#Embarrassing to think that there are rubes out there who keep falling for this

[bonefall]

Anyway. Bi and Mspec Lesbians aren't a hotly "debated" topic or even new to queer culture, it's just the newest thing that bullies who REALLY want to be homophobic and even racist use to justify harassing gay people they don't like.

It's the thinnest possible veneer of progressive language wrapped around TERF and reactionary rhetoric so that they can feel righteous for forming an angry mob against vulnerable targets. If you're gullible enough to fall for the newest wave of bigotry within the queer community, and turn on your allies because they're "confusing" or "invading your spaces," the SAME way they turned on bi/pan labels, trans people, xenogenders, neopronouns, and aroace people before this, then get lost.

[louisfriend-ironsulfide]

Clannibal headcanons! -

A lot of HC’s, mostly on the more wholesome side. In no particular order:

Clarice still runs every morning. The lavish lifestyle Hannibal lives means she needs to do a lot of exercise to keep in her preferred shape. She wakes up before six in the morning every weekday and runs the perimeter of whichever vast, isolated woodland property he buys for the pair of them

Clarice is always greeted home from these runs by a hearty breakfast. Oftentimes they do not finish breakfast

Clarice allows him spoil her this way but she is a ‘rube’ - one generation away from white trash - at heart and nothing will ever change that. For a while some of her more “common” habits irked Hannibal, but soon enough he learnt to love them and finds them incredibly endearing

Clarice’s southern accent becomes more pronounced when she’s angry

Mr’s Rosencrantz declaration that Hannibal “sort made a girl's fur crackle” becomes an inside joke between them after Clarice mentions it to him. He finds it embarrassing. She finds it hilarious

Hannibal is very particular about matching with Clarice when they go out. He will often make sure his ties and the lining of his blazers are the exact same shade as any dresses she wears. If he is unable to find an exact match, he has them custom made

They use Clarice’s newly acquired language skills in many situations past simply maintaining disguises. If she wants something, and Hannibal says no to her (a rare occurrence), then Clarice will ask again in Italian and suddenly he’s putty in her hands

Low waist jeans, beaten up boots and old UVA sweaters are absolutely still a part of Clarice’s wardrobe. Watching the pair move about their house when Clarice is feeling lazy is quite funny. He’s always immaculately dressed and she’ll be there looking like a hungover college student

Hannibal is actually really bad with alcohol. He’s been sipping on expensive wine, only allowing himself to get elegantly buzzed, for years, meanwhile Clarice knows how to fuck up an entire bottle of whiskey and live with the consequences

That being said, he makes the best hangover cures

Cannibalism and murder jokes galore. Hannibal is the king of gallows humour. Clarice can appreciate a joke (as we know, since she is an endlessly sarcastic character) but sometimes Hannibal goes a little too far

Clarice gets weirdly upset at the sight of washing machines. Generally, Hannibal despises seeing clarice upset, but this strange trigger tends to amuse him

Being on the run means frequent re-application of hair dye and bleach. Hannibal takes on this job. It’s one of many small, shared activities that the unique couple enjoy. Clarice always falls asleep whilst he’s doing it

You know they have a big ass bath and very often bathe together

They’re… adventurous

Hannibal is a man who likes to use his teeth, and half of Clarice’s makeup routine involves her trying to cover up all the marks he leaves on her. If she doesn’t bother to cover up, their trips to the opera tend to get awkward. Those dresses don’t leave much to the imagination.

Clarice still wears her bunny slippers. Hannibal pretends to hate them but really he thinks they’re stupidly adorable on her

Valentine’s Day is their equivalent to Christmas. It’s a big deal and both of them go all out every year

Valentines gifts keep getting harder and harder, because what do you buy each other when you both already have everything you’ve ever wanted?

Hannibal’s number one display of affection is just sticking his face into her neck and taking a deep breath. Most people find it weird, and even she does sometimes, but he just fucking loves how she smells

He leaves her notes all over the house whenever he goes to run errands. She keeps all of them, of course

He also leaves her origami swans frequently. Those, too, are kept

Instead of the typical “sweet dreams”, Hannibal prefers “quiet dreams” when wishing clarice goodnight

[lachesine]

hahah! i didnt expect haitham's story quest to put in plain text whats wrong with him, but i guess it did all the work for me

i dont know if i would say that haitham is antisocial, but he does aggressively separate himself from society to the point of wanting to be an "outside observer" who can see things objectively

hes cold and shrewd, but not without morals. he has a good read on people's emotions, and can extrapolate enough from his own knowledge and observations to make some real 5d chess level predictions, and then follow them perfectly

one thing i noticed during the archon quest is that while there were multiple points where a certain move in his plan could be to "test the waters" where the outcome could indicate a change in plans... but none of them were ever revealed to be a test, just another piece in the complete rube goldberg machine falling into place

he also says that the opinions of others dont matter to him, but i think thats untrue! when paimon scolded him (like kaveh, if i dare say so) haitham changed his mind and went from dodging questions, to bringing the player home to explain things

on several occasions other characters call him arrogant and/or egotistical, but i feel like either the word choice is off or something was lost in translation

haitham is arrogant in the sense that in separating himself from others, people assume he thinks of himself as above others, but haitham has no illusions of that nature. he is a human who Lives In A Society, and while i dont think he forgets that, he just... never brings attention to that inherent contradiction

there is an impossible ideal hidden in the goal of being objective, as a human being with subjective experiences, and yet alhaitham pursues it anyways. by sticking his grubby scholarly fingers in as many problems that come across his desk as he can, he ends up learning new things, which he needs to do in order to keep up with his impossible, infinitely-unattainable goal

i think instead of control (how i initially read him) haitham instead values his own freedom and autonomy, because he needs it in order to keep pursuing an objective look at reality with the least amount of obstacles as possible

he hates obligation, but will rise to the occasion if it satisfies some amount of curiosity, and counts as knowledge-gathering. and thats all he really wants out of life

honestly, it's easy to read him as unambitious if you don't know him well...

and this is my obligatory "kaveh doesnt know dick about shit" corner

i think the inherent mirror aspect of the haitham and kaveh dynamic is that haitham has a good grasp on kaveh's damage, while kaveh has absolutely no clue, or is too arrogant to actually put things together

not that its hard! kaveh is an open gotdamn book

untrue fanon perception 1: haitham bullies kaveh

(obviously not from the majority of shippers)

whenever haitham has something sincerely mean to say about kaveh, its because kaveh insults haitham first. haitham rarely insults kaveh behind his back

thats not to say he never does it. but its extremely mild in comparison if he does

if anything i think kavehs the one with the emotional damage to try and instigate an argument with haitham constantly, and try to embarrass him in front of the first guests he ever brought to the house

untrue fanon perception 2: haitham likes kaveh and just hasnt said anything in plain words. for example, this explains why someone as selfish as haitham lets kaveh live with him

heres the screencap everyone likes to grab

cute right? maybe kaveh is his priority?

hell no. he is subtweeting the hell out of kaveh here

sometimes i wonder if shippers are seeing something other than huffing fumes, and in this case i think the people who ship these two, its a lot of fumes

not that i dont assign partial blame to mihoyo. they know what they did

but i think haitham is interesting, and im sad that people try to sand down his rough edges to make him like... shippable

i dont want to try an debunk the fanon that hes autistic and/or aspec because i dont really think those things can be... debunked. but i guess my 2c on both of those is that i dont personally see it

haitham doesnt avoid [socializing/romance] because its [overwhelming/boring/inscrutable], he avoids it because hes pursuing an impossible ideal and those things in the first category are a means to an end at best, and a nuisance all other times

he is a man of extreme ideals but modest goals. he wants to hold a tape measure to the world, but doesnt see himself as that measure, just that things can be measured, accounted for, and planned around

he is programming the best google maps route between his house and his desk job, and keeping an eye out to optimize other things along the way, not necessarily in the pursuit of absolute social stability, but absolute routine

[holds him up like a potato] i just think he's neat

[anthonybialy]

Advertised Deals

Write your dear government a slogan as your patriotic duty. Americans love being told they aren't bright enough to realize their decisions and money hold them back. Needing salesman to make the case for mandates is a troubling sign both for the invasively shaky programs themselves and the functionality of simple transactions. Their lack of understanding about the latter leads to the former, so at least their universe is self-contained.

Advertising copy takes more work than a worthwhile product, at least if you're trying to sell trash. The unjustifiably cynical think slick salesmanship is all success requires, which is another reflection of why they'd last for seven minutes in business. An audience spending its own funds won't try a crummy product a second time even if the jingle is so irksomely memorable that it crowds addresses and birthdays out of one's brain. Product awareness is just another way they don't grasp how the private sector functions.

Joe Biden inspires by learning to speak in entire sentences after brushing each and every one of his own teeth. It might be worse to pretend he's still clear enough to be responsible for what he thinks.

The last official Democratic president at least made people enduring his awful ideas feel like they were enjoying suffering. Barack Obama's deputy is so poor at selling that he can't even convince people that free stuff is worth the cost. It's easy to see why the all-time conman has spent zero percent of his life working to produce anything valuable. Some jerk in a factory or store acts all important just by virtue of peddling something people want.

It's hard to be sure how we're being manipulated. Knowing it's happening is the only obvious bit. Americans wondering if their lawns are edible aren't quite being made to feel like everything is pleasant. Marks have just been set up for a letdown which can only be assuaged by relinquishing more natural rights to the Department of Transportation. A mission statement might have brought our saviors clarity. But there's no need to plan how to please customers when you can force them to participate in a twisted take on commerce by law.

International embarrassments result from villains rampaging despite or because of presidential coddling. Saving ire for successful Americans is just another tough sell. Your dear incumbent is obsessed with restricting your behavior whether you want to pack heat or buy what you wish with money you earned and then keep. The few of us who do succeed despite overwhelming restrictions are to be punished for the privilege by having their fortunes seized to fund daft scheming.

A president who can't remember how shoelaces work occasionally has memories of dreaming to vanquish your rights. Perhaps he was never sharp in the first place. The nursing home escapee is going to inform Americans just how stupendous having their rights confiscated will be for their material and spiritual well-being. The nation's rulebook was written by white men almost as old as Biden and thus should be violated for equality. Disregarding the Constitution at every opportunity is a popular hobby with those who feel executive orders reducing prices are immutable.

It's not just advertising that makes us rubes want to fill our dwellings with products. Liberals who see humans not smart enough to work for government as saps think manipulation is easy. Vendors have to present a good product. Voting is easy with dollars. Commercials are more effective if you already want the subject. Unlike Washington, sellers can only trick you into buying something dumb once.

People buying what they choose from a range of items with their own earnings are rubes, according to entirely wise judgmental types who fall for promises of unlimited free health care and college from the entity that is going to make roads drivable once the next trillion bucks of infrastructure spending is shredded and packed into potholes. Getting the word out differs entirely from trying to hawk something that you must buy by presidential command.

You don't even need an invasive melody to show why free exchange is preferable. There's a rather obvious difference between informing consumers about something they might enjoy enough to voluntarily purchase and forcing a captive audience to participate. It's undoubtedly a sign a service is desirable when the threat of legal punishment can't convince involuntary market patrons to participate. The worst sorts of executives also don't grasp how something worthwhile could be voluntary, so why start being inconsistent now?

Convincing locked-in timeshare presentation attendees that programs in which they must participate are terrific reflects ideology a bit too perfectly. Compulsion fans don't trust markets, as they think everyone but them is incapable of calculating costs and benefits. Crummy slogans result from lack of competition.

Cynicism doesn't make pretend budgets add up. Democrats invariably use terms like “the masses” to refer to those they view with condescension. Looking down upon both those creating desired products and the purchasers is their way of treating both sides equally.

Why won't you idiots do as you're told? Derision at an audience that won't make one choice to stop making future choices is the default reaction for the bossy. Advertisers know better than to talk down to those they're trying to convince to make purchases. Government can't match the private sector even at persuasion despite coercion.

[quirkyhero]

"Bakugou finding out a male farmer has a pussy . . .plus dick"

Warnings for my cringe of writing, . . . I tried my best okay!? Also smut and human x hybrid stuff.

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Dude I'm just falling . . . "UTTERly" in love with @miggiisdumb 's Farm/Cow au's breeder bull Bakugou and I just had the hungry thought of Bakugou being so confused that he gets irritated about the new guy that looks so much like an adorable gal. To the point that he came to the conclusion of charging and chasing the poor boy away constantly, or just messing with the farmer.

Breeder Bull Bakugou who's protective of his harem and once catches the farmer looking at his harem decides to chase him once again only for the small farmer to trip and Bakugou to fall forward as well due to him trying to stop. They both fell with Bakugou's hips thrusted into the farmer's backside, only to the much panic of the farmer who has a big angry Bull that looks like he'll kill him every chance he has on top of him.

Meanwhile Bakubull after recognized that the irritating farmer is underneath him, he also recognized that... something felt. Off, after shifting around he recognized the thing that felt off, was the missing couple of bumps in between the guy's legs. Pushing his hips forward, and earning a bit of a noise from the smaller male in the process as well as ignoring it. For a moment he could have sworn that he felt the bottom half of a female. . .and what could be a dick. . . What the fuck???

Bakugou didn't get very long to think about it before the smaller boy knocks the back of his head into his snoot and scrambling away before getting up and running away. Bakugou however is left there confused and Slightly stunned.

After the whole discovery, and Bakugou thinking it over, Bakugou got into his head that a pussy no matter who it belongs to, is a pussy nonetheless. With that being said Bakugou decides that he is pretty cute for a dude, wouldn't be so bad having a guy in his harem right? Takes a look at the cute small farmer and decides, nah he totally wants him to be in his harem. So he does his thing by courting the farmer boy, flaunting his winnings after any fight or challenge, showing off his muscles and his strength. . .

Only for it to fly over the farmer boy's head, thinking it's probably him rubbing tryi g to rub it in his face or to show off to the heifers and woman watching. And who could blame the farmer boy, this Bull went from chasing and being rude to him, to chasing and trying to rub his junk on him? Nonetheless this bull just will not leave the poor farmer alone.

Inevitably he caught you alone in the barn raking the hay in the pens much to your dismay. You barely recognize the shadow of the person behind you before your pushed to the ground. "Hello there shortstack~" he practically purs out while holding the poor boy down. Keeping the farmer boy from fighting back and getting up, though it was a fruitless fight, due to how strong and heavy he was and how tired the farm boy was from exhaustion.

Soon enough he reaches around, while lifting your hips up and rubbing and squeezing the tip of farmers dick from above the coverage of boy's pants. His words only adding to the embarrassing and dirty situation. The farmer boy's moans and whine just spurring him on, "you know, if you just gave in yo could have the feel of my cock destroy your insides. Me fucking you so looong and hard~ I'll have you squirting for hours."

But the smaller boy is relentless in not giving in. "N- noaah, w-way." Though by the sounds of those moans he and him both know that the farmer wants to give in, and fuck he can feel this pressure coming with every rub and squeeze. That is until he stops and the boy suddenly see the tip of the bull's dick appear from between his legs. . .God it's huge, there's no way he'd let Bakugou fuck him with that knowledge.

Soon enough he's pumping himself through the boys legs, while pushing the farmer's thighs together for tighter friction. This only worsened boy beneath him state, with him now rubing between his pussy as well as dick, gods the the pleasure was too much, if he kept going the poor farmer wasn't going to last. He felt like he was gonna blow, crying and to his disdain and pride, begging for him to stop or slow down. "Oh ya gonna blow your load~ cum for me then, cum so hard that it starts to hurt princess~." Eventually he came with a load moan and his tongue sticking out he couldn't stop in time, his cum Basically pouring through your pants.

Though even if you came, Bakugou hadn't. He was still pumping his fat cock in between your thighs, which only kept adding to your sensitivity and kept you Cumming, till finally he blew his own on the hay beneath you two. Bakugou soon pulled away only feeling a bit satisfied, seeing the flushed out face with a few tears on your face and hearing a bit of hiccups coming from him, he couldn't help but feel a bit of pride in the state the cute boy was in.

Bakugou now just a bit satisfied picked the male up and cradled him in his lap giving a few prepping kisses on the smallers cheek, throwing a few praises his way. "Ya did so well princess~ so cute and teary eyed like that." The farmer with a small pout on his lips, only gives a few whines and weak shoves in retaliation. Though this only makes Bakugou chuckle, "so cute" and continues to lick, cleaning the tears and sweat off the farmer's face soon enough laying the smaller male on his back and lapping up the cum and slick from the boys pants being at least a little mindful of the sensitivity, even if che revels in the little spasms and twitches his princess gives

All in all, a mini victory and a step closer to making his princess join his harem. . . worth it.

___________________________________________________________________________

I got inspired by @miggiisdumb 's Bull/Cow AU and made a little Bakubull x Farmer boy thing for myself cause I'm a thirsty bitch and couldn't help my self.

I'm also gonna add @headkandies cause we both seem thirsty for boy x boy and Bull Bakugou

Also sorry for the cringe I'm not that great at writing. 😅

[godofsexdrugsandrocknroll]

Green Lantern Jaune!AU

*In the middle of the Fall of Beacon*

Jaune: *To Cinder* In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night--

Cinder: *Hopped up on her ego* Really? This is the best you have, Nikos? A cheat who’s read too much manga?

Pyrrha: *Staring in horror*

Jaune: --No Evil Shall Escape My Sight!

Cinder: *Rolls her eyes, aims arrow at Jaune instead*

Jaune: Let Those Who Worship Evil’s Might, Beware My Power--

Cinder: *Shoots arrow*

Jaune: Green Lantern’s Light!

*A flash of green and Jaune’s wearing Alan Scott’s Kingdom Come Green Lantern suit*

Cinder: What!?

Pyrrha: *Gapes*

Cinder’s Arrow: *Disintegrates*

Jaune: Don’t worry Pyrrha, I got this!

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

Jacques Schnee: *Blinded by Jaune’s transformation* What the devil!?

Weiss: *Sees her chance, kicks her father in the groin* That dolt, what does he think he’s doing? *Worriedly, poorly mimicking Jaune’s voice* ‘Oh no, I can’t do that Snow Angel, it’s bad enough I let you know but Remnant’s nowhere near ready for the attention of the rest of the galaxy!’ How is transforming in front of all of Vale supposed to be keeping that a secret!? *Stalks off worriedly in Jaune’s direction*

Jacques Schnee: *Rolls on the ground in agony*

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

Blake: *Stemming Yang’s bleeding* I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry, I’m so--

*Jaune transforms, Blake yelps*

Blake: *Gapes at the barely visible figure of Jaune* W-what!? Jaune’s the Emerald Knight!?

Yang: *Waking, weakly* B-Blake?

Blake: *Still stunned but realizes she can’t run now, not with Yang looking like at her like that*

----------------- 

Adam Taurus: *Seething in apocalyptic fury* You again. You bastard, you just won’t stop interfering where you don’t belong!

White Fang Grunt: *Terrified of the emerald glow* Sir? What do we do? The last time we fought the Emerald Knight he nearly killed you.

Adam Taurus: *Audibly grinds teeth* We retreat.

White Fang Grunt: Sir!?

Adam Taurus: Don't make me repeat myself. We retreat. The only way we live to fight another day is if we live and that accursed blight on faunuskind won’t hesitate to kill our brothers and sisters in droves if we fight him now!

----------------- 

Nora: --EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ren: *Sighs in defeat*

Nora: *Stops, cackling maniacally* If fearless leader’s a superhero then that means we are too, Renny! *Pink electricity crackles, Nora’s eyes begin glowing pink* Call me Thundermaiden! *Lifts Magnhild*

Worried Beowolf: Aroo?

----------------- 

Velvet: *Breathes* Bloody rippa.

----------------- 

Coco: *Lips pressed together, exhales explosively* Nine out of ten. That armor is sleek, aesthetically pleasing from any angle, those pauldrons are just muah and if Arc had been born with just one more X chromosome I’d have my head buried in his thighs and he’d be screaming my name for that fucking cape. *Sighs wistfully*

Neptune: *To himself* Oh yeah, because now’s the time for a boner.

Reese Chloris: *Zipping about* Maybe focus on the badass armor later, cause if you haven’t noticed-- *Is cut off by the roar of Coco’s minigun*

Coco: Yeah, yeah.

----------------- 

Emerald: Get back here you traitorous coward!

Mercury: *Running away* Nope, fuck that! My old man fought the Emerald Knight last year, got his ass whooped up and down the Purple River and the Emerald Knight just straight up disappeared the fucker! Not only is fighting that dude suicide but I owe him one!

Emerald: You traitor! How dare you turn your back on Cinder, after all she’s done for you!

Mercury: *Rolls his eyes, kicks a Beringel at a now shrieking Emerald* Cinder offers me the chance to kill my old man. Emerald Knight wipes him off the face of Remnant. And these are the people I worked with.

----------------- 

Ruby: Pyrrha, don’t worry, I’m holy guacamole with a side of chips. *Stares at Jaune in awe* OMIGOSH YOUR ARMOR IS SO COOL!

Cinder: *Incoherent screaming*

Ruby: *Gasps at Jaune’s massive emerald longsword* Th-th-th-th-- *Goes into a pitch only dogs can hear*

Jaune: *Cuts through two more of Cinder’s swords, creates a massive riot shield to block fire* Like Crocea Mors, Rubes? *Ruby shatters glass with her voice* Just a bit of my power. Alright, enough of you.

Cinder: You dare!? I am the Fall Maiden and I will have your girlfriend’s soul!

Jaune: Uh, Weiss is nowhere near--

Pyrrha: *Slumps, mutters* Thank you for reminding me Jaune, I had almost forgotten.

