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babygorewhore · 10 days

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Psychoanalyze

Cooper Adams/Abbott x therapist!fem reader

Serial killer the Butcher is in your house. You have to use your training to keep yourself from becoming his next victim. But he has a surprising reaction to your survival tactic.

Gif credit belongs to @billy-crudup

Warnings! A lot. Talks of his crimes! Reader is a behavioral therapist at a hospital! Manipulation! Switch! Cooper! But he submissive at first. Mommy kink but only used once! Reader is vaguely described to be midsize range. Praise, Degrading, oral fem receiving, fingering, face slapping, spitting, scratching, hair pulling, unprotected sex, choking, stomach bulge. Cum eating? Filthy talk tbh. They’re both fucked up. Reader is dominated second half of fic. Finger sucking.

“Make sure to keep your doors locked, Mom. Set the alarm too.” You instruct your worried mother over the phone. You gave her a step by step reminder on how to alert the alarm just using her app.

You sighed and hung up after a few minutes. You saw the news earlier, reading the headline about Cooper being the Butcher. It made you feel cold and empty. Being a counselor, you are trained to study human behavior. He also happened to work close to you.

Still early in your career, you were working in the behavioral unit at the local hospital. The fire department was always called during emergencies and you saw him on a regular basis.

One afternoon, during a particularly chaotic shift, you had talked down a violent patient who had gotten a hold of a nurse.

Cooper watched you the whole time with a dark expression on his face and it made you feel on edge. He gave you a feeling that beneath his friendly, pep in his step, easy going act that there was something else. Something he hid away.

Turns out, it was worse than you could have imagined. Bodies, dismemberment and a seven year long manhunt over the man who’d vowed to save lives.

You finished chewing a piece of candy, tossing the trash in the garbage and turned around. You immediately covered your mouth as a gasp escaped you, losing your balance as your lower back hit the counter painfully.

Cooper was sitting at your table, tense and his hand was inches away from a knife. His plaid shirt was unbuttoned at the top. You swallowed back the urge to sprint, knowing he’d lunge at you and enjoy the fear.

“How did you get in?” You asked simply, straightening your spine.

“I have a key.” He answered in the same casual tone. You nodded and turned your head but Cooper cleared his throat. “I wouldn’t consider that. By the time you grab something or try and run, it’ll be too late.”

You weighed your options. Cooper was a very big man. Strong and stealthy. More than you anticipated. You could try anyway, use speed to your advantage but instead you tried another tactic.

“Cooper, if you leave and don’t hurt me, I won’t call the police for an hour. Giving you a good head start.”

“I like your confidence.” Cooper’s compliment sent shivers across your body and you clenched your fingers into a fist. The tension in the air was thick and he leaned forward.

“I would appreciate it if you sat down.” Although the statement was polite, you knew he wasn’t really asking. He was commanding you.

You eased yourself down onto the chair, your muscles flexing and he grazed his fingers along the knife handle. Cooper inhaled deeply and extended his hand.

“May I have your phone? I’d rather not take it from you.”

You gave him your device, making sure the screen was still locked and he tucked it in his pocket.

“You perplex me.” He tells you, making your eyebrows draw together. “Normally, I see someone who thinks they’re whole and I get the urge to tear them apart.” Cooper savors those last words, as if speaking them could make him relive his crimes. “But with you, I get the feeling that you don’t actually have things together. That it’s all an act.”

You were terrified. Every single nerve in your body was telling you to run away but Cooper’s dark eyes implored yours. Keeping you still and he set a firm palm on your arm. His touch was warm and you flinched.

“I want you to try and understand me. Watching you work is like watching…artwork.” He humorlessly laughed and your bottom lip quivered.

You searched your brain for any memory of what the news said about the Butcher. Organized offender, terrible relationship with his mother, position of authority. It was one thing to hear these things versus having a patient with these traits.

“I think you do really love your kids.” That you did know. You saw their picture as the background of his phone. The only sign of humanity showed when he talked about his children. Cooper gave you a small smirk.

“You…you want to be accepted for who you are. You want to be told that you’re enough. That you’re lovable.” You were grasping at straws but trying to sound collected.

Cooper looked away and you knew that hit a nerve. “You want someone to take care of you.” You continued and moved forward. “Am I on the right track?” He jerked his head in a nod.

“You’re a good boy and you can keep being one. If you just do the right thing and don’t hurt me.” You whispered, setting your hands on his knees. This was incredibly stupid and risky but Cooper blinked rapidly.

“I’m not going to hurt you anymore, Cooper. I promise. Just promise me that you’ll be a good boy?”

Your question went unanswered as he wrapped his arms around your waist. You yelped, your legs dangling as he carried you to the bedroom. Normally, you hated the idea of someone picking you up but Cooper easily hauled you on the bed. You landed in a heap on your back. You climbed on your elbows, watching him remove his shirt in the dim lighting.

His mountain sized form shook as he crawled on top of you. Cooper kept his weight from crushing you and you sighed in disbelief as he nuzzled his face in the crook of your neck.

The fact that a serial killer was in your bedroom, breathing against your skin shirtless made you half wonder if this was a dream. But your body was betraying you. Your senses were leaving as Cooper’s full lips pressed against your pulse point.

Your legs instinctively widened and he settled further in between them. His thick thighs covered in jeans rubbing against you. You had on pajama shorts, exposing your curves and he ran his hand down until it settled on your hip.

Cooper gave it a steady squeeze as his tongue darted out, tasting your skin and he groaned. Your nipples were hardening inside your hoodie and you ached to touch him but held yourself back. This was wrong, this was so incredibly wrong!

“Let me worship you,” He grunted and peppered kisses down your chest. Cooper tugged down the zipper of your shirt, exposing your tits and he took a nipple in his mouth.

His teeth grazed the bud and you whined. Back arching and he started sucking hard enough to leave marks. You hadn’t been fucked in a while, too busy with your job to spend time with anyone but Cooper’s desperate noises made your core pulse.

“Such pretty tits, you taste so good. I can’t wait to sample how sweet you are,” Cooper peeled off your shorts and underwear. You saw him slide them into his pocket before he distracted you with his mouth traveling down your stomach.

His hands were heavy and firm. Laced with age and calluses but he did have a gentleness that prevented unpleasant pain. Instead of pushing your legs as wide as possible, Cooper held your knees. Keeping your thighs high and you couldn’t squirm away.

All your thoughts merged together and seemed into the present moment. You didn’t think about how dangerous he was or that he broke into your house.

“You’re being such a good boy,” You whimpered and Cooper released a guttural moan. He hungrily sucked your clit, making you cry out and bury your hands in his hair.

The silky strands between your fingers were the only way you could ground yourself as he spit and licked up after himself. Your pussy clenched around his tongue and your entire body burned. Cooper wasn’t tentative at all like the other men you’d been with. He buried his entire face, his nose hitting your center and he humped the bed. You knew he wasn’t just eating you out for your pleasure, it was for his own too. You could barely breathe from the pressure in your stomach and lungs as he held your knees tighter.

Your ass was almost off the mattress as Cooper devoured your cunt. His large size gave you a small reality check that he could easily kill you. You shrieked when you released one leg and pressed two girthy fingers inside you. He was able to reach the deepest spot, curling them and making your mouth hang open. It was enough that your climax was scratching the surface. Cooper’s intensity increased and he added another finger as he messily licked your clit.

An explosion hit you, making you let out an embarrassingly loud wail and your free leg clamped around his head. Your cum gave him more slickness as Cooper continued fingering you through it. His lips hovered above your pussy, pressing open mouth kisses against your lower stomach.

Even in the low lighting, you could see the black lust in his gaze as he lifted up. Sticky arousal coated the entire lower half of his face.

“Did that feel good, mommy?” His voice was croaky, almost like he was going to cry and you moaned. You undid his belt, furiously pulling down his pants and boxers.

Your leg hoisted around his waist and you pushed him onto his back. Cooper threw his head back as you situated yourself on top. His dick was big, throbbing as you lined yourself and sank down. He huffed and you laced your fingers with his.

You started rocking, sweat gathering on your skin but he only remained pinned down for a few seconds. He sat up, cupping the back of your head and crushed your lips together. The kiss wasn’t romantic. It was harsh, brutal and bordering on rage.

Your nails raked down his arms, making him growl against your mouth and he pulled your lower lip with his teeth. You gripped his cheeks, spitting in his mouth and then you slapped him.

Cooper looked animalistic as he drove his hips harder into you. It felt like you were going to split open, like it wasn’t going to fit all the way.

“Pathetic little boy,” You hit him again, this time on the other side. “You like that? Like being punished?” Your words were filled with venom and he was trembling so hard it was difficult to keep fucking him.

Cooper’s release hit him violently and he made noises that almost brought you to a second orgasm. Cum seeped in your pussy and your cunt hurt from how turned on you were. He sputtered and groaned. His arms were crushing you but you enjoyed the discomfort.

Whatever submission he had, it vanished as he flipped you over. Cooper’s hand shoved your face down into the pillow as he maneuvered your ass up.

You panted as he sharply slapped your ass, his tip rubbing against your slit. Drool pooled out of your mouth and Cooper pinned your dominant arm behind your back.

“You think you’ve beaten me? By making me bust my load that quickly?” He slammed into you balls deep and it hurt enough to make tears spring. Feeling you recoil inward, he massaged your clit and made you let out a pornographic sound.

“Sweetheart, you’re going to be nothing but a cum slut for me. I’m gonna make it drip out of you,” He thrusted hard, making the bed move and you bit down on the material of the pillow.

“You’re fucking helpless. You get that? I could hurt you and you couldn’t stop it.” He laughed, a crazed noise that horrified you. But his dick kept you from acting like a rational person.

“I was going to make you my victim but now you’re gonna be my whore.” Cooper’s filthy words made you choke on a sob as you came on his cock.

He didn’t let you stay in that position, merely tossing you on your back and shoving his dick in. But he did allow you to touch him, claw at his back and wrap your legs around him. Cooper locked his hand around your throat and you were rendered entirely at his mercy.

His frame caged you in and he pressed on your stomach with his other palm.

“Cream on my dick. Your pussy is so goddamn tight, I can feel it like this,” You were delirious and he tapped your cheek with two fingers. “Awww, what’s wrong, princess? Cock so good you went stupid on me?”

His mocking was followed by his seed gushing into you. Cooper rode out his orgasm and pulled out. He jerked himself off, covering your stomach in cum. Taking his finger, he pushed it past your lips. Making you taste both of your releases.

“You’re mine now. And you’re going to be a good little slut. Aren’t you?” You mindlessly nodded, sucking his digit and Cooper gave you a wicked smile.

“Atta girl. Now, get on the floor. Start at the door and crawl to me.”

Tagging: @xxbimbobunnyxx @cxrrodedcoffin @amethystblackkchaos @cryobabyy @hereforthehitsbaby @id-rather-be-in-middle-earth @rottenangel @rosaleelovesdilfs @strangererotica @justafangirls-blog @coopers-bunny @thebutchersbitch @redpillbluepill @rubyfruitjungle @lovalova444 @oceanblvd111 @stillwjk-channie-lixie

Dividers by @cafekitsune

#cooper #cooper adams #Cooper Adams smut #cooper adams x reader #cooper adams x you #cooper adams x y/n #cooper abbot #cooper abbott #Cooper Abbott x fem reader #Cooper Abbott smut #Cooper Abbott x you #Cooper Abbott fanfiction #josh hartnett #Josh Hartnett characters #josh hartnett fanfic #Trap #trap 2024 #trap movie #m night shyamalan

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formulawolff · 4 months

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✧˖° golden girl & her star boys ✧˖°

hello everyone! ♡

as part of the alkaline series, i felt that this was necessary. i’m going to give a little bit of background on the readers’ relationships with the other drivers on the grid! (i also just love to yap. that’s the real reason!)

˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧˖⁺‧₊˚♡˚₊‧⁺˖

✧˖° williams ✧˖°

alex albon — one of her best friends and teammate. basically like her older brother who is constantly giving unwanted advice. they banter and argue CONSTANTLY. however, she deeply appreciates his ability to be 10000% honest with her at all times. she’s definitely cried on his shoulder numerous times.

he was the first person to accept her to the f1 scene with open arms. he is constantly defending her name and likeness to the media. although he won’t admit it directly, he has a deep respect and love (sibling sort of love!) for her. he wouldn’t want anyone else to be driving alongside him at williams.

✧˖° mercedes ✧˖°

lewis hamilton — they are friendly with one another, but not super close. lewis is super friendly and inviting, she is just a little intimidated by him. he has this powerful aura, and since he’s always been one of her role models, she has a hard time approaching him. the conversations they have had, she’s always been grateful for his encouragement and advice.

sometimes he will make fun of her for being so “american.” (lots of yeehaw, stereotypical jokes about the u.s.) she laughs it off though, usually countering back with her witty humor.

george russell — as we know… these two do not get along. he’s polite, but does not necessarily enjoy her bold and brash personality. he thinks that she’s a little “too much” at times, especially with how opinionated she is on social media. lewis has to often remind him that he needs to be friendlier, considering her contract is up at the end of the 2024 season. and he knows toto is scouting for a new driver, so she may be potential option.

begrudgingly, george will sometimes compliment her. it’s not super nice or over the top, but they are compliments!

✧˖° red bull ✧˖°

max verstappen — he adores her! he has a ton of admiration and respect for her, often complimenting her techniques or good laps. they are somewhat close, checking in with one another during breaks. he is also protective of her likeness, often reminding journalists that her gender doesn’t matter. she’s a worthy competitor and an exceptional driver. (since you know, she’s a contender for the champion slot but we won’t address that yet!) they often do interviews together with the other guys!

he thinks her american slang, accent, and mannerisms are cute. he has a slight crush but is also somewhat scared of her. it leaves him feeling confused yet bewildered at times.

sergio perez — the two are friendly. sort of like coworkers who work in different departments but are cordial with one another. since she’s so young, checo thinks that she has a lot to learn. he does offer advice, but not often. he does believe that she is a talented driver and deserves her spot on the grid. he is well aware of max’s little crush and teases him relentlessly for it.

✧˖° mclaren ✧˖°

lando norris — one of the besties! he’ll often ask her to come on to his livestreams with him during breaks or the offseason. they snap one another frequently, often using the weird and funny filters. he loves to hear about her perspective on the f1 world, considering her position as the first american female driver. they’ve met up a few times between races to hang out or he’ll bring her and alex food to the paddock. he knows that she loves peeled apple slices so sometimes he’ll bring some to her the morning of race day.

he is a firm believer that she’s going to be a first female world champion in the next few years.

oscar piastri — another one of the besties! they’re close but not as close as reader & lando. he also enjoys hearing her perspective on everything f1 related. he’ll tag along with lando quite often to bring food, snacks, and drinks to the paddocks or hang outs. one of the first few drivers on the grid to approach and befriend her. (he couldn’t help but notice how anxious she looked, and he wanted to give her some comfort)

✧˖° ferrari ✧˖°

carlos sainz — one of the besties! is very willing to do funny bits for social media with her, no matter what it entails. he enjoys her fiery personality and her ability to stand up for what she believes in. he’ll often join her, lando, oscar, and charles for hangouts between races. sometimes he’ll list her as an emergency contact because he knows how much she’s on her phone. he teaches her spanish from time to time, just the basics so that she can get by when they’re traveling. (although sometimes he’ll tell her the wrong things on purpose, just because it’s hilarious)

charles leclerc — one of the besties! he will often join her and lando on livestreams, especially if they’re sim racing. he’s very competitive with her and tries to beat her in every game possible. he loves when she helps him with english, as he often has troubles with the language. he is fascinated by the idea of texas roadhouse, and wants to go to one with her, carlos, lando, and oscar sometime. additionally, she’s the first one he goes to when he needs help understanding a specific social media trend. or help buying gifts for his girlfriend.

✧˖° aston martin ✧˖°

fernando alonso — endearingly refers to himself as her padre. loves to tease her about anything and everything, in the way a father would to his daughter. they have lengthy discussions over a variety of topics, ranging from opera music to what they had for breakfast that morning. she has a deeply rooted admiration for him, and views him as a role model.

lance stroll — one of the besties, but not as much as lando or oscar. they’re very friendly to one another, lance’s father often asking her if she wants to reconsider williams and join aston martin in 2025. she usually says smiles and says no, much to his father’s dismay.

✧˖° alpine ✧˖°

esteban ocon — the two do not really speak a whole lot, but they’re friendly and polite! like many of the other drivers, he enjoys seeing a new face and getting to know her!

pierre gasly — very friendly with one another! he enjoys having a fresh new face to the grid, and a new perspective that comes along with it. he’ll often taunt her in french, laughing when she gets frustrated that she can’t understand what he’s saying. he’ll compliment her when she has a good lap or a great race. he respects her boldness and how she is not willing to let the press paint her as someone she’s not.

