#ad frequency management

[koobruk]

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[cowskulls]

sometimes you gotta befriend people through being hacked

[inorganicorgan]

Uhhhhhhhhh mandbela catalgoue correee

I spent a hot minute blending the ghost frequency into the music lol

[delusionsofgrandeur13]

canine

your roommate!simon “ghost” riley x reader

eighteen plus or else. i'll literally find you i stg.

you buy a toy that’s marketed as ‘deathly silent.’ too bad your roommate is a highly trained soldier.

“deathly silent”: that’s what the box said. that’s what the ad, the website, the product name, all said. 

and it was, in and of itself, silent. 

but you and your noises weren’t. 

at least not to your roommate, government trained, experience-laden, finger on the trigger, simon “ghost” riley. 

you’d been amicable, cordial roommates for two years. it’d gone without a hitch: he responded to your post online, went through your vetting process. agreed to get a background check. 

once he’d moved in, (if that’s what you’d even call it) it was like you still lived alone. even when he was deployed, rent was deposited right on time, every month. 

but somehow a man that size had learned to move silently. you’d never quite been able to figure it out. sometimes he’d scare you, sure, but he always apologized and moved on. made sure to make his footfalls heavier for the rest of the day. 

over the course of two years, you’d managed to learn a couple of things about him. 

he likes his coffee black—he buys the same brand they keep on base. 

but when it comes to tea, simon buys artisanal earl grey. 

he’s got a couple masks, so he’s always wearing a clean one. 

he puts his boots next to yours at the door. jackets are the same story. 

he has to make huge portions for himself when he does cook, so you’re always offered some. you stopped declining a month in: the man knows his way around a kitchen. 

he likes chocolate chip cookies, but not as much as he likes brownies. 

it’s almost weird to know so much about someone you’re not quite friends with. not quite family with. 

you’ve never lived in such close quarters with a man you’re not related to or in love with. so this purchase was extremely necessary. 

if you never had to hear him.. 

then he should never have to hear you. 

“mm, fuck!” you whispered around clenched teeth. at the sound of simon’s feet walking down the hallway, into his room, you slap a hand over your mouth. 

his presence next door just puts words to your unconscious thoughts. every sliver of fantasy pulling you closer to the crest is roommate related. 

you’re reminded of his eyes above the skull mask, the bulk of his shoulders in a black shirt. how he spreads his legs when he sits on your couch watching the game. it’s inescapable to you, inexplorable. it’s a safe place in your mind. 

your roommate, whose cologne lingers in the hallway. whose empty cups of tea sit in your sink. 

inescapable. inexplorable. 

a high pitched whine escapes from between your fingers, your back arching from the mattress. 

this thing was a lot stronger than you realized. 

your legs shake as you reach orgasm number three, your toes clenching. you can barely keep a grip on the toy itself, you’re so wracked with sensation. 

pleasure coats your bones, a slickness that oozes out of every pore, out between your legs. 

simon heard the buzzing from the kitchen. he’d seen the ‘discreet packaging’ in the trash. this wasn’t his first day on earth. his roommate's got a new toy. 

he can’t get the sound out of his head. he can hear it over the sound of water boiling in the kettle, over the football talk show on low in the living room. it’s utterly inescapable. 

an attack animal trained to hear frequencies he shouldn’t—simon was cursed with the knowledge that you were fucking yourself stupid behind closed doors. 

the thought alone had him throbbing under his joggers, blood swelling the piece of meat between his legs. 

it was already torture, living with someone like you. 

someone with such a light inside. someone who smiled at him like he wasn’t a monster with a kill count in the tens of hundreds. someone with great legs, that peeked out from tiny sleep shorts. if you asked he’d toss you a pair of his boxers to wear instead. 

he was waiting for you to ask, like you ever would. 

it was torture, knowing he had a bird waiting at home for him that wasn’t exactly his. 

torture that he had to hear your whines as he walked down the hallway, and couldn’t do anything about it. 

shouldn’t do anything about it. 

he shut his door with a loud click, giving you the chance to stop if you wanted. 

you didn’t. 

it was torture, but he couldn’t resist any longer. 

leaning against the wall, his head tipped back to hear better, he gives in.

simon slips his hand under the waistband of his sweats, fist immediately around his cock. 

his thumb brushes over the tip, and he’s making his own noises. 

they blend in with yours to soundtrack his thoughts, a scenario where he’d be the one under those sheets with you. instead of some stupid piece of machinery. 

you grow louder, your poorly muffled whimpering seeping through the thin walls. 

it’s obvious: you’re not trying to hide it anymore. 

you can’t. 

pleasure has taken over. sensation has gained command of your good sense. 

the finish line nears, and you can barely keep the buzzing piece of rubber on your clit as your whole body shakes, shudders. a full-bodied moan rips from your mouth as you soak the sheets, liquid squirting from underneath your fingers. 

the next room over, cum coats simon’s knuckles as he shudders into his own fist, the room spinning. 

he can’t remember the last time he came so hard. 

simon coughs, thankful for his mask. his cheeks are burning hot. 

“nice shirt, eh?” he remarks, his eyes trained on the ‘RILEY’ painted over your shoulders. 

you turn your head, smiling. it almost hurts to see you like this. like you’d just been rolled around in bed. 

“thanks?” you reply, a little confused. it was just the first clean shirt in your drawer. 

your roommate’s acting kind of odd.

he shakes his head. you have no clue what you’re wearing. what you’re doing to him. 

“s’mine,” he growls out. tone a little harsher than he means for it to be. 

you finish stuffing your dirty sheets into the washing machine, dropping a soap pod in after them before slamming the lid closed. 

looking down at the shirt you’re wearing, the fact that it’s simon’s is becoming increasingly obvious. it smells like him, it’s about three sizes too big, and it’s sporting a logo reading TF141 over the left breast. pulling at the shirt until you can read the back, your eyes widen at the huge letters of his last name. 

“i’m sorry! d’you want it back?” you squeak out, mortified. 

“nah, keep it.” simon says, tone flippant. devil-may-care. 

if that’s the way it’s gonna be, maybe he’ll slip a pair of boxers into your laundry later.

༄ first time writing cod! writing simon! i thought of this prompt and just knew i needed to put fingers to keyboard about it. lmk if i need to explore this more! ❤︎

divider: @viviansturns

[yogirl-willow]

The Crimson Pact | Part 14

Characterizations | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 15 | Part 16

SoulBond!AU

Pairings: Yandere!Saja Boys x F!Reader

Synopsis: You were never supposed to remember them.

Four hundred years ago, a pact was made—a blood-soaked bond tying five demons to one human soul: yours.

They’ve waited lifetimes for your reincarnation, cursed with obsession, tethered by fate.

And now that you’ve returned?

They’ll burn the world before they let you go again.

Warnings: Soul bond with the Saja Boys, Yandere themes!, obsessive behavior / possessiveness, romantic psychological tension, intense emotional fixation, yearning, emotional manipulation, hurt/comfort, angst, fight scenes, moral dilemmas.

A/N: It's me, hi, I might be the problem, it's me. Turns out I had more of this chapter done than I realized today haha. Got so in the zone I ended up finishing it. I hope you guys have your tissues at the ready, as this is quite an intense chapter. I stayed up late tonight to make sure I wrote it all out! Trust me tho when I say things will get better! But this chapter is very much necessary for the plot building. So I hope you guys are ready for the (necessary) emotional rollercoaster. I hope you guys enjoy!

───────── ༺🜃༻ ─────────

The Saja boys are all demons.

They are wrath and ruin. Jealousy and death.

And yet, before her, they kneel.

Because she is the Heart. Because her soul is what keeps them from unraveling into true monsters. Because they were bound by her love and her curse.

They don’t just crave her—they depend on her. Without her presence, their minds deteriorate. Their bodies decay. Their hunger becomes unbearable.

Only Y/N’s touch tames the demon inside.

────────── ⚘ ──────────

Names (For those who get confused): Haneul (Abby), Seoha (Romance), Hwimori/Hwi (Mystery), Seungho (Baby)

────────── ⚘ ──────────

Part 14:

A Heaven Built on Hell

The rehearsal hall throbbed with the pounding bass of the pre-show mix, every light calibrated, every move rehearsed down to the millisecond. A perfect illusion. The boys stood center stage, surrounded by stylists, choreographers, and managers fine-tuning the Idol Awards showcase.

But their minds weren't in it.

Haneul adjusted his mic pack, jaw tight, gaze distant. The lyrics of their opening number echoed around him, but his thoughts were elsewhere. He could still see your face from that morning—the way your smile faltered, the flash of disappointment when you asked, "Don’t you want me there?"

He clenched his fists. That look had haunted him all day.

"She looked crushed," Hwimori murmured beside him, stretching out his arms half-heartedly. "Like we were shutting a door in her face."

Seungho scoffed under his breath. "It’s for her safety. You know that."

"Yeah? Then why do I feel like the villain?" Hwimori asked.

Jinu approached, voice calm but eyes hard. "We can’t risk her getting involved. Not with what’s going to happen. Not with what we have to do."

They gathered in the corner near the equipment crates, voices low. "Thousands," Seoha muttered, arms crossed. "Gwi Ma wants thousands of souls tomorrow. The awards give us everything he needs—chaos, energy, desire."

"And Huntrix won’t see it coming," Seungho added. "We’ll collapse their stage. Sabotage their performance. Cut their frequency. Make sure they’re too busy scrambling to even breathe."

"She can’t see that," Jinu said flatly. "She can’t see what we’ll do."

Silence. Heavy and suffocating. The tension spiraled inward. Hwimori sat on a speaker, eyes fixed on his hands. "Do you think Gwi Ma will really keep his promise? That he’ll leave her untouched?"

Jinu didn’t answer at first.

"He better," Seoha said through gritted teeth. "Because if he doesn’t, there won’t be a realm left standing."

And then came the moment. That aching, silent moment where their justifications cracked open and their truths spilled through. Haneul muttered, almost to himself. "We’re really going through with this. Selling souls to save one."

"She’s not just one," Seungho said, his voice edged with heat. "She’s everything."

Jinu’s voice was cold steel. "If this is what it takes to keep her safe, then we sacrifice whoever we need to."

A hush. They all stood in it—hearing the weight of that sentence. And yet, guilt flickered. Hwimori trembled as he spoke. "She’s kind. Good. She’d never want this. Never agree to this."

"That’s why she can’t know," Seoha said, eyes dark. "Because she’d beg us to stop. Even if it meant dying."

Jinu finally broke his silence. "She’s our heart, our soul. But she was born in light. We weren’t. We never were."

And now came the reckoning. Their silent, collective decision. That they would become monsters for you. If they had to be cruel so you could be kind, then so be it. If they had to stain their hands so yours could stay clean, they would. If they had to wade through hell just to keep you smiling, then hell would burn beneath their feet.

They would sacrifice their morality, their souls, their humanity. They would become the darkness to preserve your light. Because you were the only thing left worth saving.

Jinu pressed a hand to his chest, where he still felt the echo of your heartbeat through the bond. "We’ll bear the guilt," he said. "So she never has to."

Jinu stepped off the stage and walked a few paces away, far from the crew, from the world. He closed his eyes. For a moment, he just breathed. In his mind, he saw you. Laughing in the kitchen, dancing to their song. They loved you. That was never the question.

But love wasn't enough. Love demanded price. And they would pay it.

He felt the guilt bloom again in his chest, thick and black. They were monsters already. What was one more sin on their hands if it meant you stayed safe?

He thought of the souls that would be torn from screaming bodies tomorrow. He thought of your hands, the way they held theirs so gently. The way you said their names like a blessing. He thought of how you’d look at them if you ever found out.

Would you scream? Would you run? Would you hate them? He knew somehow that you would. Because that meant you still had your goodness. They’d lost theirs long ago.

Just then, there was sharp tapping. The loud flap of wings. Derpy bounded onto the stage in an awkward blur of blue fur, eyes rolling like he was mid-panic. And right behind him, the little magpie with the tiny hat swooped low, landing with erratic chirps on a speaker stack.

Everyone froze. “…What are you doing here?” Jinu asked, narrowing his eyes. “You’re supposed to be with—"

The magpie interrupted with a burst of squawks, hopping rapidly. Derpy paced in a tight anxious circle, tail twitching. Haneul took a step forward. “They’re agitated.”

Something was wrong. And then it hit.

Hwimori gasped— like something had pierced his lungs. He staggered, hand gripping a lighting rig to stay upright, chest heaving.

“Hwi?!” Seungho rushed forward.

“She’s scared,” Hwimori choked. “So scared—I don’t know why—something’s hurting her—!”

His voice cracked into a whimper. His knees nearly buckled. Then the bond surged. A ripple of dread so pure it howled through their souls. Seoha stiffened, hands curling. “This isn’t ordinary distress. She’s terrified.” He was already thinking—calculating every possibility, his mind racing with dark scenarios. 

Jinu’s mouth went dry. He could feel it too—your panic. A flood. A scream. Like you were lost in darkness and reaching for them. 

Seungho’s jaw clenched so tightly it looked like his teeth might crack. His chest burned. “She’s in danger,” he growled, already moving.

Haneul was right behind him. “Where is she?!”

Hwimori’s hand flew to his chest, fingers spread across the pull of the soulbond like it might help him track you. “I can feel her. I’ll find her.”

“You’re not going alone,” Seungho said. “Let’s go.”

“No one’s stopping me,” Haneul barked, already halfway to the exit.

They didn’t wait for approval. They didn’t look back. The three of them bolted—past the stage lights, the managers, the startled crew.

One of the managers turned, frantic. “Wait, where are you guys going—!”

Security shouted, managers moved to chase after—but it was too late. Seoha stepped forward to intercept. “Let them go,” he said coolly, voice like a blade. “It’s a family emergency.”

“What kind of emergency—?”

“Do you want your face broken?” Jinu growled. “Then stay out of the way.”

He turned back to the stage, hands trembling, fury bubbling beneath his skin. He couldn’t go. Even when every bone in his body screamed at him to bolt after them to get to you. Not now. Not when Gwi Ma’s eyes were already watching their every move. They’d be risking everything if they abandoned the awards. He had to stay. To keep up their stupid appearances. Or Gwi Ma would be at their necks.

But every part of him screamed to run.

Please… be safe.

His eyes flicked to the magpie and Derpy, who still twitched nervously on the edge of the stage. Seoha’s knuckles were white on the railing. He wanted to bolt too at the first sign of your distress. But Jinu had to stay. He couldn’t leave hyung to deal with the pain of not being able to go alone. He trusted that the three would get to you on time. They were creatures of instinct, afterall. 

Jinu whispered, like a curse, like a prayer—

“Find her. Now.”

────────── ⚘ ──────────

Fear.

It consumed you. Flooded your chest like a rising tide, choking out your breath as the massive demon lumbered closer. Your back hit the wall of the train with a hollow thud as you scrambled away from him, fingers clawing uselessly at the slick glass behind you. He was a nightmare come to life—every line of his body radiated malice. Nothing like the boys. Nothing like the beautiful demons who had kissed your cheeks and whispered their love into your skin.

He stopped in front of you, and when his eyes drank you in, a grin split across his jagged, horned face. “Well, you’re a lot smaller than I expected,” he drawled. His voice was rough, guttural. Mocking. “And here I thought the one bonded to them would be… bigger. Meaner. Stronger.”

Your lips trembled as you shook your head, unable to form a single word.

“Where are they, little thing?” he crooned, crouching in front of you with a bone-chilling smile. “Where are your little demon knights? I heard they follow you everywhere. Watch your every step. Guard you like a prized possession.”

He laughed, deep and low, like a predator toying with its food. Then, without warning, his clawed hand shot out and grabbed your wrist. You screamed and thrashed, desperately trying to break free from his harsh grip. He yanked you forward with frightening ease, pulling your face mere inches from his own. His breath was rancid, metallic. His grin widened as he inhaled the scent of your fear.

“Smell as sweet as they said you would,” he whispered, eyes glowing red-hot. “You’ve been quite the curiosity in the Under. Everyone talks about the girl who tamed the Five. The soulbonded one. The anomaly. And now I get to see it for myself.”

His clawed fingers tilted your chin upward. “Tell me… what would they do if I cracked you open like a shell and made you cry for me? Would they burn the world? I think they would. I think that’s why I have to see it.”

Your body was trembling, breath coming in ragged gasps. Tears formed in your eyes.

“Funny, isn’t it?” he sneered. “So many demons admired them. Worshipped them. But some of us? Some of us envied their strength. Envied their power. And you… you were the source of it? You pathetic, shaking little—”

A blinding flash.

The demon’s body jerked mid-sentence. A sickening crack echoed through the train as a blade pierced clean through his back. His eyes widened in shock before his entire form began to disintegrate—black smoke sizzling away into the air like acid mist.

He vanished and you collapsed. The floor of the train felt cold and distant beneath your knees, but it was the weight of your own heartbeat that truly brought you down. You were crying—you didn’t even remember starting. Your breath came in shallow gasps.

“Y/N?” a voice said. Familiar, but not. Sharp with disbelief. You looked up.

A girl stood in front of you, weapon drawn. Her stance was rigid with fury, but her face—her face was shock, and recognition. Tall, almost looming. Her hot pink hair was long behind her shoulders. Her Moon Blade dripped with dark ichor where she’d just ended your attacker. She was breathing hard.

You stared at her. This was Mira. She was terrifying… but also your savior. Behind her, two more girls approached cautiously. Rumi and Zoey.

“Y/N!” Zoey gasped, kneeling immediately at your side. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

You flinched when she reached toward you, scooting back instinctively. Your limbs wouldn’t stop shaking.

“She’s in shock,” Rumi said quietly, kneeling beside Zoey, her face soft and apologetic.

Mira’s jaw was tight. Her eyes darted around the train car, scanning the empty seats. Her hands gripped her weapon tightly. So many souls. Gone.

You heard footsteps. You felt hands. But you were frozen in your own panic, your own confusion. Why had no one else seen them? Why had it only been you?

“Hey, Y/N,” Zoey said softly, “It’s okay. You’re safe now.”

Safe?

You looked up slowly. Doubt filled your eyes as you stared at the girls. They were hunters. The very people the boys had warned you about. And yet… They had saved you. From those monsters.

“What…” your voice cracked. It sounded foreign. “What were those things?”

All three girls stilled. You asked a question you already knew the answer to, but refused to believe. Please don’t say it.

“Demons,” Mira said flatly. You blinked at her. Your head shook before you even realized it was shaking.

No. No, no, no. They weren’t— They couldn’t be— They weren’t like your boys. They were monsters. Faceless horrors. Your demons were nothing like that. Looked nothing like that. Did nothing like that…

The train jolted gently to a stop. Rumi offered her hand. “Here. Can you stand?”

You stared at her hand, heart pounding in your ears. They had just saved your life. Your body moved on its own. You reached up and took her hand. The moment your skin met hers, something hummed beneath your feet.

