#bc he’s just a little scavenger for a while

[tabrisangel]

i forgot to post this it’s really awkward first kiss where francis wants to figure out how to kiss people so he can go fuck women and he picks arthur as his test dummy goodbye

[k8fics]

‘Does anyone want a Lucy Maximus throu-“

YES I DO. YES I DO. ME ME ME

Surfaced Hearts

summary: headcanon of lucy, maximus, & surface dweller!reader throuple

rating: R (?) - nsfw, the apocalypse, killing people, just fallout, fem!reader, the use of Y/N, maximus has his armor bc..hehe

- i can think of so many ways you guys could meet

- maybe you're a surface dweller who meets lucy & maximus when they stumble upon your shop

- OR maybe you're childhood friends with lucy, you guys leave the vault together, and then meet maximus later on along the way

- surface dweller!reader tho (*❦ω❦)

The sun hung low in the sky casting long shadows across the broken pavement as Lucy and Maximus approached the dilapidated storefront. Their steps were cautious, hands gripping their weapons, ears perked for any sign of danger in the eerie silence of the wasteland. As they neared the entrance, a sudden cacophony shattered the silence. Raiders faces twisted with malice, emerging from the shadows, brandishing rusted weapons and hungry eyes. Lucy's grip tightened on her pistol, while Maximus aimed his mechanical arm, gears whirring in anticipation. Suddenly, before the raiders could even position themselves for a second attack, a sudden onslaught of gunfire erupted from the shop's interior. Bullets flew through the air with deadly precision, finding their marks in the chest of the unsuspecting raiders. Stunned, all Lucy and Maximus can do is merely watch as the assailants fall one by one, their bodies crumpling to the ground. Standing amidst the carnage, a figure emerged from the dust. A surface dweller, standing tall, your weapon still smoking in your hand as you surveyed the aftermath then began rummaging through the dead bodies' belongings. As you do so, you look up at the two standing beside you, "Y'all don't plan on causing any trouble like these asshats right?" Lucy and Maximus stare at each other before looking back at the scavenger, all they can do is nod.

- from that point forward, they want you SO bad

- you have would kill for them

- (and vice versa) you're is just more unhinged aggressive about their devotion

"Phew! That was a close one," Lucy gasped, her chest heaving as she cast a glance toward Maximus, her eye lingering on his rugged features. Maximus nodded, a bead of sweat tracing a path down his face. "Yeah... Hey, where's Y/N?" His gaze flickered between Lucy and the shadows of where the surface dweller once was. A few anxious moments later you emerged, your form silhouetted by the dim light of the land. Lucy and Maximus approach you, their hearts racing with a mixture of relief and concern. "Sweetie, where have you been?" Lucy's voice was soft, tinged with a hint of worry as she touched your arm. Your eyes met Lucy's, and a flicker of something unreadable fades away immediately after making eye contact with her. "And why are you covered in blood?" Maximus's voice was low, his gaze lingering on your disheveled appearance. "They're gone now," you replied cryptically, your voice barely reaching a whisper as you leaned into their touch. As the weight of your words hung in the air between them, Lucy and Maximus exchanged a glance. Amidst the chaos and uncertainty, they found themselves drawn to the surface dweller in ways they couldn't quite explain.

- babygirl, girlboss, and malewife

- i imagine you're a little rough around the edges considering your predicament

- but lucy and maximus soften you up :D

You've always had a hardened exterior, having learned to rely on keeping your guard up at all times. But when Lucy and Maximus entered your life, you found yourself grappling with the unfamiliar territory of trust and vulnerability. One day, as you guys were traversing the rugged terrain, you encountered Dogmeat. Your instincts kicked in immediately, muscles tensing as your eyes followed the tog warily. "Easy there, Y/N," Lucy said, her voice calm and reassuring as she approached the canine companion with outstretched hands. "He's a friend, not a foe." Maximus, with his gentle demeanor, echoed Lucy's sentiment. "Trust us, Dogmeat is as loyal as they come." You remained skeptical, "Still, I'm not sharing my food with the mutt." You grumbled, Lucy and Maximus exchanged knowing glances. After less than a week, Dogmeat stood by your side as you cooked the meat you had just scavenged, the canine getting pieces here and there from the surface dweller.

- you love gifting them things

like when lucy mentioned that she missed watching old westerns in her vault, you're immediately searching for the best copies and a working television

- maximus's love language is definitely words of affirmation and acts of service

- he's a sucker for verbal expressions of love and appreciation

- but he actually goes weak to the knees (like on the ground, begging, clinging onto you and lucy's legs) when it comes to acts of service

- like helping him repair one of his arms and he's just shaking and blushing

- or scavenging for oysters just to gift it to him, he's purring and surrounds you

- lucy's is so physical touch

- sometimes, when you guys can find clean water, you and maximus take a bath or shower with her and it's her favorite thing ever

- babygirl asf

- imagine lucy teaching you and maximus different self-care practices

Lucy grinned, her expression filled with excitement as she gestured toward the jar in her hand. "We're going to start with something simple: exfoliation." You and Maximus exchanged a puzzled glance before turning their attention back to Lucy, who wasted no time demonstrating the proper techniques. With gentle motions, she applied the scrub to her skin, massaging with care. "And that's how you exfoliate!" Lucy declared, her skin glowing with newfound radiance. While all you could do is stare in horniness amazement with your mouth open, Maximus scratched his head, a look of confusion across his face. "...But why?" he asked, only to be met with a punch on the arm by the surface dweller.

- honestly, i feel like you guys don't even talk about being a couple or anything, it just happened over time

- like a few subtle touches and stolen glances over time turns into staring lovingly into the eyes of each other and .........

tiny nsfw

- "intercourse?"

- just a room full of switches

- you're on top most of the time tho

- maximus is a giver all the way

- bro's mouth is always full

- lucy is a pillow princess and you cannot change my mind

- and very vocal

- maximus likes to watch you and lucy

- the cuck chair lives past the apocalypse!!!

- he's mostly quiet with the occasional praises, telling you to keep going, that you're doing so well, that you make him and/or lucy feel so good

- it's like he's taking notes

- "you wanna make my cock explode now?"

anyways! back to the planned program

- lucy does your hair most of the time

- the first time she suggested it she asked for you to find a hairbrush so that she could "fix up our hair"

- you immediately jumped up to rummage around for that old hairbrush in that one file cabinet

- so now she does your hair most mornings while maximus makes or scavenges for some form of breakfast

- for some reason, i feel like maximus knows how to play cards

- and i just know it would be lucy's favorite pass times

"oh! can we play that card game you taught us, maxie?"

- do you guys think lucy and maximus would have nicknames for each other?

- like lucy calls him 'max' and/or 'maxie' (maxi? maxy?) and maximus calls lucy 'luce' (EEEE)

- you and maximus LOVE the way lucy smells tho

- i know it's weird but imagine always being surrounded by the most putrid stenches and here comes this beautiful, very clean lady comes along

- it can't be helped

"what are you guys doing?" "nothin" "you always smell like roses"

-

hope you enjoyed! lmk if anyone wants more lucy x max throuple fics, i can make a longer fic going into more depth. thank you!!

[honeyedmiller]

Something In the Orange | Joel Miller

pairing: joel miller x f!reader

warnings: tooth-rotting fluff, post-outbreak!Joel, takes place in Jackson, tiny bit of angst if u squint, implied smut, Ellie and Joel are on good terms (cus I said so okay? okay d:), established relationship, age gap (unmentioned), pet names, no use of y/n. 18+, minors dni.

word count: 1.7k

synopsis: you and joel enjoy a peaceful autumn morning together.

just felt sappy and soft bc autumn is finally here (still waiting for the weather to cool down in socal though lol) but here's a little one shot full of comfort and fluff

When you were little, you never understood why your grandparents enjoyed sitting out on their front porch for hours on end.

Now that you’re older, wiser, and the apocalyptic world seemed to have consumed your soul, you got it.

There was something in the simplicity of just sitting and enjoying nature as it was. You hadn’t been granted that luxury of simplicity in twenty years.

Now, you sit on the front porch of your shared home in your lover’s flannel and a pair of sweats adorning your body, blanket wrapped over your shoulders, and a hot cup of coffee simmering in your hand.

It was peaceful. Autumn was here, and she greeted Jackson wholly with hues of oranges, reds and browns, golden sunlight rising just above the horizon at six forty-five in the morning.

You knew the sun’d wake Joel soon enough. You left him his favorite mug on the counter and the rest of the coffee in the old coffee pot Maria and Tommy graciously gifted you two when you moved into your new home.

You, Ellie and Joel were still adjusting to Jackson. Adjusting to the community, adjusting to not having to scavenge for food, adjusting to the thought of not having to watch your back every five seconds, and adjusting to the fact that you were safe. Joel was here, you were here, you had a home, a comfy and warm bed, and you had safety.

Something you never in your life thought you’d take for granted, until the first day of the outbreak. Safety wasn’t something you had in twenty years.

Of course, you felt safe with Joel. You knew he’d do anything in his power to make sure you and Ellie were alright.

You also knew adjusting to this new life in Jackson was hitting him the hardest. Ellie’d made a few friends by now, slowly getting into the groove of things around here. You’d spent a lot of time with Maria and the newest Miller baby, helping around the community in any way that you could. Joel went on patrol with Tommy and a few others frequently just to keep the community safe.

But, in the early morning hours, Joel’d be drenched in sweat and writhe unknowingly in his sleep until you woke him up from whatever terrible nightmare he’d been having, soothing him back to sleep as you brushed your fingers through his damp curls and he clung onto you for dear life.

The first couple of months were the roughest for him. If he wasn’t having those nightmares, he’d be tossing and turning, wide awake until the sun came up. He was bone-tired and grumpy all of the time.

Luckily, things seemed to get a bit better over time. You both didn’t jolt awake and the slightest little sound anymore. You both got to sleep in. No one had to stay on watch while the other slept. You could both also enjoy intimate moments in peace now, too.

There was no rushing. No need for a quickie (unless Joel was feeling friskier than usual around you when he’d downed a few glasses of whiskey and consensually had to have his way with you in the bathroom of the Tipsy Bison). You both could enjoy each other in all glory. It was all slow kisses and the taste of pine scented skin and the slow drag of fingertips over each other’s bodies and fulfilling each other’s despair for one another.

Slowing down and enjoying your newfound life in Jackson with Joel and Ellie had been everything you’ve wished for since you three left the Boston QZ. You’d all been through hell and back, and you finally had paradise to live in.

You looked out ahead of you, seeing the red and orange leaves swirl around in the light breeze. It was a colder morning, with fresh dewdrops on the grass and the smell of earth wafting around you.

You heard the front door of the house open, seeing Joel appear with slightly messy hair, body adorned in plaid pajama pants and a black sweater. He looked so handsome even in the dawn of the day. He held his favorite coffee mug in hand, padding over to where you sat. You scooted over for him, the soreness between the apex of your thighs making you wince a bit.

Joel’d made the sweetest love to you the previous night and into the early hours of the morning, whispering to you how beautiful you were and how lucky he was to have you.

Joel was never a man of many words and surely had a hard time saying his emotions, but for you, he had no problem showing you how much he really loved you.

“Mornin’, honey.” Joel murmured as he sat down next to you, slinging an arm over your shoulders as he pulled you into his body. Joel’s body radiated so much warmth that the slight chill you felt was instantly gone as you snuggled into him. You hummed as you took a sip of your coffee, resting your head on his shoulder afterward. He turned his head down to you to kiss your temple, letting his lips linger for a few seconds.

“Good morning, my love.” You say, planting your free hand on his knee.

You and Joel loved to spend your days off close to each other, enjoying each other’s presence—even if it was doused in pure silence. Just being by his side or in his arms was the quiet reassurance that kept you going.

Joel’s grip tightened around your shoulder as his thumb brushed your flannel-clad arm in a soothing, back and forth motion.

“‘S a beautiful mornin’ out.” Joel’s voice is soft and steady; a voice he only reserved for you and Ellie. He was brooding and constantly sported a harsh brow while towering over most residents in Jackson, but with you, the only lines on his face that appeared were his crow’s feet when you made him smile or laugh.

“It is. ‘M so happy we can finally just do this.” You sigh, sipping your coffee once more.

“Do what, darlin’?” He asks, using a free hand to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear. He kissed your forehead tenderly this time, then your nose. He smiled softly down at you as he awaited your explanation.

“Just… sit. In peace. Enjoy each other’s company. It’s all almost so… normal, being here with you. ‘S finally starting to feel like home. Our home, Joel.”

He squeezed your arm the tiniest bit before finally bringing his lips down to yours. He tasted like coffee and mint toothpaste.

“You are my home, baby. Wherever you go, I’m there with you. I love you.” Joel’s voice is just above a whisper, as if he said his words any louder it would ruin the sacredness of them.

“I love you too.”

He brings you in for another tender kiss before pulling apart from you. The sunlight caressed Joel’s tan skin with an ethereal glow, allowing you to bask in how handsome he was. It was rare when he wouldn’t shy away from your adoring stare. He’d always grumble that he wasn’t much to look at or to ‘quit starin’, but you just couldn’t help yourself.

Now that the days were shorter and nights were longer, you took advantage of just simply admiring him while the daylight encapsulated his beautiful features. Full, brownish-gray hair, beautiful brown eyes that looked like honey in the sunlight, tan skin that was peppered with freckles and tiny scars, a strong nose that fit his face perfectly, a (now) neatly groomed mustache with a sparse beard to tie it together.

“Quit starin’ at me like that, darlin’.” Joel chuckled, shaking his head.

“What, I can’t admire my man?” Joel’s heart always skipped a beat when you threw any endearment his way, but you calling him your man was the icing on the cake.

A tinge of a blush dusted his cheekbones, and you grinned as you brought a hand up to his soft hair.

“Don’t go all shy on me now, Miller.” Your teased, and he rolled his eyes while shaking his head.

“Shut up.” He mumbled playfully against your lips, pressing his lips to yours once more.

“Yeah? Why don’t you make me, cowboy?” You quirked a brow as you moved your body back, actively avoiding Joel’s kisses of affection. He grinned at you and set his now-empty coffee mug on the wooden planks of the porch beneath you both, wrapping an arm around your waist as he buried his face into your neck. He began to pepper kisses along your pulse point, making you laugh. He nipped at your skin in a couple of spots, shuffling your bodies so his hips were slotted between your legs.

It wasn’t like him to show this much PDA on the front porch of your home where a bystander could easily see you both, but you loved that he didn’t seem to have a care in the world at the moment.

His face hovered over yours once more, knuckles brushing against your collarbone and down your sternum. “You’re so beautiful.”

Your hands cup his face gently, thumbs swiping over his cheekbones as you stared at him lovingly. You turn your head to the side in the slightest to admire the sun now adorning the red and orange leaves on the ground with rays of gold, giving the atmosphere around you an orange glow.

Autumn had always been your favorite season. It reminded you of a simpler time when you were younger. Your grandmother would bake ghost sugar cookies with you and watch Halloweentown every time it came on TV, and your parents would take you trick-or-treating until you finally decided that you were “too old” at the age of thirteen. Oh, how you wished you weren’t in a hurry to grow up.

It reminded you that there’s beauty even in an untimely ending. That’s what most things in this apocalyptic life were: untimely endings.

But you were here, in Jackson, safe with the love of your life right above you. You turned your head back to him, kissing him once more as the rigid air chilled you once again.

“Take me to bed, Joel. Please.” You whisper, and he gets up from above you slowly, holding out his hand to you as you made your way into your home, needy fingers gripping at warm skin and teeth colliding as you both desperately kissed one another trying to make it upstairs to your bedroom.

When you finally did, you both relished in the peacefulness this life in Jackson had to offer, the early October sun shining through your window as you both found home within each other once again.

tag list: @pamasaur ; @ramblers-lets-get-ramblin ; @cool-iguana ; @party-hearses ; @nostalxgic ; @amanitacowboy ; @worhols ; @planet-marz1

[noirvette]

kyle and kenny! + sick reader!!

wow two posts in a day.. this is what happens when you pick up no shifts at your job

anyhow next post after this will be the band smau intros methinks... (requests'll get finished and posted throughout the day tomorrow)

cws: none !

