#okay it's 1:30am now time to sleep

[sunshinemage]

Nothing that we speak bends When we are sleeping When we're both sleeping Cause the holes drill in my head You keep me from wandering

[luna-the-cretar]

I do also have to say that I love how much they kept from EOM, changing it slightly to fit better with the Crooked Moon locations and story. No spoilers for obvious reasons, but I will say that the hags order and locations remain mostly unchanged (except for the pigeon hag, but it’s not a huge change I don’t think), and some smaller things they took from EOM and altered it for the Crooked Moon.

And of course, there are the Fallen, which. I personally really like. The Fallen chapters I’ve taken notes on so far have been really fun reading through (Briggsy’s is very fun imo, it’s such a vibe), and ofc they fit so well with their EOM counterparts. I like how they took the Archbishop’s role and altered it to fit the Crimson Abbot (bc even just looking at the little Abbot clip in the Crooked Moon trailer, you can see the inspiration for the Abbot’s storyline beyond just Marius’ backstory).

Okay, okay, I’ll shut up about the Crooked Moon now. I just like it a lot. It’s very good and a very interesting read. I gotta give the Avantris crew that. I remember Mikey saying something in an old chill stream promoting the Crooked Moon that the book can just be read by itself even if it never gets played, and he is right about that. I’ve found myself genuinely getting invested into the storyline while I’m taking my notes, and I’ll forget to write anything for a few minutes because I’m just. Reading it. It’s a very good read, I gotta say.

Rewatching EOM after I’m halfway through my Crooked Moon notes is so fucked, because not only do I understand the setting and the enemies a little more, but also I’m just realizing that the beast stalking them in the woods is almost certainly the Horned King from the Crooked Moon.

And I mostly say that because in his chapter in the Crooked Moon, one of the descriptions a player can get if they pass a perception check is a bit of black fur that moves between the trees. Like the description Nikkie gives Kelsey in episode 6 when Farryn rolled high on a perception check on their way to the mine.

Ough. I am so normal about EOM and I am very normal about the Crooked Moon.

[rikiislvr]

tired - nishimura riki

small drabble :)

pairing: niki x afab!reader <3

you sighed, laying on the empty bed, niki was supposed to be home a hour ago, he hasn’t answered any calls or messages, you were starting to get worried.

he told you beforehand that he felt really weak, which is what encouraged you to try to get him to stay home from dance practice today, but he went anyways.

he’s been tired, real drowsy.

he wasn’t in the right shape to dance right now.

you sighed again, checking the clock on your night stand, 1:30am.

before you could text him again for the 100th time, you heard the front door of your apartment open, you quickly sat up as you heard small footsteps make its way to your closed door,

the door opened and there stood niki, head down, hood on, he dropped his bag, you couldn’t see his face, “niki..” you whisper, he walked over slowly and sat beside you on the bed, you frowned at his obvious tired state.

you stood up and between his legs, grabbing his chin to make him look up at you, his eyes were low, small eye bags under his eyes, he was tired.

“oh my poor baby..” you frown and whisper, “i’m sorry… i said i wouldn’t go all out.. but i always try to do better..” he sighed and looked down, you felt your heart clench,

you lift his face again, “please don’t apologize. you’re too hard on yourself niki.” you cup his face, he sighed and closed his eyes,

you suddenly walked to the bathroom, coming back with makeup wipes to remove his eye makeup, he was too tired to do it himself so you did it for him.

you grabbed a wipe and gently wiped his closed eyes, he felt useless but, he liked how he could let himself go when he was with you, he didn’t feel like.. he HAD to do something. he could finally relax.

you finished removing his makeup, and tapped his arms, “lift.”

he lifts his arms and you remove his hoodie, leaving him in his white tank top, “do you wanna shower?” you tilt your head,

he nods and got up, you kiss his cheek before he made his way to the bathroom, you waited for him patiently as he showered, you in the meantime,

organized his bag, and put his clothes in the laundry basket, anything to help him.

he’s been going through so much lately, it was the least you could do,

suddenly the bathroom door opens shortly after the water was cut off, he comes out in fresh pajamas, hair slightly damped, but he still looked so tired,

you frown and lay in the bed, “cmere.” you open your arms, he slowly climbed onto the bed and laid on your chest, nuzzling his face into your neck.

you rub his back softly, he sighed in comfort, “thank you.” he mumbled, you smiled softly and kissed his forehead.

“i’m sorry.. im just so tired lately.. im trying to do better but i-

you cut him off with a shh,

“you’re doing your best. i see it all okay? you need some rest, it’s okay to take breaks love.” you reassure him, he nods and hugged you tighter,

it was this moment when he realized, you were his safe spot, his home.

you made him feel valid, he never had to hide the way he felt around you. you never judged. you reassured and treated him with kindness.

it was all he needed after long days of being a idol.

and with that, he slowly closed his eyes, his breathing slowed softly as he began to fall asleep in your arms, you notice his body relaxing, all the tense leaving,

you couldn’t help but smile.

“goodnight ki.. i love you.” you whisper softly before kissing the top of his head, you couldn’t see, but he smiled softly in his sleep, his grip around your waist getting tighter as if he was afraid you’d disappear.

he needed you, and you needed him.

a/n: idk i felt a little ☹️ today .. i miss niki i love niki. gosh i hope he’s getting good rest lately

taglist: @certified-ni-ki-lover @noblub-4ulolz @yourmyst4r @vixialuvs @ni-ki-ismyluv @judeduartewannabe @soobs-things @en-chantedtomeetyou @definitelynotherr @heyniki @wntersm @geniejunn @pkjay @baevsxii @k1ttylvr @geniejunn @pkjay @chaevibes @jiyeons-closet

[starlinggirll]

i ADOREEE ur writings very much, im looking forward for ur new work i.e. young dad!art nd young mom!reader 🤩🤩, keep going!!!!

a day with young dad!art and young mom!reader . . .

(they have a little girl in this!!)

9:00AM: your head was comfortably resting against art's bicep, hand gently clutching at his as you both slept soundly. then tiny knocks interrupted his sleep, you continued sleeping like a log, as always. "mama?" the high pitched voice made art sigh, rubbing his eyes while sitting up. "what are you doing here so early sweetheart?" he cooed, gently kissing your cheek so you could wake up. and all you replied was with a "mm, let me sleep." that was muffled against his skin. he smiled before scooping the little girl up, placing her ontop of your chest. "she wants you this morning.

10:30AM: after waking up, brushing yours and your daughters teeth, you both walked to the kitchen. to be greeted with a shirtless art cooking breakfast. you set your daughter in the booster seat before going to art so you can get your mom hugs. "you want eggs or cereal?" he would ask while resting his cheek ontop of your head. "mm cereal. i think she wants eggs." you mumbled back, glancing at the little girl gazing at both of you with curiosity.

12:00PM: "what time do we need to be at your parents house?" art asks while letting his daughter tug at his curls. "like in an hour?" you hum, resting your head on art's lap, taking advantage of the position to tickle you daughter's tiny toes. "shouldnt we start getting ready?"

1:30PM: after an hour and a half of getting ready, both of you are finally in the car. your daughter sleeping in the booster seat in the backseat while art drives. "remember, big smile, okay? and if my dad says anything unpleasant to you just tell me and i'll-" "calm down, baby." he interrupts, his hand going to your thigh. "its okay. i know how to handle myself."

1:55PM: "c'mon sweetie," you purr while taking your daughter out of the seat. "lets go see grandma and grandpa!" the little girl squeals, hugging you tightly while you carry her to the house. art following shortly after getting the diaper bag and your purse, which you had forgotten at the car.

4:58PM: "well that went..." art sighed, helping you put the little girl back into the booster seat. "better than i imagined?" he laughs softly, kissing his daughter's forehead. "see?" your hand gently rubbed his arm. "i told you they would soften up to you," he leaned into you, burying his face into your neck with a soft nod. "if you're lucky you might even be my dad's favorite son in law." you teased, wrapping your arms around art's shoulders. "i need to put a ring in that finger if yours to earn that title." he hummed, kissing your neck softly, still clutching you tightly. "yeah?" both of you looked at eachother, almost as if reading eachothers minds. "not right tho." but of you said at the same time before bursting out laughing. "yeah, not right now. but you're getting a big chunky ring when the time comes."

8:00PM: "its bed time for you, young girl." you announced while picking up the whiny little girl. "but mamaaa-" was the only thing she said, mostly because that was all the words she really knew to say properly at the moment. "uh uh, no whining or we wont go to the movies tomorrow." that shuts her up real quick. you tuck the little girl in, smiling softly before kissing her forehead. "mommy and daddy love you, soooo much." you whispering, brushing hair out of her face. "okay! good night." you walked to the door, "dont let the bed bugs bite." which was accompanied by a high pitched giggle from your daughter.

8:12PM: "did you put her to sleep?" asks art, walking out of the bathroom, hair soaked, chest glistening with water and with a towel wrapped around her waist. you nodded, laying on your stomach while watching tv. "yuppp." he sat beside you, leaning down to kiss your jaw, which resulted in his hair getting you all wet. "oh my god go away!" you whined. "you're getting everything wet!" "and not you?" he teased, cupping your thighs to pull you to him. "cant a guy not want to get his girlfriend wet anymore?" he shook his head like a dog, causing water to sprinkle everywhere, including you. "art donaldson." you muttered, glaring at him. "go dry your hair or i swear you wont be getting any action toni-" "yes ma'am." he kissed your cheek before scurrying off to the restroom.

8:20PM: he walks out of the restroom, finding your almost sleeping form in the bed. he huffs, walking to you, crawling ontop of you. "sleeping already? you promised me some 'action', dont you remember?" he whined, finding the crook of your neck to nestle his face there. "please? just one round i swear." he's totally lying. with how much you turn him on with just the slightest look his way, he knows there'll be more than just one round.

9:30PM: "a-art stop!" you whined, head resting against his shoulder, nails leaving red claw marks on his back as he fucked you missionary. "shh. you're gonna wake our daughter up," he purred, covering your mouth with his mouth while picking up his face. "you blabbered against his palm, eyes rolling back while your back arched, "m'coming!" you cried against his palm.

10:30PM: "good girl, up and down." he whispered, hands cupping your hips to guide your movements, he leaned in, your boobs suffocating his face but he didnt care, he loved this position. "faster," he whimpered against your chest, his fingers leaving red fingerprints against your flesh.

11:26PM: you layed on his chest, completely spent. you fell asleep the moment your head touched his chest. he cradled you softly, hand rubbing your lower back while his fingers brushed sweaty pieces of hair off your forehead. "goodnight." he mumbled, closing his eyes while pulling the covers up to your shoulders.

[lanadelreyscokewhor3]

the “monster”- winchester brothers

pairing: the winchester brothers x hunter! fem! reader

summary: you consume an energy drink for the first time… and the boys have to deal with the consequences

word count: no idea, im writing this as i go!1!1

warnings: swearing, some sexual undertones? kinda? flirting (this is a no wincest zone ew), size kink if you squint, pet names

this is inspired by me having an energy drink and being wide awake at 1:30am as a consequence:)

“we need to put her ass in the fuckin trunk” dean grumbled, eyes catching yours in the reflection of the rearview. it had been a long day- a long week actually- as hunting with the winchester brothers usually was.

don’t get it twisted, it was amazing. you loved them to bits and pieces. they were your best friends and you had massive crushes on them but that’s besides the point.

but hunting was difficult. especially because you had just kinda been tossed in the middle of them- literally, and had limited prior experience to this whole demon thing.

the other demon you dealt with was deans snoring, and the crappy old motel beds you had to share with one of the brothers whichever night- taking turns, they called it. not that you minded much- but sam was such a giant he basically swallowed the whole bed, the sheets- with you tangled in it. sleep was limited here. time was of the essence, when it came to backseat sleeps.

but tonight… tonight it was different. sam had starting talking about some kind of demon, a new case- and it had perked your interest more than usual. so had you drank two energy drinks to stay awake the entire night- researching? yes. yes you had. and now the brothers were suffering the consequences of allowing those two monsters down your throat.

