from now, a time where each shimmering aurora had the warmth of comfort, of home; a time in which he danced with his family and rejoiced in the Kakava festival; a time which felt so far away, yet he yearned for it.

His contemplation continued: how the fabric’s colours and your movements was a wildfire swaying to your liking, each of the golden jewellery was a spark for every new flame, the chiming of it like the crack of the firewood. The dance sending him into a spin of fascination and disbelief. Each step like an acknowledgment of your presence, each beat of the music making him realize that he wasn’t the only one left. The fire continued to dance and show off its movements with the rhythmic music. The drums beating as hard as his heart, the graceful sway of the fabrics leaving him in a daze. With each new melody, he took a sip of his own drink. His head spined with the dance, the alcohol, and your twirls.

Before a stop, the dance ending, and some applauses. Pearls of sweats had appeared on your body completing your jewellery set. You bowed with the applauses and toss of coins, though Aventurine could hear some of many murmurs:

“An Avgin? They’re just some snake, manipulating their charms for money.”

“They’re just trying to find a fool for the night!”

“You know Sigonians, rotten to the core…”

He didn’t care when those insults were about him. He had heard them so many times now that it felt numb, but he wasn’t the target of it, another Avgin was, and it felt so different. Someone like him was insulted. His eyes darted to see your reaction if you would say anything back. Though you had already escaped from his gaze, the only remain of your performance was your faint perfume.

He wanted to follow you through the narrow corridors, through the dazzling streets of Penacony, through each planet, through the desert dunes until that moment where he could go back to that very moment, that impossible moment in which the festival took place in joy. The faint perfume did bring him back to reality after a moment and like the good businessman he was, he knew how to use his tongue. A slight gesture and the owner approached:

“Good evening, Mr. Aventurine. Thank you for choosing our humble establishment!”

“Oh, but I must thank you, my friend, for the atmosphere, the drinks and even the entertainment!”

“Oh, did you like tonight’s beauty? A rare gem…”

How he objectified you felt repulsing, you were a being, not some sort of possession limited to its beauty. Aventurine bit his tongue, though he had led the conversation where he wanted to, so he asked:

“Oh indeed, a one-of-a-kind. May I ask if it could be possible to see that gem?”

“I’m sorry sir but they don’t accept visitors…”

He gazed upon the owner facing him. It was easy to see his lies: the crossed arms, the slight bite of the lip and this twitch of the eyebrow he had seen in some gambler he provoked. He had encountered so many liars like him, so confident yet wearing their emotions under the spotlight. He didn’t mind it, after all that’s how he won. So, he asked:

“My friend, I have heard that your establishment lacked customers. I might be able to do just that… Some of the Strategic Investment Department needs a place to have fun time. Would you be able to grant that?”

“Yes Mr. Aventurine, of course. Our humble establishment would gladly welcome your colleagues. They would also have a price. The IPC, and yourself, have done so much for us !”

“Then make me another drink for me and your generous patrons! It’s on me!”

The owner rushed to the bar, urging his employees to start serving drinks to all patrons. A big investment for just one fleeting moment. Drinks appearing and going from left to right, up and down, cheers coming from one side to another, praises for the generous esteemed guest. Yet he knew how they were just hypocrites, esteeming him during their drunken state. One moment, he was one of the avgins “rotten to the core” and the other he was an “esteemed guest”, what a joke. He looked back at the owner, now was truly time for the gamble:

“If I may bring a drink to the precious gem…”

“Oh of course, Mr. Aventurine. Let me show you the way…”

A few corridors later and they entered your dressing room, knocking on your door. You were facing a vanity taking off the jewels resting on your forehead and chest. The owner introduced:

“Little gem, one of our esteemed guests wanted to give you a drink. So, I brought him to you. He is a particularly important guest which is giving us new clients which means you could get more money for your performance. Treat him well…”

The owner escaped while Aventurine sighed at the owner’s lack of subtility. He signed his bodyguards to stay outside the door and after a few seconds, you finally spoke for the first time:

“I’m not selling my body…”

“Oh no need to inform me, I’m not here for that…” replied the businessman.

To confirm his saying, he sat down on the furthest couch and laid your drink on the nearest table to you. More seconds of the awkward silence, silence in which he delighted because as a gambler he knew it was a silence of thinking, of calculation. You asked politely while turning:

“Then why are you here sir?”

“Because I think we have something in common.”

“Oh really?”

Aventurine, for the first time, took off his glasses to reveal his colourful eyes while his left hand went inside his pocket. Your gaze met and there was this moment. He could see emotions passing through your mind and body: first, the slight widening of your eyes from the surprise, the lips parting as if trying to find words, the quivering fingers as if grasping for reality and then seating back as in disbelief. At last, the nod of acknowledgment. Both of you stayed staring at each other, like staring into mirror. Two beings that started the same but ended up as opposites. You broke the silence:

“I’ve heard rumours about an IPC debt collector being Signonian but are you…?”

“I’m an Avgin.”

The sentence was short, but it felt like a revelation for both of you. An acknowledgment of each other’s fate, each other’s hardships and despair. The realisation of each other’s suffering by the mere gaze, the lack of shine in each other’s eyes. He broke the silence by sipping some of his drink, it was easier to numb the pain. You took again the lead in the conversation:

“May I ask for your name?”

“They call me Aventurine.”

“Doesn’t sound avgin…”

“As I said, darling, they call me that way.”

Behind the dismissive use of the petname and the play on words, he didn’t expect your wit. Although you were quite right to not trust him at first in this cold world. He couldn’t bear to see you slip between his hands like the golden sand. Another gulp of alcohol, of courage. For a second, his vision blurred and his head spinned. For the first time, through sheer will or maybe was it his thoughts blending into a mess, he broke again the silence:

“And may I call you something else than what that man called you? May I have your name?”

You replied, after a few seconds, with your stage name which he immediately got:

“Oh, come on darling, it’s not that much of a big risk to give a name.”

“Says the one who didn’t give his name either…” you retorted.

“Touché! But I did it because I’m known as Aventurine and besides, I’m part of the IPC. As a member of the Ten Stonehearts, I shall reveal no secrecy and invest in my persona.”

You could hear the sarcasm dripping from his lips and he started to be more talkative, probably from the alcohol ingested throughout the night. Even if you wanted to go, you had to stay and treat him well because of the owner’s order. You would be interrupted in your thought process by the blond:

“Those jewels… Are they from turquoise meteorites?”

“Yes, they are. Mama Fenge has blessed my family with it and so I carry them to each performance”.

“Can I see them up close? No touching you or them if you would like to, it’s just been a long time since… Well, it’s been a long time since I’ve seen some… Would it be possible?”

He silenced himself by taking another gulp of his drink and he put the fedora away, starting to feel hot from the alcohol. He let out a small sigh of relief when you approached to let him look at the golden chain, which was previously attached to your belt, with turquoises and charms. The melody of the chain lulled him into deeper memories, and he started to talk again:

“You know, I’ve heard that these turquoises were as beautiful as Gaiathra Triclops’ eyes, but I wander if they are as valuable as hers. If turquoises are that valuable, then is that why our land was destroyed? Why were our valuable land and people left for dead?”

You didn’t respond because of the sudden emotion. The alcohol had certainly turned the gambler into a sentimental. You didn’t know how to quite manage to those questions because, you too, didn’t have the answer to that question. The dreading question that didn’t come in each other’s mind since a time long ago, a time that felt like forever. Yet your thoughts were again interrupted by him:

“I have a lucky charm too, not as valuable as turquoises but a gold lucky charm my mother gave me. Lucky charm to a lucky child, quite an irony. Big sis’ told me that it was to symbolize my name. “Blessed by Gaithra Triclops”, Kakavasha, lucky child yet received a lucky charm.”

You didn’t comment on how he just told you his name, his mind obviously elsewhere, probably drowning in the memories and the alcohol’s fog. You parted your lips as if trying to find your words, they didn’t come. The small details in his drunken speech seemed to confirm his identity as an avgin. It wasn’t one of the silver-tongued men but of an avgin, one of the last. You tried to continue the conversation:

“But you were blessed by Gaithra Tricolps. You are here, and you are someone powerful and you are quite fit at gaining money at the roulette.”

“Blessed… Lucky me, I guess! Luck makes powerful but my destiny not lucky, not just…”

“Then, how about we pray to the mother goddess for such luck and a happier destiny?”

His eyes widened at your proposition. You showed him your left hand to initiate the prayer, yet you saw his glassy eyes look at your hand like witnessing some kind of miracle.

He was about to take another gulp of his drink, but his hand was too shaky. He didn’t even know now if it was from the alcohol or the emotions, perhaps both, perhaps one facilitating the other. He approached his gloved hand and, after some clumsy movements, rested upon your hand.

You started the prayer, his voice being quieter. With each sentence, the blond went quieter and staring at the joined hands. You didn’t yet notice, at first closing your eyes in this ceremonial moment but when the prayer ended, you could see how his glassy eyes turned teary. You parted your lips trying to say something, hoping you didn’t do anything wrong, yet your surprising reflex was to embrace him.

You were shocked by your sudden gesture, and you couldn’t see Aventurine’s reaction. Though you could sense how tense his body was, how his shoulders were trembling. At first, you thought he would immediately pull away, and he didn’t. You let out a sigh and wrap your arms around him, not sure how it ended up like this. First you were dancing on stage, swirling to the tambourines and bells, and now you end up with a man – you didn’t quite process that he was an avgin just yet- in your arms.

