#: ))))))) HOPEFULLY I CAN AIM FOR WINTER BREAK !!

[yelenasdiary]

For FicMas or whatever you gonna call it 🤭

So I still can't get these two out of my head but Headmistress Maria Hill and Vice Headmistress Yelenas Belova. They run a huge Private College in Paris. The college students have to wear uniforms but they don't care if the boys wear skirts or the girls wear pants they just have to wear the college colors and the college symbol. Reader is one of the top students studying culinary. She's close with Maria and Yelena since they used to tutor Reader when she was younger because she had a hard time learning then. On Winter break Reader asks them if they would like to join her and her family for Christmas and they said that they were busy with stuff as the Headmistress and Vice Headmistress of the college but Reader begged them to go with her and they finally gave in and agreed. Reader's family welcomed the two in with open arms and treated them like family. The three spent all week together until it was Christmas and they watched Reader open all of her presents before giving her a small box (necklace or bracelet I don't care which) and then they have Christmas dinner and laugh and chat about stuff.

You can decide whether or not there's smut at the end of it. If there is you can also pick if they're Intersex or not!!! 🤭

-🌊

Trapped by Snow

Pairing: Headmistress! Maria x Vice Headmistress! Yelena x Fem! Reader (Platonic)

Summary: After finally convincing your headmasters to join you for Christmas, a snow storm has a mind of its own. 

Warnings:Comfort, No Warnings | 1.8K

AC:I hope you enjoy this!! It was really fun and something different to write xx

Holiday Special Masterlist

"Have a great Christmas break everybody! Stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas!" your culinary professor said with a smile as they dismissed the class for the much-awaited Christmas break. You packed up your belongings, the class was a rather relaxing session of theory catch up allowing you that extra time to get those extra marks that you wanted. Being one of the top students in the class was something your parents where very proud of, you weren't always great a schoolwork but if it was something you were interested in, you were able to get some of the top marks for said class. 

You threw your backpack over your shoulder before making your way out the door, leaving the thought of your studies behind. The hall was crowded with other young adults making their way to the doors of stressless freedom. Fridays wishing you a happy holidays in passing as you made your way through the people and turning the corner. Unlike everybody else, you weren't aiming to get out of the building, instead you were on your way to the headmaster's office. 

"Good afternoon, Y/n!" The receptionist greeted you with a warm smile. 

"Good afternoon Alice! Excited for the Christmas break?" you asked as you took your backpack off and pulled out a container of freshly baked Christmas cookies. 

"4pm couldn't come quick enough" she chuckled. 

"Well, hopefully these can help you pull through the next hour" you replied as you handed the small container to her. Her eyes lit up, everybody loved your baking as well as your cooking and you couldn't bring yourself to leave the college without spreading a little Christmas joy to those who have been working so hard over the year. 

"You're a gem!" She complimented as she snuck a cookie and closed the lid, almost melting with the taste exploding in her mouth. "These are delicious!! Thank you" she added with a smile. "You're welcome! I'm glad you like them, is Maria and Yelena in?" You asked. 

Headmaster Maria Hill and Vice Headmaster Yelena Belova have known you since your parents made the big move from the States to Paris so you could attend the college without the stress of being in a different country alone. At first, it was a rocky start. Trying to fit in somewhere and understanding a whole different concept of learning had eventually taken its toll on you and the two women were always there to make sure you were okay. They even tutored you during the first 2 years of your studies, you grew pretty close with the two women and decided to invite them both to join you and your family for the holidays. 

"They sure are, go on through" Alice mumbled with a mouthful of cookies. You thanked her and wished her a happy holiday before making your way to Maria's office, knocking on the hard wooden door. 

"Come in" you heard Maria's voice softly travel from behind the door. You opened it slowly to be sure you weren't interrupting anything before making your presence known. Both women were heads down at their desks in paperwork. 

"You know you're supposed to take a break every hour" you spoke, gaining the attention of the two headmasters. Maria smiled while Yelena just chuckled. "I wish, we have so many new enrolment forms that we have to get done before the next of the week!" Maria explained, running her hands through her hair to adjust it. You took a seat on the large leather sofa that the headmasters had in their office for decoration, making yourself at home. 

"Well, you're going to have to take a break because it's Christmas break and I am inviting you both over for Christmas!" You said full of confidence. Yelena looked up at you as if you were joking, "you know we can't" she replied earning a nod of agreement from Maria. "You can't or you don't want too?" You challenged the blonde, a cheeky smirk tugging at your lips, "it'll be fun! plenty of food, games and my parents would love to have you both over" you added. 

"As much as a we would love that honey, we just have way too much to do before the end of the year and getting things ready before you all return after Christmas" Maria replied. Yelena chuckled knowing full well that you weren't going to take no for an answer, she watched as you pulled out another container of freshly baked cookies and began to munch on one. "I mean it" Maria added as she playfully shook her head at you while you chewed on the Christmas treat. 

"So do I" you replied shortly after, "come on, it's one day! There's plenty of food, trust me! My family can really cook up a feast, then after, we open some gifts and may I add, I did put a little something under the tree for you both as a thank you for a wonderful year and again, did I mention my parents would love to have you both over?" You added knowing you had already won Yelena over minutes ago. The room went silent, strong eye contact between you and Maria was shared before a defeat sigh came from her lungs, "Alright, we'll be there" she broke causing you to give her a rather big and very proud smile. 

---

Christmas morning came faster than you could blink. You woke up to the sight of snow covering the front lawn of your home, a warm smile tugged at your lips as you grabbed your robe and raced down the stairs to greet your parents. "Merry Christmas love!" Your mother hugged you tightly, your father just gave you a soft nod as he was still downing his coffee and adjusting to being awake in such cold weather.

"Merry Christmas guys!" You smiled at the two of them. 

"There's a snow storm coming in so I thought while I was getting lunch ready, you and your father would go out back and make sure everything is secure" your mother went on, already in her traditional Christmas apron. Although it was a little after 10am, your mother was always cooking early on Christmas day. "I'll just have a tea and go change into something else" you smiled before making your way over to the kettle. In the background, the daily news gave updates on the coming snow storm that you knew your mother would have on all day, your father wasn't one to worry so much about these type of things so he was a little more laid back. "Do you know when Miss Hill and Belova are arriving? I sure don't want them to get stuck out in the snow!" Your mother asked with concern.

"Uh, I did say we have Christmas lunch around 1pm so I think they mentioned something about being her around midday" you replied, pouring the boiling water into a mug. Your mother nodded and returned to her cooking while you took a seat next to your father and enjoyed the warm drink in your hands. 

After helping your father in the backyard you took a shower and got ready for the ready. You could hear the chitter chatter from downstairs that told you that your two guests had arrived and you were rather excited to give them their gifts after Christmas lunch. 

"You guys made it! Merry Christmas!!" you smiled as you greeted the two headmasters in the living room with a hug each. "Just! The snow is just getting worse!" Yelena replied.

"Lunch isn't too far away, please make yourselves at home" your mother inserted before you could say another word. You offered the women a glass of eggnog before the three of you sat around the living room talking about the school year. 

----

After lunch it was time to open gifts, this was your families usually tradition, lunch then gifts. The smile on your lips grew with anticipation to give the headmasters the gift you've had wrapped under the tree for weeks. It was almost impossible to even talk to them the way your parents were talking to them! They loved them, especially your father who thought it was great that you were still close with them or maybe it was the hopes deep down you'd learn plenty of leadership skills from them the two. 

"Roads are now closed due to the conditions of the snow storm, officials advise everybody to stay indoors until further notice!" The news reporter's voice caused the living room to turn silent. With the different conversations and plenty of shared laughs over lunch, the snowstorm was forgotten about. You looked outside the window which was already half covered in snow. 

"Well, it looks like you two will be staying here until it's safe" your mother said, "I'll set up the guest room a little later, I hope you both don't mind sharing a room" she added. 

"Don't stress, it'll be fine, thank you" Maria smiled. 

You grabbed Maria's gift from under the tree and handed it to her before going back to get Yelena's. "Y/n! you didn't have to get us anything!" Yelena spoke as she kindly took the gift from your hands. "I know, but I wanted too"! You replied with a smile and returned to your seat to watch them open their gifts. Maria started first, slowly she peeled the Christmas themed gift wrap off each end of the present and pulled out a book you knew she was looking for. 

"Oh my! Y/n, I have been looking everywhere for this!" She looked up at you, "where on earth did you find it?" she asked. 

"I was able to find one online, took me forever to find it!" You replied knowing she loved the present. 

"Thank you so much! I am lost for words, you shouldn't have!" 

Yelena began to open her gift next, her eyes widened when she saw the ghostface action figure that she wanted for her collection. "How did you know?!" She asked you but you just chuckled and playfully shrugged your shoulders. 

Maria rose from the sofa and handed you a gift, "this is from both of us, you're worked really hard this year, and we are both really proud of you" she smiled as you kindly took the gift. 

"Thank you!" You smiled before you slowly began to open the gift. A silver bracelet with an engraved quote in a fancy font sat gracefully in the black box. "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." Read the quote as you picked it up to read. "This is so beautiful, thank you!" You smiled once more before getting up to hug the two friends. 

Even though being snowed inside for the holidays wasn't on the list of things you wanted to happen, you were rather glad it did. You got to enjoy plenty of time with those you loved and cared for the most.

Taglist: @red1culous | @bentleywolf29 | @jeyramarie | @lissaaaa145 | @high--power | @parkerdaramitzzzz | @mmmmokdok | @wackymcstupid | @kiwiana145 | @valiantmugcowboyscissors | @observeowl  | @nattyolw | @ripofflizzie | @get-the-fuck-outta-here | @goofy-goonie | @makegoodchoices | @apollo2907 | @marvelfan98 | @wandaroman0ff | @dumb-fawkin-bitch | @lovelyy-moonlight | @santana1437 | @fluffyblanketgecko | @puta1 | @inluvwithfictionalwomen | @tintedrose12 | @jaymieflorissssssss | @tita001 | @youralphawolf72 | @crescent-witch | @randomnessbecausewhynot | @natashamaximoff69 | @a-dorkier-book-keeper | @hehehehannahthings | @secrettoallofyou | @romantic-slaps-on-the-asss | @marvel-fan-2021 | @mmmmokdok | @riveramorylunar | @ripofflizzie | @toldthatdevil | @itsmv3 | @katiemay-025 | @maria-403 | @boredandneedfanfics | @wandamaximoffspuppup | @xox-little-troublemaker-xox | @irishhappiness | @music-4ever | @hyper-fixated-delusions | 

[umlewis]

How Hamilton dropped his Ferrari bombshell on Mercedes

After Formula 1’s long winter break, it has become almost a tradition for Mercedes boss Toto Wolff and Lewis Hamilton to meet in person for a friendly kitchen chat. It has been a chance for the pair to digest the events of the previous campaign, run through developments over the winter, and talk through aims and ambitions for the battle ahead. They were the perfect opportunity for the pair to spend a good deal of time together, better grasp each other’s mindset and get everything lined up as they battened down for the intensity of the season that lay in front of them. Speaking previously about the value of these meetings, Wolff had said: "I think at the end of the season is a good moment, where you can put everything on the table, some of the frustrations and undiscussed topics, and to reflect on them, and to analyse them and to agree or find out what actually happened." That annual get-together was scheduled for this Wednesday at Wolff’s Oxford home, with Hamilton having been at Brackley the previous day for a seat fitting with the 2024 car. From Wolff’s perspective there was every reason to think that this would be a chance to hopefully draw a line over the team’s struggles for the past two seasons and get ready for what is hoped is a renewed competitive charge thanks to Mercedes’ all new W15. But things did not turn out as anticipated and, instead, the key focal point of the meeting was Hamilton dropping the bombshell that he would be activating a release clause in his contract and had signed for Ferrari in 2025.

Almost simultaneously, Hamilton’s long-time confidante, Marc Hynes, who has recently returned to a more active role in the seven-time champion’s management, had arrived at Mercedes’ Brackley factory to deliver a formal letter to the team notifying it of the situation. Hamilton’s departure was now official and, despite the shock, the ball began rolling on managing the news prior to Thursday evening’s public confirmation of what was happening. While there have been suggestions that the January 31 date may have been significant as a cutoff point for Hamilton to activate any options he had, it is understood that this was not the case. Instead, events only played out this week because it appears that Hamilton wanted to let Wolff know face to face at the first opportunity he had, rather than do it through a phone call or via lawyers. Let’s not forget that when Nico Rosberg told Wolff he was retiring after winning the 2016 championship, he could not handle doing it in person, so did it via a phone call at the airport after they had spent hours together flying back to Europe. Getting things cleared up before the start of the season also made a lot of sense for Hamilton in getting the news out of the way as quickly as possible. If he had kept the Ferrari deal under his hat, knowing that whispers would inevitably get out, then he risked it turning into a season-long media frenzy that could have distracted from both his and Mercedes’ competitive focus. While there have long been rumours linking Hamilton to Ferrari, which previously had gone nowhere, Hamilton’s revelation that he had signed for the team is understood to have caught Mercedes by surprise. As the first rumours of Hamilton’s departure emerged, it was inevitable to think that things had perhaps been bubbling away for a while and that Mercedes had been trying to line up everything to keep its driver happy. The recent announcements that Wolff and technical director James Allison had extended their contracts were perhaps signs that the squad had been eager to make clear to Hamilton that there was long-term stability of senior management; however, it is understood that the Wolff and Allison developments had nothing to do with Hamilton, especially because there had been no indication at that point that there was a chance he could leave. It is also understood that there had been no behind the scenes issues that had triggered Hamilton wanting out, nor any concern about the progress of the W15 project that has offered some encouraging signs from the simulator. Instead, as Hamilton confirmed in the eventual Mercedes press release, this was simply about being the right time to move on. With Wolff and Mercedes’ senior management aware of the significance of Hamilton's decision, it made sense for the team to move quickly to get things lined up for the team and the public. Wolff called a meeting at the Brackley factory for 2pm on Thursday where every team member was encouraged to attend, and it was here, via video link as he was in Milan for a Mercedes engineering team meeting with Pirelli, that Wolff announced that Hamilton would be leaving at the end of the season. By this stage, despite no public comment from Mercedes and Ferrari, the news had already pretty much leaked out, before both teams made their announcements around 7 pm on Thursday night. Hamilton’s move to Ferrari is one of F1’s biggest shock stories for years and triggered one of the most dramatic news days we have had in a while, but it is a story that will excite grand prix racing for years to come, especially because how it plays out is anyone’s guess right now.

[ssourcandiess]

i’ll cheer for you from afar / harua x reader x taki

pairing: harua x f! reader x taki

genre: (hopefully) angst (enough), pinch of fluff, high school! au, photographer! harua (and taki)

warning: a very poor attempt of writing angst </3 (this is my first time writing angst), heart break, love triangle, probably grammar error, idk what else actually…

wc: 5.5k

summary: while working on his last project in the photography club, harua feels unsure about the theme he's picked. he worries that whatever he chooses might affect your friendship. but deep down, he wonders if he can push away his feelings for you and move on.

i made a pinterest board for this fic hehe

anyway, enjoy, i hope you’ll like it :]

Becoming members of the photography club in their last year of school meant Harua and Taki had to prepare for the winter exhibition, a big event before their graduation. Choosing a theme for his final project was hard for Harua. He had an idea but felt scared to use it.

Unlike Harua, Taki had a clear plan for the exhibition. That afternoon, the three of you gathered in the school's backyard. Taki wanted to make a short film for the exhibition and aimed his camera at you, asking you to be in his film.

"Say something about yourself," Taki directed.

"I never agreed to become a model, you know!”

"If not you, then who else?" teased Taki. After a bit of back-and-forth, you eventually agreed to calmly stand in front of the camera. Taki began asking simple questions, usual for introductory videos. Then, unexpectedly, he asked a personal question.

"Do you have a crush on someone?”

Your silence made Harua curious, but he tried not to show it.

"Come on, y/n, do you have a crush on someone?" Taki teased again. You hesitated before finally saying softly, "Yes, I do.”

Taki grinned. "Can you tell us who it is?"

“That's none of your business, you fool," you replied, playfully covering his camera lens with your hand.

Harua was stunned by your answer. Watching you and Taki laughing together, he knew he had to give up his original exhibition idea. He didn't want his theme choice to ruin their friendship.

---

In his first year of school, Harua met you. Joining the photography club was a great decision for him, even though he was still figuring out his new camera. Harua was on the school's rooftop, trying to capture the beautiful sky. While aiming his camera, he saw you in the distance, looking thoughtful. His heart raced, so he quietly took a picture of you.

His friend, Taki, interrupted this moment, surprised to see Harua taking a portrait, something Harua usually avoided. Taki's voice got your attention, and that's how the three of you started being friends.

It all began with a strong friendship, but over time, the dynamics among them slowly began to shift. Harua always preferred taking photos of landscapes rather than portraits. He believed that his landscape shots show his feelings better and match his style. But that doesn't mean he stops taking your pictures.

Even when he doesn't realize it, he often finds his camera pointing at you. Whether you're focused during practice, smiling during your marching band performances, or when you’re spacing out, his camera always seems to capture you. But what he likes the most is when you playfully try to get into his photos, maybe to ‘ruin’ to his scenic shots. Every time your mischievous smile appears in the corner of the photo, Harua can't help but smile too.

He thinks all your pictures, whether they're planned or spontaneous, turn out beautiful. When he takes your picture, he feels a lot of emotions that make him pause for a moment. He doesn't exactly know why he feels this way, but he likes it. Maybe... he actually knows what it means, but he doesn't want to admit it. Especially after noticing that Taki is starting to act differently around you.

Harua knew Taki was someone who loved to joke around, which made him quickly grow closer to you. However, by the second year, Harua began to notice a change in Taki's attitude towards you. Taki became more caring and gentle, despite all his jokes.

Harua noticed something different about Taki. He saw that Taki often smiled to himself after sharing jokes with you. It was a special kind of smile, showing how happy he was to make you laugh. It seemed like a secret happiness just for him.