“dean you couldn’t possibly do that. cause then who would distract you from the road?” you chirped, leg bouncing so much it practically rattled the impala. you could see sam in the side mirror, a hand over his mouth, trying so very hard not to laugh at you and your perky attitude.

“i’m sure we could still feel your presence from the trunk sweetheart you’re so god damn roudy- HEY WHAT THE FUCK?” he yelled, the car jerking slightly as you put your finger in your mouth before sticking it right in deans ear.

“DID YOU JUST GIVE ME A WET WILLY? WHAT ARE WE FIVE?”

“twenty five.” you said, making a two and a five with your hands, smiling ear to ear knowing you had distracted him. you couldn’t help it. you loved their attention, and right now? you needed it. or you’d go crazy and jump out the car, having so much energy you could probably jog next to it.

“okay, okay- you two enough. let’s just get to the room and then we can separate yeah?”

“yeah by like two feet. you get her tonight dude. i am not sleeping next to the chipmunk from hoodwinked.” dean mumbled, rolling his eyes.

“oh sammy. you’re stuck with me- but it’s okay! i’m not sleeping tonight anyways. too much work to do- i gotta start with some archives…” you murmured to yourself as you stared out the window, mentally making a checklist of everything you needed to do tonight. sleep was not on it.

finally, after what felt like ages, the car had sped into the parking lot of some dingy motel and you practically scrambled out.

“okay, okay let’s go! let’s go let’s go! jesus are you always so slow? just because you guys are giants doesn’t mean you have to be sloths.” you grabbed sams large hand, intertwining his fingers with yours as you tried to pull him forward- failing miserably.

dean just shook his head, holding back a laugh. “ im gonna get us checked in. you deal with her.” he turned his attention to you, a glint in his eye. “now sweetheart don’t give him any trouble for like.. five minutes. kay?”

“kay.” you nodded, swinging sams arm as you rocked back and forth on your feet. “i’m so excited.” you confessed, making sam crinkle his nose in confusion.

“why are you excited princess?”

you loved the pet names they gave you. they always sent butterflies fluttering in your stomach- especially because they were assigned. not technically, of course. but dean always called you sweetheart. and sam always called you princess. that’s just how it was.

“cause there’s so much to read about! i can’t read in the car, i get so much motion sickness. but now that we’re here i can finally make some notes! hey, according to the lore…” you trailed off, making him laugh loudly. “you’re so cute. you know that?”

you shrugged, grabbing his arm.“guess so. you guys say it all the time, so i guess it’s true.”

“it is true. we lie to everyone else- but never you.” sam smirked, lifting his arm and flexing, sending you up off the ground with him, making you squeal at the sudden height difference. the size difference between you and both the brothers made your body heat- just a little. they were your best friends- it was wrong of you to think of them that way but… they way they could just manhandle you like you were nothing…

“all set.” a voice called out, and you saw dean with a set of keys jingling in his hand. he stopped at the sight of you and groaned. “so what, nows she’s some kind of spider monkey?”

you giggled as sam carried you into the room, throwing you down on the bed with a bounce. you were excited, like you were every night- to sleep next to them. they often instinctively held you while they slept- as if they were trying to keep you safe.

sometimes it was just a little cuddle, and a soft forehead kiss or a hair stroke goodnight, other times you woke up with something big and hard pressed against your ass. it was always a gamble. and you were up for it either way.

“so!” you exclaimed, rolling up and grabbing a bag. “we hittin the books or what?!”

————

mood: bouncing off the walls

[ilwonuu]

𐦍༘?can i 𐦍༘⋆

↬ choi seungcheol

𓇣 pairing- nonidol!cheol x fem reader, dom!seungcheol x sub!reader, bestfriend!cheol x fem reader, friends to lovers<3

𓇣 summary- your best friend calls you late at night for something other than a innocent hangout.

𓇣 warnings- dumb confessing love to each other, oral sex (m receiving), fingering (f receiving), dirty talk, cum swallowing, kissing, MDNI, lmk what else

𓇣 a/n- this is just a random fic that u wrote a long time ago.. i liked it enough to post so lmk what you think!! should i write a part two? ALSO IM BACK FROM LITERALLY NOT POSTING FOR DAYS!!!! im posting a lot of fics today<3 luv u guys 😡

tossing and turning in your bed has gotten you wide awake. you’ve been trying to fall asleep for the past hour. it now being 1:30am as glance at your clock.

you sigh closing your eyes again before you start to get a call. you groan reaching for your phone. seeing it’s seungcheol you make a confused expression, pressung answer.

“cheol? it’s so late what’s up?” you question and he just sighs. “okay- um this is gonna sound crazy but can i pick you up? i’ve been thinking you all night.” he confesses. his voice sounding tense but lust filled.

“thinking about me? what do you mean?” you are beyond confused now, wanting him to explain it. of course cheol has said something like this to you before, but this time it feels different.

“just let me come get you and i’ll explain then. can i?” he asks. you don’t even know why but your mouth is immediately saying that you would love for him to pick you up.

you having no control when it comes to cheol. you sigh again as you force yourself out of the warmth of your bed to grab some pants to throw on.

quickly changing as you know cheol, how fast he would get to your house. speaking of, your phone lights up with a text from the boy telling you he’s outside. you slip on your slippers and head out of your house into his car.

“well good morning to you.” you say sarcastically as you get into the passenger seat. “can i just drive and explain? it’s kind of a lot to take in.” he starts to drive to your guys usual spot to watch the sunset. you couldn’t do that now obviously…

“so.. were you asleep when i called?” “no unfortunately i haven’t been sleeping very well and these were one of the completely sleepless nights.” he sighs not taking his eyes of the road.

“i’m sorry i hope you can sleep better tomorrow.” he says looking at you for a moment to give you a soft smile before finally arriving at your spot.

“are you gonna tell me why you wanted to pick me up at 2 in the morning?” you turn your gaze to him and he just nods. “don’t freak out okay-“ he cuts himself off.

“y/n- i’m in love with you. and everyday i’m more and more in love with you. i couldn’t get confessing to you off my mind. i wanted you to know in person.” he says looking at you for a reaction, response, anything.

“cheol i-“ he sighs thinking he already knows what you’re gonna say. “i know you don’t feel the same. i had a feeling you didn’t but i just need to tell you okay? it was killing me and i just don’t want anything to be weird now-“ you stop his words with your finger.

“cheol shut up. i’m in love with you too.” you confess as well catching him completely off guard. “wait are you serious? don’t mess with me that’s not funn-“ you cut him with a kiss against his lips.

“you believe me now?” he nods pulling you to kiss him again. “you don’t know how bad i wanted to do that.” he admits with a deep sigh.

“cheol-you know-i- me too.” his hands intertwined with yours. you feel so safe with him. you want nothing more than to be his. you want him to be yours.

“y/n i- please let me kiss you again.” and that’s how you ended up here. on your knees in the backseat next to your best friend, reaching for his dick as he fucks his fingers into you.

“cheol-“ he smirks down at you. “feel good baby? keep going.” you nod at his words finally pulling his dick out of his pants. shocked at the size of course. you have never been with anyone with a dick this big- nearly coming on his fingers.

“go ahead, let me see you baby.” he’s looking down at you with intimidating eyes. you give his dick a couple strokes causing him to hiss but mindlessly ruts his hips up with your hand.

you kitten lick the tip of his dick not breaking eye contact with him. a load groan erupting from him. his fingers are starting to fuck into you faster. your moans against him making him crazy.

“fuck just like- that. feels so fucking good.” his hips moving with your mouth as you fuck yourself back onto his fingers.

“look at you. o-oh fuck” your mouth speeding up on his cock. his fingers curling inside of you causing you to moan. you gag on his dick as his hips start to meet your mouth.

you cum on his fingers hard as you feel him start to fuck your mouth. he fucks his fingers into slowly before pulling them out to bring them up to his mouth.

he hums before groaning when he sees you looking up at him. he pulls his fingers out his mouth, his hand inching to your ass rather quickly.

“i’m gonna- fuck i’m coming. you’re so beautiful.” his cum shooting deep into your mouth as his hips fuck up with his groans.

you keep eye contact with him as you swallow. he groans trying not to fuck your mouth again. you sit up to kiss him.

“you’re so pretty.” he gives you a big smile as the two of you get dressed. you blush and look away from him. “want to come to my house?” he smiles at you.

[wlwsoccerfics]

Sneaking Out(AKBxJessCarterXTeenReader)

Summary: you Sneak back into the House at night after a Party and spending time with your girlfriend.

You had a secret girlfriend. Everyone knew you were gay. That wasn't the issue. You had two moms so they also didn't care that you were gay. They supported you no matter what. You just didn't want your moms to start wondering If they should start rules for sleepovers. Cause your girlfriend was no Stranger to them. No she was your best friend. So you didn't want the Open door Policy to happen.

It was 1am and you were supposed to be asleep in bed. For multiple reasons, first you were just 16 years old and second you had a game today at 7pm. You didn't drink though. You never did. You were a underaged Professional athlete after all. So that would not be good at all. You played for Gotham FC, just like your moms. You were a defender.

You tried to sneak back into the house but before you could even reach the steps that lead upstairs and to your room, the Lights in the livingroom turned on. Both your Mom(Jess) and your Mama(Ann) stood in the doorway. Arms crossed over their chest. Looking at you.

"did you have fun,kiddo?" Jess asked, she was amused by the look of pure shock on your face, that you got caught.

"uh, hi Mom, hi Mama. Why are you awake?" You asked, blushing a bit.

"i don't know, maybe cause our Teenage daughter decided to Sneak away to a Party and make Out with her girlfriend." Ann stated and chuckled softly.

"girlfriend? What girlfriend? I didn't make out with anyone." You stated and blushed even more.

"honey, you have your shirt on backwards!" Your mama said and laughed softly. You looked down and gasped. Damn that was embarrassing.

"oh...okay yes i have a girlfriend. It's Mina." You admitted them.

"we know. we know for a while that you two are more then just Friends." Your Mom replied. Smiling softly.

"it was really obvious actually." Your Mama said.

"was it?" You asked and blushed a bit more.

"yes, you two have Heart eyes for eachother!" Your Mom let you know.

"so i am not in trouble?" You asked.

"for seeing your girlfriend? No! For sneaking Out to Go Go a party. Yes you are very much in trouble for that!" Your Mama answered.

"No Playstation for a week. You are also grounded for a week but Mina can come over!" Your Mom added.

"that sounds fair. but i can go to practice and games. Right?" You wanted to know.

"of course!" Your Mama stated.

"oh before i forget. Door stays open when we are Home and Mina is here! We know we can't control what you two do when we aren't home but when we are Home we gonna keep an eye on you two lovebirds!" Your Mom informed you.

"also sounds fair!" You replied.

"now go to sleep, kiddo! It's almost 1:30am now and you have to get up at 8am for a Teammeeting at 9am." Your Mama answered. You walked over and hugged them both. They hugged you back.

"wait, how did you know i went to a Party?" You asked, curious now.

"Mina follows us on insta and we follow her back. She posted about the Party!" Your Mama explained.

"oh." You answered. "Makes sense! I Love you, Mom. Love you Mama!" You tell them.

"we Love you too, sunshine!" Your Mom said.

"very much, Love Bug." Your Mama agreed.

