#I just think he’d have the best time being the eccentric fun doctor to kids

[pyjamacryptid]

little girl, a patient: can I have a lollipop

doctor merlin in the 21st century: can you have— I have created butterflies from nothing and horses from smoke. I have seen empires rise, fall, crumble, and start from nothing but a fish in a poor man’s hand. I’ve fought witches and failed them too. I’ve laid waste to armies and blessed nations of people with health that will never make up for it. I have pantsed Kings and kissed Queens. I have stood upon the precipice of this world and called forth the ocean only for time to swallow me whole and spit me back out. And I would do it all again if I could grant you, dear Matilda, a lollipop.

little girl: strawberry?

merlin: say no more, Tilda, this should clear up the taste of that cold medicine right away

[reversecreek]

hi it’s me... clicks across the linoleum of the dash wearing high heels w a spray tan like i’m a member of jersey shore suddenly..... best summary of willa is that she got moira rose as her #1 chara on a What Character Are You Most Like personality test out of thousands of options.... says so much. u can find her pinterest here n her playlist here 😋 like this or hmu fr plots!!

* ashley moore, cis female + she/her  | you know willa deneurve, right? they’re twenty-four, and they’ve lived in irving for, like, most of her life, on and off? well, their spotify wrapped says they listened to watch me by the pom poms like, a million times this year, which makes sense ‘cause they’ve got that whole sticking gold stars over old polaroids until you can barely see faces, dressing as marie antoinette at your high school prom & delivering fake laughter to a bratz doll you’re pretending is a talkshow host thing going on. i just checked and their birthday is august 1st, so they’re a leo, which is unsurprising, all things considered. ( nai, 24, gmt, she/her )

HISTORY:

willa ws born to honestly like….. the perfect family not to honk my own tit bt……………. they were jst rly quite wholesome. her mum celeste was this larger than life person who could never b contained by the four walls of any room she was in. she hd the presence of a gold glitter chess piece on an otherwise mundane wooden board. her dad marlon used to always joke that he had absolutely NO idea how he landed her bc he was just this like. rly average guy by all accounts n purposes….. blended into the sea in high skl……. had a few close friends but was never rly Notable or made a proper impression anywhere…… he always retold it as him coasting thru life until he met her in college. kind of like he’d been half awake before. they just Clicked n no-one cld believe she’d chosen him bt she was jst. completely head over heels n didn’t care what anyone had to say bc that was That

willa always very much took after celeste…… there’s this one quote i remember reading that goes vaguely like “my mom and i would sit and listen to leonard cohen and joni mitchell lyrics together. from a young age i remember her being like "i’m playing this song and when it’s done i want u to tell me what’s happening in it” n she would give me a fake glass of wine when i was 8 and i would listen and b like. i think there was an affair.” which so much summarises their dynamic…… she ws just so like. dramatic n fun n always encouraged that in willa too. her mum was like. everything she aspired to be…… got scouted by a modelling agency in college n shot one campaign before blowing it off simply bc she was bored. starred lead in a play. spent a few weeks travelling asia selling handmade candles shaped like koi fish or curled up foxes or elegantly stretched hands. dated a parisian movie star during a break she and her father took n was featured in tabloids on his arm at the premiere. sm fun n exotic stories willa literally cldn’t get enough. whenever she’d tell them to willa as a kid her dad wld roll his eyes like ohhhhh here she goes again but it’d all b playful n he’d smile bc he honestly cldn’t get enough either. the stuff dreams are made of luv (lizzie mcguire stans rise)

(car accident & death tw) so u know when ur walking down a flight of stairs n then out of nowhere u miss a step n u get that lurch in ur stomach like ur in free fall? yeah. i won’t go into it too much but one night they were driving back from getting frozen yogurt and then suddenly they weren’t. she doesn’t rly remember much about it except for completely ignoring the doctors trying to give her the news and just saying “dad chose pecan. who chooses pecan?” n repeating that over n over n over until it didn’t rly register in her ears as english any more.

willa was uprooted from irving at 11 to go n live w her aunt in NY. this was like. a huge adjustment honestly….. her aunt blanche hd always been a little unconventional bt extremely glamorous. she lived in an old defunct theatre she’d bought out n came from a lot of money. willa’s mum’s side of the family hd always been well off bt celeste opted to live a little more Ordinarily shall we say after settling whereas blanche ws jst balls to the walls dripping w eccentric excess…. wld say she was never naked bc she ws always wearing black opium by yves saint laurent…… probably the living embodiment of la vie boheme….. she’d been admitted a yr early to a rly prestigious parisian design school n is an AMAZING seamstress. a corset she stitched a broadway star into got commissioned fr an actress’ red carpet walk at an indie film festival. rly just lived such a life rich w lots of stories n lots of talent too…… had that star quality essence tht her mum had n that was smthn willa found quite comforting everything considered.

(grief tw) u would think maybe a situation like this (one involving so much sudden change) wld cause a kid of tht age to withdraw into her shell bt willa only came out of her shell MORE. she coped w her situation by spinning it into a celebrity origin story inside her head. the tear jerker tale someone tells during their x factor audition to get the judges rooting for them. mentally streamlining things. repackaging all that hurt as a surefire ticket to success bc it had to be useful for something right? there had to b a point to it right? willa decided the point was she’s a star. KFHSGKFHGFKHGKJSFHG. get it girl….. she ws literally just like ok well clearly i’m destined to be famous n i’m the main character of this story. this story called earth. it’s all about me.

rly heavily immersed herself in her high skl theatre scene……. loved experimenting w fashion n literally wore the most outlandish things like. she treated the hallways like her milan f/w debut every new school yr…… a lot of the things she wore were actual like. costumes frm her aunt’s collection…… she has a multi-story closet u have to climb ladders to reach things in like a very rustic library…. it rly wasn’t uncommon for willa to turn up one day corsetted like a pirate with billowing sleeves or sporting the baby blue gingham of a swedish milk maid. it’s like she literally jst…… became a role. always. every day. the world ws her stage. the cameras were always rolling. her aunt only encouraged this tbh n honestly? icon. we love to see it. willa partied a bunch n rly lived a lax lifestyle where responsibility was concerned…. her aunt ws her best friend…… made rly gd friends with performers in the drag club scene n loved the glitz of that….. lots of wild nights turned grossly bright mornings

snagged an agent fresh into her first yr of college (she gt accepted to a pretty competitive theatre program at [redacted] in NY bc i haven’t looked into what that wld be yet <3 i’m merely a helpless british lass <3) n booked a few commercials n things….. when i say willa wld enter audition rooms like she owned the place i’m rly not exaggerating…. once she turned up to a casting call for MEN n just walked right to the front of the line scraping a random chair along the way n then took a seat w her legs crossed popping a bubble in her gum as they all glared at her like wtf is literally going on who are u. she received several complaints n she was just like “ur all acting so jealous of me….”

i feel like she got a pretty big role in a theatre production in her last yr at school. haven’t decided what yet. maybe smthn rocky horror or even mimi in rent. this was meant to b some like huge moment for willa like yes girl finally making it ur on ur way this is what u wanted n she WAS happy abt it but once it was wrapped she jst had this strange like Huh feeling in her chest……. n a la celeste w all her exciting stories was just like well i’ve done that so what’s next? i think she’d graduate n then jst suddenly decide to move to irving in a fit of impulse. to all her college friends she’d be like “ugh a beach retreat is so necessary honestly the city is sooooooooo toxic this place cld literally enlarge my pores if i wasn’t so rigorous with my skincare routine” bt like 🤔 what u seeking girl? results pending.

SO basically i feel like she finally moved back to irving little over a yr ago. she hd a brief stint starring on a reality tv show tht filmed in one of the larger beach houses where her dog gained a handful of fan accounts dedicated to him……. u maybe will see why in the first bullet point of her personality section………… FKGHKSHFGGKFSHKHG. honestly she ws received pretty well too (mostly bc she’s so fking dramatic n like a caricature of a person) bt it wasn’t anything to warrant actual Fame (despite what willa herself might think). she’s mostly jst like. chilling honestly. accepting scripts n flying out fr auditions still. she’ll nab the occasional part bt she’s looking for that One Thing that rly feels like her big moment….. otherwise i cn just imagine her treating irving like a little dollhouse compared to the roaring mansion of NYC n having fun playing around in it. strikes a pose w a hand on my hip…. and now to personality.

PERSONALITY:

got a very large n lithe greyhound n named him marlene dietrich bc she was a black n white hollywood starlet famously known for her affairs n “bedroom eyes”. willa was like ugh. icon status instantly. didn’t rly foresee the responsibilities tht came w owning a dog tht loves exercise n complains abt him being like “ugh he wants to run soooooooooo much 🙄 like where are u literally going”. having said tht loves him dearly n he can often be seen wearing little clothes. a baby’s bonnet. a quilted leather waistcoat. a custom dog boa. he’s very glamorous. willa calls him a gay icon despite no evidence to support this theory. she also says he can sniff out evil in ppl so she brings him sometimes when she’s first introduced to a friend’s new bf n if his nose quivers a certain way she’s like “marlene has spoken. it’s done”. her friends r like omg? what’s done? willa gets up n walks away without elaborating. marlene’s little paws clicking along the floor w attitude.

literally dressed as marie antoinette for her high skl prom even tho there was no theme pertaining to this. jst loves the spotlight. can fake cry and WILL to get out of a parking ticket or teach someone to watch their tone or even simply for the theatrics of it all. the Most dramatic………….. rly fits being an actress like when people find out what she does it’s very like oh that makes sense.

says she doesn’t get hangovers. she’s just like “i revoked that it doesn’t happen to me”. alludes tht this is bc she’s an all powerful deity that was Chosen to be Blessed bt really she’s jst great at bouncing back n acting fine even w a blistering headache. it’s about believing the performance so much that u even convince urself.

has an extremely elevated sense of self importance bc this is kind of the equivalent of several layers of bubble wrap to cushion her frm the world. strives to b extraordinary bc ordinary honestly feels like a death sentence n there’s nothing she’d want to b seen as less. despite this weight she puts on that she rly doesn’t tend to let ppl’s opinions affect fr the most part like she’s quite firmly set in this I’m Literally The Most Gorgeous And Beautiful Angel Star Creature To Walk This Narsty Little Earth view

probably an incredibly big fan of dramatic short lived love affairs. she wants the glamour of it all. the scandal. the randomly breaking up w someone in a public place n sliding on sunglasses after delivering the words over a freshly ordered coffee (tht she’ll leave without drinking bc that’s star power babey she waits fr no man or no hot beverage)…….. has no preference gets w any n all regardless of gender……… romanticises things so they hv a better spin or story in her head n doesn’t rly take things seriously like jst has fun in her fantasy world…. she’s like ugh chuck i know u wanted to marry me but i’m a beautiful bird in a cage n u literally need to undo the latch n set me free……. the guy’s like……. my name’s chase n we’ve only been on two dates….. willa’s like…… please don’t take this so hard i can tell ur besides urself but people r starting to stare……. gets up n leaves. no-one was staring. chase is confused n honestly probably semi concerned fr her welfare.

always has to b the hottest n most glamorous person in a grocery store…. probably goes to them when she doesn’t even need anything jst holding a basket nonchalantly over her forearm glancing over at a cashier in her wizard of oz corset seamed interpretation on a dorothy dress thinking he wants me soooo bad it’s not even funny….. seduces him over the check out counter jst for him to ask her to come back to his so she can lean back scandalised n cry “IS THAT THE KIND OF WOMAN U THINK I AM, PAUL?! YOU’RE A GHASTLY LITTLE MAN, YOU ARE….” with all the gusto of a telenovela. attracts the shocked glances of all surrounding elderly.

speaks fluent french. probably on her brief stint on tht reality show i mentioned earlier was like “ugh can you believe Deneurve of this guy?” n in her head was like this catchphrase is sensational it’ll catch on fast the twittersphere is abt to implode but it didn’t become a thing except for in a small isolated community. despite this she’s like “yeah it went viral….. go figure. just another day in the life.”

honestly like a lot of fun bt also a huge handful at the same time. keeps her real Serious emotions in a locked box bt is always overflowing w melodramatics n rly giving her all at the drop of a hat where Performing is concerned. probably Loves parties n sees them as another form of production in which she wants to b the lead. rly just. loves herself. except does she? 🤔 lifts my hand up like rihanna n winks. find out next time. lucky by britney plays as i slowly disintegrate in spiderman rp…..

