#everyone found something to love in this game and it fits the theme of the game too

[tricksterlatte]

There are two wolves inside you: the specific version of Joker that resonates with you in correspondence with dialogue options and his civilian side versus Joker, and whichever other character in the cast best plays off him. There is a high chance they are kissing right now.

[rabotimagines]

"Party Dice"

oh- oh this is def gonna need a continuation or another character's scenario. This hit different

"Party dice" pt 2 GN BOT Reader x Rumble [Smut]

Summary: Summary: You get paired with Rumble during a cross faction game of "interface dice". Or giving the cassette a good ol' handy.

Genre/Theme: Smut scenario 🔞 MDNI

Warnings: Voyeurism, Technically Public Hand job, Rumble calls reader a whore, mild brat taming on Rumble. (As result of the former)

Pronouns: You, Your, Yours, they

Notes: Written with flirty Older Autobot Reader, Reader is a bigger bot than Rumble, not said how much but just mentioned that you're a bigger bot than him. Part one with Skyfire is right here!, Randomly selected happens for the other mechs here, (aka Astrotrain is mentioned taking a servo up his valve, etc,)

Rumble was stuck staring till Skywarp nearly fell on top of him after Starscream smacked him for his smart aft comment. It took a while for things to pretend to settle down for everyone after the show you put on servicing Skyfire's spike. You'd done more work than just for Skyfire with that slagging show you put on.

When they got back to the game, Bumblebee got the dice next and had to make out with Starscream. And neither of 'em even objected to the draw! Sure, Bumblebee sighed, but he just got up and met Starscream halfway- and they just started going at it! Starscream basically yanked Bumblebee against him to kiss him harder. And Rumble wishes he was either of 'em in all honesty. He was pent up and ready for just some kind of action.

But the roll chances of array stuff were still low, so after the make out, It went back to the usual slag. Though the next highlight of the game of definitely Astrotrain's lucky roll.

Astrotrain on his knees and servos with all four of that dune buggy's digits stuffed up his valve. Muttering "I think I can fit my servo in here-" all before he was halfway gauntlet deep in Astrotrain. Skywarp laughed loud over the sound Astrotrain had made suddenly getting stuffed full. Astrotrain glared and told Skywarp he was going to fragging make him regret his function if he didn't shut up. And Skywarp only kept laughing like a loon.

And it just so happened two rolls after that Skywarp rolled a real lucky. "Get valve spiked by Astrotrain."

Skywarp used his chicken as soon as Astrotrain's helm snapped in his direction. Rumble laughed over the sorry expression on Skywarp's faceplate. Shame, though, cause Rumble would have loved to watch Skywarp get his valve pounded by Astrotrain of all mechs. Especially when he was this slagged off at him. Rumble bets Astrotrain could've made Skywarp cry. Real shame.

Then it was the usual slag for a while again- which Yeah funny, but Rumble wanted some heated action! Somethin' good. It's been a while since your performance, but Rumbles' frame was still humming hot just thinking about it.

But the dice finally make their way back to Rumble again. And he could get something good-! Rumble rolled the dice together against his servos. "C'mon, Rumble needs a good- roll!" He tossed the dice out onto the floor.

The glyphs projected up into the air.

"Get spike job from-

Rumble couldn't stop himself from jumping up with a shout of victory when he saw the other dice projecting your designation. "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about!"

"Oh, C'mon-!" Skywarp cursed under his vents.

"Stuff it, Skywarp! It's my turn!" And then he realized everyone was looking right at you- Right, you might bail on him! Slag! Rumble paused and waited for what'd you'd say.

"Eh, it's just a- what's the human term? A handie? Yeah, just a handie." You shrugged unbothered by any of it. Your optics found Rumble's visor. "Well, what are you waiting for? C'mhere. " You patted your own thigh. A grin split his faceplate again, and Rumble was not about to wait.

With one more smug look towards Skywarp (sour slagger!), Rumble dashed over to your spot on the floor. Rumble practically threw himself down in your lap, enjoying the huff outta you when he sat with a thunk. Your servos flew onto his waist to steady him, and Rumble leaned his back against your frame. Your em field brushed lightly against him, and he paused at the touch of it. His array already reacting in interest. One of your servos tapped directly above his modesty panel "Open up."

Rumble did, and his spike pressurized, and he huffed, crossing his arms over his chassis. "Well, get to it." Rumble grinned.

"Bossy, ain't you?" Your tone was a touch clipped, but you obeyed. Your servo casually wrapped around his spike and slowly started serving him. The slow slide of your palm dragging another fit of charge up Rumble's spinal strut every time you stroked. "What? You void of manners or something?" Rumble could feel your chassis lightly hum with energon when your vocalizor activated.

Rumbled scoffed. "What? Like, I gotta say 'please' or some slag like that? I ain't no fragging good for nothing Autobot. I'm just the Con who got lucky and gets to use you this turn." Your em field pulled back immediately, and the warmth that was coaxing along Rumble's plating went cold when it left. Rumble's plating that started loosening on its own flattened back out. Your servo pumped, and on your next trip to his spike head, your thumb smeared his pre lubricant over his tip.

You hummed the sound rather loud when his back was almost flat against your frame. "Oh, really now? And what do you mean by 'use'?"

Rumble scoffed. What like it wasn't obvious? You're joking, right? "What? You think it's not obvious you're the Autobot's whore?"

"Hey! That's not-!"

"Bumblebee." You started, and the scout shut up just like that. "Oh, am I now?" Your servo slowly kept stroking his spike- and yeah, you knew exactly what you were doing. Rumble would bet shanix you'd done this more times than you could count. "And that means- you can just... demand what you want from me?"

Well, at least you understood that part. "Yeah, cause you're easy." You hummed again your em field ghosted along the edge of his plating and Rumble couldn't even make out what emotion you were putting out- whatever it was, was hot so he assumed you were getting off on just this.

Your pace only stayed at the same slow aft rate, and Rumble could feel his hips wanna buck up. "Cmon, pick up the pace already-!" Rumble gripped your arm and your thigh.

"Okay, brat." You bite out and Rumbles plating ruffles. Did you just call him a brat? Rumble knows he can hear Skywarp and Starscream laugh. He even hears a fragging sound from one of the Autobots-! Rumble only feels himself getting actually slagged off. If there was one fragging thing he hated the most, it was being treated like some unprogramed new build just cause he was small.

"I ain't no slagging youngling!" Rumble bites out, his em field turning sharper at the edges "What? You need your optics checked or something? You old bag of bolt-!" You shifted your entire body weight, and Rumble almost falls sideways right off your lap. "Hey, what the-!" Your servos fully mech handle Rumble, so he's laying back in your lap now. Sprawled out on top of your thighs.

"Bite your glossia before I bite it for you, brat." Your servo catching the back of his helm is the only reason Rumble doesn't fall outta your lap. Rumble is stuck staring up at your faceplate for half a nanoklick before you lock him into a kiss-! Rumble hums in shock, his own sound of surprise getting caught in your mouth.

"Hey-!" Rumble can hear Skywarp shout, and Rumble doesn't even wanna laugh about it. That's the second time you'd called him a brat, and you were actually fragging getting him mad-! Doesn't matter if you were servicing him or not! You call him that again, and he's gonna- Rumble makes a noise of surprise when your glossia laps against his derma. Your other servo wraps back around his spike, and Rumble gasps when you start pumping his spike again. And you just use the opportunity to slip your glossia into Rumbles' mouth.

Frag- Rumbles is a bit aware of your size difference when he's trying and failing to match your glossia. Glossia pressing against his own and on the flat of his own denta. But Rumble wouldn't just- lay down and let you mech handle him like this or nothin'! He may be small, but that doesn't mean he's easy to beat! Rumble latches a servo on your arm and squeezes. You don't make a sound, but your plating twitches under his hold. Rumble pushes back against you, doing his sparkdamnest to try and win some control over this stupid kiss you locked him into.

But Rumble groans into your mouth when your servo pauses to squeeze the base of his spike. You just tilt his helm back more, and Rumble almost chokes on the amount of oral lubricant that starts spilling down his intake. You just take the opportunity to take his glossia and swallow around it. His glossia stings lightly, and-

Rumble grunts when you pull back a bit from the kiss, taking his glossia along with your mouth. You've got his glossia trapped between your denta, and you're holding him there. Rumble can feel one of your fangs nipping against the top of his glossia. And you're staring down at Rumble- gaze narrow and optics sharp-! There's a hissing vent outta someone, and Rumble almost thought it was his own. But the quiet cursing definitely told him it was someone else. Your em field is dragging along the dips of his spinal strut. Your servo slowly squeezes the base of his spike firm, and Rumble can't help failing to bite back a whine. Your derma only quirked up at the sound.

You closed the distance again and let Rumble's glossia fall back into his mouth, followed by your own glossia-! Rumble groans against you when you pump his spike faster. Yeah, just like that-! Rumble's hips jumped on your next stroke upwards, and you laughed against his derma.

Rumble should be mad-! He should be fragging furious you were playing with him like this in front of everybody. But the way you were kissing him was like you were kissing his thoughts away-!

You moaned against him, and Rumble's thoughts go sliding down his intake along with your oral lubricant. Oh, you were slagging dangerous!

"Rumble you're losing!" Skywarp called out- and you know what?! What the frag ever! Rumble didn't care if you lead! Especially if it slagged off Skywarp-! Especially when you made him feel like this when you did it! Rumble just lets go of your arm to flash Skywarp his middle digit. Rumble can't help his 'em field flexing in amusement when he can hear Skywarp's seething from over here. Jealous fragger-!

"I don't think he cares, mech. Losing never looked so good." The dune buggy drones. And he's slagging right! Rumble would lose a hundred sparkdamn times to the Autobots if it meant he could have this happen every time-! Rumble can feel you hum against him the sound tingling on his glossia. Rumble can't miss the amusement in your em field when it practically wraps back around him. Rumble's whole frame warms and your servo speeds up even more and-!

Rumble's hips jump again, and he's overloading in your servo with a muffled groan. You just swallow the sound down and keep working his spike- and you're still kissing him-! Your derma pressing against his own and your glossia is tracing over his own denta! You just nipped down on Rumble's bottom derma when he tries to break the kiss. His bottom derma stings, and he can't pull back when you're biting him, so he pushes forward where you just use the chance to kiss him again-!

Rumble's hips are twitching and bucking against your servo that's now unforgiving on his spike. Frag-! Frag-! Rumble can hear himself getting louder against you, but frankly, he can't give a single sparkdamn. Especially not when you were making him forget why he needed to worry about that in the first place. Who cares-!? Not Rumble! Rumble gasps against you, and you just keep on chasing him when he tries to break the kiss again. Rumbles fragging light helmed, and stuck stupidly swallowing around your glossia by the end of it.

Rumble's frame slacks and tenses all over again in your lap when his overload ends, and you finally slowly pull your servo off his overworked spike. You pull away from him when your glossia was in the back of his mouth. A string of oral lubricant lately realizes it can't stay on either of your glossias and falls down onto his own chassis. Making a bigger sparkdamn mess on his front along with his own transfluid.

"Oh slag-!"

"Oh yeah."

Rumble doesn't even care the rest are gawking right at you both now- Rumble doesn't give a single frag. Rumble huffed in rapid vents, trying real hard to get his processor working the way it was supposed to be. Rumble eventually registers the feeling of oral lubricant spilling down his fragging throat from the side of his mouth.

Rumble tenses all over with a grunt when your servo suddenly dipped lower to just start touching his valve. "Frag-!" Rumble can't stop his vocalizor from pitching higher than it usually would when your digits start rubbing over his soaked valve. Rumble's mouth falls open with a huffy vent when two of your digits slip between his valve mesh and nudge against his own entrance. Rumble grits his jaw when his valve instinctively tries to clench down on your digits even when you aren't inside him yet.

But instead of pushing your digits in the rest of the way inside, you pull away. Your servo rises and a string of his own valve lubricant sticks to your digits. Making a shiny, barely but still very obvious connection of his own slick.

Your other servo cups the side of his face, and Rumbles helm gets titled. Rumble can feel something soft against his temple- it's your derma. "Good boy." You praise and your 'em field brushes down his frame warm and makes his post overload haze somehow even more addicting. Rumble can't even get his vents half under control before someone's engine revs loud and uncontrolled, and then everyone starts yapping at once.

A loud cough was followed by an aggressive resetting of a vocalizor "Sorry-!" Bumblebee apologized.

"Sparkdamn."

"It should have been me-!"

"Well-" followed by nervous sounding laugher "That was um-"

"Slag-" Rumble curses and swallows the ridiculous amount of both your oral lubricants in his mouth. He forces his very heavy servo to raise and wipe away the messy trail down his own jaw. "That was-"

Your optics find his visor, and you smile at him like a cybercat. Smug.

It makes Rumble's plating fluff. And Rumble wants to be mad about it- he wants to be so mad about it. But he can't right now, especially not right after that overload you gave him.

And that somehow makes him feel- he didn't know-!

"Back to your spot, Darling." You say and pull him back into sitting position in your lap. Rumble sways a little at the tug, your servos gliding over both the dips of his hips. (He's not thinking about that still! No, he's fragging not!). But Rumble just follows what you'd said and pulls himself back up.

Rumble didn't need his optics functioning to know everyone was watching him when he walked back over to his spot on the floor and sat down. Rumble could feel Skywarp glaring at him from his right, and he couldn't help smirking a bit. Oh, Rumble's gonna be able to brag about this to Skywarp for fragging cycles. It didn't matter you used him like that when it felt so fragging good in the first place. Skywarp's jealous em field was promising some string of violence when you started talking again.

"Okay. Who's next?" You scooped the dice up and made everyone stop gawking at Rumble to turn towards you instead.

And Rumble was real glad he didn't have an engine so he just grunted when you raised your other servo- the one you had on his array, and casually popped your two digits into your mouth. The ones he knows were almost in his valve- You pulled your now cleaned digits out of your mouth, your glossia swiping over your derma. You started shaking the dice in your one closed servo. "Anybody feeling lucky?" You smiled.

Rumble sat up straighter, realizing he might get extra lucky tonight.

Probably not, but he could still fragging hope so!

[wroetominter]

Clueless - George Clarke

In which George and Fem!Reader are both entirely unaware how the other feels about them.

Warnings: alcohol, fluff, insinuations of NSFW but nothing actually nsfw.

———

"Becky how did I let you talk me into this?" I asked sitting across from her. She shrugged, laughing and agreeing that she had no idea how we ended up here. We were in Amsterdam with the group of boys who we almost always found ourselves with - typically getting drunk for content on the internet. We were doing a sequel to our previous London pub crawl that had everyone begging for more.

The summer heat beamed down on us as we sat in a beer garden at a large picnic table that our waitress had just placed eight pints down on. One for each of us. Myself, Becky, Chris, Arthur TV, Bach, Arthur Hill, George, and Harry.

We had decided to theme this pub golf around a set of challenges, a say it or shot it or who is most likely to for each pub, to enhance the fun, and the intoxication levels for everyone.

I sat between Arthur TV and George who were in a heated debate over something I had not entirely been paying attention to. My attention had solely been focused on the group of girls who had situated themselves at a booth across from ours. They were staring in our direction and you could hear faint whispers and giggles tossed in our direction.

I was used to this by now honestly, it wasn't exactly a secret to anyone that the lads were attractive, and the majority of them were single which gave more fuel to the fire of which is a fangirls desire.

We had chosen specific attire for this event, Becky and I having slightly more feminine versions of the pub golf shirts Chris had made, which happen to be the most cringe tshirts known to man. They all had a different bright color, and said "I'm here for an Amster-damn good time". Becky and I had on a cropped-tank top version of the shirt, and the boys had cutoffs or regular tshirts, depending on which style they had preferred.

Turning to my side, I saw George had now noticed the table of girls as well. His gaze lasted a few moments, redirecting to me when he noticed I had been staring. "What's up?" He took a drink from his glass.

"See anything you like?" I joked nudging his arm with mine. Noting how good his biceps looked in the cutoff he was wearing.

"Usually do when we're together." He smirked back quickly.

George and I had this strange relationship where we were constantly flirting with each other, but it had never gone further than that. We would play fight, tease each other, be far too handsy for just friends - yet we never fully crossed that line. Not to say I didn't want to, but I had this stubborn side of me that didn't want to be one of the many, many girls throwing themselves at him. I had seen the way those interactions turned out for people, and it usually didn't end well.

"You're such a tease George. Say it with your chest." I retorted.