♡ KYLE BROFLOVSKI

Notices you aren't in class and shoots a quick text asking where you are, when you respond that you're sick, he's on a scavenger mode for you w/ class homework and notes.

Any class you both have he's got those notes for you and any class you DONT have, he's finding someone to give him notes.

"You don't have this class, Kyle?" "Yeah it's for (Y/N), they're sick Wendy."

Making sure you don't fall behind, it's been just one day but he can't let the idea of you trying to catch up in classes be a thing.

NOW...say what you want...but Kyle can cook..idc..he's got that soup maker in him locked down. (malewife Kyle...)

ANYHOW, he's making butternut squash soup (if you're allergic he's making the good ole standard chicken noodle, he probably's making multiple soups tbh) for you and he's making side dishes. He's literally going all out.

Def learned cooking tips and tricks from his mom

Side dishes are just crackers or almonds LMAO, he's good at cooking but when you're sick your energy tends to be lower so he doesn't want to overwhelm you with too much food, just stuff to power you through <3

Eating and drinking is important when sick and he wants you feeling better asap.

Aside from the food, he's got himself that he's bringing. Like he'll come over with his school work, your school work, whatever else, because he's gonna spend the night with you.

Don't try complaining about him getting sick, he's made up his mind that he's helping you out, won't care if he gets sick at all.

"Kyle..you'll get sick too if you stay with me, go home, I'll be fine." "Nope, I don't care if I get sick, taking care of you is what I have got to do."

Goes over the class work and notes for you if you're feeling up to it, if not, he'll wait until you are, or writes out how to work on the problems so you can learn on your own time if he isn't actually there to help.

Now.. cuddling with you is a weird thing. He'll definitely cuddle, but he's got such a physical germ issue and if you're sneezing a whole bunch, runny nose, anything.. snot related sick, he's helping you while keeping a little distance.

If you're on the drier side of sickness like a dry cough, stuffy nose, fever, things like that, he'll be fine keeping you close distance/cuddling/etc.

No kisses from Kyle though when you're sick :( (boooooo)

Makes up for it with letting you have comfy clothes of his.

Also does chores for you around the house. If you have laundry you needed to do, dishes, house cleaning, etc. he's handling it, you just sleep and rest.

Kyle standing in your room with a feather duster to remove dust because it's an irritant (malewife kyle pt 2)

He does manage to get sick though :(, now it's your turn!!

♡ KENNY MCCORMICK

Didn't know you were sick at first because Kenny was skipping class. Found out because he received a text from Stan like "yo are you and (y/n) both sick?"

Cue him skipping school to take care of you instead, he's got a mission to do and that's operation make (y/n) feel better.

Since he was skipping class he has no idea what happened in your classes or his own, so hopefully you don't have a lot of new material to work on when you both come back.

Kenny can most definitely cook too, he just acts like he can't. (canon bc of that home ec episode, he was definitely good at home ec that teacher was just a hater) but he isn't bringing you food, but he's cooking in your kitchen instead.

Makes you chicken noodle soup because it's easy and he's a lil basic. Gives you the dark blue gatorade to go with it though because that gatorade is the best one.

Also is another one that doesn't care if he gets sick (doesn't care because he can just.. die and then wake up the next day not sick)

He's kissing you because he's never been one to be afraid of germs or sickness. Doesn't want to hear complaints.

"Kenny I am SICK, you can't kiss me." "Oh word? I can't? Still going too though." and he swoops in for a kiss.

Tries taking your mind off being sick by distracting you. It sucks to be sick and just laying there so he wants to make sure you have at least some fun.

Like I imagine he's turned on those random youtube karaoke vids to try and sing along to them with your back turned but he's either singing the wrong song or the video has a minute left and he just started singing the song.

"ITS ALL ABOUT YOU GIRL ON A 16TH BIRTHDAY" "The song is earfquake by tyler what are you doing??" "What."

Would also do a few house chores like your dishes, but isn't going to go into a whole bunch of effort. He'd rather spend his time directly with you.

Lets you snuggle into his bright ass orange parka and he's holding you against his chest as you snooze. Places kisses at the top of your head as you sleep, also rubs circles into your waist/hips as you sleep. He's so content with you in his arms.

Decides to do a movie marathon with you since being sick is simply the best time to do a movie marathon.

I could imagine you guys watching the barbie movies tbh.

Cue Kenny dancing the same as those dancing dogs from barbie and the diamond castle

Let's you pick the movie though, Kenny is just there for the ride and to be with you while you're sick.

[pepperonidk]

seventeen as little things that say “i love you”

pairing: none, just ot13 genre: fluff wordcount: 1.3k warnings: food mentions

a/n: these are little things that i've experienced as love from other people. from friends, lovers, family, so i really appreciate these.

seungcheol: eats the part of the food you don’t want.

for example, if you say you hate olives, he would offer to take them from you. OR like in that drama where one of them hated the egg white and the other hated the egg yolk and they would trade them with each other. like THAT. to seungcheol it’s just evidence of how harmonious you two are together. two pieces that complete each other. he calls you his other half and he wouldn’t have it any other way.

jeonghan: listens to you talk about your latest obsessions.

he will sit there with a dopey smile every time as he just stares at you and all he can think about is how happy he is that you’re happy. and he doesn’t just listen, he’ll remember what you tell him and he will find little ways to contribute to it, knowing it’s making you smile. whether buying you something related to it on his way home, or sending you a youtube video he saw about it. jeonghan just wants to know you and to know he’s always contributing to your happiness.

joshua takes candid pictures of you every time you laugh.

his wallpaper is a picture of you laughing at the stupid joke he made about seals at the beach. he truly believes his heart will leap out of his chest every time he hears you laugh. he started googling dad jokes before every date because he knows they make you laugh. every time he sees his phone wallpaper, his heart does a little flip, so he finds himself checking the time often.

jun learns your favorite songs on the piano.

once you briefly mentioned your latest obsession with twilight and the next day jun played renesme’s lullaby for you. just finished watching howl’s moving castle? next week he’ll play for you merry-go-round of life. jun feels that he connects with you most through music, that the music you like says a lot about you as a person. to him, playing the piano for you is an intimate event, like he’s showing you his own soul as he plays for you. not to mention he absolutely adores how excited you get whenever you hear him play.

soonyoung leaves encouraging sticky notes in all of your things.

sometimes (most times) there are roughly doodled tigers on orange sticky notes that also read “horanghae <3 have a great day.” sometimes he will try to fit as many words as possible onto the sticky note about how much he loves you. and sometimes, he writes you reminders to drink water and eat lunch. life can get very busy sometimes so he wants to make sure he’s on your mind as much as you’re on his. at the end of every day he’ll ask how many of them you found, and sometimes he’ll even make you do a scavenger hunt for them throughout the day. but it always spells out “i love you”

wonwoo tries to write you letters even if he thinks he’s bad at it.

stop no bc this one hits a little too close. because his letters to you would be little diary entries in his notes app, but every once in a while he'll write you a hand written note and it's just him telling you about his day since he doesn't know what to write about, then all of a sudden he says something like "if i was a better writer i could explain even better how you make my heart do flips whenever you look at me." right before the next sentence about minecraft.

jihoon pretends to offer to pop your knuckles for you as an excuse to hold your hand.

he will do this ALL the time. he won’t even pop your knuckles, he’ll just hold your hand and look away and pretend he doesn’t notice you noticing his cheeks turning red. and you’ll pretend you don’t know what he’s up to. and if you ever try to ask him about it he'll tell you it's an old technique he picked up from a friend and you're just like "mmm sure jihoon."

seokmin makes up bedtime stories to tell you when you can’t fall asleep.

it all started one night you called him after a pretty rough nightmare early on in your relationship. once you came to your senses you felt bad that you kept him awake, but seokmin didn't want you to go just yet. so he decided to tell you a story about a faraway kingdom and magic, and once he was sure you had fallen asleep he whispered those three words for the first time. (you weren't asleep)

mingyu always keeps an extra jacket in his car for you.

"it's not even that cold today," you had told him once many winters ago. and to your surprise (not mingyu's) it was actually that cold. at first mingyu gave you his jacket, thinking himself to be a model boyfriend. but after 2 hours of walking around to see the holiday lights, mingyu realized he could be a much better boyfriend if he was warm as well. how was he supposed to feel your hand in his when his fingers had gone pale from cold? so bringing an extra jacket was his idea.

minghao sends you pictures of the sunset.

at first, it was a joke. a selfie of him with the sunset saying "tell me what the prettiest thing in this picture is. get it right or it's over" and you had replied "the sunset, duh." and only when he began to pout did you relent. "you are handsome. but the sunset is simply gorgeous." now, it reminds him of the sparkle you get in your eyes when you look at the pinks in the sky, the same way you look at him, and he sends these pictures to you almost every day, especially when he's away from home.

seungkwan calls you when you’re on the way home.

if he's honest, he just likes to hear your voice. but the added bonus is that he can make sure you're getting home safely every night. when you told him the first time that you live quite a long distance from your office, he was immediately concerned. he asked what time you usually head home, and you were surprised to see him call at the time. he doesn't hang up until you let him know you've arrived at your house. no matter the time of night, he will keep you company.

vernon orders an extra side of french fries every time.

you honestly don't ever even have to ask. he used to absolutely hate when people would say "i'm fine" when he asked if they wanted to order anything... then would ask for some fries. so now he's gotten into the habit of ordering an extra of anything, so that he always has some to share with you. compared to a lot of things on this list, this is a lot more subtle, but i think in general vernon is a subtle man. his love is quiet, but not any less fierce or passionate, and i think that's so beautiful.

dino makes pinky promises.

these pinky promises are sacred to him. he has never broken one and he never plans to ever break one. from small things like “i pinky promise i’ll buy you a coffee tomorrow morning if you study with me,” to big things like “i pinky promise to love you every day,” he holds it all sacred. when he texts you and says pinky promise, he’ll send a picture of his pinky and expect you to do the same. he already knows that when he proposes he’s gonna propose with a pinky ring, to be cute.

[frogchiro]

I NEED MORE STRAY CHILDE AND CAT READER

YOU ASK AND I SHALL DELIVER (also i'm turning this into a possible lil threesome bc i need and i have 0 selfcontrol ;;)

fem!reader, hybrids, suggestive content, love triangle, age gap but reader is explicitly stated to be an adult, implied chubby reader, jealousy and feels, a tiny bit of angst?? but it's woven in between fluff so it's okay </3 also my terrible grammar

okay soooo...i was thinking about a kinda 'lady and the tramp' scenario but with a little twist? where you, the prized kitty girl, belong to an incredibly wealthy snezhnayan noblewoman. she is already on the older side, she never married or had kids and while living a lavish life full of extravagant banquets, travels across teyvat, meeting the most interesting people, sometimes it does get lonely in a big mansion you know? sure there are the servants and many other people who'd be more than willing to converse with her but a jumpy mousy handmaiden or some boring sycophantic dignitary or two can only do so much to be considered 'good' company.

after much thinking and careful consideration, the woman decided on buying a cat hybrid. the hybrid breeding business was booming all over teyvat, it basically became a staple for the wealthy to buy hybrids, dress them up like the most beautiful porcelain dolls and flaunting them on various official occasions like banquets or balls.

there was a large variety of well bred hybrids, all from most perfect and long lineages that would put the family histories of most noble houses to shame. from bunnies through sables, foxes, peacocks up to horse hybrids but it still wasn't perfect, all of them were boring; well, until she met you. a catgirl with fluffy shiny (h/c) fur combed and groomed to perfection, pointy ears standing high and proud and a lovely fluffy tail swishing as if annoyed by the disturbance behind you. from the second she saw you, she knew that you were the one that would keep her company. you were a cute young thing, just over 16 years old and the perfect combination of politeness, shyness and sassyness, not overly clingy and desperate to be bought but also not rude or hissy. yes, you'd be perfect.

and so began your new life with your new owner in a completely new environment. sure, you'd miss the facility where you grew up in but you were also excited what your future would hold for you and judging by the lady who bought you, you'd never have to worry about anything anymore.

a few years passed in bliss. you were now just over 20 and you really grew into your new life. ever since the nice lady brought you into your new home or rather a small palace, you lived a life of luxury as the favorite (and only!) pet of her ladyship. you had your own room, own bed stuffed to the brim with pillows and topped off with a silky see-through canopy, all designed in a lovely and tasteful (f/c) palette. you even had a personal chef and groomer! after all the favorite kitty of the household had to eat the best food and have her fur shiny and not a single tangle in sight; yes, life was calm and perfect for you.

well...at least until someone barged in at full speed. it was a ginger stray cat hybrid who called himself childe, ajax for friends which he insisted on becoming with you. stray hybrids weren't a rare sight to be honest, especially in a big metropolis like the capital city of snezhnaya, but they usually kept to the more shady parts of the town, scavenging the dark alleys and slums for scraps so it was quite a fright when suddenly a big, rough looking stray jumped over the fence and right next to the spot where you were sunning!

after hissing and yowling up a storm you realized that childe had no real ill intentions but you were still miffed about the situation, why was he here? how the hell did he even get here?

after a sheepish explanation from the scarred hybrid that he was just scavenging the area for food and he got wind of a new smell he just couldn't resist and had to check out the source! he really didn't expect for you to be the source and before he could retreat he slipped and fell into your garden and here he was...ta-daaa!

you didn't really buy it, the ginger cat literally spelled trouble by just looking at him but you kinda felt a little pity on him; he was a stray for gods know how long and while he was well build and very big, judging by the growl in his belly he didn't eat for a very long time.

just because you were a 'high-born' and belonging into a aristocratic family didn't mean you were cruel or heartless so you told the man to wait here for you as you sneaked into the kitchens and loaded a cloth full of different kinds of meats, cheeses and fruit and brought them back to him to eat. your heart squeezed painfully at the wide eyes of the stray as you gave him the wrapped cloth and wished him well, telling him not the eat trash anymore and if he were hungry then to just come here and you'll give him food.

and so started the quite unlikely friendship between you and the big stray, ajax, and you had to admit that the once seemingly meek and sheepish cat was actually the biggest troublemaker you ever saw! as your friendship progressed his true colors shone through and gave him an entirely new but lovable personality. ajax was funny, smart, cunning and a major flirt, often teasing you and making moves on you, then laughing boisterously when you flushed and hissed at him with your ears pulled flat against your head.

he even showed you his den! after weeks of convincing you to give into his pleas of sneaking out for the night because 'he wanted to show you something' you finally gave into his pleads and went with him, anxious to be away from your safe mansion but also excited for the new possible adventure.

what ajax hyped up to be his 'incredibly cool and super comfy den' was actually an old abandoned barn on the outskirts of the town. you weren't really impressed and by the look of your sour expression childe sweated a little but pulled you after him while promising that it looks much better on the inside...it really didn't but at least the attic of the barn was kept well enough and judging by the neat circle of old blankets, furs and pillows this was where the hybrid made his den and to be honest....it really was comfy.

you began to sneak out almost every night to meet childe at his barn, at least it gave you the privacy and you didn't have to worry about any patrolling guards or stray servants busting your secret friend.

soon the old barn became your second home and the circle of old raggedy blankets and pillows your new bed. it was quite liberating in some way to roll around in the nest with ajax, the catboy nothing but accommodating and happy to have you here with him. he loved to see you smile and purr up a storm when your were rolling around and nuzzling the blankets simultaneously leaving your delicious scent all over his place which often led to...some unsavory activities after you left.

but could you really blame him?! how can he not rub his cock and cum all over himself when he has the image of your perfect soft body burned into his brain and various sinful thoughts are occupying his mind the second he gets a whiff of your scent.

it will always be a secret but his favorite fantasy is of you abandoning your life at the mansion and have you run away with him. the thought of having you here with him at all times, hunting and providing for you, returning after each successful hunt to you as you smile and lick his cheek, the tiny mewls of your kitties the only noise in the otherwise silent barn besides the cracking fire in the rundown hearth and your loud purrs.

