#I say all this as a proud Appreciator of Rats

[gxlden-angels]

Controversial take but I'm much more comforted by the idea of a deity that makes mistakes and admits it than one that insists they're perfect and punishes anyone who says otherwise by sending them to be tortured

[pupcuck]

WASTE ME 3

ft. leon s. kennedy x gn!reader

tags. rape/non-con, painal, vomit like a lot of it, emotional abuse

a/n. so messy n rushed cuz i deleted it like 5 times n rewrote it over n over 😭 sorry it’s so flat from leon’s side but omg rbs n feedback appreciated :3 unedited so ignore typos please :3 leon is um. idk I think I changed his character drastically from the last parts but whatever!!! if u see me using shit from old fics ignore it ong

tumblr has started to remove fics that use tw non-con, tw incest and any nsfw tags in general. for this reason, as i’d like my fic to appear in the tags so i can have the same reach as other authors, please understand that this fic contains dark content under the cut. reading this comes at your own risk.

one / two

“Can you put that away? I can’t concentrate.” Leon’s hands tighten their grip on the wheel, agitation creeps into his voice as you push the visor back into its place, then very promptly - when you think he’s not looking - pull it back down for the umpteenth time to give yourself a once over. “Cut it out.”

“Sorry.” You say quickly, as if the words have been festering in your mouth for a while now.

“Hey, you don’t have to come.” You do, you have to or I'm in deep shit. I bet a couple hundred on this. A date, that is. In all the years he’s known his friends, not once has he brought a date to their annual New Year’s party. “We’re not too far from your house, I can turn the car around.”

“No,” You shake your head, “No, I want to come with you.”

Leon isn’t sure if he wants you to come with him, if he’s ready for the barrage of questions and insults, namely from Claire. He’s taking you ‘cause there’s no one else, and to be quite frank, he considered hiring an escort before he even thought of you. The thing is, you’ve gotten too comfortable around him. Using pet names, babe and baby, so Leon tried to put some distance between the two of you. ‘Cause that made him queasy. You’re not dating. He’s thirty-seven years old, there’s no room in his life to date, you don’t date at that age. You fuck and get it over with.

“I don’t know what you’re nervous about,” Leon hums, he turns the radio down, “You look nice.” He expects you to fawn over him, throw yourself into his lap ‘cause he said you don’t look bad. That’s what you’re like, right? Doesn’t take a whole lot to get your tail wagging.

“Don’t say that.” The tone in which you speak is new, Leon hasn’t heard that before. Not been on the receiving end of any mood swings you’re bound to have. You have the emotional capacity of a toddler - no form of regulation over any of your thoughts and feelings, words slip past your lips like you’ve got the shits. Verbally speaking.

“What?” He asks, dumbfounded by the total switch.

“I don’t like it… I don’t like when you say things like that, it feels like you're lying.” And he’s not. That might be the first time he’s ever told you the truth so directly.

“I’m not, why would I lie about that?” Oh, so all of a sudden you’ve managed to grasp the concept of self respect? Talking back to him and shit. You know, Leon’s kinda proud of you. One of you had to break free from the binds of your swaddling cloth sooner or later. One of you has to cut ties, and it sure as hell won’t be him. It’s not that you’ve grown on him, instead you’ve torn open his flesh and slipped between the cracks in his ribs. Nestled into his chest cavity and made it your home. Or he’s just real lonely.

“I’m not stupid, Leon.”

“I never said you were stupid.”

“You’re looking at me like I’m stupid.”

“What? No, I’m not. I’m looking straight ahead, ‘cause I’m driving?”

“Yeah? Well, keep looking at the road.” You huff through your nostrils, and it’s absurd, the shit you come up with. All it does is show your age. He’s fucking a kid, one that can’t even drink yet.

Leon does just that, neither of you utter a word for the remainder of the journey. When he gets out, you catch up with him, take his arm in yours as if it belongs to you, he’d rather you take his heart. So all the tenderness would be zapped from his system. Leon’s love comes in the shape of your casket, it comes with the engravings on your tombstone, empty and cadaverous. It’s not enough for you, you don’t know that, but he does. Leon’s a weeping sore of a man, the kind that won’t go away, not with over-the-counter pills, not the type that gets drained, not even antibiotics could help him. You’re licking his wounds and getting nothing from it, nothing but a mouthful of infectious pus.

“Leon— Oh.” The smile on Claire’s face drops as quick as it came, her forehead creases, and he’d like to tell her pretty girls shouldn’t frown so hard, they’ll get wrinkles, but she’d have his head. Tell him that it’s a natural progression, and that he’s looking a little rough these days, he should try keto. Leon has been on keto most his life if dick counts as meat.

He wraps an arm around your shoulder, draws you closer, smiling with all his teeth to show Claire that he really likes you when he really doesn’t. Well, he does, it’s just complicated. “Claire.” Leon greets with a nod of his head, he introduces you despite the uneasiness, then guides you to sit on an unoccupied seat beside Rebecca, his hand on your lower back.

From the corner of his eye, Leon watches you shift in your seat as Claire asks him if this is a thing now - cherry picking. If he’s going through a midlife crisis, and that she knows a guy who knows a girl who knows a good shrink, one that keeps real quiet. Then their conversation gets derailed and she begins to talk about Simone de Beauvoir, wrote a book called The Second Sex apparently, Claire reveres it, and Leon is confused on how they got to here.

Hunnigan argues that The Second Sex others women of colour very brashly, and it’s not quite argumentative because Hunnigan talks factually, like everything she says is right, and it usually is. It’s impressive how often she teeters on a condescending edge. She says Claire should read more on intersectionality, and Claire nods, bats her lashes ‘cause she listens to pretty ladies well. The only intersection Leon knows of is a road junction— he wonders how you’re doing with Rebecca, so he excuses himself from the conversation. Hunnigan tells him that he wasn’t included in the first place.

When he catches sight of you, you’re sitting alone, picking at whatever piece of food you can get, leg bouncing so hard the table does too. Chris grabs his arm and drags his arm towards Jill, and then it’s Sherry, who is always a joy, and then Ashley, and her dad who Leon, for some reason, thought was in a wheelchair. He gets to you a full forty minutes later.

“Woah, slow down, are you okay?” Leon takes your wrist in his, wonders how to word this correctly, without you taking any offence. “You’re eating a lot.” Shit. Not the best opener.

“I am not.” There’s a droplet of sweat trickling down the column of your neck, he wipes it with his thumb. “Am I? Did you notice? Oh my gosh, you so did. Did anyone else notice? Why did you take so long? I didn’t know what to do, Leon. Was I supposed to say anything? Was I meant to come with you?”

“Listen, calm down, god, no— just, I told you to sit here, didn’t I?”

“Yeah,” You nod, tremors making your hands unsteady as you take his. “I think I should go.”

“What?” Leon’s face twists, “I gotta stay, Sherry wants me to stay, I haven’t seen her in a long time.”

You bristle at this, shoulders slumping, “No, I don’t need you to drop me, I can just get a cab back, I just feel a little out of place, Leon. Like, I know no one even knows my name, but I just feel like they’re all looking at me and talking about me and I feel so stupid.”

He gets it, truly. “You should stay.” Leon’s fingers intertwine with yours, though it’s nothing gentle, it’s to keep you under lock and key. A threat of sorts.

“Leon, I don’t really, like, I’m just sitting here eating on my own, I look like a freak.” You said it, not him.

“You could try to engage, y’know?” And it’s so hypocritical for him to say, ‘cause Leon needs a drink or five before he can even stomach talking to the older Redfield. Not that Chris is a bad guy, he’s just so intensely stupid sometimes.

“Leon,” You take your hand back, and it’s the first time you’ve denied him of anything, “I don’t think they really care if I’m here or not, I’m going home.” It’s not a question, not Leon, may I go home now, pretty please? It’s an assertion, you’re firm in your wants, and he hates it. You’re stepping out of line.

So Leon does what he does best, he fucks it up. Back to square one with your blood caked beneath his fingernails and your tears salty on his tongue. ‘Cause it doesn’t matter what you want, it hasn’t mattered before so why would it matter now? He cradles the back of your head when it knocks against the bathroom stall, tips it forward so he can kiss you sweetly. And you’re a sucker for it, hands fisting at the fabric of his dress shirt like a baby. When you’re bare, he kneels down, spreads you apart, and you’re so wet there’s slick dripping down your ass crack. Embarrassing how fast you get it on for him, and Leon’s here with a semi you could barely class as a semi. Though that’s more of a Leon problem.

The nip to your clit makes you gasp, you tangle your fingers in his hair, and he likes that. Leon presses his nose to it, laps at the slick to clean you up, but he’s only getting you messier. He spreads your ass to lick deeper into your hole, then his hand leaves so his middle and forefinger can keep your cushioned lips open, teeth scraping over your slippery folds. Leon’s mouth is moving on autopilot, his brain is working overtime, what’s he gonna do? How can he make you stay? Right, right, right, that’s gotta be it. When Leon pulls away with a pop! you whine, he’s always kind enough to let you cum. Not this time.

“Hold on, kid,” Leon murmurs, spins you around and you brace yourself against the walls of the cubicle automatically. They seem paper thin. He keeps a hand on your hip, the other unbuckling his belt with a clink as he lowers his jeans to slip out his cock that hardens only at the thought of taking you this way. You flail when he pushes into your tighter hole. The puffy rim is wet with your arousal, not wet enough to take cock. He wasn’t even merciful enough to spit on it.

“No, no, oh god, Leon, no, I’m gonna die, Leon, you’ll kill me.” Your bones crack out of place with how hard you struggle against him, limbs angled oddly, and he hates it. No doesn’t sound right coming from you. It’s a tough one, breaching your asshole, getting past the dryness.

You clench so hard, try to push him out, he kisses the nape of your neck, the tackiness of sweat salty on his lips. “Stop runnin’ from it, I’ve got you.”

“Please— Please, please, Leon,” Your cheek is squashed against the cubicle door, nails scratching at it till they crack and split. He reaches round to cover your mouth, you’re getting too loud. There’s snot and tears and spit covering his palm, but it’s alright. Worth it.

“Hey, hey, hey, c’mon do it for me. You can do it for me, can’t you? You’re not a baby.” Leon’s teeth tug on your earlobe, he manages to bury himself to the hilt in your ass. A miracle really, ‘cause he can barely move an inch back or forth.

You’re gasping for breath, knees buckling despite him supporting your weight. The pain must be bad, he knows what it’s like, that sickeningly raw pain. Feels like it’s in your guts, stirring up all the acid, tangling your intestines. But he got over it, and you got over it once upon a time. So you can do it, he knows you can.

For a minute, he thinks you stop breathing, you slump over and he struggles to hold you up, then he gets ahold of you. You’re dry heaving, retching as you claw at the cubicle, he draws his hips back and you whimper brokenly into his palm. There’s an abundance of resistance, but Leon’s strong enough to push past it, his strokes are shallow - can’t find it in himself to fuck you hard and deep. Well, Leon would, but it’s too much effort.

There’s no letting up, you’re stubborn today, his free hand reaches round to tweak your nipple, then it trails down your body, cups your cunt and parts your fold to thumb your swollen clit. It does little to lessen the ache, the burn, but Leon hopes you’ll loosen up. “Hey, you got it, jus’ focus on my fingers, okay?”

“Okay, Leon,” You get out through ragged breaths, chest rising up and down unevenly as you try to regain some sort of consciousness, he's raped you into delirium. Leon grits his teeth, that word is harsh on his ears still. “Okay… I’ll try, I’ll try… I’m trying—“

“I know you are,” Leon talks you through it, talks you through rape unlike the first time, so that must mean something, give him some kind of credit. “I know it hurts, it’ll get better, yeah? I promise.”

“I can’t breathe— Leon, I can’t-“ Your hands press down on your stomach, then your chest, heart beating wildly, to the point where he thinks he can hear it.

“You can breathe, ‘cause you’re talking to me right now, aren’t you?” He asks, “Remember what you said to me? You said I could do this.”

“I know… I know, Leon, I’m really sorry— God, it hurts so bad.” Another sob is muffled into his wet palm.

“I know, but you said you would do it for me, didn’t you?”

“Yes, Leon, I’m sorry, I did— I did.” You shiver, head jerking to the side as he pulls back, then slams his hips back into you - so hard your knees knock against the cubicle. The pressure on your clit alleviates nothing it seems, even when he presses a little harder, you continue to kick and squirm.

“Just a little more, yeah?” Leon tells you, he kisses your shoulder for good measure, starts up a rhythmic pace that rewards him with a squeaky yelp each time he thrusts. You’re uncomfortably tight, and it’s pretty dry, but Leon makes do, most nights his fist is drier.

Sweat prickles at your delicate skin, and your body goes rigid when he cums, he jams himself so far into you Leon fears he might have trouble pulling out. Dick might come off clean. He smooths a hand down your spine, “You’re okay.” Leon says, and it’s more of an order than anything else.