WANTED CONNECTIONS

unrequited flame: willa burns thru people like matches. bright n fast. honestly i feel like she struggles to take romance seriously so it cld be fun to play around with someone who’s been singed by that in the past…. mayb they hd actual feelings whereas willa was just messing around n having fun…. living la vida loca so to speak…….. we can discuss a time frame or specifics to expand upon this but. sexy angst perhaps.

those she knew from childhood: willa moved to NY at 11 n i feel like it was very sudden n soon after the accident. maybe she didn’t even say goodbye. maybe they were rly close n all of a sudden she didn’t show up to school the next day n when they rode past her house on their bike the sign said sold and that was that. honestly very dramatic of her even at a young age. we love a disappearing act. houdini who?

acting rival: honestly jst feel like this cld be funny. willa’s so dramatic she’d be like i literally want them dead they’re a despicable little gremlin fr trying to steal my spotlight. cld be as simple as having auditioned a few times fr the same parts or something.

childhood sweetheart: i think it cld be rly cute n sad if there was someone that kind of echoed the dynamic her mum n dad had except she was the celeste n they were the marlon…. (open to any gender)…….. so like. willa was always very larger than life commanding attention in a room n they were more to the sidelines but they just kind of got each other n brought out the best in one another. added angst to the fact tht willa wld maybe want to avoid them as much as possible now bc it dredges up feelings she doesn’t want to confront where her parents r concerned n also in a way any possibility of them winding up together feels like sellotaping an expiration date to both of their foreheads in willa’s brain

someone who was either a fan of or also on the reality show willa was: i imagine it like a reinvention of the hills honestly except based in these irving beach houses…. probably didn’t run that long bt there was a bunch of drama on it mostly staged…… maybe they were willa’s love interest bt it was all fake fr the cameras…… it wasn’t like. a huge deal n didn’t rly catch flight so much where popularity’s concerned bt. cld be fun to play with <3

patti frands: jogs in high knees to translate that into party friends as i adjust my spectacles. willa’s very sociable bt she’s also like kind of full of herself n obnoxious so do with that what u will. KFHGKSHGKGHFSKG. she knows hw to have a gd time tho like growing up she was rly into the gay club scene n the drag scene in NY so like. let’s hear it fr the gays who know how to do it right <3

someone equally over the top: i luv the idea of willa having someone who just like runs with made up scenarios n roles she makes up on the spot n them hanging out is like a 24/7 improv session tht they reel random surrounding strangers just fr the fun thrill

the other woman: willa is quite detached n selfish so she wld easily be the other woman in a relationship n not care about it n this cld make for good spice <3

[ushijimaenthusiast]

a smol iwasemi for iwas bday! semi pretends iwa is his bc to make another dude back off but it fails

[ao3]

Hajime considers himself a patient man.

He’s been best friends with Oikawa since they were kids, so he’s used to his flamboyant, eccentric, egotistical personality getting them into all sorts of shit whenever they’re together, but lately, it seems as though something is throwing Oikawa out of whack, and it’s driving Hajime crazy.

Like tonight: instead of serving Hajime the beer he asked for five minutes ago, Oikawa is standing a foot away from a couple further down the bar pretending to polish a glass as he eavesdrops on the sleazy guy spew disgusting pick-up lines on the clearly uninterested girl. He knows Oikawa is paying attention because he’s seen some horrible things happen while working behind the counter, but Hajime can plainly tell that the woman would be able to handle herself no matter what happened. Even Hajime wouldn’t approach her unless prompted.

Normally Hajime wouldn’t mind Oikawa being so observant of something that has the potential to be dangerous; he’d commend his friend instead of criticizing him. But tonight was supposed to be about him.

It’s his birthday! He was supposed to have a fun night out with his best friend while the two did something exciting and chaotic and stupid, not spend the night on his usual barstool watching as his best friend works.

Hajime knows he’s fine with Oikawa working this evening. He’s fine with them not having a weekend off together for the foreseeable future and he’s even fine with the fact that he’s once again at this stupid bar nursing a drink as a single topic of conversation is dragged out over twenty minutes because Oikawa keeps getting pulled away to serve other customers.

It’s fine.

Hajime also knows he’s allowed to be a little bitter over it all, and he’s fine with that, too.

After another handful of minutes have passed and Oikawa still hasn’t moved from his spot despite the woman leaving, Hajime decides to throw caution to the wind and reach over the counter to grab the closest thing he can. He’s not scared about repercussions since Oikawa’s brother is the owner and likes him more than he likes Oikawa.

Just as he stands and plants his chest against the counter to see what he can find, something bumps into him and has the edge digging sharply into his stomach, followed by something wet landing on his shoulder.

“Hey!” he coughs out, pushing off from the counter and spinning around to chew out whoever bumped into him, only to have the words die in his throat.

Hajime’s been around Oikawa too long to really ever be interested in pretty guys, but the man pressed up against him throws everything out the window. From his dip-dyed ashy blond hair curling softly around his ears, his narrowed eyes darkened with smeared eyeliner, his sneering lips glinting with something silver. Hajime is captivated by the expression that’s not directed at him, and it takes a moment for what’s happening to catch up with him.

There’s another man standing next to them, taller and bigger than Hajime and it has him leaning away, wondering what the hell is going on. He’s scowling and wiping liquid off his face, probably the remnants from the glass in Pretty Boy’s hand.

“And I told you it was none of your business! It doesn't matter what’s in my pants, no still means no you dipshit.”

God, even his voice is pretty. Hajime feels himself start to smile a little, wanting to hear more of it despite the hostility, but is forced back when the intruder leans in and Pretty Boy pushes him further into the counter.

He starts to open his mouth, but Pretty Boy interrupts, “If you don’t back off I’ll have my boyfriend kick the shit out of you.”

Hajime’s sure his eyebrows meet his hairline. And then disappear completely when Pretty Boy wraps his arm around Hajime’s waist.

The intruder stares Hajime up and down, sizing him up and thinking if he’d win a fight, but all Hajime can focus on is the warmth now pressed all against his left side, wondering if he should return the gesture and play along or politely back off, not wanting to get in the middle of this feud.

The longer he’s silent, the more the arm around him tightens and the more the intruder starts to sneer and puff out his chest, shoulders squaring back and head tilting him. Hajime suddenly doesn’t remember how to block a punch.

“If you throw one punch at my best friend I’ll shove this bottle so far up your ass they’ll have to break your rib cage to dig it out.”

They all turn to stare at Oikawa who’s brandishing a still-full bottle of Smirnoff as he glares at the intruder, his lips twisted up into a dangerous smirk. It’s a look Hajime has seen too many times to count and knows what’s about to happen.

He spins out of Pretty Boy’s arms and leans across the counter to whisper-shout at Oikawa. “If you get into another fight you’re gonna get fired, brother or not.”

Oikawa doesn’t take his eyes off the intruder, nor does he keep his voice low. “You underestimate my persuasion skills over my brother. Now, Mr. Neanderthal,” he directs at the intruder, “this isn’t the first time I’ve seen you push yourself onto nice people, so I’m only gonna ask you once. Leave my bar, or I’ll kick your ass.”

One glance over his shoulder at the intruder and Hajime knows what’s going to happen next. He knows his best friend enough that he will literally follow up with his threat, and Hajime has a second to decide if he needs to continue to intervene or just steer Pretty Boy out of harm’s way until everything’s over.

What Hajime did not expect was to end up in urgent care, the blond sitting next to him with one hand rubbing circles on his back and the other holding Hajime’s.

The cab ride had been a little blurry, Hajime more focused on the blood seeping from his scalp and the hands pushing him out the bar than what was really going on, Oikawa’s laughter trailing after them like a maniacal echo.

Pretty Boy took charge and Hajime let him, not paying much attention to anything except the tone of the man’s voice.

By the time they get to the urgent care, Hajime’s head is killing him and it seems as if the blood has slowed down, if it was even that bad to begin with. Pretty Boy does most of the paperwork, even going so far as to dig out Hajime’s wallet and search for an insurance card. Hajime keeps a close eye on him then, but Pretty Boy doesn’t even try to touch his cash or credit cards.

He sits with Hajime through the hour-long wait and through the twenty-minute doctor visit, detailing the events leading up to the visit as the doctor pulls shards of glass from Hajime’s scalp. He doesn’t need stitches, which is great, and he doesn’t have a concussion, which is even better. The news has Pretty Boy sighing in relief, throwing Hajime a beautiful tiny smile.

Hajime expects them to part ways after the exam, but Pretty Boy directs him to the nearest diner, and it’s not until they’re collapsing into a booth that Hajime realizes he’s exhausted, but can admit that it was nice being babied for a while.

He even tells Pretty Boy that, and it earns him a small laugh that has Hajime swooning. He wipes at his eyes, smearing his already smudged eyeliner, but it just adds another level of intrigue to him that has Hajime leaning further over the table as they start to talk.

The man’s name is Semi Eita, and by the time their drinks arrive, Hajime thinks he’s a little bit in love.

“It’s not the first night I’ve seen you there, ya know,” Semi says after the waiter brings their meals. He grabs a fry and points it at Hajime before plopping it into his mouth. Hajime’s eyes track the movement, catching another glint of silver on Semi’s tongue that’s quickly hidden behind pink lips. He almost can’t take his eyes off Semi’s lips, following the curve of the cupid’s bow and trailing along the edge until he’s met with the spiral piercing curving at the bottom corner of his mouth. It’s captivating, and Hajime finds it hard to focus whenever it moves.

A fry hits him in the face, startling Hajime back into his seat. Semi gives him a curious look before his lips stretch in a grin that he tries to duck and hide.

His earlier words catch up with Hajime. “Why haven’t you approached me before then?”

Semi shrugs, not meeting Hajime’s eyes. He plops another fry into his mouth and takes a moment to answer. “I kind of thought you were with that bartender since I see you talkin’ with him all the time. Or you were straight since I’ve only seen you with girls hanging off your arm.”

Hajime snorts at that, quickly shaking the image of him and Oikawa out of his head. “I might swing for the right girl, but uh, I’m pretty gay. A lot of them pull a stunt like you did tonight, and I go with it because there are some sleazy assholes out there. And Oikawa’s my best friend. He’s more like an annoying brother I wish I could auction off for all the trouble he’s caused me.”

Semi winces at the jab, but Hajime continues, smiling. “He couldn’t get the night off, so I figured it’d be better to spend my birthday at the bar instead of home alone, even though he still ignored me all night because he was working.” Hajime rubs at his eyes, suddenly realizing how pathetic his idea for the evening was.

Semi hisses, and when Hajime peeks through his fingers at the other man, he catches a look of pity. “And I went and made everything worse for you.”

Hajime shakes his head, lowering his hands and offering a hopefully charming smile.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty happy with how my evening is going.”

Semi’s eyes widen, and the very top of his cheeks flush. Hajime finds it absolutely adorable.

“Even though you got into a bar fight because of a total stranger and ended up in urgent care because someone broke a bottle over your skull?”

Hajime laughs, nods.

“I met a really pretty guy who’s interested in me and took care of me. I’m interested in him too, and I’m hoping this night ends with me getting his number and a plan for a second date.”

Hajime watches as Semi's cheeks darken, and the very tip of his nose starts to pinken. Hajime wants to lean over the table and kiss him.

“Well shit,” Semi coughs, obviously flustered. Hajime grins even wider, finally giving in enough to reach out and gently grasp one of Semi’s hands, tangling their fingers together to reassure him. Hajime’s sure that despite the alt look, Semi might be on the softer side.

Hajime can’t wait to get to know Semi Eita, can’t wait to find out a million mundane things about the man who started a fight just so he could get to know Hajime. Maybe it’s a little weird or unorthodox, but it’s also something new and exciting. It’s the beginning of something that Hajime is actually looking forward to, and if the pleased and longing look in Semi’s eyes is anything to go by, it’s safe to say the other man is excited too.

Hajime’s glad he’s a patient man, because he hopes this will take a while.

[hollenka99]

Peer Pressure

Summary: Jack had pushed and pushed. He'd chipped at Sean's mind until he cracked.

Warnings: Like with The Friend, there’s a whole bunch of unhealthy/toxic friendship and resentment. Plus Chase’s suicide is referenced.

