#cynthia’s like oh! would you like to meet my partner? :)

[goldensunset]

cynthia being kind and elegant and calm with her life together + having a terrifying dragon shark monster that only lives in one secret dark cave VS. volo being vile and dangerous and unhinged + having a cute little fairy chicken known as the jubilee pokémon said to only appear in times of peace

[agaypanic]

Malcolm in the Middle Simp Headcanons

Masterlist

Request Something!

***

Malcolm

Probably met you in the Krelboyne class

Very impressed by your brains

Always chooses you as a study buddy or project partner

Holds back complaints about life and shit just to hear you talk

This is very difficult for him to do bc the dude LOVES to complain

Holds your books/backpack for you and walks you to all your classes

Mainly because you have the same classes, but he insists he’d do it even if you didn’t

Learns everything about you and commits it to memory (which isn’t hard because of his memory)

You’re the best thing in his sucky life

Stevie had half a mind to roll away from his best friend as he went on and on about Herkabe. Something about him trying to get Malcolm to sabotage his perfect GPA so Herkabe could keep some academic record. Usually, Stevie would care very much about someone’s academic standing. But right now, he was focused on trying not to kill himself or Malcolm.

“I mean, it’s absolutely ridiculous! He’s using Reese to get me to tank a grade. Reese! It’d work better if it was-”

“Hey, guys!” You bounded towards the two, and Malcolm’s demeanor changed entirely. Stevie was grateful for your arrival because, for some reason, Malcolm lessened the bitching and moaning by a lot.

“Hey, Y/n.” The boys greeted back.

“So, what were you guys talking about?”

“Well-” Stevie was about to snitch on your boyfriend but was cut off by him.

“Oh, it was nothing.”

“Are you sure? You looked pretty passionate about it.” Malcolm assured you it was nothing, but Stevie gave you a look saying he’d tell you about it later. “Okay, then. Wanna go to class?”

“Sure!” Malcolm responded excitedly, grabbing his backpack off the lunch table you were hanging around. You said goodbye to Stevie and made your way to first period. “Want me to take your bag?” He asked but was already slipping the strap off your shoulder.

Reese

COOKS FOR YOU

ALL THE TIME

I’m convinced it’s his love language

From snacks to tide you over until lunch to full-course meals during the rare occasion that you two have the house to yourselves

Will beat the shit out of anyone who messes with you

If it’s a girl, he’ll probably get Cynthia to do it

Your happiness is his biggest priority; he can’t have some idiot messing with that

“Reese, this is delicious.” You moaned as you ate a baggie of your favorite snack that he had cooked up for you. He knew how hungry you’d get from skipping breakfast, so he packed you a little snack bag every day so you wouldn’t be miserable until lunch. He was somewhat surprised that the teacher hadn’t made him stop bringing food to class, but it might’ve had something to do with the fact that whenever you were happy, he was happy. And a teacher would rather have a happy Reese than an angry Reese.

“I think I might make that my go-to snack for you; you seem to like it the most.” You smiled at the comment, giddy that he paid attention enough to know which of his foods were your favorite.

“Well, I like all your food.”

The last bunch of kids filed in, and the last one seemed miserable. Upon closer inspection, you noticed that it was a kid in your class that messed with you frequently. You then noticed that he was littered with cuts and bruises. Immediately, you had an inkling of how this happened.

“Reese, did you do that?” He looked up at the kid, smirking at his handiwork.

“Gotta keep my girl happy.”

Francis

Thinks it’s love at first sight

Francis is such a delusional romantic tbh

If you meet him while he’s in military school, he’s always writing you poems and letters 

Half of his calls home are for you because he just wants to know how you’re doing

If you work at the ranch with him, he’ll pick up the work on your chores if you have something to do

Even if you don’t need any help, he’ll accompany you just because he loves spending time with you

You know those tiktoks that are like “when you and your friend work together, so everything’s a two-person job now”?

That’s him with EVERYTHING

Even if you’ve been together for years, he still tries to impress you with extravagant presents or ideas

You tell him you don’t need/want much, just him, but he thinks you deserve the very best

“Francis, I can do it myself.” You jokingly rolled your eyes at your boyfriend, who set out plates and cutlery for the breakfast buffet. “It’s the easiest job of my day.”

“I just wanna make it easier, baby.” Francis kissed you before straightening the table clothes in the dining hall and on the patio.

“Well, thank you.” You smiled before moving to restock the napkin dispenser. Francis raced to your side, opening the dispenser for you. “Thanks again.”

“No problem. So, I was looking at our schedules, and I noticed we should be done with work at the same time.”

“Oh, yeah?” He nodded, closing the dispenser and positioning it right on the table. “What do you have planned?”

“Not much.” He shrugged nonchalantly, but if you knew your boyfriend well, you knew at least three different activities were reserved for you two now. “Just a couple’s horse ride, massage, and then I asked Otto to make sure that one of the jacuzzis would be off limits. Just for us.”

“Oh, that sounds so nice, honey.” He cupped your cheeks, kissing you deeply, and you were thankful that the guests were either still asleep or doing something else.

“Anything for my favorite girl.”

[icedteaandoldlace]

⭐️

Oh, thank you so much! This is going to be fun! Gonna dig a little into my favorite moment from Reversing the Damage (chapter 1 of Nights That Never End). I have the snippet here, for context. I think it probably speaks for itself, but I'm gonna elaborate on it, anyway.

So what's happening here—and throughout most of the chapter—is that Cisco is trying to explain his Reverse Flash trauma to Kamilla without oversharing and making her uncomfortable. And when she has an emotional reaction to learning about both what happened and how it still affects him, he tries to play it off like it isn't as bad as it sounds. He doesn't want her to be upset, or to feel obligated to listen and be supportive every time something bad from his past crops up again.

My semi-canon headcanon is that Cisco knows exactly the kind of relationship he wants, but doesn't feel entitled to expect or to ask for the amount of effort it would require from his partner to achieve the level of closeness that he wants. So he's in this place where he feels like giving 70% and receiving 30% is a reasonable exchange, because that's what he's used to (see: asking Cynthia if they could work out a better arrangement than the one they had, instead of asking her to leave the collectors and move in with him, which is what he really wanted). He doesn't really know how to have a girlfriend who is truly a partner. So he tries to convey to Kamilla that he's fine, and she doesn't have to take on all his emotional baggage, and he makes the joke that he doesn't expect her to hold his hand every time he has a nightmare, both in an attempt to lighten the mood, and as a subconscious deflection; he's basically offering to shut up and not bother Kamilla with his problems if she'd be more comfortable not knowing about them, before she has the chance to make the suggestion first, that way her setting that boundary would feel less like a rejection.

But of course, that's not what Kamilla wants. And she knows exactly what he's doing, even if he doesn't fully realize it himself. And she kinda wants to argue with him about it, but she doesn't know how to reassure him that she wants to be emotionally available for him, without sounding like she's just saying that to be polite. So instead of saying anything, she just holds his hand—literally—because that was the thing he said he didn't expect her to do. Without saying it outright, she's telling him that he should expect support and comfort from her when he needs it, because that's what loving someone means.

And Kamilla doesn't even consciously realize she's in love with him yet, but she's about to. Yeah, I know, canon says she knew he was the love of her life the moment she met him, but I see that more as her being instantly attracted to his personality, and recognizing that he was different/better than the guys she'd dated before, and someone who had the potential for her to be truly happy with. But actually falling in love with him was a process that required spending time with him and getting to know him. And my intent with the last line of this chapter is that this is the night Kamilla realizes she's in love with him. Because this isn't easy for her. Secondhand trauma is a very real and very not-fun thing, and the chapter ends with her lying awake, still thinking about the fact that Cisco's life almost ended before she even got the chance to meet him, and about the danger that the Reverse Flash still poses. Knowing what Cisco has been through and knowing that he isn't safe from it ever happening again is going to haunt her for a while, and that's gonna take her some time to emotionally recover from. But she is actively choosing to be Cisco's confidant and to go through all this with him, because to her it's worth it if it helps him heal. That's the thing that causes her to realize that she loves him, because she wouldn't be choosing this if she didn't.

As a final note, when I wrote Kamilla holding Cisco's hand as a way of telling him that she would be there for him whenever he needed her, it was 100% meant to be a precursor to this moment:

Because I LOVE this little moment so much and I wanted to give it some layers, and expanding on where Cisco's head is at the beginning of their relationship, and connecting that to where it is when their relationship is more developed shows just how good having Kamilla in his life has been for him.

[whichuniverseisthis]

End of volume! Beware of spoilers!

First - Vs Starly

Previous - Vs Wingull

Next - Vs Houndoom

Last - Vs Dialga & Palkia VI

Chapter 47 / Chapter 384

This scene fills me with so much happiness. I bet who read this back in the day couldn't wait for the two of them to meet again.

Luxray avoiding another crime from Infernape. He truly is the best partner possible.

I remember the first time I found this place in the games, where I couldn't manage to solve the puzzle. To be fair, back then I was 7 or something, but it was so traumatic it took me more than a decade to finally get back there and get to the end. And oh my god, Infernape's face.

This could have been so easy and cool to translate in an ability in game, but nope.

This is what I was referring to when I talked about strong trainers' enhanced senses. Also, I've just realized this guy's design is based on Shellos, wow.

Can I say, at least regarding their cover, Team Galactic was probably the smartest. I mean, before they started their bombing plan, people actually liked them (thinking about the women at the cycling road). As of last year, they even come from a trustworthy group of researchers.

That's quite a lot of Magby's. You can actually find them here in the games, right?

I love to see the moment where he decided his objective, where he would have poured all of his willpower. He made a promise, so he has to keep it.

The funny thing is that he could have just jumped away, I still don't know why he didn't do it.

Uhuh, more plot. I don't think this is anywhere in the games. Since it talks about Dialga and Palkia, Hisuians could have written it after the fight at the Temple of Sinnoh. Or maybe Cogita, since Cynthia's family has it, and she's already a writer.

God, I can't believe another volume is over. I'm reaching the ending so quickly, I'm not ready.

[cheswirls]

have been messing w my alola prev-gen plot lately and i keep seeing art of these two together as young trainers so i thought i would try a different sort of prev-gen for a bit. (:

[multi-part pre-dppt drabble(s). 1/? cynthia & sycamore & rowan]

-

the professor's summer intern picks him up from the airport.

cute, stubby, pumped full of life, and definitely younger than he. augustine cannot contain his disappointment at having his first in-person meeting with his mentor postponed. he was hoping for a grand tour around jubilife to mark his first day in the sinnoh region, but this, too, doesn't go as expected.

shirona, she introduces herself as. carefully, and without any excess language. she's clearly expecting him to attempt conversation with an odd assimilation of broken basic in a tongue heavy with his foreign accent. augustine surprises her by a near-perfect greeting, muttered over his shoulder while he hefts his one suitcase from the conveyor belt. (of course he could speak and understand basic – he'd needed to in some degree in order to make his research study here worthwhile.)

once they're out of the airport and on the streets, shirona takes one is his bags and tosses the strap over her shoulder so it hangs off of her back. she grabs his now-free hand and starts pulling him down the road. "c'mon, sandgem isn't far! nothing like a quick nature walk around here."

"and the professor will be there?" he asks, forcing his light frown into a neutral line. his shoes, unlike her travel boots, aren't really made for a 'brisk trip through nature'. which is on him, actually. he knew field work would be a big part of his tasks here. his other shoes were in his carry-on.

"no," shirona leads, trailing augustine's disappointment in her wake. "professor rowan had an errand to run today. that's why he sent me to get you! well, that's part of the reason, but–" she stops, mouth held open with no sound to be heard. after a moment she picks up the pace and allows her lips to curve into a soft grin. "nah, it's not that important."

exiting through the city gates leaves them in the midst of a sprawling wild space. shirona confirms he has a pokemon on him before sliding a pokeball of her own out of a pocket of her coat. she enlarges it for easy access and starts leading him through the maze, claiming a shortcut to rowan's lab.

some of augustine's sourness dies down as they begin to encounter wild pokemon. it's not much, the same four or so species, but it's enough to capture his curiosity. his companion is happy to explain to him the basics, and then augustine simply observes from there. moves, nuances, natures, size, everything his eyes and ears can track he inputs into his brain for safekeeping, until he can sit down later to jot it all down for real.

(shirona's partner is a gible. it comes as a shock. one that leaves him fingering the switch to his own gible's pokeball every now and then. her gible looks healthy, and just as peppy as its trainer. happy. excited to be there. it gives the young trainer more credibility in his eyes, probably more so than anything else she's done since they've met. probably the most credible thing she can do, in his eyes – demonstrate a great relationship with a hardy and stubborn breed of pokemon. it's well-known, after all, that dragon-types are the most difficult to train.)

just when he thinks he may be getting used to her loud company, the route opens out, and their first steps into sandgem send his mind tumbling down many other directions, leaving the quiet musings to die.

"pro~fes~sor!" shirona calls as soon as she throws the front doors to the lab wide open. "oh, wow, it's a wreck in here."

no one answers her call. augustine squeezes past and stands just left of the doorway, grip on the handle of his suitcase growing tight as he takes in the disaster of scattered papers and loose power cords.

