#I love how they understand / are fine with each others ~eccentricities~ so much

[borgchip]

I love her so goddamn much

[evilcowgirl]

Hi! i was thinking of a prompt for some headcanons for autistic! reader x the gang members (any one you like!)

a sort of "they're a bit odd but i like that about em" since it wasnt discovered until 1911.

stuff like when reader gets overwhelmed/doesnt understand social que/shows empathy/apathy at the wrong moments

and mostly what they'd do when reader feels left out/like they dont belong because thats something im really struggling with </3

have a good day/night!

autistic reader relationship headcannons

pairings: arthur, javier, dutch, charles x reader

a/n: hiii loved this request sm !! feeling left out is the worst feeling but there's a place for everyone so pls remember that !! also i included dutch and john for the first time !! this is me using my autism powers for good

word count: 1k (combined)

Arthur

you bond over you both feeling unheard in the gang. you because communication is difficult for you (especially when you feel out of place) and for arthur it's because he and dutch got into an argument twenty minutes ago and he's still mad.

makes it his personal responsibility to make sure you never feel overlooked at camp because he knows how hard it is for you to settle in with the rest of the gang

during parties at camp he makes sure to keep you right by his side of you don't feel up to talking and reassures you that everything is fine if you get overwhelmed

doesn't think twice about intimidating your way out of situations he sees going south

"You can't just go around talking to folks like that"

"Nah you ain't do nothing wrong, just that people 'round here are real quick-tempered; thankfully for you i'm even quicker."

he writes about you in his journal more than anything else, pages and pages are dedicated to just how special you are to him !!

"They aren't like most folk, I like that about them."

arthur takes it as you being less influenced by social norms, which he's naturally drawn to as someone who doesn't get along too well with social norms either.

KING of aggressive reassurance, sometimes it can be off putting but you know he means every word he says.

"I promise you if they didn't want you here you'd be long gone, darlin'"

"Everyone here loves you, I think even more than they love me at this point so stop your nonsense."

Dutch

biggest autism fan

calls you eccentric because thats how he chooses to describe you to people

completely over analyzes everything you say because he thinks you're the most interesting person he's ever met !! you might as well be evelyn miller !!

to him, you are so unique and precious that he finds himself being overly protective

his protectiveness could a flaw depending on your mood because he never notices that he's smothering you until you're past the point of being overstimulated by the attention.

you made a mistake ? no you didn't, you could never.

would rather watch a man die slowly than let you be confronted, even if you can take up for yourself.

"If he doesn't like your manners he'll be terribly disappointed to find that mine are much worse"

"Don't you dare waste your breath apologizing to anyone, sweet thing."

notices the small things about you like how enthralled you were by the noise his rings make when they brush against a glass or how you hate the feeling of too many eyes on you

you're the only person other than arthur that he feels like he can vent to without being judged.

will listen to you ramble about whatever you're interested in at the moment for as long as your interest lasts. has no problem with you coming up to him to talk about horses for a month straight if he gets to see you happy

Javier

he just thinks you're neat

you have a chest filled with little gifts that he brings you from his trips out of camp because you told him you like collecting things once.

little calm walks through the woods when things aren't going well, and even when they are and you just miss each other's company.

always reminds you to prepare yourself for the loud noise when he feels like he might have to use his gun if loud noises bother you.

"Remember to cover your ears, amor"

because of his own strict morals and passion for what he stands for he appreciates your straightness with what you believe. its easy for him to talk to you because he can trust you to be honest.

loyalty is a huge thing for javier so you can trust him to stand up for you diligently regardless of what it's about

someone made a snide comment ?? dead !

he adores everything you view as a flaw about yourself. from your struggles with putting things in a way that people can swallow easily, to your excitement for whats often seen as mundane.

"That's amazing, amor, tell me more!"

javier is definitely a self-identified romantic and finds ways to romance you even if sometimes you don't pick up on his affections.

always invites you to sit near him around the fire and listen to him play !! every song is for you because he knows you like his music

could not care less about your issues with empathy because he has them too after everything he's been through.

would never force you to feel something you don't or don't understand and reminds you that you're just as caring and lovable as anyone else

John

"You're a bit off, you know?"

will ask you why you do certain things, not to be rude but out of genuine curiosity and a lack of manners.

literally so clueless

thought that you hated him in the beginning and held a grudge that you didn't even know about, but once he realized that you simply expressed emotions differently than most people he warmed up to you over time

he wasn't exactly sure how to approach you even though he was interested and he's NOT at all used to being nervous around people he's interested in

tried and failed to strike up conversations with you numerous times before finally switching up his approach and realizing that small talk wasn't going to get him anywhere with you.

the term autism and it's symptoms weren't recognized medically until much later, there was no term for it which often led to people simply avoiding the topic of your differences or leaving you out completely. john on the other hand was incredibly frank about everything and never tries to convince you that you're just like everyone else. he knows that you're not and so do you, what matters to him is that he loves you just as you are.

gets aggressive when you're overwhelmed, not with you but to everyone else around you. hates seeing you stressed out and it gets him stressed too.

"They said they don't want any bother." when you definitely did not say that

sitting in his tent with him while you both calm down and sweet hugs and comforting words afterwards

only he is allowed to poke fun of you everyone else knows you're off limits

Charles

i like my bitches weird an offputting -charles i think

charles is the first person you think has truly known you without treating you any differently. he didn't speak down to you, or simplify things because he saw you as less intelligent. he spoke to you like a person that was just as capable of everyone else, which you were.

gentle words of encouragement and silent glances of of acknowledgment when you need them. he always know when you need them.

so sweet with you because he knows what it feels like to not belong in more ways than he could even list

"Would you like to join us?"

"I'd like it if you came, you're always welcome with me."

you never feel like he's judging you for not understanding how to talk with others in a conventional way. he understands you in a way you're not used to.

he can always magically tell when you're getting overstimulated and never makes you feel like a burden for it.

sweetest man ever just wants you to be okay !!!!

always shares new things that he's learned with you because he knows you'll appreciate them. loves to tell you all about plants and animals and in return he listens eagerly to whatever hyper fixation you have at the time

you both have a similar social which leads to you spending an unsettling amount of time together

holding hands and sweet kisses when you're both up for it, regardless of who's looking

people in camp talk of course, wondering how something that's not an animal being hunted could capture charles' attention for so long

[run-clever-boy]

Hey lovely author! I was wanting to make a request for Fred Weasley if that's alright! I was wondering if it could be like, based on the song Older by 5 seconds of Summer! If not that's ok, maybe it could be like the reader (she/her) is a Ravenclaw and she's never had a first kiss. She is best friends with Fred and George. She is in love with Fred, and he loves her too. They both kind of know but have been dancing around it and then something happens and he's her first kiss! You don't have to do this if you don't want to I understand! Have a wonderful day/night!💛💛💛

OMG! My first request and I love the idea so much! I’m so sorry this has taken me a bit but I wanted it to be perfect! I added a little angst spin on it, but if you want a shorter more wholesome version, pls let me know :) P.S. I had never heard this song before and now I’m OBSESSED. I have so many ideas for this so if you want me to write another I would be happy to!

Older - Fred Weasley

Fred Weasley x Fem!Ravenclaw!Reader

Warnings: Little jealousy, all fluff!

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: You and Fred have known each other a very long time and you have a crush on him for years. When the Yule Ball comes around, he asks Angelina Johnson to go with him. Little do you know, that’s not who he wanted to ask.

"Y/n! It's filch! Come on!" Fred says as he grabs your hand. You run, guided by the man dragging you down the hallway. The portraits wizz by as you chase the red headed brothers around the victorian hallways, sparing glances behind you to make sure you are evading a boil covered filch. 

You were a year younger than the twins. Shortly after you were sorted, you were trying to find Ravenclaw tower when you finally gave up and asked the help of a tall red headed boy leaning against the wall.

"I'm so sorry, I can't seem to find my way around" you started "do you happen to know where Ravenclaw tower is?"

He smiled politely, "I'm afraid I can't help you, see I'm a Gryffindoor myself and still barely know my way around."

You looked down sheepishly "oh, sorry to bother you..." you started to walk away in no particular direction

"Wait, hey!" he shouted. You turned around on your heel to see him walking towards you.

"Sorry I just realized I never asked your name" He stuck out his hand "I'm Fred Weasley, at your service" you shook his hand and he bowed down eccentrically, making you giggle.

"Y/n y/l/n, pleasure to meet you" you returned his bow with an eccentric curtsey and he laughed to himself.

"Lets see if I can help you find where you are going, y/n" 

That night, you walked around lost for at least 2 hours laughing and talking when you finally arrived at the door. 

"You have to meet George, y/n!" he said as walked you up the stairs toward the common room.

"It seems so! If he's anything like you, we will get along just fine! Oh-" you slapped your head "of course he is gonna be like you, he's your twin brother!" 

You both chuckled and he made you pinky promise that you would meet him and george in the great hall the next day. You went to your dorm and went to bed, thinking about how you haven't laughed so much in years.

That was 5 years ago. You three had been inseparable ever since that night. You stayed at the burrow last summer and met their family. You had felt more at home there than you ever have with your own family. 

You realized that you couldn't ever be without either of the twins, but Fred especially. You realized your massive crush on him as a second year, but you didn't want to ruin the amazing friendship you two had grown into. You said this year that you were going to tell him, really tell him how you felt. Then again, you said you were going to do it last year too. 

You finally stop running when you hit the entrance to gryffindoor tower, painfully aware of how Fred still had a hold of your hand. You let go quickly and look down to hide your embarrassment. You lean against the wall, heaving to catch your breath. 

"We need to go to bed, the first task of the tournament is tommorow. Do you still need help getting bets?" you ask. Many students were betting on who would win the first challenge of the tri-wizard tournament. Of course, the twins decided to make money off it.

"We already have 50 bets placed!" George said enthusiastically.

"Yeah, we are gonna make a mint off this!" Fred agreed.

"Go to bed, goofballs" you say looking each of them in the eye. "Don't get caught!" you call out as head toward your common room for the night. 

"We won't!" they say in unison.

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

You lean on your arm as you see the last of the student's trickling into the big empty space. All the heads of the Hogwarts houses were supposed to teach us all… something, but no one knew what. You chatted with the 4th year you've become good friends with, Luna Lovegood. 

You look up just in time to see professor Flitwick dragging a gramophone double the size of himself into the large room.

