#How to activate Chime card

[starmaidengarden]

Hiiii! I just finished reading your works and it melt my heart!!! Can i ask for fluff how Heartslabyul guys spend rainy days together with s/o ;;w;;; Tyty <33

𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐲 𝐃𝐚𝐲

— Riddle : Ace : Deuce : Cater : Trey : x gn!reader. no cw/tw. established relationship. TikTok mentioned, idk what they use for TikTok. Pic: Leo08ph on twt, dividers: uzmacchiato.

note : wait you read all of them!!!ヽ(°〇°)ﾉ that means so much to me! I'm so glad you enjoyed them!!❤️ sorry that this took so long, I have been so busy as of late.

Riddle Rosehearts ༉⋆｡˚

Activity: Reading together under a blanket, sipping tea

Riddle takes rainy days as an opportunity to slow down. He prepares a warm cup of tea and settles in with a book. He offers to read aloud to you, his voice calm and precise. If you get sleepy and doze off, he gently places a blanket over you and keeps reading in a softer tone.

Tea and book club for two — Riddle selects a book and offers to read aloud. He pauses to explain parts he finds important or to ask your opinion. When you chime in, he listens intently, clearly pleased you're engaging with him.

Gentle conversation — With the constant pressure of dormleader, Riddle opens up more. You might hear quiet stories of his childhood, his mother’s strict teachings, or his fears about not being “good enough.” If you offer comfort, he’s flustered — but grateful.

Studying or journaling together — If you're working on something, Riddle will sit beside you and study too, just to be close. He likes the peacefulness. Sometimes he sneaks glances at you, a small smile tugging at his lips.

Raindrops tapped against the window, creating a soothing background noise. The scent of rose tea fills the air. You settle into the comfy armchair next to him, Riddle’s voice cuts through the silence, smooth and clear, as he starts reading. Each word floats around you like a warm embrace, bringing the story to life and taking you to another world. Outside, the rain keeps pouring, and you can feel your eyelids getting heavier. The combination of Riddle’s soothing narration and the rhythmic patter of the rain creates a cozy lullaby, making it easy to drift off. It doesn’t take long before your eyes start to blur over the pages.

Ace Trappola ༉⋆｡˚

Activity: Playing video game, and scrolling

Rainy days to Ace are prime slacking off the weather. Classes? Who cares. Studying? He’ll get to it later. Right now, all he wants is to spend the day wrapped up in warmth with you. He turns a rainy day into a playful challenge. He’ll break out his favorite games or cards and drag you into a marathon. He’s competitive but more interested in making you laugh—throwing jokes and playful jabs your way until you’re both laughing too hard to keep score.

Video Game Marathons — He’ll hand you a controller with a cocky smirk and trash-talk you, even if you're not very good. If you somehow manage to beat him, he’ll act dramatically betrayed and demand a rematch.

Couch Cuddling and Movie Roasts — While watching a random horror movie, he makes sarcastic comments the entire time. If you get scared, he pulls you closer and teases you about it, but it's just an excuse to hold you tight.

Card Tricks and Magic Pranks — He tries to teach you one of his sleight-of-hand tricks, but it quickly turns into a flirtation. “Oops, how did this flower end up behind your ear?” he grins, and although you roll your eyes, you secretly love it.

Snacks scattered across the coffee table, a game console blinking in sleep mode, and rain tapping against the window in a soothing rhythm, completing the soft music that floated gently through the air. The room is cluttered but it cozy. A thick blanket draped over the two of you. he scrolls through social media, laughter bubbling up unexpectedly. "This is literally you," the screen shows a meme that reminded him of inside jokes or a quirky moment you two shared. The corners of your lips curled into a smile each time, even as you rolled your eyes playfully.

Deuce Spade ༉⋆｡˚

Activity: Cooking simple comfort food together

Deuce sees the rain as a chance to practice his baking with you. He’s earnest and a bit clumsy, so expect a few spills and a lot of laughter. He’ll get super flustered if you compliment his cooking, but it makes his day.

Cooking — He’ll invite you to the kitchen and earnestly ask if you want to make some food. Every move is a learning opportunity, and Deuce might end up getting flour on his face or dropping an egg. The two of you laugh through the mishaps, but he still makes sure everything is perfect for you. He’ll turn red at the small moments of physical affection.

Simple movie date — he’ll suggest watching a movie, but no one’s really watching it. He’ll get distracted by you—the way you smile at certain scenes or curl up beside him. He might even steal little glances at you when you’re not paying attention, wondering how you got so perfect.

Chill and Cuddles (He Tries to Play It Cool)— Once you’re curled up on the couch or bed, Deuce is both awkward and incredibly sweet. He awkwardly flops down beside you, his gangly limbs seeming to tangle endearingly, yet his gentle nature radiates warmth. With a shy tilt, he looks up at you with big eyes, as if seeking permission to inch closer.

Rain pours outside, adding to the cozy atmosphere. Flour spills everywhere when Deuce, focused on mixing, accidentally knocks over the bag. It dusts the counter, the floor, and both of you. “Oh no, no, no! I didn’t mean to—��� You both burst out laughing as flour clouds the air. Deuce grins mischievously and flings a handful of flour your way. “Gotcha!” he exclaims, his cheeks flushed. You smear some flour on his cheek, and soon you're in the middle of an impromptu flour fight, giggling uncontrollably. As the laughter fades, you both catch your breath, covered in flour. Deuce wipes his hands on his apron, and for a moment, you lock your eyes. His gaze softens, and he gently brushes flour off your cheek. “You look really cute like this,” he says softly, the playfulness shifting to something more intimate.

Cater Diamond ༉⋆｡˚

Activity: TikToks, selfies, and aesthetic chill

Cater goes full “rainy day” mode—candles, soft lighting, chill music playlists. You take selfies wrapped in blankets, film cute videos, and maybe try couple-themed filters.

Spa Day — Cater brings the spa experience to you with face masks, nail painting, and refreshing cucumber water. He’s all about self-care and spreading good vibes, especially when the weather is gloomy outside.

Dance Challenges — When the rain pours down, Cater turns up the music and invites you to join in on the latest dance trends or even create your own. Expect to share some silly bloopers along the way!

Rainy Day Playlist — Cater would curate a dreamy lo-fi playlist to match the rainy mood—and then he’d make one for you based on your vibe. You can listen together while watching the rain fall outside your window.

The room was bright and lively, filled with the sweet scent of lemon balm and cucumber water. Cater Diamond burst in with a grin, bringing goodies like face masks and pastel nail polish. You found yourself in a cool green mask while Cater lounged beside you. Once the music shifted to an upbeat mix, “Spa time’s done, now it’s dance break time!” Cater said as he grabbed your hand, and you both attempted the latest dance challenge, bursting into laughter as you stumbled and tripped. Flopping back onto the bed, you watched the hilarious bloopers. “We’re posting this!”

Trey Clover ༉⋆｡˚

Activity: Baking together and sharing warm snacks

Trey uses the gloomy weather to bake something delicious. He invites you to join him in the kitchen, showing you how to knead dough or decorate cookies. You end up with a tray of sweet pastries, a warm oven, and him casually brushing flour off your cheek with a smile.

Baking together — probably something seasonal, like apple tarts or lemon scones. He’s patient while you help, letting you stir, decorate, or sneak tastes of the batter.

Tea and Quiet Conversation — Trey brews a pot of tea. You both sit near the window, listening to the rain while talking softly about dreams.

Quiet Walk Under an Umbrella — If the rain isn’t too heavy, he might ask if you want to take a walk anyway—sharing an umbrella, boots splashing in puddles, the whole “romantic slice-of-life” vibe. Trey likes balance, and a bit of fresh air—even in the rain—helps clear the mind.

The scent of vanilla and butter filled the cozy kitchen as light rain pattered against the windows. You stood next to Trey, with flour dusting your fingertips. “Here,” he said with a smile, handing you a bowl of strawberry syrup. He nudged a spoon toward you, encouraging you to taste the filling. You dipped it in, savoring the sweet burst of flavor and wiping syrup from your mouth. Trey chuckled, his amber eyes sparkling. “I knew you’d love it.”

[rhyrhy]

──★To Whom It may concern

Mistress! Reader × Higher up! Abby Anderson

CONTAINS: age gap • Cheating • slight Power Imbalance • mutual obsession • Ellie ft • draft.

NOTES: idk my period wrote this evil piece of work

— Click clack, click clack.

Heels hitting the tiled flooring. At 7:59 a.m., every day. A sound that wouldn’t normally be disruptive—not in an office full of bodies.

But to her?

That sound meant work wouldn’t be so drab. A new motivation to finish a boring project, a repeated email, the dull activities of being at a company so long it had meshed itself with your identity.

Bright fluorescent lighting hitting the shiny countertops, reflecting one figure all too familiar to you.

The blonde, glancing up through her glasses from the file in hand, scanning over today’s carefully crafted outfit. She—Abby—never understood why you dressed the way you did.

In a fitted blouse that drove her nuts. The fabric outlining places she imagined her hands exploring.

Did you know what you were doing? Did you want her attention? And if so, why didn’t you look in her—direction?

The trail of perfume you left wafted behind you during the cross of the floor, where you’d sit pretty at a desk facing away from her. Then it was over. The show. Until break, where you’d continue to be blissfully unaware of the hungry eyes that tracked your every move.

Each roll of your sleeves, each bite of your pen, the lip marks left on straws after you set your morning beverage down.

Alluring wasn’t the word. No, you had her completely entranced.

Exactly where you wanted her. So how could so much change in only a few weeks?

It all started with her birthday.

“Big three-eight, huh, Anderson?”

“Said like you’re not right behind me,” Abby shot back, adjusting the too-small party hat someone had forced on her head.

“Welcome to the grown folks’ club.”

“Said no adult ever—happy birthday, Abby,” another coworker chirped, clapping far too loud for 8 a.m.

The phrase echoed around her all day—from every coworker, to the balloon hovering above the basket nestled beside her monitor.

“Happy 38th Birthday, Abby.”

Everyone said it— Except you. Not yet. Granted, you didn’t acknowledge her—or anyone, really—unless your computer ran some error you couldn’t fix. And what business does a twenty-something secretary have with her? Married. Two degrees laced across her name. A title that held weight—Creative Director at Buzzcut Media. A salary that kept her fed, comfortable, unreachable.

You had nothing in common. So she shouldn’t care. She should look away. But she didn’t. It was thrilling to think that if she ever dared to waltz outside the moral lines she’d drawn years ago— You might just bite. Might let her have a taste of something new. But for now, Abbigail Anderson, Creative Director, forced a practiced smile to the people gathered around her desk.

“Thank you, Jannie,” she muttered, as a coworker dropped another glittery card onto her keyboard “And everyone else.”

“Oh wow, very grown up. For sure,” another voice chimed in—cool, extremely amused.

It belonged to the only person in the building who could get away with mocking her: Ellie Williams. Partners in crime, some said. Just good coworkers, they’d claim. But what happened off the clock stayed that way. Building trust. And that stupid handshake Abby always said she hated.

“Can’t let me look ridiculous for one day?” She simply shook her head.

“Knock yourself out,” Ellie replied smoothly. “Just don’t expect me not to take pictures.”

As the small side hug lingered, Ellie caught her friend’s gaze. Those blue, wandering eyes were already drifting across the floor through the glass walls—

To a woman she had no business watching.

With a gentle nudge to Abby’s side, The kind that said keep staring like that and someone’s gonna think you forgot you’re married. Only to be played it off with a cough and a half-smile.

Over time, you caught on. Watching the same eyes that watched you.

The office swarmed in its usual, mild chaos—group emails, morning chatter, balloon tape squeaking on glass walls. You watched from your desk. Quietly. Ellie grinned from a few chairs down, party hat lopsided on her head.

“And You’re officially ancient, by the way.”

Abby shot her a look over her glasses. “You’re three years behind me. Watch it.”

But she didn’t look annoyed. She looked, tired.The kind of tired that comes from too many expectations and too little air. And maybe that’s why you stood. Small gift in hand. Your own little moment. Just for her. You didn’t walk to Ellie, Didn’t linger near the group.

You stopped at Abby’s desk. Waited until she looked up.

“Happy birthday,” you said, setting it down carefully. “Didn’t think you were the balloon type.”

Her eyes flicked from the gift to your face, and lingered.

“No,” she said. “Not really.”

But she didn’t push it away either. And when your fingers brushed—just slightly—against hers as she reached for the box, She didn’t flinch.

So yes, Abby Anderson was married when you met her.

Still is. Unhappily, or so she claims. You, on the other hand, were just Stationed at the front desk, with a white smile and a laugh that made her forget she had a mortgage. That desk was right outside her office, Which made everything so easy And so much worse. You weren’t naïve. Not completely. But you didn’t push either. You just asked if she needed help with the printer. Brought her coffee without being asked. Complimented her shirts—then her voice—then her hands on days her ring was left on her bedside table.

She told herself it wouldn’t go beyond that.

Until it did.

Now you’re in her apartment. Not hers and her wife’s. A “work crash pad” she uses when she’s too tired to drive back across the city. That’s what she told you the first night she asked if you wanted to split a bottle of wine. Just wine, nothing wrong with company.

But now it’s 3:22 a.m.

And you’re half-asleep on her chest, cheek pressed to skin that still smells like expensive soap and the ghost of her perfume. Her hand’s on your waist. Still. She hasn’t moved in minutes.

But her eyes are open.

Your shirt’s hanging off your shoulders. One arm slung across her stomach like you belong there. Meanwhile Abby’s already thinking of what excuse she’ll use this time— What lie will keep the guilt at bay for just one more morning.

She whispers your name once. Barely audible, Her voice is raw, She turns her head just enough to look at you. Her eyes trace the outline of your hair against her chest. You don’t respond.

“You awake?” Her hand glides along your hip, slow. She watches the movement, like it isn’t hers. Like she’s outside her own body. Her fingers linger on the bare skin, and she lets out a breath.

“M’ Sleeping.” You mumble into her skin, trying not to sound bitter. Trying to keep the ache in your chest from crawling up your throat.

She lets out a quiet laugh—more air than sound—trailing her fingers up your spine. “Liar.”

She doesn’t stop touching you. Her hand moves like she’s reading you in braille.

“Yeah…Because if I get up… you’ll leave.”You groan, burying yourself closer into her. The weight of your words digging somewhere it shouldn’t.

She goes still. Her hand flattens against your back.

“Don’t worry.” She says it too gently, and it only pisses you off more. She presses a kiss to your forehead. Then your shoulder. She’s trying to fix it with skin, like she always does. She shifts beneath you, tangling her legs with yours. Her hand finds your chin, turning your face to hers.

“I’m not going anywhere tonight.”

You blink at her. “No? You’re gonna stay tonight?” You push a few strands from your face and lean into her, letting yourself want it for a second.

She hums in confirmation, thumb brushing along your collarbone. That tired little smile you hate loving pulls at her lips.

“Yeah… I’m gonna stay.”

She moves again, pulling you into her lap. Her hand cradles the back of your neck, pulling your face closer.

“Is that what you want?”

You nod, barely. “Yes. That’s what I want…”

You trace lazy shapes into her skin. She shivers under your touch. Her eyes flutter shut like she’s trying to burn it into her memory. Her hands slide down your thighs. “Good,” she murmurs, brushing her lips along your jaw.

You hum in response, arms draping around her neck. You let your weight rest fully against her. You want to melt. You want her to hold it all together for once. Her arms wrap around you, pulling you flush to her chest.

“You’re beautiful,” she whispers. “God… you’re so fucking beautiful.” She whispers it like a confession. Her lips press to your neck. Soft. Like she thinks gentleness will make it less wrong.

You laugh, tired. “Mhm? Beautiful enough to let me have you yet?”

You sigh, and the moment cracks. Her laugh is breathy but oddly guarded. Her grip on your waist tightens, and when her forehead touches yours, her face shifts. Something quiet and guilty takes its place.

“You can have me right now,” she murmurs, voice barely a breath. “Just like this.” As her teeth nipping at your ear.

You whisper her name. “Abs…” “That’s not what I mean.” You sigh, leaning into her neck. You know what she’s doing. Again. Always.

She’s quiet for a long time. Her fingers twitch against your thighs. When she finally speaks, her voice is tight.

“Babe…” She breathes against your cheek. “Not now. Alright? Just… not now.”

She notices. She always does. But she doesn’t know what to do with it. Her hand rests on your back, warm and careful, like she’s afraid to spook you. You stay still. Breathing slow. Your cheek on her chest. Listening to the way her heart skips when the silence stretches too long.

She swallows thickly. “I know you hate this,” she murmurs. “I hate it too.” You don’t answer. She tilts her head, cheek pressed into your hair. Her breath ghosts your scalp. “I just need more time. Okay?”

Your voice, when it finally comes, is flat. “You’ve had time.”

“I know. I know I have.” She’s nodding like it’ll make her words land easier. “I just… it’s not that simple.”

“No. It is,” you say, lifting your head slightly. “You just don’t like what that means.”

Her lips part like she wants to argue. But nothing comes out. You lie back down again—not because the answer was good enough, but because if you keep looking at her, you’ll cry. And you promised yourself you wouldn’t cry over a woman who won’t choose you.

Her hand starts to move again. Up your back. Down your arm. Like she can touch the tension out of you.

“I just need more time,” she whispers again, more desperate this time.

You nod slowly against her collarbone. But the nod doesn’t mean okay. It means I heard you.

It means I’m still here, even though I shouldn’t be.

[firegirl888101]

Insatiable Madness

Diverted-Dimension (Christmas 2024)

|Sagau Yandere Fatui Harbingers x Reader|

Why am I back here again!? Take me back to the canon!

Reader is Gender Neutral!

"Finally!" You cheered, stepping back to admire the Christmas tree in the corner of your living room.

"It looks good." Pantalone commented, looking at all the trinkets placed on the tree. "Although, I believe this gadget would look better placed there... And this bauble, yes, hmm, perhaps on the branch above rather than--"

Y'know, it always takes one person to ruin everyone else's happiness doesn't it? Especially when their name is Pantalone. You rolled your eyes, ignoring his fiddling with what you considered a complete and beautiful tree.

Let's just hope Columbina doesn't see him fiddling with her decorations. For Pantalone's sake, you pray she takes five extra minutes in the bathroom so he can have a safe getaway when he's finished with something he sees as necessary.

Anyway, you've been preparing for Christmas day tomorrow. You wanted to put up the tree earlier, not wanting to leave it this late, however being busy babysitting and making sure all the Harbingers go to work with a happy mood sure takes up a lot of time. Not only does it feel like you're playing a very dangerous version of the Sims, but more importantly, it sucks that when all of them leave you have to entertain the others that don't go to work in the first place.

"It feels like the tree is missing something." Dottore chimed in, standing back with a finger on his bottom lip.

"Please don't say that, The Regrator is already driving himself mad with his own activities." Arlecchino stated 

Ignoring those two... They're right, something seems wrong with the tree. But you used everything in the box, what could be missing --

Oh, of course! How could you forget!?

"It's missing an angel on top!" You pointed out, walking over to the Christmas box and rummaging around.

After a while of digging and loud crashing noises consisting of you throwing out whatever you thought could also be added, you found a dusty china angel missing a hand.

"Agh, this won't do." You scolded yourself. "We'll have to go with a star instead. I'll have to cut one out later."

"Cut one out? How are you going to cut a star out of the sky?" Childe asked with a bewildered expression.

"They mean they'll cut one out of paper you damn idiot." Scaramouche glared out of the corner of his eye.

"I often see the Children of the Hearth doing something similar when I pass by..." Signora thought to herself out loud, leaning on one of the arms of the sofa.

"Yes, the children love cutting out different shapes and animals. It just so happens stars are one of the easiest things to make." Arlecchino nodded in agreement.

If it's so damn easy, why don't you do it for me?? You grumbled with an angry grin. It took you a few days to learn how to cut a good looking star out of paper due to your clutzy fingers, how dare they call it 'easy' in front of you!

"Hm? Why do you look angry at me?"

"No reason." You answered her, sharply turning your head away from her tilted one. "Do I even have any paper left? Ugh, I might have to use lined paper and paint it using gold nail varnish if push comes to shove."

"Absolutely not." Sandrone interrupted you. "That sounds messy and unnecessarily more difficult than if you just bought yellow card."

"And where do you propose I get this yellow card? Out of my arse?"

"No." She looked repulsed. "The shop? I saw some in an isle."

"When and why did you go into the corner shop?" You caressed your head, sighing when hearing her solution.

"That's unimportant."

"Sure it is. Anyway, I need to start thinking about how I'm going to cook Christmas dinner--"

"Oh no you don't." Scaramouche interrupted you with a cold voice. "The last time you cooked a genuine meal that didn't include those 'instant noodles', you poisoned everyone who has an organic stomach."

"No way, the Balladeer cares enough about me to not want to see me bedridden again?" Childe gushed with a chuffed smile.

"That's not important!" You raised your voice with flushed cheeks. "How did you know that what I cooked was 'instant' noodles? I never told you that!"

"I asked a staff member in the shop down the street when I saw the exact same package for sale in one of the pasta isles."

"Oh my god, how many of you have been in that damn shop without me!?"

The room stayed silent, some looking away with a cringe whilst others looked at you with unbothered faces.

“Do I count? I’ve never left the house.” Capitano raised his hand innocently.

"Unbelievable." You cried to yourself dramatically.

"I can't believe he's still fiddling." Pulcinella sighed with judging eyes, watching the banker radically move around the tree mumbling to himself like a robot given an impossible task.

"So this is what happens when you don't give him something to do after a long period of time. Lesson learnt." Pierro sweated, coughing into a clenched fist with shut eyes.

"It's not my fault." He turned to the group with hysterical eyes, every so often one twitching. Considering his eyes are always closed, you’re impressed that his mania has managed to do the impossible. "The Decider won't let me do one of the things I'm best at, manipulating an economy. Denying me access to undermining this country's government is making me go mad!"

"What a lunatic." You ignored him, eyeing his antics as nothing more than a regular occurrence at this point.