Sean's problems begin when Angus gets worse. Jack's always had a big mouth. He tends to speak before he truly thinks things through. Sean's technically to blame for that. However, it hasn't been much of an issue until now. The first time Jack brings it up, he hates to reject him. The painfully dejected look in his best friend's eyes breaks his heart. He wants to help, he really does. He just can't. Not long after, he spends an hour or two looking for a game with an open world. Perhaps he could put on an Australian accent for the anniversary of the character's first appearance. Nothing comes up. Life gets in the way. Sean forgets about the search for a while. Jack never allows him to forget for too long. What starts as "I'm worried about Angus" soon morphs into "Angus only called me Jake once today". The longer it goes on, the more desperate Jack gets. And angrier. Sean has never seen such frustrated fury in his friend. He wishes he never had to. He's not sure when exactly their friendship takes a turn for the worst. It happens after he dyes his hair green, that's all he knows. Sean is excited to dress up as a superhero and Jack is just as pleased to make a new friend. Jackie as a character is expected. His age though? Not so much. Sean never intended for him to be sixteen years old. It causes conversations about school and whether the boy would need an education in the first place. Sean doesn't necessarily see the point. Jackie was currently the only minor in their world. Even if he created a character with children at a later date, the kids would probably be the wrong age group to attend school with Jackie. If it was that important to Jack to see the young superhero have an education, he would have to do it himself. Being home-schooled would also allow Jackie to do his job. 'His name is Marvin.' Jack says a couple days after the magic set video. Sean can't say he was expecting this. Although, he probably should have. It had just been a dumb video. The mask was cheap, something to use once and forget about until you throw it away in a big spring clean. The magic set was the same, only with extra smaller parts. Nothing was meant to come from it. He hadn't even given himself a name. It was just 'Jack the Magnificent'. Where the hell did 'Marvin' come from? "This better not happen again." Jack demands. "I don't want another Angus. God knows you're not going to help." Oh please, would he shut up about Angus already. How many times did he have to tell Jack it wasn't possible before that information got through his thick skull? He's tried. Slightly out of spite, Sean prints out all records he's kept of his research efforts and hand delivers them to the egos' home. Whoop-de-do, it triggers another argument. The Skype call to Signe is long. He thinks he can move on. Oops, haha, I didn't mean to create you but I still want to be on good terms with you. No, of course he can't get on with his life. Jackie has to get himself gravely injured. The demands come from two this time. For once, he's happy to co-operate. The doctor character is fun to play. Screw Jack with his questions about the accent and backstory. It's his channel anyway. If he wants to play a character a certain way, he will do just that. In the case of Dr Schneeplestein, he is an eccentric doctor who probably should have his license checked on and a father whose children were the reward in marital blackmail. The best part is that there are a surplus of games revolving around hospital procedures. See, he could think things through. So there. Not fully satisfied, Jack begins to bargain for a tweaked home life on Schneeplestein's behalf. The doctor suddenly has trust issues regarding his wife instead of her being a cheating, manipulative woman. In the compromise, Sean is also made to increase Schneeplestein's medical competence. When Sean points out the whole joke was that the doctor has dubious qualifications, Jack reminds him he isn't the doctor they'd requested. He guesses that's true. He doesn't want all this to become truly canon yet. That's why he is pleasantly surprised to find videos that are uploaded privately still work to develop an ego. Perfect. Until it isn't. Jack comes complaining about the confliction in 'Henrik' caused by the subscribers still believing the old characterisation. He asks if the egos were a joke to Sean. If anything is a joke, it's their relationship half the time. There are times where he can't think straight thanks to the stress Jack dumps on him. He wishes the guy would shut up for once. Yet, somehow, Sean can't bring himself to change his character. He could, theoretically it would be so easy, but he can't. For the hell of it, he throws in a little extra. They can't die. Or, to be more specific, they can't die for long. Jackie gets stabbed and bleeds out? Easy, just deal with the wound and he should wake up after a while. What this means for Peter, who knows? Sean is thankful when the accountant isn't granted life. That's one less person to keep happy. Like seemingly everything ego-related he does, it backfires. Within a year, this fail safe will have caused more suffering than hope. Sean isn't to know. However, he convinces himself he's done the right thing for once. He sure as hell knows how much trouble it's going to cause him if they don't believe that too. He makes an irreversible mistake in the October of 2016. He gets so caught up in the teasing and build up that he doesn't contemplate how this will affect everyone. Sure, to him it's a bit of red paint. But to Jack? He doesn't want to imagine the scene Jackie discovers. God, he can't believe he's been so thoughtless. Resurrecting the dead is exhausting, he finds. He postpones visiting Jack for a day before realising his avoidance is likely making matters worse. The dread cumulates to the point he swears he will be sick if he doesn't actively focus on his breathing. The loophole he made in September might have ensured nobody died permanently but it never mentioned scars. It's not visible behind the bandages but he knows it's there. Jack is pissed off. Rightfully so. Matters worsen even more after Jackie vanishes while attempting to get away from their fighting. It's just another thing that's ruined the egos' perception of him. If he thought the hill Jack was ready to die on was Angus, he's got another thing coming. There's only so much he can take before he has to force apathy for the sake of his sanity. He understands he can't control Antisepticeye. Once this situation is dealt with, he vows, the demon will never be used on his channel again. The subscribers' love for the character will have to ignored. It's too risky to play Anti again. He puts the red suit on again. In the short video, only a minute or so in length, Jackie sprints through poorly lit corridors to the exit. Sean acts scared and looks behind him frequently as he runs. It is uploaded privately. His community didn't need to know anything about this. He hopes with everything he's got that it works. Nothing. For days, for weeks, for months. Sean doesn't bother letting the egos know what he'd tried to do. It's guaranteed Jack and Marvin would tell him to try harder. He has no idea what that means in this context. Their lack of respect causes him to give up all efforts to have a good relationship with them. Jack still comes over every now and again. Their birthday goes far better than he'd hoped. Plus, Marvin appears to be coming into his own magic-wise. Sean doesn't like what Jack is implying when he mentions he's stopped learning German. At least he appreciates the video he made before Christmas with Henrik.   In an emotional slump, he buys a bunch of Lyons boxes and mini chocolate eggs. It's just a parody of Dude Perfect from someone with zero accuracy. Then he does the stupid thing and creates life again. Fuck it, his wife hates him and he may never see his kids again. Chase Brody's depression causes him to pretend to shoot himself before the end card plays. When Jack calls him and demands to know what the hell he was thinking, Sean has no answer. Afterwards, the ego doesn't provide his creator with any updates. Insisting he has the right to talk to Chase only makes him more hated. Despite having never met before, Chase already resents him. The next time an ego is intentionally created, Sean's going to be there to intercept them. They're not going to enter that home and have their opinion of him influenced by people who wished he wasn't in their lives. The next new guy would be given a fair chance to see Sean for what he was. A massive screw up when it came to the ability he's unsure how to master. In no way is he some villain. August is around the corner when Jack asks to visit. The two of them seem to be on the same page that day. Sean is more than happy to hang out and cheer him up. Believing Jack would be empathetic, he begins a conversation about how the YouTube algorithm was bothering him. Over three years of working as a duo on the Jacksepticeye channel meant Jack should understand where he was coming from. But, of course, his friend makes it all about himself and his own problems. Why wouldn't he? It's what he usually does. They argue because apparently that's the only way they communicate with each other nowadays. Jack sure knows how to pack a punch. Being friends with him shouldn't be such a struggle. Sean snaps. The emotional fatigue of trying to keep up with the algorithm and all this fighting causes him to make one of the worst decisions he'd ever go through with. If Jack wants him to be the bad guy, fine. Sean would be the bad guy. Just this once, he'd actually be the asshole. "You want to sleep, I'll let you sleep." He threatens when Jack begins walking off mid-argument. "Bring back Jackie. He's been missing for months. Do something!" Jack flings viciously back seconds before he marches out the door. He can tell Signe regrets asking him how the gaming session went. He dresses as Schneeplestein as soon as he finalises his plan, pretending he aims to save a version of himself in Bio Inc Redemption. He loses. Oops. He acts as he feels the real Schneeplestein would, desperate not to watch another patient die. He sends the video to Robin for editing. The final uploaded product is nowhere near what he'd recorded. His audience are all talking about Anti. They were praising him for his acting and Robin for his editing. But... he never included Anti. Any recollection of filming the final scene was non-existent. And the parts with Henrik getting possessed weren't him either. The more he thinks about it, the further the terror sets in. Jack had pushed and pushed. He'd chipped at Sean's mind until he cracked. It had only meant to end with Jack slipping into a coma. Just a chance for Sean to focus on his own problems for once. He would have gotten Henrik to wake his patient up when Sean was ready. God, he just wanted peace for a change. It was never meant to happen like this. Marvin is deaf in his rage. Chase is equally distraught. They forbid Sean from entering their home. Henrik is missing and Jack is unresponsive. What had he done?

[moonwaif]

Snow Over Insomnia: ch. 2

Pairings: Gladnis, promptis

Theme: snowed in

Summary:

Once a year, Shiva blesses Insomnia with snowfall. This year's snow day finds four friends in transition. There's Noctis, who's trying his best to enjoy freshman year. With his best friend Prompto enrolled at a different college, it hasn't been easy. When a particularly controversial lecture puts Noctis on the spot, he says some things he regrets. Can he make amends before their friendship freezes over?

Meanwhile, there's Gladiolus, who's finding it increasingly difficult to deny his feelings for coworker and friend Ignis Scientia. The appearance of a mysterious figure from Ignis's past might just be the sign that it's time to come clean. Will Gladio make a move, or will he let the opportunity melt away?

PT. III: 15:45 hours    

Noctis could tell his uncle was back the second he got off the elevator; the muffled music vibrating through the hall announced his presence. He gave the door a light push, already knowing what he’d find within: Ardyn draped over the couch, wearing a long, raggy house coat and drinking wine straight from the bottle. His head lolled back against the arm of the coach, eyes closed and oblivious to his nephew’s arrival.

Noctis walked straight to stereo and punched the “off” button. The sudden silence roused Ardyn from his stupor.

“Well, well. If it isn’t my dearest nephew!”

Noctis slung his backpack from his shoulders. “I’m your only nephew. How long you staying this time?”

“A few days, a few weeks - who knows.” He took a long drink from the bottle, swallowing with a grimace. “This last tour left me feeling particularly uninspired. I need time to re-channel my creative energies. Where better to do just that than Insomnia, my home?”

Normally Noctis liked having his uncle around. It didn’t happen extremely often. Ardyn was usually in the hospital or on tour with his band. On the occasions that he did pop in for a visit, it always felt like having an eccentric older brother slash next-door neighbor. It also meant putting up with his uncle’s neediness and extravagance.

Today, Noctis wasn’t really in the mood.

“Can’t you rechannel in your own apartment?” he groused.

“That’s not very neighborly of you, Noct.”

Noctis ignored him, heading toward the kitchen. He pulled a soda out of the fridge and gulped down such a large mouthful that his chest burned.

It was no coincidence that Ardyn and Noctis were neighbors. In fact, it was the only reason Regis had allowed Noctis to move out of the palace in the first place - well, that and the fact that Iggy had agreed to be Noct’s roommate. With the entire apartment building belonging to Ardyn and security guards posted around every corner, it was hard for Noctis to get up to much trouble without the Citadel hearing about it.

He took another drink of soda.

“Sorry,” he muttered gruffly. “Long day. Lots of classes.”

“Oh yes; I forget, you’re a ‘college boy’ now. Are you enjoying my alma mater?”

“I guess.”

“I hope they’re teaching you children to be good, obedient little civilians. What do they have you majoring in, anyway?

An image of Ignis at the podium flashed across Noct’s vision. “Political science,” he ground out.

“How dreadful. Still, you’re better off than I was. To think, back then I actually intended to become a doctor. Laughable.” The bottle sloshed noisily. “By the way, when does that little chef friend of yours get home? I'm famished."

Noct's jaw tightened. He returned to the living room, plopping into an armchair across from the couch. He glanced at his uncle, dismayed to see the heavy bags under his eyes, the sallow complexion of his cheeks.

“Should you really be drinking during a flare-up?” he asked, eyes flickering toward the half-empty bottle.

Ardyn laughed drily. “If you’re going to act like my doctor, I hope you don’t plan on sending me a bill.”

“Uncle.”

“I’m fine,” he said pointedly. “They call it chronic it for a reason, Noct; none of this can kill me.”

Noctis frowned, but held his tongue. His uncle’s condition had been a touchy subject as far back as he could remember. In fact, all the Lucis Caelums tended to be tight-lipped about the health issues that plagued their line. After all, it wouldn’t do for the public to see the royal family as feeble or sickly, not when kings needed to be virile and strong. Even Ardyn, who turned a middle finger up at most courtly conventions, rarely commented on his own health in public.

Noctis didn't want to think about it.

“Anyway…” Ardyn rolled over onto his side, propping himself up on his elbow. “It’s obvious something’s troubling you. Spill the beans.”

Before Noctis could even attempt to answer, his phone rang. He answered immediately.

“Dude, I just saw your text! What happened?”

Noctis felt his shoulders relax. “Hey, Prom.”

He could hear raucous laughter on the other end of the line. Something clattered loudly in the background.

“Sounds like there’s a party going on over there,” Noctis noted, smiling.

Prompto laughed nervously. “Oh, y-yeah. Sorry about that. We’re at the karaoke. My buddy Dino Ghiranze’s birthday.”

Ghiranze? As in, the "Ghiranzenator"?

Noct's smile fell.

“Kind of early for a birthday party, isn’t it?” he asked, shifting in his chair. He could feel Ardyn watching him closely.

“Yeah, well, they’re just hanging out here until the clubs open, then everyone’s going bar hopping.”