"Luna, any idea what this is about?" you asked, breaking her out of a trance.

"Maybe they finally listened to my idea of using music to keep the nargles away. They are everywhere this time of year you know" Luna says in her usual dreamy voice, proceeding to go back into deep thought. In all the time you’ve known her, you still didn’t know what a nargle is.

“Attention! Attention Ravenclaw students!” Flitwick squeaked out. “I have been asked to share another tradition of the Tri-wizard tournament with you all today….” He paused for a moment before clarifying “A dance!”

All students turned and murmured in excitement. Hogwarts had never had a dance so long as you had been there. Your mind wandered to the twins, wondering if they were hearing the same thing. Knowing them, they already figured out a way to profit off it.

“Attention!” Flitwick squeaked once again. “So as not to embarrass ourselves, we will be practicing our dancing during this time. Please find a partner, and I will teach you how to do so properly!”

Everyone around you gets up and starts heading toward someone, even Luna. You didn’t know many boys in your own house so you found one of the other 5th years you knew from potions. You spent the hour or so trying not to step on his feet while he was trying to do the same. By the end of it, you had laughed with him a bit and promised to help him write one of professor Snape’s awful essays.

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

“Y/N!!!!” You hear someone shout from the other end of the hallway. You look up from your book to see Fred and George running at you. You just stay there until you realize they aren’t stopping. You try to move out of the way when Fred and George both pick you up.

“Put me down!! You know I hate it when you do that!” You whine.

“Sorry Y/n, couldn’t resist seeing your face” George says.

They set you down on your feet and you go over to the bench you were sitting on before the rude interruption. You put a bookmark in your book and stuff it in your bag.

“Reading? At a time like this?! Merlin’s beard y/n, you should be out getting a date to the ball!” George says as he snatched your book bag from you.

“Isn’t it more customary for the boys to ask the girls George? And for god’s sakes stop holding my book bag over your head! I have homework to do!” You say as you jump for the book bag you can’t reach. “Speaking of which, why are you two coming to bother me if you have dates to go get?” You ask. You felt your heartbeat quicken. You were hoping with everything in you that Fred would ask you to go.

“Well I already have a date” George starts “It’s dear Freddie here that needs some help!” He hands your book bag down to you and you all start instinctively walking towards the great hall for dinner.

“Is that right? Something stopping you from turning up the charm Fred?” You tease, trying to get an answer out of him.

“You first y/n!” He teases back, nudging you with his elbow.

“I have to go talk with Luna, talk to you guys after supper?” You ask.

“Deal!” The twins say in unison as they walk to Gryffindoor table.

Maybe if you got the time after dinner, you could ask Fred to the ball. If you could get over your nerves that is. Ravenclaw is clever, but not always the bravest. You were hoping Luna could help you figure out a plan.

“Just ask him straight forward, y/n. You’ve known him for years, something like that couldn’t end a 5 year long friendship.” Luna said. You knew she was probably right, but your nerves made the advice hard to follow.

“Okay, I’m gonna do it!” You told her nervously.

The end of the dinner hour just came and you were supposed to meet with the twins. You could feel your throat close up. Your heartbeat was in your stomach.

“Now or never” you mutter to yourself.

“Hey wait up!” You called after the twins.

Now or never

Now or never

They didn’t hear you and kept walking around the corner where you normally met after dinner. They looked like they were having a heated conversation. You have seen the twins argue, but this looked different.

You stopped behind a pillar. Far away enough that they couldn’t see you, but close enough to hear them.

“Fred what were you thinking!” You heard George say. “She would’ve said yes you bloody idiot!”

“You don’t know that!” Fred quipped back.

They both looked around making sure no one was there.

“Why did you ask Angelina to the ball?! Are you mad?!” George said angrily

Your heart dropped.

He asked Angelina to the ball.

He asked Angelina Johnson to the ball.

Tears welt up in your eyes. You tried your best not to sniffle in order to give away that you were listening. You slid down on the wall and sat on the floor, not daring to do anything else. Just for a moment, you look around the corner.

“You have liked Y/n for years Fred! Merlin…” George trails off.

“I know…” Fred replied, looking down at his shoes in guilt. “What do I do now?”

“I don’t know.” George said solemnly. “Where is she anyway? She was supposed to meet us after dinner…” He stopped as he locked eyes with your tear filled ones. You got up as quick as you could, fleeing across the hallway. “Y/n wait!” George called out to you.

You could barely hear anything. Adrenaline running so fast everything was muffled. You looked back only to realize you left your bag where you were hiding earlier. Fred ran to pick it up just as you ran to get it.

“Y/n, y/n please” Fred started

“No it’s fine, I’m over reacting” You laughed dryly through your tears, not looking Fred in the eye as you grabbed your bag. “Please, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have ease dropped, I’m just gonna go to bed”

You grabbed your things and fled to your house. You were sitting on your bed when it all hit you. This wasn’t the end of the world, but you couldn’t stop crying. You rolled over and just tried to get some rest. You could deal with this tomorrow, but tonight it was too much.

▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄▀▄

You hadn’t spoken to Fred since then. You would exchange awkward ‘Hello’s and ‘How are you’d, but not like you used to.

George came by the next morning to check on you and brought you coffee for your early morning class. He clearly felt sorry for you and apologized for everything.

“You can’t apologize for something that never was, George. But I appreciate you trying”

Now it was time to walk into that ball. You decided to go alone and meet up with friends there. Your dress was a beautiful blue gown. A dark blue bodice topped the dress as the long sparkling material became a lighter blue as it went down. You couldn’t imagine anything better to represent you and your house, except for maybe someone to appreciate it.

You descended the large steps in the great hall as your dress flowed with your delicate steps. You waltzed into the winter decorated hall, amazed at the time and care they had taken for this. You caught a lot of attention, but you could only notice Fred’s eyes on you. His mouth parted slightly as he looked at you and nudged George with his arm. He looked at you with amazement in his eyes as well.

You found your friends at a table in the corner of the hall. You made jokes and laughed a lot more than you expected to, but still felt sick to your stomach. The food served on the table looked delicious, but just as you were going to dive in you watched Fred take Angelina to the dance floor. Suddenly you weren’t very hungry anymore.

Hours passed and you were on the dance floor with your friends, dancing to some fast paced tune you didn’t recognize.

“Y/n, we are going to get some fresh air!” They yelled over the loud music “Wanna come?”

“I think I’ll just grab some punch and sit down for a bit, you guys go ahead!” You yelled back, fighting to get out of the crowd. You headed toward the punch table and grabbed a glass. You then sat in the deserted corner you had been sitting in earlier. You watched as the crowd dwindled down, and more and more left with their dates.

You found a somber looking Fred talking to Angelina. He kept fiddling when he was talking, which you found odd because he was never nervous. She put a hand on his shoulder and muttered what you could barely read as ‘I understand’. You then watched as Angelina walked away from Fred, leaving the hall. As if on cue, the song switched to a much slower melody. One that you recognized. One of your favorite muggle songs was playing.

I don't wanna get older Without your head on my shoulder On the day that you leave me I'll forever be bleeding, love

He crossed the room straight towards you. You set down your glass and prepared to get up when you saw him almost run to get to you.

“Wait please y/n don’t leave” He pleaded. You turned around standing right in front of him. “I told her to leave.” He breathed out.

“What?” You asked.

“I told her to leave, Angelina” He said almost as if he was out of breath. “I told her that I needed to go with you, and that if I didn’t do this… I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

You stood there, shocked. Your eyes ran him over. He had brand new dress robes and his hair gelled back. You could hear him swallow hard, waiting for you to react. He instead extended his hand.

“Dance with me?”

“Always” you breathed out, taking his hand.

He took your hand and guided you out to the dance floor, spinning you around the face him and putting his hands on your waist. You put your arms around his neck and rested your head on his chest. You could feel the vibrations as he hummed the melody to the soothing song.

As forever comes closer Hope the world will spin slower I don't wanna get older

You held onto him like it was the last thing you would ever do. Your bodies rocked side to side, the natural feeling of you two together overwhelmed you. You raised your head from his chest to look into his eyes and he raised one of his hands to cup your cheek.

Our love is tailor-made But we let the edges fray Your wicked smile, it says it all Mixed with my sad and cynical

“I love you, Freddie” You say, barely above a whisper.

He leaned down and brought his mouth to your ear “I love you too, y/n.”

He raised his head just enough so that your noses were touching. He started to lean forward when you stopped him.

“Freddie I’ve never…” You looked down, feeling a wave of shyness.

He took his hand and raised your chin. “May I do the honors?” He said sweetly. You nodded.

Before you knew what happened he tilted his head and gently touched his lips to yours. Time froze and you just stayed in that moment forever, the contact taking the breath from your lungs immediately. You were drawn back to reality as he broke the contact, but lingered around very close to you.

You tangle one hand in his fiery red hair and pull him slightly closer and make contact again, more confident this time. You could feel him smile into the kiss. Eventually you broke to breath once again.

“What took you so long?” You tease him. A smile brightening up both of your faces as you buried your head in his chest again.

I don't wanna get older Without your head on my shoulder On the day that you leave me I'll forever be bleeding love As forever comes closer Hope the world will spin slower I don't wanna get older I don't wanna get older

Now on AO3

[villainessxassassin]

A weed in disguise as a delicate flower

Yandere! Wanderer! Scaramouche x fem! reader

warnings: yandere themes (duh), possessive, obsessive, mentions of Scara's real name, He's ooc but that's just how I see him I think, and he want's to gobble up ALL your love for himself like uhmnom nom nom nom nom <3

would it be bad to say im just as obsessed with this fic as when i am with this purple gremlin? oh well

An eccentric being who's risen from his slumber, and now continue's to walk the planes of inazuma.

Abandoned and alone, he has experienced first handedly how cruel the world was. Like beautiful flowers blooming in a feild as the gardener made sure to cherish the fragrance and beauty each one held.

When a flower starts to wilt and loose it's beauty, it is the gardeners job to tend to the blooming bud and make sure it gets all the wanted attention it needs to get better.

His was nothing like that.

A single flaw has costed for him to be tossed aside, plucked from the very soil he came from and casted away like worthless dross.

As he continued to drift farther and farther away from that grim day, the more he could finally look ahead and see something much more appealing to his own thoughts.