"So, we're up for cutting a star for the tree then?" You turned back to the group.

"It's your decision and your tree, so of course." Signora shrugged.

"I'm baaaack!~" Columbina burst through the door like a canary, singing with a pep in her step.

She stopped when she saw Pantalone running around the tree, her energy from earlier vanishing as fast as a bird when hearing a gunshot.

"Erm... It's not what it looks like." He turned around slowly, feeling her menacing and dangerous energy piercing his back.

He put his hands in the air, his smile shaking in fear.

"It better not be what it looks like." Her smile contrasted his own. "Because it seems you've been touching something I specifically warned all not to touch.~"

"He's dead, he's actually dead." Childe commented on the sidelines.

"Amen."

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Sandrone left to go get yellow card whilst Columbina forced you to tear down the Christmas tree and start decorating it from scratch. She said it was a punishment for you also, due to letting him rearrange it despite hearing her warning. What bullshit, she just couldn't be bothered to do it again. Anyway, Capitano helped you hold the christmas tree up so you could wrap the tinsel around it without trouble. What a nice guy… even though he technically isn’t helping you with what counts most.

"I don't understand why we're cutting out stars. Can't we just use me as the angel?" Columbina giggled to herself.

"No, that would be weird." You frowned at her. "What I don't understand is why everyone is cutting stars with me. Didn't the majority of you say this is going to be boring? Do something else!"

"The 'something else' you're talking about was also boring." Scaramouche picked up his pair of scissors, tracing his finger on the sharp side.

“I’d much rather cut something up than count how many particles are in a cloud.”

“What does that even mean!?”

“Anyway,” Dottore coughed with an irritated stretching smile. “I propose we make this a competition.”

“Of all the childish suggestions–” Arlecchino was cut off.

“I agree, I agree!” Columbina nodded with a happy smile. “It can’t be too hard, maybe we should have a reward for who wins the competition?”

“Although I find the idea of a competition to be senseless, a reward does sound quite… boosting.” Pantalone thought out loud, a greedy smile on his lips.

“This is not happening.” You sighed to yourself, head planted onto the table with exasperation radiating off of your slumped form.

“But what reward could we put on offer? I’m not against competition, heck, I encourage it! But what could we all fight for which would allow us to fight at our strongest the whole time?” Childe leaned against his chair.

The Harbingers thought to themselves, the room erupting in silence with the occasional cough or sniff. All of a sudden, their heads turned and looked at you. Feeling their gazes burning into you, you looked up from the table to see them expectantly eyeing you.

“Ohhh no. No way in whatever thoughts you’re all sharing am I getting involved in this. I’m not becoming some trophy you can flaunt for the rest of the evening.” You denied them.

“But you’re the perfect solution!” Childe playfully pouted.

“Quit torturing them, Childe.” Signora scolded the young ginger. “I propose this; let whoever wins ask The Decider one question. That question can be related to anything, the future or the past.”

“Hmm, but how would we know whether The Decider wouldn’t lie to us?” Dottore suggested.

“I’m staying out of this one.” Pulcinella put his hands in the air, leaving the room. “You youngsters go have fun, I’ll sit this one out.”

“Rooster, I would suggest staying to supervi–”

“So you can go back to that dirty office you keep closing yourself in to work? No thank you, I shall handle your paperwork today. You supervise this time.” He gave the director a harsh glare, making sure to purposefully hit him with his walking stick before walking away.

“Sometimes I can’t tell whether the Rooster is secretly a teenage girl or is just simply strange…” Pierro muttered to himself. Sighing.

“How about both, mixed in with the fact that he’s a psycho with more control issues than you think.”

“Hm? You think even more than the Regrator?”

“Deffo.” You clicked your tongue. “He just hides it because he’s a champ like that.”

“Don’t change focus!” Scaramouche raised his voice. “I order you to answer me. You will tell the truth to the victor of the contest, no?”

“Hold on, didn’t we agree to ask our own questions once we deliver them to the Tsaritsa?” Childe questioned.

“That was just to get you to not hound The Decider back when we first found them.” 

“Fine.” You agreed with an eye roll, secretly crossing your fingers behind your back like a five year old. You’ll probably just make something up that sounds accurate when the winner asks their question. You’re betting that Sandrone will win this though, this kind of has something to do with her job after all.

“It’s decided then!” Columbina clapped in delight. “The Decider and The Director will be our judges. We’ll work for 10 minutes to create a star suitable to be put on the tree, then will be judged to see who has the best!”

“This is not gonna go well…” You said, trying your best to cover the shaky smile on your face. This is the best! You’ll just pick someone who won’t ask a question you don’t mind answering! Thank you Columbina for giving you this chance.

“You’re telling me!” Pulcinella shouted from the other room, sarcasm oozing like tar glooping down a slope.

“Count us down, count us down!” Columbina couldn’t contain her excitement, her body practically vibrating.

“Alright, alright… Ugh, I regret this… On your marks, get set, cut!”

“Seriously? ‘Cut’?” Pierro turned to you.

“What was I supposed to say!?”

The Harbingers sat at the table immediately started cutting, the sound of card shredding and small pieces emitting everywhere. Guess who’s going to have to clean that up? You thought with a frown, watching card pile up in the small crevasses in your carpet.

Looking around at the Harbinger’s cutting paper, you realise one was just sitting there watching the others work.

“Uhh, Capitano? Aren’t you going to begin?” You asked him.

“No.” His deep voice answered in return. “I am not going to join this display, no matter how entertaining it will be for you. Firstly, my fingers won’t fit in the holes of the scissors. And secondly, I have no question to ask you so entering just for victory would be pointless.”

“Brother, your fingers can’t be that big.” You deadpanned, letting your mind wander a bit too far with the thought.

He simply crossed his arms and continued to watch the others, ignoring you from then on. Oh well, he’s not interfering or arguing back like a child so you’ll let it happen. Besides, it looks like he quite likes watching so it’s the least you could do.

Pierro put an arm on your shoulder, getting your attention. You turned to make eye-contact and saw him hesitating in what to say to you.

“Do you need a defibrillator? You look like you’re having a seizure.”

“Who do you think is going to make the best star?” He said after, not registering your insult you said a few seconds prior.

“Wow. Did it really take you that long to think of what to say to me?”

“Quiet.” He warned you.

“Hmm… Who do I think is going to win?” You mumbled out loud, pretending to give it some thought. “Screw it, I’m not going to pretend. Sandrone’s going to make the best one because she does this kind of thing as a job.”

“Hah!” She guffawed after hearing your predictions, continuing her cutting with a content smile.

“Buuuut, that’s not what makes a star special. It isn’t just perfection, but passion and hope. I want to see how unique some people will make it… within reason of course.”

“I wasn’t expecting such an intelligent reply.” Pierro sweated. “Here I was, ready to scold you.”

“It’s like that’s all you can ever bloody think about when it comes to me.” You deadpanned.

“You give me no choice half of the time.” He sighed with a shaking head. “Your choices are often questionable and must be corrected. Would you rather have a physical punishment instead?”

Is this guy nuts?

“No… No, I would not.”

“That's what I thought.” He turned to look at the competition.

“Decider, help me out here.” Scaramouche clicked his fingers, beckoning you like an old woman would to her juvenile cat.

“Do I look like your pet?” You recoiled in disgust.

“I’ll let you leave the house to go to that dumb park you like if you help me right now.”

“I’m on my way!” You ran over to his side, peering down to see the mess of a star he’s created. It’s not bad at all, it’s actually your style - you like it a lot! What on earth could he need help for?

When you peered down to his design, you felt a cold unnatural hand grasp the side of your head and pull it closer to his face.

“Tell me how you like them.” He whispered. “Would you rather me add more detail or remove it? And don’t lie to me or I’ll kill you.”

“Pierro, The Balladeer is cheating! He’s bribing The Decider!” Sandrone pushed her chair back and stood up dramatically, pointing her scissors at the offender.

“Hey, no fair!” Childe whined. “If he gets to bribe them, let me bribe them too!”

“If anyone is to bribe the Decider, it should be me. I am the richest man in Teyvat after all.” Pantalone shrugged whilst lazily cutting.

“Correction: Ningguang is the richest in terms of all. You only count as the richest when it comes to being a man.” You pointed out. “And besides, I would never take your dirty money.”

Piero coughed loudly to quieten everyone down, all in the room turning to him like a deer in headlights. He waited until everyone stopped complaining and then spoke.

“Do continue with your cutting, you have less than a minute left.” He gestured to the timer. “And no bribery. The first to test my patience and even attempt to do so will be put under experimentation during the rest of our stay here and our return.”

“Oh, by all means, bribe away!” Dottore laughed at the Harbinger’s around him, silently cutting.

Huh? Less than a minute left? But when you last looked at the time they had at least 8 minutes left. You checked the timer once more, and found fat greasy fingerprints on buttons that weren’t there prior. You turned to the old man with an incredulous face, mouth wide open. He caught your staring, and put a finger on his lips with a small almost unnoticeable smile.

Pierro, you cheeky bastard. I love you for this.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

The stars were laid out on the dining table, each Harbinger stood behind their own creations. Sadly but also un-sadly, some Harbingers were too slow and couldn’t finish their star in time. By some, you mean Pantalone and surprisingly Sandrone.

“I’m not going to hear the end of this.” Sandrone had her face buried in her hands, looking at her creation with malice. “In defence, I value time to craft perfection. Announcing a set time dampens my methods and results in mechanics such as this one. Ugh, what a waste!” She threw the craft off of the table, the star unravelling itself immediately.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course.” You sarcastically waved at her embarrassment. “And you, Pantalone? What’s your excuse?”

“The scissors you gave me were tampered with! I call for–”

“So I’m the problem? Okay, whatever…”

You walked down the table, looking at each star neutrally then nodding and moving onto the next. Now, you’re not an expert, but did they really think you wouldn’t notice? They all look the exact same! They all look like copied versions of Scaramouche’s design! When watching him try to bribe you, they must have thought you liked his design the best and copied him to have a fair chance. Well, they’re wrong! You’re just going to pick the person who will give you the least trouble when answering their question, jokes on them!

…That was your original plan. After looking at all the stars, you felt a new motivation when noticing one person didn’t copy and stuck to their own principles. Also they may or may not be the only person to not take this seriously and you want to mess with the others a little bit. Pierro will agree with you, he’s the type to disregard any copycats so he won’t have trouble with your choice at all.

“Okay, I’ve decided on my winner.” You announced, stepping back to view the expectant Harbingers.

“Arlecchino, you win.”

“WHAT!?”

“But why?” She asked, not looking surprised or pleased. “I could care less about an answer to a question, nor do I care about winning this childish competition.”

“That’s actually why I picked you. And because your star is an original design - sorry Scara, but uhh, you might have won if the others didn’t copy.”

“Of course.” He grumbled, glaring at the Harbingers staring at him. “One day, I’m going to murder all of you fools and sell your parts to people far worse than Dottore! I’ll get back at all of you for ruining my chances!”

“Anyway,” You tuned his violent voice out. “Yeah, you’re the winner. Pierro, what do you think?”

“...I agree.” He said in a quieter tone. “Now, I will be returning to my office to continue what’s left of my work… and review what The Rooster has already completed.”

As he was walking away, you turned back to notice the majority of Harbingers had walked away to go back to what they were doing prior, bored after realising they wouldn't be able to profit with staying around for longer.

“Do I get to ask my question now?” Arlecchino tapped her elbow impatiently with folded arms.

“So you do want the reward?”

“Despite it not being my intention when joining, I would indeed like something that was promised. Whether it be an accident or a purposeful decision.”

“Okay, fine. Ask away then.” You shrugged.

“As you must already be aware, the majority of my Children from the Hearth hail from Fontaine, the nation of justice. I won’t lie to you, I’m beginning to grow increasingly concerned with the prophecy where–”

“--where the whole nation will be flooded and all the people will be killed except the archon? Yeah, I know of it. Your point?” You finished her explanation, already having an idea of where the conversation was heading.

“Then you will understand I care deeply about the future of my children. Tell me, will I succeed in convincing the Tsaritsa to visit Fontaine to retrieve the Gnosis in place of Rosalyne?”

“Of course you’d use the question to ask about your ‘precious children’.” Scaramouche mocked. “Just how idiotic can you be?? This is your chance to ask about the future!”

You gave a harsh glare with icy eyes in his direction before sighing, a smile on your face. “Yeah.”

“Hm? You have to give a higher detailed response to that.”

“You go to Fontaine, Childe coincidentally also there for his own personal motivations which may or may not be important. The whole time you’re there, you’re investigating Furina and the prophecy. Long story short, that I WILL NOT be elaborating, the prophecy is sorted and the people are saved. This includes the children in the House of the Hearth.” You explained, pleased with the question she asked you and your own personal answer. Wow, you can even impress yourself sometimes!

“Excellent.” She sighed in relief, her face unchanging. “Thank you. But I do have to ask, is the Hydro Archon really working to prevent the flood?”

“That’s two questions. But fine,” You shrugged. “You can trust her. Everything is proceeding to the plan, although interrogation and suspicion do indeed accelerate it to completion.” You thought out loud, noticing her questioning gaze and smiling deeper.

“That’s enough serious stuff. When are we going to discuss presents? Now that the tree is up we need to put the presents under it!” 

“Uh… We’re flat-out poor. We can’t afford presents.” Childe shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to accept my love as a present instead!”

“Ew, what are you, five? Wait… Don’t come over here! Not after saying something like that!” You panicked, watching him run over to you at full speed and choosing to run away.

“Scaramouche you know how you said you’d take me to the park? I’m cashing in that favour right now!”

[prentissmultiverse]

No Strings to Hold Us - part II

Weeks of avoidance and unspoken tension between you and Emily come to a head when the case takes a deadly turn. tw: mention of death, violence

part I and part III

(words: 4410)

The weeks that followed your one night with Emily were a strange blur. She acted like nothing had happened—no lingering looks, no suggestive comments—as if she hadn’t unraveled you completely one night and then stitched herself back together before sunrise. It was all business as usual, as though she hadn’t pinned you against her bedroom door or whispered your name in a voice that still echoed in your mind when you least expected it. She was poised, professional, and utterly detached, and you played along, convincing yourself it didn’t matter. You’d agreed to leave it as a one-night stand, after all. Right?

You’d buried yourself in work, using every free moment to either assist Garcia with her endless data streams or pore over old case files that you could’ve sworn you’d memorized. Anything to keep your thoughts from wandering.

But late at night, when the bullpen emptied out and your mind was no longer distracted by the chaos of the job, the memories crept in. The way her lips felt against yours, the low timbre of her voice whispering things you hadn’t dared to repeat even to yourself… it all came rushing back. And just as quickly, you shoved it aside.

You were fine. This was fine. You could handle this.

It was a relief when a new case finally came in, promising to occupy every waking thought for the foreseeable future. The air in the briefing room was heavy as Emily stood at the head of the round table, commanding the team’s attention. She clicked a button on the remote, and the screen behind her lit up with five photos. Five women, each vibrant and full of life—until they weren’t. Their bodies had been found frozen solid on the outskirts of Anchorage, Alaska.

“The unsub has been active for just over six weeks,” Emily began, her voice steady and authoritative. “Five victims, all dumped along service roads leading into wooded areas. Preliminary forensics shows they were restrained for several days before being killed, and then… frozen.”

“Frozen?” Luke repeated, frowning.

Emily nodded. “The medical examiner’s report confirms they were kept in a freezer. The exact time hasn’t been figured out yet, but the marks on their bodies indicate prolonged exposure to sub-zero temperatures days or weeks prior to being dumped.”

Tara leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Freezing them could be a form of preservation,” she said thoughtfully. “He might be trying to keep them in a state he considers perfect or untouchable. It’s a form of control—maintaining his victims in a way that serves his needs, even after death.”

“And the dumpsites?” Rossi asked, gesturing toward the map on the screen. “Is there a pattern?”

Garcia’s voice chimed in; her tone uncharacteristically grim. “All the locations are secluded but within a two-mile radius of main roads. He’s careful to make sure the bodies are found, but he’s not exactly leaving a calling card.”

JJ nodded. “He might want them to be discovered but not immediately. It’s possible he’s testing something… maybe seeing how long it takes for someone to notice.”

The discussion continued, theories bouncing around the table as the team worked to piece together the unsub’s profile. You took notes diligently, your mind locked on the details. But then Emily licked her lips—a quick, absent gesture as she scanned her file—and your focus faltered.

It wasn’t the same as before. The maddening pull of desire had been replaced by something heavier, something that lodged itself in your chest and refused to leave. Every time her tongue darted out to wet her lips, your thoughts drifted. Not to the memory of her touch, but to the unspoken chasm between you. The wall she’d built, impenetrable and cold.

By the time the briefing ended, you were desperate for action—anything to shake the fog that clung to you. Emily’s voice cut through the lingering tension, sharp and decisive. “Wheels up in 30,” she said, and the team immediately dispersed to prepare for the flight to Anchorage.

You headed to your desk to grab your go-bag, the flurry of activity around you providing a welcome distraction. Tara caught your eye as she passed, giving you a small nod of reassurance. Across the bullpen, Emily moved with practiced efficiency, already coordinating with Garcia to ensure all the files and preliminary reports were ready to go. She didn’t look at you once, and you told yourself it didn’t matter.

As you shouldered your bag and prepared to head to the jet, JJ appeared at your desk, her expression concerned. “Hey, can I ask you something?” she said, leaning against the desk.

“Sure,” you replied, trying to sound casual.

She hesitated for a moment, her blue eyes scanning your face. “Is everything okay between you and Emily?”

The question caught you off guard, and you froze mid-motion. “Why do you ask?”

JJ tilted her head, giving you a knowing look. “Because you two have been acting… off. Like you’re avoiding each other. Did you have a fight or something?”

“No,” you said quickly, waving her off. “Nothing like that. We’re fine. It’s just… work stuff.”

She didn’t look convinced but didn’t press further. Instead, she added, “You know, Emily’s been through a lot over the years. She puts up walls, but it doesn’t mean she doesn’t care. Sometimes you just have to read between the lines.”

Her words lingered with you as you boarded the jet, stealing glances at Emily as she reviewed the case file with focused intensity. Whatever had passed between you that night was a mistake—wasn’t it? You tried to push it from your mind as the jet soared into the icy Alaskan night.

The next two days were grueling. The cold seeped into everything, a constant reminder of the urgency of the case. The unsub struck again the night the team landed; his latest victim found frozen near an abandoned logging road. Every piece of evidence pointed to a pattern—one that suggested he was escalating.

Your thoughts about Emily faded into the background, replaced by the singular focus of finding the unsub before he took another life. Two could play the game of emotional distance, and you buried yourself in the case with a determination that matched her own.

By the third day, the team had narrowed down his location to the outskirts of Anchorage. A secluded property with a dilapidated warehouse stood at the center of your search. The unsub had a clear pattern: he always kept one victim alive while dumping another. This meant there was still a chance to save the latest woman he’d taken.

You moved in with the team, your FBI vest strapped tightly over your jacket and your weapon drawn. The air was sharp and biting as you approached the warehouse, the snow crunching beneath your boots. The team split up to cover all exits, the tension palpable as you readied yourself to breach the door.

The chaos that followed was a whirlwind of sound and movement. Inside, the warehouse’s narrow hallways twisted like a labyrinth, their walls dimly lit by flickering, outdated bulbs. Every step you took was cautious but deliberate, your breath visible in the cold air as you methodically cleared one room after another.

The tension in the air was suffocating. Furniture was overturned, and remnants of the unsub’s deranged mind cluttered the spaces—newspapers with headlines about missing women, scattered tools, and an eerie silence that felt like it could snap at any second. Then you found it. The freezer room was at the end of a dark corridor, its door slightly ajar. A faint mist of cold air seeped from the opening, curling around your boots like a warning. The sight sent a chill down your spine that had nothing to do with the freezing temperature.

As you moved closer, gun drawn, the hair on the back of your neck prickled with unease. The thought struck you like ice—the missing woman might already be inside. You hesitated for only a moment before gripping the edge of the freezer door and pulling it open slightly wider. A rush of cold air hit your face, and you squinted into the mist, trying to make sense of the shapes inside. But before you could process anything, a sharp blow landed on the back of your head. Pain exploded through your skull, and the world tilted violently. You stumbled forward, falling hard onto the icy ground, your gun slipping from your grasp as darkness threatened to claim you.

Dazed and disoriented, you turned your head just enough to catch a glimpse of the unsub. He stood over you, his expression cold and detached as he muttered, “You shouldn’t have come here.”

The door slammed shut behind you with a deafening clang, the metallic sound echoing in your ears as the lock clicked into place. You instinctively reached for your communication device, pressing the button. “Rossi, Emily, anyone, I—” Static cut off your words, the thick insulation of the freezer walls rendering your headset useless.

The bluish light of the freezer surrounded you. You struggled to your feet, black edges creeping into your vision as you leaned heavily against the steel walls. Your hands fumbled for the latch, your breath visible in short, ragged bursts. Your head was hammering. You instinctively touched the back of your head where the blow hit you. When you pulled your hand away from your head, it was slick with blood.

Panic clawed at the edges of your mind as the realization set in—you were trapped, and no one knew where you were.

Desperation surged through you as you hammered against the door, your fists pounding on the icy steel with every ounce of strength you could muster. "Help!" you shouted, your voice hoarse and cracking from the cold. "Is anyone out there? Please!" The thick walls absorbed your cries, muffling them into the oppressive silence of the freezer. The metallic surface bit into your bare hands with every strike, the icy burn making you wince, but you didn’t stop. You couldn’t stop.

Your breaths came in shallow gasps, visible in the frigid air as your strength began to wane. The pain in your head pulsed in time with your frantic heartbeat, and your hands trembled as they slid down the unyielding surface of the door. Still, the silence remained, as relentless and unforgiving as the cold surrounding you.

