#I’m glad to have Isaac on my side

[lavenderspriggs]

me and Isaac watching all the side characters get romance plots

[kikyoupdates]

Girlfriend-For-Hire ⭑˚🦋⭑ 𝟶𝟸

yandere!ocs x f!reader

yandere, reverse harem, yandere reverse harem, original characters x fem!reader, slowburn, slowburn yandere

Hoping to try something new and earn a bit of money on the side, you join an app that lets people hire you for your dating services. The idea is pretty straightforward — you pose as the client's girlfriend for a brief period of time, and in turn, you receive payment. But you didn't foresee everyone getting so attached to you, and suddenly, they're no longer satisfied with a fabricated relationship.

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“Shit. I know it’s a bit late now, but I really don’t want to be here.”

Isaac exhales shakily. You’ve just arrived at your destination and are standing awkwardly in front of his parents’ house. He’s clearly reluctant to go in, no doubt dreading whatever is about to unfold. 

You flash him a sympathetic smile. Since he went as far as to hire someone to act as his girlfriend, he must be desperate to appease his parents. Life is difficult enough without being pressured to do things you don’t want. You just hope that after tonight, they’ll ease up and give him some space. 

“It’s going to be okay,” you promise. You’re not quite sure where you’re getting your confidence from, since this is your very first day on the job, but no matter what it takes, you intend to play your part. 

Even though you’re quite nervous as well, you still muster up the courage to reach out and grab Isaac’s hand. 

“We’ve got this,” you reassure, gently squeezing his fingers. “I’ve memorized everything you told me and I can recite it without a moment’s delay. They won’t be suspicious of us. I’ll do a good job.” 

Isaac briefly glances down at your comparatively smaller hand, which is tightly grasping his own. Whether it’s the warmth of your touch or the sincerity of your words, either way, he looks a bit more optimistic than he did a few seconds ago. 

“Okay,” he nods. “You’re right. I’m ready now. Let’s do this.” 

With a resolved expression, he rings the doorbell, and after a few moments, someone opens the door.

“There you are!” a woman beams. She must be Isaac’s mother, and you have to admit, she looks a lot friendlier than you were expecting. “I’m so glad you’re both here! You especially, [Name]. We were over the moon when we heard that Isaac was bringing his girlfriend!” 

Her gaze briefly pans down, and she notices the two of you are holding hands. This, of course, was completely intentional on your end, and by the looks of things, it seems to be doing a good job of convincing her. 

“Thank you so much for having me,” you smile politely. “It’s really nice to meet you. I hope I didn’t surprise you too much by showing up without much prior notice.” 

“Oh, of course not,” she reassures. “Isaac was the one who decided to keep us in the dark, for whatever reason. But it doesn’t matter. We’re just happy he’s finally found someone! It’s not good to be all alone at his age. He’s at the stage of his life where he needs to start seriously considering his future.” 

Isaac does his best to hide it, but you still notice how his lips momentarily split into a grimace. 

“I’m Mary-Ann, by the way,” his mother smiles. “My husband was just finishing up with setting the table. He can hardly wait to meet you as well.” 

You nod, still smiling pleasantly, and Mary-Ann leads you through the house until you reach the dining room, where Isaac’s father is waiting. 

Unlike his wife, who has a much more agreeable demeanor, he is stern-faced and imposing. To be honest, he kind of reminds you of your own father a bit. Both of them seem like the type to be needlessly strict and abstain from showing their child any affection. 

Then again, first impressions can often be misleading, so you could very well be wrong. 

“Isaac,” the man snaps. “What took you so long to tell us you were in a relationship? Do you get a kick out of deceiving your parents? I’m starting to get really fed up with your lack of respect. I didn’t raise you to be such a prick.”

…nevermind, you’re spot-on. 

“Come on, honey,” Mary-Ann scrambles to intervene. She must be the mediator in the family, or as close as it gets to one. “Don’t be so confrontational right off the bat. Let’s just focus on the fact that he actually has a girlfriend now, okay? Please help me make our guest feel at home.” 

Isaac’s father finally turns towards you, still with that cold look in his eyes, but again—you’re used to receiving the same treatment from your own father.

When it comes to dealing with shitty parents, you’ve got a lifetime of experience in your arsenal.

“It’s very nice to meet you, sir.” You maintain your smile, never allowing it to falter in the slightest. “I’m sorry if we surprised you with this news. I think Isaac was just trying to be considerate of me. I’m a very private person, and he probably didn’t want to tell his family right away to avoid putting pressure on me. But I really do apologize, and I’m glad that we’re finally meeting now.” 

You know all too well what kind of person he is. He values respect and subservience above all else, and so long as you tell him what he wants to hear, it should be fine. 

Well, theoretically, at least. 

But much to your relief, his irritation dissipates quickly enough at the sight of you. Just like his wife, he must be relieved that Isaac is finally seeing someone. It sounds like they’re extremely concerned with the state of his romantic affairs—even though they shouldn’t be. 

“Yes, it’s nice to meet you, [Name],” he nods, offering a tight-lipped, but genuine smile. “I’m Michael. There’s no need to apologize for anything. Isaac is our son, so it was still up to him to confide in us. But I guess what matters most is that he’s finally found himself a girlfriend. For a while there, we were worried that he might not even be interested in women, if you know what I mean.” 

You force yourself to keep smiling, despite the fact that your stomach just dropped. 

Just casually sprinkling in a bit of discrimination on our very first meeting. Fantastic. This is off to a strong start. 

“For fuck’s sake, Dad,” Isaac mutters under his breath.

Michael arches a brow. “Did you say something?” 

“...no.” 

It’s obvious that there’s friction between the two of them, and you can’t blame Isaac for wanting to bury this issue as quickly as possible. 

If you want to receive positive reviews—but above all else, to actually help someone—you’d better do a good job. 

“Anyways, the food is all ready, so please take a seat,” Mary-Ann says, gesturing towards the dining table. You offer her a smile in return, grabbing a seat just beside Isaac. You take it upon yourself to sit across from his father so that he doesn’t have to, and based on the appreciative look he gives you, it clearly doesn’t go unnoticed. 

Mary-Ann happily hums as she heads into the kitchen to bring the food out. You offer to help her carry a few plates, but she insists that you’re the guest and you don’t need to worry about a thing. 

“Your girlfriend has better manners than you do,” Michael tuts. “You should have been the one to offer to help your mother. I wonder when you’re going to grow up.” 

Isaac’s expression darkens. “Okay. You’re right. Sorry.” 

“There’s no point in apologizing. Just be more considerate in the future. Ever since you moved out, I can tell you’ve become rather self-centered.” 

Fucking hell. This really is like a sit-down with your own parents. It’s every bit as uncomfortable as you remember it being, but the only difference is that, as much as your parents were shitty to you, they didn’t go out of their way to air their dirty laundry in front of guests. 

Unfortunately, it seems like Michael doesn’t have that same decency.

Sensing Isaac’s discomfort, you decide to engage his father in conversation and take some of the attention off him. 

“So, Isaac tells me you’re a lawyer,” you say. “I heard you’ve handled all sorts of big cases before. I’ve always felt like it’s a very high-pressure job, especially for the lawyers that actually go to court. I’m amazed you can keep your calm in front of so many people. That’s really impressive.” 

You figure that stroking his ego is probably the best way to appeal to him, and thankfully, it turns out that you’re right. 

Michael clears his throat. “Yes, well, there’s no point in doing a job if you’re not going to do it properly. And it’s also true that not all lawyers can handle going to court, which is why they choose more niche areas of the law. But I find fulfillment in working as a defense attorney and keeping innocent people from ending up in prison. Back when I was younger, I was more enticed by the idea of working as a prosecutor, but I started to see things differently as I grew up.” 

“How so?” 

“Statistically speaking, most criminals are repeat offenders. Which means that even if they get lucky and are found innocent of one crime, they will later commit another and end up in jail regardless. I realized that rather than going after lowlives who would likely be punished at some point or another, my talents would be better suited for protecting innocent civilians from having their lives ruined beyond repair. There’s nothing more devastating than being sentenced for a crime you didn’t even commit,” he mutters disappointedly. “That’s why I’m there to make sure I can save as many people as possible.” 

You nod in understanding. What he’s saying makes sense, and in all fairness, he doesn’t strike you as being malicious or cruel—although perhaps quite strict and old-fashioned—but don’t defense attorneys also have to represent criminals every now and then? 

“I know what you’re thinking,” Michael chuckles. “Over the years, I’ve risen to a reputable position where I can afford to be picky with my clients. I do diligent research beforehand to determine whether it is truly someone in need of help, or a criminal looking to get away with their crime. Since I’m a private attorney, I’m not assigned to any cases without my volition. Of course, I realize not everyone is as fortunate to be selective in the way that I am, but this is ultimately the result of my own hard work. I painstakingly built up my career and am now in a place where I can take absolute pride in what I do.” 

You make a point to show that you're listening attentively, even though you can hear Isaac scoffing quietly from beside you. 

“But enough about me for now,” Michael dismisses. He casts a glance over his shoulder. “Ah, there comes Mary-Ann with the food. It smells delicious, honey. I can already tell you’ve outdone yourself.” 

Mary-Ann giggles while setting the plates down. “Save the compliments until you’ve actually tried it first. Anyways, is everyone ready to dig in?” 

You smile and nod, and it seems like Michael wasn’t just trying to get on her good side, because everything really does taste incredible. 

“Wow, you’re such a good cook,” you remark, covering your mouth as you finish chewing. “This is so yummy! It could seriously pass as a dish in a gourmet restaurant or something.” 

“Oh, please,” Mary-Ann blushes, but it’s clear that she doesn’t mind the flattery. 

“Yeah, this is really good, Mom,” Isaac seconds, happily digging in. 

“Mary-Ann has always been an amazing cook,” Michael says, eyes full of pride. “She probably could have opened a restaurant if she really wanted to, but she’s a woman of many talents and was already preoccupied with her career.”

It certainly seems like they’re still very much in love, which is a good thing, especially for married couples who’ve been together for many years. Still, it’d be nice if that warmth and affection extended to Isaac as well. You really wish his father was kinder to him. 

It’s quiet for a while, since everyone’s busy enjoying the first few bites, but you suddenly notice Michael’s gaze lingering on Isaac, and after swallowing his food, he scowls.

“You’re still wearing that earring,” Michael remarks in disgust. “Didn’t I tell you to get rid of it? People will get the wrong idea about you. It helps that you finally have a girlfriend now, but still. You’re going to be a doctor, for crying out loud. Put some thought into how you present yourself.”

Isaac narrows his eyes. “I don’t see what the big deal is. I’m still young. It’s not like I’m going to start working as a doctor anytime soon.” 

“People that see you for the first time will think that you’re shallow and cheap. You look like you’re supposed to be some kind of male stripper.” 

“And how would you know what a male stripper looks like?” Isaac challenges. 

Michael’s face turns dark red in an instant, and he slams his fist on the table, making the plates and cutlery rattle.

“Watch your goddamn mouth,” he warns. “I refuse to be disrespected in my own home. Not to mention in front of a guest.”

The tension is so thick you could probably cut it with a knife, but to you, this is more than just an uncomfortable dinner. This is a job, which means you need to remain professional and not let any of it get to you. 

“I think Isaac looks handsome no matter what,” you decide to interject. “He can pull off all kinds of things that most people can’t. But he clearly gets his good looks from both of you. I can’t help but be jealous of his genes.” 

Once again, empty flattery seems to be your escape, and Michael chuckles awkwardly, perhaps a touch embarrassed, but at least he’s not berating his son anymore. 

From underneath the table, Isaac squeezes your hand. You agreed beforehand that it was okay for him to hold your hand and hug you, so that your relationship didn’t look too stiff or forced, but this time, he isn’t doing it to put on airs. 

There’s a faint blush on his cheeks, and his eyes are full of appreciation. He even mouths a silent ‘thank you’.

You blink a few times. 

Was it really that big of a deal? I’m sure anyone else would have done the same. His dad keeps grilling him for no reason, and I feel uncomfortable being trapped in the middle. 

You suppose he’s probably not used to having someone be by his side while he has to deal with his father. At the very least, it seems your presence here is making somewhat of a difference. 

“You asked me a few questions earlier, so now it’s my turn to ask you,” Michael suddenly says. “Are you and Isaac roughly the same age? Are you still in school, or have you already graduated?” 

Well, it looks like it’s finally time for this part of the night. The part where you’ll have to seamlessly answer every question they throw your way. 

But it’s fine. You practiced for this. You studied all the information Isaac sent you as if you were preparing for an exam, and you’ve got all your facts memorized. Michael is a lawyer, so he’ll probably be looking for holes or inconsistencies in your story, but it doesn’t matter. 

You promised Isaac you’d be the best girlfriend he could ever ask for, and that’s exactly what you intend to do. 

“We go to the same university,” you reply confidently. “Actually, we’re in the same major too. That’s how we met. We have a class together. Isaac is always really on top of all the material, so he helped me study a bunch of times.” 

Michael looks rather pleased to hear that. “Oh, really? That’s good. I was worried he wasn’t keeping up with his studies, but I’m glad he’s been taking it seriously. So, you also plan on becoming a doctor?” 

“Yep! I know it won’t be easy, but I want to help people as much as I can,” you beam. 

“It’s great that you have so much in common,” Mary-Ann remarks. “Medical students have a big workload, so it’s nice that you can relate to one another. Even better if you can help each other study.” 

“Have you already taken the MCAT?” Michael asks. 

“I did,” you nod. “I passed it and got a pretty good score, so I’m just waiting to hear back from the medical schools I applied to. Hopefully Isaac and I can both start next year. It’d be nice if we ended up at the same school too.” 

“Perhaps it’s better if you go to separate schools,” Michael frowns. “Medical school isn’t easy for anyone, and I worry you might end up getting distracted. Maybe you’ve got a strong work ethic, [Name], but Isaac is prone to slacking off.” 

What slacking off? He told me he scored in the 90th fucking percentile, which means he’s all but guaranteed his top medical school choices.

You strain a smile. Honestly, it’s exhausting constantly seeing parents hold their children to ridiculous standards. You and Isaac have a lot in common in that sense. No matter what you accomplish, no matter how hard you push yourselves, it feels like they’ll just never be satisfied. 

“I’ve never seen Isaac get distracted,” you insist. “He’s probably got the best grades out of our entire senior year. Anyways, even if attending the same school would be nice, I think we’ll be fine no matter where we end up. We’re both willing to put in the effort.” 

Mary-Ann nods happily. She’s clearly the more easygoing of the two. She actually seems quite nice, all things considered. Michael is the real hard-ass around here. You just hope you’ve done a good job of convincing him so far.

“I guess medical school is still a ways off,” Michael acknowledges, taking a sip of water. “But I’m glad you scored well on the MCAT. It sounds like Isaac’s finally found himself a good girlfriend. You’re open to marriage, I take it?” 

Isaac tenses up. “Dad, please—” 

“Quiet. I was asking her, not you.” Michael turns back to you and smiles. “Well? I hope you’re not part of that new, incredibly stupid fad where young adults such as yourself choose not to get married. It’s very sad to see how people these days view marriage. If you’re not willing to commit to marriage, then really, do you even value the relationship at all?” 

“We’ve barely been dating for over a month,” Isaac grits out. “Don’t you think you’re freaking her out with the marriage talk? I’m sorry, [Name]. He’s clearly getting carried away.” 