"huh." shirona doesn't enter further. she sets one hand on her hip and the other under her chin, lost in thought. it's just enough hesitation to make augustine realize this condition isn't normal. isn't standard. that something is most likely wrong.

"sycamore, sir, wait here a moment."

augustine glances back over from where he'd been looking around the chaos of the lab. before he can get a word in, shirona has already darted off, heading deeper into the lab. her tight expression he catches a glimpse of is enough to set him on edge. he releases the suitcase handle to pull out gible's pokeball in its stead.

a minute passes with no signs of life. he's just taking a step forward, mind made up to seek out the girl, when the sound of someone running across the hardwood echoes back to him. shirona appears around the corner, harried, and waves a handwritten note around above her head in a frenzy.

"the lab pokemon are all gone!" she calls out. "they made a mess and then took off! this is terrible, really, if the professor comes back to this there will be big trouble!!"

"what kind of trouble, exactly?"

augustine's eyes widen at the sound of the gruff voice behind him, and shirona gulps, echoing his panic and then swallowing it with a squeak, arms moving behind her to hide the note.

when he turns around he finds himself face-to-face with his pokemon studies research mentor for the next six months.

"it's nothing, professor rowan, i just made a mess!" shirona confesses.

the door shuts with a loud clank by aid of the hand not holding a hefty briefcase. professor rowan takes this same hand and smoothes out his mustache, giving himself time to formulate a reply.

"you're much too well-behaved for something of this caliber," he decides. beside him, augustine nearly blanches. her? described like that??

then those same stern eyes are on him and augustine feels all the fight drain out of his body.

"you're the young sycamore, i take it?" he asks. augustine nods, all he can manage for the moment, but it's not ill-received, which is better than nothing at the moment. "maybe you can explain to me what is going on?"

"some, uh." he swallows rough. "some pokemon escaped, sir. apparently."

rowan's stare turns back to shirona in quick order, so fast that she surrenders the note to him out of pure intimidation before he can get another word out.

"we just got here ourselves," she confesses, head held low.

"then you cannot be held at fault," rowan states after giving the note a brief once-over. "i will still need your assistance, however."

shirona nods, standing to full height. her earlier confidence is still nowhere in sight, but there's some color to her face once again, which is a good sign.

"and you."

augustine gulps and stands at attention. the professor looks at him funny but doesn't question it. his eyes land on gible's pokeball and a twinkle gleams in their depths. they move around the lab's entrance next while he stuffs the paper into his coat pocket, observing all the deficits for himself.

"i'll give you the choice this first time," he decides. he might be smiling, but honestly, it's a little hard to tell from underneath the facial hair. he certainly seems more amused than he should be, given the condition of his laboratory. "you can stay behind and help me organize this mess, or set off with shirona to help locate the missing pokemon." one of his brows raises. "i will warn you. sorting paperwork is very boring. by far the least glamorous aspect of being a researcher."

"that's not a choice at all!" shirona exclaims, coming forward to take augustine's free hand. "of course he'd rather adventure with me! you can read reports to him all summer long. he only has one first day in sinnoh, and the sun's still up!"

"and?" the professor glances around her to meet his gaze once more. "what say you?"

"we won't come back until we find the pokemon," he promises.

the comment is shirona-approved, by the grin the shoots him. she doesn't give rowan a chance to reconsider, pulling them both from the lab with a shout about exploring –erm, checking– the beach first.

"but it's so cold out," he protests. "is the sea really worth seeing right now?"

her laughter rings loud in his ears. "absolutely."

[icyalabaster]



Since you asked me a question about my life, I should ask one about yours to be fair! I'm choosing 3, 14, 26, and 32...though you don't have to answer... Thank you for asking me things. It's nice to know I'm still real... -from @ultrasplorer

it's alright, you're welcome. i've not anything else to do now myself, it's the least i can do with my time.

i assume these questions are for that newer post i found?

3. a pokemon that i would want to have as a partner? froslass and dreepy have both caught my interest, though i haven't yet run into any that were keen on joining me.

14. "where i live now" is very much hard to pin down, i'm close to what some would call a wanderer. outside of sinnoh, i don't really settle down and live in any one place for more than a month or so, a year and a half at most if a good thing gets going. i suppose i'll pick on paldea for a bit. the food here lives up to its reputation, as does the crater in area zero. the people here are too high energy for my tastes, the lack of any dense forest aside from one or two places makes camping out away from people harder, but i've found secluded spots. 5/10 region. there are better places to be.

... mm, the question did ask what like most. charcadet can be found here, and if you know where to scrounge around you can find armor that leads them to evolve. i didn't meet ceru as a charcadet, rather, he was released by someone else as a ceruledge and left to wander before we came across each other. i'd say his company is what i like most from here.

26. ahhh don't get me started on people i've come close to meeting! champion cynthia is very well-travelled, just about any place in sinnoh i've visited while looking for books on hisui or to see any older architecture she's been to five times over. she's an archeologist (or at the very least could moonlight as one, her passion for that field of study goes beyond words!) and i am just someone with a personal interest in hisui, so it makes sense she has poured over the places i've only visited a few times. she is one of the few famous people i'd be interested in having a conversation with, though i know with her popularity that i would never find a time and place to do so without countless other eyes on me. oh well.

32. every time i return to sinnoh i make a point to visit lake acuity. there's something about it that makes me feel closest to being at home. the water there is salty, like the sea, and you can smell it in the frigid air. even the lake itself being poor to drink without a filter because of that salt is a reminder of how harsh life in the northern end of the region is, but it's familiar to me. as it's the lake farthest out of the way and in an unbearably cold climate there are a lot less tourists and sightseers than at lake verity or lake valor, so i can actually unwind and take in the atmosphere without being bothered to make smalltalk. basc is also quite fond of this place, but i haven't yet visited with ceru. our last trip to sinnoh was brief, we never got around to visiting the north before hearing of strange things in paldea.

[crystalelemental]

So pairs I’d be interested in seeing as seasonals: I told you about the Agatha/Bertha ugly sweaters idea. Maybe pair Agatha with Stantler, and Bertha starts the event with a Stantler of her own, but she somehow manages to make it evolve into Wyrdeer, and Cynthia is having a mini-freakout because oh God, this thing hasn’t been seen since the Hisui era! And then Team Break makes a play for Wyrdeer, totally forgetting it belongs to an Elite Four member.

New Year’s could be Bianca and Hop, swapping their respective region’s Darmanitan for study, except they’re dissatisfied at being used for research and not battle, so they enter the same competition as the Sabrina/Volkner event to bond with them.

My Palentine’s day will probably never happen, but since this coming Palentine’s comes around the FRLG 20th anniversary, I was thinking Leaf and Butterfree. She’d be giving out chocolates to all the Kanto Trainers, but Sabrina (paired with Swoobat) has a vision of Leaf meeting a sync pair with a Mega Blastoise, which Leaf naturally thinks is Blue, but as the event goes on, it’s revealed to be Green. Although Green would probably stay an NPC for the moment because she warrants a Fair banner, which would undermine the Palentine’s ones.

Wyrdeer would be an interesting choice for winter alts. Depending on how they'd do the Hisui wardens, and whether they get their known partner or the warden itself, Mai could get it instead. But it could work.

Bianca and Hop interactions would be interesting. I don't really like Darmanitan, so the Pokemon choice wouldn't be my favorite, but it could be a fun event.

On the one hand, I don't want to see Kanto again for a long, long time. But on the other, Leaf and Sabrina would be a nice combo if they did. I've been kinda pro-Bugsy on the Butterfree front, but Leaf being about disruption and survival, it would be a good pick. And I do want Sabrina/Swoobat. The ideal was always Belelba, but I can flex.

[leggerefiore]

I read the volo ver of escaped au and my mind wouldn’t shut up because of togepi baby

SO I DREW TRUCK/READERS BABY IN A TOGEPI DIAPER (along with doodles of ideas I had, some of them I forgot to draw-)

I’ve thought about other characters becoming readers new s/o, the characters being cynthia, grimsley and steven (I FORGOT HiM)

I don’t know much about Cynthia but I let her mother my kids knowing that they are in good hands. She seems like my kind of woman. I never realized how attractive Pokémon girls are like I never liked fictional girls UNTIL NOW, they are always written so weird and but Pokémon is just different??

I don’t know how grimsley would take this though, would he even help Reader if they have a child??? I think he will but…

Also imagine Readers kid goes through an anime phase like the twins and watches Jojo

The next time he sees his dads and he doesn’t even recognize them he just thinks it’s a “jojo”

I forgot to put this in but I thought about what is Readers kid makes his own Twitter account?

TruckandPichu: I just made a Twitter account. (12 minutes ago)

TruckandPichu: Nevermind I’m deleting my Twitter these weird old men keep telling me they’re my dad (3 minutes ago)

ALSO ALSO I feel like I’m adding too much but I remember my original ask that started the whole Twitter thing, the idea that reader right after escaping with their kid is to tell everyone on Twitter is hilarious. It wasn’t what I meant but it was 10x funnier

(Would volo even have Twitter?)

You know Volo hunted those Togepi diapers down. Is he proud of himself? Yes and no. He also bought blond hair dye because what better way to disguise the kid. (Totally not trying to hide the subway man parentage.) I imagine Volo has a twitter to keep up with everything, but he's not a poster. Ingo and Emmet assume he's a bot mocking them because the username is not normal and everything is like basic stuff when you make an account. He sends Ingo one DM and it's just the kid vibing in some Hisuian style clothing. Ingo knows what's going on instantly.

Poor steven lol. Cutely, I think since Volo is like probably Cynthia's ancestor, she would come visit her like long list of 'great's adopted uncle and become a third parent. Cynthia definitely seems like mom material haha

Grimsley is like "oh ew child, I'll help but they better just call me uncle". He doesn't want kids, but if his partner already has them then he'll either grow into a 'fun uncle' role permanently and or a distant father.

Fucking Ingo is heartbroken when his son sees him and just yells, "Jotaro????" before posing at him. Not only is he not recognised, he is mocked. Emmet is proud, at the very least.

lmao first post from kid is liked by s/o so that's how the twins find it. They go 'OH WE CAN TALK TO HIM' and proceed to send him multiple replies and DMs explaining how they are his fathers, how much they love him, and begging him to come see them. Kid blocks them which makes the twins cry. He also goes up to s/o like, "I'm being cyberbullied, I think??"(Elesa later DMs him like "Heyyyy, did you know you're adopted?" and like tries to make Ingo and Emmet sound way more sane than they are.)

S/O, in a public library, creating a twitter account: "Ayo those Subway men are nuts. Do not meet, do not date, and really do not fuck them" before running away because Elesa is checking out the place. (Bab is just sitting in their lab while they post)

[lepusrufus]

Double edged scalpel ch.5

Ch.1 Ch.2 Ch.3 Ch.4

Summary: someone please give Nicole a break for the love of Miranda. And there be smut y'all

---

Seeing Cassandra's softer side made something flutter within Nicole's chest. The brunette was a sadist through and through. Witness to that fact was the array of torture devices that littered the dungeons. Not to mention the prisoners she frequently killed, only to haul them on the autopsy tables in her study to be examined, chopped and sectioned by the both of them.

But there was an uncharacteristic sort of gentleness in the way their lips slid against each other, sharp teeth occasionally biting down on Nicole's lower lip but never enough to draw blood. In the way Cassandra would drag sharp nails against flushed skin, but not go beyond the pleasurable amount of pain. Even the glint in golden eyes when Nicole went over some old notes of hers on more tricky anatomy concepts. Having an exclusive look at this side of Cassandra felt beyond intimate and the thought almost made her miss when the brunette spoke from where she was leaning over a notebook.

"Okay let's just wrap this up, I have plans."

Nicole hummed, dropping the liver she was holding in a freezer bag. Most body parts were already bagged and ready to be picked up by Cynthia and her undercooks, they were just putting into practice some things the brunette was curious about. She dropped the now blood soaked leather gloves in the sink and went to sit by Cassandra, who was scribbling some final notes.

"In that case I'll go enjoy a cup of tea," she sighed. "Tea that I had to skip because someone was eager to start on this early."

Cassandra raised an eyebrow at her, accompanied by her usual smirk. "I meant plans with you."

Oh? That was new. The brunette laughed at Nicole's wide eyed expression and snapped her notebook shut. She took her sweet time putting it on the shelf with the others and checking the time, pretending not to notice the redhead's inquisitive expression. Then, she lifted Nicole’s chin with a thankfully not covered in blood finger.

"Don't get me wrong I love it here but," she grimaced, "it gets stuffy sometimes. Especially in summer."

Well, that much was true. The undergrounds of the castle were oddly warm, although not downright hot, compared to what one would expect from a castle. Pair that with the annoyingly humid atmosphere and having to wear a leather apron and gloves so as to not completely ruin your outfit and you got the perfect recipe for discomfort. She really ought to ask Cassandra about installing some kind of better ventilation down here.

"Meet me in the attic in about… an hour." She leaned down and their mouths were so close that Nicole could feel icy breath on her lips.

The attic? She's never been to the attic, it was not only off limits for most staff but also dangerous if rumors were to be believed. Not that she had the clarity of mind to voice any concerns when Cassandra finally leaned in to kiss her, complete with a nip on her lower lip that made Nicole’s breath hitch.

