#what if i looked out into the world and saw us reflected back and also we're both nonbinary and no longer fully human. and in love also

[drdemonprince]

I learned about "pressured speech" and read up on it a bit. I saw myself in this lit. but it felt unfair and patronizing. I'm and AuDHDer, afab, and Black. I have known since I was young that people find it tedious, annoying, and unimportant when I talk, so I've learned to talk to very fast in the hopes that people might find me less annoying and listen to me. But, I didn't see any of this reflected in the literature. My Q: are the speech pathologists buggin, or is it me who should chill out?

I think a *lot* of speech language pathology involves targeting the individual for standing out in some noticeable way rather than focusing on the social exclusion & judgement that's actually the source of their communication problems.

Lots of gay kids get sent to the speech language pathologist at school purely for having the gay lisp (which is different from other forms of lisps, and doesn't really affect comprehensability!), for instance.

Relatedly, for a long time I believed that there was no such thing as "proper posture" or correct form for doing most activities; it all seemed like ableism and conformity to me. As an undiagnosed Autistic kid, I was constantly getting sent into special classes to correct how I held a pen, sat, carried myself, and so on, and all it ever did was make me feel defective and othered, when I was perfectly content prior to that "treatment" to just let my body do whatever it did. So I am with you on principle that a lot of what gets pathologized is unfairly targeted.

However, my recent experience of having a severe injury caused by unaddressed hypermobility AND what I've learned from working closely with a voice teacher who specializes in trans voices & pathology have convinced me to walk back a bit from my older belief that proper posture is completely fake, proper body movement forms aren't real, there is no "correct" way to speak and it's all equally valid diversity that has needlessly been pathologized.

Two things are true at once, I feel: completely benign differences in how people move/hold their body/speak/etc are being treated as pathological simply because they look different, AND people can really harm their bodies in a lasting way from misuse. Misuse is often caused by unaccommodated disability, trauma, dysphoria, stigma, or the holding in of stress.

It is not your body that is pathological -- it's how you have been treated, and your body responds to that.

It sounds like you have had quietly, pervasively traumatic experiences that have hampered your ability to communicate with other people in a relaxed way, and your way of coping with repeated hostility (speaking really fast) could potentially cause vocal damage and breathing problems as well as tension in your abs, throat, neck, upper back, and even your pelvic floor (this stuff really is all connected!).

I speak "too" rapidly too, because I am anxious with racing thoughts and I don't believe that people will listen to me, and that (among other quirks in how I speak, such as forcibly lowering my pitch using my tongue) has caused me to have a REALLY tight throat that can barely expel air correctly, a tight jaw, trouble exhaling, and what my singing teacher said were just about the tensest back and shoulder that she's ever seen. So if you're pushing your speech out rapidly the way that I did, you probably *are* causing yourself a lot of pain and strain that makes it harder not just to communicate, but also to just be in the world.

Some questions to consider:

Do you find the act of speaking exhausting? Do you run out of the energy to continue a conversation sooner than most people do?

When you speak, do you feel like you are pushing air out with your abs by force? (speaking *should* feel like the air is flowing through your vocal cords effortlessly, with about the same effort as passive breathing).

Do you experience a lot of vocal cracking/trouble controlling your pitch at either high or low notes?

When you breathe, does it feel like you're never really getting a full breath, either because you can't take enough air in, or you can't let it all out?

Do you feel like you have run out of breath at the end of a sentence pretty often?

Are your shoulders hunched?

Do you have "tech neck" posture?

Are your abs tight?

Is your pelvic floor tight? Do you find it difficult to relax enough to insert anything you want to into your vagina?

Does your jaw feel tense?

If yes to a majority of these, you probably *are* speaking in a way that causes you significant strain. And that is because your body is carrying a TON of stress and trauma from people mistreating you! This stuff takes a real TOLL. If your brain has come to expect that nobody cares about you and no one will listen to you, then your body has learned that message too, and that affects how you carry yourself.

But!!! You can undo a lot of this stuff and de-stress your body, and you don't have to focus on changing your speech or making yourself more in alignment with what is considered "normal." You can just start with body relaxation, breathing exercises, jaw massage, using a lacrosse ball to roll out your upper back tension, using a foam roller to relax your abs, doing some gentle kegels, etc.

In the past several months I have been learning a LOT about this subject and making major strides but I'm not confident enough to write about it formally yet. Watch this space!!

[beels-burger-babe]

What Hatred Sounds Like - Pt. 1

**Alright folks we are so back! I am heavily inspired by K-Pop Demon Hunters (If you haven't watched GO WATCH IT! It is absolutely incredible), along with a sprinkling of some research on ancient Japan and came up with this little premise for a series. Hoping that it will get everything flowing for me to go back to my other series as well. Love you guys and I hope you'll like this little comeback series**

Summary: MC was bored and honestly just trying to get out of their never ending student council duties when they're drawn in by strange ... melody. Curiosity has always been their strong suit, but maybe there are some things that are better left unknown.

Ft. Teen MC

In the Devildom, life thrived in the shadows. There was no sun. No holy light to bless them with its warmth and kiss their skin good morning. Only bitter cold and darkness that sank its fangs into each of its citizens every chance that it got.

MC had long grown accustom to it, come to enjoy it even. It was nice not having to worry about sun burn or being blinded by the sun. The artificial ways that the demons had come up with to illuminate their kingdom of pitch were beautiful and elaborate; from wrought iron streetlights, to oil lamps that possessed a violet flame. it was all so whimsical and gothically enchanting that MC could hardly bring themself to look away.

Of course, they were human, and still required the sun. So when they needed it, they could always skip up back to the human world for their biannual visit to Earth before returning back to place they now thought of as home.

But it also meant that on nights such as this, when they knew Lucifer was probably turning red with frustration of their absence from yet another dreadful student council meeting, but they quite honestly didn't care. Three years in the Devildom had really made them grow bored of the daily ins and outs of the House of Lamentation, and they were on the search for something new, something exciting! Something-

A small plucking sound, like a droplet of water gently falling into a still pond, hit their ears and they stilled.

In the darkness, it was almost as if sound was amplified, echoing through their ears as another chord was plucked and then another, a faint trinkle of a strum, and yet another. The melody continued, and MC did not even try to stop their feet from being pulled in by it's simple beauty.

Their feet clicked against the wet pavement, and they muttered a small illuminating spell to themself as they entered. Iridescent light reflected from their palms off the alleyway walls.

It was only then they saw it ... or her, they supposed.

A lanky figure curled up in the far back corner, her back against the wall. Long ebony hair that faded into shiny gold as it got closer to the ends, as straight and silky as ribbon, covered almost her entirety from view, What could be seen was delicate hands with long, bony fingers, capped with sharp, elaborately embossed, golden points. From beneath the veil of hair, a rectangular rod with three pegs stuck out. Each black peg was wrapped tightly with golden wire that ran down the length of the rod to a square base.

A shamisen, MC recognized immediately, noting the flat, yellowed bachi sitting in the person's other hand, which she used to continue to strum her somber melody.

Each pang and twing rang sharply through their very soul, as if it was crying out to them and them alone. They would have to be utterly heartless to walk away.

"Excuse me?" MC called over.

The music stopped in an instant, and with a heart-dropping crack the person's head turned to face them.

It was not a face that revealed itself to them, but a mask. They had seen crow masks before; people wore them to festivals and they filled every tourists shop back home. But they had never seen one like this.

Most of the crow masks they had seen were black. Elegantly painted with perfect, seamless strokes that fluidly decorated the smooth wood. This was not that.

The base was bone white and it had golden designs on it that seemed more jagged and sharp than soft. The mask had a long pointed beak that covered the musician's entire face with angular slits for the eyes where dim balls of golden light reflected in the center. It possessed a playful aura that did not match the woman's eerie presence at all. MC could see no string or tassels holding the mask into place, as if it was fixed there by sheer will. 

Aside from the mask, the person was dressed in a simple yukata. It had no patterns and was black with the exception of the white obi tied around her waist. The bottom of the yukata was torn and near transparent along its hem and cuffs.

MC was nearly positive that they were looking at a ghost, and yet they had never seen a ghost quite like this. Certainly not one that was masked.

MC swallowed thickly. It had been sometime since anything had caused them to be so shaken within the Devildom. They took a deep breath and reminded themself that they were 16 now, and no longer the scared 13 year old that had first entered into this place. They were strong. The shadows were scared of them, not the other way around.

They held up their chin and looked straight into the light pouring out of the eye slits. "I like your song. It sounds really nice. Where did you learn to play like that?"

No voice came from beneath the creepy mask, as a faint breeze from the streets lightly blew the woman's hair behind her.

Rude. Actually. If you asked MC. But they supposed it was also rude to interrupt someone during their jam session, so really that was on them. "Sorry. Are you not in the mood for talking? I really didn't mean to bother you. I just heard you playing and couldn't help but check come check out. I'm MC. What's your name?"

Again nothing. Not even a breath.

At this point, MC was beginning to feel awkward. I mean, most people at least had some kind of reaction to hearing their name at this point! Who the hell did this lady think she was?!

MC huffed, unable to help a pout from forming on their face as they raised their hands up in defeat. "Fine! Fine! I'll leave ya alone. Your loss. Who would want to know about some creepy, weirdo anyway?"

Them. They did. They so very much did.

It was all they could think about. They zoned out during class, and barely listened to the boys gossip during meals. They were too focused on what this strange new mystery of theirs was! They needed to know!

They tried doing research on ghosts, crows, hell even sirens! But nothing seemed to quite match whatever this person was! All they knew was that it had to be a person. Even without words or proper eyes, there was this air of deep, concentrated loss and shame that radiated off of her. Ever since coming to the Devildom, there hadn't been a single mystery that MC wasn't able to solve, and they refused to let that track record become tarnished now!

So MC did what MC does best - sneak out without permission to sleuth around the city. Honestly, you would think the brother's would've invested in better security by now.

Gloom, as they had taken to calling the unknown creature, wasn't in the original alleyway where they had initially found her. It appeared the ghostly woman was nomadic and would take camp in places with low lighting and no people around. MC was only able to find her over and over again because they knew this kingdom like the back of their hand.

They would go out and find her every night, and every night Gloom would stare at them through the eyes of her mask, hands stilling on her shamisen. She never spoke. The most MC had ever heard from her is a soft, yet haunting hum that she would occasionally emanate before noticing MC's presence.

MC grew braver with each visit. Where they initially kept their distance, they eventually brought themself to come closer and lean against the wall beside her as they asked her their many questions. Who are you? What are you? Where di you get a shamisen? What's with the mask? Is it haunted? Are you haunted?

But still, Gloom never answered. They got a groan of annoyance once, but that seemed to be the closest they could get.

Still, they could tell that she warming up to them. Sometimes she would lean closer to them while they were telling a story. Or her hand would twitch and almost reach out to them while they vented. Almost. There were all these little things that MC knew meant they were getting through to her.

They never gave up. In a way, it was almost nice to have someone else besides the brother's that they could talk to for once. With Gloom not doing any of the talking, she was subjected to do all of the listening, and boy did MC have a lot to share.

The brothers began to take notice of MC's disappearances. They tried to track them or ask them where they had gone, but MC was determined to keep this little secret. It was nice to have something in the Devildom that was entirely theirs for once.

Months passed, and their visits only became more frequent until one day, MC did not come empty handed.

"Here!" They chirped as they plopped down beside the woman, holding out a small envelope. She hesitated it before plucking it between two fingers and looking curiously at the cursively written Gloom on the front. "Dia and the others are throwing this huge ball to celebrate my fourth year here in the Devildom! It'll be super fancy and in the palace with all kinds of food and dancing and-" Gloom lifted her instrument a little, and MC chuckled. "Yes! And music! You should totally come. I know ya don't like crowds, but it'll be really fun." They explained with a smile.

Gloom paused, the lights blinking behind her mask as she stared down at the envelope before looking to MC in confusion.

They shrugged as they rose back up to their feet. "Come or don't come. It doesn't make a difference to me, but ..." they feel their cheeks burn a little as they look down. "I haven't had someone just listen to me without tryin' to shove their own ideas into my head in a while and ... I dunno. I guess I enjoy hanging out with you."

The lights blinked again behind the mask.

MC graons. "Look. The ball is next week. I'll see you then!"

MC didn't see it, having already left, but as she looked down at the envelope, the lights behind Gloom's mask squinted with an unseen smile as an unspoken promise laid on her silent tongue. She joyfully began to pluck the strings of her shamisen as the breeze dance around her.

Across the city, oblivious to what is to come, Mammon feels a shiver run down his spine. He sits up from his bed and looks out his open window as a whisper of a melody flows around him like an old memory. His breath hitches.

He slams the window shut without hesitation.

***And there we have it! Part one and my official return to this fandom! This has been a lot of fun, and I cannot wait to continue this story with you all! I hope you all enjoy "Gloom" and look forward to the upcoming ball in the next chapter! See you all then! I love you all ❤️ -B***

[keymintt]

parallels, death spiral

[honeyblackberries]

The world you left behind

Sylus died but what about the people left to miss him? What of the boy who’ll never know what lies beyond the shadow of his father’s wings?

sylus x reader (reader referred to as mother but no pronouns) 1.8k

cw: angst with a (maybe) happy ending, hurt with (maybe) comfort, mentions of blood and physical injuries, lore inaccurate, unnamed son pov.

basically a 'what if' au where mc/reader has sylus's kid after he dies in their dragon myth times. *sylus's son and the transformation scene was inspired by this art by @/napanewt (whole thread makes me sob) | also on ao3

The first time your son wished for his father happened when he was just a child.

He was born hearing tales of great dragons, of love in bloodshed, of kindred spirits and souls bound together for all eternity. Legends whispered throughout the cities were his bedtime stories, a requiem for the deceased was his lullaby.

Oh how exciting it all was to a young boy. What incredible adventures you’ve had! He wished to know more, desired to always hear of the man who's name stoked the flames of Tarus city.

“When can I meet him?” He’d asked you one night as you lay beside him in bed.

He was seven summers old, practically grown up. He would like to meet his father soon. Sylus was familiar yet completely unknown to him. A fiend that strikes fear into the hearts of the strongest warriors. Yet someone his mother speaks of so fondly, with a voice always gentle.

“I’m sorry love, your father has gone far away,” the words were ones he’d grow used to hearing. Ones he would come to resent.

But not yet.

Your son wondered if he looked the same as Sylus, as he stared at his own reflection in a chalice atop one of the many piles of treasure in your cave. You’d told him that regardless of how much he might look like you now, his silver hair and ruby red eyes come from his father.

“What about the horns?” he asked while pointing to his head. Where yours are and where his own should be. “And the tail, and… wings?”

“I hope you never grow them.” Those words confused him.

“Why?”

“Because they are a curse.”

Back then he didn’t understand what you meant. They would make him stronger, fiercer, more dragon-like. They would make him the same as the man he caught glimpses of in the shadows on the wall. The same as the man he saw in the twinkle of your eyes..

“Well, I hope I do.”

And hope he did, wished and prayed to every shining star. Desperate to be even half the man his father is. He had to be since Sylus was gone.

How else could he protect you from those who wanted to do you harm; fight off all the monsters that curse your existence and hunt you down. Men with wicked intentions and venom on their tongues. How else could he get rid of the sadness that would creep into your gaze when you think he isn’t looking. Stop the heartache that would overcome you sometimes, when you reminisce on the dragon who left you behind.

Your son was stuck with Sylus’s stories and nothing more.

The second time your son wished for his father was when the transformation started. It came suddenly and it tore him apart all at once.

The scream of pain he let out as something began to grow through the bone of his skull, tearing delicate skin. The way his own blood thickly trickled into his eyes from the open wounds. The sickening wet sounds of his body unwillingly shifting in ways it wasn't used to.

That’s how you found him. Curled up in a heap on the floor, body convulsing as if it didn’t know what to do with itself. Crimson staining everything around him.

“Mama—” he sobbed, something he hadn’t called you in years.

His voice sounded broken to his own ears, but he no longer cared about being weak. Not when it hurt so much that he wished death would save him. What a foolish child he had been to dream of this. And what a cruel father Sylus must be to let it happen. How could a father who didn’t even know him curse him so—give him what he so desperately wanted but at such a horrible cost.

He blacked out not long after, cradled in your shaking arms.

You told him later on that the same thing had happened to Sylus when he was still a young dragon and your son wondered if it would have been less scary with him around. If his father would have held him through it like you did, if he would have known what to say to make it hurt less.

He can almost imagine it.

‘Bite down on a cloth so you don’t bite your tongue.’

‘Slow your breathing, don’t panic. The adrenaline will only make it happen faster.’

‘It'll be over soon.’

‘I’m here for you.’

The next few years were hard on your son. Having to learn how to exist within his new body. He always moved wrong. Would trip over his own tail as he walked, cut his mouth with his fangs, tear flesh with his talons.

But all of that paled in comparison to the challenge that was his wings. To the humbling experience of learning to fly.

A part of him yearned for the skies yet he was wet behind the ears with the way his wings would allow him to rise for only a moment, before plummeting to the ground. Always two steps behind spring’s baby birds who could soar past him.

He learned a lot about himself during this time. That he was impatient, easy to anger, easier to lose common sense. It’s good he supposes, looking back on it. The way he was forced to prematurely clip the hubris that was growing within him. Lest he fall just as bad as Icarus.

It was during each failure—in the moment just before the crash—where he would find himself wondering if his father would hold his hands as he taught him how to take flight. Show him how to follow the wind above mountain peaks and along the edge of the horizon. Go with him to the edge of the sea beyond where the datura flowers bloom.

He remembers you asking him once, years later, if he regretted wishing to be like Sylus. If after what had to be done for it to happen, he could still want to be like him.

His answer then is the same as it would be today.

Even if the pain was once unbearable and the struggle seemingly never-ending, it chipped away at his rough edges. Honed him like a blade. He could now fight his own battles; win against those who started ones against you. He could hear the joy in your laugh as he picked you up and flew off towards the dawn. Could see the look of pride on your face.

You were proud of the man he grew to be.

It was worth it to get a step closer to his father.

The last time your son wished for his father was on the day you left him. Dragons live long but not forever and you only had half the soul of one.

It had been lifetimes since he was a boy but he felt more helpless than ever before. He could do nothing for the mother who kissed his bruises and loved him twice as much to make up for the absence of his father.

He could only lay you to rest in the field of flowers you cherished. Could only fix your hair and cover you in the softest fabric as he buried you. Lay by your grave as long as his body would let him. Through tears he cursed the heavens, cursed whatever deemed it fit to take you away. Cursed the father who was never there.

Where was he when you needed him?

…

He wondered for the last time what Sylus was like. Not as a myth or a father, but as a man.

A man beloved enough to have a son with. A man you hoped to see again in the next life.

A man you'd to turn yourself into a monster for.

Your son never came back to visit you. Never came back to the home that held nothing except bittersweet memories. He left for the farthest corners of the world and still sought to go further.

Without the father he never knew and the mother who was his everything, he was truly alone.

Centuries passed but your son never forgot you. Everywhere he went the wind and the wings of birds carried your presence. In the people he met he saw your kindness. But time was a gentle mistress to him. It healed wounds, altered him in ways never expected.

He was different. Changed to fit the new life he was living—one with towers that reached beyond the clouds, new monsters, and so many people. There was a maturity to him now. A quiet patience. Gone was the boy who would dream of dragons.

Actually, he hadn't been him for a long time.

Then it happened one day.

He was out in the city centre—waiting in line for a new cafe—when he saw you. It was only in passing but he knew it was really you. Knew it in that innate way one can recognise their mother.

Feet moved on their own and he was following behind you before he even realised. You were younger, closer to how he remembered you looking when he was a child. And where were you going? Home? Or to meet up with friends, maybe even a lover?

He just wants to watch you for a bit; won't approach you. You were different, you wouldn’t remember him and that’s okay.

You cross the street and stop, seeming to reach your destination.

He watches curiously as you sneak up behind a man with his back facing the two of you. Sees you throw yourself onto him, hugging his neck. The man turns suddenly and lets out a deep laugh, arms wrap around your waist and he leans down to smile at you.

His breath catches when he sees the stranger's face.

This man is someone he'd recognise from the very marrow of his bones. Hair silvery white like the flash of light that would hit his eyes when he used to fly too close to the sun. Eyes like the rubies that littered the floor of the cave he once called home, a perfect twin to his. And his gaze is fixed on you, much like his own. But there’s something there, a depth of love and longing he’s never seen.