"If you two love birds would stop eye fucking each other we could get this video started." Chris snapped, giving us a very sassy look. I smiled at him and flipped him off.

"Right, so!" Chris imitated Arthur as the intro began. The game started with a shot being given to who we thought fit the 'who is most likely to' question the best.

The who is most likely to in question was 'most likely to have three or more dates in a week?' A member of the camera crew read the question and we all immediately pointed to Chris, who's little hand stuck right out and pointed to me.

"Me?" I exclaimed. "You're actually insane if you think I'm going on three or more dates a week." Chris shook his head.

"I don't know, you did seem pretty cozy with that last guy you brought home." Becky added, her being my roommate she had seen her fair share of the few dates I have had in recent months.

"Gotta be honest with you, that wasn't a date Becky. That was a thirty minute max event.” I finished the remainder of my beer, earning a few wide eyed looks and Arthur TV giving me a "come on!"

We then got up from the first beer garden and made our way to the next location. I found George with a frustrated look on his face, which he quickly wiped away as the cameras began rolling again, capturing some of the banter happening throughout the groups.

Needless to say, by the time we made it to hole six, the majority of us were severely too drunk to be functioning.

"I'm seeing double of you." I said to Bach as I sat across from him.

"How do we look?" He asked flexing his muscles.

"Only slightly egotistical." This earned a laugh from the group.

"Okay enough enough. I've got a fun game this round." Harry had now had his turn to pick the game. "This is going to be a blind question. Everyone has a shot in front of them. We are going to start at this end of this table and each person except the person giving the shot will close their eyes. Once that person has placed their shot they will close their eyes and the next person will open, give their shot, and that continues until the last person has given their shot. You will be giving your shot to the person you find the most attractive." The group of us 'ooooh'ed' and 'ahhhh'd' at the idea.

It got to be my turn after the first two had placed their shots. I opened my eyes, very briefly scanning the table but needing no time to choose. I gently placed my shot in front of George, ensuring the glass didn't make noise as I placed it.

Only a few rounds later we were finished, and everyone now had a shot. These were double tequila shots - again Harry's choice. "Now to guess. If you correctly guess who gave you a shot, you only need to take half. If you guess incorrectly you take the whole thing."

This added a new element to the fun. None of us could really afford to be wrong considering how absolutely plastered we already were.

My turn to guess was now up, and I gazed around the table, tapping my finger to my lips in thought. I of course wanted to guess George. I honestly just selfishly wanted that to be the answer. To know that throughout this constant flirtation we had going that he found me attractive would be very telling to where this could go. I also was indecisive as I didn't want to be wrong, and then have my ego crushed.

Deciding the worst that happens is I get even more pissed, I finally made my decision. "I'm going to say George gave me this shot." I locked my eyes with his, looking for confirmation. He slowly nodded, and everyone cheered for me getting it right. I took half the shot, handing the other half to one of the crew members to have if they'd like.

Arthur Hill guessed that Chris had chosen him, and unfortunately he was wrong. Becky guessed that Harry said her, and she had been right. George was up next, seemingly very confident picking up his shot and taking half of it without a word. "What the hell! Cheating!" Chris shouted at him. George's eyes hadn't left mine.

"Not cheating. It was Y/n." I felt heat creeping to my cheeks this confident move from him. It was unfortunately insanely attractive to me.

"Was it?" Chris turned to me, the alcohol in his system causing him to borderline scream in my face.

"Yes Christopher, it was. You can sit down now." He began to pout and we laughed it off.

The end of the night was finally here, and we were all walking - stumbling - in a large group back to our hotels. We had finished the outro for the video at the last pub, with some of the boys jumping into a fountain. This had become somewhat of a tradition for our pub golf videos.

I was still incredibly energetic from the nights events. Even though it was nearing one the morning I felt like I had just woken up from a very restful nap.

"You alright darlin?" George asked wrapping an arm around my shoulder as we walked.

"Just fine handsome, how about you?" He smiled and shook his head slightly, laughing at the nickname.

"I'm far more drunk than I intended to be. But other than that I'm feeling pretty good." He said.

My memory flickered back to the beginning of the event and the liquid courage urged me to question his earlier expression after Becky had revealed to the group a one night stand I had. "George I have a serious question for you." I said. He slowed his pace, looking around and spotting a bench near us. He led me over to it and we sat down together, facing each other on the bench. I brought my leg up to rest on the seat, the other dangling over the side.

"What's your question?" I sensed some nervous energy behind his words.

"Earlier Becky outed me bringing a guy home. You made a face at the comment. Why?" His glance left mine for a moment, drifting to his hands where he was nervously picking at his nails. This was a different George to the confident flirty one I was used to.

"Dunno I guess, I mean..." he trailed off. I stared at him waiting for an answer. "I mean you and I flirt often, and I thought I had been making myself pretty clear that I was interested in you. So I guess just hearing that you had been with someone else just hurt me a little." I continued to stare at him. This time in disbelief.

"Are you telling me you're interested in me?" I normally wasn't this blunt in these kind of situations but the alcohol in my system was clouding my better judgement.

"I'm more than interested." He replied.

"George, why didn't you tell me? I've been watching you go on dates for months wishing it was me you were taking out." It was his turn to stare in disbelief. He took a few moments before speaking again.

"I thought you were just naturally the flirty type. Most girls are usually pretty straightforward with me." I let out a small laugh at this statement, scooting myself closer to George.

"You're more used to girls coming up to you and basically throwing themselves at you?" I teased.

He laughed, nodding slightly. "I guess I am."

I placed my hand on his thigh in front of me. "I can throw myself at you if you'd like." I said cheekily, giving his thigh a small rub. His hand found its way to the small of my back, his warm hand a stark contrast to the cool touch of my exposed back.

"Don't threaten me with a good time. Maybe we start with at least a kiss first?" I leaned in at these words, hand pressed to his chest as our lips met. It was a breathless taste of alcohol and desire. I pressed myself closer to him as the kiss deepened. I held my other hand still on his thigh, instinctively sliding it further up towards his crotch, pulling away almost immediately realizing we were in public.

"If we don't get back to the hotel I'm going to end up with an indecent exposure charge and in a foreign jail" George laughed at my joke, standing up and offering me his hand.

"Let's go then." I took his hand in mine and stood up, he pulled me into him as we began the walk back to the hotel.

“How did we end up both being so clueless?” I asked. He pulled me into his side, placing a soft kiss on my head.

“We’re stupid I guess.” I laughed in agreement as we entered the hotel to turn in for the night.

[whowrotethenote]

𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐆𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐋𝐎𝐖 | 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞.

warnings. profanity. violence. murder. guns. themes surrounding drug distribution & dealing. angst. use of the “n” word. use of marijuana.

word count. 5.9k

a/n. no taglist because i’m not sure how i feel about this story yet. it was originally drafted and thought out with head of the tariffs serving as one of the main characters which means i have to flush him out as much as possible. also, this is a little different from anything i put out so far. heavy themes and not as digestible as my other works. if i decide to keep this up and continue the story, i think i’ll do this taglist differently from the others. if you want to be tagged, pls say so in the comments or inbox me. happy reading!

The moon was heavy and full like she would overflow. And it was fitting, because everything would change after tonight.

A new world was coming in. The old one fading out.

Unlike New York—a city where it was easy to drown and get lost—in Miami, everybody was a player. You had small players, giants, supporting players, and players who only entered because someone else they loved had stake in the game.

That was the reality and had always been the story of Shiloh Neverson. Shy if you really knew him. And most didn’t.

A thoroughbred hustler from the frigid streets of Brooklyn, New York. His name etched in the sidewalks and whispered in the darkest alleyways of the concrete jungle from which he came.

He found himself further down the map, keeping steady and planting his flag, out of nothing but sheer loyalty. The kind that made a man follow a woman to the ends of the earth until she drove him mad. The same kind that two men shared when they’ve grown side by side—seeing everything there was to see and feeling the highs and lows together—and refused to split out of the obligation to always make sure the other was good. No matter what.

It was a cool night. The kind that came in and swept all the exhaustive heat from the day out. Something like replenishment.

Shy had slipped out the back of the establishment he as of late, had too much stake in, to feed what most saw as an addiction. For him it was a suppressant, bottle capping every emotion he refused to feel since he was a boy. Marijuana. A far cry from the poison he had put into too many hands before. Watching lives end before they even started.

Darkness should’ve obstructed the night, but there was no such thing as darkness in Miami. Neon lights shone on every corner. Nowhere to hide. Only spaces to exist. Everything stood out. Nothing like the place he grew up in.

He stepped further out into the lights. Patting himself down and feeling for his lighter until the hardness of it was found in the back pocket of his jeans. The flame was brighter than normal when it met the blunt. The clouds of smoke heavier as they danced sensually around him.

He waved them away. The Lealtad tattoo on his forearm, caught his attention. Sitting in a poetic cursive, etched on his skin not nearly as deep as he felt it.

He thought about it a lot as of late. Loyalty. What it looked like. What it felt like. What it really meant. If he had taken it too far. If he wasn’t even scratching the surface.

If there was no other code to live by, loyalty is the one he chose. It got him this far. So, he’d use it to forge hisself further.

He regarded the massive property before him, remembering when it was vacant with only dreams and ambition occupying it. Quiet as it would ever be for the night considering it was an hour until opening. He knew the line stretched down the block already anyway. Anybody who wanted to be somebody held court here every weekend. And in Miami, that classified as everyone.

More than just some club, it was a power-plant for the most revered and ruthless family that had stepped a foot in Miami in years. Hailing from the same place he came, they touched down in this city like a plague to anyone who presented as competition, while a blessing to everyone else.

Never just some club. And for that, it was locked down tight like the Pentagon. Soldiers armed at every corner. City squad cars, on their payroll, on every surrounding block. A security system built for officials. Too many cameras, just in the back alone, where he stood, that would catch even a rat pissing on the street.

But that’s when he noticed it. The red light—it wasn’t on. A wrinkle formed between his brows as he squinted to make sure he wasn’t tripping.

The camera’s rolled twenty four hours a day, seven days a week, at the Viper’s Den. It was like safety measures for dummies. They needed to know who came in, out, or even an inch within the doors, at all times. They needed eyes in place of theirs when it was time to rest at night if they were lucky enough to do so that day.

But tonight, the camera was off. Or dead. He didn’t know which one. Before he had a chance to even think too deep into it, one of the steel double doors groaned as she came barreling through.

“They’re ready. Everyone’s here.”

He nodded, taking one last pull before flicking it, and crushing it with his boot when it landed. She was already on the move. He had to catch the door before it met the other one.

He caught up to her. Her long legs giving her more stride than most women. Slender and still athletic, with curves everywhere she needed them as if she had walked the runways with the best of the faces in the nineties. Hips swaying organically as the light caught her bronze skin through the lace material of her jumpsuit, every time her thick hair moved from one side to the other. His thought process completely knocked off its square for a second.

“Still don’t know what this is about?”

“Something about new routes.”

“For what? Distribution?”

“Yeah,” she answered still walking the length of the hallway slightly ahead of him. “We’d be fools to keep the same routine after what happened last month.” His silence served as his acceptance.

The elevator ride down might as well had been one he took by himself, because she didn’t say a word. Barely moved unless she absolutely had to.

She always carried this mystique with her. It was her best accessory, other than her actual mind. Like a majestic creature in the jungle never seen before. That’s how she moved through life. Only seen if she wanted to be noticed. But that was reserved for everyone else. Not with him. Never with him. That lure usually dissolved in his presence. Something had changed. And now he wished the events of the week had never happened.

The LL button lit up at the same time the vessel chimed. The doors opened and she was the first to walk through them. Moving with a purpose like time was against her.

He locked her wrist in his hand and tugged lightly, forcing her to face him and stop. “You understood where I was coming from the other night, right?”

She paused like she wasn’t sure if she should answer. “Yeah, sure.”

“You gotta understand. I’d do anything for you. For Yamir. Your dad. All of y’all.” He looked down at her trying to gauge her temperature. The windows were the eyes to the soul, but her soul was dwindling as of late. “And I always have. I’m not complaining. I’m happy to do it. Everything I do is out of love—and it’s almost always for somebody with the last name Figueroa. But some things I gotta do on my own. I’m not like Yamir. Nobody laid out the red carpet for me. I’m not inheriting none of this shit.” He looked around with just his brown eyes before they landed back on hers. “That means eventually I have to stand on my own two. Venture out—make my own route, if need be.”

A fierce blow is what his words must’ve hit her like, with the way she took a step back from him, causing the hand he previously had on her to drop down to his side. Her eyes, darting over the floor like she was trying to solve an equation in her head. Her pouty lips parted and he hoped to hear her voice even if she disagreed. Disconnected communication was better than what he was getting—which was no communication.

“Do what you gotta do, then. I won’t stop you. Trust me.”

Distracted by having all of her attention at once for the first time in days, he couldn’t even register how she conveniently waved the white flag, after inciting a war between them just days ago over this same epiphany he had. He pushed a strong breeze of air from his nose.

“Those eyes fuck me over in a thousand life times. I swear.” The tilt in his mouth paired with the most subtle scoff was only enough to elicit softness in her gaze. She didn’t laugh. No smile.

He couldn’t remember the exact moment his chest grew tender for her. When it went from a brotherly instinct to protect to a blind duty to draw his sword out of something else—like he’d seen so many men who crossed her path do.

When his words didn’t move her the way he intended, he squinted down at her. Impossible that the stench of what happened a few nights ago was still on them. They had been through worse. Seen much worse. Exchanged words that cut deeper. They always made it to the other side.

He thought he made hisself clear, that nothing could change them. That they were still okay.

“I love you, Yaya. To death.”

Her eyes—they were hypnotic. A planet of sage green with gold flecks in them that you could only see up close. Almost like a serpent’s.

Her face—button nose with the deepest cupid’s bow, paving an entrance to her naturally full, pouty lips. All gifts from her mother. But her eyes—they were her father’s doing.

To him, she always had that look, that made him believe she could see everything going on inside his head. Too long under her stare, even after all these years, made him shift his weight from one foot to the next—rubbing his knuckles—unable to keep still.

Under the low light of the hallway, her eyes held that possessed look. Disconnected. Like she wasn’t really there with him. Her mind somewhere else. When they came back full circle and synched with his again, he felt something—saw something in them that he had never seen before. Foreign as it was—his body somehow recognized the energy. He didn’t feel right. He waited—keeping that cool demeanor—waiting for her to return the sentiment.

“Good.”

Taking the last few steps they needed to reach the door, he had to fight the urge to stay in his head and make a bed in it after not hearing her say the words back. But he didn’t have the time for that. Business was on the other side of that door. Personal feelings, love and all other emotions had to be plugged.

She pulled the door open, but didn’t walk in herself. She raised a hand to let him pass first.

Shy stepped through the threshold and immediately felt the Earth shift. Attention already on him. Jefe’s stare. Then Melo’s. Tío Ricky’s. He didn’t think nothing of it until he scanned the space and saw everyone was trained on him. He was the center of it all. He knew they had been waiting, but damn.

He made a move to step further inside and eventually take his seat. His boots making every step heavier. And then he heard it. The crunch of bubble wrap screams under his black Timb. He lifted just his toes to see. It was all over the room. Laid out like the most expensive rug.

His breath gets lost in his throat somewhere. The weight of his stare still down. Stomach twitching. Sick like he could smell death the moment it entered the room.

A lesser man would’ve flinched at the door meeting the frame and somehow the latch locking, echoing even louder in his ears. But that’s not who Shiloh was. That’s not who the man responsible for moving all the chess pieces on the board had groomed him to be. Groomed being a generous term. Shiloh played back every moment in just those five seconds the door shut and he made sense of everything. A montage of every moment shared with this family. Good, bad and all the shit in between. Thrusting himself back to reality, he knew now he was just a cattle raised for slaughter. There was no grooming.

But he swears he could feel it. The love. It was all around him. All in the way this family took him in after his whole word flipped upside down. A young boy whose strings attaching him to the very people who created him had been abruptly severed off. Leaving him alone and vulnerable. Until them.

And even now, in a room cold as a loved one stabbing you in the back, he swears he could still feel it. The love.

If this truly would be his last night—all he wanted to know was when it went from love to hate.

If the room was alive it’d be holding its breath. Heartbeat steady—strong, but delayed. Lying in wait like the viper in its den.

Like they were anticipating him to run or pull his own weapon, all eyes fell on him—with the exception of the pair he valued the most. Emotionless and calculated as he had always known them all to be. He just never fathomed he’d be in the crossfire of it.