You thought it would be another moment of silence. Not an awkward one, like when he entered your dressing room, but one of acknowledgment. One of contentment in which each other saw pain and sorrow. Yet this silent was broken by his slurred words:

“I should’ve saved her… I should’ve…”

You should hear the slurred words mixed with the throat tightening. The shoulders continued to shake in your embrace. Blond locks following his shaking. The taste of alcohol blending with the salt of the tears. Slowly dripping on your performance outfit, yet you didn’t care. It wasn’t about your outfit or treating him how the owner wanted. It was about helping him in his pain, comforting him. And you didn’t even know but it was the first time that anyone had treated him that way, that anyone had seen him in such despair, that any miracle had managed to quell his solitude.

Everything felt numb, his muscles tensing as if he couldn’t breathe. How would he dare to live? How was he allowed to? He was blessed, yet it was like a curse. He couldn’t bear to think that the one who didn’t come one was the closest to him. He had selfishly followed and ran, as far as he could, even though he knew something horrible was coming. And when he came back, it was too late: the cackling Katicans, blood drenching the golden sand, the fire devouring the tents. And of course, he had survived. He hated that he survived. Tears running down his cheeks and drenching the colourful fabric.

Yet, in this tender embrace, he could smell your perfume. Eyes slowly closing into those nights he longed for so much time: the warmth of the bonfire, the feast with spiced meals, the laughter and conversation swaying, music echoing in the valleys. It was the night of Kakava. Jewellery and colourful fabrics blending in the dance, his sister looking as beautiful as a gem, inviting him for a dance. The well-known steps coming back to him and following the music. You had come into the dance, and all laughed. He took his sister’s hand to give her a turquoise necklace, as precious as Gaiathra’s eyes, just for her to wear in this special occasion. He told her about all the travels he did, journeying far beyond Sigonia, of all the riches he gathered, of all his schemes that worked and some that didn’t. The tender embrace exchanged afterwards bringing him the warmth he so much desired. Sparks going back into his eyes as the warm embers of Hope coming back. They smiled and dance until the blinding dawn came. He turned to his sister and saw her smile, as bright as the sun.

Yet it was the same sunlight that awoke him. He rubbed his eyes and slowly looked around: he was laid down in his bed, with the same outfit as last night – well what he could remember of it – and his headache reminded him of his alcohol consumption. He could almost hear Ratio’s sermon about how alcohol kills his liver. He took out his phone and checked his messages and bank account, thankfully he didn’t spend anything drunk nor text any weird messages. There was only him in his bed, so he didn’t bring anyone home or they might’ve escaped before he woke up.

He slowly sat up, leaning on the headboard, and heard something fall onto the sheets. After rummaging a little, and taking a sip of water, he found a turquoise charm. He couldn’t quite remember when he bought it or if he won it yet there was some sense of familiarity. He approached it, made it shine in the golden rays before the realisation hit him: it was one that once was on your golden chain. As precious as Gaithra’s eyes yet you accepted to give one to him, a fellow Avgin. He swallowed his tears and stood up, one day he hoped to thank you. He didn’t look at his reflection this morning but if he had, he would see that glimmer of Hope back in his beautiful eyes.

[rainsbasspick]

I went to an ice festival and of course I have ghoul thoughts (pictures I took are at the end):

Rain is in awe over all the beautiful sculptures and spends at least 5 minutes at every theme, taking in all the details. He mostly loves the otter and sea creatures.

Dew likes it but thinks it's too cold and turns his heat up higher only to be told to stop that by Rain, not wanting to risk any of the art works to melt even the tiniest bit. That makes Dew a bit grumpy but the warm chocolate milk that's promised at the end keeps him quiet.

Phantom is all over the place, he loves it all but doesn't have the patience to stay anywhere longer than a minute. He mostly loves the art work made about movies, like R2D2 or Gollum.

There was also a slide and Phantom had to go off it of course, twice. The first time he didn't slide at all, until Dew told him to lay back and hold his feet up. He FLEW. He was so fast that he hit the wall and hurt himself a bit. Worth it though. (Definitely not from my own experience 🤫)

Swiss loves the jäermeister bar most and together with Dew, he has to be literally pulled away from it.

Mountain, together with Cumulus enjoys it just as much as Rain. They're all museum ghouls, who can just look at things for minutes and take in all the details.

Aurora enjoyed the outing, enjoyed the time with the pack but she really doesn't like the cold and stays close to Dew..

Cirrus takes pictures of everything. Forces everyone in a group picture and makes sure everyone is warmly clothed. She can't stop talking about how much work the people put into making these sculptures

Pictures I took today under the cut

[rems-writing]

Cyberpunk's bartender

》 Pairing: bartender!Wooyoung x gn!erader

》 Genre: Fluff

》 Wordcount: 1,800 words

》 Rating: nc-17

Nets: @mirohs-aurora-society @othersideoutlawsnetwork @illusionnet

Wooyoung chuckled to himself as he saw a group of girls walk inside the club and saw one of them stand out from the others. She looked sheepish and definitely did not want to be outdoors right now. He understood far too well that sometimes, people just don’t like being forced to go out. As soon as Mingi, the bouncer that let these women in, gave a signal and pointed to the incredibly shy girl that flinched at everything, Wooyoung nodded and gave a thumbs-up in return. After all, he was also used to helping introverts like that woman escape. 

“I NEED THREE TEQUILA SUNRISES FOR BOOTH 1024!”

Wooyoung heard Jongho’s voice resonate within the dingy strip club and he nodded. He set to work on making the mixed drinks, pouring each amount of tequila perfect into the metal shaker before adding ice and closing it. He started shaking it with one hand while the other gathered three glasses so he could pour the drink in. Once he set the shaker down, he grabbed a strainer and placed it over the opened shaker before pouring each drink into the frosted glasses. He grabbed the tiny umbrellas and stabbed three maraschino cherries before topping the drinks with it. 

“THREE TEQUILA SUNRISES!”

Wooyoung’s voice was incredibly loud, even through the booming techno music the strippers were dancing to. Jongho hurried over to the bar and grabbed the drinks carefully before thanking him and walking over towards the booth. Wooyoung sighed and quickly washed his tools so he could prepare for making the next few drinks. He hated using dirty tools when making drinks. He believed that the remnants from the last cocktail mixed in with the new cocktail would make it taste bad. It’s a silly ideology, but to him, it made the most sense. He was currently watching the crowd and observing the different dynamics they got going on here. Soon, he felt a presence in front of him and he smiled brightly. 

“Well well. If it isn’t my favorite customer.”

You giggled and playfully rolled your eyes at his compliment. Wooyoung had first met you when you came in with so much stress. You weren’t one to drown your sorrows in alcohol, but you had just about enough. As an event coordinator and a travel planner, it seemed like you could never catch a break. The only upside to your job is that you were self-employed so you were your own boss and you could take as many days off as you want. After the occasions you helped out with, you were definitely taking a month long vacation. 

“Do you say that to all your customers?”

“Of course not, doll. They aren’t as put-together as you.”

“Ok ok fine. Enough with your pretty words. You know the drill.”

“So the usual then?”

You nodded and Wooyoung set straight to work. He decided to put on a little show for you since you expressed that you felt fascinated with the way Wooyoung makes drinks. From a simple whiskey on the rocks to the most complicated cocktail (i.e. the cosmopolitan), you believed he had the magic touch. After Wooyoung set your drink down, you thanked him and took a sip. You were surprised. Your usual, which was green apple Crown Royal mixed with Sprite, tasted stronger than usual. Not that you didn’t mind of course. You had a strong tolerance. However, this normally only had one shot of Crown mixed into it. 

“Woo. Did you put two shots in this?”

“I did. And before you ask, I didn’t fuck up. I added another shot intentionally. After everything you’ve told me, I figured you’d need to relax a bit more.”

Your heart fluttered at Wooyoung’s thoughtfulness and you thanked him by raising your glass to him. He poured his own shot and clinked his glass with you before knocking it back. He set his empty shot glass in the sink and handed you the menu. 

“Order what you want. It’s on the house.”

“Woo, no -”

Wooyoung reached over and put his finger on your lips to shush you. Normally, you would’ve rolled your eyes and shoved his finger off, but for some reason, you felt a bit flustered under his touch today. It definitely wasn’t the alcohol speaking. You weren’t even tipsy yet! Perhaps it’s just the environment you’re in. After all, you were technically in a place where women’s hormones go crazy. Once upon a time, you used to be like them. Now? You had your priorities straight. 

“It’s fine, doll. I mean it.”

“Fine… I’ll take the takoyaki and katsu pork bites please.”

“Want to throw some potstickers in there as well?”

“Sure.”

Wooyoung nodded and took your order to the kitchen while you sipped on your drink. While you were waiting for him, you noticed a girl trying to shrink back into the booth she was at with, who you assumed were, her coworkers. You chuckled as she tried her best to be a wallflower in a place such as Cyberpunk. You also felt bad for her as well. Mingi told you briefly about this woman and you honestly wanted to beat those women’s asses. Sadly, it’s none of your business. The most you can do is wish that she smoothly escapes them as soon as possible. 