Slowly, your legs gave out, and you sank onto the icy floor as your strength faded. In the corner of the freezer, a pale figure caught your eye—the unsub’s latest victim. Her lifeless, frozen body was propped against the wall, her glassy eyes staring unseeingly in your direction. The sight sent a fresh wave of horror through you, but your body was too drained to react.

Your bare hands, sticky with blood, trembled as you tried to draw them closer to your body, seeking any scrap of warmth. The blood had already dried in streaks, a chilling reminder of how long you’d been here. You curled in on yourself, every instinct screaming at you to preserve your dwindling heat, but the cold was unrelenting, seeping into your bones. Each passing minute sapped more of your energy, and a heavy drowsiness began to settle over you.

“Stay awake,” you whispered to yourself, your voice barely audible over the hum of the freezer’s compressor. Your eyelids grew heavier, and your mind fought a losing battle against the exhaustion that clawed at you.

The frozen woman’s empty eyes seemed to bore into you, a grim reminder of what awaited if you let yourself succumb. You clenched your fists, the movement sending sharp jolts of pain through your skull where you’d been struck. Your vision blurred, dark edges creeping closer with every passing second. You needed to stay awake. You needed to survive.

Inside the maze of hallways, the unsub bolted, his erratic footsteps echoing off the narrow walls as he searched for an escape. His chest heaved with exertion, and his head snapped back at every noise, panic twisting his features into a mask of desperation. He rounded a corner and skidded to a halt, his path blocked by Tara and Luke. Both agents stood firm, weapons raised and aimed directly at him.

“Freeze!” Luke barked, his voice sharp and authoritative.

The unsub hesitated, his eyes darting between them and the corridor behind him. Tara stepped closer, her steady aim and calm demeanor leaving no room for negotiation. “It’s over,” she said firmly. “Get on the ground. Now.”

Realizing there was no escape, the unsub dropped to his knees, raising his hands slowly above his head. Luke moved in swiftly, cuffing him as Tara kept her weapon trained on the man. The unsub smirked faintly but said nothing.

The sound of running footsteps signaled the arrival of Tyler and Rossi, both agents skidding to a stop beside Tara. “You got him?” Tyler asked, his voice taut with adrenaline.

Luke nodded as he tightened the cuffs. “Yeah, he’s secure.”

Tara’s gaze swept the area before landing on Rossi and Tyler. “Where’s Y/N?” she asked, concern creasing her brow.

Tyler answered grimly, “She split off to cover the north side. Haven’t heard from her since.”

Tara’s expression darkened as she keyed her radio. “Y/N, report in. Do you copy?”

Only static greeted them.

Emily’s voice crackled through the channel as she and JJ made their way through the hallways and down to their team. “What’s going on?” she demanded.

Rossi’s tone was grim as he explained. “Y/N’s M.I.A. She went to the north side and hasn’t checked in.”

Emily frowned, adjusting her earpiece. “Y/N, do you copy?”

Still nothing. Only the faint hiss of static filled the channel, and a cold knot of dread began to form in her chest.

“We’re heading to you now,” Emily said, urgency sharpening her tone. She glanced at JJ, who nodded, and the two agents picked up their pace.

Tara stepped forward, her gaze fixed on the unsub as she holstered her weapon. “Where is she?” she demanded, her voice low and dangerous.

The unsub’s smirk widened slightly, his icy eyes gleaming with malice. “Wouldn’t you like to know?” he sneered.

In that moment, Emily and JJ rounded the corner, their eyes locking onto the scene. Emily’s face was a mask of determination and barely contained anger as she strode toward the unsub. “If you’ve hurt her, I’ll make sure you regret it,” she said, her voice razor-sharp.

The unsub’s smirk grew wider, his voice dripping with mockery. “Her heart’s probably frozen solid by now. Stone cold, like the others. But if you hurry, you might just catch a glimpse of her before she’s gone.”

Emily’s jaw tightened as the unsub’s words sent a fresh wave of panic through her. She didn’t wait for the others. She darted away, her boots pounding against the floor as her mind raced. The thought of losing you—of not being there in time—was unbearable. She couldn’t shake the image of you alone and in danger, her heart twisting with guilt and fear. She’d ignored you for weeks, burying her feelings about that night. And now, the thought of never having the chance to make things right was too much to bear.

JJ called after her, “Emily, wait!” But Emily didn’t slow down, her focus singular as she sprinted toward the north corridor.

Behind her, the rest of the team followed, Tara and Luke keeping pace while Rossi and Tyler stayed back to secure the unsub and escort him out. Emily’s breaths came in sharp gasps, her pulse pounding in her ears as she closed in on the north side.

The cold was consuming. It seeped into your bones, coiling tightly around you like a predator, stripping you of the last vestiges of warmth. Your breaths were shallow, each one visible in the frigid air before dissipating into the oppressive silence of the freezer.

Your body trembled violently, the shaking now beyond your control. You pressed your back against the icy wall, seeking some form of support, but it offered no solace, only a harsher reminder of your dire situation.

Each breath felt heavier than the last. You tilted your head back, the bitter chill biting at the exposed skin of your neck. Your vision blurred, the room warping at the edges, and you blinked rapidly in an attempt to focus. Your limbs were growing sluggish, the once insistent ache in your fingers now replaced by a creeping numbness.

"Stay awake," you muttered to yourself again, your voice weak and cracking. It felt more like a desperate plea than an order. Your mind clung to the sound, hoping it could anchor you, but the pull of exhaustion was stronger.

Your eyelids fluttered, heavy with the weight of the cold. The world tilted as your upper body slid down the wall, your legs folding beneath you as you hit the icy floor. The impact sent a dull ache through your already numbed limbs, but it wasn’t enough to fully rouse you.

You tried to focus on the victim in the corner, her unseeing eyes locked onto yours. She seemed to be watching, waiting for you to join her in the frozen stillness. Her silent stare bore into your soul, and for a brief moment, you wondered if this was how she’d felt in her final moments—alone, cold, and desperate.

The frost crept further into your body, stealing the last remnants of feeling from your fingers and toes. Your thoughts began to slip, disjointed and slow, as if the cold had reached your mind. It was so tempting to let it take you, to surrender to the darkness.

Your head lolled to the side, and your vision dimmed further. The sound of your own heartbeat was a dull, erratic thud in your ears. You exhaled shakily, watching the vapor dissipate into the air, and let your eyes close.

Then, a noise.

A rattling sound, faint but distinct, pierced the silence. The freezer door screeched open, a flood of light and sound pouring in. You could feel the rush of warmer air hit your frozen skin like a shock, but your body remained numb, unresponsive. Heavy footsteps echoed against the steel walls, and then she was there.

“Y/N!” Emily’s voice was sharp, commanding, but trembling at the edges with barely contained fear. It cut through the fog in your mind, a lifeline in the freezing abyss. You wanted to answer, to let her know you were still there, but no sound came.

Her hands found you, gentle but firm, as she knelt beside you. “Stay with me, Y/N,” she pleaded, her voice softer now but no less urgent. She leaned closer, her warmth brushing against your frozen skin as her hands cupped your cheeks, tilting your face toward hers. “Open your eyes. Come on, look at me.”

Your eyelids fluttered weakly, your lashes barely parting. You caught a blur of her face—dark eyes filled with something raw, unguarded. She shook you lightly, her voice breaking. “That’s it. Just keep looking at me. Don’t close your eyes again. Do you hear me?”

She shifted, slipping out of her burgundy coat and draping it over your trembling frame. The heavy fabric smelled faintly of her—woodsy and warm, grounding you in a way you hadn’t expected. “You’re okay,” she murmured, more to herself than to you, as she worked quickly, wrapping the coat tighter around your body. “I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”

Her arms slid beneath you, one looping around your back, the other under your knees. The chill in your limbs dulled the sensation, but you felt the press of her strength as she lifted you effortlessly. Your smaller frame was no burden for her as she rose to her feet, holding you close against her chest.

“Y/N,” she whispered, her voice dropping to something soft and almost tender. “I’ve got you, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine. Just stay with me.”

Her warmth enveloped you, and though your body still refused to respond, your mind latched onto the sensation. It was a fragile comfort, like holding onto the edge of a cliff, but it was enough to keep you tethered.

As Emily carried you out of the freezer, the distant murmur of voices reached your ears. JJ, Tara, and Luke—calling out to Emily, asking questions—but their words blurred together, muffled and indistinct, like they were coming from underwater. None of it mattered.

All you could focus on was Emily.

Her voice, steady and constant, filled your senses. “You’re okay. Just keep breathing for me, alright? I need you to hang in there. We’re almost out.” Her hold on you was secure, protective, and you could feel the way her heartbeat thudded against your cheek where it pressed against her chest.

The cold still held you captive, your body a prison refusing to obey your mind’s desperate commands. Your fingers didn’t twitch; your lips wouldn’t move. It was as though you were trapped inside yourself, helpless.

Her voice grew sharper, tinged with hope. “I can feel you trying,” she murmured, her lips brushing the top of your head. “Come on, Y/N. Just a little more.”

And then, like a fragile thread snapping, your lips parted. Your voice was broken and weak, barely a whisper, but it was enough. “E…Em…ily…”

Emily froze for a split second, her dark eyes wide with relief as she looked down at you. “Yes,” she said quickly, her tone softening as she cradled you closer. “I’m here. I’ve got you. Just hold on for me, okay?”

Emily’s arms held you tightly as she moved with purpose, her every step swift and deliberate. You could feel the faint sway of her movements, her strength steady beneath you, but the cold clung to your body like an unrelenting shadow.

“Stay with me, Y/N,” she said, her voice firm, cutting through the fog creeping into your mind. Her breath ghosted against your forehead as she glanced down at you, her dark eyes filled with worry. “We’re almost there. You’re safe now.”

You tried to focus on her words, her warmth, anything that could keep you tethered to the present. But the exhaustion was like a siren’s call, pulling at you, tempting you to let go. Every breath was an effort, shallow and rasping, and your eyelids fluttered as the weight of the cold pressed down on you.

“Hey, no,” Emily said sharply, her voice a lifeline. “Keep those eyes open for me. Just a little longer.” She shifted you slightly in her arms, her burgundy coat cocooning you in its warmth as she quickened her pace. “You’re not allowed to give up on me, do you hear me? Not now, not ever.”

It was the desperation in her tone that struck you, even through the haze. It wasn’t the detached professionalism she’d shown you for weeks, the cool and distant demeanor she’d maintained since that night. No, this was different. This was Emily—unguarded, scared, and maybe just as broken as you felt.

The cold gripped you tighter, and as Emily carried you, her voice was a thread pulling you back from the abyss. But it was thin, so thin, and fraying with every second that passed. You tried to focus on her words, her warmth, the feeling of her arms wrapped around you, but your strength was slipping fast.

“Y/N, please,” she said again, and there was something raw in her voice now. Something breaking. Emily’s voice cracked as she spoke, her words stumbling out in a way you’d never heard before. “I’m not losing you. Do you hear me? You don’t get to leave. Not after… not after everything.”

It was the closest she’d come to admitting what you both knew but couldn’t say. For weeks, she’d avoided you. After that night in her house, when the world felt like it had shifted between you, she’d acted as though nothing had happened. She’d stayed professional, untouchable, and you’d mirrored her distance because it was the only way to keep yourself together. But that night had meant something. It had left marks you’d both ignored, pretending they didn’t exist.

But here, now, in her arms, all of that fell away. You could feel it in the way she held you, her grip too tight, her voice trembling despite her efforts to steady it. The walls you’d both built were gone, crumbling under the weight of the moment.

“You can do this, Y/N. You’re stronger than this. Just stay with me.”

You wanted to. God, you wanted to. But the tiredness was a force beyond anything you’d ever felt, a heavy, suffocating pull that dulled the edges of the world. Emily’s voice was still there, but it felt distant now, as though she was speaking through layers of cotton.

Voices echoed faintly around you.

“Emily, over here!” JJ’s voice cut through the haze, urgent and close.

“She’s freezing,” Emily snapped, her tone laced with both authority and fear. “We need to get her warm. Now.”

Tara’s voice came next, clear and calm but tense. “Notify the EMTs—she’s hypothermic and losing consciousness.”

The words registered faintly in your mind, but their meaning slipped through your grasp. You tried to fight the pull of the darkness creeping in at the edges of your vision, but it was like trying to hold onto water with your bare hands.

Emily’s voice was the last thing you clung to. “I’ve got you. I’m not letting you go.”

But her words, too, began to lose their grip on your mind. The warmth of her body against the cold pressing in from all sides blurred together, indistinguishable. The world grew softer, dimmer, until finally, you couldn’t hold on any longer.

The darkness welcomed you, silent and all-encompassing, as the last of Emily’s voice faded into nothingness...

to be continued...

[starzioo]

𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐎 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐓. 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐋𝐈𝐅𝐄.

This is a smut one shot.

Word count: 4.8k

This is gonna be a one shot about Theo!

WARNINGS: SMUT, drinking, smoking, suggestive topics!

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Theo had decided that for the trip him and his friends take every summer that he would take them to tour his home land, Italy. They had been there for about 3 days before Theo decided he should take them to the club his father owns. It was the hotspot of Rome’s nightlife. It was a cool summer night in the heart of Rome. You and your friends had been partying together all night hopping club to club, getting free drinks and gifts from men who had nothing better to do. Of course you never actually engaged in any activity with them. All you did was talk for a few minutes and maybe give them a dance, but never anything further. As you and your friends all cram into the black SUV uber you decide that you’re gonna go to Erotica. Erotica is one of the biggest and most popular clubs in the city. Of course it was gonna be hard to actually get in but a group of totally hot girls? What bouncer wouldn’t let you guys in? The small 5 minute drive to the club was spent taking selfies and having those drunk girl conversations. Beside from your totally drunk friends you were just barely tipsy. “Thank youu~” All of your girlfriends said to the driver nearly in sync. You all got out of the car and examined the long line of others waiting to get inside. You walk up to the bouncer. “Hiii how’s your night going?” you say sweetly tilting your head. “Good. And yours?” The tall and buff bouncer says nonchalantly as he examines you. “I’m gooood~ but I was just wondering if maybe you could let us in…without the line wait.” you say sweetly. “Mmm I don’t know about that…” the bouncer says hesitantly. One of your friends chimes in. “Pleasee~ we would really really appreciate it!” She says now standing beside you. Another one of your friends joins. “Yeah, I mean what’s the harm in letting us in now?” She says sweetly. The man’s sighs. He opens the red velvet ropes that separate you from him. All of your friends cheer and thank the bouncer. “You need ID?” You ask him. “Nah you ladies just have a good night.” He says flirty. You kiss him on the cheek and you and your friends head in. The music is blaring, you can feel the bass in your core. “Where do you guys wanna sit?” You practically yell to your friends trying to get them to hear you over the music. “Let’s just go to the bar! We can try to find someone with a booth!” One of your friends yell back. You lead your drunken friends over to the bar where you all sit. “What can I get you ladies?” The bar tender asks. “Can I get a vodka cranberry? Also can we start a tab?” You say as you hand the bar tender your card. He nods as the rest of your friends put in their drink orders. A few minutes later the bar tender hands you your drink. Nearly as soon as your friends get their drinks they hear a specific song come on. They all run to the dance floor drinks in hand leaving their purses and other belongings at the bar. You sigh. Seeing the sight of all their belongings on the bar.

You couldn’t just leave the valuables there, so you stay just on your phone sipping your drink. Making sure none of your friends valuables get stolen. You’re zoned out on your phone when the bar tender says. “Ma’am? Someone sent you a drink and wants to buy you a booth.” He hands you the drink. “Oh really?” You tilt your head, “and who may this person be?” You ask the bartender. “The bar tender motions over to a group of guys sitting in the VIP section of the club. You see a group of about 7 guys and 1 girl. They’re all sitting on a black couch conversating and laughing as your eyes scan the group one guy is staring back at you. Eyes locking, he smirks slightly. You raise the drink to him signaling a thank you. He nods. You turn back to the bartender. “Did he give you his name?” “No ma’am, he just said he wants you to be comfortable.” He shrugs and goes back to making the drinks.

You finish the ‘sex on the beach’ that was sent to you. You gather your friends things and walk to the hostesses stand at the front of the club. “Someone bought a booth for me and my friends? I wasn’t given a name but the bartender over there told me?” You ask. “Ahh yes, Mr. Nott was very adamant for getting you the best of the best! Right this way!” She says leading you to the VIP space of the club. Once you’re there she leads you to not so much a booth but a full couch fit for about 20 people. The VIP section was nothing short of luxurious with black and gold detailing with dark lighting. The regular purple, red, and blue club lights still reaching. The table in front of the couch is set up with an ice bucket with two bottles of Armand De Brignac Ace Of Spades Champagne. “You weren’t kidding when you said best of the best?” You laugh looking at the expensive champagne. You set your friends things down onto the table. The hostess nods and laughs, “The VIP bar is just back there and your server will be making rounds to your table every so often!” She smiles then leaves to go back to her stand. You immediately sit and text your friends group chat. ‘Come to the VIP section I got a booth!!!’ Almost seconds after you text the group chat your friends are standing infront of you. “Y/n are you joking VIP??” they all laugh and sit down grabbing their belongings off the table. “What can I say?” you laugh shrugging. “Did another lonely old man but it orrr?” One of your friends says as you all laugh. “Noooo actually he was quite handsome.” You say slyly. The table erupts in ‘Oooooo’ “He sent me a drink as well, we didn’t even talk! He just bought a booth for us. All the bartender said was, ‘He said he wanted you to be comfortable.’ like huhhh? And he set us up with champagne aswell!” You say giggling grabbing one bottle from the ice bucket, presenting it like a trophy to your friends. “Ouuuuu Y/n seems like you have a rich boy crushing on youuu~” Your friend says. “Stoppp now who’s gonna drink this with me!!” You say opening the bottle. You pour champagne for all your friends and cheers together then down your champagne. “Y/n~ cmon you haven’t dancing with us allll night!” Your friends say practically dragging you out off the couch and leading you to the dance floor.

With one of your friends behind you, you and her dance together. Dancing as drunk girls do, you were both dancing like you were together. Your hands above your head, you were swaying and dancing like a stripper basically. You had felt eyes on you but you couldn’t pin point where they were coming from. You closed your eyes and swayed your hips. When you opened your eyes again you finally realized who was staring. He’s still sitting on the same couch, his legs man spread, smoking a cigarette. His eyes are scanning your body as you dance. His gaze going down then back up to your eyes. Your eyes meet his. When he realizes you staring back at him, he slightly smirks. You hold eye contact with his as your moves begin to be more seductive and slow. He licks his bottom lip.

You suddenly feel an unfamiliar presence behind you it’s no longer your friend behind you but it’s now an unknown man. As he slips behind you, you still hold eye contact with the handsome man on the couch. His eyebrows furrow and he tilts his head slightly, still holding eye contact with you. Until your break it looking at the man behind you. He’s actually quite cute. Your hips sway against him and his hands lay on your hips traveling from there up and down your body. You turn your head back to look back at the man who was on the couch, but he’s gone. You shake it off and continue dancing. When you feel the man behind you get practically ripped off of you. A man from security was holding him by his arm, with no words being said security pulls the man to the front of the club and forces him out of the door. You still stand there on the dance floor in awe of what just happened. You feel two cold strong hands snake onto you from behind. The figure was pressed up behind you, you feels his head near your ear. “He wasn’t good enough for you bella, he had to go.” He whispers with his low husky voice, an Italian accent laced his words. You smirk knowing who was behind you. You turn around in his arms now facing him. His grasp still tight around your waist. You look up at him, your hands resting on his chest. “And you’re better?” You say flirtatiously. “sai che lo sono. non meritava di toccarti in quel modo.”(You know I am. He didn’t deserve to touch you like that) He says moving your hair out of your face. You smirk at his fluent Italian. “Grazie per tutti i regali, signor nott.”(Thank you for all the gifts Mr. Nott.)You say playing with the button of his shirt. “qualsiasi cosa per te stupendo. Balla con me?” (Anything for you gorgeous. Dance with me?) he practically purs into your ear. You nod with a small flirtatious smile. You turn back around. Your back now facing him, your hands snake up and around his neck. Your eyes are closed, you open them to see your friends giggling and gossiping with each to her about your current predicament. “Who’s that?” one of your friends mouth to you. You mouth back to your friends “VIP” They all start gigging and oooooing at you. You laugh a small bit continuing to dance with the mystery man. His cold slender hands travel up and down your waist only pausing when you turn back around to him. “Come ti chiami, bello?”(what’s your name handsome?)You say running your hands down his neck. “Theo Nott….or as you know me, Mr. Nott. he laughs lightly What’s yours bella?” “Y/n…Y/n Y/L/N” “Your name is as gorgeous as you…” You lightly blush at the compliment, you break the eye contact with him. He lightly snickers at the motion, his laughs come out basically as purrs. “I saw you at the bar and I knew I had to have you.” He says taking a hand off your waist and up to your jaw, gently guiding your face back to his. You look up at him fluttering your eyes. You’re lost in his stunningly icy eyes. His cold hand remains on your jaw, his index finger rubbing back and forth behind your ear. “Come back to my table with me?” He asks breaking the silence. You small smile grows on your face and you nod.