He hadn’t even thought to draw. He’d rather die than to point anything, even his finger too hard at any person in this room. He felt himself being relieved of his gun, as it slid out the waistband of his jeans. He had no will to stop her. He was outnumbered anyway.

The upper half of his body twisted. Spotting one of the most beautiful woman he would ever lay eyes on. Whom he had come to love and know as his sister. The older they grew, the lines blurring, but the same thing always remained, crystal clear. Love.

Yamille. His Yaya.

The older she got, the colder her heart froze over. Her and her brother were so much alike and yet still so different. He was fire and she was ice.

Shiloh always tried to plant seeds. Never out of envy, hate, or whatever the fuck else fueled betrayal these days. He planted seeds and forecasted all the ways Yamille would lead Yamir right into the depths of hell with him, if he didn’t make his own choices. And he had even extended those seeds her way. Trying to get her to see life with different colored lenses. Tried to soften her heart, but sadly he had came at a time when it was already forming a chrysalis. Ready to bloom into something catastrophic.

Always the smarter. Always the sharper. Always the more extreme. Always the hungrier of the two. She didn’t mind her cup running over. Always the girl trying to keep up with the boys—to the point where she had surpassed them and didn’t even realize it until it was too late. She didn’t believe in ceilings. Not even the sky was her limit. Too much was never enough.

She held that same vacant look from earlier. Head depending on the door to stay up.

Shy faced forward, meeting the brunt of the room. But he was only interested in one face. Still, Yamir refused to look at him.

“Do I get to ask why?” His voice, thick and strong amidst his current circumstances, cut the air.

“The why won’t make a never mind.” Yamille’s voice, smooth and tempting like velvet on the skin, hit his back. The heartbeat of the room accelerated.

Yeah, this was for real.

“You right.” He responded—somehow in strength as much as defeat. He had already turned down the road of acceptance and he didn’t even know why. Because he knew. He knew the words Yamille spoke were law. The why would indeed not make a never mind. The why was irrelevant. If he had made it this far, the decision was set in stone a long time ago and it was nothing he could even do about it.

“But,” she spoke again. The steady rhythm the heels of her boots made on the ground, like tiny landmines as she made her way around him—stepping intimately close, before taking a spot at the table next to her brother. “Because you are family…I think we can make an exception.”

Family. Familia. The word might as well had been dipped in acid now. It didn’t mean the same thing. It was jaded. It was in hearing the words from her mouth, that he almost lost his resolve. His eyes stung as the muscles that made up his jaw danced. The breath from his nostrils coming out heavier—clipped.

He had broke bread with these people just the night before. They saw him go from a boy to a man. Their hands rubbed his back when his father passed. He shed tears with them. The twins—they took on his pain and he had studied theirs, and fought with them to help them go away. They took him in. Made him feel apart. The shirt off Yamir’s back had been handed to him before. Yamille’s lips—soft, forbidden and dangerous—he had felt before.

They had always drilled into him to mind his back—stay clear of all enemies and anyone trying to throw stones. “Watch for unfamiliar faces passing by—” He could hear Jefe tell him clear as day, with a firm hand on his shoulder—-pinky ring flashing with the heaviest jewel he thought he’d ever lay eyes on—as he sat blending in on the block. A fourteen year old boy watching for anything strange. Anything out of the ordinary to give his signal.

But watch out for his own yard? His own grass? He hadn’t thought about that. It never even crossed his mind. He thought he would always be safe here. That’s what they told him.

The reality of it all came pouring over him—threatening to fall from his eyes. But he held his head high and kept his shoulders squared. The minute you show emotion—you lose. That’s what Jefe taught him. And even as the orchestrator of this entire night—Jefe sat at the head—sage eyes fierce and cold with a look that read, “don’t you dare. Don’t you dare let us see you sweat.”

And while Jefe didn’t speak yet, his eyes hadn’t left Shiloh’s from the minute he entered the room. They held him in place like the barrel of a gun to his neck.

Even staring death in the face, Jefe had this hold over him. This unwavering need to listen—need to make him proud. He had assumed the role and it stuck. He was the closest thing to a father he had clear memory of.

Shiloh latched one hand over the other. “So?” He raised a brow.

He could hear his own blood pumping. There must’ve been some sort of mix up. He loved the Figueroa’s to death. He couldn’t imagine anything he’d done—any word he could’ve spoken—to earn himself this night.

Yamille—the assumed spokesperson for the night chewed on her bottom lip. Hesitation. Something he hadn’t seen from her since they were kids.

“The warehouse in Brickell—”

She had barely uttered the last word of her sentence and he was already shaking his head. Something of a laugh, the smallest testament to his disbelief, filled the room.

“Nah.” His laughter settled and all that remained was a bitter smile. “That’s not what this is about. No way.”

“Of course it is.”

“I’m telling you, it can’t be.” He didn’t back down. If anything his fangs grew longer in defense. He had never been handed a sharper insult. It cut him deep. “Cause you know me. Y’all know me—”

“Just tell the truth, Shy.”

Yamir finally forced his words out. He couldn’t take it anymore. It was hard enough to listen to. He couldn’t even bring himself to watch it.

His heart—what seemed to always take up too much space, to where he couldn’t even see what was right in front of him—was breaking. Shattering into a million pieces. He was accepting the fate of his brother in real time just as he was.

He thought he’d have more time. He thought he’d be able to clear his name or at the very least convince his sister and father that Shiloh would never—could never go against them. But he had nothing. He came up empty-handed. All roads led back to Shiloh. His betrayal was the only conclusion that made sense as incredulous as it was.

“Just tell the truth,” he pleaded. Jaw so tight it made it that much more difficult to speak. “So we know how to navigate after tonight.”

Tonight.

Shiloh’s full upper lip tugged at the corner. He couldn’t even call this what it was. Couldn’t even bring himself to say it out loud. Fucking coward.

“You want me to lie…Want me to confess to some shit y’all know I didn’t have a hand in—” He smoothed the hairs of his mustache down to collect his thoughts. “—All so you can feel better about what’s about to happen.” He challenged the entire room, but no one swung back. “Nah. I won’t do that. I can’t do that.”

“What do you have to lose? Just tell the truth,” Yaya egged it on. Pushing him to the edge to see if he’d jump.

“Why don’t you run the tale down for me? Huh?” His voice heightened—echoing in the already charged room. Too much and it was prone to blow up. “Y’all are so convinced—why don’t y’all tell me how it happened?”

No one spoke.

It was that sixth sense they carried for each other since they were in a single womb for eight months, that made them look at one other in the same second. Always able to do what her brother couldn’t, she inhaled a sharp breath from her nose.

“Three weekends ago,” she started. Went over the scenario everyday for the past week—she knew it like a devout Christian knew the Bible. Dreams—or rather nightmares about how it must’ve happened. Every time desperately looking for the needle in the haystack. The loophole. The missing detail. Anything that would make her think he didn’t actually do it. She came up short every time. Even now as she begins to recite it, she can feel herself looking for holes. “You went back to Brooklyn. Told me you had business to take care of.” She took a pause giving him an opportunity to cut in and take over.

All he could do was shake and bow his head in the same motion.

“What business? You wouldn’t say. Whatever you went looking for, you found. And whatever it was, it gave you enough courage and enough ammo to steal from the only people, who would’ve given you whatever you needed with no hesitation.” Yamille could taste the saltiness after every word fell from her tongue. “What’d you do? Mm? I know you didn’t pull this whole thing off yourself. Tell us. Who helped you?”

“You got the story all wrong—”

“Who?” She stopped him before he could even start. “Who’d you hire? The BK’s?” She pushed. “Cause I went back to Brooklyn, too,” she declared. A subtle laugh breaking through. “And they just can’t stop talking about this lick they hit down in Miami. New cars, straight from the lot to the block. Regular bitches walking around the city in furs. The city is thriving,” she boasted as if it were her who completed the heist and made all that happen.

“You went to Brooklyn. Hired the BK’s to come down here and rob the warehouse in Brickell. After telling them where and when. Information they only could’ve gotten from you. They took a cut, and you kept the rest. You were gonna use it to jumpstart your own thing. Venture out.” His eyes slammed shut hearing his own words back. “Until you had enough to leave. That’s why you’re selling the condo, right? I saw the appraisal,” she revealed. “You weren’t even gonna tell niggas you were leaving.” She scoffed. More repulsed by the secret they never kept from one another, than the actual deed that had nearly cost them everything.

Her story of how everything went down filled the room like smoke, lingering over their heads and rising to the top.

Instead of doing what they had hoped or expected—he did the complete opposite. He said nothing. Did nothing. No nerve. No defense.

“When I asked you before,” she started again. Going back to the night that changed everything between them. “You looked like you wanted to tell me. So, go on. Just say it.”

He couldn’t tell her. Not then and especially not now. Not when he couldn’t be around to ensure damage control after the chips fell. This was his last act of honor. Loyalty. And for the first time in his whole life, it had nothing to do with the Figueroa’s. No, this was all for him.

His nostrils flared. “I can’t.” His declaration held the same symphony as a sorry. It was almost a plea—a cry for them to just stop.

Her tongue rested on the inside of her cheek for a minute as she took her last bite of disappointment. What a fucking waste.

“Then, neither can I.”

She regarded her father to let him know she had nothing left.

Shy’s lips puckered as he blew out a breath of air that had been locked in his chest. Every breath he took felt cleaner. Every smell sharper. Every sound was brighter. Every beat of his heart—he appreciated it.

He knew he wouldn’t see the sun rise again.

“So—how’s this gonna happen?” He asked them.

“One clean shot. To the head,” she informed.

“Execution style.” He laughed a laugh buried in salt, nodding his head in acceptance. “No open casket? I don’t even deserve that?”

“The only people that would mourn you, are in this room. We’ve seen enough of you, Shy.”

Wrong. She was so wrong.

Shy could do nothing, but swallow the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

“Those who would cause harm to their family—traitors,” Jefe clarified, “don’t deserve proper send-offs. You know that, son.”

The silent giant. Even seated, he stood taller than everyone in the room. He wasn’t branded the name Jefe like some title you could pass a test and get certified for. No—this wasn’t something simply earned. He bled, he sweat, sacrificed and drew blood from everyone who threatened to stand in his way. Paved a way when there wasn’t one. He made the tough decisions. He made sure all the pieces on the board moved to the beat of his drum.

He had countless nights like this. Nights spent doing deeds he knew he’d never be able to come back from. Nights he’d never forget, that’d haunt him eventually.

It costs to be the boss.

He’s paid his price. But there will come a day. One day he’d have no more currency to exchange. All his charges to the game would have exhausted themselves.

His mentor tried to tell him. The weight of power. Some days—like today—it was simply too heavy. Heavy as the crown was, he wore it well—like it weighed nothing.

As he sat back in his chair—face cold and still like stone—one would think nothing happening moved him. But his heart beat just as fast as Shy’s. Just as fast as his son’s—Yamir.

“Let’s get this shit over with, then.” Shy smoothed his waves down and rubbed his knuckles like he was about to bet on a dice game—rather than give up his life.

“That’s it? You wouldn’t even fight for it?”

“What’s the point Yaya? Look around.” He gestured his large hands to the room. Soldiers, armed, stood in wait. Bubble wrap on the floor. Jefe’s gun on the table with the silencer laid next to it like they were a married couple. “You’ve already decided. I already know how this goes. Just the other week I was sitting there. On the other side.” His finger flicked to the seat—empty, but still heavy with his absence—not too far from where she stood.

The room froze over again.

This was it.

Jefe’s pointer finger, leveraging the trigger guard as the gun spun leisurely on the table. The sound—a constant whirl like the loop playing in Shiloh’s brain. The minutes—his final ones ticking. The sand running out to the other side of the hourglass. Until it stopped.

Jefe all too smoothly, unhooked his leg from over his knee, latching the single button of the sleek grey suit jacket while standing up. His fingers wrapped tight on the barrel as he held it out in his son’s direction.

He was going off script. This was not what they discussed. Not at all what they agreed upon.

The twins’ sage eyes did the same routine. Flicking from each other to the weapon of death their father held out for Yamir to take, and carry out what would be the hardest task of his entire life. Impossible.

Jefe didn’t blink. Hadn’t even bothered to move.

He waited for his son to make a move. The right one.

There was no day that he wasn’t testing them. Especially his son. His heir. The one that all this shit would go to if he ever chose or was forced to step down.

He extended the weapon like Yamir already took it, because in his mind, he did.

In his mind, his only son—other than the one he chose that stood waiting for his execution—would rather die than to disobey him. Every step he took he expected Yamir to place his feet there eventually, if not right away.

But he couldn’t be more wrong.

Yamir’s eyes fell on the gun over and over like someone slipping on oil who couldn’t find their footing. On his father, then back to the gun, then back to his father, and repeat.

“I…” His tone so limpid it could’ve been mistaken for just a heavy breath. He just couldn’t find his voice. A pattern he had got stuck in since he was a child always standing next to someone with a stronger and more intentional presence.

Jefe’s thick brows rose slightly. Still waiting for his son to carry out his silent ask. But really it wasn’t a question. He was never asking. He was Jefe for a reason. And Jefe distributed demands as much as product. Not inquiries or suggestions.

Yamille grew antsy. Arms crossed tight over her chest, she studied her brother even though she didn’t have to. She could feel him. Always. Knew him better than any man in this room. There’s no way he’s going to take that, she thought. He can’t.

She almost thought her thoughts had slipped past her lips at the snap of his head in her direction. Green eyes pleading and whispering—bargaining for help. Asking for it to stop. All of it.

But this wasn’t her fault. It was true, her father trusted some words in her hands more than her brother’s—and Yamir knew that. But this…this card he kept to himself until the last minute. She knew nothing of this. She had no hand in this one.

How cruel he could be sometimes. Handing a weapon of death to his only son and asking him to point it at the closest thing he had to a brother. It was inhumane. Only an animal—a machine—someone who buried their emotions and would do anything to get what they wanted, could carry out such a task.

That had never been Yamir.

And that fact alone is what grabbed Yamille by the neck and whispered in her ear. Shooting her arm across—going past her brother literally and figuratively—to grab the opportunity her father offered him. And they both let her.

She snatched the gun and was gone in the same second. Her steps growing stiffer the closer she got to him. In and out of the beacons of light from the bulbs placed on the ceiling.

Her finger slid over the cold metal of the barrel. His stare from above her drawing heat.

“Turn around,” she demanded, only low enough for the two of them to pick up.

“Nah. You think you the man.” He taunted. “Do that shit while looking me in the eye.”

A few ways behind them at the table, Jefe’s glare hadn’t moved from his son. Laser beams on the side of his sharp face as Yamir only found the heart and stomach to look at the table. There was no way he could watch. And his shame, like chains on a prisoner, wouldn’t allow him to face his father.

Yaya barred her teeth down. Taking one last breath of uncertainty with the sharp clicks of the safety being turned off. The muscles in her arm flexing as she raised it. The weight of the gun and her reluctance like a fifty pound dumbbell. Still, she held her own. Cause it had to be done.

Her heartbeat matching his. Every steady thump in synch. They didn’t know it and never got the chance to explore it, but it always had been that way.

Almond French tipped acrylic, glossy under the single light they stood in together, as her finger danced over the trigger. Finally it got comfortable. Jaw tight. Lips in the straightest line. She was born for this. She was her father’s daughter.

With no infliction in her voice—already on auto-pilot and becoming something else—she built the nerve to ask of him one last thing.

“Guarda un lugar para mí en el otro lado.”

In one last act of love he promised, “Por siempre jamás.”

He braced himself. Useless as the pain wouldn’t last long.

Watching her finger curl, he had one last thought. One last thesis to this little ass life. It was nothing like the movies. Nothing like the books Jefe forced him to read. They had conclusions. Signs and clues. Trails of seeds planted throughout that would eventually grow in the end. So that when the end came, it wasn’t so abrupt. It made sense. It was the same rhythm in which the book had started and continued thereafter.

There was no warning for this. No tell signs. He had took the idea of loyalty and reciprocated it tenfold and was punished for it in the end.

The books didn’t read like this. The movies’ ending mirrored the beginning. That’s not what this was. No, this was something else. This was cruel. This was malignant. This was as if the author had stopped mid story and someone with no passion for the pen stepped in, in an attempt to just finish and get it over with.

He hoped they found the truth someday. Hoped they would remember him as he was before all this and decimate this last moment when they thought of him.

