#writing him like this was far too fun I’m totally fine and normal

[thru-the-grapevine]

Deep End

Pairing: Choi Soobin x fem!reader

Summary: Soobin thinks you could be the most dangerous thing to ever happen to him, if he let you (or: not even the ambience of a city rooftop can distract Soobin from you).

Word Count: 5.7k

Tags/Warnings: mature content (minors dni), pwfwp (porn with feelings without plot), public sex, established relationship, man is a simp

Author’s Note: the lovely @chanis-banani has allowed me to post the birthday gift I made for her 🥰 I played myself by writing it for her because now I’m kinda nuts about him too. Whoops.

Soobin has never been a particularly possessive or territorial person before, so he’s unprepared for how it feels to see you in his shirt.

He watches you in the reflection of the hotel elevator, mesmerized. The shirt is a button-down, oversized even on Soobin. He’d helped you roll up each sleeve four times just to give your wrists some breathing room, and from how it fits on you, it gives the appearance that it’s the only thing you’re wearing at all. He’s trying very hard not to stare at your bare legs, focusing in on your little painted toenails to try and stay respectful. He’s not sure if it’s working. Nothing feels respectful about the way he looks at you these days.

The two of you are on a weekend trip to the city together, seizing the opportunity for quality time alone during a rare time when neither of you have anything in your schedules. You’d suggested pretending it was a fancy weekend, and Soobin had taken you at your word and sprung for a nicer hotel than usual, particularly because of how your face had lit up at the idea of a rooftop pool.

The two of you are on the way to this pool now, and instead of wearing normal clothes over your swimsuit, you’d insisted on borrowing one of his shirts. He’d agreed without really thinking about it, and once the sleeves were rolled up you’d declared it was perfect.

Soobin can’t disagree, either, because he can’t stop looking at you in it. Something about it being your idea makes it even better. He likes the way you look in it, but in a way he didn’t expect. Some sort of base instinct in his gut is glowing, seeing you in something of his.

Then again, you’ve always fascinated him, even before the two of you began seeing each other. You’ve always lit up every room he sees you in, something about how you carry yourself drawing the klutzy moth of him to you like flame. He’s never wanted to know so much about another person before. He loves learning every little thing that makes you laugh, that makes you chatty, that incites reactions in you.

He can’t believe he convinced you to say yes when he asked you out, amazed you allowed him to keep coming back for more. He feels like a naturalist who got outrageously lucky enough to get close to their favorite beloved wildlife, like he has to drink in and take note of everything he can get of you in case you spook and flee. Like he can puzzle out the mystery of you if he studies you closely enough.

You catch him staring in the reflection and make a silly face. He grins and makes one back, shifting closer to you and watching his reflection drape an arm over your shoulders. He’s realizing recently how often you draw him in, how he’s always looking for reasons to be as close to you as he can. If he really was a moth, he’d be scorched to a crisp by now.

He can feel you practically vibrating with excitement as the two of you step out onto the roof. There’s a huge grin on your face as you gaze around with eyes so big that Soobin knows you wish you had more of them to take it all in.

“Not too shabby, then?” He asks, charmed at the way you flit from place to place, exploring.

“What do you mean, not too shabby? It’s perfect,” you gush, gesturing from thing to thing and bouncing on the balls of your feet. “Look at the view, ugh, it’s so—and the pool? It’s perfect, the water is so pretty, it’s all so pretty here at night, look at all the other buildings lit up, I’m just—!”

You take a deep breath and blow it out slowly, face still aglow. “Okay. Calming down.”

He grins, making his way to a chaise lounge near the pool and sitting. “That’s the spirit.”

“Why is it so empty up here on a night like this?” You wonder, staring up and around at the nearby buildings and night sky.

A private smile twitches at the corner of Soobin’s mouth. “Yeah, seems way too nice out not to be up here.”

“Definitely nice enough to swim,” you muse, turning to him and batting your eyes once. “You’ll swim with me, right?”

It was never a question that he would, but Soobin feigns uncertainty. “Hmm...”

“Just for a little bit,” you insist, shoulders slumping, and he can’t help laughing.

“’Course, that’s why we came up here.”

You pout at him, making your way over to his chair. “Rude.”

He watches you approach, endeared at the little frown line between your brows when you pout, how it makes your lips even more distracting. “You’re just easy to bother.”

You make a face at him. “Just for that, you can have your shirt back.”

His mouth goes a little dry when your hands go to the top button, fiddling.

“Oh no, please, anything but that,” he tries to deadpan, but his voice rasps.

You roll your eyes, amused, as you pop the first button. “Perv.”

He can’t even refute you. It’s like erotic torture, watching you unbutton the shirt—his shirt; god, that really is doing things to him. The buttons are on the opposite placket than you’re used to, which means you move slower, and Soobin watches in an agony of lust as inch after inch of your skin is revealed.

You shrug the shirt off when it’s finally unbuttoned, tossing it into his lap and wandering to the edge of the pool. He tries to get himself back under control, but your swimsuit leaves so much less to the imagination than anything else he usually sees you wear that it’s impossible.

You look back over your shoulder at him, pausing on the steps descending into the water. “You coming?”

He nods, dazed.

You raise an eyebrow, smirk teasing the corners of your mouth. “You good?”

That depends heavily on what “good” means. He considers saying this, knows you’ll enjoy the philosophical banter, but when he opens his mouth his throat is too dry to speak. He shuts his mouth and clears his throat, giving up. “I...yeah. Great.”

His face feels hot when you wink at him, tip of your tongue between your teeth. Jesus.

He watches you wade down into the pool and tries to think of boring things, like taxes and bylaws and coding instructions, anything but how breathtaking every inch of you is. It doesn’t work, especially when you dip beneath the surface briefly, then come back up, swiping your hair back from your face more flawlessly than any model.

“Water’s fine,” you murmur, and something in your expression makes him think you’re fully aware that he’s wrapped around your little finger.

Maybe the water will clear his head. He grabs the scruff of his shirt and yanks it over his head. “Coming.”

He doesn’t bother with the steps, heads straight for the deep end and hops in. The cool water is a welcome shock to his system, as well as the muted quiet of underwater. He lingers near the bottom, waiting until his lungs ache for air to push back towards the shallow end.

When he resurfaces, you’re floating on your back, gazing up at the night sky. He swipes his hair out of his face and rises to his full height, angling to see you better. You have your mouth pursed in a specific way to keep from inhaling water, and your hair splays out around your head in the water in gentle, undulating waves, Medusa-style. There are little twinkling reflections in your eyes of the world you’re drinking in above you. Bliss in your face.

Oh no, a voice in the back of Soobin’s mind says, and looking at you feels like he’s made of glass and is being shoved off a high ledge. But Soobin can’t bring himself to be frightened, can only concentrate on the pleasant swoop in his stomach as he plummets. He thinks he might enjoy being shattered by you.

You jerk in surprise when you catch him watching you, a thrash of water. “Jesus.”

He feels a grin tugging at his lips. “Sorry,” he says, not sorry at all.

“Why are you just standing there staring, you weirdo?” You move upright again, and your mad scientist hair flattens into a streaming curtain down your back. Pale blue pool light reflects in little waves over your skin, and Soobin would believe someone in this moment if they told him you were a water goddess.

He can’t tear his gaze away from you, still grinning like a fool. “You’re interesting.”

You raise an eyebrow, teasing smile back on your face.

“Interesting, huh.”

“Mhm.” He starts wading your way at that dreamlike pace water always demands. Moth, meet flame.

“Me, or my tits?”

“I—that wasn’t what—” Soobin stammers. “What—I hadn’t even looked at—”

And he hadn’t, truly. Except of course they’re now at the forefront of his mind, now that you’ve mentioned them, and invisible magnetism keeps tempting his gaze down, a losing fight with the thought of them right at the top of his brain, and now he’s noticing your chest, half-submerged, the gleam of soaked skin and droplets in tantalizing places, noticing the wet cling of swimsuit fabric to curving soft skin. He wonders how it might feel to glide his hands over and under and around, whether you would feel cool or warm under his mouth, and his mind hadn’t been on this track two seconds ago, it really hadn’t...

He hears you snort, tears his gaze back to your face, schoolboy guilt bunched in his stomach.

“Mmhmm,” you say, unbelieving. Your pleased little grin eases the shame, a balm on his heart.

“Yah, I really wasn’t,” he protests. “...but now that you mention it...”

Your snicker is cute, everything about you is so cute, and when did this happen, how did this happen, how did you become the most irresistible thing in Soobin’s world without him catching whiff of it before?

You surprise him when you lunge for him when he’s close enough, your arms flinging around his neck, soft mouth covering his. Like kissing him is a relief, like to you he’s something special, something to look forward to. He’s not going to question why, even if his own appeal to you puzzles him, just pulls you closer with his hands on your hips and kisses you back.

You pull back far too quickly, and he frowns, missing you already. He’s immediately distracted, though, at the delicate feeling of your fingertips ruffling in the soggy strands of his hair.

“Thanks for springing for this place,” you murmur, grateful little smile on your face. “I love it.”

“’Course, baby,” he hums, trying not to feel too smug for nailing it. All of it was worth it just for this.

Your gaze follows a droplet of water traveling down his neck and over his chest. One of your hands leaves his hair, tracing the wing of his collarbone gently.

“You’re really hot when you’re all wet,” you admit, floating off your feet and hooking your legs around his waist.

Your positioning immediately stokes his carnal interest. He blinks, dazed grin spreading slowly over his face.

“Only when I’m all wet?” He teases, hands on a slow glide from your hips to cup beneath your thighs, holding you in place.

You tsk at him, fingers still playing in slow, hypnotic patterns through his hair and over his chest. “Fishing for compliments? Don’t tell me you don’t hear them all the time. We know what you look like.”

He loves watching your mouth when you talk. The shape of your lips is something he’s constantly cataloguing for long-term memory, both from looking at and feeling them with his own.

“I only ever want your compliments,” he says absently, thumbs drawing little circles on your thighs, completely mesmerized. “They’re the only ones that count.”

He can see the reflection of the flickering surface of the pool in your eyes. Something thrills in his chest when the edges of your smile turn a little shy.

“Flirt,” you murmur, leaning in closer.

He blinks, drawing the tip of his nose along yours slowly. He can’t remember what he said. He should try to remember, should take it down to use later, but you’re quite literally hanging all over him and you’re all wet in a swimsuit and your mouth is only inches away and he is not God’s strongest soldier, after all.

He leans down and fastens his mouth over yours, kissing you like he has all the time in the world. It’s quickly becoming one of his favorite things to do, finding all the ways your mouths can fit together. He teases the tip of his tongue along your lower lip, heart racing when you sigh into his mouth and open for him. God. The taste of you, mingled with pool water and the lip balm you’d borrowed from him earlier, is enough to turn off all the thoughts in his brain.

Mouth still playing over yours, he wades slowly backward, inching towards the pool steps, crouching as the water gets shallow to keep you both weightless in the water. His heel knocks against the bottom step and he stumbles back, kiss breaking as he sits down hard.

Your little giggle goes straight to his crotch for reasons he can’t decipher. He grins, sheepish, lifts himself up to sit on the next-highest step, reaching for your hips and reeling you back in. You straddle his lap without him even having to ask, more proof to his mind that you’re perfect, and when he tilts his chin up you meet him halfway.

Everything about you in his arms feels right, and Soobin feels something unidentifiable deep within him settling into place. All his senses are honed in on you, on your mouth moving with his, on the gentle chaos of your breath, on the soft suppleness of you relaxing into him as he kisses you with slow, consuming ardor. His hands slide in restless patterns over you, and eventually his mouth parts from yours and drags along the line of your jaw.

“For the record,” he murmurs, pausing to nip softly at your earlobe, “you’re really hot when you’re all wet, too.”

Your laugh is breathless, a bolt of heat to his gut. “Only when I’m all wet?”

“Especially when you’re all wet,” he whispers, nuzzling against the hollow beneath your ear, savoring how you shiver.

Your skin is cool beneath his mouth, and he makes it a personal mission to warm it again, openmouthed kisses gliding smooth and wet and hot along the expanse of your neck, the curve of your shoulder, the wing of your collarbone. He feels you hum and relax further into his lap, tension in your muscles melting you closer against him, candle wax near open flame. He marvels innocently at how incredibly silky you are, even over firmer places, how there’s a hint of you behind the chlorine on your skin, and he needs more of it, feels an itch in his brain for more you in his senses.

“Hey,” you protest halfheartedly as he fumbles with the ties of your swimsuit top. “This is a public pool, someone could come up.”

“Mhm,” he mumbles, hearing the words purely at a sound level, feeling the ties come loose in his hands with a slithery tickle. He nuzzles into the inside curve of your breast, nudging fabric away from wet skin, mouth slipping along the plush undercurve. Pure fascination wins out as he opens his mouth wider, bites, sucks.

He feels you twitch in surprise at the feeling, soothes his hands along your back in half-apology, laser-focused on the feel, the taste of you in his mouth. You’re sensitive here, not as excruciatingly sensitive as your nipples, but that just means he doesn’t have to be as careful, can let his curiosity at the feeling of you win unrestricted.

He continues nibbling and sucking in that spot, slides a hand around to your front and tugs the now-loose top away, tossing it behind him blindly. He feels your hands tighten on his shoulders when he settles his hand back on you, cupping your other breast. He eases the pad of his thumb in gentle circles over your areola, mesmerized at the way the skin puckers and tightens to a point under the lazy caress. He hears you swallow back a moan, feels one of your hands slide up and weave fingers through his hair, and that base instinct deep in his gut puffs its chest knowing that he affects you like this.

He lifts his mouth from your skin with a crude pop, other hand sliding from your back to brush a thumb over the hickey. He knows you love when he leaves them on your neck, but it still makes him shy to know other people will see them and make assumptions about what your love lives are like. This one, however, on this pillowy curve of skin that only the two of you get to see, is right up his alley. Satisfied with how dark it is already, he nuzzles your breast and settles his mouth over your nipple.

The little noise you make is adorable, and Soobin finds himself smiling against your skin. He traces his tongue over the budding peak, unhurried, takes your other nipple between his fingers and pinches until you gasp. He can’t resist rolling it slowly between his fingers, twisting one way and then the other as he circles the other in lazy circles with his tongue.

He hears a frayed whimper in your throat, the helpless wriggle of your hips against his inflaming him further. He’s never been addicted to a person before, but he’s hooked on you for sure, wants to take inventory of every inch of you, every reaction he can incite, every texture and scent and movement. He drags his mouth to your other breast and kisses your poor abused nipple gently, massages it better with his tongue as his hand takes over the one he left behind.

All of you drowns his senses—the cool slipperiness of your skin, the little whines you sigh out, the way you keep cinching yourself closer to him, burying your face against his hair, agonizing friction in your laps. He can’t stop himself from groping your ass and tucking your hips in tighter against his, fascinated by the feeling of your muscles twitching and contracting with desire.

He makes a noise of surprise when your hand in his hair tightens and yanks, angling his face up to yours. You crush your mouth over his, and his hands are immediately all over you, roaming restless paths over every inch of you he can reach, urging you closer. He wants to drown in you, be consumed by you, devour you with all five senses at once and then more.

It’s not enough. He wrenches his mouth from yours, panting, tapping your hip.

“Up,” he pants.

You hesitate only a second before moving off of his lap. He stands quickly and takes your hand, sloshing his way up the remaining steps and out of the pool with you in tow.

You seem to be on the same wavelength, to an extent, matching his pace as he makes his way over to the chairs with your things on them. He guides you in front of him, a twinge of fondness in his chest at the sight of your arm attempting to cover your chest, as if that doesn’t just make them look especially sumptuous, and he wants his hands back on you, wants to test how squishable—

“Down,” he pants, hand nudging your shoulder until you sit on the chaise, then nudging again until you lie back. His other hand is already untying your swim bottoms, one side and then the other, gaze laser-focused as he leans in and presses a kiss low on your abdomen, parting your legs.

“I—wait, ‘Binnie,” you protest, hand coming to his head. “Stop—we are outside, someone could look out a window and see—”

“Don’t care,” he mumbles against your skin, mouth already gliding along the inside of your thigh. The looming buildings nearby, the vague hum of city life stories below, the night sky, the pool, everything is in a foggy haze in Soobin’s mind. His only focus is you, on how downy soft you are, how you shiver as his tongue darts out to catch at water droplets on your skin.

“Easy for you to say, you’re still wearing someth—ah,” you squeak as Soobin yanks your now-completely untied bottoms away, balling them up absently in one hand and hurling them to oblivion. “Wait, I’m serious, Soobinnnnnnngh.”

He groans into the apex of your thighs, mouth open wide and tongue flattened along as much of you as possible. God, yes, this is exactly what he’s after, concentration and essence of you overwhelming his senses. Slowly, he curls the tip of his tongue, dragging his mouth up, the motion gently parting wet layers of inner softness. You slap a hand over your mouth, moaning as the tip of his tongue laves over the sensitive crest at the very peak, and he lingers there for a moment, leaving an openmouthed kiss.

Blindly, he fumbles above him, finding your arm and pulling your hand away from your mouth, anchoring your wrist to the chaise. He feels your other hand tighten hard in his hair as he continues leaving wet, sucking kisses all over the sensitive tucks and pleats of flesh, working you up with ruthless patience.

He daydreams about this more often than he cares to admit, even more so when the two of you are apart, and he’s determined to learn and implement the way you like it best, the way that makes you lose all sense of shame. Admittedly, he gets a little carried away in part because you’ve told him your former partners were merely passable at eating you out. His competitive streak, combined with this growing obsession with you, make him determined to be extra attentive whenever you grant him this opportunity.

It’s difficult to stay focused, though, the hot and wet feel of you on his mouth, the taste of you on his tongue, enough to make him delirious. He easily gets lost in the savoring, mapping every inch of you under his tongue, lingering in places just because it makes you tremble and whine like you’re desperate for him, and he wants you just as desperate for him as he feels about you.

He hums into you, delighted, when your legs close in around his head as he closes his mouth over your clit and sucks. Everything goes muffled, even the little moans of his name you’re trying to bite back, but it hardly matters when he can feel your limbs shaking, feel you hot and throbbing against his mouth. You start trying to buck your hips into his face, and he slides his free arm over your abdomen and pins you down, steadying you both. He tongues over you in wet, languid strokes, feels the clenching flutter of the entrance into your body. Pure fascination drives him again, and he strokes you there again, stiffening his tongue and driving it into you.

