#haven’t drawn anything saw related in forever

[catlilithdraws]

“Congratulations. You are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore.”

[totally-not-an-awkward-okapi]

They are undeniably ugly but I really do like the original Percy Jackson character illustrations. They feel more like their just some kids, y’know?

[katyamorrigan]

‘Hope is the thing with Feathers’ by KatyaMorrigan

For the Grishaverse Reverse Mini-Bang 2021, run by @grishaversebigbang, and with stunning art created by @wqemzz-blog - click here for her incredible illustration of Kaz and Inej!

Captain Inej Ghafa has returned to Ketterdam for the first time in three years. In all that time, The Wraith never docked at Berth 22 for more than an afternoon, and the crew never strayed further than the harbour front.

Could she have stopped by sooner? Absolutely. Did she choose not to for entirely business-related reasons? Absolutely not. She has no idea what her friends will make of seeing her again after so long, least of all Kaz. But there is hope - hope that in that time, he will have grown as much as she has. That he will be the kind of person that she can share a pot of tea with without a thought of how he might feel about her.

Because Inej isn't done with being a pirate yet. But it doesn't mean she wants to be at sea forever.

I had the best time getting to write this fic based on the idea proposed by Emma. So much of a good time, in fact, that I overwrote it by around 4k words in the end... This is the much more civilised 2k word version - the full iteration of the story is on my AO3 ), but this significantly neater version will remain on my Tumblr for good. I really hope that you like it, and check out @wqemzz-blog for all your beautiful art needs!

Link to the fic on AO3: ‘Hope is the thing with Feathers’

And available to read below the cut here:

‘Hope is the thing with Feathers’

It occurred to Inej as she entered Kaz’s office for the first time in three years, that in the past she might have second-guessed the meaning of his offer to have tea together. They had just spent a few hours talking during dinner – mostly talking over Jesper and Wylan, who had hosted the meal and were either polite or forgiving enough to allow them to dominate the conversation with reflections on Inej’s time beyond Ketterdam. Three years was a long time when you had last been teenagers breaking into the Ice Court together, when you were now the owner of a galleon that hunted slaver ships from Fjerda to the Wandering Isle. There was plenty to discuss between them, and it seemed that Kaz had changed enough to ask her to stay with no apprehension, so that they could be in each other’s company a little while longer.

The attic room was identical to her memories of it but her gaze was drawn to Kaz, with ungloved hands, stooping to open the cupboard and bring out two tins. With a tentative look at her, he placed them on the desk and opened them. Inej couldn’t help laughing.

“When did Dirtyhands start keeping cookies in his office?” she teased. “Two kinds, as well.”

He gave a permissive smile. “Nina may have had more influence over me than I would like to admit. She sends them to me from Ravka.”

Feeling a bittersweet rush of longing for her friend, Inej reached over and helped herself to an iced biscuit with a red star on the top as Kaz took the other tin and started to make them tea. The room filled with the smell, quiet clinking noises coming from the cupboard again as Kaz fetched cups and saucers, and Inej watched him from the corner of her eye as she nibbled. He had taken off his jacket, and Inej could see the strong line of his shoulders as he prepared their drinks. Yes, a younger version of herself would have been much more flustered than Captain Ghafa, as she was now. She might have told herself stories about how invested Kaz was, about his tactics and techniques for making her trust him – for making her want to stay. Now she had no such worries. She was in the bedroom of an old friend – an old partner, in many ways – and they were sharing a pot of tea.

Inej smiled as she turned away from sneaking glances at Kaz and looked out of the window instead, at the uncharacteristically beautiful light that was shining in. The fog of the early afternoon had lifted, and Ketterdam seemed to concentrate every scrap of colour on painting the evening sky in crimson and gold. It felt like a personal display from the city, like it was finally welcoming her in. She couldn’t believe that she had been away for so long.

“Can I open the window?” she asked. Kaz chuckled.

“You have never once asked my permission to open a window.” Kaz brought over their cups and placed them on the sill, where Inej was now sitting, and obligingly opened it for her.

A gentle breeze entered the room, tickling Inej’s cheek. She closed her eyes for a second and forgot that she had ever been away. The sensation of being here – in Kaz’s office, on the windowsill, letting the fading sunlight warm her skin – made her feel so young and so old at the same time. It was like slipping into an outfit she hadn’t worn in years, feeling the ways it had always fit her, and the ways that she had grown since. Inej was nothing like the girl that Kaz had once known, but she didn’t feel so different when she was back here, just a little taller and a little more forgiving.

Kaz brought over a plate with more cookies, taking a large one heavily studded with chocolate, and leaned against the wall. It had been three years, but still they were so comfortable existing in a space like this together, breathing in the warm air. She took a sip of her tea, and tasted honey. Just the way she had always liked it.

“You look well,” he said, not breaking the silence but disrupting it, like ripples on a pond. “The sea suits you.”

“Thank you. I rather like it too. Ketterdam has continued to suit you – is that a new scar on your jaw, or have I just never noticed it?”

“It’s new. About a year ago I was very nearly shot in the face by a Razorgull. Fortunately Jesper manipulated the bullet at the last second and I was only burnt.”

She inhaled sharply in sympathy, and Kaz shrugged. “It healed quickly, and that’s all I ask for.”

“Do you ever think you’ll end up more scar than skin?” she said, half in jest and half with sincerity. As the words left her mouth, she thought of how closely her question came to the kind of Suli proverb that she had goaded him with previously. That she had tested him with.  

“Not anymore.”

His reply was unexpectedly thoughtful. Inej turned to him, and he gave a soft smile.

“The Dregs don’t get caught up in the same trouble that they used to. There’s less chance for me to get hurt.”

“I’m glad.”

She took a cookie, a chocolate one like Kaz’s, and bit into it. It crumbled instantly, scattering crumbs all down her chin and the front of her waistcoat. Kaz saw; there was a beat of silence and then laughter, Inej’s giggles muffled by the cookie.

“You pirates make our manners look sophisticated,” he commented. She swatted the air in front of him.

“My manners haven’t suffered at all, I’ll have you know!”

“My poor windowsill. I’ll have to clean it now.”

“It could probably do with a clean if you’re anything like you used to be,” she replied, and Kaz raised an eyebrow at her.

“I always cleaned the windows frequently.”

“Specifically the windows.”

He tilted his shoulder and looked out across the city. The gilded roofs stretched from the harbour all the way to the Barrel. Inej watched him as he absorbed it all, taking a sip of tea, adjusting the cup in his bare hands. He looked exactly the way she had hoped to find him – a little stronger, a little harsher, that new scar dimpling the line of his jaw like a tally on a gun barrel, but unmistakeably the same Kaz that she had left behind. He looked every bit the young man that he was – handsome, clever, mean.

“You loved to sit here and look out. I always made sure you’d be able to.”

“Oh.”

She was glad he kept looking at the view. To lock eyes with him then might have done something to her – made her feel another way. A way she had felt for a long time, that she had stifled. Inej focused her gaze on the broken pieces of cookie in her hand, crumbling it more. Everything felt quietly loud; gentle, but unrelenting.

The familiar click of claws on tiles came from a little further along the roof.

Kaz leaned towards the sound. “They must have recognised you,” he smiled, “The crows have come back.”

Inej made an elated noise and turned herself to look. There they were – a little murder of crows, with sharp eyes and sharp beaks, cawing as politely as crows could.

“I can’t believe it,” she murmured.

“They stopped visiting when you left. They knew you were here.”

“No,” she said, delighted but disbelieving. He nodded.

Inej watched them move, alert and intelligent, talking to her. She remembered Kaz’s decrial of them as mannerless and untrustworthy, but when she scooped up some cookie crumbs and held them out, they arranged themselves neatly to feed from her hand. Her hands were rough now from the years of sailor’s work, but she could still feel the smoothness of their beaks as they pecked and the trace of their feathers on her fingers.

“I missed them too.”

Kaz took another sip. “Were seagulls not friendly enough?”

She laughed. “They were friendly in their own way – they certainly ate up scraps quite well. But I couldn’t feed them like this. They didn’t wait for me like the crows always did.”

“They were always looking for you to come back.” His voice was as gravelly as ever, but Inej felt a hint of longing as he spoke. With the last of the crumbs gone, she brushed off her hands and turned back towards the room, to look at him. The expression he wore was the one that she remembered most vividly, and with the least joy; that inscrutable intensity that made her feel transparent. He was looking inside of her, and she struggled to translate what he had seen from the look he was giving her.

“Do you ever wish you had stayed here instead?” Kaz asked.

Ah. The question that she had expected to be met with – it had been avoided all evening while they were with Jesper and Wylan, but now it emerged while they were alone. It was a question that she knew the answer for. Whether it was the one he wanted or not, it was the one he would get.

“No. I love being on the sea. I love having a purpose that I can enact so clearly. Everything I told you over dinner was true – it has its challenges, but I wouldn’t have done anything differently.”

Kaz nodded, and she saw pride lock into his eyes.

“You’ve become somewhat of a legend to the sailors who come to Ketterdam now,” he said, a grin building. “Men who arrive shaken by what they saw at a distance – of a pirate queen in blue and gold invading slaver ships and leaving them to die. It has certainly damaged West Stave.”

She touched her earring. “It has?”

“Of course. The bulk of working girls in any of the brothels are stolen, and with so few slaver boats succeeding in bringing any ashore…”

Inej grinned back. Her only hope when she finally decided to leave Ketterdam had been to bring justice to those children like her, but to know that her efforts were ruining trafficking from the ground up… It was almost too much. Her face hurt from smiling, and Kaz turned away from her to look out of the window again.

“How long are you staying here for?” he asked.

Another question. So much easier.

“Two weeks. My crew have been given leave in that time, but I’m hoping that they will all want to sign on for the next stint.”

“And you?”

“I have given myself leave, yes, Kaz,” she chuckled. Kaz huffed self-consciously. “I’ll be around, is what I mean. If you wanted to have tea again some time.”

“Yes.”

Their eyes met, and she was a teenager again. Inej hadn’t thought about Kaz in that way for a long time. Hadn’t allowed herself to. She knew that the moment in which she let the thought of anything tender and vulnerable growing between them take root in her mind again was the moment in which she would have to rethink her answer to that tricky question. But Saints, it had always been hard not to.

“I can tell stories about Captain Ghafa while you’re gone, if you’d like.” Kaz’s smile was sharp. “Make sure that everyone in Ketterdam knows the name and fears it.”

Her heart betrayed her so, so quietly.

“You don’t need to,” she said.

“Why’s that, Inej?”

Three years of never letting herself near him, just in case the possibility of a dual life came back into play. Three years in which she only regretted one thing.

“I’ll be back again before too long.”

[cinebration]

My Dear Soothsayer (Loki x Reader) [Request]

thor ragnarok era drabble where reader is part of the grandmaster's court. she has a special gift where she can tell when people are lying, so she makes a game out of talking to loki since he's always twisting his words. it drives him crazy at first, but then he finds different ways to admit his feelings for her to see how long it takes for her to figure it out. just lots of fluff with good ole banter. — Requested by anon

This didn’t come out how I wanted, but oh well.

Warnings: none

Gif Source: MCUFAM

When Loki first appeared in the Grandmaster’s court, dragged in by the Grandmaster’s scrappers to your feet, the Grandmaster asked you if the silver-tongued devil was lying.

You told him no.

This carried on for several days, with the Grandmaster asking you if you sensed Loki was lying—always within the trickster’s hearing.

Each time you said no.

Each time, you saw the twinkle in Loki’s eye and the upturned curve of his lips as he suppressed a faint smirk.

You had him right where you wanted him.

By the end of the first week, Loki had secured himself a position in the Grandmaster’s entourage. The party that night raged long and chaotically into the morning hours.

It was then you pounced, cornering the trickster in the hallway.

“Silver-tongue,” you called.

He stiffened, spinning sharply to face you. A condescending smile pulled at his lips. “I didn’t realize we had progressed to name calling.”

You matched his smile with a viperine one. “I merely speak the truth.”

“The truth is malleable.”

“Yes, I suppose so.”

A faint crease appeared in his brow. “Did the Grandmaster send you?”

“No.”

He swept his gaze over you. “You sent yourself?”

You laughed and leaned forward into his personal space. “I did. You see, I have some use for you.”

His eyebrows arched, lips curving. “Oh?”

“Yes. You see, I am desperate for an escape from this place, as you are, I suspect. You’re going to help me.”

Loki’s gaze sharpened as he laughed. “I’m not the helpful sort.”

“The Grandmaster,” you continued, meeting his stare, “will continue to believe me when I lie to him about your honesty, but only so long as I decide to keep it that way.”

The smile fell from his face.

“Yes, I know you’ve been lying the whole time.”

“I…have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Clucking your tongue, you stepped away from him. “I suppose you’re not the kind of man I need. I’ll inform the Grandmaster accordingly.”

You made it a few feet when Loki called out, “Wait!”

You smiled. He was right where you wanted indeed.

~~

“How does this work, then?” Loki asked the second night after the party.

“Well,” you mumbled, picking at the food on your plate, “I will deliver to you information as to how to escape.”

“I don’t believe you would be so magnanimous.”

“Obviously I would be going with you.”

“Ah.”

You could sense him forming the lie before it spilled past his lips.

“I make a most agreeable partner.”

“Clearly, when you are partnered only with yourself.”

He chuckled. “That is no partnership.”

“Then why am I speaking to a copy of you and not your actual self?”

The frown slashed his face so completely you laughed. The illusion vanished before your eyes, and the real Loki emerged from behind an archway, glowering.

“You see, there needn’t be any trust between us,” you informed him when you regained your composure, “because I always know when you’re lying, and you always know I can’t be lied to.”

“How unfair.”

“You have your magic tricks, and I have mine. If anything, that makes it fairer.”

Loki leaned against the archway, arms folded across his chest, and sized you up afresh. You could see his mind working, his eyes hard with deep thought.

“So,” you said, pushing yourself away from the table, “do you have anything more to say?”

“Such as?”

“Perhaps, ‘Thank you for choosing me to escape with, else I may be trapped here forever.’”

“We haven’t succeeded yet. Or tried, for that matter.”

You nodded. “Ah, well, it was worth a shot.”

You moved past him, intending to leave, but his hand circled around your bicep, forcing you to look at him. He searched your face intently, brow furrowed again.

“I see you dislike me.”

“I’m not in the habit of liking the people who place chains on me.”

“Perhaps you should get better at avoiding those chains.” Tugging your arm away, you sauntered off, unaware of the shift in Loki’s expression.

~~

The following week, you managed to pry Loki away from the Grandmaster. The former had been doing much to please the latter, enough to make you nervous. Serving you up to the Grandmaster would surely earn Loki the kind of trust he needed to earn himself a permanent position beside the Grandmaster.

“Is it now?” Loki asked.

“No, of course not. I haven’t told you anything of the plan.”

“Yes, about that—”

“Not now.”

You led him into another room in the grand palace and locked the door behind you before relaxing a fraction. The gladiator match wasn’t scheduled for another hour, so you had time to spare.

“I must say,” Loki purred, circling around the room, “no one has ever managed to keep me trapped for long.”

“But they still trapped you all the same.”

A cloud passed over his face. He met your gaze across the room. “Some traps are worth walking into.”

Your senses tickled, but it wasn’t because he was lying. Frowning, you watched him wander around the room, seemingly aimless. You knew, however, that nothing he did was uncalculated.

“So, the plan,” he prompted.

“It’s a matter of timing.”

“Isn’t it always?”

You matched his bared teeth with your own. “Besides, why would I tell you the plan just so you can run off without me?”

“You overestimate me.”

The laugh burst out of you. “I believe no amount of overestimation can truly scratch the surface of what you’re capable of.”

Loki’s sharp smile pulled at his lips. “Are you so desperate to scratch under my surface?”