He almost wanted to break through and scream as he replayed his own words in the hallway back to himself. He knew that’s what sealed his fate for real. He shouldn’t have said anything, ever. Maybe he wouldn’t be here.

But what ifs were a thing of the past. Just like the why, the what if won’t make a never-mind.

So, like the man Jefe taught him to be, he squared his shoulders, glared into the eyes of the only woman he had the heart to express his love to, and exhaled one last time.

Before it all went black.

[cute-ellyna]

OC in the ballroom

Tagged by @mythals-whore @glitteringdust @casa-dei-corvei and I’m sure I’m forgetting someone else! I’d be curious to know about @sasskarian @davrinsleftpectoral (for your other Rook you mentioned in the comments!) and @captainmagpie-risha :)

(choosing this image for her cause she looks so elegant here, it’s so fitting for this theme!)

So, what I’m gonna do for this game is diving it in two parts. Because to Ayanne being at a formal let’s say Tevinter Ball would be totally different from an informal dancing context within a dalish clan, and I really feel the need to talk about both ;)

Ayanne in a formal ballroom

She’s never been to such an event before, so it’d all be very foreign to her. She doesn’t know the etiquette and she doesn’t know the dances. But I’m imagining that after the game events it’s plausible that the whole team gets invited to some formal celebration ball (maybe by Dorian and Mae in Tevinter), so here’s what she would do/wear :)

CLOTHING

What’s your OC’s go-to aesthetic for a ball? Is it consistent or varied? What’s their goal behind this? are they just trying to fit in, to distract, to mislead?

Ayanne doesn’t usually wear dresses nor skirts, never happened in the latest 10 years or so, at least. So first of all, she would have to come to terms that she has to wear a dress. Probably she’ll ask Neve for help: she would know what is appropriate or not, and Ayanne totally trusts her judgment and aesthetic sense.

She would choose something simple (probably too simple for such a ball), linear, definitely unstructured, and it would be flowy and as light as air. I keep finding pics of white dresses lol, but she would favor her usual greens or earthy tones. She might keep her hair down for the special occasion, or put them up in case of a low back cutted dress.

She would purposefully keep it simple because she would just want to blend in, spend a nice night with her friends. But I think in the end she will still stand out exactly because she would be so different from all the other extremely eccentric guests at the ball.

DANCING

What’s their opinion on dancing? Do they have a favorite type of dance?

Ayanne was a dancer when she was younger. She stopped dancing around 20yo though and never really picked it back. Thing also is, she wouldn’t know the steps of any Tevinter dance. If I think about dances in a dalish clan, I imagine something more like traditional group dances, Hawaiian or Polinesian style (yeah yeah my kids are watching a lot of Moana and Lilo&Stich okay?), so individual or couple dances like the ones that would be held at a Tevinter event are totally foreign to her.

She would be fascinated though, she’d watch other couples dancing a lot, but wouldn’t dare to try it herself, not there, not in front of everyone. Once back at the lighthouse, alone in her room, I think she would try and see if she can still do some steps of what she uses to dance back in the days :3

LOCATION

Where are you most likely to find your OC during a ball? The balcony? Bar? Spying behind privacy screens?

So, in this kind of event, she’d just be at the bar among friends, drinking and trying all the fancy food they’re serving.

On teenager Ayanne and dancing

As I said, I imagine dalish dances more like traditional group dances performed during various events, like Arlathvens of course, but also smaller ones.

Ayanne has been participating to these dances since she was a child, and in her teenage years she was among the main dancers in her clan. I’ve found a video of this girl dancing, I love her energy and the steps she makes are really close on how I picture Ayanne in my mind.

I headcanon that when she goes back to her clan with Davrin, the elderly would tell him they still remember her dancing, how she would light up the stage, always so beautiful with a huge smile on her face, and her shiny hair, and big big eyes (and Dav would think “she’s still like this” because he’s in looooove 🥺).

There’s also gonna be another Atlathven when Ayanne will be 43 (this is my personal timeline), and guys it’ll be huge, because she’ll go there with Dav, and both their families will be there, and Bellara too, and no, Ayanne won’t go dancing on the stage but she would definitely join the more informal dances, and she would teach Bellara some steps for fun, and they’ll be happy, and it’ll be beautiful and omg I wrote so much my hand hurts!

But thank YOU for reading all of this ❤️

[midnight-mourning]

The Thought That Counts

💘💘Midnight's DCA Valentine's Day 10💘💘

This one was super interesting for me as someone who's ace to sit and think about, shout out to the aroaces, this one is for you, little hurt/comfort just because that's what i was feeling

Prompt: Sun and Moon discussing with an Aroace yn why they dislike romance? Or maybe just watching some really bad romcoms on a horrible day

Word Count: 1753

Read here if you prefer ao3!

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The sound of happy love songs has started to grate on you recently, you're not going to lie. You get maybe like, a couple days worth, but all week long feels a bit, excessive. Not to mention the barrage of lovey dovey advertisements, decorations, and so on you've seen everywhere you've went.

Sure, it all wasn't intentionally done to annoy or make you uncomfortable, but sometimes it certainly felt like it. 

As you walk into the Daycare for work, you do your best to ignore it as per usual. Today would hopefully be the last day—since it was Valentine's, after all—and then you could go back to living in peace. 

Again, it wasn't necessarily a hate for the holiday, rather it was just a general discomfort. Not typically feeling, if ever at all, attraction for other people just made you feel like you were getting pressured into a game everyone else was playing. Except for you that is. 

It just wasn't your holiday, and that was fine, you just simply wished others would see it that way too. Instead of having to constantly be on edge if you said the wrong thing about not wanting the persistent reminder that you don't fit inside the box everyone else puts you in. 

It was a bummer, and it hurt quite a bit. Losing friendships and the likes in certain cases. Just because of the fact you didn't experience the world the way they did. 

But, you'd deal with it. Just like you've always done. 

If you could, that is. 

Unfortunately, your favorite coworker(s) had made it a bit difficult to keep your head down and avoid like you typically did. 

Valentine's was their favorite holiday—though, you think they said that with every holiday—and thus they had to go all out for it. 

Every inch of the Daycare was covered head to toe with decorations, streamers and paper hearts covering every surface. Instead of the Daycare theme, age appropriate love songs played through the speakers up above softly, adding to the overly love-filled atmosphere. 

For them, you were sure it was great, exactly the vision they had in mind. For you, it was just, too much. 

But the decorations and the music weren't the problem. Unfortunately, it was Sun and Moon themselves causing the 'issues' you were dealing with. 

All week long they'd been leaving little things for you to find throughout the play area. Little handmade cards with endearing notes. Paper roses folded neatly by your belongings. 

It tore you up inside, mainly because you knew what this all was leading up to, and you were almost dreading having to tell them. It wasn't that you didn't care for them. You really, truly did. A lot. So much. 

But not like that. Not at this point, that is. Sure, maybe it was possible, but at the current moment, the idea of such just made you feel, off. 

So when Sun came up to you near the middle of your shift, something hiding behind his back, you already had a guess as to what it was. 

Before he said anything, he seemed to pause, almost deflating upon getting closer to you. 

You speak first, trying to keep your tone light. "Everything alright, Sunny?"

"Of course, Sunbeam!" Still, he keeps his hands behind his back. "But, is everything alright with you?"

You nod with a smile. "Of course. I'm just a little tired is all."

"Oh... are you sure? You've seemed a bit, upset all week long. Would you... like to talk about it?"

Your brows raise, both in surprise and in fear that you'd been found out. "I, no, that's okay! It's not um, something I really want to talk about right now."

"Right. Of course." He steps back, then another, then turns around but manages to keep whatever he was holding hidden from you. "Well, enjoy your break, friend!" 

He walks off then, before you can stop him, and your heart sinks a bit. 

The rest of the day proves to be, incredibly stressful. The party for the kids goes great, but it leaves you with a terrible disaster to clean up. It sours your mood more than you expected, especially after finding the mess of glitter glue hiding underneath one of the tables, you spend nearly thirty minutes scrubbing on your hands and knees to get it cleaned up. And when you emerge you remember all the rest of the clean up you still have to do, stressing you out even further.

With a sigh and a stretch to crack your back, you trudge over to where the trash is and deposit the used paper towels into it. You turn around to get back to work, but are shocked to find Sun standing there, looking a bit cheered up compared to your last 'official' conversation earlier. 

"Hello Sunshine!" 

You smile, tired. "Hi, Sun. Need something?"

"It's not what I need, but rather, what you need, friend." He pokes your chest once, rays spinning. "I have a little surprise for you. If you'll accept." 

Your brow furrows. This seems a bit different than earlier, so you're curious. "Oh?"

"Yup! Now come on!" He takes both your hands and starts pulling you out of the Daycare, heading in the direction of the theater, you in tow. 

You don't protest physically, too tired and stressed—as you quickly realize—but do speak up about it. "Woah! What about cleanup?"

"Clean up can wait! You obviously don't feel well, and we need to fix that immediately!" Sun pushes open the theater doors with his back, leading you inside. "And Moon and I have just the thing for it."

After your eyes adjust to the lighting, you're surprised to see there's a film pulled up on the large screen, with a couple of beanbags and blankets piled near the middle of the room. There's a smell of popcorn in the air that makes your mouth water. 

Sun finally stops once you're over by the beanbags, pushing you to sit down in one, covering you with a blanket once you comply. He sets a bag of popcorn and a couple boxes of candies in your lap. When he's done he pats your head and sits down in a bean bag not too far from you. But you do note it's not his usual spot beside you, but you let it go as he claps his hands. 

His rays spin. "Ready to get started? This is just for you, but we went ahead and took the liberty of picking the first film."

"I, yeah, I guess so. Thank you guys, I uh, needed a break." You take a bite of popcorn and turn to look at the screen. "More than I expected—Is this 'Valentine's Day'?!" You almost choke from your laughter. 

"Of course! It seemed fitting, and the reviews we read were very passionate!"

You shake your head, settling in. "Passionate is the key word there, I think."

The film passes by quicker than you'd expect, chatting with Sun every so often to explain why the story makes you laugh so much, explaining what exactly a romcom is, and just in general decompressing from the day. 

They let you pick the next one—with Moon getting to be out to watch this time instead—and you choose another classic bad movie, 'Bride Wars' to keep the theme up. 

Again with Moon though, he keeps his distance from you, settling in a respectable few feet away. Which, you did appreciate in the beginning, after being overwhelmed with the amount of in your face love-dovey stuff the past several weeks. But now, you're feeling, lonely. 

About a quarter of the way into this movie, you decide to speak up, turning to your lunar companion. 

"Hey. What's going on with you guys today?" You ask, reaching a hand over to rest on his. 

Moon flinches, not making eye contact with you. "We're just, we thought, it doesn't matter. We don't want you to be uncomfortable with us, Star."

"Uncomfortable? With you?" You shake your head. "Never. I mean, yeah I was a little worried when—" You stop, realizing it's not helping as he shrinks in on himself. "I, let me explain, I guess."

Moon nods, and you sigh. 

"Romance, just, isn't my thing. Not usually, if ever. I just, I don't really get those feelings for other people. And when it gets constantly shoved down your throat, you start to realize how uncomfortable with it you actually are. Really uncomfortable. I just wanna be me and not feel like I have to be something I'm not, that I can't be." You shake your head again. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I can still feel attraction and the likes, and I, I care about you two a lot. Especially you two. But it's just, not like that? I want to be close with you, be around you all the time, I like your jokes, your teasing, talking to you, but the idea of romance, in general, just, gives me a bit of an ick sometimes, does that all make sense?" You lay back, running a hand through your hair. "I mean, I—I think I'm in love with you both, but not in the way that I have romantic feelings for you? Sorry this is a word vomit of an explanation I'm sorry—"

You feel arms wrap around you, pulling you up into a hug. 

Moon's voice is soft, just a murmur. "We're sorry."

"Moon, it's not on you—"

You can feel him shake his head against you. "Not that. We mean we're sorry you have to deal with that. It's not fair."

"Oh, yeah. I guess so."

He pulls back, hand resting on your cheek as he looks down at you. "We care about you too, a lot. It, doesn't have to be anything more than that. It's enough just to be able to say it. Does that make sense?"

"Y-yeah. It does. More than you know." You feel your face heat up, either from embarrassment or excitement at understanding. You bury your head against his chest. "And as for like, the gifts and stuff, that's still okay. They're still sweet, and they mean a lot. I promise."

Moon snickers. "Sounds like you just enjoy getting things."

"Not true! I really do like it! It's the thought that counts." You protest, now fully embarrassed. 

Moon hugs you a little tighter, humming. "I suppose it is."

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Thank you for the request @starspindle! It was interesting to tackle in that through writing I learned a bit about myself and my own indentity, plus i just enjoy writing hurt/comfort hehe ^^

My writing Masterpost

DCA Valentine's Masterpost

Tag list (if you would like added, simply say so!):

@scarletcowboy @beemyhuneybee @fishm0ther @deviouscrackers @elsajoyagent8 @luckyyyduckyyy @zenkaiankoku @jogimote @local-shrub @milosmantis @robinette-green @everlightreader @sinister-sincerely @starredeclipse @dangerva @juukai @crystalmagpie447 @mothgutz236 @lizyxml @divinit3a @amarynthian-chronicles @crystalfay @that-one-unknown-artist @rosescarletful @buzzybee3

[cesussy]

songs(well, mostly lyrics) that remind me of aventurine <3

JAKSJKAJAJA kinda nervous this is my first post on tumbrl so ahahjaus im so in love with aventurine i cant stop thinking about him lately💔 so some of these might sound delusional😭(but i like to think that i understood his character right so.. 😌) ALSO!! i doubt anyone is gonna see this but let me know if you'd like some other character from star rail<3 (or genshin, zzz etc, i have the games i like on my description profile, but you can just ask and if i know the character ill try my best to answer😌)

back to the topic<3(songs down bellow):

Million Dollar Man - Lana Del Rey

"You're screwed up and brilliant, look like a million dollar man.. so why is my heart broke?" - this song reminds me sm of himmm, the whole idea of a man who is so fascinating but so distant and cold at the same time, like the kind of person you can watch but never get too close

"You've got the world, but baby, at what price?" - i think this fits well with everything he had to endure only to work for the ipc.. you know, like, the idea of an illusion of freedom, he has money and all, but.. is he really, truly, free?:(

Big Spender - Peggy Lee

"The minute you walked in the joint, I could see you were a man of distinction.. A real big spender. Good lookin', so refined.." - ok i really have no explanation for this one, i think it speaks for itself😭

Luxurious - Gwen Stefani

"Working so hard every night and day and now we get the pay back, trying so hard, saving up the paper, now we get to lay back" - this one i feel it more, like, in terms of vibes, the whole sensual vibe, the song having the whole theme of working for money but it still has a rich vibe to it, you know?

Money Power Glory - Lana Del Rey

"I want money, power and glory, I want money and all your power, all your glory" - you'll see a lot of Lana, but I really think he fits with some songs. as for the lyrics, the song itself doesn't fit with his lore totally, but i like the chorus, i think it fits with WHY he likes the idea of having money, back then when he was a slave.. he meant nothing to the world. now that he has it, he is considered powerful.. glorious. i like to think that he understands this mentality, how much, unfortunately, money controls the world

"My life, it comprises of losses and wins and fails and falls" - i think this really works with his luck, how he always emerges victorious even after so many hardships he has to go through

Beneath the Mask - Lyn

"I'm a shapeshifter at Poe's masquerade, hiding both face and mind, all free for you to draw" - it feels a little silly to put a persona song on a star rail post😭 but i feel like beneath the mask works so well with characters that don't show their true self(haha did you get that) to the world, which works so much with the flirty, confident persona(im so funny) aventurine puts on, the "mask" he so created to conceal his feelings

Summertime Sadness - Lana Del Rey

"Think I'll miss you forever.. Like the stars miss the sun in the morning sky" - this line doesnt really work with him😭 but it plays in my mind once in a while while thinking of him<3 especially in the (!! spoiler for the 2.1 quest? !! tho i think everyone finished it already) quest where everyone thought he was dead

Numb Little Bug - Em Beihold

"Do you ever get a little bit tired of life? Like you're not really happy, but you don't wanna die? Like you're hanging by a thread, but you gotta survive 'cause you gotta survive.. Like your body's in the room, but you're not really there? Like you have empathy inside, but you don't really care?Like you're fresh out of love, but it's been in the air.. Am I past repair?" - i actually found this song on an edit on tiktok with him and i think it fits so insanely good with him. i recently saw(again, spoilers for 2.2 quest?😭) the messages he sent to the trailblazer after argenti rescued him and i noticed he told the trailblazer something like "but i survived, and im happy about that". i cant tell if he was being sincere or not, but id like to think that he indeed was happy to get the chance to keep going; i like to imagine that aventurine has an interesting view on death, he doesn't fear it and he probably wished more than once he could just vanish, but i think he accepted that he still has a long journey ahead of him

The Death of a Bachelor - Panic! At The Disco

"I'm walking the long road, watching the sky fall" "I'm cutting my mind off, feels like my heart is going to burst. Alone at a table for two, and I just wanna be served.." - the first line fits so well with whatever happened with him and acheron and that whole black nihility hole; as for the song itself? the lyrics dont exactly fit, but the whole vibe is so him<3

i also made a playlist with some other songs as well if youd like to check it out(not all fit lyrically, ive added some just for vibes), you can check it out here!! aaand let me know if you have some songs that remind you of him! id be happy to listen to them<3

[thanksbutno98]

Hello! I just binged all your Price content and wanted to say I really love how you write him and his family and when I reached the end of what you had so far for sure pouted for a minute.