He takes you by your waist and leads you back to the VIP section. You approach the couch full of his group. A couple of the guys are ‘oooo’ing at the couple approaching the couch. They all sit there drinks in hand, “finally got her huhh~” a boy with icy blonde hair says snickering to the dark skinned boy sitting next to him. Theo just rolls his eyes slightly at the remark and guides you to take a seat next to him, his arm resting on the back of couch where you sit. “Shitt~ I had 100 on her rejecting you mate!” Another boy with a scar across his nose says handing the icy haired boy the money. You laugh lightly at the notion. “So what’s your name?” a girl with a chic black bob says sitting up. “Y/n..what’s yours?” You say extending your hand to her. “Pansy, she shakes your hand This is Mattheo, Enzo, Regulus, Tom, Blaise, and Draco.” She says as she gestures to the rest of the boys as she introduces them. You take one of the cigarettes off the table and light it. “I take it you guys aren’t from here?” You take a puff, when Theo gestures for a hit, you pass it to him. “Yeah we’re just here on a holiday, we’re from the UK.” Blaise says. “Theo just insisted we see his country.” Enzo says snickering slightly as he sips his drink. “Mmmm, qualcuno di voi parla italiano?”(do any of you speak italian?) They just stare back at you trying to not look as confused as they are. Theo then speaks up, “No non parlano italiano nemmeno una parola. Sono sempre stati troppo arroganti per imparare.” (no they don’t speak italian, not even a lick of it. They have always been too arrogant to learn.) He snickers handing you back the cigarette. You lightly laugh at his remark. Everyone just stares at you two. “Well atleast I know english, You shrug and sit up from Theo’s arm. My friends are probably looking for me.” You say standing up to walk away when you feel a cold hand grab your wrist. “va bene amore mio, riportali qui.”(it’s okay my love, just bring them back here.) You smile and nod, he lets go. You walk back to your VIP booth and grab your phone to text your friends. “Mert me back at the booth he wsnts me to bring you guys back to his tsble!!” you text them and wait at the table. After a minute or two they all come as a group up to the couch. “Y/nnn who is this mystery man you ran off with?!” One of your friends asks. “His name’s Theo and oh my god is he perfecttt. Buttt he said for me to bring you all back to his section, anddd he has friends.” You say smirking grabbing all your things from the table plus the second bottle of champagne. They all smile and converse about the current situation. Once they’re ready they all follow you back to Theo’s part of the VIP section. You place the champagne on the table. You sit back down next to Theo, his arm wrapping around your shoulder. You introduce your friends as they all find places on the couch. All your friends take a seat next to whoever, but it’s obvious they chose who they thought was the cutest. One of your girlfriends even sat next to Pansy obviously fancying her. You weren’t sure if Pansy swung that way but after a few minutes of everyone conversing it was made clear that she does. “Sooo are we gonna pop open that bottle or what?~” Mattheo says slyly. The group erupts in ‘yesss’s and excitement. You smirk and grab the bottle. Opening the bottle with the bottle opener. *POP* a rich champagne spraying everywhere. Everyone’s laughing and smiling seeing the champagne spray. You fill everyone’s cups. “To new friends?” Draco says toasting his cup in the air, with his arm around one of your friends. Everyone agrees, and guzzles down their champagne. Everyone seemed to hit it off, enough for you to feel confident to leave them by themselves. “Andiamo a ballare”(let’s go dance) You say standing up grabbing Theo’s hand pulling him up. He stands up flashing you that flirty smirk. As you two walk away Draco asks, “where re’ they running off too.” “They’re just gonna go dance.” Your friend says explaining.

You lead Theo to the dance floor holding his hand by barely linking fingers. As you get to a good spot you turn back around to him to see him looking at you with that same expression. You pull him close. His hands landing back at your hips, yours on his neck. Your fingers tracing patterns on his neck. His playing with the fabric of your short dress. You both just stare into each other eyes as you sway your bodies to the loud music. Your bodies so close there’s not even room for thought. As the song changes you turn around, your back now facing him. His hands rub up and down your body, not daring to go high enough to touch your chest. Your hips sway into him, his head dips down to your neck. Peppering kisses from behind your ear to the top of your collar bone. You lean your head back at the notion. Your bodies grow hot with the tension between you two growing. As he stops the affectionate kissing your hands travel back up to behind his neck as you continue facing away from him. Your bodies grinding together, your ass against his pelvis. “Cazzo, sei cosí bello che vogilo rovinare il tuo bel viso” (fuck you’re so fine, I wanna ruin your pretty face.) He purrs into your ear. You make a small noise at his needy sentence. He leans back down to your neck leaving a soft kiss on your pulse. “Fallo allora”(Do it then) You say trying to not fully show your neediness for him. He smirks against your skin. “sei sicuro di volero”(you sure you want that?) He purrs against your neck. “No sono sicuro Theo”(I’m sure Theo) He grabs your hand and leads you back towards the VIP section but instead of heading back to the table, he leads you towards an elevator, you both enter, he clicks the 20 button. When he presses you up against the wall of the elevator. His arms resting on either side of you. He starts leaving kisses on your neck. You lean your head back against the wall giving him more room. “Where we going amore mio?” You say with your breath getting heavier, he smirks against your fastening pulse, he lists his head barely. “My place.” Is all he says before he continues kissing you all around your neck before traveling up to your jaw. Once he gets there your body is getting needy. As he gets close to your lips, you suck in one more breath before giving into him crashing your lips together. Your hands now once again around his neck, one of your legs sliding up his side. His hands aggressively pulling your waist closer to him. Your hands pulling on his hair at the nape of his neck. His tongue colliding with yours. Breathing getting heavier. He presses into you, you could feel him hardening into you. You couldn’t help but let out a noise into the kiss. He breaks the kiss by smiling against your lips, then continues kissing you with hunger. You could feel your heart beat everywhere, especially down there. You wanted him, you wanted him more than everything. You could taste a hint of whiskey on his tongue.

*DING*

The elevator chimed as you both arrived on the 20th floor. The elevator doors opened to a beautiful penthouse. Sleek black marble floors, windows over looking all of Rome, the decor having hints of emerald green and gold. As the doors opened he guided you into the house. Both of you crashing onto the wall, still holding the heated kiss. Only breaking the kiss for him to take off his shirt, revealing his defined and muscle ridden torso. Your hands travel up and down his abs. With nott one word being said he tugs on your strapless dress. With one tug at the top of the dress your tits were revealed. Ofcourse you didn’t wear a bra, it’s a strapless dress. He smirks at the sight of your perky tits, slightly bouncing up and down with every heated breath you take. The sight made him hungry for you and your touch. His hungry hot lips collided with yours once again. You pull your dress down to your thighs and let it fall. You’re left in your black lace panties. He hs you pressed against the wall attacking your lips. You raise your legs to his side, his hand goes to your ass and glides down to your legs. He picks you up swiftly, you wrap your other leg around his waist. You didn’t know where he was taking you, but it didn’t matter, all you knew was that you needed him. You need him bad. Your arms laced around his neck. You break the kiss throwing your head back, he begins kissing your neck with his wet lips. Your body was throbbing at his touch. His kisses travel from your neck down to your nipple, he was practically sucking on you. Leaving purple and red blotches all around your chest “nggh~” was the only response you could let out. You feel him open a door behind you, a few seconds later you’re laid gently onto a bed, him hovering above you. You’re both looking into each others eyes, nearly breathless, he pushed your hair off your face. “You’re a mess amore mio.” He smirks. You lay there legs laced around his body. You melt at his words. He begins kissing your jaw trailing down your body until he’s at your stomach. He back up and grabs your legs, he pulls you to the edge of the bed, as he gets on his knees. He begins kissing your inner thighs surely leaving marks. As his gets closer to your throbbing pussy, you lay there breathless, eyes closed, back slightly arched. Just the thought of him begging that close made your mind run wild. His fingers begin tugging at the hem of your panties. He swiftly pulls them off and throws them across the room. His arms lace around your legs making sure you can’t get away. He lays one last kiss on your thigh. “All this for me? All I did was kiss you bella?” He says teasingly before licking you fold to fold. “mmmhnm” You arch your back at his warm tongue. His tongue travels all around before actually entering you. The noises you were making were lewd. He was fucking you with his tongue, he started slow before sucking on your clit. He found it with expertise. You were trying to suppress your noises. He made the perfect meal out of you.

Your stomach was doing flips. His tongue licked every part of you. His once slow movements fastly turned into more hungry and harsh movements. Your hands entangled in his hair, you pulled on his hair, basically pulling him into you. He let out a moan against you from the hair pulling. The vibrations of his noises sent a shock up your spine. Your back arched, mouth wide open with breathy moans being the only thing exiting. As the knot in your stomach slowly tightened from the sensation you pulled him closer. You were grinding into his face, his nose every so often brushing your throbbing clit. Every time without fail your eyes closed tightly. Your thighs were shaking. His tongue entering and exiting you. The knot tightened, as it did your trembling thighs tightened around his head. As they did his grip around your thighs tightened, leaving you no escape. He sucked on your clit, your pussy was soaked in fluids. Your once perfect hair was now all over, a result from you turning and thrashing your head from the pleasure Theo was giving you. “AhhUH~” you practically screaming as the achy pain in your stomach was waiting to be released. “Please~ nggh~” your noises filled the room. Your breathing getting more rapid. “Theo!~” you moaned yelling his name as the wave rushed over you. Your mind went absolutely blank. With your eyes shut, back now completely arched in the air, your hand gripped his locks tighter. His moans sending more vibrations into you. Your moans were getting louder as the vibrations of energy were flowing thru your body. Your grinds against his face were now shaky and uncontrollable. The liquid flowing out of you and into his mouth, he licked up every last bit. As the last rush of energy flowed thru you, you were left breathless. Only when you were fully done Theo came up. He hovered above your completely unclothed trembling body. His lips and chin dripping. “All night I’ve been waiting to hear how you scream my name.” He says softly as he run his hand through your hair. You lay completely helpless underneath him. He back off you, you lay there catching your breath, staring up at the ceiling trying to recover from the erotic effects he inflicted on you. You hear the *clink* of his belt, causing you to actually sit up. You see him taking off his pants, revealing him in his boxers. His bulge only being covered by a thin layer of cloth. The outline of him being completely soaked in pre-cum. He was huge. You sigh at the view. You throw your head back down into the fluff of the comforter beneath you. After a few seconds he’s back hovering above you. “Amore you’re so beautiful..but like I said I wanna ruin that pretty face..” His eyes dark and full of lust. “Please…” You manage to let out as you lace your arms around his neck. “Please what~?” he teases. “Please Theo..fuck me..” You say with your breath fastening at the thought. “Whatever you want darling…” He smirks. He stands back up and once again pulls you to the edge of the bed by your legs. He lines himself up with your still dripping pussy. His tip grazes you, you suck in a fast breath. He slowly pushes into you, letting out a satisfactory groan. You can’t help but moan at his size inside of you. He was huge. His voice laced with pleasure. “Fuck…” he says as he looks up at the ceiling. His movements were slow at first making sure you were comfortable. With every movement you made, he gained an erotic moan from you. His hips rolled into yours, each time making you take his full size. Your body was reacting with pleasure, not with thought. You swayed your hips into his. One of his hands that were once resting on your hips traveled to your clit. The stimulation of him hit your G-spot repeatedly and him massaging your clit made your body tremble with pleasure. Both of you began to get louder and louder. The sound of your skin colliding together each time filled the room. The head board repeatedly hitting the wall. Your back was arching into the air, your tits bouncing with each pump he made into you.Tears filled your eyes from the pure bliss you were experiencing.

“THEO PLEASE~!” you screamed as he leaned down to you, not stopping the consistent movement into you. His wining noises were music to your ears. This man was not shy with his noises. Your hands now once again in his hair pulling and tugging at every movement. You were both getting louder and louder every second. “fanculo amore mio, sei così buono”(fuck my love you’re so good) The sensation he was giving you was something you’ve never felt before. You could feel his size in your stomach. He was deep in you. His thrusts were getting rougher and deeper. You were both intoxicated with each other. He let out a long moan, you felt him twitch inside you. That sent you over the edge. Your mind once running wild with lewd thoughts, now clear. Your mouth opened wide. Eyes scrunched shut. Your dripping pussy tightened around him. Your hands tangled in his hair gripping down harder. He leans in and starts sucking on your tits again. Leaving dark marks all across your chest. You were basically screaming him nam, along with the other loud erotic noises leaving your mouth. The feeling in your stomach finally released. The sensation of you releasing on him made him cum in a second. Both of you reaching your peaks at the same time. His deep and breathy moans were laced with absolute pleasure. The shocks hitting your body like lighting. Your hips still rolling into his. Liquids dripping down your pussy and down his legs. As you moaned he begins to kiss you again. This time rougher. He was fully entranced with you. His body only wanted you he wanted all of you. You could still taste yourself on him. You both his riding your waves, you both let out moans into eachothers mouths. He continued his pace until he was done. His pace slowed before pulling out of you. Theo finally breaks the kiss, laying on his back next to you. You both lay there absolutely breathless. Your body still shaking. Chest rising up and down erotically. You both continue letting out small noises.

Your body still wanting to be close to him. You roll over laying an arm across his chest as you lay your head on him. One of his arms snakes around you playing with your hair. “Eri una principessa fantastica”(You were amazing princess) he breathes out.

=======

This was my first time writing smut so lmk how it was! Lmk if I need to fix anything. Sorry for the VERY long one shot lol.

[l0vergirlsw0rld]

day six: frotting | NSFW MDNI 18+

Poker night had somehow become a new addition to yours and Logan's routine. Wasn't exactly your favourite evening activity, but it had its perks. The usual crowd had gathered, filling each kitchen chair—Logan huffing and rolling his eyes the entire night, Remy showing off with his absurdly slick card tricks, Hank meticulously counting the odds with every hand, Wade being, well, Wade with his relentless commentary, Colossus chiming in with his positive quotes, and Scott... taking everything way too seriously, as always.

Remy, in his dramatic fashion, shuffled the deck like he was putting on a magic show. The cards flipped, danced, and slid between his fingers effortlessly, pulling everyone’s attention to his performance. You couldn’t help but smirk at how extra it all was, as he did this every single time.

“Quit showin’ off and deal already,” Logan grumbled, taking a long swig of his beer. Poker night wasn’t exactly his thing, but he never missed a week. Something about camaraderie, or maybe he just liked to keep an eye on the chaos Wade tended to stir up. You’d tagged along tonight, hoping for some girl company, but you ended up being the only one there, keeping yourself entertained in the dark corner of the room.

Your distraction? Mary Puppins—the ugliest, yet somehow endearing dog you'd ever laid eyes on. Her tongue perpetually hung out, and with her awkward, patchy fur, she looked like she was judging everyone in the room. You found yourself obsessed with her absurd charm, petting her while the poker game carried on behind you.

“Y/N,” Logan’s deep voice cut through the low buzz of conversation, but you were too infatuated with the dog to catch it.

“Kid,” he called again, a bit louder this time, using the nickname that always got your attention.

You looked up, meeting his intense gaze from across the room. His brow arched slightly, and with a gesture as casual as it was commanding, he patted his thigh. “C’mere.”

You stood up, leaving Mary Puppins in her half-asleep state, and padded over to him. Straddling his thick thigh, you kept your feet on the floor, trying not to put too much weight on him, but Logan had other plans. His hands found your hips, pulling you firmly down until your feet were dangling, leaving you fully perched on his leg.

“You weigh nothin’. Relax,” he muttered low, his lips brushing your ear as his deep voice sent shivers down your spine. The familiar scent of cigar smoke, whiskey, and that earthy, woodsy musk that was all him surrounded you, making you melt into his sturdy frame.

The guys were deep into the game now, all their attention on the cards, poker chips scattered across the table, beer bottles clinking occasionally. The air was thick with smoke, swirling lazily under the kitchen light.

Your unofficial role for the night? Holding Logan’s cards, passing him chips, clipping his cigars, and fetching him another drink whenever he grunted for one. It wasn’t exactly thrilling, but being close to him like this made it worthwhile. The game dragged on—poker nights always did—but sitting in Logan’s lap made the time pass more easily, especially with his arm draped protectively over your waist, keeping you flush against him.

Then, there was a shift. You started feeling... restless. Maybe it was the pressure of your jeans pressing right where you wanted it, or maybe it was how absurdly hot Logan looked while dominating the poker table. Either way, the heat between your thighs was starting to spread, your body responding in ways that you hadn’t anticipated.

Subtly, you began shifting your hips against his leg. It was a small, innocent movement at first—barely noticeable—but the friction was immediate, sending a spark of electricity shooting up your spine. You pressed your core more firmly against his muscled thigh, feeling the delicious hardness beneath you. A soft heat pooled in your belly, and before you knew it, your panties were damp, your arousal growing with every tiny movement.

You bit down on your lower lip, trying to keep your composure. The last thing you needed was for the rest of the table to catch on to what you were doing. But Logan wasn’t so oblivious. His grip on your hips tightened, and he leaned forward, his lips brushing the shell of your ear.

“What the hell do you think you’re doin’?” His voice was a low rasp, his breath hot against your skin. The growl in his tone made your pulse quicken.

Without missing a beat, you rolled your hips again, pressing yourself harder against his thigh, hitting that perfect angle that sent a fresh wave of pleasure through you. A blush spread across your cheeks, the heat rising fast as you bit back a quiet gasp. You weren’t trying to get this worked up, but now it was too late.

Logan’s response was immediate. You felt him harden beneath you, the unmistakable bulge growing as your movements riled him up. His grip on your hips became almost possessive, and you knew you were driving him just as crazy as you were.

The others had no clue what was happening. They were too wrapped up in the game, the music, and their own chatter. But beneath the table, a much different game was unfolding.

Logan’s chin came to rest on your shoulder, his eyes trailing down the front of your shirt, clearly focused on the curve of your cleavage. His breath was hot against your neck as he whispered, “You’re gonna pay for this later, y’know that?”

You shivered, your body practically vibrating with anticipation, knowing damn well that you wouldn’t mind paying whatever price he had in mind.

🏷️:@back2thebasics @spookyfunhottub, @lanassmarty, @hypermarvellove @kbear8863 @squishyfruitloop, @v3rdee @instantpersonawombat, @a-leg-without-fear, @cherrypieyourface

If you'd like to join my tagged list and be notified whenever I post new content, click ->-> HERE<-<-, instructions will follow.

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[supernotnatural2005]

Picture Perfect

Pairing: Boaz/Priestly x Reader

Summary: You decide to surprise your boyfriend Priestly with a spontaneous request he’d made months ago, however, not everything goes to plan.

Word Count: 1.8k

Warnings/tags: Fluff, swearing, mentions of spice.

Prompt: “You have to find it before the others do.”

AN: This is another submission for my @jacklesversebingo card, and also my first time writing for Priestly! 😅 like I mentioned in my announcement, I was inspired by the lovely @zepskies Headcanon for ‘man flu’, which included our beloved Priestly, as well as her other work for him. 😍 I hope you guys enjoy ☺️

Main Masterlist

The Beach City Grill was already buzzing when you slipped through the door. The smell of fresh bread and sizzling bacon filled the small space, and the usual suspects were in their spots.

Tish leaning against the counter with her coffee, Piper wiping down tables, and Jen stacking fresh loaves onto the display.  

You had one mission. And you had to be smooth.  

“Look what the wind blew in,” Tish teased as you strolled up to the counter. “Aren’t you supposed to be working or something?”  

“Day off,” you said, offering an easy smile. “Figured I’d grab lunch.”  

Jen cocked her head. “You know Priestly doesn’t start for another hour, right?”  

You rolled your eyes. “You guys act like I only come here for him.”  

“That’s because you do,” Piper chimed in, flashing you a knowing look. “Come on, sweet thing, you could have any guy. How did you end up with Priestly?”  

You feigned offence. “Excuse you. He’s amazing.”  

Tish snorted. “Oh, we love Priestly. But he’s just a lot of… Priestly.”  

Piper nodded. “And you’re so sweet.”  

You just smiled, biting your tongue. If only they knew how not-so-sweet you could be behind closed doors—especially when it came to Priestly.  

Your fingers curled around the small Polaroid tucked in your sleeve.  

You hadn't planned on doing something like this. It all started, a couple of weeks ago, when Priestly went off on one of his tangents about how modern romantic gestures lacked creativity, now you all had cell phones. In one of his off hand musings—while the two of you were tangled up in bed—he’d said something so ridiculous, you’d almost ignored it.

“You know what would be romantic?” he murmured, tracing lazy patterns along your bare back.

“What?” you asked, half-asleep against his chest.

“A physical nude.”

That woke you up. “I’m sorry—what?”

“Like, an actual photo. Not some digital thing that can get hacked or deleted.” He sighed dreamily. “Just… something personal, something just for me. Like back in the old days.”  He wiggled his brows suggestively.

You’d snorted, shoving his chest. “You’re such a dork.”  

Before you could react, he rolled you under him, the sudden shift stealing a breathless giggle from your lips. His weight pressed against you, solid and warm, as his fingers ghosted along your side, leaving goosebumps in their wake. His lips found yours—soft at first, teasing, like he had all the time in the world. But then he deepened the kiss, slow and thorough, as if savouring the taste of you.

Your body responded instinctively, arching into him, heat curling in your stomach despite the exhaustion still lingering in your limbs from your previous ‘activities’. He kissed you like you were something precious, something he couldn’t get enough of and it made your head spin.

His hand slid up to cradle your jaw, thumb brushing tenderly against your cheek as he pulled back just enough to murmur against your lips.

“I’m just sayin’,” he said, grinning down at you, breath warm against your skin. “Classic nudes? That’s romance.”

You huffed a laugh, shaking your head before tugging him back down, shutting him up with another lingering kiss, letting yourself melt into him once more.

And yet, even as your world narrowed to nothing but him once more, the idea stuck, taking root and nestling in the back of your mind, refusing to let go.

And, well… now here you were, planning to slip a very romantic little surprise into his 'Ultimate Sandwich Bible''.  

Time to make your move.  

As Tish turned to refill her coffee, and with the others busy at the grill, you subtly flipped the book open to a random page and slipped the picture inside. Then, with the most innocent expression you could muster, you picked up the menu.  

“So,” you said, shifting gears, “what do I want today?”  

Jen gave you a weird look. “Uh… you always get turkey and avocado.”  

You pretended to think it over. “Maybe I should switch it up?”  

Tish quirked a brow. “Why? Is this a whole new you?”  

“Nah, just trying something different.” You forced a small smile, resisting the urge to glance at the book. “You never know what might surprise you.”  

The girls exchanged looks, but thankfully, they didn’t question it.  

Mission accomplished.  

After ordering, you sat at the counter and chatted for a while, playing it cool before finally grabbing your sandwich and heading out. As you walked home, you could not stop grinning.  

Priestly was in for a long shift.  