“I’m not speaking as if the two of you are getting married anytime soon,” Michael sighs. “I just want to know what her take on marriage is in general. I want to make sure she doesn’t have twisted values like the rest of the younger population these days.”

Isaac is visibly uncomfortable, scratching incessantly at the back of his head. It must be some kind of nervous tic. He’s done it a couple times this evening. Poor guy clearly wants to get the hell out of here.

But you’re not about to get worked up over Michael’s intrusive questions. All of this is pretend, and thus far, you have yet to actually divulge any real facts about yourself. He doesn’t truly know what kind of person you are. He’ll probably never know. 

So, you smile, completely unfazed. 

“Of course marriage is important. If I’m confident about spending the rest of my life with someone, what reason is there not to get married?” 

Michael doesn’t respond verbally, but he nods and smiles, clearly pleased. All evening, you’ve done your best to appeal to him and convince him that your relationship with Isaac is the real thing, and he doesn’t seem suspicious in the slightest. 

Still smiling, you lean over and rest your head on Isaac’s shoulder. He knows exactly what you’re getting at, so he smiles back and wraps his arm around you, pulling you close. 

Both Michael and Mary-Ann watch with approving gazes. The tension has finally dissipated, and everyone is content. 

It looks like you might be better at this than you first thought.

“I’m bored of this relationship. Let’s break up.” 

Callum blinks lethargically. His pale gray eyes feel heavier by the second, and even though most people would normally be taken aback to hear those words spoken to them, at this point, it doesn’t even faze him anymore. 

“Didn’t you hear me?” his girlfriend—or rather, ex-girlfriend repeats. “I’m breaking up with you, Callum. I’m serious this time.” 

Yeah, right. 

How many times has she broken up with him by now? He’s honestly lost track. It always comes out of nowhere too. It’s as if she’s trying to catch him off guard or something. 

“Okay,” Callum shrugs. “I know it’ll blow over before long anyways. It always does. I bet you’re just in a shitty mood. Did your period come early?” 

His ex scowls, visibly disgusted. “It’s because you say those kinds of things that I don’t want to be with you anymore. You’re such an asshole.” 

“Come on, Nadia. Don’t act like we haven’t had this same conversation a million times by now. You always do this. So, I’ll give you space or whatever until you cool off. There’s no need to get so worked up.” 

“I said I was serious this time. I’ve wasted enough of my life on you.” 

With a derisive sneer, Nadia swivels around and struts off. The whole while, Callum watches with his hands shoved into his pockets. He doesn’t feel even a twinge of worry, because he already knows how this little game will end. She’s never once been serious about breaking up. Why should this instance be any different? 

But for the first time, he feels something other than indifference when it comes to being broken up with. 

He’s actually kind of pissed off.

Nadia’s been getting a little too carried away lately. She seems to think that just because he’s mellow and laid-back, it gives her the right to walk all over him. It’s a tiresome routine, and he’s gotten pretty sick of it. 

Even though he knows Nadia will come back to him, just like she always does, perhaps it’s time to teach her a lesson.

As chance would have it, he’s been hearing a lot of buzz about a new app recently. Some kind of companionship service that allows people to hire someone to act as their significant other for a period of time. 

Partner For Hire. Yeah. This is the one. 

Having downloaded the app, Callum proceeds to scroll through its catalog and see what it has to offer. Just as advertised, it looks like all kinds of people are offering their dating services at a certain price. Some assholes are charging ridiculous numbers just for a single day’s worth of fake dating. It’s actually kind of unreal, because as far as Callum is concerned, they’re really nothing special.

“No, no, no,” he repeats, scrolling endlessly through all the options. “God. None of these chicks are even that cute, and they expect me to blow a fuck-ton of cash on them? Get real.” 

Honestly, he’s kind of disappointed by how mediocre the options are. Then again, he figures it’s mainly losers that use this app. People that are too pathetic to be in a real relationship. 

The more he scrolls, the more discouraged he feels, because he doubts any of these women would be able to make his ex-girlfriend jealous. She has no reason to feel threatened over a downgrade, and none of these uggos are going to get the job done. 

Just as he’s about to toss his phone aside and consider another approach, he stumbles across a profile that actually catches his eye.

“Whoa,” he blinks. “She’s hot as hell.” 

Callum nods approvingly. Yeah. If it’s with someone like you, then even Nadia would have to reconsider her shitty choices. He’s already got a huge smirk just imagining how horrified she’ll be when he shows up with his “new” girlfriend in tow. 

Looks-wise, he’s hit the jackpot. There’s no guarantee that you’ll actually be up to his standards, but hey, he figures it doesn’t hurt to give it a try. 

More importantly, if Nadia sees you with him, she’s guaranteed to lose her shit. 

“Maybe next time you shouldn’t be so quick to break up with me,” he chuckles coldly. “Stupid bitch. You’ll be begging for me to take you back by the end of this.” 

[𝐒𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐚 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭?]

>> [𝐘𝐄𝐒]

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[hedwig221b]

Trick or treat!!

Hiiiii! Based on what you usually reblog I think you'd like this piece of a wip

“I’m just feeling on edge today,” Stiles confessed.

That was one way to put it.

“Let’s figure it out then,” Derek insisted, and Stiles couldn’t help but look up at him. “You have to embrace it. You know it’s the only way for you.”

Fuck, Stiles loved this man so fucking much. His throat was closing up at the sheer determination in Derek’s voice. He was probably the only one who didn’t want “the old Stiles” back. Derek didn’t want to change him. From day one he encouraged Stiles to be at peace with what he was, to explore the new abilities in order to understand and control himself better.

Maybe, that was because he was a born werewolf, who was always told by the humans that there was an “other”, wolfy part of him that he had to tame in order to be “normal”.

But Derek was already normal. He just wasn’t human (fully or half) and that irked people because he looked like one.

Derek was the only one who could understand. Well, he and hunters, but the latter weren’t so nice about it.

“Do you need to vent?” Derek asked. “Scream? Punch someone?”

“I want blood.”

Derek’s mouth closed with a click.

Stiles forced himself to keep looking at Derek because his mate needed to know. If Stiles could demand Derek to be truthful with him, he had to do the same. No matter how horrifying the truth was.

Derek cleared his throat and blinked a couple of times in rapid succession.

“In what way?” His voice betrayed nothing.

Stiles’ heart was beating in his throat, despite him sitting still on the couch. He looked to the side, biting the skin off his upper lip. He was clutching at Derek’s hands in a pitiful attempt to make him stay.

“I don’t want to have, like, a Bloody Mary or anything, but… I have this urge, and it’s been killing me, like a constant headache. I want to—” Stiles stopped to swallow the spit that immediately gathered in his mouth. “Want to tear into something. With my teeth, my hands. To feel their last breath and keep breathing myself.”

Now he was afraid to look at Derek. It was too much. Derek was going to look at him in disgust and fear, lean away and run far to where Stiles would never find him.

“Please,” he begged in a choked voice. “Please, don’t— Don’t leave me. I don’t want you to be afraid of m— Oh, my god, why the fuck are you smiling?"

And it was a full smile, with his usual set of bunny teeth and fangs, breathtaking, wide and feral.

And then Derek said the thing Stiles never thought to hear from him in the light of recent events.

“I’m so glad to have you as my mate.”

“Fucking huh?”

Derek chuckled, rolled his eyes, then smacked a hard passionate kiss on Stiles’ lips and jumped up with athletic ease.

“I’m taking you on a hunt, come on.” The man grabbed his hands and lifted him off the couch, tugging his stunned mate after himself.

“Hunt?”

“Yeah,” another giddy smile, so beautiful Stiles stumbled a bit into his shoulder. “I wanted to take you with me for so long, but since you don’t like running in the forest…”

“When I run in the forest it’s usually because I’m running away from someone, that’s why I despise it,” Stiles said to him absently, still reeling from Derek’s reaction. “You’re… you’re not disturbed? Not even for a little bit? Not feeling any urge to call 911?”

Derek snorted and shook his head.

They finally stopped at the edge of the forest; Derek turned around, gave Stiles the softest excited glance, then cupped his face quickly and kissed him again. Seemed like he just couldn’t keep it inside himself.

“You’re a predator now, Stiles,” the wolf breathed out with an almost proud smile, “like me.”

Stiles soaked up the sunny expression on his mate’s face, and the realization hit him hard and with no warnings. When was the last time Derek was able to experience the thrill of the hunt with someone? He was a fucking wolf, for fuck’s sake. Scott absolutely refused to do it, Allison and Lydia weren’t even worth asking and Isaac was still too weirded out by his own urges.

The last time Derek hunted with someone, just for the fun of it, was probably back when his family was alive.

But now… Now he could share this with Stiles.

“Like you,” said Stiles and smiled back.

[natimiles]

Worthy (Jean x reader)

Summary: Jean never felt this way before. He never thought he deserved love — or to be alive again to begin with. That’s what his brain tells him; that’s what seems more logical to do. But his heart grows more stubborn every day.

Words: 2418

Tags: sfw; fluffy; angst with a happy ending; not-so-unrequited love; confessions; first kiss; female reader (Jean calls you mademoiselle and you’re wearing a dress).

Notes: it took me so long, but I finally finished iiit! This is my entry for the lovely challenge “Love Booth for Underrated Characters” hosted by @queengiuliettafirstlady! The prompts for Jean were “Monster — I am not worthy of love.”

He seriously considers not attending this party. He’s never had any problems just staying in his room before. Why doesn’t he do just that now?

The sound of your laugh reverberates throughout the room, piercing straight into the core of his heart — make it twist, stop, hurt.

Oh… Right. 

And now he doesn’t know whether it would be better to enter this hellish party or to run back to his bedroom.

Jean never felt this way before. He never thought he deserved love — or to be alive again to begin with. So, having such a bright soul near him is a little scary. It makes him want to hide in his room and never leave again, or perhaps go to his weapon shop and not come back. That’s what his brain tells him; that’s what seems more logical to do.

But his heart grows more stubborn every day.

He sees you as soon as he steps into the grand party hall. You’re chatting with Isaac while he’s a shy mess, blushing and stuttering. Jean isn’t good with body language or understanding people, but he can tell the physicist likes you. To be fair, he can tell everyone in the mansion likes you — and that probably says more about how they all make no effort to disguise their feelings than Jean starting to be less oblivious.

And the worst part is that he can include himself in that count.

He is better at concealing his feelings though. It’s easy when he thinks he’s a horrible monster that doesn’t deserve happiness. But it’s hard when you look at him from the other corner of the room with those doe-like eyes. When you smile widely and wave at him. When you interrupt your conversation with Isaac to walk up to him, to welcome him to this party that Comte insisted on throwing to celebrate your one-year anniversary living in the mansion with them — something that Comte, once again, went overboard with, renting out an entire party hall and throwing a fancy celebration.

“Jean! You’re here!” you say in a cheery tone. You almost reach out to hug him but think better of it and clasp your hands together. Sometimes you forget Jean is not a fan of hugs; you’re used to all these needy vampires wanting your attention and affection 24/7.

“I am,” he replies in what he thinks is his usual stoic voice, but if someone else were close enough to hear him, they’d notice it’s a little softer.

“I’m glad you’re here,” you smile widely. It reaches your eyes in the most beautiful and radiant way he’s ever seen; it almost blinds him. He just averts his gaze and hums in agreement. He fails to see your smile wavering at his lack of a better response. “Do you... Do you want to eat something? The buffet is incredible!”

He glances back at you. “Alright,” he replies simply, and your face brightens up again.

You practically don’t leave his side from that point on. You guide him to the buffet, tell him about some food he’s never seen before, and keep chatting with him for a good while. He can’t understand what’s happening. Why are you still giving him all this attention? Shouldn’t you be talking to the others?

However, he doesn’t have the heart to dismiss you, and it only makes things worse.

So when Arthur calls you for a dance, he seizes the opportunity to escape. It’s stupid, he knows it, but it’s the only way he can think of distancing himself from you. Jean considers going back home; someone like him shouldn’t be there, enjoying all the attention you were giving to him. He doesn’t deserve it. You’re basically an angel in his eyes, with a natural light, a bright smile, and a pure heart, and he’s not worthy of any of that.

Why does it become harder and harder to keep believing that?

He goes to the balcony and sits down on a bench in the corner. He sighs and gazes at the moon in the dark sky, while his mind wanders. The sounds from the party are a little quieter there, but he can still hear the music and the laughter. He can imagine you dancing with Arthur, the way you’d spin around in his arms while giving him your beautiful smile, how your sweet voice would chat with him while dancing... How you’d do everything he wants, but he knows he’s not worthy of having.

Why does the thought bring him pain? He should be happy if you end up choosing anyone else, even if it’s Arthur. They’re all more deserving of your affection than he will ever be.

He hears footsteps slowly approaching the balcony, and only then does he realize he must’ve been lost in his own thoughts for a while because the song has changed. His gaze flicks down from the moon to whoever is coming out into the chilly night, and he stops breathing when he sees you approaching him.

“There you are!” you smile, sitting down beside him. “What are you doing here?”

“Just getting some fresh air,” he says simply.

“Oh! I think I need some air too, so I’ll stay here for a while… is that okay?”

His head nods before his lips can give you a verbal answer, and you smile shyly. A comfortable silence settles between the two of you, with only the faint music from inside the hall serving as background noise.

A soft song starts to play, and he can see from the corner of his eye you fidgeting with your fingers, then with the skirt of your dress, then fiddling with your hair. He turns his head slightly, silently watching your face change into a million different expressions in a short span of time. It’s both impressive and endearing to him.

“Jean?” you call in a soft voice, and he hums in acknowledgment. You finally look directly at his face, biting your lip nervously. “Do you dance?”

“Pardon?” His eye widen as he looks at you funny, as if you’ve suddenly grown a second head.

“I want to dance,” you explain slowly and softly. “And I’d like to dance with you.”

“Mademoiselle, I don’t think I’m the most appropriate partner for this,” he says, frowning. “Have you considered asking Mozart?”

“No, because I don’t want to dance with him,” you pout. “I want to dance with you. If you’re not comfortable, then we can just stay as we are now, keeping each other company.”

“Not uncomfortable…” he starts, tilting his head to the side. “I’ve never danced before. I don’t know how to.”

“Oh! Then it’s easily fixed!” You jolt up and look expectantly at him. “Come on, let’s dance. We can do it here, so no one will see us while we practice.”

Jean considers denying you, but he realizes how difficult it actually is. Slowly, almost suspiciously, and very awkwardly, he stands up in front of you. You beam at him, your neck craning a little backward so you can properly look at him from such a short distance, since he is taller than you.

“How... do we do it?” he asks, trying to ignore his heart beating faster.

“It’s quite simple. One of your hands will hold mine, and the other goes to my waist.”

You don’t move or try to catch his hands; you just stay there with one hand extended for him to grab, waiting for him to approach you when he’s ready. With a mental deep breath, he brings himself to touch you. The hand on your waist pulls you a little closer without him really noticing what he’s doing, and the other proceeds to hold yours.

“And now?” he asks in a low voice.

“Now we sway,” you reply, placing your other hand on his shoulder and gently nudging him to move. “One step to the right, one step to the left.”

“Alright,” he murmurs, a little insecure. He looks down at both your feet, trying hard not to step on you, but ends up doing so. “I’m so sorry,” he apologizes. His cheeks flush, his brow furrows, and you think it’s the most adorable sight you’ve ever seen.