I was wondering if you had an interest in doing some sort of Price Family vacation or even a family reunion? Jj, Evie, John and Indy as a family unit on vacation would be interesting to say the least 😂

Either way, love your writing, tysm for sharing your writing!!

Family Vacation

John Price x fem!reader

Authors note: No need to pout, I got you. This was so much fun to write. Thank you all for your wonderful ideas and requests!

Summary: After breaking a precious family heirloom John Price ropes his children into covering for him. With guilt weighing him down, John tries to pamper you on your family vacation to end up in your good graces.

Warning: Sexual themes, swearing, bribery, not edited.

——————

“OoooOoo, you’re in so much trouble.”

“Mums going to kill you.”

John was standing in your kitchen with both of his kids staring at him, pity dancing in their eyes. It was Thursday evening and you had to stay late at work. This meant leaving the kids and John to fend for themselves for dinner. John settled on some takeout since he wasn’t much of a cook.

While washing the dishes by hand after dinner the house became pandemonium. Jj and Evelyn were chasing each other around the kitchen island, fits of laughter and little playful shrieks echoing through the house. The little game of tag had the dog barking and John could barley think as the noise only got louder and louder.

John turned around in a fit of rage, ready to yell at his children to keep it down and stop messing with the dog. The swift movement and frying pan from breakfast that you left to soak in hand caused the damage. As John turned, the pan in his hand collided with the flower vase sitting next to the sink. He had placed it there so he could change out the water once he was done with the dishes.

The loud shatter of glass breaking was deafening as the vase connected with the tiled floor. Everyone in the room came to a halt, even Molly stopped barking. The unique ceramic was decimated, small shards strewn on the counter and floor. Its ornate design scattered and turned into dust. John was screwed. That was your late mothers flower vase, one of the few things of hers you had and John just destroyed it. He wasn’t sure he could have broken it worse if he had thrown it full force at a brick wall.

“Fuuuck.” John whispered to himself, his life flashing before his eyes. Then quickly shooing the dog away before she stepped on a shard and cut her paw. John told the kids to go take her for a walk around the yard then get ready for bed.

Jj was right you were going to kill him. It was a rare occurrence when you were angry and even rarer when you were reduced to yelling. But this, this was going to be a once in a lifetime kind of anger. John knew in that moment you were going to bite his head off. Hell, he should probably leave a note for Laswell that if anyone found his body buried in the backyard it was you who left him there.

You had purposefully kept this vase in your office in the basement so the children would never have the chance to break it. It was John’s idea to bring it out and put the bouquet of roses he got you in it. You warned him to be careful and he promised he would. John just wanted to do something sweet and romantic for you before you left for your holiday tomorrow morning. It would serve as a reminder to get you fresh flowers when he got back.

The vace being out on the kitchen counter had you in a sweeter mood than usual and sharing stories with your children about their grandmother. You had thanked John for taking it out. Telling him it made the house feel brighter. It also resulted in a mind melting blow job the previous night from how smitten it made you.

That was when John realized he could not tell you about this, it needed to wait. It would ruin your entire family holiday and he would be left with you giving him the silent treatment and probably sitting by yourself in the hotel room sulking. With a single breath to center himself John began to clean the mess. Putting the shattered ceramic pieces in a plastic bag and then hiding it in his office. By the time the mess was cleaned both Evelyn and Jj were in their pajamas and watching tv in your shared room.

“Can we be in here when you tell mummy?” Evelyn asked. She was laying on her stomach at the foot of the bed and kicking her feet in the air.

“You just want to see dad get in trouble.” Jj sniped. He was curled up under the covers on your side of the bed and playing with John’s phone.

“We are not telling your mother until after the trip.” John stood in front of the tv and gave his children a stern look. Motioning for Jj to put his phone down and pay attention.

His eyebrows were knit together and blue eyes fixed in a serious stare. John was reeling over this situation. He hated to admit it but he was scared of your reaction and he was hiding behind deceit to keep you from becoming upset with him. This was not going to be your normal annoyance with him. John knew you would cry your pretty eyes out and exile him to the couch for god knows how long. Maybe you would even say some harsh words you did not mean and call him an ‘asshole’ like you did that time he got into a bar fight.

“So we’re lying to her?” Jj asked. The idea of being dishonest clearly had the boy on edge.

“It’s not lying if we don’t tell her.” Evelyn looked back at Jj as if he was dumb. John sighed heavily. A feeling of guilt washing over him as he saw the anxiety etched on his sons face. Evelyns response wasn’t shocking considering she could be quite the trouble maker. She probably told herself that whenever she broke something and then hid it much like her father just had.

“Dad, I don’t want to lie to mum.” Jj was pleading, visibly uncomfortable.

“It’s not lying Jj. There’s a time and place to break bad news. If we do it now your mums whole holiday will be ruined. It’s best if we let her enjoy herself and tell her when we’re home.” John reasoned with his son. Jj stayed quiet and curled deeper into the covers. He didn’t like this one bit.

“What’s in it for us?” Evelyn asked, moving so she was now sitting up.

“What do you mean?” John’s eyes narrowed at his daughter. She was always a cunning girl but it was still surprising for John to feel like he was about to be blackmailed by a five year old.

“Mummy said lying is the worst and we’d never get in trouble if we tell her the truth. Soooo we’ll be in ginormous trouble if she finds out we didn’t tell her.” And there’s it was. The part of you that shined so boldly in your daughter. It was as if John was dealing with the immature version of you and just like you, Evelyn was too smart for her own good.

“I’ll give you five quid each.” John could not believe he was offering hush money to his children. But what other choice did he have?

“Twenty.” Evelyn shot back almost instantly.

“Absolutely not. Five, and that’s final.” The shock the appeared on John’s face was involuntary. He was in a shake down with his daughter and she looked determined to get every last penny from him.

“Ten, and you have to go on the water slides with us.” There was a pregnant pause as John and Evelyn stared each other down.

“Or I can just tell mummy.” She said oh so sweetly.

“Fine.” John grumbled reaching into his back pocket and taking out his wallet. He should have agreed to twenty. Handing Evelyn the money she smiled widely. John was not teaching his children the best lesson right now but he was at a loss.

“Thank you, daddy.” Evelyn snatched the money out of her fathers hand and booked it out of the room. She was dashing for her piggy bank loving the feeling of slipping more cash into it so she could save up for that Lego set you and John refused to buy.

“Here Jj.” John extended his hand attempting to give his son the cash.

“You can keep it.” Jj was avoiding his fathers gaze.

“You’re feeling that guilty already?” John asked.

God, John felt like such a prick. Jj was such a honest soul and John saw a lot of himself in his son. John hated breaking the rules growing up, his moral compass weighing heavy making deceit a quality he had to learn. Now he was teaching it to his own son. John was about to break and tell Jj it was fine and he was going to tell you when you got home.

“I don’t want money. I want the window seat on the plane and a nerf gun.” Turns out Jj was just like you too. Smart enough to wait for his sister to leave to start negotiating for something much more expensive. John stared at his son with a deadpan expression. How had things gotten so wildly out of control so fast.

“Your mum will freak out if I bring a toy gun in this house.” The words were even and Jj conceded. His father was right you would never allow that.

“Fine, window seat and I can have whatever junk food I want while we’re gone. And you have to say yes to everything mum wants to do.” John couldn’t argue with the latter. He should spoil you for the entirety of the trip since he had fumbled so badly.

“Deal. Jesus, you two are going to bleed me dry.” John grumbled. His hand coming to his face to pinch the bridge of his nose. The £10 note still in his hand.

“Why are you giving Jj ten quid?” John’s head snapped in the direction of your voice, surprised you were home earlier than expected. You were just walking up the stairs and giving John a quizzical look.

“For helping dad out with something.” Jj was quick to jump to his feet and snatch the money from his father. John was in disbelief he had just gotten played by both his children. Jj jumped off the bed and gave you a quick hug before he retreated into his bedroom.

“That was weird.” You turned to your husband as you entered your bedroom. Shutting the door and locking it so you could have some privacy while you changed out of your work attire.

“Yeah, it-“ John started only for you to silence him by raising a hand.

“I trust you. Today was hell at work so just lie to me and tell me everything was great here.” Well now John could reason with himself to not feel so guilty.

“Everything was great here.” John lied through his teeth.

“Thank you.” You smiled sweetly. Wrapping your arms around his v-shaped waist and resting your head agaisnt his burly toned chest. John arms wrapped around your shoulders pulling you flush against him.

“Think you could give me a little treat before bed? I could use some stress relief.” You said in a sweetly seductive tone. Perched on your tip toes you bit your lip as you gazed up at your incredibly handsome husband. John quirked an eyebrow a sly smirk spreading across his face at your naughty request.

“Yeah? Need my mouth that bad?” John flirted loving how you nodded eagerly for him.

——————

“No, you can’t have a donut for breakfast that’s so much sugar.” You were standing at the counter of a food stall ordering breakfast sandwiches for your family. The airport was bustling making things more stressful for you and your husband. Jj had just requested a bold choice of a strawberry frosted donut. You were in disbelief. It was as if your son forgot who you were for a second. Never had you allowed dessert for breakfast.

“Ah, let him have it. We’re on holiday.” John reasoned with you. The sharp glare you gave him had John regretting agreeing to let Jj have whatever junk food he wanted. Now this was going to pit John against you and you would have no idea why.

“Well, I guess your fathers right. Not like we do this often. Want a donut Evie?” The way you gave in had John sighing in relief. You wanted your kids to enjoy this holiday as much as possible and if that meant more sweets you were okay with it this once.

“Chocolate please!” Evelyn chimed.

“John? Blueberry or they have a cheesecake one.” You were pointing at the options waiting for John’s preference.

“Think I’ll pass today.” John grumbled. He was a bit sick to his stomach having just been deceitful. Normally he would have agreed with you but his hands were tied.

“You okay? I don’t think I’ve ever seen you turn down sweets.” You asked, placing the back of your hand on his forehead to check if he was running a temperature.

“Yeah, my stomachs a bit upset.” John lightly pushed your hand away. He was chalking up the indigestion to guilt. He had no problem lying by omission for the sake of his job but when it came to you it felt like he was betraying you in a way. You always trusted him so implicitly it felt horrible keeping you in the dark and having his children help.

“Okay, you’re loss.” You shrugged it off. Ordering a blueberry one just in case John changed his mind. He ended up eating it five minutes later which you weren’t surprised about.

You were beginning to become suspicious of your husband. John was a little more uptight than usual. Grumbling to himself while he went into full dad mode, ushering you all through the airport way earlier than you needed to be there. John wasn’t being his normal level of strict with the children allowing them to be more rambunctious than he liked.

What really gave it away was when he took the middle seat and gave Jj the window and Evelyn the isle. You told him you did not mind taking the middle so he could have the lone seat closer to the front of the plane. John refused giving you a peaceful plane ride while he was left to handle both children on his own. It also ensured they did not blab about the broken vase.

By the time the plane landed John was exhausted. He knew it was a handful to travel with children but you always made it look easy. Most times you took Evelyn and John took Jj and the flight went smoothly but booking seats did not go in your favor this time. Leaving one parent with both kids and the other by themself. Evelyn threw up half way through the flight, John was way to tall to be in the middle seat, Jj kept asking him to look at something on his tablet every five minutes, and the lady behind him kept nudging the back of his seat.

Once you four finally made it to the hotel Jj and Evelyn were bouncing off the walls. John had already yelled twice for them to stop screaming and running around which you then scolded him for losing his temper. John had busied himself with the luggage being too exhausted to deal with the chaos of his children. You could see he was about to lose it and start shouting again so you forced him to go get a drink at the bar downstairs. After about an hour John had cooled off and made his way back to your room to find both your children passed out in their bed that was adjacent to yours.

The hotel room was a standard room with two queen beds, a balcony, tv, table and chairs. Jj and Evelyn were still young enough to share a bed. It made John smile to see see Jj all tucked in nice and neat. Then to see little Evelyn sprawled out like a star fish and laying with her head by the foot of the bed and a leg hanging off the side. Quietly John grabbed her blanket that she slept with every night and draped it over her.

“They wouldn’t have been so crazy if we didn’t pump them full of sugar.” Your sweet voice came from the bathroom. John slipped in and shut the door behind him.

You were slightly bent over the counter just finishing up your nightly skin routine. John’s eyes were fixed on your bottom in nothing but your underwear, you had a tank top on, hair pulled back, and freshly showered. Catching eyes you were smiling sweetly at him a hint of mischief dancing in your eyes.

“Hm, don’t you look divine.” Johns strong arms looped around your waist as he began to place sloppy kisses down your neck. His thick facial hair tickling slightly and making you wriggle away. You could smell a hint of whiskey under the potent tobacco scent.

“Are you okay? You’ve been a bit off all day.” You asked, now turned and facing your husband. John stilled, feeling your eyes on him searching his face for the smallest tell.

“‘Course I am.” John mumbled. Giving you his best grin.

“I don’t believe you.” John felt hot under the collar watching you narrow your eyes up at him. Crossing your arms and popping one hip to the side you gave your husband an annoyed look.

“You don’t have to.” John grumbled his former arousal softening and replaced with guilt and defensiveness.

With an eye roll you dropped it. Moving the conversation to room service and contemplating if you two should try and watch a movie together after dinner. Both of you were relieved the kids had fallen asleep so early. The mention of food must have woken both your children because when you and John exited the bathroom they were both complaining about being starved.

The night only frustrated John more with Jj and you eating most of the chips that came with his burger; which annoyed him endlessly. John had asked you both if you wanted him to order a side of chips for you two to split. You said no you’d be fine then low and behold you ended up eating his. Evelyn was sweet enough to give John most of hers and cuddle up with him. Sitting on his lap while you and Jj played twenty questions and enjoying your dinner.

The children pleaded to watch Wall-e for the hundredth time before bed complaining that your tv show was boring. You and John sighed in defeat and gave in, deciding to watch jeopardy on his phone and keeping score. Evelyn and Jj fell asleep in between you two leaving little space in the bed but you were both too exhausted to fight it and move them to the other bed. John stretched his arm out under the pillows and you did the same. Holding hands and falling asleep with Evelyn and Jj tucked between the pair of you.

——————

“I need a break.” John was walking up to you in nothing but his charcoal grey swim trunks and faded bucket hat, he was completely soaked. Water dripping from the brim of his hat and landing on your bare legs as he moved around you. His muscular chest and the auburn hair the decorated his pectoral muscles trailed down underneath his swim trunks. John was quite the sight. Part of you wished it was just you two so you could drag him upstairs to your room and have some alone time.

It was day four of your trip at this all inclusive beach resort and John had been run ragged. You were feeling the most relaxed you had been since becoming a mom. John even treated you to a spa day yesterday and took the kids off your hands. It was the definition of a perfect vacation for you.

“Yeah, you haven’t sat still since we got here.” You chuckled. Placing your book mark in between the pages you snapped it shut.

“Is that for me?” John asked motioning to the margarita sitting on the small table in your cabana. He did not wait for your response and downed half of it in one go.

Taking the time to admire you, laid back in your little red bikini and your pretty painted nail grasping that old tattered book. It was your comfort book, one you could read and never got sick of. The paper back spine was bent from being folded so many times and the pages were stained brown from the time you spilled coffee on it in John’s old apartment. The book had stood the test of time and somehow you looked just as beautiful today as you did the first time John saw you reading it.

