#given that he's up there... chilling... running a stall with his ex-ex-boyfriend...

[shiverhohojiro]

the slightly unsettling realization that your ex-boss is also a person with wants and desires, and that those wants and desires are closer to your own than you might previously have imagined. aka "why does DJ Octavio get to be at the Grand Festival can you imagine how the octolings must feel about this"

Bonus doodle:

[bakugousbabygirl]

Tower Of Mistakes

pairings: bakugou x uraraka mentions, bakugou x ex!gf reader

genre: pure angst

word count: 1,623

cw: cursing|| mentions of self hatred|| jealously || self deprecation|| mirror punching

sypnosis: in which the reader realizes the split between bakugou and herself was her own undoing and she reminisces on where it all went wrong

short little song fic because i was bored also i didnt know how to end it so sorry that the ending is shit lmao😹😹

"Maybe you're better off with her?"

Her smile beamed brightening up the entire room, infecting everyone around her making them all smile and laugh also. She'd just given Bakugou a beaded bracelet for their 6-month anniversary making the blond boy blush and grow flustered as his friends gathered around to see the gift.

"Get the fuck away from us you dumb extras!" He yelled, but by now the "Baku-squad" as they'd been dubbed knew there was no real malice behind his harsh words.

"Cmon bakubro, let us see what Uraraka-Kun got you."Kirishima said playfully nudging him in an attempt to see the bracelet.

Behind Bakugou's yelling, you could see the slight smile that tugged at the corner of his lips. He was happy, he deserved it. She was good for him. So why do you still feel that sharp pang in your chest, the festering feeling of jealousy crawling through your veins?

Not being able to stand the joyous sight you get up from your seat trying not to make a scene calmly exiting the classroom. As soon as the door slides close behind you, you run. Tears cloud your vision-obscuring your view as you navigate your way to the bathroom luckily not bumping into anyone along the way.

Entering the restroom you slam and lock the heavy wooden door behind you making sure nobody can come in and ruin your pity party. God, you felt so pathetic like this. Crying over your ex who's obviously moved on. Raising your head to look at your reflection in the mirror you hate what you saw.

The bags under your eyes prominent and puffy due to the immense lack of sleep you've been getting and the constant crying in bed every night. Your skin was starting to break out from the stress and that glow you once held in your eyes was now dull. It angered you, what exactly? You couldn't pinpoint.

Was it the fact he was happy? Maybe it was that he got with Ms.Perfect and you felt as if you paled in comparison to her? How his face lights up every time he saw her approaching giving her a small smile that he never gave you? Or even the fact that this was all your fault? Yeah, that sounds about right. What angered you most is that you were the cause of this. You were the reason for the split. You're why he's with little miss sunshine and you're now left lonely and bitter.

" I had to use you to make me feel strong"

You were a leech, a parasite, nothing more than a pest who drained all of Bakugou's energy. While yes you were in class 1-A at the most elite hero school you were significantly weaker than your classmates. Your quirk was nothing to be scoffed at but by no means but you didn't know how to make it work efficiently and reach your full potential.

While your classmates excelled and grew it was like you were on the decline and Bakugou being the great boyfriend he was he refused to let you fail. Did you need help with your physical strength? Bet, he's waking you up at 6 am before classes start to workout with him. The physical recoil of your quirk wearing you out? No problem he's in your dorm room giving you a message to get all the kinks out of you back and brought over some food he cooked for you.

He saw no problem with doing any of this for you because he was your boyfriend but it was all give and no take for him. He was amazing for you but you were too consumed in your own need to get better you never paid him any attention unless you needed something.

He had an exam and he needed to stay up late to study for? You just gave him a kiss on the cheek and wished him good luck instead of bringing him snacks and water opting to sleep in his room that night like he would've done for you. The sweet caramel scent of his sweat after practice attracting bugs to his dorm room? You just laugh and tell him to "sleep tight and don't let the bugs bite" instead of getting him bug repellent like he would've done for you.

It was just the same level of effort he gave to you was never reciprocated. This frayed your relationship making you two grow more distant from one another as he stopped going the extra mile for you and returned the same amount of effort you gave him. That's when you started paying more attention to him. Vying for more of his time when one afternoon it all came to ahead.

Bakugou was getting ready to leave when you were pestering him to come to your dorm and cuddle with you when he snapped accusing you of only using him as your personal assistant and of course you clapped back with how he's been ignoring you lately.

"Duh, you fucking dumbass! I haven't been giving you any attention because that's what you've always fucking done for me! Nothing," He yelled in your face pushing your hand off him making you stagger back a bit. If looks could kill you'd be 6 feet under right now. The look he gave you was full of disgust and contempt.

"It's pretty fucking shitty that you only notice I'm gone when I'm not doing something that benefits you. you know what though (y/n) fuck you. I'm done with this shit." He said no longer yelling but the voice still full of anger as he shook his head exiting your dorm room.

" I see a tower built out of my mistakes and it all comes crashing down."

The realization hit you full force making a loud sob rack through your chest. It took you 6 months to realize you'd been a shitty neglectful girlfriend. Looking at yourself in the mirror only fueled your self-hatred and anger making you punch the mirror making it shatter and splinter into pieces as small shards broke off and fell on to the floor. The remaining pieces showing a broken image of yourself akin to how you feel inside making you give a small forced laugh. A sudden sting made you look down at your hand and see your knuckles were badly cut and oozing blood but you couldn't be bothered right now.

You stumbled back into the door of the stalls sliding down on to the cold tiled floor, the chill cooling down your burning body. Catching your breath from your previous sobbing you thought back on all the times he went the extra mile for you. He was a good boyfriend to you right down to the wire. You felt like such a fuck up and the worst part is you knew he didn't hate you.

After wallowing in your sadness you got up and went to your locker opting to just bandage up your hand instead of going to recovery girls' office and hear her nagging. With 30 minutes left of the free period you made your way back to class, you'd only been gone for 15 minutes but it seemed like an hour. Upon re-entering the room a few glances were on your hand but the demeanor you held stopped anyone from questioning you as you slowly sat back down in your seat.

Laying your head down on the desk folded your arms around yourself blocking out the rest of the world beginning to doze off.

[princessjungeun]

Behind The Mask: Yeji x Reader

This wasn’t requested by anyone but the trailer just- i have many ideas

Cw: Murder, blood, talk of drugs

Your head in your hands, you nervously paced around your bedroom. Never in your life have you messed up a job you were given, especially after you realized everyone who fucked up like you just did coincidentally went missing two hours later.

“Y/N calm down, you’re going to be fine. You’ve worked here since we were twelve. Never once have you messed up...so they can’t take it that bad right?” Your “brother” Felix tried to reassure you that you were going to be fine but in actuality he was just as worried as you were.

The worst part was that the job was simple, get the package, shoot the delivery kid, come home. However, you somehow managed to not only forget to get the package, you also didn’t shoot the delivery kid.

The empty warehouse downtown was like your second home honestly. You spent more time here rather than the actual house. Most of your jobs were assigned here as well.

Walking in you immediately saw familiar faces, some smoked, others drank, some talked, the occasional hookup happening in the corner.