“Hey!” a voice calls out to your son.

“Where are you running off too?” his lover chides out of breath, as they run up to him.  “You just suddenly disappeared, I thought you were waiting for me.”

“Sorry,” he smiles apologetically. “It’s nothing. I just… I thought I saw someone familiar.”

They talk his ear off and drag him back to the main street, but the warm feeling bubbling in his chest stops him from hearing any of it. What are the chances that his wish would finally come true. He got to see his father. On top of that, he can tell from the way he holds you that the man loves you with depths beyond time.

Across the street Sylus watches the retreating figure of a man. His gaze drawn to him with a pull he can’t quite explain.

“Sy, you know him?” you ask as you tilt your head to see who he’s looking at.

“No,” it’s true, and yet—

“He just seems familiar.”

a/n: this only exists because i was listening to epic and had sons never knowing their fathers on the brain. also tysm for 200 followers! kissing each of you on the forehead *muah*

[subtextdecoder]

TBHX: What do the doves represent? Or any of it, really?

I was rewatching TBHX and omg I saw things I hadn't seen or considered before. There are just so many details that it's hard not to miss things.

The click came to me while I was watching the scene where Nice kills himself. Notice the white doves flying around and then X's image on the screen facing them right at the moment Nice jumps. It made me think: 'So does X really have power over the other heroes, or is he just observing them... or neither?'

But then I remembered both the OP and ED being heavy on the dove metaphor.

Let's start with the OP:

First, we see X throwing each of the heroes' cards.

2. Then, they all turn into pigeons and fly toward him.

3. Finally, we see X in a breach, looking like he's above and below everything at the same time. Then red strings appear, with him at the center.

There are 9 red strings in the scene, with him in the middle, making 10. Of course, that's not a coincidence. It made me think: maybe the strings represent all the heroes' fates being intertwined and tied to X. The strings being red could symbolize not just the 'red string of fate,' but also blood ties—or maybe that they can only be broken by death.

There’s a lot more going on in the OP, but let’s go back to the doves.

They appear again, and even more, in the ED:

First, there’s a black-and-white scene with all the heroes sitting on the throne. The last one shown is X, who gets up and walks toward us—maybe tired of watching all this?

2. As X gets closer to the camera, a dove takes flight. More doves join it, flying above the city.

3. We see them looking at the heroes from above—9 doves total.

4. When X takes his hands out of his pockets, the doves seem startled, like a breach in the system happens. They take flight, X snaps his fingers, and they all start falling through (maybe the breach from the OP?), surrounded by feathers. The sequence switches to color.

Note that here we have an aspect ratio change, the colorful scenes are closer.

5. We see the same places as before, but now: no posters of Loli, her name is gone from the wall, the city looks empty, screens are off, no ads. An ocean of feathers keeps falling.

6. A feather lands on the palm of a hand that looks dead or unconscious. The trust count on the wrist starts twitching and eventually disappears. The hand moves and grabs the feather. So, did they regain consciousness after being freed from the trust's shackles?

7. It ends with a feather landing on the empty throne—now in color—and the light goes out.

We can’t be sure what it all means just yet, but I think the OP, the episodes, and the ED are beautifully connected. Everything feels intentional. For example, in the ED, the aspect ratio changes when the transition from black and white to color happens. It's a clever cinematic device that makes us feel drawn into the new 'world' they've just entered.

I think the meaning of the doves changes throughout. Sometimes they represent those controlling everything, other times the heroes, and sometimes (through the feathers) maybe even every person in the world.

X could be so many things—maybe the first person to awaken as a hero, or the one chosen to lead... or maybe not even a real person at all, but an entity. Though we do see him working in an office and doing daily things. Is he observing them all the time? If so, why?

There are also lots of gambling references—cards, coins, roulette—which I think inspired the black-and-red color scheme in the logo. Is X the one gambling with reality? Or against it? Or against whoever’s really in control?

X’s ability, the breach, and the red strings make me think of a ton of scenarios: death as the only way back to reality... which would imply multiple realities. Maybe he can access parallel universes? The three main art styles might reflect three different timelines. And when X snaps his fingers, can he choose who goes where? If not, and if the feathers represent people, maybe everyone was teleported—along with the heroes. This metaphor makes perfect sense considering how the feathers fall and one reaches a hand, bringing it 'back to life.' Interpreting it as a phoenix metaphor, people are reawakened by the feather — which represents themselves — meaning they didn’t die, but were teleported and are now waking up in a new timeline. It’s as if the feather symbolizes their consciousness traveling through the breach that connects different timelines. The fact that the hand originally seemed to belong to an unresponsive body, combined with the colored scenes showing an empty city while feathers fall from the sky, could suggest that everyone is put 'to sleep' — their bodies remain, but their minds shift to a parallel reality. Or perhaps, the parallel reality isn’t a physical world at all, but their dreams while dormant. While writing this, I also started thinking it's kind of interesting that there are three distinct main art styles. If each one does represent a different 'universe,' then the name Treeman, aside from the logo being an actual tree, could be a wordplay—Three Man—with each version belonging to one of those universes. That leads to yet more questions: is their consciousness compartmentalized into three separate blocks, making it impossible for the person to realize they’re switching realities? or is it not split at all and that's why it appears to happen seamlessly? Some red strings in the OP intersect, others don’t. That might reflect which heroes influence each other—like E-Soul being a fan of Lucky Cyan, or X saving Ahu. But none of the strings connect to X directly; he stands alone in the center. Maybe that’s because all of them are tied to him whether they know it or not. It's also a nice way to show us that X could be the one pulling the strings, in a literal sense. The cards he throws in the OP remind me a lot of Tarot Cards, which could also imply handling with fate somehow.

There are also a lot of references to a stage. So maybe when the light goes out at the end of the ED, it means the play is over. They’re no longer heroes—they’re just ordinary people again.

Maybe everything was in their heads. Maybe they were never heroes—just ordinary people daydreaming about being more. The story videos only show a few characters in the 3D style. Maybe some don’t have a 3D version. If 3D represents reality, were they never real? Or maybe the 3D characters were never supposed to become heroes—but did anyway—starting a revolution that will break the system?

It could be that X’s power — or X himself — is a manifestation of people’s desire for change, to become something more, even to the point of altering reality entirely. You know that theory that says, 'for every choice we make, a new timeline is created'? X might be the means through which people can travel across these alternate realities they’ve shaped.

Thank you @steelenspots for opening my eyes to yet another meaning for the doves: "I'm also thinking about how X strongly has a magician aesthetic, and how doves tie into that — magicians 'free' doves in their performances. Nice gains freedom through death, and so far we've seen Lin Ling gain the freedom to be himself. We know X is the only one who can’t be controlled by the Commission, so maybe he’s observing and helping the heroes find their own freedom. If not freedom, then perhaps the doves symbolize peace in a more traditional sense — each character finding their own inner peace."

Well, it's al too crazy and I’ve got so much on my mind, I’m sure I forgot something here and there. But this is just me writing as I think, sharing my questions with y’all. I’ll post more when it comes to me. Edit: Part 2, but no longer about doves! It's really just me writing what comes to mind.

[piplup335]

Griefer x reader! (post-Venomshank when he has all the plant stuffs)

*inhale* HELLO, F E L L A S wanted to try writing for block tales lmao, probably gonna open requests for them mb I wanna work on requests but I'm tryna write self-indulgent reqs rn aaaaaa I'm sorry ;-; but yeah uh first time writing for block tales, I'm trying :,D enjoy!

⋯⇋ ૮(•͈⌔•͈)ა ⇌⋯

You were tired of everything that had happened to you so far.

When you were torn out of your timeline so you could go back to the past to help Shedletsky get the SFOTH swords, you really didn't know what to expect. You expected an arduous journey, sure...after all, these swords were the stuff of legend. You knew that much...after all, the swords also existed in your timeline, and you learnt about them before.

You didn't expect...everything else.

When you were first sent to get the Ice Dagger after having a short, grumpy penguin guide you through the ropes of the new world, the journey you went on was predictable, to say the least. Having some old, regal king as the guardian of the sword wasn't unexpected to you, especially because of all the video games you played in your old world. What you didn't expect was how delirious he seemed to be.

Based on what you heard from the villagers living in the kingdom, he was a reasonable and just ruler. No one had any complaints about him, and all respected him for his decisions.

That wasn't reflected in your fight, though.

When you fought him, he seemed to be detached. Paranoid. Cruel King thought you were going to tear down his kingdom, and no amount of talking deterred his insatiable need to cut you down. You had to physically wrestle the Dagger away from him- not the sensible and just king you expected, but a complete and utter lunatic.

You thought it was the end of it, but it wasn't.

Shedletsky then sent you out to Turitopulis to retrieve the Venomshank from Mayor Thanyiel. On the plane ride there, you decided to go prepared and read up on Turitopulis' culture, nature and residents...just so you knew what you were going to be up against. You didn't want to get blindsided by a seemingly normal ruler again.

Upon reaching there, you realised you were probably a bit too late. You saw Mayor Thanyiel...held hostage by a gorilla, commanded by some dude who looked like some edgy teen. He even spoke just like an edgy teen, too- some of his words seemed a bit distorted, but you could somehow understand his speech as leetspeak.

Maybe the Ice Dagger gave you some of the old King's knowledge.

Regardless, you still had a job to do.

You spoke to people in the town, simply wanting to get your job over and done with so you could return to your timeline as soon as possible. But the more you spoke to the people there the more intrigued you were about the place. Gone was your annoyance pertaining to your job

You traversed through the dense forest, careful to prevent any unwanted encounters. The fauna was quite hostile there, after all.

By the time you finally navigated to Griefer's crib, or whatever that place was called, it was already too late for you. You wanted to resolve the situation peacefully, but by then Griefer had already tied his father to the Venomshank and used him to pull the sword from the stone.

Cue a long fight where you had to battle the Venomshank-wielding male...and even after losing, he stabbed himself with the very sword he tried to kill you with.

It didn't end well for either of you.

While you were severely injured, Griefer's fate was much worse. He got transformed into some plant...spider...hybrid monster thing.

Even after purifying your soul to retrieve the Ghostwalker and defeating some ancient god for the Firebrand, when you went back to Turitopulis, he was still in his plant-like form, if not in an even worse state.

When you checked in with Mayor Thaniyel, he mentioned that not only had Griefer not returned to his usual self, but he was also less responsive as the days passed. Barely reacting to his dad's voice. Barely getting up to eat. It was as if his life was withering away day by day like the plants covering his body were consuming him from the inside...so you knew what you had to do.

After a bit of sailing and a trip to the late Kitchen Wizard, you returned to Turitopulis, some onion ring tart in your hands.

Allegedly, based on the cookbook you found at the heart of the jungle, it was supposed to be some cure for Griefer's condition. It worked, thankfully...but only to some extent.

He still had plant-like features around him, but you thought it made him look cooler.

That was when finally...he opened up to you and agreed to join you on your journey to find the rest of the swords.

He told you everything about himself. He mentioned how he was always curious about the Venomshank, how he heard the voices from it just like Blackrock's king...how it controlled his mind and made him do things he never should've done. He told you about how he'd get yelled at by his father every time he tried to bring up the topic of the Venomshank...and everything in between.

For once, he felt safe. He felt like you were someone he could truly trust, and therefore agreed to aid you in your adventure.

Fortunately for you, Shedletsky had no information to give you regarding the other sword guardians, so in the meantime, you could take a break and explore the new world. Despite all that, though, you enjoyed staying in Turitopulis by Griefer's side, getting to know the community better with each passing day. However, you still wanted to return to the Temple of the Red Sun to train and loot the place...which was how you ended up falling for him.

You let out a choked cough. Blood was starting to flood your throat, and you were just a few hitpoints away from dying. With whatever Special Points you had left, you pulled out one last card from your deck.

"Griefer...? If you're there...somewhere...please, help..."

The being...The Ancients, it called itself, stared down at you, its soulless, unmoving eyes never once leaving your wounded form. Calypso lay before you, crumpled up into a heap. She had passed out trying to protect you, just as how Captain Trotter wanted.

She was loyal to him until the very end.

And even then, her loyalty to him was her downfall.

As The Ancients wound up its arms, preparing for one final strike, you squeezed your eyes shut.

You were already in too much pain to move. You just wanted to die quickly so you could respawn and be freed from whatever agonising pain you were in.

Just as The Ancients lunged forward, ready to take away whatever life you had left, you heard some faint rustling as a familiar figure dropped down in front of you. Two pained grunts could be heard from him as he was struck by the two blows that were meant for you.

"...N0T 0N MY W4TCH, PUNK."

The crowbar-wielding male stood in front of you, protecting you from The Ancients.

You glanced up at him, confusion and shock on your face. You had no idea how he got into the temple and found you in such a short amount of time, but you weren't complaining.

"G...Griefer...? You...actually came to help..."

A weak cough escaped your body as you tried to stand up. Getting bashed in multiple times had done quite a number on you, and you almost fell flat on your face.

"...D0N'T PU5H Y0URS3LF."

He knelt down and held out a hand for you to grab. You gratefully accepted his help and pulled yourself back on your feet. Due to your weakened state, however...you stumbled into him.

Griefer, upon seeing your weakened state, instinctively caught you as your legs gave way, not wanting you to fall. What you didn't expect was for him to do so by pulling you against him so you could put your weight on him instead of on your own legs...which resulted in him tightly hugging you to himself.

"I G0T Y0UR B4CK. L3T'5 PWN TH15 5UCK3R T0G3TH3R."

One thing slowly turned into another, though...and on one moonlit night, Griefer ended up asking you out during a leisurely nighttime stroll. By that point, you were completely smitten by him, so you agreed.

Ever since that day, Griefer treated you like a delicate porcelain doll. He offered to take care of you as you recovered from your injuries, offered to do little things for you and always protected you from whatever was out to get you. Once, he even followed you to The Guru so you could get more training by refighting your own embodiment of hatred. Despite you telling him multiple times that you'd be fine since you'd fought it before and could even respawn, he was determined to follow you so you'd come back safe and sound.

On this day, however, you really didn't feel like training. Your body was sore from the excessive practice you did the previous day, and all you wanted to do was take a break for one day.

So what did Griefer do? He decided to pop over to the Turitopulis' Town Inn you were staying at to pay you a visit and spend some quality time with you.

As you lay in bed, your muscles sore from all the combat you did the previous day, you heard a soft click as the door opened. Griefer stood in the doorway, a small bowl in hand.

"H3Y. (Y/N). I M4D3 Y0U S0M3 S0UP. Y0U 5H0ULD H4V3 S0M3, IT'5 G00D F0R Y0U."

Griefer set the container down on your bedside table and opened it. The smell that wafted out and filled the room was heavenly- it smelt delectable, just like the soup your parents always made for you in the past.

Griefer went to the inn's pantry and grabbed a spoon. He picked up the bowl of soup, scooped up some soup and held it to your mouth.

"D0 H4V3 S0M3, D34R35T...Y0U N33D 1T."

You opened your mouth and let Griefer spoon-feed you the soup. It tasted just as good as it smelled, if not even better. The soup was rich and savoury, and it tasted absolutely heavenly.

You instinctively opened your mouth every time he brought the spoon to your lips, gratefully consuming every bit of soup he fed you.

It tasted like familiarity. It tasted like home. It tasted of the good old times when you were safe and secure in the arms of people you cared for.

Now, you were in a new universe. There were so many new things to see. So many things to appreciate. Someone by your side to truly love.

As Griefer continued feeding you the soup, you had a sudden thought.

"...Griefer...? Could we...cuddle, by any chance?"

He paused, a faint hint of pink spreading across his face. Eventually, he relented, setting the bowl back on the bedside table and crawling under the blanket with you.

"...F1N3. C'M3R3..."

Griefer wrapped his arms around you, pulling you to his chest. The leaves covering his face and arms tickled a bit, so you squirmed in his grasp to get comfortable.

He buried his face in your shoulder, the leaves on his face brushing against your neck as he lay there, the only sound in the room being the faint hum of the air conditioner and the soft breathing from both of you.

"I'V3 W4NT3D T0 D0 TH15 F0R 4 WH1L3...JU5T L13 D0WN H3R3 W1TH Y0U L1K3 TH15. 1'M GL4D 5H3DL3T5KY H45N'T SENT Y0U 0UT T0 F1ND 4N0TH3R 5TUP1D 5W0RD..."

You lay there in bed, too tired to say a word and too comfortable to move. You never knew how nice it was to get spooned by someone you loved until then. As you let out a soft yawn, Griefer chuckled.

"T1R3D? Y0U 5H0ULD SL33P. Y0U'V3 B33N TR41N1NG 4 L0T R3C3NTLY."

You subconsciously caressed some of the vines that snaked down Griefer's arm, silently adoring his new look. You knew that deep down, Griefer was insecure about the new additions...but you liked them anyway.

As you drifted off to sleep, you felt his hold on you tighten slightly.

"5L33P W3LL, MY L0V3...1'LL 4LW4Y5 PR0T3CT Y0U FR0M WH4T3V3R PUNK TH4T TR135 T0 HURT Y0U."

⋯⇋ ૮(•͈⌔•͈)ა ⇌⋯

and that’s all, fellas! I hope you enjoyed, and I’ll see you guys soon! :D

[amongemeraldclouds]

love blooms in strange places

When Mattheo was assigned to help you tend to the greenhouse as punishment, he never expected detention could be so pleasant.

Mattheo Riddle x f!Reader | Based on this request

Warning: fluff, one use of y/n, used my creative license to come up with plant lore and magic to serve the plot.

✿ Masterlist | Event Masterlist | Tea Party | 1.7k words

When Mattheo Riddle started his day, the greenhouse was the last place he expected he would be. Yet that’s exactly where he was headed, kicking up dirt as he went.

Snape’s words haunted him as he slowed to the door. “Mr. Riddle, you had been in detention several times just this month alone. If you will not learn by reflection, you will learn by deed. As punishment, you will have to help y/n cultivate plants for a week.”

Before Mattheo could open his mouth, Snape raised his hand. “Any protests and we will make it a month.” He knew better than to talk.

He shook his head as he opened the door, eager to get it over with. He took in pots and plants of various shades of green, color sprouting sporadically where flowers and fruits blossomed. Then there was you.

You saw the curly haired boy approach, Mattheo Riddle, you recalled. Everything about him spelled trouble from the frown fixed on his face, to his askew tie, and the way he strut as if the entire world bent to his will.

You smiled and introduced yourself politely. Your mum after all had raised you to give others a chance. To look beyond first impressions.

Still, it didn’t surprise you when his frown stayed glued to his face. “Mattheo Riddle,” he just stated by way of introduction. “Here’s how this will work. I’m going to stay here,” he said, grabbing a chair at the side of the greenhouse and taking a seat. “I’ll stay out of your way, you stay out of mine. When the time is over, I’ll walk away. Nice and simple.”

“So you’ll just let me do all the work?” You huffed, your fists clenched by your side.

“Glad you’re catching on, darling. Go on. Some would say it’s a privilege to be around me but it’s okay if you don’t see that yet.” He flashed you a shit eating grin and propped his legs up the table across him. Such a shame. He’d probably be handsome if his personality weren’t so rotten.

You caught yourself and your expression turned livid. “No, being around you is punishment. I don’t know what I did to Snape to deserve this,” you mumbled to yourself.

Your mum may have raised you to be polite, but she also taught you to stand up against bullies. You strode over to the arrogant boy, plucking a bearded iris on your way. You crushed it beneath your fingers, muttering an incantation.

When you were close enough, you hurled the crushed petals at his feet. Upon impact, sparks burst. Bright searing sprays of light was accompanied by a loud bang.

Mattheo dodged it, losing his balance. His chair tipped backwards. He crashed to the floor.

The bearded iris was otherwise called the firebreather iris. He should have known better than to challenge you.

You towered over him. “You will help me as Snape intended. It’s bad enough I have to spend time with you. You will make yourself useful or that,” you pointed at the ashes of the firebreather iris, “is just the beginning of what I can do. There are poisonous plants around here like nightshade. I will not hesitate to use them and make it look like an accident.”

He looked at you as if he saw you for the first time. The fire was brighter in your eyes than the spark you had thrown. He was silent for a beat as he recalled what Theo warned him about nice girls. You never wanted to see them mad. They were always more clever and therefore more dangerous.

As much as he loved danger, he very much preferred to stay alive. Besides, things just got more interesting. He schooled his face to a bored expression. “Fine,” he said standing back up and dusting the dirt from his clothes and hair. “If you teach me that cool trick, I’ll help out.”