He takes your clothes from where they’re hung on the single hook, he might be a serial rapist, but he’s a gentleman. Serial might be a stretch, Leon’s not quite at that point yet, and he doesn’t intend to be. But he might be your serial rapist, ‘cause it’s happened multiple times and all.

Your gait is off, more so than last time, taking shuddering breaths as you clutch at his arm. Leon doesn’t know what to say, he leads you out the back, ‘cause Claire will look him in the eye and know what he’s done. Step by step, you wobble towards the door to the passenger seat, crumpling against it as you fumble with the handle.

“Let me do it,” Leon grows impatient, steps forward, you jump out of your skin, snapping out of your haze as you manage to open the door. Your teeth are chattering, and you’re clammy, ribs rattling noisily when you cough. He wonders if he’s really done it now, fucked over his chance with you of all people.

Every time there’s a bump in the road, you wince visibly, nails digging into the leather of his seat to try and conceal any noise leakage. “Leon?”

He stops at a red light, turns to you in surprise, didn’t think you were capable of speaking right now. “Yeah?”

“Do you think she’s cute? The one who dresses like Jackie O?” Of course it’s some insecure shit like that, the first thing you say to break the silence post-rape is a question about whether or not he likes a girl.

“Ashley’s pretty.” Leon answers, face that launched a thousand ships - or a thousand Molotov cocktails, right at him actually, by the hands of religious zealots. He thinks that if it weren’t for a lot of things, they could’ve worked out, and maybe he wouldn’t have resorted to getting drunk and raping college kids in alleys.

“Leon, I think I’m gonna throw up.” Your voice is low, shaky, rolling down the window and letting the chill hit your warm face.

“I can pull over.” Leon offers, he can’t bother to go through with dry cleaning. Rather it come out on the side of the road than his carpets.

“No, never mind, I’m fine.” You go quiet again, then, “What about the big guy, do you like him?”

“What?” He looks like he’s constipated, the idea of Chris and him is an interesting one that’s never crossed his mind. Sure, he’s objectively attractive, but he’s so hardheaded it pisses Leon off. “No, well, yeah, I like him ‘cause he’s my friend.”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m asking.” You lie, and he knows you’re lying, because you’re you, and he knows you. Predictable little thing. “Okay, so, what about the girl you were talking to at the beginning when we came in. Ponytail, red jacket.”

“God, no, Claire’s just my friend.”

“Yeah, I know, Leon. I’m asking if, like, you like her. As a friend. I just want to know more about you.” Liar, he indulges you anyway. He owes you one, and maybe money for hospital bills.

“She’s my best friend,” Leon claims, she might not think of him that way, but Leon certainly thinks of Claire that way. “Of course I like her, I love her.”

“Then who was the lady with glasses? The tall one?” You peer at him hesitantly, the dark obscures much of your face from him, but he sees your wide eyes.

“Hunnigan? Yeah, she’s hot, I don’t want her though.” Too brash, his tongue slipped. It’s more that she doesn’t want him. Leon wouldn’t tell you that though. He’s patient for you, lets you ask questions that reek of insecurity before he’s pulling up on his drive.

“I don’t want to take them off,” You’re quick to stop his wandering hands, eyes going foggy and faraway when he tries to get you out of your underwear, “Please, Leon.” There’s blood smeared on the backs of your thighs that Leon pretends not to notice.

And because he’s so kind, and reeling with guilt from the whole public bathroom sodomy situation, Leon abides. “You sure?”

“Yeah, I’m sure, I’ll just get you off.” You insist, squeezing his half-hearted boner, thumbing the tip, cupping his balls, all the stuff he’s taught you to do. He might not get it up, ‘cause he’s had a drink, and ‘cause he’s still spent from earlier. Rape is no joke, shit takes a lot of effort, fucking a dry hole is not as pleasing as bootcamp made it seem.

Your mouth is warm on his cock, you lick along the vein on his underside, kiss the tip sweetly like you love him - it’s not like ‘cause you do love him. The head rests weighty on your tongue, you take half of him easily. You’re not the best at sucking dick, so he doesn’t expect much from you, expectations already reduced to zero, but Leon tilts his head back with a groan when you begin to bob your head. Look at that, you’ve gotten better.

Really, he should’ve known, seen all the signs. The tell-tale bulge in your throat, something foreign, not his dick ‘cause shits not the big. You felt sick in the car, he’d seen you gag over the toilet bowl after he came inside you. Leon’s reflexes are good, but not good enough. When you finally make it to the balls, eyes wet with unshed tears as he pushes your limits, nose in his crotch— you go to raise your head, he makes the mistake of pushing you back down. Biggest mistake of his life. And Leon has made a lot of mistakes.

He’s had monster after monster spew their god knows what on him. Been knee-deep in sewers, he’s been pissed on by military men for fuck’s sake. Somehow, this tops it off. You sicking up hors d'oeuvres on his lap. Vomit on his dick is the worst feeling Leon’s felt in quite a while. He’d rather break his ribs again and again and again and again. Over and over. Have them caved in by a metal pipe.

You lurch backwards, vomit caked around your mouth, coating his cock, dripping down your chin. God, he might add to the mess, but Leon’s got a strong enough stomach to hold it. Happy New Year! God Bless America. Isn’t this just the dream?

“Oh my god,” You gasp, wipe at your mouth drearily with your bare arm, breathing picking up as you stagger away from him, “God, no, no, no.”

He blinks at you, and you stare at him shell-shocked. Leon inhales, counts to ten, he's been through worse. He has. Honest. What’s a little puke on his cock going to do?

“I’m sorry, Leon, I’m so sorry, oh my gosh, Leon, I’m so sorry, what do I do?” You fumble and use his blanket to wipe him clean, doing a shit job as he anticipated. “I can do it, I can do it, I can get you off, I’m sorry, please, let me make it up to you, Leon.” Then you’re clocking in for your shift, sloppy and hurried all at once as you suck him off, only for a moment- then a wave of nausea hits and a second bout of puke is spewed on his lap, waterlogging his sheets as it trickles down his thighs. Fuck, it’s fucking gross. Made the place into a biohazard.

“Hey, c’mon—“

“No, no, Leon,” You retch, spit bubbling in the back of your throat as you shake your head in wild refusal, “I can do it, please, please,” He feels you swallow around him, tight little throat that’s only got space for vomit and not his cock, ‘cause it’s pushed out of your mouth as you gag and drip liquified party food. Your head pops back up, dabbing at the stickiness that covers the bottom half of your face to no avail.

“Kid.” Leon grabs you by your hair, straightens you up so you’re facing him, drool pooling in your mouth, tongue heavy as you’re racked with full body shivers to warn you of more. This time you make it to the bathroom, courtesy of Leon, there’s vomit tracked down his hall, on the rug Sherry bought him to brighten up his boring bedroom. “Let it all out,” He’s trying his best to be comforting, rubbing your back as your head hangs limp in the toilet bowl till there’s nothing but bile and spit.

Leon lets you shower first, ‘cause y’know, he loves sitting around soaked in barf. Really lets it marinate. He watches your figure through the foggy glass, barely able to keep yourself up, leaning against the wall when you have to wash anything from the waist below. God, he fucked you up. Maybe the vomit bath is more than deserved. He feels it crust over on his dick and itches.

“Are you okay now?” Leon mumbles, his body takes on your curled up shape, knows you could use the comfort.

The mattress in his room has been stripped bare, sheets put on a double spin in the washing machine. For now, the two of you lay close in the guest room that’s been unused since he moved in. “I’m okay.” You whisper, placing your hand over his when he wraps his arm around you. He thinks you’ve fallen asleep going by how still you are. “Leon?”

He wonders if it’s worth pretending to be asleep, can’t lie that he forgives you for that, then any ounce of initial hostility ebbs away and he feels white, hot guilt. “Yeah?”

“Before I met you, I would think of all this stupid shit, like I wanted to get ran over so people would care about me, or they’d feel bad for me, and then I stopped thinkin’ like that when we started dating.” You’re not dating him. Leon’s unsure on how to make that explicitly clear. “But, then, I started thinking like that again. ‘Cause I thought I wanted you to rape me ‘cause I thought you liked me, I wouldn’t mind if you liked me, I would let you do anything to me. I thought that you’d feel bad and take care of me after but you don’t, you just act like it didn’t happen.”

Leon closes his eyes, lashes fluttering on the skin of your back, the light tickle is slight enough as to not alarm you. He listens to you, but he doesn’t know what to think, what to say, it’s a lot.

“I only want you to rape me if you like me, but you hate me.” And that’s so far from the truth, Leon doesn’t hate you, and he doesn’t love you, but he does want you. For reasons he can’t explain himself. “I just, I don’t want you to rape me ‘cause you hate me, I want you to hold my hand after and sometimes I want you to kiss me.”

“So if I start liking you, I can do it?” Grown fucking man and he can’t say rape out loud. Leon wonders why it comes so naturally to you, how you can talk so openly about topics he can’t stomach despite being the perpetrator of said topic.

“Yeah, I just want you to like me, Leon.” You don’t beg, it’s pleading, thumb stroking over his knuckles.

“I’ll try.” Leon gives his oath, he’s a bad person he thinks. Not ‘cause of his mom, not ‘cause of dad, not ‘cause of all the shit back in Raccoon City, not ‘cause of bootcamp— none of it. It’s ’cause he feels like it, and he does it to you on purpose, and Leon knows that, but he can’t fix it. “I’ll try.” He repeats to himself, knowing very well his attempt will fall flat.

[moonlit-dreamers]

"Hurts." Says the Sun.

"I know." Replies the Moon.

Moon can't eat the nightmares this time.

rubs my grimy little rat hands together IT DONE!! ITS BEEN COMPLETED! this has to be one of the biggest projects ive done in a while. but its finally finished!

made this for @sootybunny once upon a dream au/fic. this specific scene was so- mwah heart wrenching. the lines i put down are the ones that hit me the most emotionally so here ya go <3

versions without static and without text will be under the cut

also maybe a bit of rambling :) (also warning for spoilers teehee)

ALSO REBLOGS APPRECIATED

ill be honest, this was quite the struggle. took me a bit to find the posing and the fucking hands were a pain in the ass. the clothes were also a struggle but quite a big of it was covered by shadows or different body parts so yippee! but despite how i struggled and how i still lowkey dislike certain parts of this drawing im still really proud if it!

but just- this entire au the fic the everything- all got me in a choke hold. i have so many theories about it and so many thoughts but my brain isnt letting me put it in a way thats even mostly coherent so yeah- maybe someday i can reblog this and write down my feelings fully when im not half asleep

but im just loving the apocalyptic setting and how everything is so scary and messed up. the whole "virus" going on with the automatons (which i have my own theories about tho sooty has seen/heard them a bit :]). im also obsessing over moons character. he sees himself as such a monster and it doesnt help that the way hes treated only reinforces it. we see it especially in chapter 3 and OW all of them hurt/pos

but yeah! this was by far my favorite scene in the fic. except maybe that one silly scene where sun gets yoinked and things get a bit goofy and everyone nearly dies :) but thats a close second

[jamesmydeer]

christmas festivities hcs

masterlist

james potter

making gingerbread houses

- the potters are THE family when it comes to christmas traditions 

- james is like one of those dads on vacation with an itinerary for the whole month of december

- he will be partaking in every christmas festivity 

- and so will you, like it or not

- and he will be referring to anyone who complains even once as ‘scrooge’ 

- his favorite, without a doubt, is decorating gingerbread houses 

- because this man is competitive 

- he loves you, but there’s no way he will let you make a better gingerbread house than him 

- he wanted to bake his own like his mom used to do when he was a kid 

- but he is no longer a kid 

- and you are not his mom

- so he settles for the pre-assembled ones 

- gets soooo pouty when yours starts looking better than his

“i think they gave you better icing or something”

- excuses

- you leave for one second to wash your hands 

- and come back to his gingerbread house lights (mini gummies) actually flickering 

“jamie! we agreed no magic!”

“you can’t prove anything!”

- he’s such a sore loser omg

- says he doesn’t care whose turns out better 

- liar 

- insists that you do one together 

- more like he watches you do one and claims half the work 

- sits you in his lap while you work on it 

- his only contribution is a heart on the side with your initials in it 

- he’s so cute y’all 

- wraps his arms around your middle and snuggles into your neck 

- hums along to the christmas music playing in the background 

- gets bored and stands up, taking you with him 

- dances around the dining room to festive music until his parents return home

- and immediately asks them whose is better 

- doesn’t care my ass 🙄

“they’re both great jamie” 

“y/n’s.”