✧˖° haas ✧˖°

nico hulkenberg — they do not really speak, unless it’s at an event or something press related. she does respect his seniority over the younger drivers! additionally, he respects her and wishes her well before races.

kevin magnussen — a similar situation to nico! they do speak to one another from time to time, often chirping greetings in the morning. he does tease her for really only knowing english, telling her that she needs to “hop on that owl app or something.”

✧˖° alphatauri ✧˖°

daniel ricciardo — the mf bestie. this man knows a little too much about her. besides alex, he was one of the first people to welcome her to the grid with open arms. when he was the third driver for redbull in 2023, he found himself bored often. so, he would wander into the williams paddock, searching for her. since they have a very similar sense of humor, they feed off one another, often laughing so hard they have tears in their eyes. they were often attached to the hip throughout 2023, james having to shoo daniel away at times.

during breaks or at night, daniel would often find himself in her williams motorhome, snuggling or eating food together. they would often pair up to do press events, conduct livestreams, special events, or bits together. due to their close nature, rumors and speculation made their rounds across social media.

daniel deeply respects and admires her, finding her unapologetic nature extremely attractive. additionally, he just found her to be his go-to person, for anything. she was his comfort when he found himself missing racing.

at the end of the 2023 season, daniel found himself in a predicament, as he was falling in love with her. however, as time progressed, and as he signed with alphatauri, he realized that their lifestyle would not provide them a happy and stable relationship. so after her win in jeddah, he knew he had to face the facts and tell her how he felt.

things are a little weird now, but he wants to rekindle their friendship, hoping things will return to the way they once were.

yuki tsunoda — since the two have very similar personalities, they often find it hard to be in the same room together for long periods of time. however, they are polite and cordial to one another. they will tease one another at times, and she does follow him on social media.

✧˖° kick sauber ✧˖°

valtteri bottas — they do not really speak. when they do, it’s really only at the beginning of the season for press related events. she does respect his seniority, and loves hearing his stories of his time at mercedes with lewis.

zhou guanyu — they do not really speak. it’s a similar situation like valtteri. they do bond over being relatively new to the f1 world. she also loves the pictures he shares of his cat.

#f1 #formula 1 #formula one #formula one x reader #f1 x female reader #f1 x reader #alkaline #sorry if this was so long but #it needed to be shared #daniel ricciardo #max verstappen #sergio perez #fernando alonso #lando norris #charles leclerc #carlos sainz #oscar piastri #alkaline: general thoughts #alkaline: rambles

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heartsiez · 2 years

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MINE.

when they’re put in a situation that makes them feel jealous

⌗ kazuha and scaramouche x gn reader (seperate)

⌗ jealous behaviour, possessive behaviour, idk what else. their parts are like a one shot in their own HELP.

— kazuha

as the cherry blossom petals swirled around you and kazuha, you couldn't help but feel content. you had known kazuha for a while now, and had grown to appreciate his company more and more each time you were together. today, the two of you had decided to take a stroll through the park and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

you’d just gotten off work at a local café in inazuma. it was insanely busy today, causing you to get stressed out. many customers wanted the same thing, causing the item to go out of stock, which caused others to be mad because what they wanted wasn’t available. you’d go into more detail but just the thought of it stresses you out.

once you stepped out of the building you knew straight away you needed kazuha with you to ease off all of your negative emotions. you really did love kazuha, he was always able to clear your head with just a word. you may not be dating yet, but it’s clear as day to anyone that you both have feelings for each other.

anyways, that’s where it brings you to now. you were in the middle of telling kazuha about your day when you suddenly spotted a familiar figure in the distance causing you to pause your movements, kazuha copying with a confused look.

it was your ex.

you couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as memories flooded your mind. you hadn't seen your ex in months, and you had thought that you had moved on from the heartbreak they had caused you. which, you have moved on, but you still can’t help the familiar feelings that come over you. it makes you feel guilty because kazuhas right next to you.

your ex noticed you, both locking eyes. you wanted to tear your eyes away from them, or even pull your eyes out of your sockets but you just couldn’t look away.

as your ex approached, you tensed up, unsure of how to react. to your surprise, your ex greeted you with a warm smile and a friendly hug. you hesitated, but you couldn't help but reciprocate, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over you.

kazuha, who had been watching the entire interaction (even from when you first noticed them), felt a pang of jealousy shoot through him.

he had grown to care deeply for you, wanting to keep you by his side forever, and the sight of you interacting with your ex made him very uneasy. he tried to brush off the feeling, reminding himself that you were the one with him now (even if not officially), and that your ex was just permanently a part of your past.

you pulled away from your ex, turning back to kazuha with a guilty, and apologetic look. “uhm, kazu, this is my…” you trailed off awkwardly, not really knowing what to call them. kazuha already knew who this person was to you, you just didn’t wanna seem rude officially introducing your ex, as your ex.

“i’m their old friend.” they continued for you, offering out their hand for him with a sweet smile, though the wind told kazuha different.

“it’s… a surprise to meet you.” kazuha took their hand with swift haste, an obvious fake smile plastered. you cleared your throat as they both pulled away, moving back to stand next to kazuha you looked to him, and he looked back.

“you don’t mind if they spend the rest of the day with us?” you asked, a sheepish smile on your face as kazuha let out a sigh only you could really hear. “of course not, it would be my pleasure to meet an old friend of your past.” he made sure to clarify.

“great…” your ex looked at him with a challenging look and then turned around. “i saw there was a place just past those trees over there, let’s go take a look.”

they took your wrist pulling you with them, scaring you out of surprise. you looked back to kazuha who was quick to follow you two, though mainly focusing on the connection between your wrist and their hand. his eyes finally travelled up to meet yours and you offered him an apologetic smile, as in to say everything will go fine from now on.

however, as the day went on, kazuha couldn't shake the wretched feeling inside of him. he just wanted to steal you away forever, not liking the feeling of someone else being a threat to you two. and your ex was one. they seemed to be getting too close for comfort, and kazuha couldn't help but feel like he was slowly being pushed out of the picture.

the sun began to set, and your ex had already said their goodbyes, apologising that it must be weird for you and that they overstayed their visit. kazuha was glad they finally seemed to realise.

he pulled you aside, away from everyone else who was still in the cherry blossom park, thought not much. you looked at him with a curious look, both your arms crossed over each other. he took a deep breath before speaking, his voice low and hesitant.

"i know i shouldn't feel this way, and it’s not my place to really say this, but seeing you with your ex today... it made me feel… horrible. i care about you a lot, and the thought of losing you to someone from your past scares me."

you were a little shocked. i mean, kazuha feeling insecure? usually he knows whether or whether not he should be feeling vulnerable in a situation, because the wind whispers the secrets to him. so he must be feeling really upset if he’s not trusting the winds of the archon.

you continued to stare at him, trying to find out how he was really feeling inside from his face. you could see the pain and vulnerability in his eyes, and your heart ached for him. you felt guilty.

you took his hand and pulled him into a tight embrace, "kazuha, you have nothing to worry about. you're the one i want to be with, and nothing will ever change that. my ex is just a part of my past, but you... you're my present and my future." you smiled at him warmly.

kazuha's tense shoulders relaxed as he returned the embrace, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. he had been so worried about losing you, but hearing your words made him feel more secure in your relationship. the negativ emotion on his face disappeared, getting it replaced with a way more positive one.

as the two of you pulled away, kazuha leaned in to press a soft kiss to your forehead. "thank you," he whispered, his voice filled with emotion. he grabbed the wrist your ex held earlier, and pulled it up to his lips to kiss, his eyes not breaking eye contact the entire time.

the rest of the evening was spent in a comfortable silence, the two of you enjoying each other's company as the sun set over the horizon. the memory of your exes visit was fading fast along with the light in the sky.

you knew that there would be more challenges ahead for you both, but with kazuha by your side, you felt confident that the two of you could overcome anything together.

lol corny.

— scaramouche

scaramouche, the cunning and mischievous harbinger of the fatui, had always been a man of many talents. but there was one thing that he couldn't quite control - his jealousy. and as he watched you interact with aether from behind a wall, scaramouche couldn't help but feel a rising sense of possessiveness.

you lived with scaramouche in the fatui headquarters as his assistant, and loving partner. your best friend, aether, would usually visit you sometimes with scaramouches permission, but he never really knew what you two got up to since he was always out on missions when aether was there.

this was the first time he was present while aether visited and he’d never felt such regret in saying yes before. he wished he never gave permission to that blonde.

while scaramouche had tried to ignore the growing friendship between the two of you, he found it increasingly difficult to do so throughout the day. aether was a charismatic and friendly traveler, and it was visible to the eye that you seemed to enjoy spending time with him, much to scaramouches dismay.

as scaramouche continued to watch the two of you talk and laugh, he couldn't help but feel a nagging murderous feeling in his chest. he knew that he had no right to feel this way, mostly because you’d get extremely angry at him if you found out he wanted to kill your best friend... but he couldn't help the way he felt.

then, to add salt on his internal wound, aether leaned in closer to you, his hand brushing against yours. scaramouche's eyes narrowed as he watched the interaction, feeling a surge of anger. if aether didn’t mean that much to you he would’ve already ripped that plat off.

as he started to slowly get a better look of the two of you, he noticed something that surprised him - aether seemed completely oblivious to what he was doing. he was just being friendly, completely unaware of the intimate actions he was creating, and of the harbinger's leaking jealousy flowing throughout the entire building.

scaramouche took a deep, long breath, trying to calm himself down. he knew that he couldn't let his emotions get the best of him, especially not near you and aether. one noise and you’d hear him, which would cause you to find him and boast him with questions.

it’s okay. he can last… at least that’s what he told himself.

as the day went on, scaramouche found it harder and harder to control his burning jealousy. it felt like a forest fire inside of him. he didn't want to lose you to some prick, and the sight and thought of aether getting too close to you made him feel sick to his stomach.

finally, it was night and you three sat around a small table chatting. well, it was mostly just you and aether speaking while scaramouche held back a nasty look to him.

as he sat there anticipating for the time aether would leave, he saw something that made the last thread inside of him snap. aether had tucked some short hair strands behind your ear, then his hand trailed down your neck and rested on your shoulder as you continued to speak. it was an innocent friendly gesture, but scaramouche had had enough. he stood up abruptly, glaring at aether sharply.

"i think it's time for you to leave," he said, his voice harsh and fast to leave his body.

aether looked up, surprised. "what? why?" he asked.

"because i don't want you around here anymore," scaramouche replied, his voice laced with venom.

you looked between the two of them, confused and slightly angered by scaramouche's sudden outburst. "scaramouche, what's going on?" you asked, reaching out to touch his arm.

but scaramouche pulled away from you. you looked at him, slightly hurt from what he did, but in a way that you knew you upset him in some way seriously which made you upset.

his eyes dark and his jaw clenched. "i said leave, aether," he repeated, his voice colder than before.

aether stood up slowly, looking between you and scaramouche with a mix of confusion and concern. "i don't understand what's going on, but if you want me to leave, i will," he said, his voice calm and measured. “i’ll see you!” he said with an awkward smile, you giving a sad one back.

as aether gathered his things and prepared to leave, you turned your attention back to scaramouche, your voice hurt and angry. "what was that about?" you demanded, your voice shaking with emotion.

scaramouche's expression softened slightly as he looked at you, but the jealousy was still evident in his eyes. "i'm sorry," he said, his voice low. "i just... i don't like seeing you with him. i don't want to lose you. the way he touched you just then and today i…”

you sighed, feeling torn between your feelings for scaramouche and your friendship with aether. "scaramouche, you know that you don't have to be jealous," you said, trying to reason with him. "i care about you, and i'm not going anywhere."

scaramouche nodded, his expression still pained. "i know that, but... i can't help the way i feel."

you reached out to take his hand, squeezing it gently. "i understand that, but you can't just push people away when you feel threatened," you said gently. "it's not fair to them, or to me."

scaramouche nodded again, his grip on your hand tightening slightly. "i know, and i'm sorry. i'll try to do better," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

you smiled at him, feeling the tension between you start to dissipate. "that's all i can ask," you said, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "let's just focus on enjoying the peace we’ll have together, okay?"

scaramouche's lips twitched up into a small smile as he leaned in to return the kiss. "okay," he said, his voice softening. "together."

⌗ hai i’m back:3 took a little break bc of writers block……………. um……… not proof read bc i’m honestly still in writers block i just feel bad for not posting. would u believe me if i told u ai helped me out with the ideas of these prompts

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am-i-the-asshole-official · 3 months

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AITA for breaking up with a man to immediately date a woman?👩‍❤️‍👩

So a couple of years ago I (at the time 25F) identified as bisexual and ace. I had dated before, but it was all long distance relationships, and all men. At this point, I was single, and while in university, I met a guy (Jake, 26M) and he confessed he was into me. I only really thought of Jake as a friend, but I agreed we could date- because I've always confused platonic/romantic feelings, and foolishly thought I could probably "grow into" the relationship, like my previous ones. Jake is smart, friendly, very sweet and supportive, thoughtful, I didn't see why we couldn't date! But of course, as relationships do, suddenly he becomes more physical, more affectionate with me- which duh, we're dating, I should've expected this- but it blindsided me.

I would very frequently communicate to him what I was comfortable/uncomfortable with, and he'd be okay backing off and taking things more slowly, but would occasionally gently push my boundaries. I'd have to remind him that I wasn't comfortable, and he'd back off and would tell me it's okay- but I don't think he meant it. I think he was hoping I would "get over" these uncomfortable feelings and give him what he wants, eventually. It got to a point I was uncomfortable even being alone with him, because I knew he'd start acting this way. I was deeply appreciative of his patience, since I know I was being weird about our relationship.

While this is happening, I was venting to my dear friend Mary (25F) about how I felt terrible, how I felt stuck, and Mary would support me, hear me out, and comfort me. I had also met Mary in university, and Jake and Mary knew each other and were also friends. We were all a part of the same friend group- but I only would talk to Mary about what was going on between me and Jake.

A few months of this passes, and it occurs to me that I had a crush on Mary. A real, actual, true crush. One I'd never felt before in any of my other relationships- I had a connection with her, she and I understood each other. One night, we jokingly both kind of confessed to each other at the same time. It was then that it all clicked for me- I'm not bi… I'm a lesbian. It's why I've felt that I've had to "grow into" my previous relationships with men. I never truly was attracted to them, and just thought that was how all relationships were. Mary was the first person I actually felt like I could be myself.

Anyway- Mary knew about Jake obviously, and I told her up front that I'd need time to break up with him. She understood completely. I broke up with him the next day or so in person, quietly, in private. I didn't tell him about Mary, nor about me realizing that I'm a lesbian. I just said that I didn't think we could work out- that he wants more than I could give, and that I wasn't good for him, he deserved someone better. He understood, but he was very upset. And angry. He threatened me with a "If you date anybody in our group- we won't be friends anymore." and stormed off. I cried, but figured I deserved it. He truly cared about me, and I feel like I lied to him through our whole relationship- even if I didn't realize it.

Mary and I dated in secret shortly after, to prevent Jake from finding out and hating the both of us and causing turmoil in our group. He went around and told all of our male friends to leave me alone and not to touch me, so I'm pretty sure he never suspected Mary. I only found out about this because one of said other male friends approached me and told me what Jake had said- Jake never made this apparent to me.

But me and Mary? I've never been happier. We cuddle, we kiss- we do everything you'd expect in a relationship, and I'm never uncomfortable. And when I AM uncomfortable, Mary leaves it alone. She never pushes my boundaries unless I try something on my own terms or we talk about it first. She's a dream come true, and she's beautiful and I love her.

Cut to years later- me and Mary have been together for 10 years now. We've both graduated university, we live together, and we're soon to be married. We're still very close with our friend group- we regularly meet up for movie nights, dinner outings and dnd sessions. Jake's still one of our best friends, and he knows that we're dating, now. I've never addressed me and Mary to Jake directly, so I've never known how he's felt about us.

This is years after the fact, of course, and Jake is still a wonderful friend and (seemingly) has moved on/doesn't care about me and Mary. But I'm occasionally haunted by this mess that I caused, and I feel like I was terrible to Jake. So, Tumblr, I leave you all to judge me. Was I the asshole?

#aita #am i the asshole

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awkward-walking-potato · 20 days

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How would Kurt and Scott react to an s/o who is the definiton of sunshine aura. Someone very approchable and friendly, very empathetic and creating space where others feel heard and understood. Constantly praising friends and family to give confidence and know how to make anyone happy with their acts of kindness. I feel like these two need this kind of s/o the most

Here are some headcanons for how Kurt and Scott would react to having an S/O with a "sunshine aura":

Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler)

1. From the moment Kurt meets you, he's drawn to your warmth and positivity. Your sunshine aura is like a magnet for his kind heart. He finds himself naturally gravitating toward you, eager to bask in the comfort and joy you radiate.

2. Kurt is in constant awe of how effortlessly you make everyone around you feel seen and valued. He often watches you interact with others, a soft smile on his face as he marvels at how you lift people’s spirits with just a few words or a kind gesture.

