#and closer to the main plot

[iwritenarrativesandstuff]

See, I think Charles’ annoyance and frustration with the Cat King really was just pure protectiveness and not any kind of jealousy - it’s understandable, because Edwin is not telling him what happened even though something clearly did, which is not typical for them. Edwin doesn’t usually hide things like this! Of course he’s worried!

Charles’ reaction to Monty, on the other hand, is difficult to explain in a way that isn’t jealousy. You could say he’s being protective again, but Charles shows no sign of distrust in Monty, and had no idea of who Monty was or that he might betray them - he was actually very chill with him, except in a select few specific scenes. You could say he just doesn’t like him because he got brushed off during their first meeting, but not only does that not seem like Charles at all, it also doesn’t make sense, since, again, in most instances, Charles is genuinely friendly and is happy when Monty compliments him and seems to have come around to liking him (it completely flies over his head that this is a petty jab at Edwin on Monty’s part but oh well hahaha). You could say it changes up their status quo a bit and that bothers Charles. I do think this bothers him a bit, but I think, unlike Edwin, Charles’ fear and frustration here is directed more at situations (the Cat King whisking him away for several hours, as an example) than others. He’s sociable and likes being able to talk to new people. There’s absolutely no way he’d begrudge Edwin doing the same - and he doesn’t… with Niko. Edwin and Niko hit it off and become very close and that never bothers Charles at all. He’s incredibly endeared to her, just like the rest, and for the most part, he’s chill with Monty too, and smiles pretty knowingly when Edwin confesses to him having awakened some feelings. The only exceptions, where he shows definite annoyance, are when Monty first shows up and gets really in Edwin’s personal space to show him the astrology chart he made, and when Edwin is so sucked into the book Monty gave him that he doesn’t hear that Charles is talking to him, to which he annoyedly says that they seem to have been “spending a lot of time together”.

You could say he’s unused to having anyone get in Edwin’s personal space like that, but, again, Niko. She’s very tactile with him and he doesn’t seem to mind all that much; they spend time together watching things. If it was just someone getting close with Edwin in general, not only would that be weirdly possessive for the character, but it would also mean he would show discomfort with anyone getting close, I think. Does Charles see Monty as more of a potential threat than Niko, seeing as he knows her and her personality and doesn’t know Monty? Well, maybe, but again, Charles shows no sign of distrusting Monty at all.

Monty is a boy. Okay. So something about seeing Edwin so close to a boy that is not him, getting lost in thought over something this boy gave him, really rubs Charles the wrong way. Charles appears to catch on just as quickly as anyone else that there is something (or it looks like something) between Edwin and Monty. He is not surprised when Edwin comes out to him in episode 6, and in fact, seems to have just been waiting for him to verbalize it. He smiles and is not bothered at all by Edwin showing (what he thinks is) a romantic interest in Monty - he just doesn’t like it when Monty clearly shows a romantic interest in Edwin. Um. Well. Well.

Charles is jealous. I really don’t know what else to say.

Look, when I first watched this show, I actually didn’t want them to end up together romantically - I love the idea of one having fallen in love with another who does not reciprocate and the two of them still loving each other just as much. That Edwin’s confession made them closer instead of making things awkward is such a beautiful outcome to this build up and I absolutely love it. However. On my two rewatches, I caught a lot more little details, and I think it would be very strange if the show did not follow up on this. That, plus the deliberate quality of these “jealousy” moments where the camera focuses on him, Charles’ Orpheus coding throughout the show, the fact that Edwin’s arc was far more about realizing his feelings for Charles specifically than just coming to terms with his sexuality, and that even the actors admit that Charles’ response to the confession kind of left things open, it really seems to me like the path leads to a romantic endgame for them, or at the very least, that this possibility will be explored in more depth.

**This is just my reading of it. Please do not use this post as a gotcha for anyone who loves them as a platonic duo or people who really love Crystal and Charles together (because let’s face it, they’re super cute too). I’m just doing my rambles. As per usual.

[centeris2]

This seems to be an uncommon opinion but thank god SSO is making (what appears to be) serious headway into the story.

For years it felt like it had stalled out. It was valid wanting main characters and villains to be visually updated before continuing, but it slowed things down.

I'm glad they aren't going "we need to update Mr. Sands, Darko is a pretty old model compared to the Dark Riders, Avalon really needs an update, so does Pi, etc"

Because yes it absolutely would look better if everyone had the same number of polygons. And yes it WOULD be great if SSO picked up those threads mentioned throughout the main story. But if they did that and got all those map areas that had been brought up in the story quests then it'd be another 10 years of filler in the main story until they can 'wrap up'

And honestly I'm tired of waiting. This isn't even an impatience thing, this is a "I've played this game for 10+ years and at this point I don't care how it's wrapped up, as long as it IS wrapped up."

Probably helps that I don't expected a 'satisfying' ending from SSO, I just want AN ending to the main story. I expect Garnok to be 'defeated' and for the Soul Riders to be victorious, probably through the power of friendship. That's all I'm expecting.

[bookshelfpassageway]

i'm gonna be the one insufferable bastard on this earth that liked everhood 2, huh

[wavebiders]

The thing I don't get about theories that predict the faction war will start up again is that, outside of the fact that it would require a lot of characters to be killed off and/or undergo character assasination all for the sake of a circular narrative that has thoroughly been exhausted, it seems pretty obvious to me that one of the main reasons Blizzard has stepped away from it is so that they don't have to worry about creating seperate content for the Horde and Alliance anymore? Why would they go out of the way to undo all that progress just to create more work for themselves?

