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fandoms-x-reader · 10 months ago

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Overdramatic! MC

Requested By: @yeosanityyyy

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Summary: The brothers and an overdramatic MC. The Seven Demon Brothers x Reader (separately) Word Count: 2,268

Lucifer always did his best to do his job properly.

Whether that was maintaining order at the House of Lamentation or serving as the right-hand man to Lord Diavolo, he always put one hundred percent effort into his work.

And while you both admired and respected him for that, sometimes it got in the way of your relationship with him.

And, whenever that was the case, you made sure your feelings were known in the most dramatic way possible.

You and Lucifer were supposed to spend the night together when he had gotten a phone call from Lord Diavolo.

You were sitting on his bed as he paced around his room, speaking in a monotone voice while he conversed with the future King of the Devildom.

“I’ll be right there,” Lucifer told Diavolo before hanging up the phone.

You had a frown on your face before he even turned around to face you.

“Lucifer, tonight is supposed to be our night,” you stated, looking up at him through your lashes.

“I’m sorry, I’ll be quick, I promise,” Lucifer replied, gently stroking your cheek before moving to leave.

That’s when you dramatically threw yourself onto your back in his bed, your arms crossed as you stated, “Oh how I wished you loved me more than Lord Diavolo.”

Lucifer froze in his spot as your words hit his ears. Did you just say what he thought you said?

If you were trying to be cute, it didn’t come across. If anything, Lucifer took your statement as a challenge.

In a flash, he had called Lord Diavolo back and told him that something had come up and that he would have to drop by tomorrow.

Get ready for him to spend the entire night showing you exactly who he loves.

“Mammon!” you shouted as you burst through the door to his bedroom causing him to jump and let out a small shout of surprise.

“What are ya’ thinkin’ barging in like that?” he asked, his hand over his heart as it raced.

He was sitting on his couch, surrounded by Grimm that he had been counting as he looked over at you.

“You have to help me,” you stated, walking further into the room.

Mammon didn’t see anything noticeably wrong with you, so he decided to drag this conversation on a bit.

“Sorry, I’m busy right now,” Mammon replied, continuing to count his Grimm.

That’s when you moved in front of him, sitting on your knees as the two of you locked eyes.

“Mammon, this is an emergency,” you pleaded, your eyes holding a sparkle that he was so weak to.

And now Mammon was starting to worry a bit. “What happened?” he asked, his brows furrowed as he began to run through all the possibilities in his head.

“Come on,” you stated, taking his hand in yours. He willingly left his seat and followed you as you dragged him to your room.

As soon as you entered your room, you closed the door behind the two of you. “What is it?’ Mammon questioned, turning to face you.

That’s when you suddenly rushed forward and wrapped your arms tightly around him, embracing him in a hug.

A blush rose to his cheeks as he suddenly realized what your “emergency” was. You wanted his attention.

But, in true tsundere fashion, he couldn’t let you know that he was enjoying this hug. So, he told you, “H-Hey, I was doin’ some real important stuff, ya’ know?”

And that’s what triggered such a dramatic reaction from you.

You pulled away from him, looking at his chest as you said, “Oh - so you would rather spend your time with Grimm than with me.”

Mammon’s eyes widened as you looked up at him, tears forming in your eyes.

“Wha? No! That’s not what I meant!” Mamon tried to protest.

But you were already pulling away from him as you told him, “It’s okay, I get it.”

Mammon was now pulling you back into his arms as he told you, “No, really! I’d rather be here with you!”

That’s how Mammon ended up spending the night in your room.

Levi was not good when it came to you acting overdramatic.

This was mostly because he wasn’t the best at picking up on social cues, so he couldn’t tell if you were genuinely upset or just being overdramatic.

You were the only person who made him feel like more than a yucky otaku, so he always strived to make sure you were happy.

He had been playing some video games and asked if you wanted to keep him company.

You had come over expecting to play games with him.

But, when you got there, you found him on comms with a rando. They were filling your coveted spot as his number two player.

You hadn’t played the game before, but that didn’t matter. You could learn!

He was excited to show you the game, not even thinking twice about the fact that he was playing with someone other than you.

But, you were ready to ensure that he knew exactly how you felt about the situation.

You were watching him play when your lips turned to a frown and you told him, “I guess I wasn’t a good enough player two for you.”

Levi immediately froze, his character losing health points as his mind raced with thoughts.

When his character finally died, he turned to you. He couldn’t believe he made you feel this way!

“O-Of course you’re good enough! Here, let me connect a controller! I’ll teach you how to play! Please don’t be mad at me!” he pleaded, scrambling to grab another controller.

You grabbed the controller he handed you and started playing the game with him.

Part of you felt bad for the rando he abandoned, but he was your Levi.

He would make sure to never ask someone else to play with him before he asked you.

Satan wasn’t normally one for theatrics. He tended to be straightforward and honest when speaking.

So, it was a bit of an adjustment for him when he realized how overdramatic you could be at times.

That side of you especially came out when the two of you were alone together.

He was reading a book peacefully when you decided that you wanted some attention.

You started out slow, gently resting your head on his shoulder and looking up at him, but he didn’t pay you any attention.

You let out a small sigh, moving in front of Satan to peer at him over his book. Your eyes were staring intensely at him.

So intensely that you thought he would have for sure noticed your presence.

But, he just kept reading, his eyes not missing a single word.

What did you have to do to get this demon’s attention?

After that attempt was unsuccessful, you dramatically collapsed in Satan’s lap, your arm over your forehead.

The action startled him and he finally tore his eyes away from his book, moving it to the side to look down at you.

You complained to him about how boring you must be that he couldn’t even look away from his book to give you two seconds of his time.

Satan wanted to roll his eyes at your words, but you noticed the small smirk that rested on his lips.

He pulled you further up, adjusting you so that you were fully sitting in his lap and he wrapped his arms around you.

If attention was what you were seeking, he would give it to you. He placed a small kiss on your forehead before pulling his book back up to read.

He didn’t say how much attention he would give you.

Asmo and you were unstoppable when it came to being overdramatic because you both had a knack for it.

He would fight you for the title of “Drama Queen/King”.

He loved when you would come to him and dramatically complain about something that happened that day.

It could be something completely mundane and you would come to him and act as if your entire world was ending.

And you better believe he’s matching your energy, fake tears threatening to fall from his eyes as he holds you close.

The other brothers tended to stay away from the two of you when you were having one of these moments because they knew it was a situation that had been blown out of proportion and they didn’t want any part of it.

But when you decided to act overdramatic towards Asmo, it threw him for a loop.

He had been doing a makeup tutorial on a livestream for his fans and you had been trying to pull him away for the last thirty minutes.

You needed Asmo time too.

When you realized that he wasn’t going to stop what he was doing, you hopped into his livestream and left comment after comment.

Some of them were about you missing him, and some of them were you telling him that you wanted to spend time with him.

But when he didn’t respond to a single one, you snapped and sent one final comment that stated, “You don’t love me.” Which was of course followed by multiple crying emojis.

Asmo immediately panicked but before he could respond, you left the livestream. “No, I do love you!” he shouted before ending the livestream.

He immediately ran to your room and found you lying on your back in the bed, your eyes closed and face motionless. As if you had died from lack of attention.

Asmo immediately rushed to the bed, tears streaming down his cheeks as he stroked your cheek.

“Please, don’t leave me,” he cried over you, placing kisses all over your face until you finally broke, your lips curving the slightest bit upwards.

He invented being overdramatic.

Beel was an absolute sweetheart. There was no doubt about it.

But, he was a bit slow when it came to picking up on when you were being overdramatic.

You would say something over the top or complain in a way that was definitely over-exaggerated and Beel would act as if the world was ending.

He would immediately try and fix whatever was causing you so much distress.

Based on previous experiences, you should know better than to act overdramatic in front of Beel.

But, sometimes you didn’t think about it and it just happened. Today was one of those days.

Beel tried not to let his hunger get in between the two of you, but sometimes, it was unavoidable.

He hadn’t gotten the chance to eat nearly enough so you offered to take him out to dinner for a date.

He was so eager to go so that he could not only eat but also spend time with you.

But, it seemed that his mind was only focused on the former of those two options.

You had tried to make conversation with him on a couple of different occasions, but he was so absorbed in his food that he either didn’t hear you or simply didn’t respond.

You let out a loud sigh as he once again ignored you and that sigh at least caught Beel’s ears as he focused on listening to you.

“If only you looked at me the way you looked at food,” you stated with a frown and Beel’s attention immediately snapped up at you.

He is immediately panicking. “I’m sorry!” he stated, moving his chair closer to you and pulling you into his arms. He never wanted you to think you were less important to him than food.

You’ll have to reassure him you were only playing or he’ll go down a spiral on how he can prove his love to you.

Theatrical and sarcastic didn’t always pair together in the best of ways. Especially when it came to Belphie.

He loved to tease you whenever you were acting particularly overdramatic.

Belphie was not nice in his teasing either, often calling you a crybaby or something along those lines.

And that would always elicit a frown and/or pout from you.

But occasionally you could do this when he was in a good mood. And, on that note, occasionally you would get a good reaction from him.

You were lying in bed next to Belphie and you weren’t having it.

He always laid on top of you, so why he decided his pillow would be a better option for tonight was beyond your comprehension.