Oh, god. The tight, blistering heat of you, the taste, nearly unmans him. He moans into you, guttural, and nearly loses his mind at the way he can feel your inner muscles fluttering and clenching rhythmically on his tongue like a heartbeat.

The overwhelming need to make you come slams into him like a tidal wave. He’s determined now, anchoring you in place and delving his tongue into you in delicately aggressive thrusts, nuzzling into you deeper and deeper. He can hear you whining even with your thighs muffling his ears, the sound increasingly desperate, and he wants to give you anything in the whole world that you want, would roll over and bark if you asked, so he doubles his efforts and slides his mouth back up to suck and tongue at that most sensitive bud, wringing sensation like raw honey from the comb.

He wonders for a brief moment if he could come just like this, completely untouched with his face buried between your legs, moaning into you like your pleasure is his own, and if that makes him a munch then so be it. And then you tense and tighten against him for a full moment and the pleasure uncoils, your whole body arching and shuddering in euphoria. He shoves his tongue back into you and moans, lightheaded at each of the siphoning ripples of fulfillment pulling him in deeper, drunk on the little sobs of pleasure you make.

God. He’s never wanted anything as much as he wants to be wrapped up in you right the fuck now. He eases you through the quaking pulses of ecstasy and starts fumbling with the drawstring of his swimsuit, taking care not to touch himself for fear of blowing his load in his pants like a teenager. Raw need claws at his insides like a rabid animal, desire to make sure everything is perfect for you warring against his impatience, his craving to skip over things like a condom and gentleness and—

Condom. Oh. He remembers reminding himself to grab one, remembers seeing the box of them tucked into his bag and knowing one would be needed, and yet here he is, empty-handed. Fuck.

“We have to go back to the room,” he groans, leaning back and mopping his chin with the back of his hand. “Now. I need to be in you more than I need to live another day.”

Through your pleasured exhaustion, a lazy smile forms on your lips. You shake your head, glancing over and gesturing at his dress shirt you’d borrowed.

“Don’t need to go back downstairs,” you breathe, and fuck, your post-orgasm voice is devastatingly sexy. “Get the shirt, I brought a condom.”

He blinks at you, once, twice, not comprehending. “You...”

Color flushes over your skin prettily. “I...I thought it never hurts to be prepared. For anything.”

Soobin is trying to process that you’ve had a plan for being up here that involves a condom. Dazed, he glances over at the neighboring chaise, reaches for the shirt.

“Is there a condom...in the shirt...?”

Your breathless giggle ties his insides into little knots.

“You didn’t notice the weird shape in the breast pocket earlier?” You ask, eyes crinkled in mirth.

Through the haze of oh my god she wants us to fuck, Soobin finds it in him to be indignant again. “I wasn’t looking at—I was trying not to look, you know, at...”

He huffs a sigh as he extracts the condom from the shirt pocket, unable to stay annoyed even as you keep giggling at him.

“Here I was trying to be respectful,” he tsks, smiling even as his ears grow hot.

You snort. “Ah yes, the respectful boyfriend that strips his girlfriend at a public pool and commits sex acts on her where anyone could stumble in on them.”

“No one’s going to stumble in,” Soobin breathes, trying to make his hands dry enough to tear the condom packet open.

“What do you mean?”

“Pool’s closed,” he says, giving up and tearing at the packet with his teeth.

“The pool is closed? Are we going to get in trouble for—”

“It’s not really closed,” he says. “I just paid the front desk to tell the rest of the hotel guests that it’s closed.”

You stare at him for so long in stunned silence that he starts feeling a little antsy. “You bribed the hotel...so you could have sex with me?”

“I would bribe anyone with anything to spend even five platonic minutes alone with you,” he protests, fumbling the condom out of the wrapper.

He stills when you grab his wrist, arresting him with your stare. There’s something at work behind your eyes, something he doesn’t know the name for.

“What?” He whispers.

After a long moment, you swallow. “Nothing. I just...no, nothing. Here, let me.”

You keep eye contact as you slip the condom out of his hand, and he shivers when your other hand brushes down his abdomen. His breath stutters when you take hold of him, and he feels himself twitch in your hand after going so long neglecting himself.

If he doesn’t redirect his attention he may still finish before he can even get inside you. “People might—might still be able to see from windows,” he stammers as you roll the condom on, spreading your legs.

You shrug a shoulder, abashed smile still on your face. “If they see, they see,” you breathe.

Sometimes you make him breathless.

“Remind me not to believe you,” he murmurs, settling himself between your legs, “when you say you’re too shy to do this out in the open.”

You laugh as he drags his tip over you, catching on your entrance. “Don’t push it, this is a special ca—ohh.”

Ohh, indeed. Soobin moans and drops his forehead against your temple, feeling what little remains of his sanity obliterating the further inside he eases into you. You’ve been intimate like this before, but no matter how prepared Soobin thinks he is, every time feels like the first time all over again. Nothing ever truly prepares him for the scalding hot, wet glide into unimaginable tightness, for how even when you’re relaxed, he has to bully himself into you inch by inch. He’s shaking with the effort to be gentle, nudges his hips slowly until bit by bit, all of him is enveloped snugly inside.

“How can you feel this perfect,” he groans, most of the willpower left at his disposal exerted on lasting, good god he needs to last even just to feel you around him like this for longer—

You laugh again, breathless, and the way that feels when you’re connected like this is sinfully good. “I try.”

“No you don’t,” he gasps, rocking his hips gingerly into yours. “You just are.”

You whimper as the angle of his hips drives him into a sensitive place inside of you. He grinds into the spot again, careful, his restraint threadbare but hanging on.

“Please,” you pant, hitching your knees further up, and the adjustment of angle forcing him even deeper.

Soobin nearly chokes on his own tongue. Fuck. He thrusts like he’s afraid of himself, mantra of don’t come don’t come don’t come flooding the forefront of his mind, sheer force of will.

“I won’t break,” you plead, voice so breathy and fucked-out it belongs in high-end porn. Sweet merciful god, he can’t do this.

He feels your mouth drag along his shoulder, and then a flash of sharpness. His body reacts to the bite before his mind can catch up, hips surging hard against yours, strangled noise punching out of his throat. Your legs tighten around him, intimate muscles clenching in that way that means hell yes, and the groan from deep in his chest is inevitable as he snaps his hips again. Fuck.

Yeah, okay, he can do this for you. That base instinct in his gut purrs like a feral dragon at the way you can no longer hide your moans, being fucked like this. His new goal now is to build stamina, he’s determined, needs to be able to do you exactly how you want it for hours without stopping. He thinks he might be moaning too but he can’t hear, so preoccupied with drinking in every clench of your muscles around him, every little pleasured expression on your face, addiction to every part of you wrapped around him like this so intense he feels lightheaded.

He can’t tell if you’re shaking or he is, only knows you’re pulling him in like you aren’t already as close as it is humanly possible to be, like that somehow isn’t enough, like you can meld yourselves into a singular being if you try hard enough. Your fingernails dig hard into his shoulders, your breath stuttering in that way that tells him just what’s coming next, and then you shatter around him.

You become impossibly tighter around him, bearing down with rhythmic spasms luring him deeper inside, as if that’s even possible, like he hasn’t been working himself as deep into you as he can go, purely for selfish reasons. He never wants to leave, would live inside you if he could, and he loves that you get like this with him, loves the way you go soft and pliant when the release begins ebbing, god, he loves—

His release hits him with no warning, no buildup, hard as a bullet train. Fuck. It feels like nothing that’s ever happened to him before, and a stab of panic electrocutes him through the feeling. His ears are ringing, alarm bells tolling danger in his bones, and he feels out of control, completely gone, glass making impact at last and shattering into far-flung pieces, impossible to gather again. It’s all he can do to gasp for breath, clutching at you like handfuls of sand that keep slipping away, hips rocking into you, slow, rhythmic, with a mind of their own.

Your arms slide around his back, warm pressure like an anchor point, and just with that, with your tight embrace and each deep breath you take, you’ve found each piece of him, binding him back together. Only now the essence of you fills in the cracks, the healing balm, each sinew of him now limned with your glow. A moth made of flame.

Soobin tries to take as even breaths as possible, tries to sound calm, rests his face against the chaise next to your face and feels a hot stinging drip from his eyelashes.

He knows what that look in your eyes was earlier, he realizes. The unidentifiable emotion. He knows because it’s clicking for him right now, the knowledge that he feels that way, too.

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[darl-ingfics]

All of your little prompt fics so far have been so sweet and such a joy to read. I eventually want to comment on them when I have the time. I especially loved the Yoongi fic. I’m always so excited when I see that you’ve posted something.

If it’s not too late to send in a prompt, would you be able to do 2 and 13 with our big soft boy San? I’m happy with any caretakers. If you aren’t taking anymore prompts I totally understand. ❤️

-Tilly

HI @tilly-poppies!!! I so loved writing this for you, and I hope you enjoy! It's definitely on the sillier side.

2 "You never sneeze this much. Are you sure you're feeling okay?" and 13 "I don't like the sound of that cough."

“I don’t like the sound of that cough,” Seonghwa whispered into Hongjoong’s ear as both members eyes locked on San, who was currently the only one on stage, testing the lighting and mics for his solo moment. It was blatantly obvious that San wasn’t feeling well. Even with all of the stage makeup, his face still had that pale, haggard look about it, with the heavy lidded eyes and flushed cheeks. The hands that held the microphone stand were shaking and he was still fully bundled up in his jacket and sweats, despite the harsh stage lights that had led the rest of the group to strip as much clothes of as was socially acceptable. And, most obviously, San’s voice was so much deeper than normal, and he couldn’t go five minutes without coughing. 

“I know. But I don’t know what else to do,” Hongjoong replied, sighing out his frustration. “I asked management. They said ‘unless he has a fever, he’s going on.’ Not to mention the fact that San himself is refusing to sit out…”

“Maybe we enforce group nap time after sound check? At least get him to rest a bit,” Seonghwa suggested. 

“Could work. I like the group element. Feels less targeted.”

“Make him think it’s his idea.”

Hongjoong smirked up at his best friend. “I love the way your brain works.” Seonghwa grinned back, pinching playfully at Hongjoong’s butt before their attention was drawn back to the stage, where Yunho and Wooyoung had joined San. It was initially Wooyoung yelling into his own mic that snagged the eldest members’ attention, but it was quickly diverted back to San when the performer snapped away from the others.

“Bless youuu, Sannie~” Wooyoung chirped as Yunho laughed, smacking San’s back as the younger man held up a hand, clearly laughing. Hongjoong and Seonghwa shared a tight lipped, unamused look. One that only deepened when they heard (actually heard this time) another sneeze from the stage. Followed by another… and another. 

“Woah, there.” Yunho stumbled forward, catching San around the waist to keep him from pitching forward into the floor. The dancer still had a smile on his face, but even from their place in the wings, Hongjoong and Seonghwa could see the worried hyung alarms going off in Yunho’s eyes. “You never sneeze this much. Are you sure you're feeling okay?” Yunho had had a prior schedule that morning, and had missed the rest of the groups’ telepathic discussion of their Sannie’s condition. The two eldest decided now was the right time to join the others on stage. 

“Yeah, I’m fine.” San sniffled, rubbing his sleeve under his nose. “Just a little sick.”

“You should go rest,” Wooyoung said before Seonghwa could even open his mouth to suggest the same. The younger man’s voice was nagging as he crossed his arms over his chest. “Forget sound check. We’ll clear your mic for you. Go charge up so we can get down properly tonight.” 

“‘Get down?’” Yunho questioned around a barely contained laugh. “That’s what you’re calling what goes on on this stage?”

Wooyoung shrugged. “What do you want me to say? You can fully participate in our shenanigans? We can get down and dirty? We can get our sexy on?!”

“Yeah, I’m not getting my sexy on with anyone tonight,” San replied with disappointment, sniffling again. “Unless you wanna risk catching a cold.”

Wooyoung shrugged. “If there isn’t a little risk, where’s the fun?” He made a show of licking his lips, winking in San’s direction. 

“Alright, that’s a time out.” Hongjoong pointed at the steps towards the back of the stage. Wooyoung began to protest, but the captain continually overpowered him, sending the younger man to the steps to ‘think about his actions’ for two minutes. 

[mochinomnoms]

What would happen if both Yuu and Riddle “protect” eachother from their pseudo siblings potencial eel mate? Because we already see Riddle mother hening Yuu so if Yuu ever explicitly states how uncomfortable they feel around Jade I’m pretty sure Riddle would not hesitate helping Yuu getting out of situations with Jade or like being the third wheel in their project group (with Jade and Yev). And I feel that Yuu would feel the same if Riddle feels a similar way to Floyd cause personally if someone was making my presh baby sibling uncomfortable (or annoying them) I would not hesitate to put the fear of god into them/gremlin my way to cockblocking them.

But then again Jade and Floyd seem like they already made up their minds that Yuu/Riddle are already their mate, but how far will they go to go against their shrimp/goldfish in law?

I just feel like this has hijink potencial, like Jade would try to talk to Yuu and Riddle pops out of no where or Floyd tries to take Riddle away then Yuu comes sliding out of no where grabs Riddle then runs away (I personally headcannon that out of the sibling relationship that Yuu is just more of a gremlin than Riddle always having a bit of a clown flair to their actions whether it’s their intention or not (totally not projecting) while Riddle is like that reasonable older sibling where antics just happen around them)

Sorry for the long post this has just been rotting in my brain for a while. -🧀anon

BRO YES

I was intending on writing these sorts of interactions between them, but since I added the titles the flow of the story has changed a bit so I'm not sure if it will fit into the main fic.

But yes, once it's been established with the two that both of the twins are interested in them, and that they want to avoid them at all costs (no emotional health with these two lads), they are making a game plan.

Riddle is very prim and proper, so he's appalled at the thoughts Jade is having about Yuu (nevermind that these sorts of things are pretty normal for most people) and going out of his way to put space between the two. Jade comes up to whisper in their ear? Riddle is loudly asking, “Oh Jade, did you have something to say? Why don't you share it with me and Yev?” Lunchtime has been monopolized by Riddle and the rest of Heartslabyul, though some of the random students are confused as to why Riddle has insisted that they sit with Ramshackle.

Yuu on the other hand take it upon themselves to interrupt Floyd mid-chase with Riddle and asking him questions about Jade. Things they know he'll report back to Jade, but subtle enough that you couldn't take them at face value. “Hey Floyd! Question: what sort of things does Jade like? No reason, I'm just making sure I have gifts for your guys' birthday!” If Riddle is in at club practice? You're there and “talking” his ear off, interrupting Floyd's quips until he gets so frustrated that he leaves.

If they try to give either one of you gifts? “Oh, thank you, I think Riddle/Yuu will like this! I'll share it with him/them!”

Study dates? “Oh, let me join you too! Let's make it a group actually, I'll bring my dorm members.”

It becomes such a reoccurring thing, seeing Yuu and Riddle together, that rumors start going around that the two are actually dating. The twins are a mix of devastated, annoyed, and thrilled at the hilarity of it all.

Shrimpy doesn't want Floyd to mess with his Goldfiishie? Fine, let's have some fun, you said you wanted to go to the store? Let's go, and oh look there's Jade as well! Oh, and look at the time, Floyd has to go work his shift at the lounge (since when has he cared), have fun with your date with Jade! :D

Riddle is very protective of Jade's Pearl? That's fine, Yuu can stay with Yev then while he and Riddle go to the gardens to get some ingredients. And if Jade happens to disappear, Floyd in his place, well then it's just a coincidence! Jade just remembered that they also needed to buy some herbs from Sam's, he didn't mean to leave Riddle. :''''(

Morays may be cowards, but they're also opportunistic predators. They'll find ways to get around Riddle and Yuu's shenanigans. After all, if the two reeeally didn't feel the same way as them, they surely they would've said something to their respective eel. Maybe they like the attention~

[your-neighbourhood-antisocial]

I think Dumbledore left Harry with the Dursleys for three reasons (besides the blood protection magic thingie).

1) Like I said before, Dumbledore is very forgiving and very in favor of letting people make the right choice/prodding people into making the right choice. I rather think he genuinely thinks Petunia will accept baby Harry as part of her family! Of course, he’s hugely underestimating how deep Petunia’s resentment runs, which is a thing he does a couple times in the books. (He does this twice with Snape, actually!)

2) He’s a wizard, he doesn’t think physical harm and neglect are a very big deal. He’s also a wizard in the 1980s/1990s; mental health services were not as big back then as they are now, and from what we see of magical England they’re basically nonexistent in the society Dumbledore lives in. He does grasp that Riddle living in an orphanage had a negative impact on him, so he makes sure Harry goes a) to a blood relative b) who knows about magic and c) won’t let him get too arrogant about his heritage, which from his perspective ought to sort that problem out.

3) He thinks he’s being compassionate to Petunia and giving her a chance to reconnect with the magical world the way she wanted when she was little. And he’s of course dead wrong about that! But, again, he’s not omniscient and, more pressingly, doesn’t know Petunia beyond remembering a little girl who wrote him a letter 20 years before.

And then Harry arrives at Hogwarts and he’s generally fine. Some trust issues, sure, and he’s grouchy about being sent back to the muggle world, but he’s not exhibiting any major Riddle-esque behaviors so surely it all worked out! [ObamaGivingHimselfAMedal.meme] (I’m poking fun a little, but Harry’s really remarkably well-adjusted for someone in his circumstances, which causes a running theme of adults like Dumbledore and Lupin completely not getting how bad his situation actually is!)

As for Snape… I do actually like him! He's one of my favorite characters, though I think having him as a teacher would've made me cry. I think he’s an absolute jerk to his students and probably shouldn’t be teaching at all, let alone teaching middle schoolers, let’s get that out of the way. But he’s also very much a hero as far as actions go — he’s constantly trying to protect people to the point of endangering his own life and cover story, and he’s one of the few teachers who seems to care about the physical safety of his students, he’s just mean about it the whole way and insisting he will totally poison everyone and their little toads too. I think that makes him a fun character!

