#her husband just retired to be an old man and she took his job

[airoarts]

Leader and deputy

[Image description: a digital painting of Squirrelstar and Ivypool from Warriors. Squirrelstar is a small dark red cat with green eyes, standing in front of the much taller Ivypool, a gray tabby-and-white cat with blue eyes and many battle scars. The background is dark blue. end ID]

[xoxojuyo]

Nanny | jjk (m)

✦ summary: you take a babysitting job for the wealthy Jeon family, one night you get to see Mr. Jeon in the kitchen, finding him much more attractive in person than in photos. Despite his seemingly disinterest in you, he comes to you one night, summoning you to his studio.

✦rating: 18+ MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

✦ pairing: dilf!Jungkook + f!reader

✦ warnings: married!jungkook, dad!jungkook, he is a father of two, older!jungkook, power imbalance relationship, he is your boss’s husband, mistress!reader, cheater!jungkook, swearing, kissing, boob play, finger licking, slight choking, fingering, degradation, penetrative s3x, no mentions of contraceptive use, he cums inside.

✦word count: 3.5K

✦a/n: this is written in first person, oopsie. hope you enjoy.

The clock indicates 9PM as I tiptoed out of the children's room, my steps light and cautious, mindful not to wake the little ones. I was the Jeon’s trusted babysitter.

My sister worked as Mrs. Jeon personal trainer. The woman would spend her whole day at the country club, pilates in the morning, then tennis and swimming lessons at the afternoon. She spent zero time with the kids, she is finally home after 7pm, but it was almost like she warded off her kids, I’m convinced she hates interacting with them, at nights she went to her room or to the patio to have dinner while FaceTiming an unknown man, that was my second hint that she could be cheating on Mr. Jeon, actually at that point I was pretty convinced. She went out with her friends during the weekend nights, going on clubs, bars or some girls night, she always had a plan, some days she wouldn’t come back until Monday morning, with her hair tangled and unkempt, pumps off and a dry colorless face.

She had fired the previous babysitter after she found out she was stealing some of the kids clothing and selling them online, she was an old lady who pretended to be a retired and experienced children psychologist, Mrs. Jeon never cared enough to read her resume, turns out she wasn’t, and it only took the effort of googling her name to find news about her other scams on rich families pretending to be a kind babysitter, and not only she was stealing the kids’ clothes, also Mrs. Jeon’s jewels.

Shortly after she hired a young kindergarten teacher, only lasted a week. Mrs. Jeon thought she was too flirty when she greeted her husband, truth is she never saw them interact, it might be the fact that the girl had a rising onlyfans page that Mrs. Jeon found about because the gardener had recognized her, and also because she was an impolite vegan, the girl demanded rudely to the chef to make her a special vegan meal, so Mrs. Jeon told her to not come back the next day.

Once the door clicked softly shut behind me, I let out a quiet sigh of relief. Babysitting could be exhausting, but I cherished these moments of tranquility after the children had drifted off to dreamland. I made my way to the cozy living room, settled onto the plush sofa, eager to enjoy a few moments of relaxation.

My sister received a call for help from Mrs. Jeon. Desperate because if she didn’t find a new babysitter before the kids finished their school day she had to stay with them for the rest of the day. My sister said she sounded as if someone had died, in complete panic. I got my sister’s call for help, she wanted to be in her boss’ good side and also to get my ass out of the couch once and for all.

I had just graduated, and conveniently unemployed. I had tried my luck in a big city, completely failed and had to return home. Had been rotting in my family home for almost a month until my sister told me she had a job opportunity for me.

- Just focus on taking care of the kids, don’t engage with the male employees on the house, she will think you are fucking them, she hates sharing her men. And if you get to see Mr. Jeon when he arrives early from work just say good night without making eye contact, no more exchange, understood?

In fact, I had never seen Mr. Jeon in person. There were huge family pictures all around the house walls, and small frames on the shelves that portrayed his beautiful face.

Mr. Jeon is a handsome man, with youthful features and athletic physique. From chatting with the maids I learned that he goes jogging at 6 AM, to the gym at 7, has breakfast at 8, then heads to work until 9 to 10 at night when he arrives home, takes a shower and goes to bed.

As weeks went by, my love for the kids grew, just as much as my curiosity for their gorgeous father.

The couple didn’t share a room, in fact, apparently they hated each other. They were a happy pair until she was “forced” to bare his children. Both families had agreed to unite in all aspects including business, but the warranty was to have at least one male that would take over everything one day. They did, the youngest of the two children was a beautiful and healthy boy, but Mrs. Jeon was left traumatized and deformed after the pregnancies, which caused the fall of their successful marriage.

Linda, their oldest maid said that it all started even before they got married, because both were compulsive cheaters that enjoyed to have interaction with people bellow their status, such as maids, trainers, secretaries, drivers, bodyguards, etc.

As I reached for a book from the nearby shelf, I heard a faint rustling sound coming from the kitchen. I paused, my heart skipping a beat. Perhaps it was just the house settling.

This weekend I had been tasked to stay over and take care of the kids while Mrs. Jeon was on a girls trip to Indonesia, she’s coming back on Monday.

I’d say Mrs. Jeon trusted me, I was her beloved personal trainer’s sister and I’ve been doing a good job taking care of the kids, acted as if the chef, the gardener, the drivers and the new pastry cook didn’t exist. She was happy with my work.

Her instructions were to just normally complete my Friday - Saturday routine with the kids, but to stay over to keep an eye on them at night, she didn’t trust the maids, one time she had a nightmare in which they all grabbed forks to kill them and fed her a broth made with their bones, ever since she’s been paranoid, she says they hate her so much she believes they are capable of doing it.

It was Friday night, the kids already asleep, I would usually go home after this, but I had to sleep on one of the guest rooms to check on the kids, and Saturday morning prepare them for their swimming lesson and entertain them for the rest of the day.

But then I heard it again, unmistakably—a soft shuffling, like footsteps moving across the tiled floor. My breath caught in my throat as I debated whether to investigate or retreat to the safety of the children's room. The staff had already ended their activities, they were all supposed to be in their chambers.

Summoning courage, I rose from the sofa and tiptoed towards the kitchen, my pulse quickening with each step. The dim light from the living room cast eerie shadows against the walls, adding to the sense of uneasiness that gripped me.

Peering cautiously around the corner, My eyes widened in astonishment. Standing in the center of the kitchen was a figure—Mr. Jeon, very alive and kicking.

He was so much more handsome in person, an unreal beauty. Blazer and tie off, sleeves up his elbows revealed his tattoos, they covered his whole right arm and hand, first three buttons undone letting me see part of his chest, he was bulked. A piercing adorning his lower lip, another on his right eyebrow, a couple more on his ears.

I had heard he did that to his body after he found out guys with piercings and tattoos gave Mrs. Jeon the ick. Apparently he really wanted her away from him.

- Who are you? He asked confused, looked like he already had a few drinks, was peering at the fridge looking for a beer.

- The babysitter.

- What happened to Ms. Barlowe? he asked while opening the beer can and pouring it in a glass.

- She was fired two months ago. I tried to respond as concisely as possible, but this man was making me feel things that would put this job on risk. He liked getting inside the staff’s panties? Then he could take me right here.

- What’s your name? How old are you?

- y/n, hadn’t you heard it’s impolite to ask a woman’s age. I’m old enough.

- Old enough? For what? He chuckled.

- To be your children’s babysitter. I said jokingly, nothing matters anymore, this man has me on my knees acting all flirty.

- Once we had a 16 year old. He said looking at me, taking a sip of his beer.

- Not that young, more like old enough to buy alcohol all that stuff. I said while looking down at my feet, shyness taking over me all of a sudden, I shouldn’t have said anything.

- Are you staying the night?

- Yes, I have to keep an eye on the kids while your wife is away.

- Then I’ll see you around doll, I need a shower. He winked and walked to leave the kitchen, when he passed by me he patted the top of my head.

What?! The nickname got me all confused and flustered, but then the way he touched my head, was it all in a “oh how cute” way? Or a “let’s fuck till daylight”?

I stood there, still processing the whole conversation we had, now I feel embarrassed.

Headed directly to the guest bedroom and took a shower too. I felt so hot, cheeks red and teary eyes. Got my pajamas on, don’t I own a prudish set? Pair of pants and an oversized tee. If he were to walk into the room and saw me wearing this, I bet he would laugh.

Of course I couldn’t sleep a wink. Thinking the hot man was somewhere under the same roof. Foolishly kept imagining things, the way his hands would feel against my skin, his big hands around my throat, long fingers inside my pussy. Oh god!

The mere three or four hours of sleep I got, I slept them like a dog, after about three orgasms I achieved by rubbing my clit. It felt awful afterwards. He was a married man after all, he didn’t love his wife but they were together, he got two children who I adored and spent a lot of time with.

Mr. Jeon would never look at me like that anyways, I bet he had a bunch of women already. Models, celebrities, escorts.

Saturday morning I had breakfast with the kids, I usually arrive after they had finished. Once done we head upstairs to get ready for their swimming lesson. They had a private instructor every Saturday to teach them how to swim, I sat on one of the pallets by the pool.

After the lesson ended, the kids wanted to stay and keep playing in the pool, it was a hot day since summer was around the corner.

- Pleaseee! You can grab one of mom’s swimsuits. The oldest daughter insisted I should join them on their little chasing game inside the water.

- I’d like to but it’s almost lunchtime and then we have things to do remember? You wanted to go to the supermarket and buy snacks. I insisted that it wasn’t a good idea, even though I really wanted to jump into the fresh water, but maybe it would seem shameless.

I ended up getting in. One of the maids brought me one of the many Mrs. Jeon’s bikinis, she told me she grabbed it from a big bag full of clothing she was about to throw away. It was a tiny black Valentino bikini with a white outline.

We played for a while and then got out to have lunch, we sat in the outdoor dining table, all soaked, the tips of our fingers wrinkled from spending too much time on the water.

And then he comes out from inside the house, wearing a black polo shirt tucked in a pair of navy blue jeans, black Saint Laurent sunglasses. He took them out and looked at me from head to toe, licking his lips.

Was he home the whole time?! I’ve never ran into him on Saturdays. I was standing up beside the table, opening a can of sprite for the youngest son.

The kids waved at his father and continued eating, he gave each a kiss on their forehead and stood in front of me.

- When is my mother supposed to pick them up? He said, head lowered to look at me in the eyes.

- Tomorrow morning.

- I’ll tell her to take them today, have everything ready. He said putting his glasses on and heading to the garage.

I’m already imagining things, foolishly thinking he might have a hidden intention to ask his mother to take the kids early, maybe all he wants is my ass out of his house and I’m here all nervous believing he might want some alone time to fuck my brains out, very unlikely.

Once the kids were gone I went to my room, packed everything. I was meant to leave after the grandma took the children TOMORROW, now they are gone and I’m confused on what should I do.

More like expecting Mr. Jeon to come home and…

Toc, toc, toc.

He opened the door and looked at me sitting on the edge of the bed.

- On my studio, in five. He said and quickly closed the door and left.

What the fuck?!

I was almost having a panic attack before I knocked his studio door three times. I decided to change into a white tank top, no bra, white cotton panties and a pair of blue stripped pants, what I had intended to wear tomorrow.

Heard a small come in, and opened the door to enter.

He was sitting in a grey loveseat, manspreading, left hand on his crotch, right holding a cigarette between his lips, such a breathtaking view.

- Come sit with me. He ordered patting the couch.

I walked slowly, still shaking from the nervousness. Sat next to him, hands and eyes on my tights, I couldn’t look at him.

- Is this what you want? He took my hand with both of his, which made me look at his face. He was waiting for an answer.

- What do you mean? Of course I knew what he meant, I guess I just wanted to hear him say it to be sure.

- Do you want me to fuck you? Here, right now?

Yes.

He grabbed my face by my chin and pressed his lips against mine. He let me set the pace at first. His lips were soft, breath tasted like tobacco. I could feel how at times he was struggling not to kiss me harder.

So I let him slide his tongue inside my mouth. He grabbed my hips to place me on his lap, groaning at the feeling of my covered pussy on top of his crotch. He bit and dragged my lower lip, his kisses started to descend from my chin to my neck.

- From the first moment I saw you, your eyes were pleading me to fuck you, then I saw you in that tiny bikini, so naughty.

My pussy was throbbing, his words and his desperate kisses against my skin had me drunk in pleasure already.

He took the hem of my top to remove it, tits bounced right in front of his eyes. He chuckled and looked at me with a smirk, grabbed them with his huge hands, caressing them as if they were two stress balls. With his thumb, he started rubbing my nipples, eyes on mine the whole time.

- You like that princess?

I was a moaning mess, nodded and arched my back. It felt so good, a numbing sensation right into my pussy hole, soaking wet.

He left my nipples to grab my buttocks, automatically started to rub myself on his bulge. He closed his eyes and moaned, then kissed my lips hungrily. Grabbed my waist and helped me pace my movements, he laid back on the couch, locking his eyes to mine.

I stood up to remove my pants, once off he grabbed my hips and sat me on his lap, this time my back against his chest. His rough hands start to brush my body, from my breasts to my stomach.

- Open your legs princess. Obeying immediately to his command, I was already desperate for his touch down there, couldn’t help but to feel powerless under his touch.

I whimpered as I felt his hands pushing my panties to the side, and started to stroke my clit. He then took his fingers to my entrance only to remove them quickly. I moaned and turned my head to look at him in disbelief. He brings his fingers up to my mouth, coated with my juices.

- Lick them.

I slowly wrapped my lips around his long fingers, doe eyes staring at his while circling my tongue against his digits. Spit dripping from my chin and his hands, such a filthy sight. He then removed them from my mouth producing a popping sound.

He took those two fingers down my pussy again, inserted them into my pulsing hole. His hands are skilled, every move he makes hits the right spot, I dropped my head back in pleasure and let out an embarrassingly loud moan, he started kissing my neck, sucking and licking.

- Such a filthy whore, you like my fingers? He said with a deep voice, groaning in my ear. His eyes were fixed in my pussy the whole time, he seemed to enjoy watching his fingers going in and out of my hole.

He had been fingering me for a while, when I felt that familiar response down my pussy, a numbing sensation signaling my orgasm was close to take place.

Jungkook thrusted and curled his fingers hitting the right spot with insane accuracy each time. His cock throbbed underneath me, my thighs trembled as I tried to keep them spreaded. The sight spurred him on as he added another finger, I groaned loudly at the stretch he was now giving me with three fingers.

- Come on baby, cum all over my hand. He mumbled against my ear. It didn’t take long for my release to come. Jungkook groaned, shifting his hips to get some friction himself as he helped you ride it out.

He laid me against the couch before his mouth littered hot kisses across my chest only pausing when he felt my fingers delicately trail along the waistband of his pants, looking forward to undo the button. Jungkook met my gaze with a smirk on his lips.

- Please sir, can I have your cock now? I asked, my eyes innocently blinked up at him. Jungkook groaned at my words, he felt himself twitch desperately against his cotton prison as he looked at my doe expression patiently waiting for him. He gently pushed me on the soft silk couch before beginning to free himself. His cock slapped against his stomach, pre cum already leaking from the tip which he used as lubricant as he gave himself a few pumps.

My legs automatically opened for him to slot himself in between. I felt his tip prod at my entrance, he began to rub, coating his hard dick with my juices. Jungkook sunk himself into my throbbing heat. He started off at a slow pace, kissing my neck softly. Once he felt me clench him, Jungkook started to move faster.

