#'you can't have that either. you've had too many treats today'

[journey-to-the-attic]

My guess would be that, at least part of, the reason IK throws the stuff is to see how well it would do against a predator. Since throwing solid objects is the main method of defense for a slugcat.

Also, Ik would show up with the rat and the others would probably have to stop her from eating it because of slugcat instincts for survival say "smells like food, is probably food."

And what's that? Levi feels bad about playing Rain World because he dies a bunch?

Sure would be a shame... if he were to find out the lore that makes every single one of those deaths technically canon :)

on her first morning in the devildom ik discovers a carton of eggs in the kitchen, and also discovers that while they are not particularly harmful ammunition, it does make the large loud creatures go "ARGH WHAT THE HELL" when she pelts them with them. even once she trusts them it amuses her so much that she keeps doing it as long as there are eggs in the house

there's a grace period between ik first arriving with the rat and barbatos just withering wherein he just stands there horrified and ik just looks at him innocently like o w o? then BANG he is out cold. while everyone else is panicking about that ik just sloooowly shuffles away (still clutching the rat) and lucifer has another dog-trying-to-eat-something-it-shouldn't moment "NO. PUT THAT DOWN. IT ISN'T FOR YOU"

i feel like he'd have a lot of pet dad moments in general. he'll be making dinner and he has to keep gently shoving ik away like "no. not for you. not good for you." while ik just gives him the biggest saddest pleadingest eyes ever

also oo lore?? (insert that eyes emoji) i can't find a good concise explanation of it but it conjures the image of levi with his head on the table just in tears "your story's so saaad" meanwhile ik is idly pawing at his headphone wire, hoping that this time he will let her eat the aquarium gravel

[mellowwillowy]

Yan! Boyfriend x GN Reader

—𝒀𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒐𝒃𝒆𝒓 - 𝑳𝑰𝒇𝑬 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 , NSFW

Yan! Boyfriend who you thought to be a golden retriever only to have him turn into a Doberman the moment you are away from him.

Yan! Boyfriend who is the "all 5 love language combo" for you and you only!

Act of service? Fun, especially when his head is buried into your crotch. That aside, yes he does all those sweet ass stuffs. Anything you think of, he has done it, even to the very most downbad shit you could think of.

Physical touch? PDA if you are into that, else either a hand around your thigh, squeezing them with love or shit ton of pecks.

Words of affection? 'My love looks so gorgeous as usual! What a refined beauty my love is, no wonder I can't stop falling head over heels for you!' And you were on the bed with bad hair, drooling on your pillow.

Gifting? How many gifts have you received today from him? Starting from something little to something large? The most surprising would be him coming home with a pet for you.

"Ta-daaa! You've been saying you want a pet so I think you will like this!"

Quality time? Not a problem for him. He has a lot of time for you. Hm? Work? Better not question him further about it. All that matters is that it's enough to give the two of you more than enough, even allowing the two of you to laze around. (Unlike Yan! Lawyer Husband and Yan! Antagonist who barely has any time for darling pfft-)

Yan! Boyfriend who is practically on his knees like a dog waiting for his treat when you are about to do something ✨️ r o m a n t i c a l ✨️ on him. Say who's a good boy and you could have sworn you saw his non-existent tail wagging excitedly.

"Who's a good boy hm? Who's a gooood boy??"

"Me! Blue! Blue is a good boy!"

Well, at least he is now because he wasn't when you first met him. He's changed a lot just for you, didn't want to disappoint you the next time you see him.

Yan! Boyfriend is the guy who you can really depend on for everything. Financially? Yes. Wanna beat the fuck out of someone? Call him and that person will have a taste of all the martial arts he has learned back then, not to mention he was quite the delinquent back then. Mentally? Yes. He's always there for you, either making it worse or better.

Yan! Boyfriend who likes to show you off to his friends and co-workers so much as though you are his prized possession. The hand that never leaves your waist and the dagger he shot at the people who stared at you for a bit too long are threatening enough to scare them away. Will definitely have a separate chat with them later,

"The fuck you are looking at my love for hm?"

Ignore how their nose is red and bleeding okay? If only Blue was able to do more, he would have had his fist buried into their face even more and harder like in the good ol' days. Has no choice but to be good else someone might rat to you about his behavior again.

Yan! Boyfriend who really likes to sleep on your lap, being able to feel you this close just makes him feel all giddy like a teenager in love. Would litter kisses and licks if you are not wearing anything that covers your thighs.

Yan! Boyfriend who will almost have the same taste in music as yours because he's just like that. Sucking in everything about you and ends up liking it.

Yan! Boyfriend who will vibe with you nonstop. If you are the crack type person, he will just be as crack as you, making people think whether the two of you are high in crack or not. Will always make you feel like it's okay to do anything you want without having to be embarrassed. Too shy to sing? Well, watch him scream his lungs out (Lemon and Grape chilling with ear muffs) and his hand motioning you tag along.

"BABY WON'T YOU LOOOOVEEE MEEEE"

"What do you say we gag him up with the mic?"

"Great, I'll hold him by the neck."

Yan! Boyfriend who really loves watching you sleep. No, he's not a somnophilic bastard like Yulian. He just adores seeing you resting so peacefully. (while Eleanor panicking over darling sleeping)

Yan! Boyfriend who enjoys cooking breakfast for you. You'll wake up greeted with him standing by the kitchen or sitting by the dining table waiting for you to wake up. Hm? If the food has gone cold because you woke up late, he'll just reheat it. Nothing biggie so no need to feel bad about it ^^

Yan! Boyfriend who is always keeping his mental state in check just in case it cracks open the ugly side of him again. He's embarrassed of it yet he is grateful for it because it brought the two of you to meet. Just staying next to you is enough to keep him sane so try not to stray too far from him okay? He might really snap again and the place you once called home might be nothing but ruins.

"Love you... dear."

Yan! Boyfriend who hates being away from you! If his work suddenly requires him to be somewhere away from you, he will bring you along with him! (I might make a chart of the difference for all the LIfE Pro casts)

"Almost feels like a vacation eh? Let's visit this place once I'm done with work love!"

Although he always brings you along, there are times when he'll have to leave you with Lemon or Grape, either asking them to stay with you or you stay over their place.

"Try not to dent his sport car again yeah? He was yapping at me for hours ahaha! I will ask Grape to watch over you as well, she'll do well as your nanny. Hm? Not a little kid anymore? Oh no no, better be safe than sorry. Don't want those nasty ghosts keeping you awake during the night yeah?"

Afternote:

Blue is my second favorite! Yulian has always been the first so no one sees Blue that much... he's just so sweet... although the story he shares with Eleanor tangles everything up...

[periprose]

Hi! :)

I’m craving some Logan Howlett angsty fluff and I really like your writing style… Do you think you could maybe do a fic where either Logan and reader are in the heat of the moment and his claws come out and he scratches her. Or where Logan has a nightmare and the same thing happens. Either way the reader ends up comforting him.

Thank you! 🩷 :)

Hi!! So sorry for getting to this so late 🥹 loved the idea btw :) ended up doing a bit of a mix of both? If that makes sense.

/

"Out with it."

Your voice rings out clearly among the X-Men, the throng of battle no longer around you all. It was a more exhausting battle than you would've thought, but nothing irks you more than knowing that Logan has been apparently thinking of you as someone to play babysitter to. He hadn't trusted you to make your final blow to the enemy, and instead scooped you away to safety before lashing out with his own claws.

Logan clearly has something to say to you, and you want to hear it. You're not going to let him escape again- the way he always does, nonchalantly, refusing to acknowledge how he treats you.

Charles stiffens next to you in the helicarrier. Watching the tension, feeling the palpable heart-wrenching sensation between you and Logan. He doesn't know how you got to this point.

"Listen. Just because you didn't have it doesn't mean you're not a good X-Man-" Logan starts dismissively.

"But I did! I did have it!" You shout back at him, and then inhale carefully. "Nobody told you to rescue me, Logan. If I was about to die, then I was. I wanted that to be on my own terms."

"Don't talk like you're a fucking martyr when you've never had the privilege, kid." Logan's unnecessarily harsh tone has you flinching. "Do you know how many people I've seen die, for no good reason? Do you really want a bunch of Pentagon psychos to be your last memory?"

"Shut up." You shift in your seat, feeling small. "We don't get to choose when we die. Not like you."

Logan becomes visibly angered with that, the little taunt you've made towards his immortality. "That doesn't mean you have to go seek it out, dumbass."

"Oh really? Don't tell me you're getting soft, Logan." You glare at him, and Charles and Jean and Scott look at each other uncertainly. "Just because your life is so long doesn't mean the rest of us have forgotten what it means to be alive."

There's an unspoken, sudden charge in the air, now that you've mentioned what everyone else has the good sense to shut up about- Logan having lived so long and not caring about the consequences of his actions. Logan's eyes narrow until you feel sure that you've pushed him too far this time- he looks more animal than human, more Wolverine than ever- and you feel yourself inching forward, letting the anger of not being understood push you to fighting him- and Charles suddenly raises his hand in protest.

"Please, you two. I'm not sure what has transpired today, but I know you are better than choosing to have a physical altercation on a helicarrier flight." His calm, soothing tone makes you feel a little disappointed in yourself, and you settle back in your seat, refusing to meet his or Jean's glances of concern.

/

All you really wanted was an apology. A "Sorry, I won't do that again." Or even an explanation for why Logan keeps tabs on you all the time, never letting you be a real part of the X-Men, always safely on the sidelines. Were you just too weak?

Should you even be here?

You feel guilty for what you said to him. It's not a bad thing, you know, that Logan doesn't want you to get hurt- it's just that you want to do your job. You're not a kid.

It almost, almost justifies how you treated him, but even you know that was too far. You can't act as if you know Logan's life story- not even Charles or Jean would claim to do that, and they've searched his mind for memories several times.

Like it or not, the man was mysterious. He kept to himself on a lot of things, citing past hurt as his reason why- and you should've respected that.

"Maybe I am weak." You mutter to yourself, wondering why you can't restrain your emotions around Logan.

You're practicing shooting small, psionic blasts towards the target in your room- it's a great way to pass the time when you can't sleep- when you hear a groan, a shudder, an angry, deep growl-

It sounds like Logan. His room is right above yours, and the sounds are definitely coming from there- you hear him yell, and before you can stop yourself, you're bounding up the stairs to the third floor of the X-Mansion, bursting through his room's door with a ready hand, in case you need to fight.

/

Logan watches as you berate him in his dream.

Actually, it's not quite you- it's some venomous, evil, witch wearing your face. You giggle at him- you call him old- you don't take him seriously.

With every taunt, you fire another bright purple blast at him- and for once, his body doesn't heal instantaneously. He is getting old, getting hurt, watching as blood pools out of him. It's agonizingly painful.

He's going to die this time, without making it right with you- he's afraid that you're right about him, that he's a washed up sad old man who can't ever let people in.

"We don't need you anymore, Logan..." The not-you whispers softly, smiling a smile that doesn't quite reach your eyes, and Logan can't help but believe it.

His self preservation instincts kick in, and he launches forward, snarling, claws out with a sharp snikt sound. He feels that even though he'll regret your death, he'll miss you immensely, it's just one more tally mark to several others.

/

"Logan. Logan!"

You're leaning over Logan's sweaty, clammy body in his bed. You watch as his hands fist in the sheets, and he tosses and turns in agony- you breathe in hesitation, in fear that he's not going to be okay- he grunts suddenly, and you're reminded of how Rogue tells you about his nightmares. They're frequent.

How out of touch could you have been today?

You gently-yet-firmly grab Logan's arm, shaking, and his arms move forward in a self-defense mechanism that seems practiced, as if he's been attacked in his sleep before, and before you can move away, there's a sharp snikt sound, a quick wave of claws, and a searing pain in your side.

It all happens before you can even blink. You fall off to the side, on the floor, writhing in pain. Logan's claws just nicked your side, it's essentially a scratch- but the pain is so much worse than you're expecting, and you fall to the floor again as you try to get up.

You breathe in harshly, holding back a sob, as you feel wet blood pooling through the side of your night dress.

"Jesus Christ." Logan pounces off the bed, waking to blood all over his claws, and he's leaning over your body, as you blink up at him hesitantly. He immediately panics, lifting you up and resting you on his squatted thighs. "Kid! Hey, kid, don't close your eyes-"

"..." You're just barely hanging on, but you listen.

And Logan feels that same sense of shame he felt when he attacked Rogue, when Jean "died", every single time he had accidentally unsheathed his claws towards someone who didn't deserve it.

Doubly so, considering it's like his terrible nightmare has come to life. But you absolutely didn't do anything wrong- he can't believe he was so angry with you.

He calls for help, in a slightly broken tone, and no one seems to be coming.

"Just a scratch." You try, but Logan shakes his head.

"No, no, no." Logan spits out. "How could I- I never meant to-"

"I'm sorry, Logan." You cough, and Logan feels awful that you're apologizing while bleeding out due to his actions. "I shouldn't have said what I said. You're not some unreliable old man who doesn't care..."

You flinch at a sudden, sharp pain, and Logan motions for you to stop talking, but you keep going.

"If anything, you're the opposite. You're there for me. And I'm sorry that I got so... so angry at you for that." You mutter to yourself, not aware of how Logan hangs onto your words. "You're protecting me from making mistakes, and I'm grateful."

"No, kid. You had a point before." Logan interjects, but you shake your head.

"Did I? Or was I being a brat?" You grimace at yourself.

"You did have a point. I was being selfish," Logan shakes his head and then swallows that urge to push you away. "I don't always know how to leave people well enough alone. Sometimes I'm too much."

He hesitates, and then continues on. "Like, I treat you as if you're a nuisance, right? But I always... I always want you next to me. And I know I should just sort my shit out like an adult. But I'm scared."