A soft pulse.

All four of you froze as the Honmoon shimmered faintly—like the veil between you had briefly flickered open. Your eyes locked. No one said anything, but there was confusion for a breath of a moment.

Rumi helped you up carefully. The train doors hissed open, and Zoey reached to steady you as you all stepped out onto the platform. The station was eerily quiet.

“Are you okay?” Zoey asked. “Are you hurt?”

Your body tensed again. Her touch had been gentle, but still, your walls shot back up. You flinched away from their hold. The girls looked pained.

“What were those things?” you repeated. “They can’t be demons. They weren’t— They can’t be—”

“They were demons,” Mira said again, harder this time. “And they sucked the souls out of every single person on that train.”

“No…” you whispered. “No, that can’t be true.”

They can’t be the same. They can’t be like them. The boys were gentle. Loving. Protective. You had seen them cry. Laugh. Hold you close at night. You had felt their hearts. They were monsters, but that was then. When they had lost you. Now… they were devoted. Caring. They didn’t suck souls and kill innocent people without reason… 

The monsters on the train… They had no hearts.

“That’s what demons do,” Mira said, stepping forward, voice firm with certainty. “They suck the souls of humans and channel them back to their king. To Gwi Ma.”

The name hit you like a slap. You recoiled, eyes wide. “No. No, that’s— Those are different demons! They must be— They’re not the same, they’re not—!”

“That’s what all demons do, Y/N,” Mira snapped. “And the ones you’re with? They’re responsible for all of this.”

“Mira,” Rumi hissed, reaching to stop her. She saw your expression—saw your entire soul begin to crumble. Mira shrugged her off. “No, she has to know. If she’s soulbonded to them, if she’s—”

“How do you know that?” you asked, your voice barely audible.

Rumi and Zoey froze. “So it’s true,” Zoey whispered. “You are soulbonded to them?”

You said nothing. Just stared. Torn between panic and betrayal. “They’re nothing like those demons,” you finally said, voice shaking. “They wouldn’t… they wouldn’t do something like that.”

“They’re the whole reason this is happening!” Mira snapped. “That’s why they formed that boyband in the first place!”

Your heart clenched. No. No, no, no— That’s not true. They said it was for protection. For you.

“The Honmoon,” Mira continued, fury rising. “It’s powered by us. By our voices. It keeps the demons at bay. But the Saja Boys? They’ve been weakening it. Disrupting it. Performing to undo it. They’re feeding Gwi Ma the souls of every person in their audience.”

“No—” you gasped. “You’re lying— They wouldn’t— They’d never—”

“Really?” Mira barked. “Then why haven’t they told you anything? Why haven’t they ever taken you to their shows and performances? Why do they keep you isolated?”

You froze. A sliver of doubt slid under your skin like a knife. That… was true. They hadn’t shown you much. Had always brushed off questions. Had kept you hidden, protected, surrounded. To keep you safe. They said. 

Your stomach churned. You knew how protective they were. How precious you were to them. If they were really doing this… you knew it was within bounds for them to hide this from you so you never see it. They always did that. Hide things from you, choose things for you. 

To keep you safe.

“Mira, that’s enough,” Rumi warned, stepping between her and you.

“Why don’t you want to tell her?” Mira growled. “What are you so scared of?”

“JUST LOOK AT HER!”

Rumi’s voice cracked. All three girls turned to face you. You weren’t crying. But you looked destroyed. Utterly shattered. Your lips parted like you might say something—but nothing came out. Zoey stepped toward you again, heart aching at the sight. 

Rumi felt her own chest clench. Why hadn’t you known? Had Jinu not told you because he feared losing you? Had the boys hidden the truth to protect you… or to keep you? And now—now the truth was out. Could this break the bond? What would happen to you? How would you ever look at them the same?

You wanted to deny it. Wanted to scream that they were wrong. That your boys would never—

But a quiet, rational voice inside you whispered the one thing you couldn’t ignore. It made sense. The secrecy. The lies. The way their eyes always clouded when you brought up Huntrix, their songs, their performances. The desperation. The sacrifices. Their silence.

“That… can’t be true,” you whispered. But your voice cracked. And the pain in your eyes said you already believed it.

Zoey tried to reach you again. But you stepped back. “You’re just saying this to get to them,” you said, trembling. “They wouldn’t— They couldn’t— You’re just—”

You stopped.

Their faces weren’t twisted with hatred. They didn’t look victorious. They looked… Sorry. So sorry. And in that moment, you realized—

Maybe you didn’t even believe your own words anymore.

You had to hear it from them. Demand the truth. Because you had already given them your heart and soul. You knew of their pain, their misery. How they’d do anything and everything for you. But you needed to know everything. And it had to come from them.

And then suddenly, the air rippled, reality bending for just a moment as three figures appeared, sharp and sudden—Haneul, Seungho, and Hwimori. Their eyes, wild and searching, landed on you instantly. You stood trembling beside Huntrix—Zoey’s arm still half-extended toward you, Mira holding her Moon Blade loosely at her side, and Rumi… Rumi just staring.

Haneul’s shoulders were heaving, chest rising and falling with barely leashed fury as his gaze locked onto you—disheveled, tear-stained, flinching beside three women who wanted him dead. His heart stopped.

Seungho’s hands clenched at his sides, jaw tightening, eyes raking over your form to make sure you were still breathing, still standing. But when they found your expression—fearful, confused—his stomach dropped.

Hwimori staggered a step, still trembling from the soulbond's echo of your terror. But as soon as he saw you flinch away from the others, something snapped.

“Y/N!” Haneul’s voice was a guttural shout, more beast than man. His amber eyes scanned every inch of your form, landing on the way your body leaned slightly away from the girls. “What the fuck did they do to you?!”

Before you could speak, before anyone could, Seungho had already lunged. “They touched her.” His voice was cold. Wrathful. “I felt her panic. I felt her scream.”

Mira immediately stepped in front of you, Moon Blade gleaming in her hands.

“Wait—” Zoey began, stepping forward, but Hwimori was already between her and you, fangs bared, his body tense with barely held rage. She raised her arms defensively, throwing blades at the ready to defend herself.

“You did this to her!” Hwimori growled at Rumi, voice trembling with emotion. Rumi’s sword flared into existence in her hand, her stance lowering protectively in front of you. This made him growl in anger. “She was terrified—I felt it like it was my own body—! What the hell did you do?!”

“They saved me,” you tried to say. Your voice came out hoarse and too quiet. No one heard.

Mira scoffed, stepping forward now, blade at the ready. “Typical. You show up after the damage is done and think you’re the saviors. You’re the reason she was in danger in the first place!”

Haneul snarled, his hand already crackling with violet heat. “I’ll kill you.”

“Try it,” Mira spat.

You couldn’t believe what you were seeing. The three girls who had saved you were now on the defensive—your boys advancing like predators. “No—stop,” you whispered. But no one heard you.

“Move,” Seungho growled. “Now.”

“She was crying when we found her,” Zoey shot back, eyes blazing. “Because of your kind.”

“She’s our soulbond,” Haneul snarled, taking another step forward. The air warped with heat and fury. “And you’re standing too close.”

Your heart thundered in your chest. You stared at your boys—at the rage in their eyes, the shadows curling around their limbs, the way their talons pulsed with barely contained violence. You’d never seen them like this. Not even when angry. This was feral. Defensive. Terrified.

They think the girls hurt you. Your stomach twisted. But they didn’t hurt you. They saved you. They were protecting you. But now your protectors were attacking your rescuers.

“What’s wrong with you?” Mira yelled, lunging forward.

Haneul met her blade with his own crackling fist, a burst of force slamming into her as they collided. Sparks flew. Moonlight danced off steel. The fight had begun.

Hwimori was already clashing with Zoey—her enchanted blades flying through the air as he dodged, ducked, flipped, and retaliated with soundwaves that cracked windows down the block. He roared, a growl in his throat like an animal defending its mate.

Seungho charged at Rumi, her blade immediately meeting his arms—his skin hardening on impact, stone-like. He didn’t even flinch. His own dark energy lashed out, a swipe of his hand sending shockwaves into the pavement. The ground split between them.

“No– No— Don’t fight–!” you gasped, clutching your chest. Your body trembled, still too weak from earlier. Your head was spinning. You tried to scream for them to stop, but your voice caught in your throat.

Inside, a storm brewed.

You couldn’t process it all fast enough. The girls had saved you. But the boys had come for you, eyes wild with desperation. You could feel Haneul’s rage like a wildfire. Hwimori’s anguish in every movement. Seungho’s fury barely contained behind his deadened eyes. But the girls—they were right too, weren’t they?

They told you the truth. Or at least, a version of it that made your chest cave in and your breath feel shallow. They said the boys were behind the souls being taken, that they were destroying the Honmoon, all to feed Gwi Ma. You didn’t want to believe it. You couldn’t. But now here they were, fighting like animals—no, demons.

Just like those creatures on the train. Were they any different? 

You staggered back as the station lit up with magic and rage. Fear gripped you. They’re going to kill each other. They don’t even see you anymore. They only see enemies.

Mira shouted something at Haneul, and he struck her blade with a fist of molten energy.

Zoey hurled two more blades. One grazed Hwimori’s arm, and he howled like a beast, his eyes glowing gold with power.

Seungho surged forward, knocking Rumi back against a pillar.

Your voice finally broke through your panic, and it came out cracked and desperate.

“STOP—!!”

Your scream ripped through the air like thunder. The sound was raw. Shaking. Wounded. The Honmoon shimmered. The soulbond screamed. Magic still littered in the air like lightning trapped in a cage. You stood in the center, eyes wide, chest heaving, tears falling down your face.

They froze—mid-attack, mid-motion. Mira’s blade hung inches from Haneul’s throat. Hwimori stood with his hand pressed against Zoey’s forearm. Seungho, face spattered with sparks from the clash, was breathing hard, knuckles red.

Your legs buckled. Tears streamed down your face. “Please… just—take me home.”

The boys turned to you instantly, their expressions shattering. Haneul reached you first, eyes wide, fury replaced by guilt.

Mira stepped forward. “Wait—Y/N—please, don’t just leave with them—”

You flinched, recoiling from her words. “They’re my—” your voice caught again. You didn’t even know what they were. Your protectors? Your monsters? Your bondmates? “They’re mine. Please. Just let me go.”

Zoey’s brows furrowed, her eyes soft with heartbreak. “Y/N—”

But you didn’t look back. The boys were around you in seconds. Haneul touched your wrist gently. Seungho gritted his jaw, eyes flicking toward Huntrix with restrained menace. Hwimori’s voice shook as he whispered, “We’ve got you, baby. You’re safe.”

The three of them vanished with you in a pulse of light.

Huntrix was left on the platform, chests heaving from the encounter. Rumi stared at the space you’d disappeared from, her heart pounding in dread. “She didn’t know,” she whispered.

Mira kicked at the wall, furious. “She still chose them.”

“No,” Zoey said softly, blinking back tears. “She chose… love. Even if it breaks her.”

────────── ⚘ ──────────

There was a crack in the air, warped magenta light, a pulse of pressure. The world spun. You gasped, and then you weren’t at the train station anymore. You were in the apartment. The air was too still. Too silent. Too safe.

Strong arms were around you—Haneul. You could feel the heat of his chest, his heartbeat pounding like war drums beneath skin. He didn’t speak at first. None of them did. Only the low hiss of displaced magic, the soft creak of floorboards, the echo of your own pulse thrumming inside your skull. He set you down like you were made of glass. Like touching you too long might shatter you.

Your knees barely held. The floor felt unfamiliar beneath your feet. Seungho’s eyes flicked over you, frantic. Cold rage buried under silent panic. He hovered beside you, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides like he didn’t know whether to hold you or destroy something else entirely.

Hwimori dropped to his knees in front of you without hesitation, eyes glassy and wide, his voice cracking before it even fully formed. “You’re shaking… baby, are you hurt? What did they—what happened before we got there? Please–”

“Talk to us,” Haneul said, crouching beside you, his hand hovering near your back but not daring to touch. “Please. What happened?”

You didn’t answer. You didn’t even blink. You just… shook your head. Back and forth, shaking side to side as if it would erase what knowledge you now knew. The soulbond pulsed faintly in your chest. Not warm. Not comforting. It throbbed like a bruise. Like something fractured. Like a string pulled too taut, starting to tear.

The apartment was… wrong. The usual warmth, the laughter, the music and bickering and background hum of domestic life—it was all absent. And inside you, it was worse.

You couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think. Couldn’t feel the way you used to. Your mind echoed only with what the girls had said, with the image of people’s souls leaving their bodies on the train, of hollowed, empty eyes. Of that terrifying demon.

They take souls. They perform for Gwi Ma. You’re the only thing they’re not using.

Your heart twisted violently in your chest. The boys were still speaking—softly, pleadingly—but their words barely registered. The only thing you could feel was the silence between the soulbond pulses. That unbearable emptiness.

You stood on shaky knees and stared at the counter. Your desserts sat there, untouched. You’d made them with so much love. You couldn’t even remember what they tasted like now. And still, none of them moved closer. As if they could feel it—that wall, that distance growing inside you. Your silence was worse than a scream. You tried to inhale and tasted ash.

What if it’s true? What if it’s all been a lie?

They were so worried. They looked like they’d rip the world apart just to keep you safe. And yet, they could also be the reason so many were dead.

“Where’s Seoha and Jinu?” you asked, your voice small. Fragile.

They all froze. Seungho’s head jerked up, jaw tight. “They’re on their way,” Haneul said softly, carefully. Then he reached forward, gently cupping your face in both hands. His thumbs hovered over your cheeks like he wanted to wipe tears that hadn’t fallen yet. “Baby, look at me. Please.”

You didn’t. Not right away. But then your gaze lifted, slowly. And the look in your eyes shattered them.

Your eyes—normally filled with warmth, trust, affection—were glassy and storm-swept. Distant. Like you were still on that train. Like you were looking at strangers. Strangers who might hurt you. Strangers who already had.

A new pulse of displaced air. The magic cracked again— and Jinu and Seoha appeared. Everything moved at once.

“Y/N!” Jinu’s voice rang like thunder. They rushed to you, no hesitation. You were enveloped in arms, pulled against chests, hands cradling your head, their voices thick with desperation.

“What happened?”

“Are you okay? Baby—talk to us—please—”

Their love was overwhelming. Suffocating. Because it wasn’t fake. And that made it worse. You didn’t move. Your body was stiff between them, your head angled slightly away. It was too much. Their concern, their affection—it only twisted the knife in your gut.

How can they love me like this… if they’re the reason so many died?

Seungho stepped back first. His jaw was clenched, his face pulled into a snarl, not at you—but at the unbearable tension building in the room. “She hasn’t said anything,” he growled.

Jinu turned to you, and you felt the question in his eyes like a scream. Seoha beside him, stiffening. “Y/N…”

Seungho’s voice cut again, more agitated now, sharp with his own guilt. “She was with Huntrix when we got there. All three of them. Protecting her. She looked… different. Like she didn’t trust us.”

Silence. Then Seoha’s entire body stiffened, rage sparking behind his eyes. “They what?”

“You let them near her?” Jinu snarled, teeth bared.

“They saved me.” Your voice sliced through the room. All five froze. You turned your gaze on them—and what they saw unraveled every one of them. Betrayal. Hurt. Disbelief. Your hands were trembling. Your lips parted, eyes wide and glimmering.

“Tell me the truth,” you whispered. Your voice was broken. Like your throat had cracked open just to let the words out. “Tell me what they said wasn’t true—”

Seoha moved fast, too fast. “Whatever they told you—it was—”

“Tell me you didn’t do this!” You were yelling now. Tears spilling down your face as your fists clenched tight at your sides. “Tell me you aren’t the reason everyone I was with on that train is dead! Tell me you aren’t the reason their souls were sucked out of them!”

Their expressions broke in real time. Eyes wide. Faces pale. Their masks—whatever calm they’d held—shattered.

“Tell me,” you sobbed, “you aren’t harvesting souls for Gwi Ma. Tell me you aren’t in that goddamn boyband because you’ve been sacrificing people this whole time. Tell me!”

Silence. Your voice cracked on that last word. And all that came after was the sound of your sobs, and the cracking of five hearts breaking in perfect synchrony. Then—

“…You weren’t supposed to find out like this,” Hwimori whispered. His voice was hollow. Distant.

And just like that, your knees gave out. You dropped onto the couch like your body had no strength left. “Oh god…” Your hand flew to your mouth. You were trembling violently now, chest heaving as you sobbed uncontrollably.

“No,” you whispered through broken cries. “No no no—”

Seungho reached out—but the second his fingers brushed your shoulder, you flinched like he’d burned you. He recoiled instantly, like he’d touched fire.

“You were hiding this from me,” you choked out. “This whole time—!”

Voices clamored, layered on top of each other, a storm of explanations:

“We were going to tell you,” Haneul swore.

“We were protecting you—” Seungho snapped.

“We had a plan, the Idol Awards—” Seoha began.

Then—Jinu. His voice was the calmest. And somehow the heaviest. “We never wanted to lie. But we knew… if we told you… we might lose you.”

You looked up. And what they saw in your eyes destroyed them. It was Jinu’s worst fear made flesh. You were looking at them like they were monsters.

Because maybe they were. Because maybe they’d always been. And you had just never seen it before.

Your heart throbbed violently. You couldn’t breathe. Their words spun in your head, colliding with every smile they’d given you, every sweet nickname, every soft hand brushing your cheek.

How much of that was real?

They’d always brushed off your questions. Always distracted you. Made you feel safe. Loved. Like you were the center of their world. And maybe you were. But that didn’t mean they weren’t lying. Didn’t mean they weren’t killing. Didn’t mean they weren’t monsters.

You shut your eyes tight. Tears still flowed. You were shaking. Then slowly… you looked up again. And your voice was cold. “Tell me everything.”

Their breath caught. You didn’t stop. “No more lying. No more half-truths. No more pretty words or distractions or soft kisses when you don’t want to answer. Because if you hide even one more thing from me…”

Your eyes burned now. Not with anger. With heartbreak.

“…I will start to question everything about this bond.”

Your words were a blade, and it cut them deep. Not all of them showed fear the same way.

Hwimori looked like a kicked animal. Eyes wide and shimmering, lips parted as if he was about to cry too. His fingers curled into his sleeves like they were the only thing anchoring him to the room, to you. He felt it the most—your withdrawal. And it terrified him.

Seungho was stone. His fists were clenched so hard the knuckles had gone white. His jaw was locked tight, mouth a hard line. But the tremble in his chest betrayed him. His need to reach you. To fix this. His control was slipping, and beneath it, rage was building—but it wasn’t directed at you. It was at himself.

Haneul stood still as a mountain, but his hands flexed at his sides like he was holding back an earthquake. His eyes tracked every twitch of your face, every breath, searching for a sign you’d come back to him. To them. The panic behind his calm exterior was cracking, slow and brutal.