And you made your feelings known.

“I guess I’m not a good enough pillow for you,” you huffed out and Belphie opened one eye to look at you.

You looked so adorable as you pouted beside him. So adorable that he didn’t want to give in. He just wanted to watch as you made that face.

That was until you started getting out of bed and said, “Maybe I’ll go and see if Mammon or Asmo think I’m a good pillow.”

Belphie’s arms are immediately around you, pulling you back into the bed and laying on top of you.

He’ll 100% call you out on your theatrics. “Don’t be overdramatic,” he stated, knowing that he could bring a pout to your lips one more time.

Then he added, “You’re the only pillow I would ever want.”

It was sweet in his own way and a smirk rested on his lips as he saw you smile.

He may not always give in to you being overdramatic, but at least he knew how to bring a smile to your face.

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lineycantdance · 4 months ago

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I can't shake how the first time the player character meets N in Accumula town is such a y/n moment. He takes notice of you immediately and thinks you're uniquely special—meanwhile you're kinda just standing there like 🧍 Your starter, which you acquired not even 20 mins before that, takes a liking to you, and that's enough to leave him completely floored.

Ofc, growing up locked away in a tower only ever being exposed to pokemon who'd been abused means his perception of trainers is skewed, but still. Other characters instantly fawning over the MC is such a wish-fulfillment trope. N recalling the first time you two met at the end of the game just adds to the effect. That moment lives in his head rent-free!

After your meet-cute, he becomes so mystified by the player that he seeks out your opinion and wants to pick your brain at several points. N often mentions "envisioning the future," and his visions start to involve you! He muses about how you might be "an ideal trainer" to a random grunt (see the memory link flashback in chargestone cave in bw2). He deviates from ghetsis's plans by encouraging you to find the corresponding light/dark stone just so you'll challenge him in a final showdown. He goes out on quite a limb by insisting upon this.

I think my favorite moment of N being completely obsessed with the player is when he waits for you outside of the Mistralton gym for no other purpose than striking up a conversation and trying to understand you better. He doesn't battle you there, he's not accompanied by any plasma goons, and this encounter does very little to further the plot (the only plot-relevant info revealed is that there are two stones). My guy is a certified yapper, but he stops to take this moment to listen and learn about you from your pokemon.

This is also the first time when he drops his confident front, expresses uncertainty about his course of action, and sympathizes with your point of view. In a strange way, you're probably the only person he feels he can admit his self-doubts to—to everyone else in his life, he's supposed to Plasma's unwaveringly resolute King.

It's only when taking the player into consideration that N's conviction falters and his "heart wavers." Standing in front of you, the consequences of his plan suddenly become very real to him, and he's vulnerable enough to reveal his qualms about separating all Pokemon from their trainers. He even says it would break his heart to see that happen to you.

When you really examine his interactions with the player, it's clear that N's kind of besotted with the MC regardless of the gender you select. I don't even think it's a case of shipper's goggles or reading too much into things. This is just a basic reading of the text, without even even getting into the romantic subtext splattered everywhere (I could legitimately write an essay about that! Gamefreak absolutely made some choices, and it extends far beyond that moment in the ferris wheel!)

#pokemon black and white #pokemon bw #pokemon gen 5 #ferriswheelshipping #isshushipping #gen 5 protag x n #n harmonia #trainer hilda #trainer hilbert #abuse mention #pokemon bw meta

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astrocafecoffee · 1 year ago

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Synastry observation ( part 1) 🎐

✨ For entertainment purposes only, enjoy ✨

Let's go!

🍓 Eros conjunct karma :

intense attraction with karmic undertones, powerful sexual chemistry, higher purpose in terms of fulfilling karmic contracts or agreements made in past live.

🍓 Boda in 10th house overlays:

Partnership/ marriage with this person is somehow in public eye. Your person's connections or involvement in certain industry may open up career opportunities or avenues for professional growth for you.

🍓 Anteros ( 1943) conjunct Boda and briede asteroid:

Anteros is related to unrequited love. This alignment invites both partners to confront any unresolved issues stemming from past experiences of unrequited love, fostering open communication and understanding to heal emotional wounds and strengthen bond between them. Both partners may share a vision of building a life together.

🍓 Boda conjunct saturn :

Long term planning and future goals within the relationship. Strong desire for stability and permanence , especially in the context of partnership/ marriage.

🍓 POF in 10th house overlays:

Again public attention/ growth opportunities in career after you marry/ date that person.

🍓 IC in 1st house overlay:

This person's home and family dynamics play a significant role in shaping your perception of self. You may find that your own identity is intertwined with their family background or domestic environment in some way.

🍓 MC in 7th house overlays :

Same , public recognition in the relationship.

🍓 Amor (1221) conjunct nn :

Profound soul connection between both of you. This relationship may have been destined or fated to occur in this lifetime. Meant to meet. Amor's influence indicates a deep and unconditional love between both of you. Soulmate indicator.

🍓 Union ( 1585) conjunct moon :

Strong emphasis on empathy, compassion and understanding within your relationship. This partnership feels like home to both of you.

🍓 stellium in 6th house:

It's so underrated, 6th house stellium is in important in romantic synastry , as your partner may encourage you to adapt healthy habits in your daily life.

🍓 Juno conjunct Jupiter:

Marriage placement., As in Roman mythology juno is considered as the wife of Jupiter ( the Roman equivalent of Zeus in Greek mythology) .

🍓 Born ( 13954) conjunct nn :

Fated encounter. You are meant to support each other on your respective paths of growth and evolution.

🍓 lisitsa ( 8064) conjunct juno:

Again fated , long-term commitment/ marriage., Karmic bond.

🍓 Bacchus ( 2063)conjunct Bacchus:

Strong mutual attraction between partners, often characterized by a magnetic pull and deep appreciation for each other's physicality.

🍓 Pythia(432) in 7th house synastry :

Intuitive fated connection. They may share common interest in mystical or esoteric subjects and may engage in spiritual practices together to deepen their bond and connection.

🍓 Pythia conjunct Hera ( 103) :

Divinely guided relationship, this conjunction suggests this is a relationship that honours tradition and values long term commitment. Both individuals may feel a strong sense of loyalty and dedication to each other.

🍓 Moon in 4th house synastry:

Deep emotional connection, moon person feels comfortable and secure when with the house person, perhaps tapping into a sense of familiarity and safety reminiscent of their own childhood environment.

🍓 Juno conjunct Chiron :

Both individuals may share similar wounds or vulnerabilities in the realm of partnership. They may understand each other's pain and struggles on a deep level , which can foster empathy and compassion within the relationship ( healing through partnership)

🍓 Groom(5129) square briede(19029) :

Despite the challenges/ disagreements/ conflicting desires this aspect presents an opportunity for growth and understanding within the relationship. By addressing and working through the areas and conflict or tension, the couple can deepen their connection and strengthen their partnership over time.

🍓 Karma (3811) conjunct descendant:

Both the individuals may feel a strong sense of destiny or fate drawing them together in a partnership or relationship. They might believe that their meeting was predestined or that they have important karmic lessons to learn from each other.

🍓 Moon conjunct saturn:

This aspect can indicate a strong sense of responsibility and commitment between the individuals. But there may be a tendency for both individuals to hold back their feelings or to approach emotional matters with caution and reserve.

🍓 Groom in 1st house synastry:

It suggests that your partner may identify strongly with the role of the groom or husband in your relationship.they may see themselves as a partner who takes on traditional husbandly roles or embodies qualities that you associate with the concept of a groom.

🍓 Cupido (763) conjunct nn :

Fated , strong emotional alignment, transformative and potentially life changing love connection/ karmic lessons in love.

🍓 Sappho (80) in 12th house synastry:

Intuitive understanding or unspoken connection between partners, there may be a sense of yearning or longing for an idealised romantic Union that exists beyond the constrains of the physical world.

🍓 Lust(4386) on 1st house synastry:

Passionate and dynamic connection between partners characterized by intense physical attraction ,sexual energy, and a strong focus on the physical aspects of the relationship.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

( post based on poll)

End......

Thank you!!

~piko 🌹

#astro community #astro notes #astro observations #astro placements #astrology #composite #composite chart #synastry aspects #synastry #synastry observations #synastry overlays #love astrology #asteroid #juno persona chart #juno astrology #sappho

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infamous-if · 4 months ago

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I remember how sev's valentine special broke me (in the best way) with ~current nice seven~ I can only imagine how ~future nice seven~ will break me in 6731237 different ways 😭

but in a serious note and since the special should be up soon (and I love hearing your thoughts about writting these characters like 7 and G) I was wondering, was it difficult/challenging to write seven in this special?

hehe thank you! And surprisingly I didn’t have much trouble with this one! I think the valentine’s special was much harder because it was right in the middle of their story (kinda) so I was balancing writing a seven that was still unsure of the relationship and unsure of themself and MC. Seven still held onto a little distrust because they couldn’t quite accept that what was happening was real and that they were actually in a good place with MC like that. They expected it to crumble again since they can never just embrace good things happening in their life lolol

This Seven is better (kinda). They still have their problems since I refuse to erase those parts of Seven for the sake of a story (I think it really does their character a disservice) but without the tour stressing them out they’re more like their old self !