“One order of takoyaki, katsu pork bites, and potstickers for my favorite customer.”

Wooyoung’s voice snapped you out of your observant haze quickly and you turned around to see the food placed in front of you. You were salivating. After weeks of eating nothing but healthy food in your own home, you considered today a cheat day. You grabbed your chopsticks and picked up a katsu pork bite before eating it. Apparently, this was a new thing on the menu. 

And you hoped they’d keep it. 

“Woo… this is fucking bomb! Tell the chef to keep this on the menu!”

Wooyoung chuckled smoothly and found your love for bar food so adorable. He made a mental note to do that before he left. As he watched you eat, he couldn’t help but stare at you. The way your hair fell in front of your face (he wanted to reach out and tuck it behind your ear), the way your cheeks puffed up as you kept eating (there were a few crumbs stuck to the corners of your mouth and he wanted to wipe them away with his thumb badly), and the way you drank your strong drink with such poise? Yeah this man is in love. 

“I NEED A ROUND OF SHOTS PLUS THE STRONGEST DRINK YOU HAVE FOR BOOTH 1117!”

Jongho’s voice broke Wooyoung out of his lovestruck stupor and he sighed deeply. He knew which booth Jongho was referring to. Setting to work, he first made the cocktail since it was a longer process. Once the drink was made, he took out a lot of shot glasses and placed them on the tray. 

“WHAT ALCOHOL DO THEY WANT?!”

Jongho asked the customer real quick on what shots they wanted to order before yelling back. 

“SOJU!”

Wooyoung nodded and took out some soju bottles before pouring the spirit into each frosted shot glass. Once he was done, he double checked to make sure everything was in order before shouting out to Jongho.

“A ROUND OF SOJU SHOTS AND A STRONG COCKTAIL!”

Jongho walked over and grabbed the tray once more before placing a dollar bill in front of Wooyoung. It was a tip. A generous one at that. Wooyoung pocketed the money before turning back to you. His eyes widened at the empty plate and they trailed up to you, still sipping on your drink as if you didn’t order so much bar food. 

“Well I’ll be damned. I’m calling you Kirby with the way you practically inhaled that food.”

“That would require me having a black hole for a stomach though, and we both know I don’t have that.”

Wooyoung laughed at your sassy reply and nodded before pouring himself another shot.

“To our aspirations of becoming Kirby!”

You clinked glasses and knocked back your drinks before setting the glass down. Wooyoung took your empty glass and looked back up at you. 

“You want a refill?”

“Nah. It’s ok. I think I’m done for today.” 

“Perfect!”

You were confused as to why Wooyoung said that and said it in that tone. It wasn’t until your eyes landed on an empty shot glass that you realized what he was doing. You immediately shook your head. 

“I have work tomorrow -”

“What time do your clients come in?”

“Uh… around noon or 2 PM.”

“Great! Now come on. Knock one back with me.”

“Wooyoung, I don’t know -”

“Did you drive here? If you did, I’ll take your decline.”

“Well no. My car’s in the shop so I took an uber here…”

“All the more reason to take a shot! Come on. It’s Friday!” 

“Woo…”

Wooyoung took your hand in his and rubbed your knuckles with his thumb. You felt more flustered than before and you couldn’t help but find him so handsome underneath the dim lighting of the bar. His black hair was tied back into a small ponytail while two strands hung in front of his face. His jawline was sharp, his lips looked tempting and kissable, and his eyes were shining with mischief and amusement. There was also a sincerity behind them too. 

“You work so hard, Y/N. You deserve this. I’ll take care of you. Like always.”

You didn’t say anything, prompting Wooyoung to continue. 

“I’m not going to lie. I mainly just wanted to flirt with you and get a rise out of you. I’m fine with being friends. However, if you’re on the same wavelength as me, then I will tell you right now. I fell in love with you. I’m so in love with the way you talk, move, and hold yourself. I figured someone like me could never be with someone like you. But I’m willing to shoot my shot and give us a try. The question now is… are you?”

You were taken aback by Wooyong’s confession. The bartender that you like also likes you back. You felt your heart hurt when he said that he doesn’t deserve someone like you when in reality, it’s sort of the vice verse. However, seeing as he’s willing to give it a try, you thought “Fuck it.” in the back of your mind. You were independent, made good money, and had a stable life overall. Why not share that life with someone? You intertwined your fingers with his and a small smile appeared on your face. 

“Yeah… I’m willing to give us a try.”

With that, you both took your shots, and the rest is now history. 

[vshiftsss]

✏ ~ POINTY PENCILS | Words weaved carefully together, someone says something appalling you. As if you're reading a book, you'd underline what was said, gasping at how they were able to say such a sentence. Who and what did they say?

<3

RAFE LIKING SOMEONE ELSE - (ASK GAME)

thanks for the ask anon! answering for my outer banks dr.

“i, uh…i met somebody. at the yacht club,” rafe spoke into the quiet ambience of the now-closed beach bar, garnering a questionable look from aurora. she paused her cleaning, the wet rag in her hand long forgotten now that she knew rafe was interested in someone else.

she didn’t quite know to say—for weeks and weeks, rory had been fighting the unstoppable wave of care and attraction she felt for rafe. at first, she believed it would never happen; she was technically a pogue, and it seemed like rafe hated pogues more than anything else some days. obviously he wouldn’t be interested in her, especially after rory helped john b and the rest of her friends find the gold.

but those nights at the beach bar…they shifted something between them. rafe gave aurora a chance to finally see the man beneath all the bravado and coldness he usually expressed towards her…and aurora? she fell in love. as per usual.

sometimes she even considered that maybe, just maybe, he liked her back. the fact that he was even exposing this much about himself to a person he didn’t (maybe even still doesn’t) consider a friend already fueled the false hope she had buried down. but then there were the late night walks up and down the boardwalk, the weekly visits to the small ice cream stall a few blocks away. the genuine smiles rafe gave her when he thought she wasn’t looking.

it was always like this with rory. someone would show a modicum of care towards her, and all of a sudden she was imagining going on dates and holding hands. it was a naïve way to think, but the girl couldn’t help it. romance wasn’t her forte. puzzles, hidden codes, and problem solving were. rafe had finally caught her out of her element, as much as she hated to say it.

for the first time in what seemed like forever, aurora’s heart did the talking instead of her head. feeding her these unrealistic fantasies, and in turn, her taking them as truth.

all for him to say he liked someone else.

even though her heart was breaking in that moment, aurora did what was routine to her. she put on a smile and leaned into the conversation. as if rafe’s confession was the best thing she had heard all day.

“oh yeah? what’s her name?”

tags… @avelineshifts @visualcve @julianasversee @miaojune

ask game :)

[thelampisaflashlight]

Right Here, Right Now

[Aether meets a friend at the bar. Dewther.] Below the cut.

The bar is pleasantly warm when Aether shuffles inside, sniffling lightly as his nose dribbles slightly from the shift in temperature; It's a cold, dark, and shockingly dry November outside, but he'll gladly brave the frosty night air if it means he gets to hang out in a place like this for at least a little while.

"Oi, Aeth, over here!" a rough voice calls out from a booth in the corner, a pale, skinny arm shoots into the air, waving him over.

Aether smiles and makes his way over, weaving passed tables and chairs packed with other patrons, and plops himself down inside the booth with a soft "umph" as the seat gives more resistance than expected upon impact.

"Took you long enough." the other sniffs, not so much in an annoyed fashion but in more of a relieved way -Aether's known him for years, he should know by now what the difference is- and slides him over a glass of slowly warming beer, "Ice's already melted."

"It's fine, think I'll like it better warm with how cold it is out there." he sighs, slipping his coat off and setting it beside him on the bench, "Did I keep you waiting, Dew?"

The fire ghoul shrugs, stirring his own drink, something blood red and fruity, with his straw, "Ehn, not really, got here about fifteen minutes ago."

"It's funny," he adds, "how we can arrive here at different times despite leaving from the same location..."

Aether snorts.

"I had to make a stop along the way to grab a couple things..." he says, reaching into his coat pocket and revealing a small carboard box, which he flashes the label of to Dew before hiding it away again, "Forgive me?"

Dew shifts in his seat a little, "...I'll think about it."

"We don't have to-" Aether starts, but something in the way Dew meets his gaze makes him bite his tongue, "Tell me about your day."

And, just like that, the pair fall into a casual conversation, ranging from the wonderous bullshit that is having to do ministry paperwork, to tales of the younger, less seasoned ghouls getting up to shenanigans.

"-and then Aurora looked at me like I had two heads when I said I knew about the caves." Dew rolls his eyes, leaning backwards, his long red hair bobbing back and forth in the loose bun he's pulled it into, hands gesturing widely, "Like, it's the caves, Aeth, the caves."

"I remember when I first went there," Aether chuckles, "I thought it was super secluded, too, and then I found out-"

"-That the sauna is, like, right fucking there, yeah?" Dew finishes and Aether nods, grinning, "Ah, well, now she knows... Hahh..."

Aether sips his beer -his third overall- and sets the glass down with a heavy sigh, "It's been a while since we've gotten to hang out like this, ya know, one on one..."

"It has," Dew agrees, sitting back up so he can reach over and finish off his own drink, "us old timers don't get out that much, do we?"

"Ouch."

"What?"