Seoha was quiet. Too quiet. His brow furrowed, lips tight in a way that had nothing of his usual smirk or smugness. He looked… human. Almost small. The carefully crafted illusion of control he always wore had shattered, and now he just looked like someone terrified of losing the one thing that made life worth bearing.

And Jinu— Jinu looked like he was in mourning. His face was pale, drawn tight with sorrow, and for once, the leader, the one who always knew what to say, seemed utterly lost. He let out a slow, pained breath. Then he knelt. He didn’t ease himself down like someone making a gesture. He fell to his knees like the weight of your words had knocked the ground out from beneath him.

“Four hundred years ago,” he began softly. His voice was like velvet torn at the seams. “You already know what I did. I made the pact with Gwi Ma.”

He kept his hands on his thighs, like if he reached for you and you pulled away, he might never recover. “But that was just the beginning,” he continued, eyes not leaving yours. The apartment had gone deathly still. The only sound was the buzz of distant city traffic and your own breath, shallow and trembling.

“We’ve been searching for you,” Jinu said. “Lifetime after lifetime. Across kingdoms, dynasties, wars… through blood, fire, ruin. Always searching. Always too late.”

He closed his eyes for a second. When he opened them, they glistened. “You’d be born. And by the time we found you—” His voice broke. “You’d be gone.”

Your heart stuttered.

“Every time we saw you die… it killed something inside us. But we couldn’t let go. We couldn’t stop.” His voice grew lower, heavier. “So I went back to Gwi Ma.” The name curled like smoke in the air, bitter and thick. “I gave him a plan.”

He looked up at you, eyes hollowed out by centuries of desperation. “If the hunters succeeded in turning the Honmoon gold, it would seal the boundary between the demon world and the human one. Forever. We would never be able to reach you again.”

Your breath caught. You hadn’t known that. Jinu nodded, seeing the realization in your face. “We couldn’t let that happen. We couldn’t let them lock us away. Not when we hadn’t found you yet. So I told Gwi Ma… we’d become a boyband.”

He said it like it tasted foreign in his mouth. Strange. Absurd. And yet, it had worked. “We’d gather adoration. Souls. Worship. We’d become idols, perfect vessels for harvesting. As long as we gave him what he wanted, Gwi Ma would let us roam the human world. He’d let us keep looking for you.”

He pressed a fist to his chest. “I sold what was left of my soul to him. And the others followed.”

You could feel the weight of their silence behind him. All of them had made the pact. All of them had chosen this. And then— Jinu’s voice softened. A light trembled in his expression, nostalgic and gentle. “And then one day… we found you.”

His tone shifted like he was remembering a dream. “You were standing in the crowd, trolley in hand. Watching us during our debut performance. You didn’t know who we were. Not really. But you looked at us—looked at me—and…”

He smiled faintly, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes. “It felt like every lifetime had led to that one moment.”

The others shifted behind him. Seoha’s hand had clenched over his heart. Haneul was staring at the floor, breath uneven. Hwimori sniffled softly. Seungho didn’t move at all—but his chest rose like he was holding back a scream.

But then, Jinu’s face hardened. “Gwi Ma noticed, too.”

You tensed. “He asked if you were a distraction…” Jinu’s voice cracked, shaking at the edges now. “And when he saw the answer in our eyes… he threatened to rip you from the cycle.”

You stared at him, frozen.

“He said if we didn’t fulfill the mission, he would erase you. No reincarnation. No afterlife. Just nothing. We’d never see you again. Ever. He used you as leverage.” He spat the last word out like it was poison on his tongue.

The room tilted. Your stomach lurched. You could barely process it.

“But…” Jinu choked, reaching for you now. Carefully, gently. His hands brushing yours like they were sacred. “Then he said something else.”

He blinked, voice barely holding together. “He said… if we succeeded…If we completed the mission, you’d be free. No more deaths. No more waiting. Your soul would be unbound. You’d be with us. Forever.”

His eyes were pleading now. Raw. “You wouldn’t have to die anymore,” he whispered. “We wouldn’t have to lose you again.”

His voice cracked. “So we kept going. We harvested. We became what he wanted us to be. Because we’d do anything. Anything, just for that chance.”

Seungho’s voice came next, dark and sharp. “We’d burn in hell a thousand times if it meant keeping you out of it.”

“You don’t understand,” Seoha murmured, stepping closer. “We chose to sin so you wouldn’t have to. We lied, we killed, we performed. But it was all for you.”

Hwimori was crying now, silent tears streaking down his cheeks. “We were tired of watching you die…”

Haneul’s voice was low, heavy. “So we made sure you wouldn’t have to again. Even if it meant damning ourselves.”

Your breath hitched. Your hands trembled in Jinu’s grasp. And then the question came out—without thought, without breath. “…Then was any of this real?”

They froze. You looked at Jinu through a blur of tears. “Or am I just your reward for doing Gwi Ma’s dirty work?”

Silence. Then— Jinu squeezed your hand so tightly it hurt. “No,” he said, voice hoarse. “No, baby—you’re not a reward. You’re everything. You are the reason we breathe. You are the only thing we ever wanted.”

His hands trembled. “If there was even the slightest chance to free you—to keep you—I took it. I’ll always take it. Even if I become the worst kind of monster, I’ll still reach for you.”

He leaned in, eyes locked with yours, voice breaking. “This bond…it’s real. It’s not a spell. It’s not a scheme. It’s the only thing that ever made any of this worth it.”

Your tears spilled down freely now, dropping into your open palms—hands still interlocked with his. You looked down at them. At the warmth, the trembling desperation. And you whispered, voice hollow: “Then… what about the Idol Awards? Why is it so important? What’s your plan?”

Jinu hesitated. And the others, they froze again. They looked at each other.

You saw it.

The silent debate. The second wave of hesitation. And it gutted you. Your voice cracked again, wounded and sharp: “You say you love me. But you lie. And you keep lying.”

The blow landed. Haneul exhaled sharply, head shaking from side to side. “…It’s Gwi Ma,” he said finally. “The Idol Awards. It’s a feast for him. He wants to collect as many souls as possible at once. All at once. Through the performance.”

Hwimori wiped his face with a sleeve, voice barely audible. “He’s going to feed on thousands. While the world cheers.”

You couldn’t breathe. You felt your lungs pull tight in your chest. A whimper broke past your lips as you squeezed your eyes shut. And you cried. You didn’t stop the sobs this time. Your entire body shook, your hand still clasped in Jinu’s, tears falling freely onto your skin like rain.

The apartment blurred. Their faces blurred. The bond was still there, still humming… but it didn’t soothe you anymore. It pulsed like a wound.

You looked up at them.

Jinu was still kneeling, his hands clasped in yours like prayer. The others stood behind him, broken shadows in the silence. Not one of them looked away from you. Not even now. And somehow, that made it worse.

They would never look away from you. Even if you ran. Even if you bled.

And wasn’t that the point? Your throat burned as more sobs clawed their way out, and in the fragments of silence that followed, the thoughts began to spiral. They wrapped around each other like thorns.

Maybe they never stopped being monsters. Maybe they just learned how to look like love.

Your fingers twitched in Jinu’s grip. He didn’t loosen. His touch was gentle, like he thought he was holding something holy. And maybe that was the part that hurt the most. They loved you. God, they loved you. Not in some surface-level way, not in flings or flattery or fleeting affection. But in the way demons love: eternal, consuming, possessive. As if you were the sun and they’d burn everything else to orbit you.

But what had they burned already? You blinked hard, tears falling fresh, and looked at Seungho. He looked like a stone god in mourning. His mouth drawn in pain. His eyes, red-rimmed, still hard—never left your face.

Do they love me? Or do they love the idea of saving what they lost?

Because that’s what it was, wasn’t it?

A mission to reclaim what they’d failed to protect. A centuries-long obsession. A crusade. And you, the living relic of all that suffering. Were you really you to them? Or were you just the wound they couldn’t stop reopening?

Your chest cracked as you looked next at Hwimori. His face soaked in silent tears, lips trembling, arms hugging himself like he didn’t know where to put all his grief. He always looked at you like you were the answer to every question he’d ever asked.

Is my body their comfort? My heart their trophy?

Your heart screamed in your chest, and still, you wanted to hold him. To comfort him. To wipe those tears away. Why does it still hurt to think about leaving them?

Because you love them. You do. That’s what made all of this so unlivable. You love them like breath. Like instinct. Like your body was made to fit in their arms, and your soul keeps reaching for theirs, even now that you know the truth, even after everything.

It’s still there. The bond. I feel them—every emotion, every heartbreak. Like it’s my own.

You shut your eyes, chest rising and falling too fast. The pain in your throat was sharp. And that’s the most terrifying part. Even now, after everything, I ache for them.

And how could you not? When they’ve bled for you? When they’ve clawed their way through centuries of death and fire just to reach you? But that love was wrapped in horror. They built a cathedral of corpses to reach me. And now they ask me to kneel in it with them.

You looked at Haneul next. His gaze was glass. Shining, unreadable. So much devotion. So much quiet, desperate hope. You wanted to throw up.

Because no matter how gently they spoke, no matter how desperately they shook as they confessed, the truth was still bloodstained.

They made themselves monsters to keep me safe. I see that now. I believe it. But when did protecting someone turn into sacrificing others? 

They think this is devotion. But I don’t want to be worshipped like a god. I just wanted to be loved like a person.

You could still remember how soft Haneul had been that night he made you tea. How his hand cupped your jaw like you were fragile. How his voice broke when he thought you were hurt.

They gave up everything… and I don’t know whether to feel honored or horrified.

You looked away, only for your eyes to land on Seoha. Beautiful, manipulative Seoha. The liar. The sweet-talker. The boy who had whispered fantasy in your ear and never quite told you where the dreams ended and the lies began. And yet—

He had knelt with the others. Begged with the others. Loved with the others. And still, he had lied.

I don’t know how to bear this. I was just trying to live a normal life. I didn’t ask to be someone’s reason for slaughter. 

Can love justify this much death? 

What does it say about me… that some part of me still wants to protect them?

Another sob ripped from your throat. You bent forward, your hands tangled in your lap, and felt Jinu’s still holding one, solid, shaking.

‘I believe in forgiveness,’ you thought, chest hollowing. ‘In healing. In second chances. But what do you do when the people you love are proud of the sins they carry?’

Because they were. They didn’t deny them. They wore them like scars. Like medals. 

I don’t want to be someone you kill for. I want to be someone you live for.

But they didn’t see the difference. To them, love meant sacrifice. To them, love was the war.

And you? You were the altar.

You lift your eyes. Your face is soaked, your lips tremble, your throat tastes like ash. They’re all still watching you. Their eyes full of love and dread. As if your next words will either break the curse or finish the story. You exhale, voice shaking as you speak.

“Do you even hear yourselves?” you whisper. They’re silent. Your voice trembles harder. “You’re planning a massacre… in my name.”

Seungho’s jaw clenches. Hwimori chokes on a breath. Jinu flinches like the words physically hit him. You swallow, the bond pulsing between your ribs like a bruise that won’t stop throbbing. “Thousands of souls. Families. Children. People who have no idea what’s waiting for them.”

Your hands shake in your lap. “And you’re going to take it all away. Smile while the lights flash. Dance while the world dies.”

Your gaze flickers to Jinu—kneeling, breath shallow. “I know you love me,” you whisper. “God, I know. I can feel it. But this…” Your voice cracks. “…this isn’t the kind of love I want. Do you honestly believe that I, or even who I was lifetimes ago, would ever be okay with this?”

Something ripples down the bond. Guilt. Shame. Grief. Their emotions tangle with yours, intensify. And suddenly it’s all too much. Your pain mirrored fivefold, bouncing back through the crimson thread and digging its claws into your chest. Your heart twists violently. They feel it. You can feel them feeling it. The ache in your soul like an echo chamber of agony.

You stand, trembling. “You say you’re protecting me. But you’re killing for me. Hiding it. Justifying it. As if loving me makes the blood on your hands… righteous.”

No one moves. You look at Jinu again. “You say you did it to stop me from dying. To give us forever. But what’s the point of forever… if I can’t live with myself?” you choke a sob.

Jinu’s eyes close. His jaw tenses. The bond pulses again—hot with their panic. Their sorrow. Their desperation. You can barely keep your voice steady. “I feel everything you feel. And that’s the cruelest part. Because even after everything… I still love you.”

The room doesn’t breathe.

“I still want to run to you. I still want to pretend this isn’t happening. That I didn’t hear what I just heard.”

You look at Haneul. “I still feel safe with you.”

At Seungho. “I still crave your touch.”

At Seoha. “I still hear your voice when I sleep.”

At Hwimori. “I still want to hold you when you cry.”

And then, your voice breaks. “But I hate that I still feel that way. Because I shouldn’t.”

No one dares speak. You wipe your tears as you stand, even as your knees buckle beneath the weight of what you know. “I’m not your prize. I’m not your goddess. I’m not the reason you get to do these things and sleep at night.”

You stare straight at them. “If you truly love me… you’ll stop this. You’ll find another way.”

They don’t answer. The silence says everything. Jinu finally breathes. “This is the only way.”

You flinch. “No—” You step forward. “You don’t get to say that. You don’t get to tell me that thousands have to die so I can live with you.”

“It’s not just for you—” Haneul starts.

“You just said it was!”

The bond is frantic now. They feel your anger. Your heartbreak. Their own shame cracks against your ribs. Seungho looks away. Seoha clenches his fists. Hwimori’s lip trembles. 

Jinu doesn’t move. “It’s the only way to finish it,” he says quietly. “To free you. To make it stop.”

“No,” you whisper. “You’re doing this because you can’t bear to lose me. Not again. You’re not saving me. You’re clinging to me.”

Jinu looks up, broken. “Is that so wrong?”

You freeze. And it hits you all at once: They’re not going to stop. They can’t. Because to them, this is love. Love shaped like sacrifice. Like fire. Like ruin. They would rather burn the world than risk being without you.

And you love them. You love them still. That’s the worst part.

Your knees buckle again and you fall to the couch, a sob ripping from your chest. Jinu tries to move toward you, but the look on your face stops him. “I can’t watch you do this,” you whisper. “I can’t watch you become something I can’t forgive.”

The bond pulses with pain. You shove yourself to your feet. “Don’t follow me.”

“Y/N—” Seoha starts.

“Don’t.”

You walk away from them. Each step like dragging chains. You pass the desserts you’d made just hours ago—sweet, stupid little things that feel like a lie now. You reach for the guest room door– one with a lock. Your fingers tremble on the knob.

And then you shut it. Lock it. The sound echoes like a final breath.

You collapse onto the bed and sob until your throat burns. You hate them for what they’re going to do. And you hate that you still love them through it.

And worst of all… some part of you still wants to forgive them.

Even if it means losing yourself in the process.

TO BE CONTINUED

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A/N: I am so sooo sorry this had to be done! But let's be real, I have been building up for this big reveal for chapters now- so I always knew this was going to happen. It was a necessary ouchie, I hope you forgive me. Things will roll out now. I can't promise a happier chapter for the next, but it will be exciting and suspenseful, trust! Things will get better eventually, but we'll have to go through some waves and punches for now.

I wanted to highlight in this chapter how the bond is more complicated than it looks. Issues on morality, sacrifice, love, and betrayal are the reality in this situation, so I wanted to highlight the complicated thoughts any normal person would have in this scenario.

I hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, though!

Willa x.

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[blood-smiles]

𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐊𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐊𝐄

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 ! 𝐂𝐎𝐖 𝐇𝐘𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃 𝐗 𝐔𝐍𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆! 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃𝐄𝐑 — tw: nsfw (?) . MDNI . male lactation

You tried to kick and fight against Briar, but all your feeble efforts were blocked by his disgustingly strong limbs, it pissed you off so bad you could rip that stupid tag off his ear.

Now here you were, sat on his lap like a grumpy kitten. You didn’t want this, you swore to yourself that this would never, EVER happen again.

You didn’t mean to make the great mistake of saying that you were thirsty, you were out of cartons but still wanted milk— normal milk. Not milk that your strange genetically flawed cow made! you didn’t want anything anymore!!!

Your fists tried to pound against his chest, but the man laughed like you were petting him. He was not affected by your five grams of ‘strength’ and you were deeply wounded by that.

“Briar. If you don’t let me go I will cut off your grain supply for the month—“ You were shut up by a large tit forced in your mouth and an enormous hand landing on your head.

“You’re hangry~ I can tell.. Just let me quench your hunger..” Briar cooed in your ear like a loving mother, his fingers massaging your scalp in a way that almost made you melt in his arms like chocolate left to sit out on a hot day.

No! You had to persevere! You weren’t going down like this! You refuse to let yourself be treated like—like a baby— Because you were a full grown adult and you didn’t need anyone mothering you!

“mmMMGH—“ you choked on his nipple, lukewarm milk landing on your tongue in a thick coat.

“Shhh.. Just let mama feed you.” Briar stifled a sigh as he bounced you on his lap gently, making sure to hold you properly so you couldn’t escape.

Your hands clawed at his skin, but the damn cow didn’t even seem fazed or remotely bothered by your nails. He really thought it was you imprinting on him, you know.. Like branding him as your mommy!

His milk was sweet and silky, smooth on your tongue and easy to digest. You almost choked on his milk, you were basically forced to swallow down the liquid.

This was unnatural—He was squirting too much! Your cheeks began to puff up with warm milk, your throat could barely keep up with the sheer volume and frequency at which the lactose content from his chest was coming at.

His savory essence began dribbling down your chin, the liquid going to waste as it went down your neck and pooled in the dip of your collarbone.

Briar held you tighter, suffocating you in pectoral, his other neglected breast kept leaking white, your ears barely catching the soft ‘drip drip’ of his milk splashing on the floor.

Too much—This was too much. You closed your eyes, tears beginning to bubble on your lash line out of pure despair.

Briar felt intense relief and pleasure, your mouth wrapped around his sensitive bud was a privilege greater than any. His whole body shuddered with joy as he kept you in place, his vision was fogged and lidded, he wanted to be milked dry.

He felt that his right chest had been relieved of most of its added weight, but that didn’t mean he was done though. His left chest had yet to feel the toe curling ecstasy from the soft suckles of your mouth— He needed you, now.

You looked tired, your hand gripped his chest tightly, wringing out the last of substances out his right breast. 

“B..Briar, I’m going to… ha.. ban you from my bed—“ yet again he stuffed his other chest in your mouth. Your stomach felt like it was about to burst, you were being force fed so much milk you were about to explode.

You had no choice but to shove everything deep down, your throat was getting tired, the bottom part of your face was sheening with liquid, the collar of your shirt was bleeding with it.

“Such a good baby~” the perverted cow praised,  pressing your face deeper into his skin. You were about to bite off his nipple at this point. 

