#{ out of skylin ; ooc }

[sameoldkate]

something that never sat right with me is that when j.eanette went into the house and heard k.ate. She was wearing the SAME outfit that k.ate wore at the mall in the first episode? Like it was WEIRD and creepy. also she KNEW.

[akutasoda]

do you think you'd kill for me?

synopsis - it was every basic troupe in a story for an officer to fall in love with the criminal but now gallagher knew why

includes - gallagher

warnings - gn!reader, reader is a criminal/stowaway, reader is cocky + flirtatious, slight mentions of hurting others + alcohol, written before gallagher comes out so maybe ooc, wc - 1.6k

a/n: had to write this for the best bloodhound, he's just being consuming my thoughts lately and i can't wait to pull for him

taglist - @teddirika, @frankiesteinn

a long drawn out sigh sounded throughout the empty office, overshadowed by the visitors steps as they turned heel and left. a faint squeak and drag of a chair soon accompanied as the remaining man stood up from his chair, he tousled and pulled at the magenta tie before his scarred hands hovered over the new report. the file lifted as he opened it unceremoniously and his eyes glossed over the details - another stowaway would be nothing new but this was the third report about the same stowaway in penacony.

gallagher really couldn't believe the nerve of some people, first they slip into the dream world unnoticed and now they dared mess with the dream world - if he wasn't so dedicated to his job he'd probably quit and become a full time bartender. low footsteps as he crossed the room after he reasoned with himself that it'd be better for everyone if he solved the issue sooner rather than later. the only outstanding issue was that nobody had ever seen the stowaway so he didn't exactly know who he was looking for but maybe that was the reason he was assigned the case.

~~~

the streets were bustling as always, it was always golden hour afterall. the skyline was rather beautiful and the chimes of the clock on the grand hotel held absolute power over the noise of the streets. pepeshi's, couples, workers, singers, and all other kinds of people walked past you completely unaware of who you were - you were even cocky enough to smile at the young bloodhounds that looked you're way.

to you breaking into penacony's oh so famous dreamscape was a challenge you set yourself. they said all you dreams could come true here and maybe you twisted that a little to see truly how much you could get away with, surely you weren't the only person wanting to act on some intrusive thoughts and test the limits of what dreams could come true. it was petty crimes to begin with really, you meant no harm. originally you just wanted to steal from a few places but unfortunately bystanders sometimes got in the way - they weren't hurt too badly, you didn't want that.

eventually you started realising how dark this dream could be, especially when you first accidentally slipped into a deeper level of the dream after trying to run from the bloodhounds. quickly, you realised that this could happen to any unsuspecting guest of penacony. a part of you thought that naybe you could put your skills to use and redeem the harm you did to someone by saving unsuspecting penacony visitors, but for the most part you kept to yourself and your slightly warped ideas.

throughout you're entire time as a stowaway you'd become quite acquainted with various bloodhounds, even though they had no clue who you were. cockiness had also developed inside you when you realised that they genuinely held no leads towards yourself and your biggest risk was when you joined some bloodhounds in a small bar and talked to them like you'd known them for years. although at that bar you're attention was dragged towards the older bloodhound behind the counter, you could tell by the little broach on his grey suit - you turned to your new 'friends' and asked them who he was, they had no idea apparently.

gallagher could catch your keen gaze staring at him for most of the night, especially because you were sat right at the bar with two bloodhounds. he'd never seen you before and maybe it was the alcohol, from his own personal flask, talking but he felt more inclined to amuse your curiosity. he served the newer customers before walking back over to you and started witha gruff 'you fetching for a new drink? or you got a question for me?' you simply smiled at his question before the corners of your lips quirked up slightly as you responded along the lines of 'can a paying patron not appreciate the bartender in his glory?'

if the bloodhound was being honest, your curiousty and outright flirtatious remarks only spurred him to entertain you more. 'how about i mix you up a new drink there, running a bit low aren't we?' he looked you straught in the eyes when you glanced back up from your drink and watched as you slid the empty, ornate glass toward him with a simple 'surprise me'. you watched attentively while he turned to grab a few bottles before grabbing the silver cocktail shaker and pouring in a mix, perfectly measured without needing to even measure numerically. gallagher had mixed drinks for patrons plenty of times but with your inquisitive gaze fixed upon his every moment made him gulp a couple more times as he became very conscious about each move he made.

eventually he finished his show by spinning the shaker in his hand before graciously pouring it out into your glass. placing a small decorative cocktail stick inside and sliding it back with a weary smirk 'a special drink for a special patron then'. you took the glass in your hands and raised it in a toasting motion before taking a swig.

gallagher would tend to the rest of the bar's patrons for the rest of the night but could always feel your gaze on him and perhaps he put on more of a show because of this, but who knows? his eyes trailed you when you finally left and he looked back over to where you had been sat to notice a small pile. a very generous tip layed neatly on rhe bar but what caught his attention the most was the note left on top:

'a tip befitting the handsome bartender who served me tonight'

beneath was signed your initials. he quickly pocketed the note before picking up the tip but not before doubling a look at the money itself.

~~~

they probably assigned him this case because they knew he knew something the rest of the bloodhound's didn't. he knew exactly who the stowaway was and where to find them. you seemed to always know when gallagher had a shift at the local bar because he knew you only showed up on those nights. each time went the same, he'd entertain your antics, you'd both pass equally flirtatious remarks, he'd make you a new drink and then you'd leave - always leaving a generous tip.

the first time you left a tip he stared at it for too long not to notice the serial number. it had become all too convenient for his encounters with you to be after a robbery in penacony and it was even more convenient that you'd left a tip each time with that places serial number on the money. admittedly, it took him a while to piece it together but maybe that was because he didn't want to believe it. the final nail in the coffin, so to speak, was when you left a note at your most recent encounter reading -

'i think you and me both know this cat and mouse game will end eventually right?'

to anyone, they might of assumed it was a weird way of asking the other out but he knew what it meant and that's why he went to the location you detailed on the other side. you knew exactly what you were doing from day one, both of you knew that. he stayed stationed at the spot you named akd he waited on guard for any signs of you, while doing so he felt a weird sense of excitement bubble inside of him. the area was rather secluded so if you showed up he'd know right whe-

'my my, the handsome bloodhound has taken up my offer. i feel rather flattered', your smug voice rang through his ears and he immediately turned around. he was greeted by the sight of you sat upon the roof of the building with that all too familiar smug face. 'are we finally cutting to the chase?' your face tilted slightly to the side before you continued 'or do you not have the confidence to be able to catch me bartender?'

oh how he hated that smug grin of yours, but oh how he loved it all the same. a small, deep chuckle left his lips before retorting 'i only gave you a headstart stowaway, don't go wasting it' he watched you stand up as you added 'don't lie to yourself gal, we both know you wouldn't catch me, because i've already made a special place for myself in your heart and you couldn't dream of putting me behind bars'

you were right. it was against the law and so so corny for the law to fall in love with the criminal. but here he was, and you both knew all too well.

[satoruhour]

THE RACER!JJK MULTIVERSE ˙⊹༺

“ask any racer — any real racer. it don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. winning’s winning.”

I. THE INTRODUCTION — JJK MEN AND THEIR CARS now, of course we can’t start this off by not introducing their rides! below are the cars that i’ve chosen for the boys, although they might not be as accurate in vibe or looks. this is all in good fun!

☆ gojo’s 1999 Nissan Skyline R34

☆ geto’s 1997 Mazda RX-7 Veilside Fortune

☆ nanami’s 1968 Dodge Charger

☆ toji’s 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray

☆ sukuna’s 1966 Ford GT40 Chassis P/1046

☆ megumi’s 2001 Nissan Silvia S15 Spec-S

II. YOUR RELATIONSHIP it’s the 2000s and the height of illegal street racing is at its peak. amongst the frequents racers and spectators, there’s always a few that stand out with their upgraded NOS’s and sleek paint jobs, but more so because of their unmatched aura. it’s just that you never thought you’d be at the centre of it all, too, smiling over at your little racer boy from the passenger seat ♡

GO! / warnings: essentially car sex & pet names & unprotected sex for everything, fingering, clit stimulation, praise, public sex, geto listens in on a call, riding, implied p → v penetration, implied creampie / breeding, implied threesome w/ stsg (gojo), clit stimulation, handjob, semi-public sex, p → v penetration, doggy, geto asks and then takes a pic of you, creampie / breeding (geto), praise, oral (f receiving), fingering, pleasure dom nanami, squirting, clit stimulation (nanami), age gap (reader’s early 20s, toji is forty), oral (m receiving) while driving, facefucking, semi-public sex, clit stimulation, daddy kink, implied p → v penetration (toji)

REWARDS FROM A RACER / sukuna joins the fray! / warnings: ooc sukuna, dom!sukuna, lewd declarations in public, he’s a little mean and calls you ‘whore’, ‘slut’, praise, degradation, pet names, car sex, semi-public sex, oral (m! receiving), light face-fucking, unprotected sex, riding, p → v penetration, clit stimulation, dash of daddy kink, creampie / breeding kink

LATE NIGHT DRIFT / megumi joins as well! / warnings: general, fluff

LLOROMANNIC / elaboration on racer!geto! / warnings: virginity loss, soft dom!geto, geto really really is obsessed w/ you, oral / cunnilingus (eats pussy like this! like i really don’t know what this position’s called), pet names, slight nipple play, clit stimulation, fingering, slight size kink, p -> v penetration, protected sex

III. HOW DID YOU MEET? maybe you already knew the other, or maybe you didn’t, but either way you didn’t know fate had plans in store for you when you stumble across the racer, twined together by crankshafts and other... suggestive things!

first meeting / warnings: general, some fluff, suggestive in nanami’s drabble

IV. RELATED WORK perhaps you met them in a different way, or things didn’t work out — below are an assortment of fics that dictate a different way your life with our racer boys may have went. you could say it’s works that are canon-divergent!

alternate! how did you meet? / warnings: general, shitty boyfriend, some crude language on toji’s part

flag girl!reader series / a work in progress!