"'Old timers'... You wound me, Dewdrop." Aether jokes, giving a yelp when Dew's foot collides with his ankle, "What was that for?"

"We're old, Aeth, nothin' wrong with admitting that." he ruffles slightly, "Just means we have more experience..."

Dew's foot brushes against Aether's leg again, but this time the movement is softer, more deliberate, as he slides it upwards, stopping about midcalf, "...Right?"

Aether lets out a little huff, "Cheeky as ever..."

"You like it." Dew hums, leaning forward, "How about you and me get out of here?"

"Your place or mine?"

"We'll just start walking and see where we end up first."

Dew laughs, hiding his face behind his hand when a handful of the other patrons look over.

"...I like the sound of that." he whispers, and Aether feels, more than he sees, his fear.

Dew pays their bill, and Aether makes himself a wall.

They walk back to the abbey, watching the lights of the town turn into distant sparks, moving at a leisurely pace until the sidewalk turns into grass and then finely compacted earth underfoot.

Dew's hand, which had been brushing against his the whole way, but never quite catching, finds its way into Aether's, and their fingers slip together easily.

Everything about what they're doing feels easier when it's dark, when no one can see it, when it feels safe.

Even still...

"I love you." he says, "You know that, right?"

I know. I love you, too." Dew gives his hand a squeeze, "It's just... People can be dicks when it comes to things they don't understand."

"Fuck 'em." Aether lifts his chin, giving a little grunt, before lowering his head and sighing, "I get it though... Better safe than sorry, even in a town like ours... I wish it was different, but I also know things aren't going to change overnight."

"Sorry for bringing the mood down-"

"No! I mean, no, it's good." Aether clarifies, turning towards Dew and holding his other hand, "It's... you're being logical. I just, when I'm with you, it's easy to... to forget."

"I'm just being paranoid-"

They both pause, taking a deep breath.

"...No more scary real world shit?" Dew sticks his pinkie out towards Aether, who hooks his around it, "Yeah?"

"You've got a deal, Sparks."

Dew unruffles a bit, releasing Aether's hands so he can stretch and soothe the tension in his, well, everything.

"Back on track." Aether says, reaching into his jacket pocket and withdrawing the package from earlier; A box of condoms that seems to have already been opened, although it's hard to tell in the dark.

"Right here??" Dew flusters, looking around, "Aether-"

"Wait, shit-" Aether digs deeper into his pocket, "-Not that one, not yet... Fuck, where did I-OH!"

Aether withdraws a smaller box from his breast pocket, "Forgot I put it there... Ha, ha..."

"Aether, what..."

The quint, opens the box and holds it out towards Dewdrop, easing himself down onto one knee.

"I was going to wait, surprise you with it later, but I..."

Dew practically bowls him over with the force of his hug.

"Right here?" Aether teases, and Dew gives a wet laugh.

"You wanna marry me?" Aether asks as Dew wraps his arms around him.

"Only if you wanna marry me." Dew replies and Aether snickers.

"Wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to." he says, rubbing his back as the wobbly laughter turns into genuine crying, "Oh, love..."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I just..." Dew deflates a bit, "Fuck, I'm just all over the place tonight..."

"You wanna talk about it?" Aether asks, feeling Dew pull away, "What's wrong?"

Dew digs into his pocket.

"I was trying to think of a good time to ask... I was stressing out about it all night and then you, and I, and..."

Aether looks at the gold band pinched between Dew's trembling fingers.

"You-"

The fire ghoul captures his lips.

"Right here." he gasps.

"Right here, right now."

.

.

.

"Aether, Dew, you're back-" Mountain greets as the pair stumbles into the common room, staring as he takes in their messed up hair and wrinkled clothing, "...Do I wanna know what happened?"

Dew wipes his nose on his shirt, which is covered in mud and... something Mountain decides not to acknowledge at the moment.

"...We're getting married?"

"You're what-"

"Married. Going to be." Aether supplies unhelpfully, then claps him on the shoulder, "Wanna be my best man?"

Mountain opens his mouth, then closes it, assessing the situation, and then sighs.

"You know what? Sure, but also, what the fuck-"

[historia-vitae-magistras]

I MISSED YOUUU AND YOUR WRITING :(

SO GLAD TO HAVE YOU BACK!!!!

When, or if you’re comfortable with sharing fics from your stash again, could you please revive these? (or perhaps secure them at ao3?):

The one where Matt was growing (but then failing to) some type of melon in cold dreary rainy England sometime in the late 18th / early 19th century

19th century Baby fight: Wee Jack standing up for baby Zee and punching Wee Ludwig , Matt swooping them up later to deescalate

Mid-19th century fight: Teen jack vs Angry livid Arthur because of a broken statue? Then he drops deceased because Zee and Laudanum 

21st century London: Drunk Matt involved in a bar fight cuz he flirted with a girl, and her boyfriend was not having it lol - Jack came to pick him up afterwards

I’m not sure if these were head canons or if you just briefly mentioned these, but they’re in my memory, and I can’t find them anymore from reblogs of your older/deactivated blogs and I still think about them to this day :(((((

Thank you! and Ah! Yes! I can get those written out or back on the blog in some form. Though, unfortunately the first three are what I've kind of started to call 'pseudo-short stories' because they're definitely getting detailed enough to be fics but have not been written out in any true narrative. I've put the ao3 link to the 4th in the comments and below the cut as its a 'real' short story in that its at least a narrative lol.

Whiskey, no so neat.

The woman before Matthew spread herself out on the barstool and looked at him like he was the first apple of autumn in his red toque and brown jacket. He liked it when they did that. There were coloured lights all around the door, a crowd of people, and house music everywhere. A good lager only cost 3 pounds, polished sterling, and he'd had a lot of them. The used glasses on the bar top behind them reflected pretty party lights until they looked like the aurora borealis in his smudged-up vision.

One-night stands made Matthew feel like something had just been invented, something brand new and worth a look at across the bar—valuable, even if only as an ephemeral novelty. Even if it was only because he was pretty.

She swung her arms around him and wound a loose bit of his hair around her fingers. Matthew kissed her and slid himself between her short skirt and black tights and the bar, kissing her again until he was panting and his heart was throbbing to the music at all the pulse points. He looked up at them in the mirror behind the bar, him and the woman. A man stood behind him, glaring murderously from under a ball cap.

"Problem?" Matt asked, looking over his shoulder, arms still slung around the woman's shoulders. He was drunk. He was far too fucking drunk.

"That's my girl."

Matt looked back at the woman.

She shrugged. "An ex,"

"You heard her," Matt laughed. That would have been the end of it at home.

"Get off her!"

"No, thank you," Matthew said, and the woman nudged him closer. They ignored the man. He swung himself around and hitched her up. It was the smoothest floor he'd ever been on, or he was wasted, and he slipped, had to keep adjusting and pushing forward to keep his arms around her and his mouth on her neck. Her moans drew up, and he sighed into her jaw. It's another twenty minutes, maybe twenty-five. They get more drinks. Matt drinks whiskey neat. His fourteenth glass or so. Time doesn't mean much. It clumps up like chunks of ice, making a whole solid in a glass. He's about to ask if she wants to return to her place or his when he's clocked in the face. He's still thinking about how he hopes it's her place because his place is his father's 19th-century sofa and a few quilts half the city over when he pushes her out of the way, hopefully to safety. He cracks an elbow into the glaring bastard's jaw, the way that makes even Alfred fucking hurt and is about to drag the asshole who hit him outside and high stick a few ribs until they're good and dented when Jack's in front of him. He'd forgotten this was a family outing.

"All right, mate, that's enough," He said, gripping Matt's shoulders and steering him towards the door.

The cold night air hit their faces, and they shivered. Matt's baby brother had been in his sunshine-drenched desert continent home until a week ago, and he felt terrible. He curled an elbow around Jack's neck, suddenly wobbly.

"I wasn't finished!" He hiccoughed. "And you should have worn a jacket,"

"Yeah, nah, you're done," Jack said, sounding beyond annoyed.

"I told you to wear a jacket, bud," Matt proclaimed, not responding to Jack but, like all of London, needing to hear him if his brother didn't.

"You're munted," Jack said, grinning. He tossed Matt's arm off and dragged the other over his shoulders like he didn't trust Matthew to stand up. "Just have fucken look at you,"

"But I'm right," Matt said, swerving and thrusting one hand out before him. He forgot to reach a finger out to make the point, lecture, and be the elder sibling. Shit. He hiccoughed.

"Let's find another pub," Matt said, turning around twice before he realized Jack was still to his left.

"You'll find someone to get in trouble over, you goddamn root rat," Jack said, tugging him down the sidewalk.

"Promise I won't,"

"Mate you just arc'd up at some random bloke," Jack said.

"Fucker hit me first!"

"Yeah, I'm sure Dad will love that explanation for why you almost took someone's head off over someone you've never met," Jack said, hailing a cab.

"But she was hot,"

Jack scowled at him.

"D'you even like girls?" Matt asked. He couldn't remember. "Tits are great,"

"Matt, how much did you drink?"

He blinked.

"Heh, too much." Curiosity crept up on him all of a sudden. "Do marsupials not have tits? Is that why you don't like tits?"

"Jesus Christ, mate," Jack was glowing in a street lamp halo of piss-coloured light.