Snorting, you ignored the bells chiming quietly in the back of your mind and redirected the conversation. “I hear you’re scheduled to fly with the Grandmaster on his pleasure ship.”

The mischief in Loki’s eyes glimmered. “Envious?”

“Hardly.”

“Then why do you mention it?”

“Because it may behoove you to pay particular attention to its security protocols.”

Loki paused, searched your expression. “Ah, this wouldn’t perhaps be related to your enigmatic plan?”

“Who’s to say it isn’t a misdirection to keep you occupied?”

“Ooo, am I boring entertainment?”

“You misunderstand what entertains me about you.”

Pushing away from the table in the center of the room, Loki sauntered over to you. “Oh, I think I know exactly what entertains you. My silver tongue.”

An unexpected shiver ran down your spine. Keeping your composure, you countered, trying to ignore how close he had drawn near you, “Insofar as I can use it.”

“Use it any way you like, my dear.”

Leaning forward, you felt his breath brush your lips. “Yes…I do believe it would look good mounted on my wall.”

You pulled back as he smirked, his eyes sharp with amusement.

“Tell me, soothsayer,” he purred, “how long have you been lying to the Grandmaster?”

“Longer than you, and better by far.”

He chuckled. “Perhaps you should offer to teach me, seeing as we are partners.”

“‘Partners’ implies equality.”

“Am I not your equal?”

“If you were, we would be gone from here.”

“Perhaps I’m not so keen on parting ways just yet.”

You frowned. “Why? Simply because you have the Grandmaster’s favor?”

“I was speaking more along the lines of the perks that favor brings me.”

“They won’t last.”

It was his turn to frown. “Well, I’d like to make them last as long as possible.”

His stare unsettled your stomach. Stepping away from him, you made for the door. “Keep your eyes open and your memory sharp,” you informed him.

“As you command, my dear soothsayer.”

Fighting the unusual feeling rising up within you, you fled the room.

~~

Loki’s adopted brother ruined everything. You watched the plan fall apart as Thor wreaked havoc in Sakaar, as Loki raced against Scrapper 142 to locate his brother. When they stormed through the Grandmaster’s building to reach the ship hanger, you raced up to intercept them, hoping you wouldn’t find the hanger empty of the one ship you had wanted for your escape.

What you found, to your surprise, was Loki writhing on the floor, one of the electric modules the Grandmaster employed set to the highest setting on him. Getting rid of it, you waited for Loki to still, the color in his cheeks returning to normal as he stared up into your face.

“Your silver tongue failed you this time,” you couldn’t help quipping.

“It seems my brother had grown wise to my tricks,” he grumbled.

Helping him to his feet, you pointed at the ship some of the prisoners were boarding. “It wasn’t my plan, but it still works.”

As you both crossed the hanger bay to the ship, you felt Loki’s gaze on you. “What?”

“I didn’t intend to leave on my own.”

He wasn’t lying, to your surprise. “But you turned on your brother.”

“He was never part of the plan.”

You blinked, slowing to a stop. “What plan?”

“Are we or are we not partners?”

A slow-dawning realization spread through you. Quirking your lips, you countered, “That implies we are equal.”

“I do believe you have the upper hand, my soothsayer—for now.”

Laughing, you helped him across the gangway, thanking the universe for having delivered a silver-tongued devil to you.

[sunshinekindof]

The truth

You were in your chambers in the Small Palace. It was past midnight, but you couldn't close your eyes. You couldn't get your thoughts in order. You needed to tell him the truth. The truth about yourself, about him, about you. But how to do that? How to tell Alexander that you were his wife, who died many years ago before his eyes?

While you were trying to calm your nerves, the memories of your meeting with Alexander, your life with him, your life with him in this century at least began to surface in your memory.

You met General Kirigan a few months ago. You were the Sun Summoner he was looking for. After an urgent request (not a request) of the General, you moved to the Small Palace and began to train under the watchful supervision of the General himself. You did not succeed in everything but over time you became stronger. Which could not but rejoice Kirigan.

You often caught his eye on you but you never allowed yourself to take any action. But nevertheless, a pleasant shiver went through your body every time General Kirigan was next to you. When he touched you during your training, even if at that time he knocked you down and you fell to the ground in front of him, not at all like a lady.

Two weeks ago, you wandered silently through the night palace, you could not sleep. Passing the General's office, you saw a dim light from his office, the front door was ajar. Without thinking, you quietly opened the door of his office ajar and went inside. Kirigan stood with his back to you, his hands are rested on a work table, on which various papers and cards are scattered. His whole body is tense.

“General…,” you began quietly, “I'm sorry to interfere with you… but… do you need help? You look ... tired. - you called yourself this liberty in relation to him. You couldn't help yourself. Your heart clenched with tenderness at one glance at him.

Kirigan shuddered, freeing himself from his thoughts, and looked at you.

- Y/N ..., - the General muttered quietly, - what? He asked, clearing his throat, pulling himself together again.

“Do you need any help?” You repeated more firmly.

- Help with what? - he asked, carefully examining me. I was wearing a night dress made of light fabric. The fabric was snug against the body.

“Maybe you need a fresh look at the cards?” You offered with a smile, “or just to talk, free your thoughts?

You yourself did not believe that you were saying this to him, but the longer you communicated with the General, the more you were drawn to him.

“Thanks for the offer, Y/N, but I'm fine. It's just too much work. Too much war. People are tired. From war, from death, from losses.

“A war cannot last forever,” you said looking into the General's eyes.

“With your help, my dear Summoner, I hope that the war will end soon,” Kirigan said with tenderness in his eyes. “Now let me escort you to your chambers so that I’m sure that nothing has happened to you,” he said. he with a smile.

You averted your eyes in embarrassment and went to your chambers. Kirigan walked to your left. You just wanted to look at him make sure he was still there, by your side. But you looked at him for too long and, entangled in your own legs, began to fall to the floor, until strong hands grabbed you, keeping you from falling shamefully.

“God, I`m sorry…” you began to justify your awkwardness, trying to think of a reason why you looked at Kirigan for so long, but you couldn't come up with anything.

"It's fine," Kirigan laughed softly, still holding your hand. You rarely heard him laugh. God, he didn't even often allow himself to smile, to really smile, but now it seemed to you that he was finally laughing sincerely, carefree, enjoying ... being with you?

You wanted to free your hand from Kirigan's grip, but he wouldn't let you.

“I wouldn’t want for you to fall,” Kirigan said with a smile. “Otherwise, what kind of General am I to allow one of my best people to put herself in such danger?

You felt your cheeks turn red, but no longer tried to pull your hand and tried to look straight ahead. He walked you to the front door of your chambers, still holding your hand in his. You enjoyed the sensation of his skin close to yours, praying that those moments would last as long as possible.

Stopping in front of your chambers, you felt even more awkward. Will he come to your room? Should you let him? What should you tell him?

While you were trying to say at least something, Kirigan dropped your hand and then gently ran his palm over your cheek. His touch was so gentle as if he believed that you were made of glass and with any careless movement could break in his hands.

“Thank you,” he whispered. In his eyes you saw only tenderness and a hint of ... what? Love? You couldn't even call yourself to dream about it, so that later you would not be left alone with a broken heart.

“For what?” You whispered.

- For worrying about me., - he gently touched his lips to your hand, - and please ... call me Alexander, - he smiled and while you stood, amazed by his words and actions, he turned around and went back towards your office.

On trembling legs you entered your room and this stupid smile appeared on your lips, which you still could not remove. And why did you feel a sharp pain in your head. You fell to your knees, grabbed your head trying to make the pain stop but nothing helped. Memories and images began to pop up in your head. And in these images there was only one person - Alexander. But he looked different. Longer hair, different clothes. It seemed to you that you were looking at it from the outside. Here you see how you walk with Alexander across the field, among the flowers, and he holds your hand. Here you are in the forest, and Alexander helps you collect medicinal herbs. You see your kisses. Your nights full of love. Your wedding. And your vows of eternal love to each other. You try to calm your breathing, calm yourself but the following image appears in your head. Like one of the king's soldiers stabs you in the stomach in front of Alexander. You see, you hear Alexander screaming your name, but you cannot answer him anything. You see the pain and anguish and his eyes that you cannot calm him down, you cannot tell him that everything will be fine. That you love him. And then darkness falls. The last thing you see is Alexander's face painted with pain.

You don't know how much time has passed. When you wake up, you find yourself lying on the floor in your room, wrapping your arms around yourself and trying to stop your sobs.

You are returning to the present again. Two weeks have passed since that day, but you still haven't had the courage to tell Alexander the truth. How will he react? What will he do? What will he say? What if what you tell him will cause him only more pain?

Part 1?

Do you need part 2 of the story?

[juniorgman187]

The Bones (Reid Series) Part 2

Summary: After doing an even deeper dive on Valerie’s past, Spencer finally meets her, but his invasiveness isn’t the worst part ... the worst part is he might actually like her. 

Playlist: “The Bones” by Maren Morris & Hozier  (BONUS: song includes major foreshadowing) Category: Series, Fluff, Soft Angst, Eventual smut and *NSFW content Pairing: Spencer Reid POV x Fem!OC - Valerie Content Warning: invasion of privacy, allusions to Maeve’s death, arrhythmia Word Count: 3.4k

Part 1 |

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 

After firmly deciding not to weave Penelope into my tangled web, I was met with the arduous burden of conducting my own research. 

Firstly, I would need a computer - yeah ... a computer. That’s how far I was willing to go for this pursuit. I once vowed never to fall victim to modern technology’s clutches, and yet here I was, doing my research on a public library’s computer. To my credit, I hadn’t gone out and bought one, I was merely using my resources.

With the need for a device out of the way, all that was left was the knowledge of what to look for. But that didn’t pose a problem either.

Funny enough, with as many rules and restrictions as there are regarding patient privacy and confidentiality, all it took was matching dates of news stories with hospital records to complete my research. I was fairly certain I was only scratching the surface of information about Valerie as opposed to the sea of things I could’ve uncovered if I asked for Garcia’s help, but there are only so many lines a person can cross in one week. 

This was my limit.

Call me naive, but I was actually quite surprised with just how expansive the internet is. To an almost relentless degree, I would open an article and it would lead me to ten more about the same topic. It was this never ending rabbit hole that seemed to spiral on forever. I kept digging deeper and deeper until I could no longer dig. 

I’d officially hit rock bottom. 

It took me a grand total of just two hours to unearth all the ‘dirt’ I could on a young Valerie Bishop. 

Local 16-year-old Wins Nevada’s Statewide Art Contest! Published by Henderson Press. 

Valerie, just a sophomore in high school at the time, was donning what any experimental teen girl would’ve worn in the early 2000s - bootcut jeans and a sequin blouse over top of a plain camisole. And if I zoomed in close enough, I could spot the evidence of a sparkly blue shadow coating her eyelids. Surprisingly, though, that wasn’t the first thing I noticed. 

It was that smile. That tooth-achingly sweet smile. 

Though I never got the chance to see Maeve truly smile, that’s what I imagined it would look like. 

The photographer must’ve caught her midway through a laugh, at least that’s what the image of her slightly open-mouthed grin told me. Meanwhile, her two tiny hands were clenching her overbearingly large trophy while her artwork stood behind her as the background.

It didn’t take me long to figure out why her painting won. Simply put, there was no need to see anyone else’s art to know that they couldn’t possibly compete with hers. 

Hers was an abstract rendition of what I believe to be a forest of some sort. The detail is what I was most drawn to. It would’ve been unbelievable on its own but the fact that she was 16 when she painted it? That’s what was unbelievable to me. 

If that’s how talented she was at that age, I could only imagine how much more talented she became with time. However, I lost the chance to investigate the current state of her skill before a related article from The Cleveland Gazette about Valerie succeeded this one. 

From Award-Winning Artist to Henderson’s Hero

Read my interview with 17-year-old Valerie Bishop to find out more about her struggle with arrhythmia and how she turned her pain into a project! 

By Kelli Gallagher from the Cleveland Gazette. 

Gallagher: Thank you so much for letting me interview you, Valerie. 

Bishop: Of course! I’m happy to. 

Gallagher: You’ve become somewhat of a hero in Henderson, Nevada, haven’t you?

Bishop: I wouldn’t call myself a hero ... but if everyone else wants to - I’m fine with that. (laughs)

Gallagher: Don’t be so modest! I mean, what you’ve done is so incredible, and you’re only what? Seventeen?

Bishop: Yes, ma’am. I just turned seventeen this past August. 

Gallagher: Wow, I can’t believe how young you are and yet you’ve already accomplished so much. I saw that you won a statewide art contest last year. Tell me more about that. 

Bishop: That’s a funny story actually. My Grandma Sheila was the one who entered me in that contest. I didn’t even know about it until I won it. She’s always surprising me, though. In fact, she’s the one that surprised me with my first ever art supplies, when I was about eight or so. They were these super expensive oil paints, and I knew she couldn’t afford them, so I told her we should return them and get something cheaper, but she said, “Nonsense. When the bones are good the rest don’t matter. A house don’t fall when the bones are good.” That was kind of her saying. 

A house don’t fall when the bones are good. 

The bones. 

Gallagher: I’m interested to know more about your relationship with your grandma. If I’m remembering correctly, she was also diagnosed with arrhythmia a while back too, right?

Bishop: Yes, she was, but that’s never slowed her down. And as for our relationship, my grandma and I have always been close, but arrhythmia, in a weird way, has brought us even closer. She has always been my biggest supporter and the fact that we’re both on this journey together makes her my biggest supporter even more so. 

Gallagher: Absolutely. Now, I also heard that you’ve started a fundraising program to possibly start a gallery and studio in Virginia Beach. If you don’t mind me asking, why Virginia Beach? Is there any special significance? 

Bishop: Actually, that’s where my grandma met my grandpa, and they got married and started a family there, too. So if Grandma Sheila hadn’t been there to meet him, she wouldn’t have had my mom, and that would mean I wouldn’t have been here either. I like to think Virginia Beach is where it all started. In a way, it’s where my bones are. That solid foundation in Virginia gave me everything I have today.

Gallagher: That is just incredible. I’m so glad to see your fundraising project is thriving, but I can’t imagine any of this has been particularly easy for you. You were diagnosed right around the time your senior year was starting right?

Bishop: Yes ma’am. 

Gallagher: So what brought you from Henderson to Cleveland?

Bishop: Well, actually, I didn’t want to move, especially not before I graduated, but Cleveland has the best cardiovascular hospital in the country and my health is far more important than graduating in the same state I grew up in. So when my parents were willing to move me and my sister out here, I saw it as a privilege rather than something to be sad about. 

Gallagher: I am so inspired by you, Valerie.

Bishop: (laughs) Really, why?

Gallagher: Despite everything that’d been thrown at you, you are still so grateful. I hope you never lose that. 

Bishop: I promise you I won’t.

Gallagher: So one last thing before I go, what is one hope you have for your future self?

Bishop: I hope, future self, that your ‘bones’ are still strong.

Gallagher: Beautiful. Thank you so much again for doing this, Valerie. I sincerely hope you reach your goal and you get to open up that gallery and studio in Virginia Beach. 

At the bottom of the article, there was a footnote from Kelli Gallagher. 

Exactly 10 years later, Bishop was able to move to Virginia Beach and open up her gallery and studio. 

By the end of the article, I felt a genuine sense of pride for Valerie, and I know I had virtually no right to know these things about her, but I could still be proud of her for them right?

I would never fully get my answer to this question before I crossed the final boundary. 

After exhausting all that I could gather from the internet without Penelope’s assistance, the only thing left for me to do was actually meet her in person. However, this would prove to be a bigger obstacle that it seemed. I decided to delay the daunting task until the next day. A decision partially influenced by the phrase, ‘sleep on it.’ I prayed I’d gain clarity on what to do when I woke up the next morning, but even with a night’s rest, I was still undecided as I drove to Virginia Beach once more.