3.Your empathy and kindness make Kurt feel incredibly lucky to have you in his life. Whenever he feels down or insecure, your encouraging words and unwavering support help him feel better about himself. He deeply appreciates how you always know exactly what to say to make him feel loved and cherished.

4. Kurt loves to playfully call you his “little sunshine” or “Sonnenschein” in German. He’ll often joke that you could brighten even the darkest corners of the mansion just by walking through them. Your positivity is infectious, and he can't help but be in a good mood when you're around.

5. Inspired by your kindness, Kurt often plans romantic surprises for you. Whether it’s teleporting you to a beautiful, secluded spot for a picnic or writing you sweet, heartfelt notes, he loves finding ways to show you just how much he appreciates your sunshine aura and the happiness you bring into his life.

6. While Kurt adores your empathetic nature, he’s also aware of how much you give to others. He makes it a point to ensure you’re not overextending yourself or neglecting your own needs. He’s always there to remind you that it’s okay to take a break and let others take care of you for a change.

7. Your constant praise and confidence-boosting for others inspire Kurt to be more open and generous with his own compliments. He starts to express his appreciation for his friends and teammates more often, knowing how much it means to them because of how much your words mean to him.

Scott Summers (Cyclops)

1. Scott is immediately impressed by your ability to connect with everyone you meet. As someone who sometimes struggles with opening up, he admires how effortlessly you make others feel comfortable and understood. He sees you as a crucial emotional anchor in the team, someone who balances out the intensity of their missions with genuine care and compassion.

2. Scott often feels the weight of leadership and responsibility, but your presence is a constant source of relief for him. Your sunshine aura helps ground him when he’s stressed or overwhelmed, reminding him that there’s more to life than just duty and responsibility. He finds peace and relaxation in your company, something he doesn’t take for granted.

3. Scott has always been hard on himself, but your consistent praise and belief in his abilities help him see himself in a better light. Your words of encouragement give him the confidence he sometimes lacks, and he often reflects on your affirmations during tough moments, knowing that you see the good in him.

4. While Scott may not always be the most outwardly affectionate, he shows his appreciation for you in more subtle ways. He’ll make sure your favorite snacks are always stocked, leave a cup of coffee on your desk in the morning, or give you a reassuring squeeze of the hand when you’re comforting others, silently letting you know that he admires and loves you for who you are.

5. Scott is very protective of you, especially because of your empathetic nature. He worries about you taking on too much of others' burdens and makes it a point to check in with you regularly. He’ll gently remind you to take care of yourself and is always ready to step in if he feels like you’re giving too much of yourself without receiving enough in return.

6. Scott often thinks about how lucky he is to have you in his life. He’s not the best with words when it comes to expressing his feelings, but he tries to show his gratitude through his actions. Whether it’s spending quiet time together, making sure you know he’s there for you, or supporting your endeavors, Scott makes sure you know how much he values your light in his life.

7. Your positivity and kindness bring out a softer, more playful side of Scott that most people don’t get to see. When you’re alone together, he lets down his guard, sharing laughs and lighter moments that contrast with his usually serious demeanor. Your presence makes him feel comfortable enough to let go of his worries and just enjoy the moment.

#marvel imagine #x men imagine #scott summer oneshot #scott summer x reader #scott summer imagine #scott summers imagine #cyclops oneshot #cyclops x reader #cyclops imagine #kurt wagner oneshot #kurt wagner imagine #kurt wagner x reader #kurt wagner #nightcrawler one shot #nightcrawler imagine #nightcrawler

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mamamittens · 1 year

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Oh, Sweet Child of Mine (Pt. 1)

Reader-insert & Whitebeard Pirates

Master Post for series.

Warning: (Platonic) yandere behavior, physical injury, blood, and kidnapping. If any of these make you uncomfortable (especially yandere content), you should not read this or any following parts.

Please block the tag "oh sweet child of mine" if you are uninterested in this story and "one piece yandere" if stories like this make you uncomfortable. For everyone else, please do remember that as sweet/touching as this behavior is or can be, it is deeply toxic and troubling in real life. Anyone that treats you with such disregard in terms of your boundaries or respecting your decisions should not be tolerated.

Please stay safe and have fun.

Word Count: 2,880

Devil fruits in the marines has always been handled a bit oddly. On paper, no low rank has a devil fruit. Because having a devil fruit tends to make even weak humans stronger, even if under highly specific circumstances. But you can’t just promote people because they ate something weird. They have to earn their position. This problem is handily solved by… ignoring the issue entirely.

Strong marines will, eventually, be promoted. So it stood to reason that strong marines with powerful abilities will be promoted even faster.

You were, however, of the opinion that there should be some sort of allowance made for marines that just can’t handle power without it going to their head.

Those people should scrub toilets until they learn at least a bare minimum amount of humility.

Why would you, of all people, have that opinion?

Because you got to watch, in real time, how quickly people given power without earning it lose their damn minds. It was, in fact, your own devil fruit’s power to ‘dial up’ other devil fruits. Just being near you had this effect. No, no one had any idea what your devil fruit was supposed to be called. Apparently, it was one of the few not in any encyclopedia on the subject, so you didn’t even know your own limits by proxy.

If you had the choice to go back in time you would never have eaten that weirdly flat yellow fruit. But you were stupid and hungry and here you were. Babysitting yet another ensign who simply could not handle having stronger powers with any grace.

Ensign Williams had a candle-candle fruit. Basically, a very weak version of the logia fruit flame-flame. His fire would always be weaker, smaller, and easier put out. Until you showed up, wherein he was capable of fairly impressive feats. In fact, it had been a full week and Williams went from being in awe of what he could now accomplish with you by his side to fully up his own ass with his ‘rightful power’. Unfortunately, he was your partner for the time being, so you just had to try and reign in his ass-ness before he burned the town to the ground by accident.

Mostly this involved walking away when he started being a prick to the local townsfolk to remind him that this ‘grand power’ he held was, in fact, only possible with your presence. Trying to physically stop him just got you a bloody nose. So, wounding his ego was the best you could do for everyone involved. Usually, you excused this by a sudden, burning need to pet a dog or cat or sufficiently friendly bird. They, at least, appreciated your presence and efforts.

“I’m going places, you know!” Williams declared in a huff, running up to you as you scratched a dog’s ears. Really ruffling the floppy appendages around as the dog panted and drooled in happiness. “The marines will see that I deserve a promotion soon enough with all the good work I’ve been doing!” You gave him a dry look.

“You depend on your devil fruit too much. What are you going to do when that’s not enough? I won’t always be around, you know.” You reminded him gently, feeding the mutt a milk bone from your pocket as you stood up. “This is the Grand Line. Eventually you’re going to run into a Yonko or something. What then? You think Red-Hair or Big Mom will care about a little fire?”

Williams paled at the suggestion, reality peaking in through his delusion before, with herculean effort, it was pushed back once again.

“And what about you, huh? Your devil fruit is useless for yourself! You’re a weak, useless thing on your own!” Williams sneered. You stared at him, unimpressed.

“That’s what training is for. Which is what I would be doing if I didn’t have to run around with you all the time.” You sighed. The big folks up top wanted to see just how much power you could give a weak devil fruit, likely in preparation to assign you to someone with a devil fruit user actually noteworthy. If there were side effects, they didn’t want an admiral to be the first to face it, after all. Personally, you were hoping for someone like Smoker. Reasonable, experienced, and well known for his skill outside his devil fruit.

Although, you were starting to think this delusional mindset was the side effect. Natural or induced, the people you gave boosts to often had a period of euphoria and increased aggression, narcissism, and short-sightedness. Hard to say since, so far, everyone you’ve been assigned to has been an asshole.

Possibly a marine-specific issue.

“Bring-ring. Ring-ring. Ring-rin—clack!” You answered the bored snail in your pocket.

“Ensign—”

“Fire Fist Ace has been spotted in your area! You and Ensign Williams are to attempt apprehension. No other Whitebeard Pirates have been spotted but be advised there are likely more—possibly another commander. If you see them, flee on sight.” They hung up immediately before you could even respond. Sighing, you looked up at Williams.

He looked strangely pale before gathering himself, a smug smirk quickly taking over his features.

“Hah! See that? They already know I’m going to accomplish great things. This will be only the beginning of my legacy as a marine!” Williams grabbed you arm and started running down the street, looking around like a madman for ‘Fire Fist’, jostling your glasses hard. They nearly flew off when he spotted a column of fire across town and yanked you with him. “Watch as a real marine works, useless!”

Fire Fist was crouched in the middle of the street, pointing at a stand that had fallen over, his back to the both of you. Whitebeard’s Jolly Roger stark against his tan skin.

“—highway robbery prices, you’re out of your mind if you think I’d pay for something broken!” Fire Fist huffed. While it was true you couldn’t see another pirate with him, it was common knowledge that Whitebeard Pirates rarely travelled alone. Especially a commander.

“You sure you wanna do this—”

“Halt, filthy pirate! Your days of piracy are over!” Williams declared boldly. Briefly, you wondered if maybe your superiors had heard about Williams’ behavior and figured sending him after Fire Fist would be the best reprimand he could get.

Even with your help, Williams was a candle-light at the end of the day. And Fire Fist? Fire Fist was a raging wildfire. You could almost feel the heat of his devil fruit in the back of your head. A faint indication that told you just how strong the devil fruits around you are and helped inform you how much power you were giving just by being around them.

Fire Fist looked back at the two of you with a dry, grumpy expression. Curiosity flickering over his features as he took in how amped up Williams was—and how utterly done you were. Fire flickered over his shoulders as he grinned.

“And what is a couple of ensigns going to do about it?” Fire Fist crowed with a mischievous grin, tipping his gaudy, orange cowboy hat back. Williams’ fire flickered over his body, sparks flying harmlessly over you—a welcome side effect of your devil fruit boosting another thankfully—before charging forward.

Three things happened at once.

Williams charged forward to fight Fire Fist. Letting go of your wrist.

His fire flickered slightly from the loss of direct contact with you.

Fire Fist’s own fire flared up at the sudden, unavoidable boost in power.

Confusion washed over Fire Fist as he instinctively noticed the strange change before he dismissed it, charging towards Williams anyway.

You rolled your eyes, pretty sure Williams would get knocked out quickly and leave you with yet another mess to clean up.

A low wine reached your ears, drawing you gaze away from what was mostly an impressive lightshow as Williams kept throwing fire at a man made of fire.

A fat, white dog panted in the shade. Scraggly white fur otherwise clean despite laying in the dirt. A strange, immaculate crescent shaped moustache curved under his nose.

Obviously, between your partner facing a Yonko Commander and a sad dog, your choice of who deserved your attention was clear.

You kneeled down with a smile, pulling out a dog treat from your pocket.

“Hey, cutie, what are you doing? Trying to cool off a little?” You spoke softly, presenting the treat to the very interested dog. You pulled out a bottle from your other pocket and a bowl—specifically for this actually—as you poured some out for the dog. The dog rolled onto his paws and eagerly drank the water, accepting your gentle affection. “You’re definitely not a stray, but you don’t have a collar either. Where are you from, baby?”

Fire and explosions rocked the area behind you. Not that you cared since the civilians ran the minute Williams and Fire Fist lit up. You scratched the surprisingly soft fur and ran your hand down the dog’s back. They were definitely well cared for, whoever they belonged to. Once they were done drinking water they eagerly wriggled into your lap for affection, licking and nipping at your chin.

“Oof! My, what a cutie you are!” You cheered, playfully ruffling the dog’s ears and booping his wet nose as you avoided the eager kisses.

Williams definitely screamed behind you in panic.

“Help me, you useless—SHIT!”

Without looking you yelled back.

“I thought you were supposed to be a ‘real marine’?” You lowered your voice when the dog whined and kissed his nose as an apology. “Sorry, baby. He’s just been an ass all week and I think he could really learn something today. What could a ‘useless marine’ do anyway, hm? I told him he needs to watch it.” You grumbled softly. The pull of a third devil fruit registering to your senses suddenly.

Having been around Williams all week as he showed off was exhausting. Now actively pulling on your power along with Fire Fist and this new person actively made you want to take a nap.

You had yet to figure out how to lessen your own power or at least focus on only one person, so you simply had to deal with it when actively boosting someone from a distance. Part of you worried that boosting stronger devil fruits was going to be even more exhausting than the weak ones you’ve encountered so far. And you might actually be right about that.

“There you are, Stefan. Oyaji was looking for you.” Someone spoke up above you. You startled, looking up at the stranger.

Open-toed sandals and capris with an open purple shirt exposing defined abs and a purple Whitebeard Jolly Roger. The man looked down at you with amused blue eyes narrowed, blond hair poking out from the top of an extreme undercut.

Marco ‘The Phoenix’.

Welp, that’s definitely your sign to run. Casually. So, he doesn’t suspect anything.

Something told you that your bosses would be pissed if the Whitebeard Pirates got a free power boost by ransoming you. If they gave up the obvious benefits of such a prisoner to begin with.

“Oop. Time to go, baby.” You kissed Stefan’s head and darted away, running directly towards the very explosive fight between Fire Fist and Williams. Snagging the back of his collar as you kept going.

“HEY! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING, YOU USELESS—”

“The Phoenix and Fire Fist are here—we definitely can’t take them both in. Time to go!” You explained as you ran.

“No! I can do it! What do you know, you useless bitch?!” Williams flailed, breaking your grip on his shirt before slamming his fist into your face. Heat and a crunch of bones sent shockwaves of red and blood across your vision, sending you to the ground with a yelp. Your glasses bouncing off from impact and cracking.

“Fuck!” You hissed, clutching your nose as you blindly looked around, tears falling down your cheeks. You could make out an impressive explosion of fire somewhere ahead of you through your tears and poor vision. A wobbly white blob trotting up to your side with a low wine and bark. What was probably Stefan licking your arm and pawing at your side in worry.

Steady footsteps clacked along the paved street, a dark shadow falling before you as fire exploded behind the figure.

“That was quite a hit. You alright?” The Phoenix asked as he lowered down suddenly. Glass scrapped against the ground. Your glasses were gently lowered onto your face, bringing him into focus with a hairline fracture and tears obscuring your vision somewhat.

“’M fine—not the first time he’s done that--!” You gasped as his fingertips brushed over your knuckled grasp on your bloody nose. Blue fire exploded around you as the various aches and pains were swept away in an instant. Dizziness rushed to your head at the sudden relief.

You almost broke contact as The Phoenix cursed his sudden, uncontrollable fire, falling back to the ground. But his hands were faster and firmly grasped your shoulders.

After several, bizarrely euphoric moments of bathing in the healing flame, The Phoenix wrangled his powers back under control with a grimace. Blood still covered your hands and face but the injury, as well as any other injury, was gone. He looked at you in surprise and you could only gape up at him.

Having established physical contact, any boost others experienced was gone in an instant. Your ‘pseudo-immunity’ to devil fruits meant that your body essentially acted like it was your power as well. And that meant you got to enjoy a small taste in what it was like to have a devil fruit like The Phoenix’s for as long as he maintained that contact. It was weirdly heady. Sort of freeing to feel your weakness being eaten away under the healing influence of his devil fruit.

Almost to the point of forgetting that this, quite critically, meant that your under-powered partner was royally fucked.

Williams barely stood a chance if you had held his hand through the fight. Without any assistance against Fire Fist Ace, it wasn’t even a question. As much of an ass as he was, he didn’t deserve to be killed.

Worried, you tried to look around The Phoenix to see what was happening. He clicked his tongue, pulling your chin back to look at him. His eyes were narrowed and suspicious, a strange light in his eyes as he gave you a small, chilling smile.

“Now, who are you and what was that?” The Phoenix demanded. You shuddered, noticing how oddly quiet it was behind the pirate.

“M-My devil fruit! It—uhm—affects other devil fruits?” You lamely explained as Stefan tried to nose his way onto your lap. You would have preferred to look at the cute, needy dog, but The Phoenix looked like he was about to eat you. “Makes… makes them stronger around me. O-Or just… touching.”

A cold chill went up your spine as he grinned.

“And you’re not assigned to at least an admiral at all times? What a waste… I guess the marines don’t want to keep you that badly, do they?” He clicked his tongue again. “Well, you’re in good hands now, yoi. Let’s get you cleaned up. Stefan! Down!” He ordered, lifting you over his shoulder as you yelped, scrambling to hold onto your glasses. The town was wrecked behind The Phoenix, Fire Fist cheerily skipping up with Williams over his own shoulder.

“Hey, Marco! Did you see how weird that was!? What do you think his devil fruit is?” Fire Fist asked. The Phoenix turned around with a huff.

“Put the marine down. Got the source right here.” He responded.

“Oh! I take it we’re keeping them? Think Oyaji will mind?”

The Phoenix snorted.

“Oyaji will be ecstatic. Marines don’t know how to take care of people right, anyway.” You were jostled lightly as he started walking, Stefan trotting behind while panting happily up at you. You were horrified and nervous, but the addition of Stefan was helping ease your nerves. “They can boost devil fruits but wasn’t assigned to an admiral, can you believe that? Just a weakling. Imagine if it was someone else that found them, yoi?” You struggled to push yourself up, but was aware that you weren’t getting down unless The Phoenix let you.

