#and I have a few more sneaky references planned

[dolphingirl1234]

10 points to the person who can identify every single musical I reference in the chapter titles in the new fic I'm writing

[katyswrites]

you're a bandit like me

Pairing: Baron Lamram/afab!reader

Warnings: SMUT (18+), references to crime, unprotected p in v, oral sex (reader receiving), sneaky links, no use of y/n, SPOILERS for Marmalade

Wordcount: 3k

A little blurb about Baron - takes place after the end of the movie, later that night. A universe in which you're his sneaky link, and a partner-in-crime - and he needs you, now.

It starts with a knock on your door in the middle of the night. You’re in bed, flicking between channels, ultimately settling on the late-night news to hopefully help lull you to sleep. 

You’re half-conscious, the reporter’s voice a dull din in the background.

“- federal agents have given a new description of the suspect, who they say they have previously mis-identified as a female -”

You’re falling asleep in the blue glow of the television, until you hear the frantic tapping on your door. You jump, suddenly alert - you covertly grab your gun off of the nightstand - you never sleep without it nearby -, and slowly walk towards the door, consciously avoiding the squeakiest floorboards. The knocking is continuing, and part of you worries that the cops have truly, finally caught up to you. You bring your eye up to the peephole, and breathe a sigh of relief.

He’s standing there, the same as ever, if not a bit more tired-looking. And -

“You cut your hair,” you say, breathing a sigh of relief. 

Baron nods.

“Yeah, I did. Planning to use that on me?” he asks. You glance down at the gun in your hand, and laugh, putting it down.

“No - sorry, I just - can never be too careful.”

He nods, a mutual understanding shared between the two of you. You step back, not even needing him to ask to be invited in, bolting the door behind him. 

You hadn’t heard from him in weeks, but that’s typical - you only reach out when you need each other. Though, he usually at least prefaces his visits with a phone call.

“What’s going on -”

You don’t get a chance to finish, because his lips are on yours, hands holding your face to pull you close to him. You let your eyes flutter shut, kissing him back with a bit of desperation - he tastes like menthol cigarettes, and the flavor of gum he likely just chewed to try and cover it up.

Your arms wrap around his neck, pulling his body impossibly closer to yours - you’ve only managed to make it a few feet inside the doorway. It nearly kills you to pull away, just to look at him.

“Are you okay?” you ask quietly.

He nods, lips slightly swollen from yours.

“Yeah - I - it’s all good. Just had a long day.”

You raise an eyebrow.

“Long how?”

You know what Baron gets up to when you don’t see him - you and him are alike, in that way. You rarely go into the details of each other’s misdeeds - except, perhaps, the occasions when he shows up to your place with a sack full of cash, begging for you to get him a car, or a weapon, or a fake ID - whatever he needs. You’re always happy to oblige - it’s your specialty, after all. You’re even the one who taught him how to hotwire, even though he’ll never admit that. Sometimes he comes for a few days, just to lay low - you’ve done the same, just a few times. Only when he’s passing through, trying to throw someone off of his trail. But something is different this time. 

He just shakes his head.

“You’ll find out in tomorrow’s papers, I’m sure.”

You nod in understanding.

“Were you followed?”

“No - don’t think so. Pretty sure I shook them back in Alabama.”

You just bring your hand up to card it through his hair, chuckling.

“Almost didn’t recognize you,” you say.

“Do you like it?”

You can’t help but smile.

“Oh, yeah - it’s really nice. Kind of… sexy, actually.”

He smirks, his face reddening a bit.

“Well, if I had known you’d say that, I would’ve done it a long time ago.”

“Does it… is this anything to do with your long day?”

He just nods solemnly, his eyes never leaving yours.

“Okay,” you say - it’s enough information, for now. “So… I’m guessing you’re not here just to hide out, are you?”

The corner of his mouth twitches, fighting another smirk.

“No.”

Then you’re kissing him again, pulling him down by his shirt collar. He sighs against your lips, wrapping his arms around you as his tongue enters your mouth.

“Bedroom,” you murmur, bringing him with you as you step backwards down the hallway.

You stumble through the doorway together, never pulling your lips away from one another. He’s holding your face in his hands again, gently, as if he’s worried you might break. It’s a contrast from his mouth, rough and demanding against yours.

You reach for his leather jacket, helping him shoulder it off and throw it on the floor.

“Need you,” he grumbles. “I - I just -”

“It’s okay,” you say, placing a finger on his lips. 

There’s always been a mutual understanding between you two, ever since he first came to you two years ago, looking for a car and a gun. You hadn’t questioned why - in your line of “work,” you never did. But, there was something else, too - your lifestyles made it impossible to do this with anyone else. Other people were dangerous - they asked too many questions. Baron, on the other hand… you know it’s not even his real name. He doesn’t know yours, either - it’s better that way. Pseudonyms keep things easier, and make this only one, incredibly small part of your life. Sometimes, all you needed from each other was someone to touch, to hold. Still, it doesn’t change how much you miss him every time he disappears on you.

But he’s here now, and he wants you - no, needs you, in his words. 

So you start unbuttoning his shirt, kissing his neck as you do. He groans, hand coming up to cup the back of your head and pull your lips back to his.

He pushes you back gently, leading you to the bed until the backs of your knees are hitting the mattress.

You fall back a bit gracelessly, and he follows you, reaching desperately for the hem of your oversize t-shirt. You oblige, pulling it over your head to reveal your breasts to him.

“No bra?” he asks, grinning.

“I was about to go to sleep, until you -”

And he’s kissing you again, hand pressed against the small of your back. It begins to wander, calloused hands brushing against your soft skin, covering the expanse of your back until he comes around to cup your breasts. You kiss him desperately, gasping as he toys with your nipples. You bury your face in his neck, your sensitive buds hardening under his touch.

“You like that, baby?” he coos. You just moan into his skin, reaching down to fumble with his belt buckle.

It’s not long until you’ve rid each other of all your other clothes, and he’s pushed you back onto the mattress, crawling over you. 

He smiles down at you, face hovering inches from yours.

“Hi,” he whispers.

“Hey.”

“I just - thanks.”

“For what?” you ask.

“Always answering the door, picking up the phone, just - saving my ass, over and over again.”

“It’s what we do,” you say, pulling him down for another kiss. “We help each other.”

“You’re really helpin’ me right now,” he says, chuckling.

Then he’s reaching down, his fingers brushing against your cunt, and you gasp.

“Need to touch you, baby,” he murmurs, coating his fingers in your slick as he runs them along your slit. He’s kissing down your body, slowly, and you feel yourself shiver with anticipation. You sigh, letting your head fall back against the pillow.

“Spread ‘em for me - that’s it - been thinkin’ about this pussy all day -”

Your legs fall open, giving Baron’s fingers full access.

“So fuckin’ wet - just relax, baby -”

He begins circling your clit with his thumb, his other hand planted on your hip to keep you pinned against the mattress. He slips a finger inside, and you moan, involuntarily clenching around him as he adds a second one.

“You like that?” he murmurs. You just whine, bucking against his hand as he pumps his fingers into you.

“‘Course you do - I know just what you like - fuck, look at you,” he says, continuing to work you open with his fingers. 

You moan, writhing as you feel pleasure coarse through you, his fingers so much larger than your own - only for it to stop, suddenly.

He doesn’t even give you a chance to whine in protest, because his mouth is on you, tongue swirling around your clit. You cry out, back arching at the feeling of his mouth, pillow-soft and lapping at you like you’re his last meal.

“So fuckin’ sweet,” he murmurs against your cunt, licking a long line up your slit. You moan, his hands holding your hips to the bed as he eats you out. He focuses his tongue back on your clit, swirling circles around it as his hand comes back, slipping two fingers back into you with ease. 

He grins against your skin at the sound of your whines when he adds a third finger, pumping in and out of you at an unrelenting pace.

You find your own hands wandering, running your fingers through his hair and gripping, pulling him closer. You’re not used to it being so short, but it still serves its purpose all the same. He groans as you pull on the chestnut strands. 

“I’m close,” you breathe, feeling your face flush, your heart thudding in your chest. There’s pressure building in your core, ready to snap at any moment. He just hums, the vibration against your cunt pushing you even closer to the edge.

It takes one more circle of his tongue over your clit, and you’re done for - you’re bucking your hips into his face, tugging harshly on his hair as you see stars behind your eyelids. You scream as the pleasure washed over you, the orgasm intense and white-hot. He works you through your high, continuing to lap and lick at you, gradually slowing down as your whole body shakes. It’s almost too much, but you can’t even find the words to ask him to stop. By the time he removes his fingers from you, you’re a mess. You feel boneless, certain you'll sink all the way through the mattress if you aren’t careful.

Your breathing is deep and labored, not even able to form words as Baron presses soft kisses to your inner thigh. He brings himself back up over you, kissing you fiercely. You still faintly taste yourself on him, and smile into his mouth.

“You good?” he asks, smiling smugly.

You nod, still a bit breathless. “Fuck - yeah, so good.”

He kisses you again, his mouth glistening with you as you feel his hard cock press against your stomach.

“Not gonna lie - not sure if I’ll last long,” he whispers. “Just kind of wanted to make sure you felt good first, just in case -”

“It’s fine,” you assure. “Don’t worry - I’ve got you.”

You don’t worry about coming again, not really - he needs you, needs this. You never ask each other questions, but you know something must have happened that’s set him over the edge. So, you just kiss him, and hold him close as he lines up with your entrance.

He groans as he pushes into you, his cock stretching you out. You gasp, digging your fingernails into his back as he fully bottoms out, still not quite used to his size after all this time.

He wastes no time, and you don’t mind - you’re still wet and sensitive from your previous orgasm, and he begins pounding into you at a relentless pace.

You moan under him, bring your hips up to meet his thrusts. THe room is just filled with the sounds of moans and labored breaths, the slapping of skin, and the scent of sex. He’s everywhere, grunting and groaning as he thrusts.

The feeling of him is exquisite, his cock feeling like it was made for you as it drags deliciously along your walls. 

“Takin’ me so well,” he manages, voice strained. “So fuckin’ good - fuckin’ love your pussy -”

You just mewl and whine, burying your face into his neck and sucking on the skin there. It might bruise, but you don’t care - he moans at the feeling, and picks up the pace a bit. He’s already close, you can tell. Pleasure courses through your own body, pulsing through you as he fucks you.

“Oh god -” you moan, heat building in your core. “Baron, baby - fuck, right there - fuck -”

“Needed this - the whole time I was in there - I wanted to get out, just for you - had to see you again -”

You’re not sure what he’s talking about, but you let him ramble - he always gets talkative when he’s about to finish.

“Where -” he breathes, aware of how dangerously close he is to finishing inside you.

“I - ah! Fuck - tummy’s fine - or tits, or wherever -”

He’s pulling out in a flash, his hand coming up to furiously stroke his cock. He only has to jerk himself for a few seconds, then he’s shuddering, hips stilting into his hand as he cums. You feel his hot cum hit your stomach, warm and sticky on your skin. He groans as he finishes, his hot ropes pooling onto your belly and dripping down your sides a bit. He collapses next to you, breathless. 

Your heart is racing, chest heaving as you stare at the ceiling. You both lay in silence for a few moments, before he rolls out of bed and heads out the door of your bedroom. He returns a moment later, a washcloth in his hand.

“This okay? Found it in your cabinet.”

You nod, taking it from him to wipe his cum off of you. He lays back beside you, turning on his side to look at you.

“You okay?” he asks. You meet his eyes, and nod.

“Yeah - I’m fine. That was good,” you say, wiping some of his hair off of his sweaty forehead.

“Think I need to shower for the rest of this,” you sigh, tossing the soiled washcloth aside.

“God - a shower sounds amazing,” he mutters. “I haven’t - haven’t had the luxury of taking a good one in a hot minute.”

You grin, sitting up. “Well… in the interest of saving water -”

“Right behind you,” he says quickly, practically sprinting behind you as you head down the hallway towards the bathroom.

*****

You both took your time in the shower, the hot water a sweet relief for both of you. It takes longer than it should have, since he insists on making you cum on his fingers to make up for not getting you there when he fucked you. And, who were you to deny him that?

It’s only later, when you’re both clean and dried and back in your bed, that you start to actually feel tired. The clock on your bedside reads 3:42 AM. You feel yourself drifting off, Baron by your side beneath the covers.

“You staying the night?” you ask sleepily - never a guarantee with him.

“Mm,” he says. “If that’s alright.”

“Yeah - fine. You staying for a while?”

“Not sure,” he replies honestly.

Neither of you ever make promises to one another - he could disappear tomorrow, and you may not hear from him for months. But he’s here now, warm and solid beside you. You curl into his side, and you feel him relax a bit.

As you drift off, you can almost swear you hear him say I missed you.

In the morning, he’s gone. By the time sunlight is filtering through the curtains, there’s just a cold spot in the bed where he used to be.

You try to push down the disappointment - you’ve done the same to him, after all, more times than either of you can count. Still - sometimes he stays. Sometimes.

The only evidence that he had been here at all is a jar of marmalade left on your kitchen counter - homemade by his mother, according to him. And, your favorite thing to have on toast. When you pick up the jar and look at it, you can’t help but smile.

When the newspaper gets delivered to your door later that day, everything suddenly makes sense. 

It’s just a local paper, never much news of note in it. You mostly read it for the crime blotter, hoping that they don’t have too many details on the nearby stolen cars or goods, knowing if you need to move soon before you’re caught.

But, instead, crime is on the front page - one that you know all too well:

BABYDOLL BANDIT BREAKS FREE FROM PRISON, STILL AT LARGE

You laugh, reading in the article how the armed robbery suspect somehow cleverly evaded a federal task force, and how - of course - the suspect is, in fact, male, and not the woman they thought had been chasing for two years. But you knew that already - you’re perhaps the only person who had known that.

Everything about his behavior the night before suddenly makes sense - his desperation, his exhaustion - and, of course, his disappearing act this morning.

You sip your coffee as you read the paper, rolling your eyes.

He’ll be back, you know that. But for now, you just silently root for him to make it - he’s probably in a new getaway car now, on his way to hide out in a new town, if not a new state.

You take a sip of coffee, and a bite of your marmalade toast. Then, you turn on the television  - if you’re lucky, you’ll get another glance of Baron’s face on the news, until he calls you again.

author's note: Happy Valentine's Day, y'all. I have Marmalade brainrot, so I figured I'd write this little blurb while I work on other fics. Love y'all! (Dedicated to @chateaudjo and @djoworlds)

[overdecorated-furniture]

Writing Playlists: A Rough Guide.

As someone who can mentally visualise my story as I’m writing it - rather like a film playing in my head - I find it helps me to have a soundtrack to accompany it. That way I can work on specific parts of a WIP by listening to specific parts of my playlist. So, here is how I set up my Writing Playlists. There are many variations I use, so here are a few.

Follow the Outline, Damn your eyes!

One of the more common setups I use is to find a song that reflects the mood of a specific chapter, and then create the playlist off my story outline. I have done this with my Echoes of Eternity playlist, and it gives a nice sense of the story arc. I have a list of the songs in my world-building notebook, as it was useful to refer back to the outline when planning it. Overall, this has resulted in a very clear - if somewhat mixed media - playlist.

Did Someone say My Name?

Equally, you can just go off character vibes. Songs that remind you of what your character’s childhood was like, what they eat for breakfast, their love life, their death… This usually ends up being somewhat vaguer in terms of acting as accurate backing, but does allow an insight into the character’s mind. As well as having playlists for Characters from my WIPs, I have a lot for my favourite characters from fanfic and history.

Overtures

Finally, you can create a playlist that introduces the setting. Nature sounds, bardcore folk, fantasy rpg and tv series music for a fantasy world, for example. Or a mix of classical music, Victorian drinking songs and Assassin’s Creed sneaky music for a Victorian detective story. Creating the soundscape a character would hear is helpful for describing scenes and action shots. I haven’t done this as its own playlist, per se, but I do a lot of background music for my fanfic and short stories.

Hope this helps, and Happy writing! 🌿

[phoniexrose02]

NoNut

Demetri alexopoulos x Black! Reader

Smutt~ 🌰

Demetri had no Plans of Participate in no nut, Expectantly With you Walking By his Side now but When Robby Pulled out a Few Hundred after training, The Game was On.

He'd gotten about 20 Days into the Month before Your Skimpy Skirts an Shorts started to get to him, he wanted to Rip it off you-

"Demi? We still good to go for our Study Date tonight?" You asked innocently Moon and Yas at your side. Though you'd Chosen Simple Outfit it still Hugged and Showed your Curves. You'd thought the Long Black Dress would make it Easier for your Poor Boyfriend to Function, But all it was Doing was Turning him on...

"Yea, After Training of course" he Responded Making Yas Groan Loudly."I don't understand the Hype over these Karate Kids..." She Quietly Groaned out Referring to Both you and Moon, She left to her Last Period taking Moon with her.

You Wrapped your Arms around your Boyfriend Waist Gently shoving him into the Lockers, His Cheeks Began to Heat and he Could Feel His Dick harden as your Plump Tits smashed Against his Chest."Don't Train too Hard Ok?" Your soft Voice an Quiet, you Kissed his Cheek leaving a Glossy Lip Print Before Following the Girls to Class.

He'd been Bricked for the Rest of the School day an Decided to Get some Advice from his Training Pals.

" I can't Win this with Y/n around, Is it Hard with moon too?" He asked Hawk in the Middle of their Spar, He only Smirked before Putting the Young Man on his Back with a Hard Thud, Demetri Groaned the impact Knocking the Wind From him. Eli Kneeled to his Brother an Held out his hand."How Bad do you Want that 200?"

Pretty Bad...

He'd kept trying to tell himself that as he Approached your front door, it was More than Just a Bet. He wanted you to know that he wasn't Just There For your Rocking Body, but for you...

When you showed to his Door your Hugged Dress was Replaced with a pair of Shorts that Rode up your ass and a Crop top that Showed just a bit to much Cleavage.

"Hope your Ready to Study Hard~"

He'd known you enough to know what you wanted."uhm...don't you wanna start the homework!" He Sprung up from your Grasp over to his Backpack Where he Pulled out a Few Books an Paper, he Sat at his Computer Chair Turning away to Face his Desk, you'd Felt a bit Cold from his Sudden moment.

"Demi??"

You shuffled further to the edge his Bed in Suspension, an he finally Turned to you once again."Your not doin' that Stupid Bet are you?" His Face Gave you all the Confirmation you Need an you Giggled."Girls Talk Baby~" he Grumbled. He didn't want to have to Explain it...

"It's a Control thing, Plus id Get 200 out of it" he Shrugged, But the Face you Made to him Let him know you Weren't entirely sure what to say next.

"So you don't wanna Titty-Fuck me Right now??"

You Played with the edges of the your Top letting your Breast Spill from it, You Jiggled them a bit an He became a Tomato as he watched you Bouncing Boobs an Pouting face, he'd almost forgotten is Cash Money Prize."As Much as I'd Love to, I can't y/n, Please Don't make this Hard..." he Snapped his Head away from you to Whatever else he could in the Room."But I Got all Pretty for you Love~" you Mewled out slowly Descending to the Floor and to his Chair, He Watched you Crawl to him like a Predator staring down His Prey, your Breast Swallowing up any Necklace you wore.

"Well..." He Felt his Dick Harden straining in his tight Jeans." I guess when you Put it Like that...I Can't say No~" he Quickly Pawed at his Jeans to Let his Dick loose, you Sat on your Knees Waiting an licked your Lips as It Sprung Free. His Dick Stood at attention for you as He Grabbed a Small Bottle of Lube from His Desk Drawer.

"Haven't bust one in 20 days, make it Note-worthy?~" you pull off your top an bra revealing the Beauty Silver Bars, You watched his Dick Jump as the Reveal of your nipples piercings."Fuck, your Sneaky Minx" You Jerked at his Already Heated tip before stealing the Lube From his Shaking Hands, You Poured some onto your Boobs Before Slipping his Cock Snug in between.

"So Warm~" You Moved your Breast in Figure Eights, Squeezing his Dick and Pinching at your Own Piercings. He Leaned over Mouth agape, you Kissed at his Tip Making him Thrust a Bit into your Chest."Let me Fuck your Pretty Titties~" You Obeyed letting him Take Charge, He Grabbed your Breast by the hand fulls Squeezing them together tight and he leaned back an started his Wild thrust into your Sleek Breast. " Fuck! Fuck! I missed these these pretty Tits!~" Your Face Warmed at the Confession, an you began to lick at the Now Leaking Tip, the Precum warm an Salty. It's all it Took for him to Spill his Cum all over your Face and Tits, But God Damn was it a Big Load~

"God...this is really a Mess, I'll get something to Clean you with!" He Pulled up pants quickly before disappearing into the Bathroom. You huffed at the sound of running water and Grabbed your Phone, you Quickly Snap a Pic of your Cum Covered Tits. He comes back with a Warm Rag and you Quickly Toss your phone back onto the Bed. You Spent the Rest of the Night Making Sure he'd Spilled every last Drop from him, Putting him to Bed Before heading home yourself.

The Next day at school, he Shameful Made His failure known to his Buds Who Weren't too Surprised, Eli of all of his Friends Knew Full Well he wasn't getting that 200. Not only was his Girlfriend Hot but Everyone Knew How Crazy he went for you, How you two Would Magic Disappear any event and try to reappear like nothing happened. Its Obvious to the Boys he wouldn't last Long.

At the end of the school day he found you gossip with your girls in the hallway, Giggling an Whispering as he slowly Approached. Moon Quickly shoved something into your hand Before the Two Push Past Him."Better Luck Next Year..." Yas Whispers an the Girls Run off to Class Giggling. His Eyes finally laid to in Clearly a Bit Confused."What was that??" He asked quietly pointing behind him.

"Us girls made a Lil Bet too" you Smiled flashing the Money to him."It's not a Full 200 but I'm sure it's enough for a Lil Date Night~" you Branded a Beautiful Smile making him Blush a Bit.

"We can Go to my house After~" he Wiggled his Brows an you Follow up with a Pleased Giggle. He wrapped his arm around your waist Leading you to out for your Night of Fun~

More Cobra Kai 🐍

[jarofstyles]

Beauty and the Beast - Nightshade

The moment you've been waiting for, the answers are here :) sorry this took a literal year (and then some)

Check out our Patreon for early access and exclusive content!

wc: 6.3k

warnings: not many warnings in this one, just a reference to character's death

---------------------------------

This wasn’t his plan.

Harry never wanted her to see this room. At least, not yet. This was… an escape from his past. One he was slowly starting to try and move on from now that he and his love had finally expressed emotions and been able to give each other the proper reactions… but no.

He had never forbidden her from it, so he couldn’t really be angry. It did flare up in him, mainly because he was scared. Terrified of these memories and his past making her want to leave and forget him because he had held on to it for so long, but nothing was making sense lately. Not a single thing.

The only thing that made sense was how good it felt to hold her. Kiss her. Fuck her. She was what he wanted, and his head had never felt more clear in terms of what he wanted.

Her.

Finding her in the room, shaking like a leaf, he was terrified that she was going to leave. She wasn’t as sneaky as she would like to believe.

He had arrived earlier than he’d planned and as if he had a 7th sense, he heard her leave the bed. The moment she opened this door, however, he sprinted up the stairs.

It seemed… off. To see her in this room. Like it was a long time coming and yet, still a kick in the face. It obviously affected her, and he wasn’t sure how.

“My love?” He approached cautiously, not sure how to handle this fully. Did he touch her? Knock her out of it with his words? Why was she staring into the mirror in such a daze? And why was she shaking? “Beloved… what is wrong?” The rasp of his voice echoed in the large room.

“Do you know her?” Y/N asked, her voice calm despite how her blood ran cold with fear. She was in a daze and everything felt slow. It almost didn’t feel real.

Her eyes were still locked on the figure in the mirror, analyzing each feature as if her life depended on it. Millions of thoughts rushed through her head, meadows and laughter, images of sharing a loaf of fresh bread in secret, swimming in lakes… her focus blurred for a moment, thoughts became memories and her head snapped from the mirror to look at him.

“She…” his voice paused as he tried to word it the right way. She wasn’t yelling yet, which was a decent sign but he also knew he wasn’t out of the woods yet.

He completely would understand her anger at him for having a room full of a woman that wasn’t her, but he was going to take it down. Move on, because he had her… it just happened so quickly. He had hundreds of years to dwell on the past and only a few months in the future.

“She was why I had believed… that I was going to die.” He cleared his throat. “That was who I believed to be my beloved… and she was taken from me, years ago. I loved her very much. Usually, you die when your beloved does.” The voice in his throat felt rough, still not an easy topic to approach. Let alone to his new lover.

“So I thought… I was slowly losing it. And we lose ourselves to madness eventually, when our beloved are killed. However… all of the madness seems to be gone for me.” He was still confused on how that happened. He could have sworn that she was. But seeing Y/N standing in front of him now… he wasn’t sure at all.

The connection they had felt incredible.

“I’m sorry I’ve kept the things so long. I know it must be difficult to look at.”

“I’ve been seeing her in my dreams for months, Harry…” Y/N spoke, still too startled to express any emotion. “She practically lives in my brain.” She shook her head.

It was an odd feeling. Nothing Y/N could ever explain in words. He had loved her… truly enough to think she was the one. This woman who had been living in the shadows of her mind for months.