[chocsra]

"A Waste of a Lovely Night, right?"

15! Chuuya x reader

Based off the song A Lovely Night because La La Land 😭🫶

Implied fem! reader

Content: swearing, being teenagers, classy romance, fluff, oneshot, mafia! reader, rivals to lovers?, pre-relationship, ooc? chuuya

Sorry for any grammar mistakes!

You were supposed to be basking in the evenings breeze, free from the loud screaming in one of the Port Mafia's luxurious parties; letting the wind lift your styled hair and fancy dress. Yet you find yourself standing like a solider under the night's sky, 'what the fuck' written all over your face.

There stood next to you, the former King of the Sheep; the king that claimed not to be the king everyone says he was. He was a smaller boy with orange hair about the same age as you, only recently joining the Port Mafia. His name was Chuuya Nakahara, you didn't seem to like him very much, and neither did he.

He always boasted and was blatantly arrogant because of his ability; gravity manipulation. The kid never stopped yapping and especially yelling; he and the Demon Prodigy made a scary but annoying team. It was always filled with complications, surface hatred and care; nothing you'd see in a regular friendship.

And you weren't sure why Chuuya didn't like you either, because you mostly stayed your own way in the mafia. Not your fault you're just good at what you do. Maybe it was the scowl on your face everytime he shouted at something so miniscule, or perhaps the snicker that pulled from your throat whenever you overheard the tall bandaged boy make fun of his height.

"What a sight," the boy smirked, his alluring blue eyes illuminating under the moonlight. He had his gloved hands stuffed in the pockets of his tailored suit, intaking the beauty of the city's skyline. You turn to look at him with predictability, eyes running across his sharp features and piercing gaze. He looked back at you, his gaze shifting towards your pearly white heels, then your frilled black dress; monotone enough to be considered mafia fashion. "too bad you're here." Chuuya's smirk disapated as he looked down at the concrete floor.

"Leave if you're so bothered then." You retort with a scoff, the redhead only looked at you with a cocked brow and turned to slowly walk away from you. "Nah." He replied, you knit your brows in response. Chuuya was right, the view was beautiful. The sun was nearly gone, city lights were starting to turn on, and the ocean below the hill you both stood on reflected the bright moonlight. You almost cursed at the swirling sky for granting such a sight to him; a cute, romantic couple would for sure enjoy this.

"Then don't complain." You put your hands on your hips and leaned forward with a scowl, making the boy chuckle stiffly in response. "Chill, I'm just saying.. the view is way too nice to be seen by us." he sighed, tapping his leather shoe on the concrete. "What a waste." Chuuya clicked his tongue; you got out of your position and stood straight, looking to the side, "I guess." you murmur, you two seemed to have the same thoughts. "Yeah, no offense, but you're just not my type." Chuuya sighed, kicking a rock softly as his hands were stuffed in his pockets. "Was that really necessary?" you scoff, folding your arms over your chest. The teenager chuckled and nodded.

"Well if you're gonna be like that, I'll say it first: you're not my type either, who even wears those rat ass fedoras these days?" you looked to the side, snickering a little. The boy adjusted his raven fedora, a light blush tinting his cheeks. "Don't come for the hat, dude." he mutters, brushing off some dirt off his black suit; he seemed to care a lot about his looks.

"Yeah, yeah," you laugh, watching him as he starts to slowly pace around the hill. "Actually, you're right. This would be nice for somebody who appreciates romantic scenery." You add on, looking over to the beautiful sea, Chuuya takes a seat on a wodden bench in the corner of your eye. "Oh yeah?" he inquires completely uninterested as he pulls out his phone.

"Mhm, just not with you." You say with a snicker, walking over to the boy scrolling on his phone, manspreading annoyingly in his black slacks. "Wow." he deadpans at your insult, ticking you off a little. "So you agree?" Chuuya asks, azure eyes finally gazing up to meet yours, you nod in agreement. "That's right." You smile begrudgingly. "What a waste of a lovely night." You heaved a sigh as you take a seat next to him, using your palm to steady yourself atop the wood; instead feeling fabric brushing under your fingers.

You looked over suspiciously, seeing your fingers tangled over the redheads. You both swat your hands away with pink spreading all over your cheeks. The boy's once bored eyes widened in surprise, looking into your shocked ones; he clutched onto his phone with his other gloved hand for dear life.

"Shit-"

Shit.

[iomoru]

❅ Tangeled in Webs ❅

A/n: DADDY'S HOME 🔥 also I was craving for spiderman kazuha so yeah

Genre: Modern Au!, Spiderman Au!, Gn! Reader, Tall Reader(not mentiond), Fluff, A little Suggestive in the end, Kazuha x Reader, Kazuha x You, Kazuha might be a little ooc, Second Person, Proofread

Summary: After a late-night patrol, Kazuha, as Spider-Man, visits you on a rooftop, where your usual playful banter turns more flirtatious. As the tension escalates, subtle touches and teasing remarks lead to a charged, intimate moment, leaving the both of you lingering in the electrifying space between friendship and something more.

The cool breeze of the autumn night brushed against your skin as you sat on the rooftop of your apartment building, legs dangling over the edge. You glanced at your phone, checking the time. Late again. You could guess where he was, tangled up in some heroic mess somewhere in the city.

A soft thwip sliced through the air, and you barely turned your head before you heard the familiar sound of Kazuha landing beside you.

"You’re late." you remarked, smirking but keeping your eyes on the distant skyline.

"Traffic." he replied, his voice smooth and unbothered. You heard the sound of fabric shifting as he pulled off his mask.

"Yeah? Don’t tell me you’ve got web congestion now." you teased, finally turning to face him. His red eyes met yours, a small spark in them despite the long night. He sat next to you, his presence calming, though the tension in the air between you felt different tonight.

"I make it work." Kazuha flashed a small smile, leaning back on his hands, the stretch causing his suit to pull slightly against his frame. You tried not to stare but he didn’t make it easy.

"Guess you’re still in one piece. Thought maybe the city would get the best of you tonight." you said, though your gaze lingered on the small cut near his brow.

Kazuha’s hand brushed against yours as he shifted closer. "You sound disappointed," he murmured, his voice dipping low, soft like silk. "Should I be worried?"

"Not exactly," you shrugged, feigning indifference. But your pulse quickened when his hand didn’t move away this time, his fingers tracing your skin ever so slightly. "Just making sure Spider-Man doesn’t get too cocky."

Kazuha turned his body toward you, his lips quirked in a teasing smirk. "Is that your way of looking out for me?"

"You wish." you muttered, though you didn’t pull away when his thumb stroked over the back of your hand. His eyes were locked on you now, the air between you thickening with a tension neither of you had fully acknowledged until now.

He leaned in a little, his breath ghosting over your skin. "You’re good at pretending you don’t care." he whispered, his lips now dangerously close to your ear, the warmth of his breath sending a shiver down your spine.

"Who says I’m pretending?" you shot back, trying to keep your composure even though the way his fingers were trailing along your wrist made it hard to think straight.

Kazuha’s smirk deepened, his hand sliding up, just brushing your jaw now, his touch light but intentional. "Then maybe I should give you something real to care about."

Your breath caught, and your mind raced, but before you could respond, he closed the space between you, his lips brushing against the shell of your ear, sending a wave of heat straight through you. "What do you think?" His voice was low, teasing, almost daring you to make the next move.

You tilted your head slightly, your eyes flicking to his lips, feeling the charged air between you. "Guess we’ll see…if you’re brave enough."

A low chuckle escaped his throat as he leaned just a fraction closer, lips barely grazing yours. "I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge."

A/n: I'm running out of ideas 🧍‍♀️

© ²⁰²⁴ ɪᴏᴍᴏʀᴜ

[iamnotthere-idonotdie]

dream of me

part two

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synopsis: reader and bruce continue dating, the project coming along great and you’re thinking about your future as a couple. another job opportunity may put your relationship in jeopardy.

content: bruce wayne x reader, no smut, no cursing, just sad lol

a/n: i finally got out of my rut and was able to get this all down quicker than i thought i would, i think i have a lot more ideas for parts to this too so this will probably turn into a short series, as always sorry for typos or any inconsistencies, i tried to keep up with continuity and stay true to bruce’s character as best as i could but there are probably some ooc things in here, anyways hope you enjoy

edit: link to part one

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the red glow of the brake lights in front of you illuminate the inside of bruce’s car. it’s become a routine now for him to drive you home, either to yours or his—but usually his—after work. this project was tedious and required a lot of effort, but the success of it has made it well worth the dedication. bruce takes his right hand off the wheel and grabs yours. he holds your hand tightly as you enjoy the comfortable silence. he stops in front of your building.

“do you want to come up? i can make us dinner.” you say to him.

he smirks and raises an eyebrow.

“or we could order in.” you say with a chuckle.

“sure.”

you lead him up the stairs to your apartment and walk in. you realize now that you didn’t have time to pick it up this morning so take-out containers litter the dining room table and a few pairs of shoes are lying on the living room rug.

“sorry for the mess.” you say as you throw the trash away.

“don’t apologize, it’s hardly a mess.”