“Stick around and I’ll teach you a few things,” you nodded, satisfied. You tossed him a pair of gloves. “We’ll start here, plant boy.” He suppressed the smile that threatened to break across his features. It was fascinating how you snapped quickly back to your good natured self, as if you weren’t just threatening him moments earlier. If there was anything Mattheo loved, it was a challenge.

As he put on the gloves, he felt detention wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Threatened by the poison and lured in by the idea of learning plant magic, Mattheo had surprisingly been a helpful herbology partner.

Yes, he was stubborn and annoying. But at the end of the day, he was quick to pick up the steps, memorizing which fertilizer to use for what plant, and how much water each plant needed.

The weeks quickly passed and you found a comfortable rhythm. You just had to put up with those terrible lines.

“Are you a flower bed?” Mattheo asked, his face streaked with dirt as he hauled another bag of soil.

“What is it this time?” You rolled your eyes. You found it impossibly adorable and ridiculous how he managed to get dirt all over his face despite wearing gloves and other gardening gear.

“Let’s pretend you asked me why. ‘Cause I want to lay you down and get dirty,” Mattheo said with his signature smirk.

You tried not to laugh, but you couldn’t wipe the silly grin off your face. Mattheo considered it a win. “That seriously works for you?” You pointed in his general direction. “I’d rather choke on a cactus,” you beamed.

Mattheo chuckled, “then I want to be a cactus.”

“Oh why, because you’re a prick?” You retorted, shoveling more soil to the new pot.

“No, you can’t use these lines against me,” he said, narrowing his eyes, grabbing a handful of soil.

“Don’t be such a weeping willow about it,” you quipped. “And I swear if you throw that lump of soil, you’ll have to clean it up.”

“Why don’t we go straight to the cleaning part?” He teased instead, returning the soil. He grabbed the water hose nearby and turned it on, aiming it directly at you.

Before you could react, you felt a steady stream of water hit you, the cold shocking your entire system. “You really did it,” you muttered uselessly, releasing a string of curses as you gathered your wits about you.

You ran after him, but he was quick to deflect, running off the opposite direction, taking the hose with him. Five steps in, you slipped on the mud and landed on your back. The wind rushed out your lungs and you laid there recovering your breath.

“Salazar! Are you ok?” He asked, running towards you.

“Come here,” you spoke softly and he leaned in to hear you.

“My name is not Salazar,” you declared when he was close enough. “It’s an expressio—“ he tried to explain but in one swift motion, you grabbed the collar of his shirt. The surprise was enough to send him down the floor. He slipped in the mud and joined you. You grabbed the hose from him and sprayed him with water.

He flailed for a few seconds before he caught purchase and rolled over you, yanking the hose away and then switching it off. You both found yourselves in hysterics, bodies shaking from the cold and laughter.

“I can’t believe it. You really laid me down and got me dirty,” you managed to say in between laughter.

“This is not what I meant. But if you want to know what I mean,” he said, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear. But he was rendered speechless, the words and laughter faded in his throat.

He didn’t think it was possible. But up close, you were even more beautiful with your captivating eyes and kissable lips.

His intense gaze stole the laughter and breath from your lungs. You felt his heartbeat drum against yours, your breaths mingled with one another.

It sunk in then that he was on top of you, gazing at you like he wanted to do a hundred and one sinful things to you. He had a forest full of desires and you wanted to explore every corner of it. To go on an adventure with him. So you did.

You weren’t sure who started it, but the next second you found yourselves kissing each other. It was better than any euphoria plants could induce. His lips felt surprisingly soft and he started off tentative, seeing if you were okay with it. You just needed more and he quickly matched your pace, taking in as much of you as he could.

He was no longer gentle and he ran his hand through your mud streaked hair, holding you just where he needed you, deepening the kiss. You tugged on his hair in return and he rewarded you with a groan, his chest rumbling against you. He licked your lower lip, prompting you to open your mouth as his tongue darted in, exploring until you both needed to come up for air. Panting against each other.

“Why are you looking at me like I just kicked a puppy?” He asked.

You shook your head. “You’re just a boy trying to get through detention,” you stated.

“Darling, my detention was only a week long,” he admitted.

Your eyes widened. “But this is your third week helping me.”

“You still haven’t taught me how to make fire with flowers yet,” he said, kissing you on the nose.

“You’re not afraid I’d poison you?” You narrowed your eyes, recalling your threat.

“I looked it up. The nightshade you mentioned that first week isn’t even poisonous. You never meant to poison me, dear.”

“But you fell for it, that’s what mattered,” you insisted.

“Maybe it’s you I’ve pollen for,” he quipped.

“You’re never gonna stop with the plant puns, aren’t you?”

“No, because you’re ivy and you’ve fully crept in my thoughts. Next, you can creep in my—” you kissed him then to shut him up. He didn’t seem to mind at all. You really had had enough of his silly plant puns, even though you couldn’t get enough of him.

✿ Masterlist | Event Masterlist | Tea Party

[kxsagi]

𝟎𝟐. 𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐱 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬

now texting: sae 😒

the next day

you stood outside the looming black-glass building with your breath caught somewhere between your lungs and your throat. the cold chrome letters above the revolving door read MIKAGE RECORDS STUDIOS, and they might as well have said TURN BACK NOW. 

you glanced down at yourself – black cami top clinging just right, low-waisted star jeans sitting loose on your hips with the calvin klein waistband of your underwear peeking out, bracelets jangling at your wrist with every fidget. your adidas sambas scuffed the pavement as you shifted your weight. a groan slipped out as you pulled up your front camera to double-check the damage: curled hair holding up okay, necklace straight, all your piercings intact. 

you looked hot. but also slightly underdressed to walk into the same studio that housed the world’s most chaotic rock band. 

still, after five minutes of overthinking, you pushed through the doors. 

the lobby smelled like money. clean, icy air conditioning. white marble floors so polished you could see your reflection. gold elevator doors. a reception desk manned by a security guard in all black, eyes scanning your figure as you approached. 

you gave him your best don’t-mess-with-me smile. “hi. i’m here to see sae itoshi.” 

his brows arched slightly, and then relaxed. “oh, you’re that friend.” he leaned back in his chair. “he told us someone would be coming. marketing girl, right?” 

“that’s me,” you nodded, even though you hated being reduced to just that. but you were here for a paycheck, not an identity crisis. 

he pressed a button under the desk, unlocking the glass doors behind him. “he said you’d know where to go.” 

you froze for a split second. “right… i totally do.” 

he waved you through anyway, already looking back at his monitor. 

you stepped into the hallway, surrounded by tall walls and unfamiliar silence. you had no clue where the hell you were going. 

the sound of bass rumbled faintly from somewhere deeper in the building. you followed it, your shoes echoing too loudly on the floor. doors lined the hallway, some marked with numbers, others with nothing at all. you passed a room with soundproof glass. through it, you saw a drum kit and someone passed out on a beanbag. 

before you could double back and knock, a door swung open in front of you. you jumped. 

a man blinked at you, visibly confused, before smirking wide. “wow, what a woman.”  

tall, bleached-blond hair with blue streaks at the ends tousled like he’d just rolled out of bed and into a photoshoot. kaiser. you recognized him instantly. leather pants, mesh shirt, cocky smile you’d seen a hundred times in saint ego clips. 

“lost, pretty girl?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe like you were already his. 

you blinked, trying to avoid staring at the slight bruise on his cheekbone. “i’m… i’m looking for sae?” 

“damn. first time i meet you and you’re already breaking my heart.” he pushed off the doorframe. “you must be her. the intern.” 

“PR manager,” you corrected. “temporarily.” 

he grinned. “sure, sure. this way, baby PR.” 

you glared, but followed him anyway. 

he led you down a different hall, talking over his shoulder. “we’ve been waiting for you, you know. sae’s been acting like he’s about to spontaneously combust. and isagi–” 

he stopped himself just as he pushed open a door. 

inside was a lounge that looked like a musician’s version of a frat house. guitars on the wall. wires tangled on the floor. empty boba cups. rin sat on the couch, airpods in, scrolling through his phone. shidou was eating candy on the opposite end. sae stood near the kitchenette with a coffee in hand and dark circles under his eyes. bachira spun in a desk chair until he saw you, and then grinned wide. 

kaiser gestured like he’d just presented a magic trick. 

“gentlemen,” he said. “she’s here.” 

you hovered in the doorway for a moment, eyes scanning the chaos of the lounge. the room felt alive – cluttered, loud, buzzing with a kind of boy-energy that smelled like caffeine, guitar polish, and too many late nights. 

bachira was the first to shoot up from his seat and greet you. he practically skipped across the room, mismatched socks and a smile too wide to be legal. 

“you’re the intern? woah. you’re pretty.” 

“PR manager,” you corrected, again. 

“temporary,” sae added from behind his coffee mug, voice dry. 

“welcome to the jungle,” bachira grinned, twirling a piece of your hair before kaiser gently tugged him back by the collar. 

“don’t harass her on sight,” he muttered. 

“it’s not harassment if i say it with love,” bachira replied, then leaned in and whispered to you, “you’ll get used to the chaos. or you won’t. but either way, it’s entertaining.” 

rin didn’t even glance up from his phone. he just muttered a flat, “hi.” 

“he’s dry,” bachira whispered loudly. 

you were about to reply that you already knew rin when the door behind you creaked again. 

someone stepped in, hoodie pulled over his dark hair, earbuds in, a notebook under his arm. he looked up – slow, sharp, unreadable. 

isagi yoichi. lead singer. band’s main songwriter. center of the storm last week. 

his gaze landed on you like a spotlight. not the loud kind, the quiet kind. intense. observant. he took in your outfit, your expression, your stance. all of it. in a second flat. 

you were prepared for cocky. aloof. maybe even rude. 

you weren’t prepared for the way he blinked once, then nodded politely and said, “hey. i’m isagi.” 

his voice was smooth, but low. not overly friendly. not cold either. just… level. 

you didn’t realize you were staring until kaiser bumped your arm. “don’t mind him. he’s quiet around girls he thinks are cute.” 

you pursed your lips together. you were here for work, not a boyfriend. 

isagi rolled his eyes and walked past you, dropping onto the farthest couch with his notebook and pen. he didn’t look flustered. not exactly. but the corner of his mouth twitched, like he was amused. like he’d already read this whole situation ten steps ahead. 

“i’m not quiet,” he said, flipping open the notebook. “i’m just working.” 

“he’s writing a song,” bachira whispered dramatically. “he’s been brooding for like, four hours.” 

“three,” isagi corrected without looking up. 

sae sighed, rubbing his temples. “can we sit? i brought her here for a reason.” 

you straightened up, shoulders back. “right.”

it was showtime. 

you stepped further into the room, eyes darting around for the cleanest surface to put your laptop bag. there wasn’t one. you settled for the edge of the coffee table, nudging aside a crushed monster can and what looked like a guitar string wrapped around a chopstick. 

“so,” you started, voice clear, “i know things have been... messy. which is why i’m here.” 

rin made a sound like a scoff. kaiser hummed a fake violin. shidou laughed. bachira leaned forward like you were about to tell a ghost story. 

you met their stares one by one, steady. “i’m here to manage your public image. and if i’m doing my job right, no one will remember the livestream fight in a month.” 

“bold of you to assume people will forget the highlight of the year,” rin said from the armchair, lazily flipping a pick between his fingers. 

“i’m not asking them to forget,” you replied. “i’m giving them something better to remember.” 

that earned a few raised brows. 

“a documentary,” you continued. “seven episodes. behind-the-scenes, raw, real. your comeback arc. your redemption tour. a perfectly curated mess.” 

bachira clapped once. “ooooh. like keeping up with saint ego.” 

“more like surviving saint ego,” rin muttered. 

“same thing,” kaiser grinned. 

you didn’t look away. “we control the narrative. not the fans. not the headlines. us.” 

"i was thinking of making isagi and kaiser film an apology video with a black and white filter over it," sae admitted blankly.

"no, the fandom is already divided. an apology video would be picked apart like crazy and nothing would change," you explained, voice steady with confidence.

“and you think people will buy the documentary?” isagi asked. his eyes were still on the notebook, but his pen had stopped moving. 

you turned toward him. “they won’t have to. they’ll just watch.” 

there was a pause. a flicker of something passed behind his eyes. curiosity? respect? maybe even… interest? 

“we start filming in two days,” you said. “you’ll each have individual interviews. group sessions. footage from rehearsals, the studio, the tour. the camera will follow you around.” 

“do we get hair and makeup?” bachira asked, already pulling out his phone. “i wanna wear eyeliner like rodrick heffley.” 

“you can wear whatever you want,” you said. “you’re just gonna pretend the camera isn’t there.” 

“you’ll regret saying that,” sae muttered. 

kaiser leaned back in the armchair, legs sprawled. “and who’s behind the camera?” 

“a guy named hiori. also my uni classmate that majors in film production. he’s perfect for this because he’s discreet. professional. nonjudgmental. which is more than i can say for most of you.” 

shidou smirked. “you’re fun.” 

“i’m serious.” 

“so are we,” isagi said quietly, closing his notebook. 

the room stilled. his tone wasn’t harsh, but it carried weight. suddenly everyone was looking at him. but he looked at you. 

“you think you can fix this?” 

you matched his gaze. “i think you need to let me try.” 

a beat. then: 

“fine,” he said, standing. “but if we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. no fake smiles. no scripted bullshit. you want the real story?” 

“that’s the only story worth telling,” you said. 

his lip quirked up. a near-smile. just for a second. 

bachira whooped and flopped onto the couch beside you. “this is gonna be so much fun.” 

“this is gonna be a disaster,” rin corrected. 

“same thing,” kaiser said again, laughing. 

you sat down, heart still racing from adrenaline. but they were listening. and that was half the battle. 

the other half? 

well, that would come later. when the cameras were rolling. when the cracks started to show. when secrets slipped out between songs and smoke breaks. 

but for now, you had their attention. 

and that was enough. 

masterlist | ch. 01 | ch. 03

taglist (closed): @nensi @ro4love @avaxoxo13 @levisgoonerr @jnkosstuff @simpingmyassoff @sunsettsguitar @trinkets-of-time @cinneorolls @silverwings920 @mymeloreo @satorella @gkattdoesstuff @lovingmayday @pixelpancakes @vverie @nicfics @nevvynev @astro-3000 @mihyas-dieehefrau @i-eve-i @ohagiyoo @aadahyax @yumerinns @rie-cecooker @neeeooon @laylaandsstuff @irethepotato @byzantiumhollow @luvsymai @blu3-l0v3r @kiritokunuwu @anaxugoras @yxnnu @academiq @jaeyuuns @x3nafix @sukunaspillow @sasukevrz @anyaslittlepeanut @yunsspace @gurehai @chiieni @6riix @miiyabi @2ukika @ventivente @heartsforfeitan @kai-wavesii-blog @iqxatlantic

© 𝐤𝐱𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐢

[fgumi]

.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑ JUST ONE BITE

ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁 { PAIRING; heeseung x reader, GENRE; fluff, drabble, WC; 623 A/N; i haven't written a drabble in so long. i loved this episode so bad. i love ramen almost as much as heeseung. deadass understood when he said he hates people who ask for one bite. even when my mom asks, i let her but i hate it so bad. }

ever since heeseung’s episode on my favorite’s favorite went out, there’s been a lot of memes floating around. of course he’s serious about ramen. it’s the most perfect food in the world.

yes, he gets upset when the members ask for just one bite. they end up eating half the pot. so, no, they can’t have just one bite. no one can have one bite.

except, the members call bull. there’s one person heeseung will always say yes to. you.

it’s not like you eat any less than the others. you also enjoy ramen a lot, so your one bite is half the pot. but, heeseung never seems to get mad at you. if anything, he makes sure to cook two packets, so you can have your fill while he gets his. there’s a reason for this though.

before the big team meeting heeseung mentioned, everyone was always swooping by, guzzling his ramen like vultures. when you stopped by, hoping to get a bite too, you noticed how annoyed heeseung was looking down at his near empty pot. so, you played off your visit to his room. “i’m gonna make some ramen. did you want some?”

his big bambi eyes looked up at you with hope as he slowly nodded. you stifled a giggle before leaving to the kitchen. heeseung’s heart swelled at the thought of more ramen. he ate the scraps of noodles in his pot and followed you out into the kitchen.

at first, it concerned him more than it should. would you be able to cook it the way he likes? but, when he saw you measure out the water, he decided to just sit and watch.

you threw in the soup base and vegetable flakes, catching his eyes as you threw away the trash. you smiled at his wide eyes. “am i cooking it to your liking so far?”

when he nodded, you turned back to the boiling pot, throwing in the noodles. you heard shifting before you felt his looming presence over your shoulder. he gave you a sheepish smile before backing up a little. “i just wanted to see what you did next.”

you let out a laugh before scooting over to let heeseung have a full view of the pot. you grabbed chopsticks and flipped the ramen over before it unraveled. heeseung furrowed his brow.

“do you wanna take over?” you asked teasingly.

he shook his head and returned to his seat, letting you cook in peace.

a few moments later, you placed the pot in front of heeseung and opened the lid. the steam floated out, leaving heeseung with the perfect visual of ramen. he tilted his head when he saw the cloud of eggs on the side.

“i know how you like your eggs. lord knows i’ve taken a bite of your ramen enough times,” you said, handing the chopsticks over to him.

when he took his first bite, he hummed in content. you knew how to make ramen. thank goodness. as he took his second bite, you cheekily asked. “can i have a bite?”

he found himself nodding before offering you some. you took the bite and savored it. at that moment, heeseung thought to himself. i guess it wouldn’t be so bad if y/n gets a bite.

ever since then, heeseung always let you have a bite.

which brings us to today. it was the end of the day, no more schedules. he just finished showering and was cooking some neoguri. the members peered into the kitchen, smelling the mouthwatering smell. they watched you hop next to heeseung and ask for that one bite. heeseung smiled. “of course.”

so, that’s why y/n wasn’t at the team meeting, they collectively thought.

disclaimer: this, in no way, reflects the idol. this is purely fiction. ✧ comments and reblogs are appreciated! ✧ give my other works a read too! you may now leave requests (˶ˆᗜˆ˵)

tagged; @en-dream @heeheesang @bamguetismee @httpenhoon @r1kification

[cherrycranes]

Dream Girl (Neil Lewis x Fem!Reader) [+18]

Pairing: Neil Lewis x Fem!Reader Summary: You're Neil's favorite (and only) camgirl and the girl of his dreams, and he finally has a video call with you. Word count: 3,307 Contents: (Minors DNI). Reader is a camgirl! Needy Neil, cam sex, mutual masturbation, praise kink, fluff! Author's notes: Once again, a collab with @fuckiingloser my beloved. Mandatory "english is not my first language" disclaimer. Underneath there's a Neil playlist I made, the pinterest moodboard to help you visualize this fic and something more! ;)

Part 2: HERE

Neil anxiously stared at the computer screen waiting for it to connect. The circular motions of the loading icon toyed with his impatience. This was serious to him. After selling some old valuable tapes from Gumshoe, he had just enough to pay for a private video call with her: his favorite cam girl, his ultimate dream girl, the one he had been dedicated to watching for the last few months.

He had stumbled upon her in his usual search for porn months ago, in one desperate and lonely night. After closing and closing several porn tabs and profiles, finding absolutely nothing that scratched the right spot for him, he saw her. In all her pink, fluffy, girl-next-door-esque glory. He sat there in complete awe, watching her just smile and laugh, chatting to subscribers and also watching her touch herself… Neil loved it all. From her beautiful hair, her beautiful smile, pretty eyes and perfect body… She had taken over every single thought of his. He became completely hooked since. Generously tipping her, subscribing to her only fans and leaving sweet messages since subscribing.

He couldn’t believe it, after months, he had finally gotten the chance to have a one-on-one call with her. Half of his daydreams and fantasies were about the moment he could talk to her and not just write her his usual nice comments online. He nervously fixed his hair on the reflection of the monitor at the thought. Nothing in this world would let him miss this… Not even the cost. Selling a few of his vintage vhs tapes was not a big deal if it meant he got to see her. 

Neil was positively and undeniably obsessed… Not in the stalker way, of course… He was always respectful. He just had a crush, and a deep yearning to have the chance to take her on a date, get to know her, make her laugh at the very least… His dream girl…

Snapping him out of his thoughts, the screen finally blinked on, making him smile softly when he saw his dream girl pop on the screen.