but this is all it will ever be, a fantasy. he couldn't possibly ever ask you of such a thing, such a sacrifice to satisfy his selfish desires especially after all the things you did for him. he knew painfully well that you are way out of his league, basically a princess to his tramp self; but that didn't mean he still couldn't cherish you and every moment he shared with you! yes, he was content with what he had. everything was perfect....until it wasn't.

while your lady didn't exactly know the details of where her prized catgirl went off to, she had the vague idea that you were...disappearing for the nights and coming back ruffled and dirty like some common stray and it got her thinking...what if you were lonely? what if you were just seeking out the presence of another hybrid? it wouldn't surprise her really, after all she was the one to buy you in the first place to quell her own loneliness so how could she be so selfish and possibly neglect the feelings of her favorite girl! and she knew just the perfect resolution for the issue...

imagine your surprise when one beautiful winter morning when you came down into the salon stretching and yawning to check out the noises that seemed to go on since the early hours only to notice your lady sitting on the recliner with a...hybrid standing right next to her.

you wouldn't lie when you said that you almost turned on your heel and made a beeline back to your room and hide under the various blankets of your nest. this hybrid...this...monster wasn't something you ever saw, even in childe.

the cat hybrid appeared to be older, much older than you with long flowing and well kept white hair topped with two pointy white ears and a neat beard. the man was tall, so very tall, and broad; his thick chest and arms partially covered by the fur coat he was wearing, but the most prominent feature of his were his piercing gray eyes. the slitted pupils looking almost like tiny diamonds inside his eyes when his stone cold gaze zeroed on your figure and you suddenly felt so tiny and exposed in your nightgown and see-through robe; your tail swishing anxiously behind you as the man glowered down on you.

finally after what felt like an eternity, your lady noticed you and beamed, jumping up from her seat and inviting you over to introduce the mysterious man.

his name was apparently pierro and he was the new cat hybrid your lady bought in order for you to no longer be lonely, plus judging by his sheer size he could also be your protector.

while your lady was happily rambling and telling you all about the process and all the benefits of pierro being here all you could do was stay quiet, ears pinned flat to your head as you and the big man had a staredown with you quickly loosing. you just didn't understand it! it was all a big misunderstanding! you weren't 'lonely' at all but on the other hand you guessed you got a little careless and sloppy about sneaking out to meet with childe. getting a bit too comfortable was a big mistake and you could understand it coming off as 'feeling lonely' to your lady, she probably was thinking that you were sneaking out to search for other cat people and now you were stuck with the older hybrid. maybe it wouldn't be so bad? after all, pierro looks like he's an older hybrid even for your extended lifespans, plus he doesn't really look like the type to chase you around and play or bother you, if anything he was looking at you like you're the one to bother him in your own damn house! ultimately there was nothing you could do anymore, pierro was here already and it looked like he was staying so you guessed you just had to suck it up for a bit and hold off on meeting with childe for the time being.

and so pierro stayed in the mansion for good. a few weeks passed already and honestly? it was better than you expected! just like you previously presumed pierro didn't bother you or even try to interact with you, most times keeping just to himself doing gods know what and yet you felt his constant presence, like a phantom lingering around you and keeping a keen eye on you.

even with this strange feeling you came around, breaking the invisible wall and actually trying to get pierro to at least like you a little bit which, to your great surprise, wasn't difficult at all.

the big cat hybrid was actually very pleasant to be around; he was mostly either reading something or lounging around on a recliner or next to one of the enormous fireplaces in the mansion and it provided a perfect opportunity to get to know each other. he had a very deep, rough and rumbling voice that send pleasant shivers down your spine any time you heard it, plus he seemed to naturally run hot so lounging next to him in front of the fire during a cold winter night proved to be a wonderful experience, his deep rumbling purrs vibrating and lulling you to sleep.

he even started to slowly allow himself to become more 'touchy' with you! at first it were just short and stiff nuzzles, just to acknowledge your existence, then it slowly evolved into more lingering touches, insistently rubbing his head against yours, grooming your fur with his tongue, wrapping his tail around yours and even full on spooning you when lounging on a fur rug. the ultimate sign of trust was when one night pierro invited you to his chamber to climb into his nest to cuddle and bond and you won't lie when you say you felt a hot tingle in your lower belly when you climbed into the enormous wonderfully soft nest that was drenched in his scent and you felt the man slowly rub his cheek upwards from the base of your tail to your shoulders and bit down softly, his huge fangs oh so gently clamping down on the back of your neck as he slowly pulled your back snugly to his broad hairy chest and laid down with you, his teeth still holding you.

the gesture was an incredibly intimate one, reserved only for mates but it made you feel all giddy and tingly inside, quiet purrs from deep within your chest mixing with pierro's rumbles and combined with the cracking fire from the heart it made for a wonderfully cozy and intimate soundscape.

you let pierro take care of you, his teeth finally letting loose of your neck to gently lick it with his rough tongue and growling lowly when he felt your hips shift under his, pulling you even closer and crushing you against his chest. his darling little kitten seemed to finally be relaxed in his presence, something he longed for from the very beginning when his new owner introduced you to each other. you finally stopped to sneak out so much the more open you became with each other and you no longer smelt like that wretched stray, childe.

pierro growled under his breath at even the thought of that tramp getting close to you and thinking he'd have any chance with you while you had him. instead he continued to lick you, down from your neck and towards your delicious full breasts feeling particulary naughty and sneaking a quick suck or two to your nipples, an answering delighted mewl from you all he needed to know.

now that the stray was out of the picture he had you all to himself and soon he'd mate you. while her ladyship was sometimes annoying him he had to begrudgingly thank her for bringing you two together although perhaps not in the way she thought. maybe you will present her with a nice healthy litter of well bred kittens next year with him as the proud father? who knows; for now though he had a needy kitty to take care of and the night was just starting~

unbeknownst to either of you, a pair of deep blue eyes was glaring at you from the balcony of the room. childe was furious, basically fuming from the inside but not at you, no, never at you, but at pierro for even thinking of trying to take you from him and at himself for allowing this to happen.

a few weeks back when pierro was just brought into the mansion you did warn childe that you'll be unable to sneak out as often as previously due to your lady bringing another hybrid into the household and to avoid suspicion you had to drastically cut down on your time together. at first he thought it wouldn't really bother him, he was a stray and used to being alone, but after so many weeks of having you so close, keeping him company and just simply being there for him made him feel dangerously attached to you and the knowledge that you had to stay away from him for an indefinite amount of time made him feel miserable and to add salt to the wound you now shared a space with another hybrid, pierro, out of everyone.

he vaguely knew the hybrid before; tall and broad in statue, stone cold exterior, a permanent scowl on his face that never seemed to wither. according to rumors the old hybrid had a lineage that reached as far as back to the ancient khaen'rhian people, due to that (and from what childe was aware) pierro couldn't be technically owned by someone, he was always just...there. so it had him baffled when he saw the man strolling through the gardens, his piercing diamond pupils turning into slits when they zeroed on him and made a face that could be only described as 'disgusted pity'. childe then pulled his ears back, the fur on his back standing on ends and was ready to pounce on him but retreated last second when he saw your soft body coming up from behind pierro and rubbing affectionately up against him. the ginger hybrid would lie when he said that his jaw almost hit the floor when he witnessed the scene and his blood boiled at the disgustingly smug look on pierro's face when he wrapped his long fluffy tail around you and returned your gesture before turning you around and walking away from him place of hiding like he was some afterthought you shouldn't be bothered with.

seeing you with the big hybrid, pierro, was like putting salt in the wound that he created for himself. why couldn't he confessed to you earlier? was he really such a coward that he couldn't even express his love for the girl of his dreams? and now he had to watch you being all lovely and cozy with the big male while he was left standing high and dry, plus he just knew that the white haired hybrid would rub his triumph all over his face the next chance he got.

'but just you wait', childe thought with a bitter scowl. it was just the beginning as sooner the abyss would freeze over than childe would admit defeat. you'd become his mate and he'd win your heart.

just you wait

[trulybetty]

dec' 03 x hot chocolate

Prompt: hot chocolate Pairing: joel miller x f!Reader Word Count: 3,196 Warnings: barely beta'd, all mistakes my own, this is au and way off the plot of anything to do with TLOU, mentions of coffee and festive fluff and introductions to our characters ☕ Summary: maplewood, a small town nestled in northern bc where people flock to see the festive decorations of main street and enjoy the festive traditions. finding yourself back home and working for the family business, you strike up a friendship with the town's local contractor. AO3: Linked

x. masterlist

The Little Coffee Shop Around the Corner - Part I

Joel Miller was the type who didn’t believe in buying coffee from a coffee shop. He had a perfectly good coffee maker at home that he’d had for a quarter century now. One that had moved countries and still worked just as well as it had done the first day he’d bought it. 

Well, that was until that very morning. 

With a sputter and a final wheeze, the machine gave up the ghost, leaving Joel staring in disbelief at his kitchen counter. Grudgingly accepting defeat, he grabbed his coat and ventured out to his truck on the brisk Maplewood morning.

He’d moved to the small Canadian town a handful of years ago with his daughter Sarah from Austin Texas. Many had questioned his decision to move not just to another country, but to a town that was drastically different and far removed from Austin.

He hadn’t answered with much more than a shrug.

His contracting business had been doing well enough to live an easy life, step back and enjoy someone else taking the reigns. 

That was until he became a widow at the age of thirty-six and all he’d wanted to do was get out of dodge. Everywhere he turned, there were reminders of her, making it too difficult for him to stay.

Sarah's arrival came after both of his parents had passed away. His brother Tommy had already moved to Wyoming in pursuit of joining a community that he insisted wasn't a commune, and he had settled down and started a family. This left him alone with Sarah, so when they were presented with the opportunity for her to receive a scholarship from a prestigious Canadian school with full access to their renowned soccer program, they eagerly took it as a chance for a new beginning. Despite its remote location in British Columbia, they saw it as a fresh start.

The transition had been challenging, no doubt about it. Neither of them possessed any winter clothing, and they both had to adapt to a new currency (Joel still struggled with the difference between a Loonie and a Toonie) while navigating unfamiliar locations. However, the warmth of the town's reception overshadowed all of those challenges. No one prodded for information or tried to uncover gossip; instead, they were embraced with open arms and quickly became just another part of the Maplewood community.

Sarah had quickly adapted to her new school, which didn't come as a surprise. Meanwhile, Joel had discovered that the town was in desperate need of a handyman, and soon enough Miller Contracting was back in business. 

Pulling into a parking space on the main street outside of the bookstore Sarah often frequented, Joel rubbed his hands together cursing leaving his gloves at home. Despite his years in Maplewood, winter still felt like a shock every time it rolled around.

After taking a moment to orient himself, he recalled that the coffee shop was located to the left around the corner. With this in mind, he began his journey to the end of the street. Luckily, his workload for the day was relatively light, so this unexpected diversion wouldn't cause too much delay

The stores had wasted no time in getting out their Christmas decorations, he looked across the street as he walked to the bakery - its window frames draped in holly and ivy, punctuated by glittering baubles were no exception. Merry Tree Trek, a Christmas tree scavenger hunt put on by the town's businesses was due to start the following day. One of the many traditions Maplewood had for the festive season. 

As Joel entered 'True North Brews,' the aroma of freshly ground coffee beans and the gentle hum of conversation welcomed him. The shop was packed with locals, all happily chatting away as they waited for their orders to be ready. Standing in line, he scanned the menu, feeling out of his depth. This was Sarah’s territory - he usually was just there to provide payment before they headed on to whatever errand needed to be completed next.

He took in the festive decor as he waited in line. Christmas lights had been strung along the edges of the bar, while fake holly adorned every pillar in sight. Paper snowflakes hung from the ceiling and garlands of green and red festooned the fireplace. Which crackled merrily at one end of the room, and he smiled to himself as he watched an elderly couple sitting close together on one of the sofas near it - no doubt soaking up every minute of extra warmth they could get before trudging back out into the cold night air.

That’s when he noticed you behind the counter. You were relatively new, he knew your name and that you were the owner's daughter – Sarah had regaled your appearance in Maplewood several months back when you'd stopped by the bakery. Right now you were serving the town’s newest member of the tourism board, he couldn’t remember her name but knew he’d seen her with Marcus from the bakery here and there. Your eyes met briefly, and a hint of a smile danced on your lips.

Finally, it was his turn to order, “Hey Joel,” you said, recognizing him from his numerous visits with his daughter, “No Sarah today?”

He shook his head, “Just me.”

“In that case, what can I make for you?” you asked, your voice cheery in light of Joel’s look of utmost confusion.

“Just coffee, please,” he said, in a tone that suggested this was an everyday request.

You raised an eyebrow playfully. “Coffee? Coffee means a lot of different things around here. What kind of coffee would you like?”

Joel scratched his head, looking a bit lost. “Uh, just your regular coffee, you know? Nothing fancy,” he replied, his Texas drawl more pronounced.

You leaned against the counter with a friendly grin. “How about trying something a bit festive? A peppermint mocha, perhaps? It's like a holiday in a cup!”

Joel's eyebrows rose in surprise, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “That's far too fancy for my tastes.” he laughed, “Just a regular black coffee will do.”

You nodded understandingly but with a twinkle in your eye. “Tell you what, how about an Americano? It's close to black coffee but with a bit more character. It's on the house, and if you don't like it, you can come back, and I'll make you a straight-up black coffee. But, I have a hunch you might enjoy the Americano.”

Joel looked surprised but intrigued. “Well, when you put it that way... sure, I'll give it a try.”

As you began preparing his order, Joel glanced around, noticing the line behind him starting to grow. “Looks like you've got a busy day ahead,” he remarked.

You smiled, handing him the Americano. “Maplewood wakes up early during the holiday season. Enjoy your coffee, and remember, if it's not to your liking, come back up for that black coffee.”

Joel opened his mouth to respond, but the bustling line behind him urged him forward, cutting short the chance for a proper response. He settled for a quick, “Thanks,” and moved aside.

Later that day as you were wiping down the counters, your mother Jean and the current owner of the coffee shop, joined you out front. “I've been thinking,” she began, her voice laced with a blend of both excitement and seriousness. 

“That’s dangerous,” you quipped, ignoring the scowl she sent you as she made her way around the counter to the front of the store.

“I was thinking,” she said ignoring you, “that now might be a good time for me to step back with you back in town.”

You paused, cloth in hand. Coming back to Maplewood hadn't been your first choice, especially after things ended with Max. Your ex-boyfriend who had suddenly gotten too tied up in climbing the corporate ladder, after a business trip across seas, to notice the relationship unravelling. 

“I really don’t know how long I’m going to be here,” you replied, having already been in town a month longer than your original plan of just six weeks.

The statement was not an exaggeration; the apartment had been in Max's name, and the two of you had always planned to add your own on the deed. But procrastination got in the way. With rental prices on the rise and a sabbatical from work, coming home was your only option until you could figure out your next move.

She shrugged, “Doesn’t matter, as long as it’s long enough for me to do some travelling, get a taste of what an early retirement could look like.”

You sighed, “What’s the angle here, Mom?”

“What angle?” she responded as she fussed with the tree you’d both decorated with coffee-themed decor the night before for the Merry Tree Trek.

Your mother had a knack for mixing business with motherly concern in a way that only she could. She glanced at you over the rim of her glasses, a half-smile playing on her lips.

“No angle,” She said, adjusting a tiny coffee bean ornament. “I've been running True North Brews since before you were born, and it's been a dream. But, I'm not getting any younger, and the world's a big place. I'd like to see some of it while I still can.”

You couldn't help but smile at her adventurous spirit, something you had undoubtedly inherited. “You want to travel? Since when?”

“Since always,” she replied with a twinkle in her eye. “The shop has been in our family for two generations now. I'd hate to see it end up in different hands, or worse, closed down.”

The weight of her words hung in the air. Taking over the coffee shop wasn't something you had considered seriously. You had other dreams, didn't you? But then again, the shop was more than just a business; it was a piece of Maplewood's heart, and undeniably, a big part of your family's legacy.

