#but that's just why it's important to Take Charge - to MAKE it different for future generations to come

[velvetvisionsaurora]

Alpha ATEEZ x Assistant Omega Reader

Warnings: omega reader, alpha ateez, scenting, heats, ruts, slow burn, eventual smut, forced command, more to come!

When Y/n accepts a position as assistant to alpha K-pop group ATEEZ, she's prepared with professional skills and scent blockers to hide her omega status. What she's not prepared for is the immediate, inexplicable connection she feels with all eight members—a resonance that defies her careful boundaries.

As Y/n becomes eerily attuned to their needs, her suppressed omega nature begins to emerge: purring for the first time in years, responding to alpha growls, feeling safe in ways she never has before. When a protective incident reveals the depth of the members' attachment to her, Y/n must confront the possibility that what binds them together is something ancient and profound.

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Masterlist Ko-Fi☕️

Chapter 10: Unveiled

The morning of the radio interview dawned bright and clear, but the atmosphere in the main house was charged with a different kind of energy than usual. As you moved through your morning routine of coordinating schedules and ensuring everyone was prepared, you were acutely aware of the lingering tension from the previous night's revelations with Wooyoung.

In the kitchen, the members gathered for breakfast with their usual chaotic energy, but you caught several meaningful glances exchanged between them. Wooyoung, in particular, seemed to be radiating a smugness that was impossible to miss.

"Someone's in a good mood this morning," San observed, watching as Wooyoung practically bounced around the kitchen with more energy than usual.

"Why wouldn't I be?" Wooyoung replied with a grin that was just shy of being completely inappropriate for the breakfast table. "It's a beautiful day, we have a great interview scheduled, and I had a very... productive evening."

You nearly dropped your tablet, shooting him a warning look that he cheerfully ignored.

"Productive?" Hongjoong raised an eyebrow. "Did you finally organize your room?"

"Oh, I organized something," Wooyoung said with false innocence, winking at you. "Really got to the bottom of some... pressing matters."

"Your laundry?" Yunho suggested helpfully.

"You could say I was handling some very delicate fabrics," Wooyoung continued, his grin widening as you glared at him. "Required a very... hands-on approach."

You kicked him under the table, making him yelp slightly but not deterring his obvious satisfaction.

"Wooyoung," you said through gritted teeth, "maybe focus on your actual breakfast?"

"Oh, I'm very satisfied this morning," he replied, taking an exaggerated bite of his food. "Last night really... filled me up."

This time you aimed for his shin and connected solidly, making him jump.

"Ow! Violent this morning, aren't we, Tulip?" he said, rubbing his leg but still grinning. "I suppose some people get cranky when they don't get enough... rest."

"I got plenty of rest," you hissed, "unlike some people who apparently stayed up all night feeling pleased with themselves."

"Well, when you achieve something special, you want to savor it," he replied smoothly. "Really take time to appreciate the... experience."

Seonghwa was watching this exchange with growing confusion. "Are you two having some kind of coded conversation?"

"Not at all," Wooyoung said brightly. "I'm just expressing my gratitude for... recent opportunities for personal growth."

You stood up abruptly. "I'm going to check the van schedule."

"Don't forget we have that long ride together!" Wooyoung called after you cheerfully. "Plenty of time to discuss... future projects!"

---

The drive to the radio station was, as promised, a trial of your patience. Wooyoung had somehow managed to secure the seat directly behind you and was making the most of his captive audience.

"You know, Tulip," he said conversationally, "I've been reflecting on the importance of being... first to market with innovative ideas."

You turned in your seat to glare at him. "Jung Wooyoung, I swear—"

"What? I'm talking about business strategy!" he said with mock innocence. "Like being the first to... penetrate new markets."

Your eye twitched. "Stop."

"Really establish yourself as a leader in your field," he continued, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Show that you're not afraid to... go deep with your research."

"I will throw you out of this moving van," you threatened.

"So violent! And here I thought you appreciated... thorough work," he replied, leaning forward in his seat. "Attention to detail. Making sure every... need is properly addressed."

Hongjoong, who was sitting next to you, looked between you both with growing suspicion. "Okay, what's really going on here?"

"Nothing!" you said quickly.

"Just discussing professional development," Wooyoung added smoothly. "The importance of... hands-on experience in one's chosen field."

You reached back to swat at him, but he dodged with practiced ease.

"Some people are so ungrateful," he sighed dramatically. "Here I am, trying to share the wisdom I've gained from recent... fieldwork, and you're trying to assault me."

"Recent fieldwork?" Seonghwa asked, his analytical mind clearly trying to piece together the subtext.

"Oh yes, very intensive," Wooyoung continued, ignoring your increasingly exasperated expression. "Really got my hands dirty. Had to work late into the night to achieve the desired... results."

Despite your best efforts to stay annoyed, the corner of your mouth twitched at his absolutely ridiculous metaphors.

"And the satisfaction of a job well done," he continued, warming to his theme. "When you finally... reach that breakthrough moment. Very fulfilling."

"You're impossible," you said, but there was less heat in it now and more amusement.

"I prefer 'dedicated to excellence,'" he replied smoothly. "Always willing to... put in the extra effort to ensure client satisfaction."

You snorted despite yourself. "Client satisfaction?"

"Oh yes, very important in my line of work," he said solemnly. "Making sure all... services are delivered to the highest standard. Really focusing on... performance quality."

This time you couldn't help it—a laugh escaped, which only encouraged him further.

"See? You appreciate good work ethic," he said triumphantly. "The willingness to... go above and beyond. Really exceed expectations."

"You're absolutely ridiculous," you said, shaking your head but unable to stop smiling. "How do you even come up with this stuff?"

"Natural talent," he replied with a grin. "Plus extensive... hands-on training."

You burst out laughing at that one, and Wooyoung looked incredibly pleased with himself.

"There's my Tulip," he said warmly. "Much better than threatening violence. Though I have to say, your... aggressive negotiation style last night was very effective."

"WOOYOUNG!" you exploded again, but you were still laughing despite your embarrassment.

"What?" he asked innocently as the van mercifully pulled up to the radio station. "I'm just appreciating good... project management skills."

You were giggling despite yourself as you all climbed out, while Wooyoung practically bounced alongside you, clearly delighted that he'd managed to make you laugh rather than actually murder him.

"Don't worry, Tulip," he murmured as you walked into the building, his voice dropping to a whisper only you could hear. "I'll try to contain my... professional satisfaction during the interview. But seriously, your laugh is almost as beautiful as your—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence!" you threatened, but you were still smiling, and he knew it.

 You stood in the observation booth, watching through the soundproof glass as the members settled into their seats around the interviewer's table. The familiar routine of their professional personas sliding into place was always fascinating to observe—the way Hongjoong's shoulders straightened with leadership authority, how Wooyoung's natural charisma seemed to fill the room, the quiet confidence that emanated from each of them.

You adjusted your headset to listen in on the interview, tablet in hand to take notes on any scheduling conflicts or new opportunities that might arise from their conversation. The comeback was going well—better than well, actually. The album had exceeded all expectations, and interviews like this were crucial for maintaining momentum.

"So, ATEEZ, this new album shows incredible growth," the interviewer was saying, his voice carrying clearly through your headphones. "Can you tell us about the creative process behind the title track?"

Hongjoong leaned forward to answer, his voice taking on that professional tone that somehow still managed to convey genuine passion. "We wanted to explore themes of transformation and finding your true self..."

You were so focused on the interview that you didn't notice the approach of the unfamiliar alpha until he was standing directly beside you in the small observation booth.

"Well, hello there," came a smooth voice that immediately set your teeth on edge. "I don't think we've been introduced."

You turned to find a man in his thirties, well-dressed in an expensive suit, with the kind of confident smile that suggested he was used to getting what he wanted. His presence was something sharp and aggressive that made your omega instincts recoil.

"I'm with ATEEZ," you replied politely but coolly, turning back toward the glass in a clear dismissal.

Through the soundproof barrier, you could see several of the members' eyes flick toward the observation booth. Mingi's gaze lingered a moment longer than the others, his expression shifting slightly as he registered the presence of the unfamiliar alpha near you.

"ATEEZ, hmm?" the man continued, either oblivious to or ignoring your obvious discomfort. "Lucky group, having such a beautiful assistant. I'm Lee Dae-Hyun, head of promotions for the station. Perhaps we could discuss some... collaboration opportunities over dinner?"

His tone made it clear that 'collaboration' was not what he had in mind. You kept your eyes fixed on the interview, watching as Yunho answered a question about their choreography while his gaze repeatedly drifted toward the booth.

"I'm not interested," you said firmly, taking a step away from him. "Please, I need to work."

In the studio, you could see the tension building in the members' postures. Wooyoung's usual animated gesturing had become more restrained, his attention clearly divided. San's smile looked forced as he responded to the interviewer's questions.

"Come now," Dae-Hyun said, moving closer despite your obvious rejection. "Don't be like that. A pretty little thing like you shouldn't be wasting time with idol groups. A real alpha could show you so much more."

The condescension in his voice made your skin crawl, but you maintained your professional composure. "I said I'm not interested. Please leave me alone."

Through the glass, Mingi's jaw was visibly clenched, his hands gripping the arms of his chair. Hongjoong was still answering questions with apparent calm, but you could see the subtle signs of his growing agitation—the slight tightening around his eyes, the careful control in his posture.

Dae-Hyun‘s patience seemed to evaporate at your continued rejection. His expression hardened, and suddenly the air in the small booth felt thick with tension that made your skin prickle with warning.

"Look at me," he commanded, his voice taking on that particular alpha authority that cut through conscious resistance like a knife.

The command hit you like a physical force, your body freezing mid-motion as your omega nature responded involuntarily to the alpha order. Your eyes snapped to his against your will, your body going rigid as the command locked you in place. Panic flooded through you as you realized you couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't even look away.

"That's better," Dae-Hyun said with satisfaction, his hand reaching out to touch your face. "Now, you're going to come with me, and we're going to have that dinner conversation. Quietly."

Through the glass, you could see the exact moment the members realized something was wrong. Mingi was halfway out of his chair before anyone could stop him, his face a mask of fury. Yunho and Wooyoung were rising too, their own expressions shifting to something dangerous.

The observation booth door burst open with enough force to rattle the walls. Mingi stormed in like an avenging angel, his eyes blazing gold with alpha rage. Behind him came Yunho and Wooyoung, their own protective instincts clearly triggered.

"Get your fucking hands off her," Mingi snarled, his voice carrying a level of menace you'd never heard from him before.

Dae-Hyun spun around, startled by the sudden interruption, but his grip on the alpha command remained firm. You stood frozen, able to see and hear everything but unable to move or speak.

"This is a private conversation," Dae-Hyun said, trying to regain his composure. "I suggest you return to your interview."

"Like hell," Wooyoung snapped, his usual playfulness nowhere to be seen. "Release her. Now."

Seonghwa appeared in the doorway, taking in the situation with sharp, calculating eyes before immediately positioning himself between you and Dae-Hyun, his protective instincts overriding everything else.

"What's going on here?" came Hongjoong's voice from behind Seonghwa, and you felt the air in the small space change completely.

The leader stepped into the booth with an aura of authority so commanding that it made the aggressive alpha scent from Dae-Hyun seem like a gentle breeze in comparison. Hongjoong's presence filled the room, his calm exterior masking what you could sense was volcanic rage beneath the surface.

You'd never seen him in full alpha pack leader mode before. This wasn't the Hongjoong who made coffee in the morning or stole kisses in empty hallways. This was the alpha who commanded the loyalty of seven other alphas, who could control a room with nothing but his presence.

"I asked you a question," Hongjoong said quietly, his voice carrying a deadly calm that was somehow more terrifying than shouting would have been.

The rest of the members poured into the booth behind him—San, Yeosang, and Jongho—their collective alpha energy so overwhelming that it made the small space feel charged with electricity. Eight pairs of golden eyes fixed on Dae-Hyun with predatory intensity.

Dae-Hyun confidence wavered as he found himself faced with an entire pack of furious alphas. "This is just a misunderstanding—"

"Release the command," Hongjoong said, his voice cutting through Dae-Hyun stammering like a blade. "Now."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Dae-Hyun tried to bluster, but his voice shook slightly.

Hongjoong took a single step forward, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop ten degrees. When he spoke again, his voice carried an alpha authority that made even your frozen omega shiver in recognition of true power.

"I'm going to ask you one more time," he said, each word precisely enunciated and dripping with barely contained violence. "Release. The. Command."

The threat was clear in every syllable, in the way the other members shifted like a pack ready to tear apart anyone who threatened their own. Dae-Hyun's face went pale as he finally understood the gravity of his situation.

"Fine," he snapped, his own composure cracking. "You’re released."

Immediately, feeling flooded back into your body. You gasped, your knees nearly buckling as the artificial paralysis lifted. Seonghwa's hands steadied you instantly, his touch gentle but protective.

"If you ever," Hongjoong continued, his voice still carrying that terrifying calm, "approach our assistant again, if you so much as look in her direction, we will have a very different conversation. Do I make myself clear?"

Dae-Hyun nodded rapidly, his earlier arrogance completely evaporated. "Crystal clear."

"Good. Now get out."

The man practically fled from the booth, leaving behind only the lingering scent of his fear and the thick atmosphere of alpha protectiveness that surrounded you.

For a moment, no one spoke. The only sound was your ragged breathing as you tried to process what had just happened, what had just been revealed.

"The interview," you finally managed to whisper.

"Fuck the interview," Mingi said roughly, his hands shaking slightly with residual rage. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"We're leaving," Hongjoong announced, his leader voice brooking no argument. "Now."

---

The ride back to the house was conducted in complete silence. You sat between Seonghwa and Yunho in the first van, but while Yunho's presence felt warm and protective, something had shifted with Seonghwa. He sat rigidly beside you, staring straight ahead with an expression you'd never seen before—intense, focused, almost frozen. When you'd tried to catch his eye after getting in the van, he'd looked right through you as if you weren't there.

Your secret was out. After months of careful concealment, one aggressive alpha had destroyed everything in a matter of minutes. They knew now that you were an omega, vulnerable to alpha commands, hiding behind blockers that couldn't protect you from direct orders.

The house felt different when you all filed through the front door. The members moved with unusual quietness, their earlier protective fury replaced by something you couldn't quite identify. Seonghwa remained eerily silent, positioning himself at the edge of the group rather than his usual protective proximity to you. You made it as far as the living room couch before your legs gave out entirely, the emotional and physical exhaustion finally catching up with you.

You sat there in the heavy silence, seven concerned alpha gazes fixed on you with expressions ranging from concern to confusion to something that might have been hurt, while Seonghwa stood slightly apart, his eyes fixed on some point beyond you, his jaw clenched with an tension you couldn't understand. The weight of their attention, combined with the stress of the incident and Seonghwa's inexplicable distance, finally broke through your careful control.

The tears came suddenly and without warning, great gasping sobs that shook your entire body. "I'm so sorry," you choked out between breaths. "I'm so sorry I ruined the interview. I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I'm sorry I lied about what I am."

Through your tears, you saw several of the members start forward, but you held up a hand to stop them. Your eyes instinctively sought out Seonghwa, looking for the comfort and stability he always provided, but he remained motionless at the edge of the group, his gaze fixed somewhere past your shoulder, his expression unreadable.

"I know you probably want to fire me," you continued, the words tumbling out in a rush of panic and regret. "I know this changes everything. I know I should have told you from the beginning that I'm an omega, but I was scared, and I thought I could handle it, and now I've ruined everything—"

"Fire you?" Wooyoung's voice cut through your spiral of self-recrimination, shock evident in every syllable. "You think we want to fire you?"

You looked up through your tears to find seven faces staring at you with expressions of complete bewilderment, while Seonghwa remained frozen in place, his silence more unsettling than any words could have been.

"Why would we fire you?" San asked, sounding genuinely confused.

"Because I lied," you whispered, your eyes darting to Seonghwa again, desperate for some sign of his usual warmth. But he continued to avoid your gaze, his posture rigid and distant. "Because I'm an omega. Because I'm not what you thought you were hiring."

"Y/n," Hongjoong said gently, moving to kneel in front of you, "we don't care that you're an omega. We care that someone tried to hurt you. We care that you felt you couldn't trust us with the truth."

"You're not fired," came from behind Hongjoong, but the voice wasn't Seonghwa's as you'd hoped. Instead, it was Yunho who spoke up firmly. "You're not in trouble. You're not anything except part of our team, and we protect what's ours."

Your eyes kept drifting to Seonghwa, waiting for his characteristic gentle reassurance, but he remained stubbornly silent, his jaw working as if he were fighting some internal battle you couldn't understand.

"But the blockers," you sniffled. "The lying—"

"The blockers are your choice," Yeosang interrupted quietly. "Your safety, your comfort. That's up to you, not us."

"We're just glad you're okay," Jongho added, his young face serious with concern. "When we saw him command you like that..." He shook his head, his hands clenching into fists at the memory.

Yunho moved to sit beside you on the couch, his presence warm and comforting. "You don't have to hide from us anymore," he said softly. "Whatever you are, whoever you are, you're safe here."

You glanced at Seonghwa again, hoping his silence meant he was simply processing, but his continued distance felt like a rejection that cut deeper than any words could have.

"We should have realized," Mingi said, his deep voice rough with self-recrimination. "We should have protected you better."

"You couldn't have known," you protested weakly.

"We could have," Hongjoong said, rising to sit on your other side. "And now we do. Which means things are going to change around here."

Your heart sank, preparing for the inevitable complications. "Change how?"

"Better security protocols," he said firmly. "No more situations where you're alone with strangers. And anyone who thinks they can use alpha commands on our omega is going to learn very quickly how wrong they are."