My moans caused him to thrust harder as he found himself wanting to draw more of them out of my pretty lips. It didn’t take long for me to become cockdrunk as I clutch at his forearms, the intense arousal forming again in your stomach. Jungkook felt his balls tighten at my chants.

- Fuck! Yeah sir fuck me harder, I love how your cock feels inside me. My words spurring him to drive himself deeper inside me. My eyes rolled back and my body went limp in his arms as I came for the second time that night. My body was sensitive as he kept thrusting through My orgasm trying to chase his own. He watched my eyes roll as I let him continue to use me like the a slut.

- Oh my god! Sir, please cum inside me, I want your cum inside my pussy. My willingness to submit to him caused his hips to sputter and coat my walls. I could feel his cum warming me from the inside causing me to smile at the feeling of being full of the essence of my boss’s husband. The action solidified the new dynamic between the two of us.

Jungkook pulled his softening cock out of me gently, I heard him get off the couch and leave the room to get a wet cloth to help clean up the mess in between my legs. I snuggled my head into the pillows behind.

- You did so good for me baby, was this okay? Is this what you need? Jungkook asked, sitting next to me on the couch. He moved some hairs away from my face and began stroking my cheek awaiting a response.

- I loved it, thank you sir. I spoke with a soft smile. Jungkook’s helped me slip into the comfort of the bedding in the guest room, he laid in the bed scooping me into his embrace. I laid on his chest whilst he stroked my back, lulling me to sleep with his actions and for the first time I slept peacefully in the embrace of my new lover.

[sassycheesecake]

A/N: Chose the names for the kids completely random, also I was a horrible teenager and I still feel bad what my poor parents had to go through with me. Also, the Spanish translations are from my male best friend whose mother tongue is Spanish, I am sorry if it’s not correct, I’ll kick his ass if something is wrong 😂

TW: period blood

Tōru Oikawa is many things.

King of the court, former national Argentinian Setter, husband of a beautiful successful, confident woman he calls the love of his life and father of three children.

Now as a retired athlete, the former Setter trains all sorts of volleyball clubs in San Juan. From little kids trying out Volleyball for the first time to High Schoolers and even College students trying to go pro.

All these years, you raised the children mostly while your husband played volleyball professionally until he couldn’t do it anymore physically. With coming age, every athlete reaches their breaking point sometime.

Now working your dream job as a novel publisher about a romance novel you recently published, you’re in the United States, traveling and doing interviews about it.

The two of you always wanted a family.

After Tōru did the try outs and made it on Argentinian team, the the two of you celebrated with a lot of alcohol and passionate kisses and just like that, your first child was born 9 months later.

Just by the age of 22, Tōru is a father of a beautiful girl named Sofia, she was born in the bright early morning light in December.

As first time parents, there were ups and downs but you both pulled it through as a team.

During the years, you and Tōru brought two more lives into this world, one girl and one boy. Hikari and Thiago.

Sofia is now 13 years old, which means she is a teenager now. Hikari is 10, while Thiago, the youngest, is 7 years old.

Thiago does not always has it easy with two older sisters, especially since Sofia has had incredibly bad mood swings that she occasionally lets out on her siblings, causing fights to break out that the poor former retired pro Volleyball player has to break up lots of times.

Unfortunately the former Setter’s wife is out of the country for interviews and signing her books, leaving the man to run the household by himself.

During years of intensive training, raising three children, nothing could have prepared the brunette for this.

Puberty.

On Saturday morning, Tōru prepared breakfast for his kids when Sofia came out of her room with an annoyed expression.

No.

Pissed expression.

She sits down at the table without greeting her family and just begins to tear apart the waffles without eating them.

"What’s wrong with you?" Hikari asks in a curious voice.

"What’s wrong with your face." Sofia’s voice is full of venom, like her sister took away her iPod again without asking her first.

"Hey! Ya basta." Tōru scolds her with a frowned expression.

Sofia’s mean demeanor drops a little bit but the anger on her face still remains. She definitely inherited your angry expression that Tōru is still terrified of.

Thiago is just munching on his Lucky Charms cereal, ignoring his sisters’ antics like always.

While both daughters inherited your looks, Thiago looks like a solid copy of his father. The same hair, the same eyes, the same face.

When the Setter cleans up the mess from the cooking, an idea pops up in his head. Something he hasn’t done with his kids in quite a while due to their school activities and homework.

"Hey kids, how about we play some volleyball in the garden later on? We haven’t done that in a while." Tōru suggests.

The two younger Oikawas brighten up with excitement, whereas the oldest one barely reacts.

"Go got ready after breakfast, I'll clean everything up and Thiago, go get the volleyball in mum’s closet." Tōru tells his kids, a huge smile breaking out on his face when his youngest one quickly chows down the rest of his food before running upstairs to get dressed and fetch the volleyball out of his parents’ closet.

Hikari also finishes, setting her plate in the dish washer before going to her room as well, getting ready to play volleyball with her brother and her father.

Tōru looks at his daughter and she pushes her plate away, leaving the table without another word.

"Sofia, you know you can talk to me. Qué te preocupa?" The brunette calls out to her.

She doesn’t reply, just keeps on walking and closes the bathroom door with a slight slam.

With a deep sigh, Tōru finishes cleaning up, wishing his wife was here to help him figure his teenage daughter out.

All of sudden, he hears Hikari and Thiago running down the stairs, this time in sports attire instead of their pajamas.

Making a run for it, Hikari trips Thiago to be the first to arrive in the garden of the house.

With his face landing on the hardwood floor, he groans out loudly in pain before getting up and yelling after his sister.

Rubbing his temple in annoyance, Tōru makes his way to the bathroom to try and get his eldest daughter out to join the family fun.

Knocking gently on the door, the father begins to talk.

"Sofia? You okay?"

"Go away, dad!" She yells out behind the door and it sounds like she is scared but also deeply upset.

"Preciosa, what’s wrong? You okay?" He begins to get worried.

"It’s nothing, I just… I-I need mum for this." Sofia sounds embarrassed as she says it out loud.

Tōru pouts a little bit at that, his little girl choosing you over him.

"Maybe I can help you." The father offers.

"No! You can’t! Gosh, this is so embarrassing!" She shouts in reply.

Now Tōru is starting to freak out a little bit.

"Sofia, tell me what’s wrong or I will knock down this door, I am not kidding!"

No reply.

"There’s… there’s blood… in…my…" She stutters.

Pressing his ear against the door, he tries to listen what she is trying to say.

"Blood in your what?!" Tōru asks frantically.

Now both Oikawas are freaking out.

"I GOT MY PERIOD, YOU HAPPY?!" She finally snaps and yells.

It seems like time has stopped for Tōru Oikawa.

Why, why?!

Out of all the times, it happens now?! When you’re gone and he has to deal with it by himself?

'Deep breaths, Tōru. You can do this.'

"Nena, please open the door. I’ll try to help you in any way I can."

"You can’t! I read online that I need something called a pad or a tampon. Do we have any of that here?"

Tōru knows whenever you’re having your period, you keep your feminine products on top of the med cabinet, out of reach from prying eyes.

Hikari and Thiago return inside the house after a while, confused why their father hasn’t come outside to play yet.

"What’s going on with Sofia? Is she sick?" Thiago worriedly asks.

Hikari appears as well, more annoyed than worried like her little brother.

"Sofia, if you die, can I have your laptop?" She teases.

"No! When I get out of here, you’re done for, you little shrimp!" Sofia snaps back.

"Oy! No one is killing anyone! I will be right there, just leave your pa and your sister for a bit okay? I promise I will be there."

Tōru interferes, before Thiago becomes an only child, more likely foster child, since his wife will kill him as well.

Hikari and Thiago make their way outside again, with Thiago jumping on his sister’s back like a warhorse.

They both scream as they head outside again, while Tōru only shakes his head at their silliness.

"Mijita, check the top of the med cabinet."

"What? Why?" Sofia asks perplexed.

"You’ll find what you’re searching for."

After a few minutes of rustling and hearing movement, the father hears the rustling of plastic and the uncertainty in his daughter’s voice as she describes the products.

"You found everything?"

"Yes, thank you, pa…"

"De nada, linda. I’ll explain from the door how to use it."

Tōru does not move from the door, explains to his daughter step by step how to use the different kind of feminine hygiene products, also offering to buy her favorite candies and food tomorrow and even if Tōru can’t see it, Sofia has tears in her eyes, appreciating her father’s supportive nature so much.

When you return from your trip, Tōru is watching a volleyball game between England and France, eyes captivated by the screen.

He is sipping on a beer can, eyes on the tv, switching between cursing and cheering for the teams.

Entering through the entrance door, you spot the love of your life immediately.

"I haven’t seen you drink a beer since high school. Any special occasion?" You grin as you hug your husband from behind, your arms wrapped around his neck.

Pressing a chaste kiss against his temple, your brunette husband chuckles and intertwines one of your hands with his.

"Bienvenido de vuelta, ¿Cómo fue tu viaje?" Tōru asks while briefly looking at you over his shoulder.

"Amazing! The people are very nice and I was busy every single day. How was home?" You ask in return.

"Puro pánico y discusión entre hermanos." Your husband sighs while taking another sip of his beer.

"What do you mean?" You say in a very concerned voice, already bracing for the worst.

"Your daughter had a mental breakdown over her first period today."

"MY daughter?! She’s your daughter too, marido."

"ANYWAY, your amazing marido handled it, amore. They are all asleep, Sofia and I had a long and big talk, you don’t need to worry your pretty little head about anything else."

You smile brightly at him, remembering you have a little souvenir gift for him.

Quietly unzipping your suitcase, you change into the surprise you have for your husband.

"Tōru?" You quietly call out to him, leaning against the entry way of the living room, doing a sexy pose of the new black Victoria’s Secret lingerie you got from the States.

"Hm?" Looking over his shoulder once more, the brunette’s eyes almost pop out of their sockets, choking on the sip of beer he took, while taking your figure in.

"Ven y cógelo, mi capitán." You say in a seductive voice, walking towards the direction of your bed.

Jumping over the couch, the Setter follows you into your shared bedroom, full of excitement and horniness for his precious wife.

Translations:

Ya basta = stop it/cut it out

Qué te preocupa? = What’s wrong?/ What’s going on?

Mijita = my daughter

De nada = no problem

Bienvenido de vuelta, ¿Cómo fue tu viaje? = welcome home, how was your trip?

Puro pánico y discusión entre hermanos = pure panic and siblings fighting

Marido = husband

Ven y cógelo, mi capitán = come and get it, my captain

[verdemoun]

I. I need to know. Hosea's first few weeks or even months in modern times. How was he found? How was he with Bessie? How'd he adjust? Anything he loved/hated in particular? AND BESSIE???? HOSEA AND BESSIE STUFF IS JUST *CHEFS KISS*

spare some crumbs for a hosea fan im begging

HOSEA BELOVED

Waking up was more peaceful than it had any right to be for Hosea. It was more like the slow confused raise of his head like he'd just fainted for a second. Bessie was the first thing he saw and he just melted into a smile so relieved and in love and happy to see her again before he started to realize she had aged, her hair was cut in a fashion he'd never seen before and wearing a skirt that fell just below her knees? Scandalous? Hot??

Admittedly any happy reunion was cut short by the revelation Lenny also died/timewarped just a few minutes after him and was having a much more violent awakening still wheezing and gasping for breath as if he was still trying to breathe through a collapsed lung. Comforting the young man he calls son was more important than simping. (Sean was fashionably late but soon took over because Lenny very much needed and wanted Sean more)

Did not give a single fuck about how or why or where he was. He held Bessie's face gently and kissed her like he expected the Devil to appear and drag him to the Hell he rightfully deserved after his lifetime.

Absolutely lovesick. Being able to stare at his wife who was still so beautiful with age so happy so healthy the way she looks at him with the same affection in her eyes takes away even the slightest fear or nausea on the drive home. Fortunately Lakay to Blackwater is a significant drive so they got to be introduced to a lot of modern era through passing through cities and towns on the trip.

People forget Hosea absolutely believed in all Dutch's anti-government freedom rhetoric so much - they were shared ideals they originally bonded over. They were the start of the VDLs. He would hate so much of modern era. Laughed the first time he saw taxes on Bessie's payslip and then got angry. First slang term he learns to use correctly is ACAB. Learning that the government recognized retirement age is 65-67? The government would expect him, at 55, to get a job? Bessie can't just retire and spend every waking moment in his arms?? Livid.

His saving grace is his wife. He loves her so, so much. She is practically a beast tamer, how quickly she can touch his arm and kiss his cheek and suddenly he's too happy and content in love to even think about setting the mayor's perfectly manicured garden on fire.

He never learns technology. He is still happy with newspapers and books thank you very much he genuinely does not understand wikipedia and thinks everyone is so intelligent when they look at their phone and suddenly know the answer to a question he asked. Bessie is secretly grateful she is almost certain if there was written record of the things he said about local council he would get arrested.

Hosea was the one to have the obligatory 'no i'm old and hideous now there's no way you could love me' moment because he thinks Bessie's wrinkles and grey hair and signs of age are as perfect as she is. Yet, he finds the exact same things in himself deformities. Bessie assures him he is as handsome as the day she fell in love with him.

Since Bessie is very happy with her job as a professor and Hosea detests much of modern era he is very happy being the house husband. He learns to use appliances and takes over cooking. He makes recipes from magazines and proper cook books. He is the ideal domestic man he is chasing the boys out the door to go to work/get a job with the same energy as his famous 'do something!!' lecture so he can mop and make sure the house is perfect for his beautiful hard working woman's return.

Bessie might dress modestly to most people's standards but coming from 1899 Hosea absolutely loses his mind. His wife wearing pants? Hot. A cardigan with just a shirt underneath? Practically in a state of undress? Genuinely concerned they could get arrested. Watching her do her hair nice and wear cheap jewelry that looks aesthetically nicer than fine jewels in 1899? Acts like he's dating a countess would crawl behind her if she told him to. 50s housedress that hug her waist? Old man is feral.

Honestly their modern era life is just everything Hosea craved and missed and mourned for when settling down with Bessie didn't work because of his stubbornness in 1883. He has absolutely no desire to return to crime (because getting away with crime is significantly harder in modern era (he still crimes. man is a kleptomaniac who plays confused old man with dementia whenever he gets caught)) after a proper second chance to do things right with Bessie. They read together, they listen to music, slow dance in the living room, go on walks through parks holding hands making everyone who sees them wish they had what Bessie and Hosea have.

Side note: Hosea very much has a type. Bessie is as strong-willed and sharp-tongued as Dutch and it is very obvious to anyone who sees how tightly she has him wrapped around his finger. She holds so much power over him just because of how much he loves her. Full Gomez Adaams 'look at her. i would die for her. i would kill for her. either way what bliss'. Fortunately, she is a genuinely very kind, patient, loving person who adores Hosea for the person and way he is and does not abuse the complete control she could have over husband.

[sequinsmile-x]

Behind Closed Doors

In which Emily and Aaron learn about the benefits of a bedroom door that locks.

-x-

Hi friends,

This is a birthday present for one of my dear friends. I love you very much, you're one of my favourite people on the planet, and I hope you enjoy this <3

This is...ridiculous. And I hope you all get as much of a laugh out of it as I did writing it! Writing 'humour' is endlessly anxiety inducing because I convince myself only I find myself funny haha

Please let me know what you think <3

-x-

Warnings: Smut, 18+

Words: 3.2k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily sighs contentedly as she relaxes into bed, her back against the headboard as she reads her book. The edges of it were dog-eared, the spine cracked and worn from being read dozens of times, one of her favourites that she always found her way back to. 