---

The fact that Nicole had no idea how to get to the attic could be a slight problem. She had asked Anita, but not only did she not know, she also seemed mortified by the idea. Another maid just gave her vague directions to look for a ladder on the top floor. As if that wasn't like trying to find the needle in a haystack. Or the needle in a giant castle.

She was just wandering around the top floor, praying not to stumble upon anyone who would be less than thrilled to see her there. A sigh of relief escaped past her lips when she heard familiar buzzing and steps coming towards her.

"Oh Cas-" she swallowed her words when she noticed red hair spilling from underneath a black hood.

"Nicole! What are you doing here hmm?" Her inquisitive hum was way too exaggerated the same way her fangs seemed too sharp when she grinned.

"I was just looking for Ca- lady Cassandra. She asked me to meet her in the attic."

Daniela's mouth fell open, almost forming an O shape. Then back to her characteristic giggle, almost as if laughing at a joke only she knew.

"What, you don't know how to get there?"

"...Not really," she sheepishly admitted.

And that was a mistake. Nicole would've preferred to wander the hallways until Cassandra eventually got bored enough of waiting and decided to come see where her glorified lab partner was. But her plan was ruined by Daniela wordlessly grabbing her arm and pulling her in the opposite direction she was going in. She even went the extra mile to partially turn into a swarm, which made Nicole's panic skyrocket. She didn't mind bugs. But having hundreds of them fly all around you, accompanied by manic giggling was a whole other thing.

Before she knew it though, Daniela let go of her arm, laughing a little at Nicole's stumbling. She gestured dramatically towards a ladder and said:

"There you go. Say hi to Cassie for me."

"Th- thank you my lady." And with a small bow of the head she grabbed the ladder and started ascending on shaky legs.

"And enjoy your date," she called out, once Nicole was at the top of the stairs.

Blushing, she decided to ignore the comment and start looking for the sister less likely to turn her into fly food.

The attic looked… old. It was obvious that people didn't come here often, although someone probably did clean it regularly as there were no cobwebs nor dirt on any surfaces, aside from some dust. It was full of neatly arranged boxes and crates, their contents as mysterious as the castle's inhabitants. Tentative steps took her across ancient floorboards, navigating old rooms.

"Rah!"

Nicole damn near jumped out of her skin, a string of curses spilling past her lips. "Jesus fucking christ Cassandra!"

The brunette only laughed, hands on her knees and pretending to wipe a tear from her eye.

"That's what you get for making me wait for so long."

"I didn't even know where the attic entrance was! Good thing one of your sisters came to my rescue." Nicole rolled her eyes at the last word.

Cassandra stopped laughing, eyes narrowing slightly. "Which one?"

"Uh- Danie-"

"Did she hurt you?" Cassandra grabbed her arms, golden eyes looking for any visible injuries.

Nicole just laughed softly, taken off guard by the display of concern. "No, no. Just gave me a bit of a fright, that's all."

With an eye roll, Cassandra guided her further into the attic, through more dusty rooms, until they reached a short corridor, light spilling from its other end. The room they entered was relatively small, almost half of it occupied by stacked boxes as if it used to be a storage room like the rest of the attic and nobody bothered to completely clear it out. A few pieces of furniture were also present: a couch with a coffee table in front of it and paintings leaning against a wall to collect dust. This room however had a window, left slightly ajar, that allowed you to see the mountains stretching on the horizon, crowned by the beautiful orange hues of dusk.

Nicole moved to the glass to take in the view, mouth almost hanging open, when an ungodly screech from outside made her backpedal straight into Cassandra.

"What the fuck was that?" She asked, eyes widening at the sight of flying creatures circling the towers.

"Mother's flying guard dogs."

"They sound the same way I'd imagine the souls of the damned do." Nicole didn’t take her eyes off the ghoulish creatures, almost as if keeping eye contact would dissuade them from attacking.

Cassandra just shrugged. "Wouldn't be too far off. Also here." She sat on the couch, gesturing towards a cup.

Nicole went to sit by her side, grabbing the mystery cup. She frowned slightly when the steam reached her nose, bringing with it a pleasant minty and honey aroma.

"Tea?"

"Since you were so disheartened about having to skip it earlier," Cassandra averted her eyes, seemingly finding the curtains very interesting.

After a long sip, she let out a content sigh. The warmth was more than welcomed, despite the weather. She set the cup back on the table and turned her attention on the brunette, now fidgeting with the corner of a pillow.

"Thank you," Nicole said, leaving a small kiss on her cheek.

Cassandra smiled and turned around, locking their lips in a kiss that at first mimicked her gentleness, but soon turned hungry when dainty hands made their way to the brunette's nape, pulling her closer. She shifted them both, pushing Nicole down on the pillows littering the couch, until she was laying on top of her, legs on each side of her waist. Her focus was on leaving a trail of nips and kisses down Nicole's neck when the redhead jumped and barely stifled a yelp at another screech from outside.

"Ugh what the fuck is today, scare me out of my mind day?"

"How are you scared of these but countless dead bodies don't phase you?" Cassandra laughed, sound muffled by her position with her mouth against Nicole's neck.

"I used to work on corpses, not on ugly gargoyles that could chew my face off!" She gestured wildly at the window and the few creatures visible outside.

"You what?"

"You...didn't know?" Nicole couldn't help a giggle at Cassandra's confused expression.

"How was I supposed to know?"

"I thought your mother told you already. Or your sisters," Nicole shrugged.

"They knew?!" And, after something seemed to dawn on her, "Oh I'm gonna kick both their asses."

Nicole couldn’t help letting out a small laugh, placing her hands on Cassandra's cheeks and, with a pout for dramatic effect, "Right now?"

As much as the sight was both funny and endearing, the warmth starting to pool at her core was making her beyond impatient.

The indignation in golden eyes was replaced by an all too familiar glint and black painted lips went back to their work on Nicole's neck. Sharp fangs pierced the skin there, just enough to draw a few drops of blood and a whine. After licking every last bit of it, Cassandra's lips moved to the collarbones and lower, hands slowly starting to undo the buttons of Nicole's pesky uniform that was in the way.

When both the button up and the skirt were discarded on the floor Nicole tangled her fingers through black hair and pulled Cassandra in for a kiss. Her free hand went to the back of the dress, pulling down the zipper and guiding it off of the brunette's shoulders. Once both of them were left only in undergarments, Nicole pulled back to look up at the brunette.

"If I knew I was supposed to dress up I would've asked the chambermaid if there's anything fancy in the uniform stash," she said, taking in the beautifully intricate lace of Cassandra's matching bra and underwear, complete with a giggle at her awful joking.

The brunette only raised an eyebrow. "Mhm I can take care of that. Not like you'll need these for long though." Her hands reached under Nicole's back to unclasp her bra and in mere moments that too was on top of the pile of clothes on the floor.

Then Cassandra bent down to crash their lips together, tongue slipping past Nicole's lips when a wandering hand elicited a gasp from her.

Cassandra was by no means a patient person. Quite the opposite actually. But teasingly dragging her nails across sensitive skin only to feel the girl under her squirm and whine when her hand just won't go where she needed it made waiting all the more sweet. Slender fingers started to toy with the edges of Nicole's underwear. After a groan against her lips and an impatient tug of hair, Cassandra finally gave in, slipping two fingers inside her. She felt Nicole arch into her, a broken moan escaping past her lips when she broke the kiss to let her head fall back into the cushions. Cassandra took that as an opportunity to kiss the length of her neck, occasionally stopping to suck or bite at a spot, enjoying every gasp and moan she drew out of the redhead.

With Cassandra's rough pace it didn't take long before Nicole was clenching her thighs around her hand. Cassandra kissed her, swallowing her moan as she came.

The small room in the attic, Cassandra's drawing room she would later find out, was the perfect secluded spot. They spent the rest of the evening enjoying each other. First evening of many.

[arrowflier]

How about something with Mickey and Lip and their very strong stance that 'you don't beat women'/'guys that beat women they're bitches'. Both men have super short tempers, which is why they're always literally in each other's faces, but I'd like them to use that short temper while on the same side please!

Content Warning: mention of domestic violence

The bell over the door chimes as Cynthia walks into the salon, and four pairs of eyes focus on her immediately.

“Oh, um…” she says, caught off guard by their instant attention. “I just…” She looks back through the window of the waiting room, into the semi-darkened parking lot.

“Can I stay in here a bit?” she asks finally, sounding sheepish.

“Uh…I’m kind of the only one in right now,” the stylist answers, hands currently full of thick red hair, the woman in front of her raising expressive eyebrows at the interruption. “Did you have an appointment or something?”

Cynthia shakes her head, lips twisting.

“No,” she admits easily. “But I do have a crazy ex that’s been following me for two blocks, and I’d love not to deal with that right now.”

The stylist softens.

“Oh,” she says. “Okay, whatever.” she turns back the woman in the chair, using her head to gesture to an empty spot in the waiting area. “Take a seat, we’ll be here for a bit anyway.”

Cynthia does as she’s bid, sitting gingerly on a red-cushioned armchair near the door. Two men stare at her as she does, and she remembers the other two people in the room. They’re sitting as far apart as they can without leaving, but they obviously know each other; it’s all in the little look they share when she turns their way.

“Got a nice shiner goin’ there,” one of the men says, the one with the sleepy eyes and close-cropped hair. “Something happen?”

Cynthia repressed the urge to touch her bruised eye.

The other man leans forward, elbows on knees exposed through strategically torn black jeans. He cracks his knuckles, and her eyes are drawn to the crude words written there.

“Crazy ex do that?” he asks, sounding as if he understands. “You got shit taste in partners if they did.”

And despite herself, Cynthia laughs.

“You can say that again,” she says, and relaxes for the first time since she noticed Sam following her.

As her laughter fades, she notices the stylist watching her again; or at least watching her reflection in the mirror. Cynthia smiles—I’m okay, it says, really—and the woman smiles back.

“I’m Tami, by the way,” she introduces herself, though she doesn’t turn from her task. She runs a silver comb through red hair as she adds, “and these goons are my family, but let that influence what you think of me.”

“Hey,” the thin man says, frowning, “I’m the father of your child, you’re not supposed to be embarrassed by me.”

The other man snorts.

“Kind of hard not to be, Phillip,” he mutters, and ducks when Tami throws a comb at him without looking.

“Be nice to my boyfriend, Mickey,” she orders, “or I’ll mess up your cut.”

Blue eyes narrow.

“You wouldn’t. I’m your best fucking friend.”

“So?”

The tough one, Mickey, grins.

“And you’d have to deal with Ian’s sad face,” he adds, and Tami sighs.

“Fine,” she mutters. “But still, play nice.”

Cynthia relaxes further as they banter around her. It’s like being at home, her sisters all arguing while braiding each other’s hair with tender hands. She smiles wider, then winces when it pulls at her black eye.

“Hey,” Mickey says from across the little room. “Lady.”

Cynthia looks at him. His brows are furrowed.

“You never answered,” he says. “Your ex do that to your face?”

Cynthia bites her lip. Looks to the others. With the exception of Tami, they’re all looking at her expectantly, even the woman in the middle of her cut and style.

“Uh, yeah,” she admits, feeling silly as she confesses it to strangers. “I mean, we just broke up yesterday, and it…”

She blinked. Swallowed. Forced a laugh.

“Well, it didn’t go well.”

Silence, for a moment, as Cynthia avoided meeting anyone’s eyes. Then:

“And you said that fucker followed you here?” Mickey asks, already half-rising. “That’s good. Means I can fuck an asshole up.”

She isn’t that surprised. Maybe she should be—someone with those tattoos may not be what most people would expect of someone against domestic violence—but there a certain air about him, a protectiveness, that told her this wasn’t the first time he had intervened in this kind of situation.

She was more surprised when Phillip rose with him.

“Only a fucking coward hits a woman,” he spit out, face already twisted from her confirmation. “Little bitch needs to learn a lesson.”

“Lip,” Tami warns from her station. “Take it easy.”

Mickey is the one to reply.

“Nah,” he says, rubbing his upper lip. “For once your baby-daddy’s right, Tamietti. We gotta go give this dude a beatdown he ain’t gonna forget.”

Oh. Oops.

“Actually,” Cynthia says, hesitant, “Sam is—”

The door swings open, the little bell on top going wild.

“Cynthia,” Sam growls from the opening. “Are you fucking hiding from me?”

Fuck.

“Of course I am,” Cynthia says, standing. She feels better being on her feet with Sam so close. “You hit me, you bitch, you think I want to see you?”

Someone coughs behind her. Cynthia looks, just for a second, as long as she can stand to take her eyes away from Sam.

Mickey is staring at them, wide-eyed, fists clenched but not raised. Phillip’s mouth is open like a fish.

“What are you looking at them for?” Sam asks, angry. “These your new boyfriends or somethin’?”

“Don’t be stupid,” Cynthia mutters, and flushes. “I don’t even know them.”

Sam smirks.

“They look like pussies anyway.”

Cynthia waits for someone to do something. But for all their talk, Mickey and Phillip are silent, but for the frantic whispers they exchange behind her back.

“Should we…” Mickey wonders.

“No way,” Phillip hisses back. “We can’t—”

“But she—”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” comes a new voice, cutting right across them.