“…”

“what? i’m not going to lie to my son”

- will need to snuggle on the couch to a christmas movie after that 

- his poor little feelings :,(

sirius black

decorating the tree

(contemplating writing a fic for this, lmk what you think)

- sirius never got to decorate a christmas tree as a kid

- they always had one, and he helped put ornaments on

- but it always ended in him getting yelled at for putting them in the wrong place

- and they always had to match the theme

- if he brought an ornament home from school, it went straight into a box

- so when you get a tree for your place, he fully intended to sit back and let you do all the work

- you bring in a few boxes of ornaments and he tells you he’ll get all of them out

- he doesn’t want his baby poking themselves on the sharp part

- he goes through the first box and there’s nothing special

- some cute ornaments you made as a child that your family was willing to part with

- a cute set of a wolf, deer, dog, and rat that james insisted on everyone getting

- then he moves on to the next box

- and it’s full of ornaments from his family home that never got put on the tree

- he doesn’t even care how you got them, he just feels so appreciated for once

- he associates christmas with some not so good memories, and he loves you so much for trying to replace them

- sets the box down and hugs you so tight

- you swear you hear sniffles, but that’s neither here nor there

- lifts you up to put the star on top of the tree

“nice view from down here. star looks pretty good too”

- you step back to admire your work and he can’t stop smiling

- he’s so proud of it

- the tree is nowhere near as pretty as the ones he was used to

- but it was the best tree he had ever seen

- because it was yours

- and it showcased how much you love him

remus lupin

family christmas party

- oh he is NERVOUS

- he’s met your family before, but this is a big deal to him

- because it’s the holidays and your whooooole family will be there

- you try to tell him that there’s no way he could make a bad impression

- he has tea with madam pince once a week, older people adore him

- you offer to pick him up but he insists on coming over alone

- which was a BIG mistake

- he went to a christmas party at the potter’s last year and was severely underdressed

- how was he supposed to know you have to dress fancy for christmas parties?? they don’t do that in the movies

- he was not going to do that again

- but your family does not wear suits to a christmas party

- weirdo pureblood traditions

- when he walk in and everyone is in comfy clothes?

- he has never felt more embarrassed

- his face is so red it could pass for an ornament

“you have more christmas sweaters than anyone i’ve ever met, and today is the day you decide not to wear one?”

- aside from a few of your uncles teasing him, everyone thinks he looks quite charming

- i mean, he’s already an attractive boy

- he can only look better in a suit

- besides, he’ll take a few teasing comments if it means he gets doted on by your mom

- whines to you once you’re in private that you should have told him

- you’re so mean

- remus lupin is a big baby

- luckily, you have a few of his sweaters

- you lead him into your bedroom to change

“door open y/n!”

- as if remus would ever do something inappropriate in your childhood home!

- he so would

- will NOT stop sniffing his sweater that now smells exactly like you

- it gets to present time and remus doesn’t expect to get anything

- and he’s fine with that !!!!

- he’s just happy to be there

- rests his head on your shoulder and watches everyone pass around presents

- you play with his hair and that’s enough of a gift for him

- but omg remus this one has your name on it!

- and it’s from you and your parents

- he smiles so big and assured them over and over that they didn’t have to do that

- he opens it up and it’s a pair of pajamas

- you tell him they match the ones that you three have

- and that’s the sweetest thing he has ever heard

- you guys want him to match you 🥺

- after everyone leaves, you all change into them and watch a christmas movie

- you snuggle up on the couch and he holds you tight

- occasionally kissing your forehead and thanking you for tonight

“you know, they can’t yell at us to leave the door open if they’re asleep”

- he’s so cheeky

- but who are you to deny him

[leviscolwill]

moonlight, sunrise

pairing: trent alexander arnold x fem!reader

summary: after trent's first time captaining his boyhood club, you can't help showing him your appreciation [wc: ~700]

contents: tooth rotting fluff, established relationship, captain trent ‼️, food mention, not proofread yet 🏃‍♀️

note: needed to write a little something for my boy <3

now playing: moonlight sunrise by twice (ready to be)

you were absolutely stoked when darwin scored a late goal for your team, winning newcastle 2-1. during all the game, your thoughts went to your boyfriend, who captained his team after van dijk got red carded. you knew how much his boyhood club meant to him and how much he adored it, so being vice captain was a huge honour. after the final whistle, you grabbed your phone to send him a quick text; "congrats on today's win my captain !! can't wait to celebrate with you tonight xx". you knew he wouldn't answer right away so you got up to prepare trent's surprise.

you put on your favourite playlist, and searched for everything you needed to make some pizzas, from the dough to the toppings, you had everything you needed. trent loved your pizzas, you weren't the best cook around but it was the one dish you could never miss.

you tried shaping the dough into little hearts, colouring them with bright red tomato sauce. your addiction to 'good pizza great pizza' helped you create the best pizza with trent's favourite toppings.

while you were finishing the last couple mini pizzas, you felt someone hug you from behind.

"they look so good, you really outdone yourself with these." you heard trent's voice in your ears.

"no ! they were supposed to be a surprise... please pretend you never saw this." you say in a disappointed tone, you must have been too distracted by your music to hear trent coming home.

"alright, alright. can i help you with the last one at least ?"

"of course not, you can't help making your own gift." you refused, but trent wouldn't take no for an answer. he placed the toppings to form a smiley face on the heart pizza. you snapped a quick picture of your masterpiece before putting it in the oven.

your boyfriend set up the table while you lit up some scented candles. these kinds of evenings were your favourites. the evenings when your boyfriend's was just yours, not the media's or the fans'. just trent, just yours.

trent was taken aback when you hugged his back, resting your head on his shoulder.

"you know i'm proud of you, right ? you did great today mister liverpool captain."

"i think you might have mentioned that a couple of times. thank you for believing in me pretty girl." he pressed a kiss on your lips before getting the pizzas out of the oven.

you ate your pizzas in front of a movie trent picked, of course, under the covers you brought to your living room, intently listing to each other's comments as silly as they might have been.

quickly enough, you fell asleep and felt trent's arms carrying you to your shared bedroom.

"where are we going ?" you asked him in a sleepy voice, even though you already knew the answer.

"to bed ratatouille."

"don't compare me to a rat." you huffed in disapproval of his newfound nickname for you.

"you're the rat that makes the best pizzas in the whole world."

you both cuddled up under your covers, and you felt tiredness get the best of you, trent must have felt it as well.

"goodnight, i love you." he said pressing a kiss on your cheek, after turning off the lights.

"i love you too, sleep well my captain."

trent's light strokes on your arm and his slow breathing lulled you to sleep swiftly. these were really your favourite nights, in the company of your favourite boy.

[starsandhughes]

Penalty Box Series— Trevor Zegras Edition (Five)

23-24 Season Masterlist

previous: four

next: six

i skipped the cbj game since z got... benched... so sissy shall play nice

to those of you who have been waiting for leo and sissy content, may i present: leo and sissy content!

OCTOBER 26, 2026

yourusername

liked by trevorzegras, leocarlssoon, and 16,552 others

yourusername welcome back to my postgame penalty box update show: THE ANAHEIM DUCKS ENDED THE BRUINS'S SIX GAME WIN STREAK EDITION! (and they brought the bruins into OT for the first time this season!)

tonight, cammy played his 900th game, gudas scored his first goal as a duck, my son and my dad scored goals in the final two minutes of regulation to tie the game, mac-t scored his first game winning goal of the season in overtime (i love you! i'm so proud! enjoy your forehead kisses!), and my lovely z-baby started a scrum over our son, leo, getting a hard hit which resulted in him drawing a roughing penalty by lindholm! and z led all forwards in time on ice with 22:49 minutes! all without getting a penalty!

oh, AND LEO GOT HIS FIRST ASSIST TONIGHT ON MASON'S GOAL! jackson also assisted on the goal, which means that all three players involved are under 23! we are, after all, the youngest team in the league, and it's starting to pay off! they're 2 for 2 on the roadie, so let's keep this up!

p.s. yes, that is my baby daddy biting our son in the fifth pic. yes, it's one of his ways of showing love. yes, he got it from me

p.s.s. LEO, MY CURRENT FAVORITE SON, I AM UNBELIEVABLY PROUD OF YOU! you had your first multi-point night tonight, and you are absolutely thriving in the big leagues🧡 i love you!

p.s.s.s. trevor, i love you, always! seeing you happy and supportive of your teammates on the ice makes me so warm inside, and i’m so lucky to be yours🧡

tagged trevorzegras, masonmctavish23, and leocarlssoon

view all 259 comments

trevorzegras i’m the luckiest guy in the world because you, sweet girl, are my biggest supporter, and my team's🧡 i love you, forever!

yourusername orange, black, white, plum, and turquoise, mother fucker! these colors don't run, bitch! anaheim! anaheim! anaheim!

trevorzegras and you also do things like that! i'm so lucky!

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras i can hear her saying that

trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale that's because she's yelling it and you're only two minutes away

yourusername IN TREVOR WE TRUST🫡

trevorzegras oh look! more things that you do! i will never run out of luck!

jackhughes @/trevorzegras her crazy is somehow entertaining

trevorzegras @/jackhughes and endearing

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras @/jackhughes she's so effervescent

trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale that's a band

colecaufield @/trevorzegras you're thinking of evanescence

trevorzegras @/colecaufield oh

jamie.drysdale @/trevorzegras it means bubbly and enthusiastic

yourusername @/trevorzegras @/jackhughes @.jamie.drysdale SAPS

user41 matthew tkachuk bites mouth guards, trevor zegras bites people <3 two kinds of rats

leocarlssoon thank you, mom! i love you, too! i also appreciated the forehead kisses and being your current favorite son🧡

lhughes_06 @/yourusername we've been over the fact that you can't announce your favorite child!

colemcward @/lhughes_06 you aren't the one being downgraded!

edwards.73 @/colemcward welcome to the club

mackie.samo @/lhughes_06 @/edwards.73 @.colemcward i’ve never even BEEN a favorite! i barely had a chance to be the newest child!

dylanduke25 @/lhughes_06 @/mackie.samo @.colemcward @/edwards.73 at least you have fathers! i’m a fatherless-secret child!

adamfantilli AT LEAST YOU GUYS ARE SONS

leocarlssoon @/trevorzegras @/jamie.drysdale @.masonmctavish23 what's happening? this wasn't in my y/n run down course

masonmctavish23 @/leocarlssoon this is out of my expertise

yourusername @/leocarlssoon you played great tonight! keep it up and you'll get plenty more forehead kisses! z and stromer get some every night!

masonmctavish23 @/yourusername wait, why does stromer get them every night? i thought we were friends??

jamie.drysdale @/masonmctavish23 that is a losing battle you're trying to fight, my guy

yourusername @/masonmctavish23 because i like him better than you

lhughes_06 @/yourusername AND YOU LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE BETTER THAN ME! LIKE LEO!

yourusername @/lhughes_06 STOP BEING A BABY! AND TELL YOUR BROTHERS THAT, TOO! AND NON-BROTHERS!

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon welcome to the family!

user27 z spraying that water bottle on himself is making me feel things

anaheimducks we love our biggest fan!!

yourusername omg i can't believe THE ducks admin replied to me!😭🫶

anaheimducks omg i can't believe THE future mrs. zegras-hughes replied to us!😭🫶

user5 SISSY SON SHENANIGANS HAS RISEN!

colecaufield i miss when you two used to bite me🥺

yourusername prepare to be attacked on november 12th, coley woley!

trevorzegras and again on the 22nd since y/n is abandoning me that day to see you and quinn!

yourusername and maybe the 30th!

colecaufield @/yourusername MAYBE?!

yourusername @/colecaufield i can only abandon my boy toy so much! he gets his feelings hurt!

trevorzegras @/colecaufield i'm tragically codependent

colecaufield fine! but i’m not breaking it to suzy!

yourusername you bitch

colecaufield OR jordan!

yourusername THAT'S MY HARRY! YOU BITCH!

trevorzegras i’ll break it to matty!

yourusername @/trevorzegras i will go out of spite instead of keeping it a maybe

trevorzegras i’ll keep my mouth shut!

_quinnhughes @/trevorzegras you know how to do that?!

trevorzegras @_quinnhughes you bitch

user89 i need sissy to adopt me! not trevor, just sissy

user40 I'M LIVING FOR THE THE NEW DUCKIES

_quinnhughes do you feed him?

yourusername we take turns feeding each other! and sometimes, jamie baby does it!

jamie.drysdale translation: they just show up

_quinnhughes @/jamie.drysdale why did you give them a key?

jamie.drysdale @_quinnhughes y/n/n has keys to all of our places! you know that!

yourusername @_quinnhughes jamie completes my rainbow! jack and luke's key is red, alex's is yellow, yours is green, cole's is blue, the lake house is purple, mine and z's key is pink and says princess, and jamie's is orange!

_quinnhughes @/yourusername princess pink is my favorite color in the rainbow

yourusername @_quinnhughes omg! mine, too! this is why we're best friends!! that's crazy!!!

trevorzegras @/yourusername then who's house does the minnie mouse key open???

yourusername @/trevorzegras that's a secret i’ll never tell, xoxo

trevorzegras @/yourusername and the one that says "key i haven't lost yet"?

yourusername @/trevorzegras petey

_quinnhughes @_eliaspettersson why does sissy have a key to your place?

