#but if you don't want me saving something please lmk <3

[danses-with-dogmeat]

Ooooh! Show me something from warm and fuzzies!

Ahh, the warm and fuzzies are just sweet little things that people have sent me in asks and dms and such that I look to when I need a little serotonin boost and inspiration 😅

Not sure if the title of the doc was misleading or not 😅

But here you go! A little tidbit (thank you to the folks who sent them!) And thanks for the interest in it my lovely! 😁 (also, I hope you're doing well!! <3)

[futureman]

mama's boy

pairing: derek danforth x gn!reader

summary: derek always answers when his mom calls, no matter what or who he's doing

warnings: 18+ MDNI, fwb!reader, smut, exhibitionism, sneaky sex during a phone call, unprotected/unspecified penetration, creampie, spanking, dirty talk, mommy issues

words: 1.5k

a/n: this is my first gn!reader smut so please please lmk if any descriptions don't work <3

Derek's phone barely rings twice before he picks up.

You're not sure why he answered at all when he's already busy fucking you, but he doesn't stop, even after he murmurs a greeting into the mic and tucks the phone between his ear and shoulder. He just continues to bounce you on his lap while he talks to whoever's on the line, managing to keep his voice steady save for a few hitched breaths.

"I was just thinking about you," he says casually as if his fingers aren't digging into your ass right now, dragging you up and down his cock, your walls gripping him like a vice.

You're already a mess after an hour of edging and teasing, and you're surprised the mic hasn't picked up the lewd sound of his skin slapping against yours. To your ears, it's obvious what's happening on Derek's side of the call, but the lack of response from the other end leads you to believe they still haven't caught on.

He speaks again, a little breathier this time. "I miss you. I was hoping to maybe see you this weekend."

His eyes don't leave yours as he purrs sweetly into the phone, attention divided between holding up his end of the conversation and continuing to withhold the orgasm you rightfully deserve. There's an unspoken warning in his gaze telling you to stay quiet, but the harder he fucks you, the more difficult it gets.

His hand slides up to tweak a nipple, and you realize he's testing you. Playing with you, daring you to make a sound. Part of you wants to, especially if he's going to say shit like that to someone else while he's buried balls deep.

You clench around him in retaliation, but aside from his fingers tensing on your hip, he seems totally unaffected. The asshole actually has the audacity to look amused like he's enjoying his little game.

"I'll behave," he tells the mysterious caller with surprising ease. But then, he cups your cheek and drags his thumb along your bottom lip, and you know his next words aren't meant for them. He's speaking directly to you. "I promise. I'll be good, just for you."

He slips his thumb into your mouth, and you have to resist the urge to bite him. He's a goddamn liar. If he's not going to behave, then why should you? Giving into the impulse, you nip at his finger, taking him by surprise. He sucks in a harsh breath through his teeth, and finally, it's audible enough for them to question it.

He tries to brush off their suspicion, but it's obvious he's busy. He sounds less believable with every word, and more like he's doing something he really shouldn't be on a business call.

"Nah, don't worry about it. It's nothing, just some of the guys fucking around," he bites out. But then, he unexpectedly mutes the call. If the searing look on his face is any indication, you're in trouble now.

"C'mon baby, I know you can do better than that—unless you want me to take this call somewhere else and let you take care of yourself."

You shake your head frantically, hating how quickly you fold at his dominance, even though he's still acting like an arrogant prick.

"You gonna be good for me?"

You nod. If you hadn't already experienced how hard he can make you cum, you'd probably put up more of a fight. But you have—and you know it's more than worth your silence.

Satisfied, he cradles the back of your head and pulls you down for a bruising kiss before unmuting the call.

"Yo, shut the fuck up," he says a little louder like he's actually telling off his boys instead of you. Then, his expression turns downright sinister. "My mom's on the phone. Have some fucking respect."

You gasp before you can stop yourself. There's no way in hell the fucking President of the United States is listening to you fuck her son—and yet, it suddenly makes perfect sense why he picked up the phone in the first place. Derek and his mommy issues.

He slaps your ass in response, another warning, but his subtle smirk betrays him. Sick fuck. He likes this. He thinks he's so smooth, so above consequences. It's why he didn't bother to lock the door when he dragged you into his late father's office and pulled you onto his lap, uncaring of who might walk in and see him fucking you dumb.

And he's right. Consequences don't exist for someone like Derek Danforth. Not even from mommy, who would never let anything happen to her handsome baby boy. Even if she did notice, she'd probably just scoff and tell him not to get caught by anyone that matters.

That's power. God, you wish that didn't turn you on so much.

He plants his feet firmly on the ground and forces your upper half to the side so he can see around you, watching how tightly you grip him as he plunges in and out of you. His pace is brutal now, and you can feel that telltale heat building low in your stomach.

Through all of it, he still somehow manages to ping-pong back and forth between replying to his mom and urging you to cum for him. His voice is strained, and even though you can't see his face anymore, you can tell how flushed he must be, his eyes likely rolled back at how slick and warm you feel around him.

"C'mon, give it to me. So fucking tight, I know you're close," he mutters just loud enough for you to hear before he switches back to being her doting son.

"Don't worry about the donors, I'll handle it. Just—," you accidentally cut him off with an involuntary clench, and he bites back a groan, "—the party's for you, just enjoy yourself. Y-you...you've earned it."

You're about to earn it, too, though you probably don't deserve it. Not when you're whimpering pathetically into the aged leather of his father's armchair, overwhelmed by how much his thick cock stretches you out.

By now, Derek's either too far gone to hear it or doesn't care enough to scold you. His thighs tremble violently beneath you, and his thrusts are getting sloppy and uncoordinated like he's just as close as you are.

"Fuuuuck," he lets out a pained growl when he finally hones in on your sweet spot. He doesn't hold back, abusing it until you're spasming dangerously around him and on the verge of tears.

There's no way she can't hear him now, but that doesn't stop him from babbling incoherently as his pleasure peaks. "Oh my fucking god, baby, you're gonna make me—fuck, I'm...m'gonna—"

But you tumble over the edge first, cumming so hard, your vision whites out.

"I—shit, something just came up. I-I gotta go," he croaks hurriedly into the mic, your convulsing walls and muffled moans seconds away from making him blow his load. "Some emergency, I don't know. I just—sorry, I really gotta go," he grits through his teeth, desperately trying to hold on, to be respectful and let his mom finish talking, but it's way too late. "Yeah, love you, too—"

He abruptly sits up and wraps his arms around you, his phone toppling to the floor as he holds you in place and roughly empties his balls into you. Warm spurts coat your walls and dribble onto his thighs as he ruts into you, loud enough to rival the squeaking chair being pushed to its limit below you.

Yet, nothing in that room is louder than Derek. He hauls you up and crashes his lips into yours, whining pathetically into your mouth as he rides out both of your highs. His hands are everywhere—grabbing your ass and waist, wrapped loosely around your throat—while you milk every last drop from his body.

When the aftershocks subside and sensitivity sets in, he finally pulls away but doesn't pull out. Whether it's to avoid staining the furniture or keep you plugged up so his release doesn't leak out, you're not totally sure. But his body language, satisfied and boneless and so pleased with himself, leads you to believe it's the latter.

Of course, Derek doesn't give a shit about the furniture. He probably just likes the idea of you walking around the rest of the day with his cum soaking your underwear.

"See what happens when you do what I tell you?" he smirks, lazily stroking your hip with his thumb.

You roll your eyes. "Oh, fuck you. I hope your mom's party is awkward as fuck now that she knows the weird, kinky shit you're into."

"I wouldn't wish that on yourself, baby. You'll be there, too."

"Excuse me?" you blurt out incredulously.

He just laughs, keeping his arm tucked around you while he bends down to snatch his phone off the floor. The screen lights up with a new text message—from Mom.

"Try not to be so loud at the fundraiser. Press will be there, and the last thing I need is another reporter to pay off."

thanks for reading!

divider by @saradika-graphics

[fluffysucker]

And you come back to me.

Bucky Barnes x Reader

He is back. He is here. He is home.

Written in third pov. Minimum use of Y/N. But lots of female pronouns lol.

Always had this idea in my mind and just decided to write it. Lmk if you like it. Likes, comments, reblogs are very highly appreciated

"Can you, please, stop?. You are driving me insane." Her roommate's voice got her out of her head. She was pacing around the living room nonstop, the floor underneath almost wore off.

She looked at her friend, Allison, with the same look she had had on since it happened. Her pleading eyes holding back tears. Her lips trembling from anxiety. Her friend could almost see her nerves burning down with worry.

"I'm sure he is okay." Allison tried what she had been doing for the past days. Reassuring her.

"You don't know this." She almost shouted at her roommate.

"If something had happened, we would have known." Allison pointed to the TV screen that has been playing the news ever since they found out.

"Yeah, sure. Because the people want to hear about the wellbeing's of the former Winter Soldier." She couldn't help the sarcastic comment from coming out. She wasn't delusional. She knew very well how the media saw him. How the public thought of him. She just didn't find it in herself to ever care.

She moved to sit in between her bestfriend and her boyfriend on the coach they were taking. The man, Louis, was almost living with them at this point.

"He is fine, Y/N." Allison added, trying to soothe her friend's worries.

"Then why hasn't he shown up, yet?." She rested her head on the cushions, letting the dark thoughts consume her.

"I'm sure saving the world takes a bit of a time." Louis spoke. He has been watching her lose her mind for the past few days.

She knew they were right. They were giving all the logical answers to her paranoid questions. But she couldn't help it.

The pain of losing him was like no other. She knew pain all her life. But the day Steve Rogers showed up at her doorsteps with the sad guilty look in his eyes, she felt her whole world crashing from beneath her. He was her world.

The pain was suffocating. It was everywhere and she couldn't escape. She was drowning in the wide ocean with no sign of a shore near. The rocks on her lungs were only getting heavier by the day. The burning fire was eating everything inside of her and nothing can put it off. The pain was so intense that she could feel her body hurting some days. It was translated into her fatigue body.

Five years were a long time. However, it didn't make it any easier. She just figured out how to live with it. How to wake up every single day, knowing it was another day where he wasn't here, and continue her day. How she shouldn't write down stuff happened so she could tell him next time she would meet him. How someone she had known for most of her life wasn't here anymore.

She worked so hard on grasping this idea, but it was so painful. Even when they weren't together, they would still write letters and notes for each other. Now, there was nobody to write to

Their love wasn't an easy one. So many hardships were thrown their way, and they survived them all. And it's was finally the time to have their chance of normality and live the life they deserved. Fate had a different saying. He was ripped away from her.

It was so cruel. So damaging. And she can't say she survived this time.

She put on the act. Just like everyone else. Keeping up with a routine and living a life she barely wanted. Pretending he wasn't always her first and last thought.

She fooled herself into thinking she could try and move on. She never failed in something more. In the past five years, she went on 3 dates on total. And not one of them she even stayed till the end.

She could almost swear she was haunted by him. His face blurring to all the people she knew. His voice ringing in her ears. His soft touch lingering on her. Her mind was playing sick games on her.

She lost the hope of him coming back ever again. Steve explained everything. He was gone. The love of her life was vanished into thin air like he never existed. So when the snap was reversed and everyone was said to be back, she couldn't help it but wanting this to end. To have him back.

However, her mind was getting the best of her. With the news of Tony Stark and Natasha Romanoff sacrificing their lives for the greater good, she was stressed, to say the least. She knew him and knew how he thought his life didn't matter anymore , especially with all he had done. She wishes he would know how much he mattered to her. She never stopped reminding him, but she knew him too well.

It's been a couple of days of pure chaos and joy. People were reuniting with their loved ones. And there she was, sitting in between the only people she cared about in the last years, waiting for him. Hoping he would show up.

The thought of him not wanting to be with her anymore crossed her mind more times than she would like to admit. She didn't know what had happened there or how these years passed for him. She couldn't tell.

Her friends tried to ground her back to Earth, keeping the hope bright in her spirit. They were fighting the worst-case scenarios from occupying all her head.

They stayed with her for a while longer. Unlike her, the couple had other people who were blipped back, and she wasn't going to ruin their happiness by keeping them tied up beside her. They should be celebrating, not fighting her demons. While she appreciated their support, she couldn't be selfish.

They knew it was no vain fighting her. So they left. They reached the bottom of the stairs and were about to leave the building when they saw him.

He kept looking around like a lost child. He looked exactly like the pictures she kept in her bedroom.

"Oh my god." Allison couldn't contain it to herself. He turned around very quickly when he heard the words. He was lost he didn't sense their presence.

"Oh my god. You are here." He couldn't help but look at the woman weirdly. He was pretty sure he didn't know her. Maybe the other guy did. But she seemed very happy to see him.

"You must not know which apartment it's." It was like she figured out the solution to the most complicated mathematical problem.

"It's the fifth floor. Apartment 20." He couldn't hide the surprise look on his face when the woman gave him the answer he was indeed looking for.

"You are for Y/N, aren't you?." Allison had to ask when she saw his hard gaze

Allison smiled at the way his face softened immediately at the mention of her name. She could swear she saw his body relax a bit as he nodded.

"Great. She is in apartment 20 on the fifth floor. I'm Allison, Y/N's roommate." The over friendly woman moved away from the stairs to let him use them.

"It is nice meeting you. I'm sure we will be meeting properly again." She was gently pushing him to get up. She wanted her bestfriend to finally have this moment.

He took the hint and nodded his head as he went up. He felt a bit happy knowing she had someone. Someone who looked so cheerful and helpful.

He couldn't deny that his heart flattered at the thought of her talking to people about him. Maybe she still loved him. Maybe she still wanted him

Even with Steve constant reassure that she was still very much in love with him and all her attempts to move on ended before they even began. Once everything died down for a bit after Tony's funeral, he finally gathered enough courage to ask about her.

"Surprised you didn't ask during the fight." Steve teased him as he was the one who witnessed their love for each other most of all.

Little did Steve know, the minute he opened his eyes back in Wakanda, her name was the first thing blurting out of his mouth before Doctor Strange showed up and told them to get ready for the fight.

All these days, he had to fight the urge to ask about her. Was she snapped, too? If not, was she okay?. How was she doing?. So many questions running endlessly in his brain.

He couldn't say he was surprised when Steve told him they stayed in close contact all these years, claiming it was his bestfriend duty to look after her. He also couldn't say he wasn't so grateful to the blonde for doing so.

Steve gave him her new address, reassuring him that she would be so happy to see him. That his worries wasn't true at all.

And here he was now, standing at her door. He kept moving his hand up and down his jeans to calm down himself. He wanted her to be happy, yet he didn't know what he would do if she didn't want him anymore?.

He took a deep breath and stopped the wild thoughts from taking over. With every bit of courage in his body, he lifted his hand and knocked on the door.