You won’t be seeing this seven for a while so enjoy it while it lasts lolol

#inbox #seven lawless #I said kinda but they're much different actually #so yeah !#very different sevs

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twisted-confessions · 1 year ago

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Brainstorming for the Stitch event in my fanfic and I think I just came up with something brilliant that I wanna challenge more artists to try.

So we know that Lilia and Floyd kinda parallel Lilo and Stitch and that's why Stitch gets along with them so well right? Y'know who also parallel's Lilo in the event via the outifts??

FREAKIN GRIM!!!

And most art I see portrays the MC/Yuu in matching Lilo outifts but y'know who'd make more sense for MC/Yuu to represent???

THIS SURFING QUEEN!!! LILO'S SISTER, NANI, WHO TAKES ON THE ROLE OF CAREGIVER UNEXPECTEDLY BUT DOES HER DAMNDEST TO LOOK AFTER HER LITTLE SISTER AND MONSTER PET AND ENSURES THEY CAN HAVE A GOOD FUTURE WHILE DEALING WITH DAILY THREATS OF LOSING WHAT LITTLE THEY HAVE LEFT!!!

Oh yeah and who's the other two people that Stitch hangs around and gives a sweet fluffy hug? Grim and MC/Yuu. Just try to convince me that there isn't a better parallel between MC/Yuu and Nani I dare you to change my mind. The signs are all there.

SO! I'm challenging all Twst artists to draw their Yuusona in Nani inspired outfits, whether it's her swimsuit above or any of her other outfits from the movies/tv shows! The world needs more Nani love <3 Tag the artists that you want to try my challenge :)

And if any of you could, can you draw my oc in Nani inspired Tropical Wear with Stitch as well? I can't draw myself, the lovely @boopshoops designed her for me :)

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loveafterdeath-if · 5 months ago

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Hello Author! Let's say MC and the living ROs ended up happily together, married and all, but suddenly those ROs woke up in the past, only a day before Ellie died, with all of their memories of what happened afterwards. Would they stop it from happening knowing that it will ruin whatever they made with MC or act like they don't know a single thing so the future would not be ruined?

Omg, it’s giving "Orange" vibes—I love that anime!

Ekissa would do their best to stop the accident. They wouldn’t want to deprive MC of their future with El, but it would hurt to realize how much would change with El in their lives. Still, it would be enough for Ekissa, because even if they couldn’t be with MC romantically, they’d stay by their side as their best friend. That’s more than enough for them.

Athiel, on the other hand, would be devastated. For once in their life, someone saw them and only them, but now life is throwing everything away. However, Athiel doesn’t want to lose their sibling, so they would stop the accident—because, one, El is alive, and two, MC is happy.

L would feel bittersweet; they wouldn’t like it. That would mean every touch, sweet word, and moment spent with MC would just poof, disappearing like that. L would stop the accident and then leave for another country. They wouldn’t be able to live across the street and watch MC with El. MC would be happy, and while L would be glad for that, they wouldn’t want to witness it.

T would act like they don’t know anything. They wouldn’t feel guilty or sorry if it meant spending the rest of their life with MC. Things happen for a reason, and they’re more than happy to comfort themself with that excuse. T made MC happy once, and they’d do it again—twice, thrice, and as many times as life wants to challenge their future together.

#asks #thanks for the ask!#LAD-if #love after death #El Winter #Athiel Winter #Ekissa Jones #L Melth #T Melth

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un-petit-sanctuaire · 7 months ago

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Night Ride

Pairing: Sylus x f!MC

Genre: Fluff

Rating: General

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: You were stressing out over your work, so Sylus decided to take you on a joyride on his motorcycle that night.

Author’s Note: It’s my first Love and Deepspace fic! I’d say it’s set not long after around Nightplumes. Anyway, I haven’t written in a while, so please excuse any rustiness. Also, English is not my first language, so feel free to point out any mistakes kindly. ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ Constructive criticism and feedback are very welcome! I’d really appreciate them to help me write better in the future. Last but not least, happy reading. ♡

✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡ ˚✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡

You were pacing back and forth in Sylus’s living room that evening, a bunch of files and documents spread around you on the floor. The owner of the house himself was sitting in a nearby armchair, his hands nonchalantly flipping today’s Linkon newspaper you brought him. On his shoulder, a familiar mechanical crow sat, glancing between the newspaper and your restless movements.

Two days ago, the Association assigned you and your team a mission. The assignment was broken down into smaller individual tasks and divided equally among your team members. Yet, somehow, you felt your part was very challenging to figure out. Your assigned location was close to the N109 Zone, though—you weren’t sure if it was a blessing or a curse. Feeling that your brain might explode for working outside alone, you decided to grace a certain white-haired man with your presence in his vicinity.

And that’s how you found yourself stressing out at Sylus’s home.

“That’s it,” his voice thundered, making you jump on the spot after what seemed to be an endless staring contest with the papers in front of you. Even Mephisto let out a sharp caw, flapping its wings as it flew off, startled by his master’s sudden break from the silence. Sylus rose from his seat, turning towards where he kept his keys before adding, “Let’s go, kitten.”

“... What?” You turned your attention from your papers towards him, eyebrows knitted.

“You should see the agitated look on your face. Your task isn’t going to resolve itself unless you have a clear mind.” With a casual flick of his finger, he sent his motorcycle keys spinning into his palm. “Let’s head outside.”

“But—”

“Do I look like I take no for an answer?”

Given how much time you’d spent together lately—no thanks to the energy linkage—you seemed to understand there was probably no room for debate with him under these circumstances. “Wait, where are we going? Can’t I just stay and do my work?” Despite your protests, you found yourself trailing after him, half-running to keep up with his long strides as he headed for the door.

“Somewhere to get some fresh air,” he replied without looking back at you. With another flick of his fingers, his jacket effortlessly landed over his shoulder. “I could use some too. Your little pacing game made my head spin.” He stopped outside in front of his bike, finally turning around to hand you your usual helmet. “And no, you’re still going whether you like it or not,” he declared. His sentence sounded like a threat, but his tone was somehow gentle.

You considered for a moment. He might have a point; you wouldn’t make any progress with your head clouded by frustration. Besides, your task wasn’t due any time soon, and after working on it all day long, you desperately needed to clear your mind. Normally you would argue, but your energy had already been drained from all the thinking. Sighing, you took the helmet from his hand and slipped it on. Your fingers fumbled, trying to fasten the buckle. Sylus let out a small scoff, stepping forward to help you click it into place.

As you settled behind him on the motorcycle, his eyes found yours in the reflection of the side mirror.

“Don’t be shy, sweetie. Hold on to me.”

You hesitated for a bit and ended up gripping his jacket, not quite fully clutching onto him. “Ease up on the speed, though,” you remarked, earning a soft chuckle from him.

“Oh? You get to tell the driver how to behave, now?” he shook his head, a subtle smirk curling at the corner of his lips. “Sure, I’ll keep it civil,” he replied, though you weren’t sure if he was being genuine or merely teasing you.

With a rev of the engine, he drove out of the side street and onto the main highway. The night sky above the N109 Zone hung in its usual dark and misty state, but the city lights gradually sprung to life around you. You inhaled the cool evening air, soaking in your surroundings. You were a biker yourself, but for once, it felt refreshing to be the passenger—especially since he always took the reins when the two of you rode his motorcycle.

You slowly became aware that you were heading towards Linkon. The highway stretched before you, nearly deserted, and the night enveloped you in a hush. The breeze rustled past, making your hair dance behind you.

The bike was gaining speed.

“Sylus,” you called, yanking his jacket lightly.

“Hm?”

The teasing tone in his hum was now evident.

“Don’t pretend that I don’t notice what you’re doing,” you retorted, the wind whipping fiercely around you.

“And what is it that I’m doing besides taking you for a ride?”

And as if on cue, the motorcycle roared, surging forward with a sudden burst of speed. The unexpected acceleration forced you to cling onto him for support to the point you were practically hugging him from the back, your fingers intertwined just below his stomach. “You’re doing this on purpose!” You half-shouted, your voice barely cutting through the rush of wind. “This was supposed to be a joyride, not a race!”

You couldn’t quite discern his response, but the side mirror reflected another smug smirk playing at the corner of his lips. You rolled your eyes. Oh, how you longed to wipe that smirk off his face. Speeding could be dangerous; what if a cat or some other creature suddenly crossed your path? You had no doubt he was far exceeding the speed limit. Luckily, the road was now completely empty. It also dawned on you that you weren’t heading into the center of Linkon, but rather veering towards the outskirts.

He slowed down as the bike left the main road and entered a slightly narrower one. “Don’t tell me Miss Hunter herself never accelerates?” he finally said, amusement lacing his tone.

“I’m a law-abiding citizen,” you rebutted, not quite answering his question. You did, in fact, once or twice speed up when you needed to arrive early for urgent missions. However, you were sure as hell it had never been as fast as Sylus was driving just now. “I mean, it was thrilling, but—”

“A-ha.”

He snickered, cutting you off. “I think someone is enjoying the ride more than they’re letting on,” his sing-songy tone made you roll your eyes again. “She’s practically holding onto me for dear life.”

Looking down, you realized your arms were still encircling his waist.