_eliaspettersson @_quinnhughes she asked

user94 new sissy lore unlocked: she has keys to half the nhl's home???

jackhughes @/trevorzegras we told you to bite marchand, not your son!

trevorzegras no, i was told to bite him in retaliation if he licked me! he didn't lick me!

jackhughes so you don't deny the bite allegations?

trevorzegras cole has a video of me and y/n biting you at the same time! i have no defense!

yourusername @/trevorzegras why would you share that with the world?

trevorzegras @/yourusername you share so much worse things

yourusername @/trevorzegras touché

jackhughes @/yourusername @/trevorzegras you two never let me have any fun

yourusername @/jackhughes you could bite marchand! that would be fun!

jackhughes @/yourusername i could bite quinn before that! and z after!

yourusername @/jackhughes GREAT IDEA! do that one! throw in draisaitl! bite a guy on every team in the west!

_quinnhughes @/jackhughes don't do that

trevorzegras @/jackhughes do that

jackhughes @_quinnhughes sorry, captain bubba! it's 3 against 1

leocarlssoon did i start this?

trevorzegras @/leocarlssoon we started it with your mom! it was a family bonding activity

----

rbs appreciated! tell me whatcha think <3

[babydollmarauders]

MEDIA MANAGEMENT — JACK HUGHES (23-24 SZN PART 12)

au masterlist

notes: short, but i’m tired and have a migraine so i apologize

y/ndevils00

liked by dawson1417, ehaula, and 273,528 others

y/ndevils00 HAPPY 1989 (TAYLOR’S VERSION) DAY!!! I HOPE YOU’RE ALL STREAMING IT AND LOVING THE VAULT TRACKS AS MUCH AS I AM!!!

AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, AN INSANELY HAPPY 22ND BIRTHDAY TO MY VERY BESTEST FRIEND IN THE ENTIRE WORLD, MY PUPPY, MY SWEETHEART, MY BESTIE NUMBER 1, DAWSON! YOU’RE TAYLOR SWIFT AGE NOW!!

oh yeah, and happy Devils game day too, i guess.

lucifer’s favorite children won 5-4 against the water buffalo’s tonight!

we got 2 great goals in the first period from Holtzy (not pictured because he’s being punished for his comments on tuesday) and my sweet swedish fish, Jesper! they served tonight!

and in second period we got the first out of two goals from Haula hoop! his second goal coming in the third period! my favorite uncle also almost got a hatty, but his stick broke :( criminal! it’s okay, he got the hatty in my eyes AND in my heart, and that’s the only hatty that matters! 🫶

and finally, before we got to holla for Haula-back girl’s second, we got a goal from my amazing, one-of-a-kind, brilliantly spectacular, so babygirl, the guy who stayed up until 2am on a game night and spun me around the house while we listened to 1989 (TV), everyone’s favorite, JACKY!!! this goal brought him up to 18 points in 7 games, which is 9 less games than it took him last season! i’m so proud of you, babygirl! you’re a star and you’re shining your light!

p.s. connor clifton, i am under your bed. seriously, i know where you live.

tagged dawson1417, jackhughes, john.marino97, jesperbratt, and ehaula

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jackhughes i love you, my beautiful girl ♥️ thank you for your praise and for being my biggest fan

y/ndevils00 oh? i love you too, sweet boy

jackhughes okay, good, now that that’s done, STOP THREATENING PEOPLE

y/ndevils00 YOU TRICKED ME INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY!

jackhughes i had to! you don’t listen to me!

y/ndevils00 :(

jackhughes yeah, i’m not nico, that doesn’t work on me

y/ndevils00 RATS!

ehaula i would like to get a real hatty

y/ndevils00 no! you get the hatty in my heart and you appreciate it!

ehaula i don’t wanna

y/ndevils00 you’re an ungrateful uncle

ehaula and you’re a bossy niece

y/ndevils00 I AM NOT! @/kristen.haula AUNT KRISTEN, TELL HIM I’M NOT!

kristen.haula she’s not!

ehaula i rest my case

user19 the last jack picture 🥹

y/ndevils00 that was the product of me yelling “SMILE FOR THE PICTURE, BABYGIRL!”

jackhughes i thought the picture would come out better

y/ndevils00 @/jackhughes i can’t help it, your smile makes me shaky

jesperbratt i got a goal and i served!

y/ndevils00 you got a GREAT goal! i wanna carry you around with me everywhere, do you think nicole would allow it?

jesperbratt i’ll ask!

jesperbratt she says split custody, you can only have weekends

y/ndevils00 hmm i’ll agree to those terms

dawson1417 ITS MY DAY OF BIRTH! THANK YOU, BESTIE NUMBER 3!!

y/ndevils00 DID YOU LIKE YOUR CAKE OF YOUR FACE?!

dawson1417 I LOVED IT!! IT LOOKED JUST LIKE ME!

y/ndevils00 I KNEW IT! I KNEW I DID GOOD!

john.marino97 that cake looked nothing like you?

dawson1417 @/john.marino97 shhh be nice!

john.marino97 i mean, that cake looked just like you! y/n should go into art!

john.marino97 okay, say it, i’m mentally prepared, i can take it

y/ndevils00 you did so well! i’m proud of you and your assist!

john.marino97 wait what?

john.marino97 that’s not what i was expecting

y/ndevils00 i’m feeling nice, don’t push it!

john.marino97 if you’ll excuse me, i have a quick call to make

y/ndevils00 to who?

y/ndevils00 MARINARA, WHY AM I GETTING A CALL FROM *HIM*

john.marino97 i may have pre-tattled

nicohischier i’ll be fine, y/n. no need to threaten!

y/ndevils00 THAT WAS A DIRTY HIT?? ALL THE NEED TO THREATEN!

nicohischier i appreciate that you care for me and my wellbeing, but i’ll be okay

y/ndevils00 but he hurt my slut :( you’re being targeted

nicohischier i’m tough, i can take it

y/ndevils00 no, you aren’t! you cried at finding nemo! i need to wrap you in bubble wrap!

nicohischier HE COULDN’T FIND HIS DAD

user84 so what were john and dawson talking about?

y/ndevils00 HOW MUCH FUN WE’RE GONNA HAVE AT OUR ‘BEST FRIEND NUMBER 1 BIRTHDAY SLUMBER PARTY’!

john.marino97 game plays

dawson1417 candy!

user27 the world may never know

lhughes_06 i can’t believe you laid on the floor for the first picture

y/ndevils00 i think i have gum on my dress

y/ndevils00 at least i hope it’s gum

lhughes_06 burn that dress. just burn it.

y/ndevils00 but i love this dress :(

lhughes_06 jack will get you a new one

y/ndevils00 okay!

jackhughes wait what?

[ghost-bxrd]

how would the coa react to jason?

I suspect you mean the Court of Owls for the Court Family AU? 👀

In that case, as vaguely referenced before, they wouldn’t take kindly to a “street rat” being adopted by their highest ranking member at first. The Court of Owls is comprised of old Gotham blood and money, neither of which Jason belongs to.

They’d tolerate him, sure. (They’d be fools not to with the Voice’s hard stare, and the Talon’s looming presence perpetually hanging over them all like a guillotine. ) But they sure as hell would let Jason feel that he’s not welcome amongst them.

At first.

Because between his adoptive father, a protective older brother, and… well, Jason hasn’t quite figured out exactly what Cobb is, but he’s preeetty sure him and Bruce got something going on. Anyway, Cobb’s got his back. Kind of. And sure he can’t exactly stop the Court members from being passive aggressive with him, but BOY does Jason give as good as he gets.

Subtle remarks about his “ragged” appearance are immediately met with a flat out “takes one to know one, sir”. And a “concerned” little “you shouldnt eat so quickly, you’ll get sick!” are met with a pleasant “sure, and you should skip the laxatives once a while, lady”.

Jason ain’t taking shit from anybody (Cobb considers asking Bruce to do a paternity test with the boy because—- Pot, kettle) and Bruce is getting gray hairs flitting about and soothing ruffled feathers.

But before long the Court members learn to appreciate Jason’s deadpan demeanor.

He’s rude and downright scandalous in contrast to their delicate sensibilities and upbringing, but he’s loyal to a fault and doesn’t lie. While it’s something the less trustworthy Court members will try to exploit (“Please,” Will purrs, inspecting the claws of his suit one by one, and Dick gets the distinct feeling of being locked onto by the gaze of a predator, “Let them try”) the others quickly come to appreciate his honesty and openness. It’s a downright novel thing for them.

So anyway, Jason becomes something like the “Heart” of the Court. If he’s happy, chances are good the Voice, Talon, and Gray Son are also in a good mood. If he’s not… well. Let’s just say they’re all invested in keeping Jason happy.

(Within a couple months Jason manages to get the Court to finance several jobs with annual leave and health insurance reserved for inhabitants of Crime Alley, along with affordable housing and no-cost rehabilitation centers for drug addiction.

Bruce is very proud of this achievement.

Cobb is reluctantly impressed.

Dick is cackling uncontrollably.

For someone who steadfastly refuses to use manipulation tactics the kid really knows how to be a pain in the ass and bother everyone long enough until they cave.)

[moraxsthrone]

HELLOOO I saw your requests were open so can i request thoma and zhongli (seperate) accidently catching their very shy s/o play a song on a piano dedicated to them? Thank you and have a nice day or nighttttt

hi hi! so sorry it's taken me so long to answer this! 🥺 i'm a terrible blog owner! 😭 but this is such a unique idea that i've thought about it so many times over the past few months. 😩 i wrote thoma's part a few weeks ago and finally got struck by the inspiration to write zhongli's part tonight. i hope you like it.

i love piano btw! it's my favorite instrument! do you play? i tried teaching myself several years ago. i didn't stick with it but it gave me a whole new appreciation for those who are disciplined enough to play this elegant instrument. 🖤

♬♪ THOMA —

he’s been looking forward to seeing you all day and a small smile adorns his face knowing he’s mere moments from hugging and kissing you.

thoma hears the beautiful melody before he even opens the door, and his smile grows wider.

easing his way in quietly, he stays out of sight for the time being so as not to distract you. besides, the tune you’re playing is so lovely that he wants to hear it to the end.

he’s probably heard you play over a hundred times, but he doesn’t recognize this song. it’s got to be one of the prettiest melodies he’s ever heard, a little slow and so graceful it nearly moves him to tears.

when you finish, you’re startled by his clapping. you whip around on the wooden bench, looking at him with wide eyes and a nervous smile on your face. “you- you heard that?”

he nods. “sure did,” he says, walking to you and bending down to leave a sweet kiss on your parted lips. “that has to be the prettiest song i’ve ever heard, but i don’t think i’ve heard you play that one before. when did you learn it?”

“well, i-” you start, watching as thoma props an elbow on top of the piano and rests his chin on his palm expectantly. “actually, i’ve been working on it for some time now. i was hoping to surprise you with it once it’s done, but…” you look down at your hands.

"once it's done?" your boyfriend furrows his brow. “you mean…you wrote this?” he asks, eyeing the sheet music.

you nod. “it’s not finished just yet, but…you like it?”

“i love it! of all the songs i’ve heard you play, i think it’s my favorite!”

a shy, proud smile warms your face. "i- i wrote it for you, thoma,” you confess, glancing up to meet his kind face.

thoma’s smile drops and his soft green eyes widen and shimmer with unshed tears. “f- for me?” his voice barely registers above a whisper. “will you play it again? from the beginning?”

your smile grows. “of course.”

thoma folds his arms on top of the piano, propping his chin on his forearm and watching you like a love struck puppy while you play the most beautiful song, just for him.

♬♪ ZHONGLI —

the funeral parlor had closed not half an hour ago when you sit down at the baby grand in the main hall. hu tao joins you, always eager to hear the way you play so beautifully.  

zhongli, who has heard you play so many times that he’s grown quite accustomed to it, repeats your takeout orders back to you and the director to ensure their accuracy before making his way out of the doors.

upon watching him exit, his amber-tipped rat tail fluttering behind him, you turn to hu tao and smile.

“well? let’s hear it!” she urges, clapping excitedly.

for the past few weeks, you’ve been composing a song for your beloved husband and hu tao has been your sole test audience. you’ve relied mostly upon your own musical training and expertise, but you've also sought the funeral director’s opinion, given that she arguably knows him and his tastes better than anyone else.

you chuckle and begin to play a slow, melodic tune that makes hu tao swoon. her hands go to cover her mouth and you swear you see a tear in her eye when the parlor door suddenly opens. the music stops cold as your eyes grow wide at the sight of your beloved. why is he back so soon?