Your mother continued, “I know you're figuring things out, and I'm not asking you to decide right this second. But think about it. This place could use your touch and your ideas. You've always had a knack for making people feel welcome, just like your grandmother did when she opened this place.”

You leaned against the counter, absorbing her words. The coffee shop had been a staple in your life for as long as you could remember. Your earliest memories were of playing behind the counter, the smell of coffee always in the air.

Perhaps this unexpected turn of events was not just a setback but an opportunity, a chance to add your chapter to the story of Maple Brews.

“I'll think about it,” you said finally, a mix of apprehension and excitement bubbling inside you. But you still threw her a pointed look, “just thinking about it, okay?”

“That's all I'm asking,” she replied, her eyes softening. “Now, help me with this stubborn string of lights, will you? This tree needs to look perfect for when the scavenger hunt starts this afternoon.”

It was nearing closing when the ring of the bell at the front door rang signalling a customer. Looking up you saw Marcus, the owner of Maple Delights standing at the door, stamping his feet to rid his boots of the snow that had started the fall that afternoon.

“Hey Marcus,” you greeted, “can I get you anything?” you asked as you accepted a stack of pink cake boxes from him. Maple Delights had a long-standing business deal with True North Brews to sell their baked goods in their displays - one that extended beyond Marcus' tenure as owner.

He gave you a wide smile, “Actually, it’s what you can do for me?”

You raised an eyebrow, “Well, I’m intrigued.”

“So, the Jingle Bell Movie night later this month,” he said, posing the event as a question. It was an annual tradition of the town, with everyone coming together for an evening of festivities and movie-watching in the community centre. “I was thinking, what if Maple Delights and True North Brews tag-teamed the event?”

Your interest was piqued. “Go on,” you encouraged.

Marcus's eyes lit up. “I'll supply the treats—cookies, pastries, you name it—and you guys could handle the hot drinks? Hot chocolate, spiced cider, maybe some festive coffee concoctions?”

You nodded, already visualizing the bustling event. “Sounds like a perfect match to me. Maple Delights' treats and our drinks? The town will love it!”

“Hey, speaking of the bakery, question for you about the renovations you did when you bought the place. You restored it to its original façade, right?” you asked, as Marcus leant against the counter.

He smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. “Yeah, I did. Wanted to preserve a piece of Maplewood’s history. The building has such character, it felt right to bring it back to its former glory.”

“Well, it certainly is stunning. It must've been quite a project,” you remarked.

Marcus nodded. “It was a labour of love, but totally worth it in the end.”

Your mind was buzzing with ideas and your mother's earlier conversation replaying over in your head, “Who did you get in to do the work?” you asked, knowing that Maplewood wasn't exactly crawling with talented contractors and designers.

“Actually it was Joel Miller, he did the renovation.”

“Really?” you asked, surprised.

Marcus chuckled. “Joel really did some great work on the bakery. He's got a really good eye for detail. Took my vision and made it even better than I could have imagined.”

You were impressed. “Wow, well he did an amazing job. It was one of the first things I noticed when I came back. It adds so much charm to the street.”

“Thanks,” Marcus said, a warm smile on his face. “Joel's a really talented guy. He's a great addition to the community, both him and Sarah.”

“Well, if he did such a great job with the bakery, maybe he could help us with the coffee shop,” you said, half-jokingly.

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “You're thinking of doing a reno?”

You hesitated, feeling a bit exposed not having intended to speak out loud your internal thoughts, “It's something my mom and I have discussed in the past, but she's the type if it ain't broke don't fix it.”

Marcus laughed, “I can testify to that, I mentioned I was looking to scale back serving coffee in the bakery, and asked if she had any interest in the espresso machine,” you rolled your eyes knowing what was coming, you'd been begging her to replace the old machine for years, “told me that this one,” he jerked his thumb in the direction of the tired looking machine, “worked just fine.”

You shook your head, “One of these days she's going to realize giving it a good thud is probably doing more damage than fixing it.”

Marcus glanced at his watch. “I should get going. Got to make sure we have enough gingerbread dough for tomorrow. Those gingerbread men won't bake themselves!”

“Thanks for stopping by. Let's touch base early next week to finalize those plans for the movie night.”

With a nod and a wave, you watched Marcus leave, but now the seed of an idea was planted in your mind. A reno could be just what True North Brews needed to give it a fresh look and make it stand out. But you weren't taking over, you reminded yourself, no -- it was just you helping out with the family business, nothing more, right?

The next morning, Joel’s kitchen still lacked a new coffee maker. The old one sat forlornly on the counter, a reminder of a morning routine disrupted. With a resigned sigh, Joel grabbed his coat and headed out to his truck. The town was slowly waking up, the street sprinkled with early risers and the promise of a busy day ahead.

As he pushed open the door of the coffee shop, the familiar jingle of the bell greeted him, along with the rich aroma of brewing coffee. You looked up from the espresso machine, a smile spreading across your face as you recognized him.

“Morning, Joel,” you greeted. “Americano?” you asked with a hopeful smile since he'd never returned for that black coffee.

Joel nodded, a small smile tugging at his lips. “You know, I never thought I’d say this, but I think I actually like it a bit more than my usual.”

You laughed as you prepared his coffee. “Glad to hear that. We might make a coffee aficionado out of you yet.”

“Let's not get too ahead of ourselves.” he laughed as he watched you prepare his drink.

Handing him his coffee, you hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Actually Joel, can I ask you something about your contracting work?”

He looked surprised but nodded. “Sure, what about it?”

“I heard from Marcus that you did the renovation work on the bakery. It looks incredible. Said you kept the original design when you worked on it?”

Joel’s expression softened, a hint of pride in his eyes. “Yeah, I did. Marcus wanted to retain the historical look of the building. It was a great project to work on, restoring it to its original state while giving it all the modern requirements.”

You were genuinely interested. “That’s impressive. It’s such an integral part of the town’s charm. I’ve been thinking, True North Brews could use a bit of sprucing up. Would you perhaps be up for discussing a quote any time soon?”

Joel looked around the coffee shop, considering. “Sure, I’d be happy to. What did you have in mind?”

“I'm not too sure, mostly starting fixing what needs fixing and going from there, just keeping the cozy vibe but maybe adding a little Maplewood flair to it.”

He nodded, sipping at his coffee thoughtfully. “Sounds like a good project. Why don’t we sit down sometime next week and go over what you’re thinking? I can put together some ideas and a quote for you.”

“That would be great,” you replied, feeling a surge of excitement at the prospect of giving the coffee shop a fresh, new look.

Placing his coffee on the counter, Joel handed you his business card from his wallet, giving you a quick glimpse of a family portrait tucked inside. 

“Here,” he said pocketing his wallet and handing you his business card, “why don't you give me a call and we can arrange something?”

You smiled as you traced the logo of Miller Contracting, “Sure, sounds like a plan!”

As Joel left, coffee in hand, you couldn’t help but feel a sense of anticipation. Not only at the idea of possible renovations but for the growing sense of community you had quickly settled into while only being back for a short period in Maplewood. But before you could think any further about it, the bell above the door rang and a group of tourists trekked in, Merry Tree Trek maps in hand.

You gave them a wide smile as you welcomed them in, “Welcome to True North Brews, what can I get started for you?”

[illfoandillfie]

Late 80s Roger x Reader making love (a bit kinky if you want, anything really, just something sexy and cute) and having to keep it quiet bc of their kids.

Blurb Advent 2023: Day 7

Ahhh thanks anon this is a great prompt! Hope you like it for day 7 of the advent calendar!

Warnings: oral sex (f receiving), implied p in v sex, implied unprotected sex

Neither your or Roger had ever been anniversary people. You had friends who were. They made big deals celebrating it at expensive restaurants or big parties and got each other gifts corresponding to how many years they’d been together. But neither of you had ever been like that. It wasn’t that you didn’t care or didn’t want to acknowledge the date, you just didn’t need to make a fuss. You kept things low key. Half the time Roger was away on tour anyway so there was no point making a big deal of it. It’d just lead to both of you feeling bad you couldn’t celebrate it together. When he was in town you might have dinner out or buy a bottle of champagne to accompany whatever you ate at home. Or sometimes you just counted it as celebrated if you got to have sex. Especially since the kids had come along. You used to try to make the sex different to normal in some way – a position you’d read about and wanted to try, and act normally reserved for special occasions – but you hadn’t even bothered with that recently.  

Admittedly, it was easier to have some alone time now they were all a little older, but still, three kids under the age of seven did not an especially active sex life make. Mostly it happened very late at night, right before you went to sleep. You were almost counting the days until your youngest would be at pre-school so you could manage a day at home with Roger, even if you had to take sick leave to do it. The kids were all generally sleeping through the night, but you did still have to contend with them sometimes stumbling into your room after a bad dream or a wet bed. More than once they’d managed to interrupt you at inopportune moments. So, when you realised your anniversary was coming up, you decided your present to both Roger and yourself should be a decent shag. One where you could actually finish without stopping first. Where you wouldn’t have to throw a robe on and show your daughter there was no monster in her closet and then stay with her till she fell asleep while Roger’s hardon deflated back in your room. Of course, Roger was in very strong agreement when you mentioned your idea, and during the lead up made sure you knew how much he wanted it with little squeezes and comments that made you blush muttered quietly to you while the kids were distracted. Which just made you more determined to have a good night. You considered palming the kids off their grandparents for the night but your parents weren’t free and Roger’s lived just a little far away for it to be worth the trouble. But hiring a babysitter would mean also getting a hotel room and eventually you agreed to make it work at home, you’d just make sure not to get too loud.  

The key, Roger confidently assured you, was making sure all three kids were completely worn out before you tucked them in. Bad dreams were the biggest risk but there wasn’t a whole lot you could do to prevent that. You just made sure the night light in the girls’ room was working and hoped it would be enough. But Roger took charge of exhausting the three of them – instigating tickle wars, playing whatever silly games they came up with, and then, when he wanted to sit down, coming up with objects for them to search the house for like some sort of scavenger hunt. When they were all looking sleepy you herded them off to do their teeth and get them settled. Roger read to the younger two in their shared room while you got the eldest settled with a warm milk that sent him to sleep quick. You hurried back to your room and stripped down to your knickers to save some time, settling on the bed, impatiently waiting for Rog. Almost absentmindedly you began touching yourself through your panties, but you figured things would go a lot smoother if you were even just a little bit ready by the time Roger was finished with the girls.  

He entered about 10 minutes later, pulling his fly down as he walked, pausing only to drag a chair under the doorknob just in case. If one of the kids did try to come in you’d get up but you didn't have to worry about being barged in on.   “You ready?” he asked, throwing his shirt across the room, “Because this is it, this is our shot.”  You giggled, trying to stifle the sound with your hand, “shhh Rog, we have to be quiet. If we wake them we’re screwed in the not fun way.”  “Well the girls were practically snoring before I got through the third page of Clive Eats Alligators so I think we’re good but sure,” He held his finger to his lips, somehow making the action feel sarcastic.   “Oh shut up,” you laughed settling back against the pillows and opening your legs more.   Roger took one look at your parted thighs and hastily kicked off his underwear, crawling toward you on the mattress.   You giggled again as he hovered over you for a kiss but too soon he moved away again, settling himself between your legs.   “Oh, okay really?” you asked, surprised as he kissed the front of your knickers, “Thought we were just going straight for the main event. Been touching myself to get ready.”   “I could tell and the wet spot made me want to taste you. So just stay quiet and let me.”  You squeaked a little as he licked over the wet patch, earning a little nip on your thigh before he pulled your underwear off and pressed his lips to your cunt.  

It had been a little while since you’d last managed any sort of oral but the way Roger so enthusiastically went about it made it seem like he’d been denied your pussy for years. Which made it all the more difficult to keep your pleasure to yourself. Small moans and whines escaped your throat every so often and, despite how hard you tried to keep them quiet, Roger seemed to enjoy telling you off for the smallest whimper. He’d hum in warning which would inevitably make you more inclined to moan again. He’d catch even the softest sounds, giving you little bites as punishment. You tried to deter his teasing by smothering your whines with your arm, something that clearly amused Roger and only seemed to encourage him. His attention on your clit became even more focused, until he drew another string of sounds from you.   “Do I need to stop?” He asked playfully, though it was hard for you to recognise the joke when you were so worked up.   “Please don’t. So close,” you managed to get out as Roger returned his tongue to your slit.   “Good,” he said against you, “Want to get you off like this.”   He made it hard for you to keep quiet, all his focus on your cunt until you gasped, a hand tightening in his hair as you came. That’s when it was Roger’s turn to moan, though he muffled himself easier than you managed.  

The shifting of the bed brought you back to the moment. Before you knew it, Roger was easing himself into you, biting his own lip at the feeling. After a few inches, he distracted himself by leaning forward and kissing you, stealing what little breath you had, groaning against your lips as you tightened around him at the slight change of angle. Slowly he sank deeper, filling you inch by inch. You grabbed his arse, encouraging him to go faster, and he grunted into your neck at your eagerness.   “I’m trying to be gentle, love.”  “Just fuck me, Rog.”  He chuckled at that and kissed you again and he let the last few inches of his shaft be swallowed by your cunt.   “Better,” you moaned.   “Alright, gonna start moving,” he grunted in warning.  The bed creaked as Roger moved but he didn’t find it as funny when you told him to keep it down.   “Do you want to be fucked or not?” he grumbled, giving another tentative thrust, making the bed creak again. Your laugh was cut short by a gasp at the way it felt as he moved within you. 

For a little while you both lost yourself in the sensations, ignoring the creaking as you chased your highs. And then you heard a cough from somewhere down the hallway.   Roger stilled instantly, and you bit back a whine at the abrupt end to the stimulation.   You both listened for more noise – small footsteps, a cry for one of you, the jiggling of your doorknob. There was a squeak from a different bed and you willed it to be nothing more than it’s tiny occupant rolling over.  “Swear they have some sort of sixth sense for when we’re trying to fuck,” Roger breathed out, “You think that’s it?”  You shushed him and strained to hear more but everything was quiet again, “Yeah, false alarm.”  Roger sighed against your throat, “If I didn’t love your pussy so much I’d regret spending so long going down on you.”  You batted his shoulder, “Just hurry up before one of them wakes for real. Want to feel you cum in me.”  Roger was laughing softly as he kissed you, only to eager to do as you asked.

[ddejavvu]

ok but mei how do you feel about dbf!obi wan

bc honestly if he was my dad’s best friend sheeeesh, i would be so bad about purposely touching him or bumping him or making any contact

this post is 18+, minors dni.

okay yk i have to put this into sw context and do master + padawan dynamics BUT because masters and their padawans typically spend a lot of their time together when their padawan is underage i don't really like the concept of a master being with their own padawan, even though they'd be of legal age when the relationship takes place. it's just not my thing. that being said, if i were a 20+ year old padawan in the jedi temple and (not-my-)master kenobi strolled by, i'd be on my fucking knees.

i truly do think obi-wan is the crush of the temple. all the padawans gather together for sleepovers with their friends and the topic of crushes comes up and they giggle and squeal and freak over the way master kenobi's growing a beard!!! or did you see the way master kenobi brushed his hair back today <3333 everyone in sw just seems to be absolutely obsessed with the guy and i can't blame them.

anyways, on to the meat of the ask.

dbf!obi-wan in sw context -> your master's friend. i won't lock in a master for you even though i def have my own preferences, but basically whoever's apprentice you are, it's someone who most likely grew up with obi-wan and was friends with him for a while. it means you've had him over for dinner a thousand times, and he can be found chatting with your master when you return from your afternoon classes. you're pretty sure they've spiked their tea, but you will never get a straight answer from either of them even though you yourself are old enough to drink.

he's always very kind and warm with you, always takes the time to ask about your studies and your saberwork and congratulate you on whatever gleaming reputations you've acquired.

if your master ever has to take a solo mission, you'll be welcome to stay at the kenobi-skywalker residence. you're more than old enough to stay alone, or in the dorms, but you're rarely strong enough to refuse the offer of sleeping on obi-wan's couch.

you... might manipulate the situation a little. you might play up your struggles with your coursework, putting an emphasis on how terribly you're doing with a class that you know obi-wan excels at the contents of. instantly you're offered a tutor, or a sparring partner if you choose to bemoan your simply awful saberwork. purposefully letting obi-wan corner you and knock you to the mat and stand above you sweaty and panting is not what you should be doing, but you do not have the restraint to stop yourself.

anytime anakin is feeling a little understimulated at the temple and needs to run wild through the streets of coruscant obi-wan will invite you to come with, if only to have someone to stroll leisurely along beside while anakin is bouncing off the walls and diving into dumpsters to see if he can scavenge a part for a droid he's working on. you're friends with anakin, sure, but his master's company is exhilarating. you're also partial to letting anakin pilot any speeders the three of you take together, and cowering in the back with obi-wan about how fast and recklessly anakin is driving. once or twice you've even grabbed his hand when anakin has taken a sharp turn, or drops down a few lanes just to fuck with the two of you, and he's let you squeeze as hard as you want while he uses his other hand to rub comforting circles into your back.

if he sees you in the halls he'll pull you aside for conversation, or he'll share your table in the archives if you're both reading something, or he'll seat himself next to you in the refectory if he sees you're dining alone. sometimes, if you're with your friends, he'll catch your eye and smile at you from across the refectory as he sits down somewhere so as not to 'dull the potential for fun' as you sit with your friends

overall, your crush on him is probably some sort of do-i-love-this-man-or-is-he-just-nice-to-me sheltered-childhood sort of thing, but that doesn't mean the feelings aren't real.