“Don’t worry about my feet, Jean,” you kindly say. “And try not to look down while dancing.”

The soldier nods, briefly glancing at your face before averting his gaze to something above your head. He can feel you intently looking up at his face while slowly guiding him, and he makes a huge effort not to look directly into your curious eyes. He fails. He never thought it was possible, but here, underneath the starry sky and the moonlight, you’re even more beautiful.

He can feel his heart beating inside his ribcage. Is this normal? Is he dying again? He thought vampires were supposed to be stronger. You lick your lips, and his gaze drops to follow the motion, being rewarded with a shy smile in return. Now his knees are weak and his head feels light, and he’s sure he’s about to pass out.

“Jean…” you call his name oh so softly.

He turns his amethyst eye back to yours, and you both stay silent for a few seconds, lost in each other’s gaze.

“... Yes?” He tries to encourage you, but he isn’t sure if it’s effective. 

Unaware that it makes you more nervous, he intently watches as you bite your lip and furrow your brow. You keep staring at him for a whole minute, and Jean considers asking if you’re feeling unwell too. But then you intertwine your fingers more with his, and bring your linked hands close to your lips and place a soft peck.

“I like you,” you whisper, the hands still close to your lips, your breath warming them.

He stops dead in his tracks, causing you to stop swaying too.

He blinks.

“What…?” His voice is so hoarse and low, you can barely hear him.

“No, that’s not right,” you pout. “I’m in love with you.”

Oh, he’s definitely dying again. Or maybe he’s already dead and this is Heaven?

“Mademoiselle, what are you saying…”

“I’m saying I love you,” you speak with more confidence now.

He wants to push you away. He wants to tell you that you shouldn’t say this to him. He wants to warn you about his true self. He wants to make you realize the monster he really is, the one that doesn’t deserve love, especially yours.

However…

The hand holding yours squeezes tightly, and he brings it to his chest, while the one around your waist clenches the fabric of your dress between his fingers. The motion brings you closer, and you squeeze his shoulder, beaming at him in such a way that he feels something melting inside him.

“I’m not… appropriate. I’m not worthy… You—”

“I don’t want to tell this to anyone else,” you practically read his thoughts, based on the previous answer when you asked him to dance with you. “And don’t talk like that about yourself. I love you. You’re worthy of love, and every good thing this life gives you. I can tell you the whole list of why, if it helps you see what a wonderful man you really are.”

Jean is confused. He’s never been called a “wonderful man” before, not in this soft way you just did — he was a wonderful soldier, but that had a whole different meaning back then. It’s unusual, but he notices it isn’t an unpleasant feeling.

He leans down, leveling his gaze with yours. Your expectant gaze flits from his eye to his lips and back again. Perhaps he can allow himself to pull out those feelings from his chest too.

“That’s not necessary,” Jean whispers, his expression softer than you’ve ever seen. You even dare to say he is smiling, but it’s timid, almost only a tiny curve at the corner of his lips. “My heart is stubborn. Even though I keep thinking that I don’t deserve you, I can’t bring myself to stop loving you.”

“You… love me too?” Your eyes widen for a moment.

“I love you too,” he states simply and directly. Your gaze softens, and you break into a big smile. He’s mesmerized by every little change in your features, as always, but there’s something more enticing tonight. Something that compels him to bring his face closer. “... Am I allowed to kiss you?”

“Yes,” you reply in a whisper. “Always.”

He closes the gap between your lips in one soft peck that ends too soon for your liking. When he pulls away to look at you, you hold his hand more firmly, using it as support to keep him close and bring your face towards his. You don’t waste time, and tilting your head for a better angle, you request passage with your tongue to deepen the kiss.

And it’s everything he’s ever heard of and more — almost too much.

Your tongue flicks against his, making his head spin and his body crave more. Without thinking, his hand squeezes your waist and slides up your back, meeting your nape, as he tries to bring you closer, wanting to keep it going forever. The grip you have on his shoulder tightens, and a low, satisfied sound ripples from your throat.

When the kiss ends, you both maintain your foreheads together, pausing to catch your breath as you gaze into each other’s eyes. Jean smiles, boldly bringing his hand to your face, his fingertips caressing under your eyes, your cheeks, your lips… He wishes to commit every little detail of you to memory, even though he knows you two have all the time in the world now.

You do the same to him, sliding your hand from his shoulder to his neck, to his jawline, up his cheeks, until you reach his eyepatch. He tenses up, but doesn’t retreat; he trusts you, and he knows you won’t do anything without asking. You simply trace the line between his eyepatch and his skin, and continue your path sliding your hand behind his head. Your fingers delicately tangle in his dark locks, and before you can complete your intention of pulling him in for another kiss, Jean kisses you.

You stay there for God knows how long, lost in yourselves.

Neither of you notices footsteps approaching the balcony door and instantly turn back inside, while Arthur shouts to the others that he found you and you’re more than fine.

Taglist: @bicayaya @silverbladexyz @koco-coko @yamarireads @judejazza @echoes-in-the-forest @chandeliermichel @fang-and-feather @sh0jun

Masterlists

[babybadger]

I need more dad!daniel please x

Your wish is my command love🥰

A New Baby in Town

“Daddy?….Daddy?” Daniel woke up to soft tapping on his cheek. His princess sitting up on his chest. “Daddy wake.” She began to sniffle and gasp on air. The key sign his two year old was about to burst out crying. “What’s up darling?” he asks right before he yawns and pulls her down into his arms, not even opening his eyes. He was used to Layla crawling into the bed midway through the morning and her demanding cuddles. “Mumma sick. I not like mumma sick.” she whines into his chest. “mhmm” he agrees before realising what his daughter was telling him as he heard you in the bathroom. “Wait what? Baby stay here I’m gonna help mum.” He tells her, passing her a dummy from his side of the table and pushing back her curls as she crawls into the warmth of the spot he was just lying in.

As he walks in he sees a test on the side of the counter and you slumped by the toilet. “I certainly didn’t miss this stage” You tell him. “AHAH we are having another baby!” he shouted before you shushed him. “Babe yes sorry it wasn’t a grand reveal but I feel like shit. Can we not tell Layla yet. She is already so jealous with Isaac, I dread her sharing you with another child in the house.” He nods but still sits beside her on the bathroom floor and pulls her in for a cuddle. “We are having another baby! God I love you,” he says smiling into your neck.

9 months later…

Introducing your daughter to your newest little girl was going to be hard no matter when you did it. She cried on and off for a week when you told her there was a baby coming to the house. Seeking comfort in only Daniel and refusing to speak to you about it. Thankfully, Daniels parents took her for the first couple days so you could get settled and get comfortable feeding a newborn again. But today she was coming home and you still didn’t feel ready. You loved her so so much and were glad she was coming home but her reaction to the newborn was keeping you awake more than the newborn themselves.

“Y/N honey, we are home” You hear Grace come in the front door and strapped your nursing bra back up. Your little girl quietly slid into the living room and stood by the couch. Daniel and Grace coming in behind her, Dan carrying her overnight bags. “Come say hi darling.” You said holding the baby on a pillow on your lap and one hand out to her so she could come sit beside you. She took one look at you and the baby and hid in Daniels leg. “C’mon let’s meet the baby together shall we?” He said bringing her over to sit on his lap beside you. Grace snapped as many pictures as she could from the sofa across from you. Watching her grandchildren meet brought tears to her eyes. Moments like these were precious.

Everyday was a learning curve with two under two. Jealousy was a BIG issue from the first night. Grace was kind enough to cook your whole family dinner before she left. Even sitting down to feed your youngest your oldest girl was still acting very shy. You could hear her talking to Daniel in the kitchen. She’d stuck by his hip since she got back.

“No no baby mummy and baby don’t need space at the table, they can eat on the couch.” He tells his curly haired double. “Why?” She asks through her dummy. Something she had barely let go of since she got home from her grannies. Both you and Daniel thought it might of been a cry for attention but it wasn’t causing her any problems so you left her to use it whenever she wanted. “Cause mummy and sissy need to be comfy so sissy can eat too.” Immediately the toddler burst into tears. Daniel turned from dishing out the dinner to pick up Layla. “What’s wrong beautiful heyyy hey hey calm down” he attempts to soothe her as she spits out her dummy onto the floor and begins nearly screaming into his shoulder.” If Daniel knew anything, it’s that if Layla was crying, you would be crying too. Those damn hormones.

Taking your oldest upstairs, Daniel picked up another dummy on his way and sent you a soft smile as he walked passed the living room door. Just as he expected tears were running down your face. Gently your stroked your youngest’s face. “I swear she likes you bub, she just loves her mummy and daddies attention,” you whisper down at Lily. She pays you no attention back. Her mouth sucking away as her tiny hands grab at your chest and rolled up t-shirt. Wiping your tears, you try and relax into the sofa. You know the stress is no good for the feeding but you just want both your girls to be happy.

“Alright little one tell me what’s going on? hmmm why you so upset with Daddy?” Daniel asks the distraught toddler. Her little legs dangle off the bed as he sits on his knees in front of her. Layla gasps as she tries to cry and talk at the same time. “Just…want my mummy back….daddy wants new baby…I’m not baby.” Sobs racked the entire little girls body and Daniel passed her the dummy he brought up as he picked her back up to soothe her once again. He thought a part of his heart was fully dislodged from his chest. How dare he of let his little girl feel like that. Daniel tried to put Layla back on the bed once she’d calmed down but she clung round his neck and refused. Instead he turned around and sat her on his lap, his arms still around her.

“Hey, let daddy see your pretty face.” Very slowly she retracted from his neck. Her big brown eyes riddled with tears, shiny tracks down her face. Her dummy still firmly in place with only her red cheeks showing either side. “Your mummy and I love you so soooo much little one.” He begins, unsure of where to take the conversation. “Just because sissy is here doesn’t mean we have gone away. Lily just keeps mummy very busy cause she has to eat and drink with mummy. Remember when you ate and drank with mummy?” Layla gave a quick nod of her head. It took you forever to ween Layla so she only stopped feeding about a year ago when she turned two. “You know how much it made you big and strong just like big girl food does now?” Again Layla gave a little nod, one of her thick curls falling only her face. Daniel pushed it back lightly, “So Lily needs to spend lots of time with mummy so she can get big and strong like you did. Then she can play with you when she’s bigger.” Layla looked blankly at her dad. Daniel was unsure what else to say. How could you explain loving children equally to a newly three year old. Until he remembered what Michelle told Isaac. He gave Layla’s forehead a gentle kiss and pulled her in tighter for a cuddle. “You know how you have lots of teddy bears and you love all of them the same? That’s like mummy and daddy with you and Lily. We love you both the very same. But Lily does stinky nappies so we have to help her more so she’s not smelly.” Daniel tried his shot at a joke to lighten the little girls mood. Much to his amusement it works and the little girl giggles. “Will we go see if Lily is stinky for mummy?” Layla sneaks her head out and nods once more.

Standing up, still holding his now exhausted princess, he makes his way downstairs. Your lying on the couch, finally getting a break while Lily sleeps in her basket to your left. “Hi babygirl, you okay?” you ask as Layla reaches for you out of Daniels arms. “Careful baby mummy is still-” “it’s okay mummy is fine. Very happy to see her big girl. Mummy wants all the cuddles cause daddy has had loads. Greedy daddy.” you say squeezing her as you speak. Giggling loudly she says “silly mummy.” Daniel knows you just don’t want her to feel rejected by you, so ignoring how uncomfortable it was sitting right would have to suffice.

“Daniel…Daniel” you say throwing a muslin at him. “Dan wake up babe.” He leans forward off the sofa which you all appear to have fallen asleep on after watching an episode or two of paw patrol while Layla caught you up on the nursery drama and art projects. “Lily is about to fuss but Layla is fast asleep can you take her before she wakes up.” Daniel nods sleepily. “Cmere princess” He says lifting her off you and she quickly snuggles into his arms. You pick up Lily and begin feeding her before she gets the chance to cry. Dan and you smile at each other through the dim lighting of the living room. “We are gonna get pretty good at this double the trouble stuff” you whisper at him. “Just wait till we are outnumbered. We need that boy, darling.” Daniel winks back at you, a hand sliding up and down your thigh. “In your dreamiest of dreams Ricciardo. Not for at least another 2 years.” “Oh yeah cause Lily was planned” He rolls his eyes and you gently slap the shoulder Layla’s head isn’t on. “I don’t know if your sperm can create boys Riccy” You joke at him and move to burp Lily. “My sperm are perfectly capable of making boys thank you very much and in 1 year 11 months and 28 days i’ll prove that.” You giggle and his stupidity and shake your head. “I never thought i’d be sitting on this couch talking about your sperms’ capability while holding our two children.” Daniel laughs loudly then covers his mouth checking quickly he hasn’t woken either of his babies. Sliding closer to you, her puts and arm around you. “I love you, thank you for your capabilities of growing them.” You make a disgusted face but kiss him softly none the less. Leaning your head on his shoulder and enjoying a moment of reflection and silence.

[miguelschamp]

could i request more fics for isaac😭😭💙

this love

pairing: isaac lahey x reader

summary: after years of not seeing isaac, he shows up at a hangout you’re having with your friends

warnings: mentions of alcohol, characters are aged up

a/n: hi anon ! thank you so much for the request. i hope you enjoy and anyone else who would like to request anything please do. i’m low on motivation lmao

“lydia, i’m really not sure if i can make it.” you say into the phone, “i mean i have so much to do for work.”

“that’s the point. it’ll be a break from all of that.” she says. “and we haven’t all met up in awhile. it’ll be fun.”

you shut your apartment door behind you as you set your bags down, “lydia…”

“please, y/n/n. who knows the next time we’ll all be able to hang out. you know how stiles is about this stuff.”

she was right. you knew stiles was worried about all of you drifting apart. and while you guys had all gone off and got your own jobs and homes, you still met up whenever you could. just standing there now, you can imagine stiles’ puppy dog eyes looking back at you.

“yeah, okay.” you sigh, “i’ll see you guys tonight.”

“yay ! okay, i’ll see you later. bye.”

“bye.” you say before you hang up.

•••

the bar is loud as you walk through the door. you were dressed in a pair of light washed jeans and a crop top. it was a very simply outfit, but you knew your friends would be dressed the same.

you hold your purse close to you as you walk through the bar. your friends were sat all the way in the back as usual. the booth you guys always take whenever you met up there.

a small smile takes over your face as you see stiles telling a story with his hands flying all over. as you get closer, scott looks over at you.

“hey, y/n/n.” he smiles. everyone else at the table turns toward you as you get closer.

“hey, guys !”

“y/n !” lydia says as she gets up to hug you. you laugh as she squeezes you before letting go.

“how are you guys ?”

“great.” stiles nods before taking a sip of his drink. he steps aside as scott gets up.

“i’ll be back.” he says before walking off

“here, y/n/n.” liam says sliding a drink over, “i was the only one nice enough to actually order it for you.”

“because you’re the only one who remembered it, asshole.” malia says

“it’s still odd knowing you can drink now, but thank you.” you chuckle. “where’d scott go ?”

“oh, uh,” stiles starts, “he went to go grab someone.”

you furrow your brows as you scoot in beside lydia, “who ?”

“guys !” scott calls out. you turn in the direction of his voice and your eyes widen.

“oh my god.” you mutter

“hey.” isaac smiles

“hey, isaac.” stiles says awkwardly, “glad to see you, buddy.”