Back at your apartment, you curled up on the couch, still feeling giddy. You could just imagine the moment he found it—how he’d go stiff, eyes widening, and then spend the rest of the day knowing he had it tucked in his pocket with no way to do anything about it.  

You smirked to yourself.  

Best. Girlfriend. Ever.  

Then—  

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. 

You frowned. Who the hell—?  

Sliding off the couch, you padded over and pulled open the door.  

Priestly stood there, leaning lazily against the doorframe like he had all the time in the world, a cocky smirk tugging at his lips. His hair was electric blue this week, spiked up in chaotic perfection, the colour making his sharp green eyes pop even more.

His signature Surf Naked t-shirt clung to him in all the right places, the neckline stretched just enough to give you a teasing glimpse of the ink curling up his neck. The patchy sideburns and scruff only added to his effortlessly rebellious charm. He was a walking contradiction—grungy but gorgeous, ridiculous but ridiculously hot.

And right now, he had no idea there was a problem.

Your stomach dropped.  

“What are you doing here? Don’t you have work?”  

“Nope,” he said, not noticing your rising panic as he stepped inside. “Trucker gave me the day off.”  

Your blood ran cold.  

Oh no.  

“You—” You swallowed hard. “You didn’t go in at all?”  

“Nope.” He shot you a curious look. “He called me. Why?”  

Your breath hitched.  

Oh no.    

“Shit,” you muttered, spinning away and grabbing your phone.  

Priestly blinked. “Okay, what is happening right now?”  

You quickly texted Tish - 'Hey, is Priestly’s cookbook still on the counter?'  

Three dots popped up. Then—  

Tish: 'Nope, Trucker grabbed it earlier when he was cleaning. Why?'  

Your soul left your body.  

Priestly leaned over your shoulder. “Babe. What did you do?”  

You groaned, shoving your phone away.  

He folded his arms. “What’s going on?”  

You turned to him, heart hammering. “You have to find it before the others do!”  

His brows shot up. “Find what?”  

You hesitated, face heating.  

His eyes narrowed. “Oh, you so did something bad.” A grin began to form on his lips.

“I may have… hidden something for you,” you admitted. “In The Sandwich Bible.”  

Priestly blinked. “Okay… And?”  

“And—” You exhaled sharply. “It was supposed to be a surprise for you.”  

“…What kind of surprise?”  

Your jaw clenched. “The personal kind.”  

Priestly stared.  

Then—his eyes widened.  

“Oh, Oh.”  

You squeezed your eyes shut. “Yeah.”  

“You hid a dirty picture in my cookbook?”  

“Yes.”  

His lips parted in stunned silence. 

Then, he fully beamed. “Ohhh, this is amazing.”  

“No, Priestly,” you groaned, grabbing his shirt. “This is bad. Trucker has it. Trucker!”  

His grin vanished.  

“Oh shit.”  

“Yes! Shit! Now we have to get it back before he—”  

Your phone buzzed again.  

Tish: 'Trucker left the book in the back. Why are you freaking out?'  

You let out a strangled sound of relief.  

Priestly peeked at your screen. “Okay, okay—so it’s still in the shop.” He grabbed his keys. “We can fix this. Come on.”  

You groaned, dragging a hand down your face as you trudged behind him. “This was supposed to be a nice surprise.”  

Priestley’s smirk softened. He paused and stepped closer, fingers curling under your chin to tilt your face up to his. “Oh, baby,” he murmured, voice teasing but warm, “when I do get my hands on it, trust me—it’s gonna have a nice surprise from me.”  

You rolled your eyes, but a smile tugged at your lips, and then your breath hitched when he leaned in, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to your lips. His thumb brushed your cheek, grounding you, pulling you back from your spiralling panic.  

“You’re the sweetest thing, you know that?” he murmured, resting his forehead against yours. “The fact that you did this for me? That’s the best damn thing I could ask for.”  

You huffed, unable to fight your smile as he kissed you again, slow and deep, before tugging you toward the door.

“We should probably go before Trucker hangs it up on the specials board,” he teased, winking as he pulled you toward the door.

By the time you arrived back at the shop, the damage was already done.

Trish leaned against the counter, twirling the infamous polaroid between two fingers, a knowing smirk on her lips. Jen and Piper were beside her, and from the looks of it, they had all gotten a good look.

“Well, well,” Trish drawled, eyes flicking between you and Priestly. “And here I thought he was the wild one.”

Heat flared across your cheeks as you sputtered. “I—It’s not—”

“Oh, it definitely is,” Jen cut in, laughing.

Priestly snatched the polaroid from Trish, giving her a look to say that’s enough but as soon his eyes landed on the picture, he faltered. Priestly swallowed hard, dragging his gaze over the image—over you, in some barely-there lingerie, posed just right, your sultry expression locked onto the camera.

He exhaled, slow and deliberate, before turning to you, eyes dark with something entirely different than amusement.

“This,” he said, voice low and certain, “is the best thing you could’ve possibly given me.”

“Yeah?” you murmured, suddenly shy under the intensity of his stare, a contradictory to the picture in his hands.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed you—hard, quick, stealing your breath.

“Fuck yes,” he muttered against your lips before pulling you in again, deeper this time, slow and heated.

Piper, who had been swooning just seconds ago, suddenly let out a dramatic groan at the unmistakable swipe of Priestly’s tongue. “Ugh." She grimaced, "They do realise families come here?”

Jen snorted, stuck between wanting to look away and being just fascinated enough to keep watching. “I feel like I shouldn’t be watching this.”

Trish sidled up next to them, a knowing smirk on her lips as you and Priestly kissed like no one else existed.

Piper tilted her head then, studying the way he held you, the way you melted into him. “You know what?” she mused. “I think I get it now.”

The other two hummed in agreement, watching as Priestly grinned against your lips, tugging you even closer. And judging by the look in his eyes—and the way he was still clutching that polaroid like it was sacred—you had a feeling you wouldn’t be leaving his sight for the rest of the night.

AN: Okay i hope you guys enjoyed that one! I think Priestly is just the most adorable character and deserves more love! Let me what you thought 🤗💕

If you would like to be tagged in my future works please respond to this >form< so I can add you to the character's you'd like 😊

Jensen Ackles/Priestly Tag List:

@mrs-nesmith @zepskies @ohheyguyss @winchestergirl2 @lyarr24 @impala67rollingthroughtown @jackles010378 @riteofpassage77 @stoneyggirl2 @deans-baby-momma @spnaquakindgdom @cevansbaby-dove @star-yawnznn @deansimpalababy @megara0224 @hobby27 @idontwannabehere7 @kr804573 @ultimatecin73

[sylluvschoso]

what's mine is yours (sukuna x itadori)

synopsis: sukuna can feel every little thing that happens to yuji itadori's body as if it were his own. one day, he realizes that he can get the pleasure he wants while causing discomfort for yuji at the same time <3

cw: sukuna x yuji itadori, body horror???, dubcon/noncon, masturbation, blowjobs, toxic, guilty sex, is this incest? selfcest?? this is some sort of -cest

word count: 1.5k

a/n: i genuinely don't know if this counts as incest or not. i know yuji and sukuna are technically related (?) but it's so confusing that i didn't even get it after reading the manga.. so be warned

People tend to forget that Yuji's body is Sukuna's body too. Sukuna is present for everything, he can feel everything that Yuji feels, see everything, hear everything, smell, taste, you name it. He's there, in Yuji's skin, unbeknownst to everyone except Yuji and those closest to him.

Yuji tries to avoid doing anything that would stir Sukuna or catch his attention. The presence of Sukuna's voice in his head ruins a lot of Yuji's private moments.

Yuji is a human being with wants and needs, and he's not ashamed of that, hence the posters in his room. But it's certainly a turn-off to have this annoying, degrading voice in his head all of the time. Especially when he's trying to watch porn or engage in his own kinks, Sukuna will chime in, "ohh, seriously? And you call me disgusting, you brat."

But, as previously stated, Yuji's body is Sukuna's body too. So when Yuji is hard, Sukuna is hard. The curse would never admit it, but being sealed away for 1,000 years without experiencing living life in the flesh takes a toll on you. Still a conscious, corrupt deviant, unable to move or feel outside of his own domain. Never fully living, never fully satisfied.

For this reason, he's learned not to push Yuji too far with his mocking. There were times in the past when Sukuna berated Yuji to a point that the boy couldn't ignore, muttering "shut up, shut the fuck up," before eventually just stopping completely.

Sukuna delighted in tormenting him, but he didn't enjoy his vessel being achingly hard while he had no control over it. So, he's learned to not push him too hard. Despite how much he hates it, Yuji has the forefront of the control here. He can't chant their binding vow, because it would reveal to Yuji how much Sukuna desires it. Giving up his pride for pleasure is beneath him.

But if he plays his cards right, he can make that brat do all of the work for him. Over 1,000 years ago when Sukuna was last manifested in the flesh, he had multiple concubines at his disposal. In a way, Yuji can fill that void with their shared body.

And the shame that Yuji displays only pushes Sukuna further. He can distress Yuji and get off at the same time, with no inconvenience to him.

But it's days like today where Sukuna is the one to become needy first. He despises this feeling, thinking of most human activities and urges as shameful. He only wants to participate in sexual or intimate acts casually, cruelly; unbothered and uncaring. As simple as scratching an itch and not putting any thought into it. He's the king of curses, and he won't be made a fool of by not even being able to control his own body and mind.

He's been waiting for it all day as Yuji returns to his own room, expecting him to go about his business like usual. But no, the boy is just sitting there scrolling on his phone. Sukuna is nothing if not patient when it comes to any sort of physical satisfaction (being sealed does that to you), but as the night comes to a close and Yuji begins his bedtime routine, he's twitching with annoyance.

Yuji's brushing his teeth in front of the mirror when suddenly, another mouth appears right by his own. "What's the matter, brat? Aren't you going to jack off to your pathetic pictures like usual?"

Yuji rolls his eyes and shoves the toothbrush in Sukuna's mouth. He's not in the mood to even dignify that with a response.

The mouth appears on his other cheek. "Oh, did I hit a nerve there?"

Yuji's eyebrows quirk cutely, his lips slanting into a confused line. "What a perv. Maybe I just don't feel like it today." He begins to walk back to bed, undressing himself into his boxers and a t-shirt.

"How interesting for you. I'm just surprised you've broken your streak, especially considering you've never felt the touch of a woman."

That brat laughs. "You know, when I first got stuck with you, I never imagined that the king of curses would act like such a middle school bully. Grow up." Yuji's stretching out casually before tucking himself under the sheets.

Sukuna isn't going to sulk and mope about his loss. In fact, he doesn't intend on losing at all. He tells himself that this isn't a cop-out, and of course he's only doing this to torment Yuji. Of course, he'd never give in to his pathetic, human desires.

Just to torment the brat, he tells himself, as a mouth appears on Yuji's thigh and licks a stripe up his soft cock.

He yelps, flailing his leg away from his sensitive areas. "What the hell is wrong with you!?"

Sukuna's cackling at him as Yuji scolds him. "This is MY body, I deserve some autonomy."

"I don't feel obligated to fulfill that request." The curse does it again as soon as Yuji self-consciously folds into himself.

"Stop it," Yuji growls, but he's now half-hard. Sukuna couldn't contain his laughter if he tried, making Yuji curl into himself even more.

"Well, well.. do you like that, brat? And wasn't it just a minute ago that you were calling me a pervert?"

Yuji wraps himself in his blankets, trying to toss and turn away from something that's inescapable, living in his skin. Sukuna continues to lick and tease, causing Yuji to whine whenever he drags his teeth over his tip.

Soon, his cock is fully hard, angry red tip leaking pre-cum, much to Yuji's dismay. Sukuna's licks aren't enough to get him off due to the angle and the inconsistency, but just enough to stimulate him in a way that he can't ignore.

"Come on, brat. Show me your abundance of self control," the curse says wickedly, never sparing a moment to chuckle in amusement at Yuji's discomfort.

Yuji chews on his lip for a moment, knees folded up to his chest while he lays on his side, arms curled around himself defensively. Tears brim his eyes and he lowers his hand to his aching dick and begins to stroke himself feverishly.

"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you," he's muttering, and Sukuna's nerves are electric, finally getting the stimulation that he's been expecting all day.

"Yeah? It looks like it." Sukuna quips before his mouth appears on Yuji's palm, fully able to mouth at his cock since his hand is making direct contact.

Yuji throws his head back in a moan, gritting his teeth as he allows the curse to suck and slurp him, though he's whimpering in shame. Disgusting, pathetic, he chants mentally about himself, unsure if he should feel guilty in this situation or not. He does anyway.

Sukuna's long, slick tongue is diving into the slit, tasting the pre that's leaking from their shared cock. The tip is now encased in his hot, wet mouth, making Yuji shiver and whine. He wants to move away, reject the feeling, but his body betrays him. He positions his hand to where his palm is facing toward his erection, forcing it down further and further until it's fully in Sukuna's mouth.

The curse groans around it, sending shock waves of pleasure to the both of them.

Yuji begins to pummel his palm into his sensitive dick, watching it disappear, amazed that this doesn't hurt. Not a lot of people have a body like he does now, so there's not a lot of information on how his anatomy actually works when Sukuna's mouth appears on him.

It doesn't matter right now. Sukuna's mouth is taking him so good, so deep. And for what? Is this some sort of scheme? Some sort of test or manipulation, maybe just a way to harm Yuji? He begins to fear that Sukuna might be planning to bite him. He wouldn't put it past him.

But would Sukuna go as far to initiate all of this just for that? The curse did start this, after all.

"Hold on," Yuji huffs out. "Are you.. enjoying this?"

Sukuna pauses instantly. "Don't get the wrong idea, you disgusting brat. What a pathetic creature you are, lacking the ability to control yourself. What would your peers think if they knew that you were using the special grade curse in your body for your own pleasure?"

Yuji frowns. "I'm not the one who-"

"Of course not. Unable to even take accountability for your depraved actions. Pathetic human."

Then silence. Yuji pauses for a moment, half-expecting Sukuna to come back, but he never does. Yuji eventually strokes himself to completion, flinching at the first touch of his sensitive, spit-slicked cock. Sukuna can hardly enjoy the feeling, being disgusted and irate that the boy dares to mock him by even implying that he could be as undisciplined as a human being.

Sukuna doesn't rest. He mulls it over in his head, imagining all of the ways he will torture that nuisance once he finally gets the chance to.

Yuji doesn't rest well either, feeling vaguely unsettled by his interaction with Sukuna. Could the curse possibly have been doing that for his own personal gain? But what other reason would he?

Well, he used to be a human being after all. Yuji blinks confusedly to himself in the dark, reflecting on it as he slowly drifts off to sleep.

[tiredofthehumanlife]

Wanna play mermaids?

Barbie dolls: jegulus x reader (James, regulus, you)

Words: 3.4k ish

Summary: you and regulus work as mermaids at the renaissance fair and shockingly a lot of dads hit on you guys but what if one of them was hot?????? OH GOD PLEASE RELASE ME I WANT PEACE PLEASE GOD PLEASE

Warnings: your mermaid name is meryn, I personally think mermaid is a gn term but I understand why you wouldn't view it that way I was a mermaid kid so all I did was read books on them so to me personally I just feel like they wouldnt care about gender norms or gendered language BUT I UNDERSTAND so you and regulus are referred to as mermaids but there is no other gendered language, morden au, marylily is real, regulus is trans with stars around his top surgery scars and he's a tad insecure about the scars but it's cool, that's all.

You and your boyfriend, Regulus, loved working at fairs. You both had spent a very long time honing your costumes and characters. So when the biggest fair in your area hired you both, you were giddy. After you hung up, you and Regulus both screamed and jumped around the kitchen, holding onto each other. After waiting and picking at the fine details, the fair had finally opened again.

Every summer for about three months the fair on the outskirts of town was open. People dressed up, fairies, witches, queens, knights, regular old Renaissance peasants, came from all over to join in the festivities. Behind the large, fake, castle gates was a massive amount of care and love. People worked to fill their booths with handmade products. People spoke with old accents, calling out to thou to payeth for a large pretzel with your Chime credit card. You loved it. All the costumes, all the activities, all the love people put in, seeing the joy in children's eyes as they met real life mermaids. Even if it was just you and your  dumbass boyfriend in costume, it was real to them. You were even more excited to go to the one in town, you had seen how their mermaid tank was set up.

For quests they had to find the building with the painted mermaids all over it. It was open concept mostly, as most things at the fair were, no ac, all wood, and still beautiful. The building was mainly there for the gift shop, if the people wanted to see the real mermaids they'd have to follow the small stone path. Through a small arched gate, vines climbing up it, was a small winding garden path. Stunning flowers and vines growing around them as they made their way down the line. Eventually they'd turn the corner and see it. The large tank of water, usually with a mermaid inside. Around the tank were large fake rocks, making it look less like a tank and more like a tiny cave. Inbeaded in the rocks were gold dabloons and seashells. False seaweed twisting around the rocks. It was convincing enough for a child. Then there was another small path that led the guests out of the garden and back to the gift shop.

For the mermaids however, the path was different. You entered in through the gift shop, an employee showing you behind the beaded curtain in the back. Through there you found two doors, both painted teal that was now peeling and dim. Through the door on the left was a bathroom aka changing room. Through the door on the right was a small pool, the half of the tank that wasn't visible to the public. On two of the walls there was a space to walk, sidewalk wide. There were regular old swimming pool steps off in the corner, a lovely space to sit and take a break in your opinion. Then across from the door was an entryway. It started at the bottom of the tank and raised all the way up to just above the water. You entered the tank for the children to see you by getting into the pool and then swimming through the entry. It was most definitely one of the nicer set ups. There was one time where you showed up and found a troft waiting for you.

You and Regulus had gotten dressed, slid into your tails, and flipped yourselves into the pool all within an hour. You still had about thirty minutes to waste before you were needed outside. You had noticed that Regulus was quieter than usual but you just assumed he was tired. It was early in the morning and he was more of a night owl. Though now as you were both sitting on the steps, passing time in silence, you felt worried. You nudged his shoulder with yours. You asked him if he was alright and he seemed to sink. He shrugged. There a moment of silence before be started whispering to you.

"I'm just worried someone might say something." You raised an eyebrow at him.

"About?" Regulus rolled his eyes and gestured at his chest. He had scars, but so did millions of people. Regulus once vented to Sirius about his insecurities over his scars and Sirius offered the solution of tattoos. Of course he would. Regulus took it though. He went and got stars littered around them. Regulus was definitely more confident in them when you were alone or with friends but he always seemed to get a little antsy before working. You shrugged.

"Has anyone said anything before?" You already knew the answer. You just needed to remind him of it. Regulus pinched his lips together, shaking his head. "Then why would anyone say something now? What makes this job any different?" Regulus sighed and dropped his head on your shoulder.

"I have no real merit behind my anxieties." You nodded. You pressed a kiss to his forehead, glad he finally came to a proper conclusion. You slipped off the step, dropping to your shoulders in  the water. Regulus soon joined you. You swam through the opening. The outside part of the tank was much nicer than the inside. It was still early in the morning, the fair opening accnoucment started at 7:40 but no one really entered the fair until 8 ish. If you looked to the side you could see the sunrise. Regulus' head popped up out of the water next to you. You smiled at him. There were two small false rocks with flat tops in the two corners at the front.

You loved how Regulus looked in this lighting. He glanced over at you when he noticed you staring at him. Regulus rolled his eyes and made his way over to the corner across from you. He plopped himself down on the rock and rested his arm over the edge of the tank.

His tail was purple. You were there when he got his inspiration. You and Regulus were shopping for Luna's third birthday present when a little girl ran up to him holding up her Barbie doll. She kept pointing at them both. You saw the similarities instantly. It was a little mermaid doll with short black hair and a purple and blue tail. After her mother came running around the corner apologizing a million times and throwing the girl over her shoulder. Regulus turned to you. You shrugged and looked back to the dinosaurs. Luna was going through a dinosaur phase. She only wanted dinosaurs. Dinosaur chicken nuggets, dinosaur socks, dinosaur cereal, if it wasn't dinosaurs she wasn't having it. Regulus sniffed. You looked over at him. He was wiping at his eyes. You wanted to laugh a little. He was crying over a Barbie. All things considered though you've done the same so you hugged him and cooed.

Now he really was a spitting image of the doll. Your tail was orange. For no other reason than you thought it looked cool. You kept flapping your tail over Regulus'. He looked away from the garden to glare at you. A man in full peasant garb came around the corner, scrolling on his phone. He turned it off and shoved it into his leather pouch attached to his belt. He smiled at you two.

"Hey you guys, I'm John. I'm basically going to be right by you guys at all times if you need anything, if anyone gets weird. And also so I can direct people towards the exit but majority I'm here to support you." You both nodded at John. You shook his hand, introducing yourself and Regulus with both your names and mermaid names. Regulus gave John a short wave before looking back out at the garden.

"Yeah we're already having a line build up out there, your first meeting time is at 8:30, that's when the gate opens. Then the second meeting time starts at 9:30. And then so on and so forth, but after 11:30 that's it until 1:30 so we all have lunch time then." John explain, pulling his phone out the scroll down the schedule. You didn't have the heart to tell him you already knew the schedule.

After Regulus had celebrated with you for the first 5 minutes of finding your new job he was pulling out his laptop and reaserching everything. He took notes. Color coordinated notes. Regulus then helped you memorize everything. From the schedule to the blueprints to the faux accents people put on. He even went over your characters' lore with you again.

However you appreciated John's kindness to explain the schedule to you anyways. So you thanked him. You decided if he didn't run off to have lunch with his other peasant friends you'd find a way to get your lunch outside and eat with John. John notified you when the other workers opened the gate.

Quickly after that the first family was rounding the corner, jumping over the vines. Regulus fixed his posture, sitting up straight and smiling wide at the little boy. He was clutching onto a cloth mermaid doll like it was his lifeline. He squealed when you both waved at him. he was quickly advancing on you two, leaving his loser family behind. He was more interested in Regulus than he was you. The little boy told Regulus his favorite color was actually blue. He also explained siren lore to Regulus. Regulus smiled and nodded along. The boy asked Regulus what his name was. Regulus pressed his finger to his lips before pointing to you.