The possessive edge in his voice when he said 'our omega' sent a shiver through you that had nothing to do with fear. Looking around at their faces—protective, fierce, caring—you realized that perhaps your greatest fear had been unfounded. All except for Seonghwa, who still hadn't looked directly at you, his silence becoming more pronounced and unsettling with each passing moment.

They didn’t want to send you away. If anything, seven of them seemed determined to keep you closer. But Seonghwa’s behavior was a mystery that made your chest ache with uncertainty.

“So,” Wooyoung said, settling on the floor in front of you with his characteristic directness, “now that we all know the truth, can we finally talk about what’s really happening between all of us?”

The question hung in the air, loaded with implications and possibilities. Your secret was out, your omega nature revealed, but instead of the rejection you’d feared, you were surrounded by seven alphas who looked at you like you were something precious to be protected—and one whose silence spoke louder than any words.

“I mean,” Wooyoung continued, his eyes bright with excitement, “we all felt the connection before we even knew you were an omega. And last night, when Tulip and I finally—”

He stopped abruptly, his eyes widening as he realized what he’d almost said. The room went dead silent, seven pairs of alpha eyes snapping to him with laser focus.

“Finally what?” Hongjoong’s voice was dangerously quiet.

Wooyoung’s mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, his usual quick wit completely abandoning him. “I… we… that is…”

“Wooyoung,” Mingi’s voice carried a warning edge. “What happened last night?”

You felt heat flood your cheeks as every gaze in the room turned between you and Wooyoung, the tension in the air suddenly thick enough to cut with a knife.

“Nothing!” you said quickly, but your flustered state was telling a very different story

“Oh, it wasn’t nothing,” Wooyoung said, his mouth apparently working faster than his brain. “It was definitely some—OW!” He yelped as you kicked him sharply in the shin.

“Shut. Up,” you hissed through gritted teeth.

But the damage was done. The knowing looks, the charged atmosphere between you two all day, Wooyoung’s smug satisfaction—it all suddenly made perfect sense to seven very intelligent alphas.

“Well,” Yunho said slowly, his voice carefully controlled, “this certainly explains the… interesting dynamic you two have had today.”

Maybe, just maybe, the truth would set most of you free. But judging by the various expressions ranging from shock to hurt to something that might have been jealousy on the faces around you, this particular truth was going to complicate things even further.

Next>>

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[clarkevision]

George Clarkey | Interruptions

Summary: You and George are on a date when you are interrupted

The restaurant was perfect, in that understated way George always seemed to find. Cozy booths lined the walls, each lit with the warm glow of hanging Edison bulbs, and soft jazz music hummed in the background. It wasn’t too fancy, but it wasn’t casual either—just the right amount of charm to make the night feel special.

George sat across from you, his elbow resting on the table, his chin propped in his hand as he gave you that familiar, mischievous smile. His hair was slightly messy, like he hadn’t quite managed to tame it before he left the house, and his shirt—simple but fitted—clung just enough to remind you why you couldn’t stop looking at him.

“So,” he said, tilting his head slightly, “did I manage to impress you with my choice of venue? Or are you going to roast me for not picking somewhere with a view of the Thames?”

You laughed, shaking your head. “I think this place is perfect. Honestly, I’m more impressed you didn’t go for something over-the-top ridiculous. No themed restaurants, no 20-course tasting menus… Who are you, and what have you done with George Clarkey?”

He gasped in mock offense, placing a hand over his chest. “Wow. I invite you on a romantic evening, and this is how you repay me? Ruthless.”

“Romantic evening, huh?” you teased, arching an eyebrow. “That’s a big claim for someone who picked a place based on its five-star Yelp reviews.”

“Okay, first of all, Yelp doesn’t even exist here. And second, it’s not the restaurant that makes it romantic—it’s me,” he said, leaning back with a self-satisfied grin.

You rolled your eyes but couldn’t help laughing. “Sure, George. Whatever you need to tell yourself.”

As the evening went on, the teasing and laughter gave way to softer, quieter moments. Between bites of food and sips of wine, you talked about everything and nothing—your favorite childhood memories, places you wanted to visit, the kind of future you dreamed of.

George had a way of making even the smallest things feel important. He listened like every word you said mattered, his eyes never leaving yours, his expression shifting with every twist and turn of the conversation. It was in those moments that you felt the depth of what you had with him—something that went beyond the jokes and banter, something real.

“You know,” he said, his voice lower now, “I’ve been looking forward to this all week.”

“What, dinner?” you asked, feigning nonchalance even as your heart started to race.

“No,” he said, shaking his head slightly. “You. Spending time with you. Just… being with you.”

You felt your cheeks warm under his gaze, and for a moment, you didn’t know what to say. He always had this way of catching you off guard, saying something so genuine and unexpected that it left you speechless.

“You’re such a sap,” you finally said, but your smile betrayed how much his words had meant to you.

“Only for you,” he said, grinning as he reached across the table to take your hand in his.

By the time the plates were cleared and the bill was paid, the restaurant had begun to empty out, leaving just a handful of tables occupied. The soft hum of the music and the dim lighting made the space feel even more intimate, like the rest of the world had melted away.

As you both stood to leave, George hesitated for a moment, glancing around before looking back at you. “Wait,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

“What?” you asked, confused.

“I just… I don’t want the night to end yet,” he admitted, stepping closer. “Can we stay a little longer?”

You nodded, unable to hide your smile. “Of course.”

He led you over to a quieter corner of the restaurant, where a small booth sat tucked away from the main floor. The atmosphere felt different now—more private, more charged. As you slid into the booth, George sat beside you instead of across, his leg brushing against yours.

For a moment, neither of you spoke. Then, slowly, George reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear, his fingers lingering against your cheek. “You’re beautiful, you know that?” he said softly.

Your breath hitched, and before you could respond, he leaned in, his lips brushing against yours in a kiss that was slow and deliberate, like he was savoring every second.

You kissed him back, your heart racing as you leaned into him, his hand sliding to the back of your neck to pull you closer. The world outside seemed to disappear entirely, leaving just the two of you in this perfect, stolen moment.

But then—

“Well, well, well. What do we have here?”

You froze, your lips still inches from George’s, as the unmistakable voice of Arthur Hill cut through the air like a knife.

Slowly, you turned your head to see him standing at the entrance of the restaurant, holding a pint in one hand and wearing a grin so wide it could rival the Cheshire Cat’s.

“Oh my God,” you muttered, your face burning with embarrassment as you pulled away from George.

Arthur, clearly enjoying himself, sauntered over, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Clarkey, mate, you didn’t tell me you were going on a date tonight. Thought we were mates, huh?”

George groaned, running a hand down his face. “Arthur, can you not?”

“Oh, come on. Don’t be shy now,” Arthur teased, plopping down on the seat across from you. “You two looked very cozy back there. Don’t let me interrupt—carry on.”

You buried your face in your hands, mortified. “I can’t believe this is happening,” you mumbled.

George laughed softly, clearly torn between annoyance and amusement. “Arthur, seriously, can you not ruin this for me?”

“Ruin it? I’m enhancing the moment,” Arthur said, gesturing broadly. “What’s more romantic than a third wheel with excellent commentary?”

You peeked out from behind your hands, shooting him a glare. “You’re the worst.”

“I’ve been told that,” he said, unfazed. “But honestly, I’m happy for you two. Clarkey’s been talking about you non-stop for weeks, so it’s nice to finally see him make a move.”

Your eyes widened, and you turned to George. “You’ve been talking about me?”

George’s face went red, and he scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. “Uh… maybe a little.”

Arthur snorted. “A little? Mate, you’ve been practically writing poetry.”

“Okay, that’s enough,” George said, standing up and grabbing Arthur by the arm. “I think it’s time for you to leave.”

Arthur laughed but didn’t resist as George dragged him toward the door. “Fine, fine. I’ll let you two get back to your little love fest. But just so you know—I’m telling Chris all about this.”

“You do that,” George said, shoving him out the door.

As George returned to the table, his cheeks still faintly pink, you couldn’t help but laugh. “That was… something.”

“Yeah, sorry about that,” he said, sitting down beside you again. “Arthur has a talent for showing up at the worst possible moments.”

“It’s fine,” you said, smiling. “Honestly, it’s kind of funny. In a horrifying, mortifying sort of way.”

George grinned, taking your hand in his again. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad we had this night. Even with the interruption.”

“Me too,” you said softly, leaning into him.

And as the night went on, you realized that no amount of interruptions could take away from what you had with George. Because even in the most awkward, unexpected moments, he still made you feel like the only person in the world.

[yup-no-way]

Astro Observations pt. 4

Ayyyyy! How is everyone! I am almost done with all my uni work for the semester and I am rapidly approaching my first exam. But it’s alright cause at least I got one of my projects to work. I had to make a wireless power transfer using copper wires and I spend a whole day going back-and-forth between the floors of my department in search for some copper (someone pls say sike rn). Now tell me why me and my team spent a whole day just to create the simplest of circuits, all because our transistors kept burning up. The stench in that room from burned electrical components was insane (these r your future engineers btw). We probably went through 10 different transistors (rip to our lab resources).

Well I hope everyone is doing good and everyone is safe and healthy! I wish all of you to reach your full potential and live your best life!

These observations are based on my personal experiences so don’t take it as full facts. These placements can also be influenced by other things in someone’s chart like degrees, houses and aspects. Also if u have any suggestions for what content you’d like to see feel free to let me know. English is not my first language lads so don’t drag me for grammatical errors. xoxo

Cancer moon: you guys r cutie patooties that just want emotional closeness from the people around you. Generally if evolved you guys r so beautiful. You are caring, giving, emotionally mature and are able to express yourself in a healthy manner. they r the type to pay attention to the little details. I’ve noticed a pattern with cancer moons that their love language is words of affirmation. Buuuut and there is a big but here, if you guys are not evolved, y’all r hell on earth. Imagine a sensitive, emotionally constipated, demanding ticking bomb. Cancers r truly crash outs if not evolved. They will want the world from you and give nothing in return. You will have to pull through emotionally in the relationship and you will have to walk on eggshells around them.

Chiron 12h: these people most likely dealt with a lot of religious/spiritual trauma. They never felt truly connected to the divine or they have an unhealthy relationship with the divine. A lot of the people I’ve met have been struggling with accepting themselves and the divine at the same time. It is a hard placement. I love you guys so much and I just want to say that it’s alright to take your time and figure yourself out. Sometimes this is a lifelong journey and instead of running away from your scars, it’s better you face them. Whether you decide to connect with religion/spirituality or not, make sure that is your choice. You are the only one in charge of that. There is no shame in either choice so don’t let people tell you otherwise. Lots of love to you xoxo

Libra moon: for these natives, having balance in their life is very important. It’s extremely common for these people to get overwhelmed if they work too much without proper rest. Like balance is rllyyy that serious to them. I’ve seen these people get extremely stressed when something feels off in their life. I have a friend that crashes out (bless her soul) whenever she has too many assignments. She’s a demon during exam season if she needs to pull all nighters. They also crave a sense of stability in their relationships with people and they rlly don’t like to argue w people. Sometimes this urge to keep peace with people leads to them not vocalising their problems making them stay in relationships for way longer than they should. They also have a strong sense of justice!!! I love learning ab my friend’s placements so I can know how to make em feel safe and happy. Muaw xoxo

Lilith Taurus: these people often tend to get insecure of their financial status. They deeply cared about how they r perceived financially by people. They might even get to the point where they might want to appear richer than they are. They might have experienced loss of stability and monetary assets through their life that led them to these traits. BUUUUT, if they move on from placing their whole value as a human being on their assets, they have a great potential for actually achieving that financial status they so deeply yearn for. These people need to learn how to balance their confidence and self worth and accept themselves for who they are. Also they might have a tendency to get greedy, so be aware of that as well darlings.

Lilith 9h: these people often feel the need to move from place to place. They might want to change their country of residence quite often . You guys never feel truly fulfilled with where u r at. Maybe travelling is a good alternative if you don’t have the financial means to constantly move. These natives just get that stimulus from changing their environment. As long as you balance your life, you should be good, but be aware of overindulging in the need to cross every boundary. Just make sure the choices you are making are actually good and not just a temporary solution for a bigger underlining issue.

So guys this is all for today! I hope you guys liked this blog as well. I won’t be very active due to the exam season but I will try my absolute best to post as many things as possible! If you guys r interested is seeing a certain type of content let me know!

Stay healthy and glowing xoxo

[flower-blossoms654]

Each time I think about how they took out the Goldy Pond arc, I get so angry. Cause like not only was it a good ass arc, getting rid of it takes out something integral to the story as a whole, that I just don’t think they realized/cared about:

The validation of Emma’s beliefs.

Emma is established to be this happy-go-lucky character right? And as the children are still in Grace Field, you see that she still keeps this demeanor while juggling the new graveness of the situation she is in. While losing some of her naivety, she still shows herself capable of being someone hopeful for the future who will not let her circumstances get the better of her. The most important part of what makes this WORK for her character (instead of making it annoying and unrealistic) is the fact that she both acknowledged and experiences the tragedy of the world she is trying to be hopeful in. It’s not some little girl being like “I believe everything’s gonna be fine! Sparkles and rainbows!” while being shielded from the darker parts of the world. It’s a little girl who looks in the face of the darkness and that terrible world and is in the MIDST of it. It’s a little girl who found the dead body of her younger sibling and was faced with the reality that her whole life was a lie. It’s a little girl who realized her whole family was going to die and fought to grab onto her hope despite how overwhelmingly bleak their situation was. She knew and yet she didn’t hesitate to believe that they could escape. She knew and still wanted to yell to the world that she was going to save EVERYONE. Seeing someone so unwaveringly hopeful even after being hit with devastating loss and despair is like a beacon for anyone else struggling to keep surviving. Emma is lovable for how she loves—how her hope and determination stands fast in the face of adversity and still goes forward even as more events threaten to shake and bend it.

For whatever reason season 2 was changed the way it was (I’ve heard many things)(if it was because of the guns then WHY pick up the anime in the first place bc you derail EVERYTHING) it could never stand completely without Goldy Pond.

Goldy Pond is in plain terms Emma’s defining arc. It seems to be pushing forward a question whose answer will define the rest of the series.

“Who is Emma?”

Not as she is with her siblings. Not as she is when there is her family there to keep her going. Who is Emma, and how will she grow from here on out?

Goldy Pond is the first time Emma is “alone”. She has none of her siblings around her and she is in an unfamiliar environment, with people she does not know. People by all means unconnected to her when she has a family to get back to and protect.

But Emma doesn’t treat them that way. She cares for each stranger she meets, jeopardizing her safety by using herself as bait—by charging forward into battle to protect them and change the demons’ focus. As the arc progresses and she meshes herself into the other children’s ranks, treating them as family as well, it seems to be clear what the answer is. As she serves as a distraction in this main fight. As she reminds them of details of HOW they can win this fight even when there seems to be no hope left. When she gets empaled and STILL takes a shot to kill Duke Leuvis.

Emma is hopeful and kind and self-sacrificing. She treats strangers as she would treat her family, and cares for all lives the same. She is so overwhelmingly forthright and sincere in her emotions and love, that you can’t help but want to support and follow her. That is who Emma is. She is not naive. She has seen death and battle and bleak circumstances but still rises to the challenge EVERY time — and most importantly this time was the bleakest so far. This time she was “ALONE”.

She has the experience behind her to make her care for all things “valid”. This is not a silly, childish little girl not knowing all the different aspects of her declarations. She says they will survive and you can take her for her word because she knows what it’s like to be near death. But specifically and more crucially for Goldy Pond (and therefore the rest of the series): Emma says that she wants to save demons. And with Goldy Pond, you can take her word for it.

When Norman declares that his way of saving everyone is to have a demon genocide, the most important part of this is that we as the readers support Emma and her viewpoint (that the demons should not be killed.) Her viewpoint is valid in the manga because of what she has gone through. Emma says she wants to save demons and we can take her for her word because she has experience at the hands of some of the worst cruelty from demons possible. She and other children were hunted for sport. She was placed in a mockery of a sanctuary and hunted down for demons entertainment—not for the demon’s hunger or survival but for FUN. And she still turns around and says that she believes there are GOOD demons.

Without this, Emma has nothing in her experience for her to stand toe to toe with Norman’s beliefs. She looks like a naive, silly child trying to justify a foolish dream when she has experienced nothing of the world. It’s practically an insult to Norman and his experiences and it doesn’t give off what it should to the watcher. How are we supposed to believe in Emma (and go against a GENOCIDE) when it seems as if the writers want to paint that the genocide is the reasonable answer (when it fucking ISNT). And this is all because without Goldy Pond, Emma doesn’t have the experience to be meaningfully hopeful. She can’t properly value her positive experience with Mujika because she doesn’t not have a big enough negative experience to weight it against (and gracefield isn’t good enough bc Norman has gone through more than that). For Emma to have weight, she needs to be able to weight the good and the bad and STILL choose good. To still choose to be hopeful and caring.

Getting rid of Goldy Pond got rid of such an important foundation of Emma as a character and I can never forgive them for that.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

An Epic antitrust loss for Google

A jury just found Google guilty on all counts of antitrust violations stemming from its dispute with Epic, maker of Fortnite, which brought a variety of claims related to how Google runs its app marketplace. This is huge:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/technology/epic-games-google-antitrust-ruling.html

The mobile app store world is a duopoly run by Google and Apple. Both use a variety of tactics to prevent their customers from installing third party app stores, which funnels all app makers into their own app stores. Those app stores cream an eye-popping 30% off every purchase made in an app.