A girl he'd had no connections with and has never seen before, who took him in under her roof with nothing but a smile on her face. Her sweet intoxicating voice kept on repeating inside his head like a broken recorder, but instead of being filled with annoyance, it was the complete opposite. soothing he thought.

"It's cold out here during night time, and not to mention dangerous. Come, I'll serve us some tea once we get back to my place." Questions you didn't ask, only pulling him by the sleeve and leading him into your home.

Just from looking at his form you're mind had felt conflicted. The person infront of you had a face worthy of that of a royal's, and yet was dressed in what could've used to have been fine silk was now torn and muddied.

You'd seated him down at your table as you poured him tea, making sure he was comfortable before you sat down on the chair beside him.

Silence

"You shouldn't let strangers inside your house." he'd said with a straight face, only staring at the tea you've prepared.

"How do I know you're not but a guest? coming here to visit from a faraway land."

"I'm not. I've wandered these lands far more many times you've ever taken a step in your entire lifetime."

he was wary to answer you, but the atmosphere you've created in the room eased him by even the slightest bit.

"You're making it sound like all you do is wander, don't you have a place to sta-"

"I don't"

He knows you know. From the way you look at him you must think he's homeless. There were many others who took pity at the sight of him, giving him a place to stay for the night before kicking him out again the next morning.

He was already by the door before you could react. The tea was now cold. The least he could have done was drink from the cup but that would be a sign of him taking in your pity and hospitality. He can't have that.

Human kindness had it's limits, yet yours were at an unknown standing point to him.

"Wait!" he didn't move so you saw that as a sign to continue talking.

"Why don't you just live here with me?"

Conflicted feelings.

For one stayed because he thought of it as nothing but appealing but longed once again for the feeling of being wanted,

and the other who saw an empty void in need of being filled. Like planting a seedling in new fertilized soil.

more under the cut cuz there ain't no way this gon' be a yanfic without the yandere content

He didn't understand why, but since that day he's accepted your offer (and why he said yes was also still unknown to him), there was always this warm feeling inside of him whenever you entered a room.

You treated him differently as that of other guests, but he never complained as he liked that same warm feeling inhabiting his insides at the gesture.

Ever since then, you continued to care for him through things such as feeding, bathing, and even going as far as to give him games such as cards to satiate his boredom.

but he could never be bored when you were around him. Ō̷͉̻̺̝nly ẁ̴͙̜͈̬͕̮̬̗̽́̇hen it wä̷̦̣̜̙̰͕̻́̇͘s y̶̧̛̝̲̳͔̖̦̐́̈́̕o̷̠̘̳͙̳͑̐̂͗͂u̴͖̮̓̀͐.̸̭̩͒̀̇

"Why would you go to such lengths for a stranger" he'd ask you time and time again, and time and time again have you answered "I'll leave that one up to your imagination"

Humans really were cruel, and you were the cruelest, having him feel so weird whenever around you. Having him wrapped around your finger without even you knowing it.

but he liked it. the feeling of being wanted. needed. Even if your intentions to him were still not clear. He didn't care, for as long as you continued to keep him by your side he will continue to stay by you.

A small bud had started to grow in your little garden, and just like any other person should, you cared for it day and night without even the thought of what it would become when fully bloomed.

The boy had finally learned of this feeling when he 'unintentionally' tried to take a peak at a book you've been so immersed in these past couple days.

You haven't been giving him enough attention as of late and it worried him. Was this book so important that you had ignored your one and only guest?̵̢̫͍͙̖̀̒̆͊͆͆

But he could supposedly forgive you, since the said book had atleast answered the question that's been bugging him for quite some time now.

"Love" the book explained

At first the word left a sour taste in his mouth, but after repeating it again and again at the thought of just you, it started to taste sweet like honey at the tip of his tongue.

Love wasn't something he could attain. It was out of reach for him since the day he's reflected on himself as nothing but a husk. A doll that was only made to serve one purpose, but still managed to fail at just that.

But say he could feel what this love was. Was he allowed to feel this way? and for what? you?

unbelievable

He refused to believe it until his mind once again began to wander to the same book that piqued his interest at the topic.

The book's plot line was simple: "Two childhood best friends who caught feelings for each other growing up, and eventually confess their love and are now lovers and happy in their relationship."

Strange.

In a sense, the boy was able to picture the both of you, going through the same story as the characters in the book.

"They've known each other for a very long time" the book read. He'd say you and him have also been together for quite some time, now that he thinks about it.

"They care for each other and are always there for the other when they are needed." He remembers the many times you've placed his needs first above your own, and when you were having any difficulty with a mundane task he'd always be there to lend a helping hand.

He skimmed through the other parts of the story, a smile plastered on his face whenever there was a part in the book that was somewhat similar to the things you guys do in your day to day routine.

But the biggest aspect of the book that had caught his attention at the very beginning was

"They both reciprocate their love for one another and finally became lovers."

Kunikuzushi pondered on that phrase.

Just for reference he told himself, he'll admit to having feelings for you. So now. Just as the book described, both the characters in the story share the same feelings for each other, meaning...

The boy let out a gasp he didn't know he was holding in as he read the same lines over and over again. Taking a step back, with squinted eyes and tints of red adorning his face.

Could it possibly be... that you loved too?

His face went full on red from the tips of his ears to the point of his nose as he tried his best to hide the impish smile crawling up his face with his shaky hands.

That was it right? The reason why you took him in in the first place was because of "love at first sight" perhaps? And here he thought he was the only one who was having trouble being in the same room as you because his heart would always jump around whenever you were near, or how by just the sound of your voice would have him weak in the knees. You felt all those things too right? You have feelings for him as well right? R̵̰̜̒͋Ì̵̟̉̈̑̌͘G̷͖̀H̸̖̟̫͍̉Ţ̷̯̈́̌̀̒̃̌?̵͉͈͉̩̟̓͋̽̈́͝

There it was again, that warm feeling.

But instead of just passing it off as just a cold or natural reaction when a certain someone was around him—

He accepted it for what it was.

That he was in love.

He was overjoyed, thrilled, happy... but he needed to ground himself before he can continue going on thinking like this. He calmed his pants and breathes before steadying himself on the nearest piece of furniture near him

This was great. For once in his— as he would describe "uneventful life", he actually finally felt alive again.

But he shouldn't celebrate too soon. He's just realized now throughout the many years of being with you, you had yet to have given a label to your relationship.

He didn't know what came over him, but he needed you. now.

He wasn't going to just sit there and wait for the universe to give him an answer. His ego was inflated and there was no way he was backing down without a proper reply to what he feels for you.

As the flower begins to grow more leaves and roots, so does its need to be given more close attention. One must always water their plants daily, giving it all the necessities it needs in order to grow up healthy and beautifully.

But there are times where you give them a little too much of what they need. So they adapt to what you give and will only continue to ask for more and more.

Huh, what a cunning flower you must be.

____

I'll be making a part 2 soon, hope you enjoyed my self indulgent (kinda) yanfic for the one and only purple midget

-kishira

[clandestinegardenias]

A CERTAIN STEP TOWARDS FALLING IN LOVE PLEASE

no lie i would trade my firstborn child for jwds pride and prejudice au

yesssss I LOVE THIS ONE, @stormyoceans and I talked some time ago about how Beyond Evil is essentially just a P&P AU anyway--handsome arrogant city boy with too much money/power comes to a small backwater town and promptly falls in hate/love with local eccentric with fine eyes. ANYWAY. This fic is my attempt to write something RELATIVELY short that COULD turn into a longer multi-chapter piece at some point.

Summary: Pride & Prejudice AU. Dongsik teaches Juwon to waltz.

Snippet:

Just over Hyeok’s left shoulder there’s a swirl of dark curls, escaping charmingly from a loose tie. 

He tries to look away, quickly, but before he can the dancers shift and he can see a smile, a twinkling eye as Lee Dongsik leans in to whisper something to his twin sister, who he’s currently leading in the dance. 

Juwon is hit with a stunning pulse of relief that it’s no one else–he’s not dancing with any of the eligible young women that wait all along the benches. Just with his sister. 

Immediately, he suppresses the thought and the emotion that comes with it. Why should he care who Dongsik dances with?

Because it could have been you, his brain whispers into his consciousness. Because until it is you, you’ll be jealous of every single–

He turns abruptly, facing the window and loosening his cravat slightly. He’ll look rather like a trollop like this, all hot and bothered and showing too much skin. 

Oh well. They could hardly think less of him.

Juwon’s entrance into local society had been…less than precipitous. 

It is his nature to be reserved. It is his preference not to touch a lady’s proffered hand, much less bend to kiss it. 

He has been told he is cold, an ice prince, unfeeling and uncaring. Too quick to judge, too unyielding once his opinion is formed. He does not see anything wrong with this. Underneath, his emotions roll like the tides, dragging him about against his will, bashing him against the rocks, forcing him to scramble for safety, for shelter, only to be repelled again and again. 

It is good to be aloof. It is right to be unswayable. His father’s words. 

In general, Juwon does not regret his actions. He acts only in accordance with his principles, and if others find fault with him then they would not have been a worthy acquaintance to begin with. 

In one regard, however, he feels a certain pang of what could, he imagines, be considered remorse. 

—--------------

It had been the first ball in the neighborhood. Hyeok, ever the peacemaker, had been suggesting dance partners for him in an increasingly frustrated attempt to make a favorable impression. Juwon denied each offering simply and succinctly–”No.” 

Until Hyeok suggested Lee Yuyeon. For some reason he still doesn’t understand, Juwon had faltered. Barely, but his hesitation was enough that Hyeok was on him like a cat on a mouse. 

“Aha, so our ice prince does have some hot blood in his veins! I knew it was only a matter of time before I found out your type. Come, let us walk over and introduce ourselves and then you will ask her to dance–”

Juwon had pulled his arm from Hyeok’s grip, a look of horror spreading on his face. 

“I will do no such thing.”

“No? Too shy? No matter, I’ll go make the introduction for you, if that’s easier. It’s a small matter.”

“Absolutely not.” Hyeok had finally turned to look at him, eyes wide in response to the fear revulsion in Juwon’s voice. 

“No? But she is, in fact, very pretty. Anyone can see that. Come, Juwon, you must dance with at least one lady. One single dance. What can it hurt? She is certainly the most agreeable creature in the room.”

Just for a second, unaccountably, an image of her brother had flashed before Juwon’s eyes.