[atopvisenyashill]

i’m not engaging in discourse about discourse i refuse to engage in discourse about discourse engaging in discourse about discourse is the mind killer

[randomnameless]

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't FE15 state that although god's control is removed, there's still evil in mankind's heart that must be vanquished or something along those lines? It kinda makes the whole "humanity f*ck yeah" shtick feel hypocritical doesn't it?

Yep,

Because FE15 couldn't nuke FE2 from its DNA, by virtue of being a remake.

So we have two, contradictory messages in this game : Duma BaD and Gods BaD and must go because BaD and they "make humans do BaD things"...

and you have the "gods might be bad, but humans are still BaD without their influence" message at the end - when the entire game (and the timeline and supplementary materials!!) has been pushing the first message.

So...

In a sea of "Gods BaD" waters coming from the remake, you still have the lone "evil remains in the hearts of men" raft that is, somehow, pushed to the forefront in Part 6 where both Celica AND Alm call Thabes the result of human folly, and the player knowing that Grima - who was originally the RED CAPSLOCK eldritch monstruosity before FEH retcon'd them in a tits'n'ass character to uwu about by stealing Anankos' backstory - was "man-made".

And yet, given how the "last word" about FE15 - as in last material revealed - was the timeline in the Memorial Book, we close FE15's book by "and Duma was BaD".

I mean, look at all those mentions of Rudy being so brave and strong and uwusome -> Duma's degenaration is directly tied to how awesome Rudy needs to be in this calendar.

Rudy is so brave to stand in front of a degenerating Duma? -> Duma was insane!

Rudy is so thoughtful and sticks to his promise to Duma by sealing Mila -> akshually Duma wasn't completely insane because he told him to seal Mila and not to kill her even if I said the inverse 3 lines earlier...

[arolesbianism]

I’ve drawn a decent amount of isat au eternal gales but yknow what I haven’t drawn? Eternal gales au isat. Don’t look at me.

[braveburned]

I think the implication GGY has in which gregory has somehow fallen under glitchtrap's influence and is luring kids to the pizzaplex for him / vanny can be done in an interesting way . however!

[sugurugayto]

now twt has ppl pitting yoi and sk8 against each other

[gigamuffin]

high of getting to write more kaptein sabeltann stuff quickly killed by need to proof read and write second drafts.......

[orangetintedglasses]

Minor achievement or not, it was impressive to witness firsthand— as was the flair of life or levity that the small triumph brought back to the undertaker. The smirk was good to see; it was probably the least dour she'd seen him in the months leading up to this, and it made hope spring up in her chest.

"It really has… let's hope for good news, then, shall we?"

Which… was probably a bit of a long shot, given their circumstances, but optimism never hurt in small doses… it'd be fine to have for the short walk back to the wing of the ship that housed their Plants, at very least!

And what they would come back to was… quite the sight to behold.

All of the Dependents were awake and active. Every single one of them— there wasn't a single bulb amongst the dozens of dozens of glass bubble rows as the entities within gathered at the edges of their tanks. All of them seemed to be trying to look in the same direction, towards a more center-focused point of the room… right around where the Plant that Wolfwood had spoken to specifically was. That one was the focal point: floating at the very front of her tank and singing with her eyes closed and her mouth wide open, her arms spread out at her sides… she looked serene. Angelic. And all of the others were looking at her…

Unfortunately, they weren't the only ones. The commotion had drawn quite a crowd of onlookers— engineers, security, crew and civilians… anyone and everyone who had caught wind of the alert must've wandered down to see; a fact that startled Luida greatly as they entered.

It… was good that the Plants might've wanted to talk, but Wolfwood— Wolfwood shouldn't have to do it in front of a crowd this large—

Someone else within the crowd had a similar thought. Brad, who turned and saw the two of them come in, stopped what he was doing mid-conversation with another member of the crew— and after a moment of analysis, he quickly moved to make a scene, raising his voice and arms both above the din of the gathering crowd.

"Alright, alright, everyone's curiosity been sated? Good! Now get out—" someone tried to protest (likely the Plant engineers themselves) but the man wouldn't give them much thought, jerking his head in their direction with a disinterested hiss, "yeah, even you, eggheads— everyone needs to clear out and give the girls some room to breathe. We can't assess what's going on until they all calm down and no one here is helping by standing around and gawking at 'em, now move—!"

The possibilities of moments that Vash's 'gate' could open seem to stretch on for long list upon long list—could it open during happier emotional moments? Wolfwood temporarily loses himself to his thoughts, missing the envy tinting Luida's words. He doesn't miss the final sentence though; before he's able to warn the doctor that he is not letting anyone put Vash through rigorous testing or—God forbid—procedures, the tablet to the side begins to flash.

"I just talked to them, what else could they want?" Wolfwood grumbles, slightly curious. Perhaps now that the Plants are aware of something being wrong, they're able to help...

He stands up eagerly, tossing the cup into the trash. It nearly misses, hitting the rim of the can and circling it once before falling in. Wolfwood smirks at the minor achievement, then turns to follow Luida, flipping open his box of toothpicks and tossing one between his teeth as he passes through the entrance to the lounge.

"Pretty eventful two hours, eh?"

[destinywillowleaf]

stuck between three trampolines. one is the persona 5 AU I've kept as brain candy for several years that continues to have random things added to it but will never be written. one is the anipoke story verse that has rapidly spiraled out of control in the course of half a year with how much writing I want to do. the third is mega man battle network OC designs I've been helping with for a year and a half.

i will not be getting off this ride anytime soon

[narcjsistx]

— HONESTLY, I'M THE FAVORITE!

plot: in the relationship there is more chemistry between you and his mother than between you and him, and honestly he's fine with that <3 but not when you gang up against him...