Cynthia barely comprehends it when the woman from the chair storms past her in a wave of red hair and flower-scented shampoo. Then Sam is going down, victim of a wicked right hook to the temple, and the woman is shaking out her hand while standing over the prone body of Cynthia’s abusive ex-girlfriend.

Phillip and Mickey gape, and Cynthia gapes right along with them. Then the woman flips her hair, holds out the hand that just dealt divine punishment, and says:

“Hi, I’m Debbie. Wanna go out sometime?”

[itsjustmyfantasyroom]

Unlikely Lovers Chapter Six

And here we are half way through @beccabarba and my Nick series. Thank you for the support and positivity we have received we love this series so much. 

Warning: This one is a bit of everything. Dirty talk, F/M masturbation, little angry Nick, sub!Nick, bit of tying up and just general smut.  

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Incase you needed to catch up :) Also not planned, this one fits into the Masturbation square for @thatesqcrush summer bing

WC: 3850

Enjoy x

You decided to tell your friends in the squad first, to get used to talking about your relationship, before you told Liv officially. When you told Amanda, over drinks, she grinned and shook her head in disbelief.

“Y’all kept this from me. When did it start?” She turned her blue eyes on you. “Wait, it was that movie night, wasn’t it? When I couldn’t make it? Oh god, guys, that was weeks ago. And you know, I suspected something right away, but when you were so quiet about it, I thought I must be wrong! All this time…”

“Sorry,” Nick said with a little shrug, his hand on yours.

“Y’know, Fin said he thought you two had something. Ages ago. And I told him it wasn’t likely, you two? Nothing in common.” Amanda looked between you.

“I guess we found something,” you said, with a grin.

Amanda laughed. “I’ll just bet you did.”

You blushed at her tone. “More than just that,” you said, raising your eyebrows and trying not to meet Nick’s eye.

“Well, I’m happy for you. As long as you don’t make me feel like a third wheel at movie night,” she said.

“Cheers to that,” Nick replied, lifting his drink. “Keep quiet about it until I’m back from LA? That’s when we’re going to make it official.”

Amanda clinked her bottle against his, and nodded her understanding.

Nick’s departure for LA came around far too soon for your liking. You were very happy with the idea of meeting both Zara and Gil by video call, but you had to admit you were a bit nervous about Nick seeing not one, but two of his former partners. You were certain he was over Maria, but you were not entirely sure how he felt about Cynthia, and you didn’t like to press him for explanations. Not that you thought he still had feelings for her; you just weren’t sure how seeing them all would affect him on his return. He could be moody, prone to dwell on his misfortunes, and you’d enjoyed the way the weight had seemed to lift off him recently. You also knew he missed his kids and had definitely considered a move out to California on more than one occasion. You didn’t want to see yourself as in competition with them.

When you’d said goodbye in the early morning, before he jumped in an Uber to JFK for a 7am flight, he’d sensed your tension.

“Hey,” he said, tilting your chin so you were looking into his eyes. “I can’t wait for you to meet Zara and Gil. They’re going to love you. Maybe next time you can fly out there with me?”

You smiled. “I’d love that. But I don’t want to intrude, Nick. The kids, Maria and Cynthia, that’s a whole other part of your life…”

He stroked your head. “I love you, Y/N. You’re part of my life now too. And I’m not going to suddenly see them and not care about you, if that’s what’s making you look so worried.” He wrapped his arms around you and kissed your forehead softly. “I’ll miss you every day. And we’ll video call every night. Okay?”

You smiled and nodded. “Yes. I’ll miss you too. And I’m not worried, not really… I love you.”

“We’ll talk before you go to sleep?” he said.

“Of course,” you gave him another kiss, before he climbed into the car and you waved him off. You prided yourself on being independent, not needing anyone. But you had to admit to yourself that the idea of Nick being on the other side of the country made your heart ache.

It was 11pm in New York, and 8pm in Los Angeles. You’d been texting all day, just keeping in touch. Nick had gone straight from the airport to spend the afternoon with Zara, and Cynthia and Gil were heading up from San Diego the following day. You knew he was safe and happy, but tired after the flight, planning to sleep early. So, you were both already settled in bed when you picked up your phone to call him via FaceTime.

When the call connected, your screen was filled with Nick’s face and bare shoulders. He was clearly sitting in a hotel bed, leaning back against a beige fabric headboard, shirtless and with a shadow of stubble along his jaw. You couldn’t help a huge smile at seeing him, your heart flooding with warmth, and a throb of arousal pulsing through you. Seeing him looking at you from a screen was just a reminder of how handsome he was. You watched the smile spread over his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners.

“Hey, querida,” he said warmly.

“Hey, yourself.” You grinned, looking into his eyes through the camera. “Miss you.”

“Miss you too,” he said. “Really, more than I knew I would. It’s not even twenty-four hours yet…”

“It was strange not seeing you at work – or after work,” you added. Then you gave him a wicked smile. “But I need to know something…”

“Yes?” he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.

“Are you naked, Nick Amaro?”

His face broke into a huge smile, and he glanced down. “No, I’m wearing boxers and I’m under the duvet,” he replied. You could picture his body so clearly.

“Shame.”

“Do you have something in mind?”

“Might do. But we should catch up…”

“Nothing to catch up on. I texted you everything, and I’m not doing anything new until tomorrow. All there is to do now is spend time with you, and sleep…” Even though the screen, his eyes felt as though they were burning into yours. So much emotion and arousal. “If I was there, we wouldn’t be sleeping…”

You narrowed your eyes at him, feeling the heat sweep through you. “So, what would we be doing?”

“I’d be kissing you and running my hands all over you,” his voice had dropped into a seductive whisper. “I’d be enjoying every curve…kissing your neck, just where you like it…” As he spoke, you could imagine exactly how it would feel.

“You know about that?” you said, in a breathy tone.

“I know all the places you want to be touched…and kissed…” he replied, and it sent a shiver through your body.

“I wish you could show me…” almost unconsciously, your fingers traced a path down your body, rubbing over your own nipples, down over your skin, to press between your thighs where you wanted him the most.

“When I get back, I will. Over and over. I won’t be able to keep my hands off you…” You were looking into his eyes in the screen, seeing the change in his face as he grew more aroused.

“Are you touching yourself, Nick?” you asked, even as your fingers teased in circles around your clit.

“What if I am? Are you?”

“I am,” you confessed. “I’m thinking of that big cock of yours, and how I want it in my mouth…”

Now Nick groaned. “I’m so hard for you, Y/N,” he breathed into the phone. You could see his movements.

“I’m so wet for you…” you replied. “Want to see?” You didn’t wait for an answer before you moved the phone down your body, giving him a view of where your fingers were teasing through your slick folds. The idea of him watching only increased your arousal.

“Mmm, yes, good girl,” Nick said in deep tones. Your breathing came faster and harder, as you moved the phone back up to your face.

“Your turn,” you said, giving him a naughty smile. He raised his eyebrows. “Please?” you added, your tone cheeky.

Nick nodded, and you watched the camera trail down over his toned abdomen, saw his boxers now pulled low, his free hand working his erection. You licked your lips at the sight. “I love your big cock,” you told him. “I want it filling my mouth…”

“When I get home, gonna fuck your face…” he groaned.

“Threat or a promise?” you managed. Your fingers, and his words were driving you closer, as he turned the camera back to his face, and you looked into his eyes, imagining his hands and eyes on you, thinking of that hand on his cock. Your orgasm was building quickly, the coil winding tighter.  

“Ohh, Nick…” you moaned.

“Going to come for me, querida?” he said, and you could hear how close he was from the strain in his tone.

“Yes…yes…” you managed.

“I’m going to come for you, Y/N,” he said, urgently. The idea of it was what sent you over the edge, breathing out his name as the pleasure burst through you.

“Mierda, Y/N,” you heard through the phone, as Nick let go, the image on the screen suddenly blurring as he dropped it, and you found yourself looking at the hotel room ceiling as you recovered, stroking yourself through the little aftershocks of pleasure.

Eventually, his face filled the screen again, a wide smile on his lips. “Even from the opposite coast, you’re amazing, Y/N,” he said.

“You too.” You put your fingers to your lips and blew him a kiss. “I really miss you…”

“You just miss my body,” he teased.

“That’s part of what I miss. But I wish we could just cuddle now.”

His eyes softened. “Me too. I’d love that…”

You talked quietly for a little longer, before agreeing you’d speak again tomorrow, and saying goodnight. When you went to sleep, it was with one of his t-shirts on the empty side of your bed, your fingers curled in the fabric.

**

Somehow, you got through the time that Nick was away. You had very friendly conversations with both Zara and Gil, and told Nick that he certainly made beautiful children. Seeing more of his life in this way, knowing that he’d told both Maria and Cynthia about you, your lives becoming more integrated, made your heart soar with emotion. In previous relationships you’d found this stage difficult; things growing more serious but without becoming dependent on each other, allowing each other freedom, yet your every moment growing entwined with the other person. But with Nick, it just felt natural. Each new step just made you happy, made you love him more.

When he came home, arriving on a flight in the middle of the day, you invited him over to your place that evening, saying you’d cook. In the end, you were delayed at work, and you found him waiting at the entrance to your building, a bouquet of flowers in his hand, and a very welcome grin on his handsome face. You raised your face to his for a kiss before you even entered the building. The feeling of his warm lips pressed to yours, his eyes locked to your gaze, his hand on your back as he deepened the kiss; it was all too much, everything you’d missed, and you couldn’t help a small moan of desire and relief to be with him again.

“I missed you too,” he grinned, his hand seeking yours and gripping your fingers in his, as you walked into your apartment building together.

You left Nick sitting on the couch with a drink, while you went to take a quick shower. You suggested getting takeout, since it was later than planned, and he was browsing the menu of your local Thai place. After your shower, you slipped into a comfortable, but revealing, red patterned dress, and chose pretty underwear, knowing your clothes were unlikely to last long.

Coming back into the living area, you found Nick perched on the edge of the couch, his drink on the table. His shoulders looked tense and he was frowning.

“Nick?” you said, instantly on edge at his change in mood. “What is it? Did work call, or something?”

“No, it’s not work,” he said. His words were soft, but his brow was furrowed. He looked as though he was trying to work something out.

“What was it then? You’re worrying me.” You walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder. He tensed under your touch and clenched his jaw.

“You got a call to your landline,” he said. “I didn’t answer it, I didn’t think it was my place. But your machine caught it and the caller left a message.”

You looked over at the phone as if hoping for an answer. “And? Who was it?” You heard the note of irritation in your voice.

“I don’t know.” He looked at you properly, and he looked confused, possibly hurt, more than angry. “It was a man, saying that it was nice to see you the other day, and that he hoped you’d call him soon.”

A mixture of relief and hurt flared up in you, as you understood immediately. You looked Nick square in the face. “You do trust me, don’t you?”

Nick nodded, then swallowed hard. “Yeah, I do. I just…”

“Just nothing. Whoever it was, if you trust me, you know there’s nothing to worry about.” You glared at him.

“So who was it?” he demanded. He was still struggling to contain his emotions. And you knew it was his own insecurities, not his trust in you.

“It was my ex. I bumped into him in the street the other day. It’s been two years, Nick, and I hoped I’d never see him again. He was possessive, and creepy in the end. But I talked to him, I was polite. And I’m not sure I should have to explain myself…”

Nick nodded, listening. “And you gave him your number?”

“No, I didn’t. That why he called the landline, that number hasn’t changed. He doesn’t have my new cell number, he is blocked on all social media. It’s the only way he could reach me. I didn’t think he would.” You sighed. “I’m sorry, Nick. I didn’t mention it because I didn’t think it would matter.”

Nick drew a deep breath too. “Don’t apologise. It’s me who should, I don’t even know what I was thinking…” He was still sitting tense and upright, looking unhappy. You gave him a little smile.

“Thank you. But’s it’s okay. As long as you do trust me?”

“Absolutely I do,” he said. “Look, if you want me to go, I will…”

With that, you took a step over to him and put your hand on his shoulder again, rubbing down onto his chest. “I don’t want you to go anywhere,” you replied. “I want to show you how much I missed you.”

“You can’t be in the mood, after this?” There was a spark of hope and arousal in his eyes nevertheless.

“I am more than in the mood, Nick. Are you?”

“I am…if you’re sure…”

“More than sure. In fact, food can wait. Get up,” your last words were clearly a command.

“What?”

“Do as you’re told, when you’re given an order.” You gave him a wink. His face changed, arousal taking over from anger. He got to his feet. “Bedroom,” you commanded. He went. “Shirt off,” you called after him, following him, watching him peel his t-shirt up and over his head, throwing it on the floor.

In the bedroom, you located a tie he’d left at your place before his LA trip, and approached him with it in your hands. His eyes fell on it. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Showing you how much I want you. And punishing you for thinking I might not be in the mood.” You grinned. “On the bed.”

Nick laid down on the bed, his eyes still on yours. You straddled him, still fully dressed, one leg either side of his hips, grabbing his strong, slender wrists in your hands and pushing them above his head. You wound the tie around them, and around your metal headboard, moving to run a hand down his body, feeling the rise and fall of his chest as his arousal grew. He looked up at you and wriggled his restrained hands teasingly. “So, what’re you going to do now?” he challenged.