Your mouth was too full, with a valiant force of your throat you managed to pull the milk down your esophagus. Or so you thought.

Your nose burnt like it was getting set on fire, someone fanning the blazing hell flames in the back of your throat.

Milk spilled out your nose, you managed to pull away with a coughing fit, your nasals felt hot when you finished regurgitating milk through your nose.

“Oh! I’m sorry— I didn’t know I was overwhelming you.” The thick assailant above you said innocently as if he was not at fault for it, asshole. Prick. Slut. He knew what he was doing and wasn’t going to pull away unless you sprayed that shit through your nose.

“F—Fuh— *cough* fuck you!” You wiped at your nose with your forearm, pushing him away with your hand while trying to dislodge yourself from his lap.

Stupid himbo. You thought bitterly, fiercely glaring at him through the corner of your eye. He just sat there and smiled, basically glowing.

Briar looked down at his chest, slightly less full than before, a new change being his abnormally puffy nipples, his index pressed against his soft tissue, his spine arching at the delicious sting that came from the contact.

His areolas had deep teeth indents, lovebites from you! Just for him only, to show how much you really love him, he wished that he could replay the memory of you eagerly lapping up his milk like a starved calf.

Briar lifted his head, bleary blues looked for you in the living room, but it was just him, sitting on the couch with a pool of now cold milk on the wooden floor and a painful erection.

“Ah! I see! You want to play hide and seek with me, don’t you?” Briar clapped his hands together, excited for playtime with his darling, he took care of buttoning his flannel back on correctly, wincing at the feeling of his sensitive nipples brushing against the soft fabric.

You hid in a closet, crossing your fingers and toe’s that Briar never actually found you. You had just gotten your stomach pumped, you didn’t want to be squeezed like a dog toy next.

Heavy footfall outside the closet alerted you, accidentally letting out a little gasp. The shadow of a large bull man stopped in front of the door. Shit, he had heard you.

In a sudden movement, he threw the doors of the close wide open, sending a small gust of air your way.

Scared shitless you grabbed onto whatever was closest, but Briar didn’t care, he seemed overjoyed that he had found you!

You let out a small scream as he grabbed you like a stuffed animal and held you up in the air.

“Found you!!! Aww.. Poor little thing, you must be all tuckered out from all that milk..” he tilted his head closer to you “Let’s go take a nap together, okay?” He asked in a baby voice, squeezing you with his hands and kissing your face.

You weren’t able to say or move as he dragged you upstairs like a prized possession, absolutely getting your face wet with sloppy kisses once again. 

How did you even end up with a man-thing like him? Oh! Right, because you used to have a heart of gold.

You glared at the obscenely humongous male sitting with you between his legs, his hands were brushing through your hair while rambling on about god-knows-what.

You were so completely and utterly fucked.

[inseobts]

hello i apologize if this is a lot but i'd love to req a fic w/ zoro, law, ace, sanji where reader is normally mature but has cuteness aggression to animals, & when she started dating them, she does it to the boys too- suddenly clinging onto them while aggressively peppering their faces w/ kisses or squeezing their cheeks & just being so overly proud of them & showering them w/ compliments, it can be a common occurrence or it takes the boys by surprise lol you decide ^o^

also, thank u for ur service to the op community on tumblr 🫡 the quality & frequency of ur fics are impressive, i always look forward to ur updates♡

Clingy Combat Cuddles

characters: zoro, sanji, law, ace (x fem!reader) + chopper (platonic but with zoro too)

a/n: they're kinda short because I didn't have many ideas, so I added chopper (ofc it's platonic tho + it has zoro in it!)

words count: around 0.4k - 0.6k each

tags: fluff, humor, cuteness aggression, established relationship (except for chopper ofc)

masterlist || ao3 || ko-fi

── .✦ Zoro:

The deck of the Sunny is peaceful. The sun is warm. The sea is calm. A perfect day.

And Zoro has just fought a sea king.

You're watching from the side, arms crossed, lips pressed together, trying to stay cool and composed. Like always.

But Zoro walks past you, shirt still off, a little cut on his cheek, sword resting against his shoulder and he scowls at the deck like it personally offended him.

That’s it.

That’s the moment.

Your brain breaks.

You lunge at him without warning “Zoro!”

He turns his head, barely reacting in time before you wrap your arms around his neck, jumping slightly so you can hang off him, nuzzling your face into the side of his jaw.

“YOU WERE SO COOL!! You chopped that thing like shing shing BAM! My big strong grumpy samurai baby!”

He stiffens “Oi! What the—”

You grab his face between both hands, squishing his cheeks together like dough.

“Look at this face! So serious! So brave! So slicey! UGH!!”

You start kissing his cheeks, nose, forehead, even his frown line like you're on a mission.

Zoro is frozen. Arms hanging in the air like he doesn’t know what to do with them.

“…Did you hit your head?” he finally mutters.

“No!” you say, still kissing him “I just... I have a thing!”

“A thing?”

“Yes! I get aggressive when things are too cute or too cool or too brave! Like when Chopper does his little dance or when cats squish into boxes—and now you!”

He gives you a blank look “So… you're calling me cute?”

“No,” you say seriously “I’m calling you the cutest deadly thing I’ve ever seen and I want to eat your face in the most loving way possible.”

“...What.”

A few feet away, the rest of the crew is watching like it’s a new show.

Luffy’s grinning, sitting on the railing “He’s gonna explode.”

Usopp is pale “I’ve never seen her like that. That’s terrifying.”

Sanji’s cigarette hangs from his lip, forgotten “He doesn’t deserve that level of affection, but damn if I’m not jealous.”

Robin chuckles “So, this is what she’s like when the mask slips. Fascinating.”

Back to Zoro who now has you hanging off his front, kissing under his chin while mumbling things like “my battle bear” and “look at this terrifying angel”.

He finally puts a hand on your back, awkwardly “…You’re seriously not joking.”

“Nope,” you chirp, grinning like a lunatic “I’m so proud of you I might die. Look at you! Protecting everyone without hesitation. You’re amazing.”

He stares at you. Then down at his swords. Then at the deck.

“I just killed a sea king.”

“And it was HOT.”

Zoro groans and hides his face behind your shoulder.

Later on you’re sitting on the grass, your head in his lap, Zoro finally having managed to drag you somewhere quieter. Sort of.

He’s sharpening his swords, jaw set, pretending he’s not enjoying the way you keep sneaking kisses to his thigh.

“You done acting weird?”

“Nope,” you say, immediately reaching up to pinch his cheek again “You’re mine now. This is the price.”

Zoro sighs, annoyed.

But he doesn’t move your hand.

Instead, he glances down, and there’s a tiny hint of a smirk at the corner of his lips.

“You better not do this in front of enemies.”

“No promises.”

“…Tch.”

You grin and tug him down for another forehead kiss.

And this time, he lets you.

── .✦ Sanji:

You’ve been good today. Calm. Collected. You kept your hands to yourself through breakfast, through a minor skirmish with Marines, and even through Sanji’s dramatic backflip dodge while holding two plates of soup.

But now… Now he’s plating dessert.

He hums a little as he swirls whipped cream into perfect little peaks.

His hair falls over his eye just a bit, and there's flour on his cheek.

You try. You really try.

But no... You’re losing it.

“Sanji—” you say, voice tight.

He turns with a warm smile “Yes, my love?”

You’re already marching toward him.

“Oh no,” he says, eyes wide with anticipation “Is it time?”

“It’s time.”

You slam into him like a heat-seeking missile, arms wrapping tight around his middle as you squish your cheek against his chest.

“TOO PERFECT. TOO BEAUTIFUL. TOO TALENTED” you shout into his shirt.

Sanji laughs and drops the whipped cream just in time to catch you with both arms.

“Mon dieu, you’re doing it again. You’re going to kill me with affection.”

You grab his face “GOOD. DIE WITH LOVE.”

You start smothering him in kisses: forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, ears, rapid-fire smooches with increasing intensity.

Sanji nearly melts.

“Chérie, please, my heart can only take so much—”

“Look at you!” you cry, squeezing his cheeks “Your stupid little smile and your perfect food and your gentleman act! You’re SO ANNOYINGLY AMAZING!”

He practically purrs “Say that again.”

“You’re the most beautiful, talented, wonderful man in the world and I want to chew your stupid perfect face like a mochi bun.”

He gasps softly “Marry me.”

“I might do.”

“Then we have to arrange it all.”

Later that evening, you’re sitting peacefully on a chair, flipping through a book.

Sanji walks past you carrying a tray of tea and pauses.

He glances over his shoulder.

You glance up.

There’s flour on his sleeve.

His shirt is rolled up to the elbow.

He’s humming again.

You’re holding it together, but barely.

He smirks “You okay, mon amour?”

You stare.

He walks closer “You’re looking at me like I’m a chocolate cake with legs.”

You slam the book shut and launch up, but before you can pounce, he spreads his arms wide like an invitation.

“Come here, ma chérie. Ruin me.”

You leap into his embrace and he spins you around, laughing as you kiss his face over and over and over.

“You’re shameless!” you giggle.

“I’m in love,” he says dramatically “If your kisses were a drug, I’d be long dead.”

“I will squish your cheeks into dumplings and feed them to seagulls.”

“Please do.”

“You’re too pretty, it’s unfair.”

“I’ll ugly it up a little. Give me a day.”

“NO! I love your face, I’d wear it like a scarf if I could.”

He fake-swoons “Do it. Take it. I’m yours.”

“Is this… normal now?” Zoro mutters as he watches you pin Sanji against the wall of the kitchen, attacking him with affectionate nibbles and kisses while he happily takes it, hands holding your waist like he’s never been more at peace.

“Unfortunately, yes,” Nami says, sipping her drink “They’re like this almost every day.”

Brook hums “Yohoho! True love is terrifying.”

Robin smiles behind her book “At least it’s harmless. Though, she did try to bite his nose once.”

“She did bite my nose,” Sanji calls out helpfully “It was magnificent.”

Zoro turns away, muttering, “Get a room.”

“We have a room!” Sanji replies “We’re just taking the scenic route!”

Hours later, you’re snuggled on the couch in the kitchen, your head on Sanji’s lap, while he runs his fingers through your hair.

“You good now, love?” he asks gently.

You sigh “I think I emptied the tank.”

He leans down and kisses your forehead “You can refill it tomorrow. I’ll be ready.”

You open one eye “You really don’t mind when I get like that?”

He smiles “Mon amour… I live for it.”

You smile too “You’re gonna regret saying that.”

“I hope I do,” he says “Over and over again.”

── .✦ Law:

Law is reviewing maps. His fingers tap against the table in a steady rhythm, eyes darting from note to note. His crew has just docked at a remote island, nothing dramatic today. Just calm preparation.

You're leaning against the wall, watching him.

He’s focused. Serious. In control.

You normally admire that about him.

But now?

It's making you suffer... a lot.

His eyebrows furrow slightly. He mumbles something about currents and wind speeds. His lips move with precision. His fingers glide over the paper and...

... and that’s it.

You break.

“Law” you say, voice suspiciously innocent.

He hums without looking up “Mm?”

You walk up behind him slowly. Too slowly. His head lifts just slightly, eyes flicking toward you, narrowing.

“…What are you doing?” he asks flatly.

You don’t answer.

You leap onto him from behind.

“AHHH—”

He jolts forward a little as your arms wrap tight around his neck, your face burying in the side of his head.

“YOU’RE SO SMART. SO FOCUSED. I WANNA BITE YOUR BRAIN THROUGH YOUR SKULL—IN A LOVING WAY!”

“WHAT—?! Y/N—what are you—”

You pull back only to grab his face and start kissing it in a fury. Forehead. Nose. Cheek. Jaw. Temple. Eyelid. Repeat.

“SO! SMART! AND! SEXY! AND! SERIOUS!”

“Are you having some kind of episode?” Law says, voice strangled.

“Yes,” you gasp “It’s called cuteness aggression and you’re the disease.”

Minutes later, Law is leaning back in his desk chair, defeated, while you sit on his lap like an overjoyed little goblin, hands on his cheeks, staring at him lovingly.

“You’re not supposed to be like this” he mutters.

“Like what?” you blink innocently.

“You’re usually calm. Rational. Controlled.”

“I lied,” you say sweetly “That was just the bait phase. This is my final form.”

Law sighs and covers his eyes with one hand “I can’t do diagnostics like this.”

“Sure you can,” you whisper, kissing his nose again “You just need to adjust to your new life. With me on your lap. Forever.”

He mumbles something that sounds suspiciously like “help”.

“Too late,” you say “I’ve chosen you.”

“You’re insane.”

“And you’re perfect. Look at this little line between your eyebrows. It’s my favorite. Can I kiss it?”

“No.”

You kiss it anyway.

He tries to work. He really does.

You're sitting nearby. Quiet. Reading. Acting like a normal person again.

Then Law says something offhanded, like, “The odds of ambush are low, but possible.”

You immediately drop the book.

You spin in your seat.

“Low but possible? SO. ARE. YOU. That’s you. You’re a low-chance rare-drop man. A mythic legendary boyfriend. I’M GOING TO KISS YOUR EARS.”

“Please do not kiss my ears.”

You pounce again “TOO LATE!”

You squeeze his face gently, tilt it like he’s a confused doll, and begin your assault.

He groans “This is emotional terrorism.”

“You love it.”

“…I don’t hate it.”

Later that night, you’re laying together in his quarters, the world quiet, your head on his chest. He’s stroking your back slowly, finally calm again.

“You’re weird” he murmurs.

“Yup.”

“I liked you better when you were pretending to be emotionally stable.”

You smile into his shirt “Liar.”

“…Yeah,” he mutters “I am.”

You lift your head just enough to look him in the eye “Do you want me to stop?”

He hesitates.

Then, softly “…No.”

You grin “Good. Because I was going to keep doing it anyway.”

He presses a kiss to your hair “Of course you were.”

── .✦ Ace:

Ace drops out of the sky like a meteor, lands on the deck with a dramatic crouch, and tosses a flaming Marine cannon overboard like it’s a beach ball.

Everyone cheers.

You’re already running toward him.

He stands up, beaming, shirt half open, flames still curling off his shoulders.

You throw your arms around him like a tackle.

“BABY!! YOU LIVING INCINERATOR! MY FLAMING HERO!!”

He laughs, wrapping you up tight “I missed you too, firecracker!”

You grab his cheeks.

“I am going to smooch you so hard your freckles become stars.”

“PLEASE DO.”

You slam kiss after kiss to his face, and he laughs through all of it “Wait—no, don’t stop, I’m just surprised! You’re usually the calm one!”

“That version of me is dead,” you say seriously “You dropkicked a cannon midair. I’m going feral.”

“Finally!” he cheers “Join me in chaos!!”

You bite his cheek lightly.

He gasps “I’m in love.”

The rest of the crew watches you both clinging to each other like human Velcro, nuzzling and giggling and attacking each other with affection.

“It’s like watching two puppies roll down a hill” Marco mutters.

Thatch wipes a tear “Beautiful. Gross. But beautiful.”

Ace is now spinning you in a circle while you repeatedly yell, “YOU’RE SO STUPIDLY HOT, IT MAKES ME ANGRY.”

“YEAH?! GOOD! I WANNA BE HOT FOR YOU FOREVER!”

“STOP SMILING LIKE THAT YOU HANDSOME PIECE OF SUNSHINE!”

“I CAN’T, YOU’RE TOO CUTE WHEN YOU YELL.”

Later, Ace plops down beside you, sweaty and soot-streaked after another skirmish. He opens his arms wide.

“Do your thing” he says.

You blink “What thing?”

He grins “You know. That thing. The... 'aggressive cuddles and I-want-to-chew-your-face' thing.”

“Ohhh, you want the full package?”

“Yes please.”

You tackle him to the ground instantly.

“MY BEAUTIFUL DUMB IDIOT. MY FLAMING HOT DORK. MY BRAVE EXPLOSION HUSBAND.”

You kiss his forehead.

Then both cheeks.

Then his jaw.

Then you pause.

“You smell like smoke and sea salt.”

“Romantic, huh?”

“You smell like danger and I love it.”

“I love you.”

You pause again “Ew. That was corny.”

“You just licked my face like a cat two minutes ago.”

“Fair.”

At night, lying in a hammock together, he holds you tight against his chest. The wind is quiet. The sea gentle.

He brushes his fingers through your hair.

“You really don’t get embarrassed?” he whispers.

“Not when it comes to you” you murmur back.

“Even when you call me a ‘beautiful flaming dumbass’ in public?”

“Especially then.”

He grins into your hair.

“I like this side of you” he says.

You look up “You mean the clingy one that kisses your nose in front of your whole crew?”

“No,” he replies softly “The one that doesn’t hold back.”

You smile.

“Then you’re stuck with me.”

Ace kisses your forehead.

“Good. Because I’d set the world on fire before I let you go.”

── .✦ Chopper (+ Zoro):

“Okay, next patient,” Chopper says proudly, flipping his clipboard “Let’s see Y/N, it’s just your check-up!”

You sit on the exam table swinging your legs “Yup! I’m ready, Doctor Tiny Genius.”

“I told you not to call me that” he mutters, hiding his flustered face behind the clipboard.

You lean down and whisper, “But you are a tiny genius.”

“Stop iiiit,” he whines, blushing, “I’m just doing my job!”

You watch him waddle around the room with his little doctor coat and stethoscope.

He’s so smol. So serious. So determined.

You can’t hold it.

“Chopper,” you whisper “Come closer.”

He looks up, confused “Huh? Why?”

“Come. Closer.”

“Are you okay—?”

You snatch him right off the ground and CRADLE him in your arms.

“TOO CUTE. TOO KIND. TOO FLUFFY. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH I’M GONNA EXPLODE.”

“W-WHA—?!” Chopper’s face is glowing red “W-WAIT! I—I’m your doctor—!”

You rub your cheek against his fuzzy face “You are my doctor AND my emotional support reindeer. Let me love you.”

“You’re squishing my antlers—!”

“They are precious and I would die for them.”

Chopper flails, but doesn’t really try to escape. He’s used to this. You do this at least once a week.

“I’m gonna tell Zoro!” he threatens, kicking gently.

“Zoro loves it. He thinks you’re cute too.”

Zoro is leaning against the doorframe, watching the scene unfold.

You cradling Chopper like a plush toy while Chopper pretends to be mad but actually leaning into your touch.

Zoro sighs... and smile.

“You’re enabling her” Chopper says accusingly.

Zoro shrugs “You are adorable.”

“Not you too!” Chopper squeaks.

You smirk “See? I told you.”

Zoro walks over and gently ruffles Chopper’s hat “Deal with it, doc. She only does this to her favorite people.”

Chopper freezes. Blinks. Looks between you and Zoro.

“R-Really?”

You nod and boop his nose “Only the elite get aggressively snuggled.”

He goes completely red, squeaks, and buries his face in your shoulder.