“you’re back from france ?” lydia asks

“uh, yeah.” he nods

scott pats his shoulder, “he’s staying, too. i figured i’d invite him to the meet up.”

“the more the merrier.” lydia shrugs. she looks over at you before nudging you, “right, y/n/n ?”

“huh ?” you blurt out turning to her before looking back up at isaac and smiling, “oh, yes, yeah. the more the merrier.”

isaac smiles nodding. you hear stiles chuckling from the other side of the table. you leg flies out and kicks him in his shin under the table. “ow !”

•••

it had been about two hours since isaac had shown up and everything seemed to be going okay. everyone fell into casual conversation as usual. you laughed along with your friends before looking down at your empty cup.

you turn to lydia, “hey, i’m gonna go grab another drink.”

“okay.” she smiles. you slide out of the booth before heading toward the bar.

you sit on a stool as a bartender comes up to you. “hi, can i get a margarita please ?”

“of course.” she smiles, “coming right up.”

you give a grateful smile back, “thank you.”

as she walks off, you look down at your hands. you look over as someone sits in the stool next to you. your heart beat accelerates as isaac’s blue eyes stare back at you.

“hey.” he says

“hi.” you smile

silence falls between the two of you. you and isaac dated for about a year before he left for france. of course, it hurt, but you knew leaving was probably what was best for him. especially considering he didn’t actually have any family left in beacon hills.

when he left, you guys didn’t keep any contact. you truly thought he wouldn’t ever come back to beacon hills. but as he sat next to you six years later, he looked just as beautiful as he did when he left.

he was of course older and his features were more defined. he had stumble growing across his chin. and to be honest, you loved it. he was older, but he still looked like the same guy you fell in love with.

and as isaac sat across from you, he couldn’t imagine anyone more beautiful. your eyes were still sparkling and full of happiness. your skin and your smile just as gorgeous and as captivating as he remembered. whenever you guys were sat with your friends, he thought you would’ve caught him staring. and now with the two of you alone, he was afraid he wouldn’t ever be able to keep his eyes off of you.

“how have you been ?” he asks

“um, i’m good. i’ve been really busy with work and stuff.” you chuckle, “but i’m good. how about you ? how was france ?”

“it was great.” he smiles, “it felt good to take the time for myself. i really needed it.”

“i understand.” you nod. you look over as a glass is set in front of you, “thank you.”

“no problem.” she says before turning to isaac, “would you like anything, sir ?”

“no, thank you.” he says. the bartender nods before walking off. “so, what do you do for work ?”

“i’m a web developer for a fashion company.” you say

“seriously ?” he asks. you hum in agreement, “that’s amazing, y/n/n. i remember you talking about that a couple of years ago.”

“yeah, it’s not exactly what i wanted to do, but i’m still involved, so it’s amazing.”

“yeah.” he says as you look down at your drink. his eyes soften, “y/n ?”

“hm ?”

“i’m really sorry.” he says. you look over at him with a frown, “i’m sorry for just leaving like that.”

“don’t be.” you say shaking your head, “i understand why you left. honestly, thinking back, i probably would’ve done the same thing.”

“i wanted to call you.” he nods, “and i would’ve, but i didn’t know if you hated me or didn’t want me to contact you. i probably should’ve asked scott, but i knew he had a lot going on.”

“it’s okay, isaac.” you say. isaac can feel his heart skip a beat at the way his name sounded coming from you.

“so, we’re okay ?”

“of course, we are.” you say, “we always will be.”

isaac smiles wide, “great.”

you pull away from your straw to face isaac. his blue eyes following your every move. as you looked at him, you notice the look in his eyes. the same look he would give you anytime he saw you when you were dating. the same look that he still had whenever he told you he was leaving for france.

the look that told you that he loved you and would do anything for you. it was still there.

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

Heart, Exposed by an Aphrodisiac 1

This is simply a fan translation and is not intended as a replacement for the game. Expect grammatical errors.

One day in January, as the frost set in and it grew even colder, I visited the university carrying Isaac's bento, Blanc, and some snacks.

The students at the university were starting to pull all-nighters to finish their theses and research projects before graduation, and Isaac, being a professor, was planning to stay for that reason.

Isaac: "Thank you for making all these snacks. And there's quite a lot of them, too."

Mitsuki: "I made some for the students in the lab. If you want, you can all eat together."

The students around us seemed to have heard our conversation as their eyes lit up and they thanked us one after another.

Student 1: "Thank you!"

Student 2: "Yay, snacks!"

Isaac: "You all should move your hands more than your mouths."

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh after hearing Isaac's words directed at the excited students.

Isaac: "Thanks, Mitsuki. I'll eat it later, so be careful on your way back."

Mitsuki: "Okay. Well then, see you later."

As Isaac closed the door to the lab, the door of the neighboring lab opened at that exact moment.

Galileo: "........"

Upon seeing the person emerging from the room, I widened my eyes slightly.

Mitsuki: "----!"

(Galileo...)

The moment I saw his face, my heart made a small thump.

Mitsuki: "Hello. Gal一um, Professor Maury."

(Crap. I almost called him by his real name without considering who might be listening.)

Galileo frowned for a moment but didn’t particularly mention anything further.

Mitsuki: “Are you heading to a lecture now?”

Galileo: “Yes, but why are you here?”

Mitsuki: “Um, I brought some snacks for Professor Ayscough.”

Galileo: “I see. If you’re done, then go home.”

Galileo answered dispassionately and quickly walked away.

(Now that I’m done with my errand, I should head home too.)

As I walked outside the university, his image unexpectedly popped into my head.

(I wonder if Galileo is also staying overnight at the university like Isaac.)

We’ve crossed paths several times before, and not too long ago, we unexpectedly shared a glass of wine on his birthday.

(I think that was the first time I found out about his real name.)

I was so shocked when I learned Galileo used "Alinbert Maury" as his name at the university.

------------Flashback-----------

Galileo: "Due to certain circumstances, I usually go by 'Maury,' but 'Galileo' is my real name."

Galileo: "I feel strange about it myself, but for some reason, on the day we met, I revealed my true name to you, no matter how trivial it may be."

---------Flashback Ends--------

(He shared his real name with me.)

Recalling this, a warm feeling spread through my chest.

(We've gotten to know each other a bit. I hope we can become even closer.)

Although we're not yet close, with every exchange, I find myself wanting to know more about him.

Galileo's presence was gradually growing inside me.

(He must be going through a tough time, just like the students.)

(I'd like to give him something, but...)

I remembered his words from when we celebrated his birthday together.

------------Flashback-----------

Galileo: "Mitsuki."

Galileo: "Stop trying to get involved with me."

---------Flashback Ends--------

Galileo drew a clear line, telling me not to get involved with him.

Still, I didn't give up and ended up going to see him afterwards.

Mitsuki: "It's probably annoying if I keep coming uninvited."

Despite my desire to do something, I couldn't help but be frustrated by the distance between us.

He may give off a cold impression, but he occasionally shows a gentle side, and that's why I find myself wanting to get closer to him.

(I wish I could understand more about what he's thinking.)

A few days later--

Isaac, who has been busy lately, is having a meal at the mansion after a long time.

Isaac: "Having a meal at the mansion is really relaxing."

Mitsuki: "I'm glad. It seemed like you've been going through a lot lately."

Isaac: "Yeah. But you bringing me food and Blanc has been a huge help."

Isaac: "Oh, right."

Isaac spoke up as if he remembered something.

Isaac: "Hey, sorry to ask, but could you increase the number of snacks?"

Mitsuki: "What's going on all of a sudden?"

Isaac: "Your food has been a huge hit among the students.”

Isaac: "When the students in the neighboring lab heard about it, they all got excited and said they wanted to try them, too."

Isaac: "So if you can afford it, could you also make some for them?"

Isaac: "I know it's a bit cheeky of me to ask you this."

(He must be talking about Galileo's lab, right?)

Despite having some concerns, it's heartening to know that he's expecting more.

Mitsuki: "Sure. You’re all working hard, so if I can help even a little, I'd be happy to."

Isaac: "Thank you, Mitsuki."

(I’ll do my best to make the students happy!)

Part 2 ╎ Premium End ╎ Epilogue

[late-to-the-party-81]

Good Graces

AN: Cos Seb's latest looks have us all in a chokehold, but I'm too old to imagine him as my dad's best friend - so ex's best friend it is!

Beta'd by @sgt-seabass

Dividers by @firefly-graphics

Moodboard and banner by me

Relationship: Ex's best friend Bucky Barnes x MILF Reader

Word Count: 3.7k

CW: Flirting, Lust at first sight, Explicit sexual content (vaginal fingering, jerking, unprotected PinV sex (reader is on BC)), Secret sex.

When Lee, your ex-husband, had asked if he could bring a new friend with him to the twins party you inwardly rolled your eyes. He said it was for moral support - he was worried about judgemental looks and remarks from all your (his) old friends - but part of you thought he just wanted to show off his latest barbie doll. 

He may have cheated on you with Layla from his office, but you’d heard through the grapevine that it hadn’t lasted one month past your divorce. No doubt he’d found someone new. Young. Skinny. No stretch marks and no fupa. Fuck him.

However, for the twin’s sake you decided to be the bigger person and had agreed that it would be fine. Hopefully, with all the other folk coming, adults and kids, you’d be able to avoid him and his ‘friend’.

You were still running around like a headless chicken when he arrived. The garden was decorated, the bouncy castle was inflated (which your kids were currently testing out with a few of their friends who’d arrived early), but you were still bringing all the food outside to the table. 

Your dad had offered to man the grill, and was currently prodding coals with more intensity than you thought it needed, but it was keeping him out your hair. You loved your dad, and he loved you, but sometimes he was hard work. Not as hard work as Lee.

The gate hinges squealed and then the wood banged against the gate post as the closer swung it shut.

“Hey, darlin’.”

Lee stood, looking slightly awkward and slightly sweaty, two badly wrapped gifts in his arms. Hopefully he’d bought something from the list you sent him, unlike at Christmas.

You put on your best ‘guest welcoming’ smile.

“Hi Lee. Glad you could make it. The twins will be glad to see you.” You turned toward the bouncy castle.

“Cassie, Isaac, your father’s here.”

Your kids shouted with joy and jumped off the inflatable, and ran towards Lee.

“Daddy!”

He knelt and managed to put the presents down before the two barrelled into him. In moments like this you found it hard to still be angry with him. He might have been a useless husband and not always the best father, but he did love his kids.

You looked around, realising you didn’t see a stranger’s face, and wondered where his friend was. You were about to ask him about his mysterious guest when the gate opened again.

The breath froze in your lungs as the man pulled off his sunglasses. Tall, lean, brunet, a slight scruffy beard going to grey in places, with aquamarine eyes and laughter lines at their corners. His hair was slightly on the long side, curling up at the nape of his neck. Navy pants, a navy t-shirt and a navy suit jacket. It should have looked over the top for a kids birthday party, but somehow it didn’t.

He walked towards you, a smile on his face, hand outstretched.

“Hey, you must be Mrs Bodecker. I’m Bucky. Bucky Barnes. Lee’s friend.”

Your nose screwed up a bit as he spoke.

“Please don’t call me that. I’ve only kept the name so the kids don’t get confused.”

He chuckled, not offended by your response in the least.

“Understandable, but I thought it might be a bit…” he looked you up and down, “... presumptuous to call you by your first name straight off.”

Call me whatever you want… and I’ll do whatever you want…

You tried to get your dirty mind under control. It was your kids' party for god’s sake. You must be more touch starved than you thought. Sex had never been high on your agenda; it had never been the mind-blowing, toe-curling experience your romance novels had made it out to be. But you hadn’t been totally adverse to it with Lee, especially at the beginning of your relationship.

However, this friend of his, Bucky, looked like sin on legs; like one of the hero’s from the cover of said romance novels. Just looking at him you wanted to throw caution to the wind, get a bit wild and a bit selfish.

“So, Bucky introduced himself to ya, darlin’?”

For once you were actually grateful to Lee. His reappearance by your side pulled you out of your erotic daydream.

“Lee, please. I’m not your darlin’ anymore.”

He dropped his head, chagrined, and you tried to ignore the brief quirk of Bucky’s plump pink lips.

“Sorry, force o’ habit. What do you need me to do?”

“Can you and Bucky keep an eye on the bouncy castle? There’s a couple of chairs set up. Just make sure the kids don’t have shoes on, or loose jewellery, and no more than 10 at a time.”

Bucky smiled at you over Lee’s shoulder.

“I’m sure we can manage that, eh bud?”

You smiled back. “Thanks.”

You made a quick escape then, darting back inside to get more food and also get yourself a cold drink. You were just putting the now empty glass on the draining board when your friend, and neighbour, Gabi, came in through the French doors.

“Who the heck is that hot guy with Lee?”

“He’s called Bucky. Apparently he’s a new friend. Gotta say, not the type of friend I was expecting Lee to bring, but I’m not disappointed.”

Turning, you opened the fridge and pulled out a bag of grapes. Gabi was grinning at you as you pulled each one off the stem and placed them on a platter.

“I’ll say! He’s rather yummy looking.”

“Gabs, you’re married!”

She plucked a grape off the platter and popped it in her mouth.

“Yeah, but I’m not dead. I can window shop. No harm in it. You on the other hand…” She looked at you with a sly smile and waggled her eyebrows.

“No. One, it’s the twins’ party. Two, I only met the man five minutes ago, and three I don’t need a man.”

Gabi rolled her eyes as you counted off your reasons on your fingers.

“I’m not telling you to jump him under the piñata. But you could get his number. And I’m not saying to start a relationship with him. I’m just saying that he looks like he knows how to please a woman.” She looked out of your kitchen and across the garden to where Bucky and Lee were organising the kids on the bouncy castle. “Look at those fingers! And I’ve noticed already that his tongue keeps trying to escape his mouth. Just think what he could do with those!”

“Not helping!”

“Pssshh, I’m helping plenty. Woman to woman- do it! You need a good dicking down. You deserve a good dicking down.”

You glared at her and she grinned, before throwing up her hands.

“Okay, okay. I won’t say another word on the subject.” She mimed zipping her lips and throwing away the key and you could help but laugh.

“Come on, you perv.” You nudged your shoulder against hers. “Let’s get the rest of this food outside so my dad can start his slow but steady pace on the grill. Hopefully the fruit kebabs will keep the kids happy until the hotdogs are cooked.”

For the most part you managed to get on with the party, pandering to all the kids present, and ignored your unexpected, and distracting guest. It was difficult though, because somehow your ears had honed in on Bucky’s deep, syrupy voice, and everytime his melodious laughter rang out across your garden you found yourself looking toward him. And to make matters worse, when you did, his gaze seemed to lock with yours. He’d smile at you, eyes sparkling with mischief, and something more intimate that you were trying to ignore. Which was hard when he tipped back his head to swig from his beer bottle and a drop somehow escaped his lips and ran down his jaw, then down the firm column of his neck to disappear into the opening of his shirt.  How you managed not to launch yourself across the grass and lick the errant rivulet up, you weren’t sure.

When it became time for the cake, you brought out the split MineCraft/Star Wars confection that your friend Jackie had made and placed it on the table in front of the excited children. It was then that you realised that you’d left your box of matches inside, but before you could turn around to get them, a lighter appeared in front of your eyes.

You met Bucky’s grin, and smiled back without thinking, before ducking your head down and away, returning your attention to the task at hand. Or at least trying to.