You grinned big moving to stand up on the bed, your feet either side of him. You lent down resting your pointer finger on his chin, running it down over his chest before both your hands came to rest on your knees, you stood up straight and your hands started to slowly run up your thighs pushing your dress up higher. You looked down at Nick with a smirk, his eyes stuck on your body as you grabbed the hem, pulling the dress up over your head, throwing it on the floor. Nick groaned when his eyes landed on your matching set and you watched as he tried to pull his hands free from the tie.

“What I’m going to do now, Nick…” you hooked your fingers on the waist of your panties pushing them down and carefully moving one leg at a time to pull them off “…is show you how much I want you, all the time,” you purred.

Nick bit his bottom lip and pulled on the tie again as his eyes ran over your bare bottom half, seeing your shiny wet folds. You reached behind you, unclipping your bra and throwing it to meet your dress and panties on the floor before you sunk down to straddle Nick’s abdomen, between his belly button and jeans waist. You moaned softly at the feeling of his abs brushing over your clit and you lent forward, your tits in his face.

The tip of his tongue came out of his mouth to flick your nipple and you started to rock your hips over his skin, the sensation making you wetter then you were already. You locked lips with him for a brief moment, your tongues darting into each other’s mouths. You pulled away from the kiss and sat up and you groaned loud at the new pressure the change of the position had on your pearl. You knew it wouldn’t be long till you were pushed over the edge.

You ran your hands down over Nick’s chest and then ran them up to cup both breasts, squeezing them and tugging your own nipples. You looked down at Nick through your eye lashes, as his mouth dropped open, and his heavily lidded eyes were fixed on you,

“Yes baby, just like that. Come for me, amor. Show me how much you want me. How much you missed me,” Nick groaned out, trying to pull his hands free from the tie.

Your hands ran up from your breasts and into your hair, your hips moving feverishly over him, your wet coating his skin, almost enjoying his frustration while you reached your satisfaction. Your coil finally snapped and you threw your head back moaning Nick’s name loudly. You slowed your hips taking a deep breath and slowly moving down his body.

“Did you like watching that, Nick?” you settled between his legs as he spread them for you and saw the bludge in his pants. He nodded at you. “I’m glad. Looks like I made a mess,” you cooed.

You lent forward leaning down at the wet patch you left behind on his skin. You stuck your tongue out, flattening it and licking him clean. Nick squirmed against you, thrusting his hips into your chest, his own need to be touched almost too much.

“Don’t worry guapo, didn’t think you were going to miss out, did you?” you sat up, after kissing where you had licked up your mess, reaching down to his belt, undoing it, his jeans button and zipper. You tugged them down enough, with his boxers, for his hard weeping cock to spring free. You wrapped your hand around it, his pre cum covering your hand instantly, “I believe you promised you would fuck my face,” you smirked down at him as he threw his head back into the pillow, arching his back slightly. “I think it’s only fair, after I showed you how much I missed you, you show me.”

You parted your lips sinking down on Nick’s cock all the way for it to hit the back of your throat, and he let out a hiss as you gagged around him slightly. You made your way back up to his tip, hollowing your cheeks before you sunk back down on him again, his black curly hair tickling your nose, your own arousal building fast again,

“Babe-I…” Nick groaned “Fuck, you take my cock so good- I missed this, I missed you, so much,” Nick bucked his hips up into your mouth and you moaned around him, licking his tip like a melting ice cream, taking him fully back into your mouth and cradling his balls in your hand squeezing them gently. “Y/N- please baby, let me touch you, please,” Nick begged.

You made your way back up, grazing your teeth over him slightly and you wrapped your hand around him, stroking fast,

“One condition,”

“Anything,” Nick panted, tugging on the tie when you twisted your wrist around him.

“You are the only one for me, and I always want you,” Nick nodded, “You never forget that.”

“Yes, always. Now, please, baby, untie me,” Nick groaned, back arching off the bed.

You reached up without stopping your actions on his cock, grabbing the tie with your free hand, tugging it and it came loose. You moved back down between Nick’s legs taking him fully back into your mouth as he quickly pulled the tie off his wrists throwing it on the floor and his hands found their way into your hair, both of them resting on the back of your head.

As you sunk back down to his base, Nick held your head there and he started to roll his hips up into you urgently, one of your hands cupping his balls again, your eyes watering as he hit your throat, and saliva running out of the corners of your mouth. You felt Nick’s legs tense, one hand balled into a fist in your hair, when a loud roar of your name filled the room and his hot salty cum ran down your throat. You felt his hands leave your hair and you rose up, your lips still around his softening cock sucking up the rest of his release, pulling off with a pop and sitting back on your haunches, wiping your swollen lips dry with the back of your hand.

Nick sat up taking you into his arms, his arms wrapping around your middle and his lips crashed on yours kissing you deeply, your hands resting on his chest,

“I missed you baby,” Nick pulled back, brushing your hair behind your ears.

“I missed you so much.”

“Next time I go to LA, you’re coming with me.”

“We will see what Liv has to say about that,” you giggled cupping his cheek running your thumb over it and he laughed “But I would love too.”

“As soon as we get in tomorrow we will talk to Liv and fill out the paperwork.”        

Tags:  @wanniiieeee @lovebishoplosamiguelgalindo @randofando-spoonie  @alwaysachorusgirl  @amorestevens  @harryssxnflwr @teamsladsandgents @thatesqcrush @storiesofsvu @skittle479 @bisexual-dreamer02 @glimmerglittergirl @witches-unruly-heart @berniesilvas @ben-c-group-therapy​

[someobscurereference]

For one: whenever the concept of the Nohrians meeting the young trio comes up, my first thoughts are 1) Inigo being cripplingly shy and terrified of Xander 2) Severa being Extremely Unreasonable and Aggressive especially toward Camilla and 3) Owain gravitating toward Elise because she's reminiscent of his mother, because he's a mama's boy who probably lost his mom very recently and that's pretty fucked up!!

That being said, I'm screaming at the idea of Owain gravitating toward Elise because mother, Xander because cool sword, and Camilla because cool armor, and Not Trusting Leo because he's a Dark Mage and Dark Mage Means Plegia Means Grima Means Evil (almost always) and Leo being so upset about it. It turns the tables entirely, where Odin was originally the one who thought both Leo and Niles were so cool and they thought he was a weirdo idiot until he proved himself, now he thinks they're creepy and Evil and have to work for his trust. And I will always love the Nohrians realizing the trio were Fucked Up Kids and the idea of them watching the three of them take down a faceless with Brutal efficiency because of how much more dangerous Risen were...I'm so into this. AND!! The trio fucking hating each other!! They're so used to them being Best Friends and Inseparable and understanding each other on a whole different wavelength. And now? Sev and Inigo aren't very kind toward Owain's dramatics, Sev and Owain are Bothered by Inigo's flirtations, and Severa is just so harsh with both of them (and most people). Of all the people they could be stuck with, they would Not choose each other. I'm rambling but I'm so into it I'm so so into it. One of the previous asks you linked spoke a lot about Inigo, but if you could talk a bit more about Severa and Owain? Especially if their adult selves were involved with their lieges and partner retainers and how different the dynamic is now and the way they each react when realizing the trio went through something so clearly screwed up and beyond even what they've seen

(prev ask) Ayyy, glad you got a kick out of all of that, lol. And yes!! Leo Trio origins reversed!! With Niles and Leo being the ones who have to prove themselves to Owain instead of the other way around. And the Trio not getting along!! They're 100% there to save each other when they think they're in mortal danger, but as soon as they realize they're not in Plegia? Don't touch me, don't breath on me, don't look in my direction, any of you. Owain & Inigo can't be alone in a room together or else they'll scuffle, Severa stomps away whenever Inigo tries to compliment her, nobody wants to talk to Owain, etc.

Also sure! I spoke a lot about Inigo in that last ask because I wanted to be clear about what I meant with the shyness thing, but for Severa & Owain...

I don't know if they would have been in romance with their lieges before this! I obviously ship the royals & their retainers, but I don't ever see the appeal of that dynamic in deaging fics? I get the idea of like "oh, this is a new side of my partner I've never seen before," but the deaging part is such a huge part of the plot that I don't really see the benefit to that dynamic in these types of fics.

But just in general! The friendship/platonic shift!

I mentioned before about Camilla trying to dote on little Severa but struggling because Severa rejects her So Hard, lol. In general she'd want to dote on Severa because of her personality and how Severa is a tiny version of her beloved retainer, but the more it becomes clear that Severa has issues (especially re: family, which is a major reason Camilla feels the need to dote on Corrin), the more she wants to spend time with her and make some happy memories with her. Which makes Severa's rejection of this attention even stronger bc who the hell are you to presume you know her? And also you're not her big sister/mom/whoever.

Eventually, I almost feel like Camilla would?? I don't want to say "give up," but eventually you're going to get more flies with honey than vinegar. By which I mean the less Camilla tries to push the relationship, the more open Severa might be to spending time with her. But I'm not sure Camilla would get to this point within the timeframe of the Trio being deaged! I think this would take many days or perhaps even weeks to figure out. If the Trio return to normal before this, I think Camilla might feel different (Hard to say how... maybe guilty??) about the way her Selena dotes on her and wants her attention all the time vs little Severa rejecting her. But!! If the Trio stay deaged for a while and Camilla learns to stop pushing the relationship, Severa may slowly grow to approach Camilla on her own and may then be open to being doted upon once they understand each other more (bc she canonically wants all the foods and fun stuff Camilla is offering; she just wants it from someone she trusts. And primarily from her parents ((see: awakening supports w/ parents)), but they're not here).

tl;dr Camilla would have to go against her doting instincts if she wanted Severa to get comfortable with her. Otherwise Severa would avoid her/take advantage of the things Camilla is offering while not wanting to be near her very much.

Re: Beruka!

Unlike Camilla, who has a lot of sad and sympathetic feelings for Severa, Beruka really leaves feelings out of it. Which is probably to her benefit in this scenario, as she's approaching Severa's trauma's from a logical (perhaps even detachedly relatable) standpoint rather than sympathetic. She's more direct than Camilla, so Severa might be a little more comfortable with her, just because she knows what to expect.

Severa, for her part, may even seek Beruka out once she knows they're partners because (1) she wants to know what sort of person her future partner is and (2) she wants to prove that she's the better retainer than Beruka. Which of course she can't do because (a) Beruka would never compare them like that, nor Camilla and (b) Severa is younger, more hotheaded, and less skilled than her older self, so anything she tries to prove now, she'll probably fail at and will blame on her older self having more experience. This competetive spirit may start as an inferiority complex thing, but with Beruka never really fanning the flames, Severa may eventually calm down about it and just feel more driven to get better on her own/respect Beruka as her partner (sort of like her Cynthia Supports in Awakening, though a little different).

Leo & Owain, I already talked about. Owain will immediately take note of the fact that Leo & Niles are his future lord & partner, which he is very curious about, but once Xander, Camilla, & the other very cool people with melee weapons come into the picture, he's very drawn to them, which makes Leo jealous, lol. Leo dedicates himself to "solving" the deaging issue, using this as an excuse so he doesn't have to spend time around Owain and get compared to his "cooler" siblings. HOWEVER, joke's on him bc the fact he's avoiding Owain means Owain doesn't get the chance to quiz him even more and tell him about how cool Brynhilder is. When this finally happens, Leo feels incredibly foolish for trying to show off for Owain & avoid him in turns. Owain, meanwhile, may or may not have ever picked upon on the fact Leo was feeling weird about him at all (although he will admit he felt nervous around Leo at first bc Pelgian Mage Memories and had to take time to get over that).

Niles is a little hard to consider because I actually think?? He'd be good with young/immature folk when he's genuinely trying to be? (See: Niles's interactions with Elise & Nina). However, he can also be quite cruel to people who don't really deserve it (See: Mozu C & B supports) despite having a motto of only insulting "people who deserve it," (Peri Support). So!! I think Niles's interactions with Owain ultimately come down to how well he respects Odin/how good their relationship was. If they were besties when Odin gets deaged, then I don't think Niles will purposely try to make Owain feel bad, though a lot of what he says with metaphors & double meanings will probably go over Owain's head anyway. I also don't know if he'd purposely go digging for information or not?? Depending on how much he feels asking would be a betrayal to Odin's trust vs his own curiosity and all the hints Owain doesn't realize not to drop?? I think Owain would really determine what Niles does or doesn't learn about him. They have the potential to have a really good talk where Owain talks about his parents' deaths and the struggles he & the kids are going through and Niels talking about his own life on the streets. (BTW, despite Owain literally going through a war & both parent death, I think he might think Niles has the worse situation bc he's never known parental love at all, which baffles Niles).

Similar to Leo, I think Owain would be really cautious around Niles at first, both because he's an intimidating sort and because he takes cues from how everyone acts around Niles too. But!! Also just like Leo, if his future self trusted them, obviously that means something, right? So he'd approach Niles a bit more after a few days of settling in.

Niles & Owain's interactions are really hard to imagine because they depend on so many factors that I haven't decided upon! But hopefully the other ones make sense, lol

Thanks for asking!

[elwenyere]

🌹🗣😂✍️ (it was so hard to choose!)

Thank you so much for these asks, HT! I tried to choose some fun ones for you. <3<3<3

Share your favorite dialogue exchange: from the Stony branching timeline sequel (now with side Sam/Bucky!)