Jaune: You say something Pyr?

Cinder: *Flabbergasted* Then why!? Why stand in my path!? This will only end one way, you cheat! You’re a nobody! Nothing you have can stand before the powers of the Maidens! Not your strange aura or your paltry armor!

Jaune: Because. Pyrrha’s my friend. *Pyrrha gets teary eyed*  It's not about where you were born or the powers you have or what you wear on your chest; it's about what you do. It’s about your actions. And I refuse to let innocent people be hurt in your lust for power! *Disappears Crocea Mors, creates heavy shackle constructs on Cinder and a muzzle construct over her mouth* And you’re right. The Guardians of Oa will be your judgment.

Cinder: *Wide eyed, stunned at her immediate defeat*

Ruby: *Gapes, is inspired by his words*

Pyrrha: *Stunned, happy to be alive, touched*

Weiss: *Arrives* Our hero. *Smiles* So much for secrecy, huh?

Jaune: *Sheepishly* Heh, yeah. Not sure Remnant’s really ready for the Corps. and all that comes with it but no way could I call myself a Lantern if I let Pyro Lady here get her way.

Weiss: *Haughtily* Yes, quite. *Smiles cheerfully* Well the good news is you seem to have given the others a second wind. *Gestures, strokes Jaune’s cheek*

Jaune: *Stares blankly as Huntsmen and Huntress tear through Grimm like they’re barely there, sees retreating White Fang and Atlas making arrests, mowing down Grimm; Grins* All in a--

Grimm Dragon: *Roars*

Cinder: *Eyes widen in glee*

Weiss: *Clutches Jaune’s side, aims Myrtenaster*

Jaune: AAAHHH! DRAGON! Trust in instincts!

*Giant green penis construct forms above the Dragon and slams down onto it, crushing the body*

Cinder: *Goes into catatonic shock*

Jaune: *Ignores Weiss pounding on his chest as she blushes furiously* Instincts bad!

Grimm Dragon: *Dies feeling oddly humiliated*

Weiss: Why!? Of all the things, why t-t-t-t-t-t-t-that!

Jaune: *Embarrassed, not making eye contact with a stunned Ruby or Pyrrha, defends himself* I didn’t hear you complaining last night when I made to-scale copies of Jaune Jr. so you could get spitroasted by your boyfriend! I *realizes what he just said* Oops.

Weiss: *Mortified beyond belief* I-I, you, n-no... *Sees gaping Ruby and Pyrrha, buries her face in his cape* H-he’s lying! I-I, noooo, I hate yoooooouuu!!!!!!

Jaune: I love you too, Snow Angel. *Blushes* Well, as far as official debuts go that could have been worse.

Winter: *Sounding angry and embarrassed as she stomps up the CCT stairs* W-Weiss, I’m well aware of how happy you are in your relationship but that is no reason to allow your boyfriend to advertise to the world in s-s-such lewd detail his p-p-p-his dingaling!

Yang: *Further down the stairs, sounding pained* BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!

Weiss: *Face is a tomato and she starts kicking an embarrassed Jaune’s armored shin*

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

One: Look my Homelander avatar in the eyes and tell me Alan Scott’s armor in Kingdom Come wasn’t just made for a GL!Jaune story.

Two: Yes, that is a (very lightly) paraphrased Superman quote Jaune used.

Three: Instincts bad is a reference to a Spider-Man panel.

Four: Velvet is terribly accurate. My girlfriend is Australian and she uses ‘ripper’ regularly. It’s basically Australian for awesome.

[razorblade180]

Interdimensional Moms part 2

Part 1 <-

Yang:Okay Weiss, your turn.

Weiss:What!? Why me?

Blake:Because you’ve been bouncing in your seat all through Yang’s story. You clearly want to gush about your kids.

Weiss:Pffft, What!? Nooooo, a little. Hehehe I can’t believe I’m that obvious. *smiles*

Ruby:Aww look at you, I never believe Weiss Schnee could look as warm as campfire.

Yang:And wearing mom jeans!? Little jealous that you still look completely gorgeous. Why does mom energy make you prettier?

Weiss:What can I say? I’m great. As far as my universe goes, I argue that I’m the strongest mom!

Blake:Such a bold claim.

Weiss:I carried twins! *points to self* this body handled two buns in the oven!

Ruby:Couldn’t be me. *shutters* I’d sooner loose an eye. Speaking of eyes, your scar has a friend. Got this whole upside down cross basically.

Weiss:Oh that? That’s uhhhh- how would I even explain this?

Yang:And your hair! It’s short!

Ruby:Yeah you’re just a surprise all over.

Blake:Guys, let her start from the beginning!

Ruby and Yang:Oh right. *covers mouths*

Weiss:(Yep, they’re the same sisters anywhere.) Thank you Blake. Now then...a good starting place? Well I suppose I could lay the ground work of Jaune and I getting better acquainted. It was about two weeks into reaching Atlas. Winter learned I got impaled and berated me not giving any kind of thanks. Since I had waited so long to do so, words wouldn’t do for her standards and she made me take him to a proper dinner. I think it was that night we actually talked openly to each other. A piece of me was annoyed at first because I thought he’d get the wrong idea again. But...he didn’t. He was just happy to spend time with me. That’s when I realized he had changed a bit *red* and apparently I changed too. Sigh, because that annoyed feeling was actually me forming a crush.

Blake:Looks like you changed more than he did. I think we can all agree that we’re pretty rough to deal with at Beacon in the beginning?

Yang:Hell yeah!

Ruby:Preach! Hehe, but it meant you grew the most too.

Weiss:Hey! You’re all assuming that I was terrible! Who knows, I could a Saint compared to your Weiss. Maybe I was a sweetheart at Beacon.

RBY:.....

Yang:Were you?

Weiss:*red* I’ll never tell.

Blake:(That’s just a no...) Two weeks into Atlas huh? I bet feelings raged whenever the whole place was under attack huh?

Weiss:W...What attack? Barely anything happened in Atlas.

Blake:Excuse me?

Ruby:Pfft what? You’re joking right? There wasn’t any threat of things falling out the sky or war threats?

Weiss:No? We showed up, put the relic in vault, and took time fortifying things while planning with Ironwood. The most exciting thing was a grimm wave and two of Salem’s goons showing up at a ball, but we handled that.

Ruby:....I...that’s...oh my head.

Blake:So what you’re saying is time in Atlas was a piece of cake?

Weiss:Well I had to deal with my father and and a lot of other family drama so I wouldn’t say it was cake. It was actually very stressful.

Yang:Well I think we found the massive shift between worlds. Atlas was different. I would say I dealt with anything like falling kingdoms. Atlas for me was one long Mission Impossible sequence. Espionage, jail break, fake deaths, but please continue with your love story.

Weiss:You sound a little envious. Anyways there isn’t too much of anything to tell in that part. Dates, fighting together, sibling healing, I was disowned publicly, Penny was being amazing-

Blake:You were disowned?

Ruby:(Penny is...alive? Huh, well, imagine that?) .....

Yang:*whispers* You okay Rubes?

Ruby:Yeah, processing. Hey Weiss? Not to control the narrative or anything, but how is your Ruby exactly? I get the feeling she’s quite different from me somehow if things like the adventure in Atlas are different.

Weiss rubbed her chin. She could tell the Ruby in front of her was pretty perplexed by the differences so far. In fact, Weiss could tell mentioning Penny made them all flinch a little. It was safe to assume they all hadn’t heard that name in a very long time. It made her feel a little bad. Did she somehow get a more ideal world?

Weiss:I think I might be able to answer that if you could humor me by getting a little further into my world’s reality? I don’t know how but I do get a since the two of you might have a key difference.

Ruby:I’m all ears.

Weiss: Blake, I’ll circle back to being disowned a little later. It’s one of the biggest reasons I am who I am now. Let’s see now, ah, the plan. After Atlas was infiltrated it was hard to save face to the rest of Remnant. That was until the world learned about Salem. It was a secret that was doing more harm than good at this point. On that day, our journey really began for us. Team RWBY wasn’t just four girls and their friends. It was one of four four girls commanding troops, organizing meetings, rallying others. We were the face of a revolution: along with JNPR of course.

Ruby:The world just...believed in Salem?

Weiss:There were plenty skeptics, but it’s harder not to believe it. Pen- our winter maiden, showed off magic. Then the others on our side followed the example. We had two relics to show off from the start, and a variety of ways to explain questions throughout history that nobody could answer before. We gave humanity’s suffering a face. People were more than eager to cling to it. From that point it was hard for Salem to make a move that wouldn’t give further validity to our story.

Ruby:An army huh, lead by us?

Weiss:Yep, mainly you when it came to the battlefield. You were anxious at first and definitely made moves that you regretted. But...after some time and experience, you stood tall in front of dozens to give a speech the night of the final battle. I still get chills. There wasn’t an eye that wasn’t on you. A person who didn’t want to march into battle with you. I don’t think I ever seen you more sure of where you were meant to be.

Ruby:Is that so? Hmm, I think...I think I get it now. Your Ruby must’ve stumbled quite a bit, but had people by her consistently. It was other’s strength that enabled her to get stronger. How old was she when the war was over?

Weiss:It ended on her twenty first birthday.

Ruby:Makes sense. An army isn’t made in a day. Plans and caution for everyone involved. A united force like that sounds like a thing Oz dreamed of.

Weiss:Actually, it was. My world beat Salem by gaining the relics. The gods witnessed the effort the world put in and stripped her of immortality. It was actually thanks to you that Salem went peacefully. Instead of damning her to a cruel fate, the gods let her pass on to her kids per your request. After that, gods and magic came back. Both are still mysterious. The gods are hard to find and there’s only one person born with magic so far.

Yang:Magic is a thing there!? That’s so unfair! Just imagine me with more fire!?

Weiss:Like you need it!? You’re already like a generator. Life after Salem wasn’t any calmer really. Terrifying grimm lurked where their could, an entire new way of life had been dropped on society, and even the world itself seemed to react. Weather has been more intense as of late. There was a lot things to keep people busy. Ruby being her usual self, started hunting. Blake used the momentum of faunus and humans working together to further her equality agenda, and Yang helped both of you out.

Yang:Look at me! I’m a great girlfriend and sister!

Blake:*mumbles* There at least.

Weiss:Yeah. Oscar and Penny decided to embarrass more of normal lifestyle, mostly. Penny went back to being protector of Mantle, but had way more free time to be a normal girl. Both of them had gotten really close over the years and eventually married.

Ruby:*wide eyed* Awwww, good for them! I always had a feeling those two would hit it off.

Weiss:They weren’t the only ones. You may have been busy, but you always made time for Whitley. The two of you were dating since our original trip to Atlas. There wasn’t a problem that either of you didn’t come to me for. You know hard it is to navigate other people’s relationships when you’re lost in your own? The blind was leading the blind. Worked out though. You were probably the prettiest bride out of all of us. Then again, you went ours and literally took notes.

Ruby:Hehe, that sounds exactly like something I’d do. You haven’t talked much about the charmed life after the war for you.

Weiss felt her face heat up. She placed her head on the table as if she gave up on something.

Yang:Yeah! Give us the scoop!

Weiss:Charmed isn’t what I’d call my life exactly. I was disowned, completely cut off. Even though I made my own mark in history, it’s not like people were gonna roll out red carpets. The world had to rebuild, and I needed a roof over my head. Thus began the modest life of Weiss Schnee, owner of a two bedroom Argus apartment. Fancy clothes a food were no more. Just clearance sales and two for one. Honestly, I didn’t hate. But that’s mainly because I wasn’t living alone.

Blake:Jaune?

Weiss:Living back home was just as unappealing for him as it was for me. That and the fact that I couldn’t cook for shit was concerning, to say the least. Moving in and splitting rent just made sense. We weren’t dating yet technically, but.....it didn’t take long for the relationship between us to...expand.

Yang:I cannot believe a Weiss Schnee finally caved to tall blonde and scraggly. I should be jealous, but I’m strangely proud of Jaune’s achievement. It’s like the first time I lost to him. I was upset, but man did he work for that win.

Weiss:Took about a month before all of you had learned just what the living situation was like and man did you three let the teasing begin? *smiles* it was fun though. If I had to wrong about something then I’m glad it was about me not thinking a person is reliable. Especially since they’ve bailed me out of trouble many times. Normal life had its pitfalls. We were constantly working to pay rent. Sometimes one of us had to work harder. Getting sick was disastrous, of long term assignments. What’s the relationship I have with Whitley in the other worlds?

Ruby:Casual. The two of are always throwing ideas back and forth to help the company.

Blake:The two of you are fine. I’m not too sure how much you actually hang out, but you both are pretty snarky whenever you’re together.

Yang:Thick as thieves. That man was always shifting money and finding sneaky ways to let us know when important things popped up.

Weiss:Good, that’s really good. *exhales* I can’t count the times he sent money without father knowing. I’m glad we reconnected. Without his and everyone’s help, I don’t think I would’ve managed. Especially when mom died...

Ruby:Oh. I...I’m sorry to hear that.

Weiss:It’s bound to happen when you drink the way she did. But yeah, didn’t handle it any easier. Between that and stressing over money, I really got overwhelmed often. I was very glad I didn’t live alone. Even if I didn’t want to talk about things, Jaune was always there to listen. I think it was around that time I realized just how in love I actually was with him. He makes me happy. That idiot must’ve known how much of a weakness I had for him. It was only a few months later that he proposed.

The simple memory of Jaune asking her under a street light on a cold yet peaceful night, made Weiss’s face a healthy shade of red. A gentle smile was all she could make thinking about it. A smile that left everyone stunned. They had never seen Weiss look so warm. So genuinely filled with love, happiness. To think she was once called Ice Queen? This one really did look like an Angel. Weiss quit daydreaming and got a little embarrassed.

Weiss:Uh, sorry! I guess I little mushy there. I’ve been told I’ve gotten pretty sappy through the years.

Blake:I think that’s beautiful.

Yang:Seriously. I’m...speechless really.

Ruby:A hardworking Weiss that struggled making ends meet. I gotta say that you look good doing it.

Weiss:Yeah well, that time has passed. My father got sick and in an attempt to “clear his conscious” or whatever he was feeling, he put me back in the family. I only saw him once when he was on his deathbed. Truthfully, I don’t visit my parent’s grave. I wanna say old emotions don’t get stirred up, but there’s certain feelings towards people that just can’t die I guess.

Yang:That’s fair. Who knows, maybe you just need a decade or two?

Weiss:Hehe, perhaps. However, before I got my fortune back, I was granted an either better one. Two in fact. That sly knight of mine managed to overachieve like he always does and give us a boy and girl.

Blake:I got a sneaking suspicion that you weren’t upset?

Weiss:Not for one second! I love my babies. My darling little Nick and Summer Schnee. One named after our grandfather, and Jaune and I are both really thankful for all that Ruby has done for us, so our daughter got named Summer. It meant a lot. My Ruby...she can’t have kids, or I should say getting and staying pregnant is extremely difficult.

Ruby:...*sniffling* These aren’t tears by the way. Just dust.

Weiss:My Ruby cried.

Ruby:Oh I bet! That’s some powerful stuff. Probably ugly cried too. Someone please say something? *misty eyed* Fuck, man that was a lot. *puts hood up* give me a sec, please keep going. *holding Yang’s hand*

Yang:Weiss, weren’t you a little scared about your living situation?

Weiss:It was a weird thing. We talked about having a family before hand. Money was always a concern, as well space; but I also knew that I did want to have a family of my own one day. So when the day came that the nurse told me I was pregnant, I should’ve been more worried. I wasn’t. All I felt was joy. Maybe it was because I had faith we could handle anything. We did have you all to help. Yang, you might as well be a superwoman honestly. You have been so amazing throughout my life.

Yang:Aye! I really love this other me.

Blake:What about me?

Weiss:You remain the most sensible person in my life and I thank you for it. Everyone else is crazy.

Blake:Yeah that’s pretty on brand. *smiles*

Ruby:Picture please?

Weiss gladly pulled out her scroll and showed off her children. It was quick to see both of them had gotten their father’s dorkiness. They stood in front of the camera playfully winking and were pretending to take a bite out the gold medals they had around their necks. It was crazy how much Summer looked like her mother, but clearly had Jaune’s eyes. Her brother on the other hand had the Schnee eyes and messy Arc hair. The two looked like barrels of fun. Then there was the man himself, Jaune Arc. He looked from the one in Yang’s photo. His hair resembled his days traveling to Haven and he was clean shaven, but he was noticeably healthier. It wasn’t even a physical thing much, though he did look good. He just seemed more vibrant.

Yang:Mine is cuter.

Weiss:Yours looks like your dad with the scruff.

Yang:Can you not?

Blake:How old?

Weiss:Sixteen. Little devils want sports car. I’m not dealing with that. Nick is really good at figure skating and is the oldest, so he’s the heir. Summer decided to be a little like her mother and pursue singing. Doesn’t have my voice though, but her range is better than me. I’m jealous. Both of them are always pretty decent in a fight if I do say so myself. Sigh, they grow up so fast. They still have a lot of growing to do though. Teenagers...

RBY:Preach...

Ruby:Everything okay though? Nothing too tough going on?

Weiss:Can I lie and say yes?

Yang:Hey I unpacked my baggage. Unload yours.

Weiss let out a large sigh. She looked at her kids lovingly, but had a smile that seemed...somber. All of her energy was brought down a bit and it showed.

Yang:Umm if it’s too much-

Weiss:It’s fine. It might be a little therapeutic to talk about it. Personally, I don’t I’m doing all I really can do. When they were very young, we all took a trip to go skating at a frozen lake. While I was there I found this strange ice dust that I’ve never seen before. Nick and Summer had gotten into a fight and by accident, Nick set off the dust. The shrapnel from it hit everyone, but Summer had it the worse. I’m talking it was lodged in her in multiple places. Not to mention the blast sent her flying into the water. I was hit so hard that I nearly blacked out. Thankfully, Jaune was the furthest and dove into the water while I managed to get Nick. He avoided a lot of it due to distance and was winded more than anything.

Ruby:Christ...

Blake:How young?

Weiss:Five. We rushed so fast to the hospital as soon as we could. The dust in Summer was freezing her until Nick activated her semblance and most of the shards got used up. Still, Summer ended up hospitalized for almost a year. Surgeries, comas, seizures; it was difficult to put it lightly. That picture doesn’t show it but she has puncture scars across her body, and a slight scar under her jawline she covers with makeup. That dust, though highly dangerous, it also healed her eventually. Summer had virtually no chance of survival. Not even counting the organ damage, that water should’ve put her into shock. But...she made a full recovery, on paper.

Yang:On paper?

Weiss:Several years later, Summer came in contact with the dust again and she...changed. Her eyes looked like mine, her light blonde hair went white, and she went mad. Her scars glowed with the dust that was still in her system and Summer started attacking everyone. I saw my twelve year old just use ice that was cold enough to burn. My extra scar is from me trying to restrain her. In the end it took my gigas pinning her down before she came to her senses. Summer had no memory of it. She said all remembered was feeling cold and hearing her own laughter. It wasn’t long after that it kept happening. Any time she got cold, this other...thing would come out. It eventually called itself Shiva.

Blake:Shiva? So...it’s a multiple personality?

Weiss:We don’t know. There’s so many inconsistencies. We got her checked up by the best and every test was normal. Her brain looks normal. But any time Shiva comes out, her blood turns blue and all she wants to do is hurt us. Shiva and Summer are even aware of each other now. There’s almost no day where Summer doesn’t hear Shiva in her head, wrestling for control. Between that, people at school who hate her, the scars, everything; Summer has become pretty reserved. She barely wants to go to school and she’s depressed most days. Nowadays she doesn’t open up about it outside of therapy. I...I can connect with her. Not in the way that matters.

Yang:I...shit, I don’t know what to say to that.

Weiss:That’s okay, few do. We’ve gotten good at preventing situations that get Summer cold but it’s through trial and error on something we know nothing about. Even with how far we’ve gotten, there’s a looming fear in everyone’s heart. Make no mistake though, that doesn’t stop any family from loving her with everything, but the mental strain of it all is more than anyone should deal with. Nick is kind soul. He blames himself for this and is constantly doing all he can to be there for everyone and put on this brave face, but he suffers inside. For a time, he went to therapy. Your sister almost killing you is a visceral experience. Getting him to sleep and take a break is like telling a fish not to swim. He is pretty open about this though, which helps a lot. It’s just...how do convince somehow they’re good enough when they think they’re not?

Ruby and Blake:You can’t....

Weiss:Exactly. It’s so...*tearing up* How am I failing at helping my kids worse than my own mother?

Yang:And that’s where I draw the line. *stands up* Now I can’t begin to fathom dealing with a a situation like this, and what I’m about to say is gonna be a little hypocritical but I really don’t care. Weiss, the last thing you are is a bad mother. I could tell immediately from the way you are that there hasn’t been a single as a parent that you haven’t made a choice without your kids in mind. I get feeling like there’s a gap that disconnects you from there; but the fact you keep your arms stretched out to bridge it makes you mother of the year in my eyes! Don’t believe for a second you’re a bad mother. Your the gold standard!

The room filled with silence for a moment. Weiss felt a lump form in her throat as she fought back tears that she eventually had to wipe away. She tried letting out a small laugh, but with it came more tears that ran down her face. Weiss couldn’t tell if it was from Yang’s words, or the stress. All she knew was that right now, she felt very thankful for being here.

Weiss:Damn it Yang, making me cry is something you’ve always been good at. Maybe that’s why I look up to you so much?