When the party wound down, you were glad that some of your close friends and family stayed back to help tidy up. Isaac and Cassie ran up to their rooms with some of the other remaining kids, intent on playing with their new toys and you tried not to think of the mess in their rooms you’d have to tidy up tomorrow. At your request Lee started to deflate the castle. He wasn’t a bad man overall, but you’d just not been right for each other.

Gabi was taking down the decorations and chatting to your dad, while he cleared up the grill paraphernalia, as you started to carry the empty and part-empty food platters inside. Taking a moment for yourself, you rested your hands on the counter top, letting it take your weight. Your eyes closed, and you let your head drop, taking in a few deep breaths.

“How are you doing? Need any help in here?”

You jumped and turned around at the sound of Bucky’s voice. Somehow he’d almost completely snuck up on you and now was breathtakingly close. “I…um… just having a breather. It’s been a pretty full-on day.”

He took a step forward, and you had to tilt your head up to continue looking at his face. His very handsome face. “Bet you have a lot of those, sweetheart. When did you last do anything for yourself? I really can’t believe that Lee cheated on you. If you were my wife I don’t think I could have kept my hands off you. He’s my friend, but he’s an idiot.”

You snorted and then covered your mouth with your hand. “I plead the fifth. And do you go around flirting with all your friend’s ex-wives?”

His eyes roamed over you, unashamed and blatant. “Only those that could be categorised as ‘MILFs’ and I’ve only met one of those…”

“Smooth, Mr Barnes.”

His tongue slipped out from between his lips and ran over the lower one, and you couldn’t draw your eyes away. “Is it working?”

“Is what working?” You shifted an inch closer, your hand resting on the blue suit jacket he was wearing, feeling the smoothness of the fabric.

“Me trying to get into your good graces?”

“Is that what you call it?”

“You could call it something else, if you want.” His head lowered, his intentions telegraphed, giving you time to move your own away. 

“I do want…”  Your voice was low and soft as you instead raised your head to meet his lips.

There was no finesse. There was just unashamed want, like a starving man facing his last meal. You fisted the lapels of his jacket as your mouth opened under his. You drank in his kiss and returned it with fervour. You were drunk on him, drunk on lust and could feel heat pooling in your abdomen, a feeling so strange to you, due to its previous rarity.

Part of your brain kicked in enough to realise that should anyone come up towards the house from the garden, or the kids come downstairs, you would be caught in a rather compromising situation. But you didn’t want to stop. 

Instead, you stepped away from the counter, using your body weight to gently steer Bucky backward toward your pantry. 

You released his lips and jacket long enough to open the door to the small walk in cupboard before stepping in and dragging Bucky after you. His lips fell back to your neck and you could feel his smile as he pulled the door shut behind himself. Your fingers tangled into his hair as he kissed your throat, the hair of his beard tickling you. Lee had never had facial hair, so it had been a very long time since you’d experienced the feeling.

All thoughts of Lee were pushed from your mind as your back was pressed up against the shelves, the cans and jars stored on them juddering slightly. Bucky’s hands roamed your body over your sensible dress. When his thumbs brushed over your nipples you gasped and arched your back. You heard Bucky chuckle, and then groan as your hips pressed up against his, his erection obvious through his pants.

You wrapped your arms around his waist, under his jacket and started to pull his shirt out of his pants. You needed to feel him, get your hands on his flesh. There were no words between you, just gasps and moans of pleasure as you pushed the soft cotton up to curl your fingers into his back as he unbuttoned the top half of your dress. 

Your hands returned to Bucky’s hair again as he ducked his head to suckle each breast in turn through the lace of your bra, the stiff fabric creating an almost painful friction against your peaked nipples as it was soaked by his tongue.

His hands, in contrast, were pulling up the hem of your dress, stroking over your bare thighs to cup at your sodden core. You couldn’t remember the last time you’d been so aroused. You were aware that you moaned his name as he’d touched you, because he sucked at your breast even harder. His deft fingers stroked you over panties until you were pleading breathily in his ear. When he finally pulled the damp cotton to the side and slid a finger inside you, you swear you had a small orgasm, from the way your body trembled and the breath was pulled from your lungs.

Bucky pumped his digit into you a few times before returning his lips to yours. You wondered why, but then he pressed a second finger into you and you cried out into his mouth and he swallowed the noise. You tugged the hair at the nape of his neck and he growled before pumping his wrist harder and curling his fingers inside you.

“Come on, sweetheart. I know you can give it to me. I just know you're gonna cum so beautifully. You fucking deserve it. That’s it, baby, that’s it.”

He muttered against your lips and cheek as you kissed and nipped his beard, but when he felt your legs tremble, and heard your breath hitch, he kissed you deeply again as you came. Later, you were glad that he had. 

You heard the noises you made in your own ears, squeaks and mewls, as your body surrendered to a little known pleasure. Your head spun as you drew in breath through your nose and your grip on his hair tightened even further. Bucky’s fingers continued to stroke you, albeit more softly as he guided you through the aftershocks, and you felt the world come back to you, although your legs felt like jelly and your mind felt all floaty and light.

Slowly, Bucky withdrew his fingers from the clutch of your body, leaving your aching and empty. You whimpered, but Bucky shushed you gently, rubbing his nose against yours. 

He then leant back and, in the crack of light coming from under the door, you saw him raise his fingers to his mouth and slowly suck on them in turn. When he moaned you felt your pussy clench, imagining that he was making that noise tasting your essence from the source. And, despite the fact that you’d just had the most mind-numbing orgasm you could remember, you wanted more from him. 

You wanted everything.

You practically yanked his fingers from his mouth, bringing them to your own and licking up them, before smashing your lips to his in another feral, needy kiss. Bucky pressed you harder against the shelves, but you ignored the discomfort as the wood dug into your spine; you were more intent on reaching your goal. Your hands went to the fly of his pants as Bucky pulled your dress right up with one hand and massaged one of your breasts with the other.

Your right hand slid into his briefs, a smug sensation filling you when you felt the wetness of his precum on the waistband. The feeling was short lived though, overtaken by a combination of shock and some trepidation when you felt how big he was. Your fingers didn’t meet around his girth, but it didn’t deter you. You stroked up his length, wanting to give him back at least a portion of the pleasure he had given to you.

You touched and devoured each other, but eventually you both became impatient. Bucky lifted your right leg and hitched it over his hip, taking his cock from your hand and pressing towards you. You shuddered with pleasure when he slid his tip through your folds, coating himself in your arousal. 

Winding your arms around his neck you braced yourself as he slid home, rocking into you with more care than you’d anticipated. Your eyes rolled back and your eyelids fluttered as you gave yourself over to feeling. Feeling him stretch you wide. Feeling him fill you like you’d never felt before. A gasp left you as he got as close as he could, and then stilled. You could hear his breath in your ear, breaths that let you know he was collecting himself.

“You feel more amazing than I thought. Fuck. Gripping me so tight, I don’t know how I haven’t cum yet.”

You clenched at his words and he groaned at the sensation.

“Can I fuck you, sweetheart? I fucking need it, and I think you do to. I wanna fuck you until you see stars, until all you can say is my name. I want to swallow your cries again, and again.”

You couldn’t speak, just nodded your head against his neck and bit down on your lower lip as he canted his hips back, dragging his cock through your spasming walls before firmly thrusting back in. You sucked in a deep breath through your nose, trying to hold on to your sanity as Bucky fucked into you again. But your sanity slipped away moment by moment as he upped his pace. 

When his hands came round you and under your ass to lift you up properly, so you could wrap both legs around his waist, your brain was a puddle. 

Now he’d lifted you Bucky had more leverage, thrusting into you harder and faster. Jars clinked against each other, packets of seasoning fell over and a can jumped off the shelf and rolled across the floor. You ignored it. 

In fact, you barely noticed it, nearly all of your focus on the way Bucky was making you feel.

The way your skin tingled all over. The way he kept swapping between kissing you with ferocity and burying his face in your neck. The way his fingers gripped your ass, no doubt leaving bruises. And the way his cock was moving in you just right. Touching all the right spots. The spots you hadn’t thought you had.

There was a gradual tightening within you, an incremental build up, and you knew, just knew, that this impending orgasm would make the one you’d had only minutes ago seem pathetic in comparison. Bucky thrust into you like a man possessed and you swapped one hand to grip the shelf above your head for stability, rocking your hips against his in a wild dance.

Your body froze when you came, every tendon and muscle stretched out tight as electricity danced across all your nerve endings. Your blood was rushing in your ears and stars danced on the backs of your eyelids; you’d never felt anything like this.

“Sweetheart, oh god, I’m so close. Where should I cum?” 

You forced your brain to tune in enough to answer him, despite the delicious aftershocks shooting through your body.

“‘M on the pill…”

You’d barely finished answering before Bucky burrowed his head into your neck to muffle his shouts of ecstasy as he pumped you full of his cum. You clung onto him, coming down from your high as he recovered from his own. All was silent for a few minutes, other than the sounds of your combined breathing. Slowly he lowered your legs to the floor, and you moaned as he slipped from you and you felt his cum trickle down your thigh. You reached behind you, pulling a few sheets from the paper towel roll and used it to clean yourself up a bit, before neatening your dishevelled appearance. You weren’t sure what to say to Bucky, now that reality was creeping back in, but he picked up on your reticence.

“Hey.” He cupped your cheek and tilted your head up to face him. The low light threw shadows over his face, but you could still make out his questioning expression. “Are you okay? Please don’t say you regret that, because I don’t. Not one bit.” 

“No. It’s just… um… well I don’t really do this. Like ever.”

“Do you mean two orgasms back to back, or having sex with a virtual stranger in your pantry?” 

You giggled at the absurdity of it all. “Both!”

Bucky shifted closer again, pulling you against him. “Well next time, maybe we can try a bed and I can try for three. How does that sound?”

“It sounds perfect. But first we gotta sneak outta here first without the kids, or Lee, noticing.”

“That’s second. First, I gotta kiss you again.”

Tag list: @christywantspizza @jobean12-blog @bucky-bucky-bucky-bucky @tuiccim @yarnforbrains @sidepartskinnyjeans @flordeamatista @krissy25 @bodeckersdiamonddoll @goldylions @luxeavenger @wheezy-stucky @doasyoudesireandlive @chemtrails-club @seitmai @talia-rumlow @poppunksnowwhite

[autumnmobile12]

This was the only time in the show where one of the main trio interacted with one of the forge master duo.

And, I gotta admit, this was one of the things that disappointed me in the show.  As much as I love this series, I do wish these two storylines had converged in the end.

Like I really thought there would come a point when the vampire sisters invaded Wallachia and Sypha and Trevor would encounter Hector and realize he was an unwilling participant.  Similar to the scene we got with Isaac, Hector would say he couldn’t help them because of the blood ring restraining him.  And with all the fighting they’d been through and Trevor just being straight up done with everyone and their mother, I think he would have just handed Hector a knife and said, “You have two options.  You’re either our ally or our enemy.  Cut that ring off and help us or I’ll kill you.  What’ll it be?”  Harsh perhaps, but a big part of Trevor’s character is ‘do what’s necessary’ no matter the personal cost, so I don’t imagine he would have had much patience for Hector.  And that’s a difference between Trevor and Hector’s characters that I really need to go into in a separate character analysis.

This was my outlook when Season 3 ended though.  We did leave off with the return of Trevor’s dark view of the world in spite of the positive influence Sypha brought, and Hector realizing the consequences of trusting Lenore.  The series played Season 4 off pretty well in that Hector did have initiative was actively conspiring behind the scenes in order to give Isaac the opening he needed to take out Carmilla.  So I’m glad they didn’t write Hector off as ‘the helpless one.’

On another couple of notes, I kinda thought/hoped Sypha’s grandfather would make a reappearance in the final season and he would be the one to finish what the Ship Captain started in guiding Isaac along his journey of letting go of his anger and just living well, but that’s just me.

Back in Season 2, Isaac refers to Alucard as a spoiled child, and I really want to know what that was all about.  In the battle against the Generals and the Styrian soldiers, Isaac and Alucard seem to recognize each other, but did they have any interaction with each other before Lisa died?  Maybe I’m wrong and Isaac just thought, ‘There’s only one person that could be.’  I’ve talked about my theory that Alucard was a sheltered child and hadn’t seen much hardship in his life before his mother was killed, so I can see him and Isaac resenting each other out of emotional immaturity.  It would have been interesting to see that development in their characters.

But I get it.  The show only had a limited number of episodes and didn’t have time for all the tiny nuanced story arcs, and that’s fine.  An important element of writing is being aware of which parts are the essential and which are ones you need to cut.  If it were a longer running series like Avatar: The Last Airbender, then I would expect some more attention and care put into the subplots and side characters.  It’s a little touch and go with Striga and Morana’s relationship, Zamfir’s backstory wasn’t as developed as it could have been, and there are other elements that felt rushed.

Even so, I truly think the end result was fantastic.

[sailor-aviator]

SORRY I’M LATE, I was searching for my bunny slippers and it’s dark here in your walls and none of these termites can hold a flashlight for SHIT

I wanna start with a drabble request (bc of course) for DHTN (bc OF COURSE) and I want Jake’s POV of the arrest bc we don’t actually know how that went down and I just know his thought process as he realizes he’s going to be taken away from Scout is gonna BREAK me. Also did he see Isaac as he was being led out of the saloon?????? SO MANY QUESTIONS, but hey we’re here for the weekend~

CONGRATS AGAIN ON 500 FOLLOWERS, LIZ!!! I love you so so much and I’m so proud of you!!! It’s such an honor and pleasure to be your friend 🥺❤️

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH RUTHIE. I'M SO GLAD YOU'RE MY FRIEND AND THAT I'M HOLDING YOU HOSTAGE TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO MY IDEAS FOR DIFFERENT FICS.

Of all the posse members, Bob was the last person Jake would have guessed to go starting fights. Though, start was probably not the correct word to use in this case. From what Bradley had told him, a group of men had been making comments about Bunny. Something about her past in New Orleans, and the bespectacled man had not cared for their choice of words. At all.

Bradley and Jake had just arrived outside the saloon when all hell broke loose. Jake watched as Bob reared his fist back, sending it flying forward into an older man's nose. A sickening crunch sounded throughout the street, and he was scrambling forward just as the rival posse launched towards his friends.

Fists were flying everywhere, and Jake heard a woman scream as he elbowed his way through the frenzy. His heart was beating a mile a minute as his eyes landed on Javy, who was grappling with another man. Jake ran up, shoving the man before grabbing Javy's arm and dragging him towards the sidelines.

"Grab the others," he ordered, eyes darting around as he spotted Bradley already grabbing for Mickey. "Help Rooster, and get everyone out of here as fast you can, got it?"

"What are you going to do?" Javy shouted, struggling to be heard over the noise of other men joining in. Jake shook his head.

"Don't worry about me. Now go!"

He shoved Javy back towards the fray, eyes scanning the streets when he spotted Ice making his way towards the chaos, a dark haired man at his side. He searched frantically for Bradley, eyes spotting the brunette before jogging towards him.

"Get the others out of here," he told him, eyes still on the two approaching figures. "No reason for all of us to get caught."

Bradley followed his line of sight, a frown tugging at his lips when he saw the approaching U.S. marshal.

"Jake," he started, but the blond shook his head.

"There's no time," he shouted, seeing Javy lead Bob and Reuben towards the back of the saloon, brown eyes starting at him worriedly. "Grab Bob and go."