"Scared?"

"Of what happens. What always happens." Logan sighs in defeat. "I fall in love, and they die. I find my people, and they leave me because I'm such a jackass. There's too much surrounding me that just... ruins everything."

"No, no. I won't leave." You tighten your hand around Logan's, and he, despite wanting to say that you're wounded because of him, believes you. He's so grateful to hear you say it- he had no idea that's what was weighing on him so badly.

He loves you, he knows he does. Logan has never been the best with feelings, but for once, he's glad he was honest.

The first thing Scott sees when he finally makes his way to Logan's room, from all the way across the X-Mansion, is Logan whispering "I'm sorry," and... he thinks (he's not 100% sure), "I love you," to your very forlorn, softly curved-around-him body.

It's a very tender moment, and Scott feels he should leave.

Then Logan presses a firm, shaky kiss on your forehead, and then your lips, and you, with your limited reserve of energy, kiss him back, and then Scott interjects with:

"Hey!...?"

He seems taken aback as you both look at him. "I heard screaming? What is this, some sort of weird cult sacrificial scenario?"

"Logan... had a... nightmare..." You wince, and Scott sees the red on your night gown. "I need... medical attention."

"On it." Scott glances at Logan for permission, and he's currently trying to push all these mushy feelings back into his chest where they belong, and he wants to be there to help you in the clinic, but he's flustered with everything that's happened and he can only hand you to Scott without looking at him.

Scott smirks to himself as he runs you to the clinic of the X-Mansion.

"You and Logan, huh? I knew there was something in that fight today." Scott remarks as you cling to him.

"It's taken an embarrassingly long time for me to figure it out, but yeah." You blush. "Has everyone else...?"

"Jean's been running a bet for the last year." Scott laughs. "She says you both are two sides of the same coin."

You can't help but agree.

[spriteofmushrooms]

Wei Wuxian sipped the wine Lan Zhan brought from Gusu in one of Jinlin Tai's many ostentatious peony gardens. He had found a branch in a ginkgo tree that was high enough that no one should see him at a glance where he still had a good view of the moon between the yellow leaves. It wasn't the worst way he could have spent his time at the Discussion Conference. Lan Zhan, for example, had to be xiandu. What could possibly be worse than that?

"Jin Ling, what's the matter now?"

Wei Wuxian rolled his eyes. Really, Jiang Cheng is such a wronged mother. He plays his part like a grand madam.

"Do you think Zizhen-ge is a better sect leader than I am?" Jin Ling hissed.

"What?" Wei Wuxian looked down. Through the branches, he could see Jiang Cheng's silver lotus guan glimmer with his head shake. "Where did you get that from? A-Ling, sit and explain."

"You complimented him in front of everyone," Jin Ling grumbled, but he flounced onto the bench.

Jiang Cheng folded himself gracefully, careful of the drape of his robes. "It's his first conference. All I did was walk him through presenting himself, like a junior should be treated."

"You liked his proposal."

"You like it, too, brat. Besides, a little support in the beginning keeps the old men at bay."

Jin Ling knocked his shoulder against Jiang Cheng's. "So it's not because you always wanted a poet for a nephew?"

Wei Wuxian couldn't see it, but he could imagine Jiang Cheng's face. But when Jiang Cheng spoke, it didn't match the tone he expected. Sad, but trying to joke. "After the poems Zixuan wrote?"

"A-Die wrote poems?"

Oh, oh, Wei Wuxian wanted to leave.

"Once he became enlightened, he was devout. 'Rain pearls on lotus leaves which bow gracefully/Thoughts of you collect and overwhelm me.' A-jie blushed for weeks." Jiang Cheng sighed. "The Jinlin Tai library should have them all somewhere. Please don't let Ouyang-gongzi read them."

Jin Ling huffed a laugh and threw his arm around Jiang Cheng's shoulder, which is when Wei Wuxian realized Jin Ling was taller and broader now. He hadn't seen them side by side in years. A light breeze stirred the gingko leaves and lifted the scent of peonies.

"Hanguang-jun didn't murder anyone with his eyes today," Jin Ling chirped. "Do you think he's starting to like politics?"

"Don't."

"Jiujiu..."

"He's the xiandu, Jin Ling. What do you think would happen if anyone overheard you disrespect him, especially while hosting the conference?"

Jin Ling groaned and threw his head back dramatically, jostling Jiang Cheng. Briefly, Wei Wuxian amused himself by imagining what Yu-furen would have made of her grandson. Then he gently slapped himself. "You're so boring, jiujiu! It's not like he respects either of us."

Jiang Cheng snapped, "I didn't realize you aspired to be so immature and irresponsible."

Immature? Irresponsible? Jiang Cheng had a lot of nerve! Wei Wuxian would tell him so, but then he would have to admit to hiding in a tree. Jiang Cheng would be so annoying about it, and Wei Wuxian really didn't want to bother!

"Aiya, jiujiu, if I can't complain to you about him, who can I? No one else sees what he's like."

Jiang Cheng leaned against Jin Ling, but then he ruined the picture by saying, "It's good that most people can't tell. If half of the sects ran to Zewu-jun with complaints about his beloved didi, he would leave seclusion before he was ready."

They were quiet for a few moments. Suddenly, Jin Ling burst out, "Do you really not care?"

Jiang Cheng paused. "About?"

"You know I spend time with—him!"

"You're sixteen, Jin Ling. Your memory should be good enough to remember every other time you've poked at this. And use his name; he doesn't actually appear every time you call."

"Wei-qianbei misses you!" Jin Ling grabbed Jiang Cheng's shoulders and started to gently shake him back and forth, but then Jiang Cheng pushed his hands away and stood.

"As you are clearly feeling better, I will leave first," Jiang Cheng hissed.

Jin Ling zipped in front of Jiang Cheng, blocking his path. "Jiujiu, I don't understand you at all! You want to talk to him, and he wants to talk to you. Why are you waiting?"

"He wants to talk to me so much that I learned about his elopement from gossiping disciples? He wants to talk to me so much that he lives in Cloud Recesses, which he hates? He wants to talk to me so much that he ignores Lan Wangji's hand on Bichen every time we meet?" With each question, Jiang Cheng prowled forward, and Jin Ling backed up.

"I don't think he hates Cloud Recesses..."

That's right; Wei Wuxian didn't. Lan Zhan was there, for one thing. And the juniors!

"That's because you don't fucking know him," Jiang Cheng snapped.

"Oh, and you do? When you won't even talk to him?"

"I was his assignment, Jin Ling. He either played with me or starved; he either trained to be the best or lost his position." Jiang Cheng laughed, dark and mean. "Not that I noticed."

"Jiujiu..."

"Let him live the life he wants, Jin Ling. Let me go to bed."

[dazed-and-confused23]

Dear Hearts and Gentle People 18

Summary: Cooper comforts you after the two of you leave Vault 3. There isn't anything he can do to take your memories of that place away, but he sure as hell could try.

Pairings: The Ghoul | Cooper Howard x Female Reader

Warnings: Not many? Hurt/Comfort. Cooper does his best. Drug use and sexual assault are mentioned. Lots of cuddles and crying.

Masterlist

You don't remember how you got out of the Vault, and you don't care to recall how either. You lay in bed in your room at the Atomic Wrangler for three days, recovering from the copious amount of chems that the fiends have shoved into your system. Julie Farkus had told Cooper that she was lucky to be alive and that most women didn't have someone that could save them like he had for you.

Cooper had grit his teeth, lips pulled in a nasty sneer, and told the good doctor that it'd almost been too late, but he was just glad that Julie could help him. Today was the first time that you felt up to more than just sleeping, and the ghoul made sure to be by your side. You sat up, back pressed against the wall, and played with the plate of food in your lap.

"You gonna eat, smoothskin?" He asks and shifts his weight in the stool beside your bed. Cooper's been here for the better part of those three days, only leaving for necessary reasons and never for long. The bounty hunter is dressed down, only his jeans and button-up and boots, and you finally look at him.

You clear your throat, lips pulled in a harsh frown. "Yeah, I will."

Cooper doesn't like the tone you use and sits forward, elbows on his knees, and he stares you down, "Do I need to feed you?"

You scoff at the vauge threat and pierce a piece of steak before popping the morsel in your mouth and slowly chew it. You eye Cooper then swallow, "Happy?"

The ghoul narrows his amber eyes, "Not yet."

He watches your lips purse and look away from him, shoulders slumping and hands going limp. He doesn't expect to see tears growing in your eyes or to watch the way you fold into yourself, lips trembling as a broken apology spills from between your lips.

Cooper rises and takes the plate away from you, setting it to the side so that he can crawl into the bed with you. He sits against the headboard and pulls you back so that you rest between his legs against his chest. You don't bother fighting against him and simply cry a little harder when his hands rub soothing motions across your back.

"Wanna talk about it yet?" Cooper offers quietly. You've not said shit to him about your time in Vault 3. He understood the big picture when he'd arrived down there. His smoothskin had been treated worse than a fucking dog, drugged up and left to wallow in your own filth.

You shake your head. You don't understand how Cooper even wants to touch you right now. You feel disgusting, and the phantom feel of the fiends' hands still haunt you at every second of the day. You want another shower, but hot water was a precious commodity.

"Stop apologizing," Cooper rumbles after a moment, and you snap your mouth shut, unaware that you'd just said everything out loud. His arms tighten around you, and you bask in the strength of the hard planes of his body.

"Nothing those bastards did to you could make me love you any less."

His words only make you sob harder, but you can't help but feel relief at them. Your ghoul loved you and had taken on an entire vault of chem addled cannibals to save you. He had come out on top and dragged your sorry body all the way back to Freeside, snarling and demanding help from the followers.

"Thank you," you say, and press yourself as close to Cooper as you can. You never want to let go, and you never want to see the inside of a vault ever again.

"You're mine, Darlin', "Cooper rumbles and tightens his hold on you, "And nothin' will ever stop me from comin' for you."

*sorry if this one is a little lackluster. I had some trouble with it. ❤️*

[eisdendrobium]

my first and last letter for you.

pairings : childe x reader summary : after getting your heart broken by childe you decides to move away so you wouldn't see him again, and so you wrote him your first and last letter. note : there'll be a bit of childe and reader's past relationship written so i highly recommend you to read/re-read the first part! ^v^ also this hasn't been proofread!

read part 1 here! : where’s my happily ever after?

ajax, how're you doing these past week? finally getting that girlfriend you've been searching for? lumine right? yeah i met her earlier today, and i could say that she's not what i thought she is you know?

i tried to hate her, and i did, i hated her for taking you away from me. you, someone who i found comfort in and you, who i foolishly fell in love with.

i hated every moment i spent seeing you with her, i hate how pathetic i feel watching you with her.

"why would you like her? someone who just entered your live, someone who you barely know?" that was what i thought back then

but i met her today, i saw how beautiful she is inside, and i hate it. how come she's so nice? how come she's so perfect? she's such an angel compared to me.

i understand why you love her ajax, i would too if i were you. i mean how could you not? i've treated her like a disease yet she's still so friendly, so nice, so caring towards me...

a part of me still hates her, a part of me still can't seem to let you go. you were my everything ajax.. you saved me that day when i was in the brink of death, you taught me what love is - what love could be.

and i thought we had something you know? the way you act, the way you talk, and the way you treat me as if i'll break if you did something wrong. You were my savior, you whom i fell in love with.

but i guess you need someone who could comfort you in your dark times too right? i suppose i was never the person to express my feelings.. never was the person who could comfort people..

but what i didn't expect is the fact that you turn cold so fast. how could you ajax? how could you leave me like that? maybe you finally had enough of my antiques? haha..

since you've already know about my feelings towards you before i had the courage to tell you myself i suppose i'll confess everything in this letter hehe :

ajax, the guy who saved my life when i was in the brink of freezing, the guy who warmed my cold heart and showed me what love is, everything we did i store inside of me dearly.

i still remember that day you knelt down and gave me those qixing flowers, that night you saved me- you bought me warm soup and clothes to warm me up, so many things..

perhaps i didn't thanked you enough.. thank you for everything ajax, thank you for saving my life, thank you for helping me survive, for teaching me how to love, for letting me love you.

yet i'm afraid i couldn't stand seeing you with lumine again, i'm afraid if i stayed here longer the ice you melt will freeze again, freezing me from the inside.

you're happy with her, she's perfect for you, and i've come to realize that i'll have to let you go... i can't share ajax, you know that right?

it's either you for me or not at all, and you love her so i wouldn't force you to love me

goodbye childe, may we meet again in brighter future.. please take care of yourself and her for me yeah?

i love you.

signed, your companion [name].

a/n : reblogs are greatly appreciated! and please feel free to comment what you think about this fic ^^

[mysecretlittlelibrary]

can you make one with matt murdock where they're good friends but one night they're drinking and having fun and then the reader kiss him but when they making out he ends up saying someone else name and the reader leaves, later on they talk and reader apologizes for misreading their relationship and continue to be friends but theres tension in it until bradley finally admits that he likes her and he try to make up for all the time lost

~Friends Don't Treat Me Like You Do~

Pairing: Matt Murdock x Reader

Word Count: 3k

Warnings: none really, embarrassment?? Alcohol consumption, mentions of injuries (nothing major)

Genre: mostly fluff very minor angst

Summary: You've had a crush on your friend for a very long time and when you finally make your move it goes terribly wrong; And that's why friends should sleep in other beds // and friends shouldn't kiss me like you do ... // my friends won't love me like you - Friends by Ed Sheeran

A/N: I know it's a typo of some sort but it's sending me to the moon that the name Bradley is jus thrown into this ask cuz I can't even figure out what it's replacing lmaoooo anyway thank you for requesting! I hope you like it anon! :3 (also I didn't edit this plz be nice)

***

Your friendship with Matt Murdock is in some ways rather unconventional. You've been friends for many years, but these days most of your interactions consist of him stumbling over to your apartment at odd hours covered in bruises you don't ask about- not because you don't want to know but because you're pretty certain you've guessed it and you're not sure what acknowledging it would mean. So you don't ask, instead, you give him food, and tend to his wounds, and talk to him about whatever comes to mind until he inevitably falls asleep on your couch for a few hours and sneaks out early enough to go back to his place for his day job as a defense attorney with his two friends. Both of whom you'd consider friends- although not nearly as close as you are with Matt.