It seemed like she was the one going insane, not Harry.

“I’ve seen her at least once every week since I moved here… I feel like she has my eyes— don’t you think?” She asked timidly, swallowing the dryness in her throat to try and make sense of this. “Do you see her in me? Is that how I got here?”

Harry felt his already cold body freeze over.

Months?

“And you haven’t… you haven’t been in here at all?” He questioned wearily. When she shook her head, he swallowed.

Christ.

The vampire was positive there were no other hints of her around the house. This room was the one he came in when he wanted to think about her. It was how he kept sane for a good while. But the idea that she had constantly been seeing her… it startled him.

“I… I never really thought about comparing you to her.” The cool hands cupped her warm face, taking a look. Though, now looking at her… there were some uncanny similarities. The eyes. The lips. He knew them.. for far longer than he had known Y/N. “You are different. In most ways. I never thought of her in you, if that’s what you’re asking. You’re.. a very different person but you share some things. Some phrases… mannerisms. But I never put you both in a mirror.”

He liked her all on his own.

“I don’t know how this is possible.” He tilted her head up and stroked her heated cheek with his thumb, trying to wrack his mind over how it could happen. “Is she…  what happens in your dreams, love?” His voice softens immensely, trying to coax out more of her thoughts.

“She doesn’t hurt me or scare me,” Y/N spoke, lips more in a pout now that he was holding her face. “She just… she knows something I don’t and she’s trying to tell me,” Y/N explained and closed her eyes. She needed to ground herself.

Knowing Harry had never compared them brought her a lot of peace. That still didn’t change the fact that it felt like looking into a mirror.

“You spent lots of time with her outside…” Y/N spoke quietly, humming with her eyes still closed. “You would pick her flowers… you swam… she really loved you.”

If it was possible, he knew his heart would stop.

“How do you know that?” He asked, considering just how she knew his antics. How she was aware of the fact that they’d pick flowers and swim and kiss in the sunlight. When he would risk it all to be outside with her because the sunshine made her happy and warm.

“She’s trying to talk to you?” And she wasn’t trying to rip Y/N to pieces? That was unusual for her. Possessiveness was a main personality trait for her and he didn’t mind it at all, but he was curious as to how the hell she didn’t seem to mind if she was inside of her head.

“What is she trying to say, angel?” He placed his forehead on hers. “Hm? Is she just telling you what we used to do?” That would be incredibly peculiar. How was she even communicating with her at all? And how was a human capable of receiving those sorts of messages?

If he didn’t know better, Harry would have assumed she would read his journals. But he knew where she was at all times, and never had the girl ventured into this room or opened a book that didn’t belong to her.

“You went somewhere earlier…” She decided to skip over his comment, choosing rather to focus on how the hell she was recalling this information. “When I woke up Ida said you’d be out for longer—”

The thoughts in her mind seemed to relax and she was able to open her eyes and look at him again.

“Did you find what you were looking for?” Y/N searched his eyes for something to hold on to, she felt like she could give him more answers if he was fully transparent with her.

“No more secrets.”

The man took a breath, closing his eyes this time as he tried to figure out just how to explain this part to her.

“Okay. No more secrets.”

His hand took hers and led her towards the velvet green couch, sitting her down on it and sitting far too close next to her. Clasping her smaller hands in his own, he took a moment to compose himself.

“I went to see if I could find the contact information for a witch. Someone who knows far more about the soul-bonding process and could explain to me what had happened, why I was feeling the way I was…” he paused, throat drying slightly as he squeezed her hands. “Why I feel the way I do when I thought we only have one chance at love.”

His green eyes met hers, showing that he genuinely was confused but he cared. He cared for her so much, he loved her. It shouldn’t be possible, but Harry knew what he was feeling.

“You know… I thought maybe I was actually dying. And I wanted to spare you from it. But when I woke up, I knew I had to dig for answers. I couldn’t just allow you to suffer along with me as we had gotten attached. So I went to a frequent spot for the… otherworldly.” He chuckled lightly at the words he used. There probably were better ones, but it would make the most sense to her.

“When she died… I felt myself mourn. I was in so much grief and pain and anger... I've never physically hurt that badly before and yet…” He licked his dark pink lower lip, eyes searching hers. Recognizing bits of them. Now that he was thinking about the connection… It was true.

“I never felt the snap. I never felt… like I was going to die. That's what I’ve always been told. For soul bonds to break, for one of us to have died, the other should have felt the severing. And I never did.”

“Did you meet the witch?” Y/N asked as if that was a normal question for a human to ask a vampire. It seemed like for the time being Y/N wasn’t entirely there at the minute.

She tilted her head and waited for his answer, eyes taking in every bit of his appearance. Y/N had a feeling that he knew something that would make sense of the messages in her head. The feelings she was feeling as her own.

“I… Didn’t.” He grumbled, letting his eyes fall again. Another area where he had failed her. Truly, he wanted to be good to her. He wanted to give her the best and he couldn’t even figure out why he had gone crazy.

“I put in an inquiry. They’re busy people and while I may have a lot of pull in this world, they’re the ones with the answers. I was told I’d have someone show up to give me some, but I didn’t want to pour my story out to a witch that wasn’t going to help.”

He let himself relax slightly as she didn’t seem to get angry at him now. She just looked like she wanted answers… answers that were very valid. He knew he had been a bit of a dick for not giving them to her right away. He should have been transparent but… how?

It was difficult, usually, to work humans into this world. It was actually a bit… strange how well adapted she was.

-500 years prior-

The worst day of Harry’s life had started just like any other.

Summer was quickly coming to a close and while he himself didn’t mind the shift to cooler temperatures and shorter days, his beloved seemed to mourn the summer. Celeste believed that there was nothing that would ever compare to the feeling of dunking yourself into the lake on a warm day. She believed that there was nothing that brought her more tranquillity than gazing up at the stars while the warm humid air hugged her skin. Even when bug bites adorned her legs Summer reminded her that she was still human.

“My darling, wake up. We have to go.” The familiar sleepy voice of her lover woke Celeste from her slumber. With a firm yet gentle shake, she allowed her eyes to flutter open and adjust to the darkness of their cottage. “Please, we haven’t much time.”

The sound of footsteps quickly approaching from outside left Harry in a panic, but he couldn’t let her see. And while he felt Celeste was blissfully unaware of the fate that awaited her, the look in his eyes told her everything she needed to know.

Celeste never thought her worst nightmare would actually come true. She had spent years protecting her home and the land around it. Her enchantments attracted nothing but positive light and all those who crossed her path were destined to meet her. All the animals knew they were welcome and always rewarded her for her efforts to enrich their earth. Celeste had spent her whole life here in the forest, only venturing into town when she urgently needed something. It wasn’t safe for witches in town, the common folk were terrified of magic and the creatures and spirits that fed off of them, but it was the job of her and her sisters to keep the city safe from any harm in secrecy.

She had met Harry by chance, she remembered the day so vividly. She stumbled upon him on her way home– She remembered the dazed look in his eyes and the blood on his collar. He looked so ashamed, crying against the back wall of the local bakery. Never had Celeste seen a vampire show so much remorse after feeding, but then again she hadn’t seen many vampires with her own eyes, to begin with. The Vampires upheld their deal of peace and ethics, as long as the witches protected them from the hunters.

The very hunters who were now trying to take her love away from her.

They’d been so careful. She knew that the safest place for Harry to be was with her. But it seemed that even her powers weren’t enough to overcome the evil that possessed humankind. The universe would always find its balance somehow, even in the cruelest of ways.

“Harry, they cannot know– I should not follow you, I fear they will question why I am not in my home at this hour should they find I am not here…” Celeste whispered, motioning down towards the tunnel in her cellar. They had talked about this plan before, but Celeste always knew she could never convince him to go on his own. So she never told him that part of the plan.

“My love, I refuse to leave you here alone–” A shout from the outside left his words to die in his throat. Harry shook his head, taking her wrist and pulling her with him without another word. Harry was cautious. Though he was aware that these men were after him and not his beloved, he couldn’t bring himself to trust those who have brought his kind nothing but shame and suffering. The hunters were everything but fair and if they had any reason to believe she was living with a fugitive, he knew she would be as good as dead.

He had dreams of them running away and rebuilding a home elsewhere, somewhere they could be truly safe. There were vampires who lived in the north who had mastered the art of camouflage. Rumors spread like wildfire saying they were mated and bonded, that they lived with humans who let them feed in a mutual exchange. Maybe it was wishful thinking on his part, but Harry would give up anything if it meant he could have the life he dreamed of with her. He just needed her there with him.

“My love, they shall not bring me any harm. The tunnel, it will bring you to the lake, you know your way from there. I promise I will find you once they see there is nothing for them to find here.” Celeste’s voice was soft as she reached to smooth the worry away from his brow. “Such a worry wort.” She giggled though she knew her fate was much to worry about. There could only be one reason the hunters would be suspicious of her. If her enchantments broke, it meant the fates had decided it was their time. Celeste, however, would never give him up, she knew he would wait for her forever. No, she could and would not let them find him.

Harry’s head turned quickly as he saw an orange glow begin to creep through the windows. He chose to be selfish in the little time he had left, pressing a kiss so full of love and longing that he hoped that it would somehow change her mind. The way her lips melded over his with a hunger she only saved for their most intimate moments, he swore they would be etched in his mind forever. He knew she wouldn’t let up.

“You must find me.” Harry breathed, his words a command as he pressed another desperate kiss to her lips. “My love, you are the only thing worth living for.” He hesitated, not wanting to leave this precious moment in fear that it would be their last.

With each second, he could hear the footsteps growing closer and closer, his eyes memorizing her form till he couldn’t anymore. A final stolen kiss was all he left for her as he disappeared into the cellar and ran like hell.

He shouldn’t have left her there, he knew that now.

In a sick and twisted way, he thanked the gods for sparing him the piercing sounds of her screams as she begged for mercy, for when he returned, the bloodied sight left him feeling hollow. She put up a fight, the way he always knew she would,  but it seemed that the hunters came with no remorse. How could they claim that they were ridding the town of evil when they had done such cruel and horrible things to the purest creature he had ever known?

“It should have been me.” He thought, swallowing down thick tears, but as he looked around he realized that this evil would not have stopped at him.

-end of flashback-

He hadn’t taken the death of Celeste well.

He had avenged her the best he could. Ripped the hearts out of every single person he could trace to her death, letting them die the way he felt every day without her. It felt like he had little to no emotion, feeling only pain when he woke up.

It continued like that for years until he became comfortably numb. Still questioning why and how. Living without her was worse than any death, worse than anything he had ever could have imagined. But there was always this little light that never fully smothered. Her voice in the back of his mind saying she would find him again. His own recurring dreams that he figured were just a comfort to his psyche. The hope.

Once he met Y/N though? It had gone away. Completely. No more dreams. Almost any yearning was gone. He felt like a patch had been placed on the gaping wound and it had made him feel very, very guilty at first until he realized that maybe she would want him to be happy.

Y/N was so familiar. Like a piece of him in her that had stolen his breath when she had walked into the estate. Sure, she resembled Celeste more than some others did but she was her own person. He had fallen for her knowing that.

Y/N’s thoughts were running wild in her mind, attempting to connect the pieces of the story that she herself didn’t know. The longer she looked around the room the calmer came over her body where normally she’d expect rage and sorrow. Another woman adorned his walls, but Harry was only really focusing on her.

“Y/N tell me what you’re thinking of. I wish you would have told me about these dreams sooner, but there isn’t much we can do now except wait for–” Harry’s sentence was cut off by a knock on the door.

“Sir, someone is here to see you–” Ida began her introduction, but the woman behind her seemed to feel right at home.

“Oh goodness!” The woman exclaimed, stopping to take a look around the room. She didn’t look to be that old, but her spirit was far older than Harry and Y/N both. “I had a feeling you’d honor my sister, but with such commitment? I see the fates wanted some entertainment. Bless your no longer beating heart.” She smiled, placing a hand over her heart before approaching the two. “My dear, how are you finding your new body? It’s good to see you again. I’ve been awaiting your call.”

“What?” Y/N blinked at the woman, cocking her head as she tried to figure out why she looked so familiar. How did she know her? Where did she know her from?

Oh god.

This was not the way he wanted it to go- nor did he fully understand what exactly was happening. His brows furrowed, tucking Y/N into his body in slight protection as he stood up straighter, keeping a hand on her. As if she would slip away.

“Harry? What is she talking about?” Her voice peeped behind him, her hand tangled in his shirt. A resounding ache echoed in his chest as he stared at the witch.

Astrid.

Celeste’s sister. One for who Harry harbored a lot of resentment for not warning them. For not protecting his beloved back then. She had been somewhat nonchalant. Telling Harry that Celeste would meet him in another life. Her lack of care had ruined their goodwill, making Harry feel as though she didn’t fucking care that the love of his life - well, past? It confused them- was gone.

“I don’t know, darling.” His grip on her was firm, making Astrid scoff.

“Calm down, Fangs. I’m not going to hurt my sister… though- I have a feeling based on the incredibly confused faces, you haven’t actually figured it all out yet?” She laughed, shaking her head as she tried to peek around Harry. “Should probably listen to messages all the way through- just got excited to see her again. Tell me.” She paused, growling slightly when Harry kept her from view. “What’s your name in this life, sister? What did you choose? Y/N or Violeta?”

Y/N felt her heart drop to her stomach, swallowing the lump that had formed in her throat before attempting to speak.

“How did you– Y/N. My name is Y/N.” Y/N looked between Astrid and Harry, waiting for one of them to tell her what on earth was going on. It seemed Harry was hesitant to accept the help of this woman, but she knew her name. “What is going on?” While her heart was beating a million miles a minute, she tried her best to sound strong. She was angry that Harry once again was hiding something from her, he clearly knew this woman and this woman knew him.

“Darling, I feel as though this is something you should take on with your… well since you haven't bonded I’m not sure what he is to you.” Astrid chuckled, “Always cautious you are, Harry. So respectful of my sister, but still haven’t learned to trust now did you?” She smirked seeing the anger flare through Harry’s expression. “No need to get angry at the truth, Harry. You mustn’t lie to the girl any more than you have.”

“Look, if you came here to laugh in our faces, you might as well make your way out.” Y/N felt her jaw clenching. “I’ve been having dreams of this woman since I’ve stepped foot in this home, your sister? You think I’m her?” Y/N asked in a pointed tone, she refused to have any more time wasted.

“I didn’t lie.” He snarled, baring fangs. He didn’t want to make this any more painful or weird than it already was for them! “I wasn’t sure. That is why I called to ask!”

“Blah, blah. Harry, you’re dense. Y/N- I apologize if that’s how it seems. Harry and I have always had our differences since your passing.”

Y/N blinked.

What?

What?!

“I know you are. It’s adding up.” She began softly, lowering her tone. The poor thing didn’t actually know, and Celeste was trying to pop through and this humanity she had been raised with was something that was trying to push it back. “The dreams you’ve been having aren’t dreams. They’re memories.” She sat on the armchair opposite where they were standing. Astrid was overly comfortable and it made Harry irritated, but Y/N could feel a seedling of fondness creep into her tummy.

It felt like she knew her.

“When Celeste died- I saved her soul.” She began, kicking her feet up on the table. “She- aka, you- always had an issue fitting in. It’s why she was targeted. A vampire and a witch… everyone could see it. Harry was struggling at the time, still adjusting to coming into vampiric adulthood. You both were so in love, you couldn’t see that people were noticing things. The way she never got sick, the things she could conjure up… it was incredible for the time period.” Astrid rolled her eyes slightly.

“And Harry? He abused conjuring. He got whatever he wanted whenever you batted those long eyelashes. Whipped to the tenth degree.”

Harry winced because as crude as she sounded… she wasn’t wrong.

“Two fools in love. I found out too late about the plans. I couldn’t save your physical form- but I saved your soul. Unfortunately…” she had the grace to look a bit bashful.

“Someone stole it. Vanessa- she had always been jealous of you and Harry. She had broke through an enchantment and stole the bottle I had your soul in. I got it back only a bit ago. That’s why it took so long. And Harry, here.” She gave him a glare. “Ignored my letters for a good few centuries. Rude.”

It was all a bit much to take in.

Y/N wasn’t sure what she was expecting, after all, it did involve vampires and witches. This certainly wasn’t on her list.

“So, you have my soul?” Y/N asked as if it was normal. As if she had any idea of how she ended up here. This whole time she thought she was her own person but this was a part of her. It didn’t make any sense, there was still a piece missing to the puzzle.

“Well, when I got it back, I drove up north because it seems all the bloodsuckers moved— and I released it.” Astrid continued, “About… say how old are you?”

“Almost 23.” Y/N swallowed, noticing how Astrid seemed pleased at her answer.

“23 years ago sounds about right.” Astrid hummed, “You know Harry, you should be thankful I brought her so close to you— who knows what would have happened had I not come up here.” It was clear that she was teasing, just getting the vampire riled up for her own entertainment.

“Any who… If Harry had opened my letters, he would have heard all about it. I’m glad you two found each other, I know how deeply you care for him… always knew you’d try to outsmart the fates— but you better not mess about this time!”

“Astrid.” He growled, feeling the rage inside of him brewing. “This is not funny.”

“I mean.” She waved her hand. “It’s a little funny. You’ve got each other now, don’t you? She isn’t gonna stick out so much. I figured you’d have that stick out of your arse since you’ve gotten her back butttttt…”

“You could have rang! Found me! Told me so I didn’t live in misery all these years. Of course, I’m ecstatic she is back, but you played me. Made me think there wasn’t a chance.”

Y/N could see him bristling, stiff as a board, with hair standing up on the back of his neck. Truly, he looked a bit monster like as she looked at his bared fangs and the veins that blackened beneath his eyes.

Her favorite show hadn’t been too far off.

“Harry.” She whispered, placing her hand on his chest. “Please. You’ve got to relax. I’m upset too. I’m confused. But getting combative isn’t going to give us answers.” She wasn’t afraid of him. Despite what most humans would feel, Y/N wasn’t worried about him hurting her. He would never. His hands were meant to nurture her. Soothe her. Pleasure. Not hurt.

Harry felt the warmth of her hand on his chest, the stiffness of his body relaxed a little. The veins and fangs remained, but his gaze softened as it laid on her.

“I’m sorry.” He gently pulled her to lean into his side, hand cupping the back of her head and letting her be pulled into his embrace. “I know you don’t like to see me like that.”

Harry was confused, because despite Celeste’s soul being inside of her… he fell in love with Y/N.

Her laugh, her giggle, her cinnamon sugar toast. Her painting, her cadence, and the way she preferred rubies to diamonds. The way her hair fell into her face even when she placed it up into that sleepy, messy bun. Her stories from school and how she always wanted to save any animal she saw outside.

It wasn’t just Celeste’s soul, but the personality she had gained here.

“She said she’d find you did she not?” Astrid asked with a chuckle, “and she’s here! You should be thanking me! It’s your own fault you haven’t bonded with her yet.” She rolled her eyes, though the sight of her sister in her new form warmed her heart.

She was different now— it seemed that the time in limbo had done her some good. Y/N seemed more free, almost innocent, it felt like she had found herself again. That sweet little girl that found joy in the peculiar, had found her way back home.

“Look, it’s quite simple— you love each other no? Harry, if you weren’t such a coward you would have already figured all of this out but it seems I must spell it out for you.” The woman grumbled as she stood up to leave.

“Celeste is alive and well, she’s found a home in Y/N’s soul the day she was born. Of course, they aren’t the same person, but when Celeste died her essence got a fresh start in her.” She started, looking between the two. “The second you bond with her, her memories will come back— but it won’t be Celeste. Unfortunately, well I guess fortunately for you, unless I recovered her body I wouldn’t be able to resurrect her fully. But she lives on within Y/N.”

Y/N was at a loss for words.

It was a bit disheartening, to think that her whole existence was just merely a part of some witch's plan for immortality. But if Astrid was telling the truth and that she was just a part of her, then it couldn’t be so bad right?

Surely it would hurt to see Harry get excited about seeing parts of Celeste in her, but if she was her then surely not? it all seemed a bit confusing. She wasn’t sure how it would work, but she was scared, to say the least.

“I….” He swallowed.

It was complicated. A weird mix of relief for finally having her back with him, but sadness because he knew how this was going to look to Y/N. The situation was quite literally one that had never happened in history books before.

“I fell in love with her. As much as Celeste will always be a part of me… I’m a little bit confused.” He turned slightly to Astrid. “She’s going to be… she will be aware of those memories?” He tried to soothe Y/N, his smooth hands running down her back but he could feel the unease oozing off of her.

“Oh, yes. But it doesn’t have to be complicated. Y/N, you’ve always been a bit confused about the missing pieces, haven’t you? Why you always feel as though Harry is so familiar to you? He’s literally made for you. Your body is a different vessel, but you’re still having the same feelings. It’s always been right.” Astrid paused, thinking of a good example.

“It’s why when you first moved in and Harry was probably his cold self and kept you at an arms length, it probably hurt, didn’t it? You felt a bit weird internally but shut it down because you’ve always been a bit too rational. Knowing you didn’t have a ‘right’ to feel upset but you did. It’s your old memories, old feelings. Harry wasn’t one to ever skimp on attention so it probably felt odd.”’

Y/N wasn’t going to bother asking how or why she knew that. It seemed that Y/N was just better off keeping to her ignorant bliss. Astrid had proved to both of them she knew far more about this than they did and she wasn’t going to fight— especially when they knew nothing about this soul bonding process on their own.

“I-I… if you’re saying I’m Celeste then are you saying I’m a witch as well?” Y/N asked curiously, though, she was uncertain about how she would feel about her answer. It was entirely possible. Were there rules she had to follow? Was there anything she had to do once she came into those powers?

Y/N was overwhelmed, to say the least, allowing herself to fully lean on Harry for support. She felt like this new information called for a long nap and a delicious meal immediately after she woke up. Nuzzling her face against Harry’s side she closed her eyes, waiting for Astrid’s answer. She didn’t care if she was being rude. Poor girl was feeling a bit lightheaded.

His cold body was a relief to the flush of heat that was through her at all of the intense information she had just received. She could have moaned as he placed his hand on the hot skin at the back of her neck, clutching onto him in a way that made the vampire a bit stressed.

“Yes. You absolutely are. Come on, girl. Do you really think that people can get things as easily as you? The manifesting thing on steroids? The things you chant to make yourself feel better…” Astrid laughed at the pure ignorance. The poor thing had been blissfully ignorant of everything up until now. “The powers are mostly dormant, I’m assuming. Considering you haven’t burnt the place down with rage, my sister, you have been held back. My assumption is that when Dracula bites you, the powers will start to come back as the bond strengthens.” She could feel Harry blinking at her, making her toss her hands up in a ‘whatever’ gesture. “I’ve done my reading. Deducing. Much better than that Sherlock did.”

He hadn’t known this would be the outcome and he had mixed feelings about it all. His old love was his new love, vice versa. He felt like his feelings were a betrayal to both of them.

The good thing was, though, his beautiful Y/N wouldn’t age the way a human would. She could truly be with him. It would be a matter of the soul mate bond snapping back into place instead of this constant edging between their souls and hearts.

“Fates.” Harry closed his eyes, massaging the back of Y/N’s neck soothingly.  “Alright. Astrid- get out of my house. She’s feeling faint. Stay around the area, I’ll need you to return or at the very least, send one of your own to help her soon. She needs to be aware before I bond her fully.” He wanted Y/N to choose. Not just the older part of her soul.

“Alright, alright… but don’t wait too long, you don’t want to her find dead one morning.” Astrid sighed, half joking but there was some truth to it. Now that she was aware of the fates plan, there was only so much time left for them to decide.  “You’ll know where to find me.” With a wave of her hand, Astrid was out the door.

Y/N was far too in her own mind to have heard her last comment, but Harry heard it crystal clear. While he may be a vampire, he was no stranger to the way the fates worked.

The fates were fair and just— it was their job to maintain balance here on earth, both for humans and the supernatural. At times their job led to making harsh decisions, if anyone broke the laws of the universe then they would see their fate flash before them.

Harry had never met someone as pure and kind as Y/N surely she was on the fates good side. He simply couldn’t see Celeste in her the way it seemed Astrid could. Though he loved Celeste dearly, he knew that their relationship was bound to end in a bloody disaster— he’d expected himself to be the one to break but the fates clearly had other plans.

Y/N let out a shaky breath against his shirt, clinging to him to find some stability. She needed to ground herself.

She needed to lay down.

[darkmajesty-xo]

18+ MDNI| tw! ProHero TodoDeku, Assistant! Reader, Age Gap Suggestive

a/n : this is an unedited poorly written thot that i had for christmastime, neglected it then thought to release it for icythots birthday. i'm sorry my love you deserve better but maybe someone will like it !

midoriya is awful at hiding things.

snacks, secrets, feelings and especially presents. so, naturally birthdays are very stressful for him.

he tries his best each year but no matter how creative he thinks he is, his boyfriend always stumbles upon his hiding spots. it can get really frustrsting at times, and even though shoto says that it's okay and still pretends to be surprised with whatever allmight related collectable he gets him-- deku still wants to get this right!

so this year he had the bright idea of leaving the wrapped gift in his office drawer until the big day. midoriya is often up and out of the house by 5am for his morning jog and workout, with his bestfriend kacchan, while shoto sleeps in. however, since it's a "holiday" deku would forgo the gym sesh and drive over to their joined agency like a sneaky little elf.

it's honestly the perfect plan and he doesn't know why he didn't think of it sooner.

izuku was proudly mumbling to himself as he stepped off the elevator and into the office space when he noticed you sitting at your desk in the lobby. you'd been his and shoto's assistant for about a year now; a quirkless college grad with great references and eager to please. both men would describe you as a literal godsend-- single handedly organizing and restructuring the business aspects of their very chaotic agency.

don't judge the man, it's tough being the "on again off again" number one and japan's new "symbol of hope".

between keeping civilians safe and battling it out on the charts with kacchan every other week, he doesn't have time for paperwork and protocol. shoto, who sits comfortably at number 3, simply ignores paperwork and waits for somebody else to do it.

all of that to say that you were a super hardworking and valued employee but it still doesn't explain why you'd be at the office this early on the weekend.