✶ characters: isagi yoichi, chigiri hyoma, bachira meguru, itoshi sae, itoshi rin, reo mikage

✶ 𝐌𝐘 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓 ; take a look, trust me!

✶ ISAGI YOICHI ᡣ𐭩 𓂃

"I'm glad you like it! I spent the whole night making it so good, but if you like it then it was worth it" the woman says clapping her hands, and you can't help but smile gratefully "Mrs Isagi, you know well that I love your cooking" you say, but she interrupts you "Mrs Isagi again? You've been Yocchan's girlfriend for years, you can call me by my name" she says scolding you, but with the sweetness of a mother. There's absolutely no question where Isagi gets his generosity from, although his father is really lovely too. When you turn around you can't help but be surprised by Isagi's tired face, who hasn't finished his plate, more focused on the match broadcast on television. You're not surprised by this behavior, it's something he does in your house too, but by the fact that he hasn't even finished his meal, that you think is absolutely delicious

Since you've been together, it's now been a tradition to spend Sunday lunch with his parents. From the first moment he introduced you, you immediately hit it off with his mother, finding her to be such a kind and humble woman; and she seems to share the affection towards you, spoiling you with all her good food that she knows you love

"Yoichi..." you whisper to your boyfriend, but he doesn't seem particularly connected to reality. You sigh, but when you look up you notice the menacing look of his mother, who is holding a rag in her hand. You cover your mouth to avoid laughing, but then the rag is thrown at the boy's face, landing on his plate still full of food: Isagi seems to return to reality, turning almost offended towards his mother, who however does not stop glaring at him. Seeing her so angry, he swallows his behavior too, gulping down a lump of saliva "Mom, what's happening..."

"It's Sunday, you have your family here, your girlfriend, you have a whole day off from soccer and the only thing you focus on is a match on TV? And you even dare not eat my food?" the woman says crossing her arms, and you nod, agreeing with her for the simple fact that otherwise you risk bursting out laughing. She seems to see your approval, and smiles "I wonder how you found a woman like that who puts up with you on a daily basis... darling, thank you for not getting tired of him, I have you to thank for accepting him" she says dejectedly, and you nod, actually risking laughing out loud. Isagi seems to notice your situation, glaring at you "Mom, it's not that deep..." he says alternating his gaze between you and her, but you shake your head "Yoichi, I wanted to spend a day with our family, yet all you do is focus on soccer..." you say, but this time you are forced to pinch your thigh to keep from laughing. Isagi glares at you, turning off the television "Happy, both of you?" he says taking the fork, but you shake your head theatrically "I wonder if you really love me..." you say, and his mother hugs you, stroking your head "My poor little girl, poor thing. With someone like that..." she says, and you burst out laughing, no longer able to hold it back

Even if seeing you so close can only please him and confirm that you are the right person, the only one, he just wanted to see if Bachira scored in the match between Barcha and ReAl

✶ CHIGIRI HYOMA ᡣ𐭩 𓂃

For Chigiri, the Trinity consists of you, his girlfriend, his sister and his mother. The main problem is when all three of you are together, that's when he realizes he's in danger. He knows he's about to die when you're all mad at him for something he doesn't even know about, and today is such a time

“Don't you dare come closer” his sister says, putting an arm around your shoulders. Chigiri rolls his eyes nervously, he doesn't like that Koyoki is so protective of you against him, who she knows wouldn't take a hair from you. You laugh condescendingly, nodding "She's right. Get away from me, Hyoma" you say theatrically, and he takes a step forward, and you take a step back “You're making me crazy. What did I do this time?” he says alternating his gaze between you and his sister, but you don't stop laughing while Koyoki judges him with just his gaze "You're a man. You have to understand that" Koyoki says, and he snorts "People have mistaken me for a woman my whole life and now you can't do it?" he says crossing his arms, and you almost feel guilty for doing this to him, your lovely boyfriend "Miss. Far away" his sister says, and that's when he grabs a lock of her hair, pulling it. You know perfectly well that it's a playful gesture between siblings, not something actually dangerous "You little shit-" she whispers, pulling his hair. That's when his mother approaches

"Leave my Y/n alone. Come here, honey" the woman says, and you slink to her side, smiling victoriously at the two siblings "HEY!" Hyoma says with his sister's hair still in his hand, but both you and his mother reply "Don't use that tone with your mother, Hyoma" you say, and the woman smiles at you, wrapping her thin arms around your neck to hug you "Oh, my third daughter. The only one who doesn't talk back to me" she says smiling, and you hug her, winking at Chigiri who seems to have lost hope, while Koyuki does nothing but laugh "I'm starting to think I'm no longer the favorite child" says the girl giving his hair one last tug, as a sign of revenge. Chigiri glares at her "You never were" he says, seeing you so hugged to his mom but not to him, who only wanted to give you a kiss from the beginning. Although it was funny seeing you so close to his mom, known for giving breathless hugs