“You could probably recite that book word for word.”

She looks up over her copy of Slaughterhouse Five and at her husband, raising her eyebrow as she tilts her head slightly downwards to look at him over the thick rim of her reading glasses. 

“It’s my favourite,” she says smiling as he climbs into bed next to her, stamping his lips against hers as he settles under the covers, tired from a long day at work and keen to spend some alone time with his wife. 

“I know, it’s why I made sure it was pre-loaded onto the Kindle I got you for your birthday,” Aaron replies, smirking at her as he looks past her at the e-reader lying on her nightstand.

She makes sure her bookmark is in place as she puts the book down, turning all of her attention to her husband, “I know, honey,” she says, stamping her lips against his, “And I love my gift, I promise,” she adds, and he yawns, “You tired?” 

He hums in response as he nods and wraps his arms around her, pulling her into his side as he stamps a kiss against her forehead, his lips catching the edge of her glasses. 

“Sorry I got home so late,” he says, kissing her forehead again before he pulls back to look at her, “Those faculty meetings go on forever.”

His move to lecturing at the academy had been a gradual one. Retiring outright hadn’t been for him, just like Emily said it wouldn’t be from the start. He’d lasted all of two months after he’d retired from the BAU before he took the part-time teaching job at the academy. Emily liked it when he was at Quantico. He’d bring lunch to her office, and for an hour or so they could pretend it was like it had been all those years ago when they were both at the BAU, and he wasn’t a lecturer and she wasn’t the Section Chief, before their responsibilities had shifted away from their work to their family. 

She loved their life together, the family they had built, but there were times when she missed being able to just be with the man she loves. 

“That’s okay,” she says, cupping his cheek, running her thumb back and forth over the scruff on his skin. Ever since Jack had moved to college, taking his dislike of Aaron’s beard with him, she’d convinced him to keep it most of the time, any concern he may have had about it not being professional long gone whenever she looked at him with a glint in her eyes, “It’s not like I’m not late home every now and again.” 

He smiles and turns his head to kiss her palm, “How were the kids?” 

“They were fine,” she replies, smiling as she thinks of her evening with her children, “Jack called to say hi, and James tried to convince me to go get takeout,” she says, laughing at the memory of the insistence on her 10-year-old son’s face, “And Hazel resisted doing her chores.” 

Aaron laughs and shakes his head at the mention of their 16-year-old, the teenager's hatred of stacking the dishwasher well known. 

“So the usual then?” He asks, tucking some of her hair behind her ear and she smiles as she nods, the skin around her eyes crinkling as she does so. 

“Yeah,” she replies, her cheeks warm with love, with the simple enjoyment that this was their life, “The usual.” 

He leans forward to kiss her, unable to help himself, pulled in by her beauty like he always had been. She was impossibly more beautiful to him now than she had been when they first got together. Her once dark hair was now grey, a change she had made a few years ago when she lamented having to dye it so often, that it was unfair he was ageing gracefully, his salt and pepper flecks through his hair an obsession of hers. He’d told her he’d always find her beautiful no matter what, and she’d eventually given in, making the change that had elevated her beauty beyond measure. 

Sometimes he caught her looking at herself in the mirror, critically eyeing the lines on her face, or that her hips and thighs were wider than they used to be, and he wondered how she couldn’t see what he could. How the lines around her eyes only really came out when she was laughing, something that happened frequently in their home, or how the changes to her body had come from bringing two of their children into the world. 

Every change was a sign of what they’d lived through, evidence that they were still growing together, walking through life side by side, and that could never be anything but beautiful to him. 

She smiles into the kiss, her hand moving to the back of his head, holding him in place as she scratches at his scalp. She hums, biting his lower lip as she pulls back, “I thought you were tired.” 

He kisses her fiercely, his tongue sweeping through her mouth as his hand slips down her side, slipping into her pyjama pants. 

“Never too tired for this,” he says, kissing her cheek as he pushes her underwear to one side. She lifts her hand to her face to take off her glasses but he stops her, a quick shake of his head all it takes, “Leave them on.” 

Her response is cut off as he kisses her again, his lips stamped against hers as he circles her clit, his touch gentle and insistent as it always had been. 

“Fuck,” she breathes out as she pulls away from the kiss, her forehead resting against his temple. She grasps his arm, her fingers digging into the muscles, not sure herself if she was holding on or making sure he didn’t stop. “Fuck, yes.” 

He leans down and presses his lips against her cheek and then down her neck, lightly nipping at her skin and then laving it with his tongue, soothing the area immediately. He smirks against her throat as her hips twitch against his hand, rolling subconsciously as she muffles a moan in his shoulder. 

“That’s it, sweetheart,” he croons, kissing her throat again, “You’re so fucking pretty,” he says, smiling when she groans at the praise. He licks at her pulse and groans himself, “You taste so good.” He shifts them so she’s lying down, and he kisses her to swallow the growl of frustration she lets out when he pulls his hand from her pants. He lays on top of her, careful as ever to make sure his weight isn’t crushing her to the bed. He raises an eyebrow at her, a glint in his eyes that makes her stomach flip, and his smile widens, “Going to taste you everywhere.” 

She giggles and shakes her head at him as he disappears beneath the covers, but the sound dies in her throat when she feels his hands on hips, a barely there touch as he pulls her sweatpants and underwear down. Not being able to see him only heightens the tension, making her gasp when he places his hands on her thighs, pushing them slightly further apart. 

“Jesus, Aaron get on-”

She’s cut off as he licks through her, making her throw her head back as she clenches her teeth to stop herself from moaning too loudly, just about aware enough to think of her children in their rooms down the hall. She blindly reaches for his head beneath the covers, her fingers tangling in his hair as she rolls her hips at his face, desperately seeking out his touch.

He’d always known her body like he’d written the manual for it, even that first time close to two decades ago. There was something about how it was now, the normalcy of it, the settled intimacy of it more special to her than anything else. She can feel her orgasm building in her stomach, the sparks of it going off, and she closes her eyes, ready to give in and tip over the edge. 

Then the bedroom door opens, and Emily looks towards it, her glasses steamed as she tears them off, throwing them onto Aaron’s side of the bed, her climax pulled from under her in a split second as her eyes land on her teenage daughter. 

“Mom, have you seen my…” Hazel says, freezing in place in the doorway, her eyes wide and her hand clenched around one of her airpods, “Mom?” She half shouts, her eyes impossibly wider as Aaron’s head pops out from under the covers, his expression as shocked as their daughter’s “Dad?” She looks back and forth between them and her mouth falls open, “Oh my God.” 

“Hazel,” Emily says, trying and failing to sound casual as she pushes at her husband’s shoulder to get him off of her, “What’s-”

“No,” Hazel says, cutting her off, shaking her head as she finally regains control of her body, turning around, “No. I’m going to my room.” 

She walks out without saying anything else to them, muttering to herself under her breath as she closes the door behind her with a little more force than needed. For a moment Emily and Aaron sit in stunned silence, both of them staring at the door, and then Aaron stands up quickly, moving away from her like he’d been burned. 

“She knew what we were doing,” he says, an edge of panic to his voice that she finds slightly adorable, not that she’d ever tell him, “How did she know what we were doing?”

“Of course she knew, Aaron,” Emily replies, reaching under the covers to find her sweatpants so she can pull them back on, standing once she has done so, “She’s 16, not stupid.” 

He glares at her, no malice behind it, only sheer shock as he places his hands on his hips, “How are you not panicking right now? Our daughter walked in on us having sex.” 

She sighs and places her hand on his shoulder, shaking her head when he jumps like he’s been electrocuted. 

“Well, it’s not my favourite family moment,” she says, raising her eyebrow at him, “I was the one who was three seconds away from coming, but you’re freaking out enough for both of us right now and one of us needs to keep a level head. It will be fine, honey.”

“How will it be fine? She saw me-”

“First off, you were under the covers,” she says, cutting him off as she crosses her arms over her chest, shivering as she thinks about how it could have been worse if Hazel had walked in even a couple of minutes later, “And I know what she saw because I was the one you were doing it to,” she says through her teeth, blowing out a steady breath, well aware one of them had to keep their cool, “It’s okay. We can fix this.” 

“How?” He asks, his eyes wide. She wonders how this man standing in front of her once stared serial killers down without blinking and she shakes her head, biting her lower lip to try to stop her smile from spreading across her face. “She knows we have sex.” 

“Honey, I think she already knew that,” she says calmly, shaking her head at his repetitive comments, his brain clearly stuck in one place. “For a start, she wouldn’t exist if we didn’t.” 

“Emily.” 

She sighs and nods, “First thing tomorrow we’re going to Home Depot to get a lock for that door,” she says, pointing at their bedroom door over her shoulder, “But right now I’m going to go talk to her.” She says, waiting for him to nod in response. He does so and sits down on the edge of the bed, already a little calmer than he had been. She turns to leave and then looks back at him, “You stay here,” she says, tilting her head at him, smirking at the slight sheen to his skin, evidence of just how much she’d been enjoying herself before Hazel walked in visible in the low light of their bedroom, “And maybe wipe your face.” 

She smiles when he glares at her, his hand wiping at his chin as he does so, and she winks as she leaves the bedroom. She gives herself a moment outside her daughter’s bedroom, sucking in a deep breath before she knocks. 

“Please don’t make me talk about this.”

Emily shakes her head at her daughter’s words through the wooden door and she pushes it open, poking her head around it, “Sweetie, it’s either now or in the morning. Your call.” 

Hazel huffs and stands up from where she’d been sitting on her bed and staring off into space, “Fine,” she says, nodding Emily into the room, “Let’s…just get it over with.” 

Emily closes the door behind her and realises the moment it clicks shut that she has no idea what she wants to say. She clasps her hands together in front of her and twists her wedding rings around on her finger. Hazel paces back and forth like a caged animal, her arms crossed over her chest as she shakes her head, her almost manic energy something Emily is sure she’d find funny in any other circumstance.

“Hazel,” she starts, hoping she finds the words somewhere along the way, “Sex is-”

“I know what sex is Mom,” she says, screwing her face up in disgust, “You’ve been lecturing me about safe sex and protection since I got my period,” she stops in place and looks at Emily, her eyebrow raised in challenge, “Do you two use protection?” 

Emily rolls her eyes, “No,” she says, putting her hand up to stop Hazel’s rebuke, her own eyebrow raised at her daughter, “Your father and I haven’t had sex with anyone aside from each other in almost 20 years, and I’m 58 honey. At this point, I don’t know if a baby would be more of a miracle or an inconvenience.” 

Hazel sighs and looks down at the floor, “I guess that’s true,” she says, shrugging slightly, “And thank god, one little brother is enough.”

Emily chuckles and nods, grateful that her daughter already seems less freaked out, “Let’s just sit down, okay?” 

“Sex is-”

“Mom-”

“Please just let me finish,” she says, and Hazel nods, averting her eyes again, “Sex is, and always has been, an important part of your dad and I’s relationship. It’s one of the many ways we show how much we love each other. I’m sorry you walked in on us, but I hope that one day you find someone who you love enough to still have that kind of relationship almost 20 years into it.” She says, cupping Hazel’s chin, smiling as she makes eye contact with her, “But not for a while, okay? I don’t think your father could handle it.” 

Hazel chuckles, and nods, “How freaked out is he?” 

“Enough that I think it will be a long time before he lets me touch him again.” 

Hazel grimaces, “Mom, gross,” she says, scrunching her nose up before she sighs, “I’m sorry for not knocking.” 

Emily shrugs and pulls her in for a hug, “It’s not your fault, sweetie. We’re going to get a lock for the door tomorrow.” 

Hazel hums and rests her head against her mother’s shoulder, “There goes my idea for your Christmas present.”

___

Emily smiles at Aaron as he hands he a cup of coffee the next morning, his nervous energy as obvious as it was out of character. 

“Honey,” she says, reaching out and squeezing his arm, “It’s fine. I spoke to her, it’s okay. It might be a little awkward,” she says, smiling up at him, “But before you know it we’ll be back to normal.”

He nods, not entirely sure if he believes her, the memory of last night still enough to shake a shiver down his spine. She smiles and leans up to kiss him, but is interrupted as they hear the familiar footfall of their children’s steps in the hallway. Emily suppresses a smile as Aaron jumps back from her like he’s been burned, and she wonders how long this will carry on for. She turns to face the kitchen doorway as James runs in, followed by Hazel, her expression a little brighter than it had been the night before.

“Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad,” James says as he sits on one of the kitchen stalls at the breakfast bar, “What’s for breakfast?” 

Emily chuckles as she ruffles his dark hair, “Good morning to you too,” she says, “I think we could convince Dad to make pancakes.” 

James sighs as if he has the weight of the world on his shoulders, “We ate here last night,” he grumbles, his cheek resting against his palm, “Can we please go out for breakfast?” 

Hazel, who had been suspiciously quiet so far, wraps her arms around her brother’s shoulders, “I’m with James, we should go get breakfast somewhere,” she looks at Aaron, smirking as she makes eye contact, “Dad loves to eat out.” 

Emily inhales the sip of coffee that she’d had in her mouth, choking around it as she laughs. Aaron’s eyes go wide at his daughter’s comment, but any reaction is pushed away by concern for his wife as he rubs her back as she coughs.

“You ok, sweetheart?” Aaron asks, and she nods, clearing her throat as she looks up at him, her smile matching the one on Hazel’s face as she looks up at him.

“You ok, Mom?” James asks, his eyebrows furrowed in concern, and her smile softens as she looks at him.

“I’m fine, sweet boy” she says, clearing her throat again when her voice sounds tight, her eyes flicking back up to her husband, “The coffee just went down the wrong way, that’s all,” she smiles at Aaron, “I think going out for breakfast sounds good, we should go get ready.” 

James jumps up, delighted that he’d got what he wanted and he runs out the room towards the stairs, shouting thank you over his shoulder. Emily sighs as she looks at her daughter and raises her eyebrow. Hazel feigns innocence over her comment and smiles. 

“What?” She asks as she stands up, her arms crossed over her chest, “Did I say something wrong?” 

“You’re on thin ice, sweet girl,” Emily says, failing to hid her own amusement as Hazel smiles. 

Hazel hums as she walks past them, “Maybe that’s something else we can sort out at the hardware store after breakfast.” 

Aaron sighs as they are left alone in the kitchen, shaking his head as Hazel walks away. Emily rests her forehead on his shoulder as she groans, grateful when he wraps his arms around her, seemingly over his fear of touching her for now. 

“It’s going to be a long day.” 

-x-

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[onyondump]

Sly Fox 

Part 2 of Infatuated

Arthur Shelby x M!Reader x Linda Shelby

WARNING! : Slight NSFW🚨 , Slight Angst, Harsh Language, None of the characters here are good people  

Synopsis : Arthur came home to a silent wife and a smiling fox

Note : Thank you for liking “Infatuated” and wanting a part 2 of it. Honestly I don’t even plan on continuing it, I just had a funny one liner I thought would be good to write a fic around it.

Infatuated | Masterlist

English is my second language, my grammar and writing is not good. Please don’t eat me

It was dinner time when Arthur finally arrived home from the Arrow House only drinking one glass of whiskey which came as a surprise to Tommy and John. It’s a huge progress from finishing two bottles of auburn liquid in a single day, all thanks to the day he met you. 