“Yeah, think I’m going to liquor you up today so you can have some adult fun.” You blushed under John’s wolfish gaze and patted the cushioned beach chair next to you. As John sat a load groan escaped his tired body as he sank into the soft fabric.

“I hated water slides as a kid. Never thought I’d have to do it as an adult.” John said with much more venom than he meant. He was having fun creating memories with his children but he needed a break.

The past three days had consisted of John going on almost every water slide a dozen times at Evelyns request. He was also doting on you and pampering you mainly out of guilt. Hoping his generosity now may soften the blow later when you found out about the broken vase. It left little time to spend with you but you did not mind one bit. Getting to lounge by the pool, read your book, you even got drunk by accident last night which never happened since you were such an involved mom.

“Why are you doing all the slides Evie asks you to do? I swear you’ve changed into a different person this trip.” You watched as John polished off the rest of his drink and set the empty glass back on the table.

“Just trying to give you as much time to relax as possible.” You knew John meant what he said but you wanted to press him a bit more.

“That’s it?” You asked with a quirked eyebrow.

“What else would it be?” John shrugged you off. Grabbing the menu from the table to see if anything caught his attention.

“Don’t know. Maybe breaking my mums vase.” You said in a even tone.

John froze at your words. Did he hear you right? His heart began to pound in his chest, palms becoming sweaty. You would never know he was starting to panic since he stayed so stoic and calm. Turning to look at you slowly John could see you staring back at him expectantly. Gulping down the rock in his throat he spoke. Preparing for you to unleash a rage he had only seen a handful of times.

“You know?” It came out as a choked whisper.

“I know everything, John. I’m your wife.” You were trying not to laugh and keep your husband on edge as long as possible. This was your way of sticking it to him for not only breaking the vase but involving your children in his little rouse.

“I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t want your holiday to be ruined and was planning on telling you when we got home.” John words were sincere. He really didn’t want your vacation to be ruined, he knew how much that vase meant to you.

“And you were going to do that by bribing the kids?” You asked with a tug of a smile.

“Didn’t have much choice.” John huffed out. He was a bit embarrassed and ashamed to be caught. This was only going to make things worse for him.

“Good.” You smiled.

“Jj tell you this morning? I knew the guilt would eat away at him.” John asked still waiting for you to scold him. He thought you would be so much angrier than this. Siting there tense and on guard John waited for your wrath.

“No, they both told me at the airport when you ran to the bathroom.” You laughed out.

“You’ve known for that long?” John snapped at you.

The deepness of his voice making you jump slightly. You had to stifle your laugh as to not make him more upset. John’s mind began to race. You and the children had pulled one over on him and he had not known until now. John was never going to tell a soul about this. He was a Captain in the military for Christ sake he should have realized; this was humiliating.

“Yup. They played you like a fiddle.” You started to quietly laugh seeing anger flash in John’s baby blues his mustache twitching slightly. You weren’t sure if he was mad at you or the kids but either way he did not have a leg to stand on. It was also amusing to see John’s blind spot and that was his children. He was so sharp and saw through deception easily but he was convinced his children were incapable of lying.

“And you let me be bullied into going on water slides and taking the kids for sweets whenever they asked.” John said through gritted teeth. Honestly he was more mad at himself.

“Yeah, I did. I thought it would do you some good.” You teased.

“You’re diabolical.” John was shaking his head back and forth. Leaning back in the beach chair John rubbed his hand over his facial hair thinking back to all the things his children conned him into.

“Well are you going to keep something like that from me again?” The tension was dying down as you and John fell back into your normalcy. Choosing to make light of the situation.

“If the kids aren’t involved, probably.” John chuckled out. His chest rumbling as he laughed a bit harder.

“I admire your honesty.” The pair of you found the humor in the situation. Teasing each other like you always did.

“Why aren’t you upset with me?” John asked. Reaching over and brushing your hair out of your face and behind your ear.

“I was for a minute and Im pretty sad that it’s broken. I needed to set an example for the kids so if they broke something they wouldn’t be scared to come tell me. It’s not like you did it on purpose. You were trying to do something sweet for me and Im not going to punish you for that.” You shrugged. It wasn’t worth it to you to yell and cry at John over a material item.

“Evie and Jj are lucky to have a mum like you. Im still sorry and will do anything to make it up to you.” John’s chest fluttered a bit. He was so in love with you and proud to call you his wife.

“I think we can call it even.” The smile you gave John was soft and sweet, much like your words.

“Even?” John asked a bit confused. A bashful look spread across your features as you geared up to tell John your own little lie by omission.

“Remember when your convertible wouldn’t start and the battery ended up being dead? I sorta left the head lights on after I took it out.” With a shy smile you gave John doe eyes. Attempting to look as sweet and innocent as possible.

“You drove it and never told me!?” John’s half shouted and then quieted off by the end. His voice had gotten so deep you knew he was pissed. No one was allowed to drive that car without his permission, it was his prized possession. A flash of rage sparked like lightening in his eyes as he sat up straight, hairy chest puffed out and large hands gripping the arm rest. You had promised to never drive it again after you ran into a pole back when you were dating.

“You broke my mums vase! That’s so much worse.” You shot back instantly. Deciding to keep it to yourself that you had taken it out about a dozen times. If he asked you would tell him. You watched as the gears turned in John’s head, deciding if he would be cross with you or not.

“Fine, we’re even.” John said with a huff. Leaning back in his chair and half pouting. You three were his one weakness and he was not about to ruin his own holiday by being cross with any of you.

“That’s what I thought.” You giggled. Reaching over and taking John’s hand he instinctually brought the back of your palm to his lips, placing a chaste kiss.

“Daddy! Let’s do the slide again.” Evelyn was dashing towards your shaded cabana.

“No running!” You scolded. You knew she was going to take a spill one of these times and you were not in the mood to have a screaming five year old with a scraped knee.

“No.” John sank farther into his chair, now completely lounging with his legs kicked out and head leaned back. He looked completely relaxed and at ease. It was definitely from getting that weight of dishonesty off his chest that finally allowed him to enjoy his holiday.

“You promised.” Evelyns eyes narrowed in a threatening way as she pointed straight at you. You couldn’t help but chuckle watching your daughter try and strong arm John.

“The jig is up Evie, your dad knows I know about the vase. He’s a free man.” You motioned with your head for her to run along but she was too stubborn for that.

“But, but, bu-“ Evelyn wiggled in place a large pout forming on her lips. If John had not been giving in to all her requests you knew that look would have worked.

“Go play with your brother.” John waved his hand in the air shooing her away. Evelyn did not bother arguing anymore but made a point to stomp all the way back to the kids zone where Jj was splashing around.

“If you want to get drunk and relax the rest of the day go for it. I’ve got the kids” You wanted John to start enjoying your holiday since it was half way over. He had been so sweet to you and the kids it was his turn to get what he wanted.

“Read my mind, darling. We should put them in that day camp tomorrow and have a day just you and me.” John’s head lulled to the side, ocean eyes scanning your body.

“Yes, we’ll have the room to ourselves too.” With a wink and a squeeze to John’s hand he perked up. Like a little boy who was told he could have ice ream before dinner.

“I’ll sign them up now. What do you want to drink while I’m up?” John stood as he spoke. Leaning down, his hand came and caught you by the back of the neck as he tugged you forward slightly so he could kiss you. His lips crashed into yours hard and for once there was no reservation for your public display of affection. No one would know or remember you two so John didn’t care.

“Ew!” Jj’s voice came from a few yards away. John pulled away only an inch to see his son fake gagging.