Yang:*red* Y-You what?

Weiss:My Yang, I downplayed just how much I adore her. Her daughter, Veronica, she’s got her fair share problems that stresses Yang out, but I never see her stop trying to connect with her. Even when she’s sad it’s like it’s only for a second, then you’re trying twice as hard. It’s amazing. If I’m being honest, and this is embarrassing, but I kinda picked up a mother from you. You’ve always been a bit motherly.

Ruby:She’s right.

Blake:Mom energy since day one.

Yang:Really? *rubs head* I was just being myself. Never really thought about it. Now then, wipe those tears! It’s upsetting that you look pretty why you cry. Meanwhile I look like a hot mess, and not in the fun way.

Weiss:*wiping face* Oh please, I don’t wanna hear that from someone who’s never needed make up. Those genes of your went to Veronica. Kids a genuine beauty. She’s just angry all the time.

Yang:Yeah that sounds appropriate... Weird to think I have a daughter that’s not Yujin. Wish I could see her.

Blake:Me too. Though I think I’d be overwhelmed seeing all my different kids. I’d probably want them all.

Ruby:My hands are full with ones I have and I wouldn’t say I’m juggling them well, so I don’t need other kids from universes. I’d be so stressed.

Weiss:Especially if they’re violent.

Ruby:Yeah, that would bad....

Weiss:Phew, I do feel a bit better. Even though I said all those things, my family still had good times. It’s not tense and we joke around like everyone else. As a family, we’re happy. We just have shit we gotta sort through.

Blake:Rich or poor, life has certain things that hit everyone. Is Jaune doing well.

Weiss:Yeah, he gets through to Summer pretty well, and he’s typically calm when it comes to giving guidance. He had his fears, but that’s why I’m here. We confide in each other.

Blake:May you and everyone else find a light at the end of the tunnel.

Ruby:Hey Weiss. Does....actually, never mind. Forget it.

Yang:We both know that’s not happening. Spit it out.

Ruby:I was just about Shiva. I’ve encountered weird things in my world, but this is unique. I was wondering if you have any positive experience with her.

Weiss:Not a single one. Here since of enjoyment in the displeasure of my children is a thing we disagree on. Though....her eyes, they do throw me off. For some reason, they don’t match her joy.

Blake:Maybe that part is still Summer. Eyes are the window to the soul and all that jazz.

Weiss:Maybe? I hope the kids are okay right now. I wonder what they’re up to?

xxxxx

Summer:WHAT’S UP VALE!!!!!!!!

A massive crowd screams “what’s up Summer”in excitement. Flashing lights and chanting fans’s voices make the sold out venue shake with their passion. Summer can only bask in it. There’s no better feeling than when she’s on stage. She looks to herself excitedly. This one was extra special. Nick comes out on stage with a base around him and a second microphone.

Nick:WE CAN’T HEAR YOU!!!!

The crowd chants louder. Summer responds by starting a rift on her guitar. She faces Nick with a smug look. Yes, having him on stage is always a joy, but that didn’t mean Summer wanted him hindering or stealing the show.

Summer:Well look who’s here!? Atlas’s favorite son! Think you’re ready to play with the kids up here. This isn’t your normal stage.

Nick smiled. He responded by playing the bass and letting the audience speak for him. Summer was chessing fool. Slowly she bopped up and down, urging him to do the same. It wasn’t long before they in sync. Drums, piano, and other background musicians began building up the tune as planned. The twins whipped around to face the crowd.

🎶Get down! We won't let you go!

This time, can you bring us down?

Back up! fly far through the sky

BLACK ROVER!

Let's go! All together now

And at last this world can't slow us down

For now, let's dye it all in black

BLACK ROVER!🎶

The two stood back to back...

🎶As more join and stand beside me,

The void doesn't feel so empty!!!!!

I know there is much more in store

Let's open that door -!🎶

Nick looked over his shoulder and saw Summer doing the same thing. This was gonna be one for the books. Jaune watched from backstage with one of the stagehands.

Stagehand:Should we tell them to save their energy? This charity event is six hours.

Jaune:Nah, let them have fun.

[bridgyrose]

More salem's vessel AU? Eager to see how the first meetings at Beacon go

Ruby stepped off the airship, starting to feel a bit nervous. She never expected to make it this far this quick. Finally at Beacon and on her way to being a huntress. She just wished she didnt have Salem in her head. 

"From one prison to another. This time to an actual jailkeeper.”

“Please just keep quiet,” Ruby whispered under her breath. “Besides, this is a school. I’m going to train to be a huntress.” 

"Again with this huntress thing. All you have to do is listen to me and I can make sure you obtain your dreams.” Salem’s voice filled Ruby’s mind as she looked deeper into the young girl’s memories. “You know everything I’ve told you is true.”

“I dont want to listen to you!” 

Yang looked over to Ruby. “Everything okay? I know you’re nervous, but I was just wanting to make sure you’d be okay on your own.” 

Ruby froze for a moment, not having realized Yang had been talking to her. “O-oh, right. Y-yeah, I’ll be fine.” 

“Are you sure you’re okay Rubes? You’ve been acting strangely ever since you stopped that dust robbery.” 

“I’m fine. Really. Just nervous about everything. You know it’s been my dream to be here. I just didnt expect it to be so soon.” 

“Then you wont mind if I hang out with my friends.” 

Ruby hesitated. “W-wait what?” 

Yang smiled and rushed off with a few of her friends. “I’ll see you after orientation!” 

“Hold on! You cant just leave me!” Ruby sighed in defeat as Yang rushed off, starting to feel alone. “She knows I’m not that great with people…” 

"Then you might want to move out of the way.”

Before Ruby could question what Salem meant, she felt a cart run into her, suitcases falling on top of her. She rubbed her head just as she heard a shrill voice yelling at her. 

“Watch where you’re going! Dont you know how dangerous it is for dust to move around like that?!” Weiss started picking up a few loose dust vials, glaring at Ruby. “Or were you not taught any manners?” 

Ruby looked up at Weiss and sighed. “You’re the one who ran into me. So it’s not my fault-” 

“And you shouldn’t have been standing around looking lost!” 

Ruby started to feel a bit of anger building up inside of her, trying to hold it back. Only for her head to be filled with Salem’s voice again. 

"You know, you shouldn’t let her yell at you like this. You really should put her in her place.” Salem’s voice almost sounded amused from hearing this new girl yell at her vessel. 

Ruby took a deep breath, whispering to herself. “I’m not going to fight her.” 

"I never said to fight her, just that you shouldn’t let her boss you around.”

“Are you even listening to me?” Weiss continued to yell at Ruby, shaking a dust vial and not noticing it’s contents starting to spill out. “Do you know how dangerous dust is?” 

Ruby hesitated as she felt a little dust start to go up her nose. It didnt take long for her to sneeze, causing a chain reaction of all the loose dust to explode. Once the smoke and dust cleared up, Ruby quickly started getting up to run off.

Weiss frowned at Ruby, snatching one of the dust vials away from her. “See? If you had just paid more attention-” 

“It’s not my fault you started waving that dust vial around!” Ruby couldn’t hold her anger back anymore, letting it flow out. “You’re the one who ran into me! You’re the one who waved that dust vial around, saying how dangerous it was! Did you ever think to check to make sure everything was tightly secured before just waving it willy nilly? Now quit blaming me for this!” 

Weiss hesitated as she listened to Ruby, not entirely sure how to respond to any of it. “W-well, you still shouldnt be standing in the middle of the walkways.” 

Ruby felt her anger start to fade. She took a step back, not entirely sure what came over her, looking around at all the students watching her and Weiss.  It wasnt long before she was rushing off to see if she could find where to go for orientation before she embarrassed herself a bit more. 

Salem’s amusement started to become a bit more apparent. "Well, seems like you do have a few thorns after all. Maybe there’s still a chance for you to be worth my while as it is.”

Ruby sighed and found a spot to sit down for a moment. “I… I dont know what came over me. Its like I felt years of anger building up and finally releasing itself.” 

"That’s only natural when someone decides to belittle you for their own mistakes. Maybe a bit more pent up anger about your mother as well?”

Ruby got up after a moment of deep breathing, trying to keep herself calm. “Can you please just be quiet? I dont need you commenting on everything as well.” 

"Oh, dont you worry about me. You wont even notice I’m here.”

“Why does that worry me more than it should?” 

[razorblade180-heated]

Stress

[Smut! You heathens!]

Nighttime, it’s supposed to be the moment the world moves just a bit slower. Not for a huntsman, and certainly not for grimm. Fortunately none have reared their monstrous face on Jaune’s shift. The boy sat on a tree limb that allowed him to see a wide area of one of Anima’s dense forests.

It’s been at least two months since he tagged along with his friends in order to find whatever answers Haven might have for them. There’s been more downs than ups and some days honestly felt a little hopeless. Yet they all manage to find the courage to at least take one more step. He missed safety. He missed school oddly enough. He missed Pyrrha…

The thought of her instantly ate away at his morale, not to mention his attention. That was until the sound of rustling bushes snapped him back into focus. Jaune immediately drew his sword and was ready for whatever awaited.

“Too loud.” A voice said from the bushes, throwing him off. A second later and Ruby walked out of them with her eyes already on his position.

“Ruby? What are you doing up?” Jaune put away his sword. “We don’t switch for another two hours. Also, two loud?”

“Yeah.” The girl nodded before dashing up to the tree limb, nearly startling Jaune off. “You draw your sword too loud. If I was a grimm or bandit then I’d be on guard. Not to mention I knew exactly where to look after it. Might wanna take it out slower.”

“Hmm, never realized how much sound it made.”

“From the sound of it, someone was lost in thought and was caught off guard?” Ruby said with confidence.

Jaune found it a little scary how well her intuition and senses were when it came to anything weapon related. Though it probably has been saving him more than he knows. “Lucky guess. I got lost in thought. Sorry” his voice drifted off, still a bit sad from the memories.

“Pyrrha?” Ruby immediately guessed. At this point Jaune started to believe he was simply easy to figure out. He didn’t even respond because that in itself was a yes.

“One step at a time” she reminded him. “Things will get better one step at a time. Even if those steps are tiny.”

“I know, and it was just for an instant. Pretty sure a good night's rest and a safe place to sleep is all I need to get my spirit back.”

Ruby let out a long groan. “I’d kill for a mattress right now!” She exclaimed into the forest with a surprising amount of force.

“Sssshhhh! You’ll wake Ren and Nora if you’re that loud.” Jaune has seen grumpy Ren. It’s not pretty.

Ruby’s face squinted in irritation. “Trust me, I won’t. They probably didn’t even hear me.” Ruby made her left hand into an ‘O’ shape and repeatedly put her right pointer finger through it.

Jaune raised an eyebrow in confusion before the other one raised in realization. “Oh…” was all he could say as he blushed. “Really?”

“Really.” Ruby bluntly stated. “ They’ve been doing this for the pass week whenever you are well into your shift.” The hooded girl rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I’m sure they are trying to be considerate but they aren’t as quiet as they think. Like, at all.” Her face turned red.

Jaune wasn’t surprised. Ruby was talking about his teammates. Even Ren wasn’t as quiet as he thought whenever he was dealing with Nora. Still… “Good for them.” He smiled. “About time something happened.”

“Too bad it’s not happening quietly.”

“Aw, don’t be like that Rubes”

“They’re like rabbits, Jaune! And not the cereal kind.”

The cursed mental image of a lewd Pumpkin Pete was something he never needed to have, but now it existed unfortunately. “Can you blame them? We’re constantly on death's door and don’t know when it will open again. They’re stressed.”

Ruby pursed her lips in disbelief. “I’m not convinced that’s a good reason. I mean I get really stressed too but you all don’t hear me when I mast-” Ruby immediately shut her mouth, realizing that she was two syllables away from outing herself.

It was too late. Ruby could see Jaune staring at her with his jaw halfway open. He desperately tried to hold back a teasing smirk but it slowly spread on his face. “Ruby…?”

“Shut up!” The girl tried stretching her hood even further over her tomato red face. “Everyone does it.”

“I’m not judging. I just can’t believe you set yourself up like that.”

“I wanna die. Please tell no one.”

“Who would I? The two other people you just told me that were having sex too loud for you to sleep? I don’t think they’d shame you.” He chuckled as she pouted.

“Stop laughing at me. Like you said, there’s a lot going on. I bet you do it.”

“Yep.”

“Really!?” Ruby gasped.

“Duh! Everyone does it, like you said. Why do you think I’m first to get up in the morning? It’s not to do more hair.”

This was an eye opener to Ruby. It made sense for sure. All she could do was nod in acknowledgment and look out into the forest; still nothing to worry about.

Several minutes went by and for some reason, Jaune felt a little awkward. The conversation ended in a weird spot. Now they were just sitting quietly. Jaune looked over to Ruby. Her face was still red but not as bad. That was until Ruby turned to him; her face gaining its redness back before she turned away again.

Jaune might not be able to read in between the lines of a weapon being drawn too fast, but he could read this situation like a book.

“Would you like to share your awkward sexual thoughts? He asked.

“Would you?” Ruby snapped back, anxiously trying to turn the tables.

“Me? I was just thinking things must be stressful if it’s affecting you.”

“Liar, that can’t be all.”

“Are you expecting more?” He took a shallow breath. “Like...how quiet things are? Or how lucky Ren and Nora are to have each other in situations like these? Or maybe…”

“Me.” Ruby cut him off. “Maybe you thought about me? Doing things”

Now it was Jaune’s turn to blush. “That crossed my mind as well.” Jaune discreetly tried adjusting his pants but it didn’t escape Ruby. She had stealing glances at him ever since they went quiet.

Another brief moment of silence fell on them again before Ruby pulled down her hood. “J-Jaune?” She said, her voice a little shaky.

He looked into the girl’s pools of silver. Suddenly his heart felt like it was going crazy. “Yeah?”

“I… am pretty stressed right now.” Ruby whispered, as if she had told a forbidden secret.

She slowly leaned closer to Jaune. For each inch she got closer, he did the same. Right down to the head tilt until finally their lips met. It was short, barely lasting four seconds, but the brief moment triggered a spark that was visible in both of their eyes. Ruby followed Jaune’s lead into a longer, more needy kiss. They both pushed into each other like if the other even considered separating right now. Ruby heard kissing was nice but not this nice. She felt Jaune’s hands grab a hold of her and felt his tongue eagerly try to gain entry into her mouth. Ruby happily allowed it access and surrendered to it.

This was beyond nice. Finally the two came apart for air. A thin trail of spit still connected them before it fell apart. They had only just stopped and yet Ruby missed the feeling, the taste of it all. She was embarrassed about how badly she just wanted to dive into another one. When did she get this needy?

“Wow” Jaune exhaled. “That was…” he couldn’t find the words but he didn’t have to.

“Yeah, it was.” Ruby nodded. She was already leaning in for another embrace until Jaune’s arms came out and held her in place. The action confused her, not to mention gave her some anxiety. Had he changed his mind?

“Umm. What’s the matter.” Her voice shakily said.

“If we do this then we should probably do it somewhere we can’t fall.” Jaune knew himself. Clumsiness at a time like this is a thing he did not need to deal with.

“Oh, hehehe, you have a point.” Ruby grabbed ahold of his body then dashed them down to the base of the tree; Jaune’s back firmly pressed against it. Maybe with a bit too much force. Ruby was trying to keep her excitement in check but she could feel herself get warmer, needier, all for one boy in particular. She really wanted another kiss.

Jaune wasted little time in seeing her desire and happily obliged; taking his gloves off and cuffing her face as Ruby stood on her toes to reach another kiss. It was a bit harder now that he was standing but he bent over far enough for Ruby to claim her prize.

Once again their lips met in heated passion. Ruby’s tongue inviting the blonde’s back into her mouth. A low moan slipped out in the process that caused Jaune to groan in desire. Ruby had never heard him make such a sound but it made her body shiver in excitement. She felt herself getting a little lightheaded when Jaune broke off the kiss again. Ruby was about to protest until she felt his hands slide down her back and firmly grab the girl’s rear before lifting her up. Ruby yelped at the unexpected display of strength, as well as wrapped her legs around him. ‘He’s gotten so strong lately.’ Her hazy thoughts wondered what all that strength could do to her if she asked.

Jaune turned around and pressed her against the tree. She was now a bit taller than him. Jaune leaned into the girls neck and went to work, kissing and biting the sensitive flesh. Her body tensing up with each assault on her.

“Jaune…” his name slipped out in a moan that Ruby could not keep back. The boy felt like he was dreaming; all his actions in a haze of desire and bliss. He was barely talking while his mind only thought about how much more he could touch Ruby’s body.

Her hips began bucking slightly into him as his lips finally reached Ruby’s chest. He’ll admit as much as he loved her new outfit, there wasn’t the foggiest idea on how to remove it; making him a little annoyed. He heard Ruby chuckle before watching her hands loosen some laces and buckles until the corset wasn’t as tight. ‘That should help.’ She thought. Ruby’s face turned a new shade of red watching him grab the top portion and slid it down far enough to free her breast.

The cold air made her jump and the look he gave them made Ruby feel like the sexiest girl in the world. She was never jealous of people like her sister who had bigger boobs by far, but it did get a little annoying knowing someone had to be comparing the two. Jaune took the left one into his mouth eagerly. His tongue being put to work again by swirling around the nipple in the slowest way possible. Jaune could feel Ruby’s fingers grab a hold of his shaggy hair, an effort to keep her body from shuddering.

‘I guess they’re sensitive?’ He thought. Now that he thought about it, Ruby was reacting to everything he had done so far. Not that it didn’t make him happy but he was playing it by ear. Was he just getting lucky? Maybe, or maybe there was a little more than carnal desire spurring her on; there was for him.

Ruby was starting to work up a sweat. Jaune’s attention had shifted to her other breast and all she could manage to do at the moment was bite down a little on her own right pointer finger to keep her moans in check. She was glad Jaune hadn’t removed his chest plate yet or else his favorite hoodie would’ve had a terrible stain on it. Both thighs a little damp from her arousal and her panties all but ruined.

“Jaune…” his name came out ragged. “I think I’m…I’m!!!!” Ruby’s thoughts and words couldn’t keep up with her body, which had started to tense up. Her limbs held onto Jaune tight as he momentarily stopped to see the girl’s eyes shut tight while a surge of pleasure ran through her entire body and dripped from her most sensitive area.

“Did you just…?” Jaune said, a mix of shock and pride clearly in his voice. Ruby said nothing as she opened her eyes. Her face was still flushed; her chest rising and falling from all the excitement as well. All Ruby could do was nod sheepishly, more than a little embarrassed.

“That felt...intense. Really intense.” Her eyes were focused on him with such passion that Jaune felt more anxious than before. Ruby grabbed ahold of his face and couldn’t stop herself from stealing another kiss. This time, a more tender, sweet kiss. One that held a certain spark to it. Jaune’s heart suddenly felt warm and yet, heavy. He knew what this feeling was. The feeling of wishing for more time and safety; that this kiss would have to be enough because it might be all that’s left. It was the way Pyrrha kissed him.

He broke off the kiss suddenly and left Ruby a little startled. The boy looked at her with sympathetic eyes that made her own heart ache as he leaned forward until their foreheads pressed against each other. Strangely, Ruby felt as if the past few moments weren’t needed. This is what was. A moment of real vulnerability, and it made her heart pound.

“You’re not gonna lose me Ruby.” His hold on her became more secure. “And I refuse to lose you.”

“I don’t wanna see anyone else die in front of me. I can’t do that again. Not with the people I love, not with you. This life I wanted, it’s scarier than I realized.”

“Yeah, but I know we can do this. We can come out on top and be the hero’s we dreamed of, together.”

His words soothed her fears. He sounded so confident, so comforting; warm in every single way she needed him to be. A smile began to show up ever so slightly. “Together.”

“So, I guess we should probably be heading back.”

“What?” Ruby looked perplexed. “Why?”

“I just...thought now that you’re calm that you wouldn’t-”

Ruby rolled her eyes playfully and pulled Jaune down to her level to flick his forehead, before sitting him up against the tree. Jaune watched the girl straddle herself on his lap right below his crotch. His entire body felt a little anxious and needy for everything Ruby had to offer and she could tell as her hand grabbed his hard on through his jeans; earning a lustful groan.

“Ruby…”

“Think I wouldn’t return the favor? Jaune I want you just as bad as you want me. More even.” Her face heated up by the sound of her own words. In truth, she wanted to be with him since the dance. She knew better than to burden him with that knowledge right now. Another day, when wounds have had time to properly heal. This moment was more than enough.

Ruby wasted no more time and got busy. Jaune could only watch his partner undo his pants; her eyes showing an intensity he found amusing the moment she got him free.

“....”

“Ruby, we can skip this pa-aaah!” His hands went over his mouth as he felt Ruby’s lips slowly wrapped around his length.

That was the sound she wanted to hear. No way was she gonna chicken out. Ruby glided her tongue to the base of the shaft and back up to the tip. His scent was definitely strong but not overwhelming. Ruby went back down halfway again and again, gaining a little confidence each time until she found a rhythm she could handle.

‘This isn’t too bad.’ Ruby felt Jaune’s legs slowly shift and heard him hiss in pleasure through his teeth. ‘I’m not too bad.’ Ruby thought pridefully. Clearly she was doing something right. It was thrilling; not to mention arousing. Knowing she had this effect on him only made her take more of him into her mouth. Sucking lapping the taste of what she could assume was precum. Wasn’t exactly what she’d call tasty but it wasn’t awful. It was him, and that was only making her more inpatient to move things along.

