#hopefully I can find a way to link the three together <3

[versadies]

EPILOGUE || FOREVERMORE

SYNOPSIS (of chapter). in which it's been three months since your trip to mondstadt.

SYNOPSIS (of series). breaking up with your first love was heartbreaking, but not as heartbreaking as getting invited to his wedding after years of not seeing him. that is, until things seem to be easier when you encounter a certain guest, who could end up becoming more than just a blooming friend to you (or not).

CHARACTERS. diluc ragnvindr, kamisato ayato, and thoma (w/ gn!reader)

CONTENT. fluff/slight-angst, grammar errors (?), cheesy scenes, second-hand embarrassment (?), possible errors in general.

WORD COUNT. 3.5k words

LINKS. EVERMORE MASTERLIST \ MAIN MASTERLIST \ EVERMORE SURVEY

POST-SCRIPT. the end is finally here!! hopefully the ending is satisfying and fulfilling, i've done all i can to make sure it brings the entire series together and give reader the happiness they deserve. if you wish to know fun facts about the series, stay until the end!!

PREVIOUS

3 MONTHS LATER AFTER THE WEDDING.

DECEMBER 11, 2022

It’s been a while since you’ve last visited Mondstadt. 

You find yourself sitting on a bar stool with your drink in hand, wearing a formal outfit suited for an occasion that can happen to someone for once-in-a-lifetime: a wedding. 

True to both you and Diluc’s words, you kept in touch with one another as you two remained friends after your departure from Mondstadt. Though you’re both busy from your work schedules, the two of you make the most of your conversations through sending pictures of food, places, and even your friends – your particular favorite being a picture of his pet bird, Vanessa – in your messages. 

It’s safe to say things are well, and you’re more than happy with the couple’s wedding despite your heartbreak before. 

You mindlessly look around the reception venue with a smile on your face, paying no mind to the conversations between loud guests who are either talking about 1) the newly wedded couple, or 2) the recent buzz of the continent regarding a certain corrupted CEO.

Two months after the wedding of Ayato and Chisato, Shinsuke was suddenly arrested thanks to the newly-wedded couple, who exposed him with numerous charges that shocked the entire public and media.

“Did you hear? Hiiragi Shinsuke has been arrested for his crimes!”

“I know! It’s shocking to hear that it took him this long to be behind bars, and to think that it’s all thanks to his daughter and her husband...” 

“Didn’t they work with that young detective that’s been the buzz of Inazuma’s police force? What’s that detective’s name again?”

“I believe it’s Shikanoin. Apparently he’s been investigating Hiiragi for a long time now!” 

You muted out people’s chattering about Shinsuke, taking a sip of your drink. You’re honestly just glad that he’s finally behind bars now, and you won’t have to worry about him for a long, long tim–

“( Name )! How are you?” You flinch when you hear a particular voice that you haven’t heard for a few months now. When you turn around, you spot Venti coming towards you happily with a skip of his steps.

“Venti!” You greeted him happily, putting your glass down before standing up to come towards him, spreading your arms for a friendly hug. “I’ve been well, thank you. How about you? It’s been a while!” 

Venti giggles, wrapping his arms around you for a warm friendly hug. “I’m doing well, especially with free drinks and free food around!” He cheers. His flushed cheeks and drowsy look is enough for you to know that he’s as drunk as can be. Classic Venti…

“I can tell.” You respond with a laugh, before helping him sit on one of the bar stools that’s next to yours on the left. “You should take a break from all that drinking, your hangover will be the death of you tomorrow.” 

“You’re right.. I should be ready for later..!” Venti hiccups. “How’s Zhongli, by the way? Did he go with you as your plus one again?” 

You shake your head in response. “He’s okay, but no, he’s not with me for this trip.” You replied. “I didn’t bring anyone with me since it wasn’t mentioned in the wedding card.”

“Well then, I guess you’re stuck with me!” He giggles, before ordering the bartender another glass once again, much to both your dismay and the bartender’s. 

As Venti indulges himself with the free drinks while sharing interesting things about Mondstadt, you couldn’t help but glance at the direction of where Diluc and Jean are, who are both chatting quietly to one another as they eat their meals at their table.

It didn’t take long before Diluc felt your stare, and noticed your presence. 

You couldn’t help but smile at him with a wave, to which he responds with an acknowledged nod, slightly smiling towards you before his attention is taken by another guest who came to congratulate the newly-wedded couple.

Your attention is eventually taken as well by another person, who suddenly seated himself right next to you on your right. 

“Thoma!” You gasp in surprise, not expecting to see the blonde-haired man.

Thoma flashes you a smile as he chuckles. “Hello to you too as well, ( Name ). Guess you didn’t expect me to be here, huh?” 

“Of course not, you gave me a heart attack! I didn’t know you were invited!” You exclaim with a smile. You couldn’t help but take note of how neat he looks, wearing a tuxedo with his hair fixed instead of his usual messy hairdo that you’ve grown used to. 

“I didn’t think I’d be invited either until Ayato persuaded me to come to the wedding on his behalf. I’m sure you know how busy Inazuma has been since the… arrest.” He explains, scratching the back of his head with a cheeky grin. 

You nod in understanding, your smile becoming a little strained at the mention of the arrest of Shinsuke. “I’m very aware. Almost everyone’s talking about it here, surprisingly.” 

The blonde man takes note of your strained smile, and he decides to quickly change topics in a jiffy. “How’s your trip here? Did you bring anyone with you?” He asks curiously. 

You lean on the bar counter, though your drink (as well as Venti, who’s still busy with his drinks) is left forgotten. “My trip’s been amazing. I didn’t bring anyone with me though. How about you?” 

Thoma shrugs. “I didn’t bring anyone either. Though if I could, I would’ve brought Taroumaru.” 

“Aw, I miss Taroumaru!” You cooed. You immediately thought about Inazuma once again, becoming more homesick than you thought you’d be. “How’s the little guy? I heard he’s been the talk of the town. He’s getting really famous on the Internet, isn’t he?” 

Thoma chuckles in response, his cheeks turning slightly red. “Yeah.. I honestly didn’t think he’d get famous. There was an idol who came to visit the café and took a picture of him, which was how he got everyone’s love.” 

You nodded slowly, still smiling. “So I suppose business is booming then? I’m sure a lot of people must be wanting to meet Taroumaru.” 

“Oh if only you see how busy it’s been. If it weren’t for the staff my mom and I hired, I wouldn’t be able to come to the wedding in the first place!” He comments.

As you continue to listen to Thoma talking about people in Inazuma, you couldn’t help but miss Inazuma even more. You honestly couldn’t wait to come back. 

“How about you? How’s Liyue been lately after your trip?” Your friend suddenly asks, causing you to wake up from your thoughts. 

You cleared your throat. “Oh, same as always. Though,” You straighten your posture, clearing your throat, “I’ve thought about coming back to Inazuma after what happened.” 

Thoma was taken back by surprise from your words, his eyes brightened. “R-Really?” 

You hummed, your smile growing from his excitement. “Really.” 

The man before you didn’t know what to say, stunned from such good news. “This..." He couldn’t help but let out a laugh, obviously ecstatic from the news as his eyes brightens instantly. "This is amazing news! You have to let me know when your flight is then. I can pick you up from the airport and we can go wherever you want and–”

“Woah, woah, slow down!” You couldn’t help but laugh as well, finding his excitement infectious and amusing. “I haven’t even booked anything yet, let alone ask for a transfer in my job.”  

“O-Oh!” His cheeks turn red instantly in embarrassment. “R-Right.. My bad, I-I was getting too excited.” He stammers, clearing his throat as he fixes his suit tie. “When do you think you’ll come back?” 

You shrug in response. “I’m thinking of.. Maybe after New Year’s Day. It’ll take a while since well.. It’s hard to move to another country, you know?”

He nodded quickly. “Ah yes, of course. I totally understand! You should take your time.” He says in agreement. “Just… Let me know when you’re coming back. I missed you, you know?” 

You couldn’t help but feel your cheeks warming up from his words. Thoma was never the type to confess something so affectionate, but perhaps the drinks are getting the best of both of you…

The blonde man was quick to realize what he said though, as he instantly stiffens and starts stumbling on his words. “I-I mean, I-I’m not the only one who misses you– since everyone misses you, i-including me..!” 

“Y-Yeah, I get it. E-Especially since it’s been a long time since I’ve left Inazuma.” You stumbled as well, your cheeks warming even more from the awkward situation that the both of you brought yourself into. “I-If anything, I missed you guys too..!” 

Yeah, the drinks are definitely getting the best of both of you. 

The two of you couldn’t help but laugh once again from the embarrassment, causing the tense and awkward atmosphere to dissipate. 

“Well that was awkward.” He commented, smiling from ear-to-ear.

“No doubt.” You responded, still laughing as you held your stomach. 

As the both of you try to catch your breaths after laughing, Thoma decides to get himself a drink as well as another one for you. “Let’s drink to celebrate your upcoming return then. On me, of course.” 

You snorted. “Thoma, the drinks are free. We’re in a wedding, remember?” 

He blushes once again. “A-Ah.. Right.” 

–

As you walk out of the elevator, you head towards your hotel room with Thoma in tow. 

Long after the wedding finally ended, you decided to take your leave and hit the bed to sleep for the night, wanting nothing more than to lie down on the comfortable sheets of the bed as you snore away. 

To your surprise, Thoma decides to make sure you come back to your room in one piece and escort you back to your room given that the both of you are a little intoxicated.

“You know, you don’t have to come with me. I can go back to the room on my own.” You said reassuringly, noticing how close your hotel room is getting.

“We’re here anyway, so you’re stuck with me now.” He comments, insisting even more as he walks by your side. “Besides, I’m actually staying in the same hotel as you. Though, I’m three floors above.” 

You relax instantly from his words, no longer finding the energy to say otherwise. “Oh, that’s good then.” You stumble around and try to find your keycard, pulling it out from your pocket as the two of you arrive to your room.

“Thanks again, Thoma. I’m glad you had kept me company at the wedding– and for helping me taking care of Venti.” You chuckled, letting your door scan your keycard. 

He smiles, nodding in acknowledgement. “Of course. It’s the least I can do since you’ve given me a good time at the wedding.” 

You smiled in response, and turned around to enter your room that's now opened, but before you could enter, he stopped you for a moment. 

“Wait.” 

“Hm?” You turn to look at him in confusion and in curiosity. “Is something wrong?” 

He shakes his head. “N-No, of course not. It’s just…”

The two of you fell awkwardly silent. 

“...I won’t be here tomorrow, so you won’t see me until you return to Inazuma.” He confesses. “So… If you ever decide on whether you’d visit, move in, or whatever, I’m one call away. Just let me know when you come and visit.” So I can be the first to greet you.

You smiled cheekily. “So you really did miss me, huh?”

He blushes once again. “Can you blame me..?” There’s no one I love but you. 

You then pat his shoulder. “...I’ll call you as soon as I get the date. Just promise me you’ll be by the airport with some cardboard that has my name.” You teased. 

He nodded eagerly. “I’ll make sure it’ll have ‘Welcome back from the Asylum’ on it.” He says, teasing you back. 

“Oh I’d like to see you try!” You laugh, lightly slapping his shoulder as he grins.

“...See you next time, ( Name ).” 

“See you next time, Thoma.” 

You took a few steps to your room and finally closed the door, the last face you saw was Thoma’s flushed face. 

As soon as he’s alone in the quiet hallways of the hotel floor, he lets out a sigh. 

This time.. This time I’ll shoot my shot.

.

.

.

“What are you thinking about, Thoma?” 

The blonde-haired man blinks a few times as he finds himself back in the familiar surroundings of Komore Cafe. 

“Ah, sorry.. I-I was just thinking about something.” Thoma says with a cheeky grin, looking at your direction as you sit by the stools that’s by the counter. “How long have you been watching me?” He asks. 

You smiled cheekily. “Long enough for me to be reminded of how handsome you look.” You responded teasingly with a chuckle.

“Oh really? Am I really that dashing?” He asks, jokingly posing like a model as it causes you to laugh. 

“Very much, but not as much as my guy Taroumaru here.” You pet the Shiba Inu, who makes a “woof!” noise as he happily encourages your affection. 

Thoma dramatically puts a hand on his chest. “You wound me. I’d never thought my own spouse would choose Taroumaru over me! Where is the loyalty?” 

The two of you broke into laughter, amused by each other’s antics.

It’s been almost two years since the time when you two visited Diluc and Jean’s wedding. True to your word, you return to Inazuma a few months after your trip to Mondstadt, officially residing in your homeland instead of Liyue. Thoma has been with you since you returned, and he has been nothing but helpful to you as the two of you make up for the lost time.

It took a while before you eventually started gaining feelings for him, which then eventually led to the two of you in a committed and happy relationship for the past three months. It’s safe to say that you’ve never been happier than ever, and you’re grateful for someone like Thoma to be by your side for so long. 

And he’s grateful that his dream finally came true, happy that he has the honor of being yours, and you being his. He couldn’t imagine anything better than what he has now. 

Unfortunately, the sweet moment between you both ended abruptly when your watch started ringing, reminding you of the time. 

“Ah shoot, I gotta go. Miko’s going to kill me if I end up late.” You said, grabbing your bag and drink before kissing Thoma’s cheek and pet Taroumaru one last time. “Thanks for the drink, by the way.” 

“Anything for you. Stay safe!” Your boyfriend tells you, watching as you run out of the cafe like the wind, leaving him alone with Taroumaru.

As soon as you’re gone, he lets out a dreamy sigh. 

“Come, Taroumaru, it’s time to work.” He spoke to the Shiba Inu, petting his head before heading towards the sign of his café to flip it. 

There’s nothing more to life than spending the rest of his days with you, and he’s more than content with the life he has with you.

It’s safe to say that the same goes with you. 

PREVIOUS.

DAN'S NOTE.

Thank you guys so much for reading Evermore! I honestly have never thought I’d finished this from the very start, and yet here I am, and it’s all thanks to all of you who have spread your love and opinions on this series.

It was truly an honor to write this piece. It really makes me happy to see a lot of you guys commenting on each chapter, sending asks about how much you love Evermore and spit on Ayato as well as Shinsuke, and overall just you guys being interested in something I put my heart and soul to! 

As someone who never once experienced having a lover nor went through a breakup, it’s quite tough for me to write about it in this series since I want the experiences to feel somewhat real, or better yet, not too cliche than it already is. 

Of course, I also want this series to be somewhat a lesson to my dear readers, to those who need to let it all out, to those whose hearts are broken, to those who just need an escape from reality once in a while, and overall to everyone. I hope that whatever you guys are going through, you will get through it! If you can go through a breakup and deal with Shinsuke’s existence in this fic, then you can surely go through anything!

Since I’ve already expressed what I need to express in the previous chapter, I decided to drop some fun facts and trivia here!

This series was made out of spite because of how I lost the 50/50 to Keqing in Ayato’s first released banner on my first 10 pulls and wanted to make him suffer. Fortunately enough, writing this series seems enough to make him come home 80 pulls later b4 his banner ended! 

I also wanted to write a story that’s based on my number one favorite Taylor Swift song from one of my favorite albums of hers: right where you left me! This song is one of the most relatable songs I’ve ever listened to ever since I first heard it in 2021, and it’s been stuck with me to this day as of 2024 (can you believe it? It’s been almost 4 years!) 

And fun fact, I found out that the evermore album was released on my birthday (December 11), so it feels right that I made the series inspired by the album <3 !

The following are some fun facts from my drafts:

Diluc's arranged spouse was supposed to be Donna, but I unfortunately didn’t make that happen since the way Donna would treat the situation wouldn’t be the same way as what Jean would do. 

Thoma wasn’t actually supposed to be a male lead until I started planning for the no body no crime part. I don’t know what made me assign Thoma as the second male lead, but when I did, I didn’t like how my series will be another “second male lead who has no chance with the main lead” so I made him the person the reader actually ends up with in the epilogue soon after!

– below are things that i’ve scraped from this series ! –

Before I started planning each chapter, Diluc was originally supposed to be the reader's plus one. The plot involves how the reader asks Diluc, reader’s friend since college, to be their plus one since he lives in Mondstadt and he reluctantly agrees, and throughout the wedding trip, they slowly fall in love with each other. 

It was such a good plot too if you saw the details I wrote for it ! But I scrapped it off because the plot would’ve been really long, and I want the series to focus on the story of reader finally and properly moving on from their breakup with their first love, Ayato. I’m aware that I could’ve followed this plot while reader moves on with Ayato, but again, I feel like it just wasn't it for me. though who knows, i might make a one-shot fic of it ;)

Another fun fact is there was supposed to be a second part series after Evermore that’s called Folklore and it ends with you dating Kaeya. 

in this series, you first meet Kaeya during Diluc’s wedding and spend time with him. Sure enough, you hate that guy, but you had no choice but to spend time with him throughout your stay in Mondstadt since he’s such a great tour guide. 

You were glad that you’re finally back to Liyue and not be able to see that playboy anymore, so consider yourself shocked when you waltzed into your office and saw him. 

Turns out, the reason why he’s always spending time with you in Mondstadt is not because of how he wants to guide you around mondstadt, but because he wants to get to know the person he’ll be working with in Liyue! 

So yes, this is somewhat an enemies to lovers + office romance story, and unlike Diluc and Ayato, this guy has no chance in getting into arranged marriages and immediately shoots his shot with you ;> !

Extra note: Dainsleif was supposed to be in folklore series as the second male lead hehe 

I was really looking forward to writing this series until chapter thirteen happened. If I have to be real honest, I was disappointed with myself for what happened, and I was afraid that you guys will be even more disappointed with me if i make another series, so i immediately scrapped it off :(( 

But to clarify more, even if chapter thirteen went well, I would’ve still scrapped it off since – as you know, I have a health issue that caused my big hiatus – and I’m afraid that I wouldn’t be able to finish the second series at all, let alone start it.

Instead of that, I decided to just make it into one of the epilogues of what could’ve been! Feel free to check the folklore epilogue once it’s out! 

I think I can reveal more information with the Q&A from my evermore survey, so while I’m compiling your questions, feel free to ask more right away! 

That's all for this series. Once again, thank you so so so much for giving me the pleasure of writing this fic. I might not make a series soon, but if I ever have the luxury of time, I hope you guys will be there to read it.

Thank you!

Sincerely, your penpal, Dan xoxo

PENPALS. @scaraslover @saving-for-xiao @dawgimsohot @kazu-topia @chiruru @aqualesha @renamichii @mrkamisato @shenhesl0ver @serami00 @serenareiss @hiqhkey @emperatris-rinaka @bystander36 @irisxiel @ladycoleigh @034ven @dear-dairiess @owozi8 @hadesaedes @chiro-chiro-kun @hersscherofyatta @mariusvonhangme @yuzuricebun @hoshikistarlette @solaaresque @crowbird @lordbugs @flowersforayato @headintheclouddd @estelwrld @giyusimpsassemble @irethepotatosblog @moonlightaangel @alice0blog @shotosbrainrot @sniffoat @chihawari @mxsomn @kuni-kuzushii @jiminscarmex @mitsukii114 @nejibot @ylimeprive @sachispet @loreleis-world @sn-owo @stareforecasts @someonetookmynamelmao @ceylestia @lychme @ymikkos @reallysporadicarcade @melodyyamino @dudufodd @somberrock @yevenly @lemontum @nghing @elychee @astrxlis @denkineptune @franini @sophisticatedleslie @thedivinepriestress @smashsubs @httpmitsuya @bl6o6dy @cottonkendi (please visit this post if you'd like to be tagged!)

[saintslewis]

❝ 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐋 ❞

𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐒𝐀𝐍𝐂𝐄: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 - 𝐋𝐇𝟒𝟒

pairing: sir lewis hamilton x fem!oc

summary: truly, nothing can break Nadia’s soul.

warnings: cussing, outfit descriptions, slight angst, typos, it’s a long one 😭 click on the links, i’m watching you 🤨

wc: 6.4k

saint’s team radio 🎀: don’t beat me up y’all! this took more than forever and i am really sorry. hopefully this chapter brings you guys joy 🤭 thank you so much for all the love on renaissance so far! 🥹 i also want y’all to know that Nadia is a thick babe, when she wears shorts or mini skirts/dresses, it’s mini!!! just wanted to remind y’all!!!!

pls like, comment and reblog! 🫶🏽

renaissance: the series masterlist • general masterlist

-

The thin white thread from the duvet cover couldn't be any longer as Nadia continued to pull on it, clicking her nails together in the process. Her buzzing phone sat on the bed in front of her with the voice of her mother pressing her about the past week.