Taking his hat off his head he held it out slightly so it covered both your faces from view. Leaning in John kissed you again sweetly loving how his faded hat gave you a sliver of privacy so he could taste your cherry chapstick one more time.

~~~~~tag list~~~~~

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[sorchathered]

The Stakes are High, but this love is ours.

————————————————————————

Pairing- Jake “Hangman” Seresin x reader

Warnings - Language, Sexual themes

Summary - There’s a new analyst in town, no one can seem to get a read on her. What’s she hiding, and what do they have to do with Hangman?

———————————————————————

It’s been such a weird week. Everybody’s been stressed to the limit over the mission coming up, but then adding a new analyst to the fray just a few weeks before it begins throws a wrench into the dynamic. There’s nothing wrong with her, insanely beautiful in that southern belle kind of way, smart as a whip and quick with a comeback. She was definitely a good fit for this mission, where others in her field had been struggling to get the plans in order you’d found a solution almost instantly, making everyone breathe a little easier as they geared up for what was sure to be a rough one.

But Phoenix can’t help but notice something is off, Y/N won’t go out with the crew after work, and has somehow got North Island’s resident Ken doll so flustered he can’t seem to do anything but mope like a kicked puppy. He’s always been friendly, never interested in taking a girl home at night like Bradshaw or some of the other guys, so she always just chalked it up to him having someone back home. Normally she’d enjoy watching him verbally go toe to toe with someone and get his ass handed to him but honestly this was just sad. Lieutenant L/N was ruthless, no matter how much game Hangman had, she shot him down with a look and sent him on his way with his tail between his legs.

Today was no different, Mav decided another game of dog fight football would be good for morale and the two of you had been dancing around each other all day, an almost annoying amount of sexual tension was in the air and it was starting to get ridiculous.

Jogging back up to your beach chair to get some water, you realized Natasha was hot on your heels.

“Hey girl, need a drink? What’s up”

Phoenix knew she didn’t know the girl well but screw it, it couldn’t hurt to give a little push could it?

“You and Hangman need to just fuck and get this over with Y/N, poor guy might explode if you don’t just admit you like him too.”

You spray the water that you had just gulped into the sand, gasping for air and looking at her like she’d just grown three heads.

“I- what?!” You spluttered, you knew Phoenix wasn’t exactly subtle but Jesus.

“You guys have been doing this dance for weeks and I’m sure it’s been fun, trust me it’s always a blast to watch Seresin get knocked down a peg but the poor guy is so goo goo for you and you know you have him totally wrapped. He’s hot, you’re hot and you obviously like each other so just throw him a bone, might be fun!”

She throws her head back and laughs, clapping you on the shoulder before running back towards the guys leaving you bewildered in her wake.

Had it been that obvious that the two of you were into each other? Jake was a flirt for sure, just part of who he was but you definitely thought you’d been more discreet.

Hours go by and as the sun goes down everyone begins to pack it up, most of them heading to the Hard Deck for drinks or back home. You lingered a little in the parking lot letting everyone leave before you made your way to your car. Just as you are done throwing on your shorts and packing up your trunk you feel a pair of strong arms around your waist and relax into his touch. There he is, Jake Seresin, not his larger than life Hangman persona, just your Jake.

He leans in to press kisses to your neck, getting a little braver and handsy now that the lot is empty of his squad.

“You looked hot as hell today sugar, do you have any idea how hard it is to keep my hands off you when you look this good?” Running his hands up and down your sides you sigh and melt into him. He’s fully enveloped your senses now, makes it almost impossible to come up with a coherent thought that doesn’t include jumping his bones right here.

“I-well- you can’t always be the prettiest one in this relationship princess” you say, turning in his arms to face him and giving him the sloppiest lovedrunk look, it’s almost embarrassing how he renders you stupid even now.

He barks out a laugh and peppers kisses all over your cheeks, basking in the ability to just be Jake and Y/N after having to keep up the act at work.

“Soooo about that, we are gonna have to tell people soon baby, Phoenix corned me earlier and told me I should take pity on you and just take you to bed” you erupt in giggles at the look on his face, he ranges from shocked to embarrassed in a matter of seconds, pulling back a little to rub his hand over his face.

“Shit, and here I thought we were being subtle, but I guess having to stare at my wife at work all day and not being allowed to touch her like I want is making my self control non existent.” He looks at you sheepishly, it’s honorable at the effort he puts in to keep your relationship safe from the prying eyes of the navy, even though all he really wants is to be out in the open.

“We can always just drop the facade Jake, I know you try to keep it quiet for my sake and I know it’s been difficult. Trust me I find it harder and harder every day to keep work and home separate, especially seeing you in your flight suit every day.” You comically wiggle your eyebrows at him and smack his ass but he just shakes his head, knowing you’re trying to break the tension. You sigh and press a kiss to his cheek, “If it’s this hard for both of us to keep it a secret I can just lay it all out for the team. Honestly, you might as well let someone other than Javy know that the Hangman has a soul.”

He just laughs, he’s always wanted to protect your career, knows it’s hard enough as a woman in a military setting but being married to one of the best naval aviators in the country and also trying to make your own name in your field just makes it harder. Someone inevitably makes a comment about how you got where you are because of Jake and then you have to beg him to keep his nose clean, it was just easier when you were asked to consult on this mission for Top Gun (a super prestigious honor in itself), if you came to Fightertown as Y/N L/N, not Mrs. Jake Seresin.

“If you’re ready to take the leap baby you know I’ll follow your lead. I just want you to know how important you are to me no matter what you decide.”

You could swoon over this man, he never ceases to be full of love and support even when you know keeping your relationship private is a strain on him. Looking up at him with a big grin you lean in and kiss him.

“Come on lover, let’s get you home so I can fuck your brains out and get your head back in the game for this mission. Your poor team might go insane if they have to watch me fake hate you for one more minute” he follows you to your door, spinning you around to cage you in and initiate a kiss that quickly borders inappropriate before you smack at his chest and say something along the lines of keep it in your pants until we get home cowboy.

You hear him give a disgruntled comment as he heads to his side of the car after shutting your door, “I mean I think it’s hot, the whole pretending to hate me thing, kind of like role playing” and you cackle at how ridiculous he is, just as much of a horn dog for you as he was when you finally started dating near the end of his first big mission almost 5 years ago.

Back then he had just gotten his callsign, everyone thought he was a big bad asshole with a God complex but with you he was just your Jake. His mama had taught him to be nothing less than the perfect gentleman and he had you hooked by the end of your first date, unashamedly telling you after kissing you that he could do that for the rest of his life. Needless to say it didn’t take long before you had a ring on your finger, so wrapped up in love Javy calling you both vomit inducing on more than one occasion.

Monday comes all too soon, the mission now a week out, you’d spent the weekend effectively relaxing your husband by taking him apart bit by bit until he was fully back to his normal self. After breakfast that may or may not have resulted in you bent over the kitchen counter you finally pull into the parking lot with time to spare by Jake’s truck. Peeking around to see if anyone is looking you lean up to kiss him, grabbing a handful of his ass in his flight suit quickly dodging him and laughing before he can really get his hands on you.

“I’ll see you for dinner!” He says shaking his head and you wave wildly at him rushing through the hangar door.

What you don’t see is a gobsmacked Baby Bob Floyd parked on the other side of the lot, fumbling with his phone as he whispers “Omg wait until Phoenix hears this.”

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[bg3loredump]

Purge: a funny bit that turned into a legit tragedy

This is my Durge. Her name is Purge. She's based on the character Pearl from the movie Pearl. She's a barbarian, embrace durge, chaotic evil. This character honestly started out as a bit, but as I found out during her playthrough, the parallels between the stories of Pearl and the Dark Urge are very real and the resulting story was more tragic than I ever could have expected. So lemme break it all down.

I only knew snippets of the Dark Urge story when I thought of Purge as a concept - I really only knew that they were a Bhaalspawn and had seen their introduction monologue. The vibes of that monologue strongly reminded me of the movie Pearl; a killer who really doesn't want to be a killer, but something inside of them calls them to it against their will. Thus, the idea for Purge was born.

Lemme quickly sum up the movie for context: Pearl is an isolated farm girl that dreams of escaping her family's farm and dancing in the movies. She wants to be loved and adored by the masses like the "pretty girls in the pictures." Unfortunately, she's very obviously not OK in the head; she starts by killing small animals when she thinks no one is looking, and the more desperate she becomes to escape the farm and live out her dreams, the more she kills - and in her own words, the more "meaningful" her murders become. There's a FANTASTIC, chilling, extremely tense scene where her mother confronts her about "the things she does when she thinks no one is looking," basically doubling down on Pearl's deep dark fear that there is just something innately wrong with her and she'll never be adored in the way that she so desperately desires. And after she isn't selected at a dance audition that she sees as the one shot at her dreams, she crumbles and resigns herself to "making the best of what she has," which she expresses to her sister-in-law right before murdering her with an axe. There's a LOT more I could say about this movie but will hold back. I highly recommend watching it if you haven't already, it's truly a brilliant piece of art.

So, I bring up those scenes with the mom and the sister-in-law because they parallel the "nature vs. nurture" themes that are so prevalent in the Dark Urge's story; does this character - who was literally created for the sole purpose of being a murderer and being really, really good at it - resist and rise above what they were created to be? Or do they embrace the urge, resigning themselves to the purpose Bhaal intended for them? It's established pretty early on in the game that killing feels GREAT for Durge, so one could argue that embracing the urge is the "path of least resistance." But their introduction monologue and lines like "Was I sweet once?" make it clear that Durge does have a conscience and understands morality! And that's what makes the choice of embracing vs. resisting the urge a genuine conflict! 

So, with all that said, let's talk about Purge. For the first half of the game, she was a resist Durge. She wakes up only knowing two things about herself; that she's tortured by murderous impulses, and that she desperately wants to be loved. Everyone wants to be loved, but I mean she would do anything, for any reason, to be loved by anyone. Unfortunately, she's also prone to uncontrollable acts of murder and fits of rage which aren't exactly well-received by everyone. She kills a squirrel out of nowhere right in front of all her friends! That's not a good look! So the urges, even though they feel great to embrace (like she's "letting loose," if you will), are ultimately a source of great shame for her.

Given the context for this playthrough, I think the Alfira incident serendipitously works really well into Purge's story. Alfira is the epitome of what Purge wants to be, a beautiful and kind-hearted bard (SHE'S A STARRR!!!). So even though the in-game canon is that Durge kills Alfira unconsciously, it makes sense for Purge that her urges would subconsciously pick Alfira is a target. It sets up that Purge sees other people getting what she wants as her competition, and will literally kill to "win"... foreshadowing her eventual rivalry with Orin. Oh look, another parallel to the movie! Killing a sister figure! Who happens to be blonde! Wow!!!

I also went into the game knowing with absolute certainty that Purge would be romancing Wyll. First of all, he likes to dance. So does Pearl. Self-explanatory. But also, the parallels between Wyll and Pearl's husband Howard from the movie are UNCANNY. Both characters come from a well-off, high-status, comfortable background. Both have hearts of gold and make decisions that lead to them leaving their comfortable lives behind for what they think is the greater good. And both are incredibly forgiving of their batshit insane partners, willing to stick with them and make things work despite their many, MANY dangerous red flags (for context: Pearl is a prequel to a movie called X, in which Howard and Pearl are STILL TOGETHER 60 years later even though Howard KNOWS all that Pearl has done). Meanwhile, both Pearl and Purge are attracted to their partners because their comfortable, high status backgrounds promise the validation and lifestyle that they so desperately crave. Pearl and Purge also both know that their partners are objectively better people than them, and are grateful for their love despite feeling like they don't deserve it deep down. 

Despite all these parallels, I came up against one major contradiction when playing as a Pearl-inspired character in a Dnd world - the concept of killing, in a vacuum, isn't nearly as frowned upon in the Forgotten Realms as it is in 1910's America 😆. As a player,  I was not at all expecting the companions to be so forgiving and understanding when it comes to Durge. This makes me think that maybe in another life, Purge actually could have been a fully resist Durge because the acceptance and patience of Wyll and her companions would be enough to fulfill and heal her desperation for love. Sadly, this is not the way things went; it broke down completely the moment she learned that she was the child of Bhaal. After all, what could be more satisfying validation than having the blessing and approval of a literal god? As Bhaal's chosen, she would finally be the "star" she always dreamed of being! Furthermore, she could comfortably stop fighting the urges that caused her so much internal conflict, embracing who she was created to be; in her eyes, she would be "making the best of what she has," or rather, what she is. From there, Purge's fate was tragically sealed.

So obviously by Act 3 she has fully embraced the dark urge; she becomes an unholy assassin, kills Orin, becomes Bhaal's chosen, all much to the chagrin of Wyll (but he still proposes to her anyway 🤦‍♀️). Cut to the end; she betrays Orpheus and takes the Crown of Karsus in the name of Bhaal. Her first murder in her father's name is Wyll, who's final words are "I forgive you," because of course they are. Too forgiving for his own good, right up to the very end 😭.

The game ends with a vision of the future from Bhaal himself of Purge alone, the last being alive, surrounded by piles of bodies as far as the eye can see. The final line from the narrator in this scene shook me to my core:  "Then, and only then, father will be proud." Thus, the tragedy of Purge is this; she only wanted to be loved, and she was. She was loved by her companions, who expressed their faith in her on multiple occasions, encouraging her to rise above what she was made for and fight the urges. She was loved by Wyll, who wanted to share his life with her despite all she had done, and forgave her even when she had done the unforgivable. But instead she chased the love of her father, the glory and validation of being a god's chosen, killing all the people who already loved her in the process. Only to find out that Bhaal still won't extend the love she was chasing until all life is eradicated... presumably including her own.

(Thank you so much for reading! I appreciate you! 💜)

[super-marvel-dc]

Jason and Y/N have a total of 14 kids that Y/N adopted off the street (don't worry Y/N will probably find more to take in...). Jason and Y/N ended up having to buy a huge house with lots of bedrooms and a hundred acres of land in case someone *cough* Y/N *cough* decides to take in more kids, then they'll have to add on. At least there's plenty of room! There's plenty of trees and a big pond where the Todds spend their weekends together having a picnic as a big, dysfunctional, happy family. They also own three dogs, three cats, horses (again, thanks to Y/N because Jason is a sucker for them and them only. Whatever Y/N wants Y/N gets), chickens, cows, ducks, fish, koi fish in the pond, and two donkeys named Donkey and Dragon all thanks to one of their daughters who is obsessed with watching Shrek. Like so obsessed she dressed up as Fiona for five Halloweens straight and had multiple Shrek themed birthdays... Don't even think about washing her donkey plushie when she's awake of she will scream... It freaked out Jason for a while. Shopping? Oh, well, that's something itself. Thought it was hard shopping with Jason? Think again. It's much worse with Jason plus 14 kids and they all want McDonald's on the way home. Before you go asking how the Todds get to the store with 14 kids in a normal truck/car, they don't, they drive a school bus Y/N "found" one day while out and about. They still have their sports bikes and vehicles they love so much, but when it's family shopping day it's the bus. Dinner? Everyone is helping out one way or another. It's so chaotic, but Jason and Y/N wouldn't have it any other way. Everyone at their kids school knows not to mess with them because they have crazy—but awesome—parents. Alex is the only one that is deaf so he is homeschooled, and everyone learned sign language just for him. The first time everyone signed the whole happy birthday song he had tears in his eyes and the biggest smile on his face. Not picking favorites or anything but he's definitely a Y/N's little boy. Monday night is movie night and they have to keep track on who's turn it is to pick out a movie or world war III breaks out, and it ain't pretty. Jason stopped buying nice vases after those few times they didn't keep track... Sunday is date night for Jason and Y/N, and nothing will interfere with it because Jason will throw a fit (unless it was an emergency). No doubt you'll find Maggie cuddled between her parents when it's thundering outside, her little Robin teddy bear held tightly in her arms as she snores peacefully. Snow days are perfect, everyone outside playing in the snow (playing a game of snowball fights that tend to get out of hand) and drinking hot chocolate afterwards, wrapped up in blankets while sitting around the fireplace. Jason scolding his kids after they snuck a raccoon in the house without his permission all while Y/N grins sheepishly at Jason as they hold the hands of twins who both have matching smiles on their little faces, both missing a front tooth, and Jason sighing, shaking his head with a small smile on his lips thinking to himself how he got so lucky to have Y/N and his big family he wouldn't give up for the world.

Please, do not steal my work

[twosides--samecoin]

Working on my in-game photography and fic every day, even if it's only research or a few words here and there. I'm very happy with my artistic growth this year.

The healthiest mindset I can come up with is that I'm in competition with myself. My opponent in the ring is my own limits and imagination - it's up to me to push myself to go bigger and better and learn something new. Nobody can wind up & land my haymakers for me. I have to be my own mentor, my own beta reader, my own biggest fan, my own clique, my own critic.

I can't appeal to everyone (and have had to suppress the want to prove myself; someone determined to keep their nose turned up is the ultimate carrot on the end of the validation stick), but I can certainly appeal to myself, even though I sit in a Venn diagram of self-carved niches. I don't fit in with screen archery tropes or fanfic expectations. I haven't yet found a beta reader/editor who's able to give the eviscerating critique I'm after (beta reading/editing as I understand it is more than "thumbs up no typos!! oooh fun scene!!"). Hell, fanfic is a tough hobby and can be an isolating culture - you'll have silent readers who love your work but are afraid of commenting, people who withhold kudos until the end in case you write something problematic and very opinionated readers who post about how they want/don't want writers to do certain things or tag a certain way. More private Discord cliques pop up as public fandom continues to fragment.

I can't control a lot that makes me anxious about fandom and being social on the internet, like whether or not I'm being iced out by a stranger or whether my stuff just never graces their feed. I worry all the time and self cringe at moments where I misread social cues/tone. Somehow we're on the "write a lot of words and we're accepting toward neurodivergence" website but it's difficult to connect with people authentically and convey what you really think. It's difficult feeling like I am always on the outskirts of the fandom, and have felt that way since I joined. It's been especially hard this year because my support system has fluctuated dramatically since moving to the USA.

I can only focus on my own art. Not fitting in, being too weird even for the weird people and going my own path is the story of my life. If no one gives you your flowers, you can always grow your own.

I think saying, "Fuck it, I'm done trying to impress others, I'm just gonna make the art & stories I wish to see" is paying off - I'm working on some portraits and visual storytelling for an FO4 modder. I'm gonna help evoke Emotions and Themes!! Plus I have my own mod shenanigans to tinker with. And the ficversary is coming up! ٩(ˊᗜˋ*)و ♡

Anyway nobody wants to hear me soapbox, so-

[enter-the-phantom]

Theory: the full version of the Psych theme indirectly mentions every character in the main cast and is about all of them as a unit, told from Shawn’s perspective.

“In between the lines there’s a lot of obscurity, I’m not inclined to resign to maturity….”

Shawn, obviously. Self explanatory, but it matters that he starts the song since the rest is told from his perspective.

“In the realm of compliments there isn’t any higher than a fabricated misdirection crafted by a liar…”

Juliet. Because of her father, Jules is especially sensitive to being lied to and needs to be able to have absolute trust. This puts Shawn in an almost impossible position, since he meets her after his initial lie and can’t win either way. To his mind, continuing to lie to Juliet is kinder than telling her the truth and causing her further trauma by once again breaking her trust in someone she loves. He also says multiple times that he doesn’t view what he’s doing as outright lying, simply misdirecting the source of his insight.

“You think you hate all that you love, acting so surprised when it fits you like a glove…”

Gus. Something I always found interesting about Gus is that he begins the story as the straight man, acting frustrated, embarrassed, or flat-out annoyed by Shawn’s behavior and refusal to take most things seriously. But as the series progresses, Gus changes considerably, matching and sometimes even exceeding Shawn’s level of chaos. But the signs were always there—Gus leaving a steady and respectable profession to chase murderers with Shawn, covering up for his lie (often in spontaneously strange ways that match Shawn’s energy and show Gus’s ability to be just as unhinged), and is shown to have the same “immature” interests and personality quirks as Shawn does. Gus was always on Shawn’s level, he just needed to be coaxed out of his own head.

“You want to find the answers and offer a solution, but everyone has got a sense of healthy disillusion…”

Lassiter. Lassie is the most serious member of the cast (on the surface, anyway), and the one who takes his job and role to often extreme degrees. He’s a strict rule-follower, but there are often times when those rules get in the way of his own personal code of honor or ethics and he’s fine with breaking them. Lassie is the one most suspicious of Shawn, but his attempts to expose the fraud gradually lose steam as he realizes how much of a net positive Shawn actually is. While his disillusionment with the black-and-white moral code he’s been taught to uphold is a quiet one, it shows in his actions toward and eventual deep friendship with Shawn and Gus.