“And no more run-ins with the alien tech?” Steve asked, still searching Tony’s face.

“Nothing we need to worry about,” Tony answered, leaning over the back of the armchair where Natasha had curled up. Steve looked like he was going to press the matter, but Tony was saved from further scrutiny by Bucky flashing his cards quickly at Sam across the table.

“Quick: say kemps,” he said evenly, and Sam yelled “Kemps!” at the same time that Vision politely chimed in, “Kemps, Sergeant.”

“That’s cheating,” Wanda complained, kicking lightly at Bucky’s shins under the table. “You’re supposed to use a signal.”

“A, there’s no rule that says your signal can’t be obvious as hell,” Bucky pointed out. “B, I’m playing a game of stealth against opponents that have telepathy,” he jabbed a finger at Wanda, “a mind stone,” a jab at Vision, “and whatever secret-head-nod, Vulcan-mind-meld thing these two have going on,” a wave of the hand between Steve and Natasha. “Meanwhile, my partner fights in a bird costume. So ‘obvious’ is really the only advantage he brings to the table.”

“Some lights can’t be hidden under a bushel, man,” Sam grinned at him. “I just burn too bright.”

Share your funniest line (or dialogue exchange): from a Sam/Bucky coffeeshop meet-ugly

Bucky’s smile faltered as he hesitated among a range of possible responses (sarcastic downplaying, who-me? ignorance-feigning, ostentatious high-roading), but then he saw Sam staring at him levelly across the table, holding eye contact for a protracted moment before he tipped back in the chair and stretched his arms behind his head.

“I’ll take a large latte,” he told Bucky evenly. “No need for sugar, because I’m perfectly sweet.”

Oh, I’ll show you sweet, Bucky muttered internally, and he shot Sam a horribly strained grin that he hoped would convey a similar sentiment.

“One large latte coming right up,” he promised.

“Bucky,” Steve said warningly.

“Steven, you’ll be taking your usual, I presume: drip coffee, burnt like the trust of your closest friends.”

Share a line you’ve edited, and what it used to be: from a Sam/Bucky Old Guard AU (with side Stony eventually):

Before: The first time Sam Wilson died, he had the theme song from The Golden Girls stuck in his head. Riley had been singing it into an imaginary microphone while they suited up (they both had their own ways of channeling the pre-flight adrenaline, and Riley’s sounded like two cats going at it in an alley), and even though Sam had rolled his eyes and chucked a towel at him at the time, it had been playing on a loop in Sam’s mind all the way from Kandahar.

After: The first time Sam Wilson died, he had the theme song from The Golden Girls stuck in his head. Riley had been singing it into his combat boot while they suited up for the last mission (everyone had their own ways of channeling the pre-flight adrenaline, and Riley’s sounded like two cats going at it in an alley). Sam had rolled his eyes and chucked a towel at him at the time, but then sure enough, the fucking tune had been playing on a loop in his mind all the way from Kandahar.

Share your most poetic line: from the same fic:

That was the first time: a jagged line of fire tearing through his tissue as the combined voices of his dead wingman and Cynthia Fee thanked him for being a friend.

[generalfoolish]

Feel The Heat

Part Two: Something More

Pairing: Frankie Morales x OC Juniper Collins

Rating: 18+ (b/c minors shouldn't lurk, it is illegal and not polite.) But this is big fluff, just more exposition and pining and world building. I do curse, so there's that.

Word Count: 4k+

Summary: June and Frankie are big idiots, and they keep bumping into each other in the wildest of places. Again, and I can't overstate this: they’re both MASSIVE idiots.

A/N: Hey babes! This is going a little slower bc I want to give more with each update, I normally keep around 1K and these are little beasts. But I'm excited with the story, some threads are exposing themselves, and there will be more Frankie X OC time in the next part. For now, enjoy this little taste of yearning and pining and overthinking and general angst over meeting a cute new somebody. 💕

Masterlist | Part One | Part Three

June checked her phone as she stirred the pot, and groaned at the email count. More than half were parents who “couldn’t” make the conference, and the rest were from her principal wanting to reiterate the importance of those meetings. She dropped the phone back to the counter, and focused on her pot. She had googled what to do with Brandywines, and had decided on a slowly simmered tomato sauce. It paired beautifully with the fresh garlic and basil she had picked up, and the whole house smelled like an Italian restaurant.

This was her favorite way to use up produce in the summer. She spent hours simmering and canning, and got to enjoy the fruits of her labor in the dead of winter. She knew she could easily gift the sauce made from those beautiful tomatoes, and she had every intention of doing so.

Sundays passed so quickly, she hardly had time to dwell on the farmer, but when she caught a whiff of her stove she had to find something to do. She worked through the emails, sending reminders that the conferences were mandatory, and that if the parents couldn’t make it during the week before or after school, she was available to meet online. She fought the temptation to open her weekends. She was working on work boundaries with her therapist.

June had an easier time fighting off thoughts of the farmer as the day waned on, and she thought, foolishly, that she could just forget the brown eyed grump she had met.

--

Frankie was having a hard time focusing on anything. Liv was a bundle of energy, and he tried not to snap at her. He had her come help him in the garden, but he ended up sending her to dig for worms after she trampled another vine.

“Ew! Worms are gross.” She argued.

“I know, but didn’t you want to go fishing? Fish eat worms, it’s how we can get them out of the water.” He explained, carefully. She considered him, then bounded off, calling out to the worms. He chuckled watching her, and went back to pulling weeds. With a moment of quiet, his mind flitted back to the woman. He couldn’t help it. He had dreamt of her. She was lounging in the back of his mind, waiting for him to stumble into the memory. Liv was a good distraction, but she only held the woman at bay for so long. He grumbled and wiped his brow. He decided to give it up for now, the woman and the weeding.

“Princess, I think we have some hotdogs. Let’s try those.” He called over to Liv, who excitedly left behind her freshly dug hole.

“Daddy, Mrs. Becka wanted me to remind you about the school stuff.” Liv told him, grabbing his hand as they walked. He exhaled sharply. He had forgotten the meetings. He pulled his phone from his pocket and scrolled through Becka’s texts. She had sent him the teacher’s number at some point, he knew, the trouble was finding it. Finally, he clicked the blue hyper-linked number and called it. Liv ran inside ahead of him, looking for the hot dogs, and he waited at the door as the phone rang.

“Hello?” Ms. Collins answered breathlessly, and he cleared his throat.

“Ms. Collins? It’s Olivia Morales’ dad, calling about the meeting?” He heard something clatter on the other end. “Is now an okay time?”

“Yes, sorry, Mr. Morales, I was just...it doesn’t matter. My schedule is a little tight, when did you have in mind?”

“Something early, maybe before drop-off?”

“Sure, uhm, let me check my calendar,” She sounded distant, he thought, probably on speaker. “Yeah, Tuesday morning? I know that’s quick, it is all I have though.”

“Yeah, I can be there. Like 7am?”

“Yes, that’s great. See you then.” The line disconnected and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d heard her voice before. He rolled his eyes at himself, of course he had. She was his daughter’s teacher. As if on cue, Liv ran out with a hot dog. He smiled brightly and ruffled her hair.

“‘Kay, kiddo, let’s go catch some fish.” She grinned at him brightly, showing off the hole her first lost tooth had made. His heart caught as he realized she was growing up so fast.

--

“Monday’s really are the worst.” June laughed. She had her mom on the phone, connected through Bluetooth. “I’m just leaving the school now!”

“I just don’t see why you’re having to set these meetings up now. The kids have hardly been in school for a couple of weeks.” June sighed as she merged on the highway to head home.

“I know, it's just something my district does. The hard part is wrangling parents.”

“Well, if you had any children, you’d know how much they require of you.” June rolled her eyes and exhaled through her nose. Her mom was always quick to bring up her lack of a partner and children. Not that June didn’t want those things, they just haven't panned out for her yet.

“Yeah, Mom, I’m sure you’re right.” She acquiesced, knowing the argument wasn’t worth the effort.

“Have you met anyone? You’re only getting older, you know.”

“Thanks Mom. Uh, I have a date tomorrow night, actually.”

“Well, what’s his name, do I know him? What does he do for work?” June rolled her eyes, and wondered why she had answered the call.

“I don’t know anything about him. It’s a blind date.”

“Not even a name?” June bit her lip, debating telling her Mom the nickname.

“He’s ex-Army, goes by Fish. That’s all I know. Oh, and he’s single. A new teacher sat it up for me.” June explained, hoping her Mom wouldn’t have much to say.

“Fish? Oh, wow. Terrence really messed you up, huh.”

“I’m getting a call from a parent, I’ll talk to you later.” June lied, ending the call. Terrence had really messed her up. Not that that was of any importance to her dating life, or this blind date’s name. She sighed hard as she pulled into her driveway.

“Monday’s really are the worst.” She told the empty space of her car. She grabbed her bag and hurried inside. It had been a long day, and she was ready to polish off her bottle of wine from the night before. She walked in and let her bag drop to the floor, and crossed to the staircase. She groaned as she climbed the stairs. She was exhausted and still had a ton left to do.

June stripped quickly and threw on her yard work clothes. She stopped by the kitchen and poured some wine into a cup with a lid, before making her way outside. The day before she had started a small garden, and she was determined to make something grow out of it. She had no idea what she was doing, though. The wine wasn’t really helping either.

She had been short with a few parents while she was tending the fragile plants. It was a little late in the season to try and start anything, but she had picked up some discount plants that she wanted to help limp along for a little longer. She hoped she hadn’t put any of the parents off, and tried to remember who all had called.

June wiped her forehead with her gloved hand and tried to sort them out. Steven’s mom, Cynthia, was meeting her during lunch. That would be short, thankfully. Steven was a good kid, quiet. Graham and Ginger’s grandma was coming Wednesday afternoon, the parents were out of the country for something. Mia’s dad was going to call during the planning period. Ashley’s mom was coming Tuesday afternoon. And Olivia’s dad was coming Tuesday morning. June felt her shoulders sag, and she drained her wine. That wasn’t even half of the parents left.

She gave up on the garden and stalked inside. She wanted to scare up something for dinner, but didn’t really feel like making anything. She gave in and called the local Indian place. They knew her order, and said they’d be there soon. She grimaced, wondering how much money she had spent on Vindaloo over the years, and decided not to think about it. She had enough time to slip in the shower to wash the sweat off, before the delivery guy knocked on her door. She tipped him generously, and sat down on the couch.

June clicked the tv on and scrolled through her watch list. She settled on some mind-numbing detective show, and ate half of the curry. She put the rest away, and grabbed her bag by the door. The bag was a mess, but she managed to find her red pen and the papers that needed grading, and she settled back in.

Soon, the mindless task paired with a full stomach and the wine had her falling into a deep sleep.

--

Frankie was pissed. He was giving up the best time of the day for harvesting to meet with Liv’s teacher, and Ms. Collins couldn’t be bothered to show up. His thoughts went back to the phone call the day before, and he gritted his teeth as he realized she had put him off twice. Over something she had wanted to set up. He’d gotten the bundles of paper she had sent home on it. Yet, here he was, and she was nowhere to be found. He pulled his phone out, and considered punching in her number, but stopped himself.

Frankie had to exhale deeply four times before he could lay his phone down. He had gotten here a little early, and it was just now 7 am, and he didn’t have a set schedule. Liv was with Ashley, Becka had insisted on taking them to drop off so he could have plenty of time with Ms. Collins. Not that it mattered now, he thought, dryly. At ten past, he pulled his phone back out, and brought her name up. He was angry again, and had every intention of calling. But before he could press her name, the door swung open, and his heart dropped.

~~

June woke with a start. The birds were singing outside, the light was all wrong, and she was on the couch. Shit, she thought, jumping up. Shit, shit, shit. She had overslept. She hurried up the stairs and threw on something presentable, and didn’t even check herself in the mirror. She could do her makeup in the class. She grabbed up the half graded papers and shoved them in her bag, and ran out the door. She dumped everything in the passenger seat and drove much faster than usual. She was about halfway to the school when she realized she was meeting a student’s parent this morning. She hadn’t had any coffee, and her brain was starting to slow down from the adrenaline of being late, and she could not remember who she was meeting. She parked, and popped her vanity mirror down and grimaced. She looked like she was having a bad morning. She decided to throw her hair up in a messy bun, and grabbed the mess up from her passenger seat.

She basically ran into the building, her flats ricocheting sound off the concrete walls. She swung her door open, apologies already falling from her lips, when she looked at the parent. The apologies died on her lips, and her mouth fell open.

“You?” She asked, dumbly. “Frankie?” He looked like he had seen a ghost, a bitchy ghost, she grimaced.

“You?” He stood now, and started to move to her.

“Uhm, you can’t be here. I’m meeting a student’s parent, and how’d you even know where to find me?” She started rambling, but when the words were out she realized how stupid they were. “Oh my god, you’re the parent?” She barked out a laugh, and dumped her bag on her desk. He grinned, and wiped the back of his neck.

“Liv’s dad. I’m Frankie Morales.” He told her, faltering from shaking her hand.