“well i guess it’s just hard not having a butler to always pick up after me.” you say with a smile.

“ouch.” bruce says with a laugh.

you put your shoes in your closet and bruce follows behind to your bedroom. he sits on the bed, looking out your large window.

“i’ve always loved this view.” he says.

“you’ve only been here twice.” you say, walking towards him. you stand beside him and put your arm around his shoulders. he wraps his arm around your waist.

“still,” he says as he pulls you into the bed with him. you laugh as you fall on top of him. you kiss him and he grabs you tighter. before you know it your clothes are hitting the floor.

this has become a part of your routine too. three months now of balancing this relationship with the work you’re doing together. it can get a bit complicated; being colleagues can at times make it difficult to leave those stressors at work. but bruce has been wonderful at not bringing those stressors home with him. you, on the other hand, have difficulty finding that so-called work life balance. but bruce helps.

you’re laying in his arms now, under the covers as bruce strokes your hair. these tender moments of gentle warmth and silence help keep you grounded. it helps remind you to stay present, to appreciate when things are finally quiet. you lay there together for what seems like forever, all the while wishing you could stay there even longer. forever just isn’t enough time.

saturday morning rolls in, with the yellow sun piercing in between the tall buildings and thorough your window. bruce isn’t there in bed with you, but then again he never is in the morning. you’re not sure why he wakes up so early, but you don’t pry.

you sit up in bed and hear the water running in your shower. you sit there, looking out the window at the golden morning skyline. maybe gotham does still have beautiful things.

you hear bruce exit the bathroom and walk towards the bed. he sits down next to you and you lean into him, his body still warm from the hot water.

“good morning.” you say quietly.

“yes it is.”

you just smile, not willing to ruin this moment with conversation.

a few minutes pass and bruce turns his head to look at you.

“i should be getting back soon. that event is this afternoon.”

you sigh, remembering the other day when bruce was telling you about this function. it’s to announce the new division at wayne enterprises, and to specifically address the project you’ve been working on.

bruce starts to get up and you try to hold onto him tighter, willing him to stay a bit longer.

he stops for a second and kisses you.

“i’ll come by and pick you up at 3.” he says.

“okay. i’ll see you then.”

he kisses you again and gets up to change back into his clothes from yesterday. you walk him out and he leaves, giving you one last kiss on your forehead. you spend the next few hours getting ready for this event. you’ll be there as part of the division and head of the outreach project, so you you want to look as presentable as possible. about an hour before bruce is scheduled to come pick you up, you realize something. not only will this be your debut in this new position, but it will also be yours and bruce’s debut as a couple.

you feel a knot in your stomach and start to breathe heavily. you can’t exactly place why this makes you so uncomfortable, but you’re having more and more trouble catching your breath as you think about it further. what if people think that you only got this job because you’re with bruce? what if they accuse you and him of being unfair or of favoritism? you shouldn’t care this much about what other people think. why do you care so much about what other people think?

it hits you. it’s not about what other people think. it’s about what bruce thinks. you’ve never actually discussed your relationship with him before. in fact, you’ve never even called it a relationship to him before. what if he’s not planning on going as a couple but as coworkers? you pace back and forth in your living room, running through all this in your head, thinking about how you’re going to ask him about this, if at all. a knock startles you out of your spiraling self-destructive thoughts and you answer. bruce is standing there in his suit and tie.

“ready?” he asks, holding his hand out for you to take.

“yes..” you say shakily, putting your hand in his.

bruce leads you downstairs and to his car, alfred sitting in the drivers seat.

“hello alfred.” you say as you slide into the backseat.

“good afternoon. may i say you look wonderful.”

“thank you.” you say with a smile.

bruce continues holding your hand throughout the drive. you hope he can’t notice how much your hands are shaking.

you arrive at the event and alfred stops the car at the front entrance of the hall.

“i’ll be here whenever you are ready to leave. and enjoys yourselves.”

someone from the outside opens the door for you and start to get out.

“thank you alfred.”

“it is my pleasure.”

you try to exit the car as gracefully as possible and bruce follows suit. camera flashes blind you as alfred drives away. a part of you wishes you had just stayed in that backseat.

the press are calling for bruce every which way, who seems to be faking enjoyment at the attention. he looks at you.

“are you okay?” he asks.

you just nod nervously as he takes your hand again. you look down at your interlocked fingers and back up at him, surprised. he looks at you and just smiles.

“you didn’t think we’d just be coworkers tonight, did you?” he says.

you smile back and squeeze his hand. the two of you walk up the carpeted steps and into the hall, a newfound wave of confidence overflowing through you, and you look at the cameras and smile.

the event is a supreme success. you and bruce wander through the crowds of people, taking photos and smiling until your cheeks hurt. bruce makes a rousing speech about the success of this division and how hard the team has been working. then he specifically mentions you. how this all wouldn’t have been possible had you not given your proposal. how your innovation and vision single-handedly shaped this project. how your passion for the people of gotham radiates in everything you do. how he feels lucky to call you a colleague… and a partner.

he locks eyes with you as he raises his glass and proposes a toast to the people of gotham. you feel the tears starting to collect in your eyes and will them to not fall. bruce comes down the stairs and you kiss him, disregarding the people and cameras around you.

after a while of more socializing, bruce wanders off to mingle with a reporter from metropolis and you try to find the drink table. you pick up a long stemmed champagne flute and as you take a sip, a man walks up to you with a smile.

“this is a very impressive event. and a very impressive project.” he says to you.

“thank you.”

“i’m jonathan locke. i run olive branch and company.”

“oh yes, in san francisco. you’ve done some great work in outreach there.”

“thank you. we’re hoping to continue expanding into other cities and possibly surrounding states as well. and we’re actually looking for someone just like you to run that venture for us.”

“oh… well i—“

“of course i don’t need an answer now. but here’s our proposal and our offer.” he hands you a laminated folder with his company logo on it.

“just take your time, think about it.”

“thank you for the offer, but gotham is where i belong. i can’t leave now that i’ve just started being able to make a change here.”

you start to hand the folder back, but he refuses to take it.

“please, just look through it. my card is in there. if you decide that your answer is still no, then so be it. but all i ask is that you just read the plan.”

you just look down at the folder, not yet wanting to open it.

“again, you’re doing amazing work here, which is exactly why we want you with us in california. i mean, can you blame us?” jonathan says with a smile.

“you’ve already set up this great project here. gotham is in good hands to finish it.” he glances in bruce’s direction

“and maybe this chapter in gotham can come to a close. you can start fresh in california… just think about it.” he smiles again and walks away.

you just stand there, staring at the folder. you know your answer; you want to, no you have to, stay in gotham. but… you start to put the folder away in your bag. bruce comes walking up to you.

“what’s that?” he asks.

“nothing, just a proposal someone wanted me to look at.”

“proposal?”

“an offer at a company in san francisco.”

“oh…”

“i told him no.” you reassure him.

“right.” bruce says flatly.

after a few more minutes of shaking hands and faking smiles, you and bruce decide you’re tired of the mingling and leave. alfred is already waiting outside with the car running. bruce opens the door for you and you get in, but you can still sense some tension from him. the ride is silent back to his house as you think more about this offer. you haven’t looked through the folder yet, but you’d be lying if you said you weren’t tempted to open it.

when you get inside alfred says he’ll make you and bruce some dinner and bruce goes and sits at the dining room table. you sit next to him, hoping he speaks first.

“what was the offer?” bruce says after a minute of silence.

“i’m not sure on the details. but he said they’re wanting to expand the company… and they want me to be a part of it.”

bruce just sits there, staring at your bag on the table, the corner of the folder peaking out.

“olive branch?” he asks.

“yes, jonathan locke gave it to me.”

“he’s the founder.” bruce says, still looking at the folder.

“i’m not going to take it, bruce. gotham is my home. i can’t leave now. not when i’m just starting to make a difference.”

“but you’re thinking about it.”

“i’m not thinking about taking it…”

“just thinking about looking at it.”

“well i can’t say i’m not curious. you can’t blame me for at least wanting to take a look.”

“then look.” he pushes the bag toward you and gets up from the table.

“bruce…”

he keeps walking away.

curiosity does get the better of you, as you stare at the folder too. you shouldn’t even want to look at it if you’re so sure you want to stay. but you take it out and open it.

the offer is amazing. they want to make you head of the entire outreach division. you’d be traveling all over the country, establishing new branches and implementing strategies for other partner companies. the pay is also great, though you don’t care much about that. full benefits, which you already have. it’s a great opportunity… but you couldn’t leave. you think. the more you read through this folder the more intrigued you get. you would love the travel, you’ve never even left gotham. but you could just book a vacation. the title is better than your current one. but you don’t care about titles. you’ll be doing great work and helping a lot of people. but you can help people here. every point has a counterpoint. every reason to go is another reason to stay. you don’t know. honestly… you don’t know.

alfred brings in dinner, but it looks like you’re dining alone as bruce hasn’t come back.

“will master bruce be returning?” alfred asks.

“i’m not sure, but it’s not likely.”

“i see… if i may,” alfred starts. “there is no harm in weighing your options.”

“thank you alfred. i’m just not sure what to do. i want to stay but… how often do opportunities like this happen?”

“not very often, i’m afraid. you just need to have an understanding of what you want. and more importantly, what you need.”

alfred goes back into the kitchen. you sit there, letting your dinner get cold as you ruminate on this choice. bruce finally returns and sits down next to you again.

“i’m sorry for acting childish.” he says. “i just want you to make the right decision, for you.”

“i know. it’s alright.”