You went to sleep right away. Exhausted from staying Up that long. Thankfully you had really cool moms that weren't upset with you for sneaking Out. You really got lucky there.

[ladykailitha]

The Caged Bird Still Sings Part 7

This story is just coming right along. I've decided that it is split into three acts. The Arrangement, The Turn, and The Embrace. The first is about Steve adjusting to his new life. The second is thinking he needs to get out of the situation. And lastly the third is about finding acceptance and love with Eddie.

Yesterday for WIP Wednesday, I finished act 1. I figure if I pace this right, each act will be roughly ten chapters. But we'll see.

In this Eddie is sweet as always, Steve goes clothes shopping, and Chrissy misunderstands what Steve is trying to do.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6

~

Steve woke up to the sound of someone knocking on his door. He looked at the clock on the nightstand blearily. It was a little after nine am.

The knocking began again and he got unsteadily to his feet and wandered over to the door. He opened it.

Behind the door was a porter. “My apologies for the rude awakening, sir. But this came for you, marked ‘Urgent’.”

In the porter’s hands was a small box. Steve nodded and took the box. He set it on the side table and grabbed his wallet. He tipped the porter and grunted his thanks before slamming the door.

He trotted back over to the bed and flopped face first back into his pillows.

The next time he awoke it was more naturally, and closer to 10:30am than 9am. He rolled over on his back with a sigh. He’d missed breakfast, but he didn’t mind. He was tired. Just the feeling of nothingness clung to his chest like a heavy blanket.

He sat up and spotted the box. He picked it up and padded over to the desk. He looked around it for a moment and to his delight he found a letter opener.

“Thank god, for fussy hotels,” he murmured as he used the letter opener to open the box. He set the letter opener down and then took the box over to the sofa. He loved comfy it was despite it being black in color.

He pulled at the packaging to reveal a pair of designer sunglasses. Steve smiled as he pulled it out. Eddie must have thought of it when he heard Steve’s message about his day. All the driving around he did.

He picked up the phone and called Eddie.

“Hey, little Canary,” Eddie purred. “Did you sleep well?”

“Nearly,” Steve said with a hint of smile in his tone. “I got this urgent package from this hot rich guy that the front desk just had to wake me up for.”

“Whoops!” Eddie said, chagrin. “I didn’t think it would get there until this afternoon, sweetheart.”

Steve laughed. “It’s okay, I was able to go right back to sleep. Even remembered to tip the porter.”

“All’s well that end’s well,” Eddie said softly.

They talked for a bit before Steve said, “Oh, I was meaning to ask you. I have something I wanted to send to you. Is there an address or something I can send it to, to make sure you get it?”

“Aww...little Canary,” Eddie teased back, “you don’t have to send me anything. I like buying you things.”

“Oh I know,” Steve replied. “But I think you’ll really get a kick out this one, though.”

“Sure thing, baby,” Eddie said. “I’ll talk to Chrissy and she’ll give you a call with the information. How does that sound?”

“That sounds perfect, Eddie,” Steve murmured.

“What are your plans for today?”

Steve licked his lips as he thought about it. “Probably some clothes shopping now that I have this fancy black card to splash around.”

Eddie laughed. “You do that, baby. Just tell me which stores you’re going to so I can make sure they’re warned ahead of time about the card. Places like that are super weird about new people coming in with that kind of cash.”

“Ooh...” Steve said with a grimace. “Yeah, I saw that happen once. This woman had won the lottery or something and she came into the shop when I was there with my mom. The sales woman was absolute horrid to her and chased her out. My mom threw the newspaper on the counter and walked out. The front page had the picture of the woman and her three million dollar prize check. It was one of the few times I ever saw my mom do something remotely nice like that.”

After they hung up, Steve got up grabbed the box of truffles. He took a couple out to the box to eat while he gather up his things for a shower. He thought about hitting the gym again, but he wasn’t sure if the pink bitch was still here and he wanted to avoid her like the plague. And while he knew he could swim instead, he decided to take the day off.

Yesterday had been rough and he wanted to do a little bit of retail therapy.

Steve got dressed in his most high end clothing he had and made his way out to his car. Which he knew would be another indicator that he had come from money. His new wallet was designer, just like his new sunglasses.

He primped in the mirror a little to make sure every hair was in place and then he gathered all his stuff and made for his car.

He pulled up to the row of boutiques his mother used to frequent before she started getting her clothes from Paris and Milan. Steve personally thought these places had better quality stuff, but he wisely kept his mouth shut.

He walked into the first boutique and looked around. He kept his sunglasses on until one of the sales women came up to him. Then he lifted him and set them on top of his head. He smiled at her brightly.

“Welcome to Le Chique!” she said cheerily. “How can I help you today?” She was dressed smartly in a knee length pencil skirt and cream silk blouse. She wore high heeled pumps and had her hair pulled back into a tight bun.

“Hi,” Steve greeted back. “I’m just looking to update my wardrobe. Get a little more of an adult style.”

He could see the fucking dollar signs lit up behind her eyes. She clapped her hands together and rubbed them greedily.

“Right this way,” she said, waving her arm in front of her and Steve stepped forward, further into the store. “I’m Olivia and I’ll be happy to assist you today.”

Steve tried on so many clothes he thought his head was going to spin. But never once did Olivia falter. He finally got an updated look. It was similar to what he usually wore with the jeans and polos. But he also got button down shirts and tailored slacks and pants. Everything that fit went with him and everything else that needed to be tailored would be picked up by a PA of Eddie’s and brought to the hotel.

In fact when he got back to the hotel, the mysterious PA had struck again. On his bed was a large box. As he got closer he could see it was from the shop he was at earlier today.

He didn’t know what it could be. He had everything he wanted from the shop. He had even gotten help carrying all his bags up the hotel room by a couple of porters, both of whom Steve tipped well. He kept an eye on the package the whole time he took off the tags and put away his clothes in the dresser and closet.

Once Steve was done he walked over to the package a tad warily. He knew it had come from Eddie. There was no one else it could have come from. He undid the silk ribbon and pulled it off gently. He lifted the lid and set it to the side. He then moved the tissue paper out of the way.

Inside was the most beautiful cream colored suit he had ever seen. He opened the jacket touched the black silk lining. Sticking out of the pocket of the breast pocket was a note. He pulled it out. In the loopy handwriting of the sales woman were the words, “I wanted to get you something special. I hope you’ll wear this for me when I get back to Hawkins.”

Steve shook his head, smiling fondly. He walked over to the phone and called Eddie. He bounced on the bed as it rang through.

“Hey, little Canary,” Eddie purred. “How was your shopping trip?”

“It was marvelous,” Steve giggled. “Though if you want me calling you at times other then when you buy presents, you’re going to have slow up a bit. It’s gorgeous, by the way.”

Eddie laughed. “You got me there, hon. But I’m glad you like the suit. I wanted to surprise you with it. I when I called about the card earlier, I told them that once they got your measurements to set it aside.”

“How did it get here before I did?” Steve asked, twirling the cord around his finger.

“See, I knew you would have a lot of clothes and couldn’t carry it up yourself, so I just made sure to have my little elf slip in while you were dealing with the porters.”

“Sneaky!” he crowed. “I love it. I even bought the perfect shirt to go with it. It’s black and grey in kind of watercolor like stripes. Add a black pocket square and some nice shoes I bought and I’d be the talk of the town.”

“Well you’re already the talk of my world,” Eddie murmured, causing Steve to blush dark red. “Have you eaten yet, little Canary?”

Damn. Steve knew he had forgotten something.

“No...” he whined. “I just got so excited about shopping that it slipped my mind.”

“Don’t you worry, I’ll have dinner sent up to you. I think you’ll really like their hamburgers.”

Steve smiled at that. He had gone out to Benny’s to get a good burger, and they had them here. “Sounds good.”

They talked for a little bit more before Eddie had to go so that he could order Steve dinner, so they said their goodbyes and hung up.

Steve decided to take a shower while he was waiting on his food. He gathered up his things including his new hair products he bought yesterday.

He got undressed and turned on the hot water, letting the steam fill the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror. He looked at every angle of his face and had to admit that he actually looked happy. And wasn’t that a fucking trip.

He had thought he was happy before all this. Yeah, sure his dad was a jerk and his mom was useless, but he had friends, money, a car. Hell, he even had a boyfriend in this backwater hick town.

And then it all fell apart.

He hated how all his friends scattered the second the chips were down. He hated how Tommy turned tail and didn’t even try to take Steve with him. He had no doubt that soon enough the town would be all a twitter about Tommy and Carol and how cute they were together.

It was all bullshit.

The only people that cared about him were the people that would get hurt the most by all this and Steve was determined to keep them out of it.

Just before he got into the shower, the phone rang.

He let out a sigh and went to go answer it. There were only three people who had his number, Eddie, Dustin, and Eddie’s manager, Chrissy. All people Steve didn’t want to leave hanging.

“Hello?” he greeted.

“Steve?” a cool female voice asked. “This is Chrissy, Corroded Coffin’s manager. I understand you wanted to send Eddie something?”

“Oh!” Steve cried. “Yes, thank you for getting back to me so soon. Yeah, it’s not very big, say about the size of a 3x5 picture frame?” He hurried over to the desk, dragging the phone and stretching its cord to the limit to pull out a pen and some hotel stationary.

She hummed. “It’s not, risque is it?”

He laughed. “What? No! It’s nothing like that I promise.”

“Okay,” Chrissy said skeptically. “We have people opening packages before they get sent to the band so don’t send anything you don’t want a total stranger to see.”

“I promise it will mean absolutely nothing to the poor soul that opens their mail,” he informed her, “but he will absolutely get a kick out of it.”

Steve could tell she was still leery about it, but he wasn’t going to ruin the surprise.

She let out a sigh. “Fine. Here’s the address to send it to.” She rattled off an address and Steve dutifully wrote it down. “By the time it gets there, they should be back in LA, so it’ll go to their main mail box.”

He wrote band PO Box over the address and underlined it. “Great, thanks.”

“Now do you need anything else that isn’t their personal information?” she huffed.

Steve winced, he could tell she wasn’t happy being Eddie’s errand girl and by extension, his.

“No,” he said, “Just that. It’s just a small token that I think he’d like.”

“All right,” she said. “Good evening.”

“Good evening!” he chirped back.

Once she had hung up, Steve shook his head. He knew it was her job to to look out for the band. But it wasn’t that big of deal. What she think she was going to do send his dirty panties to the guy?

Not!

He looked down at himself and sighed. He had carried that whole conversation completely naked. He padded back to the bathroom and stepped into the shower.

He stepped under the stream of water and let it soothe him. He was still smarting a little from Chrissy’s attitude. She seemed friendly enough at the bar and genuinely wanted to see Eddie and Steve hit it off.

But something between then and now she had completely soured on him. That was a problem for future Steve, though. Right now in this moment he was going to enjoy his shower, watch some TV and enjoy the burger Eddie was having sent up.

~

Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18 Part 19 Part 20 Part 21 Part 22 Part 23 Part 24

Tag List: CLOSED

1- @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog @beelze-the-bubkiss

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @cryptid-system

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

7- @counting-dollars-counting-stars @tinyplanet95 @ravenfrog @swimmingbirdrunningrock @lingeringmirth

8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @sticknpokelightningbolt

9- @scoops-aboy86 @kurofuckingshi16 @watermelonmite @eyehartart @dreamercec

10- @little-birch-boy @yearningagain @micheledawn1975 @blondie1006 @sadisticaltarts

[daengtokki]

𝐼’𝓂 𝓈𝑜𝓇𝓇𝓎 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓈𝓃’𝓉 𝒽𝑒𝓇𝑒

Kim Seungmin/female reader

wc: 1.8k

synopsis: someone is cheating // pt 1

rating: mature/angst (contains: aggression, confrontation)

⤜ · · ♡ · · →

3pm

SM: I won’t be back until Sunday, love, but I’ll call you tonight before you fall asleep! Hopefully I can catch you before you do

YN: it’s okay, Min. I’ll be here, and I’ll be up for a while

SM: I’ll text first just in case

YN: ♥️

12:30am

SM: sleeping?