“Heh. You, uh, never mentioned you had other plans.” Noctis scratched his ear, struggling to find the right words. “You gonna join them?”

“Of course not! We’re getting snowed in at your place, remember?”

“Yeah, but...it sounds kinda fun. We could go too, if you want.”

‘And, I don’t know, maybe you could actually introduce me to some of your other friends for a change,’ he thought to himself.

“No way!” Prompto exclaimed quickly - too quickly. “And miss up on the opportunity to kick your ass at King’s Night? Hello no, I’ve been looking forward to that all week! Besides, you hate going out, and the weather is supposed to be total shit. That's a no for me. But dude, back to your text. I wanna know what happened with Iggy! You sounded pissed off.”

Noctis sighed. He let his head fall back against the chair.

“It was just really weird. He started talking about this anti-monarchy stuff in class today for no reason, but he never really -”

“WHAT? Sorry can you say all that again, I didn’t hear you!”

“He started talking about anti-monarchy stuff,” Noctis repeated loudly. Ardyn snickered.

“What?! Dude, that IS weird.”

“I know, right?! I wish you would’ve been there Prom. It was like he was actually trying to defend these guys -”

“Yeah. Uh-huh. Look, dude, give me a sec, I’m on the phone.”

A muffled voice was yammering on in the background. Noct's lips thinned. He wondered if it was Dino.

“Sorry about that Noct!” Prompto shouted, returning to the phone. “But yeah, that definitely sounds wild. Did you talk to Iggy about it yet?”

“I mean, I asked him a few questions in class,” Noctis admitted, trying not to sound as annoyed as he felt. “He just dodged it all with some academic mumbo jumbo.”

“Really?" Prompto sounded doubtful. "That doesn’t sound like Ignis. He’s like, the most thoughtful guy I know. I don’t think he’d say something without having a good reason for it. Plus, he works for the Citadel, so...maybe he's just trying to teach you guys -”

A burst of laughter exploded in the background, drowning out the end of Prompto’s sentence. Noctis’s grip tightened around the phone.

“Teach us what?” he demanded. “That people who’d like to waste thousands of lives and destroy all of our infrastructure in a civil war should get an equal say?”

“Noct, you know that’s not what I - Six, Selphie, can you watch where you’re swinging that thing?! Look, just hang on a sec, I’m still on the phone...Noct. Hey, Noct, can you still hear me?” He was practically bellowing now, voice raised over a roaring chorus of ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.’

Noctis didn’t answer.

“Look, Noct, I just think you gotta try to see it from Iggy’s point of view! He’s probably just, I don’t know, trying to broaden your horizons or something! Dude, stop, I told you stop swinging -”

For the second time that day, something in Noctis snapped.

“Are you kidding me?" He leapt to his feet, too indignant to stay still. "He was talking about radical terrorists who’d like see me and my family dead. Don’t you realize how fucked up that is? I can’t believe you’re actually taking his side!”

“Easy, Noct,” Ardyn murmured. “You’ll disturb the neighbors if you keep shouting.”

“Noct, I’m not taking anyone side!” Prompto’s tone was pleading. “I just think that Iggy -”

“Forget it. My uncle’s here, I gotta go.”

“Noct -”

“Enjoy the party.”

He hung up and threw the phone down on the coffee table.

“My, my. What a temper! Is that really what’s got you so worked up?”

Ardyn’s smile was sardonic, but his gaze was surprisingly tender. Noctis didn't answer. He was too busy already regretting his outburst.

“People have despised those who rule since time immemorial, Noctis. You shouldn’t let it trouble you.”

“You don’t get it.” Noct's voice was raspy with anger and frustration. “I had to defend our family by myself, in front of the entire class. And they just  laughed  about it like my life is some kind of joke.”

"What life? To them, you’re the prince, not a human being. You exist to serve  the people, or did you forget, your majesty?”

The last words were spoken softly, almost pityingly. Noctis clenched his fists.

“But Ignis and Prompto aren’t ‘the people.’”

Ardyn raised himself from the couch, emitting a single, brittle laugh. “True friends are hard to come by for men of no consequence such as you and I, Noct,” he said, strolling over and resting a hand on his shoulder. “I’m afraid that’s something you’ll learn in time.”

The hand fell away, leaving Noct weary and cold. Ardyn strode to the door. “Call me when dinner’s ready.”

Noct listened to the creak open, then thud shut. A few seconds later came the ding of the elevator as it whisked Ardyn away to his penthouse suite. He suddenly realized he’d been sweating. He ran a hand across his forehead, glancing at his phone on the coffee table. Part of him hoped that it would vibrate with another call from Prompto.

It didn’t.

It was then that Noctis remembered. He hadn't asked Prompto about the presentation.

PT. IV: 16:10 hours  

The only thing worse than having a crush on your best friend was having a crush on your coworker. The only thing worse than that was a nosy little sister who knew about it.

“What’s wrong with you?” Iris demanded, interrupting what had up til then been a mostly silent car ride. “I’ve been playing Catoblepunk ever since we hit this traffic jam, and you haven’t complained once!”

“Sorry,” Gladio muttered, glancing in the side mirror. “Just got a lot of stuff on my mind.”

“Stuff on your mind, huh?” Iris flashed him a devilish grin. “Stuff like Ignis?”

It was a good thing the car wasn’t moving, because Gladio’s foot slammed so hard against the brake pedal that it definitely would have caused a pile-up.

“Not funny, Iris!”

“Sorry, sorry.” She snickered behind her hand, not sounding sorry at all. “Looks like I was right though, huh?”

Gladio made a low, grumbling sound. She was kind of right. He hadn’t been thinking about Ignis exactly. Instead, he'd been thinking about Ravus. The prince had been heading in the same direction as Ignis’s office when they’d ran into each other at the department. In fact, if he kept going he’d walk right by it. He wouldn’t have gone back to talk to Ignis, right? Not after that awkward exchange they’d all been forced to experience. But even if he did, Ignis would be able to hold his own.

Wouldn't he?

Iris patted his arm soothingly.

“Aw, Gladdy. You got it bad, don’t you?”

“Iris, I swear to -”

“Just tell him how you feel!”

“It’s not that simple." He had to raise his voice over his sister's trash playlist. “We’re colleagues, Iris.”

“So?”

“So, it wouldn’t be professional. Besides…” His hands tightened around the steering wheel. “Iggy’s my friend. I don’t wanna mess that up.”

“Maybe it wouldn’t mess it up, though. Maybe you’d sweep him off his feet and live happily ever after!”

A vision of a rosy-cheeked Ignis pressed against his chest rose to Gladio’s mind. The car felt suddenly claustrophobic. He cracked a window.

“Seriously, I don’t get you!” Iris crossed her arms with a pouty frown. “Normally, you’re so gross and flirty it’s embarrassing! What happened to all that confidence?”

“Because it’s not just anyone, Iris!” His voice was practically a roar inside the SUV. “It’s Ignis Fucking Scientia!” He broke off with an exasperated sigh. “Look, I’d really prefer not to talk about this kind of thing with you, okay? Save the gossip for your little girly friends.”

“Hmph. Fine. But roll your window down some more. Your gym bag stinks!”

“Roll your own window down!”

“It’s too cold!’

Gladio lowered the driver’s side window.

“You sure can be annoying.”

She jerked her head in his direction. “What?!”

Thankfully, Gladio’s phone chose that moment to ping. He snatched it up from the ashtray.

“Hang on, just got a text.”

“Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to text and drive? Let me see it.”

Not wanting to set a bad example, Gladio unlocked the phone and handed it over.

“Don’t open the message yet,” he cautioned. “Just tell me who it’s from first.”

“Prompto. Should I open it?”

“...all right.”

“Okay. It says, ‘Just got off the phone with Noct. Sounded upset. My phone is dying by the way.’”

Gladio heaved a sigh. “Looks like our precious prince is still throwing a temper tantrum. Tell Prompto not to worry, just let Noct cool down for a while.”

“Okay. Message sent!” Iris returned the phone back to the ashtray. “So Gladdy, what’s going on with Noct? Is everything ok?”

“If you’re so worried about him, go ahead and give him a call,” Gladio suggested innocently. “I’m sure hearing your voice would perk him right on up.”

The tips of her ears were beet red. “Shut up!”

“Oh, I’m sorry; did I strike a nerve?” Gladio chuckled, his own troubles momentarily forgotten. “My bad.”

“You’re such a meanie!”

“Yeah, yeah; I know.”

Iris grumbled something under her breath that Gladio chose to his ignore. His eyes drifted to his phone sitting in the ashtray.

First Ignis and Noctis, then Ignis and Ravus. Whatever was going on with Iggy, Gladio hoped it would all work out soon.

TBC...

[kissmeaboutit]

Fic recs part 1

The Intern- https://archiveofourown.org/works/979988/chapters/1929352#main

Armin was convinced that it was the opportunity of a lifetime, but Eren just saw it as just another chance to fail. Nothing good could possibly come out of an internship in a stuffy office at Survey Corporation. Eren would have been content to sit and watch the remainder of his senior year pass him by. However, after one elevator trip, Eren finds himself questioning everything he thought he knew about life and himself.

Tentative Bliss- https://archiveofourown.org/works/1131646/chapters/2286009

In the D/s community, a contract is the agreement between the Dom and sub: It outlines the structure, expectation, rules, and limitations of the temporary relationship. After Eren nervously signs one with his new Dom, Levi, they both have a month to decide if they're right for each other and to see if Eren can fit in the household without clashing with the others. Although, Eren is a little surprised by Armin's kindness and Levi's actual objective...

1994- https://archiveofourown.org/works/875756/chapters/1683367

Before cell phones. Before the Kardashians. Before internet porn. The year is 1994. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, poor kids from the wrong side of the tracks, have been transferred with the rest of their neighborhood to the posh, uptown Trost High (Home of the Titans). Mikasa and Armin seem to fit in well enough, but Eren isn't quite so lucky. Of course, most of this has to do with Eren's personality. When he accepts a bet to lose his virginity (and actually prove that someone likes him) by the end of the semester, it's hard for him to deny the improbability of winning. After all, the only one he seems to be talking to these days is the weirdly pretty (and just plain weird) goth working at the donut shop down the street...

Louder Than Words- https://archiveofourown.org/works/1810396/chapters/3885151

My boyfriend, Eren Jaeger, disappeared ten days before his seventeenth birthday.

Six months later, he was found again, completely intact save for his mental and emotional scars. Oh, and the fact that he would never be able to speak again.

And so, we all started to rebuild from the debris that had been left in the destruction of our lives.

Little Titan Cafe- https://archiveofourown.org/works/1032582/chapters/2057524#main

Just another cliche AU in which Eren works as a barista in his mother’s café, specializing in latte art. And then there’s Levi, who’s not exactly your typical patron, because, well, he’s blunt and rude (which Eren supposes isn’t that much different from regular customers) but mostly he just confuses Eren’s poor little homosexual heart.

Chasing Summer- https://archiveofourown.org/works/4059769/chapters/9136579

Two more weeks left before Levi Ackerman graduates from high school and leaves the small town of Shiganshina. He can't wait for the moment that he can finally put that dreadful town behind him. But when a Grisha Jaeger becomes the new family doctor, bringing along his ill son that breathes new life into the town he desperately wants to escape, will Levi find a reason to stay?

A Forged Wedding- https://archiveofourown.org/works/1557026/chapters/3301223

Modern AU, based off of the Japanese game: "I... Don't think I heard you right. What did you just ask me, Rivaille?" "I'm asking you to marry me for a month. How did you not hear me right?" (Rated M for later chapters, mentions of other pairings, more warnings inside)

Don’t Let Your guard down- https://archiveofourown.org/works/5440217/chapters/12572078

Eren and his adopted sister were raised in an extremely Christian household and as a result, are very ignorant to the world around them. And there's one big problem with that. Eren is gay and has been hiding it from everyone since he realized it, out of fear of his homophobic father and other people finding out. One day he feels tested religiously when he meets some eccentric people as a result of him drawing attention to himself by exhibiting his athletic abilities. Little does he know, he drew their attention because they are all apart of their school's color guard team and are desperate for a new member. He's hesitant to join, however, it may not be his choice to accept the offer after all.

Trost Landing- https://archiveofourown.org/works/1622420/chapters/3458933

After a fire devastated their apartment, Levi and Eren move into a new housing community on the outskirts of town. However, after a little while, things don't turn out as happily-ever-after as they had planned.

A voice from the rubble- https://archiveofourown.org/works/5014987/chapters/11525746

It all just took 30 seconds. Thirty seconds that kept replaying in my mind over and over again, the details so vivid. Thirty seconds that would change my life forever.

Thirty seconds earlier we had all been safely tucked up in bed. Shiganshina Lodge was my home, my family was visiting for the holidays; it had now become our tomb.