“Hey babe.” A man walked up to you, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. You rolled your eyes, unwrapping his arm from you, “fuck off Kai...still not interested.” He smiled, running his thumb underneath your chin “your loss, you know where to find me when you change your mind pretty girl.”

Shuddering and letting out a light gag, you brushed off your shoulders, trying to rid yourself of his presence.

Finding the delivery point you waited around in a dark corner, mask on, hold up, gloves comfortably placed on your hands. From where you were you could see Felix in the back parking lot, leaning against his car cooly.

Keeping lookout was definitely a job Felix preferred instead of the actual dirty work. You watched your phone for his signal before making a move. Once he gave it you casually walked out to collect that package from the delivery kid.

Seeing your phone light up you read the message Felix send, indicating that the exchange was about to take place.

You waited for the other person to arrive, making sure your handgun was loaded, and the lock was off. In the low lit room you saw someone walk in, adorned in black jeans and an oversized sweatshirt, you could tell they were new at this. Hair flowing down their back their skin was the only thing light enough to see in the dim light.

“H-hello?” A somewhat deep voice, but feminine voice echoed throughout the room. You felt your heart sinking when you recognized the voice.

Heejin, your ex girlfriend.

Knowing Heejin won’t recognize your presence, you stepped forwards and asked “do you have what I need?” She nodded, pulling a thread at her sweater paws. Slipping out the small envelope she held you what you needed in her hands. You reached out for it and she drew her hand back, “give me what I need first.”

Without hesitation you pulled out your hand gun, pointing it at her. A look of fear washed over her face, her knees starting to shake beneath her. She held her hands up “please...please don’t. Whatever I’ll just go please!” Your finger slid over the trigger before hearing a weak cry slip past her lips “please...” The sound was all too familiar to you, as this was the same way you saw her, scared and confused when you broke up with her two years ago.

Seeing your hand freeze and start to tremble, she took this as a moment to dash out of sight. Springing as fast as her small legs could carry her, she ran away from you, the package you needed in hand. Chasing after her was pointless, she was already long gone.

You put your handgun away, and walked back to the car where Felix was waiting for you. Seeing that your hands were empty his face went pale. He himself had never not completed a job, however he knew some boys who did. They never returned to the house afterwards.

The drive home was silent, your hands trembled as you had to call your boss and tell them you hadn’t completed your job. Your stomach dropped when they ended the conversation with “I’ll see you at home.”

Felix and you took the longest way possible back to the house. He even went so far under the speed limit he almost got pulled over for it. But you both knew it was just best to stop stalling and rip off the bandage.

The second you got into the house Felix did his best to calm you down. But shortly after went to his boyfriend’s room, knowing that he was safe because he was only the driver.

You heard a loud knock at the door, heart pounding in your chest you opened it slowly. A tall thin boy with feline type features stood over you.

“Are you Y/N?”

You nodded and he grabbed your arm pulling you to the car. Shoving you in the backseat he simply said “you’re the one that has the boss all worked up huh?”

Swallowing thickly you responded “I-Yeah...I messed up.”

He looked at you in the rear view mirror, his eyes lingering for a second on your lips. Smirking slightly he responded “you’ll be fine...Yeji’ll like you.”

All you could think was “Who the hell is Yeji”

The drive felt like an eternity and by the time you reached the destination you didn’t know where you were at all.

The boy grabbed your arm and yanked you out of the car, putting an arm behind your back. Pushing you to walk, he left you from behind into the building. All the lights were off as he shoved you into a chair.

The cold metal against the back of your bare thighs you shifted uncomfortably. Your old gym shorts riding up as you moved in place. The boy tied your arms down at your sides with a rope.

The lights turned on and you heard was a voice, a female voice to be exact.

“So you’re the one who pussied out on a job?” Her tone was dull, emotionless, but that made it all the more terrifying.

“I asked you a question.” A thick silence fell over you two while she waited for an answer.

You responded “y-yes maam...”

She asked “why didn’t you finish the job?”

You replied “...it was my ex- i had to shoot my ex but i couldn’t.”

Her voice echoed through the room “hmmm...you loved her or something? Still emotionally attached to her? Do you still love her?”

Nervously you stuttered out “yeah- i mean just a little...I just didn’t expect to see her...I’m kind of scared...”

She chuckled lightly, “relax princess...i’m not gonna hurt you.”

As she spoke those few words you felt hands slide down your arms, her nails slightly scratching you.

Her lips by your ears she stated “well everyone makes mistakes pretty girl. I want you to pay in due time. Luckily i’m in a good mood. I’ll let you redeem yourself. Understand?”

You shook your head “not- um...not really no?”

She caressed the side of your face “you’re gonna be my bitch...untie her Hyunjin.”

Her voice was still blunt, no specific tone you could identify. However it still sent chills down your spine. The boy released your hands from the chair, forcing you to stand.

Pulling you along she spoke “Let’s go princess.”

Opening the passenger door she let you in first, as she walked around the front you got a good glimpse of her side profile.

She was beautiful, maybe even more. Her nose was sharp and pointed. Her jawline not extremely defined but it still added to her beauty.

Swinging open the door she got in, you watched as she slid one leg in after another. Noticing she had stilettos you wondered if she could drive with them on. But your thoughts were answered when she stepped on the gas, making you sink back into the seat.

Feeling a warm hand creep onto your thigh, you looked over at the girl. Her eyes glued to the road as she drove you both to who knows where. The cat shaped eyes slowly narrowed as she smirked, sliding her hand further up your exposed leg.

When you reached your destination you definitely didn’t know where you were. The gigantic mansion in front of you was something you’d only ever imagined in movies.

“Never seen a mansion before baby?” The girl asked, her hand holding onto yours. You shook your head no following her inside.

•

•

•

Laying in her gigantic California king bed, you faced her as she asked you a few questions. “So how’d a pretty little thing like you end up working for me hmm?” She brushed her finger underneath your chin gently.

Fumbling with your fingers underneath the covers you responded “I got kicked out when I was twelve...this woman told me she knew someone who could help me. I met some guy named Rain...he took me to this house. He told me I could live there if I did jobs here and there. I had nowhere to go so I agreed.”

Her features softened more than you’d seen that day. Eyes wandering everywhere but her face you picked at the skin on your thumb nervously.

Feeling a hand gently over yours, she asked “you have a question. What is it?”

Still looking down you responded “Well you’re so young...how- how am I working for you. How are we all working for you?”

Yeji simply stated “my dad ran this business. But I wanted it...so I killed him.”

Your eyes shot up to meet hers, she didn’t show any signs of remourse or regret from her actions. This slightly concerned you, how she could just talk so casually about something so horrible. However those worries disappeared when you felt her hand slipping behind your neck she pulled you just millimeters from her lips.

Her warm breath ghosted your lips “I always get what I want.”

She pressed her lips gently against yours, thumb grazing the back of your head.

As taken aback by her actions as you were, you didn’t stop her. This felt good...although you were terrified of this girl, you were still drawn to her.

•

•

•

Months passed and you were still Yeji’s....whatever she wanted to call you at this point. Sometimes it was “my girl” other times it was “just a friend”. However, the second you two got privacy you were the only thing that mattered to her.