Bradley pressed his lips into a thin line before grabbing the back of Bob's shirt, hauling the bespectacled man away from the fight.

Jake stood in the middle of the chaos, watching different men fight each other. He wasn't even sure who some of these men were, but more than likely they were just men taking advantage to settle old scores.

He knew he couldn't just leave, not after it was one of his friends who started the fight in the first place. They'd come after all of them then. No, Jake would stay to give his friends a chance to flee. They'd figure something out. They always had before.

Jake's green eyes met black ones as a gunshot rang out, and a stillness washed over the street, so quiet you could hear a church mouse squeak. He focused on the devious smile that adorned Isaac's face, smug satisfaction seeping through every pore as the two men stared at each other. Jake's jaw clenched. Of course. Of course this had all been a trap.

Jake turned to watch Ice lower his pistol, holstering it back at his side as his gaze drifted over the crowd, blue eyes settling on him. He could practically hear the sharp inhale Ice gave as he looked at the younger man. He blinked before looking away.

"What seems to be the commotion?" He asked, frowning at the rest of the men gathered.

"It was the Dagger Posse!" Someone shouted, no doubt one of Isaac's lackeys. "They're the ones that started the fight! One of them is standing right there!"

Jake's shoulders stiffened as all eyes turned to him, including that of U.S. Marshal Simpson. A cry rang out amongst the crowd at the accusation, but the damage had already been done. Simpson casted an indecipherable look before making his way towards Jake.

"No, it wasn't the Daggers!" Someone else shouted. "The Hunter Posse is the one that started all this!"

"Say that again, and you're a dead man."

"It was those no good, spineless cowards in the Hun-"

"Quiet, Hanson," Ice snapped, never taking his eyes off of where Simpson stood in front of Jake. "Don't need to add your sorry ass to my list of problems right now."

Jake squared his shoulders. He knew he was caught, but like hell he was going down without putting up even the illusion of a fight. He swung his fist out, just clumsily enough for the marshal to dodge it, gripping his arm and slamming him up against the wall of the saloon. Jake winced as his arms were forced back, cuffs clicking around his wrists. Simpson grabbed him by the collar, hauling him back so hard that Jake stumbled slightly.

"Is this all really necessary?" He drawled, earning a scowl from the dark haired man.

"Yes," Simpson snapped, pushing Jake forward as they began to walk. Jake's eyes scanned the crowd for any sign of his friends. If they were smart, they'd be long gone from the scene. What he wasn't expecting to see, was you standing at the front of the crowd, eyes wide and shining with unshed tears as you watched him.

He felt his heart crack at the sight. He didn't want this. He didn't want to be the reason you cried, and you had cried more than enough over him to last a life time. He just got you back, and now you had to see him like this. Chained like a dog and paraded down the street. He stopped in front of you, trying and failing to jerk his arm out of Simpson's hold.

"Hey, sweet girl," he cooed. He cast a glance back at the marshal, who eyed the two of you wearily. "Everything is going to be alright, yeah? Don’t you worry about a thing. I’ll be out as a free man before you know it."

“You shouldn’t lie to her, Hangman,” Simpson said, casting you a sympathetic look. “We all know that this is the end of the line for you.”

Jake frowned. He wanted to argue, he really did. But, just as he opened his mouth to do so, Simpson pushed him forward once more, ending the conversation. Jake supposed Simpson was trying to do you a favor in his mind, saving you from what the marshal surmised were empty promises from the captured outlaw.

He cast one last look over his shoulder at you, committing you to memory. As if he could forget. He offered you a tight-lipped smile before Ice slammed the door behind him, cutting him off from the outside world.

[hypaalicious]

Why I think Nocturne is way better than the OG Castlevania series

Sorry, when I try to shut up about this show I be like

so here’s my unsolicited, highly biased word vomit that will contain spoilers at the end (but those will be under a cut) so read at your own risk! Okay, leggo

It’s actually diverse.

One thing about high fantasy is that it’s almost always Eurocentric. Even if it’s not set in Europe, the characters are gonna inexplicably have British accents because we associate that with high fantasy. We’re gonna have European style “old” clothing choices. And if everyone isn’t white, they might as well be because they’ll only throw in a couple ambiguously brown side characters and call it a day. Or if they make a main character a POC then best believe everyone around them will be white.

Nocturne, tho? Oh, you can tell it’s made with more than just a sprinkle of representation. They didn’t just make Olrox indigenous, they tied his Aztec lineage in beautifully. Annette was a slave but it’s not flattening her character because of it. Drolta came to slay but even she has her authentic background. Which leads me to my next point!

The Black characters especially are done tastefully.

Like… don’t get me wrong. I love Isaac. He was the only reason I stayed tuned into Castlevania past season 1, LMAO! But his backstory felt like straight trauma porn cooked up by a non-Black person who wanted an excuse to see a Black man whipped for character development.

Zodwa Nyoni wrote some episodes for Nocturne and she put her FOOT in it. When it came to addressing Annette’s time as a slave, her connection to the Orisha through her bloodline… I was gobsmacked at how accurate everything was and now I know why LOL! Like, for me, it’s always gonna be hard to see slavery in fiction but I can’t say shit bad about how it was tied into everything in this show. Annette’s ancestors play such a huge part in her growth and it just warmed my heart to see a Black girl whoop some colonizer ass without it feeling hamfisted. 🥹

The token relationship is the cishet one, everyone else is gay asf

I love that trope flipped on it’s head, ngl LMAO! I, by default, HC everyone as bi anyway but MAN was it nice to see Olrox and Mizrak speedrun enemies to lovers and a hint of Drolta’s devotion/gayness to Erzsebet.

I know the majority of my fictional character thirsting leans male but don’t get it twisted; I jump for JOY for gay shit in media 😂 The only reason I don’t thirst as hard for female characters is because I prefer my men fictional but my women real.

That being said, this series sent me into bi panic and I’d like to be manhandled in a room by Drolta and Olrox.

Nocturne’s first season plays out neater than the OG’s first season.

Like… okay. My main beef with the OG series was that after they defeated Dracula, the rest of the show felt like a meandering fanfic. Sure, there were a few badass moments, but the energy kinda faltered for me and I was bored with a lot of it. I hope they don’t do the same with Nocturne; they left off at a nice cliffhanger which builds anticipation for the next season and… idk it feels more cohesive already? They coulda speedran kicking Erzsebet’s face in like the OG trio did to Dracula but I’m so glad they left us a lil something to look forward to.

Alucard’s glow up >>>>>

I’m chronically online but I’m so glad I went into this series blind because the way I GASPEDT when he showed up at the end

Like damn for the past fifty-leven years he was in that castle by himself going “do I wanna talk to Sypha and Trevor plushies again or do I wanna make myself even more of a bad bitch?” Then he chose the latter, went to the salon, got his hair bleached platinum along with some sew in extensions for volume, beat his face with Fenty, and said “sorry Drolta but there can be only one vampire baddie on this earth and hunny I’m TAKIN IT”

He looks more like his video game design this way too, which I love! I hate that he took out Cuntress McSlay tho 😔 Drolta I will always love you!!

Mmkay. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to start a cult to Olrox real quick. Erzsebet ain’t the only god walking the earth and I feel he just needs good marketing!

[greyghoulette]

my notes on the reckoning of new york demo (spoilers of course)

new character redesigns -

•D’Angelo with the vape pen my beloved

•Thomas wearing RED and that COAT, they did that for me thank you for everything draw distance.

•Ok Qadir I see the vision with the outfit, love his redesign. Miss his suit though, but I guess it’s chilly outside so.

•Aisling looks really young, younger than she was. She was 25 when she was embraced and to me she now looks around 20. I don’t want to come across as nitpicky I just wasn’t expecting it.

•I’m kinda glad they’ve went with a natural skin tone with Panhard, her face to me is unique! Her outfit is cool

•Julia in JEANS, she looks so fuckingn cool I love my loser gf so much

•Payne and his servant p much the same

•So glad they gave Torque his hat back, I missed it

•Valerie…. is Valerie not much to say on that

new characters -

•Kali is already a fav, love her inner dialogue yet with the trailer I have SO many questions about the similarities in outfit and accessories with the character appearing to feature in Padraic’s route

•Very intruiged for Padraic’s route, esp with him being a mediator and on Torque’s side. From the trailer there is another chatacter who is quite important to him who I think we won’t see at all (apart from being mentioned) until Padraic’s route

•Love Padraic’s fashion (also more Irish rep? We love to see it)

•It seems we’re going to be getting a lot out of this game, esp with the additional route where we play as Padraic. Maybe there will also be a third route that wraps things up?

•The hunters are interesting, don’t really have much to say about them as of right now

•Hound’s character description saying he just wants to play video games he’s so me

•No name for him yet but the guy basically cosplaying Blade, I respect that

•The menu music and the trailer music is so fucking good I can’t wait to obsess over the soundtrack when we hear more of it

•The backgrounds we’ve seen so far in the demo and the trailer are STUNNING, I can’t wait for an art book release

story notes -

•We are in 2024 now, going into 2025. The last game was in 2020, we can assume a lot of shit has went down but Panhard is still prince

•Kali attempting to use Awe in Elysium. Kali my sweet summer child.

•I’ve seen multiple ppl mention that Padraic could be a Malkavian caitiff which I find very intriguing.

•Also Padraic is apparently a mediator and he’s an anarch seemingly? If Torque is bringing around Padraic and not Mia then that seems odd but time has passed maybe something happened

•Where is SAMIRA GAME WHERE IS SHE WHERE IS SAMIRA WHERE IS SAMIRA

•Thomas yap yap yapping we are so back

•We love to see more of Panhard, but I feel it will not end well for my girl this game

•The Shadows of New York good ending being canon, again thank you for everything draw distance

•So they mention that two duskborn have been killed and another kindred, from the Ventrue Clan “Just last night, two Duskborn and a fledgling from your clan were reduced to ashes”

•Are Hunters the main threat here? Knowing this franchise I doubt that’s the case. It sounds like there’s been an issue of multiple kindred dying over the past couple years

•…Is Larson alive? He was completely absent in Shadows, and in Coteries he COULD seemingly die depending on what choice you made in D’Angelo’s route on how to deal with Sana

•I just love the Christmas setting, going into new year. It’s like they’ve read my mind.

•The art style initially put me off, but it definitely matches the tone their going for, which I feel we would lose with the previous games style

•The trailer showed clan symbols in different territories and I don’t know much about the geography of New York, but the Tzimisce symbol was on Ellis Island right ??? (interesting because in New York By Night, Isaac’s sire Vaclav resides there)

•So that was definitely Reyner with Aisling at the very end of the demo right? Looking at it, the silhouette doesn’t match with anyone else

In conclusion, I am so hype for this game. Yet with it being the final one I’m also so nervous for how it’s going to end, like I’ve been way too invested in these set of games and sometimes I feel embarrassed about it, but these games really helped me through a horribly shitty time in my life so their a comfort for me (even though there is no comfort in them but y’know)

[anyalovesu]

we're not saints at all.

༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚ five ༘˚⋆𐙚｡⋆.✧˚

“I don’t understand what you want from me, Alistair,” Jas sneered at him as she took a step away from him. She was glad he did not push it and he remained standing from where he was. Jas came up from the basement studio for some fresh air, being inside there for most of her remaining day eventually got her head stuffy that she had to get up for a while. They were practicing all day, after all. Elijah and Gwen came up with her, leaving the men downstairs to yap about whatever. 

“I am asking you for another chance,” he sighed. He wasn’t threatening, like Eli described Isaac was a while ago. Alistair was… just there. “Is it really that hard to give? Hindi ka naman mamahalin ni Park in the way you want him to.”

“You think saying all that will magically make me consider giving you another chance?” Jas spat, turning harshly, arms crossed against her chest, afraid that it might move in ways that she did not want to if she did not restrain herself. “I knew you were one narcissistic fuck, Ali, but I never saw you as someone this low.”

“Bakit mali ba ako?” Alistair scoffed, rubbing his temple in frustration. “Tobias Park is using you for your body and you’re just letting him? Does he even love you? It really seems like I’m only one looking out for how you feel!”

“I shouldn’t matter to you!” her voice raised, full of anger that she didn’t care if Gwen and Eli heard her from the inside of Eli’s house. “You didn’t seem to give a flying fuck about how I felt when you disappeared out of no where! You didn’t seem to give a fuck when you decided to just move to LA without even warming me up to the idea of it! You broke up with me out of nowhere and told me you were migrating! Inisip mo ba ang mararamdaman ko noon, Alistair?”

Alistair, once again, just stood there dumbfounded as he watched Jacynthe explode on him. “Sige nga? Why does it matter to you so much about how I feel? Tobi has made me feel more important than you ever did when you promised me friendship while you were on the other side of the fucking world!”

“So did friendship mean casually having sex with your friends, now–”

“You’re going overboard, Kuya,” Eli barked at him, yanking his arm angrily, tugging him inside of the kitchen connecting the backyard to the rest of the house.

“Hey,” Gwen hummed, pulling Jas for a hug as she held back tears. “I don’t want to apologize for what my brother did. It’s not my apology to make.”

“You don’t need to consider him in anything you decide to do,” Gwen continued, holding Jas’ shaking figure when she finally broke into tears. “I will talk to him, alright?”

Before they could even hide the aftermath Tobias was already standing by the kitchen door, looking at the both of them. Jas couldn’t quite paint the expression plastered on his face—did he feel bad? Is he pitying her? Did he do something he shouldn’t? Is he considering leaving her? Whatever it was, it scared Jas, to the point that she hurriedly wiped the tears on her face and tried with all her might to pretend that what just happened did not affect her at all—except that it did, and it was already too late to just hide behind a lie.

“Sinaktan ka ba?” He asked, as he walked towards her and Gwen. Gwen quickly excused himself and left it to Tobi to comfort her. 

Jas shook her head, still reading the expression on his face. He was stoic as ever. They were the OA and nonchalant duo after all. It was at these moments where she wished that Tobi was easy to read—that she could just read him like the back of her hand like how it is for her and her friends. But Tobi always had this resting bitch face expression on his face that always made it hard to determine how he felt.

“That’s good,” he hummed, pulling her into a hug, holding her tight. It was only then did Jas realize that she was holding her breath and that first inhale, laced with his Dior Sauvage perfume that she recalls they bought together when they went shopping for Bianca’s gift, never failed to remind her how thankful she was that she could still breathe. “Gusto mo na umuwi?”

Jas glanced inside the house from the kitchen window, she could hear the faint sound of Eli reprimanding Alistair for what he had just done. Actually, reprimand would be an understatement. Elijah was furious, she was shouting at him and Leon was trying to pull her away from the situation. Elijah has been through a lot today, Jas takes a mental note to apologize for adding up to it. 

She then looked back at Tobi and nodded. She didn’t have the face to present to her friends and Tobi’s friends after causing a scene. She thought that was enough shame for the day—going back there would only make her feel more embarrassed that she even talked to Alistair in the first place when she fully knew that she shouldn’t have.

“Okay, here are my keys,” Tobi told her calmly, unclipping his car keys from his belt loop and handing it to her. “Ako na ang kukuha ng gamit mo sa studio. Antayin mo nalang ako.”

“Kailangan ko pa magsabi kay Eli na aalis na ako–”

“I’ll have Eli come with me kapag lumabas ako,” he hummed, before pressing a kiss on her forehead. “Is that okay with you?” 