Tonight Matt's invited you over to his place. Apparently, he's been feeling a bit guilty that most of the time you've spent together in recent days has been just him coming over in the middle of the night. As if you'd ever actually be annoyed with taking care of your friend. Your friend you feel for more than he can ever know. Still, he insisted you come over for dinner so you did, he ordered your favorite from a takeout place near his place and now you're eating and drinking wine you brought along with you. Well, you're drinking wine, Matt's been helping himself to the beers filling his fridge.

"Whenever you come over I do all that talking Matty so today you can do the talking this time. Tell me what you've been getting up to lately." You tell him once you've covered asking each other how your day was.

"I don't do anything interesting y/n- I go to work, spend all day reading or writing lengthy opening statements or discussing things with Foggy and our clients until ungodly hours according to Karen. Sometimes they drag me out to Josie's but- there's really nothing I 'get up to' and you know that."

"Why do you do that?" You frown.

"What?"

"Make yourself seem so dull when you're not."

"Excuse me?"

"I've known you for a long time Matt and I can't think of single period of our lives where you had nothing interesting going on and yet you always talk about yourself as if you're the color beige personified. It's like you're worried that if people think you're too interesting they'll," you trail for a moment "find out something."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing in particular. You're just way more interesting than you want people to think. For some reason."

"And what about you?"

"What about me?"

"You're not exactly an open book either."

"You got something to ask me about Matty?"

"No." He shakes his head. You stare at him for a long moment.

"We should play a game!" You announce.

"I don't really- have games?" Matt says.

"There are tons of games that don't require having anything Matt we just have to pick one."

"Like what?"

"We can play 20 questions- the right way, last letter first letter, I'm not a fan of Ghost but we can do that too, or word replacement- to name a few."

"I'm- not familiar with those besides 20 questions?"

"Well, last letter first letter you pick a category and we name items except the last letter of one item has to be the first letter of the next one so like if we're naming office supplies and I say stapler you'd say something like ruler. And Ghost is a spelling game, kinda like hot potato meets Horse the basketball game- so like you take turns spelling a word and you don't wanna be the one who finishes the word- if you do then you get a letter from the word ghost- first person to finish ghost loses. And then word replacement is just a silly game where you pick a movie or show title and change one of the words to the silliest thing you can think of." You explain quickly.

"Let's do the title one. Requires the least amount of thinking and I don't have to compete with you." He says.

"Then I'll start. Fast and Constipated." You giggle.

"Fast and Constipated!?" Matt's laugh is incredulous.

"Yeah, fast and furious but not so fun."

"Okay um- John Tucker Must... Juggle."

"That's way less fun than him dying." You laugh.

"True."

"What a Chupacabra wants."

"Goats- obviously."

"Shut up." You giggle.

"Now you- resent me 2."

"Oh that's- why would you say that?" You chuckle.

"I dunno I'm too drunk to think of movies." He mutters.

"All I've got are rom-coms in my head and those titles are not nearly as fun to fuck with. Two weeks- paleontologist?" 

"Paleontologist!? What movie was that even supposed to be?"

"Two weeks notice. Duh."

"I don't think I know that one." He frowns.

"It's about a woman who ends up working as the PA for some rich businessman when she tries to protest something he's trying to build- I forget the details but he turns out to be a giant useless manchild and when he disrupts her personal life for something frivolous she tries to quit but somehow they fall in love or whatever. It's been a while since I've watched it honestly." You shrug.

"Rom-coms are such a curious collection of movies."

"True but that one is pretty average compared to some others I've seen."

"Do you watch a lot of them?"

"I like to laugh at them mostly." You say. "You know what's a weird one? The Notebook."

"Is that not like- a classic?"

"I mean yeah but like the guy gets the girl to go on a date with him by dangling off of a moving ferris wheel."

"And that works?"

"Somehow! I mean I guess she didn't wanna feel responsible for him dropping himself off the wheel in front of an audience but I dunno it seems like he was just looking for reasons to die in that movie." You explain. "Although I never finished that movie maybe he does die. Except then it wouldn't be a rom-com I guess. It would be more tragedy, like in the Shakespearean sense."

"You are always somewhere else." Matt laughs.

"Not always! Oh! I brought that CD you wanted to borrow. We should play it." You sit up suddenly and grab your backpack.

"Are you sure all you've had is that bottle of wine?" Matt asks sitting up slowly from where he's laying on the floor.

"Where's your player?" You ignore his question.

"Should be in the bookcase." He waves absentmindedly.

"Do you want another beer while I'm up?" You ask walking over to the radio to pop the CD.

"Nah. I'm good thanks." He says. Music fills the apartment, and you can't help but sing along to the upbeat tune from Matt's CD player. You dance, well mostly spin, around the apartment giggling as you go.

"Are you dancing?" Matt turns towards you with a smile on his face although you're not looking at him.

"Of course I am- I love this song. Do you wanna dance with me?" You ask walking towards him, still dancing but less now so you can get where you're going.

"No no- I'll leave the dancing to you." Matt says before you make it all the way over to where he's sitting on the floor.

"Suit yourself." You shrug but when you attempt to change directions you trip on your backpack still on the floor and go tumbling towards the ground. Matt moves quicker than you'd expect for a blind guy off several beers but his arms shoot out and yank you towards him before your head hits the hardwood.

"Careful y/n." He says softly as he settles you into his lap.

"Do I need to be if you're here?" You joke smiling at him as you toss your arms over his shoulders.

"Y/n-" Matt's tone is warning in a way only he could get away with using on you.

"Relax Matty, I know to look after myself." You say quietly. Matt frowns slightly as if he's going to protest, but you don't let him get the words out. Alcohol coursing through your system, you seize the opportunity of his closeness and kiss him before you can talk yourself out of it. Matt lets out a noise of surprise, he heard your heart rate spike sure but he couldn't have guessed this was why. His lips move against yours for a second before something catches his attention and he's gasping out a name. Except, it's not your name.

"Karen." He breathes and it reaches your ears like a bucket of ice water dumped on your head. You jerk back suddenly.

"Oh my god-" You say scrambling out of his lap. "I- I am so sorry. I'm gonna go." You grab your bag and b-line it for the exit before Matt can even get to his feet.

"H-hang on a second y/n I-"

"I'll- I'll see you around Matt." You force yourself to say before leaving his apartment. You feel sharper than the amount of wine you've had should allow as you walk the few blocks to your place. Only once you're back in the safety of your own home do you let yourself wallow over how absolutely embarrassing that was. You might have just ruined one of the most important relationships in your life only for him to call out for another girl. You stumble into the shower in hopes of washing away some of the embarrassment you feel, or at the very least distracting yourself enough that you can shelf it and get some sleep. You spend hours tossing and replaying the moment excruciatingly but eventually, exhausting wins out and you do fall asleep. The next couple of days you pretty much ignore Matt's calls and texts. You really bury yourself in work to avoid dwelling on that awful night but you know you can't dodge him forever. Evidently, two days is as much as Matt's willing to give you to do so because on day 3 of avoidance he comes knocking at your door late at night as he sometimes does.

"Look- I know you've been avoiding me and all but-"

"Whatever you're gonna say Matt no need. I'm sorry I overstepped, I- I totally misread things the other night but hey- alcohol will do that sometimes. I'm sorry. We're good though. I'm good. I just needed a minute to lick my wounds of embarrassment. Everything's fine. Come on let's see the damage tonight hm?" You lead him into your apartment ignoring the confused look on his face. You let yourself settle back into your routine with him, patching him up, giving him food, getting him up to speed on the last couple of days of your life, telling stories, and just talking until he falls asleep on your couch. You're determined to shake this stupid crush of yours off and go back to the way things have always been between you. And if you're gonna shake this crush step one is putting yourself out there. Which you do, and for the next few weeks you find yourself on dates almost every night. Tonight's date is going surprisingly well all things considered. He'd planned to take you somewhere that ended up being closed after a freak accident the other day that he didn't know about. It was around the corner from Josie's so you brought him here instead and the conversation has been well worth it- even in a place like this. The one downside is that it's Friday and Foggy and Karen usually drag Matt here for drinks on Friday. You had hoped they'd skip out on that tonight but you of course could only be so lucky. When the bell over the door rings and you turn to see Karen leading Matt into the bar with Foggy behind them you almost want to groan. Dating has been nice but seeing Karen and Matt so close is like picking a scab. You turn back to your date with a smile, intent on ignoring the trio, except of course it couldn't be that simple.

"Oh my gosh! Y/n! Hey!" Karen beams at you.

"Karen! Hi! Foggy, Matt, good to see you all." You smile.

"You didn't tell us you'd be here tonight." She says.

"Well I didn't plan on it otherwise of course I'd have let you know." You tell her. "James this is Karen and that's Foggy and Matt. They're friends of mine. They all work together we've- kind of crashed their spot tonight." You tell your date.

"Oh! Well, any friend of yours is a friend of mine. Nice to meet y'all." James shakes each of their hands. "Did you guys- wanna join us? Since it's pretty crowded in here you might not find another table."

"That's so nice of you James!" Karen says. Very nice indeed.

"I'll track down some chairs." Foggy says. You shift your seat closer to James to make room at the table since apparently they'll be joining you. You try not to pay too much attention to Matt's silence as everyone settles around the table.

"So y/n, you told James how we know you but you didn't mention how you know James. Are you guys work colleagues or something?"

"We have a mutual friend that set us up." James offers.

"Oh my gosh! We're crashing a date?! Why didn't you say so?" Karen shakes her head.

"No no no don't even worry about it, we've been here a couple of hours already. I invited you to sit with us so the night could go on." He says.

"Asking me, also would have worked." You smile.

"You guys are just the cutest." Karen sighs.

"I'm guessing this is a first date since- y/n's never mentioned you before." Matt says.

"It is. Not that I have to tell you about every guy I see." You say.

"You tell me everything." He scoffs.

"That's not true and even if it were that doesn't change the fact that I don't have to."

"So you keep things from me?"

"Am I missing something?" James chuckles.

"Matt and y/n have been friends since they were teenagers. They fight like they're siblings sometimes." Foggy explains.

"Sorry about that James. Matt's just-"

"Like a brother- I get it. I have siblings so I definitely know what it's like." He nods.

"Exactly." You smile.

"Like a brother." Matt quirks an eyebrow at you.

"As good a way as any to describe us." You nod. Matt hums and raises his glass to his lips without another word. The five of you sit and talk over drinks for another hour before you're ready to leave and James is happy to walk you out.

"I had a lot of fun tonight." He tells you.

"Even with the date crashers?" You ask with a goofy grimace.

"Heck yeah! Your friends are great." He laughs. "Next time I'll have my friends crash us. How about that?"

"Next time?"

"If you're willing. I'd really like to see you again."

"I- I'd like that." You nod.

"Cool. I'll- start coming up with second date ideas."

"Hopefully this time the place you pick doesn't impromptu have an incident." You laugh.

"I will quadruple check." He tells you. When you reach your block, but not your building, you stop and turn to him.

"Sounds good. I'll see you around James." You smile. He leans forward and kisses your cheek softly.

"Goodnight y/n." He says and walks away. You make it up to your apartment, kick off your shoes, and take a long shower. You enjoyed talking to James and you actually are interested in seeing him again for sure. Soon you're showered and pajamaed and pretty much ready for bed but before you can flop into it there's a knock at your door. Who could be knocking on your door right now? A quick check shows you it's Matt standing in your hallway.

"Matthew?" You open the door with a frown.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Well- right now I'm wondering what you're doing in my apartment."

"Like a brother to you?! Seriously? Last time I checked most people don't make out with their brothers."

"Depends on where you are I suppose." You shrug. "But regardless Matt that was a mistake we both know that." You shake your head.

"A mistake? Is that how you feel about it?"

"How I- I'm sorry did you forget calling out Karen's name while I was kissing you?! Cuz I've been trying to so if you've got tips to share on how that'd be great."

"Goddammit y/n." He sighs dropping his head.

"Matt you really should go. I know you worry or whatever but- James is, nice and it's late I'd like to go to bed."

"Screw James." Matt scoffs.

"Um- it was only our first date- you're skipping a few steps."

"That is not what I- it's like you do this on purpose."

"What are you doing here Matt?" You sigh. 

"I don't like you dating him. I don't like you dating anyone for that matter. How could you kiss me like that and just... move on like nothing?"

"I dunno it's pretty easy when you call me the wrong name." You say.

"That was not what you think."

"I'm sure."

"It wasn't y/n. I'm serious. I could-" Matt stops and lets out a breath. "I'm Daredevil." He says.

"I know." You nod.

"What? You know?"

"You come in here at the witching hour every few days covered in bruises Matt how many explanations could there possibly be for that?" You roll your eyes.

"You never asked."

"I figured you'd tell me when you were ready." You shrug. "Why tell me now?"

"Since I can't see- my other senses make up for the loss. They're like- very developed. I heard Karen scream somewhere in Hell's Kitchen, she sounded like she was in trouble that's- that's why I called out her name. I thought maybe one of Daredevil's many enemies managed to connect her to me. It wouldn't be the first time, I'm always listening for her and Foggy these days and I just-"

"Well was she in danger?" You ask.