Your coworkers so to speak we’re surprised at the two of you. Everyone who’s met Yeji is either a friend of her dad’s, or dead.

Since being “with” you, she was different to those around her. When she spoke it didn’t feel threatening. She smiled on very rare occasions, which never happened before.

Without a doubt at this point you loved her, and you could tell she felt something too.

•

•

•

“Baby....” She curled into your side, nuzzling her head into your neck. Holding her small frame flush against you, you hummed “mmmm?”

Yeji pulled away slightly, leaning up and kissing your lips gently. Looking into your eyes she told you “I love you princess.”

You smiled before kissing her again, this time more passionately.

She pushed you back down into the bed, slowly sliding over you finding her way on top. You slid a hand slowly along the small of her back and up, stopping at her waist.

Her hand found yours, interlocking your fingers as she pressed down more into the bed. A soft moan escaped your lips as she slipped her tongue into your mouth.

The two of you stayed like this for a while until you were both out of breath and tired.

After laying on your chest for a while, Yeji decided she wanted to sleep so she walked off into her large closet.

Talking to you from behind the door she asked “how did I get so lucky to meet you?”

You responded with a slight laugh “I should have fucked up a job sooner I guess.”

She asked “what was it you did again?”

Once again you replied “I couldn’t do it...it was my ex but I still loved her. I couldn’t kill someone I loved.”

Yeji walked from her closet, only in a long t shirt that stopped above her knees. “Love stopped you from doing it?”

Before you could respond she moved her hand from behind her back, “but it won’t stop me.”

Three shots fired hitting you straight in the head, killing you instantly. Your lifeless body bled out as she placed her pistol in her bedside drawer.

Stepping closer to you, her eyes narrowed, running her thumb along the top of your hand.

“I told you I wanted you to pay...And I always get what I want Princess.”

[cheshiremadd]

Superfluous

AO3

Chapter 2 A flashback already?!

-

sometime late last year

Chat found her at Patrol Starting Spot #13, looking for all the world like she intended to become this generation’s Thinker statue. She didn’t turn her head or acknowledge him as he approached. Even when he took a seat beside her, she stared resolutely forward.

He slowly leaned against her, giving her the opportunity to pull away. He gave her his full weight when she didn’t, putting his chin on her shoulder. “What’s the matter, Bug? Wanna talk about it?”

She stayed quiet. Chat gave her a bit of a head nudge and prompted again. “Or I could talk about my problems? They are many, and I can make more when I run out.”

“Love problems.” It was a soft warning, her accompanying shrug saying that he could give the conversation a pass if he wanted.

Chat, though, apparently liked pain and heartache. So of course he pressed on. “Ah, trouble with the boyfriend? Wonder Boy not everything he’s cracked up to be?”

And, wow, that wasn’t exactly how he meant for that to come out. They’d talked a lot about boundaries and relationships in general, and their boundaries and relationship specifically, and he hoped she knew that wasn’t meant to be a dig.

“I wouldn’t say we progressed to the ‘boyfriend and girlfriend’ stage.” She trailed off. Scrubbed her face with her hands, and blew out a gust of air. She waved a hand, and Chat took his cue. He flopped away from her, keeping his butt in the same spot beside her but laying back across the rooftop.

“Oh, LB, I’ve got a big problem.” He ran his claws through the part of his hair that he could reach without moving too much. “So I don’t think I told you that my girlfriend and I broke up.”

Ladybug gasped and looked his way. “Oh, Chat. I’m so sorry.”

He waved her off. “Eh, don’t be. It kind of sucked, but it was very mutual. We both decided that we were better friends. She realized that, while she is- was- something interested in me, she also really likes women. And I realized that- well..”

He huffed.

“Look, I am not telling you all this so I can get another ‘I told you so’.” His hand mimicked a talking puppet with the phrase. He was very tired of it by now, thank you very much.

She pushed her arms in the air, stretching her back, and then leaned back with her arms to prop her up. “I won’t give you one if you’ll refrain from using it on me.”

“Deal. My good friend that I apparently talk about too much? She got a boyfriend right before we broke up. He’s a mutual and honestly a real nice guy. Very chill.”

Ladybug gave him a knowing look. She could already tell where this was going. She knew him too well, just like he knew her. He sighed.

“Yeah. I hated seeing the two of them together. Hate. Ongoing thing. Problem not resolved. I was -am- so jealous, and I didn’t understand why because I had just the tiniest crush on her, not a big deal, not any bigger than anyone else who knows this woman. Seriously, Bug, everyone who ever meets her gets at least a small crush on her. It’s a fact of life. Minus, you know, those who aren’t female attracted.”

She finally allowed herself to relax all the way back, laying on her side facing Chat. “I know someone like that.”

“Yeah?”

“Mm-hmm,” she nodded. “She’s kind. Very strong. Bold and determined. Sometimes she messes up, but she always tries. I would have wondered if she were Ladybug, if I weren’t.”

He shot her a bright grin. Such glowing praise for his princess! “Exactly! My Lady, I almost wonder if we’re talking about the same person.”

The air between them turned somber just as quickly. “We can’t confirm it.”

A reminder that was for her as much as it was for him.

“I know.”

Silence fell between them, the world as quiet as it was noisy. A city as big as Paris always had some activity going on, and this building was on a busier road. It was several minutes before Ladybug prodded him.

“So. Crush not as tiny as you previously thought?”

He covered his eyes with his forearm. Hoped against hope that the ground would just swallow him. “Noooo. Plagg was actually helpful for once. He suggested comparing my feelings for- well. To be perfectly candid, my Lady, he suggested comparing my feelings for each of you. And I-”

He sighed.

“I don’t even know when I started to love her.” The declaration came out softly. It still felt like betrayal to utter it. “I can’t think of a time where I didn’t think about her, strive for her approval, want to just..be in her presence.”

Ladybug let out a humorless laugh. “We just love to make life complicated, huh.”

She fell to her back and picked at her fingers.

“So, the jealousy is a problem?” She seemed to be grasping at whatever conversation threads she could find.

He shook his head. “No. I mean, it is. But not, like, in a way that’s going to cause problems for our relationship, or her relationship with her boyfriend. I’m doing better at keeping it a me problem.”

She turned over to lay on her belly. Buried her face in her arms.

“Did you really think she could be me?” And, yeah, she was definitely stalling.

“I considered the pawsibility once, my Lady, but I’ve seen the two of you at the same scratching post more than once. Unfurtunately for this poor Tom’s heart, it seems I’m destined to love two Queens, instead of one.” He could see her blush, which spread all the way to the tips of her ears. An interesting development. But she giggled, too, which had been his goal.

It was a long moment before she spoke again.

“I wasn’t dating Wonder Boy. I didn’t know that I’d given you that impression. He’s still as wonderful as ever.”

Oh. Yep. He could have this conversation. He would rock this conversation. He’d be the best, ever, at this conversation. He took a deep breath. She’s his best friend. He could do that for her.

“Everything was nice! My not-quite-boyfriend and I got along great. It was...calming. Easy. But my brain decided it was too easy.”

He released the breath in what he hoped was a measured way, and reached a hand over to rub between her shoulder blades. Just enough to give support without interrupting.