“ah,” he starts tentatively, “i seem to have forgotten my wallet…”

he slowly makes his way to the open body of the piano, growing genuinely concerned about the way you look like you’ve seen a ghost. “my dear, why did you stop? i could hear the spellbinding tune you were playing even from outside - several steps away from the doors…it was at once riveting and heartbreaking...”

your mouth opens, but before you can speak hu tao chimes in, rather loudly. “mr. zhongli! it’s a song y/n wrote for you!”

as zhongli’s bright eyes widen, all the heat in your body rises to your face, leaving your fingers feeling suddenly cold and unable to move. you'd still been in the process of putting on the finishing touches, wanting to ensure nothing short of perfection before debuting it to your dear lover and muse.

as the surprise leaves his face, his features soften as a small, perfect smile graces his flawless face. your mouth has gone dry. you’re hardly able to swallow as he speechlessly circles behind you, so moved and overtaken, honored that you’ve put the time and effort into composing such a lovely work of art just for him…

“it’s the most exquisite thing i’ve ever heard” he says as he sits down beside you on the ebony bench. “will you teach me to play it?”

m.list

[j-u-u-z-o]

You deserve it (Kenpachi Zaraki x reader)

AN: I’ve been planning on writing this since last November and decided to write it for Valentine’s Day. A like,reblog/comment would be appreciated!

I really really hope you enjoy reading it ❤️🫣

Warning: grammar, big meat GILF, slow burn to SMUT

Today is Valentines Day and it’s not often talked about or celebrated in soul society. While there may be some team members in the 13 division that are in a (secret) relationship, you aren’t opposed to the idea that they don’t do anything on this special day.

At least that’s what you think. Your boyfriend, Kenpachi Zaraki. Captain of the most rowdy and bloodthirsty division out of the 13 divisions, doesn’t give a rats ass about the special day. He grew up nameless, ignored and never loved. He had to survive on his own on the streets in Rukongai. So what does it mean to him?

You’ve been dating Kenny for a year and half now and you had a flashback of last year’s Valentine’s Day when he made it clear that fighting, sleeping and eating is the only thing that matters to him. Him only.

Of course, he wouldn’t say that to you though. You’re the closest thing he’s ever had to know what love is; he’s slowly opening up to you too.

Plus, he’s not that selfish. What you two did last year was eat BBQ at a restaurant, came home, fucked and that’s was it. It was his idea so you couldn’t hate him for it. I mean It’s the thought that counts, right? since sex is always good with Kenny.

But…

You want to do something different for the both of you. Something truly deserving and hot. Just to show him that there’s more than just BBQ and fucking fighting his men.

So. While Kenny was still away on his mission with his team somewhere in the world of the living to fight some weak hollows, you walked to his division after your shift ended in squad 4.

By the time you got to his barracks, you decided to prepare dinner first and then get to the other things that will make this day special for the two of you. Which you are so excited about.

It’s 4pm. You’re cutting the meat and placing them in the frying pan along with other condiments. You decided to cook his favorite deep fried chicken katsudon with spicy sushi,rice and mixed veggies. A big man like him needs his protein you think to yourself.

While the food was cooking you took a shower, put on a red satin robe and went to decorate his bland bedroom. You placed a sheet on the futon, a mat next to it and some essential oils on the side, and then candles on the dresser and a trail of petals to the futon. His room should look like this all the time you think to yourself.

“Good.” You clapped after you looked around the now dim lit bedroom satisfied. you looked at the time. 5:10pm. “He going to be home soon” you said and got up to set the dinner table in his kitchen. “He’s gonna love it” you smiled; feeling proud of yourself for the work you put in.

The front sliding door opens harshly that you quickly turned your head, placing your hand on your chest to ease your heartbeat from the direction the loud sound came from.

Kenny looks up after taking of his sandals and notices the kitchen light is on before his nostrils took in the smell of food.

“Oi…y/n?” He said with his rough voice. You walked out the kitchen to the big man who feels relieved that you’re here. He eyes you in your red satin robe. You stood your toes to give him a quick kiss. “How was work, love?”

“Hah! Too easy.” He placed his big hands around your waist. “I got bored of killing those feeble bastards I almost wanted to fight my men after the mission. A bunch of squabbling hens. Heh.”

You giggled. “Well, I’m glad you didn’t do that. Otherwise, I would’ve been disappointed in you for not coming home sooner.” You looked at him coyly.

“Hah?” He looks down at you curiously. “ Oi, What the hell are you talking about,y/n?” He said as if he did something wrong. Still holding on to your waist.

“Don’t you know what day it is?” You lifted an eyebrow. Kenny looks at you with a blank expression but also getting impatient due to the smell of food in the kitchen. “You’re on your period?”

“NO!” You smacked his shoulder lightly. You rolled your eyes and took his big hand into your small hand and walked to the kitchen. He sees a big red ballon with a caption, “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

“Huh? Why didn’t just say that?” He looks down at you now blank face. Before you could even protest, Kenny easily lifted you up and kissed you passionately. Feeling his chapped lips against your soft lips made you forget what you were going to say. You smiled and looked at each other.

“Sorry, babe.” He whispered as he put you down.

You giggled. “Sit down. I made your favorite dish. With lots of vegetables” you said as you walked to the stove and grabbed two plates.

He sits down and looks at you. Admiring your body covered in that red robe. When you turned around and leaned to place yours and his plate and the big pan in the middle of the small dinner table, he notices your perky nipples against the fabric. Especially when you sat down.

And The both of you begin to eat.

“ Shit tastes good, babe” he says as he mouths down the meat. You notice his veggies are still on the side. Cold and ignored.

“Eat your vegetables, Zaraki .” You glare at him.

"Yeah? Or what?" he taunts.

“Then there won’t be any seconds…and dessert.” Still glaring at him.

There's a growl. He doesn’t like it when you call his name. A dangerous, throaty growl that would make most flee in terror. You meet that growl with a smile and a teasing glitter in your eyes, and the growl just . . .stopped. The Kenpachi grunts, then grins.

After dinner, the two of you clean up and leave the dishes in the sink. you tell him to go take a shower in order for you to prepare for the next course you didn’t tell him about. Dessert.

Kenny leaves the bathroom and walks to his bedroom with nothing but a towel hanging low on his hips and his big muscles still a bit wet “Hah?”

You are sat on the floor, your legs are on the side; sitting next to the futon and you look up at him. “Kenny,come lay down here” you whisper. He’s speechless but still walks towards you. “Heh! Oi, is this for me, y/n?” He grins.

“Do you really want to find out?” You eye him with impending lust. “I might.” His tone is low, a gravelly purr”

He kneels down and kisses your lips and then lies down on his back.

You sit on your knees, your eyes look at him and down to his deep V. Your cheeks feels warm and He purrs deeply; he takes the chance to untie the towel but you stop him.

“Wait. Leave it to me, Kenny.” You said as you held onto his wrist. He submits and crosses his arms and puts them behind his head.

Still blushing, you look to your side where the essential oils are on the floor: Rosemary and lavender.

You pour the lavender oil onto your hands, rubbed them together until it was warm and started massaging his big neck.

His eyes now closed. You observe how big and long his neck is; tracing your fingers were his veins are until both hands worked it’s way up to his jawline and down to his collarbone.

Kenny’s heavy breathing tells you that he liked it so you do it again and again until you poured some oil in your hands and started on his pectorals. “Mmm…” he groans and exhales. You watch him in pure joy as your thighs are squeezing each other.

“You’re enjoying it more than me, Kenny.” You said breathily as the tip of your fingers rub his nipples slowly. “Yeah Y/n…” he says and opens his eyes to look up at you while your hands move down to his abs - to his happy trail and deep V.

The sounds of the oil rubbing on his skin fills the room which made you suddenly feel needy for him. So you opened your red robe only revealing your chest. His eyes widen at your perky nipples. one hand strayed up to fondle your breast and his big thumb slowly rubbing the already hardened nipple.

You lean into his hot touch and smiled. “Mmm…” You moaned while still massaging his abs. Feeling aroused like he isn’t already is, he rubs your nipple with his thumb in a circular and slow motion to get more out of you. Which he successfully did because you bring his thumb up to your mouth and brought it down to rub it on your nipples.

“Damn, baby.” He eyes you when you pour oil in between your breasts, the liquid trailing down to your nipples and stomach. You lift his forearm and started massaging it there. Up and down while feeling his veins on your fingers. He gazes at your breast; Shiny and oily.

You smile at his reaction and lift his forefinger and suck it leaving him speechless. Your tongue dancing around it while looking at him.

You giggle and lean down to kiss him as you brought your hands to massage his pecs. You feel his tongue asking for permission and you gladly opened your mouth and felt his tongue dance with yours.

After a moment, you break the kiss and fully removed your robe. Pouring more oil all over your chest and stomach, you moved from your spot and straddled him. His hands automatically on your waist, he rubs the oil all over your waist and stomach and eyes down your pussy.

“Y/n. You didn’t have to do all of this for me. Hehe” he said.

“Are you getting impatient, Ken?” You whisper as you leaned down and rubbed your breast on his chest. He feels your hard nipples against his and moans. That shut him up. You smiled and licked his nipples. “Y/n…” he hissed.

“I want to make you feel good, love. You deserve it.” You said hoping to convince him that he needs to relax from his bloodthirsty self. To slow down a bit.

You moved down to his big long legs and massaged it while you untie his towel covering your “grand prize”. There was already a hard imprint of it - the moment you massaged his forearm earlier.

Your hand begins strokes his long cock and you hear him groan; encouraging you to rub the tip with your thumb until your mouth covers it entirely. “Mmm..” you said as your tongue swirls around. Kenny bites his lip and starts breathing very heavily. Hearing his voice made you put his cock between your breast and continue sucking him.

Feeling impatient you straddle him again with your hands on his oiled chest and start rubbing his cock against your pussy. You closed your eyes to focus only on the sensation meanwhile he was looking at the action down there.

After a few minutes, Kenny sits up with both hands behind him and sucks your nipple which made you even more wetter.

“ Unh…Kenny.” You wrap your arms around his neck and watch him suck while you’re grinding on him. “Oi.” He said looking at you. “I’ve got a better idea.”

“Hm?” You eyed him curiously while grinding on him.

“Turn around.” You submit to him and He helps you by lifting you up due to how slippery the two of you are. And now your facing his cock and your ass is facing his face. With this new position, without warning, Kenny grabs your hips close to his mouth and slowly slides his tongue all around your pussy lips and then flicks your clit.

“Mmph!” Was all you could say due to the quick sensation. Toes curling and feeling his hot tongue lightly suck your clit made you lean down and had you seeing stars. You grind down on his tongue, roll your hips against the warm appendage. “O-ooh fuck” you said breathlessly - leaning your head to the side on his deep v.

You managed to stroke him with enough “strength” in the midst of him eating you out. “Mmm…you taste good, baby” he says slowly licking your cunt and went straight to slurping it loudly.

The sounds are so vulgar that you couldn’t do anything except close your eyes and take it until a loud slap on your ass made you squeal and lean up a bit.

You quickly started riding down on his tongue. “A-agh..unh…Ken..ny”. His grip on your hips is tight to keep you steady as you you rode out your first orgasm.

“ Ahhhh!” You started to see white and your mouth watered as you ride it out; so fast that you can hear the wet sounds of his tongue and your juice slapping on his big tongue. And he drinks it.

Seconds later, your wet pussy is throbbing in front of his eyes which made him a chuckle. “Hehehe…look at that” he said as he slapped your ass again. You squealed and turned around and kissed him - tasting your self from his tongue while your hand went down in between to take his cock and put it inside of you.

He grunts and helps you puts it inside slowly and slowly starts to thrust into you. His hips meeting yours; your kisses are messy and breathless. “Ahhh…” you said as you lift your head up, mouth shaped like an “o”. He hits the perfect spot.

Wet sounds from the oil and from your pussy fills the candle lit room again and the both of you are in bliss. Kenny’s looking at you, how beautiful you look above him, taking him so well. “That’s it, baby. You feel so fucking good.” The sounds of your wet pussy is music to his ears. “Mmm… shit. You’re pussy’s taking me so well.” He hissed and slaps your ass now that both of his hands are placed on it.

His cock brushes your g-spot that it made you see stars and clenched him. Exhaling on his face, your hands sliding up and down his oiled chest due to his pace. “Fuck ye..s Kenny” your glassy eyes looks at him and you caress his hard cheek. “Oh god..Kenny you feel so good” you smiled and kissed him passionately.

The sounds of bucking, squelching, and skin slapping turns you into a hot mess. His cock feels so good inside you, rubbing against your g-spot.

Kenny raises his hands and caresses your breasts and sucks one of your nipples passionately. “Mmph…Kenny” you moaned before your stomach turns inward. You start to feel your second climax coming as he changes his pace starts grinding in a circular motion that his deep V rubs your clit.

He felt you clench. He looks up at you and grins, “That’s it,baby. Cum for me” he starts bucking into you fast. He looks at you with intent - only focused on the feeling of your pussy and your face because you couldn’t voice your thoughts properly.