“Perfect. I’m Juniper Collins, you can call me June, or Ms. Collins, whatever you prefer. I’m sorry I’m late, I...I started a garden yesterday and wore myself out. That’s what I was doing when we spoke on the phone,” She told him, laughing. June had only tried gardening because she wanted a common foot with him. She didn’t want to tell him that yet, though. “Anyway, let’s get to Liv. Liv is a great girl, Mr. Morales.”

“Frankie.” He interrupted, with a small smile.

“Okay, Frankie. Look, Liv is great, she really is. She struggles in class sometimes, though. She is smart as hell, but she seems to struggle. I wanted to give you some information about ADD or ADHD. It presents differently in girls, and is often overlooked. I haven’t known her long, obviously, but I actually was diagnosed much later in life, and I remember doing some of the things she’s doing. Would you be interested in some info on that?” June asked carefully, their relationship was rocky and weird, and she didn’t want to overstep. This was her job, though. It was a little bit not her job, actually. But she always wanted to look out for her girls, especially when they were as smart and incredible as Liv.

“Oh, wow. I had no idea she was struggling.” Frankie muttered, and removed his cap. June sucked in a sharp breath at his light brown, bouncy curls as they spilled out. He was beautiful. She distracted herself by moving behind her desk and grabbing a folder she had laid out for Liv, for this exact reason, and she thanked her past self for being put together. Then she went and sat beside him at the small activity table. She felt comical sitting next to him in the small chairs, he was spilling over his own. She laid down the folder and put a hand on his arm.

“Look, it isn’t a struggle that she notices yet. It’s her recall, her attention span, and her ability to focus. That sounds like a lot, I know, but there’s a simple test, and there are effective alternatives to stimulants. I’m on one, and it really helped me. Life is only going to get harder for her, if she has it and it remains untreated, but she has no idea. She isn’t “different” yet, and she’s doing so, so well in class. She is a model student. I just want to help, that’s all.” She watched his face as she spoke, and by the end, he seemed defeated.

“I should have noticed. I’m her dad. I...I’ve been worried I’m not around enough, and now you drop this on me.” He laughed dryly. She patted his arm.

“Liv talks about you all the time. She loves you, Frankie. She tells us all the time about her pilot dad.” June said it before she had time to think, before she connected “Liv’s Dad” with Frankie, the man before her. And then, her big mouth spit out something she wanted to take back immediately. “But you’re a farmer, right?” He looked up into her eyes, and his face was hard.

“Anything else you wanted to tell me about Liv?” His words were right, but the tone was too harsh. June flinched back from him, and dropped her gaze from his suddenly hard face.

“Liv is a great girl. She’s great to have in class. I have nothing else for you.” June told him monotonically, going on autopilot so as not to cry. She had spent the whole weekend thinking about him, then she had planted a stupid garden to have more in common with him, and then fate brought them back together, and she screwed it up again. She decided it was done, then. Frankie Morales was not in the cards for her. Sure, she might see him again because she taught his daughter, but she was through thinking of him like that.

“Good. I have to get going, next time try to be on time.” He scolded, as he stood abruptly and left without another word. Slowly, June followed and shut the door behind him. Alone, at last, she started crying.

~~~

“Idiot. You fucking idiot.” Frankie berated himself in his truck. He couldn’t believe it when she swept into the room. He had found her. Not her, he thought with a grimace, Juniper. The name felt so appropriate. It was an old name, but it suited her so perfectly. He exhaled roughly and tried to rewrite the scene. She was looking out for Liv. She wanted Liv to be happy and succeed. This woman cared more about his daughter than Liv’s own mother. And as soon as she tried to get to know him, he bit her head off and made her feel bad for being late. Jesus, what a dick. He had found her, and in a single moment, he had managed to ruin it again.

He put the truck in drive and headed home. Nothing left to do here, he thought bitterly. He was pulling up the driveway when he remembered that she had started a garden. It wasn’t a coincidence, he realized. She had started a garden because of him. He parked the truck and laid his head against the steering wheel. He had pushed her away at every turn. The market, the bar, and now at the school. He had seen her face before he left, and knew it was done. He had pushed too far, too fast. Of course, she would want nothing more to do with him. He had done nothing but treat her like shit.

He got out of the truck and threw his hat. It didn’t do much except get his cap dirty, but it was all he could do. He pulled his phone out, and pulled her name up. He typed a long message, and erased it. Then he tried again, and erased it again. His pride was getting in the way. He couldn’t tell her about his piloting years. The army, spec ops, Colombia, the coke, or any of it. She could just hate him, and then he couldn’t hurt her anymore.

~~~~

June paced up and down her classroom. Her face was puffy, still, and she had been struggling to focus all day. She couldn’t meet anyone new for dinner; she wasn’t in the right headspace for a date. Let alone one where she would have to leave a lasting impression. She chewed her thumb nail before heading down the hall.

Samantha's classroom was pretty close to her own, and June was glad for it. If she had had to walk further she would have lost her nerve. June knocked tentatively on the door, before pulling it open. Samantha looked up and grinned.

"Hey girl! Are you excited for your big date tonight?" June’s own smile fell from her face.

"Actually, that's why I'm here. I want to cancel." Samantha's smile pulled down quickly.

"Why?"

"I'm having kind of a bad day for impressions," June told her flatly.

"Well, I couldn't if I wanted to. Santiago is out of town, no reception. I don't have the friend's number." June groaned.

"Okay, alright. Ugh, probably for the best. Do you know anything else about him? I’ve had kind of a rough day. You said, ex-military right?”

“Yeah, Santi doesn’t really talk about that time, and I haven’t pushed it. I met him a while back, Fish. He’s sweet. I think he’ll be your type. You like tan brunettes?” June nodded, laughing and thinking about Frankie Morales again.

“He’ll be perfect. Doesn’t say much and likes beer, that’s all I know.” Samantha gave a small shrug.

“Alright, thanks. I’ll let you finish eating.” June said, excusing herself.

She left feeling defeated. A parent was going to be late this afternoon, she had gotten the email after the Frankie disaster. Which meant that she was going to be late to dinner. She wasn't killing it in the men department so she hoped that despite a military background he wouldn't mind her tardiness. She couldn't handle another horrible scene like the one from this morning.

The rest of the day was uneventful, which she was glad for. Her nerves were on the edge. She tried to ignore how much Liv favored her dad, and how she loudly told the class about their upcoming camping trip. She found herself listening intently, despite herself. And even chuckled at the girl’s memories of the last trip. June’s mood improved with the day, too. She even played a little music in the background while the kids worked on their worksheets.

By the time she had hauled herself into her car, the last thing she wanted to do was go to dinner. But she swiped on her favorite lipstick and drove to the restaurant. If she broke the speed limit, she would only be about five minutes late, and she pushed it. She wanted to drink some wine, and forget about Frankie Morales. Another tan brunette in her life would do her good, she thought happily. She was tired, but she wanted to make the most of it.

---

Frankie was looking back and forth between the menu and his watch. He couldn't believe that another woman was about to be late on him. He was trying hard to get June out of his mind, and his blind date wasn't making it easy on him. He chuckled when he realized what he was doing. Just meeting a total stranger for dinner. He didn't have much choice in the matter, he thought, remembering how Pope had basically told him where and when, without asking if Frankie was even interested.

She had good taste, he conceded. This was his favorite spot. They made amazing, fresh pasta. He was eyeing the cocktail menu, when she rushed in. He couldn't believe he was running into her again.

It was June, because of course it was. She was flushed, probably late again, he huffed, but she had put on a bright red lipstick that made his heart stutter. He lowered his gaze back to the menu. He hoped she wouldn't see him out on a date, even if he saw her. The hope was short lived because she made her way to him, her eyes glinting with an emotion he couldn't place, and she exhaled deeply.

"Let me guess, your call sign is Fish, right?" His eyes snapped to hers and she laughed while nodding. It was her. He had found her again. The waiter walked over and she told him to bring a bottle of red, and a beer for him. He told the waiter his brand, and raked his eyes over her.

"Sorry I'm late, I had a crazy day." She mused once she had taken two deep sips of her wine.

"Yeah? What is it you do?" He asked, hoping beyond hope that this was their start over. Their fourth, or so, start over.

"Teacher. Yeah, I teach. Most days it's easy, but some days there are parents." She told him, her cheeks flushed.

"Hopefully, no jerks?" He asked, quickly taking a sip of his beer. She held her head to the side before she sighed.

"I don't know what's going on here, Frankie. It's kind of exhausting. I think you're pretty handsome, you grow amazing food, you have a beautiful daughter, but I think we just keep messing up. How about, just for now, we enjoy this meal and the company, and tomorrow we can talk about what it means that we can't keep away from each other?" He searched her eyes. She was tired, he could tell, but she was so sincere. He wanted desperately to know why she sat down instead of just leaving. He wanted to know why they were seemingly so connected. He wanted to know if he'd been on her mind too.

"I'm thinking the carbonara." He answered, and she smiled before looking the menu over herself. The rest could wait. He had found her again.”

[johns-prince]

TW for eating disorders, etc.

John OP here. Thanks for the beautifully written answer. I appreciate the honesty and in fact, you make very good points. I doubt I'd be the best influence on someone like John when it came to body image because we seem too alike in that department. I was a teenager in the size zero hysteria of the early 00s and this probably shaped my sense of aesthetics. I'm more relaxed about that now but my eye still responds to a certain look on people. I can't help it. I had my own "Fat Beatle" episode and I could tell how it all changed when I shed the weight. It didn't really matter how or whether I was miserable, I just looked the "right" way and people would let me know. It's possible I projected it all on poor John. But I know he'd relate to that in many levels.

I'm not a fan of the "rat man" thing either. I know people mean well and I try to look at it with humor but it does bother me. Mostly because the stans of the other boys are very positive about them and I'd like that for John too. His looks were a major part of his struggle so I know he'd be crushed watching everyone praising his mates (especially Paul) while he gets to be the fucking rat, you know? As I have mentioned before, you can feel it even on fanfiction. Even the writers who seem more John inclined will go on for pages about how pretty Paul (which he is, of course) and how lucky John was to be with him. Like it was a favor or something. That when the stories don't keep pushing that tired trope about Crazy John crushing on pretty but Immovable Sexuality Paul. That's not really my cup of tea tbh.

In the end I'm just happy to start this discussion

with intelligent people who will bring their opinions to the table respectfully. I hope my previous comment didn't trigger anyone or came across as worse than I hoped. If that was the case, I'd like to apologize, it really wasn't my intention.

Darling, don't fret. You've really nothing to be sorry about. One reason why I relate to John is because I have issues with bulimia to this day, and can experience hardcore body dysmorphia at the worst of times dues to my insecure and self hatred towards my body. I get it.

I remember that, vaguely at least, the whole size zero thing. I do, that was such a strange phenomenon, because it takes a certain body type to fit it naturally, or... Y'know, starving yourself.

Anyway, I think we all sort of project on our favorite boy, and we all sort of see ourselves in them too. You wouldn't be the first, and certainly won't be the last.

Yeah, I completely understand how you feel. Maybe I'm just overreacting, maybe I don't have a sense of humor, but I'm inclined to feel protective over John, and I feel like if you know about John's insecurities and struggles with himself in regards to his physical appearance, why... Would you yourself find it a silly and relatively harmless thing to apparently joke about calling him things like that, idk like I said I don't see anyone else really making such snide comments and quips when it comes to the other three. So at what time did the bandom just agree it was an acceptable thing to do towards John?

Whatever, people can do and say what they like y'know free country an' all, but I don't have to approve of it or like it.

Real talk, I low-key I am guilty of writing in that way but I primarily do it as if John feels that way, or thinks it, or feels it. Due to his insecurity and self doubt, the fear that he'll always be abandoned by those he holds dear and loves, the fear that it's all just too good to be true for him-- that's why I ever write a scene when it comes to Paul, that it's just John's way of thinking, not seeing his own worth, and ends up sort of idolizing those individuals (listen John once compared Paul to a religion that he knew/had so I feel like he idolized and saw Paul in this 'oh God he's too perfect oh no' sort of light, which both terrified and fed into the 'paul's going to leave me one day he'll figure it out that he doesn't need me I'm not enough' sort of mindset too) he just had a bit of a habit doing that to those he held intimately dear, until... They let him down or proved his insecurities and doubts right, that in the end they all leave him and don't actually love him. It's a cruel self fulfilling prophecy in a sense, since John, either consciously or subconsciously, put relationships and people through tests to see if they could withstand him and his antics, if they'd stay loyal, if they'd still love him. Sometimes he'd just push people away, and then feel like they just up and abandoned him...

I'm rambling. Anyway the point, your point, still stands! Their relationship shouldn't be written as one doing the other a favor for liking them and being with them! Maybe in reality people did think Paul was doing not only John a favor for being his partner but also a favor to everyone else, because John had Paul and Paul could be seen as the one handling John's lead. It's kind of like how some peer at John's art school thought Cynthia had done them all a favor for taking John.

I don't like that. John isn't some problem to be passed onto someone who must then bear the burden of him. That's just... Wrong. And I think both Cynthia and Paul would think so too. John could be challenging but geez, it shouldn't be made out like anyone who loved John and wanted to be around him and be with him was just some sort of favor to the world or to him.

If anything John and Paul were both extremely lucky to have found each other-- it's not exactly common for soulmates to find each other, especially at such a young age? Please. Most of us will never, which is common.