“I just. The anxiety wasn’t there, which was nice. But...I knew that if we ended it, I wouldn’t be heartbroken. I’d call one of my best friends and we’d use the excuse to stay up all night and eat too much ice cream. Maybe I’d cry a little. And I’d be okay the next day. He could stop being my friend, and that would honestly be awful, because he’s fun to hang around, but I know that I’d get through it.”

It was her turn to take a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“It wouldn’t be like losing Wonder Boy...or you.”

Chat stopped the motion of his hand and stared at her.

“You’re one of my needs, Chat. Right up there with food and water and shelter. And Wonder Boy...I think it’d kill me if he walked out of my life.”

And wasn’t that just what he’d always wanted her to say. He’d heard her gush about Wonder Boy, and here she was placing them on the same level. Yet. He found that he was glad she’d never said it before. He loved Marinette, and he wanted to love her.

He turned over to match her, threw an arm over her, and did his level best to bury his head in her shoulder.

What a mess.

She turned to face him more. “Why are hearts so complicated, Chat?”

He shook his head against her, still not quite able to speak.

Sometimes they defined ‘patrol’ as training. Sometimes a break from hectic lives and grabbing a bite to eat. It was helping that little old lady over on Rue Clément Marot bring her flower pots in. And sometimes it was having an emotional conversation and keeping watch for butterflies.

They stayed like that for some time. Until he had to do something to change the mood, because his first priority had to be her, had to be them, and akumatization was not an option.

“Want to hear something funny?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Is it actually going to be funny?”

“Hey! Don’t lie! You cat get enough of my humor.”

“Yay. The low-hanging fruit puns.”

Chat narrowed his eyes and scrutinized her. She looked away and picked at her thumb. One of her nervous ticks. “You stole that line from Marinette!”

“Did I? Or did Marinette steal it from me?”

He paused at that, thoughtful. “Hmm. My princess is a majestic thief. But I’m certain that was her crowning jewel before it was yours.”

“Oh, all right,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “What was your ‘something funny’?”

“I don’t know if you deserve to hear now, after such blatant thievery from the Kingdom of the Pink Lands.”

Ladybug huffed. “Fine, don’t tell me.”

He chuckled, enjoying getting a rise out of her, before he told her anyway. “I wanted to break up after I figured out how much I liked my Good Friend, and that I was happier having my ex-girlfriend as a good friend. She wanted to break up because my Good Friend was her gay awakening.”

He heard a startled laugh, and turned to see Ladybug covering her mouth with her fist. “Way to ruin the moment, Chaton.”

He shrugged, unrepentant. “It needed ruining.”

-

two and a half months ago

Adrien lay on his bed, arm propping his head up, and stared at his phone. Pictures took up the screen. Kim walking towards the camera, holding Max and Ondine’s hands. The three sitting at a cafe table, Kim making exaggerated motions to Ondine, Max forgetting the computer in front of him to stare at him with her. Ondine and Max surprising Kim by kissing his cheeks.

The caption below the three pictures read: Sassinette: Look who Kagami and I ran into!

To Adrien’s knowledge, Max and Ondine weren’t interested in dating each other. But they got along well enough, and they both loved Kim, and they were okay with (encouraged, even!) Kim to love both of them. The arrangement worked for them. And Kim didn’t have to choose.

Adrien had never imagined having this problem. When he and Kagami started dating, he hadn’t dreamed that Ladybug might have feelings for him. Even when he and Kagami split, he didn’t know. But then that conversation happened, and they’d sat on the information for months. Each of them unwilling to pursue one while they still thought about both.

And now a crazy solution presented itself. Deceptively simple, until he considered the secret identities in play. Ladybug would understand, but could he ask Marinette to be in a polyamorous relationship when he couldn’t introduce the two?

A new message came through. Marinette’s text tone was reminiscent of collecting coins in a retro video game. He chose it for her because he felt like he was gaining every time she texted him, and she rocked at video games.

Sassinette: I think Mme. Tsurugi is warming up to me. She asked about the competition that I’m prepping for?

Sassinette: I mean Kagami and I were talking about it in her hearing, and all she asked about was who was putting it on, then nodded and said ‘They’re a prominent company; worthy of your time.’

Rapunzel: That’s not ‘warming up’, Maricakes. That’s downright approval.

He still smiled when he saw his contact name. Marinette had stolen his phone and changed it in retribution for what he did to hers.

“Disney Princess, golden hair, questionable parent.” She’d ticked each point with her fingers. “All you need are the magical powers!”

Joke’s on her. I do have magical powers.

….That he needed to use soon. Joint patrol started in twenty minutes.

His phone collected more coins.

Sassinette: I’m not convinced, but I kind of only care as far as it lets Kagami hang out without the subterfuge.

Sassinette: Between you and me, we’ll convince her of the importance of socializing with one’s peers!

He covered his eyes with his free forearm and whined. If he didn’t do something soon, Kagami was going to ask her out. He just knew it. She kept saying she wasn’t going to, that Marinette didn’t like her like that, but Adrien could see how well the two of them got along. They’d make such a cute couple.

Coins again.

Sassinette: Still alive over there? I’m getting up to take a shower and find food in a few minutes, in case you come back later and wonder why I’m not answering.

His eyebrows drew together. That was odd.

Rapunzel: Those sound like things I should be doing. No dinner with the parents tonight?

Sassinette: Wednesday night is their night to work on business accounts, and my night to sleep early!

He snorted and turned to his belly, gathered a pillow in his arms to lazily prop himself up.

Rapunzel: Tell me the truth. Are you actually going to sleep?

Sassinette: Your lack of faith astounds me! Of course I’m going to sleep! ….after I finish the rough draft of this commission.

“Soft and gooey Cancoillotte, you’re still mooning over your phone?”

Adrien startled at the harsh sound of Plagg’s voice in his ear.

“What do you mean, ‘still’? I haven’t been laying here for long.” It was funny how admitting to his crush on his good friend took most of the sting out of Plagg’s teasing.

The Kwami wasn’t buying any of his bullshit. “I napped near two hours. You haven’t moved.”

“I moved! I turned over.” He indicated his new position with a grin.

“You’ll miss Bugsy if you don’t move some more. Unless we’re skipping tonight. In which case I’m going back to napping.” Plagg exaggerated his yawn.

Adrien most certainly did not yelp and tangle his feet and fall out of his bed. And if Plagg told anyone he did, well, Plagg wasn’t always a reliable source for information.

[uncloseted]

Hey Christina!!!!!!!!!! Sorry I’m hyped. I was wondering if you could do a “50 things about yourself” idk if you’ve done it before but I’d like to know about you cause you’re so cool! 😎 and we love you

Hi!  I haven’t done one before but I’m happy to.  And of course, if there’s anything you guys want to know about me I’m an open book.  This particular “50 Things” tag is old school Tumblr, so it’s sort of random, but hopefully something in there is interesting for you guys.

1. What takes up too much of your time?

Reddit.  I’m an information junkie and most of the stuff on there has very little use in my life, but once in a while I come across a gem and it’s what keeps me scrolling.

2.       What makes your day better?

Iced coffee.  There’s a coffee shop near my house that I really like, and I also bought a bunch of the fancy flavored syrups so I can make it at home.