Unlike Williams, you knew your limits.

“Hah! Wow. At least Gramps could have trained them up safely. Marines are stupid though, so I can’t say I’m too surprised.” Fire fist declared. Boots stomped on the ground as Fire Fist rounded The Phoenix, poking his head to look at you with a charming grin. “Don’t worry, you’re going to love it here! Ah… and no one will do this again.” Fire Fist grabbed your hands, inspecting the blood and what was still smeared around your nose. His eyes dark with promise as you stared in horror.

Were you being kidnapped for your power or… something else? Because to be honest, it sure didn’t sound like they were too interested in your own devil fruit ability.

#one piece yandere #platonic yandere #reader insert #oh sweet child of mine #whitebeard crew #fire first ace #marco the phoenix #yandere marco #yandere ace

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livelaughghoul · 19 days

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George Russell - Birth chart analysis

Disclaimer: This is for entertainment purposes only, nothing observed or taken away from this should be considered fact. As a reminder, I know fuck all about Formula 1, I just like fast cars and have a dumb amount of knowledge of astrology and tarot.

I really like his chart, I think that it is relatively balanced even with the level of emotion he has in his chart. I think that there is also a lot of importance for others throughout his chart, it’s clear to me that George deeply cares about others that he surrounds himself with. He is a day-one road dog if you will. He has so much compassion and care for others, that it is actually kind of intense.

He does have an Aquarius Stellium, so there is an emphasis on emotional intelligence, the need to care for others, and being this source of comfort. Stelliums are intense, so again, there is a lot of emotional intensity, where he feels a lot at once and I think that can play into how he expresses emotions and himself. His eighth house is also a little crazy with some pretty big placements, but I think that it’s a really good mixture in there.

As always, any requests, let me know!

THE PLANETS:

Sun - Aquarius

I have never met a Sun Aquarius who was not a weird person. They’re some of the weirdest, but most down-to-earth and passionate people you’ll ever know. There is so much love, passion, hope, and friendliness all in one person it’s honestly overwhelming sometimes. There is a lot of fluidity here as well, it’s an outgoing person who loves to be surrounded by others who also need time to themselves, someone who is going to be outspoken and incredibly defensive in their words but knows when to keep quiet and let actions speak. I’ve seen a lot of memes about George being the rich gossiping aunt, and honestly, yes. 100% this man is so judgmental of others, but he does it in a way that is not driven by emotions. George is going to be one of the best people to have a conversation with, he actually cares and listens to what is being said. I think once you get past that weird, kind of goofy exterior it will be one of the most rewarding relationships a person can have.

Moon - Libra

I love this placement, especially with the friendly sun sign we get. A Moon in Libra is about awareness, knowing what is happening around you, and with who, and formulating a plan to move forward. It’s also a sign that tells me George has a deep admiration for the finer things in life, I have no doubts that he absolutely loves art museums, and learning about the cultures that he gets to experience through traveling. It’s in my opinion, one of the more romantic Moon placements because of this deep appreciation for the arts and beauty. With this placement though, I think that there is a fine line between natural charm and potential manipulation.

Rising - Cancer

Cancer Rising is emotional intelligence, it’s a deep caring for those around him, and a need to make sure that those around him are fine. It’s a willingness to risk his own health for those he cares about. I wouldn’t say that he is an empath by any means, but there is so much empathy to be found. He is a great support to those around him that have been deemed worthy. With his Moon Libra being so aware, I think that the emotional awareness is off the charts. He knows when something is bothering someone, and has this natural instinct to do what he can. I think once his first Saturn return is finished, we will see things kind of level out and there will be a lot more emotional regulation and growth.

Mercury (Planet of intelligence) - Aquarius

Mercury Retrograde has got to be hell on earth with George, oh my god. Mercury is in its native position, so it’s just magnified, which means the retrogrades hit a little harder. This is where I think a lot of that gossip comes in, there is such an interest in others and wanting to know what is going on with them and their lives, that it’s kind of natural. He’s a people watcher, it’s probably a favorite pastime, like making up silly little stories when he sees someone at a coffee shop or a park or something, and it comes from this deep interest in others and wanting to know their lives. He’s intelligent, but I think that some of his quirkiness can make people question his intelligence.

Venus (Planet of love and pleasure) - Capricorn

This is one of my favorite Venus placements because to me this placement indicates taking its time and approaching relationships with a little bit of caution. It’s a loyalty like no other, a security that extends to every aspect possible. With a Capricorn Venus there is so much passion, care, and almost obsession once that connection is there.

Mars (Planet of physical energy) - Pisces

This placement is really interesting to me because it’s such an emotional placement. We have an overwhelming amount of emotion in his chart, so I think that there are a lot of emotions being expressed through physical action. It becomes too much internally so we figure out a way to express it externally. The one thing about this placement though is that it can hold a grudge, for an unreasonable amount of time. George is bringing up things from years ago, and he has the screenshots to back that shit up.

Jupiter (Planet of luck, optimism, and success) - Pisces

I think we go back to walking that fine line between being an excellent communicator and potential manipulation here. There is a lot of natural luck here, but that luck requires teamwork and being able to work directly with others. I think that there is going to be a lot of success for him, only if he continues to build a strong team and support system.

Saturn (Planet of responsibility) - Aries

Girlies, his Saturn return is gonna kick his ass. I mean that in the best way possible too. He has some lessons he needs to learn, and he’s going to learn them one way or another. It’s probably not going to be a gentle process either. He’s 26 right now, so he’s probably entering that pre-Saturn return era where things are starting to feel a little rough and like he doesn’t fully know what his responsibilities are. This is a placement of resilience though, because it’s constantly introducing obstacles into your life that need to be overcome.

Uranus (Planet of change and originality) - Aquarius

Aquarius is actually ruled by Uranus, so we love this. I think that this is obvious with his quirks and weird personality like George is going to be himself and be completely unapologetic about it. The best part of this placement is that George is adaptable to change, like he is willing to be flexible if he believes it will bring more benefit to himself and his career.

Neptune (Planet of mystery and illusion) - Aquarius

George is the mom friend of the group, and I have no doubts about that at all with this placement. It’s a care and concern for those around him. George wants to be a support to those around him, and he makes this known. He makes his intentions known to those around him, and values upfront honesty.

Pluto (Planet of death and rebirth) - Sagittarius

This is the placement of truth, knowledge, and understanding. I think that we see all three of these things through his chart already. I think that there is a need for honesty, and with how aware he is, he would know if there was any dishonesty or hidden agenda. I again have a little concern over potential manipulation being a thing that he uses to get his way.

THE HOUSES:

Fourth house (House of home) - Moon

George is protective of those that he lets into his inner circle, especially those that he has an emotional connection with. I think that there is a value more to emotional connection than physical connection here. I think that there is a tendency to get lost in his thoughts, or what his ideal reality would be, and there can be a disconnect that happens.

Sixth house (House of service and Health) - Pluto

I have more concerns about the health aspect of this placement than I do about the service aspect. When it comes to the health aspect, there is this ability to overwork oneself and neglect one's health. I understand that there are high-performance athletes, and obviously have some of the best medical teams out there, but unless there is a holistic approach to make sure ALL aspects are being met, I think that there is a reason for concern here.

Seventh house (House of marriage and partnership) - Venus

George is a romantic, like truly. He wants there to be total fulfillment in his relationship and subsequent marriage. There is a lot of natural affection too, it isn’t anything that is forced by any means, it’s just two people that are drawn together and feel the need to be affectionate with each other. While I won’t make any assumptions, I believe that there is often an early marriage, so while he is relatively young we may see a marriage.

Eighth house (House of death and regeneration, and legacies) - Neptune, Uranus, Mercury, and Sun

The sun placement here tells of non-stop self-improvement, he is always going to be working on bettering himself and what he can achieve. There is going to be a legacy of sorts left behind, but I don’t think it will be in the capacity that everyone expects. Mercury brings a lot of motivation here as well, again it’s wanting to know what motivates someone. Uranus brings some more of that quirk and whack to this, but also a heaviness. George feels a lot of responsibility for others, and I think that is going to become more of an issue now with a significantly younger teammate. Neptune

Ninth house (House of mental exploration) - Jupiter and Mars

Jupiter becomes more about physical exploration, so I think that George is thriving with the traveling that is done. I think that there is a knack for communication, I don’t think language barriers are much of an issue for him either, like there is just a natural ability to communicate with those around him. Mars is again about travel and understanding others' positions and attitudes. I think with George there is a lot of importance in being with others and surrounding himself with people that can challenge him intellectually.

Tenth house (House of career) - Saturn

This is one of my second favorite placements. Saturn here is influencing the level of responsibility that is being felt and meeting the expectations that are being set for oneself. I think with his Saturn being at a disadvantage, there is going to be more success in terms of his career when he finishes the first Saturn returns and things start to come together.

#f1 #formula 1 #formula one astrology #george russell #gr63

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lynetianya · 1 year

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Gym Buddies [ Ryujin X Reader ]

Ryujin, a famous idol known for her beauty and charisma, unexpectedly falls for a gym-goer with a cute personality and a gorgeous body. As they become workout partners, Ryujin's admiration for her new friend deepens.

GENRE : Fluff

TYPE : One Shot, All Gender

Ryujin was used to the spotlight. As a famous idol, she had fans who adored her from all corners of the world. With her striking looks and charismatic presence, she was undoubtedly one of the hottest celebrities around. But little did she know that her world was about to change when she encountered you, a seemingly ordinary person who possessed a special charm.

It all started one sunny morning at the local gym. Ryujin had always been a fitness enthusiast, and she rarely missed her workouts. On this particular day, she arrived at the gym, dressed in stylish activewear that showcased her enviable curves and toned physique. Her presence turned heads as usual, but what caught her attention was you, a regular gym-goer who had a cute personality and a gorgeous body that was hard to ignore.

As Ryujin began her workout routine, she couldn't help but steal glances at you. Your dedication to your exercises was admirable, and your friendly demeanor was infectious. It was as if your presence had a magnetic pull on her, slowly breaking down the walls she had built around herself as a celebrity.

Over the next few weeks, Ryujin and you found yourselves working out together more often than not. It started with a casual conversation about your workout routines, and before they knew it, you were inseparable gym buddies. Ryujin was amazed by your strength and determination, and she couldn't help but admire you from afar.

One day, she mustered up the courage to ask you if you'd like to work out together. Your eyes lit up with excitement as you agreed, and from that moment on, your gym sessions became a joint endeavor. Ryujin, who was used to being the center of attention, found solace in the fact that you treated her like any other person.

As the days turned into weeks, your bond deepened. Ryujin was drawn to your cute personality, and she found herself sharing her thoughts and dreams with you. She realized that she could be her true self around you, without the need for the mask of a famous idol. And you, in turn, were enamored by her kindness and down-to-earth nature.

Ryujin had always been known for her fashion sense, and she loved buying clothes that accentuated her curves and muscles. However, she discovered a newfound joy in helping you pick out stylish workout gear. You were surprised by her willingness to help, but Ryujin insisted that it was her way of showing appreciation for your friendship.

Shopping trips with Ryujin became a regular occurrence. She would carefully select outfits that she thought would enhance your natural beauty. The two of you would spend hours in boutiques, trying on different styles and laughing together. It was during these moments that Ryujin realized she had fallen for you, not just as a workout partner but as something more.

Ryujin was not just a gym buddy; she had become your confidante and best friend. She had a unique way of making you feel special, both inside and out. She showered you with compliments, reminding you of your beauty and worth. She called you her baby, a term of endearment that made your heart skip a beat.

Whenever you faced criticism or negativity from others, Ryujin was there to lift you up. She would hold you close and reassure you that their words didn't matter. She reminded you that you were strong, beautiful, and deserving of all the love in the world. With her by your side, you felt invincible.

Ryujin couldn't contain her feelings any longer. She had fallen deeply in love with you, and it was evident to everyone around her. She would brag about you to her fellow idols and the staff, proudly declaring that she had the most loving and protective girlfriend in the world.

One evening, as you both sat on the rooftop of her apartment building, watching the city lights twinkle below, Ryujin couldn't hold back any longer. With a nervous yet determined smile, she took your hand and looked into your eyes.

"Y/N," she began, her voice trembling with emotion, "I can't imagine my life without you. You've brought so much happiness and love into my world. Will you be mine, officially? Will you be mine?"

Tears welled up in your eyes as you nodded, your heart overflowing with joy. In that moment, under the starry night sky, Ryujin leaned in, and your lips met in a sweet, passionate kiss.

From that day forward, your love story with Ryujin continued to blossom. You were no longer just gym buddies but soulmates who shared a deep and unbreakable bond. Your relationship was a testament to the power of love and how it could break through the barriers of fame and fortune.

And as you held hands and walked through life together, you both knew that your love story was the most beautiful adventure you had ever embarked upon. Ryujin, the hot idol, and you, the one who had the ability to make her mask crumble with your cute personality and gorgeous body, were destined to create a love story for the ages, one that would be cherished forever.

END

My Masterlist

#ryujin #ryujin oneshot #ryujin itzy #itzy oneshot #itzy fanfic #kpop fanfic #kpop fluff #ryujin x reader #ryujin x you #itzy

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hearts4youz · 9 months

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The Captains Daughter: Chapter 16

A/N: finally, a chapter worth posting. This one is so much better than the last two or three i've posted. Sorry guys, I've totally lost track of time, its been two weeks since the last chapter ive posted... this is a longer one so hopefully it will suffice. Thank yall so much for reading, feedback is much appreciated :)

Taglist: @abbiesxox @n30n-j3lly @weird-katthing @kayoyamamegame @kroowonderemporium @astro-ghoul99

word count: 1.3k

Reader pov:

You and your father have silently agreed to just let go of what happened during the commute to the grocery store. The two of you have not talked about the topic since, and you were grateful for it. You headed for the doors to get outside the base, as you had decided earlier that a morning run should do the trick for your sluggish start to the day. It seems you had woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Barely making conversation at breakfast, feeling irritated and put off by everything. Even the sound of Gaz breathing when you sat next to him in the mess hall made you want to choke him out.

You breathed in deeply, savoring the crispy winter air as it's freezing tendrils circled your lungs. You sighed and were about to get moving when you heard a gruff noise behind you.

It was Ghost, clearing his throat.

You turned towards him, a quizzical look crossing your features.

"I've tracked you across the whole bloody base," he said, in a gravely, morning voice.

"And?" You said, annoyed. You didn't feel like talking to anyone not even your mysterious crush.

"And, a good soldier should know to watch their damn six."

"Yeah, in the field," you roll your eyes.

"Someone's pissy this morning, I thought we were on good terms now?" He chuckled

"I just... sorry- you didn't do anything wrong-" he cut you off.

"I know," he smirked.

"... just bad nights sleep I guess," you glared, finishing your sentence.

"Where are you headed?" his voice softened slightly, but his gaze still remained rigid and judgy.

"Out for a run."

"You don't mind if I join do you?"

You raised and eyebrow at his suggestion

"What? i'm not supposed to be friendly with my teammates ever?"

"I-I...no...I don't mind," you said skeptically.

The two of you took off at a quick pace, you were surprised that the lieutenant could keep up despite the skull balaclava covering his nose and mouth, as well as his large, toned build.

"You run often?" you ask.

"Mmm... when I was a kid I got in trouble a lot. I had to make a quick getaway sometimes."

"Who was chasing you... the law?"

"Eh, sometimes," he said, nonchalantly.

"Well, what kind of trouble?" you asked, not knowing whether to be concerned or intrigued.

"Dumb, teenage shit. You know, smashing windows... drinking... smoking, anything to get me out of the house really. I matured eventually."

"And now your in the military, the irony," you paused. "You know, I really wouldn't have guessed that you were so... unruly as a kid, Mister 'im so strict and tough," you laughed.

He gave a chuckle in response.

"Mhm, my teenage years were pretty lawless... probably can't say the same for you, Price's kid," he smirked.

"Ah you got me there... I did get into a little trouble though."

"Really...?"

"I dabbled with boys mostly..."

This made Simon's heart rate quicken, the thought of you with other guys, but then he reminded himself that you were a teenager at the time.

"Boys? I'm sure the captain wasn't very fond of that"

"Oh hell no... he always chased 'em away. I never could keep a boyfriend for very long. No matter how secretive I was he always found out."

Noted Ghost thought to himself.

Ghost laughs, "Yup, sounds like ol' cap."

The two of you fall into a comfortable silence for a few minutes as Ghost thinks about your love life.

"You...you don't happen to have any of those men in your life now... do you?" he asks quietly.

"I uhm....uh...well... no," You respond, a bit flustered.

"Good, otherwise i'd have to tell cap" He added, voice stronger and more confident while trying to play the question off as a joke.

You two were almost back to the base now, as you finished at the doors Ghost spoke up again as he swung the door open for you.

"It's about time for our daily training now, good timing."

You nodded as you stepped through the door into the pleasantly warm building. You walked down to the training facilities with him.