You quickly let go, straightening your posture behind him. “Because I was afraid I would be thrown off with that speed of yours, that’s why,” you said, pinching his side in an attempt to hide your own fluster at being caught off-guard. “It just seemed dangerous,” you mumbled.

“Careful, sweetie, no pinching the driver now,” he teased. As if reading your mind, he added with unexpected seriousness, “Your safety always comes first. We’ll be fine as long as I have good reflexes and solid bike-handling skills, which, lucky for you, I actually do.” Another smirk was visible from behind his visor, reflected in the mirror. “Besides, did you forget that I can use my Evol to secure you in place?”

You decided to ignore his remarks. Pretty sure the more you took the bait, the more amused he would be.

You noticed the road ascending towards the hill, and soon you found yourselves leaving the city behind and entering a somewhat wooded area.

“You’re not kidnapping me, are you?”

Your question elicited a chuckle from him. “You are powerful enough to knock me down when I’m distracted, and you could easily run off with my bike, leaving me here alone,” he said casually. “What makes you think I’d be kidnapping you? No, kitten, I’m not. Aren’t you curious to know what I have planned?”

He sounded almost giddy that your brows furrowed, half-annoyed.

“Very, actually,” you snorted, growing impatient. Was teasing you his way of taking your mind off work? “But as if you’ll actually tell me what it is.”

Sylus cackled. “Correct. You’ll have to suffer with anticipation, just like always.”

You restrained yourself from launching a punch at his shoulder. The area around you grew darker, with hardly any light in sight except for Sylus’s motorcycle and the occasional flicker from the lampposts. “Well, the breeze is getting rather cold,” you complained. You were only wearing your trusted white cropped jacket, while he was comfortably clad in leather.

There was a pause before he replied rather thoughtfully, “Stick close to me.”

You scooted forward, inching slightly closer to him. You heard him add, “We’re almost there.”

The bike eventually came to a halt a few minutes later. You dismounted, placing your helmet on the seat. Sylus followed suit, ruffling his silver hair back into place. You were probably going to involuntarily stare if the landscape before you didn’t capture your attention.

“Oh, wow...”

You took in your surroundings as you stood at the top of a hill, gazing out over the twinkling city below. The sky was a deep, rich shade of navy blue, dotted with shimmering stars. Linkon was clearly visible from up here; the illuminated skyscrapers flickered like fireflies, casting a warm glow against the darkness.

“Impressed?”

Sylus’s tall figure towered beside you. You glanced at him, expecting to find a smug expression there to show you an I-told-you-so look. However, while the corners of his lips did curl upward, his gaze remained soft, overlooking the gleaming city.

You were about to pester him, ‘Oh, even the big, scary leader of Onychinus can get sappy over things like this?’ but somehow the words stayed lodged in your throat.

“I am,” was all you could manage to utter. “I never knew we could see the entire city from up here.”

“I come here a lot whenever I need a break or want to be alone,” he nodded. “Just looking down at the city makes me feel at ease.”

Were you hallucinating, or did he seem a bit more sentimental than usual?

You felt his red irises shift from the scenery towards you.

Quickly, you turned your head away from him back to the view stretched beyond. “Oh, well,” you cleared your throat. “I didn’t know you could feel stressed too. You always seem... collected.”

Sylus laughed heartily. There was a pause before he replied, “I only do what I need to do.” He slid his hands into his pockets as if his words held no weight, leaving you to ponder for a moment.

The cold wind swept between you once again, prompting you to inch a little closer to him. It was really not that bad, but you hugged your arms for some warmth.

“... Thanks for bringing me here,” you muttered.

He noticed you creeping towards him, but he didn’t say anything about it. Instead, without averting his gaze from the city lights below, he wrapped an arm around your shoulder and gently pulled you closer to share his warmth. You were surprised you didn’t object or retreat—his presence felt oddly nice and comforting.

“You’re welcome, kitten.”

There were a few seconds of comfortable silence between you. Linkon was rather quiet that night—whether it was because you were quite far from the city center or because everyone else was already in a deep slumber. The only sounds that reached your ears were the delicate breeze rustling through the bushes and the distant hum of car engines.

“You’re right. This place is perfect for clearing your mind,” you spoke after what felt like a pregnant pause.

“It indeed is,” he replied. “You know, I’ve never brought anyone here before.”

The air felt warm, a stark contrast to the cold wind earlier. Or perhaps it was just your cheeks? “Not even Luke and Kieran? Or Mephisto?” You quickly covered it up and asked rather amusedly.

“Especially not the twins,” he chuckled. “Last time they discovered my hideout, things went chaotic. I take it you know them well enough now?”

The corners of your lips twitched upwards.

He then continued, “Mephisto would be a great companion, yes, if only he didn’t get too territorial and challenge the local birds to a boxing match. You saw how he was last time during our video call when I was in the park.”

You laughed—a genuine laugh after waves of frustration throughout the whole day. It felt warm and fuzzy, but it didn’t quite fight another blow of the cold gust. Up here definitely felt colder due to the high elevation. You fully folded your arms this time.

“Cold?” you heard Sylus ask.

“A little,” you allowed yourself to approach him closer. Half your back was now covered by his towering frame. You noticed him shifting, positioning his body to block the chilly breeze, his arm still wrapped around your shoulder.

You tilted your head upwards slightly to see his face. He wasn’t looking back at you; his eyes seemed glued to the illuminated city below. Only then did you realize how soft he looked, a striking contrast to the way he had presented himself during your first encounter. You couldn’t help but wonder what was on his mind. Was he thinking about...?

“You know, most people would be enjoying the view from up here,” his voice snapped you out of your thoughts. “But someone would rather stare at my face, apparently.”

This was the second time that night you realized you were staring at him. You turned your head, frantically searching for something else to look at from the glimmering Linkon.

“Yes, sweetie, the scenery is over there.”

You could feel he was grinning.

“Shut up.”

Perhaps it was another gust of wind that made you press your back against his chest, closing the distance between the two of you. He didn’t move, but his arm was still protecting you—practically hugging you from behind now with his hand reaching across your neck. A light chuckle escaped his lips when hearing your response, and you could feel his head leaning downwards. “No denying?”

“Not answering,” you muttered. You tried not to turn your head towards him, knowing that your faces would be only inches apart.

There was another chuckle before he called you in a low murmur.

“Kitten.”

His free hand glided from his pocket to your chin, delicately coaxing your head to face him. His touch felt so careful—so cautious as if he feared you would push him away or break or explode. You could even barely feel his finger graze your skin.

“... Hm?”

Once again, somehow, you obliged without protest. You looked at him; his face was so close you could feel the warmth of his breath. His crimson eyes locked onto you, and you forced yourself to meet his gaze this time. Only a few centimeters separated your face from his. You could feel your cheeks flush once again, your heart thumping faster than usual.

“I was right,” he uttered quietly. A smirk adorned the corner of his lips, but his eyes were tender.

Your answer was barely audible when you murmured, “About what?”

“I knew you were staring at me and not the city view,” he spoke in a soft whisper. His face was very near now that you could feel his nose lightly grazed yours, his breath warm against your skin. With such closeness, you realized how nice he smelled, how the faint radiance bathed his face, how his silvery strands fluttered and danced with the breeze.

You glanced down at his lips for a split second before darting your eyes back, locking them with his again.

“Three times now,” he breathed, catching you again. “Admit defeat, kitten...”

“... Fine.” You swore you could hear your own heartbeat thundering in your ears by now. One small move forward and—

“Fine, you’re right,” you repeated.

You didn’t realize you were holding your breath—your mind hazy from his proximity.

“Kitten?”

“... Yeah?”

His fingers still held your chin in place, his eyes never left yours, and his other arm remained wrapped around you. Perhaps it was his body acting like a shield, or perhaps the cold breeze ceased to exist, but you were almost sure you felt blanketed with warmth. You could feel your heart quicken, the anticipation hanging in the air like a fragile thread.

“May I...?”

Very subtly, your head nodded, and your eyes gave him the signal.

With that, Sylus closed the distance between you, and your lips met delicately. The world around you faded into a gentle hum, the city lights twinkling like distant stars as you closed your eyes. His lips were surprisingly warm, a tender caress you never expected from someone like him. The warmth radiating from him enveloped you, making you forget the chill of the night air as you melted into his kiss.

For the first time in two days, you gladly decided to ignore your work.

And perhaps scheduling future night rides with him wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all.

#love and deepspace #love and deepspace fic #lnds fic #sylus #sylus x you #lnds ff #lnds sylus #sylus ff #sylus fic #lads #lads ff #lads sylus #sylus fluff #lads fluff #love and deepspace ff #sylus fluff ff #sylus x f!mc

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mapofsouthdakota · 24 days ago

Text

Caffeine, chemistry and Caleb VII

Synopsis: The café was supposed to be just another coffee shop. For a law student who enjoys her morning coffee and a shy newbie still learning the ropes, it should have been nothing more than part of the daily routine… But then there’s Caleb.

Details: 3300 words (woops sorry). Non-MC!Reader as the law student. Expect flirting, heartstrings tugggg, kind, beautiful, caring barista Caleb and smoool romcom angst, but I promise it’s worth it (like biiig promise!). Caleb x law student special heeeh.