To sit in my car that was conveniently parked right in front of the gallery was a poor choice. Because with every passing second, the temptation to walk in grew, but the fear of regret dampened those impulses. The more I thought about it, the more I psyched myself out. Between my two choices, to freeze or to fight, I should’ve taken the third - to flee. But I was here now and I couldn’t leave empty-handed for a second time. 

After a moment’s indecision, adrenaline coursed through my veins to give me the courage to get out of my car. When I felt an outdoor breeze blow over me, I knew there was no going back now. Right when I walked in, the little bell above the door rang, solidifying that I was officially crossing the threshold, and whether I liked it or not, she was going to see me after hearing me walk in.

“I’ll be right with you!” A small voice called out from somewhere in the back. She was hidden from my immediate sight, and somehow that made it so much worse. It was now I that was waiting for her, instead of her unknowingly waiting for me. 

As though I were prey getting ready to escape a predator, I stayed put by the door. It gave me a full view of the entire place anyway. 

Scoping out my surroundings, I spotted the paintings that were carefully measured and placed on the walls, almost to perfection. I had no time to notice anything more before the person in the back walked out. 

Immediately when I saw her, I knew.

“You’re … not Valerie.” I couldn’t help sounding so disappointed but luckily, the woman that came out took no offense to my observation. 

“No, I’m not,” She laughed. “But I can get her for you-”

“No wait!” I uselessly leapt forward to stop her from saying, “Vee! There’s someone out here to see you!” But that’s precisely what she did anyway. Evidently oblivious of my previous protests, she politely smiled back at me. “She’ll be right out.” 

For the second time that day, I waited with bated breath, anxiously anticipating the arrival of Valerie. And I was almost too focused on subduing the pounding of my heart to realize that she was actually walking out of the back right now. 

“Hi, sorry about that!” A new voice chirped. 

Valerie. 

The moment I laid eyes on her, it became clear to me that the pictures in her files hardly did her justice. Nothing could compare to the real sight of her. I was only able to catch the profile of her face when I saw her in the cafe, but in her entirety, I began to wax nostalgic. Though her face and hair and body had transformed into that of a grown woman’s features, I could still identify the same tooth-achingly sweet smile that a younger Valerie once wore on the front page of the Henderson Press. She was no beast to conquer, she was just a girl, smiling at me in that same gentle way. 

Her expression just as well showed no indication of recognition, not that she would recognize me, considering my letter was anonymous and unless she pulled the same stunt I did, she wouldn’t ever recognize who I was. 

“I’m Val,” She made her greeting to me while untying her dirtied waist apron, and it was merely the action that caused my gaze to fall to her hips, but when she shed the apron, I was still staring. There was something sort of mesmerizing about the way they swayed as she approached. It wasn’t until they stopped swaying completely that I realized they did so because there was no more distance to advance - she was already right there in front of me, patiently watching me stare. 

“Val?” I blinked hard to revert my gaze while also playing into the part that I had no idea who she was. 

“Mhm. Short for Valerie,” She confirmed happily. “Like the Amy Winehouse song.” 

This time, I genuinely didn’t know what she was referring to, and my confused countenance prompted her to clarify, “You don’t know that song?” 

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she began to playfully sing, “Well, sometimes I go out by myself and I look across the water ...” 

While she watched my face and waited for the recitation of the song to jog my memory, I was just as much studying her face. I could tell she was only kidding when she sang, evidenced by the laugh that followed her rendition, but it sounded so unironically good that I had to question what other talents she possessed. 

“Um, I was actually thinking more like Valerie, the martyred medieval saint, whose name stood for strength and health.” No sooner than the words spilled from my mouth did I recognize the freudian slip - the simultaneous coincidence and confession. The coincidence was that, now, with Maeve’s heart beating in her chest, she lived up to her name - she was newly strong and healthy. But I worried, she would see the correlation I drew between her name and her successful transplant and would realize that I knew more about her than I let on. Did I just give away too much?

“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name earlier. What was it?” Her casual dismissiveness of my previous statement did nothing to ease my worries. Was she beginning to piece everything together?

“Oh, right!” I said dumbly. “S-Spencer. I’m Spencer.” I was such a blubbering bundle of nerves that I actually reached out to shake her hand - a stranger’s hand. 

“Nice to meet you, Spencer,” She softly laughed, which was hopefully not out of the enjoyment of seeing me squirm. “What can I do for you?” 

A loaded question, don’t you think? What can you do for me, Valerie? Well, for one thing, you could’ve answered my letter, but to say something as bold as that would require me to admit the real reason I was here, and how could I do that without mentioning how I found you in the first place?

“Um ...” Whose birthday is the soonest? “My friend Emily’s birthday is coming up and I was wondering if I could possibly buy a painting from you as a birthday present.” 

There was the faintest perceptible skepticism in her expression, but that could’ve just been my paranoia talking because in the next breath, she didn’t suggest a proclivity to my deceit. “Yeah, of course! Do you know what her favorite medium is? Or her favorite artist? Or her favorite style of art?” 

For every addition to the question, I wordlessly shook my head no. Was my lie already unraveling? Could she see right through me?

“No worries. If you want, you can walk around the gallery and tell me if you see anything you think she’d like.” She made her offer to me sweetly, then disappeared into the back room again. I tried to follow her with my eyes for as long as I could, but from where I was standing, I couldn’t see very far into it. I wandered a little further into the center of the gallery to possibly catch a glimpse of what was occupying her time back there, but when I heard the chattering of two voices, Valerie and the other woman, coming from the same general direction, I realized I was completely alone in this part of the studio.

With no one around to bear witness but these portraits, I could’ve easily slipped out and made my escape, and I might’ve even done it had it not been for the unmistakable gravitational pull forcing me to stay here and walk about the room. 

Making my way throughout the gallery, I would pause every now and then when a painting would stand out to me, which was often, considering each picture was impressive. 

But there was one painting in particular that piqued my interest. It made me feel something I’d never felt before. 

It wasn’t special by any means. By rights, I shouldn’t have even noticed it, for it wasn’t the largest painting, nor the smallest one - it wasn’t even the most average painting. But it felt exceptionally ... Valerie. I had no doubt in my mind that she painted this one - in fact, I had a good bet that she painted most of these portraits, if not all of them - but this one. There was just something about it that I couldn’t put my finger on. 

“So,” A draft was created from where Valerie swiftly and unexpectedly joined me at my side. “What do you think?” 

“Um, there’s definitely something,” I struggled to find the word. “appealing about this one.” Almost as soon as the word came out of my mouth, I knew it was only a matter of time before she called out the inadequacy of my answer. 

“Appealing?” She repeated in mockery. “That’s the best you got? Come on, you’ve been standing here for like ten minutes. There must be something about it you like.” 

“I’m not sure.” I honestly admitted with a shrug.

“There’s no wrong answer.” She assured me, but I found that hard to believe. 

“So if I said I see a grizzly bear attacking a UFO, that wouldn’t be wrong?”

“Nope,” She popped the p. “If that’s how you interpret it then that’s how you interpret it. Just because someone else sees it differently, doesn’t mean you’re wrong.” It would’ve sounded like complete bullshit or nauseatingly cheesy coming out of someone else’s mouth, but her delivery felt so genuine. It actually moved me. 

As she said this, she turned her head in my direction to look up at me, causing her shoulder to brush my upper arm, sending a wave of goosebumps all over my body. 

She was so close. 

But I was so unbothered by her proximity that I didn’t even notice exactly how close she really was. If someone else had invaded my personal space like that, I would’ve moved in the opposite direction just on instinct, but I didn’t even think to do that with Valerie. I was so comfortable with her being there. 

But was that just because a part of her was once Maeve’s? Was the entire foundation of my likening to Valerie built upon that single attribute?

Was that my bones?

“Um,” I began fidgeting with my hands to self-soothe. “I like it. I don’t know why. But I like it. How’s that for an answer?”

There was a pause before her response that compelled me to look at her, but when I did so, she was already looking at me. “I’ll take it,” She nodded. “It’s the biggest compliment to me if my art can make you feel something.”

Was it the art that made me feel something ... or you?

“I’ll tell you what,” She walked over to grab something from the front desk. She came back with a small piece of cardstock. “I’m going to an art exhibition next weekend. Why don’t you come with me and see if you can’t find something for Emily there?”

She handed me the paper, which was actually her business card. “You don’t have to have an answer for me today, but call me when you do.” She seemed to think that was the end of the conversation, but I still had more questions. 

“You’re inviting me?” was the first question that came to mind, albeit the dumbest one.

“Yeah, you can be my plus one.”

I gulped to dislodge the lump in my throat. “Like-like your date?” 

She furrowed her brows with mild confusion. “Um ... sure, if that’s what you wanna call it,” which was the last thing she said to me before vanishing within the back room again. 

I peered back down at the card and tapped it gently on the palm on my hand as though to register its presence really being there. 

For all intents and purposes, this card was meaningless. But to me, it was the formal consenting - nay, invitation - to reach out to her again. She was willingly extending this line of contact to me. 

No more public library computers. No more files. No more ‘research.’ Just her number - a way to reach her without veering off my moral compass. 

Despite this, I still had no clue whether or not I was going to accept her offer.

All that I did know was that I wanted to see her again. 

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* 

PART 3 COMING SOON!

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[forgottenyogurtgods]

Author stuff: Sorry about the late posting. I explain what’s been going on at the bottom.

Summary: A simple collection of quick fics for somewhat interconnected. 100 prompts, 100 Saturdays.

Master List

Oh! You Pretty Things

Prompt 15 — 92. Innocence

He wasn't sure why, but he was drawn to her. There was just… something there that pulled him in. One look and he was drowning in those eyes of her’s, her voice a siren’s song. And he never wanted to leave.

He had always noticed her, though she had become more prominent as of late. Her bravery shining through when she helped him and Ladybug with the Evillustrator. After spending time with her and playing video games, he saw a whole different side of her. And then with Manon and the dolls... He almost forgot to ask where she lived, which would have completely blown his cover.

So, when he found his way to her rooftop terrace, he of course hesitated to knock on the trapdoor. In fact, he was just about to when she noticed him.

“Chat Noir?” she said, her eyes wider and bigger and bluer than he'd ever seen them before. She spoke slowly and cautiously. “What are you doing here? Is there an akuma in the neighborhood?”

“No, no, Princess,” he said, feeling the nickname slip out before he could control himself. “I was just… catching up on everyone in your class. They've all been akumatized, except for you and one other student.”

“Yeah, and?” She raised herself up onto the terrace, him helping her, though she didn't really need it.

“And I wanted to make sure you didn't have any plans on becoming one?”

“I don't think anyone plans on becoming an akuma, it just sort of happens.”

He scratched the back of his neck. Well, that was a stupid lie. She, no doubt, saw right through him.

“Mind telling me why you're actually here before I call animal control?”

“I was… honestly just passing by, and I thought of you.”

“Hmm, continue.”

“That's… that's really it. I was passing by, and I thought of you.”

“So you decided to creepily stare down into my bedroom for two minutes before I went over to see what you were doing.”

He flushed at that.

“I wasn't, ah, I was just trying to, um, I wasn't sure how to —”

She started giggling. He felt a tug in his abdomen at the sound. It was so sweet and special. He wanted to cherish it forever.

Gah! When did he start feeling this way about his quiet, little classmate?

“It's alright, Chat,” she said. “You're lucky I wasn't changing or something.”

He turned even more red — if that was possible. He didn't want to think about the “changing” part — Marinette in her underwear was not someplace he wanted his mind to, gah! And the “or something”? He didn't want to know what that was. Nope, not at all. Any thoughts beyond her innocently sleeping in that bed.

“I'm just going to, ah, go now,” he said. “You… You seem fine. Perfectly alright. So, I, uh, yeah.”

“But you haven't told me any puns,” she said, pouting a little.

“Pardon?”

“Puns, whenever I see you, you tell me a pun. I mean, they're really annoying and terrible, but they're growing on me.”

He blinked at her. She looked so innocent at the moment. He gave her a slow smile.

“I will be sure to save up a great many for your ears only, Princess.”

“...I'm going to regret saying anything, aren't I?”

“Not at all, Princess. Not at all.”

Also available on

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Author stuff cont'd.: Couple of things happened in my personal life — mostly work related.

The one coworker who works overnights has COVID. The other woman who works overnights doesn't want to work anything other than her assigned nights (she spends the rest of her time out partying and comes in hours late). The backup for overnights picked up her old shift at her original location, so we won't have her to rely on.

On the positive side, I have a new manager to help me out in my department and a few people have been hired to work the front desk. Training is all they really need now, which that's a huge weight off a lot of our shoulders.

Another thing is the fact that I decided to try out how I take my vitamins. The website I get them from recommends that you take it on an empty stomach. Despite the fact that it is in a fat soluble capsule. (It also suggested taking the water soluble vitamins with food — which I don't recommend.) Nope. Not good. Messed with my whole being.

So, I'm back to taking the vitamin that helps with stress with the other fat soluble capsules.

Between that nonsense, I've just been feeling more depressed recently. It probably has to do with the fact that I'm working nights and not getting enough vitamin D, like I used to. I added it to my monthly vitamin package.

Anyway, I'll be updating as normal. I just had to take a little break for my mental health.

[kpoptart216]

You’re my Utopia (pt 6)

A/N: this took forever I'm so sorry

Masterlist

Despite your initial reservations, you quite enjoyed working at BigHit. You made some new friends with the staff and you really loved working with the boys on an almost daily basis. 

Recently, the boys had announced a tour, which meant their time was split from recording new songs and practicing for the tour. On top of that, they were promoting oversees. You were surprised by how much you missed them when they were gone. 

But, you got constant updates from them, especially Hoseok. Even if you guys started spending more time than usual, you texted just as much as you did before, if not more. You were constantly talking to each other, and you found yourself missing him when you weren’t. 

Your feelings caught you by surprise. When did you catch feelings for Hobi? At first, you denied it. It was probably because he was your support system for so long right? 

But then you noticed how fast your heart would beat when he got closer to you. You noticed how you loved the crinkle in his eyes when he laughed. You noticed how much you missed him when he was gone. 

It was just like when you fell for Jungkook...just stronger. And that scared you to the very core. You couldn’t go down that route again. If Jungkook had taught you anything, it was that you were simply not meant to date an idol. 

But it’s not like you could avoid Hoseok either. You worked together and you were drawn to him regardless. You couldn’t deny him when he asked to hang out or come listen to your music in the studio. And in the end, you only ended up falling harder, and you could only keep your feelings to yourself. 

Jungkook, on the other hand, was struggling himself. Despite telling you he was fine with him staying out of your life, he found it hard to see you so often. What made it worse was Sooyoung grilling him constantly. What he wore, what he ate, where they went for dates when he could have free time, and so on. When he was dating you, he found himself imagining how nice it would be to date an idol, someone who he thought would understand him more because they both had the same careers. Now he found himself comparing his relationship with Sooyoung to his relationship with yours. Why did he ever think you didn’t understand him? That this would be easier?

He found himself missing you more and more as each day went on. It was hard seeing you laugh, knowing it wasn’t him making you laugh. It was hard seeing you so close and yet so emotionally distant. You kept true to your word, you didn’t talk to him unless it was related to work in some way. And yet here you were, laughing and joking around with the rest of the boys. But what irked him the most was the way you looked at Hoseok with such affection in your eyes and how his hyung looked at you the same way. 

You were slumped on your desk as you pondered about some edits for one of the songs. Sometimes, it was hard to find inspiration when all you did was sit in the studio all day. Deciding to get some fresh air, you got up just as your phone dinged with a new text message.

 Hobi: what are you doing right now? You busy?

You smiled fondly at your phone. You had to smack yourself to get back to reality. 

You: No, I just decided to step out of the studio for a bit. Why what’s up?

Hobi: want to come by the dance room real quick? I wanted to show you something I’ve been working on. 

You couldn’t stop the way your heart raced after seeing that text. 