“Hi there, Neil…” You greeted him with your sensual but sweet voice. You quite liked him as a subscriber. You had seen from his profile that he was only a few years older than you, and from his comments you always knew he was nice, but when you finally saw him appear on your screen you were pleasantly impressed. Neil was much cuter than what you expected him to be. His beautiful pale blue eyes, his soft brown curls, his sweet smile… God help you, he was dreamy…

You sat pretty on your pink fluffy duvet cover on your bed, your laptop was propped right in front of you at the perfect angle, showing your body and lovely face. Neil’s reaction to that image was just delicious, his eyes widened and you moved back a little, revealing the tiny see through pink lingerie set you wore…  At his request, of course. 

From the screen you could tell this already had an effect on him, his cock definitely hardening in his pants and his eyes raking all over you through his monitor. Despite being so used to watching you he still felt weak on the knees. 

“H-hi… you look… so beautiful ...” Neil stuttered just so cutely through his big smile, his usual sweetness shining through. Even when he commented in your livestreams or messaged you he was always a total sweetheart. Most of the other comments you received were well… Vulgar and far too descriptive. That is why Neil always stood out to you, the only one who was actually nice, the one who always tuned into your streams, even the ones where you weren’t naked. He just wanted to see you and hear you talk. 

 “Thank you… You’re too sweet..” You purred to him, smiling and turning around on your knees just to let him see the outfit from the back. Your hand slowly and very sensually ran over your body and the delicate pink lace and flower embroidery of your see-through bra and thong. He watched, completely out of breath. The shape of your ass, the way the lingerie did nothing to hide your charms. He felt himself grow harder.

“Wow…” He whispered, almost dizzy. “You’re perfect…”

Words weren’t enough. “Perfect” didn't even cover just how incredible you were to him. Neil LOVED the dainty, girly lingerie sets you always wore, your all-pink girly room, your innocent eyes, your soft voice. You were the perfect girl next door, the embodiment of all his fantasies combined and presented like a goddess in front of him… And now you were his… Even if it was just for the hour. 

Satisfied with his cute reaction, you sat back down on the bed, smiling softly for the camera.

“You’ve got all of me for an hour… Any special requests?” You asked kindly, charmingly. Neil felt his mind turn to mush for a second, just staring at you for a bit before gathering his thoughts enough to answer. 

“Could you touch yourself and moan my name…  Please?” He asked so softly, your lips curled into a smirk.

“Of course, I can do that. Fingers or a toy?” Your tone was slightly flirty but still very sweet.

“A vibrator… the one you always use…” Neil answered right away, not even thinking about it. He knew exactly what he wanted.

“As you wish..” You smiled and leaned off camera for a second to grab the toy that waited ready for you to use.

“This one?” You came back into frame and, with a cheeky smile on your face, held up the realistic pink dick shaped vibrator.

Neil’s eyes widened a bit in recognition and he nodded with a smile, his hand squeezed his hard on over his pants as he took in the sight of you on the screen. You leaned back against your pretty pink pillows and slowly spread your legs. He shifted closer towards the monitor, lured in by you and the way you gently pulled your sheer panties down your legs and tossed them aside, exposing your pretty little pussy.

It obviously wasn’t the first time he’d seen it… But it was the first time that only him got to see it. He groaned, looking at your perfectly waxed lips reverently. How he wished he could just dive into the screen and magically appear in front of you.

“How do I look?” You asked with a pretty smirk, two gentle fingers spreading your lips apart for him to drool for. His breath hitched a bit and he swallowed hard, fighting his own brain for coherent words.

“You look like a goddess…” He said, almost in awe. “Your pussy is so pretty..” 

You smiled sincerely at his compliment before a motion from your thumb turned the vibrator on. The pink toy slowly and teasingly traveled to your clit, and you moaned instantly when it touched it and made it send waves of pleasure through you. You closed your eyes and Neil kept his wide open, your lips curved into a little smirk before you fulfilled his second request:

“Neil… oh baby… feels so good..” You could have killed him with that breathy moan. He couldn’t contain a groan and his hands couldn’t stop themselves from squeezing his aching cock over his pants. 

When you opened your eyes, you looked at your screen, smiling at the sight.

“You can touch yourself if you want… I wanna see you too…” You cooed to him. 

“Really?” Neil asked, obviously very excited at the thought of both of you getting off together, even if it was through the computer. You nodded with a pretty moan, moving the vibrator against you a bit more. He breathed out, your pussy glistened more and more before his eyes, and for a moment, he savored it in his imagination. His hand took his aching hard on out of his pants and scooted his chair back so you could see all of him. 

Quickly, he spat into his hand and wrapped it around his needy cock, gently groaning at the feeling, imagining it was your pussy instead of his hand. He looked up and saw you watching him with those lovely eyes of yours, he gave himself a few slow pumps.

“Mmm, your cock is so big…” You moan softly, biting your lip as you teased yourself with the toy, enticing the gentle strokes he gave himself.

“Big enough for you?” He asked almost desperately as he jerked off. 

You smiled, gently turning the toy off and sliding it between your wet folds, just teasing yourself with it before finally pushing it in. 

“Mmm… Definitely...” You moaned back to him, and he watched in amazement. You gently pushed the tip of the toy inside you, moaning deliciously as you adjusted around it.

“You wish this was your cock, instead?” You asked him seductively, earning an immediate nod from him. 

“God, yes…” He answered quickly. “I'd literally do anything you wanted of me… I’d-I’d worship you…” 

You moaned again, loudly, his words making you push the dildo in deeper and stretch yourself more.

“Worship me?” Your voice came out sensual, slightly affected by the feeling of the pink toy in you. Neil nodded and groaned, pumping his cock a bit faster.

“Yes... I’d love to kiss you, taste you… make you smile… make you come…” He was beautifully desperate, too fucking sweet. You felt your cheeks at the edge of burning, your hand kept moving, you kept fucking yourself with the dildo.

It was inevitable now, his adoring and genuine praises did something to you, to your wet cunt that only got much more wetter. You arched your back and moaned, never once stopping your hand that held the dildo. 

“More..” You whined to him, needing more of his sweet words. His breathing sped up as his hands worked his cock faster. He was dumbfounded for a split second, but he would never deny you anything.

“I'd spend hours eating your pussy if you let me… I just wanna make you come with my tongue…” He added, his voice a little shaky. 

“Oh fuck..” You moaned loudly, feeling so turned on and getting closer, faster than you expected too… You looked at the screen, seeing him stare at you with those beautiful desperate blue eyes. So, you moved the toy back to your clit and turned it up even higher.

“Neil… I'm gonna come..” You warned him with a loud whine that mixed with the buzzing sound of the vibrator. It was so uncommon for you to even reach this stage so fast, but there was something about his sweet voice, his eyes, his praises… They were doing something to you that you weren’t at all used to…

“Please, come for me…” Neil begged softly, his hand sped up around his cock. “I wanna come with you…” He moaned, shutting his pretty eyes and breathing heavily. 

“Yes... Yes!” You cried out loudly, every muscle of your legs trembled viciously and your clit sent overwhelming waves of pleasure to every last nerve you had. The perfect prelude to an intense, looming orgasm. “Neil…” You moaned needy. 

Neil´s baby blue eyes widened even more, watching you in amazement. With a few more vibrations against your sensitive clit, you came undone just for his eyes to enjoy. Your cry of pleasure sent shivers down his spine and harder pumps to his throbbing, aching cock. Oh, he’d do anything to feel that sweet orgasm of yours happen all around him.

“Fuck, me too.. I’m coming too..” He spoke with  a strained voice, looking right at you and keeping eye contact through the screen. His eager hand jacked him off almost in desperation, massaging his hard cock until reaching an intense abrupt stop. Ropes of his thick white come coated his hand as he let out little groans. His dick twitched and pulsed in his palm and he threw his head back for a moment there. Your eyes studied the scene on your laptop screen detailedly, up until the last little bit of his cum dribbled out.

“Fuuuck..” He groaned softly, he then gave you a satisfied smile. “That was fucking amazing..”.

You giggled a little, his voice was hoarse and just so attractive. You couldn’t agree more with him.

For his eyes, you spread your pussy lips again, proudly showing him the aftermath of what he helped you achieve: your lips glistening with your orgasm. He groaned a bit, his mouth nearly watering.

“I wish I could clean you up with my tongue… I’d give anything for a taste…” He whispered desperately. You bit your lip, it was unbelievable just what this sweet guy did to you.

After a few more breaths, you both sat up and angled your cameras back up to your faces. Neil cleaned himself up on camera, a box of tissues ready on his desk.

“Sorry it happened so fast…” You started to apologize, your mind now clearer and aware that you still had a half hour left for the call, but Neil cut you off before you could finish speaking:

“Please… don’t apologize. That was… Everything to me. Besides… I’d love to just talk too, is that okay?…” He muttered softly.

“Yeah, of course, if that’s what you want…” You answered with slight sheepishness at his sweet words. Still, conversation with Neil just flowed… So naturally… 

“You already know what I do for a living…” You said with a little smirk, his cute laughter resonated from your laptop´s speakers. “What do you do for work?” 

“I actually own a small movie rental store… It's called Gumshoe Video. Been my dream since I was a kid, opened up about 5 years ago now, actually.” Neil answered with a genuine smile, proud of himself. 

“Wow, that's awesome.. I actually love movies, especially older romance movies…” You confessed, and he felt butterflies. You were beautiful AND loved old movies? You really were his dream girl after all. 

“Really?” He asked, a little shocked. You giggled gently.

“Yeah, of course… Brief Encounter is one of my favorites.” You looked at his perfect brown curls through the screen as his mouth turned into a grin. 

 “Wow! Yeah, I love that one! I love David Lean.” He agreed, something deep in his chest fluttering. The more you talked, the more you realized you had more in common than either of you would have ever thought. Talking with him was just so easy, so effortlessly. Neil was just as sweet talking face-to-face as he was online.

“Can I ask where you're from?” He said shyly, not knowing if that’s crossing the line or not. Understandable nervousness stirs in you.

“I usually don’t disclose that kind of information to anyone…” You started and received a pleasant little surprise when you saw Neil nodding in acceptance softly. But before he could speak you felt your gut just telling you to say it. “I live in Chicago.” You suddenly blurted out. 

You watched his eyes widen a bit.

“Chicago?” Neil whispered to himself softly. “I-I’m in the Chicago suburbs!” 

Your eyes widened too, the revelation feeling just right. He was so close to you this whole time and you didn’t even know it…

“Wow..” You whispered, a little shocked at the news. “Small world i guess…” You smiled and Neil laughed a bit.

“No kidding.” He agreed. The girl he’s been pining after and thinking about for months… Practically neighbors with him. 

There was an awkward silence for a second as you both processed the information. Finally, he spoke:

“I'd love to possibly take you on a date sometime… If you’d be okay with it, that is… Just want to treat you like a princess... We wouldn’t have to have sex or anything…”  He rambles just so cutely. You really considered it. Butterflies flew in your stomach. Most men only saw you as a sex object, something they could use and move on from. Neil wasn’t that kind of guy, that was obvious. He was kind and thoughtful. You had never even considered ever wanting to meet someone from only fans… Until today… Until Neil. 

Your beautiful glossy lips almost uttered the word “yes��... But suddenly, you decided against it. You felt a little bad when you saw his face fall a bit at your decline, but you had to watch out for yourself. Though he was bummed, he understood.

“Of course, I understand completely… Maybe we could have another private session? I’d really love to talk again…” Neil adapted the goalposts for your comfort, his sweet innocent eyes making you melt. You smiled, and decided to accept. The grin returned to his handsome face.

“I'll have to sell some things but I'll be good…  Maybe next week? Same day and same time?” He said enthusiastically and your smile fell a bit. Guilt crept back on you. He was selling things just to pay to speak to you. No, you wouldn't let this be. 

Despite the fact that it had just been one call, you felt more for him, more than you ever thought you would. You usually had no problem taking men’s money but with him… It just felt wrong. You felt terrible. 

“No, please don’t do that…” You stopped him, he furrowed his brow a bit in confusion. “Next one's on me because I finished so early this time…” It was an excuse, yes, but one that seemed to work well enough so he wouldn't have to sell his possessions just to see you. 

“Really?” He asked softly, seeming a little shocked by your words. “It's really no problem… I don't want to take advantage of you… I know it’s your job…” He whispered, giving you those perfect sweet eyes that made you melt once again.

“Really.” You told him, completely sure of your decision. “I promise” And you reassured him with a soft smile. Neil´s smirk grew. 

“Thank you so much… I'd just like to see you again... Maybe talk more about movies too, hopefully?” he asked softly, gentle excitement in his voice. You blushed a little bit. God, he’s sweet. 

“I'd like that!” You agreed with a soft smile, a casual glance to the time on your laptop made you notice that you had reached a little over an hour on the call. “Well… I'll see you next week then, Neil…Bye bye!” You said softly, looking at him through the screen and giving him a little wave. 

“Goodbye, beautiful…  Sleep well.” Neil said so genuinely it made your heart burst a little. He gave you a soft wave and you smiled in return. The video call finally ended and you let out a deep sigh, feeling all kinds of emotions.

As the call ended on his end and the screen went back to black, Neil smiled to himself, feeling happier and more excited than he has in a long time. Now that he knew he would see you again next week, just like he did tonight… It made him feel like the luckiest man in the world.

He went to bed that night still reeling, replaying it all in his mind over and over. Finally, he set his phone down and settled into bed. A movie played for background noise as he tried to relax, even if the image of your beautiful face kept him awake and so painfully aware of just how much he needed you. It was then when his phone pinged with a notification from his bank:

 $800.00 USD refunded to checking account.

Under it, there was a message reading: 

“I enjoyed myself as much as you did… I’ll see you next week Neil, can’t wait…” 

It was from you. His jaw dropped a bit in disbelief. This was only the beginning…

Pinterest moodboard to help you visualize, made by @fuckiingloser the queen herself!

Neil Lewis playlist made by me!

Part 2... (HERE) ;)

[bet-on-me-13]

Bruce Wayne was never Batman.

So! The night that Bruce Wayne's parents got shot, he developed an Unbreakable Resolve. He needed to get rid of the Crime that had taken his Parents away from him, no matter what.

But that night, he also developed a deep-seated fear of Death. He was face to face with his own Demise and instead of dying himself he saw his Parents die instead. He was Terrified of ending up like them.

But he still needed to stop Crime. He couldn't just let criminals go unpunished, and while he was still using his wealth to try and prevent it before it began, he knew there needed to be something to stop crime After it had been committed. And the Cops were useless on that Front.

He eventually found a solution while looking through his Parents Family Heirlooms.

Ancient Books dating back to the founding of Gotham and even before then, telling of a Creature from another world who his Ancestors had helped in the Past. A Being of Fear and Shadow, who owed a debt to the Wayne Family. He needed that Being. A Monster of Shadows and Fear was exactly the answer to scaring criminals away from committing crimes and punishing those who did.

But he needed to find the Being from another world first.

So he left home, traveling across the Globe training with the best Magicians and Demonologists in the world in search of the Monster who owed his Family a Debt. His travels took him far, from the streets of LA where he met a man named Zatara, to the Snowy Mountains of Nanda Parbat where he learned of the Lazarus Pits and the Demon's that came out of them.

While studying the Lazarus Pits, he was trained by the organization who guarded them. They despised Weakness, and while their leader was in awe of his Intelect he was less impressed by his body's conditioning. If he was to study the Lazarus Pits, he would first have to earn the Right in Combat.

He eventually managed to pass their Tests and eventually left them, having handed over a Copy of his research as the price for being allowed to Study the Pits.

Years later, he finally returned to Gotham, fully equipped to Summon the Being that owed him a Debt.

Bruce drew up the Summoning Circle as perfectly as he possibly could, he had one shot at it.

A drop of his blood and a splash of Lazarus Water later, and the Circle began to glow an ominous Green. Slowing, a shifting shadow began to emerge from the Circle, at first only a mass of writhing darkness before their form Solidified.

The Books he had found on the Spirit said that it would take the form of the Summoners Greatest Fear, which just so happened to be Bats for Bruce. The Form that the Spirit chose reflected that, with large Dark Wings falling over their form as if they were a Cape, and horns looking like the Ears of a Bat. From the Darkness, two glowing eyes appeared.

"Spirit, hear me. My name if Bruce Wayne, and I am calling in the Debt owed to my Family centuries ago. My City is plagued with crime and malice, rotting from its Core. My efforts to prevent Crime from the side of the Light have been in vain, Crime persists despite my efforts. In order for my vision to be fulfilled, the Criminals of this City must have their hearts pierced by Fear. Fear of Retribution. Fear of Consequences. Fear of Vengeance."

Thoughout bis Speech, the Shadowed Figure stayed silent.

"That is why I have called you here. I want you to stalk these streets, punish the criminals of this City and strike fear into their hearts from the shadows, so that they know to stay in the light. I don't want you to Kill them, never kill them. Let them live with that fear in their Hearts until their final days."

After he finished his speech, the Figure finally spoke.

"Your Quest is an Honorable one. You seek the betterment of your people's, and are unafraid to resort to drastic measures to achieve that goal. It reminds me of my Liege's resolve." It Spoke, it's voice low and rumbling. "Very Well. From this day forth, I shall protect your City from the Darkness in its own Heart. I shall be your Dark Knight."

...

Had this idea out of nowhere and needed to write it down. In this AU, Bruce still wants to protect his City from crime, but is understandably traumatized from seeing the Deaths of his Parents. He has a deep-seated fear of Dying, so he chooses to forgo fighting crime himself.

Instead, he finds out about a Spirit that his Ancestors helped long ago, and decides that the most logical next step out be to Summon a Demon to protect his City. Instead of training his Body for a decade to become Batman, he trains his Mind and Studies as much about Magic and Demon's as Possible.

He still knows how to fight because he trained with the League. He approached them with an offer to study the Lazarus Pits and give them his findings, and they accepted. But Ra's didn't want a weakling on his Base so he also required Bruce to train his body. He saw his potential for combat, and was so disappointed that Bruce had chosen a different path. He could have been Great!

Bruce still has a thing with Talia that produces Damian, he is still a point of interest from Ra's since he is insanely smart and has huge potential, and he knows how to fight pretty well. Albeit not as well as in Canon.

Bruce becomes the Benefactor/Guy in the Chair for Fright Knight (who is the one he summoned if you couldn't tell), who looks like a "Bat Man" because of Bruce's fear of Bats. Fright Knight agreed to this because 1.) He had a debt to pay, 2.) Bruce reminded him of Danny, and 3.) He respected Bruce's ballsyness to Summon a demon and command it to protect people.

Bruce still adopts his Kids, but there are some changes.

Dick is adamant about fighting Crime, and eventually Bruce is forced to let him go on patrol with Fright Knight, who has started going by Batman. Thankfully Frighty managed to give him some blessings so he had minor powers and would be safer.

Jason is mostly the same, and he is so excited that Robin actually IS Magical. When he dies, Fright Knight, who had gotten attached to their Family, goes into the Zone to search for him. He is unsuccessful unfortunately.

Tim is kind of funny. He figured out that Dick was Robin, and Jason was the 2nd Robi , but assumed that Bruce was Batman. When he approached Bruce about becoming Robin so he would stop going down his violent Cycle, Bruce Redirected him to talk to Fright Knight, who was not taking his failure to find Jason well.

Damien grew up knowing that his Father was a Genius, and the Master of the Batman, which gave him a bit of an Ego. At first he thought of Fright Knight as a Servant, and tried to command him like he did with Alfred. Frighty corrected him quickly enough.

Any more ideas for this AU? I have so many, but I think I need to stop for now.

[staylovesmiley]

Give Me Your TMI ~ Chapter 1

₊˚⊹��� Pairing; Yang Jeongin x Fem!reader, Stray kids x Fem!reader

₊˚⊹ᰔ ₊˚⊹ᰔ Summary; In a world where Humans and Hybrids should be living as equals, Hybrids are still viewed as being closer to their animalistic side than their humanistic. Deep in the woods lives a band of misfit hybrids who reject these societal views and keep to themselves, choosing to live away from humans. What happens when the youngest of this rogue group meets a lost Human girl, befriending her after an incident where he must rely on her for help?