I think he’s also a good depiction of the long-term effects of trauma, systemic failures, cycles of abuse, and radicalization. There’s an essay that can be written (and has been written multiple times) about that, so I’ll be brief and say it’s a fairly normal human impulse to want to protect yourself even at the expense of others, and that’s I think where most of Snape’s more villainous backstory actions stem from including handing over the prophecy. (Which doesn’t make his choices less bad, but it does make it make sense why he does them.) And it’s neat that going over to the good guys didn’t and doesn’t resolve literally any of Snape’s issues! He is mean and vindictive and unstable and severely traumatized and he never gets help and he never really gets better and still does his level best with what he’s got and gives everything he has to make the world better and protect the people who hate him. And that makes him a genuinely interesting and layered character. (And a compellingly-written one, since we’re all arguing about him in the year 2025! I am holding myself back from writing like 8+ paragraphs of Snape Takes in the year 2025!)

Phew! That was some in-depth analysis, anyway your thoughts on Dumbledore is super thorough, but I still think that he should've done something about the cupboard under the stairs. But, overall I think he is a good character, not the greatest but good.

About snape though, he was an absolute jerk to everyone but ig being a double spy does that to you. But, in the books he never protected the trio from remus, it was Sirius, snape was knocked out. And he was truly disappointed that Sirius didn't get kissed, I get that him being a bully and all but he also threatened to get remus kissed which was just plain bad. But, overall he is an interesting character and I have a love-hate relationship with him

[physics-of-one-piece]

I absolutely cannot wait for “I’ll build castles for you, my love”!!! I’m now a sucker for possessive soft, brought to his knees for you Doflamingo. I’m so excited to see how you write the full fic since I’m so in love with the little snippets you’ve written so far! Sending lots of love and writing inspo your way!!! ❤️❤️

Aaaa, I'm excited too, anon! Thank you so much for this lovely message, for sending the inspo my way, and I am sending you all the love! ❤️❤️

I took a bit of a break from writing I'll build castles for you, my love since I went all out and wrote like 15k overall in like a week or two and I've been writing what I call Red Suit Doffy Fic which is set sorta in the same setting, except Doffy manages to get Reader right away before the marines come pick her up so...

I just used it as an excuse because my jaw was on the floor when I saw North Blue Doffy wearing his red suit on Minion Island. Just... On the floor. God, he looks so ✨FINE✨ 😩

Possessive, soft, brought down on his knees for you Doflamingo is def my favourite Doffy to write. He has his soft moments, but he is def also an absolute gaslighting asshole. I always try to keep Doffy... Well, Doffy. For, I'll build castles for you, my love by having that last remaining bit of you as family via your connection to Rosinante, he clings to you a... A lot. He doesn't show you at first, but oh boy, the more times he visits, the more times he sees you, he just... There is a flutter in his chest that gets stronger and stronger with every visit. You're his, your baby with Rosinante might as well be his, too. Forget Rosi. Doflamingo's the better brother - he is the one who walked out of Minion Island alive, after all, and he wouldn't have done that if he wasn't better, now would he?

I think the most fun (read terrifying) thing has been just writing that Celestial Dragon Thought Process™ Doflamingo has, and after rewatching Ep 733 where he explains his view of people to Luffy, seeing on how he treats "humans" depending on his fondness/feelings for them is interesting. And also, Celestial Dragon Traditions which are FUCKED UP. They're 800 years old, so there will be some fucked up practices they consider normal which Doflamingo sticks with - such as the head of the CD family having a right to marry his dead sibling's spouse and taking his family as his own! Isn't that neat? 😊 It's totally normal for Doffy to fantasize about marrying you. Totally normal for him!

Okay, I am now obliged to share a snippet from I'll build castles for you, my love bcs your message made me so happy, thank you for sending it, anon. Lemme just skim and see sth non-spoilery (hopefully)...

***

“Nothing would stop me from coming back to you,” growled Doflamingo, his forehead creased in a frown, his smile gone; he wasn't playing around anymore. “There could be an army of ten thousand in my way, and I’d still come back to you!”

You froze. Your hand went limp in Doflamingo’s massive grip. He was crowding your space, infringing upon your personal bubble without a thought for your comfort, invasive. His tanned hand clutched yours, dwarfing it.

“Why can’t you get that?” he demanded, his face intimately, terrifyingly close to yours. 

***

I need everyone to know Doffy SPEEDRUNS the Grand Line and gets his warlord title a MONTH after Rosi's death in this fic so he can be there for Reader during her pregnancy. You thought Luffy's crew did a great speedrun? Nah, the Donquixote Pirates invented the Grand Line Speedrun.

Thank you for the kind message, anon. Sending all the love to you ❤️

[beefromanoff]

Tempting Fate Ch. 11

summary: the rest of the party and the aftermath

author's note: second half of the party chapter, enjoy <3

masterlist

tag list: tag list: @yiiiikesmish @sunflower1290 @barnescamboy @thedisc0spider @bitchy-bi-trash @kulteule @kandis-mom @i-mushi @unknown-writings @jainaeatsstars @mcira @brooklynbear32

The party had just kicked into another gear when Sam Wilson spotted her— a short haired blonde perched at the bar in a dress that probably cost more than his first car. He made his way over with a grin.

"You must be Jade."

She looked up, one brow arched. "Depends who’s asking."

He chuckled, reaching out a hand. "Sam Wilson. We’ve never officially met, but I feel like we’re about to have a trauma bond. Our best friends are in the middle of the weirdest love triangle-slash-life crisis I’ve ever seen."

Jade lit up and shifted to face him fully. "Oh my God, you know about it! Tell me everything. It's so hard to be a long distance bestie."

Sam leaned a hip against the bar, swirling his drink. "Okay, so here’s what I know from the front lines. Evie started what, a couple months ago? The day she started, you’d think those two had just witness a nuclear meltdown. I’m talking, catatonic. Which, I mean, for Bucky isn’t too far off from his usual communication style. You know, grunts and gestures. But for Steve, it was definitely unusual. Girl had them both shaken up from the jump. It’s been like watching a social experiment ever since. Sometimes they’re totally cool together, sometimes I’m afraid I need to sleep in my suit in case I need to break up a grudge match between two hundred year old super soldiers in the middle of dinner."

Jade laughed. "What even is their dynamic? Capta—Steve and Bucky, I mean. Like, are they dating? Friends with benefits? Rivals? Besties?"

Sam raised his hands. "Unclear. They're both clearly infatuated with the same woman and somehow... fine with it? Most of the time? They all go on dates—sometimes together, sometimes apart. But they don't talk about it. Ever." He sipped his drink. “There was a night at an arcade, I think that was all three of them. Then another time, Steve left home dressed for a dinner date, Bucky left a few hours behind him, Steve came home alone and Bucky…didn’t come back for another hour or so? Shit was so uncomfortable.”

Jade grinned. "This is filling in some hilarious gaps. What else can you tell me, Sam Wilson?"

"So I like to mess with them, right?" 

"Naturally."

"Okay, so early on after we all met her, Evie pulled an all-nighter in the lab and I told her to come sleep it off at our place instead of going all the way home."

"Chivalrous," Jade commented.

“So she passes out on our couch, Steve and Bucky wake up to find her there, and I’m not exaggerating when I say they probably went out on a forty mile run afterwards. We didn’t see either of them for hours.” 

“Is that a good thing?” She raised an eyebrow. 

“I think the jury is still out on whether any of this is a good thing or a bad thing.”

“From where I’m standing, it seems pretty fun.” Jade sipped her cosmo, smirking.

"Says the one who doesn’t have to live with two thirds of this dysfunction. I mean...these two haven't been normal about her, ever, but, I'm telling you, it just keeps getting worse. I'd never put pressure on a woman, I mean, I have a sister," He gave Jade a knowing look, like it excused what he was about to say. "But if those two don't get laid soon, I think they might decimate half of the city."

Jade clutched her heart. "That’s the most romantic, moderately concerning thing I've ever heard."

Sam nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Welcome to my life."

"Well, if Evie's pulling all-nighters in the lab, she's not too far gone. She's done that her whole life. I used to joke with her that she was made in a lab, that's why she feels so at home there." Jade paused as she raised her glass to her lips. "Come to think of it, she's also been a Captain America fangirl her whole life too. I guess some things really never change." 

"Wait, really?"

Jade gave him a look. “Oh yeah. She had a Captain America poster in her room for years. And the stories her grandma used to tell were basically bedtime propaganda for Steve Rogers being prince charming. Bucky, too. Even before he was pardoned, Evie insisted he was a good guy because of everything her grandma used to say. According to Evie, she grew up thinking the super soldiers were real-life fairy tale princes.”

Sam raised a brow, curious now. “Her grandma told her all that?”

Jade nodded. "Oh yeah, she told stories about them all the time. I guess she actually knew them back in the day. I wouldn’t have believed her, but when we went back to Evie’s parent’s house one summer, I saw the old photos in some scrapbook. She sure did."

Sam's brow furrowed. "What do you mean, 'knew them'?"

She shrugged. "They were friends. Good friends, I think. I only saw a few photos, but they looked pretty cozy. But then again, Evie’s grandma never met a stranger. That’s actually who she’s named after. Genevieve. She went by Ginny, but Evie’s always been, well, Evie."

Sam froze.

Jade kept sipping, oblivious. "If Evie’s any indication of whether manifestation is real, I guess I need to get a poster of Pedro Pascal in my bedroom, stat."

"Genevieve," Sam repeated slowly. "Your friend’s full name is Genevieve Langston."

"Yeah, why?"

Sam stared at her. Mouth slightly open.

"Oh... shit."

“What?” Jade cocked her head, brow furrowed at the sudden change in tone. “Wait, where are they anyways? I haven’t seen Evie in like, half an hour.”

Shaking his head as if to clear it, Sam glanced around the room. “It’s been…it’s been bit for those two as well. Shit.” He downed the rest of his drink and set the glass on the bar, walking towards the edge of the room.

“Why do you keep saying that? Where are you going?” She pranced behind him, the clicking of her heels drowned out by the music and conversation.

"Let’s think about this,” Sam muttered, scanning the room as they walked, "when your sexually frustrated best friends vanish from a party together, and one of them spent last night trying to threaten me to fly them home early over a text message from the girl they probably vanished with, you don’t exactly need a SHIELD briefing to figure out what’s going on."

Jade paused beside him at the edge of the crowd, squinting suspiciously toward the hallway with a coat closet she’d seen on her way in.

"Wait, back up. They actually tried to get you to fly back early? For Evie?"

"Steve was as close to losing his damn mind as I’ve ever seen him," Sam nodded. "Whatever Evie texted broke them. Short circuited. Completely."

Jade blinked. "Oh my god. She’s a wizard."  

At that exact moment, they heard it: a woman’s voice nearby, crisp and polished.

"Excuse me, have you seen Ms. Genevieve Langston? I’m hoping to grab a quick moment—Leah Westbrook, Forbes."

Jade’s eyes went wide as she and Sam exchanged a look. She mouthed. "Oh, shit."

"Nope," She said instantly, already turning. "Nope, nope, nope. We are not letting Evie’s first magazine feature be accompanied by a public sex scandal."

"Agreed," Sam said, already moving again. "Operation Save the Career: go."

“The coat closet.” Jade said tightly. Walking quickly but trying to remain as nonchalant as possible, they made a beeline for the hallway. They reached the door in seconds, but Jade’s hand on the knob stuttered.

“Locked,” she hissed.

Sam rolled his eyes. “Of course it is. They’re doing shameful, unspeakable things.”

Jade jiggled the handle uselessly as she hissed. “Evie! Open this damn door or so help me—”

From inside, nothing.

Sam sighed, loosened his tie, and cracked his neck.

“Stand back.”

___

It had been a blur.

Hands beneath fabric. Fingers skimming over lace. Mouths that couldn’t decide where to land.

Warm palms dragged down her ribs. Lips caught the corner of her jaw. Teeth—someone’s—grazed her collarbone.

Her back against Steve’s chest. Her thighs around Bucky’s waist.

Heat and silk and breathless noise.

Too fast. Too much. Too good.

His hands gripped beneath her thighs, holding her up like he didn’t feel the weight. Like he could’ve held her there forever. Behind her, Steve’s breath hit the curve of her shoulder like a match waiting to catch flame.

Bucky’s mouth on her throat. Steve’s voice, broken in her ear. His tie loose around his neck. The rattle of Bucky’s belt buckle against the rings on her hands.

Her dress hiked up to her hips.

One of Bucky’s hands was under the hem, his thumb circling higher, higher— Steve’s hands flattened against her ribs, dragging her back against him, anchoring her.

Someone whispered her name like a prayer. Someone else bit back a curse.

She didn’t know who she was moaning for. Didn’t care. It was too much and not enough—

And just as Steve’s hands slid higher—

The door exploded open.

"OH MY GOD." Jade exclaimed, pushing Sam inside and shutting the door behind them as well as she could with the busted latch.

Evie was suspended midair, legs wrapped around Bucky, Steve’s chest pressed against her back, both men looking carnal and ready to do the unspeakable things Sam had already assumed they were.

Bucky’s dress shirt was untucked and half-unbuttoned, sleeves pushed up, hair mussed like someone had grabbed it—which, of course, someone had. Steve’s tie hung loose around his neck, collar popped, shirt wrinkled. Evie’s dress straps had both fallen down her shoulders, her lipstick smeared and visibly printed against the side of Steve’s neck. Her hair was a wreck.

They looked like a Gatsby-era painting depicting sin incarnate.

And also, like they’d completely forgotten they were at a party. Both men straightened, letting Evie’s legs slide gently to the floor until she was standing between them, barefoot next to her discarded heels.

Sam slapped a hand over his eyes. "Seriously?!"

Jade didn't hesitate, storming into the fray. "I love this for you, babe, really I do—but the Forbes reporter is literally asking for you by name and unless you want your debut cover story to be accompanied by TMZ photos and a call from HR—"

Evie groaned. "Shit."

"Yeah." Jade tugged the hem of Evie's dress down to its full length and moved to put her straps back on her shoulders. All three grown men stood idly by, Sam politely averting his eyes while Steve and Bucky looked like everyone was suddenly speaking a language they didn't know. Jade snapped her fingers, raptly getting their attention. 

"Super soldiers, it's time to move." She gave Sam a stern look. "We cannot all leave here at the same time or it's gonna look even worse than what the truth was, somehow." Waving her hand one more time, she nudged Steve towards the door. "Go on, wait, fix your shirts, ugh, Sam..."

"I got it," Sam shook his head, pushing both men towards the door as he muttered commands under his breath. "Go straight to the bathroom. Fix yourselves up. Damn fools. Fix your shirts, splash some water on your faces, and for the love of God, don’t speak to anyone until you look less like a deleted scene from Basic Instinct,” he barked as he followed them out.

Jade stayed behind, shutting the closet door again before turning to Evie, hands already digging in her clutch.

“Okay, sit,” Jade commanded, pulling a compact from her bag and shoving it into Evie’s hand. “Blot. Do not smear.”

Evie lowered herself onto the lone bench in the cramped space, fighting a grin as she did what she was told. Jade was still giving marching orders.

“Your hair’s a disaster, no offense, and somehow there's lipstick everywhere but your lips. And…” Jade’s voice trailed off as she leaned in. Her eyes narrowed at Evie’s neck. “Oh, no.”

“What?” Evie asked, breath still uneven.

Jade moved the small mirror in Evie's hand and pointed. A dark mark was blooming just above her collarbone.

Evie winced. “Okay. That’s… definitely there.”

“Uh-huh.” Jade reached behind her neck and unclasped the chunky pearl necklace she’d been wearing. “We’re hiding that like it’s a state secret. Surely it's not the only one at this party.”

She looped it around Evie’s neck with practiced precision, then stepped back.

“There. Classy. Strategic. Nobody will know your neck was just treated like a buffet by the two most lethal men in the room.”

Evie bit back a grin. “I don't know about that, I heard Clint Barton was here somewhere.”

Jade rolled her eyes. “Which one of them gave you that anyways?”

“Hell if I know.”

Jade cackled. “Okay, you’re fine now. You look devastating and dangerous. Let's go make you famous for being brilliant.”

____

Across the room, Jade stood near the bar, drink in hand, watching Evie charm a small ring of people like she was born for it. The Forbes reporter was practically glowing, nodding along as Evie gestured animatedly, her eyes bright, her words fluid and clever. She looked polished, magnetic, every inch the Stark Industries prodigy Tony claimed she was.

Jade couldn’t stop smiling.

God, she’s good.

It wasn’t just Evie’s brain (which was terrifying) or her quick wit (which could cut through steel and male ego) it was her sheer presence. The way she commanded a room, even while holding a glass of champagne and talking about something so high tech that half the people gathered around her were only pretending they understood.

“She’s gonna rule the world one day,” Jade murmured into her glass, pride swelling in her chest.

“Yeah,” came a voice beside her, smooth as ever. “And I’m gonna take full credit for it.”

Tony slid in beside her, hands in his pockets, smirking at the sight of Evie charming the press with one perfectly timed joke that elicited a chorus of expensive sounding laughs.

Jade didn’t look at him. “You’re already planning your speech, aren’t you?”

“Obviously. I’m thinking something humble—‘I single handedly discovered, pursued, trained, and funded the second most brilliant mind in the world.’ Short. Sweet.”

She huffed a laugh. “You’re insufferable.”

It was quiet for a moment, but watching Evie, there was something softened in both their expressions.

“I’m proud of her,” Tony said, voice low. “Kid’s the real deal.”

Jade smiled. “I know. She deserves this.”

“Did I hear someone almost hooked up in my coat closet?”

“Almost?” Jade raised a brow, playing coy.

Tony grinned. “That’s what I was told. Seems like a missed opportunity.”

“Tragic, really,” Jade said, taking a sip. “Guess they didn’t want their professional reputations damaged.”

Tony tilted his head, a slow smirk curving across his mouth.

“Well,” he said, draining the last of his drink, “it���s a shame. I think mine is due for some damage. Yours?”

Jade set her glass down beside his with a little clink before meeting his eyes. “I don't have a professional reputation.”

"Have I mentioned that I love you yet?"

___

It was well after midnight when Sam finally stepped out onto the balcony and found them.

Steve was slouched against the railing. Bucky stood beside him, arms crossed, staring into the skyline with the expression of a man contemplating violence or reckless acts of romance, maybe both.

Neither of them spoke when Sam approached.

He sighed. “You two done sulking?”

"No." Bucky grunted.