Jaune on the other hand was trying to contain himself. It could’ve only been several minutes but the pleasure was becoming too much. The warm wetness of her mouth, the sound, the desire to drown in the ecstasy; it was too much. Ruby could feel him start to twitch throb violently.

“Ruby! Move, I’m about to-”

He couldn’t finish his warning, not that it mattered. Ruby ignored his plea to move and took him as far she could go. Letting spurts of cum coat her mouth. Three, no, four strong shots fire off. The taste was way stronger than before and frankly, she’s surprised she didn’t choke. Slowly she came back up while cleaning off the tip just for flare. Adding a pop right at the end before swallowing.

Ruby scrunched her face. “Ugh! That was tougher than I would’ve liked it to be. Not as bad as Velvet described though.”

Jaune was still catching his breath but that caught his attention. “Velvet?”

“Yeah, she was one of the few people I felt comfortable discussing stuff like this with. Tips, tricks, feelings. That kind of stuff.”

“What kind of tricks?” He said with a huskiness that gave Ruby chills.

She smiled as she noticed Jaune was still fully erect. Ruby took his hands and slid them up her thighs. Guiding them towards her more than soaked panties and pulling them down until she freed one of her legs from the soiled cloth. Jaune felt a lump in his throat as he watched the reaper hover right over the tip; he could already feel the immense heat of the girl about to ride him.

They locked eyes for a moment. A nod was given to one other before Ruby impaled herself onto him a little faster than he thought. It took all he had to not to thrust upwards automatically. It only took a moment later before Ruby managed to take him all the way to base. A deep moan came from both of them in shared bliss. Ruby never felt so full, and Jaune never felt this...invigorated.

“You need a minute?” He was hoping for a no.

He got it that answer in the form of Ruby rocking her hips back and forth. “I’ll take that as a no.”

“Damn right you will!” Ruby immediately started picking up the pace.

Jaune felt her coil around him tightly and he couldn’t resist grabbing her ass and timing his thrusts upwards with her movements. Pleasure wasn’t enough to describe what Ruby was feeling. Each thrust rubbed and spread her sensitive walls in a way her fingers or toy ever could. Her crush’s shear length and girth being more than she’s dared take. He had to be a least seven inches and Ruby was feeling all of it.

Her body leaned forward and her right arm braced herself against the tree as her hips kept moving. Making her feel even more turned on as she started hearing the vulgar wet sounds of Jaune pounding into her. His hot breath hitting her still exposed nipples only added to the moment.

“Fuck...ah! Jaune this feels great!” She managed to get out before more longer, lustful moans came from her lips.

He wasn’t used to hearing Ruby curse, or making any of these noises for that matter. It only added to his fire. Yeah he felt good but he definitely wanted to make her feel even better. He tightened his grip on her and started thrusting even harder. Earning ‘eeps’ and ‘ahhh’ frequently. Jaune couldn’t help but watch Ruby leave a trail of her own slick juices as he could feel himself kiss against the entrance of her womb. A grimm could pop out of nowhere right now and he wouldn’t care. He was going to fuck Ruby until she was satisfied.

Satisfaction was met at least fifteen thrusts ago. Ruby felt like her grip on the tree could wrip the bark off of it right now. She had stopped trying to suppress the urge to moan and did it freely with every subtle shift Jaune made inside her. All of her concentration was put into lasting as long as she could, which was far easier said than done. Practically every other thrust grinder just right across the girl’s sensitive clit to the point she could feel the energy in her body threatening to burn out. Even Jaune could notice her hip movements progressively getting sloppier.

“Cum whenever you’d like!” Jaune wasn’t sure if he said for himself or to Ruby. Hopefully one would lead to the other in due time.

“You first!” Ruby said with a bite in her voice that was almost nonexistent. She didn’t know why but something told her to look downwards while she continued riding him. The boy’s eyes were almost mesmerized by the orbs of flesh jiggling in front of him. Ruby was having enough trouble handling the boy but this was about to make her feel like she was soaring.

Jaune opened his mouth and latched onto Ruby’s right nipple again. Her whole body felt like it had basically shut down after receiving rather ravenous licks. Her mouth opened but no words came out as she began to melt with pleasure. Too overwhelmed to move, Jaune leaned forward until she was on her back screaming as he kept pumping powerful strokes into her. Ruby’s back arched and her limbs wrapped around him while his mouth stayed busy on her chest. Her inner walls started to spasm relentlessly until Jaune could barely think. He could keep himself reaching his limit.

“I can’t go any longer!”

Ruby held on to him tightly. “Inside! I want all of you!

He couldn’t find it in himself to deny her request. Jaune thrusted into Ruby four more times before he couldn’t hold back anymore. Ruby’s blushes darkened as she felt Jaune unload inside of her, tipping over the edge once again. Her body shuddered violently and milked Jaune of everything he had to give. She felt every twitch and spurt into which only aided in riding out her orgasm. Any strength Jaune had to support himself had left his body. He didn’t want to lady on top of Ruby but he found himself doing that exact thing.

Ruby watched the boy fall forward on top of her. His chest heaving in synch with hers. ‘He’s lighter than I expected.’ Ruby combined his hair through her fingers. He wasn’t the only one feeling exhausted. Ruby would not have mind staying like this forever. It was taking a lot of strength to not pass out; that would be bad for a number of reasons. It took even more strength to not pour her heart out to him right now.

Jaune somehow managed to lift his head from the girl’s soft chest and looked at her, still completely drained. “Still stressed?”

“Is it wrong I wanna say yes for the fun of it?” Ruby chuckled. “What about you?”

“If I wasn’t tired from traveling then I’d still be moaning your name.”

“Oh, well then...hehe.” It was hard to look at him. “I’m glad I could make you feel that way.”

Ruby tried her best not to overreact or ruin this moment. Her head was swimming with feelings for him to the point she wondered how the words ‘I love you’ didn’t come out when he was giving her the most intense orgasm of her life.

It was a little frustrating to say the least. But that changed the moment she felt his hand grab ahold of hers. Jaune had gotten on his hands and knees right over her and rested his forward right on Ruby’s. She couldn’t help but get lost in those pools of blue for a moment.

“Ruby…?”

“Y...Yes….?” The gentleness of his voice has stolen away all of her confidence.

“I….” he chewed on his lip for a moment to calm his anxiety. “I don’t think I can say it yet, but I hope you know that…” Jaune looked away from Ruby’s eyes. She could feel his hands tremble.

He might not have said it but Ruby’s heart skipped a beat nonetheless. Their feelings were mutual. Ruby reached for his face.

“Jaune, look at me.” She waited patiently before his eyes focused on her again. “Take all the time you need. Until then, I just won’t say it either.” Ruby flashed a smile, “don’t wanna add unnecessary stress right?”

“Stress is the last thing you give me.” Jaune said quietly, as if he was telling her a secret.

Ruby slightly tilted her head up and Jaune read the message clearly, pressing his lips against hers. As far as Ruby was concerned, she could wait a lifetime to hear Jaune say those three special words. She could hear it loud and clear with this kiss, and the many more to come.

[normieexclusive]

How My MC wins the boys over:

Ah, um, this really went off from the original story line. This was also supposed to be a short simple thing but then I started thinking and two hours later Im left with a bunch of messy notes and thoughts

The first to fall victim is:

Mammon turns out to be easy, literally MC just shows him an ounce of kindness and he takes it and runs. 

Unconsciously MC gets much softer around him then the others (A combination of total trust in him and wanting to show how much love he deserves despite his brothers treating him harshly) 

 hes the one that gets the most kisses, the most hugs, and its great for them at first because they get to make fun of the dumb ass second born getting doted on but some silly little human and (while denying it constantly) loving it. 

But then the others start to actually like MC and Mammon can nearly feel the six pairs of eyes glaring him down as his Human showers him with all the affection before going about their day. 

(There’s one moment where, while Mammons sitting on the floor and MC is on the bed and he's making fun of one of his brothers that MC just grabs him by the back of his shirt collar- with only a finger- pulls him in between her legs (So his back is to her) and gives him a kiss on the top of his head as she coos "Mammon, be nice to your brothers" and he shuts down for the rest of the day) 

Second, but the bestest of friends!:

With Levi its by being a grade A nerd and overthinking.

 She reads all of TSL for their big quiz, and watches the movies with Beel and mammon, but on top of that the nerd goes back to the books and starts to annotate everything. 

She starts digging for any bit of subtext she can find and jotting down notes in the margins, in her notebook, on sticky notes. 

It becomes enough of an issue that she has to buy a new set because the first (Old and used) ones she got off of akuzon are ruined with her messy scrawling.

 During the quiz they are evenly matched (if only because shes given such easy questions. Shes pissed but at the same time oh gosh she is really not up to Levis level) and somewhere along the way she just... Goes off about this theory of hers and reading the subtext because she needs to get this out and it seems like Levis the only one that can really keep up with her 

(She tried to talk to Mammon and Beel but, honestly, they're as helpful as you'd think)

 She forgets about the whole quiz and yanks out her vandalized book in order to debate with Levi about a part. Levi is horrified at the state of her TSL book and nearly goes apeshit right there, but then she shows just how much of a nerd she truly is by showing him the much nicer version she brought along

("And its even signed! Can you believe that! I didn't order a signed one cause they were too expensive but somehow the boxes must have gotten switched up! Ah! Levi! You have a shrine in you're room for them right! You should have these copies, I think you'll take more care of them then I can!")

Whenever they have a conversation its gibberish to everyone around them but they get it and that’s what matters.

(They spend nights just in his room and no one knows what they're doing so they assume the worst. The others always send Levi dirty looks when it happens, and Levi always looks a little more refreshed after every one.

They're having anime/gaming/TSL marathons but Levi lives for the jealousy that rolls off his brothers so hes not telling them anytime soon)

Somewhere starting after her pact with Levi and after the Lucifer/Satan Body switch:

The whole fiasco with Levi actually leads to Satan warming up to her!

 He had initially brushed her off as a soon to be Lucifer Lapdog (and also kind of dumb) but now he's interested. 

Someone whos capable of dissecting a book like that has to at least have some ability to reason, he just cant figure out if that moment was a fluke or if shes actually smart. 

He refuses to start a conversation with her like a normal person and instead resorts to pranking her at every opportunity hoping to see if she’ll think her way out of it (He does leave some hints for when ones about to happen, but gets frustrated when she walks right past them)

 It backfires on him tremendously because, somehow, they never seem to work! it goes to the point where it becomes rube goldberg levels of pranks that are always almost-but-not-quite misses because she bent down at just the right time to pick up a shiny rock. 

Satan is at his wits end and ready to rip someone apart

 his pranks start to extend to the others, it’s only after mammon mentions such that it finally clicks in her...

That same day she willingly walks into a pie in the face and Satan nearly cries. 

After he starts to rile her up more often with words. He learns very quickly that she is a fantastic debate partner and, if he can find the right button to push, he’ll get her going for hours as they go back and forth

(And!! Even better!! Not only does she listen to everything he says and waits her turn! But Shes willing to change her opinion when she thinks he has a better point. When she loses She’ll come back hours later to drag more information out of him.

That’s usually not the case though, because Satan finds way too much enjoyment out of playing devils advocate and will simply choose whatever is opposition her POV. 

He tried to argue about how she couldn't possibly like a flavor of candy she was eating because he didn't like it and nearly gave her an aneurysm)

(To his complete embarrassment, though, he has gotten hard during one of their debates and nearly lost because she looked fucking amazing as she shouted at him)

A bond that starts right at their first meeting and grows throughout her entire time there:

Beel is scary at first, and Lucifer- for some forsaken reason- made it her job to make sure Beel doesn't clean out the fridge every single day.

Shes scared of the man that seemed more then willing to eat her, but shes more scared of whatever punishment Lucifer would deal if she didn't at least try.

 So she goes

 It only takes her one run in with Beel and his puppy dog eyes (Because how could she just stop him like that!! How awful of her!!) for her to figure out that

 A: this man is harmless and...

B:she knows what hunger pains feel like and the guilt wells up

Still she knows she can let him go so she spends her grimm allowance on buying ingredients to cook with and makes him huge meals as "offerings"

 It doesn't always stop him from eating half the fridge, but sometimes it seems like he's willing to actually savor what she makes. 

It gives her enough time to save the ingredients for dinner that night. (and If Beel sometimes wanders over to the kitchen while shes watching so shell make something for him, well there’s no harm done

The bastard pavlov dogged her and shes none the wiser) 

Slow and steady, the pieces fall into place naturally:

Asmo turns out to be another easy one, to her shock.

Even with MCs jealousy over how stunning Amso looks and how easy it is for him... they just seem to drift to each other

Starts with a comment on Asmos sharp eyeliner one day, and Asmo asking MC what shampoo she uses. 

Then the next day the same brand shampoo (And conditioner) will be left outside his door. And after MC will walk into the bathroom first thing in the morning only to wonder whom the fuck applied eyeliner to her in her sleep

It starts with days where they greet each other in the morning, to Stopping to chat for a few moments before heading on with their morning routine, to them walking down together, to Asmo fussing over her disheveled look after just waking up ‘-seriously Asmo not everyone can just roll out of bed like some Demons and look stunning’ - to ‘MC move over a scooch I need more room’ ‘Asmodeus this is my bed’ ‘Well how are we both supposed to fit when its so small!’, to weekly spa days and Gossiping about the others.

Its such an smooth transition that they both feel like it had always been as it was- two friends whispering secrets to each other late at night, pinky promises made over arbitrary things, laying so close that they can feel the others breathing. If maybe he leaned in a little closer they would--

--Oh... She fell asleep again. 

And he curls up next to her, blanket wrapped around both of them (That is, until Asmo hogs it later) and sleeps peacefully

A build up of trust, and a moment of venerability that finally knocks down his walls:

Swallows her pride for Lucifer

Its hard to explain in words for her, but she tells him of her family.

A family that is good but dosnt care, that used to leave her alone for hours on end when she was far too young. She says it with a smile too, admits that it helped her become as independent as she was, that she could cook for herself before she was 10.

She tells him of her younger brother. Someone she tried her best to love as much as she could only for him to, one day, just stop talking to her. Years trying to build back an abruptly cut connection only for him to snap one day and change his tune to something much worse. A family that watched as he screamed at her, berated her and never did anything. How she still stood tall, how she swallowed back every tear and tried to talk to him with a steady voice- only for him to become angrier.

How, when he did try to snap at other members, she was always there to stand between them. How she was the one to chase him off or take the yelling despite her family never doing the same for her. How she was the stable rock of the family where no one was for her.

Physical violence was only once, but it was enough for her to know things would never change.

She was like him in a way, same but different.

and She cant bear to see the same thing happen to him.

She wants to help, she knows shes just a little, useless human but please she needs to help. She cant bare leaving another broken family behind without helping. Her life had been stagnate before them, unbearably lonely, and she just wants them to be happy, even if that means without her

 even if it means she has to shove her nose where it doesn't belong

So... please... Please... Talk to Belphie. Please. He said he just wants to tal--

(She had earned Lucifer's respect not too long ago, and - to everyone's shock- the revel of what she came upon does not bring upon Lucifer's fury. Instead, he feels a deep understanding that he’ll never say aloud

Shes still going to get lectured, though. But he is too.) 

It takes time:

Spends what probably amounted to most of her time in Devildom with that little fu--

(No, No. Belphie needs help, she needs to reel it in for now.)

She gets what it means to be lonely. Despite her distrust of the man who caged up in a place where the bad people are, you know, supposed to be caged up and tutored feels like she needs to do something- if only to make sure he doesn't lose his mind from the isolation.  

(Rethinks a lot of her life and how she spent just hiding away from everything. How she would lock her door and never come out unless the sounds of another fight reached her. Thought about how it probably messed her up more then shes willing to admit and refuses to let the same thing happen to him

Oh sweet summer child)

Less trusting of him when its reviled that hes the seventh born, but more willing to help. If only for Beels sake

Brings stuff up to his room, a toy, a fluffy blanket, food that she snagged last minute. He complains hes cold one day and she yanks off her own sweater for him

(It all gets flushed down the toilet when she leaves, he scrubs his skin raw thinking about how his room smells disgustingly like that fucking human now) 

And then, one day, it just... changes: 

A human stands between him and the fucker that locked him up in there, his brothers that never knew he was there. All of them watching him with such pity in their eyes and he didnt want it- he didnt want their p-

The door was unlocked.

He was free.

Just like that.

it made no sense. He learns that they-- She-- spent hours dancing around Diavolo, deals were made. A room where it was just her and The Prince of Hell, promises not even Lucifer knew (And some part of Belphie relished in the fact that it was eating away at the fucker) 

("All those hours shouting at each other paid off” She looks to Satan with a smile. A joke he was not privy to. Lucifer huffed but said nothing. 

How much had changed since he was locked up?) 

A slow, downward spiral 

They're never alone, someone is always with her or with him (Beel sticks to his side like glue. after so long he finally gets to sleep next to his brother again) 

He finds food in the fridge with the words “For Beel <3″ in this awful chicken scratch handwriting. Mammon’s screaming interrupts his naps one day and he wakes up to see her smothering the second born in kisses. Her shouting wakes him up as her and Satan pass, her voice becoming high pitched as they argue about... the number of toes humans are supposed to have???? (she sits down next to him and rips off her shoes in a fit of rage, demanding that Belphie count with her because what the fuck-

Satan sneers at her feet and tells the only actual toes are her two big ones, the rest are just digits.)

There’s traces of her everywhere. Layers of clothing haphazardly thrown about after a day at RAD and then neatly placed away. A mention of her name at the dinner table before shes there. Not even his and beels room is safe from her- he can smell her scent on Beels pillow. Faint, but a awful reminder of the human down the hall. 

He hates it, he wants to throw it all away. He wants to erase her memory from his home, he wants to ripe her apa--

A blanket is draped over him one day, and he cant bring himself to open his eyes to see who did it...

She talks to him, Or more like at him. The longer he stays freed the harder is it to hide his distaste towards Humanity and- especially- to her. He thinks shes dense, because he knows his brothers sense there’s something wrong (Levis tail wraps around her when hes too close, Lucifer stands between them, Amso pulls her by the waist. Close to him, further from belphie) But she doesn't. She pushes closer. She asks him questions.

She never touches him, one small blessing in Hell. 

Beel believes him when he bashfully admits one night that he may start to enjoy his time spent with human. And for a moment he feels guilty about the lie but its all for a greater goal

When its just the three of them, Beel leaves for a moment too long. To get snacks, to grab something from another room, it doesn't matter. This was the moment he waited for. 

She smiles at him, all kind and gentle (And the words that leave her lips are unheard through the blood rushing through his ears) and leans forward

He puts his hands around her neck

She goes limp.

He-

He needed to-

He couldn’t squeeze.

Beel comes back with the biggest grin on his face, arms full of snacks (”Here MC I got your favorite”) He sits on the opposite side of Belphie, leaning into him with enough weight that his own shoulder presses against MCs, mushing her against the wall. 

Despite her smile he can feel her shaking.

[shera-dnd]

Face Turn - Falls Count Anywhere

IT’S TIME FOR ANOTHER CHAPTER OF FACE TURN

This time Weiss suffers her first pinfall on the ring and an even bigger fall outside of it

Let’s see how she handles those

Follow the AO3 link here if you wanna read over there and let’s get on with today’s show!

Creepy fans or no creepy fans, the story had to go on and so Weiss and Yang put all their focus into that and none in dealing with the social media weirdness happening around them. For that Weiss was almost grateful for her narrower field of view, it made it easier to tunnel vision into what she had to do.

And right now what she had to do, was lose.

She was fighting Yang once more and this time she would suffer a real defeat by her hands. Sure it won’t be half as bloody as their first fight, but that would only serve to make her character even more angry that she was constrained by these stupid rules. Meanwhile real Weiss was just amused that these people were buying any of that.

“Weiss,” Yang whispered as she struggled to keep Weiss pinned down, “drop the smirk.”

What? Damn it, the shippers! That wasn’t what she was going for with that smirk, but of course they would take this the wrong way. At least the scowl that came after that was genuine.

She hated having to worry about every little interaction she had with Yang. She just wanted to enjoy her time with her best friend and not have to worry about what other people think. She also wanted to beat the shit out of her best friend without having to worry about what other people think.

Regardless of what she wanted the fans were there and the signs she wasn’t allowed to rip in half were there also.

So she just took her defeat, did a little speech about how she would get her next time and then headed back stage.

She had showered and changed and was on her way to ask Yang if she would be down for hitting the Fang tonight, when she found something unexpected on the way.

A woman maybe three or four years younger than her and considerably shorter, standing in the corridor, bouncing from one foot to another with barely contained energy. Weiss glared at her and considered calling security.

“Hey,” the woman greeted with a smile so bright it threatened to make her blind in her other eye, “did my sister finish kicking your butt already?”

Ah that explained the excessive energy and beaming smile. She was a Xiao Long.

“You must be Ruby,” she answered, curtly.

“And you must be Weiss,” Ruby replied, undaunted by her rudeness, “Did Yang tell you about me?”

“Like I give a shit what that woman has to say.”

“You know I was raised by wrestlers, right? I know what kayfabe is,” she explained, “you can drop the act around me.”

At that Weiss chuckled, “don’t worry, she didn’t tell me anything embarrassing.”

“I can’t believe you already got the ice queen to laugh,” Yang declared as she walked up to them, “you know how hard I had to work to get her to do that sober?”

“Yang!” Ruby nearly shouted as she dashed into her sister’s arms.