You: Sure, I’ll be there in a second!

You walked at a slightly faster pace than you normally would to get to the practice room. It’s not to far from your studio thankfully and pretty soon you’re opening the door to the studio. 

It’s well into the night and you knew that it was only probably just Hoseok there at this hour. Thankfully, you were right. Hoseok turned to face you when he heard the door opened and you loved the way he seemed to light up when he saw you. But you were sure you were just imagining it. 

“Hey, that was fast” Hoseok jokes. 

“I couldn’t wait to get out of my studio” you say. 

“And here I thought you couldn’t wait to see me” He says faking pain. 

“I mean, you’re just a bonus” you joke, plopping yourself down on one wall. “What did you want to show me?” 

“Why the rush? You need to leave soon?” He asks, walking towards the sound system next to you. 

“Not really, just excited to see what you were working on!” you say honestly. 

“Well, it’s just something I’ve been playing around with for Festa this year. Let me know what you think ok? Don’t hold back” he says right before the music begins to fill the room. 

You nod eagerly as Hoseok gets in place in front of the mirror. You’re in awe watching him dance. He faces the mirror, his back towards you, but you don’t mind. He effortlessly glides through each of his steps and his eyes rarely leave your sitting figure in the mirror. He gets a flood of confidence when you look at him like he’s the only person in the room. But then again... he was the only person in the room. 

Once the routine ends, he turns to face you and gives you a big smile when you begin to clap. “That was absolutely amazing! You HAVE to do that for Festa. ARMY will love it” you say, handing him the towel next to you. 

“really? You don’t think that was too plain?” he asks. 

“Plain? No way! That was amazing. But I don’t know much about dancing, maybe you can ask the members. I have two left feet after all” you say, laughing. 

“Oh, now I have to see that,” Hoseok says with a smirk. 

“Huh?”

“Come on, I want to see your moves, Y/n!” 

“No way! Not in a million years, Oppa” you say, laughing away the notion.

“Oh come on, I’ll dance with you! I’ll teach you” he says, reaching out his hand. You stare at his hand as if he grew more fingers. 

“Nope, I’m not up for that kind of embarrassment tonight,” you say, swatting his hand away, only for him to grasp his hand in yours. 

“Oh come on, you’ll feel better I promise. You need this after being holed up in your studio. Come one, pleaaaaassssseee?” he begs. 

You contemplate his request. Maybe you did need it. Maybe it would be fun? But what if you embarrassed yourself? Only one way to find out.

You took his hand in yours and let him help you up. He let go after what seemed like a few seconds more than necessary and walked back to the audio system to pick out a new song. 

He actually ended up picking up one of the first couple of songs you had sent him. This one specifically was more of a dance song compared to other ones you had wrote previously since you wanted to branch out in different styles of music. What Hoseok didn’t tell you was that the moment he listened to the song, he had almost immediately come up with choreography. He never told you that in case that seemed weird, but maybe now he could show you little bits of it. 

He started to dance slowly and watched as you watched him. After a bit, he took your hands again and started to move your hands to the beat to get you moving. You honestly were probably one of the worst dancers, but you both couldn’t help the giggling that came out of it. 

He showed you some of his moves and asked your to replicate some of the easier ones, which you failed miserably at. You were no match for him! But you both had fun nonetheless and you got to dance to a couple of songs before you tapped out. 

You both slid down the wall and plopped yourself down laughing. That was the most fun you’ve had in a while, and it was definitely needed. You tried to ignore the way your heart raced when Hoseok got so close to you, and you hoped you could play off your scarlet red cheeks from just being tired from the dancing. 

You were both panting, and when you turned to look at each other, you erupted in another fit of laughter again. Why was it so easy being around him? So easy to be yourself. You didn’t even care that you just made a fool of yourself, you just genuinely had fun. 

“Man I haven’t had this much fun in a while” you admit out loud. 

“Me neither. You sure you should be working as a producer when you should be working as a choreographer?” he asks sarcastically. 

“Ok ok, I sense the sarcasm. I’m heading back to my den, wounded” you say standing up. 

“I’m just kidding!” He says, yanking you back down. But he underestimated his own strength because you toppled over him when you lost your balance. Your faces were just a few centimeters apart and both of your eyes were as wide as they could be.

You don’t know how long you were there in that position, just staring into each other’s eyes. You swore you saw him look at your lips real quick before looking back into your eyes.You swallowed and you could feel your heart racing so fast. You were probably a bright red by now! You stumbled and stood up, slightly coughing to get rid of the lump in your throat. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean for you to fall” Hoseok says, standing up. You look at him, only to notice he was pretty red in the cheeks as well. Were you just imagining that? 

“It’s ok, I’m fine” you say. “Thanks for tonight, oppa. I had a lot of fun” you say. Your mind raced with what just happened and how it made you feel. And suddenly you felt inspired for the song you were stuck on. “I’m going to head back to the studio” you say, excusing yourself. But just before you reach the door, you hear, 

“Y/N?” Hoseok asks. 

“Yeah?” you ask, turning around. 

“You have really pretty eyes” he says, shyly. You couldn’t help the smile that formed on your face. 

“I guess that makes two of us” you say before head back to the studio. 

Since that day at the studio you butterflies in your stomach just at the though of Hoseok. It was the same for him also, he got excited just at the thought of you. He somehow got more confident since that day, to the point where he even winked at you in the hallways in passing one day. 

Though you smiled at the action, the boys didn’t let him live it down. Jimin had noticed it by chance and when he told the others, they gave him a hard time. 

“Oh my god, it makes sense now. Hoseok hyung likes Y/n-ie!” Taehyung says. “Since when hyung??” he asks as the members relax in the dorm one night. 

Hoseok looked around, and thankfully Jungkook wasn’t around. He figured he was out with his girlfriend. What he didn’t know was that Jungkook was just chilling inside his room after a long day of practice, and his ears perked up the second your name was brought up. 

“Ok fine, yes, I do like her” Hoseok admits. There was no point in lying to them. They were already questioning how the two of you ended up being friends despite not being close before. 

“You can’t just admit that so easily! We wanted to tease you some more!” Jimin says eagerly. 

“Are you going to ask her out?” Jin asks. 

“Wouldn’t that be kinda weird? I mean with her history with Jungkook” Hoseok thinks out loud. He didn’t realize Jungkook could hear him. Jungkook practically wanted to yell “YES ITS WEIRD DONT DO IT”

“Go for it Hyung. He’s already dating someone else and they’ve been going steady from what we can tell. I doubt he’d care. Plus, he would want for the both of you to be happy, whether you’re together or not” Jimin said proudly. Surely the maknae wouldn’t take this badly, but little did they know said person’s blood was basically boiling. 

“isn’t is against the bro code? You don’t date your friend’s ex? No matter how much you like her?” Hoseok asks again. He wasn’t sure why he needed this validation, but he felt like this might just be the extra push to make things work with you. 

“Honestly, if it ended on bad terms, sure maybe I’d advise against it. But they agreed to be friends and support each other... at least that what Jungkook said when they broke up. If you guys have a thing for each other... why don’t you explore it? I have a feeling she’d say yes” Namjoon thinks out loud. 

“You really think so??” Hoseok asks again, smiling brightly. 

“It’s clear to us she has a new favorite amongst us. She turned a bright red right when you winked at her, I think it’s safe to say she feels the same” Jin agreed. 

“Ok. I’ll do it. I’ll ask her out!” Hoseok cheers. 

Jungkook glared at the door as if the door was his back-stabbing hyung. How the hell could he pursue you? But then again, did he really have a say? Plus, why was he even getting worked up? He had everything he claimed he wanted when he broke up with you. He had the career, he had the fans, he had the girl who would understand him. So why then did he want to run out of his room and punch Hoseok?

He didn’t understand why he still felt so possessive of you when clearly he had no say in your life anymore. Or did he? There was no possible way that Hoseok knew you better than he did. Just because he hasn’t talked to you in the last two years doesn’t mean that much has changed about you? 

Ok so maybe he overreacted when you said you just wanted a professional relationship. He was probably naive in thinking you guys could just be friends after your history together, but maybe he gave up too easily trying to be friends with you?

Yeah, friends. He just wanted to be friends. He missed his friend and that’s why he felt the way he did now. Starting tomorrow, he was going to try and be your friend again. 

You got to the studio early the next morning, a smile adorned on your face. You were excited to work on the song that Hoseok inspired the other night. You weren’t quite sure if you wanted it on the album or just have it as a song you sing and release yourself, but either way you were excited to work on it. 

You started to play around with different tunes that you had thought of in your head. You were so into the work that you didn’t hear the door open.

“That sounds really good” said the all too familiar voice. You jumped, scared. 

“Jungkook, what are you doing here?” you ask, turning the chair to face him. 

“Just wanted to bring you this” he says, as he hands you a coffee. It was french vanilla latte, something he had brought your frequently when you both had dated. 

“What is this for?” you ask, taking the coffee and placing it on the table. 

“Just thought I’d bring you coffee. And apologize. For how I treated you the last couple of weeks since you got here. And also apologize on behalf of Sooyoung for how she had treated you that night you met. That wasn’t nice” he admitted. That night had played in his head more than he cared to admit, but it felt nice to get it off of his chest. 

“It’s ok...is there something else I can help you with?” you asked, trying to end the conversation. 

Jungkook frowned at your question. “Ok look, I know you said you only wanted to have a professional relationship, but I’ve been doing some thinking. I regret how things went down between us and I see how naive I was in thinking that we could just be friends right after our breakup. But I’d like to think there is a lot of history between us, right? we’ve known each other since we were kids and I’d hate to just leave that. Can we at least try to be friends again? On your terms of course” Jungkook rambles. 

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea...” you say. 

“Oh come on, what’s the harm? We have so many memories together, Y/n! And like I said, it would be on your terms. You said it yourself, you’re over me and I already moved on as well, I don’t see a problem?” he says. 

“I’ll have to think about it Jungkook..” you say slowly. Would it be a good idea? you had to sleep on it. 

“Take your time. Enjoy you-” Jungkook started but heard the door open behind him. 

“Good Morn-, oh Jungkook, what are you doing here?” Hoseok says. 

“Oh hyung. Just wanted to talk to Y/n about something” Jungkook says, taking a sip of his own drink.

Hoseok looks at you questioningly. You just shake your head, letting him know it’s nothing to worry about. 

Jungkook looks between you and his hyung, feeling awkward. “why do you have two drinks?” jungkook asks Hoseok. 

“Oh Y/n, brought you your favorite while I stopped to get my coffee. Peach tea with a little cream?” Hoseok says, handing you an iced tea. Your eyes lit up at the sight of your most favorite drink, and you couldn’t help but take a sip immediately. 

“Since when do you drink tea?” Jungkook asks aloud

“I stopped drinking coffee a long time ago. I prefer tea” you say, taking another sip happily. Hoseok smiles, knowing he did good that morning. 

“Oh...”Jungkook says, frowning at the coffee left alone on the table. 

“Uhm, thank you for the coffee Jungkook. I’ll think about it, ok?” you say, giving him a small smile. 

“Sure. Hyung, we should get to practice” Jungkook says, trying to usher his hyung out with him. 

“Go ahead first, I’ll catch up” Hoseok says, opening the door for Jungkook. Jungkook hesitates to leave. What if his hyung was going to ask you out this moment? 

“We’re going to be late though” Jungkook tries again. 

“We still have time, I’ll be on time don’t worry” hoseok smiles this time, opening the door further. Jungkook has no choice but to leave and he silently wishes that nothing happens when he’s away. 

Once Jungkook leaves, Hoseok closes the door and pulls up a chair and sits down by you. “what was that about?” he asks, surprised to see Jungkook in your studio when it seemed like he was avoiding you before. 

“It was so weird, oppa. He showed up with a coffee, and said he wanted to try to be friends. On my terms. Whatever that means” you say, giggling. You take another sip of your tea, enjoying how refreshing it was. 

“And what do you want?” he asks, slowly, trying to gauge your reaction. 

“I told him it wasn’t a good idea but he said he didn’t see the harm in it since I’m clearly over him and he has a girlfriend too. Also something about having a lot of memories between us. But honestly, I’m perfectly happy with how things are right now. I don’t want to mess it up” you say, feeling a little anxious about Jungkook’s sudden proposal. 

“You know better than anyone what is best for you” Hoseok says, ruffling your hair. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to” he says, smiling at you while you fix your hair again. 

“I know I know. Thank you for the reminder though! Thanks for the tea by the way, it’s delicious!” you say smiling fondly at the tea. Hoseok swears he could see a slight blush creep up your cheeks. 

“Anytime for my favorite girl” Hoseok says without thinking. Your head shot up at him, surprised by his statement. You look at him, expectantly with a smile. 

“Favorite girl?” you ask, starting to tease him.

“Yup. You’re my favorite” he says, strongly, making you blush even more. “I actually came here to ask you something” he says again, banking on his new found confidence. 

“Yeah?” you ask, setting the tea down. 

“Are you free for dinner tomorrow night?” he asks. You two had gotten dinner a few times before, so you thought nothing of it. 

“Sure! I’m free!” you say, smiling. 

“Ok, it’s date!” he says, smiling back at you.

“a- a date?” you ask, shocked. 

“Yeah.. i mean.. only if you want it to be. It doesn’t have to be, but I was kind of hoping that.. we could get dinner and have it-” Hoseok begins to ramble feeling the confidence dissipate fast. 

“I’d like that. A date” you say, suddenly, shocking the both of you. 

“Oh. Great. I can’t wait. wear something nice. Not that you have ugly clothes. But you get what I mean. Ok bye” he says, scrambling to leave the room with a huge smile on his face

You sat there silently for a second before letting out a little squeal. You have a date with Hoseok!!

A/n: I have some idea for how I want the next part to go, but I just didn’t want to combine it with this and make it too long. Hope you like it, and please leave me some feedback. 