When he first met you he had broken your nose out of suspicion. A smile he can only attribute to that of a cunning fox was plastered across your face and your eyes that follow his every move he makes irks him into thinking  that you were some opportunistic hooligan mistakenly taking the high in adrenaline Arthur Shelby as his enemy. Much to his surprise you would come back to his club the next day with a bandaged nose with the same shit eating grin asking if he’d like a drink. He laughed of course at the thought of this stranger buying him a drink. At his own fookin bar? Nonetheless he accepted, curious of what he presumed to be a stupid stranger buying booze for his own assaulter.

You were full of surprise for him, enchanting him with your stories, jokes and wit that he couldn’t get enough talking to you, not realizing that the club was now empty and the warm morning sun greets their tired eyes. You would come to his club every night after your unspecified job just to talk with him over everything and nothing at the same time, building up your friendship and maybe something more. The last day of his supposed ‘three month work’ (his excuse to get away from Linda for a while) he finally confessed his feelings for you. He explained how you made him feel like his old self again, how the sound of screaming and booming of war became a far away echo since he met you, and also how his stomach and heart aches for something. In his honesty, he told you how much shame he feels loving another man but also that he might explode if he never told you how he feels. You took it slow, processing the information he had just given you, this was Arthur in his most bare. Admittedly you had only wanted to quell your curiosity for the gangster, maybe even enticing him to be your new customer. You hadn’t really expected to develop feelings for the man much less him reciprocating it. That same night you hold his hands gently as you kissed his thinly chapped lips in the dimly lit private room of his club. Arthur wanted to be a good man for you so he thought bringing you to his house would be a such good idea, it’s not but you could figure something out. 

‘I’m home luv” Arthur open the door to the house to his wife and his lover preparing dinner, instantly relieving him of the stressful environment of the Arrow House 

“Welcome home, Art. Billy’s with Polly so its only us adults in the house” Linda flinched at your response, not even replying to her husband which Arthur found odd. Usually she would scold him for being late but any chance Arthur gets for peace he’ll take it. 

Dinner was awkward. Arthur tried to sprung up a conversation only to be returned with his lover replying dryly and his wife avoiding even looking at him. He couldn’t help but be worried at what happened when he was gone. 

He retired himself to his shared bedroom excusing his tired old bones expecting Linda to follow suit in a couple of minutes so he could ask her in private, not wanting to subject you to any of the fighting. Tiredness from the long drive got the better of him and he fell asleep waiting for Linda to enter their room. 

The sound of shattering glass woke him up, half asleep Arthur grabbed his gun he keeps in his side drawer. Even when life has gone soft on him he still needs to protect the ones he loves. As he ran to the living room expecting an intruder as he pointed the gun at the sounds of gasps and moaning. Wait! Moaning? Fully awake he realized that he’s pointing the gun to his lovers head

“How was your nap Arthy?” the ever distinct foxlike grin on your face “Care to join us?” Only then did Arthur realize what he’s witnessing. His wife was on your lap with her skirt hiked up revealing her bare wet cunt rubbing on your thighs and you naked with a face covered in his wife's favorite color of lipstick, Coral. 

“What The Fook IS GOING ON HERE!” his horse screamed echo’s through the vast and lonely land he purchased for Linda. Betrayal was the first thing he felt, forcefully separating both of them from each other. He was a good man! He doesn't deserve this!

“He told me he fucked you! He told me that your three months of ‘work’ is spent fucking around at your satanic club” she barked back with an equal amount of emotion. She felt empty, the man that she sacrificed her perfect life to redeem went back to his old ways

“I gave you everything Linda! This fuckin house, this big ass land, the fuckin chickens. I cut off Tommy to be with you, I became a good man FOR YOU. I deserve to have some time away from your screaming” 

“You were a sack of sad shit when I met you. YOU were a child begging for his dead mommy to come and tell him he’s a good boy after snorting a whole bottle of satan’s seeds and now your bent. I deserve a better man than you!” 

A laugh escaped your mouth like you were watching some kind of circus act unfolding in front of you. What a conundrum to catch your partner cheating with the same man you were with, while both of you try to spin the story like they’re the good one in this situation. 

Of course it didn't go unnoticed by pot and kettle as their furious face snaps at you like dears realizing the fox has tricked them. 

“What the hell are you laughing at?” his voice softens when asking you, its almost unfair.

“Well for one, you're hard” you eyed his growing tent in his trousers which he tries to hide with his hands which really didn’t do much as both yours and Linda’s eyes had already preoccupied itself on the shape. 

Without warning you push both of them down into the sofa, “Second its funny that you two decided to cheat on the same person, me” you let off a small laugh 

“He cheated on me first” Linda’s pride in her righteousness is something to behold honestly. How she convinced herself that se had redeem the gangster is beyond ludicrous. 

“Now you're just being a kid Linda. You didn’t know that before you confessed to me earlier this morning. Talking about running away to the States like I’m some kind of prince charming here to save you from you big bad gangster husband” 

“YOU WHAT?!!” 

“Look! The truth will set you free eh? You're both lonely people that grew apart as the spark of your marriage dims down. So why not accept me as your new addition to your relationship? Besides you two can’t get enough of me anyway” sly as a fox everybody tells you

“That's immoral” “Your cocky ain't ya?” 

“Yea well what do you expect? you’ve both sinned so why not just dive into the deep end and enjoy the ride since your both still in this living room and haven’t beaten me out of your house yet” both of your legs moved between each of their thighs, dangerously close to their leaking arousals. 

“What do you say Lovers?”

[princess-angel101]

The Darling Siblings Lore (My Inception AU)

These two grew up in the most violent neighborhood to exist. Gang violences were the norm and the government of the town was apathetic. The neighborhood as a result for being poor, had to stick together and help each other out, having a collectivist mindset.

Arthur and Naomi once lived in the suberbs of the neighborhood. The more nicer parts despite it being touched from violence. Their mother was a warm and doting presence. Their father was a distant person. However he cared deeply.

Tragedy struck however. Their father had died from being in gunpoint while drawing money from the local bank. Their mother’s mental health spiraled and she became diagnosed with depression. She hadn’t moved from bed often and tends to have hallucinations of her dead husband, often deluding herself to thinking that he’s at work and didn’t come home yet. The Darling siblings loved their mother deeply. However, she was not in a good headspace.

Eventually, the three of them got evicted from their home and had to move to the poorer and more violent stricken parts of the town. Their mother worked as a waitress in a cafe. Meanwhile while money was tight, Arthur did his best to raise Naomi and the family. Naomi wanted to help, but she was still too little and too young to do so yet.

When the two got older, Arthur helped around the house. He didn’t find his old passions fun and the things he did get involved in are mostly to get his sister and his mother the stable life needed and for them to go to college. Friends; much less girlfriends or boyfriends were just things he didn’t have time for. He focused on his studies and was known for being Valedictorian. His sister too followed in his footsteps. He and her became close as a result, the two siblings sticking through thick and thin, as he taught her the essential life skills from driving to self defense from strangers.

He went to college and managed to succeed there. Naomi was in her senior year. However, money was still tight and he reluctantly dropped out, as the college was expensive and he wanted to prioritize his family. One day, someone scouted him to have a well paying job, not something necessarily legal, but one that will help his sister and mother. Not having a choice, he accepted. Hence he became the point man of dream sharing. His money and connections managed to help him and his sister move their mother to an ease her into a retirement home where she can rest. Meanwhile his salary helped boost them even more and the two managed to live a fine life. Naomi graduated with a masters degree and became a top notch FBI agent, using her job as a seamstress as a cover up for it.

At some point, Arthur met Cobb as he was assigned to work with him. Naomi was fond of him; and jokingly threatened to take care of her brother, lest she break his bones.

He even managed to meet Eames on the job and he fell head over heels. Naomi kept teasing him about it to which he told her to be quiet, but with a smile.

However, things turned bad again. Mal died of suicide while Cobb, being on the blame for her death, took a run for it. Eames and Arthur had a severe fallout as a blowout from the incidences and miscommunications. Reluctantly, the two siblings had to part. So Naomi embraced him while Arthur packed his bags and went with Cobb, leaving her hoping her brother and Cobb can come back home.

[fantasyinvader]

I was thinking some more about the meaning of the Reversed World Arcana when it comes to Edelgard, how it signifies her falling short of her goals. In both English and Japanese, it mentions that her reforms are meant to abolish the nobility.

The thing is, in the Japanese version of Constance's solo ending it's mentioned that Edelgard restores her house's noble status for ONE generation. One, after that her family's status is up in the air. We know that Edelgard promises that nobles who support her can keep their positions, so the Constance ending gives us an idea of how it's supposed to work. Support Edelgard and the current head of the family keeps their job, but the children aren't automatically made heir as that power should revert back to the throne and the Emperor picks the successor. However, the Byleth/Lorenz ending says that they either hand over the position to their son (English) or that the son INHERITS it (Japanese). And this is when Lorenz is old and weak, no longer able to do his job.

Byleth hooking up with Lorenz indicates that Edelgard failed to actually abolish the nobility, instead all she was able to do was make a few reforms. But this got me thinking further.

In the Japanese version, Hubert's Solo ending calls him black-hearted or wicked. It's basically saying that he was immoral or even evil as he went around doing whatever it took to support Edelgard. This includes spying on the public and putting down rebellions, getting his spouse in on the action in a couple of the endings. Edelgard says in her S support that maybe people would have been happier to continue ignorantly living under the Church, but Hubert's endings point to people attempting to rise up against her on multiple occassions only for this black-hearted man to put them down for Edelgard. So I was asking myself, why was the history books painted Hubert as such considering that Byleth's solo ending in conjunction with their Jeritza ending indicates the Empire is spreading false information by making it seem they always used the Sword of Seiros? Anna's ending is from centuries after the war, so why are they looking back on Hubert like that?

The Japanese version of Caspar's endings indicates that while he's made head of the Imperial army, he can't actually control them while they're on missions in other countries. Yet he's given the credit for the success of those missions despite being unable to do his job. Petra is remembered for bringing independence to Brigid, but she also has endings where she has to move to Fodlan as a sign of “friendship” between the Empire and a country that hates the Empire and wanted to support the Church. It really looks like Petra ends up becoming a hostage against her people yet again. Dorothea's merit isn't recognized and if you S support Bernie? She fights against TWSITD against her will to support her husband, becoming the supportive wife her father wanted her to be. Speaking of TWSITD, the history books do know about them despite Edelgard's attempts to make sure no one does, and in Byleth's solo ending it's implied they're still fighting them. They're still fighting TWSITD after Anna's ending states that centuries have passed, so the only way to defeat them is to have someone help them rather than rely on their own strength a la Edelgard's ideals. I guess that also points to Byleth not having a normal lifespan after Flower either unlike what it's supporters say.

Honestly, looking at this I can't help but think that it's not just that Edelgard's reforms failed, but sometime after her retirement the Empire collapsed or something, That it fell back into the same old patterns of the nobility abusing their positions to keep their power, taking it back from the emperor over time. By the time the endings are made, it's hard to look back on Edelgard's war and all the bloodshed that happened and everything that was done to support it and say it was the right thing. Especially with the moral judgement they're making on Hubert.

It would be yet another parallel to Cao Cao, going from the guy who worked to bring peace to China through any means to the villain who usurped power for himself while the likes of Liu Bei, a man who had an unproven connection to the Imperial bloodline and was once denounced for holding up the reunification of the Empire, becomes the hero for opposing him with his flaws scrubbed becoming a Confucian ideal rather than the man who wanted to be an Emperor. Plus the general theme of the novel where those who inherit the Kingdoms fail to live up to the examples of it's founders.

[ladyravenjadethe2nd]

Camie and Iida MHA

So I just tried out writing a new ship in my humor story for the lols and I kind of love it. They are adults in this and Iida is taking his 'nephew' Kaminari's kid out to eat.

Let me just drop part of Camie's point of view here from it and see what you guys think.

Camie like was not at all about her job right now. The hours sucked, her boss sucked, and there was way more dirt, blood, and guts to deal with on a day to day bases then she was expecting. No cap.

Not that she couldn't handle it. She was a Badass capital B, but her fights just weren't sexy enough on TV to get those sweet top 100 perks and that was not lit fam.

So she was lowkey husband shopping.

Boyfriends she could get. They lined up for her inspection, but again and again she found them lacking.

They were all such boys! Broke, rude, and immature, but she was not about old men fam.

Where oh where was her young muscled hunk, that wanted to get married and be both a Dad and a Daddy? One that would support her regardless of if she wanted to stick this Hero business out or retire to be the hottest housewife on the block?

Uh! And here she was looking so fire, and where was her man? The first time she lowered her standards and where was he? New thang was less hot then she deserved and older then her ideal, but he had said he wanted to 'treat' her. She just wanted a gentlemen and the pictures on his phone of him playing with his nieces were totes adorbs!

It had been 20 mins....maybe she should just go home?

With a final glance at the restaurant she had been waiting to go to with a special someone she spun on her attractive name brand heel and laid eyes on wide shoulders in a fitted suit. Yum.

He was tall with shoulders straight back. He gestured with his arms letting her enjoy the size. He had a narrow waist and firm thighs. Oh baby, Momma wants to smack that ass.

Hey she knows those legs!

There was something about a man in a full suit, but with pant legs short enough to show off his calves that was doing it for her. Like yes it was because of his quirk, but those muscles around his engines were firm fam. Did he rev up in bed?

Bet she could them to start smokin'.

The kid next to him was the deal maker. Camie was like gone on him. She loved a man that was good with kids and the little lecture he was giving about manners was like the cutest thing for real.

"Oh. My. God!!!! Tenya! It's been ages! No cap!" She used the opening to get her hands on that arm. So firm. She had to look up to talk to him even in her highest heels. A lady didn't chase after a man, but for this hunk a bitch might powerwalk.

"Ah Utsushimi- er Camie-san! What an unexpected surprise!" Awe he remember she preferred her first name! They hadn't had a chance to talk very often and when they did it was as Heroes. His bulky Hero costume did not do this man justice.

"It's like highkey totes great to run into you fam! You over here flexing that dad vibe." She was over doing it on the slang again, but it just burst out sometimes. Especially if she was just a little flustered.

"I'm not sure what that means, but thank you! You um....you look very nice. Are you here with someone?" Oh putting his arm up like that did great things to his outfit and was that a hint of a blush?!? She was melting.

"Thanks babes! I know this dress just slaps. I like was shook when I saw it! Would you like believe that I was supposed to have a date here, but got stood up? I'm like totes salty about it."

She took the opportunity to draw attention to her....dress and tried to make her tone more flirty and fun then upset about her circumstances.

Tenya gasped in genuine offense on her behalf.

"That scoundrel! It's unforgivable for your time to be wasted like that! It can be so difficult for a Pro Hero to get time off as it is." For a moment he looked almost panicked before he settled into rather red faced determination.

"I insist that you join us for dinner! No gentleman should allow a beautiful lady's night to be ruined!"

Fuck it, she had found her husband.

She agreed quickly because she was not in the mood to play hard to get. No she was in the mood too- where was the kid?

She liked kids and already knew she would like this kid. Mina had tons of stories about him to tell at work. Of course she had recognized little Hisoka on sight from all the pics going round at work.

They had been ignoring him for just a bit and she wanted to introduce herself. Prove how good she was with children and maybe she could have a little fantasy at dinner that she was here with her family and this was just her everyday life.

Hard to do that without the child though.

"Tenya, I totes don't see Hisoka anywhere fam." Had he gone to the restroom? On his own? He was a little young for that wasn't he?