“Okay... but just for five more seconds.”

You squeeze him tighter “Ten.”

Later, as you finally let Chopper go, he adjusts his little coat and clears his throat.

“I’m still your doctor” he says sternly.

“Of course, Doctor Cutie.”

“Don’t call me that! …I mean, you can, but—wait, no, don’t make it a thing!”

Zoro pats his head on the way out “Too late.”

You lean over and whisper to Zoro “I’m gonna dress him up as a little surgeon plush next time.”

Zoro smirks “I’ll hold him down.”

[zhukzucraft]

=> Pearl & Co: Gear up

You decide to scrape all the valuable rocks and minerals off this cave first. Added to your spoils from before it should be enough to properly equip you for the Nether.

Grian: Any word from Skizz yet?

Gem: He's saying he'll run right on back.

Gem: oh wait

Gem: Now he's saying Mumbo is against it.

Grian: Unbelievable. It's been less than ten minutes and the man's already whipped.

Scar: That means they won't need their death chest stashes, right?

Pearl: Scar, really? You would stoop down to grave robbing, sir?

Scar: No, no, of course not!

Scar: Just grave-borrowing.

Gem: I'd say we're ready as can be!

Pearl: I mean- we could maybe get some diamonds and-

Scar: Woooooo, let's go!!

Pearl: ...

Pearl: Wait!!

Pearl: if

Pearl: if this happens to go wrong and my soulmate is... not happy about it

Pearl: Would it be ok if we stayed together?

Pearl: You know, as a team?

Gem: Of course, Pearl! Why wouldn't we!

Gem: We started this together and we're sticking together no matter what!

Grian: You know, maybe you could stay up here?

Grian: We could use someone to dig us diamonds to enchant.

Gem: Exactly! And even if you don't find any, we'll let you get in on the enchanting. Right, Grian?

Grian: Weeeell

Gem: Right, Grian?

Grian: Alright, alright.

Gem: And Scar?

...

Gem: ...Scar?

GoodTimesWithScar has earned the achievement [We Need To Go Deeper]

=====>

Start Over -- Go Back

i hope i've managed to make it clearer this time that the "armor visible" condition is applicable only when it's on the screen. i just don't want to cover 80% of the design with armor most of the time. Please assume that everyone is wearing whatever armor they've been seen in last

same goes for weapons and shields - it leaves both hands busy if i draw them all the time, so let's just pretend they stash both in their inventory when not directly in combat.

on an unrelated note - i'm going to be busy with work and family matters the next two weeks, so the frequency of updates might fall significantly. i hope for your patience U-U

also-also: the archive up to the current POV is now on AO3 - LINK!

[thatonegrimm]

The Manager’s Guide to Demon Boybands: A Witch’s Oath

Shadows Between Us

Chapter5/Chapter6/Chapter7

A Rooftop, Late Evening

The city stretched beneath You, its lights blinking like distant stars in the twilight. It had been a long day of rehearsals and photo ops for the boys, but you had stayed behind—again. There were always things to check, always things to prepare. You couldn’t quite shake the feeling that something was off, a nagging sense that there was more to everything than met the eye.

Standing alone on the rooftop, the wind tugging at your blazer, the chill of evening settling in. Your thoughts were on the warding rituals performed earlier, the minor charms that were now humming beneath your skin. They should have been enough. But something felt different tonight. It was like the air itself was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.

It’s just nerves. You’ve done this a hundred times, she told herself, but the feeling lingered.

As she adjusted her earpiece, ready to check in on the boys’ next performance schedule, she noticed the faintest shimmer in the air ahead of her. It was subtle—something she would have missed had she not been attuned to the magical frequencies around her. A ripple, barely there, but unmistakably unnatural.

Before she could react, a flicker of black smoke shot toward her, followed by a shriek—a sound unlike anything human. It came from the shadows beneath her feet, twisting and writhing like a creature coming to life.

Your heart raced, instinct kicking in. You reached for the sigils hidden in her jacket, preparing to draw them into place, but the creature’s movement was faster than anticipated. Black claws reached out, slashing through the air in her direction.

You stepped back, magic flaring just in time to create a weak barrier, but the claws scraped across it with a sickening sound, forcing you to stumble.

Not enough. Not enough, she thought, panic creeping into her chest.

She had always been in control—always able to ward off anything that came her way, but tonight, something about this creature was different. Stronger. Darker.

Before she could react further, a flicker of movement by her side caught her attention. The air around her seemed to tighten, a brief rush of cold energy following it. A figure was beside her, too quick to track, and before she could fully comprehend what was happening, the creature was slammed backward, its attack interrupted by a sudden shockwave of power.

The figure stood between her and the creature, blocking its advance. She blinked as the figure shifted, revealing Mystery, his posture poised yet unbothered. The faintest shimmer of energy seemed to ripple from his direction, something that made the creature hesitate. His eyes never left the shadow, but his presence was solid, unshaken by the chaos around them.

He didn’t move much, his gaze steady, focused solely on the creature. You took a step back, hand still on the sigil, but it was clear that Mystery’s subtle presence was more than enough to stop the creature in its tracks.

The shadows recoiled for a moment, then disappeared into the darkness as quickly as they had come. The night settled, the energy that had crackled between them fading as Mystery’s gaze relaxed.

You stood there, momentarily stunned, as he turned toward her. His expression didn’t change, but there was a quiet acknowledgment in his eyes.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, almost detached.

You nodded, taking a breath. "I’m fine. Just… didn’t expect that."

He tilted his head slightly, but didn’t offer much else. There was something in the air between them, a silent understanding. Mystery didn’t need to say anything more—the moment spoke for itself.

“Thanks,” she added, still processing.

He simply nodded once, then took a step back toward the shadows, his figure blending with the night. Before he disappeared completely, he glanced over his shoulder, and for the briefest of moments, their eyes met. No words. Just a quiet connection, and then he was gone.

Backstage – Later

The boys finished their performance successfully, but your thoughts were obviously elsewhere. As they filed back into the dressing room, Abby gave you a questioning look. "You good?" he asked again, his voice softer now, more genuine.

You nodded. “I’m fine. Just need to reinforce a few things tonight.”

Walking over to the staff area, moving past the boys. You didn’t stop to chat, lost in the quiet buzzing of your thoughts. You had felt something earlier, but couldn’t pinpoint it yet.

You caught a glimpse of Romance talking to someone, and while his smile was as effortless as always, you couldn’t help but feel the faintest trace of unease.

Focus. You reminded herself. There’s a bigger picture here.

Later That Night – Your Apartment

She stood at her desk, watching the faint, lingering shadows from the earlier encounter dissipate as her wards settled back into place. The attack had been quick, almost too quick. Who was behind this?

The metal scrap from the rooftop lay on her desk, now burned clean and warded once more. But it had been just one piece—there had to be more. Someone was testing the boys’ defenses.

She opened her journal and quickly jotted down a few notes.

Shadows are closing in. It’s not just about them anymore. Someone is sending things, testing weaknesses. They’ll come after the boys, but they’ll target me first.

She paused, her fingers hovering over the page, tracing a line that wasn’t there. Mystery’s presence was… different. He didn’t seem affected by the creature the way I was.

Another line, added with a quiet, deliberate hand:

Next performance: double the protections. If this escalates, it’ll be worse than a curse.

She closed the journal and turned off the lights, the low hum of the ward in her hand sending a small pulse through her fingers. She lay back, but even as her eyes closed, the sense that something was watching, something waiting, didn’t leave her.

Not tonight.

AN: Okay so… that escalated a little. 😅

This chapter dipped into the shadowy side of things, but don’t worry—you’re still standing (mostly). Mystery stepping in like a silent, dramatic bodyguard? Iconic. Zero commentary. Maximum impact. 10/10 would trust again.

The story’s starting to shift now—more weirdness, more danger, and definitely more "wait, was that normal?" moments ahead.

Taglist: @poem-bee @gremlinartstudio @wantstoliveinfantasy @lovely-maryj @buggaboobich @idkokfu @osball

[girlgenius1111]

no time

jenni hermoso x reader. jenni is feeling neglected by how much time r is spending away from her, focused on football and getting her degree. jenni decides r is avoiding her, and pulls away too. eventually, it all becomes too much for r, who is feeling the pressure from everyone and everything. i would say teeny amount of angst and majority amount of fluff. for all the underfed jenni girls 😌😌

-----

Jenni knew you were busy. She knew you had a million things going on, and that the lack of time you’d been spending her was probably completely unintentional. A more insecure part of her worried that it was intentional, but she tried to quiet that part down. The Spaniard came across as a very outgoing, confident individual, and for the most part, she was. In her relationships, though, she had an issue with asking for what she needed, just like you did. She craved your attention and your company, but something inside of her just… wouldn’t let her ask for it. 

And it wasn’t like Jenni wasn’t trying to spend time with you. She’d come into the office while you were studying, trying to convince you to take a break. In the past few weeks, the answer had been no. You were drowning in school work, with practices picking up in frequency and intensity for the team. When you did have time to focus on school, you were always rather exhausted. Adding another 2 classes to your course load this term had been a mistake if you’d ever made one. Instead of the two you normally took, sometimes three, you were taking four. Four more classes, and you’d be done with your degree, fulfilling your promise to your parents to have a backup plan in case football didn’t work out. Maybe you didn’t deserve a degree. It was pretty idiotic to come to the conclusion that four classes wasn’t that much more than two.

Jenni had never cared for school, getting it done as soon as she could. She loved you, a lot, but she couldn’t really comprehend the deeply ingrained need you had to get your degree, and get perfect marks. She was supportive nonetheless, but she didn’t really quite understand what another two classes would entail. For the first part of the term, it had been manageable. Now, things had piled up, and you were absolutely drowning. 

You were a perfectionist, and you’d do anything to make sure your university work was perfect, your football was perfect, at the expense of everything. Even your own wellbeing. And, apparently, Jenni’s wellbeing too, although you weren’t quite aware of the toll your lack of time spent with her was causing. 

It was really a lack of communication that caused things to bubble over. 

Jenni felt neglected. And you wanted nothing more than for her to pull you away from your late night study sessions and remind you to put yourself first, because you were sure you couldn’t do it yourself. If either of you had just spoken to the other, it would have been resolved so easily. Jenni would have realized that you needed her, but were too stressed to really know what you needed. And you would have realized that giving Jenni space wasn’t some kind of gift for her, and that she would be happy to sit next to you while you studied and just keep you company. Communication was an area that your relationship tended to struggle, though. It was a work in progress, and this situation clearly presented where there was still progress to be made. 

-----

As you typed away at your computer, you again wondered why on earth you had added classes. Another term would have been worth it, if only to avoid this hell. It was Tuesday, and you had 3 essays due on Sunday. The week was stuffed full of training and extra workouts, though, and then the team was traveling for an away game. Everything had to be done by Friday, or it wouldn’t get done, and that wasn’t an option. 

Not only did it have to be done, it had to be perfect. There was no possibility of halfassing any assignment. You’d tried before, but you always ended up redoing it until it was perfect, and it was just much easier to do it the first time around. 

You had just finished the first essay, which was at the very end of the page limit. It was up to your standards, you decided, reading over it once more before turning it in. You should have felt relieved, that one of the things hanging over your head was now completed. Instead, you could only look to the next essay, and the one after that. And the exam next week, the project the week after. It was so easy to get overwhelmed if you thought too hard about everything, so you did your best to focus on each task one at a time. 

Perhaps it was this very narrow view of your life that had you not really thinking about your girlfriend in the other room. She’d been waiting for you to emerge from the office all afternoon, only getting you to take a short break to eat. 

She just wanted to spend time with you. Catch up on a show, or hold you on the couch and talk. It didn’t make any sense to her, why couldn't you just put the schoolwork down for one night, and pay attention to her. Maybe you would have, if she’d just asked for it. Instead, she sat quietly in the living room, trying her best not to cry as her feelings began to overwhelm her. Was she really that horrible to spend time with? That her own girlfriend preferred mindless busy work to being with her?

Deciding to end her pity party, she wiped at her eyes, checking in the front hall mirror that there were no visible tear marks, before she made a very pathetic attempt to get your attention. It wasn’t very late, but training had been grueling today, and Jenni knew that if she was tired, you must be exhausted. 

“Mi amor?” Jenni called from the doorway of the office. “Are you coming to bed?” 

You didn’t even turn your head away from the screen in front of you for a full 20 seconds, and when you finally did, it was to stare almost blankly at your girlfriend. “Huh?” 

“I was just- I’m going to bed now. Goodnight.” Before you could reply, Jenni was turning around and heading down the hall towards the bedroom. No goodnight kiss, no request for you to join her.  You blinked after her, struck by how cold she’d just been with you. Now that you thought about it, she’d been like that for a few days, and you hadn’t noticed. 

You turned back to your outline, copying lines from your notes mindlessly as you tried to figure out the source of Jenni’s frustration. Of course, you settled on yourself. You were a disaster at the moment, and you knew that. The only logical thing you could come up with was that Jenni was just… annoyed with having to deal with you like this. There were only a few weeks left of term, and you decided to try to bother her as little as possible until then. Once school was over, for good, you could go back to being the smiley, relaxed girlfriend Jenni was used to. The one Jenni preferred. 

You had very little clarity of when you fell asleep. One second, you were typing away, eyes drooping. The next, you were facedown asleep, your face smushed into your keyboard. 

Jenni managed to fall asleep without you next to her, but did not remain that way for long. After only two hours she woke, frowning to herself when she realized the bed was still practically made on your side. With a sigh, she dragged herself from bed and walked down to the office, prepared to drag you to bed if she had to. Even if you were avoiding her, she had to put her foot down somewhere; this was bordering on unhealthy. 

She trudged into the office, lips curving into a small smile as she noticed you out cold on your laptop. It didn’t look very comfortable, and the quiet inhales and marks on your cheek told her you’d been asleep for a solid amount of time. 

“Amor,” Jenni sang, her voice soft and loving as she roused you from a deep sleep. 

“Jen?” You picked your head up, blinking groggily up at her, and winced at the knot that had appeared in your neck. You’d fallen asleep, you realized. It was dark in the room, and Jenni’s face was half hidden by shadows. It was unreadable, and you cursed yourself internally for immediately breaking the promise you’d made to yourself just a few hours prior. The promise to not make Jenni suffer through your stress along with you. She must be so upset with you, having to come check on you like you were a child. Still, Jenni was kind and you knew that the way she carefully picked you up and cradled you to her chest didn’t mean she still wasn’t annoyed. It didn’t mean you weren’t being too much for her, it just meant Jenni was a good person. 

“Let’s go to bed, sí?” She cooed, carrying you down the hall. 

You nodded into her chest, allowing yourself a moment of comfort. You fought against the tightness in your throat and the moisture in your eyes as you realized just how exhausted you were, not wanting to make the situation any worse. Warmth filled your girlfriend’s chest at the feeling of having you so close to her again, but that feeling faded quickly when she placed you down on the bed, and you immediately rolled to the edge of your side. As far from her as possible. 

This cemented it in her mind, honestly. That you were avoiding her on purpose, using your school work as an excuse. And you were only more sure that she was tired of how much stress you brought to her life when she didn’t curl her body around yours, as she normally did. Both of you were miserable as you drifted off, completely incorrectly convinced that the other person was angry.  

-----

You were not a morning person, but your girlfriend was. It was your daily routine at this point for her to wake you up in the morning, a mug of coffee in her hand and a soft smile on her face, dimples just barely peeking out. Or, you’d wake to her curled around you, her breaths steady puffs on your neck. Never, never, did you wake to nothing. No Jenni at all. Your alarm went off, and you groaned, feeling that the few hours of sleep were not enough. You were barely conscious, rolling onto the other side of the bed in search of your girlfriend’s warm body. Nothing. 

Waiting a beat, you listened for her footsteps coming up the stairs. Nothing. Minutes passed with no appearances from the striker, and you rolled over towards the bedside table, grabbing your phone. Her location showed her already at the training grounds, a full hour early. You pictured her taking free kicks from all over the pitch, the same scowl on her face she always got when she was worked up about something. You loved that scowl, despite the cause of it. You liked to make it turn into a huge grin, one that brought out the dimples on her cheeks. 

God you missed her. Suddenly, with full force, you missed her deeply. Though you’d seen her last night, it felt like you’d been gone for weeks. You supposed you had, too caught up in your school work to think of much else. You wondered if she missed you, too, or if she was glad for the break.

No way to know, you decided, even though there very clearly was. Deciding that you could get a bit of your next essay done before you had to get ready for training, you dragged yourself out of bed and down the hall to get some coffee. There was some left on the counter for you, in a mug that had Jenni’s face on it, a joke gift she’d given you last christmas. On the very rare occasions Jenni had to leave the house before you were up, she almost always left a little note. Sometimes it was something cheesy and adorable, and other times it was just a heart. Today, there was nothing but the mug, the coffee inside already cold. 

------

When Jenni entered the house after dinner, she was feeling kind of guilty for being so distant the past few days. Especially after seeing how exhausted you were the night before. With the whole day to think about things, she realized maybe she should be more worried than upset with you. 

She’d left before you were even awake. Obviously, you couldn’t discuss anything at training, and you’d gone straight to the library after to work on your essay. Jenni had made herself get out of the house, getting together with a few friends, texting you quickly that she wouldn’t be home for dinner.  

She knew she’d been a bit immature and that she should have just communicated her issue to you. Before you, she’d never felt needy. Now, though, it felt like any time away from you was difficult. And the distance she’d forced in the past few days hadn’t made her feel better like she thought; she hadn’t gotten used to not being around you. Instead, she just missed you even more. Maybe she would have talked to you, honestly, if she hadn’t been convinced that you were upset with her, tired of her. 

She couldn’t hear the clicking of the keyboard coming from the office, and that would have been her first guess as to your location. Moving further into the house, Jenni looked around, finally spotting you in the living room. You weren’t lounging in the armchair, watching a show, like she’d been expecting. Instead, you were curled up into a ball on the sofa, sobbing into your hands. It was loud and painful, and the brunette was sure that you hadn’t even heard her enter the house. There were papers scattered around you, your computer set aside, still open to the essay that just wouldn’t get done. 

The small sounds you were making in between each sob broke Jenni’s heart, and it only took her a minute to unfreeze, and cross the room. 

“Amor, hey,” she cooed, crouching down next to the sofa and trying to tug your hands away from your face. You jumped slightly, feeling your face burn with embarrassment. You thought you’d have more time to hide your breakdown before Jenni got home.

“Go away.” You murmured, attempting to move away from her. Jenni was strong, though, and before you could move very far, you were being pulled into her lap. 

“No. Talk to me.” Jenni encouraged, finally getting a look at your face. Her stomach dropped as she realized just how exhausted you were, and just how upset. Your bottom lip trembled as you tried to stop your tears, fighting against the urge to lean into your girlfriend. If the past day had taught you anything, it was that Jenni didn’t need to deal with your stress. That was the reason she must have been pulling away, and you wanted to respect her obvious need for space. 