3.       What’s the best thing that happened to you today?

I’ve been having a pretty chill day so far, but spending the day with my boyfriend has been really nice.

4.       What fictional place would you like to go?

The Night Circus!  It’s one of my secret ambitions in life to actually build it.

5.       Are you good at giving advice?

I sure hope so, otherwise I’m running some of your lives 😂. But seriously, I do my best.1.

6.       Do you have any mental illness?

Let’s say I know my way around a therapist’s office and leave it at that.

7.       Have you ever experienced sleep paralysis?

Yes!  I used to get a combination of sleep paralysis and exploding head syndrome semi-regularly, but that hasn’t happened in years.

8.       What musician inspired you the most?

I don’t know about “inspired” but I think The Velvet Underground had a big hand in shaping who I am.  Also Patti Smith, she’s great.  I highly recommend her book “Just Kids” to all of you.  There’s something about it that feels Skinsy even though on paper they’re nothing alike.

9.       Have you ever fallen in love?

Absolutely.  I’ve been with my boyfriend for four years now and I couldn’t be happier. 

10.   What’s your dream date?

I love driving to a new city and checking out what there is to do there.  I think having a place that you share just with that one person is really romantic. 

11.   What do other people notice about you?

My hair, my clothes, or my “intimidating” face are the ones I hear the most often.

12.  What is the annoying habit you have?

My boyfriend really hates it when I do “active listening” (where you nod or make noises to let people know you’re still paying attention to them).

13.  Do you still talk to your first love?

No, but I hope they’re doing well.

14.  How many ex’s do you have?

6ish would be my guess?  I’d be interested to know if all of those people would say that I’m their ex, though.

15.  How many songs are on your playlist?

I don’t really make playlists, so I guess none.  I’m sorry that’s a super boring answer. 

16.  What instruments can you play?

Piano and bass guitar pretty well and tuba badly (and I can’t actually carry the instrument anymore).  I could play the flute when I was younger but I imagine I can’t anymore.

17.  Who do you have the most pictures of?

My boyfriend, I think.  I have a Polaroid camera and I like taking pictures of him when he’s not paying attention. 

18.  Where would you like to go before you die?

Argentina, Scandinavia, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia, Vietnam, South Africa, Morocco, Australia, Antarctica, and the moon.

19.  What is your zodiac?

Libra!  My birthday is coming up on the 17th. 

20.  Do you relate to it?

I do!  And I feel sort of badly about that because I know that zodiac is just the Barnum Effect in action, but the Libra desire for balance, idealism, and love of aesthetics is me. 

21.  What is happiness to you?

Being free of expectations from myself and other people.

22.  Are you going through anything right now?

In my experience, adulthood is just going through different things for the rest of your life, so yes. Pretty much always.  But right now I’m looking for a new job and that’s been a lot.

23.  What is the worst decision you’ve ever made?

How much time do you have?  I did a lot of things in my teenage years that I’m not particularly proud of.

24.  What is your favourite store?

I love really giant department stores like Harrod’s, or covered markets with tons of different random stalls.  I like the idea that you don’t know what you’re going to find.  I also love antique stores for the same reason.

25.  What is your opinion on abortion?

It should be available and accessible to anyone who wants or needs it.  But so should birth control.  And I think it’s important that people understand all of their options before making a decision and are given mental health support if they need it as well. 

26.  Do you have a bucket list?

Not really.  I had basically one thing that I’d always wanted to accomplish and that happened way earlier than I expected, so now I’m trying to figure out what my next thing will be.

27.  Do you have a favourite album at the moment?

Blue Scholar’s Cinematropolis or Belle & Sebastian’s Dear Catastrophe Waitress.  And Velvet Underground’s Loaded, always. 

28.  What do you want for your birthday?

I’m hoping my boyfriend and I will go away for the weekend.  Fingers crossed that our schedules work out!

29.  What are most people’s first impression of you?

I think people find me to be intimidating (when they’re being generous) or mean (when they’re not).  Like I said before, I have a bit of a bitchy face and so I have to make a conscious effort to smile at people.

30.  What age do you seem according to most people?

I’m not sure.  I’ve gotten to the point where I’m just sort of “in my 20s” and people don’t care what the exact number is.  But in general, I think people assume I am however old they are, so anywhere from like 18-30.

31.  Where do you keep your phone while you’re sleeping?

Right next to my bed, which you shouldn’t do.  But I read on my phone before I go to sleep and I use it as an alarm clock, so it ends up on my bedside table.

32.  What word do you say the most?

It’s probably “but”.  I spend a lot of time considering all the possibilities in a given situation so I spend a lot of time being like, “but what about this? But what if that? Things could be this way, but on the other hand they’re like that”.  I don’t think I really have a catchphrase, though.

33.  What’s the oldest age you would date?

Thirty, probably?  I feel like anyone older than that is probably in a different stage of their life than I am.

34.  What’s the youngest age you would date?

Twenty three or so?  They would have to be out of college.

35.  What job/career do most people say would suit you?

Other than the job I do now, I get a lot of people saying that I should be an art curator or a museum curator.  And I get people telling me I should be a therapist, obviously.

36.  What’s your favourite music genre?

Like most people I like your general pop/rock situation.  I really like baroque pop, which is pop music but that includes orchestral instruments.  And then I also love electroswing, I think it’s such a fun blend of genres.

37.  If you could live in any country in the world, where would it be?

Either the Netherlands or Denmark.  But I would also like to spend some time in France and more time in Italy, where I did study abroad.  I also really love the UK, but given the current political situation I’m not sure I’ll be moving there any time soon, especially since I’d need a visa.

38.  What is your current favourite song?

I don’t know if I really have one.  I do enjoy when I hear Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” on the radio, though, does that count?

39.  How long have you had this blog for?

Since October, 2013!  I’m coming up on my six year anniversary.  I think I have something like 30,000 posts.

40.  What are you excited for?

The future! I think no matter how the present seems, the future is always an exciting prospect. 

41.  Are you a better talker or listener?

I think this might surprise some people, but I think I’m a better talker than listener.

42.  What is the last productive thing you did?

The last really productive thing I did was to film a pitch video for a project I’m working on, but the most recent is doing some work for this blog.

43.  What do you want for Christmas?

The impeachment of Donald Trump? Can Santa do that?  I would also take “people taking climate crisis seriously”.

44.  What class do you get the best grades in?

In high school, philosophy/religion and psychology. At university I did very well in “Iconic Figures of Popular Music: Simon and Garfunkel”.

45.  On a scale of 1-10, how are you feeling?

Around a 7.  I need to get dressed and leave the house, but I don’t have anywhere in particular I need to be so I’ve been putting it off.

46.  What can you see yourself doing in 10 years?

I’d like to be living in a different country than the one I do now with my boyfriend.  I’d like to be self employed or remotely employed, so that I have flexibility in when and where I do work.  I want to be doing something where I’m bettering other people’s lives or the world at large. But mostly what I’d like to be doing is traveling and learning.  But really my priority is that by that time, I want to be content with myself.  I think what you’re doing and where you’re doing it is so much less important than how you feel while doing it, and in 10 years I hope I can say that I’m living a happy and worthwhile life, whatever that ends up being.