"Hisoka? Hisoka!" Tenya Iida called in a commanding voice that did things to her and with his impressive height he must have spotted the child.

"There!" He pointed into the restaurant and took off.

She slipped her heels off and followed, but not without keeping her eyes on that impressive backside. What was that bitchin song she heard on the radio this morning?

Something like 'She walk past, I press rewind. To see that ass, one more time.'

Yeah babes it was something like that.

This was totes turning out to be a lit first date after all!

Anyway I just find this ship so fun and cute! A commenter called it PrimPop which I love. Anyone have a fic they know of with this rarepair?

I can also see a bit of drama with people assuming she's a golddigger, but really Iida is just a clueless rich boy and if he's going to invite her to a gala it's only right to give her a small present. Something common and useful like Oh diamond earrings! He's mother says they are for all occasions after all.

The full chapter won't make much sense to you if your only interested in this ship, but I'll drop the link anyway.

[suspectjpg]

ONE　MORE　HIT,　　♫　　AND　THEN　I'M　OUT!

[     timothee chalamet ,  cis  man,  he/him   ]     ⸻     have you seen MAX GOODLOE?　yes,　the TWENTY - TWO year old SENIOR that’s usually wandering around campus? they’re currently focused on PUBLIC AFFAIRS,　so we’re sure they’ve been super busy with studying.　according to rumors, they were michael’s FAMILY FRIEND and he knew they PAWN HIS PARENT'S VALUABLES TO FUEL HIS GAMBLING ADDICTION.　does it make sense considering they’re known for being THEATRICAL as well as MACHIAVELLIAN?　either way,　the phantom is threatening to bring scary things to light,　but let’s hope whatever they’re hiding stays in the dark.  [  maria,  21,  she/her,  mst,  body horror ]

rly quick stats

introducing maxwell vernon goodloe

known as. max

dob. 9 december 2002

zodiac big three. sagittarius sun, libra moon, gemini rising

sexuality. bisexual

extracurriculars. not me forgetting what i put him down as ... i think editor for the phoenix news and the debate team

inspirations. mainly just saul goodman (i'm sorry) but consider any other antihero with charm and a whimsical but sinsiter nature to be an inspiration too

biography

raised in nevada near the las vegas strip! by his mama. she moved there in her 20s in search of fame n' fortune but she eventually just got stuck at the stripping job she initially took to help jumpstart her career. when she had max, she had to take other measures so she had the $$$ to raise him. even if it meant pulling him into scams she'd pull on tourists and forcing him to tag along on her rounds as an avon rep because 'it sells better when you flash 'em your big puppy dog eyes, maxie'. things like that stick with max as he grows older, starts perusing the strip with his friends for victims of his own. all to make a quick buck.

one day, she just so happened to pick the wrong tourist to try n' scam and nearly ended up in something resembling a fistfight (resembling because the guy was a head taller than her and she wouldn't have lasted a second) when a good samaritan butts in and defends her!!! scares the big lug away. the moment his mama learns that said good samaritan was a politician from los angeles (ie. $$$$$$$), she's laying the charm on thick. he's older (ie. balding), mild-mannered, in need of a good ego stroke so it's not long before they're getting hitched and max is on a one-way flight to los angeles! he's just 14 then.

max doesn't like it at first. doesn't like how stuffy and snobby everyone seems. hates his moms weird new husband too. but he wins max over in time, and they grow to have a genuinely wholesome relationship! so much so that max decides he'd like to be a politician, just like him. he's surely got the charisma for it, says his now father. but he never did grow out of his knack for causing trouble and pullin' a fast one on just about anybody, courtesy of his mom, so there's a real moral struggle there. but all politicians are a little slimy, right? what does it matter if he cut corners if it meant the greater good coming to fruition? ends justify the means, always always always.

golden state is a no brainer. his father went there and his father before him. and now max was one of them! so he'd go too. he didn't even think he'd go to college, so it's all a little foreign to him and he does just about anything to pass. and i do mean anything. he evens joins a few clubs! look at him go!

of course, it's not without a few problems. a couple months after his 21st, him n' his buddies went to a casino just to say they have. max ended up pocketing 8k and has been chasing that high ever since. it's escalated in the past couple of months, what with law school coming up for him shortly. he's started stealing his parent's valuables to have money to gamble with. turns out he's still just that kid on the strip lookin' to make a quick buck.

personality

very theatrical! the son of a politician and a retired scammer, so he is ever the showman and the smooth talker. he knows it too, so he can be up his own ass but his devil-may-care attitude and general amiableness means he is a guaranteed good time.

if chaotic neutral was a person. strikingly dishonest and flaky. but again!!! the ends justify the means for max. and the ends is always the best outcome for his loved ones.

SO tacky, especially as it relates to his appearance!! mismatched prints and loud colors and the whole nine yards. the rate at which he buys new clothes, it's like you can just tell having so much money is a very new prospect to him. not that he wears hella name brands but it's just very lee in bones and all coded. the little brown western shirt, the floral shirt and the grandma cardigan!! yeah!! he doesn't let it go to waste either, if it doesn't fit he's just take scissors to it and wear it anyways. takes great care to look the way he does (ie. just slightly disheveled at all times). in a permanent state of looking for the next reflective surface to check how his hair's sitting.

catchphrase is "i hardly know her"

runs on one redbull and a cigarette and that's it

also, don't think i mentioned it so i thought i'd tack it here at the end, but i figured michael kepler's parents and max's would run in the same social circles and whatnot

[spice-and-fire]

PARTIES: @spice-and-fire TIMING: Months before Devi arrived in Wicked’s Rest LOCATION: Rabat, Morocco SUMMARY: Devi confesses to a comrade’s widow. CONTENT: Gun use

Heaven offers nothing that a mercenary soul can desire. Devi never understood what that meant when her father shared it with her the first time. But she never expected those words to stand the testament of time, surviving even her old man. Maybe she still doesn’t. The closest she almost came to realizing what it could truly mean was months before she arrived in Wicked’s Rest, when she turned her back on the life her old man had given her, a life neither of them ever wanted but had to turn to in order to survive. Devi could have turned her back on it months earlier, though, years even, but her mercenary soul wouldn’t. Not until another family had to experience her similar fate.

ﮩ

Gunfire. A hail of bullets. In a dimly lit room, where an inexperienced soldier could feel that the walls were closing in, Devi relished the violence, excited at the chaos that came with a life filled with action. She laughed, a little too maniacally then for her present version’s tempered taste, as she contended not only with the closed space, but also with the bad lighting, the dust and the iron, in that hellhole. They were outnumbered. Or at least that’s what the enemy wanted them to feel. Truth was, Devi and her company weren’t sure. It was hard to see down there. Not just because of the terrible quality of vision but also because any attempt to lay eyes on whoever was gunning them down risked losing an actual eye. Or both.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Soldier!” The man’s name was Tarik. He was handsome. Tall and dark. But unfortunately already married. Devi had met his wife once. Or twice. Even before they made it official. This was supposed to be his last job before he retired. Devi thought he was too young to do that but still honored his wishes. Might as well go out in a blaze of glory, right? Should be one hell of a story to tell his kids. And his kids’ kids. “Get down, will you? What are you trying to do? Get yourself killed?”

Devi laughed again. She could barely hear him amidst the gunfire. No doubt he was the same with her. But that was why they learned to read each others’ lips. Among other things. “Can’t die, Turk,” she pressed her back against the hard earthen wall, a suitable cover in that underground ruin that quickly became the crypt of allies and enemies alike. “You know that! More importantly, any theories on how they found us?”

Without waiting for his response, Devi quickly stepped out in the open, fired a few bullets at their antagonists, and then instinctively slipped back, behind her cover, as if this was not a life-threatening situation. To her, that may be true. To the rest of their crew, however, and to those against them? Well, dead men can’t argue. Only the living can. Best survive to say one’s piece.

“The usual, most likely,” Tarik heaved a sigh, following her suit. The only difference was, instead of just taking a step and immediately shooting like a careless immortal, the recently made husband took a knee, surprising an enemy combatant, and shot them down like it was hunting season, with cold-blooded precision. Then, like Devi had done, he returned to his much safer position: behind the stone wall. “Another local guide betrayed us for a few pieces of silver.”

“That a Christian reference, Turk?” Devi slipped back in the fight, took down another enemy, and slipped back into her cover. Seamlessly. Without any fear or remorse. “You know you just inserted the f-word in the middle of the big guy’s name, right? Not very Christian of you.”

“Don’t tell my wife,” Tarik casually quipped as he threw out a live grenade, making their enemies scream before the inevitable boom. “I’m still learning, but I was terrible at school.”

The long-time partners laughed. Even as the bullets continued to rain on them, steel against earth and flesh, people on both sides screaming in pain and fear. Despite the chaos and confusion around them, the pair still found solace in each other, a welcomed respite from the violence and desperation, a terribly timed delusion and mockery of death and life. And that last sentiment weighed heavy on fate, maybe even the universe, and the devil or death itself took it upon themselves to enact justice. Destiny has had enough.

“Yeah, well, tell her when you get back,” Devi grinned. The bullets from their antagonists began to dwindle. Someone on that side screamed something. It was a language she didn’t understand. European? Whatever. She gestured for Tarik to wait on her signal, cover her if need be, and took a quick peek. Her eyes grew wide in horror when she realized why the gunfire that was pinning them slowed down to a halt. What the fuck?! “ROCKET LAUNCHER!”

The last thing she heard was Tarik screaming for everyone to get down. Then the inevitable doom. The loud explosion. Bits and pieces of earth flying everywhere, people screaming and crying and coughing, and Tarik’s own yelling, though she could not hear him that well. It was the painful ringing in her ears and the equally painful aftermath of being thrown back by a freaking rocket that made it hard for the phoenix to concentrate on her partner’s voice.

When she opened her eyes, she could barely see anything apart from the dust and shadows, the silhouettes of her own people on the ground. Devi mouthed Tarik’s name as she searched for him as fast as she could, though she was barely moving at her normal pace. Letting out a cough, she tried to get back up to her feet. Despite her fragile bones, she wasn’t going to die down there. She should have died years back, with her late father, but it was too late now. That would have been the best death for her. Everything else would fail in comparison.

A smile formed across her lips, though a cough still persisted in escaping them, when she saw Tarik’s form standing tall over her. When their eyes met, she felt like a heavy weight was lifted from her shoulders. Hell, she even heaved a sigh of relief. 

“Soldier…” Devi remembered him smiling back at her, a confident smirk on his face. “I've got your back.” Always and forever.  

And then he got run down by the enemy, a million bullets exploding through him, from his back. One after another. Without an end in sight. 

Devi screamed his name, and as if on cue, their remaining comrades-in-arms came pouring forth from behind her, all ready to give their lives to avenge their favorite leader. Their favorite son. Or maybe they just realized they were all going to die down there, so why not take the bastards with them? Again, gunfire. A neverending hail of bullets. People screamed, some their last, and bodies dropped to the ground like used clothes. Devi ignored everyone and everything else. Two sides of a fight, both were just trying to survive, none of which mattered to her. 

“You’re gonna come…to my kid’s birthday, right?” 

She took to his body, cradling him in her arms.

“No, no, no…” Devi looked him over, trying to reassure herself, the both of them, that it was all a trick, that he was just fine, that he would survive. The bullet holes denied her that outcome. He was bleeding everywhere. On the ground. Even on her.

“...gonna visit…during the holidays?”

“...no, please… Please stop… No, you can’t…”

“No…? To the birth…day…” Even dying, Tarik still kept his sense of humor. “Or the holidays…?”

“Turk… Tarik, you’re going to be fine, alright?” Tears began to streak across her cheeks as her voice slowly started to quiver. “I’m going to bring… We’re going to make it back, alright? Together? Just hold on…” Devi looked around, hoping she’d find someone else to help. Yet there was no one. No one but the two of them. The rest were bodies. Or were close to joining him. Hiding behind unsuitable cover. Bleeding. Screaming. Heaving. They were supposed to find treasure there, not death. It was supposed to be an underground treasury, not their grave.

Tarik’s hand made its way to her cheek, struggling to even wipe a tear away. “They got me good, huh, Soldier?” He was smiling. She was crying. They were both losing each other. And him his life. His future. “It’s okay… Hey, l-listen to me… Just p-promise…me…one thing… Look out for…”

In a way, it was indeed his last job. They just thought it would end differently.

As Devi watched in horror, her best friend breathed his last, and her entire body trembled. Her once-dried eyes, wide with excitement, were now soaked with her tears and his blood. The rest was noise, but she could no longer hear anything else. She panicked, screaming at him to come back, to hold on, to fight the light. Or whatever was waiting for him in the afterlife. Because she was waiting for him in that life. His wife was waiting for him. His child… Dear gods, his child… His child wouldn’t even get to meet his father!

The loss was too much for Devi to bear. The grief was too much to contain, and in the phoenix’s rage, her scream blanketed everything else, turning the battlefield into something much worse, as the fires from her soul followed her desperate wailing, escaping her body and pouring out to drape everyone and everything else in their furious revenge. 

ﮩ

“I scorched them all,” Devi stated, eyes firmly stuck on a single pattern of the wallpaper across from where she sat. Her right leg was bobbing up and down like there was no tomorrow. Her body was leaning forward, despite her head being too afraid to meet her witness’ face. She clenched her jaw, swallowed air, as she made her biggest confession. “...everyone. Nothing remained. Nothing but cinders and ash. Nothing to even remember them by…”

The woman opposite her was drenched in tears, a hand on her mouth. It wasn’t to hide shock, to keep her jaw from falling to the ground. It was to contain her hateful scream, to keep her sobbing, her anguish, from drowning the entire house. She knew what had happened to her husband, feared the worst in the days prior to his departure. She had warned him against the job, after all, but he was so stubborn, so blinded by the possibility of wealth and a future where they would no longer worry about anything material that he could not see this very possibility. And now he was reduced to a memory by a “misfired explosive.”

An eternity of silence erupted between Devi and Tarik’s widow. It was just the two of them in that small room in that small house, but the distance felt farther and farther with each silent second that passed. 

ﮩ

“You go where the angels tell you to go,” Devi listened to Tarik’s voice in her mind’s ear, remembering the advice he gave him before they did their last job together. It was a cozy afternoon in Morocco. Just him and her and the sun. “You do what they ask you to do…to the best of your ability.”

She continued to cry on the train, empty and alone.

[pbandjesse]

Exhaustion just hit me like a ton of bricks. I laid down to write this and my body was just like oh awesome sleep time!!! Ridiculous. That's alright it was a good day and I feel happy.

Even if this morning was tough! I slept alright and woke up at 715. I got dressed and felt alright. I wore my new scarf coat and thought I would be cozy. But I was only partially right.

It was a little drizzly this morning but that would clear up quickly and then it was just wildly windy. And so I had to spend the whole morning cold and fighting against the wind which always makes me exhausted.

James helped me set up and I really enjoyed seeing my market friends. Ginny and her husband Craig were back. Craig's 95 year old mother passed away, and they will be gone again to speak at her funeral next week. She lived a long and happy life, but I am said for Craig. It is always to soon to lose your mom.

I didn't sell much but it was fine. I enjoyed chatting with people and working on my little embroidery project.

But man was I cold. Stanley would come out and put down almost all of the sides and it helped but it was still rough. Sometimes the gusts would throw people's signs and knock the sides out of their tracks. It would be startling but thankfully no one was hurt.

My frogs kept falling off the table. But I didn't lose anything. I sold a froggies and a pig. A few stickers. I had nice conversations and tried to remain positive. But I was cold and the wind was killing me a bit.