Jas nodded before Tobi smiled at her softly, pressing a soft kiss on her lips to which, though it was short and sweet, she still managed to kiss back. “Okay,” he says. “Wait for me in the car.”

She did what he told her to do, there was nothing else to do after all. She was too ashamed to go back in there to collect her stuff, it’s a good thing that Tobi offered to get it for her because it would’ve raised hell for her to go within a 2 feet radius from Alistair after their encounter earlier. 

Tobi tried to avoid eye contact with anyone but Eli and Leon by the time he was back inside the house. He knew he had to get their stuff as soon as he could to keep Jas from waiting in the car for too long.

“Jas wants to go home,” he mumbled to Eli, showing her Jas’s mini Louis Vuitton bag. “She wants to talk to you though bago umalis.”

Elijah nodded understandingly. She couldn’t blame her after all. Being faced with confrontation all of a sudden was overwhelming—she had first hand experience of that just a few hours earlier. 

Jacynthe, on the other hand, sat in the passenger seat of Tobi’s Aston Martin, rehearsing her apology for Elijah. She wasn’t one to be nervous around Eli but after everything that happened, sitting there in silence while she waited for Tobi to come made her antsy. She knew Eli has been going through a lot—a lot more than she is. It was rude to cause a scene like that and add more to her stress. The wedding is coming up, she can't be one more problem to deal with. 

“Honey?” Eli’s soft voice muffled through the closed windows. Jas immediately unlocked and pushed the door open. Elijah immediately pulled her into a hug before she could even start her apology. “I’m sorry about Kuya Ali. I didn’t think he’s still going to bother you! I already told him to stay away from you!”

“It’s… It’s my fault,” she mumbled against Eli’s shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. Kasalanan ko naman—”

“No, honey!” She argued. “Kuya Ali is just a little shit. Magpahinga ka na, okay?” 

Jas nodded before Eli turned to Tobi who was still standing behind her with Jas’ bag. “Kuya, sa bahay n’ya okay? Magpapahinga!”

Tobi laughed at her innuendo, which made her hit his arm harshly. “Seryoso ako! Baka gumawa pa kayo ng milagro, ay nako! Done for the day na kayong dalawa narinig ko kayo kanina noong lumabas ako ng studio!”

“Sabi kasi sa’yo!” Jas whined, stomping over to Tobi to pinch his side. 

“Bakit ako? Ikaw ang maingay tapos ako ang sinisisi mo!” Tobi cackled, pulling Jas into a hug.

From everyone watching inside the house, Amir and Leon mostly, it wasn’t hard to see how in love Tobi looked whenever he looked at Jas. It wasn’t hard to tell—Tobi never looked at anyone that softly, eyes literally turning into hearts whenever he looks at her. It’s the same look they see themselves having whenever they look at their respective partners. It would be a big fat lie to say that isn’t love.

—

“Can we drive for a bit more?” Jas hummed, playing with Tobi’s calloused fingertips while the other held on the steering wheel. “I’ll pay for your gas. Let’s just not go home muna.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“I don’t know,” she mumbled, tracing the sides of Tobi’s hand. “Hindi pa ako ready umuwi.”

A lot of things bothered her. From ignoring her dad constantly to being one of Eli’s headaches today—she hasn’t been a good daughter or a good friend—not even a good person probably. The thought of it only diminished her worth to be loved—because if she isn’t good, what is there to love?

“What’s bothering you, pretty?” he hummed, keeping his eyes on the street lights lit as he turned to change routes. Normally that would’ve scared Jas, luckily she’s never had to be in that kind of sticky situation but threats did come along once in her life. This is why she always preferred to drive herself to places—well, until Tobi. 

“Nothing,” she replied quietly, focusing on fiddling with his hand. “Ayoko palang umuwi.”

“Then something is bothering you,” he chuckled. “Sabihin mo na.”

“I don’t feel like a good person,” she replied so quietly it came out as a whisper. 

“Only a good person would worry about not being a good person, Jas,” he replied curtly. “Besides, what’s the point of pretending we’re all nice? We’re not saints at all, anyway. May mga tao at may mga tao na hindi maganda ang tingin sa atin. Someone is always going to favor someone else over us. Someone is always going to wish you bad things.”

In reality, Tobi felt bad that he was preaching that to Jas when he was conflicted about it too. After living his entire life watching his brother get favored over him, he still doesn’t know how to accept it. He’s still trying to be nice, hoping that one day he’s going to wake up and his parents love him a bit more to the level of Leon’s. It was hypocritical.

“Saints don’t fuck each other in the bathroom anyway,” she sniggered bitterly. “I mean, at least I’m getting good sex, no?”

“Still want to get married sa church though,” she mumbled as they passed by one. “Kung ikakasal nga ako.”

“I’ll marry you there then,” Tobi chuckled, interlacing his hand with hers before giving it a light squeeze. “When you’re single and thirty.”

“Don’t keep my hopes up,” she chuckled, sandwiching his hand between the both of hers when she realized that his hand was cold. His hand was always cold for the record, but the airconditioning of his car made it even colder, she thought it was concerning. He could be anemic, she thought.

“Hindi nga!” Tobi laughed at her. “I agreed to it. Gagawin na’tin ‘yon kapag wala ka pang relationship by 30.”

Jas could only smile. Maybe it’s not too bad to be delusional every once and a while and believe him. So, she did.

“Pasaan tayo?”

“Intramuros,” he replied shortly. 

“‘Di pa ba sarado?” Jas asked curiously, glancing at the time display on the dashboard screen. “It’s almost 8:30 na.”

“The Myoi’s own the night touring service, Jacynthe, calm down,” he chuckled, tugging her hand to press a soft kiss on the back of her hand as they took a turn towards the parking lot.

Tobi made some calls before he opened the door to get out. Jas was about to open the door herself but Tobi had already jogged around the car to open the door for her. The romantic gesture made her blush. She was lucky the parking space was dimly lit that Tobi didn’t notice.

Tobi reached for her hand, interlocking them. They rarely ever hold hands whenever they go out. In the car, they do. But once they’re out, there’s always been this awkward distance between them, somehow to remind everyone who can see them that they were friends and couldn’t be anything more.

Jacynthe fought the urge to think it was going to be something more. After all, it’s Tobi, one of the most strong-headed people she’s ever met. He doesn’t change his mind easily.

Tobi managed to take one of his zip-up hoodies in the trunk before handing it to Jas. He always had extra clothes in his trunk for whenever his bandmates would spontaneously drag him to the gym with them after practice. Perfect timing, he thought, because Jas would be the type of person who would rather be too cold than carry a jacket around. Admittedly, he would get annoyed whenever he had to take his jacket off and give it to her because the shops in BGC got cold, but it would be a lie to tell that he hadn’t got horny seeing her in his clothes with the amount of times they had to rush home so he could fuck the living daylights out of her while she was wearing his hoodie. He grew to like taking his jacket off for her or just bringing an extra for her even if it meant that he’d be the one carrying it around.

“Amina Myoi really built a tourism empire ano?” Jas hummed, as soon as got inside of the place. Sila lang ang tao na it-tour ngayong gabi. It was well past their working hours, but Tobi managed to pull some strings for one last tour before they closed. 

Tobi nodded. His mother's side of the family, his mom especially, was responsible for greatly expanding the empire in tourism in the country that the Myoi’s have long started. She and Soren Yang have been business partners long before he was born. After getting arranged to marry the engineer son of one of the most successful architects in the country, the empire began to expand with multiple resort and hotel projects all around the country. Balesin might have been one of their biggest projects. The acquisition and development of the island from start to end almost sent Park Group and Myoi Tours bankrupt, which back then resulted into Amina Park agreeing to arrange one of her children to one of Soren’s to ensure that Yang ENT. and Yoon Hotels will back their businesses up if they do end up in a situation.

Tobi was too young to understand what was happening back then—what kind of deals with the devil his parents were making. He just knew it was for work and he couldn’t say anything about the jobs that feed them and provide all their luxuries. He was young. Looking back at everything now, with Elysia Skyline finally being put into work in Cebu, all those deals were slowly resurfacing. Only then did he realized how fucked up everything was.

The very empire that established their family names was the very empire that put their children in a position to break.

And that was fucked up.

“I’ve never been here ng gabi,” Jas chuckled, rubbing circles on the back of his hand.

Jas was very lucky to never have been forced into anything her parents wanted. She was free to do whatever she wanted and would still have a home to go to whenever her decisions weren’t very good.

“We got lucky nandito pa si Kuya Herman,” he smiled, leaning over to kiss her temple. 

“Thank you,” she smiled, leaning her head against him shoulder. 

“Girlfriend n’yo sir?” a guy asked. Tobi chucked at him and shrugged.

“Bakit? Bagay ba kami Kuya Herman?” he asked playfully, resting his head on top of Jas’.

“Aba s’yempre sir!” Kuya Herman replied enthusiastically. “Bagay na bagay kayo! Nililigawan n’yo ba sir?”

“Ayaw nga ako ligawan, kuya!” Jas playfully replied.

“Nako sir, mauunahan ka kay madam kapag hindi mo pa niligawan!” 

“I doubt,” Tobi chuckled, placing a soft kiss on the side of her head once again.

Jas found it annoying that he was so complacent that no one will come while he’s still there. Mainly because it was true even if there’s on label on it.

She doesn’t know if it hurts or if it was annoying.

—

“Jacynthe,” Tobi called. Jas turned to see him and Kuya Herman a good 5 feet away. She found herself standing in front of the San Agustin church, just staring at the architecture in all its glory. 

“Are you okay?” he asked, jogging back to where she stood.

“Why are you calling me by my name?” she asked, blankly. She hasn’t called her by her nickname since the incident a while ago. It was evident thay above everything else, it bothered her too.

“Your name is Jacynthe,” he smiled, innocently. Well, he knew what he was doing. He was jealous, and out of irrationality, he hasn’t been calling her such because for a good moment, he was insecure. As much as he hated to admit it, Alistair got into his head. 

He ran into him when he went out just a few minutes after Jas did. He was petty. He told him things he had to convince himself he wasn’t. God. He knew all of those things already but hearing it from someone else? That he doesn’t deserve Jas?

He almost melted into the cracks of the floor he stood on as soon as he saw tears form in her eyes. 

“Are you going to leave me?” Jas asked softly, voice breaking as she avoided his gaze. “Why are you acting like this?”

“Pretty,” he sighed, realizing the effects of what he had done, moving to pull her closer.

“I’ll go home at your place tonight,” she proposed desperately, holding both of his hands to wrap around her waist. “You can have me anyway you want, Tobi. I promise I rejected him right away—”

“Hey, pretty,” he panics, removing both his hands from his waist to her face. “Hindi ako aalis,” he says firmly. “Kakasabi ko lang na pakakasalan kita dito tapos iniisip mo na iiwanan kita?”

Jas looks up at him finally, eyes welling with tears. “Nothing will make me leave you, Jas. Unless of course, you want me to.”

Jas didn’t say anything but wrapped her arms around his neck as she cried. She had already been crying for more than she should today. She really hopes the makeup artist tomorrow will find a way to hide it.

“I’ll let you rest muna, hmm? Go home muna sa White Plains tapos susunduin kita bukas pa-Aurora, okay?”

Jas nodded carefully at him. “Good girl,” Tobi replied before pressing a soft kiss on her lips. It was short and sweet… addictingly sweet, she craved for more and more but she couldn’t quite ask for it.

“Let’s go?” he hummed, hand moving to reach for her hand once again. 

Then there was quiet, deafening quiet, as they walked through the equally eerie and beautiful halls of the century old buildings.  “I wasn’t raised religious,” Tobi mumbled out of the blue. “I only ever went to ask God for anything noong inoperahan si Bianca. She was very young with a heart disease that could cost her life if she was left untreated. That time no one would take her operation because she was only days old and the risks were very high. I went and prayed to God with Leon. Dahil hindi naman nga kami tinuruan ng ganoon, hindi namin alam kung anong sinasabi namin sa loob ng chapel ng Valiente. All I knew was we were begging to God for someone to save Bianca because we were running out of time. But then your mom stepped in.”

Jas looked at him attentively. He was just speaking quietly, pretending to listen to what Kuya Herman had to say about Philippine History. Tobi had it all memorized already by the amount of times he’s been here to clear up his mind in the past few years. 

“All I knew from your mom back then was that it was her first high-risk surgery. She had only gained her license to perform surgery a few months prior, ayaw pa noon ni Mom and Dad na pumayag but Leon and I had to beg them to let her because she was our only chance to save Bia. Flying her to the States would be a higher risk. But then your mom managed to save Bianca. I began to pray a lot more after that pero parang hindi na ako pinapakinggan ng langit. At first I thought naubos nalang ang mga panalangin ko noong niligtas si Bianca, but I grew to think that maybe it was Leon that they heard and not me.”

Jas couldn’t help but squeeze his hand. Tobi never opened up about his feelings. He’d occasionally talk about how things happened in his life, childhood memories and the trivial things that he remembers, but he never talked about how he feels. It was a big thing that he was saying all these. It must’ve weighed heavy on him for him to finally say it.

“People always picked Leon over me. I mean maybe except Amir but we’ve been friends long before Leon was born. Leon was everyone’s golden boy, I’m pretty sure the world would kneel before him if he asked and that’s never going to happen for me. Noong nakita kita na kausap si Ali kanina, handa na akong kausapin mo ako at sabahin sa akin na babalikan mo na s’ya but it only broke me when I saw you crying because of him.”

“You thought I was going to leave you?”

Tobi nodded. Jas’ heart dropped to the floor at the confession.

“I don’t have nice things given to me often,” he hummed. “I thought the only good person that I managed to hold was going to be taken away from me.”

Eli was a sight to see on stage. Jas has never seen her smile like that before, you really do glow like nothing else when you’re doing something you love with the knowledge that someone loves you above anything else, right? Hearing Leon confess his love for Eli was an entire level of disgustingly sweet but it’s rotting deep inside of her because she knew she wasn’t going to be loved like that by his brother. 

Better to love than not love at all. 

Why can’t Tobi just hang on to that? Why can’t he just give all of himself for once? Why can’t he love someone the way he loves music? 

At the end of the day, maybe she’s just not that worth trying for. 

She loves Ellie. Don’t get her wrong. She loves Eli like her own blood sister. She and Bella somehow fit perfectly into that little sister figure that she always imagined to have and the two of them were never hesitant to accept those positions. Life was better with them, Jas knows it. 

But she couldn’t help but be jealous. She spent her entire life craving and chasing after love and she still doesn’t have it while Ellie has love chasing every strand of her hair. Love just naturally grows with her no matter how afraid of it she is. She’s always proud that Ellie eventually learned how to accept and understand love. But damn. When is it going to be her turn?

“I’m sure kilala n’yo kung sino ang sunod naming alas,” Kyle announced, laughing as he glanced towards me and Leon. “Dahil wala si Leon, syempre babawi kami sa inyo. Kilala n’yo si Honey?”

The crowd roared as soon as Kyle mentioned her nickname. Tobi could not help but smile as soon as his eye caught the mop of red hair from the side of the stage. His heart raced a bit, it would be a shame to not admit. She was beautiful. She was stunning. She always glowed differently under the stage lights; almost as if she belonged there—like she was meant to be there. He didn’t quite understand why she stayed behind production and rarely went on stage when she had an amazing voice and an impecable stage presence. His pretty can devour anyone in stage if she wanted to. 