11am

SM: I’m sorry I missed you last night, we can try again today!

2pm

SM: babe, you know I hate double triple quadruple texting you. Are you okay?

· · ♡ · ·

Saturday, 10:30pm

Seungmin struggles for a moment with his key, but manages without dropping his bags. The door swings open, and he’s greeted by a dark foyer, a dark living room, and a single faint light coming from the kitchen. And it’s too quiet—no tv left on, no music playing to fill the silence, like usual. It’s a little warm inside, and it was a warm day, but Seungmin can feel a breeze coming in from one open window.

“I’m home,” he calls out softly, and his voice carries down the hall and into the open door of the bedroom. But the apartment is empty. You’re not here.

He looks down at his phone, opens his texts, and types. His face falls slowly as he figures out another message to send to you. Seungmin has been away a lot lately, and things have felt strained, but you always answer, eventually, even if it’s hours later. You’ve never been silent for more than a day, and now it’s going on two.

sm: hi love, I’m home early

After making sure you’re not just sound asleep in bed, he starts to type one more message. But he stops himself, and instead he starts to unpack his things.

A few minutes later, his phone buzzes.

yn: hey, I’m so sorry sweetie. I’ll be home soon. I went out with some friends and my phone died

He sighs, relieved to finally hear from you. But he doesn’t reply right away; he waits until he empties his bag, showers, get dressed, and makes himself tea.

The lock clicks and the door swings open just as he reaches for his phone.

“Minnie!” You run to him and he opens his arms to hold you against him. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”

He fights with questioning your absence—not from the house, but from answering his texts, and decides to wait. Right now, he wants to sit down with you and relax; talk; catch up. Maybe that will reveal the answers without him having to ask—he hopes it will, because it’s slowly starting to eat at him.

· · ♡ · ·

“We traveled all day today, a lot of driving, so it was a little hectic.” He curls up on the couch and hugs his knees tights to his chest. “I missed talking to you last night.”

“I guess I was more tired than I thought”

“But I’m here now”

Seungmin’s little nod, his hesitant smile…you missed him so much, and you’re not sure you can even begin to tell him just how much. You crawl across the couch and kneel in front of him. “You’re here”

The kiss you give him is returned, but it’s as hesitant as his smile.

“What’s wrong, Min?”

He shakes his head, “nothing…I’m okay, uhm…”

“You can tell me, you know that”

Yes, he can. The two of you tell each other everything, and as far as Seungmin knows, there are no secrets between you. So why does he suddenly feel so uneasy? “Just too tired to think straight. Maybe we should go to bed.”

“Yeah, let’s go to bed. Clean sheets and everything, all ready for you.”

· · ♡ · ·

Weeks pass, and eventually, Seungmin feels better—less worried, less unsure about things. It’s not completely gone, though. Every hour that passes without a reply from you makes his heart sink a little more. But then you do reply, and everything is fine for a while. Communication between you has changed…just a little bit, but enough.

It’s turning into a vicious cycle, and it’s not good for his head right now. He feels distracted from his work.

Seungmin video calls you on his way home a few days later. You don’t answer.

-

Coming home is like deja vu. Dark, though not quite as dark this time. The tv is on, and so is the bedroom light. Seungmin can hear the shower running when he closes the door. He’s relieved he doesn’t have to worry like last time, and for some reason, even though so much is still eating at him, being home feels good, and everything feels okay. You’re home and waiting for him, and maybe you haven’t been in much of a talking mood lately.

That’s all this is. Everything is good.

He hears his phone buzz and feels for it in his back pocket, but it’s not him. Yours is sitting on the kitchen counter, right next to the coffee you were drinking not long ago. It doesn’t seem out of place of him to look at the notification on your screen, because he’s done it before—you don’t hide anything from each other. But this time he isn’t sure of what he’s seeing. It’s not a text notif, or Instagram, or twitter. It’s not KakaoTalk, which he knows you use, just not much. This one is from Line, and the sender is a name you don’t recognize: 민수

Maybe it’s a coworker, or a client. You know so many people through your work, and Seungmin knows that. But the message is right there…two of them.

민수: I hope you had a good time...I did! I’ll see you again soon

The second message is a ❤️. The same red heart you always send to him. Seungmin feels every drop of blood drain from him, and he feels like he’s falling, but he’s not. His feet are somehow still flat on the floor, and his hand trembles as he touches your screen—he wants to see it and read it one more time, just in case he read it wrong.

The shower stops, and in the time it takes you to get yourself dressed, Seungmin doesn’t move. He’s rooted to this spot, and he’s sure if he takes a single step, he’ll crumble, and he won’t be able to put himself back together again.

“Minnie?”

Your voice echoes in his head.

“Seungmin, baby, you’re home…what—“

He sees your eyes move and glance at your phone on the counter, and then they’re back on his.

“What’s wrong?”

Why can’t he speak? His mouth drops open and nothing comes out, but inside he’s screaming, picking something up and throwing it against the wall, jumping on you and shaking you until you tell him…

“Why?” Is all he manages.

“Why what? Is everything okay? Seungmin, you look so pale…”

His fist clenches behind his back. “I know I haven’t been around much lately…more than lately. But I’m trying. I try so hard to be with you…when I’m away. I thought I was…” he stops and takes a stuttering breath, and his nails dig so hard into his palm, it feels like he’s breaking skin, “…doing okay.”

“Seungmin, you do better than okay”

“Where have you been? You never answer my calls anymore. You hardly text back, and when you do…it’s hours later.”

“You’re right, I’ve been really bad at this for the last few weeks”

“Who is Minsoo?”

There's silence for far longer than either of you intend, but breaking it is impossible. Seungmin said it out loud, he had to, and now things will play out exactly as they should.

But the silence is as much of an answer as he needs. He turns to your phone and picks it up, looks at the messages again. The heart was sent an hour ago, right after you left wherever you were, got home, made coffee, got in the shower. Seungmin wonders what clothes are lying on the bathroom floor right now, and his eyes sting with tears at what his mind creates.

The metal frame of the phone gives a little under his grip, and it gives in completely when it meets the wall between you. The sound is intense—the crunch of glass, the crumble of drywall. Seungmin is strong when he’s not angry, and right now he’s more than that. He’s pissed, and he’s confused.

“Why?” His hand runs through his hair and stays there as he stares at the remnants of your phone; one half of the lifeline between you when he’s gone. “Answer me.”

You jump again, despite the eerie softness of his voice. You have no answer for him, and even if you did, it wouldn’t change a thing right now. “Minnie, I love you.”

“You love me?”

He takes a few steps toward you, and you move back just as many. Seungmin has never given you any reason to fear him, and he’s never argued or fought. You don’t know anyone nearly as level-headed and calm as him, but you’ve also never done anything this stupid before.

“I do, more than anything.”

This time you stay put when he closes the gap, because something has to happen, and there’s nowhere else to go. It’s you, it’s Seungmin, and it’s the wall behind you.

His hands come up, close around your cheeks, and his thumbs run over them so sweetly, “you love me…but, you fucked someone else?”

“I didn’t. Seungmin, I didn’t. Please.”

“You've been ignoring me for another man. Pouring yourself out to him? Telling him things, telling him how you feel being all alone in bed all the time because your boyfriend is never here for you.”

“No. No, Seungmin.”

His touch on you tightens, just for a moment, as he matches the intensity of your gaze. And then he relaxes and lets go. You stay quiet as he grabs his bag and disappears into the bedroom, and you brace yourself for a slam that doesn’t come. There may be no coming back after this, and you know that. It didn’t cross your mind what might happen if a night like this came, because you weren’t sure if what you were doing, at least initially, was that wrong. But things spiraled, and you spiraled with them, and you let your isolation get the better of you.

You should have stopped when the messages got more frequent; when you felt guilty texting Seungmin at the same time as him; ignoring a phone call when you were with him.

Seungmin flies by you and heads for the door.

“Please don’t leave, Minnie, I need you”

“You need me?” He pulls his shoes on and takes his time re-lacing them. “I needed you, too. Every time I text you goodnight, or facetime you, I do it for a reason.”

“I know. I fucked up.”

“Because it’s lonely being away, even when I’m surrounded by people. Did I ever tell you that?”

“No”

“That much is my fault then, but I didn’t think I had to tell you.” He picks up both of his bags and opens the door.

“Where are you going?”

“My dorm,” he looks back once more with his hand on the doorknob, but says nothing.

“I love you…I love you, Min”

“Goodnight”

[marcelloshdz]

late nighter

summary: marcello is having trouble sleeping, but manages to catch some shut eye in an unconventional spot. requested by anonymous.

“mm, baby’s finally asleep.” you sighed, falling into bed. you slid over to marcello, immediately wrapping yourself around him. “how are you always so warm?” you asked him.

“it’s my latin blood.” he joked.

“well, thank god for that.” you laughed, nuzzling deeper into side. he wrapped an arm around you, holding you tight until you eventually fell asleep in his arms.

you woke up a few hours later, the bed empty next to you. you rubbed the sleep from your eyes, and noticed the glow of the kitchen light flowing into your bedroom, followed by the smell of fresh popcorn. you climbed out of bed and sauntered into the kitchen, marcello standing at the counter. you noted the time on the stove, 1:30AM.

“baby, what are you doing awake?” you asked, wrapping your arms around his waist and resting your chin on his shoulder. 

“i couldn’t sleep.” he sighed, shrugging as the microwave dinged. marcello emptied the bag into a bowl and you moved to sit with him on the couch.

“is everything okay? do you need to talk about something?” you asked, and he just shook his head.

“no. i’m just not tired. i think i slept in too late this morning.”

“you were up at ten? that’s not that late.” you said, throwing a few pieces of popcorn in your mouth.

“it is when i’m normally up at seven.” he corrected.

“that’s fair.” you laughed. you and marcello sat on the couch for a bit, eating your popcorn and basking in the silence. after a few moments, you heard rustling from the baby monitor that sat on your coffee table, shortly followed by your son crying.

“i got him.” marcello said, handing you the bowl and quickly making his way to the nursery. you heard him on the monitor, shushing your baby and humming him back to sleep. you set the popcorn on the coffee table before leaning against the back. you felt your eyes start to get heavy, and before you knew it, you were back asleep.

you woke up the next morning, the sun shining into the living room. you stretched out, taking a moment to gather yourself as you didn’t remember falling asleep on the couch. you walked into your bedroom, your bed still empty. you walked down the hall into your baby’s room, stopping in your tracks when you focused on the sight in front of you; your baby sound asleep in his crib, and marcello asleep in the rocking chair next to him. 

you quietly walked over to marcello, gently shaking him awake.

“cellito, mi amor. wake up.” you whispered, watching as marcello’s eyes fluttered open. 

“where am i?” he asked, looking around the room. “the nursery?” he asked, and you nodded. you quietly pulled him up from the chair and walked out of the room to let your baby continue sleeping. you led marcello back to your room, flopping down on the bed.

“you went to check on s/n around 1:30, 1:45 this morning. i fell asleep on the couch waiting so we could go back to bed, but you never came back. i guess you fell asleep with him last night.” you said, watching as the gears turned in marcello’s head.

“mm, mhm. we were eating popcorn in the living, cause i couldn’t sleep.” he said, and you nodded. “i went into the baby’s room and he was back asleep pretty quickly, so i put him back in his crib. i wanted to make sure he was gonna stay asleep before i left the room, and i guess i fell asleep too.” he laughed.