Parts: initial, part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5, part 6, part 8, part 9

Tags: @gavin3469 @unstablemiss @i-messed-up-big-time @mipov101 @zukini-01 @ariakamil

Fruits of Delusion | pt. 7

You’re not supposed to be here.

No apron. No espresso machine. Just Caleb in a soft tee, one hand casually adjusting a canvas tote on his shoulder like he’s in a lifestyle ad and not casually wrecking your emotional recovery.

Your heart stops.

Then slams back into motion.

And you spin on your heel.

Walk fast. Now. Escape. Evacuate.

But it’s already too late.

You catch the tilt of his head. The way his gaze shifts—searches—and then lands directly on you.

And the worst part?

He smiles.

Like this is normal. Like he’s happy to see you. Like you didn’t just spend twenty minutes pretending to buy basil while trying not to pass out behind a kale stand.

Your heart’s already halfway to a closing argument when—

“Hey,” he calls, voice warm and devastatingly casual. “Golden Girl.”

Your spine straightens like you’re bracing for impact.

You turn, slowly.

He’s already walking toward you, sunlit, smug, and alarmingly real.

“Didn’t think law students came out in daylight.”

Your escape plan?

Denied.

You make a face. “Briefly. A little sun is medically advisable, and I needed overpriced strawberries and a charisma challenge, apparently.”

He laughs—and for a second, it feels normal. Stupidly, unfairly normal. Then he tilts his head, grinning. “Nice running into you without that slick guy tailing you. Kind of refreshing.”

You smile, sweet but sharp. “What, you only approve of my public appearances when I’m unaccompanied?”

There’s a glint in his eyes as he lifts a brow. “I’m just saying, the view’s better.”

You roll your eyes, but your stomach does that thing again.

He glances sideways. “You sticking around for a bit?”

You nod, casual. “Yeah. I’ve got nowhere else to be.”

Caleb tosses the bag of apples from one hand to the other, grin low and easy. “Mind if I tag along? Unless you’re… meeting someone else here.”

Shoulders lift in a casual shrug, like your heart isn’t pounding out confessions. “I’m… alone. But you can tag along if you promise not to judge my irrational strawberry purchases.”

He gives you a mock-serious nod. “Never. Fruit law is outside my jurisdiction.”

And then you fall into step beside him without even thinking about it. The crowd buzzes around you—children with juice boxes, someone selling soap that smells like your grandma’s bathroom—and Caleb, warm and very much here, carefully sliding the bag of apples into his canvas tote as you walk.

A quick glance his way. “So, this your idea of a wild Saturday? Buying fruit and intimidating civilians with your forearms?”

He snorts. “I’m a man of mystery and nutrition.”

You arch a brow. “You say that like you didn’t buy six apples and a single jar of fancy mustard.”

“Maybe I’m a minimalist.”

“Maybe you’re a serial killer.”

He grins, unbothered. “I could say the same about you. Didn’t peg you for a farmers market type.”

“I’m expanding my public image,” you say. “It’s important for future jury manipulation.”

He makes a soft, amused sound. “Hm. Strategic. I respect that.”

You both pause near a booth selling organic candles with names like Morning Sigh and Birchwood Intimacy. Caleb picks one up, sniffs it, and immediately grimaces.

“That smells like someone’s therapist’s office.”

You lean in. “That smells like heartbreak in a beige apartment.”

He laughs—full-bodied and bright, the kind that starts in his chest and spills into the space between you. And for a second, it’s easy.

Then you raise an eyebrow. “Also, bold of you to have such a specific take. Personal experience, or…?”

A lopsided smile flashes as the candle clinks back onto the table. “Let’s just say I’ve spent enough time around grey trauma furniture to recognize the scent.”

You squint. “Enough time because you’re actually a secret psych patient and this”—you wave a hand at him, the apples, the smugness—“is just your well-funded rehabilitation program?”

He just grins. Doesn’t answer.

Which is very much an answer.

You click your tongue. “Mysterious.”

He shrugs, still smiling. “Or unstable.”

“Those aren’t mutually exclusive.”

Violet eyes meet yours—still playful, but maybe a little too knowing. “No. They’re really not.”

Trauma-scented décor?

Your joke was, obviously, a joke. But still—your brain runs the analysis anyway.

Was that just a throwaway comment? Or a casual nod to whatever psychological minefield he had to dance through in aviation school? Or… something else?

You’re this close to launching into Exhibit G of your ongoing Caleb casefile when—

His phone buzzes.

He glances down, and just like that—the mood shifts. Shoulders stiffen. Eyes flick past you.

“Hey, I should—uh. I’ve gotta run,” he says, already stepping back.

You blink. “Oh.”

Hesitation hangs for half a second before warm fingers find your arm, light but intentional.

“It was really nice talking to you,” he says, a little softer now. “I’ll see you around, yeah?”

You nod, trying to play it cool.

But his touch lingers longer than it should.

And then he’s gone.

You stand there for half a second, unmoving.

Then you start walking.

You’re not following. You’re investigating. Which is absolutely different. Or it would be, if you weren’t weaving through shoppers like a trained bloodhound with half a law degree.

You could’ve been a P.I.

You’d have crushed it.

This is fieldwork.

Character research.

This is what you came for.

You spot him across the street.

And then you spot her. The apple girl. It must be.

She’s already walking toward him—dressed like the human embodiment of a picnic daydream. Sundress. Sunglasses pushed up into her hair. That kind of easy beauty that doesn’t even try to compete—it just wins by existing.

Caleb lights up. Literally.

He grins—wide, unguarded, the kind of smile you’ve never seen at full strength.

Then he hugs her. Like it’s the most natural thing in the world. Like they do this all the time.

You stop walking.

Your throat goes tight. Like you just swallowed a whole apple core. You look away before they kiss. You don’t know if they do. You don’t want to know.

You turn around. Walk fast. Faster.

You tell yourself you were just on a stroll. That you were curious. That your brain is a courtroom prep, and you were just gathering evidence.

But right now?

Right now, you’re the damn defendant.

And it hurts like hell.

So you run home. Toss your keys on the counter. Gather your books, your charger, your half-dead highlighters.

You don’t stop. You don’t think.

You make it to the study hall.

Sit your ass down like your future depends on it.

Because it does.

Your hands shake as you text the newbie:

you: update: apple girl exists. status: catastrophic

No reply.

You stare at the screen a little too long.

Then flip open your laptop, crack open a textbook, and throw yourself into 200 pages of law history like it’ll fix something.

You read. And read.

And don’t remember a goddamn word.

Just that necklace.

Just the way he looked at her.

The way he hugged her.

And the echo of your own voice, cruel and smug and right—

I’m not going to tank my grades over a guy who’s literally training to fly away.

… I told you so.

——————————————————————————

You walk home from study hall still feeling about as defeated as someone not technically on trial can feel. But spiritually? The jury’s in, and the verdict is tragic.

The Farmers Market incident has been haunting you like a ghost that smells like apples, coffee and smugness. And now, on top of that, your heartbreak induced study session confirms that you are falling behind on tort readings and forgetting basic Latin phrases. Unforgivable.

The outfit had been perfect. A cropped athletic zip-up—fitted, sleek, a little smug. High-waisted black pants. Crisp white sneakers. Hair: tight braid. Lip gloss: subtle shimmer. Jewelry: minimal, coordinated. It had even earned you a wink from Harv as you slipped into the study hall, still a little flushed from the walk over.

But now?

Now it just looks… tired.

The zip-up hugs you like it’s trying to pretend nothing’s wrong. The braid has unraveled into a sad-looking ponytail. The gloss is long gone.

You catch your reflection in a passing window and think: You tried.

But the day has emptied you. No reply from the newbie. No plan.

Just silence, and a very specific ache that settles somewhere between your ribs and your pride.

Honestly, with what little knowledge you have, if you were your own client right now, you’d probably be advising yourself to settle.

But you have a plan. Or… One last, responsible, future-focused move.

You’re going to tell the newbie that you both need to rest your case. Or risk tanking your grades over a man who hugs women at farmers markets and smells like cinnamon betrayal.

You’ll say it in person. Because the lack of replies can only mean one thing: they are spiraling alone.

Which, honestly, makes you the worst kind of co-counsel. So now you owe them a sit-down. A debrief. A legal meltdown with caffeine and solidarity and maybe mild defamation.

Because if Caleb is with her—if apple girl is officially out of the hypothesis phase and fully into confirmed status territory—then the case is closed.

Not in your favor.

And maybe, just maybe, if you say it all out loud— “We need to drop the case.”

—it’ll start to feel real.

Even if it never should’ve been admissible in the first place.

So, you swing by the café. Not dressed to impress. Not even to exist. Just to deliver your quiet little ‘case closed’.

And walk straight into the worst possible plot twist.

The café is empty.

Except for him.

He’s behind the counter, wrist deep in wiping down the espresso machine. Caleb looks up when the bell over the door chimes.

And he sees you.

Like—really sees you. Ponytail slipping. Eyes tired. The kind of defeat that even a strong espresso shot wouldn’t bother trying to fix. He raises an eyebrow, slow. “Didn’t expect to see you again today. Study break? Or did the prosecution finally crack?”

Your whole body reacts before your brain does. You turn on your heel, already halfway out

“I was just looking for the newbie.”