“Yeah, yeah,” Sam said, patting his shoulder. “Your country thanks you for your plucky attitude. Now come on, your chauffeur services are needed. The girls are hammered.” He took the half-empty beer from Steve's hand and walked back through the glass doors.

Steve slowly stood, muttering, “Guess I'm not finishing anything tonight.”

The party had thinned out considerably by the time Bucky and Steve reentered. Music still pulsed low in the background, but the energy had shifted: less frenzy, more afterglow. Less lounging, more sprawling across the velvety furniture.

Evie and Jade were perched barefoot on top of the bar, dresses slightly askew, giggling like intoxicated little forest sprites. A bottle of top-shelf tequila was passed between them as they took turns pouring it directly into the mouths of three very willing participants: a current senator, a former NBA player, and Colonel James Rhodes.

“Say ahhhh!” Evie crowed, tipping the bottle as Rhodey leaned back with surprising grace.

“Ten points,” Jade announced, then added, “You’re next, Senator. Don’t be shy.”

Bucky blinked. “The hell—”

“Oh, oh, Eves!” Jade waved from the bar, spilling tequila down her own arm. “Our rides are here.”

Steve gave a good natured smile, holding a hand up to help them down from the bar. “Time to go, ladies.”

"His muscles are so big," Jade whispered incredibly loudly as she took his hand and climbed down. "I wonder what else is big." She winked at Bucky, who stood up straight, unsure how to react.

"Only one way to find out," Evie giggled, opting for the dramatic dismount as she spun on her tiptoes and let herself trust fall backwards off the bar.

"Shit," Steve stepped closer, catching her in his arms bridal style.

"My hero," She cooed, kissing his cheek and watching it turn bright red.

Bucky hadn't taken his wary eyes off Jade, who was holding the tequila bottle on the bar again. “Bottle down. Now.”

“Wow,” Jade said. “Okay, Dad.”

“Don’t call me that,” Bucky muttered as he plucked the bottle from her hand and put it on a shelf over her head.

"Daddy?"

"Steve." Bucky's voice was tight as he called for assistance.

"Coming," Steve set Evie down, keeping one arm looped around her waist as he reached for Jade with the other, gently guiding her with a hand on her lower back.

It took twenty minutes, three stumbles, and one unfortunate moment where Jade pressed every button just to “see the lights,” but they eventually made it down to the valet.

Evie had fallen into a fit of laughter that left her doubled over against Bucky, who was pretending not to enjoy the way she clung to his arm. Steve, meanwhile, was valiantly trying to keep Jade from going back upstairs and convincing the senator to join them for pancakes.

Once safely buckled into the back seat of Steve's jeep, the girls immediately flopped into each other.

“Do you think his abs have abs?” Jade whispered way too loudly, poking a finger into the air somewhere in Steve’s direction.

“They definitely do,” Evie declared, then leaned forward to press her cheek against Bucky’s left bicep. “And you’re like… a Greek statue. But colder.”

Bucky's brow furrowed. “Thanks?”

Jade reached up from the back and ruffled Steve’s hair. “You’re like… if Captain America was hot.”

“I am Captain America,” Steve said, gently batting her hand away.

“Even better,” she whispered, smug.

“Okay, no more tequila for you two ever again,” Steve muttered.

Evie stretched across the seat dramatically, draping her legs over Jade's lap. “You two are so pretty, it’s unfair. Like genetically unethical. I think just being around you two makes me ovulate.”

"What does that even mean?" Bucky looked over his shoulder.

"It means she wants to have all of your babies," Jade poked his shoulder.

Steve looked like he might spontaneously combust. Bucky coughed into his fist.

The jeep turned down Evie's block, headlights sweeping across the familiar entrance to her building.

“Come on,” Bucky said, hopping out as the valet opened the doors. “Let’s get you two upstairs." 

Steve helped Jade down on the opposite side of the car as Bucky lifted Evie by her waist and set her down on the concrete.

Evie immediately wobbled in her heels and grabbed a fistful of his jacket. “Whoa. Floor moved.”

“That’s gravity,” Bucky said. “Been around a while.”

Steve stood still as Jade looped her arm through his. “All good?”

“I’m great,” she grinned, leaning on him as she turned to Evie. “He’s warm. I’m keeping him.”

“You can borrow, but you can’t keep.” Evie slurred over her shoulder as Bucky guided her towards the doors.

Steve flushed as he followed them, trying to keep a very unstable Jade upright while also being physically respectful. When they finally made it upstairs and reached the apartment door, Evie turned and blinked at the two super soldiers like she was just realizing they were leaving.

“You’re not coming in?” she asked, swaying slightly.

Steve cleared his throat. “Not tonight.”

Jade waltzed through the penthouse and flopped on the sectional, already halfway into her post-party coma. “Lame.”

“Sleep,” Bucky said, pointing at Evie. “And water. And carbs.”

Evie leaned forward and poked a finger into his chest. “You’re bossy when you’re hot.”

He caught her finger gently, held it for a second. “You’re chaos when you’re drunk.”

“I contain multitudes.”

Steve smiled, a little crooked. “Goodnight, Evie.” He looked over her shoulder and waved. "It was nice to meet you, Jade." 

"Thank you for our freedom," She called, waving.

“Night, Captain.” Evie kissed him on the cheek before turning to Bucky and doing the same. "Night, Sarge." Jade wolf-whistled.

The door closed behind them with a soft click.

Bucky and Steve stood there for a moment, just blinking at the wood.

Steve finally said, “I’m too sober for this.”

“Same,” Bucky muttered. “Let's go drink.”

___

The apartment was quiet when Steve and Bucky returned. The buzz of the party was gone, replaced by low lamp light and the soft hum of the AC kicking on. Sam was still up. He sat at the kitchen island in sweats, nursing a glass of water. He didn’t look up when they walked in, just set the glass in his hand down and waited.

Bucky clocked the tension immediately. “You waitin’ up to give us shit?” he asked, pulling his loose tie the rest of the way off.

Sam finally looked at them. “No,” he said simply. “I’m waiting because there’s something you two should know.”

Steve stilled. Sam never used that voice, not unless something was serious. “What is it?”

“Did you know Evie’s named after her grandmother?”

Bucky raised a brow. 

“No,” Steve said cautiously.

Sam took a deep breath. “Evie’s full name is Genevieve. After her grandmother. Who went by Ginny.”

That made them freeze. Steve’s fist hit the counter a little too hard. Bucky didn’t move at all, like stillness might change what he just heard.

Sam didn’t push. Didn’t smirk. Just met their eyes and continued, voice calm. “Jade told me tonight. Said Evie’s been infatuated with you two since she was a kid. Her grandma used to tell her stories. Had pictures. Said she even had a Captain America poster in her room.”

“You’re telling me—” Steve’s voice caught. “Her grandmother is—”

“Yeah,” Sam said softly. “That Ginny.”

Silence slammed into the room. Bucky turned away, one hand gripping the back of a chair like it was the only thing keeping him upright. Steve leaned back against the kitchen island, arms crossed tightly over his chest, eyes unfocused.

“We kissed her,” Steve muttered. “We didn’t know.”

“This is…” Bucky shook his head, jaw clenched. “It’s like a fucking time loop.”

“She’s not Ginny,” Sam said. “You know that.”

“She looks like her,” Steve whispered. “We saw it from the day we met her. We should have known.”

“But she’s not her,” Sam said again, firm this time. “She’s Evie. Your Evie.”

They didn’t respond. Sam pushed away from the counter, letting the silence stretch. “I’m gonna go to bed,” he said. “Didn’t tell you this to make it worse. Just figured you deserved to know before you said something you couldn’t take back.” He paused in the hallway. “She’s a sweet girl and she cares about you. Figure it out.”

Steve stood frozen. Bucky didn’t look up. The only sound was the faint tick of the wall clock. Like the whole world was holding its breath.

“I knew this would come back to bite us in the ass one day,” Bucky muttered finally, voice low and bitter. “Just didn’t see it happening like this.”

“She’s known about us since she was a kid,” Steve said quietly. “She’s still a kid. Shit.”

Bucky sat heavily in the chair, head in his hands.

Neither of them spoke again for a long, long time.

Time stretched on into the unholy hours of the night, Steve stared into space as Bucky handed him another glass of whiskey, jaw tight. “Jesus.”

Bucky sat across from him, voice quiet. “I know.”

“She’s Ginny’s,” Steve said slowly, like saying it out loud might change it.

“Yeah.”

Steve’s gaze dropped to the floor. “We had her pressed between us. My hands were under her dress. Your mouth was on her neck.”

Silence stretched between them.

“You think I don’t remember every second?” Bucky said, voice rough.

Steve shook his head, face tight with regret. “What were we thinking?”

“We weren’t,” Bucky muttered bitterly. “That’s the problem.”

“The coat closet…” Steve started, then exhaled hard. “We had her—I would've... She’s so young. And we just—” He trailed off, swallowing hard.

“We didn’t start it,” Bucky snapped, sitting forward, braced on his knees. “You forgetting what she said? How she moved? She’s not some innocent little—” He stopped himself, exhaled. “She knows exactly what she wants.”

Steve was quiet a long moment. “But do we?”

Another beat of silence fell.

“This feels… wrong. Doesn’t it?” Steve asked. “She’s Ginny’s granddaughter, Buck.”

“Yeah. I know.”

Steve drummed his fingers against the countertop, fast and erratic.

“She looks like her,” he whispered. “Same smile. Same damn eyes.”

“Don’t say that.” Bucky’s voice was flat, almost warning. "She's Evie. I don't want to see Ginny."

“You would’ve done anything for Ginny,” Steve said, louder now.

“So would you,” Bucky shot back, sharp and hard.

The silence that followed was charged.

Bucky’s voice was lower when he spoke again. “She almost tore us apart.”

“No.” Steve’s voice softened. “We did that. She never asked for anything but our friendship. We’re the ones who ruined it because we both wanted more. It never would’ve worked. We were all too different. We just didn’t want to believe it.”

Bucky gave a dark chuckle. “I couldn’t look at you for six months.”

Steve huffed. “I’ve never wanted to fight you before then.” He leaned against the counter, dragging his hand over his jaw. “Jeez, Buck. Granddaughter? I don’t think I’ve ever felt older in my life.”

“It’s not just about Ginny,” Steve added after a moment. “That does...complicate things. It's just...unorthodox. I know she's made it clear what she wants, but for some reason, this perspective just makes it all feel...wrong. We're too old for her mother, how could we even consider doing whatever we're doing with Evie?”

"Well," Bucky ran a hand through his hair. "I don't exactly want to scour the retirement home for my next date, if that's what you're insinuating."

Steve laughed, hanging his head. "No. No, I don't want to do that either."

"So? Where does that leave us?" Bucky leaned forward.

"Is it wrong to want to be with her," Steve met his eyes. "Even after all of this?"

Bucky was quiet for a moment before responding. "If it is, then I'd be a hypocrite for calling you on it."

It was quiet for a moment as they both sipped their drinks. 

Steve stared at the floor, voice barely audible. “Why didn’t she tell us?”

“Because she knew it’d complicate everything,” Bucky said quietly.

Steve looked up, shaking his head. “Or because she didn’t want to lead with, ‘Hey, you knew my grandma.’ Doesn’t really set the mood.”

Bucky was silent for a moment, then spoke, softer now. “She looked happy. With us.”

“She still might be.” Steve nodded slowly. "We just need to figure out if it's possible for this thing to work without destroying all of us."

[samobservessonic]

StC Post-Mortems: Megadroid

Let’s take a moment to remember a character who might not fit into the normal criteria for these Post-Mortems, but was pivotal to StC all the same. You might be wondering why a robot who they had be the face of the guy who answered the letters even mattered so much, but in the pre- and early-Internet world of Sonic the Comic, Megadroid acted as our unfiltered guide to the absolutely insanity of letters kids were writing into a Sonic comic in the 90s. Turns out that the Sonic fandom was always a bit like that - it’s just that back then there was no social media void for them to scream into. Instead, there was Megadroid

And sometimes, he’d scream back

How it started

Most of the characters I’ve covered in these so far turned up later down the line, but Megadroid has been right there since the very first issue. Not counting the cover, Megadroid appeared in Sonic the Comic before Sonic did

This was his earlier design, but he would receive an update later on, which I assume was to give him more visual ties to the Mega Drive (or Genesis, in America). His role in the comic right from the start was to appear in the Control Zone at the start of each issue and provide some flavour text for what was to come and then at the end of the comic (or the middle, for a while) he’d appear in Speedlines, which was the letters column. And as I said above, Megadroid had so many very normal letters to deal with from readers:

(This isn't even the most unhinged example I could find. This one is pretty general, honestly) But as you can see, Megadroid would answer back in ways that were often just as out there. That’s the big difference between Speedlines and the letters columns over in IDW and Archie: StC really would print just about anything. While I totally understand why the other comics would generally stick to the more complimentary letters (disclaimer that I know Archie would sometimes include critiques, before anyone says so lol) and avoid putting OCs in the fanart for what I assume is to avoid any copyright drama, I’m willing to bet that they’d still get letters just like StC did, with kids screaming everything from how Tails should beat Knuckles in a fight to demanding feet pics from Sonic. We’ll never know for sure, but I think this look into the kinds of letters that kids write into comics is the most honest that we’ll get

Of course, there is the matter of the 90s and British media being a different beast. Even up until the early 2000s, kids would start their weekend with SMTV Live, where Ant ‘n’ Dec would yell insults at every kid who called into the show. It was a different time. But we’re fine over here in the UK. Mostly.

I do think that if the UK got another Sonic comic akin to IDW in this day and age (not counting those magazines filled with screenshots with cheap plastic tat attached to them), that the letters column probably would fall in line with the nicer versions you get today. But that’s why it’s all the more fascinating that we’ve got this time capsule that Megadroid’s given us

How it went

Outside of answering letters, Megadroid actually had two comic strips all to himself over the course of the comic. The first one appeared in issue 41 and was a light-hearted office tour, with Megadroid showing the readers around as if all the different features in StC were actual locations in the building. It was fun!

But skip ahead to issue 83 and we’d get an actual comic about Megadroid with a proper story! It was written by Lynne Gibbs, who as far as I could find, only contributed this one story to StC. The premise was that Megadroid was fed up with being taken for granted in the StC offices and quit to try to find work elsewhere. It was a neat little story filled with lots of little references to actual British society. Megadroid even found a girlfriend for a while, but it didn’t last:

Personally, I think he gave up on her too soon. Maybe if he’d just asked for a chip, she’d have given him one. Communication is the key, folks

But he ends up back home again by the end, with the shadowy figures of the StC creatives having missed him or at least missed his services

How it ended

We just saw this, but Megadroid was finally retired in issue 140 to make room for more posters with the budget cuts. Sigh. They at least had the decency to give him a little farewell instead of having him disappear from the comic without a word, so all things considered, it could’ve been worse. It’s just a shame that they had him talk about going back to the home planet that he mentioned hating so much in several of the letters…

It seems as if they couldn’t keep the voice of the audience down, however, because later on in StC they would bring Speedlines back, only this time with Sonic himself answering the letters. Which is just not the same. I can’t promise that I won’t heckle Sonic when we get to that point on the blog

Were there any unused future plans from the StC writers?

The poor guy doesn’t even have a page on the Sonic wiki, so I can’t say if there might’ve been any plans for him tucked away in Kitching’s now defunct Yahoo group. He does have a small page on the StC wiki, but it doesn’t mention any future plans that I could see and I find it a bit confusing how that wiki also includes stuff from StC-O along with stuff from StC itself (which is no disrespect to StC-O, it’s just that when I’m looking up StC info, it gets a bit confusing to find fan comic lore mixed in). I guess Megadroid isn’t as much of a “character” that you plan for. A lot of what we did learn about him in the comic was in response to letters that the kids sent in asking about him. Megadroid sort of grew with us, in a way

What would I personally have liked to see next for him if StC continued?

First off, get Speedlines back from this loser. Look at him! He’s too busy skateboarding to properly trade insults with British kids. He’s just not cut out for the role. Stick to what you’re good at, Sonic

Secondly, screw it, let’s make Megadroid an actual character. Amy & Tekno literally have a whole subplot about travelling through time and space. If Megadroid did return to his home planet, then that planet’s out there somewhere. Have the girls come across him on one of their adventures and help him deal with whatever problems are happening there. Then maybe get him back to Earth to answer all those letters! They could even throw in a few meta jokes, which comics love doing, regardless of how well they’re received

What if he was in other Sonic media?

I’m just gonna say it: put Megadroid in ALL the letters columns! Archie Sonic. IDW Sonic. Get Megadroid in there. Yes, I know this would probably be impossible for copyright reasons or whatever, but that won’t stop me from dreaming. American kids equally deserve to have their unhinged ramblings shot down by a passive-aggressive smiling robot. Isn’t that all anyone wants, at the end of the day?

[shreddeddescent]

OKAY!!!!

okay. so. i want to share this for anyone who is like.... cool about this worst case scenario bullshit i keep talking about. i think im writing it kinda good or at least in a compelling way, and honestlyyyy i just wanna post shit to be like hey. im having fun with it, and i think its really interesting to see how it all turns out. i think its been fun every other time ive posted about it, you guys seem to like it, but this is the part that will come off the most weird. if you dont know, ive tagged all previous things in this timeline as #wcs (worst case scenario)

so i think yall get this is like. the fucked up timeline. but like that its the going to be okay timeline too.

to explain more about it if you dont know, lets just say like. shredder did the fucked up thing he wanted. i think ive made that clear in previous posts about this. shredders dead now. they had to deal with the consequences of what he did to them. if the implications of that squick you out its totally fine. if youre not sure what i mean, im sorry. you DO NOT need to read further. but theres nothing specific about it here, this is just alllll the result of that. the results will be made clear by the end.

they went to big mama's hotel to get help from her with said consequences. its been dealt with. theyre now just recovering, being normal kids, still going to therapy. they're coping. but big mama's help always comes with a cost, but they havent figured out what that cost was yet.

so like. its been fun to explore in writing. IF YOURE WILLING to hear me out about all the fucked up shit turning out okay, feel free to read further. even if it sounds weird. i hope everyone can just be like.... respectful.

this doesnt have to be canon to the rest of my au, but if youve enjoyed it when ive talked about it....this is a big reveal shit for that timeline. if you are cool about everything im implying so far.

if youre not, again, you dont have to read forward. this isnt mature rated or anything, its just the implications of what the characters have been through are dark.

but the characters are going to be okay. and this right here is the reason they will be.

okay? okay. please be fucking nice.

missing context would be: raph saw someone in their room the night before, but he thinks he made it up. donnie also saw what he thinks was a ghost.

they went out for breakfast, and raph saw a turtle yokai he couldnt help but chase to the elevator who said her name was jennika, but she really wouldnt look him in the eye. and then they all discussed whether shredder had another experiment done before they existed.

questioning their origins, donnie and mikey scout the pool for recon as leo and raph come back from their joint therapy session with big mama.