“well, it’s still pretty early, and neither of us have reason to be up right now, so,” you trailed off making yourself comfortable amongst your pillows. “i’m going back to sleep.” 

“sounds good to me.” marcello said through a yawn. he turned his lamp off, and you felt his arm find it’s place around your waist. he pressed a soft kiss to the top of your head before you both drifted back off to sleep. 

[empresskaze]

I Would Shiver The Whole Night Through - Jayvik fic - Sick Viktor 5/6

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Day 18 Delirious

Day 21 From better to worse

A bit on the shorter side, sorry!

~~~~

The next two hours passed without much incident as Viktor slept as peacefully as possible.  Jayce kept a vigilant watch by his, making sure the cloth on his forehead was always damp and that Viktor stay bundled in the blankets.  A few times he watched as the spot between Viktor's eyes would crease, this usually was followed by him thrashing a bit but then would calm down when Jayce stroked his face or hair.

Jayce hated admitting how tired he felt as faint light from the outside began shining in.  He'd barely gotten any sleep so he figured with Viktor still out at 6:30am he was safe to close his eyes for a bit.

It was the crash that woke him. Jayce shot up in bed in a sleep deprived haze. His heart beat rapidly against his chest as he looked around, horrified when he didn't see Viktor next to him.

“Viktor?” He called, throwing back the blanket but nearly tripped over the cane which still lay on the floor.

“Ow, shit.” He cursed as he headed into the hall. “Vik, where are you?” Bathroom was empty, so was the sitting area. Jayce stood in the end of the hall about to head into the kitchen when he heard noise coming from the spare room.

The study room, of course.

Pushing open the door he found Viktor kneeling on the floor, papers spread messily in front of him.  Books that Jayce remembered being in a stacked pile lay just out of reach.  That falling had probably been what woke him.

“V?” Jayce crept in not wanting to startle him, “What are you doing?”

“It has to be here!” Viktor said frantically, picking up papers only to discard them before even looking. “Help me, Jayce!” He looked up at Jayce who swallowed hard.

Pale did not even begin to describe Viktor's face, even on some of his worst days he always had a touch of color. Now he looked blanched, sweat running down his face, wetting the papers just below him. His shaking hands reached for another book but as he drew it back, he coughed hard into his chest.  Jayce did not like the rattling he heard.

Carefully Jayce crouched down next to him, putting a hand on Viktor's back. “V, whatever you're looking for, it's not here. All this is old, it's...”

“No no no no it has to be, it has to!” The desperate look in those amber eyes broke Jayce's heart. “I know, it is...I saw...it...the other day...” He coughed again, gagging a bit as he curled himself back. 

“Viktor, it's okay. We can look later.” Jayce wasn't about to dismiss whatever mission his former partners delirious state had cooked up. “I'll help, but for now you need to go back to bed.” He tried coaxing Viktor into standing but was only met with resistance.

“No I need it, Jayce, you don't understand!” Viktor shook his head then began to once again toss papers aside. “The frequency, we need to...”

“It's 432, remember?” Jayce said solemnly thinking back to one of their first experiments. “That's the correct frequency. We realized it after almost blowing a hole in the wall of the lab.” He chuckled as he pictured the look on Prof. Heimerdinger’s face when he'd come in.

“432.” Viktor panted as he sat up. “Yes...432.” He wiped his sleeve over his face. “Yes, yes exactly.” He also laughed but it quickly turned into a raucous cough that doubled him back over.

This time Jayce didn't give him a warning, he simply pulled Viktor up.  “Kneeling like that isn't good for you.” He said as they slowly walked back to the bedroom.

“432....yes right...” Viktor mumbled leaning his head against Jayce's shoulder. “Thank you Jayce.”

“You can pay me back by staying in bed, please.” He replied sitting Viktor down.  At least he was calmer now though his skin was still ashen.

Viktor leaned back against the pillows, a content smile on his face. “I forgot how brilliant you are.”

Jayce felt his own blush spread to his ears. “Well I try.”

“Jayce...” Viktor finally said after a few silent minutes.

“Yeah V?” 

“Can we be partners again?”

~~~~

TBC Last part will be posted on the 28th

[zmwrites]

Tag: Questions From Sleepy

AKA, @sleepyowlwrites Wants Me To Answer These Questions to Satisfy Her Curiosity, and I Am Obliging

1. What is your ideal setting for focusing on your writing?

Hahahahahaha. There is no magic formula, unfortunately. But I tend to write best late at night when I'm too tired to critique myself, but not so exhausted that my words stop making sense. For many years that was 1am-5am, but now that I have to wake up at 7:30am every day, I do what I can on my phone between 11pm and 1am.

2. What is your favourite genre to write?

Fantasy! It is very rare I'll write something without some sort of magic, because I have been born into a world where I cannot cast fireball and I refuse to inflict the same misery on my characters. Also with fantasy, I can fudge the details on politics, geography, and... everything else related to world building. That way I can write instead of researching forever.

3. Do you prefer to write on paper or digitally?

Digitally. When I was younger I wrote on paper, and had binders and notebooks full of writing, but now I find typing is easier. I wrote most of Remnants on my iPad (which has since died, RIP), actually. I do most of my writing on my phone now that my iPad is gone. For some reason, writing on my laptop feels like too much pressure and I can't get much done.

4. It’s the middle of the night and you suddenly wake up with an idea, what do you do?

If I think it has potential, I'll either write it down in a Google Doc on my phone, or text it to my friend Nat. Usually I just roll over and go back to sleep, though. Middle of the night ideas are never as shiny as they first appear.

5. Who is your favourite person to write about?

Women who seem to be full of rage but are actually full of grief. There have been many iterations across many WIPs, I don't foresee the type disappearing from my work.

6. Do you like making your own characters or do you write about real people?

I make my own characters. I can't even write fanfic bc I can never get the characterization right, never mind trying to capture a real person.

7. Have you ever written a book or story with more than 15 chapter or 100K words?

Yes. Remnants is 153K words, and Indigo Wars Book 1 is currently sitting at 139.5K words after several rounds of editing solely focused on making it shorter. I am a chronic overwriter, so in my eyes, the people who tell an entire story in under 100K words are the real wizards.

8. How often do you get ideas?

It depends! Sometimes I won't get a new idea for months on end, and will just chip away at my existing projects, and other times I'll have four new WIP ideas in a day. Most don't go anywhere and return to the creative compost pile, but they're always fun to play with.

9. Do you ever get an idea that you really like but can’t seem to ever finish?

Most of them. But that's okay, they're still percolating. They'll get there when they're ready.

10. What is your least favourite plot?

I think almost any plot can be done well if the author loves it enough, but I'm not generally a fan of anything that ends with a woman who explicitly said she didn't want children getting a "marriage and a baby" ending. I don't think enough women are allowed to be happy without children in fiction. As someone who's always told "oh you'll change your mind" when I tell people I don't want kids, it's very annoying.

[ohplagg]

Keeping Track of Time in I Love Yoo

I am back again with another timeline because I guess this is my life now. This timeline, though, is specifically about the events for December 21st 20XX and forward since I've noticed that Quimchee is adding clocks ever since Nol got stabbed, and everything feels like a race against the clock for some reason.

I'm not going to add any screenshots since this is just, as the title says, keeping track of time. Nothing more, nothing less.

Just in case someone is not paying attention to what they are about to read, this contains spoilers up to I Love Yoo's Episode 244.

If more clocks appear in future episodes I might update this.

As always, I love hearing what you guys think so feel free to reach out!

Italic means that it's not known when exactly in the timeline that specific event took place. I still placed the event where it makes most sense.

(Ep. XYZ) means the episode where the time is mentioned/seen.

Saturday December 21st

9:42pm Nol falls from the second floor to a glass table. (Ep. 210)

Before 11pm Nol is rushed to the hospital (Ep. 215)

Kousuke went to Hirahara's hostpital to look for Nol after being spaced out for around 30 minutes. (Ep.213)

Kousuke get's knocked out by a wall.

11:55pm YuJing leaves Rand alone. (Ep. 215)

Sunday December 22nd

12:00am Kousuke wakes up to hear Hansuke arguing with Yui (Ep. 220)

12:19am Meg find's Rand's present for Kousuke in the trash (Ep. 220)

12:22am Hansuke steals the blood samples (Ep. 221)

4:28am Rand leaves to visit Kousuke. Kousuke has been knocked out by the tea. (Ep. 221)

4:21am Nol wakes up. Shin-Ae texts Dieter and Soushi who are out of the hospital (Ep. 215)

4:47am Dieter and Soushi leave WacDonalds (Ep. 225)

5:06am Dieter and Soushi arrive to the hospital (Ep. 225)

5:09am Shinae goes to get Dieter and Soushi/Birthday party starts. (Ep. 225)

5:26am Stalkyoo dance to christmas music at sunrise. Geez, not even 20 minutes? no wonder Dieter was still awake to witness it all. (Ep. 220)

Hansuke visits YuJing and stores the blood samples.

Nana arrives to the hospital and Nol's jail time is pushed for 3 days counting today (so December 24th is his last day of freedom)

Hansuke takes the blood samples to get tested

7:52am Shin-Ae texts Dieter "Is everything okay?" after he and Soushi left the hospital (Ep. 225)

8:21am Shin-Ae and Nana meet (Ep. 225)

Kousuke wakes up, goes with Yui for breakfast, Hansuke and YuJing pick him up afterwards

8:40am-ish Yui arrives to church right after mass ended (Ep. 230)

"Convince me"

Shin-Ae gets picked up from the hospital by her family

Maya and Shin-Ae talk

Kousuke get's medically checked

11:30am Dieter texts Shin-Ae about going to the hospital together during the afternoon. Shin-Ae takes a nap (Ep. 235)

1:30pm Kousuke drops off his phone at his apartment before heading to Nol's hospital (Ep. 244)

3:30pm Dieter texts a sleeping Shin-Ae (Ep. 240)

Dieter comes to pick up Shin-Ae

Dieter talks with Nol

Kousuke arrives at the hospital with Hansuke and YuJing

Kousuke has a panic attack

5:51pm Shin-Ae wakes up from her nap (Ep. 240)

5:55pm Shin-Ae texts Nol "I know I'm blocked but just in case..." (Ep. 243)

The AA 101 Group to which Shin-Ae and her dad go to is at 7:00pm

7:41pm Hansuke and YuJing are hanging out with college friends. Kousuke isn't picking up his phone. Gregory M tells Hansuke that he can get his stuff done by the end of the week (Friday is the 26th) (Ep. 241)

8:35pm Nana, Dieter and Soushi leave the hospital for the day. (Ep. 242)

8:45pm Shin-Ae is at the AA 101 Group and receives a text apology from Dieter (Ep. 242)

Alyssa tells Nol she "really needs to see him"

Monday December 23rd

10:10am Kousuke's secretary looks at his watch and notices Kousuke missed work (Ep. 243)

10:30am Yui get's a text message from Alyssa saying she's going to visit Nol (Ep. 244)

11:05am Meg mentions how she is heading to the library soon (Ep. 243)

A bit before 11:45am Alyssa arrives to Nol's hospital to talk (Ep. 243)

Between 11:45am and 12:25pm Nol and Alyssa stay quiet (Ep. 243)

12:25pm Alyssa and Nol finally start talking and Yui arrives. (Ep. 243)

Shin-Ae will arrive to the hospital around 2pm (Ep.244)

Nana mentions she'll arrive around 3pm. (Ep. 243)