“I’m fine, Jenni, just go to bed. I’ll be in later.” Your voice was raspy from crying, and Jenni’s brow furrowed. 

Shaking her head, she leaned in to place the gentlest of kisses on your cheek. “Cari, I am not going anywhere until you tell me what is wrong.” 

Again, it felt like every part of you was begging to collapse into her. You just couldn’t do it. “You have enough on your plate. Don’t worry about me.” Even as you spoke, tears ran down your face, and you sniffled pitifully. 

Jenni rolled her eyes in response, her slender fingers pushing your hair away from your face. “I love you, I am going to worry about you. Especially when I find you like this. Now tell me what is wrong so I can fix it.” 

There was nowhere for you to look but at her, and her eyes were so earnest and so concerned, you gave in. “I-I’m just so stressed, Jen. I can’t- there isn’t enough time for me to get everything done and I’m so tired and I can’t do this anymore I’m losing my mind, and I’m too much for you and I just-”

Jenni became laser focused on the end of your rambling sentences, her hands working frantically to run through your hair and caress your face in comfort. “No, you are not too much for me, mi amor. Never. Why would you think that?” 

Looking at her with wide eyes, you wondered why she was lying. “You’ve been avoiding me these past few days. You’ve barely been here, you left this morning without even waking me, I-”

Shaking her head rapidly, Jenni felt guilt tugging at her. She should have known better, should have known you’d never do anything to hurt her, but yourself? That was another story. “Amor, you’ve been avoiding me for weeks. I was only trying to give you space.”

“I was trying to give you space.” You choked out. “I thought you were tired of me.” 

“No, mi amor, no.” Jenni sighed, gripping you by the shoulders and internally cursing herself. “I thought you were tired of me. You’ve been so busy, and I just thought you wanted to spend less time with me.” 

‘No, I didn’t want that.” You shook your head, shrugging her hands off your shoulders, only to wrap your own arms around her abdomen and bury your face in her neck. “I was just so busy and so overwhelmed, I didn’t want to stress you out.” 

With a gentle hand on the back of your head, Jenni pressed you in closer to her and left a kiss on the side of your head. “You do not stress me out. I want to help you when you are stressed, but I cannot do that if it feels like you do not want me around.” 

You nodded into her neck, knowing she likely felt the tears running off your face and onto her skin. “I’m sorry.” You whimpered. 

“It’s alright, cari. I’m sorry too, I should have noticed you were stressed.” 

When she only got a shrug in response, she leaned you back from her and studied your face closely. “What’s going on, hmm? School doesn’t normally get you like this.” 

Subconsciously, you tried to match the rise and fall of your girlfriend’s chest, willing yourself to just calm down so you could have a conversation. “It’s the extra classes. It’s way too much, I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m barely getting everything done and it’s building up and-” 

“Extra classes?” Jenni asked, her forehead wrinkling in confusion. 

You blinked at her. You’d told her about the extra classes… right? Admittedly, Jenni didn’t listen very hard when you talked about school, so it was entirely possible she’d just missed it, but she always remembered the important things. “I told you. I’m taking four this term.” 

“Four! Why would you do that?!” Jenni exclaimed, her face so comically surprised, you had to fight a smile. “You didn’t tell me, amor.” 

“I did!” You argued back. “So I can finish school this term instead of after the next one.” 

Jenni shook her head, her face turning slightly stern. “You did not tell me. That is too much, mi amor, why would you do that? No wonder you’re so overwhelmed.” She tutted. 

You thought hard, your eyebrows scrunching in a way Jenni found downright adorable. “Oh. I decided when I was home with my family for the holidays. I must have told them and forgotten to tell you…”

You looked at Jenni wearily, wondering if she’d be upset. Instead, she was chuckling at you and shaking her head. It was very you to forget something like this. Jenni liked to joke that you spend all your brain power on football and school, and there wasn’t any left over for common sense. 

“Sorry, Jen. I thought I told you.” You mumbled, face turning red with embarrassment. Maybe your girlfriend would have been annoyed, if she wasn’t so very in love with you. All your quirks, though, were just silly to her, endearing. She had become horrifically soft for you, she realized. 

“It’s okay, you didn’t do it on purpose.” Jenni said kindly. “I understand now, why you’ve been so busy. But, amor, if it is too much, why don’t you just drop a class? Or turn in a few assignments late. You only need a certain grade to pass, no? Not everything has to be perfect. You have to give yourself a break.” 

It was everything you’d needed to hear, and still, everything you refused to believe. You couldn’t drop a class, couldn’t get less than a perfect score. You didn’t deserve a break, not until everything was done. Jenni’s face fell as your eyes began to water again, and she worried she said the wrong thing. 

A flood of words spewed from your mouth, trying to help her understand what you didn’t even really understand. “I don’t know how to stop. I don’t know how to take a break without someone telling me to, I feel like my body is shutting down Jenni, I’m so tired,” you sobbed, once more pressing your face into her chest, likely staining her shirt with tears. She was quick to wrap you in a hug, hushing you quietly. 

“Oh, mi amor.” She sighed, stroking her fingers through your hair. “I’m so sorry I didn’t realize you were having a hard time, I’m sorry I didn’t help.” 

That felt like an incredibly ridiculous thing for her to apologize for, and you told her so. “You shouldn’t have to do that, you shouldn’t have to take care of me like that”

“Of course I do. I want to. That is what partners do, no?” She replied incredulously, using her sleeve to gently swipe the tears off your face. She hated to see you cry, but she loved how long your eyelashes got when they were wet with tears; it made your eyes look bigger, somehow, and it always made her want to hold onto you and never let go. 

“You don’t have to.” You argued weakly. 

Jenni kissed you gently instead of replying right away, her soft lips pressing into yours telling you more than she could probably convey with words. “I’m going to, cariño.” 

“Okay.” You whispered, effectively convinced by her kiss, knowing Jenni well enough to know that if you agreed with her, she’d kiss you again. And she did. 

“We’ll start now then. Let’s take a break. We can lay on the couch and take a nap and then order dinner in.” She was already shutting your computer and carefully putting your notes into a pile, before placing it all on the table. 

“But my essay,” you argued halfheartedly, knowing you would probably only be capable of writing incomprehensible sentences at this point. The striker turned back to you, a stern look on her face once again. Jenni shook her head firmly, her thumbs running back and forth across your cheeks in an incredibly soothing manner. “No essay is worth this. You need to take a break, and rest.” 

“I- I don’t…”

“Hmm? You don’t what, amor?” Her voice held a challenge, almost begging you to argue with her about needing a break. She didn’t understand, but she wanted to, more than anything. 

“I didn’t finish.” You whispered. “I don’t deserve a break until I’m done.” 

“Cariño,” Jenni sighed, gently pulling on the back of your neck until you’d tucked your face in against her. She kissed the top of your head, mumbling her next words into your hair. “You are not a machine. You deserve a break whenever you need one, and you need one right now. No arguments.” 

And though it felt all wrong, you let Jenni remove all your study materials from the room, putting them god knows where. She returned, sliding onto the couch and pulling you so you were laying in her arms. 

Once your favorite show had been put on the TV, you looked up at her, chin resting on her chest. “I’m really sorry you felt so neglected, Jen.” You murmured. Now that you were no longer panicked about not getting your essay done, guilt had flooded you. “I wasn’t trying to avoid you, I promise. I’m so-”

“It’s okay, mi amor.” Jenni smiled. Now that her insecurities had been relatively addressed, [and now that she felt ridiculous for having them in the first place,] her only focus was on getting you to relax. Incidentally, that meant you would be spending a fair amount of time with her going forward, and that was a win for the striker. “I do not want to hear any more about it, si? All is forgiven.” 

Jenni’s ability to forgive was one of her best traits, and you knew that when she said she forgave you, she meant it. 

“Now, for my plan.” She continued, smiling almost mischievously at you. 

“Your plan?” You asked wearily. 

“Si, my very smart and well thought out plan.” Jenni grinned. “We are going to make a schedule. There will be Jenni time and study time, but not too much study time.” 

“What about too much Jenni time?” You smirked. 

She frowned at you. “That is not possible.” 

You laughed, laying your head back down on her chest. “Anything else?” 

“And now it is nap time, because your eyes are falling shut and you slept for three hours last night.” Her arms locked around you, allowing no escape. Not that you wanted one. 

“Okay.” You mumbled, squirming slightly until your face was tucked into her neck, blocking out the light of the room. You drifted off quickly, lulled into sleep by Jenni’s hands rubbing up and down your back, and the rise and fall of her chest under you. 

Jenni waited an entire hour to order dinner, thinking that she could wake you when it arrived, if you weren't already awake. She got the message that the food had been delivered a half hour after that, trying to wipe the stupid grin off her face at the way you were curled up on top of her. How she could have ever doubted your love for her, she wasn’t sure. 

“Amor? The food is here.” She whispered, pushing your hair out of your face enough to see that your eyes were shut, your face relaxed. Giving up ridiculously quickly, she settled into the couch, allowing you to stay asleep. The food could wait. You needed the rest, and your girlfriend was more than happy to be a pillow for you, for as long as you needed her to be.  

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as if i would study if i was jenni's girlfriend, and not spend the whole day looking at her like 🙂

[the-oblivious-writer]

With Her I Die |7|

Past J.T to Eventual S.S x Female Reader

Chapter Seven: Hallowed Intentions

warnings: cult-like behavior, supernatural/occult themes, implied violence, references to the plane crash, disturbing imagery/nightmares, and death/grief.

taglist: @morganismspam23 @slutforabbyanderson

masterlist | previous chapter | next chapter

The cabin had taken on the frantic energy of impending birth, though none of you were entirely sure when Shauna's baby would arrive. Calendars had lost their meaning out here, time measured instead by the swelling of her belly, the deepening hollows under her eyes, the increasing frequency with which she pressed her hand to her lower back, wincing.

You'd become her shadow these days, anticipating needs before she voiced them. Water fetched before she reached for it. Extra berries scavenged and set aside for her. A makeshift pillow fashioned from spare clothing to support her back during the long, uncomfortable nights.

It was early morning, and you were carefully sorting through the cabin's limited medical supplies while Shauna slept nearby. Sleep had become precious and rare for her as the pregnancy advanced, her body never quite finding comfort on the hard wooden floor.

"What are you doing?" Taissa's voice startled you, though she'd kept it low.

You glanced over your shoulder to where she stood in the doorway, her lean frame silhouetted against the morning light. "Inventory," you whispered, gesturing to the small pile of supplies you'd arranged. "Seeing what we have for when... you know."

Taissa moved closer, crouching beside you to examine your work. "Is that all we've got?"

You nodded grimly. A few strips of clean cloth, a bottle of iodine that was nearly empty, some fishing line that could serve as suture material if needed, the small knife Shauna used for skinning rabbits that you'd cleaned meticulously. It wasn't much.

"She'll be fine," Taissa said, though the certainty in her voice felt forced. "Shauna's tough."

You hummed noncommittally, wrapping the supplies back in a clean shirt and tucking them safely away. It had become your ritual each morning – check the supplies, add anything new you'd managed to find or fashion, mentally rehearse what little you knew about childbirth.

"You should get some rest too," Taissa added, eyeing the dark circles under your eyes. "You look like shit."

"Thanks," you muttered, but there was no real bite to it. Sleep meant dreams, and dreams meant Jackie – not the Jackie you'd loved, but the grotesque phantom your mind had conjured, a corpse in a party dress with frost-blue lips that you'd press your mouth against in your nightmares.

Taissa squeezed your shoulder, a rare moment of physical comfort, before heading back outside. You remained where you were, watching Shauna's chest rise and fall, the way her hand rested protectively over her swollen belly even in sleep.

By midday, the cabin had become stifling. You'd been helping Shauna fold the meager collection of baby clothes – mostly scraps of fabric repurposed from the least damaged clothing you all had – when she'd begun fanning herself vigorously.

"I need air," she announced, struggling to her feet with a gracefulness that had abandoned her weeks ago. "It's like an oven in here."

You were at her side instantly, offering a steadying hand that she accepted without comment. This had become your dynamic – her allowing you to help without acknowledgment, you providing support without drawing attention to her need for it. A careful dance that preserved her dignity while satisfying your desperate need to be useful.

Outside, the air was crisp but not bitter. Winter was loosening its grip, hints of spring appearing in the patches of exposed ground where snow had melted, in the occasional birdsong that pierced the forest's silence.

Shauna lowered herself carefully onto a log that had become her preferred resting spot, sighing with relief as she settled her weight. You hovered nearby, eyes scanning the clearing automatically for any sign of Lottie.

"Stop it," Shauna said, not unkindly. "You look like a meerkat."

The comparison startled a laugh out of you, a sound so foreign that it made you both freeze momentarily. When was the last time you'd laughed? Before Jackie's death, certainly. Before the crash, maybe.

"Sorry," you said, running a hand through your hair. "Force of habit."

"She's not going to pounce on me from behind a tree," Shauna pointed out, though her own gaze drifted toward the forest's edge where Lottie and her growing circle of followers often gathered. "Besides, I can handle Lottie."

You knew she could. You'd seen Shauna's ferocity firsthand, the steel that ran through her core. But you'd also seen the way Lottie watched her – watched both of you – with that unnerving stillness, like a predator calculating the perfect moment to strike.

"I know," you said, settling next to her on the log. "Just being careful."

Shauna bumped her shoulder against yours, a small gesture of affection that made your heart twist painfully in your chest. "Careful is good," she admitted. "But don't wear yourself out worrying about me. I'm not going anywhere."

You wanted to believe her. Needed to believe her. The alternative – Shauna slipping away like Jackie, leaving you truly alone in this wilderness – was unthinkable.

"I found something yesterday," you said, changing the subject as you reached into your pocket. "Near the stream."

You opened your palm to reveal a small, smooth stone, pale brown and shot through with veins of darker color. "Reminded me of your eyes," you added, feeling suddenly foolish.

Shauna took the stone, turning it over in her fingers. "It's beautiful," she said softly, and you caught a glimpse of the girl she'd been before – before the crash, before Jackie's death, before the weight of survival and pregnancy had etched permanent lines around her eyes.

"For luck," you explained, though it was more than that – it was a promise, a talisman against the darkness that seemed to be closing in around you all.

She closed her fist around it, nodding. "I'll keep it with me."

The moment stretched between you, fragile and precious. Then Shauna gasped, her hand flying to her belly.

"What is it?" Panic surged through you. "Is it time?"

She shook her head, grabbing your hand and placing it against the taut swell of her stomach. "Wait."

For a moment, nothing happened. Then you felt it – a distinct pressure against your palm, a small foot or elbow pressing outward.

"Oh," you breathed, wonder momentarily displacing fear. "That's..."

"Strong," Shauna finished, a mix of pride and apprehension in her voice.

The baby kicked again, and you found yourself smiling despite everything. Life, persisting against all odds. A reminder of why you kept fighting, kept surviving.

"Like its mother," you said, hand still resting on her belly.

The relative peace of the morning shattered that afternoon when a commotion drew you both outside. Lottie and her followers – because that's what they were now, no matter how much you tried to deny it – had returned from one of their increasingly frequent "gatherings" in the woods.

They moved as a unit, Lottie at the center, their faces flushed with an almost feverish energy. Van carried something wrapped in what looked like a deerskin, her expression reverent as she followed in Lottie's wake.

"Shauna!" Lottie's voice rang out across the clearing, that peculiar mix of warmth and command that had become her signature. "We have something for you."

You felt Shauna tense beside you, her hand instinctively finding yours in the folds of her oversized sweater. "We're fine, thanks," she called back, already turning to retreat into the cabin.

But Lottie was too quick, intercepting your path with Van close behind. "Please," she said, her eyes unnervingly intense. "It's for the baby."

Shauna hesitated, maternal instinct warring with distrust. You stepped slightly forward, placing yourself between them in a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Lottie, whose smile flickered before returning full force.

"Show her," Lottie instructed, and Van unwrapped the bundle to reveal a blanket, surprisingly well-crafted from what appeared to be rabbit fur, soft and pale.

"We made it," Van explained, her pride evident. "For the little one."

Shauna's expression softened slightly. The gift was genuinely useful – nights were still cold, and proper blankets were in short supply. She reached out tentatively, running her fingers over the soft fur.

"Thank you," she said, the words stiff but sincere. "That's... thoughtful."

You should have been relieved at this momentary truce, but something kept you on edge. Something about the way Lottie watched Shauna's face, expectant, almost hungry.

Then you saw it – as Shauna unfolded the blanket fully, a symbol revealed itself, sewn into the corner with dark thread. A figure, seemingly female, with a line or spike through its body, and a hook-like shape at the bottom.

Your blood turned to ice. You'd seen that symbol before – carved into trees near where Jackie had died, etched into the dirt outside the cabin the morning Laura Lee's plane exploded.

Shauna saw it too, her body going rigid. "What is this?" she demanded, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.

Lottie's smile never wavered. "Protection," she said simply. "For both of you."

"Protection?" Shauna echoed, disbelief and anger threading through her voice. "This was on the tree where Jackie—" She cut herself off, unable or unwilling to finish the thought.

"The wilderness provides signs," Lottie explained, that serene certainty in her tone that made your skin crawl. "Warnings, sometimes. Blessings, others. This is a blessing, Shauna. For safe passage."

"Safe passage," Shauna repeated flatly, her knuckles white where she gripped the blanket. "Like Jackie had? Like Laura Lee?"

A hush fell over the group. Even Lottie's most devoted followers shifted uncomfortably, exchanging uneasy glances.

"Those were sacrifices," Lottie said after a moment, her voice softer now, almost compassionate. "Necessary ones."

Something in Shauna snapped. She threw the blanket to the ground, advancing on Lottie with a fury that made the other girl take an instinctive step back.

"Necessary?" Shauna's voice shook. "Jackie froze to death because we were stupid and cruel. Laura Lee died in an explosion because we were desperate. There was nothing mystical about it, nothing predestined or sacred or whatever bullshit you're selling."

Lottie held her ground, though something flickered in her eyes – uncertainty, perhaps, or something darker. "You don't believe that," she said, looking past Shauna to fix her gaze on you. "She doesn't either, not anymore. Not after the bear."

"Leave her out of this," Shauna warned, her voice low and dangerous.

"I can't," Lottie replied simply. "None of us can be left out of what's happening here. The wilderness has claimed us all. It's just a matter of whether we accept its terms or fight them."

You moved to Shauna's side, your own anger rising to match hers. "There are no terms," you said, finding your voice after days of near-silence. "No bargains. Just survival."

Lottie's attention shifted to you fully now, that unsettling smile returning. "Is that what you tell yourself when you dream of her? When you wake up tasting blood?"