"His name is Llyrrick." You said, smiling at the boy. He pouted looking back to Regulus. Regulus had quickly realized after your first few jobs, talking to people for that long, masking for that long really, was extremely tiring. So you both adapted. Suddenly Llyrrick just didn't talk and Meryn, you, was talking double time.

"Do you not talk?" The little boy asked, tilting his head to the side at Regulus. Regulus pinched his lips together, shaking his head no. The boy's smile grew, letting out an excited squeal. He quickly ran back to his family, who was standing awkwardly next to the tank. He latched onto what looked to be his older sister. She looked to be only a few years older than him. He dragged her over to Regulus.

"This is my sister, she doesn't talk either. So sometimes I talk for her at restaurants and stuff, like you." He said smiling at you. Regulus smiled brightly, waving at them both. The girl looked more than giddy to meet a mermaid who was like her, her smiling biting back at her cheeks. Regulus held up his finger before flopping himself off his rock seat. He quickly swam back through the opening. Both the kids looked back to you, with sad looks, scared he was running away from them.

"Llyrrick is getting you two presents. Hey do you two where we merfolk keep our money?" They both shook their heads at you. "At the riverbank." You giggled at your own joke, even though you didn't really find it funny. Both the kids chuckled at your joke. You kept running off puns to keep them entertained. Regulus was back in few more seconds. He pulled himself back into his rock seat. Regulus reached into his now soaking cloth bag. It was small but it held a lot of false mermaid coins. Regulus reached into the bag and pulled out two, dropping one in each of the children's hands. You both waved them off as John pointed them to their way out of the garden.

You and Regulus gave each kid a coin before they left. Some of them spent more time talking to you, some talking to Regulus more, and some just stared at you both in silence. As the hours passed you started looking more and more to your lunch. You loved watching the childrens' excitement at seeing real life mermaids, but it was still tiring. Lunch was quickly approaching, you were already at the end of your 11:30 line.

"Sorry, he doesn't know how to flirt. He just kinda stares with his mouth open." She whispered to you, trying not to disturb Harry The Number One Mermaid Fan and Llyrrick's conversation. You shrugged.

The last family was rounding the corner. A small boy and three adults following after him. The boy was in jorts, light up lighting McQueen sneakers, a red shirt with a cartoon mermaid plastered on the front, and glasses too big for his face. He looked to be 7 or so. He was holding onto what was most definitely his father's hand. They looked like carbon copies, even in matching glasses.

Behind them both were two beautiful women.  One was in all green, with long red hair and the other was in as many bright colors you could imagine, her curly hair pulled into two buns. If you didn't already think it was the hottest set of parents you most certainly did now.

The man had a mustache that could truly only be described as a pornstache. Even worse, he made it hot. His muscles were large. You felt sympathy for his tshirt sleeves. You slowly turned your head to stare at Regulus. He gave you the exact 'you seeing this?' look you were giving him. You smiled and turned back to them as they got closer.

The little boy was dragging his father to the edge of your tank, his two mums following behind them. You thought they were the hottest throuple you ever did see. If you were the mirror mirror on the wall and they asked you who was the finest of them all you'd consider death. It'd be easier than picking. The boy smiled at you two as his father froze at the edge of the tank. You said hello to the boy as Regulus waved. He introduced himself as Harry, The Number One Mermaid Fan. You smiled at him. He talked to you both. Regulus gave him encouraging looks. Regulus crossed his arms over the edge of the tank, dropping his chin on his forearms.

You noticed the father was staring at you both. It unfortuently wasn't as uncommon as you wished it was.  A lot of people would stare, most of them making you uncomfortable. You glanced over at him. His jaw was slack and his shoulders slumped, making him look like a child salivating at a candy store window. You stared back, raising an eyebrow at him. The red headed woman came up from behind him, giving you a smile.

"I'm not flirting with your husband. I'm actually just sitting in a tank. Us merfolk don't flirt we give each other seaweed bouquets for courtship." You stated blankly. It wasnt the first time a partner of someone has chewed you out for looking at their loved one. Apperantly an orange fish tail was quite flirtatious.

"Oh gross no. I'm married to her, not him. Anyways just give us a second." She pulled the man away, over toward the other woman. They both gave you a small smile before gripping onto the man's shoulders. You continued to talk to Harry The Number One Mermaid Fan and ignored them entirely. As Harry started to ask Regulus more questions about sea life, all of which Regulus answered, the father came back up to you clutching his phone tightly. He had shinked into himself, looking as small as a buff as shit dude could.

"Excuse me, sorry I don't mean to be irritating, but do you think it's possible I could get both your numbers?" He was muttering so quietly you barely even heard him. You looked over to Regulus. He was already staring at you. Regulus gave you a light nod before answering Harry's question on the economy system with his hands, John stepped over to him, pressing his hand to the father's chest, giving him a light shove.

"I'm going to have to ask you to leave." John whispered. You reached out and tugged on the edge of John's shirt.

"Thank you, John. It's alright." John looked back at you to check a second time that you were speaking and not clone. You nodded. John looked back to the father, looking him up and down with the stink eye before moving away.

As John shut the exit gate you looked at Regulus. He groaned and slumped lowing into the water. You nodded, understanding completely. Regulus stared at you, you could see his admiration simmering under his gaze. You gave him a knowing look as he continued to slip lower and lower under the surface of the water. You rolled your eyes as his head disappeared under the water before popping up next to you again. Regulus pushed him up next to you on your rock seat, dropping his head on your shoulder and interlocking your elbows.

"Well I can't give you my cell phone number but i can give you my Shell-phone number" Your smile grew as you said your own pun. The man started laughing at your joke as he opened his contacts. You warmed, most people ignored your puns. Who would've thought a dad would enjoy your dad jokes?

You quietly whispered your number and real name to him. He was giddily smiling the whole time, giggling as he entered in the numbers. When you were done you looked over to Regulus, silently asking if he was sure you can gave his number away. Regulus sent you a wink and pulled his hand out from under the water, a shell in his palm.

On occasion, you genuinely wondered if he was a mermaid because you never packed shells but he always had pulled some out from nowhere. You turned back to the man listing off Regulus' number and his real name. The man was bouncing on his heels. He looked to be fighting off the urge to do a jig in celebration.

Just as you were finishing handing off Regulus' number, Regulus was dropping two coins into Harry's hands. The man thanked you a million times before lifting the boy off his feet with ease and throwing him over his shoulder. The boy squealed and laughed as the four of them left. Both of the women sent you two bright smiles.

"He was hot." Regulus whispered against the skin of your wet shoulder.

"Fuck, I know. Jeez Louise." Regulus nodded understanding your exasperation. He gently kissed your shoulder, sitting up. He looked back at John.

"Thanks, John." John stared at Regulus with wide eyes. You looked over your shoulder to smile at John.

"Right well, I'm going to go to pop over to the food court. I'm going to wander around a bit but I'll be back before 1:00, okay?" John said. You both gave him a nod. He left through the garden.

You and Regulus ate lunch in the inside tank. After that you both continued to meet more children and families. As the Fair closed for the day, you were slightly ashamed to say you glad. You and Regulus were out of your tails, not bothering to wipe off the painted scales on your faces. All the guests had left, you both leaned on each other as you left through the faux castle walls. Staying in a pool all day and being exhausted made your legs slightly wobbly.

"Mm bath, dinner, bed?" Regulus muttered, his voice slightly hoarse from not using it all day.

"Would you still love me if I said, A bath is too much energy?" You really weren't sure if you could last another second in water. Regulus hummed.

"Okay, Dinner, stinky bed time?" You nodded against his arm. He dropped a kiss to your forehead as he lead you through the parking lot.

"Glad we got that sorted, now the question is what are we having for dinner?" You groaned at Regulus asking you so many questions.

"Hey maybe that guy from earlier will be up for coming over. I'm entirely positive he won't mind being dinner, he was jumping up and down getting your number." You offered. Thinking about real answers was too hard.

"Really? I was thinking noodles." Regulus muttered, his tone flat. You lifted your head off his shoulder and smiled at him, lightly pecking his cheek.

“Noodles work.” Regulus nodded, pulling you off towards your car.

[kaciebello]

Million-dollar idea

Masterlist Money mail ☼ Slytherin boys x Hufflepuff!reader (fem) Summary What else is there to do during summer when you can do everything?  Warnings: no use of y/n Authors note: Haiya! Are you ready for an adventure? word count: 1k Song: Chapel - Madilyn Mei

Summer had rolled around and the kids had nothing to do. No exams to study for, no papers to research, and absolutely no homework. During the school year, that may sound like a paradise. However, the young mind works in mysterious ways.

It has only been a week and the group of teenagers are bored out of their minds. They feel like they have done all the summer activities possible. They have been swimming in the lake that's on the back of the Berkshire property. They have started two water balloon wars, one on brooms. Their summer bucket list has been all checked off and it feels like there is nothing for them to do. Bucketlist they put together because none of them wanted to study for any of their exams. Some, looking at you Mattheo, put down skinny dipping. While others have simply said they wish to bake pizza one night. They even came up with a rotation of the houses they would frequent. Anything but studying for the exams

Lazing around the Berkshire backyard, the kids could be seen basking in the sun. A couple of icy drinks sitting down in the shade, although the ice is melting as fast as it would on the sun. The two Theos were engaging in their 5th game of Uno, neither of them having the right color to put down. Blaise, sitting in a chair with his knees tucked underneath his chin, has been rereading the same chapter of the book since lunch because he always gets distracted. Lorenzo was sitting on a lounge chair he and his girlfriend not so shamelessly claimed as their own. He was watching the said girl, standing above sleeping Draco who had passed out in the sun. She was putting a ridiculously thick layer of sunscreen on his face. He squirmed from time to time but nothing that could stop the girl from doing her job. He turned to his phone, having not checked it since this morning. His only notification being a school email with gibberish that was probably sent by professor McGonagall. She has always been fascinated by keyboards.

An excited sound leaves Matteo as he tries to get everyone's attention, seeming to give up on his game of uno with fifteen cards in hand.

“Come look at this!” He urges everyone on. Turning his phone around for everyone to see.

“A bouncy castle?” Blaise says after yet again putting his book down and coming closer to his friends. Mattheo nods at his question. They all lean closer to look at his phone.

“ Not just any bouncing castle, a water one. We could use one in this heat.” He argues back. The teens could only agree. With nothing to do, a water bouncy castle would cure their boredom for like a week.

“Why do you have Amazon on your phone?” The girl asks.

“Does it matter?”

“No, I'm just curious.”

“Curiosity killed a cat.”

“ I am not McGonagall.”

“Yada yada yada, how much is it?” Blaise chimes in. Mattheo shrugs. Seemingly haven't gotten the information yet. The girl just sighs and lifts her hand, slowly her fingers touches the screen and scrolls down a bit.

£8,000.

“ Oh…” she goes to say something but Theodore cuts her off.

“ 8k galleons? Damn that's nothing, I could afford like 16 of them.” Lightbulb goes off in Matteo's head. It's true. It's true, they all come from wealthy families. If they really wanted to, they could probably rent a cruise ship just for themselves, and it would brearley make a dent in any of their pockets.

“ We buy like 16 and make a water park!”

“Guys-” “ we can buy multiple variants!”

“Guys-” “ we can each have one where we can sleep and stuff!”

“Guys-” “ Although the princess over here will probably share one with Enzo.”

“Guys!” Silence falls upon them as they turn their attention to her. Only angry murmurs from Draco can be heard in the background as he rolls to his side finally facing away from the sun. She gently takes the phone from Matteo and points to the number again.

“ It says pounds, not galleons.” She pointa out.

“ Well how much is that in galleons?” Says Theodore.

“ I don't know.”

“ Look it up.”

“That's the thing. I don't think you can exchange galleons for pounds.” She says slowly. So slow that the guys feel like she's ripping their heart out. Taking her word for it, Enzo turns to his friends.

“ Where the fuck are we supposed to get 8k?” He's met with disappointment and tears.

“ I know!” The girl chimes up, rather than going cheery for their current situation. With question marks on their faces, the boys await their solution.

“ We get a summer job.” Sheer determination in her voice, she's met with silence. She looks down at the boys and sees a bunch of awkward faces, desperately trying to avoid Any form of eye contact.

“ Oh come on guys!” She whined and sits down next to them. Blaise sucks on a breath before talking.

“Ah fuck it, what else is there to do.” Je says and puts his hand in the middle, waiting for the other to join him. The girl smiles and follows his lead. Soon the others join. Together making a silent pack, over the summer, they will manage to get £8.000. And when they threw their hand in the air, the faith of this summer was sealed.

—

A loud slap echoed in the backyard. Draco could only jerk awake and try to crawl away from the assault that just happened to his thigh. Above him stood Theodore, red hand almost as much as the mark it left on Draco's thigh.

“ What the fuck man??” He squeaks out, a look of disgust thrown at his friend.

“ Get up loser, we're going working.”

Next Chapter

Taglist @klimovatereza-blog , @lafrone ,@enfppuff , @rafegfs , @frogtape , @lovelyygirl8 , @catiwinky, @leeleecats , @ghostgardn , @reverse-soe , @ultramarinetovelvet @jazz-berry , @justatadbonkers , @partnerincrime0 , @schaebickel , @deluluassapocalypse , @adreamingpendulum, @imobsessedwitholiviarodrigo , @happydragonfrog , @harvey-malfoy , @helendeath , @caffeine-addict-slug , @mrvlfanman , @pink-heartz , @feistyfox47 , @nickspotatoesalad , @elltheawkward , @myunperfektstorys . @mxryxmfooty , @hoeforvinniehackerrr

[neiptune]

just her color

cw: 2.7 wc, female reader, violence, gore, it gets pretty descriptive, slightly nsfw (y'all have sex lol), dark academia(ish) setting

“A girl has been found dead on campus” Jean’s brows are furrowed as he skims through his twitter timeline “shit, I think I know who she is?”

“What?” Sasha straightens up in her seat, iced latte promptly put down. The table grows silent, you’ve grabbed Jean’s wrist to peek at his screen in disbelief. Someone dying at your college, the most boring place on earth, is difficult to believe.

“Holy shit” you let go of your friend’s wrist and meet Sasha’s gaze “it’s Yuki. Remember? She used to be in our history class”

She opens her mouth in a small “o”, realization freezing her surprised features.

“Nakamura Yuki?” Eren’s breath catches in his throat “that’s impossible, I literally saw her last week. Didn’t she tutor students with you, ‘Min?”

“Yeah but that was last year” Armin shakes his head “what the hell happened? From what I remember she didn’t care for parties or weird companies”

“Not sure, they’re jut saying she’s been found outside her dorm” Jean puts away his phone with a grim look on his face, cappuccino long forgotten. Connie used to have a crush on that girl, he hopes to find him before he has the chance to get the news from social media.

“Do you guys think it was an accident?” all pigment seems to have been sucked out of Eren’s face and you instinctively push back some of the hair from his forehead.

“An accident? What d’you mean?” you tilt your head to the side, pose the question carefully weighing each word.

“I don’t know. Alcohol poisoning? Maybe someone spiked her drink?”

A shudder teases your spine, almost makes you retract your hand. “So you’re saying… someone did it?”

“Not on purpose. I’m just speculating”

“Why?” Sasha chimes in “stop it, it’s weird. If something’s off, the school is gonna tell us”

“Yeah, right, they definitely will” you scoff.

“Maybe it was like a heart attack” Armin seems unconvinced himself as he finishes his tea, surely gone cold by now.

“Sure, that sounds likely” you push back the mug containing your black coffee, suddenly nauseous “next time my parents ask how things are going up here, I’ll finally have the perfect answer. Oh, you’ll never guess the novelty: girls are being murdered on campus now!”

“No one’s been murdered” Eren is annoyed and eager to change the subject. Everyone else is too. You kinda get it: it’s weird that a girl you all somehow knew is suddenly dead, it’s even weirder that something so dreadful had to happen on your campus of all places.

On the slopes of mount Rokko, in Kobe, nothing really ever happens. You attend a private university that counts a few thousand students and an international exchange program that no one really ever applies to. Your professors like to call the insistution “Kobe’s best kept secret” but to you that’s just a pretentious way to present an old school with an even older set of rules that simply make your lives excruciatingly harder. No visits allowed except for graduations or special ceremonies, everyone is supposed to be in their rooms by 9:30 pm (as security keeps a record of students who are caught roaming in the corridors at night), no one is allowed to leave the building except for Sundays and even then if you don’t have your identity card with you, the chances that you’ll spend the night in the woods are pretty high because security doesn’t really give a shit.

But if they don’t mind leaving students locked outside for the night (it has happed), the appreciation for bribes runs equally high: it’s not uncommon among students to offer as much as ¥308,230 to buy their silence for a plethora of activities. Money is power even on top of mount Rokko and it can be used to secure sex, parties, drugs, alcohol, just like it does anywhere else.

Which is why everyone seems to be asking themselves the same question: who the hell used money to secure an assassination?

Soon after the finding and despite the rector’s efforts, Yuki’s picture was passed around in group chats and social media posts like a collectible card. Most senders had the decency to forward the blurred version of the photo but pretty much everyone saw the first, original variant, and the school couldn’t keep it a secret for a minute longer: a murder it was.

You spent the following days unable to get proper sleep, eyes wide open scanning the ceiling for the majority of the night, the image of that girl’s empty, horrified stare chasing you until dawn, pulse rapidly tapping against your skin at the thought. Sasha doesn’t speak of her nightmares but you’re sure they resemble your own dreams: one hand pointlessly closed around a pale throat slashed open, the dark halo of thin hair framing a face gone cold, liquid red lipstick smeared across lips like a macabre tribute to joker.

If few can get out of the school, basically no stranger can step foot inside. Which means, and every single female student is painfully aware of it, that they are sharing their campus with a killer.

You’ve all been moving in packs lately, no girl has been seen wandering around the school without her friends or boyfriend and you’re no exception: if Sasha is almost always escorted by Jean and Connie, Eren basically refuses to leave your side and has been staying the night more and more often.

“I know cops freak you out” he tries to keep the spirits high, indulges in some humor to ease part of the tension in your shoulders as the investigation unfolds and strangers search your dorm a million times.

“Pigs” you utter under your breath shortly before flashing a smile to one of the officers you pass by on your way to class “how dumb d’you have to be to be still groping in the dark? They’re clueless”

He shrugs, trying hard to suppress a smirk because what the hell, they’re only there because a girl has been murdered and it wouldn’t be appropriate to smile “they’ll never figure it out anyway”

You look up at him, confusion evident by the crease between your brows. Eren clears his throat.

“Everyone knows the school wants to handle this shit internally” he lowers his voice in a murmur “I wouldn’t be surprised if the rector was actually trying to get rid of them”

“What the fuck? Why would he do that? Parents are already freaking out, threatening to pick up their kids and cancel their enrollments, does the rector want to reign over an abandoned bulk of shitty old bricks?”

“How much did you look into those articles about our school that Armin sent us last year?” Eren tilts his head a little, an amused twitch of the lips indicating that he’s about to do the thing you hate the most: be a smartass.

“Not much” you stand defeated and your boyfriend grins.

“It’s not the first time someone’s died here, Gako has a pretty long history of secret societies that are believed to have performed some fucked up initiations. It’s mainly why we don’t have them anymore, at least officially. The degree of independence from the rectorate was pretty high, they essentially had an agreement: vivit et vivet”.

“What?” your brows furrow, skeptical. Eren basks in your confusion.

“Live and let live. Keep your nose out of our business and we’ll do our best to stay discreet”

You refrain from asking where the fuck he even learned latin as a more urgent question arises. “But why would the rectorate even agree?”

“Those students came from some of the richest, most influential families of the Taisho era. Gako cares a lot about history and tradition and…”

“Prestige”

Eren nods.

“They kept the money flowing and the name shining. Those societies were Gako, I bet our current rector himself is an ex member of the Cauda Venenum or whatever the fuck it was”

There’s a pause as the story sinks in, all the implications that single revelation could hold. “Wow. You seem to have really enjoyed those articles, Armin must’ve been thrilled”

He laughs a bit at that and shrugs, pulls you closer to his body, pretends not to notice the inkling shadow of suspicion quivering beneath the surface of your words.

You don’t point out that what happened to Yuki is far from resembling an initiation, nor you dwell on the main undertone of the entire conversation: if what Eren said is true, the case could very well remain unsolved and the murderer would be allowed to roam free through the halls, perhaps for evermore. The mere thought sends a chill down your spine. Vivit et vivet.

The Yuki topic is banned from being discussed with Sasha, she gets nervous really easily and is already painfully on edge every single day. Despite Jean and Connie basically never leaving her side, you know part of her wishes she had a boyfriend to rely on or keep close at night, one that would pull her into him as she wakes up from those hellish nightmares, chest heaving painfully. That’s precisely why you don’t bring up Eren to her: not his weirdly cemented assumptions, not the fact that you want to keep your distance for at least a day or two. And so, as it often happens, Armin becomes the designated listener to all your bitching and moaning.

“He’s just being weird, I guess” you grumble over breakfast, a portion of blueberry pancakes covered in dense syrup “and I don’t know how to make it clear to him”

“How to make what clear to him?”

“That he’s giving me the creeps”

Your friend chuckles at that.

“I’m sure Eren’s simply as freaked out as everyone else, he’s just trying to make sense out of the whole thing. I do appreciate that at least someone went through the material I shared, though”

“I was plannin’ to” you protest “eventually”

“Sure you were” Armin rolls his eyes but there’s fondness in his resigned gaze.

A comfortable silence drapes over the two of you as you keep eating, the chatter floating around the mess hall reaches you like the rolling of heavy, long sea waves. There’s a storm raging outside, although not much can be seen from the stained glass windows that are closer to the vaulted ceilings than the long, wooden tables filled with students. The only real indicators are the distant rumbling of the thunder and a group of pupils who barged through the doors soaked from head to toe.