₊˚⊹ᰔ ₊˚⊹ᰔ ₊˚⊹ᰔ Warnings; hybrid!au, female!reader, angst, mild violence, mentions of sexual harassment/assault and discrimination, mentions of starvation (not purposeful but due to lack of food), she/her pronouns used for reader, this is very loosely based off the overall themes/tones of the manga and anime fruits basket~

The afternoon sunlight shown through the trees, the late summer breeze blowing gently through his fur as Jeongin rushed through the dense wooded area after the scent of an intruder in their territory. He first caught a wiff of the human wandering in their forest while doing his routine patrol of the area, ears standing up straight as he listened for any noise to indicate where they may be. Once he locked onto the scent better he took off immediately, not giving a second thought to go back and alert the others before jumping into action.

After running for what felt like forever he finally caught up to the source of the foreign smell. Through the trees the fox hybrid could see a girl, looking far too out of place in the large wooded area in a light blue sundress and white socks with lace trim peeking above the tops of her sneakers. Jeongin eyed her curiously from afar, watching as she stumbled her way over fallen branches and briar bushes. She looked hopelessly lost and when she finally turned so that he was able to see her face he could make out the faint traces of tears reflected in the sunlight.

Pretty, he thought, smiling to himself in his head as he continued to watch her struggle for a moment before shaking himself out of his thoughts and making his presence known by stepping out into her view. The poor girl jumped back at the sight of him before freezing completely, eyes wide with fear as she locked eyes with the seemingly normal fox in front of her. “Shit- oh god what do I do? Do I back away slowly or make myself look big and loud?” She wondered aloud, causing the fox to chirp with amusement. Silly girl, that’s for a bear, he thought to himself before stepping forward and letting out a small trill from the back of his throat. “O-Okay, fuck- do I run? Oh god…please don’t hurt me-“ She whimpered, taking a hesitant step backwards. Taking pity on the pretty girl Jeongin nodded his head towards the left, slowly turning to face that direction before looking behind him to see if she understood what he wanted of her.

Cautiously, she tilted her head before speaking up. “Do you want me to follow you?” She asked causing the fox to let out another chirp and turn back to begin walking in the direction he wanted her to go. Silently she followed, trying to both watch her footing to not trip while also keeping an eye on him so she didn’t lose him. Eventually Jeongin came to a stop at the end of the tree line, and if she hadn’t looked back up in time she may have bumped into his tail not having realized just how close she had gotten to the beautiful creature. “Oh- sorry…where did you…” Before she could finish her question, the hybrid dashed off further into the trees leaving her standing all alone at the edge of the forest. “Huh?” She turned back to where the fox had been just moments before and saw that he had lead her to a long dirt road. She wasn’t sure where it lead, but she was thankful to be in some sort of clearing as it would be much easier to traverse than the dense woods she had been lost in. “Thank you Mr. Fox!” She shouted back into the trees before stepping out onto the road and beginning to maker her way to wherever it would lead.

At her thanks, Jeongin felt pride swell in his chest and with a little nod in her direction, though she wouldn’t be able to see him, he began making his way back home.

Once back at the cabin, Jeongin shifted into his human form, naked as the day he was born before picking up his clothes from where he left them before his patrol at the edge of the clearing that was their home. “Ayen! How did your patrol go?” Seungmin asked cheerfully as he made his way towards the other hybrid from where he had been working in the garden. His velvety brown ears flopped lightly as he jogged up towards the younger, tail wagging lightly behind him until he got close enough to smell the scent of a human on him. “Jeongin? Why do you smell like a human?” He questioned, fear evident in his face as he looked over the fox hybrid carefully for any injuries.

“Hyung it’s nothing, I’m alright. But there was a girl in our woods.” He said the last bit cautiously, though he was attempting for a nonchalant tone. “A girl?!” The beagle hybrid screeched, eyes going wide. “Yeah, a girl. She was lost or something- not a threat. I lead her back to the road.” Seungmin shook his head, arms crossing over his chest. “How do you know she’s not a threat? What was she even doing all the way out here? We are like- miles and miles away from the nearest town and there are no other houses in the area for her to be able to walk all the way here to get lost in the first place.”

The fox scoffed, pushing past the older hybrid on his way towards the house once fully dressed. “Calm down, hyung. Trust me she was more scared of me. Thought I was a regular old fox, we’re fine.” The puppy didn’t back down, though his tone shifted as a smirk broke out on his face. “She was cute, wasn’t she.” Jeongin froze mid step, not daring to look behind him or else his face would give it away. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” The older laughed, walking towards the younger slowly at first. “I don’t hear you denying it.” And with that the beagle took off in a sprint towards the cabin. “GUYS! INNIE HAS A GIIIRRLLLFRIEND!!!” He shouted, letting out a bark to alert the others.

With eyes gone wide, the younger hybrid took off after him towards the house. “Seungmin stop! It’s not- I was just getting her out of our woods!!” He cursed under his breath as he finally reached the front steps of the porch where Seungmin was now standing beside a very disappointed looking wolf hybrid.

Chan stood with arms crossed over his chest, large black ears standing tall at the top of his head and tail flicking with his displeasure. “Jeongin, care to explain?” Seungmin wore a triumphant smirk, chest puffed up as he looked at the younger from his place beside the oldest. “I- when I was doing my patrol I smelled a human, so I went to see where it was coming from…” Chan frowned, raising an eyebrow at the youngest member of their little family. “Without telling any of us first?” The fox pouted, looking away as he felt the piercing gaze of the older hybrid to be too much to look at directly. “I got ahead of myself, I know…I’m sorry. But she’s gone now!” “She?”

Jeongin gulped, throat feeling a bit tight at being put in the hot seat like this. “It was just some girl, she was clearly lost. She wasn’t even dressed like she was ready to be in the woods and she had- she was crying-“ he tried to defend his actions, hands balled into fists at his sides. “You risked getting caught, getting us all caught, because a girl was crying?” Chan huffed and Seungmin rolled his eyes. “I couldn’t just leave her there! What if she got too close and found the house? Found all of us?” The younger pleaded, finally looking up to meet his eyes. “I stayed in my fox form the whole time- she didn’t even know I was a hybrid. She probably thought I was gonna eat her or something…but she’s gone, I lead her back to the road so she can go home.”

Chan stood in silence for a moment, watching the youngest carefully before nodding his head. “Alright, I’ll let it slide this time. But if this ever happens again you tell us immediately. Got it?” Jeongin nodded, his fluffy red tail swaying slowly and his ears pressed flat to his head sorrowfully. “Yes, hyung…”

It had been two weeks since the first time he saw her, doing his normal patrol of their territory. The pretty girl in the blue dress had become a distant memory in the back of his mind as he hadn’t seen or smelled any trace of her since. As he walked around the forest he began to notice something different, little strips of what looked to be fabric and ribbon tied to trees roughly every ten to fifteen feet.

Jeongin was in his fox form, as he always was during patrol, so the markers were a few feet high from his head. As he was inspecting the fabric his ears twitched at the sound of a twig snapping not too far away and that familiar scent was nearby. She was back. The hybrid followed the scent until he caught sight of her, this time dressed in a pair of tan shorts that stopped a little higher than her mid thigh and a light pink top with little daisies embroidered all over it. He stood and admired her from a far for a moment, watching as she tied a small ribbon around the thinner trunk of a pine tree before beginning to move onward. So that was who was behind the strange markers, what was she doing? He wondered to himself before following after her with a little chirp to get her attention.

The girl startled, hand held to her chest when she turned to see it was just him. “Oh, Mr. fox it’s just you-“ a giggle left her lips and Jeongin thought briefly that it was one of the most lovely sounds he had ever heard before shifting his attention to the question of why she was back in their forest. Assuming she was lost again, the fox nodded once again for her to follow him and seemingly without question she did just that. As the two walked, the girl began to speak softly. He wasn’t sure if she was just speaking to herself at first until she addressed him directly. “What do you think, Mr. fox?” Shit, he hadn’t been paying attention to her words. Jeongin nodded regardless, not like he could give anything more of a response in this form anyways so she didn’t need to know he hadn’t been listening. The smile that small gesture brought to her face caused the hybrid to falter a bit in his step and almost trip over his front paws.

Once he had lead her back to the edge of the forest where the same dirt road was from the last time he had seen her, the fox this time stayed there to watch and make sure she left.

He wasn’t sure why she was there, how she got there, of why she was tying things to the trees, but he didn’t want her to get caught by any of the others who most likely wouldn’t be as kind to her as he was. As he stood waiting for her to leave, she suddenly crouched down to his level and began reaching out her hand towards him.

Panic set in and his fur stood on end. Just before she could make contact with his fur the fox pounced, knocking the girl onto her back on the forest floor. Jeongin growled, teeth bared at her and his ears flat to his head as he stood on her torso to keep her down.

As soon as he had growled the girl let out a scream, tears flowing from her eyes as she began to sob. “P-Please don’t hurt me-“ she begged, though to her this was just some normal fox who couldn’t understand her cries. Luckily for her this was no normal fox, and the sight of her tears caused the hybrid to freeze up before quickly pulling away and darting through the woods.

He couldn’t believe himself, almost hurting her like that. She wasn’t a threat, or at least it didn’t seem like it. At the feeling of hatred towards such an animalistic act he felt himself shifting into his human form while the echoing of her cries could still be heard for a moment until he finally broke through into the clearing. Thankfully no one was around to see him as he fell to the ground as sobs of his own slipped out though he tried to fight them, his heart racing and his stomach turning causing him to feel ill. Lashing out like that at just the proximity, he was only proving the humans right that hybrids were no better than any regular animal. Animalistic, wild, feral- words he had been called before echoed in his mind causing him to scream to try and drown them out.

Jeongin hadn’t realized he was screaming until his throat began to feel sore and Hyunjin was running from the house with Felix and Changbin close behind. The ferret hybrid’s strong arms wrapped around him, pulling their youngest to his chest as he began rocking him carefully. “Innie, baby it’s okay. You’re safe.” Hyunjin spoke softly, nuzzling his cheek into the fox hybrid’s hair causing his ears to twitch and flatten to his head as he slowly calmed down. “What happened, ayen?” Changbin asked from over the ferret’s shoulder.

“The- the girl…she was in the woods again-“ the three older hybrid’s eyes went wide but before they could say anything Jeongin continued.

“I know Chan hyung said to tell him if I saw her again or the next time a human was in the forest but- but I don’t know-“ he was still trying to catch his breath, still clinging to the older hybrid who held him close. “I don’t think she’s a threat- she’s so…odd- but she tried to pet me and I almost attacked her.” He began crying again without realizing it, much softer this time. “I’m no better than the animal they said I was-“ he said softly, hiding his face in Hyunjin’s shoulder as Felix came to wrap his arms around him from his other side. “Please don’t tell Chan hyung- I don’t want to upset him I didn’t mean to it just happened so fast and I wanted to make sure she wasn’t lost anymore. She seems a little clumsy-“

Felix cooed at the fox and pet his hair gently. “We won’t tell Chris, Innie…but please next time come get us. Even if you don’t think she’s a threat, we don’t want something like this to happen again.” The younger nodded, staying in their arms for a while longer before allowing the others to lead him inside and help him clean up where branches and briars had scratched his skin from running through the woods completely undressed after shifting.

While sitting in the bath, Felix kneeling beside him and helping clean the small wounds he had procured, Jeongin could see her face washed in fear in the back of his mind and couldn’t seem to shake the feeling of guilt that surrounded him and threatened to swallow him whole as he heard her cries clear as day still even now miles from where he left her laying on the forest floor. He hoped she was okay.

It had been another two weeks since he had almost attacked the lost girl in their woods and Jeongin had been hesitant to go alone on patrol ever since, always having one of his hyungs accompany him whenever he had to go out into the woods. After a while he began to relax, not having run into her in so long made him feel he had successfully scared her away from ever entering the woods again.

Feeling this new sense of peace, he finally felt like it was okay to go on patrols alone again and after a long day of running around the dense forest Jeongin felt as if he could use a drink. The fox hybrid made his way to the river not far from the cabin, the smell of the damp earth and the sound of running water letting him know he was almost there.

Just as he got to the tree line however, there she was deep in the water.

She was submerged up to her shoulders but from the bare skin he could see and the neatly folded stack of clothes sitting on a nearby rock, the hybrid could only assume the girl before him was naked beneath the slow roll of the rivers stream. His thoughts were confirmed as not long after he had arrived she slowly rose from the water and the late afternoon sunlight hit her glistening skin. If he was not in his fox form Jeongin’s jaw would have been dropped comically wide as he couldn’t tear his eyes away from the soft curves of her body as she made her way back to the shore.

He had never seen a feminine body before, having been kept separate from the female hybrids at the center he was raised and never having had an owner let alone a female one. Her body fascinated him, but also lit a fire inside his chest that would have caused a bright blush to spread across his cheeks if he were not in his fox form.

As she made her way back to her clothes, the girl picked up a dark colored towel and began to dry her hair until she suddenly caught sight of where Jeongin was hiding in the tree line. “Mr. Fox?” She asked cautiously, though there was no fear in her tone or expression, only curiosity. As if to answer her, Jeongin slowly stepped forward from the trees and made himself known fully, sitting down by the rock where her clothes remained in the perfectly folded stack.

A soft smile spread across her lips before she resumed drying off her hair before moving to the rest of her body. “I’m sorry I scared you the other day.” She said after she set the towel back down on the rock, starting to get dressed carefully. She’s apologizing? For scaring him? The hybrid tilted his head curiously as he watched her, letting out a little whimpering sound as he tried to show his confusion. He was sure it should be him who was apologizing for scaring her. “I know you probably don’t see a lot of people all the way out here…I was just- you have been so sweet to me so I wanted to thank you some how.” She tried to explain, as if a wild fox could understand her words. Thats all he was to her, after all. There was no way she would know he was a hybrid and could understand everything she said to him, still she continued. “I never had any kind of pets but my- um…a friend of mine had a dog once and he always liked to be pet when he did good.” He let out a little chirp at the fact that she assumed a wild animal would accept the same affection a house pet would. Her hesitance in her choice of words caused Jeongin to wonder what it was she was originally going to say, but he would have to take whatever information she would give him as there was no way he could reveal his status as a hybrid to her.

Now fully dressed, the girl took a seat on the rock and looked off to the water. He took in her appearance again, how peaceful she looked before he noticed the twinge of sadness in her eyes. Before he was even processing his movements, Jeongin was climbing onto the rock beside her and laying down at her side. At the feeling of soft fur brushing against her bare thigh she startled a bit, relaxing when she looked down to see he was curled up peacefully at her side. “Mr. fox…c-could I?” She spoke softly, hesitantly lifting her hand though she kept it to herself until he gave indication that her touch was allowed.

Silently, the hybrid lifted his head until the palm of her hand was pressed lightly against the spot between his ears.

There it was again, that giggle that was music to his ears. As the girl began to pet him gently, giving a few scratches behind his ears, Jeongin felt himself melting into her side while content little whimpers escaping him occasionally. They sat like that as the sun began to set, but just before it dipped completely below the horizon she rose from her seat. “I better get back before it’s too dark. Thank you for coming to see me again, Mr. fox.” With that she bid him farewell and left Jeongin sitting against the rock with his brain a little hazy from the affection he had received. Once she was gone from sight he realized he probably reeked of her scent and his hyungs would know he had seen her again. Changbin, Hyunjin, and Felix had kept to their word and hadn’t told Chan about the last time but after the way her soft hand had carded through his fur for what felt like hours there would be no way to hide it from him or the others. The would know the second he stepped into the clearing.

In an attempt to cleanse himself of any trace of her, Jeongin looked around to be sure she was really gone before shifting and taking a dip into the river. Fully submerging himself, the hybrid swam around for a while to make sure there would be no way to smell the lost girl’s scent on him when he returned home.

Fortunately for him this had worked and the only questions he received once back in the cabin was as to why he was soaking wet. He made up a simple lie that he had gotten too hot while on patrol and went for a swim, effectively getting his hyungs off his back for the most part though Changbin had chastised him that it was getting too close to autumn and he could catch a cold if not careful.

The youngest apologized for not thinking of his health, promising not to do it again as he went to take a proper bath just to scrub his skin raw with every scented product in the bathroom and make extra sure that there was no way they would ever find out about his latest encounter with his new secret friend.

Two weeks since the meeting at the river, Jeongin made it a habit of running into the pretty girl. She never introduced herself, or talked about why she was always in their forest, but she would tell him stories from a book she started bringing to the river where they started meeting at the end of every day just before the sun would set. The hybrid would rest his head on her thigh to soak up the warmth there and she carded her fingers through his fur as she read aloud to him.

Jeongin always made sure to take a dip in the water after she left, washing away her scent to keep their meetings secret from his hyungs who undoubtedly would not approve of his new friendship with a human.

It was a normal day on patrol for the fox hybrid, keeping watch of their beloved forest. He felt the slowly chilling early autumn breeze brush around his fur as he walked leisurely through the trees, thinking of what stories he may get to hear from the pretty girl later that afternoon when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his left leg and the loud sound of metal clinking together rang in his ears.

In his distracted state of mind the hybrid had completely missed the bear trap in his path, stepping right on it causing the metal teeth to pierce his flesh and blood to slowly begin trickling down to his paw and the dirt and leave covered ground.

Jeongin was too far from the cabin, and the older hybrids that were on patrol were in areas of the forest too far to hear his cries for help. Those who had chores at the cabin did not have as good of hearing as he, Chan, and Seungmin. He was truly and helpless fucked. The pain was searing and he felt like he could faint but he forced himself to stay together and let out a loud howl hoping that someone would hear him and come to his rescue.

Fortunately for the hybrid, his human friend happened to be walking near by when she began to hear the sound of not too distant fox cries. “That can’t be-“ she whispered to herself, turning in the direction of the sound before she heard it again. The sound was strangled, desperate, and it caused her nerves to stand on edge before she took off running in the same direction. Low hanging branches and thorns tore at her skin with the speed she was running to get to her precious Mr. fox, as she so affectionately called the hybrid. Once she spotted the sight of his orange fur she began to relax, until she noticed the state he was in and her panic kicked into overdrive.

As soon as she was by his side the girl dropped to her knees, hands hovering over the trap with hesitation. “Oh- oh this is bad-“ She mumbled to herself, trying to see how to release Jeongin from the trap. “O-Okay…I’m gonna try and pry it open, then you pull your leg out okay?” She explained, voice shaking though she tried to stay calm. The hybrid nodded to her, braving himself to move quickly once she got the trap open. The girl took a deep breath, holding it as she placed both hands on each side of the trap and began pulling them apart with all of her strength.

As soon as he felt the metal teeth leave his flesh the hybrid pulled his leg free and let himself fall to the forest floor with a whine. The girl let go of the trap once she saw he was free, pulling her hands back quickly as to not get stuck herself. “Okay okay- uh- shit this is bad, you’re bleeding a lot-“ rambling once more, she began looking around the forest then back to the fox laying before her. Before she could overthink things, her arms were wrapping around the fox and cradling him against her chest as she stood and began running back through the woods the way she came. Jeongin felt himself going in and out of consciousness as he used the pretty human girl’s scent to ground himself in reality as best he could.

After a while the pair came to a clearing, much smaller than the one where the cabin was, with a simple camping set up. There was a small tent, only big enough for maybe two people, a small ring of rocks where ashes remained from what he assumed was a fire probably the night before, two folding chairs, and a few plastic bins stacked neatly beside the tent. Jeongin took in the small space curiously, trying to distract himself from the pain as she laid his nearly limp body in one of the chairs before digging around in the bins for something. “I know there is a first aid kit in here somewhere-“ she huffed out, still out of breath from how fast she had run to get them there before he bled out anymore. “Ahah!” She shouted triumphantly, producing a roll of bandages. Quickly, she retuned to his side and began using a small bottle of water to clean his wounds before bandaging them tightly.

She looked rough, now that he could see her fully and give her his full attention, he could see that her hair was falling out of the braid she had pulled it back into and there was tiny cuts and scrapes littering her exposed skin. Her clothing was stained with dirt and his own blood from where she had carried him there. “Alright, all patched up.” She said with a soft smile effectively warming his insides with the gesture. The hybrid looked down at her handwork and smiled in his head. She did a pretty good job for someone who seemed to be clueless most of the time. “Let’s get you back, yeah? I’m sure you’ll wanna go back to your den and get some rest after this…wait- do foxes live in dens or caves?” There was his clueless girl. Jeongin wished he could talk to her, tell her all the things he had to keep to himself in his fox form, properly introduce himself to her so she didn’t have to always call him Mr. fox…In his head he let out a sigh, resting his head on his uninjured right leg before he was suddenly scooped back up into her arms.