“Ay nakapasweet naman,” Ellie teased.

“The woman who is currently producing half of the songs in our next album, I present to you, Jacynthe Clair Huh!” Kyle jumped excitedly.

“Good luck, Jassy,” Leon cheered her on before she entered on her cue. She stood before a bedazzled white microphone on the stand, something the boys gave her as a gift after their last album that she helped with did very well.

“Hello, ako po si Jas,” she smiled. The crowd went wild on her fingertips. “Hindi po ako girlfriend ng kahit na sino kaya wala akong iyayabang sa inyo gaya ni Eli but I did write a couple of songs for Midnight Covey, so I guess that counts for something right?”

“This is Bagong Tradisyon, sing with us if you know it,” she took off the microphone as she went up to sit from on the tall chair that was placed on stage before her set. Tobi had already switched his electric guitar for an acoustic one and Kyle’s keyboard was moved next to her chair, he was also sitting down at this point. Everyone had already left the stage for their break as they began singing. 

The song itself was inspired by the wedding of a friend that both Kyle and Jacynthe had in college. At the point where Jas was constantly getting cheated on, their friends were beginning their love story which started its new beginning just last year. And yes, it was a big fat lie that she didn’t imagine herself getting married. It was all that she longed for when she was young and growing up. She wanted to marry someone who isn't like her father. She wanted someone who will never leave her, love the good things and correct the wrong ones. At first she thought maybe it’d be Alistair—Jesus. She’s glad she didn’t end up with him. After him there were several others that in her feeble little mind, she imagined herself getting married to. Then there’s the most far fetched person she wishes she’d see at the end of the altar—Tobias Park. 

The idea of getting married, starting a new life, celebrating every holiday of the year, the birthdays, anniversaries—the idea of never being alone anymore—made her heart happy. It made her happy that someone decided they were going to swear in front of a divine entity that they are not going to leave and they will love her until the day that they cannot anymore. 

And she longed for that day to come.

Now Elijah is going to do just that. Before she does. Before anyone in their friend group does. With someone she loved all her life.

Will she ever be in that position?

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ main post °❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[the-modern-typewriter]

Hello!!! I’m reading The God Key right now, I’m about half way through and I’m really loving it!!! I wanted to thank you for sharing your art with the world and also ask a question about it. While reading it I’ve been so surprised by Gabriel’s character, he is the most clear 1w9 I’ve ever seen in media (to me) and he’s a very disintegrated version of one too. Usually people do not treat characters who are so focused on goodness like this at all. I am so happy to see this kind of character. In my experience there is never this much poured from the writer that makes them be disintegrated while still holding on to the things they care about and idk it’s really really cool to me to see. His mental health and his fixations on moral goodness while drifting away from his own values and his belief in all these contradictory things is amazing. There was so much thought out into all of this and his mind and I’m so so impressed by it all. My question is I guess if you’re familiar with enneagram and if that played a part in your writing? I’d also be really curious about the rest of the cast’s types. Thank you so much for your art and for your time and energy, I really appreciate it!!

Glad you're enjoying it! And Gabriel!

(The God Key is my novel)

I'm vaguely familiar with personality tests and types in general, but it isn't something I focused on while developing the characters. (I had to look up what 1W9 was because I knew there were types, but not the subdivisions!)

That said, I did put a lot of thought into the characters and their stances to the key conflicts in the book, so I'm glad it's appreciated! :D

I started with Gabriel because he was the clearest in my head from the start, with Isaac as a close second because I have a habit of character-creating in pairs. You'll possibly have noticed they directly mirror each other's attitudes a lot.

As a brief example:

Gabriel is a very certain person and believes in objective morality, which he believes means we absolutely must help people and do good whenever we can. Isaac is a very uncertain person and believes in subjective morality, so how the hell do we decide what's right enough to try and force our values on everyone else?

I was very interested in The God Key in exploring the way having super-powers might utterly break you as a person, especially side by side with a lot of our tropes of 'one person can save the world!' Like, what would it look like if you actually believed that about yourself? What would it look like if you knew you could, but fundamentally didn't think you had the right to?

Dahlia might be the most well-adjusted of the lot? Idk.

Anyway. I'm not sure I know enough about enneagram types to correctly evaluate them, so I would absolutely love to hear everyone's opinions!

[darling-archeron]

Many months have passed since the end of the War, but not all wounds have healed. Repairs, both emotional and physical, are still underway. When Feyre finally finds a break in her schedule, she feels duty-bound to visit the one place she thought she’d never return to: her old village. With Rhys by her side, she takes a trip through old memories. ✨ Rated T, 1.2k words | Part 4/4 | Masterlist @charliespringsleftconverse @acotargiftexchange

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Exhaustion hit her like a stone as they landed in the foyer of the River House. So much had happened since they had left from this foyer, only that morning. Isaac and his family, the repairs, her old cottage…

As both of them had expected, she could already hear the bright chatter of their family coming from the living room down the hall.

It was so typical of everyone to let themselves in that she wasn’t even surprised anymore.

“I guess I don’t have time for a bath,” she said, a tad mournfully.

Rhys ran a hand through his hair – somehow, still nearly perfect – and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“You can run upstairs and get changed. I’ll keep our guests occupied.”

She sent a wave of gratitude down the bond and quickly made for the stairs. Blessedly, Rhys was already making his way into the living room to try and wrangle their family.

--

When she returned downstairs – having taken a speedy bath and changed into leggings and one of Rhys’s old sweaters – the group was already a few bottles deep into the supply of wine, seated around the dining table.

“Feyre!” Cassian called as she padded into the living room. “What took you so long?”

She raised an eyebrow. “The better question is, why are you in my house when I’m not here?”

From his place at the table, with Gwyn at his side, Azriel piped up. “You two leave the door unlocked. You’re practically inviting all sorts of riffraff in.”

She made a show of surveying the room. Next to Gwyn was an open space at the end of the table. On the pair’s other side Cassian and Nesta, Nesta practically in Cassian’s lap. Emerie sat in the chair nearest the other end, Mor across from her. Elain and Lucien sat side by side, with Amren completing the row, a good distance apart from the rest of them, perched delicately on the edge of her chair.

“I can see that. Rhys, we need to invest in some better wards.”

“You said 9,” Amren added pointedly. “It’s 10:15.”

“Cranky because it’s past your bedtime?” Rhys quipped.

Amren bared her teeth. “Careful, High Lord.”

“Another drink, anyone?” Mor piped up.

“Pour me one!” Feyre said, moving to sweep Mor into a tight hug as the months they had been apart crashed together.

Mor squeezed her tight in a bone-crushing hug, pressing Feyre’s face into her golden hair. “We have so much to talk about!” she squealed, rocking her back and forth.

“I missed you,” Feyre said with a grin, pulling away at last and letting Mor pour her a glass of red wine. Distantly, she heard Cassian complain that there had been enough drinking and snacking, because he was starving.

Feyre slid into the remaining open seat on the end next to Gwyn, Rhys sitting at an empty seat between Mor and Lucien.

“It’s good to see you both,” she said, addressing Az and Gwyn, giving Gwyn an especially warm smile. She had just started getting to know her sister’s friend as she gone closer to Az. It was an unfamiliar dynamic, but she liked the priestess.

“How did your trip go?” Gwyn asked, smiling slightly.

“It was…eventful,” Feyre admitted. “I ran into some people I haven’t seen in years. But we made some good progress, and I’m glad we went.”

Gwyn nodded sympathetically. “That must have been difficult – going back after such a long time. I know it would feel strange for me.”

“It was. But it was also cathartic to go back again. Have you ever been to the mortal lands?”

“I haven’t.”

Azriel raised an eyebrow – he had been wordlessly listening to their conversation. “Will I offend the High Lady if I say you’re not missing much?”

Feyre scoffed. “That all depends on what parts you visit.” Somehow, she still hadn’t made it to the continent. “Besides, the same goes for parts of Prythian.”

“I won’t disagree with you there,” Gwyn said, and Feyre raised her drink and took a long sip in agreement. Cassian and Mor had broken out the good bottles for tonight.

“I do want to see the world one day,” she added. “And I’m dragging this one along with me, even if he insists he’s seen it all.” She playfully elbowed Az in the chest.

Az pressed a soft kiss to Gwyn’s forehead, a small smile playing on his face. “So you’ve been saying, love.”

“You should talk to Elain,” Feyre remarked. “I’m sure Lucien has shown her all the best spots to continent has to offer by now.” Recently, Elain had begun joining Lucien in the continent. It had been good for her sister to get out of Velaris, to have a purpose. Across the room, she saw her sister chatting animatedly with Mor.

Elain had once told her that she wanted to see the continent and all the gardens it had to offer. She was glad her sister had finally gotten her wish.

The night wore on as the group caught up on their many adventures and exploits over the past few months. Her family’s adventures had taken them near and far, to all sorts of places. Dinner was served, and by the time they were done with dessert, Feyre found herself stuffed, curled up on a couch in the spacious family room. Big enough for their whole family, and all the antics they might bring.

She tried, and failed, to stifle a yawn. Today had worn her out. Still, today had been good, even if it wasn’t easy. They had made progress in more ways than one.

It was growing late, but she couldn’t bring herself to call it a night yet. Not when her family was together like this, all of them warm and joyous and laughing.

A wave of gratitude washed over her as she looked around the room once more. Who would have thought it would all turn out like this? All of them were alive, despite the war and everything that had come after. Her sisters were happy and no longer had that haunted, dead look in their eyes. Mor had finally felt safe enough to let her secret free, and grew closer to Emerie by the day. Even shadowed, scarred Azriel had found someone who saw him for who he was.

All of it was such a gift. In those other lifetimes, had things turned out as blessedly as this? There were still wounds that needed tending, both in the human lands and Prythian. But she wouldn’t complain about where they were now. Not one bit.

Exhaustion continued to creep up on her, like a wave lapping at the shore, and Feyre let her head fall against Rhys’s shoulder as he joked with Az.

In those long years of unforgiving darkness in her family’s little cottage, never had she let herself dream of happiness like this.

And Feyre knew she wouldn’t change a thing.

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Happy Holidays to my Secret Santa giftee! I hope you enjoyed this fic as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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taglist: @thron3ofbooks @the-lonelybarricade @swankii-art-teacher @ghostlyrose2 @brieq @cretaceous-therapod @live-the-fangirl-life@achernarlight @reverie-tales @starfall-spirit @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @areyoudreamingof

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[jmagnabo92]

CBS Ghosts - Pilot - Ghosts on the Accident

OOOOH the reaction to Sam’s accident.  

Please note, some of my commentary mentions things for throughout both seasons of the show so far.

Gifs and discussion below.

Okay - when did the ghosts gather?  When Jay went running out of the room?  When the ambulance showed up?  When?  Also, is Alberta missing in this scene?  Is Sass?  How ARE THEY NOT THERE?  Like this is a BIG EVENT - ALL of the ghosts should be there.

ANYWHO.

It’s AMAZING how attached Hetty became in just a short while to Sam.  She went from “ew I hope we’re not related” to “Eh, she’s nice” to “How dare you murder my kin - I love her” real fast.  

I can’t believe she accuses Trevor of murder though - Trevor is NOT the murdering kind, Hetty.  Literally, Alberta has buried bodies, Flower has chased down runners, Thor’s an actual murderer, and big spoilers here: your son (should be grandson) murdered one of your own and you’re accusing him without letting him explain???? RUDE.

Side note, Pete raised his hands to stop her and potentially step in.

I LOVE that Trevor defends himself.  He looks SO YOUNG and AFRAID, but like he does with the ‘embarrassment’ conversation - he stands up for himself.  He just wanted to beat the vase - he wasn’t thinking about Sam or anyone else getting hurt.  He just wanted to win - and he would never hurt anyone.  

This moment right here is when it became clear that Trevor was far too innocent (might not be the right word) and kind to really be the image he projects.  

Poor kid.  

Also, one thing to note - I think he’s afraid that he might’ve caused Sam to die young because he absolutely reliving his own death.  As the most recently dead, there’s no way that he’s not flashing back to his death.  

OMG that makes Hetty accusing him of murder & the situation where everyone’s looking at him like he’s guilty SO MUCH WORSE.

For some reason, I don’t have a gif of Pete saying that he’s right and defending him, but I know he did it and I’m SO GLAD that Trevor has back up because no one else was going to give him the benefit of the doubt and that just bites.

Trevor deserves better.

Okay - when did Jay change?  Did he leave Sam to change?  

Also, Thor - Husband guy = sad, of course he is!  Sam’s nearly dead and might not make it!  Why wouldn’t he be sad.

OOOOh - Isaac makes a good point - they fought over this dumbass rundown house and he would feel SO GUILTY if she didn’t make it.  Like fighting over the house and then she dies - ouch.  Anyway, I can’t imagine how terrified Jay is right now.  

Side note - what did the ghosts in the shed/basement think about these events?

Poor Jay.

I love this tidbit about Flower.  We learn right away that she cares deeply for Ira and that he was WITH her when she ‘wandered over to the property’.  

Also, it’s so weird how connected she is to Ira only for her to later say ‘she’s got commitment issues, man’.  

Side note, she tries to cover up Ira’s feelings for her with “also, bear.”  So...

So, we learn something about Pete, too.  

A) Married to Carol

B) Fought with her the day he died. 

Pete looks so chill talking about the fight with Carol and just sitting there like... life lesson quietly.  

OMG this Speech about how you never know when the last moment is going to be and how important it is.  And it’s SO GOOD seeing Sam&Jay - particularly Jay as Jay goes through hell watching her go through all these things and just HOPING that she makes it through.

Side note - obviously, it’s the show so they wouldn’t hire Jay’s parents/sister for this one scene, but with knowing that ALL Bela did was send some flowers, I have to wonder if he went through this alone?  Because they could’ve just mentioned his family supporting him in through this.

In fact, based off the off-hand remarks about the money, I assume that his parents were less than supportive - I really, really want more on that.  

Poor Jay, though.

ANYWAY, that’ll come later.

OOOOOKAYYYYYY.  So, Pete ruins a fantastic speech by remembering what the fight was about - which that’s one of the dumbest fights to have and not resolve.  

This tells us ALOT about Carol/Pete - they fought about something small, didn’t bother to make up and then he died.  He says he thinks that she did it to spite him because ‘she didn’t even like donut holes’, and we know she was cheating, but you have to wonder - how did they get there?  How did a 16 year marriage get to that kind of place?  

Also, knowing what we know about Pete ‘taking it’, I wonder if they both had like a score card?  I wonder when things fell apart?  I wonder if Carol was as hurt that Pete died after such a pointless fight?  I really want to know.

OOOOOOH, Side note - is this the only time Hetty uses a shortened name?

LOL - Pete’s just like “Okay, calm down - anyway, life is precious” like he didn’t just spaz about donut hole fights.  

LMAO - what an ending - Thor is like “Donut holes?”  and Pete is just like “It’s - well, nothing...”

Still, this scene gave us good info on Trevor, Pete, and Flower - the youngest ghosts whose deaths are the closest all have stronger reactions to what happened.  

Pete & Flower talking about their deaths in some detail.  

Trevor looks white as a sheet, very freaked out in the beginning about possibly causing Sam’s death.  He absolutely doesn’t want someone to be dead because of him.  Poor Trev has been through it.

Thanks for reading :). Feel free to chat about it.