“one positive from tonight though: i spoke with the head of the gotham public school district and she wants us to go to the elementary school on monday. to bring the computers and do some personal outreach with the students.”

“that’s a great idea.”

“i think so too.”

bruce gets up to get his plate from the kitchen and you finally start eating. alfred’s cooking is too good to waste.

bruce drives you home after dinner. you suppose neither of you are in the mood for you to stay over and you need to clear your head anyway. bruce stops at your apartment and walks you up. you unlock your door and step inside.

“well, i will see you monday then.” bruce says.

“yeah, i’ll see you then.” bruce gives you a light peck on the cheek and leaves.

you can’t help but feel a bit disappointed that he didn’t offer to see you tomorrow, but it’s probably a good idea that you spend the day alone, thinking. it doesn’t amount to much, though. by monday morning, you still don’t have a solid answer. of course you want to stay, but a small part of you is still intrigued by the opportunity. bruce picks you up and you head straight to the elementary school.

“a few other members of the team are bringing the computers. they should already be here.” bruce says as he turns into the lot.

“sounds good.”

the two of you head inside the school and meet up with your team to start organizing the items to give out. computers, books, and stem sets all for the students and their classrooms. as you go from room to room, handing out these resources, you can’t help but beam as you see how happy it makes the students, and the teachers as well. bruce seems to be having a great time too. you see him showing the kids how to properly work the new tech, you see him excitedly talk to them about all the great new projects they can do if they continue working in this field, how he smiles at them when he sees them get excited too. and you realize you want him. you don’t want him for one night. or for a weekend. you don’t want him as a coworker. or even as a boyfriend. you want him. all the time. forever. always.

your decision has been made. you’ll stay. the day continues, and you’re more than pleased with how it’s turned out. it couldn’t have gone any better. you and bruce leave in his car, but you notice he’s driving toward your apartment, not his house.

“do you want to come over?” you ask, thinking maybe he wants to spend time at your place instead of his.

“i was just taking you home.” he says.

“oh… well do you want to go get dinner? there’s a place that just opened up that—“

“i think maybe it’s best if we take some time. to think.”

you pause, confused.

“think about what?”

“i saw the proposal in your bag. you’re still thinking about it.”

you glance down at your bag and realize the folder is still in there.

“i just forgot to take it out. but i’ve made my decision, i’m staying.”

“maybe you should go.”

���…why would you say that?”

“it just seems like a good opportunity for you. maybe you should move on to greener pastures.”

“i like the grass here just fine. gotham is my home.”

“i just think maybe we made some mistakes here.”

“mistakes?”

“with us. it wasn’t a good idea to try to incorporate a relationship with work.”

your throat tightens and you feel anger, despair, confusion rise up.

“i think we were doing just fine, bruce. why are you saying all this?”

“…maybe it’s just for the best we move on.”

you can’t believe this. the man you had just decided you wanted forever with is now finished with you. you were going to tell him you wanted a future together… you were going to tell him you love him. and now it’s over.

bruce stops in front of your apartment building and you wait a second before getting out of the car.

“…goodbye bruce.” you say quietly. you can’t find the strength to look at him.

“goodbye.”

you get out of the car and up to your apartment. the only thing you can will yourself to do is get in bed and cry. you scream into your pillow until your chest is tight and your throat is sore. you can’t believe it hurts this much. it’s a deep ache, like every bone your body is in danger of snapping at any moment. your muscles are weak like you just fell into a bottomless sea, the waves crashing and knocking the wind out of you the second you get a chance to catch your breath again. you just sit there, for hours, trying to breathe. you lay your head down on your pillow, staring at the ceiling, your eyes leaking into your ears. sleep never finds you tonight as you continue to let the pain overcome you. when morning peaks through your curtains, you just stare ahead, wondering if you’ll ever find beauty through that window again.

you finally get up out of bed and find your bag on the floor by the kitchen where you dropped it. you take the folder out and flip through the papers, finding what it is you’re looking for.

you dial the number on jonathan locke’s card. after a conversation on the phone, the deal is made. you’ll be moving to california at the end of the week.

the next few days are spent packing. jonathan has personally arranged for movers to come take your boxes for you and bring them to a new home in california. a new home which jonathan has taken care of for you as well.

it’s saturday now, the day you leave. you take one last look out your window at the cityscape and feel a tinge in your chest. no, gotham isn’t beautiful. but it was home.

you take a taxi to the airport. each action you take, each bag you pick up and door you close, feels like slow motion. like your body is limited and you can’t quite move properly. you pick up your ticket. san francisco. one way. and head to your gate.

you’re standing in line, your bag in one hand and your ticket in the other. you’ll be the last one to get on, because you’re hoping that something will stop you from leaving. you wish you had a reason to stay. you wish this would turn into a romantic movie or the finale of a sitcom, where at the last second bruce comes running to the gate to stop you.

the line gets shorter.

you’d ask him what he’s doing here and that you’ve already made your decision, you’re leaving.

only a few people ahead.

he’d wrap his arms around you and tell you not to leave, and he’d kiss you.

one person ahead.

he’d say the one thing you’ve been wanting him to, that he needs you… and that he loves you…

you hand your boarding pass to the attendant and step through the gate.

…………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………….

[mayasaurusss]

Just like in the movies

Pairings: platonic (for now) Spider-Van! X fem!reader

Synopsis: you have an interesting meeting after escaping death.

Warnings: from strangers to friends, comical (Don't take this as my normal writing, I can do better I swear), gender neutral Van, use of every common trope (seriously I'm ashamed of myself) -ooc Van- inspired by ITSV, not proofread.

Enjoy! :)

The tick tacking of your desk clock stirred you from your trance. It was currently 5:12 pm, outside darkness fell, the city being brightened by traffic lights.

Your hands covered your face, trying to rub the tiredness off of it, glaring at your notes and piles of books lying on your desk. Despite the necessity to relax and sleep, you needed to suppress it: you were in the last few weeks of your finals, you needed to push your limits just a bit more, then you'd be free -for some time- and this torture would be over.

Groaning, you carried your heavy body torwards the bathroom, turned on cold water and hopped into the shower. Cold showers were the only thing that could wake you up, alongside with coffee.

Your kitchen cupboard was completely empty, not a trace of coffee or any other energy-inducing food.

"Shit..."

You didn't feel like going to the coffee shop just around the corner from your apartment, you certainly could not stomach the idea of talking with the old lady at the counter, she could always bring up the most random topics and start a one sided conversation that could last up to 45 minutes.

There was a small convenience store some streets away from you, if you went there you could buy tonight's dinner, alongside with some well deserved -shitty- coffee.

You lazily put on some pants, a sweater a, jacket and a scarf to shield yourself from the cold New York weather; grabbing your backpack and your wallet, you got out of the apartment.

Outside, thin snow fell on your skin, freezing the tip of your nose and hurting your cheeks, it was a welcomed feeling after the almost unbreakable trance of your studies.

"Come on, you just have to pass this lasts tests and it's over" reminding yourself.

The past few weeks felt like an eternity.

Lost in your thoughts, you failed to notice a truck speeding torwards you.

Someone shouted out, and you realized the situation you were in a little too late, your whole life flashing in your eyes as you stared at the truck lights, not making an effort to move at all.

Your sight shifted when you felt someone pulling you in their arms, your view changed drastically: you weren't staring at the truck lights anymore but gazed on New York City skyline.

"W-what...?" your eyes contemplated the city, too lost in the view to notice what was happening to you. When you began falling down again, you let out a scream of terror and gripped tightly whatever -whoever- lifted you up in the air.

Laughter filled the space "That's everyone's first reaction, but don't worry, you'll get used to it soon" you heard from the person holding you.

"What the actual fuck is happening?!" voice hoarse from the sheer terror you felt.

"Ow, stop holding so tight! You're hurting me!" you turned your head to see that the person who hold you had a mask and was watching you intently.

"You look hot" whoever was under the mask said smugly, their eyes -eye-holes?- winked at you.

"I don't think this is the right time to say stuff like that!"

With force, you were pulled torwards a building and placed on the rooftop.

You huffed heavy puffs of air out of your lungs and looked incredulous at whoever swooped you up.

Now you could see them at full body length: they were covered in a suit, red on the top and chest, a dark shade of blue colored the sides and legs. A spider figure was drawn on their chest, paint slightly dripped down, smudging the edges.

They wore a mask with comically large eyes, staring down at you, a heavy silence filled the air.

"Hi" their voice echoed out.

"Hi..."

"Are you ok? You risked a lot down there you know?" you peered down at the street looking where you were almost killed.

"Yes... Thank you" you whispered, you got up on your wobbly legs, still shaking violently with fear.

"Careful, go slow" their arms wrapped around your sides, steadying your swaying figure, you held on tight to their arms

"I am sorry if I sound rude but...who are you?"

"Are you kidding?! You don't know me?" they shout out, their -comically large spider-eyes- widened out and arms spreading "Seriously?!" you shook your head.

Letting go of your body, they ran up and over the edge, making your legs wobbly again in fear "I am..."

They got into a super-hero pose, their arms resting on their sides, chin high. "The Amazing Spiderman!" "..." "And who's that supposed to be?" you asked genuinely confused. "...the superhero?"

"I've- I've never heard of you..."

"Never?!" their -comically large- eyes widened, their voice sounded hurt.

"Huh, that may be 'cause I'm kinda new, y'know? Just got in the business" they murmured, scratching their neck to ease tension.

"How did you do it?"

"You mean the swinging?" you nodded.

"I was bit by a radioactive spider, now I just kinda shoot webs from my wrists and stick to buildings, y'know?"