[adriabun]

angel this is your free pass ask to go ham about whatever’s on your mind w petyle. i am laying down, kicking my feet, and listening 👀

ive been sitting on this in my inbox for so long just trying to collect my thoughts and so many ppl have asked me that...now it is time.....ok

i think the thing i want to talk most about is the beginning of their relationship and what their relationship actually is ...like what about it is making me lose my marbles...i want to get all of this information out because as the ceo of petyle i need everyone to understand how they are characterised and how to correctly view their relationship. anything outside what i think is simply lies and flanderization..../hj.........

i typically default to college-age setting so thats what ill be centering on but my ideas of their dynamic can be malleable to other ages (canon, high school, post covid at a stretch etc)

pete has always been interested in kyle from a distance- theyve never really spoken, but after stan becomes a normie again after his goth stint michael points stan out at school like 'look at that conformist lol' and petes like 'yeah what a loser. also who the fuck is the guy in green.'

we've seen from basic cable where he has a crush on sophie that he isnt necessarily afraid of putting himself out there when hes interested in someone but hes kind of awkward about it. so he approaches kyle a couple of times to see what his deal is. this makes all the other goth kids INSANE like not in a negative way they r either in disbelief (michael, firkle) or think its hilarious (henrietta) that pete has a crush on kyle, he massively denies its a romantic thing tho bc hes not a gaywad...he just wants to know whats up with this guy and why hes so interesting

ngl kyle is probably suspicious or at least confused as why pete has started talking to him once hes over the initial weirdness he realises pete is kind of chill but the award palatable small talk hes trying to have with kyle is really annoying kyle def snaps at some point and asks him what the fuck pete is trying to gain out of this because its obvious hes not being himself.

pete is stubborn enough to not back down atp, hes not gonna let a conformist own him like that. so he starts being himself so much, to a degree where hes almost saying 'you wanted this, fine here you fucking go' in order to make kyle upset. but it doesnt work oh no!! kyle finds his goth eccentricities and pessimism so stupid thats its endearing!!!

nothing between them is inherently romantic or even entirely..friendly. more than anything they enjoy annoying each other in a constant loop of quips and rolled eyes. but theres just like.. something fiery underneath they wont address until they get wasted at a house party and let the alcohol do the talking

i have a habit of favouring either onesided petyle (on petes side ofc) or one that ends with a bad breakup because #stylesweep so a lot of my thoughts are biased towards that sort of ending. i just like relationship/situationship angst ok ...ive been there many times. a part of this angst is the idea that theyre each just 'the best they can get' in the moment. Pete's too internally self loathing to think kyle is actually in love with him or anything. theyre just having fun. its not serious. he refuses to think into any of it emotionally, though its kind of eating him up inside. meanwhile kyle is literally just taking it as it is. he feels a little guilty. he doesnt like pete like that (???) but he cant deny flirting and fooling around with him is fun. and also a distraction from stan getting back with wendy.

anyway thats what i have for now. let me know if anyone wants any more i guess. or any specifics about their actual relationship that i have bouncing around. idk!

[internationalteaparty]

MISS CONGENIALITY KACY AU

- Lucy is a new FBI agent in a team mostly men. Her boss is Jane Tennant, one of the rare female ASACs. Lucy loves her team and will do anything to impress her boss.

- They are going after a serial bomber and get a clue that their next target is the US beauty pageant contest.

- Figured that someone's gotta go undercover, Lucy jumps at the chance to prove herself. She might think that beauty pageants are stupid, and while she is confident in her looks, she knows she's not exactly the pageant kind of girl, but that's what undercover is right, to be someone you're not? So she can swap her combat boots for heels, her muscle tees and pants for dresses, and be less loud and brass.

- Tennant is worried, of course. This is a high profile case and it would be Lucy's first time undercover. But she has complete faith in Lucy and she will be running point herself, and Jesse and Kai will be on watch out.

- So Lucy will be going as Miss Texas, and they call in a "pageant coach," an eccentric man named Ernie.

- (cue funny make-over montage that looks more like Lucy and Ernie's spa day)

- It might be different from Lucy's actual personality, but growing up from a rich family means she can pretend and easily fit in.

- Everything is going fine until she meets Miss California, Kate Whistler.

- Holy shit Kate Whistler

- Lucy's impeccable gaydar also clocks Kate's not-so-straight vibe immediately.

- So she gathers information and flirts with Kate at the same time because she is that good of a special agent and listen Ernie this is for the mission okay?

- And they happen to share a room.

- (cue omg they're roommates squeal)

- They talk and Lucy finds out that Kate is smart, and charming, and funny as hell, and how can Kucy resist that?

- Meanwhile Kate is also in trouble because she just wants to win this competition but she can't help but pay attention to the hurricane force that is Lucy Tara.

- They talk well into the night and both wake up tired the next day.

- Both are certainly attracted to each other but neither will really make a move because Kate doesn't want it to mess up the competition while Lucy can't let it mess up the mission.

- But then one night Kate wanna go for a swim and Lucy is practically short-circuited when she sees Kate Whistler in a bikini and while she is not at all interested in going swimming she is very much into Kate swimming.

- So Kate is swimming in the pool and Lucy is on a bench watching and they just banter like usual. But then Lucy reaches out to help pull Kate up and they kiss and well...

- (Lucy is secretly glad she saw Kate in a bikini before the swimsuit contest day cause she would have choked on stage)

- Kate wants their thing to be lowkey, basically a secret. Lucy finds it weird, but considering that she is on a mission, she agrees.

- For talent day, Lucy does some back flips and such from her cheerleader days. Kate sings.

- Stuffs happen (cue investigative montage) and now. Now Kate is a suspect and Lucy is tasked to keep an eye on her.

- Lucy tells Tennant she doesn't think it's Kate, and Tennant believes her, but wants her to keep an eye on her anyway just in case, and dig into the other candidates.

- Lucy comes back to their room trying to act like normal but in reality she feels guilty because as long as Kate is a suspect Lucy cannot have any sort of personal relationship with her.

- So she pulls away and they kinda fight bc Kate doesn't understand why Lucy is acting like this all of a sudden

- Then Lucy made a comment about how Kate only cares about winning, and that hurts Kate so much bc they've talked and she thought Lucy understood her.

- Guess not.

- Things are tense that day.

- Sone point in the nexxt few days, while looking for some stuff Kate finds Lucy's FBI badge.

- She confronts Lucy.

- "Not only do you think I care so much about winning I would what? Sabotage the competition on purpose? Hurt people to get what I want? Is that what you think of me? Do you really trust me so little?"

- Lucy tries to explain but it keeps getting worse bc there are things she cant tell Kate.

- Last day comes and they narrow it down to the hosts. Kate won't look at her at all.

- Kate wins. The bomb is in the tiara.

- Lucy runs like hell and takes it off Kate's head before she can react and flung it away.

- It blows up, the team arrests the perp yada yada yada anyway back to the lesbians.

- They are gazing into each other's eyes and Lucy explains herself. She apologizes and Kate apologizes and then they kiss on television.

- They live happily ever after.

[luffyvace]

MINA ASHIDO X GN READER

SHES SO PRETTY

AND CUTE

i do gn reader so much but it’s probably fine since it’s inclusive. (i’m gonna do her again with poc/black reader- also imma do more black reader in general ☆)

SHES BEST GIRL

i love her and you do too

she’s an amazing girlfriend

need mental support?

she’s on it! uplifting music, parties and motivation for the win!

need physical support?

she’s got your back in fights

shes got your back (literally) in massages

shes your shoulder to lean on

loves to see you smile and laugh

and blushing too so she teases you

if your just as eccentric as her you two are WILD CARDS

if not—

“come onn! give in to peer pressure!”

won’t give up until she’s convinced you to do whatever she was trying to get you to do at least once

if you’ve got low self esteem she ain’t allowing it

she’ll erase the thought from your brain before you can think it

”what do you mean you weren’t as good as everybody else?! did you see yourself out there?! do you need me to show you the video again?? you did great! you were terrific! a star!”

”i just don’t think so mina..i don’t know, i feel like ___ did way better”

”NO WAY! you are at the top of our class in every aspect and you know it! there’s no way i’m letting you doubt yourself like that so don’t even think about!”

”how can you become a hero thinking like that _____?? heroes are supposed to give people hope! not give up hope themselves!!”

yeah.

it ain’t happening

with how pushy she is, your bound to have a few more positive thoughts

”fine!! you don’t think your strong enough? let’s train then!”

she won’t go easy on you either

”i thought you said you weren’t good enough? if you really think so and you want to be, here’s the training!”

loves you to bits and pieces

whatever your going through?

nu uh.

‘WERE going through’

yall are a team and she calls the shots on that one

but anyways :)

mina is a cuddle bug and will trap you if you don’t give her cuddles often enough

she traps you anyways

sometimes to mess with you

other times because she wants more affection from you

her love languages are ALL

yes. all of the above.

she does anything to make you happy and this is her way of showing it

she really doesn’t expect anything in return either

although she might bribe you

”awww cmon! please? remember that super cool mirko figure that you wanted? that I got you??”

she means well by it i promise

is down to do practically anything with you

she’ll teach you how to dance btw

even if you really don’t want to 😭

gets mad and fake pouts if you genuinely don’t want to learn

shes still coming over for her cuddles tonight tho. 😐

what you thought this was? 🤨

a free for all??

nahh

you gettin this work.

btw-

boy

girl

them

it

xe

xer

YOU COMIN TO THE GIRLS NIGHT.

she needs you there

you just have to be there ok?

ok.

:)

if your intelligent or at least understand the homework your gonna have to remind and help her

if your not and forget as well

🧍‍♀️

“momo we need help with the homewor-“

ngl she unintentionally does pda

its just the fact that she doesn’t pay attention to the people around you

and doesn’t care

she will hold your hand, peck your lips, giving you lots and lots of hugs in public

but she won’t make out with you- that’s for private

if you don’t like any pda

apologies but ya girl is going to keep forgetting

“whoops!”

‘😑’

‘😅’ “IT WAS BY ACCIDENT I SWEAR”

yeaaa..

sure mina

anyway

she’ll want to do self/hair/skin care with you

if you don’t wanna you gotta at least be there while she does

and hopefully sing some songs with her

please?

pretty please?

with a cherry on top?!

why nooooott?? :(

fine! >:(

but if you do..!