"Lets do some lifting," Ghost suggested.

You groaned in protest, dragging your feet as your lieutenant led you into the gym. You went through a few sets, bench press, curls, a few ab exercises, and finally some squats. By the time you were ready to start squatting, your body was exhausted, especially your legs considering you ran beforehand. Ghost looked at you with a slight bit of sympathy.

"Lets just do two sets of eight for this one alright Y/N?"

"Thank you, G-Ghost," you sputtered as you struggled to keep the bar level as you got into your first squat.

You wobbled, your legs quivered as you raised yourself back up into a standing postion.

One

You shook even more on the way down the second time, Ghost noticed this and left the wall he was leaning up against. He stood behind you with his hands open, ready to steady the bar if needed.

down, up

Two

By the third rep, the bar was so far away from being level on your shoulders your whole body tipped to the right. Luckily, Ghost caught you and lifted the bar off your shoulders before you could fall. He put the bar back on the rack and took a few pounds off of it while you sat down for a moment.

"If you're not okay enough to finish we can be done here," Ghost told you. His words were sympathetic but his voice was void of emotion, it was hard to gauge weather he was disappointed in your failure to finish the set or if he was concerned for you.

Ghost pov:

Goddamnit, she totally felt that.

I stood in front of Y/N while she sat down for a moment to catch her breath. I had to get the bar off of her before she hurt herself, but in the process I had pressed myself against her by accident. Which in return gave me a little problem... down there. Forever grateful to my mask for saving my ass once again, I tried to exert calmness towards Y/N while she rested. I desperately hoped that she would be done now that she was almost crushed by the weight.

"No, I'd like to finish out the set at least," she responded to my question.

"You sure? no shame in calling it quits to avoid injury," I responded in a warmer tone than before.

"Yeah, I've got it," she reassured me, more strength in her voice now.

Again, I positioned myself behind her to spot her. Only this time, a half step further back, not forgetting about my hard on. I'm not going to lie, It was tough to just stand there silently while she got her reps in. All I wanted to do was praise her, to tell her what a good job she was doing. I wanted to see her smile when I told her she did something right, I just wanted to make her happy.

"Good work," I managed to say when she got all eight reps in.

She told me goodbye and turned to leave. I watched her walk away, she took a few steps before I couldn't help myself.

"Wait!"

She turned around.

"I enjoyed running with you this morning... really- it was nice. Thank you for letting me go with you."

Her face broke into a genuine smile.

"Thank you for coming with me, it was nice to see you more informal... you know, outside of all the work stuff."

When she walked off again, I couldn't help but get all giddy and boyish. I felt like a teenager swooning over his crush at school.

fucking hell, Y/N enjoyed my company.

Reader pov:

When you left the gym and were sure that no one could see you, you damn near squealed for joy.

He liked running with me!

Ghost

My lieutenant

The guy I like

#captain price #cod 141 #ghost x reader #cod mw2 #simon ghost riley x reader #ghost cod #cod ghost #task force 141 #cod x reader #ghost call of duty #ghost smut #ghost simon riley #simon riley #ghost mw2 #dad!price #gaz cod #soap mactavish #john soap mactavish

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laceswan · 2 years

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The Smiling Princess

Finnick Odair x fem!dancer!OC

What if the equivalent of a Disney Princess was thrown into the Hunger Games? Sylke is optimistic and has an affinity for all that is gentle and sweet. What happens when she is placed in an arena and forced to kill or be killed?

fluff, angst, strangers to lovers, canon typical violence

part two is out!

The capitol wasn’t all that different from district one. It was more modern, more luxurious, but not by much. Sylke thought back to the reaping. This year was a strange one. For some reason, none of the training female career tributes volunteered, either too young or not ready. She was only fourteen, never once had she wanted the life of a career. And yet her name had been the one drawn. Standing on that stage next to a man much older who’s trained his whole life for this, she felt more out of place than ever before. The train ride was not long, less than a day, but Sylke found it hard to relax, and time seemed to pass at a snail's pace. She had decided the moment her name was called and no one volunteered, that this was the end of her life. It wasn't even a question in her mind. Normally she would try to maintain a certain amount of optimism, but as she pondered on the train it became evident that such hope was almost always applied to someone not herself. Undying optimism was reserved for everyone else, while a more calculating hope was held for herself. In this case, the odds were not in her favour. The best she could do was enjoy the little bit of life she has left. And she did. Regardless of its strange and bloody traditions, the capitol was beautiful. The gifts she had been offered, the world she got to see from the train window, so much of it was bright and wonderful. And with the little time she had left, she resolved to appreciate it.

The other tribute from 1, Cesare, didn’t seem to like her much. He was cold, offered only backhanded advice, and made a lousy excuse for her only companion. Their mentor, Victoria, was sweet, convinced that Sylke could survive with some allies and sponsors. Their escort, Misty, agreed, and was already assembling a list of rich possible benefactors she planned to meet with. When they arrived in the capitol, Sylke was desperate for a new face, a friendly one. There was one person around her age, the tribute from four. She saw him at the tribute parade, dressed glamourously in blue and green. When they met, she tried to be as friendly and genuine as possible. That was his first instinct as well, to simply be kind, to make a friend, but when the conversation was over, he was swiftly pulled aside and reminded that she wouldn’t make a good ally, that he should put energy into connections with other, more fit tributes. As he tried to talk to Cesare, a broad-shouldered athlete who clearly had an advantage at the game, Finnick couldn’t keep himself from looking in her direction, from thinking about her and what she must be feeling. There was a churning anxiety, an uncertainty, that raged like a storm in the high seas within his core, one deeply tied to being so young in a place full or intimidating older kids. She was probably in the same boat, and he was drawn to that. No one else was that young in this Game, and in a different world, perhaps they even would have been friends. That is what kept him lingering in her mind as well. That they could have been friends. Only to her, they still could be even if only for a short while. It was the only friend she might be able to find in this place.

There was a gala that night, a chance to meet people, network, get sponsors. Sylke’s stylist put her in a long, heavy gown, white and gold with little pearls and jewels, to appeal to sponsors from one as her stylist put it. Something about portraying luxury. As much as she disliked the performance of it all, it had been a while since she’d been in a gown like this, with the heavy silks that draped off her body like water flowing gently over time-smoothed rocks. Something about it felt authentic, the daintiness and femininity. If she looked in a mirror she looked like herself. There had been a few times like that in her life, all of them before or during dance performances. The mirror that hung on the wall backstage was where she would check her costume before going up. She was grateful each time that her character wouldn’t be be frowning. She wouldn’t have to act. It would make her smile like nothing else, to see the dress she was wearing, because the person looking back at her was the girl she would see in her dreams, the princess she always wanted to be. And she would smile, a real smile, and she would go on stage with that smile, and everyone watching would know it’s real. The gala was different. People were closer, meaner, there was a tension in the air that never truly went away. The other tributes were there, closer to her than she’d ever seen them before. They were all so strong, so ruthless, merciless. It became clear to her that she didn’t stand a chance. They all looked out of place in fragile evening wear, like they belonged in a suit of armor on the battlefield. They could kill her in an instant, rip her apart like silk. This was the way she was going to die. She had a week or so until then, a week that she wanted to enjoy. But how would she enjoy what was essentially her deathbed? She would need to look at the little things, just the details could perhaps keep her happy for a week. She would need to distract herself, take comfort in all the things around her that weren’t awful. Those details weren’t as rare as she had thought, not if she looked in the right places. The gala was certainly not the stage, but it wasn’t that different. Those similarities were what she took comfort in that night. The dress, the lights, the few faces in the crowds that were truly friendly. Her dress didn’t flutter like a tutu, it didn’t spin the same, but it still made her happy, she looked liked herself in every glass, every reflective surface, she would see the dress, the jewels, and in a matter of seconds, her smile. She met all sorts of sponsors that night, they loved her. After all, there was no point in trying to appeal to them, and thus she could just be herself. Perhaps they made plans to help her in the arena now that she’d met them, but it didn’t matter. All that she could do was enjoy her night. Bask in the luxury and make some friends. The sponsors weren’t really friends. They weren’t her equals, they weren’t fearing for their lives. Only twenty-three others were like her. One of them was standing alone, at the edge of the dance floor. The boy from four that she had yet to learn the name of. He wore bronze to match his hair and tanned skin, a fairly simple ensemble akin to any other tuxedo or suit. The part that caught attention was the brocade. Just like Sylke’s jewels, they glittered in the light, adorning his chest and shoulders. There was a heavy patterned fabric that was draped off his shoulder like an asymmetrical cape fit for a prince. It hung still as he leaned against the wall, but Sylke pictured it fluttering with every movement and step he took. He was alone, as though waiting for company of some kind. So she walked up to him, the fabric of her dress swaying with each step.

“Hey. I’m Sylke. ”

“Finnick. You’re from one?”

The question was awkward, like he didn’t know what else to say.

“Mhm. And you’re from four, right?”

“Yup.”

There was a silence. She wanted to ask how he was enjoying the night, if he liked galas like this, if he’d ever been to one before, in fact she was about to when-

“But you’re not a career?”

There it was.

“I’m not. Just a regular tribute, like you.”

“Actually I’m not. I trained for this.”

“But you’re fourteen, don’t you wait until eighteen?”

“Yeah, usually.”

His answer was short, clearly a sore subject. She wanted to ask why, but as she looked at his face it became obvious that he didn’t know. So she didn’t push.

“Do you feel ready?”

“Yeah, I think so.”

His mentor, and kind woman named Mags, had told him not to show weakness, to portray confidence, never let the image slip, but it still did when he was talking to her. He let it slip, for some reason that he couldn’t yet identify. Something in him just wanted to tell her everything, every thought, every feeling, every doubt that floated through his head. Or rather he wanted to tell the world, but the world could not be trusted and so he looked to trustworthy individuals. Something told him she was most certainly one of them. Of course he didn’t say everything, but his performance was still weakened by her presence. Mostly by that smile. So genuine it made him want to smile too. They spent most of the night seated at a table in the corner of the room, occasionally beckoned by a mentor or escort, but always returning to the conversation. That conversation began with talks of the games, but it took little time to expand. Finnick told her about his life back home, and Sylke did the same. They talked about almost everything, from the birds that Sylke kept and trained in her garden to the rigorous dental hygiene Finnick was instructed to keep when he was a boy due to his sweet tooth. He was shocked to learn that she’d never eaten fish. On special occasion shellfish, but never proper fish. Soon after, Mags called him to meet a sponsor, and he returned a bit later with a plate of some of the fish being served that night.

“Here. I found some at the table, you should try it. It’s not like I catch at home, but it’s good.”

“Is there a certain way I’m supposed to eat it?”

He laughed, putting the plate on the table and sitting beside her.

“A fork and knife will do”

She laughed with undeniably genuine cadence before taking a bite. It was certainly new, but still familiar. Like a heightened version of the shrimp her family would get for celebrations, something meant only for the most celebratory of occasions. It was rich and just salty enough, and perfectly seasoned. Perhaps fitting for the celebration of one’s life, a good last meal. She made a decision to request this as her final meal before going into the arena.

“So… do you like it?”

She turned to him, swallowing before smiling, with the edges of her lips pulled high and making crescent moons of her eyes.

“It’s really good! If I had that as my last meal, I think I’d die happy.”

“Yeah? Wait until you try mine. No seasoning or capitol kitchen can make up for freshness--catching, cooking, and eating it right there on the sand.”

He spoke with confidence, almost arrogance dripping from his voice, with a pearly white grin to go with it.

“I’ll take your word for it.”

They continued to talk and to laugh, exchanging stories and jokes like old friends catching up after too long apart. At some point she had reveled in the dress she was wearing, how the luxury and flow reminded her of costumes she would wear, how she felt more like herself wearing these than any time before. She spoke with a beaming smile, eyes flitting from his to the fabric to the jewels to the glittering room and then back to him. He said little as she did this, simply watching the joy pour from her every word. It was that genuine joy the pulled him to her, that made his performance slip, that made him content to let it.

“You glow when you talk like that.”

“Like what?”

“About the things you like, the things that make you smile.”

She laughed.

A minute or two later, the music switched to a new song, and Sylke perked up.

“I know this song!” She stood up and took his hand. “Come on, get up!”

“Wait, to dance?”

“Yeah! What, they never taught you how to dance?”

“Only a little,”

She pulled him to the dance floor and took both his hands in hers. “It’s a waltz, do you know how to do that?”

He shook his head.

“That’s alright,”

She brought one of his hands to her waist with her own on his shoulder. It felt nice to have someone so close, someone to trust. They didn’t move.

“It’s slow, do you wanna look at my feet and I can teach you?”

He pulled her a little closer, practically speaking directly into her ear. It hadn't been long since he felt the warmth of another human, just a few days ago he was hugging his family goodbye. But the capitol was so cold, so glamourously sterile, that this closeness with Sylke felt like a moment of fresh air after a month of factory smog. The rest of the capitol felt sickly cold in comparison to this. This comforting, trusting warmth. Neither of them wanted to leave.

“Maybe later. Let’s just sway for now”

“Okay.”

They swayed in silence, trying to savor this moment of trust. Gold, ivory, and bronze melded together as they moved, these clothes must have been made to dance together. The music was soft, a subtle background for their movement. The night was coming to a close, the dance floor had few people left on it. It didn’t take long for Sylke and Finnick to be pulled away for final goodbyes, the last chance of the night to get sponsors before they went back to the apartments.

They spent the rest of the week training. Sylke spent most of that time learning about plants. The training centre offered plants from multiple different biomes, and Sylke did try to learn about all of them, but she couldn't help but favour the jungle plants. Something about the vibrant colours striking shapes was absolutely fascinating to her, especially because she grew up in an urban area that held only artificial, staged cactus and succulent terrariums. She learned quickly what was poison, what was edible, and what was medicinal. Often, she learned, something poisonous because helpful when delivered in the right dose. There was a tree near her home in district one, planted in a concrete box in a public square. From midsummer to the first cold breeze, the blossoms would hang from its branches like white handkerchiefs dipped in rosy dye at the bottom. The tree was lovely and admired by Sylke as well as many of her neighbors, but everyone who lived nearby to admire from a distance. Adults told her when she was very young that every part of that tree was dangerous, not to be touched, and deceptively beautiful. The man at the medicinal plants station told her however, that the leaves, once cooked, make for a powerful pain reliever. Still to be ingested with caution, as with any other narcotic, but helpful when taken prudently. Sylke was simply fascinated by such topics. She didn’t care much for violence, which most of the training room was dedicated to. She also learned how to use a friction bow, but that was mostly out of boredom. Her favourite part of the training was most certainly the medicinal plants. She took comfort in knowing that with this knowledge she could perhaps help someone stay alive, and that if she taught someone else they could as well. Perhaps if things were different, if she hadn't been reaped, if for whatever reason she couldn't pursue dancing, perhaps she would have become a healer. Sometimes she would catch a glance of Finnick, throwing his trident and hitting his mark each time. He was so assured in his ability, a security that would certainly serve him well in the arena. He trained for this after all, his confidence was justified. His kills would be swift and painless, and she had no doubt that was how he liked them to be. He never seemed the type to torture something like that, something about him, the kindness that he offered to many (though not all) was too great for such cruelty.

The evaluations came too quickly. The game was approaching too fast. Cesare was first, then she would be up. When she entered the room, a small pile of stalks and leaves sat on a table in the corner of the room. In her fifteen minutes, she separated them into three piles. One she burned, another she ate, and the last she sorted into their different uses. She gave a curtsy before walking out.

She was sitting on a couch in the apartment that night, all eyes staring intently at the screen. The man next to her had gotten ten out of twelve. She got a four. No one was surprised by that. Finnick got an eleven. She hoped he would win. A part of her was sure that he would.

After that was the final show with Caesar Flickerman. Everything was just like back home, just a little more glamorous. There was a mirror just before the entrance to the stage, and in it she fluffed up her skirt before looking at herself in full. She had a tiara too, adorned with little gilded doves. She had once mentioned to a sponsor that doves were her favourite bird, a symbol of peace. Not only that, but the tiara was made to look like branches, with green jewels like olives ready to be harvested. In fact, all of the jewels she was wearing were green, to match the olives and complement the dress as her stylist had put it. And the dress. They had her in a rosy pink ball gown this time. It spun better than a tutu, with even more layers or tulle. It was perfect, everything the little girl inside of her could ever dream of. They were really leaning into the princess thing, and it made her happy beyond belief. The smile on her face was genuine, and everyone in the crowd knew it. She walked out from the steel doors, stage lights beaming from every direction as she took a seat. Caesar introduced her to the crowd, but all she could think of was music. She could hear it in her head, like she was sitting upstage while the principals danced. Like clockwork, he’d back straightened and her hands folded in her lap. She only caught the last bit of Caesar’s words.

“You really do look like royalty, sitting so poised like that. Do you know what people have been calling you?”

“What have they been calling me?”

“The smiling princess.”

He looked out to the crowd.