✶ BACHIRA MEGURU ᡣ𐭩 𓂃

"If you need help tell me, but I think you're doing a great job" the woman says, and you can't help but smile at her embarrassed "Thank you Mrs- Yu! Thank you, Yu" you say, and she smiles at you "This time you remembered to call me the right way. You're making progress!" she says, and you laugh lightly with her, placing the brush in the water. From the palette you take some red, passing it on the canvas while she nods "Wow! It's not an easy shade between blue and red, but it came out well. Aren't you hiding a past as an artist from me? Has Meguru taught you something yet?" she says, and you shake your head, amused "I've always only drawn in my notebook during class. I've never colored a drawing in my life... or even used a canvas" you say, and she laughs "Now I understand why Meguru likes you so much. At first he didn't color his drawings either, then he started doing it from... wait, have you been together for?" she asks "About a year and a half" you say, and she is amazed "He has been coloring hos drawings for about a year and a half" she says, and you smile “Really?” you ask, and she nods "Maybe he started it to make his paintings more striking to your eyes"

It's not uncommon for you to spend time with his mother, who is basically your best friend. Since your dates are often after his training, you wait with his mother for his return

"Mom I'm at home- Oh, Y/n!" he says as he enters his mother's art studio, finding the two of you close together "Meguru! You're still sweaty" the woman says as she approaches, with you by her side "You should take a shower. Then we can go!" you say clapping your hands, and you feel his mother ruffling your hair "Do you think you'll leave without finishing that masterpiece?" he asks almost defiantly, and you laugh "If it's a challenge, I accept" you say, not even hugging your boyfriend as you walk back to your canvas, followed by his mother

Bachira stares at you a little perplexed, the bag still on his shoulders: he really wanted to go out and spend time with you alone, but he's happy to see you on such good terms with his mother, who is also his best friend. He thinks that today he can also spend the day watching you have fun with your canvas, but after his shower. Otherwise he can't kiss you

✶ ITOSHI SAE ᡣ𐭩 𓂃

"You know, the first time we went to see him play, he ignored us" his mother says, and you raise an eyebrow, surprised "It happened to me too the first time I went to see him play" you say, and his mother glares at him, even though Sae is completely focused on scoring goals on the field. Today it's just the two of you in the VIP seats, Mr. Itoshi couldn't attend, but that's not a problem since you love spending time with Mrs. Itoshi. Especially now that there is gossip

The first time Sae invited you to one of his games you weren't a couple yet, but he invited you anyway. He hadn't greeted you the whole time, but he kissed you later in the stadium locker rooms. But perhaps Mrs. Itoshi didn't know this

"How rude, I didn't think I raised a boy like that... and to think that I sent him alone to Spain, on the other side of the world!" she says exhaustedly, and you laugh "He's not that rude. He treats me well, very well" you say, and she looks relieved "I'd like to see. If he treated you even badly I wouldn't mind pulling his ears" she says, and you laugh at her words again

"But Rin would probably want the same treatment. He always wanted the same one Sae got" the woman says, and you nod "I don't think he wants that kind of treatment. Then he's a completely different person with his girlfriend" you say, and she nods "It's true, my little Rin... I like his girlfriend too..."

"What does Rin and his girlfriend have to do with me?" Sae asks approaching the VIP area, and you get up to leave a light kiss on his lips, while he tightens an arm around your waist, grabbing the water bottle that his mother is holding "Nothing much, darling. We were talking about your habits" says the woman, but Sae gives you a puzzled look "My habits while I'm in one of the most important games of the season?" he asks, and you nod "We just want to get to know you better" you say, and he shrugs "As if one wasn't my mother and the other my girlfriend. I think you both know me too well" he says and then drinks from his water bottle "Concentrate on the match instead" he says, before returning to the game

"He's also always been stubborn. But I think you know that" says the woman as her son walks away, and he turns around, glaring at her and changing his gaze between her and you, who can't stop laughing. Maybe it was a bad idea to call you both since you can't shut your mouth together

✶ ITOSHI RIN ᡣ𐭩 𓂃

"Here he was two years old and he had just peed himself" says the woman showing you a photo of a crying baby, that is, your boyfriend. You look at the photo in love, giggling at the funnyness of your boyfriend, which does not at all reflect his childhood self, who was much more open and joyful "Here, however, he was four years old and Sae had given him a sticker of a soccer ball. I think he still keeps it in his room" the woman says, you look up only to see Rin's nervous gaze resting against the wall. You wink at him, returning your attention to the photo album of the Itoshi family, a family you have been seeing for four years now thanks to your relationship. And you love your boyfriend's mom

"Don't you think it's a bit excessive, mom?" the boy asks, but she shakes her head. “I've never had a daughter. Let me imagine it's her” she says, and he rolls his eyes before sighing “That doesn't change the motivation. Why are you showing her all these… embarrassing photos?” he asks, and you laugh "They're not embarrassing! They're cute, Rinnie" you say motioning for him to sit next to you, but he shakes his head "They're embarrassing. I know she did the same thing with Sae's girlfriend" he says, and the woman laughs "I also showed her... the other photo album. I'm sure Y/n wants to see it too" the woman says, and you raise an eyebrow, but when you turn around you see the panic on your boyfriend's face, who is chasing after his mother who has disappeared into her bedroom. The woman comes back with another album and her younger son hot on her heels "You don't have to see it. It's shit, it is" he says trying to steal the album, but the woman gives him a little slap on the hands "Be thankful I didn't step on your toes. Otherwise you wouldn't have been able to run after the ball for a while" she says placing herself next to you again, opening the album before her son can do anything

And now you understand why Rin didn't want to show it to you: every photo portrays him and his brother in the most embarrassing moments, like the first time on the toilet or with their faces full of sauce. But the photos are for some reason much worse for Rin than for Sae, photos that always portray him in a funnier way but so cute for you. Rin can't help but be embarrassed but above all guilty of this, because in the end it's thanks to him that you became such good friends, like another child, with his mother. He shouldn't have allowed it