"goodmorning, y/n".

you must not've heard the ding of the elevator because the sound of his voice startled you into spilling the contents of your mug all all over your keyboard.

"shit. shit. shit." you scrambled to blot the mess with your cardigan sleeves, shaking your head and worrying at your lips. deku was slightly amused. not because you'd spilled something but because he'd never heard you use profanities before. you were normally very reserved and meek. your submissiveness was something that he'd spoken about to you in the past because he felt like some of the sidekicks were taking advantage of your kindness. if deku had to list one toxic trait about you, it'd probably be that you were an extreme people pleaser. even moreso than him, and that's saying something.

"are you okay? i hope you didn't burn yourself".

you sighed, defeated, allowing yourself to glance at the annoying intruder only to be met with sparkling gemstone eyes and a soft smile. time has been well on midoriya. even with the slight crinkles by his eye and streaks of gray peppering his emerald green mop, he still looked as youthful as ever. the same deku that stole the hearts of many all those years ago- just a few more scars on his warlorn body and a softer layer to his midsection. but he looked great! if anything that extra thickness on his tummy only emphasized his mouthwatering biceps and juicy juicy thighs. he could probably crack your head open with those things.

"hey, sweetheart. are you okay?" he was closer now, the minty aroma of his cologne flowing into your space. your cheeks burned. here you were lusting over one of your very taken bosses, yet again.

"mr.deku! im fine, im fine. you just startled me is all" you breathed, brushing a stray loc away from your face. deku hummed, seemingly evaluating your strange reaction but choosing not to comment.

"why aren't you at home with your family? i could've sworn we gave all the administrative staff the day off".

"well i don't really have a family or anybody waiting for me, so i figured that i could get some work done. crime doesn't stop on the weekends" you shrugged. that didn't sit well with deku. he couldn't imagine you spending the day holed up in his agency.

"why don't you come home with me"?

it was hard not to laugh at the way your eyes widened. your mouth opening and closing in shock. it was so easy to fluster you. deku didn't know if it was due to your age or if you were just that innocent. he liked that. its perverted, he knows, but the thought of you on your knees staring up at him all doe eyed lived rent free in his mind.

"ouch, i didnt know that i was such bad company" he teased, just to get a rise out of you. and of course you took the bait. rushing to apologize. clarifying that you didn't want to be a bother. insisting that he haad much better things to do than babysit you. but deku wouldn't be deku if he took "no" for an answer, and that's how you wound up in your employer's kitchen watching him struggle to decide what he'd be preparing for his lover's birthday brunch. it was something that his friends did every year for eachother and he offered to host this time but there was one small problem…

deku can't cook.

sure he has the funds to hire a catering service but that seemed so impersonal. he wanted something that came from the heart! but after a couple tik tok videos and several pancakes on the floor- he started to rethink that decision. he then heard the little giggles coming from your direction. he turned towards you with a raised brow and you quickly put both hands on your mouth in response.

"what's so funny, little girl ?" he pointed his batter covered spatula towards you, only to get some on his freckled cheek. you laughed even harder this time, grabbing for your phone to take a picture. he liked seeing you like this, all free and relaxed.

"y'know i didn't see "bully" listed on your resume" he joked, pouting while dramatically turning his back to you. "don't expect a good reference letter from me when you go seek out greener pastures".

"oh please" you snorted, rising from your stool to join him at the stove. "where would i find something greener than your hair, mr. deku?" you teased, bumping him aside with your hip to grab the bowl of batter, "besides i'd never leave the two of you". it grew silent; the only sound being the sizzle of the batter hitting the pan. for a moment you thought you'd overstepped and began raking through your mind for save but the hero mimicked your earlier action-- softly bumping your hip to catch your attention. with flushed cheeks he smiled down at you making heat bloom witin your own cheeks.

"the feelings mutual, sweetheart".

after about two hours of cooking, with deku insisting on "mandatory snack breaks", the two of you had accomplished decenrt brunch spread with a fusion of japanese and american cuisine.

the two of were giggling over a pot of kenchinjiru when shoto sleepily shuffled into the kitchen. it was a welcomed sight to wake up to you and izuku being so cozy. he leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, just admiring how well you fit with his partner, how comfortable you both seemed. he could've watched you all morning, had izuku not looked over his shoulder.

"oh! hey, sho. look at what i found" izuku chirped, happily petting you on top of the head. "izuku--" you whined shyly, glancing at the heterochromatic hero.

even fresh out of bed, shoto looked absolutely stunning. his silky strands were parted down the middle, falling loosely against his tailbone. his beautifull sculpted face held no imperfections, save for his iconic scar. however, his body told a different story. standing bare, in only his boxers, you could see battle scars littered against his pale flesh-- weaving against one another like the intricate lines of a tattoo. he'd always maintained a slimmer physique than deku, showcasing a smaller waist and chiseled abs lightly dusted with a bicolored happy trail that led to his scantily clad lower regions. the sight of shoto todoroki in nothing but his skin tight boxer briefs was mouth-watered. you eyes wandered a bit longer and lower than thet should've and the icy hot hero definitely took notice.

eyes locked on your own, sauntered towards the two of you and pulled izuku into a steamy kiss. the greenette was shocked, especially when his partner's hands dropped to grip his ass. he leaned into the other man's touch, moaning softly with each swipe of his tongue. you were as still as a statue, drinking in this erotic display of passion. yes, you'd seen them kiss around the agenc before but it was never more than a light peck. this was soft porn.

"goodmorning, baby" shoto whispered against izuku's lips. kissing him softly once more before pulling away and turning towards you. you didnt know what to expect but it surely wasn't him pulling you flush against his body, big hands resting on your hips while nuzzling his cheek against your own.

"what a nice surprise".

his voice was still husky with sleep and it tickled your skin. he pulled back slightly to get a better look at you. big bright eyes, rich skin and soft curves. the last thing he epected to wake up to was you in his arms, but its not like he's complaining. it's no secret that shoto fancies you. the only person unaware of his crush was you.

for the sake of decorum and professionality, in addition to his long-term relationship, he'd refrained asking you out directly. you were the best assistant they'd had and both men could tell that you were shy, so he would've hated to scare you off. he kept his efforts subtle. one time you mentioned how sweet you thought it was that him and izuku left eachother cute encouraging messages on their desks throughout the day, so he started leaving you cute little notes as well.

"you're doing great".

"i'm so happy you're here".

"you're the perfect little helper".

"you smell nice"

you didn't get the last one, it was intercepted by izuku who felt like it was borderline creepy. he didn't have any problems with shoto's crush/obsession with you; he actually encouraged ti, especially in the bedroom. but there was a time and a place for everything.

the two of you had been staring at eachother for a while when deku's voice brough you back to reality.

"do you mind excusing us for a second, love ? i'm sure you dont want to see this old man in his undies" Izuku giggled, while nudging his partner.

"she doesn't seem to min-

"shoto! bedroom, now."

the two men left you to your simmering soup, and thoughts while they trekked to their upstairs bedroom.

"you've really outdone yourself , izu" shoto began, "i was expecing another allmight figurine, not a threesome".

"shoto, baby, you gotta relax sometimes" izuku sighed. he searched through the drawers looking for a pair of shoto's sweat then threw them at the other man's head. "i saw her at the office this morning and invited her over because aparrently she's all alone. she just thinks she's here for your birthday brunch and has no idea about your little obession with her".

"MY 'little obession' ? wasn't it just last night that you begged me to fuck you like i'd fuck her ?"

Izuku ran his figners through his hair trying to ignore the emerging stiffness between his thighs from the memory.

"i- i will admit that i am attracted to her and after spending time with her this morning i can admit that i do like her BUT i am not the one that purposely gets hurt on patrol so that she'll fuss over me, and i'm definitely not the one that calls her for literally everything just so i can jerk off to her voice over the phone, am i ?"

"i will neither confirm nor deny those statements".

"exactly" izuku rolled his eyes, "m'gonna go check on her, k?"

"don't eat without me" shoto smirked.

"perv" izuku muttered, but winked back at his handsome boyfriend. he opened the door and there you stood wide-eyed with your hand over your mouth.

his eye twitched. they'd just been busted discussing you in a very lewd manner. he was just about to apologize but you did it first

"i'm so so sorry, mr deku. i didnt mean to listen, i just wanted to tell mr shoto 'happy birthday' but then i heard you talking and i didnt know what to do because i have been in love with the two of you since i started working and i never imagined--

izuku interrupted your ramblings with a soft kiss and gestured to shoto who was already sitting on the bed, cock in hand.

"how about we make it a very happy birthday, love ?"

[tangledbea]

Varian and the Seven Kingdoms Consolidation of Info

Requested by anon

This is going to be a consolidation of all the official Vat7K stuff I have on my blog, including copy/pasting of posts Kay Ritter and Anna Lencioni have posted, and to a lesser extent, things I’ve posted with insider knowledge I had before Kay ever released their notes. Alexa Bosy was also involved in the project.*

*Please note that all these asks were sent when Kay was still going by Kait and was still using she/her pronouns. I have edited to reflect their preferred name and pronouns when referencing them, but did not edit the content of the original asks.

The Cast

Via Kay: Here is some higher-res art of that initial, old line-up. These are some of the character page descriptions we gave when we presented “Varian and the Seven Kingdoms!” I had to shut of my asks because I’m just getting slammed every day, so I’m sorry if I don’t get back to any of you!! I appreciate all the enthusiasm, though! ; - ; Please enjoy and keep creating!!! (Also enjoy some Anna sketches- she designed Varian’s cousins and they’re dang cute!)

The Design

Via Kay: Some character design/ costume concept art for a fan project me and Anna dreamed up. It was a little spinoff comic about Varian continuing his adventures in alchemy through the seven kingdoms in order to learn the seven alchemical laws and attain forbidden knowledges. New characters we wanted to play with were Varian’s mom, who design-wise was a in flux, since we only had one reference image to go off of…but we really wanted to match her aesthetic to Varian/ that of a field researcher. We always imagined her as being a lot like Varian! Tried to develop some motifs between the other characters (L-R: Hugo, Donella, and Donella’s muscle-man) to make them look like the evil pack they were. Hugo was a sneaky artificer who conned the wealthy and worked for Donella: Varian’s mother’s former research partner. We also had Yong and Princess Nuru- who were some new friends that Varian would meet on his journey! And of course, Prometheus, a farm donkey Quirin gifted to Varian before he left Corona. (Not quite a Maximus…but, hey!) 

Sample Pages

Rough layout by Anna Line cleanup by Alexa Ink/color by Kay

Beat Boards

Via Kay: Here are some old beat boards Anna and I did when we were making this fan-baby!

The first few explored Varian meeting Yong and making his first friend, completing the first trial of the seven kingdoms. In the nighttime one- Anna had a cool idea that Princess Nuru’s dress was an active star chart and that she could act as the group navigator, using it to guide them. The last few were just some group interactions and Varian coming face to face with his mother.The super short story is: we imagined each of the seven kingdoms would teach one of the seven alchemical stages of transformation and reveal a totem. With all seven totems acquired, Varian would be able to use them to reunite with his long-lost mother (we’d called her Ulla) who was trapped somewhere unreachable by her former partner, Donella, long ago. Donella was after the totems as well to prevent Ulla’s release and sent Hugo to collect them as a double-agent within the group. Hugo would later betray Donella in service of helping Varian reach Ulla. We viewed Hugo and Varian’s relationship evolving from a sort of Pinocchio/ Lampwick situation (literally what that drawing is from) to that of an equal one. In a way, their bond repaired the partnership that frayed between Ulla and Donella.

Notes

Anon Ask: Kait! Appreciate the infodump (I'm the currently-Tumblr-less user w the bombardment of Q's earlier) & I'm stoked that you've given us your blessing to use the concept!:P Got more random Q’s, if you’re up for it! Was the comic outfit Varian’s final, or the other designs would’ve been used too (same w Ulla’s 2 designs)? 7 trials ideas, & 7 kingdoms’ names? How much time after TTS would this be? & finally, was Varian planning on actually RIDING that donkey, or would he pull a caravan(?)thing?xD -GC

Kay’s Answer: The outfits were still in flux- the comic was a representation of our first draft and the other designs came later (including Hugo’s upgrade, Donella, etc.) The red dress Ulla was a flashback type of look whereas the teal one is more like…how Varian would have found her. You know I actually found some screenshots of the ol’ docs we wrote using the 7 alchemical stages to mirror the seven kingdoms. We tried to find an alchemical story component, a magical story component, and a figurative/character story component for each! We never actually named the kingdoms and we also crafted a lot of them before they existed canonically in the show (I think there’s an episode of RTA where Raps competes against princesses from the seven kingdoms and they’re mentioned there)…so just know it’s not accurate to that at all, haha.

But here! These are very note-to-self format…so…apologies lol...

Via Anna: I don’t wanna clutter my main tumblr page but here was the rough outline Kait and I wrote for our fan comic “Varian and the Seven Kingdoms!” Just a reminder that this is totally unofficial, just fan stuff. Would have been fun, wish we could have done it even just recreationally!! Hope you all can use this however you want and continue to enjoy it 🖤

Questions and Answers

Anon Ask: Hello Kait! I would like to know more about Hugo’s past. Your friend mentioned that Hugo is an orphan. Where did Hugo grow up? So, where will he go after betraying Donella?  Does he have a permanent place of residence? 

Kay’s Answer: I’m trying to recall what Anna said, but he definitely grew up an orphan. From what I can remember, the kingdom he grew up in had a very highly divided class system and Hugo was determined to find a way not to live on scraps. And not just that, but to like…get back at, take advantage of as many rich idiots as possible. He’s Robin Hood robbing the rich to feed himself. Someone here called him a champagne-taste kind of guy and that’s exactly right.

He’s manipulative, so he’s probably well ahead of developing technologies and other things for the rich people who invest in him. He’d probably just withhold the best stuff for himself and do what he needed to stay in his patrons’ good graces. And he’d steal whatever they didn’t give him and never get caught.  (I think Anna designed like a motorized bike or something for him once…he’s literally the cool guy with a car. He’d totally keep something like that all for himself.)

Donella and her gang offered protection more than anything…so he offers most of his work to her first. Including his sneakier services. That’s how he ends up being the one to go after Varian. It’s probably also how (in our wildest dreams) we imagined him possibly having pulled a job (and likely conned) Eugene back in his Rider days. Pulled a Rider on a Rider as a sneaky kid.

All of this is also why he’d switch alliances on Donella when it felt right to do so. Hugo has a wild compass but he follows it in service of himself pretty much always. Becoming close to Varian kinda changes that streak in him. He’d probably hang out with Varian whenever everything blew over, maybe settle back down in Corona. Meet this princess everyone keeps talking about. Wait…Rider lives in a CASTLE NOW?!

~*~*~

Anon Ask: Kait! Varian and the seven kingdoms is giving me so much life during quarantine bless your heart for all this :’) I have a question, what kind of life did our sweet boy Yong live? Was he an orphan too? Or did Varian promise his parents/guardian he’d take care of him? After they finish their adventure does Varian take Yong under his wing so he stops blowing stuff up and causing fires? 

Kay’s Answer: I love Yong, I think everyone loves Yong, I think Yong’s parents and family (which I always imagined as being very big) all love Yong. But I think they are all very tired and very grateful that he has made a friend who is willing to take him on as a mentee. I imagine he’s gone through a few. (Very Young Hercules lol.)

~*~*~

Anon Ask: This is a question on the 7 kingdoms au thing. When Ulla was researching in the Dark Kingdom, was this before or after it was abandoned? It was likely before it was abandoned but I'm just not sure. Also, this is probably more of a question for Kritterart, but since she made that post about getting too many asks I decided to ask that question to you. 😅 

My Answer: Yeah, I have absolutely no idea how to answer that. Seeing as how the Dark Kingdom was on the seven kingdoms list in the comic, I have to guess that they hadn’t yet developed in the series that the kingdom had been abandoned, but that’s just my guess. 

Kay’s Reply: (We were thinking it was before…and also where she met Quirin, fell in love with him! Just before they moved to Corona- the place where the final trial/totem were. She paused her research to have a family, that bummed Donella out, Quirin let her go after Varian was born, and she never came back.)

~*~*~

Anon Ask:  If VAT7K ever became canon, would Varian and Hugo been an actual couple? Making Varian bi? 

My Answer: Yes.

Well.

Okay, I don’t know for a fact that they’d have been a couple or endgame, however, I was talking to Kait about it a long time ago and she told me that Vat7K would confirm that Varian is bi (and she was referring to Hugo).

An Important note from Kay

I’m getting way more 7K questions than I have time or any real authority to answer considering there is no ACTUAL CONTENT to reference lol, but I just wanna let you guys know how much I appreciate them all! I’m sorry if I don’t answer your question. I also just don’t want my art tumblr to turn into a huge Q&A, haha.We’ve been loving all the fanart and support and curiosity. It’s amazing! That said- 7K and its dealings, characters are NOT CANON. So if it’s not for you, that’s so totally okay. You’re super valid. We made it for you guys, but it’s yours to take what you like from it and change what you don’t when you use it (or don’t) to tell your own story! We just wanted to help Varian’s story continue, like many of you! So whatever you love or don’t love, don’t be afraid to create based on it!!! We love it all. You guys are the best! Please have fun!!!!

[fairykazu]

hey shawty

congrats on the followers!

may i get some liliacs with kazuha please?

🫱💷

thank you

𓍢ִ໋fresh lilacs with kazuha kaedehara prompt: new flowers every week event masterlist 𝜗𝜚 genshin masterlist

every other week, there was a knock on your door followed by a bouquet of flowers laying on your porch. it was clear that you had a secret admirer that set their eyes on you, but you weren't sure who it would be.

knocks could be heard from your front door, you peeked through the door hole, seeing it was a familiar ivory ahoge sticking up. oh! kazuha, he's early today. he pointed at the lilacs in a glass vase,"another bouquet? from who?" he asked, leaning on the kitchen's island.

you shrugged, "i'm not sure, actually. do you think their intent is good? this could be like a stalker case."

kazuha choked, losing his balance a little bit. concerned, you helped him regain it, "you okay?"

"yeah! i'm pretty sure this person wouldn't have bad intentions, name. besides, only like a few people know where you live anyway."

"that's true, that narrows down my suspicions of people too!" you quipped back, excited. well, to be frank, you knew it was someone close to you but you weren't sure who it was. "did you had a guess?"

"probably like heizou?"

annoyed, kazuha scrunched his nose, covering it up badly with a fake sneeze. "heizou? why?"

"bless you," you laughed while you fiddled with the petals of the lilacs, "i was just hoping the secret admirer would be cute... wait thats besides the point. kazuha, how should i catch this secret admirer? i don't think they're willing to reveal themselves."

"well, you could wait for them like kids do on christmas." kazuha suggested. although, it did sound like a joke, he noticed your eyes lit up as he awkwardly thought you wouldn't take it seriously.

"smart! ill do that. do you want to spy on them with me?"

kazuha politely declined, "uh, i have plans tonight, sorry, name."

"don't even sweat it, kazuha!" you replied, waving it off. "if i do catch them ill text you."

it felt childish to stay up early to see who sent it just like kids who wait on christmas eve, waiting for santa. this time, the secret admirer was a bit faster but wasn't slick this time. you peeked through your windows, ducking out of their view every time they looked up.

maybe you could just call kazuha right now and tell him you saw the secret admirer! they had lilacs again tonight. you rummaged in your room, finding your phone on your nightstand.

dialing kazuha <3 . . .

weirdly enough, you could hear the secret admirer's phone ring outside too. on your knees, you peeked out the window, one hand on the window casing and other hand holding your phone. the figure picked up the phone and-

"hey, name did you see the person?" kazuha asked as you coughed loudly, falling down and hitting your head all at once. there's no way, kazuha would do that? though, he did act weird when you thought the person was heizou. strange.

"are you okay? did you hit your head?" he asked.

"uh, yes, don't worry. what did you ask earlier?" you left your phone on the floor, getting up from the floor. you peeked out once more, kazuha was gone, probably hidden in the alleyways. but a tuff of white hair in the corner told you otherwise.

kazuha repeated his earlier question, "did you see the secret admirer guy?"

you lied, "no i haven't actually." kazuha let out a sigh of relief, not so sneaky now, are you?

"really? that's a shame." you agreed with a hum,

"do you think the secret admirer would ever reveal themselves? or would they play the long game, miraculous ladybug style."

kazuha laughed at your reference, you could hear the smile in his voice, "jeez, i don't know, maybe?"

"really?"

"i mean, do you even like the flowers?"

"well, yeah, they bring a pop of color in my house. i don't hate it. but i just wanted to know who is it, you know? what would you think if someone did that for you?"

"im not sure if im being honest. i'd probably have them as a keepsake." kazuha trailed off, deep in thought. "but if they were from you, i'd try my best to maintain its shelf life."

"kazuha do you like me?" you asked, bluntly. kazuha spluttered out a cry before muting himself. you could see in the corner of your eye, he tripped over a small pebble, landing on his side. he quickly stood up, nervous, clearing his throat.

"yes."

"are you outside of my house?"

"what? no... im not a creep!" he yelped back. hes hiding in a bush. "look up for me," you told him as you opened your window. the gush of wind hits your face,

"kazuha! i like you too!" you shouted as he hopped out of the bushes, lilacs in his hand with his jaw dropping to the ground.

he ran to your gated front yard, "HOLY SHIT! ME TOO." confused, he corrected himself, "wait, i mean, i like you too!"

"you're so stupid, kazuha, you know if you confessed like a normal person, i wouldve accepted right?"

"good to know so can we wait like a couple pf business days and i can redo my confession."

"hmmm, no! want to sleepover?"

"aye, aye captain!"

[ahdraftingco]

Oneshot: Side Job

Pairing: The Mandalorian x Reader

AO3 Crosspost: https://archiveofourown.org/works/43004610

Summary: Your greatest rival, the Mandalorian, has just discovered a secret you've been hiding and it's about time for you to get even. So, you decide to expose him to a truth powder and…he pounces on you?!

Word Count: 9.0k+

A/N: As always, please read through ALL the warnings before proceeding: porn with plot, gender neutral!reader (afab), hard dom!din djarin, sex worker/customer relationship, mildly dubious consent, enemies to lovers, sex pollen, rough sex, bdsm, choking, spanking, whipping (with a riding crop), double penetration, some anal (reference to earlier warning), multiple orgasms, squirting, use of the word "sir", degradation (he calls you a whore, a hole, etc), pet play (he calls you "pet", you're wearing a collar, etc), praise kink, size difference, fear play, aggressive/possessive/risky behavior, alcohol, the helmet and his armor stay on!

This oneshot is for the raffle winner on Tumblr! I hope you end up enjoying this one ~ ♡

You should've guessed this would happen eventually, but you didn't think the Mandalorian had the balls to walk into this sex club and demand you. You were almost certain he wouldn't step foot in an establishment like this and yet here he was, in the flesh.

Or, well, in that bulky metal get-up he always wears...

You grit your teeth out of pure annoyance as you prep the room, knowing you'd be servicing him of all people. How did he find out about your side job? He must have followed you back here from your previous hunt.

You are, after all, quite the bounty hunter during the day. You've caught his eye after you've stolen several of his bounties over the past few months, so you can only guess this encounter is his revenge.

What is he going to make you do to him?

You can't imagine the Mandalorian undoing his pants and whipping out his cock in front of you. He seems a bit too…reserved for that.

Maybe he's a looker. You've had plenty of clients watch you masturbate so they can get off to instructing you on how to touch yourself.

As per policy, you don't engage in penetrative sex unless you choose to and the client has been thorough tested for any infections. You saw the Mandalorian's test results, which you're surprised he had on hand.

Had he been planning this meeting for a while? He would've had to get checked up by the club's clinic while you were off-duty because you've never seen him before tonight.

Sneaky bastard…

With a sigh, you sit down in the made bed as you normally do, with your legs spread wide open. You're wearing the usual uniform for this establishment, which is nothing but a leather collar hooked to a chain that you have wrapped around your dominant hand. You rarely get customers who end up using it, but they almost all like the way it looks on you.

You wait patiently for the Mandalorian to get to the room and he makes you wait quite a long time, which only pisses you off more. So, you hop off the bed and grab a bottle of liquor out of the cabinet, along with a small capsule of sparkly blue powder, tucking it securely in the little slot in your collar to conceal for later. One whiff of this and he'll be in a daze, unable to resist being completely open with you. You'll be able to ask him what his next few bounties are so you can take those too. You might as well get some use out of this encounter.