The young hybrid chirped, a small purring sound erupting from his chest and she held him snuggly against her soft chest. “I’m gonna bring you back as far as I can remember seeing you, okay? I think your home should be nearby. Think you can get there on your own after that?” Jeongin nodded a bit, though he worried she may try to follow him to make sure he was okay and end up finding the cabin…and the others finding her. After a long walk through the densely wooded area, the girl set him down and gave a soft kiss to the top of his head. Oh- she had never done that before. “Get home safely, please…and come see me when you are better so I don’t worry too much.” She said with a slight teasing lilt in her voice. Jeongin gave her a nod before turning and limping his way back to the clearing.

Once he was past the tree line he looked back to make sure she hadn’t followed, shifting back into his human form and letting out an almost blood curdling scream as the bandages she had placed on his much smaller fox leg now ripped apart and fell to the soft grass of the clearing. At the sound of his scream Minho and Jisung were racing out of the cabin and to his side. Upon seeing his injuries Jisung gasped and a hand shot to cover his mouth while Minho jumped into action much like the girl had, though his movements were much more confident whereas hers were more hesitant. “What happened to you??” Jisung questioned from over the cat hybrid’s shoulder. “Bear trap- at least now it’s been trigged this won’t happen again.” He tried to joke, laughing pathetically at the attempt as Minho scooped him up in his arms and began carrying him back to the cabin while Jisung brought his clothes.

The sight that greeted Chan and Seungmin when the both arrived home from their own patrols was their youngest laid out on their kitchen table, still shirtless though he was dressed from the waist down, pain etched into his face as Minho worked carefully to stitch up the nasty gashes on his arm. Felix assisted the older, wiping away any blood that blocked his path with a warm wet cloth as Han, Hyunjin, and Changbin waited anxiously from the other side of the kitchen as to still show support but not catch a glimpse of the somewhat gory scene. “What the hell happened.” Chan said, the oldest at Jeongin’s free side in an instant while Seungmin was quick to join Felix in helping keep things as sterile as possible.

“Hyung i-it’s fine-“ Jeongin spoke through gritted teeth, wincing as the cat hybrid laid yet another stitch. “It sure as hell doesn’t look fine.” His disapproving frown was so evident in his voice that the younger hybrid didn’t even need to look up to see it. “Chris- can we talk about it after he’s all patched up?” Felix pleading voice called out to the wolf hybrid causing him to sigh and nod in agreement. “Alright, yeah. Later, though. I want a full explanation, no excuses.” With that the oldest went off to clean up and try and distract himself from the youngest’s painful whimpers.

Once Jeongin was successfully stitched back together and bandaged properly to fit his human form, he was sat on the couch in front of a very disappointed wolf hybrid who’s arms were crossed firmly over his broad chest. Hyunjin was glued to the younger’s side, nuzzling up next to him for comfort as the fox in question had his gaze downturned to his lap. “So you were continuing to see this human after i specifically told you not to, and to get us if you ever saw her again?” Chan’s voice was stern, eye brow raising to show he expected an answer after Jeongin had finished telling them the story of his secret friend, how he had come to be injured, and how she had saved him and attempted to treat his wounds. “I’m sorry hyung….she just- she’s different, I just know. I can feel it.” The older scoffed, looking to the side before turning back to the younger. “You only say that now. How do you know she doesn’t just want something from you, hm?” His skepticism and distrust for humans caused Jeongin to frown himself. He knew very well why the head of their little family had so much distain for humankind, and he didn’t blame him for harboring such a bias against them. The fix himself had a very tainted past at the hands of many humans at the facility he was raised, it’s why he had to escape.

“She’s probably trying to gain your trust now so she can use it against you later.” The fox hybrids ears twitched atop his head as he allowed the older to scold him for his actions and his carelessness. “But she wouldn’t-“ he started to say, feeling a deep seated need to defend his friend. “I don’t want you going out on patrol from now on. Hyunjin will take your place.” Chan said finally, cutting off the younger hybrid whose head snapped up at the order. “You can’t- that’s so unfair! Channie hyung she saved my life-“ A low growl echoed through the room effectively silencing the fox, though he glared up at the older hybrid defiantly. “You showed me that you cannot listen to orders, Ayen. I don’t give orders for the hell of it, I do it to protect you. All of you. If you can’t listen then you are putting yourself and all of us at risk.”

Jeongin let out a whimper, choosing to burying his face in the nape of Hyunjin’s neck and let out a choked sob in lieu of an answer. The ferret hybrid held him close, rubbing his back in soothing circles as he gave Chan a look. The wolf shook his head dismissively before heading towards his room at the back of the cabin. Felix chased after him, a look of pity in his soft brown eyes. “You could have gone easier on him, Chris…I get that he didn’t listen but she hasn’t given him any reason not to trust her this far-“ Chan let out another growl causing the cat hybrid to take a step back from him. “Drop it, Lix. I’ve made up my mind. If any of you see that human around you let me know, I will take care of it.” There was an edge to his tone that made the hair stand up at the back of his neck, the younger hybrid only nodding in under before heading back to help comfort their youngest.

It had been so long since he had seen her last, the fox hybrid found it hard to believe it had been only eight weeks since he first discovered the human girl lost in their woods. Jeongin spent his time not on patrol taking over Hyunjin’s chores at the cabin. His days consisted of laundry and tending to the garden with his hyungs that were not out in the forest. One day, while alone in the garden, the youngest looked up at the sky to see storm clouds slowly rolling in. Changbin came out from the house to shout out to the fox. “Ayen-ah! Make sure to bring the laundry in before it starts to rain!” The bunny hybrid gave him a soft smile, all of them knowing the transition to his new daily tasks had been difficult for the youngest. Jeongin called out to his hyung as he made his way from the garden over to the clothes line. “You got it, Binnie-hyung!”

As he was bringing the now folded laundry inside, neatly placed in the large wicker basket, his ears and nose began to twitch and his tail stiffened as a sense of unease fell over him. Something was wrong, very wrong.

Carefully, Jeongin sat the basket on the porch away from where any rain could get to it as a light drizzle began to fall from the sky. Trying to be as quiet as possible, the fox backed away towards the tree line before taking off in a sprint.

He wasn’t sure what it was but he had this sinking feeling that she was not okay. Once he was deeper in the woods and was sure his hyungs that were on patrol would be closer to the cabin and there was less of a risk of him being caught disobeying his oldest hyung’s orders he slowed to a walk, eyes carefully scanning the trees as the sickening feeling got worse. This was the first time he had been in the forest in this form, having to get used to the difference in height and view.

The closer he got to where her small camp was, the more wrong everything felt.

Looking up at the sky his stomach sank further at the sight of vultures circling. Breaking out into a frantic run he was quickly thrust into the small clearing where the human girl’s camp was.

It was raining heavily now, and just outside the opening to the small tent laid her limp body on the ground. His feet were moving before he could even process, falling to his knees as he examined what could have caused her to be in this state.

Jeongin let out a little gasp at her appearance. She looked sickly, skin paler than normal and her body was visibly smaller than when he had seen her last. As he thought back briefly to all the times he had seen her he realized that over time she had been loosing weight gradually with every visit. How could he have been so blind? Why didn’t she have any food? He didn’t have time to think about that right now.

The fox hybrid gently touched her frigid skin and felt for a pulse, it was weak but there and he scooped her body into his arms carefully. Fuck he must be insane for what he was about to do, but he couldn’t leave her there to die. Not after she had saved him.

With the girl securely in his hold Jeongin stood up and took off for the cabin, her head cradled against his shoulder as he tried not to jostle her too much as he ran to get back before it was too late.

A soft groan left her lips and with it he felt a glimmer of hope, she wasn’t too far gone.

Rain was blurring his vision, his hair flatting to his head flinging drops of water as he sprinted through the forest, weaving and winding to avoid colliding with any trees or branches as he made his way back to the clearing for help.

Time was completely elusive to the young hybrid as he stumbled up the steps to the front porch of the cabin after what felt like both an eternity and no time at all, almost tripping over the basket he had left there early.

At the sound of his steps on the wood floor of the porch his hyungs came rushing out the door to greet him. “Jeongin where have you been?! We’ve been worried sick, you just disap-“ Han’s words were cut off as he saw the girl clutched tightly to the youngest’s chest. “Oh my god is that-“ Felix pushed past the chipmunk hybrid to see what he was talking about and a gasp left him as he saw her. “You brought her here?!? Ayen if Chan sees you he’s gonna-“ “I’m gonna what?”

Chan moved around the pair of younger hybrids to see what Jeongin had that was causing such a stir. When his eyes landed on her limp body held by the fox and the desperation in his eyes the wolf growled lightly. “What the hell are you doing bringing a human here.” It wasn’t a real question, simply a statement to show his distaste for the youngest’s actions. “Hyung please- she’s starved! I-I found her laying outside and-and there were vultures and I think she’s going to die-“ Jeongin pleaded, stepping closer to the oldest. “That isn’t our problem. She shouldn’t be out here unprepared if she didn’t want to starve to death.”

The wolf hybrid stood his ground, his face void of expression as he looked at the younger with indifference. Jeongin stared in shock, his oldest hyung was usually so caring and gentle. He had his moments of sternness, as any good leader did, but it was only from the deep need to protect and take care of their family. Hearing such harsh words for another living being from his most trusted hyung caused his heart to ache. “Channie-hyung please- I have to save her. I owe her.”

At the sound of the commotion the rest of the hybrids came out to see Jeongin pleading with the wolf, his grip on the human in his arms tightening and tears welling in his eyes. Minho was the first to step forward, moving between the two canines. “Give her to me, kit.” He spoke softly, reaching for the girl causing Jeongin to flinch back and hold her more protectively. “Calm down, I’m not going to hurt her. We can’t keep standing out in the cold or her condition will worsen.”

The youngest eyed him cautiously before slowly and carefully passing the girl into the older’s arms.

“Minho what are you doing.” Chan spoke sternly, eyebrow raising at the cat as he began heading for the front door. “Hyung I know you have a bad past with humans, and you are valid to be cautious of them, but this girl is in no state to pose any threat to us.” He ignored the growling coming from the wolf as he moved inside carefully and headed for the fox hybrid’s room. “Ayen is right, we can’t let her die.” Jeongin followed wordlessly, walking past his hyungs to follow Minho to his room.

“She’s staying with you, though I doubt you’d complain.” He teased lightly, laying her on the bed before starting to remove her clothes.

“What are you-“ Jeongin stared wide eyed as his hyung stripped her to nothing on his bed. Seeing her naked form caused his stomach to turn as he could see just how frail her frame had become in comparison to the time he had seen her bathing in the river. “Go and get me all the blankets and towels you can, throw them in the dryer then bring them here. We need to bring up her core temperature, she’s already hypothermic and before we can think about feeding her we need her temperature back up.”

Nodding, the fox hybrid rushed to get the things requested by his hyung. In some weird show of possession he made sure to grab blankets and towels that held his scent the most, even rubbing against them before tossing them into the dryer before heading back to his room to see what he could do in the meantime.

He saw Han and Felix were at Minho’s side, talking in low voices about the next corse of action. “The stuff you asked for is in the dryer, what else can I do Hyung?” Jeongin’s voice was eager as he made his way to the edge of the bed, taking her cold hand in his much warmer one. “Well kit, we were just talking about that…while we wait for the stuff in the dryer we still need to keep her warm.” She was now laying under the quilt on his bed, her body still shivering lightly as Minho continued. “Body heat is most ideal…” a flash of jealousy and that possession from earlier came back as he spoke up immediately. “I’ll do it.” Minho smirked and nodded to the youngest. “Okay, so you will need to take off your clothes and hold her to you.”

Han and Felix giggled as the fox hybrid flushed visibly at the realization of what he had just volunteered to do. Still, he didn’t regret his words. He would much rather it be himself than one of the others being with you like this. He quickly began taking off his clothes, causing the others to snicker. “No need to be so eager, kit.” Han teased, poking his cheek as he went to check the dryer with Felix in tow. “Shut up-“ once he was fully bare he carefully lifted the edge of the quilt and slipped into the bed next to her.

“I’m gonna go and make something for her to eat once we warm her up. When Felix and Han get back, wrap her in the towels first then the blankets.” Jeongin nodded, listening to the cat hybrid’s words though his attention was on the girl laying next to him. “You did good getting her here, don’t mind Chan-hyung he will come around to realize how harsh he was being eventually.”

Once Minho had left the room, it was just the fox and the human girl. His pretty girl. Finally being with her in this form, he felt he could fully take in her beauty. The hybrid wrapped his arms around her torso, pulling her flush against him so the natural warmth of his body could radiate onto hers. “Hi- um…I know you probably can’t hear me right now…but I figured uh..since we are like this I should introduce myself-“ his nerves caused him to stutter, his face mere inches from her own causing his hot breath to fan over her face gently, the girl in his arms letting out another small groan. “I’m Jeongin, um- Mr. fox is a cute nickname but- my name is Jeongin. God you have no idea how long I’ve wanted to tell you that-“

He laid like that for what felt like an eternity, taking in her features so closely as he attempted to warm her up. Slowly he felt the chill on her skin leaving as Han and Felix came back with the stuff from the dryer. The youngest moved back the quilt so they could get to work wrapping her in the warm fabric, and at the sight of her nude form Han began to blush as he attempted to advert his eyes. Just like Jeongin, the chipmunk had never seen a female before. “Minho-hyung said to start with the towels-“ Jeongin removed himself from her side, sitting up on his knees to help them wrap her up.

After she was safely cocooned in warm towels and blankets. Jeongin redressed as Minho brought in a bowl of broth. “Is that gonna be enough? She looks like she hasn’t eaten in weeks-“ Jeongin eyed the broth skeptically as Minho sat on the edge of the bed and gently tapped at the girl’s cheek. “Come on, sleeping beauty. Gotta get some food in you so you get get better.” A whimper left her lips, but her mouth opened enough for him to feed her a spoonful. “Broth is enough for now. She can’t exactly chew in this state and we don’t wanna put anything too heavy in her stomach or she won’t be able to keep it down.”

Slowly the cat hybrid fed her, watching as the warmth from the blankets brought color back to her skin. Minho smiled softly, brushing the hair back from her face gently as she finished the bowl he had brought her. “There. I’ll feed her some more later. We’ll keep this up until she’s awaken then we’ll move to adding veggies in it if she thinks she can keep it down” with that the older left to wash the empty bowl and give the youngest some space with her.

Jeongin sat back on the edge of the bed, his fingers carding through her hair gently as she used to do with his fur when they would meet at the river. She stirred lightly, eyelids fluttering a bit but they never opened. “J-Jeongin?” She spoke softly and his heart clenched. “I’m right here- I’m here, pretty.”

A soft smile reached her lips and her body seemed to relax as she drifted back to sleep once more. She must have heard him earlier, she said his name! He never thought his name sounded lovelier than coming from her lips. Jeongin let go of her hand and shifted back into his fox form, curling up beside of her on the bed and letting himself rest as well. It had been a long day and his exhaustion was finally catching up with him now that he knew she was safe. The last thought he had before drifting off was that he never wanted to let her out of his sight again, his pretty human girl.

author’s note; aaahh my first ever hybrid fic! I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as i enjoyed writing it~~ big thanks to @chancloud8 for cheering me on and helping me whenever I hit a bump in the road and needed advice! Looking forward to continuing this story (though don’t worry I’m still working on my other series as well~) as usual lmk if you would like to be added to the taglist for this series~~ ᕱᕱ₊˚⊹♡

taglist; @coastinglove @estella-novella @chancloud8 @skzswife @motheraiya55 @zofia515 @skybluelixie

[mello-bee]

Eternalberry children introduction!!

Cranberry Cookie and Sugar Rose Cookie!

from THIS post! i did alter their designs a little so it wouldn't be like im COMPLETELY stealing the design, but they're still recognizable as the mycookie outfits

(sugar rose's name was suggested by @elder-sister and @veryxany! sorry for the tag and thank you two so much for your suggestions!)

(redeemed ESC AU)

How they were created:

I believe in the headcanon that cookies are "born" from other cookies by the parent cookie(s) making their batter then adding a crumb of their dough to the mix before baking them, so the baby dough gets to have the life powder that the witches use to make the cookies come to life

Eternal Sugar was never able to do this on her own because she's made up of purely just sugar, so any mix she tries to add apart of herself into ends up producing brittle and easily breakable dough babies, that probably wouldn't be able to live past a day or two Hollyberry, having had a son herself, probably knows how tedious baking other cookies can be, so she suggests making two batters, one where Hollyberry puts bigger crumbs than Eternal Sugar and one where Eternal Sugar does the same, so they would at least have a higher chance of succeeding

Neither of them expected BOTH mixes to successfully bake, but they're incredibly happy at the Twins' "birth"! Cranberry is the one with more Hollyberry than Eternal Sugar, which reflects in her appearance since she looks very similar to Hollyberry! Much to ESC's dismay, Sugar Rose did turn out to be more fragile than her sister, but thankfully not as breakable as her previous attempts. This causes ESC to be more fretful over the both of them, but especially Sugar Rose, and be very hesitant to let them leave the garden without Hollyberry's guards

Their Personalities:

Cranberry is really laid back and easy-going, but also very extroverted. If someone in the garden doesn't wanna do their tasks (cough cough pavlova) she wouldn't mind doing it for them. She especially loves going over to the Hollyberry Kingdom and enjoys the general atmosphere there. She can get agitated if someone talks bad about her sister or tries to pressure her into doing something she's scared of doing, that's her closest family, and best friend! and her mom always says that you have to protect your friends and family no matter what!

Sugar Rose is much shyer than her sister, but she's also much more curious about the world, before Eternal Sugar fully allowed her to leave the garden, she'd go around asking cookies that have been outside what it was like, she especially got close to Pavlova because of that aspect, she'd cover for him so he can leave the garden unsupervised, and he'd come back and describe to her what he saw. Despite her curiousity, she's a bit of a scaredy-cat when it comes to new things, since she's more likely to crumble, but she tries her best to face these fears as best as she can.

Their Relationship With Other Cookies:

RoyalBerry Cookie: Family> He's so excited to have sisters, even if the age difference is wild! they remind him alot of Princess Cookie, especially with Sugar Rose's curiosity and Cranberry's outgoingness! He takes them dress shopping just as he did for his daughter when she was younger, and even gives them her old dresses that she outgrew (with her premission, ofc!!) the fact that they're twins makes him feel a little bittersweet, though

Princess Cookie: Family> She has two aunts now?? They're so cute! but they better not steal her position as princess while she's away >:/

Pavlova Cookie: Tension>Friendly> At first, he thinks they're going to be a huge inconvenience, he can't exactly get out of taking care of them and he's sure he can't talk much about romance or matchmaking near these two very impressionable children. With time, he gets used to them, though, and he manages to get them to help him cause mischief around the garden

Sugarfly Cookie: Friendly> She's glad Eternal Sugar managed to find her own happiness in the form of redemption, and a family! Pure Vanilla Cookie: Friendly> He's very proud! He sees the twins as the physical proof that beasts have the capability of change, and that peace with them isn't impossible after all. If he isn't busy, he would love to visit them and Eternalberry, as he wasn't really able to visit Hollyberry when her first son was born

Dark Cacao Cookie: Tension> He knows better than anyone, even if they are your dough and jam, that doesn't take away from their ability to hurt you. He hates to enforce the horrible way of thinking that lost him his son, but he doesn't fully trust Eternal Sugar yet, and feels the need to warn his friend.

Golden Cheese Cookie: Tension>Friendly> Was in a similar boat to Dark Cacao at first, but after getting to know ESC and the girls, she came to the conclusion that they're safe and that the residents of the garden are postively greedy! However, if anything goes wrong, she wouldn't hesitate to protect her friends

Pitaya Dragon Cookie: Rivalry(against their mother): IT SHOULD'VE BEEN MEEEEEEEEEEEEEE /j

Shadow Milk Cookie: Tension> THATS what caused Eternal Sugar to bail on their plan?? these little things?? He KNEW she didn't have any interest in her other half's souljam, but to bail entirely??? That's just obscene! unless.. could this be apart of Eternal Sugar's manipulation?! The master of deceit has to hand it to her for playing the long game! (his assumption is completely wrong, but let him be delusional for a bit)

Mystic flour Cookie: Neutral> Doesn't matter to her, All is futile. All will turn to flour in the end. But a small part of her still remembers Eternal Sugar's only wish from centuries ago, a wish she couldn't grand. and that part is glad her friend got what she wanted in the end.