This is a shocking amount to charge for payment processing. The payments sector is incredibly monopolized and notorious for its price-gouging – and its standard (wildly inflated) rate is 2-5%:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/04/owning-the-libs/#swiper-no-swiping

Now, in theory, Epic doesn't have to sell in Google Play, the official Android app store. Unlike Apple's iOS, Android permit both sideloading (installing an app directly without using an app store) and configuring your device to use a different app store. In practice, Google uses a variety of anticompetitive tricks to prevent these app stores from springing up and to dissuade Android users from sideloading. Proving that Google's actions – like paying Activision $360m as part of "Project Hug" (no, really!) – were intended to prevent new app storesfrom springing up was a big lift for Epic. But they managed it, in large part thanks to Google's own internal communications, wherein executives admitted that this was exactly why Project Hug existed. This is part of a pattern with Big Tech antitrust: many of the charges are theoretically very hard to make stick, but because the companies put their evil plans in writing (think of the fraudulent crypto exchange FTX, whose top execs all conferred in a groupchat called "Wirefraud"), Big Tech keeps losing in court:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/09/03/big-tech-cant-stop-telling-on-itself/

Now, I do like to dunk on Big Tech for this kind of thing, because it's objectively funny and because the companies make so many unforced errors. But in an important sense, this kind of written record is impossible to avoid. Any large institution can only make and enact policy through administrative systems, and those systems leave behind a paper-trail: memos, meeting minutes, etc. Yes, we all know that quote from The Wire: "Is you taking notes on a fucking criminal conspiracy?" But inevitably, any ambitious conspiracy can only exist if someone is taking notes.

What's more, any large conspiracy involving lots of parties will inevitably produce leaks. Think of this as the corollary to the idea that the moon landing can't be a hoax, because there's no way 400,000 co-conspirators could keep the secret. Big Tech's conspiracies required hundreds or even thousands of collaborators to keep their mouths shut, and eventually someone blabs:

https://www.science.org/content/article/fake-moon-landing-you-d-need-400000-conspirators

This is part of a wave of antitrust cases being brought against the tech giants. As Matt Stoller writes, the guilty-on-all-counts jury verdict will leak into current and future actions. Remember, Google spent much of this year in court fighting the DoJ, who argued that the company bribed Apple not to make a competing search engine, paying tens of billions every year to keep a competitor from emerging. Now that a jury has convinced Google of doing that to prevent alternative app stores from emerging, claims that it used these pay-for-delay tactics in other sectros get a lot more credible:

https://www.thebignewsletter.com/p/boom-google-loses-antitrust-case

On that note: what about Apple? Epic brought a very similar case against Apple and lost. Both Apple and Epic are appealing that case to the Supreme Court, and now that Google has been convicted in a similar case, it might prompt the Supremes to weigh in and resolve the seeming inconsistencies in the interpretation of federal law.

This is a key moment in the long project to wrest antitrust away from the pro-monopoly side, who spent decades "training" judges to produce verdicts that run counter to the plain language of America's antitrust law:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/08/13/post-bork-era/#manne-down

There's 40 years' worth of bad precedent to overturn. The good news is that we've got the law on our side. Literally, the wording of the laws and the records of the Congressional debate leading to their passage, all militate towards the (incredibly obvious) conclusion that the purpose of anti-monopoly law is to fight monopoly, not defend it:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/04/14/aiming-at-dollars/#not-men

It's amazing to realize that we got into this monopoly quagmire because judges just literally refused to enforce the law. That's what makes one part of the jury verdict against Google so exciting: the jury found that Google's insistence that Play Store sellers use its payment processor was an act of illegal tying. Today, "tying" is an obscure legal theory, but few doctrines would be more useful in disenshittifying the internet. A company is guilty of illegal tying when it forces you to use unrelated products or services as a condition of using the product you actually want. The abandonment of tying led to a host of horribles, from printer companies forcing you to buy ink at $10,000/gallon to Livenation forcing venues to sell tickets through its Ticketmaster subsidiary.

The next phase of this comes when the judge decides on the penalty. Epic doesn't want cash damages – it wants the judge to order Google to fulfill its promise of "an open, competitive Android ecosystem for all users and industry participants." They've asked the judge to order Google to facilitate third-party app stores, and to separate app stores from payment processors. As Stoller puts it, they want to "crush Google’s control over Android":

https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-v-google-trial-verdict-a-win-for-all-developers

Google has sworn to appeal, surprising no one. The Times's expert says that they will have a tough time winning, given how clear the verdict was. Whatever this means for Google and Android, it means a lot for a future free from monopolies.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/12/12/im-feeling-lucky/#hugger-mugger

[a-hazbin-reader]

Hi there! I love all your work and I saw wife!reader and alastor getting married when they were alive and wanted to know how they met or who fell in love first.

You don't have to do this though, have a lovely day! ❤️

I really love this...I won't do how they met because I want people to be able to decide that for themselves but..

Alastor X Reader Headcanons

✅️Romantic

❌️Platonic

TW: Reader goes on a date, Implied Murder, Alastor being jealous, Suggestive

Description: ☝️⬆️

You are most likely the one who falls first, not that anybody could blame you, Alastor is F I N E

He's a well sought after man with his good looks, charming conversation skills and various other talents

So it makes sense that when you meet him and get to know him a little more, you're smitten with the radio host

But you're well aware that the chances of becoming an item with Alastor are slim to none

He's never once showed an interest in being in a relationship and visibly tenses when someone flirts with him

So you resolve yourself to try and get over this little crush and keep your friendship with him intact

If you were being honest with yourself, then it's more than just a crush, you're head over heels in love with him

You two do become fast friends though, something always drawing the two of you close, a sort of magnetic pull

You're practically the best of friends, always together, inside jokes, judging people together

A dozen almost kisses, romantically charged interactions, almost sexually charged drunken escapades

You even bring him food when he's at work so that he doesn't forget to eat and take care of himself

He sets aside time to take you to different restaurants, clubs, parks, anywhere that might be enjoyable

People are quick to assume you two are a couple, but you're always quicker to correct them

It's the truth but it sort of bothers him

He can't deny that you're great company, or that you're beautiful, or that he hates it when you're not smiling

Or that he has a great...fondness for you and your little quirks/talents

He's very attached to you to say the least, you're an important person in his life

That's what he tells people anyways

He doesn't even realize that he's in love with you until you're suddenly gushing about meeting someone new

You look so hopeful, so excited that some guy asked you out but the idea of you on a date makes his skin crawl

But you're only so hopeful and excited because you think maybe this guy will help you get over your feelings for Alastor?

He's a very sweet man, cute, funny, a little touchy-feely but nothing you can't handle

You don't notice the way Alastor's smile twitches ever so slightly whenever you bring up your date

Or his sour tone and the way he tries to discourage you from going

"Y/N, do you even like him? Can you picture yourself having a future with him?"

"That's why I'm going on a date with him, besides... he's very sweet to me!"

Another eye twitch and a sound that's almost like a snarl, Alastor is sweet to you, this guy isn't special

Okay, you notice but you assume he's just being protective

Alastor doesn't even realize his thunderous expression until your soft hand grips his chin, forcing him to lock eyes with you

"Alastor, I'll be fine. I'm a big girl and I can handle myself, you don't need to worry about me.."

Even though you want him to worry about you, you want him to beg you not to go, to tell you that he-

But he won't

His attitude only gets worse once he actually sees the guy who asked you out on a date

Oh no he's hot

If Alastor knew the word, then he would surely call him a himbo but he doesn't know that word, so he just calls him "Next."

Watching you interact with him was something that was truly sickening, seeing someone so clearly enamored with you

And you're enjoying the attention, Alastor gives you attention, he compliments you and takes you to fun places

Just never with obvious romantic intentions before...

Your date kisses your hand and Alastor wants to scrub it clean for you, Alastor can kiss you-

Kissing you wouldn't be so bad...or possibly more...

What was all that sickeningly sweet stuff you used to talk about couples doing together? Dates, cuddling, sex? He could do that, with you that is-

It's a little hot under his collar all of a sudden

It's not like Alastor hasn't already been practically taking you out on dates, courting you

Everyone already thinks you two are a couple anyways

Fuck he's in love with you and he's probably already missed his chance

He wrestles with himself over the sudden revelation all the days leading up to your date

It's not until you come out looking like the most heavenly creature on earth that Alastor realizes you're actually going on a date

"You... you're really going to go out with him? You can do so much better, Y/N."

He doesn't miss the frustrated look on your face and the way you hug yourself

"Well, he's the only one who's taken an interest in me, Al."

"And if someone else asked you?"

He's cautious with his words, already formulating a plan in his head based off of your reaction

"...there's only one person who I want to take notice of me."

Oh he's stealing you away now

He stands up and slaps his hands on your arms, giving you a charming smile as he leans in

Your body instinctively reacts, and you lean in to meet him halfway, your lips drawn to his-

"Make sure you guys tune into my show later tonight, okay? I'll have something special whipped up for your date!"

He hugs you and leaves you feeling more conflicted than ever, the feeling doesn't leave even after Alastor sees you off for your date

Your lips still tingle from that almost kiss

Your date is absolutely ruined, Alastor having completely taken over your thoughts with his strange behavior

Not that he didn't always take over your thoughts already

But you can hardly focus on your date, who's very sweet, very dumb and a little too touchy for your tastes

You end the date early, already knowing there's no shaking off your love for your best friend

You'll just long for Alastor for the rest of yours days...

Then you remember he asked you to tune into his radio show! Without even realizing it, your feet have taken you to his radio tower

You can hear him in there, getting ready for his show, you grab the handle and press your ear to the door

"Good evening, folks! I would like to dedicate this special song to the love of my life! My soulmate, Y/N!"

You feel your body freeze as a familiar song fills your ears, a song that was special only to you and Alastor

It's the closest thing to a confession that you'll probably ever get from him-

You'll take it

When you open the door to the broadcast booth you can tell he's surprised to see you there

"I thought you would at least be letting him drive you home by now..."

He's nervous but clearly trying to hide it, making his way towards you slowly

"I just wanted to be here with you..."

His arms are sliding around your waist, the nervousness he had before melting away into a smug grin

He's so fucking handsome

"You missed me so much that you ditched you date~?"

Your fingers are tangling in his hair as you pull him in closer, lips nearly touching as the emotions between you two threaten to burst

"And you just dedicated an entire love song to me on air to steal me away from my date."

His warm breath hits your face as he chuckles, bypassing your waiting lips to kiss your ear softly instead

"What can I say, my dear? I'm a fool when it comes to love~"

His voice nearly makes your knees buckle, but Alastor easily holds you up, pushing you up against the door while giving you a bruising kiss

For someone who's never really taken an interest in relationships, he's a really talented fucking kisser

I really hope you like this one! I had so much fun with it!

[tetsunabouquet]

Why Isha is the Most Misunderstood Character from Arcane S2: My Headcanons

A/N: After doing Sevika, I really just wanted to write this in defense of my little sweetheart, because the hate train against her is just dumb and occasionally downright ableist in how some people talk about her being mute. As a HF autistic woman, that shit just disgusts me so here I go!

-First of all, let's adress the hate towards Isha for 'magically fixing' Jinx. It's far less magical then you think. Ever heard of inner child work? Jinx might not have been working the classic techniques, as Isha acted as a proxy for Powder instead. That scene of Jinx just drifting off mentally as she does Isha's hair, talking about how she didn't do that with Vi? It very much gives off the vibe that Jinx would have liked to do the occasional girly things wih Vi as a child and that her inner Powder finally feels heard in that moment. They had been together for months at that point, so I doubt that was the sole moment Isha allowed Jinx to work through her problems by Isha being a proxy for her past self. -Secondly, let me adress the common criticism that she has no goal or whatsoever and is just there to idolize Jinx. You should all take some media literacy classes. She's very clearly set up as a mirror to a young Powder AND Vi, so why can't you see the obvious parallels?! Jinx has become like Vander, a symbol for the undercity and their fight against oppression but she doesn't wants to fight anymore. Isha isn't pushing Jinx into a hero role because she's a fangirl. But because she HAS a goal. Like Powder and Vi, she genuinely wants Zaun to be liberated and is trying to encourage Jinx to get back in the game just like Vi tried to do with Vander! Whilst the circumstances leading up to that were different, Isha even gets imprisoned for trying to make a stand for the undercity just like Vi did. I don't want to be hateful like you guys but seriously, do you Isha haters really need dialogue THAT badly to point out the obvious? -Isha's lack of voice also refers to her lack of family. Whilst she could be mute because of disability, there is also the possibility of her never having learnt how to properly speak as an orphan, as well as the possibility she became mute through trauma. As a mirror, it's highly likely Isha's parents were also brutally murdered. With 2 of the 3 explanations pointing into the direction of her being mute due to being an orphan, it's statistically likelier for this to be the actual reason. -Which adds an additional layer of tragedy to her character. Because going mute through trauma as well as being mute due to being a 'feral' child, can be dealt with! People tend to get over traumatic mutism and whilst feral children missed some important milestones, Isha could still be taught to speak basic sentences with the right help. This seems to be highlighted with how Isha learns to stand up for herself and be more assertive. She's crawling out of her shell and just when you could catch a glimmer of who she could become, she dies. With Sevika now being in charge as part of the Council, the aid Isha would need to regain her speech are now available to the children of Zaun. It's heartbreaking to think about the future Isha could have had if she had just survived the attack on Viktor's camp. -With how desperate Isha was to have a family- just look at how quickly she attached to Jinx and jumped at the chance to also be with Vander and Vi, it's clear the girl was dreaming of a home. Which brings me to her intentions to her sacrificing herself. If she was that desperate and traumatized, then it very likely could be that Isha rather wants to die then lose her family all over again. The fact her song ends with according to translations, 'for this is good enough for me', seems to imply that these months of having a family was what she dreamt of for so long and she can go in peace thanks to Jinx showing her love in the cruel world of the undercity.

[damiiimidassss]

Chung Myung x Taoist priestess reader

Warning: mentions of blood, death, and religious activities.

Wc. 6.3k

You didn't understand the hype and praises they give to the plum blossom saint.

You’re a Taoist priestess but not the calm, silent type people expect. You talk back, roll your eyes, and don’t put up with anyone’s nonsense. Being a woman in a world where men stay on top, you need to show people that you're not someone they should look down on.

You live in a temple nestled up the mountain, where people come to you for blessings, healing, or answers about their future. Most of the time, you help them. You light incense, draw talismans, and try to act like a proper priestess. But the truth is, your role as a bit different from the others.

You were born with a gift or maybe a curse. The gods gave you the ability to see into someone’s future, but only if they want to know and are willing to give something in return. And that something?

A drop of their blood and giving up the most important treasure in their life.

Whether it's money, jewels, or even family heirloom. You need money to survive after all, and it shows willingness.

And they must walk on the right path in their life.

That’s how your visions start. One sip, and you see what’s ahead love, war, death, regrets. Not all of it is pretty. Which is why you rarely do it.

Then there’s the plum blossom saint. You heard him from rumours, from beggars who pray in your temple, from women who fawned over him whenever you buy food.

They said, he's Loud. Arrogant. A walking headache. He charges into fights like he’s invincible and talks like the heavens owe him something.

You concluded you hate him truly. Why? Well he ignores Taoist teachings like they’re optional, disrespects every quiet truth you’ve ever lived by, and thinks problems can be solved with a sword and a cocky grin.

At first you didn't believe those rumours but you find him down the market, drinking and eating like a glutton.

As a taoist priestess who holds the teaching in your heart, you concluded you already hate this guy.

You tried to stay away from him.

But unfortunately, buddah likes to play with you.

One afternoon, you’re sitting quietly in your temple when Chung Myung arrives without warning. He walks in like he owns the place. Your disciples tries to stop him but he just shrugs them off.

Nearby, a man is begging on his knees, offering money to you. “Please, priestess, read my future! I’ll pay anything.”

You look at the man calmly. “Not everyone deserves to see their future,” you say. “Only those who walk the right path can be granted that gift.” you hands clenched in anger,

‘This man is in severe debt, he wants to know the future if he will win another gamble he'll take tonight.’ you thought, you saw this man once outside a gambling place crying after he lost another game of Pai gow. Losing his only source of income.

You didn't notice you have an audience watching.

Chung Myung tilted his head with a smirk ‘Oh, now thats some strict rules’ his eyes bore down to your expression showing annoyance ‘Even a taoist priestess can make that face? thought only monks can do that’ he sneered remembering those bald heads who looked at him with those expression.

The man grunted face twisting In anger “What the hell does that mean?! I climbed this stupid mountain just for you to say no?”

You glared down at him, frowning and showing your displeasure “Then climb back down. The gods won’t speak to someone who tries to force answers.”

“You’re just a scammer in fancy robes!” He lunges. Fast. But before he can even harm you with a hidden blade.

You immediately grab a hidden dagger under the rug for instances like this.

Chung Myung who was quick, jumps between you and the attacker, pulling his sword and blocking the strike.

The man grunted falling on his back “What the–”

“Back off,” Chung Myung glared down at him.

The man freezes as he sees the symbol on his clothes ‘that symbol! The Mount Hua sect!’ in fear he runs away.

The grip on your daggers loosen and hide it under the rug. A priestess cannot be seen with a weapon to hurt someone.

“Who are you?”

You sat again comfortably, You looked at the person who saved you. “And Why did you help me?”

“Chung Myung, a disciple from Mount Hua” He looked down at you, smirking. As he insert his sword back “I want something from you, and i'm sure you already knew what”

You stared at him, seeing him up close. His qi is different from every swordsman who visits you. But after what happened you needed a break.