“I know you’re just as scared, y’know” Armin calmly cuts through the silence, eyes on his now empty plate “even if you always wanna act all tough”

“Yes, I’ll admit I’m slightly nervous at the idea that a murderer is currently wandering around our school and that our rector may very well be doing nothing to actually find said homicidal maniac” the words come out harsher than intended so you try to soften them around the edges “sorry, I just… it’s shitty. And I feel like I don’t get to complain because I have a boyfriend who is always making sure I’m not lonely or scared while…”

“Sasha doesn’t?”

Ugh, Armin. Ever the receptive empath.

You hang your head lower, shoulders hunched. He offers another one of his gentle smiles.

“A student has been found with her throat split open, on campus. I think you get a pass for being nervous about it, even if you have a boyfriend”

“Thank you, ‘Min” the smile you offer in exchange is probably not as sweet nor fully persuaded but you do truly appreciate his courtesy.

When you get back to your room at the end of a very long, tiring and unfortunately wet day (you 100% forgot to bring your just-in-case umbrella and thought running would be a safe, dry enough strategy to bolt from one class to the other), all you want is to kick off your muddy shoes, add some logs to the fireplace, take a piping hot shower and melt into the comfort of your bed. However, it’s not often you have the room all to yourself: Sasha is going to spend the night in Connie’s room, the only place in the entire school where she feels safe enough to get a good night sleep.

You decide to text Eren and ask him to come over. Although you never directly addressed your concerns or discomfort, he must’ve sensed the desire to keep to yourself for a few days and he’s been gracious enough to step back and grant some space. You don’t necessarily feel guilty about it but you’d lie if you said you didn’t miss him and his stupid, sometimes awfully inappropriate jokes. You’re in love with him after all, insufferably in love one could say (and Jean has before).

Eren is the one person you’d do everything for, the only man you could dedicate your entire life to. And it’s not just because he’s attractive, emotionally intelligent, a good friend and just generally a kind, good-hearted person. It’s because he loves you just as much, knows that you were made for each other, like a perfect match determined by a superior force, some higher power, a deity that held a flame to both your hearts and sealed your fate for all eternity. That’s how being in love with Eren feels.

That’s what you always think about when he fucks you into the mattress, as you moan as loud as he likes it, as you beg for him to go faster, harder, whenever he teases you with a painfully slow roll of the hips. He knows you belong to him just as much as he belongs to you and, god, what never fails to send you over the edge each time is the thought that he adores belonging to you more than he enjoys owning you. You have him, all of him, and by god you’ll make sure that never changes.

Tonight, the thought of Yuki infiltrates your brain once more, no matter how much you work to keep it at bay. What did she feel while being slashed open? Did she die from damage to the trachea or the carotid arteries? The latter seems to be more likely, the blood vessels the run up each side of the neck will bleed profusely if severed and she did bleed a lot, probably ended up chocking on her own blood, right as the blood flow to the brain was compromised. Still, you hope her heart didn’t stop too quickly.

Most people believe that cutting a human’s throat is the same as slahing open an animal’s. But you’re not supposed to place the knife at right angle only to press and draw it across the skin: the best way is actually to find the soft spot below the junction of the jaw and the neck, position the point of the knife right there and thrust it in, gently guiding the blade along the bundle of neck cords until you reach the same soft spot on the opposite side. The correct location is not hard to find: tracing a finger back from the lower jawbone to the place where the bone turns upwards and then lowering it slightly is just enough.

You wonder if forensic pathologists have been allowed to take a look at the body, if the autopsy reported that a right handed person has firmly restrained the victim from behind despite no weapon having been recovered from the crime scene.

What a loss, ever the tragedy, a young and pretty life being severed so early on. She was lovely, especially with that little cherry lipstick she’d always carry around, the one that complimented her fair skin perfectly. You didn’t want her to bid farewell to this world with an ugly face, not when red looked so good on her. Burgundy was just her color.

Eren is showering when his phone, left on your nightstand, lights up.

(Aiko, 10:07 pm) hey!

(Aiko, 10:07 pm) working on that paper today was really fun :) wanna meet up again tomorrow?

(Aiko, 10:08 pm) this time I promise coffee is on me

Good grief.

There’s never really an end to the ladies you have to deal with, is there?

[a-d-nox]

wyrd web: what to gift a person based these three numbers

this is just a theory of mine because these bubbles of the matrix should represent earthly desires. this is not to say that you can't enjoy things not listed in your category / under your energetic number. this is simply what i believe people with these numbers would enjoy receiving as a gift.

paid reading options: astrology menu & cartomancy menu

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2 - the high priestess

things that support their spiritual practices, things that support feminine health (hum women's probiotics bundle, honey pot oral vaginal care probiotic, etc), bake goods / baking gear, barbecue sauce sampler / grilling gear (for the dads pt 2), bar in a jar (for those of drinking age) or really any beverage tester kit, bath/spa kit, beach vacation, boat, cruise, careof for brain support, truly nice melons boob butter, candles (it doesn't have to be yankee candle either - bent candles, spiced votive candle, etc) or candle making kit, imported cheeses, clothing staples (blue jeans, black turtleneck, etc), juice cleanse or other things that support digestive health, cooking classes or meal kits (hellofresh, homechef, etc), a tarot/astrology/mediumship reading, or outdoor cameras or other home security tools

3 - the empress

pillows, stuffed animals, rose quartz, personal celebrity cameo, clothing, tickets for an art museum tour, ballet tickets or classes, art supplies, makeup pallets and/or brushes, flowers, jewelry, candy/sweets, money, bells / wind chimes, clothing, designer pieces, cosmetics, dolls, a trip to a fancy restaurant, fruit basket / dried fruits, gardening supplies, jewelry, concert/orchestra tickets, poetry book, tickets to a play, a purse, lingerie (if y'all are close like that), trip to a vineyard (for those of drinking age), couples' dancing classes, or a wallet

4 - the emperor

skincare, rock climbing voucher or some other physical activity they enjoy, an adrenaline rush activity (skydiving, bungee jumping, etc), careof for brain support, crafted wooden objects (cutting boards, tables, etc), coffee trials/samplers, sunglasses, blue light glasses, hair care products/supplies, scalp treatments/care, oral health care (thera breath, whitening products, etc), meditation app subscriptions / in person sessions for meditation, or a planner

5 - the hierophant

moss agate (don't question how random that sounds this is some intuitive stuff), artwork, an architectural tour, beauty products/supplies, historically significant objects, pastries or sweets/candies, earrings, sour dough starter kit, jewelry in general, piano/organ lessons, singing lessons, a wallet, or any classes where they can learn something fun and new to them

6 - the lovers

car stuff (seat covers, cup holder coasters, etc), bicycle or bicycle accessories/gear, books (the more educational the better), briefcase / work tote, bus tickets for a day trip, gym membership or soulcycle classes, crystals, a standing desk / cute office supplies (for the work girlies both those who work in office and from home), hand & foot message, manicure voucher, newspaper subscription (i am a fan of new york times, washington post, and the new yorker), language classes or rosetta stone subscription, magazines subscription, merchandise from their favorite singer / group / tv show / movie, train trip, or we're not really strangers card packs

7 - the chariot

gardening supplies, hermit crab, baked goods, bath products / beauty products, boat, cruise, car stuff (seat covers, cup holder coasters, etc), truly nice melons boob butter, juice cleanse, gut health thrive market kit, glassware / blown glass, stuff they need / need for their home (security system, chest freezer, etc), hotel or bed & breakfast stay, kitchenware, lake trip, pearls, real estate / land, restaurant voucher / gift card, silver jewelry, shopping gift cards, a trip, or intention journal

8 - strength

amusement park tickets, supplies for their passion projects, ballroom dancing classes, tea sampler, games (video games or board games), movie theater gift card, personal celebrity cameo, flower garden supplies/seeds, stuff for their pet, or a belt

9 - the hermit

pet related gifts (if they have a pet that is), bookshelves (they probably need one), juice cleanse, gut health thrive market kit, a cat, clothing, oral health products (thera breath, whitening products, etc), stationary, emergency preparedness (ready to eat meals, fire blanket, etc), cook books, dining ware (new plates/bowls, cups / glassware, silverware, etc), food subscriptions (home chef, hello fresh, pickle of the month club, bokksu japanese snack box, etc), careof subscription, gloves, herb garden kit, a one way ticket to anywhere, or a hiking trip

10 - wheel of fortune

incense, cleansing herbs, bow and arrow, sapling, land, dried berries, budget book, gym/exercise membership, religious/spiritual/philosophical books, poker set, cloth (if they like sowing), wool (if they like weaving, crocheting, and/or knitting), wool clothing, a coat, trip to a country or place they have never been, oral health products (thera breath, whitening products, etc), etiquette classes/books (this is great for the traveler because they are often interested in learning customs before going on their trip), figs, fruit basket (like edible arrangements), honey sampler / royal jelly, horseback riding lessons, lottery tickets, merchandise from their favorite singer / group/ tv show / movie, shoes, really any game, any subscription they have not tried, things that support their spiritual practices, or book on positive mindset

11 - justice

personal celebrity cameo, tickets to a ballet or to an art gallery, air purifier, portable heating pad, spa voucher, cosmetics, lingerie (if y'all are close), closet organizational items (space saving hangers, linen bins, accessory hanger, etc), pastries and sweets, diamonds (perhaps propose to your lover), a dress, tickets to a fashion show or exhibit, flowers, a luxury chair, jewelry, concert tickets, poetry books, any quartz pieces, chocolates dipped strawberries, hair extensions, logic puzzles, a voucher for an escape room, or a kitchen/baking scale

12 - the hanged man

bar in a jar (if they are of drinking age), a book on angel numbers, a book on natural medical remedies, ballet classes or tickets to see a ballet, bath bombs and other bath goodies (salt, bath table, candles, sugar scrub, bath teas, etc), beach vacation, tea or coffee sampler, butterfly farm kit with caterpillars, disposable camera or a camera they would like (polaroid, filming, etc), scientific kits (geode kit, grow your own crystals, etc), cigars (for the dads in your life), unsolved mysteries or crime kit, dance classes, smutty/romance/fantasy books, fairy garden, a tarot/astrology/mediumship reading, budget book, makeup palettes or other cosmetic they enjoy, concert tickets, paint, poetry books, clue the board game, a pass to an indoor pool, a book on poppet making, meditation membership or a voucher for in-person sessions, or something to support their curiosity for new spiritual insight

13 - death

hermit crab, a jumping spider, a reptile, homeopathic books for natural cures and remedies, operation the game, butcherbox subscription, a book on how to cook and trim meats, beginners chemistry kit, a colon cleanse, sea monkeys, unsolved mysteries or crime kit, philosophy of death books, books on magic, magic the gathering the card game, period products (portable heating pad, the diva cup, etc), poisonous plants (belladonna, foxglove, lily of the valley, etc), a frog pond, a scorpion, a snake, a burr/boo basket (these people love seasonal stuff), or marie kondo's life changing magic of tidying up

14 - temperance

a hunting trip, bow and arrows, books on religion or philosophy, book of devotions, book on dream meanings (hello, freud haha), a certification course or college class, horseback riding lessons (for the newbie or a younger sibling or your child/niece/nephew), horse drawn carriage ride (for the couples *smirk*), logic puzzles, things that support their goals, or a book of angel number meanings

15 - the devil

a fan or air conditioning unit, if you have the land for it a cow/horse/goat, kinetic tape, arnicare bruise cream (this is a joke... unless...), coal or a diamond (this is also a joke... unless...), a clock or a watch, cuticle trimmer (and other nail care things), room darkening curtains, a happy lamp, lotion/cream, hat/scarf/gloves, hair products (extensions, shampoo subscription, etc), leather fashion-ware, gardening supplies, ice maker, or a juice cleanse

16 - the tower

tiger balm or other pain relieving ointment, acrobatic/gymnastic classes, homeopathic books for natural cures and remedies, first-aid kit, baking kits, barbecue sauce sampler, barbecue sauce sampler / grilling gear (for the dads), gift card for haircut, dollar shave club (for the dads pt 2), metal works (spoon handle rings, metal roses, etc), boxing lessons, boxing match tickets or monster truck tickets, butcherbox subscription, a book on how to cook and trim meats, crafted wooden objects (cutting boards, tables, etc), cactus plant, beginners chemistry kit, cookbook, pocket knife or leatherman/multitool, tool kit, jenga, emergency kit, food, first aid kit, merchandise for their favorite superhero(es), electric lighter, liqour or bar in a jar (if they are of drinking age), rock music (a vinyl or concert tickets), pepper plant, pipe for smoking (if they like to smoke that is - my grandfather had a collection), lego kit, or lincoln logs

17 - the star

friendship bracelets, a fan / ac unit, model airplane, flight lessons, compression stockings/socks, architectural tour, astrology reading, car stuff (seat covers, cup holder coasters, etc), club memberships (golf, racket ball, sam's, etc), electronic devices (a new phone, amazon fire stick, solar portable charger, etc), movie on blue-ray or dvd, movie gift card, a camera (polaroid or another type they have been eyeing), disposable cameras, camera gear, shadow work journal, aesthetically pleasing bluetooth retro radio, streaming service subscription, a book on health or mental health, or a book on positivity

18 - the moon

abstract art, bar in a jar (if they are of legal age), a fish, a fish tank, tickets to an aquarium, cocktail book (if they are of legal age), a fishing trip (for the dads), book of conspiracy theories, the conspiracy theory map, a crystal ball, unsolved mysteries or crime kit, a jellyfish, a tarot/astrology/mediumship reading, a camera (polaroid or another type they have been eyeing), disposable cameras, camera gear, poetry book, hydroponic starter system, games that involve bluffing (clue, poker, herd mentality, etc), shoes, sleeping eye mask, silk pillow cases, new bed sheets, bonnet, socks, a computer keyboard, typewriter, a book on shadow work, a puppy, or a book on dream meanings

19 - the sun

maine coon, autobiographical books, ballroom dancing lessons, poker set, oral health products (thera breath, whitening products, etc), card games, personal celebrity cameo, circus fruit basket, chocolate gold coins, classes that encourage creativity (create it and break it sessions, pottery classes, etc), jewelry or an engagement ring (if it's been more than 2 years y'all should know what you are doing at this point), flowers, indoor herb garden, tickets to race of some sort (cars, horse, sporting events, etc), sporting equipment, ivy plant, a pottery painting voucher / gift certificate, or something for their passion project / hobby

20 - judgment

a reptile, ant farm, a guide on astral projection, operation the game, the chameleon game, clue game, unsolved case files game, grand theft auto video game, assassins creed video game, dungeons and dragons the game, yahtzee, emergency preparedness kit, magician kit, poisonous plants (belladonna, foxglove, lily of the valley, etc), the divine comedy, puzzles, a rodent of some sort, or lingerie (if y'all are close)

21 - the world

gardening supplies, acoustic guitar, air conditioning or fan, architectural tour, teddy bear, snow globe, boots, calendar or planner, supergoop (sun protectant) products, wooden objects (cutting board, chest, box, etc), carpet, clay (air drying or via kiln), a clock or watch, compression stockings/socks, collectible coins, pain patches or kinetic tape, crystals, budget book, lotions for dry skin, dried fruits, gloves/mittens, hair care products, ice machine or ice making trays, ice cream subscription, pottery classes, rain coat, real estate or land, zen sand garden, sculpture, or snake

22 - the fool

flight lessons, model airplane, a flight to anywhere, car stuff (seat covers, cup holder coasters, etc), an astrology reading, bath products, biking gear, movie theatre gift card, clock or watch, club memberships (golf, racket ball, sam's, etc), mood lighting or strip lights, a train ride, fun magnets, motorcycle accessories/training, microphone (maybe they are filming or recording something), patterns for cross stitch / knitting / crocheting, a camera (polaroid or another type they have been eyeing), disposable cameras, camera gear, stuff for the tv (surround sound, sound bar, streaming subscription, etc), or classes for one of their interests

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© a-d-nox 2023 all rights reserved

[vitaminseetarot]

Strawberry Full Moon Zodiac Reading 🍓🌕🌺

*･ﾟ✧Masterlist | *･ﾟ✧Ko-Fi

Hey y'all, I'm back with another reading! This time, I'm going to be looking into collective readings for the four elemental groups of the zodiac over this full moon period.

I am still in progress with the Nostalgia Pick a Card series as I've been enjoying it a lot, but I've also wanted to start another series that involves more general collective readings outside of pacs. It's not just about doing fresh new stuff on my blog, it's also because I've started a new job and have just now managed to find a schedule that actually works, cause for the last two weeks training has had me running ragged! I want to make sure that in between work I'm still posting stuff regularly, even when it's not always the long form content.

This post will cover the next two weeks after this Strawberry Full Moon, so please enjoy this zodiac reading however you like, whether you're reading for your Sun, Moon, or Rising signs. You can use whatever sign and chart system you prefer, but my background with astrology is mainly tropical placidus for anyone curious.

Fire Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius 🔥 Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn 🌸 Air Signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius 💨 Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces 💧

Fire Signs - Aries, Leo, Sagittarius 🔥

Fire:Ancestor:Star, Conjunction - Alliance, 10 of Wands, 4 of Swords; Algol - Defense and Alliance; "I am a compassionate and understanding being."

Hey fire signs! The word "alliance" has shown up twice in your reading, and it's not really a common word to get twice! This reading will likely be more spiritual than the other piles because I'm feeling so much activity from the other side. This could be your actual ancestors reaching out to you, or it could be spirit guides or deities you work with. Externally, this could be a large group or community of people you network with. Either way, you will be working closely with this group over this next fortnight.

This could be a group you already have been working with for quite some time, as the 10 of Wands represents a completion of spending energy. From the looks of it, you've spent all that you could to make everything function. The overwhelming advice here is to rest, rest, rest, fire signs! You have a lot of energy to make dreams a reality but your gas tank doesn't run on infinite mileage. There could be two factions here: one group that is sucking away at your reserves, and another group that wants to help you get better. It could be your spirit guides chiming in to remind you to remember yourself in between the commotion of the collective ocean. It's important to lean on the side of those who wish you wellness at this time.

"Algol" means "pain", and where the suffix -algia, "pain condition", originates. If you're not careful with your body and vitality, it could run up some kind of deficit in the coming weeks. Make sure to take time out to rest, specifically away from whatever group or network is creating this stress and sleep debt. I get that you have the power to walk away from this if you wanted to, so that this may be something you deeply care about and feel protective over. But it's okay to take a step back and feel right in your own self before helping out the rest for once. You cannot do the flapping for them, fire signs. I feel the need to reiterate again and again that you are fiery, and that taking time off will not extinguish the flame but make it burn stronger. Your care for your community is laudable, and this full moon period will give you the chance to lend that same warmth inwards.

"Protect yourself from those who do not wish you well, yet offer your help to those who most need it."

Earth Signs - Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn 🌸

Land:Flower:Star, 3rd House - Communication, Ace of Swords, 3 of Cups; Aldirah - Glorification and Invocation; "I deeply and completely love and accept myself."

How's it going, earth signs? This is going to be a rather social time for you, even if you're the type to want to cozy up at home. I hear you'll be "blossoming" or opening up to others in a way you may not be used to. I'm also feeling a bit of blushing in the cheeks… the good kind of blushing! It seems some of you who have graduated or just got out of school have been feeling the extra attention and eyes on you and your progress. You could be trying out a new look that gets a lot of comments, like new nails or clothing style.

Maybe you're not used to the commentary or the events going on, maybe you're not used to feeling the validation of quiet hard work being completed. But I get that others are praising you for how you are growing and changing. If it's not school, people are noticing you glowing up overall and it's giving off the energy of openness. Your energy is having a charm effect on people, earth signs, so let yourselves loose and enjoy the company. It's not always about doing the next thing. Even Tauruses need this reminder about the power of inertia: if it's hard to start, it can equally be hard to stop. So let yourself stop and smell the flowers of your own achievements. Put your graduation bouquet in a nice vase and put it on display, try out that new shirt at the party.

This full moon period could grant you some insights into what it means to receive love and the sense of reward for doing good. No matter what the results were, there's an energy here that wants to warmly allow you to indulge in being congratulated. You may gather some small revelations over the power of being able to receive a genuine compliment from people, even strangers. Even if you believe you could have done more, or did better, you're realizing that validating the good vibes that others give you creates positive feedback. People like it when you thank them for admiring you, people want more heart-centered relationships and interactions. It's just that many of us get awkward and close up and create false impressions. But deep down humans enjoy being recognized, and embracing that in yourself with self-love will extend to your social circle in ripples.

"Success is determined by your mindset, treat your journey with patience."

Air Signs - Gemini, Libra, Aquarius 💨

Sky:Snow:Star, Capricorn - Achieve, Queen of Cups, 8 of Pentacles; Alichil - Guardianship and Protection; "I am grounded, grateful, and feel protected in this world."

Hi, air signs! It looks like you'll be very work and career focused over the next two weeks. Your elemental energy card looks like a threshold to a dreamier world, and it feels like your ambitions are tied with your soul and emotions like you're working on something you deeply care about. This is going to be a positive time for you if you were looking to get more productive, as the Queen of Cups softens the perfectionistic tendencies of the 8 of Pentacles. This is a sustainable kind of energy, not the kind that blasts rapid fire through projects, but steadily carves and polishes an image away as it was meant to be finished.

Some of you may have been a little worried regarding a security of some kind. I'm seeing interviews a lot here, as the portal signifies stepping into something new. So you may be spending some time wondering if you got the position or scholarship. My grandmother is Capricorn and often would tell me "if you've done all you can do, then stop thinking about it." In other words, anxiety can only get you so far, air signs. There is no need to fret over how things are going to go if you have already completed your tasks. There's an earthy energy here to let you land on your feet and perch for a change, to feel stillness and peace in the midst of all this striving and conquering.