[lucy-literates]

Hi 👋🏻☺️, hope your doing well. I was wondering if you could possibility write something were reader is redhead with curly hair and also dating Arthur Leclerc, and so she feels bit insecure because his known for dating blondes and she feels like she not his type and she gets a bit of hate especially when she's seen with Arthur at the Monaco gp.

Hello :) I am doing well thank you, and I hope you are too! I love this, it feels so sweet yet authentic at the same time. I hope this is what you had in mind, enjoy! My inbox is open :)

Red

Both your parents have red hair so, naturally, you do too. You loved your hair. It curled perfectly, sparkled like a flame in the sun, and brought out the colour in your eyes. You had always copped a bit of flak about your hair growing up, but you blocked it out. They were just jealous and didn’t know it yet.

You would come home after school every Friday and get ready for the race weekend, if it was one. You had your Ferrari shirt and cap on, posters of drivers and car hung on your walls as you cheered for Ferrari to win.

You smiled whike the fond memories flooded your mind. You were at yet another practice where your now boyfriend and Ferrari reserve driver, Arthur Leclerc, was speeding around the track. Wearing red with your red hair did give the outfit an odd look, but you loved being your authentic self.

You hadn’t gone public yet, but you love being with Arthur. He’s sweet, kind, thoughtful, loyal, everything you could ever need or want in a boyfriend. Occasionally you saw pictures of Arthur with last girlfriends, how the public missed them going together. That made you worry. Were they going to like you just as much?

You didn’t notice it at first, but after a while, you found a similarity. All of them had blonde hair.

Every

Single

One

That made you nervous.

Arthur had asked you to join him at the Monaco GP. It would be your first public outing together, as a couple, and you were worried out of your mind.

Would the public like you?

Would they hate you?

What would they say to you? To Arthur?

------------------------

Your hands shook slightly as you adjusted your curls in the mirror of the hotel room. You’d taken extra care with them today — even using the serum Arthur swore made your hair smell like vanilla and sunshine — but your reflection still felt unfamiliar.

Red on red. Hair like fire, cheeks flushed with nerves, cap in hand. The Ferrari shirt that had once felt like armor now made you second-guess everything.

Why hadn’t he dated anyone who looked like you before? Would people tear you apart online? Would they think you didn’t belong at his side?

The sound of the door unlocking made you jump. Arthur strolled in, face flushed and hair messy from the sun. He grinned the moment he saw you — and it was like the world stopped spinning for half a second.

“You look like a flame,” he said, stepping closer, dropping a kiss to your temple. “My flame.”

You forced a small smile and looked down. “I feel more like a warning sign.”

He stilled. “What?”

You shook your head. “Nothing. Just nervous about today.”

Arthur was quiet for a second, before his fingers gently caught your chin and tipped your face up. “Mon cœur, talk to me.”

You hesitated.

Then it all spilled out in a low whisper. “You’ve dated so many girls before. And they’re all… blonde. Beautiful. Everything I’m not. And now we’re going public and I just… I don’t want to embarrass you.”

His face softened immediately — that familiar tilt of his brows when he was both surprised and heartbroken you’d ever feel that way.

“You think I’d ever be embarrassed by you?”

You shrugged. “I’ve seen the comments already. Some of them are nasty. They don’t think I’m your type. That I don’t fit.”

Arthur’s voice was quiet but certain. “The world doesn’t get to decide my type. I do. And you are it.”

You blinked at him.

“I mean it,” he continued, brushing a soft curl back behind your ear. “The way your hair lights up in the sun? How you never pretend to be anyone else? You’re real. You’re fire. You’ve got more passion in your pinky than anyone I’ve ever met. You’re mine. And I’m proud of that.”

Your throat closed up for a moment. “But what if people say awful things today? What if they hurt me?”

“Then I’ll be right there,” he said. “Holding your hand. Kissing your cheek. Giving them even more to talk about.”

You laughed a little through your nerves. “You’re impossible.”

“I’m in love,” he replied easily. “It does that to me.”

And just like that, the fear didn’t vanish — but it shrank. With Arthur’s hand in yours, it always did.

-------------------------------------

The sun glinted off the water, and the paddock buzzed with energy and camera flashes. Arthur walked proudly beside you, hand resting at the small of your back, guiding you like you were the most important person in the world.

There were whispers. There were stares.

And then Arthur turned to you, lips brushing your cheek as he smiled for the cameras.

“You’re stunning,” he murmured, just loud enough for you to hear.

The internet would probably have a meltdown.

But you didn’t care.

Not when his love felt louder than the noise.

[glowettee]

✧・゜: ✧how i journal during summer + my favorite prompts for reflection :・゜✧:・゜✧

hey lovelies!

i don't know about you, but something about summer makes me want to journal more than any other season. maybe it's the slower mornings with golden light streaming through my window, or maybe it's just having extra time to sit with my thoughts. either way, summer journaling hits different, and i wanted to share how i approach it in case any of you are looking to start or refresh your practice!

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ my summer journaling ritual ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

first things first - location is everything. in winter i'm all about journaling under blankets, but summer journaling deserves special spots. lately i've been taking my journal to this little corner of the park near my house right as the sun starts to set. something about the pink-orange sky and the slight evening breeze makes the words flow so much easier. if you can find an outdoor spot that feels safe and peaceful, i highly recommend it!

i also created a little portable journaling kit that i'm slightly obsessed with. it's just a small pouch with my favorite pens (the muji 0.38mm in black is literally perfect), some washi tape, and a tiny watercolor set. having this ready to grab means i'm way more likely to actually journal instead of just thinking about journaling (which, let's be honest, i've spent plenty of time doing too).

the other thing that's changed my summer journaling game is letting go of the pressure to write every single day. instead, i aim for 3-4 times a week, whenever it feels right. some entries are three pages long, others are just a few lines and maybe a tiny sketch of something i saw that day. giving myself permission to be inconsistent has somehow made me more consistent? the paradox of it all!

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ my favorite summer reflection prompts ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

whenever i sit down to journal and feel stuck (happens to the best of us!), these are the prompts i turn to:

what sensory experiences am i enjoying most this summer? (the taste of fresh berries, the feeling of warm sand, etc.)

what's something small that brought me joy today that i might have missed if i wasn't paying attention?

how is the current season reflecting my inner world right now?

if this summer had a color palette, what would it be and why?

what am i learning about myself during this season that surprises me?

what am i letting go of this summer? what am i welcoming in?

if i could bottle up one moment from today to revisit in winter, what would it be?

how is my body feeling in this season? what is it asking for?

what's a tiny adventure i could plan for myself this week?

what patterns am i noticing in my thoughts lately?

i find that summer is perfect for these kinds of reflective questions because there's something about the season that naturally puts me in a more observant state. i notice the way shadows fall, how ice cream tastes more intense, how time seems to stretch and contract in the heat.

⋆.ೃ࿔:･ my actual journaling process ･:࿔ೃ.⋆

confession: i'm not one of those people with gorgeous, perfectly decorated journal pages. mine is messy and real - crossed out words, coffee stains, and all. i usually start by just word-vomiting whatever's on my mind for about 5 minutes. no filter, no judgment. this clears my mental cache enough to then move into more intentional reflection.

sometimes i'll press flowers or leaves between the pages (summer gives us so many pretty options!). other times i'll tape in a receipt from a special day or a tiny polaroid. these little artifacts become so precious to look back on when winter rolls around.

i've also started ending each entry with three things i'm grateful for from that day. it's simple but it completely shifts my perspective, especially on harder days when journaling becomes more of a venting session (we all need those sometimes!).

if you've been wanting to start journaling but feel intimidated, summer is honestly the perfect time to begin. there's no right way to do it - your journal is yours alone. it doesn't have to be pretty or profound. it just has to exist. feel free to use my personal prompts from above!

plus here a video on youtube i've been using to help me journal, it's beautiful music + wave sounds in the background: right here

do any of you keep journals? i'd love to hear how you approach it!

xoxo, mindy 🤍

[skiesuconn]

Scream First, Flirt Later | ONE-SHOT

pairing: paige n azzi notes from author: hey! it took me a while to get satisfied with how it would go, but i'm really happy with how it turned out. i'm working on the laundry mat mix-up idea i had, but it's going to take a bit of time. i'd love if anyone sent me some prompts; i already have a few requests, but it’s okay. you can also expect chapter 3 of ''wdftl'' soon. happy reading. wc: 6k

The cold wind whipped against Azzi’s face as she stood at the entrance of the corn maze, shivering just enough to make her wish she'd put on something heavier. She tugged at her cream beige hoodie, pulling it tighter around her body, wishing she could find some warmth in the chill of the evening. Her white cream cargos swished with each step she took, and the sound of her Uggs crunching against the gravel was oddly comforting, grounding her in a moment that felt so different from the controlled routine she was used to.

Azzi tucked a curl behind her ear, feeling the weight of it against her cheek. Her hair was wild and chaotic, and she knew the moment she walked into the maze, all those untamed curls would probably draw a few too many glances. Her natural brown curls, the ones she tried to tame and hide under beanies and hats, always seemed to have a life of their own, and she hated the way they looked like they were trying to rebel. But tonight, they stayed out. Tonight, she’d let them roam free, just like her mind.

Madeline was bouncing around in her thick scarf, giggling with Rory, who was adjusting her glasses for the third time. Azzi caught the end of their conversation, the sound of their laughter mixing with the cold air.

“You’re going to love it,” Madeline said, grinning at Azzi, her oversized glasses slipping down her nose. “A night away from all your studying? You deserve this.”

“I think you both have more confidence in me than I do,” Azzi said with a dry smile, shaking her head. “But fine, I'll give it a try. This whole thing does seem kind of fun.”

Rory nodded solemnly, her plaid coat swaying as she adjusted her scarf. “Trust me, we need this. A bit of chaos to shake things up. You know, like real life.”

Azzi laughed softly, but her eyes scanned the maze again. The event organizers were there, wearing creepy costumes to set the spooky vibe for the maze, and they were handing out pamphlets to each group. One of the organizers, dressed like a grim reaper, waved them over, the cold moonlight reflecting off his white, skeletal face.

“Welcome to the maze!” he said in a voice too deep and ominous for Azzi’s liking. “You will find clues along the way, some hidden, some very much in plain sight. Beware of the monsters though—they’re tricky. Oh, and we’ve had a few… surprises before. Stay alert.”

Azzi’s stomach tightened. For a moment, she considered turning back to the warmth of Madeline's apartment. But she didn’t.

“Okay, okay, we got it,” Madeline chirped, her eyes sparkling. “We’re going to find those clues, I’m telling you. Come on, Azzi, let’s go! I think there’s a clue to the left.”

Azzi nodded and gave Madeline a small smile, walking with them into the maze. The three of them wandered through the twisting pathways, their voices mixing with the rustling of the dry corn stalks. Azzi’s eyes flitted over the terrain, but she couldn’t seem to relax. This wasn’t her world, not really. She liked control. She liked order. She liked knowing what came next.

But something about the maze, with its towering corn and winding paths, made her feel like she was on the edge of something… new. And that thought unsettled her more than she cared to admit.

Eventually, Madeline and Rory disappeared around a corner, leaving Azzi standing in the soft, shifting light. The wind tugged at her beanie, and she brushed her curls behind her ear again, but her mind was elsewhere—distracted by the eerie quiet. Then, she saw it: the scarecrow, standing tall in a patch of moonlight.

The scarecrow’s presence made her heart skip a beat. It was too lifelike, its eyes too real in a way that felt unnatural. She took a few steps forward, curious, but her feet were hesitant, as though something was urging her to keep away. The paper stuck to its chest seemed like an invitation—and her mind, always overthinking, couldn’t help but reach for it.

Her fingers brushed against the edge of the paper, and that’s when the scarecrow moved.

Azzi gasped, stumbling backward, the wind picking up as the scarecrow jerked, its head snapping toward her in a way that felt far too human.

But before she could react, something strong and solid gripped her waist. The warmth of the body that pulled her back against it sent a jolt through Azzi’s chest.

“Whoa, hey, I’ve got you.” The voice was low and teasing, and Azzi immediately felt the strength of the arms around her. She was pulled against the chest of someone tall and broad, and for a second, she just froze.

When she looked up, her heart did an uncomfortable flip.

The woman grinning down at her was tall—so much taller than Azzi—and she carried herself with an athletic confidence that was hard to ignore. Paige’s blue eyes twinkled in the dim light, her lips curved in a cocky grin. She was wearing a tight flannel shirt, rolled-up sleeves revealing toned forearms. Her arms, muscular and strong, held Azzi steady, and it took everything in Azzi not to notice how solid her body felt.

"Got a little scared there?" Paige teased, her smirk only widening. She let go of Azzi slowly, just enough for Azzi to regain her balance but not enough to feel like she had any space.

Azzi blinked, disoriented, her pulse quickening. "I… I wasn’t expecting that." Her voice came out shakier than she'd intended.

Paige chuckled, giving her a half-shrug. “Yeah, that’s kind of the point of a scarecrow, right? Thought I might as well do a little bit of scaring.”

Azzi stared at her a second longer than she should have, her mind scrambling for a response. Her gaze flickered over Paige’s strong arms, the way her muscles shifted beneath the flannel, the faint hint of a tattoo peeking from under her sleeve. Confidence radiated from her in waves.

Paige tilted her head, as if she could read Azzi’s thoughts. “You alright?” she asked, her voice softening just a touch.

Azzi blinked, momentarily lost in the way Paige looked at her. “Yeah,” she stammered, shaking her head as if to clear it. “Just... startled. That’s all.”

Paige chuckled, but this time, it was quieter, more self-aware. “You should’ve seen the look on your face. I’ve scared people before, but you—" She waggled her eyebrows. "You really got me thinking I went too far.”

Azzi’s heart skipped. “I’m sure you have some wild stories,” she said, trying to sound casual.

“Oh, I’ve got plenty,” Paige grinned, leaning in just a little. “Like the time I made this guy scream so loud, he dropped his entire drink.” She lowered her voice dramatically. “Not my fault he didn’t see the creepy skeleton behind him.”

Azzi snorted despite herself, the tension in her shoulders easing. “I’m sure you’re so proud.”

“Hey,” Paige raised an eyebrow, “I’m a professional. It’s a gift.”

They stood there a beat longer, the maze spinning around them, but Azzi couldn’t help noticing how alive Paige seemed. It was like she didn’t care what anyone thought—she was just here, and she was going to have fun. Azzi wasn’t sure what that did to her chest, but the pull was undeniable.

“So, what happens now?” Azzi asked, suddenly more aware of how tightly she was clutching her paper.

Paige smirked. “Well, for starters, you don’t need that paper anymore. Trust me,” she said, her grin widening. “I can show you the way out.”

Azzi hesitated, her fingers still tight around the paper before she finally let it drop.

The cold air bit at Azzi’s cheeks, but she barely noticed, still replaying the way Paige had smirked at her like she had all the answers to the universe. They walked toward the exit, the dim lighting of the maze casting long shadows that flickered with their movement. The warmth of Paige’s presence next to her made Azzi forget the chill in the air. Or maybe it was the way Paige carried herself—like she wasn’t just walking, but sauntering. Confident. Azzi couldn’t help but steal glances at her.

Paige was talking, her voice playful. “You should’ve seen this guy. Six foot five? Built like a linebacker. I pop out from behind the corn, full scarecrow stance—arms stiff like this.” She demonstrated, making Azzi giggle. “I let out this awful groan, like—” Paige dropped into a deep, eerie growl that made Azzi jump, before she burst into laughter. “Dude screams. Not just a little yelp, like he’s in a horror movie. Drops his phone, turns around, and just bolts. Leaves his girlfriend behind.”

Azzi gasped, covering her mouth. “No way. What did she do?”

“She straight-up dumped him on the spot.” Paige’s grin turned wicked. “Told him if he couldn’t handle a haunted corn maze, he couldn’t handle her.”

Azzi shook her head, grinning. “I mean… valid.”

Paige chuckled. “Then there was this guy who tried to fight me. Swung his arms like he was battling a demon. Had to break character and go, ‘Dude, I work here.’”

Azzi laughed, shaking her head. “Wait, do you ever feel bad scaring people like that?”

Paige tilted her head as though pondering the question. “Nah. That’s what they’re here for. The only people I don’t scare are kids. I love those little guys.”

Azzi raised an eyebrow. “You? A six-foot-tall menace in flannel? You like kids?”

Paige smirked. “What? You don’t think I look like a ‘likes kids’ type?”

“Not even a little bit,” Azzi admitted, watching Paige carefully. “I figured you’d say you scare them for fun.”

Paige placed a dramatic hand over her heart. “You wound me, woman.”

Azzi ignored the flutter in her chest. “So what do you do instead?”

Paige shrugged, stuffing her hands in her pockets. “Make sure they’re having fun. High-fives for the ones who make it through. If they’re scared, I just wave 'em past.”

Azzi didn’t mean to stare, but it was... kind of adorable. A tall, cocky scare actor with a soft spot for kids? That contrast was unexpectedly endearing. Paige caught her looking and raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“Nothing,” Azzi said too quickly, biting back a smile. “It’s just... cute.”

“Oh, so now I’m cute?” Paige shot back, leaning in just enough to make Azzi’s breath hitch. “Wasn’t so cute when you were clinging to me like I was your last hope for survival, huh?”

Azzi shoved her lightly, heart racing. “Shut up.”

They reached the exit, and Paige slowed her steps. “Alright, here’s the deal. I need to change out of this.” She gestured to the scarecrow getup. “If I walk around like this, someone’s gonna rat me out. And I’m probably not supposed to be escorting guests through the maze.”

Azzi smirked, her dark eyes glinting with playful amusement. “You think?”

Paige grinned, completely at ease. “I need about five minutes. Meet me by the coffee van?”

Azzi nodded, a faint smirk still lingering. “Five minutes.”

Paige jogged off toward a small booth near the staff area, peeling off the scarecrow jacket as she went. The jacket dragged behind her, but she didn’t care. She wasn’t trying to look cool—she was just trying to get out of the costume. All she could think about was the way Azzi’s smile made her chest feel tight, a kind of tightness that made her wonder just how long this connection was going to haunt her.

She changed quickly, swapping the scarecrow outfit for something that felt more... her. Ocean-blue jeans that fit perfectly, hugging her thighs and tapering down to her ankles. A dark coat with deep pockets, filled with everything she needed—snacks, her phone, maybe even a rogue basketball for later. The beanie she grabbed from a random table completed the look. Paige didn’t care that it was messy. It only added to her charm.

She glanced at her reflection in a car window before heading back outside. Not bad. Maybe even... kind of good?

Azzi was right where she said she’d be, standing by the coffee van, hands tucked into the sleeves of her oversized hoodie. She looked effortlessly warm despite the cold, as if she hadn’t just spent hours in a scarecrow costume herself. Paige felt that familiar tug in her chest again. Maybe it was just the night air... Or maybe it was something more.

Azzi looked up as Paige approached, her lips curving into a small, teasing smile. “Took you long enough.”

Paige’s eyebrows shot up in mock offense. “Excuse me?” she said, giving Azzi an exaggerated look of offense. “Had to make sure I wasn’t smelling like hay.”

Azzi wrinkled her nose, the slightest hint of amusement dancing across her features. “Good call. I’m not into hay, personally.”

Paige smirked and closed the gap between them, unable to resist teasing Azzi further. “By the way,” she said casually, “I don’t think I ever got your name.”

Azzi blinked, her smile faltering for a split second. “Oh. It’s Azzi.”

Paige furrowed her brows. “Wait, spell that for me.”

Azzi’s lips curled into a quiet laugh. “A-Z-Z-I.”

Paige squinted dramatically, like she was deciphering a hidden code. “Damn, that’s tricky. Sounds like an old head name.”

Azzi gasped in mock offense, her hand flying to her chest. “Excuse me?”

Paige just shrugged, a grin tugging at her lips. “I’m just saying. That’s an old-school name. Bet you were out here settling the frontier or something.”

Azzi nudged her playfully, but the smile on her face didn’t quite reach her eyes. Paige staggered a little in the cold. “Shut up. You just can’t spell.”

“Listen,” Paige said, laughing, “that might also be true, but I still think you’re an old head.”

Azzi threw her hands up, trying not to laugh. “Bet. I’m officially washed. You figured me out.”