✶ REO MIKAGE ᡣ𐭩 𓂃

"You don't spoil her enough. You should raise your expectations, my girl" says the woman next to you, and you don't know how to respond without sounding ungrateful "You're right, mom. I was thinking of giving her that Cartier jewel I was telling you about this morning" your boyfriend says nodding, and you shake your arms in embarrassment "If you mean the one that costs as much as our whole house, stop it" you say, but the woman caresses your face "Why do you worry, my girl? It's the man who has to spoil you, and my son doesn't do it enough in my opinion, you being such a good girlfriend" the woman says, and you nod "Thank you ma'am, but..." you say, but she giggles "I was like that too, but then my husband, Reo's father, became crazy about me. And as proof of his love he bought me part of the moon" she says, and you jump "Really?" you ask, and Reo, seeing your emotion, concentrates "Do you want part of the moon too?" he asks, but you jump again in embarrassment "No! I mean, thanks but no..." you say, and he seems to be sad about it

"You're so young me. Reo really needs to make you his bride, you're the only girl he introduced me that I like" the woman says, and you breathe a sigh of relief "I'm pleased, Mrs. Mikage" you say letting the woman caress your face again. Reo raises an eyebrow, surprised by his mother's words "The only one you like? Not that I don't like it, but you didn't like that one too..." he says, but she pulls his ear "Do you want to compare that rat who wanted your money with this angel, Reo? Did I really raise you like that?" the woman says, and you giggle, moving to Mrs. Mikage's side “Don't you care that she loves me now, Reo?” you ask, and he grabs your hands, kissing them "I'm more than happy about it, but I remembered her words differently..." but before he can finish the sentence, his ear is pulled again "Stop this talk of remembering or not. Hurry up and put a ring on her finger instead, or someone else will do it, who will know how to spoil her better than just a simple necklace... why not the whole set?" the woman says towards her son, and you can't help but laugh but be a little embarrassed. You got the answer from where Reo got his resourcefulness, but honestly you love his mother the way she makes sure her son takes care of you

[neferaskingdom]

♡ Deal Me In | LN4

Summary: What do you do when you're bored on a plane? Play strip poker, lose all your layers, and try not to combust as Lando can’t seem to keep his hands to himself.

LANDO NORRIS MASTERLIST | MAIN MASTERLIST

The hum of the plane’s engines filled her ears as the small group lounged in plush seats. Y/n sat nestled between Oscar and Max, the remains of a half-eaten dessert table before them. She’d spent most of the evening quietly nursing a cup of hot chocolate and trying to ignore Lando, who now sat across from her, his curls slightly tousled from running his fingers through them all evening. Every so often, Lando would glance in her direction, his eyes crinkling with mischief, and her stomach would twist into knots.

“I’m bored,” Max Fewtrell groaned, slumping dramatically in his seat. “We need entertainment.”

“We’re on a private plane with unlimited snacks,” Oscar pointed out, not looking up from his phone. “How are you bored?”

“Let’s do something fun,” Sam chimed in, a mischievous glint in his eye as he stretched lazily. “Cards?” His tone carried an almost daring edge, like he was already plotting something outrageous.

“Poker?” Lando suggested, leaning forward with a grin.

“Strip poker,” Max countered, his grin widening. “Spice it up.”

Y/n’s cheeks heated instantly. “Strip poker? Really?”

“Why not?” Max said. “It’s just us. We’ll make it fair—you can take off something small like your hoodie or just pay cash. No pressure.”

She hesitated, glancing around. Lando’s eyes were on her, a teasing spark in them. “You in?” he asked, voice soft but challenging.

“Fine,” she relented, trying to appear nonchalant. What’s the worst that could happen?

As the cards were dealt, the tension in the cabin shifted. There was a buzz of excitement in the air that made her pulse race. Lando, turns out was terrible at poker. Absolutely, horrifically terrible. By the second hand, he was down his jacket. The third, his shirt. By the fifth, he was sitting in nothing but his boxers, his bare chest on full display.

“Lando, mate, how are you this bad?” Max laughed, nearly doubling over.

“Poker’s a strategy game,” Oscar chimed in smugly, adjusting his pristine hoodie. “Something he clearly lacks.”

“Shut up, Osc,” Lando shot back, throwing his cards onto the table with mock frustration.

Y/n couldn’t stop glancing at him, every peek sending her pulse racing. The way his muscles moved as he shuffled uncomfortably in his seat, the faint outline of his collarbone under the cabin lights, the hint of a smirk that tugged at his lips whenever he caught her looking—it was almost unbearable. Her crush was spinning out of control, he was so comfortable in his skin. How was he so nonchalant sitting there half-naked like that?

Sam had lost his socks and sweater, and Max was sitting shirtless, laughing at Lando’s misfortune. Oscar, however, sat fully clothed, a devious glint in his eye as he slid his winnings closer. He was playing them all, and they could do nothing to stop him.

“You’re a menace,” Sam muttered, glaring at Oscar as he folded yet another hand. “Do you plan on bankrupting us?”

“Maybe,” Oscar replied smoothly, his grin unrepentant. “But you’ll never know.”

“Y/n, your turn,” Oscar said, and she bit her lip, focusing on her cards. Her hoodie was already gone, leaving her in a fitted shirt and shorts. She’d never been more aware of how close Lando was sitting, their thighs brushing whenever one of them shifted. Each accidental touch sent electricity up her spine, her thoughts tumbling into dangerous territory.

Lando leaned over to peek at her cards, his shoulder brushing hers. “You’ve got this,” he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. Her heart thudded painfully in her chest, her thoughts a chaotic mess of 'he’s so close' and 'does he even realize what he’s doing to me?'