--

The elevator door opened and they stepped out into the pool area. It seemed to be a rooftop pool, but the elevator had felt like it was going down. The view was the highest they’d seen, and yet the air was warmer than it had been in their room. And there was no wind, unlike their room.

They looked around and spotted their brothers, Donnie was sitting on the edge of the pool with his feet in, looking at his phone, while Mikey was doing laps.

Leo grabbed Raph’s arm and the two of them wandered over.

“Hey guys.” He said. “How’s the mission going?”

Donnie looked up and looked around. “No other turtles spotted here.”

Mikey jumped out of the water with a splash. “Yeah, just old people really. I don’t think they liked us.”

“You were doing cannonballs, that's why.”

Raph wandered over to the edge of the roof, resting his hands on the railing and staring out at the city. It was so high. Higher than fathers tower was. In fact he could see Foot Tower in the distance, dwarfed by this view.

He was above it. He was beyond it. But god were they ever high.

He felt Leo walk up behind him. “I hate this view.”

He sighed and nodded. “I’m surprised I don’t feel sick. I hate heights.”

He felt him step beside him and press his shoulder against his. “I know what you mean… it’s like it’s not a real height. There’s none of that wind whipping in your face. Like a big realistic dome with a view.”

Raph nodded, squinting out at the view. “The feeling of the window was freezing.. like ice. And here there’s no wind at all.”

“Me and Slash got Big Mama to tell us there’s some kind of cross dimensional portals between the floors.. that there’s protection magic around the floors. I wonder if something broke the one by our window.”

Raph tapped his fingers against the railing.

“Maybe…”

“You okay..?”

He looked up at him nervously.

“I’m… scared, honestly.. and I’m not sure why.”

Leo smiled down at him. “We’re gonna be okay. We got this, partner.” He held out his fist for a bump.

Raph ignored it to give him a tight hug.

Leo rubbed his back lightly and looked back over at the twins.

“Should we get the raisins out of here? Or do you want more recon?”

Raph sighed and let go. “I think I’d like to stay out of the room for a while. Try and relax.”

“Didn’t bring a bathing suit. Mikeys got those shorts, but you’re wearing jeans.”

Raph shook his head and looked around at what other yokai were wearing. Some were in bathing suits, others looked more naked from what he could tell.

He wasn’t sure if he was comfortable being naked though, shell or not.

“Maybe I’ll just sit.” He said as he spotted a lounge chair to the side.

Leo walked past him to go talk to the twins again and he watched them. He felt like a mom again. Out with her kids. At least he didn’t look like Splinter this time. Bathrobe and all.

It was about noon and the sun was shining, so it was getting busier the longer they stayed out here. But he just sat in the warm sun and let himself feel calm, he watched Mikey try and splash Donnie to coax him in, watched Leo strip down to his sweatpants to wrestle with their baby brother in the pool.

At some point Donnie wandered over to hand him his electronics and he smiled at him.

“You wanna get in?” Raph asked him, surprised.

He shrugged. “Might as well live in the moment for once. It is a nice day, and we’re not too weird here.”

“You want me to help you with your braces?”

“Nah, I’ll need them. I don’t care if they get wet.” He pulled his hoodie off and Raph stared at him. He never went anywhere without something on his chest.

He was surprised how weird it felt to see him like that in public. Donnie was somewhat round like Raph, but had more masculine features, for a turtle. But no muscle definition. Even in the cage he’d been wearing his hoodie. But he was feeling more free right now. Maybe this place was good for them.

Donnie pointed at his phone and headphones.

“If you don’t wanna join, you can like... Read or listen to music. There’s free wifi here.”

Raph hummed and put the headphones on.

“Thanks Donnie…”

He shrugged and made his way into the pool to try doing laps. Which for him was holding the edge the whole time.

Raph eyed the phone and looked through his music. Not much he recognized. He found Queen though, and decided to play that and close his eyes. Letting himself be a turtle basking in the sunlight for about 20 minutes.

He sensed someone sit near him and opened his eyes.

A tall furry lion Yokai was in his sunlight, looking down at him.

And suddenly he felt uncomfortable.

They seemed to be talking to him so he pulled the headphones off.

“Huh?”

“I said kinda a weird look for the pool. The jeans.”

Raph looked down at himself and back up.

“Yeah. Wasn’t planning on coming to the pool.”

He gestured over to his brothers with his head.

“Those your kids?”

Raph furrowed his brows and looked over at his brothers. They seemed to be having fun splashing each other.

“Kinda, yeah?”

“Huh. That one your… husband?”

Raph felt his face flush as he looked over at Leo.

“No, that’s my brother.”

He raised his brows and smirked. “So you’re a single mom?”

‘Female female female!’

His body felt cold despite the heat from the sun.

“Sorry, bet they dragged you out here without a bathing suit. Shame, you look like you’ve got a good figure…”

‘You’re going to get assaulted again!’

His heart was pounding in his chest. He looked in Leo’s direction desperately, needing someone to help him.

“Hey kid.” A deep familiar voice behind him said as he felt a hand on his shoulder.

The lion looked over him nervously.

Raph watched as the backside of a tall muscular turtle stepped into view, shielding him from the Lion’s gaze. They were wearing flowery swim trunks.

“That’s my son you’re talking to. He’s 17. Do I need to call security?” The voice said angrily. “Or are you gonna fuck off?”

Raph tried to quiet his beating heart. He felt like he might throw up. He felt like Slash might jump out.

And yet… This turtle made him feel safe.

“U-uh no problem man! My bad!” The lion quickly rose up and left. And the turtle took the chair and sat down beside him.

Raph looked at him nervously.

Broad shouldered and maybe 30 years old, his skin was a dull light green, his plastron wide and pointier than Raph had ever seen. Thick legs and strong arms. He looked tired but smiled warmly at him with wide, kind eyes.

“Are you okay?”

Raph stared at him nervously, pressing his hand to his chest.

“I-I might be having a panic attack…” he said softly.

The turtle reached out to offer his hand.

“You want me to count for breathing?”

Raph nodded quickly, taking his hand.

“In one two three four… out one two three four...”

He closed his eyes and followed the turtle's instructions. After a few minutes he felt okay again and stared down at the hand in his.

Two fingers. Their hands were so similar, but his were much larger.

He looked up at his face. He’d seen those eyes.

In the dark.

“It’s.. it’s you.”

He grunted softly in affirmation.

“You keep trying to get into trouble.”

Raph stared at him hard. He wanted to look away but he was terrified the man would disappear.

“What.. What's your name?”

“Kirby.”

“W-why are you following me? Why were you…”

“I just said you keep getting into trouble.”

Raph felt his eyes water as he stared at him.

“I-I’m not trying to, I thought I could just… be out in public, but I guess I’m too much of a s-slut…”

Kirby winced and leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and holding Raph's hand in both of his, staring at him so kindly.

“You’re not. People always want to take advantage of you. I’m sorry, it’s not fair.”

“W-why do you know that..? W-who are you..?”

He shook his head. “Just someone who cares.”

“D-do you know Jennika..?”

He laughed. A familiar laugh. “Yeah. We know each other.”

“Why… why did she cry when she looked at me?”

He shrugged. “She’s got complicated feelings. Hard to explain.”

“I-I’m not scared of you. I should be, I don’t know you…”

“You kinda know me though.” He said, a weird glint in his eye.

Raph grunted and stared at him frustrated. “Why are you so vague and annoying?”

He laughed and shook his head. “I don’t know. Ah. Leo’s noticed. You should be fine now.” He pulled away from his grasped hand.

“Hey!” They heard Leo yell from the edge of the pool.

Raph didn’t turn. He watched Kirby bolt up and give him a salute before disappearing into the crowd, he presumed to the elevator.

Raph just stared blankly at the space he’d been.

Leo sat in front of him, dripping wet and waving his hand in front of his face.

“Are you okay?! Did he hurt you?!”

Raph looked up at him and shook his head slowly. “No… h-he… uh, saved me..? There was.. a guy trying to…” he closed his eyes and winced. “He saved me.” He looked back at Leo, who looked worried.

“What did he say? Did you get anything out of him?”

Raph rolled onto his back and stared at the pool.

“His name’s Kirby. He says I keep getting into trouble. He pretended he was my dad to make a guy leave… I.. I felt really safe.”

Leo groaned and lay back on the chair. “What the hell is going on…?”

“I-I didn’t want him to leave..” he whispered and held himself. His heart hurt.

Leo looked at him sadly. “Raph..?”

“I-I knew him… h-he said I knew him…”

Leo frowned and rubbed his neck. “Maybe it’s like.. You said he pretended to be your dad. Maybe it’s not pretend. Maybe he’s our real dad. Maybe he’s our dad, and Jennika’s our mom and that’s where we really came from.”

Raph looked up at him. “Jennika wasn’t female… she.. she had a plastron like you, not me. Her tail was long. A-and dad.. dad was so clear our human stuff is his… They couldn’t have made us.”

He sighed. “Let’s just imagine we get to come from somewhere better though, yeah..?”

He looked up at him sadly and nodded.

“O-okay…”

“Do you want to go back to the room..? Cuz we can go…”

He looked over at the twins and saw they were just splashing each other. It looked fun.

“I.. I wanna join, but…” he looked down at himself. He couldn’t swim in these jeans. It was naked or nothing. And he couldn’t do naked.

Leo smiled and bumped his shoulder.

“Trade pants. These are fine.”

Raph blinked and shook his head.

“Then you’ll be in wet jeans…”

“Eh, it’ll dry.” He picked up a rolled towel from a rack nearby and held it up in front of Raph as a privacy barrier.

“C'mon, you go have fun for a minute.”

He groaned and relented, unzipping his jeans and pulling them off. Leo dropped the towel on his lap for privacy and quickly undid his wet sweatpants and passed them to him. Raph put them on, they were a little snug and too long but it was stretchier than the jeans. Leo put the jeans on and smiled.

“See? Easy. I’ll watch the stuff, you go swim.”

Raph eyed him nervously and unzipped his hoodie.

He wondered if Yokai had weird gender rules even without nipples.

He tried not to let it bother him, Leo was being nice and it would be a waste to make him do all that and then just chicken out.

He tossed the hoodie on the pile and decided to jump in.

He let himself float on his stomach for a while, feeling the refreshing water and the sun on his back. He probably looked like a corpse.

He felt someone jump on him and whipped around, seeing Mikey had decided to clamber on his back.

“Raph’s here!” He cheered and hugged him.

Raph laughed a little and shoved him off. “Careful, I’m not that strong a swimmer.”

He looked around. Leo waved at him from the lounge chair.

Someone splashed him and he turned, seeing Donnie holding on to the side of the pool.

Raph beamed. “Oh? We’re doing a splash off now?”

Donnie yelped and started swimming away.

Raph laughed and chased after him, Mikey was cheering from the center of the pool.

“You can escape Donnie! Kick those legs!”

Raph caught up and waved his arm at him, causing a big splash to hit him in the face.

“Nooooo!” He cried dramatically and pretended to sink.

Raph laughed and dove under water, grabbing him around his middle and standing up straight in the shallow end to carry him over his shoulder.

“I caught you!”

Donnie shrieked and laughed, pounding on the back of his shell. “Stoooop!”

“I’ll save you!” Mikey rammed into Raph who dramatically threw Donnie into the deep end.”

And then Donnie didn’t come back up for too long.

“Shit.” Raph dove down and saw him sinking, he grabbed his arm and swam up, dragging him back to the shallow end of the pool and stood holding him up.

He was sputtering and struggling to breathe.

Raph held him against his chest and climbed out of the pool with him and patted him on his back.

“Cough it up, you’re okay.” Raph tried. He was trying not to freak out and placed him on the ground to sit.

He was still wheezing

Someone touched his shoulder and he turned to see a sweet turtle face smiling sadly at him. “I can help.” She said as she pushed him out of the way and waved her hand in front of Donnie’s chest.

She was gaunt. Her arms and knees were wrapped in some kind of bandages, and she was wearing a strange one piece swimsuit on top that fit around her shell. The shell looked too big for her body, slightly off center.

She waved her two fingered hand from chest up to his nose, and a floating bubble of water came out of Donnie’s mouth and then dissipated on the ground.

Donnie stared at her in awe. “W-water bending?” He was panting and taking croaky breaths.

She laughed a little and smiled, confused.

“I don’t know what that means. Simple magic. Are you okay?”

Donnie was clapping himself on the plastron, trying to breathe without croaking. She rubbed his shoulder.

Raph looked between them. Their skin was the same deep blue green. She looked like she could be his older sister.

“I-I think I’m okay…” he glared up at Raph. “Why would you throw me in the deep end?!”

He kept staring at the woman.

She turned to look at him and gave him a sad smile. “His knees aren’t strong enough to keep himself afloat. Maybe with some practice.”

He kept staring at her. She was his height, and much thinner. But she had the same flat plastron and short tail.

“…how do you know that?” He asked.

She laughed sadly and looked down at her own limbs. “Experience.”

Raph looked down and realized that her feet weren’t actually on the ground. She was hovering 2 inches above it.

Donnie seemed to follow his gaze and his eyes went wide.

“Are.. you the ghost?” He asked quietly.

She turned to look down at him and rolled her eyes. “Do I look like a ghost? I’m quite corporeal.”

Donnie looked up at her frustratedly. “You know what I’m talking about.”

She tapped her chin in thought. “Do I?”

He groaned.

Raph put his hand on her arm gently.

“I.. I know you…” he said quietly.

She turned to look back at him with sad eyes.

“We’ve never met. I’m Venus.”

“I’ve… never met another female turtle…” he couldn’t help but say.

She tilted her head sadly. “No.. I guess you haven’t.”

“I-I’m sorry…” he said suddenly.

He didn’t know why he was sorry.

She laughed a little. “You don’t have to be sorry, it’s not bad to be female.” Then her eyes got sad. “But I guess that’s to be expected…”

Donnie shot up and stepped between them.

“How are you floating? Is that like something you were born with or can you learn? Does it help with weight distribution? Is that why you do it? If I could do that I bet it would help. Oh but then you wouldn’t be exercising your knees…”

She blinked and sighed playfully, placing a hand on her hip. “You are too inquisitive.”

Raph stared between them. They had the same snout. The same smug look on their faces.

“Venus…” he said softly.

She turned to look at him. She saw something in his eye and winced, looking away.

“Anyway, I’m glad you’re okay, kid. Don’t go swimming where you can’t stand up, and keep a brother with you at all times in the water!” She saluted and seemed to float away.

Raph wanted to chase her but he just… let her go.

Donnie groaned and looked at him funny. “She could have taught me magic! Bones don’t hurt magic!”

Raph looked down at him sadly, he knew there were tears in his eyes and Donnie’s expression confirmed it.

“Raph what’s wrong..?”

“Sh-she looked just like you…”

He scoffed and folded his arms. “Hardly. She was thin and agile.”

He shook his head and reached out to touch Donnie’s snout. “She had your snout.. your skin.”

Donnie was looking more nervous as Raph looked at him. He pushed Raph’s hand off him. “She can’t have been my mother. Shredder would have seen her as useless damaged goods. Maybe there’s just.. turtle yokai out there who come in such variety that she somewhat looked like me.”

Raph rubbed his arm. He was right, if she was chronically in pain like Donnie, and small and female like Raph… she would have been dead to their father.

“You’re not sure though…” Raph said. Donnie was making a face.

He sighed. “Hereditary illnesses are a thing, I suppose. But I don’t think she was old enough… unless she was… you know, younger than us when it happened.”

“Which Shredder would never have done, obviously..” Raph rolled his eyes and hugged his arms, turning away.

“Sorry…” Donnie mumbled.

He sighed and looked over. “I’m sorry I threw you in the deep end, I wasn’t thinking about that. I was thinking ‘don’t let him crack his head’ more than I was thinking ‘he needs to hold on to the edge to stay up’.”

Donnie shrugged and leaned against him. “I get it. We’re not used to pools and stuff. Thanks for jumping in after me.”

Raph smiled and rubbed his back. “I mean it would be shitty of me to let you drown don’t you think?”

Donnie grunted and nodded. “Extremely shitty cuz it would have been your fault yeah. Still. Thank you.”

“Are you as done with pool time as I am?”

“Yeeees..” He whined. “Need to recharge.”

Raph laughed and nodded, giving his head a kiss. “Okay.”

They wandered back over to Leo and towelled themselves off, Leo stared up at them questioningly. “How did the recon go? I hope that was what the FAKE drowning was?”

Donnie rolled his eyes as he was letting Raph rub his back dry so he could put his hoodie back on.

“Unfortunately that was a real almost drowning. I am fine, thank you for asking.”

Leo winced and stood up. “Shit, sorry. Are you okay?”

“Fine. She literally water bended the pool water out of my throat. And she was FLOATING! Did you see that?” He couldn’t contain his excitement.

Raph pat his shoulder and decided he should collect Mikey while Donnie got him up to speed.

He turned to the pool and didn’t see him.

Mama turtle went in overdrive.

“Mikey?” He called out, darting between people in the crowd.

The more he looked the more worried he got.

‘Idiot, you almost kill ONE brother and LOSE the other?’

He groaned and smacked his head. “Shut up Slash.”

That was new but he couldn’t blame him.

He did a lap around the pool and saw the backside of a turtle behind the bar to the side. He rushed over and realized this turtle was bigger than him.

“Jennika.” He breathed.

She turned in surprise and he could see Mikey behind her, smiling up at him.

“Oh, hi Raph!”

He whimpered and rushed forward, ignoring her to grab him around his shoulders.

“Where did you go! I was worried!”

He grabbed his arms and pushed him back.

“I’m fine! I made a friend, see?” He held his hand out to Jennika, who was standing awkwardly beside them. She was wearing a big white t shirt and baggy trunks.