The exchange left Paige with a grin she couldn’t shake. She wasn’t sure what it was, but there was something so easy about being around Azzi. Something so natural. Even the way she laughed felt comfortable, like a sound Paige could get used to hearing every day.

The warm steam from their mugs curled around them, mingling with the crisp night air. The scent of autumn—damp leaves, the earthiness of the season, and a trace of pumpkin spice—lingered, settling in the spaces between them. They stood near a lamppost, its soft glow illuminating their faces, casting a quiet, intimate light over them. Paige caught Azzi’s gaze and held it just a moment longer than necessary, her heartbeat quickening. Azzi’s deep, doe-like brown eyes were magnetic, and there was something in the way they looked at her that made Paige feel like she was falling into something more than she’d bargained for—something too easy to lose herself in.

Azzi broke the silence first, her voice warm with a quiet amusement. “Okay, that was actually perfect. I’m not usually a hot chocolate person, but this... this was surprisingly good.”

Paige raised her mug, her fingers curling around the warmth of it. “Told you,” she said, her voice low but confident. “I’m practically a hot chocolate connoisseur. It’s one of my hidden talents.”

Azzi smirked, clearly amused. “Hidden talents? You’re telling me you’re also a hot chocolate expert?”

Paige let out a soft laugh, a flicker of mischief dancing across her features. “Oh, absolutely,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of seriousness that made Azzi’s lips twitch into a smile. “I take it very seriously. Ready to be impressed?”

Azzi raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical but intrigued. “I’m not so sure. You’ve got a lot to prove.”

The air between them shifted, just slightly, as their easy banter deepened into something more. The playful teasing hung in the space between them, but the undercurrent of something unspoken—the quiet tug in their chest—was undeniable. Paige took another sip, her eyes briefly meeting Azzi’s, her chest tightening in that familiar way. They didn’t need to speak for the moment to stretch just a little longer than expected.

Then, just as the atmosphere grew heavier, a voice from the coffee van cut through the tension, a touch too casual, like something from a romcom.

The barista, a scruffy guy with a beanie perched too confidently on his head, leaned out of the window, scanning them both with an amused grin. “So,” he said, his voice dripping with teasing curiosity. “Are you two, like... a couple or something?”

Paige choked on her drink, sputtering out a laugh as she quickly wiped her mouth. “What? No,” she said, a little too quickly, her voice stumbling over the words. “We’re just... two people with a mutual appreciation for hot chocolate.”

Azzi glanced at her, the flush creeping up her neck. Her voice was quieter, almost to herself, as she mumbled, “Yeah, definitely not a couple.”

The barista raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but gave them an exaggerated wink. “Sure, sure. I’ll leave you two... lovebirds to it.”

Azzi’s face turned a deeper shade of red, and Paige couldn’t hold back her smile any longer, the teasing edge of it laced with something else—something a little softer. “Guess we’re a couple now?” she said, her voice low, amused but carrying that thread of warmth she couldn’t quite ignore.

Azzi smacked her lightly, her face still flushed with a mix of embarrassment and something else. “Shut up,” she muttered, but the smile tugging at the corners of her lips was telling. She hid behind her mug, still not quite able to cover up the warmth that had taken over her expression. “You’re impossible.”

Paige smiled softly, watching Azzi with a fondness that caught her off guard. There was something undeniably endearing about her—the way she tried to hide the softness in her laugh, the way she lit up over something as simple as a hot chocolate. It was the kind of sweetness that felt rare, and Paige found herself drawn to it more than she cared to admit.

A couple? Paige wasn’t sure about that. But whatever this was between them, it was something that had been quietly occupying her thoughts lately. --

Paige stood, extending her hand with a playful, dramatic flourish. “Let’s go. I’ll show you how it’s really done.”

Azzi hesitated for a beat before standing and following Paige toward the small pumpkin patch set up nearby. The distant crackling of a fire pit added an intimate warmth to the cool night air.

They settled onto a bench, pumpkins scattered between them. Paige handed Azzi a carving knife, her grin a mixture of confidence and something else—something a little more flirtatious.

“I’ll warn you now,” Paige said, settling beside Azzi with a casual ease. “I’m basically a professional at this.”

Azzi chuckled, her voice laced with teasing doubt. “Oh really? I’m sure you are.”

Paige’s hands moved with practiced precision, the knife cutting through the pumpkin effortlessly. Azzi tried to follow her lead, but her grip felt awkward, the knife hesitant. It wasn’t going as smoothly as she’d hoped.

“I swear, I’m the worst at this,” Azzi muttered, frowning as she worked at the pumpkin’s face.

Paige leaned closer, her breath warm against Azzi’s ear. “Don’t worry. I’ve got you.”

The proximity was startling, and Azzi’s pulse picked up when she felt the heat of Paige’s body just behind her. Paige’s hand brushed against hers as she took the knife, the touch brief but electric. Azzi swallowed, her focus momentarily faltering as the space between them seemed to shrink.

Paige’s body leaned in closer, their sides brushing as Paige’s steady hand guided the knife with a practiced ease. Azzi’s breath caught as the warmth of Paige’s body pressed against her back, the sensation far too intimate for a pumpkin carving session.

For a split second, everything around them seemed to fade. The sounds of the night, the crackling fire, even the cold air, all became distant. All Azzi could focus on was the pressure of Paige’s body behind hers, the way her breath seemed to slow and draw in sync with Paige’s.

Azzi’s hand slipped, brushing the inside of Paige’s thigh, and she froze. A wave of warmth rushed to her face as she quickly pulled back, her voice barely above a whisper. “Sorry.”

Paige’s response was soft, almost amused. “It’s fine, Azzi. You don’t need to apologize.”

Azzi’s cheeks darkened. “I wasn’t—ugh, I didn’t mean to—”

Paige smirked, her voice smooth and teasing. “Accidental hand placement is an art form, really.”

Azzi let out a nervous laugh, but her heartbeat was still racing. She tried to focus on the pumpkin, but it was impossible to ignore how close Paige was—how her warmth lingered just behind her, settling into Azzi’s bones.

Paige’s voice shifted, lowering, taking on an almost intimate quality. “Alright, let’s fix this,” she said, taking the knife from Azzi’s hand. “You’ve got to trust the knife,” she added with a wink, her breath warm against Azzi’s ear. “And trust me.”

Azzi leaned back slightly, doing her best to ignore the heat from Paige’s body radiating into hers. But the subtle brush of Paige’s breath against the back of her neck had her pulse surging again. She could hear the steady rhythm of Paige’s breathing, close and intimate, sending shivers through her spine.

“See?” Paige finally pulled back, holding up the pumpkin with a proud grin. “The secret to pumpkin carving? You’ve got to let go and have a little fun with it.”

Azzi blinked, staring at the finished carving. “That’s… actually impressive.” She couldn’t help but smirk. “I might start calling you the pumpkin whisperer.”

Paige took a dramatic bow before plopping the pumpkin on her head like a crown. “Behold, the Pumpkin Queen,” she declared with exaggerated grandeur, striking a playful pose.

Azzi snorted, unable to stifle her laughter. “Oh my God, what are you doing?”

Paige shot her a cheeky grin. “Starting a trend. You’ll thank me later. I’m basically setting fashion history.”

Azzi doubled over, clutching her stomach as laughter bubbled up uncontrollably. “You’re ridiculous,” she gasped, trying to catch her breath. “But also? I can’t stop laughing.”

Paige removed the pumpkin and gave it a playful spin in her hands. “You’re welcome. It’s all part of my charm.”

Azzi wiped a tear from her eye, still chuckling. “Honestly? You just made this night a hundred times better.”

Paige’s playful smirk softened into something more genuine, her eyes meeting Azzi’s with a quiet intensity. “That’s the goal.” --

They stepped out of the maze together, the city lights flickering in the distance, mingling with the faint hum of passing cars. The cold air nipped at Azzi’s cheeks, but the warmth in her chest lingered. Maybe it was from laughing too hard, or maybe, just maybe, it had something to do with the girl beside her.

Paige stretched her arms behind her head, tilting her face up toward the sky. “You know, I really outdid myself this year,” she mused, flashing Azzi a sideways smirk. “Scared a solid ten people into screaming. Three ran. One even tripped and fell into the corn.”

Azzi scoffed, but a smile tugged at her lips. “And you’re proud of that?”

Paige chuckled, nodding. “Oh, absolutely.”

The conversation flowed effortlessly between them as they walked through the city, neon lights reflecting in the puddles on the pavement. Azzi found herself completely caught up in Paige’s stories—each one more outrageous than the last. There was a warmth to Paige’s voice, a way she animated her words, her hands cutting through the air with each ridiculous tale. Azzi barely noticed when their shoulders brushed or when Paige’s fingers accidentally skimmed the back of her hand.

Azzi caught herself when Paige leaned in a little too close, her voice dropping into a low, teasing whisper as she continued her story. “And then, this one dude, biggest guy I’ve ever seen, looked me dead in the eyes and—”

Azzi’s breath hitched when Paige’s hand brushed lightly over her arm. It was a brief touch, but it sent a jolt through her chest, a weird mix of electricity and something else she couldn’t quite place. Paige had a way of taking up space—of just being there—that made Azzi suddenly hyper-aware of every little movement, every brush of skin, as if something was shifting between them that neither of them had planned for.

By the time they reached Azzi’s apartment, the night was winding down, but there was an energy between them that still buzzed. The soft glow from the porch light cast a warm halo around them, and Azzi found herself lingering in the doorway, wishing she could keep this feeling going just a little longer.

“That was... fun,” Azzi said, shifting on her feet, suddenly unsure of herself. She gave a soft laugh. “Not what I expected, but in a good way.”

Paige tilted her head, studying her with that grin of hers, half-smirk and half something else—something softer. “Yeah? Glad I could keep you entertained.”

Azzi’s fingers nervously tugged at the hem of her hoodie, her heart racing in her chest. She glanced up at Paige briefly, then quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing. “And… thanks. For walking me home. You didn’t have to.”

Paige’s lips curved into a soft, teasing smile, her eyes still glimmering with amusement. “You insisted,” she teased, her voice warm and low. “Said you wanted to get here safely.”

Azzi’s shy smile tugged at her lips, her hands fidgeting with the fabric of her hoodie, fingers twisting the material as her stomach fluttered with nervous excitement. “I did.”

Paige took a deliberate step closer, closing the distance between them, her presence overwhelming. Azzi’s breath hitched as she felt the magnetic pull of Paige’s nearness. Her body responded instinctively, drawn in by the heat radiating from Paige. The warmth of Paige’s breath caressed Azzi’s skin, and the air between them became charged, thick with unspoken desire.

"So," Paige’s voice was low, husky, with an undercurrent of something more intense. “If I asked if I could kiss you right now, what would you say?”

Azzi’s breath caught in her throat, the question settling into her chest like a weight, both thrilling and terrifying. Her eyes flicked between Paige’s lips and her eyes, the unspoken emotions swirling between them. Without thinking, she closed the gap, her body instinctively gravitating toward Paige. The world around them faded into the background as Azzi’s heart pounded, the pulse of it syncing with the rapid rhythm of her breaths.

Paige didn’t hesitate. She leaned in, and when their lips met, it was like everything snapped into place.

The kiss wasn’t tentative. It was fierce, hungry, as if they had both been waiting for this moment far too long. Azzi’s hands flew to the thick lapels of Paige’s coat, pulling her closer, desperate to feel more of her. The coat slipped off Paige’s shoulders, discarded carelessly onto the floor as the kiss deepened. Paige’s strong hands moved over Azzi’s body, every touch sending a wave of heat crashing through her.

Azzi’s chest pressed against Paige’s as she felt her hands trail down, exploring the curves of her waist and hips. Her breath became shallow as Paige’s hands cupped her ass, lifting her effortlessly off the ground. Azzi gasped, her body weightless in Paige’s hold, the sensation of being held like that sending a jolt of electricity through her. She instinctively wrapped her legs around Paige’s waist, clinging to her as they moved. Every inch of Paige’s body felt solid, strong, and warm beneath her hands.

The heat between them was unbearable, each moment pulling them closer to the edge. Azzi’s hands roamed over Paige’s chest, her fingers digging into the fabric of her shirt, unable to steady herself as her body reacted to every touch.

They stumbled forward, the pressure of their bodies pressing against one another as Paige backed them toward the apartment. Azzi could feel the metal railing near the stairs, but before Paige could react, her back collided with it. The impact made Azzi burst into laughter, breathless and giddy, the tension momentarily breaking as they stood there, still tangled in each other.

Azzi’s eyes sparkled with amusement, her voice breathy with laughter. “Oh my God, you’re a mess,” she teased, her hands resting on Paige’s chest, her fingers curling into the fabric of her shirt.

Paige rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress the smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “Shut up,” she murmured, leaning in again, this time kissing Azzi harder, more urgently. Azzi’s body responded immediately, her chest pressing into Paige’s, her hands sliding down to grasp the waistband of Paige’s jeans.

Azzi’s fingers brushed over the fabric, teasing the edges, and Paige groaned against her lips, her hands pulling Azzi closer, almost desperately. Azzi’s body hummed with anticipation, her chest heaving as she pressed herself into Paige, every touch sending waves of electricity through her.

As they reached the top of the stairs, Azzi pulled away, eyes catching something in Paige’s hair. She reached up, fingers gently grazing through the soft strands, her lips curving into a playful smile when she noticed the small piece of pumpkin still tangled in Paige’s hair from earlier.

Azzi’s laugh bubbled up, warm and teasing. “You’ve got a little something,” she murmured, her fingers delicately brushing the pumpkin out of Paige’s hair.

Paige blinked, looking confused for a moment before realizing what Azzi meant. A sheepish grin spread across her face. “Seriously?” she muttered, shaking her head, though there was something endearing about the way she was still so caught up in the moment. “Guess that’s what happens when you carve pumpkins and kiss me all in one day.”

Azzi giggled, the sound light and carefree, before her hands slid up Paige’s chest once again, teasing and lingering. “Guess so,” she said, voice heavy with desire. Her lips met Paige’s once more, but this kiss was deeper, more frantic. Azzi was overwhelmed, every inch of her burning with need as she pulled Paige closer, not caring about anything else.

The heat between them intensified, their kisses becoming more desperate as they fumbled for the apartment door. Azzi’s fingers trembled as she reached for her keys, every inch of her skin hyperaware of the closeness, the desire surging through her. She managed to unlock the door, but Paige’s hands gripped her waist, pulling her back into another kiss before she could step inside. The intensity of it made Azzi dizzy, but she wanted it. Needed it.

Azzi pulled away just enough to breathe, her hands still gripping Paige’s shirt. “Wait,” she gasped, voice thick with lust. She quickly kicked the door shut with her foot, closing off the world outside as she pressed herself into Paige’s embrace.

Paige smirked, hands sliding down to Azzi’s hips, keeping her close. “Good,” she murmured, her lips brushing against Azzi’s neck, the heat of her breath sending Azzi’s body into overdrive. “Because I’m not done with you either.”

Azzi laughed softly between gasps, her fingers tangling in Paige’s hair as she pulled her closer, unable to get enough. “You’re insane, you know that?”

Paige just shrugged, a wicked grin spreading across her face. “Maybe,” she said, voice thick with desire. “But you love it.” --

Paige’s lips were on Azzi’s again, breathless and desperate, but then she pulled back just slightly, her forehead resting against Azzi’s. They both stood there, bodies tangled, hearts racing in sync, as if they were suspended in time. Azzi’s hands were still tangled in Paige’s hair, the pulse of their kiss still echoing through her chest.

Azzi breathed out a shaky laugh, her lips curving into a smile despite the heat that still burned between them. “You’re right,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, “you really are insane.”

Paige smirked, her hands still at Azzi’s hips, holding her close but with a gentler touch now. “And you love every second of it,” she teased, her voice low and assured.

Azzi didn’t respond immediately, just looked at Paige with that same intensity in her eyes, a little smile tugging at her lips. She wasn’t sure how they had gotten here, but she couldn’t find it in herself to care.

She closed the gap between them again, but this time, the kiss was softer, quieter, as if they were savoring the moment rather than rushing forward. Paige’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulling her in tighter, and Azzi melted into her, allowing herself to feel the heat, the connection, the undeniable pull that had been there all along.

As they paused for a moment, their breaths mingling, Azzi’s fingers gently trailed down Paige’s arm, lightly grazing over the surface of her skin. Her gaze dropped to Paige’s hand, and she slowly reached out, her fingers brushing over the cool metal of the ring Paige wore.

She played with it absentmindedly, twisting it gently around Paige’s finger, her touch soft and playful. Paige's breath hitched slightly at the feeling of Azzi’s delicate fingers against her skin, but she didn’t move, letting Azzi explore at her own pace.

Azzi’s fingers brushed lightly over the back of Paige’s hand, a teasing smile playing on her lips as she flicked her eyes up to meet Paige’s. “You know,” she started, voice low and laced with mischief, “this ring’s kind of cute. But I think it might be getting in the way.” She let her fingers trail over Paige's hand, giving the ring another little twist, before her touch wandered down to her wrist, brushing the fabric of her sleeve.

Her voice dropped into a whisper, playful and suggestive, “Maybe we should just take this off too...” Azzi’s gaze flickered briefly to Paige’s lips, a slow, teasing grin spreading across her face.

Paige froze for just a second, her mind racing at Azzi’s words, before her hands moved instinctively, squeezing Azzi’s ass, pulling her closer into the kiss as if on cue. The move was bold, firm, but undeniably tender—sending a rush of heat through both of them. Paige’s thumb brushed the curve of Azzi’s cheek, moving a loose curl out of her face as if it was the most delicate thing in the world. Her touch was soft and intentional, the care in her fingers making Azzi’s heart race.

Azzi melted into the touch, her body practically vibrating with need, her breath hitching as she felt Paige’s hands on her, so strong yet gentle. The brief moment of tenderness only made the tension between them even more electric. The weight of Paige’s hands on her ass, pressing her into her warmth, sent a jolt of heat through her. She was sure Paige could feel her pulse beneath her fingers, racing as fast as her heart.

They pulled back for a second, breathing heavily, but the room around them felt like it was closing in, the air thick with the anticipation of what would come next.

Azzi’s voice was low, teasing, but with an edge of uncertainty. “I think we’ve both got some things we’re ready to take off…” Her fingers brushed the hem of Paige’s shirt, almost daring her to do the same, to take the next step.

Paige’s grin widened, but there was something wild in her eyes now—something they hadn’t let themselves get lost in before. “I like the way you think,” she murmured, her lips brushing Azzi’s once more, more urgent this time, more needy.

Azzi tried to guide them deeper throughout the apartment, but in the haze of desire, her hand fumbled for the door handle. She found it, but before she could open it, Paige held her back, her grip tightening on Azzi’s waist, pulling her into another kiss.

Azzi sighed into the kiss, half-laughing against Paige’s lips. “Seriously, we’re gonna get lost in here again,” she muttered, a teasing note to her voice.

Paige paused, her lips still hovering just above Azzi’s. She shushed her softly with a mischievous smirk. “Just stop talking for a while,” Paige whispered, her voice husky.

Azzi blinked, her heart pounding as she processed the command. She didn’t know what to make of it, but the intensity of Paige’s touch and the fire in her eyes left no room for hesitation. Azzi simply nodded, surrendering to the pull between them.

Paige brushed the curls away from Azzi’s face, her touch gentle but deliberate, as if the act itself was an intimate declaration. Her hands lingered for a moment, tracing the soft curve of Azzi’s cheek. With her thumb, Paige delicately tucked the stray locks of hair behind Azzi’s ear, the motion so tender, so careful, that it sent a shiver down Azzi’s spine.

Azzi’s breath hitched as she felt the warmth of Paige’s touch, but her lips parted in a soft smile, still burning with desire, and with a voice barely above a whisper, she murmured, “I think... we’re both ready for more, right?”

Paige’s grin widened, but there was a dark, teasing edge to it. She leaned in close again, pressing her body against Azzi’s, the heat between them radiating. “You’re damn right,” she murmured, lips brushing over Azzi’s ear. “But this time, I’m not letting you get lost again.”

Azzi's hands slipped down, her fingers brushing over the waistband of Paige’s jeans, her eyes gleaming with mischief. But just as Paige’s hand moved to grip her waist, ready to push them both forward, Azzi’s voice dropped again, low and dangerous, “Unless... you’re ready for me to take control.”

The air between them thickened, electric and charged, and just as Paige went to respond, everything froze. The sound of footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Azzi’s eyes flicked to the door.

The moment was broken.