WOOP WOOP!!

y’all sing and dance around and do the whole shabang

hyping each other up and all

its so fun

also a really good gift giver

she remembers stuff you say you like wayyyy better than her homework

so she gifts you whenever she sees something she knows you’d like

or wants to see your surprised happy face

she’s just a ball of love

please love her back

she’s not the best at cooking or baking 😭

if you are she won’t stop bugging you to cook/bake

especially bake-

for her and the girls-

lowkey brags about your skills

”seee? i told you ____ can cook really well!”

”____ is amazing! i’d bet on them in a baking competition with sato!”

her room isnt messy she just has a lot of stuff

also she trusts you a lot with her secrets

like you were the first person she told that kirishima had black hair in middle school

she gossips to you as well

even if you don’t wanna hear please listen!

your her partner in crime!

if your really strong and at the top of your class she’ll brag about that too

she doesn’t mean to put anyone down but she’s just so proud of you!

10/10 i recommend as a girlfriend

shes your best friend, lover and soulmate i swear!

stan ashido!!

SHES BEST GIRL!!

SHE’S A OUTSTANDING PARTNER!!

IN MINA WE TRUST!!

hope you enjoyed :)

[su-scream]

Eichi little life summary!

So, you all know that Eichi was not a very healthy kid. Most of his youth is set in stone in the hospital.

His only entertainment is the TV, and all other stuff that can use to watch things that are outside of that dam hospital that he hate to stuck in.

(Circus event storyline)

He got amazed by idols and came the love and obsessed with it.

Eichi got a chance to witness Wataru's show ( even if it from a TV or something ) and yes, he became an Wataru hardcore fan.

There are lots of time Eichi mention that he get to witness or having an idea for the next festival/show from when he was in the hospital and watching other idol shows.

To Eichi, Wataru was shiny little star. Far away from him. Even if he's an rich as hell kid, even if he was somewhat a heir, he understand that he can't reach out and touch it. For that star was too far and gorgeous for a person like him to touch.

And this is a welcoming change! I mean, Eichi came from a rich household and was canonly acted like Tori when he was young. But when he gets to know about idols and gets to know Wataru from that square and flat TV screen, he realizes his limit.

When he wants to be as beautiful and shiny as Wataru, following his pure love for idols. He begged his parents to let him study at Yumenosaki school. And after all that effort? What did he get, a school that was full of terrible people and a broken system.

That is why he started the war, he made an effort to make the school a better place. He made 5 Eccentric, came up with Fine to defeat them, to brighten up the school.

Then, he died. Like a burning star that ran out of energy and was on the vein of death.

That why, the first time he got send back to the hospital, he said: "I don't want to die."

But at last, when the war ended, he wishes to die.

He had did such a brutal things, never did he wish for forgiveness. Eichi is...not an evil villain, he's a well-written character who understand the action he made.

Eichi was desperate to die not because he was so sick that he can't keep up with the idol work anymore. But because he was sunken down into the states of agony and pain. He's an animal, moaning for his own death to come.

To Eichi, he has finished his mission to made this school a better place. Now, for he had committed such faults. Brutally, hurting people, made them suffer. He thoughts, maybe even god wouldn't forgive him.

He should've been dead.

What did he do, why, he was doing this for the benefit of the school, yes. Because he love idols, he don't want to see them rotten away from the bright and shine a like that he always see on the TV.

He was planning his doom from the very beginning. That why he made a contract with Fine instead of a bonding friendship.

If he die, he want them to live freely. Don't moan for him, don't be sad when he die. He don't feel like he deserve it at all.

That is why, Tsumugi is called a "Bluebird" and when Fine is no more when Wataru visits Eichi, he calls Tsumugi: "The bird blue you set free."

The bird Eichi set free, wishing that it would never go back to him, the one who had hurt them once.

Back to Wataru.

Eichi always has eyes on him, but even if they are standing next to each other, having a normal conversation. He still has this uncomfortable feeling in his heart.

This can't be real. To Eichi, this talk, this meeting, he's smiling face with joy and grief was not for Eichi but for something else.

He just, can't put his head together to believe that the unreachable star is now right in-fort of his eyes.

There was too much on his mind that it crashed and went all empty at that moment.

Oh god! He just saw such a pathetic side of me.

Why is he here? How did he get in, this shine star that I can't never reach just land it down like this?

No, don't forget what you have done Eichi! Maybe, he was here for revenge, yes, that could only be the reason why! He wasn't here for me, he was here for all his precious friends...

Unlike me, who had broke their bond with the one that could have share joy and pain with me.

He push Wataru away with all his might, but at the end, Wataru won. Convince him to think otherwise, stop trying to made himself disappear.

Because, look! His lovely shiny idols that he always looks up to is here, ready to stay by his side. Why bother to run away now? There's a new chance, so why don't you trust me, the Amazing Wataru before giving up on yourself?

And, somehow Wataru was able to rub it off on him.

Saved him from finding his own way to doom. Pull him away from the road of suicide.

Wataru needs him. That the reason.

Wataru wants to be his next company, help Eichi to get through the hardships.

And that...save Eichi. He was no longer want death to come and pick him up. He want to stay.

Even if, he have to one again be the villain of the story. Wataru was there for him, why bother giving up now? He realizes, he still got lots of things he wants to do and lots of time to speed with Wataru.

He was saved...and from that moment on, he decided to live a life.

[xophryz]

Saltburn

Hi, I am King, and this is PestoButGay. 

Talking of gay, have you seen Saltburn Yet? The homoerotic period piece that lead to a bajillion TikTok’s of men walking around their houses with imitating ART as Sophie Ellis Baxter plays in the background? 

Saltburn, transports viewers to the idyllic Saltburn House, where the lives of its residents are set against the backdrop of a picturesque summer sandwiched between uni years at Oxford. 

Quite similarly I was asked to my friends summer house in a seaside town of Lyme, equally gay, but a bit less of the whole drinking cummy bath water. 

The film follows the eclectic cast, as we follow Oliver, played by Barry Keoghan in awe over Felix, Jacob Elordi, as we are pulled through a scarily British cast ranging from Rosamund Pike to Richard E.Grant and their pets that reside at Saltburn house, from the enigmatic Venetia, to the eccentric Farleigh, or the wine aunt we all have, Pamela. The film, written by Rosamund Pike, as the characters navigate love, loss, and even the passage of time in the quintessentially British setting and class divides we have all become so used to. 

What I really love, is the way the house and class is a sort of character in itself in the film. “Saltburn” was this character referred to as if it was heaven, it serves as more than a backdrop for the unfolding drama, it breathes and represents so much more than looks. It feels like its a fully realised character, with its own quirks, history and personality, I even picked on references to minotaurs or paintings like The Garden of Earthly Delights. 

"Saltburn" explores the theme of class as another character in the story with the divide between the residents of the estate and the working-class inhabitants of the town to the subtle power dynamics at play within each social dynamic. The film's exploration of class consciousness and the inherent tensions between privilege and poverty adds depth and complexity to its characters and their interactions, shedding light on the broader social landscape of post-war Britain. And I love it even more because 2006 is the perfect setting for this that encapsulates all of those themes, and I think it is so interesting that what for many of us was our childhood can be considered a period piece.

I think I would give it about a 3 and a half stars to be annoying. The half star is purely because we got to see Barry Keoghan naked. 

***.

In all honesty, what was that? Man! What a brilliant but also terrible but also stunning and grotesque and stupid and amazing film, yet the film loses me the most at the end. Basically up until he kills Venetia i’m with it! But then it unravels and i understand the thought behind it but at the same time its all dumb!!!!!!!!

I loooved the acting, Rosamund Pike especially but strong performances across the board. Visually stunning, all the things you want in a film, like constantly i found myself grinning at how well shots were put together or the way colours bounced off one another.

The shock value all kinda works for me, where as others looked like they had seen a ghost, I was sat there like it was any other day of the week, It worked for me, the like sexual shock value like the bathtub and the vampire and the grave was all a lotta fun. It just sticks the landing so much to the point it drags down the whole film. 

I think the ending would be fine (still bad, but fine) if it didn’t re-contextualise other parts of the film from earlier and give them worse meaning!! he doesn’t need to be this mastermind what the hell is the point in that, let him be a weird little Liverpudlian freak who’s psychosexually obsessed with a 6'6 man and his big ass house like I thought this film was going to be about! Him being from Liverpool had so much potential for further analysis and points to be made to critique North/South class divides and dynamics in place in British society, that were just sort of lost and that was such a shame 

i can see my opinion changing, either for the good or the worse tbh, depending on how it sits with me and whether i find myself thinking about the good or the bad more. 

[wandaluvstacos]

THE ONLY SECONDS THAT MATTER

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE IS UP!

Genre: Contemporary Romance Rating: 18+

Includes: Extensive horse nerdery + cowboys, mxm romance (1 trans + 1 cis), some discussion child abuse, some instances of trans/homophobia (it is rural Oklahoma, y'all), depression, occasional sex scene (but it’s a slow burn for sure)

Victor Ortiz-Bennett had some reservations about moving to Oklahoma, but his late aunt willed him a 70-acre horse farm, and he decides to fulfill his dream of running and operating his own training facility. Victor’s been around the reining horse show circuit for a while, and he’s ready to settle down, travel less, and spend more time with the horses he loves and away from the people he can do without. That is, until he picks up a horse at an auction with a bucking problem he can’t fix, and he has to take her to the one guy who can ride anything– Johnny Stearns, a retired professional rodeo rider.

Johnny Stearns is loud, chatty, eccentric, and fears nothing, exactly Victor’s opposite. However, Victor finds himself sinking into an odd friendship with this new foul-mouthed cowboy without a filter, diving deeper into the mess that is Johnny’s life until there’s no way to extract himself from it. Johnny may talk a tough game, but there’s more to him than he’ll let most people see. Victor knows getting in too deep will mean a rough ride, but if there’s anything Johnny’s taught him, it’s how to stay in the saddle.

Excerpt:

Victor had to think about it a minute, because that part of his life felt so far away, and it almost felt like someone else had lived it. He’d never really been a woman—just himself living in a body that people perceived as female. At the time he hadn’t known that though, or at least he hadn’t had the words to understand it.

“I miss being trusted by women,” Victor said after a short silence. “Now I can tell they hold back around me. They don’t want to be perceived as being too friendly, in fear I’ll hit on them. Which really sucks, because pretty much all my friends growing up were girls. Once women started seeing me as a man, they stopped being as nice.”