Shiganshina District had been a second home to all of us ever since I was born. I know this place. I know its beauty... I'm now learning its terror.

OR: Eren's trapped in a landslide and Levi's the paramedic that finds him.

Freedom of the press- https://archiveofourown.org/works/3261971/chapters/7113611

Eren is just an ordinary college student, wondering how long he can put off his art projects and if it's possible to live off of only ramen and mac 'n cheese. Oh, and if his medical alert bracelet is really necessary, because honestly, it shouldn't be. His part time jobs as a barista and a photographer for a major newspaper help pay the bills, but when he gets assigned the task of photographing the upcoming professional soccer match, he can't believe his luck. He has been given permission to legally stalk his idol, center forward for the Scouts, Levi Ackerman!

Levi Ackerman is a famous soccer player, and the object of millions of girls' and guys' wet dreams. For Levi, the life of a celebrity is nothing to complain about. He can walk into any bar and leave with his choice of men to take home. And with a sexual appetite that can rival that of a porn star, this is a benefit of stardom he takes full advantage of. The only problem is, it's hard to keep secrets when constantly under a spotlight. What the world doesn't know is that he's gay, and he's determined to keep it that way. Levi struggles to keep his deep, dark secret out of the public knowledge, but a certain green-eyed brat is making that exceptionally difficult.

Both sides of the same coin- https://archiveofourown.org/works/1966659/chapters/4255494

Eren is a werewolf, captured by humans for experiments, and wakes up in a cell that he soon realizes he's sharing with a vampire. The two work together to get out of their unpleasant prison but the price for their freedom may end up being too high. How will they cope with the consequences of the choices they have made?

Help Me Stand- https://archiveofourown.org/works/934319/chapters/1818776

Eren's best childhood friend and high school boyfriend, Armin, dies in a car accident in which Eren had been the one at the wheel. Unable to keep from blaming himself, life itself becomes agonizing for Eren and he turns to the more negative side of coping mechanisms. Eventually, he meets a college student named Levi who seems like he has it all figured out, just to discover that they have more in common than he thought. Modern!AU.

Also, Levi has a motorcycle because it was definitely necessary.

Make You Feel My Love- https://archiveofourown.org/works/4863482/chapters/11146277

Levi is Trost's strongest soldier, he's Captain of the Special Ops Squad and he's also the only chance Trost has to end their long war with Maria. Eren is Maria's Prince, he's beloved and respected by all of his people, he's also the only hope Maria has to survive their long struggle against Trost.

What neither of them expected was an arranged marriage to try and solve all their problems. Fun fact: it doesn't.

A World Of Our Own- https://archiveofourown.org/works/2632715/chapters/5875388

Eren wasn't happy knowing his whole life that he'd have to be forced into an arranged marriage, but finding out that his fiance is one of the richest, most famous heirs of the modern age wasn't exactly helping. All about the struggles of being forced into a modern day arranged marriage.

And Eren being a little shit in the process. Cause he's a brat.

The Music Room- https://archiveofourown.org/works/5043655/chapters/11596453

Levi Ackerman resides in a facility for the terminally ill, angry and bitter toward the world for being stripped of his life before he's even allowed to live it. He keeps to himself and in fact shuns any kind of social interaction with anyone. That is, until he stumbles upon the music room, inhabited only by a cancer-ridden teenager who's just as lonely as he is.

Leave your Lover- https://archiveofourown.org/works/2062431/chapters/4482963

Levi is a 30 year old divorced Chef who works at his best friend's restaurant.

An ex military Sergeant, Levi lives his life according to a strict routine. One day, his strict schedule is thrown off when a mysterious cat makes it's way into his apartment from the open Balcony. When Levi hears it's owner knocking on his door, he wasn't aware that his life would be turned upside down and all because of this boy standing in his doorway with the biggest, brightest green eyes he'd ever seen and his name is Eren Jaeger.

The story in which Levi doesn't know he's gay and is in denial about it until a certain bright eyed boy moves in next door and steals his heart. The only problem is... he's got a boyfriend.

Comment On... - https://archiveofourown.org/works/7897357

Levi has come a long way since he started writing fanfiction, but there's always been that one reader who's stuck by him since the beginning. A fanartist for his fanwriter who goes by the name of Jaegermeister. After months of talking back and forth in the comments of AO3 one of them finally becomes brave enough to send a message on Tumblr that takes their conversations to a whole new level.

Promises Travel-

https://archiveofourown.org/works/5524034/chapters/12751232

One promise could lead to more.  

And for Levi, he intended to keep every one of them no matter where Eren may be.

A Place for Hearts To Rest- https://archiveofourown.org/works/7189850/chapters/16318364

Levi is Eren's captain, and Eren assumed it would always be that way. Captain and subordinate, the way it was meant to be. But, when Eren's heat hits and the two can't resist each other, will the change be for the better, or the worse? Especially with the extraordinary circumstances that follow. There were orders they were meant to follow, rules that were not meant to be broken, and repercussions that would be dire, but no one can withstand the battering of wild instincts indefinitely and even taciturn captains sometimes have slip ups.

Only with the help of their friends are they able to come to terms with the sticky situation they'd managed to get themselves into. But, will it be enough to save them?

[phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess]

TF2 Headcanon

>Concept: Scout tries to get Heavy & Medic to Realise(TM) they like each other, and it backfires spectacularly... well. 

Title: Playing Cupid

Demoman's advice to speak to Spy about his little problem rang through Heavy's mind. Perhaps... he could help.

"Hey, you listenin' to me, big guy?" interjects the sound of his opposite on teh team, and catching the Russian off-guard for once. He pauses in the corridor to glance behind, finding the animated runner suddenly there.

"Uh... da, of course." he says, automatically, and Scout makes a face.

"Nah ya weren't but dat's okay... thing is, I heard Demo tell ya to ask Spy about how to woo the freaky Doc and his birds... but like, brother you do not wanna do that. Everything's sixteen spoons and seducing dummies with that guy..."

To that, Heavy had no response.

"See, 'cause when we had the bread situation... I kind asked him for help with Miss P -'fore I realised she wasn't just inta me, but like, she wasn't a fan of guys in general... and it didn't go so great. At all. And I can;t get the way he shouted, "Seduce Me!" outta my head, it's horrifying... also he slaps ya with the dummy a lot, not fun.

And ta be honest, I don't think birdlord-whackadoodle is going to fall for that stuff neither..."

Heavy holds up a hand to stop the Scout. The onslaught of english was pretty hard to take at the best of times, but Heavy also had to address the name-calling...

"Doctor is wonderful man, has eccentricities yes, but is not crazy."

There was a loud maniacal laugh from the direction of the infirmary as the lights flickered on and off; and a loud, "It's ALIVE!", that didn't help Heavy's case.

Scout was making an 'are you serious?' expression at the other. "Ignoring Exhibit A over there, ya gotta admit Doc's a bit weird..."

"So are you, tiny one..." Heavy counters, grabbing the runner and lifting him with one hand. "See? Is unusual for men to be so spindly... must get it from Spy."

"HE AIN'T MY DAD!" Scout yells, flailing dangerously. "PUT ME DOWN!"

Heavy sets the runner back on the floor and watches the younger man huff in embarrassed frustration. Scout was sensitive about not being the most muscular amongst them, yes... but he was not the weakest; Heavy had seen the runner kill the BLU heavy with nothing but that tiny little bat...

"fuckin' try ta help ya ungrateful fatso how wouldja like it if i picked you up like that... forget it who freaking cares anymore fuckin'..."

Heavy puts a hand on the other's shoulder. "Scout, you must not call Medic such names... but Heavy did not mean to offend you. You are small, but that does not mean you are not strong... just different. Heavy's sisters are all very different in size, very strong, and talented in torture; am very proud of them."

"Aw thanks ma-... wait, ya see me as a sister?" Scout squints at him.

To which, Heavy let out a loud bellow of laughter. "Oho, no... of course not."

Scout seemed to settle down, "Alright then, okay... well, if ya done tellin' me ya think of me like ya buff-ass sisters... we can try and fix your Medic problem..."

Now this was intriguing, "And how does little Scout propose to do that...?"

"Easy, like this..." Scout says, taking three steps down the hall, flinging open the Infirmary doors and shouting, "HEY DOC HEAVY THINKS YA CUTE AND HAVE A NICE ASS AND HE DOESN'T THINK YA BIRDS ARE WEIRD, MAYBE KISS HIM OR SOMETHING?"

A loud metallic clang from inside signified Medic had dropped something in surprise. Heavy was standing in the corridor, mouth agape and horrified...

"SCOUT YOU LOUD LITTLE JUNGE, VHAT ARE YOU YELLING ABOU-... vait, vhat? He does?" Medic's angry tone drops as he catches up to the situation.

"You bet he does, come out and say something. Wait, hold on..." Scout disappears into the room and a minor struggle ensues. HEavy is tempted to look... but he can't move. "Alright, there ya go. Now get out there... there's like a mountain of Russian man out there who thinks ya hot as hell..."

There's a pause, then the sound of someone being shoved across a floor.

"C-c'mon doc, out ya go..." grunts the Scout, finally getting the Medic into the corridor. He wipes the sweat from his brow with a bandaged wrist, "Whhew, you're almost as stubborn as Heavy is, you two are great for one another. Good luck with that..."

Medic laughs, "Oh, I'M stubborn, am I? Have you met yourself, hase?"

"Aw shuddup..." Scout grumbles, playfully shoving the Medic, but somehow his antics were dissolving the awkward tension that the air seemed to be made of right at the moment.

Heavy felt himself melt a little, an unusual sensation, when Medic pinched the runner's cheek and laughed. "Be silent yourself, hase, you know it's true..."

In fact, the whole situation was nice, yet... insular. It felt as if Heavy was watching a scene from afar, on a show or play. Two people enjoying themselves, playfully mocking one another; he found himself unconsciously comparing them against one another. The contrast of age and youth, size and shape, the different musculature and attire... the expressions and how they emoted them.

Medic was not overtly a hand-talker or toucher unless highly engaged in conversation or very familiar. Scout used every inch of his being to express his thoughts and emotions... most likely why he always lost at Poker night.

So different... yet very similar, when he thought on it. Heavy saw the same animation, that spirit in their eyes that he found admirable; made them the person to get up and try once more, when everything had gone to hell in the battle. And, in their own ways... attractive.

Medic was... Heavy had never had a singular word in any language for Medic. The man was... indescribable, and yet everything Heavy could ever wish for.

And the Scout... well, he was something altogether different. Human lightning, if anything.

So caught in these strange comparisons, Heavy didn't notice that Scout had sensed something amiss. "Hey big fella, you okay over there?"

"Hmmm, da. Was just... thinking." Heavy said.

"Aw c'mon man, you have to at least talk to the guy first before ya start ogling him like that in public..." Scout whines, mock-offended and flinging his hands skyward as if outraged by this lack of decorum.

Medic starts to laugh, as Heavy feels his cheeks flush. How did one even respond to such an accusation? Outright denial was considered affirmation, after all; especially using Scout-logic, which made no sense to anyone else on the team, either.

Scout rounds on the Medic, all mock-outrage. "And YOU! Shamelessly showing off that..." he gestures to all of Medic. "No wonder he's having such freakin' nasty thoughts... I mean, you even walked about without ya lab coat on yesterday and I thought he might just die from the sight of ya freakin' nice ass parading around..."

Medic was turning pink, wheezing breaths between laughter, tears forming in his eyes as the Scout continued, like an offended Great-Aunt at her teenage niece. Heavy was starting to get concerned the man might collapse from oxygen deprivation at this point.

"Which brings me back ta the whole reason I went and kicked in ya door," Scout suddenly dropped the act in a heartbeat, and went back to his regular self. Heavy just about had whiplash from the transition. "This big dumb idiot has been mooning after ya from afar for so damn long, like he didn't know he liked ya or something, and he almost went ta freakin' SPY for advice on how to tell ya..."

Medic was peering at Heavy now; curious, calculating, admiring. It was equal parts flattering and concerning; Heavy could not gauge the depth of the German's thoughts.

"Is it true?" Medic finally says.

"...da, is true." Heavy admits, letting the confession fill the space between them all.

Both parties try not to notice the awkwardly fidgeting Scout taking up space between them. Clearly unsure if he was supposed to go or stay until someone had confessed their undying love... Spy would know, but the runner would throw himself off a cliff before he asked that guy anything else.

"Well... it appears we are of similar minds about zhe situation." Medic smiles, diffusing the sick fear spreading through Heavy's mountainous frame with every passing second of silence.

"You...?"  he begins to question, but Medic nods.

And then the peaceful moment is utterly shattered by a loud, "Thank FUCKING finally!"

Both mercenaries turned to stare at the runner, raising eyebrows and trading intrigued smirks. Scout looked exhausted, like he'd personally been willing them to hurry the hell up and say it... it was almost ridiculous, really.