Harua also noticed Taki's caring side. When there was a competition or show coming up, and you got busy, Taki made sure you took care of yourself. He brought you vitamins every day to keep you from getting tired or sick easily. He made sure you never missed your meals and always got enough rest. It was like he was your personal health guardian, and everyone could see how much he cared.

The biggest sign for Harua was when he saw how Taki comforted you. One time, you were really upset because you didn't get chosen as the flute section leader for the marching band – a dream you worked hard for. Even though you tried to hide your sadness, both Taki and Harua could tell. Taki quickly comforted you. He hugged you while you cried, letting your tears dampen his uniform. At the same time, he gently stroked your head to make you feel better. He didn't let go until you had completely calmed down and could smile again. Right then, Harua realized, even though no one said it directly, that Taki had feelings for you too.

Since then, Harua started being extra careful about how he acts around you and Taki. He tried hard to hide his true feelings from you because he didn't want to mess up the good friendship between the three of you. But sometimes, he too wonders, for how much longer can he hide his feelings for you? Even though he truly wanted to be there for Taki and support his feelings for you, Harua couldn't ignore the little pain in his heart when he saw you and Taki together. It was tough for Harua, trying to be a good friend while dealing with his own feelings that he never talked about.

---

Seeing the cherry blossoms in full bloom, Harua wanted to capture them for his photo exhibition. After classes, he went to the nearby park and got lost in taking pictures of the beautiful flowers. His focus broke when he heard someone call his name.

"Harua!" The voice surprised him, and he turned to see you approaching. "Why are you alone?"

"Taki is still in the club room. He wanted to stay a bit longer," Harua explained.

You nodded, looking at the gently falling cherry blossoms. "They're so pretty, right?" You took off your school jacket and put it on the grass, inviting Harua to join you. "Come on, let's watch the cherry blossoms together."

Harua smiled, thinking it was time for a break since he had taken many photos. He sat next to you, enjoying the cherry blossom petals falling from the trees, making a beautiful scene. He peeked at you while you closed your eyes peacefully. Then, he took off his jacket and gently placed it over you. A single petal landed on your cheek, and he leaned in to brush it away without waking you.

At that moment, as his fingers touched your cheek, you opened your eyes, surprised by the unexpected touch. A silent understanding passed between your looks, creating a mix of emotions in Harua. A warm feeling grew in his chest, and his cheeks turned a bit red.

Suddenly, Harua leaned in, showing a desire to be closer but also feeling a bit unsure. His quick movement caught you off guard, making you curious but a little nervous too. A part of him wants to leaned more closer to you, but seeing your discomfort, Harua stopped himself. Instead, he pulled back and playfully flicked your forehead, turning the serious moment into a fun one. It was like taking a step back, trying to keep things light and friendly, even though he had deeper feelings inside.

"Ouch," you whined, rubbing where he playfully flicked your forehead, "that flick wasn't needed, you know."

He chuckled softly, a warm and friendly sound that made any awkward feelings go away. "Sorry," he said, his laughter making things light and comfortable.

Harua sat next to you, feeling a mix of emotions—relief but also a bit sorry for hesitating earlier. He realized he had avoided a situation that could have made things complicated between you two. Looking at you again, he liked seeing the calm and peaceful look on your face. "Don't get too carried away," he silently reminded himself, understanding the delicate balance between their playful friendship and the deeper feelings he had inside.

---

It’s a slow evening, Harua and Taki sat on a bench, watching the busy field with lots of after-school activities. Even though they didn't say it out loud, everyone knew they were there to see you practicing with the marching band.

During a break, you started goofing around, playing with the flag as if you were part of the color guard. As you swung the flag, revealing an unexpected skill, both Harua and Taki couldn't help but smile. Encouraged by your newfound confidence, you decided to throw the flag, only to toss it too high, leading to a struggle to catch it. Instead of a graceful catch, the flag ended up hitting your head quite hard, prompting a loud yelp from you.

"That fool," Taki couldn't help but chuckle at the amusing scene, and Harua joined in, unable to contain his laughter.

"But that's why I like her a lot," Taki smiled to himself, his eyes filled with genuine fondness for you.

Harua turned his head, fixing a thoughtful gaze on Taki.

Taki met his gaze and asked, "Did I say that too loud?"

Harua faked a laugh, teasing, "Well, I don't have a sixth sense to read your mind," adding a playful tone to his words.

Taki looked a bit embarrassed and playfully pushed Harua. "Well, it's true anyway!" he mumbled shyly before running towards you. With a gentle touch, he caressed your head where the pole had hit. Harua observed the two of you silently from a distance, , feeling a mix of emotions. Taki's words made it clear that he had feelings for you. While it wasn't a big surprise, Harua felt a bit sad hearing Taki openly confessing his affection for you.

---

Before summer break, the three of you found yourselves lounging in the cozy corners of the school library, getting ready to work on assignments together. Even though you were in different classes, you liked teaming up for homework. It was an attempt to make sure they didn't get too lost in their photography club world.

"Any plans this summer?" Taki asked.

You responded with a casual shrug, "Not entirely sure yet, probably filled with studying for the university entrance tests or band practice maybe."

"That's boring," Taki exclaimed, his playful disdain evident. Turning to Harua, he asked, "How about you, Harua?"

"I want to go photo hunting in the next town, maybe at the beach too," answered Harua with a glint of enthusiasm, "You know, summer = beach."

Taki's eyes lit up, "to think of it, this is our last summer together. Wouldn't it be better if we spent it together?" Taki suggested, "we've never gone on a trip together before.”

Your brow furrowed with a mix of surprise and concern at the realization that high school was nearing its end. "Don't say it's ‘our the last summer’, it’s not like our friendship will end after high school…”

Taki sighed, realizing his words were a bit heavy. "Well, you know what I mean!" Taki huffed, "hey Harua, can we join you?"

"Yeah, sure," Harua chuckled, his laughter echoing in the library's quiet corners.

"Why 'we'? I didn't say I wanted to come," you protested.

"You're our model! So you have to come along!" Taki exclaimed with a mischievous grin, emphasizing the importance of your role.

Seeing the two of you playfully argue, Harua can’t help but smiled, "He's your model, Taki," he corrected. "You know I prefer capturing landscapes," he explained, highlighting his photography preferences.

Taki shot Harua a glance that held a mysterious meaning. It seemed like he wanted to say something important but ended up sighing instead. Harua could only glance back at his friend in confusion, trying to figure out what Taki was thinking.

---

So now, you, Harua, and Taki are in the next town, ready for a full-day trip. The three of you planned a full-day trip, eager to be part of Harua's photo hunting adventure. Without specific plans, you decided to let the day unfold naturally, going wherever your feet take you.

But this trip brings a mix of feelings for Harua. He's happy to spend time with friends like you, but there's also a little sadness in his heart. While you and Taki enjoy the trip, Harua is sorting through his feelings about friendship and things he hasn't said.

Right now, as always, Harua stands a bit apart from you and Taki. Even though he tried not to, he found himself pointing his camera at you. Surrounded by nature, you're lost in thought, looking at the forest with a bit of longing. It's the same look you had when he first met you on the rooftop two years ago. Harua adjusted his camera to capture your moment, but just as he was about to take the photo, you turned around and smiled right at the camera. He caught his breath, lowered his camera slowly, and hesitantly met your warm smile with his gaze.

"You should've told me you were taking a photo," you joked, before playfully turning away.

Harua looked at the picture he took. You looked peaceful and your eyes sparkled in a gentle way. The wind moved your hair, making the picture even nicer. It wasn't just a regular picture to him – your smile made it feel special, stirring up a lot of feelings.

As he looked at the scene again, Taki unexpectedly stepped into the frame next to you. He smiled and gently placed a flower behind your ear, making a shy smile appear on your face. Harua felt a little hurt seeing this sweet moment. He decided to ignore the sadness in his heart and looked away quietly. As usual, he tried not to let those feelings take over, but the sadness stayed, no matter how hard he tried.

---

Because of your curfew, the day trip needed to end before sunset. The bus ride back home was crowded with people heading home from work, but luckily, you found seats at the back for the three of you. Choosing the window seat, you wanted to enjoy the scenery a bit longer.

As the bus got fuller, an elderly lady got on, and Taki kindly offered her his seat. Harua, always considerate, suggested Taki take his seat, but Taki wanted to stand near the door. Now, it was just you and Harua. Harua noticed you were getting sleepy, your head bobbing.

"Just sleep if you're sleepy," Harua suggested.

You nodded with your eyes closed, trying to rest your head on the window to nap. But it didn't work well, and you ended up bumping your head against the window. Seeing this, Harua gently put his hand on your head, guiding you to lean on his shoulder instead.

Harua felt a twinge of nervousness, questioning whether it was okay for him to take this step. In his mind, he questioned himself. Was he being selfish, or or if he was just trying to make sure you were comfortable, even though he had deeper feelings for you. He was stuck in these thoughts, wanting to do something that made you feel good while also dealing with his own complicated feelings.

When he gently guided you to rest on his shoulder, Harua's heart had a mix of caring and worry. He really hoped Taki didn't see what he was doing. Harua didn't want to make things complicated between the three of you or make the already tangled emotions even more confusing.

---

Summer vacation had ended, and school activities were back. Harua walked down the school hallway, thinking about taking pictures of interesting things. When he got close to the music room, he heard the gentle sound of a flute. He smiled, thinking it must be you practicing. Carefully, he peeked through the door, not wanting to interrupt. There you were, playing the flute by the window, with a look of deep longing.

For some reason, Harua always found your deep gaze interesting. There was a feeling in it that fascinated him. When he saw it, he couldn't resist taking a picture to capture that special moment. Hearing the shutter sound, you stopped playing your flute and jokingly said, "Are you sure you’re a landscape photographer? Not a paparazzi?”

Harua chuckled, lowering his camera, "Maybe a bit of both. Your expressions are just too interesting to miss." He then gestured to his camera, adding, "But don't worry, no paparazzi secrets here – just capturing the beauty of the moment.”

You rolled your eyes playfully at his answer, and he can’t help to let out a chuckle. Harua walked over, asking, "What are you looking at?”

You gave him a small smile and shook your head, saying, "I was just thinking about something."

Harua nodded in understanding and smiled back. The two of you just stood there, sharing a comfortable silence, gazing out the window together.

"Hey, Harua," you broke the silence, "Since we’re graduating soon. If you like someone, will you confess your feelings to them?"

"Eh? What’s with the sudden question?" Your inquiry caught him off guard. You asked about what had been on his mind.

"Just curious," you replied, lip pressed together, showing him a thin smile.

Harua stayed quiet for a bit. He also thought about your question since forever. Would he finally tell you he likes you? Even though he knew it might be hard and there's a chance you might say no?

"Even if i want to confess, i don’t think it's that easy. I'm afraid of making a mistake, so is it better to just keep those feelings hidden?" Harua answered honestly.

Hearing this, you slowly nodded. Harua then turned the question to you, "What about you?"

"Just like you," you smiled, "who isn't scared of being turned down? But... if you don't say it, will you regret it later? I'm worried I won't be able to move forward if I keep my feelings inside."

"You're right," he agreed.

"Plus, my life won't stop just because someone didn't feel the same way," you added.

"You're right again."

Harua stayed quiet for a bit, thinking about your question. The idea that he might have to tell you about his feelings one day crossed his mind. Your eyes turned to him, and you could see the inner struggle on his face. It was clear that he was wrestling with the choice of sharing his emotions with you. He knew it could be tough, and there was a chance you might not feel the same way. The air felt tense as both of you stared at each other, silently thinking about the feelings that were not said out loud.

"Harua! Y/N!" a voice called from outside, interrupting the moment.

Both of you were surprised and looked down to see Taki waving energetically. "Can you guys wave at my camera?" he called out.

You smiled and waved at Taki's camera. Harua, on the other hand, took a moment before joining in the wave. It was in that moment that he realized—you had been looking at Taki the whole time.

---

When Harua first met you, he remembered how you looked at the marching band with a strong desire to join them. Your eyes showed that you really wanted to be part of the team, and there was a passion in your gaze—a quiet longing for something you dreamt of achieving.

Now, Harua is dealing with the fact that he didn't realize your deeper feelings sooner. It wasn't just the marching band that held your attention; there was a consistent, unspoken yearning directed toward Taki.The realization hits him suddenly, leaving a feeling of regret. He wonders why he didn't see these signs earlier, realizing that your heart had always been connected to Taki's.

Harua feels really sorry for not noticing your feelings earlier, and this realization makes his emotions even more complicated. Even though he knows he should step back and move on, it's hard for him to let go of his feelings. He understands what he should do, but the emotional challenge of facing the reality in front of him is tough. Inside him, there's a big struggle between wanting to detach and holding onto his emotions, and it's making his heart feel heavy.

---

As the day of the exhibition got closer, the photography club room was buzzing with excitement. Harua and Taki were busy working on their projects, surrounded by a creative mess of pictures, cameras, and equipment. Taki wanted to break the quietness and asked Harua for his opinion on his project.

But Harua stayed quiet, staring at his laptop screen, lost in his thoughts. Wondering what had caught his attention, Taki went closer and stood behind him, looking over his shoulder at the laptop screen. There it was—an amazing candid photo of you.

In the picture, you had a bright smile, and your relaxed pose looked just right. The photo captured a moment of happiness and fun, freezing it for everyone to see. The colors and the arrangement of everything in the photo made it even more charming.

"Are you thinking about putting this in the exhibition?" Taki asked.

Harua, surprised by Taki's sudden appearance, cleared his throat, feeling caught off guard. "No, I don't think so."

"I think it's great. You should include it," Taki encouraged, nodding reassuringly.

Harua's voice trembled a bit as he hesitated, trying to understand Taki's feelings. "Are you okay with that?"

Taki, puzzled by the question, furrowed his brows. "Why do you ask?"

"It's nothing," Harua mumbled, his heartbeat sounding loud in the room. His finger moved through the photos on his laptop, each click making a sound in the heavy silence.

"Look, I know you know I have feelings for her, but you don't need to hold yourself back like that. I don't want there to be any misunderstanding or competition between us."

"What do you mean?"

"Harua, I know you like her too," Taki sighed, feeling the weight of Harua's unspoken feelings in his heart.

Harua, however, laughed it off, quickly denying any romantic interest. "Whoa, you've got it all wrong. She's just a friend, nothing else." Harua closed his laptop and walked towards the door.

"Are you tired of lying to yourself?" Taki's question hung in the air, carrying both concern and frustration. Harua's steps came to a halt.

Taki kept his gaze on Harua. There was something heavy in the air—unsaid things hanging there, making the room feel tight. Harua stayed silent for a moment before leaving the club room, leaving Taki with a sense of unresolved tension.

Taki stayed in thoughtful silence, haunted by the unspoken truths and hidden feelings between them. He knew Harua was lying. Taki stared at the picture of you taken by Harua two years ago, stuck on the club room walls. He couldn't shake the feeling that there was a deeper story behind it. "Everyone would immediately know if they saw the photo you took," he thought, the room now filled with a tense air reflecting the complexities of their emotions.

---

After the argument with Taki, Harua decided to keep some distance from both you and Taki. Even though Taki tried to talk, Harua avoided him because he felt guilty and uneasy. Talking or meeting with Taki became something Harua feared.

This discomfort also affected his interactions with you. Being around you used to be comforting, but now it made Harua feel sad. The joy of being with you turned into a heavy emotional burden, leading him to avoid you too.

As the exhibition day approached, Harua felt more and more stressed. The pressure increased as he tried to decide on a theme and choose which photos to display.

But wait, that's not entirely true. Harua already picked the photos he wants to show. There's a picture of the day you both first met on the rooftop, another one of you practicing for the marching band, a snapshot of you running, and a sweet photo of your smile – all these pictures, each capturing a special moment with you, hold a special place in Harua's heart.

But he couldn't just display those photos. They're not just pictures; they're a collection of his deepest feelings for you. Each pictures holds the weight of his hope, a longing to always be by your side.

Is it okay if he's a little selfish, just this once? Can he wish to always be with you? Is it okay for him to hope you won't go away? Can he think that you'll always remember him? He already knows the answer, but still, can he be a bit selfish, just this one time?

Harua went to the rooftop to clear his mind and take pictures of the snowy view. He set up his camera to capture the peaceful view, and then you showed up in the frame, just like the first time he met you. It brought back a lot of emotions for him.

Your eyes met his camera, a sweet smile on your lips, just the way he liked it. With hands trembling slightly, he pressed the camera button.

"Hey," you greeted, and Harua smiled back at you.

"I heard you had some sort of arguments with Taki. He didn't tell me much about it, though..." you said, your voice soft.

Harua stayed silent, a heavy pause filling the air as if words struggled to escape his lips. His eyes, once focused on the camera, now seemed lost in a distant contemplation.

"Harua, I'm worried about you. You look and act differently these days. You seem distracted, like there's something on your mind. You can always tell me about it," you expressed your concern.

"You'll never understand, y/n. Even if I tell you everything, you'll never understand," Harua replied, his voice tinged with frustration, a mixture of emotions playing on his face.

"How could I understand if you never told me anything about it?!" you raised your voice. Your words held a plea for him to open up, to share the burden he carried. "I'll always listen to you, you know," your heartfelt words lingered in the air, each one carrying a plea for Harua to share the burden he carried. You genuinely offered to listen and be there for him, trying to close the gap between his silence and your understanding.

Harua looked into your eyes, feeling a surge of emotions. His love for you grew stronger, and he realized that his feelings were still deeply rooted in his heart. Tears filled his eyes, and a heavy ache settled in his chest, like a silent scream.

"Taki is right, I'm tired of lying to myself. I give up," Harua chuckled, his laughter mixed with tears streaming down his face. Your worried gaze met his.

Unable to hold back his emotions any longer, Harua confessed, "Please let me be selfish, just for once." Pulling you closer, he closed the gap between you, and tenderly kissed you.

As your lips met, a mix of emotions overwhelmed Harua—a blend of happiness and sorrow. Confessing his love felt liberating, but the pain of facing reality lingered. "I love you," he whispered against your lips, his heartfelt words hanging in the air. "I've always been in love with you.”

Tears rolled down your cheeks as Harua's confession settled in the space between you. He gently wiped them away, seeking a connection with your eyes.

"But Harua," you whispered, avoiding direct eye contact, wrestling with your own feelings.