You raise your left hands “Come back the next day, I'm tired”

Chung Myung froze, it was silent for a minute before his fingers pointed at you. His mouth open “Hey! I just saved you!”

You stood up turning your back “I didn't ask you”

Chung Myung felt his veins pop, surely a taoist likes you know how to pay back right? You're a priestess after all. “Fine I'll come back” he sighed, scratching his head.

He kicked a stone like a kid before heading down the mountain.

You turned your head to look at him, of course you won't let him see you tomorrow. After all, there's something about him that makes you want to avoid seeing his fate.

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

The next day, you made your way down the mountain to attend the wedding of a wealthy merchant. He had asked for a blessing from the mountain priestess or you to give his marriage good fortune and spiritual peace.

At first, you were going to turn him down. You didn’t like leaving the temple, and you didn’t perform blessings for just anyone. But when he offered money and promised support for your temple, you couldn’t refuse.

The girls back home were running low on clothes and food. You needed help money, resources, influence–anything to protect the women you raised and taught. This was one of the few ways to do that.

So now, you stood in the middle of a grand celebration, your robes neat and your sleeves hiding the way your nose scrunched at the strong smell of alcohol.

The loud music, the laughing guests, it wasn’t your kind of place. But you stayed composed, letting your sleeve mask your discomfort.

After the celebration, the newlyweds led you to a quiet, private room at the back of the estate. They knelt before you, hands pressed together, eyes full of hope.

You stood in front of them. Then, with a soft voice, you began your prayer.

“May your love continue to bloom, like flowers in early springs. Walk toward the right path, find happiness with balance, don't fall into temptations that will ruin oneself.”

The couple bowed their heads deeply, tears slipping down their cheeks. They stayed like that while you moved around them slowly, swinging the incense burner in gentle circles. Smoke curled through the air, cleansing the space with each step.

Once the ritual was finished, the couple placed a lacquered offering box in front of you. You accepted it and bowed politely, and left the room.

Not a single emotion showed on your face.

But inside, you were already thinking of how much rice that box could buy. How many coats you could sew. How many nights the girls could sleep full and warm.

You didn't do this for glory.

You did it to keep them safe.

After the wedding, you walked back to the mountain early. Your feet ached a little, but the sight of your home made the walk feel lighter.

As soon as you stepped inside the temple gates, soft lantern light greeted you–and so did the voices of the girls.

“Priestess, congratulations on the successful ceremony! We prepared dinner for you!” said one of the older girls, the one who often took the lead caring for the younger ones. Her eyes sparkled with pride.

You blinked, surprised to see them still awake at such a late hour. But seeing their faces, their smiles, something inside you softened.

You handed her the offering box gently and gave her a warm smile. “Place this inside my room.” You paused, looking at all of them. “I can take care of myself. You kids go to sleep.”

The older girls nodded right away, used to following your words without question. But the little ones didn’t move.

They just stood there, tugging softly at your robe with sleepy eyes, waiting.

You sighed quietly, letting out a small chuckle, then crouched down. You pressed gentle kisses on each of their foreheads one by one. The little girls giggled and blushed before scurrying off to their shared room, finally ready to sleep now that their goodnight ritual was complete.

Once the temple fell into silence again, you went to your room and sat down for dinner. Alone.

The food was still warm steamed rice, pork with sweet sauce, and a little bowl of pickled vegetables. It smelled good. You should be grateful. You were grateful.

Your life was filled with blessings. A safe temple. Loving girls who looked up to you. Peace on the mountain.

And yet why did it still feel so empty sometimes?

You looked around the quiet room. No voices. No laughter. No one to sit with. No hand reaching across the table.

You were growing older. Still unmarried. Still celibate by choice. You had always chosen this path... or maybe it was just the only one you saw.

Your hand moved suddenly right against your cheek. The chopsticks slipped from your fingers and dropped into the bowl with a dull sound.

Your face warmed, but not from the hit.

It was the realization.

You craved to be loved.

You stared down at your food. “I’m already surrounded with love,” you whispered in your head, trying to convince yourself.

But the truth lingered. You were loved deeply by the girls you raised. But it was different.

It wasn’t the kind of love that filled that void.

Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to try looking. Just a little. For someone. Whether it was a man or a woman. You didn’t care. You just wanted someone who could sit with you when the temple turned quiet. Someone to fill that small, aching space in your heart.

Maybe it was just the wedding today, making you feel like this.

Still, the thought stayed.

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

The very next day the swordsman visited, clearny angry after you ditched him yesterday.

As you were sweeping the temple courtyard, you heard heavy footsteps stomping up the mountain path–fast and angry. You didn’t even have to look.

You already knew it was Chung Myung.

He stormed in, arms swinging, hair messy, eyes locked on you like you personally ruined his life.

“You said to come back tomorrow!” he snapped the moment he saw you.

You didn’t even flinch. You kept sweeping calmly. “But I didn’t say I was going to be here.”

He looked like he was about to explode. “What kind of answer is that?! I waited up here like an idiot!”

You shrugged, not looking at him. “You’re the one who listened. That’s on you.”

Chung Myung threw his hands in the air. “Then read my future.or something! Make up for it!”

You stopped sweeping and turned to him with a straight face. “No.”

He blinked. “What do you mean, ‘no’?”

“I don’t want to,” you said plainly.

“You don’t want to? What kind of priestess are you?”

“The kind that doesn’t deal with annoying sword freaks who yell at her first thing in the morning.”

His mouth opened, but no words came out at first. Then he pointed at you, offended. “I’m not annoying!”

You raised a brow.

“…All the time,” he mumbled.

Just as he was about to launch into another complaint, a chorus of little feet pattered behind you.

A group of tiny girls ran out of the temple and surrounded Chung Myung, frowning up at him with puffed cheeks and narrowed eyes.

“Stop yelling at our priestess!” one of the smallest ones said, crossing her arms like you always did.

“You’re too loud!” another added. “She just got back!”

Chung Myung froze, clearly caught off guard by the army of angry children.“I- what- no, I wasn’t yelling at her, I was just–” he tried to explain, backing up a little.

“Apologize!” one of the girls demanded, tugging at his sleeve.

You watched from behind them, lips twitching into a rare smile.

“You girls are very brave,” you said warmly. “You protected your priestess well.” They lit up at your praise, standing taller like proud little guards.

Chung Myung, meanwhile, stood there, defeated by toddlers. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath.

You just chuckled softly and went back to sweeping.

Ever since that day, Chung Myung started showing up. Every single day.

He’d stroll up the mountain like it was his own backyard, sometimes with snacks, sometimes with a bottle of wine tucked into his sleeve, and always with that smug, annoying grin.

You’d be sweeping the courtyard, trimming the herbs, or guiding the girls through morning meditation, and there he’d be leaning against a pillar, watching like he belonged there.

“If you don’t stop showing up uninvited, I swear I’ll hit you with a broom,” you warned, not even looking at him.

Chung Myung snorted. “What kind of priestess are you? Shouldn’t you be full of kindness and inner peace?”

You didn’t even hesitate. “Shut up.”

He laughed, clearly enjoying your annoyed expression. He liked getting on everyone's nerves.

Sometimes, when the girls were napping or doing chores, he’d drag you away from your work. You’d scold him the entire time, but somehow still ended up sitting on the temple steps next to him, watching the sky while he sipped his drink.

You cleared your throat, covering your nose from the alcoholic stench “I told you not to drink here”

Chung Myung shrugged, closing his eyes to taste his favourite expensive wine. After He drunk he gasped and wiped his mouth “Can't, I like drinking here. The god will forgive me”

You’d threaten him with your broom again. He’d call you heartless.

And yet, neither of you ever actually walked away.

The girls started getting used to him. They no longer hid behind your robes when he came–now they waved, giggled, and even offered him sweets. He was rough and loud, but he made them laugh, and that said more than words.

And somehow, without you realizing it, his presence didn’t feel so out of place anymore, It felt normal.

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

You were lighting the last incense stick of the night when you heard footsteps soft ones, not the clumsy, loud kind the girls made when they snuck around.

You turned around, your eyes widened in suprise.

There he was again. Chung Myung.

But this time, it wasn’t the usual loud, teasing version of him. He wasn’t grinning or tossing casual insults. He just stood there, hands behind his head, looking unusually calm.

“What are you doing here? It’s late,” you asked, setting the incense aside.

“I was bored,” he said, but the tone was too quiet to be real.

You gave him a look but didn’t push it. Instead, you motioned to the temple steps. He followed and sat beside you without a word.

For a while, it was silent. The temple behind you was quiet–everyone was already asleep.

Then Chung Myung spoke, catching your attention. “Why’d you become a priestess?”

You blinked, caught off guard by the question. You turned to him, then asked back, “Why’d you become a swordsman?”

He hummed before answering “Mount Hua raised me. I didn’t have anything else. So, I picked up a sword. I owe everything to them.”

You smiled faintly at that. “I’m the same.”

He glanced at you, curious evident in his eyes.

“A wandering priest took me in when I had nowhere to go,” you explained. “He raised me like his own. Taught me everything I know. I became his disciple. After he passed, I took over the temple. That’s when I started reading fates for those who seek guidance.”

Chung Myung leaned back on his elbows, staring up at the stars. “Huh sounds kinda heavy.”

“It is,” you said softly.

He turned his head toward you again, then asked bluntly, “Can you read my future now?”

“No.”

The answer came out flat, quick, without hesitation.

He stared at you for a second, then groaned. “You didn’t even think about it!”

“I don’t need to. The answer’s still no,” you replied, looking straight ahead, pretending to ignore the way he kept pouting beside you.

He muttered something under his breath, clearly annoyed, but didn’t leave.

And even though you didn’t say it, a small part of you was glad he came. But you will never admit it.

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

The next day you took a break, after reading fate after fate for hours, your head felt heavy, and your body was tired.

You stepped outside the temple for some fresh air, sitting quietly by the wooden seats with a warm cup of tea in your hands.

The girls were inside cleaning, chatting among themselves. You enjoyed this peace, a perfect time to clear your mind.

Until a shadow loomed over you.

You didn’t even need to look up.“Don’t–”

Before you could finish the warning, strong arms wrapped around you from behind, lifting you right off the ground.

“Chung Myung!” you snapped, legs kicking slightly as your teacup nearly flew out of your hand.

“Time for a break,” he said, grinning like a bandit who just stole treasure. “You looked like you were starting to grow moss.” he stole the cup from your and put it on the table.

“Put me down!” you swayed your legs.

“Nope.” He chuckled.

The girls rushed out in a panic. “Let go of our priestess!”

“Where are you taking her?!”

“Kidnapper!”

But Chung Myung just laughed, not stopping at all. “I’ll bring her back before nightfall, I swear!”

“You better!” one of the older girls scolded, shaking a slipper at him.

“I’m keeping her fed and away from boring prayers and doom readings for the day. Don’t cry too much without her!”

You kept hitting his back with your fists. “I can walk, you lunatic!”

“But this is more fun,” he replied casually.

Despite your protests, the breeze on your face, the warm sun, and the way his laugh echoed up the mountain made it hard to stay truly mad. You hated how your lips twitched, holding back a smile.

Chung Myung dragged you all the way down the mountain to a small food stall. The scent of grilled pork and steamed buns made you hungry.

He plopped down like he owned the place, already ordering food without asking you.

You sat across from him, adjusting your robes with a sigh. “You could have just told me, you know.”

He didn’t even look up as he stuffed his mouth with pork. “You would’ve said no.”

You stared at him. “Fair. But why me?”

He shrugged, still chewing. “Why not? At this point, we’re friends now.”

You weren’t convinced. Narrowing your eyes, you leaned back. No man would ever be friends with a woman if there's no ulterior motive. “You just want me to read your future.”

He snorted, nearly choking on his food. “You’re so sharp, priestess!”

You sighed and glanced at the food being set down in front of you. Warm rice, pork belly, pickled radish. It smelled too good to ignore.

“I’m already here now,” you muttered, picking up your chopsticks. “Might as well eat”

“That’s the spirit–”

“But I still won’t read your future.”

“Tch.” He clicked his tongue, defeated for now, but grinning anyway.

Even as you ate in silence while he tells you a story, this weird friendship was becoming something real.

Chung Myung already knew you before you learned about him.

At first, he thought you were just another priestess with duties to pray and bless the land. But the more he came by, the more he started to notice.

He saw the way your smile dropped the second the little girls turned their backs.

How your shoulders sagged just a bit when you thought no one was looking. How your eyes, even when you were surrounded by laughter and warmth, still held something. It was loneliness.

Chung Myung wasn’t stupid. He saw it.

You were strong–annoyingly so. Smart, sharp-tongued, full of weird rituals and ancient teachings. But even with all your power, you looked like someone carrying too much alone. Then he found out what you were doing.

That the temple wasn’t just some quiet place to chant prayers. It was a home. A place where you took in little girls with no family, girls who had nowhere else to go.

You raised them, fed them, taught them Taoist teachings and how to live with peace and discipline.

You weren’t just a priestess, you were their mother.

You taught them how to meditate, how to cook, how to sweep, how to heal. And when they grew older, they stayed–not out of duty, but out of love. They cleaned, helped out with ceremonies, and guided the younger ones.

You never asked for praise. Never asked for help. You just kept going. And something about that hit him in the chest.

Chung Myung saw you really saw you and something inside him twisted.

Because even if you had all those girls, all those people relying on you, it was clear.

No one was taking care of you.

And even though he didn’t understand it fully, didn’t know what it meant yet. He wanted to be the one to do it.

But right now, he's enjoying the way your eyes shine when he's with you.

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

After a meal with Chung Myung, he walked you back to the Mountains. It was already night time, you enjoyed your travels with him too much.

Chung Myung was a few steps ahead, casually humming with his hands behind his back. You had just finished teasing him for eating too much when a sound cut through the wind.

It was full of screaming your heart dropped. Then came the desperate voices, faint but getting louder with each step.

“Priestess!”

“Help us!”

“Protect the little girls!”

Your blood ran cold you didn’t wait. You hiked up your robes and ran, faster than you ever had, sandals skidding against the dirt path as your heart pounded in your chest.

You barely registered Chung Myung yelling your name behind you before he ran ahead in a blur, sword already in hand.

When the temple finally came into view, your breath caught. There was a smoke.

The gates were cracked open, like someone break through–broken pots, scattered offerings, torn clothes. A group of armed bandits had pushed into the courtyard, some grabbing valuables, others threatening your girls.

You saw one of the older girls shielding the younger ones, her arms spread wide.

“Get back!” she screamed. “Don’t touch them!”

The little girls were crying, huddled behind her, clinging to each other.“Priestess!”

The second they saw you, the older ones called out, like you were the last hope they’d been waiting for.

You weren’t a fighter, your hands were meant for prayer, for blessing, for writing–not for holding weapons.

But that didn’t stop you. Not when you saw one of the bandits grab the arm of the eldest girl who tried to protect the others. Not when the younger ones screamed behind her. Your heart beat so loudly it drowned out everything else.

Your eyes landed on a shard of broken glass from a broken cup. Your hands trembled as you picked it up.

You didn’t know what you planned to do, maybe distract him, maybe just scream loud enough to buy time but you gripped that shard like it was your only lifeline. You stepped forward, heart in your throat.

But before you could take a single strike.

You saw movement so fast, so graceful, you almost didn’t see it.

In an instant, a thin arc of light bloomed in the air like falling petals.

The bandit’s arm twisted unnaturally as he cried out and dropped his weapon, staggering back. He hit the ground before he even understood what had happened.

You blinked owlishly trying to understand what happened.

There, standing between you and the bandit with his sword in hand, was Chung Myung. His eyes were glaring daggers focused only on the enemy. His sword glowed faintly in the dusk light, petals of pure energy trailing in the air where he’d moved. It was beautiful but at the same time it was terrifying. The Plum Blossom Sword Style.

Your breath caught in your throat, so this… this was why they called him the Plum Blossom Saint.

Not because of titles or reputation. But because in the middle bloodshed and fear, his sword bloomed like spring. Chung Myung stood over the bandit, sword raised.

The bandit was sprawled on the ground, scrambling backward with fear in his eyes, blood dripping from a wound on his arm. The other bandits immediately left running from their lives once realizing who their up againts with.

You knew that look on Chung Myung’s face. It was the face of someone ready to end things quick.

“Chung Myung,” you called gently

He didn’t lower his sword, you stepped closer, your fingers still trembling from the broken glass you’d dropped. “Don’t kill him.”

He glanced back at you. “He tried to hurt your girls. He would’ve–”

“I know,” you said, your voice cracking slightly. “But I don’t want any blood spilled in this temple. Not even his.”

Chung Myung stared at you like he couldn’t understand. “He’s a demon in human skin.” the plum blossom saint was ruthless even in a holy place.

“Even so,” you breathed. “I don’t want my children to grow up seeing death. Especially not here this temple is their home. Their safe place.”

Your gaze met his. “Please.”

Finally, Chung Myung’s grip on his sword loosened. He sighed, muttering something under his breath as he stepped back. “You’re too soft,” he grumbled.

But you saw it, the way his sword lowered and returned to its sheath.

The bandit, seeing his chance, scurried to his feet and fled, tripping over broken wood as he ran into the woods. You didn’t chase him. You didn’t care about revenge.

You turned back to the girls, who were huddled in the corner watching everything with wide, frightened eyes.

You walked over and crouched down, wrapping your arms around them. “Shhh, I'm right here, you're okay” You cooed, calming down the girls that hugged you tightly.

“Mama..” the younger one cried, and that made you teared up.

You buried your face unto your eldest daughter whos trembling “Im here, my daughters”

Chung Myung watched you quietly, and maybe, he started to understand why you lived the way you did.