"Go away, Allison" Even muffled behind the door, her voice sent a wave of calmness through him. He knocked again softly.

"Allison, I said go be with your family. I'm fine. " He smiled at her. Always so selfless. His heartbeats were starting to pick up. He couldn't wait to see her again. So he knocked again.

"What the hell do you...." Words died at the tip of her tongue once she opened the door and saw him. Her eyes wide open and her jaw almost hitting the floor.

He let his eyes scan her up and down. God, she was so beautiful. She dyed her purple and curled it. She had a different style of clothing. She looked different but still the same somehow.

For him, it was a couple of weeks since he last saw her, but he knew it had been years for her. So he let take her time staring at him like a ghost. Which was kind of true.

She couldn't believe it. He was standing in front of her. Looking just like the last time she saw him. Long hair locks resting on his shoulder. Steel blue eyes deeper than the ocean. All black on outfit. He was here.

"Bucky." It was a tiny whisper. But it didn't miss him.

"Yes, doll." He let her set the pace and choose the next step.

The pet name only he called her sent shivers down her body. His voice so deep, yet so sweet on her ears.

She knew they were back, but she couldn't let herself believe it was really him. Her mind played all sorts of tricks on her, and she wasn't ready to fall victim to a new one.

She thought the lack of sleep combined with overthinking and stress would result in these hallucinations. He was a fragment of her imagination. An new type of coping mechanism.

She needed to make sure he was real. So she stepped forward slowly, lifting her hand to touch his cheek. Fully expecting him to disappear.

She gasped when her fingers made contact with his beard. And he couldn't help but lean his hand into her touch.

"You are here." It wasn't a cruel game. Her wish came true.

"I'm here." He pressed a soft kiss on the palm on her hand.

The gesture sent electricity through her body. A wake-up shock. It was no hallucination. He was real and he was her.

"Bucky."

She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, standing on her tiptoes to reach his height. He instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her even closer.

Like all the weight was lifted off her. It stopped hurting. She was finally free. His significant scent entered her nostrils, making her chest flatter. She buried her face in his neck, wanting to feel all him at once.

Bucky took notice and understood. He moved one of his arms from her waist to her hips, supporting her to wrap her legs around his waist, which she happily did.

She wrapped herself around him like a baby koala. She felt the tears forming in her eyes. For the first time in her life, it was happy tears.

"You are back." Words escaped her mouth. She let her guard down, and her brain wasn't haunting her.

"I'm. I'm right here." Bucky said as he walked the two of them inside and closed the door with his feet.

"I'm back, and I'm not going anywhere, doll." He knew she needed to hear this.

"I got you, doll." It felt so marvellous to hold her. She fitted perfectly between his arms.

It's been weeks for him, and he couldn't believe how much he missed her.

They stood like this for a bit. The only sound in the room was her sniffing. Then he moved them to sit on her coach.

She didn't let go of him. Taking over his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck. She needed to feel every bit of him to stay grounded. He didn't mind at all. He even pulled her closer to him again.

"I missed you so much." She couldn't keep the tears anymore. They fell on her face freely. He pressed a kiss to her forehead before wiping them away.

"I'm so sorry." Bucky knew it wasn't his fault, but he also felt the need to apologise.

He rested his forehead against hers, giving her all the contact she could need to be sure he was really here.

She closed the small distances between them and pressed her lips to his. And just like that, she could feel life return her. The cup of water after running in the desert for days. Rocks on her lungs broken into pieces. A lifeboat came and saved her from drowning. All feeling she never thought would go away. All gone and replaced with the familiarity of him.

He kissed her back happily. The kiss was soft and gentle. Serving its role as a reminder that they are back. Together.

They wanted to stay kissing for eternity, but the need for air made them break apart. She pulled away for a bit, looking at his eyes. The eyes she missed so much. The eyes that filled her with warmth.

"I love you so much, Bucky. Losing you was the most difficult I had to go through, and I could never get over it. You are my life. My reason to be. My saviour. My sanity. My everything. My love. My man."

She wanted him to know how much he he truly meant to her. How madly she loved him. How deeply and hopelessly she was in love with him.

"Life without you was meaningless. It had no color or taste. You give my life a purpose. You make me want to live. I love you with my whole heart and more. I never thought I could love someone so much, but I'm so in love with you, Bucky."

She wanted to declare her undying love for him even if it was cheesy. She wanted him to know how devoted she was to him. That it would take all her life to get over him. And she won't succeed. Only her death would make her forget Bucky Barnes. And she wasn't so sure about this even

His eyes glossed with tears. He couldn't comprehend how someone would love after all he had done. Especially someone so sweet and amazing. It must be the world's atonement for all his suffering. And he didn't deserve her.

However, he would never let her go. Only a fool would let a dame like her go. He would cherish her and take care of her for the rest of his life. He would never let anything happen to her. He would die before she would get hurt. He wanted to spend all his days loving her.

He kissed her, trying to show her how much she meant to him, too. Pouring all his emotions into the kiss. Even in the 40ths, he never felt this for any of the ladies he knew. This deep unconditional love. Only for her. Y/N. His doll. His girl

She pulled away with a true smile on her face. She rested her head on his shoulder. Seeking all the comfort and safety he provided. He tightened his grip around her. Pressing soft kisses to her face. Letting themselves sink into each other

He was back. He was here. He was home. And she couldn't be happier

[thesparklingwriter]

𝒅𝒐𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒆

tags: zhongli x gn!reader, fluff, angst, reader is the sibling of guizhong, themes of loss (please lmk if I've missed any important tags)

word count: 1.6k

notes: before you read, i recommend taking a quick look at the ask this request came from! i may have possibly missed out some scene setting as a result of assuming every knows the context. I had so much fun doing this :) don't tell anyone but i actually shed one or two tears, but i was listening to the ballad of jane doe as i wrote it so can i truly be blamed? @cheezybell , i hope this lives up to your expectations <3 if there's anything formatting-wise that I've forgotten about tell me tomorrow cause it's now past midnight and i'm going to bed :)

Masterlist | taglist form

The world had been silent since you died. The god of war was accustomed to loss, but none had worn on him so heavily but yours. Of course, you weren't his only acquaintance, but the uncertainty of your well-being weighed heavily on him. The others were lost to the winds, their memories infused into fields of lilies and violent sunrises, all of which he observes with a detached melancholy.

To protect yourself after sustaining an almost fatal blow, you'd employed a tactic Morax himself had taught you—a tactic that had a 50 per cent success rate, a tactic for a worst-case scenario, a tactic shared with you because he couldn't bear the thought of you leaving him forever. If he'd have known that he'd be here now, seated beside your lifeless body, quietly begging someone, something, to save you, his friend, his companion, his… It doesn't matter now.

He wouldn't indulge himself in such thoughts. It was selfish. You'd tried to protect yourself for his sake, and here he was, wishing that you'd died so he would have had the chance to find your reincarnated soul in the faces of those in the harbour. You'd sworn you'd always be with him, regardless of the circumstances, irrespective of the fact that you loved him and he didn't–couldn't ever know. You'd watch him from a distance, how he brought smiles to people's faces and how the people of Liyue worshipped the ground he walked on. What would he want with you? The forgotten kin of a well-known adeptus—adept at nothing much but fading into the mist. What could you offer him that thousands of being on Teyvat couldn't?

"If I'm the reason why you aren't returning," Morax says softly, his voice permeating the silence of the cave he hides you in. "Please rest assured that I expect nothing of you upon your return. Simply focus on yourself. That's all I ask."

As long as he knew you were alive, Morax would accept being apart from you. But until he was aware of your recovery, he'd keep visiting.

And so he did.

Millenia go by before there's even a slight change in your appearance. He visits you at the end of every era he finds himself in—the end of the archon war, Liyue's sudden economic boost, his 'death' at the hands of the Fatui… He keeps you up to speed on it all. Of course, if you want to survive in this world once you awaken, you have to know what's going on, do you not?

This time, when he sits beside you to tell you about how Liyue no longer has an archon and the new life he hopes to pursue, his heart swells with hope. In the dim light of the almost freezing cave, Morax is almost convinced that he spies the condensation of your breath in the air. But simultaneously, the years of hoping and praying for your return have hardened his heart to hope. It's a selfish emotion, one he should know better than to entertain. But though there's a voice in the back of his head, telling him that he's hoping and praying and waiting for nothing, it's you he's waiting for. The one who always made him laugh, listened to him as he mused aloud about the wonders of Teyvat, and helped him mediate arguments between Cloud Retainer and Guizhong. He can't let you go.

"Change is constant in this world," He says to you, noting the slight colour in your cheeks and the flicker of your eyelids. "But I will continue to wait for you, to cultivate your memory such that nothing can dull its shine."

It was a promise to a friend, a declaration of love, an acceptance of defeat. He strokes your hair lightly, an intimate gesture he always longed for when you were alive, one he indulges himself in, in case it wakes you up. And the contact shocks you. You can feel it and hear him, but you can't reach out. You can't hold him in your arms and tell him that it's okay, that you loved him then, and you love him now, and nothing he could ever say or do could ever change that.

But you never had the will to do so when you were awake, and now, as you cling onto his voice to drag yourself back into reality, your resolve is too much for your body to bear, and you explode into fine mist, impossible to catch or hold, or trap. Morax realises that, and though his heart disappeared with you, he accepts his fate—forever longing for a being he might never see again.

✧

Finding yourself in Liyue after the years passed is nothing short of a learning curve. You learn early on that Morax was killed by the Fatui in an act of cold cruelty, a discovery that leaves you fuelled with rage. But casting your mind back to past conversations with Morax himself reminds you of a hypothetical game you and Guizhong used to play with him to pass the hours. Morax always had a fascination with the idea of faking his demise if it was what was necessary for Liyue's survival. Or course, that kind of morbid practicality makes Morax who he is, and you struggle to believe that he'd leave Liyue without a fight. He'd waited millennia for your return, but you're supposed to believe that he'd abandon his nation without so much as a second thought? Impossible.

So you set to finding him. Regardless of what form he's taken on or the lies he's employed to stay under the radar, you will find him. It starts with assimilating into Liyue's society, working hard to establish yourself as an upstanding member of the harbour, always found helping with a smile on your face. You'd smile innocently when asked what you charged for your help and services. "I'm something of a history buff," you'd say. "I'm researching Morax's death—undoubtedly this is an important date in the history of Liyue and i'd like to hear more about it from those who experienced it."

Of course, locals were more than happy to help—to share stories of their valiant archon, who left too soon, but left his nation in such good stead for the future. Most, if not all, the leads you were given were dead ends, an impressive mix of decorated truths and half lies. That was, until a passing traveller mentioned a certain Zhongli of the Wangsheng funeral parlour. According to them, he was the man for any kind of Liyuean history, regardless of the era.

You wasted no time hurrying to the funeral parlour with newfound hope. Would this Zhongli know where Morax is? Would he know of you, Guizhong or any other Adepti that were lost to the brutality of the war? Or would he send you away, accusing you of insanity or espionage?

You didn't know, and frankly, you didn't care. When you arrive at the parlour, you're met by a young woman who greets you with a melancholy smile. "How may I help you?"

"I was hoping to speak with a Mr Zhongli? If that's possible, that is."

The woman's expression changes, relaxing from its state of melancholy. "Of course. I can get him for you. Feel free to take a seat."

The seconds seem to drag by as you sit and wait for this man to arrive. Is this yet another dead end? Your mind begins to wander before the woman returns, asking you to follow her to his office. She seems slightly surprised by the words coming out of her mouth—admitting that this isn't something the man often does. The walk to his office is almost stifling. You're silent, your heart pounding helplessly in your chest as you walk.

The woman opens a heavy mahogany door, smiling encouragingly at you as you walk in.

The man before you nods at the woman before turning his attention to you, and you're surprised by his reaction. Years of analysing Morax's stoic face have taught you to pick up on micro reactions like the one Zhongli displays as he looks at you.

His eyes soften as he stands up, bracing himself on the desk as he rises. "I'm afraid I didn't catch your name," he says slowly. You tell him your name, and he chuckles lightly to himself. Of course, you'd find him. Or course you would. You look the same as the day you fell asleep, your eyes wide and excited, a gentle smile playing on your lips despite the absurdity of the situation you find yourself in. He extends his hand to you, and you shake it firmly, muttering the necessary pleasantries.

Zhongli can't believe it. You're real, not a figment of his desperate imagination. You're real, and perfect, and standing right in front of him on your own two feet. Do you know who he is? Is this some cruel joke Celestia is playing on him as punishment for going through with the Fatui's plan? His eyes are familiar to you—they shine with gold as you stare at him, your mind trying to grasp where you remember him from.

"How can I help you?" Zhongli asks. He can't bear to look away from you, the one he's loved since before he could quantify the feeling. The one who listened to him with such care and kindness. The one who made the millennia of duties and solitude worth it. It's you. You've returned to him. And regardless of whether you remember him or not, he swears that he'll express his love for you. He won't make the same mistake twice.

© 2023, thesparklingwriter. please do not copy, edit, repost, or translate.

taglist: @ainescribe

[finnsbubblegum]

my dearest i'm going through withdrawals from your writing and frankly i just miss you 🥺🥺

i had a request if you were taking them?

i am currently in an mentally abusive relationship and things aren't really going to hot on my end

i was wondering if you could do one where joel comes in an rescues reader from said relationship? pure fluff and heartwarming stuff i could really use it rn 🖤

ps sorry it got so dark lol 🖤

A/N: Hi anon! I’m so sorry for the late reply. I’m sorry that happened to you, hope you’re doing okay. I tried my best writing this fic hope it helps you feel better. Yes, I read your requests! I just haven't had the time and idea what to write so i am so so sorry. I will write your requests, don't worry! but please be patient😭 I'm writing this first because it seems urgent😭 Btw if you need someone to talk to, you can always send me private messages! 

Worth Saving (Joel Miller X Reader)

Warnings: abusive boyfriend, guns, lmk if i missed any

(Reader’s Pov)

“Ty, can we rest here for a few days? I think it’s a pretty decent place. There is a lot of canned food here and there’s a bed here.” You pointed at the dusty bed.

You and your boyfriend found an abandoned house trying to stock some supplies. You had been doing these for years and kept moving anywhere as long as you didn’t come across people. Humans were more dangerous these days than clickers. 

“Are you serious?” Your boyfriend, Tyler, furrowed his eyebrows and raised his voice.

“Just for a few days.” You stepped back.

“How are you so stupid?” Your boyfriend stepped closer to you.

You knew he was angry. He always had. He never listened to you. 

“I’m sorry. It’s just. I saw a bed and I just wanted to sleep on a bed. You know after all these years.” Your voice started to crack.

“After all these years?” He scoffed.