"Ah, I see. Kinda cool" you truly didn't know what to say, too dumbfounded to formulate a response: for the last minutes you experienced something that was really, really out of the ordinary.

"Yeah it is, sometimes when I have to go to work I just swing over there!" returning from their place on the edge and got closer to you.

"Look" they showed you their wrist, on the suit near the base of the hand sat a watch-like object.

"They're called weeb shooters, someone made them for me" showing you their gadget, they shot out a small weeb string in between their fingers and showed you.

"Whoa...does it really stick to things that well? It looks frail"

"Yes, it can support my weight easily, plus some more added weight" they said, winking at you.

"Oh stop it" you lightly shoved them, before bringing your hands to your sides, trying to bring heat to your body. "Hey, are you cold?" they said.

"Yeah, I was actually supposed to go to the store before that...inconvenience"

"Where is it?" you told them the location.

You felt yourself get pulled to them, their right arm hugged your body tightly with surprising strength,

"Let me give you a swing there"

"Are you crazy?! I'm don't want to 'swing' there!" you screamed, terrified to relive the experience of before.

"Relax, I won't let you fall! " they prepared themselves, their muscles flexing under their suit.

"How are you sure of that?"

"I never failed"

"This might be the first tim- woah!" you hadn't the time to respond, as a web shot from their wrist to the other side of the street and with strength, you were pulled from your position and were now 'swinging' in between buildings.

"Don't look down!" they said to you, adjusting their grip on your body

"If you say that, of course I'm gonna look down!" you clenched to their figure, hoping to not fall in the void.

"Don't you feel lucky to be given a ride from 'Spiderman'?" voice full of pride, when they didn't receive your answer they looked at you, trembling and eyes shut.

"Don't worry, we're almost there" the movement ceased and lowly dropping torwards the street.

Your feet touched the ground, finally.

Your legs felt unsteady when you standed up, holding on their body as they put you down.

You steadied yourself and looked at them

"Thank you, really, for everything" waiting for a response, Spiderman shifted uncomfortably under your gaze

"Hey, I was thinking...would you like to be my friend?"

"Friend? You wanna be friends? Why?"

"I mean, this kind of stuff is the things that happens in movies, I would like to take this chance" fingers moving nervously against one another.

"Would you like, then?" seeming almost scared of your rejection.

"Of course!" grabbing your backpack, you searched for a pen and a pieve of paper, quickly writing your number on it.

"Here, mysterious 'spiderman' " you folded it and took their hand, gently placing the note on their palm.

"I have to go now" you said, walking to the entrance of the store, before turning and smiling at the masked figure "I hope we'll be great friends".

Van stared at the store entrance, not moving an inch of their body and without words left.

They didn't know why they felt this way, it was almost like an electric shook throughout their body. Filled with adrenaline, they webbed onto a surface building and set off into the night, under the incredulous stares of people.

Some minutes later, the window of their apartment opened and Van entered inside the living room.

"Where have you been? Fighting crime again?" Taissa's voice spoke from the couch.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't tell you" Van said, taking off their mask.

"I met someone, she was about to have an incident but I saved her" they looked at Taissa on the couch, too busy with scrolling through her phone "Cool".

Van stripped from their suit, left it in the laundry basket and slid in the shower.

Finally, they laid on the soft bed, feeling their muscles relaxing after the long day spent at the store and casually saving lives. Their head pressed against their arms, eyes shut remembering the events of the day.

Overlooking Brooklyn's view, the spider-senses tingled when they saw someone carelessly crossing the street, they noticed a truck coming torwards the figure. In an attempt to warn them, Van tried to shout but whoever it was, they didn't move.

"Shit!" they jumped from the building and tried to make it to the person before it was too late.

Thankfully they did, their arm sliding and catching whoever it was just before a tragedy could happen.

Arms shaking from the adrenaline, they noticed the girl in their arms screaming and their first reaction was to release a laugh, but when they looked at her words left from their mouth completely: whoever she was, she captivated Van's senses.

In a mess of emotions, the firsts words that left their mouth were "You look hot".

" You look hot"?! What was I thinking?!

Their hands flew to their face, trying to rub the blush off of their cheeks.

When remembering how she looked at them after giving her number, they softened and exhaled a breath.

They slid down the covers, eyelids heavy, before letting out a sigh and drifting to sleep.

"Like...in the movies..."

[anonymous-bastard]

whats your favourite kind of house? i like little old cottage houses or those pretty townhouses

- @underworlds-favourite

Oh that's hard. I really like a variety of architectural styles.

You are very much right about cottages and townhouses.

I am DEFINITELY not immune to the look of a good skyline with skyscrapers either.

Also just because it's on my mind right now, I often like the look of old train stations.

Every kind of building that changed function - school buildings turned into housing, a café that used to be a barn, stuff like that. Like architecture is art but it's art we USE.

I guess my favorite kind of house is every house that's well-designed, that functions well. Inside and out.

But what's really important is the neighborhood, to have a mix of different buildings with different sizes and functions, for different income and different family sizes, plus shops, cafes, just third places in general.

Ooc answer: everything I just said plus I fucking love everything with a thatched roof because that just feels like home to me.

[sameoldkate]

the song vampire is very much kate to jeanette

[santi-u]

[ bie thassapak hsu, demi-man, he/they ] Look who just landed! SANTI AMARIN-ZHAO, I sure hope you packed all you need. Perhaps you’re not worried as the CEO of X ACADEMY. The city has plenty of spots for a 29 year old SIGHIR like you. You’ll be known in the city soon enough as THE PEACEMAKER, being CHARISMATIC and INSTIGNANT. 

❯ tags — interview — bio — headcanons — wanted connections & plots

OOC Information

Fayn / PST (Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles) /  They/Them 

Muse: Santi Amarin-Zhao 

Tagging System: here

Interview: here

Muse’s Statistics

Full Name: Santi Amarin-Zhao | สันติ อมรินทร์ | 兆三緹

Nickname: Silk / Xiao Ti (小緹) / Titty (lmao)

Date of Birth: 28 May 2376

Gender: Demi-Man

Pronouns: He/They

Sexual Orientation: Queer

Romantic Orientation: …Ask him when he’s drunk. (Queer)

Current Age: 29

Modification: Sighir (Classified) Human :)

Affiliation: X Academy

Birthplace: New Jakarta

Current Neighbourhood: Sora

Occupation: CEO of X Academy, Philanthropist, Insider Threat, Dog Papa :)

Known Languages: English, Thai, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, Bahasa

Appearance

Faceclaim: Bie Thassapak Hsu

Height: 6'0"

Eye Colour: Dark brown, almost black

Hair Colour: Naturally black, tends to dye it dark, reddish brown 

Clothing Style: Has an extensive suit collection, surprisingly only a fraction of which are custom tailored. Wears more eccentric and femme-leaning blazer choices when feeling up to it. Tends to wear layers and long sleeves even during warm weather. Wears a hat to disguise himself in the Slums. Occasionally wears glasses.

Jewelry:  Watch he inherited from a mentor. Occasionally wears a bracelet and necklace with no real sentimental meaning, just only for the vibe. 

Tattoos: N/A

Marks/Scars: An innumerable amount of scars all over his body, even his face, as a result of testing done on him. They’ve all healed nearly perfectly thanks to his Sighir powers, and as a result, they’re nearly imperceptible / basically invisible unless you know what you’re looking for and are literally up in his business. He doesn't usually let anyone get that close, physically or emotionally.

Modifications: N/A

Scent/Fragrance: Tom Ford Ébène Fumé — overall woody and smoky; has notes of incense, palo santo, black pepper, violet leaf, leather, and labdanum

Personality

Positive Traits: Charismatic, compassionate, loyal

Neutral Traits: Guarded, resourceful, analytical

Negative Traits: Hyperindependent, manipulative, self-destructive

Peeves: His lunch getting double booked, expense reports, interviews, people who pet Khoi without asking Khoi if he’d like to be pet, people who don’t respect nature

Fears: A particular part of the city he now avoids going to at all costs; locked, windowless rooms; his parents; vulnerability

Skills: Partnership management, B2B commerce, research design, organizational management, public speaking, tying the perfect tie in one shot, being able to tell what kind of spices were used in a dish, inhuman-like terrifyingly high pain tolerance

Goals: Autonomy and control over his own fate

Favourites

Likes: His black golden retriever (Khoi), a tasteful accent pocket square, street food, boba, bugs (butterflies in particular), a certain Overseer :)

Dislikes: The smell of antiseptic, stainless steel furniture and decor, loss of control 

Hobbies: Cooking, going out to Bartori or the Marwar Market in disguise to eat street food

Habits: Sleep talking, overworking, checking the app on his phone to make sure Khoi is okay at home

One Cherished Item: The chrysalis of a butterfly he helped raise in secret from a caterpillar when he was a child

Biography

UNN's Class of 2405: 30 Under 30 Interview with Santi Amarin-Zhao, CEO of X Academy

Date: September 12, 2404 Time: 13:57 PM NJT Location: X HQ, Santi’s Office

The interview takes place in the sleek, ultra-modern headquarters of X Academy, a towering structure that dominates the skyline of New Jakarta. The office is a blend of glass and metal, with a panoramic view of the sprawling city below. Santi sits behind a minimalist desk, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp, betraying the meticulous mind behind the polished exterior. The interviewer, an experienced journalist from the United News Network, is acutely aware that this is more than just a profile piece—it’s an opportunity to peel back the layers of one of Mars' most enigmatic young leaders.