"I know," he replied with a sad smile.

"If I could be a bit selfish, I'd want you to choose me. I want to stay with you, take care of you," he admitted, taking a deep breath, "but I know I can't."

"I don't want to make you unhappy. I don't want to force you to be with me if there's someone else who can make you happy," Harua expressed, his words carrying both understanding and deep sadness.

"And that's not me." The unspoken weight of unfulfilled wishes and the acknowledgment of an inevitable reality hung heavy in the air. Harua's eyes stayed on you, silently pleading for understanding and forgiveness.

"I'm sorry," you cried out, your voice filled with regret.

Harua shook his head, “It’s not your fault,” his heart clenched as he saw your struggle.

"I hope you find happiness, even if it's not with me," Harua said softly. Despite the emotional turmoil, he tried to muster a smile, hiding the deep sadness that lingered within.

With a soft pat on your shoulder, Harua turned away, walking off the rooftop without looking back. You stood there alone, carrying the weight of his words and the lingering emptiness he left behind. Regret and sadness mingled within you, casting a shadow on the quiet rooftop.

Unseen by Harua, tears continued to roll down his face as he found a secluded spot away from curious eyes. Overwhelming sadness engulfed him, leading him to sit on the ground, holding onto the flood of emotions inside him. The pain of letting go of his feelings became almost too much to bear. Yet, amid the tears, there was a faint sense of relief—he had finally opened his heart to you, even if it meant breaking his own in the process.

---

And at last, the big day came—the exhibition day. The gym building transformed into a magical art gallery, showcasing the impressive projects created by the photography club members about to finish their class.

Harua found a spot in the back row, eagerly waiting for the screening of Taki's short film. The film was a carefully crafted piece for this special occasion, and Taki's gaze remained tenderly fixed on you. This cinematic creation was, without a doubt, Taki's heartfelt confession to you.

As Harua's eyes met Taki's, he offered his friend a supportive smile, genuinely happy for both of you. It was clear that the film had touched you deeply, and Harua couldn't help but feel a sense of joy seeing Taki's heartfelt confession bringing happiness to someone he cared about.

After the film screening ended, a strong desire led Harua back to the exhibition space. There, he found Taki deeply contemplating his own photo. Harua decided to approach Taki, recognizing the significance of the moment. "Your film was incredible," he praised, genuinely admiring Taki's artistic contribution to the exhibition.

Taki chuckled and complimented Harua's photos in return. In the end, Harua gathered his courage and stuck to his original idea. Among the beautiful landscape pictures, he strategically placed candid shots of you. These photos represented how he had always admired you from afar, and that was his idea. Even though he got 'rejected', he promised to always keep cheer for you from afar.

"I'm sorry for lying all this time," Harua admitted. "You're right; I also like Y/n."

This caught Taki's interest, and he asked, "Do you know what I envy about you?"

Harua shook his head and waited for Taki's answer, and Taki smiled, saying, "Y/n's photos always look prettier on your camera than anyone else's." Taki admired the captivating images Harua had taken, each one telling a story of admiration and affection. "No matter how hard I try, my photos will never be as good as yours."

"You love her so much that your photos can show your feelings so clearly," Taki added, expressing both admiration and acknowledgment. "Anyone who sees a photo taken by you for the first time will immediately know that you love her."

Upon hearing those words, Harua's smile carried a blend of gratitude and a touch of longing. He took a deep breath, letting his emotions settle into a bittersweet realization. "I confessed to her a while ago," he shared, his lips pressing together as he recalled the moment. "And yeah, I got rejected.”

"I'm sorry," Taki sincerely apologized.

Taki looked at him and nodded slowly, a small smile appearing on his face. Harua returned the gesture with a warm smile, gently squeezing Taki's shoulder before they went their separate ways. From the corner of his eye, Harua noticed you approaching Taki. Turning to you, he couldn't resist giving a comforting smile. As your eyes met, he mouthed, "Be happy." Continuing his walk, he sensed your gaze and smiled again as he glanced over his shoulder.

Harua's sole wish was for your happiness, even if it meant not being with him. His self-made promise remained steadfast—he would always cheer for you from afar, ensuring that your journey was filled with joy, no matter the path you chose.

a/n.

this plot been dusting on my notes for years, i finally got the motivation and inspiration to write this fic after listening to back numbers again lol (i would recommend their songs to every angst writers out there); i repeated christmas song like crazy when i write this jasdalkdja

i originally have 3 endings idea for this fic, an open ending, taki’s ending, and ofc harua’s ending.

about the ending… i actually think it as an open ending, because it is not stated that whyen taki is the end game (even though harua make it sounds like she ended up with him). as i personally think it’s the best for whyen not to end up with any of them.

this fic is more of harua pov, so i actually been thinking to write the taki’s version too. in his ending, ofc the two of them will ended up together as an end game. lmk if you’re interested to read his ending ;]

as for harua’s ending, it’ll be set a few years after their graduation (probably in their college year), where he’ll reconcile with his past and meet y/n again. I was thinking to make his ending as a sequel to this fic, but again i still don’t know for sure and i’m don’t know if i’ll have time to write long fics anytime soon… so yeah, maybe we’ll see?

and last but not least, this is my first time writing angst dhshsh so i hope this fic is angsty enough to be considered as angst? bcs idk i actually have a mixed feelings with how this fic turns out dhshs so yeah i hope this turns out okay…

[dannystattoo]

august

chapter 1 - "i can see us lost in the memory"

you didn't plan on spending your summer fixing up your family's old cabin, but you also didn't plan on reconnecting with your childhood crush for the summer. based on august by taylor swift

Pairing: Danny Wagner x fem reader

Warnings:  Some language, but that's about it

Spending the summer after your senior year of college helping maintain your grandparents’ cabin was not what you’d anticipated upon graduating. While you wouldn’t say you were ready to tackle job hunting just yet, you would have preferred to have at least been able to stay in the college town with all of your friends for a couple more months. You’d have loved to at least have a last hurrah before you all inevitably moved on to whatever was next. Life had a way of happening though. Your grandfather passed away in the winter and a lot had changed. Your grandma wasn’t able to live on her own, so she had moved in with your family for the time being. Your parents were also trying to figure out what to do with the cabin your grandparents had purchased decades ago. It was your grandpa’s pride and joy, and he would never let anyone sell it even if he’d barely been able to use it in the last few years. The rest of your family, grandma included, couldn’t care less about keeping the property in the family, Since you and your siblings all moved out of the house and didn’t have the opportunity to visit much anymore, they decided it was best to sell the house. However, it needed a lot of TLC before it could go on the market and you’d gotten roped into spending your summer taking care of the property. You cursed yourself for learning so many DIY skills in college when your friends had insisted on renting the shittiest house possible your sophomore year, as well as for being the golden child who couldn’t draw boundaries with your parents no matter how hard you tried. 

…and that was how you found yourself looking around this house, wondering how the hell you were going to have it ready to list by August, in three months. Your dad offered to come up and help when he could on weekends and you did have a list of contractors your grandparents had previously used who could help with the things you weren’t able to do, but you were mostly on your own. You tried to remind yourself that his would give you the opportunity to save up some money since you weren’t paying rent and your family would be paying you for your work on the house. This would also give you time to polish your resume and work on perfecting your design portfolio, hopefully allowing you to move somewhere better than the sleepy midwest town you grew up in or the slightly less sleepy city you went to college in. Your ultimate goal was New York City, but you were aiming for Chicago right now. All things considered, though, the thought of a summer spent more or less by yourself doing a stupid amount of manual labor made the thought of living in the city in cramped apartment with multiple roommates and eating ramen for every meal sound appealing. 

It had probably been about five years since you’d spent any sizable amount of time here, and that was around the same time your family started doing the bare minimum maintenance on the place. They’d also done the bare minimum when it came to cleaning, so you spent the entire morning making one of the bedrooms and one of the bathrooms clean and comfortable enough to get you through the first few days. Once you finished that, you started trying to make a game plan, but you became overwhelmed pretty quickly. Realizing it was nearing one in the afternoon, you decided to drive into town, pick up some fast food and take a break. You weren’t able to find much, but there was a Taco Bell within a reasonable driving distance. You returned home with your Nachos Bell Grande and a massive Baja Blast, hoping that would push you to have a productive evening. It was a beautiful day out, so you took you lunch out to the dock. The gate that led down to the water’s edge was a bit rusted and hard to open, but once you got it, you remembered why you loved coming here so much as a kid. Admittedly, once you looked past the state of the house and the yard, it was gorgeous out here. You were steps away from the lake, which had a tiny private sandy beach at its edge. Trees and plants in full bloom surrounded the lake, and you always loved the glow of the sun off the water. You told yourself that if you got through a clearing the clutter in the rooms you, your siblings, and cousins had shared as kids that day, you’d reward yourself with a glass of wine and a night spent on the patio with your designs. The change in scenery was inspiring you in a way you hadn’t expected. Looking at the nearby houses, you tried to remember all the kids you’d met here over the years. They were all fleeting friendships, lasting for only one week in the summer over the 4th of July and picking up the next year, depending on who returned and when. You’d met these kids well before social media, and you had no idea what happened to any of them after losing contact. You start thinking about them, wondering where life had taken everyone after those golden summers. 

Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t notice that someone had appeared from the cabin next-door and they were walking down towards the water. 

“I had no idea they sold this place,” the voice said as it came up behind you. Startled, you turned around to see a man approaching you. He looked like he was about your age, maybe slightly older. You could tell from his tan skin he probably spent a lot of time outside, giving the impression of someone else who might be spending the summer here. Based on appearances alone, that was something you could get on board with. You couldn’t overlook the fact he was gorgeous - you were immediately drawn to his intense eyes and radiant smile, and the fact his was absolutely ripped didn’t hurt matters.

“Because they didn’t,” you laughed. “Granted, it’s barely been used in at least five years, but yeah, haven’t sold yet.”

“Well that’s good, I always like the people who lived here.”

“You knew them?” you were taken by surprise. 

“Oh yeah, my family owns the place next door. I’m Danny, by the way.”

“Y/N,” you said. The longer you looked at him, you began to think he looked vaguely familiar. “This is gonna sound weird, but we’ve met before haven’t we?”

“You have two older sisters and your family was always here the week of the 4th of July, right?”

“Yeah. You have a younger sister and you were also always here for the 4th of July?” As Dnny confirmed this, it all came flooding back to you. 

He was part of the group of about a dozen of you who lived on this street that you’d just been thinking about. He was, in fact, a few years older than you, but you seemed to remember his younger sister was around your age. You also remembered you’d had a hugely embarrassing crush on Danny that resurfaced every year. God, you’d forgotten about him completely, as it had been ten years since you’d seen him, more since you’d seen him with any sort of regularity at the cabin. You remembered it all with clarity now. 

He was three years older than you, and by the time you were eleven and he was fourteen, he started hanging out with the group less and less. Fair enough, he was a teenager, but it didn’t hurt any less. You’d always thought he was cute and he was the only boy in the group who was always nice to you. Looking back, he treated you like a little sister, but you didn’t see it that way then. You remembered the summer you were twelve and he was fifteen when he and another one of the older girls in the group stopped hanging out with you as frequently, only showing up at events where the entire family was present. You’d been devastated when you’d accidentally stumbled upon them making out in her room at a barbecue you’d all been at. By the next summer, you were convinced that because you were thirteen and a full fledged teenager, he’d finally be interested in you. Much to your dismay, he hadn’t even come up north that year, opting to stay home in order to spend more with his friends instead. It was only a couple more years before you stopped spending long stints there in the summer. You realized how much you’d forgotten about your time here.

“So what brings you back?” Danny’s question brought you back from your nostalgia. 

“Well, my grandpa passed away over the winter -“ 

“Oh shit, i’m sorry.”

“Thank you. It wasn’t unexpected, but still. Anyway, my family is actually planning to sell now and I somehow got roped into coming out here for the summer to fix it up and get it ready to put on the market. You live in one shitty house that forces you to learn handy skills and they use it against your for the rest of your life,” you laughed.

“What, by yourself?”

“Not entirely, my dad is coming up to help me out when he can and we will need to hire people to do some of the more complicated projects. But yeah, mostly.” You were kicking yourself the moment you said it. Way to go, Y/N, you thought to yourself. You don’t know the first thing about this guy anymore and he could be a crazed serial killer for all you knew. 

“Anyway, I could ask you the same thing,” you shifted the attention back to him.

“Honestly, I don’t know. Getting away, I guess? I’ve been so stuck with work lately and I thought a change of scenery might be good. Don’t ask why my first inclination was to come here, but it was.”

“By yourself?”

“For now. Three of my friends, more like my brothers actually, are planning to come up in a few weeks and spend most of the summer. They may be going back and forth between here and home a bit more than me though.”

“Where do you live?”

“Nashville.” 

“That’s so cool, I unfortunately didn’t get to go far for college and I was so lucky to move back to my hometown in Michigan after graduation. I’m hoping to save up some money over the summer so I can start looking to move. Enough about me, what is it you do for work?” You were intrigued when he said he was “uninspired”, wondering if he did something creative too.

“Uh, musician,” he said running  his hand through his dark curls. You could tell he assumed you’d react a certain way.

“No shit, that’s sick! What kind of music?”

“I’m in a rock band, drummer. I know it probably sounds kind of lame, but we’ve actually released a few single, and EP, and we just got a contract for our first full record. As exciting as all of that is, I’m having a hell of a time getting anything written to contribute to it. Decided I’d come here for a little bit first by myself, and then the guys are gonna join me in a couple weeks. I thought maybe getting out of the city would help. Plus the lease on my place was up last week and the house I’m set to move into isn’t available September 1st.”

“Well, I don’t think that’s lame at all. I’m trying to break into design, so I kind of get it.”

“Oh really, what kind?”

“My dream would be fashion, it was my main area of focus in school, but I’ve also been building by graphic design portfolio to have something more ‘practical’, as my parents would say.”

“I get that, I’m sure you can imagine my parents were just thrilled when I said I had no desire to go to college right after graduating high school.”

“Sounds like you’re doing great anyway,” you shrugged. You guys talked comfortably for quite a bit longer, catching up on the past ten years. It was nice to have found a friend so early on, at least you hoped you’d found a friend. Danny was so easy to talk to and you felt an effortless connection, even if you hadn’t seen him in a literal decade. Eventually, you picked up your phone, sitting abandoned on the table, and you didn’t like the time.

“Oh god, how is it already three? I’m so sorry, but I should probably go, I have so much work to do,”

“Honey, you have all summer,” Danny said. You wouldn’t admit that your stomach flipped when he called you that. Fuck, were you attracted to him now, still? 

“You’re right, but you have no idea how much I have to do.”

“Can I help with anything? I know I didn’t come here for home renovation projects, but you could persuade me, I think.” 

“I would actually really appreciate that, if only for the company. Tell you what, my main goal for the day was to start cleaning out some of the bedrooms, if you’d want to help? When we make some good progress, maybe we can grab dinner? Like I said, even if it’s just for the company and an accountability buddy.”

“I’d love that. Honestly, I’ve only been here like two days and I’m going insane in my own company. I was so hung up on the idea of taking a solitary trip to work that I forgot I’m an extrovert.” You smiled at him, grabbed your Taco Bell remains, and led him into the house.

“Not to be rude, but you weren’t kidding,” Danny said, looking around the house. 

 “Yeah, it’s so, so bad. We’ve hardly been up here since like, 2017, what with life and school and work, and that was around the time my grandparents weren’t able to come up here by themselves anymore. I think my parents did just enough maintenance so that the neighbors wouldn’t lose their minds.” 

“Gives me an excuse to offer my services around here a lot then?” 

“I think that sounds perfect,” you smiled, leading Danny to the bedroom you and your sisters shared years ago. Before you could stop yourself, you caught yourself thinking that you’d love to be taking him back to your room under much different circumstances. You couldn’t believe that you were down bad for this guy yet again, hours after seeing him for the first time in a decade.

To be continued

[distant-velleity]

Daring Escape

Summary: Santiago and Yu escape Scarabia during the winter break training camp.

Word count: 3.9k

Warnings: none, I think

A/N: Basically, it’s Book 4 chapters 19-22 but my version. Lots of dialogue taken from the game. Alsoooo it’s been a hot second since I wrote this and I barely revised it so. Yeah :)

Tagging: @thehollowwriter since I believe you may be interested :))

-

“Man,” Santiago whines, arms behind his head, “I’m beat. And to think we still gotta go on patrol now? I was born to fly, not this!”

His roommate sighs. “It can’t be helped. Housewarden’s orders.” He fiddles with the whistle around his neck. “There’s probably gonna be another escape tonight, so keep your eyes peeled… We don’t wanna get chewed out for missing someone.”

“Uh-huh.”

Just then, Santiago’s eyes catch on the door of a normally-vacant room—the one currently home to the alchemy TA. One hand falls to the keyring around his belt almost subconsciously.

Tonight’s the perfect night to hopefully get him on board and get the hell out of here.

“Hey,” Santiago says suddenly, smiling innocently. “I just had this idea—we should probably split up for now, since our patrol extends down this entire wing of the dorm. How about you go ahead to the other side while I keep an eye out here so we can catch any escapees more quickly?”

“But if it turns into a fight, we won’t have each other to fight with. We’ll just be on our own,” points out his roommate.

Santiago scoffs. “I mean, that’s what all the magic training has been for, right? I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

“But…” His roommate hesitates, then finally acquiesces with a reluctant “If you say so” before walking away.

Once he’s out of sight, Santiago smirks to himself.

That was way too easy. Santiago 1, dormmates 0.

-

Yu is lying in bed, staring vacantly up at the ceiling, when he hears it. The synchronized mental ping of a system notification and something being inserted into the keyhole of his door.

[ NEW OBJECTIVE: SANTIAGO wants to talk. Hear him out and make your choice. ]

What?

But before Yu can question it, the door is already silently hinging open and he has to quickly swipe away the notification pop-up.

Santiago slips in and quickly closes the door behind him. “Hey,” he says quietly, with a sheepish grin; for some reason, much more bearable than his usual one.

“What do you want?” asks Yu coldly, arms crossed.