“I have kept you safe and protected you. And it’s still not enough?” Tyler grabbed both of your shoulders with force.

“That’s not what I meant.” You tried to hold your tears.

“Don’t you dare cry, woman!” He tightened his grip on your shoulder.

“Ty, you’re hurting me.” You sobbed.

“Let me tell you something. You’re such a burden. I should have left you there eaten by those clickers. Or maybe.. I should kill you now. ” Your abusive boyfriend said those words right in front of your face. 

Then he took his gun and pointed it right at your forehead. He loaded the gun and was ready to pull the trigger. You closed your eyes, shaking and shed a tear. 

(Joel’s Pov)

“Shh..someone’s here.” Joel whispered to Tommy and pointed at the traces someone left on the first floor.

Tommy nodded and walked slowly behind Joel. Joel and Tommy looked at each other as they heard your fight with your boyfriend. 

*creak*

“Tommy!” Joel whispered scolding Tommy who was making sounds from the old stairs.

Tommy raised his hands and mouthed “sorry”. 

(Reader’s Pov)

“Let me tell you something. You’re such a burden. I should have left you there eaten by those clickers. Or maybe.. I should kill you now. ” Your abusive boyfriend said those words right in front of your face. 

Then he took his gun and pointed it right at your forehead. He loaded the gun and was ready to pull the trigger. 

“No! Please don’t kill me! Please!” You closed your eyes, shaking and crying.

(Joel’s Pov)

Joel was ready to shoot whoever inside the room but Tommy reminded him not to kill innocent people. Joel rolled his eyes and stayed behind Tommy as Tommy instructed. Then he remembered Bill’s letter that was left for him.

“...I used to hate the world, and I was happy when everyone died. But I was wrong because there was one person worth saving. That’s what I did. I saved him. Then I protected him. That’s why men like you and me are here. We have a job to do. And God help any motherfuckers who stand in our way...”

He remembered his job was to save someone who was worth saving. And it could be anyone and Ellie was one of them. 

“1,2,.” Tommy mouthed to Joel.

“3!” Tommy kicked the door open and found you with a gun pointing at your head.

Joel and Tommy’s guns were all pointed towards you and your boyfriend.

“Put your guns down!” Tyler swiftly pointed his gun to Tommy.

“Please! We’re innocent.” You raised your hands.

“Tommy!” Joel breathed heavily, he was ready to pull the trigger.

Tommy looked at Joel and shook his head. Tommy didn’t want Joel to kill innocent people anymore. He wanted him to change and Joel was getting better since he spent a few months in Jackson.

“Let’s talk this through and put our guns down.” Tommy said.

“You first.” Tyler looked at Tommy then to Joel.

Tommy put his guns down slowly. Joel didn’t.

“Hey! You too.” Tyler shakily pointed his gun to Joel.

Joel cleared his throat as he put his gun down slowly. As Tyler put his gun down slowly after Joel, you thought it was the perfect time to run away from this mess and your abusive boyfriend. You took a deep breath and got ready to run. When everyone’s gun was on the floor, you ran as fast as you could. 

*Bang*

You heard a gunshot when you were just out of the room and you stopped running. 

“Joel!” Tommy shouted.

Your body shook and turned your head slowly. You saw your boyfriend’s dead body laying soulless on the floor. You gasped and covered your mouth with your hands. 

“Are you okay?” Tommy asked you.

You shook your head. You didn’t know how you felt. You were sad that your boyfriend died but you were also relieved because you were finally free from him.

“Were you close with him?” Tommy put his hand on your shoulder.

“He-uh-he was my boyfriend.” You nodded.

“He tried to kill you.” Joel said behind Tommy.

Joel walked closer to you, “Twice.” 

Apparently your boyfriend took his gun and tried to shoot you from behind when you tried to run away. And Joel shot him before your boyfriend pulled the trigger. He knew from his gut that you were worth saving so he took his chance. 

You were speechless so you just stayed quiet. The two men asked you to come with them. They told you they have a place for you with nice people, nice clothes, and food. Tommy had to bring some supplies on his horse so you ended up riding the horse with Joel. 

“You’re gonna rip my jacket if you do that.” Joel grabbed your hand and moved them on his waist.

Your heart beat faster but you felt safe around him. You were too tired from your day and all the shocks so you rested your head behind his broad back. 

“It wasn’t twice.”  You suddenly said.

“Huh?” Joel didn't follow.

“Tyler-uh-the one you killed-he tried to kill me multiple times.” Tears fell down to your cheeks.

“So..thank you. You saved my life. I owe you.” You wiped your tears and rested your head again on his back.

“You’re safe now.” Joel answered you.

“Sorry.” You chuckled, suddenly realizing your tears made his jacket wet. You rubbed his back trying to dry it.

“It’s okay.” Joel chuckled. 

The End

[dr4gong4l]

Pops up outa nowhere after me sending the lmk s5 trailer.

News! :D.

I quit!

Tw! Bad bad words! :3

I quit being all quiet about how people are so mean to the production who's trying to keep this show alive! You heard me!

WHY ARE YOU SO MEAN TO THEMMM!!! THAT'S SO RUDE TO THE PEOPLE WHO'S KEEPING IT GOING!! Don't you see without them you can never have S5 in this summer!!! That's meaner then anything!!!

If you hate how the style is, that's YOURRRRRRR thing! And I can't possibly believe how disappointed I am in our fandom! We love this show even if I'm still just a 'new gal' I want to be the part of it most!! I'm not someone who's in this for YEARS but I know my worth on keeping it going and the story alive!!

I'm working on me and my friend's fan fiction, what do I see? People hating on their own favorite show just because of a style!! Bad quality bad what it is it's valid you have a mind but how ungodly ungrateful, stupidity mindless idiotic brats you are to ever EVER send BAD MESSAGES LIKE THAT TO THE PRODUCT GROUP!!

How much of an IDIOT YOU ARE YOU WORTHLESS BEINGS OF NOTHING, IF YOU'RE SO UNGRATEFUL ABOUT IT THEN KEEP THE OLD ONE OR BANISH FROM THE FANDOM!!!!

Which is a joke ofc, I'm not that kind of a person! :D

I'm not some person who hates everyone yk? :3

I get you're unhappy about it but don't worry? Because our story continues on! Lmk teaches us about how we had an awesome journey, saving people, learning life lessons! It's not just a show it's how we cope and have a happier time around the people who enjoy it!

Design doesn't matter, it matters in the story, how it goes and how we can go on in our next year of Lego monkie kid!

If you plan on sending bad messages to the production, please stop immediately. Because you all should know, you can't do such a thing to people who wants this show, who want US to love it, no matter what happens we HAVE the show and that's the whole point!

It will get better and we will have more! Hating on something like that wouldn't it be such a stupid, useless and worthless thing to do? Especially if it's nothing but garbage to your own mouth! We all love this show and we should all stay so, because no matter what, the story goes on, we will move on and it'll be awesome!

You're a pathetic useless, worthless, unworthy ungrateful brat of this world if you do such a thing! I hope you understand what I meant!

Let us enjoy the wonders of our show and the story of Mk!

[blacksapphhicmaddonna]

CHAPTER ONE - WHAT I HAVE TO DO.

a/n: hey y'all! so, I tried to post this in response to the anon who asked for a snippet but I saved it as a draft and Tumblr ate it😭 SO THIS IS DEDICATED TO YOU, ANON, WHOEVER YOU ARE!! sorry babes!💔💖💖💖💖

its been a minute since I've written anything fully, this was fun!!! as always, please ignore any grammar/syntax/spelling. I proof read it but you feel me. I'm super excited to be writing something so long and multi chaptered and definitely out of my comfort zone! am I an action girly now? LMFAO but anyway, I'm super open to any feedback and 👀 as always, if you wanna see sum, say sum.

anyway, I love my science gays and I will stan shuriri forever. this is pretty much all angst at this point❤️‍🩹, but I truly hope you enjoy LMFAOOO. lmk how you feel.💗 (and yes, I love a good flashback real bad and ima do it every time if I can. not too much on me LMFAO)

✮ taglist: @mybonafidefeelings@zeezeecave@gr00vyminibus@lppriceisright@darkangelchronicles@princessmel-1995@xenaizogie@nanii2x, and tagging a few folks that enjoyed the sneak peak and a few shuriri/shuri/riri folks who might! @karimwillia @inmyheadimobsessed@mal-urameshi@somethingcleaverandwhitty@imjusthere2readbruv@imagineandwrite there's more but my computer glitching so we gonna get this show on the road! lmk if you'd like to join the taglist or check the link in my tagged post! love y'all, muah

✮ word count: 11,193

✮ panther divider: @firefly-graphics

✮ some of the xhosa translations are from @iinkonde! here's where you can find some of their amazing resources: 1 2 3

Shuri paced the room that seemed to be growing smaller by the millisecond around her, searching for something - anything - inside of the brain most people considered the smartest in the universe to offer the scientist in front of her. She found nothing but the desperation she had been pushing down since the moment they met.

A desperation that mirrored the effects of the herb she had reproduced, also made from the desperation to save something that she felt was slipping through her fingers at the time. Just like the herb had found its way through her body when she first took it, this feeling spread from her throat as she choked when their eyes met as she pushed herself into the dorm room she was once again standing in. Down to her chest, pulling heart strings she didn’t know she had. Plucking them in a rhythm that felt intrinsic, ancestral, almost painful in the way that they made everything feel superimposed. She resisted, but she felt her toes and she felt her finger tips and she felt the curls framing her face dance above her eyes ever so gently. It spread through every atom that comprised the panther and she could barely breathe. She felt everything and she felt nothing, like she was sinking in an ocean of clouds. She could barely look at the woman who was staring back at her with a look of confusion, and an equal desperation that she couldn't explain.

Shuri still had nothing to offer in terms of speech. She paced at a speed that had only just registered as super fucking fast, clearly adding to the concern building in Riri's eyes.

"Shuri-" Riri started, but couldn't even try to finish as her voice had triggered the awaiting and building eruption in Shuri that it always did. Riri, if she did anything to Shuri, she made her feel things she wasn't used to feeling.

"Anything you want, just name it. It's yours. I'll make it happen. I'll build it myself. Just please don't do this. Please." Shuri froze in her place, finding herself begging for something she couldn't explain. She knew she was almost yelling at the other woman, which she would never do but she couldn't find the part of her that could compose herself. She was thankful for the kimoyo beads she had scattered in the room when she entered, enabling a silencing mode and cutting through anything that the government had tapped in Riri's room.

Riri froze too, only moving to fumble with her fingers nervously. She didn't have anything to offer the panther, the queen standing in front of her. She didn't have anything to comfort her friend. The woman she loved more than she could explain. More than almost anything. 

"I don't... I don't want anything from you, Shuri... We both knew this day was coming. You had to have thought about it. I thought you were.. I don’t know... It almost felt like-"

"Please, Ri. Please. Just find something and I'll do it. I'll make it myself if I have to. Please just find something else."

"I don't want... I don't understand, Shuri. We only talked about this like twice, I didn't even think you cared that much or even had time to care about it... or me, really. Just... lets just sit down for a second." Riri tried to redirect, trying to give herself time to figure out what was going on. She felt her mind trying to run back through memories and conversations the two had shared in the past year and some change, but it was few and far between that they ever really had time to talk about their lives in depth lately. At first, they talked a lot after they had finally reconnected. They had even spent a few nights together. But lately, Shuri had been working a lot and it seemed like their connection was running dry. Riri had shared her plans a few months ago and hadn't really heard much back from the woman standing in front of her looking like she was fighting a battle she wasn't sure she'd win. Riri had committed herself to this, to showing up and doing what she felt she needed to do to make up for all the ruin she had caused - or at least what she thinks she caused. And now Shuri was trying to offer her a chance out of it. She didn't know what to do or what to think. That's something she felt often with the panther, she figured out. She had zoned out for only a split second before Shuri was grabbing her wrists and looking in her eyes.

"Riri, I'm begging you." Shuri stared into the Iron Heart's eyes, searching for something she knew she was missing. Something she needed the way she needed air, she felt. Riri searched back, trying to decipher something Shuri wasn't ready to let her see.

"Shuri, you know I feel responsible... But, I just.. I don't understand what's going on. What's wrong? Please just talk to me. It's okay." Riri tried to pull them closer, tried to grab the Panther's hand but her grip was too tight around her wrists. Shuri relaxed it, she hadn't intentionally been holding on so tight but she wasn't ready to let go. She's never been ready to let go of who she loves. She saw that same resolute look in Riri's eyes that was always there when she was sure about something. It broke something in Shuri that she knew she couldn't mend on her own. One final try, she told herself.

"I will give you anything under the sun. Please just don't go to them. Don’t go to him. I- I know you're trying to help and change things for the better, and you will. But not like this. Not until it's safe. He will find you, Riri. He will do anything to get to you and to get back at me. You know this and you still choose to go? You don’t have to make this easy for him. We can figure this out a different way. Please. I will give you access to all the technology Wakanda has to offer, just please find something else to focus on, to take place of this. Please."

Riri tried to pull her closer again but the panther moved back, sending a shiver of rejection up Riri's spine.

"I don't want anything from you, Shuri... I just want you. I- I mean I just want you to-"

Shuri felt her body getting hot and somehow freezing at the same time. Riri just wanted her? But she also wanted to go on this suicide mission, which is what it was regardless of what Riri thought of it. She fought back the defensiveness she felt crawling up her throat like it always did when she was hurt. She didn't want to lash out on Riri, she only wanted to protect her. She only wanted her to be safe, alive. She only wanted her. But it was to no avail. She felt the ferocious beast pull itself through her. She scorned herself as her words burned their way through her skin, landing on Riri's.

"You just want whatever you want. You just want to fight whatever moral war you have going on because you're the one who survived! You would give up your life for what? For who? Not for my mother! Not for me!"

Riri hadn't noticed the tears stinging down her cheeks until she saw the ones pouring out of Shuri's. It was something she had never seen before. She had seen Shuri lash out, though. She knew this was just the first wall of defense the panther had when she felt hurt, afraid, abandoned. She couldn't take this personally, though she had to fight back the sting of the words as they came at her. She reached out to try and touch the woman in front of her.

"Shuri, please. Let's just ta-"

"What?! Sit and talk? For what? For you to tell me again why you have to do this, why you have to go and die? Do you care so little for me? For yourself?"

"You know that's not true!"

"Why wouldn't it be true?! Ungayenza njani le nto kum!?"

"Please just listen to me! I don't know what's going on but we can talk about it! I'm right here, I'm right here!"

"But you won't be after this! You don't have to do this! Just let me try, let me show you that there's other things to give you purpose, there’s other ways we can handle this! PLEASE!" Shuri felt herself starting to cave in, her chest becoming a cavern filled with the screams of the orphaned girl inside of her. The girl who needed her family. The girl who couldn't save her brother. The girl who was held back from her mother as she drowned. The woman who loves women, specifically the woman in front of her who was planning to give herself up. She couldn't keep it together. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't think.