"I'm sure it wasn't easy being the trophy wife this weekend, people were going crazy this side." Her mother chuckled from the other end.

"Ma, you haven't spoken to me since I signed on that dotted line, you haven't checked up on me yet this is what you have to say to me after nearly 3 weeks without contact?" Nadia said with a strain in her voice.

"Oh come on. I was just giving you time to adjust to that fame you've always wanted and for the love of all that is good, cover up more. Do not need to see more than what I've already seen." Thembi said, not understanding how much she was hurting her daughter.

Quietly wiping her tears with her wrist, she thought back to how much peace she had before she called her mother.

The journey from South Africa to the uk had been a tough one when Nadia was much younger. Although the mother daughter pair had gone through hardships, they were as close as they could be. Residing in South London at the time had been a rollercoaster, from trying to fit in with the other kids to adapting to the new culture around her, it became easier thanks to friends she made along the way.

Within a year and a half of moving countries, Thembi announced to her daughter that they would be moving in with a new man, her 'friend' for the time being all the way in Stevenage. Nadia saw her mother's entire personality change the second the last box was dropped off by the movers, a new demeanour being shown off to the neighbours and a less kind version of her was shown to Nadia.

Conversations were barely there, hugs were rarely given and reassurance was never enough as opposed to the affection she would previously receive from before the move. Wanting to keep the positives on the surface, Nadia decided to distract herself from her feelings and continued to go to school with her old friends even if it meant travelling distances just to get away from her mother.

As Nadia grew older, so did the sudden change of attitude from her mother, finding the need to comment on everything she found wrong with Nadia. In rebellion, the girl would wear whatever would make her happy, get the tattoos she felt she needed and not spending as much time with her mother as she did before. When university opened, she hurried to move out, already planning her life out and visited her home country to find comfort in her family back home, her cousin Rea becoming a younger sister to her.

However after uni, Thembi seeked therapy to better her relationship with her daughter. Happy to go back to the way it was before, their relationship became healthier and happier after years. What changed?

Sighing out, Nadia ignored her mother's harsh words. "When is Rea going to get there? You've cancelled her flight three times already."

"Only next week Thursday. Ooh tell me, has he bought you anything fancy yet?" Anyone could imagine the smug look on her mother's face as she asked the question.

"Bye mom. Greet James." Rolling her eyes, Nadia hung up and gently rubbed her eyes, getting rid of the tears with her knuckles. Texting Rea that she should rather move in with her, she let out a sigh at the thought of her mother's sudden phone call the day after the race.

Walking into the en-suite bathroom, she fixed up her light makeup with music playing from her phone. Lewis had texted her earlier that he would be going on a run, not too sure what Nadia would want to do during the day before their trip to Malibu. She blinked the tears back whilst tilting her head backward to avoid them falling once again.

The cold tiles of the bathroom were cooling off the high temperature of her body, mainly from all the emotions and the overall heat in Miami. All she wanted to do was leave Miami and curl up in her bed - her old bed. The one she would lay on after an incredibly long day of teaching high schoolers. The one that had her plushies that she was gifted by her students. The one where she could be lying in at that very moment but she decided to drive to her mom's house that fateful day.

Deactivating her social media accounts was a no go as instructed by Tia, saying the engagement was good and for her to keep it up, the public unfamiliar with the concept of a WAG speaking to people as if they've been friends for decades. Having not gone too far into the mean and hateful comments, Nadia gets chills just thinking about it. How she's perceived by the world now with her newfound fame. One she did not ask for but she was willing to help her new friend.

That's all he was. A friend. Right?

Not realising she had zoned out and begun picking on her old acne scars, she hadn't heard her hotel room door open, a slightly breathless Lewis stood in the bathroom doorframe watching her pick at her skin whilst looking at a specific tile.

"Nads?" He called out but the girl still hadn't heard anything. Wiggling his neon sneakers on his feet within her vision, she snapped out of it, her eyes widening at the sight of him there. "Oh, hi." She greeted, voice as soft as silk as she looked at the man once then back to the mirror to avoid eye contact. "Everything okay?" He asked, wiping his forehead for any sweat left.

Nadia nodded, packing up her mini makeup bag from the marble counter, jewellery jangling as she zipped it up. "Just woke up a little weird and hungry, that's all. Are you good?" She responded, giving a half smile and she finally maintained eye contact with him.

"Yeah. Yeah, the run was good and ready for the day." He answered, feeling her energy yet just not sure where to put it between sadness or anger. "Still very proud of P2 yesterday, it was insane to see that live." She added, the gold grills matching her jewellery perfectly. Very casually dressed with a tired look in her eyes.

"Nads, are you sure you're good? Have you had breakfast?" He moved to the side as he watched her leave the bathroom with heavy footsteps. "The heat is killing me, not used to such and I was going to wait til the plane for something. Got too nervous to order room service." She slightly chuckled to herself, feeling a slight twist in her stomach.

Not wanting to upset her, he just gave her a look with his eyebrows a little raised and that made her crack. "Oh my days, don't look at me like that. We can go for lunch or something, I don't know." She suggested, looking away from Lewis to avoid looking into his eyes.

"What if I was going to compliment your hair?" He joked and crossed his arms with a slight chuckle.

"Please, I know that look from anywhere. I give it to my kids all the time." Nadia said while rolling her eyes, a soft smile on display. "Now let me change. The room's got stuffy air so we need to take a step outside." She shooed him away as she walked into the bathroom once again and closed the door with a huge smile.

Left standing in awe of her, Lewis shook his head as he headed out of her hotel room to change up for their outing.

-

The cold granadilla slushy had been freezing up Nadia's hand but she couldn't care less, the heat in Miami unbearable to no end. The pair sat in the back of the Escalade on the way to any mall nearby where Nadia could get some sandals, her feet suffocated by her sneakers.

Tia had advised them to travel by their allocated security cars because the streets of Miami were still buzzing with F1 fans, hungover or sober, hunting around for any f1 drivers that were around.

"Not that it isn't weird, it is, but I have to live with the fact that the women I have dreamed of styling one day know I exist and Pharrell too! Like my colleagues are blowing up my phone like crazy." Nadia emphasised, the slushy swishing around in her hand as she was talking.

Lewis could watch her talk for hours, even more when she was excited about something. He had thought that this weekend would be too much for Nadia with all the attention on her much more than the Grand Prix itself but the way she handled everything from the instagram posts to the multitude of introductions was incredible to watch.

She was graceful but with a spunk to her, expressing her personality to the friend group but not yet to the f1 media, wanting to get a bit more comfortable in that vicinity with Lewis by her side. Already seeing how she could get when someone were to wrong Lewis, the man was certain that they will get through this fake marriage with ease and fun, gaining a friendship within it.

"So what's your biggest goal with being a stylist? I haven't seen your work yet but I feel like it's phenomenal." He asked, smiling once he saw her roll her eyes at him.

"Phenomenal is a stretch but I'm trying to get like Law Roach or even work with a fashion house to be honest. I always wanted a way to show my work but I just never knew how to." She shrugged, taking a sip of the slushy.

"How about you style me for a few events and for a race or two?" He suggested.

"And take Eric's job? Are you crazy?" She stared at him with widened eyes and furrowed eyebrows but all he did was chuckle. "It'll be fun plus Eric knows already, he's more than excited for it." Lewis continued smiling, Nadia stared at him before releasing a sigh.

"When do I start?" She shook her head in disbelief, not believing what just happened. "Friday but the main brief is that we're sitting courtside." And like clockwork, he gave her a smile that she couldn't resist.

"You're just so full of surprises, aren't you? Let me find out there's more events you're hiding from me." Nadia said squinting her eyes at him, his cheeks eventually hurting from smiling at her.

"A magician never tells his tricks."

"Yeah yeah, Hamilton." Nadia replied, shaking her head once more as she got her purse ready, seeing the Miami Fashion District come into her view.

-

Pulling the bottom of her dress down constantly, she looked around at all the luxury stores that were never ending.

This wasn't the norm for her, she was hoping to see a much cheaper alternative than what was in front of her but she had to remember who she was in that very moment. She felt safe with two security detail walking stealthily behind them, her hands staying at the hem of her sundress.

"Your dress is okay, don't have to worry." Lewis leaned a little closer to her shoulder to whisper, sending back a reassuring smile. All she responded with was to hold his ring-clad hand in sign of appreciation.

Reaching Gucci, Nadia's first thought were those platform sandals she had seen on social media and in that exact moment, her mind went to the comfort she had been wanting since she hadn't packed any open shoes. Pulling him towards the store, everything in that store went quiet.

Sale associates just stopped and stared whilst costumers began whispering and muttering to themselves. Immediately spotting the sandals from afar, they walked slowly towards the shoe section of Gucci, trying to ignore all the eyes on them. From her peripheral vision, she could see someone speed walking towards them, fixing her uniform and her appearance once she reached the couple.

"Hello, welcome to Gucci. I'm Roni and I'll be your sales associate today." The woman introduced herself, looking straight at Lewis as she did.

"Nice to meet you, Roni. I'm Nadia and really we just came for a quick visit, hopefully get a few things whilst we're here." Nadia had on a bright smile as she spoke, the worker's smile fading as she looked at Nadia.

"Of course," Roni said, licking her teeth. "Where would you like to start? Perhaps dresses. It is a hot day in Miami." Looking at Nadia up and down with the slightest hint of disgust shown on her face, the woman continued to smile in her face.

Taken aback by the tone of her voice, Nadia just smiled and averted her gaze back to the shoe section. "It truly is but I have to pass. I'm much more interested in the shoes right now." She said, still holding onto Lewis' arm, who was enjoying every moment of this. "Alright, let me go get some champagne for you guys, racing must be tough in this heat." Roni smiled, turning around to walk in a different direction.

As soon as she was out of earshot, Nadia sighed out as they sat on the large velvet green couch. "Is this the crap i have to deal with? Her eyes said it all." She complained, rolling her eyes and placing her purse down. Following suit, he sat next to her and did not keep a friendly distance between them, relaxing his arm behind her.

"Don't worry about her or anyone else for that matter. People will purposefully piss you off for their enjoyment so let's just have a good time and we'll get ice cream later." He advised, not bothering to look around the shop but had focused all his attention on Nadia.

"Stand on your promise, Hamilton. I don't play about my ice cream." She joked, both chuckling after a beat of silence. Eyeing the store, she saw a few pieces that she knew would look good on Lewis and a few on herself. This one particular top was screaming her name, the Gucci monogram sticking out but it had a level of class to it, already imagining outfits with it on.

"The top is quite nice, I don't know what you could match it with to make it work but it seems cool." Lewis said, staring at the same top, unaware that their heads were tilted the same way. "You think so?" Nadia pondered. "Well you can't not be stylish around me so." He shrugged jokingly, earning another laugh from her. "Okay whatever you say, pookie bear." She patted his knee, watching a completely different sales associate head their way with a tray of champagne.

"Hi, I'm Tracey, my colleague Roni just decided to not help a couple because she didn't like the wife. Crazy I think she's talking about the Hamiltons because they came in here the same time." The new associate rambled off, placing the tray onto the small table next to them.

Finally looking up, Tracey's breath hitched. "Oh shit, that's you guys. Oh god, I'm sorry for my words." The younger girl apologised, eyes widened at the couple who just smiled at her.

"It's okay, lovely to meet you Tracey." Nadia smiled, amused at her actions. "What can I do for you today?" Tracey asked.

After a rather pleasant sales interaction with Tracey voicing how much she loved the both of them as a couple and as individuals, there they stood at the counter waiting for their items to be fully scanned. Lewis was very content with the pieces that Nadia had picked out for him, confident that every single one was going to look tailor made. When it came down to payment, Lewis had no problem in swiping his card as Nadia dug through her purse to find hers.

"Thank you for spending your time with us here at Gucci, Mr and Mrs Hamilton." The lady at the till said, handing the the large green bags that felt so good in Nadia's hands.

"It was really fun and tell Roni we said goodbye." Nadia smiled wickedly as she waved and walked out of the store with Lewis laughing at her words right behind her. "Damn that felt good. Gotta keep it cute and classy until it's not." She smiles as they walk to a different shop.

-

LOS ANGELES

"I swear, the powder I used for my under eyes is just super cakey." Natalia complained as she walked down the plane stairs onto the asphalt, Nadia following close behind with her carry on bag on her shoulder.

The Californianian air was different from that of Miami, less humid but a little hotter. It was late in the afternoon when the group landed, greeted by a beautiful sunset behind the Los Angeles skyline. After the impromptu shopping session, the plane was already for takeoff so everyone had hurried to be in the air by lunchtime.

Taking the time to catch up with everyone, the group shared laughs and their stories from Miami although it was less than a week that they had spent in the eccentric city. There was a gnawing feeling in the pit of Nadia's stomach, unable to get the guilt of spending Lewis' money as if it was hers. Although he reassured her multiple times that he was more than okay getting her whatever she wanted, she still felt uneasy about it all.

The all too familiar Escalades were parked on the ground, Lewis waiting patiently for Nadia to get down so that they could go to their destination. Seeing her confused face as Natalia, Miles and Daniel waved goodbye to them as everyone went to their respective cars, Lewis then spoke up. "Everyone's going their places, we're going to our house."

Snapping her head to look at him in bewilderment, she almost stopped in her tracks just to recall what he had said. "Another one?!" She whisper yelled, not wanting anyone near them to hear. He nodded with a closed smile as they reached their car with all their luggage inside, all similar to when they landed in Miami.

The morning came quite quick as the rest of the day ended with Nadia yet again exploring a new home, almost screaming when she saw the garage full of cars she only wished she could drive and you can imagine the shock when Lewis told her that in hindsight, they're her cars. In his words, "I don't really like to drive as much so you can use them as freely as you want."

Climbing out of the huge bed of the even larger guest bedroom, Nadia was careful to not wipe her eyes too much because of her extensions. Stretching every limb on her body, she walked towards the bathroom to splash water on her face to fully wake her up. The birds were still chirping from beyond the closed curtains and the sun was shining through the slivers of the curtain, creating a peaceful aura throughout the room.

Her bonnet luckily stayed on through the night, grabbing her glasses from the night stand along with her phone, she walked out of the room with her fluffy slippers on her feet. The trip downstairs was quiet and the aroma of something sweet wafted through the air, making her wonder where Lewis was.

Reaching the last step, she saw something move in the corner of her eye. Rather small, the thing moved towards her with its feet patting against the floor. Looking in its direction, the first thing she saw was the droopy mouth belonging to the short dog and her heart almost stopped, the fear running through her body as she continued to stare at the dog.

"Oh my god, please don't come close." She whispered out loud, hoping the dog would listen. Nadia was frozen in her place and she was too afraid to look anywhere else in case the dog moved towards her. "I see you've met Roscoe. Hope he's been kind." Lewis' voice spoke from behind her, crouching down to pet the dog lovingly. The silence from Nadia was odd, he turned his head to see her frightened state as she didn't move her gaze from Roscoe.

"Nads? Nads? Okay, let's get Roscoe out of here." He called out then whispered to himself, carrying the dog out of the living room then hurrying back to Nadia.

"Well that was my dog, Roscoe. I'm sorry he scared you." With a worried expression on his face, Lewis placed his hands on her arms to snap her out of her frozen state. Finally making eye contact with him through her glass lenses, she spoke up. "I-it's okay. Just have to get used to seeing him." She nodded, wanting to end the awkwardness right there.

"Anyway, good morning. Did you eat yet?" She said, slightly smiling and making her way towards the marble kitchen island, the two plates on top of it were filled with stacks of waffles with a side of fruit next to it. "Uh no, waited for you to wake up so I just took a run in the meantime." He mentioned, following behind her and took his seat across from her.

In that very moment, her heart fluttered at his words. It was so simple yet so sweet of a gesture to do for her. "Thank you for that, Lew. Let's eat up then." She replied, a shy smile on her face as she felt his eyes on her. The two dug in to their breakfast that Lewis had made for them earlier in the morning, wanting the logistics of their relationship.

"So, I need to know how you feel about pda and how much you're willing to show to the public. We have to make this look real." Nadia said, biting down on a slice of apple. "I don't have an issue with it, just as you're comfortable with it." He responded. Just nodding along, she continued to eat the fruit.

"This is just so weird to me. Three weeks ago I would've been in my apartment trying to think how i'm gonna get groceries for the month and now i'm in Los fucking Angeles eating fruit with 5 cars sitting in the garage. It's crazy." She blurted out, everything now properly dawning on her as they sat down in peace.

"Life works in mysterious ways for sure, never thought I would be sitting in my kitchen with my wife on a Wednesday morning." He said, the smallest of chuckles escaping him. "You are very good with your words, sir. A lil too good." She joked, pointing the fork at him.

"What's the plan today? I don't think I can handle anything hectic." She asked, her accent changing when she said 'hectic' . Giving her a cocked eyebrow at the sudden change of accent, Nadia looked smug.

"A little history on me. I moved to the uk at 8 years old and this south african accent stuck with me for a while until I reached high school. By then my mother decided to send me back home with my aunt and cousin to complete high school that side then year 12, I went back for university. The slang and accent never left me along with the 6 languages I know." She explained, almost bursting into laughter after seeing his face morph from curiosity to shock.

"Six?!" He vocalised. "And counting, my kids don't call me Superwoman for nothing." Biting into another piece, she smiled as her phone vibrated multiple times. Looking at the name across the screen, she immediately sighed and got up off her seat and signalled that she would be back.

The school's name flashed across her screen as she walked into the familiar hallway towards the guest bedroom.

"Hello Ms Brown! I hope this doesn't disturb your holiday." Lisa, the headmaster of the school, greeted with such enthusiasm.

"Well, it slightly is but what does that matter. Anything you need? Has the parents evening been postponed?" She scratched her head as she held the phone up to her ear.

"Uh, no. There's something I wanted to discuss with you and I thought it would be great for a one on one. We as the school has noticed you are quite the star these days, bringing much more traction than what you get from school already." Lisa chuckled at the last sentence, seeming to quiet down when she realised Nadia wasn't laughing.

"Oh, yes Ms Crawford. This was a subject I had wanted to discuss with the rest of the staff when we get back from the holidays. Of course this isn't something minuscule, all the media attention has been quite intense." Nadia responded, watching as Roscoe walked closer to her and sat by her feet.

There was a beat of silence from the other end of the phone call. "That was what I wanted to actually talk to you about, Ms Brown-"

"Its Mrs Hamilton." Nadia corrected.

"Ah yes, my apologies Mrs Hamilton. As much as we do appreciate your ways of teaching here at our school, we as the board have been thinking of releasing you from your position as the history teacher. Now I know it's all sudden but we feel it's good for our school." Lisa announced, voice filled with pity.

"Now excuse my manners, Ms Crawford, but I would like to know who all decided to quote on quote, fire me. Furthermore, when signing the work contract, you personally had assured me that you would stand behind your teachers through it all. Am I correct?" She started, standing up straight with Roscoe following suit.

"You are correct however this would ruin the reputation of the school and our relationships with other schools in the district. It truly pains us to do so." With the same false pity tone, Lisa spoke.

"I hope you do realise that we are about to start the second term of the school year after these two weeks and I do not appreciate the current dismissal you are going through with just solely because I married a prominent figure. Neither do I wish to leave my flourishing students because the board does not agree with my marriage." Nadia indicated.

"Not to mention prior to this conversation, no one had contacted me in regards to a possible sacking. So I would like for you and the rest of the board to rethink your approach on this matter. I do not accept this and this issue can be taken to court if you prefer to continue with this. And through a phone call? Really?" With that, Nadia knew she had won upon hearing the sigh on the other side of the phone.