He starts thrusts harder until his mouth opens slowly, breathing hard into your face, feeling you clench him endlessly. “Oh shit. Shit, that’s it, baby” he hissed and groaned loudly; holding your waist tightly to anchor you. Looking at his cock filling you and then looks up at you breathlessly.

Louder bucking and skin slapping sounds fills his and your ears until he grunts; he loses control of his strokes as you started to tremble uncontrollably, pulsating around him. “Oooooh.!” you said out loud and losing the feeling of your legs.

Your eyes closed, you held your breath and placed both hands on his shoulders. “Oh fuck Y/n...uhghh!” He says shakily. you’re squirting on him as he reached his climax. He groans and cums inside you while still thrusting in you. His cock covered with yours and his white fluids while riding out his climax slowly and smacks your ass.

“Ugh…” he said exhausted and drops his head on the pillow. “Y/n…” he drops his legs on the mat and rubs your back.

“Mmm…” Breathless and still pulsating, he pulls out of you. You managed lift your head to kiss him once more before laying your head on his sweaty and oily chest again. “Sigh…Kenny. I love you.” You said blinking with glassy eyes.

“Heh. I love you too, y/n.” He said breathlessly. His big arm wraps around your waist. “I’m gonna grab another plate in a few.

You snort. His weird quirk after sex: Food. You sighed and smiled.

I owe rangiku for borrowing her essential oils.

[desire-mona]

realising none of u have seen my writing before which is. a good thing probably. anyway i thrive best in letter writing format so here's a letter todd wrote to neil after he took a gun induced nap

(obvious tw for death and suicide and general grief adjacent feelings)

-

December 20th, 1959

Neil,

I’ve tried to write this about 7 separate times now, but I feel like I can never get the right combination of words to properly describe how I’m feeling. I don't really know why I’m writing this in the first place, I know you won't be able to read it. I guess I don't need a reason. I don't think I’ll be able to get it right no matter how many times I try, so forgive me if this doesn't make sense.

It's been about 5 days since you killed yourself passed and I still can't confidently say that it feels real. Mr. Keating got fired, Charlie got expelled, Cameron was behind all of it, and I can’t even bring myself to hate him for it. I'm angry, obviously, I’ve never been more furious with anyone in my life, but something in me knows that you wouldn't have hated him either. Things like that have been running through my mind a lot, I find myself operating under what I think you would’ve done, or at least wanted me to do. I hope I’m getting it right. I yelled at Cameron after he ratted us out, and it wasn't like those times before, nobody expected it of me. I like to think you would’ve been proud of me for that.

It's really quiet without you here, in ways that I didn't think I’d notice. You were never all that loud, which I appreciated, but even the small things being gone make me feel like I'm going insane. It's hard getting to sleep without hearing your breathing from across the room. Is that creepy? Sorry. Sometimes I open the window just so I can hear anything but silence. I usually just end up wondering how people can go about their days when someone so important is dead. How are people laughing and enjoying themselves when it feels like my entire world came to a screeching halt? How dare they continue with their lives without even acknowledging how much has changed? That’s about when I close the window, our the room starts to get cold after a while.

I'm trying to stay that more confident version of myself that you were helping me become, I could tell you liked a more outgoing Todd. I think he was buried with you, and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to dig him back up. I hope that’s okay, I know how patient you were with me. Thank you for that by the way, you were the first person to give me the time of day when it came to that. It was really special, I wish I had the chance to tell you. There are a lot of things I wish I had the chance to tell you, you were the only person I ever wanted to say things like that to. I'm really sorry that I never did, I realize now that it probably would’ve done you some good to hear it. God only knows how little kindness your father gave you, if I had known how bad it was then I would’ve you deserved better than that. You deserved a lot more than what the world gave you, I think we all do. No amount of sorry’s can fix that.

I miss being near you.

I miss you.

I miss having you around. I’d forgive you if you came back and told us it was all a joke. I wouldn’t be mad at all, I promise.

- Todd Anderson

[gatheredfates]

List 5 things that make you happy, then put this in the askbox for the last 10 people who reblogged something from you! get to know your mutuals and followers (ू•‧̫•ू⑅)♡

Aww, I love positivity asks! I can't say mine are in any way profound, but:

My loved ones. Cheesy, I know. Shout-out to my partner who does have a Tumblr account but refuses to be perceived because I know he'll read this and appreciate the fact I didn't tag him. I've been asked before how on earth I've been in a relationship with one person for over half my life and that's simple: I fell in love with my best friend. 💖 Also huge shoutout to @riftdancing who will be perceived because she's the platonic love of my life and, without her, I would not be who I am today. These two have seen me at my literal worst and stuck by me — I love them to bits! There's also my FC members/close friends @lightwrought / @gaygentofchaos / @whirlwyrm / @snakemoltsiren / @swingbeard / @dragons-ire / other people I have missed and/or wouldn't like to be tagged but know you are included because I love you. IF YOU KNOW YOU KNOW. Also everyone in Seafloor!

Music. I've always loved music, but I really only got into music and listening to different things later in life! Sleep Token fundamentally altered my brain chemistry and I will thrust them on anyone who will listen (start with Sundowning through to Take Me Back to Eden if you want the whole ~experience~ but Jaws is also a good separate introduction). I've also come to love Crywolf, Ashnikko, Bad Omens, as well as old faithfuls like Red, Evanescence, Halsey, etc.

My cat. She's not really my cat, but she adopted me. Ratticus le Catticuses the third of her name; brat cat, rat cat; little goblin; my little baby girl, love of my life. (Her name is Lucy).

Graphics design/creativity. I make it no secret my favourite part of my irl work is when I can make a brochure/pamphlet/poster. I don't profess to be an absolute master in it, and I'm entirely self-taught, but there is something about making something better. It's the same with GPOSING and the like. I don't do it often, but my edits are there. There are people in the community that use the little dividers I put together in Canva. It makes me happy!

My current mental health/personal journey. I'm in a really good spot mentally. My diagnosis has changed my life, and I was already on a good trajectory with my personal mantra/outlook on life prior to it. A few years go I was extremely depressed/anxious, I had a lot of trauma/paranoia around my spaces, and acted in ways I'm not proud of. I've reached out and reconciled a lot of it, and it's allowed me to engage with this community and my personal projects in a manner that's healthy and engaging for me. I was in a spot of ~drama~ recently (which I won't get into — that's another personal choice I made to keep things between relevant parties) and, rather than freaking out and thinking everyone hated me... I just dealt with it. I took all sides, formulated my opinions and blocked the people I didn't want to deal with. I was SO proud/happy with myself — I still am! It's not world-ending like it used to feel and that's so freeing for me as someone who used to be a chronic people-pleaser/conflict averse. I still want to try to be the latter, but I really believe the manta of 'be kind, take no shit'. It's done wonders for my happiness.

This got really long, I appreciate anyone who got to the bottom! I'll send these out to ten people from my permanent interaction call because I think that's nice. Thank you @disciple-of-frost for sending this in!! ✨

[green-lotus]

hi! could you do what splinter thinks of raph and reader's relationship, but more geared towards him bonding with reader?

Jesus that took me some time, i'm sorry for making you wait. But the whole thing evolved into something larger than I expected and I'm quite proud of it now so I didn't want to push myself and half-ass the final product. Enjoy!

Bonding with Splinter over your relationship with Raph

„My dear girl... Why don’t you lay down and have a rest, at least for a moment? You barely seem to be able to hold your head straight up”

Splinter. His voice was soft and slightly amused. You must have almost fallen off the couch a moment ago. Shleepishly batting your eyelids, your positioned yourself straight back up, trying to appear as dignified as possible.

„Oh, no offense, Splinter... But I’m not going anywhere until I see those knuckleheads coming in safely through that... Door” You gestured to the entrance area.

„I see” You were surprised, he gave up so easily on convincing you. Old rat stepped towards you, a warm smile spread on his snout. As you gathered the blanket around you, uncertain what to do now that you’ve been found, he stopped by your side and reached out his hand to lay on your arm.

„May this old rodent at least offer you some tea to brighten the waiting a bit?”

Oh.

„Well... If it’s not a problem... I’d love it. But no no”, you began picking yourself up, „I can make some for us both, if you want some”

Splinter shook his head beningly and signaled you to not get up. „No no my child, you sit, I wouldn’t dream of disturbing your ward. Please” His rat arm gently pushed you back down and in a strangely parental manner, put the blanket back onto your curled legs. „I’ll be right back. And i’m sure Leonardo will appreciate a warm cup as well once they’re back from their watch”

A smirk came onto your lips. „Yeah, he would. Donnie as well, just with lemon. And Raph would kill for a dark coffee with a whiskey shot, especially if it’s been raining tonight.” You smiled almost instantly as soon as you mentioned your precious, hulking turtle in red. And there was no way Splinter wasn’t noticing that. Fuck it, he already knew everything there was to know, and probably even more.

„Really?” You really couldn’t say if Splinter’s amazement was genuine or simply well – acted. „Well, I’ve been sure he’s been dumping something in his cup, but I wasn’t sure what it was, I must admit” You couldn’t not snort at the remark, and as your and Splinter's eyes met, you shared a warm smile.

„I’ll be back in a second, my dear. You just wait”

Unsure, you layed back against the couch and watched the giant rat stroll towards the kitchen.

It wasn’t the first nor second time you visited and spent the night in the lair, but it was definitely the first time you’ve been left alone in it with no one but Splinter to keep you company. Donnie suddenly picked up some strange signal from up above, supposedly about the Foot Clan, and despite your visit they all jumped onto the idea of heading out to an emergency patrol right this second. Raph was, truthfully, reluctant to leave your side even for an hour or so, but duty was calling and in the end, he wasn’t one to ignore it. So despite how badly he didn’t want to part during one of those sweet moments you were down there with his family he was always so longing for, he headed out as well after his brothers, promising he’ll be back with you before you even notice. Situation was apparently quite serious.

Too serious for you to be dragged along as you often were.

You definitely did notice Raph’s absence, and the more time passed, and the more painfully the hour turned into two and almost three, your mind and heart couldn’t keep still.

What if something happened?

To the boys, and worst, to your Raphael?

He told you as he was kissing your forehead goodbye you could just take a nap and he'll wake you up once he’s back, but like hell you were going to sleep when your turtle bros were sticking their necks out somewhere in the dark alleys of the city. So now, you were fighting off both weariness after the day and rising freezing cold anxiety in your gut, spread on the couch by the wall of the lair, wrapped in Raph’s massive, comfortingly soft blanket you two have been sleeping under every night you spent in the lair.

Until it turned out that despite Donnie’s reassurements, their dad, sensei or however the turtles felt like calling him at the given moment, wasn’t, in fact, dead asleep.

There wasn’t much that could actually happen to the turtles, they were practically bulletproof, but even so... Something still could. Even if a low – laying bunch of Foot marauders didn’t stand a chance against them.

„There’s our tea. This one’s yours. Careful, it’s hot”

Splinter definitely had a way of not announcing his presence whatsoever.

Heavenly smelling of pear, lemongrass, cinnamon and peach, a cup landed in your hand. Among everything else gathered in the lair, every piece of junk and reused, redesigned items, it looked weirdly out of place. A pretty white cup, adorned with most likely hand – painted blue flowers. Where did they even get it from

„Thank you...” You hesitated. „Actually. How... Should I call you? I don’t think your... turtle sons ever settled that with me”

At the mention of turtle sons, rat’s eyes flickered playfully.

„Oh, I think Splinter will be just fine. Unless you prefer terms your brothers use, but I didn’t assume you’d be comfortable with Dad or Sensei” He started laughing to himself.

You stared blankly into the liquid in the cup in your hand.

„Not yet”, you thought, but you bit the tip of your finger and let the not funniest of jokes slip to the back of your mind.

Splinter with utmost finesse lifted his cup and took a sip of his own tea, unmistakably white one, judging by the smell.

How the fuck did he know what tea you liked?

„I thought you’ll wondering where did I learn what tea you like”

Bitch.

„I’d assume Leo ratted me out”

„Hmm, not quite him but you’re close. It was your very own Raphael” He lifted his eyes from the cup, as if to check what kind of reaction mentioning your man’s name would bring.

Before you answered – you only now realised how much Splinter’s presence soothed you. You were all tense moments ago, but now your entire body was comfortably loose and relaxed, you have already forgotten how stressed you were in front of the man. Rat. And you have almost, but not quite forgotten what worried you so in the first place.

„My very own?” Absolutely certain now that Splinter’s shamelessly teasing you, you decided to play along with the joke.

„Well, seeing how much you and my son care about each other and how you always yearn for each other – there is no other way of saying it.”

A warming feeling was blooming inside you and a smile was slowly creeping onto your lips, but you didn’t lose your composure.

„Please, you’re embarassing me. That’s your son we're talking about.”

Splinter said nothing more, only smiled and took another sip of his tea. You followed suit.

Three hours. Motherfuckers.

He was making you wait.