"I'm sorry, vas our mutual realisation of romantic attraction towards one another not expedient enough for your schedule, Herr Scout?" queried Medic, tone amused as he moved closer to Heavy.

"Are ya fuckin' kidding me? Pal you two are the WORST at recognising ya like someone... do you know how long I've had ta watch Heavy pining after ya like some lovesick puppy? Or how painful it was to have Dr Birdlord over there going outta his way to show off his tight  features in the hopes that Heavy'd notice? Ya fucking circled, and circled and circled each other and it just made me dizzy... dunno how you two feel about it..."

"So vhat I hear him saying, Heavy, is zhat... as ve vere admiring one another... he vas vatching us both, ja?" Medic grins, teasing.

Heavy nods back, "Certainly sounds correct, da. Does leetle Scout have something he wishes to share with us, hmmm?"

Scout's mouth had dropped open, expression twisted between instinctive urge to deny things and some confusion. As if it hadn't occurred to him at all.   Eventually, he sort of slumps and asks, "...what?"

"Oh dear, is as clueless as Doctor was..." laughs Heavy, suddenly delighted to have the situation turned around for some good-natured revenge.

"Hush Heavy, you vere also in zhe dark until moments ago vhen Scout... vell, vhen Scout pointed out you had indeed been admiring my physique and self from afar." Medic responds, tapping the larger on the arm playfully.

"Wait... are you implyin' I like ya?" Scout questions, clearly not in the loop here despite being the subject of discussion.

"...did you not know?" Heavy asks, tone oddly gentle, uncertain if they were stepping into new territory with the Scout or not. Ones the runner wasn't even aware of himself...

"Uh... well I mean, not... really?" Scout runs a bandaged hand through his hair, perturbed.

"Are you aware you referred to my person, specifically my behind, favourably multiple times in the last few minutes?" Medic asks, easing into it.

Scout looks like someone just told him that baseball, as a sport, had just been cancelled. "...fuck. I'll uh, be going..."

Except, of course, that the runner failed to notice he was basically sandwiched between the two in a narrow corridor so there was no escape.

"...fuck."

Heavy was too busy laughing to admonish the runner for his language. It died in his throat when the runner gave in and just flopped forwards, resting his forehead against Heavy's chest; Medic patted Scout on the back reassuringly.

"...okay, so this is fuckin' weird." Scout eventually adds to the conversation. "I just wanted to make you two stop making with the lovey-dovey faces every time the other's back was turned, and when I heard Demo tell the big guy ta speak to Spook..."

"Vell, on zhe upside... to know oneself is power, Scout." consoles Medic.

"Yeah but now I went and ruined it... fuckin' undid all my hardwork by makin' the whole thing about me..." the edge of anxiety to the tone was new, and unwanted.

"Revelations rarely happen when wanted, Scout. Sometimes, at worst times... and we do not mind." Heavy provides, patting the runner on the head in a way that got an endearing wiggle-and-whine response.

"Don't do that big guy... feel like a stupid kid enough right now..." he grumbles.

"Vell, you are." adds Medic, unhelpfully. Then, seeing the expression Heavy shoots him, elaborates. "You are young and many things are new, even when you are old things surprise you... how do you think I felt when you so suddenly announced Heavy reciprocated my interest?"

"Heh, you nearly threw that tray of surgical shit through the ceiling..." Scout snorts, turning his head to look at Medic.

"He did?" Heavy inquires, grinning and looking at Medic for confirmation. The other man refused to look at him, which generally meant yes.

"Yeah man, you shoulda seen it!" Scout enthused, perking up enough to stand up straight and look at the Russian. "Flung them right up into the air, this wide-eyed look of surprise or whatever, as the birds went crazy... and there was a second he looked like snow white in that one scene with all the animals... then suddenly he starts yelling at me..."

"...did you just compare me to a Disney princess, Scout?" Medic queried, trying not to laugh as the runner flushed. "Who knew you could be so adorable... and so oblivious?"

"Hey, I thought I was only into Miss P and chicks like her ten minutes ago..." Scout defends, changing topic.

"Und now you can add persons like myself and Heavy to zhe list, I assume?" Medic teases.

"Yea-... wait, both ain't weird?" frowns the runner.

The older two share a look, of the kind one can only get from lived experience and continuous exposure to new ideas about ancient concepts no one wanted written in textbooks.

"Da, is entirely normal. Would have thought with Spy as father that you would know about-..." Heavy pauses at the sour look the statement gets. "Nevermind. Is normal to like both... the people who think so are those who cling to strange ideas."

"Oh, cool... but I still did kinda steal ya big romantic moment back there, so... if you wanna do a take two, I can shuffle 'round ya and leave you two to it..." Scout said, relieved, but looking for  a way to fix the situation he'd inadvertently had a minor existential crisis in.

"I think," Medic says carefully, putting an arm around Scout's torso from behind, ready to let go at the slightest hesitation. "that perhaps, little hase, you has best allow yourself to be caught a moment..."

Heavy places a hand on each mercenary, thumb caressing Medic's cheek and gently clasping Scout's shoulder. "Da, but only if you wish... leetle Scout..."

"...you're sure that's... okay?" Scout asks, visibly considering it, but hesitating.

"Of course it is... you have watched us in hopeful longing as much as we observed you back just zhe same. Und zhere is no harm in zhe attempt... in seeing vhere zhis goes." Medic adds. Looking to both of them, consideringly. "Mein men, if you vill have me... stoic, gentle Heavy und our speedy little hase, so bright and youthful."

"And you are our Doktor, brilliant and beautiful... I love this Doktor..." Heavy adds, looking right into the German's eyes. They seemed to be magnetic, as both men unconsciously moved closer together...

"Uh, hey, not that it ain't cute or hot or whatever ya supposed to call the two dudes ya like kissing... but uh... I don't wanna die." Scout squirmed, caught in the middle of the two.

Heavy and Medic broke apart, laughing, as Scout melodramatically gasped for air; though he'd only been slightly squished for a moment or two at most.  

"I zhink he is jealous, Heavy..." Medic says, mischievously.  

"Da..." Heavy grins back, as the twitchy runner between them tries to watch them both at once, uncertain what was about to happen. "Must learn to share..."

"Wait, whatr're you gonna-... oh my god, you dorks!" Scout giggles as he's suddenly peppered by small kisses on his face and neck. It's nice, stirred something inside that felt warm and safe; but mostly he's a bit ticklish and can't stop laughing.

Medic puts a hand to the runner's face, ending the little game. "Is zhis  alright, hase?"

"It's... yeah." Scout smiles cheesily in response, leaning in as the Doctor kisses him. When they break apart, he eyes Heavy, "Guess to be fair you hafta come down here and get a piece of me too... good thing there's enough to go round..."

Heavy rolls his eyes, but acquiesces; leaving the Scout marvelling at the fact that he's gone from kissing zero men, to two, all in the stretch of a few minutes. Both so different, yet... good.

"Oh dear... vhat have ve unleashed?" sighs Medic, jokingly, moving around Scout to lean on Heavy. The other man put his arms around them both; kissing Medic properly this time, with no distractions.

"Something good, I think... my Doktor." Heavy replies. Fondness and relief written all over his features now that the truth was out there, and the situation was resolved positively.  

"Well I didn't expect any'a this... but I'm kinda happy it did." Scout hums, content  to stay in the huddle for as long as the others were willing.

"As are we, hase..." Medic replies, with a soft smile at Heavy. "As are we."

- - - The End. - - -

Additional/Alternate ending:

"Mmmm, good, 'cause when someone tells Spy I'm dating you two he's gonna be pissed..." Scout adds.

Medic and Heavy look to one another with fear.

[jolienjoyswriting]

The Paradalis Paradigm, Ch. II

Chapter II of "The Paradalis Paradigm," an "Essence of Ragnarok" story.

Did I mention that this story is (loosely) based on a roleplay Kaiya and I did, once?  'cause, it totally is, ha hah~

Word count: 3,494 – Character count: 20,047 Originally written: October 3rd, 2018

One successful date later, Kaiya invites her new boyfriend to her nana's apartment for mysterious reasons…

Kaiya Paradalis originally created by Kaiya Canver

[ ↶ Prev. Story | ← Prev. Chapter | Next Chapter → | Next Story ↷ ]

    “So… the other Joseph tells me you come here, often?”     “Oh, yeah!” Kaiya said, handing her ticket to an usher who was standing guard outside theaters 1-through-12.     “He says you usually just dance,” the fox standing beside her commented, doing much the same with his ticket.  “I didn’t know you were into dancing…”     “How could you not?” she laughed as they walked through the gate, together.  “You know what kind of music I like best!”     “That’s… a good point.”     “Besides… dancing’s good for you!  It keeps you in shape!”     When she poked him in the belly, he gave a startled squeak and winced.     “I… guess so,” he commented.  “Yeah… maybe, I’ll give it a whirl, on the way out.”     “That’s the spirit, Joe!”     When he saw her happy smile, he couldn’t help but smile, as well.  Kaiya had such a lovely smile… not to mention, a pretty face.  He was so glad she’d invited him out…

    “Let’s sit up near the front!”     The bunny-girl took a sip of her soda as she dragged her friend down the aisle of the large, darkened movie theater.  The previews for coming attractions had already started, but not many people had found their seats… which meant that her plan of sitting in the middle of the third row went off without a hitch.     “I… think someone spilled a drink in my seat…” Joseph idly commented, noticing a wet feeling against his rear.     “Aren’t you glad you have that sweater around your waist, then?”     “If I can feel it through that… chances are, the seat is really wet.”     “Well, if you’re gonna whine about it…”     The girl giggled before standing and pulling him up.  The two moved one seat over, then.

    “I… I wasn’t whining!” the fox protested as she helped him into what had been her seat.     “You’re so much fun to mess with, Joe…” she quietly cooed, playing with his long, pointy bangs and kissing his cheek.     “I wasn’t whining…!” he continued, ignoring the warm feeling in his face… only to blink as Kaiya plunked the bucket of popcorn in between his legs and retrieved a handful.  He thought about offering one of the drink cups he’d gotten for sharing… but, when she reached for another bunch, he decided to stay quiet.  In his juvenile mind, having a pretty girl reach for popcorn, like that, was something that some people did on dates… and, he’d wanted to start dating Kaiya… officially… so…     “H-hey, Kaiya…”     “Shh!” she hushed.  “The movie’s about to start.”     “But–”     When her hand took hold of his muzzle, he blinked for a second time.     “Later!” she said with a wink and a grin.     As she drew her hand back, she got another handful of popcorn.  He decided, then, that… yeah, he could bring it up, later.  Until they, he’d just enjoy the movie… and, enjoy her company.

    Before they’d headed to the theater together, Joseph hadn’t been sure about the movie Kaiya had recommended.  “It Came For Dessert” sounded a little flaky, to him, and the promotional poster that he’d seen – which had the title cutting through the middle, diagonally, while a large, stocky fellow loomed ominously over a terrified-looking, cake-holding lady – only made the movie feel cheaper… but, after about twenty minutes of comedic exposition… Joseph really found himself getting into it!

    The title, as one might’ve guessed, was a parody of old-time horror films,  as was the plot.  Apparently, the main character – a girl by the name of “Rolanda,” – ran a bakery in the middle of a small, nameless town somewhere in the west.  One day, something odd happened and a well-known couple disappeared from sight… only to come back three days later.  When they came back, however, they were acting unusual…  The two, who had previously avoided all things like unhealthy snacks… had developed an insatiable sweet tooth.  Stranger still… as they started frequenting the bakery, so did many others.  Before long, Rolanda couldn’t keep up… but, as she ran out of stock, the customers started getting restless… then, they became hostile!

    By the middle of the movie, it was discovered that the people who were regulars at the bakery were actually creepy aliens whose home planet was devoid of sweets.  They’d planned to take over the town as the start of a worldwide invasion which would have left the planet without any kinds of cakes, candies, or otherwise!  But, the secondary-protagonist-and-love-interest of the movie – a man who only went by the name, “Berkowitz” – discovered that, despite Rolanda’s bakery being ransacked, the aliens had left something behind… and, with the help of a somewhat-eccentric scientist by the name of “Doctor Sierra,” they found that the aliens were weak against healthy foods!

    The climax of the movie was one that really had to be seen to be believed.  Bagels and baked donuts of all kinds flew across the screen, wheat germ was flung, some kinds of vegetables were used as melee and projectile weaponry, and Rolanda even managed to put together an oversized breakfast muffin that stopped the invasion in its track!  And, as the town was celebrating and it looked like she and Berkowitz were about to kiss… dark clouds filled the sky and a projection of what looked like a man wearing a skull loomed overhead!     The person, who was the leader of the aliens, claimed that the invasion had only begun…  The clouds parted to reveal an overwhelming amount of stereotypical flying saucers hovering overhead, followed by the holographic head disappearing and a several questions appearing in a variety of goofy-looking “horror” fonts, all of which led up to a title card for a potential sequel: “It Came for Dessert II: Farmageddon.”  All-and-all… it was a grand experience that no one who’d seen it would ever forget… in-world, or in the theater.