[elftwink]

i've been trying to read more lately and about a month or so ago i borrowed a t. kingfisher book (thornhedge) from the library and i really liked the style so i picked up another (a house with good bones) and i really liked THAT so i decided what the hell i'll read a series so i borrowed paladin's grace on the 21st of feb and then i devoured the entire saint of steel series (all 4 that are out anyway) & finished a few days ago

and like i've been reading more lately (the past several months) but it's mostly been nonfiction or books that are bad. now dgmw i love a bad book unironically. i love to complain and i love analysis and something that rubs you the wrong way is so easy to sink your teeth into and rip apart and it is delightful. i remember a post on here that described a bad movie or show allowing you to "see the wires" and i also feel that way about books. the mechanics and the pacing are laid bare for you to see, and it makes you appreciate the more subtle tactics of other books to communicate the same kind of info or establish the same kind of stakes. when you see what doesn't work it becomes easier to see what does work, and start to understand why. also again i love to complain so much i need to have an outlet to just be a hater. <3 complaining <3

that being said. oh my god i had forgotten what it's like to sink your teeth into a story with some fucking juice. with some goddamn meat on the bones. that doesn't immediately fall apart under your attention. i loved the saint of steel books so much. one night at 10:30pm i decided to read "a chapter" of the 2nd book and then i finished it at 1:30am, immediately borrowed the 3rd book (thank you libby <3) and read eight chapters of that before going to sleep at 2am. something that kept happening (to my delight) was every time i thought "oh that concept/character/worldbuilding is cool i hope we see more" they were a more major part of the next book it just all unfolded exactly to answer my questions and pique more!!! and goddamn i had so much fun ohhhh the characters they're so good it was the exact balance between fantasy plot and romance plot that i wanted to read im obsessed!!! this post is long as fuck but i still want to talk so (gestures below)

this is a real rotating them in my mind issue i just keep being like *dreamy sigh* paladins.... my favourite book of the series has definitely been the 2nd (paladin's strength) which kind of surprised me because going into book 3 it seemed like it was going to be much more My Type of characters and plot (and it was. i really liked it also and by the time you hit book 3 you already know galen is gay so it did have a leg up i was like yayyy gay people obviously) but i loved istvhan and clara SO much their dynamic is so delicious theres a specific line that had me screaming and i don't even want to share it because you just have to experience it okay. im thinking about it and blushing and grinning ear to ear

also i started a reread yesterday because it's not due back yet and there's so many little things that are uproariously funny once you know Whats Going On. it's so on the nose but it blends in so seamlessly the first round that it feels like an inside joke now. giggling to myself like oh of course you would say that. just you wait. i wonder if they're all like that on reread. sadly i'll have to wait awhile to reread the first because while i was looking to see if the library had a physical copy (i would like to see it) i discovered 11 people were waiting to start the series and i was like oh im being an asshole rn and returned it early lol

anywayyy i guess im making my way through every t. kingfisher book my library has now. genuinely i had been reading books i hadnt liked very much and which did not have very strong worldbuilding for so long and it was such a breath of fresh air to have a world that was interesting. and a book that wanted to explore how the world worked. can i tell you i loveeeeeee gnole pronouns and language i loved the way it mattered what languages people spoke. theres so many little things that grounded the characters in the world, and that that world impacted the plot. it's really effective with how the world is established. when a character has a profession(/religion) you can really see the world through their eyes, with attention paid to things like where their supplies are coming from, who they know (and who they like and dislike), what information they assume is obvious and what is surprising to them. when you learn things it's almost always with another character so it feels really natural. sighs dreamily again i love reading about a world thats cool

anyway i obviously think you should read these books i think they are all bangers i loved them so much. books tailor suited to my exact taste. idk when the next book is coming out but im excited !!!!! this is my i think mostly spoiler free review. goddamn i had so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[post-maester]

I had my very first big mood swing yesterday! I got uncharacteristically upset at my partner, it wasn't very cool of me. We had a talk and everything was okay in the end, but that instance was weird. And the moodswing didn't end there! I continued to have the most intense panic-cry I've had in weeks. It was really not fun. My Mister stuck by me and weathered the storm, he was so helpful to me, even though I'd been so rude to him earlier.

When I was ready to emerge from the cave, he suggested I sit on the floor in front of the couch so he could play with my hair. I asked if we could watch an instructional video on how to use my brand new ROUND HAIR-BRUSH!!!!!!🌠🌠🌠 He agreed, and we sat down to practice. He pet me and called me a good girl.

Well. Apparently you need a fucking blow dryer to use round brushes! Guess what; I didn't fuckin know that. I dont have one! But Mister was so determined to help me feel better that he tried to follow along with the video as best he could to get it down before we added a blow dryer someday when I could afford one. He brushed my hair for at least an hour and a half as I dove into a femme self-care tutorial video RABBITHOLE. We watched a "how-to do a 90's blowout!" and "here's my everything shower routine!" and "my Coachella nails for 2024!" and more.

Each video taught me so fucking much it was incredible honestly. The everything shower video told me I should be shampooing twice, conditioning only the mids-ends of my hair, etc. While the Coachella Nails video taught me a certain level of what to expect if I wanted to go get my nails done at a salon (maybe?), but it also realized within me: Hand/Nail dysphoria.

I stared at my hands for maybe 10 minutes noticing how thick, lined, and scarred they are. Even though my hands are soft they don't look soft. The video host's fingers were so slender, long, elegant. Mine are stubby in comparison. My nails are so short because I bite them when I have nothing else to fidget with. Her nails were at least an inch long on her nailbed, it was like they were groomed specifically for nail art and extensions (i suppose they were). I've never thought about my hands before. I used to like having scarred hands. But now they make me feel sick.

I needed a change of pace. I switched to a video that detailed tips and tricks for DIY alt/goth fashion by a channel called Rattus Rattus. Loved it. Only made it 20 minutes in as it was 1:30am and I was fading. Captivated by each of the videos telling me how to achieve a certain level of high-maintenace girlhood, my eyes drooped closed until i could keep them open no longer. I lied down on the floor and fell asleep until my husband decided it was time to sleep in a real bed.

Anyway. Big day yesterday for learning and new experiences. It was intense. Time for sleep.

[leftnotright]

A TEXTBOOK EDUCATION

"This will be a skill-building experience. You've had it too easy. You've had your Family name to back you, and your Right Hand at your every call. It's time you learn to carry yourself, to build from the ground up." Dino Cavallone, the Cavallone Don, fresh out of high school.

Reborn, the deadliest hitman of the modern era, has a special kind of torture up his sleeve for his dear struggling student. Dino will have to see how well he handles alienation, isolation, and worst of all, class participation. “Now, go on, my useless student Dino. Let’s continue your education.” (Or: Reborn sends Dino to Australia. It goes better than he could have ever hoped.)

Parings: N/A Characters: Dino (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!), Vic Hunt (OC - Original Character), Reborn (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!), Romario (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!)Cavallone Famiglia, Enzo (Katekyou Hitman Reborn!), Original Characters Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, University, Pre-Canon, Financial Issues, Fluff And Angst

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7

CHAPTER 4: AND THEY COME UNSTUCK

The TV - ‘’tele’ as they called it - was playing the morning news on channel 7. Dino had been listening to it since he had rolled out of bed, too sweaty and stressed to get any decent sleep. Fittingly, the news show was called ‘Sunrise’ and Dino had been watching since then, listening to the news and how they spoke about everything. 

There is a fire - ‘bushfire’ - in Penrith, firefighters were trying to keep it under control. Up in New Castle, there was a surfing event. Parliament was discussing the pensioner retirement age. Fundraisers were being held at multiple Bunnings for the NSW Regional Firefighting Service after a particularly bad fire season.

“I think I might pop down for a sausage sizzle,” the blond woman chimed in after the segment, “Been a while since I’ve had one’a those.”

“One’a those,” Dino echoed absently as he moved his pen along a line of text.

Calendar reminder: EDST1001 LECTURE 11:30AM

Dino paused his ledgers and looked at his phone as it beeped on the table. He had spent the whole morning pouring over the few documents he had left from the Cavallone offices, trying to quell that anxiety that bubbled in his stomach and made sleep hard. He only had a few documents left, most of them were copies of the original documents back at the Cavallone. Receipts, mostly, and barters for the last bits of furniture and assets the Cavallone could afford to sell off. 

Everything, spare what was bolted down or irreplaceable, had been sold already. It had left the halls of his home barren. Gone were the antique paintings, gilded statues and handwoven carpets. And gone was much of the Cavallone’s prestige with it. 

A Family selling off their history. 

He sighed and rubbed his nape, free of sweat for the first time since he had landed in this ‘sunburnt land’. That air conditioning truly was his saviour.

Calendar reminder: Meet Vic U-Bar Courtyard 3PM

Dino blinked. Then he gave a sharp heave of panic as he remembered that, yes, he had indeed promised to meet up with Vic today.

Okay. Okay, okay, okay, he was just meeting a friend it was going to be okay he didn’t need to panic like this it was just his only peer friend in years and he wasn’t going to screw this up he promised-

Enzo snapped at Dino’s toe and make him jump out of his minor mental breakdown. 

“Ow!” Dino yelped and yanked his foot away from the turtle. “I’ll go to the grocer’s today, so stop!”

Enzo wheezed at him accusingly before slowly turning and began the long plod to his newly found sunbathing patch. 

Dino frowned at Enzo’s back while cradling his toe until his phone buzzed again, warning him he only had an hour until his lecture. He grappled with his drawers and pulled on his most civilian of clothes, feeling blessedly comfortable in a white shirt and cargo shorts.

One thing Dino loved about university was the lack of uniforms. He didn’t think he’d survive this heat with the blazer, vest and tie he wore in high school. He had barely survived yesterday in that suit-

Dino clapped his hands loudly as if to scare off that memory and the incredulous looks of his classmates. He hadn’t had time to change for his Econ class either, but without a tutorial, he had managed to hide in the back rows of his lecture’s amphitheatre without drawing too much attention.

But he had learnt his lesson: No mafia suits in civilian classes.

Dino rubbed his stomach absently as he made his way back to the living room. He hadn’t been eating well since coming to Australia. Hell, the largest meal he had so far was that KFC with Vic and, as she said, it had enough salt to season the sea. He really needed to go to a grocer.

He hated to admit it, but he was procrastinating going to that ‘Woolies’ Vic had mentioned before. He didn’t feel confident in his English enough to go alone, and Dino had - well, he had never bought something in person before. Everything was done by middlemen, through order or pre-emptively in bulk. He’d never bought a carrot before! Could you buy a single carrot? Or did they only come in 20-kilogram packages? Dino didn’t know what he’d do with 20 kilograms of carrots!

Dino filled up a cup with water and took a long drink to calm his nerves before he thought himself into yet another panic attack on this fine, totally normal morning. He took his pills and proceeded to drink another glass of water to fill his stomach until lunch. 

Dino checked the clock on the wall and quickly shoved the last of his schoolwork into his briefcase. He needed a more civilian bag damn it, he stood out too much with this thing since it was from his high school days.

White tee-shirt, cargo shorts, joggers and a briefcase. What a sight Dino must be.

Before Dino walked out the door, his anxiety beckoned him to apply another layer of antiperspirant deodorant. Sweating so much yesterday had kind of traumatised him. He needed to figure out how to clean his suit.

Enzo wheezed when Dino picked him up off the floor but slid into the cargo short’s thigh pocket without fuss. For good measure, Dino tossed a few of his pellets in too before pressing the velcro shut. 

The trees of Wally’s Walk did little to block the swelter of midday Summer, and Dino pulled at his collar to air out his shirt. He checked his phone again to find his classroom, Building 27, the Lotus Theatre. 

“Fancy,” Dino muttered to himself and moved towards the cul-de-sac end of the Walk. 