His voice follows you before you can escape:

“Ouch. Not your favorite barista anymore? They’ve surpassed me already?”

You freeze.

Stupid, stupid body.

Then—

Footsteps.

“Got a text from the newbie,” he says, a little closer now. “They weren’t feeling great, asked if I could cover.”

Of course they did.

Of course he showed up.

Because the universe doesn’t believe in restraining orders. Or emotional boundaries. Apparently.

Caleb crosses the room in a few strides and gently grabs your wrist, not tight—just enough to stop you.

You glance down, try to pull your expression together, but it’s too late.

He’s already looking at you.

Really looking.

“Hey,” he says, quiet now. “Are you okay?”

You blink. “Yeah. It’s just—school. Grades. Deadlines.”

He watches you for a moment, eyes scanning your face like he already knows what’s there. Then, gently: “Do you want to talk about it?”

You shake your head before he even finishes the sentence.

But he doesn’t pull back.

He just watches you for a moment, then says—softer, like he’s offering a lifeline without asking for anything back—

“You can… you know… Tell me stuff.”

Your eyes stay fixed on the floor.

He adds, a little crooked smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, “I’m not saying I give great advice. But I’m an excellent listener. Very judgmental, obviously. But… I’m here.”

Still, you say nothing. You don’t have words yet. Maybe not even thoughts. Just static.

Not because you don’t want to.

Because you can’t.

Because you haven’t had time to come up with a version of the story where you don’t have to say I saw you with her, or you looked so happy it broke me, or you were never mine, and I forgot that for a second.

So instead, you just look down. Shrug. Swallow the lump in your throat like it’s admissible evidence.

“Okay,” he whispers.

And then he reaches out.

No warning. Just a sudden, warm hand resting on top of your head, fingers threading lightly through your hair before settling there.

A gentle, grounding weight.

You freeze.

Then lean into it—helplessly, instinctively—like someone starved for affection, seeking warmth you didn’t realize you missed until it was right there. His palm is steady. His thumb brushes slowly against your temple.

“I know the feeling,” he murmurs. “Flight school finals are brutal. Same kind of pressure. Different altitude.”

You almost laugh. Almost.

Then, after a beat: “…You leaned into that a little fast.”

You roll your eyes. “Don’t ruin it, silly.”

Then you breathe him in, and—yeah. Of course. His wrist smells like coffee. Subtle, warm, familiar. You knew it would. Because of course even that is unfair.

Then, voice low, with the faintest curl of a grin:

“Congratulations, Golden Girl. You’ve been upgraded to first-class comfort.”

Before you can reply, his fingers reach further up—gentle, casual—and give your ponytail a light tug to tighten it.

“I’m also decent at braids, if you ever need a professional,” he murmurs.

You laugh—a real one this time. Small. Shaky. A little bitter at the edges

You probably braid apple girl’s hair every night like you’re auditioning for boyfriend of the year in a Hallmark movie.

He pulls back, eyes scanning your face for a moment, then tips his head toward the bar. “C’mon. You need a distraction. I was about to close and head out, but I make exceptions for exhausted law students.”

You blink. “Are you about to make me your apprentice?”

“Temporary intern,” he says. “Zero pay. Unlimited caffeine.”

Then he gestures you behind the counter like it’s no big deal, and for some reason, you follow. Your bag stays by the door. So does your pride.

Caleb steps behind the counter, opens a drawer, and pulls out an apron.

“Here,” he says, soft.

Before you can protest, he’s behind you—close enough to feel the warmth radiating off him. He slips the apron over your head, then reaches around, arms brushing your sides as he grabs the ties. His fingers skim your waist as he knots the ends in front of you.

Your pulse trips over itself. He steps back like nothing happened, and you try to pretend you didn’t just forget how to stand upright.

Then he starts walking you through the pour-over—steady, focused, his voice low and even. He talks ratios, temperature, extraction time. How not to burn the beans. It should feel technical. But with him? It sounds like a ritual.

Like he’s teaching you something sacred. And the whole time, you’re aware of the apron cinched at your waist. The ghost of his hands. The heat of him still lingering like steam over hot coffee.

You pretend to listen.

But really?

You’re watching that stupid necklace again.

It catches the light every time he moves—just a glint of silver chain, the dog tag shifting, the apple charm swaying like it knows exactly what it’s doing to you.

You want to ask again. You almost do.

But instead you say: “You ever teach the newbie this?”

He smirks without looking up. “They refuse. Keep saying they’re just here for the vibes.”

You laugh, and he glances at you—just quick, just warm. Like maybe this is his way of showing you what he does when the pressure gets too loud.

And maybe this is what kindness looks like from someone who normally disarms you with charm.

Maybe this is worse.

Because it’s working.

And you don’t know what to do with that.

He walks you through the pour-over like it’s a party trick, talking casually, hands steady.

“You always like this when you’re stressed?” he asks, glancing sideways.

You shrug. “I’m a law student. If I’m not stressed, it means I’m unconscious.”

Caleb chuckles. “Fair. But you’re doing great. Better than the newbie, anyway. Don’t tell them I said that.”

“You’re lying.”

“A little,” he says, voice low and warm against your ear. “But you’ve got good instincts.”

Before you can respond, he leans over you—slow, deliberate—his chest brushing your shoulder as he reaches around to adjust your hand on the kettle. His fingers wrap lightly around yours, steadying the pour, guiding the motion like it matters. Like you matter.

“Slower,” he murmurs, barely above a whisper. “Let it bloom.”

You try to focus. Really. But his breath is on your neck, his voice soaked in something softer than it should be, and the charm sways beneath his collar, catching the light like it’s in on the secret. You huff a laugh—weak, distracted—trying not to drown in the heat of him. Trying not to look at his jawline or the way he’s basically breathing in your thoughts.

The coffee finishes brewing. He sets a mug in front of you.

“No pressure,” he says. “But this cup might turn your whole day around.”

You raise an eyebrow. “You offering a refund if it doesn’t?”

He pretends to think. “No, but I can offer… moral support. Emotional buffering. Maybe a cookie if I dig around.”

You smile despite yourself. Sip. It’s good. Obviously. And for a second, just a second, it’s easy to forget everything else.

He leans on the counter, watching you.

“What?”

“Nothing,” he says, too easily. “Just nice to see you smile again.”

Your heart does something.

Stupid, stupid heart.

You look back down at your drink, cheeks warm, trying not to smile too wide.

Maybe you are a little pathetic. But it’s fine.

You don’t say much after that.

You don’t need to.

He wipes down the counter while you sip the last of your coffee like it might stall time. But eventually, the clock catches up. The quiet starts to settle into finality.

You turn to say goodnight, maybe thank him, but he steps in just slightly—just enough that your breath catches—and leans in.

A brief, barely-there kiss to your cheek.

Warm. Soft. Gone before you can react.

“Feel better, Golden Girl,” he says, voice low and a little shy now. “Come see me again. I’ve got more of that… upgraded comfort waiting.”

Then, like it’s nothing—like it isn’t about to undo you completely—he reaches into his canvas tote hidden behind the counter. Pulls out an apple. Smooth, golden.

“Picked this up at the farmers market,” he says, holding it out. “Figured you’d appreciate the brand.”

You blink, caught. It’s a Golden Delicious apple.

“A golden apple,” he says, grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “For the Golden Girl.”

You take it. Silently. Trying not to show how stupidly much that means.

“Remember to eat,” he adds, already turning toward the entrance, voice gentler than it has any right to be.

You nod once, too stunned to speak.

Caleb opens the door for you.

And you step out into the night, cheeks warm, heart loud.

The air is crisp, your hands still wrapped around that stupid golden apple, and you tell yourself this is fine. Normal. Just coffee. Just golden apples—sweet ones that should taste like summer but land bitter on your tongue. Just a kind, caring barista with a heart already spoken for.

You nod to yourself. Yeah.

You can do this.

You can be a normal customer.

Order takeaway coffee. Smile. Leave. Study for finals. Because you made a decision—and you’re sticking to it.

Because you’re absolutely not going to fall back into his orbit.

A bite of apple, a quick tug to tighten your ponytail like armor, and then forward—no looking back.

You chew, waiting for the bitterness you assumed would be there.

But there’s none.

Just sweetness. Sharp and stubborn and almost cruel in how good it tastes.

And then your phone buzzes.

newbie: kinda had a moment. caleb’s covering for me. so yeah. case = closed, i guess.

You exhale through your nose, a small smile tugging at your lips. Fingers hover for a second before you reply—grateful to have the newbie in your life. Someone who gets it without needing a whole closing argument.

you: yeah. feels closed.

You hit send and keep walking.

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Part 8

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Writer’s note: Aaa, dear me. I hope I didn’t scare anyone off with that little burst of angst from the MC finally revealing herself. But trust me, the arc is arcing, and we’re just starting to brush against the edges of the complex man known as Caleb. This is… still achingly based on a true story aaaaaaa. My college days were the best and worst of days. Okey then, thank you for reading 🫶🏻

#heeeere it is!#love and deepspace #caleb love and deepspace #lnds caleb #lads caleb #you x caleb #non mc x caleb #reader x caleb #fanfic love and deepspace #barista caleb

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lorelei-larai · 2 months ago

Text

Kitten Cafe

Sylus X Female!Reader

First idea of a future fic that I share, many ramblings below

You own a well-known cafe, your service is fast and efficient, with a wide menu and a friendly smile. You let your customers play the famous kitty cards, but the charm was in your feline friends, famous for leaving hair everywhere.