"Come on, if we're out too late you'll still be hurling for that Honore Balzac lecture you wanted to see,"

"I wanted to honour my ballsack on that girl," Matt returned, giggling. Like a child. Like a girl. Except Zee never giggled. She was loud. She laughed as loud as she wanted. Good for her. Matt thought and wondered why his brain wasn't working anymore.

"The writer,"

He blinked. "Oh yeah, I knoooooow," He hadn't, but Matt pulled out the word and was very glad his baby brother held him fast by the waist and shoulder. Baby brother. Bouncy baby Jack hopped up the curb. He was tall. Jesus Christ, he was so tall. Matt grinned down at him as Jack tugged him along.

"I'm so proud of you,"

"How is it you are exactly the same drunk as you are sober?" Jack said, adjusting Matt's arm over his neck, but Matt could hear how pleased he sounded.

"What'stha mean?" Matt slurred.

"Means you're fucken gone, mate, doesn't it? Jesus but it does,"

"You sound," Matt hiccoughed and tried again. The last five shots were kicking in hard, apparently. "You sound Irish,"

"I am Irish you knob, c'mon Matt, make your bloody legs work would ya?"

He must have blacked out a little after that because they stepped off the curb and got into a car. But when the hell had Jack hailed a cab? No, not a cab. Dad's car. Hadn't that been left at the house? Shit.

"If I hurl—

"Do it out the window and I'll hose it off in the morning," A familiar voice said. Father. Dad.

"You called Dad?" Matt asked. His father raised a brow. "Shit! Shit! I didn't kill anyone!"

His father cocked an eyebrow in the rearview mirror. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, when did Matthew find himself in the car? He was stashed in the back on his side, unbuckled. The car was moving.

"You picked us up?" he said, astonished. The soft seat felt absolutely delicious, and he propped his cheek on it, but his stomach was sour—with anxiety, not his bar tab.

"I called him," Jack supplied.

"Why?" Matt said.

"Because you got wasted, horked on the curb and I didn't feel like hauling you all the way home,"

"You didn't have to call Dad!" The world tilted. His guts lurched. He might have been sick all over the car, but then he sat up, and gravity was happier with him. Or was he happier with gravity? His head spun. Had he been this drunk in the bar? He clawed his way towards the other side of the car and leaned between the front seats, holding the center console. "I'm really sorry,"

"It's fine," his father said. At the next stop sign, his eyes flicked up in the mirror, and Matt thought he meant it but still felt terrible.

"I was irresponsible," He said quietly. "Sorry,"

"Really, it's fine,"

"Sorry,"

"Sit back down,"

"Dad,"

"Sit your sorry arse down and buckle up or we will be having words about it!" Arthur snapped. "I mean honestly, Matthew Williams! How irresponsible can you be?"

"Yes, sir," He hated when Arthur whipped out his name like that. Jack and Zee have long since chosen their own, but they'd been given one at least. It was a firm, concrete reminder whenever Arthur said his name in that tone. You're like this because you're not mine. Not really. Secondhand son. Oxfam offspring.

He was beyond drunk if he was thinking like that. He fastened the buckle and remained silent. Jack tried a couple of times to start a conversation, but it got nowhere. Eventually, they sat in sullen silence.

Matthew was quiet but wanted to cry a bit when Arthur glowered in the mirror at him. He averted his gaze and stared at his boots, ashamed of himself for indulging in the drink or the girl. When they got to the house, Jack heaved him up, dragging him out of the car, arm over his shoulder, even when he got his sea legs. This is why he never drank as much as he could actually tolerate. He looked everywhere but at Dad, humiliated enough to stare at his feet. Or he was just so drunk he had to watch his feet move. He'd fall flat on his face even with Jack's balancing

He must blackout again because the next he knew, he was awake in a dark room, convinced he was falling, half-folded onto a chair.

"You with me, mate?" Jack was holding a basin, damp inside. He must have just rinsed it out because his mouth tasted like puke.

"Yeah," Matt said. "I threw up?"

"Yup," Jack said and gave him a pat.

"I suck,"

Jack smiled sympathetically. "Just a bit. You think you're done puking?"

"Nothing left,"

Jack guided him through their father's dark house, somehow steering them both through without breaking anything or falling over. He shoved Matt into the shower, and Matt clumsily washed his hair, hosed off sweat and puke, brushed his teeth, and somehow found himself competently toweling himself off. Jack had found their father's stash of clothes in all their sizes and threw them at him.

"Here, joggers and a jumper for your gangly arse," Jack slapped him gently on the back and Matt snorted.

"Jumper," Matt rolled the word around his mouth. "You're the kangaroo,"

"Jesus Christ you're still hammered. It's like dragging dad off the docks." Jack shook his head, and they somehow managed not to die crossing the hall to the spare bedroom. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Matt's face-planted into the bed and thought the flannel pillowcase was a thousand times better than any tits he would have otherwise fallen face into that night. Jack had said he was like Dad out of annoyance but Matt had the small, and embarassing, flicker of joy. He wanted to blurt out thanks but instead he just laid there in a better mood than he'd been since the car.

"Sit up," Jack kicked him gently on the leg, and Matt rolled over, dizzy.

"Don't want to,"

"Yeah, well, you should have thought about that before you got this drunk," Jack gave him another nudge, and Matt did as he was told. Jack held out a glass of water and a handful of tablets. "Take those, and drink all of that,"

Matt knocked the pills back and drank it all. Jack took the glass from him and filled it again, putting it on the bedside table.

"You're not going to go and choke to death in your sleep, right?" Jack asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. He looked funny, and Matt felt terrible. His spiky hair was wilted, and Matt thought he should put him in the sun. But his head hurt, and light would make it hurt more, so he settled for flopping over and hugging his baby brother.

"I've literally never done that,"

Jack squeezed his shoulder and let go. "Dad has," Jack said, starfishing on the bed and shoving Matt onto the far edge.

"I'm not Dad," Matt said, sipping more at the water.

"You mind if I stay in here and make sure you don't?" Jack said. "You hammered is weird,"

"Sorry,"

"You're allowed," Jack said. "It's just weird,"

"Tell that to Dad, he hates me,"

"He wasn't happy, that's for bloody sure," Jack said. "But he wouldn't pop down to the shops at two in the morning to round up the full fry up if he hated you,"

Matt gagged.

"Sorry," Jack pat him on the shoulder.

"Saint Bibiana have mercy upon my soul," Matt groaned.

Jack snorted and gently shoved him onto his side. "Come on, get some sleep, you'll feel less like shit in the morning."

"You and I both know that's bullshit," Matt said, eyes shut against the spinning. "I deserve it,"

"You do not," Jack looked ready to smack him upside the head. "Don't be stupid. You're fine,"

"I'm sorry for being a prick,"

"You had fun for once, it wasn't your fault that whacker wanted a fight,"

"Still, I'm sorry,"

"Stop apologizing," Jack said again. "I puked on you plenty when I was little,"

Matt chuckled. "God, that's true. You vomited all the way to England like four times,"

"You're the one who never believed me when I said I wasn't done being sick!" Jack shot back, smiling.

"You'd been puking for ten hours straight that time, I didn't know how there could even be anything left in you," Matt's guts flipped. "Hgnn, no more puke talk,"

"All right, all right, mate, sleep time," Jack held the covers up, and Matt rolled under, burrowing under the duvet.

"Al right, all right. When did you get a brain cell?"

"Kiwi lets me have custody of it when she's off being the family shame," He snorted and flopped onto the mattress next to Matt. "Promise you won't puke on me, asshole,"

"Jackass,"

"Please, Jackass is my father. Call me Jack,"

Matt was snorting as he fell asleep.

[aurorabayrpg]

EVENT 022 ~ PART 1: PRIDE & PART 2: SUMMER CARNIVAL ~ PT. 1: JUNE 19TH - 24TH, PT. 2: JUNE 24TH - JULY 6TH

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜❤️🧡HAPPY PRIDE!💛💚💙💜❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

With the success of prom, town hall has decided to continue its traditions of going all out during the summer with event after event! Your muses will have noticed the town getting ready for the annual summer carnival, but they will also have noticed something new! Rainbow flags and balloons have been hung all over the town square, and various locations have all been prepping for a big celebration!

MORE INFO BELOW:

PRIDE:

Join Aurora Bay for its very first Pride parade that will make its way through town square and down main street!

Friday: kicking off Pride weekend, The Palacio Club will be having a foam party starting at 9pm! as well as having added extra performances over the weekend!

Saturday: the day of our big parade! Hosted by Town Hall, floats, music, and joy will take over the town starting at noon! Muses can of course say they worked on floats, as well as marching in the parade throughout town!

Sunday: Along with a very special drag brunch at the Palacio, the town will be hosting a 5k color run! Anyone may join to either run or volunteer at color bomb spots! Runner entry fee is $25 and all proceeds will go to various LGBTQ+ charities!

But that's not all! There will also be various pride events happening all weekend long!

Sea Foam Bar is where the party never stops! Each night they will have specialty drinks, games, and live music! Any musicians in the group may send a message to the main and volunteer their artist/band to perform if they wish to participate!

Oceania Bookstore has handpicked the best books for pride and will have them on display at the front of the store. There will also be a special reading time with Drag Queen from Palacio for the kids!