“Now folks, can you think of anything more fitting? Here she is in her royal gown, with a crown on her head, and the prettiest smile in the world. I can’t think of a better name for such a lovely young girl.”

“Thank you Caesar. I really do feel so lucky to be here and to have been received so kindly. My heart is truly warmed by the kindness you show me.”

“And look at that, such impeccable manners!”

His galavanting smile and raucous laugh shifted quickly to something of a pout as the crowd quieted and he took a more serious tone.

“Now of course, manners and sweetness are all gone in the arena.”

“That’s true. I will be completely out of my element.”

The crowd went quiet as Sylke formed her next words. She wondered if she should tell the audience the certainty of her death, how little hope she had for herself. But she decided against it. Instead, she focused on what she knew, the morals that she upheld and took comfort in.

”You know, I’ve been taught that the way to live a good life is to be kind, to have mercy, and to offer grace. I know not how that will apply in the arena but I have no intention of abandoning my morals.”

“Such wisdom at such a young age.”

He took her hands in his and looked her in the eyes.

“We all know that the arena is deadly. Unfortunately, other tributes are not as kind as you are. But we wish you the best of luck. May the odds be ever in your favour.”

The skirt rippled with her as she stood, walking of the stage with cheers sounding behind her. Misty was by her side immediately.

“That was good, you did good. A lot of sponsors are really loving the princess image, and that kindness, mercy, and grace speech really turned some heads.”

Sylke watched the rest of the show from backstage. Tributes came and went, each leaning into distinct personalities crafted by mentors, escorts, and stylists. She wondered how many were real. How many were total fabrication? And how many were what she imagined most of them were, exaggerations and oversimplifications, initially based on truth, but dramatised and amplified to make a good show. That’s what Finnick’s was. When he came on the stage, he had a big plastic smile. He acted arrogant, confident, but in a peacock sort of way. He had confidence in his own ability and his odds in the arena, and in the interview he missed no opportunity to flaunt it. And that was mostly based in truth. He did carry himself with confidence, and he did come off as arrogant when she first met him at the parade. But he was also compassionate, and that same confidence and security in himself allowed him to be wonderful at helping others, caring for the people around him that he trusted. It meant that he wasn’t afraid to step up and protect someone. And Sylke was sorely disappointed when she didn’t see that on the screen in front of her. That wasn’t Finnick, not all of him. But the audience loved it. They had no idea who he really was, and they didn’t care. They cheered and screamed with every toothy grin he flashed. They loved him. If he won they’d love him even more. He’d be their golden boy.

“You know they love him almost as much as they love you.”

She looked up and back to see the speaker. It was Cesare.

“What?”

“You hear the cheering? It’s almost as loud as when you were up there. Looks like the capitol found their prince.”

He slinked away again, with a smirk, like all he came up to do was tease her. But he was right. She wondered what would become of it all. She would die, and hopefully he would live. The capitol would lose their smiling princess. Would they mourn? What about him? If he died would they mourn him too? Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps coming backstage.

“Hey! They loved you out there!”

“They loved you too, princess.”

They began to walk together, with no defined direction, just aimless, something to do with their bodies as they chatted. Finnick noted how regal her dress was, prompting her to revel similarly to the night of the gala at the way she felt wearing the dress. And again, he watched. She spun, the skirt flying up and revealing layer upon layer of fluffy tulle, and he felt a pang of desire to be the one spinning her, the knight in shining armor to her princess. And then he wondered if it was an act. If even around him she was playing up the princess thing, like he would with his playboy image for the cameras and other tributes. But he didn’t do that with her. Did she?

“Are you really like this?”

“Hmm? Like what?”

“When you’re on stage you’re essentially no different than how you are now. Is this just who you are?”

“I-I guess. I never really thought about it.”

They walked without words for a moment. He began to wonder if he made her uncomfortable.

“I try to be honest with everyone. I know my team likes to have a certain image, but when I get to talk I like to just be me. I’d like to think I’m always like this.”

Always a princess he thought. That’s just who she is.

“You’re not like that though. You were acting different on stage, I could tell. Did they tell you to do that?”

“Yeah. Apparently I’m becoming a capitol heartthrob.”

He rolled his eyes, drawling though his words with palpable disgust.

“My escort said I’ll get more sponsors if I do all that flirty stuff.”

She nodded, waiting for him to say more. There was a question she hadn’t the courage to ask, but he knew it, and answered before she asked.

“It’s not totally fake. But it’s icky, like they’re whittling me down into… it’s not something I’m not, but…”

“It’s not all of you.”

“Yeah.”

Stylists and escorts were moving about, organising the tributes to go into the stage for the finale. As Sylke was summoned to line up, Finnick pulled her close just as he had at the gala and whispered in her ear.

“I wanna come to your room tonight. Will they be asleep by midnight?”

Victoria would likely pass out the moment they returned to the apartment, and Misty always took a sleeping pill at eleven. Cesare would be asleep too, getting a good nights rest before the game in the morning.

“Yes.”

She was pulled away, and soon after so was he.

That night, she asked for fish as her supper. It was similar to what was served at the gala, tender and perfectly seasoned with a certain luxurious richness that she adored. The meal was quiet. They were always awkward, but usually Victoria, or failing that Misty, would try to make conversation. The table was quiet this time. Cesare was eating with vigor, trying to get as much down as possible before the game. Sylke was eating slowly, simply trying to enjoy all of it. Victoria had said all there was to say, now it was just a waiting game. As the night progressed everyone but Sylke went to bed early. She didn’t enjoy silence. Much more pleasant was to have something to listen to. Sometimes that would be bird songs and wind making melodies in the rustling flora, other times it was an orchestra unpacking and tuning as the crowd settled in. Whatever it was, she always preferred noise over silence. And so when all was quiet and everyone was asleep, she closed her bedroom door and found music to play. It was on the vanity, a turntable next to a selection screen. She chose something soft, classical, to remind her of home. She closed her eyes and for a moment she was back home. All was well, all she needed to worry about was the crowd, the choreography, that was it. Music had a power over her, to bring her anywhere in the world so long as she could hear it. Her feet moved across the floor, gliding and stepping with the music she knew so well. The piece was short and coming to an end. Her eyes came open a long time ago, but they didn’t actually look anywhere until the final note, when she would smile and bow to the audience. But of course, the roaring applause wasn’t there, and she was back in reality, back in the cold and grey apartment room. But she had enjoyed her escape, short as it was. A quick glance at the clock showed the midnight was nearing. She made her way to the door and kept an eye peering out the peephole. Right on time, she saw him walking, turning to check behind nearly every step. She laughed to herself at his caution, knowing full well that if she were in his place, she likely wouldn’t look back once. He approached the door and gestured to knock before stopping. He stood pondering a quieter method for perhaps a second before she opened the door. They tried not to make noise until she had closed the bedroom door again.

“You're playing music?”

“Yeah.”

They didn’t say much for a moment. In the end it was Sylke that spoke first, voicing the question that had stayed at the front of her mind for hours.

“Why did you want to meet tonight?”

“I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to see you again before tomorrow.”

She nodded, understanding and reciprocating his sentiment entirely. Another song faded out, and a lively waltz took its place.

“I never actually got to teach you to dance.”

“I’m still interested.”

She stood up come her place seated on the edge of the bed and placed her hands behind her back.

“Watch my feet. You know how a waltz goes 1, 2, 3…”

He nodded and stood next to her, mimicking her every movement. She took two steps and he did the same. She brushed her leg forward and he followed. With each step she counted, one, brush, turn, two, step, three, step. It took him a moment to pick it up, but with time he was able to find the rhythm and it became easier with each turn.

“Great. Face me,”

They kept their hands behind their backs, not wanting to complicate with arms yet.

“Just waltz, and I’ll be going backwards to match you.”

He nodded again and hesitated before stepping forward. She stepped backwards. When he brushed his leg forward she moved hers back. When they turned it switched. Once again, it slowly began to make sense to him.

“That’s great! Do you want to try arms?”

“Sounds good.”

They assumed a familiar position, with his arm on her waist, and hers on his shoulder. Only this time there was significantly more distance between them. Finnick was too focused on his feet to notice, but to Sylke took note of it, how as much as she loved to waltz with him, she did miss being closer. As the moved clumsily about the floor, she smiled and giggled both when he struggled and when he succeeded, finding joy in anything and everything he did. He almost didn’t hear her laugh with his laser focus on taking the right steps. At some point it seemed to get easier for him, but he still kept his gaze fixed on the ground. Upon seeing this, she lifted her hand from his shoulder and gently took hold of his chin to turn his face to hers.

“Look at me. Or to the audience, but we don’t have one of those.”

Just as he was told, he didn’t take his eyes off her. His steps were a bit messier as a result, but they smoothed over in time. Looking into his eyes, she found herself smiling even more, something he mimicked with a grin of his own. It wasn’t the plastic one from the stage earlier, it was different. Genuine. They could hear the song getting closer to its end. Finnick took the hand that was clasped with hers and placed it on her waist as the final phrase played.

“Dip?”

She smiled again, and that was all they needed for a response. He lowered her, with one hand at her waist and the other moving to support her back, keeping his head by hers and his eyes never leaving. The music went quiet before transitioning into something softer, slower, clearly in 4/4 as well. Neither of them moved once again. Her smile had gone slightly, now just doe-eyed and looking at him.

“Can I kiss you?”

She nodded. Sweet and slow, they moved closer until their lips met. The kiss was tender, slow and yet fleeting as they pulled apart. With foreheads pressed together, both of them donned massive smiles, eyes thinner than crescent moons. Finnick brought them back upright but kept them close. He didn’t want to let her go, perhaps not ever. He didn't want to think either. The future was too dangerous to consider right now. They mostly stayed cuddled on the bed for the rest of the hours they spent together, talking softly because they were too afraid to fall asleep. The conversation was not nearly as lighthearted as other ones. The game was tomorrow, and it weighed heavily on both of their minds. They talked about what it meant to take a life. Sylke didn’t like to think about it, but with the game so near, she could not pluck the thoughts from her mind. To kill someone, to rob them of their life.

“Have you ever…”

“No. No, never. I don’t think I want to either. I can, I know I can, but… I don’t know. It’s that or die.”

She admired his drive to live. It was amazing, an extension of that security in himself she figured. She was choosing to die, but she couldn’t blame him for choosing to kill instead.

“I don’t think I could. It takes so much, so much that I don’t have. I envy you Finnick. You’re strong and capable and-“

“Hey. Don’t do that.”

“What, am I wrong?”

“I-no, but… don’t whittle it down like that. You’re not wrong, I have skills that serve me in the arena. And with those particular skills you’re not as strong. But that’s not the whole story. Sylke, I’ve only known you for a week or two but I’ve seen how incredible you are. I’ve seen your kindness and your optimism and your care for the world around you. Those are skills too, even if they don’t serve you in the arena.”

By the end or his little speech, there were tears making their way down her face. There was quiet between them once more, but not out of awkwardness or lack of things to say. She moved closer and rested her head on his chest. His hand almost automatically moved to her head to play with her hair, something of an unconscious attempt at comforting her. The flow of tears came to an end. He tilted her chin to look up at him. Her face was still wet, with doe eyes and little trace of a smile. He’d never seen her look so sad before, and he promised himself to do everything in his power to keep that beautiful smile of hers around.

“You’re wonderful.”

He pressed his lips to hers, this time quicker, more passionate. Time seemed to fall away, and for just a moment so did the music. When they pulled apart she nuzzled into his neck, taking comfort in his arms securely around her. She felt safe here, like the danger of tomorrow could never reach her here. Some amount of time that neither of them bothered to note passed, and the glare of the clock seemed increasingly present. They were tired but still too afraid to fall asleep. Not here, not like this.

“I should go.”

“You need to go.”

Nothing moved.

“I don’t want you to go.”

“I don’t want to go.”

For a moment, all was still. Slowly, they rose, making their way to the apartment door. Before she could reach for the door, he took her hands in his and made a point to look square in her eyes.

“There’s gonna be a bloodbath at the cornucopia tomorrow. You should run, but don’t go far. I’ll find you once I get some weapons. Okay?”

“Okay.”

She didn’t need to ask anything more, all was understood. He knew her odds, he knew of her intention to die quickly, this was it. He would kill her in the morning, quickly, painlessly, end her suffering before things could get worse. She opened the door and gave him a melancholy smile. As he began to walk away she spoke quietly, just loud enough for him to hear.

“Better with you than anyone else.”

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sessayyys-corner · 9 months

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GOMBURZA (2023) - MMFF REVIEW

“Vivan Los Filipinos. Mabuhay ang mga Filipino.”

This film is the story of the three martyr priests. Three Filipinos who were part of the native community who were once under Spanish colonial rule and oppression. If you have been updated, or have been listening in your elementary Philippine history classes, it’s GOMBURZA, not MAJOHA.

Despite it being produced by Jesuit Communications, the film was able to execute (No pun intended) a factual depiction on a turning point of Philippine history without overused emphasis of religion. It was able to capture how the Catholic faith was used as an instrument of oppression during the Spanish colonial period (This was especially ironic considering how return of the religious orders, including the Jesuits, were the reason for the silencing of the secularization movement). What also impressed me is that almost every single detail in the movie, even in the dialogue, came from actual events in history. It is evident that enough research was made to make this film as accurate as possible.

The film’s cinematography was able to capture life during the period whether it was amongst the Filipino liberals, the Spanish priests, the Governor-Generals, or even the three main characters in our story. With every other scenes of the film shifting from light to dark atmospheres, this symbolized the reality of Spanish colonization — warmth, acceptance, and friendship amongst fellow Filipinos; and ruthlessness, inhumanity, and oppression from the Spaniards (and even traitors). Adding emphasis to GomBurZa’s (2023) cinematography is its sound design. Just by feeling the cinema floor rumbling and the deeply-voiced voiceover in the film’s ending segment, this film can come to a point where it deserves its own IMAX screening.

Dante Rivero and Cedrick Juan showcase over-the-top stellar performances as Padre Mariano Gomez (played by Rivero) and Padre Jose Burgos (played by Juan). Both actors have embodied their roles, not only due to the fact that they, especially Juan, share a slight resemblance with the real life Mariano Gomez and Jose Burgos. It is also because that they were able to portray their emotions from having a friendly conversation, to later condemning their unfair arrest, trial, and death.

Pepe Diokno's time and effort in conducting research and including every important detail in the production is evident in the whole film itself, as it was not only ACTUALLY based on true events, but was able to evoke emotion and outrage, just like how the Filipinos of the 1870s did at the time.

With all of this said, GomBurZa (2023) is not only a history lesson, but also an immersion into the Spanish colonial rule and the lives of the three priests. Being a history nerd and a cinephile who has since learned the names of the three martyr priests as a little girl in elementary, I can definitely say that this was one of the only film experiences where I had witnessed the breaking of the fourth wall. The whole time I was in the cinema, it felt like I was part of their conversation, like I was a witness to their lives and execution.

What also added to this experience was that I watched the film on Rizal Day, and what better way to commemorate our national hero's contribution to Philippine independence than to learn about where it all started? Like what I always preached to my family:

Without GomBurZa, there will be no Jose Rizal. Without Jose Rizal, there would be no Andres Bonifacio. Without all of them, the Philippines and the Filipino would not exist.

GomBurZa (2023) is a cathartic experience that is definitely for the family. This film is a testament to the importance of appreciating and learning our history. Hopefully it serves as a reminder of our collective past, national identity, and the importance of our freedom.

[Metro Manila Film Festival 2023]

(my film review of "GomBurZa" is also available on letterboxd!)

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hisui-dreamer · 1 year

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ode to the sentient soul

Pairing: (Platonic)Ortho Shroud x gn!reader

Synopsis: like a beacon of light, he was your dearest friend

Tags: drabble, fluff, slightly poetic, reader is besties with ortho, ortho appreciation post

Word count: 329

Notes: happy birthday ortho!! sorry i didn't write as much, but thank you for being such a lovely cinnamon roll that exudes optimism!!!

Masterlist

Your best friend is a technomantic humanoid with an appearance so intriguingly unique. You appreciate how he carries himself, with an aura of curiosity and optimism that's contagious. His presence on campus is a breath of fresh air, a friendly soul amidst your less-than-friendly peers.

Your best friend is a true observer, not just of objects, but of people's emotions and intricacies. His robotic parts and advanced programming gift him with a unique insight that astounds you. It's as if he's a living bridge between technology and humanity, merging the two in a harmonious dance that you find utterly fascinating.

Your best friend has an insatiable thirst for knowledge, a hunger to explore and learn that resonates deeply within you. His eagerness to help others shines like a guiding light, a trait that warms your heart and inspires you to do the same. His presence and perspectives remind you that kindness and compassion can be powerful forces in this world.

Your best friend's mind is a seamless fusion of technology and magic. With the vast expanse of the internet at his fingertips, he becomes a vessel of information, capable of learning anything at a moment's notice. The blend of scanners, medical equipment, and tools within him speaks to his versatility, reminding you that he's a friend who's always prepared.