The closeness was overwhelming. She caught the faint scent of his cologne, something subtle but undeniably him, and it left her dizzy. Her fingers fumbled on her cards, the tips of her ears burning as his gaze lingered a moment too long.

She lost the hand, of course. How could she focus with Lando practically pressed against her?

“Tough luck,” he teased, leaning back with a lazy grin. “Maybe next round.”

She tried to glare at him but failed miserably, her lips quirking despite herself. “Maybe if someone wasn’t distracting me.”

“Oh, it’s my fault now?” he shot back, his grin widening. His knee bumped hers under the table, lingering just a second too long. Her skin tingled where they touched, the casual intimacy making her head spin. He shifted slightly and then, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, placed his hand on her exposed thigh. The warmth of his palm seeped through her skin, igniting a spark that made her breath hitch. He didn’t move it, didn’t acknowledge it, and yet the sensation was impossible to ignore.

Her mind raced, thoughts bouncing between 'is this intentional?' and 'why do I like this?' Her heart thudded wildly as she tried to focus on the game, but his touch was all she could think about. Every move of her hand, every glance at her cards, every time he leaned closer—she was hyper-aware of his presence, of his hand casually resting on her leg like it belonged there.

As the game continued, Y/n found herself hyper-focused on Lando. The way he laughed—loud and unrestrained—when Max lost his watch in a side bet. The way his fingers drummed against the table when he was thinking. The way his eyes would dart to her, softening in a way that made her feel like the only person in the room. Every movement, every laugh, every word felt amplified.

By the time they called it quits, Lando was down to his boxers, and Y/n was fighting the urge to combust. The sight of him was doing things to her sanity. She stood to stretch, her shirt riding up slightly, and she caught Lando’s gaze flickering to her exposed skin. Heat bloomed in her cheeks as she quickly tugged it back down, her heart racing at the thought that he’d noticed.

“Well, that was fun,” Max declared, tossing his cards on the table dramatically.

"Fun?" Sam scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "It was brutal. I lost everything but my dignity."

"Dignity?" Oscar quipped, leaning back smugly. "I didn’t know you had any left after that last round."

Sam shot him a glare, while Max burst out laughing. "You’re just mad because the kid hustled you," Max teased, pointing a finger at Sam. "Admit it, Oscar’s the real MVP of this game."

“More like the real pain in my ass,” Sam muttered under his breath, crossing his arms.

“Hey, don’t hate the player, hate the game,” Oscar said with a grin, scooping up the cards like a seasoned dealer. "Speaking of which, anyone want a rematch?"

“No way,” Lando groaned, leaning back in his seat. “I’ve got nothing left to lose. Literally."

"You’re still wearing your boxers," Max pointed out with a sly grin. "I mean, if you’re up for it…"

Lando threw a pillow at him. "Not a chance, mate."

Y/n couldn’t help but laugh at their antics, the tension from the game easing into lighthearted banter. Sam stretched with an exaggerated yawn. "Alright, I’m calling it. I need sleep after this emotional rollercoaster."

As Sam and Max bickered playfully on their way to the back of the plane, Oscar leaned over to Y/n with a conspiratorial grin. "Not bad for your first game. You almost didn’t lose everything."

"Almost," she replied, rolling her eyes, though her smile gave her away. Oscar winked, then retreated back to his own seat, leaving her alone with Lando.

Y/n sank back into her seat, exhaustion and adrenaline making her head spin. Lando plopped down beside her, his knee brushing hers again. This time, neither of them moved away. The space between them felt charged.

“You’re quiet,” Lando said, his voice low enough that only she could hear. His tone was so gentle, so intimate, it sent a shiver down her spine. She swallowed hard, trying to steady her breath, but her heart hammered against her ribs. The way his voice wrapped around her name, the way it felt like they were the only two people in the world—it was overwhelming.

Lando tilted his head, studying her with that easy, unreadable expression that always made her chest feel tight. “What are your plans for the break?” he asked, his voice low and smooth, the hum of the plane’s engines only amplifying how intimate it felt.

Y/n shrugged, trying to sound casual despite her pulse hammering. “Nothing special. Probably just rot in bed and catch up on sleep,” she replied, offering a small laugh.

He chuckled softly, the sound rumbling and warm. “Solid plan,” he said, leaning back slightly. “Honestly, same. Once I get through some work, I’m thinking of crashing for a few days. Might actually try doing nothing for once.”

She opened her mouth to respond, but her words caught in her throat as his hand reached out toward her. His fingers brushed a strand of hair away from her face, the touch so light it almost tickled, leaving a faint warmth in its wake. Her breath hitched, and her heart skipped a beat as his thumb lingered, trailing down to the edge of her ear.

He stopped there, thumbing at the small earring she’d forgotten she was even wearing, his eyes flickering between it and her face. A small smile tugged at his lips, like he’d found some secret he wasn’t planning to share. “This is pretty,” he murmured, his voice low, intimate.

Her throat went dry. She wanted to say something—anything—but all she managed was a quiet, “Oh, uh… thanks.”

He dropped his hand and leaned back, as if the moment hadn’t completely knocked the wind out of her. “So,” he said, seamlessly changing the subject, “what’s fun to do in London? I’m staying there in December for a bit before heading back to Monaco.”

It took her a second to process the words, her mind still stuck on the ghost of his touch. “Oh, uh, there’s… there’s a lot,” she said quickly, eager to cover her awkward pause. “Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park is great for Christmas stuff, and there are the lights on Oxford Street. Ice skating at Somerset House is really popular too. Oh, and the Southbank Christmas markets—you’d love those.”