As you swirl the green liquor in your crystal glass, you watch as the Mandalorian finally makes his appearance. He opens the door to your room and promptly shuts it the moment he sees you.

You lean your back against the wall across from him and go, "you sure took your sweet ass time getting here."

There's a silence that washes over the room after you say that. He simply keeps his helmet on you, then looks you up and down, as if he's never seen a naked person before in his life.

"Are you going to keep staring or are you going to do something?" The irritation is apparent in your voice. "You know I still keep your money even if we don't do anything."

The Mandalorian speaks up after a few more quiet moments. "Are you always this forward with your clients?"

"Were you expecting different treatment?" You set your glass down so that you have the leverage to twirl the metal chain in your hand without worrying about spilled liquid.

"Will you at least put something on?" He turns away, his helmet shifting to the wall, and you…find that odd.

"You're in a sex club, Mando." You say bluntly as you walk over to your dresser, pulling on a robe that covers you up decently. "I don't know what you expected when you stepped in here."

"I wanted to talk." He explains, the words whirring through his modulator. "This is the only place I can discuss things with you in private."

"You paid for a night with me for a conversation?" You nearly snicker at how ludicrous that sounds. "You must be joking."

"I'm not." He leans back against the wall, mirroring you, the metal of his armor colliding lightly against it. The sound rings through the silent room before his voice accompanies it, "I need to know why you won't leave me alone."

You don't hold back your laughter anymore, letting it out rather dramatically before you reply, "you're seriously asking me this?"

"Yes." His tone is so stoic that he might as well be a droid. "You've been bothering me for far too long and I need to understand why."

Another laugh erupts from you, unable to contain it. You even shed a few tears because this has to be the most ridiculous thing you've ever experienced. The Mandalorian booked a night with you at a sex club to ask why you're being a nuisance to him.

That's comedic gold.

"You're funny, Mando." You wipe your eyes, trying to regain your composure. "To think you went through all this effort for me to tell you that you're an easy target."

"Excuse me?" He moves off the wall then, making his way towards you. "Did you just call me an easy target?"

You watch as he gets closer to you and you realize you've never been this close to the Mandalorian before. At least not with him being aware. He's…very big compared to you and that feels a bit intimidating, though you'd never admit it to him. You wouldn't lose your pride like that.

That's why you continue to jab him with your snarky remarks, "I said what I said. Maybe you're getting old, been in the game too long. You should leave these bounties for those less burnt out."

A smile curves on your face out of delight. You love bickering with the Mandalorian, especially when he sees you turn in his quarries. There's something so satisfying about messing with him.

Though, you should've seen the aggression coming the moment you pressed him like that. However, you still gasp when his hand wraps around your throat, squeezing it tightly before he shoves you against the wall, his body trapping you there. You see the blue powder fill the air, the force of his grip breaking the capsule in your collar, and it's obvious he took a breath in from the way the powder disappears towards him.

Your eyes widen as his hold on your neck gets tighter and the Mandalorian's voice goes low, "you've really done it, haven't you?"

"Done what?" You don't know what he's talking about.

"The powder." His chest plate weighs down on your chest as he inches closer, his leg forcing its way between yours.

You're acutely aware now that you're naked beneath your robe when you can feel the cold metal shielding his thigh rub up against you. You swallow at the feeling, not knowing why it riles you up so much to grind against it.

"It's nothing." You confess what you believe to be the truth. "It's only supposed to lessen your inhibitions, like alcohol would."

The Mandalorian scoffs and the sound sends shivers down your spine. Though, there's nothing more unnerving than when he says, "is that why I want to torment you?"

"Why would you want–" You don't get to finish your sentence.

He crushes your neck in his gloved hand before you can, the smell of leather filling your senses as you choke, gasping for air desperately. You start to claw at his arm but to no avail. You may be sneaky, however the Mandalorian is much, much stronger than you and he laughs quietly at your struggle.

All the while, his leg is holding you hostage and with every movement, you feel your clit getting stimulated more and more.

Maybe it was the sip of liquor earlier, but you're extra sensitive. Though, it might be the chill of the beskar he's wearing. He knows it too, the way he's affecting you, because he whispers, "does my pet want to come?"

Before you can question the word pet, the Mandalorian grabs the chain you had let go of to fight him and he lifts it over your head, tugging on it as his hand frees itself from your neck. Now, he's choking you a whole different way and you're squirming, your fingers digging into your collar to stop yourself from suffocating. His other hand moves between your legs and you jolt when you feel his fingers pinch your clit. The leather drags along your folds before he lifts his hand up to show you his soaked fingertips, your slick glistening his gloves.

"You like this, don't you?" You can hear the smirk on his face in his tone. "Who knew you'd enjoy this kind of play."

You would tell him to eat shit but you're fully focused on not passing out from being hung like this. It really shows how powerful he is compared to you and that thought causes your clit to throb. You chew on your lip, not wanting to give him the reaction he wants, but you can't hide from him. Not when you're dripping down your thighs from how turned on you are…so much so that you notice it on his thigh, where you were grinding on earlier.

"Be a good pet tonight." The Mandalorian lowers the chain, letting you suck in air finally. "And I'll make sure you get your fill."

"I'm not your pet." You refute once you can breathe out words again. Though, with the way the scene looks right now with the chain wrapped around his hand, it's like you really are his pet and he's taking you on a walk…

"You'll want to be mine." He says with a tug and you stumble on your feet, falling into his arms.

With ease, the Mandalorian picks you up and carries you over to your bed. He takes a seat at the edge and then seats you right on his thigh like before. You're so shocked at what's happening that you don't notice the way he snatches your wrists, keeping them together as he wraps the chain around them, securing them in place.

"What are you doing!" You glare at him, wondering what's going on in his mind.

You've used this powder before. It helps clients loosen up a bit, but you've never seen it have this kind of effect on anyone. Though, maybe that's because your clients aren't usually the dominating type, since those clients tend to know what they want so there's no need for the powder.

Have you accidentally fueled a sadist? It feels like it when the Mandalorian pulls you so that you're sitting properly on his thigh, his hands holding you firmly at the waist.

Then, he instructs, "ride my thigh to your orgasm, my pet. I want to watch you make a mess of yourself."

"You're insane." You try to wriggle out of his grasp but your defiance is met with a smack on your ass, a small yelp leaving your lips at the sudden shock.

"Do as I say, or I'll have to punish you."

You don't speak or move. You don't really know what to do. He's overpowering you and you can't give into it.

But, you're too hesitant, so you're met with yet another smack.

You can almost feel the bruises forming from how hard he's slapping you and it aches, but every time you try to adjust so you don't sit on your ass, you're rubbing yourself against his thigh, which is exactly what he wants.

The Mandalorian is toying with you and there's nothing you can do about it. Fuck.

"I'll give you one more chance to be a good pet. All you have to do is come on my thigh, like you would've earlier. Don't fight me anymore." His words are intoxicating and you wonder if the powder is affecting you. You're immune to it, since you got the vaccine before you started work here, and yet it seems to be lowering your own inhibitions.

A part of you wants to give in, to submit, but you push through that desire.

"No." You refuse to comply. "I won't do anything of the sort."

"Last chance before I punish you." He warns, his tone shifting to something more dark and frightening.

"Then punish me." You call his bluff, doubting that he'd do anything actually torturous.

Though, the moment he drags you off his lap and chains you to your bed frame, you know you're in trouble. The Mandalorian undoes your robe and now you're visibly naked in front of him. You can't tell where he's looking because of the helmet and for some reason, that makes you even more flustered.

Especially when he flicks your clit out of nowhere.

"What the fuck!" You shout at him, trying to kick him for doing that but he ends up holding your legs down so you can't anymore.

"Don't make me tie up your legs too." He threatens and you want to spit on him.

"You're an asshole." You decide to use your words and that only worsens things for you as his hand moves between your legs, slipping downwards until it's pressing up against what you just called him. A panic shoots through you at the feeling so you tell him, "please stop!"

His finger doesn't push forward, but the threat is there as he replies, "ask properly and I'll move my hand."

You chew on your cheek, pissed off that you need to listen, but you cave and go, "please don't touch me there."

"I won't, if you agree to be a good pet for me." His touch is light against you and your heart is pounding at how much it tingles.

You aren't prepared for this kind of play so you have to give into his request, "I'll be a good pet for you."

"Address me correctly. Call me sir." He demands, his whole hand cupping you between your legs now, his palm gently kneading your clit.

Did he always have such large hands? You've never noticed until now and it's making you think of things you really shouldn't be right now…

"I'll be a good pet for you, sir." You obey after a moment of contemplation and he does as promised, sliding his fingers away from your ass.

You sigh with relief, the whole scene firing up every nerve in your body. There's an electrifying kind of thrill to his domination that you're electing not to think about and yet you can feel yourself leaning into the way his palm is lazily rubbing up against you. You're surprisingly close to an orgasm, but you won't let him know that.

Though, it seems like he wants to know because the Mandalorian asks, "do you like it when I touch you like this?"

You curse yourself for getting into this situation because you can't answer anything else besides "yes, sir."

"Where else does it ache?" His other hand joins, his fingers teasing your entrance, making your toes curl in response. "Tell me what you want."

"I don't want anything." You lie through your teeth and that's met with two thick fingers forcefully shoving into you. Your whole body writhes at the sudden fullness stretching you out like crazy.

It's been a while since you've done anything penetrative so…fuck, it feels good to be filled like this. Especially when his fingers dig around for that spot that aches to be touched.

When the Mandalorian discovers it, he doesn't hold back and you can't keep your voice in. You cry out as he brutally fingers you, thrusting right against that spot over and over again. Your wrists are digging into the chains because you keep trying to move, needing to free yourself from this torture but you can't escape.

You're going to explode and the Mandalorian is waiting for it. He's waiting for the tension to rise in your body until you're desperate for that sweet release. It's getting closer and closer. Your orgasm is building rapidly, to the point where you're seeing stars in your eyes from the intensity of his movements.

"Please…" You don't know why that word slips from your lips.

"Please what?" He doesn't stop his rough actions, bringing you closer to the edge.

You can't find the words to say as your eyes roll back and your body wants nothing more than to completely unravel. You're shaking, every fiber of your being aching for that searing pleasure. You're about to come–

But, the Mandalorian freezes, denying you of that orgasm you were seeking. You whine, grinding against his fingers, hoping that's enough to get you over the edge but it's not.

"No…" You whimper, like you're on the verge of tears. "Why would you…"

"You said please." There's an amusement in his voice. "I thought you meant please stop, like earlier."

You're so frustrated now, understanding now that this is the punishment. It's double layered too. First, he'll deny you of your orgasm. Then, he'll make you beg for it. Humiliating on both ends…but you strangely like it. You like being forced to submit. You don't make it easy on him and he challenges you back. It's an exchange that you're enjoying more than you should.

"That's not what I meant." You tell him.

"Then, does that mean you finally want to come?" His fingers slip out of you and you suddenly feel so empty…which is why you don't fight him anymore.

"Yes, sir."

The Mandalorian undoes your chains, freeing your wrists, and then in a swift motion, he leans his back up against the bed frame and pulls you onto his thigh once more. The cold beskar shocks your system a little, but the feeling soothes the ache from your denied orgasm.

"Now, will you listen to me?" He taps his thigh plate, the vibrations tickling your sensitive skin. "I want to see you grind on me until you come."

"Why?" You ask because you're curious what he gets out of it.

"I've always wanted to see you break down." His hands glide up every inch of your body before resting at your neck. "I've always wanted to be the one who breaks you until you're begging for mercy."

The Mandalorian gives you a threatening squeeze with both hands wrapped around your throat and you swear, your body quivered from the thrill.

"Break me." You whisper as you finally start grinding yourself on his thigh. "Do your worst to me, Mando."

With every roll of your hips, your thigh brushes against his pants, letting you feel how hard his cock has gotten from the sight of you giving him power over you. His hands tighten and you gasp, but you don't stop moving. He gives you the lightest nod of approval, so you continue, your airways slightly blocked, your mind going fuzzy, your clit getting over-stimulated by the metal you're grinding on.

"What are you thinking of?" One of his hands drags upwards until his thumb rests at your lips. You part them and he shoves his finger in your mouth, watching as your tongue swirls around it before giving it a suck. "Is that what you want?"

You shake your head, moving his finger along with it. He grips your face tighter with his whole hand and your eyes roll back at the roughness.

"Ah, I see. My pet wants to be used, isn't that right?" The Mandalorian tempts you with such a thought.

From the bulge in his pants, you're certain he'd be difficult to handle and that makes this all the more exciting for you.

So, you pull off his thumb with a daring pop and a lick of your lips before replying, "yes, sir."

His thumb drags along your bottom lip before his voice goes all deep and sultry, "whose hole is this?"

"Yours." You part your lips once again but he doesn't shove his thumb back in your mouth.

Instead, the Mandalorian shifts his hand from your face to your back, leaning you forward so that your body is flushed against his. Then, he slides his hand down your back to your ass, his finger dragging down the center until he pokes where he had before, causing that same panic to shoot through you from earlier. But, he reassures you by saying, "I won't touch you here if you don't want me to, but this is mine too, correct?"

You nod in response and he rewards your honesty by slipping past that hole so he can focus on your soaking wet entrance. You bite your lip as his finger curls, teasing along your folds, making you wish he would shove them inside of you again.

"Tell me what you want." His tone is commanding and you're unable to deny your need for him any longer.

"More." You wrap your arms around his neck, holding yourself against him for leverage, knowing you'll need it soon. "I need more of you, sir. I can't come without you."

"That's what I like to hear." That smile in his voice peeks back through. "What a proper pet you've become. I think you deserve to be spoiled a little now."

That's when two of his fingers thrust into you from behind and you came all too quickly at the feeling. They're so much deeper from this angle that you couldn't stop yourself from drenching his thigh with your orgasm. You muffle your moans into his neck, embarrassed at how easily you came.

His other hand gently pats your head then and he goes, "good pet, coming so well for me. Would you like another treat?"

"Yes, please." You're surprised the words leave your lips without a second thought for how needy you sound.

The Mandalorian continues his methodical strokes, playing off your suppressed moans to tell what the best way to touch you is. You're melting from how good it feels and your hips are trying to meet his fingers with every thrust so the pleasure won't end. It's difficult to do so, but you push through it because you don't want to lose the feeling.

"Don't strain yourself." He tells you as he goes back to patting your head kindly. "Do you want to lay down?"

You shake your head. "I'm okay, thank you though."

"Let me know if it's ever too much." His voice is softer now and you wonder if the powder has worn off. Or, maybe, just maybe, this more open version of him is gentle and caring, as much as he is dominating and rough.

"I'd like it if you were a bit meaner." You say with a chuckle and your laughter is met with a hard smack on the ass. "Ow!"

"You asked for it." Oh, he thinks he's funny. "Do you really want me to be mean?"

"I want to see you try." You egg him on. "Give me something to think about when I'm alone."

"I should be the only person you think about when you're alone, my pet." He pulls his fingers out of you and you whine, disappointed it's over already.

"Do you like the thought of me touching myself to you?" You ask because you want him to feel just as embarrassed as you are.

Though, he's oddly forward when he tells you, "I only think of you when I'm alone so I would like it if you thought of me too."

You blink, surprised to hear him confess that. Is he…being truthful? He has to be because of the powder and yet it feels so unbelievable.

"Why would you think of me?" You can't see how you'd be on the mind of a Mandalorian, at least not in that sense.

"I've never had a rival before." He shifts you onto your back, hovering over you now as he states, "I've never had anyone match me the way you have."

"Is that good or bad?"

"Good, because I like being kept on my toes." The Mandalorian admits then he switches to a more demeaning tone, "but bad, because I don't like it when my pet goes off leash and steals my bounties."

You roll your eyes at him. "The pet play stays in the bedroom, Mando."

"We'll see about that." He says and there's such a warmth in his voice then. You wonder what his smile looks like.

You wonder what he looks like. Maybe you'll never find out, but maybe that's okay.

"You say that like we're going to do this again." You won't hope for it, but a part of you would like this not to be a one night stand.

Though, you don't really know what to call this. Technically, he did pay for a night with you so is it even sex or just another transaction? The latter thought makes your heart ache just a bit.

"We will." He's so confident in his words that it's almost comforting. "I'm not letting anyone else touch what's mine now that I have you."

The Mandalorian then proceeds to drag his hand down your body again, starting from your lips all the way to your thighs once again.

You hold your breath for a moment, debating if you should tell him, but when you exhale, the words just spill out, "I can't…do that, Mando."

"Why?" He lifts his hand off you, not wanting to overstep if you don't want it.

"Because I have to pay for this room somehow." You gesture to the space. "I live here, after all."

"You live here, in this club?" He's shocked to hear that and it's understandable. "I thought this was just a room for your kind of work."

"It's both." You explain as openly as you can. "I get the room to store my stuff and sleep at a low price as long as I work ten days out of the month. It's the most affordable housing option for someone like me. Safe too."

"Safe." There's a bite in the way he says that word.

"I'm perfectly protected here." You're certain he saw the security on the way in. "It's better than living on the streets. Stable and provides good rest between hunts."

"But you have to work here for it."

You understand that it's not ideal, but you've gone over all the alternatives. Plus, you shouldn't need to explain yourself to him of all people. You don't know why you did it in the first place.

"It's none of your business, Mando." You want to end the conversation there, but he won't let it go.

"It's not, and yet…" He shifts his gaze away from you, his helmet staring off into the distance before turning back. There's something on his mind and it takes him a while to articulate the thought aloud, "why do I care so much about you?"

"What?" You're baffled to hear this.

"It's true that I bought this night with you to talk to you privately. But I also needed help understanding why you've buried yourself in my mind like a pest burrowing beneath my skin."

The Mandalorian…can't be serious, is he?

"Maybe you just find me annoying." You throw out that fact and he nods in agreement.

"I do, very much so." He speaks his truth, "but I also…miss you when I don't see you. I don't know why though."

"I wouldn't know either. Why would you miss me?" Oh, there's that heartache peeking through again, pinching your soul.

There's no way you'd have feelings for the Mandalorian. He's your rival. He's just the person whose bounties you steal. He's not…he shouldn't mean anything more to you but you realize you think of him often.

Has he too buried himself in your mind like a little bug, hiding away for the winter?

"I don't know what this feeling is." The Mandalorian tells you truthfully, indicating that the powder is still working. "I've never felt this way before. I've never wanted someone the way I want you."

"This is more than just sex, right?" You wouldn't mind having a beneficial relationship with him, especially since your tastes align, but…it would be nice knowing that it wasn't just that.

"I've had sex before." He states, wanting you to be aware of it. "But it's never felt like this. I've never enjoyed it this much. It's always been a means to an end, a form of release, but with you, I want to see more than just my cock deep inside of you, my pet. I want to see you melt from how good it feels to be all mine."

"I can't be yours, Mando." It hurts you to say it but it's the truth. "At least, not the way you want."

"Why?" He needs to know.

So, with a long sigh, you tell him everything, "I'm locked into a contract. I have to stay here for another year before I can go. They're good people here so I can't just leave them high and dry."

"I don't care if you stay here. But why does that mean you can't be mine?" That's the part he's hung up on.

"Because it wouldn't be fair to you." You reach up, caressing the side of his helmet as if it were his real cheek. "You should find someone else, someone who can belong fully to you."

"You do belong fully to me." He declares and your heart flutters at his words. "I don't care who you touch for your work. All I care about is that you know who owns you at the end of the day. Every part of you is mine, no matter who touches you. I can wait a year to have you to myself completely. So, can you?"

"Am I worth it, Mando?" You don't know if you are.

But, he assures you that you are when he says, "you're worth more than you know. And my name is Din. Din Djarin. Though, you'll call me sir in bed, okay?"

"Okay, Din." You repeat his name aloud with a smile before saying, "I hope you don't regret this."

"Never." He says like a promise and the butterflies in your stomach dance wildly. "I'll prove it. Give me more of that powder."

"Are you sure?" That'll be quite the dosage.

"I want to show you how much I want you." Din runs his gloved hands along every curve of your body. "I want to make you all mine tonight."

"I'd like that." You nod before getting up, going over to your cabinet to grab some more pills.

Though, you aren't expecting Din to be right behind you when you turn around. He peers into your open cabinet and your skin heats up when you realize what he's looking at.

"Do your clients use these on you?" He pulls out a riding crop and some red rope.

"I normally use it on them." You awkwardly explain. "I rarely have clients do anything to me. They're normally here to have me do things to them so I've never had any of these used on me."

"So," Din plucks the pills from your fingers and crushes it in his hand, breathing in the powder until there's nothing left before saying, "I guess there's a first for everything."

That's when he grabs you by the collar and throws you onto the bed, face first. You gasp when you feel the coarseness of the rope as he binds your wrists and arms. Your elbows are locked now and you can't flail at all.

"Bend your knees for me, my pet." He demands and you listen all too quickly, getting on your knees for him. "Spread your legs now and present to me."

You're flustered at his dominating aura, especially since you can't see shit since he's behind you, but you open your legs up, letting him get a full view of you from behind. That's when you feel the leather flap of the riding crop drag down between your ass cheeks, sending such a surge of shock through you.

"Please, sir." You're scared he's going to hit you where it's too sensitive. "Be gentle."

"Mmm," a sound of approval leaves his lips, "I like that you didn't tell me to stop."

You yelp when you feel the first smack on your ass, your whole body tensing up from the sudden strike. The riding crop feels so much different than his hand. It's smaller, more precise, and the crack sound makes your knees weak.

"If only you could see how wet you are." Din glides the riding crop along your inner thighs, detailing how much you're dripping for him. "You must be aching for something inside of you."

Your eyes widen at his words because you expect him to finger you again but instead, you hear him rummaging through your drawers, looking for all the possible tools he can use on you. You have no idea why a different kind of pleasure rises inside of you at the thought of him doing whatever he wants to you. You're bound. You can't stop him. You can't even see what he's doing.

It's all too much and not enough at the same time.

"Look at the way you're shivering in anticipation, my pet. Just like the whore you are, flashing their desperate holes for me to fill." He accompanies his degrading words with another smack on the ass, making you shake more. "Tell me how much you like this."

You whimper, biting at the bed sheets, your skin throbbing from all the whips. And yet, you find yourself mumbling, "I like it, sir."

"Good." You know he's happy and that makes you happy for some odd reason. "I like a vocal pet, so tell me if it's ever too much."

You like the way he sneaks in little bits of consent, so you reassure him by being a brat, "it's not enough. You need to be rougher."

Din laughs warmly at your words and goes, "gladly, my pet."

That's when you feel a toy at your entrance. You're unsure which toy it is but all you know is that it slips into you with ease, filling you up. You chew on your cheek because you haven't been fucked in a while, so having something inside of you is an adjustment.

"Hold onto that for me, okay?" He gently kneads your ass where he had whipped it, comforting you so that you ease up around the toy. "That's it, good pet."

He rewards you by sliding his hand downward, finding your clit once again. He rubs it between his fingertips, the leather of his gloves providing that texture you needed, and you're trembling at how good it feels.

"Breathe, don't panic." He warns you ahead of time as he lays down the riding crop beside you and picks up something else.

Something wet and cold because that's how it feels when he pours it over your ass. You tense up when you feel his other hand swirling around the rim of your empty hole, teasing the sensitive skin.

"You can tell me to stop if you don't want it." Din is willing to back away if you truly are panicked but strangely, you aren't. You don't mind letting him explore all of you, especially because the thrill of it makes it feel even better.

You decide the best course of action is to not admit it outright. That would give him too much power, plus it would ruin the fear play in your mind. So, you answer instead, "I didn't realize you were such a softie. I guess it isn't yours if you have to ask for permission."

You've dug your grave with that one because Din doesn't hesitate after that. He presses his thumb against the rim and slowly pushes his way inside of you as his other hand plays with your clit. All three sensations combined send you into a state of pure euphoria and your orgasm builds easily.

"You must really like it rough." He berates you as he starts to thrust his thumb into your ass slowly, stretching you out there. "You're about to come from this, aren't you? Ask me nicely and I'll let you this time."

You're squirming, wishing you could move your arms, but the ropes dig into your skin every time you try which adds to the whole experience. You're growing more and more impatient, since his movements are slow and purposeful. They aren't enough to send you into the state of bliss you desire and your willpower is weaning.

Eventually, you give in and tell him, "please let me come."

He continues to insult you, saying, "you really want to come with my thumb in your ass, my filthy little pet?"

And you love every bit of his harshness, "yes, sir."

All it takes is a few precise circles on your clit and you're drenching the bed sheets from your nonstop orgasms. You just keep coming, your slick covering your thighs now from how aroused you are. Your moans echo through the room and you can't help yourself. It feels too good…and you want more.

You want him, all of him.

Maybe that's why, in your daze, you beg, "please, sir, I want you now."

"Oh, but I don't think you're ready for me." He taunts you as his hand grasps the toy inside of you, pulling it out just a bit before thrusting it deep inside of you, sending shivers through you. "You can barely handle this toy. How are you supposed to handle me?"

"I can take it." You plead. "Please."

"I want to hear you say it, properly."

You swallow, knowing he wants you to completely embarrass yourself and submit to him. But, you aren't that good at being submissive, so you purposely annoy him, "you'd rather I be filled with toys than your cock? That's typical. I bet you don't even have a cock, do you, Din?"