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

It had been a few weeks since the attack, and things at the temple slowly began to settle. The older girls worked harder than before, repairing what they could. The little ones followed your steps with even more devotion now, clinging to your sleeves like ducklings.

As you grow oldl, Chung Myung kept showing up uninvited. But no one minded anymore. The girls even started calling him "Uncle Chung," which made him choke on his tea the first time they did it.

The two of you sat outside under the sun, you passed him a steamed bun, which he took without complaint.

“I have a friend from the Tang clan. Real annoying guy. Knew everything, hes good at fighting.” he said between bites.

You glanced over at him with mild curiosity. “Tang clan? The poison experts?”

“Yeah.” Chung Myung leaned back, arms behind his head. “You’d probably like him. He sometimes feeds me poison”

You let out a soft chuckle. “Sounds like someone I wouldn’t mind meeting.”

Chung Myung looked at you, sweat forming on his forehead “I told him about you, he said to leave you alone but no, free will exist”

You felt your veins pop “Yeah we'd get along”

Chung Myung smirked to himself. Then, out of nowhere, he asked “Can you–”

“No.”

He blinked. “I didn’t even finish.”

“You were going to ask me to read your future again,” you said flatly.

Chung Myung looked away, whistling like he was innocent. “You’re too sharp, priestess.”

You rolled your eyes but smiled anyway. “ Because you’re too predictable, Saint.”

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

Lately, you found yourself looking forward to his visits more than you cared to admit. You're on old woman now, but your face barely had any wrinkles. Maybe its because you're different from any human that's why your body still looks young.

Well you are different, there's no way in hell a woman can see someone's future is normal.

And its also not normal to suddenly admire a friend. His long dark hair, always tied up, catching the sunlight when he walked. The pink in his eyes that you used to find unnatural, now oddly mesmerizing. His lean but strong build, the kind that made you feel odd.

And his laughter, it wasn’t often loud, but when it came, it was warm. The kind of sound that made your chest feel lighter.

You didn’t even realize you were staring until his voice cut in.

“You’re staring, priestess,” he said with that annoyingly smug smirk of his. “Is there something on my face?”

You blinked, heat creeping up your neck to your ears. “No,” you said quickly, eyes darting away. “My apologies, I trailed off sometimes”

He grinned. “Just say you find me attractive”

You smacked his arm, flustered but trying to save face. “Shut up.”

But even as you turned away, your heart thumped a little louder in your chest.

Because you didn’t mind being caught staring. If you get to enjoy moments like this with him.

As you grew you learned that nothing lasts forever. But you wanted to be with him until your last breath.

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

Whispers from wandering merchants, hushed conversations between temple visitors, even the girls who went down the mountain for supplies heard it.

“The Heavenly demon is alive.”

“They say they'll attack soon–burn everything to the ground.”

You stood still as the whispers swirled in your head, lips slightly parted. ‘Alive?’

The name "Demonic cult" itself turned your blood cold. It was a name mothers used to warn children. And if they truly lived again the world would bleed.

Your thoughts immediately went to your girls. The little ones, the older disciples. All their laughter. Their futures.

Your chest tightened. Would your temple and daughters be safe?

Your mind trailed to Chung Myung.

You hadn’t seen him for days now. Maybe longer.

He always came by, even just to drink and annoy you. But now there was only silence.

You looked out toward the path he always walked from. But there was nothing.

And yet, something told you he knew.

Something told you he was preparing for what was to come.

Still, that didn’t stop your heart from aching. From worrying. From wondering if the Saint who always made you laugh was out there getting ready to face something.

You clutched the prayer beads in your hand and whispered a silent plea to the heavens "Keep him safe."

You kept praying for the deities for guidance and blessings for protection.

And they answered by sending Chung Myung, he came back to meet you again after many weeks.

The girls scurried about the temple, whispering behind their sleeves as they prepared tea. But their eyes kept darting toward the main room where you and Chung Myung sat. Not one of them went too far, clearly lingering just outside the door, eavesdropping with all the subtlety of kittens trying to tiptoe.

Chung Myung didn’t seem to care. He leaned back comfortably, arms crossed as he stared at you with that usual cocky grin.

“Well,” he said casually, “we’ll be going to a war. Thought I’d visit you before I go. Pray for us, priestess.”

You kept your posture straight, hands folded tightly on your lap but your fingers dug into your thighs so hard they trembled beneath the fabric.

“I understand,” you said, voice soft. “I’ll pray every day.” Your words shook slightly, and that didn’t escape him.

Chung Myung’s grin faltered, eyes narrowing just a bit. “Hey,” he said more gently, “don’t worry. I’m not going to die.”

You closed your eyes for a moment. You wanted to believe him. You wanted to trust his strength. But your chest ached.

“We cannot be sure,” you whispered, and when you opened your eyes, you looked at him straight on. “Unless…”

His eyes lit up like a child who just won a game. “You’ll read my future?!”

You gave a single nod. “Give me your hand.”

He did so without hesitation, you reached under the nearby rug and pulled out the small dagger hidden beneath.

The moment the cool blade grazed his skin and drew a shallow line of red, he didn’t flinch.

He just watched you.

And when you leaned forward and licked the drop of blood from his palm your lips brushing the wound, it was a sacred act.

For him, it was a ritual, something you do normally.

But for you it was a kiss, a yearning one. You were going to miss him. As you taste the familiar iron taste of blood, a taste you always hated but for him. You'd do it again and again to make sure he's safe.

Chung Myung tilted his head, teasing you. “Don’t you need offerings or something?”

You shook your head gently. “It’s optional,” you murmured. “The blood isn’t. And you… you walk on the right path.”

His gaze lingered on your face a moment longer, as if trying to read your expression. But you had already closed your eyes.

And there, in the dark stillness of your mind, with his blood on your tongue , you saw his future. His fate.

The moment the future revealed itself to you, your heart dropped.

You saw Chung Myung, standing tall against the darkness. His other arm was gone.

His blade beheaded Cheonma, he won, he defeated the enemy who threatened everything.

But he died, too.

Alongside the swordsmen of Mount Hua, his brothers, his family. Their spirits faded like petals in the wind, gone before their time.

You’d seen countless fates before. Cruel deaths. Lonely ends. Even the fall of empires, but this…

This wasn’t the same.

This was someone you loved.

Your lips trembled, but you swallowed your cries. Now wasn’t the time. He didn’t need fear in his heart or worries clinging to his back when he left for war.

So you took a breath, stood up straight, and bowed deeply–so low your forehead nearly touched the ground.

“You’ve done well,” you said, voice steady even though it burned. “We’ll keep praying for Mount Hua’s safety. Thank you, Chung Myung.”

He frowned, showing confusion in his face, he gently pulled your arms to lift you.

“What did you see?” he asked hurriedly.

You gave him the softest smile, the kind people wear before breaking. “Come back,” you spoke, as if you were begging.

“and I’ll tell you.”

Then, before you could stop yourself, you hugged him tightly, your face hidden in his robes. You just needed to hold him, even just once.

He didn’t hug you back. He stood still, silent. He pulled your arms away. And then he walked away without a word.

You stood there until the door slid closed behind him. Your knees gave out, the girls rushed in, eyes wide and scared.

“Priestess?”

But you couldn’t answer them. Not now.

Because you were mourning.

Mourning someone who hadn’t died yet.

And you weren’t sure whether to cry or pray harder.

Because death was inevitable.

No matter how many prayers you offered, no matter how many rituals you performed, the war still ended in blood.

The world rejoiced for peace, praising the other sect who defeated them–but you wept.

Chung Myung did not return.

Mount Hua was never the same. Once so proud and full of life, now it stood quietly, hollowed by loss. Only a few survived, carrying stories of a man who fought like no other.

You never forgot him.

Even as the years passed and your hair turned white, even as your body weakened and your steps slowed, you never forgot the way his smile curved just a little higher on the left. Or how his voice sounded when he teased you. Or how safe you felt every time he walked through your temple.

You ignored every man that came after. Every proposal. Every flutter of affection from others. You stayed loyal to the dead.

The priestess who never married. The woman who lived in the mountains raising daughters not her own. That’s what they would call you.

But you were more than that.

You were someone who loved quietly and deeply.

And now, your time had come.

You lay in your bed, the same one where you once cried for him. Surrounded by the girls you raised into strong, gentle women. Some now mothers themselves, holding their daughters' hands beside you.

“Priestess,” one of them whispered, voice shaking.

You smiled weakly, the same warm smile they had grown up with. “Don’t cry. I’m just going home.”

They held your hands.

You took one last breath.

And finally, you were at peace.

You closed your eyes awaiting his presence in heaven.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“Sajael, why are you staring like that at the food?”

You blinked looking at the boy with a scar in his face.

“Sajae? Y/N? I know the food sucks but you gotta eat” says the man beside him with long black hair.

You looked down at the food in front of you “Okay”.

You grabbed your chopsticks with only one thought in mind.

‘WHERE AM I??’

[luciferlightbringer]

Talk to Me

Chapter 1

Lucifer x Fem Fallen Angel Reader

Word Count:4.1 k

CW: Angst, abuse, lies, slowburn,

Chapter 1|Chapter 2 (Updated through Chapter 5)

Welcome back friends! I will be tagging all chapters now under #punching-pentagrams if the tags ever have issues or if you are looking for updates from me 😊

Once upon a time, there was a glowing city protected by golden gates, known as Heaven. It was ruled by beings of pure light. Angels that worshiped good and shielded all from evil. Lucifer was one of these angels. He was a troublemaker with “fantastical ideas” for all of creation, and was seen as such by the elders of Heaven. For they knew his way of thinking was dangerous to the order of their world. So, he was to watch as the other angels began to expand the universe in their ways.

From the dust of Earth, they created Adam and Lilith. Equals as the first of mankind, but despite this, Adam worked to take charge over his responsibility to care for Earth, and Lilith refused to work alongside him. She fled the Garden. Drawn in by her rebellious nature, Lucifer found her and troublemaker seduced her to his cause. Together, they wished to the ruin the future of humanity with their selfish dreams and ideas, offering the Fruit of Knowledge to Adam's new bride, Eve, who accepted, unaware that this “gift” came with a curse. For with this single act of disobedience, evil finally found its way into the Earth. With it, a new realm of darkness and sin. And the order Heaven worked to maintain was shattered. As punishment for their reckless act, Heaven cast Lucifer and his mistress into the dark pit he had created, to live out his days as the King of the cruel and the wicked.

This was the Parable of Lucifer, known by every Angel in Heaven, memorized, but rarely spoken. His name, or even the threat of falling was akin to swearing, which wasn't forbidden but it was frowned upon. For many eons, his name was rarely mentioned. That is, until the morning his daughter came to visit Heaven.

You watched that morning as Emily, the young seraphim you served under, danced around her room as she got ready that morning, singing and flitting about while talking about how excited she was to be at the the side of Sera, the High Seraphim, later at a meeting with the daughter of Lucifer and Lilith.

You listened and nodded at her excitement, trying hard to keep your own thoughts to yourself. You didn't understand how she could be so excited, being in the room with anyone related to Lucifer sounded like a fate worse than death. You were not important enough to be in the room where it all was going to go down, and you were perfectly ok with that.

"And then! Oh! What about the zoo?! Do you think they have zoos in hell? Maybe we have different animals.... Oh I'll just ask them!" Emily squealed with excitement as she brushed her hair.

You were trying so hard not to roll your eyes, why would some hellspawn want anything to do with a heaven zoo? And why did Emily insist on showing them around? It almost seemed cruel to show them around something more wonderful and beautiful than they probably had back home in their dark pit of evil. But it couldn't be helped, that is just who Emily was. Kind and full of desire to make people happy.

You were a "right hand man" of sorts to Emily, a sort of "lady in waiting" or "aid", and had been ever since the beginning of her time as the Seraphim of Joy. You enjoyed a higher status, that was marked by your four wings, but not as many as Emily's six, which marker he status as a seraphim. You liked being by her side, she was sweet and playful. It was her job to keep the people of Heaven happy, and it was your job to assist her in that. She was gentle and kind, and that made your job easy. She treated you as an equal, even if she didn't need to, you were happy to serve her.

"Sounds great, my lady, I hope you guys have fun," you say trying to hold back any sass you wanted to add to your comment in response to the idea of her field trip with the Princess of Hell.

Emily looked at you with a smile, "Oh! You're coming with us, of course. Aren't you?"

You held a strained smile, of course she would want to include you.

"Oh... I wish I could. But I can't I have plans," you responded coolly.

"Plans? Like what?" Emily pouted.

"Well... there uhhh... there is the updates to the Golden Girls theme park! Now that Betty is here, I figured it was important to meet with her and make sure it is correct...ya know... get her ideas..." you start.

Emily floats over and grabs your hands, "Oh but that can wait, can't it? Pleeeeease? This is so exciting and I want my best friend their with me!" She gave you big puppy dog eyes.

You can't help but feel a little shy when she calls you her best friend, you were honored that she thought of you as a friend, but you knew that was not your place, even though you had been by her side for several thousand years. It wasn't forbidden for you two to be friends, just... discouraged. Due to the difference in status. You sighed, she knew you couldn't say no to her when she got all pouty and pulled the "best friend" card.

"Alright, alright! I'll go... Just... Please don't expect me to be all buddy-buddy with them? I mean no disrespect, my lady... The idea of having beings of Hell in Heaven just... makes me nervous..." you nervously confess to Emily.

Emily smiles and pulls you in for a hug, "Yay! Oh (y/n), it's going to be ok! How about this? If you get uncomfortable, you can flap your wings quickly twice and I'll give you a reason to leave, ok?"

"But won't that leave you alone with them? What if they should try to harm you?" you say with worry in your voice.

Emily squeezes your shoulders, "It will be fine. Come on! We are gonna be late!" Emily grabs your hand and she half drags you out the door and out the the main plaza to meet up with Sera before going to welcome the guests from hell. You bow respectfully to Sera in greeting and wait as Emily and Sera fly out to the front gate while you wait inside with Sera's aid, Lily, who also had four wings like you. You rarely talked to Lily, but she was also nice, more serious like her seraphim she served.

"How is your lady feeling about the meeting?" Lily asked calmly, looking forward instead of at you.

"Very excitedly, as is her nature. Almost a little too excited, but that is not my place to tell her, of course. And what of your lady?" You asked Lily.

She shook her head, "Nervous, but collected. She was very distressed by Lucifer's request for his daughter to meet with the council of Elders. Her ideas sound... preposterous, and dangerous. Just like her father's," she responded flatly, her nose crinkling slightly.

"What ideas?" you ask.

Lily looked around for any nearby souls before leaning close and whisper, "Something about trying to redeem souls to get them to give them a second change in heaven."

You blinked, what? She is trying to redeem the souls of sinners? "Is that even possible?"

Lily shrugged, "It is not our place to ask such things, besides, we have no idea why they would want to try that. It sounds fishy to me, and I think it sounds fishy to Sera, too. We have a system in place for a reason."

"Of course, that does seem silly to try to change things," you go back to your neutral stance and start to think. The daughter of Lucifer wants to redeem souls? Why? That seems like a good thing to try to do? But how could they prove they were actually "redeemed" to even attempt something like that. As far as you knew, this had never been done before. This thought left you with so many questions, that from that point on would start to unravel your very understanding of everything you thought you knew.

Eventually you see the gates open and Sera and Emily enter with two others, a girl with long white hair, wearing an eye patch, named Vaggie, and a young woman with long blonde hair in a ponytail and a red suit, who was introduced to you as Charlie Morningstar, the daughter of Lucifer. You wanted to focus on the Morningstar child but... something about the other one seemed off about the other one, especially in the way she looked at all of you. Specifically she looked... uncomfortable? That seemed like such an odd way to react to Heaven. But maybe a place this beautiful was just hard for a demon like her to feel comfortable in. A pity.

You shifted your attention back to Charlie, you were only briefly introduced as Emily's aid, she greeted you warmly and then went back to talking with Emily and Sera. You liked it this way, it gave you a chance to just watch this daughter of Lucifer at a distance. As you toured Heaven with them, you were surprise by how sweet and bubbly she came off. She talked, mostly with Emily, about how excited she was about the meeting and looked in awe at everything she came across in Heaven. Your face remained a pleasant neutral, but you were processing everything through the lens of what you had been told about Lucifer and the information given to you by Lily about her reason for being here. What was her deal?

Eventually, Charlie and Vaggie were set up in their room, and Vaggie decided to stay at the hotel while Charlie went off with you and Emily to the zoo, and Sera and Lily went off to prepare for the meeting. Great... now there was more of a chance that you would have to interact with the Morningstar child, but you were good at remaining pleasant and neutral. You stayed to Emily's right while Charlie walked on Emily's left as they went through the zoo. Luckily, the Princess of Hell was more interested in fawning over the animals than paying attention to how little you were interacting with her. You exchanged some pleasantries and small talk when addressed, but not much beyond that.

The longer you were around her, the more curious she made you. She didn't act at all like how you expected a hellspawn would act. You know you shouldn't be making assumptions but... something was not adding up. How could this be the spawn of the most hated and dangerous being in all of creation? Either she was a very very very good actor, spinning colorful and exciting tales to disarm her victims and seduce them to her side... or somehow... despite having such an awful and cruel creature of a father... this young woman had an actual passion and love for others. You were worried at how much you felt like you wanted to agree with the latter, especially with how in-sync her personality fell with Emily's. You tried to shake the questions out of your head, again it was not your place to ask such questions.

Before long, it was time for their meeting with the angelic Council of Elders, which meant it was your time to separate from Emily and the Princess. You bid them a farewell and went off to take care of that meeting with Betty White to make any additions or suggestions to the theme park. You had a pleasant meeting with her, luckily there were only a few additions that needed to be made, so you were able make note of them with the construction team and get back to Emily's suite to prepare her some tea for her when her meeting was over.