He promised never to do that. He promised he would either include you in everything he & his brothers do, if it wasn’t too dangerous, or he would always keep you updated on everything, he won’t be leaving you uncertain of what’s happening to them. And Raph was a man of his word.

First, because you always made him aware of how much concern you had for their safety, and secondly – maybe even more importantly – because you were not the type of woman to endlessly wait for your man while drowning in doubts and tears.

Now selfish as it may sound, even your pride was being wounded.

You have only seen Raphael really hurt once, and it was enough for you. A dagger sticking out of his leg, blood dripping all over, even if the only thing left after that accident was another scar on his skin, it was enough for you.

You couldn’t hold it in any longer, and with a furious howl you rose to your feet, almost throwing the scrupulously brewed tea to the nearest wall.

You were expecting Splinter to be angry, but as you turned back to him, all his eyes looked at you with was concern and patience.

„My child”, he said calmly, placing his hand on yours. All this mischief and placidity he treates you with just so were gone. „Be calm. Your brothers will be back, unharmed. I know the feeling all too well, believe me; sitting out here, hidden from the world, as they venture into the night. But they always come back and I trust them to do so, don’t be scared”

„I’m gonna smash his teeth out once he returns. Making me fucking wait like that”

Being more than obvious who you meant, you were again surprised how Splinter didn’t say anything, but gazed at you with a warmth and understanding, nodding his grey head.

Guess it couldn’t hurt to say something else.

„Thanks... Splinter. I... I won’t take it if something happens to them. To Raph.” The rat only nodded with understanding. There wasn’t much else to be said.

Nervously tapping on the guardrail behind the couch, you were silent for a moment.

„Thank you. Sorry”

„My pleasure, my dear girl. Actually...”

He leaned against the couch, wiggling his tail on the ground, as if the words he intended to say escaped him, he was stroking his beard in thought. „... i’m the one who wanted to thank you”

Uhm?

You did suspect where what you just heard might be coming from, but even so,you wanted to hear it from the rat master himself.

„...what for?”

„Child, sit with me. Come”

So you did. And what you heard afterwards wasn’t entirely surprising, but it still blew your mind.

„I would be a fool not to notice the... effect your feelings have had on Raphael. My son... What can I possibly say... You must know how he is. What rages inside him, what fear hunts his mind. I always suspected that a gentle hand of a woman might help him when the time for that comes, but to see it with my own eyes... It’s a bliss any father dreams of, I imagine. You’ve done so much for him already, I hope you realise that... You must, you’re an exceptional girl, that much is clear to me.”

Splinter looked you straight in the eyes.

„I don’t mean to embarass you, don’t worry. I only mean to say... Thank you. I never thought my boys would be allowed that kind of experience... Feelings. I’m so very glad at least one of them found someone like you.”

Oh shit.

You had positively no idea how to answer this – but the silence that fell between you and Splinter and look in your eyes was enough of an answer. You knew he knew, and he knew you knew.

Thinking about a suitable, more elaborate response to give, to pour all your feelings into words – you simply reached out and placed your hand on Splinter’s.

„You’re welcome... old rat. Truly no need to thank me. I love this shelled moron just as much... or even more than you do. No offense”

The pipe in the water slide began pounding from the inside, and distant, muffles voices came to your ears.

Your heart skipped a beat.

You sprung from the couch and ran to the slide as four turtles, triumphantly yelling, came down from it, sending a fountain to the sides. Water splashing under your bare feet and your wet dress dragging behind you as you jumped down, you didn’t care. Pushing Mikey from the way, you threw yourself into Raph’s embrace, as soon as you felt his sweaty, animal smell mixed with the cologne he was using, all your fears vanished.

„Girl!” Raph lifted you with one hand, rushing the other through your uncombed hair. „Hey, i’m back, all good! Like I promised!” I’m so sorry i didn’t text ya, we had our hands busy with those Foot tail-ends, oh, it was unbelievable! Lemme...”

He lifted you from the water and put you on the ground as he shook off water from himself.

„Hey don’t go too hard on him!” Leo suddenly shouted to you from behind, „He wanted to give you a call, I told him to wait till we come back!”Raph glanced at him with grateful look, and smiled to you in an apologetic manner.

„Yeah, that’s our fault for once, we were rushing back as soon as we could!” Donnie backed him up. Mikey jumped behind you.

„He was all tears, I’m telling you. „Guys, guys, stop, I gotta give [y/n] a call, my heart’s torn open until the moment I see her again””

Raph was all tense already wanting to silence him, but then he realised you were silent all this time, staring at him.

„What’s wrong baby?” He stood by your side and hunched over to be closer to your face. His voice was heavenly soothing and intoxicating, as always, every single time.

„I was fucking worried about you all, that’s what’s up. You fucking idiot.”

„Hey. I’m... Sorry. Really. But we’re alright, nothing happened to anyone... Those Feet though!”

„You promised, Raphael” He sighed.

„I know.” He took your hand and gently placed a kiss on your palm. „Not gonna happen again”

You wished you could stay angry at him. But you couldn’t. You let go and burrowed into his embrace, sinking in his smell, his touch, everything he was.

„You’re coming with me now, sai master, you’ll tell me everything but do i need you all for myself... for a moment”

„Yes ma’am”

The lair was in a cheerful squabble again. Leo and Donnie, murmuring something to each other followed to the lab, Mikey was being rushed to the kitchen by Splinter to put a pot for the tea for everyone on fire, music went out loud in the air on as soon as he entered there. The rat smiled at you from the distance, watching you and Raph joyfully clinging to each other, and so did you.

You knew he knew, he knew you knew.

[vicsy]

maxiel wrestling au ✨ 2.7k words that boinked me in the head cause i miss the good old days.

The new guy is way too green to be fit into a match right before the main event and Daniel voices his genuine concern with zero hesitation. It's his reputation at risk. Christian claps him on the shoulder assuredly, paints the guy — his name is Max and he goes by Super Max until creative will have something to do with that, fuck's sake — in the brightest colors. Tries to make a sell, a corporate rat in and out of the ring.  

And the thing is, the new guy is sort of gloomy, doesn't smile much even when Daniel offers his signature greeting. He's not a fucking asshole, he won't tell a rookie to go to hell for that. They've all been there, first day jitters and all. But, man, this new guy. Something is off about him. 

His ring gear, for starters, and Daniel shouldn't be the judge since his mom made him his first ill-fitting set back in Australia when Daniel was seventeen and scrawny, fresh-faced with crooked teeth and the energy of three hundred power plants. So, yeah, it's bad wrestling etiquette or whatever but the outline of a lion in the middle of the rookies' — sorry, Max's — ass is… something. The blue and gold shorty shorts fit alright, though, Daniel does give them an appreciative look. He prefers pants and shin guards, that's all.  

And, shit, looks like this Super Max, for crying out loud, designs his gear himself, judging by this very self-indulgent print. People are gonna tear him to shreds, like vultures; crush his spirit, knowing how this biz works when you're twenty-five and still wide-eyed, full of dreams of making it big, becoming the next Shawn Michaels or The Great Senna. 

Max is surely no wrestling royalty, no Rosberg or Flair or Schumaher. His dad was some midcarder in the late eighties back when FWF was at the cusp of breaking viewership records. And, surely, Max is a texbook continuation of his father's unfulfilled hopes. Daniel can read it in the way Max held himself, in the way his arms fidget when he talks and beside him Christian nods, proud, like it was his son making his big screen debut.

Daniel wonders, why him. Putting Max against younger guys would have been more plausible. Putting a company rookie against an established champion definitely seemed like a choice. 

"Don't forget that I make the calls, Daniel," Christian says, the finality in his voice clear as day when Max steps away to put his signature on a contract for the night. Then the suit-and-tie fucker gives him a cunning little smile and Daniel swallows a witty response stuck on the tip of his tongue. "Besides, he asked very, uh, insistently to pair you two up. How could I have been in the right mind to say no to the future of wrestling wanting to take on one of the crowd favorites?"

Well. Fuck. Daniel would know how, being an absolute gem on the mic but nobody's asking, so he's shit out of luck in that department. And currently booked in match with a guy who apparently admires him. Same height and, what? Eight years younger? Daniel tries not to read it as a sign for retirement. 

They settle on a cage match and, surely, it means essentially throwing Max into the deep end from day one but his eyes shine eagerly and he goes on a tangent, dissects the match step by step as if he's been running with the FWF for as long as Daniel did. Ten fucking years, thank you very much, and he knows damn well how to put on a show without some jobber — alright, sure, Daniel isn't supposed to squash him but still — running his mouth with a wrestling for dummies kind of talk. But Max didn't look like the same person who glowered at Daniel minutes before. He seems like someone who loved wrestling with all his being, lived and breathed the craft, came alive with the sound of the bell, the boos and cheers; the bruises and tore muscles, broken bones and bittersweet victories. 

"We doing the spot?" Daniel interrupts but in good nature, stretching his shoulders one by one, wearing a lazy smile to hide his annoyance. He half expects Max to refuse, back out of it. Wouldn't blame him, really. "Top of the cage, before the bell."

"Of course," Max answers too quickly, voice croaky, his chin lifted high as if Daniel offended him. Doubted him on the spot; doubted his hunger to make a name in the biggest wrestling federation known in the world. "It's a cage match after all. We have to make a good show."

We, huh? Perhaps the kid knows a thing or two. 

"Yeah, cool," Daniel tugs his Beats on, cues a special playlist in a pre-match ritual. "See ya in the ring, Super Maxy-Max."

He walks off to warm up as the show begins but not before noticing a sudden blush on Max's pale cheeks, his chest puffing with a response that he breathes out in a language Daniel can't place. He bounces around backstage, high-fives miserable-looking Charles on his way from the ring. His chest is streaked with red lines. Poor guy took the brunt of Fernando's chops. Daniel could still hear his music playing as he celebrated a win accompanied by heartfelt boos of the crowd. Eh, fucking marks. 

Daniel makes a point of not acknowledging Max at gorilla position, adjusting his shockingly colourful ring gear instead, slinging the FWF championship belt over his shoulder. It's childish to use it as a shield and Daniel is the nicest guy to his core, cross his heart, but the wrestling biz is cutthroat. And even Max's music is not on par with the standarts when it plays after Daniel finished making his way to the ring, greeted the crowd and sent the shirt he wore flying towards the grabby hands of his faithful fans. They are, truly so, booing loudly along with the generic entrance song, letting Max feel their disdain from the start, not letting him mistake it as a warm welcome. Not against their favorite Badger. 

And yet, Max's face remains blank. The way he slowly removes his own t-shirt and neatly leaves it on the side of the ring pulls a chuckle out of Daniel. God, he's so spectacularly green. 

Simply on the grounds of Daniel being a fucking face, he reaches his hand out after the bell dings and the metal cage above them descends agonizingly slow, inviting Max to lock up; a class act. Max knocks his hand away, expression scrunched in a mask of disgust. Daniel takes every assumption he made back; they're about to have a grand ol' time. 

Max's style is a bit choppy but he doesn't strike Daniel as a high-flying type. Mostly old school moves, orchestrated to a precision not every rookie has. They exchange a couple of blows and Daniel takes initiative for the time being. He ducks away from a spear and Max hits the turnbuckle shoulder first, turning with a grimace of pain. He doesn't oversell, a great fucking sign for them both, and Daniel bounces off the ropes to deliver a flying knee to the side of Max's jaw. He takes it magnificently, falling to his knees completely unbalanced. 

Maybe, just maybe, he owes Christian the benefit of the doubt. At very least, their styles are a match, perfect opposites to elevate each other's strengths. Max's brawler against Daniel's technician; a study of contrasts between the brawn and the showmanship. 

He ends up putting Max in a figure-four smack dab in the middle of the ring so he can’t reach for the ropes to save himself and, shit, he sells so wonderfully that Daniel's mind wanders. There is something in the bend of Max's neck, in the strength of his entire figure — built but limber, writhing under Daniel's scrutiny, completely at his mercy. The give Max's body begs to be molded in his hands and, suddenly, a startlingly clear image surfaces at the back of Daniel's mind. Tag matches turning into tag titles, titles turning into a betrayal to feed the storyline; and then the redemption arc.

Then, a reunion. Full circle. Squared circle.

It's breathtaking, in truth. The easy push and pull, the synergy buzzing in the air between them, Max struggling out of the submission hold to pin Daniel's shoulders against the mat. A brash fucking attempt for a pin; he kicks out at one and rolls some distance away, eyeing Max to add to the dramatic of their unlikely clash. 

The crowd goes wild. Daniel stretches his lips in a smile, sharp like the jagged edges of the glass they pour out for hardcore matches. He catches himself thinking that he'd go for one with Max. Maybe just to see those lips bloodied, returning his smile tenfold. 