--

best friend's dad as a bonus because i think abt it a lot: becoming partners with anakin through a project for one of your classes, and you head to his quarters to do it, and... and his master is there, and he smiles at you and offers you tea, and you're sitting there trying not to blush because dammit you're a grown adult and you're perfectly capable of being civil and normal around people you find attractive; you've been raised and trained to be a jedi knight, you will not let yourself get wrapped up and distracted with a crush.

anakin's a nice dude though, funny in his own weird way, so you end up hanging out more. everyone kind of thinks you're smitten with him, and you can understand why he's the heartthrob of his own generation, but you're looking over his shoulder at his master <333

i can't tell if i think anakin would know or not. i think that he's very gifted with the force but i'm not sure if i think his specialty would be perception. if you did happen to be a bit too obvious anakin won't ever shut up about it, but he will spare you from teasing in front of his master. behind closed doors though, he's ping-ponging between calling you gross for liking a man over a decade older than you; for liking his master, and telling you he'll have to fake some terrible injury to get you and obi-wan alone in the secluded waiting rooms of the halls of healing sometime soon.

[ruthlesslistener]

do you have any headcanons for anything you've been holding onto, but haven't had a good chance to post about? I love your fics and I wanna peer into your mind palace

Shhdhchs EXCELLENT bc ive had a lot of thoughts but this quarter + anxiety in general has been killin me

-Okay so I'm still hyperfixated on Destiny 2 bc of a DnDestiny game I'm in, but since Hollow Knight is a special interest and I read a couple of frankly stunning crossover fics (one with the Inheritance Cycle, one with Transformers, both are outstanding and I will recc them wholeheartedly if you ask- the TF one especially blew my tits clean off which is saying something bc I have zero TF knowledge, also its 500k words but I'm rambling), my brain has been essentially locked into the concept of a crossover AU where a couple of my D2 OCs get slingshot into the HK world via a fucked-up warpgate through wish-dragon magic, and it's now got me kind of obsessed with the idea of the world of Hollow Knight taking place on an alien planet that had some convergent evolution re: general insect body plans, but went off the fuckin' rails with everything else. So here's some worldbuilding thoughts on that:

-Their planet would be far from Earth and the origin place of the Ahamkara and precursor race to the Worm Gods, who are distant relatives to each other that took to the stars to opportunistically feed off of rifts in reality. They are in turn sister taxa to the Wyrms and Higher Beings from Hollow Knight, who also feed off of the wants, desires, and gulf between what-is-desired-and-what-is-true, but unlike the worms and wish-dragons, the Higher Beings are essentially 'settled' species. They're the farming civilization to the hunter-gatherers of their Destiny-based kindred, and yes, both branches of the family tree fucking despise each other and look down scornfully on the other's lifestyle. The Higher Beings view the Worms and Ahamkara as little more than scavengers, while the Worms and Ahamkara see the Higher Beings as glorified slavedrivers with sticks up their asses- though it should be noted that since the Ahamkara's whole deal so far has been malignant trickery as a hunting style, this doesn't neccessarily carry the same negative connotations that it would in our society. I also don't know enough about the proto-Worms to say how their race would react, but the Worm Gods as they are now certainly are something that Wyrms would look down on

-(Yes that means I have thought extensively about the Pale King's ghost bristling aggressively at a baby ahamkara barely a few hours old. In my defense, it's funny, and also I almost never remember to write him as the cold, prickly, arrogant ass that he is bc his kids make him Big Sad)

-The planet would likely be smaller than Earth with lighter gravity, though how much smaller I can't say because I'm not a fuckin' physicist. I just want an excuse for making fuckoff-huge animals a thing even beyond the inherent space magic thing going on

-Oh, and most life is underground because the atmosphere is thinner than Earth and so the upper surface gets bombarded with deadly amounts of radiation, which causes the mind-wiping effects of the Wastes (where the angle towards their sun is the greatest and thus the strongest). Ngl I did briefly think about potential magnetic field fluxes also being the cause of that effect but like, I cannot overstate how little I know of things outside biology

-HK being set on an alien planet lets me do wack shit with the species there too bc I'm no longer bound by comparing them to Earthbound species. For example, I can make Quirrel an isopod with cricket legs. Who's going to stop me, God? He doesn't exist here

-That also means I can stop being bothered by Herrah's dubious leg placement bc it would kill me forever otherwise

-Also, them being on an alien planet gives me even more of an excuse to never put traditional vertebrate species in there, which is great. I've said it before, but putting Earth vertebrates in the HK setting totally ruins all the fun for me because I love the concept of all the species diversity being made up of invertebrates, and that the 'advanced' bugs we see have filled the niche that vertebrates would have otherwise taken over. Like the carboniferous period but on steroids

General HK thoughts too:

-been toying with the idea of wyrms having a set of evertable inner jaws like polychaete worms, which would be used for keeping dirt out of the mouth and biting off chunks to eat, while the outer jaws (the ones we see) are used for killing, digging, and sparring with other wyrms. The idea is that the outer ring of mandibles bites big circular chunks out of the substrate, which then breaks off into tiny pieces they filter out in between gaps in their mandibles and pack down into tunnel walls as they move forward

-I've also been toying with the idea of them secreting some kind of mucus as they dig that's almost a calcifying substance, but now that I think about it, I can probs just put those glands in their frontal mouth so if they need to reinforce a tunnel (like, say, one burrowed in sand instead of rock), they can mix their saliva in with the substrate to chemically solidify the tunnel walls

-Which btw is a major thing for ecosystems bc the tunnels are used for lots of different things by lots of different species. Wyrms are terraformers baybee!! Kinda the same way wildfires are, but still

-I've also been thinking about maybe making it so that the row of plates I like to draw on their backs act as a secondary pair of belly scutes, which means that wyrms can slither just as easily upside down as they can on their undersides, which helps underground. It's not as efficient as the super-smooth scales on a blind snake, but that's the tradeoff they get for needing to be so heavily armoured

-I'm also leaning towards making marine/freshwater variants that are just straight-up bobbit worms on even more steroids, but since I already have fuckoff huge marine alien bobbit worms in a scifi setting of mine, I'd need to figure out a way to make them unique

-I learned that there's internalized folds of exoskeleton for muscle attatchment in my invertebrate biology course and got really excited about that being a potential basis for the formation of skeletal elements in the world of Hollow Knight- like, maybe bug bones started off as those lil folds (i forgot their technical name which is embaressing bc i literally just took the final this night) becoming stronger and deeper-set into the body to better support the weight of larger and larger bugs, and then it spiraled into a skeleton analogue from there. Being derived from the exoskeleton probably means that it would be less strong than our bones, but it would likely also be lighter

Misc:

-God I really need to write Hornet in Silksong so bad. Fuck. I need need need to write this mildly autistic unsocialized princess running amok in a civilization that isn't ready for her. Also my interpretation of Lace is basically an oc at this point but I don't want to do anything with her just yet bc that shits a lot of work, I just need to write everything down for her so far (and tbh Lurien probs also counts at this point but thats more filling a niche that TC left unfufilled)

-I've also got gijinka thoughts in that I'm leaning towards making Lurien a trans guy who didn't have any gender-affirming surgeries bc a.) I love love love making a variety of trans characters and b.) Hallownest isn't a society where the concept of being transgender is an issue, so there's no need to do it to pass, only to prioritize your own comfort. And since Lurien never expected to be seen in anything but his formalware, he never saw the point of bothering

-(The aformentioned point also applies to normal bug Lurien but this is more of a personal thing here)

-Need to focus more on how the latent magic of the god of a realm changes your eye colour, with the more intense the shade = the more involved you are with their magic. Using Lurien as an example again: his eyes were brown naturally, but after he became Watcher, they slowly shifted to shades of paler and paler blue. I also like the idea of Quirrel's eyes getting more blue the more memories of Hallownest he unlocks, until they're the same shade as the Blue Lake in his final scene

-This can also happen in reverse; for example, my Lace gijinka starts off with gold eyes to signify the church of Pharloom's hold over her, but then slowly revert back to brown as Hornet gives her more and more hope that the institution can be toppled, until they're eventually their natural deep brown with just the faintest flecks of silver in them (signifying Hornet's importance in her life)

-It just occurred to me the other day when I was at work that Striga and Morgana from Castlevania S3 are almost exactly how I imagined my Vespa and Herrah gijinkas to be and now I can't stop thinking about it. The main difference is that my Herrah is a fat spider-orc with tats and Vespa is a fae queen with bee features shimmering through her human veil, but still. Its uncanny

[dreamtofus]

Hey guys, I'm taking requests in the order received; I'll write them all. Keep piling them on (you can either comment or use the built-in Tumblr ask!). Let me know if you prefer the first or second person. (Also the format is weird asf bc I had to transfer it from a different writing app)

Oh my fucking god this took me forever to write I had so much homework. It’s slightly rushed and OOC but for my first fic I don’t think it’s half bad… Give me any requests, suggestions, or criticism :)

Prompt/Summary: Daryl is dominant and tries seducing you into having sex. You're in a building, trying to scavenge for supplies with the others. He tries to find the time to take you in. Daryl can't let the zombies or the others hear.

Warnings: female receiving oral, nsfw, pet name (bunny), slight praise, NOTTT PROOF READ.

Word Count: 1,189 (almost 2k)

You clutch the crisp leather as the wind blows through your tawny matted hair. Raised stitches rub you, face pressed against his back. You'd never have much physical interaction with Daryl, but at the speed, he was going, it was just instinct. Daryl’s motorcycle comes to a slow halt, softly jerking you.

“we’re ‘ere." Mumbled the sweaty man, shutting off his motorcycle, waiting for you to dismount.

You delicately swing your leg over, with slight trouble from a slightly sore leg. He hops off right after you. In front of it lies a small plaza with a few shops on one side of the road and a few shops on the other. A small buggy car pulls up next to you, with Glenn and Maggie climbing out. After a swift mutual conversation, you guys decide you and Daryl will take the left side while Glenn and Maggie take the right, meeting up in three hours.

The occasional walker scatters the parking lot, and there are a few inside walkers in the stores—nothing Daryl’s crossbow and you can’t handle. There are a few crashed cars in the lot. Keeping quiet, Daryl and I exchange a few glances of silence. You nod as you peer inside a red car, scanning for anything.

Opening the car door, you pull a small photo wedged in between the car sheets. The photo is blood-splattered and features two pretty young girls holding each other in a posed hug. You pocket it, even if it's for no one you know or care about; it’s nice to have a little reminder of everything. Daryl grunts in disapproval, and you notice he’s been watching you. Scowling at him, you continue walking with him and approach what looks to be a small grocery store. It looks devoid of anything valuable.

Trying to find anything, you burst through the doors, not thinking much about it. You choose your aisle as you approach the deli section. Slamming on the floor and tripping over your feet as a walker approaches you. This gains the attention of about five other starving walkers. Pushing the walker off, you sprint away and call for Daryl. He's immediately by your side to rush to safety. Making your way into what was once the backrooms of the store, you slam the door behind you.

Daryl leans against the wall and observes the surrounding room. It was cramped with a fire escape at the back. You look back down at your ankle which was turning a slight blue hue. Wincing in pain you sit next to Daryl.

“Let's get outta ‘ere...” Daryl grumbles.

Before he could take a stand you grabbed his wrist and silently whimpered a no. Daryl glances at you with concern as he fixes himself in front of your foot, in between your legs. With a slight gasp, you let him struggle to roll up your baggy jeans.

He glances up and grumbles frustratingly. He looks up once more and places his hands on the button of your jeans, waiting for approval. Once you willingly nod at him, he drags them down, revealing your slightly bruised ankle.

“Nun yer won't recover from. We'll take ‘rest.” He nods at you, placing his hands accidentally on your thighs.

You gasp at his calloused hands, your thighs grow with heat. Daryl pushes himself up and signals you to stay while he scouts the fire escape further in the back.

Unable to contain yourself at the thought of being bottomless in front of Daryl, you reach through your soaked cotton panties. Stifling your moans with your wrist, you place your hand between your legs and get to work. As you're about to climax Daryl walks in, you swiftly remove your fingers and meet his gaze. He gives you a skeptical look and notices your flushed face, unable to pinpoint the cause.

“So did you find a way out?” You mustered the best neutral voice you can.

He only glanced at you for a response before identifying the elephant in the room, “What’s got yer face all fucked?”

You murmur a quiet “nothing” before hastily standing up and attempting to tug your jeans back on.

His hand stops yours and he meets your eyes, “yer bit?”

“N-no.” You can't help but stutter at the closing gap between you, and the soaking shame between your legs.

Daryl pins you down with one hand and starts scanning you. You stop resisting and let yourself go limp, letting your pants rest slightly above your knees. Starting at your collar bones he makes his way to your stomach, feeling it for the cause of your strange behavior. He finally gets on his knees to check your thighs. He gazes at you with a smug look.

“Well, how bout that..” He chuckles to himself, a trail of slick connect y’all together.

He places two fingers against your clothed core, mockingly checking for an injury. You let your knees buckle, thighs closing against his wrist.

“d-daryl..?” you whisper.

He shushes you in response.

His fingers slip through the sides of your underwear and rub at your entrance. He lets one finger inside and slowly pumps before pulling out. You're left in a mess of whimpers and moans, attempting to roll your hips back on his fingers. He clicks his tongue in disapproval.

“Nuh-uh girl. Tell me what you want.” Daryl breathes from between your legs, the sight could kill a girl.

“I want you.” You moan as your fingers tangle into his jet-black hair.

You allow him to slip your pants completely off your legs along with your panties. He returns to his original position, centering himself between your thighs. He begins to lick around you, and suck on all of the right places. Biting your lip in the struggle to keep a loud sultry moan, you fail. The sexual noise brings a few walkers pounding on the sealed door next to you, creaking with pressure.

Daryl releases himself momentarily and snaps at you, “better-shut yer mouth before yer get us killed.”.

His knuckles clench back into your plush thighs as he gets back to work, circling your pearl gently with his tongue. You can feel a heavy knot start to build inside as he inserts a finger in you. It curls inside your gummy walls.

“Hh-hhnn...” you let out a moan muffled by your palm.

“Whas that girl?” He groans from a filled mouth.

“I-I’m so close.” You whimper behind clenched teeth.

“Let it all out for me bunny,” Daryl inserts another finger and curls it, hitting that spot. “Yeah, that's it, baby...”