Like the crushing went both ways lol if anything it's Paul who crushed first-- while John never mentioned it, Paul had brought up how he'd noticed John long before meeting him at the Fete. They had even briefly talked at a newspaper shop which Paul had been working at. He'd see John on the streets, he'd notice him riding on the top deck of buses, or in line at the fish and chips-- he'd try and steal glances at John when he'd notice him on the same bus! Paul was instantly drawn to this tough looking teddy with big sideboards and greased hair and the drainies and a roguish air about him. He was like a schoolgirl with a crush, and he didn't even know this boy. Yet.

If anything it's Paul who noticed John first, and started crushing on John first. Then they finally were introduced at the local Fete, and that was it for both of them.

And let's be real John might've been a bit crazy, but Paul loved him, loved his touch of crazy. And Paul might be immoveable heterosexuality, but that goes straight out the window when it comes to John, and only John it appears.

So yeah, I get where you're coming from, and your grievances and perspective.

I'm glad you decided to share it with me! Sorry about my rambling (• ▽ •;)

[bills-pokedex]

Worldbuilding Month: Day 3

{According to my outline, today was supposed to be “explain to the audience that culture is not erased but rather embraced; it just happens to coexist alongside Common and other international efforts for unity and peace,” but because yesterday’s post was so in-depth, fuck it, we’re talking about gay stuff.

Putting this behind a cut because the intro is long and the meat of the post is longer, and also, I’m one of those people who say the word “queer” a lot and would prefer to have this up as a warning so I don’t have to explain to folks why it’s okay and why the “queer is a slur” thing is TERF rhetoric.

Because Pokémon is a children’s franchise from a country that’s somehow more conservative about LGBT+ issues than the United States, it should come as no surprise that there’s very little explicit queer rep in canon, and anything that could conceivably connected to the LGBT community is either: A) actually fanon, or B) treated as a joke. (See any time crossdressing is brought up for the latter.)

It should also come as no surprise that I like to ignore this. Or, rather, I like to briefly touch on it now and then because I like the idea of using media to discuss topics of real-world importance, so the short answer about whether or not homophobia/transphobia/etc is dead is “legally, yes; culturally ... eeeeeeeeeeh.” As in, no one’s outlawed being queer. Gay marriage is legal everywhere. No government, national or otherwise, cares that you’re gay. Resources are not that difficult to find if you’re new to this and trying to figure things out, and the trainer community is very, very queer and very, very prone to having older trainers mentor younger ones so they can figure things out for themselves. (For the latter, the entire point of training according to trainers themselves is to go out, find themselves, and change their lives out there, so even if the rest of the world was just like it is IRL, honestly, training would probably be a lot like Tumblr, only with fewer TERFs and a lot more walking.)

On the other hand, there’s still a lot of tension. The entire idea of world unity and openness is still a pretty new thing, so older generations aren’t as accepting of queer people as the younger generations and various governments themselves are. There’s not really any violence, exactly, but it’s not exactly unusual for someone to have a parent who believes their lesbian daughters just need to meet the right person or a grandparent who’s just casually transphobic. The point is Bill’s world is definitely a utopia compared to ours, but it’s not perfect. Yet.

When it comes to culture beyond the old-fashioned folks out there, queer people are pretty well-accepted. There’s no push for having queer people in certain roles because on a greater scale, discrimination doesn’t exist. To that end, a lot of the characters you’re familiar with may be queerer than you think.

Which means I’m about to get into a List, but first, a couple of side notes:

1. The canon pokémon professors are largely ace, straight, or lowkey bi. Professor Juniper is definitely a lesbian, and Sycamore is pan, but the majority of the others are currently cis dudes in marriages with cis women, cis dudes who were once married to cis women, or Professor Magnolia (who’s aro). The point here is that most of the canon pokémon professors are at least attracted to a gender other than their own.

2. Giovanni is a painfully straight dilf, but the other evil team leaders are some form of queer. For example, Maxie is gay af, Archie is pan and in a poly relationship with his own executives, Cyrus is aroace, Ghetsis is sexually attracted to taking over the world (and himself), Lysandre is very gay and lowkey pining for Sycamore, Guzma is bi, Lusamine is also painfully straight, and Rose is pan but pretends to not be interested for the sake of the media.

3. All of the pokémon storage system administrators are queer with the exception of Amanita, who’s eight years old and therefore we are not going to fucking talk about what she wants right now. Granted, this is largely due to Bill’s habit of adopting every underdog he can find and turning them into administrators, and it just so happens that society’s most offbeat characters might be a little bit queer, generally speaking. I’ve gotten into which flavors of queer in previous posts, but I might bring it up again in a resource post of its own this month if people are interested.

4. Ash Ketchum is perpetually ten, so like Amanita, we’re not gonna talk about what he wants. He is, however, absolutely questioning his gender. (Red, who’s a separate character from Ash, will be mentioned below. Likewise for Blue, who’s separate from Gary. Alls I can say is Professor Oak had really bad luck with children and just so happens to have three orphaned grandchildren.)

That leaves the gym leaders, trial captains, kahunas, Frontier brains, and the Elite Four gauntlets/Champions, which are as follows:

KANTO

Brock is bi but doesn’t realize it.

Misty is painfully straight.

Lt. Surge is painfully straight.

Erika is trans and a lesbian. She may or may not be pining for Sabrina. (Related note: She’s the daughter of one of the kimono girls from the same troupe as Bill’s mother. I bring this up because of the whole technically canon point that only girls can learn the dances to summon Ho-oh and Lugia, which means Erika was taught these once she came out.)

Koga is ace but heteromantic.

Janine is a lesbian though. Koga doesn’t know, and Janine, knowing her father is super-traditional, has no intention of telling him, so she’s 100% in the closet.

Sabrina is ace but questioning her romantic orientation, and probably the only thing that gets her really flustered is the entire concept of romance (which is to say, Erika).

Blaine is gay.

Blue is very gay.

Lorelei is aroace.

Bruno is straight.

Agatha is straight and also salty over a failed relationship with Professor Oak. (Blue’s father is her son, by the way, but not Gary’s.)

Lance is gay af.

Red is pan and perpetually confused by Blue.

Trace does not exist idek what you’re talking about.

JOHTO

Falkner is bi.

Bugsy is aroace.

Whitney is a lesbian who likes to pretend she’s bi so no one questions why her gym is full of pretty girls only.

Morty is gay and publicly in a relationship with Eusine. (Or, at least, people know he’s in a relationship, but the media just refers to Eusine as “a local pokémon collector” and nothing more.)

Chuck is bi and happily married to his wife, thanks very much.

Jasmine is trans and aroace. (I like to pretend Special didn’t happen.)

Pryce is aroace.

Clair is probably the gayest gym leader you’ll come across. Yes, I’m including Kalos here.

Will is gay.

Karen is not only gay but also has been elevated to gay icon by the media. She is the sort of gay baby gays look up to and hope to be one day.

HOENN

Roxanne is trans but straight.

Brawly is bi.

Wattson is shockingly (no pun intended) straight and happily married.

Flannery is gay. She’s not as gay as Clair, but she comes very, very close. She’s also post-op trans.

Norman is aroace, and we won’t get into what that means for his marriage.

Winona doesn’t care for labels. (She’s nonbinary but goes by she/her and she’s pansexual.)

Liza and Tate are, like, eight, so we’re not getting into this either.

I take my comments about Clair back. She’s the most lesbian gym leader. The gayest gym leader, hands down, is Wallace. As an unrelated side point, he's not in a relationship with Steven Stone, contrary to popular belief.

Juan is Wallace’s gay mentor, but because he came from an older generation, his queerness is kinda toned down by comparison.

The entire Hoenn Elite Four is aroace. All of them. Glacia is trans.

Steven Stone is also ace, but he’s panromantic. He’s currently in a relationship with adventure.

SINNOH

Roark is gay.

Gardenia is gay. And trans.

Maylene is bi.

Crasher Wake? Gay.

Fantina? Gay.

Byron? Bi and married to a cis woman.

Candice? Gay.

Volkner? Very gay. Not dating Flint, weirdly enough. Yet.

Sinnoh is famous for having an extremely gay lineup, in other words. It’s a meme among the pokémon training queer community that one day, everyone will just move to Sinnoh and be ridiculously gay in the snow.

The Elite Four, however, is three-out-of-four gay, with Aaron, Flint, and Lucian being the gay ones here. Bertha is not gay but rather aroace and also trans.

Cynthia isn’t gay, contrary to popular belief, but she is in a wlw relationship. She’s actually pan, and her partner is Diantha.

UNOVA

Cilan is straight. Chili is ace. Cress is gay.

Lenora is bi and extremely happily married.

Burgh is aroace and nonbinary. (Pronouns are they/them or he/him.)

Elesa is ace but doesn’t quite know where she is romantically speaking.

Clay is extremely straight and furthermore one of those old-fashioned people I was talking about earlier.

Skyla is a very proud lesbian.

Brycen is gay and in the closet because he’s afraid Unovan tabloids would have a field day with that.

Drayden is gay, but Iris is pan.

Cheren is gay but too uptight to admit it.

Roxie is bi and also poly, incidentally.

Marlon is bi.

Shauntal is gay. She has a crush on Caitlin.

Marshal is gay.

No one really knows which way Grimsley goes, and he seems to delight in not telling anyone. (He’s bi.)

Caitlin is a very tired trans woman who’s also bi.

KALOS

You would think Kalos would be gayer than Sinnoh, but actually no. A lot of them are actually straight, bi, or simply ace. 

Viola, Ramos, and Wulfric are all the “we’re just cis and straight” crowd.

Grant, Korrina, Clemont, and Valerie are all ace.

Valerie is homoromantic, though.

Olympia is bi and also post-op trans.

Malva is straight and once had an unfortunate thing for Lysandre.

Wikstrom is straight.

Siebold is shockingly straight, to the surprise of literally everyone before he’d clarified this point.

Drasna is gay ... which is also to the surprise of literally everyone, who all thought she was straight.

Diantha is openly gay, but her relationship with Cynthia isn’t public knowledge. She leans into the gay identity to be a lesbian icon for younger queer kids, but she’ll still accept roles for straight characters (even ones in romance movies) because she wants to also show off her range as an actress.

ALOLA

Ilima is gay and trans.

Lana is eight and what is this.

Kiawe is bi.

Mallow is also gay and trans.

Sophocles is aroace.

Acerola is surprisingly not ace but rather just simply straight. I have this headcanon because I refuse to make a pun out of her name.

Mina is pan af.

Hala is straight.

Olivia is very, very straight.

Nanu is too tired to care. (At one point, he was bi, though.)

Hapu is a baby gay.

Kahili is an awkward af gay.

Molayne is not only gay, but he’s also the storage system admins’ wise gay uncle, who possesses the only brain cell among the storage system admins’ gay community. He’s also nonbinary (they/them or he/him), but he’s honestly extremely chill about pronouns.

GALAR

Galar is basically the Sinnoh for bi people, ngl.

Milo is bi.

Nessa is bi.

Kabu is bi.

Bea is bi.

Allister is eight years old and what is this. (Probably ace, though.)

Opal is actually pretty straight. She was once in a relationship with Mustard.

By contrast, Bede is very gay. And also trans.

Gordie? Bi.

Melony? Bi.

Piers? Very bi.

Marnie is bi but kinda denies it.

Raihan is extremely gay and for some reason thinks the other Galarian gym leaders are gay too.

Klara is bi.

Avery is bi.

Leon is bi.

Mustard is straight and once had a relationship with Opal but is currently happily married to someone else.

Peony is basically like Clair and Wallace for straight people. Like ... he’s the straightest person you will ever meet. Take all the stereotypes about straight people, remove the toxic masculinity, and distill the results down, and you will have Peony. Peony is so straight you can use him to hang pictures perfectly. He’s so straight that if you’re ever insecure about whether or not you’re gay enough, you need just to stand next to Peony for five minutes. Peony is basically why almost everyone else is a little bit bi—because Arceus or Mew or whoever put all the straightness in the world into Peony and went, “Wow, I think I went a little too far.” Peony is that straight.

ORANGE ISLANDS

Most people probably don’t care about this region because it’s an anime only, but I care.

They’re all gay. Luana’s daughter exists because of a sperm donor, but Luana herself isn’t married and is very much a lesbian.

Furthermore, Rudy is trans because Electric Tales of Pikachu once made a trans joke about him, and you know what? I’m going to fix that so it’s something that actually respects trans people.

The Orange Islands are basically the other location gay trainers say they’ll turn into a queer commune, only it’s for gay people who judge the snow-loving gays hardcore. (To be fair ... they have a valid point. Listen. Listen, my fellow queer people. Why would you want snow when you could have sunny beaches and no frostbite?)

BATTLE FRONTIER

Anyway, Noland is aroace.

Greta is ace but biromantic.

Tucker is nonbinary (they/them or he/him) and also aroace.

Lucy is straight, shockingly enough.

Spenser is aroace.

Brandon is aroace.

Anabel is bi.

Palmer is straight.

Thorton is aroace.

Dahlia is homoromantic but ace.

Darach is 100% straight.

Argenta is aroace.

The Battle Frontier is, in other words, the closest thing to a Sinnoh or Galar for ace people. }