“What about men? Did your relationship with them change?”

“Of course. Men stopped being as nice to me, too. Though I am shocked by how comfortable men are naked around each other. The first time I went into a men’s locker room this group of guys were all naked and slapping each others butts’ with towels. I have no clue how straight men can be so homophobic and then act like that in private.”

Johnny snickered. “The complexity of man.”

“It is great not to get hit on random middle-aged men at the grocery store anymore. I get to be invisible. Which some men complain about, but I’m fine with it. If you spend your formative teenage years getting objectified by divorced dads, you’re kinda over it forever. Though maybe it is a little bit of a shame, because I’m now at the age that I’m horny for divorced dads.”

Johnny laughed. “I don’t meet that criteria.”

“You’re in the demographic.”

Johnny sighed and slumped slightly in the passenger seat. “I was invisible to women until I started doing well in rodeo. I didn’t even have that much money, but I guess the notoriety gets you points.”

“Confidence, too, probably. The better you are at something, the more confident you act.”

Johnny nodded. “Makes sense. I had no self-esteem until my 20’s. Hell, it still ain’t much, especially after I had to retire.”

Victor reached across the median and rested a hand on Johnny’s thigh. “That’s surprisingly self-aware.”

“I think about things sometimes.” Johnny sounded serious, but when Victor glanced at him, he had that goofy ass grin on his face. It always made Victor’s chest clench, especially now that the sun was at a perfect angle to light a rim along his profile. No one would ever call Johnny classically handsome, but to Victor he was beautiful, even with his crooked teeth and rodeo scars and the crow’s feet that the sun had baked into the corner of each eye when he beamed. If Victor weren’t driving on a highway, he might have pulled over and kissed him. Instead he just squeezed his leg and smiled.

[twilightmalachite]

Altered - Epilogue 7

Author: Akira

Characters: Eichi, Natsume

Translator: Mika Enstars

"HeY, Sakasaki Natsume. Your eyes are open properLY, rigHT?"

Season: Winter

Location: OO Stage (fine-O)

⚠️ This is an import from a unproofed Twitter Livetweet!

Eichi: History repeats itself.

The first time it is a tragedy, the second time it is a comedy.

No matter how serious the content is, if the same thing is demonstrated, it will become apathetic.

Continue the same thing many times over, and there will be a dry laugh.

Sakasaki-kun, you might not intend it, but we really are similar.

Although you may see me now as an immeasurably huge, abominable monster, now.

But, at that time, my young self saw you all—the Five Eccentrics, as the very same thing.

A mighty foe that would crush me if I were to get too close.

Because I was frightened and intimidated to desperation, I grew thorns, and attacked you excessively.

I tried crushing you using more violence and malice than was necessary.

In doing so, I destroyed even what I should have loved and cherished.

It feels it should be a mistake how we’re even able to get together again and laugh with each other like this.

We had parted ways so fatally.

You and I are alike.

However, I do not want you to make the same mistakes I did. I know it sounds hypocritical, but I mean that with sincerity.

I had envied you all.

I wanted to become like you all.

Despite this, I had gained something just as precious as you had before I knew it.

And I let it go, without having ever realized it.

I’ve always regretted it.

How is it? Is this farce of mine funny?

Just look around me. This is all that I let fall. They were such a bright and dazzling pure white, but I didn’t see them at all.

Hiyori-kun, Nagisa-kun.

Tsumugi.

And everyone from fine, who resonated with and spread their wings together with me.

Because I was flying out in the lead, and couldn’t see anything when I looked down, I allowed them to keep getting lost.

And so in order to reach our destination, an idol-like stage where we can laugh together—so many detours had to be made.

I want you to learn from my foolishness, Sakasaki-kun.

Don’t make the same mistakes that I did. You’re a proper idol—You should create a shining stage that brings about happy laughter, not one of ridicule.

Beside you is the bluebird that I released back then.

You mustn’t ever let it go.

Get along as best as possible, and live happily ever after together.

For eternity, like a fairy tale.

Only then will you have finally rise victorious over me.

And I wouldn’t regret it too much, either.

Eichi: Right now, I have the most magnificent, most beautiful bird in the world by my side.

That happy youth, that bluebird, will never be mine again.

I mourn that fact.

I mourn it deeper and heavier than the final stage of the war.

And I’ll mourn it for the rest of my life.

That will be my punishment.

There’s no need for you to dirty your own hands, boy.

"♪~♪~♪"

Location: OO Stage (Altered)

Natsume: Tenshouin Eichi, -senpai… He’s looking at me distastefulLY.

He’s like a smug parent entrusting their own dreams into their child’s hanDS.

You’re not my parenT, not a brothER, and definitely nothing like famiLY.

The first such precious friends I found outside of my famiLY… Were those that you mercilessly trampled to deaTH.

That’s why I lived my life hating yOU.

BuT, I couldn’t see the reality behind iT.

To pity and feel bad for my niisans, was like making a fool of them without understanding thEM.

HeY, Sakasaki Natsume. Your eyes are open properLY, rigHT?

I’m not sure if you’re seeing anythiNG.

Rei-niisan.

Shu-niisan, Kanata-niisan, Wataru-niisan.

I was the one who couldn’t see my beloved Five Eccentrics more than anyone elSE.

But, right now I can see my niisans clearLY.

And they’re shining so brightLY, like the sUN.

Natsume: I had immersed myself up to my head in ignorant darkneSS. I might’ve been the only one who thought such thinGS.

I was just covering my eyES. I had been dreaming this entire tiME, looking away from this realiTY.

BuT, I’m awake nOW…

This tiME, I’ll open my eyes and face this realitY.

Life is a performaNCE.

And right nOW, I’m standing on the stage of oNE.

If I dance with my eyes closED, it’ll be dangeroUS, you knOW.

“♪~♪~♪”

← prev | story directory

[pineappleciders]

hii could I request a omori matchup? I'm pan so any gender is fine

personality - intp, I'm very introverted in public, i don't like starting conversations (unless i really have to) and i struggle with anxiety so often i overthink my interactions. Get to know me and I'm extroverted, airheaded and clumsy, eccentric, and pretty corny. I enjoy making jokes (dad jokes r my fav) or oddly sexual ones bc i can be a big flirt. I'm a therapist friend, always listening and giving advice. I'm a very blunt person, like if you need the truth, it's coming to you. I'm childish- but also a motherlike/responsible person when I need to be! i'm forgetful though, so don't ever ask me to remember something for ya. I'm not organized nor do I ever do my work on time, I wait until the last minute to do anything! I have moodswings and some unhealthy mental thoughts, so sometimes i can't control my emotions and isolate myself from others. I just need alone time for awhile and then I'm okay, but I try not to completely let it bother me (ah yes, I'm the type to bottle up emotions.).

physical des - I'm around 5'3, I have black/brownish hair? it's a mix shoulder length hair(Reaches alittle past my shoulder) it's always straightened even though it's naturally curly! I have a mole under my left eye, if you look hard enough lol and I have a septum piercing! I'm kind of curvy too so theres that :P

fun facts!

ironic but my nickname is mari ( my friends call me that) and I actually play the piano , i'm able to play final duet <3

I love dressing in alternative/gothic fashion. I love any emo/goth style such as scene emo or mall goth the most

I love kel and aubrey- out of the group. Spaceboyfriend or Pluto were my favorites from the game

I have a low social battery, specially when I'm in school or public places ( I love talking so much I rant for hours on end about anime) so it's weird to others how quick my talktiveness changes

tysm take ur time and make sure to take care!!

A/N: THIS FONT IS VERY SMALL AND I AM BLIND SO IM SORRY IF I MISREAD ANYTHING!!

I MATCH YOU WITH...

SUNNY!!!!

first few meetings, it's kind of difficult for you two to talk to each other

neither of you like starting a conversation or speaking much, so when you talk it's really only in response to someone or one of you blurts something out and it starts convo

SUNNY has an attraction to you. i mean like he just feels drawn to you, and feels safe like he can kind of be himself around you

as you open up to each other, he acts unimpressed sometimes but he really enjoys your silly personality

SUNNY doesn't emote much but he has a great sense of humor. honestly he laughs at your dad jokes (not because they're funny but because they suck)

if you pull any flirty stuff on him, he'd be really lost. he's still kind of stuck in the OMORI mindset, so in his head he thinks he's completely unaffected and deadpanning.

but irl he's sweating and red, and gets super shy

SUNNY is someone who likes to live outside of reality. he doesn't want to face truth, but as he recovers from his past post-good ending, your bluntness could actually help him come back to reality instead of hiding in his mind

you remind him of KEL, to an extent. kinda goofy, clumsy, sometimes air-headed. but he likes that about you. your personalities clash in some way, but they also are very similar.

SUNNY relates to isolation and bottling up emotions until they pop. i think you two would do therapeutic things together, as you both have some things that you want to work out, so why not together? :)

if you do want to be alone though, he understands. he does the same thing too, and you guys respect each others boundaries while still helping the other take a step outside their comfort zone

years into the future, i think it would help SUNNY if you two were to play the final duet together

after all, he does see some of MARI in you, and (assuming you met after the incident) he knows that she would've loved you dearly. it would probably take a lot of healing, but you'll get there together

SUNNY also really likes alternative fashion, but he never really had the money, thought, or time to get into it

so it'll be super cool for him if you lend him some of your clothes or if you two went shopping!! he thinks you both look sick as fuck

he's quick to notice if you're burning out socially, and will get you two out of there asap (he also has a low social battery, but not when it comes to his friends)

he likes hearing you talk about stuff you like. he's a great listener, and he's sure to let you know you aren't annoying him or anything like that. he also has a lot of stuff he wants to rant about, but it'll probably take time for him to open up

[shipcestuous]

Silly little Aemond/Helaena thought... since it seems we're on a roll today. ;)

I imagine that, after being mocked by his brother and cousins and putting so much importance on getting a dragon of his own only to have his bonding with Vhagar overshadowed by all the mess that followed it, Aemond actually still cares a lot about how people see him even if he pretends he doesn't give a damn. People disliking or hating him or being scared of him? That's fine with him, because in the end it still gives him the upper hand, makes him able to goad them or terrorize them into doing whatever he wants. People laughing at him? He can't stand it. (Lucerys bringing up the pig thing again, however subtly or unintentionally? Worth ruining possibly the last chance at peace between the Greens and Blacks.)