Interviewer: "Santi Amarin-Zhao, thank you for joining us today. It's not every day that we get to sit down with one of the youngest CEOs in New Jakarta's history. Let's start from the beginning—being born and raised on Mars is still not an everyday occurrence, and especially not nearly three decades ago. How has your upbringing shaped the leader you are today?"

Santi offers a warm smile, the kind that has won him the admiration from many of the million citizens of New Jakarta, but behind that smile is a carefully crafted persona. He knows exactly how to play this role, the heir to a legacy of power and innovation.

Santi: "Thank you for having me. My upbringing was nothing short of a privilege, and I recognize that every day. My mother's side was instrumental in the initial colonization efforts, and my father's side were some of the original Braax mine owners. Their combined legacy is something I take very seriously. Growing up, I was always taught that with great power comes great responsibility—not just to my family, but to the people of New Jakarta."

As he speaks, Santi’s thoughts drift momentarily to his childhood, where lessons were taught not in classrooms, but in boardrooms. His mother, a brilliant scientist, would often take him to meetings where breakthroughs in Martian terraforming and mineral research were discussed, while his father, a shrewd businessman, exposed him to the intricacies of corporate strategy. From a young age, Santi learned that every action, every word, was a move in a larger game—a game he was expected to win.

Interviewer: "That's a powerful ethos to live by. Many would say that you were born into success, but you've clearly worked hard to maintain and build upon that legacy. What drives you to keep pushing forward, especially in such a high-stakes environment?"

As the interviewer asks this, Santi leans back slightly, as if contemplating the question. The truth is, the drive to push forward comes not from ambition alone, but from a deeper, almost primal need to assert control over a life that has always been orchestrated by others. But that’s not something he can admit out loud.

Santi: "You know, it's easy for people to assume that everything was handed to me on a silver platter, but the reality is far more complex. Yes, I had opportunities that others might not, but I was also held to incredibly high standards. From a young age, I was taught the importance of hard work, and that success is not just about what you achieve, but how you achieve it. I’ve always believed in leading by example, which is why I make it a point to be in the trenches with my team, whether it's working late nights on a project or navigating the complexities of our latest research initiatives."

He recalls the countless nights spent in the labs of X Academy, not because he needed to be there, but because he wanted to understand every aspect of the institution he would one day lead. He wasn’t just a figurehead—he was determined to know the ins and outs of every department, every project. The long hours weren’t just about work; they were about proving, perhaps to himself more than anyone else, that he was worthy of the legacy he was born into.

Interviewer: "It's clear that your work ethic is something you take pride in. Let's talk about X Academy. Under your leadership, it's become a beacon of hope for many in New Jakarta, especially with the rising tensions in the city. How do you balance the pressures of being a public figure with the responsibilities of running such a pivotal institution?"

Santi’s expression shifts subtly—a flicker of something deeper, darker. He knows that the public sees him as a beacon of hope, a leader who can unite the fractured city. But the truth is, the very tensions they hope he will resolve are often of his own making. He is both the architect of chaos and the one who brings order, a duality that he keeps hidden beneath layers of charm and calculated sincerity.

Santi: "Balancing those pressures is definitely a challenge, but it's one I embrace. X Academy was founded with the goal of advancing scientific research for the betterment of all Martian citizens, and that mission is something I take to heart. At the same time, I understand the power of public perception. People are looking for someone to believe in, especially now, and I’m grateful that they see me as that figure. However, it’s not just about what I can do as a leader, but what we can achieve together as a community. Creating opportunities for all, committing to public good—these are not just slogans, but guiding principles in everything I do."

He remembers the latest crisis he orchestrated in the Akumu Slums—a small piece of information, leaked at just the right time, setting off a chain of events that sent shockwaves through the city. It was a dangerous game, one that could easily spiral out of control, but Santi thrives on the thrill of it. The chaos serves a purpose; it keeps people looking to him for solutions, reinforcing his role as the indispensable leader.

Interviewer: "You've been dubbed 'The Peacemaker' by some, yet New Jakarta is far from peaceful, if we must be honest. How do you reconcile this title with the realities of the city?"

Santi knows this question is coming, and he’s prepared. The irony of the title isn’t lost on him—it’s part of the persona he’s carefully cultivated. He is the Peacemaker, but peace, as he defines it, is a tool, a means to an end. True peace would leave him with nothing to control, nothing to fix, and that’s a reality he’s not ready to face.

Santi: "The title 'Peacemaker' is both a compliment and a burden. Peace is not just the absence of conflict but the presence of justice and opportunity. It’s no secret that New Jakarta faces many challenges, from economic disparities to social unrest. But these challenges also present opportunities for growth and innovation. My job is to navigate these complexities and find solutions that benefit the city as a whole. Sometimes, that means making difficult decisions that aren't immediately popular, but I always have the long-term prosperity of New Jakarta in mind."

As he speaks, his mind wanders to the many nights he spent alone in his office, staring out over the city. From this vantage point, he could see everything—the glittering towers of the elite, the sprawling slums below. It was all part of a grand design, one he was orchestrating from behind the scenes. Every conflict, every resolution, was a step towards a future only he could envision.

Interviewer: "There's a lot of talk about the criminal underworld in New Jakarta, particularly in the Akumu Slums. How does X Academy fit into this picture, and what steps are you taking to ensure that your initiatives aren't just a band-aid on a larger issue?"

Santi’s smile doesn’t falter, but inside, he feels a spark of satisfaction. The criminal underworld is a complex web, one that he’s intimately familiar with. He’s not just aware of it—he’s a part of it, a shadowy figure pulling strings from the comfort of his high-rise office. But that’s a truth he’ll take to his grave.

Santi: "The situation in the Akumu Slums is one of the most pressing issues we face, and it’s something I’m deeply concerned about. X Academy's role is to provide education and resources that empower people to create better lives for themselves, but we can’t do it alone. That’s why I’ve been working closely with the Overseers and other city leaders to address the root causes of these problems. It’s not just about education; it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. As for the criminal circuit—let's just say, we're keeping a close eye on things and doing everything we can to ensure that X Academy’s work is part of the solution, not part of the problem."

He remembers the recent heist at one of X Academy’s facilities, a heist that the public believed was a tragedy. What they didn’t know was that Santi had orchestrated the entire event, leaking the location of the facility to a rival faction in the slums. It was all part of a larger plan, one that would ultimately strengthen his grip on the city. The stolen research was never meant to be used—it was a decoy, a test of loyalty and competence for those who would carry out his orders.

Interviewer: "Lastly, with everything you've accomplished so far, what does the future hold for you and X Academy? How do you plan to continue your family's legacy while also making your own mark?"

Santi pauses, considering his response carefully. The future is something he thinks about often, but not in the way most people do. For him, the future is a canvas, one that he can shape and mold to his liking. His family’s legacy is the foundation, but the empire he’s building will be his own.

Santi: "The future is bright, but it’s also uncertain—and that’s what makes it exciting. My family’s legacy is something I’m incredibly proud of, but I’m also focused on carving out my own path. For X Academy, that means continuing to push the boundaries of scientific research and making sure that our work has a real, tangible impact on the lives of the people of New Jakarta. Personally, I’m committed to staying grounded, to listening to the needs of the community, and to never losing sight of the values that brought me here. My goal is to make sure that when people think of X Academy, they don’t just think of a name—they think of a force for good that is changing the world for the better."

As he finishes, Santi glances out the window, his mind already racing with the next steps in his plan. The interviewer thanks him for his time, and Santi responds graciously, but his thoughts are elsewhere. The interview is just another move in the game, another step in a carefully plotted journey that only he knows the destination of.

Interviewer: "Thank you, Santi. It’s been a pleasure speaking with you, and we’re all looking forward to seeing what you accomplish next."

Santi: "The pleasure’s all mine. Thank you for the opportunity to share my story."

As the interviewer leaves, Santi sits back in his chair, allowing himself a rare moment of introspection. He’s come so far, but there’s still so much to do. The city of New Jakarta is a complex machine, and he’s the one turning the gears. The future he envisions is one of power, control, and legacy—his legacy, not just his family’s. And he won’t stop until every piece of the puzzle falls into place.

End of interview.

[necromancyandtendrils]

Character info; The Tower of Wizards + Candy's thoughts.

It seems like I'm gonna have to do another one of these to clear things up;

OOC: At this moment of [June 8, 2024] I've only recently just reached the Hollyberry section of the main story. and I've not yet reached the City of Wizards section that's in EP 16 [ from what I found out after talking to a friend ]

Candy has little-to-no knowledge of this 'new world' She has woken up to. She had been slumbering for a very long time. She is as old [and maybe even slightly older] as the Beasts themselves.

OOC: I learned that the City of Wizards involves Moonlight Cookie, and has little to nothing to do with what Candy is concerned over.

What are Candy's main concerns? The Whole Beast-Yeast situation and things involving her adopted dough Baby, Skyline. As well as the St. Pastery order for waking her up in the first place.

In conclusion; Candy Eye Cookie, would know nothing of the City of Wizards, and even if she did? She would just dismiss it entirely, for it is not her problem to deal with until it actually does. P.S. Also. AGAIN may I iterate that when it comes to current-day politics in the CRK, She literally knows almost NOTHING. Nor does she see it as "her problem".

Ignorant of her? Yes. But you'd be pissy too if you got woken up when you weren't supposed to~

[abyssal-ali]

JaySteph Tinder AU Part 2

Pairing: Jason Todd x Stephanie Brown | Rating: T+ | Ao3 | TW: like one suggestive line, possibly slightly ooc characters | A/N: Words this time, whooo! Next up, the Bats find out. | PART ONE | PART THREE | This is CRACK and I have just as much an idea of what's going on as you do.