Time's almost out, the referee lets them know discreetly. Daniel lets Max turn the tide, drive him head first into the wall of the cage, hitting through the ropes with a clang. Daniel's head gets beaten against the turnbuckle, his back slammed against the mat with a perfectly executed chokeslam and the crowd gasps with sympathy. Max busies himself with prying the gate of the cage open, acting the heel part eerily well as Daniel catches his breath, sells Max's beating appropriately, without an overkill. 

He pulls Daniel outside of the cage, outside the ring, dragging his face against the barricade towards the commentator table. Max makes sure to interact with the crows, give them an opportunity to hate him, call him names. Something akin to adoration swells in Daniel's chest; he doesn't understand where it's coming from and then Max clotheslines him hard and he crumbles onto the floor lined with thin mats.

Good move, that. Suits the set up right.

Max almost throws a middle finger to the crowd and starts climbing the side of the cage with a single intent, much to the horror of the arena. Yeah, real fucking marks but Daniel wouldn't have it any other way. He counts to thirty in his head, sprawled flat on his back near the commentator table, having one of their tiny screens jammed in his midsection before by Max's enthusiastic efforts. He counts and follows the lines of Max's body, the broadness of his shoulders and the paleness of his skin. It makes Daniel's mind wander anew, in a direction it shouldn't, not in the middle of a high-risk match. 

The crowd gets antsy, urging Daniel to get the hell up, and so he does, Max halfway up on the cage, unknowing, with a sinister plan of his own. His muscles protest but it's hardly anything new. Daniel manages to catch up to Max in a flurry of adrenaline-addled motion, reaching up to hook his hand in Max's ridiculous shorts. Max looks down at him, expression purely shocked to satisfy the crowd and Daniel counts again as he tugs. Once, twice.

It's never pleasant, plummeting down and straight onto the commentator table. It breaks with a horrible sound under Max's back and he lies there, unmoving, the commentators standing not far away, still doing their job. Daniel hangs onto the slippery metal of the cage, listening to the crowd yelling and frothing at the mouth for him to do the thing they all came here for. He raises one hand and pumps his fists in the air twice, eliciting a reaction that makes his mind go into an overdrive. 

He takes a breath, bending his elbow for his signature move and jumps.

The Ricciardo Special lands beautifully on Max's midsection, making him yelp and seize from the pain. Daniel is so used to hitting the ground this way but the calmness that comes hand in hand with the fall is forever unsettling. Max breathes raggedly underneath him, limbs akimbo and his eyes half-shut, eyelashes fanning his splotched cheeks. From Daniel's point of view he looks like someone gave him a fuck of a lifetime. The sight makes Daniel's heart skip.

In the wreckage at the ringside, the perpetual hunger Daniel left unsated stirs impatiently, awakening from a famished slumber.  

Max's body under his own feels like it belongs; feels like a missing piece finally fitting. It hits Daniel like a freight train, the all-encompassing normalcy in the midst of controlled chaos.

He squeezes Max's wrist twice in a silent question, their limbs tangled together on the broken bits of the table. Max's fingers twitch against his hold — yes, I'm okay. 

And the show goes on towards the long-awaited climax. 

It takes Daniel thirty seconds to peel Max off the floor by the back of his neck, squeezing tight and roughly hauling him back inside the cage, rolling them both into the ring. It's a whole ordeal, his body exhausted and Max matches him there, too, playing the beaten to the pulp heel as if he's been doing it since he learned how to walk. Daniel drags him to the middle of the mat again, admiring the pliancy with which Max follows. There's a persistent ringing in his ears and an electric shock wracks through him when he gets his hand's on parts of Max's body he managed not yet to touch, no resistance as he bends him in half, Daniel's palm sliding against the sweaty skin under Max's knees. The referee appears next to them, slamming his palm against the mat.

One. Two. 

And when Max eats the pin like he's supposed to, like they've settled in the pre-match booking with Christian, Max's prominent mouth pressed into a thin line making Daniel think who the fuck does this jobber think he is, all the sounds of the packed arena rush into his ears as the bell rings and the cage finally lifts, freeing them. The crowd erupts and Daniel rolls over onto his back, gulping air, Max's arm pinned under him, sweaty skin sticking together. His music hits like a fucking tornado; another win sequred under his belt but all Daniel can muster at that moment is to turn his head against the stiffness in his neck, catching Max's gaze already trained on him. Mouth open, chest rising up and falling so rapidly Daniel seems to lose his breath again. 

Or perhaps it's the shine in Max's eyes, their color clear-blue like the spotlights above. Daniel finds it hard to look away and he desperately needs to drag himself to his feet, clutch the championship belt to his chest, an assurance of his stature; something solid to hang on to.

Max asked to wrestle him first. Daniel grasps at the foreign feeling blooming behind his ribcage.

His win doesn't feel like one. Not with Max suddenly so close to claiming a space for himself, claiming what's his and he's so damned good it scares Daniel momentarily. But the fear dissipates as quickly as the pain does when someone lands a chair shot just the right way. A satisfying kind of pain. With a slight twitch of his mouth, Max is the first to move away, further to the ropes. The skin of his back is angry red, the mess of moles speckled with blood where the impact from the commentator table scratched and tore into his flesh. 

Max rolls off the ring and limps up the ramp, holding his ribs gingerly. He turns when the referee raises Daniel's hand and he manages to straighten the other one with belt in it, showing it off as you still got it echoes in a thousand voices. For the first time he doesn't revel in the outpour of love and adoration, the crowd clapping and chanting his name. He doesn't look them over with a smile and his chest still feels caged, much like he and Max were moments ago, locked in what wasn't just a match. 

Something snaps; something ends. Daniel feels the shift clear, like the Earth tilting on its axis taking him with it and leaving Max standing still, his scuffed, golden boots rooted firmly to the ground. The weight of the championship belt turns laden, drags Daniel deep into the uncharted waters as he stares Max down, challenging and unabashed, blood thrumming with adrenaline. The bundled tightness in his chest lingers and lingers and lingers.

A corner of Max's mouth quirks up, eyes crinkling; no real malice behind them, just an answer to a soundless call, a promise for more. 

Daniel feels like he's the one plummeting down from the cage, from the top of a tower he built in his own name, not with stone but with blood, sweat and tears. Max follows suit, crashing into him without reservation, raw talent and blunt force, the soft edges of him breaking through skin and bone going straight for the heart; straight for the pin. 

The count follows, inescapably.

In his mind, Daniel doesn't kick out. 

[mischieffoal]

Kugrash; Rat Jesus; Bruce Kugrich; you know him, you love him - is a repressed, closeted, gay man. In this essay I will… tell you why I think that, I actually wrote the essay. (It’s not an essay it’s a long text post, it doesn’t have an introduction or a conclusion or citations don’t come for me)

Anyway, I’ve just finished The Unsleeping City chapters 1 and 2 and Kugrash has infested my brain and wormed his slimy way around my heart. I don’t need to proselytise him, if you’re reading this post you already understand the appeal of a crusty, washed-up rat bastard of a terrible father who’s trying to make up for everything he’s ever done. What I particularly loved about him was that he is gay-coded in such a specific way that it makes the poor little meow meow of it all even worse. Was it on purpose? I doubt it. But it certainly is there. 

(I doubt it was on purpose because the joy of D20 is that all the characters are kind of just pan unless specified otherwise and homophobia is only a thing that villains do in the first five minutes of a character’s introduction. So it’s like, I doubt Murph did this on purpose because he’s probably just being very queer friendly and it comes across this way because of the Kugrash of it all)

Evidence that I remembered to write down is as follows: 

Perry the Pigeon

Kug doesn’t actually want to date Perry, but he doesn't object to going to the wedding with him/sort of leads him on/definitely flirts with him/tries to let him down nicely. 

Murph did just choose the name Perry at random. Could have been a girl pigeon, but no. 

Perry is serious about Kugrash. Like, “still mourning him” serious. 

Perry isn’t only into Kug, he is an established gay pigeon who later marries another man (/rabbit)

2. The Kugriches

When the other PCs tell Wally there’s a pigeon with a crush on his dad, Wally immediately asks “What’s his name?”

Wally and David’s mum is out of the picture. David said that Bruce abandoned them when Wally really needed him, which I think implies she’s been gone since before Kugrash was cursed. Why? Who knows, Bruce was a bastard in many ways - but if his sexuality was so obvious that their son can only imagine his dad dating a male pigeon, it was probably obvious to Bruce’s ex. 

3. Lowell Masters

Kingston: finds out Lowell can Identify things by sticking them up his ass Kingston, two seconds later, pointing at his good friend Kugrash: “This man, what is this man?" Lowell: gives Kugrash an ass jacket Kugrash: “Yeah, yeah, sure thanks, appreciate it.”  Kugrash: “I smell like lube now instead of trash.” Kugrash: “We’ll link up at some point”

4. The totems

All men. When the Intrepid Heroes came up with what their totem animals would be in an Adventuring Party, they weren’t particularly gendered, but weren’t sentient either, so who knows what that’s worth

Perry (see Point 1)

The campest unicorn you’ve ever seen or heard in your life

5. Best friends with a hairdresser

6. “You goddamn beautiful boy, you fucker, you absolute arsehole.” I get it, Kug. Ricky does it to us all. 

To me, all of this implies Kugrash is gay, but quietly. He’s certainly not out-and-proud like Pete is, but his children know. Did he tell them or was it obvious? I don’t think Kugrash knows. I think he’s closeted to no-one but himself. A business man in the 1980s isn’t the most likely guy to have searched his soul for any sexual deviancy, and since then he’s been very busy being depressed/ashamed/a literal rat in the sewers. Misty and Kingston do a lot of work to pull him out of the underground and actually talk to human beings again. They know he’s gay, from the things they say about him (see in particular Point 3: Lowell Masters). I don’t think Kugrash would have ever had a “gay awakening” or a “gay panic” if he’d stayed on the mortal plane, I doubt his sexuality would be that shocking or confusing - I just don’t think he’s noticed. 

Being cursed into a ratman gives you the space to learn all sorts of things about yourself, and if that doesn’t quite work, you can always eat an everything bagel and become omniscient, when you can finally realise that Bruce Kugrich was in fact gay the whole time.

Thank you for coming to my TED talk. 

[crystallizedtwilight]

Hello! I love your work! Any thoughts on UKsies Delanceys?

Below the cut!

The acting choices made by all characters in UKsies differ from the Livesies performances in a way which makes the characters unique, distinct, and I can certainly appreciate each of them in their respective settings!

(UKsies Oscar's "it's honest work," like he's telling someone the time vs Livesies Oscar's "it's hanest woik," with narrowed eyes and the snarl of a rat who will bite you)

But I'd LOVE to talk about wardrobe and I'll use this as a springboard to delve into an interesting point of discussion, particularly regarding the visual portrayal of Delanceys in both UKsies and Livesies and how that connects to their financial and social status.

The UKsies version dresses the Delanceys slightly closer to the newsies. This implies that they are perhaps individuals of equal means and social ranking who were simply thrust down a different path due to the circumstances of their life.

However, in Livesies the Delanceys dress very sharply—crisp fedoras, clean button-down shirts, and ties—making them look quite well-to-do. And I think this is such a clever choice.

The brothers began life knowing nothing but farm clothes (overalls and t-shirts that were constantly covered in dirt from the trade) and never expected to wear anything fancier than that. Then, for their most formative years, they knew nothing but the tattered jail attire in The Refuge (bloodied, unwashed scraps that reflected the state of their living conditions).

But then, suddenly, they’re offered an opportunity.

For the first time in theirs lives the Delanceys are employed and this income allows them to dress themselves. It says a lot to me about their characters that they could both afford (and willingly chose) a more expensive looking wardrobe. This decision visually puts as much distance between them and The Refuge as possible.

No one would suspect individuals who were dressed so well to have come from nothing, to have struggled for so many years. The brothers now want to be seen as self-sufficient, thriving, with no points of weakness, no evidence of hardship. There may even be a slight cockiness there, proud of their bloody victories, rewarding themselves with the clothing they earned via survival of the fittest.

And the fact of the matter is: they do make more money than the newsies. At first glance the distribution center doesn’t seem like it would pay overly generously, so if the audience is scratching their heads as to how they're able to afford nicer things, their curiosity is immediately satisfied when the brothers admit to making extra cash through the “honest work” of cracking heads.

According to their broadways cards their job description isn't selling papers to the newsies it's "keeping order at the distribution window". And keeping order pays. They unrepentantly take these jobs around town and not just for Pulitzer—anyone who is willing to pay seems welcome to as evidenced by the head of the Trolley Business using their services. They are fists for hire and happily take the money that the newsies are too goodhearted to.

But what I love the most about this sharp and clean-cut wardrobe choice is that, instead of hiding the Delancey’s vicious and filthy upbringing, it reveals it. In an effort to conceal their violent past with pristine clothing, they buy pristine clothing funded by violent acts.

Sometimes the more one tries to hide, the more transparent they become. And well-dressed Delanceys show the audience not only how they wish to be seen, but exactly what type of villains they needed to be in order to afford to.