[mrs-falcon]

Vincent is finally getting his own ref sheet :3 This character is part of universe I created called "Shadows of the Real World", partly drawn, partly written complex story. Character created - 2017 (along with Raven) BASIC INFO: Current name: Vincent Jackson Former/Original name: Dmitry Sergeewich Trutliv (Дмирий Сергеевич Трутлив) (hopefuly english ppl will understand the pronounces xd ) - exhausted (looks like he's chill with almost everything) - can get easily mad/upset - quite slim figure after his mother - can be a loving parent/partner - caring about others he loves - hates his father - took care of Raven he'd found on streets Family: - father: Sergei Vasileevich Trutliv (Сергей Василеёвич Трутлив) (Black Yukon wolf) - mother: Alexandra Antonovna Trutliv (Александра Антоновна Трутлив) (Arctic x Eurasian wolf) - "stepmother": Melanie Manson (Shiba inu dog) - half-brother: Frederich Manson (Black Yukon wolf x Shiba inu dog) - partner: Sherab Azuki (irbis) - daughter: Rozaline Jackson (hybrid) Gender: male Age: 40 years (from the beginning of the written story) Height: 190 cm Species: inclination to Eurasian wolf Spoken languages: - native: Russian - first foreign language: English (American) - second foreign language: Japanese Born country: Russia Currently living in: USA Job: (currently) security guard in metal factory DETAILED HISTORY: [*WARNING - following text contains lots of triggers and mature stuff (such as abuse mention, violence, character's trauma mention,...), please read at your own risk] Born in a cage? First what Vincent, formerly Dmitry, remembers is aggressive voice going toward his mother. His father was a rich (yes - rich, not wealthy) and very famous person in his country for his position - Sergei was a successful communistic leader, business man and ... a professional rook. Living on far east part of Russia wasn't easy and, of course, not cheap. Thanks to Sergei's intelligence and extensive contacts he could easily manipulate with all people in his region, which led to exploitation of the lower classes working under his control, making Sergei's life much more "rich". However, a typical successful businessman has to have a perfect partner, right? Sergei's and Alexandra's encounter was a pure coincidence - Sergei needed a proper wife who would do anything according to her husband, Alexandra needed a man who would take care of her and financially secure her. Alexandra was a very young lady from a poor family. But what was worse than living from hand to hand was her untreated illness - fragile bones, fragile mind and a slowly growing cancer - that all was a secret Sergei never found out about. And due to Sergei's aggression and growing presure from his work and political position, Alexandra had to suffer slowly... and no-one could do anything about it. Not every home is the best After Alexandra gave birth to her son, Dmitry, she became even more fragile and exhausted. Her husband didn't care anymore, he only did his best to keep himself as a successful person in strangers' eyes. And because of that Alexandra had to gave up on her faith, who's a Orthodox Christian, and started to centralize around Vincent, her only hope. However, even in presence of their only child Sergei didn't hesitate to relieve his aggression on his wife. Alexandra was helpless - she could not leave without Dmitry, without money, without her own strength. Alexandra suffered five more years until she finally reached her prayed heaven, leaving her only son behind... Since Alexandra gave bith to her son, her health condition became worse, every day, and with this thought Sergei blamed little Dmitry from Alexandra's death and started developing aggression towards him. Little Dmitry, confused by why his father started hating him so much, tried to enjoy his free days somewhere outside. However, making friends with their long lasting rivals, tigers, was not acceptable, right? Little Dmitry learned another hurtful lesson. It took long time for Dmitry to get used to this life - he hated it, but he could not hate his birth country... which was taken away from him another five years later. Sergei could not handle the situation of his low class employees who finally after so many years started a revolution. Sergei's and Dmitry's home was in a centre of revolution - bricks broke the windows, fire engulfed the furniture... Sergei and Dmitry had to literally run away from this place, once called home, and run away from their country. Better start? America - a place of golden streets, a place of free lands. That was Sergei's new target. But was is exactly as he dreamd of? As other immigrants Sergei and Dmitry lived in crowded flats filled with filth and limited basic life needs. Dmitry was tangled to his father's back luck, whether he wanted it or not. But his father had still contacts. After few months they could move into a large, already rotten and almost fell apart, building with no-one around. Sergei saw a new change, Dmitry only worse start. His father started to get bored of his son's company and started neglect his son even more than before. Dmitry was sick of his new life, worse that before, but Dmitry's new "mother" was even bigger nightmare than he could imagine - a simple streetwalker only few years older than him. However, young people can get surprisingly mean. After Sergei's new mate, Melanie, found out about his fundations, she started to make a plan how to force Sergei leave all of his legacy for her. Best idea? Give him a better heir than Dmitry was. Get onto your own feet Dmitry could not handle the current situation in his life and decided to run away from his abuse father and his new rival. But who would accept a half-wild wolf cup in thier nest? With people's prejudices Dmitry started calling streets his new home since he had no other choice. And returning to his father? He would rather die than that. It didn't take Dmitry long to understand money are a key to, at least, standart life. But due to his low age no-one would employ a kid into their business... except for black markets and perverts. Ready or not, Dmitry knew living only from garbage wouldn't keep him alive for long. As a shadow, as a no longer officially existing person, Dmitry started making money through "gentle work" which left a great trauma on him. However, his first luck appeared - his body started to get features after his father and Dmitry started getting offers for street fighting. It wasn't exactly the best, but definitely better that his previous experience. "Vincent... now this sounds like a fighter!" Now Vincent earned his new identity and could finally afford a smaller flat and a proper food. He visited his "family" only few times since that. After that, he tried to focuse on his new, hopefully better, life. Luck! Luck! Luck! But that doesn't last forever With higher earnings everything went much more smooth. Vincent asked for asylum in a new region for young adults who aspired to find a job a leave the place as soon as possible. The workers of that place gave him few tips for work with recommendation. Another long years of his life Vincent kept up like a security guard. Was it a coincidence or not? The same working place was requested for a quite young female irbis immigrant, Vincent's future life partner - Sherab Azuki. Both of them did not honour the ancient traditions since Azuki was brought up by pair of ibex. Vincent knew this will be his life partner and tried his best to not lose her - he learned Japanese, found another two jobs for better earnings and even bought their own flat, that all only for his beloved Azuki. At the top of it, the pair was lucky to have their common child - Rozaline, tehir sweet Rose. Vincent could not even express his excitement and joy for his new, true family. His daughter and partner gave him new energy for their future life. Vincent tried to do his best he could, tried to be better father then his was. However, Vincents death number appeared once again... After the wolf came back from his work, he could not believe his eyes - Rose and Azuki were murdered. Who could do that? Someone who feared ancestros such as Vincent and Azuki were? Someone who did not accept hybrids? Someone who new Vincent was related to Sergei? There were so many options yet no-one could finds the true sinner of this terrible crime. Waiting for death The new energy quickly vanished, Vincent lost all of his jobs, his flat, his new hope. What did he do wrong for such terrible things that happened to him? Lost in emptiness of his inner world and left with despair, Vincent didn't try to continue in his life. Isolated at the far edge of the large city, somewhere in the middle of ruins, he waited for death to consume him. To quicken his "process" he started damaging his organs, especially lungs. But to the wolf's surprise his younger brother, now successful businessman like their father was, offered him a help. Vincent didn't trust his half-brother, but Frederich's current power over regions forced Vincent to join him. What an irony they ended up in the same place where it all began - in the old rotten building, now one of the greatest and high productionable metal factories in northern part of USA. Vincent wasn't surprised that this all inherited Frederich, now that their father is gone. But why so sudden? Even though Vincent was offered a job and a place to live, his current life was like a street's rat - hidding from the world and waiting for death... That all changed a young cat Vincent found behind the factory almost death, yet still breathing... -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Even tho Vincent's past was more drastic, Vincent's and Raven's lives are somehow very alike... This kind of "storytelling" leaves a lots of quetions. Does the Sergei's death and Vincent's murdered family have a connection? And what about Frederich? We haven't heard much of him in this post... Artwork, Vincent, story & SotRW (universe) © MrsFalcon (FalconFeatherTheCat) (me)

[jayt-shirt]

Your Best Friend’s Brother

Pairing: Jason Todd x Reader

Summary: You and Tim go to college together and are best friends. One day you’re studying with Tim in his room and Jason comes in and becomes interested in you. You invite them both to a party to spend more time with Jason and see what happens...

A/N: Hi this is my first time writing something like this! I’m considering writing a second part to this, but let me know what you think! Also, send me any requests you have!

Part 2

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

It was a Friday afternoon and you were sitting on Tim’s bed staring at a white board he had up on his wall, while he sat at his desk intensely flipping through his notes. Both of you had been trying to figure out this problem for one of your classes for a while now. Staring at what little progress you had made, you were starting to wonder why you went to college in the first place.

“Okay so we just have to show that the equation satisfies these conditions,” Tim said, holding up his notebook to show you.

“You say that like it’s so simple,” you respond. You laughed as he groaned and collapsed onto the desk, his head resting on his arms.

Jason had heard laughter coming from Tim’s room, more specifically he heard a girl laughing. Did Tim have a girl over, he thought to himself. There had to be some nerdy explanation for this, so Jason being Jason, he decided to investigate.

He was just outside Tim’s door leaning his head over just enough to see inside, to see you sitting on the bed with your hair pulled up into a messy ponytail. His eyes scanned the white board in front of you, not even trying to make sense of the symbols that covered it. Tim’s head was down on the desk, but he slowly lifted it up and groaned. Jason tried to move away as Tim’s eyes looked towards the doorway.

“Jason!” Tim quickly sat up in his chair, not used to seeing his brother in his room.

“Tim!” Jason mimicked his voice and stepped into the room.

You turned around on the bed to face him. You were curious about Tim’s mysterious older brother. You’d met everyone else in the family, even Damien who asked you if you had suffered a head injury that made you want to be friends with Tim. You had met Tim your first year at college and you two quickly became best friends and nothing more.

“Hey! I’m Y/N,” you smiled at him. Jason couldn’t help but stare at you, captivated by your smile and warm eyes.

“Jason,” he said, nodding his head upwards.

“We were just studying,” Tim answered the question he knew Jason wanted to ask.

“Actually I have to go help set up for the party,” you said grabbing your bag from the floor and stuffing your notes back into it. “You’re coming tonight right Drake?”

“But this assignment…”

“The assignment can wait,” you cut him off, “you promised you would come tonight, you haven’t been to one of our parties in forever.”

Jason just stood there trying to picture Tim going to a college party. Did his younger brother drink? Dance?

“Ugh fine, I’ll try my best to make it,” Tim groaned, knowing there was no way he could get out of this. You knew you had to push him to go out and have fun, otherwise he would just study all day and night. He might be complaining now, but you knew he’d have fun once he got there. He always did.

“Jason, you should come tonight and make sure your brother gets there,” you turned to Tim’s brother, hoping that he would help you like Dick sometimes would. He was completely caught off guard. Jason had been too busy looking at you and trying to figure out how someone like you, someone social who threw parties, could be friends with Tim.

“Y-yeah,” he stumbled over his words, “yeah sure.”

“Promise?” you pretend to be serious. You wanted Tim to be there, but honestly a small part of you wanted Jason there too. You couldn’t quite figure him out and you were too curious to pass up an opportunity like this. Little did you know Jason was thinking the exact same thing.

“Promise,” he said, smirking over at Tim who looked like he wanted to melt into the floor. This just became a win-win situation for him, he could find out more about you and annoy Tim at the same time.

“Great, see you both tonight!” You said, as you walked out of Tim’s room and out to your car. Who knew how tonight would go, but you couldn’t wait to find out.

~

“So you and Y/N…” Jason said as soon as he heard you leave.

“We’re just friends,” Tim started to turn away from Jason but then stopped, “Why do you care?”

“No reason,” Jason said a little too quickly, “just wondering.”

“You don’t have to come to the party tonight.”

“Why not? I was invited, it’d be rude not to,” Jason smirked, earning a glare from a suspicious Tim. But, in typical Tim fashion, his attention was quickly drawn away from Jason when he suddenly figured out how to solve the problem. Jason just left him to scribble on his white board, going back to his room to get ready for whatever tonight had in store for him.

~

You were standing by the bar talking to one of your friends when you saw them walk in. Jason and Tim had made it, and you weren’t sure which one you were happier to see. What was going on with you tonight? You barely even knew Jason and Tim was your best friend. Jason was wearing dark jeans and a black shirt and despite his best efforts to look like he didn’t care, you could tell he seemed a little uncomfortable and out of place. Tim on the other hand was not trying to keep up any kind of appearance, quickly scanning the room trying to find you so he could prove to you that he kept his word.

“You guys made it!” You shouted over the music as you walked over to them, giving Tim a hug and smiling at Jason.

“Couldn’t resist the opportunity to see my baby bro at a college party,” Jason said, earning a glare from Tim who still wasn’t sure why Jason had even come.

“Y/N!” You heard someone shout from across the room. “We need you!”

“A hostess’s job is never done,” you walked away from them to go deal with whatever situation was happening now.

~

It had been an hour since Jason and Tim had come to the party and you barely had time to talk to either of them. Between fixing music and alcohol related emergencies and having to talk to every person that showed up, you had barely stayed in one place the entire night. But now you were done and maybe you could actually enjoy the party.

You looked around the room and saw Jason standing against the wall by himself, glancing from his phone back to the room, probably looking for Tim. You knew where Tim had gone, he always disappeared into whatever room him and a few others found to drink and talk about heated subject had caught their attention that week. You grabbed two drinks from the bar and walked over to the only person standing alone in the room.

“Drink?” You asked him.

“Thanks,” he smiled at you, taking the drink. “No more emergencies to deal with?”

You smiled, jokingly rolling your eyes and groaning.

“I love my friends but I swear sometimes I have no idea how they made it this far.”

Jason laughed, taking a swig from his drink. He couldn’t deny that he was in awe of you, of your presence. You had such a welcoming presence, everyone in the room could feel it including him.

“So I have to ask,” he said to you, “how are you and my brother friends?”

You started laughing, you knew this question was coming. You’d been asked it so many times before. But no matter how many times someone asked you, you could never really come up with any answer. You couldn’t really explain it, you and Tim just understood each other and your friendship felt so natural, it didn’t really matter how different you and him appeared to outsiders.

“Is that why you came here tonight, to ask me about your brother?” you asked, your voice a little more flirty than even you expected. Jason instantly picked up on it and you both stood there looking at each other. Jason smirked and was about to respond when the song suddenly changed and your eyes lit up.

“I love this song! Finish your drink and let’s go dance!” You said, chugging what was left of your drink and gesturing for him to do the same.

“I don’t really…” he started to protest but you cut him off.

“My house, my rules,” you said, putting your drink down and looking at his cup. “Need me to finish that for you?”

He looked at you before finishing what was left in his cup and putting it down on the table. You grabbed his hand and led him into the other room where everyone was dancing. You knew Tim would be as far away from anything involving dancing as he could be.

You let go of Jason’s hand and started to dance to the beat of the song. But Jason, being as stubborn as ever, just stood there looking at you, hoping that you would give up on him dancing if he held out long enough. But you weren’t one to give up that easily.

You grabbed his hands and started to move his arms back and forth. He tried to resist, but you smiled at him and he started laughing and admitted defeat. He started dancing along with you, matching your movements and surprising you with how good he was. You went to let go of his hands, but he held onto them. You made eye contact with him and he pulled you closer to him. He wasn’t really sure what came over him, but he didn’t want it to stop and neither did you.

He let go of your hands and put them on your hips, pulling you in a little closer. Your arms were on his shoulders as you danced with him, your bodies inching closer and closer together. You bit your lip as he kept his eyes locked on yours. Your heart was racing, you couldn’t focus on anything except the feeling of his hands on your hips and his eyes on you. You weren’t aware of anything else in the room, you were completely fixated on Jason.

Should I kiss him? You asked yourself. You didn’t know what to do. A part of you had hoped that this would happen, but now that it was you had no idea what to do. You brought your face up a little closer to his, hoping that maybe he would take it from there.

He looked down at you smiling, knowing exactly what you were doing. He brought his face down a little closer to yours, stopping when your lips were almost touching. He was drawing it out, making you want it more and more. His hands gripped your hips a little tighter and your bodies were pressed together. You couldn’t take it anymore. You wrapped your arms a little tighter around him and closed the gap between your lips.

He didn’t hesitate, pulling you as close as possible to him and passionately returning your kiss. You couldn’t believe how good it felt to be kissing him, to have your arms wrapped around him, to have his hands on you. You never wanted this moment to end.

But soon you were interrupted by the feeling of a cell phone vibrating in Jason’s jeans. Jason was more than happy to ignore it, wanting only to keep making out with you. At first you ignored it too, but then you realized it could be Tim looking for his brother. You didn’t know what would happen if Tim came in here and saw you two together. You’d have to give Tim some kind of explanation and even you weren’t sure what was happening. You broke away from Jason and he looked down at you confused.

“You should get that,” you said. He playfully rolled his eyes and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

“What?” He answered it and you knew from his response that it was Tim. “I was just in the bathroom, go outside I’ll meet you there.” He hung up the phone and put it back in his pocket.

“Tim wants to leave?” You asked him. He nodded and brought his hand up to your cheek. His fingers gently moved down to your chin and tilted your head up. He kissed your lips on last time before pulling away.

“Until next time, Y/N,” he said. He gave you one of his trademark smirks before walking away and leaving you standing there wondering what had just happened.

[mcrmadness]

Pink, amber and coral :)

Ask game: 20 colour asks.

Hello, and thanks for the ask :D (I read this to the tune of a Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book title :D)

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pink - which is your favourite animal? zoos or farms?

Cats! And especially tigers!