"That's not for you to decide, Shuri!" Riri shot back, starting to feel the same layer of armor pull itself over her. She didn't like being yelled at. It triggered something in her that she herself had pushed back as far as it would go. She just needed to get Shuri to listen to her.

"I don't care! You can't do this Riri!"

"Please stop yelling at me!" Riri gave in, covering her ears and turning her back to the panther, who felt herself go still. She hadn't meant to unleash this part of herself. She felt embarrassment mixing with her desperation, afraid she had only made things worse. Who was she to be trying to control the actions of a woman she only met a little over a year ago? Who she was just friends with, and barely that if you based it off what normal friendships looked like. They rarely even spoke for longer than a few minutes every couple days and that wasn’t even true anymore. Shuri scorned herself for the time she hadn’t spent with her, for the time she had been forced to spend trying to fix, defend or save her country. She resented her royal blood now more than ever, wishing she could be nothing more than a girl again. Maybe a student. Maybe just different. Shuri felt herself starting to crack, she felt like she would disintegrate if she stood there any longer. She had done enough damage. She and Wakanda and the Talokan had put Riri through enough and she knew that. She could see why Riri would think this guilt was hers to bare but Shuri knew better, knew more secrets. She knew that her father and his father and so on hadn’t handled things right, and no matter the good T’Challa had tried to do - maybe he didn’t do it right either. So now it laid in her hands, forced once again to stand in the way of something she wasn’t ready for. She felt bad for herself, but she felt worse for Riri. She wishes she had never sent her home with the beads, that they had never touched hands, that they had never even met. Maybe if no one ever knew about Vibranium, no one would be trying to take it. Or maybe if the world had always known, if her ancestors had done things differently, this wouldn’t be Riri’s life. She was part of the lost tribe, as N’Jadaka would call it. Maybe he was right. She didn’t know what to think, but she also knew who she was, herself. She was the most powerful person on the surface world and she was the Queen of the most powerful nation in the world. And she was in love, helplessly, with Riri Williams. She would not let her go again.

"I am sorry for coming here and making you upset." Shuri said blankly, masking any emotions she had just shattered into the room as best as she could to regain any self control she had left.

Riri turned around, tears still swelling in her eyes. She hiccuped and it made Shuri's heart pound.

"I-it's okay. I just don't like b-being yelled at. Can we just sit and talk?"

Shuri nodded, knowing Riri needed a minute. Riri turned to grab a blanket off her bed to wrap herself in as she took a seat on the floor in front of her bed. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths before motioning to Shuri to sit next to her. Shuri stared at her for a moment too long, before kneeling down next to her. They sat in silence that wasn't comfortable for the first time in a long time. Neither missed this feeling, the feeling of such uncertainty between them. Sure, it was always there, biting at the backs of their minds and hearts. But they had both worked hard to be comfortable with just having what they had. But now more than ever, neither was sure what was really going on. Shuri mirrored Riri, taking a few deep breaths. Riri felt herself relax, misreading the quiet sigh Shuri let out.

"Are we okay? I don't want us to fight. I just... need you to help me understand why you're so upset. It didn't seem like you even really cared about this. I know you've been busy with what you have going on so I just figured this... I.. wasn't really on your radar anymore."

Shuri stayed silent, fighting that feeling nudging her.

"Please say something." Riri pleaded quietly after a few too many more moments of silence. She couldn't stand it. Neither could Shuri. She needed to escape. Get out of the room, out of America. She needed to run and scream and break something. She needed to kill Namor. That was her only option, once again. She knew it would come. She knew the fate of her country would be in the air again, and part of her knew she shouldn’t do it. Equal parts yes and no. Blood on either hand, regardless of what choice she made. But she also knew that Riri's life was once again in question and there was only one answer Shuri would accept. She would deal with the aftermath the same way she had been. She would accept whatever came. She knew she wasn't thinking clearly, that maybe she would be exiled or worse, but she also knew she couldn't live with herself if Riri wasn't alive tomorrow, and that was enough for her right now. If Riri wouldn't listen, then there was only one choice.

"I'm sorry I yelled at you, Riri. It won't ever happen again."

Riri was startled at the sincerity in the Panther's voice. She was confused why that was what Shuri felt she had to focus on in the midst of whatever the hell was going on.

"It's okay, I promise. I'm not mad at you for yelling at me. I'm just confused..."

"It's not okay. This, whatever you're planning, whatever he's planning... None of this is okay." Shuri said, pinching between her eyes as she tried to swallow the same beast from just a few minutes ago.

"Shuri... it's not like before. It's not about him. It's not even just about what happened in Wakanda. You know I'm Iron Heart. You knew I was going to start doing these things at some point. Missions that weren’t just flying around Chicago and Boston stopping robberies. And you know that something has to be done. And I can’t let this go on again when we all know it’s my fault.” Riri sighed. “We all know it is. So, please just try to hear me..."

"I have always heard you, Riri."

Riri digested that sentence with a gulp. She replied after a moment.

"Then let me hear you, for once. Tell me why you're here. Tell me why you're reacting like this. Tell me who you are and what you're feeling. Let me in, Shuri." She said, reaching out to grab Shuri's hand again. The Panther's hand was hot, almost burning. She didn't pull away this time.

"I'm here because I lo-.. Because I won't let this happen." Shuri caught herself before she said something she couldn't explain. Riri looked into Shuri's eyes with a pleading, less sure look. Shuri couldn't hold it this time. She couldn't freeze. She couldn't tell Riri. She reminded herself what happens every time she loves someone. She reminded herself of what she was capable of and what needed to be done. Regardless if Riri ever shared her feelings or not, she would swear her life to protecting the woman until the day she met the ancestors and maybe after if she could. She would do whatever it took, every time, no matter what, she resigned to herself. She squeezed Riri's hand.

"What're you gonna do? Lock me in my room, Shuri? I don't get what's going on!" Riri pleaded.

"I would never. You are not a prisoner or someone I want to control. You are free to do as you please, just as I am. Please understand that much."

"What does that mean... Wait, please don't go!" Riri tugged back at Shuri's hand again as the Panther got up to leave. Shuri looked down at their hands touching, taking in every second that their skin touched. She remembered what it felt like to reconnect after a long time apart. She wishes she could live in it like she had before. She brought their foreheads together and closed her eyes.

"I will protect you with every part of me. The cost will never be too much."

"Shuri, please don't do what I think you're about to do..." Riri pulled Shuri's hands into hers and brought them to the sides of their faces. They were so close they could feel each other's breath on their lips. Riri prayed in her head that Shuri would listen to her, knowing the strength and power the woman in front of her wielded. Shuri choked out a pained laugh before kissing Riri's forehead and pulling away, taking in the scent of Ghanian Shea Butter and the sweet scent Riri always had.

"Andizukuphulukana nawe. Impilo yami ngeke ibe lutho ngaphandle kwakho, Riri Williams."

Before Riri could open her eyes, the Black Panther was gone, the sound of a closing door shaking Riri to her core. She felt like she was in shock, having nothing to do but curl into a ball and pull the blanket around her body, covering her face as she let the rest of the tears fall silently. She laid there for what felt like an eternity until she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Miss Williams?" Riri jumped up, running around her room tracking down the voice. She picked up a purple and black kimoyo bead and held it up, suddenly seeing several others connect like magnets from across the other corners of the room.

"Griot?!" Riri both yelled and whispered.

"Hello, Miss Williams. Are you feeling alright?" Griot asked as the AI began taking a scan of her body to check her vitals.

"I've been better... what's going on? Why are you here? Not that it's not nice to... well you get what I mean!"

"It seems you have suffered a panic attack of sorts. Please get some water and take a seat before I proceed."

Riri rolled her eyes with a tired huff, giving in because she knew Griot wouldn't budge until she obliged. She grabbed a half empty bottle of water from her desk and sat back down near her bed, pulling the blanket up around her. She suddenly felt the absence of Shuri in her space and fought back the tears threatening to make way through her as she pulled the bracelet on, watching it activate. She had felt this way before, but it was different now.

"Feeling better, Miss Williams?"

"Just Riri is fine, and I guess. Can you explain what's going on now, please Griot?"

"Yes, Miss Riri." Griot replied as a hologram of Stark Tech floated in front of the scientist. She felt even more confused.

"Why are you showing me Stark Tech?"

"The panther has created and assigned your own AI for you, it's name is VIV. It is nearly identical to the JARVIS, or Vision, that Tony Stark had. It has been being developed for over a year, and seems to have just finished."

"What the fu-"

"The Panther also has an updated version of your vibranium Iron Heart suit on it's way to your lab location, or garage currently. She has given you access to me as well, with some restrictions. She has instructed me to inform you of this when the AI download is complete."

Riri sat in even more shock than she was in before. She was even more confused about Shuri's intentions now. More confused about her feelings, than anything. She replayed the words the panther had said to her before she left, she knew some Xhosa but it wasn’t great. 

"Can you translate what Shuri said to me in Xhosa before she left, Griot?" Riri asked, hoping for some clarity. Griot calculated for a moment, before answering.

"It would seem I am not permitted to complete that task at this time, Miss Riri."

Riri felt a pang of frustration rise in her, as she let out a laugh.

"Of course not... Can you tell me where the panther is right now?"

Griot took a moment again before answering.

"The Queen was on her way back towards Wakanda as of her last status, but it would seem she has powered off her location devices. Would you like me to contact her for you?"

Riri sat for a moment, considering her options and her own feelings.

"No, that's alright Griot. We're going to my lab. Can you help me boot up VIV when we get there? We're going on a trip."

"As you wish, Miss Riri."

Riri stood up, grabbing a hoodie and sliding on some J's. Before she walked out the door, she slid on the kimoyo beads and asked a final question.

"Oh, one last thing Griot. Can you turn on privacy mode? I would like my location hidden from everyone, including the Panther. Can you do that?"

"It seems I can, but I would not advise that action Miss Riri. There are safety protocols in place that the Panther can activate for you remotely."

"That's fine, just turn it on. I have my own safety protocols."

"As you wish, Miss Riri."

"Thank you, Griot."

Riri made her way to her garage in no time, paying no mind to the world around her or the messages on her phone from MJ about their project. When she got there, she did decide to shoot her a quick text explaining that she was heading home to Chicago for a family emergency, that MJ could find her portion already done on a small drive in her room and that she had permission to break in, and that she would make it up to her later. MJ did reply, but Riri didn’t have time for that. She got to work, with the help of Griot, or the portion of him that she was allowed to operate, and booted up her own AI and implemented it into her nano suit. The one from wakanda was on its way but wouldn’t be there in time. Thankfully, she didn’t have to meet with Namor for another day and a half. She needed to think quickly but after working everything out with her suit, she was unsure where to go from there. 

“Griot, can I use both you and VIV?” 

“Yes, but you likely will not need me once the AI is turned on. I will be there when you need me, though Miss Riri.”

“Thank you Griot.” Riri smiled to herself, always fond of Griot and their robot voice. It made her think about the time she spent in the lab with Shuri, where they would borderline argue and Riri would laugh at them. This brought back that pang in her stomach and chest. She got to work on turning on and engaging with the AI so that it could mold to her needs, voice and patterns. After about an hour, she felt ready to head off. Except she had no idea how to get to Wakanda, let alone how to get in. She ruffled through her bookbag to find the information Namor had sent for her. A small teal envelope with her name on it, looking like it was written with a quill and ink. She shuddered at the thought of how old this man was and how intentional he had been to get this note to her. She opened it and read over it again, hoping to find more information than last time. Then, an idea came to mind.

“Hey VIV, and Griot, not that I don’t think you can handle it by yourself VIV. But uh, can you both scan this for me? I don’t have my Black light. Look for anything and everything. Cross reference what you find, if anything. Please.” 

“Yes IronHeart.” “Yes, Miss Riri.” They both answered in tandem. While they got to work, Riri sat down finally to think about what she could do. She couldn’t exactly call up the avengers to help her figure this out. She had to be lowkey, she had to be smart, and she needed it to work. She had only been to Wakanda once, and wasn’t really in the know about how to travel there let alone get through the border forcefield. As she went over all she did know, trying to remember any details that would help, the AI duo alerted her. 

Griot speaking first, since VIV seemed to sense a deeper trust from the IronHeart’s patterns. 

“There are markings on the back that would indicate a geolocation where Namor would like you to meet.”

“So, coordinates? I can work with that.” Riri said out loud, still trying to figure out exactly how she could work with that. Until she looked over at her father’s red car, in pristine condition thanks to Shuri. And it dawned on her. 

“Griot, do you have contact information for anybody besides Shuri?”

“I have contact information for Queen Shuri, and Okoye, former general of the Dora Milage.”

“Perfect. Please contact her now.”

“Yes, Miss Riri.”

“Wait, before you do, please transfer this contact information over to VIV. I’m not sure if Shuri knows that I have VIV yet, but in case she does, I don’t doubt that she would shut you down.” Riri explains to her favorite robot as if they needed it. Griot complied and sent a call out to Okoye.

Riri waited, holding her breath. She wasn’t sure is Okoye would answer, or even be willing to help. But this is what she had to work with. 

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Okoye answered.

“Small girl. Is everything alright?” Okoye answered seeming cheerful enough to hear from the girl but not without worry for the cause. Riri took a deep breath and explained the situation, truthfully, to the best of her ability. Somehow, as a surprise to both of them, Okoye was on her way in a matter of minutes as a Midnight Angel, with a jet that Shuri had let her keep. They both knew Shuri would be upset, but somehow it didn’t matter enough to let her get to Namor. They both knew what could happen, and what Shuri would likely do. 

No time was wasted when Okoye arrived, Riri running in the open hatch as fast as she could. Okoye pulled off without a trace, both of them hoping they hadn’t alerted any American law enforcement this time.

Okoye charted course for Wakanda and they both sat in near silence for most of the ride, only sharing a few words when Riri boarded, Riri showing Okoye the letter before she began piloting. They would make it in time. Riri sat near the back, not feeling like she belonged at the mantle of the machine. She had always liked these, having begged Shuri to teach her how to fly one before they set off for war. Riri sunk into her feelings that she had been trying to keep at bay since finding out about the AI. Before Shuri came, she honestly really wasn’t sure what she was going to do or how she was going to do it. But it seemed like the timing would suggest that she was supposed to, whether she really wanted to believe that or not. She didn’t want to believe that she was this horrible monster who brought death and destruction with her everywhere she went, but sometimes she really did. She tried to fight those thoughts back and began to feel the weight of her body, sinking into the seat. Sinking was a familiar feeling to her. She tried to remember how to swim in her own thoughts. She remembered how Shuri would talk her through her episodes. How she would call right away when she sensed anything off, even if Riri wasn’t wearing her beads. She remembered how it felt to think everything would be okay, and how often that was proved to be untrue. 