You threw his name in there just to be a little bitch, testing the fact that you didn't call him sir. He does not like that very much because he grabs the riding crop and whips you ten times in rapid succession, drawing a scream from the depths of your stomach. Your eyes are watering from the pain and you enjoy it a little too much.

"Fine, if you want to be treated like a hole to be fucked, I'll give you what you want." He's angry now and you can't say you don't love the aggression in his voice.

So, Din grabs you by the chain around your throat, forcing you upright, choking you slightly. Then, you feel him pull the toy out of you completely and something warm lines up at your entrance instead. All the while, his thumb is rubbing the rim of your ass, reminding you that it's there, tormenting you with the possibility of slipping in at any moment.

And, it does, at the exact same time his cock thrusts inside of you. His thumb forces its way into your ass once again and you gasp at the feeling of being filled like this, though the gasp doesn't register since he's choking you with your collar.

"Now, be a good pet and come on my cock while I use your holes the way I want to." His voice is so commanding that you can't help but come the moment his hips meet yours, filling you up completely with his cock. "There you go, it feels good to be used, doesn't it?"

When you don't answer, he tugs at the chain around your neck more, pulling you further upright until you can hear him growl right into your ear.

"Answer me."

"Yes, sir. It feels so good." You spit out the words as best you can with the amount of air you've been given and he releases the chain then, letting you breathe as you drop back onto the bed.

"It'll feel better once I use this." He pulls his thumb away from you so that he can fill you up with something else. A metal plug that fits perfectly inside of your ass now that he's opened you up. It isn't until it's all the way in that you notice the fuzzy tip of it brushing along your ass. "My, my, now you really are my precious pet, wagging your tail for me in delight."

You never thought you'd be into pet play like this but the way he makes it seem so wrong to be his pet shows you that you might have discovered a new kink of yours. You like how he degrades you while he praises you. The excitement of it all makes you crave another orgasm.

So, you do what you know he'd want you to and you ask politely, "please, sir, will you fuck me until I come again?"

"You're so needy, as any pet would be for a treat." He couples his demeaning words with another smack of the riding crop. "Maybe I've gone too easy on you. If you want your orgasm, why don't you give yourself one?"

Din pulls out of you then and before you can whine, he sits down on the bed and tugs you onto his lap, guiding his cock to your entrance. You dare to look down to sneak a peek of him but he catches you by the collar before you can.

"Do you want to get punished again?" He threatens and you shake your head, not wanting your orgasm to be denied. "Then no looking."

"I'm sorry, sir. I won't look, I promise."

"As a show of faith, I'll untie you." Din quickly undoes the ropes, letting your arms free. "Now, you'll have the leverage to ride me as much as you want. Come as many times as you'd like, my pet. This is my treat to you."

You feel shy facing him like this, since you're wearing nothing but the collar now and he's fully clothed with his armor still on. The cold beskar rubs against your inner thighs as you slide down onto his cock, shocked at the way he seems even bigger from this angle.

"You swallow me up so well, like your hole was made for me." You will never get used to the way his praises sound like insults, though you like it all the same. "I hope I'll get to play with this other hole soon."

Din grips your ass as his other hand plays with the rim of the plug, tickling you with the fuzz of the tail. You're going insane over how erotic this whole experience has been. You've never played out an entire scene like this before but now you crave more of it.

"Soon." You say with a nod, not wanting this to be the last time. "You own me, remember?"

"Someone's learning their place as my pet." He praises you, rubbing your back kindly. "I'll be sure to spoil you with lots of treats."

"Thank you, sir." You're giddy over his warm words.

"Make yourself come like this and I'll fuck you all night, alright?" He urges you to start riding him so you do, milking his cock as best you can.

You wish you could see his face, but you'll just work off the sounds of pleasure he's making. You're glad that you can make him feel good now too, so you focus on finding a pace that gets him going too. You like hearing the huffs and puffs that sneak through the modulator when he's feeling good.

So, you rile him up a little more, wanting to give him what he wanted earlier, "wrap your hands around my neck and squeeze until I'm begging for mercy."

"Are you telling me what to do?" Oh, there it is, that aggression you're starting to get desperate for. "I guess my pet hasn't learned their place."

You hate how easily he can make you come from just a simple action because he lifts you off of his cock smoothly before turning you around until you're sitting on his lap in the other direction. Then, he guides his cock back inside of you before tugging the chain around your neck until you're upright. You clench around his cock the moment he rams it back inside, forcing you to squirt all over it from the roughness. His helmet rests on your shoulder and you can hear clearly every breath he takes and he can hear how you can barely breathe, your orgasm overtaking your mind.

"Ride me." He demands with a growl in your ear. "I won't let you breathe until you do."

From this angle, the plug in your ass noticeably moves every time you lift your hips to ride his cock. The fullness on both ends swirls your mind and you're practically drooling from how good it feels, which is why Din guides his other hand up to your mouth. You eagerly part your lips, letting him rest his fingers inside as you bite and suck on them.

"I like it when you behave." He drops the chain, and you inhale deeply through your nose since your mouth is preoccupied. "Let's give you a nice treat for being a good pet."

You wonder what he means, since you can't fathom what more he can do, but then you hear a little buzz and the moment you feel the vibrator on your clit, you gush out all over his cock again, whimpering with his fingers lodged in your mouth. It doesn't end because he holds the vibrator there, drawing circles with it along your clit, and you're drowning in ecstasy.

Din pulls his fingers from your mouth so that he can grab a hold of your chin, turning you to face his visor and he asks, "who owns you?"

"You do, sir." You manage to get out before a scream overtakes you, since he ups the intensity of the vibe on your clit. "I'm going to come again if you keep–"

"Hush." He clamps your jaw shut so you can't say another word. "You're my whore, remember? So you're going to come as much as I want you to. You don't get a choice here, so if you want me to stop, you better beg for it."

You've never came this much before and your whole body is reeling from the constant stimulation. You're constantly being thrown over the edge and you're fully committing to it. That's why you slowly submit to him the way he wants you to and suddenly, you're a whining mess, your pleads spilling out of your mouth all slurred and raspy from your moans. You keep begging for him to stop, you keep mumbling the word please over and over again, and you keep coming each time he refuses to listen. It's heavenly and you wouldn't want it any other. You like every second of this treatment.

You like Din, a lot.

So, when you're throbbing from the over-stimulation and he finally gives you a break to recharge, you whisper, "I like being yours, Din."

"You've always been mine, from the moment you first stole my bounty." He softly caresses your cheek with his hand and you swear, you could feel the smile on his face then. "You'll always be mine."

"Prove it." You pull the plug out and toss the vibrator aside, wanting to have regular, intimate sex with him without any other distractions. "Hold me, please."

And, he does, all night long.

As much as you love the rougher, kinker sex, there's something wonderful about the slow strokes he does to help you get used to the size of his cock. He's gentle and you're starting to get used to the feeling of beskar pressed up against your skin. You don't mind this one bit. You even let him come inside of you and you can tell he likes the fact that he can safely, since you're on the club's birth control. Din fucks you until there's not a single drop left inside of him, all of his warmth pooling between your legs.

You fall asleep somewhere along the way, the orgasms lulling you to a restful slumber. You gave all of yourself to him and you dream of a year from now when you'll be all his completely.

When you wake, you're surprised he's still here. You're also surprised you're dressed in your usual sleepwear and you've been cleaned up, no sticky residue leftover from the night before.

"Did you…bathe me?"

"I did."

You want to ask why but the smell of food interrupts your thoughts. Wait…did the Mandalorian cook you breakfast too?

"I didn't know you could cook." You hop out of bed and over to the small kitchenette you have.

"Only simple things, but I try." He places some pancakes on a plate for you, handing it to you. "Eat, you must be hungry."

"Starved." You say with a chuckle. "I worked up quite the appetite last night."

Din shares your laugh and you oddly enjoy the domesticity of this. It'd be nice if this was always how it was. You've missed waking up beside someone.

You scarf down your food along with a cup of caf and by the end of it, Din is still there, having washed your dishes and your bed sheets.

Oh, right, the sheets…you sort of made a mess of those last night, didn't you?

The wilder moments of the night before warm your skin and you try to shake off the naughty thoughts. It's a little too early for that, though you do blame the fact that Din fucked you fully clothed so now whenever you see him, you immediately remember the way he felt on top of you.

You'll wait patiently for the day where you get to be the one to strip him. That'll be a very fun day.

"What are you smiling about?" He catches your happy expression as you glance over at him making your bed for you.

"I like you, Din." You feel a bit bashful admitting it aloud. "That's what I was smiling about."

"You only like me?" He puts his hands on his hips rather dramatically and laughter erupts from you at the sight, to which he shares soon enough. "You look great when you laugh."

"Is that why you let me make fun of you all the time?" You tease him, but he actually nods in response.

"I had to get you to stick by my side somehow. Why else would I let you take my bounties without a fight?"

"Oh, you're funny." You don't believe for a second that the Mandalorian has been letting you steal his bounties because he had a crush on you…unless? "Wait, are you serious?"

"Maybe." He jabs back at you and you throw your fork at him, which he catches with ease. "Don't play with your food."

"Can I play with you?" You smirk and he walks over to you, hovering beside you all menacingly. You give him your best starry eye look and go, "please, sir?"

"My pet really is greedy for treats. You need to finish your breakfast and then maybe I'll consider it." He places your fork back down on the table and you chuckle, nodding in agreement.

You obediently eat the rest of your pancakes, which were surprisingly good, and then Din drags you back into bed. Though, this time, you both just cuddle and it's very peaceful. With your head on his chest, you imagine this being your life and it's nice.

"I wish you didn't have to go." The words leave your lips in a quiet whisper.

"Who says I'm leaving?" His words make you raise an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

Din shifts his helmet towards you, patting your head gently as he explains, "why don't I stay here with you? Is there any policy against having a roommate?"

"A roommate." You snicker at the thought of calling your rival your roommate.

"Answer the question." He wants you to focus.

So, you think of the other inhabitants who live here at the club and you tell him, "the only couples who live here work together. You know, like tag team play."

"Then, why don't we do that?" Din's joking…right?

"You want to work here too?" You're shocked if that's true.

"As long as I don't have to take off my armor, I wouldn't mind. Though, I'd like it if we stuck to dominating clients together. I don't want anyone else having power over you except for me." He bargains with you and you can't believe what you're hearing right now.

"We'll have to get it approved with the Mistress." That's the owner of the club, who also schedules all the play sessions.

"I'm sure we can convince her that time with a Mandalorian is very valuable." He's a very confident person, isn't he?

"As long as you save some of that energy for me after our sessions, I'd like that if it meant staying with you." You snuggle up closer to him and then whisper, "especially if you make me breakfast every morning."

"I'll have to learn new recipes then." Din leans his visor against your forehead, the metal cooling off your warm face. "Thanks for letting me stay."

"Thanks for not wanting to go." You give him a kiss on his helmet.

Who would've guessed this whole session would start with the Mandalorian requesting you at your side job and now it ends with him working with you? Life is funny like that, and you're thrilled it has worked out like this.

Maybe there's an interesting play session in your future…or more incredibly daring sex with Din. Either way, you're excited for what's in store.

A/N: Wow, what a banger, literally! I love writing kinky play, it's so fun to experiment creating a scene like this in the comfortable space of fiction. I'm actually a pretty avid collector of toys so being able to integrate some things into my writing was a blast! I love hard doms a lot, especially when they sneak in just a little bit of softness, it's delectable!

Will I ever write more of this particular scenario? I might! It would be a fun way to explore other kinks so if there's interest, maybe I will! I really enjoyed writing this one so I hope y'all enjoyed the read hehe ~ ♡

If you liked my writing and would like to read more, check out my pinned post! Also, if you'd like to join my taglist, use my google forms link: here!

[spideyanakin]

10 Things I Hate About you - Chapter 2

Eddie Munson x Harrington! reader

Synopsis - A new rule strikes the Harrington household: if Steve wishes to date ever again, his sister needs to find a boyfriend first. As Steve becomes desperate and thinks of everything in his power to set her up, only one guy comes to mind that will take up a challenge such as that: Eddie Munson.

warnings - Season 1 Steve 👎 , ft. Eddie the mechanics, underage drinking, and free cookie if you spot the Titanic reference.

word count - 12.5k

proof read by the amazing @inknopewetrust

series masterlist 🌻

the playlist

"He tried again over lunch today," Steve slumped his shoulders, looking up to the sky. This was supposed to be a new day, a new opportunity for Eddie to try and seduce you, but instead, Eddie almost ended up having your yogurt in his hair. And even if the plan was failing, Tommy, who would have paid good money to see The Freak with yogurt stuck in his brown curls, was disappointed you hadn't gone through with it. 

"I'm starting to think this is a bad idea."

"You gave him a fifty bucks a date deal, I'm sure he'll try again," Carol said through a mouthful of Steve's Kudos bar - the extra one he had packed for himself, but her sneaky hands had found it anyway.

"He told me he would," Steve climbed down from the hood of his car when he spotted you leaving the school building. "I'll see you guys tomorrow," He sighed, taking a seat behind the wheel.

"Hey, loser." Tommy snickered at you, taking a new puff of his cigarette and almost blowing it in your face.

"Oh my god, Tommy." You squinted your eyes, pretending like the smoke didn't bother you. "Are you losing your hair? You look balder than the last time I saw you up close?" You watched as his face twisted, placing a hand in his hair as if to protect it from your comment.

"Stop bullying my friends!" Steve yelled from the open window. 

"Stop bullying my friends" You mimicked his voice as you settled yourself in the passenger side. "I'm Steve and I think that my dumb friends are actually really smart and good company."

"I don't talk like that."

"Yeah, you do. Oh my hair, my precious hair!" You mimicked again, putting a hand in your own hair as you did. "Wait until people find out it's because you use girl's hairspray.”

"And they never will, because you'll never tell them," he sang the words. "Talking about hairspray, I'm running out. I'm going to have to go to the supermarket before I can drop you off."

"Seriously? Can't you go later?"

"Nope. Don't have the time."

"I hate you."

"Look on the bright side, you can go to the comic book store in the meantime." He spoke to you like a toddler, you hated that.

"Right. Because I'm so excited to get the new Iron Man comic."

"Aren't you?" 

You were.

 But he didn't need to know that.

~

"You have to stop being so aggressive." Steve noticed as he watched you remove a few coins out of your wallet and hand them to the seller behind the counter.

"I'm not aggressive!" You argued back, side-eying your brother before thanking the elderly man as he neatly placed your comics in a plastic bag and handed them to you over the counter.

"You just fought a 9 year old over Lord of the Rings." Steve eyed the road through the shop's window, the little boy in question had a big frown on his face as he climbed into the back of his mother's car.

"But he was wrong! I don't know what he read, but that's not how the end of the Two Towers played out! And Saruman does die at the end of Return of the King." 

"Why do I even bother with you?" He pinched his nose, his other hand on his hip in annoyance. You watched as the white plastic bag with the Farrah Fawcet hair spray bumped with his hip as he moved. He shook his head before putting his sunglasses back on. "Do you know that people around school are starting to call you a ‘heinous bitch’ more and more often?"

"You forget I don't care what people think." You pushed the shop door open, the little bell ringing with it.

"Yes, you do."

"No, I don't," you chuckled, looking at him through his sunglasses. "You don't always have to be who they want you to be, you know?" The words came out of your mouth before you could even think them over. 

"I happen to like being the king of Hawkins High, thank you," He gave you a chuckle as if you had just said something stupid. The pang in your chest started stinging even more at seeing the careless, stupid, and even sometimes mean facade your brother had created himself just for popularity becoming clearer and stronger. You knew deep inside he wasn't this way.

"Right." Your word came out stiffer than you wished as you opened the passenger door, Steve following you in from the other side. "You know you're paying for my car repair, right?" You asked as you watched him start the engine.

"Uh, no, I'm not."

"Steve, you're the one who put the wrong fuel in."

"Yeah, but it's your car."

"Mom said you were going to pay!"

"Yeah, and?"

"And, so I'm not going to pay for your mistakes. What is this? Asshole day?"

"Why are you like this? You're making a fuss about everything lately."

"Right yeah, because I'm the one with terrible grades and who bugs his sister like it's her problem. You broke my car, Steve."

"I did, but I don't see how I should pay for it."

"Agh!" You wanted to rip your hair out, a groan of frustration slipping out of you. "Please just drive. I have a car to pick up and the less time I have in here with you, the better. I don't want to argue with you anymore."

The air was so thick for the rest of the ride you could cut it with a knife. The only noise that could be heard was the engine mixed in with Steve's frequent huffs, and the chatter of the streets that would come and go at every red light.

When the bright blue banner of the garage came into view, Steve didn't even bother with parking and stopped right in front of the shop. 

"I'll see you at home." He gave you a tight smile you ignored, stepping out and closing the door as loudly as you could.

You mumbled something about how annoying and unfair he was being, the ringing from the little bell at the door making a minimum of your frustration dissipate. John, the owner of the place, sat behind the counter; head stuffed in the day’s newspaper, cigarette dangling from his lips. He barely looked up from his paper as he heard you walk in.

"Afternoon," you greeted, walking towards the counter, sighing your feelings away as your hands rested on the cold surface. "You said my car would be ready by today?"

"Oh yeah," He didn't remove the cigarette from his lips as he spoke, his small eyes still fixed on the paper and smoke coming out between words. "We're a bit late on schedule," He turned a page, "Realized the fuel fucked up the engine more than we thought. Munson's still taking care of it in the back."

"Munson?" The name felt familiar.

"Yeah, Eddie Munson." The lightbulb lit up in your mind. You knew exactly who he was talking about.

"I didn't know he worked here." 

"Mostly on weekends. But he's filling in for Rob today. You know him or something?" He lifted his eyes up to gaze at you through his blue square glasses.

"We go to school together."

"Alright. Well if you want to go see your car I'm sure he won't mind." You nodded and took this as your cue. Walking toward the doorway, the actual door was missing and was replaced by strings of blue and red clay beads. Now that you were closer, you could hear Metallica's The Four Horsemen faintly playing in the background.

The beads made a soft sound as you passed through them. The smell of fuel, rubber, and the metallic pungency of tools invaded your senses the second you walked in. The garage looked messy to an outsider–yet it was no different than other shops of the kind. A staple of car repairs in Hawkins, this little shop had seen business from every family and knew them all by name. The garage door was opened, giving out to a parking lot and letting the fresh air merge with the unnatural amount of toxins that emitted from each car, tire, and tank served. A range of different colored cars neatly parked outside, each either waiting for their turn to get repaired or for their owners to return. 

Your car was parked in the middle of the room, and indeed–the boy you knew as Eddie Munson, the school's proclaimed freak and trouble maker who had decided to suddenly ask you out, was working on it. 

His hair was tied back in a ponytail, head bowed into the hood. His black shirt was tight and hugged his torso perfectly, his jean jacket resting on a chair in the back of the room. The electric blue denim jumpsuit he called a work uniform was tied at his waist by the sleeves. The pants of it were decorated with car grease in large uneven patches on the sides as if he deliberately wiped his hands on them multiple times.

He blew a strand of hair away from his forehead as he leaned back to look at his work from a higher angle. His fingers were stained with black as they toyed with the wrench in his hand. He looked so focused. The crease between his eyebrows was evident as he figured out if his work was good enough.

"Thought you didn't want that date?" His voice brought you back from your staring, shoving away the odd feeling in your chest you hadn't noticed was there. You blinked, your expression changing. 

"And I still don't. I came to see my car."

"This is your car?" He asked, eyebrows raised as he pointed to it with the tool in his hand. 

"Yep." You patted the roof with pride.

"I didn't take you for a girl to confuse which fuel to put in her car." He smiled to himself, looking up from the car's engine to you.��

Now he couldn't deny you looked nice–nicer than in that ugly Hawkins high sports uniform you had been wearing yesterday and at lunch again today. Something about volleyball tryouts. 

Eddie had never really taken the time to see you. You had always been just a face in the crowd, but a cute one. His thoughts quickly processed and he remembered his mission. He knew loud and clear that he was just in this for the money, however, it didn't hurt that he found you pretty, and it definitely didn't hurt that you were wearing an Ozzy Osbourne t-shirt.

"Actually, that's my brother's fault." 

"Ah, now I understand."

"Probably never going to let him use my car ever again."

"Yeah, he fucked it up pretty bad," he noticed. "It seriously poisoned the engine."

"How much longer do I have to wait?" 

"Oh, I just finished!" He gave you his most charming grin before wiping his hands on the bottom half of his already disgusting jumpsuit. You could see the white patch with his name on it poking out from the folded top around his waist as he walked to where you were standing. "I just need to try it, see how it starts."

You took a step back to let him open the door and sit in the driver's seat, you could faintly hear the song fade away and the radio host taking over. Eddie left the door open as he turned the key and started the engine. The sound of the buzzing motor came and fully drowned the radio as it came loud and clear.

"It works!” He said as though it were a miracle. “And no smoke this time!" He seemed so happy it made you smile. "All set, princess." He turned the key and slipped out of the car, making his way back to the front and reaching up to close the hood.

"Thank you. I thought I was going to commit murder after a week of Steve driving me." 

"No problem," he chuckled.

"How much do I owe you?" 

"Nothing," he shook his head with big movements, making his ponytail sway from side to side. "On the house." 

"You know that won't make me say yes to that date?" You put a hand on your hip, making him chuckle. 

"I know."

"Don't think that getting me gifts is the way to my heart."

"What is the way to your heart?"

"That, I won't tell you."

"Just thought you shouldn't have to pay for what's your brother's fault."

"That's what I told him!" You pointed out. "No, but seriously how much do I owe you?"

"Nothing, I promise. Just get in the car and go do whatever pretty girls do on Wednesdays after school."

"Will John be happy you're giving away free service?"

"I'm sure good old John won't mind. C'mon! Get in! Get away from this smelly garage!" He waved towards the car when you didn't move.

You shook your head in disbelief before getting in and opening your window. "100% sure I can just leave?"

"Yes! Now go, before I change my mind." He watched with a smile on his face as you turned the car back on, smiling when everything worked perfectly. 

"Thank you!" You cheered, waving as you made your way out, Eddie watching you disappeared down the road.  

He breathed in heavily, walking to the half-broken sink in the back of the workshop. Once his hands were clean and dry he turned the radio off and reached for his coat which was still laying on the chair next to it. He reached in the pocket to remove his pack of cigarettes and lighter before fumbling with the jean, turning the jacket around to get access to the second pocket, pulling out some of the cash Steve handed him yesterday.

The blue and red beads made the familiar sound as he passed by the front desk.

"Did you let another girl leave without paying?" John looked up from his newspaper. "And I won't take a 'but she was pretty' as an answer this time."

"No," Eddie chuckled. "She gave me the money directly." Eddie put forty of Steve’s cash on the desk.

"Good."

"I'm taking my break." He nodded before stepping outside, cigarette already between his lips.

~ 

"Harrington! My new best friend!" Eddie cheered, a skip in his step as he made his way to Steve's locker the next day. Sleep still in Steve's eyes while Eddie's were bright and awake.

"What do you want?" Steve wondered as he stuffed his copy of Romeo and Juliet in his locker, only so he could forget it there and never see it again.

"I need your help."

"I thought you were the one helping me? And,” Steve paused his movements, “why is my sister still single?" 

"I'm working on it… It's only been two days. And talking about your sister, if you want this to work, I need you to tell me what she likes."

"Well, she likes that same crappy music you listen to."

"I already knew that, not very helpful. Can't you tell me her interests? Her hobbies? What does she read? What does she do on weekends?"

"Well, I think she might read the same nerd stuff you do, but I don't know."

"You don't know? She's your sister," Eddie crossed his arms as he leaned on the neighboring locker.

"Can't you ask her out without all this information?"

"Nope. You saw what happened, I need to be smart about this," Eddie tapped the side of his head with his finger.

"Fine," Steve sighed, closing his locker. "I'll make a list and give it to you tomorrow."

"Works for me!" Eddie smiled and knocked a fist on the locker behind him before turning around to walk the other way. 

"What was that about?" Tommy appeared out of thin air. His eyes fixed on Eddie who was already halfway down the hallway.

"He wants to know more about her. I have to make a list of stuff she likes." He took the hook of his backpack in his hand before he started to walk away. 

"And you don't know all of that?"

"No, why would I?"

"Because she's your sister?"

"And?" He shrugged. "Shouldn't be my problem."

"What are you going to tell him?"

"I'll search through her room. See what I can find."

"Doesn't she hang out with that Barb girl? You could probably ask her for some stuff."

"Maybe."

"Plus isn't she like Nancy's best friend? Could make you gain some Nancy points."

"Yeah, that's not a bad idea," Steve nodded along.

As if on cue, you appeared in the hallway with headphones over your ears. Steve looked at you with narrow eyes as you made a stop at your locker. You were wearing a Star Wars t-shirt; that could be useful information.

The lunch bell broke his thoughts and he suddenly remembered it was pasta Thursday. Steve watched the students who were still stuck in class start filing out of classrooms, he would have to leave quickly to get in line before the additional cheese would have to be wrestled for and leave the students last in line with only butter for a minimum of flavor to the over-cooked dish.

Like every Thursday, the cafeteria was crowded. The chatter of students echoed loud and clear through the large room. Food had already been spilled and laughter could be heard. Everyone seemed to be exactly where they were supposed to be. 