"Nightmare." He mutters. "But by the time I pieced that together you were gone."

"Of course I was. Having a man say someone else's name when you kiss him is not something that encourages-" Matt cuts off your snarky remark by cupping your face in his hands and kissing you. You react quickly, kissing him back, your hands wrapping around his wrists. By the time you pull away from him, you're breathing heavily.

"I'm in love with you. I have been for as long as I can remember. I'm sorry I wasn't clear about it." He says.

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"Well in my defense I've spent the last few weeks trying to get over you-" Matt kisses you again, hard, possessive, fiery.

"Don't." He says.

"Obviously." You grab the collar of his shirt and kiss him again. You spent years thinking you'd never get to kiss him, now that you know the truth you fully intend to take advantage and Matt has years of pining he wants to make up for.

***

[sports-on-sundays]

can you plssss make a part 3 for arguments w Marc guiu plsssss😭

arguments / Marc Guiu / Part 3

Summary: Marc x female!reader - The writing is on the wall, and you don't know if there's a way to change this. Or if you even want to.

Author's Note: I'm a sucker for happy endings✌️✌️✌️Link to Part 1 Link to Part 2

Requested?: Yes

For a guy that you hate, that hurt you, that you never, ever want to see again, you think about him an awful lot.

Gavi thinks you messed up. That you're in the wrong, too. That it was a two-way street.

Well, what does Gavi know?

You're not sure, but in the past, it figures, most of the time, he's right.

And ever since you saw Marc...

He looked broken up. Not the handsome, upbeat, encouraging Marc who you just had one too many nasty arguments with. He wasn't even Marc at all. He was empty. Anxiety and confusion radiated off of him.

And the more you think about that, the more it makes you feel guilty.

Maybe Gavi is right. Maybe you weren't being a good girlfriend. Maybe Marc only lashed out, which was wrong, at you because you weren't treating him correctly.

Perhaps he was a bit too jealous, but maybe you weren't giving him enough attention.

You sigh. You would've just let it go, but after seeing Marc? Now you've begun to feel guilty yourself.

Maybe you should just try to have a conversation with him, like Gavi said.

"Man, this isn't doing any good, is it?" Héctor sighs. He's hanging out with Marc, going for a stroll, but Marc hasn't opened his mouth once, and his eyes remain trained on the sidewalk they're walking on.

Finally, the eighteen-year-old looks up at his friend. "What isn't?" he speaks.

"You're devastated over her. You can't keep going on like this. You've got to find a way out. I miss you."

"I'm right here..." Marc begins.

"I miss the old Marc. Come on."

Marc's jaw clenches. "I just got to get over it. I'm working on it, okay?"

"You're working on it, but it hasn't been working, has it?"

Marc exhales slowly, with no answer to his friend but, "I'm trying. Trust me, I don't like me like this either."

"Maybe there is a solution, though, and you're just not seeing it."

"That's nice," Marc snorts. "Doesn't help if I'm not seeing it."

But Héctor flashes a grin at his friend. "But what if I'm seeing it?"

Marc rolls his eyes, and just the smallest hint of a smile creeps up on his lips. "Well, what are you seeing?"

But then the younger male grows more serious again as he says, "You should just talk to her."

"I- no-!" Marc says, eyes wide and eyebrows exasperated.

"Man- just hear me out, okay?! I know you're terrified of doing that for some reason. For some reason, you're terrified of her. What, because of your regret? You're scared of what she'll say? If you want to fix it, you've got to overcome it. Just talk to her. Get it straight. Make sure you both understood why it ended. Building up to it, I'm sure your head will be spinning, but afterwards, I know you'll feel more relief. Y/n isn't a bad person. She'll hear you out, as long as it's a conversation, and not an argument. I'm sure of it."

Marc stares ahead. Just his friend's words cause him low-grade anxiety, but he slowly nods. "I'll... I'll think about it."

When he thought about it, Marc decided on an adamant 'no.' But today, when he looks up to see you walking towards him, down the hall, after he's washed up after training, chattering with Pedri and Gavi, his emotions flare up, and he acts on a whim.

He reaches out from the doorway to grasp your arm. You look up in surprise, stopping mid-sentence, as you rest your eyes on your ex.

"Y/n," he gasps.

Your breath gets caught in your throat.

"Can we- can we talk?"

Immediately, Gavi says, "Me and Pedri have got to get going. Catch you later!" and the two skitter away.

Great. Now you're all alone.

"Sure..." you sigh.

And then Marc starts rambling. "I'm so sorry for being so controlling. I can't stand this heartache any longer and I need you to know how much I miss you and I feel bad and I know I ruined it all and... I just want you for myself but that wasn't fair... I shouldn't have yelled at you... I shouldn't have gotten so worked up. I should have let you do your own thing and-" Suddenly, his voice cracks, and you see his eyes begin to water. "I can't think... I feel so bad, I've been nothing like myself... I was so anxious to even talk to you... I don't want to upset you... I just want you to know I'm sorry, and that I see what I did wrong and I- I want to fix it."

You let out a shaky sigh as your caring emotions for him that you pushed out begin to flood back in. You hastily wipe a stray tear rolling down his cheek. "Oh, Marc," you whisper. "Get yourself together."

"I'm sorry..." his voice cracks higher.

You sigh again. "It's okay... But you expect me to let you fix it now, then?"

His Adam's apple bobs as he gulps.

"Well, first, I want to apologize, too," you begin.

"No, no, you didn't do anything wr-"

"I think I did," you cut in with a huff. "Though I don't like how harsh you could be, and how jealous you could act, in some respects, you were right. If I'm going to date someone, I can't be hanging out with my male friends more than the guy I'm actually dating. And out of all the guys I know, you're the only one I'd want to date."

He inhales sharply at that. "So, you...?"

"I'll work on change, as long as you do, too."

He swallows. "Of course. I've had hours of lying in bed going insane over this."

You nod and take both his hands in his. "Maybe we can try this again, then? Yeah? I can't stand to see you like this any longer."

It's like a huge weight is lifted off his shoulders as he gasps and immediately wraps you in the biggest bear hug you've ever experienced. "Yeah," he whispers softly, close to your ear. "I'd love that."

[heartfullofleeches]

imagine you're just a funny lil imp who does your devilish deeds in a pretty small sphere, just making humans stumble and getting them to drop their coffee or something. it's all you can bring yourself to do, and it's not like you're a renowned imp (or want to become one, either).

since you're not particularly strong, you try to avoid ever getting in contact with any of the high level demons or so, they seem too scary and dangerous after all. except once you happen to meet gemi[ni], thinking them to be a normal demon considering how down to earth they are, you become little pals of sorts, telling them all about the human world and the silly pranks you do. well, once you find out their true identity, you just feel so embarrassed for treating them so casually, you just can't bring yourself to ever see them again, at least for the next one thousand years or so at that.

how would gemi[ni] react?

Shit- How could you make such a careless mistake?

Your friendship began due to a single, faithful accident. One event that could've easily been avoided - had it not been for a mischievous little imp who had yet to get their daily fix of humanly woes.

For a while, you had taken up shop in a shopping center somewhere out in a decently sized city. A wide, open space with plenty of stores and alleys for you to reck havoc in. On that day, your shop of choice happened to be a little comic store huttled in the corner of the mall. You had been the cause of multiple people quitting and the ban of general displays after you knocked them over one to many times, but today you had your eyes on the customers - one in particular to be more precise.

"What do you mean you don't have it?'

You snitch from behind the cash register as the patron in question slams their fist on the table. The cashier flinches in response as they lean in, teeth bared in a snarl.

"I preorder that figure the day it was announced- and you sold it to someone else?!"

You cover your hands over your mouth to prevent yourself from bursting out in laughter, despite the fact that no one could hear you. You thought nothing of this specific person at first. If you got to them, you got to them, but upon hearing them shouting in rage at the cashier you couldn't pass up the opportunity to suck up their misfortune. You weren't even sure what was going on for the most part other than something they wanted was out of stock. It would be such a shame if what they had got happened to get mixed up with another patron's items.

"I'm really sorry about this-" The cashier replies. "we can give you a discount for what you've picked out today."

The customer sighs. "Fine. You're a bunch of incompetent bastards, but I'll take what I can get."

While they pay, you reach into the bag on the counter, and swap its contents with the one to their left. Snickering to yourself, you slip out the front door onto the next location. Sometimes the idea of the reaction was better than seeing the real thing, and the you didn't know how long it would take so it was best not to waste your time when you could pull off more hits.

"Hey!"

You don't even turn when your hear a shout. It wasn't like humans could see you, so you were the most unlikely suspect.

A rock hits the ground by your feet.

"I'm talking to you, shrimp."

Fearing the worse, you glance back; locking eyes with the ill-tempered customer. No further conformation needed, you book it; speeding off down the street before they take their first step. You dart into the nearest all, knocking into a few trash cans as you come to a halt. You peak around the corner. With the crowded streets and how fast you were going, they should be far behind and soon a thing of the-

"Nice try."

Spinning on your heels, the previously bumped into cans go flying to the ground as you jump ten feet in the air. The customer stands behind you, tapping their heel against the dirt as they check their nails.

"Took you long enough. I was starting to get bored." They grab you by your shirt collar. "Normally, I'd have squished a bug like you by now, but..."

You squirm under the sharpness of their finger as it drags across your face. It's been so long since you've met another demon that you had completely forgotten your own kinds' scent. You thought they were a little off, but never in a million years did you think they were like you. Given their stature, they had to have some power, but the weakness of their scent led you to believe they weren't that much higher on the class scale than you.

"...this isn't a normal situation." They flick you in the forehead before letting you go as they smirk. "Your little prank let to me getting what I really wanted and seeing the joy you got from it sparked some interest. My other half always tells me I need to interact more with this world, along with people in general- and I believe you'll be the perfect one to help by out."

You swallow your breath. "Do I have a choice?"

They laugh. "You're a class act already. "

-

And thus began your budding relationship. At first it was just retailing your greatest pranks over desserts, but soon they joined you on your ventures as well. Nothing too crazy, but the occasion push or shove. To make things far, they told you about the hobbies they fancied as well. From video games to comics, they had a vast knowledge on human media, but not so much their people. You would soon find out your new companion's name was Gemi. It rings some bells, but not loud enough for you to recall where you heard the name before.

As much fun as you were having, you started to notice something off from time to time. At random intervals, their brass, and bold persona would be switched for a more timid, antsy one. They also refused to take your hand, despite literally carrying you from danger in the space. Regardless of the personality, they began to grow more hostile to those around when you both took humanly forms. It was unlike anything you had seen with the demon before, but since they were still your loyal friend you had no complaints.

That was- until the day you found out their true face.

-

You were at a cafe they enjoyed, having just ordered your treats, when you come to find that yours came with a phone number on the bag. Finding it humorous/an opportunity for a new target, you show it off to Gemi with a laugh.

"Hey Jimmy, check it out. I think that cashier wrote his number on here. Funny, right?"

Instead of a finding it funny, Gemi goes quiet. They stay as such the whole time, taking occasional glances at the counter. As someone walks from the back, they excuse themselves while you finish your snack. With them still gone by the time you finished, you get up to look for them. Entering the unlocked bathroom, you find them standing in front of one of the mirrows - and a body in their arms.

"Are you sure about this, my lord?"

Instead of their reflection, the mirror shows a portal to a room with white walls. A shadowy figure stands patiently before them, arms outstretched despite their query. Gemi scowls as they shove the limp human in their arms.

"Yes, but if you really need the both of us to answer- Gemini is the one who suggested this." Their eyes soften as they continue. "I did not! All I said was maybe he needed to take a short- long-term vacation until we had more time to win them over. Ceres will be on our wings if she finds out about this."

"Be quiet- it's my turn today, so you can't speak unless I give you the say so."

The recollection their name comes crashing back to you. The twin Devils, Gemi and Gemini. Combined souls and a third of the fallen ruler of the underworld. Fear creeps up your chest as you realize you've been buddy buddy with one of the most powerful beings in your realm. What did they want with an imp like you? Did they truly value or friendship, or were they only looking to past the time until something better came along? Would they get rid of you after that like the mortal? Maybe you were the one they were win or- and they wanted you to be their pet. You didn't know what was going to be the outcome and you didn't want to find out.

-

Slipping away beneath the veil of the crowd, you avoided the pair from that day forth. They attempted to contact on the phone you stole a week back, but you chucked it in the streets at the first call. You saw them from time to time in the plaza, but fled before they could spot you. You heard people speaking of a stranger who would demand information on someone with your general appearance, who'd suddenly burst into tears along way through. There was a spot in your heart that missed them, but you valued your safety more.

After a month long hiatus, you were getting back into the groove of pulling your devious tricks. You moved across town to a much smaller, but decently populated area. While going after your next victim, tearing a hole in the plastic bag they caring, you feel the urge to follow them until they noticed. Your venture leads you to an empty street, and you only notice something is off whem the lights start to flicker. The human turns to you. You recognize him.

"I'm sorry.."

As he runs off, a large figure descends from its perch atop a light fixture. They're in their true form, standing over you at over three meters tall. They snatch your arm with the talons of their winged limb; their dozens of eyes full of rage - and grief.

"Where have you been." Gemi hisses. "We both you got hurt. We thought you were dead."

"Please don't kill me!"

Their grimace falls. "Hurt you? Why would we do that?"

"Because I ran. I know I shouldn't have, but I.. I don't want to be your servant!"

Gemi starts at you deadpanned. Their lips slowly curl into a shaky smile as they break out into a full belly laugh. They left you go as they wipe a tear from their eye; face shifting at their other half takes control. You feel the urge to run now that you're free, but something tells you, you shouldn't."