You have a series of cats, all rescued and of different breeds, even with some disabilities, who interact with the customers. The fact that your store is near an arcade is an incredible bonus, and your house is right above your space—just a lovely, simple life.

You have this client who comes several times a week, a famous hunter who loves visiting your cafe, bringing various company, sometimes several in the same day, just to play the kitty cards. She's a good friend of yours, loves to chat, and has invited you to play cards when she comes alone. She has been attending this cafe for years. She's a lovely person.

Miss hunter brings this terrifying platinum-haired guy. She always complains about losing to him before leaving. He doesn't look at you, and at first, neither do you, until the cats start clinging to him. You've had to separate them for fear he'll do something to them, even though the Miss hunter assures you he'd never harm innocent animals. You don't panic until one day you see him petting your newest addition; a Spinx cat with a missing front leg. He was your clients' least favorite, and if that man didn't look at him with disgust, then he couldn't be that bad.

One day, while Miss Hunter is on one of her many dates, you're bringing coffee to her table after she lost her first round, and somehow, she ends up rambling about how you could beat her companion, the man's gaze with red eyes—Red eyes? First time you saw something like that, and they were mesmerizing. His smile is mocking and invites you to challenge him, his only intention was to annoy Miss Hunter, and she practically begs you to beat him up. You play Kitty Cards very well. Hell, you were one of the first people to play it and include it in the cafe. You refuse out of courtesy, but Miss Hunter insists and under the pressure of that man's gaze, you accept.

This couldn't be considered a fight; it was pitiful. That man was either very unlucky or overthinking things. You defeat him mercilessly, and Miss Hunter is having the time of her life, the rematch has no different outcome and that couple retires shortly after.

And then, that man returns, alone, without Miss Hunter, which is odd. He sits at the bar and orders his usual. You don't entertain him, you just give him his coffee before jumping to another customer. You can feel his indignation on your back.

When he finishes his coffee, he doesn't leave, and you approach for the used cup. His gaze freezes you, and with his wicked smile, he asks if you'd have time for a game of cards. You decline; you have work to do, and he offers to pay you a hundred times the price of that coffee if you play, and you'd be a fool to refuse.

The result is no different from the first time: he leaves you a wad of bills and walks out smiling, but clearly grumpy. He introduces himself as Skye, a fruit vendor, he's a strange guy.

You don't see him until the following week, with Miss Hunter, this time you don't let yourself be talked into playing. And the man returns twice more than that week on his own, his sole task being to defeat you. He goes so far as to call you a coward if you refuse, and your pride is so great that you accept. And you win every damn time.

By the third week with Skye, he sneaks glances at you. And his companion wouldn't be a hunter if she couldn't tell when someone was distracted for something, or someone.

Mc is aromantic, her relationship is platonic with all the Li's, the fact that Sylus had interest in this woman was something. The leader of an illegal organization using a false identity out of interest in a woman who worked in a cafeteria? This was gold. She's always making sure Sylus doesn't screw up and hurt you, and even gives him advice. What's more, she manages to invite you to a card game and get your number under the guise of reserving tables on certain days. And she totally has a shit-eating grin on her face as she watches Sylus take your number.

Skye reserves a table for every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon, after sunset. Then it's Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and in a couple of months, he'll be there all six days your store is open. Even if he comes with Miss Hunter in the morning, at night he only comes with the intention of playing cards with you, when there are not many customers.

It was strange at first, but by the end, you find yourself enjoying it. He's kind, charming, handsome—the man is a gentleman.

Miss Hunter is interested in you, sometimes when she comes alone to relax, she questions if you are single and when you look at her she doesn't look at you, the walls becomes more interesting. You question the question and she just laughs, she's not fooling anyone. You're starting the speech about how she wasn't your type when she started explaining that she only wanted to know about you, because you were always alone. You pretend that it doesn't hurt to say that you're single and that you're not looking for anyone.

One day Skye arrives with a cat, It was raining and you didn't expect him to come even if he didn't cancel the reservation. The cat is small, weak, and sick. He tells you how he found it in a box in the rain, and you take it in your hands. Now it's your cat. He tells how he took him to the vet to get him checked out and tells you how his home is too dangerous for cats, full of aggressive dogs, so he wanted to leave him in your care.

Skye offers to pay for the future vet, which you refuse; you had the money. But he insists he wants to help you; after all, he was putting this cat in your care because he didn't know how to take care of one himself, His home wasn't suitable, and he didn't want to force the responsibility of a sick cat on you. You're moved, and instead, you ask him if, in case you can't take him to the vet at least because of work, he could be the one to take him there. He accepts with a charming smile.

So you and Skye share custody of this kitten. You sent him pictures every day, you arranged vet appointments, and Skye drove him back and forth, he flat-out refused to accept your money for the vet bills, and he always came back with treats for all the cats in your cafe.

Feelings develop, and you invite him to dinner. He's delighted and accepts. You go to a humble, warm, and cozy restaurant. He looks out of place, but it's an incredible evening.

Honestly, I don't know what the kissing scene would be like, nor the confession of feelings, but you and he formalize your relationship as boyfriend and girlfriend after a few dates.

Everything is happiness, you have a kind, gentlemanly man, and you are not ashamed to upload photos of him on the internet where everyone could see them.

When your apartment was broken into and you were powerless to defend yourself, you were kidnapped by a criminal gang you didn't know. You wake up gagged, tied up in a place that smelled horrible.

Needless to say, Sylus is furious.

The man had many enemies; he always knew the risks, but he convinced himself that your smile was worth it. Yes, Miss Hunter and he had a history, but that was another life, another story that ended horribly. Their attraction was physical, and even that blurred into shared interests. At first, it was curiosity, then, affection in this live. And he decided that this time he would love as much as he could, as he couldn't in her previous life. Sylus felt like everything was repeating itself when Luke and Kieran informed him that his enemies had sent a message.

Your photo, terrified, beaten, demanding a sum of money with many 0s, but none of that mattered to him.

That day Skye became Sylus for you. The man took to breaking bones. You were terrified, but mostly relieved.

He rescued you, took you to his mansion for two days, and cleaned you up. He told you everything from his heart, and said that if you wanted to end things there, he'd accept it.

It was a lot to process. And you asked for some time.

He drove from Zone N109 to your house, he drop you off at your front door. Miss Hunter is already waiting for you there. She hugs you, and before you say goodbye to Sylus, you give him a small smile.

"I'll save your usual table tomorrow."

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thydungeongal · 6 months ago

Note

My experience with playing ttrpgs is that the role of the "game master" in modern ttrpg culture often has the expectation of being something like a blackjack dealer or a parent hiding the eggs for the easter egg hunt. Playing strictly non-hierarchical skirmish combat games really opened my eyes to how much more fun it is when everyone at the table is just *a player* and nobody has a disproportionate responsibility to craft a satisfying play experience for everyone else. I haven't read much of the AD&D rules but I get the impression that at the genre's roots this wasn't always as significant an issue. Do you think rulebooks in the future can do more to roll back this assumption??

So, to my understanding older editions of D&D specifically inherited the idea of the referee as an impartial arbiter of the rules from wargames, so while in many ways the early days of the hobby were all about putting a huge party of disposable freaks up against a gauntlet of challenges, the DM's purpose wasn't to leer at you from behind the screen and go hoo hoo hee hee at each PC that died.

Now, these toxic memes about GMs and players basically being in a constant competition of one-upmanship have been around for a long time and I don't think we'll ever be completely rid of them, but they tend to come in waves. And there are people trying to actively improve upon the culture: my personal contributions mostly amount to reminding people that, hey, the GM isn't a special guy you can just saddle with all the work of learning a game, the other players at the table should also make an effort; the people at @anim-ttrpgs just made a post about what the role of the Narrator is in their game, Eureka (and why they picked the specific term Narrator); and at least on the indie side of things there is generally a better culture of treating the facilitator/referee/MC as another player who is there to bring the game and work together with the others to make a cool story happen.

This also means that it is our moral imperative to go "That doesn't sound fun at all, why would you do that?" whenever people tell us their stories of just shitting all over their GM's prep or punishing their fellow players for perceived infractions.

#thydungeongal answers

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sanguinesky-if · 8 months ago

Text

Small Update About the Romance System

Hello! As promised, here's a post to inform you about some new clarifications and changes that I added to the original post about the romance system.

List of changes:

▸ The "Romance Progression" section has been revised. ▸ A new section "The ROs' Scenes" has been added. ▸ The "Jealousy" section has been expanded. ▸ A minor clarification has been made regarding the "Established Rivals" dynamic.

All changes are detailed below, so you don't have to read the original post again.

▸ Romance Progression:

In Chapters 1 and 2 [before you meet all the ROs], you can flirt with everyone, as these chapters serve as introductions to all the ROs and will impact jealousy moments later on. Starting from Chapter 2 [after all the ROs have been introduced]: ▸ You will encounter moments of jealousy from the ROs [depending on the romance points you've gained and your dynamic with the interacting RO], and [optionally] from the MC. ▸ The game will require you to make a choice between the ROs, with each choice triggering a unique scene with the selected RO. The final choice [locking the RO's route] will likely occur at the end of Chapter 5. [If this changes, I'll update this post and let you know.] This decision will depend on the choices made between and during the ROs' scenes.