Now, let's take Helaena, who's also been mocked, dismissed, called stupid since she was a child but seems to have taken it all in stride, without holding grudges. Who's so gentle and delicate, so unlike her proud, violent, unforgiving brother...

What if she was the only one he felt comfortable expressing any real vulnerability with anymore, trusting her to never laugh at him or reject him? What if she was the only one he still trusted enough to see his tears and shame, after deciding he was too grown (and had to be too strong) to let even their mother handle them? What if she was the only one able to soothe his embarrassment and frustration before they even had the chance to become destructive rage? (Just think about an alternative take on the Doomed Family Dinner where she was there to put a hand on his shoulder and say some calming words in his ear before he started up with his "Strong boys" toast...!)

And on the other hand, what if he was the only one always ready to defend her against anyone who called her weird or stupid, no matter the cost? What if he was always willing to throw hands for her? What if he was her knight in not-so-shining armor who was also always ready to let her ramble on about fascinating bugs and never looked at her funny because of her prophecies even without understanding them?

Yesssssssss.

This is how I see them, Anon. We haven't seen Aemond and Helaena have a long quiet moment alone together and I just imagine this transformation for each of them, because they're with the one person they can entirely let down their guard, be themselves, not have to worry what the other person is going to say/do/think.

I think Aemon loves Helaena deeply for a lot of reasons but I think the fact that she's the only person (just headcanoning here) that he can be relaxed around and let go of all that tension that is so much a part of his interactions with other characters makes her his favorite person and very dear to him.

And I love that image of Helaena putting her hand on Aemond's shoulder, and whispering to him, or maybe not even needing to, and how that might entirely change his mood or his course of action. What I wouldn't give for a scene like that!

And I feel like we can almost sense that Aemond doesn't care about those things about her that others think are weird. Not just that he'll defend her to Aegon or whoever else, but he literally loves her perfectly exactly the way she is and finds her eccentricities charming.

[halodwolf]

YOOO their lore is riveting holy shit!! id love to hear more abt the gods if youd like!

HEY THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I'M SO GLAD YOU LIKE IT i've put years of love into these guys and it's so nice to have the groundwork out there finally :}

there are four gods here (i know we didn't hear mention of a fourth one yet nor their chosen one >_> still working that out). they essentially coexist pretty ok for the most part. none of the four are inherently good or evil (stating this clearly bc i know the lore post makes the progenitor look pretty bad. he's fine though). rest is goin under the cut cause i talk too much hope you don't mind

the star is based around venusian deities/archetypes - aphrodite/venus/ishtar/lucifer/inanna etc. uses she/he pronouns. her name is the star because she is y'know, venus, the morning/evening star and the brightest object in the sky other than the moon. she's the spinner's sister. she's a fertility/love god at her absolute baseline but also has an incredibly strong domain of personal justice and righteousness. she's a cyclical deity with two "phases"- the morning star, which is when he is sought for her verdant nature, this is when you'd go to her for matters concerning love, life, abundance, prosperity, fertility, change, etc, and the evening star, which is considered her "fall from grace" ushering the darker side of things concerning justice, victory, war, blood, lust, etc. the most actively invested in the going ons of the story out of the four gods, has always been very in touch with mortals. wants to see the wrongs of the story righted and will intervene as much as he can to do so. manifests in the story as either a maned lioness or a feathered serpent i can't decide which, maybe both?

the spinner is your fortune god! the star's sister. rules over fortune, fate, cycles, abundance, prosperity, luck, spontaneity, and general chaos as is the way of things. she/her. is pretty detached from everything happening because she has to be, general puppeteer of the story. while atheris may not be of her, she has a very large soft spot to him because of his devotion and pulls the strings in his favor. she creates the time loop that allows atheris to fix the mistakes he's made. tends to be aloof and distanced about the way things have to happen but feels no shame in ushering bad things upon those who deserve them. works very closely with the star as their domains in fate and justice have a large overlap although they don't get along the best. eccentric and strange and completely ineffable and almost impossible to understand. thinking about her too long will give you a migraine. has an undeniable presence whenever she's around. usually attributed to jupiter as the third brightest object in the sky. perhaps manifests as a hyena with an incomprehensible face garnered in pomegranates and laurels. they say that cicada song in the summer is her singing

the progenitor is literally like. the archetypal serpent. creation/sun god. he/him. the first one and the god of gods. carved the path for the others to follow. notorious seducer and persuader. him and the spinner are closely attributed to one another, they relied on each other for the longest time. nowadays they don't work as closely, but the progenitor still has his interests in her. is basically the personification of endless potential and creation, he offers this for you to take. what matters the most about the progenitor is how you take what he has to offer, which is why he culminates violently and explosively when atheris snaps. working with him is tricky but he is not entirely cruel. he'll kick you when you're down until you stop doing whatever what's gotten you to this point and will twist his fingers in your wounds until you change. does not make himself present to mortals very often so his appearance is surprising to everyone. very old very alien and no one knows much about his motives. common mythology is that he carved the gorge that the keys live in and now slumbers in the basin of the river. manifests as a giant black snake with iridescent scales

the reflector is the last of the four! personification of the moon. she/they. the most mysterious of the four, does not communicate very often or very well literally at all. is always watching very carefully and rumor is she has a lot more hands in the pot than you think she does. rules over the hunt/mystery/personal selfhood/introspection/crossroads/nighttime/everything you can't wrap your brain around. the wolves and dogs between the two clowders are particularly fond of her. she's known as the reflector for the way the moon reflects on water and her embodiment of knowing your own self. her nature is incredibly elusive and it seems they do this on purpose. however, she does care about those who follow her in her own strange way. weaver of webs. rumored to work in secrecy with the spinner in turning the wheel of fate but no one can say for sure. manifests as a giant wolf with a mirror for a face.

both the keys and the ridges follow each of the gods equally, there is no personal preference between the two despite their differences. however, the star finds herself personally invested in the lively hood of the keys due to the tragic death of their founder and thus the keys tend to see her as the highest and closest of the four. general worship is mostly old practice and the gods are far less involved in the present day than they used to be. however, when violence between the keys and the ridges comes to a head with nerros's assassination, this very quickly changes and they become directly involved. the star is the first to act, coming to lazarus above nerros's corpse, but the others follow not too long after

[izzy-b-hands]

3V

An argument. Talking about the past, and a flashback.

TW violence, blood, sex, an open relationship that really needs better communication (Ed/Izzy)

---

In theory, they should be safe for the rest of the day.

Stede helps him unpack and arrange the blood bags in the fridge. He also pushes him against the counter, a thigh between Izzy's legs, and kisses him until he's out of breath.

The rest of his day's work is only chores, and he knows Ed rarely wakes before sunset unless absolutely necessary. Even then, he demands the windows thrice covered over in thick black curtains, and certain rooms are avoided for safety.

Still, he's jumpy. Every noise, no matter how small, sounds like the lid of Ed's coffin moving.

"You're fine," Stede takes the broom from his hands. "We're outside. Even if he did get up, we wouldn't have heard it."

"That's worse," Izzy says. "Trust me."

Stede looks visibly nervous for the first time.

"You don't really know me," Izzy continues. "You have no obligation to stay here. Not that I don't appreciate it-"

"I like you," Stede interrupts. "I'd like to see if there's more there. But I won't do that if I don't spend time with you. Even if it's doing chores for your batshit boss."

A thud from inside the house, and Izzy winces.

Of course, Ed would hear that.

--

"You're back," Ed says dryly as they walk inside. "Should I wait to touch anything until Izzy's disinfected it?"

"It's nice seeing you again too," Stede replies with the iciest, yet nicest, smile Izzy's ever seen. "Sleep well?"

"He knows?" Ed scoffs. "Izzy, the fuck?! What else have you told him?"

"It's not a big deal," Stede says gently. "I employ some vampires, and-"

"Lovely, glad you filled your supernatural minority hire quota," Ed spits. "Izzy, we're talking. Now."

"If you're upset because I'm fucking him, then maybe you should have acted faster," Stede says smoothly. "I've only known him for two days, and I have no idea why you haven't made a move."

Izzy can tell Ed is seeing red. "Ed, just. I understand why you're upset. I'm probably moving too fast, but...I like him. I trust him. Would it help to see his bar, meet his staff, see he's harmless?"

"Well, not totally harmless," Stede chuckles, and steps behind him, arms wrapped around his waist. "May I demonstrate?"

Izzy has a good idea of what he's about to do. And that means he should say no.

"Of course," he murmurs, and sighs when Stede nips at his neck, licking and sucking at the sore spot.

His eyes are closed, but he hears Ed give a disgusted gasp, then storm away.

"I think I'm the only thing holding you up," Stede mumbles against his skin. "Is there anywhere we can go he probably won't interrupt us?"

Izzy nods. "Not in here though. I'll show you."

--

There's a bit of land behind the house. Not much, but enough for a large shed.

Ed has never mentioned it, so Izzy made it his own.

"Wow," Stede breathes. "You did a lot here. You don't sleep in here, do you?"

Izzy shrugs. "I have before. Probably will again. Some nights if we piss each other off enough it's easier to leave. By morning we carry on as usual."

"That's not great for either of you though," Stede says, and it definitely isn't a question. "Have you always butted heads with him?"

"Not really," Izzy replies. "Not like we do now."

--

He drifts back to one of his early years with Ed. Twenty-one years old and starting to get a hang of how things had to go:

They'd arrive in a new town, buy the cheapest house available, no matter how rundown. Ed paid in cash, though Izzy had no idea if he'd simply saved and invested well over the years, or if he somehow had some other cash flow.

That made him seem the eccentric sort of wealthy, and that meant they were left alone. Often more or less shunned, if the city was on the smaller side.

Those were more dangerous, and they never spent much time in those before the inevitable next steps:

Blood supply would start to dip for one reason or another, or they'd be limited in hospitals and other suppliers. Ed would subsist off animal blood if he had to, but over the years he'd become more and more reluctant to do so.

Izzy couldn't blame him, the way Ed described it made it sound disgusting. But the other options were a little more difficult, and then some.

The next was Izzy offering himself up, but Ed could only feed so much before Izzy would pass out, or he would risk killing him.

Izzy had told him he could always just turn him if he drank too much, and that would be that.

Ed never said anything in reply to that.

If Izzy was exhausted, the final option was hunting.