It was too easy to remember. Too easy to feel like it was just yesterday. Riri couldn't keep her mind from wandering back in time while the Wakandan jet made its way through the air. Trying to focus on anything else, trying to pay attention to the Dora silently flying or guarding the exit, trying to watch the sky around her. Anything. She couldn't bite down hard enough on the inside of her cheek, leaving a sore mark wasn't enough to keep her mind from its current occupation. 

"What are you doing here?!" The shorter of the two screamed, almost screeched as she ran into the panther's arms. 

"I had some time to myself finally. Where else would I go?" Shuri chuckled as she picked the scientist up. 

"You could literally go anywhere in the world and probably... out of the world? At this point with Wakandan tech." Riri explained, seriously, as she hung onto the slim but toned body holding her off the ground with ease, not realizing she was holding on as tight as she was. Not realizing there was nowhere else Shuri would have gone. Nowhere. 

"You're so... anyway, what should we do?"

"How long do we have?" Riri asked as she pulled back, not even trying to contain her wide grin that was plastered across her face. Shuri recorded it to memory, as she always did with the smaller woman's features. 

"96 hours. Well, 96-ish, less now that we've been standing here debating where I could've gone." Shuri jokes as she lets go, making sure Riri found her footing. 

"Shut up! Four days?! We have so much to do!" Riri definitely screeched this time, pretending to slap Shuri's arm. Fighting the urge to grab it and pull her in, Shuri picks up Riri's book bag from where she dropped it and places it in her desk chair as she walks to the bed and pulls her own bag out from under the bed.

"Exactly how long have you been here? You seem comfortable." Riri jokes as she grabs two waters from her mini fridge and hops up on her bed. 

"I am." Shuri chuckles at the sight of the shorter woman having to jump to get on the bed. "And since your first class."

"Are you serious?! Why didn't you say anything dickhead?!" 

"Ouch!" Shuri feigns pain as she catches the pillow Riri throws at her head and plops on the bed next to her. "I had a few things to handle, and needed to secure the dorm building. I didn't want to disrupt your day, I know midterms are coming up no?"

"Yeah, they are but you could've let a bitch know! I would've cleaned!" Riri states, noticing that she sounds much like her mother. 

"I like your mess." Shuri smiles. 

"Shut up. How did you secure the whole dorm building?"

"Well, I hope you don't mind. I have beads in every corner of the building. And a few around campus as well. Including in here. Is that alright with you?"

"Sheesh. Do I have a choice?" Riri jokes, but Shuri nervously answers.

"Yes of course! If it's not comfortable for you, I can sleep at a hotel. I should've asked, I'm sorry about that. Next time I'll-"

"There's a next time too?"

"Well, if you'd li-"

"Are you crazy?! Of course! And yeah yeah, that's all fine with me. I get it. Don't start worrying about it or nun. I was just curious."

Shuri's smile returns and she relaxes back into the bed. It was oddly comfortable, being that the last time she was here was before the war. Sure, they'd been talking for months over facetimes and calls. And texts. And letters.. oddly, but not to them. They were both truly as desperate as they felt, but excused it since it seemed mutual - opting to call it a mutual interest in friendship, as opposed to what it really was in the bigger picture. And sure, they had seen each other one other time, but it was so brief that it shouldn't really count - although it did, to both of them. 

Shuri had arrived at an American event in Boston, forced to show face by the elders after the uproar surrounding her mother and everything. She felt it was too soon and didn't make sense to attend a tech gala when none of it was even touching Wakandan tech. But regardless, she put on her best suit and went, disregarding the elder's request for her to wear traditional royal attire. She sat there, wishing she hadn't come, while big investors droned on. The only part that peaked her interest was listening to the stories of young inventors. They reminded her of herself, so excited and in a hurry. They reminded her of someone else too. Someone she had been longing to see since she left Wakanda only a few months ago at the time. 

Shuri muddled around the thought of calling Riri, or just showing up at her dorm. She knew she had responsibilities to attend to the next afternoon after she returned home, and it really hadn't been that long. Maybe Riri wasn't ready to see her yet? Or maybe she never would be. Or maybe Shuri had really made their connection up in her own mind. Or maybe she didn't? And maybe she should just call her, or maybe send her a quick text to keep it more casual? Keep what, casual exactly? She wasn't sure. She paced around her own mind anxiously the entire night, not realizing it was her turn to speak until the Doras were next to her asking if she was alright. She collected herself and headed to the stage, performing a speech much like her brother had about the importance of innovation, supporting the youth - especially the Black and Brown youth, etc. She meant what she said but she hardly felt as connected or present with it as she was when she wrote it. Still circling her mind was her favorite innovator, the scientist who made everything make sense to her. Pining so badly, by the end of her speech she had resolved to call Riri. Faking her smiles through the eruption of clapping and handshakes as she left the stage, she made her way back to her seat while the closing speech began - only to lose her resolve when Ayo bent down to whisper a reminder of their exit plan and their intended arrival time back in Wakanda. 

She had known it was a foolish thought. Who even knew what the small scientist would be doing at this time? She could be working, studying, partying. God, Shuri hoped not but recoiled at her own thoughts. She wasn't heteronormative and she wasn't the toxic type. She just also felt jealous of anybody and anything that got to be around Riri when she wasn't. Which was most times. Essentially all the time. Really, she reasoned with herself, she had only been around Riri for a few days and it had been against her will anyway. Maybe she really was making all of this up in her head. 

The Queen of Wakanda continued her mental pace as she made her exit, later than most guests and certainly not from the front entrance. She walked through the beautiful building with the Doras who were talking amongst themselves about logistics, seemingly all having caught onto another one of Shuri's "moods". Shuri paid them no mind, as they expected, while she began brooding. What was the point of coming to America, aside from like... the actual point, politically - if not to see her scientist? She caught herself scoffing at "her scientist", making fun of herself in her head as they headed outside and around the back when the Doras suddenly stood alert around her. Shuri looked around her and back at her beads quickly, doing a quick scan of their surroundings, only to hear a small, out of breath "Hey" from her left.

"Williams?"

"Yeah, yeah.. haha. Hoo. Crazy catching you here." Riri joked awkwardly as she tried to catch her breath from clearing having run.

"Yes, well I was-"

"Giving a speech. I saw on tv. Just happened to be in the neighborhood myself so I figured I'd uh, say hi." Riri cut the Panther off as she caught her bearings and finally made eye contact. Shuri made contact back, silently signaling for the Dora to drop their guard. Ayo looked between them but of course followed command. Shuri stepped between them and closer to the scientist, who was now twiddling her fingers and looking anywhere but at Shuri. Just like she did in Wakanda. Just like Shuri had replayed in her head a billion times over. While Shuri took the absence of eye contact as a chance to damn near gawk at the smaller woman, Riri was doing her own mental laps. 

She also questioned her intentions and if she had been making this all up. She also questioned how crazy she must look, showing up here like this. She couldn't stop herself, leaving MJ, Peter and Ned in her OWN room after they had been flipping through channels and Riri caught a glimpse. That was all it took, one, maybe two seconds and she was out the door. And granted, she kind of was in the neighborhood. If you consider being four miles away in the neighborhood. She had considered grabbing her car from the garage but figured it would take too long, so she jumped in her nano suit her and Peter had been working on (that definitely still needed some work), and flew over. Of course she couldn't land in front of everyone, so she landed in a park a few blocks away and took off on foot. None of which she will EVER tell anybody, although she could barely remember her excuse to the three friends she left in her dorm as she forced herself to look back up and meet Shuri's eyes. 

"In the neighborhood?"

"You could say that." Riri joked awkwardly again.

This made Shuri laugh. Riri had that effect on her, she had learned during their late night lab sessions. Even in the midst of the grimmest of days and a literal war, Riri had Shuri laughing so hard she cried a few times. They both seemed to be thinking back while they laughed together and smiled at each other shyly until Ayo cleared her throat. 

"We must get going, Kumkanikazi." Both women seemed to jump a bit, having been pulled out of their staring contest. Riri shuddered at hearing Shuri be called that, she recognized it from when Okoye would speak about Queen Ramonda. She had done her best to pick up on as much of the language as she could when she was there, for some reason unknown to her - she just figured it would come in handy. But now, hearing it and knowing it meant Queen, shook her to her core. She remembered why she hadn't reached out, the guilt that sat in her bones about it. She nearly turned on her heels until she heard Shuri speak. 

"One moment please."

"My Queen, we really must-" Ayo begun speaking in Xhosa but was cut off by the Panther Queen. 

"Please. One moment." Shuri said, a command but almost begging, not turning to face the general one step to the side of her. She pulled at the necklace around her neck and Ayo nodded silently. 

"I will ready the jet." Ayo answered and turned around, her and the two other Dora briskly walking to the jet that was just now coming into Riri's focus. She assumed it was using the new camouflage tech she had heard mentioned before she left Wakanda. 

"Those things get cooler every time."

"Yeah, I suppose they do." Shuri laughed half heartedly. They both tried to speak but cut each other off.

"So-"

"I do-"

"You first." They both sheepishly smiled as they spoke in unison. but Riri insisted. "Go ahead, please." 

Shuri would've resisted if she wasn't so desperate and struggling against showing it. 

"How have you been? I've mis- I've been wondering. We haven't spoken since you left." Shuri caught herself, suddenly feeling like twiddling her fingers and looking at her shoes too but she resisted that too. She was good at resisting. 

"Oh.. well yeah. I've been. You know, school, work. Just been trying to get through the semester. I wanted to re- well I wondered how you've been too."

"I've been, too." Shuri shrugged with a smile. She wanted to know more, everything. To devour the stories Riri could tell her, even the most mundane. She wanted to know what pencils she used to write equations and what she thought of the food in her cafeteria. Riri just smiled, feeling the weight again. She knew Shuri hadn't been good, and she knew she hadn't either. 

"Can I ask you-" They both spoke in unison again. 

"You first." Riri insisted again, before Shuri could. Shuri didn't like it but she also didn't have much time to waste. 

"Why didn't you reach out?" She asked, leaving Riri out of breath all over again. After a second that seemed like a million, Riri answered.

"I didn't know how." She said truthfully. 

"I left you beads. Maybe I should've left a note too. I'm sorry, I figured you'd-"

"No, no. Not like that. I figured that out, it was actually pretty easy." Riri smiled, thinking about how much fun it was to try to get the beads to work. Fun until it wasn't. Fun until she heard Shuri's voice message and left it for months.

"Then you didn't want to?"

"No, I did. I just didn't know... how. I didn't know what to say, or how to say it. But trust me, I wanted to. I really wanted to." Riri said earnestly and more quiet than she intended. Shuri believed her and took her answer, even if she didn't like it. Again resisting herself. Resisting Riri. 

"I understand. Thank you for letting me know. Well..." She looked back at the Jet and sighed. They made eye contact before Shuri decided it would be best to count her losses in her own country, turning to leave. 

"Wait, I still have a question!" Riri almost shouted. "If that's okay... of course." She said more quiet. Shuri turned around eager to hear. Hoping. Resisting. But hoping. She nodded her head.

"Well..." Riri twisted her fingers around in her hands. She still didn't know what to say or how to say it. But she didn't have much time to waste. 

"Well?" Shuri asked, trying not to sound pushy but anxious to know. 

"Is it too late?" Riri asked, looking back up at the woman in front of her. The face she had committed to memory, but a bit different. More mature. Somehow even more beautiful. Shuri said nothing.

"...To reach out... To talk?" Riri finally drove it home, sending a silent prayer to whoever would answer that she wouldn't further embarrass herself. 

Startling the both of them, Shuri's beads lit up and Ayo's face appeared. 

"My apologies my Queen, but if we do not leave in the next three minutes, you may be late to your engagements tomorrow."

"Yes, thank you. I'm coming." Shuri said back, eyes still on Riri. 

Riri felt defeated as she watched the panther tuck her beads back up her sleeve. It probably was too late. And who knows. Maybe it was the right thing to do to not stay in contact. Maybe that's what was best for Wakanda or Shuri. She remembered her mother always telling her that sometimes "doing the right thing feels like shit". In this case, she thought, it felt worse than shitty.

That was until Shuri grabbed her hand. Softly, almost too soft in comparison to what you'd expect from a super powered panther. It was so soft yet sent a shiver through Riri, like electricity was coursing through her. Like her heart was beating for the first time. The eye contact was somehow not as awkward as it was a second ago when they were standing a few feet apart. It was like they were all alone.

"Use the beads. If they need to charge, just set them in the sun but they shouldn't."

"Oh- Okay. I will. I will." Riri said twice, almost like she was confirming with herself first and the Shuri.

"Good." Shuri smiled. She took a step closer before she heard another beep on her own beads. Before the General could speak, Shuri was already responding. 

"I heard you. I'm coming."

She looked at Riri again and sighed, and suddenly Riri saw just how exhausted the Panther really was. And maybe something else too. Shuri stepped back again, not wanting to let go of Riri's hand. 

"It'll never be too late. I'll see you soon?" Shuri said, finally letting go and letting the physical distance regrow between them, hoping that the emotional distance wouldn't grow again too. 

Riri watched as the panther walked back to the jet and boarded, looking back only once, only long enough to catch Riri's small wave but not return it. The younger scientist stood there feeling disassociated, unsure of what to do next. Really, she knew she had to go back to her dorm and go back to living her real life just like she had after she left Wakanda. Although, as dreary as that still seemed to her, this time felt different. Like there was something to look forward to, if she had the balls to actually use the beads like Shuri had said. She mulled over whether or not it was an instruction or a question from the Panther as she chose not to watch the jet fly off behind her. She heard the media start to buzz again when they heard the jet, upset that they had missed the person they were waiting for. Yet, Riri stood there and stared at the ground where Shuri was just standing. She still felt that pathetic feeling, and worried that she hadn't had a chance to explain how she found Shuri or even knew she would be there. She felt the weight of grief again, after seeing how tired Shuri looked when you really looked at her. And she felt guilty, for feeling excited. For feeling the butterflies she always pretended she didn't feel. She wondered, briefly, how Shuri was feeling right now but per usual, tried not to wonder too much as to not become delusional. She knew better than anybody that assuming to know how someone else thinks is the worst mistake you can make. 