"Oh, Y/...I-.. We'd never see you as below us." Gemi takes the wheel once more. "We love you, you adorable fool. Give our.. condition, we don't agree on much, but we are certain that you are our destined partner. I do tend to have a temper... and steer away from romance so we had trouble pursuing you.

Gemi grabs you with their second pair of limbs, each face taking their turn to kiss your cheeks as they wrap their wings around your smaller frame.

"You are ours, and as ours- you are our equal. We hate to do this, but due to you running away we cannot let you out of our sight again. We promise your punishment will be most pleasurable, before we get started on the wedding plans the following eve."

[sunshine-overload]

[BSTS] Main Story Season 5 Finale ‘Owner’s Order’ - Part 2

Part 1

Chapter 6

-voice training room-

maica: Sigh…

zakuro: My oh my, what a heavy sigh that was. Your throat doesn't hurt does it?

maica: Too bad for you, but my throat is feeling just fine. I need to make sure my voice is in flawless condition for my match against you.

zakuro: It's an honour to be treated as a worthy opponent. However now I’m all the more curious about that heavy sigh. Is something on your mind perhaps?

maica: Not really. The show does sound interesting. I was just thinking that all of this is a bit ridiculous, I can't understand the reasoning behind it. When you actually think about it, this versus is just them having a disagreement, isn’t it?

zakuro: Oh my, you really just lumped both the current and past owner together like that.

maica: So what if I did? This competition is between them, it has nothing to do with us.

zakuro: That may be so, but it also may not be.

maica: Oh really now? Well whatever. All I need to do is sing either way. So, how is your side fairing? Doing well? Our team has been ok I guess.

zakuro: Nothing much has happened on this side either. Our current owner hasn't said much of anything to us.

maica: Same here. But well, I guess Iwami-san has always been that way. Have I told you about when I first joined Starless before?

zakuro: I remember hearing that you got permission from Iwami-san to join the old Starless before it had relocated. Is he the same as he was back then?

maica: Mm, I’m not sure. But he was definitely just as nonchalant back then. When I first met him I was just a regular customer. And then not long after that I heard he'd up and disappeared.

zakuro: After he’d told you to join? My, well that's quite…

maica: Irresponsible, right? I think so too.

zakuro: And now quite some time after his sudden return, he's challenged the current owner to a versus.

maica: See, when you say it all together like that it's weird isn't it? Like, why did he disappear? And why did he come back?

zakuro: Indeed indeed, it truly piques one's interest. It also makes you wonder what exactly it was he was doing during his absence. Does he have an ulterior motive? Or does he not? And beyond all that, what does Starless itself have to do with all this?

maica: ……

maica: Hmph, I give up. There's no point thinking about it.

zakuro: My oh my, it's not like you to not delve deeper into something. Are you not intrigued by what the motives of those two may be?

maica: Of course I’m curious, but that's not my duty. I’m a singer, the reason I’m here is to sing. I haven't made this show’s song my own yet, so that's what I need to be concentrating on. Your singing has been sounding great recently too, so I don't want to lose to you.

zakuro: My, what an undeserved compliment that is. Though I suppose I have been feeling better as of late.

maica: Really? To me it seems as though you've overcome something mentally.

zakuro: My singing is always as it has been. It has returned to how it once was because I remembered the significance of what it is that I must do.

–end

-

Chapter 6 SideA

-starless backrooms-

aogiri: Good work today, Zakuro. You already seem to have a perfect grasp on the song.

zakuro: Once a song has been inputted into my brain I simply recall it and sing it as many times as necessary. And so, how have you been faring? Is the show to your liking?

aogiri: I’ve gotten myself familiar with it. I’ve practiced the song too.

zakuro: Very good, that is reassuring. I know you’ll be there if anything were to happen to me.

aogiri: I’d hope that isn't the case. Or could it be that you think something will happen?

zakuro: My how is a jester like I supposed to answer that? Does it appear that way to you? I was just implying that it has been a while since the entire store has been in uproar like this, it is quite enjoyable.

aogiri: And yet the application form to work here said that this was a cozy and pleasant place to work. 

zakuro: While it's probably not what you’d consider cozy, I’d say this is a pretty thrilling workplace nonetheless.

aogiri: I suppose words can always be interpreted in different ways. I am still enjoying Starless though. Both this versus and the previous W performance.

zakuro: Oh, it appears our interests are different. Yours doesn't lie with the current events but rather the last shows events.

aogiri: Yes, I suppose so… If I may, could I ask you a question?

zakuro: Hm. Sure, why not. I shall indulge your curiosity if it is something that I can answer.

aogiri: First, I’d like to inquire about Sin’s injury. He said it was from a vehicular accident but that is obviously not the case. That was an injury inflicted by an attack.

zakuro: Hm, and let me guess, next you want to know about the reason for Kokuyou’s disappearance?

aogiri: No. I have already deduced that was due to Kei and Takami’s ulterior motives. Haseyama-san’s sudden return included.

zakuro: Hm hm, I see, so you're the kind of person who takes that approach.

aogiri: There is another thing I’d like to ask you though.

zakuro: And what would that be?

aogiri: What number are you currently?

zakuro: …Number 3, you should already be aware of this.

aogiri: –I see, you're number 3. I am familiar with how the team lineups work here of course. Then, once again, I look forward to working with you, Zakuro. Not just in the current show, but also for when we stand on the same stage again in the future.

zakuro: My oh my, what a refreshing sentiment to hear. To think that the place in which we stand would be the same, it is truly a plot twist for the ages.

aogiri: I will seize this opportunity to dance to your singing. I shall do my very best.

zakuro: Yes, I too shall face this show with all that I have.

–end

-

Chapter 6 SideB

-locker rooms-

maica: Oh, you're already here. You're early today, Rindou.

rindou: Yes, I was feeling restless, so I decided to get ready for the show.

maica: Don't push yourself too hard. This performance is different from the usual ones. It's so weird, isn't it? Having to carry out a versus in the place of the store owners.

rindou: Are you finding it difficult?

maica: It's not that it's just… I’m not sure whose side I’m supposed to be on here.

rindou: It's true that this versus may officially be between the Owner and Iwami-san… But our only obligation is to perform, that is all there is to it.

maica: That's true, that's all we should be concerned with. Let's give it our all today, Rindou.

rindou: Yes.

-heath walks in-

maica: Oh, Heath. Are you working the floor today?

heath: No. I just wanted to see how things are going and see the stage. Today Sotetsu will be performing, right?

maica: Are you interested in seeing how other people perform the same role as you?

heath: I wouldn't use the word 'interested’... It's just that during rehearsals, Sotetsu’s colour didn't look as though he was taking this seriously at all.

maica: Ahh, I know what you mean. Hopefully he can do well in the actual performance.

rindou: Sotetsu will manage just fine. He always does well when it comes to the actual performance.

heath: Mizuki said the same thing. Performing with Sotetsu seems like it would be fun.

maica: And where is Mizuki exactly? He has a floor shift today.

heath: Ah… He’ll show up… Probably. Today Rindou is performing though, so who knows.

rindou: He dislikes working on the floor whilst I’m performing, doesn't he?

maica: He’s still annoyed by you? He seriously never changes.

heath: Don't say it so dismissively like that. Mizuki has changed.

maica: That may be true within Team B, but he’s been snapping at Rindou cause they're sharing the same role. Once I catch him I’ll force him to work, I’m going to go look for him.

heath: Just leave him be, you have to perform too don't you, Maica?

maica: Work is work.

rindou: He's in the rehearsal room isn't he, Heath?

-heath looks away-

maica: Huh? What do you mean?

rindou: Mizuki is in the rehearsal room. He’s probably practicing on his own.

maica: Are you serious?

heath: Yeah. How did you know?

rindou: If I ended up not being able to perform today he would've had to take my place. Because we share the same role, there's no way he'd want to lose to me. I feel the same way.

–end

-

Chapter 7

-starless lobby-

heath: Oh, you're here. We're still in the middle of opening but I’m glad to see you.

saki: Sorry to bother you while you're busy setting up. I was free so I decided to come early.

ginsei: You're always welcome to stop by, Princess. I just finished mopping the floor.

hari: I will pack up the cleaning equipment, could you two entertain her?

ginsei: Yes, of course.

heath: I’ll escort you to the restaurant, let me know what drink you'd like, ok?

-starless restaurant area-

ginsei: Our team has a show today but we won't be appearing in it.

heath: Yeah, today Sin is performing my role.

ginsei: Qu’s performing mine. He’s a completely different performer to me. Everyone’s interpretation and acting is different so it can be difficult to make a coherent show depending on who's performing.

hari: That's exactly what makes each show interesting though. The guests appear to be enjoying themselves.

heath: Are you enjoying yourself too, Saki?

saki: Of course! I’m looking forward to today's show.

ginsei: That's good. I was pretty worried when I heard there was going to be a versus between the owners.

hari: Did you mean you were worried they would dictate how we should perform? Haseyama-san has been surprisingly lenient with us.

heath: Iwami hasn't said anything to our team either. It honestly makes things easier.

ginsei: Well, he's always been that way. He always just left the shows to Koharu-sama and Akito-sama.

hari: Meaning Starless hasn't changed much after the owner switch after all.

ginsei: Honestly I still prefer Iwami-san though. I’ve known him for longer and whilst he’s laid back, he’s not unreasonable either.

hari: So you dislike Haseyama-san then? I think he is very capable when it comes to running this store though. When it comes to the restaurant industry, running a store for more than three years only has a success rate of 30%. Starless may not be your typical restaurant but after relocating it's still going strong after five years.

heath: Who cares about that crap. I don't like either of them.

ginsei: I can understand why you hate the current owner, but you don't like Iwami-san either?

heath: Both of their colours are strange. They're both hiding something. Don't go near them, Saki. I wouldn't want your colour to be tainted by theirs.

saki: You mean you don't want me to talk to them?

heath: Yes. I want to protect you for as long as I can.

hari: While I do think that dictating who she can speak to is a little overprotective, I can't say I don't agree with you in Haseyama-san’s case.

ginsei: Aren't you well acquainted with him? Are you sure you should be talking about him like that?

hari: My father is acquainted with him, yes. But this and that are completely different matters.

heath: Hari’s correct.

ginsei: I’m a little jealous of how blunt you two are able to be.

–end

-

Chapter 7 SideA

-haseyama’s office-

-knock on door-

haseyama: Come on in.

hari: Excuse me, Unei-san told me that you wanted to speak with me.

haseyama: My apologies for calling you here while you're busy, your father contacted me.

hari: My father? I’m sorry for the bother. Whatever did he call you for?

haseyama: He was calling about your deadline. He’s wondering just how long you plan to stay at this store. I felt that it wasn't my place to speak for you.

hari: Yes, he's said the same thing to me. I told him that I was still considering my options.

haseyama: You're in your fourth year of university aren't you? Won't you be graduating in March next year? Besides job hunting this is an important time for you to decide your career path. You must be aware that someone of your social standing shouldn't just be wasting time at this store.

hari: First off, my ‘social status’ has nothing to do with this. There is no such thing in this country.

haseyama: Sigh… Yes, that is true. Nevermind that. But don't you think you should properly consider your father's wish for you to return home soon?

hari: Yes, I suppose so. It hurts to betray my family's expectations. However I still have the right to decide my own future, and sometimes my views simply do not align with my father’s. Since I passed my preliminary exam, I will have to adjust my work schedule for the time being.

haseyama: Preliminary exam~?

hari: Yes, for the bar exam. Meaning that my next exam will be the real deal.

haseyama: What? The bar exam is the one that's necessary for becoming a lawyer or a prosecutor, isn't it?

hari: Yes… That's why it's impossible for me to stay working at this store forever.

haseyama: Oh I see, I see! Meaning you will be returning home then! I’ll miss you. So, when will this be happening exactly? I’ll need to adjust the rest of the staff's schedule accordingly after all.

hari: For now I plan to stay here at least until I graduate. Please pay no attention to whatever my father says to you. I will be the one to choose my own future.

haseyama: O-ok, sure thing.

hari: Thank you for your concern. I am most sorry that my father bothered you. If that is all you wanted me for, may I leave?

haseyama: Ah, yes.

hari: Oh actually, may I say something to you?

haseyama: To me…? What is it?

hari: At first I was unsure how this versus between you and Iwami-san would pan out… However I am enjoying the show, I think it is an interesting concept.

haseyama: Ah, yeah sure.

hari: There are still lots of things that I can learn from this store. So I’ll be in your care. Then, excuse me.

-hari leaves-

haseyama: Pheww~ God he’s a pain to deal with. He just naturally has that self important gaze the upper class have. I’m bad at handling prissy rich kids like him. Annoying, annoying.

–end

-

Chapter 7 SideB

-street, night-

saki: Thank you for walking me home. Good work in today's show, Ginsei-san.

ginsei: What did you think of it? Did you have fun?

saki: Yes, of course. It’s fun seeing a different version of the show each day.

ginsei: I’m glad. It's a relief to hear you say that, Princess. Honestly I didn't understand why the owner and Iwami-san got themselves into a versus.

saki: I heard that whoever loses has to do a favour for the winner.

ginsei: What, are you serious? So it really has nothing to do with any of us? Those two really are annoying to deal with aren't they~ Sigh, if that's true then why are we even fighting this versus for them. I suppose I should just enjoy the different type of show setup. This is just how Starless is at the end of the day.

saki: I want you to have fun too, Ginsei-san!

ginsei: Yeah, I will. I won't worry about the result of the versus. The winner getting to ask the loser a favour is something preschoolers would do. What are they, kids?

saki: Wait, now that you mention it…

ginsei: Right? Like wouldn't it make more sense that the winner became the owner?

saki: Would you be ok with the store's owner being decided that way?

ginsei: No… You're right. Deciding the owner position through a versus wouldn't be smart either. What am I even saying? Sorry, Princess, forget I said anything.