“Whoa!” Santiago holds up his hands. “No need to get hostile with me. Listen, I heard about your escape attempt from the other day. I can help you actually get out of here.”

Yu stares at him in disbelief. “...Are you kidding me? Aren’t you the one who’s been sucking up to Jamil and Kalim the whole time?” A pause. “Unless this whole time you were doing it to make your life more bearable…”

“See, you get me,” whisper-exclaims Santiago, aiming finger guns at the TA. “Between that and the desire for freedom, I can already tell we’re birds of a feather.”

“Uh-huh.”

“I’m being serious!” Santiago insists. His arms fall back to his sides, one hand playing with the keyring attached to his belt. “If that’s not enough to convince you… well, uh… I’m a Scarabia student. I know the layout of this place way better than you do, and I have a vague plan in mind, so escaping will be a walk in the park. Plus, all the guys I room with have been strugglin’, and…” He trails off, looking more and more uncomfortable.

“So you’ve got a guilty side,” Yu says bluntly.

“Nothing like that! I just don’t wanna live like this anymore.” Santiago detaches the keyring and dangles it at Yu. “Listen, we don’t have much time, so what’ll it be? Freedom or more pain until the end of winter break?”

Yu hesitates.

On one hand, this could go super wrong… and we’ll receive an even worse punishment if we’re caught. On the other…

A certain bespectacled sophomore in Yu’s debt comes to mind. Slowly, the corners of his mouth tug upwards in a small smirk.

“On second thought, I’ll take your offer,” replies Yu, standing up and straightening his clothes. “So long as you let me choose our destination. After all, if you need help, I know just the person to go to.”

Santiago shrugs. “Sounds fair enough. Anywhere’s better than here right now, so let’s go.”

They step out into the hallway as quietly as they can, abandoned and desolate as it is at this time of night. Santiago locks the door behind him and turns to Yu.

“Okay, here’s the plan,” he whispers. “We’re gonna head to one of the storerooms, and from there—”

“Santiago?”

At the end of the hallway stands someone Yu recognizes as one of Santiago’s friends, staring at them and looking thoroughly betrayed. Santiago and Yu flinch in unison.

“Are you trying to help him escape?” asks the roommate. “You kidding me?! You just said you’d keep an eye out for escape attempts!”

“Listen,” Santiago attempts, “there’s a perfectly rational explanation for thi—”

FWEEEET!

His roommate takes the whistle around his neck and blows like his life depends on it, creating an ear-piercingly high-pitched noise that has footsteps approaching in seconds.

Santiago curses under his breath. “Yu, you’d better be clear for running now, ‘cause we’re gonna need to do a lot of it. And make a whole lotta detours.”

“I’ll try my best,” Yu mutters nervously.

“Great. So let’s SCRAM!” Santiago grabs Yu and dashes in the direction opposite of his roommate and the approaching stampede.

They wind around corners and decorations, stumbling on carpets and whatnot. There’s a lot of scrambling to lose the mob. Occasionally, Santiago has to pull Yu into a duck or vice versa to avoid a stray shot of magic trying to paralyze them.

“Almost there!” Santiago whisper-shouts as they make a sharp turn into a less well-lit hallway. “They haven’t made the corner yet; let’s hide and let ‘em pass us by!”

Right after saying that, he quickly pulls Yu past the grand doors of what seems to be a storeroom. They work together to quickly push the doors shut just in time. From outside comes the roar of rapid footsteps and shouts—

“Where’d they go? Split up and find them!”

“Show yourselves, street rats!”

After a few moments of being pressed up against the door, Yu hears the footsteps fade away.

“Phew,” he breathes, slumping against the ornate doorframe. “I think they’re gone.”

“Yeah, we’re pretty much golden from here on out,” Santiago agrees, panting heavily. “Coulda been struck by magic at any point back there… I thought you’d be meeker, but thanks for having my back.”

“Yeah, well… you’re not as bad as I thought you were,” Yu admits. “Anyway, let’s focus on that once we get outta here. They could always come back. What’s the plan from this point on?”

“Right.” Santiago flicks his magic pen and a soft, auburn light emits from the magestone at its end. “We’re in Kalim’s treasury—he’s taken me here a few times, hehe. What I’m looking for should be somewhere around here—ah!” He points at the carpet hopping over to them on its tassels. “There. Our ticket out of here.”

“Is that a… flying carpet?” Yu wonders. “Kalim really is rich…”

“Which is why this dorm is one of the best,” boasts Santiago. “I get to see stuff like this almost every day.”

“Mhm. I don’t think I could cope with it, to be honest, but that’s not what we’re here for.”

“Yeah.” Santiago kneels and pats the carpet. “Hey, buddy. You must be going stir-crazy too, huh? Why don’t we get outta here together?”

The carpet hops eagerly. It adjusts so it’s flat, hovering and ready to be boarded. Yu and Santiago share a grin in the dim light.

“Let’s blow this joint,” Santiago exclaims, sitting on the carpet and extending a hand to help Yu on. The TA settles down, holding onto the edge securely. He leans over to whisper something to the carpet, and they’re zipping off within seconds.

Maybe it’s the adrenaline of fleeing that keeps him from fearing this height.

“I see our pursuers down there,” Yu points out as they leave the main Scarabia building, hearing the shouts of indignant students on patrol.

“Heh.” Santiago leans over the edge of the carpet to shout, “Maybe you all oughta learn how to fly first if you wanna catch us!”

Yu huffs out a laugh before turning away and keeping his eyes trained forward. The carpet is headed straight for the entrance/exit mirror, perfectly according to his request.

“Soooo… I forgot to ask, but where are we headed?” Santiago asks, turning back around. “I saw you whisper something to the carpet just now...”

They pass through the mirror and into the Hall

Yu smiles cryptically. “I hope you’re okay with a change of scenery. I’d argue it’s the most drastic from what Scarabia has to offer.”

Santiago stares at him for a few moments, then sputters. “Wait, don’t tell me—”

The magic carpet crosses the hall and passes straight through into the Octavinelle mirror.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” Santiago squawks as they zoom through the underwater hallways. “When you said to let you choose the destination, I didn’t think it’d be, y’know, Octavinelle!”

“Who else would that person who could help us be?” Yu questions him, snickering. “It’s fine. Anyway, calm down. You gotta look your best when seeking an audience at the Lounge.”

They burst through the double doors of the Mostro Lounge then. It comes as quite a surprise to the eel twins standing at the bar, both dressed to the nines in their dorm uniforms.

“Well, well, well.” Jade recovers remarkably quickly, smiling and clasping his hands together as Yu and Santiago hop off the magic carpet. “What have we here? Patrons in need of a midnight snack?”

“Aww. I was hoping I’d get to squeeze a burglar or two, but it’s just Koi and Parrotfish,” whines Floyd. “Now I can’t squeeze anyone.”

“Hello to you, too,” grumbles Yu before elbowing Santiago, who has just been staring fearfully at the twins.

“What are you doing here?” is all the bird beastman manages. “Also, where’s Chrysos?”

“You’d think he’d be in the loop by now,” Floyd mutters. “We can’t go home right now. Coral Sea’s frozen over.”

“Chrysos has been… unable to return home either, so he’s here with us,” adds Jade.

Santiago’s shoulders relax. “Oh, thank the Seven! I thought I was gonna go straight from one prison to the next, but at least there’s some kind of familiarity still here…”

I’m pretty sure Chrysos would not say the same about you were he in your shoes right now, Yu thinks.

Jade’s eyes widen with unabashed interest. “Prison? Would you care to elaborate, perhaps?”

“Also…” Floyd circles around the partner-in-crime duo to poke at the magic carpet. “What’s this rectangular flounder-lookin’ thingy?”

“Ah. Come to think of it, it looks a lot like Kalim’s magic carpet,” Jade remarks. “Could it be…”

Their conversation is rudely halted in its tracks with the sound of imminent footfalls. The doors to the Mostro Lounge burst open once more, passed through by none other than two Scarabia students.

“There’s no escape for you now, thieves!” shouts one.

“Surrender quietly!” exclaims the other, pointing his magic pen at Santiago and Yu.

“Ghk—” Yu steps back and accidentally bumps into Floyd (he somehow half-circled around him again??), who puts a hand on his shoulder to stop both of them from tripping. “They followed us all the way here?!”

“How stubborn can you get?” groans Santiago.

“Tsk, tsk.”

Everyone falls silent when polished shoes clack against the ground, an undeniable and recognizable noise. Azul himself emerges from the employee doors, adjusting his gloves with a disdainfully neutral expression. Chrysos follows not far behind him.

“What’s all the commotion at this late hour?” Azul implores.

The second Scarabia student gapes. “You’re—you’re the housewarden of Octavinelle…!”

“That, I am.” Azul glances down at them with his chin held high. “Since you have your pens drawn, would you care to explain just what’s going on here?”

“It’s none of Octavinelle’s business,” states the other Scarabia student. “Just quietly hand over those two”—he jerks his head at Santiago and Yu—“and we’ll leave as quickly as we came.”

Azul’s calculating gaze shifts to the escapees, who are looking back at him with varying levels of nervousness and determination.

Come on, Azul, Yu mentally pleads. Don’t fail me now.

The housewarden hums to himself thoughtfully.

“If you refuse to hand them over, you’ll be an accessory to their wrongdoing as well,” continues the more confident Scarabia student.

“Is that so?” Azul challenges.

Floyd huffs. “Seriously, are you small fry tryin’ to yank our tails here? Who do you even think you’re talking to?”

The Scarabia students bristle. “You—”

“Ah, ah, ah.” Elegantly, with an air of refined confidence, Azul holds up a hand. “There will be no fighting in the Mostro Lounge. This is a place for gentlemen.”

His eyes flit towards the intruders.

“That being said… I believe there is plenty of room for ‘delivering.’ Jade, Floyd. Show these ill-mannered patrons the door. Chrysos, lend them a hand.”

“As you wish,” Jade replies, all too happily, at the same time that Floyd delightfully says, “On it.”

The twins advance on the two Scarabia students, pulling out their magical pens while smiling all the while. Chrysos, rolling up his sleeves, is quick to follow.

“I’ll help them out. It’ll be good stress relief,” decides Santiago, marching straight into the fray.

“In that case…” Azul adjusts his glasses and turns to Yu. “Why don’t we find a quieter spot to discuss what’s brought you here, Yu?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Yu answers dryly, gesturing Azul on with a flourish. “Lead the way.”

-

“So, there’s been Scarabian infighting recently, you say? On top of a ridiculous training regimen set by their housewarden?” When Yu nods, Azul brings a hand to his own chin in thought. “Interesting. I didn’t think Kalim had it in him…”

“Well, neither did I, and I literally see him every single day,” Santiago says. “I mean, people don’t just change that abruptly, right? There’s gotta be some kind of gradual shift first!”

Jade sets down a tray of tea for Azul. “I find myself compelled to agree. In the past year, Kalim has never once failed to be his authentic, happy self—such a drastic change is concerning.”

“S’hard to imagine Sea Otter being all tyrant-like,” Floyd agrees with a lazy smile.

“And Vice Housewarden Jamil has his hands full trying to deal with it all,” adds Yu. He shakes his head. “I can’t believe we can’t even reach out to Crowley right now, so people like him have to do this all on their own…”

“Right?!” Santiago sighs, leaning back on the couch. “Jamil’s cool and competent, I meant it when I said that, but leaving all this on him is a bit much… Especially when it’s hard to find guys like him here.”

That’s when they notice the sophomores have fallen silent and are sharing a certain, unreadable look. Yu glances over at Chrysos, who shrugs—clearly not in the loop either.

That’s odd…

“By chance, is there something we don’t know about Jamil?” Yu asks cautiously, uncertainly.

Azul frowns, propping his elbows up on his desk and lacing his fingers together. “What we know is little more than what you have just provided us. Not only am I in his class, but I share a number of electives with Jamil, so our paths cross frequently.” His eyes narrow, upper lip pressed to his tented hands in thought. “Santiago’s right, in that Jamil… well, Yu, I’m sure you’ve noticed this whenever our class has alchemy. He’s demure and poised, never ventures any opinions of his own.”

“Yeah… Yeah. You’re right. He never raises his hand or anything,” recalls Yu. “I mean, not that that’s uncommon, but it feels weird for someone competent enough to be a vice housewarden to never reveal their hand in intellect.”

Floyd nods slowly. “And he plays like a goody-goody in the Basketball Club, too. I had no clue he was Scarabia’s vice, though, ‘cause I don’t pay much attention to other dorms.”

“And now he’s struggling within his own dorm?” Azul relaxes his hands and leans back in his chair, crossing his legs. “This looks like the perfect chance for me to offer him my aid.”

“Wait, what?” Santiago leaps from his seat. “What about us? Y’know, Yu and me? Are you gonna help us?”

Chrysos kicks him in the shin, drawing out a pained yelp.

“Don’t get your feathers in a twist, jeez,” says Floyd.

“Yeah. We came here for his help, and Azul wouldn’t go back on his word,” Yu claims. He looks over at the housewarden. “Right, Azul?”

Their eyes meet for a moment, neutral yellow on deep-sea blue, and a sense of understanding passes between them.

“Of course. I’ll have you know that the last few incidents have left me a changed man,” declares Azul. “I sincerely want to help as many as I can, so does it not stand to reason that I’d also want to assist Jamil and Scarabia as a whole as well?”

“…Okay,” Santiago replies, relenting. “Fine.”

“I’m glad we’re on the same page. Now—” Azul beckons Jade and Floyd closer with a hand. “Floyd, see our Scarabian guest to his temporary room for the night. Jade, prepare some gifts for tomorrow. As for Chrysos and Yu…”

He smiles as the other three exit the VIP lounge, glasses glinting in the low light.

“Why don’t we briefly discuss what we’ll bring to the proverbial table tomorrow?”

-

“Are you seriously trusting them?” whispers Santiago as they head to the Hall of Mirrors the next morning. His eyes dart from Jade, to Floyd, to Azul, and then to Chrysos. “I mean…”

“It’s fine,” Yu assures him. “Azul owes me. Besides, don’t you want to help those guys out? This is basically our only shot.”

“Ugh…” Santiago crosses his arms. “It’s more about my own freedom, but…”

Yu just smiles at him. “Sure, that’s what it is.”

Suddenly, hands come to clamp down on both of their shoulders—Jade’s on Santiago’s and Floyd’s on Yu’s. Although it’s just for show, it really gives off the impression that they’re prisoners being herded to their executions.

“Look sharp, boys,” Azul commands, stepping in front to lead while Chrysos picks up the rear. “We have a whole dorm in need of our benevolence.”

He twirls his scepter and walks through the Scarabia mirror with long, confident strides.

“Well, Li’l Koi?” Floyd cheerfully taps his fingers against Yu’s shoulders.

“Let’s do this,” Yu says firmly with a nod, letting Floyd take and guide him through to the other side.

“I still can’t believe Santiago took Crewel’s TA and fled to Octavinelle,” mutters one of the Scarabia students from the previous night, standing in the shade of the entrance pillars.

“And they stole the magic carpet,” points out the other. “If the housewarden finds out about this…” He groans and buries his face in his hands. “What are we gonna do?”

“I think we should take it to Vice Housewarden Jamil, for starters—”

“Hello, gentlemen.” Azul, with a pleasant smile, steps in between the two students. “Mind if we pop by?”

“Sheesh, it’s hot here,” Floyd drawls, he and Jade herding Yu and Santiago in. “Feels like the middle of summer.”

“It’s a rather pleasant place to be during winter break,” Jade remarks. Chrysos nods in agreement.

“Y-You…!” The Scarabia students stammer. “You’re the Octavinelle guys who gave us a thrashing last night!”

“What do you want from Scarabia?” demands the more confident one.

“Allow me to apologize,” Azul begins, tipping his hat and adding a level of dramatic remorse to his tone. “At first glance, it appeared that you were bullying these defenseless young men. I stood up for them on the spot out of the kindness of my heart…” He side-eyes Yu. “…but upon hearing their story from the TA, it became more apparent to me that these two were thieves who had made off with Scarabia’s treasured magic carpet. Thus, I’ve decided to take personal responsibility for my mistake by apprehending the two criminals and returning your precious magical artifact to its rightful owner.”

He’s still really good at twisting situations to his advantage.

On cue, the carpet flies past Azul and loops around to hop eagerly by the Scarabia students.

“Rgh…” Santiago shifts uncomfortably until Jade’s hold, looking every bit the part of a guilty thief caught red-handed.

The first student looks to be at a loss for words. “W-Well, uh…”

“Thank you for the… help…” continues the second one awkwardly.

That’s when Jamil, crossing the long path to the entrance mirror area, shows up. “Guys, it’s about time for morning training. If you’re late, the housewarden will…” He notices the whole Octavinelle party, then, and his eyes widen considerably. “Gh—?!”

“Why, Jamil!” Azul walks forward to positively beam at the vice housewarden. “Hello, there. How have you been?”

“Azul Ashengrotto… as well as the Leech twins and Chrysos Pendentif,” Jamil notes, squinting a bit. “What are you doing here?”

Jade nods respectfully to him. “Our home is hardly hospitable during the wintertime—”

“—so we spend our holidays in the dorm!” Floyd finishes, sharing a smile with his twin.

“Wh…” Jamil tries to keep his composure, despite his obvious floundering. “What?”

Azul chuckles before tapping his scepter against the ground. “By the way, where might Kalim be? I’m here to return his magic carpet to him.”

“Er, ah… If you need to deliver something, I’ll take it,” Jamil replies, answering and dodging the question in one move.

“I couldn’t possibly ask you to do that,” insists Azul. “This magic carpet is on par with national treasures. If it were discovered to be damaged later, Octavinelle would be held liable—and we can’t have that, can we? I would prefer to hand it to Kalim in person as a show of goodwill and have him assess its condition first-hand.”

“Kalim wouldn’t care even if it was damaged,” mutters Jamil under his breath, before trying his best to put on a casual smile. “Let me take it off your hands, okay?”

“Worry not!” Azul places a hand over his heart, looking as sincere as he possibly could. “I won’t even ask for my standard twenty-percent finder’s fee.”

“Please,” adds Jade. “Consider it our way of apologizing for our uncouth treatment towards Scarabia last night.”