You feel yourself tighten before falling into bliss. Daryl pumps you through the high and licks your cunt clean of leftover juices. Your knees wobble as he pulls your underwear and jeans back up and buttons them. He takes a stand.

“It's not so hard to be a good girl,” He tucks a loose strand of hair behind your ear, “Not so hard at all... Keeping yourself contained while walkers pound so close to you. So good.”

He leans you into him as he leads you up the fire escape...

[fallfairfreelancer]

SAM AND MAX MERMAID AU1!!11!1!!!1

Ok this is an au ive been wokring on for a while now and im so so so excited to talk about it

SO obv this is like a mermaid au, i have more for it (like sybil granny ruth n papierwaite but this is the art i have 4 now) bc i love love LOVE mermaids!1!!!1 (i made sam and max mermaid pride art but i loved it so much i turned that /j into /srs) SO WITHOUT FURTHER ADO

So Sam and Max met at little guppies, like how they met in canon but in the sea, and after Max hospitalized Samʼs bullies with his natural toxins, he and Sam became best friends 4ever. Sam and Max lived in the outskirts of the biggest city in the merfolk kingdom, Samʼs parents left Sam when he was still an egg with Granny Ruth, who is one of the kingdomʼs fiercest n most respected warriors, to move to colder waters in Alaska, where Samʼs family partially originated from. So Sam was raised by Ruth, when Sam was just hatched, his grandfather Leo had died fighting against the humans to protect the kingdom. Max came from a family with loads and loads of kids, (some of which had been either kidnapped or eaten by predators :( ), and probably not a very good home life, so he hung out at Ruthʼs cave with Sam almost every night. As Sam and Max grew up, so did their love for one another. Once they were old enough they moved closer to the shore, where they take up cases for fun, and make sure humans dont get too close. They obviously got married as soon as they could, and spend their time adventuring and scavenging. Occasionaly they will go to human markets, selling fish theyve hunted for money to buy cool weapons and food, but otherwise they like to mess around with pirates and ships. They also like to hang out and have lunch with their friends who claim to be human, Papierwaite and his adopted child Sammun-Mak, who run a museum and live on the edge of the shore, easy access and all.

One day, while exploring a cool shipwreck, they found a little egg, Max, instantly infatuated by it, begged Sam to take it home, so they did. Eventually that egg hatched and they had a kid of their own :) (GEEK!!!) Max unfortunately wasnt allowed to touch her, as he might poison her. Though their baby was always ill and burned so easily, even though Max hadnt touched her! always squinting and shocking them. Confused, they went to Granny Ruth for help. under further investigation they deducted that their baby was an electric eel! Which usually live in freshwater, so she was extra fragile. Though as she got older, she grew stronger, and shockingly smarter, always researching and making devices.

Theyre a very silly family

I KNOW IM GONNA ADD MORE TO THE AU BUT THIS IS WHAT I GOT SO FAR

Tags:

[eomma-jpeg]

bc i might have been motivated by comments on twitter and my own hubris... here is part 2 of the post trimax vashmeryl baby au

part 1

Snorting into wakefulness, Vash’s hands tightened, immediately feeling for the baby. He was relieved when he felt her familiar weight on his chest, his tense frame relaxing back into the plush couch. Falling asleep was not something he had intended to do, but ever since crossing that threshold the night before he had felt an uncommon reprieve from the title of ‘outlaw’. Perhaps it was because he was under the protection of Meryl Stryfe.

Meryl.

Sitting upright and clutching his daughter to his chest, Vash turned his head around the room, seeking for any sign of his friend, but he was only met with the dim light of the early morning. It laid in little dots on the wall and countertops, the single sun peeking in through the blinds. 

“Meryl?” Vash called, but the sound only summoned his daughter’s whining, her face buried in his chest for a bit too long. Pulling her into a more comfortable position, Vash said, “Sorry, little one, but it seems we have lost our host.”

Venturing through the small apartment, Vash was unable to find any signs of human life. The insurance agent had seemingly disappeared into thin air. He suddenly felt a wave of anxiety.

Why did she leave? Where could she have gone? It was still so early in the morning. Far too early for work or any other proper errands. Did she leave to go get camera equipment? This would be the perfect opportunity to catch him while he was down, unable to run from an interview. Maybe she wanted to exploit the baby for views.

Vash shook off those intrusive thoughts, feeling guilty for allowing himself to think of Meryl in such a way. Despite the fact he knew they had moved on from insurance to video journalism, he had a strong feeling that Meryl (and Milly) weren’t likely to expose him during his lowest points. Although, he wouldn’t consider the small child in his arms one of his lowest points. 

Deciding to have faith in the woman and squash his fears, Vash shifted the baby in his arms and began scavenging for something to eat. He'd just repay Meryl (somehow) for the food, so she shouldn’t mind if he ate the veggies in her fridge that looked like they were about to go bad. He also found a can of generic chili, excited to eat something spiced with his various dry vegetables. 

The babe squirmed, her chubby arms freed from her swaddling and waving about. Vash set his breakfast down to try and stick her arms back in, but she had a discontented look on her face, frowning ever so slightly at him with pouting lips and round knowing eyes. He wondered if he had once looked like her. 

Vash quickly swallowed the strange hot bile that rose anytime he thought about how much he and this little girl must resemble each other, seeing as she would almost certainly only contain his genetic makeup. And that meant she contained the same makeup as Knives. He swallowed again at that thought, focusing more intently on his scrappy meal and less on thinking.

Lucky for Vash, he was exhausted even after his short descent into sleep. He didn’t have much room for thinking or reminiscing (not that there was much to reminisce on). Instead, he let his skilled hands do the work of carrying a child and pulling flowerettes of broccoli from the head. He plopped them into a pot, intent on filling it with water and boiling the green vegetable. He’d apologize to Meryl about the smell later.

Letting the veggies boil, Vash searched for another pan, hearing the creak of the cabinet door and the front door. It took far too long for the signals to reach Vash’s brain, likely getting stuck in that hot goopy emotions he had swallowed earlier.

“Good Morning, Ma’am! I brought some breakfast. Just some poppyseed muffins I-”

Vash turned just in time to see Milly freeze, one hand on the door knob, the other holding a plate of fluffy muffins. Her jaw hung open, but she didn’t wait long before sliding the muffins onto the couch and rushing forward.

“Mr. Vash! It’s been ages since I’ve truly been able to talk to you! I had hoped you would-”

Milly froze once again, this time just shy of wrapping Vash in a tight bear hug. Vash’s face was scrunched up in apprehension as he pulled his limbs in and clutched his baby to his center.

Surprise turned to awe and then to excitement as Milly ran through her spectrum of emotions. Then, far too loud for a man who had only slept three hours in the last week, Milly shrieked, “A baby! Is that a baby?! I love babies!”

Waving a long finger in her face, Milly made little cooing noises while the baby looked back, a bit unimpressed. That was to be expected, seeing as she was only three days old; appeasing others was not yet on her to do list.

Milly’s smile was quite lovely to see this early in the morning, adding to the brightness of the rising suns. Her eyes flicked over to his, “What a lovely little baby. He or…”

“She,” informed Vash, his voice rough.

“Well, she’s adorable. What’s her name?”

Taking in a deep breath, Vash realized he hadn’t said the name aloud yet.

“Tesla.”

That vivid smile of hers continued to keep his spirits up, “That’s so pretty! I’ve never heard a name like that before.” Milly waggled her finger again and Tesla nearly caught it with her own chubby fist that had once again broken free, “She has such pretty eyes, just like… well, just like yours,” she said matter of factly. Then, standing to her full height, Milly looked at him curiously, “Where.... Vash, where did you get a baby?"

Speaking frankly, Vash said, “She’s mine.”

Eyebrows raising, Milly said, “So I was right: she does have your eyes. But when did you get Meryl pregnant?”

Vash felt his heart stop

Milly barreled forward, “And how did she hide it from me? She’s so small and would have such a hard time keeping it a secret, unless it was cryptic. My mom told me that she had a cryptic pregnancy with my little big brother, but they’re so rare. Was it during Octovern? The time frame would make sense but I didn’t think we had any alone time to-”

Vash was reeling from Milly’s ramblings and assumptions, “Milly!” he said, interrupting with a bit too much force that was certainly influenced by his overwhelming embarrassment, “She is not Meryl’s!”

Cocking her head, Milly let out an awkward laugh, “Well then, whose is she?”

Looking down at Tesla, Vash’s tense brow relaxed, “She’s just… mine.”

Milly gave him one last skeptical look before accepting his vague answer, likely accustomed to his aversion techniques, “I’ll get the answer out of you eventually, but for now it honestly looks like you need breakfast and a nap.”

“I just woke up.”

“And yet,” Milly said, which was only the beginning of a sentence, but it clearly described her opinion of his situation, “Why don’t you take a seat and eat a muffin.”

Vash graciously took one, biting down and enjoying the fluffy texture immensely. His last month had consisted of dry rations and the rare drink he could afford at the even more rare saloon, but as of the last few days Vash hadn’t eaten anything.

He took three more muffins.

“I’m glad you like them,” said Milly from the kitchen where she adopted Vash’s mismatched set of ingredients, “I added just a hint of lemon to them. I’ve had too many overpowering lemon muffins in my time.”

Vash just took another bite while she spoke. Tesla wiggled slightly when a crumb fell on her face. He wiped it away.

“It seems you have the makings for a pretty good omelet,” Milly noted as she rolled an onion in her hand, “But I don’t see why you’re boiling broccoli.”

“It was going bad,” Vash said through a mouthful of muffin, “Figured I should use it before Meryl gets upset that it's rotting in her fridge.

Milly slid a cutting board out from one of Meryl’s few drawers. The kitchen was certainly compact– a characteristic of many December apartments if Vash’s experience was to be trusted– but it held a vast and valuable collection, “I thought as much, but it doesn’t pair well with your other items,” she turned to him, “I assume you were just trying to get in as many calories as possible?”

Milly Thompson: always able to see though to the very core.

Pulling off the wrapping on the final muffin (which was extremely hard to do with one hand) Vash answered, “Seems like you already know the answer to that one, Milly.”

She just put on that wide, knowing grin, “Then broccoli and eggs and muffins sounds like a perfectly balanced breakfast to me.”

It might not be in terms of flavors, but it definitely packed a significant amount of nutrients for one plant. And for Meryl, if she ever reappeared. 

As if reading his mind, Milly asked while cracking the remainder of the eggs into a bowl, “Is Meryl here?”

He let out an exhale, a bit strained, “No. I haven’t seen her since I got here last night.”

“She didn’t call me when you got here.”

“I guess I should say when I got here this morning.”

“Ah,” she said in understanding, pouring the recently whipped eggs into a ripping cast iron, “Well, she’ll turn up eventually. Especially since we walk to work together in the next hour.”

Vash hoped he could stay awake long enough to see her return.

[nebulousbrainsoup]

ooh ooh ooh! If it is not too much... can I ask for a headcanon for "Secret Admirer: What would they do as a secret admirer" for a member of ateez? Have a good day hehe <3

(~Sky, on anon <3)

see but if you give me the freedom to pick a member, i'm gonna make us both delulu about it. joong it is.

Kim Hongjoong: Secret Admirer

fulfilled as part of my 150(ish) followers event.

PAIRING: hongjoong x gn!reader TAGS/WARNINGS: none! GENRE: headcanon, fluff/romance RATING: G WORD COUNT: 630 masterlist | join my taglist | buy me a coffee?

✵ this is like a game to him

✵ he’s passionate, he goes for what he wants and he gets it done, so if he’s being a secret admirer instead of just asking you out, it’s because he wants to have fun with it

✵ he has a signature, right from the start; the same phrase is always somewhere on the packages he sends you, along with a swipe of whatever nail polish is currently on his finger

✵ so you’ll only figure it out if you pay enough attention

✵ whether or not you notice his little detail, you do pay enough attention to notice that the delivery guy is always the same

✵ it doesn’t matter if it’s bakery treats, flowers, a stuffed animal, or a new bottle of perfume/cologne; the same boba eyes and sheepish smile always peek out at you

✵ i think he’d only do this with someone he’s known for a while bc he’d need to know all of your favorites. he isn’t going to halfass this and be basic about it

✵ although, if he doesn’t know you well enough to know your favorite flower, the victorian flower language will always come to his rescue

✵ truly don’t think you ever receive a rose from this man unless he’s handing it to you himself

✵ the first bouquet he sends you is an arrangement of pink, red and white carnations (representing fascination) and baby’s breath (innocence). the white (pure love/faithfulness) and pink (i’ll never forget you) dominate the spread, with a maximum of three red carnations to hint at his own passionate nature.

✵ he’ll also send you gardenias (secret love) if he catches wind of you being particularly frustrated with his games, just to tease you

✵ he also starts growing pansies (thoughtfulness) so if you’re having a rough week he can just drop by your desk/home/workplace and leave it for you with your favorite sweets

✵ morning glories (love in vain/affection) for if he’s feeling particularly dramatic and scorned

✵ it all seems random to you, but the amount of work this man is putting in behind the scenes is actually insane

✵ forget the lore binder, he has a you binder

✵ he’s ordering things weeks in advance, talking you out of buying things he’s already bought you, etc

✵ at one point the next book in a series you’ve been reading shows up the day after you’ve finished its prequel and you’re mildly concerned

✵ it’s 4d chess in this man’s brain trying to win you over

✵ if/when you finally start to figure it out, he’s completely oblivious

✵ seonghwa has to tell him, bc you cornered the poor man after the latest delivery and asked him outright if your admirer was hongjoong

✵ he didn’t know what to say and scurried off without a word, so you knew

✵ he does freak out about it a little bit, bc he got a little too caught up in the game and forgot there was, in fact, a goal

✵ a few days later, seonghwa delivers you a handwritten note with the first word of his signature phrase on it to you and the first clue to a city-wide scavenger hunt

✵ at the second to last stop, you get the link to a playlist of songs that remind him of you

✵ by the end, hwa’s laden with bags from the gifts hongjoong never got to give you

✵ and once you get there, hongjoong is waiting for you at your favorite shop/cafe/park with your beverage and sweet of choice in front of him, a blue hyacinth (constancy) and a red rose in hand

✵ he had a whole speech planned but he’s too overwhelmed and just grinning, so all he gets out before you’re wrapping him up in your arms is

✵ “i hope you’re not disappointed”

TAGLISTS: permanent [open]: @justhere4kpop @tastymintchocolate @soul-jae @ad0rechuu @seonghwaddict ateez [open]: @pyeonghongrie-main @thatonenoona

banners again from @cafekitsune

© July 2023 nebulousbrainsoup | all rights reserved. do not copy, repost or translate my work.

[moonxnite]

Master of Puppets || Daryl Dixon.

Daryl Dixon x Reader (The Walking Dead x Fem!Reader)

Author’s Note: Inspired by the one and only, Eddie Munson, this fic is dedicated to the wise rockstar and his solo. I took his solo in Stranger Things vol 2 and mixed it with the Walking Dead bc both go hard and I think the song fits well into the aesthetic of the show, especially with Daryl Dixon. I altered the episode based on my own liking and through my own imagination, hope you like it!

Word Count: I have absolutely no idea.

Summary: When the walkers ambushed the beloved community, Alexandra, it created the impossible. Carl sought helped from The Saviors to lure the herd into the quarry, ultimately making both communities unite. Being denied to help, Y/n worked with Dwight to make the most metal performance ever in history.

Warnings: Cussing? Mentions of death, near death experience, angst.

Everyone in Alexandria was terrified over their new fate. Between The Saviors and the herd of walkers roaming around Alexandria, it made it impossibly difficult to keep the community functioning properly.

Food supplies began to diminish impeccably fast and the ideal of protection was long gone. The Saviors expected pick up nearly every two weeks and with the walkers ambushing inside Alexandria, destroyed all crops and invaded the storage room. Food was practically nonexistent and rations were made to be adjusted every so often.