Steve with his friends, cheese proudly sprinkled on top of the macaroni that cooled just enough to be edible. 

Eddie was at his table. The Hellfire club was a full house; each member munching at their food, anticipation and excitement coursing through their veins as they waited for tomorrow to come to continue Eddie's campaign.

"I'm telling you, this is a terrible idea!" Jeff nodded along Oliver's words.

"Why? It's good money," Eddie leaned back from his seat at the table, his eyes landing on you. You were at the table you normally sat at, talking with Eddie's physics partner: Barb. 

Were you two friends? He wondered as he watched the interaction. You had a reputation for being a loner, yet you seemed to be smiling. A pretty smile that radiated over your features. Eddie noticed your Star Wars shirt, grinning to himself at the thought of a pretty girl like you being a fan of something he enjoyed too.

He hadn't noticed, but the entire hellfire table was staring at him, throwing looks at each other at the sight of their fearless leader cheesing it over some girl. 

"This is bad," Eddie's right-hand man, Olvier, whispered into Jeff's ear. "Really, really bad."

"It might be good money, but don't you think it's, like, a little unethical?" Another boy from the table wondered. 

"Unethical?" Eddie blinked at the words. "Since when have we had any ethics to begin with?"

"I don't know," the boy shrugged. "Just, imagine if she actually falls for you, and she finds out it was all a scam just so that her brother could get some?"

"She won't find out," Eddie cracked open his Mountain Dew, taking a sip from the tin can before continuing to speak. "And she's tough. You all saw what she did to Jeff's nose," the boy in question looked away in embarrassment. "I'm sure it would take her more than a few dates to fall for me."

"Right… Because leading someone on is totally the right thing to do to gain some extra cash," Gareth spoke up. "I still don't know why you've agreed to this. I don't want to be there when she finds out. Don't count on me to buy you flowers and dumb 'get well soon' cards for when she puts you in a coma."

"Don't think he'd even pass by the hospital," Another boy snorted. "He'd directly be put to his death." That made the entire table laugh, apart from Oliver.

The blonde had a serious shine to his eyes, a frown on the verge of forming. That wasn't what he was worried about, but he couldn't voice his worries, not right now.

~

That evening, Steve knew he had to work fast. He knew he only had an hour to get home from school, sneak into your room, and make a list of everything that could be useful before you'd be back from your hour of babysitting.

The second he swung the door open he was met with a sea of records and posters. Your bed wasn't made and your desk was a mess. Steve started his search with the desk. His eyes first landed on a big poster with four guys which, at second glance, he swore one looked like Eddie. He looked to the side to find another smaller poster of the same guy, smiling with his guitar. His name was written in bold on the side, but Steve didn't bother to fully read it. He shook the thought from his head before opening the main drawer. A collection of chapsticks rolled to the front, while random notes and spare coins sat at the back. He pushed some of the things around only to find concert tickets of events from eons past. 

When he wasn't satisfied with the search, he moved to the smaller ones at the foot of the desk. Opening and inspecting each one with meticulous precision. When he opened the third one, his eyes went wide.

"Oh my God!" Steve reached for the blue game boy. His blue game boy he thought he had lost the year prior. He could see your pink one in the back of the drawer, the screen broken. He grabbed his, moving his hand through the different games to take his pick. 

He put the console and games on the floor by the desk to reclaim them as his but continued his search. The fourth drawer had a magazine opened to a page showing multiple different electric guitars. You had circled one, Steve marked it down on his little piece of paper.

You liked guitar.

And you wanted an electric one, a specific model in particular.

Steve walked towards your shelf and scanned through your books. He made a face when he saw your small collection of Shakespeare. He wrote that down too. After that, he saw a few books by the same author. He recognized The Lord of the Rings, writing it down on his list. But then when his eyes scanned over the other works by the J.R.R Tolkein guy, he had to squint and reread the word at least 3 times to register it and to check if he had written ‘Silmirillion’ right. You had stacks of Rolling Stone magazines next to it except Steve barely bothered to skim through them.

His eyes landed on the big Star Wars poster next to him and on the spaceship on your shelf. He wrote that down as well.

Once he was satisfied, he grabbed his Gameboy and the selected games from the floor and left as though he had never been inside of it at all. 

~

Steve's socked feet dropping from step to step down the stairs caught your attention. Like every Friday morning, he was wearing his blue shirt - his favorite one Tommy had gotten him for his birthday. His bag hung on one shoulder as settled for breakfast.

However, he wasn't looking at where he was going or making a cheeky comment to piss you off so early in the day.

His eyes were focused on the blue brick in his hand. The noise of the game rang before the realization hit. The familiar opening of a chest echoed through your ears and your eyes went wild.

The goddamn Gameboy. 

"Are you playing Zelda?" He didn't own a Zelda game–you did.

"Yes. On my Gameboy that I found in your room! Also, I don't know how you can play this. It's too complicated."

"What were you doing in my room!?" Your hand collided with the table, making your breakfast jump. 

"I was searching for it!" He bit back. 

"Dad-"

"You shouldn't have taken his in the first place. You have one of your own. Steve, you shouldn't go into your sister's room, that's private. It's settled. End of argument. Can we eat in peace now?"

You grumbled something, melting in your seat before poking at a blueberry.

You were glad your car was repaired because you couldn't take another drive of Steve's whining and him complaining about how Zelda was too hard. 

Fridays were the best. Not only because it was the day when you didn't have any classes with Steve, but also because it was a chain of your favorite classes that led right to the weekend.

But, Friday’s also went by faster than lighting because of it. 

"Barb! You're sort of friends with my sister, right?" Steve appeared next to her like a child high on sugar.

"Yeah?" She looked up from her textbook and papers.

"I need you to tell me what she likes."

"What she likes? Why?" She placed the stray papers inside the textbook before putting them inside her bag, her gaze going to the classroom door where students were starting to leave. It was Friday. She wanted to run out of there and not spend any more time than she needed to in these horrible halls.

"Is that so bad that I just want to know my sister better?" He poorly defended himself, placing a hand on his hip to try and sound more convincing.

"That’s weird coming from you," she zipped her bag closed.

"Okay,” he brushed it off, “first, what does she like to do on weekends?"

"Steve-"

"Please just answer the question." He pressed on.

"Well, um… She really likes to go to The Hideout."

"That weird bar on the edge of town?" Steve made a disgusted face. 

"Yes, she says she loves seeing new bands play and makes fun of them when they're terrible."

"Okay," Steve started writing it on his hand like notes for an upcoming exam. 

"Are you really writing this down? Steve-" Barb lamented. 

"I want to remember! Can't you just accept the fact that I want to be a better brother?"

"Right."

"Ok, what else?"

"She likes Hard Rock and Metal… She would die for Kirk Hammett and Axl Rose."

"Wh-who?" 

Barb rolled her eyes. "Kirk is that guy from Metallica?” It sounded more like a question than an actual statement. “I think he's their guitarist." 

"Oh! Is that the guy from the posters in her room? The one that has the same hair as Munson?"

"They all have the same hair as Munson," she pointed out. "But yeah, Kirk kind of looks like him, I guess." Barb blinked as she remembered your room from the little times she'd been there "Axl is the main for Guns ‘n Roses; blonde, blue eyed guy with long hair. Always wears a bandana and eye-liner." 

"Mm-hm" He nodded for her to continue, writing keywords on the back of his hand.

"She also really likes the arcade and roller skating. Um, she likes fantasy stuff like those Star Wars movies and those big books…” Barb trailed off to think of the name. 

“Lord of the Rings?” Steve filled in for her and she snapped her fingers in recognition. 

“Yes! Lord of the Rings. And I think her favorite character is Darth Vader?"

"Is he from Lord of the Rings?” Steve asked and Barb furrowed her eyebrows at him like she couldn’t believe that is what came out of his mouth. 

“Are you serious?” 

“It’s… not?” Steve faltered and she shook her head. 

“Star Wars… Bad guy…?”

"The guy with the helmet?” 

“Mhm,” Barb hummed in reply. 

"Okay, thank you! I think I'm all set."

"Are you sure you need this information just to be a better brother?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Thanks!" He beamed before running out of the room. Steve charged down the halls until he recognized the door with the theatre posters all over it. 

"Here!" Steve burst into the drama room, earning a questioning gaze from Eddie. 

He was alone. Feet on the table that was even messier than the last time he was there. A book in his hand and he was practically one-hundred percent sure he had seen that same cover sitting on the shelves of your room.

"I have ‘the info.’" Steve slammed the note onto the table, in between the figurines and dice, before taking a seat in one of the rickety side chairs. 

Eddie looked up from his book with a raised eyebrow and removed his feet from the table before scanning what was written.

"You missed the a," He pointed out and Steve looked at him strangely. "Silmarillion, not Silmirillion," Eddie showed him the cover of the book he was still holding.

"Whatever," Steve dropped his hand on the table. "That's the information I gathered."

"That's not a lot to work from," Eddie pointed to the paper with Steve’s scribbles on it. 

"Look it should be enough," Steve huffed as Eddie read through the information. "But I've got more."

"She likes guitar, that's cool. She wants the same model I have."

"Oh yeah! She has a crush on that guy from Metallica, the one with the guitar."

"Which one?"

"I don't man, the one that looks like you."

"You mean Kirk?"

"Yeah! That's his name."

"Alright, good. I can work with that," A smirk rose on Eddie's lips. A sudden burst of confidence rose to his chest. He was your type. "Anything else?"

"I think her other crush's name has something with roses" he looked down at his hand, the writing so sloppy he could barely make it out.

"Axl?"

"Yep, that's the one!" Eddie could work with that. He basically owned half of the same wardrobe.

"She likes to go to The Hideout–you know that dodgy bar? She likes to go and judge the bands that play apparently."

"I'm in a band that plays at The Hideout."

Steve's mouth hung open into an 'O' shape before he spoke again. "Well, that's actually kind of perfect." He noticed, a bit more to himself than to Eddie. "She also likes the arcade and roller skating."

"Okay,” Eddie nodded, “What's her favorite arcade game?"

"I don't know? She stole my Donkey Kong game so she might like that?" It came out as more of a question than anything.

"Steve, what do you know?"

"Are you being sarcastic?" He narrowed his eyes. 

"Maybe."

"Also her favorite Star Wars character is the villain."

"Palpatine?" Eddie scrunched up his nose, tilting his head.

"Pala-who? No, no, the other one, the guy with the helmet."

"Darth Vader?"

"Yeah."

"Well, it's arguable that's he's the villain-"

"Please keep that nerd bullshit for my sister," Steve cut him off and Eddie closed his mouth, crossing his arms against his chest, "that's all I have."

"Alright. I'll see what I can do." Eddie nodded before looking back to the table. "You should go," he tapped his watch, "Campaign's about to start."

~

"I'm home!" Steve yelled as the door closed behind him.

"Steve, can you come help me with the laundry?" Your mom called out from the laundry room. A large basket of folded laundry in her hands.

Steve rolled his eyes before slipping his shoes off and dropping his bag by the entrance. As he did, he noticed a pair of shoes and a bag he didn't recognize sitting by the doorway.

"Why can't Y/n do it?" 

"Because she's babysitting. Here," she handed him the basket. "This side is your clothes, and this one your sister's. Just put yours in your room and put the basket with the rest in hers. Is that so hard to do?"

"Babysitting? But her shoes and bag are here?"

"Yeah, they're in the kitchen, baking."

"Ah," he grumbled something else before doing as told.

"So, got any plans for the weekend?" You asked Dustin as you placed the cupcake wrappers in the little molds. 

"I'm going to Mike's. We're going to continue his campaign!" The curly-headed boy had a big smile on his face as he mixed the batter with all his might. 

"That's nice," you smiled before you dipped your finger into the batter and stole a taste. "Our cupcakes are going to be amazing," you nodded, "high five." 

One of his hands removed its grip from the bowl to collide with yours while the other stayed on the whisk.

"Do you need someone to drop you off or pick you up from Mike's?" You questioned as you started washing your hands, speaking a bit louder over the running water.

"No,” Dustin shook his head and his curls went bouncing, “mom said I could go all alone this time!"

"Oh my god," you put a hand to your heart. "Is my ‘lil Dusty growing up?" You faked a sniff, "are you going to fire me?" you wiped a fake tear. 

"No!" He giggled at your dramatic sighs. "I still need you. I'm bored when you're not there and I have to spend entire afternoons home alone." 

"I hope so," you pointed a finger at him, a small smile playing on your face as you turned back to the cupcake batter. "You still have to teach me how to play D&D, by the way. My half-written character sheet is still somewhere in my room." 

"Yes! I promise. Once Mike's campaign is finished, we will do it."

"Deal," you grabbed the bowl and started to pour the mixture in each of the cupcake molds while Dustin washed up. 

"What are you doing this weekend?" He wondered as he came back around, watching with big eyes as you skillfully poured just the right amount of dough into each section.

"Homework, probably." 

"That's it?" His eyes went wider. Sometimes he thought you never had fun outside of babysitting him. 

"No," you giggled. "Might go judge whoever is playing at The Hideout."

"I wish I could come with you," he sighed. "It sounds so much fun."

"Promise when you're a little older. I'll bring you and we can even make a bingo sheet out of it."

"What would we put on the bingo!?" His eyes lit up like a Christmas tree.

"Well, stuff like, ‘did the singer's voice crack’, or ‘did he sing a wrong note’, or ‘did the guitarist mess up his chord?’ Oh! I forgot to tell you, last time I went, a band that came from Arizona was playing and the drummer threw up on his snare."

"Ew!"

"Yeah, it was disgusting. The whole band had to stop playing and the show was canceled."

"I'm surprised that you haven't met anyone there," Dustin sighed as he watched you put the cupcakes in the oven. 

"What do you mean?"

"Well, you always said that the boys in high school are unwashed miscreants," you giggled at the fact that he remembered your words. "You must have met someone cool at this bar."

"How many times must I tell you that I'm not interested in dating?" You laughed. 

"But everyone is! Dating can be fun!"

"Not everyone, Henderson." Steve's voice came from the doorway. "Y/n is a peculiar breed of mean girl. No boy would even be interested in her, they're all terrified of her or either think she's a loser." Steve made an ‘L’ with his index and thumb, bringing it to his forehead as he poked his tongue out to you.

Steve thought you'd be in a better mood after he saw you laugh with Dustin, that you'd joke back like you always did, but when your eyes met his, your gaze became cold again. You were glaring daggers at him when he reached for the orange juice in the fridge.

"That's not true! She's like the coolest person on earth!" Dustin argued and a mocking chuckle came from your brother. Dustin's eyes were wide and angry as he looked at Steve pouring himself a glass and placing the bottle back in the fridge. The younger boy burned a hole in the back of Steve’s head before he disappeared into the living room.

"Don't listen to him," Dustin grumbled. "I would definitely ask you out if I was older!" That made you laugh; the hurt that started forming in your chest dissipated with his words.

"Well, thank you. But I do get asked out." ‘Especially recently,’ you thought. "I'm just not interested," You could see in his eyes he still didn’t take that as an answer. "Alright, my young padawan," you changed the subject and ruffled his hair. "Enough boy talk. Let's finish up your homework while these cupcakes bake."

~

"Why are you acting like this?" Steve's head poked from over your shoulder.

"Why am I acting like what?" 

"You've been in a bad mood ever since Tuesday morning," Steve sat beside you by the kitchen counter. He quickly eyed what you were doing and saw your neatly written paper with all the answers to the history questions Mr. Click had assigned. Steve grabbed it but you quickly snatched it away.

"You're really asking me why I'm acting like this? Steve, you've been bugging me all week because you think I'm the answer to all your problems!" You dropped your pen in frustration. "It's not my fault you didn't do your English homework and it's not my fault you got shitty grades so now you're not allowed to get a girlfriend. And you're certainly not going to copy my history homework. You didn't even want to pay for my car and you were basically bullying me in front of the boy I babysit."

"But I always bully you," he pointed it out as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Saying it like his words were meaningless sibling banter and not him reinforcing ideas everyone thought. "And you said it yourself, the guy didn't even make you pay for the repair!"

"That's not the point! You have to stop acting like the things you do are my problem; stop asking me to get a fucking boyfriend and to read a book for you! And stop snooping around my work!" You almost screamed. 

Steve was glad your parents were away at Enzo's for dinner because he would have gotten a really long lecture about bribing you to get a boyfriend and he didn't need that right now.

"But you won't get a boyfriend so now I'm stuck home on a Friday night."

"Wow, is that so bad?" You mocked before aggressively grabbing all of your pens and shoving them in your pencil case, stacking your papers before taking everything in your arms and walking up to your room.

"No! Don't leave!" 

"Then stop annoying me!" You screamed from the top of the staircase. He heard your loud steps stomping the ground before your door closed with a loud thud and the small clicking of your lock.

You dropped your books and homework on your desk, sighing when you turned the lights on. Frustration burning in your veins, you turned your radio on and brought the volume as high as you could. 

The start of Rainbow in the Dark started playing.

It was therapy. It was a cool cloth on the back of your neck on a hot day. Most of all, it was the remedy to tune Steve out and the world around you went silent sans the music that raced the airwaves of your room. 

Steve could faintly hear it from the living room but chose to ignore it. This time, he will not give you the satisfaction of being annoyed.

You hummed the lyrics to yourself as you went through your bag, cleaning the empty wrappers and menial scraps that had accumulated through the week. You opened your planner and scanned around the homework for Monday.

Math

English

History

Spanish

You made the list as you went through the stack of textbooks on your desk and neatly placed the ones you needed on the side. You were about to turn around and decide which tape you wanted to listen to after this one when a knock came to your window.

You thought that you heard wrong. Maybe it was a chord in the song you hadn't noticed before. But when the sound of a rock hitting the glass struck again, this time you had the visual. It was a surprise you could still hear the soft clink over the loud music, and as you stepped to get closer, another one clashed with the glass.

You pushed the window up, Dio now playing loud and clear in the cool night air. You looked down to be faced with the last person you expected to see.

"Munson?" You raised an eyebrow. "I thought I told you to stop bothering me?"

"You haven't actually said those words," He echoed from down below. 

He had a large smile on his face. His hair was loose and going wild while he was wearing a dark blue shirt that was ripped on the side–you knew you had seen the same shirt somewhere. Skinny jeans of matching color with chains dangling everywhere and purple reeboks complete the look.

It was a look. A completely chaotic, mismatched look that he made work because it was uniquely him. 

The light from your window spread a glow over his features as he played with an additional pebble in his hand. For a second, you caught yourself thinking he was handsome. You found yourself shoving away the same weird feeling that had popped up after seeing him at the garage beside your car.

"What are you doing here?"

"I want to take you out," he beamed, dropping the pebble and taking a step closer to your window when the chorus of the song echoed louder through the air.

"I have homework to do."

"C'mon, it's Friday night, please?" He pouted, big brown eyes looking at you like a lost puppy. "I'm playing at The Hideout in 30 minutes, please just come. My van is parked a street away. Doesn't have to be a date."

"You never give up don't you?"

"No," he smirked.

You thought for a second. Dustin's words echoed from earlier: ‘dating can be fun.’ Maybe you could allow yourself just one night at the seedy bar where you would lose your shell. Maybe you could give Eddie Munson the chance to show you who he was behind all the rumors and 'scary' facade.

"I'll come with you on one condition," you levied at him and there was a spark of surprise that washed over his eyes. 

"That is…?" He could feel the plan working. He could feel you giving in to him. 

"Free drinks."

"Alright, yeah," he thought about the rest of Steve's cash stashed in the door of his van. "Deal." 

"Give me a second to change, I'll be right back." You closed the window, then curtains before scurrying off to your closet.

Eddie was in it for the cash. That's what he told himself going into the deal, and that's what he had to remind himself when he watched you climb out of your window as Holy Diver played from your stereo and your feet hit the grass. You were wearing white pants. They were ripped almost everywhere and a chain was hooked to the one side, almost matching the way Eddie's wore his own. Black boots and a loose Metallica shirt brought the look together in some fever dream he was immersing himself in. 

Eddie bit back a smile, nodding towards your shirt, "you have a great taste in music."

"I know." You looked at him up and down. "Is that Kirk Hammett's shirt from that cover of Rolling Stone they did two months ago?" You had noticed it when you came to your room and your eyes landed on said magazine.

"Maybe," he smirked. "Might have made it myself when the cover came out."

"Well, it's very nice. Suits you." For a second, you almost thought he looked like him. The same hair, eyes, and cheeky grin. Your heart doing a loop in your chest when you were starting to compare them; the guitar, being in a band. You shook the thought away quicker than it came and walked past him, turning back around when he didn't follow. "C'mon, what are you waiting for?"

"Nothing," Eddie smiled, dipping his chin into his chest before shaking his head and catching up to you.

"Are your parents not going to notice you're gone?"

"They're at dinner. They'll probably assume I'm sleeping by the time they're back."

"And your brother?"

"Nah. I turned the lights off, and the music will stop eventually. He'll have just about an hour left of Dio before he can have his peace."

"Sneaky."

You had never really noticed Eddie's van before. White with blue stripes and the smell of weed permanently stuck to its seats. It was oddly clean on the inside–with no stray papers or candy wrappers laying around like in yours. A guitar pick was dangling from the rear mirror and a bobblehead dragon stood on top of a dash like those Hula girls. 

"I like the dragon," you noticed, tapping the top of his head with your fingers to see it move.

"Thanks. I won it at the arcade."

"You go to the arcade?"

"Yeah! Like all the time."

"Me too," you smiled to yourself, watching as he fixed his shirt when he settled in his seat.

"What proves to me that you weren't sent by my brother, the devil spawn?" You narrowed your eyes at him as he closed the door. Eddie's heart squeezing in his chest at the question, his hands began to sweat. You were smart. Really, really smart.

"Sweetheart,” the nickname fell from his tongue as if it were second nature, “you really think your brother would even think of talking to me?" That made you laugh. "I'm sure the idea in itself makes him shit his pants." 

It did. But that was before Steve realized Eddie wasn't doing ritual sacrifices on the floor of the drama room.

"Yeah, you're right, sorry to assume," you laughed. "Just thought that maybe he would get really desperate and send the only guy in Hawkins who wouldn't be scared of me." Dammit you were smart. And if Eddie hadn't had as much acting practice from playing Dungeons and fucking Dragons he probably would have been busted the second the question left your lips.

"You don't have that much self-confidence do you?" Eddie narrowed his eyes and looked right at you, trying too hard to change the subject. "Look at you! You really think guys don't want to ask you out, just… because?"

You shrugged and played with the dragon's head again, watching it go up and down every time you touched it. "It's not that I don't, it's just… I'm not very approachable. People are usually scared of me and call me a heinous bitch. Steve gracefully reminds me of it every single day. Either that or they want to date me to be friends with 'Mr. King of Hawkins High',” 

"Well, I definitely don't want to be friends with him," Eddie shook his head, making a weird face at the thought. "And I'm no picnic myself," his soft laugh echoed across the little space. 

"Yeah, we both have a reputation, don't we?" You scrunched up your nose.

"Definitely," he grinned like it was the best badge a person could wear. "And for the record, I don't think you are a heinous bitch," He smiled, a real genuine smile that definitely wasn't an act. "I think you're very cool, Harrington. I don't know how I hadn't noticed you earlier," he meant it.

"You think I'm cool despite the fact that Steve ‘The Hair’ is my brother?" You raised an eyebrow.

"Despite that."

"Well, I think you're pretty cool too," a stare lingered a little bit too long between the two of you, causing Eddie to clear his throat and put his focus on starting the van.

"You know, never in the world did I think that ‘The Hair's’ sister would listen to Black Sabbath and Dio and like Star Wars."

"Why would you think that?" You smiled because to you, the assumption that you didn’t like any of those things was ridiculous. You wore shirts, listened to the music at near full volume through the hallways, and made it no secret that you weren’t afraid of liking the things you did just because some people found them ‘odd.’

"Because you're Steve Harrington's little sister?"

"So, you think I'm like my brother?"

"Oh, Christ, no. But, I thought you might be. Imagined you to be like a cheerleader of something until I realized that the second Harrington was the girl terrorizing everyone she crosses paths with."

"Jesus," You chuckled. "Imagine me dancing with pom poms."

"Now that's a sight I'd love to see."

"No,” you shook your head amused, “I would look ridiculous."

"I'm sure you'd look amazing."

"I would be a laughing stock! Then people wouldn't be scared of me anymore and where's the fun in that?"

"Yeah," Eddie chuckled with you. That was a fair assessment on your behalf. You weren’t the cheerleading type. 

When he parked on the familiar grounds of The Hideout, he reached up for the switch, the small ceiling light making your eyes blink as they adjusted to it.

Eddie leaned toward you to open the glove box. Hand over your knees, he popped open the compartment and his hand barely grazed them as he reached into it. As he rummaged through it, he found a spare ring in the process. Eddie didn't hesitate to wear it on his one ring free finger the second his eyes landed on it. 

"Ah-ha!" He smiled when he found what he was searching for. A long thin black tube was between his fingers that made your eyebrows raise high. 

"Eyeliner?"

"What? Every rock star wears it." You laughed at the idea of Eddie putting on eyeliner, but it died on your lips when you realized he was being serious and started applying it around his eyes. "Don't look at me like that! Axl Rose wears eyeliner all the time!"

"Yeah, you're right. Axl Rose does wear eyeliner," you smiled at Eddie's comparison to him. Watching his movements as he looked at his eyes through the rear mirror. He definitely wasn't an eye-liner expert; the start of his lines were messy and he was making everything uneven.  