47.  When did you get your first heart broken?

I think I was 14.  What I’ll say about it is this- in the moment it mattered so, so much to me.  My parents were the first person that each other dated and I assumed that was how all relationships worked, so when that wasn’t how this one worked out, I was devastated.  But now I barely remember that person, and  I live with someone else who’s completely different and totally awesome and I couldn’t be happier.  I know it sounds like a lie but with time and perspective all wounds can heal.

48.  At what age do you want to get married?

I didn’t think I wanted to get married at all.  I don’t like the idea of having a big wedding where you’re the center of attention and everyone is starting at you.  But in the long run being legally married is practical, so my boyfriend and I will probably do it at some point when we feel like it makes logistic sense.

49.  What career did you want to have as a child?

I wanted to be an Imagineer at Disney.  They’re the people who design the theme parks.  I also wanted to be the president of the moon.

50.  What do you crave right now?

Excitement!  Nothing is going on in my day right now and I’m starting to get bored.  I have a very low tolerance for boredom so days like this really get to me.

[maireep]

Ink and Kisses (p&p au)

For the past couple weeks, following chilling with Keith on the apartment couch right before Shiro invited him to his wedding, he’d been hanging around Mamora Ink more and more. With his current jobs, as a personal assistant just a few times a week and a nightclub host during the weekends, he had a lot of free time during the days when he was off call. Allura was spending a whole month working with her fashion team for an upcoming line, and he was bored! Where else would he go? Hunk had banned him from the bakery after the last incident... and Keith had mentioned how the shop hadn’t had someone to man the front desk in a year. 

So he tagged along - a lot. 

It was fun, the customers and the artists and the lack of dress code. He could wear new rave clothes and don Keith’s leather jacket whenever it got hot enough in the shop for Keith to strip it off. He noticed how Keith liked to free up his arms too when he worked - normally wearing tank tops or t-shirts with the sleeves rolled up.  Currently he worked on a very tatted lady named Rose, who Lance had chatted with for a solid 25 minutes before Keith huffed his way over and directed her to the chair. She was interesting to talk to, he couldn’t help it!  The design she had given him to be digitalized was a portrait of a small girl, with dark skin and a large smile. Keith slaved over it, positioned over Rose’s back with his surgical mask and his bangs tied away. It gave Lance a perfect view of his focused pinched brow - and also gave him the perfect idea for a surgery based rave outfit. Something with a mask and maybe a pill or needle theme? He’d have to text Allura. In fact he was pulling his phone out of his back pocket just as the door chimed and a customer came up to the tall counter. He spun around in the swirly chair, bounding to his feet and halfway grabbing a pricing sheet when he looked up. It had been years but the drop in his stomach was still the same. At least he was pleased to find that the years had definitely added to Lotor’s face. Crows feet and lines sat on his skin, even under the Dolce and Gabbana sunglasses and the ridiculously grey bleached hair. Lance narrowed his eyes, just as Lotor pulled up his shades to give him a once-over.  “This is a surprise.” Lotor smoothly smiled, cool and uncaring. His eyebrows quirked in the way that showed it was a surprise. A chill was threatening to run up Lance’s spine, noticing the same pinstriped suit he had once, so long ago, chased down in three different Brioni suit stores. He was such a puppy back then, wagging his tail for Lotor and doing whatever he asked. Even opening his legs for him.  “It’s been a while.” He tried to keep it curt, but the strain was very prominent. He could tell from the satisfied expression on the older man’s face. His fingertips lingered on the pricing sheet. Lotor wasn’t here for an appointment.  Lotor seemed to catch on, smiling and pulling a hand out of his suit pocket to tap away on a glittering smartphone, “Do you work here now? Still hopping jobs? I’m not here for an appointment, ah - I manage the property as you know.”  Lance did know. On top of being a real estate manager and landlord, he was a horrible loanshark with no sympathy for anyone. Scum of the earth. “I don’t work here.” Oh. He didn’t mean to say anything out loud. Lotor raised an eyebrow, an elegantly dyed one and long plucked. He wanted to heave, wondering if Ulaz was back from his lunch break... He had taken Thace and mentioned something of a lunch meeting though...  “Ulaz isn’t back yet.”  He nearly snapped his neck looking over to Keith. He stood there, his mask removed to hang around his neck as Rose pulled back on her shirt behind him. He hadn’t realized Keith was done. Keith stepped closer, behind the counter to shuffle through paperwork for Rose. Their shoulders brushed and the contact alone made him relax. Keith was right there, it was fine. He wasn’t some fresh young college student with his first desire for a man anymore. Lotor couldn’t hurt him. He already wanted to melt against Keith and his warm pale skin and big hands and lovely face.  Maybe he looked dopey, because Lotor cleared his throat and he immediately stiffened again. Keith caught on instantly, he had to with how he stood back up straight and looked to Lotor. Lance followed but more slowly.  “Well, I’ll leave these here. Tell Ulaz to call me when he returns.” He pushed back his sunglasses and stood back to the door. Then he paused, tilted his gaze over his lenses to look right at Lance, “Good to see you again Lance.” And Lotor left.

Now he wanted to heave even more. That evil hack, right in front of Keith... God what was he going to think? He couldn’t even call Lotor an ex, just an old boss who had taken advantage of a younger Lance attempting to explore his sexuality.  Keith turned to him, pulling the paperwork Lotor left behind the counter and exchanging them for ones Rose grabbed on her way out. Lance was maybe prepared for a angry ‘How do you know him?’ or maybe even something worse but instead Keith touched him. He slid a warm palm behind the leather jacket that sat on Lance’s shoulders, and cupped the small of his waist.  “Are you okay?” He said, simply, plainly, pulling Lance into the sun. He relaxed to Keith, curling into him and Keith responded. Maybe that’s why he liked him so much, Keith always responded. His breath tickled Lance’s collarbone, and his hands had immediately started to rub up and down his back.  “Mm,” He placed his head down on Keith’s shoulder, “I’m fine.” Keith’s fingertips danced against the hem of his halter top under his own leather jacket and Lance nudged closer to kiss the exposed skin of Keith’s neck. Maybe it was the shock of seeing Lotor, fueling his immediate need to reaffirm to himself and the universe that he was a different person that he once was - that Lotor couldn’t hurt him - but he wanted Keith. It didn’t help that Keith was yummy, and currently using any bit of Lance’s exposed skin as a fidget toy - seemingly lost in thought.  He tended to do this a lot, bringing a stall in their conversations. Lance didn’t mind - it gave him a second to stare at Keith’s face. It was unfair how chiseled his jawline was but at least he had free range to kiss it. As he was doing just that, Keith tightened his hold and led him backwards.  The back room was only a very short steps away, and Keith very nearly dragged him in. Keith stretched out his leg and kicked the door shut with the bottom of his combat boot, pulling harder on Lance’s waist until he was fitted close to Keith. He didn’t know who leaned in or initiated, but they kissed. Keith cupped the back of his neck, deepening until Lance had to steady himself on Keith’s shoulders.  The backroom had the speaker set up, so the music for the shop was louder here. The song was something heavy and rock, probably something that would make Keith scoff at him for not knowing the name of it. It was sexy though, and matched Keith kissing him hard enough to make his knees weak. HIs lips were already pretty numb from Keith’s sharp teeth and constant biting but wow it felt good.  His back hit the backroom table, and Keith leaned over him, pressing heated openmouthed kisses to his neck as he tried to strip off his own leather jacket from Lance. A moan bubbled up in Lance’s throat, helping Keith take off the jacket by sitting halfway up. The hurried urgency was hot - leaving him breathless and panting. It was foggy between them, and Keith swiped a tongue over his clavicle before aiming a well placed bite.  “Keith,” He murmured, gasping it practically, overwhelmed by some desire to let his almost-not-quite-boyfriend(?) know that Lotor was definitely not an issue, “Keith - ” He was cut off by a moan, which took a second before he realized it was his own moan but wow fuck he was seeing stars with Keith’s crotch lining up deliciously with his own.  He was starting not to mind the idea of their first time being in the backroom of Mamora Ink but just as he opened his mouth to beg for it - the music abruptly changed, escalating as the lyrics went on as if someone had their finger down on the ‘Volume Up’ button -  “ I don’t see nothing wrong (I don’t sEE NOTHING WRONG) WITH A LITTLE BUMP AND GRIND -”