Floyd continues to add insult to injury—“We even brought seafood pizza as a present. It’d be such a shame if it went cold, right?”

“And the more there to help watch the escapees the better,” argues Chrysos as well.

“The point is,” Azul says, “I would much prefer to deliver it in person. Kalim’s awake by now, I trust?”

Jamil shakes his head furiously. “No, really, he’s not up for any—”

Azul walks right by him and descends the steps to Scarabia’s long, carpeted walkway.

“—hey! You can’t just barge in, Azul!”

As Jamil chases after the Octavinelle housewarden, the eel twins turn to their quarry.

“Shall we?” Jade ventures, ever-polite.

“You’d better keep up,” sing-songs Floyd.

Yu nods with forced confidence. “I’ll do my best.”

As they’re herded to follow Jamil and Azul in, Santiago mumbles, “These Octavinelle guys are so pushy when they wanna be…”

“It’s nice to not be on the receiving end of it, for once,” Yu admits.

Santiago nods reluctantly, clearly not entirely in agreement but not having the time to argue either.

After all, the doors of Scarabia and the execution of their plan await them.

[octahedral-chaos]

Okay, your concept with Sonnet and Sakari is low-key very cool! Love the amount of detail you put into this stuff.

Anyways, I have a couple of things:

Kinda intrested to hear about the setting-

Also want to know a little more about Sonnet. Like, you said she was trapped in her own weapon for doing something terrible. I think you said something about killing another Light Starfolk. And if so, for what reason? Or was it accidental?

And... um... How is the public/ government going to react to a half-human, half-eldritch Sakari running around their community? I wonder if she'll become an urban legend-

Glad you love them! I'll be (hopefully) doodling their offical designs this evening!

Basically, I'm thinking of an urban-fantasy setting? Like It's the modern day, but there's monsters and stuff as well. Also magic... but it can only be used by specific sapient beings and humans aren't one of those (Unless they have an artifact of sorts).

Sakari's apartment is located near the Capital city of her country, which is also in the tropics! So she don't experience winter and stuff (Sonnet would be fascinated by the seasons, though).

Also for Sonnet, their story is a bit... sad, so to speak. They're a relatively young and inexperienced hunteress, who much rather explore than fight. In fact, while fighting their counterpart, there was another hunteress with them, trying to help. But... tragedy struck: their scythe slashed at their counterpart... and their fellow hunteress. This resulted in the death of both the hunter and the hunteress.

Due to this, they were banished by their kin for a simple mistake, and They weren't happy. In a fit of rage aimed at Sonnet, They sealed the little hunteress in their own scythe, cursing them for all of time. However, there is a way to free them... but unfortunately only They know... except LUCA just so happened to be eavesdropping on TOFA's plans.

I think Sakari would try to hide her starfolk traits to the best of her abilities. She usually wears a pretty long cloak currently, but as it progresses, she might have to hide from people entirely.

But all hope is not lost, as Sakari accidentally ends up with a random travelling party of adventurers while trying to find a way to break Sonnet's curse... and she would ask someone from said group to get her stuff from her old apartment, as she's going to be a similar type of starfolk to Angel, and she's also most likely would be 9 feet tall as a full-blown starfolk...

Plus, she did mention the whole ordeal with her and "her" scythe, which just also happened to have a trapped eldritch being in it, to said party, so she's not going to be pretty lonely. Other people, however.... let's just say that they'll be a bit freaked out-

So Sakari unintentionally becoming a sort of local legend is a thing that could happen...

[beforeiread-studies]

2023 plans

2023 is going to be such an important year in my life!

First of all, academically. If this winter exam session goes well, I'll be set to graduate on October 2023. After that, I plan on taking a break from studying and apply for an internship in a German-speaking country to better my German. But first I need to pass all my exams! And write my dissertation! I'll start working on that in March, I think.

Savings. My aim is to save 5.000€ before I leave for the internship (which will probably be unpaid). First of all, I'm still selling a lot of my stuff on Vinted. In January, I'll also be applying for a grade average-based scholarship and hopefully??? I'll get it??? Then I'll apply for Erasmus Traineeship, which is a scholarship for people wanting to have an internship abroad (check it out if you are an EU uni student!!!). AND I also mean to apply again for a university job in March & to work during the summer/early autumn in order to complete my hours before graduating in October.

Reading. I think I'll try again to achieve my 100 books in one-year goal + try to read all the books on my TBRs. I own 26 physical unread books and there are 70 others on my Goodreads TBR, so if I only read those I'll easily reach both my goals.

Writing. I want to finish writing AND publish on Amazon the whole series of Deck of Cards (that will hopefully bring some more money into my coffers). I'm currently almost done with the first draft of the first short out of 3 so I can definitely make it. I also want to post at least 2 new short P&P fanfictions and write at least the first draft of a long one.

Crafting. I'll mostly knit. I'm currently working on the Buffalo Rose Beanie by KC Knitting. After I'm done with that, I'll take a break to focus on university and writing and then it will be sock fest! I'm very excited to start working on my sock drawer. I've also been requested a white unicorn with a rainbow mane. I need to buy most of the materials but it's going to be a fun project, I'm excited. I'll try to have it finished by summer. After that, I will hopefully feel confident enough to knit my first sweater. I also want to get better at mending and repairing my clothes (looking at you, ripped jeans hidden at the back of my closet).

Travelling. Since I need to save for the Big Trip in the second half of the year (the internship in Germany/Austria/Switzerland) I don't think I'll travel much. But I would really enjoy visiting museums in my city.

[polizwrites]

PoliZ's WIP Update - 27 Dec 2023

A slow-ish writing week, but I’m okay with that, considering the holidays. I touched  4 fics (3 new works & 1 WIP)  for a total of  1917 words.

On Ao3, I posted: 

Three holiday ficlets:

Deck the Halls -  a No Powers AU Stucky meet cute/meet ugly while dealing with a Karen.  

Making Room  - Post-Endgame Morgan and Tony talking about a family friend  (background WinterPepperony) 

I Need a Little Angel Sitting On My Shoulder - No Powers platonic Stony AU with Tony in recovery and Steve as his sponsor. 

Reluctant Four Footed Heroes -  Established relationship Stucky + Alpine and Dodger 

Chapter Nine of  Never More to Go Astray -  Star Wars fusion with eventual Stuckony - finally wrapping up this fic!   

On Tumblr I posted: 

 A (Not So) Misplaced Gift -  Bucky isn’t sure what to do with the magical gift he’s been given; Steve has some insight.  

I have 16 semi-active WIPs   that I’ll be carrying over into the new year 😬 with my  current  deadlines being the Stucky’Verse Bingo which wraps on 29 Dec and the Bucky Barnes Bingo which wraps on 10 Jan.  

See  below cut for what I’m working on/planning to work on - arranged more or less by bingos/challenges/etc.  As always, feel free to send me   prompts or plot bunnies as well as asks regarding  any of these projects  or any other WIPs I’ve got out there.   Interaction really helps feed the Muse and keep me motivated!

Seek & Destroy Collab

After reading @psychiccatpanda‘s amazing   Morguna and the Green Queen, I  got the itch to explore the Soldier’s POV and talked  Faustie into   collab’ing with me!  We’re working on a new part of the series, and I’ve  contributed about 900 words towards the  2500-ish we have so far.   Going to see if I can squeeze any of my BBB squares into this fic.

Stucky’Verse Bingo Round 1 - [SVB_R1]   (Ends 22 29 Dec)

Seventeen  fills, three  WIPs and a couple of ideas.  Have one bingo & am shooting for hopefully one more bingo with the fics listed below - thanks to the mods extending the deadline by a week!  

* B2- Pets - Posted Reluctant Four Footed Heroes  on Monday.  It was  inspired by a round of square interpretation during the BBB Discord party.  Stucky domestic shenanigans with Alpine & Dodger which  came in at 226 words. 

* A4 - Fairy Tale Curse  - Despite being custom-made for a continuation of Beyond the Beast,  I just haven’t been able to to pull anything together in time.  😞    

* C2 - Meet Ugly - Posted  Deck the Halls  on Friday - a No Powers AU holiday fic that crossed over with my Winter Break Advent calendar prompt Day 1:  Putting Up Holiday Decorations at the Hospital.  It came in at 517 words.   

Bucky Barnes Bingo  - [BBB_R5]   (Ends 10 Jan 2024)

I’ve got  twenty-two fills for  four bingos, four WIPs,   and a couple more Vague ideas. Aiming for a blackout - we’ll see how close I get!  

* B3 - Sunrise/Sunset -  squished this into Chapter Nine of  Never More to Go Astray  to wrap up my Star Wars fusion fic with  Jedi!Steve,  Mandalorian!Bucky and fugitive!Tony in a Stuckony finale.  It came in at 781 words and posted this morning. 

* U3 - Fireplace -  posted  Making Room  on Friday - a soft WinterPepperony + Morgan holiday ficlet that came in at 256 words.

* C2 - Yelena Belova–   The plan is to use this prompt in the next chapter of Peresmešnik,  (aka Three Avengers and a Baby), which is I poked at a little recently and is currently sitting at 1551  words (800-ish of which are mine).

* C5 - Marriage of Convenience/Pretend Couple -  planning to use this in the next chapter of   Lady Natasha’s Consort and Lord Steve’s Companion.    Got a spark of an idea the other day that might get me a bit further on this fic.  

* K3 - Magic -  Wrote up A (Not So) Misplaced Gift as a crossover with the Flash Fiction Friday prompt   [#FFF232 Among Any Option]. It came in at 301 words and will  post to Ao3 before this event ends.

* May Adopted - Insomnia - finally got this filled with The Dead of Night, which also filled a Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF211 An Old Friend] along with my JBB FREE square. It came in at 317 words and will post to Ao3 before this event ends.

* August Adoptable: Take the Shot - Got inspired by a  discussion over on the BBB Discord server about which Avengers would be the best at pool/billiards -  pulled in a BaBB December prompt: Wingman and kept my original  WinterHawk pairing to write up It’s In the Way That You Use It - a No Powers AU with a meetup at a bar pool table - Natasha and Steve acting as the wingman/woman. It’s coming in at 1313 words and will post Friday.   

Tony Stark Bingo Round 7  - [TSB_R7]   (ends 15 Feb)

Twenty-one  fills and zero WIPs as of the moment, with a couple of ideas in play.  

* S1 - Galaxy -  see BBB Sunrise/Sunset. 

* T2 - KINK: Cock-blocking 'bots -  I still want to combine this with  the  Fictober Day 27: prompt   "I don't know if they will accept this."   

* T5 - Shawarma - possible crossover with SAUB Canon Divergence – Battle of New York-related?

* A2 - KINK: Concubine - possible crossover with SAUB Gentle Dom  and SRB Multiple Submissives.  I’ve got a fairly fleshed out  (so to speak) story in mind   (Dom!Tony/sub!Steve/sub!Bucky) - just need to get it on paper.   

* A3 -  FREE  – @SomeSortofItalianRoast and I are looking at collabing on a  Steve/Tony/Scott fic - still need to throw some ideas around on this.  

* R5 - Doppelganger/Evil Twins -   The Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF214 Broken Mirror] got me at least a good start on the idea I’ve been playing with for this square. I posted NamNori on Tumblr and have a general idea of how I want to build on it to also fill my SAUB AU: Crack square. It’s currently sitting at 360 words.

Stony AUniverse Bingo  [SAUB_R1] (ends 15 Feb)

Another brand-new bingo I’m helping co-mod!   Six fills, three WIPs and several  crossover ideas already!

* S1 - Edging - Filled this with Ringing in the New, where Tony makes a suggestion to improve/change up their love life. It’s a crossover with a Flash Fiction Friday prompt: How Do You Use ‘It’? and came in at 324 words - I will post it to Ao3 before the event is over.

* S2 - AU: Crack - see TSB   Doppelganger/Evil Twins

* S3 - AU: Wings - possibly Chapter Three of     Half of the Flesh and Blood That Makes Me Whole   - a Bucky POV remix of at least the first part of Take What Was Wrong (And Make it Right),

* S5 - Accidental Baby Acquisition - see BBB Yelena Belova

* T1 - AU: Fantasy -  CoffeeOwl shared a really cool dragon!Steve/indebted!Tony prompt in the ACB Discord server that I may be playing with for this.

* T4 - AU: Canon Divergence - see TSB Shawarma above.

* T5 - AU: No Powers - Posted I Need a Little Angel Sitting On My Shoulder last Friday.  Tony’s struggling with his sobriety during the holidays and reaches out to his sponsor, Steve.   It came in at 484 words and will post on the 18th.    

* O2 - Omegaverse - I have a Vague Idea inspired by  @kandisheek’s lovely art piece.  

* N2 - Mutual Pining - crossover with CABB Royal Knight?

* N3 - Gentle Dom - see TSB KINK: Concubine above

* N5 - AU: Multiple Identities - Posted  The Secrets We Keep  to Tumblr.  It’s a first person alternating POV ficlet with mutual pining (and secret identity) Stony.   It came in at 314 words and will get posted to Ao3 before the event ends. 

* Y4 - AU: Soulmates  -  @chrissihr  posted a cool idea about Animated soulmarks, where  only your SM sees your mark move - may try to do something with this!  

Captain (America) Bottom Bingo - Round 2 [CABB] (ends 28 Feb 2024)

I signed up for a 3x3 card for this bingo and have four fills, two WIPs and a couple of crossover ideas.

* A2 - Secret/Forbidden Relationship - see SVB Harem

* B3 - Royal Knight - see SAUB Mutual Pining.

Post July Break Bingo  [JBB_23p] (Ends Apr 2024)

One fill on my  2x3 non-fandom-specific card - still working on  potential crossovers.

* A1 - “It’s you. It’s always been you.” - This might fit in with my TSB Doppelgangers/Evil Twins fill NamNori above :: ponders::

* B2 - Character’s personality is split into two different beings – I’ve never played with Bucky & the Soldier being two different people, but this seems like the perfect opportunity! Will see what might be a good crossover on BBB or WIB (or even SVB)

*  C1 - Touch Starved – another good fit for a Bucky-centric fic. (Steve or Tony or Clint) possibly crossover with BBB Take the shot?

Steve Rogers Bingo - Round 3 [SRB_R3] (ends  15 Jun 2024)

Two fills  - need to ponder possible crossovers, especially with SAUB, SVB   & CABB.  

* A2 - Age Difference - see SVB B4 - Sugar Daddy

* C5 - Exes to Lovers  - crossover with  CABB - "B1 - "All I wanted was for you to be happy."  – Bucky or Tony as the Ex?   SAUB S4 - Arranged Marriage  might be an additional crossover  

* D1 - Multiple Submissives -  Stuckony crossover with  CABB - C3 - Bath/shower sex  and SAUB  Y1 - Pre-Serum Steve Rogers?  

* D3 - Tony Stark - see BBB Sunrise/Sunset

Build-A-Bucky Bingo [BaBB_R1]

Another fun year-long  event from the folks at  @buckybarnesevents!  Each month there’s a list of prompts and you choose (at least) one  each month for your card!

* November:  Crackfic  - see  BBB K4 - Accidental villany

* December – see BBB Take the Shot. 

Warm and Fluffy   Bingo  - [WFB]   (no end date)

Four  fills on my card, courtesy of   @warmandfluffybingocards  - need to try for another crossover or two! 

————

On  other creative fronts:  I am working on an Iron Man Stuffed With Character figures for an upcoming con - have one figure left to work on for my   Marvel Trumps Hate  auction winners. If  you’re looking for one of a kind gifts for birthdays or other celebrations (besides this coming Christmas), check  out Stuffed With Character    over on Facebook for a full list of my designs (now over 150!).   These soft stuffed figures are  mostly Marvel and monsters, but I have some Star Wars, Star Trek, DC   and Disney figures as well. Plus I love to take custom design   requests  for any fandom!

[superfluouskeys]

May Madness

May-hem? Whatever. Anyway.

I have been freed from the clutches of law school for the summer and I have many personal goals and projects I would like to work on, so I thought I would shout about them here!

Writing Goals:

scorched earth (7/11-12ish) -- Prisoner-verse (OC-focused) -- still surprisingly on-track with the original outline I made! I was hoping to get this done over winter break, but I ended up working literally the whole time and then being super burned out. I've kept the structure of this story deliberately simple, so I think I might be able to finish it within the month!

ghost of you (2/4) -- Wheel of Time (Moiraine/Lan) -- part 3 is legit almost done but I need to get back into the Mood and the Vibes you know LOL. and I think it absolutely needs a part 4 to be paced the way I want it. next chapter very soon; 4th chapter idk but shouldn't take too much longer!

original thing (registered trademark, available by scrounging around on my blog for an untagged mess of nothingness) -- since I completely failed at making any progress on this last month due to school nonsense, hoping to make another big push next month! (not that I WON'T work on it before then, just that the above have priority!) completely insane goal would be to push for an extremely messy completed first draft by the end of the summer. but that would be insane. right. right,.., , ,,

still thinking about ways to share this as I work on it for those who are interested, as I am too insane to keep quiet about it forever! I have some other ideas, and there's always the chance I'll spontaneously become insane about something else, but the above are my priorities for now!

If this is all you care about feel free to stop reading here LOL the other goals are more personal ones!

Fitness Goals:

I've been unhappy with my level of fitness for a long time now (made especially bad by my situation during the pandemic) and while I've been able to make some major improvements even with the stresses of grad school, I think I can do a lot better with a little extra time on my hands!

In a few days, I'm planning to start the Insanity workout program (I have my workout class for the next two days lol), which is a two-month HIIT-based program with fit tests every two-ish weeks, so I'll probably post my results here since this is basically the only social media I use and it's nice to keep track LOL. I've also started doing a 20-30 minute brisk walk on an incline in the evening, and while I'm currently just aiming for my daily 10k steps, I'm hoping to push that up to a 15k minimum soon. As I acclimate to the Insanity workouts, I'll also try working in some other activities in the afternoon in the hopes of fostering an overall more active lifestyle. I'm also making changes to my diet, but I'm being very chill about this so I don't become miserable and insane LOL. My main goals are weight loss and building core strength.