For a long minute, he looked like a panda and had to rub some off the black with his fingers. It was far from perfect, but he seemed happy with it. 

"How do I look?" He gave an award winning, teeth baring grin when he fully turned to face you. 

Now, if you from Monday asked yourself what you thought you would be doing on Friday night, the last thing that would have crossed your mind would have been sitting in the parking of The Hideout with Eddie Munson, gaping at him like a fish as he turned to you with the most adorable grin you had ever seen, wearing eyeliner and comparing himself to your two favorite musicians, and every word dying in the back of your throat as the same unknown feeling that had now crossed you twice upon gazing at him came back.

"Good," you attempted but your words came out in a mumble, blinking the shock away. "You look good. A real rock star." In all truths, he looked really really good. So good you wondered how you had never noticed it before, especially from all your past trips to The Hideout.

Surely you would have noticed someone you went to school with or someone who looked like that. 

"Great," he smiled even wider, grabbing the pick necklace from his rearview mirror. "Can't forget the lucky charm,” he winked before opening the door of his van and jumping out.

The Hideout was familiar. 

Always the same people flocking to the little joint apart from a few new faces that changed every weekend. The same dark ambiance and washed-out lighting, the same pool table with the same five drunks playing every weekend and sometimes on Thursdays after the monster truck race outside of town. 

It wasn't crowded. It never was. But on Fridays, there were always enough people to consider it a crowd, causing a cheerful spirit to hang in the air. Even Madame Bijoux seemed happier on Friday nights. Maybe it was the only day of the week she and the people of Hawkins forgot she was a French woman that came to the bar every day at six, drinking whiskey while wearing all of the jewels she owned and claiming she was waiting for her long-lost love to come back. 

It was some Shakespearean tale playing out before your eyes each week. 

She was a treasure, practically a ghost from another world but she sat drinking her whiskey with a mystical whimsy about her. Those jewels, the long-lost love… it was all too good to be true most days. 

The same stage stood in the back, a banner with Corroded Coffin written in black doubled with red, hung on the side. One of the boys you knew to be in advanced English was still working on setting up his drum set.

But you didn't know why this time everything felt different.

Maybe it was because this time you hadn't gone alone. This time you were accompanied by the leader of its band who played there three times a month. Or that you had suddenly found him handsome and your mind became a mess of thoughts and your body was vibrating with unknown feelings. It certainly didn't help that his eyes wouldn't leave you as you made your way through the small crowd to reach the stage.

"That's Gareth," Eddie pointed at his friend once you were close enough to see. "He's a Freshman and a smartass."

"Is that why he's the only Freshman in advanced English?"

"Exactly why,” He nodded. "Joined Corroded Coffin last year when our drummer graduated."

"Question, why are you in advanced English?"

"They said that it would gain me more points. That I'd have a better chance of graduating if I took it." 

"How’s that working out for you?"

"Horribly," Eddie chuckled, waving hello to someone behind your shoulder before continuing. "Definitely quitting at the end of the year. They can shove their extra points up their asses."

"Awww, and I won't get to stare at your empty seat for hours every week? What. A. Shame." Your words brought a fighting smile to Eddie's lips. 

"Yeah, sadly. My sincerest apologies," he smirked, "but the year isn't over. Maybe I can think of showing up so you can stare at something more interesting than an empty chair."

"You would do that for me?" You gasped. "I'm impressed."

"You should be."

"This is bad," Oliver leaned his chin in the palm of his hand, his fingers covering his mouth as he sighed.

"You realize you say this every time you see them talk or we mention her?" Jeff side-eyed his friend before looking back to the two of you from their spot. They were standing in the back of the room, right near the stage–a place perfect for spying the crowd.

"Yeah," Oliver nodded, "but I'm saying it because it's true."

"You know the worst that can come out of this is Eddie having to take a trip to the emergency room?"

"No," he shook his head, blonde hair moving with him. "It's his heart I'm worried about."

"His heart?" 

"Think about it. Y/n has always been described the same way people have always described Eddie. It's a mystery they weren't friends before this," Oliver crossed his arms. "Eddie asked Steve to gather up some info on her–I read it and Eddie doesn't see it, but they're practically soulmates."

"Oh."

"And her celebrity crush is Kirk Hammett"

"Oh."

"Yeah!"

"This is bad."

"It's very, very bad. I know Eddie. He wears his heart on his sleeve and cares too much. He's going to end up falling for her, I can already see it happening! Her too, and then when she finds out her brother paid him it's going to be like an atomic bomb going off. She's never going to forgive him and we’re all going to burn along with him." 

Jeff didn't have the words to reply. He continued watching the two of you from a distance; Eddie had just made a joke, his face sparkling with joy. You were laughing loudly, the sound barely audible in between the chatter, and Eddie was definitely blushing. 

Oliver watched, almost angry at the situation when Eddie placed the hand that wasn't holding the guitar strapped on his back in place on your back to escort you through a cluster of people. 

Both your laughters became audible when you were just a step away.

"Hey guys!" Eddie turned his head to face his friends. His features lit with something more than usual–Oliver didn't like one bit of it. 

"Hey," you greeted them with a shy wave.

"Guys, this is Y/n," Eddie pointed to you, both of them giving small waves in return. "This is Oliver, he's on second guitar," Oliver stiffly nodded. You could feel the cold in his eyes upon eye contact, as if he didn't want you here. It made you awkwardly look away towards Jeff, but that didn't help the awkwardness you were feeling. 

"Um, that's Jeff," Eddie's voice became low as he said it, knowing your past interaction with the boy. You gave another awkward wave but he just glared at you. Great, you definitely did not feel welcomed by his friends.

"I'll have to leave you here," Eddie turned back to you, gloriously saving the moment from turning into an awkward silence. "Need to get ready with the band."

"That's alright. I'll go find a seat and get something to drink," you smiled, a warm smile that warmed Eddie's heart. His gaze followed you until you were lost in the sea of people.

"You should flirt less," Oliver said before looking back to his guitar, fixing the strap before placing it around his shoulders. 

"Huh?" His words took Eddie by surprise.

"You should: Flirt. Less." He repeated, accentuating the words with each syllable. "Can’t have her really think this is going to lead to a real relationship," Eddie blinked at his friend's words.

"Have you seen the way she is around me?" Eddie pointed to the crowd as if pointing to you. "I don't think she's even close to thinking about actually dating," Eddie scoffed and brushed the words off his shoulder.

"Are you blind?" Oliver’s eyes went wide. Did he not just see the way he was laughing with you? Or acting around you? The way he touched you and blushed and made your own person radiate an energy Oliver only associated with the magical powers of flirtation and charm. 

"What?"

"Nevermind," Oliver had enough. If Eddie wanted to put himself in this situation, then he would let him.

"What’s that supposed to mean?" Eddie raised his voice as Oliver walked towards the stage and away from him. 

"Nothing. You should set up your guitar and mic. We play in five."

You had seen Corroded Coffin play a hundred times. And each and everyone of these times you knew they were getting better. Each new song they wrote dripped of a new skill, stronger lyrics, and more passionate skillful music. As the band got older, the songs got better. They were all goddamn talented and from the hundreds of other bands you had seen play in this shitty bar, you knew that they had a better chance than anyone else who stepped on the bumpy wooden planks of this stage to become big. 

But when the lights went out and everyone started cheering, it felt like you had never seen them before.

The first chords of Eddie's guitar rang through the darkness like a ship finding its port in your soul. You recognized their most recent title: 'Walking in the Dark' . The song started with a guitar solo, almost slow, melancholic, until the whole song was flipped upside down and it became worthy to be featured in a Metallica album.

When the second chord started after a beat, the spotlight set on Eddie. And maybe it was the sip of beer you had just taken, but chills climbed up your shoulders as he started to play. He looked so focused, more than he could ever look while fixing cars just for extra cash. Your eyes lit up as you watched him play the most difficult part of the riff. His hair was going crazy, crazier than ten minutes earlier when you were still by his side and a small smile crossed your cheeks when he shook his head in a poor attempt to move strands of hair away from his face.

People cheered when the rest of the band started to play, and the lights came back in on rhythm with the music. When Eddie started singing, a few drunks joined in like they were singing along to their favorite song. Corroded Coffin having become a staple of the joint, the most fidel clientele had started to know most of the lyrics by heart–you included. 

And you hadn’t even realized that this Eddie had been one you admired from afar every time they played, three times a month. 

The whole place lit up like fire. The crowd was chaotic–as chaotic as a crowd of drunk Hawkins residents and travelers who had stopped at a motel for the weekend could be. People were raising their drinks with the music, and you felt yourself enjoying the show more than you had in a very long time.You never wanted it to stop.

But everything good had to come to an end. As your beer decreased in its glass, Corroded Coffin’s setlist came to an end. The crowd of singers became smaller, and the alcohol in their veins augmented with time. A fight that had broken out over a spilt drink was taken outside, and the wood on Gareth's drumsticks was periodically chipping away, threatening to split in half with every hard beat.  

The last notes rang through the bar and the seven lonely drunks left on the makeshift dance floor attempted to clap, accompanied by the few tables that were finishing up their drinks or food that was left over from their dinner's, the waiters and of course; you.

The entire band was catching their breath, smiling at each other and sharing 'we did well' looks. You watched from your spot at the bar as Eddie shook his head and wiped the sweat of his forehead with the back of his hand. He had the brightest smile and you couldn't help but mimic the sight when his eyes met yours from across the room. 

Five minutes later, he was standing right next to you, ordering beers for the entire band and another for you.

"So, you like it?" 

"Better than other times. You guys are getting better," you smiled, your hand fiddling with your empty glass. 

"That's because this time I knew you were in the crowd," he winked, his smile burning even brighter than before. He dropped a ten dollar bill on the cold surface as the women behind the counter handed him the five glasses.

"On the house," she smiled and Eddie was glad you hadn't noticed the way he flinched when he had to repocket the bill he was trying to get rid off. 

"Thanks," he nodded, trying his best for his smile not to look fake before turning to you. "Will you help me? The rest are sitting at that booth over there," he pointed with his head, already grabbing two beers and holding the third one by the tip of his fingers in between the two others.

You grabbed the last two before following him.

"You sure you don't want to be alone for your date?" Oliver stated a bit too dryly when you carefully placed the beers on the table. 

"Oh this isn't a date" you smiled, your tone directly opposite from his. 

"It isn't?" 

"No, I refuse to date in high school," you sat down, Eddie sliding into the booth next to you. 

"Then what are you doing here?" He narrowed his eyes.

"First of all, I'm not new to The Hideout. I come here all the time. I was there when you fainted on stage two months ago," you pointed to Oliver with your drink before taking a sip.

"Holy shit! I remember that! It was so embarrassing," Gareth chuckled in between beer sips. 

"Secondly, I came here with him so he would stop bugging me," you nudged Eddie's shoulder. 

"Is that so? Is it not because you find me incredibly handsome?" He put on a fake offended look, placing a hand to his heart. 

"No," you giggled. "Sorry to bruise your ego" 

"My ego is very bruised" 

"You'll recover"

"I don't think I can."

Oliver looked away, his look just getting colder. Eddie seemed to notice, looking at him inexplicably before glancing back at Gareth. Oliver and Jeff might have been giving you the cold shoulder, but conversation flowed naturally with the youngest member of the band. 

Around an hour into the conversation, Jeff left. ‘Curfew at 1 am’ were his words before he walked out without even giving you a proper goodbye. But Oliver stuck around, despite the bad feeling that rested at the pit of his stomach when seeing how much you and Eddie got along.

"Wait! So you actually kicked Kevin in the balls?" Gareth held his stomach to try and stop from laughing. 

"YEAH!" You laughed with him. "He was being rude to Barb and I think that he hasn’t removed his jock strap since."

"You’re a menace!" 

"Kids, as much as I love hearing your laughter and enjoy seeing people have a good time, we're closing up,” the waitress you knew as Clara pointed to the clock on the wall. 3:30 am. 

Your eyes went wide, you had never spent that long at The Hideout before. You all looked at each other, Gareth's eyes went to his drum set with a desperate sigh. 

"I'll help you put it in your trunk," Oliver said as he finished off the rest of his glass.

"We can help too!" You proposed but Gareth shook his head no. 

"No, go home. Don’t worry about it."

"Are you sure?" 

"Yeah." 

"It would go faster if we helped." 

“Don’t worry about it,” Oliver’s stiff words snatched the smile right off of your lips and Eddie placed a hand on your shoulder.

“They’ll be fine,” he turned to you with a tired smile. "C’mon, “I’ll go grab my guitar and I'll bring you home."

"You better because you're the one who drove me here," you joked, making him smile a bit wider. 

It was so easy to keep smiling without remembering every second was based on a bet. 

Eddie kept the grin on his face as he walked towards the stage, removing his instrument from its stand before shouldering it. 

Your gaze fell back to Oliver and Gareth who were still planted in front of you. Oliver was still glaring icy daggers at you while Gareth just smiled. A sweet smile that made Oliver’s gaze less terrifying.

“I’ll see you guys tomorrow?” Eddie asked as he came back towards you. 

“Yep, bye!” Oliver waved you both off before running off towards the stage.

“What’s up with him?” Eddie asked Gareth who gave him his best shrug of the shoulders. 

“I don’t know.” That was a lie, and he was glad Eddie was preoccupied with you or else he would have seen right through it.

“Weird,” he looked at his friend who was battling with a screw from the drum set. “Shall we?” He turned back to you.

“Yep.”

“Bye!”

“Bye Y/n!” Gareth’s smile warmed the cold of Oliver’s goodbye.

Eddie’s hand didn’t leave the small of your back until he had to push the big two doors open. A breeze came rushing in, making you instantly shiver.

"Fuck, I should have taken a sweater," you had somehow forgotten you were barely at the start of spring and that the air was still cold and called for layers.

"I think I have one in the van," Eddie said as he watched you rub your shoulders with both your palms.

"No, it's alright-"

Before you could protest, he opened the back and carefully strapped his guitar to the side before rummaging through a big green bag he always kept there. Eddie fished a balled up sweatshirt from it. 

"Here," there was a sincerity in his words that you couldn’t protest. As the cool spring air passed you by once more, a new shiver was sent tumbling down your spine. 

"Thanks," you took the black washed out fabric in your hands before placing one arm in each and hooking it over your head. The end of the sleeves were ripped, and small holes were at the edges of the neck, but you didn't mind. It smelt so much like him it almost made you swoon. And you weren’t a swooner. Weed and cigarettes mixed in with his cologne that smelt like wood and cinnamon. You even put the cuff of the sleeve up to your nose when he wasn't looking. But you weren't going to admit that.

The ride was peacefully quiet. Eddie hummed something you didn’t recognize. You thought it may have been a new song he was working on. The dragon’s head on the dashboard was going up and down almost in rhythm to his music as the van made its way in the direction of your house. Everything felt so perfect you had to do your best to stop from dozing off from pure contentment that washed over you as the dark, early morning streetlights fluttering in and out every second his van sped down the road. 

Everything was peaceful, relaxing, and absolute against your better judgment. You weren’t used to feeling this way, let alone willing yourself to reflect on the emotions that surged through your veins every moment spent in his presence. 

“I’m sure he’ll come around,” You blinked the sleep away as the words fell out of his mouth. You looked at him, questions as to who was written all over your features. “Oliver. I don’t know why he was so cold.”

“It’s alright,” You looked at the trees passing by. “You know I’m used to people being that way around me.”

“Hmm,” He didn’t sound convinced. Something in his eyes telling you he wasn’t happy with how his friend treated you so poorly. Jeff had a reason, but Oliver didn’t. Even Jeff had acted more civil than Oliver. 

The ride came to a stop faster than Eddie wished; parking himself in the same spot he had hours before when he picked you up.

“Thank you for the ride,” You gave him a small smile as you reached to open the door.

“You don’t think I’m going to let you walk back alone at this hour?” He raised an eyebrow and every reply was stolen from your lips. He chuckled when he saw your dumbfounded expression. “C’mon! Let’s go!” 

You stepped out of the van, the air getting colder again. Eddie’s sweatshirt suddenly felt like your best friend when another rush of wind blew. 

The forest road felt so quiet. High trees surrounding a crumbling strip of pavement Hawkins liked to call a road. A cat stood up on the gates of your neighbor’s home, glaring at you with his big eyes. Halloween was still months away. You started walking through the little gravel road that separated your parents' property with the others, Eddie ducked when some branches almost collided with his face.

"What are you doing?" You stopped as you watched him crouch next to the big rose bushes of your neighbor's home. Quickly, he stood back up, a brightness washing over him in the night as he waddled back towards you, a pink rose in his hand. Not wilted, perfectly formed. 

"I just wanted to show this rose how incredibly beautiful you are," he pointed it to you with a wide grin. He was pulling from a playbook you never heard from. 

For a golden second, you let the feeling invade you. That vulnerability of being loved, feeling appreciated. But it never lasted long with you. The years of people calling you mean and unapproachable, those words and this identity that you wore as a shield always came back. The bricks of a wall willing to crumble given the chance were fortified again, building higher and higher until you couldn’t see who was on the other side. Before the heat could be felt in your face, where it couldn’t stay for too long, you grabbed the rose and rolled your eyes. 

If you couldn’t enjoy the romance of it, you could jest the humorous aspect of it. 

"Holy hell, that's the cheesiest thing someone has ever said to me." 

"Well, you're welcome. I guess?" Eddie chuckled, pocketing his hands as he walked beside you. He wasn’t embarrassed. Eddie took that statement with pride because now he had a one up on the rest of the guys who tried to hit on you with textbook lines that made no impact at all. He would gladly take ‘cheesy.’ 

"This is my stop," You smiled. "I should probably give this back," You made a move to remove the sweatshirt from your body but Eddie shook his head.

"No, no. Keep it," You were glad it was dark because you felt the blowback of his words strike you with surprise. It was all over your face, and it was all at the thought of keeping his sweater. 

"Thanks," a light wind blew once more and you brought it a bit closer to your body. Boldness coursing through your veins, you leaned in and kissed his cheek as you prepared to depart. "I'll see you on Monday." You gave him a soft smile that brought butterflies to his stomach. He watched as you skillfully jumped over the barely three-foot high fence.

"Does that mean I can finally take you out on a real date?" 

"Maybe!" You turned around to answer him. Winking before disappearing in between the trees of the mini forest surrounding your house. 

Eddie could still spot you by the bright white of your pants, a dopey smile on his face as butterflies fluttered inside his stomach. 

And maybe he wasn’t in this just for the money. 

But the aspect that he was… well, that turned everything upside down.

[locationvoid]

AziraCrow

Demon Aziraphale -> Demon name: Zira

Angel Crowley -> Angel name: Raphael

~°~°~~°~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~°~~°~°~°~°~°

You don't have to read this part but this is my take on demon Aziraphale and Angel Crowley

So we don't have a whole lot of context on Crowley's past as an angel but we know he helped create the nebulas, helped out the start of the universe in place, and even participated in the Battle on the Plains of Heaven. We also know angels can have their memories wiped and tampered with and Crowley has stated how he doesn't remember everything about being an angel but he remembers he was high ranking since he had access to Gabriel's files and he remembers making the nebula cluster. He even remembers starting up the universe since he has the same crank tool he used to get everything started for the big bang.

I'm into the shared idea that Aziraphale, upon turning into a demon, will have gone blind for at least the first few weeks of becoming an angel. There's a theory that Crowley HAD to fall to be able to become the snake of Eden, which makes sense but still very f***ed up. But I believe Aziraphale would Still be a snake for there to be a snake of Eden. Snakes are seen as untrustworthy, sneaky, fast, tempting, and deceitful which would go well with my idea that after the first day Aziraphale and Crowley met each other, Aziraphale goes back to his own duties and can't help but think about what Crowley said, about how the angels who are also contributing to working on the Great Plan should be able to have a say in things as well. Conflicted, I can see him going around to other angels, innocently asking them what they think of the idea. Soon enough, instead of Satan and the guys finding angel Crowley, they overhear Aziraphale asking questions and invite him to hang out, so he does, not wanting to be rude but so genuinely curious to hear what Satan has to say. Then I can see Aziraphale slowly forming his own thoughts, wanting to show the other angels and God that they can all work together as equals and all get the credit they deserve.

This is where the war would come in. Originally, Aziraphale became guardian of the East Gate of Eden so I think it's safe to say he had a somewhat important role during the war. And Crowley was said to have ridden Furfur's back during the war which may seem like he did absolutely nothing but mess around during the war but the actual terms used for Crowley's role can honestly be referred to in a way where Crowley also played an important role on the opposing side. But I can say for sure until S3.

The idea for demon Aziraphale is that word would get around about Aziraphale asking questions and hanging out with Satan and he would be "tried" for his treason. But he knew there wouldn't be one and that he would be cast out so he joins the war on the opposing side, knowing how corrupt Heaven truly is. His last ditch effort to stop God's abuse of power and hopefully get someone new in charge but it's no use. I imagine the "war" is more like a civil war instead of a full on world war. And after, all the angels involved were cast out of Heaven, Aziraphale included. One of her strongest, most loyal soldiers betrayed her so when he falls, he's forced into his new life blind and afraid. Aziraphale's hands are now adorned with sharp claws and the whites of his eyes have darkened and his iris has turned to snake-like slits. He's forced to be a snake, not because it means he won't see the stars again but to remind him that he refused to trust Her and the Plan.

I can see Aziraphale still wanting to be an angel but not with Her in power so he accepts his fall to an extent.

Demon Aziraphale would still like his Tartan clothes, just in darker form, with the addition of dark blues. He would still like reading books but would be more open to other hobbies as well.

I can also see him hesitant to fully change his name so he may go by Zira as his demon name or he may use a demon name while in Hell and/or talking to Satan or the other demons but use the name Zira when talking to Crowley.

/////////////////////////////////////////

Angel Crowley will have thought about what Angel Aziraphale said to him, about how he shouldn't be asking so many questions because he wouldn't want to see Crowley (Raphael) fall. He would finish his duties of starting the universe and report back to God. He would try to put it out of his mind and continue on his duties like normal and, with Satan and the guys being occupied with Aziraphale, Crowley wouldn't have the chance to hang out with them.

I believe Aziraphale and Crowley (in the original story) still talked to each other at least every now and again when they were both still angels. This would be the same in this timeline but with some differences.

Every now and again the two would see each other and chat, carelessly, not wanting to talk work with each other, Aziraphale too scared of losing Crowley's friendship to bring up the fact that he's hanging out with Satan.

Then the rumors would start. Crowley will have heard about Aziraphale talking to Satan, other angels would see it as treason but Crowley would be genuinely intrigued with Aziraphale's new life. He would want to ask him questions, try to, but Aziraphale would refuse to answer, not wanting Crowley to get in trouble.

The war would happen and Crowley would be out in an important position (just like Aziraphale had been) and Aziraphale would fight on the opposing side.

Afterwards, upon Aziraphale's fall, Crowley is placed as guard of the Eastern Gate of Eden and given a flaming sword.

I believe the story would play out similarly as it did in the show except Angel Crowley would be a bit more confident than angel Aziraphale and wouldn't second guess giving his sword away. This lack of hesitation would intrigue Zira and it would be the start of a long friendship.

Angel Crowley would also be confident in his clothing style as well, switching up clothes each day/week to satisfy his need for change. Instead of a bookshop there would be a greenhouse attached to an apartment where people can buy plants ranging from decorative flowers and ferns to spices to fruits to vegetables and so on. He would also be a big fan of space and would have many space-themed pictures and objects around the place. Aziraphale would have a library space in his own apartment and a place for his music. He and Crowley both enjoy classical but I can see them both enjoying other genres as well that you wouldn't think angel Aziraphale or even angel Crowley would even like.

//////////////////////////////////

When it comes to the two of them together, I can see them being clingy, like in the books. Angel Crowley wouldn't be as hesitant to touch Aziraphale and wouldn't be as embarrassed to be nice to demon Zira since Crowley's angel side would be more confident in that sense. I can even see demon Zira being quite the passive aggressive demon while Crowley would be a very blunt angel, at least especially after the Garden of Eden when God has fully calmed down from the giving-his-sword-away thing. He will be more confident in his Earth work and thus a bit more blunt regarding what he wants. They would eat together, Crowley happily being introduced to human food by Zira, they would drink together, and they would sit close to each other. They would often show little signs of affection through touches and I could even see Crowley hugging Zira out of excitement sometimes.

I can see, even though angel Crowley is more confident, there are situations where he gets overwhelmed or outnumbered or just stuck and Zira is happily coming to his aid to help in any way he can. Not caring what the mission is, he just wants to be able to be by angel Crowley's side and help him, no matter how dangerous. He does like detective books.

But confessions of love would still be something that would happen later since, well, they're ineffable idiot lovers, they take their time.

(If you're wondering what the tattoo is on Aziraphale's face in the drawing, The Bowl of Hygieia, is one of the symbols of pharmacology, and along with the Rod of Asclepius, it is one of the most ancient and important symbols related to medicine in western countries. Hygieia was the Greek goddess of health, hygiene, cleanliness, and sanitation, and the daughter of Asclepius, who she is often closely associated with e.g. in prayers and hymns. Asclepius' symbol is his rod, with a snake twined around it; correspondingly, Hygieia's symbol is a cup or chalice with a snake twined around its stem. Hygieia was also invoked, along with her father Asclepius, and Panacea in the original Hippocratic Oath.)