I would go inside and visited James and warm up. We had gone over to Ginny to buy some baked goods but she also gave us a bag of leftovers which was very much appreciated. We have so many baked goods between her and me going to the Dutch market. It was nice to just hug in James for a few minutes.

1 o'clock could not come fast enough. I was so tired. Both in general and of fighting the wind. I enjoyed chatting with Ann, Helen and Rod, teasing about his apparently secret girlfriend. Those last couple minutes went so slowly. But right before 1 I packed up. Shared a donut with Stanley. And put everything in the car.

I went inside to hug on James. I had to wait a few minutes while they helped some guests. And then went home.

It took longer then normal. No idea why. I got back before 130. The apartment smelled bad again!! It is just by the kitchen and I was just like. I have to solve this.

So I would spend about an hour cleaning

I double bagged the trash and cleaned the trashcan. I put it in the bathtub and used very hot water and cleaned and the water turned brown. Gross. I scrubbed the whole thing and a few things came out of the bottom. So when I was draining the can I picked up the gross little pieces of trash. And you won't believe what I found. James's engagement ring! The first one! Because James had 3 over the year we were engaged. James was so excited and I'm so happy we were able to get that back to them.

I would finish cleaning. I vacuumed and swiffered and was able to wedge the broken window open a crack to get some air over there. And it helped. When I got back at 9 tonight there was no more bad smell. Yay.

I got cleaned up and put on a big Tshirt and laid down.

I would sleep until 430. Very strong and active dreams. It took me a minute to gather myself. But I would get up and got redressed.

And then James was home! I wasn't sure we would cross paths. But we did and I would try on all of my sweaters before I gave them a smooch and headed out.

I went to the museum for the wedding. And it was so nice to see Joel. It was apparently the first wedding he had ever worked. I would give him so tips. But I wasn't worried about him. He's an amazing educator and just a smart cookie. I also got to meet the new Jesse who is taking over Angie's position when she retires at the end of the year. He's a nice guy! I am pretend mad there is a new Jesse but he seems like he's going to be good at the job, I hope for the best with him.

I had a lot of fun tonight. I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't print like I thought. But I had fun in the garment loft. I had some excellent conversations. It was actually pretty busy! Consistent. And I had fun just telling stories and working on my embroidery. People were just really nice and even though I was missing dinner at topside I was still having a good time.

The timeline was different then we had been told originally so dinner was at 7 and not 730. So at 730 Angie said we could leave. I called James and asked if they were done dinner and they said I could come through and join them for dessert.

So that's exactly what I did. James would meet me outside to help me find a parking spot and we went up and I was excited to see Margot. She is my favorite of the cousins for sure. We talk the most. And she brought us all crystals! She got me two tiny ones, a turquoise and a grey one I'm not sure what it is but I will instigate further. James got lapis lazuli! Very cool!

Me and Margot both got a very sour passion fruit Panna Cotta. Which she loved, and j thought would be better with whipped cream. But it was also just nice to see Anne and Tucker and James aunt and I'm really glad I was able to get over there to see them.

We would take a group picture outside. And then hugs and goodbye. Me and James went and got their bike and loaded that on the car and headed home. Lots of dumb drivers but we made it home in one piece.

When we got back I was super happy there was no bad smell anymore. I held Sweetp. We fed him some of a cookie. I went and got a shower after getting rid of some small eggs in the frog tank.

And now we are in bed. And I'm really ready to sleep. I'm hoping to have a nice little morning doing some organizing. Then I'll go pick up me and Celia's pottery!! I'll go to awah. And do more clay there. And then Callie is coming over. Possibly Margot and Charlotte will join us. Either way it'll be a nice day.

Sleep well everyone. Have a nice day tomorrow.

[steddieficlets]

Title: Age Is Just A Number, Babe.

Pairing: Steddie, background ronance, oc x Steve.

Rating: SFW for now. Will change to NSFW later.

Tags for this chapter: age gap ( Eddie is 26, Steve is 40, although Eddie isn't featured in this chapter. It's more of a pre-warning), angst, fluff, bisexual Steve Harrington, stobin bromance, lesbian Robin Buckley, lesbian Nancy Wheeler, idealisation of the American dream, sex talk, silver fox Steve Harrington, male biphobia.

Summary: Steve Harrington is approaching middle age. He's single and miserable about it. What happens when he meets a mysterious young barman named Eddie Munson and falls head over heels? Lots of drama! Eddie has baggage, lots of it, which might just force Steve to confront some of his own.

When Steve Harrington was twenty years old, he imagined that life at forty years old would look like something out of his twenty year olds self dreams. For one, he'd be happily married with a cushy job that eventually led to an even cushier retirement and living in a nice house with those cliche white picket fences surrounding it. He'd be a father to at least two kids; the genders weren't important as long as they were happy and healthy. The imaginary Harrington family went on vacations twice a year and spent many holidays with auntie Robin. Oh, and they had a dog named Buster, a golden retriever that was loyal and protective to a fault, the epitome of man's best friend. Yeah, those naive dreams were once his personal visual novel when he slept at night. Who needed to read the latest Stephen King, they were creep-fests anyway, when he could just close his eyes and see the happy future that awaited him?

But life for Steve Harrington at forty years old was anything but a dream. His first wife, his high-school sweetheart Nancy Wheeler, had divorced him after only three years of marriage. Together, they had been the prom king and queen of the class of 1970. The couple that everyone wanted to be and were predicted to be together forever. Nancy told people after the divorce that the decision was mutual because it turned out they just wanted different things after the childish glamour of being Hawkin's High's most famous couple wore off. He wanted his nuclear fantasy. She wanted to be a hotshot reporter. Steve, on the other hand, didn't stop loving Nancy even once the divorce was final. It only settled in that things were finally over two years later when his best friend since junior high, Robin, asked him nervously for his permission to date, Nancy. He said yes and never asked how long the two women had harboured feelings for each other. Honestly, he didn't want to know. 

Marriage number two lasted longer a few years longer. Her name was Crystal, with long legs, long blonde hair, blue eyes, and a hefty pair of tits and ass. They were married within three months of meeting after a whirlwind romance full of wild adventure. For a time, those three months and beyond were a different life for Steve, the homegrown, corn-fed, all-American boy. They partied hard in clubs and at home, travelled all over, took different kinds of drugs, and had threesomes with other women, sometimes more, maybe a guy too, if Crystal felt like it. But as the years passed, Steve found himself once again, yearning for the life he used to dream of, or at least parts of it. Crystal didn't want kids or stability; she didn't want a Buster either. Things that she failed to mention, and Steve failed to ask sincerely for fear of having it all rejected when they were dating. Ultimately, Crystal left him when Steve suggested he wanted to have a threesome with another man and that he wanted to be the one to fuck said man. Apparently, Crystal was allowed to sleep with women. But when her husband wanted to fuck a guy, it was disgusting.

At least he had somewhere decent to live. A nice one-bedroom apartment on the northern side of Chicago where only a few blocks obscured his view of the stretching lake. People cared about the local community, and neighbourhood grandmas brought him brownies and pies on the regular and their pretty daughters in hopes they might catch his attention, but they rarely did. In turn, Steve took care of some odd jobs when they needed it, fixing stuff or painting a wall. He had a decent job as a paramedic with a pathway to Paramedic Chief if he kept playing his cards right. No one could say he wasn't a model citizen. But still, his life lacked love, kids, and a dog named Buster. Something that he lamented to Robin every Sunday morning when they met up for coffee while Nancy wrote at home.

"Maybe you're going about this all wrong," Robin told him before sipping on her decaf coffee, caffeinated gave her headaches.

"No shit, Rob." He deadpanned in return, folding his arms with a self-indulgent pout. Two women at the next table over hushed their conversation to stare and whisper over the muscle bulging out from Steve's plain white t-shirt. He shot them a small flirtatious smile. Still got it. Robin rolled her eyes, her lesbian immunity to the male physique stronger than ever.

"Look, I'm not exactly an expert on being a man. But you're still an attractive guy with a lot to offer. Chicks dig a well maintained man nowadays. It's 1997."

"My hairs grey–"

"Hot."

"What?"

"I read it in one of Nance's girly mags. Guys with naturally greying hair are the new black. They're representative of a man who will take care of you and treat you well."

"Rob, you know that sounds like horseshit, right?" Although, those were traits that Steve considered himself to have when it came to his partners, and he did have very impressive hair that had weathered well over the years. One thing Steve Harrington never missed was his monthly trip to the salon to maintain his lady killer mane.

"Yeah, but I was bored and the magazine was there. I think Nance only buys them for the fashion pages."

Steve sighed, then suddenly grimaced inside at how it might have sounded like he was wistfully reminiscing over Nancy. He wasn't. The subject of his waning love life always put him in a dour mood. But he said nothing, like always, and sipped his latte. "Mm, sounds like her."

Robin quickly drove the conversation away from her girlfriend and took the plunge into something she'd been thinking about for a while regarding her best friend. Leaning across the table, her denim-clad elbows resting atop the wooden surface, she looked inquisitively at Steve. "Why not try dating another man again?"

After nearly spilling hot coffee on himself in surprise, Steve went wide-eyed, staring back at Robin as his brain tried to process the suggestion. Date a man. He tried it back between his marriages to Nancy and Crystal, but with the AID's epidemic ravaging the gay community in the eighties. It'd been difficult and scary. He, Robin and Nancy went to so many funerals that he eventually gave up and met Crystal, who, ironically, ended up divorcing him for being queer. But that was in the past. Things could be different in 1997. The shock slowly melted away into contemplation. Having a man in his life sounded pretty sweet, someone he could be a dumbass with that'd laugh at fart jokes and farts in general. Nancy and Robin didn't care for them, sadly. Steve's only real male friends, Jonathan and Argyle, had moved to LA five years ago, where Jonathan opened a photography studio that Argyle ran. As much as he loved Robin, she was family despite no blood relation, and considering his shitty parents, he missed having that male presence. 

"Earth to Steve? Are you listening?" Robin's excited aura punched through his thoughts, and his head snapped up to meet her. "I've got tickets for next Friday to this new queer bar opening downtown called Hellfire. Maybe you could meet someone there."

"Maybe," he responded—the usual Harrington confidence wavering in the face of putting himself back on the dating scene. But maybe Robin was right. Perhaps this time, he'd find someone and get it right.

TBC.

[ofaflower]

𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐍 : 𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐌 𝐂𝐀𝐍𝐎𝐍

Reposted from an old blog. This canon is compliant to 2009 films by Guy Ritchie. However, there are canon divergencies detailed below. This is written with a base understanding of the events of the films.

Mary Morstan was raised in an Orphanage, but around the age of fourteen she was hired to be a “domestic servant” in a house for a Banker and his family. While she was there, the eldest child, who was close to her age, took a shine to her and taught her how to read and write, how to do math — all while she was helping their governess and maid with their jobs.

The family realised Mary was a bright young thing who learned quickly and had become an asset to the daily life over time, and eventually increased her pay by a small margin and gave her more duties before she was taken under the wing of their Governess to learn all the skills she would need to take the position when she retired a few years later. Mary worked as the house’s governess for a period as the youngest of the family’s children became of age. When the eldest daughter asked Mary to come to Bath with her, as he had married and was expecting a child, she decided she didn’t want to leave the city now that she had the skills and experience to work on her own terms. The country felt so dull, and while she was very grateful to the Lady — she knew there were limited options down that path.

Mary remained in London, moving from house to house every few years until wealthy children sent their sons to school and their daughters needed more refined guidance and lessons she couldn’t provide. She eventually settled in the home of (ironically) another Banker where she bonded with the family quite well. The family had money to afford her, but not high society enough for them to eventually require finer study. It seemed like she had herself set up nicely for a few years. Four years prior to meeting her future husband, Mary had been in love with another man. A professor at her charges’ school had taken a shine to her, and her to him. At first, she had been wary about following this — but her heart won out and the two began courting. After a year he proposed to her and she accepted.

Her happiness was short lived as he was in an accident three months later, they had been waiting until the spring to get married — which meant she not only lost her husband-to-be but she had very little legal claim to the things he wanted her to have. She wore her ring for a year afterwards — before finally taking it off her finger and keeping it on a chain around her neck where it remained for a while.

She was hesitant to accept John Watson, whom she had met on the train by chance one day, but he had been understanding and patient once she had told him her story. Insisting he did not wish to replace her late fiancé, just also love her as well. At which, Mary finally allowed herself to accept him courting her.

Shortly before his proposal to Mary, Watson arranged a dinner with her and Holmes to introduce him to his fiancée, a meeting which Holmes had been desperately trying to avoid. Initially Mary was friendly and very interested in Holmes’ skills, admitting that she was a devotee of detective novelists such as Wilkie Collins and Edgar Allan Poe. She is skeptical, however, about the protagonists’ abilities to make such grand assumptions from such tiny details. Holmes argues against her, that in fact the smallest details are sometimes the most important. To prove his point, he uses Watson’s cane – a rare African snakewood hiding a blade, which was awarded to some veterans of the Afghan War – to deduce that he was a decorated soldier, and from that that he is strong, brave, neat, and a man of action. Then, in a barb against Watson, deduces from a boxing match ticket stub in his pocket that Watson is a bit of a gambler, and warns Mary to watch her dowry because he’s lost the rent more than once.

Mary nonetheless remains unconvinced because of the pair’s long friendship, and things go sour when against Watson’s advice she insists he examine her. Holmes starts off by deducing that she is a governess and that her student, who is tall for his age, flicked ink at her that day, and that her level-headed response persuaded the lady of the house to let her borrow her jewellery. He next realizes from a missing ring that she had previously been engaged; however, he upsets her by deducing she left her fiancé for money, when in truth he had died. Angrily, she throws her drink in Holmes’ face and leaves the restaurant, followed by Watson.

Despite this bad first impression, Mary sees how much Holmes cares for Watson, when he pretends to be a doctor in order to visit Watson whilst on the run. She also comes to grow fond of him in her own way, while still wishing to maintain boundaries – but thinking of the chap as a friend she cared for greatly, even if he pushed her. Proven by her Honeymoon being disrupted by the man himself, bringing danger into their lives once more and derailing their plans. She was tossed from the train, but landed safely in the company of Mycroft Holmes whom she got on with to her surprise after an interesting start.

Her love of mysteries and literature, as well as her studies and teachings, made her the perfect fit when Holmes sent her and Mycroft the secret of Moriarty’s dealings and decoded it for the police. An action which led to his property being detained and an arrest for him ordered. Of course, she never imagined what would happen next. The death of Sherlock Holmes rocked them greatly, her heart going to her husband who grieved tremendously. All she can do now, is help him as much as she can and guide them as they begin their married life together… even if she sometimes misses the man too.

This specific verse is compliant to the Guy Ritchie series of films, for a more book based Victorian verse, as well as the version of Mary used for BBC muses - please see the Classic Novels version of Mary.

[spumonibones]

Chasing Wings: Memoria Chapter 11

Pairing: Xiao x Venti

First Chapter (Ao3) ; First Chapter (Tumblr)

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Lore/Story Notes

Chapter CW: None

Update Schedule: Every Wednesday

Canon Divergence AU; Other Four Yaksha Still Live; Zhongli already retired but Osial hasn't happened; Canon Typical Violence

Summary:"To Err is Human, to Forget is Godly."Almost 500 years ago, the Cataclysm happened. As the fires and monsters dwindled, most of the Seven had fallen. One, Barbatos, simply disappeared - and in his absence, the mourning songs of Dvalin would serenade the land of wind each yearly anniversary. The surviving Archons presumed him dead, and Monstadt presumed he simply never was.Then one day, before a Traveler will fish Teyvat's Best Guide from its waters, a young man named Venti is rescued by the Vigilant Yaksha. Without memory a face as familiar as it is foreign, the question then becomes... What path can one take, when new memories meet old?