Crescent Moon Tattoo will have a space within Seascape Hotel with various pride flash sheets all weekend long, with all proceeds will go to LGBTQ+ charities

Food and art booths can be found all over the town square and a percentage of the proceeds will go to a charity! Any of the restaurant owners may have a booth or (just specials at their locations), as well as any artist muses! just let us know over on the main!

CARNIVAL:

Its finally here! Aurora Bay's annual end of the school year/beginning of summer carnival! Here are some of the things you'll find on the carnival grounds this year!

Carnival rides - Ferris wheel, kiddie coasters, tilt a whirl, carousel, trackless train, feel free to use your imaginations!

Food stalls: - Sea Shanty Shack, Sweet Spot Ice Cream Shop, Well Played Game Cafe, Fired Up Pizza will have stalls, as well as cotton candy stations, popcorn, pretzels, and lots of cocktail and mocktail vendors!

Games: Balloon pop, bottle ring toss, dunk tank (muses may volunteer), longshot basketball, axe throwing, water gun races, and video game stations hosted by Well Played!

Attractions: pop up fun house, tarot card reading, firetruck to show kids around the truck as well as sharing summer safety tips, pony rides from Sea Horse Ranch, bounce house, photo ops!

JULY 4TH BONUS:

Since the carnival will be happening during the fourth of July, there will be a huge fireworks display that evening! They'll be visible throughout various parts of town, but the best view is not only on the beach, but also up on the ferris wheel!

OOC INFO BELOW:

The first 3 open starters may be posted before needing to reply to others, but after those first 3, please be sure to reply to at least 2 open starters before posting your own!

For pride, please use #ab.pride, and for the carnival, please use #ab.carnival!

As always, feel free to post your characters outfits for each event! Be sure to tag @aurorabayaesthetic if you'd like your post to be reblogged!

Pride starters can start as of June 19th while carnival starters can only be started as of June 24th! Of course threads may continue even after the event, just be sure to tag them!

[youraveragetorturedpoet]

Taylor Swift Albums As: Aesthetics/Random Things

DEBUT: green meadows, wildflowers, sundresses with boots, car radios, back country roads, laughing so hard you cry, pickup trucks, butterflies, innocence, freckles, having all the time in the world, fireflies, moonlit lakes, old blue jeans, front porches, sweet tea, hot lazy summer days

FEARLESS: gold sparkles, rainfall/storms, high school years, fairy tales, schoolyards, princesses and princes, old books of ancient tales, waiting, clocks, knights in armor, prom, phone calls, broken promises, smiles, fighting for a cause, mutual pining, school gyms, band practice

SPEAK NOW: any and all shades of purple, trepidation in love, storybooks, fancy ballgowns, big cities, liars, awkward meetings, sparklers, crowded rooms, flames to embers, poetic endings, fighting dragons, castles, old antiques, summertime, fireworks, roses, using your voice, farewell to childhood

RED: classic red lipstick, foggy mornings, notes on pictures, trains, planes, autumn, things changing in the blink of an eye, lockets, distance, mosaics, busy streets, vintage, weeping alone, yearning, longing, the cost of fame, scarves, lattes, sleek hair, echoes, starlight, cafes, hoping against hope

1989: retro, blinding lights, vanilla ice cream, seagulls, daisies, carefree days, the beach/the ocean, tabloids, paper planes, rumors, sky blue, car rides at twilight, waves/water, wild parties, sequins, marquees, running, finding yourself, reinvention, recklessness, prime of life

REP: haunted by living ghosts, sexy, buried alive, black & crimson & white, illusions, hard liquor, snakes, "burn the witch", the perfect crime, revenge, trickery, love is a drug, cautiously optimistic, the girl you knew is dead, sleeping a lot, burning bridges, darkest nights with a starry sky

LOVER: pastels, summer nights, dirty jokes, star signs, cozy home, American classic, cheers, full moons, sunsets, rooftops, drunk in a car, new chapters, religious themes, pleading, any and all shades of pink, playing games, accepting someone fully, denial, kitchens, memories, apologies, bars, sunsets

FOLKLORE: grays & muted blacks, beginnings, spring, summer, stars, bleeding from old wounds, trains, a midnight sea, bus stops, old film reels, funeral for old self, braids, lies, pretending, rumors, waiting by the phone, malls, wishes, drowning, jewels, old tales of those who came before, August and July

EVERMORE: bronze & shades of brown, snow, endings, reunions, fall and winter, moving on, old friends, a weekend tryst, true crime podcasts, healing from deep wounds, ivy and greenery, stuck on repeat, crescent moons, November and December, willow trees, bubbling champagne, following dreams, watching from the sidelines

MIDNIGHTS: sultry, dark wine, hurt but not dead, friendship bracelets, navy blue and mustard yellow, moonstones, honey, cats, vulnerability, auroras, impossible things, growing up, rain and snow, time portals, politics, meteors, shimmering, recognizing your worth, simplicity, chess, emotional infidelity, glitches

TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT: quill pens, white, the scent of old books, denial & anger & bargaining & grief & acceptance, typewriters, exhaustion, profound sadness, mental institutions, the price of fame, refiners fire, childhood stories, nostalgia, ancient prophecies, hotel rooms, dolls, mental health issues, reading Aristotle just because, going in kicking and screaming but coming out alive

[dav-ramos]

Status: open @aurorabaystarter Location - four leaf pub

It's been a couple months since he moved to Aurora Bay. Lately, his routine was becoming very boring. Keep his apartment clean, go to work, go home, start all over again the next day. Tonight, after leaving the Cool Down Ice Rink, something needed to change. Without too much thinking, Davi found himself at the door of the Four Leaf Pub. Scanning the pub, he made his way over to an empty seat at the bar. He ordered a drink, his gaze shifting to the TV screen, as he caught the end of the game. "What did you think of the game?" He asked to the person sitting next to him.

[myuntachi]

Yodaka Natsume "Best Wishes Snap" SSR Translation; "The Peaceful Night, The Quiet Stars" [pt.1]

proofreading: dimi, jelly, aca, xii, aurora

📍Ten Night of Dreams BAR

Yunyun: A birthday party, huh~

I bet there’ll be tooons of tasty food to eat and tooons of tasty liquor to drink, huh~

Yodaka: Would you care to join us?

I’m sure you’d be more than welcome if you showed up. 

Yunyun: Nah. I’ll pass… Ahaha.

Yunyun: Well, the shop’s not too busy today, so you can just leave it to me and Chouun to take care of things here.

Yunyun: Hurry up and go already. I’ll be all good as long as you have a good time.

Yodaka: Is that really alright?

Yunyun: It’s fiiine, it’s fine.

But, I will require some compensation~

Yodaka: Alright. Thank you.

In that case, I’ll take you up on that offer. I’ll be off now.

Yunyun: You got it, see ya.

　ーYodaka leaves.

Yunyun: …

📍HAMA House - Living Room

HAMA Tours: Happy birthday!

Daniel: … Did something just come flyin’ out along with the party popper's streamers?

Momiji: There’s tons of tiny anglerfish everywhere… 

Netaro: Wahaha! 

Behold, my handmade, super-eye catching celebratory party poppersー♪

Yoda’s Birthday Edition!

Nagi: Yodaka-san, happy birthday.

Nagi: Even when I was half-asleep and hit my head on the mirror, or when I opened the window for some fresh air and a swarm of bees came flying in, you just gave me a gentle smile and lent me a hand.

Nagi: You’re always taking care of me. I spent a long time thinking and worrying about what would be the best thing to give you, but I finally made up my mind. Please accept this gift.

Nagi: A coupon for a year’s worth of flower Laundry’s laundry services. Please feel free to come and use it whenever you want. 

Yodaka: A year’s worth… You’re really spoiling me, Nagi.

I’ll be sure to use it well. 

Kiroku: I drew… a picture of Chouun… for you.

Yodaka: This is a wonderful piece. I’m sure Chouun will be delighted too.

Kinari: I would like to present you with this mahjong cushion that can be used as a pillow as well. 

I am looking forward to our next match, Natsume-sama.

Yodaka: I am as well. Let’s have a good time again together soon.

…I must say, this is quite the soft cushion, isn’t it?

Simply by touching it, I… 

Yodaka: …, Zz……

Ryui: Wake the hell up. We’re just getting started here.

Yodaka: Oh, my apologies. This cushion is so comfortable that I found myself drifting off.

Daniel: Who cares about that… More importantly, isn’t this an insane amount of sake lined up here? 

Woah, this one’s been aged for 70 years, that’s a crazy rare find!

Kafka: Ten, Liguang, and even Kuguri brought all these prized drinks.

I’d say we’ve got quite the collection of alcohol here. 

Kiroku: There’s cake, too. Ushio, said… the flavor goes… with alcohol.

“Fall Under the Spell of Night… Bitter Tiramisu”....

Momiji: We’ve got all kinds of snacks and sweets here too. 

It really seems like we’ve opened our very own bar. 

Nagi: Chief, don’t say any more than that. 

Nagi: We were planning on pranking Yodaka by opening the one-night only “BAR: HAMA TOURS” to celebrate his birthday, but you’ll spoil the whole thing…

Ryui: There goes the surprise, idiot.

Netaro: In that case, let’s just switchies on our “Super Extra-Great Vibes BGM Cassette”♪ Nana supplied the setlist, so it’s showtime~! 

Yodaka: Oh? Showtime?

Whatever could be in store?