“Sorry, you… guys were distracted and I wanted to make sure he was safe somewhere…” she barely looked at him.

That hurt for some reason.

“Thanks…” he stood back up, keeping his hand on Mikey’s shoulder to make sure he knew where he was. “I.. sorry, I shouldn’t.. assume things but. You’re… not female like me, are you..?”

She blinked and shook her head. “Uh… no. I used to be… sad. About that.”

A new emotion came over him and he gave her a look of awe.

“Are you… trans..?”

She gave him a surprised look. “Is that… okay?”

Raph could feel his eyes water but he smiled big. “I… I’ve never met a.. I mean, you’re a turtle like me, and you’re.. trans too! A-and that.. makes me happy, I-I don’t know.. sorry, I’m not… not trying to be weird.”

She smiled and shook her head, her eyes were wet too.

“No, it’s not weird, I really get it…” she rubbed her arm. “I didn’t know uh…” she coughed and shook her head. “No, I guess I’d always hoped you were. I didn’t understand myself.”

Raph was confused by her words but kept smiling at her.

“You’re beautiful.” He told her. He didn’t know why he felt the need to tell her that. It was overwhelming seeing someone like him out in the world.

She stared at him with a shocked smile. Tears were rolling down her cheeks.

“O-oh…” she sniffed and then laughed, rubbing her eyes. “F-fuck, can I hug you? Th-this is a lot but..”

Raph reached in instantly to wrap his arms around her. He just wanted to make her feel as happy as he felt seeing her. She was taller than him and thicker up top, but she was just a beautiful turtle girl to him.

She seemed to be crying above him as she held him back.

Mikey wandered over and smiled up at her. “See, she’s a friend Raph!”

The two of them parted and Jennika got down on her knee to idly punch his shoulder.

“You’re a good judge of character, but you still shouldn’t run off with people. Not here. There’s bad guys here. Only trust turtles, got that little man?”

He made a determined face and nodded. “Got it.”

Jennika then leaned in to hug Mikey. It looked like a bone crushing hug. Mikey just took it and tried to hug her back just as strongly.

Raph looked between them. They looked.. so similar. She looked like if Mikey had been well loved as a child and grown up strong.

The idea was making him cry again.

“Jennika!” They heard a voice call out.

Raph looked over and saw Kirby again. He was standing by the elevator and waving her over, he looked frustrated to see Raph again, and maybe a little sad.

Jennika looked up and wiped her eyes. “Shit. That’s my brother, he’s gonna give me a talking to…” She muttered slightly annoyed.

Raphs eyes snapped up at her. “Kirby’s your brother?”

She winced and rubbed her neck. “Uh, it’s been nice talking!”

She shuffled away.

Raph was shaking suddenly.

“W-wait!” He started to run but they both looked at him inside the elevator with a sorrowful look and then disappeared.

And he dropped to his knees.

Mikey put his hands on his shoulders. “Raph? What’s wrong? Is it the voices again?”

But his head was silent, save for a ringing in his ears. He stared at the elevator blankly. It opened again and they weren’t there anymore.

He wasn’t sure how long he was staring, he knew Donnie and Leo had wandered up holding all of their stuff, and it took the three of them to lift him off the ground.

“What happened, Raph?” Leo asked gently as they walked his body towards the elevator.

He just stared inside. He hoped to god they’d just reappear and let him ask the burning question on his mind.

He couldn’t say this out loud until he knew.

The elevator door closed and it was just him and his brothers again.

‘You’re right.’

He whipped his head around to look, but realized the voice was Slash again.

“W-what do you mean I’m right?!”

His brothers looked at him funny but he paid them no mind.

‘You know who they are. And you’re right. Big Mama told me the first time you let me out, she wasn’t gonna crush the eggs. She said we’d never see them again. She lied.’

“B-but that makes no sense Slash! Th-they’re too old! I-it’s been a week!”

‘I don’t know. But you know that’s who they are.’

Raph slammed his head against the wall and shook it hard.

“N-no!”

Leo grabbed his shoulder and looked him in the eye. “Raph. Talk to me. What happened?”

Raph looked around the elevator in a panic. Mikey and Donnie looked scared of him, scared of what was happening.

“I-I… not here… I-in the room..”

He didn’t want anyone's secret eyes on him right now. He couldn’t trust Big Mama. Leo was right. Why had they bothered to talk to her at all today? They were better off on their own!

The door opened on their floor and they quickly rushed back inside their freshly cleaned room. Raph checked every room, every cranny. The windows were closed and no one was hiding in the corners.

After his panicked rushing he sat on the freshly cleaned sofa and tried to calm his breathing.

His brothers all stood in front of him in the conversation pit. None of them wanted him out of sight.

“Raph.” Leo said sternly. He looked up and saw them all staring at him with worried eyes.

He looked between them. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “It won’t make sense. But nothing here does. There’s.. magic and portals and dimensional travel…”

“At this point no theory is too out there.” Donnie said.

He opened his eyes and looked at them all seriously.

“They’re our kids.”

[zot3-flopped]

Can I tell you what it’s like being a 40s/50s fan of 1D? Well, I’m team Harry, but I went down the 1D rabbit hole, and here’s how it is.

We can see the artifice in 1D because we’ve seen boy bands come and go. We can see they were genuine people in an intense situation and that their enthusiasm and friendship in the beginning was pretty real, they were immersed in 1D and all making the very best of it. By artifice I mean the interviews and videos which were designed to highlight their youth, and then later on, to keep them presenting as young. We don’t see sexual behaviour, we see them winding each other up!

They were kids. I have worked a lot with kids that age and they were textbook kids. Harry and Niall in particular behaved not like adolescents at times but like actual children. Not in a bad way, they just exhibit childlike behaviours which are totally normal at times for guys of 16/17. Louis is a shit to all of them at various times but he knows a supply of attention and he aged himself down for the camera: there was nothing cute about seeing a savvy 18/19-year-old horse playing and doing silly voices. If you were a fan back then, you are older now: imagine how fucking annoying it would be to be around that all day. (I have never been able to stand his fake ass.) 

They weren’t sexy: if you were 16 when they were 20, yeah, I get it, but I was 35 when they were 20 and it’s a huge no. I even struggle with seeing Harry as a 24-year-old grinding the mike during Medicine. 

I think they were a great boy band and that is fun, it’s fun for the mums too who are reliving their youth a bit, and back then there were probably some twenty-odd-year-olds who were a bit conflicted, but omg they were kids. I have nothing but contempt for the women who write fan fiction featuring a near-child and a young man cosplaying a child, having sex. It’s so far off the page WRONG. 

That is the view of every Harry fan I know who is my age group and yeah, he’s a lot younger than us and we are attracted to him, but fgs we aren’t being borderline criminal weird about a child. Those women answering the poll are not us. Harry and Niall in particular have a lot of older fans and I just wanted people to know that we aren’t in the same world as Larries, we were more likely to be drawn in by the Fine Line big trousers and we took it from there! Believe me there is a lot of horror and contempt in our group chats for those older Larries.

Nobody here has criticised ordinary 1d fans in their 40s and 50s. It's Larries we detest.

[phantombluego]

When you reply its my sign to write more 🫡

I have been falling into the Telemachus and the many men he gets shipped with rabbit hole. Especially Neo and Peisistratus so if you dont mind and lile the ships ill be adding them next time just friendship for now (ofc the siblings alwahs get priority)

[Modern au]

Telemachus would be the kid to teach himself new languages and show it off to Amphinomus and try to teach him and also so he could shit talk people (the suitors in this universe). Telemachus would be that guy and you cant convince me otherwise.

[Normal?? Idk what tk call it but back in acient greece]

I hc that Telemachus learned to weave from Penelope and would show it to Amphi when he was a kid even if they werent good. When he gets older he would sometimes weave his own clothes but not tell anyone but Amphi would recongize it sometimes by some faults in the pattern he knew Tele made whej he was a kid but still be proud of how far he got.

[Angst]

Telemachus would get jealous of Amphi for being able to leave and travel while he was stuck in Ithica and would sometimes hide the entire time Amphinomus was there especially after hearing tales of sailors or after the war when Diomedes or others came to visit to meet with Ody (who isnt there obvi) and talk about the war times and stuff

[Meeting a friend]

All the suitors were on edge that day and Amphi was curious why and went to ask why only to get ignored and tjen at dinner he saw a kid a little older than Tele (Neo) sitting next to him with Tele talking a lot and Neo sending death glares to all the suitors. Smirking a bit knowing the suitor feared him as the son of Achilles. Amphinomus learned why the suitors feared him later when he tried talking to Penelope and Telemachus with Neo standing behind Telemachus looking at him murderous intent but would relaxed and normal when Telemachus looked at him. Just kinda like a guard dog this was also me mostly rambling again

[Modern au]

Telemachus went on a school trip but when he came back he was unimpressed and when Amphinomus asked why he said they went to a zoo and one kid kept asking what animal they were looking at even if the little info thingie was right there but he wasnt allowed to be rude by the teacher. Amphinomus was very mucj amused picturing a Tele who was like 😐😒 the whole time but did feel a little bad for him

Gods I’ve left you for over a week my bad I’ll try reply faster 🙏 forever feed me the HCs heheh. Also ship stuff is completely fine!! I’m also deep in that rabbit hole of shipping Tel with everyone, it’s just fun lol, maybe too many though it’s a terrible habit (5 and counting…)

Omgs I totally see Tele doing that, he’d so be a nerd about it and learn fictional languages though, just to confuse them more. And to put both modern AUs together, Tele at the zoo getting annoyed at other kids is such a funny image, I absolutely love him (I’d totally be like that too). Amphi having to deal with the stories is also great, poor guy gets constantly vented to

Tele weaving is adorable Omgs, him doing it to be with his mother. My heart man. Then Amphis support through everything and being proud? He’s such an older brother man I love them

Poor Tels jealousy just let them journey together fr, I trust Tel in Amphis care 😭

Oh my gods guard dog Neo is amazing, I did a small one shot about that once lol. Telemachus getting a confidence boost with having Neo next to him, since the suitors don’t even dare look their way due to Neo’s aggression (minus Antinous I’d say, who’d challenge it a few times). Honestly love them all, Amphinomus not being scared of Neo too, perfect LMAO

[marauders-81]

I wrote after a long time…..

Fun fact!! This little short story is actually a Creative Writing assignment for English 😭😭

Fun fact 2!! This little short story is ALSO based off of a real life interaction with my crush 🙊

With that being said, let’s get into it 😚

WARNINGS: None that I know of, actually…. Maybe a BRIEF BRIEF mention of abuse? (Walburga and Orion being parents although they never actually show up in the fic, it’s like a blink and you miss it) also this is in fact angst and it’s like… unrequited Jegulus? And implied Jily because I love both and I can’t just choose one

Nervous was an understatement; Regulus was, in fact, terrified. He had a show today – a show, might he add, that was put together in a total of four days. He’d been given a dance number. It only lasted a minute, truth be told, but that didn’t help the fact he’d be onstage on his own.

***************

Regulus was nervous.

Of course, he’d always known he was a good dancer. His body flowed in the right directions, and when he danced, it’s like he threw every single one of his troubles into the piece. That being said, it was perfectly normal for Regulus to get stage fright. And on top of that his parents were coming to watch; and his parents had always had high hopes for him. What if he fell halfway through? What if he froze up, and everyone laughed while he stood there panicked? Regulus ran a hand through his hair and began to pace.

He’ll run away. Right before his number, he’ll run away and never show his face again, that’s it. Yes, he’ll get a fake ID and move to a different country, maybe as far away as Canada. He can start a new life, and never have to face the embarrassment of dancing ever. Yes, that’s what he’ll do. It wouldn’t be too hard, considering—

“Hey.” Regulus froze, instantly recognising the voice. It took the boy everything in him not to visibly swoon.

Looking up slowly, he came face to face with a smile; oh, that smile. It drove Regulus insane. Perfect white teeth and warm, full lips. Placed a bit further up - where Regulus didn’t dare to look in fear of having to acknowledge who exactly was in front of him – were eyes that seemed to make everything look dull in comparison. Bright, excitable brown with flecks of sunlight gold. Sunlight that reflected the taller boy’s personality to a tee.

“Hello, James,” Regulus said as firmly as he could. He couldn’t show his fear, his weakness; if he did, James would find him weird, and it would all be over. He’d never have a chance with him ever again. “What do you want?”

That wasn’t what he’d meant to say. He winced, finally looking into James’s eyes – those beautiful eyes – to find any hint of hatred or discomfort. There was none. There was, strangely, concern.

“Are you alright? You seem a bit stressed out.” The boy asked, his voice ringing in Regulus’s ears like the bass line of an acoustic guitar. Deep and strong but holding content and love in every strum it plays.

It took a moment before Regulus realized that James was expecting an answer. He’d been so caught up in admiring his voice that he’d forgotten the question… How embarrassing.

“Sorry, what?” He spluttered, cheeks flushing a strong tint of red. He’ll never look James in the eye again. This is awful. How could he ever live with himself? Maybe he should run away to Canada sooner.

To his complete surprise, the brown-eyed boy laughed. He laughed, and Regulus swore he could hear wedding bells cry in the background. “I asked if you were alright,” James repeated, talking considerably slower and leaning down to look the shorter boy in the eye. Regulus was sure his face looked as red as a stop sign now; even if he found himself hoping the other boy would do the exact opposite.

“Yes, I’m perfectly stop.” Nope. “I mean, I’m all fine. Right! All right. I’m awesome.” A pause. “… Coolio.”

Coolio? He might as well book the plane tickets now.

James looked at him, raising a simple eyebrow. God, he looked so cocky. So full of himself. So beautiful. Regulus couldn’t stop himself from cracking, and so he began to spew out everything that was wrong.

“No, actually. I’ve only had 4 days to learn my part for the dance, and I know I’ve got it down but I keep thinking what if I don’t remember when I’m on stage? What if I go on, and I seize up and everyone laughs? Oh man, my parents will be there. They’ll be so disappointed. I really don’t want to mess this up.”

James’s smirk faltered, and the genuine concern was back. He frowned and leaned down, looking at Regulus with pure care and respect in his expression; but Regulus couldn’t do it. His eyes watered and he tilted his head down in shame and humiliation. His breath was fast paced, and it took everything in him not to cry in front of such a beautiful boy. “Sorry,” he stammered. His voice cracked. He winced.

Regulus expected laughter. He expected ridicule, or maybe a scoff of disgust. Surely James wouldn’t want to associate with a crybaby. That’s what he was, wasn’t he? He grimaced, waiting to hear the sound of distaste that would most definitely come from the boy with the stunning curls.

What he didn’t expect was the feel of fingers. Rough and brittle, but smooth enough to calm anyone. They gently ran themselves onto Regulus’s chin, lifting his head back up and gripping him in a firm yet careful hold. Regulus came back into eye contact with James, who was staring deeply into his eyes as if he was the most important person in the world. Brown met hazel green, and Regulus’s brain fuzzed.

He somewhat registered that James was speaking; he did catch little words, cautious phrases. Things like “you’ll do amazing, I know it,” and “you’re the smartest person in this class,” and “I’ll still love you even if you mess up.” (That last one was, in fact, just a figment of Regulus’s imagination.) There was silence for a while, and he realized that James had stopped speaking.

Regulus nodded. He could feel his face flushing; blotches of pink spreading over his pale cheeks, bright enough that they could infect the warm brown hand that connected with his chin. Well, it was connected, at least. Satisfied with the response, James pulled his hand away and smiled reassuringly at the smaller boy. His arms spread out, and it took Regulus another moment to realize he was being invited in for a hug.

“I believe in you,” James’s warm voice murmured into his ear as his strong arms wrapped around Regulus’s thin frame. He nodded in response, closing his eyes and relishing the hug for as long as he could.

-

The performance went amazingly well to Regulus’s surprise. His body remembered the moves, and his flexible limbs proved themselves to be extremely useful. He glided and leapt around the stage, regal and prim. Impactful. Stunning.

At the very end, after every performance had played and the curtains were closed for the final time that night, Regulus sought out James. He wanted to tell him everything; how well he’d done, how proud of himself he was. What a funny comedy show James had put on. They’d both done great work tonight. Maybe, if he was lucky, James would tell him that he’s proud too.

He looked around, darting between people, his eyes nimbly flitting from group to group, trying to find the one boy he wanted to see. And then he found him. He lit up, calling out the older boy’s name and trying to push through the crowd; but soon realized he was already talking to another girl. Regulus recognised the girl, too. Her name was Lily; and she, too, was beautiful. Smooth skin, silky hair, and eyes as bright as day. Regulus also recognised how her cheeks flushed, similar to his own whenever James spoke to him.

James was leaning against the wall casually, looking at Lily as she gushed and spoke. He laughed at one point, before playfully pushing Lily back. The girl gasped in mock offense, before laughing even harder and initiating a small play fight between the two.

Oh.

Regulus deflated, pausing and watching as the two bantered and giggled, rough-housing with each other and enjoying their time. If he squinted, the pale boy could see a glow to James’s eyes; one that he didn’t have when looking at him, or comforting him. Regulus’s smile dropped slowly, and he looked away from the two.

Maybe it’s best not to bother them. James was happier with Lily, and you could visibly see that they fancied each other. Regulus decided to leave James for the girl to have; she deserved him much more than he ever would. Chances are that the beautiful boy with chocolate brown eyes doesn’t even like boys in that way.

It’s better to admire from afar anyway, in Regulus’s case. That way he can skilfully avoid getting hurt again.

[sergeantsporks]

Writing request: Since the hexsqad have never been exposed to any human sicknesses before, and therefore have no immunity against any of them, I think it would be funny to see at least one of them get sick the first time anyone sneezes near them. It’d also be fun to see how the biology of a witch handles a human sickness. 

“Mmmmmmmmmmmmmyaaaayyyyyy, you’re here!!!” Willow grabbed for Hunter’s hand as he passed by the couch. “Your hair is getting so looooong, Amity can braid it and we can match!”

Luz batted Willow’s hands away. “Ah, ah, no. You are sick. No touchy, you’ll get him sick, too.”

“I’ve never had a sick day in my life,” Hunter scoffed. He kept Luz between himself and Willow, though, peering over her shoulder at the sick witch on the couch. “What’s wrong with her?”