But still, I suppose I’m glad this versus hasn't caused a massive stir. Like the last W performance when Kokuyou disappeared, or the one before that when Yoshino’s dad came to visit… All sorts of things have been happening recently.

saki: I’m glad Haseyama-san was safely discharged from the hospital too. I feel like we should celebrate that fact.

ginsei: I don't think that’s necessary. He came back and immediately started this mess after all. If you want to we can just think of these two shows as a commemoration that he’s back.

I doubt he’d appreciate the sentiment either way, but I’ll still do my best on the stage. So make sure you support us, ok? I’ll be counting on you, Princess.

–end

-

Chapter 8

-behind starless, night-

kei: I thought you had already finished up for the day.

sin: I have something that I’d like to report to you. Can we talk?

kei: Yes, I have time to spare… Let us walk.

-bridge underpass, night-

sin: First, regarding the black card. I have returned it to her.

kei: Hmph, and? Is that all you wish to tell me?

sin: No, that's not all. Up until now I have tried to remain neutral. Like the goddess Themis herself, I too intended to wear a blindfold.

kei: When it comes to judging things they cannot see, humanity's judgment is fragile. It was you who decided to tip the scales first. If you have any sins that you would like to confess, then do so now.

sin: …….

sin: Assistance must be paid back with assistance. I owed Iwami a debt. That is why I borrowed her card from him and made her listen to ‘BLACKSTAR’.

kei: …If I were to speak like you, then I would say this. To paint over the abyss the only option is to pour in a darkness that is darker than black.

sin: Indeed. However, the bottom of that abyss cannot even be seen.

kei: Who is it that you see within that abyss?

sin: Iwami, Koharu, Akito and Zakuro. Nekome is also most likely involved.

kei: And what about Kokuyou?

sin: I do not know the specifics, however Iwami probably knows something.

kei: I have no way of confirming whether or not your allegiances have changed. Nor do I intend to. The fact you tried to lead Saki into the darkness alone means that I see you as evil.

sin: I know.

kei: However I do not have the right to hold the sword of justice either… As her darkness is none other than my sin. Only Saki can choose to forgive you and how to judge me. I have taken quite the detour waiting for my preparations to be complete.

sin: Then please allow me to protect her. At least until those preparations are complete. The path you are choosing is a long and treacherous one, Kei.

kei: It is that very path that brought me here. In order to open up a pathway that leads to the light for her. This time, for sure. The outcome of this versus may prove to be a hindrance to me though.

sin: Who do you want to win?

kei: That is not for me to decide. As always, the stage is for Saki.

sin: You truly are a troublesome man… Or perhaps noble would be a more apt way to describe you.

–end

-

Chapter 8 SideA

-haseyama's office-

takami: This surely was unexpected, wasn't it, Owner? Who would've thought a versus like this would take place.

haseyama: Kokuyou is the one who started it. Or wait did he accept it? Well whatever, it doesn't matter either way. I have no idea what Iwami is thinking. Ahh, I've had enough of this bothersome crap. I should just shut this place down and throw you all out!

takami: You're suggesting something reckless again.

haseyama: What? You think I wouldn't do it?

takami: If you were actually planning to do it you wouldn't say it. That's just the kind of person you are.

haseyama: Tch, it would be a hassle so I won't.

-kei appears-

kei: Coming in.

haseyama: Hey now, this is your bosses room, you know. Don't just barge in.

takami: You could have at least knocked. What is the matter?

kei: Nothing. I just remembered that I never congratulated you for being able to leave the hospital. I’m glad to see you're well, Haseyama. Also– I am grateful for your sacrifice. You really helped me out.

haseyama: Oh…? Ooh! You mean protecting the young lady? Come to think of it, you weren’t there when it happened, were you? You go on and on about protecting her and yet you weren't even there at the most crucial moment. 

kei: I have no excuse.

haseyama: Sounds like you owe me one really big favour huh? I wonder what I should ask for.

takami: In that case why not ask him to secure victory for us in this versus? That way you can obtain what you're after.

haseyama: You mean the versus we’re in right now? But that's–

kei: Secure victory against Iwami’s team you say? Understood. I shall dedicate the show to the little bird, but I shall take the victory for you.

haseyama: Wh– Wait a minute here.

takami: How reliable, Kei. I too will contribute as best I can.

haseyama: Listen to what I’m saying here–

kei: That is the spirit, I will be expecting results from you, Takami. That is all that I came to say. Haseyama, allow me to congratulate you on being discharged once more. Take care.

-kei leaves-

kei: Wait, don't just walk off! Oi, Kei! I can't believe this… I finally had a massive favour that he owed me, you should've given me more time to properly think about it!

takami: My apologies. I figured that winning this versus was your number one priority at the moment.

haseyama: Every last one of you just does whatever you want. Listen, you better freaking win this. It's about time I cash out my investment into this store.

–end

-

Chapter 8 SideB

-starless restaurant area-

iwami: If it isn't the little lady. Could I speak with you before the show starts?

saki: Huh? Oh, um, sure. I didn't notice you were here today, Iwami-san.

iwami: I am just a regular customer after all. I wouldn't want to intrude behind the scenes.

saki: But so am I–

-sin appears-

sin: A genuine key that can open all doors is known as the master key. A twisted and warped key will only cause injury.

iwami: Don't you think that’s a little rude, Sin? Do you say that to your other customers?

sin: ….?

iwami: Don't act dumb. This is a restaurant, you're a staff member and I’m a paying customer.

sin: ……

iwami: You're not listening to me, are you? Well, whatever. I was just trying to enjoy a little smalltalk with the little lady before the show. Having her chaperone standing right here has spoilt the mood though. At least allow me to treat her to a drink like an upstanding mature man.

sin: Here is the menu. Please choose what you’d like, Saki.

saki: Huh? But…

iwami: How come you're only so blunt when it comes to things like this? Well, not that it matters, please go ahead and pick whatever drink you’d like. I’d like to see a smile on your face. I wanna show you how my appeal differs from Haseyama's.

sin: Don't hold back. Please order the entire menu if you so wish.

saki: Ahaha, I couldn't do that. I’ll accept the offer though, thank you. I’ll order this please.

sin: Understood.

iwami: …Hey, Sin. Shouldn't you be taking that order over to the bar?

sin: –Akira!

-akira appears-

akira: What’s the matter? For you to call out across the restaurant it must be something serious.

sin: Please take this order to the bar.

akira: Huh? You just wanted to give me this?

-akira notices iwami-

akira: Playing chaperone are you? In that case, leave this order to me. Wait a moment, Saki-chan, I’ll be right back. Don't go cheating on me with that old man, ok?

iwami: I can't deny I’m old but still. What's with you lot? I just want to have a friendly chat with her, you don't have to be so rude. It stings…

Oh well, if you're going to interfere so blatantly then I suppose this old man will take his leave. Enjoy the versus, little lady. My team has been doing their best through thick and thin.

I’ve got a number 2 who didn't do anything despite his leader being gone and a large man who stood on the stage despite being injured just a few days before. I heard that it was a hit and run too? Public safety really is bad in this area huh?

sin: If you know that you're in a swamp then why walk yourself deeper into it… This has nothing to do with you right now.

iwami: Got it got it, I’ll get going. Enjoy your night, little lady.

-iwami leaves-

akira: Seriously, what the hell is up with him?

sin: Even if the raven returns, the nest that remains will not be the same.

akira: There aren't any ravens here man. Wait, don't tell me you started keeping them as pets?

sin: No, I only converse with the locals.

–end

To Part 3

[all-my-writings-and-musings]

There's just something about writing Macaque learning to accept love that makes my heart happy.

Day 23: Journey

Macaque x Reader

The modern world had many luxuries he still had yet to try, either for lack of chance or an absence of interest, but you were giving him all the opportunities he could have wanted and far more. 

Thanks to your present insistence after a long day of traveling, he was getting to experience a hotel for the first time. They had existed in his own time, but he'd never had cause to use one, and they had hardly been so… comfortable in his day.

Sitting on the edge of a very fluffy mattress, he tried not to sink within as he gathered himself and watched you get settled. It was impossible not to feel out of place, even if you never gave any indication he was. It was also impossible not to acknowledge how incredibly comfortable the bed was after a full day of traveling without a break… So much of him wanted to just lie back and let sleep take him.

The click of the refrigerator made him perk up, his stomach reminding him he had gone without food even longer than sleep. Looking at you as you approached, he had to hide his enthusiasm as you offered a small bottle of mango juice. It didn't skip his attention that it was his favorite brand as he tried not to drink it down too swiftly. You smiled at his obvious enjoyment. "We'll have to pay for anything we take out of here, but I think we're owed a little treat. I've got room service coming too."

"I should travel with you more often! You really know how to make a guy feel special." he laughed after finishing off the juice, looking forward to a good meal more than words could convey. Traveling so often consisted of struggling for everything, even to the point of needing to steal from time to time, that just having all this handed to him felt almost unnatural. Of course he wasn't going to refuse a free meal, but that didn't make him feel any less off about it.

"You deserve it after today." you said casually, surprising the grin off his face. Hearing that he deserved anything, especially from someone he respected, didn't really compute. The surprise on his face must have been transparent, because you quickly came in to reassure him. "I mean it, you've been working really hard. I can't remember the last time you took a break."

"That's how my journeys always go. No rest for the wicked, and all that." he replied reflexively, unsure of what to do with so much care and consideration. You'd been showing him nothing but kindness on this entire trip, and, well… he wasn't sure why. Some small, blooming part of his heart was actually daring to enjoy it, as terrified as that much vulnerability made him. 

Rising to get a knock at the door, you returned with a tray of food for the both of you, and he perked up at the smell. A rumble from his stomach made him flush and shrink before you offered the tray.

"Well, how about some dinner for my warrior?" you said happily, encouraging him to eat and enjoy himself freely. It would take time, you knew, but one day you would convince him he was worth the little things.

[amelia-jane-writes]

Sometimes I'm okay pt1

Sorry if this sucks, it's my first work on here. Also its set during that episode in season 2 where Derek's in jail.

tw: swearing, jail, mentions of death ig

Derek Morgan was in deep shit.

First off, he had been in Chicago for the past few days and hadn't came to say hello to you at all. In fact, he seemed to have been avoiding your area of town all together. Secondly, he was sat in a prison cell.

The first point could be explainable. You'd had an argument before he left last year. You weren't in the wrong, but maybe you hadn't been in the right either. He just wanted you to move with him to wherever it was that he lived. To this day you still didn't know why you'd said no.

You had walked very calmly -not at all- right up to where Carl was conversing with the detective.

"Where in the hell is he?" You asked. The detective didn't like me much, but he didn't like many of the kids in the area.

"Alright, just wait one second lady, you can't just storm in here and start demanding things."

You just rolled your eyes, knoeing that the detective owed you. "I want to see him."

Carl spoke up. "I understand that you're upset, we all are. I mean, Derek never seemed like the kind to do this."

You stared at him for what felt like a god few minutes but in reality was just a couple of seconds.

"Carl you listen to me, you are ten times more likely to have murdered those boys than he is." You turned back to the detective, ignoring the burning feeling of eyes on your back. "And I said that I wanted to see him."

"I'll see what can be done."

He walked away, using his brain for once. You turned towards the group of people eying your back, not at all in the mood to be dealing with cops.

"The hell are you staring at?"

A few of them made themselves look busy, as if they hadn't been staring. A tall lady with dark hair came closer though, and asked, "Do you know Derek Morgan?"

"You could say that. Why? Who are you?"

"I'm Special Agent Emily Prentiss, I'm on the same team as Morgan in the FBI. If you could tell us anything that would help with proving his innocence then that would be amazing."

"I can't tell you anything darling, just that the detective knows damn well that it wasn't Derek."

Anything she would have said then was cut off by the detective returning, grabbing you arm and saying, "Five minutes. Make it fast."

You stepped into the interrogation room, it was a few degrees colder than the outside, and spotted Derek sat against the wall.

"Derek." It would've been comical how he jumped but instead it was just concerning since he was FBI. He quickly stood up and came towards you, but stopped himself before he got too close.

"(Y/N)," He said and you couldn't tell if the tone in his voice was one of relief or something else, something more panicked. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Better question Derek, why are you sat in a cell? And I only have five minutes so you better make it fast."

He sighed running a hand across his face. "They think I killed those boys. Happy? Now get out."

"No. I also want to know why the hell you've been coating me for the past year. Like I know that we argued but Jesus."

"I was busy. The FBI doesn't give many days off. Besides im sure this placce hasnt been too bad. How's life treating you here in dear Chicago baby? Hmm? Bet you wish you'd taken me up on my offer now."

You took a step closer to him. That hurt a bit. He knew exactly why you needed to get out of here and it was the people. You hated them. In truth, you did wish that you'd moved wish him and away from here, but you would never admit that.

"You're being very mean to me today Derek. Why's that?"

He just sighed again before coming closer and whispering, "Come on, you know that that detective will spin anything he can to get you arrested. This? You're plotting what to do since I got caught."

You didn't speak for a moment, no words were needed. Then, "Who do you think it was?"

He just looked at you in a way that told you everything you needed to know. "They're trying to dig into my past baby. You can't let them."

You hesitated, tripping over your words and bringing up a hand to rest on his cheek. "Maybe, just maybe, it'll help."

"(Y/N). Please. Help me out here."

"So what do you want me to do? Stick around or get out of here."

He smiled even though it wasn't funny. "Just stick around. Ask them if you can help then go home. I'll drop by when I get out. I promise."

"You gotta pinkie promise or it isn't trustworthy."

He grinned, this time he seemed happier, and held out his hand with an extended pinkie and you hooked mine with his. Then a guard came back into the room and told you that you had to leave.