And oh, the second one is a good question! I do enjoy zoos and animal parks but I just get to those quite rarely. I think Finland has only one actual proper zoo, and it's in Helsinki, and the last time I visited was in 2002 or so when I was 11. The rest here are more of animal parks which sometimes have some more exotic animals in them, e.g. a snow leopard, but mainly they have more common animals that exist in the Finnish nature as well - or they have all kinds of different ungulates which are easier to keep and set up the exhibits for.

But I think I have to say I like farms more than zoos, as long as it's not intensive farming where animals become numbers in the system instead of individuals with names. And since I am a horse groom who is occasionally dreaming of other animal related jobs, especially zookeeper's job, I still would prefer an animal park or farm animal park if it means I get to also interact with the animals from the ground instead if behind bars or glass. I really like to hang out with animals and interact with them and pet/scratch them if they like it, and I think I'd be miserable working at a zoo where I would have to only watch them.

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I'll put the rest under a cut because I, again, could not stop talking :D

amber - can you drive? if not, how do you get around?

Yeah, I can drive. I got the driver's license a couple of months after I turned 18 (in 2009). I was planning on getting it on my birthday but I failed the first test and had to do it again, and it meant I had to take a few more lessons before I was allowed to try it again. But then I finally made it - and also never forgot the roundabout traffic rules again because it was one of the reasons why I failed the first test :D

I also got a car before getting the driver's license, and my current one is my second car. It's an absolute lifesafer to own, especially in my city which is not that big but has even worse public traffic system and too many uphills to every direction. I don't love anything as much as the feeling of not having to run after busses and stress over if I'll be able to catch one or not, because I'm always running late. With my own car I'll always have a ride, even if I'm running late despite it.

I also often choose to drive to other cities instead of public transport. It's just the feels of freedom. I live in east Finland and for some reason it's always more difficult to travel horizontally than vertically in Finland, so you often have to switch busses or trains several times, or use both, and the timetables might not always line-up nicely, so it's very stressful to try and find something that would match. But with a car you can just... hop in your car and drive and you're there without worrying about switching to other vehicles.

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coral - which is your favourite disney movie? who makes the better movies, disney or pixar?

The Lion King, definitely. I saw it from a VHS shortly after it came out and have loved the movie ever since. It's also the only (original) Disney, of the ones we had on VHS, that had the music I absolutely adored. I realized this only when I was already an adult and found out Hans Zimmer made the score for the film. Also the "musical numbers" are better than in most films, and I usually hate musicals.

I hyperfixated on the Lion King when it was released on a dvd (at least in Finland) in 2003 when I was 12, and I bought it as well as the sequels and just, well, hyperfixated for some time :D

I think Pixar makes better movies than Disney. I have been a "fan" of Pixar ever since Toy Story came out, altho, I haven't seen any of the newer Pixar nor Disney movies since the early or mid 2000s. I think The Incredibles is probably the last one I saw? Except for Toy Story 3, that one I have seen and it was actually great, too. And MOnsters University.

I think the reason why I was always more drawn to Pixar than Disney films were the stories. I had some of the original Disney princess movies on VHS as I was growing up and I always hated them, they were so boring? I preferred the animal movies over movies about humans, and I also often was so annoyed by the music in all those movies, apart from The Lion King and 101 Dalmatians - which I didn't even have on VHS ever but borrowed it from my cousins sometimes.

Now, as an adult, as I look back at those Pixar movies, I have realized that they probably fed my aromantic side a lot. Most of the old Disney movies were about a princess finding a prince in the end, meanwhile the princesses being extremely boring as characters. But Pixar movies were (are?) all about the adventure and friendships (or a found family, even?), and I don't remember there ever being any proper romance? Like, sometimes they indicated some sort of a romance or how there COULD be one, but I don't remember any of them ending in a romance, or that it would have been the main idea of the whole story. Or even a subplot.

So, Pixar is my answer :D And Toy Story will probably forever be The Pixar film for me. It was also one of my first childhood hyperfixations as I was already old enough to understand and also memorize things. (I was 4 or 5 when I first saw it.)

[billyboymiki]

5 Works Tag Game

Rules: it’s time to love yourselves! choose your 5 (ish) favorite works you created in the past year (fics, art, edits, etc.) and post or link them below to reflect on the amazing things you brought into the world in 2020. tag as many writers/artists/etc. as you want (fan or original) so we can spread the love and link each other to awesome works!

I got tagged by @tippenfunkaport and @caramelaire for this tag game!!

I’m not one to compliment myself on anything honestly. Recently I remember thinking about how I barely drew anything this year. There was a part of my brain nagging at me to check how much I had drawn last year. So, I uh did. Turns out I drew basically nothing?! I triple checked this in fact. My DeviantART, Tumblr AND my camera roll. Nothing . . . I drew 5 very basic pinback button designs and that was it. I couldn’t believe it; but, it made be feel so much better about what I did this year. Basically my whole instagram is all artwork from this year, since I am actually really new to IG. I got super close to 40 works this year!

Now onto the works! They are in order of when I drew them 😊

Glimmer Inspired Patterns

I wanted to teach myself how to make patterns on Clip Studio so bad! I watched a couple of YT tutorials, and I can’t even remember why I decided to make She-ra ones specifically; I’m glad I did though! The Glimmer one means so much to me. Just looking at makes me so happy! The fact that so many people have now called it ‘aesthetically pleasing’ makes me feel as though I actually created a work that others could relate to. That was enough praise for me; to create something for myself that everyone else loved as well 💖

Glimbow Cuddle

This was my first real She-ra artwork. When I saw there was a Glimbow Week again I knew I had to join this one. I don’t know if anyone knows this; but, drawings take me forever to make. I used to be strictly a traditional artist and still prefer to draw rough drafts on paper. I couldn’t decide if I wanted them on Glimmer’s window seat or in Bow’s dads’ library. I was afraid of doing backgrounds; so, both sounded absolutely terrifying. I decided to go for the fireplace even if it meant fancy lighting on top of the background aspect. I think I actually spent more time on the lighting that’s hitting Bow than on anything else in this picture. It was worth it though. I studied how the show did backgrounds and lighting for a while. I tried so many different attempts at how I wanted it to look and ultimately went with this one! I love it so much 🥺

Bow’s list with doodles

Ah, yes the drawings I did for Tippen’s birthday!! I knew I wanted to draw a scene from ‘Tuna Cans’, but I was worried to try something like this. You see, I’m somebody that likes to stay in a comfort zone and only uploaded fully rendered perfect artworks. This year was the first time that I let the ‘fun’ aspect overrule my perfectionism. I’m so happy that I stepped out of my comfort zone for this, because I love Chibi styles so much. I can’t even explain the absolute joy I had drawing these. I didn’t tell anyone what I was up to, so it was just me laughing at myself for being an absolute goofball. The end result and everyone’s reactions were more than I could have ever expected. I’ve decided I’m going to revive this style soon as well so please look forwards to it!!

Space Suit Squad

Okay, so I cheated a little with this one! I couldn’t just pick ONE of the squad. Honestly though, I drew these with the thought of making them into prints in the back of my mind. I taught myself how to draw a space background and I’m really proud of it! So much in fact that the one in the final pictures is the first and last one I ended up doing! If I had to pick my favorites I think I’d have to pick Glimmer, Bow and then Catra. I LOVE the way I draw Catra I don’t know why? Maybe the eyebrows I’m not sure 🤔 It took me a while to decide on expressions and poses; although, I figured these were the ones because I could look at them and go ‘yep that’s them.’

Winter Glimbow

This one took me soooo long; I actually had to tell myself that I should put my pen down because it was done and I should stop touching it!!! I was sketching pictures in my sketchbook to make more patterns for my Redbubble account, and of course I’m like 100% Glimbow brainrot. My brain went, oooo you know what would be cute? If this skate was actually Bow’s and not just generic. So, I ended up sketching Glimmer’s as well. The heart that their skates make is like the cherry on the top for me, it had to be done! I’m not sure I did the background justice on this one? It doesn’t matter to me though because the concept was worth the effort. It was snowing here and I needed this picture like I needed air, even if it wasn’t even December at the time I posted it 🤣 I liked this one so much that I have similar ideas for the other seasons sketched out as well 👀

I’m sorry that I ramble so often. I’m like this quiet person; yet, it’s hard for me to get out everything I want to say? I’m horrible at it actually my brain runs at a hundred miles a minute and I’m not good with words most of the time. This turned out as more of a thought process than my actual feelings on each one I suppose. SO, in conclusion. I drew A LOT, I stepped out of my comfort zone, taught myself digital art and patterns. I let myself come to terms with the fact that not every piece of art has to be ‘perfect’. I drew at least 5 FULL backgrounds and I never used to draw them! I’ve also always been one for simple shading and lighting, and I do think there’s a time for that type of style, while other times sometimes a more difficult one might be appropriate. I’m glad that I did both because now I know I can do both, and they each give a characteristic that I adore 🥰 Thank you to everyone that has followed me through this journey, or just anyone who read my rambling! I have an honorable mention under the cut and some originals for anyone that made it this far! 💖

I’m not going to tag anyone; but, if you want to do this PLEASE do it. It was so great to reflect on what I did this year, it really surprised me and I think what you have done will surprise you as well! It’s been a rough year, and in the end we have been here supporting each other and that’s one of the most rewarding parts of being in a fandom! 💜

Glimmer screencap redraw

Another picture where I really tested myself on drawing a background! I love it even if it killed my hand!! The background definitely took the longest on this one too. My sister literally said ‘Wait, you did the background? I thought you just drew her?!’ And that was the only validation I needed!! I ended up thinning out Glimmer’s outline so she matched the background better. If you use the vectors on Clip please use this feature! You can do the opposite as well, it’s super useful!

Oh hi! Remember when I said I couldn’t decide between the two locations? Truth is, I also couldn’t decide if I was going to make it traditional or digital. I ended up getting really mad at the traditional version unfortunately. I haven’t gotten the hang of traditional backgrounds. In the end, I should have also done it in Copic and not cheap pencil crayons 😫

Just some space friends! There is something so rewarding about traditional art. Yes, I can see the mistakes and the proportions are most likely off; yet, it doesn’t bother me? I wanted to also show these bonus drawings because nobody is perfect and I thought some of you might like to see some of my process. Being able to hold it in my hands is something I will never tire of, in a way it’s super rewarding. I keep all my art actually and sometimes I like the rough drafts more than the finished work 👀 Outlining artwork can actually ruin the charm every so often 😔 I do really love the final versions of these though!

Annnnnd the last bonus!! As you can tell the final version stayed pretty true to my sketches! I almost went with a more realistic look and made the symbols ‘stitched’ onto the skates. In the end it felt like it didn’t fit the rest of the drawing unless I wanted to add extra details to the clothing as well. The wings on Glimmer’s skates turned into ‘Shwings’ PLEASE tell me other people know what that is? I had a pair a few years ago and misplaced them. I was doing the rough draft and it popped into brain and I treated it as a joke at first, until I gave it a proper chance XD In the end I fell in love with it!!!

[frisbeep]

It's Been A Year

A lot can happen in a year, and a certain day could mean almost nothing to one person, but the world to another. I’m Corvin, and it’s been a year since my favorite show concluded.

As some of you could tell from my first MAP part, I am a fan of Steven Universe, specifically, Steven Universe Future. But it hasn’t always been that way, I had to script this video to prevent myself from getting mushy and gushy, so let’s see how this helps haha. I used to hate Steven Universe believe it or not. There’s a video that is now mocked by a few people I follow on Tumblr, but at my first viewing of the video, I thought that Steven Universe was a terrible show, because this person said it was. I didn’t even respect the person, and yet I followed their word. I refused to watch Steven Universe until...Steven Universe the Movie was announced.

I was interested, but I kept telling myself that I wasn’t supposed to like this show, the movie, or anything. Then I totally fell in love with Spinel, whoops! I didn’t know it at the time, but when I saw Spinel’s backstory, played through the song “Drift Away” I sympathized with her, I understood why she was hurting, because, little did I know, but I would be going through some things that made Spinel, and Steven himself, very relatable, too relatable. So, I liked the movie, but, the series was over now,,,right? Well, no. Even though I still disliked Steven, once I heard about Steven Universe: Future, I became hooked on learning everything I could find about it. I started digging into the lore, reading up on the reasonings behind episodes, the trivia of every character,,,also, umm, I, uhh, *cough* Steven Universe became a special interest of mine.

When I got very into Future, it was March, and the last few episodes were announced and began airing. I was crushed, and then,,,quarientine, announced right after my 15th birthday, at first, it didn’t bug me, I’m an introvert, I hate talking to people anyways. I began watching, and rewatching, and rewatching again, theories, videos, clips, animatics, tributes, edits, ect. Pretty much non-stop.

Now, I know I said that I,,wasn’t going to get personal, but, my mental state started to really take a toll as quarientine started to drone on. My depression started to really kick my butt, and I had some upsetting thoughts during that time, but, Steven Universe was always my go-to escapism. I began drawing the characters in May, they were the first humans I genuinely tried my best on, without Steven Universe, I don’t think I would have ever drawn humans and would still be an animal only artist and animator.

Now, if any of you have seen Future, you would know that Steven,,,goes a bit berserk, his thoughts are very self-deprecating, and his troubles manifest physically by having him glow a fluorescent pink. Now, I can’t glow, or at least, I haven’t yet, but, my troubles manifested physically haha (whispers: oh god i’m not funny this is why i’m in therapyyyy) I began to see Steven and me as very similar people, scarily similar people. It’s why my persona has a semi-corrupted form (Keis) but, Keis used to be my primary persona for a bit.

It took me a long while, but, once school picked up, and I did something bad, I got a therapist, and so much in my life has changed since then, new friends, because I felt like Spinel due to being in a toxic friendgroup, I found a better partner months prior, but I felt like Connie during Together Forever when an ex-partner of mine said he wanted me to be his first and last partner, as well as a lot of other factors

Anyways, I literally scripted this, and got off topic in my script, love that. Mmm, so, Steven Universe has been a special interest, an inspiration, a joy, an escapism, and something I genuinely enjoy, even though the show has ended a year ago. Thank you Steven Universe, you’ve genuinely changed my life.

[valkyrisffvii]

Mentorship

Setting: Shinra Headquarters, Midgar

POV: 1st person (Mithra)

Summary: Angeal takes Mithra on as his second apprentice alongside Zack, and he introduces her to Genesis and Sephiroth.

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

I stood outside of the training room waiting for Zack to show up. A week had passed since I met him, and I was eager to meet his mentor, Angeal. We had been hanging out a lot as well, and he quickly became a good friend. Both of us had seemingly boundless energy and friendly personalities. We talked about our childhoods, or at least his childhood and whatever I had experienced before:

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

“So Mithra, where are you from?”

“I’m not exactly sure, but my earliest memory is waking up in the slums. I don’t know how I got there. What about you?”

“Me? I’m from Gongaga.” I couldn’t help but laugh at how funny it sounded. 

“Hey, what’s so funny? Don’t you know about Gongaga?”

“I didn’t know there were so many other places out there. The slums were the only world I knew for so long.”

“Gongaga’s pretty far from here,” Zack said. “There’s a broken reactor nearby, but it’s a pretty sweet place. You’ve gotta watch out for the frogs though. Some of them can turn you into one if you’re not careful. I know that from experience.”

“You got turned into a frog once?” I laughed.

“Several times, actually. My dad got really good at reversing the transformation,” he said, his face blushing slightly. I giggled, finally feeling that I’d found someone I could really relate to. Even though he wasn’t a former slum-dwelling thief, I had never met someone as cheerful and open-minded as him.

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

I smiled at the memory before hearing footsteps walking down the hallway. I turned my head towards them, and low and behold, there he was. Zack grinned at me as he stopped in front of me.

“Angeal’s not here yet. You wanna go in and spar?” I nodded eagerly. I had been practicing for hours every day, and my skills have been improving quite significantly. I had also spoken with the Director about scouting missions, and he told me that the three Firsts and he would test me on my skills in the coming weeks. 