“As far as I can tell? A cold.”

“You mean a mold?”

“Nope. Here in the human realm, we have colds. They’re minor, just a lot of coughing and sneezing, but Willow’s gone down bad. Probably because she’s never had one before. The rest of you should probably steer clear of her.”

“I can help. Like I said, I don’t get sick.”

“I’m not going to risk it. I didn’t have a cold, which means Willow caught it from only a few seconds of contact. Now scr—”

Willow let out an explosive sneeze, and droplets splattered Luz.

Luz jumped back, right onto Hunter’s toes. “Ew!”

“Ow!” Hunter skipped backwards, yanking his feet out from under Luz’s heels. “Is it dangerous? Is that why you’re so keen to avoid it?”

“No, but it’s a pain, and it’s still gross.” Luz squinted at him. “Although I guess someone who licked my hand wouldn’t really think so.”

“I built up my immune system and my resistance to poisons by licking things I shouldn’t,” Hunter responded serenely, “I’ll be fine.”

Xxx

Gus cannoned into Luz, grabbing her arm. “Luuuuuuzzzzzzz, I think Hunter’s dead!”

“What?! What do you mean, Gus?!”

“He was still asleep when I woke up! It’s, like, eight o clock!”

“That’s a totally normal time to wake up, Gus.”

“When was the last time you got up and Hunter wasn’t already awake?”

“Fair enough. Stay up here, I’ll check in on him.”

Luz traipsed down the stairs to the basement and shook Hunter’s shoulder. “Hey? You okay?”

A raspy snore that broke off into a cough was his response.

Luz shook him again. “Hunter!”

“Wha?” he grumbled, swatting her hand, “Go ‘way.” He sneezed. “Lemme alone.”

“Uh-oh. So much for never getting sick, huh?”

“’m not sick. I’m just—” another explosive sneeze. “…tired.”

“Uh-huh. You stay down here, buddy, I’ll get you a waterbottle and a box of tissues.”

Luz traipsed back up the stairs. “He’s down for the count. Alrighty, let’s get this contained! I’m moving Willow to the basement, and you and Amity are not to go down there.”

Amity looked poked her head into the living room. “Is that a good idea? Having a sick Willow and Hunter in the same area? Willow tried to kiss my face with her germy lips last night, what if they team up on us?”

“Ah, I don’t think it’ll be too bad. Hunter’s sleepy sick, Willow would have a hard time rousing him to turn on us. But maybe you could create an abomination to keep an eye on them? Like you did for me when I had the mold!”

“Yeah. Yeah, I can do that.”

“Thanks, Amity. And I’m sure Flapjack and Clover will help us, too. Okay, you and Gus go outside, I’m going to get Willow into quarantine.”

Luz thumped up the stairs. Willow was in the bathroom, making a bunch of succulents on the windowsill grow. “Heeeeyyyy, Willow.”

“Luz!” Willow exclaimed in delight, “You’re here!”

“Haha, yep, I sure am! Hey, do you want to go downstairs? To the basement? And stay down there?”

“Mmmmmmm…”

“C’mon,” Luz coaxed, “You can, uhhhhh look for old school yearbooks and laugh at everyone’s horrible school pictures! Hunter’s down there, it’ll be like a little party!”

“Haha, Hunter at a party. He’d look funny in one of those little hats.”

“Yeaaaah, he probably would. Come on.” Luz slowly backed out of the bathroom, beckoning to Willow. To her relief, Willow followed. “Theeeere we go. Good Willow. That’s it.”

Luz led her down to the basement, where she immediately shook Hunter. “Hey! Sun’s up, time to start photosynthesizing, sleepy!”

He grumbled something unintelligible, then wiggled around in his sleeping bag until his feet were sticking out of the head of it and his face was down at the bottom, where Willow couldn’t reach him. Willow, for her part, watched the whole process in awe.

“He’s going to turn into a butterfly,” she whispered.

“No—okay, hey, you’re going to suffocate in there.” Luz unzipped the sleeping bag, exposing Hunter’s face to the air. He grabbed the flap of the sleeping bag, yanking it back over himself, and Luz left it. As long as there was still a way for air to get in. She glanced around to see Willow already halfway up the stairs, and she ran up, ducking around Willow to bar her way. “No! You need to stay down here!”

“Awwwwwwwww…”

“Iiiiiiiiiiiiuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I need you to help me take care of Hunter, Willow, he’s not feeling good.”

Willow sniffed and coughed. “Aww. Poor Hunter.”

“Amity’s going to send down an abomination to help, just make sure he drinks lots of water. Uh—don’t make him, though, just tell him to do it a lot, okay?”

“Okayyyyyyy. Before or after he turns into a butterfly?”

“Uhhhhhhhhhhhh… before? You’re going to do great, just make sure he and you stay down here, okay, byeeeeeeeee!”

Luz raced up the stairs, washing her hands and opening the door. “Okay. We should be good.”

Amity created an abomination, and it took two waterbottles and a box of tissues down into the basement.

“Dooooo abominations get sick?”

“I don’t think so?”

The abomination came back up, walking towards the trashcan. Its face seized up, twitching, and Amity approached it. “Whoa, they’ve never done this before, I don’t kno—”

The abomination’s face exploded outwards all over Amity.

“Did it just sneeze?!” Luz yelped.

“I think it just sneezed! This is ridicu—oh, Luz. Oh, Luz, no. No, if it got sick from Willow and Gus, that means—that means—”

“You’re not sick yet,” Luz pleaded, “It could have been—you’re not sick yet!”

Amity gently cupped Luz’s face in her hands. “Batata. You know what has to be done. I have to go down there. I have to quarantine.”

“No, Amity, if you’re not sick now, you will be for sure if you’re near them!”

“And if I’m sick now, I’ll get Gus sick. Or you.” Amity smoothed back a lock of Luz’s hair. “I have to do this. For Gus. I’ll live. Just… make sure there’s plenty of tissues and water?”

“Okay. Okay, I’ll make sure.” Luz got another waterbottle for Amity and walked her to the basement stairs. Willow’s giggle, and Hunter’s congested snores floated up, and Amity gulped. She gave Luz’s hand a squeeze, then squared her shoulders and marched down.

“So brave,” Gus sniffed from the kitchen, “So noble.”

“Gus?!”

“Don’t worry, I wasn’t near the exploding abomination.”

Luz washed her hands again, and made her way to the fridge. “I’m going to try to make some soup. Maybe some tea.”

“Can I help?”

Luz hissed in, thinking about the mustard ravioli that had been his last attempt at cooking. “How about you make the tea? But wait a bit.”

“Okay!”

Luz chopped vegetables and simmered them in broth on the stove, occasionally rolling a full waterbottle down to the basement. It was always gone from the foot of the stairs by the time she looked again.

At least they’re hydrating.

I hope so, anyway, and it isn’t just Willow pouring them on Amity and Hunter’s feet so that they can grow.

Luz turned the stove off and ladled the soup into three bowls. “I’m going in.”

Gus snapped a salute. “Godspeed, good Luz,” he said gravely, “If you don’t come out, I will remember you.”

Luz gulped, heading down the stairs. Willow met her at the base. “Hey, Luz,” she mumbled through a stuffed nose, “Feeling pretty bad.”

Luz handed her a bowl. “At least you’re not loopy anymore?”

“Uuuuugh…”

Hunter was still passed out in his sleeping bag, snoring and occasionally coughing. “Wow. I’m starting to wonder if he just thinks he’s never been sick because he sleeps through the whole thing.” Luz shook his shoulder. “Heeeeey, Hunter. You need to eat something.”

He blearily sat up, his hair flat against one side of his head and then sticking up in a horrendous cowlick. He accepted the bowl, drained it in about three seconds flat, scarfed down the vegetables, then flopped back down, pulling the sleeping bag over his head.

“And where’s…”

Amity was nowhere to be seen. The boxes in the basement had been carefully arranged in alphabetical order, and boxes with the same label were stacked from largest to smallest.

Amity’s head poked out from a pile of stuff that hadn’t been in a box. “Hi.”

Luz wandered towards her as Hunter started to snore again. “Did you do all this?”

“Yep,” Amity coughed, “It was messy down here. I fixed it. Trying to figure out how to organize all of this other stuff, though. I mean!” she tried stacking a statue of a dog on top of a beach ball, and it slid off. “What am I supposed to do?!”

Luz handed her a bowl. “Take a break, sweet potato. Is everyone staying hydrated?”

“Oh, yeah,” Willow piped up, “Amity is enforcing a rigorous hydration schedule.” She blew her nose and tossed the tissue towards a small trashcan.

It was incinerated by a blast of purple flame before it even hit the downward part of its arc. Amity narrowed her eyes at the space where the offending tissue had been. “No more sickness,” she growled, then sneezed. “AUGH!”

Luz nudged her shoulder. “It’s okay to be sick, Amity. I’ll come back down in a bit, okay?”

She trudged back up the stairs, collecting Hunter’s bowl on the way up. “Whoof.”

“They okay down there?”

“I think Willow’s pulled through the worst of it, but she’ll be stuffed up for a while. Hunter’s still asleep. And I think if we unleased a sick Amity on the Collector, she’d have him doing her bidding before the week was out.”

Gus hissed in, making a face. “Uh, Luz?” He pointed behind her. “Hunter’s up.”

Luz turned around to see Hunter shuffling towards her. “Ohhhh no you don’t. Go back down there, mister.”

“I’m fine, Luz,” he mumbled, “I told you, I’m just ti—I’m just ti—I’m ti—choo!”

He sneezed, and Luz yelped. “Hunter, NO!”

Gus gasped behind her. “It’s too late, Luz. I’ve been hit! I’m down!”

Hunter sniffed. “…Okay. I might, maybe be just a little bit sick. Sorry, Gus.”

Luz sighed. “Guess there’s no point in keeping you guys quarantined anymore.”

Gus shuffled down the stairs. “Oh, misery.” His eyes were already starting to glaze over, and he flopped on the couch with a sigh. “Just leave me. Bring me… some delicious soup.”

“I will. Don’t die.”

“No promises.”

“Augustus is a drama queen when he’s sick,” Willow informed her, “Be prepared for the performance of a lifetime.”

Luz shook her head, moving the box of tissues closer to Gus. “Can’t wait.”

[harrywavycurly]

Hey Sarah I’m just seeing if you’d feel comfortable writing some conversations with Eddie when he’s meeting your family for the holidays? Thank you! Love you! ❤️

Hiii babes!! Of course that’s totally fine, I hope you enjoy these and I love youuu more!!!💖

-I gave a few different scenarios, like one you have brothers, one you have an over protective dad, a very friendly mom, a flirtatious aunt and that one cousin who always wants to “go on a walk” so hopefully something for everyone✨

*Eddie isn’t nervous to meet your family…he’s terrified but it’s because he loves you so much he doesn’t wanna mess it up*

“Wait you said your dad does what for a living?” “He works with Hopper.” “So..he’s…he’s a cop?” “Yeah…why is that a big deal?” “Baby I’m not sure if you’re aware of this but I kinda sell drugs?” “Well duh but he doesn’t need to know that.” “He’s a cop! He’ll be able to see right through me I just know it. He’s gonna hate me.” “Why would he hate you?” “Because I’m the big bad drug dealing metalhead who’s dating his precious little girl.” “I hate to break it to you honey but you’re far from being big and bad…” “that’s what you got out of that? Really?” “Just stop worrying you’ll be fine.” “If you say so…”

“Yes Eddie all of my brothers will be there.” “All of them? Like all three of them?” “Yes…” “what should I talk to them about?” “Uhh well…you could talk to them about how you know how to fix cars and or you can talk about music.” “Fix cars? Baby I know how to Hotwire a car that’s not exactly me being a mechanic.” “Well then stick with small talk and maybe tell them about your band they’d find that super cool.” “Yeah? Do any of them play the guitar or anything?” “No that’s why they’ll think it’s super cool and be very impressed.” “That’s me the picture of cool and impressive.” “Just don’t stress okay? They’re nice guys and if I like you then they’ll like you.” “Oh so you just like me huh? Nothing more?” “Eh I kinda love you but it’s no big deal.” “Cool I kinda love you too but yeah…totally no big deal.”

“Your mom just told me to call her mom is that like…normal?” “Yeah she tells everyone to call her mom it’s fine but you don’t have to if you’re not comfortable.” “I don’t want to be rude…” “it’s like how I call your uncle Wayne, Uncle Wayne because he asked me to but if I wasn’t okay with it he’d be fine if I called him Mr. Munson.” “Okay so…I’m gonna call her mom and see how it feels.” “That’s a good plan babe.” “She also said she likes my hair.” “I told you the bun was a good idea.” “You two have the same laugh.” “It’s like we’re related or something…” “you’re such a brat.” “But you love it.”

“Okay so who is uncle John?” “The one sitting next to my mom.” “Okay and who’s the one sitting next to your dad?” “That’s nana she’s the one who told you she liked your rings and asked to try one on.” “Right okay yeah I like her she’s fun.” “Everyone loves Nana. And my aunt Irene is the one who hasn’t stopped drinking wine since we got here.” “Yeah she keeps looking at me weird.” “Yeah just ignore her and if she tries to flirt with you come get me.” “What? Flirt with me?” “Yeah she…can get handsy so just sho her off and come get me and I’ll tell her to keep her hands to herself.” “How about you just don’t leave me alone then yeah?” “You’ve been doing great babe everyone has loved you.” “Yeah but I’m not trying to get trapped with aunt Irene.”

“I think your cousin just asked me to get high with him…” “did he ask if you wanted to take a walk?” “Yeah…” “do you want to…take a walk?” “Uh is it okay if…i take…a walk?” “I don’t care babe do whatever you want.” “This…feels like a trap.” “I swear it’s not. I have to help with dinner anyway so it would give you something to do and you’ll get to hang out with my favorite cousin.” “Okay..yeah then I’ll go…for a walk with him. But you swear you won’t be mad?” “I swear.” “Maybe you and I can talk a walk after dinner?” “Oh we are fully taking a walk after dinner.” “I love you. I’ll be back in a bit.” “Love you too. Have fun.”

[crimsonsnippet]

sorry for spam liking/reblogging ur swap au LOL. but i saw u asked for swap au asks and i have plenty of questions so:

would light and l end up dating in the swap au? would it be fake dating like canon yagamane or real dating like canon lawlight? if they do date do you think they’d be open about it or would they consider it too much of a risk to their kira personas? what would be soichiro’s reaction, and misa and the task force’s opinions?

does l like light’s blond hair or does he prefer his natural hair? and what does he think about his outfits (canon l was so horny for light even when my guy was wearing khaki everything and like. brown suits. what would he think of light wearing goth fits with tons of accessories (inc chains) and skirts and stuff 😭)

how comfortable do you think light and l would be with mikami and kiyomi discovering their kira identities, on accident or on purpose? because they’re still pro-kira, right? on that note, how comfortable is light with mikami and l with kiyomi? what does light think of mikami being in love with him (i assume he knows, lol)?

is light’s fanbase more international or national? and what’s his relationship with his fans like? what does the general public think of him? what do other celebs tend to think of him? and speaking of other celebs, have light and ryuga hideki interacted? ik you said light is more of a performer than an actor but if he’s acted at least a little, was one of his roles a romance movie with ryuga hideki like misa in canon?

how do ryuk and l get along? are they buddies like canon ryuk and light? and how do light and ryuk get along when they meet in this au? does light play video games with rem like he does in canon with ryuk?

do any of them have pets? i could totally see light with a giant fluffy cat.

does l act similarly to canon, eating lots of sugar and sitting weirdly and stuff? his fashion style seems a little more similar to canon light’s, is it just for appearance’s sake or does he find it comfortable? does misa still like gothic and occult stuff? is light still a huge nerd?

what’s light’s relationship with sayu and sachiko like?

how did l find the death note (sorry if u already mentioned that)?

sorry for spamming you with so many questions, ik it’s a lot but i started writing them and just kept thinking of more as i went lol. i love the swap au, it’s so fun, and your art style is literally so gorgeous i’m obsessed with it.

have a good day <3

THIS IS SUCH A BIG ONE I THANK U FOR UR SERVICE 🛐🛐

light and L probably wouldn’t end up openly dating though they’d definitely flirt terribly and they may date in private. they definitely feel. a certain way about each other. but both are far too smart to draw suspicion to themselves by dating. misa probably sees it coming because their frustrations were very similar from the start and they have similar opinions about the government (even if she thinks light is harmless and L is kira). soichiro is a different story because he’s likely wary around L anyways. L doesnt like the police even if he’s working on the case by recommendation and when light waltzes in and makes contact he knows immediately that L is the type of person light would get involved with to make him uncomfortable. he still refuses to acknowledge whatever light is going through isn’t something he’ll grow out of.

i’m not sure what hair color L likes better! he definitely thinks light is attractive but he’s still primarily attracted to his intelligence. im sure L is. Completely Definitely super Normal about light’s fashion choices…. (no one believes him)

L wouldnt be comfortable at all with kiyomi discovering shit because he’s a very secretive lone wolf as always and wouldn’t want her messing anything up for him or light even if she’s a supporter, but he gets along with her just fine as a person. Mikami likely knows fairly quickly light is kira 2 because light tells him. they’re best friends and mikami is his manager so light probably manipulates mikami’s feelings for him as he does with misa in canon (without dating him) but sees him more like another rem. he’s a friend, but definitely not “anywhere near his league”.

i imagine light’s fanbase is more international! japan is pretty rule driven and strict so like ado’s “usseewa” he probably gets a lot of people in japan disliking his music and talking controversially about it but internationally in countries that have a more rebellious outlook he’s the coolest guy around. his relationship with his fans is not unlike his relationship to his peers in canon, he charms them and talks to them and looks cute and genuine even if it’s an act, but he’s a bit of an outcast among his peers who think he’s a bit of a freak or a mental case. and also- funny you mention hideki 💀 i never did decide on this but it had crossed my mind

i talked about ryuk and L in an ask i answered a few minutes ago so ill go more in depth on the others! light and ryuk get along much the same as misa and ryuk did, but ryuk thinks light is far more entertaining than L so hes a little more enthusiastic. when it comes to rem i think he would play games with her! he probably treats her a little like a big sister or almost motherly figure since he doesn’t have one so rem becomes very protective of him

light doesn’t have a relationship with sachiko since she’s dead which causes a lot of the friction, but his relationship with sayu is a lot closer than canon! he basically had to look after her himself when their dad often wasn’t available and she thinks he’s super cool and thinks the world of him while light is pretty protective of sayu in return because it’s always been the two of them against the world

I figured L would find the death note pretty similarly to light because he’s already in japan himself.