***

“He's going to be pissed.” Indarius grumbled, her gaze on the meal set before her as the pair waited in Wangshu Inn's kitchen. Sitting across from her was Menogias, making happy noises at the tea he was sipping upon. At the stove, doing everything he could to focus on his cooking, was Smiley Yanxiao. It wasn't everyday that two yaksha showed up, asked for treats, and then said they were there to see someone. Add on one clearly enjoyed the offerings the cook put forth, and it was all he could do to keep his hands from shaking. 

“I suppose. But, we must perform our due diligence, yes?” Menogias pointed out, and lightly rapped his fingers against his mug thoughtfully. The pair had already spoken to Verr Goldet and her husband Huai’an, and the conversation was peculiar. Not the sort of person that Menogias would have guessed Xiao would be interested in based on that alone. The best explanation he could come to, was that the owner and his wife were not aware as to what Venti's true identity could be. Which was good. Such things were best left as unknowns to mortals. 

“Venti claims to be a bard from Monstadt, but he seems to be in hiding from something - or someone. He likes his drink a bit too much,” Verr Goldet had explained, casting a glance at her sheepish husband, “so I've entertained drunken foolishness as the likely cause, though I've no proof. My subordinates did some investigating, and found there hasn't been a bard named Venti in centuries. Either that isn't his real name, or he's not actually from Monstadt.” 

“What do you make of his character?” Indarius inquired, eyes as intense as the Pyro she wielded boring into Verr Goldet’s eyes. The mortal woman held the gaze, a respect and reverence in her own eyes. While the goal wasn't to assess Wanghshu Inn, the yaksha still felt pleased with this. 

“Thus far, he's punctual to all his performances. Arrives early to check the instruments, to test he can be heard. I'll give him this: his musical talents are demanded the most at our inn. Our clients love that they can request most anything, and he can perform it. Means he's studious and serious about his art. However, he's played a fair number of pranks on people, and the one time Director Hu stopped by for a visit was enough. I told them both they had to spend time together elsewhere. Not here. If you intend on speaking with him, a bit of advice. The more he rhymes, the less of him you'll see. That said, just because he stops doesn't mean he's telling the truth or he won't use his words to redirect conversation. Aside from that, he's friendly and no one's complained about him, including the Conqueror of Demons, and I trust his assessment over mine.”

Her warnings painted a rather unflattering picture of the bard, but the two yaksha supposed it was the nature of Verr Goldet. She took her job of tending to and informing the yaksha of what she deemed important seriously. The most telling part of her words, was that in spite all of her concerns she still made no effort to kick the bard out. Clearly, he wasn't that bad. 

Although now, Menogias suspected Verr Goldet was starting to catch on that Xiao was more invested in Venti than initially thought. The way her brow rose, before furrowing. “Does… The Conquerer of Demons need… Help with Venti?” The woman was hesitant to ask, uncertain how to best broach the question politely. 

“No, we have it under control.” Menogias assured her with a smile. Verr Goldet looked between the two, said nothing, before nodding. 

Menogias got the feeling she didn't trust their yaksha ability to adequately woo a human. If she wasn't so good to Xiao, he would have complained but kept it to himself out of consideration for the Anemo yaksha. 

After that discussion, the two yaksha were waiting in the kitchen while Verr Goldet went to retrieve the bard. Once Smiley Yanxiao wrapped up his current dish, he would exit to avoid extended contact with the karmic debt that was beginning to permeate the room. 

Within minutes the plate and drink were on the table, and the cook was gone. Not long after, there was a knock at the door as Verr Goldet and Venti entered. “Ah, these are my esteemed visitors!” The bard declared, and Indarius noted there was subtle relief in his words. Venti extended his arms in a greeting, beaming at the two with a face both thought no one would see again. 

When Xiao told them that Venti might be Barbatos, they assumed the uncertainty was due to a different body. That had been the way of the Archons, especially the ones that tried to fit in with humans better. Both sat speechless, Indarius’ mouth dropping open while Menogias’ eyes went wide as they could. Seeing their shock, Verr Goldet pinched Venti's ear so she could whisper sharply into his ear, 

“What did you do?!” 

“No, he's fine.” Menogias said quickly, starting to stand to save the bard’s ear from further abuse. At that, Verr Goldet released the ear and apologized to the bard. “He's just not what we pictured, is all.” The Geo yaksha explained, mind racing between past and present. Xiao wasn’t a fool, he doubtlessly noted the similarities. More than that, if this had been arranged by Zhongli then there was no one better in the world to assess who this was. Which begged the question: what about this Venti made them doubt Barbatos had returned?

“Is that a compliment or an insult?” Venti asked, rubbing his ear while trying to keep the frown wanting to form at bay. 

“Please knock three times if you need anything. Again, I'm sorry about that Venti.” Verr Goldet said, and hurried out before she embarrassed herself with a second misunderstanding. 

“I need to talk to her.” Indarius mumbled, both hands on her face and rubbing it. “She has no idea how wrong she has some of this…”

“Thank you for joining us, Venti. Would you like a seat?” Menogias offered, motioning towards the chair with food already prepared. 

“Oh, don't mind if I do!” Venti smiled, quickly joining the two at the table. Eyeing him, Menogias was surprised at the eagerness. Definitely not the attitude from Liyue, that was very Monstadt in nature. “...Does our karmic debt not affect you?” He asked, and got a shake of the head. There had been no hesitation, the bard was already eating. 

All Menogias could do was observe, and wish Xiao had been more transparent. From what he could see, this was clearly Barbatos. Perhaps without his memory, but Menogias couldn't fathom how this man could be anyone else. As this went on, Venti finally motioned at the Geo yaksha with a curious face. 

“I'm sorry, this is going to be rude, but… Did you ask to meet me to stare at me? I know I'm very handsome, but if you don't stop soon I'm going to blush.” Venti said, batting his eyes playfully at Menogias. 

The Geo yaksha blinked. Next to him, the Pyro yaksha furrowed her brows, trying to make sense what about the person in front of them managed to interest Xiao. But the next second, she was five-hundred years in the past, bleeding and crying and being held by the same face and arms as this bard. 

It was jarring the difference, but equally hadn't this been her first impression of Barbatos, too? 

“My apologies. You just… Bear an uncanny resemblance to someone else.” Menogias explained, gathering his bearings at length. For a split second Venti froze, fingers tightening on his chopsticks, before relaxing. A laugh escaped the bard, his eyes to the side and not on the yaksha. 

“Is that so? I'm confident I'm much easier on the eyes - but even more confident in how easy I am on the ears! But enough about me! Actually, I think I know why you're here.” Venti spoke clearly and easily, the two yaksha tensing. 

Oh no. Had they given Xiao away? Verr Goldet was right, the bard was clever!

“You two want me to cleanse your karmic debt too, right?” Venti asked, leaning on one hand while he grinned at the two now sweating yaksha.

Indarius relaxed her shoulders, relieved the bard hadn't recognized the real purpose. Instead, he was bribing them with a distraction away from his face. She was willing to accept it, if only out of respect. Even if she was curious why. The way Venti didn’t want to be recognized made him all the more suspicious.The smoothness of the redirection from who he might be was reminiscent of how Zhongli did the same, and just further cemented her belief this was Barbatos.

“We couldn't ask such a thing of you without offering something in return. It would be unfair to Xiao.” Menogias, kind, sweet, honest Menogias. With a sigh, Indarius had to accept that only she caught on.

“It'd be my pleasure.” Venti's grin softened to a smile, eyes easing from mischief to kindness. “You two are like Xiao's family, right? I get it. You wanted to make sure I'm not hurting him. I've actually been trying to find more ways to thank him.” He admitted, glancing down briefly before looking back at the pair earnestly. “I'm going to play music regardless, so even if he wasn't helping me I'd be doing it. It just… Doesn't feel like it's enough. Xiao's been very kind and patient with me. But if I help you two, I know it'll make him happy.” Venti finished, looking hopefully between the two yaksha. 

Indarius and Menogias turned to each other and nodded. If this was who Venti was, their brother never stood a chance. At least they were able to make sense of that mystery.

“We understand the sentiment, however, we can't just-” Menogias was trying to decline, as while he understood Venti's feelings it still felt like the pair would need to express gratitude. But his words fell upon ears that ignored them, Venti waving him off and already playing the flute. 

It was a different flute this time, the sound similar but distinct from the Dihua flute the two heard once, long ago. Peaceful, all the same. As if the pain and frustration and isolation of far too many years had been weights upon their shoulders lifted off. Menogias’ first thought was: I miss him. The memories of farming for Geo mushrooms, and planting them as ‘surprises’ for the other yaksha. Rex Lapis finding them instead, and leading Azhdaha over to Menogias’ traps to ‘eat these treats.’ The way Azhdaha's tail wagged, pleased with the find. 

The way everyone was once there, and they all remembered each other.

“Oh…” Standing up, blinking his eyes to keep back the tears, he smiled at the bard. “That was very lovely. I hate to be so rude, but there is something I must attend to.” Menogias explained, and disappeared in flecks of bright Geo. The usual dark cloud was gone, the weight of his karmic debt temporarily alleviated.

“Did I play something wrong?” Venti asked, flute set down as he stared at the empty space that Menogias once sat in. 

“No. The karmic debt affects us all differently, so when it's gone… Hmm.” Indarius drummed her fingers on the table, lips pursing while she tried to find the right words. “We all wake up differently?”

“Oh. A bit like when I first played for Xiao, he seemed like he was falling asleep?” Venti inquired, curiosity genuine. 

“Is that how he reacted?” Indarius asked, a small laugh leaving her. The heat of her eyes eased, the wild fire a calm, somber flame. “That does sound like him.”

“You don't seem different?” Venti pointed out. 

“Perhaps to you.” Indarius said. She could feel the difference, a playfulness she hadn't experienced in decades returning to her, like oxygen rekindling a flame. But not here, not yet. “I did want to talk to just you… I don't think you'll understand, but. I want to thank you. So if there's anything you need-”

“Could you explain what karmic debt does?” Venti asked, not even hesitating in his request. Watched her with wide, inquisitive eyes. She blinked slowly, and then nodded at the same speed.

“Yes. Karmic debt affects humans differently than us yaksha, perhaps because most of us started as illuminated beasts and not human.” Indarius began her explanation, starting with the basics. “In humans, that I've seen, it can cause hives, fevers, nausea, joint pain… It can exhaust the body, some find they can only sleep,  others cannot sleep. After days of no rest, visual and auditory hallucinations occur, along with other signs of extreme sleep deprivation. It's often mistaken for illness, but exorcists, those trained at Wangsheng Funeral, and more experienced doctors can identify the signs of the source being karmic debt. We yaksha are essentially killing machines, and taking a life is a sin regardless of reason. That is one of the Laws of Teyvat, and the debt we accrue is part of that divine punishment. 

But, this is a choice we make. We, being what we are, can handle the pain it gives us, body, mind, and soul. We chose this path. Liyue has always shown its appreciation and gratitude, but outsiders haven't always understood. I have never, not once, regretted my decision to become a yaksha.” She ended with that, cheeks flushing as she realized how far she deviated from her original task. But when she looked up, Venti didn't seem annoyed or confused, simply relieved. 

“I'm happy to hear that. The way Xiao talks, I never got the impression your roles were ever forced on you… But it's still really nice to hear you've never regretted it. You've done a lot for Liyue. Don't be shy in visiting me to give you some relief too, okay? You may not be asking for a reward, but it isn't bad to give one to you because I want to, is it?” Venti asked, tilting his head slightly. 

“No… It isn't. But if you're offering, I actually do have a request to make of you. If you're willing.” Indarius began, somewhat shy with what she was about to ask.

As Indarius and Venti spoke, far away the first of many distractions was ongoing. Xiao found himself scolding both Hu Tao (dressed in what looked like curtains) and Bonanus (covered in leaves after having been caught hiding in a tree nearby) how irresponsible it was to pretend someone was in danger. 

These two are better at pranks separately than together, Xiao thought by the end of it all. Hu Tao, of course, didn't even look sorry when she apologized. She did, however, ask Xiao's opinion on the poem she and Venti were creating through letters. An opinion he didn't think she needed, but he was already there and Bonanus was insisting that he give it a read. If he didn't know any better, he'd  suspect the two were trying to distract him. But what was there to distract him from? So he ignored the feeling, and instead inspected the chaos that was Hu Tao and Venti's… Sonnet? Ballad? Whatever it was. 

...

...

...

It was the next morning, and Venti was nestled in the branches of Wangshu Inn's tree as his fingers lazily strummed the lyre. The leaves kept him well-hidden, and he was improving at using a gentle breeze to guide the music to the eating area far below. Once more, Xiao hadn't come to collect Venti for practice nor did the bard find him in his usual spot. Apparently Liyue was busy with its dangers. Although, Venti began to muse, noticing the familiar blackish smoke with the new Electro particles sizzling within several feet above him. I'm starting to think this isn't unrelated, he continued. It was just a bit too convenient all these other yaksha just happened to be free while Xiao was being called for. 

Each of the five yaksha had names of respect that Liyue addressed them as. That type of respect didn't come from personalities that ignored the people's plights. This new yaksha finished his teleportation, and started to look around. Tilted his head, two arms holding steady onto a branch while the other two cupped his ears. “Below you.” Venti called out, not once stopping his strumming. The yaksha looked down, broke out into a grin, and cautiously headed down. This one was probably the largest person Venti had met. Tall and broad, the Electro yaksha shook the tree as he made his way to the bard. 

“Venti, right?” Bosacius asked, his voice deep and boisterous.

“That's me.” Venti laughed. “Bodacius, right?” He asked, utilizing a wordplay and hoping it didn't offend the other. From what Indarius told him, it was unlikely but he still worried. 

“Hah! You're not wrong, but you're not right either!” Bosacius laughed, adding a quick correction. “You got some time?” He asked. 

“Does the sky have clouds?” Venti answered his question with another. The yaksha looked upwards, and then back to the bard. 

“Yes?” Bosacius asked, more to confirm. When he goes a nod, he grinned and just plucked the bard up with his spare hands. Venti yelped, clutching his lyre to him to protect it from the sudden manhandling. Adjusting him, Bosacius teleported the two away with. 

There had to be some kind of explanation for why the yaksha kept picking him up and carrying him bridal style, Venti reasoned. This clearly wasn't just a Xiao thing. Perhaps it was a habit started by Bosacius, being the leader of the yaksha. He would carry his siblings like this, so they all assumed that's how to move everyone. Regardless, he felt rather small in the large yaksha's arms, made even smaller by the towering mountains of where the two had been moved to. 

“Here we are! No mortals can be hurt out here!” Bosacius declared happily. He did not let the bard go. Would it be rude to ask to be set down? Venti couldn't place his finger why, but Xiao holding him felt… Natural? Normal? Bosacius’ hold had a similar sensation to being trapped, and he wasn't fond. Just as he thought this, Venti made a surprised squeak when he was moved yet again. This time, he was held beneath his arms, facing a more serious yaksha. “I realize this is sudden, so you're welcome to decline. But I want to see what you're made of. I was told that Xiao is training you, and I'm curious to see what that looks like.”