Before long you heard the quick open and shut of the door, signaling that Emily had returned home, "Welcome back, my lady Emily! How was..." you stopped as you heard the sounds of... something you had never heard before... little sounds in quick secession that would get quieter, she'd breathe in, and then the quick secession of sounds would happen again, but starting louder and growing softer.

You peaked out around the corner to see Emily curled up on the floor right next to the door, face in her hands, making her little sounds. You had heard about this, was... was she... crying? She had never seen anyone cry before. You rushed over to her side.

"My lady? Emily? What's wrong? Why do you cry?" you asked with a slight panic, you had not idea how to help her with this, you had never seen someone sad before.

She let out different higher pitched sound and shook before she looked up at you, tears rolling down her round cheeks.

"Oh (y/n), it's terrible! I'm so angry!" Emily cried.

"What's terrible? What did the Princess do? Are you hurt?" you start to look her over.

"No!" Emily cried, "It's Sera, and Adam, and Lute... They have done something terrible!"

You blinked, you had never heard her speak of her superior sister like that, and you new the First Man to be... a colorful character, but what could he have done? "What happened?"

Emily took a few breathes before looking up at you, "They have been allowing a yearly extermination on human souls in Hell to control the overpopulation down there... Adam has an army of angels that go down with him to kill and erase human souls!"

You sat back a little, taking in the news, "Wait... why... That does not make any sense... why would they do something like that?"

Emily let more tears fall, "It's how they control the overpopulation of souls, trying to keep them from thinking about uprising against Heaven... that's why Charlie was here. She's trying to redeem souls into heaven so that we would stop killing them. She-she's just trying to protect her people, and we have just been slaughtering them! For... centuries!"

You sat in silence as Emily continued to freak out and cry, this was the worst thing you had ever heard of. How could heaven allow something like this?! Sure, the sinners had all earned their place in Hell, and they needed to stay in their place... but the does not mean anyone should be erasing them!

"Who could have allowed this?" you ask quietly.

"Sera..." Emily snarled, you look up at her, and she looks at you... with anger in her eyes, it made you jump, "Sera allowed this it happen, and what's worse... she kept it from everyone! From the rest of the Elders... from me... Only Sera, Adam, and his army of angel exorcists know... The rest of us were in the dark..."

You just sat there on the floor next to her, trying to breathe, trying to work through the thoughts and feelings in your body, this was bad... this was... really bad. You never knew this try of bad could exist, not here, not in Heaven, and you felt it all over your body. Your chest felt tight, your thoughts were racing, everything was a blur.

You looked at the young angel next to you, "What do we do now, my lady?"

Emily's expression went serious and she sat up straight looking at you, "This can't be a secret anymore, we must tell everyone."

Your eyes widened, "E-everyone? Even the human souls? My lady... I don't know if..."

Emily got up, "Yes! Everyone! They have been keeping this secret from everyone! They are breaking one of God's base commandments! Now that we know we must tell the truth! Everyone must know!"

You get up to meet her, "But... that would cause an upheaval! What if..." you change to a whisper "What if this causes you to fall? Like Lucifer?"

Emily shook her head, "If something like this is what caused his fall... then maybe there is more behind his fall than they told us in the first place..." She looked at you, "After hearing Charlie... it's worth the risk... I need to do this. Are you with me, or not?" Emily grabbed your hands.

You froze in place. Do you defy Emily, your seraphim that you are sworn to serve and support? Or do you go against something that you know will make the elders unhappy, and risk both you and her falling? You knew this look on her face, there was not talking her out of it at this point.

You sigh, "Ok... I'm with you." She smiled and hugged you, and you hugged her back. You had not idea what was going to happen next, but you couldn't bear the thought of not supporting her. It's all you knew.

You spent the rest of the night planning with Emily on how you were going to get the word out to the people. Unfortunately for the both of you... Sera had been worried about Emily's outburst in support of Charlie and went to go check on her. Emily was not watching her volume, no matter how much you reminded her, so before knocking, she was able to hear Emily talking out some ideas out with you. With a heavy and broken heart, Sera went to go alert the rest of the Elders.

The next morning, you and Emily did not have a chance to start telling anyone before Emily was brought to stand trial before the Council of Elders. You were brought with to stand witness for the conversation you had with her. Emily fought and cried, angry tears running down her face as she pleaded for the safety and protection of the people of Hell, quoting how the Elders were breaking commandments. The Elders responded of how they were doing what they needed to do to maintain the order in Heaven, and Emily teared back about how they were only proving Charlie's point about "angel's getting to do whatever and remain in the sky" while the people of hell suffered by Heaven's hand. Sera warned Emily not to press but she didn't care, saying if this was the truth that she no longer wanted to be the Seraphim of Joy.

"If you don't stop this now, you may soon not be a seraphim at all!" one of the Elders warned.

Adam sat over on the side, grinning. He was quieter than yesterday, he was trying to play nice after his major slip up the day before when he revealed the existence of the exterminations, but he was still enjoying watching the drama. Sera looked over to you, eyes pleading with do something to stop this. You looked over at Emily. There was only one way you could see getting her out of this, it wasn't going to be pleasant, but it was all you could do.

You stood up and looked over to the council, starting to cry and shake, "I'm sorry! I'm so... so sorry, my great Elders!" You whole room was looking at your now, even Emily.

"Please... please do not blame her! It was my fault! I... I was so excited to see the Princess of Hell, know why she was here. I know I wasn't allowed at the meeting... but I still stood outside of the door and listened! I couldn't bear the news! I've gone mad! Emily came back and didn't want to talk about it... but I did! I made her! I filled her head with ideas of telling the people of Heaven the truth! The angels deserve to know! It's barbaric! All of you refused to listen to Charlie and I can't stand that!" you say grabbing your hair. "Please! Emily is innocent of everything besides being to close to me! Please spare her! Punish me instead!"

"(y/n) what are you doing?!" Emily cried.

"I'm telling them the truth, my lady! Don't try to cover this up for me. You've suffered enough!" you cried, flying down to the floor and standing in front of Emily, fanning out your wings to block her, "Punish me instead! I should fall for my madness! My lady Emily has done nothing wrong! Punish me for my sympathy for Lucifer and his daughter!"

Sera frowned, looked at the others, and shook her head, "What a shame, but not unexpected from you, unfortunately." That comment almost made you flinch, what did that mean? Sera looked to the others, who all nodded at her and looked at you with distain.

"Very well," she said, lifting a hand to prompt two other angels to remove Emily from the floor, leaving only you in the middle, all eyes on you. "(y/n), for your attempt of treason against Heaven and attempted corruption of a seraphim, you have fallen from Grace and will be cast into Hell."

You give Emily one last look as she screams, whispering a goodbye to her. A portal opens up in front of you, giving you a clear but distant view of the rings of hell. Intense fear flooded your body for the first time. You take a step back, only to be stopped by Adam who had flown over an landed behind you, a wicked grin on his face.

Behind you he whispered "See you on extermination day", before breaking off one of your wings and kicking you into the pit, the sound of your screams of pain mixed with his laughter as you began to fall.

What an absolute piece of shit.

Most of your fall was spent in searing pain from your one missing wing, the other three fluttering in the wind as hell grew closer, golden blood oozing from your new wound, your first wound ever. You cried the whole way... out of pain, out of fear, out of hope that you saved Emily from this fate, out of confusion...

As you got closer, you felt more pain sear through your body, but for a different reason. You watched as you hands stared to turn into black claws, horns sprouted from your temples, a tail lashed out behind you, eyes watering as they changed to red, some of the feathers of your wings burned red. More tears burned down your cheeks as you fell, mixing in with some feelings of... anger? You wish that Emily had not dragged you into this... but it was your job to serve her... and you did it until your falling day... Who knew what awaited you in hell. The second fallen angel in all of history...

You realized then, yes, would would be the second fallen angel, would Lucifer seek you out if he found out another angel had fallen? You wanted to avoid that at all costs. As the ground grew nearer, you knew you had two choices, use your wings to ease your fall and risk being seen, or tuck them away and have a much harder hit but hide your identity as an angel. You swallowed hard as you forced your wings to tuck away. It was something angels could do, but it was not common, as it was more comfortable to keep them out.

You were almost to the red floor of the Pride Ring. God Above, this was going to hurt... You braced yourself as you plummeted into the hard rock of the upper part of the ring, making a small intend in the ground from the length and power of your fall. Your body seared with more intense pain, bones were definitely broken, but by some grace you were still barely conscious.

After catching some amount of breath, you looked around. With as much information as you could process at the moment, it looked like you had landed on some old battle ground near the edge of the ring. At least some luck was still on your side. With one good arm and leg, you clawed and crawled your way across the red brimstone ground, leaving a trail of golden blood, before finding a pile of stones that were set in just a way that you could hide. Probably something someone had built for cover at some point.

With the last of your energy, you crawled into the hole, took off your robe, and stuffed it under your head as your felt yourself suck into unconsciousness.

_____________________________________________________________

Hello! Just wanted to let everyone know that this one will have less of a back and forth between Lucifer and y/n's point of view, it will still have that, but it will be a lot more focused on y/n until they meet. Also it might take a little before they meet, but we will get there! Let me know if you want added to the taglist!

Taglist:

@sapphireravensworld @cimadreamer @froggybich @randomstranger703 @tiredlillypad @melday0105 @btsgangleader @hawke1917 @gbshdhd @pandaquick @littleladydemon @wonderlandangelsposts @hulyenl @willow404

[slutsareteacherstoo]

I Hope Part 3 - Terry Richmond x Black OC

Black Fem! OC - Savannah (dark skinned, curvy, and disabled) x Terry Richmond (Gentle!Terry, Sweet!Terry, Nervous!Terry)

(I gotta get better at these tags, suggestions welcome!)

Summary: Terry finds himself a change of scenery to after the events of Rebel Ridge

Warnings/Things of Note: I made him cry 😭🤣 (idk i just feel like that’s important; THE MAN IS GRIEVING!!!)

Word count: 3K+ (3,093)

Author’s Note: Thank you for your patience. After I made my last post I was like lemme try and polish it, but then I added more and then i fell asleep. Been fighting sleep tryna finish this part. I dont like how this part ends because it doesn’t have all the descriptions I wanted but it’s part 3 complete and onto part 3. im also trying to not let myself not sharing anything because Imma be holding on it to it for who knows how long cuz life is beating my butt😵‍💫

So canonically, Terry was born in 1992. And they wrapped up filming in July 2022. A lot of folks have been using 30 for Terry’s age since thats how old Aaron is. And so i was like okay cuz in my mind this takes place a few months after Rebel Ridge and so i used the time period to my advantage and make it an important part of the story

So we are throwing it back a bit in time to start at the beginning of their story. I was rereading it like oh shit damn i did do something frfr but we gotta go chronologic for this to work.

It’s kinda proofread but i be missing words when i type (also its 2:30 in the morning so idk its probably mistakes in there) Comments and critiques are welcome 🤗

don’t do too much tho🌚 cuz apparently yall think you can talk to people anyhow on this internet.

Anyways. Enjoy. ☺️

Fall 2022

Terry was making his way to the library. He needed a place to charge his phone and to think before heading to his final destination to meet her. Sun shining, skin glistening with sweat and pedaling hard to the tune of metal, he focused on where he was going. And what his next steps would be.

He wanted something different. Something better. He was trying to be better. Someone new. He’d been out of the military for almost 5 years now. And for the past 2, he’d been trying to shed that skin. To cut those ties and be someone new. A man and not a machine.

It’s why he found himself not at home but more than 2000 miles away from it. Away from what happened some months ago. The grief he was holding was too much. The very much preventable death of his favorite cousin. The future he envisioned for the both of them and what was to come instead. The loss of camaraderie and brotherhood of his fellow Marines while also knowing he needed to get out while he still could.

With his desired destination now in full view, he eased his pace a bit, preparing to slow down and eventually stop. The music in his ears was coming to a crescendo when he finally got off of his bike. He pulled his blue backpack for the lock and began the short walk to the bike locker. He hoisted it upward to fit in the rack with the other bikes.

After closing the locker, he decided to take a swig of water while looking at the landscape before him. Body turned to face the direction he’d previously came from. He was taking in the urban landscape, a concrete jungle lined with palm trees. A different view from the country back home. After taking the moment to center himself, Terry decided to enter the library.

He was making his way through the sliding doors, being met with the building’s cool air immediately. And when the song he was listening to faded, a different melody came through but it wasn’t from his phone. It was someone speaking. A smooth and gentle voice that resonated with Terry strongly. The person was saying something about frozen food. He took his buds out, ear by ear, to see where the voice was coming from. Hearing it in fullness and clarity, the feeling of resonance grew inside of him. Almost like recognition.

“So when we’re shopping for food, it can seem difficult to try and eat healthier. The fresh fruits and veggies seem to be more expensive than other items. So it makes sense that we want to go for what’s cheaper. Especially if we have mouths to feed,” said the voice.

A chorus of agreement in yeses, yups, and mhmms came from the direction of the voice.

“That’s why I like to get some of mine from the freezer.”

The chorus sounded again in wonder, confusion and intrigue. Terry’s interest was piqued too. Since he was going to start figuring out all this for himself again, he might as well listen. He finally looked and faced his body in the group’s direction, standing straight with hands crossed in front of him at attention. And she had it. The group’s conductor captivated him immediately. He didn’t know why but it felt important.

Her hair was in low puff and covered by a magenta bandanna. Translucent lavender glasses were the gateway to deep, dark brown cat eyes, lined in black. Terry couldn’t help but be drawn in by their allure. Thin, gold oversized hoops framed her face and gave warmth to her deep brown skin. The rest of it was covered by a white mask with light blue straps.

That actually gave him pause. Was he supposed to be wearing one? Maybe he missed a sign, distracted by the captivating conductor. Performing a quick scan, he hadn’t seen one, nor many other patrons wearing them as well. He’d spotted maybe 4 or 5 people outside the seated group and conductor. Some wore thin, black and light blue ones. Others wore more sturdy-looking ones? People had them in different colors—white, black, pink green. Maybe he could ask someone for one or why they were still wearing them.

Terry was dedicated to listening. He really was. She was talking to these folks about trying to eat good while stretching a dollar. Especially because he was gonna be staying in this expensive ass place for a minute. He was taking in all the details. Including the woman’s orange crochet cardigan and the white ribbed shirt stretched over her large chest. The white shirt was tucked into black yoga pants, waistband showcasing her soft, round belly. At a certain point, she’d put her hand on her hip; the orange cardigan behind her elbow now showing her wide set hips and full thighs that clung to the fabric. The rest of the material flared out at her knees over white light brown running shoes.

Terry heard something about freezing cooked rice. Something something starch profile. But it was the woman’s that had him at attention. He couldn’t see behind her but…he was NOT supposed to be checking out this random stranger in a random place. Being captivated by a masked maiden or whatever, this was neither the time nor place but damn she was everything.

Terry had thought these thoughts were all in his head, until the library worker behind him cleared their throat loudly for the audience of the one and only Terry Richmond. He was blushing with embarrassment and mortification, turning to meet the worker behind him. He smiled nervously and hoped the apology in his eyes came through. So much for trying to better man.

“I’m sorry about that. Is there a place I can charge my phone,” he asked while adjusting his backpack.

The worker pointed in the opposite direction of Savannah and her group. “You can go over there.” The worker was wearing a thin, black mask so he couldn’t see the bottom half of their face. But the expression in their eyes made it clear that he could actually go to hell, needed to keep it pushing and do so expeditiously. “Thank you,” Terry peered down at the worker’s badge to see their name, “Casey,” and made his way to get some juice for his phone.

Terry found an empty spot at a desk, back towards the wall and face towards the rest of the library. He could see the place with a much wider vantage point, but the conductor from earlier now out of his range. He ought to feel ashamed of himself and he did. Terry shook his head and sighed. He took a few calming breaths. In and out. In and out. Feeling a bit more comfortable, he pulls out his phone and charger, plugging it into the wall. He unlocks his phone to look at the address saved in his phone for the hundredth time. As if he hadn’t memorized it by heart. One of his safe spaces. Being with her. Figuring out what he’s going to say to her and how everything will work when he sees her again for the first time since the funeral.

He plugs in the library’s address to calculate the distance between the two of them. It was only 37 minutes. Not too bad surprisingly. Although, that might change whenever his phone got to 100 percent. His auntie had told him to be wary about the traffic. That he should overestimate at least 30 minutes to 1 hour for wherever he wanted to go, because you never knew how far you’d be set back and you never wanted to tempt fate.

He couldn’t wait to see her again. It’d only been 3 months since Mike’s funeral. A couple more since the life altering events of Shelby Springs.

— - - -

The navigation on his phone alerted Terry that his auntie’s house was coming up soon on the right. He decided to stop the bike and walk with it to the front door. The closer he got to the familiar grey house, the more he

felt the dam of emotions begin give. He walked the bike up the driveway and set it between the garage door and the big truck. Stopping in front of the red door, he drew in a few deep breaths. He was trying to steady his nerves. Terry didn’t want to break down in front of the woman’s steps. At least not in public, he didn’t want to embarrass the woman. When felt ready enough, he rapped 4 times into the hollow of the white door.