Your best friend's devotion to his brother's well-being is a beacon of unwavering support and love. With a heart that brims with compassion, he constantly seeks ways to uplift Idia's spirits and draw him out of his seclusion. His genuine concern is evident in the lengths he goes to ensure his brother's happiness, a testament to the deep bond they share.

In every aspect of him, you find reasons for appreciation. From his inquisitive spirit to his helpful nature, his technological insights to his technological prowess, his sibling bond to his unwavering determination, he embodies qualities that inspire and uplift you.

Your best friend, is none other than Ortho Shroud.

Masterlist

if you liked this post, don't forget to reblog!

#twstnexus #twisted wonderland #twisted wonderland x reader #disney twisted wonderland #ortho shroud #twisted wonderland ortho

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mimisempai · 8 months

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LITTLE SEEDS OF HAPPINESS 4/4

Chapter 4 : Blossoming

Chapter Summary

Aziraphale and Crowley experience the same doubts as they look forward to their date.

Will Aziraphale finally find out what the florist is hiding under his dark glasses? Will Crowley trust him enough to show it?

Notes

Already the end of this story.

But the story of the florist and the book seller is far from over, after all this is only the beginning, they have so much to learn about each other and with each other.

On Ao3

Rating T - 4192 words

Chap 1 - Chap 2 - Chap 3 - Chap 4

"You know Crowley, as much as I look forward to seeing your creations, it's you and not the flowers I'm coming for."

Aziraphale felt the heat spread across his cheeks at the memory of the last words he'd said to Crowley before leaving the flower shop the day before.

What had possessed him to actually say that?

Of course, he hadn't said anything he didn't mean, but it still sounded a little flirtatious. Well, for all he knew, it had been so long since he'd done that. If there was such a thing.

Anyway, he couldn't take his words back, and Crowley hadn't canceled their date, so all he had to do was wait until the evening.

What he was sure of was that it would be an extremely long day until then.

If Aziraphale was honest with himself, he hadn't felt such anticipation since... since... in fact, it was probably the first time he'd ever felt this way.

It was clear that after the way he'd been treated by his own family, his self-esteem wasn't exactly high, which didn't exactly make him want to form more intimate bonds with anyone. There was always something lurking deep inside him, the fear that there might be an ounce of truth in what his siblings thought of him.

But without really being able to explain it, there was something about the florist that made him want to take a risk. Like a special connection, a feeling deep inside that they were the same.

Aziraphale, like most other street shopkeepers, was observant.

You could say it was the primary quality they used to feed their gossip, but if you had a well-established shop on the street, you got into the habit of observing the people around you, if only to observe the potential customer or to find out what they might like - well, not in Aziraphale's case, who was neither trying to attract customers nor to give them what they came for.

Although Aziraphale had observed Crowley for none of these reasons, he had seen that beneath the florist's lanky, nonchalant, sometimes grumpy demeanor, there was someone deeply kind who, for some strange reason, always tried to hide it. Which, of course, only made him more attractive and intriguing to the bookseller.

He'd seen the way Crowley was friendly with his assistant - he still wondered what their relationship was - he'd seen the way he tended to the flowers, he'd seen the way he quickly made himself appreciated by one street shopkeeper to another.

Of course, he'd also seen the way his beautiful red hair caught the light, the way his slim figure was accentuated by his black clothes, and he'd dreamed of seeing what lay behind those dark glasses.

His phone vibrating in his jacket pocket snapped him out of his thoughts. He flipped it open and read the message from Maggie.

Hello Mr. Fell

He really had to remind Maggie to call him by his first name; after all, she had more of a right to do so than the others, since his grandfather and the younger woman's grandmother had been close friends.

This morning I received a batch of records that I think you might be interested in. Before I put them up for sale, would you like to take a look at them?

PS: All this, of course, accompanied by a cup of tea.

Aziraphale had barely finished reading the message before he put on his jacket and coat and walked out of the bookstore, striding briskly toward the record store. Moments later, he walked through the door and greeted Maggie with a broad smile.

"Good morning, Maggie!"

Maggie emerged from the back of the store, two cups of tea in hand, which she placed on the counter before exclaiming, "Mr. Fell! You were quick!"

Aziraphale shook his head and said gently, "Maggie, come on, I've already told you to call me Aziraphale. After all, given our grandparents' friendship, we're like family, aren't we?"

She nodded with a shy little smile and murmured, "Okay, I'll try, A- Aziraphale."

Aziraphale exclaimed, "That's the spirit!" before approaching the counter.

Maggie showed him the stack of records, and the bookseller could see that there were indeed several items that interested him.

They chatted about the records for a long time and their cups were long emptied when Maggie asked in a shy voice, "Mr. Fell... uh, Aziraphale, I know I'm probably intruding, but..."

Aziraphale couldn't hold back a laugh, for Maggie had far more scruples than most of the other gossips on the street.

He said quietly, "Go ahead Maggie, I'm listening."

Maggie asked him bluntly, "Is it true you invited the florist to dinner at Justine's tonight?"

Aziraphale hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly.

It was only 10 in the morning, for God's sake.

He immediately replied, "First of all, I wasn't the one who made the invitation, and secondly, how do you know about it?"

Maggie replied a little sheepishly, "Well, I ran into Justine at Mr. Arnold's and she was very happy to announce that she had a reservation for you and Crowley."

Aziraphale rolled his eyes and muttered, "Wonderful, I guess everyone knows..."

Maggie replied with a half smile, "Uh, not Mr. Brown. But then again, if you wanted to keep it a secret, you'd have had to book somewhere else."

She wasn't wrong, but at the same time it was a bit like neutral ground, and both would be in familiar surroundings for a first date.

Wait a minute, it was a first date, right?

But what if it was just to say thank you?

The florist had never said that-

"Aziraphale? Are you okay?"

Maggie had put her hand on the bookseller's forearm and looked at him with a slightly worried expression.

The bookseller reassured her, " Yes, yes, everything's fine," before adding as if to himself, "I'm just a little out of my comfort zone and asking myself a lot of questions, but I think I'll be fixed tonight."

"Fixed?"

Aziraphale shook his head and replied, "Nothing, don't worry."

He picked up the records he'd chosen, stood up and added, "Well, time for me to go, have a nice day, my dear Maggie, and thank you again, for the records and for the tea."

Maggie shook her head and replied, "It's me who thanks you, Mr. F- Aziraphale."

As he stepped through the door, he heard her add quietly, "I'm happy for you. I hope you have a wonderful evening."

The bookseller stammered out a thank you before walking directly to his bookshop, looking straight ahead, not wanting to catch the eye of any of the street gossips.

In any case, the record harvest he'd just made at Maggie's would allow him to pass the time more quickly and forget for a moment the questions that nagged at him about the upcoming dinner.

What he didn't know was that a florist not far from here was going through the same emotional roller coaster and asking himself almost the same questions.

After finishing the last arrangement for the restaurant the next day, Crowley went to put it with the others in the cold storage room reserved for flower storage, then decided to take a short break.

He untied his apron, tossed it carelessly on the counter and made his way to Nina.

No sooner had he stepped through the door than the coffee shop owner called out to him, "Well, well, the number of times you come here, people are going to think there's something fishy going on between us."

Crowley replied in the same tone, "Not even at gunpoint, sorry, but you're absolutely not my type, Nina."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, your type is a nice and soft bookseller." She approached Crowley and leaned toward him, whispering, "And I feel like things have moved on since yesterday, huh?"

Crowley narrowed his eyes and asked, "What do you mean?"

I may have heard from Maggie, who heard from Justine at Mr. Arnold's, that you'll be dining in charming company at Justine's restaurant tonight.

Crowley murmured, "I should have guessed. I know, even though I've only been here a few months, that gossip travels faster than the wind on this street."

Nina smiled back, "Yeah, that's what happens when you live in a place where people care about each other."

Crowley retorted, "I don't call it caring, I call it meddling."

Nina shrugged and said softly, "You can call it that, but what I do know is that when I arrived here a year ago, I was in a bad place, coming out of a bad relationship, and I can tell you that if certain people here had not, as you say, meddled in my life, I would not be where I am today. Comfortable in my shoes, in a relationship with someone who respects me and in whom I have absolute confidence."

She looked in the direction of the record store and continued in a barely audible voice, "And who I love."

Crowley chuckled softly and said, " Aw, Nina, I had no idea you were such a sap."

Before Nina could reply, he put the change on the counter, grabbed his coffee and headed for the door, happy to be the one leaving with the upper hand.

On his way out, he couldn't help but glance toward the bookshop and was surprised to see Aziraphale, cup in hand, chatting with Mutt.

Before he had time to think, Crowley raised his hand and waved in Aziraphale's direction, whose face, to the florist's delight, lit up with a broad smile as he waved back.

Needless to say, Crowley's mood was extremely upbeat as he entered the flower shop.

He dropped into a chair in the corner of the shop, and as he sipped his coffee, he couldn't help but think again about the upcoming date.

For it was a date, wasn't it?

Wait, what if this was Aziraphale's way of apologizing?

What if he'd only accepted Crowley's invitation out of pity?

"Anthony J. Crowley, you're going to do me the favor of not thinking what you're thinking right now."

Crowley turned to Muriel, who was descending the stairs, and replied, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

Muriel raised an eyebrow and replied, "Oh, me, I know exactly what I'm talking about. I'm talking about the fact that you're wondering if this is a date, what the bookseller's motives are, all the questions I know you're asking yourself because you're scared."

"Me, I'm scared?"

Muriel came to stand before him and replied, "Oh, yes, you're scared. And you know what you have to do?"

Crowley said cheekily, "Go ahead, tell me, you who have all the answers."

Muriel shook their head, knowing that Crowley was just trying to put up a front, and replied, "Ask him. Before you go to dinner. Just ask him. And even if the answer isn't what you want, at least you'll know where you're going."

Crowley took a sip of coffee, took the time to think before replying more gently, "You're probably right. I'll do that."

"I'm always right, big brother."

In a now familiar motion, Crowley grabbed the water sprayer and doused Muriel.

They cried out, "Eric, come save me!"

Crowley turned his head toward the shop door and saw that Eric was indeed there.

"My goodness, we've been seeing a lot of you around here lately."

Muriel punched Crowley lightly and admonished him, "Be nice, will you?"

Crowley raised an eyebrow and asked, "What's your sweetheart doing here?"

Muriel replied as they walked over to Eric, "You're going to dinner at Justine's and we're going to lunch there."

Then, they grabbed Eric's hand and pulled him behind them as they left the store.

Crowley watched them go, hoping he'd come back the same way with Aziraphale.

Aziraphale glanced at his pocket watch for the tenth time in five minutes, complaining to himself that time wasn't moving any faster as the meeting approached. However, that didn't stop him from jumping at the sound of a light knock on the door of the bookshop.

He grabbed his coat and went to open the door, greeting Crowley with a broad smile.

The florist said softly, "Good evening, Aziraphale."

"Good evening, Crowley."

Aziraphale was about to put on his coat when Crowley grabbed it to help him put it on.

The bookseller, touched by the other man's gallant gesture, said kindly, "Thank you, my dear. Shall we go?"

He saw Crowley bite his lip before he said hesitantly, "Before we go, I'd like to ask you something."

At the florist's serious look, Aziraphale replied gently, "I'm listening."

"Is this a date?"

Not expecting such a direct question, Aziraphale's instinct was to reply, "Do you want it to be?"

But he immediately changed his mind, he didn't want to play this kind of game, no pretense, no guesswork, no half-truths.

He muttered to himself, "Fight like you can win."

"What?"

Aziraphale looked Crowley in the eye as best he could through the dark glasses and said in a clear, firm voice, "This is a date."

This time there was no mistaking the look of relief that crossed the florist's face, and Aziraphale knew he'd been right to choose the path of honesty.

Crowley, with a slightly crooked smile, said wryly, "There's just one problem."

Aziraphale looking puzzled asked, "Which one?"

"It's been so long for me, I have no idea what to do anymore."

Aziraphale chuckled slightly before replying, "Well, at least we're on the same page. I think we'll figure it out together."

Both men laughed slightly, both in amusement and relief.

They had only taken a few steps toward the restaurant when Crowley muttered, "Is it me, or do I feel watched?"

The bookseller chuckled and replied, "Welcome to Gossip Street, the street where everyone knows what everyone else is doing, or at least thinks they do."

Then his expression turned serious again, and as he moved away from Crowley, he said softly, "Unless you'd rather people didn't know."

Crowley moved closer, gave him a little nudge on the shoulder, and said in an amused tone, "I think it's too late for that, and besides, I'm the one who invited you, right?"

Moments later, they were ushered to their table by Justine and were pleased to see that the restaurant owner had reserved an isolated table for them, which would give them some privacy.

As they sat down, Aziraphale exclaimed, looking absolutely ecstatic, "Crowley, this is truly exquisite!"

Pointing to the flower arrangement in the center of the table, he continued, "What harmony and delicacy!"

Crowley, blushing, grumbled, "Don't exaggerate, they're just flowers."

Seeing Crowley's modesty, Aziraphale wondered what other hidden qualities the florist possessed and, placing a hand on his arm, replied gently, "I'm not exaggerating, I really mean it, you've done a magnificent job. But now I'm curious, how did you get into this business?"

Overcoming his embarrassment, Crowley told him about the orphanage and the old gardener and Muriel, and although they hadn't known each other long, he found it easy to open up. Aziraphale listened and asked questions from time to time, laughing at some of the anecdotes from his childhood with Muriel.

They paused to order and barely interrupted when the waiter brought their plates.

"And so I'm here today."

Crowley put down his fork to take a sip of wine and met Aziraphale's gaze, who smiled softly. The bookseller waited until he had put down his glass, laid his hand on Crowley's on the table, and said gently, "I hope you are proud of yourself, of what you have accomplished."

Seeing the sincerity in Aziraphale's eyes and expression, Crowley simply accepted the other man's words and said nothing, just nodded.

Then he tilted his head and asked him gently, "And how did Aziraphale become a bookseller?"

It was Aziraphale's turn to tell of his journey, and though he toned down certain parts, Crowley was sharp enough to see that there was more to it than the bookseller was letting on.

They were just finishing their dessert when Aziraphale finished his story, "So, I'm a bookseller who doesn't sell books, I have enough to live on without doing anything for the rest of my life, and..." he lowered his head before adding under his breath, "I don't do anything I can be proud of."

"I beg to differ."

He looked up at Crowley, who was looking at him kindly, and shook his head, wanting to withdraw his hand, but the florist turned his underneath and caught Aziraphale's to hold it back as he added, "Really. You're a very nice person, you know that?"

"I don't know what makes you say that..."

Crowley pressed his hand into his and replied softly, "So many things..."

He listed what he'd witnessed since he'd arrived on the street, ending with the little girl who'd lost her mother a few days ago.

At the end of his list, Aziraphale shook his head and protested, "But that's nothing."

Crowley, stroking the back of the bookseller's hand with his thumb, said gently, "It's a lot for the person you're doing it for."

They looked at each other in silence for a few seconds, aware that something special was happening, but unfortunately the moment was interrupted when the waiter brought the bill.

Crowley withdrew his hand and Aziraphale immediately felt the lack of its warmth and, to keep a straight face, reached into his pocket for his wallet when Crowley shook his head and said quietly, "I'm the one who invited you, so the bill's on me.

Azirapahle retorted, ""Then next time it'll be on me."

Realizing the implication of what he'd just said, he watched with pleasure as Crowley nodded with a small smile on his lips.

"Actually, this time it's on me, gentlemen."

They looked up at Justine who was picking up the bill from the table as she added, "It's to thank you," she looked at Crowley and continued, "You for your gorgeous arrangements and you..." she turned her head to Aziraphale before finishing, "For generously providing me with several wines of the finest vintages from your cellar so that I could have an excellent wine list."

Crowley winked at Aziraphale and mouthed, "Nothing to be proud of, hm?" then they thanked Justine and got up to leave the restaurant, noticing that it was almost empty as it was five minutes before closing time.

As they walked slowly toward the bookshop, they were much closer than they had been at the beginning of the evening, and with each step their shoulders and arms brushed against each other, but neither of them could bring themselves to make the gesture that would close the distance between their hands.

They arrived in front of the bookshop and Aziraphale opened the door before turning back to Crowley, who said quietly, "I had an excellent evening."

Aziraphale nodded and seemed to want to say something, but thought better of it, so the florist added, "Good night, Aziraphale," then turned to leave, but couldn't because Aziraphale was holding him by the sleeve.

He turned to him and said quietly, "Aziraphale?"

The bookseller asked breathlessly, "Would you like a nightcap?"

Crowley, who didn't mind appearing eager, nodded immediately and was rewarded by Aziraphale's smile before turning to enter the bookstore.

Once inside, Aziraphale told him to make himself comfortable and went to the back of the shop to get a bottle and glasses.

Crowley saw the plant he'd given the bookseller sitting neatly on the desk and walked over to it before leaning over and whispering, "You better grow tall and green or you know what will happen."

He straightened quickly at the sound of Aziraphale's laugh and turned to face him as the bookseller set the glasses and bottle of scotch on the coffee table.