With a few moments passing by, Lisa sighed out. "You are correct about this, I do apologise. See you after the holidays then, Mrs Hamilton." And with that, the headmaster said her goodbyes in defeat.

Crouching down to pet Roscoe, she held his face in her hands. "We fucking did that, boy. Thanks for being there, you not so bad after all." She smiled at the happy dog, standing up straight to back downstairs to finish her breakfast.

"And? What was that?" Lewis spoke up, putting his phone down next to his fruit bowl.

"These bitches tried to fire me so I said no. Can't get rid of their only history teacher." She wiggled her shoulders with the biggest smile on her face, biting down on the remaining fruits.

"And your dog's cool. Sat with me the whole time."

"Damn. Remind me to never get on your bad side. Let's get celebratory croissants?" Lewis giggled, taking both of their plates to wash them off.

"You read my mind, Sir!"

-

Standing in front of the open garage door, Nadia stared at the two cars in front of her. The sun in the courtyard was hitting her back but she didn't mind, as long as she continued to look at the cars.

Lewis' words rang in her head, unable to shake off the fact that technically, these were her cars as well. The Urus was very tempting to drive but she knew she didn't trust herself with that type of speed yet. The Mercedes GLE however, looked so classy and seemed like a joy to drive.

The decision took so long that she didn't notice that Lewis was taking pictures of the scene in front of him, his wife stuck between choosing cars to drive on the sunny streets of LA. "Can I drive today?" She asked once realising that he was next to her, wearing a comfortable outfit.

"You can drive whenever you want." He smiled, handing her the keys of the suv he knew she was going to pick. "Okay, cute. You'll be my passenger prince." She smiled, pinching his cheek then happily walked towards the driver's side.

Just sighing in content, he walked to the passenger's side, hopping in to see Nadia exploring the interior of the car, matching that of the black exterior. "This shit is huge." She muttered to herself as she leaned over to look at the backseats and all its intricate details.

"And before you say anything pookie bear, Tia made me do an international license when we didn't see each other. So you're safe driving with me." She reassured, putting her now blonde hair behind her ears.

"I think i like this passenger prince business." He expressed, already making himself in the seat, pushing it back and relaxing.

"Let me search up a bakery and we'll be on our way." Nadia started the car up and was geeked by the roar of the car.

And on their way they were. Blasting Beyoncé as Lewis suggested they go to a vegan bakery in Malibu, the two sang both old and new songs during the drive. Barely through her hip hop playlist, she found parking in front of the surprisingly popular bakery.

"Now you know I don't play about Beyoncé. I did not expect this place to be busy right now." Nadia pointed out, fixing the sunglasses on her head. "You'd be shocked at the amount of vegan people in Malibu alone. If you want, I can go in by myself and get the treats." He offered, unbuckling his seatbelt and holding his phone in his hand.

"We're going in together, I do not look this cute to sit in the car." She flipped her hair, dramatically exiting the car, making him laugh quite loud at her antics. Holding his hand out, Lewis connected his with Nadia's, feeling a chill when he felt her ring touch his skin. He led the way into the bakery, the sweet smell of the treats was a bit of a treat in itself.

Gasping at the baked goods on display, she didn't hesitate to greet and place an order, mouth salivating at the sight of the treats. Once Lewis also made his order, Nadia brought out her card to pay, wanting to test that it actually worked and it definitely did.

Enjoying the chocolate doughnuts in the bakery, the two laughed at the whole ordeal of the phone call this morning. "I've never had a good relationship with this new headmaster at all. She has been on my case since she joined two years ago." Nadia informed, drinking a bit of her pink lemonade.

"The courage of just saying no is so endearing to hear. Can't believe she wanted to sack you in the middle of a term. Again, the courage is so cool, Nads." He complimented her and he watched as her shoulders started to rise as a way of blushing.

"Thanks, pookie bear. Means a lot. So where to from here?" She asked, ignoring his gaze on her the whole time.

"We've got lunch with friends of mine, then home time." He said so calmly, not noticing Nadia's eyes widening at the information.

"I'm not dressed for lunch with your friends, Lew! Could've warned a girl first." She stressed, looking down at her outfit. "Wanted you to be comfortable the whole day hence I didn't tell you our plans today." He showed his full smile, wanting so badly to laugh at her facial expression.

"You are so lucky you're sitting across me right now or else I would've bitten you." She rolled her eyes at his giggles. 

Within a matter of time, the Mercedes suv entered through the high black gates of their destination with a press of a button on the intercom outside. Nadia drove in the driveway quite slowly, unfamiliar with her surroundings as she saw a cars parked in the courtyard. The sound of the waves crashing could be heard when stepping out of the car.

"Damn your friend's got bank." She commented, opening the backseat door to get her purse. "And by the sea too? I just know it's a different world here." She added, closing her door and locked the car when she saw Lewis walk closer to her with a smirk on his face.

"Yeah, Bey and Jay wanted serenity next to the sea." He said, looking back at Nadia who was frozen in her tracks.

"Did you just fucking say Bey and Jay?!" She whisper yelled as she pulled Lewis closer to her. He nodded with the same expression he had from before. "Are you fucking crazy? I can't meet Beyoncé, Lewis! I'm not ready!" Nadia's stress levels were sky high as she held onto his arm tighter, standing by the car.

"Wanted to tell you earlier but when you started playing her music in the car, just knew I had to surprise you." He smiled. "Look, if it makes it any better, she's excited to meet you as well." Lewis told her and if her eyes couldn't get any wider, she looked behind her husband's broad arm to see the woman of the hour walk towards them.

"There you two are! We were scared y'all weren't coming no more!" The happy southern voice rang through the courtyard and Nadia was scared shitless. "My goodness, Lewis! She's a beauty. Hi, I'm Beyoncé." The woman introduced herself to Nadia and she quickly snapped out of it once she realised her favourite artist was speaking directly to her.

"Hello, I'm Nadia." She managed to speak up as Beyoncé extended her hand out to shake hers. Surprisingly enough, Nadia's hands weren't sweaty neither did she stutter over her words like she thought she would. The woman went on to greet Lewis with a side hug then invited them inside.

"It was so lovely meeting you guys, a full circle moment on my end." Nadia smiled, holding onto her purse and onto Rumi's hand, the little girl so interested in everything that has to do with Nadia. "No, it was our pleasure to host you guys. My God, a couple I never saw coming. Y'all welcome back here anytime." Beyoncé said, the group of 4 walking towards the front door and into the courtyard once again.

"We'll definitely take you up on that offer, thank you for inviting us into your lovely home. Better get home before it gets too dark." Nadia replied, leaning into the hug between her and Bey whilst looking at the sunset over the horizon.

"We'll catch y'all in Paris." Jay Z smiled with a toothpick in his mouth. He dapped Lewis up as everyone said their goodbyes after a successful lunch. Now sitting in the passenger seat, Nadia held her head in her hands as he swiftly drove out the long driveway.

"I just met Beyoncé, I don't think you understand the damage you just did." She turned to Lewis, who kept the same smile as before. "And that is?" "I'm never going to stop talking about it."

"I'm glad you're happy. Saw an opportunity and I ran for it." He voiced, patting her thigh before putting his hand back on the steering wheel. "Remind me to give you the biggest hug when we get home." She smiled, becoming comfortable in the seat, not knowing how much Lewis' heart raced after hearing her refer to the house as home.

-

FRIDAY

"Stay still! I need my vision to come to life." Nadia ordered, holding his face in her hands. There were two different earrings on his ears and she was trying to decide which better suited the outfit. "Okay, wear the first pair then go to the mirror and tell me what you think." She requested, standing back to let him look at his outfit.

"Oh this is really good. Ooh, this outfit is good." He admired his outfit in the mirror, impressed by her styling and how she kept it simple yet so him.

"Glad you love it. Let me go get changed so that we won't be late." She rushed, almost running out of his room to hers, luckily her hair and makeup was done. Nadia quickly put on her outfit and made sure to take pictures in the big mirror in the closet.

Soothing over her top, she then places her sunglasses on her head and spritz her perfume for the last time before stepping out the room. At the same time, Lewis stepped out of his room and glanced at her outfit before doing a double take.

Everything sat so perfectly, the outfit had really simple colours that weren’t too loud but her silhouette accentuated it all. Both outfits complimented each other greatly whilst showing their own style individually. “Wow.” He blurted out, hoping that she didn’t hear that.

“Damn I did good.” She muttered to herself as she looked at him as well, very proud of her styling.

“You ready to go?” Lewis asked, finally focusing on her face and fidgeting with his rings. “Yeah, yeah.” She said in a light voice, carefully walking towards the stairs then feeling his hand slip into hers to help her downstairs.

“Remember, this isn’t real,Nadia.”

“Remember, this isn’t real, Lewis.”

nadiahamilton • 15 min ago “great day to be a lakers fan”

-

dividers by: @cafekitsune

nadia’s faceclaim: @/unclewaffles on ig!

all pictures are from ig and pinterest!

taglist: @non-stop-imagines @tispys-blog @userlando @lorarri @thisismeracing @thatsdemko @myescapefromthislife @slytherinjimin3nthusiast @jamie2305 @like-fire-love-blog @sugardontbesweet @simpfortoomanymen @mauvecherie-writes @queenshikongo3 @eugene-emt-roe @deepgothfiremuffin @18754389 @cherry2stems @anubisnoir @littlelizzies-world @httpsserene @apenasumlug4r @youre-sooooo-funny @eddiesbitch83 @arshiyuh @alika-4466 @peyiswriting @sunfairyy @roseseraj @vsfavs @goldenalbon @mistruscity @tian-monique @hopefulromantic1 @exotic-iris13 @yeea-nah @nichmeddar @gg-trini @lifeless-firefly @vellicora @takeoffz-tookoff9876 @serpenttines-writes

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[causenessus]

Loving You. | Haikyuu

inc. akaashi, bokuto, oikawa, iwaizumi, atsumu

written in 2nd pov (female reader implied)

song recc: help they all have a song AND/or a quote anyway hatachi no koi by lamp <3

word count: 1884 words

summary: "they love you. how do they show it?"

hello hyperspecific examples? hopefully they're fun to read and make sense!! shoutout to the boy whose bokuto's is based off of <3 also first time writing for atsumu so hopefully i did ok!!!!!

they love you. how do they show it?

hello hyperspecific examples?

akaashi

“have you eaten? (i love you). did you get enough sleep last night? (i love you). how do you feel today? (i love you). did you have a nice day? (i love you). will you come on a walk with me? (i love you). here’s some fruit i cut up for you. (i love you) (i love you) (i love you).” "you're my everything"

although he’s quiet i just think he’s so expressive

like he has no trouble saying “i love you” but also says it in so many other ways than just that

he cares so much about you you’re not even able to doubt it for one second. it’s like every question is just his way of saying “i love you”

“did you eat today? do you want something to eat?” “how was your sleep? did you get enough sleep?” all his way of saying i love you

he’s always randomly coming into the room you’re currently in, gently grabbing both sides of your head and just kissing you all over, no words, just adoration <3

again I don’t think he’d have any trouble saying that he love you but it just feels so much more intimate, easier, and meaningful for him to find ways to show/say it instead

he’s such a big fan of the three taps to say i love you (link to an image post about the original person who did this)

he’s always holding your hand in public, giving it three squeezes, he’ll be playing with your fingers when you guys are sitting together and suddenly he’s giving your skin three taps. he’ll kiss your forehead three times, he’s always telling you that he loves you <3

he just loves to be around you and he’s always looking out for you

if you guys have a class together and you unexpectedly don’t show up to class, he’s texting you immediately to make sure everything’s okay

and he’s always keeping you company while you’re doing things, from homework to cooking to just reading

if you need help or will let him help with anything, he’s more than happy to but he also just loves chilling

from the beginning of your relationship and even before when you guys were just friends, hangouts often went on way longer than they were supposed to and you often stay over at each others’ houses because neither of you can bear to leave the presence of the other <3

bokuto

“love is not an everlasting performance in which you attempt to retain the attention of your significant other but rather a release of control and putting faith into them and trusting them to choose to stay with you no matter what you have to offer.  to love and be loved is to rest.”

he trusts you so much

like yes this precious baby has definitely put his entire trust into a lot of people but you’re so so much more to him and it’s different <3

he feels so safe with you and he know he can trust you with literally anything, he does not hesitate to share or tell you anything

he’s following you around all the time like a lost puppy

guaranteed there’s been at least one time where he had to navigate an arena away from home without you and akaashi

he did not show up to warm ups

someone had to come find him huddled in a corner, alone and lost

that random fact about how you feel sleepy around the people you trust?

he can be so energetic with you but other times he can’t even keep his eyes open around you

he’s always falling asleep, his head lulling to the side and resting on your shoulder on train rides back home

sometimes he’ll be telling you stories and suddenly letting out the biggest yawn ever

he'll forget that he's talking because suddenly all he wants to do is spend his time curled up with you <3

he loves to lean against you or be in contact with you in someway, whether that be holding your hand (or just a finger <3) or a hand on your thigh, it makes him feel so sleepy but so safe

murmurs so many “I love you”s before falling asleep

because he trusts you he’s also so good at listening to you too

from the silliest of things to actual requests <3

this is about to get so hyperspecific bear w me pls

you’d just finished redesigning a profile for a social media account and in a passing thought, as you guys were laying with each other in bed, you happen to say, “you should change your profile picture at some point, kou. you've had it for years.”

you didn’t mean it anyway bad, just something you suggested since you had just reorganized your own profile but you still loved his current profile picture <3

but the next time you happened to see his account, you noticed it was a mirror pic from before you two had dressed up to go out a few months ago

“when did you change your profile picture, love? it’s adorable,” you smiled as you kissed his head while he was laying on you

“like 10 minutes after you told me to, i just had to find the right photo,” he mumbled, his voice muffled from your shirt that he had buried his face into

other times it’s things like helping around the house, asking him to wash the dishes while you’re cooking for example

he’s so willing to help but in the beginning, he was lost

he was so ready to wash them but darling could not find the soap

but he loves you so much he’s always working so hard to do what you ask of him so he’ll make sure he learns more about chores to help out more and ofc there’s always more to learn so he’ll always be following your lead <3

oikawa

“when you like the spotlight as much as i do, it’s quite an adjustment to realize that the real reason you might be here is to shine it on someone else.” "she looks just like a dream / the prettiest girl i've ever seen."

man has been living with a spotlight shining on him his whole life

but once he met you, he completely fell in love and he moves the spotlight to be on you <3

literally just completely worships you must i say more

he does not let insecurities slide he’s your #1 hypeman and will fight anyone who disagrees

people around you both have noticed that since you guys started dating, you’ve grown more confident as a result of his love <33333

it doesn’t have to be big changes, literally just things like you’re able to talk louder, voice opinions, or try new things because he’s always there to encourage you along the way

take it you’re a little shy and don’t usually talk very loud but you have to if you’re going to get everyone’s attention in a setting such as trying to manage seijoh’s volleyball team (good luck with that 💔)

you raised your voice and it worked so that you could quiet the boys down in order to explain a change in plans for practice

afterwards, tooru’s coming up to you with a big smile on his face as he rests his forehead against yours

“i don’t think i’ve ever heard you yell, princess,” he says, looking into your eyes but you can’t help but take what he says in a bad way, looking away

“i didn’t mean to yell at you guys, i just didn’t know what else to do,” you mumble back with a frown

he kisses it away with a small laugh, “no, don’t feel bad, pretty. we were all surprised but so proud of you. you never would have done that at the start of the school year.”

he’s so happy whenever you try something new and he’s always there to tell you how well you’re doing even if you don’t feel like it

if you show that you love him by supporting him in his passions and all that he does, he shows his love by supporting you 1000% back

iwaizumi

“there’s nothing softer and more gentle than loving someone with your whole heart and never once holding back when it comes to them.” "think i'm gonna love you 'til i'm dead / i can't wait to buy you things / a brand new diamond ring / this is more than just a fling"

man loves so hard

i cannot see him in a short-term or commitment-free relationship

if he loves someone, he loves them wholly and completely. he’s all in, giving you everything

even before you guys started dating he was always checking in, making sure you were doing okay and offering hugs if you ever needed them

you cannot tell me that he doesn’t give the best hugs ever <33

now that you are dating though it’s just an excuse to love you more and show it in so many ways <3

as i say every single time, i just know he loves buying you gifts

you’re always on his mind, in every situation, whether he’s walking around and sees something in the window of a store that he knows you would like, or when he’s going to go pick something up to eat, he’ll always buy you something as well <3

he’ll really do anything for you, too. ask and it’s almost guaranteed

“iwa, can i draw on u”

“anything you want, princess”

“can we go get ice cream?” (it’s midnight)

“yea, are you ready to go now, love?”

all he needs in return is your love

adores getting to take naps with you or just laying in bed with you and in public, he always has an arm around your waist or should, keeping you close

with him it’s a complete all-all 100% relationship from both sides, that's what love is to him

everything is shared between you guys from money to items to secrets, you guys have complete trust in each other there’s not even a question about it he’s so good at communicating and keeping everything clear

everything he has is yours if you’ll be his <3

atsumu

“the one that loves, does he come back? the one that loves never leaves, my dear.”

he just completely softens around you

in fact i could see him getting worse around other people because you’re just the only one that matters to him

you know those videos about gym bros with girlfriends who act all misogynistic and stinky at the gym so that girls don’t approach them? that’s him. (i tried so hard to find a video as an example but i could not pls tell me u know what i’m talking about)

if any girl other than you tries to approach him literally anywhere they’re about to be absolutely obliterated when he flat out ignores him. or, if they don’t get the hint and he finally acknowledges them, he gives them the dirtiest, coldest look known to man, his nose wrinkling as he turns to them

“huh? yer talking to me? why? piss off.”

everyone knows that if they have to give him bad news, it’s best to do it when you’re in his general proximity or he’s just talked to you because that’s when he’ll receive it best

it’s nearly impossible to anger him when you’re around, and even if he gets upset, he won’t blow up, he’s just too enamored by you <3

loves to hold your hand in his lap or have a hand on your thigh and he’s content with life

his voice always lowers and softens when he’s around you, and he gives you the sweetest heart eyes

he’s always looking at you and he’ll tease you a lot just because he adores your reactions but they’re all just playful jokes

“ya know, if you ever wanted to cheer for me when everyone goes silent during games, I’d let ya,” he told you once while he was keeping you company before a game on a bench

“what? I could never do that,” your face heated at the thought, “it’d just be me and everyone would look at me. someone would probably even get mad.”

he chuckled, shaking his head as he brought your knuckles to his lips, “that’s the point. you’d sound so cute, and they’d know yer mine.” 

if you ever had a problem with how he treats other people, he’d try to work on it if you talk to him about it

no promises, but he’ll do his best for his princess <3

[lexirosewrites]

I keep trying to send you something for SS but it keeps getting reformatted and an error comes up. I'll try to send in multiple parts.

I'm sorry that this took so long to answer, but I was trying to find the best way to post your submission because all three posts came in formatted a bit wonkily and I wanted to make sure everyone could read the full story properly, so I put them all here as text in order to make it easier to follow! Hopefully that works easier than linking all three posts together💛

⬇️ NSFW steddie ficlet below

PART 1

Here's a little something for Slick Sunday O!S A!E: Steve hasn't gotten off in a while. It's not for lack of desire, he's been woefully single but honestly too busy to do much about it. The issue really has been he hasn't really felt like getting off solo. The few times he's tried lately, mostly when he's in bed for the night, didn't really go anywhere. He'd take his cock in his hand, dip his fingers in his pussy for some slick as lube, determined to rub one out but after a few minutes his erection would flag and he'd just give up and go to sleep.

Until today, where he's finally horny enough that he's SURE he could get off, and he wants to SO badly. unfortunately he's currently at work and he can't go anywhere because it's a busy day, he's by himself and has to man the register.

And technically he needs to walk around and organize things but he's staying put behind the register because he's hard as rock, and his boxers are slick soaked.

He's so embarrassed and he glances at the clock willing the customers to leave. He's panicking during transactions sure they all smell his desire, and even if they can he knows it's socially impolite to point it out. He hopes his blockers are doing a good enough job he needs to switch them out soon.