Korean Learning Goals:

For the last few months I've been in the frustrating position of an advanced beginner, meaning there are a lot of learning materials that are either way too easy or too hard for me. So, since I have some time, I'd like to put in the hours and push for a major improvement--I want to try to get myself to a low intermediate level of proficiency. I think this will open up a LOT of learning materials for me, and hopefully allow me to hold simple conversations without feeling like I'm dying. There's a lot I need to tackle, but for now I think my main goals are building vocabulary, improving reading speed, and massively increasing my output. I'm aiming pretty high--I'm hoping for about 25 hours/week of active studying/practicing, along with other passive/fun input. I'll be working my way through the first 6 textbooks/workbooks from Talk to Me in Korean (I theoretically know most of the material through level 3 but can't use it on command), and just generally trying to write and speak a lot. I've also been using HelloTalk sporadically to make little journal entry-type posts, so I'll be doing that more frequently, and also trying to track my progress and how I'm feeling at the end of each week.

I tend to aim high when I set goals for myself because I find doing this means I'll definitely accomplish at least some of what I set out to do, and I personally don't really mind not reaching goals as long as I feel I've made noticeable progress. I also think it probably says something that while I was thinking about these goals I legitimately had the thought, "oh, and priority number four, relax and have fun and stuff" lol like okay girl. But I have high hopes, and I think having these goals will actually help me enjoy and get the most out of this downtime! Anyway, if you made it this far, thanks for listening to my rambles! 💪🥰

[temporarymoods]

aggressive hey

i always promise so much.

rarely do i fail to deliver.

except when it comes to writing.

i'm not even sure what i want to write about now, but i guess a couple things right off first:

haven't posted to the blog in a while

have thought about it a lot ever since (throughout november, december and winter break, the first two months of the spring semester, + a week)

just can't sit down and do it sometimes

but I've got a lot of ideas. lack of blog posts absolutely not correlating with lack of things to say...

i utilize my notes app extensively, there's some ideas there, but i don't want to go in at random, that would feel wrong and i couldn't maintain this meter of writing that i'm already doing, so.... Dune.

just learned about what's going on with Dune, in the Dune world, and so on. first attempt at watching the movie a couple years ago left me feeling silly but, i'm better now. i want to read the book over the summer, in a hammock. there are a lot of things i want to do this summer. those are all over my notes app, too, and on my wall. i don't think "dating" makes the list, though girls remain pretty.

SUMMER * dinner parties, on the porch, heavily curated * farmers markets, fresh produce w/ baked goods * indirect sunshine * direct sunshine * shrooms * sand * biking * the movies w/ a sweatshirt around my waist * a bong, graduation present to self * better clothes * movies, at home tho, lots * ice cream * camping and lake swimming * working * walking through the park * the hardware store (for what?) * feeling like i did it * sports games (spectator)

that's just naming a few. hopefully a lot of them can come true. i want to let my body feel good, it knows what to do, you know?

speaking of: dry sex life. mostly. but that's just on me, my doing, so i cannot really complain, but just state. for future record. that im still in my contented-single era, haven't quite hit the wall that keeps you bothered about it yet. cool cool. guess some time w a stranger couldn't be that bad, if i made it fun for me. what a weird concept. i love my friends, that is already so much. saw a corny tweet about that today. didn't like it because it would show up on friends' feeds and that's just,, ugh. true though

february was kind of ungovernable (what else can i say besides 'crazy' or 'wild'???) in a bitches testing me way (lmao) but no in a... here, see for yourself: [from my notes]

<<Feb 1st, downhill instantly>>

Feb 4th>>

Priorities 

Comfort and Wellbeing

Feb 6th>>

Sick email

Hi Prof,

This is Kate from your ( ) class. 

Just writing to let you know that over the past couple days I’ve been experiencing symptoms of a medical emergency. 

Feb 19th>>

i feel like peopke have been pretty critical with my recently and i dont like that 

>>

lowkey infuriated

>>

el tuesday [these are things I write down that I wanted to talk to el about on tuesday]

having to defend myself a lot recently

maybe i should cut my acts (self centered, crazy/stupid) (dramatic, unserious) [REDACTED]

would normally want to talk to a therapist about my natural desires to do things that feel important to me but are deemed odd/wrong by others ex. [REDACTED] but also wouldn’t normally pick such a birds eye topic because we get engrossed in the little things. but still: is there something fucking wrong w me? is it bpd? am i 2 hippie 2 quit?

doing things for the plot, to experience things (different)

my whole idea of human relationships in general 

Feb 21st>>

blog

was very overwhelmed this morning— hadnt felt that anxious in a loooooonggg time!!— but lunch w gray and lab partner (liz?) was so beautiful & im like, again, omg i love life + my friends ☀️☀️🌞🌞

Feb 23rd>>

Mom - therapy hospital $$

Feb 29th>>'

“By anarchist spirit I mean that deeply human sentiment, which aims at the good of all, freedom and justice for all, solidarity and love among the people; which is not an exclusive characteristic only of self-declared anarchists, but inspires all people who have a generous heart and an open mind.” Errico Malatesta, Umanita Nova, April 13, 1922

* * *

so that's that... i think hopefully that says a lot, captures a feeling. i knew it was a month to remember like halfway through, you know? and it ending with a 1 year breakup anniversary... classic. reflective. so glad it's march though, damn! haters were taking up too much space. i say that jokingly obviously but also if you dare to read through the lines you might observe that i am in fact quite upset about the attacks leveraged at me over the course of a couple nights in a short span of time that were all off base and random and yet still hurtful anyway it was a weird pattern there's no denying! it doesnt help the identity crisis, which is in FULL SWING !

who am i?

idfk man. let's consult the March notes app, shall we?

March 1st, 3am>>

dont like cleaning bc dont like confronting the waste i make

March 1st, 2pm>>

in love a little bit with a handful of my friends but for various reasons dating them is not in the question & will never be! how relieving to know that

March 6th>>

Candlelit charcuterie night 

* * *

feel like these don't shine as bright but they're certainly better. im supposed to get my period today and i had no idea. but wait let me clarify that you should not take that second note to mean that i have feelings for my friends i do not, just read it another way idk

music been good recently.

rn its 2018 peach pit (Drop the Guillotine) but that's definitely not representative. Lime Garden's album One More Thing is though. and Grimes still, if im not doing that persona enough. and Car Seat Headrest, but in an on wait - always way. like a fucking brother. rest of the good shit is just in my Liked Songs kind of at whim. special selection: Chosen to Deserve by Wednesday. Next up should be RINA bc alr found 2 songs on there I really enjoy. but even now im off hyperpop for a week, lmao. what happens when you go camping.

towel party next week aunt in the hospital mom visiting in like 1 second more job interviews tomorrow research to do havent unpacked yet its spring break i just keep getting high and getting through it i really do love my friends

there's probably so much about this life that i'm going to miss. and i look forward to the time where i actually have the space to consider that. more choice

a poem to close us out, and maybe i'll upload some pictures tomorrow. (haha, odds?) thanks for reading. just off the radio show juice, Fri Mar 8 3:20am. common time for me recently. stealing back my peace in the wee hours oft'

i heard symphonies who wouldn't let me sleep the everysound of rain on wood my ear on wood the same

i taste dairy soft despite my body taking my time i do not think

scratching at my head i can do this this i can do which lets me cave in

i laugh a lot it makes me cry a lot of tears a lot of love

i love sooooooo ( ) all to say ( )

<3, Kate

[berryunho]

omg i know how u feel i don't think i'll be graduating in 4 bc i have to do co-op terms so it delays my grad by a year or smth?? we'll see how things go

wow that's so cool!! the dedication is immaculate i would always give up after a month or so. do you know any other languages aside from eng and korean?

ooo i'm kinda the opposite like nothing really interests me outside of courses in my major or other science courses. i've gotta do some arts credits and scrolling thru them is like... okay this sounds interesting then i read the syllabus and its like readings and essays and discussion groups then im like NOPE LOL BYE

that's so funny cause i saw someone sleeping in a corner of the stairs. ppl will sleep anywhere and i don't blame them. could you imagine falling asleep near the river ugh bless

omg yes like with chem i always end up working backwards from the answer (wink wonk) to see what i did wrong and usually it's a lot 😭

it wasn't too bad! it was kinda cold but not windy so i was okay. i still brought a jacket with me cause it was windy af during the day and i thought it'd be the same at night but nope there goes my money for coat check 😭

ohh!! that sounds fun, did you manage to find anything? red hair is so nice. everyone i've seen so far with red hair pulls it off so well and i'm lowkey convinced it's a colour that works on everyone....

thank you!! i did have lots of fun : D i might've died on the bus ride back... but we don't talk abt it..........

-mightychondria

yeahhh i have to get a masters degree for the profession im aiming for so... if everything goes to plan that's six years of university and i do NOT want it to be more 😭😭 hopefully your graduation doesn't get delayed too much ??

:LKFJDKFSJD:LFKJ oh boy languages and me... lowkey obsessed w learning them SO one set of my grandparents were german and didnt speak english so i know very basic german (my dad didnt think it was important to teach me. crying screaming throwing up.) and i got to be pretty okay at finnish at one point but i've forgotten ALL of it lol and i took 2 years of latin in highschool which was very fun but again i forgot most of it KLFJSFDLJK AND FINALLY i took a couple years of american sign language in middle school but i literally remember the alphabet and basic kindness' :'] ive also attempted swedish, norwegian, spanish, and french with ... immediate failure ! hehe

i get what you mean 😭for me its not that i dislike my stem courses but i actually love reading and writing essays and stuff and i just wish i could do more of that 😭 but the majority of my stem friends definitely would agree w you LOL

ugh for real it would be so nice to sleep outside in the sun i feel like ... living out that cat/dog life ... but id be too scared of being kidnapped LKJJFSKFJKS

that is definitely the way to do chem 😭 just gotta learn from your mistakes until there are none ! i had an exam last friday and ... i should be getting that grade tonight or tomorrow so im very anxiously waiting to see how i did ...

nooooo not the coat check money... i cannot even imagine how much clubs make in the winter just from coat check like 😭 some nights at one of my local clubs its literally more expensive to check your coat than to get in 😭

sadly i still havent figured out who/what to be... i think im gonna wait to dye my hair though so that it lasts longer ... so i really dk LOL im lazy tbh so i normally go for something i can just wear my normal clothes for... and since i just finished breaking bad im thinking maybe jane ??? i dress like her irl (though less 2008) and id just need a wig LKJFS:LDJKF BUT IDK !!! do you have any costumes in mind? or any plans?

hehe im glad you had fun but ... 👀 ... how ominous ... hehe i hope your week starts off nicely !! :]

[tatertotthethot]

For your yandere requests, could I have a dragon hybrid Katsuki with an unhealthy fixation on his new mate (how he met the reader is up to you, be it through kidnapping, forcing himself on her or manipulation ext)

Pairings: dragon hybrid!Bakugou x fem!reader, ft. Dragon hybrid!Kirishima and Hawks.

Description: you get abducted by a dragon hybrid and must live in a cave with him, as his mate of choice.

Warnings/tags: THIS IS A SHORT SYNOPSIS TO A SERIES that will include yandere themes, HEAVY smut with noncon/dubcon elements, kidnapping & captivity, brief violence/gore, and hopefully enough fluff to make up for it all 🥰 (let me know if I miss anything major in the future)

| Synopsis | Part 1 |

18+, MINORS DNI!!!

(Requests are open btw)

It started as a rouge venture that Bakugo and Kirishima decided to take, wanting to break free from the tribal traditions.

The two males were born and raised within the same tribe that they, themselves, have helped withstand a notorious reputation for easily conquering any land in which they seek. They were easily the two best combative warriors amongst their tribe, and thrived on the sense of security that they were unstoppable.. until they outgrew their ignorance enough to see things for how they really were: actively participating in the senseless destruction that tribe-culture has come to be.

As Dragon hybrids of human decent are greedy and gluttonous creatures by default, there is no such thing as sharing a section of land with another tribe. Superiority complexes run deep in nearly every single one of them— and every group seems to think that the world belongs to them and only them, and will fight to their death before they form an alliance to peacefully co-exist amongst a region with another clan. This leads to battles that are more catastrophic than the active volcanoes they naturally flock to, and as a result, every piece of land that’s settled upon becomes more temporary, as it is only a matter of time before it becomes nothing but an obliterated wasteland, where more resources will be scorched in the act of territorial domination than used for the mere sake of survival. The two males know that eventually, there will be no more lands amongst the volcanic islands worthy of living, and once that happens, the rest of the world might be in for trouble.

That may take another century or so, but as for Kirishima and Bakugo— who are now at the fruitful age of 23– they simply have no interest in sticking around to help it progress. They don’t want to spend their entire lives laying waste to every corner of earth that they touch, and are fed up with never letting themselves get comfortable with a new location as it’s soon to be up rooted and stripped to nothing.

So, with the goal to broaden their horizons in search of permanency, they found that: with the exception of winter in higher altitudes, subtropical climates aren’t much different from the likes of home to them. They’re endothermic and omnivorous after all, and Mountainous regions with dormant volcanoes that haven’t been active in 10,000+ years are far more seclusive and thick with forestation, thriving with animal life and freshwater ecosystems that completely untouched by hybrids of their own kind. Not only that, but given that the females within their own species are against the innovations of their mini-revolution, they also found that Hybrids of human-descent can, in fact, mate and reproduce with those that are entirely human— without diluting the dragon’s primary gene in their offspring.

And so, after traveling halfway around the world and settling within a 50 mile of your village, it was easy for them to find two inhabitable caves of their own.. and took little to no time for Bakugo to run across you.. a lonesome little cottage girl who barely even knows that the likes of him and his kind even exists.

This is a story all about how your life got twisted upside down by an 8ft fire breathing dragon hybrid, who’s concept of love does not revolve around the key of your consent.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~

FOR THE TIME BEING, I AM ONLY POSTING FIC ON TUMBLR. If you come across it on ANY OTHER PLATFORMS PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

I’m so goddamn excited y’all :D

- BTW: although I’m sticking with the HC of Drakugo being 8ft tall, I highly recommend googling pictures of Kevin Hart standing next to Shaquille O'Neal and Yao Ming for a better reference to the size comparisons I’m aiming for lmfao. idc how tall you are, we are teeny fucking weeny compared to this big tiddie lizard boy

Part 1 coming vv soon 😌☝️

Comment if you wanna be added to a tag list!

[mackeydoodledoo]

Demon or Human?

Pairing: Bela Dimitrescu x Demon (Fem!)Reader

Summary: A foreign invader comes into Castle Dimitrescu just as you were settling in with your new family. However, how far would you be willing to go to protect your newfound home and your newfound love?

Warning: Game spoilers (I’ll try to keep those at a minimum), Blood, Slight G0R3, uncontrollable demon rage, fluff at the end

A/N: In light of some Resident Evil Village spoilers... Let’s just say I WILL NOT HAVE IT! So, I guess this is another entry to my The Demon Amongst Vampires series! R is My Character: Hydrangea Dragonfold

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

1 Year..

You’ve been inhabiting Castle Dimitrescu for one year. Alcina had been able to persuade Mother Miranda to keep you in her care instead of letting you be hunted for sport. You’d probably survive it anyway, with your demon abilities. 

“I have to go to a meeting,” Alcina announces to you and her daughters, “Apparently Mother Miranda has found a foreigner man-thing in our village grounds.”

“A man?!” Daniela squeals of excitement

"A new plaything?!” Cassandra asks

“You must bring him here at once mother,” Bela says

She looks at her three children, almost looking like she is tired of their pleas. However, she recomposes herself

“I will have to persuade Mother Miranda as best as I can,” Alcina says, “I appoint Hydrangea on watch. Bela is in charge.”

You leave your mouth agape, hearing your name after while of Bela calling you “micul meu demon” or everyone else calling you demon.

“But mother-” Cassandra interrupts

“Why can’t it be either one of us?” Daniela motions to her and Cassandra

“Because I’m the oldest,” Bela flaunts her ‘eldest sibling title’

“There will be no complaints my daughters,” Alcina says, “Guard the castle well Hydrangea.”

“Of course My lady,” you say out of respect

“You have permission to call me Alcina Hydrangea,” She smiles

Alcina makes her exit. 

“I get the first bite on the man thing,” Daniela blurts out

“Not if I catch him first,” Cassandra interrupts

“Enough!” Both you and Bela scream

Your blue flames ignite slightly, almost setting the table on fire. However, you compose yourself. Thus, your flames ‘dieing’.

“We will wait for your mother to return,” You sigh, “Gosh you two are rowdy. No wonder why Bela is in charge.”

You ignite your flames once you stand, heading off towards the staircase. However, Bela follows you. You didn’t notice her presence until she grabs your wrist and pulls you into a room.

“Bela love what are you doing?” You ask

You try to get her to let go of you however, you stop fighting her as she doesn’t reply to you but only snakes her arms around your midsection, taking in your warmth that you were producing. Not only from your natural body heat, but your demon form as well. You were also sure that she was also listening to your racing heartbeat. The one thing you feared was giving too much heat, too much to the point where Bela and possibly everyone else you’ve come to love and care about they turn to ash because of your carelessness of your flames. 

“I... Love, I have to leave,” You sigh, placing your hand on her head and the other on her waist 

“No you don’t,” She counter argues

“I do my love,” You say, looking down at her, “I have to keep you three safe.”

“And you think we can’t protect ourselves?!” Bela asks

“That is not what I meant love,” You say, “It’s just... It’s just I’m not over what happened last time... If I hadn’t come when I did, you would have died... I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself for that. I’d die if anything happened to you.”

Bela’s grip on you only tightens when you finish your sad ramble. This gets you in tears. You really couldn’t imagine the rest of your life without her.

“You’d die... For me?” She asks

“Of course I would love,” You smile, swooping her into your arms

Fortunately, your blue flames weren’t ignited enough to accidentally burn her. Your foreheads touch as you give her a kiss

“This is so much better,” Bela sighs in relief

“It really is,” You smile, “Thank you Bela.”

She kisses your forehead. You lay your head against her shoulder, hoping you could just stay like that for a little bit longer.