    “That may have been the silliest movie I have ever seen!”

    Joseph and Kaiya walked out of the movie theater together, both laughing and smiling from the movie they’d just seen.  They weren’t the only ones, either… and, in fact, some of the people around them were laughing even harder than either of them!

    “When that one guy used the shrink ray to go inside an alien?” Kaiya said with a big grin.  “I nearly lost it!”     “Traffic lights?  Police officers?  A whole network of vehicles?!”  Joseph gave a mighty laugh, grinning just as widely as his friend.  “And, that dance number…!”     The bunny couldn’t take it.  She’d started laughing and snorting like crazy!     “I can’t wait for the movie to come out on disc!  I’m gonna watch it over-and-over!”     “Ah, Kaiya… this was such a good idea!  I can’t think of a better date than this!”     Without missing a beat, she told him, “Date’s not over, yet, Joe!”     It was only then that he realized what he’d said… and, what she’d said.     “I… wh-what?”     She didn’t answer with words.  Rather, she hooked her arm around his and continued to grin as she calmed down from laughing.  At least…     “Snrrrk–!”     Until something tickled her funny-bone, again.     “You’re still thinking about that dance number, aren’t you?” Joseph asked.     “I can’t help it!” the girl said as she leaned over and slapped her leg.  “It was so… so…!”     “Random?”     “Oh, absolutely!”

    The two had to take another moment to calm down.  When Kaiya put her arm back through Joseph’s, however… he twitched, his face turning a little red.     “‘Date,’ huh?” the bunny asked, finally acknowledging what they’d said.     “I-I-I mean… we don’t have–”     “I was wondering when you’d ask…”     “Wh-wha’…?”     Kaiya grinned at him, bumping her hip against his.     “Silly Joe…  If you wanted to make us a thing, all you needed to do was ask!”     “Y-you mean…?” he squeaked.  When she nodded, he took a sharp breath and stared… before brightly smiling and giving her a hug!     “Easy, there, hun!” she laughed, smiling as he picked her up and spun her around.  “Save it for the honeymoon!”     “H… honeymoon…?!”     “Yeah.”     She gave a shy sort of smile when she was set down.     “I figure, why not skip all the junk and just get to the good part?  Let’s get married!”     “Ah–”     He seemed like he wanted to say something… but, as he stood there, letting the girl fondly look into his eyes and hold his hands… nothing came out.

    “Hey, Joe…”     Again, nothing came out.  At least… not until she poked his nose like a doorbell.     “You know I’m kidding, right?”     “I…  I-I…” the flustered fox half-sputtered.     “But…”  Kaiya brightly smiled as she paused.  “I… I’d be happy to be your girlfriend.”     Joseph blinked… then, he blushed.  She was being sincere…

    “R… really…?” he found himself asking.  When she squeezed his hands and gave a nod, all he could to do was say… “W-wow…”     “Honestly… we, already were, practically… right?”  She grinned, her long tail swaying as she said, “We go places, together…  I love hugging you and making you blush…  And, I know you really like it when I kiss your cheek or nose.  So… yeah!  Let’s make it official, why not?”     He blushed a little harder as she leaned down and kissed his cheek.     “I’ll be your girlfriend… if you be my boyfriend!”     And, again… she found herself being hugged tight.     “S-silly…” she chuckled.  “People are staring.”     Joseph blinked… then, he squirmed.  People weren’t just staring… they were applauding!  How much of that private conversation had they heard?!     “Wanna get outta here?” Kaiya asked amidst the claps and cheers.     “Y-yes, please…” Joseph stiffly said, setting her down and drawing a slight chuckle.     Once that was agreed on, she quickly padded toward the front door of the theater, tugging Joseph along.  She seemed like she was in a hurry to leave, too… but, she had her own reasons for wanting to go – ones that he would find out about not long after, in fact…

    “What do you mean, you ‘have the place to yourself,’ this weekend…?”

    After a short walk to clear their heads and a moderately-short bus ride further into the city, Kaiya had led her new boyfriend somewhere.  It was somewhere he’d been before… but, usually, under much different circumstances.

    “You mean, your nana isn’t here…?  Like, at all?” he asked.     “Nope!”  She giggled, giving a little wiggle.  “From today until next week, Nana’s apartment is aaall mine!  Or, if you want…”     She leaned in, purring into his ear…     “All ours…”     Joseph heavily blushed, tensely watching as his friend-turned-girlfriend leaned back.  She was fondly smiling at him, her eyelids lowered and her cerulean eyes focused on his face.  He’d noticed her fidget, glance down, kick her foot against the carpet, play with her hands, or do some other things… which, strangely, made him feel a little less tense.     “G… gosh…  Kaiya, are you…”     “Excited?”  She bit her lower lip gave a sharp nod before giggling.     “I… I was gonna say, ‘nervous…’  But…”     He blinked, then.  She’d taken him by the hand… offered a shy sort of smile… and, pulled him inside, closing the door behind.

    Kaiya’s nana’s apartment was a pretty nice one.  It was situated on the tenth floor of a fairly tall apartment complex in the heart of Masamune City, a fair distance away from the namesake tower that everyone knew.  It had two bedrooms – both situated toward the back – a kitchen area with all the usual equipment and gadgets, and a bathroom that was accessible from the living room.     Speaking of which, he had been escorted to the center of the living room and planted on a comfy, maroon-colored couch… only to have the attractive bunny-girl straddle his lap and look into his eyes, again.  He’d started blushing… and, so had she.

    “S-say, Joe,” she said, her voice sounding nervous.     Joseph swallowed before asking… “Y… yes…?”     Without a word more… she brought her hands up… cupped his face… leaned in… and let her actions speak for her.

    The teenage fox felt his fur stand on end as he felt the girl’s bunny lips touch his.  It hadn’t been the first time she’d ever kissed him, though.  Even before they were “official,” they’d ended up on that exact couch… in that exact position… doing exactly that – usually, just for laughs, or because she loved making him blush.  However, knowing that he was kissing his girlfriend… and, that she was kissing him… her boyfriend… seemed to change everything.

    For the first time ever, Joseph let his hands stray from the safe position of the couch cushions… let his arms curl around her thin frame… and, let himself pull her close.  When he felt her arms slide over his shoulders and curl around his head, he closed his eyes and drew inward, doing something he’d only dared to do once, before, with mixed results.  He was returning the kiss…  But, unlike the only other time he’d tried it…     “M… mm…”     She seemed like she was loving it…

    After what felt like a lifetime, Kaiya finally had to pull back and catch her breath.  She placed her hands on his shoulders…  There was a soft smile and a bright blush on her light-gray face… her tail was twitching, her heart was beating like a drum, and she felt nervous excitement race through her.  She’d kissed him… really kissed him… and, he’d done the same, right back.     “I…  Wow…!”     She panted before cuddling into his front and moving her arms around his middle.     “Let’s do that, again, sometime…!”     “Y… yeah…” he shakily said, gently draping one arm around her back while the other lazily rested to one side.

    For a while longer, the two remained resting together, casually cuddling and softly breathing with their eyes closed…  It wasn’t until Joseph felt something pinch his shoulder that he looked… to find that Kaiya was nibbling on him.     “That… I…”  He murmured, squirming in his seat.  “You’ve… never done that, before…”     “I… I know we have all weekend, Joe…” she said between nips, “b-but… now that we’re official… I kinda wanna… do something.  Something fun… something we’ve never done!”     She kissed his throat before purring…     “Something… that I’ve always wanted to do…”     “Y… you do…?” he squeaked… then, he blinked.  She’d slipped out of his lap and stood.  And, without any explanation, she’d trotted away, heading in the direction of her room and leaving the fox to wonder what she had in mind…

The way she kissed me…  G-gods…  She’s never kissed me like that, before…!  A-and… the nibbling…!  I… kinda like that…  O-oh, and… the way she looked at me…     Joseph tugged on his collar, his face brightening and body temperature rising.     I… I wonder if she wants to… g-go ‘all the way…?’     Strangely… that hadn’t been the first time he’d thought about such things…

    When he’d found Kaiya online, at the beginning of the school year, the two had really hit-it-off, becoming the best of friends practically overnight!  It didn’t take long, after, before they were roleplaying… as themselves… and, doing a number of things that Joseph had, admittedly, done with other girls – or, people claiming to be girls, anyway.  It wasn’t until a month later, though, that Joseph found out that she lived not even forty minutes away… which, to him, meant that they could take things from virtuality… to reality.  But, when he finally met Kaiya… when he saw the girl from the photos in-action and heard her voice in-person, instead of through headphones… he found that he couldn’t go through with it.  He liked Kaiya too much, for that.     Kaiya was just as perky, friendly, semi-flirty, and playful offline as she was online…  She would often tease him and bring up their online activities, just out-of-earshot of other people… as well as give him plenty of hugs and a few kisses on the cheek.  Even when she’d finally invited him to the apartment, things stayed fairly platonic… though, as mentioned, Kaiya was a little more affectionate, when her nana wasn’t around…  Still, neither one of them had ever seriously considered bringing their online actions to the real world – despite continuing to roleplay even after meeting up.  Joseph, honestly, assumed she wasn’t interested…  In fact, he pretty much assumed she had a boyfriend… until he worked up the nerve an asked.     “Nope!  I’m single!” was the answer he’d gotten.  And, since that day… he’d been planning to ask her out… the first step toward a serious relationship.

    As he sat there, feeling nervous and excited… he smiled.  His patience had finally paid off.  They were a couple!  But, how long would it be before they started doing “couple things?”  And… what sort of things did couples do… that they hadn’t, already?  He wondered…

    “Hey, Joooe…”     The fox perked in his seat.  Kaiya had called to him… and, she was using a much sweeter tone than usual.     “Y–” was all he could get out, then.  The girl had, apparently, changed her clothes… and, to his surprise… she was wearing little more than a long, white T-shirt that barely covered her lap.  Again, it wasn’t like he’d never seen her bare legs, before… or, the boy-shorts she wore underneath when she was “dressed for bedtime.”  But, with his mind stuck in “relationship mode…” those long, slender, spotted legs of her looked oh-so-much-nicer, to him…

    “I’ve gotta surprise, for you…” the girl sensually cooed as she stepped his way, bring one foot directly in front of the other and swaying her hips.     He hadn’t been trying to… but, he had noticed, when the fabric brushed just the right way… that she wasn’t wearing her usual boy-shorts.  He was starting to wonder if she’d been wearing anything underneath… before he remembered spotting some pink straps hugging her hips, peeking out from over her baggy jeans, earlier that day.     “What’s…” he started before clearing his throat.  “What’s the surprise…?”     “You’ll see…”

    The fox stood to meet the bunny as she scooted in front of the couch… only to be nudged back into place and sat upon, again.  He noticed, then… she was giving him an odd sort of look.  Her lips were curled into a nervous sort of smile and she couldn’t stop biting her lower lip.  Plus… her eyes kept darting back-and-forth between him… and, something to her side.     “What’s… what’s up…?” he skittishly asked.  A second later, he felt his face warm even more than it had been.  She’d brought a hand down and raised the side of her shirt, revealing that… yes, she was still wearing her soft, pink undergarments.  But… there was something else…     “What’s… that?”     Kaiya pulled something from her waistband… specifically, a little, glass tube with a cap.  It appeared to be filled with some sort of see-through liquid, too.     “Kaiya…?”     The girl had no use for words.  She hesitated, still nibbling on her lip… before popping the cap and drinking the contents of the vial.  Not even a second later, though…     “Mmph…?”     She pressed up against his body… hard… and forced his lips against hers.     “Mmph…!!”     But, she wasn’t done.

    Joseph’s eyes went wide as he felt her rock and nudge her head, her kiss becoming deeper-and-deeper.  His face brightened to a whole new shade of red when he felt something other than her lips touch his…  Her tongue was “knocking” on the front door that was his teeth… and, it wanted in.     The golden-furred fox remained tense…  He hadn’t expected Kaiya to be quite that bold.  She’d seemed unusually shy… but, at the same time… it seemed like she was willing… almost eager… to try new things… with her new boyfriend.  Somehow, that made him relax enough to let her go through with it…     “Kkch–!!”     It was only then… that he realized the mistake he’d made.

    The instant he’d let his guard down, Kaiya took hold of his head, maintaining a tight seal against his lips!  As she did that, a small flood of warm liquid came pouring into his mouth, surprising the fox and cutting off his air supply!  His body, acting on its own, forced him to swallow the majority of it before he was able to pull away, coughing and choking.  And, as he stared at his girlfriend with watery, somewhat-angry eyes, he realized… she hadn’t consumed whatever was in that vial, at all…!  She’d force-fed it to him, in the guise of another kiss!