PART 2

Finally the store is empty and Steve is about to turn the sign so he can go on his lunch break, finally, and speed on home for a change of underwear and quick crank.

But the front door makes a little digital bells sound, indicating someone else has arrived. nononono go away GO away GO AWAY!!!!!!

Steve glances up to see it's Eddie and he's half relieved and half nervous. Relieved since it's Eddie, whom he’s been crushing on for quite a while, and nervous because he's SURE he won't be able to leave anytime soon since Eddie tends to stick around when he comes to visit Steve at work. He's sure to want Steve to walk around with him and Steve really wouldn't be able to hide behind the counter anymore.

"Hiya Steeeevie! You guys get any new worthwhile flicks?"

"Uh maybe. Check the new releases."

"Haha well yeah I'm going to, just wanted to know if you have any recommendations!"

"Nothing comes to mind, sorry."

"You're sweating, somethings up with you. You alright?"

"Fine, uh. I'm fine AC's been on the fritz. I'll go check the thermostat in the back."

"Ah that sucks. I'll go with you, see if I can tinker with the unit and get it working better!"

"There's no need. someone will come tomorrow."

"Good :Eddie sniffs the air: oh wow. it smells SO nice in here today."

ohcrapohnomyblockersarewornout!

"Oh uh..."

"Wait, it's. It's you. You smell great Steve, wow. I don't usually smell you."

"My uh, blockers must need to be switched out, thanks for letting me know. I'll go in the back real quick and do that" It's a plausible excuse but embarrassing enough he won't be followed.

Steve starts toward the back room determined to reapply his blocker patch and will his erection to flag before he has to face Eddie, again.

"Oh! I'll just wait out here you go replace your patch and I'll get out of your hair soon I promised Wayne a movie night."

Steve, not knowing what to say, rushes into the back.

PART 3

"Go down, go down. please. Eddie's right outside"

Oh Eddie's right outside?

It's like his cock is mocking him the way it does a desperate little twitch at the thought of Eddie standing outside the door. Beautiful, Eddie with his soft doe eyes, and his cropped top, showing off the trail to what is probably a huge alpha co— Now's not the time for horny thoughts!

"Uh Steve? you alright in there? you've been in there for a little bit?"

What if Eddie was waiting outside the door and thinks he's rubbing one out in here?

Oh no! oh no!

If anything it just makes Steve gush even more.

Imagines Eddie asking if he needs a hand—

"Fine!!! I'm fine!"

But the door handle is turning, and Steve curses the lack of locks.

Steve automatically turns around to wave him off.

They meet eyes and Steve can tell the moment Eddie sees his bulge because Eddie stops short and his eyes bug a bit, and he instinctively sniffs the air around him(This is it! this is when Steve finally dies of embarrassment, he just knows it!!!)

"Oh man you're soaked. Do you have a change of clothes in the car, I could get for you?"

"I don't, l used them when we decided to go swimming last week. I'm just going to go, uh die of embarrassment be right back."

"Don't be embarrassed, you don't need to be. I shouldn't have come in without knocking. I've been there before, pent up and no way to get rid of it, l once popped a boner in the middle of a grocery store. I was terrified the staff would think I was into cauliflower. "

Steve can't help but scoff a little laugh at Eddie's nervous ramblings.

"Cauliflower huh? Would have taken you for more of a cucumber man"

SHUTUPSHUTUPSHUTUP

"Well yeah I guess don't want to be too predictable, and that's just low hanging fruit, well, vegetable really. Uh Why am I still standing here? You're sweating so bad, you smell fantastic wow. I'm just putting my foot in my mouth here."

Steve stares at him blushing "You think I smell good?" he giddily asks.

"You smell fucking amazing. And just look at you. You're packing some serious heat there, huh? Um, not to be too forward but wouldyoulikesomehelpwiththatSteve?"

Steve nervously smiles and asks for clarification "slow down a bit. what did you say?" please be what I thought you said!!!!

Eddie gulps but steps forward into Steve's space.

Gulps and takes a deep breath through his nose, his pupils dilating. "I said, would you like some help with that,omega??"

Steve gulps and feels himself start to gush even more, slick trailing down the inside of his thighs, Eddie seems to notice the way he glances down hungrily.

"PLEASE! :Steve clears his throat: I mean. Yes! I would. I really would. Let me lock the front door."

[asherlockstudy]

Wonderhole E2, E3 & E4

I am going to write about these three in the same post because there is significantly less to write about episodes 3 & 4 than about the first and the second episodes and even last year's monthly videos. I am hoping there will be more to discuss in the upcoming Red vs Blue episode. I wonder whether they considered the Flight Simulation and the Time Capsule so "heavy" that they decided to ease it a bit before the finale. I guess we will find out soon.

We Time Traveled to the Year 2224

Certainly, the Rhinkiest of these three episodes and the one which certainly belongs to the One Story saga.

Rhett and Link decide to pursue extended longevity and eternal life. Rhett explains how they just have to survive in a good condition for 20-30 years more and then they will be able to achieve it. At face value this is not exactly Rhett's crap by the way. I was reading a book about the progress in geriatric medicine and this was stated there; whoever makes it to twenty years from now will hopefully have a lot of new age medicine available to delay growing old and the health issues associated with it.

This episode has some of the most lewd jokes Rhett and Link have ever made. However, they are often given so offhandedly that I did not see much seriousness, any significant symbolism in them. For example, yes, they suck anal toys (Link sucks Rhett's heavily used one) but this was just meant to be an adult joke, I'm not gonna derive any meaning for their relationship through this. Another example is Rhett's titanium - tight ass or the "I don't think I can last much longer with you inside me".

"From journeys long and miles worn, within these walls you are reborn. When weary soul sole is stripped away, whether from work or whether play, come to me with offerings and I will show you fresh new strings." Now, that's more interesting. Rhett points out that there is a double meaning in this. This totally reminds me of the concept of the Bahau Moon riddle, although there the allegory was a little different. Here it is nowhere as serious but it remains 100% sexually coded.

There are two mentions of their wives, one is that they are waiting for their wives "to be thawed", the other is that they both look distressed and uncomfortable when the letter from their past selves assumes their families are doing all right. My speculation is that their wives' bodies were cryopreserved until a revival became scientifically possible. So they are waiting for them to be thawed but it has not happened yet. What does this tell us though? It tells us that whatever knowledge or decision they had to make to achieve eternal life, they shared it with each other and not with their family members. Somehow, there was a choice made or there was a consequence that led to Rhett and Link living forever together but the revival of the wives, maybe even the children, was desirable yet secondary, optional. That's... that's something, for sure.

Did you guys notice the name of the shop next to the shoe repair shop? Their commitment is crazy:

We actually do get some pretty interesting themes here. Rhett and Link visit a shoe soul sole repair shop and the owner promises to keep their clue for the time capsule hidden inside a treasure box, protected very well. This just seems to hint at somebody keeping a secret very well and Rhett and Link completely trusting them to keep doing so. Is the time capsule an allegory for... truth? The official premise (or whatever it is) seems to further support this:

Keep it buried... as long as possible.

The next clues lead them to the desert, the same desert where they dug the medium (and the huge) sized holes. They even wear similar outfits; some of the garments are the same and some are changed. This was clear homage to the Hole Digging video. Besides, Rhett and Link have said there is connection between all these videos (although they probably have made it too hard to discern this for their own good).

There they pick up a fight, disagreeing about the direction they should follow. Rhett prefers the one way, the main way, the standard way pointed by the play button, whereas Link argues they should try "all the ways". The argument escalates and Link screams how Rhett's longevity idea has stuck them into an eternal hellscape (the 2224 universe seems to be particularly unfree and restrictive). Link also adds he 'd rather be with Rhett at their pod watching a sequel of Fast & the Furious than in this adventure, hunt and all, which must be 2224's equivalent for domesticity. Link protests that Rhett is not always right but he simply never changes and in his fury he missteps and falls from a cliff to his death.

During Link's last moments, Rhett desperately considers carrying Link to the nearest cloning facility and put his chip to another Link, a loud nod to their Sketchtober 2015 BFFs video. With the very subtle prompt "Put me in you" Link implores Rhett to put his chip in him, in an attempt to rescue his consciousness. Rhett complies, so he tries to save Link. We return to the One Story tropes (not that we ever left them with this one) where Rhett needs to save Link from something and like we will also see here the only outcome is that Rhett gets destroyed as well. Rhett finds the treasure box only to see there was a whole lot of nothing inside it. In a deteriorating condition he returns to the former grounds of Mythical where the semi-android hacker working there gives him two options: a) they yank Link's consciousness chip out and he's gone forever but Rhett lives on or b) they yank out both chips which have merged and become one and save them in a deadlock in a hard drive.

A deadlock is a situation in which two computer programs sharing the same resource are effectively preventing each other from accessing the resource, resulting in both programs ceasing to function.

Rhett opts for the latter. He sacrifices his life and follows Link. Meanwhile, the hacker indeed saves their consciousnesses - which have become one - in this deadlock, "alone" in a hard drive and hides the hard drive in the previously empty box. They place the box in a dusty shelf and there is this implication that nobody will know or care about this ever again. Also, the fact that it is a deadock is important as well: we have two consciousnesses operating like computer programs which are apparently assessing data differently and this leads them to a deadlock that neutralises them both. So, to bring this to reality, the reason there is so much delay or nothing happens at all is because they have completely different mindsets about what's to be done and how it should be approached. This is actually something we have discussed several times before, how they seem to be on a totally different page.

Beyond the interpretations that can be made for this, we see again a conclusion that we have seen before in several scripted videos. In Hazel, they end up trapped in the woods of the middle room for eternity, in the Brown Diamond they remain trapped to the Bahau Moon to their deaths, in the Unhaunted House they are murdered inside this house without any witness. We have this theme of their souls, their consciousnesses, sometimes even their physical bodies being trapped together, as one, forever without anyone knowing.

So, if we attempt to connect all these pieces together, first of all we get the "wherever you go, I go", the timelessness, the forever. This is a promise to each other, they will be together forever. Then we also have the buried time capsule, which Rhett wants to keep buried for as long as possible, which eventually leads to a long, torturous life that frustrates Link deeply. Link tries to distance himself from this situation but he falls to his death (because it's impossible for him to just let go). Rhett has the choice to go on on his own but instead he opts to try and save Link or die along in his efforts, which is what happens. Ultimately what remains of them is their love, their joined souls, consciousnesses and how they poured their truth in their creation and although it endures forever, it is for nobody to see.

Again, this is the classic story arc we see in most of their scripted videos. Whether it is because he loses control (Digging a Medium sized Hole), memory and freedom (Hazel, TLCOBC), his very life (UnHaunted House, Time Capsule), Link needs to be saved by Rhett but Rhett falls in the trap even more deeply and condemns them together.

Regarding the emptiness of the box, an Anon I just received has a great interpretation that finds me very agreeable, I am linking their mail here. What I will write here is basically the same or very close to what they describe, maybe with a slightly darker twist. Throughout the video, we have the concept of time which seems to be eternal but is not (at some point Rhett says about eternity that it feels like "you have too much time yet not enough") and even though current Rhett and Link seem to be amused by the idea of a scavenger hunt for an empty box, the surviving future Rhett found it disappointing. We can only imagine how mad it would make Link, had he not died already, because he was already frustrated and angry for the hunt alone, so he would probably be furious if he saw what the "reward" was. Moreover, Link puts the blame on Rhett for all of this and it's true that Rhett came up with this idea.

It's like an allegory for Rhett who has this drive and ambition for their career, their creativity, a life of adventure in this context and with this obsession he overlooks and delays other things that in truth may be more meaningful. Years will pass and Rhett will be looking for his masterpiece, their peak creation, recognition and eventually they will go, retire, withdraw, die and nothing will remain behind except for their love, the connection of their souls, which was what was truly timeless about them yet it was the one thing that was kept buried in a box in the dust and never brought to light properly. In the end, nobody appreciated it for what it truly was, neither an observer nor they, for they wasted their time delaying it and trying to find meaning elsewhere. By "they", let's be real, I mostly mean Rhett.

To my understanding this is self-reflection, maybe also a critique of Rhett to himself, a warning of what could be coming, something that Link seems to have notified him about multiple times (the e-mail, everybody?) but maybe it's poor timing to say this now, I sense there is a lot of distance to be run still from theory and creativity to actual action. This video alludes to a reality in which the action was not taken.

We Went to Extremes to Drink a Cloud

Episode 3 is not as heavy with meaning and symbolism. It is surely a "retelling" of their childhood dreams and their commitment to bring them to fruition. Young Rhett and Link promised to do something great together when they grew up and drinking a cloud is likely the symbolism of this struggle. They try a lot, in many different ways, but it's never exactly what they are looking for. In the end they are very happy they managed to do it, although the method they employed seemed very underwhelming and fake to me, which might be the point, I don't know. Of course this is a huge part of their relationship; achieving something great together. It's just that I did not find anything to mention beyond this, except of course for the very heavy deepthroating insinuations when they were drinking the fog.

Now to the important stuff, will the Fog Chasers song be released? SOON PLEASE???

We Chopped Down a Tree with a Peanut Butter Axe

To be honest with you I don't want to write about this episode because I don't want to watch it again. Not because it made me emotional but because watching the squirrel family again is equivalent to torture for me. I am sorry but I actually really disliked this episode. Fortunately, there is still not much to say here either. Or maybe I did not notice because I was impatient to be done with it....

The episode is largely a tribute to Ben and it offers this exposition they had also done in a very heartfelt Ear Biscuit episode. In Ben's memory they chose to chop down a tree in their state with a peanut butter axe made by their university; peanut butter because Ben died from testicular cancer and tree chopping because Ben thought it was fun.

The only thing I wonder is whether there is any meaning with what happens with the squirrel family and whether it is a side story not associated to Ben's life. I wonder this because Rhett and Link seem to have thought about it thoroughly; the tree would go down anyway, they will plant 1000 trees in its place, so it's all good. Even though they have thought this through, it turns out there will be victims due to their decision. A flying squirrel family, with a non-winged squirrel stepfather whose home is obviously going to be destroyed. Rhett and Link cause the dissolution of this family and this is what I find interesting. The kids eventually try to see the positive side: they are close to adulthood anyway, so they choose to leave home behind and start their own lives. The stepdad, the non-winged squirrel, literally opts to stay at home and die. The mother squirrel tries to change his mind but it's not like she's losing her mind about it to be honest and soon she goes too and leaves him behind. Who the stepfather squirrel stands for - if he stands for anyone in the first place - I cannot say. But I did find interesting this side theme of Rhett and Link's action basically leading to a family falling apart and everyone taking a separate path in life (or death).

One Story Masterlist here

[myangelhaven]

This is my recommendations of SEUNGCHEOL fics! It will be updated once in a while for new stories I have read. Hopefully the links work (lemme know if it doesn't)

Credits to the authors!! All informations written are taken from the authors' post and has not been modified. Reminder that some fics are NOT for minors, so please read the key and avoid 18+ contents.

HAPPY READING!!

KEY

[❀]: fluff [𖤓]: angst [𖦹]: humour [☄]: sad [☾]:smut [⟡]:smau [✮]: my favs

˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖✮---------SEUNGCHEOL----------✮˖⁺‧₊˚ ˚₊‧⁺˖

ONESHOT

Three seconds by @writer-k-pop [𖤓][☄][breakup] 3.5k

6 months after breaking up, you had finally gotten used to life without S.Coups/Seungcheol and the 12 other members. You kept up with news surrounding them but you never really expected them to reenter your life. And you didn’t expect him to reenter with the explosive news that he dropped into your lap.

I dare you by @chocosvt [❀] 4.3k

your longtime campus crush just received an interesting dare: to ask you out on a date. while the circumstances are questionable, you aren’t going to decline. maybe this is your ticket to romance. 

Control by @leejihoonownsmyheart [𖤓][☾][pining] 8k

Seungcheol is the one mistake you should never make. The one you always do. The relationship that you equally have the most and least control over.

Because I love you by @starlightxsvt [❀][𖤓][pining][f2l][idiots to lovers] 9.3k NEW

harboring feelings for your best friend of years have never been this hard. now, when he shows up with a beautiful girl in his arms you aren't sure how long you can keep your feelings to yourself.

TEXTS

Nothing new by @laineov [❀][𖤓][soulmateau] NEW

after a night out drinking lots of thoughts come on your mind. some involving your youth and your relationship with your boyfriend.

SERIES

15 minutes by @gyuwoncheol [☾][breeding] 5.3k (2 parts) [part II] NEW

Despite time constraints, no one is as committed to get you pregnant than Cheol getting ready for a concert.

The way back by @suhnshinehaos [❀][𖤓][⟡] 3 parts

fans reminisce on your relationship with seungcheol

Hopelessly devoted: yours and seungcheol's friends try to pick up the pieces and glue them back together

Beginning, middle, end: seungcheol makes a facetime call and a fan makes a bold claim

Push it down (sooner or later it all comes out) by @dontflailmenow [𖤓][☾][✮✮][e2l] 50.3k (5 parts)

thirsting over your ex’s best friend in general is a bad idea. given that you and seungcheol have never gotten along, it’s even worse. when you accidentally stumble across his stream, though, and he finds out? all bets are off.

Stop loving by @svtskneecaps [𖤓][⟡][☄] 15 parts

You’d caught the disease no less than six times in the past year alone and gotten over your crush every time, but this time was different. It felt different. More dangerous. You were playing with fire and flowers, and you knew soon you’d get hurt. But love wasn’t something you just ‘quit’.

I like you by @taeyegu [❀][𖤓][⟡][✮] 17 parts

“i like you so much, i want to give you my everything, only for you…” (i like you, cho jung seok)

⠄･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄more to come!⠄･ ⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄⠂⋆ ･ ⠄

☆--------------------svt masterlist-------------------☆

[koishiro]

Ermmm quick question… HOW DOES IT FEEL TO HAVE A BEAUTIFUL AF BLOG?? Like pls share and help me out bc my blog is BARE and empty and looks nasty af, I wanna make my pinned posts and moodboards and just pfp and theme look pretayyy ☹️☹️

Awe thank youuu!!! >.< I think bc I’m such a minimalist in rl it’s easier for me to pick and choose. But here’s a tutorial that’ll hopefully help :33

NOTE! I do everything on my iphone (writing, editing, decorating my page etc just in case ur wondering if I do all this on a laptop/computer,,,I don’t :p)

ʚ The way I work is I’ll choose 3 main colours; a light colour, an in-between shade and then a dark colour. Mine for example : light colour: white, in-between shade: grey, dark colour: dark grey. It’s up to you whether you want ur dark or light colour to be ur main colour but I’d keep ur in-between shade as an in-between. (Think of ur in-between shade as a gradient, helping to blend ur light colour with ur dark colour)

AND CHOOSE COLOURS THAT WORK TOGETHER! Even when picking pictures like for example ur navigation or pinned page make sure the pics have the same three colour combo you used through ur whole blog even if its minuscule it’ll make a huge difference I promise u (so like I’d personally look out for white, grey and black accent pics for my blog on Pinterest) :

ʚ Even with moodboards I still work with the same mindset! :

SET YOUR THEME! Once you’ve figured out your colours and where they’ll go, set your blog’s theme from the editing page!!! (hint : I’d use your mid/gradient/in-between shade as your accent but it honestly depends on what ur after) :

ʚ What really helps is when you have a pic theme and what I mean by that is maybe use ur fav character from somewhere (like mines megumi from jjk) or maybe it’s a sanrio character like my melody. (I grab my pics from this Pinterest board if that helps which I also use for my moodboards)

Example :

⤷ I also found it helped my aesthetic when I added links into my bio to help find my carrd and navigation (here’s the link for the tut) it helps fill out ur bio especially if ur not sure what to put there :) — I know earlier I said I do everything on my phone but I’m not entirely sure if this is able to be done on a phone (android or iphone) so I’d use a laptop with this part if you can :))

Miscellaneous things you can add!

ʚ You can also customise ur ask page title (like mine is : send me a love letter ︎♡)

ʚ Keep ur writing post themes consistent — this helps readers actually remember ur work while also tying ur blog together.

For example, I always use this draft for my writing :

ʚ Fonts really help! I personally use the app : keyboard + + for free fonts (u just have to watch a few adds to unlock them)

ʚ I find it important to make sure whatever picture you add to your blog has a transparent background — not everyone has the same colour palette (like mine is permanently on Dark Mode while others will have theirs on Gothic) :

(I use Picsart for this)

ʚ Tags make a difference on your posts too! A separate tag index can also help ur followers know where to find certain posts for easy scrolling or maybe posts they want to avoid (like smut) :

ʚ For my pfp I chose a bright main colour like yellow to stand out against the dark grey of my blog and I usually leave this as the last step in my “blog decoration” just because I find it easier once all the main construction is done and then I can see what colour(s) I need to add back to tie my blog together.

ʚ I also like to hide my pfp/avatar from my bio bc it looks a bit too much and too big for me personally and it can sometimes clash with the colours you already have going on, I like a minuscule pfp but again that’s just preference :

Anywhoooo I think that’s it! Hopefully this helped and if you (or anyone else) have anymore questions or if you want me to personally help you with decorating your blog pls pls pls message me and I’ll be happy to help! ,,,Mwah! <3

[caustic-caffeine]

my thoughts on the instagram ai situation, as a digital artist on the platform

figured i’d write and share this around so others in the community i’m in know my status. sooo, some basics for starters:

“Are you leaving Instagram? Where can I find you active?”

i’m staying on instagram for the time being. seeing as instagram almost certainly already has the data of my past posts, i won’t be deleting anything; going forward, i’ll be using ai disturbance filters and other anti-ai overlays for any stills i post. i anticipate using instagram for reels primarily, as well as staying in communications with mutuals and other artists. i do have a cara account, but will likely be posting intermittently until some issues i’ve noticed get addressed. going forward, i’ll most likely be at my most active over here! growth, fortunately, never was a priority in my social media presence so i’m not super concerned about that.

tldr:

instagram: gonna continue posting reels and occasional stills, will be primarily focused on interacting with fellow artists

here: most active! will post both rough and polished stills, as well as lore and whatever random thoughts pop into my head. (see pinned post for a tag guide)

cara: activity will be low unless shit really hits the fan on instagram and i can no longer protect my work via overlays. if you’re an insta moot, feel free to dm me if you want me to share your posts around, though! if the link doesn’t work: i’m @/asphodelity [EDIT] cara does work with an ai organization, hive; here is a post that goes into it and other things people have said about the platform! as i already wasn’t intending to use the platform all that often this won’t change anything for me, but make sure to do your research if you’re looking into the platform!

“Will this affect how much you post?”

not really! i already have a fairly sporadic posting schedule, so i’ll just be continuing what i’ve been doing: posting when i have things i wanna share :]

“Help! I’m an Instagram artist and want to know how to protect my art!”

i gotchu.

[EDIT] the non-glaze/nightshade/artshield filters are mostly ineffective! it won’t hurt you to use them, but if you can stick to using the glaze and nightshade sites!! if you don’t have a pc, you can apply to get a webglaze account!

how to (hopefully) opt out of your art being scraped in the european union (i think?)

how to (hopefully) do the same in the united states (note: post could be outdated)

other ways to protect your art: one, two, three, four

ai disturbance filters: one, two, three (set these to overlay at 30% as the top layer for most effectiveness! these aren’t as effective as using a website like glaze, but are better than nothing)

after june 26, no matter your region, you’ll be unable to opt out of ai data training. this affects, to my knowledge, everything you post, including captions.

“Any other thoughts?”

now, more than ever, we as a community need to stick together and support each other. don’t let anyone tell you your art isn’t worth anything; we as artists have something very special in our ability to create, express ourselves, and connect with the world around us, an algorithm and misguided techbros will never be able to take that away from us. keep pursuing what you love, my friends; we have to weather the storm to see the rainbow.

my dms are always open for art reasons. need a pep talk? i’m around. wanna collab or trade? i’d love to! need help boosting your social medias? i’m happy to help (although my presence is admittedly very small). whatever it is, i’m here and willing to help!

i’ll keep updating yall on this platform as my activity changes (or, perhaps, something big related to ai happens), so be sure to stick around if that seems interesting! also, please feel free to reblog this post and add more information i may have missed, that’s all for now, thank you for your time <3

[sequinsmile-x]

Congrats on 500 + followers! 🎉

I would love to request hand holding no 13 “linking hands together during sex” - happy writing (hopefully!) x

Thank you so much!! <3

This turned into a full-blown one shot, which I think we ALL knew was going to happen at some point with this prompt collection!

I have made this a separate fic on Ao3 so Midas Touch can keep its G Rating.

-x-

Exploration

Words: 3.8k

Warnings: Smut, 18+

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

“Emily, Zac is falling asleep.” 

She looks up from the math homework she’d been helping Jack with, grateful for the distraction. She looks over to where Jack is pointing, and smiles at the sight of her youngest, half asleep on the armchair his head nodding up and down as he continued to attempt to watch the cartoon she’d put on for him to keep him occupied. 

She stands up and walks over, running her hand over Zachary’s dark hair, idly thinking about how it would need a cut soon, ��You ready for bed Zac?” 

He shakes his head, the stubbornness he’d inherited from both of his parents shining through in his dark eyes. 

“No.” 

She looks over his head to Jack and exchanges a wink with her oldest before she reaches down to pick Zachary up. He wraps his arms around her neck, one of his hands immediately curling around her hair, something he’d done ever since he was a tiny newborn. She groans as she heaves him onto her hip, the sound coming more from habit at this stage than any discomfort. 

“Mama hurt?” 

She kisses his forehead as she settles him onto her hip, “Not anymore, sweet boy,” she says as she starts to walk towards the stairs, calling over her shoulder as she goes, “I’ll be back in a little bit, Jack.” 

It had been two months since she’d been hurt on a case, a knife to the shoulder as the unsub they’d been chasing cornered her. He’d hit her with such force, shoving her into a wall as he stabbed her, that she’d cracked two ribs. The knife had broken during the attack, the tip of it chipping off against bone, and she’d had surgery to remove it. 

It meant she spent three days too many in a hospital on the otherside of the country from her children before she was released to go home. Aaron had sent the rest of the team back to DC as soon as it was clear she was ok, but he had stayed with her despite her insistence she’d be fine. She was secretly grateful for it, always able to find more comfort in his coddling than she’d ever admit. They’d called Jack and Zachary each night, their youngest too young to understand why his parents weren’t home yet, and she doesn’t think she’d ever felt relief like she had when they finally walked through the front door of their home. Aaron had caught Zachary in his arms before he could run into her, his excitement at finally seeing his mother overriding the conversations Jess and Jack had with him about how he had to be careful. 

The recovery had been brutal, much worse than she had anticipated initially. The injury to her ribs made doing the exercises she had to do for her shoulder excruciating at first, pain burning through her chest and abdomen that was a little too familiar. A phantom of her time in Paris chasing her, always at the edge of her memory, prone to catching up with her from time to time. 

What kept her grounded, the thing to remind her that she wasn’t alone anymore, was her family. Aaron fussed over her, following the doctor's orders to the letter as he made sure she took the recommended amount of time off work. He’d clearly encouraged Jack to help look after her. The young boy carried things around the house for her in a way that was entirely unnecessary, always asking if she was ok when it was just the two of them. Zachary was too young to understand that she was hurt. The almost two year old prone to a tantrum at the start when he wasn’t allowed to snuggle up with her in their usual way, so keen for his mother’s love and affection he’d cry if he couldn’t have it. 

She was better now. The ache in her ribs was a distant memory, and her shoulder was almost back to full working order. It still felt a little stiff at times, a soreness to it if she overdid it, but she was ready to go back to work properly. She’d been back in the office for a few weeks now but her doctor, and therefore her husband, were insistent on her staying out of the field at first. Which is how she found herself at home with the boys when Aaron was on his way home from a case in Idaho. 

She missed him. In more ways than one. 

One of the first questions she’d asked her doctor, to Aaron’s chastisement, had been when she’d be able to have sex. She knew from experience that she’d be warned off of it for a little while to allow herself to heal, but she’d felt the eight weeks she’d been quoted was a bit extreme. Unfortunately, Aaron had taken it very seriously, saying he wasn’t going to do anything to hurt her, that they’d have to wait until the doctor gave her the go-ahead, and she was going crazy. Every time he touched her, his hand at her lower back, or his fingers grazing her waist as they lay in bed, it felt like her skin was on fire. Burning for him in a way that was reminiscent of before they got together when she only had her dreams to go on for what it would like to be with him.

It was worse now that she knew exactly what it was like. How it felt to be taken apart by him. Loved by him. 

She’d walked away from her follow-up appointment with her doctor that afternoon with a letter saying she could go back in the field, and that all ‘normal’ activities could resume. A thought that makes her smile as she walks into Zachary’s bedroom, flicking the light on as she enters. 

“Big bed?” Zachary asks, rubbing at his eye with the hand that wasn’t wrapped up in her hair, his exhaustion slowly taking hold. He’d slept in with her whilst Aaron was away, partially because it was a comfort to both her and her son that she had allowed herself to indulge in, partially because he’d figured out how to climb out of his crib and she’d wake to find him next to her anyway. 

“Not tonight, baby,” she replies, kissing the side of his head as she paces back and forth in his room, trying to lull him to sleep so she could put him down, “You have to sleep in your own bed.” 

He frowns at her, a look that was Aaron through and through, and she has to stop herself from smiling, “I’ll stay here until you fall asleep though.” 

He buries his face in her neck, his grip on her hair increasing, “Story?” 

Emily smiles and rubs her hand up and down his back before walking over to the rocking chair they still kept in the room.

“Ok, I’ll read you a story.” 

She’d read him as many stories as he wanted. 

She had plans for the big bed tonight. 

___

She waits upstairs even though she hears the door close as Aaron gets home. She smiles as she listens to him go about his routine, something she could describe in great detail if she needed to. As familiar with his as she was with her own. 

She hears both of the boy’s bedroom doors open and close again a couple of minutes later as he checks in on them. She can picture him leaning in to kiss each of their foreheads as he retucked their bedding around them.

He finally walks into their bedroom, a smirk on his face as he opens the door, shaking his head at the sight of her. She was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing one of his shirts and nothing else, a coy smile on her face. 

“Subtle,” he comments raising his eyebrow at her, reaching behind him to close their bedroom door. 

“The doctor signed me off,” she explains, leaning back slightly onto her elbows, ignoring the slight pull of her shoulder at the movement, “I’ve got a clean bill of health.”

“Yes, sweetheart,” he says, smiling widely at her, “I saw the letter you left out on the kitchen counter…including the lines you highlighted.” 

She laughs lightly, “I didn’t want you to have any doubt. As my boss. Or as my husband.” 

Aaron shakes his head again and walks over to her, leaning down to stamp a quick kiss against her lips, his smile widening as she chases him as he pulls back.

“Hi,” he says, reaching to tuck some of her hair behind her ear, his hand lingering at her cheek, “I missed you.” 

“I missed you too,” she replies, seeing how his eyes flash at the double meaning. She turns her head to kiss his palm, “So much.” 

She pulls him towards her by his tie, kissing him fiercely as she holds him in place. She sighs in relief when he kisses her back, his hand still on her cheek as deepens the kiss, tasting the desperation on her tongue. 

He ends up kneeling in front of her, ignoring the crack of his knees against the floor, everything else disappearing apart from her. He’d missed this too, the last two months without her like this torture, but the last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her. 

He refused to be added to the list of people in her life who had. 

He unbuttons the shirt she’s wearing slowly, paying close attention to her skin as he does so. Her breath catches in her throat as he drags his lips down her neck, nipping at her pulse point before he kisses her collarbone. He closes her eyes and loses herself in the feeling. 

She freezes when he moves to slip the shirt off of her body, his fingers catching the new scar on her shoulder. The tingling feeling left behind against the still numb skin unexpectantly pulls her out of the moment. She wanted this. Him. She always wanted him. 

She’d initiated this, she’d started it. But for a moment all she can think about is the still red line across the front of her shoulder. Yet another place she had been stitched back together, another repair on the tapestry of her skin. She can’t explain it, why she feels self-conscious, but she finds herself holding the shirt together without meaning to. Her hand seemingly reaches for it by itself, clutching at the material as she blows out a breath. 

He immediately picks up on the tension in her body, how she stiffens against him, and he pulls back. 

“Are you ok sweetheart?” He asks, his eyebrows furrowing slightly, as he tucks some of her hair behind her ear, “I didn’t hurt you did I?”

She shakes her head, “No,” she assures him, reaching out for him with the hand that wasn’t covering herself, “No you didn’t hurt me,” she sighs, familiar patience for her shining in his eyes as he stays silent, knowing her well enough to understand she’d tell him herself. “It’s the scar on my shoulder,” she smiles tightly at him, feeling ridiculous as she says it out loud, “It’s…new.” 

Aaron frowns at that, cupping her face to tilt her head so she’s looking at him, her attempt at avoiding eye contact failing. 

“I’ve seen it before, sweetheart.” 

At first, he’d helped her with pretty much everything, the combination of her ribs and shoulder injuries rendering her arm useless. He’d helped her get dressed and washed her hair for her. He’d even changed the bandages on her wound and held her hand tightly as the stitches were removed. 

This felt different. The intimacy of it making her more aware than ever of yet another change to her body she hadn’t been able to control. 

“I know,” she says, her tongue sticking out to wet her lower lip as she shrugs slightly, “It’s just…”

“Different,” he finishes for her and she nods, a smile ghosting over her face.

“Yeah. It’s different.” 

He understood. He had more scars than he could count, each a memory of something he had overcome. Something he had survived. It was one of the many things they had in common. Topographical changes across the maps of both of their bodies. Something that they both sought out in the early days of their relationship, exploring the hills and valleys they’d imagined for years. 

“You’re beautiful, Em,” he says, stroking the skin of her cheek. She smiles at him, shaking her head ever so slightly. 

“You have to say that,” she whispers back, her eyes meeting his, “You’re my husband.”

“It’s true,” he says, leaning in to kiss her, his lips ghosting across hers, his breath skipping across her face, “I’ve always thought so,” She sucks in a breathe as he presses his lips to her cheek, then her neck, restarting the pattern that he’d already begun, his teeth once again nipping at her skin, “Let me show you.” 

She nods, her breath catching in her chest as he looks at her for a response, his eyes dark with desire “Yes.” 

Aaron gently pulls the edges of the shirt apart again, her hands falling to her sides as he gently pushes the material down her arms. The sleeves gather at her elbows, trapped in place as he’s distracted by her exposed skin. He trails his fingers over her shoulder, making her shiver as he pays special attention to the scar there. He leans in and kisses it, gentle affection pressed into the raised skin that, makes her nerve endings crackle. 

“You’re so beautiful,” he says again, his hands ghosting down to her as he guides her to lay down, standing so he can look at her properly, “So fucking beautiful.” 

Her cheeks burn from his compliments, from the way he’s looking down at her, but her reply is cut off as he turns his attention to the small scar on her left breast. He leans down to press his lips against the four-leaf clover she had never removed, something she once hated now a sign of what she had overcome. He sucks a bruise next to it before moving on, a silent declaration that she was his that he’d been making since the very first time they’d done this. A primal claiming of her that she thinks she should hate, but can’t bring herself to. 

She closes her eyes as he strokes his fingers over the scar under her ribcage, the biggest of them all by far. It was large, a starburst of scar tissue across her abdomen that had been further warped by pregnancy, the thick white skin stretched almost to its limit from when their son had laid underneath it. She finally realises what he’s doing, how he’s reminding her of everything she’d survived to be here with him. That her scars were as much a part of her to him as her smile. As the way she loves him. 

Sometimes, she found herself wishing that he’d known her before any of it. That she’d given into her desires in those early days and fucked him in his office. Back before either of them had faced off with their monsters and come out the otherside, fractured but not broken, but forever changed. 

“Aaron,” she breathes out, her hand finding purchase in his hair, her fingers tangling in amongst the short locks. 

“Fucking perfect,” he mutters, his words muffled against her skin, lost in the magic that was his wife. The woman he still couldn’t believe was his. He shifts again, kissing the thin scar at the very bottom of her stomach, just about her pubic bone. A sign of another thing she’d got through, the birth of their son that had become very scary very quickly. 

It reminded him of her strength, of how she’d clearly been terrified as the doctors explained they needed to get Zac out now but how she’d tried to assure Aaron that everything would be ok. Tears shining in her eyes as she held his hand, her body once again torn open for something she couldn’t control. 

He pulls back from her and Emily gasps, cool air hitting her skin. She pushes herself up on her elbows and watches as he pushes her legs apart as he kneels down again, his hands running up her thighs, making her twitch as the callouses of his fingers make goose pimples spread over her skin. He shifts closer, his broad shoulders pushing her legs even further apart, his hands hooking around her thighs. The anticipation makes her shiver, the knowledge of what he could do with her making her skin fizz, love for him crackling under her skin. 

Aaron leans in and licks through her, groaning at the taste of her, and she throws her head back. She has to tamper down her moan, well aware of the kids sleeping just down the hall. 

“Fuck,” she grunts, her thighs tightening around his shoulders, “Aaron.”

He pulls back from her just enough to press a kiss to her inner thigh, biting at her skin in a way she knows will leave a bruise.

“So good, sweetheart,” he mumbles, kissing her skin again, “So good.” 

He dives back in before she can respond, his tongue relentless against her as he steals the words from her throat. He builds her up slowly on purpose, using his acute knowledge of her, of her body, against her. By the time she tips over the edge, it feels like every nerve ending in her body is on fire. She somehow has the ability to think just enough to cover her mouth, to muffle the moan that escapes her as he pulls pleasure from her. 

He barely stops, and she laughs, pushing at his head with a breathless chuckle, “Fuck, Aaron. Stop.”

He pulls away immediately, looking up at her, “You ok?”

“I’m more than ok,” she replies, trying to regulate her breathing again, “But I want you.” 

He smiles at her and stands up, the sound of his knees popping loud in the otherwise quiet room, and she laughs as she watches him take off his clothes, not worrying about hanging them up neatly for once as he lets them fall to the ground. 

“Are you ok there, old man?”

He glowers at her, eyes narrowed playfully, “I’ll show you old.” 

She sits up, finally removing the shirt of his that she was wearing and throwing it on the floor as she moves a little further up the bed.

“Is that a promise?” 

She laughs a little too loudly when he joins her on the bed, the sound brought to an abrupt stop as he kisses her fiercely, the taste of her on his lips as he lays on top of her, finding the usual comfort that he did in the cradle of her hips. 

Aaron reaches between them and guides himself into her, groaning at the familiar sensation, pressing his forehead into hers. She hooks a leg around him, encouraging him to carry on. 

He links their hands by her head, squeezing their fingers together as they establish their rhythm, something they had perfected long ago. He loses himself in the feel of her, the way she clenches around him, her face pressing into his shoulder. He can tell when she is getting close, a familiar catching of her breath in her chest that was always the first sign, followed closely by her leg tightening around him, her heel pressing into his back. 

He unclasps one of his hands from hers and reaches between them, delicately running his finger over her in a pattern he had memorised their very first night together. Her spare hand hooks around him his shoulder, blunt nails digging into his skin as she tips over the edge. He follows soon after, suppressing his groan into her collarbone, his teeth sinking into her skin in a way he knows she won’t thank him for the next time she has to get dressed for work. 

They lay there for a moment, the only sound in the room their heavy breathing before he pulls back to look at her.

“You ok?” He asks again, his voice thick with desire and love and something she’s never been able to name. 

She wants to be annoyed at him. Wants to roll her eyes, but she can’t. Too blissed out and in love with him to be frustrated at the fact that he cared so much. The way he loved her was something she once thought wasn’t real. Something she’s sure she’d consider coddling if it was anybody other than him. 

“I’m fine, honey,” she replies, the hand on his back moving to push some hair off of his forehead, her smile soft as she looks at him, “I love you.” 

He leans down to kiss her, a quick thing against her lips as he squeezes the hand that was still in his. 

“I love you too.” 

___

Aaron wakes up to the feel of tiny hands on his face. Little fingers digging into his cheeks. He opens his eyes and is met by the sight of his youngest son, the low light of the room just enough for him to see his face. 

He’s immediately grateful that he and Emily had showered and changed before bed, and that she’d convinced him to change the bedding. The days of getting through the night without some kind of interruption were behind them, although he wouldn’t change what he had now for anything. 

“Zac?” 

“Daddy!” He exclaims a little too loudly, clearly excited to see him, “Missed, Daddy.” 

Aaron sighs, reaching out for his son and heaving him onto the bed, shaking his head as the toddler immediately snuggles into him. 

“I missed you too, buddy,” he says, kissing the top of his head, “You have to be quiet though, Mommy is asleep.” 

“No she isn’t,” she grumbles from next to him, rolling over to face the two of them. The fake annoyance in her voice is given away by the smile on her face. Zachary immediately reaches out for her, and she gathers him into her arms. She shifts towards Aaron so their son is snuggled between the two of them, “Hi sweet boy.” 

“Hi, Mama,” he says sleepily, already yawning as if he wasn’t the one who had woken them both up. Emily makes eye contact with her husband and smiles, running her hand up and down their son’s back as he falls asleep on her. 

“How did he even get out of his crib?” Aaron asks, breaking out into a yawn.

“Oh, he can climb out of it now,” she replies simply, smiling at the horror in his eyes. He shakes his head at her, “He figured it out this week. I think it’s time we get him into an actual bed.” 

Aaron reaches out for her hand and links their fingers together. “He is 100% you.” 

She frowns at him, narrowing her eyes, “You say that like it’s a bad thing.” 

“No,” Aaron smiles, leaning down to kiss her. “It’s a good thing, sweetheart. The best.” 

-x-

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[sonkitty]

Earthly Objects Study - Windows Part 1 (Good Omens 2)

(For reference: Earthly Objects)

This post was last updated 07/08/2024.

All theory. I could be wrong and make corrections later.

This post is still messy but hopefully not as confused and wrong as the previous draft.

Touching a window with a hand or a finger is a basic physical earthly object touch.

But...windows have specific functions on Earth in that people look through windows to see things. That being the case, looking through a window itself is an earthly object touch, provided the camera sees that touch in the proper way, as done for doors. Since the story itself is a work of deception, it's very hard to trust how it manages windows at all.

I feel obligated to note that my understanding of Crowley's sight is that it works differently than how most people think of seeing. He senses people with his eyes to the point that it is nearly identical to how seeing works. The eyes move the same way. He knows how to look, where to look, when to look, and will even use the word "look" or variations ("Looking where the furniture isn't"), but it's still not quite the same. This understanding comes from the care taken in what is and is not reflected in his sunglasses. So, if I end up saying Crowley "sees" something in all this mess below, know that I mean he senses that something with his eyes.

Oh, and I think I found that certain blurs allow a pass or share, depending on context.

While not every scene in the story is linked by chains of points, most or all of the more complex ones I discuss here are.

I have not checked every window scene, and I won't. I hope I have checked enough to piece together the following. Earning a point for looking through a window requires three steps in certain more complex scenes covered in this post. It is actually still really complicated for each step, but as I understand it, the game wants three things.

Simplified description of the steps for a complex scene nonetheless:

(1) The looker looks.

(2) The window sees.

(3) The looker is seen behind the window with at least part of the window frame visible.

Here are more complex descriptions for the complex window scenes:

(1) The looker looks. If there is more than one character looking, they might have to work harder to earn credit for looking as a shared touch. In the examples of this post, when the scene is going to have the looker continue earning points related to looking through the window, the initial look does not have them visually holding or touching an earthly object even if it was implied earlier. In fact, some characters remove a touch to initiate the look. As such, I'm led to believe that type of camera shot is considered being at the threshold for looking through a window. Nearly every such shot has no dialogue from that character either with the one exception being a character who is actually being seen and interacting through the window.

(2) The window sees the subject. That means the camera observing the scene has to indicate something like a window frame somewhere while the subject is shown through that window on screen. Sometimes the subjects are doing things that might earn them points, and sometimes they aren't. It seems like it doesn't really matter unless they are interacting with the looker. In a unique case not covered in this post, the subject seen (Nina) actually earned three solo points while the looker maintained a threshold-only touch (Crowley). That's part of The Window Trick.

(3) The looker is seen behind the window pane with at least part of the window frame visible. The looker can actually still be shown from their front or their side within the space they are in, but the main thing is for them to actually be behind the window pane from which they were looking and some of the window frame visible. The frame is allowed to be blurry. I was really hesitant on this aspect, but it was the only thing resembling a consistency I could find when comparing windows with Maggie and Nina in episode 1, Mrs. Sandwich in episode 3, and Crowley and Gabriel in episode 3, when Crowley was explaining his plan. If the scene wants that looker to keep earning points based on looking through the window and still feature the subject as what the window is seeing at times, then the view actually does have to be from in front of the window pane with the looker(s) behind the window. Some of the window frame should be visible as well.

I have barely looked at the more simple window looks. The initial one below has a Step 1 and Step 3 combined in a single camera shot from in front of the window with no Step 2. There's also then no threshold moment in the initial look either.

The bold headers below are for readers who are very familiar with the show to zone in on which part of the episodes I'm talking about. They have no other meaning.

...

Episode 1:

Just get in.

When Aziraphale resigns himself to letting Gabriel in the bookshop, the camera sees him looking out the window. I think that's a simple window look for 1 point as the last of a set.

...

He's smoking.

Later in the episode, when Nina first sees Crowley through the window while touching a chair, I cannot figure out her points and how she is passing or sharing with Maggie in ways that appear to happen later. The most likely thing seems to be that so long as Maggie earned the points to share for the both of them and Nina was still behind the window pane with Maggie, it didn't really matter.

Regardless, I want to focus on Maggie and Crowley because that's what the story itself does.

When Maggie's been told to look and her gaze goes toward the window, that's her being at the threshold, not yet earning an earthly object point for the window. She is on camera and what she is about to see is not on camera yet. She was implied to be holding a drink, but it can't be seen during her actual look.

Since she is blurred when she does see Crowley, that's like the game putting in a pass for her to earn a full three points later, whether alone or with another character. Though seen, Crowley himself still has to earn three solo points next. Of note, when seen, the shot indicates the structure from which Crowley is being seen. I assume that is supposed to be the window seeing him.

He earns the first of three points for hopping in place. The second is him shouting the number "Ten!" The third is the lightning hitting the coffee shop twice from outside.

Now it's time for Maggie to earn her three solo points. That pass from earlier is ready to earn its point for Maggie looking through the window. She is shown clearly from her front and behind the window pane. That's, theoretically, the actual window point in action finally being earned for point #1. Then she gets a point for holding a cup, point #2, and another point for her hand in a fist touching the window pane. That's #3. Even though I said "clearly," there is a little blur due to the lightning, which is not the same as what I see for the blurs I think the game is using for the passing and sharing.

Crowley's torso is blurred, so now he has been given a pass for earning points.

The lightning in and of itself earns its own 3 points on the door.

Then Crowley's lightning is channeling out of his own neck and striking him. Now I am confused by how specific this story is trying to be here because there are actually three specific points on his body where the lightning is channeling out from him, like little nodes. This game loves the number three. There are even nodes for where it then does hit his clothes. So, am I supposed to actually count how many lightning things are happening here because lightning shoots out multiple times and not in sync for the scene? I sure hope not because I won't.

Hopefully, the lightning striking his clothing is enough for one point instead of some complex set of three, six, nine, or anywhere in between or whatever. He's going to get at least one point for all of that because lightning striking someone or something is something that lightning does on Earth, as Maggie will soon remind us. Crowley brings his teeth together, like a chomp, so that's a self-touch for point #2. He jolts in place, letting the smoke hit him for point #3.

Next, Maggie is seen clearly and says, "I think that man was just struck by lightning!" That comment looks to be point #1 of a new set she shares with Nina. This post, for a long time, said she seemed to earn a new solo set. I have since changed my mind on her and Nina moving onto a new interaction set.

When deciding the above, I questioned if any of that was an interaction between Crowley and Maggie instead of each receiving solo points. My gut leans more toward the smoke is supposed to be a third point for Crowley. There's almost a rhythm to this game, and that's where it feels like the three beats would stop, especially with how the story likes to cut things. But I definitely don't know that. I had a lot more trouble finding this rhythm in other parts.

...

Hold out your sign.

Later, in the coffee shop, Nina earns a point for having her arms folded, then leaning against the counter. A blur shifts to Maggie to indicate sharing is happening again. Maggie has a self-touch already on her with a thumb in her mouth. That's three points for the two of them. The sharing nature of what they do will now be more obvious as well.

Maggie removes the thumb from her mouth. She is indicated to be looking through the window. That's her at the threshold for the look.

Next, the camera shows an extra who is the person being seen through the window. They do not receive any points and are just the current subject.

Nina comments that "someone" is coming. Since Maggie was at the threshold and Nina is making the comment, they are sharing Step 1 of the look thanks to those things and the blur.

As noted earlier, there seems to be a rhythm. I've had past drafts of this post break down what they are doing in more complex ways with the touch on the paper and the words on the signs. I am hoping the following correction is true. Even though they are not shown on camera at the same time, they are still actually sharing points but will still need to both be on camera for the eventual window point.

So, it goes something like Nina pushing her sign against the window with the words clearly displayed is touch #1 of the set they are doing together. Maggie uses the paper a little differently and ultimately pushes her sign against the window with the words clearly displayed as touch #2.

Then they are shown together on camera behind their respective window panes for their shared looking-through-a-window touch and point #3.

While they were earning their window point, the extra was blurred and starting to wave so was given a pass until the incoming cut.

The wave acts as a non-verbal "Hello," but the extra keeps walking. During the extra's wave, Nina is quite blurry from behind. Again, the rhythm suits things so that Nina touching the paper to remove her sign is point #2 of the set she is sharing with both Maggie and the extra. Maggie doing the same is point #3.

After all of that, both of them release their signs at roughly the same time to indicate the end of this general shared part of the scene with that extra. Their next touches are not as in synch with Nina touching the counter and Maggie then pointing out the window as if to start a new window look set.

...

Record shop.

Nina's touch on the counter could be point #1 of an interaction between her and Maggie. There is no obvious blur and no obvious threshold look compared to before. Possibly due to neither clearly looking away from the window yet, they are continuing as an interaction between each other and now going to get a window point each as individuals.

We see what the window sees again, which is the record shop and the extra still walking away. Maggie is seen clearly behind the window pane for point #2 of the set.

Nina is seen behind her window pane for point #3 of the set.

Finally, Maggie stops looking through the window. Nina does too, and the scene shifts into a different non-window interaction.

...

It's him.

Later, Crowley arrives.

When Nina spots him, that is her at the threshold of the window since she is seen looking, but the window itself and who she sees are not on camera yet. As has been standard the past two times, she is not visibly touching an earthly object. Maggie looks where Nina did and comments that someone is coming. There is not an obvious blur to suggest a share or pass, but the situation still seems to require one, and at least Maggie was blurred from the back when facing Nina when Nina first spotted Crowley.

Nina also comments on Crowley. She receives one point for the mention of the number "six" for her point #1.

Maggie puts her sign with the words clearly against the window for point #2.

Nina makes a self-touch with her mouth that is more clear than her hand as it knocks and the words on the sign, so the self-touch might be what is considered to be getting the point. The knock would make more sense to me since it is what gets Crowley's attention. Regardless, she gets point #3 for her and Maggie.

Reminder that for Nina, the sign is blurred, but that's going to work out for her interaction with Crowley.

The camera shows a blurred Maggie from behind and a more clear Crowley pausing to turn and see what is happening. Him being seen is part of the eventual window touch, but it's not going to happen yet because of what he does. Maggie's blur is a pass for her at the moment.

Crowley stops with a heel to the ground for his point #1. When he stops, his body obscures Nina. As such, no one here is getting credit for that window touch...yet. Next, Crowley asks the question, "Oh, really?" That's his point #2. He is looking through the window when he looks at Nina for the interaction. Remember that. It's a Step 1 for his own window look. It's also the only time a threshold part has dialogue in this entire post, so I could be misreading things of course. The third point for an interaction between Crowley and Nina is probably from the sign's clear words as she nods even though we can't see Nina's hands holding the sign up. That's point #3.

Up next, there are Nina's blurred fingers from behind the window. So, in full context of the scene, that looks like a pass. I would typically assume it's a touch, but I think it all rounds out soon enough.

I'm warning you. I am somewhat saying these things because they suit what I want to see. It's not like this game came with a manual. Okay, this episode is kind of a manual, but it's still hard to read, okay?

Here's what happens.

Because we saw Nina react to Crowley with her nod, that means that we saw what Crowley looked at through the window. The window saw Nina. That's Step 2 for Crowley's window touch. Nina doesn't seem to get credit for a window point yet because it's still going to be shared with Maggie.

The next time Crowley is seen from where Nina is, that's actually Crowley getting his own looking-through-a-window point. He is seen clearly behind a window pane with part of the window frame visible. That's his Step 3 in earning his point #1 of a new set he's about to complete for himself.

Nina is blurred during the above. Crowley's hand goes up in a blur. Maggie is blurred. Blurs can mean something like sharing. Maybe? I hope so because it makes the most sense to me. Crowley has already received his one point that he'll conclude soon, so his blur might be for his own move he's making.

If the blurs for Maggie and Nina allowed a share, that explains both of the characters as Crowley walks away. Both Maggie and Nina finally receive credit for looking through a window together because they are both seen clearly behind the window panes. The camera shows them both hopefully to alert us of how they are sharing that window look touch. Maggie, meanwhile, touches the paper to the sign for point #2 and her hand to the window pane itself for point #3. It's enough for both Maggie and Nina to earn a shared three points again. So, in that case, it looked like it was not required they each do something for the last two points.

The main reason I hope the credit has to be shared is because of the camera making sure both Maggie and Nina were visible.

Crowley gets his own last two points with actually turning the power back on, specifically a lamp seen in the reflection where Maggie was, and a step to the road.

Whoa.

That's uh...a lot and very hard to keep track of and of course, possibly wrong.

The door earns its own three points when fixed as well.

...

Episode 3:

Somebody's got a sense of humor or an interesting kink.

Mrs. Sandwich looks through the window threshold and comments on Muriel. Muriel is shown twice and not earning points at all since they're just being seen. There are actually two cuts of Muriel to assist Mrs. Sandwich until earning the point. Mrs. Sandwich won't earn the window point until she is actually facing Nina. That's the shot that will tell us Mrs. Sandwich was behind the window pane when looking at Muriel. Nina is doing other touches while Mrs. Sandwich is talking. I can't figure out the sequence between the two, but that's at least how Mrs. Sandwich should earn a window point.

...

Operation Lovebirds

Later on in the episode, Crowley has Gabriel following him as he looks out the window. Just looking alone is being at the threshold, but now he's talking about Nina and Maggie. The camera shows Nina who could easily be earning points but wait, no, that doesn't matter. She's just the subject being seen here. If it does matter, I don't know how.

My latest guess is that there are two sets this pair do. Because they were looking at the fly together, they are in a context to allow a shared window look.

Crowley starts the first set with the name, "Operation Lovebirds." That's point #1.

Both he and Gabriel are not physically touching any earthly objects as they start their shared window look. That's the lookers looking as Step 1.

The camera shows Nina and part of the window frame visible. That's the window seeing as Step 2.

The camera cuts back to the pair behind the window. That's the lookers being seen clearly behind the window pane with at least some of its window frame visible, which is Step 3. They have earned their shared point as point #2 of this set.

Crowley earns them their third point with smacking his hands together while Gabriel maintains the look on the window. That's point #3.

During the previous set, Gabriel was implied to touch his coat. The camera confirms it as this next set starts. That's point #1.

Gabriel asks, "Vavoom?" That's a question to earn point #2.

Crowley has an implied pocket touch, but I think he's obscuring it enough to not earn a point. Instead, he earns the last point with a self-mouth-touch after saying, "That's the plan, yeah," and before saying, "I haven't done weather in ages."

He concludes the scene with ensuring that he is looking out the window. Instead of a physical object being physically touched, the window look is maintained so long as the characters occasionally look to show they are still using the window.

...

Awning of a New Age

Even later on in the episode, Crowley is on the phone with Aziraphale when he sees Maggie approaching Nina through the window. Since he has a phone, he can't be at the threshold yet. He hangs up with Aziraphale and gets a look in without visibly touching an earthly object, making him at the threshold. The scene cuts away to Aziraphale.

Crowley putting himself on the threshold seems to allow a pause in the game where he can go straight to a self-touch in the next cut.

When the scene is back to Crowley, he basically rubs his hands together in three different ways. The first to switch them top to bottom, then the second is to just keep rubbing them instead of switching them, then the third is to shift them so that they are being next to each other instead of one on top of the other. That's theoretically three points. No, wait, it isn't. This story tricked me again. Maybe Crowley just knows how much the game likes the number three. This is his first point. How do I know that? I don't, but it suits the rhythm better once we see that coffee cup getting rained on. I'm looking for that 1-2-3 beat.

The scene cuts to Nina and Maggie without a window pane, so they are presumably having their own interaction.

Then the scene cuts to Crowley with his eyes following their movement as we watch him through the window pane. That's his point #2 as a window touch.

The scene gives him another assist with the window view of what he's looking at.

Maggie and Nina continue to have their own separate interaction from him.

Next is "Lovely rainy raindrops" for point #3.

The window sees the clouds forming. That's an assist to the next eventual window point.

I think since the camera takes extra care to show coffee with raindrops, a human with raindrops, and that human's glasses with raindrops, in three different shots, those are considered 3 points for the rain itself.

Maggie and Nina keep having their own interaction that is not Crowley earning window points but just them doing their own thing.

The next window point arrives with Crowley and his "under the awning" comment. That's point #1.

The scene gives him another assist with the window watching Maggie and Nina.

The next window point is already here with "Proper hard rain!" Point #2.

The scene goes back to Maggie and Nina with their own interaction.

There is no assist. The scene goes back to Crowley with a subtle mouth movement as he keeps watching. Point #3.

There is yet more of Maggie and Nina without an assist.

"Oh yes. It's working." for point #1.

The awning breaks, and the rain drenches Maggie and Nina.

Crowley says, "Oh! Ooh..." for point #2.

Nina and Maggie are drenched and moving away from the awning.

Crowley earns point #3 from the window when the rainbow appears. There is also an additional part of the window frame that had not been shown before. The new view seems to indicate that the overall window-looking is done, along with Crowley himself finally looking away.

If the points are correct, his window-looking total here is 9, which is funny. What's better than three? How about three times three? This game loves threes.

...

For more on windows, check out the following:

The Window Trick

This post will get updated if and when I figure even more things out, FYI. I tend to do that.

...

Again, for reference:

The Earthly Objects Game

...

Sort of the real reason I’m going through all the trouble understanding the earthly objects thing:

The Sideburns Scheme (Good Omens 2)

[seldomscilence16]

Voltron in "The Little Mermaid" Part 2!

Alright so I wanted to get 2/3 of it out in July cause ya know Julance, so it may be a little rushed but im having fun so thats nice. And this one comes with burnt out art! (By that I mean I gave up half way cause drawing is hard but its still cute.) Once again, thank you to @paracosm299 for being the backbone to this fanfic. And I hope everyone else likes it too! If I ever find a laptop that doesnt hate me and tumblr I'll link the three together. Until then, hopefully my tags might work for ya'll...

Also, if ya'll havent listened to the music from all three versions (cartoon, live action, broadway) youre missing out and they are referenced in this part. So minor spoilers for the Live Action! ("Shes in love" OBC is a bop I do so recommend it)

~~~~~~~~~

Lance sprawls across one of the many rocks, chest heaving as he tries to slow his heart rate. His eyes roam what he can see of his collection, that familiar ache hitting him hard.

He just didn't understand. 

Here, in the waters he's always known, he should feel a sense of home. And yet at every corner, he simply feels trapped, unable to even breathe without the threat of punishment for doing it 'wrong'. Instead of love and encouragement, he is crushed under rules, expectations, and this pressure to do something, but with no idea what that something is. He has a vague recollection of a woman, with deep brown eyes- the only real feature he can recall- saying so earnestly, it was almost prayer-like, that he was their future. 

He still couldn't fathom what she meant. Lance, the future? Should he somehow outlive the Emperor, Lance would be taken down immediately, by those vying for the Triton. Sendak may drill his lessons and expectations into him daily, but Lance doubted very much he'd ever actually hold any power. The only future Lance can see, is either forever a decoration to the Emperor, or a trophy given to another. The very thought makes him shudder, but it's a reality he's long since acknowledged. 

Lance was no future. Lance was not free to be a future. Lance was simply... a dressed up prisoner. 

For every gadget, gizmo, whosit, whatsit, and thingamabob Lance found, for every glimpse of wonder, a longing grew. He wanted more than this, he wanted...

To be where the people are. To see them dance, to walk around on those... those... feet! To run along streets, to stay all day under the sun's warm rays, wandering free... was it so much to wish to be up there with them? He hasn't much to give, but he wonders idly, if he were offered a chance, would he give what was asked in return readily? To live out of these waters, for even just a day to spend warm on the sandy beaches. 

Coran has since crawled from his own little crevice, watching him with worried eyes,

"I bet you up there, they understand, that they don't reprimand your every move, that they see you for who you are. Im... I'm sick of swimming with an anchor strapped to my fin. I want to stand, free... is that so much to ask Coran?" 

"No child, to be free is not something that you should have to pay for." And the emotion in the man's voice has tears of his own burning in Lance's eyes. 

"I want to know everything, ask them my questions and get some real answers. Like, whats a fire and why does it, what's that word?? Burn! When will I be allowed to do something for me?" Lance swims through his treasures, towards the small hole at the top, reaching towards the surface he's forbidden from breaching, "I'd love to explore that world up above... out of the sea, I just... I wish I could be a part of a different world... I know that makes me terrible, but... I'm so tired..."

Lance stares at the barest glimpse of the moon before it's covered, casting a shadow that's dispersed by bursts of colored light. 

"What in the Seas?" 

"Wait, Lance my boy, it's not safe up there, not tonight!" 

But Lance ignores the octopus, for probably the first time, making his way towards the surface before he can stop himself, breaching it fully for the first time. Loud popping sounds assault his ears, and debris splashes around him, before him a little ways, is a large ship with joyous music playing. Lance looks around, maybe for a sign to turn back, but finds none, something almost seems to be... pulling him, calling him, towards the Ship. He navigates past the debris, until he comes to the side of the ship where smaller ones hang. It takes him a moment to pull himself up and into it, arms straining as he tries to remain quiet. 

There's a small gap that allows him to see the occupants, and a smile graces his face as he watches them dance. They throw each other around and slam their feet, and play instruments and drink. And just when Lance thinks it can't get any better, they start to sing. 

It wasn't as melodic as the songs of his people, or as hypnotic or power filled as the royal siren songs. And yet, Lance couldn't look away. To think that just as his people feared and hated humans, Humans too, feared his people. They were so different, but at the same time, not so different at all. 

One of the humans, seemingly younger than the rest, was on the edge of their celebration. The bright- and loud- lights in the air illuminated his face, eyes shining just so, like where water and sky meet. He's pulled aside by a taller man, who has a scar over his nose and a tuft of white hair laying on his forehead. They come close enough for their voices to drift to Lance's position, and he ducks away from the opening until only his eye is seen. 

"Keith, you know we have to go back." The taller one says, sounding apologetic. 

"Shiro it's my birthday, please let me have this one day not to think about that place." The shorter one- Keith- responds. 

"You know Kolivan will be coming over to lecture you soon. The late King-" 

"Wanted me to be trapped inside the castle for the rest of my life, isolated on our island home, never to do anything new because he had some crazy notion that that would keep us safe." He sighs, leaning heavily on the railing and staring off into the distance, the furry creature lays at his feet, staring at Lance curiously. He buries a hand in his fur with a smile. "I feel like the ocean is calling to me Shiro, I'm not afraid of it, I want to explore." 

Lance feels a sort of resonation, like he's looking in the mirror once again instead of at a human. Someone who sees a future, and is ready to make it himself...

A crack of lightning lights up the sky, violent and sudden as the ocean rises up and crashes against the ship. 

"Storms coming in fast! On your toes!" 

Lance jumps into the waves before he can hear more, he needed to leave, there was no telling if this was Posiedon or Sendak-

"Keith!" 

Lance's eyes flash back to the ship, to Keith holding the fluffy creature and throwing him as the ship is alight and collapsing. Lance curses in his head, diving below again to help, guiding him to the calls of the people in the little ships. When he comes up again, he sees no sign of Keith and a panic he can't describe grips his heart. 

He dives again, dodging wreckage as the ship sinks, swimming through the harsh currents in search for a splotch of red. His distress rises with each moment, movements quick and jerky, until finally, finally, he sees it. Unmoving except for his slow descent, arms raised like even in unconsciousness he's reaching for something. As Lance draws closer he sees the cut along his jaw, the ripped clothing, smaller injuries, and he's sure bruising will form. 

Hooking his arms under Keith's own Lance drags him to the surface. It's an effort to keep the human's head above the waves as the storm rages on, but Lance wont let him drown, not while he can do something about it. He heads inland, praying to any God that will listen, that the human survives. 

Even if it means his own demise when he returns to Atlantica. 

...

The sand is dry and coarse, but warm under the morning sun's rays, as he tugs the waterlogged human far enough from the lapping waves. His hand shakes as it hovers over the still form, the cut on his cheek still leaks blood, his pale skin taking on a sickly pallor, before he can really think twice, his voice rises from somewhere deep. A careful melody fills the air around them, a glow encompassing his own form as he finally places his hand to Keiths chest. 

It takes longer than he'd like for color to return to his cheeks, one now marred with a scabbing scar. A groan leaves his lips and Lance's relief is palpable, despite the exhaustion that settles into his very bones. He wants nothing more than to lay here, but he knows better. Shouts reach his ears, and with a reluctance he cant place, he returns to the sea, hiding behind a rock a ways off. 

He watches as a group of humans surround Keith, who seems at least semi-coherent now, watches as they make off towards their own settlements. 

"I don't know what this feeling is. I don't even know how I know, but... something changed. I've found the world I want to be a part of..." 

Lance watches until they've vanished from view, a pull stronger than ever before, calling him towards a human with inky hair and deep eyes, to a future he'd never thought of. 

If he lived past sunset that is. 

...

Allura practically falls on his head, Coran wrapped around his arm only a second behind. 

"Lonce! Where have you been!?" Allura is scanning his face, claws hovering, "Coran told me about the… thing… and then there was a storm and you were gone! We've been worried sick!" 

"Im sorry, I just-"

"Don't even think about lying to me Lonce!" 

Lance swears shes on the verge of tears, and he lets out a reluctant sigh,

"I…" he rubs his free hand over the back of his neck, avoiding eye contact, "Rescued a human…" he mumbles.

"You did WHAT!?" 

"No one saw me!" Lance is quick to defend, admittedly a little petulant. 

"Shhhh!!! Sendak can not know about this!" Allura looks around in a panic, her voice hushed.

"Know about what?" A new voice asks from behind, nearly scaring Lance right out of his scales. 

Flipping around Lance sees someone he hadn't in several years,

"Rachel?? What are you doing here? I thought you all weren't allowed at the gatherings anymore!" They clasp arms, exchanging smiles.

"Well, he wants info on our territory then someone has to come." Her grin turns sly, and Lance thinks there's more to what she says, but then again, it always seems like there's more when it comes to them. "So what's this I hear we aren't telling?" 

"Nothing. Seriously guys, I'm already gonna get a lecture from Se- my father, I really don't need this right now." 

He sees a bunch of Mers heading towards the reefs, decides that's a good way to delay the inevitable, and follows. Though of course he has company cause they dont give up that easily. And to continue his declining luck, four more mers to add to his growing entourage. 

"Wow, look how big you've gotten!!" Lisa exclaims, looking close to pinching his cheeks like a Grandma- though Lance only knew this through observation of their pod.

"Lance has a secret!" Rachel blabs, leaning over his shoulder with far more excitement than necessary. 

He groans, pushing her away as he joins the other mers in cleaning up the reef, a twinge of guilt in his gut despite the cause of the storm being from someone else's power. 

"Oh, what, does Grumpy blob have a crush or something?" Marco teases, elbowing Luis beside him. 

Lance grumbles as he fumbles with the debris hes moving, internally cursing himself at the gasps around him. 

"So! You're acting fishy because you're up to your gills in love!" Rachel swoons backwards into Marcos waiting arms. 

"Oh Dios Mios." Lance would love for a cavern to open up, right now, beneath him, please. 

The only Mers who don't treat him like Sendak's property and he wants to throttle them. 

"I see it now!" Luis exclaims, never one to miss out on a tease, the traitor, "he's dizzy, dreamy, head up in the foam! His eyes have got a gleam in them, like there's no one home." 

"Someone get this boy a coastal shelf to mope on!" Lisa instigates, laughter in her eyes. 

"He's moody as a snapper! As sure as a dogfish bites, someone’s made him lose his head!" Marcos' grin is as lopsided as he is, floating above Lance's head, he shoves him away, wondering if he should just retreat. 

"Seriously guys flip off, it's not gonna happen." Lance heaves a larger piece off the side as gently as he can, frowning at the coral beneath, it would take a lot of song and time for these poor things to come back. 

"Come on tell us who the deep-sea hunk is!" Rachel leers at him, eyebrows dancing, behind her Lance glimpses Coran and Allura, one has a look of concern, the other… well Lance can't quite identify Alluras look. 

"There's no deep sea hunk." Lance turns away, seriously debating finding that shark again.

There's a long pause, but Lances hope of them giving up is crushed when Veronicas panicked voice breaks the silence,

"Oh no. Please, please no. Lance please tell me you didn't go and," She cuts herself off, looking around frantically before coming in closer with a low hiss of, "seduce a human?" 

Lance gives an indignant squawk,

"I did not, seduce, anyone!" 

"But there is a human??? Lance, what are you thinking? Liking human stuff is one thing, but this- Lance what are you thinking??" With hands on his shoulders to hold him still, Veronica levels him with a desperate look. 

"Ronis right Lance, the human world is no place for us." Luis, like everyone else, has taken on a serious face. 

And those expectations are back. Those heavy looks, so much weight pressing into his chest, and yet no clue what it is they want from him. What it is they think he needs to do. 'Youre the future, Lance.' 

"I don't know what it is you think is up there Lance, but just take a look around you! Life under the sea is better than anything they got up there." Lisa takes on a lighter tone. 

Lance knows what's coming, knows because he's been told before, has tried to convince himself, but something always comes to remind him why he wants to escape. 

"I mean seriously, what more are you lookin for? Up there they work all day-'' Lance pointedly looks at the debris he's clearing and Marco is quick to continue, "they're slaving away under the sun's hot rays. While we get to float around down here all the time, nice and cool."

Lance wonders what they do in their territory, for all of Lance's collection, it's taken him years of little moments of free time to gather stuff, and honestly half of it was Coran and Romelle gifting him stuff. 

"And you know what they do to fish on land, they're either in a bowl or," Rachel runs a finger along her throat with a harsh click sound, "on the plate. Just imagine what they'd do to us!" 

"Not to mention, they can't possibly beat our rhythm." Luis sports a confident smile, but Lance remembers the song he'd heard on that ship. 

As if on cue however, the reef comes alive with song. Healing waves of energy that quickly distracts the mers before him, and Lance takes his chance and bolts with them none the wiser. 

He heads towards his grotto, needing some peace and quiet before his inevitable summons. He liked the McClain pod, they'd been around as long as he can remember, but they always left him feeling like he was missing something. Not that they weren't missing some major parts to his story too, but Lance didn't want them to know either. 

He enters his grotto with a tired sigh, running on no sleep and brain still too busy and anxious for it to come anytime soon. He takes in his collection, hoping for some comfort or peace of any kind. Anything to stave off what's to come-

"So you've finally returned."

Lance flips around fast enough to make his head spin, there looming in the shadows of the entrance, Triton now glowing with power,

"My. son." 

…

Keith stalks through the halls of the palace, determined to find a ship, or a carriage, something so he can search himself. To find the boy who saved him, the one whose song rings in his head, the one who risked their own life to get him home alive. 

"You aren't supposed to be out of bed yet." 

He turns to see his mother, standing tall and regal, like the Queen she is, in the doorway to the dining hall. She eyes him, the bandage on his head, the scaring mark on his jaw, the unsteady walk of a sailor on land- and a waterlogged man who should probably be resting, maybe.

"I don't need rest, I'm fine." Keith wants to leave it at that, but of course,

"Join me for breakfast." She turns without his answer, not that he could turn her down. 

They sit, eating quietly, but Keith is tense. He knows she wants to say more, but she takes her time, figuring out exactly what she wants to get across. After so many years away, only to return after news of her husband's passing, the two knew very little of interacting with each other. It was Kolivan and Shiro that kept them from having a bigger rift than they did. 

"I don't want you going out there again. You need to be here, preparing for the throne." 

Keith takes a breath, before he'll say something he'll regret,

"The boy who saved my life is out there. I'm going to find him-"

"Keith-"

Keith stands, chair falling behind him,

"I don't want to be king. I never have. I belong on the water-"

She slams her hands on the table, silencing filling the room,

"You are grounded. There will be no sailing, you will stay here and heal." 

He stares at her, the woman who never cared to stay, who left his father to raise him. The woman who knew next to nothing of him, who wanted to trap him to this existence of walls and nothingness. He turns and storms out of the room, heading for the cliffs, anything to get away.  

All he'd ever wanted, as a boy born on a ship but raised on an isolated island, was the open sea and sky, freedom that seemed so far from his reach. He was only able to grasp some semblance of happiness sailing on excursions to learn and trade, his brother- in all that mattered- right beside him. 

And now, his soul tugs again, towards something- not quite new- but foreign in a way he'd never thought of. He's haunted, thinking only of a blurry memory of someone leaning over him, more of a feeling really, and a song he sings. A song  that takes him, to places beyond his wildest dreams, to uncharted waters miles beyond the seas he knows. 

Keith had been sure he was darkness bound, destined to drown at sea and never return home. Then, miraculously, he’s saved, pulled above the stormy seas and all the way to land, before being left alone, to stand on the shoreline while his mind remains lost at sea. He wishes only for him to be found again, so he can stop wondering about who he is, where he’ll be next, and to hear his song from the source rather than this echoing in his head. Someone somehow stronger than the undertow, yet able to glow silhouetted by the rising sun, to return him to land in only a night's time. 

He won’t be able to get over this mystery, something- someone- so intriguing, there was no way he’d give up before it was solved. Somewhere, beyond where man can see, with eyes that outshine the horizon line, where they can face the unknown side by side. Whether on the shoreline where he was left, or where no compass or map can guide him, Keith would find this mystery boy, no one would stop him. It’d be easier, he’s sure, for this boy to find him once again, right where he was left, but good things aren’t always easy are they?

Throw whatever you have at me, wild uncharted waters, he’d face it all.

<<Prev next>>

[10000-paper-nohara-rins]

ok finally put my hands in the air and sat down to compile the team 7 sensei rin au timeline. subject to change but like. for now here it is ^_^

-obito doesn't push kakashi out of the way of the boulder. MINDNUMBING GUILT FOR THIS CHILD!!!! rin cares about as much as she did when obito was the one to die (not at all lmao)

-important side quest! minato's favorite was kakashi and when he dies he is sad. this sadness makes him sloppy and he ends up getting captured by iwa and killed for all of the war crimes. he deserved it <3

-obito: devistated rin: eh

-with minato and kakashi gone, the team is kind of... less important... obito and rin stop going on missions outside of the village as much and without the spotlight of Politics pushing rin to become a mednin in order to copy previous succesful team setups she starts persuing other interests which.

-rin: yay now i can do what i want!!! i am free to choose any path i want!! i don't have to be a medic if i dont want to be!! i can finally follow my dreams of-

rin: *remembers that she only dislikes being a mednin because she didnt choose it. and doesnt know what she Actually wants to do*

rin: ah

-she waffles around a bit. a lot. she never actually really settles on anything, and just sort of ends up becoming a very well-rounded guy.

-anyways meanwhile in grampy madara's spoopy cave kakashi is having a Bad Time. so is madara. he got like,, the WORST guy ever to enact his plan, on account of kakashi's stupid single-minded loyalty to konoha, and he doesnt even have a sharingan

-convoluted plan to murder obito in a way that hopefully convinces kakashi to help out and gets madara an eyeball so that the plan can actually be fulfilled: activate

-obito gets the three-tails and rin hunts him down because she doesnt have anything better to do and when she finds him he's all "rin we gotta find kushina!! i can't go back to the village yet otherwise explodsions :C" and rin does some quick mental math and decides that that seal is NAUGHT getting fixed.

-rin kills obito there and then in that cave, annoying madara and the kiri ninja and obito if he was not dead. this is a Big Moment for her because she makes a Decision!! she views this as "a sliver of her true self shining through" for a while which.. is complicated but i'll get back to that.

-madara throws a rock at her. or something. and knocks her out so he can at least go scavenge the eyeballs but he only gets one before uchiha search and rescue shows up (obito was NOT disregarded by his clan disregarded uchiha do not get put on the Special Superspeed Pathway to Become Hokage team fight me)

-they see rin, unconscious, and obito, missing an eye and only recently killed, and put two and two together and get five and go "awwww D: girl almost died protecting his body from that mysterious shadow guy who just disappeared. even if she failed her effort means a lot."

-so rin, despite being kind of filler on the politics team, getts thrust into the limelight as a handy-dandy link to mend village relations with the uchiha. "girl who protected her teammate with everything she had..." ect ect. which is funny

-as a sign of good will the uchiha give her obito's remaining eye, which is a surprisingly good fit for her jack of all trades style.

-orochimaru is the last candidate for hokage so danzo n hiruzen start really scrambling to get his public reputation up. what better way to do this than to give him a child? orochimaru is studying sharingan anyways, right? he's not unhappy with it and it once again consolidates political power and anko increased his likability by that much, so like? another student? yeah? yeah?

-anko is REALLY good for rin because she'll suggest something and rin (who still just goes along with a lot of stuff at this point) agrees. and anko is the first person to realize that rin is NOT a sweet polite little girl she is messed up in exciting new ways. orochimaru is a close second.

-anyways orochimaru's poking around with bodies and stuff and the sharingan letting her take techniques and not having a convenient mask to pull on eventually leads rin to the realization that she doesn't HAVE a "true self" girrrll who would have thought....

-meanwhile kakashi is having Cave Time and through a lot of wheedling and no social interaction besides madara kakashi is convinced to do the infinite tsukuyomi For Konoha. a la danzo. (danzo sakumo hiruzen kakashi essay In Progress lol)

-rin, new, healthier self image acquired, goes on to be Very successful. orochimaru becomes the hokage, rin rotates between his private guard and missions, and everything is dandy!! once again danzo keeps his flirting with hiruzen out of the politics and the uchiha massacre doesn't happen cuz Rin tm and stuff is greatttt!!!

-also naruto is born With incident but its. fine. its fine. kushina dies jiriya who is visiting dies to seal kurama in naruto and its like. sad but who cares amiright

-so right as naruto sasuke and sakura are about to graduate, the politics machine starts working, and like. to Consolidate Power rin is the obvious choice for sensei.

-she goes "ughhh fine ok" and does it and like. its fine. its good.

-...until wave happens!!!!! :D

-fun fact! rin does love people! shes just weird about it. and sometimes she doesn't notice.

-she does beat zabuza and haku on their first meeting because she hasn't been depression napping her way through the past two years.

-but it's still a nasty wake up call, yaknow? those kids could have died! and she would have been... sad? like actually sad?

-rin still preforms on occasion, but she's weird about it in different ways now. and she's pretty sure that she actually likes these kids???

-which is weird and novel but eh. whatever. she'll do her best to teach them apparently.

-sasuke becomes a medic and. this is long and i need to wrap this up but i will elaborate on narrative signficance of this later lol because its there

-kakashi finishes collecting tailed beasts much slower because he keeps passing out (rip) but he does get there eventually

-rin is dodging hokage-ship so that she can keep messing around with her kids. yes they are jounin shut up she's not taking care of them they are her BESTIES. (important distiction that isnt even a lie. she is NOT their mom she is NOT their older sister she is the Cool Older lesbian who taught them the tricks of the trade and now they party together. a ten year age gap is not as big as you guys think it is. you can be friends with old people.)

-anyways eventually kakashi comes for naruto. it goes badly because he is perpetually exhausted and team 7 is perpetually hyped and also no one's even gne missingnin. AND his one cool trick gets countered by rin who can do the Same Cool Trick

-oh also he goes by sukea. hehe sometimes fanon is correct.

-any other version of rin would have gone ballastic but this rin scrunches her face and goes "ok so he is kind of a nohara in the same way that i am kind of an uchiha." thats not whats going on but ok i guess

-rin also kills him (now she is two for two) and madara never even got revived and then everyone just kind of. "that was weird"s the whole situation and goes home.

[nite-puff]

Ultimate “nite-puff” Dangan Content Masterpost!!!

Hi there! After seeing some people talk about it, I’ve decided to create an easier way to navigate and find Danganronpa content of mine. This is meant to cover about everything I have put out either here or other closely related platforms.

Hopefully, this is clear and organized enough. And I will update this as things are changed/added!

Now, without further ado, this masterpost will be split up into three sections:

1. Hashtag guide for my tumblr posts

2. Fanfics

3. Other social media platforms

So here we go!

1. Tumblr Post Hashtag Guide

I would say that I’ve created a pretty succinct and consistent way to organize my different posts via some fun personal hashtags. Below you will find them and which posts they represent:

#doodlepuff

This is used for anything and everything art-related, from completed art pieces, to art dumps, to fun doodles, to WIPs. If you’re interested in my art and want to check out more, I recommend going through this hashtag.

#ramblepuff

If you’re interested in reading my one-off ideas, character analyses, or anything else I tend to yell into the void, visit this tag. The only thing I have to say is that this is still a very general tag and includes spur of the moment “jokes” with the actual thought out written stuff I put out on here.

#fanficpuff

This is for anything involving my fanfics that I’ve posted on ao3 (and maybe here soon enough). This includes both links to the fanfics themselves and art I’ve done for them. Though links to the fics will be provided further down this post.

#askpuff

This is for the posts in which I respond to anything I’ve gotten in my inbox. My responses can range from small one-liners, to long thought out answers, to even drawings.

#dr:o

Short for Danganronpa: Omni! This is for the posts having to do with my fangan and the oc’s in it! From doodles to character explanations and answering asks having to do with them. This one is very self-indulgent.

2. Fanfics

Here you will find links to my fanfics (which have only been posted to ao3, so far) as well as other information like synopses, word counts, and completion statuses. They are in order of when they were first published on ao3.

Danganronpa Another Episode: Commence Project 78!

Fandom: Danganronpa (Trigger Happy Havoc & Ultra Despair Girls)

Synopsis: Shortly after the events of UDG, Takaaki Ishimaru, Takemichi Yukimaru, and Hiroko Hagakure are left stranded when the Future Foundation establishment they have been staying at gets destroyed. They are then forced to work together to find other allies… while also pursuing more personal ambitions.

Word Count: 21,959

Status: On Hiatus

Chapters Completed: 2/?

Stage 3: The Chrysalis (Also Known as Pupa)

Fandom: Danganronpa (Trigger Happy Havoc)

Synopsis: An AU that focuses on Kiyotaka’s journey of denial and recovery via his Ishida persona. And butterflies and moths… lots of butterflies and moths. (A survivor Kiyotaka AU.)

Word Count: 18,713

Status: Complete

Chapters Completed: 1/1

And Then Flash… Bang!

Fandom: Danganronpa (Trigger Happy Havoc)

Synopsis: Mondo struggles through the anniversary of his brother’s death, which causes his friends to worry. This is intercut with the events leading up to the fateful accident. (A rewrite of a 2022 fic.)

Word Count: 3,878

Status: In Progress

Chapters Completed: 1/4

3. Other Social Media Platforms

If you want to potentially check out some of my other content or contact me some other way, you can through these!

My Instagram!

Very similar to my Tumblr other than the stories. I also am more likely to post stuff having to do with other fandoms (including ocs) on there.

My AO3!

The main hub for my fanfics!

And there we go! Hopefully this will do for any future things I may wish to add.

Happy exploring!

[englishstrawbie]

2/3 The second one is for Dani and Gigi (may they RIP 😭). It's from Ps. I'm Still Not Over You by Rihanna, which is a bit of an odd choice (for me) as this isn't exactly my kind of music, but it seems fitting in quite some ways and - hopefully - offers you some nice, creative playground. Here are the lines:

Don't you know I've tried and I've tried To get you out my mind But it don't get no better As each day goes by And I'm lost and confused I've got nothin' to lose Hope to hear from you soon P.S. I'm still not over you

As I'm on to the third and last one (for now?! 😜): thanks again!

It has taken me longer than I should admit to write these 800 words. 😂 I wanted this to feel organic and real, and stay true to the character. Hopefully I've done that. Thanks for the prompt, I hope you like it!

A link to the song

>>>>>

She finds the key in the bottom of her bag as she is looking for her phone. It must have fallen off her key chain at some point and she hadn’t noticed – but why would she? She hasn’t needed it for almost four months.

Gigi turns the piece of metal over in her hand, surprised when her breath suddenly hitches in her throat and her eyes fill with tears. She thought she was done crying over Dani Nùñez, but her mind betrays her with memories of all the times she turned this key in the lock to find her happy life waiting for her: of Dani sat at the table in front of her laptop, air buds in her ears and talking non-stop down her phone; or lazing on the couch, a glass of wine in hand and music playing quietly in the background; or emerging from the bedroom, draped in nothing but a silk robe and enticing her to bed before Gigi had chance to slip out of her heels.  

Dani hadn’t even given her the chance to explain, determined to believe that the life they had built over the course of a year was over. For a while, Gigi had believed it too – confused about everything she had been feeling after the accident. But as the haze in her mind had cleared, and her injuries had healed, Gigi had realised that seeing Nat with their two children as the pick-up truck had hit her wasn’t a sign that she was still in love with her ex-wife. It was fear that life was about to be ripped from her, a life that revolved around the two tiny humans she was proud to call hers; and where there is Olive and Eli, there is Nat. That’s just the way it is.

But she doesn’t love Nat. She hasn’t loved Nat for a long time. Leaning on her as she was convalescing wasn’t out of need or want; it was protection.

Looking back, Gigi can see the imbalance in her relationship with Dani – she was always the strong one, the one Dani would lean on, sharing her words of wisdom whenever Dani felt her armour cracking. All of a sudden, Gigi was the one who needed someone to care for her and hold her as she pieced herself back together after the accident. She was scared to do that with Dani, scared to let the younger woman see her physical and mental scars, scared to let her know about the nightmares that filled what used to be sweet dreams. She didn’t know how to let Dani into a world where she was the vulnerable one.

And then suddenly it was too late, and Dani was throwing oranges at Nat’s car and ignoring her calls and packing up the things Gigi had left at her apartment, sending them back without even a note.

Gigi puts the key back onto her key chain and grabs her phone, scrolling through her messages until she finds Dani’s name. Her fingers hover for a moment, before she quickly writes ‘I miss you’ and hits send before she can change her mind.

She doesn’t expect a reply. After all, Dani has replied to any of the last twenty messages she has sent her. So she is taken aback when she sees three dots flashing back at her.

‘I miss you too.’

It is more than she has got over the last four months and feels like the door has been cracked open just a little bit.

‘Can we talk?’

Gigi holds her breath as she waits for Dani’s response.

‘I can’t. It’s too hard.’

‘Please? There’s so much I want to explain.’

Dani is slower with her reply this time.

‘I can’t listen to you tell me about you and Nat. I need to move on and you need to let me.’

Gigi sighs. One thing she knows about Dani is that once she has an idea in her head, it needs banging out of her.

‘There is no me and Nat. She’s my ex-wife and the other mother to my kids, that’s all. I know that telling you about what I saw when the car hit me was hard to hear, but I also told you I needed time to figure out what it meant – and I did. I want you to understand it too.’

Before Dani can reply, she sends another message.

‘I love you. I’m not ready to give up on us.’

She watches as the three dots flash, then sighs dramatically when they disappear. She tosses her phone down onto the table despondently and drops her head into her hands, massaging her temples to ease the headache that is growing. She only looks up when her phone starts to ring, a familiar face staring up at her. Her heart starts to beat faster and, with a deep breath, she hits the green button.

“Daniela.”

[skymaiden32]

Toxicity

AO3 link here

Fandom: Thunderbirds

Tagging: @dragonoffantasyandreality @thundergeek59 @janetm74 @katblu42 @liseylou @amistrio @uniwolfcorn (Please ask if you would like to be updated when I update or write new stories)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | Chapter 8 | Chapter 9

Why hello there. It's been a while since I updated this... ^^'

Tomorrow also happens to be this fic's one-year anniversary, so really hope you enjoy this chapter! >:3

------

Virgil waved from the edge of the runway as the police team arrived on the Island. They’d only announced they were coming today early this morning, and three hours later they had blipped onto the radar, getting closer and closer to the sanctuary of the family’s little hideaway. The second eldest brother took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was going to happen here, whatever it was. He was sure everything would be fine. Operation Cover-Up was fully operational, Kyrano had gotten some late lunch together for their visitors, and Virgil knew enough about distracting little brothers to hopefully apply it to a group of officers.

“Welcome to Tracy Island.” He greeted the police chief, warmly shaking his hand. 

Chief Adams grinned at Virgil, shaking heartily back. “Pleasure’s all ours, Mr Tracy. What do you say about us having a chat about what happened first, and then me and my boys will have a look around?”

“I’d say you’ve got yourselves a plan.” Virgil turned around, gesturing for the group to follow him. “The main house is this way. And please…" The Chief raised an eyebrow. “Mr Tracy is my father. You can just call me Virgil.”

“Of course.” Adams smiled understandingly. “Lead the way, Virgil…”

What they failed to notice as they were walking towards the villa however, was that one policeman had broken off from the group, and was going the exact opposite way.

------

John had been following the convoy for some time now, and although he knew he was in stealth mode and far behind them, he was certain the Hood knew he was there. Why wouldn’t he? The criminal always seemed to be one step ahead of them when it came to this particular scheme of his…

Thunderbird One’s radar screamed at him, and he forced himself to take his eyes off the convoy to take a look. “Well,” he could’ve cursed, “that’s not good…” He swerved sharply in the air. The rocket ship shook as the missile just managed to miss the cockpit and hit the back engines instead. The Hood had definitely known… 

John gritted his teeth as he struggled to control the damaged ship. Instruments wailed all around him as Thunderbird One went down, down, down, falling in a nose dive towards the tree line. No matter how hard he tugged the controls, he couldn’t pull her upright. All he could do was utter his final words before hitting the ground. “I’m sorry, Scott…”

------

Gordon had perked up as soon as he’d heard Thunderbird One’s distress beacon, wondering if John had managed to either catch up and get Scott back, or tracked the Hood all the way back to his next base of operations. But now, as he approached the ship’s location, dread was starting to set in. It was impossible to deny the heat of the flames around the silver rocket plane his eldest brother seemed to almost worship sometimes. The symbolism of the moment didn’t escape his notice.

But for now, he only had eyes for the big brother he could reach. “John!” He ignored the stifling heat, pushing through the narrow entrance and grabbing the astronaut when he managed to find him in the pilot chair. Gordon breathed a sigh of relief when he felt for a pulse, finding it relatively easily. “Come on big brother… No way are we losing anyone else today…” He grunted as he pulled John away from immediate danger, to behind a boulder at the edge of the clearing the crashed ship had made. He knew there was no way the ship would outright explode, as the fire was nowhere near the reactor, but he still wanted to be careful. 

Eventually, the fire behind him settled as he treated John’s head wound and set his broken arm. Once that was over and done, Gordon looked behind them, grimacing at the carnage the missile and fire had caused. Repairs would need to be done on the Island; the damage was far too extensive to fix here. He would have to call Virgil now if they were going to see Thunderbird Two make an appearance anytime soon, and even then, the pilot had said something about a police team on the Island. They’d have to wait for them to leave before launch, and who knew how long that would take?

As Gordon groaned, pondering their dilemma of lack of transportation, John blinked wearily, eyes adjusting to the growing darkness. “Heya, Gords…” Stars, he sounded awful.

“John!” The space monitor soon found himself being squeezed to death. Once his shock subsided, John tentatively hugged his younger brother back. “You’re okay!”

“Mostly…” The blond chuckled, wincing at the sharp pain in his arm. “What happened? Everything’s so fuzzy…”

Gordon sighed, launching into exposition mode. “The Hood hit you with a missile.” He pointed to Thunderbird One. The state of her made John grimace. “There’s no way we can fly her home, so we gotta call Virgil…”

John almost hesitated to ask his next question. “We… We didn’t get Scott back, did we?…”

“No…” John had never seen their normally happy-go-lucky fish so despondent. “We didn’t…”

------

“Alright, Virgil.” Adams grinned at the man in front of him. “That’s about it.” He snapped his notebook shut. “We’ll be out of your hair now. I know you’ve got a lot on your plate as it is…”

Virgil buried his anxiety as his watch beeped at him for the sixteenth time in the past ten minutes. He’d managed to explain it away to the police as it needing servicing, but the fact that Gordon and John were after the Hood niggled him. They could be in danger, or worse, captured. His only consolation was that if they were still trying to contact him, they were still alive, at the very least. 

Pushing his protective instincts down, he reached forward to shake Chief Adams’ hand one more time. “Thank you. I’m afraid I have some work to do, so I won’t be able to escort you out, but I’m sure Kyrano would be happy to show you the way.” He nodded in the manservant’s direction, who was looking out to the horizon with a far off look in his eyes. Virgil raised an eyebrow, and made his way over to lay a gentle hand on his shoulder. “Kyrano, are you oka-” Kyrano jolted in surprise at the touch, and immediately turned apologetic when he saw who it was.

“Ah.” He rubbed the back of his neck, embarrassed. “I am sorry, Master Virgil. I must’ve been lost in thought…”

Virgil inwardly sighed. Since the reveal of the Hood being Kyrano’s family, their friend had been on edge. Their father suspected it was a fear he would be kicked out and abandoned by the Tracy’s, but assured the manservant that it would never happen. And Virgil, as well as everyone else, was inclined to agree. He was sure Scott would too, if he were here…

“It’s okay, Kyrano…” Virgil soothed. “Would you mind showing Chief Adams and his team back to their plane, please?”

“Of course.” Kyrano nodded, but his face still held a nervousness the pilot couldn’t quite place. “But I need to talk to you about something afterwards...”

Ignoring the questioning gazes of Chief Adams and his officers, Virgil nodded. “Sure thing.” He watched the manservant and trio of police officers leave, raising his watch up as soon as he was sure they were out of earshot. “International Rescue Headquarters calling Gordon. Come in please.” His brother faded into existence, alongside John. “Geez, you guys look awful.”

“We feel awful.” 

Virgil frowned. “I take it the mission didn’t go well?”

Gordon gave him a look. “It was a raging dumpster fire.”

John’s voice could just about be heard. “And all we have to show for it right now is my concussion, broken arm, and a shot down Thunderbird…”

“Not to mention a direct confrontation with Hoody boy and him escaping with Scott.” Gordon huffed. “Long story short, we need a ride home…”

Their older brother grimaced. “We’ll definitely talk about this, but for now, I’m just glad you’re okay. Police team are just leaving now, and then I promised Kyrano I’d talk to him about something. Sit tight guys, Thunderbird Two is on the way.”

“FAB…”

------

“You won’t get away with this!” Scott snarled, fighting whoever was keeping a tight hold on him as they made their way through the temple. No matter how hard he tried though, he couldn’t break free. 

The Hood examined his fingernails nonchalantly as his captive was thrown into the room that would be his new prison for the foreseeable future, landing on the floor with a pained grunt. “Normally I’d retort with the good old fashioned, ‘Oh, but I will.’ But I tire of this endless game of cat and mouse that we seem to be playing, Tracy.” He smirked. “If you won’t give me what I want to know, I guess I’ll have to look elsewhere…”

Scott froze, immediately catching on. “You can do whatever you want to me, but leave my brothers out of it…”

“Interesting thing to say, considering my men just shot one of them out of the sky…”

The criminal chuckled darkly. Scott forced himself not to retort, staying silent this time. He sent a silent prayer out. Please, please let John be okay…  “Well, I guess this is as good a cue as any to take my leave…” The Hood turned, waving nonchalantly as he left and closed the door. “Farewell for now…”

Scott was left in the dark once again, feeling more and more hopeless by the moment. He trudged over to the bed made of hay in the corner, trying his hardest not to cry. If the Hood was watching, Scott wanted so badly not to give him the satisfaction. But he’d reached his limit a long time ago, and seeing Thunderbird One shot down with one of his precious brothers inside pushed him over the edge. 

That night, he cried for his brothers, his father, his friends, and his freedom. Everything he’d already lost, and was on the verge of losing forever. He clung to the locket that was still around his neck after all this time, hidden from the prying eyes of the Hood. If his mother was watching over his brothers and father, there was still hope. Just the tiniest bit made all the difference to him…

And then his eyes widened. He pinched the bridge of his nose, huffing. “Dang it, Scott Tracy.” He whispered as he rebuked himself for forgetting, hoping none of the Hood’s lackeys, or stars forbid, the Hood himself, would hear him. “I’m such a dummy…” Opening the locket, he quickly found what he was looking for even in the low light and brought it up to his eye level, smirking. It was so small, almost invisible. But it was the key to him getting out of this mess alive. One that he couldn’t afford to lose. 

That fact wouldn’t stop his brothers teasing him endlessly for forgetting his edible transmitter existed though…

[mermaidfantasy05]

Ninjago Infodumps, Ramblings & Headcanons (And Also Some Lore & World Building) Masterlist

Started: 03/3/24

Updated: 06/10/24

Status: Ongoing

Description: I've had an idea for a webseries based on Lego Ninjago ever since I first started watching the show when I was- I think thirteen. To keep a long story short, the webseries would focus on the Ninja's children as they came into their own as heroes and would provide a ton of commentary on fame, the price of it, its effects on celebrities (including their families) and finding your own identity outside of your parents' legacy. The webseries would also blend all three Ninjago shows and the movie together. Alas, because I am broke (and also Lego Group probably wouldn't be too happy about a webseries based on their most popular franchise being uploaded to YouTube without their say-so), I can only explore this idea (and my OCs) in fanfiction. Or at least until I get enough money to make it or somehow find my way to Denmark to beg Lego to let me make a webseries based off their show. This list is for me to infodump and ramble on about my OCs as well as Lore bits about how Ninjago, the elemental powers and elemental masters would be portrayed in my hypothetical (hopefully someday might become a reality if Lego Group decides the free publicity I'd be giving them with the webseries is worth way more than suing a neurodivergent nineteen year old girl that really loves their Ninjago Franchise) webseries.

This list will include my personal headcanons mixed in with headcanons I've read on other fellow Ninjago fans blogs (you guys are honestly so creative and amazing at drawing and writing. The only thing I can do is draw pictures using words 😭). I'll be linking to these blogs in my posts.

I hope you all enjoy!!!

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Ninjago 🌪

Lore Dumps & World Building

Elemental Powers & Elemental Masters

Element Groups

Headcanons

Infodumping/Character Tidbits/Ramblings

Ninjago #1: Ninjago's Potrayal In Webseries

Ninjago #2: Ninjago City In The Webseries

Character Tidbits #1: The Next Gens - Cher Garmadon, Jade Walker, Flora Stone & Violet Julien-Borg