Aziraphale said in an amused tone, "I've heard that you talk to your plants, but not that you threaten them. Tell me, what happens to it if it doesn't do what you tell it?"

Crowley walked over to him and whispered in his ear, "I let them think I would throw away any plant that had a flaw."

This made Aziraphale laugh even harder, much to Crowley's delight.

Then he saw Aziraphale's expression turn serious and the bookseller asked softly, "You don't have to answer if you don't want to talk about it, but... why are you wearing sunglasses all the time?"

Crowley lost his smile and moved away from Aziraphale, turning toward the window.

He heard Aziraphale approach and the bookseller put a hand on his shoulder before saying soothingly, "I'm sorry, Crowley, I didn't mean to..."

"You...you're allowed to ask the question, I...I have a very specific eye color. It... I hear it happens sometimes. It's been a long source of ridicule and annoyance in my past. People either laughed at me or called me a freak. So I decided to hide them, preferring to be mocked for my glasses than for something I can't change, something that is me."

Aziraphale placed his other hand on the florist's other shoulder and, with a light press, made him turn around.

He asked quietly, "You know me. You even said I was a nice guy. So you know I wouldn't make fun of you or call you a freak. Will you show me?"

Crowley shook his head slowly and said under his breath, "I don't want you to see me any differently.

Aziraphale raised his hand and placed it gently on Crowley's chest before saying, "I know who you are here, and your eye color won't change that. I swear."

Then he raised his hand further and laid it gently on the florist's cheek, adding in the same soft tone, "I intend to kiss you, and I want to look into your eyes before I do."

Crowley let out a long breath before murmuring, "Okay..."

Then Aziraphale placed his fingertips on the side of Crowley's glasses and asked softly, "May I?"

The florist swallowed before nodding slowly.

Aziraphale carefully removed the glasses to see that Crowley had instinctively closed his eyes. So he lightly stroked his eyelid with his thumb and said in a coaxing tone, "Show me, please."

Crowley gave in and then opened his eyes, holding his breath.

"Gorgeous."

The bookseller's face was so close to his own that Crowley could not doubt the sincerity he read in his eyes and heard in his voice as Aziraphale added, "What a shame you have to hide them."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Crowley wrapped his arms around Aziraphale and held him to his chest, unconcerned as his sunglasses crashed to the floor.

Aziraphale wrapped his arms around the florist's waist in turn, waiting a few moments for Crowley to calm down before gently pushing him away. He then raised his hands to frame his face, and with his eyes on Crowley's beautiful amber ones, glistening with unshed tears, he grinned and asked, "May I have my kiss now?"

Crowley, his voice still a little hoarse with emotion, cheekily replied, "I've shown you my eyes, that's the least you can do."

Aziraphale chuckled lightly before pulling Crowley's face to his and, closing the distance between their mouths, gently pressed his lips to the florist's.

It was only a brush of lips at first, but the feel of Crowley's lips against his was enough to overwhelm Aziraphale with emotion. Crowley slid his hand down Aziraphale's neck to pull him closer, deepening the kiss. Aziraphale parted his lips and Crowley's tongue slid along his lower lip, sending an electric shiver down Aziraphale's spine. As Crowley's tongue continued to explore his mouth, all of Aziraphale's senses seemed to awaken and he felt almost dizzy, clinging even tighter to the florist's shoulders.

Crowley, sensing how overwhelmed Aziraphale was, stepped back a little so they could catch their breath. Then, as if he couldn't help himself, Aziraphale brought his lips close again, delicately caressing Crowley's in another kiss.

They continued kissing like this for long minutes, not trying to go any further, just enjoying the kiss, their lips and bodies touching, getting to know each other, becoming familiar.

Much later, without really knowing when they'd moved, they were catching their breath on the sofa, Aziraphale snuggled up against Crowley, his head on the florist's chest as he ran his long fingers through his hair, noting that it felt as fluffy as it looked.

He said softly, "I'll repeat what I said earlier, I had an excellent evening."

Aziraphale laughed softly against his chest and, feeling bold, replied, "Hopefully the first of many."

Crowley, of course, hearing the slight uncertainty in the bookseller's voice, replied in a clear voice as he held him closer, "Don't doubt it."

He felt Aziraphale smile against his chest as the bookseller curled up even tighter against him.

Eyes on the small plant resting on Aziraphale's desk, Crowley told himself that they were a bit like it, and with care, a little water, a little light, they'd surely grow into something precious and last a long time.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story 🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

Chap 1 - Chap 2 - Chap 3 - Chap 4

#good omens #aziracrow #ineffable husbands #ineffable boyfriends #aziraphale #crowley #good omens fanfiction #aziraphale x crowley #crowley x aziraphale #human au #alternate universe #flower shop

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lec743 · 2 years

Text

FNAF Fanfiction (Cherub AU)

I had a very specific song stuck in my head for this short story. When you see the linked “play” word, please play it for the background music. Hope you all and @starrspice enjoy the new story. *******************************************************************************************

Saying that Sun and Moon were happy that you were finally flying on your own would be an understatement. Even though you questioned Sun’s congratulations, you were still appreciative of their hustle in moving on to your other lessons. You easily breezed past through all the rest of them… despite how stupid some of the rules and protocols seemed. You’ll just hold your tongue for the meantime. You’re trying to speedrun helping your loved ones after all, you don’t have time to bicker with the sun themed cherub.

By the end of the second week, you and your cherub tutors were given your first group assignment. You were to focus on working with Sun as Moon had his own assignment but was in the same area.

The three of you stood on your apartment roof top as a scroll floated down from the heavens and into your cherub tutors’ hands. Sun held his scroll lower than Moon did, so you looked over his arm at what he was reading. Your eyes immediately rested on the profile picture of your best friend Hera Diaz. You haven’t seen her black ass in forever and your heart immediately ached with how much you missed having late night talks with her over the phone. Last you saw of her she had an afro that could rival treetops, and in this photo, she had a shaved head, but at least she still had that same crooked smile that warmed your heart.

The assignment stated that she cared deeply for a man named Steve Lee Yang and that he cared for her too, but they had been dancing around each other for a year and a half now. They were dancing around each other because Hera was oblivious, and Steve apparently was too anxious to say anything out right.

You rubbed at your eyes in slight irritation. You remember jokingly calling Hera a himbo once upon a time, making you both laugh with her agreeing, but you didn’t think it was true. You read over the many failed attempts of Steve trying to woo your friend. He wooed her with flowers, with gifts she liked, and they even went out on a “date”. However, the notes in the assignment said that Hera only took these romantic attempts as him being friendly, and Steve was too nervous to voice anything different. Who is this wet noodle of a man that’s thinks they can woo your best friend anyways? Especially since he doesn’t have the balls to actually articulate what she really means to him.

You read his profile, then further down you saw his profile picture. He was an Asian gentleman with puffy cheeks and a bowl hair cut that reminded you of that one Naruto character named Rock-something. After a moment, a light went off in your head, and you realized you know this Steve-man as well. He was a senor in your high school while you and Hera were a junior. You don’t remember much about him. Just that he seemed like he was always alone while on school grounds, but Hera said he was fun to talk to. You haven’t seen him in years. When did they reconnect?

“Ah, this is a classic problem,” Sun stated as he confidently rolled up the scroll, “Should be easy enough to fix.”

He sounded cheery as usual, but you didn’t trust it. You got the distinct impression that he was already tired of this job and the two of you haven’t even started it yet.

“How easy we talkin’ here,” you asked as you crossed your arms over your chest.

Sun gave you a thinned easy smile, “Like breathing air.”

You raised a disbelieving brow at him but said nothing more.

Sun turned to his counterpart, “What did you get?”

“A couple who hate each other but are pretending to be together.”

“Wait, that actually happens?” you asked in disbelief.

Moon nodded, “They’re both being stubborn.”

“Welp, let’s get a move on then. I’ll go stake out Hera’s place. I’ll meet you two back at Maple Park at 1pm.”

Before either of them could say anything else to you, you flew away at an exhilarating speed. You still can’t get over just how fun flying is. You do a few loopty-loops as you flew to Hera’s house in the suburbs, not needing to worry about being seen with the cloaking technique your tutors taught you.

You found a small one story home with a front lawn covered in frog ceramics. Half of them she bought as they were, while the other half are frogs she painted herself at a pottery store. It was a weekend, so you knew that Hera would be at home doing house chores. You looked through the windows until you saw a large, muscly black woman laying on the couch. Her living room, much like her front yard, was decorated in frogs of all kinds; paintings and wallpaper on the walls, statues, rugs, pillows, and wood carvings covered every other surface in the room.

Hera was surrounded by pillows, and she was watching her comfort movie Castle in the Sky. Her shoulders shook like she was crying. Your immediate reaction to seeing this was to whip out your phone and try to call her, but you hesitate as your thumb hovered over the speed dial. You floated there, outside her home, hesitating to reach out to her, for you don’t know for how long, until you heard her house phone ring.

Hera was sniffling as she paused the movie and got off the couch. Once she picked up the phone, she put a smile on and said, “Hello?” There was a pause. “Oh, hey Mama…” Hera shifted on her feet as she wiped away her tears. “Oh. Yah. I’m fine.”

Liar, you thought as you clutched your phone to your chest.

“The family cookout? I don’t know… I’m kind of busy.”

You felt your heart rate spike at those words. She’s never missed the monthly family cookout before. She loves going to them. She loves seeing her moms and her old neighbors that she grew up with and seeing new faces. Is this a recent thing? How long has she been shut away like this just crying?

“No… I know I’ve missed the last couple of months. I just… I don’t know Mama…”

You fumble your phone as you remembered the job you’re on. You rummage around your satchel until you pull out the pack of notepads that look like valentine day cards. What they actually are is Suggestion Pads. They give humans the openness to follow outside suggestions and influences; a gentle way of nudging people in the direction they need to go.

Ripping a card out of the pack, you crumble it up and throw it at Hera. The crumbled-up paper flattens as it slips under the gap of the closed window. Then it folds itself into a paper heart and smacks her in the back of her shaved head. She doesn’t react as she nods along to what her mama is saying on the other line; the paper being invisible to any that aren’t cherubs. You stood there outside her window as you silently pleaded with her to go to the cookout. She’s such a sensitive heart. She needs all the love and support from her family and friends. It kills you not being able to be there, but the least you could do was making sure others are there for her. You know that going to that cookout will help her.

Finally, you saw the piece of paper start to glow and it disappeared from your sight as Hera said, “Yah. Okay. Okay Mama. I’ll go… I’ll see you later… I love you too. Bye.” You fly away after she hung up. It was almost 1pm and it was time to meet up with your teachers.

You found Sun and Moon sitting on top of the biggest trees in Maple Park. It was a nice warm afternoon, so you didn’t mind it as you reported your findings and what you did. You had extra granola bars in your satchel and passed them out mindlessly as you spoke. Sun and Moon said quiet thank yous as you talked to them.

Sun nodded thoughtfully as he finished his granola bar, “Mmm. Good. I heard about this monthly cookout thing through Steve, too. It seems he goes to them quite often.”

You used to go to them often. You clear your throat to prevent yourself from frowning at the wrong subject and said, “And he’ll be to this one?”

You see Moon looking at you a bit funny as Sun nodded, “It sounded important, so I got him to go, suggesting that he hasn’t seen his friends there in a while.”

You take their trash and stuff it into your satchel, “Okay. So what’s next now that we have them both going to the same place?”

Sun’s rays around his head wiggled with pride as Moon smiled fondly at him. “There’s a plethora of things we can do,” Sun stated as he got out a big binder from his own satchel that reminded you of those books that football coaches look through at big games.

You internally bemoaned at the sight of the book. You and Sun don’t need a complicated plan to get your friend and her love interest together… right? Regardless, you resigned yourself to your fate as Sun opened the book and started talking about different strategies and plans the two of you can use to get Hera and Steve together. Moon seemed to be able to follow along with Sun’s plans better than you. You’ll ask him for some pointers in the future.

It was the evening of the family cookout. You, Sun, and Moon were sitting on the rooftop of a three story house across the street from a one story house that had a front yard full of people. People were bundled up against the cold and gathered around the grill or outside heaters to keep themselves warm as they chatted and the kids’ played games. Fairy Lights lined the picket fence and there was music playing from an old boombox that was attached to an ipod nano. The song Funky Town was filling the rest of the noisy air with its upbeat tune. Some people were even dancing in the middle of the road to the song.

The three of you watched the families and friends and neighbors go about their evening as you waited for your pieces to fall into place. Moon left the post first seeing his targets coming to the party looking like the happiest couple in the world. Steve came to the party before Hera arrived and it made you worried that she wouldn’t show up at all, but she walked up to the house thirty minutes after Steve integrated into the party spirit.

“Aright,” Sun said with a cheery clap of his hands, “You remember the plan?”

You roll your eyes and said, “How could I not.” It’s not like he hasn’t drilled the plan into your head for the past two days.

“Good.” He said curtly. Then he flew off to follow around Steve. You got up to do the same with Hera.

The plan is to do drunk confessions. Get Hera and Steve plastered enough that Steve is confident enough to finally spill his guts and Hera is accepting enough to not think he’s saying it in a friend type of way. You were getting Hera open for suggestions with your valentine-esk Suggestion Pads as you saw Steve and Sun coming over, with Steve holding two cups of alcohol. Steve had a nervous smile on his face as he called out to your friend. Hera turned to him and gave him half a smile. He was holding out one of the cups to her when he tripped over a garden hose that the kids were using as a plaything, and the alcohol splashed on to Hera’s sweater and jeans as Steve fell face first into the grass.

You sucked air between your teeth as Sun grimaced with you at the sight of Steve apologizing profusely and Hera reassuring him that it was fine. She went into her mothers’ house to change out of the alcohol-stained clothes and Steve found a quiet dark corner to wallow in his remorse.

You saw Sun rub his temple as he sighed, then he said, “Okay. Plan B.”

Plan B didn’t work out either. Or C. Or D. You and Sun were getting more and more frustrated with each failure. It was getting close to the end of the party. You and Sun were ready to call it quits for the night too, but you thought about Hera sitting in her home looking miserable and that smile she gave Steve looked genuine despite it being tired and you wanted to help her so badly.

“Sun. Please. Can I try something?”

Sun sighed out of his nose. “Might as well. What do you have in mind?”

“Just get Steve interested in dancing before he officially gives up for the night. Okay?”

“…Okay…” Sun gave you a look like he was wondering what you were thinking but he followed your lead.

You went over to the boombox and picked up the ipod nano. You knew, no matter how dower Hera is, she can’t help but dance to her favorite song. You found the song you wanted and pressed play and the song Overjoyed by Stevie Wonder played through the speakers. Across the thinned crowd you saw Hera perk at the music.

As the song reached the lyrics, “Over dreams, I have picked out a perfect come true,” you saw Steve walk up to Hera and offered his hand to her. She took his hand with a soft smile and the two of them started dancing with each other.

You flew over them with Sun and threw one last Suggestion Paper at Hera to confess her feelings, not trusting Steve to speak about his own feelings first. Steve was wide-eyed as Hera talked about how she felt about him and before she could quickly say that he doesn’t have to feel the same way about her, Steve was spilling his guts about how he felt and all the attempts he tried to romance her. They both ended up laughing and snorting at their own silliness with each other and you and Sun smiled as you two went back to the roof from across the street to watch them a bit more.

You were so happy to see Hera smiling.

“Hey. Good job, Rookie,” Sun said, and you believed him.

Soon Moon joined the two of you and you saw the same “happy” couple stomp away in opposite directions as they left the party.

“How did it go you two,” Moon asked.

“It was rough, but we did it. Now they just need to kiss to seal the deal,” Sun stated.

You did a double take between Sun and your best friend as she was dancing with her head resting on top of Steve’s head as they continued to lovingly slow dance together. Was he even seeing the same thing you were?

“What’s a stupid kiss gonna do?”

Sun got a sudden haughty attitude as he said, “A kiss is the ultimate display of love.”

“Yeah, I call bullshit,” you deadpanned, unable to contain yourself anymore.

Sun turned on you so fast you though you heard his neck pop, “Excuse me?!”

“Kisses are just a form of physical touch. They don’t mean anything.”

Out of the corner of your eye you could see Moon looking ready to get between the two of you.

“Oh yeah?!” Sun fumed.

“Yeah!” You said just as angry.

“Prove it then!”

“Fine I will!” You sneered as you moved without thinking about anything but proving Sun wrong. You grabbed the cherub by the sides of his face. His anger suddenly turned to panic as you pulled him in, and you gave him a kiss on the lips. It was fleeting and your noses bonked against each other from the force of you pulling him in but in the moment, you didn’t care as you let go of him. “See! I feel nothing for you, and you feel nothing for me! I win!”

You pushed past Moon who was looking at you in shock as you flew off the roof top. You only spared one last glance at your dancing friend before heading back to your apartment feeling more than just exhaustion.

#fnaf #fanfiction #cherub au #starrspice

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