Toi: The rest of the Night Team has been practicing our flair bartending! We’ve worked really hard so that all of our overflowing emotions will reach you.

Ryui: …Let’s do this, Toi.

Toi: I’m coming, Ani-sama!

Momiji: Woah… It’s like they’re juggling. The bottles and shakers are flying!

Kafka: That’s amazing. 

I wonder how much practice that took. 

Kiroku: So, cool…

Toi: From a double flip, to a backwards catch! Here you go, Danny-san!

Daniel: Gotcha.

Daniel: I’ll put some gin and cacao liquor into the shaker…

Then I’ll add some heavy cream and ice, and put the lid on tight…

Daniel: Hup, and, switching out. Careful not to drop it.

Netaro: I’m on top of it!

Nagi: Hachinoya Nagi, heading in.

Yodaka: You’re rolling the shaker… along your body.

As expected of someone who’s catching all kinds of things on the regular. You’ve got quite the core, Nagi. 

Netaro: Well now! I am just about finished with the shaking! Give it a good smack, Gii!

Nagi: Got it. Pour the ingredients all five of us mixed up into the chilled glass… 

Nagi: And there you have it. 

Yodaka: This is…

Momiji: A pure white cocktail…?

Kinari: I have found a match. This cocktail’s name is “Princess Mary”. 

Yodaka: In cocktail language, it means “celebration”...

Fufu, I can feel all the emotion you’ve put into this. 

Thank you, I’ll have a sip. 

Yodaka: …Yeah. It’s delicious. A gentle sweetness cuts through the sharpness of the gin… It goes down smoothly…

Yodaka: (It truly embodies the days I’ve spent here.)

Yodaka: Thank you for the drink. 

I’ll have to make a little something for you all in return.

　　ーYodaka mixes & shakes a drink together

Yodaka: …And a touch of soda. 

Lastly, a slice of lemon for garnish, and it’s complete.

Yodaka: A California Lemonade. 

An offering from myself to you all. Please, help yourselves.

Nagi: …Woah. My heart won’t stop pounding like it’s giving a standing ovation. 

Momiji: Yeah, it really draws you in…!

Kafka: That’s our Yodaka for you.

Now then, mind if I hop in next with my own surprise? 

Yodaka: President?

[next]

[101flavoursofweird]

For the Christmas prompts, maybe a family dinner and/or snow angels with the Bostonius crew? :)

Thanks for the prompt, so went with snow angels :)

Spoilers: Vague spoilers for AL, particularly the beginning of the game 

Set: At some point during the ‘Egg Hunt’ portion of the game

Warnings: Discussions of angels, and a sense of dread from Aurora about where she belongs and leaving her friends

Inspiration: Title taken from Fairytale of New York

I could have been someone (Well so could anyone)

There was a lone man posed in the snow, beneath a street lamp.

Aurora stopped to stare at him. She had gathered from Professor Layton’s formalities and from the frowns Professor Sycamore would aim at any offending passersby that it was impolite to stare. 

And really, Aurora should catch up to the others. Luke had cried that he was freezing after their snowball fight— which Emmy had instigated— so Professor Sycamore had insisted they should head back to the Bostonius…

But the man… It was as if he wanted people to watch him, even if no one else was out on this winter night.

He was standing on a dark mat, which he kept sweeping snow off with his black boots. Beside him was an open brown casket, rather like Professor Layton’s trunk— and the man had hint coins in there too!

Or, now that Aurora looked more closely, maybe those were just normal coins. Money… Was the man working? 

Barring his heavy boots, he didn’t appear to be dressed for the cold. His knees were bare below a red chequered skirt and his black shirt sleeves were rolled up to his strong forearms. His face was warmed by a brown beard, reminiscent of Raymond’s, but other than that, the man was at the mercy of the elements.

Aurora was debating whether he could be immune to the temperature ( Like herself?) , when she saw the man lift his arms. He was clutching a stick in one hand and a device Aurora didn’t recognise in the other.

Turning her head, Aurora saw that the professors, Emmy and Luke had almost reached the end of the quiet street.

Her friends would be worried if she fell behind, and without her, how would they find the remaining aura stones? 

Aurora shook her head. How could she even consider abandoning her companions— and her mission— for a complete stranger?

Squeezing her gloved hands together (Emmy had given her the pink gloves as a thoughtful, albeit superfluous gift), Aurora glanced back at the man.

If Aurora left, then the man would be left alone in the snow. As strange as it was… she couldn’t help feeling a sense of kinship with him.

Somehow, Aurora knew whatever he held was not a weapon like the ones Targent wielded. The device was beautiful; brown, glossy in the lamplight, shaped like an hourglass— and were those strings running across its centre?

When the man raised the stick and tucked the device under his chin, Aurora kept watching. When he drew the stick across the strings, she closed her eyes and listened.

She had heard music before; from the radio on the Bostonius, Raymond’s whistling, Luke’s humming, Emmy’s singing, Professor Sycamore tapping his foot, Keats’ purring, birdsong, drumbeats, wind-chimes... 

And, even if Aurora couldn’t recall titles or tunes or words, she knew there had once been music in the time of the Azran.

But not like this. Never so… liberating. So uplifting.

With the flowing melody, Aurora wished she could fly; soaring when the strings went high, swooping when they went low…

It took her breath away, but in a good way. Not like when she had awoken from the ice, or fallen from Targent’s airship, or suddenly come to in Kodh’s Azran Dome. 

More like when she had witnessed London— a human city, civilisation, life — for the first time—

Stomps punctuated the music. Aurora’s eyes flew open. She flinched, fearing Targent had found her, but then, she realised it was the musician. He was stamping his boots to the beat.

Noticing Aurora, his sole listener, the man nodded at her. Aurora hesitated for a moment, before she nodded in return. The man smiled.

Encouraged, Aurora nodded again, and again, bobbing in time with the music. She started swaying from side to side…

Was this dancing? Could she dance? (Was she allowed to—?)

“Aurora!” A small body bumped into hers. Both of them slipped and fell in the snow.

“ Luke ,” she gasped as he sat up next to her. He shook himself like a wolf pup. (His coat was covered in white and soaked once again…) Aurora checked, “Are you—?”

“A- are you alright?” Luke exclaimed, his teeth chattering. “You were behind us— then we couldn’t see you— I thought…”

Hands hooked under Luke’s arms. “You two look like you’ve been making snow angels,” Emmy laughed as she lifted Luke to his feet. 

Professor Sycamore gently did the same for Aurora. “What were you doing back here, Aurora?” he asked her as Professor Layton offered Luke his coat.

“I was…” Aurora looked past Professor Sycamore, back towards the street lamp, which now appeared dimmer.

Much to her dismay, the man with the musical instrument and the casket had disappeared.

Had he been scared off by the commotion with Luke? Had he given up playing when Aurora stopped listening? Or maybe, seeing Aurora and Luke in the snow, the chill had finally gotten to him…

Suddenly, Aurora felt… not colder physically, but she had lost that warmth, the joy and the freedom she had felt when she had heard the music.

That didn’t make much sense— it was just sound, produced by a stranger, and her friends were with her now… 

Wrapping her arms around herself, Aurora glanced at Professor Sycamore and the others. They were regarding her with expressions of concern and curiosity.

Even under Professor Layton’s coat, Luke was shivering. She couldn’t keep them waiting like this…

How could she explain, without sounding outlandish or ignorant? Or ungrateful for their company? 

The four of them were clustered around her, but the distance between them and Aurora felt far greater, as if she was separated from them by a crevice.

Aurora sighed, “I was… listening . There was a man—“

“What man?” Emmy interrupted, immediately going on the offensive. A frown overcame Professor Sycamore’s face. Professor Layton shifted closer to Luke.

“Over there —“ Aurora pointed towards the street lamp. Emmy followed her gaze with narrowed eyes. Hastily, Aurora added, “He was just— just playingsome sort of instrument with strings—“

“Was it a violin?” Luke gasped. At Aurora’s blank look, Luke clarified, “It’s quite a small instrument, about this big —“ He measured with his hands. “Usually brown with four strings, and you play with a bow…”

Was that the stick the musician had carried? Aurora didn’t voice this primitive assumption. She simply nodded and said, “Yes, that sounds like what he had.”

“I  have a violin!” Luke grinned, though he was still quivering. “I left it at… at home, but I can play for you when we get back to London…”

“It would be good to hear you play again,” Professor Layton concurred, referring to a time when Aurora hadn’t been with them. Aurora glanced aside, while Emmy smiled at the memory.

“But for now,” Layton reasoned, “I think we should all retire to the Bostonius.”

“ Agreed, ” Professor Sycamore puffed. He rested a hand on Aurora’s shoulder, ushering her away when she wistfully looked at the streetlight again. “Let’s be off.”

As they trekked through the street, Luke and  Emmy chatted excitedly about ‘hot chocolate’, but Aurora was silent— contemplating whether she ever wouldget to hear Luke play the violin… whether she would be able to return to London with her human friends.

After they had collected all of the aura stones, after they had unlocked the Azran legacy, after ensuring that power was safe from Targent, what would happen after that?

What would be Aurora’s purpose after that?Would she finally regain her memories in full? 

Who would she be, if not the Azran emissary? 