Shuri, back in the jet that was flying faster than she would like, was afflicted by similar thoughts. She wondered how Riri had found her and wondered if she really was as lucky as that just felt. She wondered why the girl even came. She wondered if she thinks about her too. She wondered if Riri would use the beads. She sat awake, replaying every moment of their time together since their first encounter over and over until they arrived in Wakanda, despite the Doras concerns for her not getting rest. Shuri would rest when things were well enough for her to rest, she told herself, but even she was starting to notice the cracks. She knew she could only stay awake for so many days until her body would shut down. She had secretly tried some of the elixirs and teas that both Nakia and Aneka had sent her, and she had read what Okoye sent her after hearing everything. She had slept every now and then, but it was never restful. It was never without torment from some figment of her mind taking shape of someone she wasn't ready to face - whether that be Namor, N'jdaka, or her mother. She always prayed for T'Challa to appear, who she wasn't sure if she was ready to see but longed for the comfort of his voice or face, but each time her body fell asleep, her mind fell into a well pit of despair. 

That is, until later that night. Shuri had been through her daily responsibilities after making it back to Wakanda. Once her meetings were over, she made her way to the lab. She did her best to avoid checking the status of Riri's beads, trying to keep her mind busy as she usually did. It was harder this time, knowing that she'd actually spoken to the girl. After bopping around a bit, her body started to feel the weight of the past few days. She hadn't been physically training as much as she should've the past few weeks, because she knew it would knock her out but she was starting to feel stiff. She finally let up and sat down at one of her desks in a back room of the lab after Griot had let her know her vitals. She didn't usually sit in this room, so she hadn't been aware of what was placed in there. As she lazily sifted through the papers on the desk to try to keep her mind occupied, she saw blueprints for Riri's Iron Heart suit. The same feeling of nervousness and excitement rose in her as she more hurriedly looked over them. Despite all the work they did together, she never really got to see too much of Riri's initial process from scratch. She ran her slender fingers over Riri's pencil marks, reading over all her notes to herself. 

With a yawn, Shuri sat back and relished in the fact that Riri actually existed. Sometimes, when Shuri was really out of it, she couldn't believe that everything really happened. She was sometimes convinced she would wake up and her mother would still be here, or that Riri was just a figment of her desperate imagination. Sure, having her mother back would be... well, everything. But it scared Shuri to think Riri might not have been real, that she didn't really happen. She felt selfish for this, knowing that Riri's life would probably be better without the trauma she endured in Wakanda. But nevertheless, Shuri held on tight to the memories she had of the woman, hoping that they would be enough for her. 

She thought about how it felt to hold Riri's hand, to touch her skin again. It was just as soft and delicate as it had been when they parted ways a few months ago. Her face looked the same, maybe more mature in some ways. She looked tired too, underneath the face she put on for other people. They had gotten past that with each other during their long nights alone working together in the lab. 

She thought about what it would feel like to fall asleep in Riri's bed. The mattress probably wasn't super comfortable but she remembers all the colorful pillows she has, messily strewn across the surface. The different colored blankets would probably fit them both well, even with the little space a twin bed supplies. They would have to be close, touching. Shuri imagined breathing in sync, feeling Riri's ribcage rise and fall in her arms while they were pressed against each other. She thought about how Riri smells. She's been trying to replicate it for months. She thought about breathing her in, laying her face in the crook of her neck and sleeping. Not thinking. Sleeping. Not even having to dream. She thought about waking up next to her, seeing her sleeping still until Shuri shifted too much by accident. Riri waking up and no doubt saying something funny. Or soft. Or just saying hello. How her eyes would look. She thought about not being afraid to make it real, that in her thoughts she didn't have to pretend that these touches were by accident or out of necessity. That they could spend an eternity, wrapped in colorful blankets, sleeping and touching skin to skin. That maybe Riri would feel the same, and they would laugh about how long it took to figure it out. That they would laugh until they couldn't, and talk until they couldn't, and then they would kiss. And everything would melt away, and neither would know where their skin would begin or end. And they would kiss until they couldn't. And they'd sleep. 

She hadn't realized she had fallen asleep at the desk until she heard Griot's voice. 

"Sorry to startle you, Panther. But, Miss Williams is trying to contact you. How would you like me to proceed?"

Shuri was shook, unsure of what she looked like or even what time it was. She felt nervous. She felt groggy, not even sure if this was real either. Nevertheless, she answered. 

"Patch me through, please."

She waited a moment with bated breath, hoping this wasn't a dream or some fluke. Until she heard a familiar voice.

"Hello?" Riri asked, sounding nervous herself. Shuri wondered what time it was there, too. 

"Hey." She said, in a more relaxed tone. Even if this wasn't real, it was still the best dream she'd had in months. Maybe ever.

And they talked, for a long time. Eventually working through any awkwardness. Riri never explained how she made it to the Panther, and the Panther never asked. She did explain, however, why it took so long for her to call. Shuri just listened and let herself laugh, like she'd been dreaming about. Finally feeling free for a little bit, even if it was just for a little bit.

On the other side of things, once Riri had cleared everyone out of her room when she got back and promising to explain to MJ later, she had sat down and thought about what to do. That turned into pacing and talking outloud. She had been avoiding the beads like the plague for months, unsure of what to do. Unsure of what choice would cause the least harm, since she already felt guilty for what she had caused. She found herself awake all night feeling anxious. She left for class that morning, deciding that she would get through her day and take a nap. She would figure it out after that. What she didn't tell Shuri, is how hard its been to sleep since she left Wakanda, or really even how hard it was while she was there. But when she tried to take a nap, she realized that all she dreamed about this time was Shuri and how soft her hand was when they had touched and how peaceful it felt to talk to her, even if only for a few moments and only a few words. She decided when she woke up that even if they ended up never talking again, she would keep her promise and use the beads.

And that's what she did. And that's what they kept doing, for weeks and months. They talked, they listened, they laughed, and on rare occasion, fell asleep. Both free from nightmares, even if just for a little while. Until Shuri finally arrived.

And finally, they had some time to really figure things out. Shuri promised she wasn't missing anything important by being there, and that she had allotted enough time. Riri was still unsure about it but couldn't resist the opportunity to finally see the woman she had been pining over for months - as a friend, of course. 

As Riri remembered back fondly, she had forgotten what was ahead of her until she was jolted by turbulence that was usually well controlled by the Wakandan tech in the fighter jet. She couldn't process how she could possibly be on her way to confront the man that almost killed her and did actually kill the Queen of Wakanda. She couldn't fathom that she was racing there, against her love, her best friend, to make sure she didn't kill him first. Suddenly her clothes all felt too tight, and her suit felt heavy despite being nano. Suddenly the air felt hot and her lungs felt empty and she felt dizzy. She had felt all of this before, a panic attack. Riri Williams was no stranger to a panic attack. Not before Wakanda, and definitely not after. Though, for the past few months, she had always had Shuri to help ground her. Now, she was floating in the air, literally and figuratively. Everything was moving so fast. She felt herself spiraling and cursing herself in the process, unable to stop it but ashamed nonetheless. She had worked hard, since she was younger, to have a control over her emotions and thoughts. She needed to, especially if she was going to take this super hero shit serious. Especially if she was going to be there for her mom and sister after her dad passed. Especially if she was going to make it. But she felt that control slowly ripping itself to shreds, doing a number on all the mental blocks she had in place. She couldn't lose Shuri. She couldn't be the cause of another war in Wakanda. She couldn't live with the guilt. She couldn't let Shuri get hurt, or worse, for her again. Even if it meant confronting a man much more powerful than her. Even if it meant losing. Even if it meant drowning all over again. 

Suddenly, she felt a cool hand grace the side of her cheek. She felt her suit dematerialize around her until it was just a bracelet again. She felt Okoye kneel down in front of her, eyes kinder than they usually were. She felt her pull her in close and squeeze. The pressure of the embrace bringing Riri back into her body. They stayed like that until Riri could breathe again. 

She went to apologize as Okoye pulled back silently, just as she had appeared, but she was cut off. 

"Aht aht. There is no need." Okoye softly but firmly let her know, sitting down next to her. They had never been this close before. Riri looked over to see the jet flying itself. The first time she saw that happen she was crazy nervous, but she's grown to trust both Wakandan tech and Okoye. After a few moments of silence, Okoye spoke again.

"I know what she means to you, you know."

Riri looked at her finally, noticing how somber her eyes really looked. She had seen those eyes before, but not like this. Okoye continued, looking back out the windows. 

"I was T'Challa's right hand. I saw it all, from the beginning to the end. I saw him be the panther, I saw him be the king. I saw him be Shuri's brother." Riri felt a pang in her at the use of Shuri's name. She listened.

"And I saw him fall in love. I saw him devote himself to Nakia, and I saw her unravel at the loss of him - until she left. I saw it all, as much as I could. And I often wondered why I didn't feel the way they seemed to feel when my husband betrayed me and Wakanda. But their love... it was pure. It was something out of this world, it was something built into them." Okoye sighed, feeling grief in many directions. Riri found herself fighting back tears again until Okoye looked at her with different eyes, almost loving eyes this time.

"I have seen that kind of love before and that is how I know you have it. Both of you. And that is how I know we will figure this out." Okoye looked at her and squeezed her hand again, affirming what she said. They both heard the AI tell them they were approaching in the next 5 minutes. Through her tears that were now shamelessly falling down her face, Riri gulped out a question, in true Riri fashion.

"Do you think you will ever love like that?"

"I already do." Okoye said, getting up and adjusting herself to get back to the front of the plane to chart their secret entrance into Wakanda. Riri looked confused.

"Ngudade wethu." Okoye answered again, before sitting down and being who she needed to be. Riri knew what she said, and knew that she was right. About all of it. 

As they prepared themselves, Riri suited up and made her way to the front of the plane. 

"Where did he say to meet?" The midnight angel asked Riri. She sent the coordinates to the jet and looked at them wistfully. She hadn't really thought about where she might actually be going to "talk" to him when she was rushing to get herself to Wakanda. She jumped when Okoye gasped. 

"What?! What is it?!" Worry filled her from head to toe again, hoping it had nothing to do with Shuri. 

"That bastard... We are going to have to find a way to break into the palace. He wants to meet in the throne room."

Riri was speechless, knowing that this was a tactic to try to make her feel weak. She also couldn't deny that it was working. She felt her heart rate increase at the thought of being back in there. Of seeing the place where she almost died. Of... all of it. She had visited many times in her dreams, all against her will. And now she would face him there, against her will. She knew he was doing this to weaken her resolve, much like her and Shuri did with the dehydrating jet. She knew his intent all along, but this certainly solidified it. 

Riri tried to make peace with dying in Wakanda. Once again, her mom wouldn't know where she was or how any of this happened. She wondered what lie they would tell her. She wondered if she would fight or just give herself to him. She wondered what Shuri would do, knowing this wouldn't end well no matter what she did. But she held her mind together as best as she could. She knew she had to meet him before she did. She knew she had to do what she could to prevent a second war. Okoye knew too, looking at her and then pulling up her own beads to try and locate Shuri. 

"The Panther's location services are currently offline." The Ai spoke to them. 

"Let us pray she is behind us and not ahead of us."

"Will she know where to find us?"

"We are about to break into the most secure place on the planet earth. I'm sure everyone will know where to find us in a matter of moments." Okoye answered and they shared a look. 

"I hope you know, I will fight until the end with you. I have stood with the Wakandan throne my whole life. I have stood with Shuri and those that came before her. I have stood for the safety of my people as best as possible, but I have made my own mistakes before. I will stand with you, now, Riri. No matter the outcome."

Riri felt the pull of her tear ducts again but different this time. Okoye reminded her of her own sister, and of her own mistakes. She reached out a hand and found Okoye's. They held hands until it was time to land. 

Once they had maneuvered their way into the country using Okoye's knowledge as former general and her new disguising tech, which Riri made a note to recreate if she made it out of this, Riri followed Okoye into the dense jungle around them.

"The best chance we have is to stay low until we can't anymore, and then charge in. The Doras won't see it coming but they will react, with their full might as they've been trained to do. Even to me. Our goal is not to harm any Wakandans, but we have to get to the throne room before he does. I will do my best to reason with Ayo and Aneka but they will resist a meeting with him there. Once we spot him, we must draw him away from the palace. Even if it means drawing him to the sea. Remember that he is most powerful near water."

Riri nods as she listens. Okoye wishes there were another way.

"Remember that if we see Shuri, we may already be too late. We must keep them separate. I do not know if she will choose peace a second time. Not when it concerns you."

"I don't want her to do this, I hope you know. You were right. You were right about it all. I love her. But I don't want her to risk everything for me. You all already have and I can't live with that. I can't live with any of this. I don't want to die but... But I can't let everyone else die for me either." Riri spits out, hoping she's being believed. She means it. Okoye looks at her and hears Nakia's voice in her head. "I just know his spirit. It is simple in that way for me."

"Ndiyawazi umoya wakho. I believe you. And I will fight to make sure no one has to die today, unfortunately even him if it means peace."

"Thank you."

"Thank you, small girl."

"For what?" Riri asked, genuinely surprised since most of the mayhem the past few months has been a result of her actions - intentional or not. 

"For giving her something to hold onto again. Something to believe in." Okoye answered truthfully. Riri didn't know what to say but she took in what the older woman said, against trusting her. After a few moments of silence, it was time.

"Stand behind me and do not fly until I tell you. If you enter the air space anywhere near the palace, you will be shot down before you can count to one. Do you understand?" Riri nodded. 

She did understand. Now, more clearly than ever.

🖤

[deaths-presence]

Two of a Kind || Dazai x Reader Part 3: The Vanishing Act

Story Summary: The search for your brother has led you into conflict between the Armed Detective Agency of Yokohama and the Guild. Fitzgerald keeps you involuntarily, that is until you finally find your chance of escape. Will you find strength within the ADA, or will you only become more astray? Word Count: 1.5k Characters Featured: Nathaniel Hawthorne, Margaret Mitchell Warnings: afab!reader, slowburn, plot heavy to build up romance, usual Port Mafia violence, lmk if I happened to miss anything please! Tag List: @decaf-nosebleed @isa-ghost A/N: If you want to be added to the tag list that has started, feel free to let me know! Don't worry guys, we're finally getting plot-adjacent and building up to what we've been waiting for. :) Gotta love slow burns.

.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

Despite the Zelda as your new floating prison, you gawked up at the humongous vessel that you boarded with Lady Margaret and Hawthorne. The three of you had taken the rest of the evening to settle upon the ship, only paying half-attention to them discussing ideas for what they would do to properly make the Zelda the Guild’s headquarters in Yokohama; at least until they could procure a building. You could imagine Fitzgerald buying out one for the right price.

If Hawthorne and Lady Margaret noticed how quiet you were at the dinner table later that night, they said nothing about it. Your mind kept wandering back to the small battlefield you had managed to jump into. Your body had never moved so fast to protect yourself, but your thoughts were eating at you. Did you protect the right people? Should you have turned around and fought back against the Guild to protect those local to Yokohama? Where exactly did her loyalties lie?

