#does Not fuck around with her peoples safety in the slightest.

[viridianevergarden]

Reading comprehension and critical thinking has really gone out the window hasn’t it? At least in a portion of the fandom.

People are forever stuck under the presumption that Az feels pure lust for Elain and nothing more. That lust suddenly doesn’t go hand in hand with love? That Az is mentally fucked up and should get therapy yet no one else in the IC should? That Az is wrong for naturally shifting his feelings of love from one person to another? That he’s wrong because he didn’t “take a break”? That because of these, Az doesn’t deserve to have love and to love in general?

People are also forever stuck under the presumption that these characters are oh so evil and shouldn’t deserve love at the same time? Take Rhys for a popular example. (When it’s a book series about the ‘villain’ getting the girl. The math isn’t mathing. He’s not even a real, true villain).

No character in ACOTAR is meant to be a saint, I thought everyone knew that. (Oh my god! Morally grey characters when they do morally grey things, shocking😧)

I find most Azriel antis are literally just people who can’t put two and two together. Or just don’t like him for whatever reason they may have. (Everyone has their opinions, yes). But my god, the shallow interpretation and failure to understand his character annoys me ngl. He’s a complex character but he’s not a damn mathematical equation. (He is complex yet linear.)

“He only thought about sex in the bonus chapter.”

As if Elain also wasn’t aroused too? And gave him permission? (Omg, mutual consent! Blasphemy!)

But also the fact that they disregard Az’s noticeable and careful attention to Elain that he has shown throughout the entire series? They disregard purposefully romanticized moments?

“What happened with Elain?”

“What about Elain?”

“I’m getting her back.”

“I can imagine.”

“Would you like me to show you the garden?”

“There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to.”

“This is Truth-teller.”

Shadows gathered around the room like snakes preparing to strike.

“Sit. I’ll take care of it.”

“Wait until everyone is seated before eating.”

“We need to get these chains off her.”

Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring [Elain]…

“She doesn’t need anything.”

“The Cauldron made you a Seer.”

“Happy Solstice.”

Staying up with her til 3 am, talking about her gardening plans.

The kiss on the cheek.

“Beautiful.”

Countless times of him gently carrying her around.

Him constantly looking out at her garden.

Him spending actual effort to get her a thoughtful gift for solstice.

Facing death itself to get her back immediately by himself.

A laugh so deep and joyous.

Looking at that headache powder every night for over a year without ever using it.

The absence of his shadows in her presence.

“His secret to tell, never hers.”

Need I go on? Azriel is always hyper focused on Elain. Always. If it weren’t for him, Elain would probably be dead or in more trouble than she ever would have been before.

If all Azriel cared about was slipping under Elain’s dress, why did he attend to her so? Why is he hyper aware of her? Why is he so assertive with her needs over anyone else? Even over Nesta? Why would he feel the need to defend her against Nesta, her own sister, if it called for it? Why does he respect her and Lucien’s boundary by refusing to have eyes on Lucien for the sake of their privacy? Why was he the only one to show initiative over anyone else to get Elain back to safety now rather than later, by himself, even if it meant certain death?

But yeah, all he wants is her body. Right? Yeah, that makes sense…

I’m just saying. No main SJM character would ever go through so much effort just to bed another character. Thats not SJM’s style nor is it logical in the slightest.

But oh yes, he feels entitled to her and her body…

…Entitled?

Wrong E word.

Envy ≠ Entitlement.

Feeling Envious of the love that his brothers have? Of the bonds they have with the other sisters? Yet he’s the only one left all by his lonesome? He feels left out. Third wheeled. And rationally so. He’s happy for his brothers but envious all the same. (As if Cassian didn’t feel the same but no one said shit about him did they?)

I’ve said this in another post too but he is NOT looking at Elain and going “she should be mine.”

He doesn’t even think he deserves her for freaks sake.

Rhys doesn’t really know Azriel. Cassian doesn’t really know Azriel. No one truly knows Azriel. The only one who has truly understood some semblance of Azriel is Elain. Even when his heart and feelings are so incredibly gated off from everyone.

So that word —entitlement— that people keep throwing around from Rhys’ lips is completely misguided.

The sheer mischaracterization makes me see red 💀

But back to the point, with obvious and mutual romantic feelings, being horny is normal. (This is also an adult romantasy series, shocking that there’s sexual content).

I’ll die on that hill for Az and Elain.

I don’t get how it can be this hard, but maybe it’s just me.

[shunin-gumis]

As Master Joe Wishes - Track 03

Seasonal Team Event - L4mps

Thank you Jelly for handling this chapter!

~~~(flashback)

Nagi: *looks around* Who said that?

Toi: It sounded like it came from over there…?

??: Please turn your attention downwards! I am right here~!

Ryui: The fuck?

Yodaka: A teddy bear? Or an autonomous—

Netaro: Eggactly!

Joe: It is I, “Baldovino Joe Senba!” Brunhild, the late madam’s, one and only remaining family!

Joe: As a sign of our friendship, please, call me “Joe”~!

Toi: S-S-SHE’S ADORABLE~~~~♪ Here girl, here girl♪ I want to hug the fluffy Ms. Bear~~~♪

Joe: I suppose I shall allow it?

Nagi: A-Amazing, it moves and speaks just like a noble lady— Toi, I wanna hug her too.

Ryui: Unlike a certain florist, it can speak properly. It even knows how to introduce itself.

Yodaka: …I see, so this is what it’s about.

Daniel: Hm? Did you figure something out?

Yodaka: Yes. Take a good look at the gemstones on her eyes, nose, earrings, and that heart on her chest.

Netaro: Wonderful observation skills, Yoda~! Very perceptive!

Netaro: Her right eye is a top-tier cabochon red diamond cut by a craftsman employed by the royal family, of which there exists only a few dozen in the whole entire world.

Samejima: And what’s more, it has a market price of 2 billion yen!

Joe: Indeed~!

Toi: Ehhhhh~!?

Netaro: And her nose is an alexandrite, the third rarest gem in the world! This precious gemstone was passed around through many of the world’s powerful and influential figures before eventually making its way into Brunhild’s hands~!

Joe: Every single gem costs an arm and a leg~!

Netaro: In other words, Joe is a teddy bear with a net worth of a billion yen, jam packed with the latest AI technology♪

Nagi: …No matter how many of me there are, I still wouldn’t be able to afford it…

Ryui: (He put the bear down with a super pale face…)

Toi: Joe-sama is amazing. But if you’re so valuable, won’t bad people always be after you…?

Samejima: There’s no problem in that regard. Very soon, Joe-san will be sent over to Germany under the supervision of the police. From that point onwards, she’ll become a national treasure and will be much harder to steal.

Samejima: However, while she’s still in JPN, the JPN police will be the ones in charge of her safety and escorting her… When this was first decided, the German police force started treating us as incompetent idiots.

Samejima: For things to proceed smoothly while she’s still under our jurisdiction, they were very nitpicky and obsessed over even the slightest details. All of this was an incredible pain and has started to get on our nerves, but we have no choice but to put aside our personal feelings.

Samejima: However, if we manage to round up all of “Anonymous” in one go, all while guarding Joe-san, we might be able to stand our ground against the German police.

Netaro: That’s right, that’s right! Kick their asses~!

Joe: Send them crying back to their mothers, desuwa~!*

Ryui: …Just putting this out there, but ain’t this a personal grudge?

Samejima: Yeah, you’re right on the mark.

Ryui: The hell you agreeing so casually for?

Nagi: Um, but uh well we’re… “ward mayors”...?

Samejima: Astute observation. We appreciate your cooperation.

Nagi: I guess we’re helping out now…

Daniel: I have a lot I wanna say, but wouldn’t this all be solved if you just shoved it in some bank’s safety box until D-day? Then you wouldn’t need us.

Joe: What on Earth are you saying! Even AI deserves basic rights~! I’ll have you know, our way of life is very similar to that of humans~!

Toi: Locking them up is too much!

Daniel: Sorry. It was just a thought.

Yodaka: More importantly, does the enemy know that the “secret treasure” they’re after is actually a teddy bear? From our conversation earlier, it sounded like they know very few details regarding the actual treasure itself.

Netaro: They probably don’t know?

Yodaka: In that case, wouldn’t it be fine to go along pretending that Joe-san isn’t the treasure they’re seeking?

Samejima: You’re exactly right. However, that’s exactly why we can't just provisionally leave Joe-san. It’d be bad if we were found out because of that.

Samejima: To be honest, I could just be with her at all times. However, this is a lot easier said than done.

Samejima: For a fatigued, middle-aged man like myself to be alert 24/7 while holding such a cute teddy bear would be, on the contrary, quite suspicious.

Netaro: Aesthetically not pleasing. Report for indecent behavior.

Ryui: Yeah, only a dumbass would fall for that. You’d need an angel like Toi to safekeep it…

Samejima: Exactly. In order to blend-in, we’d need a child like Toi-san, or Ryui-san, someone who could “𝓔mbrace it without” looking out of place—

Ryui: Haa!? Wanna try saying that again, you fucker!?

Toi: Ani-sama would definitely look good holding a teddy bear……! I see it…… I totally see it…… Ani-sama is totally the cool type, but he could totally pull off cuteness!

Samejima: Where “𝓔xposure to danger would be OK” and—

Nagi: Danger is okay…?

Netaro: I gave the okay on behalf of everyone. ‘Cause it’s more fun that way!

Samejima: A person we could “𝓔asily count on”... We needed an individual that met the 3E’s. That’s why I had Yowa-kun introduce you all to me.

Ryui: Listen here you fucker, all you've been doing is spouting random fucking bullshit since we got here! Don’t get cocky just ‘cause you’re the fucking police!?

Ryui: (Except for Toi) No one here looks normal carrying a fucking bear around, I don't remember agreeing to dangerous shit like fucking with a god damn criminal organization, and we sure as hell aren’t close enough for you to ask for shitty favors like—

Toi: Samejima-san! I… I’ll do my best!

Ryui: Wha- Toi…!

Toi: Ani-sama, please… Joe-sama and Samejima-san are both in a pinch, we can’t just turn a blind eye to this.

Toi: I don’t want to hand over Brunhild-san's precious Joe-sama over to the bad guys… I want to help!

Toi: The world’s coolest Ani-sama would definitely protect both me and Joe-sama… right?

Ryui: Got it. I’ll give my all to ensure your safety.

Toi: Yay! Ani-sama, I love you!!

Nagi: Can you protect me as well…

Yodaka: My, my… I guess it can’t be helped. If the terms have already been agreed upon, then perhaps, this is what fate has in store for us.

Daniel: What good samaritans. In that case, see ya.

Joe: Thank you all for your cooperation~! After the burly gentleman over there departs, shall we open a bottle of wine and have a toast?

Daniel: …Wine?

Joe: The late madam had a liking for vintage wine. We have many globally rare wines held downstairs in the cellar.

Daniel: I’ll do it. Ensuring her safety, or escorting, or whatever. Regardless of who they are, it’s only right to help out those in need.

Samejima: Great. With this, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Once again, I appreciate your cooperation. Thanks.

Joe: I shall be in everyone’s care!

Note:

Joe generally speaks very elegant and formally. However, she suddenly says something very crude for her character and tries to wrap it up with an elegant ending. Unfortunately, it is hard to find an English equivalent so a decision was made to use "desuwa~."

[cryptix-art]

Holy shit I need to ramble… but like anyways ok so I saw a post that made me think a lot abt Zoro and his character and I just. Need to talk abt him now.

Like ok I know ppl in the OP fandom think of him as just an alcoholic, stoic, cold-hearted and emotionless swordsman. But !!! He is so so so SO much more than that !!! And I’m fucking tired of pretending he isn’t !!! I’m fucking tired of pretending that he is never scared of anything !!! Because he is !!! The thing Zoro’s scared of is DEATH !!! More specifically the people he loves around him dying !!! He’s scared he won’t be able to protect them !!! Like what happened with Kuina !!! He wasn’t able to do ANYTHING about her death !!! So like you BET that that’s gonna wanna make him do everything he humanly, possibly can to make sure it never happens again !!! Why else do you think that EVEN WHEN HE’S ASLEEP, he’s able to wake up and take care of the threat in the blink of an eye !!! We literally saw this in Egghead recently, and it’s happened SEVERAL times before, be it canon or filler episodes !!! Zoro always has to be on edge to try and spot any and all possible threats and take care of them !!! Can you imagine how fucking exhausted he is??? Can you imagine the safety and security of all the people you care about the most being solely on your shoulders and YOUR shoulders alone, and that if you’re even the SLIGHTEST bit “too weak”, you risk putting everyone in death’s way??? Because that’s Zoro !!And he can’t even show anyone that he’s tired or GOD forbid scared, because if he does, he’s worried that everyone will see him as weak !! So no, Zoro ISN’T a stoic, emotionless, alcoholic swordsman- he is someone who cares VERY deeply for the people around him, and that is TERRIFIED of losing them like he lost his best friend, so he puts on a cold front on at ALL times and is ALWAYS on high alert about his surroundings so that it doesn’t happen again !!!

Anyways thank u for coming to my ted talk abt my bf, I really needed to get this out of my system <33

[strawbrygashez]

Shane Carver Hcs even tho no one cares about the movie other than me 🥲

•Very mentally ill. I feel like he has a long list of mental illnesses but the first ones that comes to mind are bpd and some kinda form of schizophrenia. (I would love to hear anyone else’s opinion on that tho) His intense alcohol & dr*g usage does not help with this in the slightest lol

He also has trauma due to his brother passing and his abusive father. He also has real bad abandonment issues. Forming the cult/black circle boys gave him this HUGE ego boost and a feeling of being wanted. It’s one of the reasons why he’s so intense about people not leaving the group (along side him just wanting to serve Satan as best as he can.. and one of his members leaving is basically saying he failed him so..)

•It’s already canon pretty much but he loves Kyle so fucking much. I think it scares Shane even with how much he loves him. Like once Kyle began to break the cults rules, Shane knew something was definitely ‘wrong’ when he didn’t feel much of anything other than disappointment. Like yeah he did keep saying if he leaves, he was gonna have to die basically but (MAJOR SPOILER): he couldn’t even bring himself to kill him in the end. He was struggling so much over his love for him, his pain of being betrayed, Satan being displeased with him, and trying to tell himself he has to make Kyle follow the ‘brotherhoods rules’ and what ever else which led to Kyle ultimately over powering him.

•Before the actual 100% believing in and worshipping Satan stuff, he genuinely just wanted to be in a cool metal band growing up. Due to his living situation however, he was never able to get a guitar until much later or was never able to take classes for it.

•He hates Kyles girlfriends(?) guts so much. He can’t bring himself to actually do much other than just to yell at her since she isn’t in the cult and he probably didn’t wanna piss Kyle off so early on.

They seemed to be on okay-ish terms until she got all seriously flirty with Kyle. It wouldn’t have surprised me if he banned her from coming to any more of their ‘parties’

•He’s always a little shit but it’s even worse when he’s able to get Kyle to leave his gf behind to hang out with him instead. This loser will literally do this face: 😋 at her before he puts a hand on Kyle’s back as they walk away together. He loves seeing her get pissy over Kyle not leaving him even tho she keeps warning him.

•HE DYES HIS HAIR BLACK EVERYONE!! 🗣️ He would never let Kyle help him dye it until they start dating tho.. he’s too embarrassed to let anyone know his actual hair color.

•He would have only ever genuinely tried to get better if he’d gotten with Kyle. I think Kyle would have made him agree to a couple things before they start dating. Like Shane can’t be unnecessarily cruel to Rory and people who genuinely did nothing to them. (Sometimes he lets it slide if it’s Shane being mean to strangers because eh. It’s Shane and that’s just him but he’s worried about Shane’s safety and just doesn’t see the point in fucking around with innocent people)

Shane obviously wouldn’t be perfect tho.. and wouldn’t try to start seeing a therapist or get on meds until much later on. I think the only thing that would make Shane actually see the point in changing how he is, is if Kyle stayed with him thru all his fuck ups bc that means Kyle does see something in him.. a glimmer of hope. Otherwise Kyle would have gave up real early on.

•Shane has no interest in ladies at all. He only called Kyles gf a ‘babe’ early on because he just wanted to come off as one of the boys 🦅

•I think Shane would have gave Kyle a lot of his old clothes or lets him borrow them. Like I’m sure Kyle had bits and pieces of those goth outfits he wore real early on but I think once Shane saw he was dressing more alternatively, he offered him some old stuff he doesn’t wear anymore. Like probably specifically his old, more masculine clothes.

•If they were dating… bro sneaks into Kyle’s room from that window above his bed almost every night. (Kyle leaves it unlocked specifically for him) Shane especially loves the nights where both of Kyle’s parents are out because he’s able to convince Kyle to turn on some metal as loud as his cd player can go and mosh around his bedroom with him.

When they aren’t in the mood to do all that, and maybe Kyle just needs a place to chill or calm down, Shane will just lay next to Kyle on his bed and not talk.. he likes those peaceful moments where Kyle is spooning him or playing with his hair while he’s zoned out more than he will admit..

•If he gave a shit about people knowing he’s gay (I can’t decide if either of them would care or not) I wanna see Rory accidentally walk in on the two kissing or something and be like “Oh! People were right about you two :3 it’s okay! I support! My cousin on my moms side has two dads-” and Shane just cuts him off by telling him if he says anything about what he just saw, he’s getting kicked out of the cult 💀 He’d also be pissed if he heard ppl spreading a rumor about them being together too… BUT I do like the idea that neither of them would care. They have each other so it doesn’t matter.

•CRINGE WARNING. One of their teachers calls Shane, Froggie (I’m pretty sure at least. I had no subtitles but it makes sense if u have seen the movie 🥲) AND I LOVE THINKING ABOUT Kyle calling him that to mess with him. Shane is already mad his name isn’t some edgy ass demon name so Froggie pisses him off…..Not really. He likes it only from Kyle.

•If Kyle would let him, he’d definitely paint his nails for him. Shane’s heart is beating out of his chest bc he’s holding Kyles hand but he’ll act ‘cool’ as usual

•He loves watching Kyle swim. He has to keep telling him to join the schools swim team tho because he knows it will piss Kyle off. It’s worth getting splashed & his makeup messing up to see Kyle reaction.

•I think Kyle’s mom would like Shane tbh.. if he acted how he does when it’s just him and Kyle anyways. I can see him being really polite to her. It takes everything in him not to attack Kyle’s dad tho. Like he’s heard how Kyle doesn’t like him much already but when he sees and hears how he treats him while he’s over even.. he’s gripping the knife they gave him at the dinner table so hard.

Oh yeah Kyle hates Shane’s dad too!!!

•K + S, in a heart shape, is carved into one of the trees at the cults meet up spot.

•While I’m not sure if I hc Shane having ocd.. he can get kinda real serious about other people not messing up his stuff & he tried to land the dates for cult meetings on specific days, at specific times for one specific reason or another.

•Shane’s ‘inspo’ for the cults symbol was that he already had that carved into his shoulder before he even started the cult. He gave it to himself with a razor during an episode. And since he has abandonment issues, he thought what better way to always be connected to someone than a matching scar in the same exact place.

[twstfanblog]

I love your writing so much! Your Yuu OC is so cool and I am so obsessed with their energy <3

Writing request time~! Can I get some headcannons of Yuu visiting all of the twst clubs for the first time?

HI FRIEND! Sorry this took me so long to do! But ok, so I actually have this planned out as a chapter in my main story fic. So this is a perfect way to get it all written out for myself!

BUT ONTO THE ASK! MY YUU'S FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE NRC CLUBS!

BASKETBALL CLUB

Hi Jamil~ Flirty to the max, making him miss the shot he was trying to do

Isn't into sports in the slightest, but wanted to see what was offered at the school

Is honestly, too physical to play basketball, she'd be elbowing people in the ribs and Floyd would be supporting her

So for the safety of the other teams, Yuu was not allowed to join

Promises to come to the games to cheer for Jamil and Floyd (And Ace, but fuck him)

TRACK CLUB

Not a chance in hell. Boobs too big to be running around

Made fun of Deuce for thinking the school would have what is basically a motorcycle club

Did tell him it was a good choice of club since he wanted to be a cop in his future

Left the second Vargas showed up

BOARD GAMES CLUB

"Oh cool, Ortho's brother" "I have a name." "I don't care."

Liked the idea of the club, but couldn't see themselves actually joining. Enjoyed making Idia think they were gonna join

First meeting with Azul takes place here

Told them about the concept of 'The Game' and let that seed of chaos be planted into Idia's head to use against Azul at the most random of times (Sorry I made you lose UnU;)

EQUESTRIAN CLUB

"How much money does this school have?????"

Another they had no intention of joining but was really interested in watching

Later on, they help out with basic horse care if free time permits

Yuu: Wow this school really has whole-ass horses on campus? Silver: Silver: As opposed to??? Half-ass horses??? Yuu:

Yuu states only one 'Funny Bitch' can be in a club at a time and Silver clearly holds onto his title well

LIGHT MUSIC CLUB

HI LILIA!

If Yuu had a will for public performing this would be their club! sadly they don't so they didn't join officially.

Yuu still has their music library so they share their world's music with them a lot later on.

Not a member, but will pop in from time to time to do a jam session with them

Lilia gets her a shirt that says 'LMC #1 FAN' on the back as a gift

SPELL DRIVE CLUB

Another sport club that was interesting, but not something they'd do

Only goes to the games if dragged there by the other firsties but is an aggressive fan for Epel

Kepting asking Leona dumb questions because he was trying to sleep DURING TRYOUTS

Yuu likes the concept of Spell Drive, just doesn't have the care to really play or watch it

Has told Epel he should hit someone with his broom though

SCIENCE CLUB

Trey says 'No' with a smile

He's not TRYING to kill Yuu's budding passion for magical sciences, he's TRYING to protect the masses from the bioweapon they're probably gonna make on accident

Rook was so excited, he wanted Yuu to join the club so badly

Trey knows Yuu will either make something that will actually kill someone or would drink something they're not supposed to on accident and die.

Yuu was not allowed to join the science club UnU

MOUNTAIN LOVERS CLUB

Honestly, feels so bad for Jade. Dude's clearly got a passion for his hobby and wants to share it with others

But also "Jade are you actually confused why no one wants to join your club and be alone with you in the fucking woods?????"

Not too excited for all the hiking the club seems to be (Interest is peaked at the opportunity to pet a bear though)

Promised Jade if they didn't find a club to join by the end of the day, they'd circle back and join his club

"I'm friends with your brother, you can't make me disappear that easily" "We'll see~"

FILM RESEARCH CLUB

What are you researching????

Honestly, the whole time just asked Vil questions in an attempt to frustrate him and point out how the club was a THEATER CLUB more than a Film Research club

Ends up joining because they ARE a theater club kid and is more than willing to take on the backstage work; that's their favorite part!

Does end up being known as having infamously bad movie tastes and ended up traumatizing the whole club via trying to prove a point to Vil by sharing a movie from their world

OFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE FILM RESEARCH CLUB~!

GARGOYLE RESEARCH SOCIETY

Didn't know Malleus even had a club until he told her that night

Malleus didn't know the club fair was that day

Yuu shared their pint of depression ice cream with him while he pouted

Compromised in simply joining him on his walks or letting him info dump about a new gargoyle he found or his favored styles

Yuu will walk around abandoned areas themselves sometimes and take pictures to show Malleus to ask if he knows the gargoyle or not

[krikeymate]

Tara getting drunk at a party and refusing to leave when Sam comes to get her, so Sam just lifts her over her shoulder and walks her home while lecturing her

The boy Tara's dancing with is leaning in for a kiss when he's intercepted by a palm to the face and thrown bodily backwards by his head.

"Absolutely not, she's drunk. Tara, it's time to go," says the interloper.

Sam sounds pissed, and rightfully so. Studying in the library her ass. Not that she had believed her in the slightest when she gave the explanation for where she was going. Sam's heard all the lies under the sun, and used most of them herself, and Tara's never been able to lie to her, no matter what she might think.

Sam gave her an hour before she followed after her - she wonders if her sister remembers that she has a family tracker on her phone or if she just doesn't care (there's also the expensive little device hidden inside the keychain she bought her, but Tara definitely doesn't know about that one), and another 45 minutes skulking around the edges of the party watching her sister get steadily more hammered. Contrary to what certain people - her sister - might believe, Sam doesn't want to keep her locked away in her room for a fun-free life of confinement, she just wants her to be safe. And Tara doesn't seem to know how to be safe right now, so Sam has to do it for her.

Party safety rules:

Stay with your friends - are Chad and Mindy even here?

Don't get too drunk - failed.

Don't fall into the arms of boys whilst drunk who want to lead you upstairs and take advantage of you - Tara's really bad at this actually, and she wonders why Sam doesn't want her going to these things.

So Sam swings Tara around by her shoulder and tries to lead her away. Except her stubborn little sister, swaying on her feet and squinting at her, plants her feet and stays where she is. Her drunk little pout is adorable - NO! You're mad at her! Stay! Mad!

She tries to be authoritative as she tells her again, "Tara, we're going." Her sister either ignores her or just doesn't understand, and really it could be either at this point. Then mr-grinds-on-drunk-girls gets back up and thinks he can square up to Sam. She wouldn't be intimidated even if she wasn't several inches bigger in height and arms.

He tries to give her a I'm-a-hard-man routine, which Sam ignores in favour of observing her sister. She's rubbing at her face and when her eyes meet Sam's again, they're a little clearer, and shining with mulishness. Oh, she's not going to make this easy for her, but when does she ever. She kind of loves that about her. She usually prefers it when she's using it to push Sam into being a better person and less when she's using it to be a brat, but you have to take the bad with the good, Sam supposes.

She pushes the boy away from her, continuing to ignore him as he splutters in indignation, and walks up to her sister until there's no space between them. "Fun's over."

"You can't tell me what to do!"

Sam manages to hold back the laugh that threatens to escape at the juvenile response, but she can't prevent the smile. The whine in her sister's tone takes her back to their childhood. Tara's not actually mad at her for interrupting... but she probably will be in a moment.

Sam steps back and bends down, grabbing her sister by the waist and hoisting her over her shoulder. "SAM, what that fuck!" Tara doesn't sound very amused, which is a shame, because she's finding this pretty fun herself. She ignores the way people around them are staring as she marches out of the house with her fuming little sister on her shoulder.

[justplainwhump]

Mistakes

Dany is a mess.

[Just A Fling Masterlist]

Referenced Peyton belongs to @wildfaewhump.

Content / warnings: Implied past assault (narrated from external pov), unhealthy coping mechanisms, vaguely referenced medical proceedings, referenced murder.

Kate Tabai lifts her cigarette to her lips and inhales deeply. She has taken up smoking again after the incident.

Helps with the nervous hands. And the nervous thoughts.

She's a failure. And she isn't even sure if it makes it better or worse, that the person she's failed doesn't even acknowledge it.

Dany Hammond stands tall on the stage in front of the container port's employees, tall and confident, as she always does. Chin up, shoulders straight, a winning smile on her face. She's in charge, in control, everyone can see that, even when her elegant business attire is traded for a heavy red overall and a safety helmet.

Invincible. That's what Kate has always thought about Dany.

Until that night, when she'd found her after the gala. A part of her still refuses to believe that memory even existed, that the sobbing, incoherent woman Kate carried into the car and drove through the night was, in fact, Dany Hammond.

She's taken her to a lab, one of those that were loyal to the company, that would keep everything shut off until Dany could decide what to do with it. They'd taken samples, of Dany's blood, of the traces left on her body, while she'd slowly come down from whichever drugs she's been on.

"Don't tell Dad," had been the first coherent thing she'd said to Kate. And that was it. She hadn't mentioned a word of it ever again. Dany must've gotten the lab reports at some point, Kate had seen her pull the envelope with their logo from a stack of mail some days later, with the slightest tremble of her hand. Then Dany had closed the door behind her and shut the blinds to her office. When she emerged a while later, her eyeliner had been sharper than before, her blond ponytail tied a little tighter.

"She broke up with Montgomery", her assistant had whispered conspirationally to Kate, and she'd looked past their boss and wished it were that simple.

On the stage, right now, Dany pushes a button and behind her, applauded by the crowd, the new crane hums into life. Dany grins and claps as well.

Kate can barely stand looking at her.

In her pocket, her phone vibrates.

She flicks the cigarette into the port basin, glances at the crowd again, before she answers. "Yeah?"

"Ms Tabai? It's Nora from the lab. I, uh. This is off the record. But you're the junior's security detail, right?"

The junior. Dany always hated the term. Dany hates a lot more than what she makes people see, Kate thinks. She wonders if Dany hates Kate, too.

"I am. Why?"

"The, uhm. These samples we took some weeks ago. I understood you never came back to us about it, which is perfectly fine, of course, but, uh, the DNA results popped up again."

Kate flinches. "How?"

There's a pause on the other end of the line. "We run tests for the police, too," Nora says then. "There's been a crossmatch with the DNA found in junior's case. We didn't tell them, of course not, but I... I thought you should know."

Kate reaches out to steady herself on a steel beam. "What sort of case was that?"

"Murder." Another pause. "They say it could be a series."

"Fuck," Kate whispers. "Fuck."

Rich boys can be serial killers, too, Dany had said, in that hotel, on that day that feels like a life time ago.

That day when Dany had hit it up with Peyton Montgomery for the first time.

Because of Kate.

With a shaking hand, Kate fishes for her box of cigarettes and pulls one out with her lips.

"We... we should tell the big boss, you know," Nora says. "She's his kid."

"She is my boss," Kate says around the cigarette, free hand angrily clicking her lighter, until finally a tiny flame shows up. "She handles this her way. It's her call."

"Sure, yeah," Nora doesn't sound convinced. If she's honest, Kate isn't, either. "Just... Keep her safe."

From the stage, Dany's gaze searches for Kate's, a familiar feeling under Kate's skin, that she's perfectly attuned to. In a tiny gesture, Dany points a finger towards the parking lot. They're leaving. Heliport, then board meeting. Kate knows Dany's schedule by heart. She throws away the unsmoked cigarette. She's got to pull herself together. She's good at her job. She makes no mistakes. Not ever again.

12 minute drive. 19 minutes heli ride. 120 minutes board.

Murder. Could be a series.

Dany jumps down from the stage, a perfect display; casual, healthy, confident. She shakes some hands, gives out some polite phrases and sincere smiles, while Kate falls into step by her side.

"Everything alright, K?" Dany asks over her shoulder. "You look like something happened. You need a break?"

For a moment, Kate hates her.

"It's about you." She leans in and lowers her voice. "The gala."

Dany's perfect composure rips, just for a second. Her steps turn shaky, her jaw tenses and Kate sees the eyes of the harbormaster widen when Dany's polite handshake turns into a vice-like hold. "Sorry," Dany whispers and lets go, patting his upper arm. "I must've tripped over my own feet there, I'm fine."

The man retreats with a frown, and Dany spins back to Kate.

"That didn't happen," she hisses. "It's over."

"It's not," Kate says, "There's been a murder."

Dany pales, and Kate hates herself for the flare of smug satisfaction at Dany's sudden imperfection. "Who?"

"Talk in the car," Kate says. "Come on. Let's keep moving."

Dany nods, her face shifting back into her casual smile. By her side, she's clutching her phone in her hand. She's pulled up a contact already, photo of a hand casually holding a drink, in the background a plain white shirt, the jawline of a man's smiling face.

Is supposed to be anonymous, but Kate knows exactly who the man on that photo is.

Peyton Montgomery.

Kate scoffs.

Dany Hammond is much less perfect than she wants herself to be.

[g0ttal0ve101]

4,5,6, and 11 :3 for Lulu and Sam (and/or whoever else :33)

GIGGLE!!!!!! :33 sorry this is late btw, i was busy painting my room </3

tw: mentions of child predators/rapists, yandere behavior, and well. murder.

4. How do they feel about sparing women and children if given the choice? Do they value certain lives over others?

Lucian

YES HE 100% HAS VALUES!!

He will never harm a child. Considering the majority of his victims are child predators/rapists, he will do anything in his power to protect children that are involved in the situation. If the victim has a kid themselves, Lucian will ensure that they do NOT witness anything and take them into safety. There has been instances where Lucian takes the child into his own care for a while before returning them to other family members he is sure will properly raise them. If they don’t have any other members of the family that are suitable, Lucian has his own ways of getting them a good home. :3

Oh and women? lmao he doesn’t give a shit he’ll still murder the fuck out of them. EQUAL RIGHTS EQUAL FIGHTS!!!!

Sam

Now with Sam it’s tricky. Gender does not matter in the slightest to him ofc, so women are NOT safe ❌ in fact he murders women THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME LMAO

Now children? um…

I’d like to think that as long as they aren’t in the way of his relationship with Riley, they’re safe. (I’m not sure how one would interfere anyway lmao) but trust. he would not hesitate to murder a child if it meant being with riley. ok? ok.

5. What's their moral compass like?

Lucian

Arguably, his moral compass is FUCKED.

He wants to bring justice to child predators. i mean duh. who wouldn’t. but in the same breath, he doesn’t care to kill “innocent” people too!! however, i will say that he does spare people/won’t target someone he thinks really doesn’t deserve to die.

like yes. he’ll torture some fuck boy who’s homophobic, transphobic, and racist for hours. he’ll bash the head in of some preppy cheerleader who cheats on her boyfriend.

but he’d hesitate if he had his blade up against a girl who was trying to make ends meet for her family. in that case, he’d judge her for a bit longer before making his final decision.

Sam

his moral compass is so beyond twisted.

man or woman, old or young, guilty or innocent, he WILL kill anyone if they get in his way of riley. it doesn’t matter if riley would be upset if they died, it doesn’t matter if he personally loves them, it doesn’t even matter if they’re some dumbass infant. he. will. MURDER THEM IF IT MEANS HAVING RILEY.

ofc he might hesitate if riley begged him not to, but that’s only cause he wants to hear her pretty voice. <3

6. How far would they go to save someone they love? Would they sacrifice themselves? Others?

Lucian

Do you remember that silly little moral compass question I just answered? :3 scratch all of it. every. last. fucking. part. of. it.

he would do anything to save kai no matter if it went against his morals. not only would he sacrifice himself, he would sacrifice EVERYONE around him. no one is safe. not his friends, not what’s left of his family, NOTHING. and he’d smile at the end of it. as long as kai was back in his arms, he’d laugh at everything he did like it was a bad joke or something.

yes, this means he would kill children too. he wouldn’t be too happy about it, but trust. he would. :3

oh! and if we’re talking about a different loved one, (friends for example) he’d be more than willing to do the same. but remember; his loyalty to kai is unmoved. hypothetically if kai were to be the ‘enemy’ in his friends’ story, lucian would not hesitate to betray everyone else for him. take that as you will.

Sam

LMAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOAOA-

he would go ballistic. i mean absolutely ballistic.

unlike lucian, who might feel guilt for sacrificing his friends for kai, SAM WOULD GIVE NO FUCKS. ZERO. NONE. NOPE. they’d be sacrificed in a heartbeat if it ensured riley’s safety. fuck, maybe even if it ensured riley’s happiness. and he’d go to sleep peacefully that night.

sacrificing himself is no question. he’d jump into a pit of acid if it meant riley would be safe and sound. he’d slit his throat if it meant riley would be happy. he’d rip out his friends’ insides if it meant riley’s life prosperity.

now if we’re talking about another loved one, his mom or friends for example, he wouldn’t be as serious. he’d sacrifice himself ofc, but maybe not sacrifice everyone else. he won’t even consider sacrificing riley lmao. not even if it cured his mother’s cancer….

11. Do they have empathy? For whom? For what?

Lucian

this question sorta ties into his moral compass.

lucian is a very empathetic and emotional person. ofc he’d have empathy for some of his victims. shit, even some of his child predator/rapist victims.

WHAT!!! BUT HOW?!! CHILD PREDATORS AND RAPISTS DONT - pause and let me finish. after hours of torturing some of these guys, a lot truth comes out. lucian sometimes come across those who were victims of sexual abuse when they were young, which turned them into who they are today. and for those individuals, lucian can’t help but to feel a little empathy. a little. that doesn’t mean he won’t kill them ofc, but he might go a little easier on them compared to the others. (and ofc he feels empathy for their loved ones who will grieve them.)

and honestly? ik what i said before “equal rights equal fights……” but lucian does sorta have a soft spot for girls… trust he’ll kill them!! but he feels a lil bad sometimes. (especially when he overpowers them so easily….</3)

Sam

it depends, really.

if the victim is related to his riley situation, hardly ever does he have any sort of empathy for them. he justifies their death in his mind way before he goes out to do it, telling himself they’re a disgrace to humanity, even if they really aren’t. maybe he’d feel empathy if he knew they were truly innocent. maybe.

the only time i think he’d truly feel empathy for one of his victims is after they’re already dead. then, he really starts thinking about the consequences it’s going to leave everyone around them. their family, their friends, their goals, their achievements, everything was thrown away just for the simple fact that they were caught up in something they shouldn’t have been. that doesn’t mean he’ll stop ofc, but he might smoke a cigarette and think about it.

if the victim is totally unrelated to his riley situation, more times than not they deserve it. like. DESERVE IT. sam only really targets those who did him wrong or are known for being terrible people. so hardly ever does he feel empathy lol.

[flower-seller]

Oooohoohoo that cats analogy is very cute, like when two cats walk next to each other and bonk heads/curl tails (and ur not sure if its adoration or frustration lol)

That was really cool! And I'll throw some more at ya, all optional and no rush of puzzling anything out 💕

What does love mean to them? (ie gentle, fiery, enduring, painful?)

Love languages?

Favorite places, ways to be touched? (ie scratched, scalp massage, biting)

Monogamy or polyamory?

What is their moral code, and what circumstances could lead them to break it?

😘💕

Hi this one is…so, so late and I apologize for that BUT it is here it is for what it is worth! OTL 

Thanks for your patience, Praz!

What does love mean to them?

🌸 Euphorbia: 

Solidity and warmth, someone to lean on. Safety....even if she (past an, ahem, certain mountain-esque point) doesn't always get that feeling from him, she still loves him. It's all of it to her; gentle, fiery, enduring, painful, sweet and bitter and just...everything.

Basically, even if he's hurt and betrayed her, this fucked up little man is still her everything and while she isn't going to take his bullshit laying down she still cares deeply enough about him to try and wrangle him and understand what is wrong. Like, god, I bet at times out of nowhere during that 10 year gap they're apart she wonders if he ate that day.

✨️ Volo:

 For Volo... Love would be for someone to accept him as he is, not what he appears to be, but to acknowledge his flaws and mistakes, his scars, and still find something worth value. He's a very guarded person and for someone to be able to break away the facade he's built upon for his entire life; that is love. 

It's simple and a bit self indulgent on his part, but that's what we enjoy about him

Love Languages?

🌸 Euphorbia: 

Hmm… hers is probably gifts to a lesser extent than Volo. Even if she can't remember her past where her situation was similar, she is living where her means are not Great so to give something without it being an exchange is a big deal. No one gave you shit for free in water country so to her it's another little show of undiluted affection. i.e. candies and homemade preserves she gives him and the gold nugget she reverse mugs him with. Also, words of affirmation are a close second.

✨️ Volo: 

Volo's love language is gifts naturally. Further adds to the folklore/yokai vibes he's got now too in addition to his occupation, it's just too good not to be his exact love language. Another one though is definitely teasing, friendly jabs here and there for the people close enough to him to know he only jokes. Sometimes.

Favorite places/ways to be touched?

🌸 Euphorbia: Touch is a bit weird for Euph, since you've definitely got to be on the tier of friend or higher for her to willingly allow it. Though if she is in the village and someone taps her shoulder to get her attention or something she isn't going to lash out, since she is trying to play nice to avoid being tossed to the wilds with amnesia in an unfamiliar land.

As far as more intimate touch. We kind of touched on (heh) preferred places and ways to be touched with a kink meme. (Not posted but maybe… someday? It's not visually explicit, just a checklist.) But I imagine anyone else but Volo making her aware of how small she is would be met with grrrhisss, but definitely is not opposed to feeling his entire hand wrap around a wrist or shoulder or whatnot. Very much a case of "I am showing you my neck because I feel secure, please don't break it"

✨️ Volo: 

Volo is touch starved. And while there are spots that he is self conscious about, namely scars, this dude will absolutely melt at the slightest touch truthfully. He’s really big on… Hand holding. In both normal and sexual settings, He wants to twine his fingers together to show that he’s still there and that he loves her, always. Also pretty into his chest being played with and ass grabs oop— 

He’s got a nice ass and he knows it. 

He also loooves his hair being touched, his hair being a bit of a symbol to his progress in life. Once super long and flowy (longer than even current Volo’s), it was once cut down to about ear length against his own will. So it being as long as it is once more, this man feels a lot of emotion about it. 

One big thing to note; He does not like the touch of strangers in any regard. Especially after certain points in his life, he really does not care for random people even brushing shoulders with him accidentally. It makes him nervous, and nervousness leads into his anger which… Don’t touch this man without permission, he may recoil, and if you’re lucky he’ll only grumble about it. Especially his hands if he doesn’t know you. With how self conscious he is about his claws… 

There is another like. Super sensitive spot on his dude, but I shan’t reveal that yet… 😏

Monogamy or polyamory?

🌸 Euphorbia:

Hmm… she is probably mostly monogamous, it would take a very special someone since she's pretty stuck on this guy. She's already prone to a little jealousy, so I think anything beyond like an unattached threesome or whatever would take some work and probably give her indescribable amounts of heartburn first 

✨️ Volo:

YEAH YEAH they handshake pretty much

I could see like a political alliance threesome or maybe a secret spying one but not anything legitimately more than business. Even then I know he wouldn’t ever go through with full blown sex with anyone other than Euph for a plethora of reasons (most of which I will not say just yet but), but yeah teasing and toying to get information out of someone before tossing them aside is not off the table. 

Moral code and breaking it?

🌸 Euphorbia:

Her morals, outwardly, are pretty good. And actually not horrendously bad either. She's definitely willing to do some sketchy shit and feel minimally bad about it depending on what it is. "Be nice to me/my friend or I'll punch your lights out" and "good thing the nearest village is so far away because you fucked up and I'm going to break your wrist now and don't want someone to come running" type shit

As for what would make her break a moral code... your standard desperation, that can make anyone act unwise. That desperation can definitely range in flavor though, instinctual or meditated on.

Euph is pretty stubborn as a previous kiri nin from ye old days where the village was basically self-cannibalizing itself politically and maybe even literally. So having resolve and the will to keep moving forward even if you have to become monstrous to do so is far from an unknown concept. But...she also has come to value softer and sweeter things. So it's a bit complicated.

I guess the answer is just fuck around and find out ALSKDH

✨️ Volo:

Volo is… We all know Volo. He's a bit of an enigma in that of himself. His moral code, mind you his moral code, is quite different from the black and white common views of the world. Most nothing to him is inherently good or evil, everything is chaos, nothing and everything matters all at once. As such, his code of conduct varies vastly from situation to situation, there's obviously the favorable things to do, the more socially acceptable things, but seeing himself as an outlier to the status quo, he's more flexible to make choices that more typical people would… Probably not do?? The key point in understanding his mindset is that he doesn't value life the way most do. 

That being said, breaking his own code would be not only incredibly difficult, but also quite the event. The most likely causes for him to act out of his typical would be one of two things; Wrath, or Envy. Seeing as he is a cocky and confident bastard, it isn't too terribly often that he loses his temper truly. But when he does, boy does he. Easily comparable to a raging fire, once he's mad mad, it's hard to get him to calm down and will act out of instinct. 

Jealousy, on the other hand, makes the man act unwise. Often does jealousy lead to his more… Questionable choices, leaning on the dumb side. Often these choices go against his instinct.

[mdhwrites]

Does Amity Have an Arc?

That... really should be a clickbait title and by the strictest definitions, and especially by what the show SAYS... Sure. She has one. She starts out acting one way with one set of morals and finishes acting a different way with a new set of morals. But... An arc implies growth and a curve. Steps to seeing her evolve as a character. After all, if drastic change to a character was all it took to have a good character arc, Resident Evil would have some of the best character arcs in media. “Look! He starts out as a coherent, sentient human with twisted morals into a body horror creature fucked up in seventeen different ways without even the ability for proper speech! What an arc.”

And I’ll be fair: Amity’s ‘arc’ is not actually that cartoonishly bad. I get why people praise it but the longer the show has gone on... Well... Let’s review, episode by episode, what we actually see of who Amity is and her priorities, her morals, etc. Teenage Abomination: A snarky bully entirely okay with murder of an innocent person just for the crime of making her look bad and very little else. Loses control at the slightest slip up and is effectively one step from being unhinged. Covention: Is still mean but whatever unhinged, vengeful nature used to be there is gone as humiliation doesn’t have her lash out against her mentor or the like but instead have her cry. Also her mean spirit is somewhat justified as she gives a decent reason for being against Luz as a person. She also shows she’s entirely capable of being reasonable and even kind as she only needs proof of Luz’s work ethic and kindness so as to be able to give the girl a bit of kindness and let go of what was done to her. Hooty’s Moving Hassle: Is mean on social media and in front of her friends but also lets go of things that even one episode ago she might have decided to make something of. Lost in Language: Puts up a front about why she’s reading to kids but at this point isn’t mean... at all. A little rough perhaps but she mostly is dishonest about her interests and that’s it. Trying to act cool but is shown as a decent, hard working student who has a shitty family. Adventures in the Elements: No longer has shitty siblings but just teasing ones, shows real care for those around her, doesn’t get mad at Luz for effectively being responsible for almost getting her siblings killed but instead traps her “for her own safety” before going off to be the hero. Still is secretive about her interests. And really... That’s what we have until Winging it Like Witches where she drops the idea that she needs to be the coolest for gay panic instead and a new social order. After that... Amity doesn’t change. Not really at least. Her morals were already set firmly on the side of good, her care for others established even before Adventures in the Elements in theory and she, without any real prompting for it besides just continuous interaction with Luz has steadily lost her edge until Grom is the last time we see her be randomly mean (or really mean at all) with “Watch it, nitwit.” And that happens within five episodes. It doesn’t even take the full first season to already see that Amity is just a good person. And that creates a problem, especially since we don’t ever really get relapses. At most, we get her not standing up for Luz briefly in Escaping Expulsion but that’s really it and that’s still NOWHERE near who she was in the first episode. And when looking at a data set for an experiment, to analyze the results, commonly you throw away any truly drastic outliers as likely being a failure of the equipment or the like. In this case... You remove her first episode from her arc because it just comes across as having been out of character. That for some reason, she was cranked to a thousand when she’s not normally at an eight at most. Worse yet becomes the elements supposedly pressuring her to be the way she is. Society, her parents, friends etc. These elements are deeply important to most well written characters and breaking away from them, even a single one, could make up the entirety of a character arc, let alone when you have THREE. She ditches Boscha because she’s being mean to Luz and does it at the first time she ever shows friction with Boscha. Her parents she leaves because they’re trying to kill Luz in the first episode we see them properly in and in the second time they’re mentioned in the series. Actually, even worse is that the first time they’re brought up... Also immediately is followed by Amity tell their old rules to go fuck themselves by becoming Willow’s friend despite the fact that they disapprove of Willow. Hell, you could even count leaving Boscha, as Boscha is clearly one of the friends she made that day long ago, a form of rebellion against her parents as well. And socially, she treats leaving the coven system like deciding not to go to college. In other words, not a big deal and not literally met with the death penalty because of how illegal it is. She’ll disappoint her parents and nothing more. Her father doesn’t even have a real comment on it because... reasons. Both existent and not. And does Amity ever fret or care about betraying these elements? No. She claims to care about her father’s approval but then isn’t even willing to take a hug from him at the end of the episode or actually care about what he may think about leaving the coven system. She never interacts with Boscha until S3 and not in any meaningful way to her character. It’s more to make Boscha look pathetic. And she never worries about the coven system, the fact that Luz might have to go home and stay there, etc. like that. So... If these elements are dismissed easily, seem to matter little to the character and don’t push her arc forward because they aren’t moments where she’s showing some new level of morality or freedom than she has before... What are they for? That’s sadly pretty easy: They are obstacles Luz can contrast with. Things Luz can say “This is bad,” and Amity can go “Yeah, You’re right!” and they both get a relationship +1 bonus on their character sheets. Even better, it’s one less obstacle from them having a happy ending. Why does Alador get redeemed? Because Odalia is so pure evil, SOMEONE needs to be able to tell her no when she tries to make them not be together and that’s not Luz. Literally because Luz didn’t even react to Odalia saying that Luz couldn’t be Amity’s girlfriend. (Side note: Luz actually never reacts or interacts with Amity’s relationship to her parents. She may be the reason for there being friction but she never talks to Amity about them, never encourages or discourages, never reacts, etc. like that and it’s kind of weird. And I’d argue bad eventually.) And all of this leads to just a situation the show always ends up running into, especially with its characters: Show don’t tell. Because we’re told that Amity has this pressure on her. That she’s a bully and that she needs to change. But by her actions and attitude? That never appears to be the case after two, at best three episodes. She doesn’t even make it to halfway through the first season before she’s effectively a good person who cares a little about self image. And if you remove the first episode... That arc is about as shallow as a bunted grounder sent right back to the pitcher. It went nowhere, did nothing and no one is actually happy about it except for that the ball was hit at all.

[0xo]

sighing to myself as friends who i love dearly go on an airplane with no masks. like. we aren't close close friends but i do very much love them and care about their safety. and they live with my metamour (who does mask in public bc he uhhh cares about my life) and it's just. idk. disheartening. i repost stats and mask benefits and free mask resources on my insta stories frequently and i Know they see it. and they're aware of my health.

it's just. hard. asking, begging people to care. not just about my safety but their own. i don't want them to be sick like me. and i don't want to get sicker. and i LOVE THEM. and i know they care about me too, they are very kind and sweet people who have been wonderful to be around. i don't want to cut people off...

i spent so long in a house with people who did not give a shit if i died no matter how much i begged, and i'm still recovering from that. they wanted to have fun, who gives a shit if i get sicker, right? and i wasn't strong enough to even. actually. hold my ground about not being in contact with those people. because i want to assume the best of them, even when they show me the worst. even when they risked everyone's lives to goof around.

i don't want to be angry. but i'm very tired of feeling betrayed by people who swear on their allyship and good intentions, but don't even slightly follow through. i love them even though they can't be bothered to. to do the slightest things for collective safety. and i hate the feeling of that repeating. i hate feeling alone in my mask.

i do have friends who mask, and i love them, and i appreciate them more than words can say. but my extended circle... people i don't truly get a choice about being somehow exposed to; people i care about and want the best for; people i know don't mean to be hurtful; people who could get sick Like Me at any moment; they don't... seem to see it or care. and i'm so tired of explaining and bargaining and begging.

i don't know where that leaves me, at all. it's not like it would be entirely fair for me to ask my partners or friends to quit seeing their other friends. and. i don't think i can convince these other households to understand or care enough to mask. i couldn't even do it in my own household in pre-vaccine lockdown. my roommate once invited a virtual stranger over to smoke WHILE I HAD COVID and. did not see a problem with that, so fuck if i could convince anyone in that circle to CARE.

tired. tired. tired. i do not want to be bitter. i do not want to be angry. i do not want to feel so stuck and alone. do i just isolate entirely? i can't! i live with someone! and i can't ask her to just destroy her social life. but. i find myself asking. are these actually friends TO ME. or am i just. really soft. and care far more about them than they do about me. am i asking too much. should i just give up and let it compound and kill me. so that everyone else can have their fun before they end up like me too. because that kind of feels like the trajectory i'm on. and i am finding it harder and harder to balance this.

[alheria]

Let's meet again once we repent for our sins (1/2)

Fuck.

It was bad. It was really, really bad. He had no idea how he found himself in this shitty situation, but since he did, he had to somehow get out of it. Rather fucking immediately. Which was fairly challenging with a long-ass knife impaled all the way through thick layers of muscles of his throbbing right thigh. Upon every slightest movement, he could feel the blade graze his bone. It was disgusting. Almost as sickening as the idea of dying such humiliating death - executed in some dark, obscure alley after getting stabbed by a corpse who turned out not to be one. He knew he was due for his luck to run out, but man, why like that. Fuck. His end should have been grand, heroic, unforgettable, not a pathetic, avoidable accident. If he only wasn't so reckless...

-Need help?

A female voice coming from his left made him violently shiver. He quickly turned his head towards the sound source, gun in his hand, just in case. If the person was hostile, he would have been long gone. A middle-height, skinny woman was leaning on the wall a few meters behind him, seemingly unarmed, her eyes focused on the entrance to the alley. She indeed appeared not to be an enemy, but how the fuck did he not notice someone approaching him?! What the fuck was going on with him today?! He has never been so careless. Never.

-Leave me alone. -he barked, not keen on getting assistance from a stranger on an unfriendly territory. The woman only snorted and pushed herself up to step closer, making him tighten the grip on the weapon. -I don't need your help.

-Your leg does. -she said calmly, with a thick accent. -You won't be able to put your weight on it and if you take the knife out, you risk arterial bleeding. Do you want to die, or can you shove your pride aside and let me help? -the woman asked, moving so close, he could see her black eyes in the weak glow of the moon.

-There are people...chasing after me. You can't help me. -he whispered, beginning to feel dread creep up on him. Subconsciously, he has always considered himself to be invincible, but now? He could taste the mortality. In a few minutes he could be dead, his body left to rot far away from home, completely alone. He didn't want to die alone. Not anymore.

-Of everyone in this forsaken by gods place, I am the only one who can help you. If you are willing to accept it, that is. What do you say?

He didn't ask how was she planning on helping him. Hell, he didn't even ask for her name. What was the point anyway? He was too close to death to care. When he nodded, she silently assisted him with standing up. She wrapped her arm around his broad back to allow his body to put some weight on her, instead of the injured leg. He was impressed by how strong she was after they managed to easily take a few steps forward. The pain wasn't even that bad, he noticed, most likely numbed by the raging adrenaline rush.

-Take off the mask and any identifying patches from your clothes. -she ordered as they suddenly stopped at the alley's opening. His eyes went wide open. What? -Do it or die.

Like a good, obedient soldier he was, he removed the face cover and the flags from the arm and the bulletproof vest. The woman threw them into the nearby bin before they proceeded onto the street. They slowly moved towards the residential area, both extremely vigilant. There was no conversation between them, just comfortable silence and full focus on the mission - getting to safety. When he started to think this may actually work, a car engine could be heard approaching. The woman quickly pushed him towards the wall and stepped in front of him, covering with her body the knife sticking out of his leg. She grabbed the man's hair and pulled his face down. Their lips were almost touching when the car stopped, a loud "ahem" interrupted the scene. The woman turned to the soldier sitting in the vehicle, her brown curls hid the maskless man's face. She said something in a foreign language that made the enemy respond rather nervously and drive away in a hurry.

-Almost there. -she said reassuringly as they resumed walking. He didn't ask what the exchange was about. It worked, that's all that mattered. A couple of turns later they entered a nicely looking residential building, definitely not a shady warehouse he expected. With quite a struggle, they climbed two flights of stairs, where they entered one of the apartments. It smelled like pines and citrus. Odd combination, he thought. The woman guided him to a big, dark room with windows covered by thick curtains, brightened by a few flicking oil lamps. She sat him on one of four chairs standing at the round, wooden table and told him to wait. It was such a relief to sit down. His adrenaline levels were rapidly dropping, the exhaustion and pain begun to make their inevitable appearance. At least he was still alive. No matter how terrible he might have felt, the slim chance of survival this person gave him was like a glass of cold water. A glass he would not be getting until she was done, what he learned when she soon returned with a small bag and a plastic sheet, which ended up spread under him on the large couch. The moment she opened the bag with medical instruments inside, he got worried.

-Miss, no disrespect, but do you know what are you doing? -he asked and she laughed wholeheartedly.

She was a surgeon.

-Not a Miss, Mira. -she sighed, cutting the blood soaked material of his trousers, the sharp light of the head torch revealed terrible bruising. -What should I call you, sir?

-Ghost. -he answered honestly before she put something in his mouth and he blacked out from the agonizing pain that followed.

---

Was he...dead?

No. He didn't know much about afterlife, but it definitely did not smell like pines and citrus. Or maybe it actually did, and he was dead all along, Mira being the Death herself, patching him up before sending straight to Hell.

Ugh. The leg sting terribly as he pulled himself higher on the pillows to half-sit. He looked down to see the whole pants leg had been cut off, the thigh neatly wrapped with clean bandages.

-I did what I could with limited resources, but you will need proper medical care once you return to where you came from. -she informed, handing him the well-deserved glass of water. -How are you feeling?

Sore. Tired. Angry. Disappointed. Scared.

-Been worse.

-I don't doubt that. -Mira chuckled as she sat down on the large coffee table next to the couch. -Were you here alone? Truth only, I need to know if someone else needs to be rescued.

-Only me. -Ghost admitted. He was alone. Maybe it was a blessing, his team was safe in the base, cluelessly awaiting his return.

His return.

-How long was I out?! -he gasped, seeing warm rays of sun peeking through the gaps in the curtains.

-Roughly nine hours.

Nine hours?! He was supposed to get to the extraction zone an hour after he got injured. Which means they had no idea where he was for eight fucking hours. In their field of work, he could easily have been already pronounced KIA, even without any viable proof. Left behind, forgotten. -I need to get in touch with my team. -he said, frantically searching for something on his uniform. -Fuck, I have no comms on me. Fuck!

-Woah, calm down soldier! -barked the doctor, pressing her hand to his chest to stop him from standing up. -You will reopen your wounds. Not the smartest idea if you want to leave this place sometime soon. I have a satphone, but you cannot call from here. They will trace it. We need to wait until you can walk.

At least a week. Mira explained the damage is so extensive, he cannot put any weight on the leg, walking a significant distance was not an option with severed muscles and bone damage. Using the crutches she gave him to stroll around the house was out of question, not on hostile grounds at least. For the time being, Ghost had to stay put, unable to help himself. Being dependable on someone was always his biggest nightmare. He thrived on independence, not once needed to be saved, even when injured. Not once he had to experience how it feels to be taken care of. It was weird.

-Why are you helping me? -he asked when she brought him a fresh change of clothes. The frown that showed on his face as he looked at his size casual clothing was unsubtle enough to earn an answer.

-He's dead. -the woman shrugged, filling up a bowl with warm water for her patient to clean himself without wetting the dressing. -I am repenting for my sins. I helped you in hope to be forgiven.

He didn't ask what she did. There was no need. He knew one day he would be like her, risking his life to save his pathetic soul.

---

Mira was a very quiet person, he observed. Both in conversation and movement. He could now understand why he did not notice her approaching back in that alley - her steps were almost cat-like, careful, gracious, silent. She was seemingly rich. Everything in her house, even food, was top quality. Or maybe it was just years in the military that made him used to shitty conditions. The basic meal she served tasted so good, he almost shed some tears. Or maybe it was just his painfully empty stomach reacting to finally being fed. She didn't take "no" for an answer. Which resulted in him having the best sleep of his life on a perfectly hard mattress in a large bed smelling like flowers.

He woke up to fresh sandwiches and a note saying she will be back in the evening, to feel at home. Only if he knew how to properly feel at home. The impersonal bases and busy battlefields were his whole world. Ghost wasn't sure if he should, but had some coffee he struggled to find. His taste buds went into overdrive, surprised by a rich, not at all watery flavour. It was like damn holidays. Although, regardless of being safe and comfortable, the anxiety was present, crushing his chest, squeezing his throat. He should have been back a long time ago, back with his team, back on the field. Were they even looking for him? Surely not. They were well aware of how the infamous Ghost works. He either would eventually return on his own or never show up again. It was usually true, but this time, he wished it wasn't. He wanted to be searched for. He wanted to be found.

She came back sometime during his nap, mentioned no one is chasing after the unknown enemy, they assumed he is long gone. How she got that information, he didn't ask. For the record, he was not the kind of person who takes naps, but his body desperately demanded one, his eyes refused to stay open. It was very strange, he surely suffered worse injuries in the past, however never felt as poorly as this time. Was he finally getting old? No. Absolutely not.

-Where are you from? -she wondered as they watched some TV show she put on after dinner. He didn't care for television much, but it helped to occupy the depressed mind. Mira has never been to Manchester, but a few times in Leeds to visit some friends. She was originally from Moscow where she studied medicine, often travelled within Eastern Europe and Asia. Lived in Kazakhstan a bit. She worked in Verdansk now, although not in a hospital. She didn't say where.

The next day, she was gone again before he woke up. No note, just food. Ghost felt spoiled. He figured she was doing it to prevent him from accidentally standing on the injured leg while helping himself. It didn't feel right, having it the easy way. But what else could he do instead of resting and healing? She said herself, if he hurts himself doing something unnecessary, it will take longer to leave. And he needed to leave as soon as possible, so he obediently the whole day sat on the couch watching movies, listening to the neighbour play cello in the afternoon, and sleeping whenever his body requested. Which turned out to beneficial when on the third day the doctor expressed she was content about the wound. It looked promising.

Once more they were ending the day with the same TV show, her comfort show, whatever that meant. This time, she inquired about his family.

-My team is the only family I need. -he groaned. She raised her brow and hummed.

-Welcome to "my family sucks so much I don't want to ever talk about them" club.

Ghost laughed. Some time later she asked if one day he wants to start his own family.

-Only with the right person.

-Did you meet them already?

-Maybe.

There was someone. Someone who could possibly accept him. Someone who perhaps could look past his crimes and love him for the person he was, not the weapon he was turned into. Someone who cared.

-Don't waste it. -Mira whispered, a bit spaced out. Ghost wondered if the one who died was her right person. He couldn't imagine how he would feel in a situation like that. Would he quickly get over it? Would he always grieve? His own emotion were still a mystery to him, a bunch of complicated, unidentified feelings showing up out of nowhere, messing him up.

-We argued. I think...that's why I ended up where I ended up. -he revealed, not sure why he even said that. She was giving him an impression of sorts, that all his secrets were safe with her. That she is willing to listen and not judge. That she too is damaged, beyond repair, just like he was. -He said it's stupid to go into the city alone, that if something happens, they won't be able to help me. He offered to go with me, and I told him I am better off by myself. I think he got hurt by those words. He said if I want to do everything alone, then I am more than welcome to die alone. I almost did, I got distracted thinking of what he said. He was right, and now he thinks I'm dead.

-No matter how mad he is, he will be happy to have you back, alive. Trust me on that.

She also agreed that, indeed, it was very stupid to go into the city alone and some apologies are to be voiced. That night, Ghost slept with a sense of relief. He shouldn't really be sharing any secrets with a complete stranger, but somehow he felt...obligated to do so. Or rather, he needed to do so.

---

On the fourth day Mira broke a coffee cup while getting ready for work. Ghost found her crouched in the kitchen, shedding quiet tears over the green ceramic pieces.

-It was my fault. -she cried out, hiding her face behind trembling hands. He didn't think she meant the mug. The doctor cleaned up the mess silently, carefully watched by the soldier. During his many years in the army, he has seen grief. But not like that. Not so raw, so quiet, so heartbreaking. Before leaving for the day she only said one more thing, not really to him, she threw it absently into the air surrounding them to let it properly sink in through the skin: oblivion is such a thief.

Something uncomfortable formed in his throat, making it hard to swallow. He couldn't figure out what that was, so he just let it be. But with every intrusive thought about the argument he had, the situation he found himself in, the unsure future waiting ahead, his throat slowly began to close up more and more. Soon enough, he couldn't breathe. He found himself on the floor, leaning over the cold hallway wall, hopelessly gasping the air that wasn't coming through the shut-off valve. He felt like he was going to die.

-Let it go. -whispered Mira to his ear as she tightly wrapped herself around his hurting chest when she found him fighting for his life upon returning home. He didn't know what she referred to until her hand found itself in his hair, gently stroking the sensitive scalp.

You know, sometimes ghosts cry too.

Good news wise, there was no further damage to his leg. Bad news? His newfound emotions gave him a panic attack. As it turns out, holding back feelings has consequences. Very embarrassing consequences. Mira joked they are even now. During the dinner, she implied something equally ridiculous.

-You should tell him how you feel.

-I disagree.

-Why?

Why? There was simply no way. Just no way. No way he could ever be loved. Or could he be? No. Not even by him. But maybe? They are so similar, yet so different. Would they work? Impossible. No one would want to be with him. No one could ever love him. Could they?

-I don't deserve it.

She called him an idiot and didn't say anything else. Ghost didn't argue. When he was already in bed, Mira briefly came to the room to grab some clean clothes.

-I think you deserve it. -she said before she left.

That night, he cried himself to sleep.

---

The fifth day, the doctor stayed in. She said it's time to start moving the leg if he wants to leave anytime soon. The "it will hurt like Hell" was an understatement. Once again his flesh was being violated, brutally torn, pulled apart, stretched impossibly far. When he begged her to stop, she shook her head. For some shortcuts, there is a price to pay.

She apologized when they took a break, even though nothing of this was her fault. Ghost felt terrible afterwards: warm, cold, dizzy, nauseous, itchy, exhausted. But in a way that didn't allow him to fall asleep. They watched a cartoon under a blanket. Mira explained silly animations always made her feel better. She was right, it helped to forget the pain.

-I was thinking about leaving the army.

-Because of this?

-No, before.

A few weeks ago, this insane thought crossed his mind as he returned from yet another long solo mission in the middle of nowhere. For the first time in his career, he was glad to be done. He was dirty, famished and so, so tired. All he wanted was to properly rest, but the military does not work that way. Less than twenty-four hours later, his team got deployed. He wanted to scream. Instead, he bit his cheek and followed the orders. What other choice he had? Welcome to the army, where what you want does not matter.

Ghost didn't know what to say when Mira asked what would he do instead. She suggested private security and he nodded. Yeah, he can do something like that.

-Johnny could do it with me. -he hummed before cursing himself inside. He was not meant to say it out loud. The doctor joked she didn't even have to use torture to extract intel.

His name was Jegory. He also wanted to leave the army, but over here you can only leave in one specific way. In the coffin. Apparently, he died before deciding to desert. Looks like he was destined to die young, no matter what choices he made. Ghost felt privileged - he could quit anytime he wished. Maybe he should. Perhaps this situation is his push, a wake-up call of sorts, the "if you don't stop now, you will get yourself killed". He decided to give it a deeper thought once he gets back with the team.

-Whatever you choose, do it for yourself, not for someone else. Regrets will be yours, not theirs.

---

Mira woke him up early to ruin his day before it even started. It was less terrible, but still, not a pleasant experience. She said when the soreness goes away, he can try to put some weight on it and see how that feels. Within reason - she added when his eyes sparked up as she mentioned walking. The crutches were a pain in the ass, too small for his significant size. He could not wait to move on his own.

He was watching news in the local language he didn't understand when the ache suddenly turned into mere itch. It was go time. Ghost decided the best place to conduct the experiment would be the bedroom - if he lost the balance or was unable to stand without support, the bed was an optimal fall breaker.

The second he put the injured leg on the floor and shifted the body weight, a lightning went through his thigh. He had to cover his mouth to swallow the scream. Ghost had been stabbed before, multiple times, however never it hurt that much. It reminded him what the doctor laughed about after she patched him up: "If the blade was a few centimeters longer, your leg would be nothing more than a piece of meat on a very unusual skewer.". Maybe she was not overestimating at all.

Took him three more attempts to stop being electrocuted. Five seconds was how long he could stand before feeling it was too much for now. He expected better results, possibly being able to take a step, but when she returned from work, Mira said she is surprised he managed to hold himself up without leaning on something, without breaking the stitches. She called him a fucking medical mystery and left to make dinner.

Ghost was so proud, he smiled at himself in the mirror when he went to wash the sweaty face. The sweaty, maskless face. Occupied with recovery, he completely forgot about the mask. He was used to wearing it 24/7, but for some reason didn't mind functioning without it. Maybe because, in a sense, he was still hiding, tightly covered by the aroma of pines and citrus and thick fog of mystery generated by Mira herself. They have been cohabiting for days, and he didn't even know where she goes to "work" every day. Yet, he felt as he knew her his whole life. She was so safe, he for a brief second did not care about being fully exposed to her. Was it...no. Couldn't be.

-Are we friends? -he asked, leaning on the fridge. Mira didn't stop slicing the meat.

-Do you think we are? -she hummed, not sparing him a look.

-Yes. I believe so. -Ghost nodded, anxiously awaiting response. She seemed unmoved by the strange question, he worried he read their relation wrong.

-Then be a good friend and pass me that bowl from over there.

---

It's been a week. Seven days since he hasn't returned from his mission. Seven days since he last saw his team. Seven days of being in pain. Seven days of not walking. It was still too hard to stand still, not mentioning moving anywhere. This injury was testing his remaining patience. The hardest test of his life.

Mira thought it would be hilarious to celebrate this ridiculous anniversary with cake. At least she didn't make him blow any candles. For some reason, she appeared less sad than usual. Which was good, he hoped.

-No disrespect, but when do you think I can walk out of here? -he wondered, stabbing the soft sponge with a fork. It was a really nice cake. He was unable to recall when the last time he had a proper dessert.

-Fingers crossed this is our only anniversary.

She said if he can walk unassisted along every wall in the apartment in one go, that will be enough to safely evacuate. Ghost was horrified. He could barely stand without feeling like his leg was on fire, just thinking of taking such a long stroll made him sick. Even if he somehow managed to accomplish the challenge, what if they encountered enemies out there? Would he be able to fight back in his state?

-Please tell me your plan is solid.

-Why? You afraid of death?

-I just wanna know if the suffering is worth it. Mira's gaze went a little dark. Did he offend her? It might have sounded like he didn't appreciate her help. Which was not true, if not for her, he would be dead.

-Trust me, I am not going to kill my very last patient.

For the atrocities I committed, I do not deserve to call myself a doctor. - she explained when he dug deeper. Ghost had an odd feeling she is avoiding voicing the real answer, but decided to stop ruining her decent mood and bring the subject up some other day. It was not like he was going anywhere. Not anytime soon.

---

He had a nightmare. Like a real ghost, he was following Johnny during a mission. Exactly same mission that got Ghost injured. Although, instead of getting saved, the soldier pulled the knife out and bleed out trying to escape. The same day, Ghost took his first step. He wasn't sure if the dream was a motivation or a premonition, but he had to check on his teammate as soon as possible. He would have never forgiven himself if something bad happened to Johnny because he was not there to protect him.

It was disgusting, the way he could clearly feel the muscles pull on the stitches holding the teared flesh together inside his leg. He couldn't comprehend how Mira fixed the damage so well on a couch, with little resources and no help. She must have been a one really fucking skilled surgeon. What a shame she was stuck in a place like this. What a shame she wanted to give her abilities away. Fueled by worries and rage, he achieved the seemingly impossible. A victory of sorts. A one beautiful, most painful step of his life. It almost made him cry. Almost.

-Don't push your luck. -Mira huffed, seeing him make coffee with crutches set aside. As a friend, she was glad he was progressing, but as a doctor, she saw a massive man with serious tissue, muscle, and bone damage. Basing on the several scars decorating his body, she suspected he might have a predisposition to healing quicker than regular folks. This, however, didn't mean his organism couldn't suddenly give up and prolong the recovery further. Even though it was shockingly easy to keep the foreign soldier hidden, the doctor wasn't sure how long they can keep it up. He needed to stay on top of the recovery.

-I took one step. -he grinned, making her snort. It was her first time seeing Ghost happy. So pleasantly...unbroken. -Felt like Hell, but damn, the sweet aftertaste. May try again later.

Only slightly leaning on the doctor, he took four steps before dinner and two more after, all by himself. As she went to take a shower, she warned him to not dare strain the leg further until the next day. He was certainly not planning on doing so.

The utter exhaustion and stinging pain quickly lulled him to sleep.

---

-My name is Simon. -he revealed on the eight day, when in the early morning she checked for any downsides of yesterday activities. Mira's eyes widened briefly. That was unexpected, even for Ghost himself. He's been considering it previously, but didn't have the courage to act on the idea. Today he found that strength.

-Nice to meet you, Simon. -she answered with a small smile.

Her name was Myroslava. He stuck to Mira, having a hard time properly pronouncing her real name. After she gave him an okay to try walking again and left for work, he began to feel weird about this insane ordeal. For over a week now, he has been living with a complete stranger who was crazy enough to willingly help an enemy soldier and invite them into their place. Somehow, they managed to develop a daily routine without even knowing each-other names. He was literally trapped in the middle of the battlefield and he fucking felt at home. How bloody ridiculous was that?! Staying alongside someone he barely knew anything about, and at the same time finally feeling like he actually belonged somewhere. Mira, the fucking god sent angel, accepted him for who he was as a person, she didn't for a minute care he was killing people for living, killing her people. He was a broken toy and she decided to fix him, instead of throwing away like everyone else.

Ghost could never admit that, but deep inside, he hoped to stay here a bit longer. He also hoped to get his hands on the piece of shit who gave Mira a prominent black eye. Both those wishes could never be granted.

-I had it coming. -she chuckled, pressing a cooling pouch to the bruise. He didn't like the explanation a bit, but other than throwing "trust me, I deserved it", she refused to speak about what has really happened, instead changed the subject.

-How's the walking going?

-Few more days and I may run a marathon. -he joked. -It hurts as expected, but less than yesterday.

-Good, good. -she hummed, pouring herself a strong drink he was not allowed to have. -You might though wanna pray to whoever you believe in you don't have to run anytime soon.

The resignation in her voice was scary. This night, Ghost prayed to whoever Mira believed in for her well-being. He had no idea what he would do without her.

---

The next day was rather uneventful. Besides exercising and having breaks from exercising, Ghost found himself wondering if his team noted his absence as something concerning. A number of times he went "missing" during various assignments, however that, was not a regular "Ghost mission", where he did as he pleased. He was sent here to do recon in hard to reach spot, was supposed to leave as soon as he was done, so they can evaluate the ways of implementing the plan with clearer intel on hands. Ghost had tendency to disappearing but dammit, he was gone for like ten days. Possibly all this time they actually were quietly looking for him in the city. He had no way of knowing. No way of knowing. Anxiety creeped up on him upon realizing even if the team is searching for him, they have no clue he got rescued. He should have left some signs, but didn't think about it at the time. Why the fuck didn't he think of that?!

Ghost got so mad at his incompetence, he pushed himself too hard.

-That wasn't smart, was it? -sighed Mira as she changed the bandages spotted with blood. -I assure you, no foreign soldiers went into the city since the day you did. The local army might have stopped looking for you, but they are still on high alert. Don't get your hopes up, you and I are your search party. We will save you just fine.

-And who is going to save you? -he asked before thinking if he should have. Mira laughed hopelessly, looked at him with those constantly sad, pitch black eyes.

-Simon, you have to learn not everyone can be saved.

Ghost knew that already. But why did she have to be her own sacrificial lamb? He didn't dare to ask it out loud. He had no clue what were her sins. No clue what ruined her. It was her business, and he had to accept it. He would want her to respect his choices as well.

Maybe she really was beyond any help.

---

The following day they spent together, not once mentioning the dark conversation they had. They baked muffins. The vicious killer Ghost has baked muffins. On his two functioning legs.

He still needed regular breaks, couldn't stand for too long and, as recommended by the doctor, used crutches to take some weight off the injured thigh as he was relearning how to walk. Mira said she was incredibly proud. No one has ever told him they were proud of him. She even found some old polaroid camera in the closet to take a picture of them two as a souvenir of sorts. Ghost believed this was the only existing photography of his uncovered face. Upon hearing that, she changed the previous description from "souvenir" to "treasure".

-Kinda scares me how quickly you regenerate, are you sure you are a human being? -she frowned as he unassisted reached up to grab a muffin tray from the hanging cabinet. He later got scolded, advised not to repeat that before he fully heals.

-Sometimes I wonder myself. -he admitted, already on his way to sit down. -What does it even mean to be a human being?

-I don't think I know anymore.

The muffins turned out perfectly fine. Ghost was not one for cooking, he lived on provided rations and canteen food, but now, after eating the tasty dessert he helped make, he thought about learning some basic dishes once he retires.

Oh.

There it was again. The idea of quitting the army, his brain kept bringing up recently. While he enjoyed resting "at home", he could already feel the itch to go back into action, to feel that intoxicating adrenaline spike, to express himself through violence. Maybe if he got a similar job that was not public military, he could have it all. Peacefulness of the house and rush of action. But...would Johnny want this as well? Mira said to follow his own dreams. Johnny was one of them. If he didn't want to retire, Ghost would either have to stay or leave alone. Both options weren't ideal.

-How does one tell someone they might be in love with them?

The doctor choked on her tea. She wiped the coughing tears and patted his shoulder.

-With words soldier, with words.

---

On the eleventh day of the recovery, Ghost decided he feels strong enough to practice the so-called "Mira Challenge". If he could walk without crutches along every wall in the flat, she would let him call for the extraction team. She said if anything goes according to the plan it doesn't really matter how well he can walk, however, better to be safe than sorry. He agreed. Impatience could cost him his life.

He began at the door. The door he has not crossed since the day he stumbled through them with a knife in his leg. The door he hoped to soon cross once more. Ghost leaned the crutches on the wall, took a deep breath and begun the treacherous walk. Once accompanied by raging fire, every step was now just a second-degree burn. It was acceptable. The soldier slowly moved forward through the short hallway. When he turned left to enter the living room, he could feel beads of sweat form on his forehead. He turned left once more, following the wall of cabinets, around the kitchen island and then straight, towards the bedroom entrance. As he passed the window, a cold breeze refreshed his warm face. There was an urge to stop and rest in his mind, although he pushed it aside, not wanting to ruin the progress. He went into the bedroom, once there struggled to maneuver in the smaller, more cluttered space with the bed glued to the wall. But he managed just fine, walked around everything with confidence and moved towards the bathroom next door. His face was tomato red, shirt thoroughly wet. Ghost shook his head as he noticed himself in the mirror. Never in his life a simple activity drenched him so badly. Once out, he wasn't sure if he can make it. At this point, the leg was screaming, brain begging to refrain from straining it further. The couch was conveniently close...

No.

The leg was fine, stitches were holding, nothing inside seemed to tear apart. He would not stop because of mere pain. Pain was good, meant he was still alive, still able to continue the horribly slow stroll. Ghost told his brain to fuck off and pushed on, towards the corridor opening, towards the door he couldn't wait to open.

He did it. He completed the challenge. Beat the fuck out of it. The joy was so divine, he didn't even mind the tears of victory, agony, and relief that cooled his burning cheeks.

He was so fucking close.

-I am very impressed and just a tiny bit horrified. -hummed Mira as she put a cold compress over Ghost's face. It's been a few hours, but he still felt uncomfortably warm, sitting next to the covered window to catch more chilled air. -Are you sure the leg doesn't feel worse?

-Correct. It's exercise sore, not reopened-wound sore.

She wasn't convinced. Ghost didn't blame her. Himself, he had a hard time believing in what he achieved.

-No walking tomorrow.

---

No walking today, doctor's orders. Only food, couch and television, afternoon cello performance. He wondered who was that person who, like clockwork, every day at the same time played exactly one concerto. For the record, Ghost did not know it was called a "concerto" and the instrument a "cello" before Mira clarified that. The music was a subject he knew nothing about.

He enjoyed it, the sound of the unknown individual. They played beautifully, with passion, with pure love. Ghost assumed playing the instrument made them feel truly alive. He didn't have a thing like that. Except for killing. But how can one even compare murder to such incredible art? One surely can, but never out loud. For him, taking lives felt like fresh morning air, chilled brew in the middle of a hot day, a cold shower after running in the sun for hours - it was refreshing. He killed because it felt so damn good. Would he be ever able to stop?

-Have you ever killed someone? -he blurted without thinking while Mira worked on the dinner. Her mask didn't fall. Brow didn't flinch. Hand on the knife didn't slip. Oh. She has. By the sole lack of reaction to the question, he could tell she 100% has in the past committed the unforgivable act of ending one's life. Basing on how unfazed she was, probably more than once. -Have you ever met a surgeon who never lost a patient? -she asked, not taking the eyes off the cutting board, firmly holding the blade. She wasn't chopping anything. Her stare was so empty, Ghost began to feel uneasy. -I know what you mean. I am not sure if you can handle the answer. -Mira added upon returning from the dark place.

Ghost felt a fucking shiver go down his spine. What was that supposed to mean? She wasn't sure if he, a vicious cold-blooded killer, can handle it?

-Mira, the fuck did you do?

War crimes. The quiet, gentle, caring doctor who has saved him, the sworn enemy, from dying on the street and been nursing him back to health for twelve days now, has committed the most horrible war crimes he has ever heard of. The work she was going to? Mira was in charge of conducting human experiments for the Russian government in some secret medical facility on the outskirts of the city. Apparently, the project's code name was Cyborg. For five years now, they were attempting to replace parts of living human bodies with advanced weapons and other technological enhancers.

There was little success.

---

She said she took a few days off to at last send him back to where he belongs. The plan was simple, the day after tomorrow they leave the house in the early morning hours, make a stop to take the call, then proceed out of the city and towards the evac coordinates. He was concerned about moving in the broad daylight, but Mira explained that over here travelling at night is extremely suspicious, and even she wouldn't be able to stop the soldiers from checking her vehicle.

-Before we, however, do anything, I want to see you walk with my own eyes.

The doctor approved the execution of her challenge, but the odd, low sound she made as he walked made him wonder if she saw something worrying.

-I feel like you are not telling me everything. -he confronted her as she handed him a glass of water. Mira frowned in confusion and bit her cheek when he pointed at the injury. -About the leg doc. You are hiding something from me, aren't you?

Permanent limp. She wasn't sure if he will be able to ever walk correctly without having further surgeries and a shitload of physical therapy. But even with proper fix, the full recovery was not guaranteed. The world really was sending him some clear signals. On top of the lungs screaming: LEAVE THE ARMY.

-If I cannot be Ghost anymore, who will I become? -he sighed, tracing the long, raised scar through the thin material of borrowed sweatpants. He still didn't know what exactly happened to the righteous owner. Didn't want to ask either.

-Feeling existential much? -Mira snorted, amused by the unexpected question. She sat on the coffee table, grabbed his large hands into her tiny ones and while looking deep into his eyes said: -You will always be Ghost, Simon. But Ghost doesn't always have to be a soldier. Ghost can be whoever Simon wants him to be.

That night, she took the stitches out.

---

-I am...nervous? -he muttered during the breakfast he had a hard time eating. There was a knot in his stomach, something Ghost has never experienced before. He always considered himself to be too washed out of emotions to ever be stressed. And yet, there he was, utterly worried.

-Are you asking or stating? -hummed Mira, staring at her lukewarm drink. She never ate before drinking coffee.

-Not sure.

Lies. He knew exactly what was causing the anxiety. Basing on the look Mira gave him, she knew he knew. Ghost sighed loudly. At this point, there was no shame in sharing secrets. They already learned each-other's deepest ones.

-I fear once I get back, I won't act on the plans I made.

-Which are...? -she smirked and he rubbed his eyes.

-Damn you, Mira, don't make me say it out loud.

Express the scary feelings. Retire, hopefully alongside Johnny.

-Stick to your choices, doctor's orders. -she grinned, making him snort. They really got close over those fourteen days. Maybe didn't talk too much, but instantly clicked, their personalities mixed into a perfect pair of friends. Friends who will never meet again. Tomorrow would be their last day together. If they survive, that is. If not, at least he won't die alone.

Ghost wasn't one for getting attached to people, however, as they prepared for the big day -gathering items and going over the plan in the smallest details- he wondered if he was going to miss the doc once they part ways. When she rumbled about how hilarious it would be if he got shot by the evac team because of the enemy uniform and unfamiliar face, he reached the conclusion.

He would really fucking miss her.

---

As a goodbye gift, Mira brought him a skull mask with a third, ceramic eye and five smaller skulls crowning the forehead. She said it came from Mongolia and was made of real human named Zolzaya, the little pieces were carved using larger bones.

It fit like a glove.

-Are you ready? -the doctor asked as she stood by the door at 7:23, dressed up in her pristine white lab coat with a badge attached he didn't comment on. It did, however, answer a few intriguing questions. Added some new ones though.

And no. He was not ready. It's been over fifteen days since he had seen the outside world, not counting the sneaky peeks through the covered windows. It's been almost two weeks of being safely tucked away in a comfortable place. It's been too long since he last faced danger. Mira saw it before he even realized what was happening. She sat him on the shoe rack's bench and gently pressed her hands to his back and chest.

-Breathe Simon. Breathe. -ordered the doc gazing at her patient with concern. She wasn't keen on pushing him to the verge of panic attack, but she had to finally rip off the band-aid. Ghost needed to leave. -You can do this, Simon. You have to. This is not a place you can stay at. If circumstances were different, I would be more than happy to keep you, but they are sadly not. You said yourself, you have important things to do out there. C'mon, Simon, let's go. Let's get you home.

Johnny is waiting for you.

They entered the staircase at 7:31. Took them almost ten minutes to walk down the stairs. Which was a horribly painful, extremely exhausting experience. And it was only the beginning. A car was parked on the other side of the quiet street. Ghost worryingly noticed some people walking in the distance, but Mira told him to ignore them. Civilians mind their own business. He sat in the back sit, his leg bent uncomfortably to minimize the ache. She kept saying you are almost there. They stopped at a parking lot with quite a lot of cars already there. Make the call, she said, handing him the satellite phone.

When he was done, she threw it out of the window. Same spot in thirty. The drive took them seven minutes, they left the car on the narrow forest road and continued on foot - Ghost heavily leaning on the doctor after the unpleasant sitting arrangement made his leg sore. They sat on a fallen tree, on the edge of a large opening where the helo would land in approximately nine minutes.

-Mira, I have a bad feeling you are going to kill yourself. -he finally managed to say, carefully watching his friend through the holes in the new mask. He wanted to voice this concern since the day she broke that damn mug. Couldn't find courage. Mira snorted, her eyes sparkled amused.

-Simon, I'm not going to kill myself. I'm going to earn my redemption.

-When? -he barely asked through a squeezed throat. The doctor grabbed his weirdly cold hand.

-Sooner than later, Simon, sooner than later.

He was so glad his face was covered.

-It was a pleasure to meet both Ghost and Simon. -she smiled as they heard the chopper approach. -Good luck, soldier, don't ever stop chasing what makes you happy.

Before she left, she tenderly kissed the top of his head.

Goodbye, my dearest friend.

[robinsversion]

This is gonna get mean but I need to vent so be prepared: I fucking hate when other trans people, when discussing legitimate issues and struggles trans people have to go through, invoke Dylan Mulvaney’s name as if she has anything to do with it. Yes you’re allowed to be jealous of her being able to have gender-affirming surgeries and other opportunities you don’t, but 1) really stop and think about what she’s giving up (mainly privacy, safety, and a sense of safety) to be so outly and openly trans, and, especially 2) when you’re tagging her and hashtagging your video/post with her name, and shit like that, we can all tell that what you really want is the attention that using her name brings. Plus, it’s absolutely possible to talk about jealousy and sadness you experience personally from seeing other trans people have the privileges and resources you don’t have, without also singling out a specific trans person (and one that happens to be viral and have a lot of attention around her, and who you’re almost guaranteed to go viral from tagging/hashtagging them and having a “hot take” around them, but we won’t mention that *coincidence*). Don’t go all surprised pikachu and throw a fit because people call you out on how alienating and dehumanizing you’re being to her by stripping her of her personhood and reducing her down to a symbol of the privileges you don’t have. Why does she deserve that? Exactly, she doesn’t. As a closeted-irl nonbinary person myself, and a mostly-closeted-irl bisexual, I’m definitely jealous of the people who get to be open and proud about that, especially public figures, but you don’t see me making posts calling people out on privileges they can’t control. It’s not their fault that I can’t come out safely in the area I live in. They’re not evil for having access to resources that most of us don’t. And I don’t know how much harassment and stalking and threats on their lives they’ve had to endure due to them being open to the public about their genders/sexualities, and I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of immense pressure they’re under every single day with all the attention on them both from the queer community and cishet people. Dylan, and every other queer public figure with privilege, is living in the exact same societal system we are, and have only the slightest bit more control over it than the rest of us (and that’s only because of the power of their platforms and fanbases). If you’re jealous, be jealous, but stop acting like they’re responsible for your lack of privilege and resources, and turn your attention to the people who actually are.

[kindofwriter]

Literally impossible to pick a favourite OFMD character because, like, Lucius is the definition of blorbo from your shows; he’s so cute and flirty and smart and helpful, and ships the main ship just as hard as the audience, and he carries himself like he’s cute, and he tries so darn hard to help everyone with their issues.

But then there’s Frenchie, with his little tunes and his left-field superstitions, and his brilliant tactical mind for schemes, who’s willing to fuck up a bunch of rich people because they offended a man he’d just met, and who gave all his riches away to help others escape a life of servitude.

And Jim, who’s badass and soft, and just the most delightful nb rep, and whose favourite colour is teal because of Oluwande’s earring, and who goes back to their old home despite it feeling haunted just because their shipmate asked nicely.

And Roach, who sleeps with his onions, and figured he may as well be the ship’s doctor because meat is meat, right? Who accidentally let the prisoners he was totally down to murder escape just because they asked, and who threw himself off the ship’s mast in the spirit of frat boy camaraderie.

And Oluwande, who is just the world’s most adorable character, who sees the good in everyone around him and they see it in him in turn, who likes when captain does the voices, who values Jim’s safety even more than they do themself, and gives his room away when they leave, and who’s voted the new captain despite not wanting the role.

And Black Pete, who secretly whittles, and tells silly little tales about a man he saw probably one time that absolutely no one believes, who, upon meeting said man, didn’t seem to mind in the slightest that he wasn’t everything he’d imagined, and who’s so head over heels in love with Lucius it’s adorable.

And Wee John, who wants to design his room with Frenchie, and was willing to dress up as a cat for him, and who wants to get stabbed by Jim, and who, upon meeting the dread pirate Blackbeard for the first time, just stared him down, unflinching.

And Buttons, the man, the myth, the legend himself, with his some-are-teeth, and his relationship with Karl and Olivia, and his moonlight basking, and his use of actual Scots, and his own brand of superstition, and his belief that he can hex people and talk to seagulls.

And the Swede, with his beautiful singing voice, and his just along for the ride attitude, and the way his crew mates seem willing to do anything for him, and his bandanna in the colours of the Swedish flag.

And that’s without even mentioning Stede, fancy soft-boy who just wants everyone to be happy, even if he doesn’t always know the best way of going about it. Who pays his crew a wage. Who has secret passages on his ship. Who played pirates with his children and they loved it. Who fell in love with the concept of a fearsome pirate, and then with his soft, silly best friend. Who burned a ship of people alive for being cruel. Who gave up everything to make both his old and new families happy.

And Ed, literally tumblr’s manic pixie dream girl. Tactical, strong, and intimidating, but also warm, loving, lost. Terrified of a world that is terrified of him. Tragic backstory and a hopeless romantic. A massive pushover who’s convinced himself this is the life he wanted. Likes things that are sweet and soft, both literally and metaphorically. Oh, and hot. He’s hot.

But still!!! There’s more!!! If you like little freaks who are confused about their own emotions and motives then Izzy is right there! Badass on duty and big softie in their downtime? Fang and Ivan! Mary, taking control of her own life. Mary’s cool and quirky friends. Spanish Jackie, with her 20 18 husbands and her knife-hand. Nana, teaching Jim how to be an assassin.

They are all so good and I adore them all.

[jaeminscoffee]

Daddy Issues | S. Jn

Pairing | Seo Johnny x Fem!Reader

Genre | Smut, fluff

Wc;type | oneshot: 3.93k [not proof read]

Warning(s) | Pwp, dilf!johnny, y/n's a pillow princess, daddy kink, overstimulation, teasing, edging, dacryphilia, slight voyeurism, degradation kink, heavy use of the words 'doll, princess, slut, pretty, angel', typical lyra smut, i made haechan johnny's son (i was about to write changbin as johnny's son but decided against it) age gap, unprotected sex ( the Reader's on pills. Remember this is a fiction, don't play the wrong card irl) filth.

a/n- i found this request buried in my asks and was tempted to write it. Sure, the warning looks intimidating, but i know you wanna read it, y'all whores (ily) shoutout to @bakugou-is-my-bae @cvntzennie and @jenopollo for helping me decide what to post first! @suhpersonic

Minors try not to interact! <3

Age is just a number, so surely, there's nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed of, right? 

There's no reason for you to not fall for the friendly neighborhood bachelor, well not so bachelor bachelor, since he does go around asking people who knows of his marriage to pretend it never took place. 

Johnny's hot, super hot. Has the build of a supermodel. Has the face that one can only imagine belongs to a greek god, as you'd jokingly tell him how he seemed to be god's favorite and how you loathe Aphrodite for showing favoritism (which would always end up with you getting a very sultry, teasing look from the lad) 

Johnny has the type of personality that women can only wish the entirety of the male species would possess. He's an absolute sweetheart, life of the party, definitely the center of attention wherever he goes. And oh god, does he have an immaculate fashion sense. 

But Johnny's also the father of Donghyuck. Your best friend. 

More than being ashamed about the fact that you actually fell in love with a man who has a child of your age, it was the fact that you had to fall for Donghyuck's father of all people. 

Donghyuck is a sweetheart, definitely got his personality from his father but he's also got that glare that could creep the Lord's of the darkness from his father. He's got so much from his father that the resemblance is uncanny. 

You'd not want to get onto hyuck's bad side since you've gotten first hand experience at stopping him from almost committing homicide to someone who spoke shit about his friends, more specifically, you. 

But Hyuck's not in town. So a little fun with Mr. Suh wouldn't hurt anyone, correct? After all, you're still only a human with desires and the want to take risks. 

You'd always not so subtly drop hints at Johnny and he'd always give you that look that would have slick collecting itself between your thighs. A warning look. 

A look that said, "cross the line and you'll get it" 

But that's the thing, you want to get it and will do anything to get it.

"Y/n." 

You'd ask yourself less than a million times if you want to do this or not.

Sure, you weren't this hesitant when you decided to sext your best friend's father knowingly when he was in business mode to irk him up but that's one thing. 

And having to confront the same father who left a message smaller than a sentence that completely disregarded all the obscene text and images to show that he's not the slightest bothered or suprised by your behavior for that matter was another thing.

"Tomorrow at mine." 

It's almost as though he deals with hormonal teenagers one as such as yourself on a daily basis and that thought kind of backfired at you considering the whole 'Let's piss Johnny off so that he'd finally give me what i want' agenda. 

Ironic, huh? 

"Mr. Suh." you start hesitantly, unsure of what to call him, scared of what his reaction would be after your inappropriate shenanigans last night. 

Your stiff demeanor broke down a little with just a hint of shiver passing down your spine as you watch his features contort into a subtle but cocky smirk, "So now you're being all formal,"

"Well, what else would you like me to address you as?" you inquire, feigning oblivion to his tone and what he's implying at. "You tell me, doll. You seemed to have a lot of names to call me last night," he takes a step forward, prompting you to walk a step backwards, further into the corridors of his apartment and away from the actual location. 

"I do not know what you're talking about.. " you let your voice shrivel towards the end, eyes wandering around the complex, finding interest in every small detail as you avoid Johnny's teasing gaze. 

"You don't?" Johnny takes another step forward, latching his hands onto your forearms to prevent you from stepping further away, "You must have had a heavy sleep to forget all that you did last night," his voice drops dangerously low as he begins to walk backwards and back into the safety of his apartment, all the while keeping his gaze fixated on you.

"That won't do, would it? How about we take a walk down the memory lane? And see if that rings any bell?" He brushes your hair away from its static position on your shoulder, allowing him to appreciate all those fine details of your shoulders and neck that are exposed from your selection of clothing, an off shoulder. 

"How about we don't...?" You ask with skepticism, jolting slightly when you hear the door shut behind you and at the new intrusion of personal space by the lad.

"Why are you acting all shy now, Y/n? Weren't you the one so eager to get into her best friend's fathers pants? Just be the whore you are, darling. Your facade's fooling no one." okay you definitely didn't see that coming. 

Johnny's expressions morph into that of mischief as he watches your eyes grow wide and mouth fall ajar, "Am i not correct? Are you not a whore?" he asks with an eyebrow quirked up in a questioning manner.

You don't reply, almost as though the question was meant to linger in the open and that it was a rhetorical one. What you didn't expect, however, was for Johnny's hands to find pursuit around your neck, not necessarily applying pressure, but there as a warning. 

"Answer me." 

"I'm not.." you answer with a feeble voice, internally cringing at how squeaky you sound which only added to Johnny's amusement. 

"Really? Because I don't think good girls go around drooling at a divorced man, her friend's father for that matter and definitely do not send lewd images and voice out their fantasies to a guy twice their age, still want to pretend you're innocent? Or you admit it and we cut down the chase?"

"Yes, I am." you breathe out when his fingers tighten around your neck, a triumphant smile making its way onto his lips. Yet, Johnny felt the need to keep pushing,

"you're what?" 

"I am what you said I am," you speak, trying to avoid looking at the scrutinizing look on his face which seemed futile as he had his arms wrapped around your neck, keeping your head in place. 

"I want to hear you say it, doll. I need to hear you say it." At this point Johnny's intent was to get you into a flustered puddle in his hold and it sure as hell was going in that direction, seeing how you can't even hold his gaze for more than a few seconds in a shot. 

"I am.. I am a who-"

The sound of a phone ringing loud cut you off midway through your sentence, to which you were absolutely relieved. Johnny only seemed to grow annoyed the more he heard the phone ring. With a loud huff, he lets you go, not before giving you a stern look, "Go to my room." he instructed, making his way to the study. 

You let out a breath you've been holding in unknowingly the moment he steps away from you. You watch his figure retreat from you with awe, only now realizing how messy you felt between your legs and how your knees keep buckling. 

"Oh Hyuck!" you hear Johnny exclaim into the phone the minute you step forward to follow his command. 

Your best friend is on call with the guy you're about to fuck. 

Your blood runs cold as you shakily make your way into the apartment and towards the bedroom, shrugging off your sling bag, hanging it behind the door as you place your phone on the bedside table to wipe your hands dry from all the sweat that had accumulated at the palm of your hands. 

"Yeah, I'm fine, about to eat to my dinner actually" you hear the moment to make yourself comfortable at the edge of the bed, looking over to the door where Johnny stood with his arms across his chest, the other holding up the phone as he leans his weight onto one shoulder, leaning into the doorframe.

You take the time to really appreciate his appearance. He adorned nothing more than a simple grey sweat and tight black tee but he seemed ready to walk down a runway at any given moment now. His long hair, slightly disheveled looking almost intentionally messed up, compliments his features. And oh his features. 

The everlasting smirk stayed still on his lips, moving as he exchanged words with his son.

You only come back to your senses when Johnny snapped his free hand in front of you, gaining your attention. He points at his own shirt, then points at you, mouthing 'off' while he listens to Donghyuck speak about whatever he's speaking. 

"Really? Jeno said that? Tell him I'm more than willing to welcome him as my gym partner, the lad seems strong" Johnny makes a quick move to remove the gadget from his ear, before holding it in front of him after placing the call on speaker mode 

Your eyes widen the moment you hear the disturbance in the background and Donghyuck's voice resonate through the room. "no?? Why would you want to work out with him? He'll only make you feel old, you know?" 

"Says the one who still can't beat me at arm wrestling. If anything, i think Jeno would make the perfect gym buddy for me," Johnny raises an eyebrow at your defiance, cocking his head towards the side, staring down at you with a predatory look, "Hyuck, you know, Y/n-" you scramble to take your shirt off at the mention of your name on the call, "-stopped by earlier" he lets out a silent laugh of disbelief.

"Oh? Oh yeah! I'd told her I'd give her book back before I left but I forgot, did you perhaps give it back to her?" Donghyuck questions. 

"I figured you must've forgotten so, yeah i did." Johnny replies, pushing himself off of the doorframe, now walking towards you. 

"Man, I miss her! I might facetime her after I end the call with you," Johnny sets down the phone beside you on the bed, leaning down, placing both his hands on either side of your lap, finding comfort at the crook of your neck,

"I remember her mentioning something about her cousin coming over? Maybe wait for an hour or so before calling her" his lips graze against your neck each time he spoke, you let out a tiny whimper at the so longed feeling, only to earn yourself a small bite at the earlobe, immediately accompanied by a hand over your mouth, "you need to be quiet, doll. Or my son would find out how much of a slut his best friend is," he whispers in your ear. 

"Yeah? Did she mention which one?" 

"No, not really, she kinda just stormed out after getting what she wanted" Johnny creates a trail of kisses all the way from your neck to your shoulders, down the collarbone while one of his hand worked to unhook your bra, "Yeah, she's weird like that," you hear Donghyuck let out a chuckle as you whine into Johnny's palm, your figure slightly trembling from the fear of getting caught all the while being excited about the risky situation he's put the two of you in. 

"Anyways, I'll call you tomorrow? The boys are coming over now so I got to go! Night, dad!" Donghyuck speaks up again, "Night, Hyuck." 

You hear the beep indicating the call has ended. Johnny let's his hand drop from your mouth and makes its way towards your hair, brushing through the strands before pulling at it with a firm grip, "I had my son on call and here you are making all these sweet noises, you wanted to get busted, doll?" 

"It's not my fault! You-"

"ah-ah! Don't talk back, angel. You're already in deep trouble, don't want to add onto that now, do we?" He makes a swift move to have you lying on your back, your torso completely exposed to him while he remains clothed. 

"But Johnny-" you whine, jolting when you feel his hands caressing the soft flesh of your inner thighs, "How do you think Hyuck would feel about this?" his hands travel further north, cupping your heat from underneath your skirt. "fuck, you're drenched"

"Now tell me, pretty girl, what are you supposed to be calling me, now?" 

"Johnny-, tha-that was a joke! I don't have daddy kin-" you try clenching your thighs close from the sudden attention your core was receiving. Johnny wholeheartedly lets out a laugh at your attempt to hide your true feelings, making a quick act of disregarding your soaked panties somewhere behind him.

"Darling, the more you deny it, the longer we keep going at it-" his thumbs at your clit, applying pressure but making no move to quench your needs. You let out a sigh of bliss at the feeling, your back arching off of the sheets at the sensation.

In any other situation, you'd be embarrassed at how sensitive you'd gotten just from all the dirty talking and looks Johnny passed you. But that's the catch, he's Johnny, the only one who can get you this sensitive while doing the bare minimum. 

"Say it, Y/n." 

"No, Johnny! It's-it's embarrassing.." you plead with your eyes, grinding your hips against his fingers, earning a satisfied, dirty look from the lad. 

"Very well.. I'll just draw it out of you"

Without warning, Johnny with little to no resistance, slides two slender digits into your wetness, setting a pace fast enough to draw loud chains of cries from your mouth.

"You hear that, doll? You hear how fucking wet you are? Hm?" he growls animalistically, the thumb that remained on your clit now moving in circles with a motive to get you undone in seconds. 

"Johnn-..!" you whine out, feeling your orgasm growing so close that you could almost taste it, "Still going at that, angel?" he questions, not really expecting an answer as he soaks up the pleasured look on your face. "Johnny- I'm close.. -" you fail to notice the mischievous grin growing on his face as he speeds up the movement of his fingers. 

"Of course you are, doll" He feels you clench around his fingers, back coming off of the mattress as you ready yourself for your release, waiting until the last minute to draw his finger out.

"Why would you-? Johnn-I was so close!" you cry out as you sense your core clench around nothing, whining about the incomplete orgasm. "Why would I give you what you want when you wouldn't comply, baby? That's not how this works." He shrugs, licking his fingers clean of your essence, moving up from the bed to remove the shirt that seemed to be suffocating now.

"Johnny, please!" you whine louder, rubbing your thighs together to create some sort of friction, all unsatisfactory as it did not meet the same intensity as that of his fingers. 

"Please what, doll?" He smirks, knowing the ball is in his court and that you'd had to give in any moment now. Johnny leans down once again, drawing lazy circles at your clit, using his other hand to hold himself up above and close to you, his minty breath which had a hint of coffee fanning your face as you whimper, finally feeling your high building itself up again. "Spit it out, princess, you know you want to." he speaks in a soft voice.

"Please..please" you beg for nothing in particular, getting all worked up again, "The begging's lovely, doll. But you're starting to anger me here, will you say it? Or should I leave you hanging again?" 

You mutter prayers under your breath, hoping he wouldn't actually leave you hanging again, "Fine-" he moves again to remove his fingers from you to deprive you of pleasure all over again when you finally latch onto his wrist, keeping his hands in place blurting out, "Daddy! I'm so-sorry.. There, daddy, please make me come" you give in, the name, the feeling and look of pure victory on his face as he grins like a cheshire cat only intensifies the heat growing at a rapid pace at the pit of your stomach. 

"Final fucking ly, princess. Daddy will make you feel good" He reinserts his fingers in, drilling it with desperation to see you come undone as he draws rapid circles on your now sensitive clit with the other hand, watching you squirm under him.

"Joh-Daddy i'm coming..!" you cry out weakly as you feel your orgasm hit you with much force, easily driving you into over sensitivity. Johnny's patient in helping you ride out your orgasm, not stopping until you let out a throaty sob and plead him to stop to allow yourself some room to breathe. 

Johnny, however, makes no move to stop, only speeding up his fingers, his gaze fixed on where his fingers disappeared inside of you while his other hand held you down with a vise grip, "Give me one more, doll. I know you've got one more in you. " he pants, the feeling of his girth in confinement only throwing himself to sensory deprivation as he feels himself twitch inside his sweats painfully. 

You shake your head, tears now flowing elegantly down your cheek, your lips puckered into a slight pout, your eyebrows drawn together as you let yourself melt into the pleasure Johnny was providing you with. "Daddy.." 

You whine, feeling your second high reaching you ridiculously quick as you see Johnny's face contort in concentration, 

"I need to get you nice and wet for me, princess, you're doing so well. Give daddy another one" you coaxes you with his sultry tone, words and actions, inevitably having you come undone under him for the second time that night. 

You let out a choked moan, finally having enough as you curl upon yourself the minute Johnny removes his fingers from you, full fledged crying at the overbearing feeling of sensitivity. 

Johnny groans at the sight, leaning down to press a soft peck on your sweaty forehead before getting off of the bed to remove his pants alongside his boxer at a slow speed, granting you some time to recover.

"Condom?" he asks, readying himself to reach into the drawing when he notices you shake your head a no as a reply, "I'm on pills.." you mutter weakly. 

You hear him curse out at the thought of doing you raw, flexing his muscles before climbing on top of you again. He takes his time to gently turn you back onto your back, pressing his tender lips against your irritated one for the first time that night, his hand ever so slightly moving to play with your clit once again, making you jerk, "Daddy!" 

"Sorry, doll. Daddy just needs to make sure that princess is ready to take his cock" 

Your whining intensifies at his words, wiggling your hips to move closer to his own, "But I am ready! Look, daddy! I'm so wet and ready for you!" you whimper, earning a chuckle from the lad. 

Just like all the other times that night, he aligns his cock at your entrance without a warning, the tip ever so slightly pushing through your walls, "Alright, big girl. Show daddy how much of a slut you can be for him."

Suddenly, Johnny detaches himself from you, moving further away as he leans by the edge of the door, smirking at you whining at the loss of contact, "Patience, angel" 

He grabs hold of your hips, manhandling your body into all fours as he enters you completely with no trouble once he's got you where he wants you to be.  

Something about having to take Johnny from behind was so sexy that you could almost immediately feel your orgasm grow, "Fuck baby, keep clenching around me like that and i won't last long," he grunts, moving in you with a steady pace, 

"I never expected my son to befriend such filthy sluts like you, Y/n. Look at the mess you're making on my sheets" He grabs a fistful of your ass in a tight squeeze, the sudden shift in his demeanor only serving as a whiplash as you feel yourself growing closer and closer to the sweet orgasm. 

"Jesus, doll, you're so fucking tight i can barely move" Johnny growls, talking to keep himself from coming too fast. 

"Daddy.. I'm close. M-I'm so so close" you cry as your arms give out and you fall face first onto the mattress, the new stretch in your back only encouraging his cock to hit you deeper, finding the sweet cushion that serves as extra pleasure for you. 

"Me too, princess, me too.. '' You hear him let out a whine, his thrusts growing sloppier as he does you slower but deeper. 

He reaches around your body to find pursuit at your clit for the nth time that night, rubbing rapid, messy circles to go with his deep thrusts, "Daddy!" you reach your high with a high pitched cry of his name. 

Johnny comes not too long after you as he couldn't resist the constant tight clenching of your walls around his cock. He thrust slowly to ride out his high as you twitch helplessly, face scrunched up in too much pleasure. 

You feel your body being manoeuvred onto your side as he whispers sweet nothings which pass right through your ears as you feel him softened inside you, the feeling ridiculously soothing for your used up walls, 

"You did amazing, darling." he kisses your temple, not making any move to remove himself from within you, which you silently thanked him for. 

You both lay in silence as you turned your body towards him, earning a hiss and a playful smack from him as it added pressure onto his sensitive member. You wrap your arms around his torso, about to nuzzle into his chest and just drift away to dreamland when you hear the familiar ring of your phone from the table beside the bed. 

You feel Johnny's body shift to reach out to get your phone, looking at the caller ID before handing it to you with a smirk that you knew meant that he was up to no good. "Oh! It's hyuck" you exclaim in shock, quickly accepting the call and placing it near your ear, moving to get away from him. 

But Johnny seemed to have other ideas, as he latched an arm around your torso to keep you from moving, "Hey-" you begin, immediately feeling Johnny experimentally thrust into you again, making you whine, "Y/n! I miss you~-oh hey, are you okay?" you hear Donghyuck's voice from the other side, 

You look at Johnny with a pleading and warning gaze to which you earn yourself a toothy grin from the lad, 

"Of co-course! Just a little.. peachy,'' You turn around to place a hand on his chest to halt his movement, "You don't sound just peachy.. I've heard you like this before!" you hear Donghyuck make those noises he makes when he's thinking as Johnny keeps thrusting lazily the more you look at him, you see him open his mouth to speak, "Oh fuck! You're getting laid, aren't you???" 

"Tell Hyuck daddy says hi"

[falcor-thee-luck-dragon]

Dark Shenanigans - Nandor x (f)reader

Summary: It’s Nadja’s something hundredth birthday, with that said, you’re on a mission to make it great.

Warning: fluff, general vampire nonsense

Masterlist

“Yeah being a half vampire half human does have its perks. I mean for one I can do all that cool vampire shit and I can go out in the sunlight...so that helps for when they’re all being really annoying.” You admit with a casual shrug to one of the documentary cameras before turning to an isle of party supplies. “So anyways we’re at this store.”

The camera shifts to the multiple arras of supplies and materials at the local supermarket in Staten Island that you and your vampire lover’s human familiar, Guillermo, currently are. Specifically on the hunt for birthday decorations for Nadja and ghost Nadja who’s possessed a strange looking doll for the time being.

Since the other four actual full vampires can’t shop for themselves at this time of day or really in general, you and Guillermo have been given such an honorable task in making Nadja’s birthday the best one yet. Considering she’s the most well balanced in the head out of the four of them and is the only other lady of the manor.

“Hey Y/N, how’s this look?” Wonders Guillermo as he holds up a bunch of Mardi Gras beads of yellows, purples, and greens. “Comments, questions, concerns?” He adds with a small smile.

Eyeing up the beads, your head shifts over to the other various colors, “Hrmm, G I’m feeling the vibe you’re going for this year and I like it, but let’s go with Nadja colors.”

Guillermo’s dark eyes light up at your positive suggestion, “Right! So the red and black ones then?”

“Yup. She’ll love that shit.” You state with a satisfied nod of approval, “Let’s get some black and gold confetti from over there and oh, those masquerade masks look cool as fuck.”

You pick up and test out various masks in the background as Guillermo adds some bits of dialogue for the documentary crew, “Um yeah she’s really cool isn’t she.” He says with a smile while glancing at you then back to the camera, “Which is kind of odd since Y/N’s been with Nandor since 1793 so you’d think she’d be a little more like them but no, she’s super chill and really nice.” Suddenly his face goes a bit serious as he leans in to whisper, “But she did kill a whole street gang once when they threw a slur at me so I wouldn’t mess with her. For your safety.”

The camera pans back over to an oblivious you who’s put on a masquerade mask and is swinging a plastic light saber around with a whole lot more accuracy and grace then would a normal person. The camera then pans back to Gullimero, “Um, I’m just gonna....make sure she doesn’t smack anyone.”

——

Arms full of groceries of food for you and Gullimero, as well as random party decorations for Nadja’s birthday tomorrow night, you use the bottom of your boot to skillfully open the door as the documentary crew and Guillermo follows suit. Guillermo now on the verge of falling over with the large heart shaped pillow in his arms that’s covering most of his body.

You don’t feel tired in the slightest due to your half vampiric abilities so this is nothing to you, “Alright.��� You state, turning on your heel to face the crew and Guillermo, “They’re asleep so we gotta be extra sneaky now, I don’t want Nadja catching us with all this cool spooky birthday shit. Everyone to the attic!” You whisper yell before leading the charge to the attic.

They all follow as quietly and as quickly as they can and then soon enough in no time are you and Guillermo back outside in the sunny garden trying to figure out if you should blow up the giant sea monster pool floaty.

“I mean it would look cool as hell and no doubt out-do whatever the fuck boring thing Lazlo probably has planned.” You quip with a shrug while the two of you stare thoughtfully at the small gloomy dark pond. “He’s got no chance with us. I’ve won best decorator and card maker for two hundred years in a row.”

Guillermo side eyes you in honest amazement, “Wow that’s a lot of years. And cards.”

“I know. I was an artist in the 12th century but my no good terrible good for nothing piece of garbage trash sexist human husband, who I was forced to marry when I was only sixteen, took all the credit for my artwork in that era.” You confirm with a growl, “But it stings less because once I finally grew into my powers and strength at eighteen I simply made his untimely demise look like an accident.” You add with a smirk.

“Oh, wow.” Mutters the intrigued familiar.

“Precisely. The old fool was thrown off his horse because I told Philip, the horse, to throw him off. And he did. Which killed the idiot so I got the house and all of his money.”

“That’s......neat.” Mutters Guillermo as he shoots the camera crew from behind you and him a nervous look. “Uh the suns going down so I should probably help Nandor out of his coffin.”

Raising your head to the sky you immediately see how the sun has begun to paint the clouds in beautiful colors of oranges, reds, light pinks, and darkening purples. “Oh, how bout that. Yeah alright let’s get inside.” You nod to Guillermo before turning to walk towards the manor’s giant mahogany doors.

——

Turning the handle and walking a couple feet into the large main room that holds itself as a sort of crossroads for all the other various connecting hallways and staircases. You don’t make it even three more steps towards the left ascending staircase before you hear the highly recognizable voice of your one and only.

“Y/N! My lovely wife and favorite person still ever so lovely!” Announces Nandor loudly with a grand smile showing off his pearly white fangs, “How I have missed you and your morning kisses. Where have you been off to?” He wonders softly as you smile a big dumb love-struck grin right back up at him, you’d absolutely die to hear that accent one last time.

“I can’t tell you right now it’s a secret!” You whisper yell back, causing his thick dark brows to scrunch up in confusion.

“But I am your lovely strong puff dragon Y/N.” Whines Nandor adorably as you roll your eyes at the cameras before looking back up at him.

“Fine. Come here then.”

In an instant he’s at your side, excitedly awaiting what secretive news you will tell him, “Okay, so we know it’s Nadja’s birthday tomorrow right?”

“Yes. I remember because she hasn’t shut up about it.”

“Right. So me and Gullimero got some fun surprise birthday party decorations and they’re in the attic and we can’t tell Nadja.”

Nandor gives you a knowing look of affirmation as he leans in closer to you, his demeanor suddenly shifting into a more saddened one, “You went shopping without me?” He says quietly.

Leaning up to give him a quick peck on the cheek your hands instantly find his, “Just for a little while, but I still need to find more stuff so....you wanna come?”

Nandor’s big dark eyes light up with joy as you hand him a kind smile, “Yes! Let us go in search of unknown treasures for our lady friend Nadja so she will not be mad at us for terrible dull gifts of friendship.”

Laughing you give his hands a playful squeeze, “Come on I’ll race you to Party City!” You say before leading him past the camera crew and Guillermo who simply watches the two of you leave, glad to have an hour of peace.

“There’s a whole city for partying? Y/N why have we never been to this place?”

——

“Y/N there are no people partying here.” Whines your vampire lover in puzzlement as he follows you from the entrance to a side isle. “You said this was a city for partying.”

“That’s just the name of the store Nans.” You retort with a small chuckle as he looks from right to left at all the color coded party plates and napkins galore.

“Well the title is very misleading.”

“Agreed.”

Turning to the right you guide him towards the decretory pirate themed isle in search of something that will peak his interest. Also you wanted so badly to make it to this spot but Gullimero was a man on a mission so your intention was thwarted for when you had Nandor with you.

Speed walking down the pirate themed isle you quickly halt all movement as Nandor’s large body stops within less than an inch from your back. Smiling brightly you snatch the desired object in front of you and as swift as a cat turn to face him.

“Have you come for a dual my old enemy?” You speak slyly, eyes narrowed as you hold the foam sword right in front of his face. “I sense a nervousness about you. Tell me, are you ready to face your inevitable bloody end?”

Staring at the pointy foam, his dark puppy eyes shift over to you as an adorable fangy grin breaks out across his pale face, “Seems you have come prepared, oh radiant and alluring seductress. Well, so have I!” Shouts Nandor before grabbing two foam swords from off the rack and swinging them in both hands like a mad man.

Taking a cautious step back you hold your pathetic five dollar sword in both hands like a true warrior ready for battle, “Only one shall leave this place alive.” You affirm with a smirk, “And it’s not going to be you.”

“Arrrrrggg.” Bellows your lover as he charges you like the true conqueror that he once was. But all to soon do you swiftly duck under his arms and swat him over his stomach with a confident thwack sound.

He makes a puny little “oww” as you turn around to face him once again, “Y/N you hit me kind of hard.” He complains, looking rather defeated and genuinely hurt that you could have intentionally injured him on purpose.

Bringing the plastic weapon down to your side once again, your face suddenly softens as you walk over to him, “Come here you big baby.” You quip sincerely as he leans down so you can give his cheek a quick kiss.

Rising back to his full height, Nandor almost blushes as the corners of his eyes crinkle into a happy smile, “Actually it didn’t hurt at all I just wanted you to kiss me.” Reveals the vampire with a proud grin as you simply roll your eyes.

“Should have known.” You add before turning and snatching up four more plastic foam pirate swords for the others. “Alright let’s get outta here, follow me my love, to the checkout line we shall purchase our weapons of war and partying on the high seas.” You announce with gusto as Nandor stands proudly at your side, ready to follow you anywhere.

“Yes. To check out.”

——

Kicking open the unlocked door, Nandor bursts into the vampire residence with bags full of goodies for Nadja’s birthday party. You right behind him but less dramatically, “We’re back!” You shout to no one in particular as Colin Robinson suddenly appears from out of nowhere, looking ready to leave with his funny little hat and usual beige jacket.

“Oh hey guys,” He starts with a friendly nod, “I’m just heading out on the town tonight. I guess there’s a fair or something in the park and I wanted to test my skill at the ball toss. I’ve been reading up on the body mechanics and how the game is set up which seems pretty basic all in all. Also I really want to win a stuffed bear this time, it might add a little pizazz to my room. Welp see ya’round.” Adds Colin before walking past the two of you without another word and out into the night he goes with some of the camera crew following close behind.

Nandor turns to you with a look of annoyance, “Jeesh I thought he would never leave. Let’s go to your room I want to kiss you some more now.”

“Why my room?”

“Because since you are half vampire you get to sleep in a bed and because I am a full vampire I sleep in a coffin.” Inquires Nandor while looking at you with those big beautiful dark eyes of his, “And my coffin is too small for cuddles so your room will suffice.”

“Yeah that’s a fair point.” You shrug before following him to your room.

After many cuddles leading to other more rated R type activities that lasted until just about sunrise, you finally got some well needed rest while the sun shone high in the sky until she began her dramatic descend back into oblivion. Opening your eyes you slowly rise from out of your comfy bed, already missing the presence of your obsidian eyed lover.

He gets too nervous about your closed windows for fear that the sun might burn him which would be impossible because you black out the glass. But alas, he’s very cautious about these types of things and won’t risk it for anything, though he feels bad about leaving you in the morning, you understand.

Suddenly it dawns on you that today or perhaps tonight, is Nadja’s birthday and you completely forgot to set up any decorations. Shit, how stupid. Throwing the blankets off of you, your feet move quick as you speedily change yesterday’s outfit for something a bit nicer and more clean.

Racing out of your room and into the dimly lit manor hallway, you make a bee line for the attic but before you’re able to reach the steps, Guillermo runs into you, just about knocking you into a wall of various stolen ancient weapons. Sharp ones at that.

That was close.

“Y/N are you okay!” Worries the familiar as you quickly gather your bearings.

“Guillermo! The decorations! Nadja’s birthday!” You whisper yell as the human man simply smiles. “Why are you smiling, this situation does not call for smiles.”

“Don’t worry. While you were sleeping I set up all the decorations.” He replies with a shrug, “No problem.”

“What? But that must have taken you all day, you could have asked me for help. I would have come.” Your brows furrow as he shakes his head, though you still feel bad for not helping with anything.

“Well I did try, but um,” Gullimero awkwardly clears his throat, giving the camera a quick glance, “Nandor was with you and last time I asked for you while you and him where having alone time he threatened to carve out my eyeballs and force feed them to me.”

Pinching the bridge of your nose in annoyance you take a deep breath, “Sounds like him. Very creative when he wants to be, alright, well....where’s everyone?”

“Oh, they’re not up yet. I was actually on my way to get you. I made blood popsicles and the pool floaty is all done and in the pond.” He says with a sense of pride for his decorating skills. “I think she’ll like what we’ve come up with this year.”

-

Standing in the living room with your three fellow immortals you search a dresser for her card, “Oh shit where’s my card? I could have sworn I had it yesterday on my dresser but I don’t remember seeing it there in the morning. Maybe it’s in this one?”

“Witches!” Hisses Nadja as you huff in frustration, where the hell did you put that damn card?

“Oh, Y/N my love,” Intervenes Nandor with a gentle tug of your sleeve, “I took it with me when I left your room before sunrise because I wanted to put my name on it too so she would know it’s from us.”

“What?” Replies Lazlo dramatically, “Now hold on just a damn minute, this card competition is individually scored so I won’t be having any of this nonsense. I worked really hard on mine this year.”

“Oh lick a donkey’s arse, look here,” You retort with, quickly holding up the card for Nadja, “there are two separate drawings on ours so either way if one of us wins she gets both our pictures. So you better hope your drawing doesn’t resemble a night clubs bathroom wall.”

“Yeah.” Mutters Nandor, who’s hiding behind you while resting both hands on either one of your shoulders as you glare at Lazlo.

“Fine.” Agrees Lazlo begrudgingly, “And mine will be amazing, this bitch of paper took me a whole six months to plan and produce. Can’t get quality this good anywhere else I guarantee it.” Adds Lazlo with a firm nod of self approval as you glance at the nearby camera.

“Right, okay everyone sit it’s time for presents. I want to know what you all got me.” Beams Nadja excitedly as she smiles a fangy grin in delight, plopping herself down in one of the arm chairs. Lazlo quickly finding the other one while you and Nandor seat yourself on the large couch. Colin and Guillermo finding somewhere to sit close by respectfully.

“Well, all I can say is hold onto your socks my dear cause this is going to blow you away.” Smirks Lazlo as he pulls a small box from out of his jacket pocket.

“If it’s a self made business card that says invitation to sexy town I will puke.” You deadpan while Nandor laughs from beside you, causing Lazlo to lose his smirk as Nadja hides her amusement the best she can manage.

“He he, sexy town, nice one Y/N.” Mutters Nandor with a proud grin as you raise a brow at Lazlo who’s giving you a hard glare.

“Oh, my dear pumpkin pie love, don’t listen to Y/N I will love anything you gift me.” Encourages Nadja with a bright welcoming smile, no doubt immediately boosting Lazlo’s once irked mood.

Rolling your eyes you shift a bit to find yourself leaning into Nandor’s body as Nadja opens up the rest of the vampire residents various gifts. A joyous fangy smile gracing her pale features every single time, revealing this birthday party was a thrilling success.

After much more fun that just about lasts throughout the whole night, and some rare but hilarious attempts at dancing between the five of you vampiric individuals. You’re feeling rather sleepy and you can tell Nandor is ready for a trip to dreamland as well.

Swaying to the lowly playing record instrumental, you hold Nandor tight while simultaneously enjoying the feeling of him so close, him doing just the same as he keeps you firmly pressed against his chest. His long dark hair tickles your face as he presses his head to your cheek, doing his absolute best to keep the flow without tripping up.

Sensing his growing fatigue, you gently squeeze his hand, “My love the sun will be up soon, let’s get you to bed, yes?”

A small lazy smile tugs at the corners of his lips while he looks down to meet your gaze, “But my dark angel I’m not tired. I want to dance with you a little longer.” He whines adorably before failing to conceal a big yawn.

Giggling, you lean back to slowly lead him towards the door, “That yawn says otherwise.”

“That wasn’t a yawn Y/N, I was just smiling really big.” He protests, though he still follows your lead to the door.

“I’ve never seen anyone smile like that.” You add with a raised brow.

“Well maybe that’s just how I smile.”

Letting out a breathy snort, you pull away from him to at last take his one hand, “Come. I can’t have a single ray of that dreaded sun to get a taste of your precious skin. Not on my watch.”

Glancing at the closed front door, Nandor squeezes your hand, “Well um, now since you’ve mentioned the sun...I think I’d like to go to my crypt now.” He says, the flash of worry crossing over his face for only a brief moment.

“You sure? I mean a sunrise is pretty beautiful if I’m being honest and I know you never get to see them...”

“Not funny Y/N. And not fair, you know I can’t because I am full vampire.”

“And you’re missing out.”

“And I’d like to stay alive Y/N.”

“Aren’t you dead?”

“Yes and I am your only husband so I need to stay not burnt to a crisp.”

Chuckling, you follow him down the hallway, “Oh really? Don’t want me finding myself with another vampiric lover? Some new beast to sweep me off my feet and take me away into the night.” You tease.

Side eyeing you, he frowns, “No. Don’t I sweep you off your feet?”

Stepping into his crypt you stop him with your hand against his bicep, “Always.” You whisper sincerely with a quick wink, causing him to break out into a big fangy grin.

“Good. And if anyone would try and whoo you I would make sure there would be no more whooing again!” Exclaims Nandor, making the candles rise in flame for only a short second at his rise in emotion for how much he loves you.

“I don’t doubt they would fall by your blade. Not for a second.”