Where in the world would she go if the Bostonius crew disbanded? Luke had his parents and his studies. Professor Layton and Professor Sycamore had their roles at their respective universities. Emmy was the former’s assistant, and Raymond was the latter’s pilot…

London was their home— home to countless people just like them… but not to Aurora.

Surely she wouldn’t need to return to the ice? To that lonely cave in Froenborg? 

“—Earth to Aurora?” Emmy was waving a hand in front of Aurora’s face.

“What?” Aurora exclaimed.

“You zoned out again for a minute,” Emmy chuckled. Luke offered her a reassuring smile. The two professors exchanged a fond, hopeless look.

None of them ever seemed to mind when Aurora became lost in thought like that, but still… 

Aurora tried to save herself some embarrassment by stammering, “I was, um, just wondering… What’s a snow angel?”

“Oh!” Luke flapped his arms up and down, resembling a dark bird with the Professor’s long coat sleeves. “That’s when you make an angel shape in the snow!”

Emmy said, “Like this—“ and dove into the snowy street, despite Professor Layton’s protests.

Aurora watched as Emmy waved her arms and legs through the snow, until she had left a star-like imprint with her body.

“That’s an ‘angel’?” Aurora squinted as Emmy stood up.

Emmy brushed snow out of her hair. “I guess you didn’t have angels in Azran times…?”

“Angels are said to be… mystical, otherworldly beings,” Professor Sycamore informed Aurora. “Often depicted with feathery wings and long white robes.”

Aurora nodded at the snow angel. “I… think I can see it?”

“Emmy’s one is too messy to be an angel,” Luke snorted.

Emmy reached for him, as if she was tempted to chuck Luke into the snow. “Why don’t you show us how it’s done then, Luke?”

“N-no!” Luke hid behind Professor Layton. “I’m coldenough as it is!”

Professor Layton hummed with amusement. “There are some who believe angels are messengers— or assistants — to a higher power…”

“ Thank you , Professor!” Emmy beamed with pride. Then she poked her tongue out at Luke.

“If anyone’s an angel here,” Luke argued, “it’s Aurora!”

Aurora blinked as he gestured triumphantly to her. “Me?”

“Yes! You’re the messenger of the Azran, you have mystical Azran powers, you can be otherworldly…”

Otherworldl y. Aurora shut her eyes with a small sigh.

It was true— she came from an entirely alien world to them. Millenia ago, the Earth’s environments and its inhabitants had been so different to those of today.

No matter how much Aurora travelled, or how much she learned or experienced, she would never come close human life…

“…And you’re one of the most innocent, good-estpeople I’ve ever met!” Luke finished. 

Opening her eyes, Aurora stared at him. She mumbled, “ Good…est?” 

He thought she was good? That she was a good person, despite her amnesia, her origins and her oddities?

(Despite her purpose?)

“Luke’s right,” Emmy agreed, with a grin. “Even if his grammar is incorrect—!”

“Shut it, Emmy!” Luke took a swipe at Emmy with his too-long sleeves. Laughing, Emmy dodged his attack.

Luke leapt out from behind Layton. He chased the giggling Emmy around Sycamore. Professor Sycamore endured this with a flat expression. 

Crossing his arms, Professor Layton half-heartedly reprimanded them, “Now, really, you two…”

Aurora blinked. Her companions were rather odd in their own way. Maybe that meant Aurora wasn’t the odd one out, after all.

It felt like… She must have gotten a snowflake caught in her eye, because it felt damp.

Aurora quickly wiped her eyes with her glove. (Maybe it wasn’t such a pointless gift…)

Professor Sycamore had finally had enough. “We’re leaving, now,” he grumbled. Emmy and Luke ceased running in circles around him.

Sycamore led the way back to the Bostonius. Emmy and Luke followed like a pair of chided students.

Aurora cast one last gaze towards the street lamp. The light had now gone out, and the musician hadn’t returned. The street was utterly silent.

Had anyone ever been there at all, or had Aurora imagined it?

“Are you ready to go, dear?” Professor Layton murmured to her.

Regarding him, Aurora realised he must have been freezing without his coat, but he hadn’t complained once. He offered her his arm and Aurora accepted.

They were all going back to the Bostonius— Aurora’s home, if only for now. 

Aurora would try to cherish her time there, with her human kin, for how ever long it lasted.

[fatefulfortune]

Closed starter for Claudia Huxley ( @claudiahuxley ) Location: Fire & Ice

Elliot had lived in Amarillo, Texas his whole life. Aurora Bay was the first place he’d ever moved to and he’d been drawn to the beach town because the thought of moving to a big city never appealed to him. Truthfully had things not gone the way they had back home after he’d won the lottery he would’ve stayed in Amarillo forever.

That wasn’t the cards he was dealt so here he was in a new town and starting over from scratch. He really didn’t know how to make friends pretty much everyone he knew up until this point had been a neighbor or someone he was paying for a service. Claudia was one of the few people he’d met organically just recently and it certainly helped his confidence to reach out to her and ask her to drinks knowing she was also new to town.

“Sorry I’m late,” Elliot apologized when he met her at the restaurant’s bar. “I had to use the valet parking with the hotel and there was a line up,” he explained as he got seated next to her. “I know this place is connected to a hotel but it’s pretty good. I stayed here a few nights when I first came to town and spent a lot of time down here.” Elliot was still so new he didn’t really know where the best spots were even though he went out multiple times a week since moving here.

[everybodyshusband]

i'm a bit late to the party but...

girl's night in

ghoulette appreciation weeks ; week one (jan 1-6)

sunshine, cumulus, aurora & cirrus | approx. 750 words | a massive thank you to @jesusbutbetterrr for organising this whole thing !!!

~

“What do you mean the bar’s closed?” Sunshine complained from her seat in front of the mirror.

“I dunno, but that’s what Google says,” Aurora reasons, spinning her phone around to show the multi ghoulette.

Sunshine wails and thuds her head down onto the table. One of her blush compacts falls to the floor and Cumulus lets out a pained gasp as if the sound of the expensive rouge breaking against the ground has physically hurt her. “But I wanted to go ooouuut!”

“Oh, love.” The faint sound of the hair dryer shuts off and Cirrus pokes her head through the bathroom door. “I’m sure,” she starts again, significantly quieter this time now that there is no longer any wind whooshing against her ears, “that somewhere else will still be open. Can you have a look, Rors?”

“I have,” Aurora admits. “Everywhere else is closed too. Stupid public holiday. Stupid New Year’s Day…”

“Noooo!” Sunshine moans again, beginning to reach for her makeup wipes and erase all her hard work.

“Sunny, wait,” Cumulus suggests from where she’s sitting next to Aurora on the bed. When Sunshine turns to look at the air ghoulette, Cumulus is a vision in a close-fitting dress of light blue fabric. The dress sparkles in the low candlelight when she shifts and as Sunshine gets a perfect view of exactly how well the dress hugs the air ghoulette’s figure, she wants.

Wants to kiss her. Wants to take her out to a romantic dinner and feed her bites of chocolate cake along with sips of her favourite prosecco. Wants to walk hand in hand along that winding river near the Abbey and kiss her under the weeping willow tree. She wants to take her back home and watch shitty romcoms until the early hours of the morning and kiss again, this time with the taste of mint chocolate chip ice cream on each of their tongues. Wants to hear her love’s sharply inhaled breath when Sunshine pushes the fabric of her partner’s dress down to her ribs, dips her chilled mouth a little lower and sucks pretty bruises into Cumulus’ pale breasts. She wants—needs, really—to feel those quiet, breathy sighs against her neck when she caresses the air ghoulette’s thighs and teases her right in the spot that makes her–

“Sunny, are you listening to me?” The voice of the very person Sunshine is daydreaming about startles her back into the present moment. She pointedly tears her gaze away from the cleavage spilling out from the fabric adorning Cumulus’ chest. “I asked if you wanted to stay dressed up anyway? We can raid the kitchen for some drinks. Maybe it won’t be exactly like we planned, but we’ll still have fun!”

“Yeah!” Aurora agrees. “Swiss still has loads of leftover drinks and mixing stuff from his body shots phase, so we’ll have heaps of stuff to make drinks if we want!”

“Oh, Sathanas, what a phase that was…” Cirrus almost moans at the memory as she makes her way out of the bathroom, her low-rise mini skirt doing sinful things to her exposed hip bones.

Sunshine tilts her head back and forth, considering her options. She must admit that even if this wasn’t the original plan, having a fun night in instead of a night out sounds a lot better than moping about all the bars being closed. “Yeah,” she concedes eventually, grinning. “Yeah, that sounds nice!”

“Ooh, does that mean I can take my shoes off now?” Aurora asks, not waiting for an answer before pulling her boots off. They’re pretty pink things that Mist gifted her as a late summoning present after having gotten to know the band’s newest multi ghoulette, all platforms and chunky heels, covered in matching pink ribbons and bells. Aurora adores them, but she’s always one to forgo shoes when given the opportunity, so now their little group has elected to have their "girl’s night out" in, the shoes are the first things to come off. She takes after Sunshine in that way, but at this stage, Aurora has stuck with only disliking shoes. When the older multi ghoulette had been summoned, it had taken months to persuade her towards the importance of wearing clothes around other people.

“Well, then.” Cumulus stands and claps her hands, already reaching for her favourite ‘going out’ leather jacket and slinging it over her shoulders as she opens the door for them all to file out. “Shall we?”