Instead of getting that boy killed, I could’ve given my life to save him instead, you thought. You weren’t hungry enough to finish dinner, and you sighed in relief as Hawthorne allowed you to be excused and escort yourself out to the room you would be staying in. It was no wonder Fitzgerald assigned him and Lady Margaret to look after you. Despite having the opportunity to escape, you knew you would not get far without sustaining critical injuries. Hawthorne’s ability to manipulate his blood was crafty and hard to avoid, and Lady Margaret’s weathering ability with the wind at her disposal was something you didn’t want to be on the other end of.

You entered the room that was provided to you, momentarily forgetting that you were being held against your will on this ship at the sight of the environment in front of you. Nightfall had come and welcomed the glittering stars and constellations in the sky. Your eyes were captivated by the moon, its light reflecting from it dancing across the small, rolling waves of the water. The Tokyo Bay leading to the Pacific outside your windows was torturous. Something so vast and free laughed at you, trapped with no one to come to your rescue.

You decided to succumb to the bed that called out to you after undressing and putting on a nightgown, pulling your hair down from the ponytail you had put it in when leaving the Moby Dick. Your eyes fought to stay open as you shifted into the mattress that hugged you, and you drew up the sheets and blankets to stay warm and comfortable. It was the last thing you remembered until you woke up the next morning.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

The preparations for replenishing the Zelda the next day were quickly turned upside down. Your hands stopped running over the purple and black polyester of the gothic-style dress you wore. The length of the dress shortened into ruffles that came down to your knees and seeing them made you miss having Lucy visit you at least once a day. Your hair was down to save you the headache from having it pulled up, instead substituting the style by having your hair in waves.

Your attention was cast to Hawthorne and Lady Margaret chattering back and forth. Your eyes went to the singular paper that was in his hands, and you couldn’t help but notice that it was written in something deemed childish. You started to approach them before your footsteps on the wooden deck of the ship drew their gazes to you instead of each other.

“I need you to prepare for our departure once we have everything on the ship,” Hawthorne said with controlled calmness. Between him and Lady Margaret, you could taste the newfound tension in the air.

“Departure? So soon?” You tilted your head inquisitively.

“I’m afraid the Port Mafia has threatened this ship and our lives.” Hawthorne gestured to the letter by raising the paper up.

“In crayon?” you asked in disbelief, gently taking the letter to observe it. It was short more than it was sweet, and the content inside was exactly what Hawthorne had just described to you. Your fingers ran over the waxy letters.

“Like I said, it’s nothing more than a silly prank on the Guild!” Margaret huffed in exasperation.

You were inclined to believe her, but you also knew Hawthorne always preferred to remain cautious. If this threat was truly authentic, then it would only be a matter of time before it became reality. Hawthorne was the type to protect his people. Whether that happened to include you or not, you were not willing to pry into it. If nothing else, you knew Lady Margaret would be guarded.

“Mr. Hawthorne, sir. There’s something you should see.”

You felt a cold chill run down your spine and spread through the rest of your body. Did one of the labor men happen to find something to back up the evidence of the letter coming from the Port Mafia? You didn’t learn the answer to that question with Hawthorne’s next order directed at you.

“Please return to your room at once. I will let you know if it is safe to return to the deck.” His eyes told you all you needed to know. You understood if anything were to happen to you, it would be a target on Hawthorne’s head. Fitzgerald would make sure of that after assigning your welfare to him and Lady Margaret. Instead of arguing, you nodded and made your way back to your room. If nothing else, you would prepare for departure after everything was loaded onto the Zelda.

It felt like minutes passed before you heard a rumble above deck, your brows furrowing in concern. You heard your heartbeat starting to pound with adrenaline, and you weren’t willing to wait and see if more explosions were nearby. You left everything behind as you started out of the room at a hurried pace. Several large explosions went off above deck in quick succession, and the force of them made you lose your balance and fall onto the passageway floor. You could smell the fresh gunpowder, and your lungs contracted at the polluted air. You coughed as you forced yourself up on your feet, your idleness turning into panic as you sprinted to the closest way out.

The smoke worsened as you exited onto one of the balconies, your eyes stinging as your body racked with a coughing fit. The distance down to the dock was too grand to simply jump down, and you didn’t have a supernatural ability in your repertoire that strengthened your legs to break your fall. Though, as you thought about it, there was one way you could try.

You focused on bringing out the Change that you wanted, picturing the wings extending from your back and spreading out. Your eyesight shifted, and it forced you to blink rapidly to adjust while the colors making up the dock began to change and sharpen. Your body felt smaller and blonde locks of hair flowed in the small breeze out of the corner of your eye. You would have to take that in mind with your next course of action.

You took a couple of steps backwards before running to the rail of the balcony, kicking your feet off the deck to jump over it. Your wings glided you through the air and delivered you swiftly down to the port. Your landing was sloppy, but you managed to survive. To save your energy, you quickly shapeshifted back to your natural appearance, thankful for the unclouded air entering your lungs.

Your body felt like it was still lightweight enough to be carried by the air, and you nearly blocked out the shouting of your name. Your head slowly turned to the voice, and you snapped out of your stupor when you realized it was Lady Margaret. She looked uncharacteristically disheveled, and you noted the large patch of deep red on her pastel ballgown. Blood. She was injured. The Port Mafia threat was real.

You flinched when Margaret touched you. As you looked into her piercing blue eyes, you saw that they still held determination despite the outcome. She looked different and bare without her sunhat and parasol. She must have caught you staring with the way she shook you by the shoulders.

“Run, you little fool! What are you still doing here?!” she demanded.

“Lady Margaret,” you whispered as you found your voice, “I—”

You trembled at how tight her hold was on your hands now. They weren’t threatening. When was the last time you were touched without it bringing pain? Margaret had decided it was the best way to keep your attention focused on her instead of the chaos that surrounded you.

“Run. If they get a hold of you, it’ll be worse than what Francis has ever done. Run, and only use my appearance if you’re desperate!”

Your eyes widened considerably at the realization. That’s also why she had decided to touch you. If you had to hide yourself, she was offering her appearance as protection. You didn’t realize your eyes were tearful until her hard push sent you backwards. She didn’t have to order you to run again. With Margaret turning her back to help defend Hawthorne, you took to the unfamiliar streets and began running for your life.

[essthereal-archived]

Hi Essie! I wanted to ask on how you deal with PS when using GIFs as a background, more specifically when there's some white border after saving it as a GIF. I used your steps for my writing blog, and there was this white residue that I don't know how to get rid of.

Is it normal to edit it out when you're done on PS and you export it or not? I'm really unsure on how to deal with the error :(

(also, if you need evidence, please lmk so I can go off anon to show you what I mean ^^; I wanted to do what you and the others do with gif backgrounds and this is giving me a headache in trying to deal with 😔 /gen)

i think i know exactly what you mean , i had the same exact problem ! ( under the cut cuz its long !! )

look here , an older gif edit i made :

now .. first you want to make sure that the border is actually fully covering the gif . what i mean by that is , dont just erase the gif , use clipping masks instead ! do something like this :

this may not be the reason , another thing photoshop hates is ANY glow on a transparent gif edit .. im not sure if theres a way to do this , but in my experience there is no way to render a transparent gif that has outer glow , drop shadow , etc .

ill show you what i mean .. heres the gif but i added outer glow :

i try to render it :

edit: i forgot to say , make sure your matte ( you can see it in the last image ) is set to " none " !!! this is very important !!

so either of those may be your problem .. i hope this helped ?! :3

[cutebisexualmess]

blog intro(finally)

hey! I'm Vee or just V, welcome to my blog! I mostly use they/them pronouns, but xe/xem is fine as well!

pronouns page

ao3 (i don't post but i bookmark a whole heap of things, also just in case i do post something)

ill send you my goodreads if asked!(this is encouragement please ask i need to share my favourite books)

I also run a couple of tourney and rp blogs but you can only know those if you find them first >:)

fandoms Im in:

sanders sides, Percy Jackson, the owl house, keeper of the lost cities, heartstopper, the amazing digital circus, high class homos, the Hatchetfield trilogy, and good omens

others I (might) occasionally post about:

she-ra and the princesses of power, the dragon prince, camp cretaceous + chaos theory(not the og park and world movies though but i’m working on it), the umbrella academy, helluva boss and a little hazbin hotel, the two princes, nimona, starkid musicals, a little wings of fire, hells belles(webseries on tiktok), young royals(maybe), red white and royal blue(maybe), our flag means death, spy x family(maybe), bungou stray dogs, a lot of musicals, and other assorted webcomics and webseries my brain digs its claws into

things Im reading/watching atm: the song of achilles, stardust, the martian, and haikyuu!!

also just fyi i wont be tagging pjotv spoilers on rbs sorry

✨neurodivergent minor✨

my sorting tags:

#vee speaks - for my original posts

#vee arts - the occasional art i post

#save - favourite posts I'm saving for later

#from the draft dungeon -posts scavenged from my drafts

#tag games - tag games

#picrew chain - picrew chains

#ask game - ask games, specific ones will be tagged: [thing] ask game

also feel free to send me recs! I will consume any type of media and any content(including fanfic), and recs give me direction in my endless pile of to be read/watched :3

I don't mind if you dm/tag me in anything :D I love it when people interact with me.

feel free to ask for my discord as well!!

🐚 team no abs

Mutual tags(so far)(lmk if you want me to untag you :))

@tastetherainbow290 - #mutual 🌈!

@glacierruler - #mutual ❄️!

@periwinkle-the-11th - #mutual 🪻!

@fuzzysoulyt - #mutual 🐇!

@violetthunderstorm - #mutual 🌩️!

@nico-the-overlord - #mutual 💰!

@brookie-writes - #mutual 🧊!

otherwise atm mutual tags are #hi (name) until i change them :))

(also brooke idk what blog to tag so I just tagged your writing blog)

[digitaldoeslmk]

I am curious about your LMK au. I mean, i think i remember thar you still have a lady bone demon in you au,right? So if she still wants to erase this reality to create her perfet World, she stills need the samadhi fire, what exactly is she going to do to make red son use it? Cause i dont think he is going to do it if she asks him😂😂😂. Is she going to make him, for example, remember that he had lost his childhood? I can understand that he is ok right now with that, but can still be something that can upset him if the overthink of it.🤔

PD, i love your au and your art! I wish the actual serie was more like that, or at least the part of guanyin and red son still having the samadhi fire.

Pd2.0, do you have a fanfic of all this? If you have, please tell me!!!! 🤩🤩🤩🤩I need it!!!💙💙💙

Sorry if my english is not that perfect😂

hello anon, and thank you for the compliments!! I don't quite have a fanfic proper cus long-format writing is a real struggle for me, but I do plan to do some scenes and such :D I'll post here and on AO3, particularly on this collection <3

as for LBD, that's the thing, that's not her motivation at all! xD like I said, my au is very JTTW-compliant, and in the novels, the White Bone Demon's only motivation was to eat Tripitaka to gain immortality thanks to his multiple lifetimes of cultivation. that's the motivation of pretty much all the demons the pilgrims face, save maybe Princess Iron Fan and Bull Demon King, who both want revenge on Wukong for defeating their son Red Boy.

in my au, LBD gets revived along with a few other demons on the prospect of getting revenge of Wukong for killing them, a proposal offered to them by Macaque. previously I stated that he ran away from the Diyu but after some thinking, im changing it to he was reincarnated once his time on the Diyu was done! despite being reborn, he wanted to get back at Wukong and the aspect of fate itself, and for that he needed to cause some real uproar, thus the sneaking souls out of the Hells for his own plans. however his plans don't include the use of the Samadhi fire, so no need to manipulate Red Son into using it for him.

also the Samadhi fire isn't exclusive to Red Son either! it's a very specific and powerful skill that only a few select individuals can use, but it's not this world-ending power like the series make it out to be. other characters like Nezha and Erlang can use it too uwu

[cyybrzz]

To anyone who sees this and isn't a bot...

i need a bunch of feedback on a bunch of different topics so advice or opinions from anyone is accepted and appreciated!! i'm not new to tumblr, i'm just new to POSTING on here so to anyone with an aesthetic blog please give me wisdom 🙏

🔮 in search of mutuals!

ever since i've downloaded the app i've never posted or commented, i've always just kinda been l i n g e r i n g everywhere, reading, and going under the radar. but now that i want to start reaching out and socializing i want some mutuals to chat with and maybe even to help review/edit my writing works if i do any!! if you want to get to know me here's some basics on me:

-i'm latina <3

-unlabeled if that matters

-i tend not to get too much into 'politics' unless we're talking violations of basic human rights (cough cough palestine) and i don't care what you believe, as long as you respect my beliefs we're all good!!

-some shows i like are jane the virgin, the 100, criminal minds, and a bunch more but im leaving things to just 3 to keep it short

-i tend to like really niche things sometimes like escape the night or randomly doing research on medieval torture mechanisms so if you're like me join my little club (aka our potential friendship)

-i have a really open sense of humor and find a lot of things funny + i have a bunch of twitter memes saved in my camera roll bc those are the funniest things ever

-i love princess and the frog, tangled, and horror movies

-i love reading! romance, thriller, horror, i love it

-i'm an athlete and do/have done multiple sports

-i play the cello!! her name is cherry ♥️

-i love using emoticons :)

-i love bruno mars, mitski, gaga, LMFAO, and a some older niche spanish singers nobody knows 😭

-i try out a bunch of different fashion aesthetics but i think my top 3 are y2k street wear, classy/business casual, and homeless LMAOO

🔮 i need a theme!!

I still have no idea what i want to do with my blog and need some ideas/tips for my theme! i'd prefer not to make it fandom based though; i love this weirdcore thing i have going on but idk how to make it work and i can’t really find dividers and pictures/banners that fit this theme + i also love the city party type vibe but also cute themes or colored themes or earthy themes... i'm open to literally anything so if you have any sources or templates or any ideas that might help PLEASE lmk!! i also don't know how anything works- i don't even know if my first divider is actually a png or if i look stupid right now LMAOOOOO

🔮 i have a writing dilemma...?

i've been wanting to write a fanfic for a WHILE now, like an actual story that's so long it'd have to be put on like wattpad or something that's not meant for shorter stories. HOWEVER i am petrified that i won't be good at it and would want to test out the waters by potentially writing blurbs/oneshots for some fandoms once i figure this whole writing thing out??? so if you want to send in a request with a 50% chance of getting decent writing and another 50% of regretting ever trying to talk to me go ahead!! (please.)