Izzy did that portion. He knew Ed's tastes by twenty-one, and how they ranked in terms of what Ed would want.

He had a particular taste for blond men, the prettier the better. Hence Izzy's fear that Ed might literally swoop in and steal Stede away.

After that, it varied some, but he could usually tell by how Ed acted that day as to what he wanted.

It felt like a twisted art form, right down to the chloroforming or stabbing or strangling. Just enough to get them knocked out and in Izzy's car, picked off late at night, in as isolated of areas as he could find.

Then it was home to Ed, to present him his meal.

From there, Ed took over. If they weren't entranced by his eyes right away, a touch of hypnosis kept them in place.

Some nights, it was almost erotic. Ed nearly naked, cradling his victim in his arms. Blood running down rapidly paling skin, Ed moaning with each breath he took.

Those nights he had to step out into the hall and will himself to calm down. Ed would be absolutely delighted to see him come in his pants like that. Not that Izzy wasn't into the kink, but it felt slightly malicious with Ed now.

He wished it could be otherwise, but that was like wishing he didn't have to clean the mess Ed made other nights.

Those nights were loud and violent. Ed's nails raking into skin until he drew blood, fangs ripping out shreds of flesh. Blood would gush with every remaining heartbeat, ruining countless rugs and floors despite Izzy's best cleaning efforts. He sometimes wondered how much Ed actually drank those nights, because most of it seemed to end up on his scrub brushes and in his mop water.

The night he found himself telling Stede about, they were reaching that desperate point.

--

"Not rats tonight," Ed shakes his head. "Not rabbits either."

Izzy sighs. "We haven't been here that long. I told you this one was too small to be sustainable."

"We couldn't know for sure until we got here and tried," Ed protests. "Anyone else in my position would do the same thing."

"It's real fucking convenient for you to decide to just up and rush the routine," Izzy scoffs. "You may have the final hit, but I do the real killing. Even if you didn't drink from them, they'd almost all still have died. That affects me, Ed. I didn't expect to be a fucking murderer by twenty-one!"

He feels the tears rolling down his face, and wishes he could will them to stop.

Ed stares. "Izzy, I love you. But come on, man. I showed you what this all encompassed before you chose to come with me. You didn't have to come with me."

"Like you would have let me live after watching you drain someone?" Izzy scoffs again. "How stupid do you think I am?"

Ed looks hurt, a surprise. "I don't think you're stupid. You made an educated decision based on what I showed you. That decision can still end up being the wrong one, but don't you dare put all of that on me."

Izzy can't decide if he wants to kiss or kill Ed, in a desperate attempt to shut the argument down. Finally, kiss wins out.

Ed moans against his lips, then pushes him back. "You can't do that every time we disagree. It doesn't mean anything after that."

"How fucking romantic," Izzy spits. "What means more to you in the end, the people I kill for you, or the kisses?"

"Go get me some food," Ed hisses, and turns on his heel, open robe swishing behind him.

"Of course, I can't end an argument like an asshole, but you can!" Izzy mutters.

"I heard that!" Ed shouts.

Izzy doesn't stick around to reply. After all, he has a meal request to fill.

Or rather, prey to hunt.

In bigger cities, he would have certain areas he'd try first. A railyard, shipyard, any outskirts. But in smaller cities, it didn't really apply. There was a higher risk of being caught in the act, and a good chance he'd end up beaten to death by some rural sheriff looking for any excuse to use excessive force.

So he takes to the streets looking for anyone, anywhere. Walking aimlessly, aware that the longer he took, the angrier Ed would be.

Even then, it doesn't take long.

"Izzy," Howell waves him over. "Awful late to be out! What has you out at this time?"

Izzy's heart sinks. Of course, it would be him. Howell Davis, the director of the community theatre company, and one of the first to welcome them to town.

"Uh, Ed's feeling unwell," Izzy lies. "And he asked me to go out and get him something to eat. Soup."

"Funny enough, I'm headed the same place," Howell smiles. "William has a terrible cold, and of course, we're out of medicine."

"Better to walk together this late, right?" Izzy asks. "Never know who else is out and about."

"Oh goodness," Howell laughs. "Around here? No. We almost all know each other."

"Yeah," Izzy nods. "We do."

They make it to the one open corner store, and he ends up buying himself dinner as if it were for Ed. Not a useless trip after all, and at least his last experience with anyone in town will be a good one.

Until the very end, of course.

"Say, you offered to walk with me to the shop," Howell says as they near their original meeting point. "Why don't I walk you home? Return the favor."

Izzy shrugs. "If you don't mind."

"I don't," Howell says, but he stops mid-step.

"Everything okay?" Izzy stops and turns to ask.

Howell is on him in a second, hands cradling his face, lips warm against Izzy's.

He knows Ed has his dalliances with Jack, whenever Jack happens to cross their path. Why shouldn't Izzy be allowed his own?

"Not here," Izzy gasps out in between kisses. "We're in the middle of the street."

Howell takes his hand, and leads Izzy down the road towards the park.

Behind a line of thicker trees, Howell pushes him against one. Bags from the shop are tossed aside, and there's no thought that their respective partners might wonder what's taking so long, when the shop isn't far away.

He should care. But Howell nips at his neck and his mind goes blank.

"Please don't tell William," Howell whimpers. "I don't do things like this normally, but...I mean, I married the first man I dated. We didn't even live together before then."

"Is that what you tell every twenty-something you fuck in the park?" Izzy smiles. "I won't tell him. We're leaving town as soon as Ed is feeling better anyway."

"Fuck you, I'm twenty-nine," Howell scoffs. "Why are you leaving?"

"Ed likes change," Izzy replies, grinding himself against Howell's thigh between his legs. "And he's the one that makes our money, so when he wants to move, we move."

"Sounds so healthy," Howell mutters.

"Says the man cheating on his husband with the first person he saw at night," Izzy snaps. "Are we doing this or not?"

Howell bites his neck hard, and Izzy feels his cock pulse.

"I'll take that as a yes," Howell smirks, and drops to his knees in front of Izzy.

"It is," Izzy says. "I don't care. Like I said, we'll be gone soon enough. It won't matter if this gets out."

"What if Ed finds out?"

Izzy balks. "I suppose we'll be having a serious talk. But he has his play time away from me as well, with no thought as to if I care or not."

Howell undoes the laces of his leather trousers, and pulls his cock out from his pants. "Huh. And here I thought he'd just kill you."

As Howell takes him into his mouth, Izzy silently panics. What exactly does everyone think about Ed?

"Howell," Izzy says softly.

"Already, seriously?" Howell scoffs. "I hope you give better head than you get."

"No," Izzy hisses. "What. What did you mean, about thinking Ed would kill me? Was that a joke?"

"Not really," Howell shrugs, absentmindedly pausing to suck one of Izzy's balls into his mouth. It lolls out off his tongue, and he continues. "He just gives a lot of people around here the creeps. We understand he has his sun allergy, but when he's been out at night he's been nothing but rude. There's no need for that."

Izzy nods, and leans back against the tree as Howell goes back to sucking him off. So that's it then. Even with Ed rarely going out, even at night, there's no hiding that he's different compared to others. A little bit sharper, a little bit smarter, and a little bit scarier. Somehow, it shines through no matter what. Not always a bad thing, but then, there was this.

Truthfully, Howell isn't doing much for him. He'd rather it was Ed licking the precum off the slit of his cock, taking him as deep as possible in his throat.

He knows they can't take forever, so he thinks of Ed.

Ed, on his knees, albeit with a good cushion underneath them. He'd been old enough to have had chronic knee injuries, but he refused to let that stop him from sucking Izzy off that way.

Ed, looking up at him with those soft brown eyes, through thick lashes, fluttering shut as he chokes on Izzy's cock. He'd let Izzy's cock pop out of his mouth, and giggle.

He bites down gently on his own hand to keep quiet. Howell moans around his cock, and it's almost enough.

Finally, Ed would pause to beg him to come, show off his own leaking cock, and occasionally simply stick out his tongue and wait for Izzy to jerk off onto it.

It was overtly, ridiculously pornographic, so it wasn't something they did often. But that made it all the more memorable: watching Ed swallow his cum and politely ask if he could jerk off on Izzy's tits.

Izzy taps Howell's shoulder twice, and moans around his hand as he comes. Howell swallows him down, moaning.

"I fucking knew it!"

Izzy's eyes snap open. William, in an extra heavy coat, running towards them.

He puts himself away as Howell practically spits out his cock, and makes a decision.

He yanks out the guitar strings garrote he's made, and swings behind Howell to wrap it around his neck.

William stops dead in his tracks and screams. Perfect, exactly what he needs right now.

Howell fights him, and it seems like it takes ages to get him down. William was unfrozen by then, and charges their way again.

Before he can plan an angle of attack, a shadow swoops in and drags William along the ground to rest by Howell and Izzy.

"How fucking hard is it to just get one meal?" Ed scoffs. "Fucking hell, Iz."

"You don't understand," Izzy starts, but Ed holds up a hand.

"I saw everything," Ed says. "Forget it. You forgave me for Jack, I can forgive you for this."

He watches Ed drain both of them that night. They drag the bodies home, and do their usual disfiguring and dismemberment. The parts get packed in duffel bags, and tossed in random locations as Ed and Izzy drove away with what little they had.

--

"Fuck," Stede breathes shakily. "Iz."

Izzy nods.

"That's a bit bigger than butting heads," Stede continues. "Come here."

Izzy snuggles inside Stede's hug. "I haven't been able to tell anyone that before. Thing is, I'm almost proud of it. Could have gone so much worse. Yet I've been hesitant to mention it to anyone, not even other familiars we've met on the road."

"I can sort of see why," Stede says softly. "Shall we lay down, maybe?"

Izzy leads him to the cheap, barely big enough for them both, cot he had shoved in the shed. It was rather big to be called that honestly, but not enough to be a garage either. Who knew what it had been before Izzy had made it over.

Stede is gentle and slow and exactly what Izzy needs right now.

Stede's hands wander, his fingers dipping underneath Izzy's shirt to trace patterns on his bare skin. It makes him shiver, and leaves him moaning into Stede's mouth.

Their hips bump, hard cocks grinding through their clothes, and Stede is just panting needily into his mouth when there's a pounding on the shed door.

"Ed," Stede mutters.

"Let me," Izzy tries, but Stede is already up.

"What the fuck is your problem?!" Stede demands.

Ed growls. "You."