“Bela?” You ask, breaking the silence

“What is it my love?” She asks

“If this man... If this man scurries around the castle and hurts any of you,” You start, “What if I lose control of my demon form and I no longer see the human in me?”

“Simple, I‘ll get you out,” She answers

“What if you can’t?” You ask, worried now, “What if I’m the one who ends up hurting you?”

“Can you promise me one thing then?” She asks

You nod.

“The don’t use your full demon form,” She requests, “If you’re worried about hurting us, don’t use it. Should you though, I will pull you out.”

You had wished you were able to stay like that forever. However, you knew you had to begin your task. You and Bela give each other one last kiss before departing each others’ presence and embrace. Bela goes back down to the foyer to meet her sisters once more.

“You two okay?” Daniela asks, breaking the silence

“We are fine Daniela,” Bela answers

“Then when will the both of you just shut up and get married?!” Cassandra asks, clearly teasing Bela now

 “We are not-we don’t plan on that yet,” Bela says, “It’s never come up when we talk and we don’t need to yet.”

“Sure,” Daniela teases

As you were scouting the grounds of the castle, you already see Alcina returning to the castle.

“My lady!” You call out, “I’m assuming it didn’t go well?”

“Mother Miranda gave that man-thing to Heisenberg, of course I’m upset!” She groans in frustration, “I need a drink.”

You follow her back into the castle where her daughters immediately stand to greet her.

“Where’s the male foreigner?” Bela asks

“Mother Miranda gave him to Heisenberg that fool,” She groans

You all watch her walk up the stairs and disappear into the castle. You four seat back down into the couch, Bela leaning into your embrace. 

“How was scouting O-great demon king?” Daniela teases

“It was fine Dani,” you chuckle, “Are you just going to continuously make nicknames for me Dani?”

She nods as she leans back into the chair. However, before any of you could converse on, you could hear footsteps. You motion for the girls to stop talking.

“You guys hear that too?” You whisper

You motion for the three of them to follow you and once you get to the grand entrance of the castle, you see a man. 

“Looking for Rose?” Daniela calls out to him, taunting him

The three of them begin forming into their fly swarm and move toward him. You make the decision to tell Alcina herself that a man has entered the castle. 

“My lady, there is a man in the castle,” You sigh, “Your daughters are on the case. I’m not sure who he is- oh, speak of the devil, here they are.”

You hear the doors burst open along with struggled grunts. You look over and notice Cassandra and Bela dragging him in.

“Mother, I bring you fresh prey,” She says, trying to take the credit

“Oh, you are so kind to me daughters,” Alcina smiles, her daughters letting a slight giggle out of their mouths, “Now, let’s take a look at him.”

She stands up and faces him, “Well, well, Ethan Winters. You’ve escaped my little brothers’ idiot games did you? Let’s see how special you are.”

You watch Bela, Daniela and Alcina taste his blood. You stand next to Cassandra as you watch.

“Hey-Hey you, help me out!” Ethan pleas at you

You turn to look at him for a second. You feel your human willing to help him however, you end up turning your back to him, not willing to help him. If anything, you also hated men. 

“Starting to go a little stale,” Alcina says, “But, I must inform Mother Miranda. Later, there will be enough for everyone. Put him up.”

You watch again as Bela and Daniela hook his hands and Cassandra hoists him up. You hear him groan in pain as you all begin making your exit.

“Hey... Hey you!” He again calls for you, “Help me... Please...”

You stop in your tracks and look up at him. You only let out a low chuckle as Bela gently grabs your wrist and pulls you out from the room.

As you were finishing something with Cassandra you suddenly hear Bela’s grunts.

“Hey, I gotta go,” You say out of the blue

You follow Bela’s voice, rushing even further when you could hear her voice getting louder and louder.

“Bela! Bela!” You call out for her

You pass through the kitchen and notice Bela on top of Ethan. However, she doesn’t notice how he’s aiming his gun. Only you had noticed.

“Bela! The windows!” You scream, “He’s gonna shoot the windows!”

Believing that she didn’t hear you, you ignite your flames even more so than earlier. But, it’s concentrated to your palms. You begin melting the bars that had separated from you reaching Bela. However, just before the glass had gave way to the heavy damage, the bars melted enough for you to burst through. You hear Bela’s pained scream as the glass gave way to the heavy damage. 

“You- stupid man-thing!” Bela screams

You only pictured how she was the last time she was out in the cold. You let out an ear-piercing roar as you forcefully push Ethan out of the way to get to Bela. Igniting your flames ever so slightly, you pick Bela up and begin warming her up with your flames and your natural body heat. You go back into the dungeons and place her down gently, hoping you had warmed her enough.

“Are you okay?!” You ask, tears welling into your eyes

“I am now love,” She smiles, caressing your cheek

“Go!” You say, “Get your sisters an get somewhere safe! He knows! I’ll come find you.”

You watch Bela disappear into the dungeons, hopefully back into the castle to warn her sisters. You go back to where Ethan had shot the window. He was hoping you’d feel pain with the cold however, when you emerged from the cold wind, you came out, unphased.

“What the HELL ARE YOU?!” Ethan asks

“The one who will kill you,” You growl, taking in the cold, “My blood’s boiling...”

Your blue flame continue to ignite more than usual and you pounce onto him, snarling in his face. He tries to use his shotgun on you and he manages to graze the side of your head. He manages to wriggle himself out of your grip and shoots at you again, this time, in the shoulder. 

“Stay down kid,” He says mercilessly and runs into the direction you came

“Get back here you coward!” You scream, trying to stand

As your body began regenerating, you continuously crawled in the direction he was going in, beginning to track his scent. It was difficult as you were in the room where the wines are created. However, it didn’t stop you from continuing on the path. When you fully regenerated your shoulder, you get up nd try to track his scent as best as you could. However, when you only got back into the castle.

“Bela!” you call

You felt a hand on your wrist as you begin getting pulled into a room. A feeling of relief washes over you as you hug Bela tightly. You look over her shoulder and only see Cassandra with her.

“Where’s Daniela?” You ask, in a panicked state

“She ran off, hoping to take down the man herself,” Cassandra sighs

You hear the door burst open and it’s Alcina.

“That man will pay for what he’s done,” She growls, “My daughter are you hurt?”

“I was but- thanks to Hydrangea,” Bela sighs in relief, leaning into your shoulder to warm up some more

“Where’s Daniela?” Alcina asks

“She went to the library to take down the man mother, we tried to stop her,” Cassandra sighs

“You two stay with Hydrangea until I return with his head and Daniela,” Alcina orders before leaving again

She makes her leave. The three of you sit on the couch, Cassandra and Bela huddling against you for warmth. However, Bela practically seating herself into your lap.

“Do you have to be such a hog of the human furnace?” Cassandra looks at her older sister in annoyance

“I’m her girlfriend so buzz off,” Bela says

“She may be your girlfriend but I need some warmth too,” Cassandra growls

You could hear Daniela’s pained grunts and screaming. You stand up and place Bela down onto the couch next to her sister. You flick your finger and a small flame goes into the fire place, igniting the firewood.

“Alcina hasn’t found her yet,” You say, “I’ll go get Daniela the both of you stay here okay?”

Once you left the room you break into a run towards the library. You break through the door just as Ethan begins opening the roof to let in the cold air again.

“STOP!” You scream, grabbing onto Daniela

Sorry Bela... I have to do this... To protect all of you. You four accepted me almost instantly... I have to protect my home. I’m not letting anyone die here! The only one dying is him....

The ground around you became engulfed in blue flames, surrounding both you and Daniela

[A/n: not my gif]

“I got you Dani,” You say, the last time you heard your own voice

You look at Ethan completely deranged, more than Cassandra could ever look deranged at one of her “pets”. Ethan begins to walk backward however, tripping over an object.

“Let’s talk about this kid!” Ethan pleas, “From one human to another-”

“I’m not a human!” You spat, your demon voice overtaking your real voice, “I’m a demon! I protect my home and everyone in it!”

You let go of Daniela and leave her on the floor for Alcina to check on her. You throw Ethan out of the library. Alcina takes Daniela to where her other two daughters were. You throw him down a set of stairs. Coincidentally where Bela had opened the door.

You stand at the top of the stairs, looking down at Ethan, “You’ve overstayed your welcome... Time to say goodnight.”

“No-No please I beg you please I just wanted to find my daughter!” He screams

“All of this? For a child who isn’t even here?!” You mock him, “Your little baby could even be dead for all I care!”

Ethan draws his gun and pulls the trigger as a last resort to get you to stand down. However, you slice his arm off. You could hear his screams of pain as you now stand over him.

From the other room, Bela, Daniela, Alcina and Cassandra watch as you begin devouring his flesh. You stop after two bites out of his flesh you turn to the four women. Unable to feel your human, instead feeling your demon take full control over your body, you charge at Cassandra, Daniela, Alcina, even Bela. Alcina, being the protective mother she is, stands in front of her daughters, ready to slaughter you so if you lay a finger on her daughters like this. However, Bela runs past the three.

“Bela, get back here!” Alcina yells

Before you could lay a finger on them, Bela throws her arms around you, holding onto you tightly. As you flail your arms about, Bela still held onto you

“It’s me,” Bela says, calmly, “It’s okay now... I’m right here. Come back to me...”

You finally stopped flailing, your blue flames dissipating and your demon eye slits turning back into their round pupils.

“Be..la?” You call 

You gently place your hand on her head and the other around her. You sink into her touch and fall to your knees, Bela following your movements.

“It’s okay now,” She coos, “I’ve got you love. I’ve got you.”

You choke on your sobs as you hold onto Bela for dear life, sobbing into her shoulder.

“Bela did manage to get you out after all?” Alcina admires her oldest daughter, “And I thought I was going to have to kill her.”

Alcina sips her wine.

“Mother!” Bela growls

“I need to protect my prides and joys,” Alcina states

Bela was sitting in your lap as Daniela is huddled against your side and Cassandra on the floor facing you, Bela and Daniela.

“Do you really have to hog to the human furnace Bela? I’m the one who almost died,” Daniela growls

“She’s my girlfriend,” Bela draws the ‘girlfriend’ card for the millionth time

“How long do you intend on pulling that card against us Bela?” Cassandra asks

“As long as I want,” She smiles down at you

You smile back up at her, “Daniela, I also warmed you up in almost an instant with that amount of flames I emitted earlier. Did that not help?”

“Oh it did,” She smiles

“Then you don’t need to be complaining,” Bela scoffs

“By the way, I am digging the new look on you Hydrangea,” Cassandra says, smiling at you

Black horns with bright blue accents had remained from your blue flame horns or at least under them and a tail remained.

“Do you now Cass?” You smile, “I do too.”

Your tail unconsciously wraps itself around Bela’s waist. You could feel Bela’s fingertips playing with the fluff end of your tail, making your cheeks flush a faint pink.

“Awwww micul meu demon is blushing,” Bela teases

“Ssshut it,” You hiss

You weren’t sure how well you were going to do with that man-thing called Ethan Winters roaming around the castle. However, this was your home. You went to great lengths to protect it. Especially your new family and your girlfriend. Even if you would lose your human, you had Bela. You trust her enough to bring you back, should you lose sight of that human in you.

[therealvalkyrie]

Painter’s Hands and Guatemalan Coffee: Part 6

sketch

Pairing/setting: Levi Ackerman x Female!Reader, modern!college!AU

Summary: When you catch your idiot boyfriend cheating, your grumpy roommate is there to pick up the pieces and watch your back as you toe a carefully drawn line in the metaphorical sand.  

Word Count: 2.1k

Warnings: fluff, romantic vegetable chopping, the chapter of realizing things

AN: Well, it’s been six fucking months, but it’s finally here!! It’s a little shorter than I’d prefer, and took a lot of iterations to get here, but I’m very satisfied:) Thanks, as always, to my lovely @doinmybesthere for editing and encouraging. I hope you all enjoy! I think there’re maybe 1 or 2 parts left in this story, that’ll hopefully be out more quickly than I managed this one. Please let me know what you think! Be kind to yourselves and others. ~valkyrie

—

(read chapter 5 here)

Finals week passes in a slow blur, barely leaving enough time for you to breathe between essays, exams, and one presentation that you think takes at least a year off the end of your life. It’s much the same for everyone else, as well — you barely see Levi, not counting the nights you spend alternating between your bed and his, and you don’t see Hange at all. Consequently, there’s no opportunity to break apart what happened on Saturday. No chance to peel back its layers and find how you really feel. Although, to her credit, Annie doesn’t appear again, so you’re able to shove it into a corner of your mind for the time being.

Saturday brings with it both a new winter storm and an overwhelming sense of relief. You let it fill you completely as you sit and watch snow swirl outside. The street below your kitchen window is bustling with students trying to outrun the storm to get home for vacation. But you have nowhere to be, nothing to do. It’s nice.

The door opens, bringing with it the stomping of Levi’s boots. You turn to watch him shake snow from his hair, sinking deeper into the reassurance of knowing that everything you need is here under your roof. Safe.

Hmm. What the fuck?

You choke on the next sip of your tea as the realization of what you just felt hits you square in the chest. Through your coughing and hacking, you reach again for that fleeting sense of home. Childish, content, warm.

“Are you okay?” Levi calls from the entrance, looking at you with pinched brows halfway through hanging up his jacket.

“Fine,” you cough out, pushing back from the table to hunch over and catch your breath. “I’m okay.”

It takes a moment for you to stop breathing hard, though when you do, your heart rate doesn’t return to normal, instead pushing blood to your face and neck and making your body feel light. Levi doesn’t help when he finally joins you in the kitchen, all floppy hair and bright cheeks from the snow. All leisurely about the way he stretches his lean body to take his favorite blend of Earl Grey from the top of the fridge.

“I was thinking about dinner,” he starts, completely oblivious to the way you’ve started sweating under your cardigan. “We shouldn’t order because of the snow, so I brought home stuff to make soup.”

“What kind?” It’s a miracle the words come out normally.

“Chicken noodle.” He turns to face you. “My mom’s recipe.”

—

“I don’t get why guys are always so uppity about kitchen knives,” you say, picking up what Levi’s told you is a utility knife. “Like, it’s just a knife. I’m not about to stab myself with it.” Your finger drags along its sharp edge for only a split second when Levi’s slim fingers are suddenly around your wrist.

“Don’t. Touch. The knives,” he growls, taking the utility knife gently from your other hand and placing it back on the counter. “I just sharpened them last week, you could’ve seriously cut yourself.”

His steel eyes hold yours for another long moment until you nod your head mutely. You haven’t been able to shake the knot of hyperawareness that’s been settled in your belly since your what the fuck moment, and it only twists tighter when he’s so close to you. His hair is dry now, curling slightly because he hasn’t bothered to comb it since he got home. You have to actively resist the urge to twist a particularly enthusiastic curl around your finger in the split second before he backs away again.

Muttering under his breath, he returns to the simmering pot on the stove that he claims has turned into stock, though you hardly believe it. Growing up, you’d never been taught kitchen skills, let alone anything close to actual labor.

For a while, you’re content to watch, sitting at the table and nursing both the ache in your chest and a fresh cup of chamomile, but the urge to join him in his quiet work overwhelms you as he’s washing the vegetables.

“Levi, please, can I help?” Your tone edges on whining, prompting him to huff and shift on his feet. “I promise I won’t touch the knives! There, just, must be something I can do.”

You see him roll his eyes, swear under his breath, then turn towards you with a glower.

“No talking, no questions, and go wash your hands.”

“Yes!” you cheer and stand up with a bounce.

The scent of the bar of soap as you lather and wash cuts pleasantly through the spices and thick scents already filling the kitchen. It’s not something you’ve experienced often, and you relish in what you realize must be home comfort, your grin settling from enthused to contented.

Levi is arranging carrots, celery, and onions next to the cutting board when you join him again.

“I thought I wasn’t allowed to touch the knives?”

“You’re not, until I show you how to do it without chopping off your fingers.”

“Oh, ye of little faith,” you tease, but nevertheless settle in beside him to watch as he lines up a carrot and picks up the utility knife.

“We’re generally going for even pieces, though it doesn’t matter much because it’s a soup. Put your fingers like this,” you lean over a bit to see how he’s arranged his left hand holding the carrot, the tips of his fingers just barely tucked under the knuckles, “so that you can chop like this—“ he begins slicing, knife guided by his knuckles “—and not lose your fingers. Always point the blade away from yourself and others, and never hold the handle like you’re going to stab something. That’s not effective, anyway. If you have to use this as a weapon, it’s much more effective to slash rather than stab, considering bone density—“

“Uhh,” you cut in, “pause. Are we slicing carrots or fending off home invaders?”

He stops chopping. “What did I say about asking questions?”

“Right. Sorry.”

“Anyway. Considering bone density, you’ll have better luck aiming to cut big veins than forcing through ribs.”

He’s done with the first carrot, now, lithe fingers flipping the knife so the blade is up.

“Never drag the blade along the surface sideways. Flip it over and use the blunt edge to move food.” He demonstrates, moving the little pile of carrot slices to a corner of the cutting board. “Your turn.”

And then, like it’s nothing, he’s offering you the handle with a flat expression.

“Uhm.” You press your lips together and eye it for a long pause. “Are you sure?”

“It’s just a carrot. You’ll be fine.” He lets another unsure moment slide into being, then sighs and reaches out to wrap your hand around the handle. “Here, like this.”

And like you’ve suddenly stepped into a poorly-written romcom, he’s guiding your hands under his to the next waiting carrot, curling your fingers exactly like he showed you before, and scooting over to let you stand in his place. You just let yourself go along with it, hoping desperately that he won’t feel your hands grow clammy or see the way your chin has tucked itself shyly to your chest so you can watch.

Fucking shit carrots, useless goddamn root vegetable, can’t chop itself, has to make me do all the work—

Your aggressive inner monologue takes you all the way through the second carrot, then his hands are leaving yours and he’s placing a third under your waiting blade. Time to fly solo.

—

When you fall asleep in the armchair that night, sated and full of comfort food, Levi sketches in pencil on scrap paper. He sketches his hands over yours in the kitchen and he sketches the steam rising from the pot on the stove. He sketches you sitting with a bowl of soup in your lap, face illuminated by the TV and he sketches your sleeping body curled up, hair in your mouth. He sketches a close-up of your face, with special attention to the curve of your bottom lip, and he considers it practice for finishing the painting in his room.