“Hey, Rubes,” she greeted as she gave her a rib crushing hug, “wasn’t expecting you here so soon.”

“I wasn’t expecting either,” she explained, “but Dr. Pietro wanted me here so I could work closer with our robotics expert.”

Right, the girl was an aerospace engineer or something of the sorts.

“Wait! You’re staying this time?” Yang asked, finally putting her down.

“For a few more months at least,” she beamed, “that means I get to watch you live again!”

“That’s awesome!”

And there they were, hugging again. Weiss had to admit she felt a bit awkward there.

“Should I leave you two to your sisterly bonding or…?” She eventually asked.

“Nope!” Ruby replied, “you’re part of the bonding now.”

Next thing she knew she was having drinks with the sisters and listening to them ramble on about their lives. The excitement in Ruby’s voice whenever she talked about how cool her dad and her sister were, the pride in Yang’s eyes when she mentioned Ruby’s degrees - the girl got into college two years early and that was no small feat - it was all so incredibly sweet.

 It was nice spending time with those two.

“You know, when I met Weiss I asked her to drop the act too,” Yang began and Weiss felt all pleasant feelings about this night simply disappear, “you know what she said?”

“Oh god,” Weiss groaned.

“She said ‘who said it’s an act?’” She said, giving Weiss a weirdly rough voice for some reason.

Ruby was roaring with laughter next to her and Weiss was considering ‘accidentally’ punching Yang in the face during their next match.

“Hey! Tell her the whole story, damn it!” She argued back, not willing to just take a hit like that without fighting, “I only said that because that’s what you said when I asked you to drop the cheerful act.”

“You know, asking people to stop being cheerful doesn’t really help your case,” Yang teased.

“It was getting on my nerves!” She bit back.

“Doesn’t make you sound like any less of an edgelord.”

“And why did you give me a fucking Batman voice anyway!?”

“Because that’s what all edgelords sound like,” she replied, sticking her tongue out at the end.

“Oh that’s it, Xiao Long!” She slammed her hands down on the table and fixed a glare on her rival, “you just earned an ass kicking!”

“Bring it on, Schnee!” She called back, matching her stare and standing her ground.

A moment of tense silence dragged along between them, before it was broken by loud laughter.

Weiss couldn’t remember if she had ever laughed this hard before and over something so silly. Not long ago she would have refused to do something this stupid with anyone, but of course Yang of all people found a way to get her to.

Goodness she had actually cried of laughter.

“Okay okay,” Yang finally managed to say, after catching her breath a little, “I really need to use the bathroom right now. Do save the good jokes for after I come back.”

Weiss scoffed in fake mockery, “like you know what a good joke looks like.”

And with one last chuckle Yang left the two of them at the table by themselves.

“Hey,” Ruby called, sounding a lot more shy than before, “it’s nice seeing Yang happy like this again.”

Weiss awkwardly smiled at her, not sure how exactly to respond.

“Seriously,” she insisted, “whatever you did, thank you for that.”

“You really don’t have to thank me,” she deflected, “Yang is just always that cheerful.”

“I know she looks like she is, but…” Ruby paused, looking for the right words to use here, “...it feels tense sometimes. Like she feels like she needs to act happy around me. I know she’s under a lot of stress all the time, even if she doesn’t want to show it, so it’s nice seeing her truly happy like this again.”

Now that brought a more genuine smile to her face. Yang had made such an effort to make sure Weiss was happy that it felt nice knowing she had managed to do the same for her. It filled her chest with a warmth she didn’t know she could feel.

“Ah damn it!” Yang cursed in fake frustration, “you even got Weiss to smile faster than I did!”

Weiss shook her head and rolled her eyes, but it was in that moment that she realized. That moment when she caught that dorky smile on her face, when she heard her call her name just perfectly, when she felt the yearning of her heart. It was in that moment that she finally understood.

That she was so fucked.

[watching-pictures-move]

Movie Review | The Departed (Scorsese, 2006)

This review contains spoilers for this movie, and half-remembered ones for Infernal Affairs.

After my lukewarm reaction to The Aviator and the fact that I hadn't seen this in about a decade, I was a little worried about revisiting this after all these years. The fact that certain lines and images (*cough* the closing shot *cough*) had become something of a running joke in the internet circles I'd frequented and the fact that I hadn't seen it since maybe my high school days had me primed for an embarrassing relic of the 2000s. Thankfully, the movie held up extremely nicely when I revisited it this past weekend. (It's almost like teenage me had good taste, a quality I've managed to shed over the years.) Is it obvious at times? Of course, but I feel that's intentional on Scorsese's part. The way The Irishman seems intended to correct audience misreadings of his work, The Departed also seems to spell out his recurring concerns as bluntly as possible, possibly for the dum-dums in the audience. (It even flirts with self parody at times, dropping "Gimme Shelter" multiple times during the movie.) It's no surprise that this was the movie that finally won him Best Picture and Best Director Oscars.

Did you know that Scorsese is interested in how Catholicism burrows into its believers' psyches? Well, with the extremely on the nose closing shot and other moments (a certain character's arms splayed out in Christ-like formation, hellish red lighting, crude dialogue regarding sexual abuse), now you know. Did you know that loyalties founded on ethnic lines can actually be toxic? In switching perspectives from his usual Italian gangsters to Irish ones (and with Italians and Chinese criminals at the fringes), the meaninglessness of these alliances becomes more obvious. Did you know that a life of crime actually doesn't pay? With enough scenes of low level criminals performing demeaning work or otherwise sitting on their ass, you get the hint. He's also not blind to the economic motivations of the characters in their pursuit of a life of crime. Both main characters are born into seemingly destitute circumstances. One of them (Matt Damon) sees a local criminal as a rare exception to the squalor around him and immediately falls into his orbit, leveraging the support of his criminal benefactors into a genteel, almost white collar version of success. The other (Leonardo DiCaprio) keeps toiling away, his undercover work as a low level criminal proving just as his experience growing up. Modern technology figures into the plot in the form of stolen microprocessors and high-tech surveillance (a character excitedly shouts "Patriot Act! Patriot Act!" during a sting), something that might seem cool or flashy in another director's hands but highlights the fundamental banality of the enterprise here.

None of these elements are especially subtle, but what makes them resonate is their forceful assembly, in particular thanks to the aggressive cross-cutting. (The Scorsese-Schoonmaker team is one of the most formidable in cinema in this respect.) There's an appreciation for the harsh morality and rigid arcs of classic gangster films, the DNA of which mixes strikingly with grittier modern crime cinema. When the movie reaches its bloody denouement, the Rube-Goldberg-like intricacy with which it plays out gives it a thunderous impact. It's been a while since I've seen Infernal Affairs, of which this is a remake, but I don't remember it hitting quite as hard in this regard. And if I recall correctly, it has two love interests for the protagonists instead of the one major female character here, meaning there's no last minute realization by the villain that he's been cuckolded the whole time by the man whose funeral he's attending. Both characters struggle with their identities and the increasingly tense web they've spun throughout the film, but DiCaprio has the last laugh from beyond the grave.

The film is also a masterclass in casting, which lends it additional power. DiCaprio can sometimes be a bit obvious or strained, something I struggled with in The Aviator, but I think that quality serves him exceedingly well here as an undercover cop. If we can see the calculation in his performance, can the criminals around him see through him as well? Damon seems chosen in part for his slight resemblance to DiCaprio, but his natural pomposity is appropriate for his character's aspirations towards respectability, and is a great match by the smugness exuded by his colleague Alec Baldwin. (Here and in The Aviator, Scorsese makes great use of Baldwin's distinct mix of of genteel machismo. At different points in both movies, he practically whips it out.) Jack Nicholson's "Cool Jack" shtick has always struck me as a little sleazy, and he takes that to sickening extremes here, a man without a filter, shoving his appetites in your face relentlessly. (In one of his first scenes, he makes untoward comments towards an underage girl who he later grooms to be his girlfriend.) If this is supposed to be an aspirational figure, it only drives home how dismal a life of crime really is. (It's worth noting that one element likely intended to make him seem unctuous, his ownership of a porno house, makes him seem like a heroic proprietor of an independent theatre these days. I bet they don't play superhero movies at this joint. I also remember an amusing anecdote about Nicholson trying to ad lib setting another character on fire, only to realize his glass was filled with a soft drink.)

As DiCaprio's handlers, Martin Sheen and Mark Wahlberg serve as each other's foils. The former is warm and paternal (perhaps the only such character in the movie, which perhaps telegraphs his fate), the latter is a source of unmitigated douchebaggery. Wahlberg is not someone I'd consider a great actor normally, but in the hands of the right director and placed (usually) out of his element, he can be extremely effective. (I'd cite Boogie Nights, Three Kings and Pain and Gain as the other high points of his career. And maybe The Happening, although unintentionally in that case.) Here, surrounded by obviously better actors, he channels that insecurity into foul-mouthed indignation, serving as a tenuous moral pillar in a world hellbent on doing away with them. (He's also the clearest source of comic relief in this grim movie. Every line, snarled in his nigh impenetrable Boston accent, is a howler.) Is Marky Mark the key to holding this movie together? Probably not, but he's an essential piece of the intricate, thrilling puzzle that is The Departed.

[birth-fic-lover]

A snowstorm baby

For Kim it has been the coldest winter she had exprenced for a long time, she cursed herself for staying in this old flat. It’s single glased windows held no heat and the boiler was always breaking, it happened once again one day as she was getting ready to pick her daughter Mia up from school. Kim called the plummer, but unfortunatly she couldn’t get here till tomorow. 

As Kim walked she worried what she would say to her daughter, there was snow due and she didn’t want her daughter to get ill from the cold. As Kim waited for the kids to be let out she saw Alexia, the mother of her daughters best friend. Kim had known her since the girls started school together, they had natrally got on like a house on fire. Kim actualy didn’t mind picking her daughter up from Alexia’s house for playdates or when took forever to get ready as her and Alexia had some great chats about life.

Alexia is the known lesbain but Kim never see’s her part of any of the school’s LGBTQ+ groups or with a partner, which some may find suprising considering she has a daughter and was also heavly pregnant at the moment. As they waited they casualy chatted, Kim decided not to metion about there lack of hot water. She didn’t want Alexia to feel like she has to take her and her daughter Mia in, especally in Alexia’s condision. 

Alexia stroked her mountious belly as the children were releaced into the playground, “have a good evening” Alexia said.

As Mia joined Kim, she explained that the hot water was out again this evening. “Oh no” Mia said loudly “but what about my shower? I don’t wanna be all wrapped up all evening!”

Kim was about to reason with her when Mia’s best friend ran over to ask about the homework, of course little girls beimg little girls Mia instead told her best friend about the heating who ran to her mummy. Alexia then came over, “would you like me to take Mia for the evening? She’s due a sleepover at mine anyway, it may be her last chance to sleep at my house for a while”. Alexia held her belly as if to highlight the reason why.

Kim felt bad but Alexia made a good point, “well if it’s no trouble. You take the girls, I’ll drop by with Mia’s stuff.”

The girls cheered and Kim smiled to herself, she was glad her daughter wouldn’t be suffering tonight afterall. She put together a bag with a fresh uniform for the next day, as well as wash stuff and pj’s. She decided she would sort herself out once she returned home.

When Kim rang the doorbell she was greeted by Alexia who was covered in little flour handprints all over her belly, she just laughed. “Come on in, the girls were making mini pizzas and as you can see they got distracted when the baby kicked.”

Kim couldn’t help but smile, “I should get going, I still need to make dinner for myself and wanna get home before the snow gets thick”. It had been snowing since she had left her house with Mia’s belongings.

“I was thinking about it and you might as well stay over too, save you having to come back here. We all just got an email, school is closed tomorow as the snow is going to be so heavy. I’ll be honest I’d be suprised if your plummer comes tomorrow”.

Kim was tempted, “I’d have to go all the way back for...”

“You can borrow some of my stuff, you look like my size.. pre pregnancy of couse. It will be nice for that stuff to be used again haha” Alexia said winning Kim over.

“Okay, okay you win” Kim said coming inside, she joined the girls who were eatting there pizzas. Mia enjoyed her evening having a sleepover whilst Kim and Alexia had a nice pasta dish and chat, both single parents apprecated the grown up time. “I assume I’m in the guest room like I was for new years?” kim asked before blushing, that new years had been fun. The girls enjoyed counting down and Kim had been taken aback when Alexia gave her a bit more then a peck on the lips but never questioned it. 

“Oh unfortunately this little guy has already moved his stuff into that room, but you don’t mind bunking in with me do you? I don’t have any spare blanket and anyway you don’t wanna be on the sofa” Alexia said smiling.

Kim nodded and maybe it was her imagination but at that point it seemed to be Alexia goal to get the girls washed, teeth brushed, story read and tucked in for the night. Soon we were sitting on top of the covers of Alexia’s bed watching tv, Kim was suprised how normal it felt. It was so nice as Kim would occationally watch Alexia’s shirt ride up as she lazy rubbed her globe like belly, at one point Alexia caught her and smiled. “Sorry, this time of night I love how calm he is. Have a feel” she offered Kim, “He will spend the rest of the night wide awake keeping me up with him”.

Kim hesitated and Alexia not wanting to push the matter continued talking, “I can now feel the head right in my pelvis, makes climbing those stairs”. To Alexia’s suprise Kim nodded and found herself rubing Alexia’s low hanging belly gently. At first running her hand along the bottom, then slowly pushing her fingers back up along the top near her breasts. She stopped as she realised what she was doing, this was not meant to be getting aroused as she felt for the baby. But to Kim’s suprised Alexia said softly “oooohhh that really felt lovely”, Kim suposed both of them must not get much attention. 

Kim was right, Alexia practically had to hold in a moan of delight. She hadn’t been touched for so long, so just that touch made her nipples became hard beneath her maternity bra. When she noticed they had risen and could be seen though her shirt Alexia then got up to use the bathroom. 

She got changed and on her way back passed Kim some clothes to sleep in, as she goes and gets changed in the bathroom Kim takes the chance to take a breather. She knows that she has always classed herself as straight but she can’t stop thinking about Alexia, but she assumes that Alexia wouldn’t be sharing these feelings. Alexia has a daughter and a unborn child to think of, Kim has her daughter. Kim puts the soft nightdress on, she is suprised that Alexia would pick this for her. 

As Alexia waited for Kim to return she felt an as an odd sensation within her womb, but she put that down to the arousal she was feeling for Kim. She knew that Kim was a forbidden fruit and she knew better the to go after a straight girl, but this was all just a bit of fun. She couldn't help image those were blushes of attraction.

While in the bathroom Kim notices all the birthing supplies, from the look of it Alexia was having a home birth. Even a clamp for the cord and a at home fetal heart monitor. Kim tried to remember how far along Alexia was, would she be due soon?

But as she joins Alexia in the bedroom Alexia seems to be taking her all in, before hiding her glance and looking down. Alexia turns off the light as soon as Kim is in the bed, after a moment she asks “mind if I remove my nightdress, I’m not used to all this body heat in my bed” dispite it being the middle of winter.

Kim is glad for the darkness as she blushes, “of couse, this is your home”.

Alexia clicked her lamp on and took off her clothes, Kim couldn’t help rolling over so she could catch a glance of Alexia’s naked chest. Her firm milkfilled breasts hung from from her chest like 2 ripe fruits, her nipples were erect Kim assumed from the slight chill in the air. Without any clothes Kim could see her orb like belly in it’s full glory, she thought about the donor who didn’t even know how lucky he was to have such a beautful woman carrying his seed.

Kim then wondered if it was an anonymos donor or someone Alexia knew, maybe Alexia used the same donor as last time. Suddenly Kim was wracking her brain to work out if Alexia ever mentioned using a known donor or not. But then Kim caught herself not liking how much she suddenly cared. 

Still she found herself watching the rise and fall of Alexia's breasts, she had forgotten to rub lotion over the curve of her bump so was now doing so. Kim wondered if Alexia knew what she was doing to Kim as she feely lay there naked stroking her soft skin. As Kim shuffled she realised she was wet between her legs, again she blushed. 

She looked over and Kim saw hard her nipples were, she wondered if it ment Alexia was aroused too. "You don't have to be embarrassed" Alexia said "we don't have to do anything if you don't want to, but if you would like to have a bit of fun... then".

"I can't" Kim said "I don't want things to get awkward if I'm.... I don't want the girls to not be affected by my.."

"Relax Kim, it's a snow day. A one off day, I know that because we are not used to the snow we may find it an exciting adventure and I won't judge how you play in the snow". 

As she finished talking Alexia felt a tightening inside her womb stronger then before, but just wrote it off as a braxton hick. She thought about telling Kim but just then Kim sighed,"what if I don't want it to be a one off?"

Alexia leaned over and kissed Kim on the lips, "why don't we see how you feel after the snow day before you think about moving to colder climates."

"Stop saying your snow when you are actually so hot" Kim said before kissing Alexia, both ladies slid down the head board and Alexia lay on the mattress Kim on top. They passionately kissed, Kim's free hand exploring Alexia's belly. The baby kicked against Kim's palm, awoken by it's mothers racing heart. Kim's hands explore further down the sides of her body, stroking her butt there breasts pressed against each other. As they sat up Alexia removed Kim's nightdress, then moved her hand downwards. "Oh wow you were wet".

"Yes" Kim whispers "I'm wet for you". She started kissing her neck then down to her heavy sensitive breasts, she slipped her lips over one of her nipples. Alexia let out a soft moan, spurred on Kim swelled her tounge around. Whilst she put her hand over the other breast squeezing the nipple between 2 fingers and pulling at it. Kim found it wonderful she swapped to the other breast, Alexia's moans increased.

After a while she moved her mouth away from her breast, Kim started kissing her way down to her belly. She made a fuss of Alexia knowing that she would appreciate soft kisses across her gravid belly. "I thought this belly would make me less sexy" Alexia moaned, "but thats certainly not the case".

In response Kim slide her hand down and started to stroke Alexia's folds, she then slide a finger tip inside her. "May I?" Kim asked.

"Ohhh" Alexia moaned "you may". Kim then slide two fingers inside, she had always had a fantasy of pleasuring a woman the way she had never been. She started pumping slowly at first, then sped up feeling Alexia’s inner walls react. "Ohhhhh" Alexia moans holding her belly. "No no carry on, it's just been so long" Alexa reassured. But she felt the tightening again, she knew it wasn’t a ushal sensation for her. But this may be her only chance and tried to hide the ache she felt.

"I could always use my mouth?" Kim offered lowering her head and licking and sucking her clit, Alexia moaned and her hips thrusted along her breasts beating her belly like a drum with each thrust that Kim's fingers were still doing. Both ladies felt Alexia building up, her walls contracted and she gave a long moan her belly hardening as she came.

As Kim removed her fingers Alexia pulled her closer still on her back, she held Kim close no words spoken between them. Alexia put her hand on her belly, Kim joined in caressing the mountain that was now her belly. It was so full of life, she knew it shouldn’t but it turned her on. “Do you want me to...” Alexia started to offer but Kim shook her head, all this was turning her on enough. Alexia caught on and said “do you want to feel me down there again?”

Kim didn’t need to be asked twice, she slipped her hand between Alexia’s thighs reached down and began massaging the clit slowly but with lots of pressure this time.

"Gaaaaaah hoo hoo" she moaned unsure if it was from the plesure or another tightening, her breasts rise and fall as she tries not to explode from the sesations. But then suddenly the sensation grew into something worse and a contraction gripped her hard. “Gaaahhhhhhhh ohhh stop stop” she said cluching her belly. 

“Oh my god are you okay? Did your waters break?” Kim asked looking for fluid.

“No hoo hoo but I’m in labour” she still felt the pain, Kim held her until Alexia relaxed, she remebered that Alexia had looked like she was having a homebirth from the stuff in the bathroom.

"Do you want to call your midwife?" Kim asked her. Alexia nodded and Kim got her phone to her, but the snow had got heavyer. Alexia could tell that her midwife was doubtful she could make it, and said she should go to the hospital once she was more dilated. 

Alexia agreed but knew she wasn’t going anywhere, the snow wasn’t safe to drive in. Plus she wanted a homebirth, so that was what was going to happen. She climbed off the bed and made her way to the bathroom, Kim followed "is there anyone you want to call, I’m happy to watch your daughter.”

“Let the girls sleep, hopefully when they awake there will be a new member of the household to enjoy” Alexia said as she started filling up the birthing pool she had already set up in her on suite bathroom.

“You’re not thinking of doing it by yourself?” Kim asked wondering how much she could convince Alexia this wasn’t wise.

“My midwife won’t come because it’s not safe on the roads and it’s gonna take forever, I’m not risking my unborn child by going outside” Alexia said simply. She wondered how much Kim would fight her, but Kim seemed to just take a second and then started helping her set up and fill the pool.

Alexia then felt her next contraction, she tried to hold it in not wanting to wake the children. “What do you need?” Kim asked both about the pool and the pain Alexia was in.

“Gaah just stay by my side” she said reaching out to her, Kim was more then happy to do so. Over the next 2 hours Alexia contractions got worse, but Kim was there holding her and swaying the pain away when needed. 

“Who would of been here if I wasn’t?” Kim asked couriously.

“The midwife, I kinda only have my daughter and my son when he arrives” she said softly, Alexia rubbed her belly whilst Kim was silent. She started to sway again trying to get the pressure off her hips, but then her grip on Kim tightened her other hand supporting her belly. “Naaaaggggghhhhh hee heee naaaaaghhhhhh” she groaned as her contractions were getting more intense, she just wanted to start pushing. 