Rick attempted to mask his anxiety, but you knew how deeply afraid he was. He desperately tried to remain calm and he succeeded until he was alone. His emotions ran high and his thoughts got the best of him. Being the leader he was, Rick continued to display a brave face for his family, something he always did and will continue to do. All members of the community were tasked with certain positions, some looking for temporary shelter, others going on hunts/food scavenging, and some who worked to lure the walkers away. You had the task to help Rick, Michonne, Daryl, Carl, and Carol to kill the walkers near the entrance of the community. Using the cars and motorcycles was an excellent call as it distracted the walkers away.

It took nearly seven hours to remove the walkers from the premises of Alexandria. Still, very few remained, but it was quite easy to kill and depose. The gates were knocked down and the fields were ruined. While the walkers were pretty far off from the community, it still wasn’t safe to return. Everyone continued to lay down plans for shifts and contributions.

Little by little, the walls of Alexandria were being built. Some walls were repaired while others had to be redone. You, Aaron, and Eugene (alongside others) worked on the walls as Rick, Michonne, Daryl, and Carol continued protect the premises and kill whatever walker managed to get inside. It was a constant hassle between time and effort but as every moment continued to pass, Alexandria managed to become its semi original self.

Eventually, it called for a debate for prioritization between the Alexandrians and The Saviors. Some argued to hunt food for the community while others pointed out that the lack of resources for the Saviors would cause harm for the community. You explained to Rick that while “feeding” the Saviors first seemed reasonable, the lives of Alexandrians were at stake.

“The Saviors have conquered how many communities?” You argued, “They have access to various resources and one less wouldn’t hurt. We’re all malnourished Rick come on” You said. Spencer, however, claimed that the Saviors would kill members as a consequences for disappointment

“I just need some time to think.” Rick began “Carl and Enid are out this week, if we’re lucky, we could split it even. So far, we just need to wait and stick to what we planned.”

“Rick, no. I get that our jobs is to make sure Alexandria is safe but we need to put our people first, The Saviors will never be satisfied, maybe if we send out more people on hunts we can come back with more food. Then it would make sense to split but we barely have a box filled with canned food. If we just-”

“Y/n enough, we’ll figure out a plan just like what we always do, but for now just stick to your job and that is-”

“To rebuild the walls of Alexandria and to lure the walkers away.” You sighed “I know”

You walked away from Rick, not wanting to stressed one another even further you considered dropping the subject. Upon both of your knowledge, Carl hid behind the wall and listen to your conversation. His return from the run with Enid was unsuccessful and he didn’t have the heart to update his father. Carl came up with a plan, one that he knew was too risky but he didn’t have a choice, he was going to ask The Saviors for help.

Next Day

You and Daryl worked together to kill walkers, you both had traveled far away from the community site and were located deep into the woods. Grunts and groans echoed as you tended each walker. Blood splattering onto your clothes and sweat running down your backs, it was a disgusting sight to see and feel. Clothes sticking onto your skin as the sun blazed down your face. Walkers continued to swarm around you but it was easily handled. Using with his crossbow, Daryl worked fast to retrieve his arrows once again. You had a wide selection of weapons up your sleeve. Between knifes and guns, you worked well with your Hello Kitty knife. It was an odd weapon, one that was given to you by an old friend, but it was pink and resourceful so you always used it.

Daryl always made fun of your knife, laughed whenever he saw it. You even got into a dumb argument once after he continued to tease you but stopped when you explained that a close friend had gifted it to you on your birthday. It was months before the apocalypse emerged and since then, it had always been a weapon you cherished. Regardless of how many weapons you own and kept, it was your go to. Still, Daryl continues to display a smirk whenever he saw it.

With patience and hard work, all the walkers were put down. Smiling and panting, Daryl was caught off guard when you hugged him as a celebratory win.

“We did it! Yay” You smiled as you begun to crouch down your knees

“Yeah” He grumbled

“Are we done for today or should we continue to keep moving forward?” You asked, wiping your Hello Kitty knife with a cloth

“Wer’ pretty far from Alexandria and its gettin’ dark” He starts “I think we should look for some shelter and stay for the night. We can go back tomorrow.”

“Okay, lets go”

Back at Alexandria

During your shift with Daryl, Rick and Michonne were out gathering weapons from an abandoned town. Meanwhile, Carl and Enid were scheduled to go out on another hunt. Carl debated whether to attend The Saviors premises that day, it was between getting it over with or putting everyones lives at stake. He attempted to talk Enid out of her shift as they begun to prepare to head out.

“Why don’t you want me to go?” Enid asked

“It’s not safe”

“Safe? We’re never safe” Enid argued

“I had plans to go to Negan today.” He confessed

Enid looked at him in disbelief, she didn’t know what to say other than agree to go with him. She knew how Carl’s mind worked and came to understand that whatever she tried to say, he’d ignore her and would continue to follow his plans. She didn’t want him to go through it alone so she asked to join him, reluctantly he agreed.

“What exactly do you have planned?” She questioned

“I know Alexandria is still not safe but we need help. Y/n and Daryl are always out to prevent the walkers from invading the community and its been long enough since the incident happened. I know that by going to Negan could make him go easier on us. I think it would say a lot if we go to him instead of waiting for him to come to us.” Carl hoped his plan would work but he had a deep feeling Negan would be furious. He needed to come up with another plan in case things went south and form a compromise just to be safe.

That Night

You and Daryl spent a night at a cabin. It was ten minutes away from where you came across the small herd and seemed pretty safe to spend the night. The tension was loud. You could feel it radiating and bouncing across the walls. However, nothing happened and you cursed underneath your breath as you were afraid to make a move.

You had the talk of expressing your feelings for one another, but nothing seemed to occur. Living with constant fear was a blockage on the soon to be relationship. It was reassuring that Daryl looked after you but you didn’t want to stay friends, you wanted to be more and make things official. Initially, the confidence of having the conversation once again appeared the night before Alexandria fell. From there, it seemed like it was inappropriate to ask about you two. You just had to wait a little longer.

Throughout the night, Daryl made a small fire and cooked a squirrel that he spotted on a tree. Poor little thing.

You see, adjusting to the wild life was definitely not easy, at least for you. Daryl quickly adjusted and had no fear or sympathy against killing animals for survival. It took you almost an entire year to get slightly used to killing creatures. It was easier but you still didn’t like doing it. However, the meal was good as much as it pained you to admit it, Daryl was an excellent cook.

That morning, both parties packed their belongings to return back to home. Feeling a bit anxious for no apparent reason, you swallowed your anxiety and head out the door to return home. There was a small sense that something was going on, you had no idea what but something felt wrong. You had hoped and prayed that your family and friends were safe and sound.

The walk to Alexandria was anything but fun, it was so hot. The mosquitoes started a war and your arm was sore after swinging your hands to prevent them from biting your exposed skin. Water ran low and so did the snacks you and Daryl packed. You wanted to cry out of exhaustion and irritation but soon enough the misery would end.

With every close step, Daryl can make out the lined up cars on the entrance of Alexandria. It didn’t take a genius to know who they were. Fear and anxiety ran coldly throughout Daryl’s veins. His eyes sparking with fear and his mouth ran dry. Beside him, you were too oblivious to make out what he saw, busy swinging your arms to protect your skin. Caught off guard, Daryl grabbed your arm and crouched down, making both of your faces extremely close. Any movement would create a kiss you desperately wanted to happen.

Looking deep into your eyes, Daryl’s throat got caught as he realized how close you both were. The heavy breathing was all you could hear, nothing was said or done for what seemed like eternity. If only something pushed either of you, maybe what you desired would come true. It didn’t seem like the perfect time but it seemed right.

Reaching back into reality, Daryl cleared his throat causing you pull away from your thoughts. He got up from his crouching position, still holding your arm, you did the same. Still maintaining eye contact, it was hard to acknowledge the outside world.

All you wanted to do was stare at this man for eternity.

He wanted the same thing as you.

Daryl was the first one to look away and it slightly shattered your heart. You looked toward Daryl’s gaze, immediately understanding his sudden movements. As you looked across the field, you noticed that all the vehicles were empty. It was a clear indication that all of Negan’s crew were inside Alexandria and it made your nerves spiral. Your heart was beating fast and cold sweat began to form all across your body. Daryl sensed your anxiety and traveled his hand from your arm to your palm, instantly locking fingers. This bittersweet moment was enough to make your heart melt under the wrong circumstances.

“They came back” He says

“They weren’t due for at least another week.” You panted

“Come on” He begins to run, never letting your hand go.

Both continued to run, if not, sprinted towards the gate of Alexandria. Fear was sensed and delivered up until they reached their home. Afraid of seeing an innocent person get punished, you regretted having the conversation with Rick. You wished you hadn’t made him decide what to do. You just lost two family members and you couldn’t bare another loss. If anything happened to anyone, it would be on you.

Walking slowly into the entrance, you spotted a large group, a divided crowd between Rick and Negan. Both men standing in front of each other not tempting to lose their guard. No one seemed injured or dead.

Good.

You saw as Michonne was standing next to Rick. Carol, Gabriel, Eugene, Rosita, Ezekiel, and just about everyone else stood behind Rick.

All but Carl.

You and Daryl both intervened by walking towards them. Not letting each other’s hands go, you walked slowly and felt all eyes on you. Alexandria and The Saviors took a moment to digest a new sight before re-entering their disagreement.

“What a sight for sore eyes!” Negan says as he spotted you, “Y/n, just the person I’ve been waiting to see.”

“What’s going on?” You asked Rick

“The Saviors just arrived, not sure what they’re here exactly.” Rick says “If this is about the pickup, we still have a week left.”

“We heard you’re having a little trouble and your boy here asked for help” Negan says as he swung his bat onto his shoulder

“Carl? No. He went out with Enid to scavenge food.” He said

“Are you calling me a liar? Why else would I be here with my crew?” Negan interjected

“We don’t need your help, we need you to get the hell outta here” Rick snaps as he realized his son lied about attending the nearest shops. Carl knew that once The Saviors left, he would be given a lecture by his father.

“I’m gonna make you a deal here Rick and I want you to listen very carefully.” Negan smiles “We’ll give you the week off but until then, I expect you to have double the food, double the weapons, and resources. I’m being gracious by giving you almost three weeks here.”

“Why’s that? What do you want?” He threatens

“I’m simply being a good samaritan, you gotta at least give me a little bit of credit here.” Negan replies as he slowly walks towards Rick and places an arm around his neck, “You either want help in luring the walkers or you want to starve your people and make me at least kill three more.”

“Why do you give a shit?” All Rick could see was red. Negan acted like he actually cared about the Alexandrians when he killed two, he hated Rick so why bother?

“Well sweet ol’ Carl showed up at The Sanctuary and since I actually like the kid, I thought why not?”

It was difficult for Rick to change his mind about the offer. Rick never trusted Negan and he never will, however, the lives of the Alexandrians was far more important than his hate game. The members of the community hesitated as they knew what this meant, being in debt under The Saviors was far scarier than anyone would imagine.

Negan and Simon accompanied Daryl and Rick into the storage room to form a proper layout of their plan. No one knew how long they would take or if one would be pronounced dead. The rest would continue to stay out in the fields and wait, no one moved and no one made a sound. It was a competition of who can keep their guard through intimidation and fear. The Alexandrians and The Saviors keep eye contact until their leaders returned back.

45 minutes later

The four men came out of the storage room, Negan and Simon smiled with full stupidity as they walked towards their people. Rick and Daryl followed behind and made their way towards you and Carl. The tension radiated off into the atmosphere as both communities stood on opposite ends.

“So here is what we’re going to do.” Negan yelled to The Saviors “We’re going to help Alexandria, we came up with a plan to use the vehicles to form a large herd. That herd will be taken down to the quarry.”

“That’s, no!“ You interfered, “Do you realize how dumb that is?”

“Sweetheart, I’m afraid I didn’t ask for your opinion.” Negan snapped

“Hey! Watch it” Daryl growled

“My apologies” He replied back

“I get that the whole point is to lure them away but how is leading them to the quarry even safe? It’s still pretty close to Alexandria and if they got out, we’ll have a herd invasion once again.” You explained

“It’s only temporary, until we can rebuild Alexandria and make it safer and stronger, we’ll lure them even farther away. This is only temporary.” Rick interjected

“Are you sure this could work? What if they got out before we rebuilt it? What happens then?” You asked

“We’re gonna have shifts to monitor the herd, Aaron spotted a couple of trucks and we could use that to barricade em.” Daryl places a hand to your lower back to ease your stress and it seemed to work.

“If the herd manages to overrun the barricade, then we’ll lure them away if we have to, we’ll adjust our plans to make sure we’re okay. We’re on this together and with additional help, it’ll make it easier” Rick motions as Negan waves off of the mention, placing his bat onto his shoulder with a smirk.

“Okay let’s do it” You agreed

The plan would be executed within one hour. You devised a plan to help with the task only for Daryl to shut you down.

That hurt.

Daryl continued to shut your pleas and threatened to lock you in a room. He wanted to keep you safe and far away from the plan.

Daryl gave you two options: Stay in Alexandria or stay inside a locked room in Alexandria

You knew there was no other choice to obey him. His authority was hot but it still pissed you off. You wanted to help you’re family in the way that you can, you also wanted to be in the action. Staying behind seemed boring and being bored made you unproductive and whiny.

You walked with your arms crossed, kicking the pebbles from the floor, you frowned like a baby. Looking across the field, you spotted Carl and Enid and the perfect plan was formed.

You were so dead.

“Carl, you mentioned Ron had a guitar?” You said as you walked up to the pair

“Yeah I think so, why?” Carl asked

“Enid, do you still have that Metallica album?”

“Why?”

“I just need a couple of things, don’t mention this to anyone!” You warned, “Especially Daryl.”

“What exactly are you planning?” Carl question

“The most metal performance ever” You grinned

3 Minutes Later

You sped walk into Ron’s room to prevent a scene. If you were caught, you hoped it wouldn’t be by Daryl. However, the sudden adrenaline rush flowed throughout your body and you were excited to play Master of Puppets.

You were a rock kid back in high school, better yet, led a band starting sophomore year. Your band Hellfire volunteered to play for musicals, school events, dances, and parties. Hellfire was a success as you were recognized by an agent and Hellfire had the opportunity to go big.

Key word: Had

The night everything and every life was destroyed, your band had played a cover by Metallica. The crowd cheered as you shredded the guitar and the drums roared through the walls.

It was epic.

The crowed sung and dance all within those four hours, cheering as they bobbed their heads. It was a night you felt everything went right for once. Your band was so loud, the way it always had been.

It was so loud you couldn’t make out the cries and screams. You thought people were cheering.

All that time, you thought the crowd went crazy for you.

But it wasn’t for you.

The room was swarmed with walkers. The herd made its way inside and attacked and you didn’t even notice it. Didn’t notice the way they grabbed those people.

Those poor people were killed.

All because of you.

You noticed when your drummer was pulled from the stage, the music was distorted and you finally understood. The rest of your bandmates were snatched and so you did what you always did.

You ran.

“Jesus christ!” You flinched

Dwight’s scream was something you could never ever forget. His high pitched scream had frightened you but also caused you to laugh. His presence wasn’t something you expected, you were slightly confused as he stood above the seat of Ron’s old drum collection. Putting the pieces together you assumed he used to play before hell broke loose.

“You play?” You were stunned and impressed

“Used to back in senior year” He replied back. Dwight clenched the drumsticks as he reminisced his passed and you felt sorry for him. He sighed and lightly played, soft enough so no one would hear.

“You know Metallica?”

“Everyone knows Metallica”

“Master of Puppets?” You had high hopes. If he knew how to play, he could help you.

“Yep.”

This is going to be fun.

You gave Dwight an insight to your masterplan but it took a lot of convincing. He feared to go behind Negan’s back because he was expected to leave with The Saviors. You promised him he wouldn’t be punished as you persuaded him it would help both communities with a front hand.

“Look if you get in trouble don’t worry! I’ll take the blame.” You sighed, “Think of this as a tour because I’m sure you wanted to play in front of a large crowd!”

“But what if-”

“We could really help them. If they fall behind or if someone gets hurt then the herd can be attracted by the sound and leave them alone. Come on play hero.”

“Okay I’m in.”