Keith flopped forward, groaning loudly, “Pidge, what the fuck- ” Lance laughed along with her, who they could hear howling above the deafening R.Kelly. 

[cathygeha]

All signs point to Davina being the witch of the catastrophic prophecy, but she’s not so sure. Out Now! – The Witch of the Prophecy by Victoria Jayne

Follow the Tour and #enter to #win a $20 Amazon Gift Card

Enter at: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29598/?

Title: The Witch of the Prophecy

Author: Victoria Jayne

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Young Ink Press

Length: 64,000 Words

Release Date: December 4, 2018

 Synopsis:

Divina’s had it with the prophecy. 

The vampire whose heart beats for a witch that belongs to a wolf shall save us all. He shall take his throne and rule over all kinds. If not, the vampire who belongs to the witch will end all kinds.

Divina’s not convinced the prophecy is about her. Her manipulative vampire ex-boyfriend, Rori, is reluctant to give up his love for her to pursue the throne. Meanwhile, the wolf shifter meant to claim Divina doesn’t believe in the prophecy. However, he does believe Divina is his mate.

With the pressures of the prophecy and the most powerful coven in the present-day United States, Divina is left to choose between complying with the prophecy and mating with Aric—or leaving it all behind to allow the catastrophic possibility of supernatural beings getting exposed to humans.

Available now: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | Kobo

  Excerpt 1:

Out in the middle of nowhere, with no clothes, and smelling the equivalent of filet mignon, his wolf had set him up well. Torn between the desire to investigate the fragrance, and maintaining human societal norms of modesty, Aric lingered under the cover of bushes and trees.

CRACK!

Metaphorical thunderbolts splintered before his eyes. Pain shot through his skull as he flew forward bracing himself on all fours. Aric’s hand reached to the back of his head protectively and to check for bleeding.

“What the fuck!?” he rumbled in confusion.

“Who are you?” a feminine voice demanded.

Lifting his chest, getting to his knees, Aric turned toward the sound of crunching leaves beneath shuffling feet. Blinking a few times did nothing to cure his double vision. He assumed he had a concussion. If he had been human, he’d be unconscious. The pain in his head throbbed while Aric struggled to see properly.

“W-wh-why are you naked?” the female voice questioned him.

Rising to his feet, Aric shifted his position, in an attempt to both hide the chubby semi-erection and to offer some modesty. It must have been interpreted as a sign of aggression.

Aric heard the whoosh and put his arm up to block the giant branch the female wielded as a weapon. The vibration of pain ricocheted up his forearm when it collided with the impromptu weapon. Aric howled and his eyes watered.

Aric twisted his wrist, wrapped his fingers around the branch, and yanked. It came loose from her hands quickly. He tossed the stick away and thanked his supernatural genes and the strength given to him by his wolf, who, oddly, pranced about within him with elation rather than recognizing the aggression the woman showed toward them.

“Wha—” she gasped.

Still unable to see her clearly, the blurry female form stepped back from him. Aric wobbled slightly and fell to his knees again for stability.

Once his vision slowly returned to normal, and in the glow of the moon, he gasped when he finally laid focused eyes on her visage. Her high cheekbones, plump lips, golden skin tone stunned him. His mouth fell open. The mass of dark waves pulled into a messy pony shimmered in the moonlight giving her a halo effect. Aric felt as if he knelt at the feet of a goddess.

She wore an extremely large, faded, hooded sweatshirt and tight jeans. Aric lifted himself to a standing position on shaky knees. He stood several inches over her at his full height. His wolf howled within him while he fought the wolf’s urge to grab the woman. It did nothing to ease the pounding pain in his head from her attack.

“You’re magnificent,” he murmured.

The unknown female took another step away from him.

“Uh, thanks?” she said.

Her pale blue eyes darted left and right, as though she searched for an escape route.

The throbbing pain in the back of his head dulled as he studied her. He absentmindedly raised a hand and rubbed at the place where she had struck him. The semi was now a full-on raging erection and proudly protruded from his pelvis as if to salute her.

Aric’s face heated when her eyes dipped to it. Her cheeks reddened. She held a hand over her mouth.

“Oh my God!” she gasped.

Her expression reflected panic. She bent her knees prepared to run. Her eyes sought the best escape route.

“No. Don’t,” Aric protested, surprising himself.

She paused. The female stared at him, bewildered.

He brought both his hands over his crotch. “Sorry.”

“Why are you naked?” she demanded a second time.

“Uh,” Aric stalled. For some reason, he didn’t think telling her he had just shifted from wolf to human form would be a good idea. Humans tended to freak out when confronted with creatures they thought were mythical. Plus, there was the whole death thing, if the council found out about a supernatural being outing himself to humans. They took that shit super serious. Aric liked his life. He liked it even more, having met this female.

Excerpt 2:

“Pay attention,” she snapped. “You don’t need power, just Divina,” she spoke simply. “You don’t need the council seat, just your witch.”

Tightening his mouth into a firm line, Rori considered her words. The witches could be testing him. Through this manipulation, this appearance of Ines, they could be testing his resolve to sacrifice love for the throne, for the good of all kinds.

“If I do that then I will be the one to end us all,” he said, wary of Ines’ intentions.

Ines shook her head. “You have no desire to do such a thing,” she pointed out. “How could you end us if you don’t want to?”

She coughed again harder and longer this time. She looked at her hand and cursed before wiping it on the woolen blanket she held close around her.

“They are forcing you into a place you’re not meant to be, Roricus. You have to follow your heart, now that it beats. Don’t let the witches make you a puppet,” she said urgently.

He regarded her with a sideways glance. Her sickly form shivered under the blanket.

“What did they do to you?” he asked again.

With words in direct conflict with not only Esmine’s but Ines’ own words, Rori questioned her motive. Add her withering appearance, and it felt wrong.

With a tight-lipped frown Rori pondered his previous idea of her presence being a test by the Ember Witches; a test to his commitment to the throne. The more she talked, the more Rori felt the witches were pushing him toward the sacrifice.