I LOVE QUESTIONS SO DONT BE SORRY!!! IM SO GLAD U LOVE THE SWAP AU BECAUSE I DO TOO… AND TYSM 🛐🛐

have a good day yourself too!

[oddballwriter]

Big Top Burger & Zomburger Relationship HC

Summary: What I think the Big Top Burger and Zomburger characters are like in a relationship

Warnings: Mentions of alcohol & bars, and the possible undead

Author’s Snip: I got into Big Top Burger again, and I want to expand out of just writing for Slenderverse. And also because some of these characters are real cute and just wanna think about how they’d be in a relationship.

Notes: I’m excluding Steve because... he’s just weird. I don’t think he could really be normal if he tried. I don’t think anyone is simping for the clown man so I think it’s fine. Also, this is the only Bigtop and Zomburger post I have so far, if you like my writing then feel free to request something, so long as you read the rules and boundaries for my blog first.  

I’ll shut up now. Enjoy!

꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒦꒷꒦꒷꒷꒦

Penny

MILF /j

No, I’m just yanking your chain a bit

She is really cute and she’s implied to be a mother 

I think it’s actually confirmed by WorthiKids that the little girl we see in the s1 credits and s2 intro is her daughter

We don’t know if she’s a single mother but for the sake of this post I’ll just have it that she is

So as a single parent its inherent that she needs time to take care of her daughter along with work so she might not have a lot of times for dates

I feel like she’s one to enjoy simple dates like the movies or a small night out 

She’s so sweet and polite I love her so much aaa

Obviously there’s a bit of a requirement and need for you to be looking for a serious relationship and that you’ll remain since she’d most likely want someone good to stay for the sake of her daughter and her

She would be sooo happy if you took quickly to being some type of figure in her daughter’s life 

She seems like she’d give you cheek kisses regularly

Love is stored in the Penny /hj 

Billie

She’s definitely a chill hang out date kind of person 

You guys would hang out at her place and listen to some music or watch  movies that she has 

Billie is pretty monotone and tired sounding when she speaks and I feel like in a way that’s charming 

Depending on your personality, you might be the one with the energy in the relationship

She just feels so laid back and chill , Idk what else to say, she just seems so cool

She’d totally tell you about all the weird things that she’s seen while on the job at Big Top

Tim

He has such a buddy buddy vibe outside of work and that it peaks through a bit while on the job as you watch the series 

He’d take you on the typical dates but I feel like he enjoys going to bars with you every once in a while to get some beers

He also tells you about the oddity that is Steve

He seems pretty funny, he just has that vibe to him that he’s a really funny guy outside of work

He probably flirts a bit but in a light hearted easy way

But over all he just has the vibes that he’s just really cool and he’s a neat boyfriend

Frances

She seems very fun loving and buddy buddy outside of work

Cesare said that his workers are just a bunch of theatre majors and I believe that for Frances

I’m gonna say it, she has theatre kid energy

I really think she’d be fun to hangout with if not date too, similar to Tim

She seems like she enjoys the gimmick of working at a themed food truck and even enjoys them as a customer since likes bad food

Would honestly get shitty food with you just to eat it and hate it

Conrad

I love him

I love me some beefy strong dumb guys

He is an absolute idiot yes, but he looks like an absolute sweetheart too

He seems like he’d gladly go on any type of date with you

He’s totally able to pick you up, he can man a canon for crying out loud

He’s real gentle with you if he’s carrying you or picking you up since he’s really tall and super strong

If anything is ever too heavy for you, he’ll be a sweetheart and offer to hold/carry it for you

He looks like he’s lowkey real soft on the inside

Some of that tough brute exterior, soft sweetie interior

Doctor

He tries to be a gentleman

He succeeds for the most part

Also, I hc that he didn’t actually talk like that but he would be doing it for so long and would do it off the clock for fun, to the point that it just… stayed

He treats you well regardless though

He’s probably more into the romantics than the rest of them and goes out to dinner with you to a restaurant

He wants to try and make his own meals so that you guys can have your own dinner dates at home

But judging by the s2 intro, our boy can’t cook for shit

Cooking dates are probably a most simple type of date night activity though

Cesare 

You are… you are dating a dead guy possibly

Most likely

Maybe some type of entity of the underworld

I don’t know but obviously he’s an interesting person to date either way

He’s very… strange to put it in simple terms

You have never been to his place (most likely because it’s some type of underworld)

You’ve probably asked and he did a little tangent about how you’re not allowed there

He does come to your place a lot

Cemetery dates? Cemetery dates

You can bring food for yourself but the food is only for you since he “doesn’t eat”

He probably walks about with you making fun of some of the headstones

Rants about his evil schemes, his workers, and Big Top Burger all the time to you

I feel like you’re relationship is more leaning to the situationship side since you will go days without seeing him and then he’ll just show up

You think that he’s just a busy guy with his food truck business

But in all honesty that’s obviously not the case with the shit that he can do and is up to

Well at least you have a strange and off-putting, possibly a real undead, goth boyfriend

[dyns33]

Wonders

So... It’s a Dream x OC but it could be read as a Dream x Reader because she doesn’t have a name, but a title. 

Also, I used Madness returns for the Wonders characters. 

It’s fine if you don’t like it or get it, I had fun writing it. 

Being the new one, Matthew didn't yet know all the rules and intricacies of the worlds he now flew through.

Oh, ravens instinctively knew some things, but not everything.

Sometimes he would ask, and either Lucienne would answer him, or Merv would tell him to fend for himself.

Most of the time, Matthew was perfectly able to fend for himself and do what the boss asked of him.

The boss was weird. Not mean, but obviously not very good at socializing. Matthew wanted to help him. Maybe because he was his master, or maybe because he reminded him of himself when he was still human, and he wanted them to be friends.

Matthew didn't dare ask Dream too many questions. He felt very small and stupid when he had to. He wanted the boss to be proud of him, not to think he was incapable.

So he didn't ask any questions when he flew several times over an area that was totally unknown to him, populated by strange people, who were doing strange things. It was certainly a part of the Dreaming he had never heard of.

Then one of the strange people doing strange things saw him one day and he started throwing stones at him, soon followed by others. Matthew was good at flying now, but not enough to dodge so many projectiles. One of his wings was hit and he was forced to land on top of a tree, praying that no one would find him.

Of course he was not lucky and a cat then appeared right next to him, displaying a big dangerous smile.

           "You're new around here." purred the animal, sniffing him.

           "Yes. No. I'm the new raven."

           "I don't remember that we ever had a raven, let alone a new one. But I could be wrong. I have to ask her, she had a better memory for these things. Like right now, I don't know if I should help you or eat you. I have to ask her. Wait, I'll let her know you're here."

The cat then disappeared as if it had never been near Matthew, and the raven thought that it was probably the right time to flee as far as possible.

But the tree was high, and he couldn't fly. Would Dream and the others hear him if he called for help ? Maybe, but so were the other creatures that had attacked him, and he didn't know who would be faster. Damn, why was there no cell phone in the Dreaming ?

           "There might be, but Lord Morpheus is a grumpy old man. You're not in the Dreaming anyway."

Matthew jumped, almost falling from his branch but with one hand, the young girl who had just appeared next to him grabbed him, before jumping to land on the ground holding him against her. The cat had returned, still smiling, staring at the bird who did his best not to tremble in fear.

           "So ? He's from the Dreaming then ? He's an intruder. Can I eat him ?"

           "No." the girl said, examining Matthew's wing. "I don't know how you got here, but normally it's forbidden, little raven. You're obviously young, you didn't know, so I'm not going to punish you. I'm not even going to banish you. I may not be friends with your master, but I have no quarrels with his subjects. We will heal you and you will leave."

           "I... Thank you. Who are you ?"

           "He's the Cat. I'm Alice."

           "Oh, pretty name."

           "It's not my name, it's my title." she replied without looking at him, taking a vial from her satchel to pour the contents on his wound. When he asked for her name, she responded by asking why she would need such a thing.

If he hadn't been so confused by the events, Matthew would probably have been able to figure out where he was on his own.

But he was suspicious of the cat, and he was fascinated by this strange young girl who was taking care of him. When she was done, he was no longer in pain, managing to flap his wings and fly away with no problem.

After thanking her again, he returned to the palace, where Lucienne and Mervyn were beginning to worry, as he was late for his report.

When he explained to them what had happened, they seemed as surprised as they were frightened.

           "You have...  met Alice ? The Alice ?"

           "Nah. The kid must have been banging his head and dreaming. No one can go to the Wonders without permission, not even the boss."

           "The Wonders ? Like... Alice in Wonderland ? Isn't that just a story ? Isn't that part of the Dreaming ?"

           "It is complicated." Lucienne sighed. "The Wonders are a land on the border between the Seven Realms and the waking world. Near and far. In and out. In between. A balancing point. No one is quite sure how the place came to be, but it quickly became populated, becoming very large and nearly impossible to access. Even the Endless can't enter without permission, although their mere existence obviously affects the Wonders. Few people have seen the inhabitants, but they seem quite disturbed. Aggressive. Unstable. Alice is probably the most responsible, it's probably for that she protects the land, while claiming not to be the owner."

           "But what is it between this girl and the boss ?"

           "Nothing !" Merv shouted, outraged. "I don't even know if they've spoken to each other yet. He tried, many times, but he's not welcome. This girl is avoiding him, I don't trust her at all."

           "Yet she helped our Matthew. Maybe that means something."

           "No, Lucienne. Or maybe just that she wants something. An eye for an eye. No way ! Kid, you won't tell the boss, okay ? He'll imagine the worst and try to contact this Alice, who doesn't deserve his attention. Forget it and don't go back to the Wonders."

Of course, Matthew went back to the Wonders, partly because Mervyn wasn't his boss, and mostly because he was curious. He wanted to know more about this strange land, about this girl, and to understand why she didn't seem to like Dream, while she lived in a place that looked a bit like the Dreaming.

This time, he was caught by the cat, and once again saved by the protector of the place.

           "You ?" Alice asked. "What are you doing here ? Did you come to spy ?"

           "No ! I was even forbidden to come back. I think they are afraid of you."

           "Afraid ? Strange. I don't remember ever threatening the Dreaming."

           "Why don't you like Morpheus ?"

           "I didn't say I didn't like him."

           "You said you weren't friends."

           "Indeed, because we are not. We have never talked. I have seen him many times, in the real world and in the Dreaming, and he seems arrogant. Cruel. Untrustworthy. I preferred to keep my distance, and I don't want him to meddle in our matters."

           "You... You saw him in the Dreaming ? No, you mean in a dream, right ? Because... You couldn't come in the Dreaming, it's forbidden. It would be bad, since you need permission to come in the Wonders."

           "I do not see the connection." she said, shrugging her shoulders. "I go where I want, when I want."

If Dream was arrogant, Matthew wondering what she was.

Very quickly, spending time in the Wonders, Matthew understood a little better what Lucienne had meant by explaining that the Endless had a certain influence on the inhabitants of the land.

The Mad Hatter was clearly a pale copy of Delirium. The Queen of Hearts was obviously Desire. The Mechanic was Despair. The Daimyo Wasp, Destruction. The Walrus, who wanted to eat everyone, was Death, The Caterpillar was Destiny. And of course, Alice was Dream, in this little family which had nothing of a family.

They were fighting all the time, and she was the only one trying to maintain some order, while keeping an eye on the Seven Kingdoms and the waking world. She told him that was in the Wonders and in the real world at the same time, which did not make her task easy.

Matthew wasn't sure he understood how it was working, but he wasn't sure he understood anything about this place;

What was obvious was that her only real company was the Cat, but he was just as unstable as the others. The poor girl was therefore quite lonely, and the only thing that seemed to bring her any joy were literature and arts. She had accumulated a lot of books, which she reread often, in addition to listening to music, watching movies or playing games.

           "Books are small worlds." she said to Matthew with bright eyes. "Very, very small worlds. They come to life when someone reads them, becoming real somewhere, and taking many forms depending on the reader. And even when you close them, it's not over, because you can imagine what's next, you can think of modifications... It's endless !"

           "You... You really like stories." noted the little raven.

           "Sure."

           "Morpheus... Morpheus is the Lord of Stories. Of Imagination. Does that mean... Do you like him ? Really like him ?"

He immediately regretted that sentence when he saw the dark look Alice gave him. Obviously, she wasn't proud of her feelings for the Master of Dreams.

Without saying a word, she disappeared in a gust of wind that propelled Matthew towards the border of the Moors and he flew quickly towards his boss's palace, fully understanding the message.

However, he was still curious, now that he knew that Alice didn't hate the Dream as much as everyone thought. What about Morpheus then ?

Ignoring Merv's useless advice, he decided to go talk to him.

           "It's been a while since you've come to see me, Matthew." said the Dream in a slow but blameless voice. "You haven't been in the Dreaming much lately. Do you miss the waking world ? Are you already thinking about retirement, when you've only just entered my service ? If I haven't been a good master, tell me."

           "No, boss, you're cool. I... I think I made a friend. I'm not sure."

           "It's a good thing."

           "I think she would like to be your friend too, but she doesn't dare ask. She's a bit shy and very proud. A bit like you."

           "I'm going to ignore what you just said about me and just tell you that it's not good to attach yourself to mortals. Even if I had time, which I don't, such a friendship can only end badly. I know that better than anyone."

           "Oh, but she's not mortal."

           "Really ? What then ? A fairy ? A goddess ? It can't be a member of my family."

           "Alice. Of the Wonders."

For a long moment, Morpheus said nothing, staring intently at his raven, as if trying to figure out if he was serious.

He opened his mouth several times, as if he was going to say something, before changing his mind and continuing to stare at him insistently, until he rose from his throne and left, still without saying a word.

Matthew regretted a little having spoken to him, his master was visibly shocked by the news. Maybe he was disappointed, which was the last thing the raven wanted.

For several days Dream avoided him, and Matthew did not visit Alice. He wasn't sure if she really wanted to see him anyway, after their last meeting. No doubt she would be even more furious to learn that he had spoken about her to Morpheus, subtly revealing that she had more than hatred and disgust for him.

Hope seemed lost, but as he began to feel sadly alone, he was called by his master.

           "I have a message for the Protector of the Wonders. Tell her... Tell her I'd like to meet her."

           "I don't know if she'll listen to me, boss. I don't even know if I could still go there. What I do know is that she's really stubborn, in addition to being afraid of you."

           "Afraid of me ?"

           "Yeah. She reacted the same when I told her the people in the Dreaming were afraid of her. I think she imagines you're going to be mean to her. You're going to be mean to her ?"

           "No, Matthew. Reassure yourself and carry my message."

It was a surprise to discover that he could still fly over the Wonders. At least he hadn't been banned, that's probably a good sign. On the other hand, he had a little more trouble finding Alice. He found the Hatter, the Queen, the Walrus, the Wasp, the Mechanic, the Caterpillar, but when they weren't trying to kill him, they just ignored him.

The Cat didn't help him much either, even though he didn't try to eat him this time.

           "I have a message from the King of Dreams for Alice. He wishes a meeting, she is welcome in his kingdom."

           "She comes and goes where she wants, when she wants. I think she often wanders through your king's library, when no one is present. She doesn't need an invitation."

           "Yeah, I know, she already told me that." Matthew sighed. "But there, he would like to meet her. Talk to her. He won't be mean, he promised. They have a lot in common, she has nothing to fear. Will you tell her ?"

           "If I think about it, and if I feel like it."

As it seemed useless to argue with the inhabitants of Wonders, as much as it seemed impossible to find Alice if she didn't want him to, the raven went back home and waited, hoping that there would be an answer soon.

Even if he wanted people to believe it, Morpheus was not a patient being, and he might react badly if she didn't respond to his invitation.

That being said... While he waited, Matthew began to think about what he had just done and  about the consequences.

What would happen if she didn't come ? Not much, probably.

But if she came ? And they didn't get along ?

Worse, if they got along well. Better than well.

Dream was a real hopeless dramatic, complicated romantic. Matthew had heard of all his former lovers, and how things had ended. He had witnessed some of these tragedies. Obviously, Morpheus didn't have much luck in love.

Each time, the King of dreams became terribly sad and gloomy. Either he was punishing the woman, or he was sulking, or he was going to work refusing to see anyone. Once he had stood in the rain for weeks. Horrible times, especially when you were a bird.

Matthew had no idea if Alice was a dramatic and complicated romantic as well.

Whether that was the case or not, there was a possibility that the end of this story would be nightmarish. They would end up really hating each other, as everyone already thought. Maybe they would just continue to ignore each other, but maybe it would be awful.

It was a bad idea, Mervyn was right, but it was too late now.

He couldn't tell if it was good news or not when Alice came. As discreetly as possible, he flew above his master and his guest, as they walked together through the palace.

They spoke little, seeming embarrassed. Two shy fools. Until they get to the library. The girl's eyes lit up.

           "I love this place. I love coming here." she murmured, touching the bindings of the books with respect and admiration.

           "I know, Matthew told me. You're always welcome here."

           "It's... Thank you. I have a library too, but not as big. You can come and see it if you want. Although you probably already have all the books, since all the books that exist are here, so..."

           "I would be delighted to visit your library."

It sounded vaguely sexual. Matthew wondered if it was on purpose. Obviously, Alice had been thinking the same thing, becoming a little embarrassed again, and turning her attention back to the books.

Morpheus didn't seem to take it badly, smiling discreetly, as amused by her reaction.

They were pretty cute, in a way. Maybe everything would be fine this time and there would be a happy ending.

After all, they were alike, but not totally. They were responsible for a kingdom, they were working a lot, being aware of the importance of their function, of their responsibilities, sharing a strong love for art and imagination.

They would find a balance. They would be happy.

Matthew wanted to believe it, he wanted to hope, slipping away to give them some privacy, as Dream delicately placed his hand next to Alice's, their fingers brushing, and they looked at each other with those eyes full of beautiful and dangerous feelings.

Yes, maybe everything would be fine. But that, only Destiny knew.

Anyway, after that Matthew stopped flying in unknown places, just in case.