There was a crowd of students loitering outside building 27, and Dino was quick to join them, standing off to the side to allow the traffic to flow between. He let his eyes scan the crowd, feeling much more at ease with how he blended in. No one was staring this time. Excellent. 

Dino pulled his briefcase closer and pulled out his phone, content to just scroll on the news apps for the next fifteen minutes or so. He was halfway through an article about something called the Powerhouse Museum of Science being moved to a Parramatta location when he felt eyes on him.

Carefully, Dino flicked his eyes to the side, using his peripherals to see who was watching him so intently. If they were a hitman, they were doing one hell of a bad job. What kind of assassin allowed their presence to be so obvious- Oh .

He lifted his head and waved, smiling with a sheepish relief. Vic stood at the edge of the crowd, and came over when she was acknowledged.

Reborn must really have done a number on him. 

“Oh hello,” Vic hummed as she came to a stop next to him, and Dino didn’t miss the quick once-over she gave him with her eyes. “I see we’re going casual this time.”

“Please don’t talk about yesterday,” Dino withered and Vic let out a laugh.

“Kay, got it,” she assured and shifted her weight again. “So we’ve got the same class again today, huh? EDST101?”

“Yeah, I’m happy we are together again,” Dino smiled, putting his phone away to pay full attention to Vic. “What time is your tutorial? Are we together as well?”

“I’m in the 2 o’clock group.”

“Ah, we are not. I am the 1 o’clock group.”

“Fuck,” Vic sighed forlornly and crossed her arms.

Dino tilted his head when he noticed she was wearing another faded band tee, adorning the same logo and name as the last one with a different design. Maybe it was her favourite band? It was a talking point!

“What, uh, song, is that?” Dino asked, pointing to Vic’s shirt.

“Song? Oh,” Vic looked down at her shirt and opened her arms to show the logo splashed across her chest, Smoking Cucumbers. “It’s my cousin’s heavy metal anarchist band. Don’t really know how the anarchist plays into it, but he insists it does. Gives me a shirt for New Years nearly every year.”

“That’s nice of him,” Dino uttered, “Are they good?”

Vic made a noise and rocked her head from side to side, looking off into the distance as she visibly thought about it. 

“Varying quality,” she decided to say.

“I see,” Dino chuckled, then he shifted his weight and reached for the next topic. “Do you have a large family?”

Family, that was a familiar topic. Dino could talk about Family easy! 

“Nah, not really, I’ve only got a brother. But the cousins add up, you know?” She shrugged, “I’ve got like, uh, six cousins from my dad’s side. The youngest is nearly seven months old, I’m going to meet him during semester break.”

Dino smiled as Vic fished around to show a picture from her phone. A child, cute as a button, was cradled in the centre of a mass of pillows, arms and legs askew like it had fallen asleep mid-crawl attempt.

“Ant’s so adorable. He looks like a fucking blobfish,” she cooed and Dino couldn’t help the snort of startled laughter. “What about you? What’s your family like?”

“My Family is large. The house is always busy,” Dino started, recalling all the faces he was so used to waking up to every morning. Oh, he missed those faces. “I have no siblings, but many uncles and brothers.”

Vic blinked at that and Dino smiled sheepishly, wondering if he had misspoken somewhere. She didn’t interrupt, however, so Dino continued. Talking about his Family was cathartic, and made the overbearing sun, innumerable people and unfamiliar terrain, all seem less horrible for a moment.

“Romario looks after me well. I am sure he is the reason I survived so long.” Not that Reborn didn’t try to stop that, with all those bombs and bullets. “My father introduced him to me when I was young, we have been together since.”

He remembered that day, so many years ago. He had clutched the ends of his coat and fought to stand still, surrounded by five of his father’s Guardians as they stood at attendance for the Don’s return. His father arrived with a teen trailing behind him, scuffed up and covered in grass seeds and dust like he had crawled out from the barley fields that surrounded the Cavallone estate. 

“Brutus means well, but he is, uh, a bad influence,” Dino chuckled, recalling how Brutus had ridden a mattress down the spiral staircase and broke through the railing. “He has been with us for a few years now. Growing tall. Too tall.”

That last comment was said with its fair share of bitterness. Brutus liked to use Dino as an armrest in casual settings these days. No respect!

Vic smiled as he grumbled at the memory, another one of her snorted laughs bursting forward.  

“Are you the youngest, or..?”

Dino frowned more, “Brutus is the youngest. Everyone is upset.”

Vic wheezed a laugh and pocketed her phone before rocking back on her heels and asked, “Anyone else of note?”

“Too many,” Dino hummed softly, “I hope to see them soon.” Then he winced and let out a weak laugh, “Ah, but I am sure they will make me pay back all my missed turns in stable work.”

Vic blinked and then squinted a bit, like she was trying to piece together what he had said. Dino watched her for a moment before it dawned on him: Vic didn’t know about the Cavallone Family’s main stock.

“My family breed horses. I will be missing my turns to help in the horse stables. We rotate.”

Vic’s face twitched, then she snorted out, “So, you’re like an equestrian?”

“Uh, I was part of my high school’s equestrian club, yes?” 

The girl sighed through her nose and reached up to massage her forehead as she muttered out, “My God, he’s a horse girl too.”

“Horse girl?” Dino echoed.

“Have you ever watched something called The Saddle Club?”

Dino shook his head and Vic made a dismissing wave of her hand, before turning her head as the crowd began to move, a slow and steady flow of students pouring into the amphitheatre. 

“Time to move,” she uttered and the two of them wriggled their way through the mass of sweaty students. 

Dino winced as a girl's tote bag poked into his arm, and then nearly fumbled his walk as the first step of an incline surprised him. He wheezed and gave a sheepish smile as someone in the crowd gave him a withering glance.

Vic chose somewhere to sit and Dino trailed after her, eager to get out of the river of slow-moving bodies that shuffled along unsurely. They pulled their chair seats down and spent a good few seconds fighting with their flip-up desks before settling down.

“Wow, yours is a bit fucked,” Vic commented as she looked to the hazardous angle Dino’s laptop was teetering on, no doubt only held there by the non-slip pads. 

“It’s…a bit weak. But it will hold,” Dino agreed feebly, trying to realign his desk.

“Nah, nah, mate, not with your luck. Move before that thing snaps.”

Dino fiddled with his desk for a moment longer before making the short shuffle to Vic’s other side. It felt disconcerting, to be stuck in the aisle now. Vic was blocking an easy exit, whether she intended to or not. Dino could feel that anxiety all the way in the bottom of his feet.

Someone behind Dino coughed loudly, before they gathered their stuff and moved a few seats away, still clearing their throat. Dino noticed Vic watch them out of the corner of her eye, a vague grimace on her face.

“But hey,” she uttered suddenly before Dino could ask what the issue was, turning back to idly click around on her laptop to get an empty Word document up for notes. “This way, you’re less likely to get called on for audience participation!”

Dino blinked, then he gave a relieved smile and rested back into his seat. 

“Yeah, that’s…That’s a good point.”

“Yeah, but fuck we’ve still gotta talk during the tutorials. We’ve gotta talk at least once per session to get that twenty percent.”

Dino dropped his head back with a groan. 

Before either of them could say much more, however, the large screens at the front of the amphitheatre lit up with the introduction slide of a powerpoint and a woman took centre stage. The lecture rolled on with the same amount of ease as the others, just another orientation lesson to get the students used to their first week in university and what would be expected of them in the coming weeks. Dino was starting to get more confident with his English comprehension, since a lot of the classes were repeating similar content and using the same phrases.

They were maybe half an hour in, Dino centring all his focus on breaking down the word ‘pedagogy’ when he heard, in the softest and most bamboozled voice possible: “Dino, is that a fucking turtle in your pocket?” 

Dino’s head snapped around and then looked down to see Enzo’s little head peering out from under the flap of his pant pocket, beady eyes peering back at Vic. Dino wheezed and shoved the flap down, trying to cover up Enzo from prying eyes. 

“Uuh,” Dino uh-ed.

“Dino, why is there a turtle in your pocket?” Vic asked again.

Dino fumbled for an answer, before he just shrugged and said, “Well, I, I couldn’t leave him at home alone.”

“But to a lecture?”

“Hey, could you two stop? It’s really distracting.” A young man sitting ahead of them grumbled and Vic quickly tossed out an apology.

Enzo let out a wheeze and wriggled his way to freedom again, head poking out into the fresh air of the air-conditioned amphitheatre. Dino rushed to hide Enzo again, but Vic quickly bent at the waist and cooed in delight.

“No wait, lemme see the baby,” she whispered and pushed the flap away to get a good look at the small tortoise that squinted back at her. “Oh, hello little man!”

Dino watched as Vic reached out and gently pet Enzo’s head with her pointer, grinning like some kind of loon as she did. He thinned his lips in a moment of thought, before Dino reached into his other pocket and produced a small handful of pellets.

“Do you,” he began slowly, unsure but hopeful. “Do you want to feed Enzo, Vic?”

Vic looked up at Dino and utterly beamed. 

Dino kept that in mind: Vic likes feeding Enzo. Good, good, he had a way to socialise now. Enzo truly was the best wingman. 

Dino smiled down at Enzo who was quietly crunching on his pellets. The little turtle squinted up at him. 

  ☁ ☁ ☁

Vic Hunt Class done

Vic Hunt Do you still have Enzo?

Dino Cav Yes

Vic Hunt On my way!!

Dino snorted into his hand and sent a quick laughing emoticon in response. He had already chosen a table for them to sit at for their meeting, a shaded table outside one of the courtyard’s student cafes, off to the side and more isolated than the others. It was most likely for studying, Dino liked the privacy. 

Enzo sat snugly in his pocket happily fed after all those snacks from Vic during their lecture. Dino smiled to himself and patted his pocket, feeling that hard shell. The most secure weight.

“Show me the baby,” Vic demanded as she rounded the corner and dropped herself in the chair across from Dino. 

Not even a hello? Dino couldn’t blame her though, no one could resist Enzo. Spoilt rotten that little turtle was. 

Dino huffed and glanced around, before sliding Enzo out of his pocket and onto the table between them. He stretched his arm out on the exposed side of the table, covering Enzo up just in case.

Immediately, Vic dropped down to Enzo’s height and started cooing, murmuring unintelligible little noises at the turtle. She grinned and giggled as she watched Enzo plod about the table, quietly exploring the area with his usual squint of suspicion. 

“Look at his little feets!” Vic nearly gasped and Dino couldn’t help the snort of laughter. “Oh shut it, Dino. All that talk of horses, why didn’t you mention the turtle in your pocket! ”

“I don’t know… Enzo didn’t come to mind?” Dino offered unsurely. He hadn’t meant to not mention Enzo, it was just that Enzo was such a constant for Dino that he honestly didn’t realise that someone wouldn’t know about Enzo at this point. 

“How did you even get the allowance to bring him?”

…Allowance? Dino blinked. He didn’t know anything about an allowance.

The silence stretched on until finally, Vic looked up, a smile creeping onto her face. 

“Dino, did you smuggle your turtle into the village?” She asked.

Dino thinned his lips before he slowly murmured, “No one told me I couldn’t .” Vic grinned then, something vicious and joyful with so many teeth. “That is to say,” Dino continued, trying to explain himself for breaching university rules. “I need Enzo. I go nowhere without him. I need him.”

Vic let out a soft hum of acknowledgement, before giving a shrug and leant back in her chair. 

“Hey, no skin off my back. It’s not like lil’ Enzo here’s gonna damage the room for the next student. Not like some dog or cat.”

Dino relaxed a bit when she said that, a tension in his shoulders seeping out. Dino admitted it, he hadn’t met many civilians in his time. Most of his social circle consisted of Mafia and their middlemen, the people he knew were utterly steeped in the criminal underworld. 