You smiled back at Derek then followed the guard, with a backwards glance to try see him through closing doors.

Pt2 soon

[beerecordings]

The Other Monster - Part 3

Previous Chapter

Anti tries to foster some of Jameson's skills. Jamie goes looking for a friend. Marvin startles an unexpected visitor.

Warnings for references to imprisonment.

.

“Hold the string tight, Jameson.”

He grits his teeth together, staring down the line of his arrow. He hates shooting. He can't talk while shooting. And he wants to tell Anti that the new bow is too heavy.

“Hold it back,” Anti repeats.

Jameson gives him a look, eyes watering.

“Don't cry til you've shot it,” Anti tells him, sharper than Jameson anticipates. He sucks in a breath and turns his gaze back to his target. “You're ready? Fire.”

Jameson lets the string go with relief, enough that he lowers the bow too soon, and his arrow skips off into the grass cheerfully.

Anti snorts in a way Jameson doesn't quite like. He scowls and kicks Anti's thigh where he's kneeling beside him in the grass.

“You can do better,” says Anti dismissively.

“It's too heavy, Anti! I want my old bow.”

“If you're going to be eleven, you need a bigger bow.”

“You only ever get me weapons for my birthday.”

“Your arm must grow stronger with every year.”

“Can't you wait til I hit a growth spurt?”

“If I waited for that, we might never move past your first bow.”

Jameson kicks him again, harder, this time, and Anti grabs his foot, throwing him off balance and landing him on his butt. Jameson lashes back with his fists, and Anti starts laughing, patiently catching the blows.

“Don't be such a baby.”

Jameson sighs emphatically and flops into the grass, letting his bow drop. “Can't we be done for today?”

“Go get your arrows and shoot through a quiver again.”

“Anti...”

“Don't be a spoiled princeling,” Anti returns. “You are a son of warriors, no matter how far back in your lineage. Even your detestable father can cut down men twice his size with fervor.”

It's unusual for Anti to mention the King of the Grey Isles. Jameson looks up at him, frowning, and Anti seems to calm, letting out a breath. “I only mean, if you want to be treated more like an adult, you must practice to be one.”

“My father is really a great warrior?”

Anti's gaze turns stormy, glancing out across their courtyard. “A talent he has used in many needless wars.”

“Surely you've killed more people than my father.”

Anti laughs in a way that Jameson hates, has always hated, this pitching, wild laugh that sets his hair standing up. “Maybe I have. Maybe some of them did not even deserve it. But I've never set fire to whole villages or cut down unarmed women, either.”

Jameson feels a cold wind crawl over him. He stares down at his bow, discarded in the grass.

“That is why you must be king instead, soon as you are eighteen,” says Anti, softer. “And why you must be able to defend yourself against men like him. He put his hands on you too many times already – ”

“Never again,” Jameson finishes. They've said it many times before.

Still, as he goes to get his arrows, he wonders about his father. He did put his hands on him, it's true, and he remembers being scared of that dark shadow in his memory. But he also remembers the warm, fiery smell of his father. And how sometimes he would put him on his lap and hold him until he fell asleep. His beard scratched against Jameson's face, and he had big, rough palms that could fit Jamie's whole hand against them. Mom would come over and kiss them both good night. She smelled like linens and sometimes her horse.

“Faster,” calls Anti shamelessly.

“You could help,” Jameson tries to sign, but he ends up spilling his arrows instead, and Anti laughs when he sighs.

He finishes shooting with better focus and better results, and Anti seems satisfied, sitting back and watching him loose arrows until his fingers smart. His brother pats his shoulder. “Okay. You're done for the day.”

“Thank goodness.”

“Don't be spoiled. You're very lucky to be educated. No one ever taught me – ”

“About the world or anything.” Jameson finishes his sentence again.

Anti flicks him in the forehead. “Don't be a brat,” he says, but it's fond. Jameson pretends to try and bite him and Anti laughs.

“Now can I go across the way to the other keep?”

“The one to the east?”

“Abby might be home from her visit to the South.”

“That's right, she was gone all summer, wasn't she? Alright, you can take Bertrand. But Jameson, you know the rules.”

Of course he knows the rules he's been told a thousand times. Tell no one your name or lineage, tell no one about Anti's appearance, work, or secrecy, do not engage with adults, always keep your knife on you, always tell Anti if someone makes you uncomfortable, walk away if they start saying something inappropriate, observe children before you try to befriend them, always be home before sunset, always – is it normal to have so many?

“You should play only with Abby,” Anti tells him. “I have heard of strange goings-on at that fortress over the last month. And even Abby could one day ask you for something she shouldn't, so just – ”

“Anti,” Jameson says, managing to make the sign drawn out enough to be begging. “Please just let me go see the one kid who treats me like I'm normal without all this worry.”

Anti's mouth purses, usually in a way that means he's going to insist, Jameson, your safety is the most important thing and you never know, etc, but today, he drops it. Thank goodness.

“Just take care,” says Anti, leaning down to kiss his head.

“Yes, Anti.”

He's all but skipping by the time he gets to the stables. He doesn't exactly have a crush on Abby, but she is nice, and if she wanted to marry him someday, he thinks that would be alright. She's one year younger than him and her face has a big scar, so she says the other kids are not always kind. Maybe that's why she took the time to make friends with him even though he can't talk. He and Anti are so secretive already that it's not easy to find other kids to play with, and when he does, he feels lucky if they even let him tag along. Finding someone who cares at all that he's trying to communicate is hard. It makes him feel bad in a way that's different from everything else in his life, but he doesn't know how to tell Anti about it. If Anti found out about the way some of the older boys have treated him, he might really just kill them.

So Abby is special. And she's been away for a whole three months!

He swings onto Bertrand and whistles warmly at him. His pony nickers back. He's getting to be an old man now, but Jameson wouldn't want another horse, even one so fine as White Bird, who puffs at them both as they head off towards the keep several acres away from their own. Abby's father is a lord, a real one, not the sort like him and Anti who are still waiting for their birthright.

Anyway, he's pretty sure Anti stole their keep from someone else.

As he crests the hill that looks down upon the fortress, he finds the whole castle bustling with life, and his heart leaps up. She must be home! Unlike him and Anti, the Lord of this keep has dozens of servants, guards, and friends always visiting. Jameson leads Bertrand down towards the back of the keep. The whole place is gated and guarded, but there's a spot with a broken piece of fencing where he used to sneak in to play with Abby, in the middle of the untamed tall grasses and prickly bushes which grow on both sides of the back gate. It's even more thickly grown after Abby's family's absence, and Jameson can't slink through the bushes, trees, and scratchy grass without some small scratches. He does find strawberries, though, pausing for a minute to pop some in his mouth and his pocket.

It's as he's pushing through the thicket towards the one broken rail of the fence that he finds someone who is not Abby.

Jameson stops short.

At that broken rail, a man is bent in half, his head against his knees, crying in whimpers. One hand clenches the rail, while the other hand has fallen limply into its gap – a gap only small enough for a child. A grown-up could never get through there.

Was he trying to?

Jameson takes a step forward.

The man's head snaps up, his eyes wide, and Jameson rears back.

He's so beautiful.

Jameson knows what beauty is in a person, and not the metaphysical kind. The most beautiful person in the world is the one who raised him, the one who nursed him through the loss of his voice, the one who protects and feeds and clothes him, who saved him from the rest of their family. Anti is beautiful and Jameson has always known that. Despite his older brother's anxiety about it – the untold fears that accompany it, of which he will not speak – Jameson has always enjoyed the sight of him. Late at night, when Anti is asleep, he sometimes finds himself awake just admiring him, wondering if he'll look like Anti too when he's grown. When you are ten years old, there is no pride or arrogance or lust to thinking you or anyone else is beautiful. It is just a fact of Anti, and so it is something Jameson loves about him.

This man is beautiful in a different way. He glitters, with jewelry and his own otherworldly light, and his face is so pretty he could have been painted into existence by someone who loved him very much. Maybe his mommy, Jameson thinks. When she imagined what her baby would look like, she must have seen him so clearly he came true with all her love imprinted on him, so everyone else would love him too. Did his mommy do that for Anti? Did she imagine him so stunning and proud that he came into the world with emeralds in his hair?

"What do you want?" snarls the stranger, cutting through his fascination. "Come to stare?"

Jameson recoils, stepping back several paces and almost falling on his butt. No, he would never have come to stare at someone! Quickly, he puts his hands over his eyes.

There's a long moment. Jameson listens carefully for the man to yell that there's an intruder and - and what? Will he hurt him? Anti's always so furious at the thought of anyone seeing him. Would he hurt another kid if he happened to see him hiding in the garden?

Why is he hiding in the garden?

The stranger never moves. After a long moment, Jameson hears a low, shaking exhale, and then another. Is he... laughing?

"You don't have to cover your eyes," he says, and Jameson peeks through his hands.

It's the blue hair that stands out first, but his eyes seem to grow deeper the longer Jameson looks at him. There is an impossible sort of endlessness to him, like an ocean he could sink into without drowning for all eternity. And he is looking right at JJ.

The Monster is looking right at JJ.

He's smiling faintly at him now, though he's tucked himself mostly behind one of the bushes, and pulled his hair back from his face. Jameson waves timidly.

"You didn't come to find me?" the Monster asks.

Jameson shakes his head.

"Sorry to scare you. Sometimes people like to look at me. I find it rude to make me their entertainment. But I didn't see how little you are. Come here.”

Thank goodness, he's not in trouble. He comes a few paces forward and sits down across from the Monster, brushing twigs from his hair. His mind is still trying to catch up with what he's seeing, what it means – a real other Monster! Anti told him they were so rare. Does it mean something, this one being here now?

"What's your name?" asks the Monster.

Jameson's mouth twists. Sometimes he carries parchment and graphite for an emergency, but he left them with Bertrand. He shrugs at the Monster, who tilts his head at him.

"Are you taken aback? Haven't you heard of Monsters before?"

Jameson nods quickly.

"Oh, definitely, huh?" The Monster laughs with more certainty.

Wow, he's pretty. The eyes are an even deeper blue than the hair, framed in long lashes. Jameson's never seen another Monster than Anti. He didn't realize they would be beautiful in different ways. This one is all grace, fluidity, like he could float into the air if he wanted, with none of Anti's sharp edges and cutting looks. He always thought that if Anti walked down the street in full view, everyone would be frozen, terrified of him, like when you can't pull your eyes away from an explosion or a tsunami.

But if this Monster walked down the road, people would kiss his hand and rain him in compliments. They'd try to give him fine jewelry and he'd just laugh, Jameson thinks, a soft and glittering sound.

"Well, you seem like the sort of young man who can keep secrets," says the Monster, and Jameson nods firmly. He is a young man, and he can definitely keep secrets. "Good. Don't tell anyone I hide back here sometimes, okay? I need my alone time when I'm allowed out on the grounds."

Jameson frowns. Allowed? He scoots forward and tugs on the bars of the fence, tilting his head at the Monster. He wishes he could ask why he was crying.

The Monster swallows, eyes flickering over the bars, but then he puts his smile back on. "Don't you worry about that, my dear. I'll... I'll be gone when it's time to be gone."

It's not a particularly satisfying answer to why a grown man has shoved himself beneath the brambles to sit, alone, against the one broken rail of the fence, but it's not like Jameson can ask further questions. He reaches into his pocket to get out the strawberries he brought for Abby. He wonders if she's here too, or if she knows who this Monster is. He holds his sticky hand out to the Monster.

"Oh," he says. "Are you sure? For me?"

Jameson nods and pokes a strawberry through the gate. This time, when the Monster smiles at him, it's a real smile, and it almost makes him breathless.

"Thanks," says the Monster, softly.

Jameson nods and steps back. Really, it's wonderful that there's another Monster here. Maybe Anti could finally have a real friend. And then he might leave the keep sometime, and maybe feel less angry.

A shout from the direction of the keep makes them both turn their heads, and the Monster gets on his knees, eyes wide again. His hand reaches out to grip that broken rail – and then it flexes, shivers, releases.

“Fabian!” Jameson hears someone shouting, far off. “Fabian!”

The Monster swallows and looks back at Jameson. “I should go. You need to too, okay? Listen, honey, don't come back around this way. It's – it's not a place for kids. You'll get scratches. Go home. Before... before... just best to head home, okay?”

Jameson shakes his head, suddenly nervous. He has a sensation that reminds him a little of Anti when he's stressed. It's this... twisting in his stomach, but the feeling isn't his own worry. It sits in his mouth and tastes like too much sugar. Enough to make him want to gag.

“Darling,” says the Monster, with this frail, distant laugh. He reaches through the rails of the fence, and Jameson, driven by some instinct he didn't know he had, touches his hand.

Fabian squeezes his fingers. “Thanks for the strawberry. Now go on, okay? Go be a kid. It never lasts long enough, I'll tell you that for free.”

“Fabian!” comes the yell again, closer.

“Bye,” Fabian says, and he ducks away, squeezing himself through the bushes. He must have fought through scrapes and torn clothes to get back here. Must have ducked low or crawled at places, just to sit along the fence. Jameson wonders if he left strands of blue hair in the bushes.

Jamie walks back towards Bertrand, his thoughts and his heart racing each other. This is wonderful! This is terrible. Is it, but why? It seems scary. It seems exciting. Where's Abby? Why is there a Monster there? Was there one always living there, and that was his secret hiding spot? Jameson found him all on his own!

“I have to tell Anti!” he signs to Bertrand, all but leaping onto his back. “I have to tell him I met a – ”

Oh, no.

He was not supposed to engage with adults.

That was a stranger! He was so excited to meet a Monster he forgot all about his rules. He was supposed to be cautious and in control like Anti's always taught him. Will he be in trouble for letting the Monster talk to him and call him pet names? What if Anti doesn't let him come back and see Abby or the other Monster after this? What if he keeps Jameson inside all fall as punishment?