She turned away from him. She tried to get up, but the witch lacked the strength and fell back down.

“Love, Roricus. Love is what you need to fight the prophecy,” she rasped.

Rori clenched his teeth. The manipulations needed to stop. His nostrils flared as his frustrations grew. The incessant games of the Ember Witches, of this witch, was enough to drive a lesser man crazy.

“They cast you out,” he surmised. “Did they strip you as well?” he asked.

She said nothing.

However, her trembling increased and the blanket slipped from her shoulder revealing her state of emaciation. She bowed her head and displayed just how thin her once lush red hair had become. She refused to lift it to him or, perhaps, she lacked the strength.

“Divina is to take your seat isn’t she?” Rori further concluded.

Silence.

“You went against the witches knowing that it was your seat up for grabs,” Rori said.

He breathed in sharply with the belief he knew Ines’ true intentions. He closed his eyes, trying to push down the bloom of rage growing and spreading in his chest. When he opened them again, the world was tinged red.

“You are here to sabotage—”

Ines sprang up interrupting his words. The blanket fell to her feet and exposed her skeletal body with clothing dangling from her. Sores covered her gray skin. Her eyes lacked the shine and youth they had the first time she promised him power.

Cold radiated off her and crept over Rori’s skin.

“I went against my coven for what is right!” she hissed. “I went against my coven for love,” she declared. “For your love, for Percival's love! For Divina and Selene!”

Her bony fingers gripped his forearms. The sharp digits dug into the muscular flesh of Rori’s arms, threatening to pierce through with a strength he didn’t realize she possessed. She shook as all her energy appeared concentrated on her hold on him.  

“You are not fit for the council, Roricus,” she seethed. “You lack the age and the commitment. It is meant for Percival. The coven fears Selene’s devotion to her vampire.”

“You were the one who said I could have power,” Rori said through gritted teeth.

The chill forced its way through his body stemming from her hands wrapped around his arms.

“I lied,” she said. Releasing Rori’s arms she hung her head and shrunk back into her blanket. “I’m not proud of it. I did it for my coven. But, my coven is wrong.” She peered up at him with wide eyes. The fury gone from them, sadness took its place. “They can’t tamper with what is meant to be. And what is meant to be is you and Divina, your love,” she said as her voice cracked.

She took a deep breath, obviously tired from the energy it took to speak of such things in her weakened state.

“You can have love. You will, if you chose Divina. The throne is meant for Percival. The seat is meant for Selene. The coven wants to change that but they shouldn’t.” As she spoke, she collapsed into a heap between the two planters.

Crouching, Rori reached out for the arms of the witch. When he gripped her, she howled in pain. Rori held her frail limbs and shook her. The tortured woman wailed as the skin on her arms ripped in his hands.

He pulled back, letting her go. His eyes widened and his mouth fell open in horror seeing the bits of flesh stuck to his fingers and palms.

Rori flicked his attention to the pained witch. She crumbled flat to the floor.

“Go to your witch, Roricus. Chase your love. Don’t let them strip you too,” she sobbed.

 Excerpt 3:

The fruity fragrance of the potted primrose tangled with the hints of sweat and fresh sex. The pillows and duvet coiled into a heap on the bed. However, the couple responsible for the disheveled state was no longer there.

The glow from the moon shone through the large window, causing her ebony waves to shimmer, while he stroked his pale, slender fingers through her hair. He couldn’t recall another time in his life when he had felt as content as he did at that moment. His whole world was in this oversized chair.

Her plump body curved in just the right places; her olive-toned, bare form lounged across his much paler lap. As she flipped through the leather-bound text, Rori leaned in, burying his nose in her hair and inhaling deeply. He savored the raw scent of the woman who had captured his formerly still heart. He couldn’t help but smile.

Turning the page of the old leather-bound book, she read while resting her head against his chest. She was warmer than he was. She had far more life than he did. Perhaps his desire to possess her was something other than infatuation.

Pressing his lips to the top of her head, he didn’t care the cause; he only wished to have her.

How long had they sat there? How long had it been since he’d been inside her? How long had it been since she screamed his name?

Having lost the concept of time long ago, he found it worse when with her. When she shifted her position even slightly, the stimulus stirred his hunger for her again.

"I can't believe this stuff is so hidden." She broke through his thoughts.

He smiled. There was much about the world he wanted to show Divina before reality set in.

"Humans would not be able to handle such information." He stroked her arm with his fingertips. "Or perhaps I should say, they didn't, so we had to take it away and hide. The world would be a much more violent place if humans knew."

With a furrowed brow, she turned her glacier-colored eyes that burned his soul, toward him. "You trust me?"

"You're not fully human," he reminded her, while playfully booping her nose before giving her a soft kiss on the forehead.

Her innocence drew him in like ants to sugar. He cherished her. These intimate moments with her were more valuable to him than any jewel or treasure.

"So you keep saying," she grumbled, and once more shifted her hips, eliciting a groan from him.

He wondered if she knew how those full hips affected him.

Her smirk told him all he needed to know about that.

"In all my years, I have yet to be wrong," he whispered in her ear.

Rolling her eyes before turning them back to the book, she sighed.

"I'm not sure I can handle the responsibility," she admitted.

There: her vulnerability. Sure, she was mortal, therefore vulnerable. That wasn't the vulnerability Rori liked. No, the uninhibited honesty she offered him showed her trust in him. How she offered him her true self without concern for self-preservation.

Naivety.

He loved her for it and hated himself for what he had to do with it.

Closing his own eyes, he took in a deep breath of her beautiful scent. Relishing the moment, he pushed the future from his mind.

In the end, the right now, would be all he had. There was no need to rush it. Right now could end at any moment, and he’d only have the memory to comfort him.

"You are so much stronger than you know, Divina. I will show you," he said.

Those wide, innocent blue eyes pinned him once more. He hated the Ember Witches at that moment. He hated prophecies. He hated the world for what it was making him do.

"You've shown me so much already," she said with wonder in her eyes.

He forced a smile on his face. "There is so much more."

Three Years Later

Rori awoke from his daytime slumber with longing in his heart. Sometimes memories were the worst form of torture. When he let her go, he’d made peace with not having Divina.

Forced to walk away from her, avoiding her for three years, had helped in achieving that peace. With the prophecy set in motion, he no longer had that luxury. They sent him back to her.

  Author Bio:

Growing up on the Jersey Shore, Victoria was an insatiable reader. She adored getting lost in the worlds others created for her. During her early teen years she enjoyed the works of R.L. Stein and S.E. Hinton. As she got older, she drifted into the worlds provided for her by Anne Rice, Suzanne Wright, J.D. Tyler, Joanna Wylde, Cherise Sinclair, Dianne Duvall, and Elisabeth Naughton, to name a few. These writers spawned her love affair with both the romance genre and the world of the supernatural.

Victoria started writing as a hobby while still in high school. Now her days are spent writing, enjoying time with her husband, and her two children. She still lives in New Jersey. Victoria is a New Jersey Devils Hockey fan, an avid SecondLife Roleplayer, and a Netflix binge watcher.

You can also visit her online at the following places: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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