Is that all? Venti thought, blinking owlishly at the yaksha in front of him. It made sense, he supposed? 

“I just want to test you. Is that all right?” Bosacius asked, that serious visage of him not once wavering. 

“I'm not being trained in banishing evil or spirits or anything… I'm not sure I could pass your tests?” Venti answered sheepishly. 

“Hah! No, I know.” Bosacius laughed, finally setting the bard back down on the ground. With a wide motion, he pointed at a table carved into the stone of the mountain's side. “Just a quick arm wrestle, and a bit of a chat! I want you to hit me with everything you got!” He explained, one set of arms on his hips while the other crossed over his chest. 

Venti looked at the yaksha's bulky, muscular arms. All four of them. Looked down at the noodles he had, of which barely managed the heavier instruments the bard played.  He wants to test what Xiao taught me, and all of it? He wondered what that was supposed to mean. “Are you… Sure?” Venti asked, hesitating even as Bosacius casually strolled over to the table. Started to wonder if the yaksha knew what the bard was being taught, especially if he was suggesting anything physical. 

“Don’t be so shy! You’re starting to sound like Conqueror Shorty, so I know what I’m getting into.” Bosacius assured him, and at the nickname a snort escaped Venti’s nose. The bard immediately clapped his hands over his mouth, eyes wide and his cheeks turning red. Roaring laughter left the yaksha, one of his hands slapping the stone table. “I’m damn funny, don’t get your knickers in a twist that you agree!” 

So Venti did, chuckles leaving him as he finally followed suit. The bard couldn’t laugh too much at Xiao’s expense. The two were so close in height, Venti wondered if they were the same or one subtly taller than the other. Wonder if Bosacius will start calling us the Shorty Squad, Venti mused. The rock formations that were made into chairs were hard and cold, but functioned just fine for sitting. Rather uncomfortably, but Venti didn’t comment on it. Navigating the differences in each yaksha was interesting. Of the four he had met, Xiao was the most straight-laced and serious. Menogias wore his heart on his sleeve the most, everything he felt hitting his face before leaving his mouth. Indarius was holding something back, always biting her tongue before speaking. But she seemed to have a soft spot for Venti for some reason, and she wondered if what she omitted was related to why. 

Bosacius, however, was turning out to be the most fun. 

Cracking all four knuckles, Bosacius placed one hand on the table. Waited for Venti to imitate the actions, albeit with only one set of arms. The large yaksha had to scoot back, and took a few minutes of adjusting so that their hands could clasp comfortably. Forcing Venti to stand with his elbow off the table wasn’t fair, and Bosacius leaning so low his whole arm touched the table was the opposite issue. The Electro yaksha did find it odd, though. Holding Venti had felt eerily similar to when he used to have to carry Xiao. Small, and very light. As if the two were bundles of feathers rather than grown adults. Naturally, Bosacius knew why Xiao was so light, bird that the Anemo-user was. But wasn’t Venti supposed to be human? Did humans come in such small, light, and soft frames like this normally? 

It was weird. That should have tipped Bosacius off more than it actually did.

“On the count of three?” Bosacius asked, and got a determined nod. Grinning, he started the countdown. Decided he would give the little one a chance, only use a fraction of his strength to gauge what Venti was made of. Those seconds would also let him accommodate his power, so that he didn’t accidentally break the other’s arm. Xiao would be pissed if Bosacius harmed his sweetheart, intentionally or not. The grin on his face got just a little goofy, amusement flashing in his eyes at the sentence: Xiao’s sweetheart. It was kind of cute. 

The distraction was ultimately where Bosacius went the most wrong in his series of misunderstanding just what he was dealing with. The burst of Anemo sent him flying, Venti’s eyes glowing and wide with sudden horror at just how much more powerful the gust ended up being. He had expected some kind of resistance given he was told to hit with everything you’ve got! “Bosacius!” Venti exclaimed, hurrying over to where rock and rubble had fallen around the yaksha, an imprint of his body against the mountain wall. 

“HAH!” Bosacius was cackling, blinking his eyes as they returned to focus. “That was one Abyssal of a shot!” He continued. Seeing that he was fine, Venti’s shoulders relaxed. “No wonder Xiao was tasked with training you. Fucking Anemo!” And on went the Electro user, amusement sparking in his eyes. Opting to be more sportsman-like, Venti extended his hand. Bosacius grinned, accepting it. A grin that widened as Venti tried to pull him up, before sighing and using Anemo to push the other back into a standing upright position. “If you want strength-training, I don’t mind.” The yaksha offered.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m too attached to my beauty sleep.” Venti said, sending the taller man a playful bat of his lashes. “Okay, bend down to me.” He instructed, motioning Bosacius to lean closer. Lacking the proper knowledge that Venti was a menace, Bosacius did as requested. Adhering to human inquiries was a standard part of being a yaksha, and he didn’t see any reason to be wary. Venti feigned that he was dusting off some of the debris, before with a playful puff of air left Venti’s mouth and sent Anemo particles out that whisked away lingering karmic debt. 

Bosacius blinked very slowly, and very carefully. Staring back at him, was Venti who was beaming with pride at his own actions. “Four down, one more to go. How’s it feel?” The bard asked, the glow of his eyes and hair receding finally. 

There was a tiny man standing before Bosacius, with the power to throw him into a mountain using minimal effort. This same man just admitted to actively trying to help him and his family, complete with a cute face and a nice smile. “...Beautiful.” 

As all that happened, Xiao found himself once more scolding Hu Tao and this time Menogias… In Yaoguang Shoal. When he arrived, Hu Tao was cackling as she rode atop a Ruin Guard, polearm’s blade wedged tightly between its ‘eye’ and the metallic molding around it. The machine was spinning, trying to fling her off but the human held tight. Menogias was using his Geo in an effort to trip the machine, but suspiciously wasn’t having much luck.

This wasn’t the kind of situation Menogias needed help with. At this stage, if Xiao got a mora for every time he was abruptly summoned by Hu Tao calling for help… He would have two mora. Which wasn’t a lot, but it was weird that it happened twice in the same week. Thoughts that were quickly shelved, as Hu Tao was starting to master the direction the Ruin Guard moved in which made her the most dangerous woman in Liyue for an entire hour that day.

...

...

...

It's a yaksha thing, Venti concluded as he was lifted once more beneath his knees and back. Bonanus was all smiles and buzzing excitement, her thank you! on repeat despite Venti reassuring her there was no need. Indarius’ request had been simple: cleanse Bonanus and let her take you to Liyue Harbor. That was easy enough, it would give him an opportunity to stop by and say hello to Hu Tao. Perhaps scratch the itch to leave a reminder note on Zhongli's desk about buying cabbages. For simply no other reason than to confuse him. 

Once more, he found his expectations to be far off the mark. Venti assumed she would take them close to Liyue Harbor, perhaps change into something less conspicuous. Instead there was a coolness that hung around the pair like morning few as she teleported them into… A small, dark room. “Uh… Bo?” He asked, wondering if he should use Anemo in order to act like a glow stick for the two. With a grunt, she leaned back for his weight to be more against her chest so she could more steadily hold him with one arm. “You could put me down-” Venti was trying to remind her, wondering why the yaksha insisted he be carried everywhere. She simply used her now free hand to knock on the door, all but bouncing on her heels. 

“Coming.” A familiar deep voice responded. Venti frowned, his brows furrowing. Were they in… A coffin? Light poured in, revealing that two were in…

Zhongli's closet.

Eyes of amber and red met those of blue and green, equally startled to see the other. 

“Mr. Zhongli!” Bonanus exclaimed, starting jumping up and down forcing Venti to yelp and cling onto her neck so she didn't just throw him upwards into the ceiling.

“...Cleanser of Evils and…” Zhongli paused, gathering his bearings, “...The bard.” He greeted at length, stepping back to let the pair into his bedroom. 

“Look at this place!” Bonanus chattered, no longer bouncing and waltzing after the consultant as if it were her room. 

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Zhongli asked, as if yaksha popped up in his closet carrying bards on a regular basis. 

“Oh!” Bonanus’ enthusiasm faltered, and she at length looked back at Venti with an uncertain smile. “This, uh, gentleman, uhm…”

“I asked for a ride to Liyue Harbor. I'm supposed to meet Hu Tao for lunch, but, I forgot to catch an earlier carriage, ehe.” Venti wasn't sure on the why, but for whatever reason Bonanus needed a cover story. He was also very unclear why they were in Zhongli's closet, and if there was some deeper meaning to it all. Regardless, the Hydro yaksha had been so excited and he wasn't going to ruin it.

“I see.” Replied Zhongli, who was very aware that Hu Tao was currently assisting Bosacius with something near Luhua Pool. And also mentioned nothing about lunch with Venti. “Well. While he does that, would you like to have some tea while you wait?” The consultant offered. It would be rude to upset the bard’s lie by telling him there was no Hu Tao to meet for lunch, after all. Zhongli couldn’t possibly be so crass, and if Venti ended up wandering aimlessly trying to find her… Well, Liyue Harbor was a beautiful place, he would be fine.

Bonanus’ eyes sparkled. 

“Yes please!” She agreed immediately, nodding her head and jostling the bard once more. 

“That's wonderful. Now, you may want to set him down, otherwise he will be late.” Zhongli instructed. Blushing in embarrassment, Bonanus finally released Venti.

“Sorry. I forgot you were there.” She apologized. 

Meanwhile, over near Luhua Pool, Xiao was standing with a frown, bushy brows furrowed in growing confusion. Standing in front of him, bending down so they could look into each other's eyes, was Bosacius. One set of hands were on Xiao's shoulders, the other set holding the Anemo yaksha's cheeks and squishing them slightly. By this point, Xiao was starting to catch on to the other yaksha visiting Venti. There was a lot about it that he didn't know, and even less in regards to what was going on in this moment. Behind the pair, singing off-key at the top of her lungs, was Hu Tao.

The lyrics leaving her mouth were chaos incarnate, and Xinyan was behind her accompanying the funeral director's brand of madness with equal gusto.

“I'm in love.” Bosacius had confessed, when Xiao finally demanded to know what was going on, why Hu Tao kept calling for help, and especially why this time when she was apparently holding an impromptu concert. 

Golden eyes glanced over to Hu Tao, who was rotating her head in circles, ponytails flying all over in imitation of Xinyan's more practiced headbanging. While Xiao could see the appeal, the funeral director didn't really seem to be Bosacius’ type. He was at a loss as to what he was supposed to say. 

“...Con… Congratulations?” Xiao finally managed, the confusion evident on his face. 

“You're so damn lucky, Little Bird. I'm gonna do everything I can to help you.” Bosacius meant that to be reassuring, but in Xiao's personal experience… Bosacius’ help in anything outside of combat was… His best, but not necessarily the best. “You should try crushing boulders on your chest. Show him how strong and resilient you are.”

“...I don't understand.” Xiao tried to say, though with the hands smooshing his cheeks together the words were muffled. “Do you need me to intimidate a rival for you…?”

“Dear sweet Little Bird.” Bosacius’ eyes started to water, and he shook his head. “I'm telling you how to seduce someone.” The Electro yaksha continued. Xiao's brows lowered until he could see the stray hairs from his brows. 

Was that what was going on? Bosacius was trying to seduce Hu Tao while she was practicing, but she thought his karmic debt took over when he started beating himself up with boulders? Xiao really hoped this was the key information he was missing, because this was disorienting.

“Okay.” Xiao decided that he was just going to accept it for now, if only to get Bosacius to leave Hu Tao alone for the time being. Everyone in Luhua Pool that day had a very wrong idea about what was actually being discussed. Except Xinyan, who smartly let the yaksha affairs remain theirs while she focused on her music. 

[lcngliive]

Was that [VANESSA KIRBY]? Oh no no, that was just [EDLIN DURA], an [ORIGINAL CHARACTER] from [STAR WARS]. They are [THIRTY FOUR] years old, use [SHE/HER], and [ARE] aware that they are not actually from Washington DC. Too bad they can’t stray from this city for long.

how long has your character been here

she's been here for four years.

what is your character's job

edlin is a doctor at george washington memorial hosp.

where has your character been pulled from in their fandom

after her death.

has any magic affected your character

nope!

and any other information you might find useful for us and the other members to know!!

oop here comes jodie again with a tragic star wars milf :)))))

edlin was born on lothal to her parents anther and melia berren.

from a young age, edlin showed an interest in medicine, this was only furthered when she made friends with one of the only doctors in her village, an older man named zano who had once been a teacher on coruscant, but was now retired and living with his wife in the place they had raised their children.

as she grew older, she started to grow a more significant interest, and zano contacted some of his former students, putting the word out about someone who would be a good student when she was of age.

and it paid off, she had a place lined up in the top medical school on coruscant when she turned sixteen. 

her life was happy, up until it wasn't, her father was injured in a factory accident which caused him to be bedridden, leaving her mother to be the primary breadwinner for the family. 

it wasn't long after that when her father passed away, leaving her mother devastated and it forced edlin to go and find a job because her mother was too depressed to move from her bed.

it wasn't long after that when both her parents were gone and she was alone in the world.

zano and his wife lena took her in until she was almost sixteen, taking care of her until she was able to go off to courscant and study to become a doctor.

and before she knew it, she was on a transport off-world heading to the core world to start her new life.

she settled in well, the family she was boarding with were friends of zano's and they treated her like one of their own, she was good friends with their daughters, one of them being the same age as her and one just slightly younger.

edlin took to her studies very well and sailed through her training programme quicker than anyone else - she was good at picking up on details that other people didn't and this would prove valuable for her later in her life.

when she was twenty three, she graduated and started working as a doctor in the same place that she had done training at a few years prior.

during that time, she met her soon-to-be husband and they just clicked instantly. leaving this very vague bc ik maig is putting a wc out for papa dura :)

and they got married and had their first daughter, kriya. and then a few years later kaya followed.

but things weren't going to be happy for the dura family - kaya was force sensitive, and soon the jedi came knocking.

edlin was 100% against giving her baby up - kaya was her child and she wasn't about to let the jedi take her. but things wouldn't go the way she wanted them.

and even though she fought hard, kaya was still taken away from them.

soon after that, edlin started to resent her husband and resent the jedi - for letting their daughter be taken away so easily and the jedi for taking her away.

the days after her daughter was taken, she locked herself in the bedroom and refused to speak to anyone or see anyone, she even started to refuse to eat and go to work.

years passed with her being numb, but slowly she gained somewhat of a normal life back - she went to work and then came home and didn't speak to her family.

which is something she regrets, she regrets shutting kriya out - regrets not being there for her daughter.

one day, edlin just decided to pack a bag and leave, leave her family behind and go out into the world - it was a spur-of-the-moment thing and very much an intrusive thought that she gave into, but she left.

she helped around on different planets for a few years, that was until the clone wars happened and while she didn't like the jedi, the civilians didn't deserve to be caught in their war.

edlin doesn't really remember what happened in the end - but she was killed in an explosion that was done by the separatists and even until the end, she was making sure people were okay.

here in dc

edlin has been in the city for four years and has been slowly adjusting.

she was glad to go back to working as a doctor here, it made her feel better about everything and gave her a sense of normality.

the first year of her being here was very hard for her, she'd been away from what was left of her family for a year now at this point and she missed them, missed what her family could have been.

but she thew herself into work and started volunteering to pass the time when she wasn't working and that led her to work with a few different charities that help children after their parents had died.

edlin has recently been reunited with her daughters, and she doesn't know how that's going to go - with kriya, she knows it won't go well, but she hopes that with kaya things can be good.