Thursday evening, Steph knocked on the door of the address Jason had sent her. A minute later, it swung open, Jason’s face smiling at her from behind it. “You found me.”

She nodded, her ponytail swinging behind her. “With my eyes, no less.”

“I’m glad to hear that. Welcome here!”

“Thanks. Nice place,” she added, taking in the homey feel of his apartment. The furniture was inviting, the walls were painted a warm honey shade, the decor was functional but looked quality. A couple photos of the skyline and the Bats hung on a wall, and the opposite one held a row of swords that Steph was sure were more than decorative.

Steph’s stomach rumbled as a delicious aroma filled the house. “What is that? That smells divine.”

“Eggplant parmesan,” Jason announced proudly, heading into the kitchen. Steph followed him, taking in the well-appointed kitchen and the tools that he would only have if he knew how to use them.

“You like to cook?”

“I do,” he pulled a casserole dish out of the oven, the aroma intensifying. He slid it onto the stone counter, leaning over it to check its doneness. “Looks like supper’s just about ready,” he commented.

“Can I do anything to help?” she asked.

“I think I’ve got just about everything done, but there’s a pitcher in the fridge if you want to pour the water.”

Steph took the opportunity to snoop through his fridge, noting with approval the substantial amount of healthy ingredients and brands he sourced. 

Remembering she was supposed to pour the water, she retrieved the pitcher and filled the glasses on the table set for two in the corner. 

Jason brought the dish over and set it on the trivet laid out. “Ready?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “More than ready.”

He handed her the serving utensil and let her dish her own portion out. She mentally added another tick under his name in the ‘green flag’ column. 

Steph took a bite and moaned. “This is amazing. I can die happy now.”

He grinned a little shyly, clearly pleased. “Dinner meets your approval, then? Good.”

“I’m gonna be honest here, I’d happily swallow another type of eggplant, if y’know what I mean,” she informed him, taking another bite.

He choked on his mouthful.

She winked at him, pleased to see him so flustered. She’d wanted to try some of her horrendous pickup lines on him for ages; she just knew he’d have the best reactions.

He patted his chest firmly. “You can’t just say stuff like that!”

“Oh, but I can. This is what you signed up for,” she reminded him.

“I always knew you were sassy but I was not expecting it to come out this soon,” he told her. “I’m glad you feel comfortable enough to say that, though.”

“Oh, I’m gonna get a whole lot more comfortable,” she warned him. “Unless it makes you uncomfortable?”

“Not in a bad way.”

“Oh?” she raised her eyebrow. “I’ve always wanted to see how you’d react to getting hit on. So far, you’re producing excellent results.”

“So I’m a Petri dish now, am I?” he raised his eyebrow back, taking another bite.

“Well, your middle name is Peter…”

“You know my middle name?”

“Yeah? What’s mine?” she asked him.

“Crystal,” he replied immediately. 

“Looks like you’ve been paying attention to me, too,” she said triumphantly, secretly pleased. “Also, you’re not a Petri dish, you’re an extremely cultured yogurt.”

His head tipped back. “I can’t decide which is worse.”

“How about I call you–” she paused, enjoying the way he tensed in preparation for the next comment, “--mine.”

He blinked. “Only if I can call you mine, too.”

“Deal!”

[nepofm]

TOY  DRIVE  &  CHARITY  GALA  !

 hello  upper  east  siders  ,  have  you  got  your  invite  ?  the  only  way  to  celebrate  december  ,  a  month  of  winter  and  time  of  giving  is  by  announcing  a  toy  drive  charity  gala  , taking  place  in  rockefeller  center  on  december  23rd  ,  2022 .

hosted  by new  york’s  philanthropic  society ,  the  charity  gala  for  the  donors  in  attendance  will  be  held  in  rockefeller’s  rainbow  room , a  new  york’s  epitome  of  class  ,  style and  glamour  , giving  you  an  unforgottable  experience  .  tucked  on  the  65th  floor  of  30  rock  , you  can  find  the  known  and  iconic  bar  sixty  ,  serving  your  favourite cockails , passed  canapés  , crostinis ,  arancinis , appetizers  &  entrées  in  form  of  lobster  pot  pie  with  black  truffles  ,  grilled  leeks  , etc .

the  donations  for  toy  drive  will  be  held  in  the  building’s  lobby where  you  can  donate  not  only  new ,  unwrapped  toys  but  the  philanthropic’s  society  holds  charity  donations  by  check  .  you  can  find  great  gift  donations  at  rockefeller  center’s  LEGO  , nintendo  , FAO  schwarz  and  other  retailers !  the  donations  are  anonymous  , meaning  you  can  donate  as  much  as  you  want  ... or  are  they ,  really  ?

with  the  skyline  just  outside  , a  city  spreading  out  in  all  directions  through  floor-to-ceiling  windows , this  is  a  perfect  place  to  crafting  one  of  a  kind  moments  . the  invitations  were  sent  out  to  A  list  celebrities ,  influencers , socialities  &  every  big  names  you  can  possibly  think  of  with  a  plus  one  option .  rumor  has  it  that  everyone  confirmed  their  attendance  , making  this  a  perfect  opportunity  to  make  sure  your  nepoupdates.com notifications  are  on !

ooc  details  !

out  of  character  : event  duration  is  for  two  weeks , starting  on  friday  , december  9th  at  12:00  am est  and  will  last  until  friday ,  december  23rd  at  11:59  pm  est  .

in  character  : this  event  will  take  place  on friday  ,  december  23rd  at  6:00  pm  and  is  hold  in  rockefeller  center’s  rainbow  room  . dress  code  is  FORMAL . you  can  view  this  google  doc  for  menu  details  &  a  visual  presentation  of  rooms  . this  is  a  dash  only  event  .

the  event  participation  is  only  optional  ,  however  highly  encouraged !  by  participating  in  the  event  , you  can  apply  for  10  points  from  our  points  system  ! points  can  be  redeemed  into  both  ooc  &  ic  prizes .

your  muse’s  outfits  &  starters  for  the  event  participation  must  be  tagged  with  #nepofm.event001 ! feel  free  to  share  your  muse’s  outifts  in  our  ooc  discord  channels  as  well  !

any  donations  your  muse  makes  , please  make  sure  you  submit  what  was  donated / how  much  was  donated  to  @nepoupdates . please ,  state  if  nepoupdates  can  expose  your  muse’s  donations  at  any  point  post  event .

nepoupdates  will  be  interactively  involved  in  the  event  . muses  can  send  in  anonymous  (  or  not  )  tips  to  the  gossip  blog .

once  the  event  is  over ,  you  may  continue  &  finish  the  threads  from  the  event  but  please  ,  don’t  start  any  new  ones  !  if  you  decide  to  fade  to  black  plots  for  event  , please  leave  plotting  updates  for  nepoupdates  .

finally  , this  event  is  100%  about  character  & connections  development  as  well  as  fun  for  both  muses  &  muns  ! if  you  have  any  questions , please  don’t  hesitate  to  reach  out  to  admins  on  main  or  through  our  #questions  channel  on  discord  !

OFFICIAL  GALA  PLAYLIST  . 

EVENT  PINTEREST  BOARD  .

[knives-alives]

[[ Action posts viewable ooc, but like. shoot an ask if you want to interact with the lad about it.]]

The soft creak of leather-on-leather wakes Roman from his reverie. He’s sitting, staring out at the skyline. It’s 4 am; the sky is a barely-awake lavender and the city sits dark, a sprawling concrete behemoth in the valley. His phone chirps- a message from his handler. Computer maintenance, wellness checks, a grocery run, and an appointment with a business partner on the pier.

So, company work as well as his personal ventures. The date, however, gives him pause. The tasks aren’t scheduled for two weeks. His handler texts him preemptively, verifying the dates. He’s on vacation.

What the fuck is he supposed to do with free time, again?

[burdened-boy]

I posted 1,242 times in 2022

That's 1,242 more posts than 2021!

413 posts created (33%)

829 posts reblogged (67%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@zuvson

@songofsilentechoes

@the-expatriate

@tenebristhequeen

@cajunspoons

I tagged 770 of my posts in 2022

Only 38% of my posts had no tags

#ic - 469 posts

#ooc - 267 posts

#inbox - 114 posts

#songofsilentechoes - 92 posts

#tenebristhequeen - 55 posts

#cajunspoons - 55 posts

#my art - 51 posts

#the-expatriate - 49 posts

#anon - 37 posts

#the expatriate - 34 posts

Longest Tag: 72 characters

#fun fact i had another reply typed out and firefox crashed the other day

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

burdened-boy magazine: your #1 guide to the end of the world.

i thought i would commemorate hitting 100 mutuals/followers (101 to be exact) with this little thing. warmest gratitude to @rabbit-trolls​ for being #1! i like to envision burdened-boy as one of those “indie gems nobody knows about” - you see the black eye in your inbox, but what’s really going on under the surface?

top left corner is @the-expatriate​ and below is @songofsilentechoes​

thank you everyone! 

james (i use the name polybiiex for my art stuff)

24 notes - Posted July 8, 2022

#4

/ M  / I / S / T /

[ @the-expatriate​ has returned to the void. ]

With a choked grunt, Limbo is splayed out onto the Tube platform, having been hurled down a short set of concrete stairs. Catching himself on a set of turnstiles (albeit rather painfully), the disgruntled hitman gazes up the stairs from which he came.