Levi doesn’t think about how if he doesn’t do something soon, all of this will change. About how you’ll get over your heartbreak and move out at the end of the year and he won’t see you every day and every night. And he definitely doesn’t think about how he’ll have to adjust back to sleeping without your soft body tangled in his, and he doesn’t wonder how he ever slept before you.

No, instead of thinking, he just cracks his knuckles and gently scoops you from the chair and into his arms.

It’s as he’s climbing into his side of your bed that you stir and snort and blink sleepy eyes open.

“What time is it?”

“Ten forty,” he whispers, “go back to sleep.”

You hum and turn on your side to face him, face half hidden by the squish of your pillow. He settles more comfortably in, tucks your head under his chin even though you’re taller than he is, and drapes his free arm around the curve of your waist. 

Quiet breathing is the only thing that fills the room for a long while, and he finally thinks you’ve drifted back off, when:

“Hey, Levi?”

“Hmm?”

“I... I’ve been thinking a lot, and...”

The tone of your voice is odd and it makes Levi’s throat seize up for a moment while you hesitate. He swallows deliberately.

“And?”

Your next words are more confident, like you have really been thinking a lot, your voice not sleepy in the slightest. It’s matter-of-fact and soft and lovely. 

“And you make me feel really safe. Just, like, all the time. And I’m glad I met you. You make me feel, um...,” a small sniffle, “You make me feel held.”

Levi tightens his arm around you and swallows again. It feels like he’s balancing on the head of a pin, and a thousand angels are swirling around him, and it’s taking all he has not to get pushed off.

“Well, I am holding you.”

“Psssssht,” you wriggle slightly back so you can look at his face. You look simultaneously exasperated and vulnerable in the shadows of your bedroom. “You know what I mean.”

“What if I don’t?”

“Well, I guess...” 

You pause to think for a moment, eyes flicking away from Levi’s face for a split second. Then, they’re back on his and he can feel the vulnerable honesty already spilling from you. 

“I’ve never really, um, gotten a lot of physical affection? From people in my life? And, uh, it’s not just that, it’s that you’re so... so— so familiar, and not just because I know you, godimnotmakingalickofsense, but because it feels like I’ve always known you?” It’s said like a question, like you want to know if he feels the same. “And you just make me feel held.”

You pause on a shaky inhale of breath, then cover your face with your hands and roll onto your back away from him. 

“God, I’m sorry, that doesn’t make any sense at all, I’ll just—“

“Stop,” Levi cuts you off, pushing up to lean over you and grasp your wrists in one hand and cover your mouth with the other, a mirror of the pair of you in the kitchen weeks earlier. “It makes sense. I get it.”

Your doe eyes stare up at him just like they did then and he selfishly indulges in an extra second of staring back before he releases you and slides back to rest on an elbow. Your hands stay demurely tucked by your chest where he put them and your tongue flicks out to lick at your lips as your eyes follow him. 

“Really?”

“Yeah. I get it.”

“Okay. Good.”

Suddenly, Levi doesn’t feel like going to bed. He feels like running for miles or painting until his hands ache or hitting something, anything to distract him from doing something incredibly stupid right now. The mattress sinks as he sits up and spins his legs out of bed, muttering something about tea and not tired yet, and he almost doesn’t catch the sensation of you sitting up behind him. 

He turns halfway back to tell you to go back to sleep, but your fingers catch his chin and he’s abruptly out of breath.

The curve of your bottom lip is perfectly, exactly the way he sketched it in the semi-dark. It’s slightly chapped.

When you kiss him, soft and certain, he topples off the pinhead and back into his body just in time to do something incredibly stupid and kiss you back.

—

(read part 7 here)

[polizwrites]

PoliZ's WIP Update: 20 Dec 2023

A  slow writing week, but I managed to pass my stretch goal of writing 120k for the year a week early! !   I touched  5 fics (2 new works & 3 WIPs)  for a total of  1198 words.

On Ao3, I posted: 

 Chapter Two of  Half of the Flesh And Blood That Makes Me Whole  - post-CA:WS canon-divergent Stucky (endgame Stuckony) wingfic - a Bucky POV remix of Take What Was Wrong (And Make it Right)

Newcomer to the Seraglio - a Harem Stucky AU with shrimpy!Steve as the newcomer concubine and Bucky as the experienced teacher.   

Sink or Swim - No Powers Stucky AU with fade-to-black sexy shenanigans in a boat. 

On Tumblr I posted: 

Take a Chance (On Me) - WinterHawk pre-slash mission ficlet

I have 17 semi-active WIPs  😬 with my  current  deadlines being  Stucky’Verse Bingo which wraps on 29 Dec and the Bucky Barnes Bingo which wraps on 10 Jan.  

See  below cut for what I’m working on/planning to work on - arranged more or less by bingos/challenges/etc.  As always, feel free to send me   prompts or plot bunnies as well as asks regarding  any of these projects  or any other WIPs I’ve got out there.   Interaction really helps feed the Muse and keep me motivated!

Seek & Destroy Collab

After reading @psychiccatpanda‘s amazing   Morguna and the Green Queen, I  got the itch to explore the Soldier’s POV and talked  Faustie into   collab’ing with me!  We’re working on a new part of the series, and I’ve  contributed about 900 words towards the  2500-ish we have so far.   Going to see if I can squeeze any of my BBB squares into this fic.

WinterIron Bingo  - [WIB_R1]  

Thanks to the Iron Soldier/One Fill, One Bingo option, I managed a blackout plus!    Masterpost

Stucky’Verse Bingo Round 1 - [SVB_R1]   (Ends 22 29 Dec)

Seventeen  fills, three  WIPs and a couple of ideas.  Have one bingo & am shooting for hopefully one more bingo with the fics listed below - thanks to the mods extending the deadline by a week!  

* A1 - Harem -  Posted  Newcomer to the Seraglio  this morning - it’s a crossover with CABB Secret/Forbidden Relationship where Bucky and shrimpy!Steve are both concubines who are more interested in each other than their lord. It came in at 374 words.

* B2- Pets - wrote up a surprise fill  – Reluctant Four Footed Heroes  – inspired by a round of square interpretation during the BBB Discord party.  Stucky domestic shenanigans with Alpine & Dodger.  This ficlet is coming in at 217 words and will post on the 27th. 

* A4 - Fairy Tale Curse  - this seems custom-made for a continuation of Beyond the Beast😁  Nothing written yet, other than some Vague Ideas.  It’s fighting me at the moment and am not sure this is going to make it after all.   

* C2 - Meet Ugly - Finished up Deck the Halls -  a No Powers AU holiday fic that crosses over with my Winter Break Advent calendar prompt Day 1:  Putting Up Holiday Decorations at the Hospital.  It’s coming in at  509 words and it will post on Friday. 

* C3 - FREE -  Filled this with Chapter 2 of   Half of the Flesh and Blood That Makes Me Whole   - a Bucky POV remix of at least the first part of Take What Was Wrong (And Make it Right).  It came in at  1362 words.  

Bucky Barnes Bingo  - [BBB_R5]   (Ends 10 Jan 2024)

I’ve got  twenty fills,  four bingos, two  WIPs,   and a couple more Vague ideas. Aiming for a blackout - we’ll see how close I get!  

* U3 - Fireplace -  got inspired with a new idea to write Making Room - a soft WinterPepperony + Morgan holiday ficlet.  It came in  at 253 words and will post on Friday.   

* C2 - Yelena Belova–   The plan is to use this prompt in the next chapter of Peresmešnik,  (aka Three Avengers and a Baby), which is I poked at a little this week and is currently sitting at 1551  words (800-ish of which are mine).

* C5 - Marriage of Convenience/Pretend Couple -  next chapter of   Lady Natasha’s Consort and Lord Steve’s Companion.    Got a spark of an idea the other day that might get me a bit further on this fic.  

* K3 - Magic -  Aro!Bucky healing with a kiss idea?

* Y4 - Forgotten Things -    see SVB  FREE above

* May Adopted - Insomnia - finally got this filled with The Dead of Night, which also filled a Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF211 An Old Friend] along with my JBB FREE square. It came in at 317 words and will post to Ao3 before this event ends.

* August Adopted: Take the Shot - sounds like a WinterHawk fic to me… maybe cross over with JBB Touch-starved?  

Tony Stark Bingo Round 7  - [TSB_R7]   (ends 15 Feb)

Twenty  fills and zero WIPs as of the moment, with a couple of ideas in play.  

* S1 - Galaxy - possibly use in final chapter of   Never More to Go Astray ?  

* T2 - KINK: Cock-blocking 'bots -  I still want to combine this with  the  Fictober Day 27: prompt   "I don't know if they will accept this."   

* T5 - Shawarma - possible crossover with SAUB Canon Divergence – Battle of New York-related?

* A2 - KINK: Concubine - possible crossover with SAUB Gentle Dom�� and SRB Multiple Submissives.  I’ve got a fairly fleshed out  (so to speak) story in mind   (Dom!Tony/sub!Steve/sub!Bucky) - just need to get it on paper.   

* A3 -  FREE  – @SomeSortofItalianRoast and I are looking at collabing on a  Steve/Tony/Scott fic - maybe throw in a Comfortember prompt?  

* R5 - Doppelganger/Evil Twins -   The Flash Fiction Friday prompt [#FFF214 Broken Mirror] got me at least a good start on the idea I’ve been playing with for this square. I posted NamNori on Tumblr and have a general idea of how I want to build on it to also fill my SAUB AU: Crack square. It’s currently sitting at 360 words.

Stony AUniverse Bingo  [SAUB_R1] (ends 15 Feb)

Another brand-new bingo I’m helping co-mod!   Six fills, three WIPs and several  crossover ideas already!

* S1 - Edging - Filled this with Ringing in the New, where Tony makes a suggestion to improve/change up their love life. It’s a crossover with a Flash Fiction Friday prompt: How Do You Use ‘It’? and came in at 324 words - I will post it to Ao3 before the event is over.

* S2 - AU: Crack - see TSB   Doppelganger/Evil Twins

* S3 - AU: Wings - possibly Chapter Three of     Half of the Flesh and Blood That Makes Me Whole   - a Bucky POV remix of at least the first part of Take What Was Wrong (And Make it Right),

* S5 - Accidental Baby Acquisition - see BBB Yelena Belova

* T1 - AU: Fantasy -  CoffeeOwl shared a really cool dragon!Steve/indebted!Tony prompt in the ACB Discord server that I may be playing with for this.

* T4 - AU: Canon Divergence - see TSB Shawarma above.

* T5 - AU: No Powers - Wrote up I Need A Little Angel Sitting On My Shoulder - Tony’s struggling with his sobriety during the holidays and reaches out to his sponsor, Steve.   It’s coming in at 461 words and will post on the 18th.    

* O2 - Omegaverse - I have a Vague Idea inspired by  @kandisheek’s lovely art piece.  

* N2 - Mutual Pining - crossover with CABB Royal Knight?

* N3 - Gentle Dom - see TSB KINK: Concubine above

* N5 - AU: Multiple Identities - Posted  The Secrets We Keep  to Tumblr.  It’s a first person alternating POV ficlet with mutual pining (and secret identity) Stony.   It came in at 314 words and will get posted to Ao3 before the event ends. 

* Y4 - AU: Soulmates  -  @chrissihr  posted a cool idea about Animated soulmarks, where  only your SM sees your mark move - may try to do something with this!  

Captain (America) Bottom Bingo - Round 2 [CABB] (ends 28 Feb 2024)

I signed up for a 3x3 card for this bingo and have four fills, two WIPs and a couple of crossover ideas.

* A2 - Secret/Forbidden Relationship - see SVB Harem

* B3 - Royal Knight - see SAUB Mutual Pining.

Post July Break Bingo  [JBB_23p] (Ends Apr 2024)

One fill on my  2x3 non-fandom-specific card - still working on  potential crossovers.

* A1 - “It’s you. It’s always been you.” - This might fit in with my TSB Doppelgangers/Evil Twins fill NamNori above :: ponders::

* B2 - Character’s personality is split into two different beings – I’ve never played with Bucky & the Soldier being two different people, but this seems like the perfect opportunity! Will see what might be a good crossover on BBB or WIB (or even SVB)

*  C1 - Touch Starved – another good fit for a Bucky-centric fic. (Steve or Tony or Clint) possibly crossover with BBB Take the shot?

Steve Rogers Bingo - Round 3 [SRB_R3] (ends  15 Jun 2024)

One fill  - need to ponder possible crossovers, especially with SAUB, SVB   & CABB.  

* A2 - Age Difference - see SVB B4 - Sugar Daddy

* C5 - Exes to Lovers  - crossover with  CABB - "B1 - "All I wanted was for you to be happy."  – Bucky or Tony as the Ex?   SAUB S4 - Arranged Marriage  might be an additional crossover  

* D1 - Multiple Submissives -  Stuckony crossover with  CABB - C3 - Bath/shower sex  and SAUB  Y1 - Pre-Serum Steve Rogers?  

Build-A-Bucky Bingo [BaBB_R1]

Another fun year-long  event from the folks at  @buckybarnesevents!  Each month there’s a list of prompts and you choose (at least) one  each month for your card!

* November:  Crackfic  - see  BBB K4 - Accidental villany

* December – TBD  - probably try for a crossover with SVB.  

Warm and Fluffy   Bingo  - [WFB]   (no end date)

Four  fills on my card, courtesy of   @warmandfluffybingocards  - need to try for another crossover or two! 

————

On  other creative fronts:  I am working on a Billy Nye Stuffed With Character figure for a commission - I have three of the seven figures completed for my   Marvel Trumps Hate  auction winners. 

If  you’re looking for one of a kind gifts for birthdays or other celebrations (besides this coming Christmas), check  out Stuffed With Character    over on Facebook for a full list of my designs (now over 150!).   These soft stuffed figures are  mostly Marvel and monsters, but I have some Star Wars, Star Trek, DC   and Disney figures as well. Plus I love to take custom design   requests  for any fandom!

[ddaengstudies]

Winter Wonderland Studyblr Challenge

I've been gone for some time, so may this also serve you as notice that I am indeed coming back stronger lol. I've just been silently lurking as it has been a pretty rough time but I love seeing everyone's content and know that I'm rooting for everyone.

❄️☃️🌟 INFO.

2021 has been a year, come and gone fast yet somehow not fast enough and as the year wraps up, and the holiday season means for us to reconnect with other people, I thought we could also reconnect with ourselves so may I bring to you a 21 days long challenge that is meant for us to reflect on our year as we hopefully also get to share some studyblr holiday content.

The challenge is starting on November 25th and ending on December 15th HOWEVER feel free to do it whenever you'd like.

Most of the prompts are meant to reflect on our year but if your answer for one day is pretty personal feel free to post the prompt without an answer, the whole thing is about inner work.

The end of the year can be tough to some peeps so know that this a safe place, don't feel obligated to anything, I love you and support you so much! I'm always here for a chat if you need it!

❄️☃️🌟 AIMS.

I'm low-key looking forward to reconnecting with all you beautiful hardworking people.

As I've said before, this is aiming at inner personal work so that we can wind down a little bit with the upcoming end of the year.

❄️☃️🌟 RULES.

If you are planning on being part of this challenge please reblog this post so I can keep a close eye on your content and hype you up!

There are 21 prompts for this challenge however feel free not to post daily/ post whenever it is possible for you/whenever you feel like it.

When posting please use the hashtag #ww studyblr challenge (or #winter wonderland studyblr challenge if you'd prefer but I personally think the last one is kinda lengthy, I'll be monitoring both anyways)

Please be respectful! As most prompts are aimed at self reflection, have in mind that all our contexts are different and we have different insights in life. This is meant to be a safe space

PLEASE use your own original content. It is all about your own work and progress, don't steal other people's work and claim it as your own.

❄️☃️🌟 PROMPTS.

DAY 1. If you were to describe how this year has been for you in a quote (of your own or someone's else's) what would it be?

DAY 2. What is one lesson that you've learned from the events that 2021 has brought to you?

DAY 3. If you're into holiday music/movies/stories go ahead and recommend us a few! If you're not into that, still recommend us something even if it's not holiday-themed.

DAY 4. Tell us a memory you're fond of that happened this year.

DAY 5. This is a break day! hit us with whatever you'd like to share with us while I remind you that I love you so much and I thank you for all of your hard work this year!

DAY 6. What is something that you're leaving behind in 2021 that no longer serves you right for this upcoming 2022?

DAY 7. Looking back to 2020, how far have you come? (no matter how big or small your steps have been or if you've had to pause along the way)

DAY 8. Is there something that you would have done differently this year?

DAY 9. Is there something that you specially like/dislike about holiday season?

DAY 10. Take this day to say something nice towards yourself and all the effort you've put into this year!

DAY 11. What is some advice you'd like to give to yourself from the start of 2021?

DAY 12. We must know, with winter comes a lot of seasonal products, tell us about some of your faves (drinks, food, rituals, fashion, etc)

DAY 13. BREAK DAY! Remember to stay hydrated and let this day be showered with love!

DAY 14. Is there something you're already looking forward to in 2022 (it's okay if you're not, if not then could you picture something you'd like to be looking forward?)

DAY 15. What is something that had sounded so scary when the year started but now... not so much

DAY 16. We're following yesterday's prompt, is there something that comes to mind about 2022 that sounds scary to you?

DAY 17. Tag some people you'd like to congratulate for their hard work this year

DAY 18. What are some things in 2021 that energised you? And some that drained you?

DAY 19. Tell us about something you ventured into this year

DAY 20. Is there something left unfinished this year that you're looking forward to continuing in 2022/ you're leaving behind?

DAY 21. Treat yourself with kindness! Write to yourself as you would a friend in the light of an upcoming new year.

❄️☃️🌟 TAGLIST.

I'm adding the people that reblog this post or reply to it wanting to be added.

Those that choose to be on the tag list will be reminded one day before the challenge starts in case you'd like to start the challenge along with me, it's okay if you start the challenge after/before, I'll still reblog your content so long as you use the tag (the tag might be a reminder of the challenge existence)

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