Lando smiled, the kind of smile that made her knees feel weak, even though she was sitting. “You really know all the good spots,” he said, his voice softer now, almost teasing. “Maybe you should show me around.”

Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She managed a weak laugh, trying to brush off the tension. “What, like a date?”

His smile turned into a grin, slow and deliberate. “Exactly,” he said without hesitation, his voice dropping just slightly. “But only if you want it to be.”

Y/n’s brain short-circuited. His words hung in the air, and for a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. Was he serious? Did he mean that the way it sounded?

She opened her mouth to respond, but her words tangled together in a mess of vowels and half-formed thoughts. “I-I—well, I don’t—uh…”

His hand moved again, and her breath hitched as he rested it lightly on her thigh. His thumb began tracing slow, deliberate circles, the motion so casual yet so maddeningly distracting that her entire focus narrowed to the warmth of his touch.

He didn’t rush her. His gaze stayed locked on hers, steady and patient, the weight of his hand grounding her even as her mind spiraled.

“Hey,” he said gently, his voice low and soothing, cutting through her spiraling thoughts. “It’s just me. No pressure. But… I’d really like to take you out. Properly.”

Her pulse was racing, her skin tingling where his thumb continued its slow, lazy circles. Was this actually happening? Was he really asking her out? And why did his touch feel so good? like he already knew what made her heart skip and her breath hitch?

She nodded, a tiny, almost imperceptible movement, but it was enough. A grin spread across Lando’s face, and his thumb stilled, pressing gently into her thigh for just a moment before he pulled his hand away.

“That’s settled then,” he said, his tone light but undeniably pleased.

The moment felt like it should have ended there, but then he shivered dramatically, crossing his arms with a loud sigh. “Man, it’s freezing in here,” he complained, his voice breaking the tension like a knife through butter.

She blinked, startled by the sudden change, and then he was leaning back, shouting toward the rear of the plane. “Max! Throw me your hoodie, mate!”

“What happened to yours?” Max called back, clearly annoyed.

“Lost it to poker!” Lando replied, unapologetic. “Now, come on, be a bro!”

With an exaggerated groan, Max hurled a hoodie forward. Lando caught it one-handed, pulling it over his head with a satisfied grin. “Thanks, mate,” he said cheerfully.

Before she could process what had just happened, Lando leaned in close again, the sudden proximity making her stomach flip. He pressed a soft, fleeting kiss to her cheek, the warmth of his lips lingering like a brand.

"Night, beautiful," he murmured, his voice a smooth caress that made her breath hitch.

And then he leaned back, resting his head against the seat with an exaggerated sigh. Within moments, his eyes drifted shut, his breathing evening out as he started to doze.

Y/n sat frozen, her hand instinctively lifting to touch the spot on her cheek where his lips had been. Her thoughts spiraled out of control, Did that just happen? Is this a dream? Her heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear the others laughing and bickering in the background.

She snuck a glance at him, his face now peaceful in sleep, his hair messy against the back of the seat. Even asleep, he was unfairly attractive. Her mind replayed every moment—the warmth of his hand on her thigh, the teasing way he’d said “beautiful,” the feel of his lips against her skin—and she was certain she wasn’t going to survive the rest of the flight without combusting. What the hell just happened? she thought, pressing her lips together to hide the smile threatening to break free.

[arolesbianism]

The King yuri truthing and new game+ are both necessary evils to prevent me from talking abt the eternal gales au more. I could be constantly rambling abt how each character fits into eternal gales worldbuilding and the different timelines and the Kings (plural) dynamics with Chou and Loop but I don't <3

[gh0stsp1d3r]

⋆౨ৎ˚⟡˖ ࣪ That’s not a thermometer.

cw: fem!reader, they’re also married, anxiety, pregnancy, doubts of being a good father, mentions of daddy issues, but mostly fluff

A/n: the people REALLY wanted more nerd!rafe… and my baby fever is crazy rn so… this is curing it

MASTERLIST

A few weeks ago, you’d been panicking at the thought of it. As you stood there, waiting in the bathroom for the lines to show up, your mind ran wild.

What if you were pregnant? Would Rafe stay? Or would he be scared and leave?

No, you told yourself. Rafe was better than that.

You saw the two lines, and you just about passed out. Oh god, oh god. You took another test, just to be sure. Positive again.

You swallowed the lump that had formed in your throat, Rafe knocking on the bathroom door while clearing his throat.

“Y/n? Are you okay? You’ve been in there a while.” He asked, voice full of concern. The movie buzzed on in the background, but it was long forgotten at this point.

“Uhm- yeah! I’m- I’m fine!” You replied, taking both tests in your hands, looking around the bathroom. You thought of tossing it into the trash, but Rafe was very oddly observant. He’d probably notice it while he was taking out the trash or something.

You shoved it into the pockets of your hoodie, telling yourself that it would be okay, and that Rafe wouldn’t know anything as you opened the door.

He had a small frown on his face, leaning against the doorway.

“What’s wrong?” He asked you, immediately sensing something was off. You wished he couldn’t read you so well, sometimes.

“I’m alright.” You repeated, him quirking an eyebrow, pushing himself off of the doorway.

“Alright.” He replied, although not convinced at all. He decided not to press any further, sitting down on his bed. You sat down next to him, your head still spinning and swirling.

He laid down, waiting for you to do the same. When he looked at you, however, you were completely zoned out, your eyes glossed over and your face unreadable.

“Hey,” he spoke quietly, putting his hand on your thigh. You jerked slightly, turning to him with wide eyes. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re looking a little pale…” he noted, moving his other hand onto your forehead.