🔮hi tumblr!!

so... i think that's it! i think that's everything i had to address, if you've made it this far, thank you for reading my very first tumblr post! didn't mean to talk this much but i feel like i needed to get this out there and connect with new people because i already have mutual crushes on so many people if that makes any sense, toodles!! now enjoy my pathetic attempt at writing hashtags

[edge-oftheworld]

no but i can't get over how actually well done the last few days were. announce a surprise and not 48 hours later we find out that 1) tour movie, the same thing taylor swift did a few months ago and now everyone wants plus we know it's a show they worked super hard on, 2) it's free, excellent for anyone who couldn't afford to go etc (we've all been there) and out literally right now on a (mostly) free platform (the very same one that they got started on but anyway) and perhaps most notably, 3) it's free with the hopes that you might instead of paying for it donate to gaza, and the links are right there.

like they could've charged us $20 each for the show and sent all their profits there themselves (with the hope that we believe they're being honest that it's 100%, for them of course we would but i know others have lied about similar). but instead they gave us autonomy over our donation just like. encouraged it. like cmon who wouldn't listen when ashton tells us to donate to something if we can? (also did anyone else say so, i'm not the best at keeping up with social media so lmk if there's more of them to give credit to here). anyway we gotta talk about it more. how perfectly this was done: we get a gift!! be it for christmas if you celebrate or just in general, that we expected we'd have to pay for. now we get asked, hey, if you have any money could you send it to these people who Really Need It So Badly if you can? I know not all of you do so we won't stop you from watching the movie if you don't but

also this is a really clever way to show their support for gaza. like they are (deliberately i think) trying not to be leaders in an area that they aren't experts in, and there has been a lot of misinformation around, a lot of misunderstanding, like yes they did stand up for ukraine last year but the media was a lot more black and white for that one (or should i say blue and yellow) but when it comes down to it they're not stupid and they're not fooled by whatever the country they currently live in is pushing and they've actually taken their time to not say shit to save face prematurely but actually do something that's, even if not big or dramatic, gonna be impactful? they've not put themselves out there campaigning for a ceasefire, yes, but they've posted links that are. they've not guilted us into donating but please tell me you're not at least feeling some obligation to. it's simple, it's actionable, it's right there in the caption and takes like 20 seconds. and if any of us in the fandom (global family or whatever they're building) are leading in the ceasefire decolonisation space we have our little encouragement to see that yes, these musicians we love aren't gonna sit there and do nothing. it's not monumental, but it's something.

and tbh i wouldn't be surprised if this was all planned like a week ago in a zoom call between australia and the usa when ryan texted to say that the film was done. like it was in their random spontanous lightheated style. i also think we can learn something from the fact that it's okay to not jump on everything the minute it comes out but actually every lasting impact is a long-haul effort that you've gotta sustain yourself for by doing what you love as well. and also sometimes the right opportunity to do something about what we care about comes and you just take it, don't think too hard, don't wait either if you don't need to, if there is a cause that needs your effort whenever you get an opportunity to give it will always be the right time. hopefully they've set a precedent for something--i have no idea if any artist has done similar but i'm really proud of them.

and that's why i don't get the fact that we've been talking about how horrific this genocide is and then going right to which songs they cut or kept. like i would like a live version of you don't go to parties! but i would like an entire fandom to donate to aid for gaza even more and be thinking about why we need a ceasefire and maybe doing something about it even more. i've been unwell yes and under financial and other stress yes but i'm not starving or freezing to death and so i'll take that L and i won't go home. i won't stop talking about what's important. i'm starting to find my voice again and this has been a big inspiration for it between all the discouragement.

have we not figured it out? they're not just dumbasses sometimes they do something towards a cause we really care about so let's give them credit for that. heck they even filmed bad omens in ukraine in 2022 have we forgotten about that? they don't put themselves out there as influential figures in any way but that's sometimes the best way to humanise the people we care about (and i think honestly they just do this naturally because when you're not chasing clout and you're trained to recognise talent and potential talent in even the worst situations, you'll automatically think like that). it's small in the face of everything going on, yes. so am i! and if i learned anything over the last 24 hours it's that small things can be meaningful. this has been to me and i don't doubt to the recipients of the donations of (i hope) an entire fandom.

(also if you don't mind the tag @littledrummerangie i know you were talking along a similar vein a few weeks back and i'm keen to hear if you want to, if you found this as satisfying as me)

[socialbunny]

Hey, Dirk! 👋

I just returned to TS2 after three-and-a-half-years and I'm so jazzed to see your blog is still active! I really enjoy your Sims, especially your Wahnakai OCs!

The half-zombie family is my favorite. Total 10/10! 😘🤌 (chef's kiss) I also have a significant case of Natavia brain rot. She's so pretty!

I'm entirely aboard the Skip/Darleen ship. I'll be going down with it and I don't even need a life jacket because the endorphins will be enough to keep me afloat. 🥺💕

TL;DR: Could you please upload your TS2 Skip and Darleen if that's cool with you? Thanks a bunch!

Sincerely,

Pidge, the premade enjoyer

hiiiiiiiiiiiiiii <3333 i think i remember you :3 also the mortifying knowledge of how long ive had this particular blog is soooo scary 😭😭 jk but the fact ive been on here for this long 😶

THANKS FOR LIKINGMY OCS!!! i would post them more but its just not for me literally just do the occasional ambiguous post and think about them like 90% of the time 😿and natavia she's my best mentally ill girl saved by being so pretty

THANKS ABT THE SKIPLEEN THANG i was doing it as a joke at first. or just like a bit but then i latched onto it and i couldnt let go 😭 awful

i have posted my skip and darleen before, however i've never posted it as a public download due to them not being my own version of them; they are from @/veronavillequiltingbee's old alt pleasantview that i grew attached too (maybe from just the first version?? idk if the faces were changed again or kept the same in the second version they did).

here's a download link for them :3 if u want me to take them down @veronavillequiltingbee lmk plsss

the wahnakai folder is also here i changed my pinned post on this blog and forgot i literally have all my links on there

THANKS AGAINNNnnnnn 💕💕💕 for thinking of me and following me again after so long lol so cool to be remembered and im just here. doing the same thing as always

old sims 4 picture of nat for you!!!!!!! under this cut just because its so big idk why i do that still

and something from when i first started rendering lol it looks so stiff and bad but whateva

[gravesphillip]

To Your Aid // Adler

warnings: afab!reader, neutral pronouns(?), toxic relationship, sexual tension, petting, manipulation, mentions of being wounded, making out, cockblocked by lazar 😭😭, age gap, reader is 29 while adler is 41, you take his side in this fic but the ending is slightly adjusted, other than that, angst-ish fluff. lmk if I missed any!

an: from now on, I will be accepting requests from other cod games instead of just mw! this fic may come in parts too. I'm trying my best to get requests out there but school has been kicking my ass, busy as fuck. I needed content and saw this 3/4 finished fic in my drafts, so I finished it, reviewed it, and posted it.

MAJOR COLD WAR SPOILERS/MINORS DNI, NSFW UNDER CUT.

"you did well, kid." he gently cooed, sliding his hand to the wound on your thigh.

adlers' face softens before standing up from the crouching position he sat in before. looking around in the same room you have had been in multiple times from missions, collecting evidence. spotting a kit with medical supplies– or you hope, cause god, you could feel your entire leg throb in pain.

he chased after it, placing his rough calloused hand over the object before bringing it off the table and into his hands. it was quite heavy, from the weight that pulled slightly on him.

leaning back closer into you, examining the gash. deep, oozing blood. you fell further into your hands that you had behind you. all your weight down into them. head hanging down into your shoulder blades as moans of pain peeled past your lips when adler's hands glazed over it. "what'd I say about taking it easy, sweetheart?"

looking up at him with the remaining strength you had left, peering through his tinted glasses. watching his eyes squint towards you, in pity– you assume atleast. "shut up and just patch me up.. please." a desperate wail, mainly voiced from your leg as it jumped in pain. more blood being lost by the second.

when adler had took some gauze, beginning to clean and place it directly on the wound, you started to get lost in him. staring at the way adlers face concentrates, is gentle, and looks up to watch your face for any hurt. makes you remember all you 2 been through while on this hunt for perseus.

you had a vision of this one past time, where in which he had almost died saving your ass. you fumbled reloading your ammo and was ambushed. shot in your arm, dropping your gun. thinking you were gonna die, that was it? adler unexpectedly came to your rescue, like some cheesy romantic film.

yet, you still cannot forgive him for– I guess, literally using you just to get to perseus. drugging you almost to death just so he could get information out of you.. forcing you to remember the things he wanted to know.

the thoughts fading away as you regain control from your eyes spacing out. adler is lasering you weirdly with his eyes, aware that you were literally gone for some time. deep in thought. locking eyes with him, you find yourself staring at him now. he's so fucking handsome, the way his scar compliments his face, the way the smoke from his lit cigar partially fades over his face. fuckkk.

"you're all good, darlin'" he says, gently caressing ontop of the wrapping he did. beginning to get up, you stop in your tracks. nervous to speak, stuttering at first– "something on your mind?" adler leveled with you, getting up from his kneeling pose. he walked even closer to you, smokey breath against your cheek, "anything, I don't mind." you start to tremble, words falling out your mouth.

"I know your true intentions with me. ALL of you, I know..." aggressively spoke, almost hostile. you let the past get to you, but it was rightfully so. his eyes grew larger beneath his sunglasses, chuckling to himself. adler turned to the table, back to you. smooshing the cigar out before facing you once again. "kid, I don't think you know what you're talking about— anything we've done helped, you helped us by letting us do all those things to you."

you shut down, shuffling to face away from him, his good looking fucking self. leaning against the huge table behind you as well. trying to think of how to respond to that.

slicking the fallen hair out of your face, pacing side to side in place. cupping it, just to slide them back down your chin again. deciding to face him again– to finally speak after a minute, you had not noticed the figure right up behind you.

hands coming around the sides of your waist, his chest spooning your shook up back. goosebumps covering your sweating skin. "I can promise you, that you are fine now. trust me." he whispered, "our job is finished, there will be no more experiments." your breath hitched, his tone was dark, scary almost. flashes of him saying, we've got a job to do, goes through your head as he grinds up against you.

not being able to control yourself, your face flushed red by his touch. adler's hands gliding up your arms up to your tense shoulders. "relax.." kissing up your nape, his hair brushing against your chin as he twists his head up and over your shoulder easily. "you're crazy.." a incoherent mumble, cut by a soft pant.

adlers bulge becoming more and more prominent against your ass, not realizing its sticking out more towards him, your back arched. you wanted this, but it felt so wrong. he's using you, you can't be doing this, but your mind fogs as his lips climb your gulping neck.

his hands start to explore your heated body, one sliding up your shirt while the other down your unharmed leg. you find yourself attempting to stand up straight with your hands stabilizing in front of you, shaking.

"you're such a fucking himbo, is this supposed to change my mind about you?" snapping at him in a high tone. he continues to touch you, "i don't care what you think this is, baby." he says while taking a break from your neck. adler's response made your face curl in pleasure, the way the word 'baby' fell from his evil ass lips..

you could feel his hands returning back to your hips, motioning you to turn around to finally face him again. at this point, you obliged like his little bitch that you were since you met him.

—but you couldn't help the warm tears build up in your eyes, all this "just forgive and forget" was harder than just saying it. adler realized your tears, bringing a thumb to your eyes, wiping them. "I know, sweetheart, I know. –I do mean it though, I do. there will be no more further "experiments" done on you." It was all so confusing, you didn't know what to believe anymore.

both of your faces are soft, full of thoughts and what your neck move is. you needed a shoulder to cry on, unsure if adler would be a good candidate for that though– eyeing him, trying to read if he would let you. "whats om your mind now?" his voice gentle and calm unlike moments ago. you hiccup from the lump of tears held in the back of your throat. shaking your head side to side.

your eyes glaring down to his lips, just wanting to be able to kiss them without needing to worry if maybe, he will take out a knife and stab you in the back like one of those edgy scenes in another corny movie. you make a guess on what he may taste like, beer & smoke most likely.

your lower region pulled in roughly towards his, meeting below as both your top body remains distance apart. your chests heaving, bumping into eachother as they sync. you start lowering your head, signaling what you were thinking of doing earlier. adler just stands there, accepting whatever you are doing— soon realizing its you having a whole breakdown into the nape of his neck.

adler went to speak, but quickly shut his pursed lips. there was a unreasonable amount of comfortable silence between you two. fine, you're okay with this. you accept how he is, its okay. you fucking love him, you can't just not accept him anyway.

your hands come up to play with his hair, sliding up his neck. one adventures back down around his face, pulling his glasses of his face. the rest of the scar appearing from hiding. head slowly coming from his neck, face wet with tears that begin slowly drying. fingers intertwined into his dirty blonde locks of hair, twirling it around between them.

you go forward for a kiss, shockingly, he doesn't kiss back for a split second. however, full on hunger releases throughout him, turning your kiss more rough against you. his hands tugging at your shirt, wanting it off, needing it off.

with the fabric half way up your body, adler speaks gently, "god, you're so pretty when you cry, you know th–"

there's 3 bangs to the garage door. it was someone from the team about to come in. adler's hands are speedy fast to come off of you, as you quickly wipe the slow falling tears. adjusting eachother's clothes, making sure you seem presentable as they walk in.

it was lazar.

[bunnyinatree]

Re: your post about downloading music to ur phone and listening offline - you have no idea how strongly i feel about this. I have never made the switch to spotify i carry my phone and its 1.4k songs with me wherever i go.

1. If you have an android phone you can get youtube revanced which allows you to use all the features of yt music (listening with screen turned off or while navigating to another app, no ads) without paying. Lmk if you want more info on that

2. You can absolutely download music from youtube and store it on ur phone somewhere (get an extra sim card if built in storage isn't enough), unfortunately spotify has become such a default that some phones don't come with decent mp3 player apps. My (xiaomi redmi) default one is pretty good once i found the "no ads no internet searching" button but if yours sucks you can look into external apps

3. As for how to get mp3s of songs: I'm sure there's still YouTube-to-mp3 websites and software and you can look for a good one, but personally I've switched to the more time intensive but ultimately more reliable method, which is playing whatever song i want on desktop and then hooking up my audio recording software (audacity) to an app that kind of acts like an internal microphone and speakers, so that i can record the sound directly. Again I'd be happy to give more info if that's something that sounds good to u. I love this method cuz it allows me to record from any source i please and edit stuff before saving

Oh and i should mention all of this can be done at no cost, I'm only using free apps and software

Thank you so much for the assistance! :D I really appreciate all of the detail you went into! 🌟 Neither of us has made the shift to Spotify 🤝

I used a combination of your 2nd and 3rd suggestions, avoiding the question of YouTube-to-MP3 converters by sticking to song files that I had already converted. It seems to be working well so far! ^_^

Again, thank you so much for helping me out! 🎶 I am all set to listen to music in the immediate future, and in the long term, I may work on expanding and polishing my music library C: