#enroached

[whimsyycal]

Encroached

[meowkunas]

it would be nice to sit somewhere quiet with you

pairing: wriothesley x reader

summary: wriothesley is getting used to having you in his life (fluff)

word count: 1.9k+

a/n: i just assumed he lives in the fortress of meropide + he has a voiceline about how his handcuffs are built differently and can't be unlocked by any old master key, which prompted this ! i love him sm and i want to treat him so kindly

"What's this?"

The question leaves your lips before Wriothesley has completely let go of the small, metallic item in his fist. It's rare for him to invite you out for lunch, especially when it's an offer to meet you in the heart of Fontaine's main city. His invitation arrived at your desk in the form of a handwritten note, stating the time and place.

It's where you find yourself sitting opposite him now -- in a small cafe within a hidden corner of the city. A mostly empty area, but serving a delicious choice of tea and sweets. His words, not yours.

A beat of silence passes between the two of you.

It's broken when you gasp in surprise, cupping the key with one of your hands and dropping it onto the other hand as though expecting it to disappear between your motions. "Oh, I didn't realise this was a special occasion."

"It's so you don't always have to ask when you come down to visit me." He explains plainly, as though his actions haven't caused a complete rewiring in your brain of what you can expect from Wriothesley. He brings out his own room key to compare with yours.

A look of delight crosses your face when you see that they look completely identical. Clearing his throat, he drops his key back into his pocket, leaning his chin onto the palm of his hand. If he lets down his guard anymore, he's certain he'll blush at the adorable way you're acting right now. An odd, panicked thud hits within his chest when he realises you're not even looking at him, too busy gazing down at the key he's given you fondly. His nervousness changes to a pleasant warmth when you look up at him with a smile on your face.

"Thank you."

Wriothesley shrugs, crossing his arms in what he hopes is a nonchalant motion. "If it's for you..." The words trail off quietly as a different train of thought crosses his mind. "I'm glad you liked it." He says instead.

In the fourth months since then, you've visited him exactly six times and stayed over once. Although he's starting to think that it doesn't count, considering you left before he'd woken up. Not that he can recall the note that you left behind for him clearly in his mind. Not that he's counting your visits or memorising your excuses for coming this far his way. And he's definitely not got an eye out for you, knowing when you step into the Fortress of Meropide and the times of your exits.

So, as he stands, eyeing the dark and empty room which should hold you in some corner but doesn't seem to, he gets a little panicky. He knows you entered the Fortress of Meropide a little over an hour ago, although he hasn't kept track of your whereabouts since then. It takes a second for the panicked flutter in his heart to register as worry. But it's rendered him slightly useless. All he's doing is staring at the mattress covered in the soft sheets you'd brought with you on one of your visits in a stupid way.

There's a click from the bathroom door and he just manages to get a glimpse of your silhouette before you've barrelled into his chest. Wriothesley lets out a sigh of relief, letting his hands tangle into your hair. The bathroom, of course.

He hadn't even thought to check whether there was a light peeking out from underneath the door of the bathroom.

"Hi." You mumble, wrapping your arms around him and squeezing lightly. Screw his dislike of surprises apparently. "Did I scare you?"

The subtle teasing tone in your voice has the corners of his lips twitching.

"Obviously." He replies. "Who doesn't turn on the light when they enter the room in complete darkness? Even if they're going to the bathroom to shower first." He interrupts you as he notices you open your mouth to retort back to his question. Without waiting another moment, his hand slides from your hair to your cheeks, using a thumb to stroke your skin gently. His other hand reaches to flick on the light switch, revealing your flushed cheeks from the warm shower.

"I missed you." You say quietly.

He returns your sappiness with a roll of his eyes and a grin. "Can't even go without me for a couple of days, huh?"

"Mhm." You twirl a piece of your hair around your finger in thought. His eyes catch the motion, deciding whether to intertwine his free hand with yours. "When did you get the body wash I liked?"

Without answering, he buries his head into the crook of your neck and breathes deeply. It's warm. You feel yourself squirm at the ticklish sensation, only relaxing once his hand comes up to the back of your neck and massages it. An image sprouts in your mind of a hand holding a kitten by the scruff of its neck and you laugh.

It's always been like this; feeling a little like a give-and-take, except he keeps giving and so do you. A mumbled 'what?' brushes over your shoulder. Something seems to bloom in his chest when he notices you've left things behind in his room again. You don't apologise for it anymore. He wonders exactly when that happened.

Maybe somewhere between the third and fourth time you came over just to sit on his bed with him.

"Nothing." You pull away from the hug to look him over. His hair is tousled a bit more than it usually is, as though he ran all the way here from one side of the fortress to the other. A smile threatens to spread over your face and you bite your lip to stop it from appearing.

Wriothesley raises an eyebrow. You look all warm and cozy after your shower, and he honestly just wants to bundle you up and fall asleep with you in his arms. As though you can see the thought crossing his mind, you untangle yourself from his arms immediately, flopping back onto the bed with your arms spread wide.

Your eyes are closed lazily and you let out a contented sigh. "Ahh, it's so nice that I can curl up in bed since I'm all showered and clean."

Wriothesley gives a throaty laugh at the sight of you. His hands rest on his hips now as he rakes his eyes over your form. "Fine, fine. Want to help?"

You shoot up in bed instantly, eyes wide. "Yes."

"C'mon! Let me see how many layers you're actually wearing."

"Don't dissect me like some kind of insect--"

Wriothesley isn't stopping any of your movements though. Maybe he had something a little more dirty in mind when he made the offer, but it seemed that all you wanted to do was undress him and curl back into bed. He can live with that.

The cape comes off his shoulders first, and surprisingly, it's heavy. A quiet settles over the both of you once you actually move to undress him, and you can feel his eyes scanning your every move. Every movement of your hands against his bare skin or every notice of your intense gaze at his layers of clothing sends a jolt of electricity through him.

It's difficult to tell what he's thinking when he gets like this. You fold his cape neatly in half and place it to the side. You'll start a pile, you decide. As you get to work on pulling off his tie, you realise too late that he'll probably want to hang it up.

Your eyes don't leave his exposed collarbones as you toss his tie over to the side. A guilty feeling weighs you down, and you look up at him, only to find him still watching you with a curious look on his face.

"What? You're pretty," You state, only slightly embarrassed that you've been caught. Before he can retort with anything, you give him a kiss just above his collarbone. Wriothesley takes in a visible sharp breath, and you feel like you've won something. The waistcoat slides off his arms with ease as he lets you nudge him wherever you want.

It's self-consciousness instead of guilt that creeps up onto your next as he still doesn't say a word, merely watching your movements with an intense gaze. You feel a heat burn across your cheeks. You don't even realise you're clenching your fists until one of his hands envelops yours and swipes a thumb over your knuckles.

"You wear so many layers." You're throwing the waistcoat to the side now, shaky hands unbuttoning his shirt.

"It's cold down here." He pauses, tilting his head to think. "And it looks professional."

You snort. "Mm, yes, your loose tie is very professional."

"It adds personality and it makes me look good."

"Not going to argue with that last part." You mumble as your fingers fiddle with his shirt buttons clumsily. Finally, you’re able to get everything off, leaving him shirtless. It’s easier to see his breathing this way. It’s mesmerising. You brush over the scars on his chest absentmindedly. The way his even breathing stutters as you do so brings you back to focus on what you're doing. “Ah, sorry.” 

Before you can move away, he grabs your wrist, holding your splayed, apologetic hand in place. “It’s okay.” His voice is softer when he says that, almost shy. When he’s sure you’re not going to stop touching him, he lets go of your wrist. There are scars accumulated over years of fights and whatever else he hasn’t told you yet. Using just one finger, you trace the outline of a few of them on his chest and his stomach. The whole time, he keeps his breathing even, watching the thoughtful look on your face. As you slowly drop your hand back to your side, he asks a lingering question in his mind. “Can I touch you?” 

“I just showered.” You pout, shoulders slumping slightly at his suggestion. 

“Nothing else, I promise.” 

Wriothesley takes his time. His hand nudges at the top of your loose, bedtime shirt until he can kiss you on your shoulder. Soft pecks trail up to your jawline and his hand tilts your head slightly so he can bite you gently. A tentative hand travels up to the bare skin under your shirt and squeezes the side of your waist. When you don’t object, he pulls the shirt off of you, returning to wrap his arms around you as soon as he does and pulling you close to him. Another kiss, on your cheek this time. Again, on the corner of your lips. And the last one, a yearning press of his lips against yours as his hand strokes your jaw. 

He leans his forehead against yours and closes his eyes. “Just one more minute like this, and then I will be getting into the shower.” 

It’s warm in bed next to you. He’s curled up behind you, still placing kisses against your neck and brushing your hair aside as you squirm in his hold. With his arm slung over your waist, there’s not very much you can do. Maybe he’s addicted to kissing your skin. 

“I think I want to follow you around tomorrow.” You suggest hesitantly. There’s a small moment where you think he might actually say no to you, but he just nods and goes back to kissing your neck, brushing his lips down to your shoulder. 

“It’s pretty boring though. All paperwork and other things that I probably should be doing but I’ll ignore for a bit. Until I can't."

You’ve known him a bit too long, you realise. There’s a distinct lilt to his voice that tells you he’s smiling as he’s saying it, even though he’s got you facing the other way so that you can’t see him. 

“Don’t care.” A sigh leaves your lips as he gives you one more long kiss against your shoulder before pulling away. “I want to hang out with you.” 

You thread your fingers with the hand wrapped around your midriff, fiddling with them as you drift off to sleep. Wriothesley watches the silhouette of you breathing before deciding to leave you be and pull you closer to him instead. 

I think I’m afraid of losing you, he thinks. But maybe it’s still a bit too early to tell you that. 

[fishareglorious]

there is something I find inherently funny with Lucy's design. why is she so sexualized. why do u have pronounced metal tits. why do you have a BELLY BUTTON? what is the purpose of all of that maam.

[loserschapel]

charbitch is like. if you wanna date me you have to defeat my seven evil exes. and the seven evil exes are the gang, the lawyer, the waitress, and the basement rats.

[couchie]

hey!! why do u support endo systems btw, those guys are. not cool! as an actual system its rlly invalidating to see them incroaching on d.i.d and system spaces :T /nm

good lird. sigh

i support em bcuz its not my place to tell them what they are and arent. i support em bcuz bro what the fuck do they have to gain to pretend?? i support em bcuz honey there are already studies being done about endogenic systems. i support em bcuz i honestly could not give any less of a shit abt inter-community pissing contests when we have bigger problems at hand

(the first & last point are the biggest ones tho *shrug*)

i only replied bcuz you were polite about asking, please dont make me regret it. do your research, talk to actual endogenic systems, idk. but like going up to a whole group of people and saying "nah actually ALL of you are lying and pretending and you actually arent what you say you are!" is. kind of shitty. yknow?

[hakusins]

eden... <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[debbiechanclub]

I heard Zack's voice and suddenly started paying attention

[apollyons]

shout out to hit series transformers animated keeping me feeling something rn

[ridragon]

My account on the first ever website I joined that I still have access to is older than I was when I first made the account.

... I need a moment. Many moments.

[cookies-after-dark]

ok but imagine pv smilk and reader having something going, relationship going steady, freak is on™, people kinda get the hint that this is a committed poly relationship

but! some poor soul makes a pass on the reader (thinking that the relationship is open and they're up for grabs)

you cannot tell me these two mfkers aren't the most possessive ass bitches (pv undercover) when it comes to each other and their partner (i'm hinting at possessive sex bro it would be so good)

pv 🤝 smilk

"that's my boyfriend and my partner and if u look too much im gonna bite."

they live in my mind rent free i need to write an eviction notice- i am so so sorry if this is nonsensical

(additional tags: possessiveness, unhealthy dynamics, beast x ancient

ships: Pure Vanilla Cookie x gender neutral!reader x Shadow Milk Cookie)

Okay so this ask resonated within my soul. I've wanted to write about just how willing Pure Vanilla and Shadow Milk are willing to share the one that holds their affections, across many different dynamics (yandere suitors sharing vs. normal poly relationship between three mostly stable individuals, etc.)

But I really, really like the thought of the two of them just closing the relationship after they include you in it. Because I love to see Shadow Milk when he's a snarling, spitting animal and PV needs to be possessive over his belongings friends and family more because I said so and it brings me joy.

I think they both would handle it quite differently, their jealousy. Shadow Milk Cookie is all external force, his hackles raise when he sees another cookie rub their hands over your back when they hug you. Shadow Milk Cookie is insecure desperate and clingy enough to shoot first ask questions later if he feels you're drifting away from him.

You're not, you tell him that when he's curled around you like some type of hissing weasel.

He believes you, but he just wouldn't feel better if he didn't teach that other cookie a little lesson! One should know better than to enroach on his territory.

Shadow Milk Cookie feels nonthreatened only when it's Pure Vanilla Cookie (and his other Beast friends, as he has expressed to the two of you eagerly). He doesn't mind it, loves it even when he finds their scent on you as he wraps himself around you. It's quite comforting.

But a stranger's touch on you feels wrong, like a sin. Shadow Milk Cookie actually gets very antsy until he's at least sniffed out this foolish doughbrain and assure himself that this won't happen twice.

You and Pure Vanilla Cookie have helped a lot on this regard; Shadow Milk's wrath used to mean something serious. Well, relentlessly stalking a cookie and pulling meanspirited "pranks" on them still is quite serious. Baby steps, everyone!

Needless to say, but I'll say it anyway, Pure Vanilla Cookie is not nearly as unhinged and unstable as his Beast partner is. In fact, I think it would take a much bigger push to feel like Pure Vanilla had to step in. He's patient, kind, and understanding.

But Pure Vanilla also feels jealousy, like any other cookie.

Pure Vanilla Cookie doesn't puff out his chest and start strutting around like a peacock when someone flirts with you. Actually, he thinks it's quite flattering that his partner is attractive enough for such a positive response!

(But if I just left it at that and didn't find some way to make Pure Vanilla Cookie's hackles rise then we wouldn't be here right now.)

I think the thing that gets Pure Vanilla's eyes to snap open is when someone persists with you. Fair enough, anyone with a partner would feel the need to smile a bit more tightly and wander over to put a comforting hand on yltheir shoulder while making subtle eye contact with the pursuer, it's totally normal!

Just a little sign, y'know? A quick nuzzle to your cheek will do the trick.

Unbeknownst to you - there's the faintest reflection of alitted pupils in Pure Vanilla's eyes when his gaze flits towards your increasingly unwelcome guest. Shadow Milk Cookie has been a really good influence, huh?

I think PV would process this internally, more than anything else. You notice he kind of anxiously prowls around you a little bit more, but he goes back to acting like his merry self a day or two later.

Although, his insecurities ring like a bell through his souljam, which Shadow Milk Cookie can feel. They're both watching you much more often than you would think.

And isn't that so sweet? So romantic? You have not one, but two ultra powerful cookies with stable emotions watching your every move, making extra sure that you're safe and sound in their arms, and their arms only! You're in good hands, here.

[drdemonprince]

Just wanted to thank you for your piece about being interested rather than happy. I was visiting my old college town with my partner yesterday, an hour drive from where I currently live. We listened to the last 6 minutes of your video essay on the drive there (I listened to the rest prior). We had a fun day biking/scootering around the town, but I started dissociating on the drive back. I ended up having a PTSD flashback at their apartment when i dropped them off. It sucked. After I acutely recovered, I desperately just wanted to go home. But the bike rack was still on my car and I needed their help to take it off. And of course I left the socket wrench in my garage, 9 miles from where I needed it. It was late and cold as I begrudgingly walked out to the parking lot with them, a normal wrench in their hand. Needless to say, I was pretty miserable (7/10 I told them, enroaching on 8). But as they were unscrewing the bolt that seemed to take forever to unscrew, they looked over at me and said, "hey remember what the doctor said?" (yes, you're The Doctor to them lol). My muddled brain had no idea what they were talking about. "This is pretty interesting." I had to laugh at the absurdity of it. Like yeah, I guess it was interesting.

And like yeah, it sucked too. But our day was interesting. I had a hemorrhoid sclerotherapy procedure the day before so I rode my electric scooter around town while they biked. I got this scooter when my chronic illness was at its worst and I couldn't walk very far. I've since gotten better, so I hadn't ridden that scooter in a few years. It's battery died as soon as we got to town. So, after we ate dinner and and walked around, we tried wheeling me along with their bike back to where we parked. That failed so I ended up just pushing my scooter along like a skateboard for a mile on the bikeway back. It was tiring and I was a little worried about my butthole (cause sclerotherapy, remember?). But along the way, a dog barked at us, a homeless man asked for directions, and I got mad at my partner for not staying close to me since they were the only one with a light.

I drove us back home on the highway. There was construction. My partner played y2k music when I said I felt weird. Unwritten is a banger. And when we stepped in their apartment, they pointed to their room so I could lie down (and wail in their bed). They laid on top of me when I asked for a hug. And they brought me an ice pack for the back of my neck when I said that might help (I think it did, or at least the placebo of it did--whatever). They asked if I wanted my leftovers from dinner. I didn't.

We took the bike rack off. I drove home. My dog greeted me. I colored on my coloring app. I ate some sunchips. I took a shower. I went to bed. It sucked. But it was interesting. And knowing that was helpful.

oh my god. this is beautiful. thank you for sharing.

[opal-owl-flight]

GOOBLET Neo3 and her adoptive mama :]

Backstory time? BACKSTORY TIME

More abt her origins under the cut!!

She hails from a clan of salmonids that lives close to the Splatlands border. Her whole life, shes known nothing but fight, and be angry at the Inkfish that have taken over the shores of this clan's spawning grounds.

But she was originally from a village of egg harvesters. A struggling village, who fell to harvesting eggs for Grizzco to get by. Once, generations ago, they were friends and traded with the local salmonids until The Propaganda and Better Pay won them over. This generation has forgotten. But the salmonid never forgot this betrayal.

During another attempt to take their spawning grounds back, and migrate upwards to a feeding ground, they pushed into the village ala Big Run.

Neo3s parents -- her mother was incubating the eggs -- dropped the smaller egg as a distraction while she and the father bolted. They hoped the salmonid chasing them would eat the egg and spare them.

A Stinger saw this from her perch and yelled at all the salmon around her to NOT eat the egg.

"Spawn for Spawn," she hisses. "They took me sister's eggs. I teke theirs." She thought her parents were snivveling cowards and told no one to tell the hatchling about them. They do not deserve to be remembered.

The egg was due to hatch in a month. The stinger submerged it in a mix of salmon blood and synthetic ink that the clan ransacks the village for once in a while. The egg, exposed to the mixed material, took on traits of both -- water resistance but can still shapeshift, and so on.

She was raised by the Stinger, alongside lil buddy and a few other hatchlings. (Salmonid raise their young communally after spawning rituals. They are fed the flesh of the fallen, among other things.) The other salmonid didnt approve much. They insisted that its better to just eat her and be done with it -- what can an inkfish do?? And how sure are they that she wont betray them? Inkfish stick with their own, the last few generations have shown that. What would she do when she finds out the truth? Enact revenge? (The stinger is sure she wont.) Still...that Inkfish spawn is adjusting well with the others. They eventually give her a chance, after she scared the piss out of some Grizzco workers that enroached on their spawning grounds again. (It was 4. She scared 4 REAL bad enough that she never came back!!)

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

Neo3 never betrayed them. But she did dishonor them.

One of Neo3s closest Salmonid brethren is a horde of pirate Salmonid. (The smallfry is also among them, but he is the same age as Neo3 almost. So when she was a toddler so was he)

They like to help the Runners on their spawning journeys by stirring shit up along their path. Giving them something to fight as they journey. sometimes its Inkfish residences when its Big Runs.

This older brother of hers died on one of these runs. She was very close to this one... And he had taken that hit for her after everyone else was taken down.

And Neo3, and the smallfry??

They ran.

They cant show their faces again after that great dishonor. I know her mama would accept her still. She always does. The rest of the clan may not, though... theyd smell the cowardice on her. The fear. Same goes for the smallfry on her.

Salmonids are...when they fight, they never back down, even if they know theyre gonna die. Fight to live with all theyve got. If they die, they drag whatever theyre fighting down with them.

To keep hiding, with no intention to fight, is considered a sign of weakness (there is the whole "retreat to get to a better position" kind of deal after all. But only Elders can make the choice to fully retreat to fight another day). Theres no elders on that trip and Neo3 just kept hiding. Seeing death so absolute before her for the first time and shrinking away from it.

*Neo3 has that secret fear of dying (much more than most salmonids -- in the fish, theres a "fear" of it that keeps them fighting hard even when things are going south). She freezes instead of fights when she knows she'll lose. And while the threshold isnt low, she gives up more easily than most salmonid do. Her freezing and 3 getting shot during Biggest Run is bc of this, and her guilt after the fact is bc shes reminded of her older salmonid brother.

So she ran off. With only the clothes on her back, and the smallfry, she bolted into the Splatlandian desert. The salmonid she did encounter on the way smelled her fear and returned to the clan bearing the news. She was banished, exiled. Inkling scum, the smallfry an accomplice. The Stinger (who couldve been demoted or kept off the spawning grounds for raising the exiled salmonid, but wasnt due to her skill in routing the workers) kept the respawner they pilfered for her. Waiting for her return, one day.

**This honor was restored during the Biggest Run. She was the one in charge of directing the clans to the safest routes. She was the one drawing worker fire (bc Grizzco is after her ass for the banditry...among other reasons). She faced dangers head on without fear, esp after 3 got shot down. Neo3 doesnt know this. Not yet. She still believes shes the clan's greatest dishonor, hiding it all under the fuzzification's "yearning curse" (more on that later), and a grin.

----------

She didnt immediately end up with Cuttlefish. She spent some years as a scrap scavenger. And...she tried to return to her biological family.

Neo3 did NOT feel good after meeting her bio family. She thought- god she thought - that since her salmonid clan rejected her for her dishonorable cowardice with the pirates (god she was 12-13 guys she didnt even have proper fingers), maybe she can live with her bio family instead.

Nah. That aint happening. And for a while she thought it was working out. Shes with... "the family that spawned her". Her dad was talking to her (before findin oit abt the smallfry anyway). Shes getting the supposed "care" that she missed out on.

Why does it feel...wrong?

And it only felt more wrong when the family comes back day after day of work, heavy with the smell of dead salmonid and the warm scent of golden eggs.

Neo3, they sacrificed you to save their own asses. Youre not missing out any love from them. What she got was dirty looks from everyone and the family keeping her a secret (everyone thought the dad did a freaky with one of the salmonids theyre hunting.)

She ran away again. Running headfirst into Craig, who smelled like The Bear. In her mind, if she kills the bear, then maybe....

Under all that bluster, all she really wants is to be with a family again. And your clan wants to welcome you back now. Youve restored your honor a hundredfold. Only thing stopping you now is yourself.

---------

WOOH THATS A LOT. ENJOY THE COMPLETE BACKSTORY GANG! I didnt touch on Splat3s stuff yet bc that deserves a different post aiejdjd.

[starstrike]

I'm obsessed with how Shivers will outright tell you that the anodic music kids will fail. I think this implies that, even if you build up the club, nobody will ever visit it.

I think this was one of the times in Disco Elysium that I really... got it. After reading this, I decided to tell the kids to scram. They wouldn't succeed anyways. It felt terrible. I reloaded my save; I couldn't stand to do anything else. Just because hope, beauty, or love are temporary, does that make them any less valuable? Just because you know something will be snuffed out doesn't mean you shouldn't try. That hope and love is valuable for its own sake.

At the time, I was going through a severe depressive episode. I was moving out in six months before moving cross country, so why should I bother investing into my environment? I had this old fish tank I'd poured effort into, once. Got some new fancy aquasoil that would be great for my plants, but it needed time sitting underwater. I left it like that for… oh, months. This damaged, empty, sad little thing that I had once loved immensely.

But building that nightclub with those kids made me change my behavior. I got myself a $6 betta fish, shoplifted some plants from petco, and built my tank up again. Even knowing I'd need to break it apart. So what if it ends? So what if the dance club never becomes popular? You build something and dance with your community, even if your dream fails. Even if it ends. There was love there.

And I think that's one of the things Disco Elysium is about. The kids and their nightclub is a microcosm of the knowledge that the pale is enroaching on Insulinde and the rest of the world. There is a literal, tiny, hole in the world inside of that church. The hole is another reminder of entropy, of the End. And all of this takes place in an edifice of a centuries-old regime and a religion of maintaining the status quo. A religion of broken glass and broken promises. But you take those shards and build on top of them, transforming their meaning. You grow, you build, instead of apathetically letting things remain the same. You find hope and beauty and love even though you know it's unsustainable.

Because the 'now' is valuable in itself. And I love that about this game.

[judasgot-it]

Everybody Talks

Scenario: Kaldo really, really likes you. He is doing borderline anything he can to convince you to like him back.

This was originally something else but once again! I have gone way off the tracks!

1.7 k word count

Kaldo might have been obsessed with you since day one.

It was everything about you - the way you walked, the way you smiled at him, the way you had forgotten his name for the first 3 months of knowing him and called him 'Mr. Flame Cane' as if he wouldn't notice.

He did. Usually, he would find something like that a little offensive, but the first time he had met you, there was something different about your demeanor that he was willing to overlook your poor memory.