You gave him a tight lipped smile, nodding as you pushed his hand off of your face. “I’m finee, Rafe. Quit worrying about me.” You told him, going to lay down with him in an attempt to act normal.

“I can’t help it.” He replied, kissing the side of your head, pulling you closer to him, his arm now lazily slung over your stomach.

The movie became less and less interesting, Rafe speaking over it at times and saying how the main character was “pissing him off.”

“Oh, are you serious? Whoever wrote this movie sucks. This doesn’t even make sense. The plot is all over the place and they just completely mischaracterized their own character.”

You didn’t reply, already knowing how deep he analyzed these movies and shows. Usually, you’d agree or laugh with him about it, but today you didn’t. You were quiet the entire time, actually.

Rafes worries grew. ‘Did I do something?’ He thought, replaying every moment with you recently. He couldn’t think of anything. So, he remained quiet after a while, deciding to not bother you.

He felt you slowly grow more limp in his hands as the movie played on, slowly dozing off with your head resting against his shoulder.

He had a soft smile on his face, glancing at you. That smile faded when he felt something cold touch his hands, dropping from your pockets. He furrowed his eyebrows, feeling the shape of it. At first, he thought it was some thermometer. He had felt the body of it, nothing more.

Why would there be a thermometer in your pocket?

He glanced at your sleeping figure once more, before moving his hand and pulling the object out from underneath the covers and your body.

That’s not a thermometer.

His eyes widened and his grip loosened on the object, dropping it for a moment. He quickly reached over your form, grabbing it and holding it close to his face as if it was unbelievable.

He examined it closely, looking over the two lines multiple times. He swallowed, looking back down at you. He sighed quietly, putting his hand on his forehead and staring up at the ceiling.

Okay, he wasn’t upset at you. He was more so confused and worried. He thought for a moment, would a child really be that bad? He had taken his father’s business over now, money pouring in like it was nothing. That wasn’t a problem. The main thing he was worried about was how good of a dad he’d really be.

He wouldn’t leave this child, god no. He knew that much. He loved you far too much.

Plus, you’d spoken about this before. Neither of you were against the idea, he just didn’t think it would be this soon.

But, living his whole life without a proper father figure screwed him up more than he’d like to admit. He didn’t know how a father should act, how a father should really treat a child. What if his child ended up like him? What if he needed to go to anger management and fucking therapy all because of Rafe?

His thought were interrupted when you began to squirm around in your sleep, your eyes beginning to flutter open. You saw Rafe staring at you, his eyes glossed over. He gave you a small smile, moving the hair from your face.

You gave him a tired smile back, and for a moment, he made you forget about everything else. When his arms wrapped around you again, there was nothing else in the world.

“I love you, you know that?” He rasped out quietly.

“I love you too.” You replied, although very confused at the random statement.

He pulled away, looking you in your eyes for a moment. He sat up slowly, you furrowing your eyebrows worriedly at him as you did the same.

“What’s wrong?” You asked him, him shaking his head.

“I..uhm..” he pulled out the test, letting it speak for itself. It was like the words had gotten stuck in his throat.

“Oh.” You mumbled, dropping your gaze down.

“I know this probably isn’t how you wanted me to find out.” He spoke, you looking down at your lap still, avoiding his gaze. “And I want you to know-“ he paused, looking at you.

“Y/n.” His hand moved, grabbing your face in his hands, moving closer towards you. You looked up at him finally, tears brimming your eyes.

“I love you.” He repeated. Those words meant more to you than he could imagine at the moment. You started full on sobbing, him wrapping his arms around you, letting you cry into his shoulder.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. We’ll be okay.” He told you in a murmur, your hands bunching up the fabric of his shirt.

“I love you.” You cried out, him letting out a quiet laugh, continuing to let you cry.

“Hey, hey,” he spoke when he heard nothing but little sniffles coming from you. You pulled away, looking at him again. He brought the pad of his thumb, wiping away any remaining tears.

“I meant it. I- I really, really wanna be here for you. For the both of you. Okay? I’m gonna- gonna get my shit together, ‘m gonna… figure it all out.”

“Thank you.” You replied quietly, him giving you a soft smile, pulling you in for another hug.

“You’re gonna be a really good dad.” You murmured against him, him smiling at the thought of it. With those simple words, all his anxiety was eased.

“You’re gonna be the best mom.” He retorted.

You giggled at him, leaning up so you could kiss hm.

When you pulled away, you both got back down into the sheets.

“You know, I think it’s gonna be a girl.” You told him quietly, him tilting his head to the side.

“Well, you’d probably be right. Most people think that the likelihood you’ll have a boy or a girl is inherited through the father… considering that I’m literally the only boy in the family, then, you’d probably be correct.”

“I’m trying to be cute and you’re spewing facts at me.” You teased him, him shrugging.

“Well, you knew about the deal when you decided to marry me.” He pulled his hand out from under the covers, showing the ring on his finger.

“You should have put it in your vows.” You replied.

“How would I word that, exactly?”

“I, Rafe Cameron, promise to never stop giving you extremely random science facts, even when you’re pregnant.” You spoke in a deep, mocking voice. It made him laugh out loudly.

“I do not sound like that.”

“You kinda do.” You laughed.

Rafe shook his head with a soft smile, and he knew, despite everything he’s gone through and everything that’s happened, if it led him to you, he’d do it 10 times over again.

Taglist:

@moonssyrup @koibleufish @anamiad00msday @wearemadeofstardust0 @10ava01 @mileyraes