[oneatlatime]

The Boy in the Iceberg

58 seconds in and I can already see why people say this show is gorgeous. Look at those colours! Although the double image around some of the line art is distracting.

Can water do that? Just have random fast currents in an otherwise pretty still ocean? Also, Catara couldn't have grabbed a spare paddle and helped? Actually they seemed screwed anyway. If they were going any faster they probably would have landed harder, or not on ice at all.

Judging by Sokka's lack of reaction to Catara's temper tantrum, I'd say she has that exact rant at least three times a week.

It's a face!

Maybe the giant orb created the current to summon them there?

Catara has no self-preservation instincts at all. Giant glowy orb washed up in front of you, don't poke it!

Tiger seals.

Solitaire. Neat.

That haircut is not good. Also a very unique choice for a voice. Wait this is Zuko? The guy everyone's obsessed with?

I love Appa already.

"this is Catara, my flying sister." A man after my own heart.

They really would have been stuck without Aang to offer a ride. What was their plan to get home?

Zuko is a prince? Hunting the avatar to reclaim his honour. Not sure how those two go together but ok. I guess 100 years ago the avatar stole a time-travelling Zuko's honour.

Appa can swim through the night? Why does he have six legs?

I didn't know this was a dream sequence at first and I was wondering where Sokka and Catara were. For future reference: dreams are brown.

Aang should have frozen to death by now. That's nowhere near enough clothes. And Catara can't be only just noticing the blue lines now.

Seems like the village has hit a rough patch.

If this is how catara reacts to a bald child, she's gonna spontaneously combust the first time she meets a teenage boy who isn't her brother. And how is an air bender going to teach her water bending?

Between the Appa snot and the watchtower gag, I sense Sokka will become the butt of many jokes.

You know, if you want him to actually learn, maybe tell him what he did wrong rather than reciting philosophical stuff and then shooting fire at his face? His presumably scarred face? Scarred presumably by fire? Kudos to Zuko for not flinching.

Is there a stick in Zuko's hair that's supporting it upright or does his hair just do that? Does Zuko have Pippi Longstocking hair? Speaking of hair, why does Catara have her hair like that? Surely that gets in the way of seeing stuff? It does look good when her hood is up though.

Good sneaky exposition dump Zuko. Didn't notice it until I thought about it after.

There's something hilarious yet tragic about Sokka spouting the wartime equivalent of live laugh love quotes and losing the battle with potty breaks. He has no idea what he's talking about but he believes in what he's saying so much.

Did Aang spend an hour in there?!?

So pretty.

Appa has six legs and penguins have four wings. Is the rule in this show that animals have 50% more appendages?

Last airbender smothered by penguins, more at 11.

"I haven't done this since I was a kid!" "You still are a kid!" That line feels like something that's going to come back.

Was the whole 'being a bender is showing no fear' or however that line went actually about bending, or do you really just want to explore the ship, Aang?

Gerbils at the south pole?

Would the fire nation send people back to rig a lost ship or are all fire nation ships rigged at all times and the crews are just used to working around the traps? Actually that would be a great way to catch spies.

I would jump to brain-damage induced amnesia from being trapped in an iceberg for a few hours before I'd ever think of a century long cryo-sleep. "it's the only explanation." Really?

All of these backgrounds are so pretty.

Air bending gets you some serious air. Those hops are stupid big, even accounting for cartoon physics.

I really like the end credits music. And according to the credits, I've been mispelling Katara's name this whole time.

Some final thoughts:

Katara (with a K) is too idealistic and trusting and Sokka is too cynical and suspicious. A perfect sibling pair. Also I love Sokka's sense of humour.

I like Aang's specific flavour of goofiness. He seems secure in himself and genuine. He has attention issues though.

Appa is a sea bison actually. Common misconception.

I like that they introduce the antagonist like 10 minutes into the first episode, but they're going to have to flesh him out way more before I read Zuko as anything other than an asshole. Also the voice is going to take a while to get used to. It's not that it doesn't fit the character design, it's just that I've never heard an actual human talk like that naturally. It's kind of muppet-like. Maybe he damaged his throat when he got that scar?

The voice acting is just superb. Even single lines like Gran Gran have distinct character. I did have to rewind a couple of times to catch what the old man with Zuko was saying.

The shading on the snow, the clouds and the skies, it's all so beautiful. You could watch this episode on mute and still be satisfied.

Katara is the only waterbender in the whole south pole, Sokka is the only man in the whole village, and Aang is the only air bender in the whole world. Gonna be a lot of lonely kids in this show. I sense a theme. I bet Appa is the only sea bison too.

Sokka is my favourite so far, but I think Aang is going to grow on me. Katara is a little bit too much of a Little Sister (TM) and Zuko just feels flat. But that just means more room to grow for both of them as characters. Of course Appa reigns supreme. I hope there's more of him in the next episode.

Even though this was half of a two-part episode, the cut off didn't feel abrupt. Maybe not a full self-contained story, but they left off at a perfect place.

Rereading this before posting, I asked a lot of quetsions. That's good! So many hooks to get me into the show, all in the first episode. I'm looking forward to the next one.

[tealmagicmoon]

MASSIVE CRACK THEORY HERE!!!

I think Ophiuchus (the 13th constellation) is making a move and has been puppetinng the shows from the beginning or at least from when Ruin arrived and he’s going to use Eclipse!

Info about Ophiuchus:

Ophiuchus is commonly described as the serpent bearer and is depicted as a man holding a snake.

It is the 11 largest constellations in our sky (as a hole not just the usual 12 constellations) and one of the stars within its constellation is the sun itself (it is the larger then all 12 constellations). Also side note take the sun bro no part of the Ophiuchus with a grain of salt bec I saw a LOT of mixed info in my research; however one thing that was made clear is that ALOT of the stars in Ophiuchus’s constellation are bigger then the sun. So yeah dat snake be big!

In mythology this is often seen as Apollo fighting a hug snake.

The more commonly used Greek myth when referring to Ophiuchus is where Zeus is worried a healer (who by watching a snake gives herbs to its friend who was hurt learnt medicine and found the secret to revival) would make the human race immortal so he truck them down however Zeus was aware of the good deed’s Asclepius (this is Apollo’s son and the healer in question) made so as a prize he placed them in the sky to commemorate their life making him become the constellation of Ophiuchus.

Ophiuchus repents the concept of cycles, medicine, healing and RESURRECTION!!

Ophiuchus’s attitude is commonly depicted as a I can kill ya or I can cure ya pick your poison kinda dude. He’s very secret and sneaky often helping in the background and peppering things into the best direction.

Ophiuchus ⛎ signs, Personality traits:

People who are born between November 29 to December 17.

are seekers of knowledge, insatiably curious, very hands (always ready to get their hand dirty), flamboyant, sarcastic, impulsive, temperamental and power-hungry.

They are often refers to as seekers of wisdom and knowledge even to their own detriment.

How on the flip side because yk the man has a snake and ho boi do people not like snakes:

Ophiuchus is often in a media or literature sense written as a evil character who is very apathetic, think of All of one from MHA. Mastermind that can’t stay dead that will use and abuse anything to get what they want.

Often associated with the devil since snake and are edgy usually written with A LOT of betrayal that turned them into what they are now.

Eclipses weird connections to cycles, snakes and medicine:

The Ophiuchus personality traits is LITERALLY ECLIPSE. I could not stop yawkinng when I researchi my this I was like damn even flamboyant holy sheesh. Seriously petty much everything above just makes me think Eclipse.

We’ve all made fun of Eclipse for how a LOT of his evil doing has ended up directly benefiting other people. On the Monty and Puppet podcast they had a large segment about his if I’m remember correctly.

The maternity chip was the wake up call Roxanne needed even if it was cruel (creepy even).

Forcing Sun and Moon into each others shoes.

Sun was the one with an uncontrollable killcode dictating this actions now and Eclipse for Lunar to torture Moon in the same way he did Sun.

Him abusing Lunar in particularly him nearly kill Lunar to get the star from Monty made Lunar join Sun and Moon leading to his downfall.

Him actually killing Lunar off have Lunar star power due to Lunar getting rebuild in space.

Him making Solar Flare resulted in Solar Flare coming up with the very plan to kill him.

ALL of his action unintentionally result in good things for others and I’m sure there’s a few I’m missing.

The ridiculous amount to foreshadowing and the warning signs:

Castor warning Eclipse saying that “Not all constellations are kind.” (Skipping a lot of threading and Eclipse being Eclipse “When I said not all of us constellations are kind I wasn’t referring to all of us in the twelve constellation, I was referring to the one on the outside of it.”

“Did you think when you made negative star power there’s no such thing as a negative constellation, one that draws on that power. That wants to bring the end.”

Eclipse states he thought that was the wither storm.

“It is the storm is sorta like it’s child it chooses to forester.”

“And what you did potentially brought it’s attention to you and if it did I pray you die swiftly.”

Eclipse then says “my past self.”

Castor says, “It’s doesn’t care; it never cares because your death still expedites the death of the universe.” (expedite means to speed up).

“Unless of course we stars get involved then we overload you with so much positive energy explode into star dust soon early then you turn into the one for millions in the sky.”

To which Eclipse chuckles and says “Fitting for an Eclipse.”

Like holy moly this is confirmation on a 13th sign their potential interest in Eclipse and their likely hood to kill Eclipse to speed up the death of the universe!

My question is how many times?

The fact we’ve heard multiple astrals talk about a foreboding ‘he’. Castor and Pollux have mentioned it in passing a few time (I think once with Nebular but I might be misremembering).

Ik it was probably because Eclipse was alone so that’s why Castor picked then to talk about to Eclipse but as an ex-photographer student let me tell ya. The camera angles spoke to me. The long shot of Castor standing opposite at a distance to Eclipse, clearing showing they are not on the same side yet also conveying that he wasn’t going to be overly aggressive with his threats. If your gonna threaten someone your gonna do up close and personal. Which he later on does do to when telling Eclipse is he threatens the natural order he and his sibling will wipe him off the face of the universe.

Eclipses camera angle of the tree with the power of the magic circle beaming behind him with his glowing eyes. It’s all very telling when you stop to think.

Eclipses magic is WEIRD!!

His magic lets him do from what we’ve seen pretty much anything he wants. He wanna float then fair mode he goes, teleport that’s easy Peezy, now we haven’t seen him in a fight but I bet if he was in one he’d be able to more then hold his own.

Ruin has said multiple times he made Eclipse very strong.

Eclipse seems found or at least okay with his magic THIS ISN’T NORMAL! Eclipse’s original has stated MANY times he doesn’t like magic and prefers to stick with tech but this isn’t the case with the clone(s)?

He came back with a profound understanding and advance knowledge of his magic and how to use it, mastering effectively immediately. He KNEW about Castor and Taurus’s past he says “My memories are jumbled but he remembers studding you guys (referring to Castor and the astrals) or at least trying to”.

His magic circle is a tree around a tree in the centre of an island in the middle of the ocean. That’s odd. Trees have a lot of symbolic stuff with life and death and healing and all that jazz. Tree of life type stuff.

The one I think of the most though, is the tree of knowledge. Yk the one with Adam and Eve.

You probably know the tail but I’ll summaries if not.

Big tree of knowledge god says to Adam “Yo you and Eve don’t touch the tree”

Adam says “Cool whatever ya want boss.” Adam proceeds to forget to tell Eve.

A snake tricks even into eating one of the apples on the tree then god gets pissed and punishes humanity by making them endure suffering in life. In others words mortality, sickness, death, transgressions basically anything ‘bad’ in life.

Eclipse said “The symbols are warn into the wood itself.”

We know Ruin didn’t half ass Eclipse he said to BloodMoon “Your not my best efforts BloodMoon that would be Eclipse.”

So why is his Magic embedded into the tree itself?

Even weirder all trees on the island are dead they haven’t bloomed yet.

Eclipse was metaphorically the snake on Sun and Moons shoulder.

For Moon he was his killcode, his ambition and his extra drive to make him kill, hurt and torturer. Think about it Bloodmoon came from the WORSE part of the killcode. THAT was constantly in Moon ear.

The theory:

My current theory is when Eclipse revives Solar he’s going to awaken Ophiuchus who will trick him into ‘eating the apple of knowledge’ or some sort of horrid sin. Or maybe the revival is the sin idk.

Eclipse is going to either leave with Ophiuchus under the guise of ‘fixing the multiverse after Ruin dumbness’ or as a punishment either way Eclipse is gonna leave and I’m not surprised if he does especially since he’s already planning to. I mean come on TSAMS has made a hole multiverse why not explore it. This could be how Eclipse gets his own YT channel one that’s following his ‘redemption’ and healing arc.

Think about it he fixed Solar why stop there. Eclipses need a purpose greater then selves to life. He’s the perfect target. No one would know or even if they found out no one would care (for Earth it would be easy to change her mind; she’s surrounded by people who are waiting for Eclipse to do something evil again after all. All it would take is a little framing or a threading Earths life and Oop- He’s all alone again). That’s also not taking his directives into consideration we know since he told Frank his current direct is to ‘fix Ruins mistakes’ so this would be perfect for him.

Less evidence but interesting coincidences:

Not to mention all 13 constellation cross the ecliptic (which is the path the sun travels in a month) which ik this is a stretch which is why it’s on the fun fact that kinda but also not really supports my wild ideas side of this theory then on the actual evidence side.

The birthstone for Ophiuchus? ITS DUCKKNG BLOODMOON I AINT KIDDING!!!

The AMOUNT of hallucinations aren’t normal and I like to think this ain’t because the writers are too lazy to go through other ways of the mind effecting the person in grief. Each hallucination is very manipulative always reign to get something.

I THINK THE SHOW KNOWS THIS!!!

We see two types of hallucinations in the show:

Suns hallucination of BloodMoon, repetitive, digging on his insecurities but most of all it’s Sun’s mind punishing him for killing BloodMoon so he NEVER does it again. It’s a twisted way his mind is protecting him.

Verses:

When Monty was hallucinating his Dad at his dad’s grave. The hallucination has a goal ‘get Monty to hurt FC’. Monty talked himself out of hurting the kid before his dead showed up and started pressuring him, IT FELT FAR TOO PURPOSEFUL!!!

Eclipse hallucinates a more calmer, less ‘insane’ Version himself. When Eclipse want in the mental capacity to think for himself the hallucination guided him on a though process and planted the idea of using Lunar and his star power which ultimately got him killed again.

THIS IS ALSO VERY PURPOSEFUL!!

Almost forgot to put the Monty and Eclipses hallucinations only happened when they were alone and vulnerable where as Suns did care is he was around others or not.

I'm your wondering why I haven't included Moon in this it's because I'm still analysing his and I wanna see more before I jump to conclusions.

[cattyanon]

👀

Oh I suppose I can share.

So technically it's the Sonic of No Place that's the siren. Although now I'm considering exploring something where Sonic becomes the siren cause why not... His name is Spindrift (which i researched a bunch of water related words for the coolest sounding thing) backstory is that during a giant storm he fell off the Angel's Voyage and in a stroke of 'luck' he comes in contact with a magical gem (i'm still not sure if I want it to be the Paradox Prism itself or just something made up) that turns him into a mermaid. And no, mermaid wasn't a typo- but there's an explanation! >:)

Anyways, after the initial freak out he's like "I gotta find some way to reverse this!!" And although he tries to be careful about who he asks for help since he knows people can be assholes his plan goes awry. You see the plan was for him to hang out kinda close to a random docking place and then when a ship takes off he'd tail it for a little while and eavesdrop in order to figure out if they're good people. Unfortunately he wasn't being as sneaky as he thought and word got around of a mermaid being spotted in the area. As you can probably guess, this doesn't end well for him and he ends up captured by bad people and put onto a black market.

He goes through the wringer and is passed around/sold many times and despite trying to cling onto hope, one day he breaks. I don't have anything specific on what happens but one day he hits his limit and he SCREAMS at the top of his lungs in a mix pain, sadness, and anger. And the scream is abnormally loud. So loud it shatters all and any glass around him and ends up rupturing the eardrums of anyone too close.

If you guessed that means he went from being a mermaid to being a siren- you're correct! I even made some lore about it~

So basically when a mermaid gets consumed by hatred they turn into a siren. It's a very rare occurrence though, so there's not that many sirens in the world. Sirens are shunned by mermaids and despite their reasons for becoming one (like Spindrift was basically tortured) they're banished from anywhere mermaids reside.

There's a few main difference between mermaids and sirens besides the obvious siren powers gained upon transforming. Here's a list:

Can breathe above water for longer periods of time. This is how Spindrift managed to drag himself back into the ocean without suffocating to death. It was a really close call though.

They have claws.

More prone to anger.

Carnivores instead of omnivores.

Maybe a slightly longer lifespan...?

Anyways, Spindrift no longer trusts anyone else. Least of all blindly. In fact he actively hates what he (eventually) refers to as surface dwellers. After finding somewhere pretty secluded (which ends up being the Devil's Lighthouse) he settles down and makes the area his home. But sadly there are pirates greedy and daring enough to try and get to whatever treasures may lie in that area... and Spindrift hates trespassers.

After at least a few boat sinkings, somebody manages to survive and spreads the word about how there's a siren guarding the Devil's Lighthouse. Spindrift earns the nickname Rupture and, upon learning of said nickname, eventually embraces it. He loves the looks of terror upon people's already terrified faces when he reveals/confirms his nickname. It brings him a sick sense of pleasure that derives from the torture he endured at the hands of pirates. It was like payback.

When Dread first tries to get to the Devil's Lighthouse, he doesn't get enough of a good look at Rupture to to think he's Spindrift. Combine that with the fact that Spindrift was kindhearted and should be dead and the thought never even crosses his mind.

Then Sonic Prime happens... and boy is everybody in for a shock. And a bit of whiplash at the sight of Sonic. :p

[presidenthades]

I am doing very minor revisions of Daemon’s Handbook (mostly formatting and continuity errors), and I wanted to do some behind-the-scenes commentary before too much time passes and I forget my original thoughts. Here’s Chapter 5!

(Note that these commentaries aren’t canon to the verse until/unless the author writes them into the series. I might change my mind on a few points later, but these are the thoughts I had while writing.)

Daemon’s spies never see Sunfyre at Driftmark while Jace is fostered there. Does that necessarily mean Aegon never visited Jace at Driftmark? 🤔 (Hint: Helaena/Dreamfyre are frequently spotted visiting.)

In this verse, Rhaenyra is more familiar with her half-siblings since they spend so much time with her daughters. I think Rhaenyra has a soft spot for Helaena (because everyone has a soft spot for Helaena 🥰 and Helaena is allowed to spend even more time with her nieces since she’s a girl).

Helaena’s fidget toys are a collection of fabric butterflies, which Rhaena makes and sends with her letters.

Jace mentioned a Spicetown merchant selling a horn that can summon krakens, which, in the ASOIAF books, is part of House Celtigar’s collection of curiosities. Whether it’s a genuine artifact is a different question.

Jace doesn’t spend a lot of time talking to Rhaenyra and Daemon this chapter. That’s because she knows she’s a terrible liar, so she keeps her distance in order not to let slip anything about the elopement. Also, Jace’s lack of correspondence while she’s at Driftmark is because she’s distracted by Aegon, who may or may not have found a way to visit her without Daemon realizing.

When Rhaenys catches Daemon’s spy in her rookery, she lets Jace know that Daemon is keeping an eye on her. Jace passes on this message to Aegon so he knows to be sneaky.

Rhaenyra is reminded of herself and Alicent when she sees Rhaena and Helaena. I personally think Rhaenyra and Alicent had non-platonic feelings for each other when they were younger, but I left this bit open to interpretation.

Joff demands Daemon go with her to the dragonglass quarry, partly so she can get dragonglass, partly so Jace can talk about wedding clothes with Rhaena and Helaena without Daemon eavesdropping. Joff also drops the “babies are ugly” line later to distract Daemon and Rhaenyra so the other girls have time to fly to the elopement spot. Joff is an expert at diversions.

The crescent moon amulet that Joff makes is inspired by the ancient Roman lunula, a protective amulet for female children. The “multiples of fourteen” is a reference to the Fourteen Flames of Valyria, kind of like how seven is the lucky number in Westeros.

When Rhaenyra’s labors start, you can see Baela being antsy because she’s thinking about snitching to Daemon about the elopement. Instead, she ends up sending a raven to Rhaenys (referenced by Maester Gerardys later), which is how Rhaenys knows where to go at the end of the chapter.

Joff’s hatred of vegetables is a running joke I wrote into the story to underline that at heart, she really is just a kid.

The elopement happened very differently in an early version of this story, where Baela and Rhaena are both fostered at Driftmark while Jace stays at Dragonstone. Aegon picks up Jace in the middle of the night at Dragonstone, they fly to Driftmark, and Baela and Rhaena blackmail High Tide’s septon to conduct the ceremony, but Daemon arrives before they finish the vows. But I increased Baela and Rhaena’s role in the story, which had a domino effect on a lot of later events. And I made Jace and Aegon complete their vows so it’s harder for Daemon to brush off.

Aegon 100% found the drunk septon in Flea Bottom and hauled him along on Sunfyre.

Rhaenys didn’t know Jace was planning to elope, but she did know something about Jace and Aegon. I might explore her POV one day so I can figure out what exactly she knew 😛

[spacemagicandlaserswords]

The Clone Wars 4x9 ‘Plan of Dissent’ Reaction

Hardcase NO

I was tearing up at that. “Live to fight another day.” *sobs*

Fuck Krell. Absolute heartless bastard.

Really not impressed with Dogma at this stage so I’m guessing a lot happens in the final episode of this arc.

Poor Tup. He really reminds me of the friend that is pressured into doing things that they really don’t want to do. And the poor thing is so anxious and worried. I’m relating to him far too much.

Fives with his legs splayed open on his back under a ship doing mechanical work? HELLO?!?! First Tech, now this?! Though I guess technically (heh) it was Fives first then Tech. Either way, most excellent crotch and thigh shot. 

Speaking of thighs, this is where those gifs of Rex’s thigh plates come from! 

Help me why am I having thots when everything that’s happening is so awful

That was some look from Rex when he saw Fives, Jesse and Hardcase flying off in the Umbaran fighters. Long suffering “why are those idiots doing this” combined with admiration and respect that they actually went and did it.

Omg the chaos in the hanger with Hardcase trying to fly the fighter and destroying everything and Fives doing his best Han Solo impression of trying and failing to definitely not sound sus.

“That’s gonna leave a mark” CACKLING

Hardcase actually did a fairly decent job of coming up with a fairly believable story and making it believable enough. Not wholly believable but better than I expected. Fives though, baby, you really need to get better at acting. 

Speaking of, the shot of the clones at the start and Fives leaning on the wall looking down with his ankles crossed definitely looks like the start to some 90s boy band music video. I know I’ve seen this mentioned before but it’s hilarious how accurate that description is.

Rex trying to take the blame for Fives and Jesse and then Fives refusing to let him and Rex looking at him and saying “Fives!” all anguished and just ugh ALL OF MY EMOTIONS

Is Appo the one with the downward pointing white arrow surrounded by blue paint on the forehead of his bucket? Just checked Wookieepedia and yup, he is. Also, he's a CC. So why is he a Sergeant?

Hardcase with his little sneaky wiggly fingers. I love him so much.

I’ve noticed this with a few clones but they have these 3 lines of utterly adorable crows feet when they grimace or scrunch up their faces in certain ways and I just want to kiss them they’re so precious.

How is Rex keeping it all together? Poor man. I didn’t think it would be possible to want the walking disaster that is Anakin back but here we are. Do we ever find out why he was so suddenly and conveniently called back to Coruscant immediately? I’m assuming it’s Palps meddling.

Still loving Jesse and his little nose scrunch every time he turns up. There’s a heart and gentleness to him and that’s really evident in his little moment at the start about valuing the lives of the clones. I’m still not sure if I should be referring to them as clones or men so it’s just sort of bouncing between the two at the moment.

You can see why Jesse ends up becoming an ARC. I did have the heartbreaking thought the other day that seeing as Jesse becomes an ARC after Echo dies, does that mean Jesse replaces Echo as Fives’ ARC partner? *gross sobbing*

This is also the episode where that gif of Rex glaring over his shoulder comes from!

Tup gesturing with his space screwdriver thingy and waving it around. Bless.

The clones' voices are also starting to sound noticeably more distinct. Jesse’s is softer. Rex’s more gruff, no nonsense and laced with authority, which makes sense. Hardcase is utterly chaotic, rambling and slightly higher? You can hear the nervousness and worry in Tup’s voice. Dogma’s voice is also higher and much more tightly wound. I’m not sure how I’d describe Fives’ voice but it’s noticeably different to Rex’s and everyone else’s. I’m so glad they’re finally building out their characters and it’s not just generic clone voice for all of them.

Also, Rex running interference for Fives, Jesse and Hardcase and intercepting Dogma and Tup. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.” UGH 

What’s Fives’ role in the 501st and Torrent? He seems like Rex’s second in command and right hand man but he doesn’t have a rank. Wookieepedia just lists him as an ARC Trooper. Are ARC Troopers just in their own special little box of bonkers BAMFness?

I keep adding to this reaction because I’m putting off watching the final episode of this arc. Ugh, MY EMOTIONS.