The words hit you like a physical blow. How could she know? The dreams were your private horror, unspoken even to Shauna.

"Enough," Shauna said sharply, one hand moving protectively to her belly. "Take your blanket and your symbols and your sacrifices and stay away from us. From my baby."

Lottie stared at her for a long moment, something like sadness passing over her features. "You can't stop what's coming, Shauna. None of us can. The only choice we have is how we meet it."

She bent to retrieve the discarded blanket, folding it carefully before handing it to Van. "Keep it," she said, nodding toward Shauna. "In case you change your mind."

As they walked away, you noticed the symbol again, stark against the pale fur. Had it always been there, on trees and rocks and in the dirt around you? Or was Lottie creating these marks, a physical manifestation of whatever madness had taken root in her mind?

More disturbing still was the realization that some part of you recognized the symbol, responded to it on a level beyond conscious thought. Like something half-remembered from a dream.

Shauna was shaking beside you, whether from anger or fear you couldn't tell. Without thinking, you wrapped an arm around her shoulders, steadying her.

"She's losing it," Shauna muttered, leaning into you slightly. "They all are."

But you couldn't help wondering if Lottie was right about one thing – that something was coming, something none of you could stop. The baby, yes, but perhaps something else too. Something the wilderness itself had set in motion the moment your plane tore through the sky and crashed into this forgotten corner of the world.

That night, as Shauna slept fitfully beside you, you found yourself tracing the symbol in the dirt floor of the cabin. You didn't realize what you were doing until the shape was complete – the female figure, the spike, the hook. Your hand moved as if guided by some force outside yourself, muscle memory for something you'd never consciously learned.

You erased it quickly, heart pounding, and curled yourself around Shauna's sleeping form, one hand resting lightly on her belly where the baby occasionally shifted and kicked.

"I won't let anything happen to you," you whispered, though whether you were promising Shauna, the unborn child, or yourself, you couldn't say. "Either of you."

Outside, the wind picked up, branches scraping against the cabin roof like fingernails. Like someone trying to get in. Or perhaps, like something inside trying to get out.

You closed your eyes, praying for dreamless sleep but knowing what awaited you – Jackie in her party dress, frost clinging to her eyelashes, her mouth opening to reveal teeth stained red with blood. Your blood. Her blood. Sometimes you couldn't tell the difference anymore.

"I'm still here," you murmured against Shauna's hair, the words as much a reminder to yourself as a reassurance to her. "I'm still here."

But for how long, a voice that sounded disturbingly like Lottie's whispered in your mind. And as what?

[joooooniecore]

Oh no, I'm falling in love(Teaser)

Being in love with your best friend is the last thing you wanted in your life. Namjoon has always been your pillar in the harshest of days and no matter how much you are in love with him, you are never going to confess. You are too scared for things to go wrong.

But when that one fateful event occurs, will you be able to suppress your growing desire to be his?

✧˖* pairing: best friend!namjoon x f!reader

✧˖* release date: 25th April, 2025 (at 2 pm ist)

✧˖* w.c: 1.2k for this teaser, full work around 5k

✧˖* genre: best friend namjoon, best friends to lovers, a problematic ex (not the main characters), fluff, smut.

✧˖* music of choice: labyrinth by taylor swift

✧˖* content warnings (full work): reader is really depressed, a problematic ex, some harsh words | explicit smut: body worship, praise, unprotected penetration(don’t do it guys)

THIS FIC IS FOR +18 READERS ONLY! I can't control what people read, but I can control who interacts with my blog. MINORS CAUGHT INTERACTING WILL BE BLOCKED.

✧˖* note: hi! I'm so happy to be sharing this with you! I hope you'll like this as much as I liked writing it ♡♡ i actually saw a font somewhere online and really wanted to use that in the smut and hence I had to write one myself! – love, artemis

comment this post to be added to the tag list! (minors and ageless blogs won’t be added)

The continuous stubborn urge to run away has always been there on your mind. You never stay stable as the world seems to make fun of the way you live. You have always been a people pleaser, someone who has always been there. Someone who looks strong like she can cause a storm but no one finds a way to see through the façade of how she is the one fighting a storm all alone. Being alone has done wonders to your mind. You know how to live alone even though you hate being alone.

You have always been an extroverted person but the amount of toxic relationships and messed up dates has ruined your will to do anything for the sake of love at all. You are good at it though, giving your all when you liked someone and somehow losing yourself in the process.

“You have grown distant”, was what they would say as they broke up. It was the same every time. A cheap way to get away from the depressed energy you always gave off probably.

The buzzing in your mind never stops as you type aggressively on the keyboard, jotting down schedule and timings for the new tour and brand dealings on the spreadsheet. The clattering of keys probably helps as your mind stays blank and all you can think of are putting numbers in those tiny boxes.

“You are going to break the keyboard at this rate.”, came a soft chuckle from behind you. Then a warm hand on your shoulders as the stress somehow dissipated.

“Shut up Namjoon.”, you told out loud as the clattering stopped and you turned your head to meet eyes with your best friend.

“I was just passing by and saw you murdering the keyboard.”, Namjoon said with a teasing glint in his eyes.

“Not my fault that the schedule seems skeptical.”, you murmured before addressing the drink in Namjoon’s hands.

“Thanks for the drink.”, you said with a grumble as the sweet strawberry milkshake calmed your nerves down.

“You’re welcome.”, Namjoon said as he sat beside you and started toying with the small figurines displayed on your desk.

“Aren’t you extending your welcome?”, you playfully teased.

“I provide you smoothies to survive so shut up.”, Namjoon responded with the same frequency.

You both became fast friends. When you first joined this entertainment company as a manager, you were naïve. Being young among the other workers, it was tough for you to get used to your surroundings. You were also not so fluent in Korean which created a little chaos for the first few months. Namjoon was your savior. Even though he had his own responsibilities as an idol trainee and composer of a rookie group, he gave his time in teaching you Korean and also helping you get used to the surroundings.

He was your first friend in this unknown country and you both have been strong ever since. When Bangtan became famous, Namjoon was the one to ask for you as their manager in front of the board of directors and even though you were younger than most members of the group, your efficiency didn’t go to waste as you were granted that position without a single hesitation.

“Don’t you have work?”, you snickered as you sipped the drink.

“I am done for the day so decided to annoy you.”, Namjoon said with a shrug.

“Of course.”, you said with an extra sweet smile.

You started typing again as Namjoon started scrolling on his phone. After what felt like hours, Namjoon finally spoke again, “Are you going to the get-together party?”

“I don’t think so. It gets awkward there.”, you muttered under your breath.

The get-together in question is something some of the managers and idols attend. It’s a monthly thing where they get to lose their status and enjoy the evening. You like going there as you are good friends with most of the idols but recently you have been feeling a little under the weather and you are not wishing to come face to face with Youngjin, your ex who is also the manager of an idol group.

“Oh come on, Jungkook has been nagging me to bring you there.”, Namjoon said with an almost pout.

“You know how it is. I don’t want to face him.”, you said trying to sound less tired.

“I know but we all will be there. It will be fine. You have to just stay with us.”, Namjoon said with a soft smile, his hand resting on top of yours as he tried to calm you down.

You thought about it for a second, taking the possibilities in and how you would be able to enjoy the evening with good friends. Yes, you would hate to see your ex but it’s inevitable that you would meet him one day or another.

“Fine. But you are picking me up.”, you said as you glared at him.

“Yes ma’am.”, Namjoon said with a victorious smile.

As he walked out of the door, you released a sigh you didn’t know you were holding. It has been harder nowadays to hold back the feelings you have for your closest friend. You are extremely scared that this might cause a rift with the only person who feels like home to you. You have always been scared to fall in love. Always finding flaws in the other person and justifying you falling out of love because of a missing quality. But with Namjoon it was different. You have tried hard to find a flaw that would justify your urge to keep the friendship as it was but there were none. You have seen the way he treats women and it makes your heart skip a beat.

Speaking of women, Namjoon has always been the centre of attraction and that has always caused you to stay behind the scenes. He is charismatic, and handsome. He can easily get any woman he lays his eyes on and hence, it would never be you. Even though he never really dates, you have seen the way women fawn over him. You would always be his best friend. Someone who he allows to be in his life as a support. Someone who knows all his little tales at the end of the day. Someone who is there to just be a friend.

The day went by as you got busy with work. In the evening after you got dressed up, your phone rang and you were quick to pick it up only to find Jimin calling.

“Hello Jimin-ie. What’s up?”, you sweetly responded as you searched for your lipstick.

“Nothing just seeing whether you would come to the party or not.”, Jimin’s soft voice filled your ears.

“I am coming. Namjoon is forcefully picking me up from home in a few minutes.”, you flatly stated.

“Oh come on, you would actually like being forced by him.”, Jimin said with his usual teasing voice.

“Ugh shut up. I did a mistake when I told you about my crush.”, you snickered back with an eye roll.

“Get your man ____.”, Jimin said.

“He isn’t mine and he never will be.”, you chuckled bitterly but nobody has to know that.

[threepandas]

Bad End: Lost at Star Sea

It was sheer luck I even glanced down. Stopped, longed enough to doubled check, triple check, my next jump. I didn't really need too. Trusted my ship's computers, (quite literally) with my life. Kinda had too, after so long, out in the sea of stars. So the fact that I paused? Checked? Noticed that stuttering little signal at all?

Really, it could only be luck.

Good, bad, a miracle or disaster in the making? Couldn't tell ya.

But I DID notice. And I DID, immediately, hit the override for my cued up jumps to Starline. Because as every pilot worth even a fraction of their soul will tell you? You see an SOS beacon? You fucking ANSWER it.

Yes, pirates pull the "help I'm stuck" trick. And yeah, there are other unscrupulous folks out there. But! That's part of why the bounty hunter's guild and pirate hunter's come down so HARD on those fuckers. If you discourage people from HELPING stranded pilots? People fucking DIE out there.

Cold Void Of Space, remember?

Far as I'm concerned? Old ship rules apply, there are enough horrors, lurking out there. We do NOT need to add to them. All differences are to be kept planet side. THEN you can kill each other.

Thank the stars, I had decided to go the back lanes. Yeah, it added a few extra weeks to my trip, that I couldn't spend on that swanky beach at Starline, but? The "road trip" through the outer edge of the galaxy had been worth it. Plenty of cool sights and fun new foods. And NOW, clearly, the much needed chance to be in the right place at the right time.

Getting my ship in close, I tried to hail the softly free floating wreck. It looked smashed. Like it hit or was struck by something at speed. They had clearly managed to slow themselves, but beyond that? I couldnt see much stabilization. The whole ship sat dark. Not good.

My dash said there was nothing to hail TOO. Fuck. I tried difference frequencies. Maybe they had a hand-held? Earpiece? Something? But I couldn't connect to anything. Find, anything. Shit! Okay. Okay! Plan B. Try to get a registration while I connect us up. Pray to which ever Gods gaurds this one's soul, that they breathe a similar gas mix.

Loading... loading...

Oh, thank FUCK!

Compatible air AND drones, someone up or out there, really DOES want these guys to live! I force myself to be calm. Rushing won't help anybody, but WILL make a mess, after all. Bring up that frustrating drone request program I downloaded on a whim. Watch as, dispite the odds, lights flicker on across the hull of the ship.

Emergency protocols engage. They, obviously, get no counter order. And? Like the beautiful, life saving, little dumbasses they are? Immediately begin to zip and trundle into position to drag the wreckage in towards my ship. Gods bless the collective single IQ point of drones. Good babies. Such good babies!

With a heavy shudder and thunk, we connect.

Already, I am hovering by the latch. Emergency kit in hand. Breather on. The second it's confirmed, I twist the latch and...Oh gods. The air that surges up to greet me is so cold, it BURNS. I hadn't even though I was sweating, hadn't noticed it, until it felt like stabbing flash frozen crystals on my face. Shit! Oh gods, oh SHIT!

I scramble down, ladder burning cold even through my gloves. Red emergency lights and terrible silence greet me. I move quick. Emergencies & Stranding classes echoing in my head. Check the warmest part of the ship first, then work your way out. If they CAN move, they'll know to retreat there.

Registration said the ship had fifteen people. No idea how many survived the impact and cold, but hopefully? All of them. I may not have the room or rations for a comfortable trip. But it'd be warm. And I could get them to a port.

They should be in the central compartment, which is usually critical storage and medbay. Getting there, the door has clearly been forced to slide open by someone with claws and blood on their hands. It couldn't close properly, they bent it getting it open.

Looking down, there... oh gods. There is A LOT of blood on the floor.

Something... someONE? Dragged to storage. Blood trails thick on the floor. There must be a preserver; trying, maybe, to keep their friends from rotting? Might be shock? And they just... couldn't figure out where to put the bodies. I shake my head, tearing my horrified eyes away. Concentrate! Save the living. The dead are already gone. Be sick about it later.

It takes the crowbar I brought, now cold enough to worry me, to force the door to slide again. The room in side is barely warmer then the air outside. But? There, against the far wall? Is just about every clothe and piece of fabric in the ship. Two emergency blankets glinting from withing the chaotic pile.

The only other people in the room are clearly dead. Injuries. He must have tried to treat them but been unable too. Regardless of what happened, I rush forward. Unearthing an unconscious Aqualin from his self made fabric tomb. The colouration might mean he's from the deep water region. But without his eyes or mouth open I can't TELL.

I hope so, his chance of survival would go up tremendously. Dragging the limp, dangerously hypothermic, man onto my shoulders in a fireman's carry, I get us the hell out. His front is stained in blood. His hands coated. Everything that could go wrong? Seems too. But if I have any say, he is NOT dying here.

Dragging us into my now cold ship, I clumsily kick at the latch until I manage to flip it closed. Just for now. I'll have to go back down for those blankets and such, to help get him warm. But first? I get my rescue set up, warming up.

A further few, brutally cold, few trips to loot the ship of what I safely can before I can close that latch for good. Lock away the horrors to be found there. Stacking everything up and off to the side for him. I'm pretty sure I even found his wallet. So at least? He won't be destitute. Then, while the droids transferred the last of the wreck's fuel? I start to bring up the heat back to normal. Slowly.

Once all is said and down, I silence the emergency beacon and send in the mandatory report. Might be a while before a cleaning crew can get out here... but, well... at least those poor bastard's family's would have some closure. Life insurance. That sort if thing.

.....fuck today has been shit.

"Ooooh go on a vacaaaaation~" Everybody said. "You're so overworked!" They had said. "So STRESSED! You definitely won't find a ship full of corpses!" Thanks for that, guys! Having SUCH a great time. No, REALLY.

Detaching from the wreckage is almost... no, IS horrific in how easy it is. It just... float away. Silent, dark, and gentle. A cold bit of nothingness, lost in the void. Sinking into the stars with it's cargo full of dead, like... like nothing happened at all. It looks so small. Just a twisted bit of metal. Drifting... drifting... away....

Even with the heaters bringing the heat back up, I feel cold.

That could have been me.

What the hell happened? I tear my eyes away from the view screen. Back down to the dash board. Standard operating procedure is to grab the black box of a wreck, even if you find no survivors. Helps universal safety innovation and regulatory blah blah blah. Had to drill it into my head to even GET my license. So... so now... there it is. Grabbed.

I... COULD look.

Fiddling with my rescues wallet, I stare at it. It's hella illegal. Breach of privacy. You can't just... just go into someone's ship and poke around. Look up where they've been and who they've been talking too about what. All their data would be on that thing. Soothing MY anxiety is not more important then THEIR boundaries, right? I should leave it.

I flip the wallet open. My rescue's smiling face grins back up at me, like some sort of dork at a photo shoot. He's leaning against an advertisement for, ironically, Starline. Probably the same beach that convinced me to go. All relaxed confidence and swagger, he looks nothing like the half frozen man I dragged from that ship.

My rescue has lost weight. A concerning amount of color. But? Looking at the rich black of the eyes and the point of his teeth? He seem to be either mostly or full blooded Deep Sea Aqualin. Thank FUCK.

There was a celebrity Tropical Region Aqualin a while back that my baby cousin was weirdly obsessed with. Not stalking obsessed, but? The "family is concerned" obsessed, you know? We all ended up learning WAY too much about their entire species. WAY, WAY too much.

Dea Sea Aqualin are apparently just? Built different. Like, "can withstand a degree of pressure and cold and would kill most others" different. The dehydration might still get him, but the cold? Might NOT.

Flipping the wallet closed, I ignore my gut. I don't need to see what's on that black box. Yeah, I'd find out what happened after they lost propulsion. But? Watching doomed men die? That's sick. There's nothing worth finding there. It's just anxiety.

I reset my next jump. The sooner we get to the next port, the sooner my Rescue (X'alus, apparently) can get help. Then? I head back to check on him. I think, he might be stirring. Approaching the mound of blankets, it turns out I'm right.

" 'rm?" He manages to slur, voices crackling like it's a fight to get anything out. "Wh're 'm? Who?"

There is no good way to tell someone a whole ship full of crewmates is... gone. But, fuck, if I don't try. Gently sitting him up, I help him drink from a hydration pouch. Little at a time, so as not to stress his likely starved stomach. He leans, boneless, towards me. Like he wishes he could drag himself into my lap. Staring like I hold the secrets to the universe.

"Pre'ty. Warm. You sav'd me?"

I nod, shooting him a smile as I tuck the blanket more firmly around him. Poor guy is still pretty weak. But he's healing fast. That's good. He smiles back, bright predators teeth glinting in the ship's light. (Bit unhinged looking, but hey, he seems loopy.)

"Y're my hero~ pre'ty, pre'ty hero~!"

"Arn't I lucky? You found me!"

[littlefireball]

can I request an Ateez Yeosang x Reader where she asks him to fuck her on her period as her cramps so really bad. And at first he is hesitant becuase of the blood but sees her in pain and realizes it would help her. And as he gets more comfortable with it. He goes extremely rough and makes her squirt and she starts crying from the pleasure?

Added some setting 🫡

Other members: Seonghwa

ʏꜱ|ꜰ*ᴄᴋ ᴀᴡᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀɪɴ (ᴍ)

ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇ ʜᴜꜱʙᴀɴᴅ ʏᴇᴏꜱᴀɴɢ x ᴘʀɪɴᴄᴇꜱꜱ ᴡɪꜰᴇ ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ

ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢ: ꜱᴍᴜᴛ|ᴘʀᴏᴛᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ꜱᴇx|ʀᴏᴜɢʜ ꜱᴇx|ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴏᴜᴛ|ᴘᴏʟɪᴛɪᴄᴀʟ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ|ʀᴇᴀᴅᴇʀ ʜᴀᴅ ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ᴘʀᴇꜱꜱᴜʀᴇ

ᴡᴏʀᴅ ᴄᴏᴜɴᴛ: 1.9ᴋ

Part 2 is here YS|Baby Fever (M)

Fk away the pain series

After marrying Yeosang, the frequency of your intimate moments is scarce and infrequent. This is not unexpected, considering your marriage is primarily political and lacks any emotional foundation. Apart from a few instances when he was drunk and in need, the two of you rarely engage in physical intimacy.