The Queen of Cups reminds us that even when we're working hard, taking a moment to sip water can be like a break in itself. The tiniest things you do for self-care's sake will not go in vain in helping you reach the next pinnacle. It might not get you there faster, but there's something to take from the tortoise's race here. Affirm to yourself that what is truly meant for you will work out for you. The word "protection" shows up twice in your reading to clarify that your intentions are protected at this time. This full moon period will allow the right things to fall into place without the need to move harder and do overtime in order to fulfill them. You don't need to exert so much to prove to your guides that you're worthy for the next adventure. The mountain waits behind the queen for whenever she's ready to make her dreams real.

"Do not fear to lose what you already have, your heart is a guardian, and your soul the brightest star."

Water Signs - Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces 💧

Water:River:Earth, Libra - Balance, 2 of Wands, 9 of Cups; Algebha - Strength and Benevolence; "Love is my guiding truth and I follow it."

Hello there water signs. Over this full moon you will be encountering a win-win situation in your life. Something that was previously serving as a blockage will now pass through and the result will almost be better than if that influence wasn't there. It's like if you couldn't find the dress you were looking for at the boutique, but you found something that looked and fit even better, so you end up happier for it. The outcome is worth the steps it took to get there as whatever is manifested will balance any given area of your life. If something has felt off kilter in your life, some of it should straighten out over the coming weeks.

Collaboration plays a big role in your reading, with the two streams of water wrapping around the tree. There could be someone in your life facilitating you in whatever you're figuring out. They will be supportive and encouraging, and they will listen to your concerns with interest. If you have some kind of scheduling conflict, for example, whoever this is (like a manager, for example) will help work with you to make a good compromise in your schedule. If you need help with carpool, there may be someone who will coordinate with you to find a fair solution.

The important thing is that you are listening to your own inner truth in asking for what you want. Others may not know exactly what you need, so it's important to voice out your struggles when they arise. You will find that more people are happy to help you than you may think. I feel a self-denying energy in this pile, as I got caught in multiple distractions before doing your reading and when I uploaded your picture, it came out blurrier than the others at first. It's like you're saying "I'm fine, I'll figure it out on my own," when there is support here for you, including support from spirit guides. When you're honest about what you need, then other people can meet you halfway. Remember that with many great things, it takes two, and spirit wants you to recognize your inner truth and the sacred boundaries you create to honor that truth. Boundaries are to be expressed, not hidden. So don't be afraid to ask for support as things will likely turn out for the better when you accept and empower yourself through teamwork.

"Speak your truth and unleash your soul, listen to the roar of your own heart."

This reading has not been evaluated by the FDA to diagnose, prevent, treat, or cure any disease or infection. Please ask your physician before going online.

2025, @VitaminseeTarot ™

[ncity-agere]

Anything with little!Changbin plz :3

Little!Changbin is a joy to be around… most of the time. Sometimes he gets in his moods, though.

Binnie likes to play rough and wrestle with his caregivers but the second he gets hurt even a little bit, he’s sobbing and holding onto Bang Chan like a lifeline.

He was wrestling with Hyunjin in the living room during a free-day as the maknae line watched a TV show and Chan and Minho watched the littlest of them all carefully, as good caregivers should. He was feeling pretty little today and one of his favorite activities when he’s little is to roughhouse and run around and play. Unfortunately after a while, Hyunjin’s reactive hits became more and more heavy handed and Changbin ended up getting accidentally pinched.

“Hyunnie…! Hyunnie hit me!” Changbin sobbed and cried, jumping up from the floor. He started pouting and curling into Chan’s lap, who tutted.

“Hyunjin, say sorry.” Chan ordered, carding his fingers through Changbin’s hair soothingly. Hyunjin whipped his head around and sputtered in disbelief.

“What the…?! I didn’t do anything! He’s stronger than me!” Hyunjin whined, but Chan didn’t back down. He only narrowed his eyes and Changbin sat in his lap, still crying a little. But now, a satisfied, knowing little smirk played on his face and all Hyunjin could do was sigh.

He got up from the floor and walked towards Bang Chan and Changbin. “I’m sorry, Binnie. Hyunnie shouldn’t have played so rough.” He droned, eyeballing the mischievous little who (conveniently) stopped crying so loudly.

“Solid apology.” Felix piped up, giving the group a thumbs up. The others agreed and Han started to snicker at the interaction a bit.

“Thank you, Hyunjin. Now, what do we say, piggie?” Chan’s voice was soft, trying to coax a response from the little -but Changbin only kept his arms folded.

“No.”

“No? Honey, he apologized.” Minho chimed to try and help, but Changbin shook his head defiantly.

Changbin raised an eyebrow at Hyunjin. “Wan’ kissy.” He murmured, making the others start to giggle. Hyunjin’s ears turned a faint shade of pink, but he didn’t reject the question.

“Sure thing princess.” Hyunjin sighed in exasperation, leaning down to give the little a kiss on his forehead. Now, all of the younger members just snickered at how whipped Hyunjin was for the little, but Changbin only nodded.

“Okay!” His voice was cheery and satisfied. “I fo’give you.” He crawled off of the couch and waddled off to find his stuffed animals or a snack, leaving the others to tease Hyunjin mercilessly about what just went down.

Hyunjin forgot the most important rule when Changbin is regressed: What Binnie wants, Binnie gets.

[parkaplayboy]

75% || Chapter 9

stylenny x gender neutral reader

You're a senior in college during your final semester, but you find out that you're dangerously close to failing a class that you need to graduate. Lucky for you (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it) you get paired up with a tutor.

words: 1.2K

FIRST | PREVIOUS | NEXT

Wednesday at 7:48 PM

Dinner turned out to be a place called Mama Carol’s—a cozy, slightly rundown diner that looked like it hadn’t changed since the mid-80s. Vinyl booths, laminated menus, and a jukebox in the corner that was permanently stuck playing classic rock. 

Kyle claimed it had the best pie in town. Stan claimed it had the best lighting for thirst traps. Kenny just like the way they never asked him to stop putting boots on the booth bench. You all slid into a corner booth, Kenny squished against the window, Stan beside him, you across from them, and Kyle on the end with a fork already in his hand despite him not having food yet. 

“Okay,” Kenny said, stabbing the air with a french fry the moment the plates hit the table. “Hear me out—bad movies marathon. I’m talkin’ B-movie horror, dub-over kung fu, absolutely cursed 3D animation.” You said mid-sip of your drink. “That sounds awful.” 

Kenny grinned. “Exactly.” Stan leaned in, smirking. “You’ve activated his trap card. Kenny owns like, twenty DVDs that never should’ve been made.” 

“You haven’t lived until you've seen ‘Karate Christmas Miracle.’” Kyle added, deadpan. Kenny japped a finger toward you. “So you in?” You laughed. “Oh, absolutely. As long as I can bring a classic of my own. The shittiest straight to DVD movie in the world—” You cleared your throat and straightened up to deliver the title like those guys in the trailer. “Lawnmower Man 3: Revenge of the Clippings” 

The table fell silent for a brief moment before everyone burst into laughter. “For one–” Kyle said, holding his side. “What the fuck would be cool about a lawnmower guy?” 

Stan chimed in. “And what was so interesting about him that he got a fuckin’ trilogy?!” 

“You are so bringing that. I think I’ll die if you don’t.” Kennys said, a grin spitting across his face.

The table buzzed with that particular kind of energy—shared fries, overlapping conversations, a little chaos, and a lot of comfort. Stan absently stole a bite off Kenny’s plate and got flicked in the forehead for it. Kyle’s hand brushed against yours more than once, each time lingering just a second too long to be accidental. You didn’t know if it was the warmth of the food, the booth, or the company—but it all sank into your bones in a way that felt suspiciously like home.

Thursday at 3:17 PM

Kyle’s apartment was quiet. Just the low hum of his laptop fan, the occasional scratch of his pencil, and the sound of you both trying not to get distracted by how close your knees were on the couch. “Okay,” Kyle said, eyes scanning your latest worksheet. “You’re actually getting the hang of this.”

“Don’t lie to me, Broflovski.” He smiled, handing the sheet back. “I’m not. See this? Clean logic. Structured steps. Your brain’s clicking in.” You blinked. Praise from Kyle hit a little differently. “So I’m not.completely doomed?”

“Not even close.”

You grinned at him, and he gave you one in return. A soft moment stretched between you. Then his phone buzzed. “Shit. It’s Drew—guy I’m doing my capstone with. He messed up our experiment results and needs help redoing half the data. Like, now.”

He sighed, already grabbing his bag. “I’m so sorry, dude. I wouldn’t bail if it wasn’t time-sensitive.” You stood.  “Hey, it’s okay. Go fix your psychology science mess.” Kyle chuckled, slipping on his shoes. “Kenny should be back any minute. You two can chill here. Raid the snacks.” 

Right on cue, the door opened, and Kenny stepped in with his jacket half-off and hair a mess from the wind. “Oh hey, I was just thinking I needed someone to bother.” he said, eyes lighting up when he saw you. 

“Perfect timing,” Kyle said, zipping up his jacket. “You’re on Y/N-sitting duty.” Kenny threw a lazy salute. “Got it. No broken limbs, minimal chaos. We’ll be fine.” Kyle paused on his way out, catching your gaze. “Seriously, thanks for being cool about this.” You nodded. “Go be smart. I’ll survive.”  

And with that, Kyle was gone. 

Kenny looked at you. “So. We’ve got a kitchen, a fridge with mystery ingredients, and no adult supervision. Wanna make dinner?”

You blinked. “You cook?” His grin widened. “Prepare to be amazed. Or mildly concerned.”

Thursday at 4:02 PM 

The grocery store trip was a blur of inside jokes and mild chaos. Kenny pushed the cart while you threw ingredients in at random. At one point, he held up a box of something ominously labeled “beef product.”

“No.” you said instantly. 

“But—” 

“Absolutely not.”

Back at the apartment, Kenny threw on some music—an old punk playlist—and rolled up his sleeves like he was about to perform surgery. You leaned against the counter, watching him move with surprising precision. He wasn’t just tossing things in a pan. He was slicing onions in even arcs, searing things in a particular order, and adjusting the heat by instinct. 

“Okay, wait,” you said, “You’re actually… good at this?” Kenny glanced at you, smile a little more sheepish now. “Yeah, uh. I’ve been working in the kitchen at the restaurant lately. Our sous chef quit a few months back, and I kinda stepped in.” 

“That’s awesome. Is it permanent?” He shrugged. “I dunno. I like it. More than I thought I would.” He paused, eyes flicking up to meet yours. “There’s this culinary school. Just outside of town. They’ve got this weekend class series for, like, professionals thinking about switching careers or learning new stuff. I’ve been thinking about it. But it’s dumb, right?” 

You stepped closer, heart soft. “Kenny. That’s not dumb. That’s amazing.” He looked away, then back, eyes a little more raw than usual. “You think?” You nodded. “Absolutely. You light up when you’re cooking. And hey, if anyone can charm a room full of chefs into loving them, it’s you.”

The kitchen felt warmer then—not from the stove, but something else entirely. Kenny looked at you for a long beat, somethin unreadable in his gaze. Not teasing nor casual. “I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” he said, voice quieter. “About what I want. Where I wanna go. Who I wanna… share that with.” Your breath caught. He stepped a little closer. Before either of you could say something that might change everything, the apartment door opened. 

“We’re back!” Stan’s voice echoed from the hallway. “And Kyle didn’t kill Drew. That’s progress.” Kenny blinked, stepping back just as Kyle and Stan entered the kitchen. You felt the moment fold itself up and hide behind the smell of dinner and the clatter of keys on the counter. Stan sniffed the air. “Oh hell yeah, you made the pasta.” Kyle dropped his bag and looked at the table, surprised. “This looks amazing. Wait—did you make this?”

Kenny shrugged, trying to look casual. “Had help.” 

You smiled. “He’s kind of a kitchen genius. I’m just the emotional support sous-chef.” 

The four of you sat down at the table, steam rising from the bowls, laughter easy and full. Kyle nudged your knee under the table, Stan poured cheap wine into mismatched mugs, and Kenny kept glancing your way like he wasn’t sure if the moment in the kitchen had really ended.

And maybe it hadn’t. 

Not really.

[midnightslurpees]

Chapter Three

Knight!Steve Harrington x Princess!Reader

Find series master list here

Chapter warnings: No major warnings. Explicit language. Use of Y/N. Reader uses she/her pronouns. (+2.1K words)

a/n: sorry this next chapters taken a while to get out... I've written the next few chapters so hopefully can update the next chapter sooner.

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Summer slowly started to pass by within the kingdom. The days stayed long, and the sun only grew hotter. It’s the sun you blame for your inability to pay attention as Counsellor Bauman babbles on about one problem and another within the kingdom.  

You weren’t even supposed to be in these meetings, and Counsellor Bauman clearly made your father aware of his opinions on the matter. Yet, when you came of age, your father insisted you learnt how these meetings went so you could learn for when you inevitably became queen. But oh, the pain of how boring they were. You swear to yourself that some witch has cursed you in a time loop as every meeting feels the same.  

It’s always a petty theft here and there, which was easily dealt with. No beast of any threat lurking in or around the Kingdom's borders. Even where the enchanted forest met the castle walls had been awfully quiet. And no new news about Azuria.  

Your eyelids sat heavily on the tops of your eyes, threatening to close at any second. Luckily for you, you managed to play your cards right and get Robin dragged into these meetings with you just so you wouldn't suffer alone. As other council members chime in about one thing or another about taxes on the land, you just about manage to stifle a yawn, passing the time by fiddling with the lace fringe of your dress can. But even that can get boring. 

In your dazed state, you feel an elbow lightly jab in your side and your attention is brought back to the room.  

“Pay attention Princess”  

You groan under your breath as you reposition yourself on your seat, the length of the meeting making and your posture had your back aching. You turn your head slightly to look at the knight on your side.

“How can you be so lively in this meeting?” you whisper to him, not wanting to disrupt the nonsense ramblings echoing off the walls.   

“Because I get to give my report” Steve smiles, the level of his voice matching yours now. he doesn’t turn to look at you but just stays focused on the man talking.  

“And what's that? “You tease and raising a brow. You know how the story goes every time.

My men have been patrolling the last week. There's been no activity from the forest, no disputes in the village and no indication of suspicious activity spotted in or outside the castle. blah blah blah.

Steve smirks at your comment and turns to look at you. He still kept a quiet tone not wanting to draw attention away from Councillor Bauman and in a nonchalant tone, whispered. 

“Well no. Someone stole from the tavern, but that's been dealt with… and two men on patrol within the forest and found tracks for others not from our kingdom. Could be nothing but you never can be too sure” 

Your eyes go wide slightly, not exactly expecting to hear those words. “You’re just spoiling the surprise now.” There’s a teasing tone in your voice and Steve can’t help but let out a slight chuckle at your response. His laugh echoes along with the rambled across the walls and then there’s a “Ah-hum” which stops you both.  

“Is there something the Princess and Sir Harrington would like to share?” The two of you turn your head to the Councilor who was looking at you both. His stared at you as if trying to burn his glare into your skin. Your face turned slightly red as everyone around the table turned to look at you both.   

Your mind stopped working as you tried to come up with a quick remark. Luckily for you, Steve was a quick to think and replied.  

“No, Counsellor. Sorry for the interruption. The princess was informing me of an idea she had towards your proposal.” Nope. Not lucky at all, you think to yourself.  

Bauman gave a rictus as his whole attention fell to you. His smile remained as he said his next words in a bitter sweetness. “Care to share, your highness… Do you not agree with my plan of action?”  

You can hear the snideness in his tone of voice. You shoot Steve a quick glare before you feel yourself start to panic slightly. You had no idea what Counsellor Bauman had been on about and you had a fifty option of either crushing his ego or boosting it: you wanted to do the latter. Yes, no, yes, no… usually you don't…  

“No...” The syllables leave your lips slow and unsure. From the way his eyebrow arches as you hesitantly draw out the word, you think you’ve upset him. You watch him intently, trying to read his face for any signs of his reaction. You watch as he protrudes a tight lipped smile and a slight eye roll as he turns to your father. You knew what was coming. 

 Counsellor Bauman intended for you not to hear his next words as he spoke to you father “Your majesty, is it really that important she is here?” 

“Of course, it is-” He doesn’t give your father a chance to defend you before mindlessly saying.  

“She is of a simple mind. How is she to know-”  

You don’t even let him finish his sentence, anger making you blind to the standards you had to keep in meetings like this. You slide your chair back and stand up. Your hands bang against the table as you do so, the noise making both Steve and Robin jump slightly.

“I am very much not of simple mind, counsellor” your voice slightly louder than you intended it to be. You glare over at him and his expression is slightly wide eyed, bewildered that you would even speak out against him. Steve to the side of you goes slightly red cheeked out of embarrassment as he’s gotten you into trouble and turns his head down, trying to avoid the scene you’re about to cause.  

Your father looked at you slightly disappointed at your outburst. Here was one of the few times he still felt you were to immature to be at the level you are at. And it's at times like these, when you lose your patience, your father can’t help but feel like you are only proving the counsellor's point of right.  

The king let’s out a slight sigh before saying in a calming manner, “Y/N I think it's best you leave.”  

“But-”  

“Y/N you are dismissed.” You know better than to go against your father. You push your chair further back, the sound of the chair legs scraping across the floor, echoing between the stone walls. You start to storm off, your footsteps heavy against the stone floor. Robin follows hot on your tail as all resolve leaves you and huff out of the hall slamming the doors behind you. 

It was a bit of an over dramatic reaction, but you had done nothing wrong. Maybe paying attention would help but your stubbornness wasn’t going to put any of the blame on yourself.  

Robin was calling after you as you went through the castle corridors. It wasn’t until you were both in your room, out of the prying ears of the castle staff that you let out your frustration.  

“I swear I will have his head on a spike!” You scowl as you flop onto your bed.  

Robin just stayed back slightly, she knew from previous experience just to let you let out your anger before trying to calm you down… 

just for clarity she asks “Who, the councillors or Steve's?”  

You head pipes up. Steve was the one to get you kicked out but how was he to know that would’ve happened. Besides, the quick thought of his head being too pretty to put onto a spike crossed you mind but you quickly tucked it away for another time.  

You groan back into your pillow and through the muffled material, Robin can only just make out what you’re saying. 

“I swear if somehow that councillor outlives my father… When I am queen, he will be working in the stables cleaning up shit for all I care. Ughhhh” 

Robin timidly tries to calm you but it’s to no luck.  

“Y/N-” her voice shaking slightly as she tries to come off calm and collected. You lift your head again, slightly glaring at her. She expected you next words, a paragraph you have slowly started to perfect since you started attending those meetings. 

“No… I don't want to hear it.” You were lashing out at Robin when you didn’t mean to, but she knew your anger wasn’t directed at her. “He's been out for me since before I was born. No son heir to claim the throne, just me...”  

You sit back up and let your legs fall down the side of your bed. Robin comes and tentatively sits next to you, and subconsciously rest your head against her shoulder.  

For as long as you’ve known, you’ve always been insecure about being the only heir, nay, the only heir who happens to be a female. It wasn’t proper by any means. When your father dies, there should be a male cousin of some distance to take over. But no. Your father wanted you to run the kingdom in his passing. With that came the worry as to how it would be when you would eventually reign. Would a government form and overthrow you, will an assassin of some kind slay you as you sleep so that a distant cousin can have the crown?  

You sigh as you calm down. Robin wraps an arm round you side, offering you a friendly comfort.  

“He seems the only one bothered by my presence. My father wants me to be queen one day, yet this arse gets to dictate everything…”  

The two of you sit in a comfortable silence. Robin hugs you tighter knowing the unspoken words you have going round you head and the lingering doubt you have against yourself.  

Time passes and you're both unsure how long until three sharp knocks bounce off the door.  

“Leave.” You say to the door but Robin’s louder “Enter” was heard. A sheepish looking Steve walks into your room. Steve felt guilty for what happened and getting you thrown out of the meeting.   

You lift your head up from Robins shoulder and look at the knight closing the door behind him. He turns back ground and says “I just came to apologise.”   

You bite the inside of your cheek trying not to snap back with a snide remark. To be fair, you did want to get out of that meeting, but he could’ve saved you the embarrassment.  

“Don't worry Stevie, she's not angry at you” Robin teases him. You don’t miss the smile on her face as she sees the reaction she gets out of him. He glared at her before easing his gaze and looking at you.  

“Councillor Bauman?” He asks. His mind was quick to think of the next obvious choice after himself.  

“Yeah…” you sigh. You look down at the floor feeling slightly embarrassed. All of the events from the last hour reeling its way back into your memories and now you feel bad for acting the way you did.  

You continue to sit there for a moment, sulking more than you should have been. As you wallow in you annoyance, while your two friends watch you. As Robin looks at you, her eyes light up as a light flickers in her head.  

Now. Whenever Robin gets an idea, it is one of two things: stupidly genius or genius-ly stupid. This was the off inbetween.  

“Well, milady, if you don't mind me asking. But…” Robin's eyes go between you and Steve, who’s awkwardly shifting on his feet. She’s smirking as she does so. “Why doesn't this good old knight here escort you out on a walk to clear your head a little bit. I can cover you tasks here whilst you’re out”  

Steve’s eyes widen at Robin, a slight glare heading her way. Your head shoots up from and you look bashfully wide eyed at him. Your sour mood fading away and giving way for something else.

Steve feels his heart jump a beat when he looks at you with the same look. He blinks a couple times and swallows hard.  

It had been a few weeks since you two had been together alone, and that was only because he escorted you to the village to get Robin a birthday present. They do say absence makes the heart grow fonder, so maybe that explains why both of you stare at each other with tinted cheeks whilst Robin observes with an all knowing grin.  

You stutter over your words. “Um... I mean,” you run your fingers through you slightly dishevelled hair, trying to look more presentable “If it's okay with- “ 

“Yes...” Steve curses himself at the eagerness in his reply.  However, his concern fades when he sees the rosy hue of your cheeks. Double backing on himself he clears his throat. “Uh, yes. It is your highness”   

“Okay then... There's no time like the present, so let's go”