By the time he gets back home, Jameson is thinking things through as carefully as he can. He stops at Anti's study on the way up to his room, knocking on the door. Anti gets up to unlock it.

“Hey, Jay,” says Anti.

His brother looks so worn again that it wipes half of Jameson's distraction back out the door. He blinks at Anti, who seems to realize he's worried him; he stands up straighter and touches Jameson's head.

“How was Abby doing?”

There's some other feeling, too, not just the weariness. Jameson looks up at his brother, trying to place that sensation. It reminds him of charcoal and boiling water. Anti's frustrated. Jameson doesn't know how he knows, but he knows.

“She was great,” he says, and Anti nods at him and suggests he go have dinner before it gets too late.

[sitpwgs]

Happy birthday!!! Yay I'm glad your voice is a little bit better but it's also funny to me that I have no idea what it even sounds like either..as many times as you've talked about it. It's one of the weird things about just talking online. For me, I get in the habit of just thinking everyone sounds like me haha jk. Also your crafty painting looks good! I admire your dedication to make so many bracelets since I'm not crafty at all..maybe that's something I could work on in the new year. Yes I want to see Company and I said possibly Mean Girls but I won't really know until it gets closer. Ooh I think seeing Spring Awakening would be so fun and cool!

So I can't remember if you're 26 or 27 today..but a fun fact is that Paramore has a song called 26 and Fall Out Boy also has a song called 27! I actually just became aware of the 27 one this year lol and have only heard it like twice but still! I also learned of a song called 24 this year by Switchfoot when Tyler Joseph of twenty one pilots covered it. So there are songs from 22 to 27 and I find that so cool. Right where you left me wasn't out when I turned 23..although I really could've used it back then and Nothing New but I had 23 by Jimmy Eat World which is one of the best most favorite songs ever! Also Blink 182...lol. And the pretty reckless, Taylor Momsen's band has a song called 25. But since we were just talking about Paramore and Fall Out Boy, I thought I would share! The only thing is..I'm not sure they even mention a lyric in the song..I think it's just the title. I hope you are liking their first album and the songs I recommended..but I'm glad you're going in order. Let me know what you think but also take your time! I'm sorry if the list of songs I recommended seemed overwhelming..I just love a lot of their songs.

So in a new quote Hayley Williams talked about how Taylor originally wanted her to sing on a different vault song and now I'm so curious which one it was. Possibly Electric Touch or I can See You. If it was I Can See You, that wouldve been awesome but I'm also happy with Castles Crumbling too. When we first heard I Can See You, my sister said the song fit Fall Out Boy more and he should have sang on that one instead of Electric Touch but the collabs are so good. I also suspected maybe it was Drama Queen cuz Hayley said she didn't connect to it or the sound that much..idk. but it makes me happy it was her choice cuz a lot of Paramore fans were complaining at first that Hayley didn't get to sing or show her vocals enough. I love their friendship and will be happy when they are back on tour together.

Wow it does seem like a lot of vinyls but think of it as a treat to yourself. I've never understood having a vinyl for one song though..I find that so interesting lol. You mostly have good taste and it seems like it makes you happy. Also..I like the new url and I'm definitely going to listen to the Fruitcake EP next week closer to Christmas! I did watch her new video though.

So I did not get a chance to watch the Eras movie yet but hopefully soon. But I did see the pics Taylor posted of her bday and I loved her outfit sooo much! She looked so good and really happy. Some people even have theories about TS11 based on the outfit but it also just felt like Midnights to me! However I'd love an album where she leaned into astrology or constellation stuff too. My sister loves stars so it could be really cool and I wonder what it would be like but it seems similar to Midnights too. I don't think this is as soon as other people think but I think it's fun to think about sometimes. Anyway I think today is also the day the CATS movie came out and I went to see it cuz I was soo excited my two worlds were colliding. Did you ever watch the movie..lol. I know some people were unhappy with it but I thought it was fine..I think people just don't get the musical, and it didn't really translate as a movie or onscreen at all. But I loved the musical with the costumes when I saw it last year and I like a lot of the songs. I'm pretty sure Today is also the day I watched La La Land for the first time too!!! Big day for my worlds colliding! I can't remember if you watched it..but that movie was literally made for me and loved up to my expectations! Now Taylor confirmed the choreographer from La La Land was recommended by Emma and she wanted something more theatrical for this tour..so I'm excited to pay attention to it more when I watch the movie! stuff like focusing on different dancers throughout will be interesting.

Omg I think I forgot to ask you your favorites on Folklore and Evermore! So please tell me and I will try to answer your question. I don't think my rankings have changed much, but I loved the rerecordings and it especially made me appreciate Speak Now more. For me, I don't spend a lot of time replaying full albums and her older music feels too nostalgic so I don't really hear it so I always put it last..sorry but that's the only reason. I guess I just prefer her newer stuff more. I think it would be Folklore, Rep, Red, Lover, Midnights, Evermore, Speak Now, 1989, Fearless, Debut. The middle was hard and I'm sure switch around a lot but I'm sure of my top 3 and bottom 3 I guess. What about you? I hope you have fun at your hockey game and have a fantastic fun birthday weekend!!! 🩷🩷🩷

thank you so much!! 🥺🥺 my voice is actually mostly back — except i was talking to my friend last night (one of my best friends came over with the blank space stabby cake and told me to go at it and stab, which was quite fun) and my voice got a little squeaky near the end! and isn't that so weird? i have a little made up voice for a lot of my internet friends, and it never matches with how they actually sound in real life! i love crafty time! i was thinking of tracking that in my new planner for next year (i'm terrible at habit tracking, which is something i want to be better at too)!

mean girls could be fun! i was supposed to see taylor louderman's last matinee, but then had to sell my ticket to a friend (i was ... hungover) and then missed it when it was in seattle on tour! i'm quite curious about the movie though.

i turn 26 today! which is quite horrifying! trying not to think too much about the birthday scaries! i started listening to some fall out boy too — i listened to the so much (for) stardust album twice, and i really liked it! i definitely need to listen to it more so i know the lyrics for the concert, but i'm really excited now especially since i know i like a lot of the songs! i will go listen to 26 by paramore in a bit 🤍 i was using "25 years old, oh how were you to know" from dancing with our hands tied and "i was 25 and afraid to go outside a millennial that baby-boomers like" from give yourself a try! you are totally fine! i was talking to a friend (who also loves paramore + FOB) about my quest to get into their music and how i usually listen to albums on my walks with toto! but we get distracted a lot (we usually run into neighbors and such) but it's been fun!

i could see hayley on either of those songs! and i do think (from my brief FOB knowledge) that patrick would also sound really good on i can see you! i think it's really interesting that the same thing happened with lana — fans were like "there's not a lot of them on here", and then it turned out to be their own choice!

thank you for the url compliment! and i hope you like fruitcake! i just think it's fun! :")

i've been seeing a lot about the new theories and i'm definitely curious! andddd yes i did see the cats movie (at home) and i... am not a cats the musical fan haha. we actually have beef. my mom and i saw it on tour and someone broke into my mom's car during it and i have been like 😡 that's the show where my mom's car got broken into 😡 ever since. but the dancing/choreo in that show is beautiful, and i loved the taylor song for it! i did watch la la land! i was reading about the mandy moore interview yesterday and thought that was so cool!

ooh i think my favorites on folklore are: cardigan, mirrorball, this is me trying, and peace, and then on evermore: marjorie, right where you left me, cowboy like me, coney island and long story short! </33333 everyone's least favorite is always debut 😭 my top three are: debut, red, and speak now, and then i think folklore, fearless, and evermore, then lover, midnights, 1989, and then reputation. i'm not quite sure of the middle rankings but i am also confident in my top three and last three!

thank you so much! i'm super excited for the hockey game 🤍 hope you have a nice weekend!

[boundlss]

" you've returned. "

Tsukasa's words fell flat. It was barely even greeting, just a pointed observation. However, it was worlds kinder than the pointed way he used to brush Rui aside months ago. Of course, it was still worlds cooler than his initial kindness, and the noted tone of indifference on a usually so expressive face was still rather . . . alien. Even Tsukasa felt it was strange, how the burning anger of a lie came to light was burning out into a sort of numbness. He supposed that meant he was getting over it, but there was an ache where the anger should've been, as if he missed its absence. As if . . .

oh . . . i know what it is. it's too much like an empty home. i don't like it, at all.

Tsukasa shrugged, a ritual to dispel both the thought and the feeling, but almost a declaration as well. As if to say, your presence invokes nothing, as if Rui was just a stranger. It was perhaps a worse punishment, Tsukasa thought, to know there was no impact to have been made or if the slate had been wiped clean.

He should probably try to arrest him ; Tsukasa knew that, but at this point, there really was no hurry. He had let Rui come and go so many times without so much as a fight. What's the pain in letting him get away once more? It all felt like too much routine. He almost considered arresting him anyway, for the sake of something different, but he decided not to. Rui didn't come around without reason nowadays.

" you're getting rather bold. i can't tell if that's reckless or courageous. well -- i suppose that's my fault. if i had bothered to stop you before, i'd be seeing you a lot less. " whether that's a curse or a blessing, i can't say. " what's your business this time? have i stumbled upon you committing to another scheme of yours, or are you out looking to beg for my forgiveness again? i can't say either way is going to go very well for you. "

The coolness of his last words did not escape him, but the tonality didn't lack its bite. It was a harsh, but true statement. There was no need to dress it up in anything more, though somehow . . . that made him feel worse.

Rui shouldn't have gotten so attached to someone like Tsukasa in the first place.

In many ways, it's his own fault for not remembering what always tends to happen when he starts getting to know someone. It's even more his own fault for not considering the repercussions---naturally, the nice charade that kept the two of them together wouldn't have been able to be sustained forever, even if Rui could have cleverly kept it up for a long while.

Even despite the lies Rui piled onto himself, it was nice. Tsukasa had been one of very few people to face him head-on and accept him as he was. And now...

"Tsukasa-kun." Rui speaks flatly, with a small smile. "It's good to see you again. No, I don't particularly feel like begging for forgiveness today."

It would almost sound antagonistic, were it not for the lack of any sort of emotion on his voice. Rui misses Tsukasa the most when he's standing right in front of him, these days, and that deep hole in his chest makes it hard for him to even put up a front. Tsukasa used to give him boundless energy to tease, to bite---now he does nothing but take it.

It's not his fault, of course. It's mine, for getting involved with him in the first place.

"Coming here was a habit and nothing else, so I don't have any schemes to treat you to either. My apologies; I know you've always liked them." That sentiment is more bitter now than it ever has been. If he focuses, Rui can almost taste the words in his mouth, still.

He really had only come out of habit, but...

"... I'd like to talk to you plainly. In the event you decide not to arrest me, of course. In that case, I'll run away."

unprompted. / accepting.

[hadissima]

Thoughts about clicker training/shaping

Since I got a new puppy I have a lot of thoughts to share, so let's start with clicker training! All my dogs are clicker trained and love to work. I often do little shaping exercises and let them be creative, of course this little puppy is no exception.

I've had people tell me that some breeds cannot learn how to do shaping, or any clicker training at all. Either they don't like working with humans because they are too independent (like dachshunds) or want to work too closely with humans (?). So of course I'm proving them wrong, but I'd also like to explain where they go wrong.

Miss Dot is a 9 week old miniature dachshund. She was raised well, but pretty much "wild" with her brothers - as in, has not had any kind of training like some sports puppies might (puppy culture, clicker training etc). The first day I got her was when I started to introduce the clicker. Just very easy, click piece of food, five times and that's it. Not really a training session, just letting her experience the noise, and just this one session.

On day two she was already curious after the first click, already thinking about it and connecting the sound to the positive experience. She's now been with me a week, has had 5 short (less then five minutes) sessions and today was the first time she went around a pylone by herself.

Every dog can learn how to shape, it just takes PATIENCE. For some more, some less. My Shelties were alway very into it, very active and quick. Dottie is different, she's easily distracted (which is normal since she's a baby, people always expect so much but forget that!) and not as focused. But once she has understood what the clicker meant everything was possible, basically.

She accidentally touched the pylone, click. You could see her thinking hard, and she touched it again. The difficult part was getting her to offer something different. That is a concept any dog needs to be taught. We expect them to listen, they learn that they are shown what we want from them, but actually coming up with things themselves, that's what we need to show them.

How I'm doing this is by strategically throwing my treats! She touches, I click and toss the treat away, behind the pylone. She collects it and needs to walk around to get back to me, immediately another click because that's the behavior I want to reward! But for her it's like it was HER idea 😁

Small steps, lots of thinking, lots of breaks.

Where many go wrong is when the dog or puppy doesn't offer anything. People like to give up and claim that dog/breed/whatever just can't learn like this. But hear me out: give them TIME. Be patient. You don't expect a child to learn the whole alphabet and count to 100 in a day, so why do you want your little puppy, who is just figuring out life, to understand such a big concept? Or your older dog who has only been lured into tricks/positions (not that I have anything against luring, it's just a very different teaching style) to suddenly forget all they learned in life and just be creative and offer things themselves?

If the dog doesn't offer a behavior right away wait. For Dottie to offer the first accidental nose touch on the pylone I waited for almost a minute, just let her figure it out, not said anything. Give them time. If you feel stuck, reset the exercise - for my situation with the pylone I'd just take it and move like a meter away, that gets the dog to move with you, and when you set down the object maybe get interested in it again!

Also always remember, break down your behavior in small tasks, small steps that lead into one another, and don't be afraid to take a step back if you notice you've moved on too quickly!

Dog training is not a race. It's about teaching your dog, your dog teaching you, and forming a bond.