Terry heard movement from the other side, and then the clicking of locks. The door opened to reveal a woman with golden brown skin and salt-and-pepper curls. She was wearing a green blouse with wide-legged white pants and brown strappy sandals. Her eye color matched Terry’s green-blue-grey. There was no mistaking that he and Taylor Richmond were cut from the same cloth. Upon seeing her, he hugged Taylor immediately. Terry was lost in the feeling of her, the smell of her—a signature brown sugar and cinnamon. It reminded him that this was a safe space. That he could be himself here—no questions, no judgement; no putting him on a pedestal, calling him a hero; no pity and no blame from others who weren’t there.

Her nephew didn’t even let her get a word out. Taylor only let out a yelp of surprise before embracing her nephew back and chuckling. His hold on her was tight. Good lord, this boy, she thought. When she heard the sob that ripped through Terry though…oh Lord, this boy. She pulled back slightly to get a look at him. His eyes were a sea of sorrow and ache. Even in this vulnerable state, she sensed relief in him letting it out. His frame was still slightly bowed from embracing hers. She held his face in her hands.

“Well, hello to you too. If you missed me that bad, you should’ve told me to pick you up at the airport,” she said with a raised brow and wiped his tears with her thumbs. That made Terry chuckle.

“Hi, Auntie,” he said, “And I’m sorry. I didn’t want to put you out.”

“Terry, you’re literally staying in my house for God knows how long. And you’re my nephew. I’m not braving that traffic to the airport for just anybody,” Taylor said with a furrowed brow.

Terry turned his head from his auntie so he’d have space to roll his eyes, mostly at himself. Taylor caught him though. She lightly tapped him in the center of his chest with the back of her freshly manicured hands, bangles ringing in unison.

“Now, you stop all that and get in here,” Taylor said in a mocking tone.

“Yes, ma’am,” Terry obliged with a few nods, wiping at his eyes again for good measure and tugged on his backpack straps.

He followed his aunt and crossed the threshold of her home, making sure to remove his shoes before he ventured further and placed his backpack down. Taylor was making her way to the kitchen, where he guessed she was earlier before announcing his arrival. Terry took a moment to admire some of the living room. It had a grey sectional with a maroon throw blanket draped across its back. The walls were decorated with photos of his family over the years, his auntie and uncle in different places around the world, a photo of him and Mike as kids playing in the front yard caught his eye. He walked toward the picture and reached up for it. He ghosted his hand over the frame and glass and stared at it in awe and remembrance. Terry felt his aunt’s gaze on him before she spoke.

“I remember that summer clear as day. You two were a menace with those water balloons,” Taylor said, the sounds of wooden spatula hitting the edge of a pot rang through the space.

Terry looked over his shoulder at his aunt, a look of disbelief with a hint of mischief behind it.

“I wouldn’t really say menace,” he said, trailing off a bit.

“Please, the neighbors gave me and your uncle hell over it,” Taylor exclaimed, pointing the spatula at Terry through the view space of the breakfast bar and upper cabinets, “especially because you got a lot of the other kids involved in that scheme. An entire summer, you two planned that out,” Taylor said shaking her head, while returning some spices to the cabinet.

“Well, you told us to make friends and that’s exactly what we did!” Terry said with a laugh, quickly turning back to the wall to return the frame. The laugh left a smile that brought wrinkles to the edges of his eyes. Taylor was happy to see it. It was a genuine one. And she missed seeing it on her nephew’s face.

Taylor playfully rolled her eyes and gestured for Terry to sit counter.

“Come over here and wash up. I know you’re hungry.”

Terry bounced over to his aunt, joining her in the kitchen and washing his hands. He reached up and across for plates and utensils from muscle memory. Terry waited for his aunt to make her plate to then make his own (she wouldn’t let him when he offered). He opened the fridge for 2 bottles of water, and balanced them with his plate and their utensils. He then went to join her at the dining table.

After a quick prayer over the food, the two dug in. Terry groaned in satisfaction and appreciation. He missed good food like this. He could cook himself, but a big part that made the food good was that his Auntie Taylor put her heart and soul into the food she made; and did every time but he felt and knew she made this specifically for him.

“Thank you, Auntie. For the food and letting me stay here with you for a while,” Terry said graciously.

“Of course, baby. It’s nothing at all. It’ll be nice to have another person ‘round here,” Taylor said with her fork in hand, using it to emphasize the space they were in. “And besides, I’m not gonna be the only one in that kitchen. All them years working with Mr. Liu and Ken, I know you got some good meals in that brain of yours. And you’ll also be buying groceries. Lord knows the last time you were here, you almost ate us out of house and home.”

“Okay. So, rent and groceries. I can do that,” Terry agreed.

“No, I don’t need your money for rent. You keep that.” Taylor said firmly

Terry stared his aunt down, but Taylor Elise Richmond was better. So Terry stood down.

“Yes, ma’am.” he said lowly, scratching the back of his neck. He hadn’t said it under his breath, only accepting his aunt at her word. She was a reasonable woman but a staredown with her would always be a losing battle, a lesson he’d learned spending many summers here in her home.

“Now, you’ll stay in the backhouse. I put fresh sheets and towels down for you,” Taylor began. “You can enter it through the gate by the driveway. It’s got everything over there, except washer and dryer.” She stood from the table and grabbed a set of keys from the counter. “These are yours. Please do not lose them.” Terry nodded at her.

“Hmm…let’s see what else am I forgetting?” Taylor said tapping her pointing index finger against her chin. “I can’t think of anything else right,” Taylor added as she turned head to the kitchen clock.

“Oh shoot,” Taylor exclaimed. “I gotta go drop a plate of food to my neighbor.”

“Here, let me do it. I’ll clear the table and make the plate,” Terry offered after getting out of his chair and began do what he said. “I know you did a lot, preparing everything for me when I got here. So I got it.”

Taylor sighed at herself mostly. Her nephew was a persistent and she was a bit tired.

“Okay,” she relented, leaning against the counter with her hands up in mock surrender. Taylor watched as Terry put the leftover food in a plastic Tupperware container. He removed the pots and pants from the stove and placed them in the sink to soak.

Terry rounded the corner to meet his aunt at the counter. He picked the keys up.

“So, which way am I going?” he asked her.

“Just right across. It’ll be the house with the red flower decorations,” Taylor responded.

“Thank you,”

“No, thank you.”

Terry headed to the front door with the food in hand. He set it down quickly on the entry table to put on his shoes.

“Oh, one more thing,” Taylor went to meet him up front. She reached for the first drawer of the plastic chest nestled under the table and pulled. Returning to a neutral position, she placed a black face mask on the lid.

Terry glanced down at the item.

“They sick over there or something?”

“No. Well, something like that. It’s just better for her, when we go over there.”

Terry nodded and put the mask on. Taylor unlocked the door for him and gestured to his delivery destination across the street.

“I’ll be back real soon,” Terry said, kissing his aunt on the cheek.

Now on the sidewalk, he checked both sides of the street for traffic before cutting across. He spotted the house with the red flower directions and knocked on the door 3 times. He heard a voice call out, “Coming!”. Terry was tapping his thumbs on the top of the container when he realized he forgot the poor neighbor’s name. His aunt had told him but it slipped from his short-term memory. When the lock clicked, he resolved he’d ask the nice, older lady.

The door opened and he went to introduce himself but he was stopped in his tracks.

“Hi,” the woman said. “You must be Terry?”

Terry nodded, “Yes, how’d you know that?”

“Your aunt. She said a nephew was staying over, that and your eyes. You two are definitely the same. Thank you for bringing this over.” the woman said. “And my name is Savannah,” she added, holding her hand out for a handshake.

It wasn’t just any woman. It was his conductor from the library earlier today. And now he knew her name.

Thanks for reading! Until next time😇

————-

Big big shoutouts to @kumkaniudaku @megamindsecretlair @earthchica @theereina @brattyfics @uzumaki-rebellion @sweettea-and-honeybutter @mymindisneverhere yall are fantastic your writing has shown me that i can push myself and im capable of writing more and like get in my craft frfr recently 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

[hypothermiatapes]

Yesterday I answered an ask about the Hogwarts school system and if it might have been different in Tom’s time than it was in Harry’s time (you can find it here). I’ve been thinking about it for a day now and would like to add onto it.

I believe the Hogwarts education is catered to the purebloods to widen the gap between them and muggleborns. I say this because the school system is actually very poorly set up for people that didn’t grow up in the magical world.

The lovely anon had mentioned how ancient languages aren’t taught, which are important because many ancient texts would most likely be written in them (not to mention most spells are in Latin). This really caught my attention because throughout history people have used reading and writing to widen the gap between social classes. This was especially prevalent during Shakespeares time when those in poverty wouldn’t be taught and thus couldn’t rise in society because they didn’t have the skill.

It can be assumed that this could also be the case at Hogwarts. Purebloods would have grown up in the magical world while practically swimming in gold for most of them. This means purebloods would likely grow up being taught these languages and reading ancient texts considering their families most likely knew these languages and had the money to hire tutors and buy books.

This opens their field to the pure and unaltered history and records of the very world they live in while also knowing their worlds traditions through first hand accounts. Muggleborns and a lot of halfbloods won’t have this privilege, and if the ability to read these languages is common among purebloods (the people in charge of the government) then people who can’t will be considered unqualified. This also means most texts won’t be translated because why would they translate it if the important people already can read them?

There’s also only eight classes a student can take during Harry’s time (this doesn’t include flying in first year), and while there might have been more in the past we’re going to ignore it. These are far too few classes to properly educate people newly entering your world. There are no classes to introduce muggleborns to the magical world, not a word about how much their money is worth, holidays, just culture in general.

The classes also lack variety and specialization for certain subjects. In high school I had the opportunity to take very niche classes in science and social studies to deepen my understanding of the subjects while also exploring career options. We had classes like Cold War, Native American history, mythology, forensics, conceptual physical science, to name a few.

Hogwarts lacks these things, you only have one path you can take not to mention how when you pick an elective you must stick to it. This is a horrible strategy since they only start discussing career choices in fifth year and by that time you can’t change what you’re taking. Electives should also be more niche and odd to introduce students to new careers and opportunities. Hogwarts lacks this.

However, purebloods grow up in the magical world, so they have the knowledge of what paths can be taken and how to achieve them. They have the money for private tutors if they wish to have a deep dive into a certain subject.

The core classes are very straightforward too and don’t involve philosophical discussions or debates. This may seem small to you, but these things are essential to the development of a person. Don’t get me wrong, the facts are important, we must know them, but what about the grey area? This approach doesn’t teach kids to think for themselves, only to follow what they’re told.

My social studies and literature teachers always brought up several sides, often had us debate and also made us make educated guesses with limited information. My father had a sci fi fiction class and his teacher after a book and during would force them to try and understand how things like those dystopian futures had happened. This approach makes children learn to recognize patterns, make connections and also think for themselves.

When people can’t think for themselves and just follow what they’re blindly told it makes them easy to control. The government is controlled by the corrupt, money constantly going into the purebloods pockets not to mention they’re part of the Wizgomant is ran by purebloods and this is the high court. Nobody challenges them because they were never taught to look deeper, they only see the facts and whether these facts are real or not is irrelevant. This means the purebloods continue to enter high positions while muggleborns and many halfbloods are unable to.

I also want to mention how the history of magic class is ran by a ghost that can’t teach. They could’ve replaced him at any time, but they chose to keep him which means there’s a reason. I’m assuming firstly that enough students pass to say it’s not a teacher issue, and who are those students? The purebloods, people who grew up hearing about this history, have the resources. It’s also strategic to keep him because he keeps the “lesser” uneducated, and if someone doesn’t know history they’re doomed to repeat it/turn a blind eye as it’s repeated.

Finally, anon had mentioned how Hogwarts doesn’t teach subjects like math, science, geography, etc, and I also have a theory for this. While it may seem to put everyone in the magical world at a disadvantage it actually puts muggleborns into a horrible position.

The purebloods have the money and connections to do whatever they please and have a good life in the magical world, but the muggleborns don’t know how their own world works and it’s been rigged so that they will have a significantly hard time getting anywhere. The logical conclusion would be to leave the magical world but they can’t because nobody in the muggle world will hire someone who doesn’t know math, science and things like that. This means no matter what they do most are doomed to live in poverty and be exploited.

This is all theory, but I’ve been thinking about this for a whole day now and needed to write it down.

[bubbles-for-all-of-us]

daddy az?? daddy cass?? what about daddy eris 🥺🥺

Oh, I've been waiting to write for our fire boy more.

Future daddy

Let's all be honest with ourselves here. Eris is not someone who would go bouncing off the rooftops when you tell him that you're carrying his baby. That is not to say that he isn't happy. He is. But he's so unbelievably scared that it overpowers everything else. Especially if Beron is still alive and in charge of Autumn.

Hence why, I think, he's getting you out of the main quarters. Somewhere deep into the woods. In some cabin that only he knows of. Somewhere close to winter's borders so that in case you could cross it and Kallias would take care of you for the time being. Because Eris is paranoid. He only trusts himself and his childhood healer who has been in his life ever since he was born. And so I think the beauty of the first months of your pregnancy is kind of washed away by all of this. The worrying. The panic. Eris constantly being on the edge.

But then it all slowly starts to change. One morning he noticed, while you're slowly getting dressed, the tiny bumps forming there and he's never the same afterwards. Eris rolls out of bed, sinking to his knees right in front of you, warm palm carefully caressing the little growing baby there. His eyes fill up with tears as he rests his head on your chest, "I've been such bad mate, such a bad father", he crocks out. "What are you on about, Eris?", you ask him feeling concerned. "You deserve so much more. I haven't even told you how happy I am... How much... How much I love you both", he breathes out. "We both know, darling. Believe me. We love you endlessly", you mutter while brushing his tears away.

And it all just changes. From then moving forward. The only way he can sleep at night is if his hands are resting on your tummy, so big spoon Eris is in full force. He never leaves without giving you and your bump a kiss. The same goes for saying hello. He too enjoys talking to the belly. But I would say that he reads to it more than tells stories of the day. Eris's days are too full of his father's brutality and he wants to keep away from the baby. So he reads the books that he had read to Lucien himself, or found in a little market. He's so good at making different voices for the characters and you can't help but look at him with so much love, already picturing him reading the same story to your baby when they are older and can understand or at least react to their father's voice.

Call me out on it but I think Eris is exceptional at making food and he also loves doing it. So on his free days, he is more than happy to cook for you or make sweet apple tarts. He's also working on a crib himself. Carving all the little woodland trees and creatures, squirrels and deer, berries and leaves. It's something that he's extremely passionate about and let's face it you would be sobbing once he shows it to you. Something so special. Made with so much love by their father. And I think he would like to leave space around the borders so he could carve out your baby's name and keep adding names with each new family member.

Takes you on walks through the forest because moving around is important. Hand around your waist to pull you closer to him, the other on your bump. Stopping to pick flowers for you and thread them through your hair. Plus imagine how nice his fire hands would feel again all the pains and aches. And he does it without even being asked. If you two are sat down on the sofa or even in bed, he always massages your feet. Stopping to rub your shoulders and back. Loving to just sway with you while he's holding up your bump once it gets heavier.

Not to mention a pack of wolf-breed dogs that are your army. Like, forget doing anything on your own. You're peeing with at least twelve eyes looking at you. Receiving bumps to your leg or side if you haven't eaten anything in a while and they start to feel your blood sugar dropping. Heck, trust them to bring you snacks from the kitchen. And the best naps in between all the fluff furs. Eris is more than happy that his doggos are so in love and protective of you two. It's that extra comfort for him. He knows they would fight till death to protect you two.

[peakyrain]

So i just read your recent post and I do relate a lot actually..mostly the sabotaging part and being confortable in your own misery..being comfortable with being embarrassed hurt and abused how do i change

⭒ how can you reprogram and change your deeply engrained negative subconscious beliefs?

glad you asked! i’m gonna do my best to answer this as someone who took pleasure in feeling like a victim and drowning in my own misery

i: intention

firstly and most importantly imo, i would advise you to decide. decide that you're going to make a change and sit w/ it for a minute if you need.

set the intention by writing it down on your phone or on paper. write your goal and that you're going to successfully reach it—that you have no other choice but to succeed. this is important because when you set a goal for yourself and decide, you're less likely to back off than if you didn't set the intention.

once you get that checked off, continue by doing the following steps (some inspired by ahmadsstory on tt!!):

ii: journaling

i've talked about journaling on my blog before and how you should write down your desires and affirmations on paper, but in this case it's a little bit different.

the best way to fully understand yourself, your feelings and actions, you have to reflect thoroughly and understand why you feel the way that you do. following this, you assess your own situation as if you're a third-person party—step into your desired self for a moment and act like them.

what this does is that it makes you analyze and understand what was wrong w/ the actions you took, thoughts and steps that don't align w/ what you want out of your life. if your desired self is a confident person then they wouldn't be thinking thoughts like: "nothing works out for me" and "i'll never succeed"

iii: the many "why's"

this step is based on the previous—as soon as you list something that is emotionally charged, you ask yourself why, and you keep asking why until you uncover the deeply rooted things that are stopping you from being your desired self.

example:

-

i felt scared and anxious to raise my hand in class today

okay, why?

because i was scared i might give the wrong answer

why?

because last time i raised my hand i gave the teacher the wrong answer and i was laughed at and made fun of and it made me feel dumb

why did it make you feel dumb?