To his amazement, his longtime quarry Q. Bensis (a college botany professor turned druglord) had decided to get high off his own supply. Bensis, typically a scrawny, bald man in his late fifties, had ingested a large dose of Gamma Blue, a powerful deliriant that also served a stimulant. Limbo surmised that this was done in preparation for the two men’s confrontation; despite the hitman being a relatively heavy person, the much weaker Bensis was able to pick him up and throw him like Donkey Kong. As a matter of fact, the professor had been handing Limbo’s ass to him all afternoon.

Wheezing, the hitman reached for his gun, uncaring of any bystanders around him. 

Suddenly, Bensis appeared in the stairwell, the mid-afternoon sun lighting the whole scene up with bleached white light. Limbo drew his pistol, ready for battle once more. 

30 notes - Posted July 29, 2022

#3

50 notes - Posted June 24, 2022

#2

[ @the-expatriate has joined the fray ]

A Grand Machine, a glittering silver snake of stainless steel streaks across the plains, its diesel hum serving as a quiet lullaby for its passengers. Jon had not taken a long distance train ride in a long time, preferring the cost of a cheap flight, or the independence of a road trip. However, his target for the evening was a known train enjoyer, so where the money went, Limbo followed. After all, when money talks, bullshit walks.

The criminal found himself in the observation deck, amongst other passengers, watching the nighttime scenery whizz past and sipping a cup of cola through a coffee stirrer. He was sizing people up, searching for a middle aged man with a shiny bald head and a long brown beard.

"...more than a symbol, more than I bargained for," the hitman whispered to himself.

90 notes - Posted February 6, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

[ @songofsilentechoes​ is back.]

With the quiet click of the glass door behind him, Limbo steps out onto the sidewalk, having spent the last sixty-two minutes of his life in therapy. As is customary when living in Neo-Los Angeles, the cyborg checked both ways before proceeding towards the parking garage at the end of the block.

It was getting late, with the sun beginning to crest below the vast, dirty skyline of the big city. It was also beginning to drizzle. As usual with these late-night therapy sessions, the thought of grabbing carryout in lieu of his typical iced coffee flashed in his head, but after feeling his stomach bounce in a way he wasn’t particularly fond of, Limbo shook this thought from his head. 

126 notes - Posted March 30, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[akittyboy]

Another Life (part 1)

Sweet Home FF | Hyunsu x Eunhyuk

Summary: After everything has been said and done, there are still things that Hyunsu doesn't seem to remember. Warning/tags: mild angst, partial memory loss, emotional constipation, slow burn, mxm, no smut, found family, getting together, mild gore. Word count: approx. 12k for the whole thing, but will be posted in parts.

A/N: This takes place sometime after the video montage at the end of season 3, and then jumps back a little to season 1. I hope the characters won't be too OOC but this show has me in a chokehold and I had to do SOMETHING. Just know that creative liberties were taken… and by that, I mean that I watched My Demon after binging all seasons of Sweet Home, so any sort of lines are blurred at this rate. Anyhow, imagine that the trio of Hyunsu, Eunhyuk and Eunyu eventually break off from the rest of the survival camp to do their own thing. This is a slow drip, mostly about feelings so don't expect any plot. The title of this fic was inspired by Tom Odell’s song Another Love, as in ...all my tears have been used up on another love. Also, I'm new to tumblr so be kind >_< thought I'd try this thing out. Cheers~

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.

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There's tentative relief on weary faces for the first time in many months when the monster pandemic hits a perplexing development; being devoured by one's inner demon isn't the end — it's the beginning of an evolutionary process only known to the elusive laws of the universe. Nonetheless, the primal fear of the unknown is still there, lurking in the recess of everyone's minds, even if it's not as paralyzing as it once were when the bizarre outbreaks first started.

Hyunsu stares somberly from the vantage point of a rooftop, or what's left of it really, at the demolished skyline that glitters in the far distance. The once tall, silvery sky-scrapers are now noting but crumbling blocks of pixels — admittedly, his whole damn life feels like a crumbling game at this rate. 

With a heavy chest, Hyunsu closes his eyes on the absurd view. There's no use to mourn what once were. They're way past it, heading into a new era of humanity. And to think that it wasn't a world war nor an atomic nuke that had caused all of this mess, but a freaking curse. So before another peaceful moment gets cruelly taken away from him, Hyunsu leans against the railing, elbows perched atop it, and tips his head up to face the delicate sun, enjoying its lukewarm rays caressing his skin.

It's an early spring. The morning chill still nips at bare cheeks and unclothed fingertips, but right around noon the bleak rays of the burning star, slowly but steadily, manage to warm whatever's left of their collapsing civilization. The natural order of things doesn't stop for anything. Like a sight for sore eyes the wild nature thrives now that there are no humans selfishly plundering its dwindling reserves or polluting its untouched terrains. But all the same, the bustling, green forests with rustling foliage and chirping birds are nothing but a mocking delusion of serenity, covertly hiding nightmare-inducing horrors within.

It's the silence, Hyunsu decides. It's so much worse than the screeches of bloodthirsty monsters and wails of humans on the brink of death, desperately begging for their lives. It's too quiet, too ghostly everywhere. If he ever believed in anything remotely religious, then he's quite sure, that this is how purgatory would look like — a damned place between heaven and hell, nor living or dead, an eternity of anxious uncertainty.

A flicker of motion, a shadow against a sliver of light, catches Hyunsu's attention even through his closed eyelids. Since he's aware that they're in a somewhat secure area, Hyunsu suppresses the sudden sense of urgency zapping through his body and instead opens his eyes slowly, almost lazily to the bleak light. It's Eunyu. He watches then with vague interest as her slim silhouette drifts around the neighboring rooftop, a piece of ingenious engineering that hasn't yet crumbled during the war against humanity.

She has been doing this for a while now. Her human memories coming and going like a fickle tide and when something sticks long enough Eunyu ends up imitating it, steadily, with almost surgical precision going through the motions, cataloging every move and sensation inside her rewired mind.

Eunyu must have felt his stare, as she looks up, eyes grave and bottomless, lips faintly parted. She lowers her arms, letting them hang limply at her sides and gradually, limb by limb, turns her body around. The debris crunches under her worn sneakers.

Eunyu looks detachedly at Hyunsu for a few seconds, face expressionless, and then tilts her head to the side in perfect imitation of curiosity. 

She looks human, and yet—

Ignoring the pinch in his gut, Hyunsu smiles at her gently from afar. He's afraid to break the brittle illusion of normality and overwhelm her with everything he's feeling at the mere sight of her — everything she embodies; a wild force he once thought couldn't be crushed; a frail beginning that shouldn't be possible. And for a moment his mind gets caught between their strange existence, the long ago abandoned dreams that would make no sense in this fucked up world and the recurring everyday nightmares, a goading voice constantly whispering at the back of his mind.

What if? What if they all had died? What if Hyunsu had been the one to kill them?

What if everything is just an illusion inside his head?

Eunyu simply keeps staring at him, waiting, observing. She doesn't understand, can't read the emotions crashing across his face that's smeared with sweat and grime and dust. There are whole cities out there covered in dust — and blood. There's so much blood. Hyunsu can't get rid of it beneath his fingernails. No matter how much he scrubs and scratches at it in echoey bathrooms of abandoned buildings with hysterical sobs bubbling up inside his chest and manic laughter resounding in his ears, it's still there, deeply imbedded into his skin. Some nights he wakes up in cold sweat with a sour, metallic taste in his mouth from choking on gallons of lukewarm blood in his dreams, and needs to remind himself that he's no longer at the research facility, that all of it is over.

There is no government or politics, no military. No rules or even a society. All that's left is grueling survival for those who lived, huddling in the shadow of a new species.

Other nights he can't find his way out of his nightmares.

The forced smile slips slowly off Hyunsu's face. Perhaps it's better to be dead in this world, after all. 

The monster inside of him doesn't disagree.

A chilly breeze chases through the hollow high-rise structure with a faint howl in the prolonged moment that unyieldingly stretches between them, cruelly trapping them in its deafening silence. The wind ruffles through Hyunsu's overgrown bangs, tugging on an edge of Eunyu's plaid skirt — god knows where she managed to scavenge it. With her hair loose and skin free of infected wounds and puckered up, unkind scars, Eunyu looks so much alike the first time he saw her on the roof of Green Home apartments, yet so very different. A bit older. Impersonal. Nothing but a perfect shell of her former self.

A nasty shiver rushes down Hyunsu's spine, prickling uncomfortably at his lower back and he averts his eyes before he crumbles under the weight of her placid gaze, under the painful twist of guilt in his gut.

No matter what, he should've done better. Should've fought harder to protect, to bring the people he cares about back from the brink of madness, before their personalities, their whole souls were sucked into the void.

But not everyone could be saved, and not everyone wanted to.

Hyunsu's shoulders hunch up as he casts his gaze down, blinking back the burn in his eyes, heart racing. He knows. He knows that Eunyu has a long way to go before she can even begin piecing together the broken shards of her lost humanity. She's not a completely lost cause. There are worse; people that can't sate their monstrous sized desire, forever lost in a fever dream; peaceful monsters that are killed ruthlessly before they even get a chance to return. It's just Hyunsu's own fault that he keeps foolishly forgetting about it. Each time their eyes lock he expects to find closely guarded fierceness and a smidge of familiar arrogance, perhaps sorrow imbedded deep within her brown gaze, a flicker of affection, a bit of teenage insecurity and rebelliousness.

However, there's nothing.

Just peace and serenity. No desire. No warmth.

Debris crunches under a pair of heavy booths and there's soon a familiar presence at his side, a cool hand on the curve of his tense shoulder. It's Eunhyuk.

next part >>