Alexia’s laboring belly was so tight, it looked like it was about to burst. Kim was shocked how watching Alexia go though such a moment made her so attractive, but she was so powerful going though this without even gas and air.

Alexia found herself wanting to sqaut, Kim got on her knees to join her. Alexa’s belly hung low, heavy with her unborn child who’s head was pressed right upto the entrance to Alexia’s birth canal. Alexia could feel it, she checked her dilation wishing her water would break soon. “I’m at 8cm, 2 more till I can push”. But the sqauting did help at least.

Kim held her, “your my hero, I was a wussy when my mia was born”.

“hooooo I bet you were” Alexia teesed as a contraction hit and she held onto Kim. She then finally felt the pop she had been waiting for and her water broke, as the fluid hit the floor she felt the urge to push. “Naaagggghhhhhhhh” she moaned, she was not wasting any time.

“Should I help you in the pool?” Kim asked, but Alexia ignored her. As she pushed she felt the head begin to move down into the birth canal easily. She could tell here body was ready to eject her son. 

“I can’t move outta this sqaut” Alexia said once the contraction was over. Kim nodded and comforted her, until Alexia felt the urge to push again. “NAAAGGGGHHHH” Alexia moaned loudly, she was glad they had closed the door to both the bedroom and the en suite so hopefully they wouldn’t wake the girls. As she pushed Alexia felt herself progressing, she spread her legs wider to componsate for her son being fully in her birthcanal.

Kim moved her position so she would be able to guide the baby out, on Alexia’s next push her folds parted and a tear drop gap was present. As the baby decended out of her Alexia was sure this baby dispite being early was huge, she felt the buldge between her legs growing. “Gaaaahhhh nnnaaaggghhh” she moaned as the baby crowned, she thought she was going to die from the pain. “ohhh god OHHHH I’m so scared”.

“No you got this Alexia, come on you are so close” Kim encoraged, and with that Alexia kept pushing till the head popped out. Kim thought she was going to rest but Alexia kept pushing till the shoulders popped out and the baby felt into her hands.

But at first the child didn’t cry, Kim saw the cord round his neck, with quick shaking hand she removed the cord from her neck. The colour flooded back into the baby’s face, then he let out a cry. Alexia put the baby though her legs and onto her deflated belly. She looked up at Kim and something in them both knew this wouldn’t be the first birth they would expreience together.

[rwbyremnants]

CHAPTER WARNINGS: Hard convos and fluff (and awkward almost-incesty feelings)

Getting pretty close to the end! Also I started writing a new project - I know I know, I'm not even done posting this and Princess And The Dragons! Believe me there's just a ton of fics I could keep posting for all eternity, but they're all a complete mess (except the 2 I'm working on posting now). I might hit the fuck it point and post a few of them without doing any editing or rereading to make sure they make any sense. Yay for all that information nobody asked for!

=Chapter 10

A few months passed. Ruby had no further contact with Winter after she drove away from her, apart from one message she asked Penny to send, establishing that she no longer wanted to continue their arrangement. No more sessions, no more visits to the club, nothing. Even the casual texts had stopped, or the occasional silly snaps back and forth of each other's day; it was like they had never met. Strangers.

Then came an occasion she was dreading. There were other family gatherings she had managed to bow out of – anything to avoid awkward contact again out of fear of embarrassing herself; but this wasn't one she could squirm her way out of so easily. Weiss's birthday. She would never want to avoid her idol's celebration, especially not when she was specially invited! Dodging that one would also raise suspicion, and make it far more obvious that she was avoiding something to the other guests.

Plus, she didn't want to hurt her any more than she already had. Her guilt was too heavy. Time to bite the bullet and say hello.

All she could do was mentally prepare while she was out shopping with Yang, looking for an ideal present with her wife. She had promised that she would look after whatever she bought so Weiss didn't find it; at least that was a promise she could keep without anyone getting hurt.

"Hey, how about a cute little pony?"

When Ruby looked over, she saw Yang was holding up some kind of rainbow-painted porcelain horse tchotchke. She practically welcomed the distraction, no matter how mundane. Raising an eyebrow, she laughed, "Oh God, are you gonna turn her into one of those kooky nerds who has a billion of those?"

"Well… no…" Putting it back, Yang sighed and looked around. "But I'm totally drawing a blank this year. You know she's the one who's good at picking out gifts, and I just… suck ass."

Still trying to distract herself, Ruby smirked back toward her, walking a couple of steps backward to keep their pace in the store. "She told me enough times she liked what you got her last year. You know… the 'banana'?" If she wasn't going to be able to distract herself with small goods, she could by embarrassing her favourite sister. "She tells me everything when she gets drunk, unfortunately."

Ducking her blonde head, her big sister groaned and muttered, "God, Weiss… why can't you handle your booze?" She cleared her throat and spoke up to say, "But I don't wanna get her another 'toy' this time. I want it to be something sweet. Y'know, romantic and shit."

"Oooh…" That didn't give Ruby all too much to work with. While Yang and Weiss were definitely happy together, even she knew romance wasn't Yang's strong point. Aside from throwing herself in the path of an explosion that time a few years ago, the closest she had gotten was buying flowers on one occasion; only to get rid of them when they discovered Weiss was allergic. That was a story she wouldn't let her live down.

"Well, what kinds of things has she been into lately? Anything she mentions in passing or something?"

"Um… music? Frilly dresses and expensive perfume? Marrying the worst girlfriend in the world?" Sighing, she leaned back against a shelving unit full of lawn gnomes and hung her head. "I'll just get her another Victoria's Secret gift card."

"Doesn't that kinda count as a present for yourself? Just saying…" But Yang's phrasing didn't sit well in Ruby's own mind. Sure, she didn't know what sorts of presents were romantic and usually ended up with a cop-out gift, but at least she wasn't hurting anyone in the process of that. The worst girlfriend award for sure went to Ruby Rose. "And we both know she has the better of the Xiao Long-Rose sisters, so don't say you're the worst, dork."

"Does not! You're the real prize, and Penny is so lucky! Geeze, if you weren't with her, I'd be beating guys and girls off you with a stick!"

Even if it was meant positively, Ruby wasn't particularly in the mood to play along. Instead, she shrugged her shoulders reluctantly as she wandered out of the store, walking aimlessly in the direction of a jeweller’s. "Nah, I'm lucky to even have Penny. Don't even know how she puts up with me sometimes."

After a moment, Yang followed. She took so long to respond that by then, Ruby assumed she had forgotten the topic. Then…

"Okay, spill. What's been up with you the past couple months?"

"H-huh?" Even if it was a question she should have expected, she was taken aback, instantly finding herself on the defensive. "N-nothing! I was just saying that Penny's good for putting up with me, that's all!"

"Yeah, but you and Penny never fight. She hasn't seemed unhappy being with you or anything like that, at all." Folding her arms over her ample chest, she demanded, "So what's up, Rubes? Spill – unless you want me to tickle it out of you."

No getting out of that not-so-idle threat, no matter how much she tried. And even if Yang didn’t tickle her, she would be like a dog with a bone. Sighing, she looked downward sadly, still idly pacing around in the hope either of them would see something of interest for Weiss.

"It's not Penny and me that have had issues. We're fine. Our relationship's been pretty solid for a while…" When she stopped in front of the bracelets, she debated where to begin, whether or not to tell the story. In the end… "But… I’m, uh…"

Sensing this was big, Yang slid an arm around Ruby's shoulders. "You can tell me anything. If you could handle me coming out and transitioning, I can handle whatever's bugging you."

In the end, that tilted the scales. Yang deserved to know, since she had always been so open with her. At the same time, she didn't need to know who it was. The thought of that conversation coming to light certainly wasn't a good one given Yang's past with Winter.

"You know Penny and I don't… y'know, that often. So, um, Penny let me go out and see someone else, purely for sex. It worked out so great at first, me and this other girl had an amazing connection… but I had to go and ruin it."

For a moment, all Yang could do was blink in surprise. "Whoa, really? Never thought of you as a 'side chick' kinda girl." She hastily added, "But that's cool! I mean, if you have needs and Penny's okay with it, why the hell not?"

"Yeah, heh… I guess." Scratching the back of her head nervously, she couldn't look Yang in the eye anymore. The situation was too sensitive. "But it got deeper than that. Penny and I talked about it as well, and… and we realised that I was falling for this other girl the same way as Penny. Which she felt, too. But then… then I said some really stupid stuff and made a huge mess."

"Falling for both of them?" But of course, Yang had mostly been saying that to confirm it to herself. Blinking a few more times, she then asked, "What kinda stuff? Like, maybe it wasn't as bad as you thought."

"L-like…" There was the awkward part; she didn't know how to word what was happening without possibly outing either Winter or Qrow. Sighing in frustration, she looked back up. "Okay imagine if, I mean just imagine here – you're about to confess your feelings to Weiss for the first time, but then when you're just about to, you find out she's been sleeping with… with Dad or someone as close as that. Y-you'd be shocked, right? Shocked enough to really hurt her feelings on accident?"

For a long moment, Yang just tried to process the very idea being put across to her. Then she burst out, "Dad's been banging your side-chick?!"

"No!!!" Quickly slapping a hand to her forehead, she groaned out in frustration; one that had a couple of people turning to look at them. "I said 'someone as close as', not Dad himself! But that's not the point, anyway!" Looking around some more of the various watches and charm bracelets, Ruby sighed again. "I was yelling at her how if she cared she would have told me, because that was happening before I started hooking up with her, and during. And like, she knew this person was close to me! And I ended up… ended up learning I'd hurt her on other occasions without meaning to. Bad."

This time, Yang took even longer to respond. They both went back to looking over the things in the displays, picking them up and putting them down. Neither really paying much attention to what they were seeing.

"This, um…" Yang held up a tennis bracelet with a musical note dangling from it. "Is this dumb? I… think she could like it, but I, um…"

Again, Ruby welcomed the distraction. As much as she needed advice for what to do next, she much preferred to ignore the subject and keep burying her head in the sand. "That is super cute, actually. Maybe you can get another little snowflake charm for it too?"

"Ooh, that's a good idea… let me know if you find anything like that. Or maybe a star, because…" Her voice got quieter as she added, "She's my star."

Despite Yang having meant it genuinely, Ruby only saw her usual attitude of pun making and groaned again. "That was sooooo bad, international superstar. But stars and snowflakes, got it."

"Y-yeah," Yang replied with a feigned laugh. Clearly she had thought that was really romantic and it fell flat.

They both dug through the display for a little while longer, and Yang did eventually find a snowflake. Ruby was still hunting for a star when she walked back over. Clearly her mind was preoccupied.

"Um… hey Ruby?"

"Hmm?" Noticing that Yang had found what she wanted, she turned back to the display a moment to look longer. "Still can't find a star… Do you mind if it's a typical one? Or do you want a more… what? Something wrong?"

"The typical one is fine, we dug through most of 'em." Then she cleared her throat and tried to sound unconcerned as she asked, "So, were you, uh, maybe, kinda… sleeping with Blake?"

That'd made Ruby drop the small charm she had picked up, which bounced and rolled under one of the displays before she could catch it. At least it was one of the cheapest ones. "Oh, shoot! Noooo!"

“Those things are dime a dozen. C’mon, I asked you a serious question.”

She looked back around to her sister reluctantly. "No, not Blake. I mean, she said she thinks I'm cute before, but also said she would never want to because of your past. Kinda... crossing the streams, or whatever."

"Okay," she sighed in relief. "Whew! Just… you know, I noticed you guys were kinda hanging out sometimes, and… like, I never for sure thought you were, but that’s the only obvious guess I have."

Breathing with relief, Ruby laughed nervously with her. "T-that's fine! Nah, she and Sun seem to be exclusive to each other, from what I know, at least."

Under her breath, Yang muttered, "She's said that one before…" Then she cleared her throat and said, "Okay, Ruby. Whatever went on between you and whoever… it sounds like you were going past just bumping uglies and into really caring about each other. Weren't you?"

"H-hey, it wasn't like-!" But as much as she wanted to deny it, Yang was right; that was the simplest way to put it. Looking downward, she mumbled, "Yeah… we were."

"But… she's also doing stuff with someone really close to you, and it kinda gives you the 'this room is too crowded' vibe?" When Ruby didn't answer, she sighed and ran a hand through her bangs. "Whoo. That's rough."

"She’s also roommates with this person," Ruby added. It seemed like a major detail to leave in given the situation. Pacing to the other displays, she explained in more detail. "I'm not really mad about that anymore, I guess… I'm more mad that I hurt her. Not just by yelling at her about that, but that I left before talking it though. And that I hurt her before all this ugliness and didn't even know I did."

"God… and you were just gonna walk around with all this weighing you down?" Reaching over, she tousled Ruby's hair until it was a messy brown-and-red mop. It was one of the few things she had done when she was Ying that still lingered, even with how much she had changed before Ruby's eyes as they both grew up.

"Sis, I can only work with the facts I got. From where I'm standing… it sounds like this, um, person is worth it to you to go out on a limb for. I’ve been watching you moping around the past few months, and it's like… like something's missing inside you. And maybe your hookup isn't what you need, or maybe she- they are, and… I think you owe it to both of you to try. Just… I don't know, talk to ‘em again. Be chill and see where it goes."

"How?" she asked desperately with a little shrug. "How can I be 'chill' about it when I more or less said 'fuck you and what you've been through' to her face? Like… okay, it wasn't those exact words, sure; but the message was the same."

Though Yang did wince at the implication of saying something like that to someone, she gripped Ruby's shoulder. Unfortunately, due to her ignorance of the topic, her phrasing was less than ideal. "Hey, so you messed up in a… not small way. Sometimes to get what you want, you gotta eat a little crow."

Which was rather noticeable, given that she immediately shut her eyes tightly at the remark. "GOD I'd rather not hear 'Crow' and 'Eat' in the same sentence, you have no idea…"

But whether Ruby liked it or not, her sister was completely right. The problem wasn't going to be solved by hiding from each other; they needed to talk. To apologise, say their piece, and learn. Even if they ended up still avoiding each other after, the least they could do was try.

Apparently, Yang had been trying to talk to her all along, because she finally said, "Yooo, you in there, little Ruby? Big sis calling!" Then a fist was knocking on the top of her head, albeit lightly.

"GAH!" Flinching as soon as her head was touched, she nearly managed to knock the bracelet from Yang's hand! But right away she composed herself again, scratching her head. "S-sorry… I spaced. What were you saying?"

"I was saying that we should probably check out," Yang laughed easily, beaming her usual confident smile down at Ruby. "This bracelet's kinda lame, but it's literally the only idea I've had all day that doesn't make me wanna hurl myself into a volcano."

Ruby could only smile back, handing over the small star charm she had unearthed. "I actually think it's really cute, she'll love it."

But just after they'd finished checking out and re-entered the mall complex, Ruby was attempting to get some information of her own. She had been wanting to for a while, but didn't know how without raising suspicion. As naturally she could, she asked, "So… who's coming to the party? Me, Penny… who else?"

"Oh, well you know. Family people. Plus FNKI is supposed to be there, and Blake and Sun." Pointing, she asked, "Smoothies? My treat, for helping me out with this."

"Yeah, I guess smoothies wouldn’t break the bank," Ruby laughed, following her big sis. "Family people… so Dad, Jacques… Winter…?"

With a slow drawl, Yang answered, "Riiiight. That's who family is. Oh, I don't know if Uncle Qrow RSVP'd yet or not; he was invited. But Dad's gonna be there for sure." Then she looked suspiciously at Ruby. "Unless there's a problem with Dad being there…?"

"Why would I have a problem with Da-" But given the rather serious look, Ruby rolled her eyes. "Look, Dad was an example. This friend isn't actually sleeping with Dad. If she was, he would be living in the house with them, cause they are roommates with the person, remember? And no, it’s not Penny, and it’s really not me."

"Well yeah, I guess. Just double-checking, okay?" When Ruby still seemed irritated, she sighed and said, "Okay, I won't ask who's who again. I get it, this is sensitive. But… I do hope you get whatever's going on squared away. And promise me you won't sit on it until too much time went by, and now you feel like you can't speak up. Please?"

Eyebrows furrowing, Ruby looked up to her sister anxiously. She was genuinely worried about her… and had good reason to be, given what she had to deal with a few years ago; of course now that a somewhat similar situation presented itself, even if only affecting her sister, she would be on edge. But not wanting to let on how truly she was bothered by this, Ruby instead looked at the smoothie menu.

"Get me a banana and blueberry smoothie and it's a deal."

But all Yang groaned in response was, "Do you have to pick 'banana'? I'm already embarrassed enough about that as it is!"

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

"…but she’s been saying she wants to eat more organic, so I figured, buying some vegetable plant seeds could be an idea; something to do with little Fèn once she gets older, also. Not such a boring present, is it?"

Winter’s father had offered to drive her to her sister’s birthday party to both spare her sobriety and cab fare. He insisted strongly, despite her reluctance to be in his company. In recent days, that seemed to be worryingly common; for her to be alone or seem a little more uptight and serious than usual. Even if he had never mentioned it, her father certainly noticed.

And when noticing she still wasn't particularly listening on this occasion, he cleared his throat. "S-so… Amber couldn't come. She had something with her own family she couldn't miss, so you and Weiss will have to meet her properly another time."

"Hmm? Oh, yes… that's wonderful, Father." It was a stock answer. Winter would normally have offered up something a lot more in-depth and pointed, but it seemed she still wasn't up to the task.

In fact, she had spent most of the past months avoiding any time alone with her father. Not that he would know why. Not that they never talked, but their discussions had been fewer and further between ever since he told her about Amber. Poor Jacques. The only cause he could think of was the possibility that Winter didn't like his flowering relationship. And no wonder; no one would like to hear their parent had moved on, much less such details.

While they were at a red light, he looked around to her, asking, "You… aren't mad at me for dating again, are you?"

"What?" she asked, roused from her reverie. "No, not at all… oh, Father, I'm sorry. My mind is just elsewhere." Frowning over at him, she told him as earnestly as she could, "I didn't mean to make you think I disapprove of Amber."

There was a wave of relief, and right away he swept the sweat from his brow. "Phew! You had me worried there! Last thing I wanted to do was make you or Weiss feel uncomfortable." As the light turned green, his attention returned to the road, but he didn't drop the subject. "Then what is wrong, dear? You've seemed off for a long time now."

"Have I?" she asked, trying to sound as convincing as she could. She shifted in her seat, trying to find a more comfortable position. "Sorry about that. I didn't mean to worry you."

"Well, you have been a little," he admitted. "So, if it's not Amber… what is it? Is there something I should be concerned about? Have I done anything to upset you?"

"No, nothing," she answered immediately. There was no way she could ever tell him why she was so uncomfortable in his presence now - especially since it was getting easier to manage a little at a time. So she had to distract him, and she could only find one topic that would adequately excuse her standoffishness without making her poor father feel worse. "Just… I was beginning to think I might have found an 'Amber' of my own. But the relationship fell through before I could figure that part out."

"Oooohh… so, it's relationship trouble." While it was a better assumption than the whole truth, it was still awkward for old Jacques Schnee. He wasn't used to talking to his daughters in such circumstances until a couple of years ago, so the advice was always rusty. Still, he tried. "There's always more fish in the sea, even if you have to swim a little further out, I suppose. I know you get out more than I do, I'm sure you'll find a nice… girl, to settle down with someday."

Laughing weakly, Winter crossed her legs in the opposite direction, hoping against hope that it would abate her discomfort. No such luck. "Doubtful. I just don't feel that kind of connection with people. Not until…" Did she dare confirm? "Until she came along."

"I see… the one that got away, hmm?" Given the silence, that was also confirmed. While it wasn't as easy for him as it would be talking to a son about this sort of thing, he tried his best to treat her in the same way he would a son, and cleared his throat. "Girls are very mysterious. One minute you think you have them figured out, the next, you're back to square one. Or in your case, square zero. Of course, you know that, being a woman yourself." Scratching his head nervously, he tried to continue, "But what I'm saying is, don't bet all your money on one horse. If it's not meant to be, it won't happen. If it is, things will… well, they'll find a way to work."

"But I wasn't putting money on any horse," she sighed. "My feelings came as a complete surprise to me; I wasn't even looking! And then…" There had to be a way to discuss this without going into specifics. "We had an argument. About our relationship, and how we hadn't been entirely honest about our situations. It should have been something we could work through, but…"

"Ah, of course. Nobody likes complications." They weren't too far from the house, but rather than pull right up to the drive, he pulled the car over onto the shoulder a moment. "Listen, I'm not very good at this, you can tell; but it sounds like you both left everything up in the air rather than talking through the issue properly."

Winter could feel her anxiety rising. They were so close! She hadn't been mentally prepared to be alone with him for any longer than the drive there. But she also didn't want to squander this chance to have a non-superficial conversation with her father; they were so rare, and if she avoided this one she might not get another for a while. Or might even lead him to believe she hated him. That wouldn’t do.

"I wanted to try again. But she let me know we were done. That… she didn't want to see me anymore. She was so upset, I… how can I approach her if she hates me?"

Leaning back in his seat, Jacques sighed deeply, drumming his fingers against the top of the steering wheel as some form of distraction. "How indeed. Then again, your mother and I used to have our fair share of arguments before we got serious; sometimes, shit happens." It was unusual for her father to swear, even more so when he was calm. Still, it meant they were possibly getting somewhere. "Perhaps arrange to meet under more neutral circumstances?"

"Perhaps so." Her eyes flicked toward her sister’s house and the promise of safety, and she sighed. "We'll see. It feels so hopeless, but… I should at least apologise for my part of our misunderstanding. Then it would be up to her, right?"