You and Dwight had to leave fast without anyone noticing. Dwight’s fear continued to grow and grow as he walked past his friends but ignored the stares. A few people laughed as they saw you both carrying the instruments to the truck and some demanded answers as to why it was necessary. Dwight explained he wanted “your” collection as a way to forgive you on the late delivery.

Getting out of there was hard. Dwight drove the truck away to a close proximity but you had to sneak your way out of Alexandria. If people grew suspicious over the instruments it would’ve been worse if you went with Dwight as he left. You pulled an Enid and climbed the walls far away from the houses and with luck, you jumped over and ran inside the truck. Dwight took off and the plan was settled.

An Hour Later

“Where the hell is Dwight?!” Negan yelled across the crowd as he strolled along with his bat

“Has anyone seen Y/n?” Daryl asked

“Maybe Y/n went out for a hunt with Carl and Enid” Rick suggested “They must’ve left 15 minutes ago”

“Nah she would’ve said somethim’ and I told her not to leave dammit!” Daryl yelled

“Hey! Hey! There isn’t anytime to argue. We need to leave now if we want to come back before the sun sets.” Rick grabbed Daryl’s shoulders to prevent him from searching all across Alexandria. “Listen Daryl, I know how important she is but if we don’t lure those walkers just like what we planned we’re going to take longer to make Alexandria home again.”

Daryl wouldn’t budge, he feared that Dwight might’ve done something to you. The Saviors who witnessed you two addressed to Negan about Dwight leaving with instruments and took off but he didn’t take you. That seemed to have calmed Daryl’s nerves but some part of him believed it was more than that. It made sense if you left with Carl and Enid for a hunt if Dwight left earlier than you. Still, Daryl planned to give you an talk, preferably a yell for not listening to him. Negan was unimpressed, his jaw clenched for the man who took off for a pair of drums. He couldn’t wait to return back to the sanctuary to give Dwight a whole new face.

The Saviors and Alexandria all left in various vehicles. It would be a night to remember for both communities as they gather hand in hand for a misson. If Rick was once told he would be working alongside Negan, he would’ve shot the person who told him.

The drive lasted over two hours, groups separated from each other to widen the herd and it seemed to be working. Daryl’s herd was the largest as his motorcycle created a large sum of noise. The roaring from his bike was a beautiful to him and it made him feel powerful. He looked powerful as he slowly rode his bike while a large herd was following him. His face was nothing but sour when he thought of you. Part of him was anxious since he didn’t hear from you but another part of him was really pissed off for leaving.

Within hours of slowly transporting the walkers, no one saw you and Dwight setting up at the cliff near the bottom of the quarry. No one noticed each other until the sound of roaring caught your attention. You were nervous for multiple reasons. However, you were glad you weren’t where the walkers would be, just right above them. Before arriving at the quarry, you and Dwight spotted some fireworks at the gas station nearby. It was a random but it seemed like destiny. The louder you were the better.

“Here take this” You extended an item to Dwight

“Sunglasses really?”

“What? Oh come on they look cool! Here’s mine.” You said as you placed them on

“Whatever” He grumbled. You smiled when he did the same

You spotted The Saviors and Alexandria from around the corner. Seeing as they bought the walkers, each vehicle drove fast from one side of the quarry to the other. It took a couple of minutes before all the cars and bikes to safely travel to the other side. Aaron and Eugene began barricading one side of the quarry.

It was time.

Dwight held onto his drumsticks and you began to insert the cord into to speaker. Looking at each other for a brief moment, you took a deep breath as Dwight hit the drumsticks together.

“Hellfire, this is for you.” You whispered

Your fingers danced with each cord as the song began to play. You immediately felt all eyes on you. The song was enough to make you smile as you began to remember your favorite moments with your band. Each finger naturally glided with every cord and it was like you never stopped playing. Dwight begun hitting each part of the drum set as it was his own way of singing.

End of passion play

Crumbling away

I’m your source of self-destruction

“Holy shit!” Negan cheered as he viewed the pair through the binoculars

Veins that pump with fear

Sucking darkest clear

Leading on your death’s construction

You and Dwight were hypnotized by the music.The melody blasted all across the field which enabled a whole new herd to emerge from the forest and fall into the pit. The clouds darkened into a deep shade of gray and the lightening roared as it sung with the song. The floor vibrated as the drums spoked and the guitar screamed.

Taste me, you will see

More is all you need

Dedicated to

How I’m killing you

Hundreds, maybe thousands of walkers all fell inside the quarry. The groans and the moans rang your ears as you continued to play. The yelling was all but faint and you knew that Daryl was the one to scream at you to get out of there. You and Dwight didn’t care within that moment as your were too busy playing.

Come crawling faster (faster)

Obey your master (master)

Your life burns faster (faster)

You looked over at Dwight and saw as he bobbed his head with every hit he made. He was smiling as he followed the music. You crouched as you held the guitar against your hips. Body flowing as you danced along. You hair hitting every direction of your face as the wind became stronger and aggressive.

Obey your

Master

Master

Where’s the dream that I’ve been after?

Master

Master

You were fully concentrated to the song but from the corner of your eye, you spotted the walkers underneath you. The cliff from where you and Dwight were was enough to give you a view of the entire field.

Daryl attempted to reached the hill to stop you but Rick held him back. All Rick could do was convince him no to go, that your plan was working to lure the walkers inside. The rest of the members all watched you as you played, seemingly impressed by your performance, Eugene and Aaron continued to work to form a barricade on both sides of the entrance.

Promised only lies

Laughter

Laughter

All I hear or see is laughter

Laughter

Laughter

Laughing at my cries

A part of your gut was telling you to stop. Looking across the field, more walkers fell into the quarry and you began to worry if it was enough to hold them. Finally, you decided to shorten the song so you and Dwight could leave on time.

“Dwight! We have to leave in about a minute.” You screamed and were surprised he even heard you, “You still have those fireworks?”

He nodded and pulled out a lighter out of his pocket. He quickly scrambled around his bag and pulled out the items. Lighting the stems, he threw the fireworks below the cliff and let it hit the ground. Dwight returned back to the drum sets and begun playing once again.

It was finally your time to shine

You crouched even further as you fingers touched the cords when you began to shred the guitar. You bobbed you head slightly as your left hand held its necks and your fingers fondled with the strings. The fireworks exploded, killing some walkers during the process. The sight was beautiful to see as the cloudy sky reflected gold and red lights.

You looked up at the sky to catch your breath and you could feel your fingers giving out. You pushed through and continued shredding, already making your body sore.

Once the melody began to slow down, you signaled Dwight that it was time. Your attention was brought by the walkers who groaned and begun to climb up the hill.

You both stopped playing and placed the items down. While the song continued to play, Dwight grabbed your hand and led you across the other side of the hill. The people across the quarry and noticed you two leaving, causing them to get in their vehicles to meet you on the other side.

“This way!” Dwight yelled

You and Dwight ran down the hill as fast as you possibly could. When reaching at the edge, you both came to a halt when discovering that the pathway towards down the quarry was destroyed. You both didn’t have a choice but to jump across and you feared that it wouldn’t work out. You looked at Dwight with a concerned expression and all he did was give you a polite smile and squeezed your hand.

“It’s okay, you can do this. All we need to do is jump and then we can go back home.” He hoped

Nodding to agree, Dwight jumped across first. His landing was perfect and he waited for you to jump. Looking back, you saw the walkers attempting to make their way with you. They were close, so close they almost grabbed you. Shots began to rang when Dwight pulled out his gun to shoot the walkers behind you. He was buying you some time but accidentally shot you in the midriff as you ran across the cliff. Once you landed, you felt pain radiating across your body. You were shot and you sprained your ankle as you made it over.

“Y/n! Fuck! I’m so sorry!” Dwight yelped, “I didn’t mean to shoot you! Fuck! Let’s get you over the other side.”

“Hey” You choked “I’m okay.”

The sound of the gunfire was enough to grab everyone’s attention and it was enough to break Daryl’s heart. He quickly hopped onto his bike and made himself over to you. The Saviors and Alexandria begun to lit the quarry on fire to slow the walkers down. The smell was unbearable as it fried the decayed.

The pain continued to grow and all you could do was cry. It was a breaking point that you entered. Dwight had pulled you alongside with him. Your arm was swung over him as you limped to safety. You were losing so much blood and Dwight pulled you into a bridal-style motion and carried you across the field.

Daryl sprinted across you when he saw how bad it was. Dwight slowly placed you onto the ground and stepped back so Daryl could hold you. You felt pressure on your abdomen and noticed it was Daryl who tried to stop the bleeding. Your eyes landed onto his and you noticed he was crying. You couldn’t make out his screams because you were giving up.

“Why n the hell would you do that?” He screamed

You cried. He never once yelled at you like that but it was the memories that came rushing back. You knew that you deserved to be yelled at but it was still enough to clench your heart. Daryl began to regret it and waited until you said something.

“It’s bad right?” You asked “It’s not his fault Daryl, I pushed him into it.”

Daryl looked at Dwight and all he could see was immense guilt. He called him over and directed him to go get help.

“I didn’t run away this time, right?” You faintly smiled. “It was so loud, we were so loud.”

“It was a whole damn concert.” He sniffled. His tears kept flowing and his hands were painted red. Your breathing became hitched and you were becoming pale.

“It was my fault Daryl. All those people, Hellfire…everything was my fault” You cried “I didn’t mean to. If I knew what was behind those doors it never would’ve happened.”

Daryl had no clue what you were referring to. He was too busy trying to stop the bleeding.

“We were amazing, all of us. God I miss them all so much.” You sobbed uncontrollably

Eyes clouded with tears and lungs burning to breathe, you felt yourself pulling away. You didn’t run but you felt yourself slipping. You gasped and wheezed as Daryl continued to apply pressure. He attempted to stop the bleeding but to no avail, blood squirted out from your abdomen.

“Daryl…I’m so scared. I don’t wanna go yet. I wanna stay with you.” You cried “I love you Daryl.” You smiled softly

“Y/n no, just hold on. Rick’s coming, they’re coming. Dontcha dare close your eyes. Y/n! God dammit!” He screamed and cried.

Breathing into darkness, you were gone.

One Week Later

Alexandria was home again. Daryl and Rick went out looking for food to compensate The Saviors. Though, a part of Rick still hated Negan but he decided to execute his plans when he least expected it.

Two days into the hunt, they found a large truck filled with food and toiletries. It seemed like a miracle was given to them, one that they needed after the incident. Both Rick and Daryl decided to hide the resources and continue to scavenge food for The Saviors. This miracle was one that couldn’t be given away so if they needed to find expired food so that The Saviors can get off their backs, then so be it.

When the pair returned back to Alexandria, they were ambushed with news.

You had woken up.

After you drifted off, Daryl took you back to Alexandria and you were in surgery for six hours. Everyone waited outside, some were crying while others prayed you would make it out alive. During those six hours, everyone talked about how enchanting your and Dwight’s performance was. Negan decided not to punish him, being too impressed by the show, he allowed him to stay in Alexandria until you had woken up.

Luckily for Daryl, it would be that day.

He stumbled back when Tara had given him the news. He wasted no time to sprint to the infirmary room to see you. He panted as he ran and pushed people who got in his way. Following behind him were Rick and Dwight.

Running inside, Daryl pushed the doors open and led himself inside your room. Heart beating fast while the palm of his hands began to sweat. He slowly crept forward and met those beautiful eyes he was dying to see.

“Hi Doll.”

[leewritestoomuch]

I’ll Eat My Hat

This was supposed to be cute. And it is, once you get past the topic of death.

So warning about topic of death.

Ukyo Saionji x reader

I actually hate this, but take that with a grain of salt bc I always hate what I write. If I didn’t hate it, I’ve been replaced with a ghost writer and call for help.

I promise I can write better than this. I just haven’t written anything in a while.

“And if I died?” The question was a lot darker than the previous questions and conversation. To you, the question rolled off the tongue with a giggle, looking up at him. Though to you, he was upside down, but that’s because you were laying down, head resting on his thigh, looking back and up at him. You sat up when you noticed his face fall a little bit.

“I’d hope that wouldn’t happen.” He almost whispers, a smile cracking across his face. He looks about to cry, and you realize, he’s probably thought out that scenario. And you realize you should probably just move on and drop the conversation.

“S—” You start but he cuts you off.

“But even if it did, I’d always love you.” He looks like he’s fighting hiding his face in his hands. And he is, because shouldn’t he be stronger than this? He doesn’t though, he just look at you for a moment before he speaks again. “And maybe, I’d go too. Soon enough.”

“No, I’d want you to live.” Your eyes, previously fixed on something just past him, now snap over to meet his. “Don’t give up like that.”

“Well, I’d eat my hat if that day ever came so… I don’t think we have anything to worry about.” Ukyo snickers.

“Because you don’t worry about it?” You catch him off guard.

“No. I mean, well, yes. I do, but it’s just paranoia.” He says, chuckling as he looks down at the ground.

…

That conversation feels more like a distant memory now. As you slip on and fasten up some wooden shoes to do some scavenging around the forest with Kohaku, you think back to it though. This isn’t death, so why does that conversation come to mind?

You’ve been awake for less than a week, and you’re going to war soon. And maybe you will die, then your beloved boyfriend will have to eat his hat. Of course, that’s not what he’s worried about, though.

You two weren’t together when the petrification happened, so you don’t have much of a clue where to find him. What if his statue was broken? Then what?

Questions like that float through your head for days and weeks until you’re told stories by Gen and Magma about a man who had terrifying archery skills. And it feels silly, because archery is a well respected sport in Japan, which cultural roots too, so that could have been anybody, but your mind went straight to the idea that it’s him.

They say he aimed at them, and that you find harder to believe. Your boyfriend always was intimidating, when he needed to be, but he was a pacifist. If their blood was on his hands, you know he’d never sleep well again.

Yet you find yourself asking for any sort of detail that confirms your hopes it is him, because maybe there is a good explanation for his hostility. And for why he’s working for your enemy.

(I literally do not remember the episode very well at all so I’m adding my own twist bc I’m not rewatching it rn)

Gen says they couldn’t really see him, but they know he’s got excellent hearing.

“It’s like he could hear a feather drop.” He says.

And your heart skips a beat because that’s got to be your boyfriend. Yet, time passes and nothing. You can’t just walk onto enemy lines to find your boyfriend. And on top of that, you’ve began to delude yourself that there is some other man in the area with excellent, inhuman hearing and impeccable archery skills.

You brush all that off, ignoring it for now. Even if it’s clawing at you, there is work to be done. So here you are, sitting on the cold, wooden floor of the hut. Gen and Senku were on the phone with a woman named Nikki. A self proclaimed super fan of Lillian Weinberg, as you’ve come to understand. You, being from the United States, had helped him just a little bit with his facts regarding the famous singer. He knew a lot, so did Senku, but you had input too.

When you all played the recording, she believed it, but a faint, yet stern voice cut through the air from the behind the phone. Then the phone is taken, and a familiar voice speaks. Your heart stops for a moment as you realize, the archer was your boyfriend. After barely hearing the next words he, Gen, or Senku spoke, you finally snap back to reality when you hear “we have somebody who is better at English than the both of us.”

And the microphone of the giant phone is suddenly being shoved into your hand.

“So what exactly do you want?” The line is whispered to you to say. You repeat it, trying not to stutter over your words. The line goes silent on the other end for a moment, before he speaks.

Gen and Senku exchange glances because you, as stone faced and cold as you are, have never seemed nervous before. You don’t fail to notice, but you don’t say anything.

“I don’t want blood.” He says, sounding a bit more emotional now.

“I know you don’t.” You say softly back, and confusion settles into the room.

“So I’m not crazy. It’s you?” You nod, before remembering he can’t see you to know you did.

“No, you’ve lost your mind. Now you have to eat a hat.” You chuckle.

“I just got this one.” He says.

“Alright, I don’t know how you two know each other,” Senku bluntly cuts you off. “But wrap it up, we have a negotiation to discuss? Let’s be 100% to the point here. We can do this with no blood.”

You sit back, smiling, knowing you’ll see him once this is over.