Zack and I entered the training room, which was bare of any furniture. We stood opposite of each other, drawing our weapons. Aside from my standard issued Shinra short sword, I had a long bow and a quiver of arrows. If I was gonna be a scout, I might as well learn ranged combat. 

Zack made the first move, performing an overhead slash, which I shielded easily. I took advantage of his position and jabbed him in the stomach with my elbow, causing him to stagger backwards. We continued at it for a few minutes before Zack crumpled to the floor, panting heavily.

“Damnit Mithra, I still have training with Angeal! You’re wearing me out!” I smirked, my practice was definitely paying off.

Just after that, another presence entered the room. I turned my head to see a tall, muscular man. He almost looked like he was related to Zack, with black chin-length hair, a small beard, and the signature SOLDIER eyes. He was wearing a black SOLDIER uniform and holding a short sword identical to mine and Zack’s. The most noticeable thing about him, however, was the giant broadsword he had strapped to his back. He looked at Zack, smirking.

“I see the newcomer has overwhelmed you, puppy,” he chuckled. Zack rolled his eyes and picked himself up off the floor.

“Shut up, Angeal,” he retorted before turning to me. “Mithra, this is Angeal Hewley, my mentor.” Angeal held out his hand, and I shook it.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Valkyris. Zack’s told me about you, and you seem very promising in your abilities as a SOLDIER.”

“Please, just call me Mithra. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, Commander Hewley,” I said nervously, struggling to make eye contact. 

“If you don’t need formalities, then neither do I. Angeal is fine.” He let go of my hand. “You’re a former thief, aren’t you?” 

I gulped. What was he gonna think of me now? I nodded in shame; I knew that my past would haunt me forever. Luckily Angeal noticed, and he did nothing that would embarrass me further. 

“I’m glad that you’ve decided to join SOLDIER, as we are always looking for new recruits that can be sent on stealth missions.” He drew his sword just as Zack had done earlier. “Give me a few hits.” 

I struck his sword several times, but on one, he managed to push my blade away with a fair amount of force. However, I took the opportunity to roll underneath him and get behind him, remaining directly behind him so he couldn’t swing at me. Taking care not to get cut on his giant sword, I swung the sword in front of his neck, landing it inches away from his skin. His eyes widened, thoroughly impressed with my performance. 

I lowered my sword, and he turned around. I bowed respectfully, hoping that I didn’t do anything wrong. He cleared his throat, and I looked up at him.

“That was very impressive. You excel at being unpredictable and disarming your opponent. I’m sure the Director will be pleased to know this. I also see that you are an archer as well.” He gestured to my bow.

“I’m learning, but yes, I also like to use some ranged weapons.” I replied. Angeal hummed to himself in satisfaction.

“Good. Adaptability is essential in the military.” He turned to Zack. “I’m gonna go and talk to Lazard about assigning scout missions to Mithra. We shouldn’t take long, and then I’ll train you afterwards.”

“I can’t complain about a training delay,” Zack said before doing squats. Angeal motioned for the two of us to follow him, and he led us out of the training room and to Director Lazard’s office. Zack smiled at me encouragingly the whole way.

We reached the Director’s office, and I instantly spotted two SOLDIERs standing in front of the desk, their backs facing us. One of them had rusty red hair and a reddish coat on, and the other had silver hair that went past their waist and a black leather coat. I was instantly drawn to the silver-haired one; wasn’t I the only female SOLDIER? Whoever they were, they looked absolutely beautiful, and I could not take my eyes off of them. Angeal cleared his throat.

“Director Lazard, I’d like to talk to you about Mithra Valkyris.” The two SOLDIERs turned around, and to my embarrassment, I saw that the silver-haired figure was a man. I did my best to hide the flush that came over my face. I thought he was a woman, a very tall one at that, and a very attractive one. Zack noticed my nervousness and squeezed my hand in support.

“Angeal, did you really have to interrupt us?” The auburn man asked in annoyance. “We were talking about something important. Couldn’t you have waited a few minutes?” Angeal rolled his eyes.

“My bad, Genesis.” Lazard turned his attention towards the black-haired First, and he glanced at me as well.

“Has she gotten a chance to demonstrate her skills to you, Commander Hewley?”

“Yes, and she’s very promising. She managed to sneak under me after I blocked her, and if she wanted to she could’ve cut my throat.” Genesis scoffed.

“Not as aware as you think you are, huh Angeal?” He laughed at himself, and Angeal rolled his eyes again. I wondered if he got headaches from doing that so much. 

“Very good,” said Lazard. “Are you recommending her for scout?”

“Yes,” replied Angeal, confidently, “she’ll do well on stealth missions.” Lazard smiled.

“Well then, Mithra, congratulations. You now have the title of Agent. I trust that you’ll do well in your upcoming missions.” He turned to his computer to type out his latest report. Angeal turned around to leave the Director’s office, and Zack and I followed him. Genesis and the silver-haired SOLDIER caught up with us.

“Angeal, how could you not introduce us to your second pupil?” Genesis asked, looking at me. I held out my hand.

“I’m Mithra Valkyris,” I said. Genesis smiled at my initiative, taking my hand and kissing the top of it.

“I’ve heard about you, Mithra Valkyris. The first female SOLDIER. Commander Genesis Rhapsodos, at your service.” I smiled at his charisma. Genesis let go of my hand before staring at the third SOLDIER. 

“Sephiroth, be a gentleman and greet the lady!” I looked at him and tried my hardest not to blush. I had crushed on him earlier because I thought he was a woman!

“I’m Sephiroth, General of SOLDIER,” he said quickly, shaking my hand. His eyes drilled into me as if he was searching for my true emotions. I felt intimidated by him, maybe because his pupils looked weird.

“I’m Mithra,” I squeaked. I could see the faintest hint of a smile form on Sephiroth’s lips.

“I’m sure we’ll become well-acquainted if you’ll be training under Angeal,” Sephiroth said calmly. 

“I don’t know how you’ll be able to train two rambunctious Thirds, Angeal,” Genesis snorted. “The puppy already stresses you out enough.”

“I’ll try not to be too much trouble for him,” I retorted. “Unless you would like to mentor me, Genesis.” Genesis held his hands up. 

“I have a tendency to set things on fire, so maybe I could help you with magic,” he replied. I laughed in response.

“And I don’t think you’d be able to keep up with me,” Sephiroth added. Genesis scoffed.

“Yes, no one can beat Shinra’s poster boy.” He rolled his eyes, and I snickered.

“Anyways, I’m gonna go to the simulator room and do some stealth practice. I can’t get rusty if Lazard expects me to do scouting missions.” I turned to head towards the simulation room when I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked over to see Genesis.

“Let us accompany you. We haven’t gotten to see what you can do, and Lazard did say that we’d get to see it as well.” I smiled and nodded, and Genesis and Sephiroth followed me to my destination. Time to prove myself worthy of making Second Class.

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #342

“in this farewell, there’s no blood, there’s no alibi  /  ‘cuz i’ve drawn regret from the truth of a thousand lies”

What’s your all-time favourite cartoon? Does anime count? In which case I'd say Fullmetal Alchemist, or the original Pokemon. If we're not including anime, then uhhhh Avatar: The Last Airbender, even though I have much more to go in the series. Have you ever taken dance lessons? What kind? Yeah, I've done a few for many years: jazz, clogging, modern, and hip hop. When did you last run and why? I literally couldn't tell you. I don't even know if I can run with the current state of my legs. My knees would probably crumple. Does your house/flat/whatever the hell you live in need cleaning? Not necessarily cleaning, but sorting. I still have boxes outside and inside my room of my stuff I need to put up somewhere... but whenever I prepare to do it, I just get so overwhelmed and shy away from it. Then there's the spare room, that's a total mess loaded with boxes and the like. Mom and I have just avoided it like the plague. Was your last relationship with a man or a woman? Woman. What do you think your next achievement will be? HOPEFULLY getting a job... Do you like mushrooms? NOOOOOOO. What dream do you remember most vividly? I'm not talking about it. Favorite kind of bread? Pumpernickel. Rabbits or hamsters? Rabbits. I've never met a nice hamster, and I just think rabbits are cuter. A movie you’ve never seen that it seems like every one else has? Harry Potter films. Favorite dog breed? I'm biased towards beagles. When was the last time you climbed a tree? Never, actually. Where I live, there aren't really many weighty trees with low branches. Just pine trees. Most common lie you tell? That I'm "fine" when I'm not. Ever seen your parents make out? Jc no, I'll take a hard pass there. Do you put your hair up a lot or down? It's too short to put up. Most of the time do you straighten or curl your hair? Neither. What piercing do you hate? I'm not a fan of cheek dermals at all, but you do you 100%. Were you raised in a religious house? Yes; I was raised Roman Catholic. Do your parents get mad when you're on the computer for hours? Mom used to for many years until I became an adult and she just realized it was in vain. I haven't lived with Dad since I was a teenager, but when my parents were together, he usually didn't say anything. Have you ever been asked for a nude picture? No, thankfully. I'd stop talking to the person immediately. What would you do if your parent hit you? I honestly feel like I'd slap them back and get the fuck out. Or just freeze in shock and cry. What's your most common mood? Stressed but distracted. Do you like poems? Yeah, usually. Ever kissed someone half-naked? Uh yeah. Have you ever been in a parade? No. Do you still play Pokémon? I play Pokemon GO, and I've actually been tempted to get out my DS and play one of the games I have (I can't remember which). I do find Pokemon games to be VERY grind-ey, though, so I can't play them for too long without getting bored. What is your favorite Pokémon? Ninetales. I also really love Espeon, though, and Charmander will always have my heart. Is there an animal you like that most people don't? Bats! :') Is there an animal that you think is overrated in terms of how it's liked? No animal is overrated. Have you ever "quit" a site and came back to it more than once? Uhhhh I don't think so. Do you have an "odd" fascination with anything? Most would probably consider "vulture culture" to be pretty weird, being drawn to dead animals and all... What's the hardest thing you've been through, & what did you learn from it? The breakup with Jason. I learned that some people make promises they aren't afraid to break, that someone can promise "forever" and not mean it, that the most unexpected can just snap their fingers and forget about you... I learned a lot. And most things, not positive. What are three "unrealistic" things you want most? 1.) To be able to financially support myself by just freelance nature photography; 2.) sooo many different kinds of pets; and 3.) to be totally rid of my mental illnesses. Do you take any daily vitamins? No, but I would if I was the one who bought groceries and stuff. I do however take Vitamin D once a week for my legs. Who are three of your favorite fictional characters of all time? JUST THREE??????? FUCK MAN idk. Uhhh well there's of course Darkiplier and Wilford Warfstache, then uhhh probably Pyramid Head. If you had to give the world a pre-existing mythological/fictional being, what would it be? Idk, I'd really need to be more educated on their lore before I made that decision. Do you have any desire to learn (a) foreign language(s)? Which? I both do and don't want to resume learning German. I got very good at it and could have basic conversations, but lack of application has slaughtered my vocabulary. Now it's like, it'd be nice to try again, but for what purpose? I don't think I'll ever actually apply it to my life, so it just seems like it'd be a load of wasted effort. But then on the other hand, I also feel that doing something you simply want to do isn't a waste of time. Idk. What is one of your firmest beliefs? Equality for all. No race, religion, whatthefuckever makes you more or less valuable than someone else. Do you have anything that keeps you from doing something you'd truly enjoy? Oh yes. Depression and anxiety, mostly. Do you work to fix your faults? Or at least, admit to them? I definitely try, and I'll certainly admit to them. How do you hope the world will change, if at all? I just want more compassion, less violence, more understanding... What is/are your view(s) on god, religion, spirituality, or relations to? In short, I believe that something sentient created the universe, and it/they/he/she/what-have-you just... let life play out from there, I think. I like to believe there's a plane of consciousness like an afterlife that exists, but if not, I don't really care. I hope the evil get what was coming to them, and the good get back what they gave, but maybe we're all better off without life after death. We'll all find out one day. Are you arachnophobic or scared of spiders in the least? Some, yes; others, not so much. This is very situational. Do you play WoW? What do you think of it either way? Haha, you're asking an avid player. I enjoy it, but not as much as I used to. At one point I was a Heroic raider, sometimes dabbling in Mythic, but now I'm just mostly a casual mount collector that likes chatting with my guildies and just doing dailies 'n shit. I owe a lot to the game, honestly; it helped me stay occupied throughout the breakup, and still today gives me something to do. What kind of computer do you have? Windows 7/Vista/XP/Other? I have an Acer Nitro with Windows 10. Are you taking any interesting classes in school/do you not attend? I'm no longer in school. If you don't attend, are you taking any "lessons" for anything? No, but I would like to join a photography course somewhere. A book/piece that has had an exceptional impact on your life? Johnny Got His Gun by Dalton Trumbo just made me hate war more than I innately did. What genres of music are your favorite? Just metal as an umbrella term. Some heavy stuff, some less, some in the middle, some leaning towards other genres... but I just like metal. Do you think that fate plays a part in people's lives? No. Wouldn't "fate" just make it all... worthless? Like we're just storybook characters with a predetermined ending? What are your opinions on the media? One word: manipulative. What's a piece of technology you'd like to own? I REALLY want a PS4, especially lately. There's just a lot of games I REALLY want to play. Are you afraid of technology developing to where we're too reliant on it? We're already *too* reliant on it, which I do believe is a bad thing. I know, absolutely hysterical for me to be talking. What's your favorite odd ice cream flavor? I don't think I've ever had a truly odd ice cream flavor. There's this local place though that makes a kind that tastes JUST like s'mores, and I can fucking murder a cup of that. What's your opinion on stereotypes/labels? They're limiting and devalue uniqueness, imo. I know very, very few people who totally fit a certain stereotype, so why even bother. Like I don't care if you use them as adjectives to some extent, just don't put too much weight on them. Just be you. Do you believe that history repeats itself? It's not necessarily doomed to, but it happens sometimes, obviously. Would you rather learn from your mistakes or just undo them? Depends on the mistake. What was the most interesting class you had in school? Probably Mythology in high school. Do you write? If so, what? Yeah, meerkat role-play. And every now and again, poetry. Do you have a favorite culture? No; I'm not educated on nearly enough to pick one. Do you believe in global warming? Have you researched it? Lol no shit I do. I don't exactly think it takes much research to see with your own two eyes that it's factual. Do you prefer piercings or tattoos? Tattoos, if I had to pick. What comedy movie is your favorite? White Chicks. Have you ever meditated? Yes. Doesn't work for me. What comes to mind when you think of a great moment in your life? Realizing it was my choice to liberate myself and my happiness from my ex. He didn't and never should've carried it, because that's my right. What do you like about springtime? Aaaaall the flowers. <3 How have you handled having to stay in? It's not really different from my average day, so... How would your friends describe you? Quiet and overthinks literally everything. Have you ever hallucinated? When I was coming off a certain med in middle school, I saw black moving shadows. What (or who) is the best thing that ever happened to you? The partial hospitalization program I attended for two months following my suicide attempt. It's where I met my psychiatrist, who set my medication straight. Medicine besides though, I learned so many coping techniques and just how to deconstruct my trauma. As well as possible, anyway. What is the worst decision you ever made? Handing over the ability to make happiness for myself to another person. What is your favorite arcade game? Don't have one. Do you feel neglected? No. What school subject(s) are/were your best? English, Arts, Science. Are you allergic to pollen? Yep. What style of wedding dress do you like best? Probably ballgown. Are you over your first love? I probably never will be in complete totality. Do you always answer your phone? No. I only ever do if I recognize the number. Who was the last person you know to have a birthday? Today is actually my sister's birthday. What song is currently stuck in your head? I have Halocene's cover of "What I've Done" on a loop right now. It has me absolutely covered in goosebumps. Do you ever use coloring books? Not really anymore. Do you personally know anyone who is an author? Not to my knowledge, no. What’s your favorite kind of salsa/dip to go with tortilla chips? Just your normal, mildly hot salsa. Do you wash your car by hand or drive through a car wash? Mom's car hasn't been washed in... well, years, given its bumper. Mom worries that in a car wash, it'll be broken off (it is literally held on with a lot of zip ties and duct tape), and we ourselves don't want to wash it, so... Do you have any uncommon kitchen appliances, such as espresso machines, waffle irons, etc? I know we have one or two, but idk what they're called. What did your parents major/minor in in college, if they went? Dad never went to college. Mom changed her major a few times, but her latest was social work, I believe. Has either of their careers influenced what career you chose or want to pursue? Not at all. What kind of natural disaster is most common where you live? Hurricanes. Why is your least favorite season your least favorite? Because it's hot as fuck and humid. Have you ever had an animal get into your attic? No. When was the last time you started a “new chapter” of your life? I don't know. Hopefully I'll start one soon when I leave PHP and pursue a job... What room in your home do you spend the least amount of time in? I'm always in my room. Do you do anything to reduce the amount of electricity you use? I feel awful admitting I do quite the opposite... Being in the dark during the day affects my depression, so I'll have my lamp (or both) on even if it's just sort of shaded inside. Are you usually open to trying a new food that you aren’t familiar with? Eh, it depends on the food. I'm not very adventurous with foods though. Do you listen to Panic! At The Disco? I do. Have you ever had a kinky dream about a celebrity? ... It wasn't "kinky," but it was a dream lmao. Has anyone ever told you that they loved you, and you couldn’t say it back? That's how I ended the whole Joel childishness. Which friend do you confide in most? My mom. Do you wear a cross? No. What is your favorite doughnut? That's so hard. :( Krispy Kreme's normal glazed though probably takes the cake. I also love chocolate frosted and just totally plain, though. Do you have a hot tub? If so, where is it located? No. Did you read the Twilight series, or jump on the bandwagon after the movie? Neither. Do you or your parents rake your yard? Dad did growing up. Now nobody does or needs to. Who did you last go to the movies with? Dad, I think? What color was the last vehicle you were in? White. Do you have any family members in the military right now? No. Is there a ceiling fan in the room you’re in? Yeah. Have you ever heard voices? No. If you’re not straight, who was the first person you came out to? Sara. Do you remember the first time your first crush ever said hi to you? No. Do you ever go places with wet hair? Yeah, idc. Who is your favorite little girl? My nieces. What do you want the most in life? To feel like I made a difference, even a tiny one. If you could have anyone’s singing voice, whose would you choose? OBVIOUSLY Amy Lee's. What’s the most expensive thing you’ve bought that turned out to be a waste of money? *shrug* What’s something you’ve bought that turned out to be way more useful than you anticipated? Hm. Have you ever been on a ship? No. Would you ever date a disabled person? (Be honest) Yes. Would you rather adopt or have your own child? IF I wanted kids, which I absolutely do not, I'd rather have my own. I know I'd feel a deeper connection. What would you class as cheating on someone? As soon as you do/say something you don't want your s/o to know about, you're cheating. As far as earrings go, would you rather wear hoops or studs? Studs. Do you recycle? Yes. If someone dislikes you, what is most likely to be the reason? People have thought I don't try hard enough before. Do you put a line through your "7"s? Yes. ^ What about your "Z"s? Yes. What are you most known for? My art "skill," at least irl. How do you feel about shameless self-promoting? Depends on when, where, and how. As someone who's trying to be a freelance photographer, I get that it's sadly necessary, but there are some places it's just uncalled for.