However, the King and Queen have grown increasingly concerned as you have not conceived a child, adding huge pressure on you. Each encounter with them is fraught with the need to navigate their inquiries and there is no assurance that they will not approach you privately, despite Yeosang's attempts to intervene.

"Are you feeling alright, Your Highness?" the maid inquired, concern evident in her voice as she noticed the pained expression on your face. Clutching your stomach, you struggled to maintain your composure, the sharp cramps making even the simplest movements unbearable.

"It's just... my period," you managed to reply, the words tinged with a hint of frustration. Menstrual pain was a new and unwelcome addition to your life, likely brought on by the stress and pressure of your royal duties.

"Should I fetch a doctor, Your Highness?" the maid asked, offering you a cup of hot water in an attempt to provide some comfort. You waved off the suggestion, knowing that any sign of weakness would only invite more questions and scrutiny from the King and Queen.

"No, it's fine," you insisted, taking a sip of the water to soothe your aching body. The prospect of attending the party later loomed in your mind, adding to your discomfort.

"Would you like to go to the party, Your Highness?" the maid inquired, trying to gauge your readiness. Despite your initial enthusiasm, the pain in your stomach intensified, causing your features to contort in agony. The simple act of moving felt like a torture, draining you of all strength and resolve.

Before you could respond, a knock at the door signaled the arrival of Yeosang's butler, announcing the presence of his Highness who had come to escort you to the party.

"Your Highness, His Highness is here to accompany you to the event," the butler informed, his tone respectful yet expectant.

With a deep breath, you knew that you had no choice but to push through the pain and fulfill your royal obligations, even if it meant enduring the torment that accompanied it.

As you steadied yourself with the help of the maid, you walked to the door slowly, only found yeosang standing outside with a cold face.

“Are you feeling well, Y/N?” Yeosang whispered, his voice laced with a hint of concern that surprised you. Despite the facade of indifference he often wore, there were moments when glimpses of the man you had once known shone through.

"I'll manage," you replied softly with a forced smile. “Your Highness…” As your maid attempted to explain, Yeosang stepped forward and said, “We won’t go to the party.” “What?But…” “You are not feeling well and I will inform My parents.”

"Take a break," he said, offering a comforting smile as he turned to leave. "Yeo─Your Highness…May I ask for your assistance?" You reached out, gently tugging at his sleeve, a rare display of vulnerability.

"What can I help you with?" You nervously bit your lip, pulling him closer and discreetly signaling for the others to give you some privacy.

"I'm actually experiencing menstrual pain," you whispered.

"Are you still in pain? Should I call a doctor?" Yeosang's concern made you blush, stirring a new emotion within you.

"No, it's okay... I just..." Taking a deep breath, you found the courage to ask for what you needed.

"Yeo…Yeosang... could you... could you make love to me?"

"What?" He almost shouted in astonishment, clearly taken aback by your unexpected request. In his eyes, you were seen as innocent and conservative, not someone who would initiate such a proposition unless under the influence of alcohol or in need.

"Oh... I'm sorry, forget I asked. You should go to the party. I apologize for bothering you." You lowered your head, not daring to meet his gaze. Oh gosh! How could you ask something like that? Even during your period?! He would definitely treat you like a slut and just ignore you.

As you turned to go back to your room, the sharp cramps made you bend over, as if a knife had been cut across your stomach. Gripping the door handle with all your might and resting your forehead on the door, you only wanted the pain to go away quickly.

Seeing you suffer from the cramps made him feel sorry for you. Maybe making love could help you relieve pain. Although he was not sure if it works, he believed you must be in so much pain that you can’t stand it before you ask.

“Y/N?” He said softly, gripping your shoulder to pull you into his embrace and helping you to open the door.

“Let me help you.”

—---

You were lying naked on the bed, waiting for yeosang to come back with something. You didn’t expect he would say yes instead of running away. Feeling him crawl back onto the bed and grab your thighs, you looked at him and placed the towel under your body and his.

“That way they don't have to wash the sheets. You know it's troublesome." He let out a chuckle before climbing over you, making you bend your legs to allow him to settle between your thighs. “And I wrapped a condom up, You don't have to worry about getting infected."

“Yeo…yeosang, actually you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” “It’s okay,” He murmured, cupping your face with his hand before leaving a kiss on your lips. “Don’t you ask me to fuck you?" Your voice soon died out as his tip rubbed against your soaked hole. “Everything's gonna be alright and you will feel better.”

Both your hands were pinned beside your head, intertwining with his long fingers. As he eased into you, a weird feeling washed over him. Your blood wrapped around his cock, a hot sensation came from the tip to the shaft, combined with the wetness, making him feel a little bit uncomfortable.

“You…you can just pull out. Don’t force yourself.” “I said I would help you and I won’t break my promise. You’re my wife, Y/N. Helping his wife is what every husband has to do, isn't it? Just let me adjust first.” He leaned down to kiss you, as if asking for comfort but also giving you solace.

You even forget when he kissed you so passionately. Was it the last time he was drunk? Or was it when he accidentally took an aphrodisiac? You had no impression. But it didn’t matter. You would never forget how he kisses you right now. His kiss was so tender, slightly touching your tongue and lips, flowing with endless sweetness and warmth.

Without breaking the kiss, he started to move at a slow pace. Thanks to your blood, he could easily push in and out. The weird feelings faded away as your wall tightened his erection, giving him a new level of pleasure.

“Gosh, you feel good,” He said between the kisses, his thrusting became intense and faster. You moaned in his mouth as he went deeper. His cock fitted you perfectly, filling you literally full without any space left. Each time he thrusted in, his cock rubbed against your velvet wall deliciously and reached the deepest part. You arched your back as a response, feeling a wave of heat rush over your body.

“Yeosang…ah” “Say my name again, babe” “Sangie~” You moaned out his name over and over again as if it was the only word in your mind. Yeosang loved your voice so much but he never told you for fear that you would think he was a pervert. But it seemed that he thought too much.

"I need more, moan louder for me, darling” The word ‘darling’ made your head spin in pleasure. You loved how he called you so affectionately, feeling like you were a real couple but not a nominal. Your legs bent even more as he pushed in with all his might, hitting your g spot dead on. Not caring if people passing by would hear you, you left out a high-pitch moan to satisfy the man above you.

Without a warning, he flipped you over, lifted your pelvis roughly, making you scream at a sudden rough. “Yeo─!!!" He slammed into you with no mercy and tenderness, only desire to ruin you. The sound of skin colliding skin filled the room and even the corridor, covered all the noise as he fucked you extremely fast.

“Too…too much─!!!" “You can take it, darling” He possessed a captivating allure that rendered you powerless to resist his commands. Your body arched, offering itself eagerly as he sought out your most sensitive spot with precision. "Oh my god!" The intensity of the moment drove him to push the boundaries of passion, his movements growing more forceful with each passing second.

"Babe... I want it rough. Can you handle that?" He gasped, his breath ragged as he quickened his pace. "Yes... yes... please..." Your eager response spurred him on, his grip on your hips tightening as he increased his tempo.

As you attempted to adjust your position, he delivered a sharp slap to your cheek, commanding you to remain still. "Don't move," he instructed, his tone firm. "I'm sorry," you whispered, before another stinging slap left a mark on your skin.

"Now, count." The next strike elicited a gasp of pain, followed by a forced shout. "One..." "Louder," he demanded. "Two!" The impact reverberated through you, a mix of pleasure and pain overwhelming your senses.

"Three!" The cycle of sensation continued, each strike pushing you to the edge. Tears mingled with the fabric of the sheets, your cheeks flushed with a mix of emotions. The ache of desire eclipsed any lingering discomfort, leaving you breathless and consumed by the raw intensity of the moment.

"Umm…yeosang…I’m…cumming…” “Cum for me,” He fucked you in an inhuman pace to push you to the edge. “My god!!” You couldn't contain yourself any longer and squirted, the release splattering over his cock and even dripping onto the towel. Yeosang let out a guttural growl, feeling as though his last shred of sanity was slipping away. "Fuck!" he exclaimed as he also reached his peak inside the condom with a final, powerful thrust.

As the two of you caught your breath, the intensity of your shared experience slowly fading, Yeosang withdrew and disposed of the condom before pulling you close in a tender embrace. "Are you alright? Was I too rough?" His voice, soft as silk, tugged at your heartstrings. You shook your head, a wave of sleepiness washing over you.

"Thank you, Yeosang," you murmured, nestling against his chest, finding comfort in his warm embrace. "Don't mention it," he replied, planting a gentle kiss on your forehead and playfully tucking your messy hair behind your ear.

"Oh! The party..." you suddenly remembered, but Yeosang reassured you, "It's okay. Let's clean up first, shall we? I'll call for the maid." You wrapped your arms around his shoulders, burying your face in the crook of his neck, whispering softly, "No... can't you stay with me?"

"Of course," he agreed with a loving smile, lifting you up and carrying you to the bathroom to help you freshen up. As you gazed up at him, you couldn't help but feel surprised by the progress your relationship had made on this unforgettable day.

-------

"Hey, Y/N. May I ask for your assistance?" He imitated the way you asked him, grabbing your sleeve slightly.

“What can I help you with?” You laughed out and replied to him softly.

“Can we have a baby?"

[lovesickgrlsrh0t]

a soldier boy x secretary!reader blurb | 18+

“Doll, I was having a little problem and I was wondering if you could help me solve it.” Ben sauntered into your office, locking the door with a soft click.

You looked up from the paperwork you were working on, sliding your glasses back up your nose. “What problem do you need me to solve, Ben?”

Ben smirks–a hint of lust and desire in his eyes–as he leaned over your desk. “It’s a bit of a..private problem, I’m kind of embarrassed really.” He began, watching as your expression shifted into one of intrigue. “You promise not to tell anyone about this?”

“I won’t tell a soul.” You said sincerely, looking up at him as his fingers grazed your chin. The sight of his slight smile made shivers run down your spine (and your thighs rub together). “Good girl. How about you get on that desk for me?” Ben’s tone made it clear he wasn’t asking, and you were quick to obey his commands.

His large hands ran up and down your thighs, a smirk tugging at his lips as his eyes drifted to your bare cunt. “Already so wet and I haven’t even touched you.” Ben murmured into your ear. His emerald irises were darkened with lust as his lips ghosted your neck. You gasped quietly as his finger grazed your sopping core. “Relax for me baby.” Ben whispered, circling your clit gently. 

Soft moans escaped your lips at the pleasure, submitting further to his touch. His index finger slid into your entrance while Ben covered your mouth. “As much as I’d love to here those pretty little sounds of yours, you need to be quiet f'me, yeah?" You nodded, letting him work you further. "This pretty pussy squeezing my finger so tightly, sweet girl. You think you can even take my cock?" He hummed, adding another finger as you grasped the desk tightly for stability. "P-Please, Ben...want your c-cock.." You gasped out as the man merely smirked.

"Needy girl." He muttered, taking his fingers out as he swiftly unbuckled his belt. "Been waiting so long for this, you have no idea.." Ben flipped you around, smacking your ass as he rubbed his dick along your folds. He slid in with no warning, thrusting in and out of you roughly.

"You've been teasing me all this time with those short skirts, practically begging for me to take you on this desk..." Ben pressed your face into the desk, his free hand loosely wrapped around your neck. "This cunt's weeping for me, baby girl. You like it when your boss makes you take his cock?"

Moans and gasps were the only thing you managed to get out, which only made Ben drive into you faster. "Ya can't answer me now, hm? Daddy's cock fucked you dumb, baby?" Mascara ran down your cheeks as you gasped out, "C-Cock feels so good, Daddy!" Ben chuckled lowly, circling your bundle of nerves as you tightened around him.

"I can feel you tightening around me, doll. You wanna cum, sweet thing?" He whispered, smacking your ass. You nodded rapidly, your moans increasing in frequency. "Go ahead, sweetheart. Cum for Daddy." You all but screamed out his name as you released, thighs shaking as Ben worked you through your orgasm.

His hips stuttered into yours only a few moments later as Ben released with a groan, his head falling on your shoulder. He slowly slid out of you, moaning quietly as he saw his cum dripping out of your cunt.

"So fuckin' pretty.." He muttered, slipping his pants back on. "I'll see you later, yeah?" Ben told you, kissing the top of your head as he left your office. You sat there dazed with your thighs still trembling as you recounted the previous events, wondering the next time you'd have to solve another of his 'problems'.

a/n: tysm for reading <33 i'm debating on writing a possible part 2, so keep an eye out. shoutout to @pearlzier and this amazing bot based on this concept!

[amerricanartwork]

ok fine since you asked so nicely

*provides more cookies*

dont eat too many or else you'll become round

or- roundER anyway

Now that's what I call answering two asks with one post! Featuring more silly superstructure creatures!

Okay, in all seriousness, while I decided to go with the silly and very non-canon drawing idea, if you don't mind I would actually like to leave some ideas related to these asks in a more serious manner with rough descriptions of how I think the Local Group would react if they were offered them some cookies! This is assuming it's the puppets you're talking to, since I actually do have concepts I plan to employ in my AU for a hidden mechanism allowing the iterators to legitimately consume and gain energy from organic matter as "food" when they're off-the-string. If you don't care for these, I don't mind, but they just popped into my mind in response to this ask, and I couldn't resist adding them too!

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Looks to the Moon: "Oh, don't worry about me. All I want is to know you and the others have had enough for yourselves, and that you enjoyed them! I'll simply take whatever is left." — Looks to the Moon sees it as her duty to always look out for others first, so if the Local Group were offered any kind of gift, she'd first make sure everyone else got a satisfying share of it, even if it meant she had to miss out. Though she would be rather tempted by the delicious smell of baked goods, the growling of her stomach, and the curiosity to explore something she's heard of and observed many times yet never tried herself before, she'd tell herself (once again) that sacrificing her own satisfaction for others' is The Right Thing To Do™, and therefore she should be glad to give up all the treats to her friends if that was what made them happy. It's perhaps only Sig who would be able to convince her to try some for herself or save her some in secret, at which point she'd savor every bite once assured it was just the two of them and she was allowed to indulge herself without guilt.

No Significant Harassment: "Hey guys! You've gotta try some of these! They smell so good, don't you think, Pebbles?" — Even if he isn't the one who actually makes the cookies himself — whether purely to see if he can, or as some sort of prank towards a friend — if Sig ever managed to obtain some cookies he'd be the first to try them out. Though being a considerate and amicable person who highly values his good relationships, he'd waste no time in sharing them with his friends, making sure to take no more than his fair share. If he were sharing with just the Local Group, he'd definitely make some time to tease Pebbles, Suns, and Wind about their refusal to try them by waving them in their face, making exaggerated noises while savoring the taste, and doing anything else he can to really emphasize just how much they're missing out. But even more so, he'd be the one urging Moon to get some for herself before they're gone, reassuring her that she deserves to enjoy them just as much as any of the others do. And heck, if half the group isn't gonna get any, it would make those three more "happy" for the two of them to eat the rest themselves and rid their friends of the bothersome treats!

Five Pebbles: "Cookies? What use do I have for these? Even with the mechanisms to consume food, I have better means of getting sustenance than to resort to something so useless, yet dangerously addictive. If you were an intelligent creature, you'd dispose of them as well." — Even after he discovers that iterator puppets can consume food, Pebbles is far from happy about it. He already wants to minimize the frequency and amount with which he has to eat, and the thought of succumbing to the Fourth Karmic Urge from a sugary food that's especially easy to overindulge in, combined with Sig's unrelenting teasing reinforcing the "danger" of indulging in the cookies, would be more than enough to make him quickly yet firmly reject it. He would stay committed to remain "above" the simpler creatures of the world who would gladly gobble up such an offering in an instant, no matter how enticed he too would be by the scent and delectable appearance or how much hidden envy he'd feel from seeing the others enjoying them.

Seven Red Suns: "I cannot believe it! You truly thought a divine being like myself would ever succumb to the temptations of a small confection? It's clear you've lost sight of the Great Problem! Quick, we must provide you a new means of sustenance to cleanse you of your worldly attachment to these treats!" — Suns is perhaps even worse than Pebbles when it comes to "worldly attachments". Not only would he immediately refuse the idea of betraying Transcendental Ascensionism by indulging in something so basic, yet so easy to grow overly attached to, but he'd give anyone who offered them a long lecture about how they must have succumbed to "sin" and "temptation" to even have thought about giving him some, then try to be their savior by urging them to "separate" from these attachments. He would demand they not just immediately throw away every one of the cookies, but that they permanently revoke any and all but the most light, plain, and flavorless forms of sustenance from their diet as soon as possible, if not also immediately. And while he would definitely be slightly less condescending and forceful on the surface with them, don't think the Local Group would be spared if he caught any of them enjoying cookies either. Most likely he and Sig would end up in an argument about it, with Sig teasing and exploiting the flaws in Suns's logic and Suns doing his best to maintain his assertion that cookies will doom all but the very highest of creatures to suffer in the Cycles forever.

Chasing Wind: "... You disturbed me for these? Is that all?" — Chasing Wind would be utterly unimpressed by an offer of almost anything that isn't a rational solution to an important problem, which includes cookies, and would be unable to understand why Sig — and Moon, once she'd pick up on it — seems to enjoy them so much. In fact, she'd most likely assume it was a prank from him, yet either way would be mad at whoever else interrupted her work just to bother her with something so "useless" and unimportant. Perhaps the only reason she'd even try them would be if someone were to be especially annoying and beg her over and over to give them a try, after which she'd give it one taste and consume one piece just to shut them up, remain utterly unimpressed and additionally upset at the anticlimax, and scoff before returning to her previous work, with a mental note to ignore future inquiries from whoever had the audacity to waste her time with cookies, of all things.

Unparalleled Innocence: "Those look really good... Uh, um... I-if it isn't, I mean... I hope it's not bad... but, uh... c-could I, um... could I have one...?" — Innocence is always curious about new things, and would probably be the first of the Local Group to notice and take interest in the cookies as soon as she sees them or smells them. However, her biggest problem would be working up the confidence to try one for herself, fearing that the rest of the Local Group would be too busy indulging themselves to even hear her ask for some, let alone actually agree to share some with her of all people when they could just as easily continue sharing them amongst themselves. It'd probably have to be either Sig or Moon explicitly giving her permission to take some (and then to take more than one) to convince her to actually try one. Though rest assured, of all the Local Group she'd perhaps savor them the most of all, having read stories about such treats countless times and simply cherishing the chance to finally experience their deliciousness for herself.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Once again, this was just something that came to my mind after seeing these asks, but I thought it was cute! I hope to get back into the swing of making longer posts about my headcanons and whatnot for these characters! Regardless, I hope you enjoyed this!