"Exactly." He smiled toward her. "The ball will be in her court, as it were. If she wants to play, she will. If not… well, you can say you did everything you possibly could. It's disappointing if it does come to that, but in the end, it's far more satisfying to say you tried than to give up without trying."

Nodding glumly, she tried to let herself believe him. It was so hard! But she knew it was the truth; yes, Ruby was well within her right to end their arrangement, even without what went on with Qrow. Even so, that didn't mean she and her sister-in-law couldn't patch up their friendship, and discuss what went wrong like mature adults.

"You're right, of course. It's… I'll think about it. Thank you."

Nodding happily, he put his hands back on the wheel again to drive the last few seconds of the journey. Already, there were a few cars and bikes on the drive from the various guests. One of which included the small red car that Winter recognised so much: Ruby's.

Oblivious to that, Jacques was already taking off his seatbelt and opening the door. "In the meantime, just enjoy the party today. I'm sure Weiss will let you hold Fèn for longer than a couple of minutes this time!"

"Don't count on it," she laughed as they exited the car and began walking up towards the lakehouse. Despite their difficulties and Winter's private discomfort, she really did appreciate the talk more than she could say.

Once they got inside, they could see most of the guests had arrived. Yang and a few members of FNKI were loitering in the spacious entryway. One or two other children from Fenléng's daycare were toddling back and forth in the living room, their mothers likely nearby. Winter thought it was nice that she had a few little friends to play with.

"I'll be back in a bit, guys," Yang reassured both Flynt and Inu upon noticing the new guests. Suspecting they hadn't seen Weiss yet, she thought it best to greet the newcomers herself, managing to scoot past them to welcome her inlaws with open arms. "There you two are! Figured you got lost, again."

Jacques chuckled to himself, accepting a quick hug from her with a pat on the back. "That was just one time. Where is my other pride and joy, anyway?"

"Out in the garden with Ruby! I think they wanted to catch up a little bit before we gave Weiss her presents and stuff. You can head through, if you want?"

Raising a small bag and the box from Jacques, Winter said, "Where shall I put these?"

"Oh, I'll take 'em while we go through, it's on the way. Weiss's been waiting for you guys to turn up!"

With a brief wave goodbye to the two guests, Yang journeyed through the living room with both of Weiss’s relations following behind. She detoured to the kitchen with the two gifts, adding them to the pile, then leading Winter and Jacques to the rear conservatory doors. And there in plain sight were Ruby and Weiss, sat together on the bench.

The circumstances couldn't be any worse. Both Jacques and Weiss were completely unaware of the tension between Winter and Ruby. It gave no time for either of them to prepare mentally, especially not when Jacques was already walking outside toward them both, calling out to get their attention. "There she is! Twenty-two years young."

Turning, Weiss smirked at him as she said, "You got it right this year, Father. I'm impressed." Then her smile widened and she said, "Hey, sister of mine!"

"Happy birthday," Winter said, smiling gently. For the moment, she could forget about the girl sitting next to her sister. Ruby was definitely very important to her, but this wasn't her day, and it wasn't Winter's. "How does it feel to be another year wiser?"

"About the same," she laughed back with a little shrug. "Yang and I were just talking about that this morning; every year is just an encore, isn't it?"

"Once you're past twenty-one, it is pretty much the same,” Jacques chuckled. “Still, gives us an excuse to have a drink or two."

While he was making small talk with his daughter, Ruby continued to sit still with a drink in hand, staring toward the ground nervously. She knew Winter was there, but was far too scared to even make eye contact with her. Clearly, she had been just as cut up as Winter was in the first place. At least that was one small good sign; the pseudo-breakup wasn’t already an irrelevant event for the girl.

"So, how many others are on their way?" Winter asked, hands in the small of her back.

"Well, there's Blake and Sun," Weiss began to list off as she embraced sister. "Taiyang is on his way with Qrow. That might be everyone, right, honey?"

"Blake just messaged and said she's on the way," spoke up Yang from behind them, who had just finished putting the gifts away and was now coming to a stop by her wife’s side. "Aaaand Dad's on the way but a little held up because he went to get Penny from the airport. That’ll be a while, so… should we do presents?"

"You guys go ahead," Ruby said from her seat. At least now she raised her head a little, and looked outward to the large lake rather than at the floor like she was before. "I'm just gonna… chill here for a minute. Crazy week."

"Sorry to hear that," Winter said almost automatically. Then she cleared her throat and hastily turned to Weiss. "Are you ready for presents, or would you rather wait for Blake and Sun?"

"We can wait. In fact, now that I've stopped breastfeeding, I'm ready to have a drink. Can I get you something?"

Smiling demurely, she responded, "Oh, come on; this is your day. I can make drinks for both of us. What will everyone have?"

"Maybe Weiss already has the drinks I…" Though before she could finish that quip, Yang realised just who was in their company. They might well be on good terms, but an adult breastfeeding joke might be a bit too much for the subject’s father and sister to take. Winding back, she cleared her throat again. "Yeah, but I'll get them though, seriously. I know Weiss wants a strawberry daiquiri, and I’m still on the dry list. You two…?"

"I'm driving, so just sparkling water for me. What about you, Winter?" Jacques asked, although he was about ready to head inside.

Her eyes flicked to Yang, but then she said, "Martini, dry, single olive. That is, if it's no trouble."

"Nope, not at all!."

Weiss and Jacques headed inside first, with him asking about how she was and how Fènleng had been. It was always the subject whenever he came over now. But before Winter could step inside, Yang's hand landed on her shoulder, pulling her slightly around.

"Hey… you got a minute?"

That was quite startling for the elder of the Schnee sisters. Glancing both between the door inside and Ruby on the bench, she asked, "Of course, what's up?"

Glancing back at her little sister for a quick moment herself, she leant in closer toward Winter, talking in a hushed tone. "Okay, this is gonna be a weird request, but could you talk to her? This past few months she's had a bad case of the blues about, um, this situation she’s in. I know it's weird asking since she barely knows you, but… I'm kinda at a roadblock."

"Me?" Gulping, she glanced back at Ruby, then again at Yang. The woman she had treated so badly once upon a time. "I… don't have the greatest track record with helping people. Mentally. I'm honestly very surprised you'd ask me."

"Well, I'm stuck… Weiss is stuck, Penny's stuck… we're out of options. Not that you're a bad option, that's not what I'm saying at all! I mean, I know it's not gonna be the same as when you talked me into leaving and-" Sensing she was rambling, however, she looked down when the quizzical gaze of Winter met her own. "Bad start… bad start. But, yeah… if it's okay with you, could you? She may open up more if it's with somebody who doesn’t know her as well as us."

"Yang… you have me all wrong. I'm honoured you trust me to help her, and I'll definitely do my very best. Just… surprised." Swallowing hard, she whispered, "I've been hoping to… make things up to you; I know I can't, but anything I can do to try…"

"Oh pssshhh, I wasn't even thinking about that!" Yang quickly assured her, even laughing a little just to prove it. But in a short moment she squeezed her shoulder, just enough to convey she was serious. "I'm asking as a sister-in-law. Not as a 'you owe me'. Please?"

That prompted Winter to sigh in mild relief as she patted the hand on her shoulder. "That means the world to me. And yes, of course; I just apologise in advance if the talk doesn't do as much good as we both hope."

"Least we can say we tried. I'll have your drink ready in a second."

Finally releasing the shoulder, she headed back in the house behind Weiss and Jacques, leaving the two girls outside alone. Ruby, who was still trying to look to one side with her beverage to do anything to avoid looking her way; and Winter, who was awkward enough thinking about what needed to be done. It was pretty obvious Ruby wouldn't be the one starting.

There was so much she wanted to say, but in the end all she did was pace up behind the bench, come to a stop, and ask, "So… how have you been?"

Nervously shrugging her shoulders, Ruby kept watching the lake while she took a sip of her drink. Damn Yang… she didn't know anything about the situation, yet had somehow managed to convince Winter to do the very thing they needed to - despite her wanting to run a mile from it!

"G-good," she murmured after the sip, resting the hand back on her knee again. "J-just, um, doing so-so. And you?"

"I've been better… but I've been worse. So… I guess the same as you." She looked down towards her hands, white-knuckling on the back of the bench, and tried to relax. It wasn't working. "How are… you and Penny?"

Yet again, she shrugged her shoulders. However this time she at least made some form of effort to acknowledge her needs, by scooting to one side of the bench. "Not too bad, I guess. She has a new job, but she's been kinda stressed because I've been super tired a lot of the time."

Realising it would look strange if she kept standing there when there was an empty seat, she rounded it, sitting down as far away as she could from Ruby. Hopefully, she wouldn't feel crowded. "Why so tired? If it's not too much to ask about. Feel free to tell me it's none of my business, I…" But she didn't finish her thought.

"O-oh, it's nothing. J-just… uh…" Seemed it was more than nothing, especially when it came to the person she was admitting this to. But trying her best, she eventually shrugged her shoulders after another drink. "Just… felt a little off, that's all. I-it's like that sometimes."

"You should talk to your sister about that. She would know more about that, since she's… already on medication. No thanks to me," she added in a bitter undertone.

Closing her eyes, Ruby sighed deeply as she placed her glass on the ground and out the way. "That wasn't your fault entirely, you know. There were a lot of issues at the time with her, hiding under the surface. And besides, I'm pretty sure it’s not genetic; my parents weren’t diagnosed with stuff like that. So if it’s anybody, it’s Yang’s mom, I guess."

"Still, you… should work on what's troubling you." This was getting harder to dance around, and when she thought about doing so, she found she was unable to. "Because despite… how things played out, I still want what's best for you, Ruby. There's just no sense in you suffering if you can talk to someone, sort things out. Medication or no medication."

"I'm not depressed," she corrected. Although from the way she kept staring toward the ground, she wasn't exactly doing anything to prove that comment wrong. In the end, she placed her hands on the bottom of her small skirt, grasping the hem anxiously. But in the end, she thought to herself; what good would it do to keep distracting and leaving things unsaid? "I've just… been upset. Not Depression, not anything else; I'm just sad, okay? It… it was my own stupid fault in the first place."

"What was?" When Ruby didn't answer immediately, she followed up with, "I don't want to assume anything. That isn't my right. But maybe whatever has upset you wasn't your fault alone, and… and then you wouldn't have to punish yourself so harshly. Right?"

For a long while, there was silence between them. Ruby continued to look downward, still unable to yet look up at someone she once couldn't get enough of. It was almost tragic how far they had drifted thanks to a single argument. But the silence was lifted by a small, but rather desperate whisper.

"I miss you."

Winter's head raised, eyes wide. Her mouth worked as if she would respond right away, but she forced herself to stop, to consider her words more carefully. Then she stated, "And I have missed you. So much."

Tucking a stray strand of hair out of her own face, she eventually settled to holding her hands together on her lap, idly crossing her legs to appear casual. Just on the off-chance anyone inside was looking. But already, she could feel everything she had bottled up coming loose, feel her heart thudding with fear, eyes welling up.

"I just got so mad," she began to confess. “S-so mad and so jealous… and I had n-no right to be. That wasn't fair. Not when I-I'd done things just as bad to you."

"You didn't realize what you had done was so…" Winter paused, having to breathe deeply. This wasn't something she made a habit of discussing, so even now, months later, it was difficult. "We both crossed a line that we didn't think as important to the other person as it turned out to be. Is… that fair to say?"

It was accurate. All Ruby had wanted to do was show Winter that she was brave enough to do more daring things, while Winter simply wanted to keep the two most important people in her life happy without awkward encounters. It was certainly a fair assessment. Nodding in agreement, she stared out toward the lake again in a somewhat more contented silence.

"…How's Qrow?"

"Oh, he's been alright. They promoted him to assistant manager of the bar; said he was doing a great job with the work but was a little rude to the customers, so he was better placed being rude to the bartenders."

"So he gets to sit at a desk behind the bar and drink? Sounds like an ideal job for him."

Winter smiled down at the hands in her lap. "You… probably don't want to know any more details than that, do you?"

Though that last comment didn't make Ruby laugh. Unfortunately, she was still rather awkward about that situation. "N-no… not really. I wanna hear if he's okay but not like, those details."

"Of course, of course," she replied hastily. "I have no problem with that. As long as you agree not to tease me about… about the other thing. We can bring it up from time to time, but don't tease. It just…" She looked away, biting her lip to keep from showing a reaction too severe.

"I know… I stepped over the line." Nervously she shuffled in her seat again, looking downward toward the floor. A look of pure shame. "The truth is… I just thought that maybe… if I used my intuition and showed that I could be daring enough to try something big like that, you'd be pleased with my progress. But now I know, t-that was completely wrong. That you can't ‘guess’ with this stuff."

The corner of her mouth ticked up as she conceded, "Well, to be fair, you were right with everything except the third person who happened to be in the room. But your performance was… I still have to fan myself thinking about how good you were."

"It… was pretty hot." Unsure if that was crossing the line or not, she shrugged her shoulders nervously. "That doesn't count as teasing, right? To admit that it was really… really thrilling?"

"No, not at all. I… could tell you how I really felt about it, if you promise not to pass judgment. A-and if you promise not to think it means I dislike you; just because I was angry and upset didn't mean I wanted you out of my life! I regret so much that I made it seem that way…"

"I wouldn't blame you if you did… I crossed the line," she admitted again. She knew she deserved more than that. She expected fury, rage even, but Winter had something else to say. "…g-go on?"

"What I said during play… that it really turned me on… I wasn't lying. It did. But admitting that means admitting that…" Winter's cheeks were pink already due to how long they had been talking about their last session, but she bravely forged ahead.

"On the car ride up here, I spent the entire time trying to ignore how wet I was getting. Because I was in the same car as my father. You were so good, and gave me such a powerful climax, that now… now I associate that with speaking to him, being in the same place as him. Which I'm so ashamed of; it's… not as if he had anything to do with it directly, or as if I want to sleep with him! GOD, no! But the two things are connected in my brain pretty strongly now." Now that the older woman had said her peace, she closed her eyes and waited for the reaction. However bad it might turn out to be.

"Ohhh…" Surprisingly, it was far easier for Ruby to take in than expected. While it was good to learn that she had given Winter an extremely powerful orgasm, and Winter was proud of her as a sub… learning that Winter now associated her own father with their escapades wasn't so good. In fact, when she thought about it…

It was the same association she now had with Qrow once learning who he was. Finding out that Qrow was another of Winter’s partners made such thoughts hard to totally block out. A sexual context for her own uncle. They were both dealing with those awful tricks of their minds. Only difference was, Ruby knew she would never accidentally be picturing her uncle during the act the same way Winter might with her father.

"Shit… I really screwed up…"

"Not so badly. I mean, it's almost fun, when I'm not disgusted with myself." A few seconds later, she added in a weak murmur, "That was supposed to be humourous, but after saying it, I realized it didn't come out that way…"

Still blinking, she finally looked more in Winter's direction than the floor at last. Not eye contact yet, but it was better than what it was. "Geeze, I just wanted to do something… adventurous. To be bold or whatever. I didn't want to ruin an entire person for you, let alone your own father!"

With another gentle, nervous smile, she turned back to face forward. "You don't have that much power, Ruby. He's not ruined, exactly… just… this is something I'll have to work through. But it does help to have a specific cause; you fucking me under the desk, instead of just 'Surprise, you're turned on in your father's presence'. Keeps me from thinking I'm even more of a deviant than I already am."

There was a small chuckle coming from her. "That would be the worst version of the Daddy kink."

"Ugh," Winter groaned, ducking her head. "Do you know how long I mentally dissected me moaning 'Daddy' when I’m being fucked?! I haven't called him that in over a decade, and I still had to worry about it!"

"Oh my god, I was kidding - I didn't know you had one!" The laugh was beginning to increase in volume. In fact, it would be the loudest anyone would have heard her laugh in weeks, even if it was a slight form of teasing. Their talk was working.

So Winter kept it going. Yes, she was uncomfortable with the subject matter, but it was also a relief to be able to get it out and discuss it instead of bottling everything up. "Well, I do, but it never had anything to do with my actual daddy until that night. Not as far as I knew, anyway." Shifting in her seat, she muttered, "You know what they say about all little girls wanting to marry their fathers…"

"Not me; never ever been interested in men. Even me being kinda weird about sex aside…" Finally, she felt her muscles relaxing as she grew more at ease; even began to smile. Maybe things were going to work out for them still being friends, after all. In the end, that's what they wanted, to be in one another's lives, regardless of feelings.

But Ruby didn't want to leave it there. Talking about where things went wrong with their arrangement was one thing, but with their feelings was another. They had come too far, said too much to leave it there without talking it through fully. If only she could take that first step.

Though Winter beat her to it. "If you're sure you want to keep these secrets, and aren't already disgusted by me…" Her eyes flicked up to Ruby's face, then away again, waiting. Bursting to speak, but afraid that she had already gone too far.

"I could never be disgusted with you." At long last, she looked up, and right at Winter's face. It was like she was seeing her for the first time all over again. She could already feel the bottled up feelings reemerging, the compulsive need to grab Winter and kiss her as hard as she could. But they had to talk it out first. "Even after all my thinking, all this time with these dumb thoughts… I can't be disgusted with you. I can't even dislike you. And I don't want to. Because all this time has passed and I… I-I… still…"

Almost as if to head her off, Winter went on, "G-good. Because it's been getting worse, even if I've been getting better at processing it; understanding it's a kink, and it doesn't make me bad for having a kink if I don't indulge it. That's not as bad, right?" Her eyes held Ruby's for just a moment, hopeful, drinking in the desire she saw reflected there, before she turned away.

"As you heard, my father has begun dating this Amber woman. I've seen her, and she really is attractive." More fidgeting from the elder Schnee sister. "S-so… I may have had a stray fantasy about walking in on them…"

"Well… I-I guess… um…" Truly speechless after that confession of hers, Ruby looked to one side wide eyed, scratching the back of her head nervously. Managing to force a chuckle of her own, she admitted, "I guess these things don't hurt. Fantasies and all that, different strokes for different folks."

"You know, I could tell he was flustered by that sketch of yours - which I framed, by the way, I hope I can show you how it looks framed. That… is part of what made it harder to forget this whole thing. He didn't know it, but he was finding me attractive." Then she cleared her throat, waving that away as best she could. "Which only makes sense; he's always told me I'm a lot like Mother was. Weiss is the one who looks so distinctly different, even though there's a family resemblance, of course."

"Weirdly? She looks like your dad, if he was a girl… if that makes sense?" She could only hope that would be enough to make her chuckle along with her. The strange thing was, at the start of this arrangement, she was so obsessed with Winter's likeness to Weiss. Now, she could completely separate them. When with Winter, it was like Weiss was never even a factor.

"She does!" Winter admitted with a giggle of her own, raising a hand to her mouth to hide it. Then she sighed and said, "Anyway, enough about my budding Electra complex before I develop a thing for Weiss, too." Turning more fully, she looked straight at Ruby with a sober gaze. "I'm so happy that we can talk again. It might not be easy, but I can't tell you how much I've missed this!"

Laughing right back with her, Ruby picked her drink back up from the ground. The smile on her face evolved into a grin. "Me too! This was one of the things I missed. I mean, Weiss and Blake are great to talk to, but you sorta get fed up with them bringing up their other halves like, all the time."

Nodding, Winter crossed her legs in a lot less discomfited gesture - though she still shivered slightly at the action. "Indeed, they do go on about each other. But it's a positive thing, that they're in such stable relationships." Glancing over at Ruby, she asked in a careful tone, "You and Blake didn't ever…?"

Drinking the final swig of her drink, Ruby shook her head lightly, drawing the glass away. "Nah. We agreed that'd be too weird with how she was with Yang and all. Plus, as much as she knows she's bisexual…" Shuffling up closer to Winter a moment, she quickly checked the area to make sure no one was in sight. Thankfully, they were all too distracted by the presents to even notice those two outside. Finally, she leaned into her ear, whispering, "She is definitely all about dicks."

Giggling, Winter whispered back, "I know. I offered to Dom her a few times, or to let her Dom me, and she said she 'wouldn't mind' but didn't seem all that excited about getting around to it. I saw that as the gentle kiss-off that it was, and never pushed for an answer."

"Yeah… She won't admit it, but she is a cockslut," Ruby whispered back. And yet even when she was done whispering, she didn't move away. Not yet. She had become content with sitting right at Winter's side, even leaning in slightly toward her. So close… even after months, it was becoming like those few romantic sessions all over again. Except there were no characters, no practice. This was Winter Schnee and Ruby Rose.

"Do you still…" But as soon as the words began to form, she held a hand up, shaking her head. "Nah, forget it, I'm being dumb."

"I still miss more than just our sessions," Winter told her firmly, offering it when Ruby hadn't finished her question. "I miss YOU, all of you."

Ruby found no more words to say. Usually a chatterbox who let her mouth run, and she was completely speechless. All she could do was keep their close proximity, feel her cheeks beginning to heat up once more as Winter stared back at her. She always managed to make her blush… and this was no exception. After a brief check to make sure no one was around, she found her eyes wandering elsewhere. To Winter's eyes, her lips…

"Kiss me."

"Are you sure?" she breathed gently, allowing her index finger to brush down along Ruby's arm. "Someone might see. Or do you want them to see?" Quirking her lips, she whispered as she drifted closer, "Not that I would fault you if that was secretly what you wanted."

"I-I want…" She wanted everything to go the way it was meant to go when she first confessed her feelings for Winter. She wanted for them to be more, so much more. "I want you… I want to feel how you feel about me. Even after this long. I-if you still do."