If anything, it made you cuter.

It was overwhelming. You were lost in the building where divine visionaries held their meetings - it was the first time you had ever been there after being inducted into the group.

Kaldo had practically grown up in the building thanks to his lineage, so of course he had no problem giving you a tour.

He had extended the tour for a little too long - you really didn't need to know about the secret crawl spaces or the unused closets. But he wanted your attention so, so badly.

Kaldo felt a little stupid even, sharing embarrassing childhood stories with someone he had only met a few days before. The laugh he received was so genuine and beautiful, that he wished he could record it and play it on repeat forever.

It was addicting. Those few hours of conversation might have caused some sort of spark in him, because after that he was following you around like a puppy every chance he got.

Maybe he didn't have enough chances - you both did have busy jobs, given you were divine visionaries.

But he found that he could do most of his office work while talking to you. You never called him out or told him to leave - all you did was invite him in further, keeping jars of honey and napkins on your desk.

Not once did you call him strange for his food habits, instead worrying about cavities while trying the coffee he had made for you.

It was pretty much expected that Kaldo was going to be in your office 9 times out of 10.

The both of you had discussed it once, as a little inside joke between the two of you.

"Maybe they think we're dating?"

You said this casually, although Kaldo's people-watching skills told him that the blush on your face was not from some sudden heatwave.

The implication had you blushing, and Kaldo wanted to savor it for a little while.

"My mom sent a letter asking if we're engaged, you know,"

He leaned in closer as he said this, as if seeing your reaction up close would ease how fast his heart was beating at that moment.

"There's rumors that we've been courting-"

"You're way too formal, Kaldo. Courting is a noble's thing."

He could feel your hair against his skin, and how your hands brushed against his on the desk. He was taking up your space, leaning in closer to stare at your face - trying his hardest to commit it to memory.

Your skin looked beautiful in the light of the dying sun, the windows behind the both of you giving him a glimpse of what you would look bathed in gold.

Kaldo let his hand overtake yours, testing to see how much of your space he could enroach upon.

"I don't mind it," you said this with a smile, one Kaldo only noticed because he was staring at your lips. "Maybe we should let them think that."

And you both had left it at that. It was like an inside joke to the both of you, whenever someone had asked the question-

Are you together?

Your answers would be between some wild response or a shrug. Now you held onto Kaldo as if he was your own personal teddy bear, but never said a word about it.

His personal space had become decidedly yours; as if to keep the little joke between each other a little more realistic.

Kaldo once kissed you and said 'no' and you had thought it was the funniest thing on the planet. He was going along with it, since he figured that it had gone unsaid that you both were going along with the rumors.

He only slightly hated himself for that decision.

It had started a game between the both of you, that had gone unsaid - going past just spending time with one another outside of being coworkers and friends, the both of you were everything that a couple could be without saying 'I love you'.

Kaldo found himself sleeping in your bed more times than not, and you were eating dinner by his side every chance you had.

It was impossible. Kaldo didn't know if it was still a joke or not whenever you kissed him goodbye; when you held his hand or when you talked to his mom as if you had known her your whole life.

Was it ever a joke?

He found himself floundering around each time he wanted to ask, because what does he even really say?

There weren't a lot of words he could think of when you would kiss him in the same abandoned closets he had shown you only months prior. It made his usual intellect fly out the window - he only thought with his body, trying to memorize the cavern of your mouth and the softness of your skin.

This would never help with the rumors; if either of you still cared about that.

At this point, he wasn't sure what either of you cared about. You were both distracted with your game, rather seeing each other than being interested in anything else.

It was really catching up to the two of you.

You were slacking on your work, and no one even bothered to ask anymore. Kaldo was with you, or you were with Kaldo.

It...really wasn't a joke anymore.

"Hey?"

Kaldo didn't know what to do when you pulled away, your lack of warmth making him feel cold for once in his life. His eyes looked around your face, as if to understand what the hell was going on through your mind.

It was the most impossible puzzle that had ever been put in front of him.

Your eyes didn't portray anything aside from confusion, which was exactly what Kaldo was feeling in that moment.

"Yeah?"

Seriously, what the hell were you two doing?

"Are you okay? You seem out of it."

You were blinking up at him, caught between staring at his lips and making eye contact. Kaldo knew he didn't have the prettiest eyes, but it was difficult to have a conversation with him when you were practically on top of him in a dusty closet.