▸ The ROs' Scenes:

When you encounter a choice between the ROs' scenes: ▸ Choosing a particular RO's scene automatically implies that the MC is interested in what is happening or could happen between them and the selected RO. ▸ It is recommended to focus on just one RO to avoid missing important content that will affect future scenes with them. Important note: Scenes with the ROs are only available if they match your MC's preferences and are not blocked by a special choice labeled [block]. Important aspects that can alter the ROs' scenes: ▸ Previous choices [main story elements; previously chosen RO's scenes]. ▸ Romance points with the chosen RO [to enhance attraction in the narrative]. ▸ Romance points with the other ROs [for jealousy moments]. ▸ Bold / Shy / Other Dynamics [for the MC's and ROs' initiative and jealousy moments]. Important note: All the ROs' scenes imply romantic interest and serve to advance the relationship based on mutual attraction or tension between the MC and the chosen RO. This means: ▸ The narrative will reflect subtle attraction even if you don't select flirt options. ▸ It's impossible to play as an oblivious MC [except for L's 'Oblivious' dynamic, which must either develop or be canceled before locking the route]. [To learn more about L's 'Oblivious' dynamic, please check the original post.]

▸ Jealousy:

Jealousy is a secondary mechanic that unlocks additional changes in the narrative on top of those already established in the standard dynamics. All the ROs are capable of experiencing jealousy, but each shows it in their own way, even if it's challenging for them or not portrayed obviously. In the game, jealousy can be triggered in two specific ways: optional and conditional. Optional Jealousy: ▸ When only one option among the suggested choices is marked [♥], this choice will trigger a jealousy moment [from the RO or the MC, depending on the context]. ▸ Optional jealousy depends on the Bold / Shy stat [the narrative will change based on which stat is higher]. Conditional Jealousy: Certain jealousy moments and special scenes require specific conditions to be activated, such as: ▸ The amount of romance points gained with the other ROs. ▸ Previous choices [established relationships with secondary rivals; scenes with previously chosen ROs]. Important note: All ROs will display jealousy mostly when interacting with the MC [before and after choosing their route], and only occasionally with other ROs after choosing their route [unless you've activated 'Established Rivalries' dynamic]. [To learn more about 'Established Rivalries' and 'Secondary Rivals' dynamics, please check the original post.]

▸ Established Rivals [a minor clarification]:

Before: This is not a love triangle but an open conflict of interest involving the MC. After: This is not a love triangle route but rather an open conflict of interest involving the MC. Reason: This revision provides slight clarification, as I believe the dynamic fits the description of a love triangle only until the route with one of the involved ROs is locked.

I realize that some clarifications may be disappointing, particularly regarding the "oblivious MC" aspect.

Still, this approach will allow readers to see the ROs' interest in the MC and the moments of attraction between them without the need to select flirt options.

And, if I'm being honest, I want to write the MC who knows what they are doing, because, in my opinion, relationship progression is the work of both characters, not just one.

Thank you for reading to the end! ♥

#interactive fiction #sanguine sky #sanguine sky if #ss general #ss technical

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fandoms-x-reader · 6 months ago

Text

Stoner! MC

Requested Anonymously

Summary: Stoner MC who gets the dateables high. Diavolo, Barbatos, Simeon & Solomon x Reader Word Count: 1,377

18+ Warning: This fic involves the use of drugs (cannabis)

Diavolo was under the impression that getting high was something that was considered taboo.

Really anything that involved Diavolo letting loose and being anything less than perfect was considered taboo according to the Royal Family.

But, he was never one to shy away from a challenge, and there was nothing he wanted to do more than to let loose - especially with you.

He had heard about your “extracurricular activities” and after doing ample research on all things cannabis and getting high, he invited you over to the Demon Lord’s Castle.

It was pretty late at night when he asked you to come over, but he couldn’t risk anyone else seeing what he was about to do.

There was something thrilling about having you sneak around the castle with him, knowing he was doing something that others wouldn’t approve of.

He listened to everything you had to say about what to expect and you couldn’t help but smile at the adorable and innocent look of excitement he had in his eyes.

Diavolo had a million expectations in his mind about how it would feel the first time, but he still wasn’t prepared.

He felt like he went through multiple phases. At first, he could feel his heart racing and you talked him through it before he could panic.

You noticed him spacing out here and there and would bring him back to you every time.

Before long, he had reached this state of what he could only describe as peace.

He was always rushing around with a hundred things to do at one time.

He never had a chance to have a break.

But, right now he was feeling like he didn’t have a care in the world. He was fully relaxed and to make everything even more perfect, you were right there next to him.

Diavolo wished he could feel this way all the time. But, he knew that his responsibilities as the future King of the Devildom wouldn’t allow him to do so.

Still, on particularly rough days, Diavolo would invite you over and ask you to stay the night at the castle.

Barbatos was probably the most experienced being in the entire world.

He knew almost everything and had tried almost everything.

He could see how big cannabis would become before it was even discovered by humans.

He was curious as to what the big deal was about cannabis so he had tried it once, wanting to understand.

To be honest, he wasn’t so sure why others liked it so much.

He wasn’t expecting their very own human exchange student to be a stoner, but when he found that out, he was willing to give cannabis another try.

He wasn’t afraid to admit that he may have done it incorrectly the first time.

After all, he had done it alone and he was positive that different amounts would affect humans and demons in different ways.

Perhaps he hadn’t taken the right amount.

Barbatos wasn’t one to typically ask for help, but he couldn’t deny the fact he was incredibly curious to finally understand why weed was so popular.

He invited you over to the Demon Lord’s Castle and asked you to help him experience “getting high”.

He was so proper with the whole conversation that you wanted to laugh. But, you stifled your laughter and agreed to help him.

Getting high with you was an eye-opening experience for Barbatos. He immediately became aware that he had definitely done it wrong the first time.

Because he had never felt like this before and in his opinion, it was an amazing feeling.

Barbatos knew that it would only be a matter of time before your supply ran out, and since he visited the human world so much, he felt like it was his responsibility to get you more since you were allowing him to use it.

He ended up being your “supplier” so to speak and learned way too much about cannabis to ensure you were always getting the best quality.

After all this time, Barabatos can finally say he understood why humans liked to get high often - it was quite the experience.

You are going to have the hardest time convincing Simeon to get high with you.

Simeon was very knowledgeable, so of course he knew about weed.

He read all about its effects and how people could react to it.

It seemed relatively safe to him, all things considered.

But, he was an angel.

Sure, deep down inside, Simeon tended to have a rebellious side, but he tried to keep up his angelic appearance as much as possible.

And doing any drug just simply wasn’t something an angel would do.

But you see his resolve slowly cracking every time you ask him to try it with you.

It wasn’t that he wanted to try getting high necessarily, it was that he would be doing it with you.

He knew that he could only resist you for so long and that one day, he would give in and try it.

That day came after he found out the others had tried getting high with you.

He instantly had FOMO and it wasn’t long after that he asked to try it with you.

Of course, the two of you had to be alone. The others couldn’t see him doing something so - sinful.

Simeon found a nice place outside in the Devildom where he didn’t think anyone would see the two of you.

He looked so nervous the first time and you had to ask him multiple times to make sure he was okay with this. The last thing you wanted to do was peer pressure him into it.

After reassuring you that he was fine, you agreed and let him try it.

He was surprised at how he didn’t feel anything at first. He was sure that it didn’t work for him.

But, then he felt it all hit at once. One moment he was himself, and the next, he was in an elevated mental status.

You took Simeon around town to keep his mind busy and distracted so that he didn’t panic.

And after the initial phase passed, Simeon enjoyed the feeling.

He felt like it enhanced everything about his little date with you around town.

Though, he’ll probably rarely do it if he does it again - he has an appearance to uphold.

Solomon was both the most supportive and understanding of getting high.

After all, not only was Solomon a human, but he had been alive for a very long time.

He was alive when it was first discovered, when it hit an all-time high of usage, and every moment after.

He had tried it once or twice himself, but that was so long ago.

He hardly remembered what exactly it felt like.

When you came to him and asked him if he wanted to try it with you, he hesitated only for a moment to think about the situation.

He knew that it was a legal drug in a few different countries and it would provide an opportunity for him to spend one-on-time with you.

There was no reason for him to decline your offer and after a short trip to the House of Lamentation, the two of you were getting high in your bedroom.

You were surprised at how well Solomon was handling it. You almost wouldn’t know he was high.

It made you think that he was a regular stoner, but he claimed he hadn’t tried it in a long time.

So, you chalked it up to all his crazy magic experiments giving him a stronger tolerance to it.

The two of you end up having a lot of fun together, talking about random stuff and laughing until the others have to check on you.

The brothers’ number one course of action is to ask what’s so funny - to which Solomon always responds by saying, “It’s our secret.”

The look of anger on the brothers’ faces will send you and Solomon into another spiral of laughter.

He has so much fun the first time with you that he’ll look for any opportunity to do it again and it’s not long before the two of you are stoner buddies.

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