“If it’s a game they want to play, you better load the dice cause they’ll do it anyway…”

Chief Vick and Henry. They’re called out in the same line because they’re the characters who are not only most alike but who serve the most similar role in Shawn’s story. It’s made fairly obvious that Vick does not believe in Shawn’s abilities but knows that he’s a good detective, and is willing to overlook his obvious lie for the greater good. Henry of course knows Shawn is lying because he taught Shawn everything he knows. But like Vick, he never outs him as a fraud or even attempts to he realizes that not only can he not stop his son from doing whatever he wants, he’d only be causing more harm by doing so. Both Henry and Vick help Shawn in his lie because there’s not a whole lot of other options, but also because deep down, they ultimately believe it’s the right thing to do.

That’s all, I won’t be taking criticism ✌🏻

[mononokecrossing]

🪿 👒 🧺 🍃 🌾

𝑑 𝑟 𝑒 𝑎 𝑚 𝑖 𝑛 𝑔 𝑜 𝑓…𝐅 𝐢 𝐨 𝐫 𝐞 𝐥 𝐥 𝐚 | 004

no matter what i do, i feel like i am absolutely not going to be able to do this tour justice, this is literally one of the most gorgeous islands i’ve ever visited via dream. the ten images i could pick here don’t do the island justice at all. i’ll be uploading a tonnn more over on my Pinterest, but let’s get started with the description and my time on fiorella.

we’ve got our rep mable, molly, joey, deirdre, alice, ellie, fauna, ione, penelope, beau, blaire as residents and all resident homes are completely redesigned! i’ll get more into them and how stunning they are, but we’re met with quite a few gifts right off resident services! as per mable’s instagram post, you can find these to the right of resident services, but to get to the airport to start your tour, you’re going to want to head down and left. definitely start there because the entrance is so pretty. you’re met with some simpler terraforming, covered with florals and that’s a theme over the whole island. there are flowers absolutely everywhere.

something i always worry about is over doing the florals, picking too many varieties, too many colors, too many types but fiorella’s floralscape is just perfect. i love the blend of the different types, i love the pinks and blues and purples and whites, we really see a lot of what the game has to offer with them! normally i stick to maybe one or two different styles but i love the use of so many. it’s done absolutely beautifully. my pathway took me from the entrance, around the left side of the island, wrapping all the way to the top, slowly snaking my way down and to the right. i really did not want to miss a single thing.

but, like i was saying, all of the villager homes have been redone. this is something i’m so envious of, this first photo below shows fauna & blaire’s homes, and they’ve been redone to fit the island of fiorella so well. i’m loving the cream tones, the blue doors, even the bridge moment out front-which is just decor. i love that so much.

i pictured alice’s and molly’s interiors because i was able to snap a few photos of them, i wasn’t able to visit everyone, some residents were out wandering but literally look how pretty they are. they’re giving grandma, they’re giving cottagecore, they’re so dreamy, it’s somewhere i’d imagine like a little cottage out in the countryside somewhere. beautifully executed. as with everyone’s homes who i was able to visit.

mable got so creative with absolutely every inch of this island. i found myself literally in awe of every turn, every new area, even the filler decor areas fit in with her theme so well, literally only aiding in the flow of her island. one of my favorite parts of her island was the hop spots. i love a good hop spot, she had multiple places where she utilized them instead of maybe a bridge or terraforming and nothing would have fit better.

multiple different “neighborhoods” really showed off the skills mable has with not only decorative areas, but yards. keeping the flow between homes, making them really fit together, so everyone had a space while remaining “on the island” and not straying from her theme. i find a lot of inspiration where villager yards are fit more towards their personalities and mable truly makes it feel like THEY are living on HER island, not that their homes just happen to be plopped down there.

i was truly blown away, as i keep saying, i will never stop saying it because it really is just that mind blowing to me that we play the same game. i don’t know if you guys feel that was sometimes, but i definitely do.

a huge thank you to mable for being such an amazing part of to community, i loved touring and i’ll definitely be taking some inspiration for future builds and islands from you. i cannot wait to see what your future plans hold, but you definitely have a lot to live up to!

if you haven’t yet, PLEASE go check out, follow, support this amazing creator over on instagram. her page can be found linked here.

𝐜 𝐮 𝐫 𝐫 𝐞 𝐧 𝐭 𝐥 𝐲 𝐝 𝐫 𝐞 𝐚 𝐦 𝐢 𝐧 𝐠 𝐨 𝐟 | fiorella | DA-6475-2469-4982

𝐩 𝐫 𝐞 𝐬 𝐞 𝐭 | presets currently are not available, all personally made. as of right now, i don’t have plans on releasing them! a lot of the time, my edits are based on the island i’m on, and the lighting of the season 👒🌾

𝐝 𝐞 𝐬 𝐢 𝐠 𝐧 𝐜 𝐨 𝐝 𝐞 𝐬 / 𝐜 𝐫 𝐞 𝐚 𝐭 𝐨 𝐫 𝐬

👒 a few codes are available via highlight linked here

𝑖𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝒑𝒐𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑎 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑑 𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑, 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠, 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛𝑦 𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑐𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑚𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑖𝑠𝑙𝑎𝑛𝑑.

[musings-of-a-rose]

For the "Leave the first sentence of a fic in my askbox" game:

I thought I knew what love was, but then I met him.

The Meaning of Love

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x f!reader

Word Count: 1026

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!

❤If you enjoy the fic, please consider giving me a warm beverage! (It is not required in any way!)

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**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Bucky Barnes Masterlist

Life comes with expectations. Everyone told me to go to college, get a degree, find a nice man, get married, start a family, grow old together. I intended to do just that, sort of floating through life, not unhappy but not entirely happy either. Like I hadn’t found the exact fit. 

Then I met Jeremy and my life became brighter. We met my senior year of college, literally bumping into each other in the bookstore on campus. He’d spilled coffee all down my front and I laughed, as I’d had to change my shirt earlier that day for doing the exact same thing to myself. He was studying business, his days spent mostly in the library with his nose buried in books or online, trying to keep up with the latest business trends. I was majoring in elementary education with a minor in creative writing, so I definitely spent my fair share in the library too. 

Wherever we went, we had a good time. Jeremy was respectful and kind to me, always making sure I ate, knowing that often I’d forget to. We were together about 6 months before confessing our love for one another, and at a year, he asked me to move in with him. We were well on our way to finishing the typical expectations. Everyone kept asking me if he’d popped the question or when he was going to put a ring on it. We talked about marriage and it was something we were both interested in. It was the normal flow of life.

What no one expected was for me to suddenly gain powers, become what people call an inhuman. 

It happened randomly one day. I was out for a run when suddenly, I tripped. But instead of slamming my palms into the ground, it cracked beneath me, ripples of concrete fanning out from where my palms hovered above the ground. I scrambled back and landed on my ass, scooting backwards from the partially sunken sidewalk. My breath shaking, I look at my hands - not a mark on them. It was probably nothing. A coincidence. But what else could do this?

I called Jeremy as I walked home quickly, asking him what could have caused the sidewalk to crack like that. Of course he was quick to tell me to sue the county, that the sidewalk was dangerous and could’ve seriously injured me. That was just the way he was.

I got home and took a shower, letting the hot water cascade over my shoulders, willing them to relax as I looked down at my palms again. I was so focused on what I was doing, I didn’t hear Jeremy come in. When he touched my shoulder I jumped, my hands coming up to shield myself. But then Jeremy flew back against the door, his back nearly leaving an imprint in the shape of him. 

“I’m so sorry!” I started to cry, looking down at my palms and back at Jeremy. “I don’t know what’s happening to me!”

“Y-you did this?” He choked out, staring at me.

I nod. “I thought the sidewalk was random but this? I don’t…I don’t know what’s happening to me.”

He started to stand up and I took a step towards him, but he threw his hands up, fear flooding his eyes.

“Stay back!”

I stopped. “Jeremy? What..what do you mean?”

His hand scrambles for the door handle, hand scraping against the wood. “Don’t come any closer!”

“Jer..it’s me. I just..I don’t know what’s happening. I need help.” I take another step but he finds the handle and turns it, running out the door but not before he looks at me, fear and anger in his gaze.

“Get away from me, you freak!”

—----

That was 10 years ago. I never saw Jeremy again after that night and I rarely dated, never trusting anyone fully. If Jeremy could be so in love with me and leave me in an instant, how could I ever trust again?

I never went into teaching. No one wanted an inhuman teaching their kids. I did discover more about myself, what it meant to be an inhuman. Someone with powers. But I never trusted anyone. 

Then Clint Barton found me, alone and living in my car. He offered me his hand and told me to come with him, that I would be more than welcome at the Avenger compound. Unfortunately, people there still walked on eggshells around me, never sure if I’d “go off”. Then one day, a firm knock raps on my door and I answer it, breath catching in my throat at the most beautiful, troubled man I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Bucky Barnes, aka The Winter Soldier.

He looked like he was bracing for the worst, for my eyes to go wide and to retreat back into my room. But it was very much the opposite, my curious eyes tracing down his metal arm and landing on the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Clint told me you needed training?”

“Oh. Uh I guess so?”

“Come on.”

Bucky trained me how to control my powers, using the skills he learned since getting rid of the brainwashing Hydra had put there. He taught me how to use my powers for my own self, using them to protect others. But he also taught me that in my solace, in others fear of me, fear of myself, of my own power, that I was not alone. He had been through the same thing and was still battling it himself. We eventually found ourselves pressed together, my legs and heart opening to accept him, all of him, as he whispered praises and love in my ear, our bodies melting together.

I thought I knew what love was, but then I met him. Bucky was the missing piece of my life that I had been waiting for. He sees me, loves me for me, isn’t afraid of me. And all of that love and adoration is reflected back at him through my eyes. I can’t imagine my life without him and I know I’ll follow him past the end of the line. 

—----

General Taglist:

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[the-broken-truth]

Missing Piece - Yandere Leona Kingscholar [Part 2]

Summary: Leona closed the business partnership deal with the new company and learned a few new things in the process. Now, he can focus on more important matters.

Broken (Pulling the shirt collar while blushing under her mask): There might be some language in this one that is not something I would usually write, but it fits the theme, so I will wear the Hat of Shame later. Now, let the words weave together.

Tag-List: @vee-love

Leona stood in the middle of the COO's Office with his hands in his pockets while he wanted for her to arrive; the receptionist told him that he was a few minutes early and the COO was currently taking a call with her mother - The CEO of United Industries. United Industries used to be a simple start-up company a few years ago but their message and motto, coupled with their drive to get things done with swiftness and certainty made them liked by everyone and businesses started signing up with them left and right; Leona hated to admit it, but this company radiated an aura that was more peaceful than his Father's Company.

He passed by the break room while being led to the COO's Office and caught a glimpse of it; it was fully furnished with everything a break room needed and even more. There was even a flat-screen television and 2 of the workers - a Wolf Beastman & a Human Woman - were playing some kind of video game while two others were talking between the vending machines, one containing snacks while the other contained drinks, however, they didn't charge money; a simple swipe of an Employee or Guest ID Card allowed anyone to get their treats.

He just stood there looking at the ground, calm upon his face but a storm of emotions dancing in his emerald green eyes. After seven years, he found her again; the one who had consumed his very thoughts since the moment he met her at the festival. Yuu was his world - the only person who understood him and his desires without judging him about them; he wanted her forever but he had to go and mess everything up by telling her to get rid of the symbol of their unity; the child that would grow into the Young Leonis. Leona cracked a smile when a thought crossed his mind.

'Leonis... She wanted to give him my name but made it unique; just like he is. He looks just like me with his mother's eyes and kind nature. My boy...' His hand reached up and grabbed the side of his head gently as he envisioned himself holding Leonis in his arms with Yuu by his side as the 3 of them took a family photo that would be converted into a grand painting to hang in the Kingscholar Estate. That's when the thoughts came back and started to taint his fantasy.

He remembered when Yuu texted him all those years ago and told him that her child would have no knowledge of Leona or his ties to the illustrious Kingscholar Family; which meant that Leonis had no idea that he was a rightful heir to the Kingscholar Family. The anger within Leona kicked up again when he realized that his son - his one and only son - had been robbed of the life he was meant to have as a member of the Kingscholar Bloodline.

He was meant to be draped in silks and sleep under blankets with thousand thread counts.

He should be dining on the finest meats and drinking the purest of juices for breakfast.

He should have been driven around and defended by the best guard while he attended the best possible schools!

He should have been decorated with the finest gems - a crown fit for a prince. He was a Prince!

Leona exhaled as the thoughts slowed down, he lowed his hand when he realized a very critical point, 'I was one the who robbed him of the life he was meant to have.'. He closed his eyes and hung his head in shame before inhaling through his nose and exhaling through his mouth, he opened his eyes and started looking around the office when his green eyes landed on something on the wall behind the COO's Desk.

5 Large Images were hanging on the wall by 4 large embedded nails, and 4 smaller squares were surrounded by a larger square in the center. Leona walked closer to the image without crossing the desk and his eyes widened: He saw Leonis & Yuu in the images taken at different times.

In the upper left corner, there are two people - Leonis and Yuu. The picture seems to have been taken at a party location, as the room is decorated for some kind of celebration. They are holding a large Vanilla Sheet Cake with rainbow sprinkles scattered all over it. Some words are written in blue icing, but it's not clear what they say from the angle of the photo. However, the large candle in the shape of the number 5 placed in the center of the cake suggests that it's Leonis' 5th birthday party. As Leona looks at his son's face in the picture, he is saddened by the fact that he couldn't be there for any of his birthday parties. Leonis looks happy with a wide smile on his face, which breaks his heart.

In the lower left was a single image of Leonis in some kind of Dojo, dressed in a white karate gi with his long hair tied in a back ponytail, his blue eyes narrowed in focus, his lion ears narrowed back, and a fist thrust out as he stood in perfect form. From what Leona could gather, this image was of Leonis' First Ever Karate Class judging by the white belt tied around his waist. Leona smiled at the sight and thought of his son taking up fighting styles as a hobby; the Kingscholar Male smiled at his son's visage in the photo.

The picture in the lower right was of Leonis and Yuu in the kitchen of some house; their house, Leona hoped. They were wearing aprons and their faces were covered in flour along with smiles on their faces as they were rolling out fresh dough with rolling pins; were they making pizza or cookies? What season was this taken in? Could they be making Christmas Cookies?

'Yuu still makes cookies? I love cookies. Now I want cookies. There's a store down the street, maybe I can get some.' Leona was thinking for a while before he shook his head, 'No, it won't taste the same. I want Yuu's Cookies.'.

In the upper right corner, there was a man carrying Leonis on his shoulders. This man had black hair with silver on the sides and blue eyes like Yuu's, but his skin was slightly darker. He appeared to be strong and muscular, with two silver dog tags around his neck shining in the sunlight. The tight black shirt he was wearing showed off his muscles, indicating that he was a man of action. Leona remembered Yuu telling him about her father's military background. Leona looked at the man holding his grandson with a look of pride on his face and felt irritated. That was the look that should only be reserved for him as Leonis was his son, his pride and joy. Despite Leonis being that man's grandson, Leona was eager to have his own son soon.

It was the picture in the center that really broke Leona's Heart. It was the day Leonis was born. Yuu sat in the middle of a hospital bed with a small bundle in her arms; that bundle was the newborn Leonis with his eyes closed, very little hair that poked from under the blue blanket he was wrapped up with and his small ears resting on the top of his head as he slept peacefully. Around the newborn and new mother were surrounded by people - people that Leona didn't know; complete strangers in Leona's eyes but he understood that these people were important to Yuu and he was not there at the moment. He lowered his gaze to the nameplate under the central image and his fist balled up as his eyes narrowed.

Leonis Sato - Lion Strength of the Sato Family

Sato?

Sato?!

He is a Kingscholar Heir!

Leona's teeth locked in a snarl as he looked at the nameplate; he wanted to reach and scratch out the surname before engraving his name over the ruin. Leonis was his son, his flesh and blood; his only heir. Just like Yuu, she was destined to be his from the first moment; he would dream about her taking his last name and becoming one with him entirely. Leona was drifting off into his fantasy world when the door opened and he looked over his shoulder, coming face-to-face with the COO of United Industries.

"Hello, Mr. Kingscholar. Thank you for arriving for our meeting." She held her hand out to him, "I am Marianna Walker - The COO of United Industries."

"Leona Kingscholar - President of Kingscholar Incorparated. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Walker." Leona said before shaking her hand with a firm hand.

"Indeed. I noticed you looking at the pictures I have on my wall; nine pictures, don't you think?" Marianna asked as she looked over at the images with a smile on her face.

"I was actually more interested in the picture frame - I never saw a shape like that, however, the pictures are nice as well. Relatives of yours?" Leona asked; he had to play his cards right to find out just how the COO knew his son and future wife but he couldn't risk her knowing that he was Leonis' Biological Family; there were too many Madols riding on this deal.

"I suppose you can say that! The boy is my God-Nephew: Leonis! The woman with him is his mother and my God-Sister: Yuu. That little boy is the light of all of our lives and I love watching him grow up." Marianna explained; Leona wanted to glare at her, but he kept a smile on his face. "Oh, dear! We are getting side-tracked! I'm sure you are very busy on this day; let us get on with our meeting! Do you have the contract?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Leona said as he reached into the satchel and withdrew the folder that contained the contact; while Marianna was reading the contract, Leona kept looking at the images behind her head. He needed to get his hands on some pictures; he did have some empty frames he never got around to using.

[After The Meeting (I'm Too Lazy To Write The Meeting)]

"Thank you for your time, Ms. Walker; thank you for agreeing to do business with us. We look forward to future projects." Leona said as he started walking to the door.

"To you as well, Mr. Kingscholar! Have a pleasant day!" Marianna waved him goodbye as he walked out of the office and left the business building. Marianna smiled at her job before her personal phone started ringing, she pulled it out and smiled at the contact before answering her phone before putting it to her ear.

"Hey! What's going on?" Marianna asked.

[...]

"Yeah, I just got done with the meeting! We signed another deal with a major corporation! Things are really looking up for us! I'm so glad the meeting is over, that guy was really intimidating even though he was so kind." Marianna smiled.

[...]

"Yeah! When you are sitting across from a Freaking Lion Beastman from a powerful family like the Kingscholars with nothing but a desk between the two of you, you tend to get the shivers." Marianna said.

[...]

"His name? I believe it was Leona Kingscholar - He's the President of his father's company. Why do you ask? Do you happen to know him?" Marianna said.

[...]

"You went to school with him? Wait, why do you sound so pissed off right now?" Marianna asked.

[...]

"He what?!" Marianna yells before exhaling, "I need the whole story. NOW!"

[With Leona]

"Here is your order, Sir." The barista said as she handed the coffee to Leona.

"Thank you." Leona pulled out his wallet and placed a generous amount of madols into the tip jar before taking his coffee and going to go sit in a booth in a quick corner of the cafe. He looked at the coffee before he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone, he dialed a number and placed the phone to his ear. The call was connected on the 3rd ring.

[Hello?]

"It's me." Leona said.

[Kingscholar? It's been a long time since I've heard your voice.]

"I usually wouldn't, however, I require your services. I need someone discreet and accurate to do a delicate task and you were the first person I thought about." Leona said.

[At least you know greatness when you see it. What's the job, Kingscholar?]

"I found her. After all this time, I finally found her, and I need to collect as much information as I possibly can about her." Leona said.

[Her? Wait, are you talking about Yuu? You found her after all these years?!"]

"Yes, and she wasn't alone." Leona said.

[What? Did she get married?]

"No, she's currently unwed but that is going to change in the future. When I said that she wasn't alone, I was talking about her son. My son. Our son." Leona said.

[What?! She had the kid?! She had a son?! Whoa, I guess that means Cheka has a cousin now! Have you told your family yet?"]

"No, I need to make sure I have what belongs to be back before I even think about bringing them around the rest of the pride." Leona growled.

[Oh... So, what do you need from me?]

"Information. Everything you can find. I want to know where they live, where Leonis goes to school, where Yuu works, who she hangs out with, who my son's friends and teachers are, any possible events or activities he participates in, the location of the Sato Family house, as well as the location of Marianna Walker - she's Yuu's God-Sister and Leonis' God-Aunt. I need everything you can find and I need it as soon as possible." Leona stated his demands.

[You're asking for a lot, Kingscholar.]

"This means a lot to me. I'll pay whatever you want, just do all that you can to get me the information you can get your hands on." Leona said.

[Alright, fine. Give me some time and I will call when have everything for the presentation. Talk to you later, Kingscholar.]

[Call Disconects]

Leona pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at the background of his phone - a picture of himself and Yuu when they first started dating. A smile crept along his face.

"We'll be together again. All 3 of us. I let you both go once before... I will not make that same mistake again." Leona swore as he looked at the photo before sipping his coffee and leaning back in his chair, "Yuu makes it better."

[END]