"No, I'm fine. Just thinking..."

He had a lot of things he wanted to ask you, like if you were ever planning on being serious or if this was just going to stay a game between the both of you.

But he figured he should ask you in a nice place, like outside and in a garden somewhere.

"About?"

Your hand traveled around his body, traveling underneath his shirt and further untucking it. Kaldo was overly aware of how the fabric moved against his skin, and he had to breathe in deeply to stop the sounds that wanted to escape his throat.

This mess was like a tangled-up ball of string - Kaldo was never going to escape you.

"What happened to us?"

"Huh?" He could practically taste your confusion. Your tongue stuck out of your mouth a little, so close to his that he could smell his breath on you - like honey, and the faint smell of coffee.

"This isn't a joke anymore."

Your face practically glowed at that statement, averting his gaze nervously. It was as if he had caught you in a lie of some sorts.

Who the hell were you even lying to?

Kaldo took his hands and brought them to the small of your back, pinching at your ruffled jacket as he tried to meet your gaze once again. You were intent on not meeting his, staring at where the wall met the floor, as if it was the most interesting thing in the world.

"Can you please be honest with me," The last few months hung over him like a heavy heart, and he hoped you would give him the peace by giving him an answer. "What do you really want with me?"

You glanced at his face, and it pulled a blush out of you so red that Kaldo was sure that it matched the ribbons in his hair.

He leaned down, trying to have his eyes in your line of sight. You tried to pull your face away from his weakly, tossing quick glances towards him shyly.

"You weren't so shy just a moment ago babe."

It was hard to be shy as you were both practically one body, with your hands creeping up along Kaldo's skin even as you avoided his eyes.

"I just don't know how to answer. Aren't we good as we are?"

"And what is that?" Kaldo didn't know what emotion was bubbling up against his throat, making him want to close his eyes and hide like you were. There was a force stronger that compelled him to push you for a word - something other than 'the-guy-I-makeout-with-in-closets-and-also-work-with-and-live-with-and-also-pretend-to-be-dating-for-some-reason.'

Dragging the answer out of you was like eating caramel - sweet but also nearly impossible. It felt like he was biting and chewing forever, just to get a taste of what he wanted. He already had you in his arms, but it didn't feel like he was satisfied with having all of you.

At this rate, he needed a ring.

"Well everyone thinks we're, you know...together. Why don't we just be that?" You got the courage to look up at him, the answer only a near approximation of what you wanted to be.

"And you do want to be when mean by together?"

"You're just being an asshole now. You know what that means."

Kaldo felt your nails dig into his skin, as if a punishment for pulling the words out of you like this. It only made him smile, causing you to dig harder.

"I don't know if I do. My mom thinks we're engaged, but I heard some people think that we're merely courting. There's a big difference there, you know?"

"Together."

ignore that im ignoring my entire event, i have no concept of a schedule!

[toxifoxx]

hehe ^_^

i love interpretations of Henry because it's literally anywhere from "the kindest man ever who loves his kid(s) and anyone he meets, friends with everyone and the best person to ever live" to "the devil incarnate, most unlikable capitalist asshole to exist, ignores his kid(s), the only reason he didn't commit the MCI is because Bill got to it first, hated by all"

[malachimoet]

Ember Braixen is the princess of Candy Land, a kingdom within the world of Agartha. She's a kindhearted individual who loves nothing but sweet treats and sweet friendships! Her lands overflow with color and sweetness, but has recently found itself under threat by dimensional tears caused by the mostrous Yanmega, who seeks to merge all worlds into one under his chaotic rule. Ember spent countless moons trying to defend her kingdrom from the enroaching threat. Her loyal aide, Coppi the Pancham, would help her command, charm, and fight for her kingdom when needed-- but despite all her finesse and effort, she never pinned down that Yanmega for good. Things were growing more desperate as the Yanmega advanced further and further in her kingdom. One particular day she was rushing to help a town that was being overrun by Revarooms. The Slurpuffs of the land couldn't deal with that viscious squad alone, and it seemed like Ember wouldn't arrive in time. Luckily... two new heros that were brought into the land were there on the scene before things got ugly. The Super Meowstic Siblings!  Check out their toyhouse here for more information and consider giving them a favorite! : https://toyhou.se/33287402.ember-braixen