At the more insistent wording, the lessening of ambiguity, Winter's eyes began to shimmer. Her throat tightened, and she leaned in yet closer. With only another second of hesitation, her lips took the younger woman's, hungrily and with great relish.

And she poured every last ounce of desire into her mouth as she kissed her back, as her hand slid up to rest upon her neck. For the first time, one of their kisses wasn't merely full of confidence, sensuality, desire. This time, there was so much affection - on a level closer to Penny's, though different in its own right. Open and earnest.

In the same way, Ruby felt her eyes closing in bliss. Her hand crept up and into Winter's hair, bringing her in closer. Her other hand was holding her glass as best she could, but even that was a struggle. In the movement and effort Winter displayed when she opened her lips slightly further, when she eased her tongue forward to brush against her own, she could feel it. This kiss was so completely different to what she had felt from her before, yet entirely familiar. Winter Schnee loved her, and she could tell from that single, honest kiss between them. And already she could feel tears welling up in her eyes all over again.

Though Winter continued to pour more and more of her affection into the contact, eventually it grew to be too powerful. She had to break away to whisper, "I thought I lost you forever!" before she threw her arms around Ruby, pushing her face into her neck and trembling all over as she tried not to break down entirely.

Although hesitant at first, Ruby eventually found the strength to hug right back, pulling her in tightly as she grasped the cardigan she was wearing. Everything was back, her scent, her touch; her. And she wouldn't have it any other way. What a fool she was to let it all go, to let such a thing slip away because of a pathetic argume-

"Guys, we're starting to open the presents!"

Yang happened to call as she stood by the conservatory door. Why did that have to happen now?! Thankfully, there was no awkwardness about the embrace; it simply looked like what Yang had intended for them, for Winter to have helped Ruby with her sadness. And that brought a smile to her face. "Awww, come on you nerds, get in here!"

Pulling back with a sniffle, she was sure not to do what she would have done - kiss Ruby again - and instead turned immediately to call, "Coming!" When addressing Ruby again, she whispered, "Are you going to be alright? I mean, I think I can dry it up, but we can linger a moment if you need to."

Moving the hand from the back of her head to her shoulder instead, she nodded. She desperately wanted to do the same, quickly lunge forward and kiss Winter. But that would have to wait until another time. "Y-yeah, we'd better. Yang's been worried about me."

"Yeah, she said. Your sister really cares for you; I'm glad you're so close." Biting her lip as she stroked Ruby's arm, down out of sight due to the bench, she whispered, "Maybe… she can be one of the first ones we tell, when we're ready. She and Weiss. I think they're the ones who might feel the most strange about us being anything other than sisters-in-law."

"Yeah… Yeah that's true. It would be a good idea." But it seemed at first, Ruby hadn't quite realised what that implied. Until she started to really think about it. And her eyes widened once she began to think on it more and more, before finally gasping, "You… want that with me? Like, to be completely out in the open? Really?"

"Possibly," she answered with a shy smile as she finally began to stand up, pulling Ruby to her feet alongside. "Depending on other factors. Mainly, you and Penny; if we did that, she would be part of a polyamorous relationship, even if she has no feelings for me. I don't want to put her in that position if she's not comfortable with it. And then we'll have to decide how we feel about each of the other people in our lives knowing about it in turn."

"Yeah, of course. If we don't handle this right, people would accuse me of being a cheater. And I don't want that – she doesn’t deserve to have people thinking that, either. Don't worry, I'll be talking to her about it soon."

Winter nodded, then couldn’t help grinning down at the little puppy. Now all hers – or at least, more hers than she had been expecting. "I can’t wait."

[let-it-raines]

Christmas prompt! "I’ve dressed up in sexy santa underwear and a trench coat, come to your door, and revealed what is under my trench coat, but oh my god haha you didn’t say your parents were visiting how lovely to meet them for the first time like this oh wow best christmas ever" 😂 You can change it however you want.

Emma’s going to kill Ruby.

She is.

That’ll have her end up in jail, and while that’s obviously not preferable as a long-term thing, Emma thinks those lovely orange (or gray or black or green or whatever color the jumpsuits are in Boston now) jumpsuits would be better than what she has on right now.

This is the absolute last time Emma agrees to do Ruby a favor of her choice to get out of having to chase down a perp that she absolutely does not want to deal with.

Michael Pearson and his tendency to get handsy before she cuffs him is seeming so much better right now.

A creep getting handsy and an orange (maybe) jumpsuit.

Merry Christmas.

(And Bah Humbug.)

Because Emma is walking through actual snow in nothing more than a flimsy trench coat, a pair of heels that are really not suited for this weather and the slickness of the sidewalks, and red underwear that’s trimmed with white fluff and hooked into a pair of black stockings. The actual tag on the lingerie was “Sexy Santa,” and Emma is in the camp that nothing about Santa should ever be sexy.

It’s just creepy.

But so is Ruby, and for some reason instead of having Emma do Ruby’s laundry for a month or clean her always messy kitchen, Ruby decided that her favor for taking the Michael Pearson case would be Emma showing up at Killian Jones’s apartment in a trench coat and “Sexy Santa” lingerie like the most cliché holiday rom com moment in existence. He’s going to give her so much shit. He’s definitely going to sleep with her because that’s kind of what their entire arrangement is about, but he’s going to give her so much shit over it.

This is why you don’t casually sleep with the cop that everyone in your bail bond’s office deals with when turning in a perp.

(And why you don’t tell your best friend about it.)

Sighing, Emma tightens her coat, cinching it around her waist, and turns into Killian’s apartment building, taking the stairs in an attempt to warm up. She’s definitely going to freeze to death if she has to stay outside in this any longer. When she gets to Killian’s door, she stops and pulls out her phone, sending a picture to Ruby for proof that she’s there, and then she turns and knocks three times.

“This is so stupid,” Emma mumbles under her breath. “So, so stupid.”

And then the door is flinging open, and Killian is standing in front of her in a pair of dark jeans and a tight black sweater that has her doing a double-take…which is nothing compared to the way that his eyes are glancing up and down her body.

Maybe this won’t be so bad.

“Swan. What are you doing here?”

Emma grits her teeth and tries not to roll her eyes at the words Ruby wanted her to say. “I’m,” she begins, untying her coat and dropping it from her shoulders until it’s halfway down her back, “giving you your Christmas present.”

His eyes immediately drop to her chest and the way her boobs are propped up in the bra before scanning down her stomach and her legs to the black stockings. His ears are red and eyes are dilated, nearly blown black already, and his tongue runs along his bottom lip. Heat stirs low in her belly, and yeah, this definitely isn’t going to be so bad.

Thanks, Rubes.

“Fuck,” he whispers, his accent curling around the curse. His thumb moves to press against his bottom lip, pulling it down, and his eyes are hooded as he stares down at her. “Why the hell are you wearing that?”

“Don’t even bother asking.”

Killian laughs with his Adam’s apple bobbing, and Emma steps forward to wrap her arms around Killian’s neck. With her heels, they’re the same height, and it’s easy to slant her lips over his and feel the softness of them contrasted with the rough scratch of his scruff. She’s always loved his scruff, the way that it looks and the way that it feels moving over her body. He shaved once, and it felt foreign to the touch.

His right hand threads through her hair, tugging her closer and slanting her mouth in the direction he wants, and she gladly complies, opening her mouth to him so that his tongue flickers out and warms her mouth even as the chilled air nips at every bit of her that’s exposed. Killian’s free hand moves along the curves of her body, staying at her waist to tug her closer before his palm is finding her ass, squeezing her and tugging her until there’s absolutely no space between them. She feels his arousal pressing through his jeans, hot and heavy, and Emma moans into his mouth before shuffling her feet and moving forward and pushing him into his apartment.

She wants out of his damn outfit, and her entire body is thrumming with desire and anticipation. Every inch of her is touching him, and the blood in her veins is absolutely boiling.

“Swan, I – ”

She grinds into him, making his words disappear into her skin in the form of a guttural gasp, and Emma smirks into his mouth as they keep walking backward. Her fingers curl into his hair, scratching along his scalp like she knows he likes, and Emma nearly stumbles in her heels at the sound.

(Thank you, Ruby Lucas.)

The front door of the apartment slams behind them, and Emma shrugs her shoulders until her coat is falling further from her body. She moves her hands from Killian’s head so she can take it off fully before curling her nails into his shoulders and the softness of his sweater.

This is a damn good sweater.

Suddenly, there’s a cough.

And then another one.

They’re not coming from Killian or from her, and when Emma’s eyes open, she sees a man standing behind Killian’s shoulder.

“Who the hell are you?” she screeches out, pulling away from Killian so that she stumbles again. Her eyes are glancing between the two of them. Her red lipstick is smeared across Killian’s lips and in parts of his beard, and his eyes are hooded and still flooded with want. The other man is smirking, and she has no idea why Killian isn’t going in search of his gun and shooting the intruder in his apartment.

“I feel like I could ask the same to you, lass. I suppose you’re not Mrs. Claus.”

What. The. Hell.

Who. The. Hell.

“No, I’m not Mrs. Claus,” Emma huffs, turning around and squatting down to grab her coat, hastily putting it on so that she’s not flashing this random guy who Killian is obviously not freaked out by. Great, her boob was totally out. “Who the hell are you? Killian, who is this? Did you have someone in your apartment this entire time? Why didn’t you say something, you asshole?”

Killian waves his hand toward her, circling it around as if to encompass something. “I was going to, but then, well, you looked like…that. I got a tad bit distracted. Can you blame me, darling?”

“Liam Jones, by the way,” the other guy says, waving at her. “Killian’s brother. Who are you, lass? If not Mrs. Claus, of course.”

“I’m embarrassed and annoyed.” Emma’s eyes dart between Killian and Liam, Killian’s apparent brother who just saw her in lingerie grinding on his brother, and she’s starting to see the resemblance. “But also Emma Swan. I’m Killian’s – ”

“We work together,” Killian blurts out, tugging on her coat and silently apologizing before turning back to Liam. They don’t really have a definition for this thing right now, and she’s glad he went with that option…even if Liam can definitely tell that they’re sleeping together. “Emma and I work together. She’s in bail bonds.”

“And she comes to your apartment in holiday-themed lingerie…because you work together?”

Killian scratches behind his ear, and she knows that his eyebrows are probably doing something funky too. “Something like that.”

Emma’s going to die of embarrassment. She usually doesn’t give a shit, but right now, she could die of embarrassment.

God, she’s going to be buried in Santa lingerie.

Liam’s lips curl up and he walks closer to them. She’s got to get out of here. She really does. “So, are you two serious or is this more of a casual thing?”

Yep. Leaving. She’s leaving.

She’s also hitting Killian’s back because she’s not answering that question. “Casual. It’s casual, and I think it’s probably best that I call Emma a cab to go home.”

“Nonsense. We’re about to eat dinner. She should come inside and eat with us. There’s no use in sending her home when she came over here all dressed up for you.”

At that, Liam turns and walks to the kitchen, far enough away that he can’t hear their words.

“What the hell?” Emma hisses, slapping Killian again. “Your brother just saw my boobs.”

“I’m sure he enjoyed them.”

“I have a gun. Remember that.”

“Funny, so do I.” Killian leans in and presses his lips into hers, quick and dirty while his hand palms her ass once more. He’s an asshole. And she just got cock blocked while in a stupid sexy Santa outfit. “You look fucking spectacular, by the way. I’m going to need you to wear this again one day.”

“I think I’m about to wear it to dinner with your brother.”

Killian waggles his brows across his forehead, and it manages to make Emma huff. “Come on, love. It’ll be fun. Liam makes a mean pot roast, and more importantly, he’s staying at a hotel so we can still put to use your wonderful outfit.”“Yeah, you’re no getting laid tonight, but you can wear the outfit if you like it that much.”

“At least that means it’ll be off you.”

-/-

Emma stays to eat with them (after changing into pajamas in Killian’s closet, of course), and she falls asleep on the couch after laughing so hard her stomach hurts from all of Liam’s stories about Killian.

The next morning Emma and Killian give Liam a tour of Boston, and Emma finds herself threading her gloved fingers through Killian’s hand and resting her head on his shoulder while they walk.

It’s not what they do. It’s not what she does. But maybe she could get used to it.

-/-

She does.

-/-

The Sexy Santa outfit makes one final appearance on Christmas Eve as a gift to Killian, and as a gift to Emma, Killian burns the thing the next day.

It makes a pathetic fire, but it’s also the best Christmas Emma’s had in a long time.

-/-

Next year’s Christmas is much better even if Emma has to live knowing that her boyfriend’s brother has probably seen her right boob while she was wearing Santa lingerie.

[daisydukes68-blog]

The Arcana main 6, really tired days. 😴😴😴

We all have those very tired days, and we do tend to act different towards our lovers (unlike me don't have one sksksk, just really cranky). But how would the main 6 act upon the apprentice???

Asra🔮🔮🔮-

Asra. A hard working dude. Most likely the reason they would be tired is because he had to go to a magical relm to find herbs that took days to find. He never realized it was night due to the fact it's always day in that realm.

Okay so, they seems sluggish. When they gets home, theyre so happy to see the apprentice, they hug them so tight.

However, you noticed after minutes they slowly starts to doze off. "Asra?" You ask.

They suddenly catches himself, rubs their eyes, "hahaha... sorry..." and offers to make tea to tell you about their trip

When yall both start drinking, Asra gets close to you, and slowly lays their head on your shoulder.

You don't mind of course and continues to drink some tea.

Then slowly, they hold your arm and snuggles they cheek on you.

You smile and let sleepy Asra lay on your lap and play with their fluffy hair.

He mumbles in his sleep your name softly. Rubs his soft hands around your legs.

Then after a while, you get up and lay him on the couch. Kiss him on his cheek, and lays a blanket on them.

"Sweet dreams Asra"~♡

Not long after, you head to sleep yourself. When morning comes, you find yourself in Asras arms. Tugging you softly and closer to them.

Nadia👑👑👑-

An elegant lady must always do her duties in the palace, even if she must lose hours of sleep. She does try whenever she can to relax with you. Have great times of excitement.

But today, she seems very worn out.

As you comeback too the palace, you find Nadia leaving the library. Before you say hi, you see her rubing the sides of her head from stress and headaches.

You find her also taking a long yawn of being drowsy.

She spots you, hides all that away and waves to you.

You walk to her and you rub her cheek softly. She relaxes and lays her fully cheek on your hand. Almost falling asleep.

"I belive i should go off to slumber due to my duties being accomplished. Won't you join me MC?"

Thus y'all both go to her bedroom. As your in the restroom washing your face from a long day of work, you come back to find Nadia already asleep.

She's not even under the covers, dress is still on including her make up. Her hair is still up as well.

You slightly giggle on how adorable she looks. You go to her and help her to her night gown. She doesn't mind due to the fact you have seen her naked multiple times hehe. Then you tuck her in slowly and rub her head.

Soon when you lay down next to her, she scoots very closer to you and with her graceful hand, she touches your bottom lip softly with her thumb.

She still is drowsy, but milligrams of energy is there. She uses it to softly kiss your lips, her hand on the side of your face, the other rubbing your chest.

Then she whispers, "thank you my dear mc," and slowly falls asleep holding your hand.

Julian🍺🍺🍺-

After all night research being done for plague diseases, Julian frequently yawns from exhaustion.

He doesn't stop until you and Mazelinka literally pull him from his studies. He's very very tired but he won't admit it. "Im fine, im fine! Honestly!!!"

But Mazelinka tells me to lay him down. And if he resists to sit on him or knock him out. Julian acts like he doesn't want to go but doesn't protest me from taking him.

When we go down to his bed, he is already very delirious. "Hehe, you're so cute mc," he'll mumble.

He just lays on the bed. "Julian, you can't sleep in your doctors uniform," you remind, "it will get all wrinkly."

He just looks at you.

"Then take it off for me," he smirks.

He is not serious.

Nope, he is.

You playfully roll your eyes and gets on the bed with him. You slowly unbutton his shirt, revealing his firm chest. You slowly kiss his collar bone and starts to bite down.

He blushes, "m-my dear..." is all he can spit out. You bite hard and leave a mark on him.

He bites his lip and is all flustered with desire as you remove more clothing and digs your nails on his shoulders. Until he yawns.

You giggle, and get under the covers with him. He blushes from embarrassment, "I, uh, I suppose i turned off the mood didn't I?"

Then he has his smirk on his face. "Ah well, i suppose we can continue tomorrow."

You smile and you cuddle him from behind. He kisses your hand, "have a lovely slumber mc~♡" and goes off to sleep. You smile, "goodnight Julian."

Muriel⛰⛰⛰-

Mr. Moutain man does a lot of hunting and protects the forrest. And ever since you started living with him, he doesn't sleep at night, worrying if your okay.

One day he is very very wearie and drained from exhaustion. You know he's being odd due to the fact he keeps bumping into things.

"I'm fine," he mumbles. Until he hits his head on a branch. You can't help but to giggle.

You notice the sun going down. "Muri, it's getting late," you inform. He only goes in the hut with you thinking you are tired. But really, you want him to rest instead.

he unpacks the food and feeds the chickens, he goes inside, with dark circles in his eyes.

He's surprised though, when he sees you helping him take off his cloak and boots. He blushes hard and stops you from stripping him down completely.

"W-What are y-you doing?!?!" He mumbles a lil high pitch. You can't help but to smile again. "I just want you to be comfortable. You're sleeping with me tonight."

He blushes super hard but tries to put on a grumpy face. "No im not," he softly says and tries to go anywear else to not face his flusterdness.

"But please Muri," you say softly, "i need someone to help me, i can't sleep fully at night."

Which isn't totally a lie. You sometimes can't sleep knowing he's out there working hard.

He turns to you, "...fine" he says. You smile big and hug him. You can feel his heart pounding and all he does is just pat your head.

When you both lay on the bed, you scoot up to where your slightly more up then him. You look down on him and slowly corress his hair out of his face.

"...what are you doing?" he asks, but doesn't stop you.

"Shhhh." You kiss his forehead softly. Muriel relaxes and feels protected by you. He slowly falls asleep.

Then out of nowhere you feel him grab you softly, and lays you on top of him. Your his lil blanket ~♡

Usually he's shy about this sort of stuff, but he's snoring softly. It seems he's more cuddly in his sleep.

You can't help but to kiss his lips softly. And lay your head on his pecks. Then soon, he's the one corressing your hair.

Y'all both have a wonderful full nights rest.

Portia😽😽😽-

Of course we all know Portia is the most energetic of all of the main 6. However she's been doing a lot of duties for the countess and has been awfully sleepy.

Nadia sees her passed out on the floor next to Mercedes and Melchior. She slowly wakes her up and insits she takes a day off.

In the garden, you use magic to help keep the plants healthy. When you see Portia coming, you smile and greet her. But you notice her hair is a lil frizzy and her eyes are heavy.

You ask if she's okay.

"Pfff, what me? Oh don't worry mc, im fine!"

"Just a long day of work i suppose..."

You realize she hadn't went back home last night. You just assumed she came home after you slept and left early this morning.

Portia rubs her eyes. "Mmm... don't worry mc." She smiles, "i have brought some bread for the both of us from the palace. Shall we eat?"

You both sit outdoors and enjoyed the comfort of the soft grass around y'all.

Y'all both hear something rattaling until you see Pepi pop out to greet Portia.

She giggles, "Ah Pepi!!! How's my sweet kitty doing?" Pepi meows and purrs on Portias lap. You can see the drowsyness in her eyes. Then she slowly lays down of the comfort of the grass.

You lay down with her, and she starts to cuddles you away tight. She gives you cute kisses on your cheek. She seems a lil hyper flirty.

"I love you mc" she says giggly. You smile big. "I love you more Portia."

Her eyes lit up and giggles. "Nuh-uh, i love you more!" Y'all both get playful and debate who loves each other more.

"Well... i love you... a trillion times... more..." she passes out. You smile, "you win."

Lucio🐐🐐🐐-

Lucio. Probably is most likely tired from being glamorous. No but seriously, one day he stayed up all night from sword practice with Morga.

When he comes back, he's exhausted. But when he sees you, he just has to show you all that he has learned!

He air attacks and defends while saying, "BACK YOU FOWL BEAST!" or "HAHA, I WON'T LET YOU LAY A HAND ON MC!" You clap and cheer along, "Go Lucio!!!"

Before he makes his "final" move he yawns loud as his eyes gets watery.

"Don't think this is over!" He says. He acts like he stabs the opponent but yawns once more.

You can't help but tease. "Tired already Lucio?" "What?! ME?! Tired?! Ha! Unlikely." But he continues to yawn once more. This time rubbing his eyes.

You get up to comfort him. And bring him to bed. He seems so sluggish despite the show of his.

As he sits on the bed, he pulls you towards him, laying you on his lap.

"Lucio!" You exclaimed, but he just lays his forehead on your chest. He's very drowsy. He smirks at you. "Couldn't help it, but i needed something to lay on."

He realises you. But holds onto your arm, bringing you onto his bed.

"Mc, my sweet lover, please, you seem so... so delicious." He brings you closer, snuggling his chin on your shoulder.

"You smell so so good..." he continues, sniffing your neck softly. Soon nibbling your ear lobe. You just stay there, breathing heavily.

Soon he lays down, you on his side, as he just cuddles you tight, slowly kissing your chin up to your cheek.

You softly kiss his forehead, until you hear him snore loud.

You just pause there for a moment...

....

Then cant help but to laugh.

You both fall asleep together.

Request are still open!!!! Hope y'all enjoyed!!!