[spidercakes]

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

Warnings: Peter is underaged (17), mentions of abusive relationships/ abuse, feminization (Peter).

*

Peter looks at his phone because Quentin won’t stop textinghim and this is getting annoying. Its been like four months, he didn’t think he’d have to tell him to take a damn hint given that his lack of response to anything Quent has done in that time frame should be clear enough. Of course its not, why would that be enough for Quent to fuck off? He’s never been good at taking a hint. Liz looks worried and he’s pretty sure Ned has drawn up actual murder plans not that he’d ever follow through and Peter’s mostly just annoyed with this.

“Maybe you should like… talk to someone about that,” Liz says and Peter shakes his head.

“Cops can’t actually do anything unless he hurts me so what’s the point?” Its not like he hasn’t looked it up and he doesn’t really have much faith in police anyway, they kind of suck at any kind of omega relations. And also relations with most other groups but that’s a whole other thing.

Liz goes to open her mouth to speak but MJ cuts her off. “He’s right, best he can get is a retraining order and you think Quentin’s going to listen to a piece of paper? Probably not,” she says.

“Well I don’t think he should do nothing, he keeps following Peter around like a lost dog,” she says.

“He stopped following me home after May yelled at him so there’s that,” Peter says hopefully. MJ looks vaguely disgusted and Liz doesn’t look less worried.

“Maybe May should yell at the school to do something too,” Ned says. “I miss having normal Quentin free lunch breaks.”

Peter frowns, “you haven’t had Quentin free lunch breaks since like, last year.” When they started dating, really. And at first it was nice that Quent wanted to spend time with him, but then it got annoying because Quent wouldn’t leave him alone about where he was every god damn hour of the day he wasn’twith him. That’d been weird with Tony, who really only seems to ask if he wants to know more about Peter’s day. Which he actually asks about because he isn’t a jackass.

“Yeah, exactly. He’s like a barnacle and it’s the worst,” Ned says.

Peter’s phone buzzes again and he gives it an annoyed huff. “I swear to godif that’s Quent,” he mumbles, picking it up and finding a text from Tony. Predictably like seven more come in right after each other because he had a bad habit of not sticking what he wants to say in one message. He claims it ruins the dramatic effect.

Lol saw your ex

Told him he looked like compliments Jake Gyllenhaal

He was PISSED

Tried to claim you were cheating on me

Which is ridiculous

But also his proof was worse lmao

I was literally with you the day he chose

And also the picture he tried to pass off as evidence was old

Does he think I’m stupid?

No, he doesn’t think Tony is stupid he thinks everyone else is as much of a reactive dickhead as him. Still though, Peter’s stomach squeezes because he knowshe kind of cheated on Quent a little bit. A couple of pictures isn’t much but its still something so he figures he’s given Tony a reason to be suspicious.

I’m not cheating on youhe sends back, hoping that Tony believes him because he’s not, he wouldn’t. Tony is… well, soft, compassionate, smart, funny, and Peter likes the way he feels when he’s with Tony. Like he’s the most special person on the planet. Tony always gives him these looks, and he’s always giving him these small touches like he can’t stand to be away for too long, and he always compliments Peter’s outfits. And he knows Tony keeps his pictures too and not just because he thinks they’re sexy, he actually pays attention to the composition and Peter likesthat Tony actually cares about things that are important to him. Ned tells him that’s normal stuff and MJ told him that he should have higher standards than that. They’re not wrongbut Peter hasn’t had anything like that before so its nice, compared to Quent.

His phone buzzes and thankfully its Tony again.

Lol yeah I know

You wouldn’t do that

Also Rhodey has banned me from sexiling him again

So I guess we need to follow his schedule

I don’t like when he whines and cries

Its annoying

And a little sad

Peter snorts, shaking his head. On one hand he feels bad for accidentally forcing Rhodey out of his shared space with Tony but on the other hand he honestly can’t believe Tony has such a hard time remembering Rhodey’s schedule. For a genius he’s got the memory of a sieve.

“If we just throat punched Quentin this wouldn’t be a problem,” MJ says, drawing him back into the conversation with his friends.

“We’re not throat punching Quentin, MJ, we’ll go to jail,” Peter says.

Liz snorts, “not, we’llgo to jail. You’ll be a cute little white omega waif the judge lets off with a slap on the wrist and I don’t think throat punching Quentin will solve anything but it would make us all feel better. Take one for the team, Parker,” she tells him and he can’t believe Lizsaid that. It’s the kind of thing he expects out of MJ for sure but Liz is the normal one, the voice of reason, the one who points out when they’re all acting like fools. And Quentin has pissed heroff enough to want him to get punched in the throat.

“You gunna punch him or not?” MJ asks.

“Can I film it?” Ned adds, leaning forward in interest.

“We’re not throat punching Quent guys, he’ll get bored and move on,” Peter tells them. “Hopefully anyway because now apparently he’s trying to convince Tony I’m cheating on him,” he mumbles, sulking.

Liz looks like someone has just slapped a puppy, Ned rolls his eyes so hard it’s a wonder they don’t roll out of his head and out the door, and MJ looks more annoyed. “Throat. Punch,” she says with emphasis.

*

Tony doesn’t really gethow he got so lucky considering Peter came out of literally nowhere but he’s also not complaining when he’s got Peter in his arms kissing him like that. Godhis ex is such an idiot and not just because of all the sketchy shit he does either, he’s stupid for giving Peter up let alone all his other kind of fucked up behaviors. Peter pulls away and Tony pulls him back, giving him a soft kiss before letting him pull away again. Peter’s cheeks are a little red and he’s grinning wide, “godI missed you,” he murmurs.

He tightens his arms around Tony’s neck as he pulls Peter closer. He’s got one hand settled on the back of Peter’s thigh toying with the garter belt he finds there and the other on Peter’s ass because fuck being appropriate. “Missed you too,” he murmurs, leaning back in and kissing him again.

“Yeah, as adorable as you two are can you not look so ridiculously lewd on fancy cars?” someone asks and Tony pulls away to find MJ standing there looking as unimpressed as usual.

He grins, “you’re just mad its not yourcar,” he says because he knows she has a thing for fancy sports cars. She denies it but she knows too much about them to have a passing interest.

“Uh huh. Mind giving me a ride home, I missed the bus because Liz is a hoe and I had to win that bet,” she says.

“Sure. We can try and convince Peter there’s value to movies that aren’t animated,” he says and she tries her best, she does, but she can’t help the loud snort she lets out.

“Oh that is a losing battle but you bet your ass I’m going to try anyway. What’s first on your list?” she asks.

“Don’t judge me, but V for Vendetta but not the way fuckboys think its good,” he says, trying and he thinks mostly succeeding in abating her fears about him being one of those jackasses who apparently missed the point of the movie.

She nods, “not a bad choice. I was thinking Sorry To Bother You,” she says.

Tony wrinkles his nose, “aw come on, give him something normal before you jump in with capitalism criticizing sci-fi flicks, we gotta ease him into it, not scare him back to Snow fucking White.” Not that he doesn’t appreciate a good Disney film but damn, thatone? He’d been happy when Ned and Liz started ripping on Peter about it first so he didn’t feel bad in affirming that his friends have better taste than he does.

“I watch live action guys, I like Star Wars and like, a couple other things,” Peter says in his defense.

MJ shakes her head, “sometimes I think he’s got more beauty than brains,” she says.

“Oh, he’s definitely got brains but he selectively uses them,” Tony says. Something in that must appease her because she nods to herself before pulling her backpack off her shoulder.

“So, can I drive?” she asks and Tony snorts.

“Absolutely not.” It’s athingwith him and Peter knows its because his parents died in a car accident but its not exactly something he advertises.

MJ looks disappointed, “and here I was, ready to approve of you,” she says and he thinksshe’s joking so he looks at Peter. He looks amused so she must be but that’s not what really catches his attention.

“You painted your nails,” he says, looking at the dark red nail polish Peter had chosen. Not his favorite shade of red but it does look nice against Peter’s pale skin.

He looks down at them and then to Tony before he grins and Tony already regrets mentioning it because Peter has a habit of being a total tease, not that Tony would ever call him that. Turns out that’s yet another thing his shitty ex did, except Tony doesn’t actually mind the teasing, he just pretends to be put out about it.

*

Peter has discovered that Tony has a thingfor Peter in his lap in any capacity but he seemed to take a special kind of delight in the way Peter straddles him now, body weight pinning him down as he kisses Tony feverishly. Its not just that he’s had a shit day, and its not just that May won’t be home for another two hours, its also that Tony responds so damn well and Peter likesfeeling wanted. He feels like its been forever and Tony is never short on any kind of praise so Peter soaks it up as he presses Tony into his mattress.

“So pretty,” Tony murmurs into his mouth, “gorgeous.” Peter smiles as he noses at Tony’s jawline, not pushing his limits but Tony tilts his head to the side a little so he considers it. The last time he tried anything like this it was with Quent, who hadn’t taken at allkindly to Peter trying to scent him. Didn’t seem to stop him from expecting Peterto be fine with being scented, but he doesn’t really want to repeat the scene. But Tony isn’t Quent either, and hedidtilt his head a little, almost like a silent invitation and Peter has always wanted to do this. Well, maybe not alwaysbut since he figured out what scenting wasanyway. Even if apparently omegas aren’t supposed to be interested in that type of thing. Which he thinks is total bullshit but whatever.

After a few moments of deliberation he noses the space just under Tony’s jaw, testing his limits. Tony tilts his head further to the side as his breath hitches up and Peter lets out a soft moan at Tony’s pliability. This time he doesn’t hesitate as he kisses his way down Tony’s neck, gasping a little when Tony moans loudly, arching into Peter as he slips a hand up his skirt, grabbing his ass tightly. “You like this?” Peter murmurs, nipping at Tony’s neck and he shivers at that too. It gives Peter a little thrill, the almost role reversal in the action, and he finds that he likes it, likes Tony under him with his neck bared panting as Peter scents him.

“Yes,” Tony tells him, near whining when Peter pulls away some. “Peter,” he says, dark eyes almost pleading and Peter grins, shifting on Tony’s lap just a little so he can watch the way his head tilts back a little as his mouth falls open. “Peter,” he says again, with more meaning this time.

“Yeah?” Peter asks, lips barely brushing over Tony’s. Tony tries to press into it but Peter is already gone. He lets out a soft sigh of disappointment at the loss and pouts. Tony looks adorable when he pouts.

“Kiss me,” Tony tells him, unafraid to ask for what he wants.

Peter sits back in his lap, hands on Tony’s chest and he likes the way that looks, his pale hands against Tony’s dark shirt with the dark red of his nails to break it up a little. It’s a pretty picture. The hand Tony has on his ass squeezes a little as the other comes to settle on his thigh. “Baby,” Tony murmurs, going back to pouting. He trails his fingers up Tony’s arm, covering the hand he’s got on Peter’s thigh with his own.

“You want me to kiss you?” he murmurs, weaving their fingers together.

Tony nods, “yeah baby, I want you to kiss me,” he says softly. “Scent me, tell me I’m yours,” he adds and Peter bites his lip hard to hold in his moan.

He leans forward again, taking Tony’s hand with him and pinning it over his head. Tony lets out a sharp gasp as his hips tilt up a little so Peter figures he can safely assume Tony likes that. He looks down at Tony for a moment, leaning in close before pulling away at the last second as inspiration strikes. He presses forward, putting more of his weight into pinning Tony’s wrist. “You want all that, hmm?” Peter murmurs and Tony nods. “Then beg for it,” Peter tells him, almost willing to ignore his own request because Tony looks so damn hot like this, spread out under him with Peter pinning him down.

“Please baby, want you to kiss me you’re so god damn stunning. Want you all over me, please,” Tony says, arching into him again and Peter kisses him hard, moaning into it becausewowthat’s hot and he didn’t expect the sharp flush of arousal at that and he wants to fuck Tony nowbut he thinks he might be able to get a little more fun out of him first, even if the rest of him is ready to go.

He pulls away again and Tony straight up whines. Peter bites his lip again because its hot, watching Tony whine for him, wanting him thatbad. He’s about to open his mouth when the door to his room bursts open and he jumps. Underneath him Tony does too, clearly as surprised as he is but he doesn’t quite think anyone is as surprised as May.

“Get your hand out of my nephew’s skirt!” she tells Tony, who promptly pulls his hand away in horror. She turns to face him and Peter is sure he’s a shade of red no human was meant to be. “Peter, what the fuck?”