Maybe it was his naivete getting the better of him, an opinion from childhood he had never had the chance to rectify -- Dino thought of civilians as a rather pure existence. Morally right, law-abiding citizens of the world to counterbalance the presence of the Mafia. 

Dino had broken university policy. A horrified little part of him was sure that Vic would be appalled by his blatant disregard for the established order-

Dino let a long breath out through his nose, slow and steady. It was fine, though. Vic didn’t care. The rules weren’t so cut and dry in the civilian world. Within limitations, of course. 

Vic shifted in her seat, and pulled her computer up onto the table just aside of Enzo. She booped him on the nose for good measure, unaware of the stress Dino had gone through. 

“Anyway, I did a bit of work last night and I think I know what I’m going to be talking about.” She said, and opened a tab to start scribing ideas. “But I kinda wanna talk about your activity. The resources one.”

Dino tried his best to join the discussion as the two began to finally dig into their assessment. Vic scrolled through her document and showed Dino what she had scraped together the night before, which was honestly an obscene amount.

“Uniforms?” Dino asked, seeing how the word was bolded as a heading.

“Yeah, in Australia uniforms are mandatory for Primary and High schools,” Vic explained, “It’s to more of less, stop students from seeing the difference in status. Like if one kid came in fucking Gucci, and another comes in second-hand Kmart. Uniforms stop that shit.”

Dino hummed and thought back to his school, they had worn uniforms too. And they were right, you couldn’t really tell who was from a better Family -- if you were using clothes as a tell. Posture, presence and poise. Those all could tell just how large a gap there was between Families. And the Dons who led them.

Vic continued to scroll to her next point, and Dino scooped Enzo into his hands, thumbing at the edge of his shell to try and soothe himself. 

“I’ve also got ‘homework assistance’ and tutoring.”

Dino’s eyes snapped up from Enzo at the word. ‘Tutor’. God, that sent chills to his very core. 

“People with money can afford to send their kids to better schools, and can afford to support their kids with, ya know, tutoring. Basically, the better off the parents, the better off the kids.”

Dino thinned his lips. It was true, Dino had no doubt that the smaller Families wouldn’t have been even able to dream of having the Reborn as a live-in tutor. He didn’t even want to think about how much of the Cavallone funds must have gone into the little devil-man’s pockets just so he could torture Dino day in and day out for the past year. 

“We got this yesterday,” Dino muttered quietly, almost unwittingly.

Dino could see why Vic wanted to be a teacher, she obviously felt strongly about the imbalances in the education system. Direct action, it seemed very up her alley.

Vic blinked, and then she shrank back in her chair a bit. She gave a huffed little smile and shrugged, sheepishly and kind of drowsy.

“But yeah, that’s just my idea for my part,” she said idly, “And I think it’ll segway nicely into your activity. So, uh, how’re you going with your intro?”

Dino winced, “I have not, ah, started it yet.” Gosh, Vic had already produced all of this and Dino hadn’t even looked over the assessment properly yet. Dino traced the pattern in Enzo’s shell. “English, is, uh, not my strong skill.” 

Vic made a short noise of understanding on the back of her throat, before she gave her own work a look-ver as if to see it in a new light.

“I will have to begin in Italian, and move to English,” Dino said slowly, and Vic waved her hand at him.

“Hey, whatever floats your boat and gets the job done. Do what makes you comfy,” she shifted on her seat and tugged on the end of her shorts before uttering off-handedly, “And, ya know, if you need help, I can lend a hand with those dickish words like ‘pedagogy’ and shit.”

 Vic pointedly looked away from Dino as she said this, eyes fixed on her document that she scrolled through to give her hands something to do. 

Dino blinked, then quickly said, “I don’t want to be a bother!”

“Nah, no, it’s ‘right,” Vic insisted lazily, and took a drink from her thermos. 

Dino could hear ice rattling around inside. God, that was a good idea.

Vic and Dino leant across the table to look at Vic’s computer screen, organising a file for the project. Vic pulled up a powerpoint and wrote ‘SOCIAL CLASS IN EDUCATION by Dino, Jessica and Vic’.  

“Great, that’s enough work. I think we’re due a break,” Vic said and closed her computer.

Dino decided not to point out the fact that they had only been ‘working’ for a total of maybe 10 minutes, and that the most progress had been naming and sharing the group slideshow. 

“Okay,” Vic said suddenly, breaking Dino out of his thoughts as she stood up. “I’mma go get some lunch. You coming?”

Dino grabbed Enzo up off the table and stuffed him into his pocket. Vic stared with wide eyes before she glanced between the pocket and Dino’s face and asked, “Is he, uh, always in there?”

“Usually, I keep Enzo in a breast pocket,” he answered, before patting his chest and added, “Over the heart.”

Enzo’s shell was practically indestructible. Nothing short of Reborn’s Chaos Shots could pierce it. 

“Aw, that’s fuckin’ sweet,” Vic chortled.

By the time Dino and Vic sat down again, they were balancing their chosen meals in their hands. Dino carefully slid his salad and chips plate onto the table, and watched Vic quickly slurp some of the excess butter chicken gravy from the edge of her plate before doing the same. Vic wasted no time in drumming the tabletop with her hands until Dino ‘produced the goods’.

Enzo immediately stole a whole leaf of lettuce from Dino’s salad.  

“ Smettila, Enzo! ” Dino scolded but didn’t try to take the leaf away from the happily munching turtle. 

Vic smiled at the little turtle before using the handle end of her fork to tap on the side of the bottle of water Dino had bought. It was wet with perspiration and creating a puddle on the table with every jolting tap; just as shiny as Dino was.

“Drink, mate, you’re sweating buckets,” Vic urged with a frown. 

She was right. Dino wiped his chin with his arm and grimaced as sweat just smeared on both sides. Dino was as shiny as a newly minted coin, and the back of his shirt clung to his spine, two shades darker than the rest of it. He made an expression of great sensory discomfort as he sat forward to try and peel it off. Australian heat was very different to the Sicilian summers Dino was used to.

“Yes,” Dino murmured and took a sip from his bottle. By the time he put it back down, more than half was gone. 

“You gotta be sun-safe, or I’ll slip-slop-slap a bitch,” Vic warned. Dino stared at Vic for a long moment, before the girl reeled back a bit and asked, “Wait, you know about the slip-slop-slap sun thing yeah? Or is- wait, fuck of course that’s an Aussie thing.” 

Dino smiled as the girl rubbed her face in a mixture of frazzle and embarrassment. 

“I, uh, will be ‘sun-safe’,” he said, “I do not want to be ‘slip-slop-slapped’.”

Vic blinked, and then she grinned with teeth. 

“Okay, but what’s up with the horses?” Vic asked and then spooned a generous helping of rice into her mouth. 

Dino paused halfway through another guzzle of water.

“The horses?”

“Yeah, like, you breed ‘em, right? What for though?” 

Dino quickly swallowed the water that had dammed up in his mouth. He settled back in his chair and smiled a bit, idly spinning his bottle on the table with his fingers.

“Uh, we- we breed them for… Well, every job. Labour, farm, carriage, show. We used to make war horses.”

Vic made a sharp whistle of surprise and leant her cheek against her hand, elbow on the table. Dino stared at it, her elbow on the table, for a moment, before he pulled his eyes up. 

“Warhorses? So, this is like a tradition thing. Family business?” 

‘Family business’. Dino withheld a snort, he smiled weakly and said, “Yes, for at least ten generations.” 

“ Whew, that’s some old blood,” Vic wheezed.

Dino smiled and remembered the history walks down the legacy hall. Walls adorned with past Dons, and those faded faces of the nameless patriarchs who tilled the fields and corralled wild horses long before the time of the Cavallone Famiglia Mafia. 

“We are proud of our horses,” Dino said, an undeniable truth. But it was an undeniable truth also that- “Horses, however, are not very- very, useful. Today.”

Vic winced, “Ah, yeah. With cars and all.” She took a slow bite of her curry and tilted her head. “So with all those horses, surely your family, like, races them? Got any cool ones…” Her voice trailed off as Dino’s face pinched.

Dino ran his thumb along the edge of Enzo’s shell, the little turtle squinted up at him. 

“We are banned. No Cavallone horse may race in Italy.”

Vic thinned her lips and scraped her wooden, disposable spoon along her plate, drawing a random shape with the orange, butter chicken gravy.

“Can I… Can I ask why? Or would you rather just, ya know,” she made a waving motion with her hands. “Not talk about that.”

Dino let out a frail burst of a laugh that was equal parts bitter and vindictive.

“We kept winning.”

Vic paused, and looked at Dino. Looked at the way Dino’s smile had gritted teeth in the corners.

Vic gave a bark of laughter. 

“So instead of beating you fairly, they booted you?” She asked and leaned forward. 

Dino took in a sharp breath. Despite her tone, her smile wasn’t playful. It had an edge to it. Annoyed. Frustrated. Angry. Vic was angry. For some reason. 

But, Dino quickly scanned her over, not at him. Always good, always good!

“Cavallone horses are hard to beat. Very,” Dino explained and Vic scoffed hard enough that Dino thought she hurt her throat.

“Look, unless you’re doping your horses, I don’t see why you should be kicked.”

Dino shrugged, “Our horses are special.”

“I’m not fucking surprised! You’ve been working on them for over ten fucking generations!” 

Vic pinched the bridge of her nose, before Dino watched as Vic clenched her teeth, her biceps, her forearms, her fists, then all the way back up again. Then, like she was suddenly exhausted, Vic slumped back into her chair, shoulders sagging under her loose shirt. She let out a long, slow sigh through her nose. She smiled and started cooing at Enzo.

Dino stared, baffled. What the hell had happened there? Had she gotten so upset that she had to actively calm herself down?

Dino shifted in his seat. He looked down at his salad -- slowly being stolen one leaf at a time by Enzo -- and bit down on the need to smile. 

Vic was upset for him. He didn’t expect that to feel so… Nice. Validating.

“So you can’t race in Italy,” Vic hummed, tone low and almost dragging itself out of her mouth. “Why not race in a -- fuck I don’t know horses,” she tilted her head back and waved her spoon around, “Melbourne Cup is a horse race. Why not race here? Or does the ban keep you?”

Dino reached for his fork and ate a mouthful. He realised what he was doing only halfway through: buying time. 

Did the ban keep the Cavallone from racing outside of Italy? He didn’t know. 

The ban had been his grandfather’s greatest shame. The Eighth Don of the Cavallone hadn’t been able to fight off those little Dons who had climbed on top of each other to seem taller and tip the scales. The beginning of the end for the Cavallone, really.

After that, the Eighth had fallen to illness and Dino’s father had taken the reigns as the sole heir. Everyone knew how that ended.

Dino nudged an olive and watched it roll across his plate. Enzo stole another leaf with a satisfied ‘crunch’ .

Dino had never seen a Cavallone race on a track before. 

Could he? Did he dare? Enter his Cavallone horses into civilian races? How close could he get to the civilians when the Mafia were so careful to keep that strict divide? 

Hell, even their resorts were Mafia and Mafia-adjacent exclusive! It took a whole boat or plane to get to the separate island . 

Dino swallowed the leaf, long gone mushy in his mouth. 

But if it worked? If he dared to start racing their Cavallone-style bred horses -- if it worked? 

Break the tradition, break the rules, break the bonds of debt that tie down the Cavallone. 

“Good idea?” Vic asked, a lazy smile on her face. “You look excited. Practically chomping at the bit.”  

Dino looked up, he hadn’t realised he was grinning.

‘Never race a Cavallone.’ Time to bring that old saying back.