    “What did you… why, Kaiya…?” he whimpered.  His eyes blinked and he gave another, lighter blush as he felt her reach up and rub one of his ears.     “You’ll see, hun…”     That… did very little to comfort him.  But, even as he sat there, confused, coughing, and short of breath… he didn’t feel too upset.  Kaiya would never do anything to hurt him… and, even though that liquid tasted a little odd… kind of like alcohol of some kind, in fact… he had to trust her.  She was his girlfriend… the one person in the world who would never betray him…

    Right…?

[3one3]

The Sequel - 878

In Sickness

André Schürrle, Juan Mata, other Chelsea/BVB players, and random awesome OC’s (okay they’re less random now but they’re still pretty awesome)

original epic tale

all chapters of The Sequel

“Ready for some soup?

“I need to pee. I hate getting out of the blanket though. It’s so cold, and my legs don’t work.”

“We’re not doing a bed pan, Prinzessin.”

“Ew.”

“As long as you’re getting up, do you want a clean shirt or something? Can I air out the bed?”

“No! Then it won’t be warm when I get back in. You can get me a shirt though.”

André helped Christina out of her bed-nest and literally turned her body in the direction of the bathroom. She was wobbly, her thighs were bright red, and he could feel the fever radiating from her skin. I should make her take more acetaminophen, he thought on his way to find a fresh tee for her. He flicked on the light in her dressing room and paused in surprise. It was kind of a mess. She hadn’t unpacked her things from the Spain trip, but had ripped some items out of the bags and left laundry all over. The footballer shrugged and stepped around a rolling suitcase to get to the drawer with her around-the-house shirts. I think she’d rather maybe have some hives from too much acetaminophen than have the fever, he continued, acknowledging his wife’s occasional allergic reaction to excessive amounts of the over the counter drug. How about one of these super soft James Perse ones? That should feel nice. Or is she going to be afraid of barfing on it or something? Ehh, she probably isn’t thinking that far ahead. I’ll bring this one. André selected a light gray tee on the basis that light colors feel cleaner than dark ones, and then turned around to look through the drawers on the small island in the middle of the room to find a clean pair of underwear for her too.

Her fancy all black and a little bit white closet was designed to accommodate more clothes, shoes, and accessories than she had when she moved in, so she took advantage of all the extra drawers by spreading things out. She had a drawer full of “sexy” panties- the lacey ones, pairs with little bows, the tiniest thongs, etc. There was a drawer just for the nude thongs and bikini-cut panties she wore under her white breeches, the boyshorts that she preferred for working out, and high-cut styles she liked for riding in when she wore other breeches. Then there was one for all the other underwear, like her cute prints, the vast Calvin Klein cotton collection, stretchy hip-huggers, barely-there mesh, etc. She had three drawers of bras too, split by largely the same criteria. André was aware of the sorting because he once tried to put her laundry away as a nice gesture and quickly found himself overwhelmed. He went for the “everyday” underwear drawer to find some Calvins for her to be sick in, on the basis that he believed those to be her favorite for most things.

“Oops,” he muttered when he heard a picture frame topple over. There was a long, narrow white marble tray in the middle of the island, with a glass cube of fresh cut white flowers, desk-sized photo frames, and a dish of black “galaxy” eads that made the room smell nice. He accidentally hit one of the pictures when he reached up there to put the panties with the shirt while he squatted down to the drawer to try to put everything back where it belonged after he rifled through it carelessly to find what he wanted. I’ll bring her this too, he decided when he stood up to right the shiny chrome frame. A violent and painful sounding coughing fit was starting up in the next room. Maybe she’ll pay more attention to the drugs and food on her nightstand if Dirk is there as well. He took Christina’s selfie with Dirk free-jumping in the background with him. It was the picture Juan gave her as a gift the previous Christmas.

“I’m so cold,” she rasped through all-over shivers as she hurried to get back into bed.

“Hang on. Time to change.” André tossed the photo on the comforter and sat on the edge of the mattress near her spot so she couldn’t just retreat into her nest again. Poor Prinzessin, he thought, noticing how violent the shivering was. When did the doctor say the fever should break? I wonder if we shouldn’t go back to him in the morning if she’s still like this... “You do these; I’ll help with the shirt.”

Christina pushed her black Calvins down and pulled on the proffered red pair, and then reluctantly let her partner lift her clammy shirt off and quickly replace it with the fresh one, shaking all the while. All of her joints felt so tired. Holding her arms up felt like lifting a hay bale onto a stack after unloading 50 of them. André slid down and opened up the sweatshirt-like comforter for her to get back into her spot, and then rubbed vigorously at her arms and legs to help accelerate the warming process.

“The soup is warm. Ready to try?” he asked. The flu victim nodded and folded the blanket down from her chin a little. He stirred the broth and rice around in the oversized mug and then offered her some on the spoon. He knew she could have managed feeding herself, but she just looked so miserable and helpless. Christina slurped from the spoon a handful of times and then quit when he tried to get more rice in her system than the clear, mild broth. The cringe that accompanied each swallow was no put-on. “Where should I put Dirk?”

“Wha?”

“I brought Dirk for you,” the footballer explained while she turned over to get more comfortable and he put the cup of soup on the table. He then showed her the photo and began clearing a space for it where she could look at it whenever she wanted. “Every time you think “Oh it’s time for my medicine but I don’t want to take it because it hurts,” you’ll see him and realize the sooner you take it and get better, the sooner you can go get kisses from him, yeah?”

“You’re sweet,” his girl smiled on her pillow. She already had Lukas the baby zebra tucked up under her chin.

“Not really. I’m about to make you sit up again to take the pills and the cough syrup.”

“It’s not time yet. Another hour.”

“Fine.”

“Stay?”

“I told you I will.”

“Pants off.”

“Obviously.” André smiled back and then kissed two fingers to touch to her forehead. She wasn’t getting any real kisses. There was no room in his recovery program to get sick. He was even keeping his own pillows on the couch by the window so that the invalid in his bed couldn’t drool or sneeze on them, so he brought those over to use after discarding his jeans. It surprised him and threatened his hope to remain germ-free when his girl rolled over and snuggled into him as soon as he lay down. Christina put her head on his shoulder and arm, and wedged her ice cold feet between his legs.

“I don’t feel good,” she mumbled as she clung on and nuzzled her cheek on his shirt.

“You should have told me sooner that you wanted some company, pretty girl.” I thought she wanted to be left alone to suffer in peace. “What are we watching?”

“Murder She Wrote, season 39.”

“Are you warm now?”

“No.”

“Are you gonna be sweating again soon?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think you’ll make it? Or should we start digging a hole for you in Dirk’s field?”

“I dunno.”

“Marco sends his best. He was disappointed about cancelling Marco and Chris time, and wants a rain check. He’s like really obsessed with getting you eccentric shoes.”

“Tell me everything about your training, ‘til I fall asleep.”

“’Til what? I can’t hear you, pretty girl. You sound like a very quiet forest troll right now.”

Christina wanted to ask how he knew what a forest troll sounds like, but talking hurt. And the whole point of asking him to talk to her was so that she could keep quiet and reap the benefits of having him near and having his familiar voice to distract her from the runny and stuffy nose, the headache, the periodic coughing fits, the upset tummy, and the inability to find a comfortable body temperature. Being sick was lonely, and boring, and a self-feeding problem. Her symptoms were stressing her out and making it impossible to rest and get better. It had been a long time since the rider had a nasty flu, so it was extra hard on her. Being really sick seemed almost fun when she was a kid, and it meant staying home from school, watching The Price Is Right, having her mom around to bring or make her anything she wanted, cats to nap with her, and a youthful immune system ready to fight back against the bug while she just enjoyed days off. Being sick as a grown up with responsibilities just sucked. There was no novelty factor whatsoever. Getting her favorite blonde pillow to stay with her was the first non-terrible thing about it.

His very presence was supposed to help. All the sweet and caring texts from Juan in the world weren’t going to make her feel physically better, and that was the primary problem for him with their long-distance/double-life arrangement. That was the first time she fully got to experience the thing he complained about all the time- about his partner not being right there. But she knew she had André, and that he’d be home from training eventually, and then he’d come back from the grocery store, and he’d be back again after dinner. He’d always be around when she needed him, and on top of all the crummy side effects of the flu, Christina was stressed about how crummy the Spaniard had it all the time when he knew she wasn’t going to be around. Being sick and desperately wanting someone to make her feel better, and only having his texts, was one of the most elaborate illustrations of his problem that she’d experienced to date.

“’Til I fall asleep,” she repeated with as much oomph as she could get from her raw throat and expired vocal chords.

“You have to stay up long enough to have your medicine, but okay.”

André rubbed her back and her butt and gave the full tick-tock of every single thing he was doing each day at Brackel to try to improve his strength and fitness and be ready to train with the team after the international break. He thought the details were mostly boring, but explaining them was actually kind of satisfying. It gave him a chance to reiterate the arguments for and against certain things made by the coaches and doctors and physios, and that in turn fortified his belief in what he was doing. It was also a nice experience to be able to tell Christina all about something without having her backchat. She didn’t butt in to question anything, to play devil’s advocate, or to drag him off on tangents. She didn’t even really care what he said, and she fell asleep sometime before the hour passed. The BVB man was watching the time on his phone so that he’d know when to stop talking and get her to take the medications she was due for, but then the time came and he realized the sniffly, boiling little creature hanging on him was making a rhythmic hissing sound because she was sleeping and her mouth was open so that she could still breathe. He didn’t have the heart to wake her.

Espen tiptoed in a while later to say that Lukas was tucked in and she was headed home. She also delivered Lukas’ get well card. It was a picture of a gray blob with a trunk and tusks, and a red blob with a bunch of little legs. André decided they were an elephant and a crab, respectively. The second blob also could have been a spider, but the color pushed him toward crab. There was also a red heart with “Mom” inside spelled out in letter stickers. He decided to wake Christina to show her the drawing and get her to take the pills and cough syrup.

She adored the card, but not the drugs or the cold soup he persuaded her to eat. Both the drugs and the soup came back up not too long after going down. She had rice coming out of her nose along with rivers of greenish-yellow snot. She was crying because it was so unpleasant, and because her throat hurt so much. There was a good 10 minutes of dry heaving even after the meager contents of her stomach were ejected, and that just worsened the cold sweat. Her body was covered in it. André tried to wipe her of with a damp washcloth after she cleaned up her face, and got her another shirt to wear. The patient was furious with him for making her eat in the first place, but then still curled up on him to continue her progress toward death once she was clean and dry again. He texted his personal trainer to ask if they could bump his first session at Brackel back a couple of hours so that he could take her back to the doctor in the morning, convinced that there must have been some kind of prescription-strength remedies for her symptoms, or some more tests to do that would change the diagnosis, because he was sure she should have been getting better by then.

Christina obviously didn’t want to go see her new doctor again come morning, and she protested a little while her husband called the office to see if she could be seen. Her misery was overwhelming enough that she agreed to go though. Her temperature wasn’t going down and that concerned her. She wanted to feel better, even if it meant a terrible car ride. André put her in head to toe adidas sweats, gave her a blanket, a barf bag, and a box of tissues for the car, and sprayed some bathroom air freshener at her to try to cover up the unpleasant odors of her dirty hair and un-brushed teeth.

“My tummy is sooooooo barren,” the stricken rider moaned to him while they waited in the office to see her physician. She had her blanket with her, and bunched it up on his shoulder to use like a pillow. Her nose was red and peeling. Her neck was sweaty inside her hoodie, her hands were inside her sleeves to keep them warm, and her lips were slightly stained from the cherry flavored throat lozenge she took from a bowl on the receptionist’s desk. The Dortmund forward flipped through a magazine and tried not to think about how gross she was. “It’s gone from sunken in like a starving child to bloated and ballooning like...a starving child.”

“You’re bloated from the salt in the sports drink, probably. That’s all you’ve had for two and a half days,” he replied absently.

“Oh.”

“Are you warm enough right now?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.”

“Thanks for being nice to me while I’m dying,” Christina sighed.

“In sickness and in health, pretty girl. In sickness and health.” I still want another R8, he thought, attention on an Audi ad in the magazine. We should sell hers now that she has the Ferrari. It’s old and things keep needing replacing anyway.

“Yeah but you’re not always nice to me when I’m sick in other ways, so...thank you for being nice. And taking care of me. And risking my plague.”

“I’m always nice to you and I always take care of you when you let me see that you’re sick. I can’t do it if you don’t show me. I don’t know the difference between sick and angry when I don’t see you.”

“Mhm.”

“Thank you for letting me take care of you.”

“Welcome.”