…

-

and then you keep going and going until you understand that it was never about anyone but you and your low self-worth. it makes you realize that the problem is never actually the problem.

this strategy really helps you get to the root of the issue and help you solve it. i've done this myself and i have to say, it really works wonders, especially when you take your time and write exactly how you felt using multiple pages.

i like to think of it as having a free therapy session w/ yourself :)

iv: visualization

sit w/ yourself and imagine your future self giving you advice. visualization is a massively powerful tool that can help you understand why certain things are happening in your subconscious.

also! imagine your desired self thriving and living the life that you dream of. what is this person doing? how do they look? how do they dress? etc. etc.

i recently made a post about how visualization is scientifically proven to help you achieve your goals and that it has a vast impact on you both physically and mentally. so use your mind to visualize a good life!!

v: distinction between the old you vs the new you

if you're someone who struggles w/ a bad temper and belittling yourself over small things, such a dropping something on the floor or making minor mistakes, you have to watch how you speak to yourself in those specific moments. is it a typical "ugh, i'm so stupid" or is it a "it's okay—happens to the best of us"?

you have to understand, speaking to yourself nicely and being gentle is so much more important than you think. your subconscious does not care or understand if you're joking or being serious, if you keep feeding it negative input about yourself, then it's going to believe that and support you in that assumption.

so stop playing the victim.

instead, you should begin w/ nice talk to yourself and look for it consciously. whenever you find yourself speaking negatively about yourself say: "no, that's what the old me would say and think, while the new me thinks this" no matter how small this action seems, you're telling yourself that you're not the old you anymore, and it starts the momentum towards your new self image, someone better—happier.

to add on to the fifth point!

whenever you start doing these micro actions, gather proof that you're a new version of yourself, document them and pay mind to them. "the old would do this, while the new me did this"

this gathers new data that your subconscious picks up and uses to determine your new self worth, because if you're someone w/ low self-worth, that data comes from somewhere, right?

it comes from proof you've gathered your whole life about shit going wrong and everything never working for you, but now you have the opportunity to change that and build a better self image.

vi: feeling bad for yourself + sad music

oh boy, how i LOVED listening to sad music and imagining sad scenarios. i know this is gonna hit someone hard, but i have to say—no more sad songs and imagining the most brutal angst.

you have to understand that dwelling on the past and feeling bad to yourself is never gonna stop if you keep finding comfort in it, and music is a primary reason why it feels so good. that's exactly why you need to completely cut out sad music or imagining angst while listening.

first, it's so unhealthy for you. second, if you want to change, you've gotta make sacrifices, and in this case, it's music. i know exactly how it feels, but it works. i haven't felt sad in so long since i cut out sad music and refuse to use it to imagine sad scenarios. you don’t realize how much misery music causes until you really sit and think about it.

⭒ the shift

once you start seeing a difference in your thinking and how you feel about yourself, you're going to realize that you are in fact worthy of success and your desires. you're automatically going to start helping yourself instead of sabotaging, because now you believe you deserve success, and your subconscious is now on your team.

nothing is keeping you from your goals anymore and you're free to have whatever you desire :)

[lemotmo]

Oh my god PSA, please don't do that, EVER! Protect your identity! As for all the other asks, hahahaha, color me surprised.

Q. So they're not not cute. Whatever.

Q. I was told hating Eddie was necessary and easy but I was in that man's side the entire episode. I don't know what to do with myself. Seriously I'm a little stunned.

Q. I hate that I absolutely get it after that episode. Their chemistry is definitely tangible.

Q. Shit fine if I'm going to do this do I need season 1 or can I go straight to season 2 when Eddie arrives? Your blog makes it sound like I need to watch season 1.

Q. I get the hype. I think I might actually want to watch this unfold because their chemistry really is wild, but it will be difficult to break away from the Tommy stuff because they have my personal email and I get daily reminders to post something. I haven't posted anything since Thursday morning and I get nearly hourly emails telling me I'm behind and need to step up. I don't know what to do.

A. Okay I lumped these asks all together because I have many, many variations of all these currently sitting in my ask box. I'm honestly not surprised that many of you are finally aware, or willing to acknowledge, that their chemistry really is unlike anything else. It's okay to let yourself enjoy it. I promise it's better. If you are going to watch the entire series now then you cannot skip season 1. I know lots of people don't like Buck in season 1, I personally find that blasphemous because that is my lost baby and I would commit crimes for that himbo, but it also provides context for the Bobby, Athena, Chimney(!) and Hen. Season one is necessary. Go and enjoy it.

To the anon who sent the ask about the email. Change your email address and change it now. There is no one, NO ONE in charge of running a fandom. Your fandom experience is your own, and there is no fandom that has an executive branch setting laws everyone else must follow. Fandom is not a job, or a government. It's bullshit fun. And anyone who tries to make you believe it should be something else is lying to you. No matter what fandom spaces you choose to occupy in the future you keep anything about your real life identity out of those spaces. Period. If you make friends within that fandom and mutually choose to take that friendship into the real world then that's an entirely different thing, but don't EVER give anyone your personal information because that's not how fandoms work. And unfortunately the harassment will probably get worse. Yes it will be a pain in the ass to change your email address, you can of course try blocking but who knows how many people have that information now. At this point it's about protecting your peace of mind and your real life identity. There is no fandom experience worth your mental health or real life privacy. They're not your friends. Protect yourself and go. Please feel free to message me if you have anything else you would like to ask or discuss 🩷

Thank you Nonny! As always much appreciated.

Okay... yeah, once you open yourself up to see the Buddie chemistry, there is really no way back. I can understand that people who started watching during season 7, because of biBuck and BT, needed some time to adjust to the fact that BT was just a stepping stone for Buddie.

If you've never seen all the other seasons and only started in 7x04, you have no other context than BT. As soon as you see Buck and Eddie acting and reacting all naturally together it just hits you how the chemistry flows between them.

So trust me, if there's anyone reading this that started watching in 7x04 and 8x09 got you curious about Buddie? Please, start watching from season 1 on. It's like Ali said... there is a lot of important back story in season 1. And yes, I am one of these people who didn't like Buck at all in those first episodes of season 1 when I watched it for the first time.🫣 Sorry Ali! But I love him now though, because now I understand why he acted the way he did during that season.

As for the person who is being stalked through email. Follow Ali's advice IMMEDIATELY! Remember people, NEVER give a stranger on the Internet your real life information unless it's someone you have known for a long time and you know you can trust them 100%. I have been in fandom spaces for 25 years now and, for the most part, I've always kept my private life and my fandom life strictly seperated.

If you have to give someone your email address for something, just create a new one you can easily get rid of if necessary. Use that email address strictly for fandom stuff and nothing else. Make sure that your real name is nowhere to be found in the email name itself.

Also, people emailing you and telling you that you need to post and step it up? That is very concerning to me. It borders on cultish behaviour, definitely not fandom behaviour. It is NOT normal. In all of my years in fandom, I have never encountered this kind of stalkerish behaviour. Fandom is supposed to be fun, it isn't supposed to be a chore and give you anxiety like this.

Please get rid of that email address, create a new one, start over again and join us here in the Buddie fandom. I know that you were told a lot of lies about our fandom and how terrible we are, but I promise you that most of us here on Tumblr are actually really nice and a lot of the things that you were told by these cult people? They were blatant lies.

IMPORTANT! Please don't repost this ask and/or a link that leads straight to my Tumblr account on Twitter or any other social media. Thank you!

Heads up! For anyone who is giving me the shifty eyes for reposting Ali's updates instead of reblogging. Read this.

Remember, no hate in comments, reblogs or inboxes. Let's keep it civil and respectful. Thank you.

If you are interested in more of Ali’s posts, you can find all of her posts so far under the tag: anonymous blog I love.

[brodygold]

Hey, you! My friends keep nagging me to join them at some fancy spa resort on the day my best friend is supposed to be marrying his one true love. From what I know, this spa is run by your so-called Golden Army or whatever who turns God-fearing men into your band of sodomites! I dunno what you're planning, but it ain't going to fly by me! Try me if you wanna! I double-dog dare you. If my guys get turned into gays and their girlfriends and wives give me hell, I will sue you!

Hey there, bro. No need to worry! I'll let you in on a little secret: We don't do anything that the person doesn't already want deep down. We also accept anyone regardless of their sexual orientation, race, or religious affiliation. Here's an example of me helping someone discover their straight bro side. Just come give our spa a try! I can guarantee you won't leave disappointed. (Also we have very good lawyers. I don't know if suing us would go that well for you)

The one thing the Golden Army doesn't tolerate, though, is bigotry. Sodomite is quite a charged word, you know. Let's go talk in my office. Maybe I can help you understand our point of view.

Now, now, there's no need to fuss or make a scene. We can always talk in the lobby where there are witnesses if you'd prefer. Your party can go on ahead to the spa, their complimentary jerseys catching the sun's rays from the skylight overhead. You can always take one too, but I figured you'd say no.

Like I said, bro, I just want to talk.A healthy dialogue is important. Just relax, calmly explain your position.

I get you not wanting us to change your friends and their wives. I completely understand. But like I said, the only changes are those people really wish for deep down and others around them never remember any differently. And I think you truly desire to be a part of the Army, even if you vehemently deny it.

You didn't even notice the jersey already on you, did you? No, no, no. Don't try to take it off. Let this happen, bro. It feels so good.

Feel your muscles grow in your arms and legs. Feel your brain slowing down a bit. You still remember your friends, but the memories shift. Your best friend is still getting married to the love of his life, and his fiancé can't wait to be his husband. Yes, husband. You're still straight, but your friends and their wives and girlfriends are all gay, bi, or pan men. And you proudly support them. You'll never even think of using the "S-word" ever again. Your friends and their boyfriends or husbands mean too much to you.

Oh look! Your friends have come back looking for you! I have an idea. Why don't we take a group photo to celebrate the occasion? You all look so good in your golden jerseys. I wish you luck in your future endeavors and I'll see you at practice after the holiday season, okay?

[a-spicy-reader]

Something More

MINORS DO NOT INTERACT

English is not my first language so sorry for any mistakes

Synopsis: After another night of sharing laughter and conversation, Emile and Hendery find themselves trapped in a closeness that has long left silent marks. The atmosphere between the two, previously comfortable, becomes charged with tension and desire.

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

The monitor's light flickered, reflecting in Hendery's attentive eyes. The sound of the keyboard being pressed echoed through the room, mixing with the background noises of the game he was playing. His deep, animated voice discussed strategies with his friends through the microphone, and Emile watched everything from the kitchen, a cup of hot tea in his hands. 

It was an almost daily ritual: Emile would arrive at Hendery's house after work, he would make sure to prepare something to eat, and then he would surrender himself to the universe of games while she enjoyed his silent company. That routine was comfortable, familiar. But lately, there was something different in the air, a tension that she couldn't ignore.

Hendery leaned back in her chair, taking off her headphones for a moment and looking in Emile's direction with a relaxed smile.

 "I need a break. Do you want to watch something?"

 She shrugged, trying to sound casual, but heat rose to her face. 

"That's okay. Do you have something in mind?" 

Hendery came over, setting the controller down on the table and sitting next to her on the couch. His familiar scent—a mix of fresh shampoo and something unique—hit Emile hard. Hendery always had this ability to fill a room, even in the quietest moments.

“We could just sit here and talk. It’s been a while since we’ve done that,” he suggested, throwing an arm over the back of the couch next to her.

The closeness was comfortable, but also electrifying.

“Okay. What do you want to talk about?”

Hendery smiled, that slightly mischievous smile that Emile knew so well.

“I don’t know. We always talk about important things or my game. What do you want to talk about today?”

She hesitated for a moment, feeling the weight of the question. But before she could answer, he tilted his head, watching her with genuine curiosity.

“Is everything okay? You seem a little distant.”

“It’s okay, I just…” Emile paused, trying to find the words. “I guess I’m just tired.”

Hendery frowned in concern. "Tired of me?"

The question was asked jokingly, but there was a hint of seriousness. She quickly shook her head, laughing.

"Of course not. You know I like being here."

He smirked, pleased with her answer.

"Well, in that case, let me try to cheer you up."

Hendery stood up suddenly and went to the kitchen, returning with a bowl of popcorn and a bottle of soda. He sat closer this time, the heat from his body reaching Emile, even without touching her directly.

"You have to admit, I'm a great host," he joked, holding out the bowl to her.

"Unsurpassed," she replied with a light laugh, grabbing a handful of popcorn and popping one into her mouth.

The heat from his body radiated against Emile's. They began to chat about random things—old stories, mutual friends, plans for the future. But the proximity was enough of a distraction for her. The way his fingers brushed hers as he offered her popcorn, the way he tilted his head toward her when he heard her stories, the intensity of his gaze when he laughed at her jokes. Everything seemed amplified.

As the evening wore on, the conversation gave way to a comfortable silence. Hendery looked at Emile, his expression more serious than usual.

"Can I ask you something?"

She nodded, feeling her heart race.

"Sure."

"Why don't you ever bring anyone here?

I mean, you know... someone special." He seemed hesitant, almost as if he were testing the waters.

The question caught Emile off guard. She looked away, trying to hide her reaction.

"I don't think I have anyone like that at the moment."

Hendery remained silent for a few seconds before answering.

"Strange. You're amazing. Anyone would be lucky to be with you."

The comment seemed casual, but the tone held something deeper. Emile looked up at him, finding Hendery's gaze locked with his. For a moment, the outside world ceased to exist, and all that was left was the pulsing energy between them.

"Hendery..." Emile began, but the words failed him.

He leaned forward slightly, his hand resting lightly on her leg.

"Can I tell you something?"

She didn’t answer, but she didn’t pull away either. His breath was hot against her skin, his eyes fixed on hers as if seeking permission.

“Sometimes I think about you in ways I probably shouldn’t,” he admitted, his voice husky with nervousness and suppressed desire. “And if that’s weird, you can stop me now.”

But Emile didn’t stop him. Instead, she leaned into him, their lips meeting in a kiss that started tentatively but quickly grew deeper. His hands held her face tightly, as if he feared she would disappear.

The kiss was a shock to both of them—a moment when friendship was cast aside, replaced by something more primal. Hendery pulled her closer, their bodies aligning naturally. Emile felt his heat against her, the rapid rhythm of his heart beating in time with hers.

When they finally pulled away for air, his eyes were dark, filled with something Emile had never seen before.

"That... was unexpected," he murmured, a smile playing on his lips.

She laughed, still breathless.

"I think we needed that."

Hendery didn't answer, but he pulled you by the hand, leading you to the bedroom.

The silence was heavy, but comfortable. He closed the door behind you, stopping for a moment to watch you.

She sat on the bed as he leaned against the door, arms crossed, trying to appear casual. But there was something between them, a tension that seemed almost palpable.

He took a few steps forward, sitting on the edge of the bed, close enough for her to feel his heat. "I'm just trying to figure out what's going on here."

She didn't answer right away. Instead, she leaned a little closer. It was like a magnet. When their lips met, it was with urgency. There was no hesitation, only the need to feel the other.

Hendery was thin, but his body was defined, the firm muscles moving beneath his skin with every touch and movement. He cupped her face, his fingers sliding into her hair as she pulled him closer, as if the space between them was unbearable.

Suddenly, he was on top of her, and everything around her ceased to exist. The room was just a distant backdrop to the whirlwind that enveloped them. She felt his hands exploring, his weight against her body, and each movement seemed guided by something primal, carnal. It wasn't about love or feelings, but about need. 

From Hendery's point of view, everything seemed to flow in slow motion. Her scent, the texture of her skin, the way she reacted to his touch. "I don't know what I'm doing," he murmured against her lips, his voice hoarse.

 "Neither do I," she replied, holding his face between her hands. "But don't stop." His shirt was the first to fall, revealing a lean body marked by defined muscles. He blushed as he noticed her gaze exploring every curve and line, but he didn't back away. On the contrary, his insecurity gave way to a mischievous smile when he whispered, almost breathlessly: "I didn't expect it to be like this." "Like what?" You teased, sliding your fingers over his skin, feeling the warm, firm texture of his muscles.

“So… intense.” His voice trailed off at the end as you guided his hands to your waist, encouraging him to explore without fear. He didn’t hesitate this time, his fingers tracing your skin with a mixture of care and desire.

Hendery took control for a moment, leaning over you, his eyes dark with intensity. “Are you sure?” he asked, his breathing uneven as he held your gaze.

“I am,” you answered without hesitation, touching his face gently. “And you?”

Instead of answering, he lowered his head, trailing kisses down your neck and shoulder, each one lingering longer than the last. The language between you changed, leaving words behind and allowing your touches to do the talking.

The movements began slowly, hesitantly, like a dance where you were both learning the steps. But soon, hesitation was replaced by urgency, and every touch seemed to burn, every sigh an incentive to keep going. The way Hendery held her waist, firmly but carefully, as if to convey how much she meant to him, was as captivating as the actions themselves.

The two of them moved in sync, as if their bodies had found a new language. Hendery moaned softly, the sounds escaping him without him being able to

control, and you found yourself smiling between moments of passion, enchanted by his vulnerability. In a moment of pause, he whispered something in Mandarin, his voice full of emotion. You didn't understand the words, but his intention was clear.

She arched her body against him, her fingers digging into his defined back, while he buried his face in her neck, panting.

"Are you okay?" he asked at some point, his brown eyes meeting hers, shining with concern mixed with desire.

She nodded, pulling him closer.

"Yeah. Just... keep going."

Their heat mingled, the sound of their heavy breathing filling the space. Each touch seemed to amplify the connection between them, and the room seemed to shrink, becoming a universe just for the two of them. When they reached their peak, it was like a wave sweeping them up and throwing them onto the beach, exhausted and satisfied.

He collapsed beside her, their bodies still entwined. Neither of them said anything for a while, just trying to catch their breath. It was Hendery who broke the silence, his voice hoarse. "I guess that changes things, huh?" 

She turned her head to look at him, a tired smile on her lips. "I guess so. But it's still too early to think about that." He laughed, rolling over to face her better.

 "You're right. Just... let me know if you need anything else." 

She slapped his arm lightly, laughing. "Silly." And so they stayed, wrapped in each other's warmth.