#otp: I’ll be there every step of the way

[wordsmith30]

I also just have to talk about this GIF from the training scene because it gets me every single time. It’s different from the other comfort scenes we’ve seen so far (the hug in 1×03, the “Can you feel my hand?” in Shannon’s room, and the smile in the back of the van) because Ava is just stunned.

She was starting to panic inside the wall, begging for Beatrice to “bring [her] out.” Then, when it seems she’s gotten stuck, Ava hits the ground hard and lies hunkered down on her elbows, eyes closed and just trying to catch her breath. A moment later, Beatrice’s hands are on her shoulders and Ava flinches.

Given the way Frances abused and manhandled her in the orphanage, Ava is likely expecting something similar here – for Beatrice to haul her upright and tell her to try again (or worse, lecture her on her performance). But then Beatrice is cupping her face like a child’s, comforting her, soothing her. “It’s okay,” she says. “You did it.”

And Ava just looks up at her in astonishment, like she doesn’t know what she’s seeing. She blinks, processing, as Beatrice strokes her hair, and it’s like you can see the fear leave her eyes.

Because in those words, in that gesture, is “I’ve got you”, “You’re safe”, and “You can trust me.” It’s an affirmation of faith given and faith proven – of Beatrice’s trust in Ava’s success and Ava’s trust in Bea to see her through.

“Thank you,” Ava breathes.

It’s the only thing she can say because Beatrice has come to her aid again, is taking care of her again, and that feeling is still so new and strange, and overwhelming, but it’s also the tenderest thing in the world.

Ava’s gotten a glimpse of Beatrice’s combat skills – she knows the damage she’s capable of inflicting – but in the cradle of Beatrice’s hands is the safest she’s ever been.

Beatrice will not hurt her.

(GIF credit: @avassharpe)

[inkformyblood]

bite-sized domesticity (COD YoOTP25)

Year of the OTP prompt: Like Real People Do - Hozier 09 Ghoap

Riley’s a stain over the counter top, cheap linoleum cracked and peeling beneath his equally torn nails. There’s a mug resting next to his elbow and MacTavish knocks his knuckles against it as he passes by on his aborted way to the sitting room. Fucking freezing. 

“Those poor techs keeping an eye on things and having to deal with your arse at three in the fecking morning.”

Riley barely moves as MacTavish swipes the mug up, lifting his arm when he makes a second pass for the plate. Few crumbs left but otherwise it’s been licked clean, knife as well when he stoops to place them all into the dishwasher. 

“Doing it wrong.”

MacTavish doesn’t bother straightening, leaning further into the bend to peer back at Riley through the crook of his elbow. They’re both shelled out of their usual fatigues for this mission, Riley still favouring dark fabrics but they’re softer, a loose pair of joggers with the drawstring knotted and a plain long-sleeved black t-shirt, where MacTavish has stopped looking in the mirror for the sake of seeing his father’s face staring back at him. The daft bastard had been right in his choice of jumpers and house slippers, less so on the beard. 

“You want to do it?”

“Nah.” Riley leans further onto the counter, one bare foot resting on the crossbar of the stool. There’s a dark stripe across his sole already, his toes pink from the cold. His scars extend even there, pale crosshatching over his heel, a darker line traced just beneath his toes. 

MacTavish fumbles his slippers off, hissing beneath his breath at the cold tile, and kicks them over to Riley. One goes wide, skidding to a halt next to the far end of the counter, but the other knocks against the stool. “Then don’t bitch about the way I’m doing it.”

“Pity the poor woman you wind up clubbing over the head and dragging home with you.” Riley does pause his oozing to slide the slipper onto his foot, dropping back onto the stool to hook the other one with his foot before he draws it on also. “Too much of the army in you.”

MacTavish snorts, wishing — and not for the first fucking time since this recon mission was shocked into life — for a smoke. Too much exposure to their targets could send them scurrying back into hiding, ruining a ten month long intel trail, one very intricate daisy chain of pardons and protection details, and countless hours of overtime that would be peeled from MacTavish’s pound of flesh if he spooks the neighbours too badly. As arms dealers go, MacTavish has spent more than enough time next to worse and if his only complaint at the end of this was that they listened to some shitty soap operas too loudly then it would be two weeks well spent. Riley is starting to get opinions about the fate of poor Gabriella and MacTavish will kiss his own service pistol before he admits that he is as well. 

Might have to slip the techs something nice and strong to get the name of the programme after the mission. 

“Never had to drag anyone into my bed before, don’t think I’ll start now, Riley.” MacTavish straightens, cracks his knuckles before the want for fresh air begins to tear through tendons, and does it again just because. Riley’s eye roll is audible, barely blanketed by the blonde curls that MacTavish scuffs his palm over as he retreats back into the sitting room, a smidge quieter than the snap of Riley’s teeth on thin air.

Riley follows him a moment later, too-large slippers smacking against his heels with every step. It’s too much like MacTavish’s litter of nephews and nieces, down to the overly-serious weight of his gaze, the slight bend to his knees as he walks before Riley tips himself onto the armchair head first. MacTavish takes the sofa, swings his legs up onto it and relaxes back, shoving one of the decorative pillows behind his head. Some bastard had too much fun with the backstory budget for a place that no-one's meant to see and the pillow is pink and frilly, some tripe about love picked out across the front.

Riley had nearly laughed himself sick when they’d first seen the place in the light of day, deliberately being sent the previous night so they wouldn’t turn tail immediately.

MacTavish had sworn at Price over their secure line the instant it had been deemed safe to do so.“S’all well and good making us fucking newlyweds to explain why we’re reclusive, but the fucking pink, Price? Fuckssake.”  

“Ever think about it?” Riley asks, legs draped over the arm of the chair, his torso wedged into an impossible curve across the seat. His head is half falling off the edge, but his gaze is sharp, locked onto MacTavish like he’s starving, already carving out his liver. 

“About what?”

“Wife. Kids.” Riley waves one arm, a load bearing one by the way he slides three inches down. “House with a garden.”

MacTavish lets his gaze go half-lidded, studies the hatch marks of the sunlight filtering through the cracked and dusty blinds over Riley’s form. It is the kind of image that would make a Renaissance painter chisel his hands bloody against a marble block to capture the harsh angles of his limbs, the soft haze of his curls, the intensity of his gaze. 

“You offering, Riley? Angling for a nice patch of grass out the back to piss on, warm blanket in front of the fire at night?”

“Going to throw me a bone, sir?”

Laughing, MacTavish throws his forearm over his eyes, sinking back into the soft creaking cushions beneath him. It’ll be easier to confess this if he isn’t looking at Riley directly, the remembered bruise of a cushion beneath his knees in the confessional, musky incense clogging every breath. “I had thought about it before, younger man, big dreams, ‘s what’s expected of me after all with my parents and sisters. Never felt like quite the right fit and I doubt I’d find someone willing to put up with a bastard like me now.”

Riley shrugs, nearly entirely upside down now, one leg hooked over the back of the chair as a final effort to halt his slow descent to the floor. Won’t be helping the newer recruits assumptions that he’s a vampire. “I’m sure there’s someone out there. Bound to be some poor sod with some good qualities, y’know, like head trauma—”

MacTavish launches himself across the room with a curse, swinging the pink plush pillow in a telegraphed arch as Riley hits the floor with a snarling laugh. 

They’re meant to be newly-weds, after all, some noise is to be expected. 

⁂

The harsh glare of the neighbour’s brake lights dip out of sight around the bend of the cul-de-sac before MacTavish nudges the door open, his keys hooked around one finger. Again, curated for the life they’re living and, accordingly, someone’s had a bit too much fucking fun with it. Not enough for the techs to monitor chatter in the field or whatever bugs they’ve got embedded up some terrorist’s arsehole, but they had to stretch their creative sides.

He didn’t even know there could be pink glittery leather keyrings before now.

“Come on, babe,” he calls back into the maw of the house, swinging the keys into his palm and back out again. Stings a little, metal not yet body-warm, all useless except for the house and the car key. One, MacTavish thinks is someone’s locker key, coughed up for the greater good.

Riley snarls, barely audible except for the comm woven around his ear, against the puckered line of his mouth beneath his mask. “Go fuck yourself,” he hisses, each syllable crisp enough to be imprinted on MacTavish’s tombstone, shining marble and all. He pauses at the door, one hand braced against the frame as his gaze swings from one side to the other, a crease in his brow. 

Soldier’s instincts. No, close match but not entirely. MacTavish chews his cheek as he considers it, the raised curve of Riley’s shoulders and the swell of his cheek beneath his mask, teeth bared when the only blood they hold is his own. When MacTavish had been younger, one of his neighbours had a dog, or at least, they had the sound of a dog chained up behind their high fence, announced by the yellow warning signs they plastered over every inch. They’d make a game of it as kids left alone would always do, seeing who could get closest to the fence before the never-seen dog would charge, fragile wood trembling beneath the weight of it, barking loud enough to chill blood in the very marrow it was made in.

Riley’s a screaming yellow beware of the dog sign.

MacTavish holds his hand out, palm up and fingers splayed, and he might get bitten for this strange communion but it’d be worth it. “Riley?”

“Yeah.” A pause, sunlight splintering through the clouds that had descended to illuminate the golden band on MacTavish’s finger and fuck, he’s already damned several thousand times over but this will be the sin he’d nail himself to the cross for. His answer to Riley before hadn’t been a lie, close enough to the truth to slip inside its skin and cosy up for body warmth. 

Riley curls his fingers into MacTavish’s, corpse-cool like he always is, a stubborn refusal to follow any orders he doesn’t seem important, and falls into step at his side.

The car ride is unimportant, mundane, except when it isn’t.

MacTavish drives, too familiar with Riley’s assumption that civilian road signs were nothing more than suggestions, and the radio crackles as they slide between stations. Riley taps at the controls with jagged fingers, twists the volume loud to the fading sting of a drumbeat and keeps it loud when the next song starts, some crooning pop ballad about broken hearts. MacTavish knows the scar that curls over the far edge of Riley’s right wrist, the dark line that follows the jut of his tendon before it moves into the meat of his palm like a bastardised fortune teller. But now he also knows what it looks like when Riley taps his hands against his knees along with the beat, his sleeve coming up just enough to expose the scrap of skin, and MacTavish is starving, devouring what he shouldn’t want.

“Tech’s say to pick up a few things and tail from a distance in case they meet a contact here,” Riley reports as they park the car a few rows down from their neighbors. MacTavish nods, drumming his fingers against the steering wheel before he swings himself out of the car and makes his way around to Riley’s side. The other man is already out, door shut behind him, and it’s an easy job to wrap his arm around Riley’s waist as they walk towards the store. There’s a moment of hesitation, Riley’s arm raised and ready to drive his elbow into MacTavish’s torso, then he relaxes into the hold. If he had been a stray cat, MacTavish thinks he might have even been purring, a jagged chainsaw rumble, too large for such a slim frame.

“Sounds like a plan.” MacTavish isn’t an accomplished home cook by any stretch of the phrasing, but he can boil water well enough and follow the instructions on the back of a packet. There’d be a meal deal or two they can pick up to supplement the stock in their fridge and wouldn’t stretch the slim budget on their cards until it snaps. Not a trolley, too bulky to use effectively. A basket shoved into MacTavish’s chest until he grabs at the handles, letting it hang at his side. 

It’s a dangerous taste of what he could have, the sheer domesticity of it. MacTavish keeps one hand on Riley as they wander the aisle, the harsh fluorescents overhead humming vaguely and turning Riley’s face skeletal, the purple stain beneath his eyes devouring his features. MacTavish speaks without registering what he’s saying, his gaze slipping over the matched sets of the other couples as they move past, formless, shapeless, inconsequential, some mindless story about his sister’s kids as they’re too close to his thoughts. Heavy fruit dipping low from the boughs.

“It’s sweet,” the lass at the checkout remarks, all of sixteen with all the brashness her age allows. She blinks deliberately at Riley, a dark smudge of mascara in the corner of her eye from when she’d rubbed it, and he matches the expression with a brow raised. “He the protective sort?”

She’s talking about him, one elbow propped against the register like they’re housewives gossiping at the letterboxes, her grin wide as she catches MacTavish’s gaze. 

“Yeah. He is.” Riley’s fingers brush against MacTavish’s hold at his waist, the scrape of his shoulders at his back. “‘S sweet though.”

“Yeah, totally. Anyway, here’s your change.”

“Come on, babe.” Riley turns in MacTavish’s hold, steering them both and MacTavish is helpless to obey, more fucked if Riley realises exactly what he could do with a single word. It would be worth it, burning the universe down for a smile. “Let’s go home.” 

⁂

Evening falls quickly, the sky plump with the same shade of purple as a fresh bruise. 

MacTavish breaks first, a yawn rumbling through him as they lounge in the small sitting room after some scran. He’s reminded again of his da, dozing in front of the telly in an evening, arms folded across his chest and eyes closed but not yet asleep, as attuned to the signal of the remote as the set in front of him. 

“Any plans for the evening, Riley?” he asks, tipping his gaze sideways to the same chair Riley had claimed earlier. 

The other man is hunched down into it, a blanket twisted over his shoulders and one of MacTavish’s hoodies sacrificed to the cause. He’s pulled the slippers back on when they’d returned from the brief surveillance in the supermarket, and one dangles from his foot extended over the arm of the chair. A blade flickers over his fingers, the flash of metal just visible as an advert plays, some shite about cleaning products or a new tv show, in a string of pinks and greens. “Same as usual. Bother the techs, keep an eye out, sir.”

Closest thing to civilian life they’re likely to get this side of the dirt. Double bed in the house but only one of them has used it at a time, or, at least, that MacTavish knows about. Limited surveillance in the house at Price’s insistence and MacTavish isn’t going to think anything more about that. 

Sometimes, in the early hours of the morning, MacTavish will wake in pale grey denial with the bed indented just beyond his reach.

The space will be cold when he wakes fully. 

But he will keep leaving a space for Riley, crack open his ribcage for him to burrow inside if it would provide just a moment of comfort. 

“Night, Riley.”

Riley grins up at him, tips his head back to watch him walk past. “Night, sir.”

[storiesofsvu]

Rita Calhoun 50 OTP Q's Pt. 2

Rita Calhoun x fem!reader no major warnings. pt 2 a pretty quick follow up of pt 1 as it's just some hc's and not a full fic lol. Send your req's in here for more fun!

26. Who likes to eat healthy/ Who loves junk food?                 You both have a good balance of both. Rita really enjoys her sweet treats, but she doesn’t go overboard on them. She prefers to order groceries from whole foods while you don’t care where they come from as long as its edible. She does rely on take out a lot, but it’s from healthier places, salads, sandwiches, rice or noodle bowls, acai bowls, salmon or chicken and rice with veggies. You’ve even found her some nights with delivery from restaurants that don’t even offer it and all she’s said is “I know a guy…”. You’re the one more likely to indulge in the greasy pizza, overloaded Chinese food or mcdonalds.

27. Who takes a long shower/ Who sings in the shower?                 Rita’s everything shower is over an hour long every single time. You cannot tell me that woman doesn’t have a like 20 fucking step routine between skincare, haircare, dry brushing, etc. It’s also one of the times during the day that she uses to relax, some candles, a nice soft playlist to help her wind down. You’re the one that sings in the shower, though you only try to do it in the mornings she’s already gone for the day in the hopes to not be overheard.

28. Who is the book worm?                 Rita, absolutely hands down. She’s *obsessed* with books and on weekend shopping days will ALWAYS be dragging you into bookstores, especially antique or second hand ones. She’s usually got multiple on the go at once, a couple of fiction with different genres, and a couple of non fiction.

29. Who is the better cook?                 We all know it’s going to be you. It doesn’t matter if you’re not that great. Rita can’t even defrost an Uncrustable properly.

30. Who likes long walks on the beach?                 Gonna go with both of you. You don’t care what kind of beach it is, you enjoy the company, feeling the sand in your toes, the water on your feet, best way to end the day. Rita prefers the walking paths/sidewalks down by the beach so she doesn’t have to deal with the sand.

31. Who is more affectionate?                 Overall, and physically, you. You’re always telling her how much you love her, and are eager to have a hand or arm linked with hers while walking around outside. You’re more likely to be the one stealing a kiss or showing off PDA. It’s in the privacy of your home that Rita goes overboard with her affection. She shows it by physical touch and gifts mainly. Her hands tracing patterns on your legs while they’re strewn over her lap on the couch, she often catches herself watching you with a dreamy smile on her face because of how much she loves you and how much she can’t believe how well you take care of her.

32. Who likes to have really long (deep) conversation?                 This one’s definitely going to Rita. She can talk for hours on end about those deep philosophical conversations that go on far too late into the night. She always enjoys expanding her mind and self educating herself on various topics and loves spending time looking things up and debating back and fourth with friends.

33. Who would wear “not guilty” t-shirt/ Who would wear “sin” t-shirt?                 Hear me out, this was Rita and Rafael in their Harvard days. I’ll let you decide who’s wearing which one lol.

34. Who would wear “if lost return to…” t-shirt/ Who would wear “I am…” t-shirt?                 You’re definitely wearing the lost one, Rita’s the much more sober and collected one, gently guiding you to the car at the end of the night.

35. Who goes overboard on the holidays?                 Rita. She never means to, you’ve likely set limits for prices of presents and she almost always accidentally exceeds it. She never cared much for holidays, thinking they were overrated and never bothered to decorate her home or office when she was single and working all the time. But there’s something about seeing the way your eyes sparkle in the Christmas lights that she has a team fully decking out the entire apartment every single year because she knows you love it. (she does always make sure they leave the tree bare as that’s been made into a tradition the two of you do together.)

36. Who is the social media addict?                 You. Rita is not chronically online. The apps on her phone are much more likely to be various news ones. She likely has twitter and uses it more as a work reference and again, to keep up on current events and news. I DO like to believe that she has a (likely private) Instagram (and we’re gonna ignore the timeline of when insta became a thing/her age for this hc lol). And she’s been posting on it since college, fancy parties, yacht trips out in the hamptons, semi spicy bikini or dress pics, it’s incredibly aesthetic and she thrives to keep the vibe going. She’s got a fuck ton of followers and is like, lowkey Instagram famous, but most of the posts don’t actually include her face, especially as she got older and more concerned with her professional image.

37. Height difference or age difference?                 Didn’t we already do height? Lol. Age wise, Rita’s usually older. She focused on school and work and didn’t want to waste time dating when she was younger. Now that she’s established most people closer to her age are already married with kids. She doesn’t have any issues dating younger, as long as her partner has their shit together and has some ambition and goals when it comes to life. She cant deal with someone who has no motivation and just lounges around all day.

38. Who likes to star gaze?                 This is more leaning towards you. You like to take a moment during each day to appreciate the little things, like this, and say a silent thank you to the world for making such beautiful things. She doesn’t really think about it until you’re out of the skyscrapers of the city, sometimes out in the hampton’s, sometimes it’s a more tropical vacation that she can really see the night sky and there’s no place she’d rather be than on a cozy blanket showing you constellations.

39. Who buys cereal for the prize inside?                 Absolutely you! Which Rita will lovingly tease you about, especially if there is a collection of toys and you continue to buy boxes until you have the entire set. (and naturally you never actually eat the cereal..)

40. Who is the fun parent/ Who is the responsible parent?                 If it came to actual parenting, I think Rita would be a mix of both, but much heavier leaning toward the responsible one. But she’s not having kids, so she’s always going to be the super fun rich af Aunt. She doesn’t do well with the younger kids, but once they’re about 16/17 she can have actual conversations with them, and she’ll be the one sneaking them booze and inviting them out to the hampton’s and letting them (semi responsibly) party on the yacht. She’s obviously the one you’d want to call when you’re in trouble considering her job and she’s also the one that’s never going to whisper a word to either of your parents. She’ll take those secrets to the grave. And she’s also very capable of intimidating the fuck out of bullies or ex boyfriends. She will threaten them with jail time.

41. Who cries during sad movies?                 Both of you. Rita’s a fucking sap so she cries at the romantic movies, you’re more likely the one to cry over the animals.

42. Who is the neat freak?                 I don’t particularly think Rita’s a neat *freak* but she has everything in its spot and knows where her things are 99.9% of the time. She’s organized, collected, tidy, her kitchen’s always clean cause she never cooks lol. And she likely has a cleaning service come to her apartment weekly to help with that kinda stuff.

43. Who wins the stuffed animals at the carnival for the other one?                 You’re shocked Rita even agreed to go to the carnival with you and you’ve promised to win her one as a thank you. While she does have fun, indulges in plenty of food she never would have touched otherwise, and obviously pays for you to play all the stupid, nearly impossible to win games, it’s the giant smile on your face as you turn to her with a lime neon green giant monkey that makes her the happiest. If it had been some random gift from a first date it would have gone in the trash right away, but because it's from you and you worked so hard to win it he gets a name by the time you’re home and either lives on a stool in the walk in closet or has taken up residency in the guest room. (it’s his room now)

44. Who is active/ Who is lazy?                 You like to get a daily workout in, something as small as a walk around the block on slower days up to a class at the gym or some heavy lifting on days you’re more ambitious. Rita always makes sure to not be too sedentary, especially with an office job. She enjoys the more streamlined workouts, Pilates or yoga, things that she can do in the privacy of her living room and not have to leave the house for on colder days. She doesn’t particularly enjoy running, but will do it when she starts to feel a little too stiff and immobile. On the other hand, she truly enjoys your post dinner walks through the park, hand in hand as you share little stories.

45. Who is more likely to get drunk?                 Absolutely you. Rita will indulge in a drink or two with dinner, a cocktail or two out at the bar, but she doesn’t go much passed that. She doesn’t like to be out of control of herself, especially out in public. She has been known to finish a bottle of wine or two while at the apartment, and definitely gets a little silly, laughing harder and longer than she normally does.

46. Who has the longer food order?                 This is weird. Lol. I’m gonna go with Rita because she likely hasn’t eaten since breakfast and thus is more hungry, opting for an app or two and a full course meal while you’re fine with just a burger.

47. Who has the more complex coffee order?                 Rita. While it’s pretty simple at home, if she’s out and there’s a fancier option, she’s indulging. She probably has some sort of self made up special combination of different drinks. You’d think the barista’s would hate her for it but they all know her by name and have nicknamed the drink ‘The Calhoun’ so it has its own priced button in the computer and sticker label with all the steps for newer staff. (not to mention she tips incredibly on the daily)

48. Who loses stuff?                 You.

49. Who is the driver/ Who is the passenger?                 You’re always the driver if you’re not in a cab/car service. While Rita does know how to drive, she simply doesn’t. I could definitely see her having gotten her licence back in the day and never using it, thus letting it expire. She’s a passenger princess through and through.

50. Who is the hopeless romantic?                 Rita. That bitch is a cold hearted shark who scares or at least intimidates 90 % of the people she comes across in her workday/life but she has this completely other side to her with the people she trusts and loves. She’s the softest, most gentle, caring, tender person who will always put her love first and take every opportunity to show it.

________________________

@hbkpop @mickey-gomez @red1culous @imlike-so-gaydude @altsvu @svulife-rl rl @svushots @wannabe-fic-reader @bumblebear30 @alexbllake @australiancarisi @cerberus-spectre @emskisworld @ex-uallyactive @dead-of-niight @multifandomlesbianic @dxtery @momlifebehard @poisonedcrowns @when-wolves-howl @godard-muse @itisdoctortoyousir @httpjupiterbby @somethingimaginative17 @alexxavicry @daddy-heather-dunbar @evilregal2002 @dextur @disneyfan624 @svushots @happenstnces @onmykneesformarvel @kmc1989 @irishavengersassemble @valentinesfrog @noahrex @wittygutsy @chimnlex @i-lovefandom @ralla-ralla @chestnutninny @gamma-rae-bursts

[joeyalohadream]

(Just posted this as a comment on Ao3)

Heads up for anyone who hasn't read chapter 4 yet - Spoilers ahead!

Chapter 4 was so so good and 100% worth staying up to 2:30am to finish reading it! I was grinning at my phone like a loon throughout the entire chapter, it made me so happy! I have re-read this fic so many times at this point, it is truly a comfort fic that I will re-read when I am happy or sad and even when I can’t sleep! So thank you a million for writing such a wholesome story. This Gale and John are one of my OTPs now (and are on my relationship role model list – completely loving, can communicate and completely safe in every single way – I want (need) a John in my life!)

Here is a (very non-comprehensive) list of some of my favourite bits!

Absolutely loved that John noticed that alcohol might be an issue for Gale just from being observant and then decided to change his own behaviour patterns for the better so he can be as safe as possible for Gale.

I loved the foreshadowing – little did John know that in less than 24 hours he would be carrying Gale up and Gale would not only allow it but feel safe enough to continue sleep in his arms – this breaks my heart in the best way possible. “[10:57pm]Buck🎄: Not always very good at climbing stairs. John snorts, grinning at his phone, feeling young. [10:57pm] John: I’ll carry you up next time He knows the other man wouldn’t let him, at least not yet “And when Gale rouses enough to squint at John in the dark, to see that he’s safe, only to tuck his face into John’s shoulder while he carries him up the stairs”

Related but this: “He feels safe with John. And he can’t remember ever really feeling safe before. Not completely. Always a memory of what happened waiting in his mind or a feeling of dread that it could happen again. Fear and anxiety that one day a familiar face would walk through those gates or up his front steps. But the tightness in his chest he’s lived with since he was a boy seems to fade away when John’s around.” Gale deserves the world, I love, love, love that John is such a safe person for him in every single way!

I loved that both John and Gale were fretting about seeing each other again in the morning, but as soon as they saw each, their worries disappeared

“Go easy on me, John.” – no words just heart eyes

““If anyone’s ‘googly eyed,’ it’s me, fellas,” John says, voice warm. “Stop trying to embarrass him. I’m the only one allowed to make him blush now.”” John is the best – all I can say without swooning

Your descriptions of Gale quietly lusting over/wanting John – just perfect, every single it is completely in character and builds up to the spice so so well! “Looking at the span of his legs, the bulk of his thighs makes Gale’s mouth water.”

Have I mentioned how much I love John perceptiveness especially around Gale – he just gets him so perfectly. “Why do I get the feeling you’re freaking out a little?”

“Let me take care of things while you go get off your feet.” Let me take care of you. He sees the words in John’s eyes. Soft lips press to his own, once then again. “Please, Gale?” And how can he say no? Especially when, after so long of never having anyone here to help, to take care of things, to take care of him, he really doesn’t want to.” Sob! All of this – perfect! Love John’s need and want to care, love Gale’s want to accept it (and how he is realising that John is safe enough to accept care from him) – heart breaking in the best way!

“Gale’s comfortable. John is comfortable, he thinks, nuzzling a little more firmly into him.” You write Gale so so well, it feels like I’m inside of his brain – feeling the emotions in real time. I love how soft Gale allows himself to be around John

The smut, the run up, absolutely everything about it – completely and utterly perfect! You shouldn’t have worried – as one of your Anons on Tumblr said – you balanced the tenderness and softness perfectly with the spice and heat!

John cleaning Gale up – as another of your Anons said – died and gone to heaven – it was so so soft and caring and just everything! And the “Seeing him bare like this for the first time, soft and calm and vulnerable, instead of hard and panting and wanting, feels right. He feels closer to him.” – died again – again heart break in the best way. John is the one of the two best and sweetest man to ever exist – other place goes to Gale!

The scar scene – honestly if I can find the right words to describe how I felt and feel when I read that scene again I’ll send another message – but for now, just heart warming perfection that is makes me blush and kick my feet with joy! “John breathes out and leans in, presses his lip to the scar and lets them linger. Tries to will it inside and down to where it aches.”

The description of Gale curled up next to John now lives rent free in my head! There so many other bits I loved and wanted to wrap my arms around but after 900 words this comment is long enough – but in all honestly, this fic, this chapter is perfect and genuinely one of my all-time favourite fics ever! Thank you for writing this masterpiece!

@escaping-to-fiction

When I tell you, I could WEEP at this comment 😭

Might be my favorite one I’ve ever received.

It’s hard to explain how much the feedback from you and all of the lovely people that comment and message and send asks, means to me.

Making time for fandom in my life again after so many years has been such a joy to me, and while I do it for myself, knowing that people out there not only enjoy what I write, but also seem to genuinely care about my stories and my versions of the guys… it’s just so wonderful.

This story has really been a joy to write and I’m so happy people care about it enough to tell me 😭

I’ll gush out a reply to your (and everyone else’s) comment on AO3 later, but I just wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to you on here too.

You really made my day with this one. I’m so glad that so much of what I put into this chapter came across how I intended and that you enjoyed it.

THANK YOU 🙏 💕❤️💕🥹

[kate04us]

Regarding the character analysis thing:

Laura Roslin (duh)

Kara Thrace

Saul Tigh

Thanks for the ask! 💙 Let's start with Laura, cause that's easy. 😂

Laura Roslin

How I feel about this character I LOVE her! She is perfect in her incredibly flawed way. I love how she steps into the role of President at a time when the job cannot come with many perks, as it might have had under non-apocalyptic circumstances, when the decisions that would have to be made were nothing if not daunting. And she does all that while dying of cancer. When most people would be paralyzed with fear, both from the diagnosis and the Cylon attacks, she steps up into a job she never wanted and does what has to be done, and she keeps doing it. And sure, she doesn’t always makes the best decisions, but I love that she gets to be flawed and that we get to see her be vulnerable and lose hope, too. So many female protagonists don’t get that luxury. 

All the people I ship romantically with this character As Mary has chemistry with a sack of potatoes, I can see quite a lot of ships for Laura, but my absolute OTP for her is of course Bill. Books as love language…Do I need to say more? It’s so rare that we get to see a mature relationship with all its ups and downs. And OMG, those two having a fight is so perfect with how vicious they are without ever raising their voices.

My non-romantic OTP for this character Billy! I love him so much, and it’s beautiful how he brings out her maternal side, but also calls her out when she makes questionable decisions. I’ll be forever heartbroken that he died.

My unpopular opinion about this character While I love to explore the idea of her and Bill living happily every after on their ridge on new earth with a cabin by a lake and all that, I’m convinced that it would have cheapened the character if the show had allowed her to live. She was always going to die—from the very first moment we saw her on screen. And in the end, she did what she set out to do. She brought her people to Earth (even if it’s not the one they originally set out to find), and she got to see how beautiful it was. She died knowing that her people would be fine, and she had Bill by her side. While it’s maybe not a happy ending, it is a good one. (Is that even an unpopular opinion?)

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon. I really wish she had gotten more time with Bill. They always had to put their work first (not like you can take a vacation from saving the human race). It would have been nice if they had had time to just enjoy each other without the weight of their responsibilities on their shoulders. I know it would never have worked on the show, but I can still want it for her. She deserved it. 

[twisted-tales-told]

regulus for the ask game <3

Omg hi bestie I love u

This ask game

My favourite thing about Regulus Black is that he’s SO clever. Like he’s not smart, he’s not witty, he’s Clever. It’s different. He sees a way around problems other people wouldn’t even BEGIN to think about. Like this is not the kind of cleverness that is taught to someone. It comes from within. It was always present inside of him and he has shaped it and molded it into an instrument. I feel like people get him wrong when they say he’s “sharp as a knife” or whatever. That fucker is a violin.

Least favourite thing about Regulus Black. He has a tendency to think he’s abandoned when he hasn’t been. And I think it hurts him more than it could ever hurt the other people around him, but it still does wound those who care about him.

Favourite Line: I don’t necessarily have a favourite line but my favourite characterization of him is Winterlude by @otrtbs

Brotp: I gotta say him and Dorcas for this one. I think they are ride or dies. There are secrets shared between them that not even Veritaserum could cut out of them. I think it’s a quiet friendship that they share, and an even deadlier loyalty.

OTP: Jegulus, I answered this a bit with James’ post, but for regulus specifically I think he needs James’ love so badly. It’s the good thing he has earned through all the bad.

Notp I Hate Bartylus. I hate it with everything in me. Unless you’re nat I will literally not interact with you about it

Random headxanon: literally uses magic to tie his shoes because he doesn’t know how

Unpopular opinion: I left this fandom for almost a year because I just hated the turn in characterization most people were writing for him. Like HATED it. Made my blood boil. Who is this plucky, razor mouthed, dead inside man. Not my regulus that’s for sure. Like I got so fed up with it because it was just in every fic I turned to and it started to affect my own writing!! And that’s not okay. So now I read jegulus fics just by the people I trust to write him well because I honestly cannot take it. My Regulus is precious. He is a little freak nerd who doesn’t know how to make eye contact with people.

Like I’m making a big deal out of this entirely because the way people began to write him was ENTIRELY too much like my abusive ex which is NOT the writers faults at all but it did mean I had to step away from the fandom for a long time unless I wanted to become a crazy person.

Song I associate with him: I’m sorry I’m gatekeeping (message me privately I’ll answer u probably)

My favourite fanart of him has a bright red background and he’s lighting a cigarette into the mouth of Godric Gryffindor

[hayatoseyepatch]

ah this moodboard event seems so fun! >.< I’m gonna do my best to send enough detail but not go overboard!!!

so my selfship is with Tsubakino from wb, I just adore him sm!

I don’t entirely know what to put so I’ll do my best! very coquette with outfits and style, literally one of my favorite aesthetics I can only dream of wearing irl because of my job :( but also loves playing volleyball, bc that sport is genuinely so fun >.<

w tsubakino they’re outfits are always coordinated and on point, envy of all couple outfits because it’s tsubakino so obviously— shopping dates, coffee dates, at home spa nights, movie nights, etc. just soft and loving, and they’re each others best friends

they both love decorating for the holiday season— their apartments, their classrooms, helping the town decorate, helping (forcing) kotoha to decorate her cafe as well! as well as being able to give presents to show their friends how much they mean to them, even tho in Japan chrismtas is mostly about romantic love they also love showing platonic love for their friends as well

always at some point get caught under the mistletoe by “accident” w out fail

no colors or things I don’t want! i love this time of year >.<

Number one can I just say how obsessed I am with your selfship??? Like HELLO?? Honestly an OTP, me and Satoru Nii just got off the phone and he told me its canon now. Tsubaki is so slept on and doesnt get the love he so deserves so this makes me so happy.

The matching outfits?? Decorating together?? Its all so stinking cute and I'm officially obsessed with the both of you. I can just imagine you both going to a cozy cafe in your matching outfits looking like ICONS (me and Suo are shipping you both for sure!)

I kinda took the coquette thing and RAN with it, I hope you enjoy!

Suprise! A little drabble for you (ฅ́ ˘ฅ̀*)♡

Tsubaki hummed, making sure his lips were perfectly glossed as he headed towards where you were waiting for him. There was nothing more he adored than the way his signature red looked against you lips. He had been very strategic when asking for you to wait while he got two mugs of cocoa. He knew every place where Ume had sneakily hung a bushel of mistletoe. Smiling to himself when he saw you exactly where he wanted you, away from your crowd of friends at Ume’s annual holiday party. He swooned, even after all this time you still managed to get his heart racing, it pounding in his ears much louder than the clack of his heels against the snow coated cobblestone.

“There you are, my love.” He smiled, approaching with the two mugs. “Its so pretty out here with all the lights and the falling snow.” He hums, before smiling at you and handing off the cocoa. “Not as beautiful as you of course, but close enough I guess.”

He giggled, launching you to repeat the action before teasing him calling him sappy before taking a sip of the warm liquid. Shaking his head, before taking a drink of his own. Only to feign a noise of surprise a moment later. Pointing upward, your gaze following a manicured finger to where the touch of green hung in the archway of the gazebo.

“Would you look at that, mistletoe.” The tone in Tsubaki’s voice absolutely gave him away, that this was not as “accidental” as he would lead you to believe. “Well, you know how the tradition goes, angel.”

He smiles, taking a step forward, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind your eyes, admiring the way the lights reflect off the beautiful blue of your eyes. Wasting no more time as he dips his head, capturing your lips with his own. The hand not holding his mug comes up to cup your cheek, pulling you closer to deepen the kiss. He lets out a contented him against your lips, lingering for a moment before pulling away and pressing his forehead against your own.

“Merry Christmas, my love.” He coos, awarded with the sight of his signature color against your lips, sure he may have tricked you to get you under the mistletoe, but he was sure you didn’t mind too much. Especially not with the way you connect your lips once more.

[corneliaavenue-ao3]

Sorry Hannah, I didn’t save the Hinny microfic since I typed it here 😔 but I got another one! Guessing you liked the first one? 😳 if so Dobnny approves!

Desire Set Ablaze (microfic Hinny)

He trailed kisses up and down the column of her throat. Taking his time nibbling on the sweet spot that would always have her dragging her nails down his back. He remembers when he first done it a weeks ago, he was shocked but quickly realized that the desire to make her come apart was becoming stronger with every passing second.

After reluctantly moving away from her delectable throat. Harry had to bite his bottom lip once he saw Gin’s freckled face scrunched up in both equal pleasure and annoyance of him no longer feasting upon her. If you ask him, that look rivaled her blazed one that she would give him before ever kissing him.

Hell, if only he had a camera he could take a picture of her right now just to show her hot fucking breathtaking beautiful she looks. The way her creamy breasts, that were decorated in a constellation of delicious freckles were slowly rising and falling. Even the two love bites he’d given her that were starting to darken close by her pink areolas, had made her look even more exotic. Honest to Merlin, he couldn’t help but stare at her, while she slowly opened her eyes and set her eyes upon him.

Who would’ve thought that sneaking out to the pond by the Burrow, while the rest of the family were doing chores would be the best bloody idea he ever had. He knew that their time under the blistering sun would surely come to an end soon. It was only a matter before either Ron or Hermione would make an excuse themselves so they could have a bit of a “walk” around the grounds of the Burrow. Yeah, as much as he loved his best mate, he wasn’t keen upon having him interrupt this moment he had with Gin-

“Oi! Are you going to just going to stare at me or can we continue?” Gin’s voice brought him out from his thoughts, Harry watched as she raised a brow smirked.

“I was just giving you a break, Giner-”

Before he could finish saying her name, Gin hand used all her strength to roll them over. His hot and sweaty back was now against the prickly grass. As he felt his girlfriend proudly straddle his thighs; Harry could only stare at the way each freckled thigh was now keeping him pinned to the earth beneath him. Not that he was complaining at all. Fuck, he could never complain, in reality this was his plan all along.

“Never, call me Ginerva…do you understand that Potter,” Gin gritted out as she slowly trailed her hands up and down his chest.

“Why not it’s your name isn’t it? Ginerva,” he smirked at the way her eyes narrowed at him.

“Seems like you’ve become a bit cocky, I’ll have to find a way to bring you down off your hippogriff.” Gin had said in a mock serious tone.

“Oh really, now how will you do that-” Harry had started to ask but realized that his girlfriend was clearly steps ahead of his game. He felt her lips begin a burning path down his chest, all while his treacherous body was begging for her to continue.

“Gin, you don’t-have to,” he groaned as he watched her red hair fan out all over his navel, she had quickly made it so close yet so far from his length.

“Oh, I most definitely do. Be a good boyfriend and hold my hair, will you?” Ginny smirked back at him, only seconds before watching her pink tongue lick the tip of his-

Woah, anyways that’s all I got for you my sweet-innocent little Hannah-Banana, hopefully this gets you through the day. Even though we both know that Dobnny is OTP, I suppose multishipping Hinny would be alright.

— sincerely yours, Dobnny anon

🥺

don't worry, dobnny anon, I have the og ask

thank you for taking time away from your otp to write hinny. i love your hinny, it is great.

I am scared to see if you ever write dobbny smut

[ambarpanchal69]

How to Buy a New Launch Property in Singapore (Simple Guide)

Buying a new launch property in Singapore is an exciting journey — but it can feel overwhelming if you don't know where to start. Don't worry! In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know in simple steps to make your dream home purchase smooth and stress-free.

1. Understand What "New Launch" Means

First things first, new launch properties are brand-new condo projects that are either being previewed or just officially launched for public sale. They usually offer:

Early bird prices

A wider selection of units (best views, best layouts)

Special promotions by developers

Buying at this stage can often mean better deals compared to resale units.

2. Calculate Your Budget

Before you fall in love with any property, know how much you can actually afford. You’ll need to consider:

Downpayment (usually 25% for a private property)

Stamp duties (BSD and possibly ABSD if you own multiple properties)

Legal fees

Renovation costs (if any)

Also, check your Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) limit — the banks use this to calculate how much loan you are eligible for. Tip: Always get a mortgage loan pre-approval first!

3. Start Researching Projects

Once your budget is clear, it's time to hunt!

Look for:

Location: Near MRT stations, schools, amenities

Developer reputation: Only go with trusted names

Price trends: Check nearby resale prices to see if you're getting a good deal

Future growth: Look at the URA Master Plan for upcoming developments in the area

One great option you might want to explore is Faber Residences, a freehold new launch located in a prime area of Singapore, offering luxury living with excellent connectivity and beautiful surroundings.

4. Visit the Showflat

Showflats let you physically see the model units, layouts, and finishes you’re buying into. Things to pay attention to:

Unit size (some showflats are larger than the actual units!)

Finishing quality

The facing of the unit (noisy roads, direct west sun?)

Developer's promises vs actual fittings

Always bring a checklist to compare different projects.

5. Compare Unit Types and Prices

Every condo has a price tier based on:

Unit size (1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, penthouse, etc.)

Facing (pool view, city view, etc.)

Floor level (higher floors are pricier)

Choose a unit that fits your lifestyle needs and offers good resale potential later.

For example, river-facing units at Faber Residence are expected to enjoy strong demand because of their rare location and stunning views.

6. Secure Your Booking

Once you pick your ideal unit, you'll need to:

Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with a blank cheque

Receive the Price List from the developer

Attend the Balloting Day if there are many buyers (especially for popular projects)

If you’re successful, congratulations! You’ll proceed to sign the Option to Purchase (OTP) and pay the booking fee (usually 5% of the purchase price).

7. Finalize the Legal Process

You’ll need a lawyer to handle:

Sales and Purchase Agreement (S&P)

Loan documentation

Payment of stamp duties

Timeline: After booking, you'll have 3 weeks to sign the S&P and 8 weeks to pay the downpayment + stamp duties.

8. Progressive Payment Scheme

For new launch condos, you don't pay everything at once. Singapore uses a Progressive Payment Scheme, meaning you only pay portions as construction milestones are completed:

Foundation done → Pay X%

Structure up to 2nd floor → Pay Y%

TOP issued → Pay final amount

This way, your financial burden is spread out over time.

9. Prepare for Key Collection

Finally, once the project is completed (TOP - Temporary Occupation Permit), you’ll be invited to collect your keys and officially move in!

🎉 Time to celebrate your smart property purchase!

Final Thoughts

Buying a new launch property in Singapore is an amazing investment if you do your homework right. Take your time to plan, research, and choose a project that matches your goals.

If you’re looking for a freehold, luxury new launch project in a prime location, you should definitely Faber Residence — it's one of the most exciting developments happening right now!

[thebroccolination]

Good evening, and welcome to:

Sentimental Hour

I took this screenshot of a gifset almost exactly three years ago. It’s the first thing of WinTeam I ever saw, and it’s the first image of them in my phone’s photo gallery.

I’ve been thinking about them and writing about them ever since I first watched UWMA, and part of me was a little afraid that when Between Us ended, I’d be content with what we got to the point where I wouldn’t want to write about them anymore.

That can happen when your ship is both canon and has their own series! Especially if they aren’t characters in a high-stakes situation or part of a secondary world.

WinTeam are just two university club athletes who hooked up one night and fell in love over the course of months while they helped each other sort through their respective traumatic backgrounds.

But they’re the most compelling pairing I’ve ever loved, and I still can’t fully put into words why. Look at them, though. :’(

Some pairings I love are superheroes, figure skaters, pilots of space lions, ancient warriors, a firefighter and a dude hosting a benevolent alien that gives him neon fire powers—

And yet, for some reason, I don’t even write fic for most of those pairings. I love reading fic about them, but I’ll usually just write one or two and then move on.

WinTeam, though. That’s a Forever OTP for me.

Some of it is BounPrem’s chemistry. Even when they’d just been cast, back when they didn’t know each other and barely liked each other, that chemistry was there. Even in photos, you can feel that they have a rare spark.

And it only got stronger the longer they worked together.

But it’s not just the actors, otherwise the series would have been enough for me. It’s the characters. The way they’re written in Hemp Rope and Between Us, the gentleness they show each other when no one’s around, the way they want to trust each other but they’re so afraid to, the way they reach for each other even though they don’t have a name for what they are.

I love so much about them.

I love that their deepest fears and flaws connect them. At the start of the story, Team has kept so much guilt and pain to himself for so long, he’s just adapted to struggle through it. Meanwhile Win is alone and convinced he always will be.

It may always kick me in the heart that Team’s confession builds up to a vow to take the first steps because he can see that Win is too afraid. And he can do it because Win spent months giving Team every imaginable route to comfort and security, even when it cost him sleep or time or energy that he didn’t have to spare. The beautiful thing is that because of Win’s kindness, Team is strong enough to take the lead from Win, who’s been trying so hard to steer when he’s abjectly terrified of making any mistake with Team.

They’re so balanced. In such an ordinary, quiet way. They’ll never leave each other to falter alone because they both understand how that feels. There’s no question that Team will go to the hospital with his new boyfriend to visit his boyfriend’s brother, just like there’s no question that Win will admit to Team how lost he feels.

I think I just wanted to write this all down because I’m relieved that I found them, and even more relieved that even though the series is over, they’re always going to be part of my heart.

And they’ve raised my standard for love stories forever.

[narcissa-black-supermacy]

49 for Prongsfoot! (because I suspect the answer is yes and it might get angsty haha <3)

49. Does either of them have a hard time being away from the other?

This question was written for them, anon dear, whether it’s platonic or romantic I don’t think anybody is as obsessive and codependent as these two.

Send me an OTP question from the list and a ship and I’ll respond with a drabble.

One, two, four, six--

James keeps counting the sounds of the clacks the sole of his boot makes as he taps it against the cold tiles of the platform floor, because if he lets his mind wander off that and allows his thoughts to take over, he might actually end up accidentally lighting up on fire the handle of the trolley tightly clutched in his hand.

He raises a hand to take off his glasses, wipes them against the hem of his jumper, and puts them back on again, for the third time in the past ten minutes; not because they’re dirty, or because their position on the bridge of his nose is bothering him, but just so he has something to do while the last minutes before the train’s leave tick away, painfully slowly, feeling like actual hours.

The train gives another loud chug - the third, final one.

“James, jaan,” his mother prompts gently with a light squeeze of his shoulder, “you’ll miss the train.”

Missing the train is the last thing he could care about right now. He scans the platform once more, eyes desperately searching for a familiar figure, the same one he’s been looking out for since the second they stepped foot on the platform. He is yet to find it.

He blinks, shakes his head, breathes out, forces himself to pull on a smile for his parents as he leans up to kiss them goodbye one last time, and heads for the train.

“Have you seen him?” He asks as soon as he slides the door of their usual compartment open. He kicks himself internally for feeling as disappointed as he does to only find Remus and Peter inside, and can only hope that it does not show on his face.

Remus shakes his head, which does not help the anxiety he’s feeling in his chest. He can’t shake off the feeling that something is wrong.

“He probably got here early and went to change,” Peter says nonchalantly, eyes focused on the new Charms textbook in his hand. “He’ll catch up soon.”

James huffs and flops down on the opposite side of the bench. He does not sit by the window like he usually does, only so he can keep an eye on the door, gaze darting sideways every time he feels someone pass down the corridor.

They are over twenty minutes into the ride, and James is ready to actually get up and start blowing out doors, one by one, when Sirius finally shows up. The door slides aside and he pushes through smoothly, already in his school robes, hands tucked into the pockets of his trousers and hair pushed up in a messy bun, wand holding it together in place.

“Hey,” he greets them with a smile, almost a little shily. “Y’alright?”

He does not get to let out much more than that before James bolts up to his feet, crossing the small space between them in two swift strides to pull him into a tight, borderline bruising hug. It feels like a breath of fresh air, one he hasn’t gotten in a very long while. Like a piece of him that’s been missing the past two months has been finally put back into place again.

Sirius stills for a second before his arms come up to wrap around his shoulders in return. James feels the tension in his body stiffen for a moment before it’s gone, and he allows himself to relax, melting into the touch as James pulls him in closer to his chest.

He pulls back only so he can take in the other’s appearance properly, keeping his hands on the sides of Sirius’ shoulders as he pulls away to do a double check, scanning the other’s body religiously to make sure that everything is in place just the way he remembers it, not a scratch in sight and not a hair out of place.

“You haven’t answered any of my letters.” He blurts out, and it comes out sounding more accussing than he intended.

“Yeah, er- there was a bit of a, uh. Situation. Back at home.” Sirius leans back against the glass of the compartment door and raises a hand to rub at the back of his neck sheepishly. He looks up at James and his lips quirk up in an apologetic grin.

But most importantly, he looks fine. He looks okay, and well, and healthy. They can talk about everything else later, but this is the only thing he can focus on at the moment. James is overwhelmed by the urge to never let him out of his sight for another minute again, the whole world be damned.

He reaches out a hand to tug on Sirius’ sleeve and pulls him in for another embrace. It’s gentler this time, a little calmer but every bit just as desperate in the way they cling to each other like they have not seen each other for two years instead of two months.

“I missed you every day.” James whispers into his hair.

“I know. Me too, Prongs.”

[forevfangirlwrites]

You have some sweet fics that are a joy to read. I love Percabeth, and they're my otp for life. Would you be able to write a one shot where Percy is Annabeth's guard and she's a princess. One involving a rescue and lots of fluff too? Thanks!!!XXOO

“They’re what?”

“Shh! Come on! We need to get you somewhere safe!” Piper is already pulling her along the corridor, deeper into the castle.

“Where’s Percy?” Automatically, her eyes start frantically scanning every direction. The noise is getting louder now and Piper tugs harder, leaving her no choice but to follow.

“I’m sure he’s safe,” Piper replies, a little out of breath. “But right now, you need to follow me!”

“But—”

She’s cut off by Piper pulling her to the side. “They’re too close, we need to detour!”

They burst through the kitchen doors to find the entire staff turn to look at them in confusion.

“My lady—”

“There’s an attack! Quick, barricade the door!” Piper commands, cutting the cook off. For a second, they all stare in shock before Piper yells again. “Now!”

There’s a scramble of movement as they begin to follow her order, but all Annabeth can think about is Percy. What if they couldn’t get him to a safe place?

“Where’s Percy?” she repeats. The fear in her voice must slip out because Piper’s face softens as she replies.

“I’m sure he’s fine, he had a lot of guards around him.” Piper pauses, glancing at her once again, and continues. “You know he trained with the guards; he knows how to fight.”

And though she has full faith in her husband’s ability to do so, she really hopes that he never has to use it.

There’s a heavy bang on the door that causes everyone to freeze. Only one of the doors are barricaded so it only takes a few seconds for the other one to swing open.

“Who’s here!” The shout is loud and angry. In a split second, Piper steps in front of her, gesturing for some of the others around them to huddle together so Annabeth is mostly hidden out of sight.

She takes a moment to appreciate how brave her friend is and hates that she has to be. The rough-faced man steps into the room, scanning it.

“Where’s the princess!?”

The cook from before speaks up. “We don’t know, sir.”

She hates this, hates so many people putting their well-being at risk to protect her. She wishes it didn’t have to be this way.

The man ignores the cook, continuing to search the room, eyes thankfully passing over Annabeth. For a brief second, it’s unclear what he plans to do, but then he turns around towards the door. The cook to her right lets out a small sigh.

Immediately, the man turns back around.

“You there!” He looks directly at Piper, who stares back defiantly. “Move!”

“Why?”

He stomps forward and grabs her arm. Piper gasps out in pain and it’s Annabeth’s last straw. She will not allow anyone else to come in danger.

Especially her best friend.

“Let her go,” she commands, in total control of the situation. Her concern for Piper outweighs everything. “You want me, fine. I’ll come. But you. Let. Her. Go.”

The words are icy from her lips, and she shoots him a glare she reserves for the worst of people. The man stumbles back, letting go of Piper’s arm, surprised by her words.

Piper immediately cradles her arm. “Annabeth, no!” she calls out weakly. Though she’s had the right to use her name for years now, Piper rarely says it.

Hearing it now feels like a plea that tugs at her heart.

The man moves to grab her arm, but she steps back.

“If you want me to come with you, then. Don’t. Touch. Me.”

And with that, she brushes past him and walks towards the door. So far, her element of surprise is the only thing she has going for her.

He catches up to her by the time she steps out into the corridor and moves to take her arm again.

“What did I tell you!” she yells, trying to make as much noise as possible, and moves her arm away. “Don’t touch me and I’ll follow you!”

“Like hell I trust you!” He yells back.

“Well—“ she starts, before immediately breaking out into a sprint. She runs as fast as she can, weaving aimlessly through corridors, making sure to move further into the castle.

He finally catches up to her in the hall next to the throne room.

“GOT YOU NOW!” He shouts as he grabs her arm painfully. She’s firmly stuck in his grip and there’s no one else around. Though she hopes that bringing him further into the castle has helped her chances of someone finding him. At least it’ll take a while to lead her out of it.

He grins menacingly. “You stupid little—”

“If you value your life, you won’t finish that sentence.”

KEEP READING ON AO3

A/N: Thanks for the prompt! Since I have a royalty au, I thought I’d add to it (Percy still acts like a guard!). Hope you like it! And thank you again for the prompt! I’m glad you like my work! (Percabeth is my OTP for life too :)

[kisara-kaiba]

A/N: I finally managed to actually write and edit some of my blueshipping fic material to the point where I feel like I can post it (that only took me like 10 years of shipping this OTP lmao). It’s just some silly office romance fluff that I worked on during a lecture today because I  can never get enough of Seto and Kisara being awkward around eachother. It’s cheesy and overdramatic and I thoroughly enjoyed writing it, even if it’s only two chapters (yet). 

Summary: Seto Kaiba finds his stoicism challenged by his undeniable attraction to his new assistant. But who is she really, and why is there something so familiar about her? And most importantly: how long will he be able to fight himself to stay away from her?

Posting Chapter 1 under the cut (word count: 2541) and then I’ll make a separate post for Chapter 2.

Temptation

Chapter 1: Coffee Break

When Seto Kaiba entered his office that morning, it was still dark outside. Winter had taken a proper hold of Domino City, and the panoramic windows overlooking it had completely frosted over.

While himself protected by a stellar central heating system, Seto could only imagine that the air at the top of the skyscraper was bitterly cold. Just the short walk from his car into the building had left him chilled to the bone, and it took him several minutes of rubbing his hands together and stretching his stiff fingers to be able to type on his keyboard.

He tried to get a head start on the day’s work, answering some emails and overlooking a couple of lines of code. There was much to do, as always, but he found himself unable to focus.

Every other minute, he kept looking up past his desk and through the window to the corridor outside. None of his employees had arrived yet, which was something he normally would have found peaceful. For the past 3 months, however, a hopeful flutter had begun to stir in his chest whenever he heard steps approaching his door.

Time passed slowly. Large snowflakes were now swirling around outside, thudding wetly against the windows, and the wind howled around the top floor. Soon enough, Seto heard the familiar sounds of people arriving at the office. Shuffling chairs, elevators chiming and a distant murmur of voices. KaibaCorp was starting business for the day, and Seto savoured the knowledge that all those people were working hard to realise his ideas, following his every whim. Still, the thrill of that sound was weak compared to the one that came next.

Seto recognised her steps by now. The soft clicking of heels against the carpet, and the gentle knock that followed.

He swallowed, sitting up straighter in his desk chair.

“Come in”

It took effort to keep his voice as flat and commanding as usual. The mere knowledge of her presence on the other side threatened his composure, and he steeled himself as the door opened.

A woman entered his office. She was wearing an oversized winter coat, a floppy beret and thick scarf, like she’d only bothered to change her shoes before coming to see him. Her skin and hair were as white as the snow on her clothes, and she was noticeably flushed from the temperature outside. In her hand was a steaming mug of take-away coffee. As she laid eyes on Seto, her face lit up.

“Good morning, Mr Kaiba” she said brightly.  

Seto felt his mouth go dry, pressing out a curt:  

“Good morning, Ms Aoki”

At this point he wondered if he would ever get used to the sight of her. Ever since her first day in his employ, Seto had been awestruck by this small, soft-spoken woman. She was like nothing and no one he had ever met before, beautiful beyond words, but at the same time radiant with a light that had nothing to do with they way she looked.

The way he felt when he looked at her was wholly unlike his sentiment towards any other human, and it took him a while to figure out why. Only once he was back on the duelling field after their first meeting did he realise. The rush of reverence and admiration that his newest assistant inspired in him could only be compared to that which he felt towards the Blue Eyes White Dragon.

Seto wasn’t happy about it. He’d managed to go all his life without forming attachments, and it had been effortless since he didn’t particularly like people in general. But he enjoyed the company of Kisara Aoki, craved it even, and he had no idea how to handle that. The fact that she was his subordinate didn’t make the situation any easier, and it made it impossible to know if she actually liked to be around him or if she was just doing her job.

Yet her apparent affection and attentiveness towards him certainly didn’t give the impression of professional detachment. The way she smiled at him as she placed the take-away mug on his desk was genuinely warm, and Seto fought to keep himself from smiling back at her.

“What’s this?” He asked, careful to keep any emotion out of his voice.

It was a challenge, as her blushing cheeks and tousled hair were most becoming. She pushed a wayward white strand out of her forehead.

“You mentioned how you didn’t like the coffee here” She explained, tilting her head ever so slightly to the side “So I picked up a double espresso from the coffee shop around the corner instead”

Seto blinked at her. Thinking back, he did recall mentioning something at a meeting about the abysmal quality of coffee in this place. It had just been an off-handed complaint though, nothing serious, and definitely not something he’d expected anyone to take note of.

“That’s…thoughtful of you, Ms Aoki” he said lamely, grappling with how to respond to such a sweet gesture.

She beamed.

“I thought you might appreciate it”

“Yes…”  

Seto wanted to say something more appreciative, but words escaped him.

“I hope it’s not too strong or anything”

Kisara went on, looking a little self-conscious now.

“You seemed tired yesterday. I thought you might need it”

Nothing seemed to slip past her. While Seto was almost always stressed-out and sleep deprived, this week had been particularly harrowing. Of course, this meant that she had been busy, too. Still, she seemed to keep an eye out for how he was doing and had gone out of her way to try and help. For some reason, this display of care made Seto ache inside.

Without saying anything, he picked up the mug. Kisara watched on as he took a slow sip, then put it back down again.

“It’s perfect” He replied, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in spite of himself.

Kisara’s shoulders dropped.

“I’m glad”

She was trying to sound breezy.

Seto faltered. He wanted to let her know how much he valued her concern but couldn’t fathom how. Instead, he did what he knew, and reached for his check book.

“I’ll reimburse you” He said quickly “What does a cup of coffee cost? 50 dollars?”

Kisara giggled, her laugh clear and pleasant. When she did, her nose scrunched up and she got little dimples on either side of her smiling mouth. This made Seto feel warm in a way that had nothing to do with the hot coffee he’d just swallowed.

“Goodness no, Mr Kaiba” She said amusedly “Sometimes I do wonder what planet you rich people live on”

Seto looked at her, confused. Kisara shook her head.

“Never mind. But please don’t feel the need to pay me back. Just think of it as a bit of encouragement at the end of a long week”

As she moved, drops of melted snow dripped off her coat and scarf onto Seto’s desk. She instantly jumped back.

“Oh, I’m so sorry Mr Kaiba”

Her eyes widened, and the redness across her pale cheeks intensified. The water had only got on the very edge of the wooden surface, and Seto made a hand movement like he was trying to motion someone off a ledge.

“It’s fine, don’t – “

Kisara looked mortified; her hands clasped in front of her face. Without really thinking, Seto took the kerchief from his suit pocket and proceeded to wipe down the desk. It was probably the first time he had ever cleaned any part of his office himself, but he just wanted to ease Kisara’s anxiety.

“There” he said, putting the kerchief aside and looking up at his assistant.

Her appearance was still a little fraught, not to mentioned puzzled, but calmer.

“Thank you”

Her smile returned, though somewhat embarrassed this time.

“You’ll have to forgive me for just barging in like this, Mr Kaiba. Look at the state of me…”

She looked down at her wet outerwear, which Seto now noticed had also dripped onto the carpet beneath her. He didn’t mind any of it. If anything, he caught himself privately enjoying seeing her so flustered.

“Don’t worry about it” He said, holding back a smirk “Go and get yourself changed”

Kisara blinked in surprise. Seto didn’t usually order her around quite so directly. If it had affronted her, though, she didn’t show it.

“Yes, Mr Kaiba”

She slunk out of the office, taking the soaked kerchief with her.

Seto sank back in his desk chair, pensively sipping his espresso while images of the blushing Kisara lingered in his head.

***

An urgent board meeting was called, and so Seto didn’t see his assistant again for the rest of the morning.

Sometimes, she would be the one to drop off necessary documents or bring refreshments, but during top-level conferences only senior executives were allowed to attend. This also meant that the whole thing was a dreary, frustrating affair, and Seto came out of it feeling like someone had tried to get through his skull with a hammer and nail.

At times like these he didn’t much like being a CEO. He found himself wishing that he could just hand all the boring responsibilities over to someone else and focus on his duelling and his inventions instead. It was all just an idle daydream, of course, as Seto would rather die than give up his position of power and the company he had invested most of his life in. But it was comforting, on the most straining days, to remind himself that he could theoretically just walk away from it all should he want to.

Back in his office, the snowfall outside had ceased. The clouds had parted, and the sun shone down on a Domino City covered in white. It was a spectacular view, but Seto looked down at the world below thinking that he’d rather draw the blinds on the whole thing. The sharp light made his headache worse, and there was still so much work that he needed to be done.

A knock on the door interrupted his racing train of thought.

“Yes?” He called irritably.

As Kisara Aoki entered the room for the second time that day, he regretted responding so tetchily.  

She looked unperturbed.

“I’m sorry if I disturbed you, Mr Kaiba. I just came to ask if you wanted some lunch?”

She was wearing her regular work uniform now, a black pencil skirt and vest over a blue dress shirt. The starched collar had been buttoned all the way up, and Kisara had tied her long hair back into a silver braid that hung down her back like a tail.

Seto knew that the way he looked at her in that outfit wasn’t proper. The way that skirt clung to her legs and waist, and the tightness of the vest over her chest took his thoughts to places that the HR department would have strongly objected to.

Not that he cared what they thought. It was a matter of self-restraint, of not letting himself give in to feelings and urges that he might not be able to repress should he indulge them.

Had he been convinced that she would reject his advances, dismissing those desires would have been much easier. He would never approach her out of turn. But as things stood, he couldn’t dismiss the possibility that she’d be all too willing to let him fulfil every one of his feverish fantasies of her. And that was dangerous.

“Mr Kaiba?”

Seto snapped back to reality. He realised that he’d been staring, and silently prayed to every god he didn’t believe in that his gaze had been nowhere near where his mind had been.

“I don’t think I have the time”

His voice came out harsher and more dismissive than intended.

Kisara frowned, a flash of worry in her brilliant blue eyes. She surveyed him in silence for a moment before she spoke.

“Forgive me, Mr Kaiba, but I really think you should eat something”

She took a couple of steps further into the room.

“If there’s anything I can do to help you free up some time, I’ll gladly do it”

The earnestness in her voice made Seto soften.

“I don’t mean to underestimate your capabilities, Ms Aoki” He replied, doing his best to sound kind “but unless you’re an expert at holographics…”

She smiled sympathetically.

“No, I’m afraid I’d be working in the wrong department if I was”

Seto nodded.

“Quite”

He remained by the window, hesitant to move any closer to her in case his mind decided to run away with him again.

The room fell silent while Kisara looked over some of the documents that lay scattered on his desk. She looked as though she was lost in thought, eyes scanning over the files without really seeming to see them. Seto was just about to ask her about it when she spoke again.

“This may sound stupid…”

Her voice was low and soft. She placed one hand on the desk for support, then looked up at Seto.

“Go on”

He didn’t really care if whatever she was about to say was stupid. The twinkle in her eye as the idea came over her was enough for him to want to listen.

“…but you don’t think it would help you solve these problems if you explained them to me?”

She shifted back onto her feet, balancing expertly in her high heels.

“Explain them?”

Seto walked up to his desk, careful to stay on the other side from Kisara. Still, he came close enough that he could see the slight tremor in her hands, and wonder if they were because of him, and whether it was good or bad.

“Sometimes” Kisara continued, fiddling with her braid “When you’re stuck trying to figure something out, it helps to talk about it with someone else. Even if that someone happens to be…well, completely ignorant”

Seto considered this.

“And you’d be willing to just sit here and listen to me talk about incomprehensible things?” He asked, distinctly sceptical.

While the general idea wasn’t bad, Seto highly doubted he’d get any work done with Kisara next to him. Especially not if she kept looking at him as fondly as she was now.

“I like to listen to you”

This slip of the tongue seemed to take her by surprise as much as it did Seto. His eyes widened a little, and Kisara looked down, flushing.

“Gosh, I’m sorry, what an odd thing to say”

Seto’s brain had turned to static, short-circuited. The only thing that came out of him was:

“You apologise too much”

“Huh?”

Kisara looked endearingly flustered and perplexed, and some of Seto’s usual self-assuredness came flooding back to him.

“You keep acting like you’re inconveniencing me, Ms Aoki” He said, just a touch impatiently “I assure you that if that was the case, you would no longer be here”

He gauged her reaction. Her gaze wavered, and she looked somewhat unsure of herself. In the end, however, she met his eye steadily and with a smile.

“Thank you, Mr Kaiba. I’ll keep that in mind”

She leaned down and picked up a thick pile of documents.

“Shall we get started, then?”

[whitedahlia13]

Alright so this is real specific but I have feeling you’ll have a good answer. Are there any Taylor Swift songs that remind you of Stiles’s pov of Stydia or Lydia’s pov or both?

This is a fun ask! There are several actually. And specific is awesome, by the way. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve listened to a new Taylor Swift song over the years, convinced that she watches Teen Wolf, is a fan of Stydia, and wrote the lyrics specifically for them.

Anyway, to keep this response from becoming an actual book, I’ll delve into three songs – one for Lydia, one for Stiles, and one for our OTP – and I’ll just list the others.

Let’s dig in…

– Begin Again –

This is a favorite of mine. Soft. Emotive. Nostalgic. It was the inspiration for the final chapter of Falling Slowly, a song that has always reminded me of Lydia (especially in s1/2). Seriously, it’s like a snapshot of the thoughts and feelings she would have been going through with Jackson – the power struggle, the conflict, the lack of connection, the disrespect. In the meantime, and happily-ever-after for us, she’s building this genuine friendship with Stiles. One of the many things I love about their development—something that, too often, gets overlooked—is how in awe of him Lydia must have been, the kind of awe that is so beautifully expressed in this song. If you look closely, it’s there…on their first date, and again when they go ice skating… Something in her expression that says: Oh, so this is what it’s supposed to be like. And who could blame her? Stiles is the complete opposite of Jackson. He lights a match to everything Lydia thought she knew about relationships, simply by being himself. Which is to say, someone who treats her right, who cares deeply for her, and who listens to her because he actually wants to know her. Someone who opens doors, and camps out in hospital waiting rooms, and pays attention to the things that matter to her because they matter to him too. For the first time, she’s realizing someone can appreciate and admire her for who she truly is, not just her outward appearance and popularity. And all it took was this cute-awkward, hyperactive but super-smart guy who laughs with the exuberance of a little kid to show her that real love isn’t something that hurts you. It heals you. That with the right person, you can always begin again.

– You Are in Love –

This is Stiles, through and through. Because he knew he loved Lydia for a long time, but it was from a distance. Then, he starts spending quality time with her, and it really sinks in: He is in Love. I can just picture Stiles having all of these *moments* – meeting by their lockers, sitting in class, driving Lydia home, stepping into her room, studying together, sharing peanut butter cups, seeing her snuggle into one of his hoodies – all of these little moments where he realizes he’s more in love with her than he ever thought. Moments where he senses their unspoken connection, the kind he can hear in the silence… Moments when he feels and—even with the lights out—sees that maybe, just maybe, Lydia is beginning to feel that way too... It's slow burn bliss, I tell ya! It’s love. True love.

– Everything Has Changed –

For the phrasing, obviously. Also, if you’ve read chapter 37 of Falling Slowly, (apologies for another shameless plug—it’s a year since I finished it, and I’m feeling super nostalgic) you’ll understand even more why this song gives me serious Stydia vibes. Not so much in the context of love at first sight, but rather, an awakening moment. Something that makes you want to know another person on every level, how with each new thing you learn, you want to know more and more. Always more. It’s about being affected by the little details. How your thoughts keep circling back to this other soul. The notion of letting someone in because—with or without explanation—being with them feels like coming home. If that’s not Stydia...

This playlist would not be complete without –

Invisible String (Taylor makes it so easy sometimes)

This Love (More fic inspiration. Actually, I was nearing the end of the one-shot that shares a title with this song when I realized how perfectly they aligned. So in this case, I guess it was more like subliminal inspiration, which definitely still counts.)

Daylight (golden, like first kiss and 6x10 reunion vibes)

I’m Only Me When I’m with You (both of them, the cornerstone of Stydia's relationship)

Run (I mean… Lydia being full-on ready to run away with Stiles in 6x01. Yes, please and thank you.)

Mirrorball (first dance vibes)

State of Grace (Lydia, falling, fast and deep)

Untouchable (Early Stiles, but thankfully for all parties involved, things didn’t stay this way.)

There are a few I’ll to keep to myself for now, since they link to some of my WIPs. Now, it's your turn, loves. Comment, tag... Tell me which TS songs remind you of Stydia.

[just-my-fandom]

Rocky Road P1 (JJ Maybank x Routeledge! Reader)

This is a test chapter. If it gets the attention I want it to, we’ll continue. If not, this will be the only chapter, mainly because of the time each chapter takes since each episode ranges between 40 to 50 minutes.

Chapter 1

Word count: 3,538

Summary; After a hurricane, John B, Y/N, JJ, Pope, and Kiara plunge headlong into danger and adventure when they find a mysterious sunken wreck.

Pairing(s); John B Routledge x Twin Sister! Reader, JJ Maybank x Girlfriend! Reader, Pope and Kiara x Best Friend! Reader

Tag list; Currently None.

“We’re the Pogues, and our misson this summer is to have a good time, all the time,”

“That’s what, a three-story fall to the deck?” The dark male at the bottom of the house, Pope Heyward, looks up at the brunette boy balancing on the roof before him, “I give you a one-in-three chance of survival,”

John B hums in thought, licking his finger before raising it to the sky, allowing the wind to hit said finger, “Should I do it?”

“Yeah,” A girl with (hair/color) locks and warm, (skin/tone) skin dangles her legs from the roof next to her twin brother, body leant up against the blonde male beside her, “You should definitely jump,”

“I’ll shoot you on the way down,” Pope promises, raising the staple gun in his hand so John B raised his eyebrows, pointing two fingers in a gun motion,

“They’re gonna have Japanese toilets with towe warmers,” A female with dark hair and dark skin climbs out of the unfinished home, looking up at her group of friends, “This used to be a turtle habitat, but, who cares about the turtles, I guess?”

“I care about the turtles, Kiara,” You fake a small pout to your best friend, reaching a hand over the railing to grab her fingers and squeeze,

“Can you please not kill yourself?” Kiara looks up and squints at your brother,

“Don’t spill that beer!” JJ calls up, one arm draped at your shoulders as the other raises his can to his lips, “I’m not giving you another one,”

On cue, John B lets out a curse as the beer can slips from his fingers, dropping and clashing onto the porch of the unfinished home beneath him,

“Smooth,” Kiara mumbles, looking over at a distant shout,

“Hey, uh, security’s here,” Pope states, and you clap your hands, sliding beneath the railing to jump down next to Kiara, JJs hand tapping your back thigh in a motion for you to start running,

“Boys are early today,” John B hops down, feet taking off into a sprint,

Your lips pull into a grin as you follow after your twin brother, pushing past shelves and jumping over paint cans through the constructed house,

“Hey, Gary!” You call, skidding past the older, bigger man, “No hugs for you today!”

You giggle as JJs hands lift your hips to raise you above the gate, his body dropping next to you before his hand takes yours and squeezes, allowing you to hop into the van before he follows after you, laughing,

“Hey, there’s Gary!” Pope calls, JJ leaning out the vans door to hold out a beer can to Gary’s running figure,

“You’re so close! You can do it, there you go!” With a toss, JJ watches the can hit Gary upside the head, “They don’t pay you enough, bro,”

“Okay, that’s enough,” You snort, tugging JJ into the van so the door shut, JJs body dropping next to yours with an excited breath of rushed adrenaline.

“The Outer Banks, Paradise on Earth. It’s the sort of place you either have two jobs or two houses. Two tribes, one island,”

“Alright, this is Figure Eight, the rich side of the island. Home of the Kooks. So guess where we don’t live. And then this is the South Side, or the Cut. Home of the working class who make a living busing tables, natural habit of, drumroll please,”

“The Pogues,”

You lift up the hook to the HMS Pogue, turning to shield the sun from your eyes with your hand. Moving across the boat, you move into where the steering wheel took place, JJ looking at you past his sunglasses and sliding a hand to your bare back,

“That’s Y/N,” John B introduces, “My twin sister and my pain in the ass. Or, blue bird as our father used to call her. Y/N is our mom of the group, somehow keeps us stable and in check from getting arrested three or four times a day,”

“And that’s JJ. My best friend since the third grade. He’s about as local as they come. Latest in a long line of fishing, drinking, smuggling, vendetta-holding salt-lifers who made their living off the water. Best surfer I know. Just, don’t tell him I said that,”

You yelp as your body drops into the water, awaiting for the wave above you to settle before rising above the surface. You snort, JJ stepping off his board playfully so he landed beside you with a hard splash,

“Together they’re known as Outer Banks’ OTP, as Kiara puts it. Been together since seventh grade and still going strong. Of course even with JJ as my best friend, I still gotta hand his ass to himself sometimes,”

“Don’t even get me started on micro plastic,” Sitting at the bonfire, Kiara is quick to shove John B away from the choke hold he puts her in,

“And that’s Kiara, or Kie, as we call her. When she’s not saving turtles or getting a dolphin tattoo with Y/N, she hangs out with us. I’m not really sure why, though. Pope thinks she’s secretly madly in love with my sister and uses us to get to her, but, I can’t see Y/N leaving JJ for even Chris Hemsworth, and that’s saying something,”

“And that’s Pope, the brains of the operation, finalist for the Lucas T. Vanderhorst Merit Scholarship, and the smartest person I know. His fathers this legendary character, Heyward. Anything you wanted on the island, Heyward could get for you,”

“So, that’s my crew,”

“John, Y/N, it’s come to our attention that you both are unemancipated minors living on your own,” The social worker in front of you at her desk sighs,

“No,” You and John B instantly respond, sharing glances before you grimace, “No,”

“I need honesty to help you,” The woman responds, eyebrow raised, “That’s what we want, right?”

“Yeah,” You nod, shrugging, “But we’re being honest,”

“Okay,” The woman leans back, “When was the last time either of you spoke to your uncle,”

You look at your wrist- with no watch- glancing at John B who shifts in his seat, “Uh, thirty-four minutes ago,”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

John B looks at you this time. “Two hours and,” You pause, “Fourty-three minutes ago?”

“Kids, we’re gonna come out there tomorrow to talk to your uncle,” The worker sighs, again, “If he’s not there, we’re gonna move forward with foster care,”

You exhale a sharp breath, hand running down your face.

“Keep an eye for Hurricane Agatha. She’s coming hard and heavy tonight,”

“No phone service?” John B groans as he raises to his feet, body heavy with sleep. His finger flicks the light switch. Nothing. “No power?”

John B exits his bedroom to depart to the living area. On the pull out couch, laid his sister and best friend. While you laid on your back, breaths even, JJ laid on his stomach, arm draped across your tank-top covered chest with his head beside yours,

“Yo, JJ,” John B calls, hand smacking JJs upper back so JJs head snapped up, his movement startling you to lift your own head, “You been outside?”

“I have polio, bro,” JJ mumbles, lips pressed to your shoulder, “I can’t walk,”

You heave a laugh, turning to curl into JJ so his arm slid around your hip and pulled you closer. You finally heave a breath, pulling away from JJ so he moaned in protest, your grin tired as you grab his hand and pull him up with you,

“Agatha did some work, huh?” JJ calls out to John B in the front yard, leaning against the open screen door with a found beer in his hand, and looking at the time, you choose not to scold him for his choice of drink as soon as he woke up,

“Yeah she did,” John B hums, tossing a branch off the boat that was brought out to shore.

“C’mon,” You call, pulling your tank top off so you were left in the bikini you fell asleep in, “Gods telling us to fish,”

“What do we have here?” You lift a hand to shield your eyes, watching Pope turn to look at you from his deck,

“We have a safety meeting,” John B calls, hand at his shoulder in a fake walkie-talkie, “Attendance mandatory,”

“Cant, Pops got me on lockdown,” Pope frowns, JJ scoffing,

“Your dads a pussy, over,”

“Oh I heard that, you little bastard,” Heyward snaps, and you raise your chin with a smile,

“We need your son,”

“And hurricane days a free day,” JJ reminds,

“Who the hell made that up?” Heyward questions, and you furrow your brows in pretend thought,

“Pentagon, I think,” You grin, “We have security clearance,”

“You think I’m stupid?” Heyward questions, stepping forward when Pope drops the hose in his hand and lunges off the porch, landing on the HMS boat with a stumble so your arm wrapped around his shoulders, laughing,

“When you get back, you gonna clean your dirty ass room!” Heyward demands, as you wave, “And I don’t like your friends!”

“Hello, princess,” You lean on the edge of the boat, smiling dreamily at Kiara as she moves to the edge of her boat deck. You extend a hand, helping her step down before turning to look at JJ,

“One day, she’s going to take you from me, I know it,” JJ pouts, and you smirk, leaning sideways so your lips pecked his,

“Nah, I like blondes more,” You grin against his mouth, JJs hand coming up to cup the back of your neck,

“Take your beer before I barf,” Kiara cuts, shoving two beer bottles between you so you leaned back and took one, narrowing your eyes,

“Okay, okay,” JJ stands up, popping the top to his bottle and moving to stand on the edge, “I got this,”

“No, you tried this six thousand times and you failed every time,” You remind, leaning back so the beer that missed his mouth flew past you, John B groaning in disgust.

You reach up to tug at JJs shorts in an attempt to pull him back down, the sudden jerk of the boat forcing JJ off the ledge, your body lurching forward so you hit the edge of the boat- hard- groaning at the pain in your muscles,

“Pope, what the hell?” John B calls, as you lift you head, watching JJ resurface from the water,

“J, you okay?”

“I think my heels touched the back of my head,”

Pope snorts, stepping up, face dropping as he looks down into the water, “Guys,”

“What?” You finally sit up, following your gaze so you cursed, “Holy shit, there’s a boat,”

“No way,” Kiara moves next to you, “Holy shit,” She repeats, “There is,”

John B tugs off his shirt, your legs leading you off the edge so you dropped into the water beside JJ, hand over your nose.

Sure as shit, a boat. An expensive one, that is. Rising for air, you watch your friends talk all at once in hysterics for your finding,

“Did you see that?” JJ calls to everyone, Kiara nodding with a short, “Yeah, I did,”

“That’s a Grady White,” JJ swims up to the HMS boat, heaving himself up before twisting and taking your hand, “A new one of those is like five hundred Gs, easy,”

“That’s the boat I saw when I surfed the surge,” John B states, as you twist the water out of your hair, “Maybe it hit the jetty or something,”

“You surfed the surge?” Kiara asks, roughly, and you squint your eyes with a grin

“You didn’t?”

“Do we know whose boat that is?” Pope asks, heaving a breath of air from how long he held it underwater,

“No, but we’re about to find out,” John B picks up the anchor, saluting you before he jumps back off the boat, allowing the weight of the anchor to pull him down.

He comes back up in short time, hand raising to show you the yellow key in his hand, “I found this motel key,”

“A key,” Your smile drops into irritation, pushing away from the edge to sit down, the adrenaline quick to leave your system,

“Yes, a key, Y/N,” John B lifts himself up,

“Guys, we should report the wreck to the coast guard,” Kiara states, as the boat begins to speed off, “Maybe we’ll get a finders fee,”

“Yeah and not work all summer,” You hum, letting the wind blow dry your hair, “Maybe we should just go find out ourselves. Go to this motel, does it have a name?”

You reach out, taking the key from John B and reading the name before handing it back, “Let’s go lady and gents,”

A sharp whistle, and you look up at the damaged motel, “I thought the Chateau looked bad,” You raise to stand up, waiting for the boat to stop on the edge of the grass before hopping off, “Kie, Pope, keep a lookout,”

“Shouldn’t you stay here?” Kiara asks, eyes glancing to JJ jumping beside you,

“Are you kidding?” You grin, JJs arm sliding around your shoulders before he points up to the motel,

“Let me take you on a tour, sweetheart,” He teases, pulling you towards the steps with John B quick behind you,

“Just be so careful, John B,” JJ turns to grab John Bs jaw, mocking Kiaras demand to your twin brother,

“God, you’re so weird,” John B shoved him away, JJ scoffing as he looks at you,

“What was that about?” He asks your brother,

“I don’t know, maybe she wants us to be careful,” John B protests, and you roll your eyes,

“Or maybe Kiara loves you,” You tease, sliding your own arm around JJs torso as you walked in sync, “Come on, big brother, Kiara totally likes you,”

“If Kiara likes anyone it’s you, babe,” JJ states, “C’mon, we all know she’s secretly gay for you,”

“Maybe,” You hum, grinning as he removes his arm to send a light knock to the door on the key,

“Housekeeping,” He speaks in a high-pitch voice, receiving no answer,

John B unlocks the door, and you pear over JJs shoulder, body slumping in disappointment at the empty, boring hotel room,

“Check the bag,” John B orders, JJ unzipping it, “See if there’s a name on there somewhere,”

“Nope,” You lift the jacket on the stool, “No name,”

John B kneels down, your eyes watching as he pressed random buttons on the safe, “John, try this,” You hold out the sticky note with numbers, and he hums in thanks,

The safe opens with a short hiss, John B cheering out a small “yay” as he pulls it wide,

“Whoa,” You mutter, watching John B pull out a wad of cash and a small hand gun, “Holy shit,”

“What?” JJ steps up, instantly taking the gun and grinning,

“Put the gun back,” John B hisses, raising to his feet, “JJ, seriously!”

“This is a fucking spend gatt, man. Just... bam! Bam!” JJ pretends to shoot, your eyes snapping to the door upon hearing keys,

“Guys- cops!” You hiss, JJ looking at you before following John B to the window,

“Get it open,” John B presses, and the window opens wide, “Go,” You move out and onto the small roof under the window. JJ is quick to follow after, body pressing you against the side of the motel beside the window,

“Can they see us?” You whisper yell, JJs head barely shaking as he turns his head, silently staring at John B on the other side of the window,

A moments pause, JJs hand suddenly dropping the gun in his grip so it clattered off the roof and into the grass. Your jaw clenched as JJ presses himself harder against you, arms tight around your waist so you were nearly invisible to the window,

“You should have forgotten the stupid gun,” You hiss, lowly, JJ shushing you as his eyes flick between yours, then tilts his head to look at John B again. Your head leans forward into JJs chest, eyes watching in terror as Chief Shoupe peered out the window, then leaned away back into the motel room,

Your eyes flutter shut in relief, JJs hands loosening at your hips as your head leans back against the wall, looking back up to meet his gaze, “You’re an idiot,”

“Well that was fun,” JJ comments fifteen minutes later, your body laid across the front of the HMS Pogue, “Could have warned us sooner though,”

“We would have, except Pope was on the math team,” Kiara comments, showing Pope had failed to throw a rock at the window to alarm you,

“You were on the math team?” You glance at Pope, who rolls his eyes,

“The cops took everything like it was a crime scene,” John B speaks up,

“Did you guys find anything?” Pope questions, JJ raising his head before his hands, showing off the gun and the wad of cash,

“Dude, why take that from a crime scene?” Kiara hisses, and your eyes squint as Pope begins to panic about losing his scholarship,

“So it turns out, Scooter is the Grady White owner,” Pope shows up at the Chateau an hour later, pacing in front of you curled in the corner chair, JJ in the recline beside you, “We need to have total and complete amnesia,”

“For once, Popes right,” JJ speaks up, hand leaving your thigh to stand up, “See, I agree with you sometimes, deny, deny, deny,”

“Guys, we can’t keep that money,” Kiara speaks, and you lift your head off your hand,

“I agree with Kiara,” You nod, “We have to pass that off to Lana Grubbs,”

“I agree,” John B echoes, and you raise your eyebrows at your twin brother, “This dude has never had more than forty bucks in his pocket, and all of a sudden he has a Grady White?” John B raises his hands, stepping into the house, “Just sayin’,”

Keggers. A party that brings Tourons, Pogues, and Kooks all together, somehow. They always seem to end with a fight, though. The one thing you looked forward to.

Except when it’s your own idiots who start the fight.

“Did I offer this to you?” JJ raises his eyebrows along with the red solo cup, blue eyes harsh on Topper, the Kook princess’ boyfriend, “Didn’t think so, run along,”

In swift motions, Topper has smacked the beer into JJs face, JJ has lunged at Topper, and within seconds, Topper is drowning John B in the ocean and JJ is shooting a gun into the air.

“That’s enough!” Your shout silences the group. Huh. Okay. “Kooks, onto your side, Pogues!” You jab a finger towards Pope pulling John B up, “Let’s fucking go,”

“Youre not still mad at me, are you?”

Your eyes shift over to the blonde next to you. Hair blowing in the wind, your mind runs over last night events. Today’s event- John B searching the Grady White using stolen scuba gear,

“You brought out a gun, at a party,” You remind, head tilted to look at him,

“Okay, I was saving your brothers ass, just so you know,” JJ leans back, and your eyes run over his face, wide,

“My brother wouldn’t have almost been drowned if you weren’t arguing with Topper,” You protest, voice snipping, “So don’t bring this around on him,”

“Guys,” Kiara cuts, your eyes narrowing in irritation as you look at her, “Someone’s following us,”

“There’s two of them,” Pope squints, staring at the two figures on the boat behind, “And one of thems got a gun- holy shit!”

JJ is quick to grab your arm and tug you into him, free hand grabbing the edge of the boat as you drop onto the floor of said boat, your eyes wide in alert,

“Holy shit guys!” Kiara panics, your eyes pinching shut as JJs hand slid up to your head, his own lifting to look over at the two men shooting constant bullets,

“Damn it, move,” Kiara steps over Pope, picking up the fishing next piled at your feet,

“Kiara, get down!” You squeak, eyes tearing as she threw the net, cutting the second boats engine so John B is able to steer away,

“Oh my god,” You panic, sitting up as JJ follows, his hand sliding from your shoulder to your hip to check for any injuries,

“Okay okay okay. Can you please open the bag? We almost died over this shit,”

You kneel down in front of John B opening the bag, pulling out a container that held a compass,

“Great,” Pope steps back, shaking his head, “We found a compass,”

Your brows furrow as you take the compass, flicking it open so your eyes widened and looked up at John B,

“Dude, what?” JJ asks, “It’s not worth anything,”

“This was dads,” You exhale, throat suddenly tight as JJs face fell and his eyes searched your face, “This- this is dads compass, John B,”

John Bs eyes raise to yours, then up to the group behind you.

Could Big John still be alive?

[narumayo-zine]

Creator Spotlight: tact-and-impulse

Social Media:

Tumblr: @tact-and-impulse

Interview under the cut!

1. How long have you been in the Ace Attorney fandom? I’ve been in the fandom since Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney was released. I actually was a Professor Layton fan first and with the crossover, I became curious about Phoenix and Maya. They seemed close in the preview videos, and I began looking more into Ace Attorney. I started watching playthroughs on YouTube and was hooked. I participated in the 10 Days of Narumayo Event of 2016, and I’m very excited to be a part of this Narumayo Zine! 2. What's your favorite aspect of the Narumayo ship?  Phoenix and Maya have an unwavering faith in each other. It’s born out of unfortunate tragedy, but it’s stronger with every case, every game. Despite every challenge that comes their way, they work together, equally inspiring and motivating each other, to find the next step. Even in the quieter moments, they play off each other’s quips and there’s a natural ease and comfort to their dynamic. They’re a team. Maya believes in him wholeheartedly, and Phoenix never doubts her, throughout the entire series. Time and time again, it’s proven that they’d do anything for each other. It’s a ride-or-die intensity that caught my attention from the end of the first game. I can’t pinpoint a specific moment I started shipping but I was definitely on board by Farewell, My Turnabout. The entirety of the third game just made them a full-blown OTP. I’m hoping for more of them in the next installment! 3. What is your favourite thing to draw/write? And are you working on anything at the moment? I like making characters and exploring the bonds between people. Once I have an idea, I figure out traits, skillset, and values. My plots are largely character-driven; I want to see how they react and grow, and of course, how they relate to other people. I often write conversations first, or I’ll write in my outlines to have characters discuss a topic of interest. That’s how I build a group dynamic: in what’s said, what remains unspoken, through tonality and body language, by the actions people take, how conflict arises and how to resolve it. I really think it’s fun to throw different personalities together and discover how they interact. I’ve often heard that my characters feel true to canon or feel like real people. As for anything I’m working on, I have a number of original projects that I switch between depending on my mood. My mind’s lately been occupied with a ‘prequel’ story that was more of a self-induced challenge. The cast’s fate is already set in stone, but the feel of this group is very different from what I’m used to writing. I’ve enjoyed clarifying who they are, and how they’ll change over the events I have in store for them.

4. (If applicable) What are some other fandoms you create for? The other fandoms I’ve mainly written for are Rurouni Kenshin and Psycho-Pass. I’ve also branched out into Cells at Work, Shepherds of Haven, and most recently, Liar Game. I generally write canon or explore post-canon, and among the handful of AUs I have, my greatest fondness is for historical settings. If you’re looking for fluff, slowburn, family feels, and conversational banter, I got you covered!

5. Are there any past works you'd want to share?

Please view my Fics page for the links to my previous works! (Click here)